an alarum to the counties of england and wales with the oath of abjuration for ever to be abjur'd, or the sad malady and sole remedy of england / by a lover of his native countrey. fuller, thomas, - . this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text r in the english short title catalog (wing f ). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a wing f estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) an alarum to the counties of england and wales with the oath of abjuration for ever to be abjur'd, or the sad malady and sole remedy of england / by a lover of his native countrey. fuller, thomas, - . p. s.n.], [london : printed in the year . attributed to thomas fuller by wing and nuc pre- imprints. place of publication suggested by wing. reproduction of original in bodleian library. eng finance, public -- great britain -- to . great britain -- politics and government -- - . great britain -- history -- charles ii, - . a r (wing f ). civilwar no an alarum to the counties of england and wales, with the oath, of abjuration, for ever to be abjur'd. or, the sad malady, and sole remedy of fuller, thomas b the rate of defects per , words puts this text in the b category of texts with fewer than defects per , words. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - judith siefring sampled and proofread - judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion an alarum to the counties of england and wales , with the oath , of abjuration , for ever to be abjur'd . or , the sad malady , and sole remedy of england . by a lover of his native countrey . printed in the year , ●● . an alarum to the counties of england and wales . with the oath of abjuration for ever abjur'd . our nation , which long since hath lost the lustre and well-being , now at last strugleth for the life and being thereof . our many [ temporal ] miseries are reducible to two principal heads . daily . decrease of trading . . increase of taxes : so that every hour the burden groweth weightier , and the back of our nation weaker to support it . . 't is sad to see , in cloathing countreys , what swarms there are of poor people , the true objects of charity ; if any were as able to give , as they worthy to receive reliefe : for they would worke , and can worke , yet cannot worke , because there are none to imploy them . . as for the sea ( which is the land of port-towns , ) it returneth small benefit ; for since dunkirk was ours , ( more to the credit than profit of our nation ) the fire of sea-robheries is removed out of the chimney , and scattered about the house , not lesse destructive , but more diffusive : so that our merchants could better guard themselves against that single staple of pirates , than many lesser ones sprung since every where , the cause why rich men will not ( as poor cannot ) adventure . . our second misery is , increase , yea , superfetation of taxes , so long as so numerous an army is maintained : for though some of their soldiers will preach gratis , ( conscientious to tahe nothing for that which they know is worth nothing ) yet none will fight at so cheap a rate . . some will say , that what the soldier receiveth with one hand he returneth with another , expending his pay in victuals , cloathes , &c. whereby coin , by circulation , is continued in our countrey . this i deny ; for some grandees , greatned by the times , have made their moneyes over in banks beyond the seas , which are put into mortmain , or a dead hand , whereby no profit accreweth to our common-wealth . others having gotten the estates of lords , live after the rate of yeomen , whose discretion therein is to be commended , for proportioning their expences ( for fear of after-claps ) rather according to their original , than present condition . . the increase of taxes must inevitably cause the ruine of our nation : for though still there be wealthy men left ( as they shew it in their cowardise , and fear to engage for the general good ) yet they grow thinner every day , whilst such as are left no root of their own , rather than they will wither , will turn suckers on the stock of others . so that the greatest happinesse rich men can promise to themselves , is only to be last devoured , though the comfort of the latenesse will not countervail the sadness for the certainty of their destruction . indeed it is miraculous , that our nation hath subsisted so long , and few there are that would believe that the whole candle of our english wealth could last so long , as we have beheld it burning in the socket , but now giving the last blaze , if god be not mercifull , and men discreet to prevent it . . passe we from the sad malady , to the sole remedy thereof , i say sole , not exclusively of divine miraculous power , but according to humane apprehension , and this is a free and full parliament . indeed free-parliament is a tautologie , like a reasonable man , who , if not reasonable is no man ; as the other , if not free , no parliament . but the late frequent forces put on partiaments hath made the needlesse epethite become necessary , to expresse what kinde of parliaments we desire . not such in which every word must be spoken under correction of the sword , but wherein every member , without feare of violence ( to interrupt or dissolve them ) may follow the dictates of their owne judgement and conscience . . nor ought a parliament only be free from force , but also from any abjurations , or previous engagements . let them take heed of renouncing any thing , save what is simply sinfull in it selfe , as the forsaking of the world , flesh , and divel , as was solemnly promised for them in their baptism . but it is bad to be busie with other ab-renunciations , especially of the royall family . . look backward and we may say with david , the vows of the lord are upon us ; i mean on so many of us as are of fifty years of age . the oath of supremacy ( not to mention the covenant ) is the eldest brother , to whom the inheritance of our consciences doth belong . . look forwards , it limiteth gods providence , which is an hainous offence ; we know not what a day , month , year , &c. may bring forth . this age hath the least reason of any to meddle with the edge-tools of such oathes which in a short ( but thick ) time hath seen so many strange things , that now nothing is strange unto us . have we not seen o. cromwell from a private gentleman gradatim ascend to be protector of three nations , and ( by his courage and wisdome without any right ) a more absolute power was possessed by , and larger tribute paid unto him than to any king of england . his son and successor ( counted bad by many for his goodnesse and mild spirit ) for eight months was congratulated by the most considerable persons of our nation . now if some twenty years since an oath had been tendred unto us to abjure the family of cromwels from ever having the supream magistracy in our nation ; such an oath would have seemed safe , but yet it was not lawfull to take it , because none knew what was in the womb of teeming time , though utterly improbable to our beliefe . . besides , the imposers of this oath may miss the mark they propound to themselves , viz. assurance of their own , and discovery of the opposite party ; for many now pass not for the taking or breaking of any oath , and assurance of such is hard in keeping , and indeed not worth the having . other will behold the oath as temporary , and expiring with the power of the imposers . as for the conscientious indeed , eefusing it out of pure principles of piety , it is a barbarous act for persons in power , to turn executioners to strangle tender consciences , whose cordial fear of an oath should be encouraged . . as the parliament must be free , no vassal , but enfranchised from the sword , so must it be full , no cripple , but entire and compleat in all the members thereof . our land hath lately groaned under the most grievous monopoly as ever was or can be , when a handfull of men have grasped to themselvs the representing of a whole ( not to say ) nation , most of them being but burgesses , who , though equal in votes , are not equal in their representation with the knights of the shires . if they presume that the rest excluded by them ( far more considerable for birth , estates , number , love of the people , and what not ? ) are virtually included in them , it is an intollerable presumption . that what pertaineth to all should be handled by all , is a truth so clear and strong , that they must offer a rape to their owne reason that deny it . such also is this maxim , vnrepresented , unconcluded : so that if so few have in them the notion of a parliament , it is a bare notion indeed , especially seeing this handfull of men were ( say the cavaleers ) dissolved by the death of the king ; dissolved ( said cromwell ) by his sword ; dissolved ( say some great ones ) by an act of their owne ( entred into the iournall book of the parliament ) dissolved must their own consciences say , by their voluntary accepting of elections in later parliaments . . now the members of a free and full parliament ( the onely hope of humane help ) ought thus to be qualified : . let them be godly and well-affected indeed , and not in the canting language of the times . . men of estates , who will be tender in taxing others , as striking them thorough themselves , whilst such who bear nothing care not how much they burthen others , as if paying were as easie as voting , and money as free as words . . men of spirits , no dull souls , all the sparks of whose activity are quenched in their own flegm . . no gainers by the continuance of the army . demetrius the silver-smith was no foole ( what ever else he was ) so sticking for the shrine of diana , by which craft he got his gain . . men of moderation , a quality not opposed to diligence , but to violence ; not unactiving men , but regulating their activity . . this their moderation must appear in considering all interests , seeing there be no two interests in the nation so contemptible , which if united , and twisting their discontents together , cannot draw trouble on all the rest . especially the sectarian , ( though presented i believe by their party , through a multiplying glasse ) are considerable on a politick score of their numbers and pious account of their conscience ; for , though many of them carry the later in their purses , , who when they finde the moisture of profit to fail them , will fall off like leaves in autumn ; yet can i not be so uncharitable , but to believe that many of them ( having the heat of their affections above the light of their judgements ) follow erroneous consciences ; besides , having gone loose so long , they must needs swell , if hardly girded 〈◊〉 a sudden ▪ . this moderation also must be used by all other persons , to work themselves to be ( if not pleased ) contented with the decisions of a free parliament . all must sit down losers save such alone , who can plead , that they have been no sinners in our nation . the grand designe must be to have none , or , ( if that be impossible ) as few as may be , utterly ruined . i confesse , two hungry meals makes a third a glutton , and such who have long fasted from their detained estates , will be not onely greedy , but ravenous to recover them . yea , such will shrewdly plead , that they now expect moderation from them , who never used moderation to them . however , in such a general danger , men must depose their animosities , labouring , first , to reconcile their spirits , then , their perswasions , the later being at lesse distance than the former . and men must divide , where they cannot get the whole , seeing few will pity his starving who will eat no bread at all , because he can recover but halfe of his own loafe . . it will be objected that such a full p. is still but an empty parliament , having no house of lords therein : but know , if both hands of a man be bound , no hope of liberty from himself ; but if one be untied , it may do the brotherly office to unloose the other : let us be content to row in a sculler till we can get a pair of oars . and such surely is the ingenuity and publick spiritnesse of the peers , that laying aside personal interest ( which upon debate may appear more ) , they wil suspend their rights , immunities , and priviledges , and submit all to the determination of a free-parliament to acquiesce therein . . god give our nation seasonably to understand their own strength , that the wars begun may be ended amongst our selves before forreigners become the arbitrators of our differences , who will demand great wages for little work , yea and turn their own paymasters thereof . and may that great general ( whose intentions long have stood in the dark to our nation , whilst our nations desires were all the while in light to him , understand that vox populi is vox dei , and interpret , that god calleth unto him by the declarations of all counties , to be chiefly instrumental in asserting our liberties , and we shall have cause for ever to blesse the day of his nativity ; yea , to erect a statue better than gold , of gratitude in our hearts unto him . . indeed had providence fixed our nativities under the duke of muscovy , whose list is his subjects law , we would ( because we must ) work our selves patiently to the obedience of his power . but seeing god hath given us , with s. paul , to be free-born , acts . . ( though also , with the centurion , we have given great summs , not to obtain , but contrive this freedome ) let us not tamely loose our birth-right , and vigorously endeavour their preservation . . the story is wel known of the old woman who having but a small parcel of wood , would leasurably roast her goose stick by stick , till her wood was all burnt , and her goose still raw . if the severall counties singly engage one after another , all will be overthrown , and nothing effected as to our releife . let the two and fifty shires of england and wales ( with the city of london , which eminently is two and fifty more ) be all as one , and unanimously advance the worke , and not do as they dealt with poore cheshire , using it as ioab did vriah , putting him forward on action , then falsely retreating from him , and leaving him a prey to his enemies . but i hope our old shipwracks will be new sea-marks , to us , documented by former nocuments , to steer a surer course for the general good . . there is no english man so inconsiderable , but he may , at the least in a single capacity , be contributive to the happinesse of his native countrey , the wise with their brains , the rich with their purses , the learned with their pens , the strong with their persons ; all with their prayers . and if now they suffer this opportunity which god puts into their hands , to slip thorough their fingers , they may hereafter have more yeares to bemoane their folly , than minutes to amend their misery ; it being better now to say , we will not , than three yeares hence to say , we cannot pay our taxes . finis . a sermon of contentment by t.f. fuller, thomas, - . this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text r in the english short title catalog (wing f ). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a wing f estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a sermon of contentment by t.f. fuller, thomas, - . [ ] p. printed by j.d. for john willams, london : . reproduction of original in the harvard university library. eng contentment. conduct of life. sermons, english -- th century. a r (wing f ). civilwar no a sermon of contentment by t.f. fuller, thomas c the rate of defects per , words puts this text in the c category of texts with between and defects per , words. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - chris scherer sampled and proofread - chris scherer text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a sermon of contentment . by t. f. a minister of gods word . phillip . . . i have learned in whatsoever state i am therewith to be content . london . printed by j.d. for john williams at the crown in st. pauls church-yard . . to the honorable and truly noble sr. john d'anvers knight . sir , this smal sermon may well bee termed zoar , for is it not a little one ? yet it bears good proportion to the short text ; on which it discourseth ; little auditory for which it was composed , and your private chappel wherin it was delivered . as it is smal , so it desired to be secret , and intended no appearance in publike . good was the counsel which iaash gave amaziah . cro. . . abide now at home , especially in our dangerous dayes , when all going , is censurable for gadding abroad without a necessary vocation . but seeing such was your importunitie , to have it printed , that all my excuses to the contrary , which i could alledge with truth , and the delays , which i could make with manners , might not prevaile : i have chosen rather to be accounted undiscreet then uncivil , and have yeelded to your desire . surely sir , heaven can never return a denial to your requests whom i presume , ( by proportion of your earnest desiring so smal a matter ) to be zealous in your desires of hier concernment , that nothing but a grant can give you satisfaction . but the mainest motive , next your importunity , which put me on this publike adventure , was the consideration of my engagements to your noble bounty , above my possibility of deserving it . the apostle with it is part of the duty of a good servant , tit. . v. . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , not answering againe . i must confesse my selfe your servant , and therefore it ill beseemed me to dislike or mutter against any thing you was pleased i should doe . thus desiring the continuance and increase of all spiritual and temporal happines on your honour . i commend you to the almighty . t. f. tim. . . but godlinesse with contentment is great gain . in the foregoing verse , st. paul sets down the worldlings prayer , creed , and commandements ; which is their daily desire , beliefe and practise , and all contained in three words ; gain is godlines . now in my text st. paul counter-mines their opinion , or raiseth our antiposition to batter down their false conceit , most elegantly crossing and inverting their words ; but godlines with contentment is great gain . take notice of the unaffected elegancy of the apostle , how clearly and naturally with a little adtion , he turns the worldlings paradox into a christian truth . though sermons may not laugh with light expressions : yet it is not unlawfull for them to smile with delightfull language : alwayes provided , that the sweetnesse of the sawce spoile not the savourinesse of the meat the preacher sought to finde out acceptable or pleasant words , that so his sound matter might be more welcome to his auditors . well , here wee have two contrary opinions set on foot together , 〈◊〉 is godlinesse , faith the worldling , whose gold is his god , looking and telling thereof , his saying of his prayers . godlinesse is great gain , saith god himselfe , by the mouth of the apostle . now as peter in another case , whether it be right to hearken unto man more then unto god , judge yee . the text presents us with a bride . a bride-maide . her great portion . the present payment thereof . the bride godlinesse . we need not enquire further into her pedegree and extraction , she carries her father in her name ; and relates to god the author thereof . . the bride-maid . the virgin her companion that follows her , or her inseparable attendant , contentment . godlinesse with contentment . her great portion , wherein observe the rich ware , gain ; the large measure , great gain . the present payment . not in expectances or reversions ; but down on the naile , presently deposited , is . godlines with contentment is great gain . wee begin with the bride , and in the first place let us put it to the question . what godlines is ? to which quere , severall answers will be made according to mens severall affections . aske some fryer observant , what godlines is , and he will tel you , the wearing of a shirt of hair , girdle of hemp , fasting so often in the week , praying so often in the day with such like canonical devotions . ask the tenacious maintainer of some new upstart opinion , what godlines is ? and he will answer , it is the zealous defending with limb and life of such , and such strangetenets , which our fathers perchance never hard of before ; yea which is worse , such a person wil presume soto confine godlines to his opinion , as to ungodly all others who in the least particular dissent from him . oh , if god should have no more mercy on us , then wee have charity one to another , what would become of us ? indeed christ tearmeth his own a little flock , fear not little flock . but if some mens rash and cruel censures should be true , the number of the godly would be so little , it would not be a flock . it is a true but sad consideration how in all ages , men with more vehemency of spirit have stickled about small and unimportant points then about such matters as most concern their salvation . so that i may say ( these sorrowfull times having tuned all our tongues to military phrases ) some men have lavished more powder and shot in the defence of some sleight out-works which might well have been quitted without any losse to religion , then in maintaing the main platform of piety , and making good that castle of gods service and their own salvation . pride wil be found upon serious enquiry the principall cause hereof . for when men have studied many weeks , moneths or years about some additionall point in divinity , they contend to have the same essentiall to salvation , because it is essentiall to their reputation , least otherwise their discretion be called into question , for taking so much pains in vain , and spending so much precious time about a needlesse matter . hereupon they labour to inhance the value of their own studies , and will have all those mynes gold , which they have discovered ; yea , all their superstructures must be accounted fundamentall : all their far fetcht deductions and consequential results must bereputed tobe immediate and essentiall to godlines ; yea , the very life of godlines must be placed in the zealous asserting the same . but it will be the safest way for us to take adescription of godlinesse from a pen infallible , impartiall , and unconcerned in our modern distractions . even from saint iames himself . pure religion ( or godlinesse ) and undefiled before god and the father is this , to visite the fatherlesse and widdows in their affliction , and to keep himself unspoted from the world . this setteth forth the practicall part of religion , and , as i may term it , the heat of godlinesse . to which if the speculative part , the light of godlinesse bee added , to know the only true god , and iesus christ whom he hath sent , then godlines is made compleat . and godlinesse thus defined admits of a latitude , so that it may consist with some errours in judgement , and infirmities in practise ; provided that the godly person persists in faith , hope and charity , which hold out the summe of religion as to the necessary part thereof . as for all particular forms of church government , ceremonies and outward manner of divine worship , most of them admitting of alteration upon emergencies , and variation according to circumstances of time , place , and persons , ( though these be more or lesse ornamentall to godlinesse , as they neerer or further off relate to divine institution ) yet it is erronious to fixe or place the life or essence of godlinesse therein . wee conclude this point with the words of saint peter of a truth i perceive that god is no respecter of persons ; but in every nation , he that feareth him and worketh righteousnes is accepted with him : yea , in one and the same nation , he that feareth him and worketh righteousnesse of what sect , side , party , profession , opinion , church , congregation soever he be is accepted with him , as having true godlines in his heart which with contentment is great gain . come we now to the brid-maid attending her , contentment . contentment is a willing submission of ours to gods will in all conditions . i say willing ; for , if it be patience perforce , what reward have you ? what doe you more then others ? doe not even the publicans and sinners the same ? yea , what doe you more then mules and horses which being kept with bit and bridle quietly carry their ryders which they cannot cast off ; in all conditions , patient in adversity , humble in prosperity , thankfull in both ; looking neither above our estates with the ambitious man to have it higher ; nor beyond it , with the covetous man to spread it broader ; nor besides it with the envivous man , repyning at the estate of others : but directly on the portion god hath given us , and fully satisfied with the same . even justifying gods proceedings unto us , though wee receive from him what flesh & blood would count hard measure , namely , if his divine wisdome should so appoint it , that with just men we perish with our righteousnesse , whilest wicked men prolong their lives in their wickednes . here we must take notice of the conjunction copulative , with . godlines with contentment . which furnisheth us with two profitable observations , . wheresoever there is true godlinesse there is contentment . . wheresoever there is true contentment there is godlines . like saul and ionathan , lovely and pleasant in their lives and in their deaths they are not divided . these twin graces alwayes go together ; true it is , that gods children may often have their fits and qualms of discontentment , as eliah and ionah had : but this proceeds from the imperfections of grace in them ; they are not discontented as they are godly , but as they have a principle of ungodlinesse in them the remnant of carnall corruption . on the other side , no wicked man whatsoever he pretendeth , can have true contentment . remarkable it is that in the same chapter wee finde two brethren laying claim to the grace of contentation , but on different ; yea , contrary titles . esau said , gen. . i have enough my brother , keep that thouhast unto thy self . jacob said , gen. . . god hath dealt graciously with mee because i have enough . now esau's enough was indeed not enough , being onely a proud and vain-glorious brag , scorning and disdaining at the first ( till importunity altered him ) to receive a guift from his younger brother , as if it were a disgrace and disparagement to his greatnes to admit of any addition or accession of his estate from his inferiour . iacobs enough was a true and reall acknowledgement of gods goodnesse to him , resting satisfied with that portion divine providence had alotted him , such contentment alwaies gos with godlines , and is great gain . come we now to the dowery ; and before we descend to the particulars thereof , take notice in generall of gods bountifull dealing with his servants . god might command us to work and give us no wages , and most justly enjoyne us to labour all day in his vineyard , and give us no penny at night ; very good reason . why should we expect to receive profit by him , who return no profit to him . when yee have done all those things which are commanded you : say , wee are unprofitable servants , wee have done that which was our duty to doe ; saul did not give but take a dowry with his daughter , and it is observable that of fore-skins onely were required of david , but he gave for her . such was the super-errogation of his valour ; love and loyalty especially when joyned together , never give scant measure : god in like manner might expect that wee should give him a portion for the attaining of godlines ; all wee can doe all wee can suffer is too little to purchase so precious a grace . yet see the goodnes of god , who knowing he is to deale with such dull workmen , who will take pains no longer then they are paid , whets us on with reward in his service . here i deny not but it is lawfull to look on those blessings and benefits which god reacheth out to us for his service ; moses himself had respect unto the recompence of reward . but two things we must take heed of ; first that wee receive this reward in notion and nature of a meere gratuity , not exactly merited by the condignity of our performances , and onely due unto us by the vertue of gods free promise and not our deserts . secondly , that as we look on the reward , so wee look through and beyond it . it being a good inn for our desires to bait at , but a bad home for them to lodge in ; let us labour to devest our souls of mercenary thoughts , and learn to serve god for himselfe ; active was the affection of sechem to dinah , as appears by his request to iacob and his sonnes . let me finde grace in your eyes , and what yee shall say unto mee , i will give . ask me never so much dowry and gift , and i will give according as yee shall say unto me : but give me the damosel to wife . oh , that our hearts were but wrought to this holy temper , that we should desire godlinesse on any terms , undergo any hardship , though there were neither hell to punish , nor heaven to reward . however great is gods goodnes , who knowing whereof wee are made , and remembring that we are but dust , is pleased to spurre us on in the rase of piety with a reward propounded , godlines with contentment is great gain . . so much in genenerall , that there is a dowry ; now in particular what is the dovvry of godlinesse . it is great gain . great gain , of what ? let saint paul himself , who wrote this epistle tell us , when he cast up his audit , what profit he got by the profession of piety . in labours more aboundant , in stripes above measure , in prisons more frequent , in deaths often . where is the gain , all this while ? perchance it follows , we will try another verse . in journying often , in perils of waters , in perils of robbers , in perils by mine own country-men , in perils by the heathen , in perils in the city , in perils in the wildernes , in perils in the sea , in perils amongst false brethren . where is the gain all this while ? you will say , these were but the apostles adventures , his rich return ( slow but sure ) will come at last . once more we will try . in wearinesse and painfulnesse , in watchings often , in hunger and thirst , in fastings often , in cold and nakednesse . the further we go , the lesse gain we find , cushai said unto david , may all the enemies of my lord the king be as the young man absalom is . but if this be gain , may all the enemies of god and goodnes have plenty thereof . it will never sink into a worldlings head that godlinesse is gain , whilest the grandees of piety are found so poore , eliah begging food of a widdow , peter without gold or silver ; our saviour himself not having where to lay his head . it is confest that the doctrine in the text , can in no wise be made good according to the principles of flesh and blood . our saviour said unto pilate , my kingdome is not of this world . so the sense and interpretation of my text is not of this world , is not carnall but spiritual , not temporal but eternal . this will plainly appear , if these two particulars be well weighed . what the world counts gain , is losse . what the world counts losse is gaine . what the world counts gain is losse . for what will it profit a man if he win the whole world , and loose his own soule . most poore is the condition of those who have plenty of worldly wealth , and are not rich towards god ; country people having a peice of light gold use to fill the indentures thereof with dirt , so to make it the heavier ; but wisemen wil not take dirt for gold in payment . it seems in like manner that wicked men being sensible that they want waight in the scales of the sanctuary , ( tekel thou art waighed in the ballance and found too light ) of set purpose load themselves with thick clay . but all will not make them currant in gods sight , for riches availe not in the day of wrath . they are long in getting with much pains , hard in keeping with much care , quick in loosing with more sorrow . wherefore as the apostle mensions science falsly so called , so this is gain falsly so called by men . secondly , they nicke-name that losse which is gain in very deed , such were all those sanctified afflictions which saint paul suffered . it is confest that thornes and thistles had never grown in the world , had adam stood in his integrity , yet some of them since mans fall cannot well be wanted ; holy thistle ( we know ) hath a soveraign vertue , and sweet bryer hath a pleasant scent . all tribulations are thorns to flesh and blood ( the word imports as much ) yet as sanctified to gods children in christ they become of excellent use , increasing their grace here and glory hereafter ; lynnen new washt though it may dry more by day time , is observed to whiten more in a fair night ; adversity sanctified to a christian soule doth more improve the same in purity and piety , then the constant enjoying of a prosperous condition . but we need goe no further for the proof of the great profit gotten by gods service , then to the words of the apostle . godlinesse hath the promise of the life which now is , and of that which is to come . it is reported of alexander that having conquered the world , he wept because there was no more left for his valour to overcome : but least gods children should have any cause of discontentment , that their joy may have room enough to dilate it self in , see a life and a life , a vvorld and a vvorld , one here and another hereafter , one in possession , another in reversion alotted unto them . come we now to the present payment , is , even at this present instant , god hath done great things for us already , whereof we rejoyce . excellent is the expression of the apostle . or things present , or things to come , all are yours . here some carping curious criticks may challenge st. paul of impropriety of language ; yea , finde both fals grammar and logick in his words , false tense , to say future things are , fals logick , for how can things to come be ours , which be not , but know st. paul spake with languages more then them all , and had no need to learn the congruity of construction from any other . it is good in law to say , this reversion is mine because the reversioner is in present possession of the right to it , though not of the profit by it ; yea , heaven on earth is actually ours already ; the possession of a clear conscience , and the spirit of adoption signs and seals unto us the favour of god , then which , no greater gain . and now as the eunuch said to philip , see here is water , what doth hinder me to be baptized , so say i . behold , here is a bride , godlines , ready provided ; a bride maid , contentment , ready prepared . the great portion presently to be paid . what hinders now but the marriage may instantly proceed , that so we may be wedded and bedded together . but what answered philip to the eunuch ? if thou believest with all thine heart , thou maiest be baptised . so say i. if thou lovest this bride with all thy soule , counting nothing too dear to obtain her , the marriages solemnities may instantly goe on . oh that i had perswasive eloquence effectually to advance this match , the best is , what is vvanting in mee the spokesman , is plentifully supplyed in her the bride . . but two things we must beware of . take heed you mistake not the shaddow for the substance , the picture for the person . saint paul tels us of some , who have the forme of godlinesse , but deny the power thereof . the poets tels us of many who at first were suiters to penelope the mistresse , but at last were married to the maids which attended her . it is to be feared that many who pretend to love godlinesse it self , fall at last a courting and woeing of the forme , the meer outside and garb of religion , and content themselves with the same : wherein an hypocrite may equally , yea exceed the sincerest saint and servant of god . lastly , beware least thy coveteous heart rather love the portion then the person , have more minde to the gaine then the godlines . we finde how the next kinsman was very ready to redeem the parcel of naomies land which was his brother elimelechs . but as soon as withall he heard , hee must take ruth to wife , he fell back from his promise and purpose ; many there be which are very forward to wed the gain , but are utterly unwilling to have the godlines with it . such a suiter was balaam himselfe : o that i might aye the death of the righteous , and let my last end be like his , who was carelesse to live the life of the righteous . but let us labour to have the substance and sincerity of piety in our hearts , knowing that we are to deale with such a god who prefers a dramme of integrity before a pound of profession ; and if wee acquit our selves upright in his presence , godlinesse with contentment is great gain unto us . i say godlinesse in generall not restrictively engrossed to some particular party , but extended according to the dimension of charity to all persons agreeing in the essentials to salvation ; in my fathers house there be many mansions , as if god had provided severall repositaries of happinesse for such as differ in smaller opinions , vvhilest all agreeing in generall godlinesse , may meet in one grand heaven and place of eternall felicity , amen . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a e- i. ii. eccles. . . iii. acts . ● . iv. luk. . . james . . john . . act. . . eccles. . . sam. kin. . jonah . luke . . sam. . hebr. . . gen. . , object . cor. . vers. . 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . answ. john . . luk. . . dan. . . hab. . prov. . . tim. . . tim. . . cor. . . cor. . act. . acts . . tim. . . ruth . . . num. . . joh. . a triple reconciler stating the controversies whether ministers have an exclusive power of communicants from the sacrament. any persons unordained may lawfully preach. the lords prayer ought not to be used by all christians. by thomas fuller, b.d. fuller, thomas, - . this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text r in the english short title catalog (thomason e _ ). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a wing f thomason e _ estc r this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (thomason tracts ; :e [ ]) a triple reconciler stating the controversies whether ministers have an exclusive power of communicants from the sacrament. any persons unordained may lawfully preach. the lords prayer ought not to be used by all christians. by thomas fuller, b.d. fuller, thomas, - . [ ], p. printed by will. bently, for john williams at the crown in s. pauls church-yard, london : anno dom. . the words "ministers have .. christians." are bracketed together on title page. the first leaf has signature-mark "a" on recto and a crown on verso. quire d is in two settings: d v catchword ( ) "secondly," or ( ) "second-". a variant (wing f ) has imprint giving will. shears as publisher. annotation on thomason copy: "octob. ". reproduction of the original in the british library. eng church of england -- clergy -- early works to . lord's prayer -- early works to . a r (thomason e _ ). civilwar no a triple reconciler: stating the controversies whether ministers have an exclusive power of communicants from the sacrament. any persons un fuller, thomas c the rate of defects per , words puts this text in the c category of texts with between and defects per , words. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - celeste ng sampled and proofread - celeste ng text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a triple reconciler , stating the controversies whether ministers have an exclusive power of communicants from the sacrament . whether any persons unordained may lawfully preach . whether the lords prayer ought not to be used by all christians . by thomas fuller , b. d. london , printed by will. bently , for john williams at the crown in s. pauls church-yard . anno dom. . to the right honorable , and truly virtuous lady , anne vicountess baltinglass , the blessings of this life and a better . madam , this my book addresseth it self to you , as once the dove to noah in the ark , bringing an olive branch with three sprigs in the mouth thereof . it is of a peaceable nature , & desires to be a peace-maker betwixt the opposite parties in the three controversies handled therein . my humble request to you is , that with noah you would be pleased to put forth your hand and receive it into the ark of your protection . i know what success commonly attends all umpiers & arbitrators , that often they lose one , & sometimes both of their friends betwixt whom they intercede . meek moses could not escape in this kind , but when seeking to atone two striving israelites , the partie who did the wrong , fell with foul language upon him . i expect the like fate from that side which doth the most injurie , and am prepared to undergo their censure , which i shall do with the greater alacritie , if these my weak endeavors may find your favourable acceptance . the lord bless your honor with your noble consort , and sanctifie your former sufferings , which a national calamitie hath cast upon you , that your last days may be your best days , both in temporal and spiritual improvement , is the dayly desire of your honors truly devoted servant thomas fuller . the first reconciler . leviticus . . and the priest shall look on him , and pronounce him unclean . the words contain an examination , and the priest shall , &c. condemnation , and pronounce him , &c. which words we will handle first literally , of corporal leprosie ; then analogically , to shew by proportion how far ministers under the gospel are inpowered to pass censure on the goodness , or badness of men , so to admit , or exclude them gods ordinance . . be it here premised that the leprosie we speak of , called the plague of leprosie , is not what proceeded from natural causes or distempers ( in which cases the patient might be more properly sent to the physitian ) but was immediately inflicted by gods hand , dedecus medicinae , and a principall if not peculiar disease to the jews , not finding in the acts , that the apostles , when preaching to the gentiles out of palestine , cured any of that disease . . i will not stir a step farther before i raise one observation . great is gods goodness that we english men generally , live now in the happy ignorance of the heigth of leprosie . i say generally , a leper is a rarity , some few in cornwell caused , as physitians conceive from the frequent eating of fish new taken out of the sea , i say new : i confess there is lazars bath , but though the bath be there , thanks be to god , but few lepers . indeed some hundred years ago , when the holy war was continued by the english , our intercourse with eastern people in palestine made the leprosie here epidemical , and hugh orwell a bishop of london dyed thereof anno . but with the end of that war ended the leprosie of england , as to the generallity and malignity thereof . every scab , or scurf , or scale , observing tydes in the body , is not presently the leprosie , but know , as the jews had a disease we have not , so we have a disease the jews had not : excuse me for naming it , you may easily conceive what i would willingly conceal , it is the last rod that god made therewith to whip wantonness , and which he handselled on the french at naples two thousand miles from this place . how came this malady to climb and clamber over the high aspiring alpes ? when got into france ? england being an island secured from the diseases of the continent how came it to swim over into england , did wicked forreigners bring it hither , or wanton english fetch it thence ? how ever it was so , it is , and is a disease so much worse than leprosice , as sin is worse than suffering , transgression worse than affliction . . now shall we make a brief paraphrase on every word , the priest , not every ordinary levite , but either aaron or one of his sons . quest . why was not this power rather committed to a corporation of priests , as being too great a charge to be trusted in one person ? why were not a vestry of lay-elders admitted as assistants herein . and the priest herein was a type of christ , who was to be but one ▪ individual person , and therefore a single priest alone was employed therein . shall look on him . but what if he were blind as in the case of eli ? sam. . . and the commission of trying was granted to the high priests or one of his sons , as it is vers ▪ the . who in such a case was to officiate for his father . look . herein . things conteined , the inspection of the eye , and the circumspection of the judgement . for the latter the priest might not proceed on his own arbitrary principles , but was confined to gods directions prescribed unto him ; and principally he discovered it by . signes . depression , by the subsidency or the sinking of the malady when it intrenched it self in pits and holes made in the flesh . . diffusion , when the malignity thereof contained not it self to the first place , but dilated it self over the body . . discoloration , when the hair therein was turned white , arguing the debility of nature , white commonly a colour of innocence , now of infection ; commonly the livery of chearfulness , now of sadness ; a black white , sable and sorrowfull . now whereas the priest was to look on the party trusting no other evidence than his own eyes , we learn mens censures must not go on heare-says but be grounded on their own knowledge . i will go gen. . down and see whether they have done altogether , &c. and pronounce , him the priest must not be sceptical and suspend his verdict , but must give sentence to condemn or acquit . pronounce . that is positively and publickly ; he was not to mutter his sentence , as the popish priests in the mass the words of consecration , no clandestine dealing in matters of publick concernment . unclean . not as the apostle saith , no unclean thing shall enter into the kingdom of heaven , but ceremoniously unclean , so as to be expelled publick society . question . how came it to pass that the priest was not infected therewith , seeing sometimes such was the pestilent malignity of the leprosie , as to taint the clothes , yea the walls of the house ? hard walls scarce penetrable to a bullet , yielded to the impression of leprosie . answer , he was secured by his calling and employment , obeying gods command in his vocation . doctrine . a lawfull calling is the best armour against an infection . one in his calling is armed , out of his calling is naked ; at least lasily following his calling , his armour , like ahabs , is not close joynted , and he left woundable in the internal chinks : with what confidence do we see brick-layers , carpenters , plummers &c. clambering up high pinnacles , and walking in narrow places , where our feet cannot stand theirs will run ; double the cause thereof , a lawfull calling & long custome which hath inured them thereunto . thus searchers are not so soon infected with the plague . i confess the plague is resembled to fire , save that it burneth green wood sooner than dry , and young people more subject to be tainted than old ; however this is not the main reason why such searchers escape , but because in their vocation . the ministers under the gospel have not the like calling , and therefore not the like warrant to approach infectious persons . and we may remember the story of mr. stafford ( divinity professour in cambridge ) who to convert sir henry the conjurer ( the story in mr. fox ) lost his own life . come we now to the second part , the condemnation and pronounce him unclean , him , be he friend or foe , high or low , without partial respecting of persons . doctrine . gods ministers ought without fear or favour to perform their office , neither to be frighted nor flattered . it is observed that moses first hanselled this law on his sister myriam , numb. . . secondly , we finde it served by subjects on their soveraign in the case of king uzziah , chron. . . observe herein the priest thrusted him out ( say not that this was uncivil and unmannerly violence ) touch not mine anointed , seeing the high priest did it in obedience to an higher kings command , yea uzziah sensible of his sin , saith the text , hasted out himself . gods servants left to themselves may fall into sin , but when it is discovered unto them , as they run into it , if possible they would fly out of it . doctrine . sad and sorrowfull the condition of a sequestred leper . indeed some of us have been sequestred , and blessed be god we have born our yoke in our youth , hopeing that more freedom is reserved for our old age , but our sequestration is not to be named with that of a leper , whose sadness consisteth in four particulars . first , they were debarred the access to the place of gods publick worship , and might not approach the temple , nor be present at their sacrifices , nor partake of the passover . secondly , they were debarred from the embraces of their nearest relations . thirdly , they could not expect cure but by miracle . heavens hand , which laid it on , could onely take it off : nor was a leper capable of the benefit of the pool of bethesda , not but that undoubtedly cured if cast first into it , but because those porches john . . contained onely the impotent , blinde , halt , withered . question . whether lepers were admitted into the society . fourthly , dying lepers they were not buried with other people . thus vzziah , chron. . . was buried with his fathers in the field belonging to the kings , for they said he was a leper , in the suburbs of the place of sepulture . this serveth for a sufficient warrant to justifie this city in a practise which some do behold as over rigid and severe , namely the shutting up of infected persons at the beginning of the plague ; some would have the sick and the sound to go promiscuously together , as they do at grand cairo in egypt . indeed if they be poor to shut them up in their houses and to shut up relief from them is murder , otherwise if well considering , they have no cause of just offence who so are shut up from publick society . here give me leave to take an occasion to raise the gratitude of this city to god . he that with jess passeth for an old man in london , cannot remember it so long without the plague , this city was never more populous , surely there being more hives there are as many bees : dayly increase of houses argues no decrease of households . secondly , never more filth , the kennels and streets are not kept more clean than before . thirdly , never more sinfull , as much pride as ever though removed from those whose births still may , and whose state did once countenance gallantry to such who growing great will grow gaudy in an instant . gracious gods goodness , who sent christ in the flesh to cure both our corporal and spiritual leprosie : i shall confine this dayes sermon according to promise , onely to corporal leprosie : herein observe the first particularized miracle , having the circumstances thereof related in the first gospel which our saviour did , was on a leper mat. . . and he gave him in charge to shew himself to the priest , and to offer the gift which moses cammanded for a testimony unto them . a testimony not so much to testifie that the party was not palliately but perfectly cured , but for a testimony to the priest to evidence to them , that christ was come in the flesh , the expected messia , as appeared by his miracles , and had they not been willingly and willfully blind , barring and bolting their eyes against the beams of truth , they could not but be sensible that the saviour of mankind was come . surely the sacrifice for the cleansing the lepers levit. . . formerly seldom used , when god , thrifty of his miracles , was pleased now and then to drop down one from heaven , began now to be so ordinary with the priests , that it could not but mind them that the messiah was come . secondly , christ cured more lepers at once than of any other disease ; christ cured two blinde men together , math. . . two men possessed with divels , math. . . whilst he healed a whole society of lepers ( poor people being parted from all others , it was some comfort to them to keep company together ) luke . . ten at a time , on that sad token that nine of them prooved unthankfull . thirdly , in the commission to the disciples , math. . . heal the sick , it follows , cleanse the lepers . the curing of that malady alone ( with the casting out of divels ) are expressed in particular words , all the rest in general terms . either to shew that more than ordinary power was requisite for the healing thereof , or that leprosie-cureing was their proper and peculiar master-piece , to evidence to all , that they were sent by him whose calling was to cure the leprosie of our souls . . come we now to handle these words analogically conceiving them of sufficient latitude , to give us just occasion to enter on the enquiry , whether gods ministers under the gospel have a sufficient commission to examin , and exclude persons from the sacrament . but first let me acquaint the audience with the integrity of my intentions herein . . there was a sect of philosophers called {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , which were none of the four elemental sects of stoicks , peripateticks , academicks & epicures . these would be bound to no one opinion that any of the other maintained ; only they would be left at large to pick & chose what they conceived sound and solid in any of their opinions , refusing the rest what they esteemed otherwise . in a word , these eclectici were the quint-essence of the former four sects of philosophers . . i intend in like manner to be a chooser in this point . ( grand the difference betwixt a chooser , and a seeker of our age , the former is positive , the latter sceptical , hovering over all , setling on nothing ) i know no reason that we are bound to take one and all in any perswasion . three great interests may be named in england , one that was the prelatical , one that is the presbyterian , one that would be the independant . i shall embrace what i find in any of their practises commendable , and consonant to gods word , making use of my christian liberty , to leave the rest which in my weak judgement may seem subject to just exception . . proposition , there is no pregnant place of scripture which expresly impowereth the ministers of the gospel with authority of examination and exclusion from the sacrament : i have looked for it in the place where i was most likely to finde it , namely , cor. . where saint paul at large condemneth the abuses at the sacrament in their church . here i expected the corinthian ministers should have been checkt for keeping no stricter guard about gods table , and that the main fault of this prophaneness should be charged on their negligence . what said david to abner sam. . . when he fetcht the spear and cruse of water , from the head of sleeping saul ? ye are worthy to die , because you have not kept your master , the lords anointed ; such a sharp reproof i expected from s. paul to the ministers of corinth for being no more vigilant ( as being gods life-guard ) in securing the body and bloud of christ from unworthy communicants . but not the least check to them , onely a general exhortation to others to examin themselves . . proposition there are some places of scripture which by proportion and consequence do more than probably insinuate such a power in the minister . first for examining heb. . . obey them that have the rule over you , and submit your selves , for they watch for your souls , as they that must give account that they may do it with joy , and not with grief , for that is unprofitable for you . god foreseeing that in after-ages the minister in a church might be but one , the parishioners many , he perchance poor , they rich , he possibly young , they grave , and ancient , saw there would be an humour of opposition in them to submit to their pastour , and therefore thought it necessary to leave this command on record . now the best auditour cannot give an account of them whose receipts and expences he hath not examined , and therefore by consequence it may be collected that they may and must try the conditions and abilities of their people , prov. . . be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks , and look well to thy heards . . secondly , for excluding , where be it premised , that if an examining power can be demonstrated in the ministers , a power of exclusion doth by necessary and undeniable consequence follow thereupon : for the ministers examination would be altogether useless , if such , who thereby shall be detected unfitting or unworthy may in defiance of the minister , intrude themselves communicants to the sacrament . if therefore the ministers examination be as a weapon without an edge , and be onely to make a noise without any further power , it would render him ridiculous to prophane persons , and expose his pains and profession to contempt . surely therefore , his examination is seconded and attended with authority to admit and exclude from the sacrament , as he findeth persons fit or unfit for the same . . of places importing an excluding power , many insist on the chron. . . and jehojada set the porters at the gates of the house of the lord , that none , which was unclean in any thing should enter in . . in the new testament many alleadge , matth. . . give not that which is holy unto doggs . what more holy than the body and bloud of christ in the sacrament , who more dogs , more swine than those wilfully wallow in wickedness ? to these add the words of my text , and the priest shall look on him ; there is examination , and pronounce him unclean , there is exclusion . yet let not too much improvement be made of those words , lest they stretch so far as to break . if the proportion be applied in all particulars , the high priest alone , being impowered with this authoritie , will advance the hierarchichal power farther than such as make use of this place will well approve . object . you have out of ignorance or envie , concealed one of the most effectual scriptures in the new testament , instructing ministers with an examining power of all in the flock , namely , . pet. . . be readie always to give an answer to every one that asketh you a reason of the hope of that is in you with meekness and fear . it seems you are willingly ignorant ( to use the apostle's phrase ) of this text so pertinent to the purpose . answ. i know many behold it as the champion of their cause , and have used it to order their refractorie parishioners into examination . for my own part i look on it as nothing to the purpose . it is better to fight naked , than with bad armour . for the rags of a bad corcelet , make a deeper wound , and worse to be healed than the bullet it self . none such foes to a cause as such friends who will defend it , argumentis non cogentibus , with reasons of such strength which compel not a rational man into the free belief of them . the words , as appears by the coherence , are principally calculated for the climate of persecution , when men suffer for righteousness sake , and enjoyn all a free and fearless profession of the faith , when called thereunto . besides , the command being general , ministers are as much obliged thereby to give an answer to their parishioners , if asking them as parishioners , are bound to give an account thereof to the minister : and therefore i purposly declined the mention of this place . . propos. children , mad-men , idiots , during their condition , are not to be admitted to the sacrament . the reason is plain , because they cannot perform an essential requisite thereunto , namely , examin themselves . but when such children shall arrive at years of discretion . mad-men shall , by gods blessing on physick , or otherwise , either return to their lucide intervals , or be totally cured of their distemper . idiots , ( which seldom comes to pass ) be enlarged in their understandings , they may be admitted communicants . till when , the church , as guardian in their minoritie , doth not finally withhold the sacrament from , but seasonably reserveth it for them . propos. young persons utterly ignorant in the principles of religion , are not to be admitted to the sacrament till improved in knowledge . ] yet ministers ought to be very tender in this particular , lest they mistake small yet true knowledge for utter ignorance . know , that we have no certain standard in scripture to measure peoples knowledge by . there is not set down the minimum ut sic , the least and lowest degree of knowledge which putteth one into a communicating capacitie , which should make ministers the more favourable , especially to such who discover a desire of information . lest also the more heat plead for the less light , such as are conscientious in their conversations . propos. persons actually or virtually excommunicated durante statu , are to be excluded the sacrament . for we behold them as no members of the church at all , but in the language of the apostle , . tim. . . delivered unto satan . now . cor. . . ye cannot be partaker of the lords table , and of the table of devils . surely such who are delivered to him are satans guests , and in commons with him , untill on the publick confession of his fault in practical , or profession of his faith in dostrinal offences , they be restored to the congregation . secondly , persons virtually excommunicated , by whom i understand such who wallow in a notorious sin excommunicable in it self , though the sentence be not solemnly passed upon them . i say , notorious sin . blessed be god , surreptitious sins of infirmitie do not render us incapable of the sacrament ; if they did , gods table would stand utterly unfurnished , without any either to administer or receive those holy mysteries . now sins must be notorious two manner of ways , . quoad naturam . . quoad notitiam . first quo ad naturam , the sin being horrible and hainous in its own nature , such a sin as is not onely mortal , as all sins are , but mortiferum , if gods mercie doth not interpose : an enumeration whereof is needless as generally known . by the way there is a notorious sin in the nature thereof , which notwithstanding in defiance of opposition , forceth his access unto the sacrament , namely the sin of oppression . how great this is , doth appear by the words of solomon , eccles. . . oppression maketh a wise man mad ; that is , wise men being oppressed above their strength , to comport therewith , oft-times break forth into mad extravagancies . now having formerly shewed how mad-men are to be prohibited the communion , quod efficit tale magis est tale . what makes so , is more so . oppressors sure ought not to receive . but alas ! in all ages such their power , that if pleased , they will command their own passage to the communion in spight of the ministers opposition , god alone being able to punish their presumption therein . secondly , the sin must be notorious , quoad notitiam , so that general cognisance is taken thereof , to the publick scandal of the congregation . if it be done in a corner known to few , no pregnant proof nor publick appearance thereof , the admission of such an offender , is so far from being offensive to the church , that the exclusion of him , will rather be scandalous : but where notice of the fault is arrived at many , and the noyse thereof at more , amounting to a considerable part of the congregation , either in qualitie or number , there lyeth a just prohibition against the receiving of such an offender . when therefore the drunkard shall hold his quaffing-cup in the one hand , and yet desire to take the chalice in the other , when he shall maliciously vow to shed the bloud of his brother , and yet in the next moment desire the bloud of christ to be tendered unto him . when men shall come reeking from their lust , or reeling in their drunkenness ; when any offender with the adulteress john . . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , and with cosbie and zimri shall boldly brave out a sin ; the minister may and must , with well tempered zeal , forbid them partake of the sacrament . this libertie was allowed the ministers under the episcopacie by the words of the * rubrick . and if any of those be an open and notorious evil liver , so that the congregation by him is offended , or have done any wrong to his neighbour by word or deed , the curate , having knowledge thereof , shall call him , and advertise him in any wise not to presume to come to the lords table , untill he have openly declared himself to have truly repented and amended his former naughtie life , that the congregation may thereby be satisfied , which afore were esteemed , and he have recompenced the partie whom he hath done wrong unto . now because onely sins notorious , quo ad notitiam , disable a communicant from the receiving of the sacrament . hence it is that hypocrites in all ages will repair thither in despight of the greatest caution . let the lords board be raled about never so high , never so low , never so close , yet hypocrisie will either climb over it , or creep under it , or wind it self through it . the black devil may , the white devil never will be kept out of christian congregations . propos. . young people , be they never so great or gracious , are at first to be examined by the minister before admitted to the sacrament . most noble theophilus may be an instance hereof , luk. . . that thou mayst know the certaintie of those things wherein thou hast been instructed ; .i. catechised . and although it apears not in the text that such catechising of him was done by the minister , yet it is easie to prove out of primitive antiquitie , that catechumeni was a degree of young christians candidates for the sacrament . here it were to be wished , that ministers questions in this case might be confined , if not to sacramental , yet to soul-concernment . they are not to come to the people as the queen of sheba did to solomon , to urge them with hard questions , . chron. . . nor to propound riddles to them as did sampson to his thirtie companions , judges . . but onely to demand of them such essential points of religion , the not knowing , or ill holding whereof , maimeth the vitals of the soul of a christian . i speak it upon the complaint of those ( whose report with me is above exception ) how many difficult , yet frivolous questions have been propounded unto them ; as what god did before he created the world ? where the soul of lazarus was in the three days interval , whilest his bodie lay in the grave ? a question which he who propounded it , i believe was as ignorant of , as the partie to whom it was propounded . others have been too stern , and morose in not accepting true and pertinent answers , if not coming up to the very top of what was demanded . thus when one was asked what god was , the partie no less modestly than truly replyed , god is a spirit , to whom the minister returned , and so is the devil too ; enough to dash and daunt a softly spirit which rather deserved encouragement . * it is reported of bishop hooper , that worthy martyr , in the days of queen mary ( and a cartwright before mr. cartwright , i mean the great patron of non-conformists ) that when an honest citizen , in a conflict of conscience came to his door for counsel , being abashed at his austere behaviour , he durst not come in , but departed , seeking remedie for his troubled mind at other mens hands . we see good men may be faultie in this particular , and many modest people , examined by rigorous pastors may be frighted into ignorance or forgetfulness , or silence of those very things which formerly they knew , remembered , and could express . propos. . such who once have been admitted by the minister to the communion , are not afterwards to be excluded the same , except since their first admission they may be challenged of some notorious defection from the faith , or corruption in manners . and if they can be challenged , they fall under our former exception . this last proposition is grounded on that foundation which few of the presbyterian partie use to denie , namely , that they , who once have saving knowledge , always have it ; and are rather finally improved than impared therein , psalm . . they shall still bring forth fruit , they shall be fat and flourishing . a minister therefore ought charitably to presume ( nothing appearing to the contrarie ) that the souls of his people move a progressive , not a retrograde motion in pietie : especially if he constantly and conscionably prayeth for them and preacheth amongst them . i say such are not of necessitie to be re-examined by the minister . indeed , if out of humilitie they will tender themselves of their own accord to their minister , and submit to a second examination , ( or as often as they please to receive ) the sacrament , i commend their meekness , and account it an acceptable offering in the eyes of god . however their act ought not to be obligatorie to all others , so as to be pressed to that which some voluntarily did perform . use . to confute such who are overremiss in administering the sacrament , requiring no more than the general profession of christianitie , a reverend posture of the bodie , & a hand reached out to receive , to qualifie one for a communicant . these make the lords table a pandocheon , an inne to entertain all , & christ to keep open house at the sacrament ; and yet we may observe a great difference between the places of christ preaching , and administering the sacrament . he preached often sub dio , in the open air where nothing confined his voice but his voice , as extending audible ( at least intelligible ) no farther . thus matth. . . he went up into a mountain and preached . matth. . . he went into a ship and sate , and the whole multitude stood on the shore . but when he administered the sacrament to some select persons , then he made choice mar. . . of an upper chamber trimmed and prepared , purposely made readie for them , of far less latitude , and receipt as capable , onely of the company intended present at that exercise . to shew the extensiveness of the word to all that please to hear the same , the contractedness of the communion , confined onely to such as in some measure are fitted for the receiving thereof . the maintainers of this opinion of promiscuous communions , proceed upon a double error . first , on the example of judas , one of the worst of men , yet not thought bad enough by christ himself to be excluded the sacrament . here they take that for decided which is disputed , that for concluded which is controverted , adhuc sub judice lis est , it hangeth as yet on the file , and the number and worth of ancient writers on the negative , are almost even with those which affirm his receiving . but suppose he did receive the sacrament , ( which in my particular opinion i do believe ) it maketh nothing for the advantage of those which urge it in this behalf . for , first , judas was compleatly qualified for a communicant , first with knowledge , whereof he had too much , except he had used it better , whose eminent parts were like unto those torches and lanthorns abused by him to apprehend and betray our saviour . secondly , with such seeming holiness , that none of his fellow-disciples could detest , or did suspect him for unfaithfulness : else needless had the question been of john to christ , john . . lord who is it ? had he not carried it so cunningly that no common jealousie centred on him as a traitor in intention . object . christ as god knew judas to be an hipocrite and a devil , and yet he would not denie him the sacrament , to shew , that the worst and wickedest of men may be admitted thereunto . answ. indeed as god he knew it , but it is questionable whether he communicated this knowledge to his humanitie , and if so , yet might not be pleased to take notice thereof at the instant of instituting the sacrament . because therein christ would do nothing but what should be precedential to posteritie to imitate : as intending that meer men should afterwards follow him in the ministerie . the second false principle that the patrons of promiscuous sacraments proceed upon is this , that the lords supper is as well a converting , as a confirming ordinance , from whom ( till we be better informed ) we must be forced to dissent . here , far be it from us to minorate or lessen the efficacie and operativeness of the meanest of gods ordinances , and on the other side , we must be wary , lest we extend their power too far , to the endangering of peoples souls . the word of god is the onely ordinarie means of conversion known unto us . this pearl , though cast before swine , may turn the swine into the sheep , and by gods blessing , alter and better their propertie . nor is any other previous qualification required by an auditor of gods word , but meer hearing the same , which may put life into those who were dead in trespasses , in sins . but food and physick ( for such is the sacrament ) if not given to such who have life to take and digest them , is altogether useless . the first must have faith & repentance who expect to reap any benefit thereby . object . the sacrament is also a converting means , because in the administration thereof , many excellent passages of scripture are intermingled . formerly , when the liturgie was in full practice , several texts of most signal comfort were interwoven by the minister in his preparative addresses thereunto , matth. . . come unto me all that travel , &c. john . . so god loved the world , &c. . tim. . . this is a true saying , and worthy , &c. . john . , . if any man sin , we have an advocate with the father , &c. now these passages of gods word ( which ever hath a converting vigorous virtue in it ) may on a sudden surprise the soul of a notorious sinner present at the sacrament , & effectually work an amendment in him . and although , since the abolishing of the liturgie , the reading of those numerical places be disused , yet one may confidently presume , that no minister of the presbyterian perswasion , doth or can solemnly administer the sacrament , but in his prayers before and after the same he inserteth select scriptures to that purpose . wherefore the receiving of the sacrament , if not in it self , by necessarie consequence , as attended with scripture ( in the due celebration thereof ) is a converting ordinance , and therefore an usurpation to forbid any , the worst of men admittance thereunto . answ . the word of god looseth the converting power thereof , when used against the word of god ; i mean , when applyed contrarie to those directions , which the scripture commendeth unto us . for every communicant is commanded to examin himself , and to discern the lords bodie , and to eat the same worthily . duties which meer unconverted persons , in the state of nature , are utterly unable to perform . these things are not to be wrought there , but brought thither . indeed the sacrament will multiplie , but not make increase , but not create grace in the hearts of receivers . such therefore , who come not qualified for communicants , cannot expect converting from the sacrament , because they break the word of god in appearing there . as for those excellent passages of scripture , used by ministers officiating in the sacrament , it is to be feared they will rather turn the savour of death unto death , and give satan a larger power over those unconverted persons which press to those mysteries . use . it confutes those who are too rigid in administering the sacrament , denying it to all those who will not submit themselves to their examination , though formerly they have been examined and admitted , and since stand charged with no fault proved or suspected , save onely they call it stubbornness or resolution , recusancie to be re-examined . here let none think , that out of the spirit of frowardness i will fully oppose their opinions , or that out of anger or discontent i may favour some modern licencious extravagancies i * remember a storie of the ladie katharine brandon , dutchess of suffolk , which may be applied to my occasions . when every ladie at an entertainment was to choose whom she loved best , and so place themselves , the dutches , because not allowed to choose her own husband ( as against the laws of the feast ) took steven gardiner by the hand , whom she perfectly hated ; with these words , if i may not sit down with him whom i love best , i have chosen him whom i love worst . not to dissemble in the sight of god and man . i do ingenuously protest , that i affect the episcopal government ( as it was constituted in its self , abating some corruptions which time hath contracted ) best of any other , as conceiving it most consonant to the word of god , and practice of the primitive church . but seeing it hath pleased god to set by episcopacie for the present , ( whether or no animo resumendi to him alone is known ) far be it from me to close with such , whom i confess i love the worse ; those practicers of so much libertie in the church , that it tendeth directly to confusion , and whose disorderly order deserves not the name of any discipline . but i know that religion and learning hath flourished under the presbyterian government in france , germanie , the low-countreys . i know many worthy champions of the truth , bred and brought up under the same . i know the most learned and moderate english divines ( though episcopal in their callings and judgements ) have allowed the reformed churches under the discipline for found and perfect in all essentials necessarie to salvation . if therefore denied my first desire to live under that church-government i best affected , i will contentedly conform to the presbyterian government , and endeavour to deport my self quietly and comfortably under the same . this premised ( to prevent personal exceptions against my judgement ) i am bold to say , that the excluding persons from the sacrament on this score alone , for recusancies in point of re-examination , hath been the mother of much mischief in the church . first , it hath brought an undervaluing opinion on the sacrament it self , as if it were not so necessarie for the growth of grace as heretofore was generally preached and believed . lay-people ( which phrase i use not for any fondness i have thereunto , but because generally used and understood ) seeing conscientious ministers debar their people those holy mysteries , meerly for a ceremonious matter , begin to thin , that receiving is but a matter of indifferencie , which may or may not be used without great gain or loss to the soul . secondly , it hath made sacraments to be long disused in some places , to the great grief of many godly perons . i could never read that passage acts . . but with admiration . this day , saith paul , is the fourteenth day which ye have tarried and continued fasting , having taken nothing . strange that life could consist with so long abstinencie . i confess , men in the southern parts have not so active stomachs , as extended & extenuated with heat . i confess also , that having , as one may say , a surfet of sorrow , they had no mind to meat ; as little joying to feed themselves as to feed fishes ; expecting dayly to be drowned . yet all things put together , we cannot understand their fourteen days fasting otherwise , but that in such a term they made no set and standing meals . they did not comfortably enjoy themselves at any just refection ; but fed privately and cursorily as their occasions would give them leave , without any delight , meerly for the maintenance of nature . but behold a greater wonder , for ten years , i dare bodly say , some parishes in this citie have fasted from the sacrament . i will not excuse the peevishness of such people , who on the punctilio of reexamination deprive themselves of so great a benefit . but that the guilt may fall the lighter on either , let it even be parted betwixt both pastor and people as faultie herein . i know not what hard shift such people have made ( perchance privately in their houses , ro else in other parishes ) to be clandestine comunicants , as i may term them , what runing-meals they have made i know not , sure i am they have not sat down at gods board in their own parish for many years , a wonder indeed if well cōsidered . however , this is most injurious , if the drones will not feed , that the bees should be famished . that be far from you my brethren to do after this manner , to starve the righteous with the wicked , and that the righteous should be as the wicked , that be far from you . what if such the fault worthy stubbornness of some as not to submit themselves to re-examination , must communions be wholy neglected ? and humble people , who on any terms are willing to receive the sacrament , be debarred the benefit thereof ? object . should sacraments be administred , and any profane person press in thereunto , there presence would infect all the rest how good soever , contracting guilt to themselves from the companie of those unworthy persons with whom they communicate ? better therefore is a total absence in such a case , than a sinfull receiving . answ. the position is most false , that mixt communions do infect . for when first our aforesaid cautions have been observed , if in defiance of the ministers care and other officers of the church , an unworthy person shall chance , either cunningly to insinuate , or violently to intrude himself , his guilt is on his own head , and he alone answerable for the same . surely the man at the marriage-feast , matth. . . wanting the wedding-garment , had many in the same mess ( for {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , the table was furnished with guests ) some sitting above him , beneath him , before him , besides him , against him , probably putting their hand into the same dish , drinking out of the same cup with him ; yet none of these were taken to task , or called to account , but he alone who came thither unqualified , as wanting a habit necessarie at such entertainments . and here let me be your remembrancer of an humble meditation , seasonable for such who maitain that mixt communions convey contagion to all receivers . it were no less pious than profitable for the best of them to be jealous over themselves with a godly jealousie , and to fear lest their own badness should derive infection to their fellow-communicants . surely s. paul in holy humbleness , said of himself , . tim. . . christ came to save sinners , of whom i am chief . contrarie to which , there thoughts are wholy taken up with suspicions of being infected from others . the third mischief which the disusing of sacraments hath done , is that thereby our adversaries of the romish church have gotten a great advantage . this is a true maxime , a lean communion maketh a fat mass ; and many are fallen off to papistrie on this occasion . let none say , we will easily convert them with penal statutes , or else the more papists the more payments to the present necessities of the common-wealth . surely such a thought never entered into the breast of any godly governour : and the gospel teacheth us other divinitie , to prevent all occasions of christians falling from the true faith , and runing into erroneous opinions . to draw to a conclusion , my humble motion to the ministers , is , that for a time they would be pleased to forbear the urging any so far to re-examination , as upon refusal thereof , to prohibit them the receiving of the sacrament . object . it is hard to say whether your counsel savoureth more of carnallitie , or cowardise . surely st. paul was of a more zealous temper , who gal. . . gave place by subjection , no not an hour to such who would have brought their christian libertie into bondage . such time-serving as you commend unto us , what is it but the prostrating of the scepter of christ to the pleasure of man ? answ. no evil may be done that the greatest good may come from it . but some good may be forborn to be done when , in all christian prudence , thereby a greater good is probable to be promoted . it had been absolutely evil in st. paul to tolerate such betrayers of the christian priviledges a minute or moment , so far forth as in convenient time and place , not to oppose their machinations . but it is christian wisdom for a time to suspend the prosecution of such practices , which may be lawfull and laudable in themselves , when foreseeing they will necessarily attract a greater danger . this was done even by our saviour himself , who perceiving the partial carnallitie in his disciples , respited the delivering of some difficult doctrines , and the pressing of some hard precepts untill they were arrived at more perfection ; john . . i have yet many things to say unto you , but you cannot bear them now . where the people cannot bear , there the ministers must forbear , and patiently wait a fitter opportunitie . object . let us of the presbyterie begin as we will hold . it is given to all authoritie to lessen by the continuance of time : if we abate ought of our power at first , the encroaching of people upon us will quickly reduce it to nothing . answ. this objection savoureth of the spirit of the young men who were rehoboham his councellors , . kings . . and surely if followed will meet with the same success . it will be more honor for the presbyte●ian government hereafter , to be called to by our state , come up hither , prov. . . and to be improved in power , and advanced in honor , than to be degraded afterwards in general esteem , for over-activitie in the beginning . i resume therefore my former motion , and re-inforce it to the consideration of such concerned therein , with the following motives . first , men ought not to be busie to enjoyn these things as necessarie duties , though fitting and convenient , for which they have no express commission in scripture . what protestant will denie the expediencie of confession , in some cases , to a minister ? but when the same was imposed by the church of rome , as absolutely necessarie to salvation , so sovereigne a practice became carnificina , the rack and torture of mens consciences . will any ingenious person gain-say , but that some ceremonies used under the bishops were decent and comely ? but when the same was urged with much violence , what clamours were raised against such practices , under the norion of persecution ? take heed that the reproof of the apostle fall not heavie upon you ; rom. . . therefore thou art inexcusable , o man , whosoever thou art that judgest , for wherein thou judgest another , thou condemnest thy self ; for thou that judgest doest the same things . object . as much may be alleadged for re-examination of communicants , as for baptizing of infants , which by your own confession . you will not denie your own words ; * we do freely confess , that there is neither express precept nor precedent in the new testament for the baptizing of infants , and yet are confident by necessarie and undeniable consequence from scripture , it will be made appear to be founded thereon . answ. first analogie from circumcision . secondly , the birth-holiness of christian infants . thirdly the holy spirit given unto them . fourthly , some degrees of faith conferred on them . fifthly , the necessarie removing of the maladie of original corruption , with the constant practice of the church in allayes are alleadged for baptizing of infants , whereas little or nothing in comparison is produced for re-examination . besides , baptism hath the primitive practice , and the constant use of the ages . whereas the enjoyning of such , who once have received , to be re-examined , is a stranger of yesterday in most protestant churches . herein i appeal to the french and dutch congregations in london ( branches conformable to their respective roots in forreign parts ) whether strangers coming unto them with a testimonial , that once they have been admitted , are not received for receivers , without any further inquirie or examination . indeed , if every particular member , and so by consequence every parish of england should be subject to a new examination on every removeal of an old , and election of a new minister , some parishes would never be out of examination . what saith solomon , prov. . . for the transgressions of a land , many are the princes thereof . not meaning all abreast at once ( which notwithstanding , is both true in it self , and a trouble to the people ) but many successively , sinfull people make short-liv'd princes . many , not in ranck but in file , one after another . i will not say the bad parishioners make many pastours in the place , but be the reproof parted betwixt both ( that so it may fall the lighter and be the better born . ) what betwixt the faults of the one and the other , many have been the avoidances of incumbents , and substituting of new ones in their room in a short time , so that if communicants were of necessitie reexaminable on every alteration , some parishes would be in a perpetual probashionership , and constant candidate-ship for receiving . not to say but that in some parishes ( large in extent and numerous in people ) were monthly communions observed ( which formerly was the commendable practice , and still is the just desire of many ministers ) it would be the constant work of the minister , to do nothing else but examin his people , the which would engross & take up his whole time . and then , if all his care be examining , where is his praying , his preaching , his studying , his visiting the sick , and his other performances ? secondly , excluding the communion for refusing re-examination , is a severitie unreasonable at this time . we read of king amaziah , . chron. . . now it came to pass , when the kingdom was established to him , that he slew his servants that had killed the king his father . why did amaziah so long connive at murther the worst of sins ? treason the worst of murders , and treason against his own father , the worst of treasons , as to suffer the actors thereof so long to enjoy their lives ? a satisfactorie reason is rendered ; he was not as yet fastened on his throne . to strike fiercely with ones hands before he standeth firmly on his feet , is the readie way for one to overturn himself . people must , till they are well settled themselves , and well rooted & riveted in their power , be cautious of provoking any , and may justly suspend the punishing of what is faultie till a fitter oportunitie . and now to commend unto you a double expedient , which may in some sort mitigate the rigor of proceedings . first know it is one thing magisterially and imperiously to thrust people from the sacrament , and another thing to request and intreat them as they tender their own good , to abstain from the receiving thereof . both meet together in the same end , effect the same thing , though embracing several ways in order thereunto . the first way being rough , rugged , full of displeasure and distaste ; the second soft , smooth , more easie both for pastor and people , and most proportionable to the meekness of the ministers in the gospel . let this later way therefore be used by you , when you see just cause to seclude a parishioner from receiving of the sacrament for suspected or detected insufficiencie , when ingenuitie and hope of amendment is legible in him . as it is said of titus vespasian ( for the sweetness of his nature , stiled the delight of mankind ) the neminem demisit tristem , he never sent any suitors sad away from him . yet it must certainly be presumed , that he denied many their desires , it being usual at court , that there be several petitioners for the same office , which onely one can receive , but then that emperour had the happiness so to qualifie his denials with good language , that he made them but one degree from a grant . sometimes he would convince such suitors in their judgements , that they requested that which was not in his present power to grant . sometimes he shewed them , that their desires were destructive unto themselves , at leastwise , that they were unfit and improper to receive them . sometimes he would promise them the next preferment far better and fitter for them . in a word , without any falshood or flatterie ( as beneath the majestie of a prince ) his soft , supple , and complying nature so applied it self to all dispositions , that people contentedly , yea , thankfully & chearfully departed from him with denials . god hath given you such sinews of logick , and such colours of rhetorick , & such perswasive tongues , if pleased to improve them , that except you meet with unreasonable men , . thess . . ( from whom god delivere you ( {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} ) from those that have no topicks , no sence of reason or arguments ; you may convince such whom you account unfitting to receive , for their own good , to abstain from the same . neighbour , with joseph , i would be a just man , that is in gospel acception , an equal man , matth. . . i am not willing to make you a publick example that others should take any occasion to slight any neglect you . i am tender of your credit , conceiving it to be wrapped up in my own ; such the near relation betwixt the shepherd and his sheep . i will not in a disgracefull way forbid you the lords table , but with joseph , i am minded to put you away privily , or rather do entreat you willingly to put away your self . i am jealous over you with a godlie jealousie , that you have not as yet such a measure of knowledge as may fit you for these mysteries . i say , as yet ; for i doubt not but on your prayers to god for your self , and mine for you hereafter , you may seasonably be admitted to the sacrament : but it is better to stay a year too long , than come a day too soon . know , i could interpose my power , if so disposed , and command you forbearance , but what saith st. paul , philemon . wherefore though i might be so much bold in christ to enjoyn thee , the which is convenient , yet for loves sake i rather beseech thee , and know the strength of my affection to thee inditeth this counsel , and no other by-respect . a soft tongue , saith solomon , prov. . . breaketh the bones . it is impossible but that an ingenious nature will be affected therewith , and cannot take just exception thereat . the second expedient i recommend is this , even to practice our saviour his precept , matth. . . neither do men put new wine into old bottles , else the bottles break & the wine runneth out , and the bottles perish : but they put new wine into new bottles , and both are preserved . i apply it thus , put old wine into old bottles , your ancient communicants which formerly have frequently received of your selves , or your predecessors , and are habited to the ancient custom of receiving , admit them without any scruple ( except excludible according to the premises , for some notorious sin ) charitably presuming ( nothing appearing to the contrary ) that they are improved in sufficiencie for the same . now put new wine into new bottles . such novices , which never before received , and remember not the old temple . i mean the former discipline of the church under episcopacie , whose maturitie to receive bears date onely from the beginning of our differences . let them on gods blessing be solemnly tried and examined before they be admitted unto the receiving of the sacrament . and here by your leave and favour , i humbly conceive , that the * ordinance of lords and commons , ( if seriously perused according to the genuine and natural sence of the words , speaks onely de admittendis , and not de admissis , and impowereth ministers onely to the examination of such who received it not before , who ought now more strictly to be examined in england than ever before : for the church of rome erroneously advanced confirmation to such a height , as to make it a sacrament . the church of england under episcopacie retained it so far as an ancient and usefull custom , appropriating the exercise thereof to bishops alone . the present discipline hath utterly abolished both bishop and the use of confirmation . however , something analogical thereunto may and must be continued . the primitive christians being wise in the appointing , though after-ages were superstitious in the abusing thereof , and the more confirmation is neglected , the more ought a serious examination of youth in this kind be continued and practised . in a word , there is a way to examin people , committed to the care of the ministers , which may be done without any dangerous noyse , and without the least suspition of pragmaticalness , and yet to the great glorie of god , quiet of the minister , and edification of the church . this examining consisteth not in summoning people before them , and sounding them with question and answer , but in the solid and faithfull preaching the sincere word of god , which carrieth a secret searching power along therein , heb. . . for the word of god is quick , and powerfull , and sharper than any two-edged sword , piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit , and of the joynts and marrow , and is a discerner of the thoughts , and intents of the heart . thus by prophecying ( that is by preaching of gods word ) . cor. . . if there come in one that believeth not , or one unlearned , he is convinced of all , he is judged of all : & thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest , and so falling down on his face , he will worship god , and report that god is in you of a truth . i say , let us take off for a time from the other , and more practice this examination as least subject to exception . trie it but for a time , and you shall see what success it will find , and fright unworthy persons from the sacrament , with a more awfull reverence than your actual secluding them for not submitting themselves to re-examination . to conclude , i may compare the first high acting of presbyterians to men running in a race . it is impossible for a racer to stop just at the mark : he must either over-run it , or else can never come at it . but when past the mark , ( necessarily transported with his own fierceness beyond the same ) he will return to it again , to shew that that place and no further was the intended end of his endeavours . whilest you contested with episcopacie , your corrival , and were seven years since in the height and heat of your contention , therewith much may be pleaded for your passion , if it transported you in some actions beyond the just standard and proportion of your judgements . but seeing now it hath pleased god that you have run your adversarie quite out of distance , and have attained that you strove for , it will be no shame , nay it will be your honor to abate and remit of your former eagerness , and coolly and calmly to return to the place which you over-shot in the paroxcism of that contest . this is the humble advise and desire of him who hath no private ends therein ; but the advancement of gods glorie , and the good of his church . amen . dum spiro spero the second reconciler . acts . . and after the reading of the law and the prophets , the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them , saying , ye men and brethren , if ye have any word of exhortation for the people , say on . this chapter presents us with four principal remarkables . the solemn separation of paul and barnabas for the ministerie , five pious persons are mentioned , vers. . all in humane likelihood , equally probable for the employment . barnabas , simeon , lucius , mahanaem , and saul ; of these god leaves the three middlemost , takes the first and the last ; even so father because it pleaseth thee . then have we the three first adventures of barnabas and saul in there ministerie , whereof the first proved prosperous , the second with the jews at antioch had sad success , the third with the gentiles in the same place came off with comfort . we ministers must not be elated with good success , but fear the worst , nor dejected with bad , but hope the better . in their first adventure they confounded elimas the sorcerer , and saul converted sergius paulus the wise deputie of cyprus . by the laws of herauldry , whosoever fairly in the field conquered his adversary , may justifie the wearing and bearing of his arms whom he overcame . here saul had conquered sergius paulus , overcome his ignorance , vanquished his infidelitie ; no wonder then if he assumeth his name , and henceforward is called paul in all the historie , his next voyage ends sadly , and sorrowfully with blasphemie and persecution from the jews at antioch , though it began comically and courteously with this fair invitation in my text ; and after the reading of the law and the prophets , &c. the words contain a principal part of the jewish liturgie , or if that displease , their directorie , wherein their solemn sabbath-service is plainly presented unto us . i confess , there is no mentiō of prayer an essential part of gods worship among them , ( my house shall be called the house of prayer ) which is omitted in the text , not as if it were omitted by the jews , but because st. luke hasteneth with all convenient speed to the doctrinal part , as leading the nearest way to the matter in hand . some persons account this verse their master-piece , hoping hence by their cunning chymistrie , to extract a licence general for all men to preach ; though the words well understood , are so far from their building any advantage thereon , that they batter down both their opinions and practice . we will first clear the same from the incumbrances of all difficulties , and then extract natural and profitable observations from them . law and the prophets ] law taken largely , conteineth all the prophets , & prophets taken largely , comprise all the law , . pet. . . no prophesie of scripture is of private interpretation . yea moses , the prophet paramount was the penner of the law , deut. . . and there arose not a prophet since in israel like unto moses whom the lord knew face to face . but when the law and the prophets are distinguished , so as to devide the old testament betwixt them , as luke . . they have moses and the prophets : then by law is meant the pentateuch , or five books of moses , by prophets all the rest of the old testament , not onely such parts as foretel what was to come , but also which historically relate what was past . the rabbins tell us , that the five books of moses were divided into fiftie three perasoth or divisions ( each whereof conteined one hundred thirtie six verses ) and one of them was read every sabbath-day , beginning at the first sabbath after the feast of tabernacles , if any say , there being but fiftie two sabbaths in the year , what did they with the odd perasoth , or division ? i can give no certain account , save that it is probable they doubled their office the last sabbath , hemming it , as i may say , at the close and conclusion thereof . the masters of the synagogue . ] why plural ? what saith st. james , be not many masters . answ . by masters are meant the several rulers thereof , which as the rabbins do teach , were subordinate one to another . here it will be worth our pains to make enquirie into the name , first founding , and use of the synagogues . synagogue , signifieth a meeting-place where many are assembled together . the first and last mention of them in the old testament , is psal. . . they have burnt up all the synagogues of god in the land . now if this psalm had had any large title , we might have conjectured at the time when synagogues were first founded . but nothing appears in the front thereof more than , maschil to asaph . again , if this asaph was the same with him who was contemporarie with david , . chron. . . whose sons were designed for solemn singers , this would advance the senioritie of synagogues as extant in davids time : but much weight must not be laid on so slender a proof for fear of failing . seeing asaph there may be taken , not for his person , but for his posteritie , some hundred years after ; the result of all is this , uncertain but ancient is the original of synagogues , as before the captivitie of babylon . no positive place of scripture directly enjoyneth their foundation , onely for the necessarie ease of people who could not repair to the temple and return back to their own homes on a sabbath-day . these may be said to be jure divino secundario , by divine right once removed , namely collected from the scriptures by necessarie consequence , and were constantly graced with our saviours companie therein . these synagogues served for a double intent , as our churches for devotion , and as schools or academies for disputation . act. . . therefore disputed he in the synagogues with the jews . so that the synagogue may be presented in its lively pourtracture , like to the builders of the walls of jerusalem , nehem . . . holding a trowel , to build it , in one hand , and a weapon , to defend it , in the other . semblablie the synagogues were both for edification of people in knowledge , and for controversial defending of the truth therein by polemical learning . sent unto them , saying , ] object . it seems it was fashionable in that age , that any who would might preach in the synagogues , onely with a courteous call of the masters thereof ; so that the pulpit lay open to all comers and goers , & not ( as some now endeavour ) enclosed by , yea engrosed a particular profession . in answer hereunto we will first clear the title which both paul and barnabas had to preach the word . first for barnabas , his first title was , by his extraction , being a levite , act. . . to whom it belonged by their profession to teach the people . secondly , he had an extraordinarie call from god in the second verse of this chapter : besides , at this time a civil invitation from the masters of the synagogue . thus his three-fold cable cannot be broken , nor any unlawfull invading of the ministerial office be charged upon him . thirdly , st. pauls commission to preach , doth appear both by his abilitie and authoritie for the same . his abilitie , act. . . brought up at the feet of gamaliel . object . we confess his abilitie , but denie his authoritie ; for first he was no levite , but of the tribe of benjamin , to whom the expounding of the law was never committed . secondly , he was one of a manual and mechanical trade , act. . . a tent-maker . answ. all is confest , but let the unpartial reader consider first , that paul was a pharisee , the son of a pharisee , act. . . seasonably let him also weigh the words of our saviour , matth. . , . the scribes and pharisees sit in moses chair : all therefore whatsoever they bid you observe , that observe and do : but do not after their works , for they say and do not . indeed , the lay-pharisees , as i may term them , sit not in moses chair in one capacity , because being of other tribes , they might not offer sacrifice , officiate at the altar , and attend at the temple , but onely as professors of the law and doctors , they might read publick lectures to their auditors . thirdly , let them consider that synagogues , as aforesaid , were of double use , and served for an academie as well as a congregation . all which laid together , it will plainly appear , that paul in his pharisaical capacitie , had sufficient authoritie to teach in the synagogue . not to speak of his calling of callings , his extraordinarie and immediate commission from god , authorizing him to the same . object . grant the abilitie and authoritie of paul and barnabas to preach , yet both were utterly unknown to the masters of the jewish synagogue in antioch , who beheld them as neither more nor less than meer strangers , casually coming thither . answ. first we will premise the answer of carthusianus a learned papist , and justly dissent from the former part thereof . ex habitu censuerunt esse pios & religiosos . they esteemed them , saith he , to be pious and religious men by their habit . to this i agree negatively thus far , that nothing of vanitie or lightness appeared in there clothes to speak them idle or foolish persons , but otherwise i dissent , that the form or fashion of their clothes differed from other people . surely what would hide and heat , cover and keep warm , served their turns . the cloak , no doubt , which paul left at troas , . tim. . . differed not in shape from other mens . for then in the time of persecution to be distinguished by their habit from others , what was it but to give a mark of discoverie to their enemies malice , yea , to give them aim to level the more steadily at them . and yet i denie not , but that it is fitting , that in times of peace ministers should be distinguished from ordinarie men by the gravitie of their garments . and the ancient church-canons on that kind , were grounded on just considerations . we answer , it is more than probable , that the fame of paul and barnabas came to antioch before their persons came thither . there being dayly intercourse by sea betwixt paphos , a famous port in cyprus , and this antioch . the smiting elimas the sorcerer blind , and converting of sergius paulus , could not but make a strange and sudden impression on the neighbouring places . secondly , their grave demeanour and reverend behaviour in the synagogues attached the eyes of all people to behold them and beholding , to read in them more than common and ordinarie persons . they behaved not themselves in gods house during the exercise of gods ordinance , like some spiritual clowns now adays , whose unreverent deportment bewrays their ignorance ; but so decently they demeaned themselves , that they struck the beholders into a reverent opinion of their persons , and conjecture at their professions to be preachers of gods word . thirdly , had the masters of the synagogue been mistaken herein , had paul and barnabas been otherwise than they appeared and were apprehended to be [ viz. no more than common men unimpowered with a commission ] to preach . surely the rulers presumed on their modestie and humilitie , that they would decline the proffer , seeing in that age , none adventured to teach without lawfull authoritie , as largely , god willing , shall be proved hereafter . mean time let us proceed to the collection of some natural observations from the words , after the reading of the law and the prophets . doct. . it is good reason , that gods word in the church should have precedency of mens meditations . for gods word is all gold , ( and prized above it by david , psal. . . ) the best mens meditations but silver and guilt , and that silver having much allay therein , which debaseth the metal , though it maketh it to work the better to mens understandings , rendering the sublime puritie of gods word more easie and intelligible when expounded , explained , and applied by the pains and endeavours of ministers . wherefore as the master of the feast , john . would have the best wine brought first , and then what was worse . so fit it is that the virgin attentions of the people in the church , should first be fed with the pure and sincere word of god , as it is in the text , and afterwards their appetites may be entertained with less daintie diet , the sermons and studies of their ministers . doct. . it was an ancient custome in the church , that gods word was publickly read therein . and here let us endeavour to raise the just reputation of the word publickly read ; some conceive , that the word preached , is as much holyer than the word read , as the pulpit is higher than the desk . yea such will say , my self , or son , or servant can read a chapter as well at home , as any the most accomplished minister in england . but let such know , that he which doth not honor all , doth not honor any of gods ordinances , & it is just with god , that preaching of the word should prove uneffectual to such as slight and neglect the reading thereof . doct. . blessed be the goodness of god , who hath bettered the bill of fare of christians , by allowing our souls a second course of the new testament . and properly may the new testament be termed a second course , which commonly hath dishes fewer than the first , for there quantitie , finer for the qualitie of the meat ; and here far be it from me to make comparisons ( which are odious in themselves , and so much the more odious , the more eminent the persons or things are that be compared ) betwixt the old and new testament . as moses in holy zeal , by clashing the first table against the second , brake both : so some prophanely & despightfully abuse old and new testament , about preeminence betwixt them . but acknowledging them both best in this respect , as to us , the new testament excels as far as a blessing performed is better than a blessing promised , and a saviour tendered in possession , more comfort than in reversion . the rulers of the synagogue . ] doct. . no considerable societie can long comfortably subsist without some government to order the same . ten are but a few men , yet moses , by the counsel of wise jethro his father in law , exod. . . made rulers of tens . better is a tyranny than an anarchie : for where every man doth what is good in his own eyes , where there is equalitie amongst all , there will be equitie but amongst few men . doct. . it is lawfull for ministers to make use of the help of others , not onely in their sickness and necessarie absence , but also when their own persons are present . first , because we must as well mend our nets , as always catch fishes ; as well studie for new supply , as always preach . and seeing nature hath given us as well two ears as a tongue , we must as attentively listen to the parts and pains of others , as contentedly utter our own meditations . secondly , such varietie will not onely be pleasant but profitable to our people in the mouth of two or three witnesses let every truth be established . when the people shall hear the same matter in a different manner , one truth [ salvation by gods mercies alone and christs merits ] dressed in several motives and methods , and expressions . the nails will be driven the faster by many masters of the assembly ; and though it be faultie for itching ears to heap up teachers to themselves , yet sometimes such exchange of preachers , increase the edification of an auditorie . doct. . they may have courtesie and civilitie in them , who notwithstanding may be devoid of grace and true sinceritie . these masters of the synagogue began very mannerly , proffer paul and barnabas the courtesie of the place , but all ended at last in blasphemie and persecution . doct. . none are to preach but such who are lawfully called thereunto . the rulers of the synagogue gave a licence to paul and barnabas , who intrude not without their leave and desire . how many now a days in despight of the rulers of the synagogues , the undoubted patron , the lawfull incumbent , the guardians of the church publickly chosen , storm the pulpit by their meer violence , without any other call or commission thereunto . be it first premised , that we protest our integritie not to invade the due right of any christian , with abraham , gen. . . we will not take a shoo-latchet which is none of our own . to which purpose we lay down the following rules , allowing as much libertie as may be to all gods servants . first , parents & masters of families , may and must privately teach their own children and servants . teach them , and thou shalt be taught ; instruct them , and god will instruct thee ; never had abram , in all probabilitie , so soon known gods intentions to destroy sodom ; but because gen. . . he would command his children to keep the law of god . even mothers ought to do this , who have a legislative power over their sons , prov. . . forsake not the law of thy mother . it is remarkable , that great grace which god did to a mother , that her private precepts , ( namely bathsheba to her son lemuel ) prov. . were afterward made canonical scripture for gods whole church . yet let me advise parents , when modestly undertaking in their own houses to explain scripture , not to make fountain , but cistern expositions thereof . viz. not to be the inventers , but the declarers ; not the devisers , but the remembrancers of inter pretations . children and servants , i have heard such a godly preacher , or have read in such a learned comment thus to expound this passage of scripture . but if he should adventure of himself to tender unto them an explication , let it be done with an humble reservation and submission to the better judgements of those , whose proper profession it is to expound the same . hoever , he may more safely deal in application than in explication of gods word , the general precepts , promises , and threatenings , whereof , he may effectually applly to himself and those of his familie under his inspection . secondly , judges on the bench may and must in their charges teach the countie there assembled , inserting scripture in their discourses , such the correspondencie , and mutual good intelligence between the laws of god and man , that they return and receive strength and lustre each to other . this made jehoshaphat to couple judges and priests together in the visitation of his people , . chron. . vers. . also in the third of his reigne he sent to his princes , even to benhail , and to obadiah . vers. . and with them he sent levites , even shemaiah , &c. vers. . and they taught in juda , &c. the one the law of the land , the other the law of the lord ; which excellent medley made a cordial composition thus put together . thirdly , professors in the universitie , as the doctors of the chair , may , in a controversial way , preach to young students under them . such doctors in divinitie are generally in holy orders , but if ( which is rare ) one unordained be preferred to the place , he may use polemical preaching , confining himself to the schools , the proper centre thereof . fourthly , generals in the field , before and after the fight , may make orations or sermons if you please , to encourage the souldiers . i confess , as custom hath confined the word bible , ( signifying in it self any book ) to the word of god , so hath it appropriated sermons ( which importeth any speech ) to those made by a preacher in the pulpit : otherwise those may pass for sermons which generals utter in the field as joab , abiah , jehosaphat . and because all true valour is founded in the knowledge of god in christ , such generals may and must , to raise the resolution of their souldiers : by inserting and interposing passages of scripture , animating them to depend on god the just maintainer of a right cause . thus queen elisabeth in . at tilbury camp , inspirited her souldiers with her christian exhortation . lastly , all christians ought mutually to teach and instruct one another . in this case every place is a church , day a sabbath , occasion a text , person a preacher . rom. . . admonish one another , col. . . teaching one another in psalms and hymns , thess. . . comfort one another with these words , jude . edifie one another even as also ye do , heb. . . exhorting one another . to this end are talents bestowed on men that they should stirr up the gifts of grace which are in them . thus priscilla , though a woman , instructed apollos . but here we must distinguish betwixt mutuall and ministerial teaching . in the former the romans may be said to teach st. paul , as well as st. paul the romans . i am comforted with you by the mutual faith both of you and me , rom. . . whilst ministerial teaching belongeth onely to such , who are solemnely called thereunto . take two criteria or distinguishing marks , betwixt mutual and ministerial teaching . the former is compatible with another vocation , either liberal or mechanical according to the condition of the person . yea which is more , not onely it is lawfull to have another calling , but in some cases for some men , sinfull to be without it ; s. paul saith , thes. . . if any would not work , neither should he eate . this mutual teaching of others will not excuse peoples idleness , nor can they plead for themselves , this mutual labour in love shall exempt them from other manual work ; because by it self it amounts not to a distinct profession , as being the entire body of a calling , which is onely a part and necessary member of all mens duty , as they are christians . but publick preaching is to possess the whole man as the highest of employments , wherein he may use all his pains and endeavours . secondly , no salary or reward is due to mutual teaching ( save the inward blessing which god bountifully will bestow on such as labour therein ) so that the teacher may demand it of due , it being an injury in the party taught to detain the same . such teachers must know themselves sufficiently satisfied by the good , which is returned unto them by reflection , having their graces heightned and intended by their instruction : besides the party taught restoreth oft times instruction unto him ; and so there is nothing due in the reciprocation of courtesies , but the obligation cancelled on both side . but to ministerial preaching wages is due by gods appointment , the labourer is worthy of his hire , because sequestring his soul from other works to attend that business alone , god hath ordered it , cor. ● . . that those that preach the gospel shall live of the gospel . thus have we given , or rather god hath given , and we have declared , how christians un-ordained may teach gods word in a domestical , in a mutual , in a military , in a judicial , in an academical capacity , shame light on that steward who is niggardly where his master commands him to be bountifull , had we denyed christians this liberty , we had wronged them much , our selves more , god most . but now let me say unto them in the words of the master of the houshould , matth. the . tolle quod tuum est , & abi , take what is thine and go thy way . be contented with what hath been allotted unto you , which hath been fairly measured out and with all possible advantage . gripe and graspe not after more , least you loose the blessing and benefit of what you have , which hath now brought us to the following doctrine as chiefly intended in this discourse . come we now to the main doctrine which is this , none may ordinarily execute the office of preacher , except lawfully called thereunto , i say ordinarily . for much may and must be indulged to lay-men in absolute necessity , if they adventure to exercise the ministerial function . i say absolute necessity ; here first i exclude all conditional necessity which is but necessity of conveniency . such saul might have pleaded for himself , sam. . . when presuming to sacrifice to prevent the peoples scattering . but when the necessity is invincible and unavoydable , god may seem to dispense as in davids eating the shew-bread properly belonging to priests alone . otherwise men must not first make necessities , and then make use of those necessities to excuse their extraordinary practices . for instance , suppose some out of sullenness and pride , conceiving themselves too good to converse with conmmon christians , should separate themselves ( being none of them ministers ) into a solitary place from all society . it were presumption for one of them to adventure on the office of the ministery . but put case some number of people ( none of them ever ordained banished by tyrants , carried captive by violence , or casually cast by shipwrack , or tempest into a wilderness , or amongst pagans , where no possibility of recovering a minister , if the gravest and ablest amongst them should by general consent be chosen to officiate in their congregation , god no doubt would hold him guiltless in such a case of extremity . except they be lawfully called thereunto . a lawfull calling is partly internal , partly external , the internal part thereof consisteth in two things . first , in having a desire and delight to undertake the ministery . by desire i understand , not every fond fancy , light or slight affection , but a serious and reduced tendency of the soul to that calling . especially , when such persons , if consulting sinister respects , might have provided more plentifully both for themselves , and their posterity ; yet passing by more gainfull professions , whereof they were equally capable with others , their restless souls cannot be centred with satisfaction on any profession , save that of the ministery , thus tim. . . if a man desire the office of a bishop he desireth a good thing , not the honour , but the office , not the profit , but the pain : whence {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} mans natural appetite , if he have as great a desire thereunto as to his natural food . secondly , in having some competent ability to discharge that office , i say competent : for for these things who are sufficient ? it is a burthen too heavy for the back of an angel ; some skill in greek , and hebrew that he may competently recover the scripture in the original . some skill in logick to analize the scripture aright . for although the words of the apostle , tim. . . rightly dividing the word of truth , be principally intended , theological divisions ( giving comfort to whom comfort terrour to whom terrour belongs ) yet even logicall dividing is necessary for the clear parcelling and expounding the word . some skill not in vain but full philosophy to understand the metaphors of scripture . know here , great the difference of abilities in several ages . in time of general ignorance a lesser degree of knowledge must be admitted : sad the times in the beginning of queen elizabeth , when by her majesties injunctions , the clergy were commanded to read the chapters over once or twice by themselves ; that so they might be the better enabled to read them distinctly in the congregation . blessed be god , we have an alteration to the better , and lately there hath been plenty of able men , were their parts but sufficiently sanctified ; which hath brought me to the third part of the internal call viz. inward holiness this is mainly material as rendred for a reason of the extraordinary success of the ministery of barnabas , acts . why much people were added to the lord , by his preaching . for he was a good man , and full of the holy christ and of faith , &c. i deny not but it may be possible even for a wicked minister , virtute officij by virtue of his office to convert others to god . but far betterit is when done officio virtutis , by the office and efficacy of his virtues , as the instrumental cause thereof . true it is daniel . . they that turn many to righteousness shall be as the stars for ever and ever , but what went before in the same verse ; and they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament . and what saith solomon prov. . . if thou be wise thou shalt be wise for thy self , chiefly labouring to make his own calling and election sure . the external call consists , first , in the approbation of such in the church , which have power and place to examine them . for know , all men by nature have laodicean humour in their souls , ready to say , i am rich , and have need of nothing , when indeed they are poor and have need of all things . i have gifts , i have graces fit to make a minister , will swelling emptiness say , when modest abilility is often silent . now let another praise thee , and not thy own mouth . let guilty dross decline the touch-stone ; good gold rejoyceth when brought thereunto , but let these also first be proved . a great emphasis is couched in also , how good soever they may be reported : let their honesty and ability both of them be first examined , wherein eminent holiness may make the less knowledge to pass currant , but no knowledge how great soever can qualifie profaness for the office . but all these will not do the deed to make a lawfull minister , still one thing , and but one thing is wanting , and that is ordination , acts . b. titus . . the solemnity whereof with the ceremony used thereat are set forth in scripture . this done after the internal , and external call compleated by approbation and , ordination , let one so qualified preach the word , be instant in season , out of season , reprove , rebuke , exhort , with all long-suffering and doctrine , the lord prosper the work of his hands , yea , the lord prosper his handy work , we have wished him good success in the name of the lord . come we now to resume our main doctrine , which is this . none may ordinarily execute the office of a preacher , except lawfully called thereunto . this first , appears by the legall priesthood appropriated to the sons of levi , and two eminent judgements one to forraigners usurping the same , vzzah a private man , vzziah a king , to shew , that neither high nor low may be excused therein . uzzah to the tabernacle , uzziah to the temple . to shew that whether the church be in motion , in afluctuating and tottering condition , or temple-like in a standing and setled estate , none can be defended : uzzah out of charity mistaking meaning well : uzziah out of mere pride of heart lifting up himself , to shew , that god will not hold them guiltless , be their intentions good or bad , uzzah favoured , ( at leastwise not opposed ) by the beholders , and pitied by david himself . uzziah resisted by the priests , to shew , that whether men do or do not mislike such intrusion , it is unlawfull in it self . uzzah instanly smitten with death , uzziah with a long and lingering sickness parted from publick society , to shew that divine justice goeth not always the same path ; and the same place in punishing offenders . and here it is not unworthy our notice , that though jeroboam made priests of the meanest of the people ( without any respect to the tribe of levi kings . . never giving his negative voice for any mans worthiness , but whosoever would might be a priest . yet even those priests , did not officiate till the ceremony of a mock-consecration was passed upon them , chron. . . with the sacrifice of a bullock and seven rams : well did that wicked politician know , that except some solemnity was used to separate his priests , as mean as they were , from common people , his prophane religion would quickly be contemned and confounded . secondly , this may be proved by the solemn calling and commission of christs apostles . their calling consisted in , come hither . their commission consisted in , go therefore . their calling , mark . . and he goeth up into a mountain and calleth unto him whom he would , and they came unto him . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} ( whence our english call ) it was not who would come , but whom he called , christ invites all to salvation . come unto me all ye that are heavy laden , onely some to the ministerial function . object . it was moses his wish num. . . would god that all the lords people were prophets ; what he desired is now done , what then wished is now wrought : then prayed for , now performed . the pulpit ( or prophecying ) according to moses his wish is now open to all , and such discover the envious spirit of joshua who repine thereat . ans. it followeth not that those things either should be , or which every good man in holy zeal doth desire . i will not instance in the wish of daniel , o king live for ever , least any say , that was but a court-complement , st. paul saith romans . brethren my hearts desire for israel is , that they may be saved . israel indefinitely , that is israel universally , though it neither could nor would be so , as contrary to the will and pleasure of god in that particular : thus the expressions of moses was the commendable extravagancie of his pious affection ; but not the exact standard by adaequation , whereunto the lawfullness of all mens prophesying should be proportioned . the second part of their commission consists in go therefore . i confess the apostles , when first sent to preach , matth. . . had but a limited or confined go , ago , which began with , go not , go not in the way of the gentiles , but go rather to the lost sheep of israel . but after christ his resurrection , their commission was general , go ye therefore and teach all nations — and lo i am with you always even to the end of the world . men and brethren let me freely speak unto you af the apostles , that they are both dead and buried , and their sepulchers ( though uuknown , are amongst us unto this day , christ therefore promising to be with them to the end of the world , therein also intendeth their posterity and lawfull successours . and this is the chartar from whence we ministers , lawfully ordained , justly derive our commission . a third argument might be fetched from the practice of the primitive church , wherein preaching was onely practised by such as were lawfully ordained thereunto , which may be cleared by authority out of the fathers . but i purposely decline this reason remembring how samson served the philistines , when fastened judges . . by his locks with a pin : for he went away with the pin of the beam ; thus when we think to have our adversaries in this point safe and fast , when by an argument fetcht from church-practise we stake them down to the primitive times , away they carry pin and all by slighting and contemning such ancient practises , as no ways concluding them to conform thereunto . fourthly , this appeareth by several places of scripture , as rom. . . how shall they preach except they be sent . now shall they preach . that is profitably to others , comfortably to themselves , with an assurance of divine direction , protection , benediction . it is said in the fore-going words , how shall they hear without a preacher , to shew that it is equally impossible for men to hear without a preacher , as to preach lawfully without sending . let such , who pretend to preach without a call , try if they can hear without a preacher . this they will never presume to do , as knowing that they shall quickly be confuted by the rest in the room , which can hear nothing where nothing is spoken , though they have as quick ears as any others . secondly , cor. . . if the whole body were an eye , where were the hearing ? prophets we know are termed seers , sam. . . now where all the body is sight , that may be truly termed not a body mistical but monstrous . and here i lay this down for a position of undoubted truth , that although some not called to be ministers are often said in scripture to teach and instruct ; yet none are said to preach , but such who have a publick calling thereunto , take it in the verbe {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , to preach , or in the participle {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , preaching , or in the verbe denoting the act {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , preaching , or in the noune {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , expressing the agent a preacher , in all these the word is onely predicated of such , who had a solemne vocation , and were entered into the ministery ; i say again the aforesaid word preaching with its derivatives , being used more than seventie times in the new testament is constantly confined either to christ , or to his apostles , or to his disciples , or to the deacons , or to some publick persons , making the same their proper functions . abate me onely two places , one mark . . whereof the man cleansed of the leprosie it is said , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . the other mark . . of the dumb and deaf man who {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . but here the distinction of our translatours is commendable ; who no doubt observing the constant tenour of scripture ( the best way to expound words therein ) and finding the word {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , restrained generally to men of the ministerial profession have rendered the word here not to preach but to publish , mark . . but he went out and began to publish it much ; mark . . so much the more a great deal they publish it . so that without any exception at all the rule notes universally true in our translation through the new testament , that preaching is onely attributed to publick persons appointed for the same . use . to confute such who maintain , that men gifted , though not called , may preach . but let us examine what manner of gifts they pretend . first , some gifts are such as may be said eminently to contain a calling in them namely such , which — presently and perfectly are bestowed upon men , if a mean man utterly unlettered shall in an instant be furnished with arts and languages , as the apostles were ( not gaining them by degrees with study and industry ) such a one would startle , us if challenging ipso facto to be a minister , because miraculously enabled for the same . and yet we may observe , that god to keep order and regulariry in his church solemnly sent such , who were thus immediately qualified to the churches approbation . witness paul and barnabas ; who notwithstanding their rich endowments were in this chapter solemnly separated verse with the fasting and prayer of the church , with their hands layed on them . wherefore i say again should such a person appear , commencing per saltum , compleate in all sciences , and languages , so that all the tongues , which departed from babel in a confusion , should meet in his mouth in a method , it would give assurance to others , that these his gifts came down from the father of lights , if willingly submitting himself to the examination , and ordination of such to whom it properly doth belong . otherwise if amongst all other gifts ; the essential grace of humility be wanting , it will render the rest suspected from what fountain they do proceed . but let us survey what gifts those are , which generally are most boasted of by opposers in this point . god is my witness , i speak it without bitterness or any satyricall reflection . are they not for the most part such as may be reduced to boldness , confidence , memory , and volubility of tongue . might they not truely say of many of their sermons what the son of the prophets said of their axe kings . . alas its borrowed , venting chiefly the notes and endeavours of others . but grant their gifts never so great , graces so good , parts so perfect , endowments so excellent , yet meer gifting without calling makes not a lawfull preacher . this appears by christs practice , luke . . where we read it was his custom to go into the synagogues every sabbath day . all this time christ was admirably gifted , and endowed with gods spirit . the minister of nazareth might say to our saviour more truly than john the baptist : i have need to come to thee , and comest thou to me . he was able to teach his teachers , yet all this while he was silent , tooke not on him the office of a preacher , and why , because as yet he had not received his commission from god for that office , and therefore till he was past thirty years of age , he was contented probably to follow his fathers calling of a carpenter , mark . . certainly ) to conceal himself in a private condition , for it is said , matth. . . from that time jesus began to preach , and to say , repent , for the kingdom of heaven is at hand , that is , from the time that john the baptist was shut up in prison . for fit it was that the day-star should set before the sun did arise ; abating therefore onely that essay which he made luke . when he disputed with the dr● . in the temple , he adventured not on any publick performance of preaching , as well knowing , that his exquisite accomplishments would not bear him out therein , except solemnly called thereunto . remarkeable also is his answer to the pharisees question , demanding of him , matth. . . as he was teaching , by what authority dost thou these things , and who gave thee this authority ; which plainly sheweth , that the pulpit in that age did not lye open in common , to any who would stock the same , but was sequestred to select persons approved for the place ▪ yea , our saviour , doth not deny he had authority , but denies to tell them what authority he had tacitely ; confessing himself obnoxious to just censure , if being a mere private man without commission either ordinary , or extraordinary ( such his license ad praedicandum ) he had wounded that profession . object . if a master may teach his family , he may preach in the church . for what is a family but a small church , or a church but a great family . the place makes no , difference in the duty , nor doth the number of people alter the nature of the exercise . besides it is possible that some numerous family , may have more people in it than some narrow parish . answer . the latter is confest , but the main is this ; his calling extends onely to his family , exceeding which compass his voice ( how stentorious soever ) is affectually dumb , as to any converting operation , be cause deserting his vocation . yet of such gifted men , who without ordination presume to preach , we may obobserve two ranks or kinds , first those who hold another calling ( as i may say ) in commendum with preaching , and discharge both employments . secondly , such who quit & forsake their former calling , and betake themselves wholy to preach the word : to the former of these , i commend the words of the disciples , acts . . it is not reason that we should leave the word of god and serve tables . which tendereth two remarkeables to our considerations . first , that the apostles would not be plurallists in professions , nor retain two callings at the same time , and yet serving of tables in that sence [ that is , overseeing the poor ] was more compatible with preaching than any other employment , as being in its own nature of a charitable constitution , and an office afterwards used in the church as an entrance of probationers into the ministery . secondly , the apostles refusal to be double-called at once proceeded from one or both of these reasons . either because they accounted it too heavy a taske for one person , though they were most miraculously accomplished , in which respect the ability , and activity of their parts might have as much ubiquitariness , as mortall man can pretend to , to be present at once in distant employments . or else their recusancy was caused from an apprehension , that it was disgracefull unequally to yoke the preaching of gods word with any other vocation , and beneath the dignity thereof to couple it with a serving of tables . thirdly we see they were resolved , as to let go the meaner , so to retain the most noble and necessary function of preaching , whence most glory redoundeth to god , and profit to his people . how then can men now adays of meaner parts and endowments discharge that , which the apostles did decline preach ; the word , & serve a ship , preach the word , and serve a shop , preach the word , and serve the loomes , preach the word , and serve the last , retaining either manual or military employment with the same ? object . it is lawfull for men to practice a mechanick calling in conjunction with their preaching , warranted by the example of st. paul himself , building at the same time the tents of men , and the temple of god . yea , he saith himself , acts . . yea , you your selves know ; that these hands have ministred unto my necessities , and again corinth . . . and labour working with our own hands . answ . extraordinary accidents are not to be drawn into ordinary practice . the apostle did not this commonly and constantly , but for a short time , at a very pinch , out of a holy design , namely to starve the false prophets amongst the corinthians , and therefore this his act ought not to be precedential to others , who are to apply themselves totally to the ministery . others there are which wholly desert their former vocation , and betake themselves totally to the preaching of the word . to the serious thoughts of such i offer the words of st. peter . . but let none of you suffer as a murderer , or as a thief , or as an evil doer , or as a busie body in other mens matters . see what a crew the apostle hath chosen out , as onely fit to keep company with busie bodies ; surely busie-bodyness is an hainous offence of greater guilt than men generally do know , or will acknowledge . noscitur è socio , dark men are expounded by their companions . the great offence therein appeareth by such with whom the apostle doth associate them ; and what greater busie-body , than he who invadeth the hardest , and highest , and holiest of professions , never ordained thereunto contrary to the councel of the apostle of chorinth . . . brethren let every one wherein he is called , therein abide with god . and here with all reservation of due respect , and deserved honour to men of military profession ; i humbly conceive that it may be plainly proved out of scripture , that souldiery and ministery were such distinct callings , that they met not in one and the same profession . for the apostle being to prove the equity and right of ministers maintenance , fetcheth an argument , of cor. . . from the wages justly due unto souldiers . who goeth to warfare at any time on his own charges , and thence concludeth verse . even so hath the lord ordained , that they which preach the gospel , should live of the gospel . which words , if perused with unpartial eyes , they set up a partition betwixt the two callings as not then concurring in the same persons . and here take notice of a strange and incredible alteration within this last ten years in england , that either men are suddenly grown more able than before or else the ministry is become more easie than in former ages . some ten years since when those of the clergy were excluded the commission of the peace , this principall reason is rendered in the act , why ministers should not be admitted justices of the peace , because preaching of the word is enough to take up the whole man , so that they must be wanting to the calling of their ministeriall function , if attending at the same time another employment . and yet see now on a suddain , some conceive themselves able sufficiently to follow a manual trade all the weeke , and also qualified for preaching on the lords day after . i say again , either men in our age are mounted on a suddain to be more dextrous and knowing , or the ministery is stooped to be more facile and obvious , or ( which i fear is the truest ) men are grown more daring impudent and prophane than in the days of our fathers . oh let such remember what is written in the prophetical epistle of st. jude placed last and next to the revelation , as containing the prediction of such things as should happen in the church towards the end of the world vers. . and perished in the gain-saying of korah . what gain-saying this was we all know , num. . . partly consisting in challenging moses and aaron to take too much upon them , partly in presuming to perform the high priests office . their perishing also is notoriously known , the earth swallowing them up , and this excellent note deserveth our best heed in it ( because stragling out of the body of that history ) num. . . notwithstanding the children of korah dyed not . god in like manner , no doubt , may and will out of pity preserve the children of korah , such seduced persons , whose simplicity is practised on by the subtility of others ; but oh let those look to it who are ringleaders herein , that gods justice may be no looser in the main , he will take off from the children and lay load on the fathers . pardon well meaning persons imposed on by others , and severely censure their conductours , if not seasonably compounded with him by serious repentance . and here i request the unpartial reader seriously to peruse the following passage , being the words of mr. bilney at the stake , as he stood ready to seal the truth with his blood . having made a brief repetition of the articles of his faith , coming to these words ; i believe the catholick church , paused awhile & then proceeded . good people , i must here confess to have offended the church , in preaching once against the prohibition of the same , at a poor cure belonging to trinity hall in cambridge , where i was fellow , earnestly intreated thereunto by the curate , and other good people of the parish ; shewing , that they had no sermon there of long time before , and so in my conscience moved , i did make a poor collation to them , and thereby ran into the disobedience of certain authority in the church , by whom i was prohibited : howbeit i trust at the general day , charity that moved me to this act , shall bear me out at the judgement-seat of god . many things herein are considerable . first , bilney at this time was a master of arts at least , and able to discharge the place . secondly , being fellow of that colledge which was patron to the church ; he had some obligation in conscience to see the place provided for : thirdly , invited by the curate and the parish , it seemeth to amount to a sufficient calling ; lastly , the long want of the word in that place , might make him compassionate their condition . notwithstanding this four-fold-cable to draw on bilney to this performance , he saith , he did it but once , he made not a common and constant practice thereof , secondly , he did not please or delight himself in the memory of what he had done , nor maketh he mention thereof in a rejoycing , much less in a bragging manner ; but onely by way of necessary excuse , as somewhat troubled at the deed done , but hoping ( as well he might ) that god beholding the act , as qualified with the aforesaid circumstances , and proceeding from a pious intention , would acquit him from any guilt therein . let such lay this to their hearts , who wanting the tithe of bilney his ability , undesired by the minister of the place , ( yea sometimes against his will ) do not with bilney but once , but make an usual practice and common custom to preach against the prohibition of the church , whose ancient canons have ordered it , that none except probationers by way of trial , may preach the word . it is to be feared that many who run before bilney into the pulpit , will scarce halt after him to follow him to the stake . however let us ministers , make a scrutiny in our own souls , what may be the reason that we are fallen into such disgrace . so that god in his justice hath permitted our function ( formerly fenced about from common feet with an awfull reverence ) now for any to enter upon it , psal. . . why hast thou broken down our hedges : hast broken them , that is , hast permitted others to break them . sure something is in it more than we ministers generally take notice of , that god hath exposed us and our calling to contempt . tully in his first oration against catilin , being himself then consul of rome , inquiring into the causes of the many distempers and distractions of the state , and the presumption of bold persons to disturbe the same , ingenuously confesseth , nos , nos , dico aperte , consules desumus . we , we , ( speaking of mark anthony and himself ) we generals are wanting in our places . in like manner we may say , nos sacerdotes , presbiteri , ministri ( how would we be tearmed ) nos , dico aperte , desumus . we priests and ministers are wanting to god , or to our selves , or to our congregation , or to all , that god in his just judgement deals with us as with israel , kings . . begins to cut us short , pareth us in our profession , abateth us in our honour , diminisheth us in our dignity . let us search out the cause diligently , and having found it , zealously endeavour to remove it , otherwise if we honour god , he will honour us , but if we proceed in our sins , he will proceed to pour more shame and disgrace upon us , till our calling , whose reputation begins daily to lessen , become at last ( though to the confusion of such as contemn it ) a very shame and reproach . and now i trust that none can take just exception at what i have freely , but without spleen or malice spoken of the blame worthy practices of such , who intrude themselves into our profession , having unpartially reproved even my self and those of my own function : and thus my sword having equally cut on both sides ; i now put it up into the sheath , never to be drawn in this place or quarrel again . finis . the third reconciler . luke . . when ye pray , say , our father , &c. in the foregoing verse the disciples present our saviour with a petition , qualified with , equity , brevity , and perspecuity ; such a petition need never doubt of success when brought to a just judge . it consisteth of two parts . . the body of the petition , master teach us to pray . . a reason to edge and enforce the same , drawn from the precedent of john the baptist , as john also taught his disciples . as if they had , said master , we have taken special notice of that high opinion , you ever had of john the baptist , whom you always esteemed a person of signal sanctity and exemplary devotion . we have heard you say of him , that he was more than a prophet ; that he was the second elias , and none greater amongst them , who were born of women . now he had disciples as you have , and it was his constant custom to teach them how to pray , as it is now our humble suit and request , that in imitation of his practice , you would be pleased to instruct us likewise how to pray . take notice in the mean time of the admirable humilitie and condiscention in our saviour , no whit angry and offended with his disciples , although they in a manner prescribed john the baptist as a pattern for him to imitate . had we been in christs place , i mean had we had his parts and power with our own pride ; how should we have tooke this in disdain and distast , that one so far our inferiour was propounded to us to follow his example . we should have returned , john the baptist is not worthy by his own confession , to ber my shoes , or as he saith elsewhere , to unloose the latchet of my shoes , and again he plainly confesseth , he who cometh after me is preferred before me ; let john order his disciples as he please , and i will discipline mine according to mine own will . i will not be concluded by his practice , i am to give not to receive directions . not so our saviour he , manifesteth not the least degree of disgust , but willingly and cheerfully granteth their request , when ye pray , say , our father . learn we from hence , when we behold a commendable precedent set before us in such , who either are , or else in our proud self admiring opinion are esteemed our inferiours , not to disdain to follow and imitate the same , let not the master think much to write after a good copy of his servants seting . observe in the words , the time , when ; the persons , ye ; the practice or duty , pray , the direction of the duty , say our father , &c. we begin with the time when. from which we collect this doctrine . men ought to finde out a when , wherein they are to pour forth their hearts in prayer unto god . quest . how often is this when to return , and what rules can you give us by what number we should regulate our quotidian devotions . ans. first , i will tell you how often i finde a saint and servant of god in scripture to pray ; but on this condition , that you will promise not to be frighted with the prodigious number of his dayly devotions . the party is david , who saith thus of himself , psal. . . seven times a day do i praise thee . admirable , how could david spare so much time from his private and publick employments ; not to speak of his family affairs , having six wives , sam. . . ten concubines sam. . . and more children by them , which must needs perplex him with much domestical business . david was a mortal king , and needs must be employed in multiplicity of matters . now to send dispatches to that foreign agent , read the received intelligence from him , give audience to this embassadour , send orders to that general , instructions to that commander , be present at the council , hear petitions , judge causes , &c. must needs engross much time , yet david in all this term of business found a constant vacation , wherein he might perform seven times his dayly devotions . and though seven may here seem a certain for an uncertain number , yet probable it is , david rather exceeded , than fell short of the same . one asked a phylosopher , what was the best time for a man to eat in , to whom he ingeniously replyed , a rich man may eat when he please , a poor man when he can , his witty answer may afford us this grave application ; be thou poor , or be thou rich , pray thou both when thou wilt and when thou canst , as often as thou hast either necessity , or conveniency ; i will not stint thee to canonicall hours , but embrace all opportunities that are rendered unto thee , to express thy service to god in thy prayers . object . but it seems we are obliged to constant praying , as the euchites did in the primitive church , seeing the apostle saith , thes. . . pray continually , or pray without ceasing , and if so , if all our performance be praying , how shall we attend our callings and concionably discharge our other relations . answ. first in scripture-language , that is said to be done continually which is done every morning , and every night , exodus . . now this is that which thou shalt offer upon the altar , two lambs of the first year day by day continually ; and this was constantly called juge-sarificium or the continual sacrifice , numbers . . and the . . ezra . . in proportion whereunto whosoever constantly prayeth morning , and evening , though following his calling , and attending his own occasions all the intermediate time , may be said according to the apostles precept , to pray continually or without ceasing . secondly , by praying continually or without ceasing , is meant , endeavours so to temper thy soul , as always to be in a praying capacitie , though not actually praying , yet be not put past an abilitie to discharge that duty . such therefore who are so discomposed with sin or sinfull passion , that they are rendered thereby utterly impotent to pray , sin against the command of the apostle . otherwise it is no breach thereof to intermit their prayers and cease sometimes from the same , it being said of our saviour himself in the verse before our text , as he was praying in a certain place when he ceased . use . must we finde a set time to pray ? serveth this to confute such who can afford a when to eat , and a when to drink , a when to sleep , a when to talk , and a when to walke ; and a when to work , and a when to play : but cannot finde out a when to pray according to our saviour his command , when ye pray . yet god , eccles. . . hath made a time for all things , save that which man doth at all times , i mean sin . how many are there that pinch on gods side , and as the croud of people , luke . . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , the multitude throng thee , and press thee ; so worldly men , to make room for their temporal affairs , thrust , throng , contract , yea sometimes , do wholy justle out and omit their dayly devotions . come we now to the person , ye . quest . were not christs disciples able to pray before this time ? sure i am , they were able to cast out devils . for it is said in the foregoing chapter verse . and the seventy returned again with joy , saying , lord , even the devils are subject unto us through thy name . now to cast out devils is a harder thing than to pray , because some devils are of so sullen and surly a nature , matth. . . that they go not out but by prayer and fasting ; being thus therefore impowered with ability to cast out divels , surely the greater did include the lesser , and it is wonder they should now desire a direction to pray . say not that christ made a resumption of that power which once he bestowed upon them , and after their return from preaching deprived them of them ; seeing , romans . . the gifts of god are without repentance . answ. some answer this by pleading a metathesis or transposition in the history of st. luke , setting down that first which was last done , a figure very frequent in the old testament . but this is , though the best of shifts yet the worst of answers , last to be tried , and least to be trusted , saving in such cases as seem to be capable of no other solution . no need of this refuge at this time , and therefore we decline the same . secondly , it is answered , that it is a greater argument of gods favour to us , and our sincerity to him , if we can power forth unto him an acceptable prayer , then if enabled to dispossess devils . this appeareth by the plea of the reprobate to christ at the last judgement , matth. . . many will say unto me in that day , lord , lord , have we not prophesied in thy name , and in thy name have cast out devils , and in thy name have done many wonderfull works ? nor doth christ confute what they alleadge as false , but reject it as in sufficient ; verily i say unto you , i know you not . thus such miraculous endowments are compatible with damnation : whilest the spirit of supplication ( enabling us to pray acceptably to god ) is none of those gifts bestowed upon the sons of ketura , but such as are conferred on isaacs alone , given onely to us sons , saints , and servants of god . thirdly , and chiefly i answer , certainly the several apostles and disciples had formerly their particular prayers ; and as i may term them , personal devotions . peter no doubt had his , and andrew his , james and john their particular forms of invocations . but now they desired that christ , would gratifie them with such a general prayer , unto which they might all joyntly concur with their amen thereunto , and all their several devotions unite , and center themselves therein . they also desired such a prayer , as they might transmit as an heir-loom to all posterity , and intail it on the church to be used successively by all generations . herein i hearken to the disciples requesting our saviour , as to the mouth of all christians : for they speak as the speakers or prolocutours , for the church in all ages desiring this boon to be bestowed upon them . here is worthy our observation , that our saviour had once formerly delivered the same prayer both for the manner and matter thereof , and yet how again at his disciples request , recommendeth the same ( some inconsiderable differences abated ) unto the practice of his disciples . for whosoever shall compare this prayer delivered by our saviour , matth. . . with this made by him , luke . . will finde them not to be paralell places ( as many in the gospels ) presenting one and the self same matter , but two different stories as will appear by the following circumstances . . that was made on a mountain when multitudes of people were gathered together to hear it ; this composed in a private place when christ was solitary with his disciples . . that was freely tendered by our saviour unsought , unsued to , to all his auditory ; this granted at the instance and request of his disciples to them alone . . that was inserted , & incorporated in the very body & bowels of a most heavenly sermon . this not in preaching , but after praying when christ ceased from the same . now might not the disciples have murmured hereat , might they not have said , master , we expected you would have favoured us so far ( as being your servants in ordinary ) as for your sakes to have composed & compiled a spick and span new prayer , which we your disciples might have used as a memorial of our master . whereas this prayer is an old one , we heard the same for all the essentials thereof , a twelve month since in that sermon you made on the exposition of the law , hence we observe ; one good prayer well composed , the more used the more acceptable to heaven ; think not , like lavish courtiers , our prayers shall be more welcome , if always appearing in a new suite , a new dress of language and expression . but as the good house-holder , brought out of his treasury things new & old ( onely new , had been too prodigal , onely old had been too penurious ) so present thou to god , new affections with thy old expressions , a new degree of faith , repentance , charity , and never fear the entertainment of thy prayer in heaven , though it be an old one , and the self-same which formerly and frequently hath been offered up . say , doctrine ; it is not enough for men to make mentall prayers but sometimes they ought orally to express the same . first , because the very speaking of the words doth raise and rouze people from drousiness , which otherwise may assault them . i confess no christian ought hypocritically to delight in hearing the eccho or reverberation of his own voice , yet sometimes the same may serve to give him the watch-word , and to shake off that laziness which too often attendeth our devotions . secondly , prayers spoken are good for example to others , to shew that we are not ashamed of gods service , but that our tongue dare openly avouch what our heart doth inwardly onceive . thirdly , it is good for the edification of others , who may so far be partakers of our prayers , as to joyn with us in them , and to be comforted by them . a prayer concealed may have as much heat , but a prayer expressed hath more light therein , it doth shine before men , and make them glorifie our father which is in heaven . obj. but hannah , samuel . . . onely moved her lips , and her voice was not heard ; embracing a middle way betwixt mental and oral prayer , which can seem best of all as participating of the perfections of both . ans. hannah herein stands sole and single by her self . it is sufficient that she confesseth her self to be of a troubled and sorrowfull spirit , an excuse for all her actions if one serious scrutiny appearing not so composed , and therefore not to be drawn into precedent for others imitation . come we now to answer those cavils , which this age hath devised against the lords prayer ; a subject not unnecessary in our days . indeed when one had made a large discourse in the praise of hercules , and expected great commendation for the same , his audience onely answered his expectation : with this question , quis unquam vituperavit herculem , whosoever spake in the disparagement of hercules . intimating thus much , that his pains might very well be spared in a needless subject , all the world acknowledging the worth and valour of hercules . the same will be said of the ensuing part of my sermon , ut quid haec perditios , what needeth this wast of words and time , were ever any so impious , so prophane as to doubt , much less deny the divine inspiration and dayly necessary and profitable use of the lords prayer ? ans. thirdly , i believe it is almost unprecedented in former ages , which maintained a constant reverence and esteem thereof , as the lords prayer , and lord of prayers ; but alas ! we are fallen into such an impudent age , wherein many begin to slight it , of whom i will say no more than this , if they begin to think meanly of gods prayer , what cause hath god to think basely of theirs ? and now i remember what john the baptist said to our saviour , matth. . . i have need to be baptized of thee , and comest thou to me . in humble allusion whereunto i may say , my prayers have need to come to christ , to mediate and intercede to god for them , and to present them with his merits to the throne of grace : and now his prayer comes to me , so the all disposing providence of god hath ordered the matter , that in the prosecution of my text , i must be a weak advocate in the defence thereof . the best is , it mattereth not who is the pleader when god is the clyent , and what is wanting in my weakness and worthlesness , will be abundantly supplyed in the might and merit of the subject which i undertake . first , it is objected that it is a set form of prayer , and therefore doth pinnion and confine the wings of the dove , which ought to be at liberty and freedom , to make choice of his own expression of it self . it is said , rom. . . the spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groans which cannot be uttered . it is therefore presumption in man to make himself gods interpreter , and to dictate those words whereby his spirit is to impart and communicate it self to the throne of grace ; it was charged on the rebellious israelites , psal. . . that they limited the holy one of israel ; no better is their practice , who offer to score out both the path & pace to gods spirit in prayer by pre-designing the numericall words , which are to be used thereby . gods servants are said to be led by the spirit , ro. . . and so also if ye be led by the spirit , galatians . . but this is leading the spirit , when men will guide their conduct-our and draw up a set form whereby the same shall be directed . ans. that set forms are no restrainings of the holy ghost in us , appeareth by the practice of our saviour himself , matth. . . and went away again , and prayed the third time saying the same words , namely the same words which he uttered the second time , viz. o my father , if this cup may not pass away from me except i drink it , thy will be done . see we here , he who made the tongue to speak , who was the frauder , and confounder of all languages , who needed not by premeditation to press words for his service seeing millions of volunteeres proffered themselves to be used by him . see i say , him pleased notwithstanding to resume the same individual terms which he had uttered before . secondly , next to our saviour , who may be presumed most able to pray then , the high priest aaron , and his two inspired sons eleazer and phineas ? yet god in their publick blessings , left them not to the liberty of their own expressions , num. . . speak unto aaron and unto his sons , saying , on this wise ye shall bless the children of israel , saying unto them , the lord bless thee , and keep thee , the lord make his face shine upon thee , and be gracious unto thee , the lord lift up his countenance upon thee , and give thee peace . i confess they were not confined to these words on all ennergencies and occasions , having the latitude allowed them , that in the temple they might varie from this form according to their own discretions . witness the blessing of eli to hannah , sam. . . go in peace , and the god of israel grant thee thy petition , which thou hast asked of him ; but otherwise god had ordered them not to decede from this form : and as moses was to make all things according to the pattern in the mount , heb. . . so no doubt the priests conformed themselves in their prayer to every word , syllable , and etter , of gods prescription , neither detracting thence , nor adding thereunto . thirdly , the ministers conceived prayer under the gospel , is a stinted and premeditated one , to such people , his auditours , who ay amen thereunto : their fancies , and which is more , their hearts do or should go along with the ministers words , so that he boundeth their meditations , hither shall they come , and no further . if any say , that notwithstanding this obligation to the words of the minister , they may make their own salleys and excursions by gods spirit in their hearts , to enlarge themselves , and as it were to comment in their sighs and groans on the text of the prayers of their ministers , it is said , that no less liberty is allowed them in all premeditate forms of prayer , where on the plain song of the set words , the devotion of their hearts may descant to their own spiritual contentment . fourthly , none will deny , but songs and hymns are prayers of thanksgiving , both those which david made in the old testament , and those that were used by christians in the primitive times , ephes. . . speaking to your selves in hymns and spiritual songs , colos. . . admonishing one another in psalms , and hymns , and spiritual songs ; now surely such ditties would be bad , and notes worse , and the harmonie rather ridiculous to move laughter than melodious to raise devotions , if the singers thereof were not predirected to the very words and syllables of what they sung and chanted in the church . excellent was the expression of doctor preston in point of preaching , and is applyable equally to prayer . he would have a minister take such pains in studying his sermon , as if he relyed not only on gods assistance ; but when he cometh to preach the same , so wholly to cast himself on divine asisstance , as if he relyed not at all on his own studies . proportionable whereto , a christian soul may compile and compose his prayer , as trusting nothing to the spirit , and yet in the minute of the utterance thereof to god , so quit and renounce all efficacie of premeditation , as consisting onely in the concurrence of gods spirit helping his infirmities . yea , allow the minister able strongly to go alone by himself without leaning on the leage of any premeditate prayer to support him , yet surely he may not onely lawfully , but laudably degrade himself for the edification of others to use a set form of prayer . we know how jacob , able to walk fast himself , confined his feet to the pace of the children and ewes big with young , gen. . . he would not over-drive them . semblably , a minister , endowed by god with the gift of extempore prayer , may without any shame to himself , and great profit to others , go on pedetentim in a set form , so to bring up the rear of his most lagging auditours to go along with him , the more knowingly from the beginning , and close their amen with him the more chearfully in the end of his prayer . . cavil . it is not a prayer of it self , but onely a pattern , or draught by which other prayers are to be made , & therfore s. mat. saith ; after this manner therefore pray ye . it is both a pattern for prayer , and a prayer in it self to all purposes and intents . the standard-bushel , which commonly is chained up in the market place , is not onely a bushel to measure bushels by , ( all which ought to be adequate to the content thereof ) but also a bushel to measure grain by , it may chance of wheat , or of some other grain : so this of our saviour his prescribing , is nevertheless a compleat and perfect prayer in it self , although also it be a model , type , or copy , according to which for the essentials we ought to conform all our supplications . third cavil . i should be ashamed to set down as so weak and simple , save that some in our dayes , who pretend to judgement , put it in not onely to swell a number ; but lay much stress on the strength thereof ; namely , that christ made it in his minority , before he was arrived at his full perfection . i answer , as the folly of god is observed by the apostle wiser than the wisdom of man , and the weakness of god stronger then the strength of man : so may i say , that the minority of christ was more than the majority , his nonage than the full age , his youth than the maturity of mankind . besides , christ was , luke . . about thirty years of age when he was baptised , the prime conceived of mans life , after which generally they impair rather than improve . yea , besides the original stock of perfection brought into the world at his birth , he had already received a grand accession of the holy spirit at his baptism . fourth cavil . there is nothing of a saviour in this prayer . it is but a legal old testament prayer , whereas we are to ask all things in the name of jesus , no mention thereof herein . as therefore some jews have a diminitive opinion of the book of esther , because the word jehova is not to be found in all the extent thereof , on the same account we may justly ground an undervaluation of this prayer , wherein the name of jesus doth not appear , which alone is so of the quorum in all supplications , that without it they cannot be presumed acceptable in the court of heaven . ans. the name of jesus , though not literally , yet virtually and effectually is to be found in this prayer . one cannot stir a step therein , but in the very porch of this prayer , and at the very threshold of this porch he meets with jesus a saviour , in those words our father . for fain would i know who wrought , and brought this great and good alteration that god is beheld by us under so comfortable a notion . how came in the kindred , whence sprang this our filial relation . man at his last parting with god , when expulsed paradise , left him his adversary , his enemy , his enraged judge , whilest he himself was looked on as an offendor and malefactour . whereas now all things are become new . such who parted in anger , meet in love , of foes are become friends ; yea , father and sons . our father . now none effected this change save jesus christ by his mercifull mediation . is not the hand of our savour clean through this prayer ? wherefore as some physicians give not in their receipts the bulk and mass of herbs and drugs , but onely their spirits , or their infusions , which , though not so great in quantity , are easier in the taking , and stronger in the working : so in this prayer , though neither the name of jesus , messiah , or christ , is therein used , yet the powerfull influence of both , and soveraign effect is obvious to every judicious eye , causing our confident and familiar addresses to god , under the relation of a father . fifth cavil . the prayer is too short , it is not comprehensive enough of all mens necessities , which ought to be represented therein . it is too narrow as not adequate to the emergencies of all occasions . the merchant wanteth a clause therein for prosperous gales to drive his ship to a safe haven and gainfull market . the souldier wants a clause to cover his head from danger , and crown it with victory in the day of battel . the husband man discovereth a defect , because no express therein for seasonable weather . the unmarried want a petition for loving husbands & dutifull wives , and the married for the continuance of the goodness , or amendment of the badness of those to whom they are coupled . ans. first in general . whereas some finde fault with the shortness of the prayer , know , length of prayer is made a crime in scripture , but never the brevity thereof charged on any as a guilt , matth. . . woe unto you scribes and pharisees hypocrites , for you devour widows houses , and for a pretence make long prayers . neither length nor shortness is any whit considerable to the acceptableness thereof , but the thickness of a prayer , when it is not empty and hollow within , but well filled with faith in the heart and middle thereof . one bought a map of the whole world , and being himself an athenian , cavilled at the map as imperfect and defective , meerly because his own house in athens was not presented therein . whereas the whole draught being not above a yard square , it fell to the proportion of all europe not to be a full foot . all greece not to be a full span , attica to be but a little spot , and athens to be a very speck therein , so impossible was it that his invisible house should appear . as his causeless cavil betrayed him ignorant in geography , so their exception discovereth their weakness in divinity , who expect a prayer to particularize every mans necessities . what was said by the way of hyperbole of our saviour , that if all things which he did and spake were written , the world were not able to contain them , may it not be literally spoken here , the world , that is , none of the men therein could contain so voluminous a prayer , descending to the minutes of all mens wishes and wants . no memory so tenacious as to retain it , no voice so strong as to pronounce it . now although the particulars of every mans wants , neither are nor can be expressed in this , or any other prayer ; yet here we find their total sum cast up and couched under general terms . for when it is said , give us this day our daily bread . herein the souldier is remembred , who prayeth for all things necessary for his condition , when , saying , give us this day our daily bread . except it be so , that being guilty to himself that he is rather a plunderer than a fighter , more maintaining his livelyhood by violence than valour , rapine than conquest , he conceiveth himself excluded , who cannot truly call it our daily bread , as conscious it is none of his , but snatch'd from the true owners thereof . the husband-man in this petition prayeth for all things , which may tend and conduce to the seasonable fruits of the earth : a snowy january , frosty february , dry march , showry april , cold and windy may , moist and fair june , hot and dry july , fair and sunny august , &c. for how easily can god destroy in one unseasonable moneth in harvest , what the concurrence of many foregoing moneths hath hopefully advanced . in a word , let not the shortness of this prayer ( which being consistent with so much clearness is a principal honour thereof ) be charged upon it for a defect . consider how it was intended for old folk who were past their memories , for young children who as yet are not come to their memories , for simple folk who never had , nor will have memories . last cavil . this prayer hath notoriously been abused by the papists to superstition , and therefore the more surely to avoid offence , the use thereof may safely be waved and declined . answ. it is confessed , that this most excellent prayer hath been unworthily abused by the romish church . first , by locking it up in the latine tongue , whereof the generalitie of their layetie is ignorant , praying , as s. peter spake at christ his transfiguration , luke . . not knowing what they said . secondly , because it hath been abused in spels and exorcisms , to the great dishonor of god , and advantage of satan . thirdly , because wronged with needless and impertinent repetitions of their beads , till their tenth bead become a decurion , and the same ten times told over , a centurion in their mumbled and multiplied devotions . here is it worth our observation , that the lords prayer is abused by that very sin , for the rectifying and reforming whereof , it was originally by our saviour instituted and intended . matth. . . but when you pray , use not vain repetitions as the heathen do , for they think they shall be heard for their much speaking . now to repress former , and prevent future tautologies , was one principal end for which this prayer was appointed . matth. . . after this manner therefore pray . therefore , that is that you may not run on the rock of frivolous repetitions , use this prayer so free from battologies , that excepting some necessarie pronouns of our and us , the same word recurreth not twice in the whole extent thereof . yet see , i say , how the papists abuse the same by repetitions . doth it not argue a very foul stomack , when the physick intended to correct and remove the vicious humours , is turned against the true nature thereof to increase the disease of the patient , and how doth it speak the malignitie of the popish practice , abusing this prayer to end with repetitions , designed originally to prevent that ill custome . however , though it cannot be denyed , that the papists have shamefully abused this prayer , it followeth not , but that christians may retain the true use thereof . they must {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} purge away popish superstitions from the same , but may not on that pretence {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} utterly take it away and expel it out of their publick or private devotions . first use . it serveth to confute those , who over-esteem the lords prayer . quest . is this possible , are men capable of excess in this kinde of giving too much reverence or respect to this prayer , or any other part and portion of gods word . surely if it be an errrour , it is one on the right hand , rather to be pitied and pardoned , than publickly reproved . i confess an utter impossibility of overprising any part if gods word , but men may be immoderate & unadvised in their undiscreet manifesting & declaring of their esteem of the lords prayer , who in some sense may be said to over-value it , though in fine , and effect it doth prove an under-valuation thereof . such therefore are faultie in undiscreet expression of their respect to the lords prayer , who confine all persons , at all times to that alone , not allowing them libertie to make use of other forms , as occasion shall require . where we may observe , that the apostles of christ in the acts , and elsewhere , on the emergencies of sundrie matters which called for their prayers , expressed themselves in other language , accommodated to the occasion , and waved these very words of our saviours prescription , as too general , and not coming up close enough to their urgent necessities . wherefore , though we will not say of the lords prayer , none but it , i may say as david did of goliah's sword , none is like unto it . though it be not to be used exclusively to shut out all other , yet is it eminently to be preferred before the rest . i will add one thing more , what metals soever the ring of thy devotions be made of , the lords prayer is a good diamond to close and conclude with , of what wood soever the shaft of the darts of thy prayers doth consist , the lords prayer is the best sharp pile to pierce heaven , and to be put on at the end of thy own devotions . greater is the folly of such people , who in a manner idolatrize to the very words and syllables of the lords prayer , as if men were so strictly tied up thereunto , as not to recede one tittle from the same . whereas we may perceive some small difference in the two forms presented in s. matthew and s. luke's gospel . the variation of one , and transposition of two or three words , not to add , that the doxologie inserted in the one is omitted in the other , as if purposely done to confute and discompose the superstition of such who stick in such syllabical curiosities . truly i am afraid , if some might have had their wills , christian libertie might have been much prejudiced by the obtrusion of this prayer alone upon their practice , and dare boldly say , that some mens too much crying up of the necessitie of this prayer at all times hath occasioned others out of their spirit of opposition , a mischief which mortal frailtie is much subject ( especially in controvertial days , and in the frowardness of the aged world ) too much to slight , neglect , and under-value the same . for where the former humour of overprising this prayer hath infected their hundreds , the latter of under-esteeming the same hath infected their thousands ; who in their uncivil , not to say profane expressions , have vented much contempt of this holy & heavenly prayer & pattern thereof . and here let me safely express what i fear may be the true cause thereof , and let such , who are faulty therein make a scrutiny in their own consciences , whether i speak not too much truth in this point . are they not out of charity with the lords prayer , because there is so much charity in the lords prayer ? there is one petition therein , which if they leave out they make the prayer lame , and if they put it in they make themselves liars . namely , and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us ; doth not their revengefull and vindicative hearts harbour so much malice against their adversaries , that they are loath to forgive them , and desire forgiveness from god , on the condition that they forgive others ? now , though i will not positively affirm the same , yet because it carrieth with it a great probability , ministers may be jealous of their people with a godly jealousie , as they may be jealous over their own hearts ; and if their conscience acquit them on this enquiry , happy are they , and no hurt is done by this causeless suspition . to conclude , parents of children , and especially mothers , may take notice , that their little ones in saying the lords prayer are generally out at this petition . and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us . not one little child of ten sayeth it a right , and in the right place ; some pass over and wholy omit it , some transpose it , very few truly pronounce it , whereof this the reason , trespasses once and again in this petition , is as bad as a shiboleth to try the lisping tongue of a child , there being a conflux of several consonants , & some hard sounded therein , so that it poseth all the offices of speech in a childs mouth distinctly to utter the same . let not parents be angry with their children for not speaking it , but with themselves for not practicing it , they beat their children for not saying it , god may justly beat them for not doing it . i confess such forgiveness goeth against flesh and bloud , but flesh and bloud shall never enter into the kingdom of heaven , we must be acted with higher principles , if we hope to come thither , whither the mercie of god bring us through the merits of jesus christ . amen . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a e- * in the order of the administration of the communion , or at the least declare himself to be in full purpose so to do , as soon as he conveniently may . * fox act. & mon. pag. . * fox act. & mon. pag. . * infants advocate ca. . pag. . * anno dom . die lunae oct. . notes for div a e- fox tom pag. notes for div a e- matth. . . luke . . john . . the appeal of iniured innocence, unto the religious learned and ingenuous reader in a controversie betwixt the animadvertor, dr. peter heylyn, and the author, thomas fuller. fuller, thomas, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing f estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) the appeal of iniured innocence, unto the religious learned and ingenuous reader in a controversie betwixt the animadvertor, dr. peter heylyn, and the author, thomas fuller. fuller, thomas, - . [ ], , , , [ ] p. printed by w. godbid, and are to be sold by john williams ..., london : . errata: p. in first pagination and p. [ ] at end. reproduction of original in huntington library. marginal notes. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng heylyn, peter, - . -- examen historicum. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - judith siefring sampled and proofread - judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the appeal of iniured innocence : unto the religious learned and ingenuous reader . in a controversie betwixt the animadvertor dr. peter heylyn and the author thomas fuller . king. . . see how he seeketh a quarrel against me . terent. in eunucho . responsum non dictum est , quia laesit prior . london , printed by w. godbid , and are to be sold by iohn williams at the crowne in st. paul's church-yard . m. dc . lix . to the right honorable george berkeley , l. berkeley , moubray , segrave and bruce , my most bountiful and most exemplary patron . sir , my church-history was so far from prostituting her self to mercenary embraces , she did not at all espouse any particular interest , but kept her self a virgin. however , a dragon is risen up , with much fiercenesse and fury , threatning this my virgins destruction . your name is george , and for you it is as easie as honourable to protect her from violence . if any material falshood or forgery be found in my book , let liar be branded in my face : but oh ! suffer not my injured innocence to be over-born in such things , which i have truly , clearly , and warily written . thus shall you encourage me ( leaving off such controversal deviations from my calling ) to preach and to perform in my ministerial function somewhat worthy of the honour to be your lordships most oblieged servant and chaplain thomas fuller . cranford moat-house march the th . the appeal of injur'd innocence . chap. i. that it is impossible for the pen of any historians writing in ( as our's ) a divided age , to please all parties , and how easie it is to cavil at any author . such as lived after the flood , and before the confusion of tongues , were happy in this particular , that they did hear to understand , and speak to be understood with all persons in their generation . not such their felicity who lived after the confusion of languages at the tower of babel , when the eloquence of the best was but barbarisme to all , save a few folk of his owne familie . happy those english historians who wrote some sixty years since , before our civil distempers were born or conceived ; at leastwise , before there were house-burnings ( though some heart-burnings ) amongst us : i mean , before mens latent animosities broke out into open hostility ; seeing then there was a generall right understanding betwixt all of the nation . but alass ! such as wrote in or since our civil wars , are seldome apprehended truely and candidly , save of such of their owne perswasion , whilest others doe not ( or what is worse will not ) understand them aright : and no wonder if speeches be not rendred according to the true intent of the speaker , when prejudice is the interpreter thereof . this i foresaw when i entred upon my church-history , but comforted my self with the counsel of erasmus ; si non possis placere omnibus , place to optimis ; if thou canst not please all , please the best . in order whereunto i took up to my self this resolution , to stere my course betwixt the two rocks of adulation and irritation ; though it seems i have run upon both , if the animadvertor may be beleeved ; whereof hereafter . as it is impossible in distracted times to please all , so is it easie for any at any time to cavil at the best performance . a pigmey is giant enough for this purpose . now cavils may be reduced to these two heads : cavils without cause . without measure . causeless cavils are such as the caviller himself doth create , without any ground for the same ; such find a knot in a bulrush , because they themselves before had ty'd it therein ; and may be compared to beggers , who breed vermine in their owne bodies , and then blow them on the cloaths of others . cavils without measure , are , when the anger and bitterness of the caviller exceedeth due proportion , and the demerit of the fault ; as when he maketh memorie to be iudgement-mistakes ; casual , to be voluntary errors ; the printers , to be the authors faults : and then brags every foil to be a fall , and triumpheth at the rout of a small party , as at the defeat of the whole army . this distinction is here premised , whereof hereafter we shall make use as we see just occasion . chap. ii. why the author desired and hoped never to come under the pen of the animadvertor in a controversal difference . it was ever my desire ●nd care , if it were possible , not to fall under the pen of the animadvertor ; having several reasons thereof to my self , which now i publickly profess : . i knew him a man of able parts , and learning ; god sanctifie both to his glory , and the churches good. . of an eager spirit , with him of whom it was said , quicquid voluit valde voluit . . of a tart and smart style , endevouring to down with all which stood betwixt him and his opinion . . not over dutiful in his language to the fathers of the church , ( what then may children expect from him ? ) if contrary in judgment to him . lastly and chiefly , one , the edge of whose keenness is not taken off by the death of his adversary ; witness his writing against the archbishops of york and armagh . the fable tells us that the tanner was the worst of all masters to his cattle , as who would not onely load them soundly whilest living , but tan their hides when dead ; and none could blame one if unwilling to exasperate such a pen , which , if surviving , would prosecute his adversary into his grave . the premises made me , though not servilely fearful , ( which i praise god i am not of any writer ) yet generally cautious not to give him any personal provocation , knowing that though both our pens were long , the world was wide enough for them without crossing each other . as i desired , so i partly hoped that my church-history would escape the animadvertor : first , because a gentleman came to me ( sent from him , as i supposed ) informing me , that had not dr. heylin been visited with blindness , he had been upon my bones before . then i desired him to return this answer ; that , as i was sorry for the sad cause , the doctors blindness ; i was glad of the ioyful effect , my owne quiet . nor hearing any more for many moneths after , i conceived my self secure from any wind in that corner . it increased my confidence , because i conceived dr. heylin neither out of charity or policy , would write against one who had been his fellow-servant to ▪ and sufferer for , the same lord and master , king charles ; for whose cause i lost none of the worst livings , and one of the best prebends in england : onely thus happy i was in my very unhappiness , to leave what was taken away from the rest of my brethren . in a word , seeing no birds or beasts of prey ( except sharp-set indeed ) will feed on his own kind , i concluded dr. heylin would not write against me , who conceived my self to be one of his owne party . but it seems i reckoned without my host , and now am call'd to a rear-account ; i cannot say with iob , the thing that i feared ; but , the thing that i feared not , is faln upon me . however , i conceived my self bound in duty to david's command , not onely to seek peace , but to pursue it ; though in some sort it fled away from me , being now informed that the doctor was writing against me ; wherefore , finding him in fleetstreet , and following him at his heels to his chamber , ( at a stationers house over again st. dunstan's church ) i sent up my name to him by a servant of the house , desiring to speak a few words with him ; the messenger went to him , and return'd me this answer ; that the doctor was very busie , and could not be spoken with . thus my treaty for peace taking no effect , i armed my self with patience , and quietly expected the coming forth of his book against me . chap. iii. that after serious debate the author found himself necessitated to make this appeal in his own just vindication . having perused the books of the animadvertor against me , it bare a strong debate within me , whether i should pass it over in silence , or return an answer unto him , and arguments on both sides presented themselves unto me . silence seemed best , because i lacked leisure solemnly to confute his animadversions , having at this time so much and various imployment : the cow was well stocked with milk , thus praised by the * poet ; bis venit ad mulctrum binos alit ubere faetus . she suckles two , yet doth not fail twice a day to come to th' pail . but i justly feared , who twice a lords-day do come to the pulpit , ( god knows my heart i speak it not to ostentation ) that i could not suckle my parish and the press , without starving or short-feeding of one : whereas the animadvertor in his retired life gives no other milk then following his own private studies . secondly , i suggested to my self , that the second blow makes the frey , and should i rejoyn , probably it would engage me in an endless contest , with which my declining age could ill comport . i remembred the man who moved in chancery for a gelt order which should beget no more ; but knew not when any such eunuch-answer should pass betwixt us , to put a period to the controversie . lastly , our saviours counsel came into my mind , matth. . . resist not evil ; but whosoever shall smite thee on the right side , turn to him the other also . and although some divines make this precept but temporary ( as a swadling-cloath to the church , whiles in the infancy thereof , under persecution ; ) yet others make it alwaies obligatory , and of perpetual continuance . on the other side , the distinction came seasonably to my remembrance , of a mans righting and revenging himself ; the latter belongs to god alone , * vengeance is mine , i will repay it ; the former men may , and in some cases must do , in their owne fair defence , without breach of our saviours precept lately alledged . i called also to mind , how in our common law , mutes at the bar , who would not plead to the indictment are adjudged guilty , and therefore justly suspected i should from my silence be concluded cast in the court of religion and learning , for such faults and errors as the animadvertor hath charged on me . but most of all it moved me , that ministers of gods word and sacraments ought to vindicate their credits , that so they may be the more effectual factors for gods glory in their vocation . when our saviour went about to heal the mans withered hand on the sabbath day , mar. . . is it lawful ( said he ) to save life , or to kill ? where i observed , that our saviour accounted not healing to be hurting ; yea , not curing to be killing , in that person who had ability and opportunity to do it . and by the same proportion , not plaistering is killing of ones wounded credit , and so consequently i should be felo de se , and by my sinful silence be the wilful murtherer of my own reputation . these last reasons did preponderate with me ; and i resolved on two things ; to return a plain , full and speedy answer ; and to refrain from all railing , which is a sick wit ( if not the sickness of wit ; ) and though perchance i may have something tart to quicken the appetite of the reader , yet nothing bitter against the credit of the animadvertor . this my answer i have here entituled , the appeal unto the religious , learned and ingenuous . but before i close with the animadvertor , comminùs , hand to hand ; let us first , eminùs , try it at distance , and entertain the reader ( to his profit and pleasure , i hope ) with my general defences , before i proceed to answer each particular . chap. iv. the author's first general answere taken from his title-page and word endevovred . men may be ranked into three forms , of intenders , endevourers and performers . intenders are the first and lowest form , yet so far favoured by some papists , that they maintain , that a good intention though embracing ill means , makes a good action . performers are the third and highest rank , to which my thoughts dare not aspire , but leave this upper room empty , to be filled by men of better parts and ability . the middle form consists of endevourers , amongst whom i took my station in the title-page of my book , the church-history of britain , endevoured by thomas fuller . and as i did not hope that any courteous reader would call me up higher , so i did not fear that any caviller thereat could cast me lower , but that i might still peaceably possess my place of an endevourer . for , what though i fall short of that which i desire , and strive to perform , i did neither belie my self , nor deceive the reader , who neither was the first , nor shall be the last , of whom it may be truly said , magnis excidit ausis . the fate of many , my betters , who have undertook to compass high and hard matters . but it may be objected against me , that being conscious of my owne weakness with the weight of the burden , i should have left the work for some stronger back to bear , and quitted it to those who would not only have endevoured but performed the same . i answer ; first , i did hope , that what was acceptable to god , would not be contemptible to good men ; having read , if there be first a willing mind , it is accepted according to that * a man hath , and not according to that he hath not . secondly , seeing this my willingness was attended with a competencie of books , records , friends , intelligence , strength , health and leisure , ( be all spoken not to my praise , but gods glory ) i did hope something worth the readers acceptance might be produced . lastly , though failing in what i undertook , i hoped to perform what might be usefull and advantagious to abler pens undertaking the same task , and to use my owne ( as who should forbid ) expression , my beams , might be scaffolds ; my corner , filling stones for his more beautiful building . the premisses encouraged me to undertake my church-history ; wherein , if i have not done what the reader expected , let him consider with himself , whether he did not expect what i never promised . who being unwilling to be cast by the verdict of the ingenuous , for laying my owne action too high , have not farced the first page of my book , like a mountebanks bill , pretending no higher but to endevour . chap v. the second generall answer . that many , especially memory mistakes and pen-slips , must be expected in a great volume . it is the advantage of a small book , that the authors eye may in a manner be incumbent at once over it all , from the beginning to the end thereof ; a cause why they may be more exactly corrected . a garden hard by ones house is easier weeded and trimmed , than a field lying at some distance ; books which swell to a great volume , cannot be spun with so even a thread , but will run courser here and there ; yea , and have knots in them sometimes , whereof the author is not so sensible as the reader ; as the faults in children are not so soon found in them by their own fathers , as by strangers . thus the poet ; verum opere in longo fas est obrepere somnum . as for memory-mistakes , which are not the sleeping bnt winking of an author , they are so far from overthrowing the credit of any book , as a speck , ( not paring-deep ) in the rind of an apple , is from proving of the same rotten to the core . yea , there want not learned writers ▪ whom i need not name ) of the opinion that even the instrumental pen-men of the scripture might commit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; though open that window to profaneness , and it will be in vain to shut any dores ; let god be true , and every man a lyer : however , i mention their judgments to this purpose , to shew that memory-mistakes have not been counted such hainous matters , but venial in their own nature , as not only finding but deserving pardon . i confess when such mistakes become common and customary in an author , they mar the credit of his book , and intollerably abuse the reader . nothing is lighter in it self than a single crumb of sand , yet many of them put together are the heavyest of bodily burdens : heavier than the * sand on the sea. what is slight in it self , if numerous , will become ponderous ; but i hope that memory-mistakes and pen-slips in my book will not be found so frequent ; and desire the benefit of this plea to be allowed me but four times , in my answer to the animadvertor . a number low enough , i hope , for the ingenuous reader to grant , though perchance too high for me to request . chap. vi. the third general answer . that in intire stories of impregnable truth it is facile for one to cavill with some colour at dismembred passages therein . it is an act as easie as unjust , for one to assault a naked sentence , as it stands by it self , disarmed of the assistance of the coherence before and after it : all sentences ( except they be intire and independent ) have a double strength in them , one inherent , the other relative , and the latter sometimes greater than the former ; when what in a sentence is doubtful , is explained ; difficult , expounded ; defective , supplyed ; yea , seemingly false , rendred really true by the connexion . we read in the life of * st. edward , that harold cup-bearer to the king , chanced to stumble with the one foot , that he almost kissed the ground ; but with the other leg he recovered himself : whereat his father godwin , earl of kent ( then dining with the king ) said , now one * brother doth help another ; to whom the king replyed , and so might my brother have helped me , if it had so pleased you . many times when one sentence in my book hath had a casual slip , the next to it out of fraternal kindness would have held it up ( in the apprehension of the reader ) from falling into any great error , had the animadvertor so pleased , who uncharitably cutteth it off from such support , so that one brother cannot help another ; whilest he representeth mangled and maimed passages , to the disadvantage of the sense and vvriter thereof . thus one may prove atheisme out of scripture it self ; there is no god. but what went before ? the fool hath said in his heart . i have dealt more fairly in this my appeal with the animadvertor ; and have not here and there picked out parcels , and cut off shreads where they make most for my advantage ; but have presented the whole cloath of his book , ( as he will find so , if pleasing to measure it over again ) length and breadth , and list and fag and all ; that so the reader may see of what wool it is made , and what thread it is spun , and thereby be the better enabled to pass his verdict upon it . chap. vii . the fourth general answer . that favovr of covrse is indulged to the first ( as least perfect ) edition of books . the first edition of a book , in a difficult subject , hath ever been beheld as less complete ; and a liberty of correcting and amending hath been allowed to all authors of this kind . i will instance in his book ( whose books would i was worthy to bear ) mr. camden's britania . his first edition was a babe in a little ; the second , a childe in a bigger octavo ; the third , a youth in a quarto ( but map-less ; ) the last , a man in a fair folio ; first and last differing more then a gally and galeas , not onely in the greatness but perfection , every newer edition amending the faults of the former . next , we will insist in another author above all exception , even the animadvertor himself , who in his epistle to the reader , before the second and much altered edition of his microcosme , thus expresseth himself , not unhappily either for his owne or my purpose : i am not the first of whom it was said , secundae cogitationes sunt meliores ; neither is it a thing rare for children of this nature , to be as often perfected as born ; books have an immortality above their authors . they when they are full of age and guiltiness , can be retaken into the wombe which bred them , and with a new life , receive a greater portion of youth and glory . every impression is to them another being ; and that alwayes may , and often doth bring with it , a sweeter edition of strength and loveliness . thus with them age , and each several death , is but an usher to a new birth ; each several birth the mother of a more vigorous perfection . had the like liberty of a second edition been allowed me , which the animadvertor assumed , his pains had been prevented , and most of the faults he hath found in my book ( being either derected by my self , or discovered by my friends , communicating the same unto me ) had been rectified . thus in the latin tongue the same word secundus signifieth both second and successful , because second undertakings ( wherein the failings of the former are observed and amended ) generally prove most prosperous . but it will be objected , such second editions with new insertions , additions and alterations , are no better than pick-pockets to the reader , who having purchased and perused the first edition , is by this new one , both in his purse and pains equally abused , and his book rendred little better than waste paper . i answer ; first , i am no more obnoxious to this objection than other authors who set for t new editions . secondly , i hope my alterations shall not be so many or great as to disguise the second from the first edition ; lastly , i will take order ( god willing ) for the printing of a peice of paper ( lesse then a leaf ) in my second impression , being the index of alteration , so that the owners of the first , may ( if so pleased ) in less then an hour , with their pens , conform their books to the new edition , which though a little less beautifull to the eye , will be no less beneficial to the users thereof . here let me humbly tender to the readers consideration , that my holy warre , though ( for some design of the stationer ) sticking still in the title page , at the third edition ( as some unmarried maids will never be more then eighteen ) yet hath it oftner passed the press , as hath my holy state , meditations , &c. and yet never did i alter line or word in any new impression . i speak not this by way of attribution to my self , as if my books came for that first with more perfection then other mens , but with insinuation to the reader , that ti is but equall that i , who have been no common begger in this kind , yea never before made use of a second edition , may now have the benefit thereof allowed me , especially in a subject of such length , latitude , difficulty , variety and multiplicity of matter . chap. viii . the fifth general answer . that it is no shame for any man to confess ( when convinced thereof ) and amend an error in his iudgement . the knowledge of our saviour , as god , may be compared to the sun , all perfect and compleat at once without any accession or addition thereunto , whilst his knowledge , as man , like the waxing moon was capable of increase , and was ( though not subject to the least error ) receptive of clearer information ; * and iesus increased in wisdome ; yea , it is expresly said , yet learned he obedience by the thing which he suffered . not such , the knowledge of the best and wisest man , which besides a capability of more instruction , is always attended with an obnoxiousnesse to many mistakes , seeing * here wee know in part , and easy it is for any man to come on the blinde side of another , as being better versed and skilled in such particular matters . when therefore i find my self convinced in my judgement of an error in my church-history , by perusing the notes of the animadvertor , i will fairly and freely confesse and amend it . and i conceive it is no shame at all for a childe to write a few lines of retractation , after so good a * father hath set him so fair a copy thereof . in such a case let not the animadvertor give me any blowes , where i conceive that my own blush is a sufficient penance for the same ; and let him not immoderately insult on such occasions , seeing my iudgement-faults will be found neither in number nor nature such as he hath suggested . covetous euclio in the * comedy , complained that his servant intromisit sexentos coquos , had let in six hundred cooks , when they wanted five hundred ninety eight of that number , being but two [ anthrax and congrio ] truely told ; and though the animadvertor frequently complaineth , that i * run into many errors , run into many errors ; yet on examination , many of those errors will prove truths , and such as remain errors will not prove many . besides , the animadvertor is concerned to be civill to me in this kind , seeing in this particular . veniam petimus dabimusque vicissim : a mutuall bargain we may make , pardon to give , and pardon take . if i were minded to retaliate , and to show that humanum est errare , i could instance in many mistakes in the last edition of his geography . some of the best birth and brains in our nation , and travalers in foreign parts , as far as india it self , proferred me on their accord to detect in several countryes unexcusable errors , confuted by their ocular discovery . i heartily thanked them for that which i refused to accept ; and did return ; first , that the book had atchieved a generall repute , and not undeservedly . secondly , that it was very usefull , and i my self had reaped benefit thereby . thirdly , that it would seem in me like to revenge in this juncture of time , when the doctor was disadvantaged by some infirmity . lastly , that others might be detremented thereby . yea , if we but look into his short view of the life and reign of king charles , some faults occur therein which god willing i will calmly discover in our answer to these animadversions , not with intent to cloud his credit , but clear my own . chap. ix . the sixth general answer . that prelial mistakes in defiance of all care will escape in the best corrected book . the most accurate book , that ever came forth into light , had some mistakes of the presse therein . indeed , i have heard of robert stephen , that he offered a great summe of money ( equivalent perchance to five pounds of our english coin ) to such who would discover any erratum in his folio greek testament , dedicated to king francis the first . but sure i am , that some of our english bibles , which may be presumed set forth with the best care , printed at london , have their errats ; and therefore prelial faults being a catching disease , no wonder if my book as well ( or rather as ill ) as others , be subject to the same . here it will be objected that there is a known and sure receipt for the cure of this disease , viz. the listing of such faults as have escaped , either in the beginning or end of the book ; that so the reader may , if he please , amend , if otherwise , avoid them . such an index erratorum , or catalogue of mistakes , is , in some sort a stool of repentance , wherein offenders find their lost innocence ; and such faults thus confessed , are never charged either on the author's or printer's account . it is answered , that although such a list of faults , generally followeth as the impedimentum or baggage in the rere of a book , yet seldome or never is it adequate to all the errata's , which are committed therein . for first , all committed , are not discovered , neither by the corrector , nor the author himself , who perusing his own book , in overlooking the faults therein , overlooks them indeed , and following the conduct of his own fancy , ( wherein he intended all to be right ) readeth the words in his book , rather as they should be , than as they are printed . secondly , all faults which are discovered are not confessed . such as the printer esteemeth small , he leaveth to be amended by the direction of the sense , and discretion of the reader ; according to the common speech , that the reader ought to be better than his book . in my book , the index of errata's amounts not to above forty , a very small number in proportion of so voluminous a work , which with credit might crave the allowance of twice as many more thereunto : the animadvertor in these his notes , maketh great advantage of some of these un-confessed-faults , and i sometimes plead the mistake of the press for my answer , though seldome , save when some similitude of form in the mistaken letter rendreth it probable for a prelial error . chap. x. the seventh and last general answer . that an author charging his margin with his author is thereby himself discharged . historians , who write of things done at distance , many miles from their dwellings , and more years before their births , must either feign them in their owne brains , or fetch them from other credible authors . i say credible , such as carry worth and weight with them , substantial persons , subsidie men ( as i may say ) in truths book ; otherwise , for some pamphlets , and all pasquils , i behold them as so many knights of the post , even of no reputation . now , for the more credit of what is written , and better assurance of the reader , it is very expedient that the author alledged be fully and fairly quoted in the margin , with the tome , book ; chapter , leaf , page and columne , sometimes ( seldome descending so low as the line ) where the thing quoted is expressed ; and this done , the author is free from fault which citeth it , though he may be faulty who is cited , if delivering a falshood . indeed , if one become bound as surety for another , he engageth himself to make good the debt in the default of principal . but if he onely be bail for his appearance , and accordingly produceth his person in publick court , he ought to be discharged without farther trouble . semblably , if one not onely cites , but commends the words of an authour , then he undertakes for him , adopts his words to be his owne , becomes his pledge , and consequently is bound to justifie and maintain the truth of what he hath quoted . but if he barely alledgeth his words , without any closing with them in his judgement , he is onely bound for that author's appearance . understand me , to justifie that such words are exactly extant in manner and form in the place alledged , easy to be found by any who will follow the marginal direction . this i reserve for my eighth and last answer , when taxed by the animadvertor for such things for which i have presented my author in the margin . in such cases i conceive i should be discharged ; and , if any fees at all be to be paid , i hope the courteous reader ( on my request ) will remit them , and dismiss me , without more molestation . chap. xi . that many of the animadvertors notes are onely additional , not opposite to what i have written ; and that all things , omitted in an history , are not defects . who so beholdeth the several places in my book , noted on by the animadvertor , hath cause , at the first blush , to conclude my church-history very erroneous and full of faults ; out of which , so bigg a bundle of mistakes have been collected : but upon serious perusal of these notes , it will appear that a third part of them at the least , are meerly additional not opposite to what i have written ; so that they render my book not for truth the lesse , but his for bulk the greater . herein he seemeth like unto those builders ; who either wanting materials to erect an intire house , or fearing so frail and feeble a fabrick will not stand by it self , run it along the side-walls of another house , whereby they not onely save timber , but gain strength to their new edifice . the animadvertor had a mind to communicate some new notions he had to the world , but he found them not many and weighty enough to fill a just book for sale : whereupon , he resolves to range his notions against my church-history , that so partly carping thereat , and partly adding thereto , he might betwixt both make up a book competent for sale. hence , it is that sometimes not liking my language ( as not proper and expressive enough ) he substituted his owne , with little or no variation of matter ; and sometimes adds new passages : some whereof i could formerly have inserted , but because i perceived my book ( as the reader is sensible by the price thereof ) grown already to too great a volume . when additional notes frequently occur , i conceive my self not obliged in the least degree to return an answer thereunto , as being rather besides than against what i have written : however , if i have left out any thing , it would have been suspected i had omitted that which most had made against me , to prevent which jealousie , such additional notes are also here verbatim represented . to such as object that the animadvertor's additions are suppletory of the defects in my church-history ; i answer , that a defect properly is absentia debiti adesse , the absence of what ought to be there , so that a thing is maimed or lame without it . but additions to an history are reducible to these two heads , viz. either such as they must without imperfection be added . may without impertinency be added . few , if any , of the former ; some of the latter kind are found in the animadvertor's additory notes . and let me tell him , that if he writes books against all who have written books , and have not written all which may be said of their subject , he may even write against all who have ever written books , and then he will have work enough . let us go no farther then to his own geophraphy , being sure he is too iudicious to be so conceited of his own pains , as to think he hath inserted all that may be said of so large a subject . the * story is well known of aesop's master , who buying two servants together in the market-place , demanded of one of them , what he could doe ; he answered , that he would doe all things , doe all things . then the other [ aesop himself ] being askt what he could doe , answered , he could doe nothing . his master seeming angry to keep so unprofitable a servant ; how can i ( returned aesop ) doe any thing , when my fellow-servant will doe all , and leave me nothing to doe ? if dr. heylin hath done all things in his geography , he hath given a writ of ease for ever to posterity , who may despair to merit more of that matter . all who hereafter shall write a new book of geography , must also find out a new world with columbus , as anticipated by the doctor , having formerly completed all on that subject . i presume not to say , that i have in my church-history done all things , having written many and most material passages , leaving the rest to others . but this i say , that all things left out in a history , are not wanting ; neither are all things wanting , defects , if not essential thereunto . as for some of the animadvertors added notes , they are no more needful or useful than a sixth finger to a mans hand , as ( god willing ) in due time shall appear . chap. xii . that the author designed unto himself no party-pleasing in writing his church-history . partiality is constantly charged on me by the animadvertor , and once , with a witness , as followeth , pag. . we see by this , as by like passages , which way our author's bowle is by assed , how constantly he declares himself in favour of those who have either separated from the church , or appeared against it . i return , ( to prosecute his metaphor ) that i have used as upright bowles as ever any that enter the alley of history , since our civil dissentions . i do freely declare my self , that i in vvriting my book , am for the church of england , as it stood established by law ; the creed being the contracted articles , and the . articles the expanded creed of her doctrine , as the canons of her discipline . and still i prise her favour highest , though for the present it be least worth , as little able to protect , and less to prefer any that are faithfull to her interest . as for pleasing of parties , i never designed or endevoured it . there were a kind of philosophers , called electici , which were of none , yet of all sects , and who would not engage in gross in the opinions of any philosophers , but did pick and choose here and there , what they found consonant to truth , either amongst the stoicks , peripateticks , academicks , or ( misinterpreted epicures , ) receiving that , and rejecting the rest ; such my project to commend in all parties what i find praise-worthy , and condemne the rest ; on which account , some fleer , some frown , none smile upon me . first , for the papists , though i malice not their persons , and have a pity ( as god i hope hath a mercy ) for many amongst them , yet i do , as occasion is offered , dislike their errors , whereby i have incurred ( and according to their principles ) deserved their displeasure . the old non-conformists being the same with the modern presbuterians , but depressed and under , as the modern presbuterians are the old non-conformists , but vertical and in authority , do ( though the animadvertor twi●teth me constantly to advocate for them ) take great and general exception at me ; and it is not long since , in a meeting of the most eminent amongst them , i was told , that i put too much gall into my inck against them . the independent , being the * benjamin of parties , ( and his mess i assure you is none of the least ) taxeth me for too much fieriness , as the animadvertor ( in his expression lately cited ) chargeth me for too much favour unto them . thomas lord coventry , when coming from the chancery to sit down at dinner , was wont to say , surely , to day i have dealt equally , for i have displeased both sides . i hope that i have his happiness , for i am sure i have his unhappiness , that having disobliged all parties , i have written the very truth . thus i can onely privately comfort my self in my owne innocence , and hope that when my head is laid low , what seems too sweet , too bitter , too salt , too fresh to the present divided age , will be adjudged well tasted and seasoned to the palate of unpartial posterity . chap. xiii . what good the animadvertor might , but would not doe ; and , what good , by gods goodness he herein hath done unto the author . when the animadvertor had perused my book , marking some ( but making moe ) faults therein , it was in his power to have done me a pleasure , the greatest he could give , or i receive , viz. not to paradigmatize me , but by letter in an amicable way to impart my mistakes unto me , that i might amend them in my next edition . say not , he owed me no such thing , who would have beheld it not as a debt paid unto , but alms bestowed upon me . i was not wholly without hope hereof , having found such favour from some worthy friends . had the animadvertor done the like , how had he obliged me ? as the society of peter-house do preserve the pictures of their benefactors in their parlour , so would i have erected unto him a monument of gratitude in my heart , besides my publick acknowledgement of the courtesie . but it seems he intended not my information , but defamation . however , he hath done to me a great good turn , for which ( because not intended ) i will thank god , viz. he by his causeless carping hath allayed in me the delight in writing of histories ; seeing nothing can be so unpartially and inoffensively written , but some will carp thereat . mothers minding to wean their children , use to put soot , wormwood or mustard on the nibbles of their breasts . god foresaw i might suck to a surfet in writing histories , which hath been a thief in the lamp of my life , wasting much oyle thereof . my head and hand had robb'd my heart in such delightful studdies . wherefore he raised the bitter pen of the animadvertor to wean me from such digressions from my vocation . i now experimentally find the truth of * solomon's words , of making many books there is no end. not , but that all perfect books ( i mean perfect in sheets , otherwise none save scripture perfect ) have finis in the close thereof ; or that any author is so irrational , but he propounds an end to himself before he begins it ; but that in making of many books there is no end ; that is , the writers of them seldome or never do attain that end which they propound to themselves , especially if squinting at sinister ends , as who is not flesh and blood ? such as project wealth to themselves , are commonly by unwise managing , or casual miscarriage , impaired thereby in their estates . others who designed to themselves , ( with the builders of babel ) to get them a name , commonly meet with shame and disgrace . or else , when their books are ended , yet they are not ended , because though never so cautiously written , some antagonists will take up the bucklers against them , so that they must begin again after they have ended , ( or sink in their credits ) to write in their own vindication , which is my case , enough to take off my edge , formerly too keen in making multiplicity of books . i confess , i have yet one history ready for the press , which i hope will be for gods glory and honour of our nation . this new-built ship is now on the stocks , ready to be lanched ; and being a vessel of great burden , god send me some good adventurers to bear part of the expence . this done , i will never meddle more with making any books of this nature . it is a provident way , before writing leave us , to leave of writing ; and the rather , because scribling is the frequentative thereof . if therefore my petitioning and optative amen , shall meet with gods commissioning and imperative amen , i will hereafter totally attend the concernments of my calling , and what directly and immediately shall tend to the advance of devotion in my self and in others , as preparatory to my dissolution out of this state of mortality . chap. xiv . that the author is unjustly charged by the animadvertor for being agreeable to the times ; and how far forth such agreeableness is consistent with christian prudence . * the animadvertor is pleased to charge me to be a great temporizer , and agreeable to the times . in order to my defence herein , let me premise this distinction ; that there is a sinful and sinless agreeableness with the times , be they never so bad . it is a sinful agreeableness , when people for their private profit , or safety , or both , are resolved in belief and life ; faith , and fact ; doctrine and manners , to be the same with the times ; how contrary soever they be unto the will and word of god. be it bible , or thalmud , or alcoran , or masse-book , or common-prayer-book , or directory ; any , many , all , or no manner of god's publick service ; to them , all is alike , and equally imbraced . but there is also a sinless , yea lawful and necessary agreeableness to the times , insomuch that no meaner father than st. ambrose , or worse critick than erasmus , read the text romans . . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , serving the time. a reading countenanced by the context , rejoycing in hope , patient in tribulation , continuing in prayer ; all being directions of our demeanour in dangerous times . and even those who dislike the reading as false , defend the doctrine as true ; that though we must not be slaves and vassals , we may be servants to the times , so far forth as not to dis-serve god thereby . this sinless and lawful agreeableness with the times , is partly passive , partly active . passive chiefly consisteth in bearing and forbearing : bearing , in paying all pecuniary burdens imposed ; it being but equal ( in my opinion ) there to return tribute where we receive protection . i doubt not but in this point even the animadvertor himself is agreeable to the times , going along with the rest of his neighbours in their paying of all publick taxes . forbearing expresseth it self , first in silence . the spanish proverb , true at all , is necessary in dangerous , times , where the mouth is shut no fly doth enter : yea , the spirit of god giveth his servants this counsel , * therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time , for it is an evil time. thus , holding of ones peace , that is , using no provoking language against the present power , procureth holding of ones peace , that is , retaining and possessing of one's safety and quiet . secondly , forbearing consisteth in refraining ( though not without secret sorrow ) from some laudable act which he heartily desireth , but dares not doe , as visibly destructive to his person and estate , being prohibited by the predominant powers : in such a case a man may , to use the apostle's phrase , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , for the present necessity , omit many things pleasing to , but not commanded by that god , who preferreth mercy before sacrifice . for instance ; if any earthly prince or power should enjoyn a christian ( as darius did daniel ) not to pray to god for the space of thirty dayes together ; his command is not to be obeyed , as contrary to gods positive precept , pray continually . but if he should onely enjoyn him to forbear such a form of prayer , allowing him liberty to use any other ; i conceive that such an omission , lawful ; dictated unto him by the principles of prudence , for his self - preservation . the active part of lawful agreeableness with the times , is in doing what they enjoyn , as being indifferent ; and sometimes so good , that our own conscience doth or should enjoyn the same . in such a case , where there is a concurrence of both together , it is neither dishonesty , nor indiscretion , for one in himself to conceal his own inclinations , and publickly to put his actions ( as fasting , thanksgiving , preaching , &c. ) on the account of conformity to the times ; it being ( as flattery to court , so no less ) folly to contemne and reject the favour of the times , when it may be had without the least violation , yet possibly with an improvement of our own conscience . i have endevoured to steer my carriage by the compass aforesaid ; and my main motive thereunto was , that i might enjoy the benefit of my ministry , the bare using whereof , is the greatest advancement i am capable of in this life . i know all stars , are not of the same bigness and brightness ; some shine , some only twinkle ; and allowing my self of the latter size and sort , i would not willingly put out my own ( though dimme ) light in total darkness , nor would bury my halfe-talent , hoping by putting it forth to gain an other half-talent thereby to the glory of god , and the good of others . but it will be objected against me , that it is suspicious ( at the least ) that i have bribed the times , with some base compliance with them , because they have reflected so favourably upon me . otherwise , how cometh it to pass , that my fleece , like gideons , is dry , when the rest of my brethren of the same party , are wet with their own tears ; i being permitted preaching , and peaceable enjoying of a parsonage . i answer first , i impute this peaceableness i enjoy , to gods undeserved goodness on my unworthiness . he hath not dealt thus with all my brethren , above me in all respects . god maketh people sometimes , potius reperire quàm invenire gratiam , to find the favours they sought not for . if i am one of them , whom god hath made to be pitied of those who carried me away captive , i hope , i shall be thankful unto him ; and others , i hope , will not be envious at me for so great a mercy . next to the fountain of gods goodness , i ascribe my liberty of preaching , to the favour of some great friends , god hath raised up for me . it was not a childish answer , though the answer of a child to his father taxing him for being proud of his new coat , i am glad ( said he , ) but not proud of it . give me leave to be glad , and joyful in my self , for my good friends ; and to desire , and endevour their continuance and increase . a friend in the court hath alwayes been accounted as good as a penny , in the councel ; as a pound , in the purse . nor will any rational man condemn me , for making my addresses to , and improvement of them , seeing the animadvertor himself ( as i am informed ) hath his friend in the councel ; and it is not long since , he had occasion to make use of his favour . i must not forget the articles of exeter , whereof i had the benefit , living , and waiting there on the kings daughter at the rendition thereof . articles , which both as penned , and performed were the best in england , thanks to their wisdome , who so warily made ; and honesty , who so well observed them . nor was it ( though last named ) least causal of my quiet , that ( happy criticism to my self as i may call it ) i never was formally sequestred , but went , before driven away from my living , which took of the edge off the ordinance against me , that the waight thereof fell but slentingly upon me . thus when god will fasten a favour on any person , ( though never so unworthy ) he ordereth the concurrences of all things contributive thereunto . all i will add is this , that hitherto ( and i hope , who hath , will keep me i speak it in the presence of god ) i have not by my pen , or practice to my knowledge done any thing unworthily to the betraying of the interest of the church of england ; and if it can be proved , let my mother-church not onely spit in my face ( the expression it seems of * parents amongst the iews when they were offended with their children for some misdemeanor ) but also spew me out of her mouth . some will say , such a vaunt savoreth of a pharisaical pride . i utterly deny it . for even the publican after he came from his confession he had made in the temple * god be merciful to me a sinner , had he met one in the outward court , accusing and taxing him with such particular sins , whereof he was guiltless , would no doubt have replied in his own just defence . and seeing i am on my purgation , in what the schools term iustitia causae ( though not personae ) i cannot say less , ( as i will no more ) in my iustification . thus have i represented the reader with the true complexion of my cause , and though i have not painted the ●ace thereof with false colours , i hope i have washed from it the foul aspersion of temporizing or sinful agreeableness with the times , which the animadvertor causlesly casts upon it . so much for my outward carriage in reference to the times ; mean time what the thoughts of my heart have been thereof . i am not bound to make a discovery to my own danger . sure i am , such who are * peaceable and faithful in israel , may nevertheless be * mourners in zion , and greive at what they cannot mend , but must endure . this also i know that , that spoak in the wheel which creeketh most , doth not bear the greatest burden in the cart. the greatest complainers are not alwayes the greatest sufferers , whilst as much yea more sincere sorrow may be managed in secret silence , than with querulous , and clamorous obstreporousness ; and such , who will neither print nor preach satyrs on the times , may make elegies on them in their own soules . dr. heilyn's title-page . examen historicum : or a discovery and examination of the mistakes , falsities , and defects in some modern history . part. i. containing necessary animadversions on the church-history of britain : and the history of cambridge , publish'd by thomas fuller : for vindication of the truth , the church , and the injured clergy . corinth . . . non possumus aliquid adversus veritatem : sed pro veritate . minut. foel . in octavio . et veritas quidem obvia est , sed requirentibus . fuller . the chalenge , is no part of the combate ; nor the mountebanks bill of the cure. it is answer enough to a title-page , to return , it is but a title-page . whereas the doctor intituleth his notes on my books animadversions , know , animadvertere in latine signifieth , to mark , and observe ; but rather , by the way of reproof , than approbation . and in a secundary sense , it importeth to correct , chastise , and severely to punish a [ reputed ] malefactor , as the doctor in a judicatory , of his own erecting , ( without any commission for the same , ) hath herein passed many most heavy censures on me , before he heard what i could say in my own just defence . whereas the animadvertor proceedeth , as followeth , animadversions on the church-history of brittain : and the history of cambridge , publish'd by thomas fuller : for vindication of the truth , the church , and the injured clergy . he hath done me more — right , than he was aware of , or was willing to do : for those indeed were the three principal motives of my weak endeavours in my church-history . however , because he intended those words to relate not to my history , but his own animadversions thereon , let the reader judge , to which of our two works they bear the best and most proper reference . the words of st. paul . cor. . . non possumus aliquid adversus veritatem sed pro veritate , we can do nothing against the truth but for the truth ; well fitted the mouth of the apostle , divinely inspired in his writings , only to be a champion for the truth . in one sense i allow them also applicable to the animadvertor , according to the received rule illud possumus , quod jure possumus , we can do that which we can lawfully do — . but otherwise , i humbly conceive that st. paul could not , and the animadvertor should not , do any thing against the truth . all that i will add is this , that although the doctor be pleased to call his notes necessary animadversions , ( who can blame the loving father for giving his own dear babe a good name ) yet upon serious examination it will appear that some of these animadversions , ought to have been omitted , for the promoting of piety ; and many of them might have been omitted , without any prejudice to the truth : as in due time and place , god willing , shall be observed . dr. heylyn . a general preface to the whole . it is affirmed of history by the famous orator , that it is testis temporum , the witness and record of time , by which the actions of it are transmitted from one age to another . and therefore it concerns all those who apply themselves to the writing of histories to take speciall care , that all things be laid down exactly , faithfully , and without deviation from the truth in the least particular ; for if the witnesses be suborned , the record falsified , or the evidence wrested , neither posterity can judge rightly of the actions of this present time ; or this time , give a certain judgement of the ages past . fuller . allthough mr. sanderson is equally concerned with my self in this generall preface , yet because i am beheld as the principal malefactor , i have here presented it intire . i look on it thus far as but the flourish or illumining of a text and initial-letter , signifying nothing in it self : and therefore let him proceed , to something more materiall . dr. heylyn . it is therefore a good direction which iosephus the historian gives us , and which he followed as it seems in his iewish antiquities , not only to be carefull that the stile be pleasing , but that the whole work be framed by the level and line of truth , nam qui historiam & rerum propter antiquitatem obscurarum expositionem , &c. they ( saith he ) who make profession to write histories , and to recite such things as are obscured by antiquitie , ought not only studiously to conform their stile , but also to beautyfie the same with ornaments of eloq●ence , to the intent the reader may converse in their writings with the more delectation . but above all things they must have an especial care so exactly to set down the truth , that they who know not how those things came to pass , may be the more duely and fitly informed . fuller . i acknowledge that this is the character of a complete historian , to which all in their writings ought to aspire with their best endeavours ; though i believe none ever attained to the height thereof . but first i would fain know , ( seeing these are necessary animadversions ) what need there was of that long - latine-line ( staved off at last with an &c. ) seeing iosephus did write in greek . and if the doctor would have presented us with the original , it should have been in greek ; if but with a translation , it might only have been in english. i behold iosephus as a worthy historian , whose memory i deservedly honour ; yet herein he might say with the poet , monitis sum minor ipse meis . he in his practise fell far short of his precepts , witness his inserting of this false passage , opposite to the very letter of the old testament , speaking of iehojakaim king of iudah , king. . . and he did what was evil in the sight of the lord , according to all that his father had done . iosephus ant. iud. lib. . cap. . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . this man being merciful and just by his nature . &c. but because it is not my work to accuse iosephus ( whom i cannot praise and prize enough ) but to defend my self against the animadvertor , let us proceed . dr. heylyn . there is another rule which he bound himself to , that is to say , neither to omit any thing through ignorance , nor to bury any thing in forgetfullness : and all these cautions well observed make a perfect history . fuller . here is the elixir indeed of historical perfection . let a glorified saint write such an history of the church-triumphant , that so there may be a just proportion betwixt the author and his subject , both being perfect . i have met with this distick made by reverend * bernard gilpin , upon such sectaries as require exactness in our church of england . optant ut careat maculis ecclesia cunctis ; praesens vita negat , vita futura dabit . thus englished by bishop carleton . men wish our church no blemish had at all ; it cannot be so here , in heaven it shall . this is true both of our church , and all church-histories ; whereof none without faults , and they the best which have the fewest . dr. heylyn . but on the contrary , there are some who do spend themselves on the style and dresse , as if their business rather were to delight the ear then inform the judgement ; others so byassed by self-ends and private interesse , that they seem rather advocates to plead for some growing party , then true reporters of affairs as they be before them . some who endevouring to be copious , clap all together in a huddle which is offered to them , without relation to the ornaments and attire of language ; and others with like carelesness as unto themselves , but greater inconvenience as unto the reader , examine not the truth and certainty of what they write , so they write somewhat which they think may inform the reader . betwixt these , truth is oftentimes irrecoverably lost , the reader led aside from the wayes of verity into the crooked lanes of error ; and many times conducted to such dangerous precipices as may prove destructive to himself , and of ill consequence to all those which are guided by him . the errors of the understanding , in matters which may possibly be reduced to practise , are far more mischievous then those which do consist in the niceties of speculation , and advance no farther ; which moved the orator , not onely to honour history with the attribute of testis temporum , but to style it also by the name of magistra vitae . fuller . i remember when the reverend vice-master of trinity college in cambridge was told that one of the scholars had abused him in an oration . did he ( said he ) name me ? did he name thomas harrison ? and when it was returned , that he named him not ; then said he , i do not believe that he meant me . although it is very suspicious that i am the mark aimed at in this discourse ; yet being not conscious of such faults to my self , and because i am not named by him , i will not understand my self intended , till he toucheth me with more personal particularities . dr. heylyn . these things considered as they ought , hath made me wonder many times at the unadvisedness of some late writers in this kind , whose histories are composed with so much partiality on the one side , and so much inadvertency on the other ; that they stand more in need of a commentator to expound the truth , and lay it clear and open to the view of the reader , than either the dark words of aristotle , or any other obscure piece of the ancient writers . i speak of histories , not libels ; of which last sort , i reckon weldon's pamphlet , called the court of king iames ; and wilson's most infamous pasquil of the reign of that king : in which it is not easie to judge , whether the matter be more false , or the stile more reproachful in all parts thereof . certain i am , we may affirm of them as cremutius cordus doth of the epistles of antonius , and the orations of brutus , falsa quidem in augustum probra , sed multa cum acerbitate habent ; that is to say , that they contained not only false and disgraceful passages against the honour of augustus , but were apparelled also in the habit of scurrilous language . with such as these i shall not meddle at the present , leaving their crimes unto the punishment not of an index , but an ignis expurgatorius , as most proper for them . fuller . i am not concerned at all in this paragraph ; onely let me add this in the honour of the deceased robert earl of warwick , who told me at beddington , that when wilson's book in manuscript was brought unto him , he expunged out of it more than an hundred offensive passages . my lord , said i ) you have done well , and you had done better if you had put out one hundred more . dr. heylyn . but as for those whom either the want of true intelligence or inadvertency in not weighing seriously what they were to do , or the too much indulgence to their own affections have made more capable of being bettered by correction , i have thought it more agreeable to the rules of justice , to rectifie their mistakes , and reform their errors , than absolutely to condemn and decry their writings . fuller . reforming of errors is a specious and glorious designe , especially when proportionable means are used in order thereunto . but of late the word reformation is grown so thredbare , it hath no nap left it , thereunder to cover foul acts to attain a fair end . i much suspect the animadvertor will prove such a deforming-reformer , as our age hath produced too many of them . dr. heylyn . at this time i have two before me whom i conceive to stand in need of such observations , by which the truth may be preserved , and the clear face of things presented to the readers eye ; the one of them an authour of ecclesiastical , the other of some civil histories . fuller . i commend the valour of the animadvertor , to combate with two at once ; odds , on which hercules himself durst not adventure . i also am to deal with two , the animadvertor and dr. cosins , but not as a challenger , but in the notion of a poor defendant ; and if one be assaulted by two hundred , he may and must guard himself against them as well as he can . dr. heylyn . in both i find the truth much injured , and in one the church . the errors of the one tend not to the subversion of any publick interesse , but , being errors , may misguide the reader in the way of his knowledge and discourse ; and therefore i have rectified him with some advertisements ( not taking notice of such passages as have been made the subject of some observations from another hand ) that so he may be read with the greatest profit . fuller . this is meant of mr. sanderson . i am not so divellishly minded as to desire all men might be equally faulty with my self , that so being involved with others in a joynt-guiltiness of the same degree , i might on that account pretend to a mock-innocence . if mr. sanderson's pen be less peccant than mine , i congratulate his condition , and provide to answer to my owne charge , which followeth . dr : heylyn . the other ( besides errors of this kind too many ) hath intermingled his discourse with some positions of a dangerous nature ; which being reduced into practise , as they easily may , not only overthrow the whole power of the church , as it stands constituted and established by the laws of the land , but lay a probable foundation for the like disturbances in the civil state. fuller . si satis sit accusâsse , quis innocens ? saith tertullian . to this double indictment i plead , not guilty , and put my self on the trial of god and goodmen , requesting the reader 's patience till the proofs on both sides be produced . dr. heylyn . and therefore i have fitted him with some animadversions in the way of an antidote , that so he may be read if possible without any danger . fuller . common custome hath oversway'd the word antidote to signifie a defensative against , or expulsative of , poyson ; however , the bare notation of the word advanceth no further than to import something given against : in which sense none of our nation hath been so free of his antidotes as the animadvertor ; having given them against mr. calvin , archbishop williams , archbishop usher , dr. hackwell , dr. prideaux , dr. barnard , mr. le-strange , mr. sanderson , and my unworthy self , no shame to follow in the reere after such a van and main-battel . sure i am , his pretended antidote on my book , hath more of poyson than cordial therein , envenoming many plain and true passages , sound and solid sentences , , with his false glosses , forced inferences , and pestilent applications . dr. heylyn . i know well , how invidious a task i have undertaken and that it will be charged upon me at the first apprehensions of it , that i have rather chosen to find fault with the writings of others , than to write any things of this kind , which may be subject to the like partialities , and mistakings . carpere vel noli nostra , vel ede tua , might come in seasonably here , if i had not somewhat to alledge for my justification ; but when the reasons which induced me to the first adventure ( mentioned in the introduction following ) be seriously considered , as they ought to be , i hope i shall be capable of excuse , if not of pardon . fuller . the animadvertor hath here raised up ( i assure you ) a strong spirit against himself , and whether the spells , here used by him , be able to conjure it down again , others must decide it ; mean time , fight animadvertor , fight objection of his own making , seeing i have neither skill , nor will , to interpose to part them . dr. heylyn . and for my venturing on the other , i shall say nothing more at the present , but that as well my love to truth , as to do right unto the author ( whom i would willingly look on as a man well principled , and of no ill affectioons to church or state ) hath invited me to it . fuller . here my credit is more deeply wounded by the glance of a bullet , than if it were directly shot against me ; for whereas he saith , that he would willingly look on mr. sanderson as a man well principled , and of no ill affections to church , or state , he concludes me by plain intimation disaffected to both ; but i hope that those who are cleer-sighted , look on me under a better notion . dr. heylyn . truth is the mistris which i serve . fuller . rough though i am , i have a mistris too , and her the self-same , with the animadvertor's . be it referred to her , to judge betwixt us , which of us hath , doth , or shall do her the better service ; and let him be received , the other rejected . dr. heylyn . and i presume that none will be offended with me , because i tell them of their errors in a modest way , and bear witness for them to that truth , of which they do profess themselves such especiall lovers . in that great disputation betwixt the esquires of the body of king * darius , whether the king , women , or the truth , were of greatest power , the whole assembly cried out in the behalfe of truth , magna est veritas & praevalet , that is to say , great is truth , and mighty above all things . fuller . i acknowledge this a canonical truth , though written in the apocrypha . it will soon be seen , who will shout most at the triumphs of truth , i or the animadvertor , corrivall with me to the same mistris . dr. heylyn . so that in standing for the truth , without consideration of the recompence of reward , i hope though i meet some adversaries , i shall find more friends . fuller . here he soareth so high a flight i cannot follow him ; yea , i suspect , that in reaching so high a note he hath strained ( if not broken ) his voice . what , no reflexion on a reward ? he might have had an intuition at it , as the incouragement though not the cause of his pains ; he might look at , in , through , and beyond the reward , without the least mixture of any mercenar inesse : sure i am , that one of as much meekness , as some are of morosness , even upright moses himself , in his service of the essential , and increated truth ( of higher consequence than the historical truth controverted betwixt us ) had notwithstanding a * respect to the recompence of reward . dr. heylyn . if not ( for i am at a reasonable pass for that ) it shall be no small comfort to me , that the weak candle of my studyes hath given light to others , whereby they may discern some historical truths even in the darkest mists of error , which either partiality or incogitance hath cast before the eyes of many readers . fuller . the reader in due time will judge , whether his candle hath by the light thereof discovered more truths ; or by the smoke thereof darkned more , or given more just offence by the unsavory snuff thereof . dr. heylyn . which said , i shall now add no more , but that having two patients under cure of different tempers , it is not to be thought , that i should administer unto both the same kind of physick , an ordinary purge being sufficient for the one , whereas the foul body of the other doth require a fluxing ; as some wounds may be healed with balm , when others more corrupt and putrified do exact a lancing . fuller . which said , i shall now add no more but that having two adversaries , dr. heylyn , and dr. cosens to encounter , it is not to be thought , that i should proceed against both alike ; dr. cosens hath merited much of the protestant cause in france , and thereby commands my pen to pay the homage of due reverence to the crown of his old age , especially when found in the way of truth . but i am not under any such obligation of particular respect to dr heylyn on the same account . i could wish he had used a more cleanly metaphor , and forborn the phrase of fluxing . such a cure appears not in hippocrates , as being a modern remedy , for a modern malady . however , would i were but half so holy as he was , of whom it was said , an evill disease * say they ( and they did but say it ) cleaveth fast unto him . i will use no harsher metaphor in relation of my answers to my two antagonists , than only , that men may meddle with a mallow with naked hands , but need to put on their hedging-gloves when to deal with a thorn or nettle . onely here i shall presume to request the reader , to take especial notice of those remarkable words of the animadvertor [ tell them of their errors in a modest way ] and keep them against a rainy-day , i mean such a seasonable time as we may make use thereof . dr. heylyn . but so it happeneth many times , that some men are more impatient of the cure , then sensible of their diseases ; and that , in stead of giving thanks to to the physitian , for the great pains he took about them , they pay him with nothing but displeasures . which being the worst that can befall me , i am armed against it . fuller . but so it happeneth many times , that ( as in this case ) there may be plus periculi à medico quàm à morbo , more danger of the physitian than of the disease ; a good belief and conceit of the physitian , is more than half a cure : and i confess i have none of the animadvertor , whom i behold but as an adventurous emperick , having seen and marked his practise on other patients , rather disgraceing their persons than amending their errors : give me a physitian of my own election , not of his intrusion ; especially when he usually wrappeth up his best receipts in poysoned papers . dr. heylyn . if by the hazard of my peace i shall procure this benefit to the present and succeeding times , that men may prove more careful of what they write , and not obtrude upon the reader ( either through ignorance , inadvertency , or somewhat worse ) such and so many falsities , mistakes , and errors , as have been lately put upon him in some modern histories ; it is that i aimed at , and having gained that point , i have gained my purpose . fuller . but what if on the contrary ( which is more probable ) it commeth to pass , that some having commendable inclinations , and proportionable qualifications to write histories , perceiving their books , damnatos antequam natos , baned before born , by the prejudice which this animadvertor bears their parents ; who is ready as soon as their books shall peep out of the press , to assault them with causless cavills : what i say if such persons on the tender resentment of the premises shall quit all their intentions to write ; the animadvertor can little com●ort himself , and others will less commend him , for this his over-activity , so destructive to the publick good. but there are some , who when they can no longer bewitch with their beauty , endevour to doe it with their malice , thereby to render themselves in any sort considerable ; to be feared , when they are no more loved . all i will add is this , he who already having one of his feet in the grave , will spurn his brother with the other ; will find few to pitty him , if falling all along for his pains . dr. heylyn . non partis studiis agimur , sed sumpsimus arma consiliis inimica tuis , ignavia fallax . peter heylyn . fuller . this distick , whereof the animadvertor , ( by the immediate subscription of his name thereunto ▪ may to some seem the author , is frequently cited by mr. selden , and may thus be englished , we serve no sides , nor parties seek to please , but do defie , sloth , thy deceiving ease . however i humbly conceive , that ( what faults soever i am guilty of ) the sin of sloth cannot justly , especially in my church-history , be laid to my charge . . all passages of church-concernment from the reign of henry the third , untill king henry the sixth , i got exactly written and attested out of the records in the tower. . the most material transactions in all convocations since the reformation till the time of queen elizabeth ( save that sometimes the journals be very defective , which was no fault of mine , ) i transcribed out of the registers of canterbury . . i have by much labour procured many letters and other rarities ( which formerly never did see the light ) out of the library of sir thomas cotton and others . . the learned mr. selden ( on his own desire ) honoured my first four centuries with reading , and returned them unto me some weeks after ; without any considerable alterations . . the best antiquaries of england ( amongst whom the arch-bishop of armagh , it being not then my happiness to be known to the learned and religious sir r. twisden , ) i consulted with ; these now i forbear to name , lest i remove and derive the animadvertors anger on them from my self , who am ( though not the most able ) the best prepared to endure his displeasure . give me leave to add , that a greater volume of general church-historie might be made with less time , pains , and cost : for in the making thereof , i had straw provided me to burn my brick ; i mean , could find what i needed , in printed books . whereas in this brittish church-history , i must ( as well as i could ) provide my own straw , and my pains have been scattered all over the land , by riding , writing , going , sending , chiding , begging , praying , and sometimes paying too , to procure manuscript materials . these particulars seriously considered , i hope it will appear , that the animadvertor unjustly chargeth sloth on my account , and tyrannically crieth out with pharoah , * ye are idle , idle are you . yea i hope , i may alter the property of the animadvertors distick , and turn his sword into my shield after this manner . non partis studiis agimur , sed sumpsimus arma consiliis peramica tuis , industria doctrix . thomas fuller . an answer to dr. heylyn's necessary introduction &c. dr. heylyn . intending some short animadversions on the church-history of brittain , for vindication of the truth , the church , and the injured clergy , i have thought good to prepare the way unto them by a plain , but necessary introduction , touching the quality and nature of the book which i have in hand . fuller . intending , god willing , to return a true , clear , and short answer to the introduction , i conceived it requisite to premise these few lines following . the animadvertor like a cunning market-man , hath put his best corn in the top of his sack to invite chapmen to buy it . his preface hath a decoction of his whole book , which was advisedly done by him , hoping that those might read his preface whom he suspected would never peruse his book . reader , as i am loath , any thing in his book should not be once answered , so be not offended , if to avoid repetition , i am loath it should be twice answered . each particular in the preface will recurre in the body of the book , where ( by gods assistance ) no emphatical word nor syllable shall pass without its respective reply . nor hath the reader any cause to suspect , that by such shifting i intend any evasion , by pleading in the preface , that i will answer objections in the body of my book , and alledging in the body of my book , that i have answered them in the preface . for i have to do with the animadvertor , so cunning and so exacting a merchant , that it is impossible for one indebted unto him , to escape without full payment , by changing the place of his habitation . however the animadvertor hath dealt severely ( to say no worse ) with me , who , to render me the more culpable , and my book of the less credit , hath represented all my faults in a duplicating glass ; and whereas the best of beings , non bis judicat in id ipsum , doth not punish the same faults twice , he hath twice taxed every supposed mistake in my history , once in his preface , and again , in the body of his book . dr. heylyn . concerning which , the reader is to understand that in the year . mr. fuller publisht his book called the holy state ; in the preface whereof he let● us know , that he should count it freedom to serve two appr●ntiships ( god spinning out the 〈◊〉 thread of his life so long ) in writing the ecclesiastical history from christ● time to our daies . and so much time it seems he had spent upon it ( excepting some 〈◊〉 for recreation in the holy land , before he had finisht and expos'd it to pub●●ck view ; the book not comming out untill the year . whether agreeable to his promise and such a tedious expect●tion , we are now to see . fuller . my words are by the animadvertor given-in de●ectively , and ( as to me ) disadvantageously ; this ●assage ( which ought to have been inserted ) immediatly preceding my promise . if i may be so happy as to see these gloomy dayes disclouded with the beams of gods mercy . i appeal to the conscience of the animadvertor himself , wh●ther in his soul he conceiveth these days disclouded or no. gloomy they were when i w●ote those words , before any war rained in the land ; and since such bloody showers have ended , they continue louring , gloomy , and dark unto this day . my promise therfore being thus but conditional , and the condition on which it was grounded not as yet performed , i have no ne●d liberare fidem , to free my faith , which was never bound , though i had ever since utterly quitted all thoughts of writing any church-history . for , the first five years , during our actual civill wars , i had little list or leasure to write ; fearing to be made an history , and shifting daily for my safety . all that time i could not live to study , who did onely study to live . so soon as gods goodness gave me a fixed habitation , i composed my land of canaan or pisgah-sight . this , though i confess it be no part of church-building , yet it is the clearing of the floore or foundation thereof , by presenting the performances of christ and his apostles in palestine . i perceive the animadvertor hath a months mind to give me a jeere , for my fallying into the holy-land , which i can bear the better , seeing ( by gods goodness ) that my book hath met with generall reception , likely to live when i am dead ; so that friends of quality solicite me , to teach it the latine-language . dr. heylyn . for first , the reader might expect by the former passage , that he designed the generall history of the church , from the first preaching of christ , and the calling of the twelve apostles to the times we live in : whereas he hath restrained himself to the church of brittain , which he conceives to be so far from being founded in the time of christ , that he is loth to give it the antiquity of being the work of any of the apostles , of any of the seventy disciples , or finally of any apostolicall spirit of those eldest times . fuller . charity begins , but doth not end , at home . the same method was embraced in my church-history . it began with our own domestick affairs , to confute that accusation , commonly charged on englishmen , that they are very knowing in forrain parts , but ignorant in their own country . i intended ( god willing ) to have proceeded to forrain churches , but i am discouraged by the causless caviling at what i have written already . my church-history beginneth ( for point of time ) indeterminately before the birth of christ , ( lapping in , or folding over part of paganisme ) and presenteth the dolefull condition of the britons , whilest yet unconverted , and grievious idolaters . determinately , my history begins anno dom. . which is but four years after christs passion , and that is very early , i assure you : christianity in this island , being a timely riser , to be up so soon , and dressing it self , whilest as yet ( and many years after ) most countreys were fast asleep in pugan impiety , i deny not but that apostolical men , were the first founders of religion in our land. but as for such apostles , ( st. peter , st. paul , &c. ) who without probability of truth , and against proportion of time , are by some authors obtruded on us , those i do reject , ( i hope , without the least ●ault ) rendring my reasons for the same . dr. heylyn . and secondly , though he entitle it by the name of the church-history of brittain , yet he pursues not his design agreeable to that title neither : there being little said of the affairs of the church of scotland , which certainly makes up a considerable part of the isle of brittain ; and less ( if any thing at all ) of the church of ireland , which anciently past in the account of a brittish-island . fuller . i will render the reader a true account , why i entitled my book , the church-history of brittain . first , the church-history of england i might not call it , the five first centuries therein belonging wholly to the brittains before the name and notion of england , was ever heard of in any author . secondly , the church-history of great-brittain , i did not call it ; for fear of bringing in scotland within the latitude thereof , a compass too large for my weak endeavours . thirdly , the church-history of brittain , i did , and might call it , in a double respect , tam à parte majore , quàm meliore , both from the bigger and better , the fairer and fruitfuller part of brittain , the ecclesiastical affairs whereof were therein contained . yea the animadvertor knows full well , that the south of this island , by way of eminence is so called : to give one instance of many , from the title-page , of a passage of state. nobilissima disceptatio super dignitate & magnitudine regnorum britannici et gallici , habita ab utriusque oratoribus & legatis , in concilio constantiensi ; lovanii , anno . typis excusa . the most noble dispute , about the dignity and greatness of the kingdomes of brittain and france , betwixt the embassadors and legates of both sides , in the councell of constance ; anno . printed at lovaine . here the contest only was betwixt the crowns of england [ here termed brittain ] and france , scotland not at all interesting it self therein . it will not be long before the animadvertor ( as , god willing , in due time shall be observed ) stickleth with might and main , that lucius might properly style himself , and be styled king of brittain , who had not an half of the southern-half of this island : and therefore , by his own principles , it is no solecisme in me , to name the cis-tweedan moity thereof , brittain . had i given my native countrey a narrow and restrictive name , i had deserved due reproof ; but now , measuring the denomination thereof , with all honourable advantage , i humbly conceive my self not to fall under just reprehension for the same . dr. heylyn . nor is it , thirdly , a church-history rightly and properly so called , but an aggregation of such and so many heterogeneous bodies , that ecclesiastical affairs make the least part of it . abstracted from the dresse and trimming , and all those outward imbelishments which appear upon it , it hath a very fit resemblance to that lady of pleasure of which martial tells us , pars minima est ipsa puella sui , that the woman was the least part of her self . the name of a church-rhapsody had been fitter for it , though to say truth ( had it been answerable thereunto in point of learning ) it might have past by the old title of fuller's miscellanies . for such and so many are the impertinencies , as to matters of historicall nature , more as to matters of the church , that without them this great volume had been brought to a narrower compass , if it had taken up any room at all . so that we may affirm of the present history , as one did of the writings of chrysippus an old philosopher , viz. si quis tollat●è chrysippi libris quae aliena sunt , facilè illi vacua relinquerentur pergamena , that is to say , that if they were well purged of all such passages as were not pertinent to the business which he had in hand , there would be nothing left in them to fill up his parchments . fuller . the animadvertor hath a free liberty to name his own books ; and i crave the same leave my self , to denominate my own . before he had fallen so fiercely on my extravagancies in the church-historie , he had done well to have defended his own , in his geographie ; sixteen parts of twenty therein being meerly historicall , and aliene from his subject in the strictness thereof . sure i am , ptolomey , strabo , pliny &c. in their severall descriptions of the world , have nothing to countenance the excursions about the pedegrees of princes , not reductive to geographie without the great favor of the reader so to understand it . but because recrimination is no part of purgation , i provide my self to answer to all which shall be objected for impertinencies . dr. heylyn . the first of this kind which i am to note , is a meer extrinsecall and outside unto those impertinencies which are coucht within ; consisting of title-pages , dedicatory-epistles , and severall intermediate inscriptions unto every section . a new way , never travelled before by any , till he found it out ; and such wherein he is not like to find many followers , though the way be opened . i know it is no unusuall thing for works of different arguments , publisht at severall times , and dedicated to severall persons , to be drawn together into one volume ; and being so drawn together , to retain still those particular titles and dedications which at first they had . but i dare confidently say , that our historian is the first , who writing a book of the same argument , not published by peece-meal , as it came from his hand , but in a full and intire volume , hath filled his sheets with so many title-leaves and dedications , as we have before us . fuller . i answer first , although it be unlawfull even for the owner himself abuti re sua , to abuse what is his own , because the publick hath an interest therein ; yet , * is it not lawfull for me to do , what i will with my own ? secondly , seeing the animadvertor pretendeth in his notes to rectifie mistakes , falsities , and defects , this cometh not under any of these notions . and whereas he writeth ( as he saith ) for the vindication of the truth , church , and injured-clergy ; by my dedicating of my book to many patrons , the truth is not prejudiced , nor the church wronged , nor any of the clergy injured . thirdly , of late some usefull and costly books , when past their parents power to bring them forth , have been delivered to the publick , by the midwifery of such dedications . fourthly , many ( if not most ) of my patrons invited themselves purposely to encourage my endevours ; and why should any mans eye be evil , because theirs were good unto me . lastly , it is all one in effect , whether one printeth his dedications to many patrons , or whether one presenteth a printed history of st ▪ george , to each english knight of the garter , with a written * letter prefixed to every one of them : save that the former way is better , as which rendereth the authors gratitude the more publick and conspicuous . dr. heylyn . for in this one book , taking in the history of cambridge , which is but an appendix to it , there are no fewer than twelve particular titles , besides the generall ; as many particular dedications ; and no fewer then fifty eight or sixty of those by-inscriptions , which are addrest to his particular friends and be●ef●ctors , which make it bigger by forty sheets at the least , then it had been otherwise . nay , so ambitious he is of increasing the number of his patrons , that having but four leaves to come to the end of his history , he finds out a particular benefactress to inscribe it to : which brings to my minde the vanity of vitellius in bestowing , and of roscius , regulus for accepting the consular dignity , for that part of the day on which cecinna , by order and decree of the senate , was degraded from it : of which the historian gives this note , that it was , magno cum irrisu accipientis tribuentisque , a matter of no mean disport amongst the people for a long time after . fuller . ordinary dedications exceed not a dozen lines , and therefore i believe the animadvertor is much mistaken in his proportions . if i did dedicate four leaves to a distinct patroness , no such fault therein ; seeing , i am confident , those four leaves contain in them so remarkable an accident , as the animadvertor never read the like in four thousand leaves of any historian . dr. heylyn . but of this argument our author heard so much at the late act at oxford , that i shall say no more of it at this present time . fuller . i heard nothing thereof at oxford , being then sixty miles distanced thence . sure i am , i did not there malè audire deservedly ; and if undeservedly , mala fama bene parta delectat . secondly , i have heard since , that one in the act , was bold to play on my own name and church-history . but for the seventeen years i lived in cambridge , i never heard any prevaricator mention his senior by name : we count such particularizing beneath an university . thirdly , i hope it will not be accounted pride , but prudence in me , to believe my self above such trifles , who have written a book to eternity . fourthly , i regreat not to be anvile , for any ingenious hammer to make pleasant musick on ; but it seems my traducer was not so happy . lastly , i remember a speech o● sir walter rawleighs , if any ( saith he ) speaketh against me to my face , my tongue shall give him an answer ; but my back-side is good enough to return to him , who abuseth me behind my back . dr. heylyn . in the next ranck of impertinencies , which are more intrinseall , part of the substance of the work , i account his heraldry , blazons of arms , descents of noble families with their atchivements intermingled as they come in his way ; not pertinent , i am sure , to a church-historian , unless such persons had been founders of episcopal sees , or religious-houses , or that the arms so blazoned did belong to either . fuller . i answer in generall , those passages of heraldry are put in for variety and diversion , to refresh the wearied reader . they are never used without asking of leave before , or craving pardon after the inserting thereof ; and such craving is having a request in that kind with the ingenious . grant it ill manners in the author not to ask , it is ill nature in the reader not to grant so small a suit . mr. camden in his description of oxfordshire , hath a prolixe ( though not tedious ) poeme , of the marriage of thame and isis , which he ushereth in with si placet , vel legas vel negligas , read or reject , either set by it , or set it by ; as the reader is disposed . the same , ( though not expressed ) is implied in all such digressions , which may be said to be left unprinted in effect , to such as like them not : their ploughs may make balks of such deviations , and proceed to more serious matter . dr. heylyn . our author tells us , lib. . fol. . that knowledge in the laws of this land , is neither to be expected or required in one of his profession ; and yet , i trow , considering the great influence which the laws have upon church-matters , the knowledge of the law cannot be so unnecessary in the way of a clergy-man , as the study of heraldry : but granting heraldry to be an ornament in all them that have it , yet is it no ingredient requisit to the composition of an ecclesiastical history : the copies of battle-abbey roll fitter for stow and hollinshead , ( where before we had them ) can , in an history of the church , pretend to no place at all , though possibly the names of some may be remembred , as their foundations or endowments of churches give occasion for it . the arms of knight-errant , billeted in the isle of ely , by the norman conqueror , is of like extravagancy . such also is the catalogue of those noble adventurers , ( with their arms , issue and atchievements ) who did accompany king richard the first to the war of palestine , which might have better serv'd as an appendix to his history of the holy war , then found a place in the main body of an history of the church of england : which three alone , besides many intercalations of that kind , in most parts of the book , make up eight sheets more , inserted onely for the ostentation of his skill in heraldry , in which notwithstanding he hath fallen on as palpable errors as he hath committed in his history : fuller . mr. fox in his acts and monuments hath done the like , presenting the names of such who came over at the norman conquest . i have only made their catalogue more complete . and seeing it was preserved in battle-abbey , the very addition of abbey doth dye it with some ecclesiastical tincture . the arms of the knights of ely , might on a threefold title have escaped the animadvertor's censure : first , they was never before printed . secondly , the wall whereon they were depicted , is now demolished . lastly , each knight being blended ( or , as i may say , empaled ) with a monk , a moiety of that mixture may be construed reducible to church-history . as for the arms of some signal persons atchieved in the holy-war ; if the sirname of war be secular , the christian name thereof , holy , is ecclesiastical ; and so rendred all actions therein within the latitude of church-history , to an ingenuous reader . dr. heylyn . for , besides those which are observed in the course of this work , i find two others of that kind in his history of cambridge , to be noted there . for fol. . he telleth us , that alice countess of oxford was daughter and sole heir of gilbert lord samford , which gilbert was hereditary lord chamberlain of england ] . but , by his leave , gilbert lord samford was never the hereditary chamberlain of the realm of england , but only chamberlain in fee to the queens of england ; betwixt which offices how vast a difference there is , let our authour judge . fuller . i plead in my own defence ( according to my last general answer ) that i have charged my margin with my autho● . mr. parker * ( fellow of caius college in cambridge , ) one known for a most ab●● antiquary , but especially in heraldry ; and i thought that he had lighten on some rare evidence , out of the ordinary road : but , seeing he was mistaken , i will amend it ( god willing ) in my next edition . dr. heylyn . and secondly , the honor of lord chamberlain of england , came not unto the earls of oxford by that marriage , or by any other , but was invested in that family , before they had attained the title and degree of earls : conferred by king henry the first on aubrey de vere , a right puissant person , and afterwards on aubrey de vere his son , together with the earldome of oxford , by king henry the second ; continuing hereditary in that house , till the death of robert duke of ireland , the ninth earl thereof , and then bestowed for a time at the kings discretion , and at last setled by king charls in the house of lindsey . fuller . this is nothing confutatory of me , who never affirmed that the high-chamberlainship accrued to the house of oxford by any such match . dr. heylyn . but because being a cambridge man , he may be better skill'd in the earls of that county , let us see what he saith of them ; and we shall find , fol. . that richard plantagenet , duke of york , was the eighth earl of cambridge . whereas first , richard duke of york was not earl of cambridge . fuller . he was , he was , he was ; as presently ( god willing ) will appear , beyond all doubt and contradiction . dr. heylyn . and secondly , if he had been such , he must have been the seventh earl , and not the eighth : for thus those earls are marshalled in our catalogues of honor , and books of heraldry , viz. . william de meschines . . iohn de hainalt . . william marquess of iuliers . . edmond of langley , d. of york . . edward d. of york . . richard de conisburgh , younger brother of edward . . iames marquess hamilton , &c. fuller . indeed they are thus reckoned up in a late little ( and useful ) book , entituled , the help of history , made ( as i am credibly informed ) by the animadvertor himself , and therefore by him wel stiled our catalogues of honour . but more exact heralds , whom it concerns to be skilful in their own profession , do otherwise account them . dr. heylyn . no richard duke of york to be found amongst them ; his father , richard of konisburgh , having lost that title by attainder , which never was restored to richard his son ( though most improvidently advanced to the dukedom of york ) nor unto any other of that line and family . fuller . i admire at the animadvertor's peremptoriness in this point , when the no less learned ( but more modest ) mr. camden , speaking of these earls in the description of cambridge-shire , saith , that after the death of richard of conisburgh , the title of the earl of cambridge , either wholly vanished with him , or else lay hid amongst the titles of richard his son , who was restored duke of york as kinsman and heir to his uncle edward duke of york . what he warily said laid hid , is found out by such as since wrote on that subject , mr. brooke , york herald , and mr. augustine vincent ( in effect mr. camden revised ; ) who writing corrections on brooke , * concurreth with him in this particular . for richard of edward's brother , was after created earl of that place , [ cambridge ] and after him another richard , who was richard of conisburgh's son. see reader what an adversary i have gotten , who careth not to write against the most evident and avowed truths , so be it , he may write something against me. dr. heylyn . . proceed we in the next place to verses , and old ends of poetry , scattered and dispersed in all parts of the history , from one end to the other ; for which he hath no precedent in any historian , greek or latine , or any of the national histories of these latter times : the histories of herodotus , xenophon , thucidides and plutarch , amongst the greeks ; of caesar , livy , salust , tacitus , and suetonius , amongst the latines ; afford him neither warrant nor example for it : the like may be affirmed of eusebius , socrates , sozomen , theodoret , ruffin and evagrius , church-historians all ; though they had all the best choice , and the most excellent poets of the world to befriend them in it : and he that shall consult the historyes of succeeding times , through all the ages of the church , to this present day , will find them all as barren of any incouragements in this kind , as the ancients were . fuller . never had herodotus given his nine books the names of the nine muses , if such was his abstemiousness from poetry . not one of them , which is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in this kind ; and there are found in clio the first , no fewer than thirty verses of the oracles of pythia . as those his books are fruitful , so his book of the life of homer hath a superfetation of them , so that if paose be the warp , verses are the woof thereof . whereas the animadvertor instances in plutarch ; open at the life of theseus , and we are presented with poetry therein . but grant no precedent in this nature in these authors . a more free genius acteth in modern than in ancient historians , manumissed from the servilities they were tied ( or tied themselves ) unto . the animadvertor , like another empson , endevoureth to revive the penal statutes of history against me , ( so to subject me to fine for the breach thereof ) which time in effect hath cancelled . qui scribit historicè , scribit miserè , if enslaved to all puntillo's thereof . let the animadvertor keep those steel-bodys for his own wearing , and not force them on me . what , not a plait or a ruffle more or less but all must be done in number , waight , and measure ! according to historicall criticisme ! this is not putting the book , but the author himself , into the press . tacitus himself , ( here instanced in ) would be tacitus indeed , if all politick sentences and prudential results were deleted in him , being trespasses on the preciseness of history , confined to matter of fact : but well-fare that historian , who will go out of his own way , to direct his reader . we know pliny , solinus , &c. in their topographical description of countreys , are barren of verses . let the animadvertor on the same account therefore charge mr. camden for surcharging his britannia with poetry , having but three verseless shires , viz. ( dorset , bucks , and westmerland ) in all england , and more than fourscore verses apeece , in the three severall counties of berks , oxford , and somerset . dr. heylyn . nay , whereas bishop godwin in his annals , gives us an epitaph of two verses only made on queen iane seymour , and afterwards a copy of eighteen verses on the martyrdome of arch-bishop cranmer ; he ushers in the last with this short apology , contra morem historiae liceat quaeso inserère , &c. let me , ( saith he , i beseech you ) insert these following verses , though otherwise against the rule and laws of history . fuller . what if that worthy prelate was pleased to pass a complement on his reader , it followeth not that they do want civility , who have less courtship in this point than he hath . let us look on his catalogue of bishops , which hath more vicinity with my subject , and there we shall find ( the bulk of the book considered ) more verses in proportion , than in my church-history , on the token that where i cite but four , he quoteth fourteen , out of martial , to prove claudia ruffina a britan , and a christian. dr. heylyn . but what alas were eighteen or twenty verses compared with those many hundred ( six or seven hundred at the least ) which we find in our author , whether to shew the universality of his reading in all kind of writers , or his faculty in translating ( which when he meets with hard copies , he knows how to spare ) i shall not determine at the present . fuller . if peeces of verses be counted whole ones , which in this point is no charitable synecdoche , and if translations be reckoned distinct verses , though it is hard that a man and his shadow should be accounted two different persons : and if the verses in the history of cambridge be adjected , though he who banisheth poetry out of an university , will find iambicks enough to pay him for his pains : and if the verses in the history of waltham-abby be cast in , though who shall hinder but i will describe my own parish in prose or poetry as i think fit ; all put together will not amount to the number . besides many of my verses may be said to be prose in effect , as containing the religion of that age , and therefore alledged as evidence thereof , before the norman conquest ; and no authority can in prose be produced which doth so fully and cleerly represent the same . other verses are generally epitaphs on some eminent church-men , which could not well be omitted . dr. heylyn . certain i am , that by the interlarding of his prose with so many verses , he makes his book look rather like a church-romance , ( our late romancers being much given to such kind of mixtures ) than a well-built ecclesiastical history . and if it be a matter so inconvenient to put a new peice of cloth on an old garment ; the putting of so many old patches on a new peice of cloth , must be more unfashionable . besides that , many of these old ends are so light and ludicrous , so little pertinent to the business which he has in hand , that they serve only to make sport for children , ( ut pueris placeas & declamatio fias ) and for nothing else . fuller . had the animadvertor come with a good stomach , such larding had been no bad cookery . certain i am , that a comment admitteth less latitude in this kind than a church-history . certain i am also , that a comment on the creed , is allowed less liberty then other comments . now the animadvertor hath be scattered his , every where with verses , and translations . it consisteth not with my charity to miscall it a creed-romance , accounting it a sin so to decry or disparage his usefull endevours . the best way to discover the deformity of my fabrick , is for the animadvertor to erect a more beautifull building hard by it , that so his rare and regular , may shame my rude peece of architecture . what if such mixtures make the garment ( which also i utterly deny ) to be less in the fashion ( the fondling of fancy ; ) i made it not for sight but service , that it might be strong and warm to the wearers thereof . i stand on my justification , that no such light or ludicrous verses are to be found in my book , which render it to just exception . but no wonder if the bel clinketh even as the prejudic'd hearer thinketh thereof . dr. heylyn . this leads me to the next impertinency , his raking into the chanel of old popish legends , writ in the darker times of superstition , but written with an honest zeal , and a good intention , as well to raise the reader to the admiration of the person of whom they write , as to the emulation of his virtues : but being mixt with some monkish dotages , the most learned and ingenious men in the church of rome have now laid them by ; and it had been very well if our author had done so to , but that there must be something of entertainment for the gentle reader , and to inflame the reckoning which he pays not for . fuller . i have not raked into the kennel of old popish legends , who took the clearest water , in this kind , out of those rivers which run , at this day , in highest reputation with the romanists . i never cited any legend but either out of harpsfield , who wrote in the last generation , and was as ingenuous as any of his perswasion ; or else out of hierom porter his flores sanctorum , who wrot some forty years , and in high esteem with the papists at this day , as appears by the dear price thereof . i confess i have instanced ( taking ten perchance out of ten thousand ) in the grossest of them , ( that is the fairest monster , which is most deformed ) partly to shew what a spirit of delusion acted in that age , partly to raise our gratitude to god , seeing such lying vanities , are now ridiculous even to children . i believe not the animadvertor , when saying , that the most learned and ingenious of rome have laid them aside , seeing cornelius à lapide weaveth them in , all along his comments , and k. iames did justly complain , that bellarmine himself , did mar his pretty books of devotion , with such legendary mixtures . dr. heylyn . but above all things , recommend me to his merry tales , and scraps of trencherjests , frequently interlaced in all parts of the history ; which if abstracted from the rest , and put into a book by themselves , might very well be serv'd up for a second course to the banquet of iests , a supplement to the old book , entituled , wits , fits , and fancies ; or an additional century to the old hundred merry tales , so long since extant . but standing as they do , they neither do become the gravity of a church-historian , nor are consistent with the nature of a sober argument . fuller . the animadvertor should have rendred me liable to just reproof , by instancing in one of those tales so inconsistent with the gravity of a church-historian : which no doubt he had done , but because he knew himself unable to produce it . he , who is often seen to snap hastily at , and feed hungerly on an hard crust , will not be believed if bragging that he can eat pheasants and partridges at his pleasure . and seeing the animadvertor , doth commonly carp and cavil at the silly shadows of seeming mistakes , in my book ; it is utterly improbable he can , yet will not , charge me with a fault , which cannot be defended . but let him at leasure produce the most light and ludicrous story in all my book , and here i stand ready to parallel it with as light , ( i say not in the animadvertor , ) but in as grave authors as ever put pen to paper . dr. heylyn . but as it seems , our author came with the same thoughts to the writing of this present history , as poets anciently address themselves to the writing of comedies , of which thus my terence . poeta cum primùm animum ad scribendum appulit . id sibi negotii credidit solum dari , populo ut placerent quas fecisset fabulas . that is to say , thus poets , when their mind they first apply in looser verse to frame a comedy , think there is nothing more for them to do , then please the people , whom they speak unto . fuller . i admire that the animadvertor , who so lately had taxed me for writing and translating of verses , will now do the same himself . there is a double people-pleasing . one sordid and servile , made of falshood and flattery , which i defie and detest . the other lawful , when men deliver and dress truth in the most plausible expression . i have a precedent above exception to warrant it , even solomon himself , eccles. . . the preacher sought out acceptable words . this i did , and will , aim at in all my writings , and i doubt not but that the animadvertor's stationer doth hope and desire , that he hath thus pleased people in his book , for the advancing of the price , and quickning the sale thereof . dr. heylyn . in the last place proceed we to the manifold excursions about the antiquity of cambridge , built on as weak authority as the monkish legends , and so impertinent to the matter which he hath in hand , that the most reverend mat. parker ( though a cambridge man ) in his antiquitates britannicae , makes no business of it . the more impertinent , in regard that at the fag-end of his book there follows a distinct history of that university , to which all former passages might have been reduced . but , as it seems , he was resolved to insert nothing in that history but what he had some probable ground for ; leaving the legendary part thereof to the church-romance , as most proper for it . and certainly he is wondrous wise in his generation . for fearing lest he might be asked for those bulls and chartularies which frequently he relates unto in the former books , he tells us in the history of cambridge , fol . that they were burnt by some of the seditious townsmen in the open market place , anno . or thereabouts : so that for want of other ancient evidence , we must take his word ; which whether those of cambridge will depend upon , they can best resolve . for my part i forbear all intermedling in a controversie so clearly stated , and which hath lain so long asleep , till now awakened by our author to beget new quarrels : such passages in that history as come under any animadversion , have been reduced unto the other , as occasion served , which the reader may be pleased to take notice of as they come before him . fuller . because omitted by arch-bishop parker , i have the more cause and reason to insert it : otherwise , had he handled the subject before , the animadvertor would have cryed out crambe , that there was nothing novel therein . call it ( i pray ) the fringe of my book , be it but for the subjects sake , whereof it treats , my dear mother , the university of cambridge . i live in the same generation with the animadvertor , and i hope shall acquit my self as honest , which truly is as wise as himself . church-romance parciùs ista . as i tell the reader of the burning of those original charters , so in the same place i charge my margin with my author , [ dr. caius ] and thereby discharge my self . doth the animadvertor now forbear all intermedling therein , in this controversy ? why did he not forbear before , when setting forth his last geography some five years since ? and is it not as lawful for me to defend , as for him to oppose my mother ? when , where , and by whom , was this controversie so clearly stated ? was it by the animadvertor himself ? such a party is unfit for a iudge . or , was it stated by the parliament mentioned by him mo . iacobi , when , as he telleth us , the clerk was commanded to place oxford first . but it plainly appears it was not then so clearly decided ; but that the question was ever started again , in the late long parliament , with arguments on both sides . witness the printed speech of sir simonds d'ewes on that occasion . dr. heylyn . all these extravagancies and impertinencies ( which make up a fifth part of the whole volume ) being thus discharged , it is to be presum'd that nothing should remain but a meer church history , as the title promiseth . but let us not be too presumptuous on no better grounds . fuller . the animadvertor's words , mind me of a memorable passage , which hereafter he hath in his animadversions on my sixth book , or history of abbeys . the intruder payeth to the sequestred minister but a nineteenth part in stead of a fifth . but if the fifth-part , in relation to my book , be here stated to the same proportion , for the nineteenth , yet will not the animadvertor's measure be reconciled to the standard of truth . dr. heylyn . for on a melius inquirendum into the whole course of the book which we have before us , we shall find too little of the church , and too much of the state , i mean too little of the ecclesiastical , and too much of the civil history : it might be reasonably expected , that in a history of the church of england , we should have heard somewhat of the foundation and enlargement of cathedral churches , if not of the more eminent monasteries and religious houses ; and that we should have heard somewhat more of the succession of bishops in their several and respective sees , their personal endowments , learned writings , and other acts of piety , magnificence , and publick interess , especially when the times afforded any whose names in some of those respects deserv'd to be retain'd in everlasting remembrance . fuller . i doubt not , but the reader , who hath perused my church-history , will bear me witness , that therein there is a competent representation of all these particulars , so far forth as the proportion of the book will bear . dr. heylyn . it might have been expected also , that we should have found more frequent mention of the calling of national and provincial synods , with the result of their proceedings , and the great influence which they had on the civil state , sparingly spoken of at the best , and totally discontinued in a manner , from the death of king henry the fourth , until the conv●●●tion of the yeer , . of which no notice had been taken , but that he had a mind to question the authority of the book of articles which came out that year , though publisht as the issue and product of it , by the express warrant and command of king edward the sixth . fuller . all councels before the conquest , with their canons are compleatly ( and the most remarkable , after it ) represented in my history . with what face can the animadvertor say that i have discontinued the acts of the convocation till the year ? the acts of one [ critical ] convocation in the of henry the eighth , . taking up no less than eight sheets in my book , and another in the same kings reign imploying more than a sheet . dr. heylyn . no mention of that memorable convocation in the fourth and fifth years of philip and mary , in which the clergy taking notice of an act of parliament then newly passed , by which the subjects of the temporality , having lands to the yearly value of five pounds , and upwards , were charged with finding horse and armour , according to the proportion of their yearly revenues and possessions , did by their sole authority , as a convocation , impose upon themselves and the rest of the clergy of this land , the finding of a like number of horses , armour , and other necessaries for the war , according to their yearly income , proportion for proportion , and rate for rate , as by that statute had been laid on the temporal subjects . fuller . i am confident that this is the self-same convocation which is thus entered in my church-history , book . p. . anno . quinto mariae . the clergy gave the queen a subsidie of eight shillings in the pound ( confirmed by act of parliament ) to be paid in four years : in requital whereof , by poole 's procurement , the queen priviledged them from shewing their horses with the laily ; yet so , that they should muster them up for the defence of the land , under captains of their own own chusing . i cannot therefore be justly charged with no mention of the acts of this convocation . dr. heylyn . and this they did by their own sole authority , as before was said , ordering the same to be levyed on all such as were refractory , by sequestration , deprivation , suspension , excommunication , ecclesiastical censures all ; without relating to any subsequent confirmation by act of parliament , which they conceiv'd they had no need of . fuller . i took the less notice of , and gave the less heed to the transactions of the clergy therein , because then they were in their hufte and height , furious with fire and fagot , so that all done by them de facto , cannot be justified for legal ; who sometimes borrowed a point of law ( even with intent never to repay it ) in their proceedings . it may be proved out of mr. fox , that some at that time ( by a cruell prolepsis ) antedated the burning of some martyrs , before the writ de haeretico comburendo came unto them . wherefore all their actions in that time are not precedential to warrant posterity , and the air of that torrid zone will not fit the bodyes in our temperate climate . dr. heylyn . nor find we any thing of the convocations of queen elizabeths time , except that of the year . ( and that not fairly dealt with neither , as is elsewhere shewed ) though there passed many canons in the convocation of the year . and of the year . and the year . all printed , and still publickly extant ; besides the memorable convocation of the year . in which the clergy gave the queen a benevolence of s. in the pound , to be levyed by ecclesiastical censures , without relating to any subsequent confirmation by act of parliament , as had accustomably been used in the grant of subsidies . fuller . bernardus non vidit omnia ; i could not come to the knowledge of every particular . but i confess i cannot conjecture the cause of the animadvertor's retrograd● motion , who after so many years in the reign of queen elizabeth , goeth back again to the year . which was four years before she came to the crown . dr. heylyn . it might have been expected also that we should have found in a church-history of brittain , the several degrees and steps by which the heterodoxies and superstitions of the church of rome did creep in amongst us ; and the degrees by which they were ejected and cast out again , and the whole reformation setled upon the doctrine of the apostles , attended by the rites and ceremonies of the primitive times . fuller . i hope the peruser of my book will be sensible of no defect , but that the same in a good degree is performed by me on several occasions . dr. heylyn . as also that some honorable mention should be found of those gallant defences which were made by dr. bancroft , dr. bilson , dr. bridges , dr. cosins , and divers others , against the violent batteries and assaults of the puritan faction in queen elizabeths time ; and of the learned writings of b. buckeridge , b. morton , dr. sutcliff , dr. burges , &c. in justification of the rites and ceremonies of the church of england , against the remnants of that scattered ( and then broken ) faction in the time of king iames ; of which we have ne gry quidem , not a word delivered : nor could it stand with his design ( which will discover it self in part in this introduction , and shall more fully be discovered in the animadversions ) that it should be otherwise . fuller . i answer : first , no drag-net can be so comprehensive as to catch all fish and fry in the river ; i mean , no historian can descend to every particular . secondly , what if i left that piece in the dish , for manners sake ? i must not ingross all history to my self , but leave some to such as shall succeed me in the same subject . thirdly , the reader in perusing my book will bear me witness that most of these have their true encomiums on the same account ; and especially dr. bancroft , dr. bilson , dr. cosins . fourthly , if my omission of his book hath offended b. morton , my asking will be having the pardon of so vivacious a piety ; who being past the age of a man , now leads the life of an angel. lastly , i have a book of the lives of all english worthies , ( god send it good success ) which had been in print , if not obstructed by the intervening of this contest ; and , coming forth , will be suppletory of all such defects . dr. heylyn . all which together , make it cleer and evident that there is too little of the church or ecclesiastical history in our authors book : and that there is too much of the state or civil history , will be easily seen , by that unnecessary intermixture of state-concernments , not pertinent to the business which he hath in hand . fuller . i answer first in general ; such the sympathy betwixt the embracing twins , church and state , that sometimes 't is both painful and pity to part them . more particularly , such passages have at the least a cast or eye of church-colour in them , or else they are inserted for necessity , ne detur vacuum , for meer lack of church-matter . all the ecclesiastical history in mr. fox , during the reign of edward the fourth , will not fill his hollow pen , the cause why he makes it up with history of the state ; and i sometimes do the like . lastly , it is done for variety , ( and then , commonly , i crave the readers leave ) which i hope is no offence . must i turn school-boy again , and the animadvertor be my school-master , to give me a theam , that i must write on no other subject , but what he appoints me ? dr. heylyn . of this sort to look no further , is the long will and testament of king henry the eighth , with his gloss or comment on the same , taking up three whole sheets at least , in which there is not any thing which concerns religion , or which relates unto the church , or church-affairs ; although to have the better colour to bring it in , he tells us that he hath transcribed it , not onely for the rarity thereof , but because it contained many passages which might reflect much light upon church-history . fuller . i answer first , all ancient wills have something of sacredness in them , beginning in the name of god amen . secondly , they are proved in the court-christian , which evidenceth something of ecclesiasticalness in them . thirdly , kings have ever been beheld as mixt persons , wherein church and state , are blended together . fourthly , the will of king henry the eighth , in that active-juncture of times , is more than the will of an ordinary king. fiftly , it is most remarkable even in church-history , if only on this account , to shew that he who had violated the testaments of so many founders and benefactors , had hardly any one particular of his own will performed . sixthly , it never was , and perchance ( had i not done it ) never had been printed seventhly , false and imperfect copies thereof pass about in manuscript . lastly , i have received so much thanks from the animadvertor's betters for printing of it , that i will freely pardon and pass by his causless cavil against me for the same . dr. heylyn . lib. . fol. . of this sort also is his description of the pomp and order of the coronation of king charles , which though he doth acknowledge not to be within pale and park of ecclesiastical history , yet he resolves to bring it in , because it comes within the purlews of it , as his own words are : but for this he hath a better reason than we are aware of , that is to say , that if hereafter divine providence shall assign england another king , though the transactions herein be not wholly precedential , something of state may be chosen out gratefull for imitation . lib. . fol. . as if the pomp and order of a coronation were not more punctually preserved in the heralds office who have the ordering of all things done without the church , ( and are eye-witnesses of all which is done within ) than in our authors second-hand and imperfect collections . fuller . i answer first , a coronation is church-work , performed therein by an arch-bishop , attended with prayers and a sermon . . i never expected that a chaplain to k. charles , should find fault with any thing tending to the honour of his lord ; how can any good disciple grudge at what is expended 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , on the buriall of the memory of his master being the last in this kind . . my collections , i mean printed by me , but observed by my most worthy friend , are ( abating onely the uncertain place of the lord maior ) most critically exact . lastly , though the heralds office doth carefully preserve all such ceremonyes , yet cannot all persons living at great distance , and desiring information herein , have on all occasions so facill and convenient access to their office , as to my printed book . dr. heylyn . the like may be said also of the quick and active raigns of edward the the sixth , and queen mary , in which the w●ole body of the reformed religion was digested , setled , and destroyed ; sufficient of it self to make a competent volume , but contracted by our author ( like homer's iliads , in the nut-shell ) into less than . sheets : and yet in that small abstract we find many impertinences , as to the work he hath in hand , that is to say , the great proficiency of king edward , in his grammar learning , exemplified in three pieces of latine of his making , when he was but eight or nine yerrs old . fuller . just reason of such contraction because of mr. fox his dilatation on the same : where he found my fault , he ( if so pleased ) might have found my defence , viz. if papists preserve the nailes and hairs of their supposed saints , give me leave to record the first essays of this pious prince , especially they being unprinted rarieties , with which no divine or schollar , save the animadvertor alone , would , or could have found any fault . dr. heylyn . the long narrative of sir edward montague , chief justice of the common pleas , to vindicate himself from being a voluntary agent in the business of the lady iane gray needlesly inserted . fuller . king edward the sixth , his passing the crown ( over the heads of his two sisters ) to his cousin the lady iane , is a piece of church-history ; because the continuing of the protestant religion , is all the plausible plea for the same , and the fair varnish of so foul a ground-work . this passage of consequence is defectively delivered by our historians , some circumstances thereof being hitherto lockt from the world : some have endevoured to force the lock by their bold conjectures . i am the first that have brought the true key and opened it , from judge montague's own hand , truely passive , ( though charged to be most active therein ) driven with the tempest of duke dudley's anger , against the tide of his own inclinations . i prize a dram of acceptance from the ingenuous reader , above a pound of the animadvertor's cavilling ; which is offended with my inserting of so authentique and informative a manuscript . dr. heylyn . needless the full and punctual relation of wyats rebellion , and the issue of it , though acted upon some false grounds of civil interess , without relating to religion or to church affairs : infinitum esset ire per singula , &c. fuller . this rebellion was grounded on erronious principles of religion , and therefore goodman ( il-man ) did in his book of that subject entitle it gods-cause ; and , though souly mistaken therein , it is enough to reduce this design to church-concernment . had i omitted it , the animadvertor would have charged me with puritanical ( pardon the prolepsis ) compliance ▪ so hard it is to please him , either full , or fasting . dr. heylyn . but well it were , if onely aberrations from historicall truth were to be met with in our author : in whom we find such a continual vein of puritanism , such dangerous grounds for inconformity and sedition to be raised upon , as easily may pervert the unwary reader , whom the facetiousness of the style ( like a hook baited with a painted fly ) may be apt to work on . murthering of kings avowed for a necessary prudence , as oft as they shall fall into the power of their subjects , lib. . fol. . fuller . the page cited by him happily happeneth to be the initial one of a section , and hath no more therein then as followeth . church-history , book . page . . soon after his death , k. edward was much lamented by those of whom in his li●e time he was never beloved . whether this proceeded from the meer muta●ility ●f mens minds , ( weary to loiter long in the lazie posture of the same affection . ) or whether it proceeded from the pride of mortimer , whose insolence grew intolerable . or whether , because his punishment was generally apprehended too heavy for his fault ; so that deposition without death , or ( at the worst ) death without such unhumane cruelty , had been sufficient . one of our english-poet-historians accquainteth us with a passage which to my knowledge appeareth not in any other author . this all in that page . reader i request thee do me , thy self , and truth right : whether can my avowance of king-murdering be collected from any thing here written by me ? but because , some will say , the quotation possibly may be mistaken : if any thing sounding to that sense , there , or elsewhere , be found in my book , may the ravens of the valleys ( whom i behold as loyall subjects ) in vindication of the eagle their soveraign pick out my eyes , for delivering such rebellious doctrine . dr. heylyn . the coronation of kings , ( and consequently their succession to the crown of england made to depend upon the suffrage and consent of the people , lib. . fol. . the sword extorted from the supream magistrate , and put into the hands of the common people , whensoever the reforming humor shall grow strong amongst them , lib. . fol. . the church depriv'd of her authority in determining controversies of the faith , and a dispute rais'd against that clause of the article , ( in which that authority is declared ) whether forg'd or not , lib. . fol. . fuller . stylus equabilis ! here is a continued champian , large levell , and fair flat , of fourteen untruths at least , without any elevation of truth interposed . no such matter in that place , as hereafter shall appear . false as the former as in due time and place ( cited now , afterwards by him eagerly improved ) will appear . i am depraved unjustly , who never deprived ' the church of her authority . i raised no such dispute , but would have quel'd it , if in my power . all which i refer to my answer to these respective quotations . dr. heylyn . her power in making canons every where prostituted to the lust of the parliament , contrary both to law and constant practise . fuller . every where , is no where . and seeing no particular place is instanced ; to a general charge , a general deniall shall suffice . let me add , that whereas the animadvertor * hereafter taxeth me for calling the two houses , the parliament ; we therefore may presume that he ( not running on the same rock ) by parliament meaneth the king , lords , and commons : which granted , how much of loyalty and discretion there is in these his words prostituted to the lust let others judge . dr. heylyn . the heterodoxies of wickcliff canoniz'd for gospel , and calvin's opinions whatsoever they were , declar'd for orthodox . fuller . the animadvertor's words are more than apocrypha , even a very untruth . dr. heylyn . the sabbatarian rigors , published for divine and ancient truths , though there be no antiquity nor divinity in them . the hierarchy of bishops so coldly pleaded for , as shewes he had a mind to betray the cause , &c. fuller . most false , as in due time and place shall abundantly appear . weakly , it may be , for lack of ability , not coldly for want of affection : but rather than the cause i so cordially wish well to , should miscarrie by my well-intended weakness , hence-forward i will stand by , and resign my place at the bar , to better pleaders in its behalf . dr. heylyn . whilst all things pass on smoothly for the presbyterians , whom he chiefly acts for : and this is that which we must look for , par my & par tout , as the frnchmen say . nor deals he otherwise with the persons which are brought before him , than he doth with the causes which they bring . no profest puritan , no cunning non-conformist , or open separatist , comes upon the stage , whom he follows not with plaudite's and some fair commends . fuller . he means mr. carlwright , travers , stone , udal , greenham , hildersham , dod ; all , ( though dissenting from the church in ceremonyes ) eminent in their generations . i commend them not for their non-conformity , but other qualities of piety , painfullness , learning , patience , &c. doth not * mr. camden give babington ( who suffered as a traitor to q. eliz. ) the commendation of wealth , wit , learning , and handsomness ? yea , doth not the holy spirit praise absalom for his blamless beauty ? and achitophel for his oraculous wisdome ? the worst of moral men may be commended for their naturals , and the worst of spiritual men for their morals . dr. heylyn . when as the fathers of the chuch , and conformable children of it , are sent off commonly in silence , and sometimes with censure . fuller . the reader by perusing my book will find , i have embalmed their memoryes with my best spices . dr. heylyn . the late arch-bishop of canterbury , so eminently deserving of the church of england , must be raked out of his grave , arraigned for many misdemeanors , of which none could accuse him when he was alive ; all his infirmities and weaknesses mustered up together , make him hatefull to the present and succeeding ages ; when mr. love's treasonable practises and seditious speeches , must needs ( forsooth ) be buried in the same earth with him . fuller . i have in this my appeal collected twenty two commendations of the arch-bishop out of my church-history , and had made them up forty , save that the press prevented me : the best is , what is lost in the hundred , is found in the shire ; i mean may be ( though not in this my defence ) found in my book at large . dr. heylyn . the university of oxford frequently quarrelled and exasperated , upon sleight occasions . the late king's party , branded by the odious title of malignants , not better'd by some froth of pretended wit in the etymology . fuller . when , and where , being now left at large , without any direction to the place ; i am more troubled what my offence is , than what my defence shall be . i am sure the animadvertor , ( as a dutifull son to his mother ) will in due time and place discover it , and ( unwilling to antedate my own molestation , ) my answer is deferred ( or rather referred ) thereunto . as for my using the term malignant , in due time i shall make a satisfactory answer . dr. heylyn . the regular clergy shamefully reproached by the name of covetous conformists . lib. . fol. . fuller . who would not think , but that ( as the charge standeth against me ) i had branded all conformists with the note of covetous , which had been an abominable scandall indeed . whereas my words only relate to some particular persons : whom , if the animadvertor will say , they were conformists , ( as indeed they were ; ) i dare sweare , ( if called thereunto ) that they were covetous , as who , by unreasonable leases , ( as the statute calleth them ) wasted the lands of the church , till they were seasonably retrenched by that wholesom law made the . th . of q. elizabeth . regular clergy they might be , ( as the animadvertor termeth them ) in other things , but in this particular , regular , only to the rules of avarice : making such leases against reason , and common equity , though , in the rigor of the [ then ] law , justifiable ; i wonder that the animadvertor will advocate for their actions so detrimental to the church . nor doth this dash the least disgrace on conformity it self , they not doing it quà conformists . it was not their conformity made them covetous , ( though perchance their covetousnesse might make them conformable ) but their own corruption . but if the epithet of covetous be so offensive , i will in my next edition , to mend the matter , change it into sa●rilegious conformity , and justifie my expression , according to the principle of the animadvertor's own judgement , because they enriched themselves with impayring the goods of the church . dr. heylyn . and those poor men who were ejected by this late long-parliament , despitefully called baal's priests , unsavory salt , not fit to be thrown upon the dunghill ; though he be doubtfull of the proofs which were brought against them . lib. . fol. . fuller . i have , at large , defended my self against this foul and false accusation , when the place cited doth occur . dr. heylyn . so many of all sorts wronged and injured him , that , should they all study their personal and particular revenges , he were not able to abide it : and therefore we may justly say , in the poet's language , si de tot laesis sua numina quisque deorum . vindicet , in poenas non satis unus erit . which may be englisht in these words . should all wrong'd parties seek t' avenge their fame , one man were not enough to bear the shame . fuller . if i stand endebted to so many for wronging of them , the fairest way is for them jointly , to seize on what i have , that so my small estate may be shared amongst them all , so far as it will go , and every one have his proportion thereof : whereas now the animadvertor taking all ( and more then all ) his penny-worths out of me , he hath injuriously dealt with the rest of the creditors thereby . however , i hope to appear responsible , ( seeing no debt is soon satisfied ) and the animadvertor himself in due time , will be found in my debt , if all accounts be equally audited betwixt us . this i dare boldly say ( though i confess his faults excuse not mine , if guilty ) that he hath wronged more , and persons of higher quality , in his late books . bishop iames montague , a known eminent scholler , vilified by an odious and indiscreet comparing him with another of his sirname . judge hutton and crook scandalously abused by him for consenting privately to the ship-mony , who as well privately ( in the king's presence ) as publikely opposed it , though they subscribed their hands , in conformity to the greater number : as the animadvertor ( more knowing in law , than my self ) will acknowledge the common and constant custome in such cases . i could instance in many more , it being no discretion to play out all i have at once , but to keep a reserve in my hand , in case , ( which god forefend ) i should be provoked to another answer . dr. heylyn . but nothing does more evidently discover his unfaithfull dealing , then his report of the proceedings in the isle of wight , between his majesty , and the long-parliament divines ; of which he tells us , lib. . fol. . that his majesty , in the last paper which he sent them , acknowledged their great pains to inform his iudgement , according to their perswasions , and also took especial notice of their civilities of the application both in the beginning and body of their reply ; and having cleer'd himself from some mis-understanding about the writ of partition which they speak of , puts an end to the businesse . the man who reads this passage , cannot choose but think that his majesty , being vanquisht by the arguments of the presbyterians , had given over the cause ; and therefore , as convicted in his conscience , rendreth them thanks for the instruction which he had received , and the civilities they used towards him in the way thereof . but he that looks upon his majestie 's last paper , will find that he had learnedly and divinely refel'd all their arguments : and having so done , puts them in mind of three questions which are propos'd in his former paper , acknowledged by themselves , to be of great importance in the present controversie ; without an answer whereunto , his majesty declared that he would put an end to that conference : it not being probable ( as he told them ) that they should work much upon his iudgement , whilst they are fearfull to declare their own , nor possible to relieve his conscience , but by a free declaring of theirs . but they not able , or not daring , ( for fear of displeasing their great masters ) to return an answer to those questions , his majesty remain'd sole master of the field , a most absolute conquerour : for though the first blow commonly does begin the quarrel , it is the last blow always that gets the victory : but regium est cum benefeceris malè audire : it hath been commonly the fortune of the greatest princes , when they deserve best , to be worst reported . fuller . here i will truely acquaint the reader with the state of this matter . the posting press , which with the time and tide will stay for no man , mistaking my copy compleat , and not attending my coming to london , that morning from waltham , clapt it up imperfect . i must therefore deservedly take all the blame and shame thereof on my self , and here in this sheet do publick-pennance for the same , promising amendment to the full , god willing , in the next edition . dr. heylyn . nor deals he better with the church , then he does with the king ; concealing such things as might make for her justification , and advocating for such things as disturb her order . in the last book we find him speaking of some heats which were rais'd in the church , about placing the communion-table altar-wise , and great fault found for the want of moderation in those men , who had the managing of that business . but he conceals his majesties determination in the case of st. gregories , novemb. . . by which all bishops and other ordinaries , were incouraged to proceed , therein , and consequently those of inferiour rank to defend their actings . fuller . i have not full twenty lines on the whole subject , being loath to enlarge on so odious a difference , sopited in good measure : and as i durst not totally omit , so i passed it over , with all possible brevity . dr. heylyn . the chappel of emanuel colledge in cambridge is built north and south , contrary to the usage of the primitive times ; and the church of england , with which king iames being made acquainted , he answered ( as our author tels us ) that it was no matter how the chappel stood , so the heart stood aright : which tale being told by him , and believed by others ( & populum , qui sibi credit , habet , ovid. in ep. hysiphil . ) as he is like enough to find many believers , farewell to all external reverence in the service of god : what need we trouble our selves or others with standing , kneeling , bowing in the acts of worship ; it is no matter in what posture the body be , so the heart be right . fuller . the speech of k. iames was no tale but a truth ; when he did not exclude bodily reverence , but prefer soul sincerity in divine service . parallel unto those scripture-instances , psalm . . . for thou desirest no sacrifice , that is , thou wouldest them not , comparatively to cordial contrition . pet. , . speaking of good women , whose adorning let it not be that outward of playting the hair , viz. not chiefly therein , to the neglecting of inward holiness . nor is the speech inductive of corporal irreverence , if believed ; seeing a mans body may , and ought easily , quickly , and cheaply , be contrived ; into standing , bowing , kneeling ; when it requires time , and expence to take down , and re-build a chappel , which would cost the colledge five hundred pounds at the least . dr. heylyn . what need we put our selves or others to the charge of surplices and hoods , of gowns and cassacks , in the officiating of gods service ; it is no matter in what habit the body be , so the heart be right . there is another chappel in cambridge which was never consecrated , ( whether a stable or a dormitory , is all one to me . ) at which time when some found themselves grieved , our author tells them , this others of us great learning and religion ( himself especially for one ) dare defend , that the continued series of divine duties , publickly practised for more then thirty years ( without the least check or controul of those in authority ) in a place set apart to that purpose , doth sufficiently consecrate the same : stables and barns by this argument , shall in some tract of time become as sacred as our churches . fuller . had i lived in sidney colledge , when that dormitory was first used for a chappel , i would have advised , and ( in my sphere ) advanced its consecration ; accounting the omission to fall under just reproof . but seeing it hath been so long omitted , i now conceive it hath no need of consecration , seeing though never solemnly and formally dedicated to divine service by the ordinary , ( or one deputed by him ) yet hath it had a tacite , & interpretative consecration , and thereby hath contracted a relative sacrednesse . by the same proportion , it is , that utensils , long used in a family , to most civill and generous imployment , by degrees acquire to themselves , the reputation ( in the apostle's language ) of vessels of honour ; as being opposed to such vessels imployed in sordid ( though necessary ) service , and of the same metal and matter . i doubt not but if this place used for a chappel ( now about a jubilee of years ) should be turned to a stable , the animadvertor would behold it ( and justly too ) as a piece of prophanation , and this intimates a sacrednesse therein . it is mainly material , that bishop andrews , of ely , a reverend prelate , and as knowing as any of his order in this point of antiquity ; knew this to be in his diocesse , yet never manifested the least regreet at the chappelizing of this place . as for consecration of churches and chappels , i say ; first , is no sacramental action . secondly , it is not of evangelical institution , as bellarmine himself doth freely confesse , no express for it in the new-testament . de cultu sanctorum . lib. . cap. . in statu evangelii non habemus tam expressa testimonia scripturae . thirdly , it is charitably to be presumed , that when dr. montague , and the fellows first entred the dormitory , sequestring that place for a chappel , they by prayers and a sermon , did solemnly consign it , to the service of god : seeing no man of common principles of piety , will offer to eat meat , before he hath said grace . fourthly , such prayers did in some sort dedicate the place , wanting no formality , save , because not done by a bishop ; and if this be all the fault can be found therein , let the animadvertor prove , ( probatio incumbit affirmanti ) that in the primitive times , consecrating of churches was only an episcopal act. fifthly , what was wanting in the consecration at the first , hath since sufficiently been supplyed and corroborated by usance thereof to gods service only . if factious people , should , in peaceable times , against lawfull authority conventicle in a barn or stable ; their meetings , ( sinfull in themselves ) could not derive any sacrednesse to the place , whilst the world lasteth . but if persecution , which god of his goodness avert ( though we by our wickednesse deserve it ) should invade our land ; i conceive , stables are , by prayers , and presence of god's suffering servants , and chiefly by god's presence with them , at the minute of their entrance thither , elevated into holy places . dr. heylyn . and if the brethren think it not enough for their ease to be pent up in so narrow a room , t is but repairing to the next grove or coppise , and that in a like traet of time shall become as holy as solomons temple , or any consecrated place whatsoever it be . fuller . not the solemnest consecration , can advance our churches into the same degree of sacredness with solomon's temple , which was ( yea might bee ) but one , dignified ( when dedicated ) with god his glorious presence , chro. . . who chose that place to himself for an house of sacrifice . it was the type of our blessed saviour , perfect in all points , as made by inspired architects ; and the utensils in the holy of holiest , the self same which moses made according to the pattern in the mount. but i hold english churches may amount to the holinesse of the jewish synagogues . dr. heylyn . churches may well be spared , pulled down , and their materials sold for the use of the saints . fuller . god forbid ! the clean contrary followeth from my position , wherein i do offer an argument for the sacredness of places , the register of whose consecration is lost , as time out of mind , so that now they can no otherwise prove it , ( no record being extant thereof ) save by pious prescription . enough in my judgement to give sacriledge , a rap over the fingers , if offering to lay hold on such places and buildings , and turn them to her private profit . were it in my power , i would have built a church , where i only made my church-history . but the worst is , the animadvertor would then have quarrelled the contriving and adorning of my church , as much as now he doth the matter and making of my book ; and therefore i leave it to others , of more ability , first to do , and then to defend their good actions , from his morosity . dr. heylyn . a tub by this our author's logick , will be as useful as the pulpit unto edification . fuller . this is a tale ( for i am sure it is no truth ) of a tub indeed . i ever beheld a pulpit , as in some sort jure divino , ever since i read nehem. . . that ezrah stood upon a pulpit of wood. however , if called thereunto , i pray god i may make but as good a practical sermon , as iohn badby effectually preached in a tub , of constancy and christian patience , when put into such a vessel , and burnt therein for the testimony of the truth , in the reign of k. henry the fourth . dr. heylyn . and that we may perceive that nothing is more precious with him then an irregular , unconsecrated , and unfurnished chappel , &c. fuller . next to an heart , such as david had , made ( the best coppy of the best original ) after gods own heart , i most highly prize a regular and consecrated chappel , furnished with matron-like , not meritricious ornaments . dr. heylyn . melvin's infamous libel against the furniture of the altars in the chappels royall , ( for which he was censur'd in the star-chamber ) must be brought in by head and shoulders , out of time and place , for fear lest such an excellent piece of puritanical zeal should be lost to posterity : these things i might have noted in their proper places , but that they were reserv'd for this as a taste to the rest . fuller . i account not those his verses worth the translating , ( though easie ) and speak of his censure as well as of his offence . i mis-timed nothing , having entered this passage near the year wherein he was setled a professor beyond the seas . dr. heylyn . et jam sinis erat ; and here i thought i should have ended this anatomy of our author's book , but that there is another passage in the preface thereof , which requires a little further consideration . for in that preface he informs us , by the way of caution , that the three first books were for the main written in the reign of the late king , as appeareth by the passages then proper for the government : the other nine books were made since monarchy was turned into a state. fuller . the animadvertor hath fairly and fully ( no constant practice ) cited my words ; i request the reader to take especial notice of those three for the main i presume the reader conceiveth such a caveat not improper or impertinent , but safe and seasonable , for my defence , and his direction , especially seeing the like happened not to any english historian , this thousand * years , that his pen ( during the writing of his book ) should pass through climates of different governments . dr. heylyn . by which it seems , that our author never meant to frame his history by the line of truth , but to attemper it to the palat of the present government , whatsoever it then was , or should prove to be ; which i am sure agrees not with the laws of history . and though i can most easily grant , that the fourth book and the rest that follow , were written after the great alteration and change of state , in making a new common-wealth out of the ruines of an ancient monarchy ; yet i concur not with our author in the time of the former : for it appears by some passages , that the three first books either were not all written in the time of the king , or else he must give himself some disloyal hopes , that the king should never be restored to his place and power , by which he might be called to a reckoning for them . fuller . it seems . [ multa videntur quae non sunt . ] the inference is false and forced ; titus livius lived in imperial , yet wrote of regal , consulatory , tribunitial at rome , without the least imputation of falshood . i conceive monarchical aristocratical and democralical truth , to be one and the same : it followeth not , that two-faced ianus ( as beholding two worlds , one before , the other after the flood ) had also two hearts . i did not attemper my history to the palat of the government ; so as to sweeten it with any falshood ; but i made it palatable thus far forth as not to give a wilful disgust to those in present power , and procure danger to my self , by using any over-salt tart or bitter expression , better forborn than inserted , without any prejudice to the truth . dr. heylyn . for in the second book he reckons the cross in baptism for a popish trinket , by which it appears not , i am sure , to have been written in the time of kingly government , that being no expression sutable unto such a time . fuller . should i simply and absolutely call the cross in baptisme a popish trinket , my fore-head ( signed therewith ) would give my tongue the lye , and return the popery in the teeth thereof . i behold it as an ancient and significant ceremony , but in no degree essentiall to , or completory of , the sacrament ▪ witness the wisdome of the church of england , which in private baptism permitteth the omitting thereof . but when ceremonyes shall devour their distance , and intrude themselves necessary and essential , it is high time to term them superstititious trinkets . the rest i referr to what i have written , when this passage recurreth in the place cited by the animadvertor . dr. heylyn . secondly , speaking of the precedency which was fixt in canterbury , by removing the archiepiscopal see from london thither , he telleth us that the matter is not much , which see went first , when living ; seeing our age hath laid them both alike level in their graves : but certainly the government was not changed into a state or commonwealth , till the death of the king ; and till the death of the king , neither of those episcopall sees , nor any of the rest , were laid so level in their graves , but that they were in hope of a resurrection ; the king declaring himself very constantly in the treaty at the isle of wight , as well against the abolishing of the episcopal government , as the alienation of their lands . thirdly , in the latter end of the same book , he makes a great dispute against the high and sacred priviledge of the kings of england , in curing the disease comonly called the kings evil , whether to be imputed to magick , or imagination , or indeed a miracle ; next , brings us in an old wives tale about queen elizabeth , as if she had disclaimed that power she daily exercised ; and finally , manageth a quarrel against the form of prayer used at the curing of that evil , which he arraigns for superstition and impertinencies , no inferior crimes : are all these passages proper to that government also ? finally in the third book , he derogates from the power of the church in making canons , giving the binding and concluding power in matters which concern the civil rights of the subjects , not to the king , but to the lay-people of the land assembled in parliament ; which game he after followeth in the eighth and last : and though it might be safe enough for him in the eighth and last , to derogate in this manner from the king's supremacy in ecclesiastical affairs ; yet certainly it was neither safe for him so to do , nor proper for him so to write , in the time of the kingly government , unless he had some such wretched hopes as before we spake of . fuller . i desire the reader , to remember my late words , ( as the animadvertor recited them ) for the main . i confess , though these books were written in the reign of king charles ; yet after his death , i interpolated some lines , and amongst others , that of levelling all bishopricks . i raised no dispute against the kings curing the evil , it being raised before i was born , and which i endeavoured to allay , referring it to miracle , as to the peruser of my history , in that place will appear . i tell no old wives tale of queen elizabeth , it being a masculine truth , from most authentick authors . i derogate not , in the least degree , from the power of the church ; but the animadvertor doth arrogate unto it more then is due , by the lawes of god and man : maintaining that church-men may go beyond ecclesiastical censures , even to the limbs and lives of such ! as are recusants to their constitutions . wretched and what formerly he said disloyal hopes , i defie and return them in the teeth of him that wrote the words . he had wretched and disloial hopes , who wrote , that king iames went to new-market , as tiberius to his capreae ; he waved his loyalty and discretion together , who so saucily and un-subject-like counted , how often king charles waved his crown . here give me leave to tell the animadvertor , that such whom he slighteth for low-royalists , were ( whilst they had a king in england ) as high in their loyalty to him , prayers and sufferings for him , as those high-roialists , who maintain that all goods of the subjects are at the king 's absolute dispose , and yet since those kings are departed this life , can write of them in so base and disparaging language , that any one of the low-roialists , would have his right hand cut off , rather then write the like . reader , pardon my too just passion , when disloialty is laid to my charge : it is with me either now speak or else for ever hereafter hold your peace . dr. heylyn . i must needs say that on the reading of these passages , and the rest that follow , i found my self possest with much indignation . and i long expected when some champion would appear in the listes against this goliah , who so reproachfully had defied the whole armyes of israel . and i must needs confess withal , that i did never enter more unwillingly on any undertaking . but beeing solicited thereunto by letters , messages , and several personal addresses , by men of all orders and dignityes in the church , and of all degrees in the universities , i was at last overcome by that importunity , which i found would not be resisted . fuller . indignation , is grief and anger boiled up to the height . what just cause i have given for so great passion , the reader will judge . if i be a goliah , in this point may i have his success to be conquered , killed , and my head cut off even with my own sword ; if i be none , may the animadvertor be graciously pardoned . and it may be , he shall never come off any undertaking more unhappily . i could mate him , with telling him , that men of all sorts and sizes , their equals in number and quality , have likewise importuned me , not tamely to sit down , but to vindicate my own credit and conscience . dr. heylyn . i know that as the times stand , i am to expect nothing for my pains and travel but the displeasure of some , and censure of others . fuller . i will take no advantage by the times ; and , if without their help , i cannot bwoy up my credit , let it sink for ever . and i humbly desire all , who have , or may reap benefit by my books , not to be displeased with the animadvertor , in my behalfe . it is punishment enough that he hath written , and too much for his stationer that he hath printed , so impertinent a book . when henry lord hunsdon , on the high-way , had in passion , given a blow to sir henry colt , the lord had it returned him , the principal with interest : and when the lord his servants and followers began to draw their swords , away , away , ( said he ) cannot i and my neighbour exchange a box on the ear , but you must interest your selves in the matter . let none of my friends and favourers , engage their anger in this difference betwixt mee and the animadvertor . let us alone ; and although we enter adversaries in the beginning , wee shall i hope go out friends at the end of the contest , after there hath been a pass or two betwixt our selves . thus , heats betwixt lawyers born at the bar , in westminster-hall , are commonly buryed at the board , in the inns of court. dr. heylyn . but coming to the work with a single heart abstracted from all self-ends and interests , i shall satisfie my self , with having done this poor service to the church , my once blessed mother , for whose sake only i have put my self upon this adventure . the party whom i am to deal with , is so much a stranger to me , that he is neither beneficio , nec injuriâ notus ; and therefore no particular respects have mov'd me to the making of these animadversions . which i have writ ( without relation to his person ) for vindication of the truth , the church , and the injured clergy , as before is said : so that i may affirm with an honest conscience ; non lecta est operi , sed data , causa meo , that this imployment was not chosen by me , but impos'd upon me ; the unresistable intreaties of so many friends having something in them of commands . but howsoever , iacta est alea , as caesar once said when he passed over the rubicon . i must now take my fortune whatsoever it proves . so god speed me well . fuller . how much of this self-denying ordinance is performed by him , let the reader judge in due time . i am glad to hear this passage from the animadvertor , that i never did him any injury ; the rather because some of my friends have charged me for provoking his pen against me . and though i pleaded that neither in thought , word , or deed , i ever did him any wrong , i hardly prevailed with them for beliefe : and now the animadvertor hath cleared me , that i never did any injury unto him . would i could say the same of him , that he never did me any injury . however , as a christian , i here fully and freely forgive him , and hereafter will endevour as a scholar , so to defend my self against his injury , that ( god willing ) it shall not shake my contentment . without relation to my person , let the reader be judge hereof . indeed thomas hath been well used by him , but fuller hath soundly felt his displeasure . however , if truth , the church , and clergy have been abused by me ; he hath given me too fair quarter , who deserved death down-right , for so hainous an offence . amongst all which persons inciting him to write against me , one letter sent to him , from regina pecunia was most prevalent with him . witnesse this his book offered to , and refused by some stationers , because , on his high terms , they could not make a saving bargain to themselves . iacta est alea. the english is , you have cast the dey . and seeing the animadvertor , hath begun the metaphor , i hope i may make it an allegory , without rendring either of us scandalous . i appeal to the reader , whom i make groom porter , ( termed by mr. camb. aleatorum arbiter ) and let him judge , who plays with false , who coggs , who slurrs a dey and in a doubtful case , when we cannot agree upon the cast ; betwixt our selves , let him decide it . by fortune , i presume the animadvertor intendeth nothing derogatory to divine providence , in which sense st. augustin , retracteth his [ former ] frequent using of the word . only he meaneth uncertainty of successe . in which notion i say an hearty amen to his prayer , when i have enlarged his god speed me into god speed us well . may he , who manageth this controversie , with most sincerity , come off with best successe . amen . errata confessed by the printer of dr. heylyns animadversions . page . line . for helkinus r. telkinus , p. . l. . for queen of , r. queen of england , p. . l. . for wooderpoir r. woodensdike , p. . l. . for inconsideratenesse r. the inconsideratenesse of children , p. . l. f . for ter . r. better , p. . l. . for statuendo● statuendi p. l. . horcon●nar r. cantuur , p. . l. . for dr. hammond r. dr. boke , p. . l. . for his r. this , p. . l. . for jesuites r. franciscans , p. . l. ult . or contemn r. confession , p. . in the marg. for whether r. with other , p. . l. . for den r. dean , p. . l. . for commons r. canons , p. . l. ult . for culis r. ocul●s . fuller . this is a catalogue of prelal . mis●akes , committed and confessed in the doctor 's book of animadversions , and here by me inserted , not to disparage the pains of c●re of the printer , but on these considerations . first , to prevent all exceptions , that i have defectively presented in his book . secondly , to show , that sometimes ( as here ) there may be an erratum erratorum , to be re-reformed . it thus beginneth . page . l. . for melkinus r. tolkinus . that is , read that which is wrong , instead of tha● which was right before . for a m●lkinus avalonius , appeareth in bale , pits , and others but a telkinus was never in nature . but take notice also of this confessed mistake , p. . l. . for iesuits r. franciscans . there is here no temptation to the press to erre , there being betwixt the two words , no literal similitude , or orthographical symbolizing , scarce a letter in the one , which is in the other . i make no other use hereof save only to crave the like favour , in my own defence , when in the earls of march , roger is misprinted edward ; and in the earls of bath , henry is misprinted william , in my church history . i confess there be some press faults in this my book , as for prelial , ( wherever occurring ) read prelal ; part . p. . l. . for anno dom. r. . part . . p. . l. . for demol r. deinol . and part . page . betwixt the . and l. insert i pray , papists , non-conformists , and covetous conformists , the acts therein appearing like . for the rest , i hope they are nothing so many or great , as to discompose the sense , and therefore i confide in the reader 's discretion as also in the animadvertor's ingenuity , expecting he will deal as candidly with me , as i have done with him , when such ( though unconfessed ) errata's do occur . and because my hand is now in , i request such as have my church-history to delete these words book . p. . l. . a title till his time unknown in england for i profess i know not by what casualty these words crept into my book , contrary to my intent . part i. dr. heylyn . in order to the first conversion of the british nation , our author takes beginning at the sad condition they vvere in , before the christian faith was preached unto them . ] and in a sad condition they were indeed , as being in the state of gentilism , and consequently without the true knowledge of the god that made them . fuller . the author takes beginning vvhere dr. heylyn himself , had he writ the church-history of brittain , i believe , would , and i am sure should , have begun . and seeing he concurreth vvith the author in the same expression , that the brittains were in a sad condition , he might have spared himself and his reader the trouble , of the following impertinency . dr. heylyn . but yet they were not in a worse condition then the other gentiles , &c. fuller . nor did i ever say they vvere . had i said so , the doctor 's carping had had a handle to hold on , vvhereas novv his teeth and nails must bite and scratch a fastning for themselves . dr. heylyn . but yet not in a vvorse condition then the other gentiles , vvho vvere not onely darkened in their understanding , but so deprav'd also in their affections , as to work all manner of uncleanness even with greediness . not so effeminate in their conversation as the asiaticks , nor so luxurious as the greeks , nor branded with those filthy and unnaturall lusts which st. paul chargeth on the romans , and were in ordinary practise with most eastern nations . fuller . what of all this ? it is said of king * ioram , he wrought evill in the sight of the lord , but not like his father and like his mother . it is said of king * hoshea , he did that which was evill in the sight of the lord , but not as the kings of israel that were before him . it doth not follow , that these kings were good , because less bad then others . so that my words stand an un-shakened truth , that the brittains before their conversion were ( though not so debauched as other heathens ) idolaters , in a sad condition . dr. heylyn . and though they were idolaters , yea , and foul ones , as our author hath it ; yet neither , &c. fuller . if they were idolaters , they must be foul ones , except ( as one hath fancied a tale of a fair aethiopian ) any could make a truth of fair idolaters . dr. heylyn . yet neither were their gods of so brutish and impure a nature , as the priapus , cloacina , and stercutia amongst the romans ; or as their venus , flora , lupa , common harlots . all of vvhich , and such like other gods , the old fathers tell us , that they vvere not nomina colendorum , sed crimina colentium . nor vvere they so immodest and obscene in their rites and ceremonies , as were the greeks and romans , in the sacrifices to their cybele or berecynthia , vvhom they call the mother of the gods ; described by arnobius , lactantius , and others of the antient writers , in such lively colours , as no chaste eye can look upon them without detestation . fuller . well may the doctor run apace , drawing an empty cart after him . what is all this to confute my position , that the unconverted brittains , foul idolaters , were in a sad condition ? it seems he had a mind to tell the world of the foulest idolls amongst the romans ; and , if so , let them thank him for his intelligence , who knew it not before . dr. heylyn . and for the number of their gods , they fell extreamly short of that infinite multitude , which st. augustine finds amongst the romans , our author naming onely three , ( which he calls gods paramount ) that is to say , belinus , andate , and diana . fuller . if they had onely three gods , they had two too many , however , it will appear , that these were onely ( as the author phraseth them ) paramount ▪ that they fell not ( to use the doctor 's words ) extreamly short ( a virtuous extream ) of the romans in their idolatry , may thus be proved . they that had idolls almost exceeding the aegyptians in number , fell not much short of the romans . but the antient brittains almost exceeded the aegyptians in number of idolls . therefore they fell not much short of the romans . the major is plain in scripture , often complaining of the idols of aegypt ; as also in human writers , iuvenal jeering the aegyptians , for being over-stocked with such kind of cattle , whose gods ( leeks and onyons ) did commonly grow in their gardens . the minor are the very words of grave gildas , the most antient brittish writer , ( flourishing anno domini . ) portenta pene numero aegyptiaca vincentia . where , in few words , we have the numerosity and monstrosity of the brittish idols . numerosity , almost exceeding the aegyptians ; monstrosity , called portents , mishapen anticks of prodigious deformity . dr. heylyn . when therefore gildas telleth us of the antient brittains , that in the number of their gods they had almost exceeded aegypt , ( portenta pene numero aegyptiaca vincentia , in that author's language ) it must be understood with reference to the times in which he lived , when all the roman rabble had been thrust upon them , and not as speaking of the time of their first conversion . fuller . satis pro imperio , must is for a king ; and seeing the doctor and i are both kings alike , i return , he must not be so understood ; as , to any judicious and indifferent reader will appear . for the clearing hereof , i will present and translate the words of gildas , with what precedeth and followeth them , conducing effectually to the true understanding of this clause controverted . i use the first and best printed edition , set forth by polydore virgil . and dedicated to cuthbert tonstall , then the learned bishop of london , onely because i suspect , that some readers will be out of breath in going along with the long-winded style of gildas , ( the excusable fault of the age he lived in ) i crave leave to divide his long and entire sentence , for the better understanding thereof , into severall parcells , without the least addition thereto , or alteration thereof . gildas folio primo . igitur omittens priscos illos communesque cum omnibus gentibus , errores , quibus ante adventum christi in carne omne humanum genus obligabatur adstrictum . nec enumerans patriae portenta ipsa diabolica pene numero aegyptiaca vincentia , quorum nonnulla lineamentis adhuc deformibus intra vel extra deserta moenia solito more rigentia , torvis vultibus intuemur . neque nominatim inclamitans montes ipsos aut colles , vel fluvios ( olim exitiabiles , nunc vero humanis usibus utiles ) quibus divinus honor à caeco tunc populo cumulabatur . et tacens vetustos immanium tyrannorum annos , qui in aliis longe positis regionibus vulgati sunt , ità ut porphyrius , rabidus orientalis adversus ecclesiam canis , dementiae suae ac vanitatis stylo hoc etiam adnecteret , britannia , inquiens , fertilis provincia tyrannorum . illa tanium proferre conabor in medium , quae temporibus romanorum imperatorum & passa est , & aliis intulit civibus & longe positis , mala . gilda first leafe . omitting therefore those old errors , and common [ to the brittains ] with other nations , to which all mankind was tyed and fettered , before the comming of christ in the flesh . nor reckoning up those very devillish portents of our own country , almost exceeding those of aegypt in number ; some whereof we , with frowning eyes , do still behold , drawn with deformed shapes within or without our desert walls . nor calling upon by name the mountains themselves , or hills , or rivers , ( in times past deadly , now profitable to mans use ) on which divine honour was then heaped up by the blind people . and passing over in silence the antient years of those vast tyrants , which are commonly spoken of in other far-distant countries ; so that porphyrius ( that raging dog of the east against the church ) in the style of his madness and vanity , addeth this also , brittain ( saith he ) a fruitfull province of tyrants . i will onely endeavour publickly to proffer such evils , as she [ brittain ] in the times of the roman emperours both suffered in her self , and impressed on her people placed far off . see here this prolixe sentence of gildas , built ( as i may say ) five stories high ; the four first are of privation , or preterition , of what he will not meddle with ; the fifth and last , of position , whereon he would insist . he would not reckon the brittish errors common with others , nor patriae portenta , the portentive idolls of their country , which plainly decideth the thing in controversie , that those their idolls were indigenae , non advenae ; natives , not forraigners , of brittish origination , not roman superinduction . his method plainly proveth , that these subjects which he declineth to treat of , were all of them precedaneous to the romans comming into brittain , whence he beginneth his history . i mention not the marginal note of polydore virgil , ( placed over against the words of gildas ) veterum britannorum vana religio , the vain religion of the old brittains . the rest of his testimony we leave lying in the deck , and it will not be long before we shall make use thereof . dr. heylyn . but whether their idols were more or fewer , our author is resolved on diana for one though whether this were a brittish deity may be more then questioned , whose temple was built in , or near the place , where st. pauls now stands , as our learned antiquaries do acknowledge . fuller . the animadvertor doth confesse , that the brittans did worship diana : but whether she was one of the latter brood of idols , brought in by the romans at their conquest ; or hatched long before amongst the brittains , as their own country-goddess , is the question . i am confident in the latter . the brittish stories tell us , that brutus ( some hundred of years before the romans arrived here ) being upon his sea-voyage to seek his fortune , repaired to the temple of diana , in an island called largeria , and there addressing himself to her temple , was in a dream not onely instructed in the manner of her sacrifices , and rituall services ; but also directed to an island in the west , now brittain , where his posterity should fix themselves in happiness . and that this passeth for currant amongst the welch , i report my self to their learned gentry , the proper judges thereof . let me add this passage from the pen of as great an antiquary , as any wales now doth enjoy . as for the name of diana , i do conceive that she was called dain in our language ; and i have many histories of our nation , that seem to make no question of it . to this day in wales , fatt marketable cattle are called guartheg demol ; that is to say , diana's cattle , or , cattle fit to be sacrificed , &c. and i am more then confident , there is no man living can put any other interpretation upon this word demol ; it must be an adjective of dain , and dain hath no other signification in our language , then the name of diana . dr. heylyn . this temple of diana in london ( saith the author ) rendreth their conceit not altogether unlikely , who will have london so called from l●an-dian , which signifieth in brittish , the temple of diana . ] a conceit , whosesoever it was , not altogether so likely neither as the author makes it . fuller . no cautiousness of proof against captiousness . i called it but a conceit , i said not that it was true ; yea , my words left an insinuation of unlikeliness to an indifferent reader . but seeing the animadvertor is so hard-hearted to an innocent conceit , i shall ever hereafter love it the better . dr. heylyn . a conceit , london from llan-dian , whosesoever it was ; not altogether so likely neither as the author makes it . for though the brittains being well stored with wood and venison , possibly might have a hunting-goddess amongst the rest . yet certainly she was not called by the name of diana , till the roman conquest and plantations , before which time this city had the name of london , ( or londinum ) as we read in tacitus . the name and sacrifices of diana were not originally brittish , but of roman race , as the great temple in or near the place where st. pauls now stands , was of their foundation . the brittains , worshipping apollo by the name of belinus , as both cambden and our author say they did , must be supposed to have another name for diana also , and were more likely to have called her by the name of artemis , her old grecian name , or by some other of as near a resemblance to it , as belinus was to that of bel in the eastern countries . assuredly , if that great city had received its name from diana's temple , the welch being so tenacious of their antient language , would have had some remembrance of it , who to this day call it lundayn , and not llan-dian , according to the new conceit which our author speaks of . but of this enough . fuller . yea indeed , too much . so may you say , a surfeit is enough . whosesoever this conceit was . ] i had thought the animadvertor could not have been ignorant thereof , being no meaner a man than mr. selden . this learned antiquary , after he had alledged some verses out of robert of glocester , deriving the name of london , quasi lud's town , from lud , he proceedeth as followeth ; in his notes on the eighth song in polyolbion , page . iudicious reform●rs of fabulous report , i know , have more serious derivations of the name ; and , seeing conjecture is free , i could imagine , it might be called at first lhan-dien , . the temple of diana , as lhan-dewi , lhan-stephan , lhan-padern vaur , lhan-vair . i. e. s. dewys , s. stephans , s. patern the great , s. mary ( and verulam , is by h. lhuid derived from ver-lhan , i. e. the church upon the river ver ) with divers more such places in wales : and so afterwards by strangers turned into londinium , and the like . for that diana and her brother apollo ( under the name of belin ) were two great deities amongst the britons . if the animadvertor hath a mind to enter the list with mr. selden , and have a vennue with him , to try whose skill is most and weapon best ; he may , if he pleaseth . dr. heylyn . now to facilitate this great work of their conversion , cambden and godwin , two great antiquaries , have alledged one reason , which is not allowed of by our author ; and our author hath alledged another reason , which none can allow of but himself . the reason alledged by the two great antiquaries , is , that the druides did instruct the brittains in the knowledge of one onely god , which questionlesse was a great step to their conversion . druides unum esse deum semper inculcârunt , saith our author's margin . but this he reckoneth a mistake , and thus charitably wisheth thereupon , viz. may their mistake herein be as freely forgiven them , as i hope and desire , that the charitable reader will with his pardon meet those unvoluntary errors , which in this work by me shall be committed . whether all the errors of our author be involuntary , or not , ( for i grant that some of them may be such ) will be seen hereafter . fuller . in good time , sir. but till this [ hereafter ] cometh , iudge not , lest you be judged ; and think charitably , that a christian will not willingly , wittingly , and wilfully run into errors . dr. heylyn . but whether those two learned pens were mistaken or not , shall be now examined . i conceive clearly , that they were not mistaken in it , it being first improbable , if not impossible , that two men of such parts and learning , and of such eminent integrity in all their writings , should vent a proposition , or position rather , which they have no ground for . fuller . they were learned pens indeed , as ever our nation bred , in their kind of studies ; and great antiquaries . but onely the * antient of daies is omniscient and infallible . and i am confident , such was their ingenuity , that they would rather be thankfull to , than angry with any , who , with due respect to their persons , should discover their mistakes . amongst which , this was one , that the druides instructed the brittains in the knowledge of one god. the contrary doth plainly appear by the testimony of gildas , lately alledged , whose words are so walled about ( as i may say ) on both sides , by what went before , and after that , as they cannot be evaded , they cannot be perverted to other reference , than relating unto the religion of the antient brittains , long before the entrance of the romans into this island ; who , besides a numerous rabblement of portentous idolls , gave divine honour to mountains , hills , and rivers . nothing can be more diametrically opposite to the worship of one god , than such gross and generally diffused polytheism . add to the authority of gildas that of origen , thus writing in his fourth homily on ezekiel . confitentur & miserabiles iudaei haec de christi presentia praedicari ; sed stultè ignorant personam , cum videant impleta quae dicta sunt . quando enim terra britanniae ante adventum christi in unius dei consensit religionem ? quando terra maurorum , &c. all judicious readers easily understand this interrogation , [ when did the land of brittain , before the comming of christ , consent in the religion of one god ? ] i say , all do understand , that this his question asked , and left unanswered , amounteth unto a very strong negation ; and , that before the comming of christ , brittain was divided into the worshipping of many gods . dr. heylyn . and secondly our author tells of the druides , that they were philosophers , divines , and lawyers , to the rest of the brittains ; and if philosophers , they might by their long study in the book of nature , and their industrious inquiry into naturall causes , attaine unto the knowledge of that one and onely supernaturall cause , ( as others of the heathen philosophers in their severall countries , ) from which the works of nature had their first originall . and of some other the old philosophers , it is said expresly by minutius , that they had spoken so divinely of the things of god ; ut quivis arbitretur aut nunc christianos philosophos esse , aut philosophos fuisse jam tunc christianos . so little was the difference in that particular , between these old philosophers and the primitive christians . for though they did admit a multitude of inferiour gods , topical in respect of countries , and tutelar in respect of particular persons ; yet in the middle of that darknesse they discerned one supreme god over all the rest , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , as the grecians ; hominum sator atque deorum , as the latines call him . and though they were mistaken in the name of that supream power , whom generally they entituled by the name of iupiter , yet they did well enough agree in giving him the supream power over all the world . et qui iovem principem volunt falluntur in nomine , sed de ea potestate consentiunt , as my author hath it . nor did those old philosophers keep the great truth unto themselves , like a candle in a dark-lanthorn , or hid under a bushell ; but plac'd it like a great light on the top of a mountain , that all the people might discern it ; who thereupon lifting their hands unto the heavens , did frequently make their addresses but to one god onely , saying in common speech unto one another , that god was great , and god was true , and , if god permit . of which , my author ( the same christian advocate ) seems to make a question ; vulgi iste naturalis sermo est , an christiani confitentis oratio ? that is to say , whether these expressions favoured not rather of the christian , than the vulgar heathen . and hereupon i may conclude in the behalf of the druides , ( or rather of those learned pens who affirm it of them ) that being philosophers in study , and divines by office , and very eminent in their times in both capacities , they might as well instruct the people in the knowledge of one onely god , as any other of the heathen sages , either greeks or romans . the reason alledged by these great antiquaries being thus made good , we next proceed to the examination of that which is produced by our author . fuller . in this long harangue , i know not what the animadvertor aimes at ; this i know , he hits not me , nor alledgeth any thing in opposition to what i have written . if he desireth onely to prove , that the refined heathens worshipped one god above all the rest , he shall not onely have my free consent , but the adjection of this my symbole thereunto . i conceive , that the pagans adored the essence of god under the name of iupiter : and his attributes under other titles ; wisdom , of apollo ; omni-presence , swiftnes of mercury ; power , of mars ; beauty , of venus ; providence over the sea , neptune ; winds , aeolus ; catile , pan , &c. yet can i not see , how this can excuse them from being foul idolaters , seeing the morall commandement doth not say , thou shalt not have other gods in equall degree of worship with me ; but , * thou shalt not have other gods before me : and the animadvertor knoweth well , that the originall importeth , coram me , that is , thou shalt have none other in my sight or presence . now for quietnesse sake , let the result of this long discourse ( so far as i can understand ) be granted him , and it amounts to no more , then to put the brittains in the same form with the grecians ; instructed by their druids in the worship of one god , as well and as far as the grecians were in the same lesson by their philosophers . now what the grecians held and did in this point , will appear by the practise of the athenians , whose city was the mistris of greece , staple of learning , and palace of philosophers ; and how well the athenians worshipped one god , we have from the infallible witness of st. * paul , whose spirit was stirred within him , whilst he saw the city wholly given to idolatry . whence it will follow , that the brittaines , form-fellowes with the grecians , were wholly given to idolatry : which is as much , and more then i said before . and now the reader may judge , what progress the animadvertor hath made in confuting what i have written ; yea , less then the beast pigritia in brasil , which , as he telleth us * elsewhere , goeth not so far in fourteen daies , as one may throw a stone . yea , our adversary hath not gone at all , ( save backward ) and if he doth not mend his pace , it will be late before he commeth to his lodging . here let me mind the animadvertor , that my church-history thus beginneth ; that we may the more freely and fully pay the tribute of our thanks to gods goodness , for the gospell which we now enjoy ; let us recount the sad condition of the brittains , our predecessors , before the christian faith was preached unto them . if therefore the animadvertor by his tedious discourse , endeavouring to un-idolatrize the brittains as much as he could ; i say , if hereby he hath hindred or lessened any mans paying of his thanks to god , he hath done a thankless office both to god and man therein . dr heylyn . our author proceedeth , fol. . it facilitated the entrance of the gospell hither , that lately the roman conquest had in part civilized the south of this island , by transporting colonies , and erecting of cities there . ] than which , there could not any thing be said more different from the truth of story , or from the time of that conversion , which we have in hand ; performed , as all our latter writers ( and amongst them our author himself ) have affirmed from gildas , who lived in the fourth century of the christian church ) tempore summo tiberii caesaris , toward the latter end of the reigne of tiberius cesar , that is to say , about thirty seven years after christs nativity , at what time the romans had neither erected any one city , nor planted any one colony in the south parts of the island . for though iulius cesar , in pursuance of his gallick conquest , had attempted this island , crossed the thames , and pierced as far as verulamium , in the county of the cattieuchlani , ( now hartfordshire ) yet either finding how difficult a work it was like to prove , or having business of more moment , he gave over the enterprize , resting contented with the honour of the first discovery . et ostendisse potiùs quàm trad disse , as we read in tacitus . nothing done after this in order to the conquest of brittain , untill the time of claudius . augustus would by no means be perswaded to the undertaking , and much less tiberius , in whose last years the gospell was first preach'd in brittain , as before was said . * concilium id divus augustus vocabat , tiberius praecipue . and though caligula , leaving the honour of this conquest to his uncle claudius , who next succeeded in the empire ; and being invited into brittain by a discontented party amongst the natives , reduc'd some part thereof into the form of a roman province . of this , see tacitus at large , in the life of agricola . by which it will appear most clearly , that there was neither city of the romans erection , nor colony of their plantation , till the time of claudius , and consequently no such facilitating of the work , by either of those means which our author dreams of . but from the time , proceed we to the author of this first conversion , of which thus our author . fuller . in the first place , know , reader , that mr. burton , in his late learned notes on antoninus , justifieth , that iulius cesar did colonize ( what ever the animadvertor saith to the contrary ) some part of this land ; otherwise , his whole conquest would have unraveled after his departure , and his successors had had their work to begin afresh . ly . i say not , the first entrance , but , the entrance of the gospell was facilitated by the roman conquest . the entrance of the gospell into this island was so far from being done in an instant , or , simul & semel , that it was not , res unius seculi , the product of one age ; but was successively done , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , at sundry times , and in divers manners . so that this extensive entrance of the christian religion , gradually insinuating it self , took up a century of years , from the latter end of tiberius , and so forwards . christianity entred not into this island like lightning , but like light . none can behold this essay thereof in the time of tiberius , otherwise then a morning-star ; some forty years after the day dawned ; and lastly , under king lucius , ( that leuer-maure , or the great light ) the sun of religion may be siad to arise ; before which time , the south of this island was sufficiently colonized by the romans , whereby commerce and civility ushered christianity into brittain . yet to clear my words , not from untruth in themselves , but mistakes in others , and to avoid all appearance of falshood , it shall be altered ( god-willing ) in the next edition . it facilitated the entrance and propagation of the gospell here , &c. dr. heylyn . parsons the iesuite mainly stickleth for the apostle peter to have first preached the gospell here . and our author doth as mainly stickle against it . the reason which induced parsons so to stickle in it , was , as our author thinks and telleth us , fol. . to infer an obligation of this island to the see of rome . and to exempt this island from that obligation , our author hath endeavoured to disprove the tradition . fuller . that the iesuite furiously driveth on that designe ▪ appeareth to any that peruse his works , and your author conceiveth his owne endeavours lawfull and usefull in stopping his full carrere , and disobliging the church of england from a debt as uniustly pretended , as vehemently prosecuted . et veniam pro laude petit ; laudatus abun●e , non fastiditus , si tuus author erit . your author for his praise doth pardon crave ; if not despis'd , his praise enough shall have . it is therefore but hard measure , for you to require his good intentions , ( if failing in successe ) with contempt and reproach . dr. heylyn . whereas indeed st. peters preaching in this island , ( if he were the first that preach't here ) in the time of tiberius , must be before his preaching in the citty of rome , to which he came not till the reigne of the emperour claudius . and thereupon it followeth by the iesuit's logick , that the brittains by sparing their apostle to preach at rome , did lay an obligation upon that citty , but received none from it . fuller . yea but if simeon * metaphrastes be to be believed ( on whose testimony parsons principally relieth ) being the selfe same author , whom the animadvertor within few lines hereafter doth so highly commend and extoll , st. peter preached here , not before , but long after his being at rome ; and but a little before his death , namely in the twelfth year of nero cesar. dr. heylyn . or granting that st. peter did first preach at rome , yet would this draw upon us no such engagement to the pope , and the church of rome , as our author fears ; and other german nations by boniface , willibade , willibad , willibidd , and swibert , english saxons all , might or did draw the like dependance of those churches , upon this of england . fuller . the proportion , i confesse , is good and well-grounded : but i answer , great the difference betwixt the natures of england and rome . england never pretended superiority over other churches , which rome doth , prosecuting even shadowy pretences with all violence . what the talent-hiding servant said of his master , may be justly said of moderne rome , she reapeth where she hath not strowed ; demanding officium , where she never bestow'd beneficium , and requiring duty where she never conferred courtesie . rome therefore being no faire creditor , but so cruell an extortioner , i conceive my paines well imployed , to quit england from a debt of obligation , unjustly exacted of her by parsons the iesuite , on the pretence of st. peter's preaching here . dr. heylyn . so that this fear being overblown , we will consider somewhat further of st. peters first preaching in this island , not as deliver'd by tradition from the church of rome , which is suspected to have pleaded their own interest in it ; but as affirmed positively by the greek menologies , and in the works of simeon metaphrastes an approved greek author . of the menologies ( though vouched by camden to this purpose ) our author takes no notice at all , but lets the weight of his displeasure fall on metaphrastes . fuller . the best way to over-blow this feare is to confute the five arguments alledged by parsons , for st. peters preaching here , which i hope is done effectually by me in my church-history , where i follow the iesuite verbatim , in answering to his reasons . and this is the reason that i took no notice of the greek menologies , because not mentioned by parsons : whence i collect that either he had never seen them , ( which is very improbable , ) or else he conceived , that no great beliefe was to be given unto them , or advantage thereby to be gotten for his cause . dr. heylyn . our author saith , metaphrastes is an au●hor of no credit , as baronius himselfe doth confesse . but first , baronius himselfe makes no such confession , that which our author tells us from him being onely this , in alijs multis ibi ab ipso positis errare eum certum est ; that is to say , that he hath err'd in many things by him delivered . assuredly if to erre in many things delivered in so great a work , as that of simon metaphrastes , may forthwith be conceived sufficient to make an author of no credit , god blesse not onely our historian , but baronius himselfe from being held authors of no credit , in both whom there are many errours not possible to be reconciled to the truth of story . fuller . three is a perfect number , let therefore the animadvertor be put in also , partly to make up a compleate company ; partly that he may have the benefit of his owne jear-prayers to himselfe . baronius being dead , to pray for him , is popery ; and to take god's name in vain ( to jear us both ) is prophanenesse . the animadvertor who now inserts , god-blesse , when it might have been omitted , will omit it when it should be inserted ; as god willing i shall take notice of in due time and place hereafter . dr. heylyn . but secondly , as baronius did not , so he could not say , that metaphrastes was an author of no credit : the man being not onely pious , but learned also , for the times wherein he lived ; honoured as a saint in the greek menologies , on the . day of november , and graced with a funeral oration by michael psellus a renouned scholler , highly extolled by balsamon for his paines and industry in this present work , and no lesse magnified by the fathers in the councill of florence , anno. . all which had never set such an estimate upon him in their severall times , had he been an author of no credit as our author makes him . fuller . i shall hereafter have an higher esteem for metaphrastes . however , to return to the words of baronius , which ( in the last note ) gave the occasion of this contest . in aliis multis ibi ab ipso positis errare eum certum est : it is certain that he hath erred in many things there delivered by him . the animadvertor in his translation omitteth there , the most emphaticall word in the whole sentence , seeing , granting metaphrastes a good author in other things , he is erroneous in this particular . dr. heylyn . i had now ended with st. peter , but that i find him appear in a vision to king edward the confessor , and telling him , that he had preached the gospell in brittain , ( occasioning thereby the foundation of the abbey of st. peter in westminster . ) to which our author makes this answer , to this vision pretended of peter , we oppose the certain words of st. paul , tim. . . neither give heed to fables . what a pitty is it , that this apparition was not made , and the same tale told over again , to thomas fuller of hammersmith , that so it might have found some credit with our author , though with no body else . fuller . nay rather , what a pitty was it , that this apparition of st. peter was not made unto his name-sake peter , ( here the animadvertor ) and then all had been authentick indeed . dr. heylyn . for of this , thomas fuller our author telleth us , ( and telleth it in confirmation of some miracles done by king henry the sixth after his decease ) that being a very honest man , he hapned into the company of some who had stoln some cattle , for which he was condemned and executed ; and being on the top of the ladder , king henry the sixth appeared unto him , and so ordered the matter , that he was not strangled with the rope , but preserved alive : and finally , that in gratitude of so great a benefit , he repaired to that kings tomb in chertsey abbey , and there presented his humble thanks for that great deliverance . there being as good authors for that apparition of st. peter , as of this of st. henry . vel neutrum flammis ure , vel ure duos : either let both be believed for truths , or for falshoods burn both . fuller . let the eccho both in latine and english answer for me , ure duos , burn both , for a brace of notorious falshoods , and see who will shed a tear to quench the fire . as for the apparition to thomas fuller of hammersmith , seeing afterwards the animadvertor twitteth me therewith , we will till then defer our answer thereunto . dr. heylyn . less opposition meets the preaching of st. ioseph of arimathea , though it meeteth some . for notwithstanding that this tradition be as generall , as universally received , as almost any other in the christian church ; yet our author , being resolved to let fly at all , declares it for a piece of novel superstition , disguis'd with pretended antiquity . better provided ( as it seems ) to dispute this point than the ambassadours of castile , when they contended for precedency with those of england in the council of basil ; who had not any thing to object against this tradition of iosephs preaching to the brittains , although the english had provoked them , by confuting their absurd pretences for st. iames his preaching to the spaniards . fuller . i never denyed the historicall ground-work , but the fabulous varnish of arimathean ioseph here preaching . my words run thus . church-history , pag. . part . yet because the norman charters of glassenbury refer to a succession of many antient charters , bestowed on that church by severall saxon kings , as the saxon charters relate to brittish grants in intuition to joseph's being there ; we dare not wholly deny the substance of the story , though the leaven of monkery hath much swollen and puffed up the circumstance thereof . and to the impartiall peruser of the connexion of my words , novell superstition , disguised with pretended antiquity , relate not to the substance of the story , but as it is presented unto us with fictitious embellishments . and here i foretell the reader , what he shall see within few pages performed , namely , that after the animadvertor hath flung , and flounced , and fluttered about , to shew his own activity and opposition , against what i ( though never so well and warily ) have written , at last he will calmly come up , and in this controversie close with my sense , though not words , using ( for the more credit ) his own expressions . dr. heylyn . for first , our author doth object in the way of scorn , that , fol. . the relation is as ill accoutred with tacklings , as the ship , in which it is affirmed that st. phillip , st. joseph , and the rest , were put by the iews , into a vessell without sails or oars , with intent to drown them ; and being tossed with tempests in the midland sea , at last safely landed at marcelles in france , and thence afterwards made for england . ] no such strange piece of errantry ( if we mark it well ) as to render the whole truth suspected . fuller . not by way of scorn , sir , but by way of dislike and distrust . the more i mark it , the more strange piece of errantry it seemeth , so that i cannot meet with a stranger . dr. heylyn . for first , we find it in the monuments of elder times , that acrisius king of argos exposed his daughter danae , with her young son perseus , in such a vessell as this was , and as ill provided of all necessaries , to the open seas ; who , notwithstanding , by divine providence , were safely wafted to those parts of italy , which we now call puglia . fuller . monuments of elder times ! what be your acts , if these be your monuments ? ask my fellow if i be a thief ; ask a poeticall fable , if a monkish legend be a lyar . and what if danae ( the self-same forsooth which had a golden shoure rained into her lap ) crossed from argos in peloponesus , to apulia , now puglia , almost in a streight line , and the narrowest part of the adriatick . this doth not parallel the improbability of ioseph his voyage , in an un-accoutred ship , from some port in palestine , to marselles , the way being ten times as far , full of flexures , and making of severall points ; which costs our sea-men some months in sailing , ( though better accommodated ) . i confess , gods power can bring any , a greater distance , with cordage of cobweb in a nut-shell , but no wise man will make his belief so cheap , to credit such a miracle , except it be better attested . dr. heylyn . and secondly , for the middle times , we have the like story in an author above all exception , even our author himself , who telleth us , lib. . fol. . of our present history , that king athelstane put his brother edwin into a little wherry or cock-boat , without any tackling or furniture thereunto , to the end , that if the poor prince perished , his wickedness might be imputed to the waves . fuller . thanks for the jeer premised . i am not the author , but bare relater of that story , obvious in all our english chronicles . nor is the story like to that of ioseph's , except he had been drowned in his waftage to marelles , as this exposed prince edwin was in our narrow seas , ( whether wilfully or casually , not so certain ) his corps being taken up in flanders . the resemblance betwixt stories chiefly consists in similitude of success ; and what likeness betwixt a miserable death , and a miraculous deliverance ? dr. heylyn . our author objecteth in the next place , that no writer of credit can be produced before the conquest , who mentioneth joseph 's comming hither . ] for answer whereunto , it may first be said , that where there is a constant uncontrolled tradition , there is most commonly the less care taken to commit it to writing . fuller . less care implyeth some care , whereas here no care , but a pannick silence of all authors , brittish , saxon , and christian , for a thousand years together . secondly , the animadvertor might have done well , to have instanced in any one tradition , ( seeing he saith it is most commonly done ) which is constant and uncontrolled , yet attested by no creditable author ; and then let him carry the cause . dr. heylyn . secondly , that the charters of glassenbury , relating from the norman to the sax●n kings , and from the saxons to the brittains , being all built upon st. ioseph's comming hither , and preaching here , may serve instead of many authors bearing witness to it . and thirdly , that frier bale , as great an enemy to the unwarrantable traditions of the church of rome , as our author can desire to have him , hath vouch'd two witnesses hereunto , that is to say , melkinus avalonius , and gildas albanus ; whose writings , or some fragments of them , he may be believed to have seen , though our author hath not . fuller . nor the animadvertor neither . bale doth not intimate that he ever saw any part of them ; and he useth to cackle , when lighting on such eggs. but we collect from him and other authors , that no credit is to be given to such supposititious fragments . dr. heylyn . as for some circumstances in the story , that is to say , the dedicating of iosephs first church to the virgin mary , the burying of his body in it , and the inclosing of the same with a large church-yard ; i look upon them as the products of munkish ignorance , accommodated unto the fashion of those times which the writers liv'd in . there is scarce any saint in all the calendar , whose history would not be subject to the like misconstructions , if the additaments of the middle and darker times should be produced to the disparagement of the whole narration . fuller . now the reader sees my prediction performed , viz. that after the animadvertor had flounced about , he would close with my sense in his owne words . is no● this the very same in effect with what i said , approving the substance , but rejecting the fabulous circumstances of the story of ioseph ? in all this he hath done just nothing , save onely swelled his book , ( though hollow within ) to make it amount to a saleable bignesse . dr. heylyn . but such an enemy our author is to all old traditions , that he must needs have a blow at glassen-bury thorne , though before ●ut down by some souldiers , as himselfe confesseth ; like sir iohn falstaffe in the play , who to shew his valour , must thrust his sword into the bodies of those men which were dead before . fuller . not to all old traditions , good animadvertor . saint paul saith , hold the traditions which you have been taught whether by word , or our epistle : such traditions as these , whether in doctrine or practice , i desire to retaine . as for unwitnessed traditions , my emnity is not such , but in the heat thereof i can smile at them . the animadvertor hath wronged me , and , the comedian hath wronged sir iohn falstaffe . he was a valiant knight , famous for his atcheivements in france , made ( as the history * of st. george testifieth , ) knight of the garter by king henry the sixt , and one who disdained to violate the concerments of the dead . nor have i been injurious to the thorne of glassenbury living or dead , as will appeare . dr. heylyn . the budding or blossoming of which thorne , he accounts untrue ( which , were it true , &c. fol. . ) affirming , from i know not whom , that it doth not punctually and critically bud on christmas day , but on the dayes neare it and about it . and were it no otherwise then so , the miracle were not much the lesse , then if it budded critically on christmas day , as i have heard from persons of great worth and credit dwelling neare the place , that indeed it did : though unto such , as had a mind to decry the festival , it was no very hard matter to belie the miracle . fuller . my words amount not to an absolute denial , but to some dissatisfaction . parcel-diffidelity in matters of such nature , i am sure is no sin . mr. taylor , burges for bristol in the long parliament , was he who told me , that going thither purposely with his kinsman it did not that year exactly bud on christmas day . a person as improbable to de●ry the festival , being a colonel on the kings side , ( who refusing quarter was killed under the walles of bristol ) ; so unlikely , if living , to have taken the lye from the pen of the animadvertor . and now reader , ( seeing some mirth will not be amisse ) know that , as i do not believe his report , who on a christmas day , stroaking his hand down his doublet before , found there a great green quick-set suddenly grown , and wondred thereat , untill he remembred , that the moulds of his bald-worne buttens were made of glassen-bury thorne : so am i not of so sullen and morose a nature , as not to credit what is generally and credibly reported . nor do my words positively and peremptorily conclude against the budding of this thorne , but against the necessary relating thereof , to arimathean ioseph , which i rather leave at large to some occult quality in nature , paralleling it with the like , ( never as yet fathered on any saint the causer thereof , ) the oake in hamshire . but enough , lest we occasion the altering of the proverb from de lana caprina , into de corno glastoniensi . dr. heylyn . in fine , our author either is unwilling to have the gospell as soon preach't here as in other places , or else we must have preachers for it from he knowes not whence . such preachers we must have , as either drop down immediately from the heavens , as diana's image is said to have done by the towne-clark of ephesus ; or else must suddenly rise out of the earth , as tages the first sooth-sayer amongst thuscans , is reported to have done by some antient writers . and yet we cannot say of our author neither , as lactantius did of one acesilas ( if my memory fail not , ) recte hic aliorum sustulit disciplinas , sed non rectè fundavit suam ; that is to say , that though he had laid no good grounds for his own opinion , yet he had solidly confuted the opinions of others . our author hath a way by himselfe , neither well skill'd in pulling down , or in building up . fuller . i have plucked nothing dovvn but vvhat vvould have fallen of it selfe , and thereby perchance hurt others , ( i meane mis-inform them ) as grounded on a foundred foundation . in place vvhereof i have erected , if not so faire , a more firme fabrick , acknovvledging , that apostolicall men did at first found the gospell here , though ( to use my vvords ) the british church hath forgotten her own infancy , and who were her first god-fathers . adding hereto that as god concealed the body of moses to prevent idolatry ; so , to cut off from posterity all occasion of superstition , he suffered the memories of our pri●itive planters to be buried in obscurity . this is enough to satisfie any ingenuous person , who ●●eferreth a modest truth before adventurous assertions , having in them much of fals-ho●d and more of uncertainty . dr. heylyn . from the first conversion of the brittains , proceed we now unto the second , as parsons cals it , or rather from the first preaching to the propagation . the christian faith here planted by st. peter or st. ioseph ( or perhaps planted by the one , and watered by the other , in their severall times ) had still a being in this island till the time of lucius . so that there was no need of a new conversion , but onely of some able labourers to take in the harvest . the miracles done by some pious christians induced king lucius to send elvanus and meduinus ( two of that profession ) to the pope of rome , requesting principally , that some preachers might be sent to instruct him in the saith of christ. which the pope did according to the kings desire , sending faganus and derwianus , two right godly men , by whom much people were converted , the temples of the gods converted into christian churches , the hierarchy of bishops setled , and the whole building raised on so good a foundation , that it continued undemolisht till the time of the saxons . fuller . this is the sum and substance of the story of k. lucius , which the animadvertor hath breviated , and with whom i concurre therein . it never came into my thoughts to doubt the substance , but deny some circumstances thereof . my owne expression is , that the whole bulk thereof is not to be refused , but refined , and to this i adhere . dr. heylyn . and in the summing up of this story , our author having refuted some petit arguments which had been answered to his hand ( though much mistaken by the way in taking diotarus king of galatia , for a king of sicilie , fol. . ) gives us some other in their stead , which he thinks unanswerable . fuller . i deny not that p. eleutherius might or did send a letter to k. lucius , but i justly suspect the letter novv extant to be but-pretended and forged . i never thought ( by the vvay , hovv came the animadvertor to knovv my thoughts , ) my arguments unanswerable , but now i say they are unanswered ; standing in full force , notvvithstanding any alledged by the animadvertor to the contrary . i confesse a memory-mistake of sicilia for galatia : and as it is the first fault he hath detected in my book ; so shall it be the first by me ( god willing ) amended in the next edition . dr. heylyn . our author first objects against the popes answer to the king , that fol. . it relates to a former letter of king lucius wherein he requested of the pope to send him a copy or collection of the roman lawes , which being at that time in force in the i le of britain , was but actum agere . ] but certainly though those parts of brittain in which lucius reign'd , were governed in part ( and but in part ) by the lawes of rome , yet were the lawes of rome , at that time more in number , and of a far more generall practice , then to be limited to so narrow a part of their dominions . two thousand volumes we find of them in iustinians time , out of which , by the help of theophilus , trebonianus , and many other learned men of that noble faculty , the emperour compos'd that book or body of law which from the universality of its comprehension , we still call the pandects . fuller . one who hath taken but two turnes in trinity hall court in cambridge , knowes full well what pandects are , and why so called . all this is but praefatory : i waite for the answer to the objection still to come . dr. heylyn . in the next place it is objected , that this letter mounts king lucius to too high a throne , making him the monarch or king of britain , who neither was the supreme nor sole king here , but partial and subordinate to the romans . ] this we acknowledge to be true , but no way prejudiciall to the cause in hand . lucius both was and might be call'd the king of britain , though tributary and vassal to the roman emperors , as the two baliols iohn and edward were both kings of scotland , though homagers and vassals to edward the first , and third , of england , the kings of naples to the pope , and those of austria and bohemia to the german emperors . fuller . a blank is better then such writing to no purpose . for first , both the baliols in their severall times were ( though not supreme ) sole kings of scotland . so were the kings of naples , and the king of austria , ( there never being but one , the first , and last , viz. * fredoritus leopoldus ) and the kings of bohemia in their respective dominions . not so lucius , who was neither supreme nor sole king of brittain . besides the baliols being kings of scotland , did never style themselves , ( or were styled by other ) kings of brittaine . the kings of naples never entituled themselves kings of italy : nor the kings of austria and bohemia ever wrote themselves , ( or were written to , ) as kings of germany . whereas lucius , ( ruler onely in the south west-part of this isle , ) is in this letter made king of brittain , more then came to his share ; an argument that the forger thereof was unacquainted with the constitution of his kingdom . and this just exception stands firme against the letter , what ever the animadvertor hath alledged in the excuse thereof . dr. heylyn . nor doth the next objection give us any trouble at all , that is to say , that the scripture quoted in that letter is out of st. hieroms translation , which came more then a hundred years after : ] unless it can be prov'd withall ( as i think it cannot ) that hierom followed not , in those texts , those old translations , which were before receiv'd and used in the western churches . fuller . see the different tempers of men , how some in point of truth , are of a tenderer constitution than others . the * primate armach was so sensible of the strength of this reason , that it made him conclude against the authenticallnesse of the letter . dr. heylyn . lesle am i mov'd with that which follows , viz. that this letter not appearing till a thousand years after the death of pope eleutherius , might probably creep out of some monks cell , some four hundred years since . ] which allegation being admitted , ( the monks cell excepted , ) it makes no more to the discredit of the letter which we have before us , then to the undervaluing of those excellent monuments of piety and learning , which have been recovered of late times from the dust and moths of ancient libraries . such treasures like money long lock't up , is never thought lesse profitable when it comes abroad . and from what place soever it first came abroad , i am confident it came not out of any monks cell ; that generation being then wholly at the popes devotion , by consequence not likely to divulge an evidence , so manifestly tending to the overthrow of his pretensions . the popes about four hundred years since were mounted to the height of that power and tyranny which they claimed as vicars unto christ. to which there could not any thing be more plainly contrary then that passage in the pope's letter , whereto he tells the king , that he was gods vicar in his owne kingdom ( vos estis vicarius dei in regno vestro , as the latin hath it . ) too great a secret to proceed from the cell of a monk , who would have rather forg'd ten decretals to uphold the popish usurpations over soveraign princes , then published one onely ( whether true or false ) to subvert the same . nor doth this letter onely give the king an empty title , but such a title as imports the exercise of the chief ecclesiastical power within his dominions . for thus it followeth in the same ; the people and the folk of the realm of britain be yours , whom if they be divided , ye ought to gather in concord and peace , to call them to the faith and law of christ , to cherish and maintain them , to rule and govern them , so as you may reign everlastingly with him whose vicar you are . so far the very words of the letter , as our author rendereth them , which savour far more of the honest simplicity of the primitive popes , then the impostures and supposititious issues of the latter times . fuller . i confesse some pretious pieces of antiquity , long latent in obscurity , have at last broke forth into the light , with no little advantage to learning . but then such were intire books , and we know , how , when , where , and by whom , they were found out , and brought forth . whereas this loose letter secretly and slily slid into the world , unattended with any such cicumstances to attest the genuinesse thereof . children casually lost , are no whit the lesse legitimate ; and beloved the more , when found and owned of their parents . but give me leave to suspect that babe a bastard , which is left on a bulk , or under a stall ; no father being found , or mother , to maintaine it . a presumption that this letter of elutherius is supposititious . i confesse , this pretended letter of lucius hath something in it , which doth act and personate primitive simplicity , ( as that passage of regal power in church-matters , ) but more which doth practise the monkish ignorance , of later times . there were lately false twenty shilling pieces , ( commonly called morgans ) coyned by a cunning and cheating chymist , whose part without the rind was good gold , and would endure the touch , whilst that within was base as but double guilded brasse . such , this letter of lucius ; some part whereof will endure the test , the other not : the monk , who made it , pretending something of antiquity , ( so to palliate the deceit ) ; but having more of the novelty of the middle age . he lived in some six hundred years since . may the reader be pleased to take notice , that the animadvertor hath silently passed by , the strongest argument to shatter the credit of this letter alledged by me , and taken from a phrase unknown in that age , yet used in the letter , even manu tenere , to maintain , or defend . this the animadvertor slips over in silence , and that i believe for nineteen reasons , whereof this was one , because he himselfe was unable to answer it , and knew criticks would laugh at him , if affirming those words , in that sense , contemporary with pope eleutherius . herein , he appears like a dunkerker , who delights to prey on poore marchants ships passing on in their calling , but meeting an english man of war , he can look big , and fairly give him the goe-by . he finds it more facile to carpe an easie inoffensive passage , then to confute what hath difficulty , and strength of reason therein . i resume what i said before , and what the animadvertor hath gain-said to no purpose , viz. that this story of k. lucius is not to be refused but refined , and the drosse is to be put from the good metall ; or ( as my own words also are , ) the good corn therein sifted from the chaffe ; and , amongst the chaffe , i have cast away this letter . but if the animadvertor loves to eat both corn and chaffe , much good may his diet do him , and let him and horse feed on their loafe together . dr. heylyn . our author tells us , fol. . that he had ventured on this story with much aversnesse ; and we dare believe him . he had not else laboured to discredit it in so many particulars , and wilfully ( that i say no worse ) suppressed , &c. fuller . can he say worse than wilfully , except it be maliciously ? seeing , in my conscience , i believe the story of the conversion of k. lucius : though this letter , and some other circumstances seem to me improbable . i enter'd on this story with this much aversenesse , as finding much difficulty , and fearing not to give satisfaction therein to my self , and others . i see not how it can be inferred from such my aversenesse , that i therefore laboured to discredit the story in so many particulars . if this be a good consequence , i desire the reader to remember , what the animadvertor hath written in the latter end of the introduction to his animadversions on my book , viz. i must needs confesse withall , that i did never enter more unwillingly upon any undertaking , then i did on this . may i not then , by the same logick , conclude his endeavouring to disparage my book : because he entered thereon so unwillingly ? dr. heylyn . the best part of the evidence in the words of beda ; who being no friend unto the brittains , hath notwithstanding done them right in this great businesse . and from him take the story in these following words ; anno ab incarnatione domini , . &c. in the . year after christs nativity , marcus antonius verus together with aurelius commodus his brother , did in the fourteenth place from augustus ceasar , undertake the government of the empire . in whose times when as eleutherius a godly man was bishop of the church of rome , lucius king of the brittains sent unto him , obsecrans u● per eius mandatum christianus efficeretur , intreating by his means to be made a christian. whose vertuous desire herein was granted ; and the faith of christ being thus received by the brittains , was by them kept inviolate and undefiled untill the time of diocle●ian . this is the substance of the story , as by him delivered , true in the main , though possibly there may be some mistake in his chronology , as in a matter not so canvassed as it hath been lately . fuller . i entered a grand jury of authors , which mentioned the conversion of lucius , amongst whom bede is one . i expressed none of them , ( as i had no cause ) in their words at length ; neither can i properly be said to suppress any of them , solemnly giving in their names , and their severall dates , which they assigne to that memorable action . dr. heylyn . now to proceed unto our author , he tells us . fol. . out of ieffery of monmouth , that at this time there were in england twenty eight cities , each of them having a flamen or pagan priest ; and three of them , namely london , york , and caer-lion in wales , had arch-flamens , to which the rest were subjected : and lucius placed bishops in the rome of the flamens , and arch-bishops , metropolitans in the places of arch-flamens ; concluding in the way of scorne , that his flamines , and arch-flamines seem to be flams and arch-flams , even notorious false-hoods . fuller . i would not willingly sit in the seat of the scorner , and if the animadvertor by his force will thrust me down into it , i will ( god willing ) rise up againe , and leave the place empty to himselfe to stand or sit therein , pro libero suo arbitrio . i say no more , nor so much , as that worthy knight sr. henry spelman ( so great an antiquary , that it is questionable , whether his industry , iudgment , or humility were the greatest ) hath said on the same subject . who having learnedly confuted this report of geffery of monmouth , concludeth with the cause of his mistake , relying on some supposititious epistles . sr. h. spelman de concilijs page . gaufrido autem atque alijs , qui flaminum . archiflaminum , et protoflaminum commento capiuntur , imposuisse videtur gratiani authoritas , epistolis munita s lucij , &c. see! he calleth that commentum , which our dictionaries english a flat . lye , which i have mitigated into a flamme , as importing in common discourse a falshood , which hath more of vanity , then mischiefe therein . dr. heylyn . and it is well they do but seem so , it being possible enough that they may seem falshoods to our author , even notorious falshoods ; though they seem true enough to others , even apparent truths . fuller . they seem so also to learned sr. henry spelman , lately alledged ; and to the reverend arch-bishop of armagh , and many others . dr. heylyn . and first though ieffery of monmouth , seem to deserve no credit in this particular , where he speaks against our author's sense ; yet in another place where he comes up to his desires , he is otherwise thought of , and therefore made the fore-man of the grand-inquest against augustine the monk , whom he enditeth for the murther of the monks of bangor . and certainly , if ieffery may be believed when he speaks in passion , when his welch-blood was up , as our author words it , as one that was concerned in the cause of his country-men ; he may more easily be believed in a cause of so remote antiquity , where neither love nor hatred , or any other prevalent affection had any power or reason to divert him from the way of truth . fuller . it is usuall with all authors , sometimes to close with the iudgments of the same person , from whom they afterwards on just cause may dissent ; and should not this liberty be allowed me , to like or leave , in ieffery monmouth , what i think fitting ? the animadvertor concurreth with bishop god-win , that the druides instructed the britons in the worship of one god ; yet will not be concluded with his iudgement , when averring the letter fathered on eleutherius not to savour of the style of that age. yea , when i make for him , he can alledge twenty lines together , out of my book , against h. le strange ; though at other times , when he hath served his turne of me , i am the object of his sleighting and contempt . now when as the in-animadvertor ( for now i must so call him for his carelesnesse , ) citeth a place in my book , viz. [ lib. . fol. . ] that i make j. monmouth the foreman of the great inquest against augustine the monk , he is much mistaken therein . for in the place by him cited , i impannell a grand iury , ( amongst whom j. monmouth is neither fore-man , nor any man ) of iudicious readers consisting of twenty four . as false is it what he addeth , as if in that triall i attributed much to the judgment of j. monmouth , who therein is onely produced as a witnesse , and a verdict brought in , point-blank against his evidence , acquitting augustine the monk of the murther , whereof monmouth did accuse him . dr. heylyn . and secondly , though ieffery of monmouth be a writer of no great credit with me , when he stands single by himselfe ; yet when i find him seconded and confirmed by others , i shall not brand a truth by the name of falshood , because he reports it . now that in brittain at that time there were no fewer then eight and twenty cities , is affirmed by beda . henry of huntington not only agrees with him in the number , but gives us also the names of them , though where to find many of them it is hard to say . that in each of these cities was some temple dedicated to the pagan gods , that those temples afterwards were imploy'd to the use of christians , and the revenues of them assign'd over to the maintenance of the bishops and other ministers of the gospel , hath the concurrent testimony of approved authors ; that is to say , matthew of westminster out of gildas , anno . rodolph de diceto , cited by the learned primat of armach in his book de primordiis eccles. brit. cap. . gervase of tilbury , ibid. cap. . and for the flamines , and arch-flamines , they stand not onely on the credit of ieffery of monmouth , but of all our owne writers , who speak of the foundation of the antient bishopricks , even to polydor virgil. fuller . i concurre with the animadvertor in the number of the citties in brittain . also i do not deny but that k. lucius might place bishops in some ( perchance half ) of them , which i believe is all which the animadvertor doth desire . only as to bishops and arch-bishops exactly substituted in the individual places of flamens and arch-flamens , my beliefe cannot come up to the height thereof . i find that giraldus cambrensis and other authors of that age , ( though concurring with j. monmouth in lucius his episcopating of citties , ) make not any mention of these arch-flamens . dr. heylyn . nor want there many forrain writers who affirm the same , beginning with martinus polonus , who being esteemed no friend to the popedom ( because of the story of pope ione which occurs in his writings ) may the rather be believ'd in the story of lucius . and he agrees with ieffery of monmouth in all parts of the story , as to the flamines and arch-flamines , as do also many other of the roman writers which came after him . fuller . nothing more usuall then for forrain writers , with implicite faith , to take things on the credit of such who have wrote the history of their own country . but on the confutation of the leading author , the rest sink of course of themselves . dr. heylyn . but where both our author and some others have rais'd some objections against this part of the history , for answer thereunto i refer the reader to the learned and laborious work of francis mason late archdeacon of norfolk , de ministerio anglicano , the sum whereof in brief is this , licet in una urbe multi flamines , that though there were many flamines in one city , yet was there onely one which was called pontifex or primus flaminum ; the pope or principall of the flamines ; of which kind one for every city , were those whom our historians speak of . and for the archi-flamines or proto-flamines , though the name occurre not in old roman writers , yet were there some in power and authority above the rest , who were entituled primi pontificum ( as indeed coifi by that name is called in beda ) which is the same in sense with arch-flamines although not in sound . all i shall further add is this , that if these cities were not all furnished with bishops in the time of lucius , for vvhom it vvas impossible to spread his armes and expresse his power over all the south parts of the island ; yet may the honour of the vvork be ascribed to him , because begun by his encouragement , and perfected by his example ; as romulus is generally esteemed for the founder of rome , although the least part of that great city vvas of his foundation . fuller . but , whereas both the animadvertor and some others conceive their answers satisfactory to such objections raised against this part of the history ; i refer the reader unto sr. henry * spelman , and to the arch-bishop of * armagh ; both as learned and judicious antiquaries as ever our land enjoyed . these it seemes were not satisfied , with such solutions , as mr. mason produceth against those objections , because ( writing later than mr. mason ) they in their judgments declare themselves against j. monmouth herein . dr. heylyn . our author has not yet done vvith lucius . for admitting the story to be true , he disallowes the turning of the pagan temples into christian churches , vvhich he censureth as the putting of new wine into old vessels , which afterwards savour'd of the cask , christianity hereby getting a smack of heathen ceremonies . but in this point the primitive christians were as wise as our author , though they were not so nice . who without fearing any such smack , accommodated themselves in many ceremonies to the gentiles , and in some to the iewes ; that being all things to all men , they might gain the more , as in fine they did : which notwithstanding our author hereupon inferreth . fuller . i onely humbly tendered my weak opinion herein , that religion was a loser by such mixtures . if it findeth no welcome in the brest of the animadvertor and others , no hurt is done ; let it fairly return into his bosome , who ( it seems ) first gave it a beeing , though i could cite most pious and learned authors of the same judgement . but for the present let all the weight of the guilt light on my selfe alone . dr. heylyn . our author proceeds , fol. . they had better built new nests for the holy dove , and not have lodg'd it where schriech-owls and unclean birds had formerly been harboured . ] a prety piece of new divinity , and such as savours strongly of the modern anabaptist ; such as not onely doth reproach the practise of most pious antiquity , but layes a sure ground for the pulling down of all our churches ( as having been abus'd to popish superstitions in the former times ) if ever that encreasing faction should become predominant . what pitty is it that our author had not liv'd and preacht this doctrine in king edwards time , that the parochiall churches and cathedrals being sent after the abbies , new nests might have been built for the dove in some tree or other , under the shade whereof the people might assemble to their devotions : and not new nests provided only , bur new feathers also , the vestments prescribed to the ministers by the church of england , being condemned and disallowed by the puritan party , because in use formerly with the priests of the church of rome . more of this stuffe , but of a more dangerous consequence to the publick peace , we shall see hereafter . fuller . i do not quarrell with the posture of my nativity , knowing god hath * determined the times fore-appointed and the bounds of their habitation . nor would i have my beeing antedated in the dayes of k. edward the sixt , whereby my soul should be degraded into a dimmer light , then what now i live in . had i lived in his reigne , i know not what i would have done , seeing one may be lost in the labyrinth of his owne heart . but though i know not what i would have done , i know what i should have done , viz. perswaded , to my power , all people to be sensible of the vast difference betwixt heathen-temples and christian-churches . the former were the styes of swine , yea the dens of devils , profaned to the foul idols of pagans . the latter were dedicated to the true god , and the memory of his glorious saints , out of zeal , and wel-intended devotion . and though the same were abused by superstition , yet the substantiall use of them might remain , when their accidential abuse was removed , and might be continued for god's service without any sin ; not to say , could not be aliened from it , without some sacriledge . dr. heylyn . we have now done at last vvith the story of lucius , and must next follow our author unto that of amphibalus , in prosecution whereof he telleth us of a great slaughter of christians in or near the city of litchfield , from thence so denominated , of vvhich thus saith he ; fol. . this relation is favoured by the name of litchfield , which in the british tongue signifies a golgotha , or a place bestrewed with skuls . ] it 's true indeed that litchfield , or licidfield , as bedae calleth it , is made by iohn rosse to signifie cadaverum campus , or the field of dead bodies . but that it doth so signifie in the british language , i do more then doubt , the termination of the vvord being meerly saxon , as in hefensield , cock-field , camps-field , and many others . as little am i satisfied in the etymon of the name of maiden-head , which he ascribes unto the worshipping of the head of one of those many maidens vvhich vvere martyred with ursula at colen , fol. . for vvhich though he cite camden for his author ( following therein , but not approving the old tradition ) yet vvhen i find in the same camden , that this town was formerly called maiden-hith , that anciently there vvas a ferry near the place vvhere the town now stands , and that hith in the old saxon tongue , did signifie a wharf , haven , or landing place , i have some reason to believe , that the town took this name from the wharf or ferry belonging at that time to some neighbouring nunnery , or to some private maidens dwelling thereabout , vvho then received the profits of it . just so , queen-hith in london took that appellation , because the profits of that wharf vvere antiently accompted for , to the queens of england ; and maiden-bradly in wilshire , vvas so denominated because belonging to one of the inheretrices of manasses basset , a most noble personage in his time , who founded a house here for maiden lepers . fuller . as for litchfield , thereof hereafter . but whether it be maiden-head , or maiden-hith , is not a straw matter to me , who cited the words out of cambdens latine brittannia : which is more properly cambden , than the english translation thereof . dr. heylyn . but to return again to leitch-field , it must needs seem as strange to my judicious reader , that one part of it should be borrowed from the brittains , and the other from the saxons ; as it seems strange unto our author , and that justly too , that cern in dorcetshire should anciently be called cernel , from the latine vvord cerno , vvhich signifies to see , and the hebrew vvord el signifying god , fol. . fuller . nothing more usuall , than for the same vvord to bear parly par pale , two languages . but such mixtures onely are made in such places , vvhere those two languages have entred common together . and this is the reason that disapproveth the probability of cern-el , because hebrew and latine never incorporated together , greek , as i may say , being interposed betwixt them . but such conjunctions of two languages , vvhich , in some sort , indented one another , are frequent and familiar . our author lately presented us vvith two half-greek , half-latine archi-flamens , and proto-flamens . he also just now mentioned a vvord half●french , half saxon , camps-field . many towns names in england are half saxons , half british ; up-avon , neather-avon , tvvo villages in wilt-shire . avon being a river in the brittish tongue . to put all out of doubt , the reader may rely on the judgement of this my vvorthy friend , vvhose letter i have here caused to be inserted , mr. fuller . as touching the elymology of the city of litchfield , i can give you no satisfactory accompt ; being not well skill'd in the saxon tongue . but if mr. john rosse hath ground for his campus cadaverum , i conceive he deduced it from the british tongues and saxon. for in our brittish language , llaith signifies death , as may be seen in severall antient brittish authors , as taliefin and others . lleithfa may well bear a place of slaughter as wel as lladdfa ; the word lladd in the brittish is the same with occidere in the latine , ma and man , denotes a place : and ma , being joyned with lleith or lladd , the m by the rules of the brittish language turns into f as lladdfa lleithfa lladdfaes . maes is the ordinary name for a field in our language , and so the old saxons , which were not ignorant of our language might well make use of their owne word field and ioyne it with the brittish lleith : which in processe and corruption of time came to be litchfield . you must note that when the saxons met with our ll , they wrote and pronounced it alwayes as one single l. dr. heylyn . our author proceeds , fol. . i fear that learned pen hath gone too far , who makes him founder of a bishoprick at york , and styleth him an emperour surpassing in all virtue and christian piety . ] the learned pen here spoken of , is that of judicious camden , whose character of constantius chlorus our author in this place will not let passe without some censure . that he did found ( or rather re-found ) a bishoprick in the city of ●ork , i am confident cambden had not said without very good grounds , though on what grounds he said it , i am yet to seek . a bishoprick and a bishop of york we find on good record within few years after ; eborius the bishop of that city subscribing to the councill of arles in the time of constantine , the son and next successor of constantius chlorus . and that he was a prince of surpassing virtue , is generally agreed upon by all historians , both pagans and christians . the question then will be onely this , whether he did surpass also in christian piety , which our author will not otherwise grant , but by our saviours argument onely , concluding those to be on our part who are not against us ; constantius doing no other good unto christianity , but that he did not do it harm . a censure not agreeable to so good an emperour , who though he were no through-paced christian , yet did he both favour their religion , and protect their persons , as eusebius testifies de vita constantini , lib. . cap. . and not so onely , but as our author himselfe confesseth , he both permitted and preserved them who would rebuild the decayed christian churches . if to preserve the persons of christians in the exercise of their religion , to have them near unto him in places of greatest trust and eminence , to suffer them to rebuild their churches and defend them in it , be not the doing of some good unto christianity , more then the doing it no harm , let our author carry it , and cambden bear the blame of his needlesse courtship . fuller . if at the end of this long note , the animadvertor at last had demonstrated that constantius chlorus was a thorow-paced christian ; the reader , and i my selfe , would not have grudged our attention unto it . but what is the total sum of what he saith ? it amounts to just nothing , only to show that ( which i confessed ) he did some good ( besides no hurt ) to christianity . what is this to prove the words of learned , ( but here mistaken ) mr. camden . an emperour surpassing in all virtues and christian piety . the animadvertor should first have proved that this constantius had passed into christianity before he was surpassing therein ; a thing which he , and all his friends , are never able to evidence by any authentick author . in a word , as chlorus or yellow ( so his name in greek ) is a middle colour betwixt white and black , below the former , and above the latter in brightnesse ; so this emperour , ( well answering his name , ) was indeed much better than most pagans , and yet far short ( so far as by any humane author can be collected ) of a true christian. dr. heylyn . but this is not the first time , in which our author hath clasht with camden , and i see it will not be the last , by that which followeth . for speaking on the by how . wolves first entred into england , considering that merchants would not bring them , and that they could not swim over themselves , he adds these words , viz. fol. . which hath prevailed so far with some , as to conceive this now an iland , originally annext to the continent . ] it seems that though some so conceive it , yet our author doth not . and yet he cannot chuse but know that those whom he doth pass so slightly over by the name of some ( as if not worthy to be notified by their proper names ) are the most eminent and renowned antiquaries of these latter times . amongst which if i reckon camden for one , and a chief one too , i should but do him right , and not wrong the rest . whose arguments to prove the point ; he that lists to see , may find them at large laid down in his description of kent ; which when our author can confute ( as i doubt he cannot ) he may then slight it over as a thing conceived , and conceived only by some men not worth the naming . till then , i shall behold it as a matter not conceived but prov'd , and so must he . fuller . it seems ] multa videntur quae no● sunt . i am ashamed to return an answer to this needlesse and impertinent note . s. hierom honoured not cicero more then i reverence mr. camden . dr. heylyn . i should here end this chapter and this book together , but that i find a trifling errour not worth our notice , but that i would set all things right as they come before me ; which is the placing of the emperor constantine in the catalogue of those who commonly pass under the name of the worthies , and this saith he . fuller . not so . he should have ended this chapter and book before , and not have inserted his last impertinent note . num aquila capit muscas ? dr. heylyn . fol. . is more then comes to the proportion of britain ; that amongst but nine in the whole world , two should prove natives of this iland , constantine and arthur . ] that arthur goes for one of the worthies , i shall easily grant , and i shall grant too , that in the opinion of some writers this island gave birth unto another of them , namely guy of warwick . his knight sir guy one of the nine , we touch but by the way , saith warner in his albions england . fuller . perchance guy of warwick may be made one of the nine english worthies . but i believe none ever made him one of the nine generall worthyes little known beyond the seas , no general [ not to say prince ] as the rest of his form-fellowes , and fam'd onely for his personal performances . dr. heylyn . but in the common estimate they are reckoned thus ; that is to say , three iewes , . ioshua , . david , . iudas maccabeus ; three gentiles , . hector of troy , . alexander the great , and . iulius caesar ; three christians , . arthur of brittain , . charlemain of france , and . godfry of bovillon . but i condemn my selfe for mingling this poor piece of errantry with such serious matters , though the necessity of following my leader as he goeth may excuse me in it . fuller . the words of the animadvertor in common estimate intimate , that they are not constantly so accounted . the seven wise men of greece are variously reckoned up , as severall authors fancied them . so also are the nine worthyes ; and if worth makes a worthy , constantine deserved a place amongst them , being in time before any , in valour behind none of the three christians . yea as sapho is adjected by * some to the nine muses , and made a tenth ; so let there be ten worthyes , rather than constantine should be excluded . but enough hereof , poets and painters being the most staple authors in this point . the second book . of the conversion of the saxons , and that which followed thereupon till the norman conquest . dr. heylin . in order to the conversion of the saxons , our author begins ( as he had done before in that of the britans ) with the unhappy condition of that people in the state of gentilism . fuller . here is an intimation , as if i had mistook my epoches in my church history of britans or saxons , or both ; beginning them too soon or too late . i avouch it done in due time : and so passe from the animadvertors snarling to his biting . dr. heylin . in the description whereof , he omitteth that which was indeed their greatest unhappiness , that is to say , their barbarous and inhumane sacrifices of men and women unto two of their idols . for camden telleth us of their god called wooden , that they used to procure his favour by sacrificing unto him men alive : and i have read in verstegan ( if my memory fail not ) a man inferiour to none , in the antiquities of this nation , that at their return from any conquest , they us'd to sacrifice the noblest of their captives to their idol thur. in this not much inferior to the palestinians , in their sacrifices to moloch ; or to the carthaginians , in the like abominable sacrifices to saturn ; or to the scythians , in the like to diana taurica ; or finally , to the galls , in theirs to haesus and teutate● their own national deities . but not to lay at our authors charge these small sins of omission , we must next see whether he be not guilty of some sin of commission also . fuller . see here the signal charity of the animadvertor ! after he had layed the charge as heavy as he could , ( and heavier than he should ) he candidly comes off , he will not lay to my charge such small faults of omission . i was not bound to particularize in all the saxon prodigious impieties , all being included in that my general expression , * abominable ( the proper scripture-word in this case ) in the rites and ceremonies of their adoration . dr. heylin . for making a general muster of the saxon gods , and shewing how they were dispos'd of in relation to the dayes of the week , he concludes it thus : fol. . and thus we see the whole week bescattered with saxon idols , whose pagan gods were the god-fathers of the dayes , and gave them their names . ] not the whole week , though the greatest part thereof was thus bescattered . sunday and munday being so call'd in reference to the sun and moon , or else in correspondence to the names of dies solis and dies lunae , which they found given by the romans at their entrance here . for either the sun and moon were worshipped by the ancient saxons , and then might think themselves neglected in having no place assigned them amongst the rest ; or else the saxon pagan gods were not the godfathers to all the dayes of the week , as our author telleth us . fuller . it is harsh , that i must be indicted to justifie every metaphorical expression ; but know , that the word [ bescattered ] properly importeth some empty intervalls ; or naked distances betwixt the things scattered ; which otherwise , would be covered all over , and not be scattered . if therefore two dayes in the seven have escaped nomination from saxon idols , the week notwithstanding may be said , bescattered by them . dr. heylin . as much he seems to be mistaken in their god called woden ; of whom thus he telleth us . fol. . woden , that is wood , fierce , or furious , giving the denomination to wednesday , or wodens-day , armed cap a pe with military coronet on his head , he was the god of battail , by whose aid and furtherance , they hoped to obtain victory ; correspondent to mars . ] but camden sings another song , telling us that wooden was not worshipped for mars , but mercury . above all other gods , saith he ; they worshipped mercury , whom they called wooden , whose favour they procured by sacrificing unto him men alive , and to him they consecrated the fourth day of the week , whereupon we call it at this day wednesday . thus also in another place , wansdike , in the saxon tongue called wodenepoic , that is to say , the ditch of wooden or mercury , and as it should seem of woden , that false imagined god and father of the english saxons . and herein i shall rather subscribe to camdens , than our authors judgement . for certainly had the saxons worshipped wooden as the god of battail , or correspondent to mars , they would have given him the third day of the week , or the day of mars , and not the fourth day of the week or the day of mercury ; as they gave sunday and munday unto sol and luna , and thursday unto thur , whom they worshipped in the place of iupiter , ascribing unto him ( as the greeks and romans did to iupiter ) the power of bearing rule in the air , governing thunder , lightnings , windes , showers , fair weather , &c. as adam bremensis , a good writer , doth inform us of them . and though it may be true , which our author telleth us , that by his aid and furtherance they hoped to obtain victory , yet this entitleth him not to the place of mars ; as many victories being gotten by wit and stratagem ( the known arts of mercury ) as by strength and valour . fuller . in describing the saxon idolatries i followed verstegan , as the best in this kind , as who ( data opera ) had written on that subject , and who lately by the * animadvertor was styled ( and that very deservedly ) a man inferiour to none in the antiquities of this nation . however , finding a difference betwixt him and mr. camden in this particular , i fairly entred this plain note in the * margin of my book , so verstegan pag. . but camden brit. pag. . makes him to be mercury . now either the animadvertor did not , or did take notice of this marginal note . if he did not , being there tendered so conspicuously to the reader , it is high time for him to leave off writing of books , and turn his penne into prayers ; otherwise , such omissions by those who read unto him , will every day more and more inevitably betray him to , and involve him in more inconveniences . if he did take notice of this note ( which is most probable , alwaies consulting my margin , when making for his advantage ) he discovered much superfluity ; ( not to say of * naughtinesse , ) actum agere , that what i had done before , he must doe again ; and also finde fault with me , who had done it before , in this his unnecessary animadversion . i will onely add , that the fierce and furious aspect of woden , the evidence of his wild and wood nature ( whence he had his name ) better countenanceth his correspondency with mars , than mercury ; the latter being concerned to carry a more meek and mild countenance , as who being of a tamer kind , and acting all by craft and cunning , did not fright , but flatter deluded people into his plausible designes . dr. heylin . but from our authors failers , in recounting the superstitions of our saxon ancestors , let us next see how he behaves himself in laying down the story of their conversion . in which , though he ascribe something unto austin the monk , yet he will by no means allow him to be their apostle : for , fol. . the papists ( saith he ) commonly call augustine the english apostle , how properly we shall see hereafter . and after , fol. . the papists brag that he was the apostle of the english. ] in these few words there are two things to be considered , whether he is called the apostle of the english by the papists onely ; and secondly , whether he were not so , both in fact and title . not call'd so by the papists onely , i am sure of that ; but called so commonly by as good protestants as our author himself . thus camden , a right english protestant , after this augustine , whom commonly they call the apostle of the english men , being sent hither by gregory the great , having abolished these monstrous abominations of heathenish impiety , with most happy successe , planting christ in their hearts , converted them to the christian faith . nor doth he speak this onely in the voice of the common people , but in another place more plainly , as his own opinion . a place there is about this shire called austins oke , at which augustine the apostle of the english men , and the bishops of britain met , &c. dr. philemon holland of coventry , a good protestant also , making an index unto camden , speaks the self same language ; augustine the apostle of the english ; which is short , but full . gabriel richardson of brazen-nose , an honest protestant , in his laborious piece called the state of europe , telleth us of canterbury , that the archbishops see was founded by king ethelbert in the person of st. austin the apostle of the english. more of this kind might be produc'd , were it not given us for a rule in the holy scripture , ex ore duorum testium vel trium , that two or three witnesses were sufficient to confirm a truth . the next thing here to be considered is , whether austin were not the apostle of the english , both in fact and title . in order whereunto , we must first take notice , that the word being meerly greek , doth signifie in its natural and original sence a messenger , a legat , an embassador , from whom , to whomsoever sent ; and though appropriated to twelve as by way of excellence , yet not improperly communicated unto others in succeeding times , with reference to the nations whom they had converted . so boniface an english man the first archbishop of ments , is called by dr. holland , ( as by many others ) the apostle of germany ; palladius styled by camden , the apostle of the scottish nation ; and the irish would not think themselves to be fairly dealt with , if their st. patrick should not be honoured with that title also . in this sence austin may be call'd , and that not improperly , the apostle of the english nation ; though a derivative apostle , an apostle ( as our author calls him in the way of scorn , fol. . ) at the second hand , though others propagated the gospel further than he liv'd to doe . it was enough to entitle him to this apostleship , that be first publiquely preacht the gospel , and brought the glad tiding of salvation amongst the english , though he neither converted all the nation , nor travelled into all parts of the land to attempt the same . neither st. paul could be entitled the apostle of the gentiles , st. thomas of the indians , nor st. matthew of the ethiopians ; if it were necessarily required to their apostleships , that all the nations of the indians must be converted by the one , or the vast countries of the ethiopians must be converted by the other ; of finally , if st. paul , to save them a labour , must have reduced all the gentiles to the faith of christ. and this the embassadors for the king of england at the council of basil , understood right well , when they contended for precedency with those of castile . for when the castilians had objected , that although ioseph of arimathea had preacht in england , it was but in a corner thereof , the grand body of britain remaining pagan many hundred years after : the english embassadors wisely answered , that the allegation was impertinent to the present purpose , it being not the universality , but the first preaching of the christian faith which gained the name of an apostle ; there being no disciple ( as they truly urged it ) that ever converted a kingdome totally and entirely to christianity , for which consult our very author , lib. . . and yet ●he pains in preaching of austin were not so limited and restrain'd to one kingdome only , but that he travail'd into most parts of the saxon heptarchy , preaching the gospell in all places to which the spirit did conduct him , or his b●sinesse lead him . our author grants him to have converted the kingdome of kent , fol. . and to have taken care for planting the gospel in the kingdom of the east-saxons , and for that end ordaining mellitus the first bishop of london fol. . from hence he carries him to a conference with the british bishops in the country of the wiccians ( now worcestershire ) then part of the kingdom of mercia , fol. . from thence to richmondshire in the kingdom of northumberland , where he is said to have baptiz'd above ten thousand in one day , fol. . and finally , to cern in dorsetshire , part of the kingdome of the west-saxons , where he destroyed the idol of heale of aesculapius . by which we see , that he visited no fewer than five of the seven kingdoms in the saxon heptarchie , not onely doing in each of them that particular work which he went about , but preaching in all fit places as he passed along . and this considered as it ought , with reference to the distance of those several places to which our very author brings him , gives him just title to that honour which our author would so willingly deprive him of , when telling us how the papists called him the english apostle , he adds these words , how properly ( so called ) we shall see hereafter . fuller . the animadvertor engageth deeper in this controversy , than in my minde it deserveth . to sta●e the difference truly , whether augustine properly is called the apostle of the english ? we must explain two terms , apostle and english. waving the generall notation of apostle for no more than a messenger ; in the new testament it importeth a person immediately sent by christ , to preach people into salvation : it was essentiall to their constitution , either to have accompanied christ in the flesh , a qualification required by st. * peter in such elects , who should supply the vacancy of iudas , or at the least that they should see christ incarnate , either humbled or glorified ; the latter favour being peculiarly afford●d to st. paul : am i not an apostle , am i not free , have i not seen iesus christ our lord ? these i may call primitive apostles ; and none will entitle augustin the monk , to be one of their order . a second sort i call derivative apostles , a term , which though the animadvertor sayeth is used by me in the way of scorn , i protest it in sober seriousnesse , god hath not endowed me to make a more proper expression , signifying such as mediatly , and ( as i say ) at the second hand , and sent by some eminent servants of god to convert pagans to christianity . english may be taken in a threefold sence . first , for all the nation , ( an indefinite , tantamounting to an universal ) and this is the most proper sence of the word . secondly , for the greater part of the nation , which in common discourse denominates the whole . thirdly , for some part of the nation , which may be made good by a synecdoche , especially justified , when it is a chief and first ( though least ) part thereof , which ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or ) per eminentiam , taketh the name of the whole . my clear sence is , augustine the monk may be called a derivative apostle of the english in the last acception of the word , and so mr. camden , mr. richardson , mr. holland , and i doubt not but many more have and may intitle him . the animadvertor measureth the progresse of augustine with too extensive dimensions , making him a greater english travailer than ever he was ; kent was generally the sphere he moved in , and from thence he was itinerant to cerne in dorsetshire , the boundary of his western travail : no personall atchievments by him north of thames , seeing that grave baptization ( if in yorkshire ) was surely done by paulinus . as for the interview and conference betwixt him and the british bishops in worcestershire ( though some probably might be converted in his passage thither , and return thence ) no great advantage , but detriment to christianity was thereby occasioned , those parts generally remaining in paganism . and here i will tender the reader another distinction of apostles , submitting it to his judgement , they were either of god alone , man alone , god and man together . of god alone , as st. paul ( and the other twelve ) an apostle not of man , neither by man , but by iesus christ and god the father , who raised him from the dead . secondly , of man alone , being such as the false apostles amongst the corinthians , and else where , whose commission was made and drawn up by themselves , sealed and attested by some of their factious admirers . thirdly , of god and man , and such an apostle was augustine sent , as i may say , by god and gregory to the english nation . but let him not ingrosse the name to himself , but admit also as his partners therein , mellitus , paulinus , and aidan , felix , birinus , chad , wilfrid , apostles also , because sent to , and convertors of the , east-saxons , northumbrians , east-angles , west , mercians , south-saxons . dr. heylin . i have spent more time than i intended in defence of this title , and therefore think it seasonable to proceed from the person to his acts. of which the first we meet with is , the fixing of the archiepiscopal see at canterbury , for which our author , amongst many other reasons , gives us this for one , viz. that london , by reason of the receipt thereof was likely to prove the residing place for the english monarch , and it was probable that the archiepiscopal dignity would there be eclipst , and outshined by the regal diadem . ] but here i must needs ask our author , whether he thinks , that this was really one of those many motives which occasioned austin to resolve of canterbury for his seat of residence ? if yea , then must our author grant him to be endued with the spirit of prophesie , which i think he will not ; if not , then a contingency so remote could not be taken by him into consideration , as indeed it was not . for first , london at that time , was the chief city of the kingdome of east-sex , one of the weakest of the seven , and so not likely to prevail over all the rest . secondly , if any of the greater kingdomes of mercia , west-sex , or northumberland , should in fine prevail , it was not probable that the conquerors would remove the seat royal from their own dominions into any of the conquered countries . and thirdly , though the kings of the west-saxons , who prevailed at last , and became monarchs of the whole , settled the royal seat in london , yet was it not till winchester , their own regal city , was destroyed by fire , and made unable to receive them . fuller . other reasons are alledged by me , why austin chose canterbury rather than london for his archiepiscopal see. these arguments iuncta juvant , and will hold in the sheaff , though a single arrow should be broken , i mean , though this one reason ( alledged by me ) were disproved . austin needed no propheticall inspiration , whilst prudential prevision could sufficiently suggest unto him , that if ever the saxon-heptarchy terminated ( which was most probable ) in a monarchy , london might be presumed the principal place of the royal residence , as most convenient for trading , and commodious for scituation : i say london , an infant in the time of tacitus , a stripling in the time of austin , a man before the conquest , and grown a giant in our daies . dr heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . the first cast of his office was to call a councel for the saxon and british bishops to come together in the consines of the wiccians and west-saxons . ] our author placeth this meeting within few lines after , in the confines of worcester and herefordshire , and more rightly there ; worcestershire , or the countrey of the wiccii confining on the county of hereford , but bordering in no place on the kingdome of west-sex , the whole county of glocester being interposed . so that our author being mistaken in the place of the meeting , it is no wonder if he stumble at the monuments and records thereof . of one of which he telleth us . fuller here is more than an insinuation , as if i in designing the place of this meeting , had written something contrary to truth , and also to my self , who indeed have exactly followed the best authors in the position thereof . bede fixeth it [ book . chap. . ] in confinio wicciorum & occidentalium-saxonum in the confines of worcestershire men and west-saxons ; and h. huntington hath the same words , lib. . pag. . mr. camden makes the oake under which they met , in the borders of worcester and herefordshire ; and sir henry spelman doth concur with him therein . if therefore the interposition of glocestershire distanceth worcestershire from confining on the west-saxons , the animadvertor ought to have vented his displeasure not on me , but on bede , and huntington , whose words i exactly translated . may the reader be pleased to take notice , that glocestershire , a limitary county , did in that age belong to three dominions : that west of severn ( now the forest of dean ) to the britans or welsh ; the east part thereof , ( chiefly consisting of cotswold ) to the kingdome of mercia ; and the middle of that county , ( along the east of severn ) to the west saxons , as i have seen in an exquisite map of the heptarchy ; and this i tender as the most probable expedient to reconcile learned authors amongst themselves , and all to the truth , in bringing worcestershire and west saxons together . thus being critical in stating the place , and laying the scene , i hope i shall be the better believed in relating the acts of this conference . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . that we can part with it without any losse to our selves , and therefore bids it to make shift for its own authenticalnesse , fol. . the record sleighted thus , is a memorial of the answer of the abbot of bancor , to archbishop austins proposition , communicated by peter moston a welsh gentleman , to that learned and industrious antiquary sir henry spelman , and by him placed in his collection of the british and saxon councels : which honour he had never given it , had he not conceived it worthy to deserve that place ▪ nor had the papists used such violence to wrest it from us , without the hope of gaining some what to themselves . fuller . had i sleighted that record , i would not have took the pains to have exemplyfied it in british and english , and procured a prime antiquary of the welsh to correct it ; i have given the true valuation thereunto , esteeming it as highly , as doctor hammond hath done , thus writing thereof in his account of h. t. his appendix to the manual of controversie concerning the abbot of bangors answer to augustine , page . in case this one testimony should be demonstrated to be a simple imposture , we can unconcernedly and easily part with it , standing in no need of this auxiliary : and not long after , the acquisitions of this author [ h.t. ] hereby , and proportionably out losses must be so unconsiderable . for the rest i refer my self to my church-history in this particular passage , and stand ready to justifie the same , as truly and cautiously written : dr. heylin . but to proceed , this conference being ended without success , there followed not long after the great slaughter of the monks of bancor , for which our author in a merrier humor than becomes the sadnesse of the matter , or the gravity of an ecclesiastical history , hath caused austin to be indited , impanelling a jury , and producing his evidence . fuller . i am sensible of no mis-becoming mirth or levity therein . the impanelling of a iury is one of the most solemn and serious of all the proceedings in our law ; i preferred this method as the clearest to present all passages to the fancie , and fittest to fix the same in the memory of the reader . dr. heylin . amongst which matthew parker , the learned archbishop of canterbury , and iohn iewel , the renowned bishop of salisbury , must be rejected by the jury as incompetent witnesses ; partly because of their known opposition to the romish church ; and partly because of their modern writing , almost a thousand years after the matter in fact , fol. . and all this done to add the greater honour to mr. fox , as modern as either of the two , and as averse as either of them from the church of rome . but mr. fox was mr. fox , no friend unto the rites and ceremonies of the church of england , whereas the other two were bishops and great sticklers for them . this makes our author magnifie fox for his moderation , whose moderate testimony ( saith he ) much moved the whole court ; and as much to condemn the others for the sharpnesse of their expressions against austin , ( whom our author himself reproacheth often for his pride and haughtinesse , fol. . ) which made them of lesse credit amongst the jury . a thread of which fine spinning we shall finde frequently interwoven in the whole web of this history ; and towards the latter end thereof , not a few whole pieces made of no better yarn . and let the reader take this with him for a taste of our authors good affections to the several parties , that it is bare m. parker and plain bishop iewel , without welt or guard , but reverent mr. fox by all means ; and so let him passe . and let us passe also to the residue of the acts of austin . fuller . . i did not expect that the animadvertor , being of magdalens in oxford , would have been offended to have heard his collegiate ( mr. fox ) to be commended . . the testimonies of archbishop parker and bishop iewell are ( to hold the ballance indifferently ) the lesse valued , because in some sort they were parties , as who ( in their writings ) had engaged themselves in this present controversie , whilest mr. fox stands neu●er as to this particular controversie . . though the animadvertor be pleased to entitle him noe friend to the rites and ceremonies of the church of england , give me leave to add , and he was no fierce foe against them ; but mr. fox was mr. fox , and dr. heylin is dr. heylin . . as mr. fox hath now the casual favour of my pen to be epithited reverent , so afterwards without welt or guard , he is plainly called * iohn fox . the animadvertor in this his sleight note , reaping what was not purposely sowen , will finde little food in what he reaps . lastly , bishop iewel hath his large and due character of commendation ( with all honourable additions with advantage ) in due * place : so also hath archbishop parker , on the same token , that in my history of * cambridge , i cleer him from the scandalous insinuation of bryan twine ; si illis standum sit , &c. suggesting some unworthy suspicions , as if he had falsified mathew paris in his edition thereof . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . who all this while was very industrious , and no lesse successfull in converting the saxons to the christian faith : insomuch that a certain author reporteth , how in the river swale neer richmond in yorkshire , he in one day baptized above ten thousand . ] the certain author whom he means , is an old fragment of a namelesse author , cited by camden , fol. . who tells the story otherwise than our anthor doth : for though the fragment tell us , that the river was called swale , yet that it was the river swale neer richmond in yorkshire , is the addition of our author . that there is a river of that name neer richmond is affirmed by camden , who withall telleth us , that it was reputed very sacred amongst the ancient english , for that in it , when the english-saxons first embraced christianity , there were in one day baptized with festival joy by paulinus the archbishop of york , above ten thousand men besides women and little children . of austins baptizing in this river , not one word saith he . neither doth beda touch upon it , as certainly he would have done , had there been ground for it . and therefore if i may have leave to venture my opinion , i shall concur with the old fragment as to the name of the river , and yet not carry austin out of kent , & much less into richmondshire to perform that office . for when we find in camden that the medway falling into the thames , is divided by the isle of sheppey into two great branches , of which the one is called east swale , the other west-swale , i see no reason why we should look any where else for that river swale mentioned in the old fragment , which before we spake of . but herein i must submit my self to more able judgements . the place agreed on , we should next inquire into the numbers , but that our author seems to grant as much as the fragment craveth . fuller . i could heartily wish that all the animadvertors book had consisted of such matter , then had it been greater though less , i mean bigger in benefit , though smaller in bulk , and more instructive to the reader thereof . i did not before take notice of either east or west-swale in kent , and now prosesse my self the animadvertors convert in this point , agreeing with him , that this grand-baptizing ( if done by st. austin ) was done in the place by him specified . but this still doth more and more confirm me in my judgement , that austin advanced never into yorkshire , and that the conversion of the northumbrians was the work of paulinus and others . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . if so many were baptized in one day , it appears plainly , that in that age the administration of that sacrament was not loaded with those superstitious ceremonies , as essential thereunto , of crossing , spittle , oyl , cream , salt , and such like trinkets . ] our author here reckoneth the signe of the crosse in baptism amongst the vain trinkets , and superstitious ceremonies of the church of rome , and thereby utterly condemneth the church of england , which doth not onely require it in her rubricks , but also pleads for it in her canons . not as essential to that sacrament ( the papists not making spittle , oyle , cream , salt , &c. to be essential thereunto , as our author saith ) but onely for a signe significative , in token that the party signed shall not be ashamed to confess the faith of christ crucified , and manfully to fight under his banner , against sin , the world , and the devil , and to continue christs faithfull soldier and servant unto his lives end . a ceremony not so new as to be brought within the compass of popish trinkets , though by them abused , for when the point was agitated in the conference at hampton court , and that it was affirmed by some of the bishops , that the crosse in baptism was used in the time of constantine ; dr. reynolds , the most able man of the opposite party , who had before acknowledged it to have been in use in other cases , from the very times of the apostles , had not one word to say against it . and to say truth , no man of modesty and learning , could have spoke against it , when it was proved so clearly by dr. andrews then dean of westminster out of tertullian , cyprian , origen , ( each of which died long time before constantines birth ) to have been used in immortali lavacro , in that blessed sacrament . that good old saying of tertullian , caro signetur , ut anima muniatur , may serve once for all . and therefore when our author telleth us in the following words , that in that age nothing was used with baptism , but baptism , it must be considered as a smack of that old leaven which more and more will sowre the lump of his whole discourse . we have already had a taste of it in the very first book , we finde a continuance of it here , and we shall see more of it hereafter ; our author not being coy in shewing his good affections not onely to the persons of the non-conformists , but their inconformity ; not to the men onely , but their doctrines and opinions also . and this is that which we must trust to in the whole course of this history . fuller . this objection hath been answered at large in the introduction , and here i intend no repetition , onely desiring the reader to take notice of those my words , as essential thereunto . let me add that a * curse is pronounced on those who remove the land-marks , and it falleth most heavy on them who remove the limits in gods worship , ( as being boundaries of highest consequence , ) turn may into must , convenient into necessary , ornamental into essential . i have as high an esteem for the cross in baptisme as the animadvertor himself , so long as it observes the due distance of an ancient and significant ceremony , and intrudes not it self as essential . a chain of gold is an eminent ornament about the neck , but it may be drawn so close , as to choak and strangle the wearer thereof . and in like manner ceremonies , though decent and usefull , when pretending to essentiality , become ( as luther saith ) carnificinae conscientiae , and therefore justly may we beware thereof . dr. heylin . having now done with the acts of austin , we shall not keep our selves to so continued a discourse as before we did , but take our authors text by piecemeal , as it comes before us , and making such animadversions on the same , as may best serve to rectifie the story and maintain the truth , as namely , fol. . thus the italian , spanish , and french , daughters or neeces to the latine , are generated from the corruption thereof . ] this is ( i grant ) the common and received opinion ; but yet , me thinks , our author who loves singularities , should not vouchsafe to travel on the publique road. fuller . in my passage to heaven , i desire to goe in the narrow path , and decline the broad way which leadeth to destruction : but on earth i love to travel the common and beaten road , as easiest to finde , and wherein ( if wrong , or at a losse , ) one may soonest finde company to guide and direct him . if i should travel over the animadvertors several at laceys-court , i have cause to suspect he would sue me for pedibus ambulando ; and it is hard , if also he will not let me goe ( without carping at me ) in the high-way or publique road . i build nothing on the high-way ( so to trespasse upon the lord of the soil ) but onely peaceably passe along it : i mean , i make no inferences or deductions from this received opinion , i derive no consequence thence . all that i doe , is to gain just advantage thereby to honour the welsh tongue , by shewing that it is no daughter or neece ( like the italians , spanish , and french ) but a mother and original language , and might justly have expected thanks rather than censure , from the animadvertor for my pains , seeing he delighteth to derive himself from british extraction . dr. heylin . for in my minde it is affirmed with better reason by our learned brerewood , that those tongues have not sprung from the corruption of the latine , by the inundation and mixture of barbarous people in those provinces , but from the first imperfect impression and receiving of it in those forein countries . for the latine tongue was never so generally received in any of the conquered provinces out of italy , as to be spoken ordinarily by the common people ; the gentry and nobility might be perfect in it , for the better dispatch of their affairs with the roman magistrates , who had the government and lieutenancy in their several countries . and some taste of it might be found with the vulgar also , who having continual intercourse with the roman souldiers , and some recourse for trade to the roman colonies , could not but get a smattering of the latine tongue . just so the gentry and nobility both in wales and ireland , are trained up for the same reasons in the english tongue ; which notwithstanding could never get the mastery of the natural languages , or gain much ground on those of inferior quality . secondly , had these national languages proceeded from the depravation of the latine tongue , by the mixture of the barbarous nations , it must needs follow , that the italian had not now been the language of all people in italy , nor the french of all the nations which inhabit france : & sic de caeteris . my reason is , because the heruli , being setled in those parts , which we now call piedmont , the longobards more towards the east , the goths about the middle parts , the saracens and greeks in the realm of naples , there must needs be as many distinct languages in that one continent , as there were barbarous nations planted in it , or at the least such different dialects , as could be scarce intelligible unto one another . whereas it is certainly and most plainly known , that there is onely one language spoken in all that countrey , equally understood by all , without so much as any sensible difference in pronunciation ; more than is usual in all places between the countrey villages and the neighbouring citizens . the like may be affirmed of the ancient gallia , planted on the east-side of the loyre by the burgundians ; on the west-side of that river , and towards the mediterranean , the pyrenies and the aquitan ocean by the gothish nations , in most other parts of it by the franks ; and yet all speaking ( with very little difference ) the same one language , which from the most predominant people we now call the french. more to this purpose might be said , were not this sufficient . fuller . in this my expression , that the italian , spanish , and french , are * generated from the corruption of the latin , the animadvertor layeth not so much weight on the term generated , as on the word corruption ; whereas indeed whatsoever is generated , must be by the corruption [ in some kinde ] of that whereof it is begotten . corruption importeth ( as currant in common discourse ) the abasing of a thing from the purity thereof : now it is all one in effect , and equally doth my work , to dignifie the british as an original , above those three languages , if they came from the imperfect impression or reception of the latin , which may be reduced to the corruption thereof . thus the siboleth of the * ephraimites , may in proprieiy of phrase , be said to have had its rise and being from the corruption [ viz. natural mispronunciation ] of the hebrew word shiboleth . as for the animadvertors long discourse of the irruption of barbarous , i will return an answer when at better leisure , beholding my self as utterly unconcerned therein . let me ad a passage from the mouth of a person present thereat : bishop williams lord keeper could speak the spanish very well ; but knowing how much it concerned a minister of state to be perfect master of his tongue , declined it in all negotiations , now gondomar in a state-passage , desired him to speak spanish , and on the bishops refusal thereof , my lord ( said the don ) doe but spoil your good , turning it into scurvy latin , and it will make as good spanish as any in the world. it seems he was of my mind in this present controversie . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . ibid. the hebrew the common tongue of the whole world , before it was inclos'd ( that is to say , divided ) into several languages . ] an opinion as common as the other , and as weakly grounded , such as i marvel at in our author , who having traveld over all the holy-land , should have been better studied in the true nature and original of the holy-tongue . fuller . it is strongly grounded on convincing arguments , as god willing shall soon appear . the animadvertors marvelling why i am no better studied in the nature and original of the hebrew tongue , who ( as he saith ) have travelled over the holy-land , moveth me more to admire , that he himself should be so utterly ignorant in the brasilian , mexican , aethiopian , persian , indian , and tartarian tongues ; but especially in the china language , one letter whereof he did never understand , although he hath written a general geographie of the whole world . dr. heylin . nor is it the opinion onely , that this tongue was spoken universally before the flood , and even in paradise it self in the state of innocency , but that it shall be spoken in the celestial paradise , the language of the saints in glory . fuller . i will not ingage my self in such a point of meer curiosity ; yet is it not improbable , that it might be spoken in paradise , seeing the word paradise , and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in greek , is borrowed , as criticks confesse , from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the hebrew word . besides , it is not probable that adam lost his language with his innocence ; and that he sp●ke hebrew after his fall , shall immediatly be proved . lesse will i trouble my self what language the glorified saints shall speak in heaven , though i am sure that halaluijah , praise ye the lord , is pure hebrew . when people report unto us improbable passages from forain far distant countries , we commonly return , that it is better to beleeve them , than to goe thither to confute them . but if any have over confidently affirmed , that the saints in glorie shall speak hebrew , let us rather labour to goe thither to confute them , than here to believe them . mean time let us here take heed of the malicious language of detraction against our brethren , and of scurrilous and profane language , whereby piety may be dishonoured . dr. heylin . insomuch that some good women of my old acquaintance , were once very eagerly bent to learn this language , for fear ( as i conceive ) they should not chat in handsomly when they came to heaven . fuller . the doctors book bears the title of necessary animadversions ; but if this be one , let it even serve the reader for his necessary use . indeed i have read of cato , who having heard some philosophers maintain that the heathen gods spake greek in heaven , being past sixtie years old , he began to learn the greek , that after death he might the better converse with them ; a project and practise proportionable enough to pagan principles : the analogy whereof is too applyable to some prophane mouthes of our age , who by execrable oaths and curses practise aforehand to blaspheme , rendring themselves ( without their serious and seasonable repentance ) in a neerer capacity to discourse with the devils and damned in hell. but of chatting of hebrew in heaven , this is the first , and i hope it shall be the last time i shall meet with the expression . dr. heylin . now for the ground thereof , it is no other than an old iewish tradition , importing , that this being the common language of all people before the flood , was afterwards appropriated unto phaleg ( the son of heber ) and to his posterity , because not present with the rest at the bullding of babel , and consequently not within the curse of confounded languages . but against this it is disputed ; first that it is but a tradition , and therefore of no sure foundation to build upon . fuller . before we come to the serious examination of the point in hand , i would sain be satisfied what means this marginal note , ( heylins cosmographie , page . ) what ? doth he alledge himself to prove his own opinion ; my bad heraldry was never guilty of such a fault , metal upon metal . now that the hebrew was the common tongue of the world , before the confusion at babel , is more than a meer tradition , being back● with many authorities and unanswerable arguments . of authorities , we begin with st. hierom , one who is many authors in this point ( because of his great and general skil in languages ) and who in his comment on zephany , chapt . . . affirmeth , linguam hebraicam omnium linguarum esse matricem , that the hebrew is the mother of all languages . st. augustine , lib. . cap. de civitate dei , quae prius humano generi non immerito creditur esse communis , ideo deinceps hebreae est nuncupata . to these i will add a iury of publike professors , all of eminent note , since the reviving of languages in the western world . . mercerus , professor parisiensis regis , in gen. . . . d. pareus , prof. heidelberg . in eundum locum . . rivetus , prof. leiden . isay c. . . crinesius , prof. aldorphini noricor . de confusione linguarum , pag. . . . ioh. buxtorfius senior , in epist. ded . thesauri grammat . . ioh. buxtorfius junior , prof. basil. de origine primigeniae lingua , in . . glassius , prof. ienae , lib. . tract . . de nomine proprio , pag. . . polyander , prof. leid . orat. . in laudem linguae hebraae , pag. , . . tremellius , profess . heb. linguae , cantabrigia . . fr. iunius , prof. heidelberg . in gen. . . urbis iisdem , &c. . whitakerus , prof. cantab. controv . . quaest : . de script . . christ. * beckman , de prop. voc . significatione , pag. . these authorities are seconded with convincing arguments . not to insist on some ruines and reliques of hebrew , scattered in all ancient languages ( and therefore io. scaliger hath his last ( as surest ) recourse to it in his quest after the originaiion of words ) names imposed on persons before the confusion of tongues , are by the spirit in scripture ( the best interpreter ) made to speak pure hebrew . not to instance in adam , notoriously known for red earth , we take notice of , . eve * or chavah , so called by her husband , because she was the mother of all living , and there is life enough in her name to justifie it . . cain * , so called by his mother , rejoycing that she had gotten a man , and the word signifieth a possession , though therein she ( with many other parents , abused by their own over-affection ) promised her self more happiness than was performed . . seth * , so named by his mother , for god ( said she ) hath appointed me another seed , &c. and signifieth one put , placed , or constituted . . noah * , so named by his father , because this son ( said he ) shall comfort us , &c. as the word doth import . . peleg * , the son of heber , may be presumed born at or immediatly after the divisions of the world into languages , and colonies , and brooks division in his name . it is not to be expected that all the whole sentence ( spoken by their parents ) should be completely contained in their name , but onely that the most operative , emphatical , and expressive word , should appear therein . i am not ignorant that goropius becanus in his book , which is rather smiled at for the wit , than approved for the judgement therein , deriveth all words from the german or dutch tongue . an handsome and prety essay , but i believe that the animadvertor is not of his opinion . it is one thing here and there to take a name , and to make it countenance such a sense ; and another thing to charge through and through , so as all names may be demonstrated hebrew in persons born before the confusion of babel . how vain would he prove himself , who from the name of ahiman * ( one of the giant sons of anak ) and from some correspondency of height in our language , would thence infer , that english was the ancient tongue spoken in the land of canaan . but i have stayed too long on this discourse , and refer the rest unto doctor brian walton , who in his preface unto the last and very laborious and judicious edition of the hebrew and many-languag'd bible , hath no lesse learnedly than copiously handled this subject . dr. heylin . and secondly , that it is such a tradition , as holds no good coherence with the truth of story , it being a most clear and demonstrative truth , that the hebrew tongue was not the language which abraham brought with him out of chaldea and mesopotamia , but that which he found spoken in the land of canaan at his coming thither , to which both he and his posterity did conform themselves . or had it been the language of heber , as they say it was , ( but most undoubtedly was not ) yet , thirdly , had this been a priviledge conferred on heber , that he and his posterity should speak the original language without alteration or corruption , it must have been extended to all those of the house of iocktan , which descend from him ; as also to the house of laban in padan-aram , and to the moabites , and the ammonites , as the seed of lot ; and finally to the madianites , ishmaelites , and idumaeans , descended of abraham and esau ; and not be limited and confined onely to the house of iacob . now that the language which afterwards was and still is called by the name of the hebrew , was spoken vulgarly in the land of canaan before the coming of abraham thither , is not affirmed by brerewood onely , but by scaliger , grotius , vossius , bochartus , ( all of them men of great renown for their learned studies ) and by many others of this age . by most of which it is affirmed also , that the name of hebrews was given unto them by the people of canaan , not in regard of their descent from heber the father of phaleg , but from abrahams passing over the river euphrates , when he came out of chaldaea with his family to dwell amongst them ; that name in the canaanitish language signifying as much as trajiciens or transfluvialis ; and therefore not unfitly given by them to abraham at his first coming thi●her . and if the hebrew ( as we now call it ) was that holy language which was spoken in paradise , continued by the patriarchs before the flood , and after to the building of babel ; it must needs seem infinitely strange , that it should be reserv'd onely amongst the canaanites , accursed in the person of canaan ( their common parent ) by his grandfather noah , and so abominated by god for their filthy wickednesses , that he resolv'd to spew them out of their native country , as in fine he did . or if abraham brought it with him also , when he came into the land of canaan , he must needs leave it behinde him also amongst the chaldees , where he was born , and where his ancestors had dwelt before their removal unto haran . and yet we know that the hebrew tongue was so different from the chaldean , that when the iews returned from the captivity of babylon , where they had been accustomed to , and bred up for the most part in the chaldean language , they could not understand the very words of the hebrew text without an interpreter , as is apparant in the eighth chapter of nehemiah , vers . . . but of this argument enough , let us now goe forward . fuller . there be three distinct questions , which the animadvertor doth purposely huddle together for his own advantage . . whether the hebrew was the common tongue of the old world. . whether the hebrew was so preserved in the posterity of heber , and so confined to his family , that no other communicated therein . . whether abraham did bring the hebrew tongue into the land of canaan , or rather found it there , as spoken formerly by the natives thereof . such as maintain the first , of the coevity of the hebrew with the world and mankind , are not necessarily obliged to defend the two latter . i said and onely said , ( as neither inforcing it , nor inferring any thing thence ) that the hebrew was the common tongue of the world , and have proved it . the rest i am ready to say , so soon as the affirming thereof shall lye in my way , or make for my work , and then ( god willing ) i will defend my positions . til then i will gratifie the animadvertor with no other answer ; and that for these reasons : . to shew my own liberty , that i am free born , and not bound to lacquey after his animadversions when i have no businesse of my own . . to wean him from morosenesse , by not indulging too much to his humor therein . lastly , to spare time , my own , and the readers pains now , that we may the more seasonably spend them hereafter , on matter of more importance . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . as pitseus a catholick writer would have it . ] a roman catholicke if you will , but no catholick writer . and much i wonder , that an author so averse from the church of rome , should give the title of catholick to a stickler in the romish quarrel ; though others of lesse zeal and prudence doe commonly but inconsiderately bestow it on them , a title which they take with joy , and from thence suck unto themselves no small advantage . adeo probanda est ecclesia nostra à nomine catholici , quod extorquet etiam ab invitis haereticis , as is bragged by barclay . but as pope gregory pleading against the patriarch of constantinople , who had then assum'd unto himself the name of oecumenical bishop ; advertiseth all the rest of that sacred order ; si ille est universalis , restat ut vos non sitis episcopi : so may i say with reference to the present case . by gra●ifying these men with the name of catholicks , we doe unwittingly confesse our selves to be no christians , or at least but hereticks . fuller . had i called pits a roman catholick , then the animadvertor would have charged me with a contradiction , of a particular general . to clear all , catholick shall be deleted in the next edition , and papist placed in the room thereof . it is no great wonder if my pen , perusing many authors of the romish perswasion , hath got a smatch of their language . but the danger is the lesse , seeing the animadvertor will be my compurgator , that my judgement is not inclined to their erronious opinions . however , he might have omitted this note , who in his book against mr. sanderson , calleth the whole lump of english papists , the catholick party ; as also he termeth them so in his view of the life of king charles , page . the two first lines . a necessity lay on prince charles ( then in spain ) of keeping at that time a plausible correspondency with the catholick party . nor can he justly condemn that in me , which he committeth in himself . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . oxford of●rekelade ●rekelade and lechlade , two ancient schools of greek and latine , as some would have it , remov'd afterwards to oxford , &c. ] the like we finde fol. . where our author telleth us of two towns on the banks of the isis ▪ the one call'd greekelade , in which the greek , the other lechlade , or latinlade , in which the latin tongue was taught by philosophers . most miserably mistaken in both places . for though ●rekelade , or grekelade may import a study of greek philosophers , as some are ready to believe , yet certainly lechlade in no language will signifie the like study of the latine tongue . the countrey people ( as it seems ) doe better understand themselves than our author doth . amongst whom there is a common tradition , that ●rekelade was a university of greek philosophers , lechlade of leches , or physicians , as the name doth intimate ▪ and lat●en , a small village betwixt both , to be the place of study for the latin tongue . but though the people are mistaken in the etymon of the name of lechlade , yet are they not so far out as our author is , in making lechlade or latinlade , to be both the same place and of the same signification ; whereas in truth that town is si● denominated from the river lech , which arising in the hills cotswold , passeth first by northlech , from thence to eastlech , and finally falleth into the thames neer st. iohns-bridge in this parish of lechlade . as for the university of oxford , which from hence took beginning , as our author hath it , and the antiquity thereof , i shall not meddle at the present , though our author , forgetting the subject which he was to write of , takes all occasions to hook in every old tradition , ( though lesse probably grounded ) to justifie the seniority of the younger sister . fuller . i live and learn , being in this particular beholden to the animadvertor . it seems there be three places neer one another , . ●reeklad , where greek , are reported professed . . le●ch-lade , where physick , are reported professed . . latten , where latin , are reported professed . the last of these i never heard of before , and since have never seen in any map [ shoxtons , camdens , speeds ; ] so that it seems an inconsiderable village . however my next edition , god willing , shall be reformed accordingly . and yet i might justly discount this my mistake , and make it goe for nothing , by setting another of the animadvertors over against it , when in the close of his last note he informeth us , that the river lech falleth into the thames in the parish of lechlade : whereas thames is more than eighteen miles from lech-lade by land , ( and thirty by water ) not taking the name until the confluence of tame with isis , neer to dorchester in oxfordshire . this small error i had passed over in silence ; but because i have to doe with an adversary , who lyeth at catch for the least advantage , and therefore he ought not to be offended , if i return him the same measure i receive from him . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . del●a , whence , some say , deirham or durham , lay betwixt tues and humber . ] more out of this , than in his lech-lade or latin-lade , which before we had . for first durham is not so called quasi deirham . fuller . it seems that the animadvertor playeth alwayes at in and in , and i , alas , at out and out ; but herein i am not out one hairs breadth , as soon will appear . dr. heylin . our learned antiquary gives us a better and more certain derivation of it . the river ( saith he ) as though it purposed to make an island , compasseth almost on every side , the chief city of this province , standing on a hill , whence the saxons gave it the name of dunholm . for as you may gather out of bede , they called an hill dun , and a river-island holme . hereof the latine writers have made dunelmum , the normans , duresme ; but the common people most corruptly durham . fuller . our learned antiquary ( though here not named ) doth name himself even mr. camden . i ever did and doe believe , that he giveth the true denomination of durham , so called from dunholm . but let me ad , that i may lawfully , without the least fault , give in also another etymologie , ( though not true , yet probable ) which i meet with in perusing of several writers . mercator , in his description of italy , saith some will have it so called quasi vitalie , from the fairest and fattest calves bred therein , though i believe that he himself did not believe it to be true , but onely relates it as he found it in festus . i may challenge the like liberty of presenting etymologies of places , as tendred to me by other authors . dr. heylin . but secondly ( which marrsall the matter ) the bishoprick of durham was not in the kingdome of deira , as being wholly situate on the north side of the tees , and consequently part of the realm of bernicia , which makes our authors mistake in another place , fol. . the more remarkable , where speaking of the kingdome of deira , he gives us this comment in the margin , ( viz. ) what this day is the bishoprick of deirham or durham . fuller . be it here rather repeated than inserted , that in the saxon heptarchy , limitary counties , did march and retreat , dilated and contracted by their princes success . as for the bishoprick of durham , ( though sometimes it might belong to bernicia ) yet generally it was the north-east boundary of the kingdome of deira , as in the archbishop of armagh doth plainly appear , de brit. eccles. primord pag. . deiri possessed lancashire , yorkshire , westmorland , camberland , bishoprick of durham . let me add , that he is as exact ( even to fractions ) as any who ever wrote of the partage of the saxon heptarchy . dr. heylin . but as long as some say so , all is well , though who those some are ( except our author ) i can no where finde . onely i find , that as it is held necessary for a no body to be in all great houses , to bear the blame of such mischances as by the carelesness of servants and inconsideratenesse , doe too often happen ; so is it no lesse necessary , that there should be a some-body also in all great undertakings to bear the blame of such misfortunes as our adventurers at wit doe as often meet with . fuller . what if hee can no where finde it , doth it therefore follow , that it is not to be found ? will he presume that his own reading is adequate to things being ? this no-body , so much derided by the animadvertor , will at last appear some-body , even mr. iohn fox , acts & mon. pag. . last edition . deira , a part of north-saxons , whereof , as it is thought , that which we now call deirham taketh his name . thus , reader , i have discharged my self from all appearance of fault , by producing my author , a learned and able historian , how meanly soever the animadvertor may be pleased to esteem him . dr. heylin . and such a some-body as this , our author hath found out to be the father of another conceit of his concerning teyburn ( that i may take in this also whilest it is in my minde ) of which he tells us lib. . fol. . that some have deduced the etymologie of teyburn from ty and burn ; because forsooth the lord cobham was there hang'd and burnt . whereas indeed it was so named from the tey , or teybourn , a small brook passing neer unto it in the former times . which brook or bourn arising nor far from padington , hath since been drawn into several conduits for the use of the city . fuller . i have heard of the animadvertors etymologie , and believe it probable . i have also been informed from good antiquaries , that the true name is twey-born , from two little brooks ( wherewith it is insulated in the winter ) running neer to it . the deduction of tye-born , alias i burn , from burning of lollards , i protest i did read in harpsfield , and it is none of my own invention . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . a place so marked , being foretold fortunate to aeneas to found alba ( since rome ) therein . ] a passage as well stor'd with errors as the rest before , and such a piece of fine new learning , as never any antiquary had found out till now . for first , aeneas was not the founder of alba , though that the place design'd unto him for the seat of his kingdom . the building of that city was the work of ascanius , as we finde in virgil. at puer ascanius — regnumque à sede lavini transferet , & longam multa vi muniet albam . that is to say , ascanius from lavinum shall translate to alba strongly fenc'd , the regal state. and secondly alba was not built in the place where rome since stood , but duedecimo ab urbe lapide , about twelve miles off . for though the river tiber in some ancient writers hath the name of albula , yet i never found in any writer either old or new ( till i incounterd it in our author ) that rome was anciently called alba. fuller . rather than any difference shall arise betwixt us about this matter , the parenthesis [ since rome ] shall be altered into [ neer rome ] and then i hope all shall be right and strait beyond exception . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . it is admirable to consider what sholes of people were formely vented out of cimbrica chersonesus , take it in the largest extent , for denmark , norway , and swedeland . ] and in the largest extent it is taken indeed , such as no author ever gave it before this time . the cimbrick chersonese , truly and properly so call'd , comprehended onely those parts of the kingdome of denmark which we now call iuitland , divided by the river eydore from the dukedome of holstein . ortelius , and some late geographers make it to take up all that languet , or piece of land on the north of germany , extended from the river albis in the south , and stretching northward to that part of the ocean which leads into the narrow strait , or passage now called sundt . but never any till our author , extended this name over those great kingdoms of denmark , norway , and swedeland , or unto any part of either beyond the sundt . and yet he had need stretch it a great deal further before he can finde place in it for his huns , and vandals ; of which the first inhabited in asia , beyond the fens of maeotis ; the last upon the coast of the baltick sea in germany , now the dukedom of mecklenburg . fuller . that denmark , norway , and swedeland are a chersonesus , or almost an island , the animadvertor will not deny . but that i called them the cimbrian chersonese , cannot clearly be collected from those my words , take it in the largest extent ; which amount onely to a concession , to such who have a mind so to accept it , and to extend the bounds thereof . here plainly to discover my judgement , i conceive that those sholes of people , did not , and yet did , come out of the cimbrick chersonese , in the strickt and true acception thereof . they did not , that is , they came not thence , as having all their birth therein . iuitland , not so big as yorkshire , and the languet the animadvertor speaks of , not bigger than wales , being hives too little to hold such swarmes and cas●es of people . yet i believe they did come out of that chesonese immediatly , it being most probable , that out of the opposite continent of norway and swedland , they crossed the baltick-sea , being narrowest thereabouts , and so came into iuitland , and thence inunded the most of europe . dr. heylin . our author proceeds , fol. . datum in grantecestria , anno ab incarnatione domini . venerabili fratri frithstano , civitatis scolarium cantabrig . cancellario , & doctori per suum , &c. ] these words are the conclusion of an ancient charter , suppos'd to have been given to the scholars of cambridge by king edward the elder ; against which our author fancies one objection , which he thinks easie to be answered , but utterly leaves out another , which i think unanswerable . the objection which our author makes against it , is the barbarous style and language of it ; which if it be a good objection against this charter , will be as strong against all the charters of this age , as some ages following in which there was but little of the elegancies of the latine tongue . and therefore this objection might have well been spared , but that our author would be thought to deal very equally in the business , by saying all that might be said against himself . fuller . i plead my last general answer , discharging my self , because i did there charge my margin with two authors ( besides clareball in cambridge , where this charter is extant ) thomas rudburn , and iohn rouse of warwick . i did not engage with any earnestness for the charter , per me si non valeat , valeat . yet let me add , that following arguments of the animadvertor , are so farre from shattering , they doe not shake the credit thereof . dr. heylin . but yet i have another objection which he takes no notice of , because not so easie to be answered ; which is , that frithstan ( whatsoever he was ) is here honoured with the degree of doctor , and the title of chancellor . but first i would fain know where frithstan took the degree of doctor , and in what faculty he took it ; that title in those early dayes being so unusual , as hardly to be found amongst the attributes of the learnedst men . secondly , i conceive it to be very hard , i had almost said impossible , for him to prove , that the chief officer of cambridge , ( admitting it at that time for a place of learning ) had the name of chancellor . when i shall see some proof of this , and some satisfaction , i shall give some credit to the charter , till then , none at all . fuller . the name of doctor is threefold , first , for a teacher at large , extant in scripture , art thou a * doctor in israel , and knows not these things ? secondly , as a title of dignity fixed by a society of learned men , on some eminent person amongst them . thirdly , for one solemnly and ceremoniously graduated by a professor in some particular faculty , and the word in this sense is not of so great seniority . i take doctor in this charter in the second acception thereof . and here i cannot but commend the warinesse of the animadvertors words , that the title of doctor is hardly to be found in those early dayes . he hath read the rule of grammarians , quod fere fit , non fit ; quod vix fit , fit ; what is almost done , is not done ; what is scarcely or hardly done , is done . he knew that the title of doctor began to come into request in that age. thus bale and pits ( but both of them , as they confesse ; taking their word from a better antiquary , i. leland ) writing of bridfertus , contemporary with our frithstun in the same generation , dying about the year . monachus & doctor anglus in coenobio ramsiensi . as for the name chancellor , it was ( as in sir h. spelman his glossary doth appear ) used at and before this time by the saxons for a prime officer ( though generally the secretary ) and therefore no such improbability that the chief of cambridge might be so denominated . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . cambridgshire men claim an ancient ( now antiquated ) priviledge to lead the van in all battels . ] zealous alike , not onely for the university , but the county of cambridge , his zeal in both transporting him beyond his knowledge into dark adventures . some authors he pretends to for the university , for this priviledge none , telling us onely that he hath read it , though he know not where . but i can tell him when and where i have read the contrary , that is to say , in learned camden , who ascribes this honour to the kentish . for this he cites not onely the authority of a namelesse monk , but the words of iohannes saruburiensis in his polycraticon , which are these that follow , for good desert ( saith he ) of that notable valour which kent shewed so puissantly and patiently against the danes , it retaineth still unto these dayes in all battails the first and foreward , yea and of the first conflict with the enemy . and if this priviledge was given the kentish for their valour shew'd against the danes , it could neither be given to the men of cambridgshire , as our author would , nor on the same occasion as he saith it was . fuller . i have read , that when at the taking of a city by the romans , two soldiers contended for the crown-mural , ( each pleading he first scaled the walls ) that the general caused two crowns-mural to be made , affirming that on serious examination of all circumstances , both appeared to him mounting the walls in the same moment ; and so rewarding them both , prevented a mutiny of part-taking in the army . this controversie is not capable of the same expedient , seeing one cannot make two vans at once in the same army , yet may we distinguish of several times , and accommodate the contest . king arthur in his time , gave the conduct of the front to the cornish , nobilis * arthurus nobis dat primitus ictum . cambridgeshire might afterwards have that honour conferred on them , the words of * brimpton , though not cleaving the pin , touch the mark in this point , unde anglis regnantibus laus cantabrigiensis provinciae splendide florebat . yet the dignity being but tempory , and disposable at the princes pleasure , in reward of new services , the kentish had it afterward bestowed on them , and for a long time enjoyed it . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . it did not afterwards embolden him to the anticipation of the crown , attending till it descended upon him . ] he speaks this of king edward the confessor , who had he tarryed till the crown had descended on him , might possibly have found a place amongst the confessors , but not amongst the kings of england . for the truth is , the right title to the crown was at that time in edward surnamed the outlaw , the eldest son of edmund ironside , who flying into hungary to avoid the fury of the danes , married the kings sister of that country , and was by her the father of edgar atheling , and of margaret wife to malcolm conmor king of the scots . but these being absent at that time , emma the mother of prince edward , and widow to canutus the dane , took the oportunity to set her son upon the throne , as being not onely half-brother to king edmund ironside , but also half-brother , and consequently nearest kinsman to canutus the second ; which if it were a good descent , will plead almost as strongly for king harald as it did for him . fuller . my words are true , and not subject to just exception , which i confined onely to king edward his relation to his own brethren . the legend of his life reports him to be crowned , when unborn , in his mothers belly , and having six elder brethren by the same father king ethelred : . ethelstan , . egbert , . edmond , . edred , . edwy , . edgar . ( some of which came to the crown , others died in their minority . ) king edward ( though thus pre-crowned ) did not endeavor to ante-date his possession of the throne , before his elder brethren , but waited till the title ( as it was derived unto him from his father ) descended on him . otherwise i advocate not for him , if he took it from any other , who had more right to it than himself . dr. heylin . but by what means soever he got the crown , he deserved to weare it . fuller . i cannot cordially close with the animadvertors expression herein , being sensible of no desert , which in this case is not attended with a true title : for who shall judge of the desert of competitors ? if the person himself , then every usurper will cry up his own worthinesse . if his party , they will make him most meriting whom they favour most in their fancies . this will unsettle all states , cassat all titles , and cause much distraction . but believing no il at all intended in these his words , let us proceed . dr. heylin . our author telleth us , ibid. that whereas formerly there were manifold laws in the land , made , some by the britains , others by the danes , others by the english , &c. he caused some few of the best to be selected , and the rest as captious and unnecessary , to be rejected ; from whence they had the name of the common laws . ] that the common-law was so call'd , because compounded of the saxon , british , and danish lawes , which were before of force onely in such places where the danes , britans and saxons had the greatest sway ; though it be easie to be said , will be hard to be proved . the britains at that time liv'd under their own princes , and were governed by their own lawes , and so they were for a long time after ; so that king edward , having no dominion over them , could not impose a law upon them . nor was it propable that he should borrow any of their laws , or impose them on his natural subjects , considering the antipathy and disaffection betwixt the nations . there were at that time indeed in england three kindes of laws : the first called dane-lage , or the danish laws , prevailing for the most part in the kingdome of the east-angles , and that of northumberland : secondly , saxon-lage , used generally in the kingdoms of the west-saxons , east-saxons , south-saxons , and that of kent : and thirdly , mercen-lage , extending over all the provinces of the kingdome of mercia . as for the britans of cornwall and cumberland , they had no distinct law for themselves ( as had those of wales ) but were governed by the laws of that nation unto which they were subject . by these three sorts of laws were these nations governed in their several and respective limits , which being afterwards reduced into one body , and made common equally to all the subjects , did worthily deserve the name of the common-law . but secondly i dare not give the honour of this action to king edward the confessor . the great iustinian in this work was another edward , called , for distinctions sake , king edward the elder , who began his reign anno . almost years before this confessor , to whom our author hath ascribed it . but the truth is , that these laws being suppressed by the danish kings , who governed either in an arbitrary way , or by laws of their own countrey , they were revived and reinforced in the time of this edward , from whence they had the name of edward the confessors laws , and by that name were sued and fought for in the time succeeding , of which more hereafter . now as this work may be ascribed to his love to justice ; so from his piety , his successors derive as great a benefit of curing the disease which from thence is called the kings-evill , which some impute ( as our author tells us ) to secret and hidden causes . fuller . this long note might well have been boiled down from a gallon to a gil , to make it more cordial . if the reader can pick any information out of it , much good may it doe him . let the honour of so good a deed , with all my heart , be parted betwixt the two edwards , one the beginner , the other the finisher thereof . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . others ascribe it to the power of fancy and an exalted imagination . ] amongst which others , i may reckon our author for one . he had not else so strongly pleaded in defence thereof . but certainly what effect soever the strength of fancy and an exalted imagination , as our author calls it , may produce in those of riper years , it can contribute nothing to the cure of children . and i have seen some children brought before the king by the hanging sleeves , some hanging at their mothers breasts , and others in the arms of their nurses , all touch'd and cur'd without the help of any such fancies or imaginations as our author speaks of . fuller . if i be reckoned amongst them , i am mis-reckoned ; for though i conceive fancy may much conduce , in adultis , thereunto , yet i believe it partly miraculous , as may appear by my last and largest insisting thereon . i say partly , because a compleat miracle is done presently and perfectly , whereas this cure is generally advanced by degrees , and some dayes interposed . dr. heylin . others lesse charitably condemn this cure as guilty of superstition , quarrelling at the circumstances and ceremonies which are used . and this they doe ( saith he ibid. ) either displeased at the collect , consisting of the first nine verses of the gospel of st. john , as wholly improper , and nothing relating to the occasion , &c. ] our author tels us more than once , lib. . . of his being a clerk of the convocation , but i finde by this , that he never came so high as to be clerk of the closet . fuller . i never was ( nor the animadvertor neither ) clerk of the closet , non tanto me dignor honore . but i have had the honor to see the king solemnly heal in the quire of the cathedral of sarisbury , though , being so long since , i cannot recover all particulars . dr. heylin . which had he been , he would not have mistaken the gospel for a collect ; or touched upon that gospel which is lesse material , without insisting on the other , which is more pertinent and proper to the work in hand ; or suffered the displeased party to remain unsatisfied about the sign of the crosse made by the royal hands on the place infected ( as it after followed ) when there is no such crossing used in that sacred ceremony , the king only gently drawing both his hands over the sore at the reading of the first gospel . fuller . i fully satisfie the displeased party , ( if he be not through weaknesse nor wilfulnesse incapable thereof ) about the sign of the crosse , in those my words immediately following . all which exceptions fall to the ground when it shall be avowed , that the kings bare hands , notwithstanding the omission of such ceremonies have effected the healing . take it pray as since it is set down in more ample manner in a late book , which i know not whither it be more learned in it self or usefull to others . all along k. edward the sixth , and queen elizabeth her reign , when the strumosi , such as had the kings-evil came to be touch'd , the manner was then , for her to apply the sign of the * crosse to the tumor , which raising a cause of jealousies , as if some mysterious operation were imputed to it . that wise and learned king , not only ( with his son the late king ) practically discontinued it ; but ordered it to be expunged out of the prayers relating to the cure , which hath proceeded as effectually , that omission notwithstanding , as ever before . dr. heylin . but that both he and others may be satisfied in these particulars , i have thought fit to lay down the whole form of prayers and readings used in the healing of that malady in this manner following . the form of the service at the healing of the kings-evil . the first gospel is exactly the same with that on ascension day ▪ at the touching of every infirm person , these words are repeated , they shall lay their hands on the sick , and they shall recover . the second gospel begins the first of st. iohn , and ends at these words , full of grace and truth . at the putting the angel about their necks were repeated , that light was the true light , which lighteth every man that cometh into the world . lord have mercy upon us . christ have mercy upon us . lord have mercy upon us . our father which art in heaven , hallowed be thy name , &c. min. o lord , save thy servants . answ. which put their trust in thee . min. send unto them help from above . answ. and evermore mightily defend them . min. help us , o god our saviour . answ. and for the glory of thy names sake deliver us , be mercifull unto us sinners for thy names sake . min. o lord , hear our prayer . answ. and let our cry come unto thee . the collect. almighty god , the eternal health of all such as put their trust in thee , hear us , we beseech thee , on the behalf of these thy servants , for whom we call for thy mercifull help , that they receiving health may give thanks unto thee in thy holy church , through jesus christ our lord. amen . the peace of god , &c. this is the whole form , against which nothing is objected , but the using of the words before mentioned at the putting on of the angel ; the pertinency whereof may appear to any who consider that the light which was the true light , and lighteth every man which cometh into the world , did not shine more visibly , at the least more comfortably upon the people , than in the healing of so many sick , infirm and leprous persons , as did from time to time receive the benefit of it . but it is time i should proceed . fuller . i perceive by this office , that i have mistaken the gospel for the the collect ; which in the next edition ( god willing ) shall be rectified . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . these chose harald to be king , whose title to the crown is not worth our deriving of it , much lesse his relying on it . ] a title not so despicable as our author makes it , nor much inferiour unto that , by which his predecessor obtain'd the kingdome . harald being son to earl godwin , ( the most potent man of all the saxons ) by theyra the natural daughter of canutus the first , was consequently brother by the whole blood to harald harfagar , and brother by the half blood to canutus the second , the two last danish kings of england . in which respect being of saxon ancestry by his father , and of the danish royal blood by his mother , he might be lookt on as the fittest person in that conjuncture , to content both nations : but whatsoever his title was , it was undoubtedly better than that of the norman , had either his success been answerable , or his sword as good . fuller . it was a despicable tit●le , even after the animadvertor hath befriended it with his most advantageous representing thereof , . from his father , earl godwin , the most potent man of saxon ancestry . . from his mother , theyra , the natural daughter of canutus the first . as to his paternal title , if his fathers potencie was all can be alledged for it , any oppressor hath the same right . his maternal title , if from canutus his natural [ understand base ] daughter openeth a dore ( as i may say ) for all who come in by the window . besides , the animadvertor is much mistaken in the name of his mother , seeing mr. * camden saith , e githâ suenonis regis danici sorore natu● fuit : he was born of githa sister to sweno king of denmark . dr. heylin . upon occasion of which conquest , our author telleth us that , ibid. this was the fifth time wherein the south of this island was conquered ; first by romans , secondly by picts and scots , thirdly by saxons , fourthly by the danes , and fifthly by the norman . ] but this i can by no means yeeld to , the scots and picts not being to be nam'd amongst those nations who subdued the south part of this island . that they did many times harrass and depopulate the south part of it , i shall easily grant ; but to the subduing of a countrey , there is more required than to waste and spoil it ; that is to say , to fix their dwelling and abode ( for some time at least ) in the countrey conquered ; to change the laws , alter the language , or new mould the government ; or finally , to translate the scepter from the old royal family to some one of their own . none of which things being done in the invasions of the scots and picts , they cannot properly be said to have subdued the south parts of the island , as our author ( out of love perhaps to the scots ) would perswade the reader . fuller . i confesse of all five , the picts and scots had the most short and uncertain abode in the south . the distinction is very nice , betwixt harrassing or depopulating of a countrey and subduing it . if i could but harrasse and depopulate ( that is but deargumenta●e ) the animamadvertors book against me , i doubt not but i should be accounted to subdue it . why is not my pen charged with a love to the picts ( whom i also equally with the scots intitle to this subduing ) and is a nation now no where extant , to be the object of my affection . but this five-times subduing of the south of this island , is in all authors as generally known and received , as that a man hath five fingers on his hand . wherefore no more in answer to just nothing . the third book from the time of the norman conquest , to the first preaching of wickliffe . dr. heylin . we are now come unto the times of the norman government , when the church began to settle on a surer bottom , both for power and polity ; the bishops lesse obnoxious to the kings than formerly , because elected by the monks and canons of their own cathedrals ; their consistories free from the intermixture of lay-assistance , and their synods manag'd by themselves . wherein though they had power of making such synodicall constitutions as did ipso facto binde all parties , yet our author is resolv'd to have it otherwise . fuller . all this is but perfatary , and therefore my answer not necessary thereunto . the animadvertor seemeth to congratulate the condition of the english church , as better hereafter in the following , than in foregoing ages . he instanceth in two particulars power and politie , omitting a third worth both , piety ( to which purity in doctrine may be reduced ) which now began more and more to be impaired . let me add , that after the kings of england had parted ( which indeed was wrested from them ) with the investing of bishops , bishops became lesse managable by , and dutiful to their prince , and more insulting over the people : and being lesse obnoxious ( to use the animadvertors word ) to the soveraign , were more noxious to the subjects . dr. heylin . our author proceeds , fol. . the proceedings ( saith he ) of the canon law were never wholly received into practice in the land ; but so as made subject in whatsoever touched temporals , to secular lawes , and national customes . and the laity as pleasure limited canons in this behalf . ] how false this is , how contrary to the power and practice of the church before the submission of the clergy to king henry the eight ; and finally how dangerous a ground is hereby laid to weaken the authority of convocations , will best appear by laying down the sum of a petition presented by the house of commons to the same king henry , together with the answer of the prelates and inferior clergy , then being synodically assembled , to the said petition . the substance of the petition was as followeth , viz. that the clergy of this your realm , being your highnesse subjects , in their convocation by them holden within this your realm , have made , and daily make divers sanctions or laws concerning temporal things , and some of them be repugnant to the laws and statutes of your realm , not having ne requiring your most royal assent to the same laws so by them made , nother any assent or knowledge of your lay subjects , is had to the same , nother to them published and known in their mother tongue , albeit divers and sundry of the said laws extend in certain causes to your excellent person , your liberty and prerogative royal , and to the interdiction of your laws and possessions , and so likewise to the goods and possessions of your lay subjects , declaring the infringers of the same laws so by them made , not onely to incur the terrible censure of excommunication , but also to the detestable crime and sin of heresie , by the which divers of your humble and obedient lay subjects be brought into this ambiguity , whether they may doe and execute your laws according to your jurisdiction royal of this realm , for dread of the same censures and pains comprised in the same laws so by them made in their convocations , to the great trouble and inquietation of your said humble and obedient lay subjects , &c. the impeachment of your jurisdiction and prerogative royal. the answer thereunto was this . to this we say , that forasmuch as we repute and take our authority of making laws to be grounded upon the scripture of god , and the determination of holy church , which must also be a rule and squier to try the justice and righteousnesse of all laws , as well spiritual as temporal ; we verily trust , that considering the laws of this realm be such as have been made by most christian , religious , and devout princes and people , how both these laws proceeding from one fountain , the same being sincerely interpretrd , and after the good meaning of the makers , there shall be found no repugnancy , nor contrariety , but that the one shall be found as aiding , maintaining , and supporting the other . and if it shall otherwise appear , as it is our duty ( whereunto we shall alwayes most diligently apply our selves ) to reform our ordinances to gods commission , and to conform our statutes and laws , and those of our predecessors , to the determination of scripture and holy church ; so we hope in god , and shall daily pray for the same , that your highnesse will , if there appear cause why , with the assent of your people , temper your graces laws accordingly . whereby shall ensue a most happy and perfect conjunction and agreement , as god being lapis angularis , to agree and conjoyn the same . and as concerning the requiring of your highnesse royal assent to the authority of such laws as have been by our predecessors , or shall be made by us in such points and articles as we have by gods authority to rule and order by such provisions and laws ; we knowing your highness wisdome , and vertue , and learning , nothing doubt but the same perceiveth how the granting hereunto dependeth not upon our will and liberty . and that we your most humble subjects may not submit the execution of our charge and duty certainly prescribed by god , to your highnesse assent , although in very deed the same is most worthy for your most noble , princely , and excellent vertues , not onely to give your royal assent , but also to devise and command what we should for good order and manners by statutes and laws provide in the church , neverthelesse considering we may not so , ne in such sort refrain the doing of our office in the feeding and ruling of christs people your graces subjects ; we most humbly desiring your grace as the same hath heretofore , so from henceforth to shew your graces minde and opinion unto us , what your high wisdome shall think convenient , which we shall most gladly hear and follow , if it shall please god to inspire us so to doe , with all submission and humility beseech the same , following the steps of of your most noble progenitors , and conformably to your our own acts doe maintain and defend such laws , and ordinances , as we according to our calling and by authority of god , shall for his honour make , to the edification of vertue , and maintaining christs faith , of which your highnesse is named defender , and hath been hitherto indeed a special protector . furthermore whereas your said lay subjects say , that sundry of the said laws extend in certain causes to your excellent person , your liberty and prerogative royal , and to the interdiction of your land and possessions : to this your said orators say , that having submitted the tryal and examining of the laws made in the church by us and our predecessors , to the just and straight rule of gods laws , which giveth measure of power , prerogative , and authority to all emperors , kings , princes , and potentates , and all other ; we have conceiv'd such opinion , and have such estimation of your majesties goodnesse and vertue , that whatsoever any persons not so well learned as your grace is , would pretend unto the same , whereby we your most humble subjects may be brought in your graces displeasure and indignation , surmising that we should by usurpation and presumption , extend our laws to your most noble person , prerogative and realm , yet the same your highnesse being so highly learn'd , will of your own most bounteous goodnesse facilly discharge and deliver us from that envy , when it shall appear that the said laws are made by us , or out predecessors , conformable and maintainable by the scripture of god , and determination of the church , against which no laws can stand or take effect . somewhat to this purpose had been before endeavoured by the commons in the last parliament of king edw. . of which , because they got nothing by it , but only the shewing of their teeth without hurting any body ; i shall lay nothing in this place , reserving it to the time of the long parliament , in the reign of king charles , when this point was more hotly followed , and more powerfully prosecuted than ever formerly . what sayes our author unto this ? findes he here any such matter , as that the laity at their pleasure could limit the canons of the church ? or that such canons in whatsoever touched temporals were subject unto secular laws and national customes ? and here of i desire the reader to take special notice , as that which is to serve for a catholicon , or general antidote against those many venomous insinuations , which he shall meet with up and down in the course of this history . as for the case in which our author grounds this pestilent position , it was the canon made in a synod at westminster , in the time of anselm , anno . prohibiting the sale of men and women like brute beasts in the open market . which canon not finding presently an universal obedience over all the kingdome ( as certainly ill customes are not easily left , when they are countenanced by profit ) occasioned our author to adventure upon this bold assertion . fuller . i conceived it uncivil to interrupt the animadvertor in his long discourse until he had ended it , and now professe , i know not how it maketh in opposition to what i said , and heartily wish that the reader may understand it better than i doe . it cannot be denyed , but that the clergy did claim and challenge a power , and sometimes de facto executed it , over the temporal estates of the la●ty ( for i behold the clergy , more bound , ( because binding themselves by their representatives ) unto their canons ) yet they never peaceably injoyed their power , as constantly checkt and controled by the laws of the land , in such things , wherein the temporal estate , life and limb of persons were concerned . we have an eminent instance hereof , in the canon , occasioning this discourse . anselme makes a constitution ( and that indeed charitable and christian ) against the sale of men and women like brute beasts in the open market place . now such persons sold ( slaves and vassals as i understand it ) being the goods and chattels of their masters , the proprietaries and owners of their bodies , they would not part with their right in obedience to the canon . suppose a convocation some thirty years agoe should have made a canon , without any confirmation from parliament , that no merchant living in england should by his factors sell any negroes or blacks in the barbadoes , which formerly he had bought in guinnie , it would not oblige to the observation thereof ; because in such matters wherein propertie was concerned , the canon must say to the common-law , by your leave sir. i have writen nothing in this point , bu● what i have a good author for . and seeing the animadvertor in his geography hath been pleased to tell a passage betwixt him and his fathers man , let me relate another , wherein my self was concerned , knowing it to be as true , and hoping it to be as well applyed . some three years since , walking on the lords day into the park at copthall , the third son ( a child in coats ) of the earl of dorset , desired to goe with me , whereof i was unwilling , fearing he should straggle from me whilest i meditated on my sermon : and when i told him , that if he went with me , he would lose himself , he returned , then you must lose your self first , for i will goe with you . this rule i alwayes observe , when medling with matters of law , because i my self am a child therein , i will ever goe with a man in that faculty , such as is most eminent in his profession , à cujus latere non discedam ; so that if he lose me , he shall first lose himself , as hereafter when we grapple together in this controversie , will appear . as for this particular case ( for i will engage no further for the present ) this canon did not dispossesse masters of their property in their vassals , and no meaner than mr. selden , is my conductor herein , stiled hereafter by , the animadvertor * , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , that renowned humanitian and philologer . yea i entred my author in the margin , had the animadvertor been pleased to take notice thereof ) spiceleg ad edmerium , page two hundred and eight . neque sane canon ▪ hic , aut alia apud nos lata lex id juris hactenus adeo refixit ; quin in iurisconsultorum nostratium commentariis passim legibus quibus utimur consonum agnoscatur . neither truly this canon , or any other law made amongst us , hath hitherto unfastened this right ; but that in the comments ( or reports ) , of our common lawyers , it is acknowledged consonant to those laws which we use . and though in processe of time , first conscientious , then all masters laudibly submitted themselves to this canon ( forbearing such sales ; ) yet were they not by the canon devested of the power of doing it , such vendition and emption being by the common-law preserved unto them , though now , very commendably , long disused . and whereas the clergy in their answer , pretend all their canons grounded on the word of god , i would fain be informed where they finde in the new-testament ( which ought to regulate their proceedings ) that the power of the church extendeth to life , limb , or estate . sure i am her censures appear spiritual on the soul , by those expressions , binde * on earth , cast * out , deliver * to satan , &c. but because the reader reserveth a lager prosecution of this point for another time , we will also respit our larger answer hereunto . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . indeed . davids had been christian some hundred of years , whilest canterbury was yet pagan . ] not many hundred years i am sure of that nor yet so many as to make a plural number by the latin grammer ; kent being conquered by the saxons , who brought in paganism , anno . converted unto christianity by the preaching of austin , anno . not much more than . years betwixt the one and the other . fuller . the christian antiquity of st. david bare a double date , one native or inherent , the other adopted and reputative . . the inherent from the time that st. david fixed there , on which account i believe it was no more than . years senior to canterbury . . the reputative from the first founding of a bishoprick at carleon by king lucius , which ( indifferently stated ) was about the year of our lord ▪ which was four hundred years before canterbury . now it is notoriously known , that the antiquity of carleon ( whence the see was removed ) in computation of the seniority is adjected to st. davids , ( her adopted daughter . ) hence was it that the abbot of bancar in his * answer unto austin , acknowledged himself and his convent under the government of the bishop of carleon upon uske , ( though then no bishop therein ) meaning st. davids thereby , as dr. * hammond and others doe unanimously allow . thus grafting st. davids ( as it ought ) on the stock of carleon , it is senior in christianity to canterbury four hundred years , and four , may be termed some , in the stricktest propriety of language . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . to whose honour he ( viz. king stephen ) erected st. stephens chappel in westminster , neer the place where lately the court of requests was kept . ] our author is here mealy mouth'd , and will not parler le tout , as the french men say . for otherwise he might have told us that this chappel is still standing , and since the surrendry of it to king edward the sixth , hath been used for a parliament house , imployed to that purpose by the commons , as it still continueth . what might induce our author to be thus reserved , i can hardly tell ; unless it be to prevent such inferences and observations , which by some wanton wits might be made upon it . fuller . i hope rather some gracious hearts will make pious improvement thereupon , praying to god , that seeing so many signal persons are now assembled therein , the very place once dedicated as a chappel to st. stephen , may be their more effectual remembrancer , to imitate the purity and piety of that renowned saint : that so god may be invited graciously to be present amongst them , to over-rule all their consultations to his glory , the good of the church and state , and the true honour of the nation : and to this let every good man say , amen . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . by the same title from his father jeffery plantagenet , be possessed fair lands in anjou and maine . ] i had thought he had possessed somewhat more in anjou and maine , than some fair lands onely , his father ieffrey plantagenet being the proprietary earl of anjou , maine , and toureine , not a titular onely , succeeded in the same by this king henry and his two sons , richard and iohn , till lost unhappily by the last , with the rest of our estates on that side of the sea. from this ieffery descended fourteen kings of the name of plantagenet , the name not yet extinguished , though it be improverished : our author speaking of one of them , who was found not long since at the plow , lib. . p. . another of that name publishing a book about the plantation of new-albion , anno . or not long before . fuller . the frequent and familiar figure of moisis will rectifie all , wherby lesse is said than meant , and therefore more must be understood than is said . besides , it made me mince my expression , ( being loath to exceed ) because this ieffery did not to me appear ( though the earl , ) so intire in those dominions , but that the kings of france and england had cities and castles interposed therein . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . king john sent a base , degenerous , and unchristian embassage to admitalius mutmelius a mahometan king of morocco , then very puissant , and possessing a great part of spain . ] this admiralius murmelius , as our author and the old monks call him , was by his own name called mahomet enaser , the miramomoline of morocco ; to whom if king iohn sent any such message , it was as base , unchristian ▪ and degenerate as our author makes it . fuller . i will ingenuously confesse , that the first time i found this story , was in the doctors mi●ro-cosm ( the novelty making me take the more notice thereof . ) though since i have met with it in m. paris ( the fountain ) and other authors , the channels thereof , i conceive it was as lawfull for me to relate it , as for the animadvertor , who epitheis this embassy base * , degenerous , and unchristian , the words which in me he reproveth . dr. heylin . but being the credit of the tale depends upon the credit of the monkish authors , to which brood of men that king was known to be a prosessed enemy ( hating and hated by one another ) it is not to be esteemed so highly as a piece of apocrypha , and much lesse to be held for gospel . fuller . here he rather speaks aliter than alia , from what i had written on the same subject , who thus concluded the character of king iohn . church-hist . book . pag. . we onely behold him him thorough such a light as the friers his foes shew him in ; who so hold the candle , that with the shadow thereof they darken his virtues , and present onely his vices ; yea , and as if they had also poysoned his memory , they cause his faults to swell to a prodigious greatnesse , making him with their pens more black in conditions , than the morocco king ( whose aid he requested ) could be in complexion . here i desire to give the reader a ●aste of what doth frequently occur in this book , and of what i justly did complain , viz. the animadvertor * sometimes not liking my language , ( as not proper and expressive enough ) substituteth his own , with little or no variation of matter . i confesse he is not bound to use my words , and such variations simply in it self , is no wrong unto me ; but it becometh an injury when they must passe for necessary animadversions on my book , to the defaming thereof , as if it were defective without them , which were there ( though perchance not so finely ) as fully and clearly before . dr. heylin . possible it is , that being overlaid by his own subjects , and distressed by the french , he might send unto that king for aid in his great extremities . and doing this ( if this were all ) he did no more than nature , and indignation , and the necessity of his affairs did provoke him to ; not half so much as was done afterwards upon far weaker grounds by king francis the first , employing the turks forces both by sea and land against charles the fifth . but the monks coming to the knowledge of this secret practise , and construing his actions to the worst , improv'd the molehill to a mountain , rendring him thereby as odious to posterity , as he was to themselves . fuller . how much is this different from what i have written before , but that the animadvertor will not wear words at the second hand of my using , but will have them spick and span new of his own making . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . i question whether the bishop of rochester ( whose country house at bromley is so nigh ) had ever a house in the city . ] there is no question but he had , stow finding it in southwark by the name of rochester house , adjoyning on the south side to the bishop of winchesters , ruinous and out of reparation in his time ( as possibly not much frequented since the building of bromley house ) and since converted into tenements for private persons . fuller . it was a question to me , though none to the animadvertor ; now it is a question neither to him nor to me , who by him am informed . i see that men may learn by what boyes learn in their qui mihi , sed qui nil dubitat , nil capit inde boni . had i not questioned this once publickly , probably i had questioned it ever privately , and gone in my self without satisfaction . dr. heylin . but since our author hath desired others to recover the rest from oblivion , i shall help him to the knowledge of two more , and shall thank any man to finde out the third . the first of these two is the bishop of lincolns house , situate neer the old temple in holborn , first built by robert de chesney , bishop of lincoln , anno . since alien'd from that see to the earls of southampton , and passing by the name of southampton house . the second is the bishop of bangors , a fair house situate in shoe-lane neer st. andrews church , of late time leased out by the bishops , and not since , the dwelling of dr. smith doctor in physick , a right honest and ingenuous person , and my very good friend . of all the old bishops which were founded before king harry the eight , there is none whose house we have not found , but the bishop of asaph ; to the finding whereof , if our author , or any other will hold forth the candle , i shall follow the light the best i can , and be thankfull for it . fuller . i faithfully promise so to doe , as soon as i arrive at any good intelligence thereof . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . and though some high royalists look on it as the product of subjects animosities improving themselves on their princes extremities , &c. ] our author telleth us in his epistle to the reader , that the three first books of this volume were for the main written in the reign of the late king , and that it would appear so by some passages which were then proper for the government . but certainly if these words were written in the time of the late king , they were written in the time of his distresse , when his affairs were desperate , and his party ruin'd ; the name of royalists had not else been used here in the way of reproach , nor any new matter charg'd upon them , which might render them more obnoxious to fine and ransome than the crime of loyalty . fuller . my loyaltie did rise and fall with his majesties successe , as a rock in the sea doth with the ebbing and flowing of the tyde . i had more pitty but not lesse honour for him in his deepest distresse . god knows my heart , i use not the word high-royalist here as by way of reproach , and the unpartial reader niether will nor can so understand it . some there are who maintain , that a king is no way confined with his own laws , but that without any fault , he may by his own l●st limit his demands on his subjects , taking from them , without any wrong , what they refuse to pay unto him . there the animadvertor will call royalists , and i dare call them high-royalists , beholding ( as i have said ) the grand-charter as the product of subjects animosities improving themselves on their princes extremities . dr. heylin . but whatsoever our author thinks , it cannot but appear to any who consults the story of former times , that the original of this charter , was first writ in blood , obtain'd by working on the necessities of some princes , extorted in the minority of another , and finally confirm'd by him who had not power to justifie his denial of it . fuller . i could heartily have wished , that the animadvertor had expressed the names of these kings . who now onely hope that i conjecture them aright . . king iohn , on the working of whose necessities it was first obtainned . . henry the third , whose consent thereto was extorted in his minoritie . . edward the first , confirming it when not in power to justifie his denial , during his durance as a prisoner taken in battail . here i confesse , are three sad conditions , necessity of the first , minority of the second , captivity of the third . but know , that the last of these when at liberty , and not onely endued with freedome , but impowered with force , and being as wise and successefull a prince , as ever sate on the english throne ; found it advantagious for his interest , to observe what formerly when a prisoner he had confirmed . otherwise his sword was so long , reaching as farre as palastine it self , and so sharp , hewing his conquering way through wales and scotland ; that therewith ( enforced with his arm ) he might have rescinded the seals of the grand-charter , and put himself into the condition of an absolute command . but he preferred the strict observation thereof , partly out of piety , because solemnly sworn thereunto ; partly out of policy , as sensible that therein the rights of sovereigns and subjects , were indifferently contempered to their mutual happinesse , it being fetters to neither , but girdles to both to be strengthned by such restraints . dr. heylin . and if our author be so certain , that those kings flourihed most both at home and abroad , who tyed themselves most conscientiously to the observation thereof : i would fain know how some of our kings , who have most conscientiously tied themselves to that observation , became so unprosperous ; or how some others came to flourish both at home and abroad , who have made it their great work to infringe the same in almost all the principal articles and main branches of it . fuller . it is an hard question , and yet perchance more dangerous than difficult to answer , but the reason i dare alledge is this , even so father , because it pleased thee . let me add , that such conscientious observers thereof , which have proved unsuccessefull , may esteem their losses as sweet-bryar and holy-thistle , and more cordially comfort themselves in such sanctified afflictions , than the infringers of their charter could content themselves in their successefull oppression . i cannot part from this point , till i have inserted that sir robert cotton , ( one who had in him as much of the gentleman , antiquarie , lawyer , good subject , and good patriot , as any in england ) was the author , [ in his short view of the long reign of king henry the third ] who made the observation of those most successefull kings , by whom the grand-charter was most conscienciously observed . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . the poor jews durst not goe into france ( whence lately they had been solemnly banished ) but generally disposed themselves in germany and italy . ] the poor iews are more beholding to our author for his commiseration than the high royalists , ( as he cals them ) in the former passage . but poor or rich , they might have passed safely into france , had they been so minded . for though he tell us , that they had been solemnly banished out of france before this time ; yet either such banishment was repealed , or temporary only , or ( as i rather think ) not so much as sentenced . certain i am , our learned brerewood upon a diligent enquiry hath found it otherwise than our author doth ; letting us know , that the first countrey in christendome , whence the jews were expelled without hope of return , was our countrey of england , whence they were banished , anno . by king edward the first ; and not long after out of france , anno . by philippus pulcher. not out of france first , out of england afterwards , as our author would have it . fuller . i wonder any good christians would be offended with me , for pittying them by the name poor iews . if any high royalist , ( as i fear there is too many ) be in low estate , would it were as well in my power to relieve as to pitty them . till when they shall have my prayers , that god would give them patience , and support them in their deepest distresse . the author will find , that though the great , general , and final banishment of the jews out of france , was anno . under philip the fair , yet formely there had been edicts for their exile thence . dr. heylin . our author proceeds , fol. . thus men of yesterday have pride too much to remember what they were the day before . ] an observation true enough , but not well applyed . the two spencers whom he speaks this off , were not men of yesterday , or raised out of the dirt or dunghill to so great an height ; but of as old and known nobility as the best in england : insomuch that when a question grew in parliament , whether the baronesse de spencer , or the lord of aburgaveny were to have precedency , it was adjudg'd unto de spencer , thereby declar'd the ancientest barony of the kingdome at that time then being . these two hugh●he ●he father was created earl of winchester for term of life ; and hugh the son by marrying one of the daughters and co-heirs of gilbert de clare , became earl of glocester . men more to be commended for their loyalty , than accused for their pride , but that the king was now declining , and therefore it was held fit by the prevalent faction to take his two supporters from him , as they after did . fuller . the two spencers fall under a double consideration , and are beheld in history for their extraction , either , as absolutely in themselves . comparatively with others . absolutely they were of honourable parentage , and i believe the elder might be born a baron , whose baronry ( by the heir general is still extant in mildmay fane , earl of westmorland , and from the younger house of a male heir , the lord spencer of wormelayton ( now earl of sunderland ) doth , as i have seen in his pedigree , derive himself . comparatively , so were they far inferiour to most of those great persons over whom they insulted , being originally earls , and some of them of royall extraction . again , the two spencers may and ought by an historian to be considered , as to be . commended for their loyalty , . condemned for their insolency . on the first account , they deserve just praise ; and it is probable enough , that they finde the lesse favour from some pens , for being so faithfull to so unfortunate a soveraigne . the latter cannot be excused , appearing too plain in all our histories . dr. heylin . our author proceeds , fol. . the lord chancellor was ever a bishop . ] if our author by this word ever understands 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , most commonly , or for the most part , he is right enough ; but then it will not stand with the following words viz. as if it had been against equity to imploy any other therein . and on the other side , if he take the word ever in its proper and more natural sense , as if none but bishops had ever been advanced unto that office , he doth not onely misinform the reader , but confute himself , he having told us fol. . of this present book , that thomas becket being then but archdeacon of canterbury , was made lord chancellor , and that as soon as he was made archbishop , he resign'd that office . but the truth is , that not onely men in holy orders , but many of the laity also had attained that dignity , as will appear to any who will take the pains to consult the catalogue of the chancellors and keepers of the great seal , in the glossary of sir henry spelman : in which appear not onely some of inferior dignity , as deans , archdeacons , house-hold chaplains ; but many also not dignified with any ecclesiastical title , or notification , and therefore in all probability to be looked on as meer lay-men , counsellors , and servants to the kings in whose times they lived , or otherwise studied in the laws , and of good affections , and consequently capable of the place of such trust and power . fuller . may the reader take notice , that this complaint was made by the commons in the th of edward the d anno . now ever i here restrain to the oldest man alive , then present in parliament , who could not distinctly remember the contrary , from the first of king edward the first , who began his reign . so that for full . years , an uninterrupted series of bishops ( except possibly one put in pro tempore , for a moneth or two ) possessed the place of chancellors . this complaint of the commons occasioned that the king some three years after . viz. in the fifteenth year of his reign , conferred the chancellors place on a layman . but it was not long before things returned to the old channel of clergy-men , and so generally for many years continued , with some few and short interpositions of lay-men . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . this year , viz. . as authors generally agree , king edward instituted the order of the garter . ] right enough as unto the time , but much mistaken in some things which relate unto that ancient and most noble order ; our author taking up his commodities at the second hand , neither consulting the records , nor dealing in this businesse with men of credit . fuller . i am now come under the roof of the animadvertor , who ( by the laws of hospitality ) is bound to treat me the more courteously ; i mean , i am entred into a subject , wherein he is well seen , and therefore might favourably connive at my small slips , being therein best studied . it is severely said , that in this businesse i dealt with no men of credit . the highest person ( next the son of the king ) wearing a blew ribbon was pleased so far to favour me , as that from his own mouth i wrote the last sheet of my history , his grace endeavouring to be very exact in all particulars . dr. heylin . for first there are not fourteen canons resident in the church of windsor , but thirteen onely with the dean ; it being king edwards purpose when he founded that order , consisting of twenty six knights , himself being one , to institute as many greater and lesser canons , and as many old soldiers ( commonly called poor knights ) to be pensioned there : though in this last , the number was not made up to his first intention . fuller . the mistake ( such an one as it is ) shall be amended in my next edition . dr. heylin . he tells us secondly , that if he be not mistaken ( as indeed he is ) sir thomas row was the last chanoellor of the order . whereas sir iames palmer one of the gentlemen huishers of the privy chamber succeeded him in the place of chancellor after his decease , anno . fuller . the animadvertor is very discourteous to deny me the benefit of the parenthesis , if i be not mistaken . the best authors have their ni fallor , si quid video , si bene intelligo , and the like : these are grains allowed to all pieces currant in payment . sir thomas roe was the last chancellor who effectually officiated in his place . winsor before the year . being a chief garrison of the parliament . tully calls a consul , chosen in the morning and put out before night , a vigilant consul , who never slept in all his co●sulship . but ( on another occasion ) one may say of sir iames palmer ( otherwise a worthy gentleman , well deserving that and a better place ) that he was a very watchfull chancellor , who never slept in winsor whilst invested in his office. dr. heylin . he tels us thirdly , that there belongs unto it one register , being alwayes the dean of winsor : which is nothing so . for though the deans of late times have been registers also , yet ab initio non fuit sic , it was not so from the beginning ; the first dean was also register , being iohn boxul , anno . before which time , beginning at the year . there had been nine registers which were not deans ; but how many more before that time , i am not able to say , their names not being on record . fuller . i say not that the register alwaies was the dean , but being alwaies the dean ; which relating to our and our fathers memories , is right enough : but it shall be reformed . dr. heylin . and fourthly he tels us , that the garter is one of the extraordinary habiliments of the knights of this order , their ordinary being onely the blew ribbon about their necks , with the picture of st. george appendant , and the sun in his glory on the left shoulder of their cloak ; whereas indeed the garter is of common wearing , and of such necessary use , that the knights are not to be seen abroad without it , upon pain of paying two crowns to any officer of the order , who shall first claim it , unlesse they be to take a journey ; in which case it is sufficient to wear a blew ribbon under their boots to denote the garter . lastly , whereas our author tells us , that the knights hereof doe weare on the left shoulder of their cloaks a sun in his glory , and attributes this wearing , as some say , to king charles . i will first put him out of doubt , that this addition was king charles his ; then shew him his mistake in the matter it self . and first , in the first year of that king , apr. . . it was thus enacted at a publick chapter of the order , viz. that all knights and companions of the order , shall wear upon the left part of their cloaks , coats , and riding cassocks at all times when they shall not wear their roabs , and in all places of assembly , an escocheon of the armes of st. george , id est , a crosse within a garter , not enriched with pearls or stones : in token of the honour which they hold from the said most noble order , instituted and ordained for persons of the highest worth and honour . our author , secondly , may perceive by this act of the kings , that st. georges crosse within the garter , is the main device injoyned to be worn by all the knights of that noble order ; to which the adding of the sun in his glory served but for ornament and imbellishing , and might be either used or not used ( but onely for conformities sake ) as they would themselves . fuller . this sun in glory affords me small light , so that i can see but very little ( if any thing at all ) which i have to alter . dr. heylin . so many errors in so few lines one shall hardly meet with . fuller . yea , with more in fewer lines , even in the animadvertor himself , in laying down the root and branches of the noble family of the montagues : mistakes the more remarkable , because done in correction of mr. sanderson , and making more faults that he mendeth ; or rather all is but one mistake , resulting from a continued complication of omissions , confusions , and transpositions . advertisements on the history of the reign of king iames , pag. , . fol. . sir edward montague had three sonnes , edward the eldest knight of the bath , &c. ] the author here is much mistaken in the house of the montagues . for first , that edward montague who was knight of the bath , &c. was not brother to iames bishop of winchester , and henry earl of manchester , but their brothers son , that is to say , the son of another edward their eldest brother . secondly , besides that , edward , iames , and henry , there was another brother whom the author names not , though he could not chuse but know the man , viz. sir sidney montague , one of the masters of the requests to the late king charles . therefore to set this matter right , i am to let both him and his readers know , that sir edward montague chief justice in the time of king edward the sixth , was father of another edward who lived peaceably and nobly in his own country . to whom succeeded a third edward , who sought for honour in the wars , and gained the reputation of a good commander ▪ the elder brother of iames , henry , and sidney before mentioned , and the father of a fourth edward who was made knight of the bath , at the coronation of king iames , anno . and afterwards created lord montague of boughton in the nineteenth year of that king , anno . which honourable title is now enjoyed by his son ( another edward ) anno . and thirdly , though i grant that dr. iames montague bishop of winchester ( the second brother of the four ) was of great power and favour in the time of king iames. thus far dr. heylin , out of his advertisements , written in correction of mr. sandersons history of the reign of king iames. to rectifie this heap of errors , not to be paralleled in any author ( pretending to the emendation of another ) i have here plainly set down the male-pedegree of this noble , numerous , and successfull family . sir edward montague , lord chief justice in the reign of king henry the eighth . sir edward montague , a worthy patriot , in the reign of queen elizabeth . sir walter montague knight , second son , died without issue . sir henry montague third son , earl of manchester , lord chief justice , lord treasurer , &c. edw. montague now earl of manchester , besides other sons . sir edward montague , made knight of the bath at the coronation of king iames ( never a martialist , ) and created by him baron montague of boughton , dying in the beginning of the civill warres . william mountague esq of the middle-temple , second son. edward now lord montague of boughton . ralfe montague esq second son. edward montague esq eldest son. christopher montague third son , died before his father , being a most hopefull gentleman . sir charles montague fourth son , who did good service in ireland ; and left three daughters and co-heirs . iames montague fifth son , bishop of winchester , died unmarried . sir sidney montague sixth son , master of the requests . edward montague now admirall , and one of the lords of the councel . i presume the animadvertor will allow me exact in this family , which hath reflected so fauourably upon me , that i desire ( and indeed deserve ) to live no longer , than whilest i acknowledg the same . the fourth book . from the first preaching of wickliffe , to the beginning of the reign of king henry the eighth . dr. heylin . our author begins this book with the story of wickliffe , and continueth it in relating the successes of him and his followers , to which he seems so much addicted , as to christen their opinions by the name of the gospel : for , speaking of such incouragements and helps as were given to wickliffe by the duke of lancaster , with other advantages , which the conditions of those times did afford unto him , he addeth , that , fol. . we must attribute the main to divine providence blessing the gospel . ] a name too high to be bestowed upon the fancies of a private man , many of whose opinions were so far from truth , so contrary to peace and civil order , so inconsistent with the government of the church of christ , as make them utterly unworthy to be look'd on as a part of the gospel . or if the doctrines of wickliffe must be call'd the gospel , what shall become of the religion then establisht in the realm of england , and in most other parts of the western world ? were all but wickliffes followers relaps'd to heathenism ; were they turn'd jews , or had imbrac'd the law of mahomet ? if none of these , and that they still continued in the faith of christ , delivered to them in the gospels of the four evangelists and other apostolicall writers , wickliffes new doctrines could not challenge the name of gospel , no● ought it to be given to him by the pen of any . but such is the humor of some men , as to call every separation from the church of rome , by the name of gospel , the greater the separation is , the more pure the gospel . no name but that of evangelici would content the germans when they first separated from that church , and reformed their own : and harry nichols , when he separated from the german churches , and became the father of familists , bestows the name of evangelium regni on his dreams and dotages . gospels of this kinde we have had , and may have too many , quot capita t●t fides , as many gospels , in a manner , as sects and sectaries , if this world goe on . now as wickliffes doctrines are advanc'd to the name of gospel , so his followers whatsoever they were ) must be called gods servants , the bishops being said fol. . to be busie in persecuting gods servants ; and for what crime soever , they were brought to punishment , it must be thought they suffered onely for the gospel and the service of god. a pregnant evidence whereof we have in the story of sir iohn oldcastle , accused in the time of king harry the fifth for a design to kill the king and his brethren , actually in arms against that king in the head of men , attainted for the same in open parliament , and condemn'd to die , and executed in st. giles his fields accordingly , as both sir roger acton his principal counsellor , and of his accomplices had been before . for this we have not onely the authority of our common chronicles , walsingham , stow , and many others ; but the records of the tower , and acts of parliament , as is confessed by our author , fol. . yet coming out of wickliffes schools , and the chief scholar questionlesse which was train'd up in them , he must be registred for a martyr in fox his calendar . and though our author dares not quit him , ( as he sayes himself ) yet such is his tendernesse and respect to wickliffes gospel , that he is loath to load his memory with causlesse crimes ; fol. . taxeth the clergie of that time for their hatred to him , discrediteth the relation of t. walsingham , and all later authors , who are affirm'd to follow him , as the flock their belweather ; and finally leaves it as a special verdict to the last day of the revelation of the righteous iudgements of god. fuller . first , i fain would know , whether the animadvertor would be contented with the condition of the church of england , as wickliffe found it , for opinions and practise , and doth not earnestly desire a reformation thereof . i am charitably confident , that he doth desire such an emendation , and therefore being both of us agreed in this point of the convenience , yea necessity thereof ; in the second place i would as fain be satisfied from the animadvertor , whether he conceived it possible , that such reformation could be advanced ( without miracle ) all on a sodain , so that many grosse errors would not continue , and some new one be superadded . the man in the gospel first saw men walking as trees , before he saw perfectly . nature hath appointed the twilight as a bridge to passe us out of night into day . such false and wild opinions ( like the scales , which fell down from the eyes of st. paul , when perfectly restored to his sight ) have either vanished or been banished , out of all protestant confession . far be it from me to account the rest of england relapsed into atheism , or lapsed in iudaism , turcism , &c. whom i behold as erronious christians in doctrine and practise , and yet still in such a condition , that though so living and dying , if they lead a good life , and being weak , ignorant , and seduced , seriously repented of all their sins of ignorance , they might be saved ; closing fully with the moderate judgement of learned hooker herein . i know that the very worst of hereticks , have assumed to themselves the very best of names , gilding themselves over with the title of gospellers , and the like ; but because thieves often pretend themselves honest men , may not honest men avow themselves to be so , and also be so termed by others ? the words of the animadvertor of wickliffs gospel , might well have been spared , seeing indeed it was christs gospel ( dawning is part of day ) preached by wickliffe , in a purer manner than in that age , ( thanks to god it was then so good ; ) impurer than in our age , thanks be to god it now is better . as for sir iohn oldcastle l. cobham , his case is so perplexed with contrary relations much may be said against him , and little lesse in his behalf ; and i have cause to beleeve indeed , that his innocence wanted not clearnesse but clearing . whereas the animadvertor takes exception at my referring the decision hereof to the revelation of the righteous judgement of god , it must be either because . that time will come too soon to decide the controversie . . or else come too late to decide the controversie . . or else be insufficient to decide the controversie . and having no just cause to suspect any of these , it had been better if my ( or rather st. * pauls words ) had passed without his reprehension . dr. heylin . from the scholar passe we to the master , of whom it is reported in a late popish pamphlet , that he made a recantation of his errors , and liv'd and dyed conformable to the church of rome . this i will behold as a notorious falshood , an imposture of the romish party , though the argument used by our author , be not of strength sufficient to inforce me to it . if , saith he , wickliffe was sufficiently reconcil'd to the roman faith , why was not rome sufficiently reconciled to him ? using such cruelty to him many years after his death , fol. . but this , say i , is no reason , of no force at all . wickliffe might possibly be reconcil'd to the church of rome , and yet the ministers of that church , to strike a terror into others , might execute that veng●ance on him after his decease , which they had neither power nor opportunity to doe when he was alive . quam vivo iracundiam debuerant , in corpus mortui contulerunt . and hereof we have a fair example in marcus antonius de dominis archbishop of spalato , who comming into england . did manifestly oppose the doctrines of the church of rome in some learned volumes . but being cunningly wrought on by some emissaries of the romish party in the year . he went back to rome , was reconcil'd to that church , and writ there most reproachfully of the church of england ; which notwithstanding , he was kept prisoner all the rest of his life , and his body burnt to ashes after his decease . so then it is no such new matter for a dissenting christian , such as wickliff and de dominis were , though branded by the name of hereticks , to be admitted to a reconciliation with the church of rome , and yet that church to carry a revengefull minde towards them when occasion serves . fuller . i answer first , i am not the first who have discovered strong affections , with a weak judgement , endeavouring to prove a truth with a non-cogent , and un-concluding argument , in case my reason should be disproved . secondly , spalato is no proper parallel of wickliffe , in this point . spalato contracted a new * guilt , by bragging at the table of a cardinal in rome , that his book de repub. eccles. could be answered by none but himself ; and dum calebat , whilest the scent hereof was hot , they burnt his body when but lately dead : whereas their despight followed wickliffe at a distance more than fourty years after his death , on no pretended new misdemeanor . lastly , the animadvertor cometh up unto me , in allowing wickliffe his reconciliation to rome , a notorious untruth ; and therefore we may proceed to what is more material , wherein we two shall apppear two , being , it seems , but one in this difference . dr. heylin . and all this while we have expected that our author would have given us a brief summary of wickliffes doctrines , that by seeing the piety and orthodoxie of his opinions , we might have thought more reverently both of him and his followers . but the●ein our expectation must remain unsatisfied , our author thinking it more agreeable to his design to hold the reader in suspense , and conceal this from him : dealing herein as the old germans did with those of other nations , who came to wait upon valeda a great queen amongst them ; not suffering any to have a sight of her , to keep them in a greater admiration of her parts and person . arcebantur aspectu quò plus venerationis inesset , as it is in tacitus . the wheat of wickliffe was so foul , so full of chaff , and intermingled with so many and such dangerous tares , that to expose it to the view , were to mar the market . and therefore our author having formerly honoured his opinions by the name of gospel , and his followers with the title of gods servants , as before was noted ; had reason not to shew them all at once , in a lump together , that we might think them better and more orthodox than indeed they were . but the best is ( to save us the trouble of consulting harpsfield , and others who have written of them ) our author hath given them us at last on another occasion , lib. . fol. . many of which the reader may peruse in these animadversions , numb . . thus having laid together so much of this present book as relates to wickliffe and his followers , i must behold the rest in fragments , as they lye before me . fuller . wickliffes doctrines , so called , fall under a double notion , being either such as were . charged on him. . maintained by him. for the former , no fault of omission can be found in me , having given in ( in a full sheet * ) a catalogue of them , digested under several heads , as concerning the pope , prelats , priests , saints , king , christ , god , with the tome , book , article , chapter , where they are to be found in t. waldensis . sure i am , they were not so bad in all particulars as he there representeth them . if the animadvertor a protestant , living with me in the same suffering age , * accuse me for accounting murdering of kings for necessary prudence , as oft as they shall fall into the power of their subjects , which i abhor in my heart , and no such thing appears in the place cited ; no wonder if waldensis charged on wickliffe abominable errors , which he cordially detested . as for the doctrines which wickliffe did maintain , we have some , but want an exact list of them ; and i believe it is past the power of any author alive to present it intire ( defecated from the calumniations of his adversaries ; ) and therefore impossibilities are not to be expected from me . yet am i not such an admirer of wickliffe , but that i beleeve he did defend some grosse errors ; and it had been no wonder if it were , but had been a miracle if it had not been so , considering the frailty of flesh , darknesse of the age he lived in , and difficulty of the subject he undertook . but because the animadvertor referres to something following in my fifth book ; i will also reserve my self for his encounter in time and place appointed . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . he lies buried in the south isle of st. peters westminster , and since hath got the company of spencer and drayton . ] not draytons company i am sure , whose body was not buried in the south-isle of that church , but under the north wall thereof in the main body of it , not far from a little dore which openeth into one of the prebends houses . this i can say on certain knowledge , being casually invited to his funeral , when i thought not of it ; though since his statua hath been set up in the other place which our author speaks of . fuller . i follow the information in his epitaph on his tombe , near the south dore in westminster abbey . doe pious marble , let the readers know what they , and what their children owe to draitons name , whose sacred dust we recommend unto thy trust . preserve his memory , and protect his story , remain a lasting monument of his glory . and when thy ruine shall disclaim to be the treasurer of his name , his name , which cannot dye , shall be an everlasting monument to thee . have stones learnt to lye , and abuse posterity ? must there needs be a fiction in the epitaph of a poet ? if this be a meer cenotaph , that marble hath nothing to doe with draitons dust : but let us proceed . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . the right to the crown lay not in this henry , but in edmund mortimer earl of march , descended by his mother philippa , from lionel duke of clarence , elder son to edward the third . ] i shall not now dispute the title of the house of lancaster , though i think it no hard matter to defend it . fuller . i think it is not onely difficult , but impossible , except the animadvertor can challenge the priviledge of the patriarch * iacob , to crosse his hands , and prefer the younger before the elder child , in succession . again , the title of lancaster may be considered , either . as it was when henry the fourth first found it . . as it was when henry the sixth last left it . the latter of these was countenanced with many laws , corroborated with three descents , and almost threescore years possession . know reader , my words are of the right , where it was when henry the fourth first seized the crown , and then he had not a rag of right to cover his usurpation . instead of justifying whereof , let us admire gods free pleasure , in permitting the house of lancaster to last so long ; his iustice , in assisting york afterwards to recover their right ; and his mercy at last , in uniting them both , for the happinesse of our nation . dr. heylin . and much lesse shall i venture on the other controversie , viz. whether a king may legally be depos'd ? as is insinuated by our author in the words foregoing . fuller . if seems the animadvertor finds little in my book above ground for his purpose to cavil at , because fain to mine for my insinuations . but let the reader judge , whether any man alive can from those my words , the right lay not in this henry , but in mortimer earl of march , infer an insinuation , that kings may legally be deposed . this insinuation must be in sinu , in the bosom of the animadvertor , which never was in the breast of the author . more perspicacitie must be in the organ , than perspicuity in the object , to perceive such an insinuation . dr. heylin . but i dare grapple with him in a point of heraldry , though i finde him better studied in it , than in matter of history . and certainly our author is here out , in his own dear element : edmund mortimer earl of march not being the son , but husband of the lady philippa daughter of lionel duke of clarence , and mother of roger mortimer earl of march , whom richard the second ( to despite the house of lancaster ) declared heir apparent to the kingdome of england . 't is true , this edmund was the son of another philippa , that is to say , of philip montacute , wife of a former roger earl of march , one of the founders of the garter . so that in whomsoever the best title lay , it lay not in this edmond mortimer as our author makes it . fuller . it is a meer casual slip of my pen , edmund for roger , and this is the first time i crave the benefit of this plea in my defence . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . this is one of the clearest distinguishing characters betwixt the temporal and spiritual lords ; that the former are to be tryed per pares , by their peers , being barons of the realm . ] not shall i here dispute the point , whether a bishop may not challenge to be tryed by his peers , but whether the bishops were not barons and peers of the realm . our author intimates that they were not , but i think they were . fuller . from a late insinuation , the animadvertor now proceeds to a new intimation of mine , utterly unextractable from my words . but know , it never came into my minde to think that bishops were not peers , who to my power will defend it against any who shall oppose it . dr. heylin . and this i think on the authority of the learned selden , in whom we finde , that at a parliament at northampton under henry the second the bishops thus challenge their own peerage , viz. non sedemus hic episcopi , sed barones ; nos barones , vos barones ; pares hic sumus : that is to say , we sit not here as bishops onely , but as barons ; we are barons , and you are barons ; here we sit as peers . which last is also verified in terminis , by the words of a statute or act of parliament , wherein the bishops are acknowledged to be peers of the land. and for further proof hereof , iohn stratford archbishop of canterbury ( if i remember it aright ) being fallen into the displeasure of king edward the third , and denyed entrance into the house of peers , made his protest , that he was primus par regni , the first peer of the realm , and therefore not to be excluded from his place and suffrage . fuller . this indeed is one of the most ancient and pregnant evidence of our bishops sitting as peers in parliament . but i suspect it may be mis-improved by the back-friends to bishops , that they sate there onely in the capacity of peers , and not a third estate . dr. heylin . but of this argument enough , if not too much , as the case now stands ; it being an unhappy thing , to consider what they have been formerly , and what they are at this present . fuller . it is a sad truth which the animadvertor sayeth . and here i cannot but remember david * his expression , when flying from absalom , if i shall find favour in the eyes of the lord , he will bring me again : but if he say , i have no delight in thee , behold , here i am , &c. if it be co●sistent with the good will and pleasure of god , in due time he will boy up again the sunk credit of the clergy ; if not , all must submit to him , whose wayes are often above reason , never against right . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . yea this very statute which gave power to a bishop in his diocess to condemn an heretick , plainly proveth that the king by consent of parliament , directed the proceedings of the ecclesiastical court in cases of heresie . ] the bishops and clergy in their convocations had anciently the power of declaring heresie , the bishops singly in their consistories to proceed against them , by injoyning penance and recantation , or otherwise to subject them to excommunication . the statute which our author speaks of , being h. . c. . proceedeth further , and ordain'd in favour of the church , that the ordinary might not onely convent , but imprison the party suspected of heresie , and that the party so convented and convicted of heresie , and continuing obstinate in the same , should upon a certificate thereof made and delivered to the secular judge , be publickly burned before the people . in order whereunto , as in a matter which concern'd the life of a subject , the king with the advice of his parliament , might lay down some rules for the regulating the proceedings of the bishops and other ordinaries . fuller . there be two distinct things which in this point must be severally considered , . to declare and define , what shall be accounted heresie . . to condemne to death a declared heretick . the power of the former was in this age fixed in the bishops ( without any competition ) and is so clear none can question it . yea by the same power , they might proceed against a declared heretick ( without any leave or liceence from king or parliament , ) so far as church-censures , suspensions , excommunications , &c. could extend . but as for the latter , to condemn them to death , herein the common-law began , where the cannon law ended , and regulated their proceedings accordingly . dr. heylin . but certainly it is a sorry piece of logick to conclude from hence , that generally in all cases of heresie , the king with advice of his parliament directed the proceedings of the ecclesiastical courts . a piece of logick shall i call it , or a fallacy rather , a fallacy à d●cto secundum quid ad dictum simpliciter , committed commonly , when from a proposition which is true onely in some respect , with reference to time , place , and other circumstances , the sophister inferreth something , as if simply true , though in it self it be most absolutely false . as for example , the pope even in matters of spiritual cognisance ( for so it followeth in our author ) had no power over the life 's of the english subjects ; and therefore had then no power to proceed against them in point of heresie . fuller . i intended not , nor have i abused the reader with any fallacious argumentation . it is true 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , the king and parliament directed the proceedings of the ecclesiastical court in cases of heresie : i mean not to decide which were heresies , but to order the power of the bishop over declared hereticks , without the direction of the statute , not to proceed to limb and life : and i believe my words will be found transcribed out of sir edward coke his most elaborate report of the kings power in ecclesiastical matters . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . henry the seventh ( born in the bowels of wales at pembroke , &c. ) some years after plucked down the partition wall betwixt them . ] neither so , nor so . for first pembroke doth not stand in the bowels of wales , but almost on the outside of it ; as being situate on one of the creeks of milford-haven . fuller . pembroke ( though verging to the sea ) may properly be called in the bowels of wales , beholding the marches [ next england ] as the outward skin thereof . bowels are known to the latines by the name of penetralia , à penetrando ; one must pierce and passe so farre from the outward skin , before one can come at them . so is pembroke placed in the very penetrals of wales , seeing the travailer must goe six-score miles from england , before he can come thither . dr. heylin . and secondly king henry the seventh did not break down the partition wall between wales and england . that was a work reserved for king harry the eighth , in the . of whose reign there past an act of parliament , by which it was enacted , that the country of wales should be , stand , and continue for ever , from thenceforth incorporated , united , and annexed to , and with this realm of england . and that all and singular person and persons born and to be born in the said principality , country , or dominion of wales shall have , enjoy , and inherit all and singular freedoms , liberties , rights , priviledges , and laws within this realm and other the kings dominions , as other the kings subjects naturally born within the same , have , and injoy , and inherit . and thirdly , between the time which our author speaks of , being the year of king henry the fourth , and the making of this act by king henry the eighth , there passed above an hundred and twenty years , which intimates a longer time than some years after , as our author words it . fuller . far be it from me to set variance betwixt father and son , and to make a partition wall betwixt them , which of them first did break down the partition wall betwixt wales and england . the intentions of king henry the seventh , were executed by king henry the eighth ; and all shall be reformed in my book accordingly . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . i will not complain of the dearnesse of this universitie , where seventeen weeks cost me more than seventeen years in cambridge , even all that i had . ] the ordinary and unwary reader might collect from hence , that oxford is a chargeable place , and that all commodities there are exceeding dear , but that our author lets him know , that it was on some occasion of disturbance . fuller . he must be a very ordinary and unwary reader indeed ; or an extraordinary one ( if you please ) of no common weakness or willfulnesse so to understand my words , which plainly expound themselves . dr. heylin . by which it seems our author doth relate to the time of the war , when men from all parts did repair to oxford , not as a university , but a place of safety , and the seat royal of the king ; at which time notwithstanding all provisions were so plentifull and at such cheap rates , as no man had reason to complain of the dearnesse of them . no better argument of the fertility of the soil and richnesse of the country in which oxford standeth , than that the markets were not raised on the accession of such infinite multitudes as resorted to it at that time , and on that occasion . our author therefore must be thought to relate unto somewhat else than is here expressed , and possibly may be , that his being at oxford at that time , brought him within the compass of delinquency , and consequently of sequestration . fuller . i commend the carefulnesse of the animadvertor , tender of the honour of oxford and oxfordshire his native country , as i have heard from his own mouth . but herein his jealousie had no● just cause , nothing derogatory thereunto being by me intended herein . oxfordshire hath in it as much of rachel aud leah , fairnesse and fruitfulnesse , as in any county in england , and so god willing in my description of the english worthies i shall make to appear . dr. heylin . and were it so , he hath no reason to complain of the university , or the dearnesse of it ; but rather of himself , for coming to a place so chargeable and destructive to him . he might have tarried where he was ( for i never heard that he was sent for ) and then this great complaint against the dearness of that university would have found no place . fuller . i was once sent up thither from london , being one of the six , who was chosen to carry a petition for peace to his majesty , from the city of westminster and the liberties thereof , though in the way remanded by the parliament . as for my being sent for to oxford , the animadvertor i see hath not heard of all that was done . i thought that as st. * paul wished all altogether such as he was , except these bonds ; so the animadvertor would have wished all englishmen like himself , save in his sequestration , and rather welcomed than jeered such as went to oxford . but let him say and doe as he pleaseth . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . surely what charles the fifth is said to have said of the city of florence , that it is pity it should be seen save onely on holydayes , &c. ] our author is somewhat out in this , in fathering that saying on charles the fifth , emperor and king of spain , which boterus and all other authors ascribe to charles archduke of austria ; that is to say , to charles of inspruch , one of the younger sons of the emperor ferdinand the first , and consequently nephew to charles the fifth . fuller . nihil dictum , quod non dictum prius : and it is very probable that the one first made , the other used the same expression . dr. heylin . nor is our author very right in taking aquensis for aix in provence : fol. . especially ( saith he ) if , as i take it , by provensis aix be meant , sited in the farthermost parts of provence , though even now the english power in france was waning . ] for first , the english never had any power in provence , no interest at all therein , nor pretentions to it ; as neither had the french kings in the times our author speaks of . provence in those dayes was independent of that crown , an absolute estate , and held immediatly of the empire , as being a part and member of the realm of burgundy , and in the actual possession of the dukes of anjou ; on the expiring of which house , by the last will and testament of duke rene the second , it was bequeathed to lewis the eleventh of france , by him & his successors to be enjoyed upon the death of charles earl of maine , as it was accordingly . and secondly , that bernard , whom the latine calls episcopus aquensis is very ill taken by our author to be bishop of aix . he was indeed bishop of acqus or aux in guinne called anciently aquae augustae from whence those parts of france had the name of aquitain ; and not of aix ( which the ancient writers called aquae sextiae ) in the country of provence . now guinne was at that time in the power of the kings of england , which was the reason why this bernard was sent with the rest of the commissioners to the councel of basil ; and being there , amongst the rest , maintained the rights and preheminences of the english kings . fuller . there is nothing more destructive to truth , than when writers are peremptory in affirming what seems doubtfull unto them . errant hypocrisie for the hand to be positive in a point , when the head is ( as i may say ) but suppositive , as not sufficiently satisfied therein . such men , because they scorn to doubt , lead others quite out of the way . to prevent this mischief , i onely said , if , as i take it by aquensis , aix be meant ▪ for it seemed to me too long a stride , ( or straddle rather ) for the legs of our english armies to have any power in provence . and now seeing it was but hal● a fault in me , it doth not deserve the animadvertors whole reproof . dr. heylin . in agitating of which controversie , as it stands in our author , i finde mention of one iohannes de voragine , a worthlesse author , fol. . mistook both in the name of the man , and his quality also . for first the author of the book called legenda aurea related to in their former passage , was not iohannes , but iacobus de voragine . in which book , though there are many idle and unwarrantable ●ictions ; yet secondly was the man of more esteem , than to passe under the character of a worthlesse author , as being learned for the times in which he lived , archbishop of genoa a chief city of italy , & moribus & dignitate magno precio , as philippus bergomensis telleth us of him , anno . at what time he liv'd ; most eminent for his translation of the bible into the italian tongue ( as we read vossius ) a work of great both difficulty and danger , as the times then were , sufficient ( were there nothing else ) to free him from the ignominious name of a worthlesse author fuller . i here enter my publique thanks to the animadvertor , iacobus de voragine ( so it seems was his name ) was a better author than i took him for , indeed having read that melchior canus called the author of some legends , a man ferrei oris et plumbei cordis , one of an iron face and leaden heart , i conceived him incended therein . but if he did translate the bible into italian , ( as i have cause to believe , knowing nothing to the contrary , ) it was , as the animadvertor saith well , a work of great both difficulty , and danger , as the times then were . i confesse i have formerly in the table of my esteeme , placed this voragine as the very lag at the lowest end thereof ; but hereafter i shall say to him , come up hither , and provide a higher place for him in my reputation . dr. heylin . a greater mistake than this , as to the person of the man , is that which follows viz. fol. . humphry duke of gloster son to king henry the fifth . ] this though i cannot look on as a fault of the presse , yet i can easily consider it as a slip of the pen ; it being impossible that our author should be so farre mistaken in duke humphry of gloster , who was not son but brother to king henry the fifth . fuller . this being allowed ( as indeed it is ) but a pen-slip , who is more faulty , the author in the cursorily committing , or the animadvertor in the deliberate censuring thereof ? dr. heylin . but i cannot think so charitably of som other errors of this kind , which i finde in his history of cambridge , fol. . where amongst the english dukes which carried the title of earl of cambridge , he reckoneth edmond of langly fift son to edward the third , edward his son , richard duke of york his brother , father to king edward the fourth . but first this richard whom he speaks of , though he were earl of cambridge by the consent of edward his elder brother , yet was he never duke o● york ; richard being executed at south-hampton for treason against king harry the fifth , before that kings going into france , and edward his elder brother slain not long after in the battail of agincourt . and secondly , this richard was not the father , but grandfather of king edward the fourth . for being married unto anne , sister and heir unto edmond mortimer earl of march , he had by her a sonne called richard , improvidently restored in blood , and advanced unto the title of duke of york , by king henry the sixth , anno . who by the lady cecely his wife , one of the many d●ughters of ralph earl of westmerland , was father of king edward the fourth , george duke of clarence , and king richard the third . thirdly , as richard e●rl of cambridge was not duke of york , so richard duke of york was not earl of cambridge ; though by our author made the last earle thereof ( hist. of cam. . ) before the restoring of that title on the house of the hamiltons . fuller . this hath formerly been answered at large in the introduction , wherein it plainly appeares , that the last richard was duke of york and earle of cambridge : though i confesse it is questionable , whether his father were duke of york . however it doth my work , viz. that the earldome of cambridge was alwayes ( the first alone excepted ) conferred on either a forreign prince , or an english peer of the blood-royall , an honour not communicated to any other peere in england . dr. heylin . if our author be no better at a pedegree in private families , then he is in those of kings and princes , i shall not give him much for his art of memory , for his history lesse , and for his heraldry just nothing . fuller . when i intend to expose them to sale , i know where to meet with a francker chapman . none alive ever heard me pretend to the art of memory , who in my booke have decried it as a trick , no art ; and indeed is more of fancy than memory . i confesse some ten years since , when i came out of the pulpit of st. dunstons-east ; one ( who since wrote a book thereof , ) told me in the vestry , before credible people ▪ that he in sydney colledge , had taught me the art of memory . i returned unto him , that it was not so ; for i could not remember that i had ever seen his face ; which i conceive , was a reall refutation . however , seeing that a natural memory is the best flower in mine , and not the worst in the animadvertors garden , let us turn our competitions herein , unto mutuall thinkfulnesse to the god of heaven . dr. heylin . but i see our author is as good at the succession of bishops , as in that of princes . for saith he , speaking of cardinal beaufort , fol. . he built the fair hospital of st. cross neere winchester ; and although chancellor of the univesity of oxford , was no grand benefactor thereunto , as were his predecessors wickam and wainfleet . ] wickham and wainfleet are here made the predecessors of cardinal beaufort in the see of winchester ; whereas in very deed , though he succeeded wickham in that bishoprick , he preceded wainfleet . for in the catalogue of the bishops of winchester they are marshulled thus , viz. . . william of wickham , . . henry beaufort , . . william de wainfleet , which last continued bishop till the year the see being kept by these three bishops above . years , and thereby giving them great advantages of doing those excellent works , and founding those famous colleges , which our author rightly hath ascribed to the first and last . but whereas our author ●elleth us also of this cardinal beaufort , that he built the hospital of st. crosse , he is as much out in that , as he was in the other ; that hospital being first built by henry of blais , brother of king stephen and bishop of winchester , auno . augmented onely , and perhaps more liberally endowed by this potent cardinal . from these foundations made and enlarged by these three great bishops of winchester successively , proceed we to two others raised by king henry the sixth , of which our author telleth us . fuller . what a peice of don quixotisme is this , for the animadvertor to fight in confutation of that which was formerly confessed ? these words being thus fairly entred in the table of errataes . book pag. line . . . read it thus , of his predecessor wickham , or successor wainfleet . faults thus fairly confessed , are presumed fully forgiven ; and faults thus fully forgiven , have their guilt returning no more . in the court christian , such might have been sued , who upbraided their neighbours for incontinence , after they formerly had performed publique penance for the same . and i hope the reader will allow me reparation from the animadvertor , for a fault so causlesly taxed , after it was so clearly acknowledged , and amended . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . this good precedent of the archbishops bounty ( that is to say , the foundation of all-souls colledge by archbishop chicheley ) may be presumed a spur to the speed of the kings liberality ; who soon after founded eaton colledge , &c. to be a nursery to kings colledge in cambridge , fol. . ] of eaton colledge , and the condition of the same , our author hath spoken here at large , but we must look for the foundation of kings colledge , in the history of cambridge , fol. . where i finde something which requireth an animadversion . our author there chargeth dr. heylin for avowing something which he cannot justifie , that is to say , for saying , that when william of wainfleet bishop of winchester ( afterwards founder of magdalen colledge ) perswaded king henry the sixth , to erect some monument for learning in oxford , the king returned , imo potius cantabrigiae , ut duas ( si fieri possit ) in anglia academias habeam . yea rather ( said he ) at cambridge , that ( if it be possible ) i may have two universities in england . as if cambridge were not reputed one before the founding of kings colledge therein . but here the premisses onely are the doctors , the inference or conclusion is our authors own . the doctor infers not thereupon , that cambridge was not reputed an university till the founding of kings colledge by king henry the sixth ; and indeed he could not : for he acknowledged before out of robert de renington , that it was made an university in the time of king edward the second . all that the doctor sayes , is this , that as the university of cambridge was of a later foundation then oxford was , so it was long before it grew into esteem , that is to say , to such a measure of esteem at home or abroad ( before the building of kings colledge , and the rest that followed ) but that the king might use those words in his discourse with the bishop of winchester . and for the narrative , the doctor ( whom i have talked with in this businesse ) doth not shame to say , that he borrowed it , from that great treasury of academical antiquities mr. brian twine , whose learned works stand good against all opponents ; and that he found the passage justified by sir isaack wake in his rex platonicus . two persons of too great wit and judgement , to relate a matter of this nature on no better ground than common table-talk , and that too spoke in merriment by sir henry savil. assuredly sir henry savil was too great a zealot for that university , and too much a friend to mr. wake , who was fellow of the same colledge with him , to have his table-talk and discourses of merriment to be put upon record as grounds and arguments for such men to build on in that weighty controversie . and therefore when our author tells us , what he was told by mr. hubbard , mr. hubbard by mr. barlow , mr. barlow by mr. bust , and mr. bust by sir henry savil. it brings into my minde the like pedegree of as true a story , even that of mother miso in sir philip sidney , telling the young ladies an old tale , which a good old woman told her , which an old wise man told her , which a great learned clerk told him , and gave it him in writing ; and there she had it in her prayer-book ; as here our author hath found this on the end of his creed . not much unlike to which , is that which i finde in the poet ; quae phaebo pater omnipotens , mihi phoebus apollo praedix●t , vobis furiarum ego maxima pando . that is so say , what iove told phoebus , phoebus told to me , and i the chief of furies tell to thee . fuller . the controversie betwixt us consists about a pretended speech of king henry the sixth , to bishop wainfleet , perswading him to found a colledge at oxford . to whom the king is said to return , yea rather at cambridge , that ( if it be possible ) i may have two universities in england . a passage pregnant with an inference , which delivereth it self without any midwifry to help it , viz. that till the time of king henry the sixth , cambridge was no , or but an obs●ure university , both being equally untrue . the animadvertor will have the speech grounded on good authority , whilest i more than suspect to have been the frolick of the fancie of s. isaack wake , citing my author for my beliefe , which because removed four descents , is , i confesse , of the lesse validity : yet is it better to take a truth from the tenth , than a falshood from the first hand . both our relations ultimately terminate in sir isaack wake , by the animadvertor confessed the first printed reporter thereof . i confess s. i. wake needed none but sr. isaack wake , to attest the truth of such thing , which he had heard or seen himself . in such case his bare name commandeth credit with posterity . but relating a passage done at distance , some years before his great grandfather was rockt in his cradle , we may and must doe that right to our own iudgement , as civily to require of him security for what he affirmeth , especially seeing it is so clog'd with such palpable improbabilitie . wherefore , till this knights invisible author be brought forth into light , i shall remain the more confirmed in my former opinion , rex platonicus alone sounding to me in this point no more than plato's commonwealth ; i mean , a meer wit work , or brain-being , without any other real existence in nature . dr. heylin . but to proceed , fol. . this was that nevil , who for extraction , estate , alliance , dependents , wisdome , valour , success , and popularity , was superiour to any english subject since the conquest . ] our author speaks this of that richard nevil who was first earl of warwick , in right of anne his wife , sister & heir of henry beauchamp , the last of that family , and after earl of salisbury by discent from his father ; a potent and popular man indeed , but yet not in all or in any of those respects to be match'd with henry of bullenbrook , son to iohn of gaunt , whom our author must needs grant to have lived since the time of the conquest . which henry after the death of his father was duke of lancaster and hereford , earl of leicester , lincoln , and darby , &c. and lord high steward of england : possessed by the donation of king henry the third , of the county palatine of lancaster , the forfeited estates of simon de montfort earl of leicester , robert de ferrars earl of darby , and iohn lord of monmouth ; by the compact made between thomas earl of lancaster , and alice his wife , of the honor of pomfret , the whole estate of the earl of lincoln , and a great part of the estates of the earl of salisbury ; of the goodly territories of ogmore and kidwelly in wales , in right of his descent from the chaworths ; of the honor and castle of hartford by the grant of king edward the third ; and of the honor of tickhill in yorkshire , by the donation of king richard the second ; and finally of a moity of the vast estate of humphry de bohun earl of hereford , essex , and northampton in right of his wife . so royal in his extraction , that he was grandchilde unto one king , cousin-german to another , father and grand-father to two more . so popular when a private person , and that too in the life of his father , that he was able to raise and head an army against richard the second , with which he discomfited the kings forces , under the command of the duke of ireland . so fortunate in his successes , that he not onely had the better in the battail mentioned , but came off with honor and renown in the war of africk , and finally obtained the crown of england . and this i trow , renders him much superior to our authors nevil , whom he exceeded also in this particular , that he dyed in his bed , and left his estates unto his son. but having got the crown by the murther of his predecessor , it stai'd but two descents in his line , being unfortunately lost by king henry the sixth : of whom , being taken and imprisoned by those of the yorkish faction , our author telleth us . fuller . it never came into my thoughts , to extend the parallel beyond the line of subjection , confining it to such as moved only in that sphere , living and dying in the station of a subject ; and thus far i am sure i am ●ight , that this our nevil was not equal'd , much lesse exceeded , by any english-man since the conquest . as for henry duke of lancaster , his coronet was afterwards turned into a crown , and i never intended comparison with one who became a soveraign , having learnt , primum in unoquoque genere , est excipiendum . the animadvertor hath here taken occasion to write much , but thereof nothing to confute me , and little to informe others . he deserved to be this king henry's chaplain ( if living in that age ) for his exactnesse in the distinct enumeration of all his dignities and estate , before he came to the crown . dr. heylin . our author proceeds fol. . that states-men do admire how blinde the policy of that age was , in keeping king henry alive , there being no such sure prison as a grave for a cap●ive king , whose life ( though in restraint ) is a fair mark for the full aim of mal-contents to practise his enlargement . ] our author might have spar'd this doctrine so frequently in practise amongst the worldly politicians of all times and ages , that there is more need of a bridle to holde them in , than a spur to quicken them . parce precor stimulis , & fortiùs utere loris , had been a wholesome caveat there , had any friend of his been by to have advis'd him of it . the murthering of depos'd and captive princes , though too often practised , never found advocates to plead for it , and much lesse preachers to preach for it , untill these latter times . first made a maxim of state in the school of machiavel , who layes it down for an aphorisme in point of policy , viz. that great persons must not at all be touched , or if they be , must be made sure from taking revenge ; inculcated afterwards by the lord gray , who being sent by king iames to intercede for the life of his mother , did underhand solicite her death , and whispered nothing so much in queen elizabeths eares , as mortua non mordet , if the scots queen were once dead , she would never bite . but never prest so home , never so punctually appli'd to the case of kings , as here i finde it by our author ; of whom it cannot be affirm'd , that he speaks in this case the sense of others , but positively and plainly doth declare his own . no such divinity preach'd in the schools of ignatius , though fitter for the pen of a mariana , than of a divine or minister of the church of england . which whether it passed from him , before or since the last sad accident of this nature , it comes all to one ; this being like a two-hand-sword made to strike on both sides , and if it come too late for instruction , will serve abundantly howsoever for the justification . another note we have within two leaves after as derogatory to the honour of the late archbishop , as this is dangerous to the estate of all soveraign princes , if once they chance to happen into the hands of their enemies . but of this our author will give me an occasion to speake more in another place , and then he shall heare further from me . fuller . my words , as by me laid down , are so far from being a two-handed sword they have neither hilt nor blade in them , only they hold out an handle for me , thereby to defend my self ; i say , states-men did admire at the preserving king henry alive , and render their reason , if the animadvertor takes me for a statesman ( whose generall judgement in this point i did barely relate ) he is much mistaken in me . reason of state and reason of religion , are stars of so different an horison , that the elevation of the one , is the depression of the other . not that god hath placed religion and right reason diametrically opposite in themselves , ( so that where-ever they meet , they must fall out and fight , ) but reason bowed by politicians , o their present interest ( that is achitophelesme ) is enmity to religion . but the lesse we touch this harsh string the better musick . dr. heylin . now to goe on . fol. . the duke requested of king richard the earldome of hereford , and hereditary constableship of england . ] not so , it was not the earldom , that is to say , the title of earl of hereford , which the duke requested ; but so much of the lands of those earls , as had been formerly enjoy'd by the house of lancaster . concerning which we are to know , that humphry de bohun the last earl of hereford , left behinde him two daughters onely , of which the eldest called eleanor was married to thomas of woods●ock , duke of gloster ; mary , the other , married unto henry of bullenbrook , earl of darby . betwixt these two the estate was parted ; the one moity , which drew after it the title of hereford , falling to henry earl of darby ; the other , which drew after it the office o● constable , to the duke of glo●ester . but the duke of glocester being dead , and his estate coming in fine unto his daughter , who was not able to contend , henry the fifth forced her unto a sub-division , laying one half of her just partage to the other moity . but the issue of henry of bullenbrook being quite extinct in the person of edward prince of wales son of henry the sixth , these three parts of the lands of the earls of hereford having been formerly incorporated into the duchy of lancaster , remained in possession of the crown , but were conceiv'd by this duke to belong to him , as being the direct heir of anne daughter of thomas duke of glocester , and consequently the direct heir also of the house of hereford . this was the sum of his demand . nor doe i finde that he made any suit for the office of constable , or that he needed so to doe , he being then constable of england , as his son edward the last duke of buckingham of that family , was after him . fuller . the cause of their variance is given in differently by several authors . some say , that at once this duke requested three things of king richard , . power . . honor , . wealth : first , power , to be hereditary constable of england , not to hold it as he did pro arbitrio regis , but in the right of his descent . secondly , honor , the earldome of hereford . thirdly , wealth , that partage of land mentioned by the animadvertor . i instanced onely in the first , the pride of this duke , being notoriously known to be more than his covetousnesse , not d●nying but that the kings denyal of the land he requested , had an effectual influence on his discontent . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . at last the coming in of the lord stanley with three thousand fresh men decided the controversie on the earls side . ] our author is out in this also . it was not the lord stanley , but his brother sir william stanley , who came in so seasonably , and thereby turn'd the scale , and chang'd the fortune of the day . for which service he was afterward made lord chamberlain of the new kings houshold , and advanc'd to great riches and estates , but finally beheaded by that very king for whom , and to whom he had done the same . but the king look'd upon this action with another eye . and therefore when the merit of his service was interposed to mitigate the kings displeasure , and preserve the ma● , the king remembred very shrewdly , that as he came soon enough to win the victory , so he staid long enough to have lost it . fuller . though a courteous prolepsis might salve all the matter , yet ( to prevent exceptions ) in my next edition , the lord shall be degraded into sir william stanley . the fifth book . relating to the time of king henry the eight . dr. heylin . we are now come to the busie times of king henry the eight , in which the power of the church was much diminisht , though not reduced to such ill terms as our author makes it we have him here laying his foundations to overthrow that little which is left of the churches rights . his super-structures we shall see in the times ensuing more seasonable for the practise of that authority which in this fifth book he hammereth onely in the speculation . fuller . i deny , and defie any such designe , to overthrow the foundations of the churches right . if the foundations be destroyed , what can the righteous doe ? i● my back could butterresse them up , it should not be wanting . however , i am not sensible that any such invasion was made on the true property of the church , but that the king resumed what by god was invested in him , and what by the pope was unjustly taken from him ; though none can justifie every particular in the managery of the reformation . dr. heylin . but first we will begin with such animadversions as relate unto this time and story , as they come in our way ; leaving such principles and positions as concern the church , to the close of all ; where we shall draw them all together , that our discourse and observations thereupon may come before the reader without interruption . and the first thing i meete with , is a fault of omission ; dr. newlen who succeeded dr. iackson in the presidentship of corpus christi colledge in oxford , anno by a free election , and in a statutable way , being left out of our authors catlogue of the presidents of c. c. c. in oxford , fol. . and dr. stanton who came in by the power of the visitors above eight years after being placed therein . which i thought fit ( though otherwise of no great moment ) to take notice of , that i might doe the honest man that right which our author doth not . fuller . would the animadvertor had given me the christian , as well as the sir●name of the doctor , that i may enter it in my next edition . but i will endeavour some other wayes to recover it . such , and greater omisions , often attend the pens of the most exact authors . witnesse the lord stanhop , created baron of harington in narthampton-shire , ●ertio iacobi , left out in all the editions [ latine and english ] of the industrious and judicious mr. camden though his junior baron ( the lord arundel of wardour ) be there inserted . this his omission proceeded not from the least neglect , as i protest my innocence in the casual preterition of dr. newlen . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . king henry endeavoured an uni●ormity of grammer all over his dominions ; that so youths , though changing their school-masters , might keep their learning . ] that this was endeavoured by king henry , and at last enjoyned , i shall easily grant . but then our author should have told us ( if at least he knew it ) that the first hint thereof proceeded from the convocation in the year ▪ in which , complaint being made , quod multiplex & varius in scholis grammaticalibus modus esset docendi , &c. that the multiplicitie of grammers did much hurt to learning ; it was thought meet by the prelates and clergy then assembled , ut una eadem edatur formula auctoritate hujus sacrae synodi , in qualibet & singula schola grammaticali per cantuariensem provinciam usitanda & edocenda : that is to say , that one onely form of teaching grammar should be enjoyned from thenceforth by the authority of the convocation , to be used in all the grammar schools of the province of canterbury . which being so agreed upon , lilly then schoolmaster of st. pauls school , was thought the fittest man for that undertaking ; and he performed his part so well , that within few years after , it was enjoyned by the kings proclamation to be used in all the schools throughout the kingdom . but here we are to note withall , that our author anticipates this businesse , placing it in the eleventh year of this king , anno . whereas the convocation took not this into consideration till the eighth of march , anno . and certainly would not have medled in it then , if the king had setled and enjoyned it so long before . fuller . the animadvertor discovers much indiscretion , in cavelling at a well-timed truth in my book , and substituting a falshood in the room thereof . the endeavor of henry the eight , for uniformity of grammar throughout all his dominions , begun ( as i have placed it ) one thousand five hundred and nineteen , william lillie being the prime person imployed for the composure thereof . indeed it met not with universal reception for some years ( babits not being easily deposed : ) and therefore the convocation concurring with the kings pleasure therein , added their assistance in the year . as the animadvertor observeth ; and soon after by the kings proclamation , the matter was generally effected . but whereas he sayth , that after that time . william lillye was thought the fittest man for that undertaking , let me tell him , that a man dead five , if not eight years before , was not fit to make a grammar . i appeal to bale and pitts , both which render william lillye to dye in the year . but mistaken herein ; for indeed he dyed three years before , if the epitaph on his monument , made by his sonne george lillye , may be believed , in a brass plate near the great north dore of st. pauls . gulielmo lilio paulinae scholae olim , preceptori primario , & agneti conjugi , in sacratissimo hujus templi coemiterio hinc à tergo nunc destructo consepultis , georgius lillius hujus ecclesiae canonicus , parentum memoriae piae consulens , tabellam hanc ab amicis conservatam , hic reponendam curavit . obiit ille g. l. anno dom. . calend. mart. vixit annos . wherefore this unnecessary animadversion , to correct what was right before , might very well have been spared . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . howsoever it is probable , some other gardiner gathered the flowers ( made the collections ) though king henry had the honor to wear the posie . ] i am not ignorant that the making of the kings book against martin luther ▪ is by some popish writers ascribed to dr. iohn fisher , then bishop of rochester . but this cavil was not made till after this king had rejected the popes supremacy , and consequently the lesse credit to be given unto it . it is well known , that his father king henry the seventh designed him for the archbishoprick of canterbury , and to that end caused him to be trained up in all parts of learning which might enable him for that place . but his eldest brother prince arthur dying , and himself succeeding in the crown , though he had laid aside the thoughts of being a priest , he could not but retain that learning which he had acquired , and reckon it amongst the fairest flowers which adorned his diadem . too great a clerk he was to be called beauclerk junior , as i● he were as short in learning of king henry the first ( whom commonly they called beauclerk ) as he was in time ▪ though so our author would fain have it , hist. cam. p. . . a little learning went a great way in those early dayes , which in this king would have made no shew , in whose time both the arts and languages began to flourish . and if our author doth not suspect this kings lack of learning , he hath no reason to suspect his lack of time , the work being small , the glory great , and helps enough at hand if he wanted any . but of this enough . fuller . no considerable variation from what i have written , so that my answer thereunto is not required . let him be another beauclerk instead of beauclerk junior . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . which when finished ( as white-hall , hampton-court , &c. ) he either freely gave to the king ▪ or exchanged them on very reasonable considerations . ] that hampton-court was either freely given by wolsey , or otherwise exchanged on very reasonable tearms , i shall grant as easily ; but whitehall was none of his to give , as belonging to the archbishop in the right of the see o● york , and then called york place . but the kings palace at westminster being lately burnt , and this house much beautified by the cardinal , the king cast a longing eye upon it ; and having attainted the cardinal in a praemunire , he seised upon this house with all the furniture thereof , as a part of the spoil . which when he found he could not hold , as being the archbishops and not the cardinals , he sent an instrument unto him , to be signed and sealed for the surrendry of his title and estate therein ; and not content to have forc'd it from him ( the cardinal honestly declaring his inability to make good the grant ) he caused the dean and chapter of york to confirm the same unto him under their common seal , in due form of law ; which being obtained , and much cost bestowed upon the house , he caused it to be called whitehall ; gratifying the archbishops of york with another house , belonging then to the see of norwich , and now called york-house . fuller . my words are , he either freely gave to the king , or exchanged them , [ but i say not freely ] on very reasonable tearms . now though he did not freely give whitehall to the king , he exchanged it , ( though unwillingly ) on very reasonable considerations ; seeing for bignesse , building , and circuit of ground , it then was worth ten of york-house , given to his see , in lieu thereof . however , the animadvertor is exact in some circumstances of this exchange , which i knew not before . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . so that lately there were maintained therein one dean , eight canons , three publique professors of divinity , hebrew and greek , sixty students , &c. ] our author tells us , lib. . that he spent seventeen weeks in this university , but he that looks on this and some other passages , would think he had not tarryed there above seventeen hours . fuller . yea , the animadvertor would perswade his reader , that i never spent seaventeen weekes in oxford or in any other university , if all the errors be so many and great as he accuseth me of . but i prepare my selfe to heare his charge . dr. heylin . for besides his omitting of dr. newlin spoken of before , and his giving of the name of censors to the deans of magdalen , which i finde afterwards , lib. . fol. . he is very much mistaken in the matters of christ church . fuller . what dr. newlen again ? what if i called the dean of magdalen colledge , the censor . grande piaculum ! doe i not confesse it possible , that my cambridge sibboleth may make me lisp , and mispronounce the topicall offices in oxford , and publiquely desired pardon , when such mistakes are committed ? where hath the animadvertor left or lost his ingenuity , that so another may looke after , and make use of it , if so pleased ? hereafter i shall remember that there is , though not a censor now living in magdalen colledge , yet there was therein a censurer [ the animadvertor ] when no just cause is given him . i expected rather , that he would have thanked , than censured me ; who being a cambridge man , and finding their printed catalogue of the presidents of magdalen colledge imperfect , as set forth by their own antiquary bryan twyne , did amend the same , by inserting ( in his due time ) no meaner man than dr. walter haddon , that famous and learned civilian formerly omitted . dr. heylin . for first the three professors , of divinity , hebrew , and greek , are no necessary parts of that foundation , nor can be properly said to be founded in it . till of late times they were and might be of other colledges , as they are at this present , this colledge being onely bound to pay them for their annuall pensions fourty pounds a piece . in after times , king iames annexed a prebends place in this church , to the professor of divinity , as king charles did another to the hebrew reader . but for the greek reader he hath only his bare pension from it , and hath no other relation to it , but by accident onely ; the last greek reader of this house being dr. iohn perin who dyed in the yeare fuller . i say not , that those three professors were founded in that colledge , but that they are maintained therein . and seeing the colledge ( as the animadvertor confesseth payes them their salaries , my words are subject to no just exceptions . dr. heylin . and secondly , he is very far short in the number of students , diminishing them from an hundred to sixtie , there being an hundred and one of that foundation by the name of students , equivalent to the fellowes of most other colledges in the revenues of their place and all advantages and incouragements in the way of learning . but this perhaps hath somwhat in it of design , that by making the foundations of oxford to seeme lesse than they are , those in the other university , might appear the fairer . fuller . 't is a meere pen-slip , and shall be amended accordingly . god knowes i hatch no such envious design , who could wish , that not onely sixty , but six score six hundred , were founded , &c. therein . alwayes provided , that the nursery exceed not the orchard : and that the universities by too large a plantation breed not more scholars , than the kingdome is able to prefer and imploy . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . and here wolsey had provided him a second wife ( viz. ) margaret countesse of alanzon , sister to francis king of france . ] as much out in his french as his english heraldry . for first the lady margaret here spoken of , was never countesse , though sometimes dutchesse of alanzon , as being once wife to charles the fourth duke thereof . and secondly , at the time when king henries divorce from queen katherine was first agitated , this lady was not in a capacity of being projected for a wife to king henry the eighth , being then actually in the bed of another henry , &c. fuller . margaret ( who shall be amended dutchesse ) of alanzon was here , ( i mean not just in this year , but in this businesse , afterwards designed by wolsy for a wife to king henry . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . yet had he the whole revenues of york archbishoprick ( worth then little lesse than four thousand pounds yearly ) besides a large pension paid him out of the bishoprick of winchester . ] and a large pension it was indeed ( if it were a pension ) which amounted to the whole revenue , &c. fuller . for quietnesse sake , he shall have the whole bishoprick , though i have read , that after wolsey fell in the kings displeasure , his revenue in winchester ( which he kept in commendam ) was reduced to a pension . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . the clergy of the province of canterbury alone bestowed on the king one hundred thousand pounds , to be paid by equall portions in the same year , say some ; in four years say others , and that in my opinion with more probabily . ] here have we three authors for one thing , some , others , and our author himself , more knowing than all the rest in his own opinion . but all out alike . this great summe was not to be paid in one year , nor in four years neither , but to be paid by equall portions ( that is to say , by twenty thousand pound per annum ) in the five years following , &c. fuller . not reckoning the first summe , which was paid down on the nail , that had just four years assigned them for the payment of the remainder . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . but he might have remembred , which also produced the peerlesse queen elizabeth , who perfected the reformation . ] either our author speaks not this for his own opinion , as in that before , or if he doe , it is an opinion of his own , in which he is not like to finde many followers . the puritan party whom he acts for in all this work , will by no means grant it ; comparing that most excellent lady in their frequent pasquils , to an idle huswife , who sweeps the middle of the house to make a shew , but leaves all the dirt and rubbish behind the door . the grand composers of the directory doe perswade themselves , that if the first reformers had been then alive , they would have joyned with them in the work , and laboured for a further reformation . and what else hath been clamoured for during all her reign , and the ring leaders of the faction endeavoured ever since her death , but to carry on the work of reformation from one step to another , till they had brought it unto such a perfection as they vainly dreamt of , and of which now we feel and see the most bitter consequences ? and as for the prelatical party , the high royallists , as our author calls them , they conceive the reformation was not so perfected in the time of that prudent queen , but that there was somewhat left to doe for her two successors ; that is to ●ay , the altering of some rubricks in the book of common-prayer , the adding of some collects at the end of the letany , the enlargement of the common catechism , a more exact translation of the bible than had been before , the setling of the church upon the canons of . and finally , a stricter and more hopefull course for suppressing popery , and for the maintenance both of conformity and uniformity by the canons of . fuller . i have the company of many honest and learned men going before , with , or after me , in the same opinion . perfection , in relation to the church , is two-fold , absolute or exact , gradual or comparative . the former is onely christs work to perform for whom alone the honor is reserved , to present the church without spot or wrinkle to his father . the latter , viz. gradual and comparative perfection , may be attributed to particular militant churches . queen elizabeth did gradually perfect the reformation , leaving it in a farre better condition than she found it in , in the reign of king edward the sixth . yet doe i not deny but that her successors made commendable additions thereunto , notwithstanding all whose endeavors , i doubt not but still something did remain , to be amended ; so that it will be perfectio perficienda as long as the church is militant . the animadvertor must not strain up perfection ( when appliable to any church on earth ) too high to the pin , with which the spirits * of just men are made perfect . for as long as the church hath a forme on earth , it will be subject to deformities , and consequently will need reformation . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . and now i cannot call king henry a batchelor , because once married ; nor a married man , because having no wife ; nor properly a widower , because his wife was not dead . ] our author speaks this of henry the eighth immediatly after his divorce , but is much mistaken in the matter . king henry was so averse from living without a wife , that he thought it more agreeable to his constitution to have two wives together , than none at all . to that end while the businesse of the divorce remained undecided , he was married privately to the lady anne bullen , on the of november , &c. fuller . it will rectifie all if i change those words having no wife , into as yet publiquely owning no wife , which shall be done accordingly . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . though many wilde and distempered expressions be found therein , yet they contain the protestant religion in oare , which since by gods blessing is happily refined . ] our author speaks this of a paper containing many erronious doctrines presented by the prolocutor to the convocation : some few of which , as being part of wickliffs gospel and chief ingredients in the composition of the new protestant religion lately taken up , i shall here subjoyn . . that the sacrament of the altar , is nothing else but a piece of bread , or a little predie round-robin . . that priests have no more authority to minister sacraments than the lay-men have . . that all ceremonies accus●omed in the church , which are not clearly expressed in scripture , must be taken away , because they are mens inventions . . that the church commonly so called is the old synagogue ; and that the church , is the congregation of good men onely . . that god never gave grace nor knowledge of holy scripture to any great estate or rich man , and that they in no wise follow the same . . that all things ought to be common . . that it is as lawfull to christen a child in a tub of water at home , or in a ditch by the way , as in a font-stone in the church . . that it is no sin or offence to eat white-meats , egges , butter , cheese , or flesh in lent , or other fasting dayes commanded by the church , and received by consent of christian people . . that it is as lawfull to eat flesh on good-friday , as upon easter-day , or other times in the year . . that the ghostly father cannot give or enjoyn any penance at all . . that it is sufficient for a man or woman to make their confession to god alone . . that it is as lawfull at all times to confesse to a lay-man as to a priest. . that it is sufficient that the sinner doe say , i know my self a sinner . . that bishops , ordinaries , and eccelesiastical iudges , have no authority to give any sentence of excommunication or censure , ne yet to absolve or loose any man from the same . . that it is not necessary or profitable to have any church or chappel to pray in , or to doe any divine service in . . that buryings in churches and church-yards be unprofitable and vain . . that the rich and costly ornaments in the church are rather high displeasure than pleasure or honour to god. . that our lady was no better than another woman , and like a bag of pepper or saffron when the spice is out . . that prayers , suffrages , fasting , or alms-deeds , doe not help to take away sin . . that holy-dayes ordained and instituted by the church , are not to be observed and kept in reverence , in as much as all dayes and times be alike . . that plowing and carting , and such servile work , may be done in the same , without any offence at all , as on other dayes . . that it is sufficient and enough to beleeve , though a man doe no good works at all . . that seeing christ hath shed his blood for us , and redeemed us , we need not to doe any thing at all , but to believe and repent if we have offended . . that no humane constitutions or laws do binde any christian man , but such as be in the go●pels , pauls epistles , or the new testament : and that a man may break them without any offence at all . . that the singing or saying of mass , mattens , or even song , is but a roring , howling , whistling , mumming , tom●ing , and jugling , and the playing on the organs a foolish vanity . this is our authors golden oare , out of which his new protestant religion was to be extracted . so happily refin'd , that there is nothing of the old christian religion to be found therein . which though our author doth defend as expressions rather than opinions , the careers of the soul , and extravagancies of humane infirmity , as he doth the rest ; yet he that looks upon these points , and sees not in them the rude draught and lineaments of the puritan plat-form , which they have been hammering since the time of cartwright and his associates , must either have better eyes than mine , or no eyes at all . i see our author looks for thanks for this discovery for publishing the paper which contain'd these new protestant truths , and i give him mine . fuller . i have many things to return in this contest . first , had i garbled the opinions of my own head , and not presented them to the reader , as i found them presented in the records of the convocation , then the animadvertor had had just advantage against me . secondly , he taketh exception at me in his introduction , for not giving in the degrees by which heterodoxies in religion were ejected and cast out : yet not he is offended at me , because i goe about to doe it , shewing how bad religion was before the reformation , even in the best professors thereof . thirdly , it is more than probable , that these opinions , presented by such as were disaffected to the reformation , were not over favourably stated , but rather worded to the disadvantage . fourthly , some of these opinions , thus condemned by the animadvertor , are ●ound in themselves . i instance in that which in this his list is the eleventh in number , viz that it is sufficient for a man or woman to make confession to god alone . this at this day is defended by the protestan● church , which though commending confession as expedient in some cases , especially when the afflicted conscience cannot otherwi●e get any ea●e , yet doth it not command it on any as necessary , necessitate precepti , so that the omission thereof should amount to a sin . i am confident that the animadvertor himself never solemnly confessed his sins to any but to god alo●e . and it is injurious in him , to demand of another to doe that which was never done by himself . lastly , how unjust were it to put all * ieremies bud figs by themselves , and thence to conclude all the rest ( which indeed were very good ) to be like unto them ? such the dealing of the animadvertor herein , who hath called out the very refuse and dross of the dross in these opinions , and left out the rest , then maintained by gods people in opposition to the errors and superstition of that age , some whereof are here inserted . . they deny extreme unction to be any sacrament . . that all those are antichrists , who deny the laity the sacrament under both kindes . . that it is plain idolatry , to set up any lights before any images , or in any place of the church in time of divine service , as long as the sun giveth light . . that au●icular confession is invented to know the secrets of mens hearts , and to pull money out of their purse . . that sain●s are not to be invocated , and that they understand not , nor know nothing of our petitions , nor can be mediators or intercessors betwixt us and god. . that diriges , mass●s , &c. done for the souls of those which are departed out of this world , are bu● vain , and of no profit . . that souls departed goe strait to heaven , others to hell. . that there is no mean place betwixt heaven and hell , where souls departed may be aff●cted . . that there is no distinction of sin , to be venial and mortal . . that hallowed water , bread , candles , ashes , palmes , are of none effect , and are onely used to seduce people . the rest i refer to my church-history . had that all been like these , i would have called them the gold , but ( because of many errors mixed amongst them ) i resume my metaphor , and term them the golden oare , out of which the reformed christian religion was extracted . and let the author and reader joyn in their thanks to gods goodnesse , by whose blessing on the pious endeavors of the reformers , th● bad figs , i mean those false , indiscreet , scandalous , and dangerous doctrines are cashired and condemned , and the good ones , understand me , the positions which were pious and orthodox , retained , defended and practised at this day in the church of england . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . at this time also were the stews suppressed by the kings command . ] and i could wish that some command had been laid upon our author by the parliament to suppresse them also , and not to have given them any place in the present history , especially not to have produc'd those arguments by which some shamelesse persons endeavoured to maintain both the conveniency and necessity of such common brothel-houses . had bishop iewel been alive , and seen but half so much from dr. harding pleading in behalf of the common women permitted by the pope in rome , he would have thought , that to call him an advocate for the stews had not been enough . but that doctor was not half so wise as our author is , and doth not fit each argument with a several antidote as our author doth , hoping thereby , but vainly hoping , that the arguments alledged will be wash'd away . some of our late criticks had a like designe in marking all the wanton and obscene epigrams in martial with a hand or asterism , to the intent that young scholars , when they read that author , might be fore-warn'd to passe them over : whereas on the contrary , it was found , that too many young fellows , or wonton wits , ●s our author calls them , did ordinarily skip over the rest , and pitch on those which were so mark't and set out unto them . and much i fear that it will so fall out with our author also , whose arguments will be studied and made use of , when his answers will not . fuller . the commendable act of king henry the eighth , in suppressing the stews , may well be reported in church-history , it being recorded in * scripture to the eternal praise of king asa , that he took away the sodomites out of the land. i hope my collection of arguments in confutation of such styes of lust , will appear to any rational reader of sufficient validity . indeed it is reported of zeuxes , that famous painter , that he so lively pictured a boy with a rod in his hand , carrying a basket of grapes , that birds ( mistaking them for real ones ) peckt at them ; and whilest others commended his art , he was angry with his own work-manship , confessing , that if he had made the boy but as well as the grapes , the birds durst not adventure at them . i have the same just cause to be offended with my own indeavors , if the arguments against those schools of wantonnesse should prove insufficient , though i am confident that if seriously considered , they doe in their own true weight preponderate those produced in favour of them . however , if my well-intended pains be abused by such who onely will feed on the poisons , wholy neglecting the antidotes , their destruction is of themselves , and i can wash my hands of any fault therein . but me thinks the animadvertor might well have passed this over in silence , for fear of awaking sleeping wontonnesse , jogged by this his note ; so that if my arguments , onely presented in my book , be singly , this his animadversion is doubly guilty on the same account , occasioning loose eyes to reflect on that which otherwise would not be observed . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . otherwise some suspect , had he survived king edward the sixth , we might presently have heard of a king henry the ninth . ] our author speaks this of henry fitz roy , the kings natural son by elizabeth blunt , and the great disturbance he might have wrought to the kings two daughters in their succession to the crown . a prince indeed whom his father very highly cherished , creating him duke of somerset and richmond , earl of nottingham , and earl marshal of england , and raising him to no small hopes of the crown it self , as appears plainly by the statute h. . c. . but whereas our author speaks it on a supposition of his surviving king edward the sixth , he should have done well in the first place to have inform'd himself , whether this henry and prince edward were at any time alive together . and if my books speak true , they were not ; henry of somerset and richmond dying the of iuly , anno . prince edward not being born till the of october , anno . so that if our author had been but as good at law or grammar , as he is at heraldry , he would not have spoke of a survivor-ship in such a case , when the one person had been long dead before the other was born . fuller . terms of law when used not in law-books , nor in any solemn court , but in common discourse , are weaned from their critical sense , and admit more latitude . if the word surviving should be tied up to legal strictnesse , survivour is appliable to none save onely to such who are ioint-tenants . however , because co-viving is properly required in a survivor , those my words had he survived , shall be altered into had he lived to survive prince edward , and then all is beyond exception . dr. heylin . these incoherent animadversions being thus passed over , we now proceed to the examination of our authors principles , for weakning the authority of the church , and subjecting it in all proceedings to the power of parliaments . concerning which he had before given us two rules preparatory to the great businesse which we have in hand . first , that the proceedings of the canon law were subject in whatsoever touched temporals , to secular laws and national customes . and the laitie at pleasure limited canons in this behalf , lib. . n. . and secondly , that the king by consent of parliament directed the proceedings of the ecclesiastical court in cases of heresie . lib. . n. . and if the ecclesiastical power was thus curbed and fettered when it was at the highest , there is no question to be made , but that it was much more obnoxious to the secular courts when it began to sink in reputation , and decline in strength . how true and justifiable , or rather how unjustifiable and false these two principles are , we have shewn already , and must now look into the rest , which our author in pursuance of the main design hath presented to us . but first we must take notice of another passage concerning the calling of convocations or synodical meetings , formerly called by the two archbishops in their several provinces by their own sole and proper power , as our author grants , fol. . to which he adds , fol. . but after the statute of premunire was made ( which did much restrain the papal power , and subject it to the laws of the land ) when arcbishops called no more convocations by their sole and absolute command , but at the pleasure of the king. ] in which i must confesse my self to be much unsatisfied , though i finde the same position in some other authors . my reasons two , . because there is nothing in the statu●e of praemunire to restrain the archbishops from calling these meetings as before ; that act extending onely to such as purchase or pursue , or cause to be purchased or pursued , in the court of rome , or elsewhere any such translations , processes , sentences of excommunication , bulls , instruments , or any other things whatsoever which touch the king , against him , his crown and his regality , or his realm ; or to such as bring within the realm or them receive , or make thereof notification , or any other execution whatsoever within the same realm , or without , &c. and secondly , because i finde in the statute of the submission of the clergy , that it was recognized and acknowledged by the clergie in their convocation , that the convocation of the said clergie is , alwaies hath been , and ought to be assembled alwaies by the kings writ . and if they had been alwaies call'd by the kings writ , then certainly before the statute of praemunire ; for that the whole clergy in their convocation should publiquely declare and avow a notorious falshood , especially in a matter of fact , is not a thing to be imagined . i must confesse my self to be at a losse in this intricate labyrinth , unless perhaps there were some critical difference in those elder times between a synod and a convocation : the first being call'd by the arch-bishops in their several and respective provinces , as the necessities of the church ; the other only by the king , as his occasion and affairs did require the same . but whether this were so or not , is not much material , as the case now stands , the clergie not assembling since the of king henry the eighth , but as they are convocated and convened by the kings writ only . i only add that the time and year of this submission is mistook by our author ▪ who placeth it in . whereas indeed the clergy made this acknowledgement and submission in their convocation , anno . though it pass'd not into an act or statute till the year next following . well then , suppose the clergy call'd by the kings authority , and all their acts and constitutions ratified by the royals assent , are they of force to binde the subject to submit and conform unto them ? not , if our author may be judge ; for he tels us plainly , fol. . that even such convocations with the royal assent , subject not any ( for recusancie to obey their canons ) to a civil penalty in person or property , until confirmed by act of parliament . ] i marvel where our author took up this opinion , which he neither findes in the registers of convocation , or records of parliament . himself hath told us , fol. . that such canons and constitutions as were concluded on in synods or convocations , before the passing of the statute of praemunire , were without any further ratification , obligatory to all subjected to their jurisdiction . and he hath told us also of such convocations as had been called between the passing of the statute of praemunire , and the act for submission , that they made canons which were binding , although none other than synodical authority did confirm the same . upon which premisses i shall not fear to raise this syllogism , viz. that power which the clergy had in their convocations before their submission to the king , to binde the subject by their canons and constitutions without any further ratification than own synodical authority , the same they had when the kings power signified in his royal assent was added to them ; but the clergy ( by our authors own confession ) had power in their convocations before their submission to the king , to bind the subject by their canons and constitutions , without any further ratification than their own synodical authority ; ergo they had the same power to bind the subjects , when the kings power signified by the royal assent was added to them . the minor being granted by our author , as before is shewed , the major is onely to be proved . and for the proof hereof , i am to put the reader in minde of a petition or remonstrance exhibited to the king by the house of commons , anno . in which they shewed themselves agrieved , that the clergy of this realm should act authori●atively and supremely in the convocations , and they in parliament do nothing , but as it was confirmed and ratified by royal assent . by which it seems that there was nothing then desired by the house of commons , but that the convocation should be brought down to the same level with the houses of parliament ; and that their acts and constitutions should not binde the subject as before , in their goods and possessions , until they were confirmed and ratified by the regal power . the answer unto which remonstrance being drawn up by dr. gardiner then newly made bishop of winchester , and allowed of by both houses of convocation , was by them presented to the king. but the king not satisfied with this answer , resolves to bring them to his bent , lest else perhaps they might have acted something to the hindrance of his divorce , which was at that time in agitation ; and therefore on the tenth of may he sends a paper to them by dr. fox , ( after bishop of hereford ) in which it was peremptorily required , that no constitution or ordinance shall be hereafter by the clergy enacted , promulged , or put in execution , unlesse the kings highnesse do approve the same by his high authority and royal assent ; and his advice and favour be also interponed for the execution of every such constitution among his highnesse subjects . and though the clergy on the receipt of this paper remov'd first to the chappel of st. katherines , and after unto that of st. dunstan to consult about it , yet found they no saint able to inspire them with a resolution contrary to the kings desires ; and therefore upon the wednesday following , being the fifteenth of the same moneth , they made their absolute submission , binding themselves in verbo sacerdotii , not to make or execute any canons or other synodical constitutions , but as they were from time to time enabled by the kings authority . but this submission being made unto the king in his single person , and not as in conjunction with his houses of parliament , could neither bring the convocation under the command of parliaments , nor render them obnoxi●us to the power thereof , as indeed it did not . but to the contrary hereof it is said by our author , that fol. . he ( viz. the king ) by the advice and consent of his clergy in convocation and great councel in parliament , resolved to reform the church under his inspection from grosse abuses crept into it . ] to this i need no other answer than our author himself , who though in this place he makes the parliament to be joyned in commission with convocation , as if a joynt agent in that great businesse of reforming the church ; yet in another place he tels us another tale . for fol. . it will appear , saith he ( and i can tell from whom he saith it ) upon serious examination , that there was nothing done in the reformation of religion , save what was acted by the clergy in their convocations , or grounded on some act of theirs precedent to it , with the advice , counsel , and consent of the bishops and most eminent church-men ; confirmed upon the postfact , and not otherwise by the civil sanction , according to the usage of the best and happiest times of christianity . so then the reformation of the church was acted chiefly by the king with the advice of the clergy in their convocation ; the confirmation on the post-fact by the king in parliament : and that ( by his leave ) not in all the acts and particulars of it , but in some few onely , for which consult the tract entituled , the way and manner of the reformation of the church of england . now as our author makes the parliament a joynt assistant with the king in the reformation , so he conferreth on parliaments the supreme power of ratifying and confirming all synodical acts. fol. . the parliament ( saith he ) did notifie and declare that ecclesiastical power to be in the king , which the pope had formerly unjustly invaded : yet so , that they reserved to themselves the confirming power of all canons ecclesiastical ; so that the person or property of refusers should not be subjected to temporal penalty without consent of parliament . ] but certainly there is no such matter in that act of parliament , in which the submission of the clergy and the authority of the king grounded thereupon is notified and recorded to succeeding times ; nor any such reservation to themselves of a confirming power , as our author speaks of , in any act of parliament ( i can knowingly and boldly say it ) from that time to this . had there been any such priviledge , any such reservation as is here declared , their power in confirming ecclesiastical canons had been lord paramount to the kings ; who could have acted nothing in it , but as he was enabled by his houses of parliament . nor is this onely a new and unheard of paradox an heterodoxie ( as i may call it ) in point of law , but plainly contrary to the practise of the kings of england from that time to this ; there being no synodical canons or constitutions ( i dare as boldly say this too ) confirmed in parliament , or any otherwise ratified , than by the superadding of the royal assent . for proof whereof look we no further than the canons of and confirmed by the two kings respectively , and without any other authority concurring with them in these following words ( viz. ) we have therefore for us , our heirs , and lawfull successors , of our especial grace , certain knowledge , and meer motion , given , and by these presents doe give our royal assent according to the form of the said statute or act of parliament aforesaid , to all and every of the said canons , orders , ordinances , and constitutions , and to all and every thing in them contained . and furthermore , we doe not onely by our said prerogative royal , and supreme authority , in causes ecclesiastical , ratifie , confirm , and establish by these our letters patents , the said canons , orders , ordinances , and constitutions , and all and every thing in them contained , as is aforesaid : but doe likewise propound , publish , and straightly enjoyn and command by our said authority , and by these our letters patents , the same to be diligently observed , executed , and equally kept by all our loving subjects of this our kingdome , both within the province of canterbury and york , in all points wherein they doe or may concern every or any o● them according to this our will and pleasure hereby signified and expressed . no other power required to confirm these canons , or to impose them on the people but the kings alone . and yet i trow there are not a few particulars , in which those canons doe extend , to the propertie and persons of such refusers as are concerned in the same ; which our author may soon finde in them if he list to look . and having so done , let him give us the like precedent for his houses of parliament ( either abstractedly in themselves , or in cooperation with the king ) in confirming canons ; and we shall gladly quit the cause , willingly submit to his * ter judgement . but if it be objected , as perhaps it may , that the subsidies granted by the clergy in the convocation , are ratified and confirmed by act of parliament , before they can be levied either on the granters themselves , or the rest of the clergy . i answer , that this makes nothing to our authors purpose , that is to say , that the person or property of refusers should not be subjected to temporal penalty , without consent of parliament . for first , before the submission of the clergy to king henry the . they granted subsidies and other aids unto the king in their convocations , and levied them upon the persons concerned therein , by no other way than the usual censures of the church , especially by suspension and deprivation , if any refuser prove so refractary as to dispute the payment of the sum imposed . and by this way they gave and levied that great sum of an hundred thousand pounds in the province of canterbury onely ; by which they bought their peace of the said king henry , at such time as he had caused them to be attainted in the praemunire . and secondly , there is a like precedent for it since the said submission . for whereas the clergy in their convocation in the year . being the year of queen elizabeth , had given that queen a subsidy of four sh●llings in the pound , confirmed by act of parliament in the usual way ; th●y gave her at the same time ( finding their former gift too short for her present occasions ) a benevolence of two shillings in the pound to be raised upon all the clergy , by virtue of their own synodical act onely , under the penalty of such ecclesiastical censures as before were mentioned . which precedent was after followed by the clergy in their convocation , an . the instrument of the grant being the same verbatim with that before ; though so it hapned ( such influence have the times on the actions of men ) that they were quarreld and condemned for it by the following parliament in the time of the king , and not so much as checkt at , or thought to have gone beyond their bounds in the time of the queen . and for the ratifying of their bill by act of parliament , it came up first at such times ( after the submission before mentioned ) as the kings of england being in distrust of their clergy , did not think fit to impower them by their letters patents for the making of any synodical acts , canons or constitutions whatsoever , by which their subsidies have been levied in former times , but put them off to be confirmed and made obligatory by act of parliament . which being afterwards found to be the more expedite way , and not considered as derogatory to the churches rights , was followed in succeeding times without doubt or scruple ; the church proceeding in all other cases by her native power , even in cases where both the persons and property of the subject were alike concerned , as by the canons , , and many of those past in queen elizabeths time ( though not so easie to be seen ) doth at full appear . which said , we may have leisure to consider of another passage relating not unto the power of the church , but the wealth of the churchmen . of which thus our author . fuller . i conceived it civil to suffer the animadvertor ( to use his own phrase ) parler le tout , to speak all out in this long discourse ; which , although it consisteth of several notes , yet because all treat of the same subject , and because a relative strength might result thereby to the whole , i have presented it intire : yet when all is said , i finde very little i have learnt thereby , and lesse ( if any thing ) which i am to alter . these my two preparatory rules ( as the animadvertor terms them ) i have formerly stated , and proved , and here intend no repetition . it is no beame , and but a moat-fault at most , if i have dated the submission of the clergy to the king , not from the first private performance , but the passing thereof into print and publique cognisance . thus the age of children are by their parents reckoned from their birth , but by others from their entrance in the register . but the main fault ( and that a foul one , if true ) layed to my charge is , for weakning the authority of church , and subjecting it to the power of parliaments . but know it is past the might and spight of the most malicious man finally to weaken the just authority of the church , god having solemnly promised that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it . yet princes ( as king henry the eighth did ) might retrence the power of the church ( or ambitious church-men rather ) when they invaded the just priviledges of others . i shall onely return a few plain and general answers to what is objected . first , before i entred on the difficult subject of synods and convocations ( before and since the clergies submission ) with their respective powers , i placed , as followeth , church-history , book . pag. . this i humbly conceive to be the difference betwixt the three kindes of convocations , submitting what i have written , to the censure and correction of the learned in the law , conscious of my own ignorance therein , as indeed such skill neither is to be expected or required in one of my profession , who am ready with willingnesse , yea with chearfulnesse , yea with thankfulnesse to god and man publickly to recall and retract what any such convince me to have mistaken herein ; hoping that my stumbling in so dark a subject , may prevent the failing of others . having thus humbly desired ( i say not deserved ) favour , i hope it will be indulged unto me . secondly , i presume to tender this ( i hope reasonable ) motion to the reader , that seeing the animadvertor not onely freely confesseth this subject to be an intricate labyrinth , but also fairly acknowledgeth , that he findeth the positions i maintain in some other authors , that i may be discharged , and that the guilt ( if any ) may be derived on such authors as have misguided me . thirdly , when i use the word parliament , it expoundeth it self what was meant thereby ( capable in that age of no other comment ) viz. the aggregation of the king , lords , and commons . fourthly , i distinguish betwixt a consultive , conclusive , and punitive power in matters of religion . the consultive power god hath intrusted his church with , and the clergy as the representative thereof . the conclusive power also is invested in them , so far forth as to declare what is orthodox , and what heretical . but the punitive power ( especially when exceeding church censors ) and extending to life , limb , and estate , is in the parliament ; that so neither royal prerogative nor subjects right may be injured . fifthly , i distinguish betwixt the power which the convocation had over the clergy , and what they have over the laity . over the estates of the latter , they have no power . as for the clergy , they are all represented , by their voluntary elections , in their clerks or proctors : volenti non fit injuria , a man that is willing is not wronged . what summes therefore they give away of the clergy , they may be presumed impowred therein , with the consent of the clergy . however , to clear all doubts , the consent of parliament hath [ since the submission of the clergy ] been required unto it . as for the black swan in the reign of queen elizabeth , i mean that single and signal instance of tha● unparliament-impowred-convocation , which gave that supplimental subsidie to queen elizabeth ; i humbly conceive that the popularity of so peerlesse a princesse , the necessity of her occasions , and the tranquilitie of those times ( a happinesse denyed in our age ) made that unquestioned , which might be questionable if any turbulent clergy-man had proved recusant in payment . as to the convocation . let me request the reader , that i may without danger humbly tender my opinion therein . that convocation ( as all others ) consisted of bishops , deans , archdeacons , and clerks . of these , the three former acted onely in their personal capacities , and carrying their own purses in their own pockets , might give subsidies to the king to what proportion they pleased , and justifie the doing thereof . not so the fourth and last members , being clerks chosen for their respective cathedrals and diocesses , legally to sit as long as the parliament lasted . after the dissolution whereof they desisted to be publique persons , lost the notion of representatives , and returned to their private condition . in which capacity they might have given for themselves what sums they pleased , but could not vote away the estates of other clergy-men , except the respective cathedrals and diocesses had re-elected them ; which had it been done , they might no doubt have justifyed the giving away of subsidies , as authorized thereunto , though the parliament had been dissolved , seeing every man may doe with his owne as he pleaseth , and the diffusive clergy were justly interpreted to doe what was done by their proctors . truth may be blamed , but cannot be shamed , and i have unbosomed my thoughts and judgment herein . but this outswelleth the proportion of my booke , and let me make a faire motion to the animadvertor . i resume my two former propositions , ( viz. ) the proceedings of the canon law in what touched temporals of life , limb , and estate , was alwaies limited with the secular lawes and nationall customes of england . that the king , by consent of parliament , directed the proceedings of ecclesiasticall courts , against declared hereticks , so that they could not punish them in life or limbe , but as limited by the statute . if the animadvertor , who hath leisure and abilitie , be pleased in confutation of these my propositions , to write a few sheets ( it being richly worth his and the readers paines ) cleerly , briefly , fully and fairly , without the least dash of ill language , subscribing his name thereunto , i will god willing returne him my answere qualified accordingly ; and , though i confesse the animadvertor hath the advantage of me at the weapon of law , yet my confidence of a good cause will make mee undertake the challenge ; alwaies provided , that no advantage be taken against us by any for delivering our judgements and consciences in so nice a controversie : for the present i forbeare , because this dispute is substantive enough to stand by it self , and too large to bee adjected to this booke . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . i have heard ( saith he ) that queen elizabeth being informed that dr. pilkington bishop of durham had given ten thousand pounds in marriage with his daughter ; and being offended that a prelates daughter should equall a princesse in portion , took away one thousand pounds a year from that bishoprick , and assigned it for the better maintenance of the garrison of barwick . ] in telling of which story our author commits many mistakes , as in most things else . for first to justifie the queens displeasure ( if she were displeased ) he makes the bishop richer , and the portion greater than indeed they were . the ten thousand pounds lib fol. . being shrunk to eight ; and that eight thousand pound not given to one daughter ( as is here affirmed ) but divided equally between two : whereof the one was married to sir iames harrington , the other unto dunch of berkshire . secondly , this could be no cause of the queens displeasure , and much lesse of the countries envie ; that bishop having sat in the see of durham above seventeen years . and certainly he must needs have been a very ill husband if out of such a great revenue he had not saved five hundred pounds per annum to prefer his children ; the income being as great , and the charges of hospility lesse than they have been since . thirdly , the queen did not take away a thousand pound a year from that bishoprick , as is here affirmed . the lands were left to it as before , but in regard the garrison of barwick preserved the bishops lands and tenants from the spoil of the scots ; the queen thought fit , that the bishops should contribute towards their own defence , imposing on them an annual pension of a thousand pound for the better maintaining of that garrison . fourthly , bishop pilkington was no doctor , but a batchelor of divinity onely ; and possibly had not been raised by our author to an higher title and degree than the university had given him , but that he was a conniver at non-conformity , as our author telleth us lib. . fol. . lastly , i shall here add , that i conceived the pension above mentioned , not to have been laid upon that see after pilkingtons death , but on his first preferment to it , the french having then newly landed some forces in scotland , which put the queen upon a necessity of doubling her guards and increasing her garrisons . but whatsoever was the cause of imposing this great yearly payment upon that bishoprick , certain i am , that it continued , and the money was duly paid into the exchequer for many years , after the true cause thereof was taken away ; the queens displeasure against pilkington ending either with his life or hers , and all the garrisons and forces upon the borders being taken away in the beginning of the reign of king iames. so true is that old saying , quod christus non capit , fiscus rapit ; never more fully verified than in this particular . fuller . i have given in a double account of bishop pilkingtons issue and estate . . as same reported , and as envio●s courtiers represented it to queen elizabeth , that he gave ten thousand with his onely daughter , lib. . fol. . . as it was in truth , giving but four thousand a piece with two daughters , lib. . fol. . the animadvertor may allow me knowing in his family , my wife being grandchild to his eldest daughter , married to sir * henry harrington . yet no relation to him , or favour for him as a semi-non conformist , but mere love to the truth , made me entitle him doctor , though i confesse bishop godwin maketh him but batchelour in divinity . for dr. caius , master of gonvil hall , whilest pilkington was of st. iohns in cambridge , giveth him the stile of * doctor , who must be presumed most exact in the titles of his own contemporary . the difference is not great , betwixt taking away l. yearly from the bishoprick , and charging it with an annual pension of l. to maintain the garrison of barwick . however if the reader can gain any information from what is additory in the animadvertor , i shall be light glad thereof . the sixth book . containing the history of abbeys . dr. heylin . this book , containing the history of abbeys seems but a supplement to the former , but being made a distinct book by our author , we must doe so likewise . in which the first thing capable of an animadversion , is but meerly verbal , viz. fol. . cistercians so called from one robert living in cistercium in burgundy . ] the place in burgundy from whence these monks took denomination , though call'd cirstercium by the latins , is better known to the french and english by the name cisteaux ; the monks thereof , the monks of cisteaux by the english , and lesmoines de cisteaux by the french ; and yet our author hath hit it better in his cistercians , than ralph brook york herald did in his sister-senses , for which sufficiently derided by augustin vincent , as our author , being so well studied in heraldry , cannot chuse but know . fuller . it was equally in my power and pleasure ( without the least prejudice to the truth ) whether i would render the place in the french [ cisteaux , ] or retain the latine name cistercium . i preferred the latter because our english word cistercians hath most conformity therewith . what is r. brooke his sister-senses , brother-senses , or non-senses to me ? this spends time in writing , money in buying , pains in reading , makes some more angry , none more knowing . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . but be he who he himself or any other pleaseth , brother if they will to st. george on horseback . ] our author not satisfying himself in that equitius , who is supposed to be the first founder of monks in england , makes him in scorn to be the brother of st. george on horse back ; that is to say , a meer chimera , a legendary saint , a thing of nothing . the knights of that most noble order are beholding to him for putting their patron in the same rank with st. equitius ; of whose existence on the earth he can finde no constat . fuller . i honour the knights of that noble order , as much as the animadvertor himself . their ribbands though ( now wearing out apace ) seem in my eyes as fair and fresh as when first put on . i doe not deny , but much doubt of st. george , as he is presented with his improbable atchievements ; yet grant the whole history , onely emblematical , and allegorical of christ , rescuing his church from the might and malice of satan , no diminution of honour at all is thereby to the fellows of that noble order . dr. heylin . but i would have him know , how poorly soever he thinks of st. george on horseback , that there hath more been said of him , his noble birth , atchievements , with his death and martyrdome , than all the friends our author hath , will or can justly say in defence of our present history . fuller . the animadvertor might have done well , to instanced in that author which hath been the champion for this champion , and hath so substantially asserted him . if in this passage he reflecteth on his own book on that subject , he hath lookt so long on st. george , he hath forgot solomon : let another praise thee , and not thy own mouth ; a stranger , and not thine own lips . for my part i am yet to seek what service he hath done to the church of god , so busie to make down sabbath , and up st. george . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. — so they deserve some commendation for their orthodox judgement in maintaining some controversies in divinity of importance against the jesuites . ] our author speaks this of the dominicans or preaching fryers , who though they be the sole active managers of the inquisition , deserve notwithstanding to be commended for their orthodox judgement . how so ? because forsooth in some controversies of importance , that is to say , predestination , grace , free-will , and the rest of that link , they hold the same opinions against the iesuites and fraenciscans , as the rigid lutherans doe against the melanchthonians , and the rigid or peremptory calvinists against the remonstrants . &c. fuller . two things are considerable in the dominicans , first their cruelty in managing the inquisition , which all must justly condemn . and i doubt not , but god , when he maketh inquisition for blood , will remember the bloody inquisition . secondly , their orthodoxnesse in many points , here reckoned up by the animadvertor , which in the judgement of many pious and learned divines , deserve just commendation . and if the animadvertor dissent from them herein , sure i am , he will close with them in another controversie against the franciscans , in maintaining that the virgin mary was conceived in sin : for although all generations shall call her blessed , yet it followeth not thence , that shee was without sin , seeing blessed is he to whom god imputeth no sin . in a word the dominicans are the least erronious of all the monks and friers . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . we will conclude with their observation ( as an ominous presage of abbies ruine ) that there was scarse a great abbey in england , which once at least , was not burnt down with lightning from heaven . ] our author may be as well our in this , as he hath been in many things else ; it being an ordinary thing to adscribe that to lightning or fire from heaven , which happened by the malice or carelesenesse of knaves on earth , of which i shall speak more hereafter , on occasion of the firing of st. pauls steeple in london , lib. . fuller . if your author be out , he told you who were out with your author , yea , who led him out ; viz. the following authors being all of them authenticall , and of the romish perswasion , cited in the margent . . historia gervasii . . historia ingulphi . . cronicon petroburg . . cronicon s ti edmundi . . malmsbury . hoveden . . walter covenir . . fabian . these may be presumed utterly unlikely to be-libell heaven for the actions of earth , or to entitle that an accident of lightning , which was voluntary from knavish incendiaries . dr. heylin . now only noting by the way , that scarce any , and but thirteen ( for our author names no more which were so consumed ) hang not well together . if onely thirteen were so burnt ( and sure our author would have nam'd them if they had been more ) he should have rather chang'd his style , and said that of so many religious houses as suffered by the decayes of time and the fury of the danish wars , or the rage of accidental fires , scarfe any of them had been striken by the hand of heaven . fuller . he might as well have said , that the husbandman , who only sheweth a sample , hath no more corn in his barn. or the draper who presenteth but a patern , hath no more cloth in his shop . i was unwilling to burthen my book with the enumeration of them all , and the reader may take notice of the thirteen named , nine mitred abbies , each 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , eminently worth many meaner monasteries , whose names follow . . canterbury . . croyland . . peterburrough . . st. maries , york . . edmondsbury . . glocester . . cicester . . glassenbury . . evesham . if it were worth the while , i could add many more ; mean time , it is enough to say , mr. fox is the author wherein this is to be found . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . hence presently arose the northern rebellion , wherein all the open undertakers were north of trent , &c. ] not all the open undertakers ▪ i am sure of that , our author telling us in the words next following , that this commotion began first in lincolnshire , no part whereof , except the river - isle of axholm , lies beyond the trent , &c. fuller . almost all lincolnshire lyeth north ( though not of the fall ) of the foundation of trent . however , these words north of trent shall be altered into , in the north of england . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . where there be many people , there will be many offenders , there being a cham amongst the eight in the ark , yea a cain amongst the four primitive persons in the beginning of the world . ] in this , our authors rule is better than his exemplification . for though there were but eight persons in the ark. whereof cham was one , yet in all probability there were more than four persons in the world at the birth of abel , reckoning him for one . &c. fuller . i passe not whether there were , or were not ; i build nothing of consequence thereon , and the matter being no more , i may take it by content without telling it , on the reputation of the generall opinion . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . it was in those dayes conceived highly injurious , to thrust monks and nuns out of house and home , without assigning them any allowance for their subsistence . ] our author sayes very well in this , there being few religious persons thrust out of their houses , ( except those that suffered by the first act of dissolution ) who either were not prefer'd in the church , ( as wakeman the last abbot of tewksbery , was by the king made the first bishop of glocester ) or otherwise provided of some liberal pension , &c. fuller . the animadvertor going along with me in this long note , needeth no answer of mine . hereupon he taketh occasion to shew how injuriously many sequestred clergy-men are dealt with in their fift part , that instead thereof but a nineteenth part is but paid in some places ; and i am sorry i must concurre with him in so sad a truth . but whereas , after his too just complaint , he concludeth with this passage : our author might have saved me the greatest part of this application , had he been minded to doe the poor clergy any right , as he seldome doth . let me add , the animadvertor might have saved me all the pains of this answer , had he not been minded causlesly to cavil , as he often doth . for when i handled the subject of the fifth part , first i got the order for it , ( hard to come by ) to be inserted . secondly , i solemnly answered seven subterfuges , pretended by such as either wholy refuse , or defectively pay the fifth part to the sequestred minister , and then thus conclude . church-hist . book . pag. : i am sorry to see the pitifull and pious intentions of the parliament so abused and deluded by the indirect dealings of others , so that they cannot attain their intended ends , for the relief of so many poor people , seeing no doubt , therein they desired to be like the best of beings , who as closely applieth his lenitive as corrasive plaisters , and that his mercy may take as true effect as his iustice. sure if the present authority ( when at leisure from higher imployment ) shall be pleased to take the groans of these poor souls into its consideration , the voice of their hungry bowels will quickly be turned to a more pleasant tune , from barking for food , to the blessing of those who procured it . now let any censure this a digression from my history ; for though my estate will not suffer me with * job ; to be eyes to the blind , and feet to the lame , i will endeavor what i can to be a tongue for the dumbe . let the reader judge betwixt me and the animadvertor , whether in this particular matter controverted , i have not done the poor clergy as much right , as lay in my power , and more than consisted with my safety . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . but this was done without any great cost to the crown , onely by altering the property of the place from a late made cathedral to an abbey . ] our author speaks this of the church of westminster ; which though it suffered many changes , yet had it no such change as our author speaks of ; that is to say , from a cathedral to an abbey , without any other alteration which came in between . &c. fuller . i said not , that it was immediatly changed from a cathedral to an abbey ; but that it was changed , and that without any great cost to the crown ; so my words want nothing but a candid reader of them . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . nor can i finde in the first year of queen elizabeth any particular statute wherein ( as in the reign of king henry the eight ) these orders are nominatim suppressed , &c. ] but first , the several orders of religious persons were not suppressed nominatim , except that of st. iohns , by a statute in the time of king henry the eighth . secondly , if there were no such statute , yet was it not because those houses had no legal settlement , as it after followeth ; queen mary being vested with a power of granting mortmains , and consequently of founding these religious houses in a legal way . thirdly , there might be such a statute , though our author never had the good luck to see it ; and yet for want of such good luck , i finde him apt enough to think there was no such statute ; et quod non invenit usquam , esse putat nusquam , in the poets language &c. fuller . i could not then finde the statute , and i am not ashamed to confesse it . let those be censured who pretend to have found what they have no● , and so by their confidence ( or impudence rather ) abuse posterity . since , i have found a copy thereof in sr. thomas cottons library , with many commissions granted thereupon , for the dissolution of such marian foundations . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . jesuits , the last and newest of all orders . ] the newest if the last , there 's doubt of that : but the last they were not , the oratorians ( as they call them ) being of a later brood . the iesuites , founded by ignatius loyola , a spaniard , and confirmed by pope paul the third , anno . the oratorians founded by philip merio a florentine , and confirmed by pope pius the fourth , anno . by which accompt these oratorians are younger brethren to the iesuits , by the space of four and twenty years ; and consequently the iesuites not the last and newest of religious orders . fuller . writing the church-history of britain , i herein confined my expression thereunto . the iesuites are the last and newest order , whose over-activity in our land commends ( or condemns them rather ) to publick notice . idem est non esse , & non apparere . the oratorians never appeared in england , save an handfull of them , who ( at queen maries first arrival from france ) onely came hither , to goe hence a few moneths after . the seventh book . containing the reign of king edward the sixth . dr. heylin . we are now come unto the reign of king edward the sixth , which our author passeth lightly over , though very full of action and great alterations . and here the first thing which i meet with , is an unnecessary quaere which he makes about the injunctions of this king. amongst which we finde one concerning the religious keeping of the holy-dayes , in the close whereof it is declared , that it shall be lawfull for all people in time of harvest , to labour upon holy and festival dayes , and save that thing which god hath sent , and that scrupulosity to abstain from working on those dayes doth grievously offend god. our author hereupon makes this quaere , that is to say , fol. . whether in the inju●ction , labouring in time of harvest upon holy-dayes and festivals , relateth not onely to those of ecclesiastical constitution ( as dedicated to saints ) or be inclusive of the lords-day also . ] . were not our author a great zelot for the lords-day-sabbath , and studious to intitle it to some antiquity , we had not met with such a quaere . the law and practise of those times make this plain enough . &c. fuller . it is better to be over doubtfull , than over confident . it had been much for the credit , and nothing against the conscience of the animadvertor , if he had made quaeries , where he so positively and falsly hath concluded against me . now my quaere is answered : and i believe that the lords day was included within the numb●r of holy dayes , and common work permitted thereon . this maketh me bespeak my own and the readers ( justly suspecting that the animadvertor will not joyn with us herein on this account ) thankfulnesse to god. that the reformation since the time of king edward the sixth , hath been progressive , and more perfected in this point amongst the rest , in securing the lords-day from servile imployments . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . in the first year of king edward the sixth , it was recommended to the care of the most grave bishops and others ( assembled by the king at his castle at windsor ) and when by them compleated , set forth in print . with a proclamation in the kings name , to give authority thereunto , being also recommended unto every bishop by especial letters from the lords of the councel to see the same put in execution . and in the next year a penalty was imposed by act of parliament on such who should deprave or neglect the use thereof . ] our author here mistakes himself , and confounds the businesse ; making no difference between the whole first liturgy of king edward the sixth , and a particular form of administration . &c. fuller . i● the reader , by perusing this note of the animadvertor , can methodize the confusion charged on me , i shall be right glad thereof . and i wish that the nice distinction of the liturgie , and the form of administration may be informative unto him more than it is to me . the close of this animadversion , whether this book brought under a review , much altered in all the parts and offices of it , be unto the better or unto the worse , leaves it under a strong suspition of the negative in the judgement of the animadvertor . and now i shall wonder no more at the animadvertors falling foul on my book , who ( as he * confesseth ) am not known unto him by any injurie . seeing such distance in our judgements , that he conceiveth the reformation in the reign of king edward more perfect than what was afterwards , let us make us a captain and return unto egypt . i have too much advantage in my own hand , and a principle in my bosome will not give me leave to make use thereof to the utmost . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . at last the great earl of warwick deserted his chaplain in open field to shift for himself . indeed he had higher things in his head , than to attend such trifles . ] a man may easily discern a cat by her claw , and we may finde as easily by be scratches of our authors pen , to what party in the church he stands most inclined . he had before declared for the dominicans and rigid calvinists in some points of doctrine , and now declares himself for the non-conformists in point of ceremonie . he had not else called the episcopal ornaments , particularly the rochet , chimere , and square-cap , by the name of trifles ; such trifles as were not worth the contending for , if resolute ridley had been pleased to dispense therein . &c. fuller . i say not that they were trifles , but that iohn dudley earl of warwick ( afterwards ) duke of northumberland ) counted them so , in respect to his high designes to the crown yea it is more than suspicious , that his ambition esteemed greater matters than ceremonies , meer trifles , even religion it self , which he so often changed . if the cat hath put in her claw , let her put in her whole foot . i conceive such vestments comparatively trifles , as to things necessary to salvation . and thus i prove it . i dare wager with the animadvertor . that take the clergy of england , as constituted , that three parts of four did not know what a chimere was . nor is this any diminution to their learning and religion ; seeing they were not bound to take cognisance thereof . and therefore i beleeve one may safely call it a trifle , without the knowledge of which word , and what was meant thereby , so many flocks of pious and learned shepheards have gone to heaven . as for the animadvertors additory note which followeth , concerning the singing of psalmes in churches , i am not concerned therein . nor will i here insert his instances of some fortunate subjects , who married queens , seeing i say not alwaies , but often , such matches prove unprosperous . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . this barren convocation is intituled the parent of those articles of religion ( fourty two in number ) which are printed with this preface , articuli de quibus in synodo londinensi , &c. ] our author here is guilty of a greater crime than that of scandalum magnatum , making king edward the sixth of pious memory , no better than an impious and leud impostor . for if the convocation of this year were barren ( as he saith it was ) it could neither be the parent of those articles , nor of the short catechism which was printed with them , countenanced by the kings letters patents prefixt before it , &c. fuller . here is an high charge indeed . i believe●hat ●hat i am generally believed to have as high a reverence for the memory of king edward as the animadvertor himself . the journals of the convocation in this kings reign i have carefully perused , which a●e no better than blanck paper , containing onely the names of the members therein daily meeting , without any matter of moment ( yea any matte● at all ) registred to be performed by them . but i wholy refer my self to what i have written in my church-history of this hard subject , making it there as plain as i could , which the animadvertor hath a mind again to involve and perplex . the eighth book . the reign of queen mary . dr. heylin . we next proceed unto the short , but troublesome reign of queen mary ; in which the first thing that occurs , is fol. . but the commons of england who for many years together had conn'd loyalty by-heart , out of the statute of the succession , were so perfect in their lesson , that they would not be put out of it by this new started design ] in which i am to note these things ; first that he makes the loyaly of the commons of england not to depend upon the primogeniture of their princes , but on the statute of succession , and then the object of that loyalty must not be the king , but the act of parliament , by which they were directed to the knowledge of the next successor : and then it must needs be in the power of parliaments to dispose of the kingdome as they pleas'd ; the peoples loyalty being tyed to such dispositions . &c. fuller . i make not the loyalty of the commons to depend on , but to be directed by the statute of succession . in such intricacies , it was good to have such a guide to lead mens judgements in the right . and though some male-contents started from their loyalty , the generality of the commons of england kept constant unto it . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . afterwards philpot was troubled by gardiner for his words spoken in the convocation . in vain did he plead the priviledge of the place , commonly reputed a part of parliament . ] i cannot finde that the convocation at this time , nor many yeares before this time , was commonly reputed as a part of the parliament . &c. fuller . i onely say that mr. philpot pleaded it , ( and that in vaine ) that it was so reputed , as may plainly appear in mr. fox ; so that my words are liable to no just exception . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . the letany , surplice , and other ceremonies in service and sacraments they omitted , both as superfluous and superstitious . ] our author speaks this of the schismaticall congregation at franckford , who turn'd the publique church liturgy quite out of their church , fashioning to themselves a new forme of worship , which had no warrant and foundation by the lawes of this realm . and first ( saith he ) the letany , surplice , and other ceremonies they omitted both as superfluous and supersticious . superfluous , and supersticious , in whose opinion ? in that of the schismaticks at franckford , our authors , or in both alike ? most probable in our authors , as well as theirs ; for otherwise he would have added some note of qualifications , &c. fuller . this note might well have been spared , i appeal to such as knew my conformity in the colledge chappel , country parishes , and cathedrall of sarum , to be my cumpurgators in this unjust accusation . dr. heylin . thirdly , having laid down an abstract of the form of worship contriv'd by the schismaticks at franckford , he honoureth them with no lower title than that of saints ; and counts this liberty of deviating from the rules of the church for a part of their happinesse . for so it followeth , fol. . this , faith he , is the communion of saints , who never account themselves peaceably possest of any happinesse , untill ( if it be in their power ) they have also made their fellow-sufferers partakers thereof . if those be saints , who seperate themselves schismatically from their mother church ; and if it be a happinesse to them to be permitted so to doe ; our author hath all the reason in the world to desire to be admitted into their communion , and be made partaker of that happinesse which such saints enjoy . &c. fuller . if god were not more mercifull unto us , than we are charitable one to another , what would become of us all ? i humbly conceive that these exiles , ( though i will not advocate for their carriage in all particulars ) had more liberty in modeling their own church , than such as live in england , under a setled government , commanded by authority . schismatick in my minde is too harsh for such who fled and suffered for their conscience ; however , i conceive a saint-ship not inconsistent with such schismaticalnesse ; god graciously , on their general repentance , forgiving them their fault herein . dr. heylin . our author proceeds , fol. . trinity colledge built by sir thomas pope . ] i shall not derogate so much from sir thomas pope , as our author doth from trinity colledge , naming no bishop of this house , as he doth of others . he tells us that he liv'd in this university about weeks , and all that time dr. skinner the bishop of oxford liv'd there too . dr. wright the bishop of liechfield , probably was then living also , ( for he deceased not till after the beginning of the year . ) but he living at that time in his own house of ecclesal castle . both of them members of this colledge , and therefore worthily deserving to have found some place in our authors history . and because our author can finde no learned writers of this colledge neither , i will supply him with two others ●n that kinde also . the first whereof shall be iohn selden , of the inner temple , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ▪ that renown'd humanitian and philologer , sometimes a commoner of this house , and here initiated in those studies , in which he afterwards attain'd to so high an eminence . the second william chillingworth , an able and accute divine , and once a fellow of this colledge ; whose book intituled , the religion of protestants a safe way to salvation , written in defence of dr. potters book called charity mistaken , commended by our author , lib . fol. . remains unanswered by the iesuites , notwithstanding all their brags before-hand , to this very day . which book though most ridiculously buried with the author at arundel ( get thee gon thou accursed book &c. ) by mr. francis cheynel , the usu fructuary of the rich parsonage of petworth , shall still survive unto the world in its own value , when the poore three-penny commodities of such a sorry haberdasher of small-weares shall be out of credite . of this pageant , see the pamphlet call'd chillingworthi novissima , printed at london , anno . fuller . if the animavertor had written an history of cambridge , perchance he would have made as many and great omissions . i have craved solem pardon of the reader when such failings should occur . church history book . pag. . i humbly request the antiquaries of their respective foundations ( best skilled in their own worthy natives ) to insert their own observations , which if they would restore unto me against the next edition of this work , if it be thought worthy thereof ; god shall have the glory , they the publick thanks , and the world the benefit of their contributions to my endeavours . bishop wright is entred in ( where he ought ) a warden of wadham ; the rest shall be inserted in the next edition , with my worthy friend mr. gilbert ironside of the same foundation . mr. cheynel is now rather the object of the animadvertors prayer and pittie , than of his anger . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . but now it is gone , let it go ; it was but a beggerly town , and cost england ten times yearly more than it was worth in keeping thereof . ] admit it be so , yet certainly it was worth the keeping , had it cost much more . the english while they kept that town , had a dore open into france upon all occasions , and therefore it was commonly said that they carried the keyes of france at their girdles . &c. fuller . the animadvertor might understand my meaning , even to make the best of a bad matter , when it cannot be helped . a key falleth under a double valuation , one for the intrinsicall works from the weight thereof in metal , which is very inconsiderable . the other from the use thereof , and thus it 's price riseth or falleth , as it openeth to more or less treasure . calis i confesse , in the second consideration , was a place of main importance ; yet indeed it cost a vast expence in keeping it , as by a book in the exchequer ( which some moneths since * i perused ) doth appear , the charge amounting to an innumerable sum , at the rate of money in that age. the ninth book . containing the reign of queen elizabeth . dr. heylin . the short reigns of king edward the sixth , and queen mary being briefly past over by our author , he spends the more time in setting out the affairs of the church under queen elizabeth ; not so much because her reign was long , but because it was a busie age , and full of faction . to which faction how he stands aff●cted , he is not coy to let us see on all occasions , giving us in the very first entrance this brief , but notable essay , viz. fol. . idolaty is not to be permitted a moment ; the first minute is the fittest to abolish it : all that have power , have right to destroy it by that grand charter of religion , whereby every one is bound to advance gods glory . and if sovereigns forget , no reason but subjects should remember their duty . ] our author speaks this in behalf of some forward spirits , who not enduring the lazinesse of authority in order to the great work of reformation , fell before hand to the beating down of superstitious pictures and images . and though some others condemned their indiscretion herein , yet our author will not , but rather gives these reasons for their justification ; . that the popish religion is idolatry . . that idolatry is to be destroyed by all that have power to doe it . . ( which is indeed the main ) that if the sovereigns do forget , there is no reason but subjects should remember their duty . this being our authors master-piece , and a fair ground-work for seditious and rebellious for the times ensuing , i shall spend a little the more time in the examination of the propositions , as before we had them , &c. fuller . the animadvertor hath dealt most unfairly with me in citing by the halfs what i have written , and leaving out what immediatly followed , and what he ought to have inserted , viz. for after i had presented the judgement of these rigid and violent hotspurs , i subjoyned as followeth , in confutation of their extravagancies : but others condemned their indiscretion herein ; for though they might reform the private persons and families , and refrain to communicate in any outward act contrary to gods word ; yet publick reformation belonged to the magistrate , and a good deed was by them ill done , for want of a calling to doe it . i appeal to such who knew me in the universitie , to those that have heard my many sermons on this subject in london , and else where , but especially to my book called truth maintained , made against mr. saltmarsh , wherein i have heartily , ( to place that first ) largely , and to my power strongly vindicated . non licet populo renuente magistratu , reformationem moliri . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . this parliament being very active in matters of religion , the convocation ( younger brother thereunto ) was little imployed , and less regarded . ] our author follows this design of putting matters of religion into the power of parliaments , though he hath chosen a very ill medium to conclude the point . this parliament as active as he seems to make it , troubled it self so little with matters of religion , that had it done lesse , it had done just nothing . all that it did , was the repealing of some acts made in the time of queen mary , and setling matters in the same state in which she found them at her first coming to the crown . the common prayer book being reviewed and fitted to the use of the church by some godly men , appointed by the queen alone , receiv'd no other confirmation in this present parliament , than what it had before in the last years of king edward . the supremacy was again restor'd , as it had been formerly ; the title of supreme head , which seem'd offensive unto many of both religions , being changed into that of supreme governor , nothing in all this done de novo , which could intitle this parliament to such activity in matters of religion , but that our author had a minde to undervalue the convocation , as being little imployed , and lesse regarded . i grant indeed , that the convocation of that year did only meet for forms sake , without acting any thing , &c. fuller . yea god hath done great things for us already , whereof we rejoyce . and although the animadvector is pleased to say , that if this parliament had done lesse , it had done just nothing , these truly were magnalia , so farre as the word is applyable to humane performances . dr. heylin . in the mean time i would fain know our authors reason , why speaking of the convocation and the parliament in the notion of twins , the convocation must be made the younger brother . assuredly there had been convocations in the church of england some hundreds of years before the name of parliament had been ever heard of ; which he that lists to read the collection of councels published by that learned and industrious gentleman sir henry spelman , cannot but perceive . fuller . i confesse convocations in their general notion more ancient , and regular , and completely constituted than parliaments : yet of these twins , i called the convocation the younger brother properly enough . first , because modern convocations , as modelled since the submission of the clergy to henry the eighth , are many years junior to parliaments . secondly , the convocations alwaies began the day after the parliament , the archbishops and bishops alwaies attending the king the first day in parliament . lastly , the parliament hath made a younger brother of the convocation : and there being a priority in power , he in effect is the heir and elder brother , who confineth the other to a poor pittance and small portion as our age can well remember . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . this year the spire of poles - steeple , covered with lead , strangely fell on fire . ] more modestly in this than when he formerly ascribes the burning of some great abbeys to lightning from heaven . and so this steeple was both reported and believed to be fired also , it being an ordinary thing in our common almanacks , till these latter times , to count the time ( among the other epoches of computation ) from the year that st. paul-steeple was fired with lightning . but afterwards it was acknowledged ( as our author truly notes ) to be done by the negligence of a plummer , carelesly leaving his coles therein : since which acknowledgement we finde no mention of this accident in our yearly almanacks . but whereas our author finds no other benefactors for the repairing of this great ruine , but the queens bounty , and the clergies benevolence , i must needs tell him that these were onely accessories to the principal charge . the greatest part hereof , or to say better , the whole work was by the queen imposed on the city of london , it being affirmed by iohn stow , that after this mischance the queens majesty directed her letters to the major , willing him to take order for the speedy repairing of the same , &c. fuller . non est tanti all this note . the queen and clergy are onely mentioned by way of eminence not exclusion of others . the animadvertor commonly layeth it to my charge , that in my writing i am injurious to the church and clergy ; and now he is offended with me for giving them too much honour . sure i am , mr. * camden , speaking of the repairing of s. pauls on this occasion , ascribes it to the great bounty of the queen , and money gathered of the churchmen and others , where his particular nomination onely of the queen and church-men making them paramount benefactors . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . in the convocation now sitting , the nine and thirty articles were composed , agreeing for the main with those set forth in the reign of king edward the sixth , though in some particulars allowing more liberty to dissenting judgements . ] this is the active convocation which before i spake of , not set●ing matters of religion in the same estate in which they were left by king edward ; but altering some articles , expunging others , adding some de novo , and fitting the whole body of them unto edification ; not leaving any liberty to dissenting judgements , as our author would have it , but binding men unto the literal and grammatical sense . fuller . but the literal and grammatical sense is worded in so favourable and receptive terms , that two opposite parties ( both well●skilled in grammer ) have with great assurance of successe , pleaded them in their defence . in such cases , when the controversie is admissive of a latitude , as not necessary to salvation , the pious and learned penners of the articles , though they did not purposely use cheverel expressions ( to afford shelter to equivocation ; ) yet prudently seeing that all things in the articles were not of equall concernment , and politickly ●ore-seeing men would be divided and differ in their judgements about them , selected phrases grammatically admissive of several senses , all consistent with salvation ; and would draw their words no closer , for fear of strangling tender consciences . hence is it that in the question , whether concupiscence be properly a sin in the regenerate ? both parties appeal unto the article , equally perswaded there so finde favour in their several opinions ; as indeed ( like a well drawn picture ) it seemeth to eye them both , and yet frown on neither . and one may read in the works of king iames , that on this account he highly commendeth the discretion and moderation of the composers of our articles . dr. heylin . they had not otherwise attained to the end they aimed at , which was ad tollendam opinionum dissensionem , & consensum in vera religione firmandum ; that is to say , to take away diversitie of opinions , and to establish an agreement in the true religion . which end could never be effected , if men were left unto the liberty of dissenting , or might have leave to put their own sense upon the articles . but whereas our instances in the article of christs descent into hell , telling us that christs preaching unto the spirits there ( on which the article seemed to be grounded in king edwards book ) was left out in this ; and thereupon inferreth , that men are left unto a latitude concerning the cause , time , manner of his discent ; i must needs say , that he is very much mistaken . for first the church of england hath alwaies constantly maintained a local descent , though many which would be thought her children , the better to comply with calvin and some other divines of forain nations , have deviated in this point from the sense of the church . and secondly , the reason why this convocation left out that passage of christ preaching to the spirits in hell ; was not , that men might be left unto a latitude concerning the cause , time , and manner of his descent , as our author dreams ; but because that passaage of st. peter being capable of some other interpretations , was not conceived to be a clear and sufficient evidence to prove the article . for which see bishop bilsons survey , p. . . fuller . i cannot fully concur with the animadvertor , that the church of england hath constantly maintained a local descent , though no man hath an higher esteem for those worthy writers who are of that perswasion . i will confess this hitherto hath staggered me , viz. st. peter his application of davids words to christ , thou shalt not leave my soul in hel . i appeal whether these words import not a favour to all unprejudiced hearers , which god did to his son , bearing this natural and unviolated sense , that had god left christs soul in hell , his soul had been in a bad condition , as being there in a suffering capacity , but gods paternal affection to his dear son , would not leave his soul in hell , but did rescue it thence . now all our protestant , and especially english writers , who maintain a local descent , doe very worthily ( in opposition to the romish error ) defend , that christ was then in a good estate , yea in a triumphing condition . now then , it had been no favour not to leave his soul in hell , but a less love unto him , to contract his happiness in his triumph . i protest , that in this or any other point , i am not possest with a spirit of opposition ; and when i am herein satisfied in any good degree , i shall become the animadvertors thankful convert in this particular . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . in a word , concerning this clause whether the bishops were faulty in their addition , or their opposites in their substraction , i leave to more cunning arithmeticians to decide . ] the clause here spoken of by our author , is the first sentence in the twentieth article , entituled de ecclesiae authoritate , where it is said that the church hath power to decree rites and ceremonies , and authority in controversies of the faith , &c. fuller . to this and to what ensueth in two leaves following i return no answer ; not because i am pinched therein with any matter of moment , but for these reasons following . first , i understand , that the animadvertors stationer taketh exception , that i have printed all his book , which may tend to his detriment . now i protest , when i ●irst took up this resolution to present the animadvertors whole cloth , list , fagg and all , i aimed not at his damage , but my own defence : no● can i see how i could doe otherwise , seeing the plaister must be as broad as the sore , the tent as deep as the wound ; yea , i have been in●ormed by prime stationers , the like hath formerly been done without exception taken on either side , in the replies and rejoynders betwixt dr. whitgift and mr. cartwright , and many others . however , being willing to avoid all appearance of injury , i have left out some observations which i conceived might well be spared , as containing no pungent matter against me . secondly , i am confident , that there needs no other answer to these notes , then the distinct and serious perusal of my church history , with the due alteration of favour indulged to all writings . l●stly , what of moment in these notes is omitted by me , relateth to those two church questions in law , which i have formerly desired may fairly be ventilated betwixt the animadvertor and me : and if he be sensible , that any thing herein tendeth to his advantage , he may , and no doubt will re-assume and enforce the same . dr. heylin . from the articles our author proceeds unto the homilies approved in those articles , and of them he tels us , fol. . that if they did little good , they did little harm . ] with scorn and insolence enough . those homilies were so composed , as to instruct the people in all positive doctrines necessary for christian men to know , with reference both to faith and manners ; and being penned in a plain style , as our author hath it , were fitter for the edification of the common people , than either the strong lines of some , or the flashes of vain wit in others , in these latter times , &c. fuller . with scorn and insolence i defie the words . the animadvertor might have added my words immediately following , viz. they preached not strange doctrines to people , as too many vent , darknesses now a dayes , intituled new lig●ts . and well had it been for the peace and happiness of the church , if the animadvertor ( and all of his party ) had had as high an esteem as the author hath , for the homilies , if none of them had called them homely homilies , ( as one did , ) and if they had conformed their practise to the second homilie in the second book , and not appeared so forward in countenancing images of god and his saints in churches . dr. heylin . the author proceeds . fol. . the english bishops conceiving themselves impowred by their canons , began to shew their authority , in urging the clergy of their diocess to subscribe to the liturgy , ceremonies and discipline of the church , and such as refused the same , were branded with the odious name of puritans . ] our author having given the parliament a power of confirming no canons , as before was shewed , he brings the bishops acting by as weak authority in the years . & . there being at that time no canons for them to proceed upon for requiring their clergy to subscribe to the liturgies , ceremonies , and discipline of the church : and therefore if they did any such thing , it was not as they were impowred by their canons , but as they were inabled by that authority which was inherent naturally in their episcopal office. fuller . i profess my self not to understand the sense of the animadvertor , and what he driveth at herein . and as soon as i shall understand him , i will either fully concur with him , or fairly dissent from him , rendring my reason for the same . dr. heylin . but whereas he tels us in the following words , that the name of puritan in that notion began this year , viz. . i fear he hath anticipated the time a little , genebrard a right good chronologer placing it ( ortos in anglia puritanos ) about two years after , anno , &c. fuller . i answer , first , let the animadvertor keep his fears for me to himself , and not be solicitous in my beha●f . secondly , if the time be anticipated but a little , these necessary animadversions needed not to take notice thereof . thirdly , genebrards placing the beginning of the name puritan , about two years after , intimates a latitude in his computation . fourthly , genebrard anno . calleth them ortos [ but not orientes ] in anglia puritanos : and when i speak of the beginning of the name , i relate to it rising , not risen . fifthly , genebrard is so disaffected to our religion , he is not to be credited , taking all implicitly out of rayling saunders : witnesse this eminent note amongst the rest , anno . uncti in surria comitatu angliae , è calvinii schola o●iuntur ; qui docent peccare neminem nisi qui veritatem ab ipsis praedicatam non rec●pit . the anointed scholars of calvin did rise this year in surry , an english county ; who teach , that every man must sin that will not imbrace their doctrine : all which is a notorious untruth . lastly , the animadvertor cannot justly be angry with me if i antedated the puritans by two years , seeing he findeth the lineaments of the * puritan platform in the reign of king henry the eighth , twenty years at least be●ore my mention of them . dr. heylin . but why our author should call the bishop of londons house by the name of the popes palace , i doe very much wonder ; unlesse it were to hold conformity with the style of martin mar-prelate , and the rest of that faction . amongst whom nothing was more common than to call all bishops petty-popes , and more particularly to call the archbishop of canterbury the pope of lambeth , and the bishop of london , pope o● london . but i hope more charitably than so , being more willing to impute it to the fault of the printers , than the pen of our author , &c. fuller . it falls out happily for me that grindal was then bishop o● london , one so far from popery , that he is beheld under an opposite notion . i wonder the animadvertor will lay so much weight on a plain mistake of the presse . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . against covetous conformists it was provided , that no spiritual person , colledge , or hospital , shall let lease , other than for twenty one years , or three lives , &c. ] no mention in the statute of covetous conformists , i am sure of that ; and therefore no provision to be made against them , the covetous conformist is our authors own , &c. ] fuller . i say in the same place , that in this parliament laws were enacted against poiniards with three edges . conformists they must needs be , who enjoyed so great church-preferment ; and covetous i may call them , who made so unreasonable leases . but of this i have largely spoken in my answer to the introduction . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . these prophecyings were founded on the apostles precept ; for ye may all prophesie one by one , that all may learn and all be comforted ; but so as to make it out , they were fain to make use of humane prudential additions . ] not grounded , but pretended to be grounded on those words of st. paul , &c. fuller . grounded shall be altered , god willing , into pretended to be grounded , and then i hope no shadow of offence . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . a loud parliament is alwaies attended with a silent convocation , as here it came to passe . the activity of the former in church matters , l●st the latter nothing to doe . ] a man would think by this , that the parliament of this year , being the of the qu●en , had done great ●eats in matters of religion , as making new articles of faith , or confirming canons , or something else of like importance , &c. fuller . it lyeth not in the power of parliament to make new articles of faith , nor did they ever pretend unto it . nor lyeth it in the power of the church to make any new articles ; canons they may make , for the descipline ; and may declare and publish articles of faith . but god alone in scripture hath made them ; to which man , under an heavy curse , may make no addition . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . that since the high commission , and this oath ( it is that ex officio which he meaneth ) were taken away by the act of parliament , it is to be hoped , that ( if such swearing were so great a grievance ) nihil analogum , nothing like unto it ( which may amount to as much ) shall hereafter be substituted in the room thereof . ] what could be said more plain to testifie his disaffections one way , and his z●al another ? the high-commission and the oath reproached as grievances , because the greatest ●urbs of the puritan party , and the strongest bulwarks of the church , a congratulation to the times for abolishing both , though as yet i finde no act of parliament against the oath , except it be by consequence and illation onely ; and finally a hope exprest that the church never shall revert to her former power in substituting any like thing in the place thereof , by which the good people of the land may be stopt in their way to the fifth monarchy so much sought after . and yet this does not speak so plain as the following passage . fuller . god restore the church in his good time to her just rights , and give her wisdome mo●e ra●ely to use it . i am ●o● no fift monarchy or anarchy●he● ●he● but desire from my heart , that no such analogical oath may be offered to me ; and let the animadvertor , if desirous thereof , have it to himself , and much good may it doe him . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . wits will be working , and such as have a satyrical vein , cannot better vent it than in lashing of sin . ] this spoken in defence of those scurrilous libels which iob throgmorton , penry , fenner , and the rest of the puritan rabble published in print against the bishops , anno . thereby to render them ridiculous both abroad and at home . fuller . i am most disingeniously dealt with by the animadvertor , obtruding on me such words . in defence , i defie it , these me words immediatly following . but 〈…〉 and devou● sort of men , even of such as were no great friends to the 〈◊〉 upon solemn deba●e then resolved ( i speak on certain knowledge from the mouthes of such whom i must believe ) that for many foul falshoods therein suggest●d , altogether ●●●eseeming a pious spirit to print , publish , or with pleasure peruse ▪ which ●●posed true both in matter and measure , rather conceal than discover : the best of men being so conscious of their own badnesse , that they are more carefull to wash their own faces , than busie to throw dirt on others . any man may be witty in a biting way ; and those who have the dullest brains , have commonly the sharpest teeth to that purpose ▪ but such ca●nal mirth , whilest it tickleth the flesh doth wound the soul. and which was the 〈◊〉 , these ba●● books would give a great advantage to the general foe ; and papists would make too much u●e thereof against protestant religion ; especially seeing an archangel thought himself too good to bring , and * satan not bad enough to have railing speeches brought against him . reader , what could i have written more fully and freely in the cordial detestation of such abhominal libels . dr. heylin . for if our authors rule be good , fol. . that the fault is not in the writer , if he truly cite what is false on the credit of another , they had no reason to examine punctually the truth of that which tended so apparently to the great advantage of their cause and party , &c. fuller . i say again the writer is faultless , who truly cites what is false on the credit of another ; alwayes provided that the other , who is quoted , hath credit , and be not a lying libeller like these pasauls . if this rule be not true , the animadvertor will have an hard task of it , to make good all in his geography on his own knowledge , who therein hath traded on trust as much as another . dr. heylin . but i am weary and ashamed of raking in so impure a kennel , and for that cause also shall willingly pass over his apology for hacket that blasphemous wretch , and most execrable miscreant , justly condemned and executed for a double treason , against the king of kings in heaven , and the queen on earth . fuller . i appeal to the reader , whether i have not in my church history wrote most bitterly and deservedly against him ; only i took occasion by hackets badness to raise our thankfulness to god. if my meat herein please not the animadvertors pallat , let him leave it in the dish ; none shall eat thereof against their own stomacks , for fear of a surfeit . dr. heylin . of whom he would not have us think , fol. . that he and his two companions ( his two prophets , for so they called themselves ) were not worse by nature than all others of the english nation ▪ the natural corruption in the hearts of others being not less headstrong , but more bridled : and finally , that if gods restraining grace be taken from us , we shall all run unto the same excess of riot . which plea , if it be good for hacket , will hold good for iudas ; and pity it is , that some of our fine wits did never study an apology for him , &c. fuller . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . at antwerp he was ordained minister by the presbytery there , and not long after that , he was put in orders by the presbytery of a forain nation . ] here have we ordination , and putting into orders ascribed to the presbytery of antwerp , a mongrel company , consisting of two blew aprons to each cruel night cap : and that too in such positive terms , and without any the least qualification , that no presbyterian in the pack could have spoke more plainly , &c. fuller . it is better to weare a cruel night-cap than a cruel heart , causelesly cavilling at every man. mr. travers was ordained minister or priest by the presbytery of antwerp , and never had other ordination . i only relate that it was so de facto , and appeal to the reader , whether my words import the least countenance and approbation thereof , though the sin had not been so hainous if i had so done . dr. heylin . only i shall make bold to quit my author with a merry tale ( though but one for an hundred ) and 't is a tale of an old jolly popish priest , who having no entertainment for a friend , who came to him on a fasting day , but a piece of pork , and making conscience of observing the appointed fast , dipt it into a tub of water , saying down pork , up pike . satisfied with which device ( as being accustomed to transubstantiate , he well might be ) he caused it to be put into the pot and made ready for dinner . but as the pork , for all this suddain piece of wit , was no other than pork ; so these good fellowes of the presbytery by laying hands upon one another , act as little as he . the parties so impos'd upon ( impos'd upon indeed in the proper notion ) are but as they were , lay-bretheren of the better stamp , ministers , if you will , but not priests nor deacons , nor any wayes canonically enabled for divine performances . fuller . it is not a fortnight since i heard proclamation against the selling of porke , because about london fatted with the flesh of diseased horses . i suspect some unwholsomness in the animadvertors pork-story , especially as applyed , and therefore will not meddle therewith . dr. heylin . but fearing to be chidden for his levity , i knock off again , following my author as he lea●s me ; who being over shoes , will be over boots also . he is so lost to the high royalist and covetous conformist , that he cannot be in a worse case ( with them ) than he is already . fuller . if i be lost with the high royalists and covetous conformists , i hope i shall be found by the low royalists and liberal conformists : however may god be pleased to finde my soul , and i pass not with whom i be lost . there are a sort of men who with dr. manwaring maintain that kings may impose without parliaments what taxes they please , and the subjects bound to payment under pain of damnation , a principle introductory to tyranny and slavery : these i term high royalists , and i protest my self as to dissent in judgement from them , so not to be at all ambitious of their favour . dr. heylin . and therefore having declared himself for a presbyterian in point of government , he will go thorough with his work , &c. fuller . where have i declared my self for a presbyterian in point of government ? who never scattered sylable , ( and if i did , i would snatch it up again ) to countenance such presumption . i confess i said , that mr. travers was made minister or priest by the presbytery at antwerp ; that is , made minister so far forth as they could give , and he receive the ministerial character , who never had it otherwise impressed upon him . suppose a knight● might not a historian say such a man was made a knight by such a power of person , not engaging himself to justifie his authority that made him ? and by the same proportion , i relating mr. travers made minister at antwerp , am not concerned to justifie , nor by my expression doe i any way approve their minister-making , if they have no commission thereunto . i cannot close with the animadvertor in his uncharitable censure of the ministery of forain protestant churches , rendring them utterly invalid , because ordained by no bishops . cain ( as commonly believed ) is conceived to have killed a fourth part of mankinde by murthering abel ; but the animadvertors cruelty to protestants hath exceeded this proportion , in spiritually killing more than a fourth part of protestants , according to his own principles : for if no priests in france , low countries , swisserland , &c. then no sacraments ; then no church ; then no salvation . far more charitie in those of the former age. bishop andrews when he concurred with others of his own order , in ordaining a scotishman bishop , who ( as by proportion of time may be demonstrated ) received his deaconship and pristhood from the presbytery , conceived such ordination of validity when done ; though i beleeve in his judgement , not so well approving the doing thereof : otherwise he would never have consented to make a meer lay man , per saltum , a bishop . dr. heylin . first for the sabbath , ( for the better day the better deed ) having repeated the chief heads of dr. bounds book published anno . in which the sabbatarian doctrines were first set on foot , he adds , that learned men were much divided in their judgements about the same . fol. . some ( saith he ) embraced them as ancient truths consonant to scripture , long disused and neglected , now seasonably revived for the encrease of piety . ] amongst which some , he that shall take our author for one , will not be much mistaken either in the man , or in the matter . for that he doth approve bounds doctrines in this particular , &c. fuller . the animadvertor imposeth on me that which is contrary to my judgemens . i am not of dr. bounds opinion , who straineth the sabbath too high ; yea the animadvertor when writing against mr. le strange , maketh use of above twenty lines out of my book against him . i am of the judgement of moderate men , as i have clearly and largely stated it in my church-history , and will live , and desire to dye in the maintenance thereof . and i hope the animadvertor will allow me to know my own judgement better than he doth . i am not of the animadvertors mind , that the lords day is alterable and of meer ecclesiastical constitution ; much less dare i concur with him in his scandalous expression , that the late * parliament hath by their orders and ordinances laid greater restraints on people than ever the scribes and pharises did on the iews . to what followeth in the animadvertor concerning the articles at lambeth , i return no other answer , save this : as a historian i have written truly for matter of fact ; and if as a divine , i have interposed something of my judgement in those points , i beleeve the animadvertor , if writing on the same subject , would not appear more moderate . mean time , i am sure he differs as much from me , as i from him in these opinions ; and therefore i see no reason of his animositie on this ●ccount . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . queen elizabeth coming to the crown , sent for abbot fecknam to come to her , whom the messenger found setting of elms in the orchard of westminster abbey : but he would not follow the messenger , till first he had finished his plantation . ] the tale goes otherwise by tradition than is here delivered ; and well it may . for who did ever hear of any elms in westminster orchard , or to say truth , of any elms in any orchard wha●soever of a late plantation ? elms are for groves , and fields , and forests , too cumbersom and overspreading to be set in orchards , &c. fuller . when a traveller on the high-way suddenly returns back again , surely 't is to fetch some matter of moment , which he hath forgotten and left behind him . the animadvertor in this his note , retreats above pages in my church-history , viz. from fol. . to fol. . and what is this retrograde motion for ? even to carpe at elmes , which i say were set by abbot feckenham in the orchard of the dean of westminster , citing my author reynerius for the same ; whose words in horto , i translate in the orchard , as more proper for elmes than a garden . thus have you my tale and my tales maker . so that this wooden animadversion might well have been spared . the tenth book . containing the reign of king james . dr. heylin . our author proceeeds . fol. . watson with william clark ( another of his own profession ) having fancied a notional treason , imparted it to george brooks . ] to these he after adds the lord cobham a protestant , the lord gray of wh●ddon a puritan , and sir walter rawleigh an able statseman , and some other knights . in the recital of which names our author hath committed a double fault , the one of omission , and the other of commission . a fault of omission , in leaving out sir griffith markam , as much concerned as any of the principal actors , designed to have been secretary of estate , had the plot succeeded , and finally arraigned and condemned at winchester , as the others were . fuller . i distinguish betwixt total omission , express enumeration , and implicit inclusion . sir griffith markam cannot be said to be omitted by me , because included in that clause , and some other knights . yea this whole treason had not at all sound any mention in my history ( not being bound to take cognizance thereof ) save for the two priests , who were engaged therein . dr. heylin . his fault of commission is , his calling the lord gray by the name of the lord gray of whaddon ( a fault not easily to be pardoned in so great an herald ) whereas indeed though whaddon in buckinghamshire was part of his estate , yet wilton in herefordshire was his barony and ancient seat ; his ancestors being call'd ll. gray of wilton , to difference them from the lord gray of reuthen , the lord gray of codnor , &c. fuller . a fault not so great neither in an herauld , seeing i call him not lord gray baron of whaddon , but of whaddon ; and a noble person may be additioned either from his honour or his habitation . besides wilton in herefordshire , long since being run into ruin , those lords , some sixscore years agoe , removed their residence to whaddon in bucks where some of them lived , died , and are bur●ed . the animadvertor made as great an omission in his short view of k. charles , when mentioning his tutor mr. murrey , but quite leaving out sir iames fullerton , conjoyned with him in the same charge of the princes education . and a greater fault of commission is he guilty of , when taxing mr. murrey as disaffected to the english church , who when made provost of eaton ▪ took his oath and therein professed his good liking of our discipline , as in the cabala doth appear . to return to whaddon the animadvertor might have spared this his note , who in the * postcript annexed to this book , maketh edward lord montagu created baron of broughton in northamptonshire . now though the l. montagu hath the manor of broughton ( with the appendant advowson ) and other considerable lands therein ; yet is he baron of boughton in the same county . a mistake so much the greater in the animadvertor , because done in his emendation of his emendations of the faults of another , so that he cannot hit it right in this his third endeavor . this i had passed over in silence , had not his cruelty on my pen or presse-slips occasioned me to take notice thereof . dr. heylin . our author proceeds . fol. . this conference was partially set forth only by dr. barlow dean of chester , their professed adversary , to the great disadvantage of their divines . ] if so , how did it come to passe , that none of their divines then present , nor any other in their behalf did ever manifest to the world the partialities and falshoods of it . the book was printed not long after the end of the conference , publickly passing from one hand to another , and never convicted of any such crime as it stands charged with , in any one particular passage to this very day , &c. fuller . i only said that some did complain that this conference was partially set forth . i avowed not that they complained justly , i believe their complaint causlesse , ( and let it be remedilesse for me , ) seeing i my self professe verbo sacerdotis , that i have been accused that i have abridged this conference to the disparagement of dr. reynolds , though my conscience be clear herein . dr. heylin . however our author telleth us , that he ( viz. mr. nicholas fuller ) left behind him the reputation of an honest man. no question of it . it is a thing so incident to the name , that whatsoever they doe or say , they are honest still . fuller . all his jeering on my name shall not make me goe to the heraulds office to endeavor the altering thereof . i fetcht it from my great-great grand father , and hope shall leave it to my great-great grand-child . a name which no doubt originally was taken from that usefull trade , without which mankind can neither be warm or cleanly . the like is frequent in many respectfull families in england , as the antiquary hath observed . * from whence came smith , al be he knight or squire , but from the smith that forgeth at the fire . yet considering the narrownesse of my name , it is inferiour to few , having produced the best of english pilots t. fuller , who steered captain cavendish round about the world ; the best of english criticks , n. fuller , so famous in forain parts for his miscellany's ; and none of the worst of english benefactors , i. fuller , one of the judges of the sheriffs court in london , who built and * endowed an almeshouse for twelve poor men at stoken-heath , and another at shorditch for as many poor women . besides , he gave his lands and tenements of great yearly valuation in the parishes of s. bennet , and peters pauls wharf london , to feoffees in trust , to release prisoners in the hole of both counters , whose debts exceeded not twenty shillings eight-pence . yea it hath at this day , one bishop , one dean , one doctor , two batchelour of divinity , and many masters of arts , of no contemptible condition . pardon reader this digression done se defendendo against one , by whom my name is too much undervalued , by ironical over-valuing thereof . dr heylin . before we had the story of thomas fuller of hammersmith condemn'd for felony , but still so honest and so entirely beloved by king harry the sixth after his decease , that he appeard to him on the top of the gallows , incourag'd him , and so charm'd the rope , that it did not strangle him , lib. . . afterwards we meet with iohn fuller , doctor of the laws ( a better than he ) a persecutor in queen maries dayes , but a pittiful man , as the index telleth us . here we have nicholas fuller a counseller ( the best of the three ) decrying openly the authority on the high commission ; and thereby giving a legal advantage to archbishop bancroft , by whom imprisoned , and there dying but dying , with the reputation of an honest man. and then another thomas fuller a minister , ( the best of all the company ) and an honest man too , so well deserving of the church ▪ and all good church-men ( both alive and dead ) by this notable history , as not to doubt of the like favour at their hands ( should there be occasion ) as thomas of hammersmith receiv'd of king harry the sixth . fuller . here are four gradations of fullers , good , better , best , best of all , which in the language of jeering ( speaking alwayes by the contraries , amounteth unto bad , worse , worst , worst of all . as for the first t. fuller , i answer ; first , the tale is not made , but related by me , who have charged my margin with the author thereof , * harpsfeild , not inconsiderable for learning & religion amongst his own party . secondly , not the least credit is given thereunto in my reporting it , matching it with another miracle , which i call equally true , that is equally untrue in the interpretation of any unpartial reader . thirdly , seeing i followed harpsfeild in relating his miracles in other places ; if here i should have deserted him , probably it would have been by others condemned in me for a sullen omission , as by the animadvertor for a light insertion , because t. f. was my namesake . the good nature and pittiful disposition of dr. i. fuller plainly appeareth in mr. fox ; and as for his bounty to iesus col. in cambridge , i leave it to some of that foundation to give testimony thereof . as for the third n. fuller , be it reported to the * iesses of grayes-inne , i mean such benchers as pass amongst them for old men , and can distinctly remember him , whether he hath not left a pretious and perfumed memory behinde him , of one pious to god , temperate in himself , able in his profession , moderate in his fees , carefull for his client , faithfull to his friend , hospital to his neighbour , pittifull to the poor , and bountifull to emanuel colledge in cambridge : in a word blamless in all things , save this one act of indiscretion , which could not make him forfeit the reputation of his honesty , especially seeing he paid dear for it , and died in durance . thus though mr. stubbs was so obnoxious to the displeasure of queen elizabeth , that h●s right-hand was cut off , for writing a libel against her match with monseir ; yet * mr. camden does call him virum famae integerrimae . for the fourth and last , i will make the animadvertor the self same answer which the servants of hezekiah returned to rabsecah ; * but they held their peace , and answered him not a word . dr. heylin . the author saith , and as about this time , some perchance over-valued the geneva notes , out of that especial love they bare to the authors , and place whence it proceeded : so on the other side , same without cause did sleight , or rather without charity did slander the same . ] i trowe our author will not take upon him to condemn all those who approve not of the genevian notes upon the bible , or to appear an advocate for them , though he tells us not many lines before , that they were printed thirty times over with the general liking of the people . fuller . had i said two and thirty times , though past the head game i had not been out . and now the reader shall have my full and free sense of the genevian notes . i remember the proverb . * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . in head of polypus is had what is good , and what is bad . such a mixture is in these notes , wherein the most , pious and proper to expound their respective places ; but some ( and those too many , though never so few ) false , factious , dangerous , yea destructive to religion . i could therefore wish some godly and discreet persons , impowred and imployed to purge forth the latter , that the rest may remain without danger , for the profit of plain people . but till this be done , i am ( i thank god ) old enough to eat fish , feeding on the flesh thereof , and laying by the bones on my trencher , or casting them down to the doggs . dr. heylin . i hope he will not condemn all those who approve not those notes , for k iames , who in the conference at hampton court , did first declare that of all the translation of the bible into the english tongue , that of geneva was the worst ; and secondly , that the notes upon it were partial , untrue , seditious , and savouring too much of dangerous and traiterous conceits . for proof whereof his majesty instanced in two places , the one on exod. . ver . . where disobediance to the king is allowed of : the other in chron. . , . where asa is taxed for deposing his mother only , and not killing her : a note , whereof the scottish presbyterians made special use , not only deposing mary their lawfull queen from the regal throne , but prosecuting her openly , and under hand , till they had took away her life . these instances our author in his summary of that confererence , hath passed over in silence , as loath to have such blemishes appear in the genevians , or their annotations : and i hope also that he will not advocate for the rest . fuller . down with these bones to the dogs indeed , which alone are proper for their palate . the scots are old enough ( being reputed by historians one of the most ancient nations of europe ; ) let them answer for themselves , though ( i beleeve ) they cannot answer this foul fact , but by penitent confession thereof . but whereas the animadvertor taxeth me for wilfully omitting those instances of k. iames in favour to the genevians ; i protest my integrity therein . it was only because i would have my summary a summary , no abridgement being adequate to the narration abridged therein . dr. heylin . for let him tell me what he thinks of that on the second of st. matthews gosspel , ver . . viz. promise ought , &c. fuller . let him shew me what commission he hath to enquire into my thoughts ; however , to doe him a pleasure , i will tell him what i think in the point . dr. heylin . promise ( say the genevians ) in their note , matthew . . ought not to be kept where gods honour and preaching of his truth is hindred , or else it ought not to be broken . what a wide gap , think we , doth this open to the breach of all promises , oathes , covenants , contracts , and agreements , not only betwixt man and man , but between kings and their subjects ? what rebel ever took up arms without some pretences of that nature ? what tumults and rebellions have been rais'd in all parts of christendom , in england , scotland , ireland , france , the netherlands , germany , and indeed where not ? under colour that gods honour , and the preaching of the truth is hindred ? if this once pass for good sound doctrine , neither the king nor any of his good subjects , in what realm soever , can live in safety . gods honour and the preaching of his truth are two such pretences , as will make void all laws , elude all oaths , and thrust out all covenants and agreements , be they what they will. fuller . i behold this note as impertinent to that place , seeing it appears not in the text , that those wise men made herod any promise to return unto him . secondly , had they made him any promise , yea bound it with an oath by the living god , such an oath had not been obligatory , because god ( to whom the forfeiture was due ) released the band in an extraordinary vision , unto them such , that our age doth not produce . as the note is impertinent in that place , so it is dangerous at all times ; and mans corruption may take thence too much mischievous advantage , which is partly given , because so perilous a pit is left open ( contrary to the iudicial * law ) and not covered over with due caution requisite thereunto . i concurre therefore with the animadvertor in the just dislike thereof . dr. heylin . next i would have our author tell me , what he thinks on this note , on the ninth of the revelation , vers . . where the locusts which came out of the smoak are said to be false teachers , hereticks , and wouldly subtil prelats , with monks , friers , cardinals , patriarchs , archbishops , bishops , doctors , batchelours , and masters . does not this note apparently fasten the name of locusts on all the clergy of this realm , that is to say , archbishops , bishops , and all such as are graduated in the university by the name of doctors ; batchelours , and masters ? and doth it not as plainly yoke them with friers , monks , and cardinals , &c. fuller . it was in my opinion both indiscretly and uncharitably done , to jumble them together , being of so different ( not to say contrary ) originations . sure i am , though they are pleased to match them by force , yet the parties were never agreed . they might as well have added superintendents , lecturers , assistants , and whole classesses ; seeing all such , it victous in life , or heretical in doctrine , ( notwithstanding their reformed names ) are locusts ▪ as well ( that is , as ill ) as any of the other . but let us return to those my words which first gave the first occasion to these four last animadversions . church-history , book , page . and as about this time , some perchance over-valued the geneva notes , out of the especial love they bare to the authors and place whence they proceeded ; soon the other side , * some without cause , did sleight , or rather without charity , did slander the same : for in this or the next year a doctor in solemn assembly in the university of oxford publickly in his sermon at st. maries , accused them as guilty of mis-interpretation touching the divinity of christ ; and his messiah-ship , as if symbolizing with arrians and jews against them both . for which he was afterwards suspended by dr. robert abbot propter conciones publicas minus orthodoxas & offensionis plenas . fain would i know first , whether these my words import my inclination to defend all in the geneva notes . secondly , though i neither can nor will ( as by the premisses doth appear ) excuse all passages in them , i am confident that neither the animadvertor , nor all those of all degrees and qualities in both universities urging him to write against me , are able to finde out any arianisme or anti-mess●anisme in those notes . and therefore as an historian i was bound to take notice of the fault and censure of that doctor , onely expressed in the margin by the initial letter of his sirname . dr. heylin . our author goeth on . fol. . at this time began the troubles in the low-countries about matters of religion heightned between two opposite parties , remonstrants , and contra-remonstrants ; their controversies being chiefly reducible to five points , &c. ] not at this time , viz. . which our author speaks of , but some years before . fuller . a causlesse cavil . i said not absolutely they now began , but now they began heightned . the animadvertor knows full well that such participles equivale infinitives . in greek , matth. . . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . in latin , virg. en. . — sensit medios delapsus in hostes , pro delapsum se esse . the troubles in the low-countries began heightned , that is to heightned . the distemper was bred some years before , which now came to the paroxism thereof , viz. anno . dr. heylin . and first it is to be observed , that though he was then dean of westminster when the custody of the great seal was committed to him ; yet was he not then and still dean of that church , that is to say , not dean thereof at such times as our author writ this part of the history : for fol. . speaking of dr. halls return from the synod of dort , anno . he adds , that he continued in health till this day , thirty three years after , which falls into the year . and certainly at that time dr. williams ( then archbishop of york ) was not dean of westminster , that place being bestowed by his majesty on dr. steward clerk of the closet , anno . being full six years before the time our author speaks of . fuller . this i have learnt from the animadvertor , which i knew not before , and i thank him for it . the great distance of exeter ( where i lived ) from oxford , may partly excuse my ignorance therein ; who alwaies beheld archbishop williams as the last dean of westminster : as indeed he was the last that ever was instauled therein . and dr. steward never lived minute in , or gained farthing from his deanship . so umbratile a dignity is not worth the contending for . dr. heylin . secondly , whereas our author tells us , that the place was proper not for the plain but guarded gown ; i would fain know how it should be more proper for the guarded gown than it was for the plain . there was a time when the chancellors ( as our author telleth us elsewhere ) were alwaies bishops ; and from that time till the fall of cardinal wolsey , that office continued for the most part in the hands of the prelates : at what time , that great office was discharged with such a general contentment , that people found more expedition in their suits , and more ease to their purses than of later times . by which it seems that men who are never bred to know the true grounds and reasons of the common law , might and could mitigate the rigor of it in such difficult cases as were brought before them ; the chancery not having in those dayes such a mixture of law as now it hath , nor being so tyed up to such intricate rules as now it is . fuller . i have nothing to return in opposition to the animadvertor in his endeavouring to make a clergy-man proper to be lord chancellor of england , as , as well qualified as any common-lawyer for the place . nor if i could , would i disprove what tendeth to the honour of my profession . the little toe is advanced when the head is crowned , as a member of the same body ; and my meannesse is sensible of some honour , that any of my calling are put in a capacity of so high a preferment . onely i request , that if the animadvertor be advanced to the place , and if i have a cause brought before him , that he would be pleased to hear it cum omni favore on this consideration , that he put me to much trouble in answering his causlesse cavils against my church-history . give me leave to add , that i suspect the common-lawyers will take advantage from the last words of the animadvertor , confessing the court of chancery now more intricated and mingled with law , than in former ages . hence i fear they will infer , that clergy-men ( though they were heretofore ) will not hereafter be so able and fit to discharge that office. but let us proceed . dr. heylin . but thirdly , whereas our author in advocating for the common lawyers , prescribeth for them a succession of six descents , he hath therein confuted himself , and saved me the trouble of an animadversion , by a marginal note ; in which he telleth us , that sir ch. hatton was not bred a lawyer . if so , then neither was the title so strong , nor the proscriptions so well grounded as our author makes it ; the interposition of sir christopher hatton between sir tho. bromley and sir iohn puckering , restraining it to three descents ▪ and but thirty years ; which is too short a time for a prescription to be built upon . fuller . i prescribe not for the common-lawyers whose words are , the common-lawyers ( and those i assure you knowing enough in this their own art ) prescribed for six descents . the marginal note was entred by me , a little to check , for ( say they ) it doth not confute their prescription . alledging that sir christopher hatton , though not bred so professed a lawyer , as to be called to the bar , was admitted in one of the inns of court , and wore no plain but a guarded gown in westminster-hall , as some still alive doe remember . dr. heylin . our author telleth us folio . . how marcus antonius de dominis , he had . years been archbishop of spalato , &c. conscience in shew , and covetousness in deed , caused his coming hither . ] this is a very hard saying , a censure which entrenches too much upon the priviledges of almighty god , who alone knows the secrets of the heart of man. interest tenebris , interest cogitationibus nostris , quasi alteris tenebris , as minutius hath it . fuller . if my saying intrencheth on divine priviledges , i shall crave pardon from that god , who will more freely forgive me , than the animadvertor would , had i offended him : besides , it is no encroachment on the prerogative of the crown of heaven , to censure the secrets of mens hearts , when made visible to the world in their actions : and though the thoughts of this prelate were written in secret characters , yet are they easily read , as decyphered by the key of his ensuing deeds , who left the print of his covetous claws in all places where he got english preferment . dr. heylin . the man here mentioned had been in the confession of our author himself , archbishop of spalato in dalmatia , a dignity of great power and reputation , and consequently of a fair revenue in proportion to it . fuller . i believe no less ; but far short of our english bishopricks . it may be said of italian dignities , ( to which dalmatian may be reduced , as under the venetian common-wealth ) that generally they have high racks , but bad mangers , as being set too thick to burnish about in much breadth and wealth . the intrado of the archbishoprick of spalato consisteth partly in his iurisdiction , the exercise whereof is much obstructed , partly in lands , the revenues whereof are more impaired by the vicinity of the turk , harraging those parts with his daily intrusion . * mercator tels us , that the port of salona ( which is hardly an english mile from spalato ) nunc quidem parum colitur ob turcarum viciniam . a * judicious writer , valuing his arch-bishoprick ( as it seemeth to advantage ) estimateth it annually at crowns , which falleth a fourth part short of pounds sterling , a summe exceeded in most of our middling bishopricks : besides the arch-bishoprick of spalato was clogged and incumbred with a pension of crowns ( the sixth part of his revenues ) payable ( with the arrears ) by the popes command , to one andrutius . the payment of which sixt part went as much against spalato's stomach , as the payment of the fifts now a dayes doth from the present possessors to sequestred minister . dr. heylin . he could not hope to mend his fortunes by his coming hither , or to advance himself to a more liberal entertainment in the church of england , than what he had attained to in the church of rome . covetousness therefore could not be the motive for leaving his own estate , of which he had been possessed . years in our authors reckoning , to betake himself to a strange country , where he could promise himself nothing but protection and the freedome of conscience . our author might have said , with more probability , that covetousness , and not conscience , was the cause of his going hence , no bait of profit or preferment being laid before him to invite him hither , as they were both , by those which had the managing of that designe , to allure him hence ▪ &c. fuller . dark men are the best comment upon themselves , whose precedent are best expounded by their subsequent actions . who so considereth the rapacity and tenacity of this prelate in england , will easily believe that a two-handed covetousness moved him to leave his native country and come over hither ; one to save , the other to gain . to save , that is to evade the payment of the aforesaid pension , with the arrears thereof : to gain , promising himself , as by the future will appear , not only protection , but preferment ; not only safety , but more plenty by coming hither . he had learning enough to deserve , ambition enough to desire , boldness enough to beg , and presumed k. iames had bounty enough to give him the highest and best pr●ferment in england ; and he who publickly did beg york , may be presumed privately to have promised the arch-bishoprick of canterbury to himself . dr. heylin . all mens mouths ( saith our author ) were now filled with discourse of prince charles his match with donna maria , the infanta of spain . the protestants grieved thereat , fearing that his marriage would be the funerals of their religion , &c. ] the business of the match with spain hath already sufficiently been agitated , between the author of the history of the reign of king charles and his observator : and yet i must add something to let our author and his reader to understand thus much , that the protestants had no cause to fear such a funeral . fuller . h●d i said that the protestants justly feared this marriage , then the animadvertor had justly censured ; whereas now , grant they feared where no fear was , he findeth fault where no fault is . historians may and must relate those great and general impressions which are made on the spirits of people , and are not bound to justifie the causes thereof to be sound and sufficient . ten thousand persons of quality are still alive , who can ●nd will attest , that a pannick fear for that match invaded the nation . dr. heylin . they knew they lived under such a king who loved his sovereignty too well , to quit any part thereof to the pope of rome ; especially to part with that supremacy in ecclesiastical matters , which he esteemed the fairest flower in the royal garland . they knew they lived under such a king , whose interest it was to preserve religion in the same state in which he found it ; and could not fear but that he would sufficiently provide for the safety of it . fuller . mr. camden writing of the match of q. elizabeth , with mounsier , younger brother to the king of france , hath this presage , that when mr. stubs whose hand was cut off , said , god save the queen , the multitude standing by held their peace , rendring this as one reason thereof : * ex odio nuptiarum , quas religione exitiosas futuras praesagierunt . out of hatred to that match , which they presag'd would be destructive to religion . now may not the animadvertor as well tax mr. camden for inserting this needless note , and tell the world , that no princess was more skild in queen craft than q elizabeth , and that this presage of her people was falsly fo●●de● ? i detract not from the policy or piety , head or heart of k. iames ; but this i say , let sovereigns be never so good , their subjects under them will have their own ioyes , griefs , loves , hatreds , hopes , fears ; sometimes caused , sometimes causless ; and histor●ans have an equal commission to report both to posterity . dr. heylin . if any protestants feared the funeral of their religion , they were such protestants as had been frighted out of their wits , as you know who used to call the puritans ; or such who under the name of protestants had contrived themselves into a faction not only against episcopacy , but even monarchy also . fuller . i profess i know not who used to call puritans protestants frighted out of their wits : who ever it was , it was not michael the arch-angel , who would not rail on the devil . by protestants , i mean protestants indeed , or ( if you will rather have it ) christians sound in their iudgement , uncontriv'd into any faction ; so far from being anti-episcopal , that some of them were members of the hierarchy ; and so far from destroying monarchy , that since they endeavoured the preservation thereof , with the destruction of their own esta●es . as worthy doctor hackwel , arch-deacon of surrey , was outed his chaplain● place , for his opposing the match when first tendred to prince henry ; so many ( qualified as aforesaid ) concurred with his ●udgement , in the resumption of the match with k. charles ; notwithstanding they were justly and fully possessed of integrity and ability of k. iames. their seriously considering the z●●l of the spanish to promote popery ; the activity of the romish priests to gain proselites ; their dexterous sinisterity in seducing souls ; the negligence of two many english ministers in feeding their flocks ; the pl●usibility o● popery to vulgar iudgements ▪ the lushiousness thereof to the pala● of flesh and blood ▪ the fickleness of our english nation to embrace novelties ; the wavering of many unsettled minds ; the substilty of satan to advance any mischievous designe ; the justice of god to leave a sinful nation to the spirit of delusion ; feared ( whether justly or no , let the reader judge ) that the spanish match ( as represented , attended with a tolleration ) might prove fatall to the protestant religion . dr. heylin . and to these puritans , nothing was more terrible than the match with spain , fearing ( and perhaps justly fearing ) that the kings alliance with that crown , might arme him both with power and counsel to suppress those practices which have since prov'd the funeral of the church of england . fuller . by the church of england the animadvertor meaneth ( as i believ ) the hierarchy , the funerals whereof for the present we do behold : however i hope there is still a church in england alive , or else we were all in a sad , yea in an unsaluable condition . the state of which church in england i compare to * eutichus . i suspect it hath formerly slept too soundly in case and security . sure i am , it is since , with him , fallen down from the third loft ; from honour into contempt ; from unity into faction ; from verity into dangerous errors● yet i hope ( to follow the allegory ) that her life is still left in her ; i mean so much soundness left , that persons born , living , and dying therein are capable of salvation . let such who think the church of england sick , pray for her wonderfull recovery ; and such as think her dead , pray for her miraculous resurrection . dr. heylin . but as it seems they feared where no fear was , our author telling us , fol. . that the spanish state had no minde or meaning of a match ; and that this was quickly discovered by prince charles at his coming thither . how so ? because , saith he , fol. . they demanded such unreasonable liberty in education of the loyal offspring , and other priviledges for english priests , &c. ] if this be all , it signifies as much as nothing . for thus the argument seems to stand , viz. the spaniards were desirous to get as good conditions as they could for themselves and their party , ergo they had no minde to the match . or thus , the demands of the spaniards when the businesse was first in treaty , seem'd to be unreasonable , ergo they never really intended that it should proceed . our author cannot be so great a stranger in the shops of london , as not to know that trades-men use to ask many times twice as much for a commodity , as they mean to take ; and therefore may conclude as strongly , that they doe not mean to sell those wares for which they ask such an unreasonable price at the first demand . iniquum petere , ut aequum obtineas , hath been the usual practise ( especially in driving state-bargains ) or all times and ages . and though the spaniards at the first spoke big , and stood upon such points , as the king neither could , nor would in honour or conscience consent unto : yet things were after brought to such a temperament , that the marriage was agreed upon , the articles by both kings subscrib'd , a proxie made by the prince of wales to espouse the infanta , and all things on her part prepared for the day of the wedding . the breach which followed came not from any aversness in the court of spain , though where the ●ault was , and by what means occasioned , need not here be said . fuller . i expected when the animadvertor had knocked away my bowl , he would have layed a toucher in the room thereof : but if neither of us have a bowl in the alley , we must both begin the game again . may the reader be pleased to know , that living in exeter , i had many hours private converse with the right honourable iohn digby earl of bristow , who favoured me so far ( much above my desert ) that at his last going over into france ( where he died ) he was earnest with me to goe with him , promising me , to use his own expression , that i should have half a loaf with him , so long as he had a whole one to himself . this i mention to insinuate a probability , that i may be as knowing in the misteries of the spanish match as the animadvertor . double was the cause of the breach of the spanish match ; one , such as may with no lesse truth than safety be related , as publickly insisted on in the parliament , viz. the spanish prevarication to restore the palatinate : the other secret , not so necessary to be known , nor safe to be reported . and i crave the liberty to conceal it , seeing the animadvertor himself hath his politick aposiopaesis , breaking off as abruptly as the spanish match with this warie reservation ; though where the fault was , and by what means occasioned , need not here to be said . dr. heylin . but well fare our author for all that ; who finally hath absolv'd the spaniard from this breach , and laid the same upon king iames , despairing of any restitution to be made of the palatinate by the way of treaty . ibid. whereupon king james not onely broke off all treaty with spain , but also called the great councel of his kingdom together . ] by which it seems , that the breaking off of the treaty did precede the parliament . but multa apparent quae non sunt , every is not as it seems . the parliament in this case came before , by whose continual importunity and solicitation , the breach of the treaties followed after . the king lov'd peace too well to lay aside the treaties , and engage in war before he was desparate of successe any other way than by that of the sword , as was assur'd both of the hands and hearts of his subjects to assist him in it . and therefore our author should have said , that the king not onely called together his great councel , but broke off the treaty , and not have given us here such an hysteron proteron , as neither doth consist with reason , nor the truth of story . fuller . to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a covenant-breaker , is a foul fault , as the * apostle accounteth it : far be it from me to charge it causlesly on any , especially on a dead christian , especially on a king , especially on king iames , generally represented over-fond of peace , and therefore the more improbable first to infringe it . to prevent exception , in the next edition , calling the parliament , shall have the precedency of breaking off the treaty for the match . i suspect that the animadvertor hath committed a greater transposition , when affirming king * iames to have designed the spanish match in order to the recovery of the palatinate : whereas it plainly appears , * that before any suspicion of troubles in the palatinate ( occasioned by p. fredericks accepting the crown of bohemia , ) this match was projected by k. iames for p. henry his eldest son ; and after his death , resumed for p. charles , without the least relation to the regaining of the ( not then lost ) palatinate . i have passed over some additory notes of the animadvertor in this kings reign , partly because i perceive my book swels beyond the expected proportion , partly that i may have the more scope to answer every particular objected against me in the reign of k. charles , in such things which lie level to our own eyes , and are within our own remembrance . the eleventh book , containing the reign of k. charls . dr. heylyn . this book concludes our authour's history , and my animadversions . and if the end be sutable unto the beginning , it is like to finde me work enough ; our authour stumbling at the threshold , which amongst superstitious people hath been counted for an ill presage . fuller . who i pray stumbled in the beginning of his animadversions ? when he said , that the brittains worshipped but one god , and that diana was none of their originall deity . what if i stumbled , yea , and should fall too ? hath not the animadvertor read , rejoyce not against me , o mine enemy : when i fall , i shall rise again . dr. heylyn . having placed king charls on the throne , our author saith , fol. . on the fourteenth day of may following , king james his funeralls were performed very solemnly , in the collegiat church at westminster . ] not on the fourteenth , but the fourth , saith the author of the history of the reign of king charls ; and both true alike . it neither was on the fourth , nor on the fourteenth , but the seventh of may , on which those solemn obsequies were performed at westminster . of which , if he will not take my word , let him consult the pamphlet , called , the observator observed , ( fol. . ) and he shall be satisfied . our author's clock must keep time better , or else we shall never know how the day goes with him . fuller . i will take his word without going any further , and this erroneous date , in my next edition shall , god-willing , be mended accordingly . that clock which alwaies strikes true , may well be forfeited to the lord of the manour ; though mine , i hope , will be found to go false , as seldom as another's . dr. heylyn . our author saith , as for dr. preston , &c. his party would perswade us , that he might have chose his own mitre . ] and some of his party would perswade us , that he had not onely large parts , of sufficient receipt to manage the broad seal it self , but that the seal was proffered to him , fol. . ] but we are not bound to believe all which is said by that party , who looked upon the man with such reverence , as came near idolatry . fuller . i do not say , they do perswade , but they would perswade us . and here the common expression takes place with me , non persuadebunt , etiamsi persuaserint . grant , i do not believe all which is said by his party , yet i believe it was my duty , as an historian , to take notice of so remarkable a passage , and to report it to posterity , charging my margin ( as i have done ) with the name and place of the * author , wherein i found it related . dr. heylyn . his principles and engagements were too well known by those , which governed affairs , to venture him unto any such great trust in church or state ; and his activity so suspected , that he would not have been long suffered to continue preacher at lincolns-inne . as for his intimacy with the duke , ( too violent to be long-lasting ) it proceeded not from any good opinion which the duke had of him , but that he found how instrumentall he might be , to manage that prevailing party to the king's advantage . but when it was found , that he had more of the serpent in him , than of the dove ; and that he was not tractable in steering the helm of his own party by the court-compass , he was discountenanced and laid by , as not worth the keeping . he seemed the court-meteor for a while , raised to a suddain height of expectation ; and having flasht and blaz'd a little , went out again , and was as suddainly forgotten . fuller . this is onely additionall , and no whit opposite to what i have written , and therefore i am not obliged to return any answer thereunto . dr. heylyn . our author proceeds , fol. . next day the king comming from canterbury , met her at dover , whence with all solemnity she was conducted to somerset-house in london , where a chappel was now prepared for her devotion , with a covent adjoyning of capuchin-fryers , according to the articles of her marriage . ] in all this nothing true , but that the new queen was conducted with all solemnity from dover to london . for first , although there was a chappel prepared , yet was it not prepared , for her ; nor , at somerset-house . the chappel which was then prepared , was not prepared for her , but the lady infanta , built in the kings house of st. iames , at such time as the treaty with spain stood upon good tearms , and then intended for the devotions of the princess of wales , not the queen of england . secondly , the articles of the marriage make no mention of the capuchin-friers , nor any covent to be built for them . the priests who came over with the queen were by agreement to be all of the oratorian order , as less suspected by the english , whom they had never provok'd , as had the iesuits , ( and most other of the monastick orders ) by their mischievous practises . but these oratorians being sent back with the rest of the french , anno , . and not willing to expose themselves to the hazard of a second expulsion , the capuchins , under father ioseph , made good the place . the breach with france , the action at the isle of rhee , and the losse of rochel , did all occur , before the capuchins were thought of , or admitted hither . and thirdly , some years after the making of the peace between the crowns , ( which was in the latter end of . and not before ) the queen obtain'd , that these friers might have leave to come over to her , some lodgings being fitted for them in somerset-house , and a new chappel then and there built for her devotion . fuller . here , and in the next note , the animadvertor habet confitentem reum . and , not to take covert of a latine expression , in plain english , i confess my mistake , which is no originall , but a derivative errour in me , who can ( if so pleased ) alledge the printed author who hath misguided me . yet , i will patiently bear my proportion of guilt , and will provide , god-willing , for the amendment in the next edition . thus , being so supple to confesse my fault , when convinced thereof , i therefore may and will be the more stiff , in standing on the tearms of mine own integrity , when causlesly accused . but if the animadvertor be too insulting over me , let him remember his own short view of the life of king charls , vvhere he tells us of the three welch generals , that they submitted to mercy , which they never tasted , naming * laughern , powel , and poyer : whereas two of them did find mercy , a little male-child being taken up , who did cast lots at white-hall ; and , by providence ordering casualty , laughern and powel were pardoned , and lately , if not still , alive . but i forgive the doctor for this errour , being better then a truth , two gentlemen gaining their lives thereby . dr. heylyn . our author proceeds , f. . the bishop of lincoln , lord keeper , was now daily descendant in the kings favour ; who so highly distasted him , that he would not have him , as dean of westm. to perform any part of his coronation . ] as little truth in this as in that before . for first , the bishop of lincoln was not lord keeper at the time of the coronation . secondly , if he had been so , and that the king was so distasted with him , as not to suffer him to assist at his coronation ; how came he to be suffered to be present at it in the capacity of lord keeper ? for that he did so , is affirmed by our author , saying , that the king took a scrowl of parchment out of his bosome , and gave it to the lord keeper williams , who read it to the commons four severall times , east , west , north , and south , fol. . thirdly , the lord keeper , who read that scrole , was not the lord keeper vvilliams , but the lord keeper coventry ; the seal being taken from the bishop of lincoln , and committed to the custody of sir thomas coventry , in october before . and therefore fourthly , our author is much out , in placing both the coronation , and the following parliament , before the change of the lord keeper ; and sending sir iohn suckling to fetch that seal , at the end of a parliament in the spring , which he had brought away with him before michaelmas term. but as our author was willing to keep the bishop of lincoln in the deanry of westminster , for no less then five or six years after it was confer'd on another ; so is he as desirous to continue him lord keeper for as many months , after the seal had been entrusted to another hand . fuller . this also is an errour , i neither can nor will defend the lord keeper williams , put for the lord keeper coventry , which hath betrayed me to some consequentiall incongruities . i will not plead for my self in such a suit , where i foresee the verdict will go against me . onely i move as to mitigation of costs and dammages , that greater slips have fallen from the pens of good historians . mr. speed in his chronicle , first edition , page . speaking of henry , eldest son to king henry the eighth , maketh arch-bishop cranmer ( mistaken for warham ) his god-father , twenty four years before cranmer ever sat in that see. i write not this to accuse him , but in part to excuse my self , by paralleling mine with as evident a mistake . i hope my free confession of my fault , with promise of emendation of it ( and the appendants thereof ) in my next edition , will meet with the reader 's absolution . and let the animadvertor for the present ( if so pleased ) make merry , and feast himself on my mistake , assuring him , that he is likely to fast a long time hereafter . dr. heylyn . our author proceeds , f. . the earl of arundel , as earl marshal of england ; & the duke of buckingham , as lord high constable of england , for that day went before his majesty in that great solemnity . ] in this passage , and the next that follows , our author shewes himself as bad an herald in marshalling a royal show , as in stating the true time of the creation of a noble peer . here in this place he placeth the earl marshall before the constable ; whereas by the statute h. . c. . the constable is to have precedency before the marshall . nor want there precedents to shew , that the lord high constable did many times direct his mandats to the earl marshall , as one of the ministers of his court , willing and requiring him to perform such and such services , as in the said precepts were expressed . fuller . my heraldry is right both in place and time. the earl of arundel , as earl marshall , went after the duke of buckingham , as lord high constable , though going before him . for barons went ( in this royall procession , at the kings coronation ) before bishops , bishops before viscounts , viscounts before earls , the meaner before the greater officers of state. thus the lord constable ( though the last ) was the first , because , of all subjects , nearest to the person of the soveraign . it seemeth the dayes were very long when the animadvertor wrote these causless cavills , which being now grown very short , i cannot afford so much time in confuting them . this his cavilling mindeth me , of what he hath mistaken in his geography . for , the younger son of an english earl comming to geneva , desired a carp for his dinner , having read in the doctor 's geography , that the lemman lake had plenty of the fish , and the best and biggest of that kind . the people wondred at his desire of such a dainty , which that place did not afford ; but told him , that they had trouts as good and great , as any in europe . indeed , learned * gesner doth observe , that the trouts caught in this lake , sent to , and sold at lions , are mistaken for salmons by strangers , unacquainted with their proportions . it seems the animadvertor's pen is so much given to cavilling , that he turned trouts into carps though none of them so great , as this his carp at me , for making the lord marshall to go before the lord constable , at the king's coronation . dr. heylyn . our author proceeds , ibid. that the kings train being six yards long of purple v●lvet , was held up by the lord compton , and the lord viscount dorcester . ] that the lord compton was one of them which held up the kings train , i shall easily grant ; he being then master of the robes , and thereby challenging a right to perform this service . but that the lord viscount dorcester was the other of them , i shall never grant , there being no such viscount at the time of the coronation . i cannot say , but that sir dudley carlton might be one of those which held up the train , though i am not sure of it . but sure i am , that sir dudley carlton was not made baron of imber-court , till towards the latter end of the following parliament of anno . nor created viscount dorcester untill some years after . fuller . it is a meer mistake of the printer ; for viscount doncaster , son of ( and now himself ) the earl of carlile , whose father having a great office in the wardrobe , this place was proper for him to perform . all will presume me knowing enough in the orthography of his title , who was my patron when i wrote the book , and whom i shall ever , whilst i live , deservedly honour , for his great bounty unto me . dr. heylyn . our author proceeds , fol. . the lord arch-bishop did present his majesty to the lords and commons , east , west , north , south ; asking their minds four severall times , if they did consent to the coronation of king charls their lawfull soveraign . ] this is a piece of new state-doctrine , never known before , that the coronation of the king ( and consequently his succession to the crown of england ) should depend on the consent of the lords and commons , who were then assembled ; the coronation not proceeding ( as he after telleth us ) till their consent was given four times by acclamations . fuller . i exactly follow the language of my worthy intelligencer , a doctor of divinity , still alive , rich in learning and piety , present on the place , and an exact observer of all passages ; and see no reason to depart to depart from it . i am so far from making the coronation of the soveraign depend on the consent of his subjects , that i make not the kingly power depend on his coronation , who , before it , and without it , is lawfull and effectuall king to all purposes and intents . this was not a consent like that of the bride to the bride-groom , the want whereof doth null the marriage ; but a meer ceremoniall one , in majorem pompam ; which did not make , but manifest ; not constitute , but declare his power over his people . so that the king got not one single mite of title more , than he had before this four-fold acclamation . dr. heylyn . and this i call piece of new state-doctrine , never known before , because i find the contrary in the coronation of our former kings . for in the form and manner of the coronation of king edward . described in the catalogue of honour , set forth by thomas mills of canterbury , anno . we find in thus . the king being carried by certain noble courtiers in another chair , unto the four sides of the stage , was by the arch-bishop of canterbury declared unto the people ( standing round about ) both by gods and mans lawes , to be the right and lawfull king of england , france , and ireland , and proclaimed that day to be crowned , consecrated , and annointed : unto whom he demanded , whether they would obey and serve , or not ? by whom it was again with a loud cry answered , god save the king , and , ever live his majesty . the same we have in substance , but in fewer words , in the coronation of king iames , where it is said , that the king was shewed to the people , and that they were required to make acknowledgement of their allegiance to his majesty by the arch-bishop ; which they did by acclamations . assuredly , the difference is exceeding vast betwixt obeying and consenting ; betwixt the peoples acknowledging their alliegance and promising to obey and serve their lawfull soveraign , and giving their consent to his coronation , as if it could not be performed without such consent . fuller . the hinge of the controversie turneth on the criticall difference betwixt these two phrases . acknowledging their allegiance to their soveraigne . giving consent to his coronation . the animadvertor endeavours to widen the distance betwixt them , and make the difference vast , yea , exceeding vast , against the will of the words , vvhich are well inclined to an agreement , there being a vicinity , yea , affinity , betvvixt them , since such who vvill not acknowledge their allegiance , will not give-consent to his coronation ; and such vvho will consent thereunto , will acknowledge their allegiance . i refer my self wholly in this difference to the arbitration of mr. mills , the same author and edition cited by the animadvertor , who speaking of the antient form of the coronation of the kings of england , in reference to this passage , thus expresseth himself . * after the king hath a little reposed himself in the chair or throne , erected upon the scaffold , then the arch-bishop of canterbury shall go unto the four squares of the scaffold , and with a loud voice , ask the good liking of the people , concerning the coronation of the king. small , i am sure , is the difference betwixt consenting and good-liking . however , the kings coronation , though following after , did not depend on such consent , good-liking , or acknowledging of allegiance ; seeing amongst our english kings , an vsurper's title was not the better with , nor a lawfull prince's the worse without , such ceremonies of state. dr. heylyn . pag. . nor had the late arch-bishop been reproacht so generally by the common people , ( and that reproach publish'd in severall pamphlets ) for altering the king's oath at his coronation , to the infringing of the liberties , and diminution of the rights of the english subjects ; had he done them such a notable piece of service , as freeing them from all promises to obey and serve , and making the kings coronation to depend on their consent . for bishop laud being one of that committee , which was appointed by the king to review the form and order of the coronation , to the end it might be fitted to some rites and ceremonies of the church of england , which had not been observ'd before ; must bear the greatest blame in this alteration , ( if any such alteration had been made as our author speaks of ) because he was the principall man whom the king relied on in that business . fuller . this proceedeth on the former foundation , which being false , and confuted , the superstructure sinketh therewith . dr. heylyn . but our author tells us in his preface , that this last book , with divers of the rest ; were written by him , when the monarchy was turn'd into a state. ] and i dare believe him . he had not else so punctually conform'd his language to the state-doctrin , by which the making ( and , consequently , the unmaking ) of kings is wholly vested in the people , according to that maxim of buchanan , populo jus est , imperium cui velit deferat ; than which , there is not a more pestilent and seditious passage in his whole book , de jure regni apud scotos , though there be nothing else but treason and sedition in it . fuller . what i wrote in this point , i wrote in my preface , that it might be obvious to every eye ; viz. that the first three books of my church history were for the main written in the reign of the late king ; the other nine , since monarchy was turn'd into a state. my language in the latter books forbeareth such personall passages , on the king and his posterity , which in his life-time were , as consistent with my loyalty , as since inconsistent with my safety . i will instance in one of them . church-history , book . page . some of whose offspring [ king iohn 's ] shall flourish , in free and full power on the english throne , when the chair of pestilence shall be burnt to ashes ; and neither tripple crown left at rome to be worn , nor any head there which shall dare to wear it . but if the animadvertor , or any by him employed , can in any my nine last books discover a syllable , sounding to the disparagement of the kings person or power , to any impartiall ear , let me , who so long fed on the king's large diet , be justly famished for my unthankfulnesse . as for buchanan , as i admire his poetry , so i dislike his divinity , especially in this point ; desiring that his principles may never come south the river tweed , and , if offering it , may be drowned in their passage . dr. heylyn . our author proceeds , f. . then as many earls and barons as could conveniently stand about the throne , did lay their hands on the crown on his majesty's head , protesting to spend their bloods to maintain it to him and his lawfull heirs . ] a promise faithfully performed by many of them , some losing their lives for him in the open field , others exhausting their estates in the defence of his , many more venturing their whole fortunes by adhering to him to a confiscation : a catalogue of which last we may find subscribed to a letter , sent from the lords and commons of parliament assembled in oxford , to those at westminster , anno . and by that catalogue we may also see , what and who they were , who so ignobly brake faith vvith him : all those whose names we find not in that subscription , or presently superadded to it , being to be reckoned amongst those , who instead of spending their blood to maintain the crown to him , and to his lawful successors , concurred vvith them either in opere , or in voto , who despoiled him of it . and to say truth , they were revvarded as they had deserved , the first thing which was done by the house of commons ( after the king , by their means , had been brought to the fatall block ) being to turn them out of povver , to dissolve their house , and annul their priviledges , reducing them to the same condition vvith the rest of the subjects . fuller . i behold all this paragraph as a letter sent to me vvhich requires no answer , ( onely i bear the animadvertor witnesse , that it is delivered ) seeing i was none of the lords on either side . but i am not altogether satisfied in the adequation of the animadvertor's dichotomy to all the english nobility , that all not subscribing the catalogue at oxford , must instantly be concluded on the opsite party ; believing , that upon serious search , some lords would be found in their minority , and not necessarily reducible to either of these heads . dr. heylyn . footsteps of his moderation , content with the enjoying without the enjoyning their private practices and opinions on others . ] this comes in as an inference onely on a former passage , in which it is said of bishop andrews , that in what place soever he came , he never pressed any other ceremonies upon them , than such as he found to be used there before his comming . though othervvise condemned by some for many superstitious ceremonies and superfluous ornaments used in his private chappell . how true this is , i am not able to affirm . fuller . the animadvertor ( if so disposed ) might soon have satisfied himself in this point , being beneficed in hampshire , the last diocesse of bishop andrews . and though his institution into his living was since the death of that worthy prelate , yet his information in this particular had been easie , from the aged clergy of his vicinage . sure i am , he ever was inquisitive enough in matters , vvhi●h might make for his advantage ; so that his not denying , tantamounteth to the affirming of the matter in question . dr. heylyn . i am less able ( if it should be true ) to commend it in him . it is not certainly the office of a carefull bishop , onely to leave things as he found them , but to reduce them , if amiss , to those rules and canons , from which , by the forwardness of some to innovate , and the connivance of others at the innovations , they had been suffered to decline . fuller . i comply cordially with the animadvertor in all this last sentence . only i add , that it is also the office of a good bishop , not to endeavour the alteration of things well setled before . this was the constant practice of doctor andrews , successively bishop of chichester , ely , and winchester , who never urged any other ceremonies , that what which he found there . now whereas the animadvertor saith , that i● this should be true , he is not able to commend it in him ; the matter is not much , seeing the actions of bishop andrewes are able to commend themselves . dr. heylyn . and for the inference it selfe , it is intended chiefly for the late arch-bishop of canterbury ; against whom he had a fling before in the fourth book of this history , not noted there , because reserved to another place , of vvhich more hereafter . condemmed here for his want of moderation , in enjoyning his private practices and opinions on other men . but first , our author had done well to have spared the man , vvho hath already reckoned for all his errours , both vvith god and the vvorld . fuller . he hath so , and i hope , what he could not satisfie in himself , was done by his sav●our . but first , the animadvertor had done wel to have spared his censure on my intentions , except he had better assurance of them . here i must , reader , appeal to an higher than thy self , him vvho can read the secrets of my heart , before whom i protest , that in this passage i did not reflect in any degree on the arch-bishop of canterbury . to make this the more probable , knovv , the articles of his visitation vvere observed to be as moderate , as any bishops in england . here let me enter this memorable , and let the animadvertor confute it , if he can . there was a designe of the thirty six dissenters ( of whom hereafter ) in the convoca●ion , to obtain , that these articles of his visitation might be preceden●tall to all the bishops in england , as being in themselves in offensive , and containing no innovations . this was by some communicated to arch-bishop laud , who at first seemed to approve thereof ; and how it came afterwards to miscarry , i am not bound to discover . i confess , this my expression did eye another person , related to bishop andrewes , whom i forbear to name , except by the animadvertor's reply unto me i be forced thereunto . dr. heylyn . and secondly , it had been better if he had told us , what those private practises and opinions were , which the arch-bishop , with such want of moderation , did enjoy● on others . fuller . they are reckoned up in my church-history , book . pag. . parag : & . this is direction enough , and there one may find more then a good many of such opinions and practises . on the self-same token , that it was discreetly done of the animadvertor to pass them over in silence , without a word in their defence or excuse . i will not again here repeat them , partly because i will not revive what in some sort is dead and buried ; and partly , because i charitably believe , that some engaged therein , and still alive , are since sorry for their over-activity therein . dr. heylyn . for it is possible enough , that the opinions which he speaks of , might be the publick doctrines of the church of england , maintained by him , in opposition to those private opinions , which the calvinian party had intended to obtrude upon her . a thing complained o● by spalato , who well observed , that many of the opinions both of luther and calvin , were received amongst us , as part of the doctrine and confession of the church of england ; which otherwise he acknowledged to be capable of an orthodox sense . praeter anglicanam confessionem ( quam mi ● ut mo●estam praedicalant ) multa video lutheri & calvini dogmata obtinuisse , as he there objects . fuller . i am not bound to stand to the judgment of spalato , who would not stand to his own judgment ; but first in ●ear● , then in body , went back into aegypt . lay not such unsavoury salt in my dish , but cast it to the dunghill . dr. heylyn . he that reads the gag , and the appello caesarem of bishop mon●●gue , cannot but see , that those opinions which our author condemned for private , were the true doctrine of this church , professed and held forth in the book of articles , the homilies , and the common-prayer-book . fuller . he that reads the answers returned by severall divines to the books of bishop montague , cannot but see , that they were rather private opinions , than the true and professed doctrine of the church of england . here , reader , i cannot but remember a passage betwixt two messengers , sent to carry defiances from severall armies , who , meeting in the mid-way , ( though naked , and without swords , yet ) to manifest their zeal to their cause , fought it out with their trumpets , till , both being well wearied , they went about their businesse , leaving the main successe to be tryed by their armies . historians are beheld in the notion of heralds . and , seeing the animadvertor and i have now clashed it with our trumpets , let us leave the rest to be disputed and decided by those learned and pious persons , who publickly in print have engaged therein , and who have ( or may in due tim● ) meet together in bliss and happinesse . in my fathers house are ( though no wall of partition ) many * mansions ; severall receptacles ( as some suppose ) for martyrs , confessors , &c. and vvhy not for such , as , dissenting in the superstructures , concur in holy life , and the fundamentalls of religion ? dr. heylyn . and it is possible enough , that the practices which he speaks of , were not private neither , but a reviver of those antient and publick usages , which the canons of the church enjoyned , and by the remisness of the late government had been discontinued . but for a justification of the practises ( the private practises he speaks of ) i shall refer him to an author of more credit with him . which author , first , tells us of the bishops generally , that being of late years either careless or indulgent , they had not required , within their diocesses , that strict obedience to ecclesiasticall constitutions , which the law expected ; upon which , the liturgy began totally to be laid aside , and inconformity the uniform practise of the church . he tells us , secondly , of arch-bishop abbot in particular , that his extraordinary remisness , in not exacting a strict conformity to the prescribed orders of the church , in point of ceremony , seemed to dissolve those legall determinations , to their first principle of indifferency , and led in such an habit of inconformity , as the future reduction of those tender conscienced mens too-long-discontinued obedience , was interpreted an innovation . and finally , he tells of arch-bishop laud , who succeeded abbot in that see , that , being of another mind and mettle , he did not like , that the externall worship of god should follow the fashion of every private fancy ; and what he did not like in that subject , as he was in state , so he thought it was his duty to reform . to which end , in his metropoliticall visitation , he calls upon all , both clergy and laity , to observe the rules of the church . and this is that which our author calls , the enjoyning of his private practises ; private perhaps in the private opinion of some men , who had declared themselves to be professed enemies to all publick order . fuller . i have cause to give credit unto * him , who , to the lustre of his antient and noble extraction , hath added the light of learning , not as his profession , but accomplishment , whereby he hath presented the publick with an hansome history , likely to prove as acceptable to posterity , as it hath done to the present age. the gentleman , in that his passage , reflecteth onely on such ceremonies , is stood in force by canon , but had been disused ; with whom i concur . but the controversie in hand is about additionall ceremonies , enjoyned by no cannons , ( save some mens over-imperious commanding , and others over-officious complying ) justly deserving the censure of private practises . dr. heylyn . our author proceeds , fol. . a commission was granted unto five bishops , ( whereof bishop laud of the quorum ) to suspend arch-bishop abbot from exercising his au●hority any longer , because un-canonicall for casuall homicide . ] had our author said , that bishop laud had been one of the number , he had hit it right , the commission being granted to five bishops , viz. dr. montain , bishop of london , dr. neil bishop of durham , dr. buckeridge bishop of rochester , dr. howson bishop of oxford , and dr. laud bishop of bathe and wells ; or to any four , three , or two of them , and no more then so . had bishop laud been of the quorum , his presence and consent had been so necessary to all their consultations , conclusions , and dispatch of businesses , that nothing could be done without him ; whereas by the words of the commission , any two of them were impowered , and consequently all of them must be of the quorum , as well as he ; which every iustice's clerk cannot chuse but laugh at . fuller . they will soon cease their laughter at the sad story i am about to relate . but be it premised , that here i use the word quorum not in the legall strictness thereof , but in that passeable sense in common discourse ; viz. for one so active in a business , that nothing is ( though it may be ) done without him therein . when the writing for arch-bishop abbot's suspension was to be subscribed by the bishops aforesaid , the four seniors , viz. london , durham , rochester , and oxford , all declined to set their hands thereunto , and ( seemingly at the least ) shewed much reluctance and regrete thereat . then give me the pen ( said bishop laud ) and though last in place , first subscribed his name . encouraged by whose words and example , the rest , after some demur , did the like . this was attested to me by him who had best cause to know it , the aged and credible register , still alive , who attended in the place upon them . this i formerly knew , but concealed it ; and had not published it now , if not necessitated thereunto in my just defence . dr. heylyn . nor is there any such thing as a casuall homicide mentioned , or so much as glanced at in that commission , the commission onely saying , that the said arch-bishop could not at that present in his own person attend those services , which were otherwise proper for his cognizance and jurisdiction ; and which , as arch-bishop of canterbury , he might and ought in his own person to have performed and executed . i am loth to rub longer on this sore , the point having been so vext already betwixt the historian and the oservator , that i shall not trouble it any further . fuller . i confess , casuall homicide not expresly mentioned , but implyed in the commission . otherwise what did those words import could not in his person attend ? it was not any indisposition of body , being then , and some years after , in health ; not impotency in his intellect , ( caused from the influence of age ) who afterwards , when older , discharged this place , ( as the animadvertor confeseth ) . though therefore the hilt of homicide was onely shown , the blade was shaked in the sheath . sure i am , that some , the nearest about the arch-bishop , have informed me , that he interpreted , that un-coulding him , solely to relate to his canonicall irregula●ity on the accident aforesaid , and was dejected accordingly . dr. heylyn . onely i must crave leave to rectifie our author in another passage , relating to that sad accident . fuller . to rectifie is to make that streight which was crooked before ; and it is an act of no less charity , than skill and cunning well to perform it . onely fools , can be fond of their own deformity . i do not onely desire , but delight , to have the crookedness of my knowledge streightned , provided alwaies , it be done in the spirit of meekness . but i understand , such as streighten crooked persons beyond the seas , put them to much torture . i likewise fear , that the animadvertor will lay so much weight of ill words upon me , that the profit i shall reap , will not countervail the pain i must endure in my rectification . dr. heylyn . our author saith , ibid. it would be of dangerous consequence to condemn him by the canons of forrain councils , which were never allowed any legislative power in this land. ] which words are very ignorantly spoken , or else very improperly . fuller . did i not foretell aright , that my rectification would cost me dear ? even the burden of bad words . here i have a dolefull dilemma presented unto me , to confesse my self speaking , either very ignorantly , or very improperly . but might not one of these two very's have very well been spared ? well , è malis minimum , if it must be so , that my choice must be of one of these , let it be rather but impropriety , than ignorance . but , reader , i see no necessity of acknowledging either , but that my words are both knowingly and properly spoken ; and now to the triall . dr. heylyn . for if by legislative power , he means a power of making lawes , as the word doth intimate , then it is true , that the canons of forrain councells had never any such power within this land : but if by legislative power he means , a power or capability of passing for lawes within this kingdom ; then ( though he use the word improperly ) it is very fals ) that no such canons were in force in the realm of england . the canons of many forrain councells , generall , nationall , and provinciall , had been received in this church , and incorporated into the body of the canon-law , by which the church proceeded in the exercise of her jurisdiction , till the submission of the clergy to king henry the eighth . and , in the act confirmative of that submission , it is said expresly , that all canons , constitutions , ordinances , and synodals provinciall , as were made before the said submission , which be not contrary or repugnant to the laws , statutes , and customs of this realm , nor to the dammage or hurt of the kings prerogative royall , were to be used and executed as in former times , h. . c. . so that unlesse it can be proved , that the proceedings in this case , by the canons of forrain councels was either contrary or repugnant to the laws and customs of the realm , or to the dammage of the kings prerogative royall , there is no dangerous consequence at all to be found therein . fuller . by legislative power of the canons of forrain councels , i understand their power to subject the people of our nation to guiltiness , and consequently to penalties , if found infringing them . now i say again , such forrain canons , though not against , but onely besides our common law ; and containing no repugnancy , but disparateness to the lawes of our land ; either never had such power in england since the reformation , or else disuse long since hath antiquated it , as to the rigid exercise thereof . for instance , a bishop i am sure , and i think a priest too , is , in the old canons , rendred irregular , for playing a game at tables , dice being forbidden by the canons . yet i conceive , it would be hard measure , and a thing , de facto , never done , that such irregularity should be charged on him , on that account . we know it was the project of the pope and papall party , to multiply canons in councels , meerly to make the more men , and men the more obnoxious unto him , that they might re-purchase their innocence at the price of the court of rome . i believe , the animadvertor himself would be loth to have his canonicalness tried by the test of all old canons , made in rigorem disciplinae , yet not contrariant to our laws and customs , seeing they are so nice and numerous , that cautiousnesse it self may be found an offendor therein . i resume my words , that it would be of dangerous consequence to condemn the arch-bishop by canons of forrain councels , which never obtained power here , either quoad reatum , or poenam , of such as did not observe them . dr. heylyn . but whereas our author adds in some following words , that eversince ( he means ever since the unhappy accident ) he had executed his jurisdiction without any interruption : ] i must needs add , that he is very much mistaken in this particular . dr. williams , lord elect of lincoln ; dr. carew , lord elect of exeter ; and dr. laud , lord elect of st. davids , and , i think , some others , refusing to receive episcopall consecration from him on that account . fuller . must the animadvertor needs add this ? i humbly conceive no such necessity , being but just the same which i my self had written before . church-history , book . pag. . though some squemish and nice-conscienced elects scrupled to be consecrated by him . but i beheld this as no effectuall interrupting of his jurisdiction , because other bishops , more in number , ( no whit their inferiour ) received consecration , dr. davenant , dr. hall , and king charls himself his coronation from him . dr. heylyn . far more mistaken is our author in the next , when he tells us , fol. . though this arch-bishop survived some years after , yet hence-forward he was buried to the world . ] no such matter neither : for , though for a while he stood confined to his house at ford , yet neither this confinement , nor that commission , were of long continuance ; for about christmas , in the year . he was restored both to his liberty and jurisdiction , sent for to come unto the court , received as he came out of his barge by the arch-bishop of york , and the earl of dorset , and by them conducted to the king ; who giving him his hand to kiss , enjoyned him not to fail the councill-table twice a vveek . after which time we find him sitting as arch-bishop in parliament , and in the full exercise of his iurisdiction till the day of his death , which happened on sunday , august the th . . and so much of him . fuller . an historian may make this exception , but not a divine ; my words being spoken in the language of the * apostle , the world is crucified unto me , and i unto the world . i had said formerly , that the keeper's death was this arch-bishop's mortification . but from this his suspension ( from the exercise of his iurisdiction ) he was in his own thoughts buried , it reviving his obnoxiousness for his former casuall homicide ; so that never he was seen hartily ( if at all ) to laugh hereafter , though i deny not , much court-savour was afterwards ( on designe ) conferred on him . here i hope it will be no offence to insert this innocent story , partly to shew how quickly tender guiltiness is dejected , partly to make folk cautious , how they cast out gaulling speeches in this kind . this archbishop returning to croidon , ( after his late absence thence a long time ) many people , most women , ( whereof some of good quality for good will ) for novelty and curiosity crouded about his coach. the archbishop being unwilling to be gazed at , and never fond of females , said , somewhat churlishly , what make these women here ? you had best , ( said one of them ) to shoot an arrow at us . i need not tell the reader how neare this second arrow went to his heart . dr. heylyn . our author goeth on . fol. . my pen passing by them at present , may safely salute them with a god-speed as neither seeing nor suspecting any danger in the designe ] our author speakes this of the feoffees , appointed by themselves , for buying●in such impropriations , as were then in the hands of lay-persons . i say , appointed by themselves ; because not otherwise authorised , either by charter from the king , decree in chancery , or by act of parliament ; but only by a secret combination of the brother-hood . but secondly , this will further appear by their proceedings in the businesse , not laying the impropriations , by them purchased , to the church or chappelry to which they had antiently belonged , nor setling them on the incumbent of the place , as many hoped they would . that had been utterly destructive to their main design , which was not to advantage the regular and established clergy , but to set up a new body of lecturers in convenient places , for the promoting of the cause . and therefore having bought an impropriation , they parcelled it out into annual pensions of or l. per annum , and therewith salared some lecturers in such market-towns , where the people had commonly lesse to do , and consequently were more apt to faction and innovation , than in other places . our author notes it of their predecessors , in cartwrights dayes , that they preached most diligently in populous places ; it being observed in england , that those who hold the helm of the pulpit , alwayes steer peoples hearts as they please , lib. . fol. . and he notes it also of these feoffees , that in conformity hereunto , they set up a preaching ministry in places of greatest need ; not in such parish-churches , to which the tithes properly belonged , but where they thought the word was most wanting , that is to say , most wanting to advance their project . thirdly , if we behold the men whom they made choice of , and employed in preaching in such market-towns as they had an eye on , either because most populous , or because capable of electing burgesses to serve in parliament , they were for the most part non-conformists , and sometime such as had been silenced by their ordinary , or the high-commission , for their factious carriage . and such an one was placed by geering , one of the citizen-feoffees , in a town of glocestershire ; a fellow which had been outed of a lecture neer sandwich by the archbishop of canterbury , out of another in middlesex by the bishop of london , out of a third in yorkshire by the archbishop of york , out of a fourth in hartfordshire by the bishop of lincoln , and finally suspended from his ministry by the high-commission ; yet thought the fittest man by geering ( as indeed he was ) to begin this lecture . fourthly and finally , these pensions neither were so setled , nor these lecturers so well establisht in their severall places , but that the one might be withdrawn , and the other removed , at the will and pleasure of their patrons , if they grew slack and negligent in the holy cause , or abated any thing at all of that fire and fury they first brought with them . examples of which i know some , and have heard of more . and now i would fain know of our author , whether there be no danger to be seen or suspected in this design ; whether these feoffees in short time would not have had more chaplains to depend upon them , than all the bishops in the kingdom ; and finally , whether such needy fellowes depending on the will and pleasure of their gracious masters , must not be forced to preach such doctrines onely as best please their humours . and though i shall say nothing here of their giving under-hand private pensions , not onely unto such as had been silenced or suspended in the ecclesiasticall courts , but many times also to their wives and children after their decease , all issuing from this common-stock : yet others have beheld it as the greatest piece of wit and artifice both to encourage and encrease their emissaries , which could be possibly devised . if , as our author tels us , fol. . the design was generally approved , and that both discreet and devout men were doleful at the ruine of so pious a project ; it was because they neither did suspect the danger , nor foresee the mischiefs , which unavoidably must have followed , if not crusht in time . fuller . the feoffees being now all dead , save * one , i may say that in this suit all the councell is for the plantiffe , and none allowed the de●enda●t . were any number of them still alive , probably they might plead something in defence of their proceedings . however i believe , this narrative of the animadvertor , hath very much of truth therein , and seeing it is not opposite but additional to what i have written , my answer is not required thereunto . onely the close thereof treadeth on the toes of my history and that but lightly too ; the animadvertor not denying that , discreet and devout men were dolefull at the ruine of so pious a project . and seeing he went so far with my words , would he had gon a little farther , and added , that such good men were desirous of a regulation of this designe ; it being pitty that so fair a tree , should be rent up root and branch , for bearing bad , which might and would have born better fruit , with a little good digging about it , and well husbanding thereof . dr. heylyn . our author proceeds , fol. . however , there was no express in this declaration , that the ministers of the parish should be pressed to the publishing . ] our author doth here change his style . he had before told us , that on the first publishing of the declaration about lawfull sports on the lords day , no minister was , de facto , enjoyned to read it in his parish , lib. . fol. . and here he tells us , that there was no express order in the declaration , ( when reviv'd by king charls ) that the minister of the parish should be prest to the publishing of it ; adding ●ithall , that many thought it a more proper work for the constable or tithing-man , than it was for the minister . but if our author mark it well , he may easily find , that the declaration of king iames was commanded to be published by order from the bishop of the diocess , through all the parish-churches of his jurisdiction . and the declaration of king charls to be published with like order from the severall bishops , through all the parish-churches of their severall diocesses respectively . the bishop of the diocess in the singular number , in the declaration of king iames , because it principally related to the county of lancaster the bishops in the plurall number , in that of king charls , because the benefit of it was to be extended over all the realm . in both , the bishops are commanded to take order for the publishing of them in their severall parishes ; and whom could they require to publish them in the parish churches , but the ministers onely ? the constable is a lay-officer , meerly bound by his place to execute the warrants and commands of the iustices , but not of the bishop . and though the tithing-man have some relation to church-matters , and consequently to the bishop , in the way of presentments ; yet was he no● bound to execute any such commands , because not tyed by an oath of canonicall obedience , as the ministers were . so that the bishops did no more than they were commanded , in laying the publication of these declarations on the backs of the ministers ▪ and the ministers by doing less than they were required , infring'd the oath which they had taken , rendring themselves thereby obnoxious to all such ecclesiasticall censures , as the bishops should inflict upon them . fuller . i said , that there was no express order in the declaration , that the minister of the parish should be pressed to the publishing of it . now the animadvertor hath done me the favour , to prove my words to be true , acknowledging the declaration onely enjoyned , that the bishop of the diocess should order the publishing thereof , through all the parishes in his iurisdiction : and so consequently ( as the animadvertor inferreth ) the ministers must do it . hereby the truth of my words do appear , that there was no express command , seeing an express , and an inference are two things of a different nature . whereas i said , that many thought it a more proper work for the constable or tithing-man , then for the minister . there are thousands now alive which will justifie the truth thereof . yea , their thoughts ( which otherwise i confess came not under my cognizance ) expressed themselves in their words , wherewith they affirmed and professed the same . dr. heylyn . it seems that in our authors judgment , it was well done by the judges for the county of somerset , to impose upon the ministers of that county ( over whom they could challenge no authority ) to publish their own declarations against wakes and feasts ; and that it was well done of the ministers to obey the same , for which see fol. . ] these bishops are beholden to him , for giving greater power to the iudges and iustices over his brethren of the clergy , then he yields to them ; and as much beholden are the clergy , for putting so many masters over them instead of a father . the difference of the case will not serve the turn , the king having a greater power to indulge such freedom to his subjects , then the others could pretend unto , to restrain them from it . if he object , that the ministers are most unfit to hold the candle , to lighten and let in licentiousness , as he seems to do ; he must first prove , that all , or any of the sports allowed of , in those declarations , may be brought within the compass of licentiousness , which neither the word of god , nor the canons of the christian church , nor any statutes of the realm had before forbidden . lastly , whereas he tells us , that because the iudges had enjoyned the ministers to read their order in the church , the kings declaration was enforced by the bishops to be published by them in the same place . ] there is no such matter . the declaration of king iames appointed to be read , and read by order of the bishop in the parish churches , doth evince the contrary . fuller . i did not say , the judges did well , or did ill therein ; but i said , the judges did order , that the ministers should publish their declaration against wakes and feasts . i have not ( nor can quickly procure ) a copy of their order , whether it were mandatory or , by way of advice , did desire ministers to do that , which might be advantagious to religion . but i vvill not judge the iudges , but leave them ( as best skilled in their own faculty ) to make good their own acts . if such grandees in the law exceeded their bounds in this their injunction to ministers , ( over whom they had no command ) how many mistakes should i run into , if once offering to meddle with this matter , being out of my profession ? and therefore no more thereof . dr. heylyn . now for our authors better satisfaction in the present point , i shall lay down the judgment of one so high in his esteem , ( and once in the esteem of that party too ) that i conceive he will not offer to gainsay him . it is the author of the book , called the holy table , name , and thing , vvho resolves it thus : all the commands of the king ( saith he ) that are not upon the first inference and illation ( without any prosyllogisms ) contrary to a clear passage in the word of god , or to an evident sun-beam of the law of nature , are precisely to be obeyed . nor is it enough to find a remote and possible inconvenience that may ensue therefrom ; ( which is the ordinary objection against the book of recreations ) for every good subject is bound in conscience to believe and rest assured , that his prince ( envi●oned with such a councell ) will be more able to discover , and as ready to prevent any ill sequel , that may come of it , as himself possibly can be . and therefore i must not by disobeying my prince commit a certain sin , in preventing a probable but contingent inconveniency . this if it were good doctrine then , when both the author and the book were cryed up even to admiration , is not to be rejected as false doctrine now ; truth being constant to it selfe , not varying nor altering with the change of times . fuller . i want no satisfaction , i thank god , in the point ; and therefore the animadvertor might have spared his pains . as an historian , i have truly related , de facto , what vvas done ; and though the animadvertor may conjecture at my judgment in this controversie , he cannot be confident thereof by any thing i have vvritten . all i will add is this , because i may write the more , i will write the lesse of this subject . i have good povver to back me for the present in this controversie , and might securely express my self therein . when my text shall lead me in my vocation to treat of the observation of the lords day , i shall not be sparing to express my opinion therein , and will endeavour ( god-vvilling ) to justifie it . mean time , i vvill not go out of mine own house , which is my castle ; i mean , i will not be drawn out into the open field of a controversie , but keep my self under this cover , that matters of fact in this difference have been truly related by me : and let the animadvertor disprove it if he can . dr. heylyn . but our author will not stop here , he goes on and saith , ibid. many moderate men are of opinion , that this abuse of the lords-day was a principal procurer of gods anger , since poured out on this land , in a long and bloudy civill war. ] and moderate perhaps they may be in apparell , diet , and the like civil acts of life and conversation ; but sure , immoderate enough in this observation : for who hath known the mind of the lord , or who hath ●een his counsellor , saith the great apostle ? but it is as common with some men of the newest religions , to adscribe gods secret judgements to some speciall reasons , as if they had the key which opens into his cabinet at their severall girdles ; as if they were admitted to all consultations in the court of heaven , before that dreadfull judge could inflict any temporall punishment upon men on earth . otherwise they might find the nation guilty of too many sins , which drew down this vengeance , to adscribe it unto any one sin , ( if a sin it were ; ) and rather wonder at gods mercy , patience , and long-suffering , in deferring his punishments long , then that he inflicted them at last . fuller . i behold them as moderate men in all respects . the animadvertor hath used my words , as the king of ammon dealt with the cloaths of david's embassadours , even cutting them off at the middle . otherwise , might they have but hung down to the ground , no nakednesse had appeared in what i have written , proceeding as followeth ; church history , book . page . such moderate men observe that our sights of chief concernment , [ edge hill &c. ] were often sought on the lords-day , as pointing at the punishing of the profanation thereof . see here the reason assigned of their opinion , as i received it from their mouths . since , they say , it is one thing with the beth-shemites to pry into the ark , and another thing , to look on . god secrets , in some sort un-secreted , when by the proportion of his judgments , he sayeth come and see . these also alledge for themselves , that the patriarks , sensible of their hard usage from the governour of egypt , did not pry into gods mysticall pleasure , when concluding it inflicted on them , for their cruelty to their brother ioseph ; therefore is this distresse come upon us . however i wholly concurre with the animadvertor in his last sentence , as truly and savourly written . onely i dissent from him , in that passage , ( if a sin it were ; ) surely , he meaneth not , if the profanation of the lords-day were a sin , which is above all iff●s . rather his sense is , if the using of such sports were a profanation of the lords day . but mens corruption is more prone to acquit themselves when guilty , than to suspect themselves when guiltless . parce precor stimulis , & fortiùs utere loris . spurs i pray refrain ; rather use the reine . i need not mind the animadvertor , how penal it is by the late act , for any to write any thing against the strict observation of the lords day ; and believe , he intended nothing prejudiciall to the same : yet profaness probably too soon ( besides his intention ) may improve it selfe on his words , alter his si into non ; and by the next return , turn his note of dubitation into an absolute negation , on which account the parenthesis had been better forborn , in my opinion . dr. heylyn . and though our author doth object against this opinion of those moderate men , that to pick a solemn providence out of a common casualty , savours more of curiosity then conscience , yet he dares not stand to it ; confessing within few lines after , that there may be more in the observation than what many are willing to acknowledge . ] if so , there may be as much conscience as curiosity in the moderate men. fuller . as i stand not wholly to it , so i run not any whit away from it , but dubiously propound it , hoping the reader will account me not the lesse constant in my judgement , but the more cautious in my language , in not being positive in an observation of this nature . dr. heylyn . our author proceeds folio . if moderate men had had the managing of these matters about the posture of the lords board ( call it table or altar ) the accommodation had been easie with a little condescention on both sides . ] why then did not these moderate men interpose themselves for taking off those needless animosities , and putting an end unto the quarrell ? the presse was open on both sides ; iohn , lincoln , deane of westminister , who appear'd so strongly in the cause , thinking himselfe as well able and well qualified to license a book unto the presse , as either the archbishop of canterbury , or the bishop of london . fuller . i said it , and say it again , and any who have honesty and learning ( the animadvertor only excepted ) will say so too ; that those differences were easily capable of accommodations with a little condescention on both sides . it will not belong before the animadvertor will tell us , that the controversies betwixt us and the church of rome , ( consisting most , as he saith , in superstructures ) may be comprimised : and if ( to use his owne words ) the petulancy of the puritans on the one side , and the pragmaticalness of the iesuites on the other side were charmed a while , moderate men might possibly have agreed on equall tearmes . now this seemeth a strange thing to me , that moderation may make protestants agree with papists in matters doctrinall ; and cannot make protestants agree with protestants in matters ceremoniall . being the same plaister , why hath it not equall vertue ; especially , the latter being the lesser wound ? can the difference of transubstantiation be taken up betwixt us and the papists , and not the setting of the communion-table betwixt our selves ? can a crack be closed in a iewell , and a rent not mended in the case ? these things i confess transcend my apprehension . now that no moderate man stood up in the gap to make up this breach , i can assigne no other cause , save , that god , justly offended with our nation , had not so great a favour for it , but suffered a pustle to fester into an ulcer ; not from any insanability in the soar , but want of seasonable surgery ; and let the guilt thereof ( that the burden may be the better born ) be equally divided , betwixt both parties engaged therein . dr. heylyn . if all else failed , why did not our author undertake , and make himself the moderator in that trifling controversie , which seems to have been so easie to be brought to an accommodation ? fuller . the jeer shall go for nothing . the reason why the author undertook not to be moderator in the difference , was , because he was * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ( and if there be a more subter-superlative ) the least of the least of his brethren . however , herein the author comforteth himself , that as it was above his power to cure , so it was against his will to widen the wound ; and being quiet in his calling , concurred not to the inflaming of the mutuall animosities . dr. heylyn . make himself moderator in that [ trifling controversie . ] fuller . the animadvertor his unfair dealing with me , minds me of a passage in cambridge . one made a [ pretended ] extemporary confutation , of his position against whom he disputed , which indeed was onely premeditately made against the question , confuting many things which the answerer never spake . and when the answerer , causlesly charged , pleaded for himself , nihil tale occurrebat in positione meâ ; the other replyed , debuit occurrere tamen . i never said , that the controversie about placing of the communion-table , was a trifling controversie ; but it seems i should have said so , that the animadvertor might have had an advantage against me . this i said , that the controversie might easily have been reconciled with mutuall moderation ; but trifling , i never termed it . and therefore the animadvertor , fighting with his own shaddow , it is all one to me whether he beat or be beaten . yet i doubt not , but there are many in this nation , my betters in all respects , who will be bold to call it a trifling controversie , if not ●●solutely , yet comparatively , to many doctrinall differences of higher concernment ; and , in respect of the great troubles caused thereby , far above the considerablenesse of the thing which was in contest . dr. heylyn . the question was about the placing of the communion-table , whether it ought to stand in the middle of the church , or chancel , with one end towards the east great window , like a common table ; or close up to the eastern-wall , with ends north and south , according as the altars had been placed in the former times . they that maintained the last opinion , had authority for it , that is to say , the injunctions of the queen , anno . the orders and advertisements of the year . and . the constant practice of the chappels in his majestie 's houses , most of the cathedrall , and some of the parochiall churches ; and finally , a declaration of the king , anno . commending a conformity in the parish-churches to their own cathedralls . they on the other side stood chiefly upon discontinuance , but urged withall , that some rubricks in the common-prayer-book seemed to make for them . so that the question being reduced to a matter of fact , that is to say , the table must stand this way , or it must stand that way ; i would fain know , how any condescention might be made on either side , tending to an accommodation , or what our moderator would have done to atone the differences . fuller . the dr. hath clearly , briefty , and truly stated the controversie , whose pen was formerly conversant therein , and by his owne acknowledgment both sides had much to say for themselves . onely i wonder that though the question was reduced to matter of fact , it should be made by him of so high importance ; that either no condiscention could be made on either side , or such condiscention ( if made ) must prove ineffectuall as to an accommodation . is there no balme in gilead ? hath not the spirit of god endowed his servants with such discretion , but they may comprimise a difference of greater moment ? dr. heylyn . suppose him sitting in the chair , the arguments on both sides urged , and all the audience full of expectation which side would carry it . the moderator fuller of old merry tales then ordinary , thus resolves the businesse , that he had heard it commended for a great piece of wisdom in bishop andrews , that wheresoever he was a parson , a dean , or a bishop , he never troubled parish , colledge , or diocesse , with pressing of other ceremonies upon them , than such which he found used there before his comming thither . that king iames finding the archbishop of spalato in a resolution of questioning all such leases , as had been made by his predecessors in the savoy , gave him this wise counsell , relinque res sicut eas invenisti ; that he should leave things as he found them . that the said king being told by a great person , of the inverted scituation of a chappel in cambridge , made answer , that it did not matter how the chappell stood , so their hearts who go thither were set aright in gods service . but for his part , he liked better of the resolution of dr. prideaux , ( his brother in the chair at oxford ) who being troubled with his neighbours of kidlington , about the setting up of a may-pole , some being for it , and some against it , thus resolved the case ; you , saith he , that will have a may-pole , shall have a may-pole ; and you that will have none , shall have none . and that according to that pattern , he thought best to accommodate the present controversie to the same effect , viz. you that will have an altar , shall set up your altar ; and you that will have a table , shall have but a table . which sentence , whether it would have pleased all parties , i do somewhat doubt ; but sure i am , it had not tended to the advancement of that uniformity , which was then designed . fuller . the animadvertor here makes a professor's chaire ; and , having solemnly set me down therein , puts words into my mouth , and makes an oration for me , as moderator in the present controversie , with a jeer to boot on the memory of the reverend doctor prideaux . but know , there is another chaire , which david calls the chaire of the scornfull ; and it is to be feared , that the animadvertor in this point is too neare sitting down therein . if i should retaliate , and accordingly place the animadvertor in a chair , and fit him with a speech personating him proportionable to his principles , possibly i might render him as ridiculous , but most of all should abuse my self and my owne profession therein . i thank god i can , though plainly , yet pertinently enough to my purpose , speak to expresse the notions of my mind . and when god shall take speech from me , ( if my reason still remain ) i shall rather with zacharias make signes for writing-tables to write in , than to have words put into my mouth , forced and seigned on me by the animadvertor . let him thank god that he can speak so well for himselfe . and i will be content as well as i can , to utter my owne conceptions . it would never have come into my mind to have compared the table of the lord to a may-pole ; the wood of the one grew in paradise , not so the other , being a light , and ludicrous , and too often profane , stock of wood . i hope that the principles of my education will restraine me from prophanesse in such unfitting parallels . whereas the animadvertor sayes that an expedient would not have tended to that uniformity , that was designed herein , before god and man , i will speak out my thoughts . that multiformity with mutuall charity advanceth gods glory as much as uniformity it selfe in matters meerly indifferent ; which as the pipes of an organ may be of severall length and bignesse , yet all tuned into good harmony together . i will instance in the observation of easter , the great controversie betwixt the easterne and westerne church in the observation thereof ; betwixt that which i may call style orientall , and style occidentall for the date thereof . and i verily believe that god was equally honoured by both , by such as religiously observed it . dr heylyn . but from these moderate men , which were so in contemplation onely , let us proceed to one who was such in practise , ( the lord bishop of london ) of whom he saith ; fol. . he had a perfect command of his passion , an happiness not granted all clergy-men in that age , though privy-counsellors . ] so perfect a man of his own passion and affections , that he will not think himself honoured with a commendation , which comes accompanied with the disparagement of his chiefest friend ; ( for that this lash was made for the arch-bishop of canterbury , no wise man can doubt . ) our author might have spared the dead , without any wrong to the living ; but that he thinks no topick so usefull in his logick , as the rule of contraries . contraria juxta se posi a magis elucescunt . upon which ground , the better to set off bishop andrews , this poor archbishop must be charged with want of moderation , in enjoyning his own private practises and opinions upon other men . and here , that bishop iuxon might appear with the greater lustre , the said arch-bishop with all his passions and infirmities , must stand by for a foil . he had indeed no such command upon his passions , as to be at all times of equall temper , especially when wearied with the businesse of the councill-table , and the high-commission . but as he was soon hot , so he was soon cool'd ; and so much is observed by sir edward dering , though his greatest adversary , and the first that threw dirt in his face in the late long parliament ; who telleth us of him , that the roughness of his uncourtly nature sent most men discontented from him ; but so , that he would often ( of himself ) find waies and means to sweeten ma●y of them again , when they least looked for it . in this , more modest then our author ; who gives us nothing of this prelate but his vvants and vveaknesses . but of this reverend prela●● , he vvill give cause to speak more hereafter . fuller . there were other clergy men privy-counsellors beside arch-bishop laud : dr. abbots , neil , harsnet , williams , &c. and therefore the animadvertors collection of my words cannot be conclusive in reference to arch-bishop laud : i confesse else where i do reckon anger amongst his personall imperfections , which a historian may do without any wrong at all , ( the spirit of god saying , * elias was subject to like passions as we are ) ; i am confident as angry as arch-bishop laud was , he would not have bin angry with me for writing of it , as sensible of and sorrowfull for his owne imperfection therein . i am much of the mind of sr. edward dering , that the roughnesse of his un-court-like nature , sweetned many men when they least looked for it , surprizing some of them , ( and my selfe for one ) with unexpected courtesies . but whereas i am accused for giving in nothing of this prelate , but his wants and vveaknesses , it vvill not be long before my innocence herein vvill appeare . dr. heylyn . let us now on unto another of a different judgment , his profest enemy , mr. prin ; of whom , thus our author , [ fol. . ] mr. william prin was born about bath in glostershire , &c. and began with the writing of some orthodox books . ] in this story of mr. prin and his sufferings , our author runs into many errors , which either his love to the man , or zeal to the good cause , or carelesnesse of what he writes , have brought upon him . fuller . if i have run into so many errours , it will be charity in the animadvertor fairly to lead me back again a foot-pace into the truth , and then he shall have thanks for his pains : alwaies provided , he doth not pinch me by the arm as he conducteth me , which will turn my thanks into anger . but seeing the animadvertor careth for both alike from my hands , let him do as he pleaseth . next we have his tripartite history of my errors , which he will have to proceed from one of these three causes . . love to the person of mr. prin. to whom i professe i have no fondnesse , but likeing the motto of luther , in quo aliquid christi video , illum diligo , i must on that account have a kindness for him . . zeal to their good cause ; which i behold as a jeer , and treading on the toes of scripture , galatians . . it is good to be zealously affected alwaies in a good thing . . carelesnesse of what i write . but seeing now the animadvertor's hand is in his arithmetick , in counting of causes of my mistakes , his charity might have found a ●ourth , ( worth all the other three ) and imputed my errors to that infirmity , which alwaies attendeth human nature . however , let us proceed . dr. heylyn . whereas our author telleth us , that mr. william prin was born about bath in glocester-shire , bath is not in glocester-shire , but a chief city in the county of somerse● . fuller . these are ani-mad-versions indeed , when a writer's words are madly verted , inverted , perverted , against his true intent , and their grammaticall sense . my words run thus , mr. william prin was born ( about bath ) in glocester-shire ; where bath is walled about with a parenthesis , not essentiall to the sentence , thus perfect without it , mr. william prin was born in glocester-shire . these walls the animadvertor hath most dis-ingenuously dismantled , to lay bath open ; and , if possible , to bring it into glocester-shire , that so he may have something to cavil at me . indeed bath is not in , but within three miles of glocester-shire ; and the next eminent place to — the village of mr. prin's nativity . when towns stand in the confines of two counties , is it not proper enough to say , such a one was born ( about london ) in surrey , though london be in middlesex ; or ( about windsor ) in buckingham-shire , though windsor be in bark-shire ? mr. fox writing in his own defence , against such as traduced him ; some , saith he , do not cavill , because they have found fault ; but do find faults , because they may cavill : and be it reported to the reader , whether the animadvertor may be accounted one of them . and now the animadvertor having a little refreshed himself in my crosse-bath , and somewhat pleased his spirit of opposition , he thus proceedeth . dr. heylyn . secondly , whereas he saith , that he began with the writing of some orthodox books ] though i look on mr. prin , ( so far forth as i am able to judge , by some books of his not long since published ) as a man of a far more moderate spirit , than i have done formerly ; yet can i not think his first books to have been so orthodox as our author makes them . for not to say any thing of his perpetuity , &c. fuller . but i must and will say something of his perpetuity of the regenerate man his estate , as being that which is particularly named in my margin , and chiefly intended by me . a book , wherein an usefull , necessary , and comfortable truth is learnedly defended . a book , which will perpetuate the memory of the writer ; who , had he proceeded , and continued , as he began , none could have took just exception at , or got just advantage against him . dr. heylyn . as for the books of mr. prin , entituled , lame giles his haltings , cozen 's cozening devotions , and his appendix to another , they have many things repugnant to the rules and canons of the church of england . no greater enemy against howing at the name of iesus , nor greater enemy to some ceremonies , here by law established . in which particulars if our author think him to be orthodox , he declares himself to be no true son of the church of england . fuller . i confess , in this his numerous offspring , his younger children were nor so vigorous as his first born , termed in the * scripture the might and beginning of their fathers streng●h ; they were of a weaker and sicker constitution , and some passages in them i do not approve . i hope to acquit my self so dutifull a son to the church of england , that , when in a reverent posture i shall crave her blessing , she will give it me in as full and free a manner and measure , as to the animadvertor himself . dr. heylyn . thirdly , the book called histrio-mastix , was not writ by mr. prin about three years before his last sufferings , as our author telleth us , for then it must be writ or published anno . whereas indeed that book was published in print about the latter end of . and the author censur'd in star-chamber for some passages in it about the latter end of the year . otherwise , had it been as our author tells us , the punishment must have preceded the offence ; and he must suffer for a book , which was not publisht at that time , and perhaps not written . but our author hath a speciall faculty in this kind , which few writers have . fuller . the animadvertor hath a speciall faculty in cavilling without cause . my clock of time strikes true enough , but that he is minded not to tell it aright . my words are , some three years since ; which word some , soundeth an interpretative plùs minus to all ingenuous ears . besides , this is our opposite marginall note , ( containing the contents of that paragraph ) mr. prin accused for libelling against bishops ; which accusation was about two years before this his last censure , ( during which time he was imprisoned ) . and my some three years are to bear date ( in the construction of any impartiall reader ) from that his accusation ; and then nothing is mis-timed , but falleth out in due season . and now , reader , judge , where the many errors be into which i have run , in the story of mr. prin and his sufferings , seeing no one mistake can be produced and proved against me . and seeing the first book of mr. prin was ●ound in it self , in my opinion ; and his last books more moderate , even in the judgment of the animadvertor ; and his midling books ( how faulty soever ) such for which he hath severally suffered ; let us even take a fair farewell of mr. prin and his books , and so proceed . dr. heylyn . now as our author post-dateth his histrio-m●stix , by making it come into the world two years after it did ; so he ante-dates a book of dr. white , then lord bishop of ely , which he makes to be publisht two years sooner then indeed it was . that book of his , entituled , a treatise of the sabbath , came not out till michaelmas , anno . though placed by our author as then written , anno . for which , see fol. . fuller . in answer hereunto , may the reader be pleased to take notice of these particulars . . the revived controversie , lords-day , lasted ten years , bandied with books from . till . . i was loath to scatter my book with it , but resolved on one intire narrative thereof . . i fixed on the yeare . therein to insert the same , because the middle number , from the rising to the sinking of the difference , then came to the very heat and height thereof . . hence my narrative retreated some years back to . when bradborn began the difference . . hence also it sallied forth to the year . ( when bishop white 's book was set forth ) and beyond it . . the date of the yeare . stands still unmoveable on my margin ; the whole relation , being for the reasons aforesaid entered under it . so that nothing is offered to the reader unjoynted in time , if i be but rightly understood . dr. heylyn . next unto mr. prinne , in the course of his censure , comes the bishop of li●coln , the cause whereof we have in our author , who having left a blank , fol. . for somewhat which he thinks not fit to make known to all , gives some occasion to suspect that the matter was far worse on the bishops side than perhaps it was . and therefore to prevent all further misconstructions in this businesse , i will lay down the story as i find it thus , viz. the bishop's purgation depending chiefly upon the testimony of one prideon , it happened , that the february after , one elizabeth hodson was delivered of a base child , and laid to this prideon . the bishop finding his great witness charged with such a load of filth and infamy , conceived it would invalidate all his testimony , and , that once rendred invalid , the bishop could easily prognosticate his own ruine ; therefore he bestirs himself amain . and though by order of the justices at the publick sessions at lincoln , prideon was charged as the reputed father , the bishop by his two agents , powel and owen , procured that order to be suppressed ; and by subornation and menacing of , and tampering with , witnesses ; at length in may , car. procured the child to be fathered upon one boon , and prideon acquit . which lewd practises , for the supportation of his favourite's credit , cost the bishop , as he confest to sir iohn munson and others , twelve hundred pounds ; so much directly , and by consequence much more . fuller . i have concealed nothing herein of moment , ( the blank being insignificant , and the mere mistake of the * printer ) and expect no considerable addition from the animadvertor , having in my book truly and clearly stated the bishops cause , from the best records . i appeal to the unpartiall perusers of what i wrote , whether by this note , any thing of moment is added to the matter in hand , except the naming of a light houswife , ( which i conceived beneath my history ) the rest being truly by me related before . dr. heylyn . but to proceed : the cause being brought unto a censure , fol. . secretary windebank motioned to degrade him ; which ( saith he ) was lustily pronounced by a knight and a lay-man , having no precedent for the same in former ages . ] but first , it is not very certain that any such thing was moved by sir francis windebank . a manuscript of that daies proceedings i have often seen , containing the decree and sentence , with the substance of every speech then made ; and amongst others , that of sir francis windebank , in which i find no motion tending to a degradation , nor any other punishment inflicted on him , than fine , suspension , and imprisonment ; in which the residue of the lords concurred , as we find in our author . fuller . it is very certain , he moved it , and i avow it from honourable eyes and ears . the animadvertor misguides the reference of those my words , [ having no precedent for the same in former ages , ] making them relate to the bishop's degradation , ( whereof one precedent since the reformation , unus homo nobis ) which indeed refer to the knight's and lay-man's first mentioning thereof , which is unprecedented i am sure , that such a person should first make such a motion against a bishop . i confess , at bp. midleton's degradation , some of the lay-privy-counsellors were present , but acted little therein , ( so , far from first mentioning of it ) onely concurring with the court , the matter being chiefly managed by arch-bishop whitgift , and some other bishops and deans the commissioners , as most proper persons to pass such a censure on one of their own profession . dr. heylyn . secondly , it had been more strange if the knight had not been a lay-man , the church of england not acknowledging any order of spirituall knighthood . knights in divinity are greater strangers in this land , then lay-divines ; these last being multiplied of late , even ad infinitum ; the first , never heard of . fuller . the pleonasm of the addition of lay-man to knight , is not so culpable in it self , but that it might have passed without censure ; and let not the animadvertor be over-confident herein . i have been credibly informed , that sir miles sandys , ( third son to edwin arch-bishop of york ) fellow of peter-house in cambridge , and proctor of the university , anno . was made a deacon , ( and so no meer lay-man ) and in his younger years a prebendary of york . within this twenty years there was one mr. seaton beneficed in hartfordshire , a scotish-man , and at this day a knight . but the matter being of no more moment , let us proceed . dr. heylyn . and thirdly , had it been so mov'd , and so lustily mov'd , as our author makes it , the knight and lay-man might have found a precedent for it in former ages . which last clause is to be understood ( as i suppose ) with reference to the times since the reformation : for in the former times , many precedents of like nature might be easily found . and being understood of the times since the reformation , it is not so infallibly true , but that one precedent of it , at the least , may be found amongst us . marmaduke middleton advanced to the bishoprick of sr. davids , anno . after he had sat in that see three and twenty years , was finally condemned ( for many notable misdemeanors ) not onely to be deprived of his bishoprick , but degraded from all holy orders . which sentence was accordingly executed by and before the high-commissioners at lambeth-house , not only by reading of it in scriptis , but by a formal divesting of him of his episcopall robes , and priestly vestments , as i have heard by a person of good credit , who was present at it . and somewhat there is further in the story of this marmaduke middleton , which concerns the bishop now before us ; of whom our author telleth us further , that being prest by two bishops , and three doctors , to answer upon oath to certain articles , which were tendred to him in the tower , he utterly refused to do it , claiming the priviledge of a peer , fol. . which plea was also made by the said bishop of st. davids , offering to give in his answer to such articles , as were fram'd against him , on his honour onely , but refusing to do it on his oath . which case being brought before the lords , then sitting in parliament , was ruled against him ; it being ordered , that he should answer upon oath , as in fine he did . to this bishop let us joyn his chaplain , mr. osbolstone , who being engag'd in the same bark with his patron , suffered shipwrack also , though not at the same time , nor on the same occasion ; censured in star-chamber not onely to lose his ecclesiasticall promotions , but to corporall punishments . fuller . in my weak judgment , the animadvertor had better have omitted this passage ( of this bishop's degradation ) in this juncture of time , where in the repute of that function runs very low , and their adversaries too ready to take all advantage to disgrace it . the rather , because bishop godwin taketh no notice at all thereof , but beginneth , continueth , and concludeth the life and death of this bishop in lesse then two lines . marmaduke middleton translated from ireland , died novemb. th . . dr. heylyn . our author proceedeth , fol. . but this last personall penalty he escaped , by going beyond canterbury , conceived seasonably gone beyond the seas , whilst he secretly concealed himself in london . ] and he had scap't the last penalty , had he staid at home . for though mr. osbolston at that time conceived the archbishop to be his greatest enemy , yet the archbishop was resolved to shew himselfe his greatest friend , assuring the author of these papers ( before any thing was known of mr. osbolstons supposed flight ) that he would cast himselfe at the kings feet for obtaining a discharge of that corporal punishment unto which he was sentenced . which may obtain the greater credit ; first , in regard that no course was taken to stop his flight , no search made after him , nor any thing done in order to his apprehension . and secondly , by mr. osbolstons readinesse to do the archbishop all good offices in the time of his troubles , upon the knowledge which was given him ( at his coming back ) of such good intentions . but of these private men enough ; passe we now to the publick . fuller . whether or no he was sought after , i know not ; this i know , he was not taken : and more do commend his warinesse in his flight , than would have praised his valour for staying , in hope his punishment should be remitted . it had been most mercy to stop the denouncing , but was a good after-game of pitty to stay the inflicting of so cruell a censure on a clergyman . as the animadvertor , then , had the credit to know ; so the author , now , hath the charity to believe , the arch-bishops good resolution . however i cannot forget , that when the sentence in the star-chamber , passed on bishop williams , ( where he concurred with the highest in his fine ) he publickly professed , that he had fallen five times down on his knees before the king in the bishop's behalf , but to no purpose . it might be therefore suspected that his intention to do it once for mr. osbolston might not have taken effect . and therefore , had the arch-bishop's good resolution been known unto him , mr. osbolston might most advisedly conceale himselfe . lib. xi . part. ii. containing the last . years of the reign of king charls . dr. heylyn . and now we come to the last and most unfortunate part of this king's reigne , which ended in the losse of his owne life , the ruine of the church , and the alteration of the civill government . occasioned primarily , as my author saith , by sending a new liturgy to the kirk of scotland . fuller . i deny such a word that i said the liturgy did primarily occasion the war with scotland : rather the cleane contrary may ( by charitable logick ) be collected from my words , when having reckoned up a complication of heart-burnings amongst the scots , i thus conclude , church-history . book . page . . thus was the scottish nation full of discontents , when this book being brought unto them bare the blame of their breaking forth into more dangerous designes : as when the cup is brim-full before , the last ( though least ) superadded drop is charged alone to be the cause of all the running over . till then that the word primarily can be produced out of my book , let the animadvertor be beheld primarily , as one departed from the truth ; and secondarily as a causelesse accuser of his brother . dr. heylyn . our author proceeds , folio . . miseries caused from the sending of the book of service , or new liturgy thither which may sadly be termed a rubrick indeed dyed with the blood of so many , of both nations slaine on that occasion . ] our author speakes this in relation to the scottish tumults , anno . in telling of which story he runs ( as commonly elsewhere ) into many errours . for first those miseries , and that blood-shed was not caused by sending the liturgy thither &c. fuller . seeing the animadvertor denies the liturgy to have had any causall influence on the scots war , i must manifest my dissent from his iudgement ; and here i crave the reader 's leave to be his humble remembrancer of the kinds of causes , so far as they conduce to the clearing of the present controversie . causes are twofold , solitary or totall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; or ioynt and fellow causes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . the latter againe is twofold , proegumena [ long leading before ] and inwardly disposing and inclining to action ; or procatarctica ( called also causa irritatrix or primitiva provocans ) which is outwardly impulsive to action . the former is tearmed by physitians , causa antecedens ; the latter causa evidens of a disease . thus in a feaver , corrupt humours bred within and without the veines , are the antecedent cause thereof : whilst , being in the hot sun , walking in the south-wind &c. stopping the pores , and stirring the ill humours to heat , may be the evident cause of a feaver . i thus apply it : the inward discontents of the scots on severall accounts ( which follow on the next paragraph ) were the antecedent causes of their war ; whilst the evident cause thereof , was the obtruding the liturgy upon them . and so much for my cleare sense in this controversie . dr. heylyn . the plot had been laid long before upon other grounds , that is to say , questioning of some church lands , then in the hands of some great persons , of which they feared a rovocation to the crown . and secondly , the manumitting of some poor subjects from the tyranny and vassallage which they lived under , in respect of their tithes , exacted with all cruelty and injustice by those , whom they call the lords of new erection . which plot so laid , there wanted nothing but some popular occasion for raising a tumult first , a rebellion afterwards ; and this occasion they conceived they had happily gain'd , by sending the new liturgy thither , though ordered by their own clergy first , as our author tells us , at the assembly of aberdeen , anno . and after a● perth , anno . and fashioned for the most part by their own bishops also . but of this there hath so much been said between the observator and his antagonist , that there is nothing necessary to be added to it . secondly , there was no such matter as the passing of an act of revocation , for the restoring of such lands as had been alienated from the crown , in the minority of the kings predecessors , of which he tells us , fol. . the king indeed did ▪ once intend the passing of such an act , but finding what an insurrection was likely to ensue upon it , he followed the safer counsell of sir archibald acheson , by whom he was advis'd to sue them in his courts of justice . which course succeeding to his wish , so terrified many of those great persons , who had little else but such lands to maintain their dignities , that they never thought themselves secure , as long as the king was in a condition to demand his own . thirdly , though it be true enough , that some persons of honour had been denied such higher titles as they had desired , fol. . yet was it not the denying of such titles unto men of honour , which wrought these terrible effects ; but the denying of an honorary title to a man of no honour . if colonel alexander lesly , an obscure fellow , but made rich by the spoils and plunder of germany , had been made a baron when he first desired it , the rest of the male-contents in scotland might have had an heart , though they had no head . but the king not willing to dishonour so high a title , by conferring it on so low a person , denyed the favour : which put the man into such a heat , that presently he joyned himself to the faction there , drove on the plot , and finally undertook the command of their armies . rewarded for which notable service with the title of earl of levin by the king himself , he could not so digest the injury of the first refusall , but that he afterwards headed their rebellions upon all occasions . fuller . little opposition against , some variation from , and more addition unto what i have written , is herein contained : which if tending to the reader his clearer information , i am right glad thereof , and wish him all happinesse therein . dr. heylyn . our author proceeds , fol. . generally they excused the king in their writings , as innocent therein , but charged arch-bishop laud as the principall , and dr. cousins as the instrumentall compiler thereof . ] this is no more then we had reason to expect from a former passage , li● . . fol. . where our author telleth us , that the scotish bishops withdrew themselves from their obedience to the see of york , in the time when george nevil was arch-bishop . and then he adds , hence-forwards no arch-bishop of york medled more with church-matters in scotland ; and happy had it been , if no arch-bishop of canterbury had since interressed hims●lf therein . his stomack is so full of choller against this poor prelate , that he must needs bring up some of it above an hundred years before he was born . fuller . what could more calmly be written ? perchance some cold flegme , but nothing of choller is in the expression . i say again , it had been happy for king , queen , royall issue , church , state , the arch-bishop himself , animadvertor , author , reader , all england . dr. heylyn . hence is it , that he takes together all reports which makes against him , and sets them down in rank and file in the course of this history . if arch-bishop abbot be suspended from his jurisdiction , the blame thereof was laid on arch-bishop laud , as if , not content to succeed , he endeavoured to supplant him , fol. . the king sets out a declaration about lawfull sports , the reviving and enlarging of which must be put upon his account also , some strong presumptions being urged for the proof thereof , fol. . the reduction of the church to her antient rules , and publick doctrines , must be nothing else but the enjoyning of his own private practises and opinions upon other men , fol. . and if a liturgy be compos'd for the use of the church of scotland , who but he must be charged to be the compiler of it ? fuller . if all the places here cited are passed already , they have received their severall answers ; if any of them be to come , they shall receive them , god-willing , in due time : that so for the present we may be silent , to prevent repetition . dr. heylyn . but what proofs have we for all this ? onely the malice of his enemies , or our authors own disaffection to him , or some common fame . and if it once be made a fame , it shall pass for truth , and as a truth find place in our author's history , though the greatest falshood . tam facilis in mendaciis fides , ut , quicquid famae liceat fingere , illi esset libenter audire , in my author's language . but for the last he brings some proof , ( he would have us think so at the least ) that is to say , the words of one bayly , a scot ; whom it concern'd to make him as odious as he could , the better to comply with a pamphlet , called , the intentions of the army ; in which it was declared , that the scots entred england with a purpose , to remove the arch-bishop from the king , and execute their vengeance on him . what hand dr. couzens had in assisting of the work , i am not able to say . but sure i am , that there was nothing was done in it by the bishops of england , but with the counsel and co-operation of their brethren in the church of scotland , viz. the arch-bishop of st. andrews , the arch-bishop of glasco , the bishops of murray , ross , brechin , and dunblane , as appears by the book , entituled , hidden works of darkness , &c. fol. , , , &c. and this our author must needs know , ( but that he hath a mind to quarrell the arch-bishop upon every turn ) as appears plainly , . by his narrative of the designe in king iames his time , from the first undertaking of it by the arch-bishop of st. andrewes , and the bishop of galloway then being ; whose book corrected by that king , with some additions , expunctions , and accommodations , was sent back to scotland . . by that unsatisfiedness which he seems to have , when the project was resum'd by king charls , whether the book by him sent into scotland , were the same which had passed the hands of king iames , or not ; which he expresseth in these words , viz. in the reigne of king charls , the project was resumed , but whether the same book , or no , god knoweth , fol. . if so , if god onely know whether it were the same or no , how dares he tell us that it was not ? and if it was the same , ( as it may be for ought he knoweth ) with what conscience can he charge the making of it upon bishop laud ? besides , ( as afterward he telleth us , fol. ) the church of scotland claimed not onely to be independent , and free as any church in christendom ; a sister , not a daughter of england . and consequently the prelates of that church had more reason to decline the receiving of a liturgy impos'd on them , or commended to them by the primat of england , for fear of acknowledging any subordination to him ; than to receive the same liturgy here by law establisht , which they might very safely borrow from their sister-church , without any such danger . but , howsoever it was , the blame must fall on him who did least deserve it . fuller . i will return to my words , which gave the animadvertor the first occasion of this long discourse . generally they excused the king in their writings , but charged arch-bishop laud. i do not charge the arch-bishop for compiling the book , but say , the scots did . nor do i say , that what they charged on him is true ; but it is true , that they did charge it on him . had i denyed it , i had been a liar ; and seeing i affirmed no more , the animadvertor is a caviller . it is observable , that when our chroniclers relate , how queen anne bollen was charged for incontinency ; margaret countess of salisbury , for treasonable compliance with the pope ; henry earl of surrey , for assuming the arms of england ; edward duke of somerset , for designing the death of some privy counsellors ; thomas duke of norfolk , for aspiring , by the match of the queen of scots , to the english crown ; robert earl of essex , for dangerous machinations against the person of queen elizabeth ; thomas earl of strafford , for endeavouring to subject england and ireland to the king 's arbitrary power : that the historians , who barely report these persons thus charged , are not bound to make the charge good ; it is enough if they name their respective accusers , as here i have named the scots . it is also observable , that some of the persons aforesaid , though condemned and executed , have since found such favour ( or justice rather ) with unpartiall posterity , that though they could not revive their persons , they have restored their memories to their innocence . and if the like shall be the hap of this arch-bishop , i shall rejoyce therein ; i mean , if the animadvertor's defence of him seems so clear , as to out-shine the evidence ; so weighty , as to out-poize all allegations , which in printed books are published against him . in testimony whereof , i return nothing in contradiction to what the animadvertor hath written ; and it is questionable , whether my desire that he may , or distrust that he will not , be believed be the greater . whatever the success be , i forbear farther rejoynder . to fight with a shaddow , ( whether one's own or another's ) passeth for the proverbiall expression of a vain and useless act . but seeing the dead are sometimes tearmed shaddows , umbrae , to fall foul on them , without absolute necessity , is an act , not onely vain , but wicked ; not onely useless , but uncharitable : and therefore no more hereof . dr. heylyn . our author proceedeth , . thus none , seeing now foul weather in scotland , could expect it fair sun-shine in england . ] in this i am as little of our author's opinion , as in most things else . the sun in england might have shined with a brighter beam , if the clouds which had been gathered together , and threatned such foule weather in scotland , had been dispersed and scattered by the thunder of our english ordnance . the opportunity was well given , and well taken also , had it not been unhappily lost in the prosecution . fuller . grant the thunder of our english ordnance , had scattered the scottish cl●uds ; yet , ( by the confession of the animadvertor ) there must first be foul weather in england , before there could be such fair weather to follow it . the skyes are alwayes dark and lowring , even whilst the thunder is engendering therein . military preparations , ( in order to a conquest of the scotts ) must needs give our nation great troubles , and ( for the time ) un-sunshine england , which is enough to secure my expression from just exception . dr. heylyn . the scots , were then weak , unprovided of all necessaries , not above three thousand compleat armes to be found amongst them : the english on the other side making a formidable appearance , gallantly horst , compleaty armed , and intermingled with the choisest of the nobility , and gentry , in all the nation . fuller . i am much of the mind of the animadvertor , that there was a visible disparity betwixt the two armies , and the ods in the eye of flesh , on the side of the english. they were gallantly horst indeed , whether in reference to their horses or riders , and the king pleasantly said , it would make the scots fight against them , were it but to get their brave cloaths . indeed the strength of the scots consisted in their reputation to be strong , ( reported here by such as friended them ) and the scotch lyon was not half so fierce , as he was painted unto us . on the other side , the greatest disadvantage to the english was their owne injurious modesty , observed alwayes to over-prize strangers above themselves , being ignorant of their owne strength and valour in war , because they had been so long accustomed to peace . in all this paragraph the animadvertor and the author may go abrest in their judgments ; and to prevent quarrells , the animadvertor shall have the right hand , that they do not justle one the other . dr. heylyn . and had the scots been once broken , and their country wasted , ( which had been the easiest thing in the world , for the english army , ) &c. fuller . this is consonant to what he hath written , of the same subject in the * short view of the life and reign of king charls , that the king set forth against the scots , accompanied with such an army of lords and gentlemen as might assure him of a cheap and easie victory . his majesty , i am sure , had , ( as it became a good christian , ) a more modest and moderate apprehension of his owne army , such as might give him pregnant hopes but no assurance of victory . i never heard of an assurance-office , for the successe of battels . but all this is written by the animadvertor like an historian , but not like a doctor in divinity . this mindeth me of a * passage of king henry the second , who standing on the cliffes about st. david's in wales , and there viewing ireland , i with my ships am able ( saith he ) , to make a bridge over it , if it be no further : which speech of his being related to murchard king of lemster in ireland ; he demanded , if he added not to his speech [ with the grace of god ] : when it was answered that he made no mention of god ; then , said he more cheerfully , i feare him the lesse , which trusteth more to himselfe , then to the help of god. when the animadvertor tells us , that it had been the easiest thing in the world for the english to have broken the scots army , i must tell him ; here was one thing in the world easier , namely the inserting of these words , by god's ordinary blessing , or something to that purpose . otherwise we know , who it was that said , that the race * is not to the swift , nor the battell to the strong , neither yet bread to the wise , nor yet riches to men of understanding , nor yet favours to men of skill : time and chance happeneth to them all . time was , when the animadvertor did needlessely lavish a * god-blesse ; god blesse not onely our historian , but baronius himselfe , from being held an author of no * credit . he that then spent it , when he should have spared it , spares it now , when he should have spent it . dr heylyn . the scots had been utterly disabled from creating trouble to their king , disturbances in their owne church , and destruction to england . so true is that of the wise historian , conatus subditorum irritos imperia semper promovêre ; the insurrections of the people when they are supprest , do alwayes make the king stronger , and the subjects weaker . fuller . all this proceeds ( as the former ) on the supposition that the english had beaten the scots , which though ( in the eye of flesh ) probable , was uncertain . the latines and english have the same word momentum , moment , which signifieth , as time of the least continuance , so matters of most concernment , to shew that the scales of successe , which god alone holds in his hand , are so ticklish , that the mote of a moment may turne them on either side , which is the reason , why no man can positively conclude of future contingencies . dr. heylyn . the sermon ended , we chose dr. stewart dean of chicester prolocutor , and the next day of sitting , we met at westminister in the chappell of king henry the seventh . ] had it not been for these and some other passages of this nature , our author might have lost the honour of being took notice of , for one of the clerks of the convocation ; and one not of the lowest forme , but passing for some of those wise men , who began to be fearfull of themselves , and to be jealous of that power by which they were enabled to make new canons . how so ? because it was feared by the iudicious ( himself still for one ) lest the convocation , whose power of medling with church-matters , had been bridled up for many yeares before , should now , enabled with such power , over-act their parts , especially in such dangerous and discontented times , as it after followeth . wisely fore-seen . but then why did not wee , that is to say , our author , and the rest of those wise and iudicious persons , fore-warne their weak and unadvised brethren of the present danger ; or rather , why did they go along with the rest for company , and follow th●se who had before out-run the canons by their additionall conformity ? fuller . dear honour indeed , honos onus : for which i was fin'd with the rest of my brethren two hundred pounds by the house of commons , though not put to pay it , partly because it never passed the house of lords ; partly , because they thought it needlesse to shave their haire , whose heads they meant to cut-off ; i meane , they were so charitable as not to make them pay a fine , whose place in cathedralls they intended , not long after , to take away . i insert the word we , not to credit my self , but to confirm the reader ; relations from an eye and ear-witness , meeting with the best belief . such insinuations of the writer , being present at the actions he writeth of , want not precedents in holy and profane authors . hence it is collected , that st. luke accompanied st. paul in his dangerous voyage to rome , act. . . we were all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls . let the animadvertor lay what load he pleaseth on me , whose back is broad and big enough to bear it ; but o let him spare my worthy friends , some now glorious saints in heaven , bishop westfield , dr. holmsworth ; and some of the highest repute still alive , whom i forbear to name . it comforteth me not a little , that god hath chosen — the foolish things of this world to con●ound the wise . dr. heylyn . how wise the rest were , i am not able to say . but certainly our author shew'd himself no wiser than waltham's calf , who ran nine mile to suck a bull , and came home athirst , as the proverb saith . his running unto oxford , which cost him as much in seventeen weeks , as he had spent in cambridge in seventeen years , was but a second sally to the first knight-errantry . fuller . i can patiently comport with the animadvertor's ieers , which i behold as so many frogs , that it is pretty and pleasing to see them hop and skip about , having not much harm in them : but i cannot abide his railings , which are like to toads , swelling with venom within them . any one may rail who is bred but in billings-gate-colledge : and i am sorry to hear such language from the animadvertor , a doctor in divinity ; seeing railing is as much beneath a doctor , as against divinity . when dr. turner , a physitian sufficiently known , gave the lie ( at the earl of pembrokes table ) to the earl of carnarvon ; i will take the lye from you , ( replied the earl ) but i will never take physick from you . if such railing be consistent with the doctor 's divinity , this once i will take the calf , but never learn divinity from him . two things comfort me under his reviling : first , that no worse man than david himself complained , that he became a * proverb to his enemies . secondly , though a calf be a contemptible creature , passing for the emblem ( not with the dove of simplicity , but ) of plain silliness ; yet is it a clean one , and accepted of * god for sacrifice . whereas the snarling dog ( though a creature of far more cunning and sagacity ) was so odious and unclean , that by a peculiar * law it was provided , that the price of a dog should not be brought into the house of god. dr. heylyn . our author thus proceedeth , fol. . next day the convocation came together , &c. when , contrary to the generall expectation , it was mentioned to improve the present opportunity , in perfecting the new canons which they had begun . ] i have not heard of any such motion , as our author speaks of , from any who were present at that time , though i have diligently laboured to inform my self in it : nor is it probable , that any such motion should be made , as the case then stood . the parliament had been dissolv'd on tuesday the th . of may ; the clergy met in convocation on the morrow after , expecting then to be dissolved , and licensed to go home again . but , contrary to that generall expectation , in stead of hearing some newes of his majesties writ for their dissolution , there came an order from the arch-bishop to the prolocutor , to adjourn till saturday . and this was all the businesse which was done that day ; the clergy generally being in no small amazment , when they were required not to dissolve , till further order . saturday being come , what then ? a new commission , saith he , was brought from his majesty , by vertue whereof we were warranted still to sit , not in the capacity of a convocation , but of a synod . i had thought our author , with his wise and judicious friends , had better harkened to the tenour of that commission , than to come out with such a gross and wild absurdity , as this is , so fit for none as sir edward deering , and for him onely , to make sport withall in the house of commons . at the beginning of the convocation , when the prolocutor was admitted , the arch-bishop produc'd his majesties commission under the great seal ; whereby the clergy was enabled to consult , treat of , and conclude such canons , as they conceiv'd most expedient to the peace of the church , and his majestie 's service . but this commission being to expire with the end of the parliament , it became void , of no effect as soon as the parliament was dissolved . which being made known unto the king , who was resolv'd the convocation should continue , and that the clergy should go on in compleating those canons , which they had so happily begun ; he caus'd a new commission to be sent unto them , in the same words , and to the very same effect , as the other was ; but that it was to continue duran●e beneplacito onely , as the other was not . fuller . the reader may take notice , that there is some difference in judgment betwixt the animadvertor and me ; and no wonder then if some ( no great , i hope ) variations betwixt us , in relating the passages of this convocation , each of us observing what made most for his own interest . the reader also may be pleased to use his own discretion , and to credit him , whom he believeth most probable of the two , exactly to observe , firmly to remember , and faithfully to relate , what we saw done , ( both of us being there ) and since borrowing help of our friends , then present , where we fall short in our intelligence . dr. heylyn . our author goes on as followeth , ibid. dr. brownrig , dr. hacket , dr. holdsworth , &c. with others , to the number of thirty six , earnestly protested against the continuance of the convocation . ] it 's possible enough that dr. brownrig , now lord bishop of excester , dr. hacket , and the rest of the thirty six , our author being of the quorum , ( in his own understanding of the word ) might be unsatisfied in the continuance of the convocation , because of some offence , which , as they conceiv'd , would be taken at it . but if they had protested , and protested earnestly , as our author tells us , the noise of so many votes concurring , must needs be heard by all the rest which were then assembled ; from none of which i can learn any thing of this protestation . fuller . i am nothing moved with his jeer , when he calleth me of the quorum in this convocation . mithridates king of pontus is commonly reported , so habited to the eating of poyson , that that which was nauseous and noxious at the first , by custom became harmless unto him . i am so used to the bitter jeers of the animadvertor , so frequently laid in my dish , that now they are become food , not physick , unto me ; and the greatest quantity of them will not so much as stir my constitution , to anger . it seemeth strange to me indeed , that the protest of the dissentors was not ●eard , by the rest in the convocation ; i cannot be so uncharitable , to think them in this point like those of whom the * apostle speaketh , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , this they are willingly ignorant of : i impute it rather to their forgetfulness , most of them surviving being aged persons , and this done more then sixteen years since . for though it be true , omnia quae curant senes meminerunt ; yet were they more prone to oblivion in this particular , because they cared not for that protestation , they disliked ; and therefore never charged it on their memories . the best is , i may speak ( i hope , as yet ) of the thirty six dissentors , in the same language of the * apostle , of whom the greater part remain untill this present , but some are fallen asleep . bishop brownrig , dr. hacket , dr. warmester , &c. are still ( and may they long be ) alive , who will be believed in this point , that they protested against the sitting of the convocation , after the dissolution of the parliament . dr. heylyn . or if they did protes● so earnestly , as he said they did , why was not the protestation reduc'd into writing , subscribed with their hands in due form of law , and so delivered to the register to remain upon record ( amongst the other act of that house ) for their indemnity : which not being done , rendr●●● this protest of theirs ( if any such protest there were ) to signifie nothing , but their dislike of the continuance . fuller . herein the animadvertor doth speak a sad truth ; the dissentors were ill advised herein , whereby their protest ( significant onely in their own consciences ) was legally rendred of none effect . but herein they may partly be excused , because they ( though not entring a written protest ) supposed a verball one would manifest their dislike , and hoped it would sufficiently secure them from a danger , which ( though suspected ) was not certain to ensue . this afterwards was very eagerly urged against them , by a committee in parliament ; and sorry i am , that they could not make their answer as clear as the objection . dr. heylyn . but whereas our author tells us , that the whole house consisted but of six score persons , it may be thought that he diminisheth the number of set purpose , to make his own party seem the greater . for in the lower house of convocation for the province of canterbury , if all parties summon'd do appear , these are no fewer then two and twenty deans , four and twenty preb●ndaries , fifty four archdeacons , and forty four clerks , representing the dioc●san clergy , amounting in the totall to an hundred forty four persons ; whereof the thirty six protestors ( if so many there were ) make the fourth part onely . howsoever , all parties being not well satisfied with the lawfulness of their continuance , his majesty was advertis'd of it . who , upon conference with his judges and counsell learned in the laws , caus'd a short writing to be drawn , and subscribed by their severall hands , in these following words , viz. at white-hall , may the th . . the convocation being called by the kings writ , is to continue till it be dissolved by the kings writ , notwithstanding the dissolving of the parliament . subscribed by finch lord keeper , manchester lord privy seal , littleton chief justice of the common pleas , banks atturney generall , whit●ield and heath , his majesties serjeants . fuller . i protest , and now will enter my protestation , in scriptis , ( that it may be valid ) i had no designe either to substract from the number in the convocation , or add to those of the dissentors . i believe the animadvertor is very right in his arithmetick of persons , in the provinciall convocation of canterbury . but concerning the arch-deacons , give me leave once to enlarge my self , in stating their true number , because it is hard to find either a printed or written catalogue of them , which is exact herein : they are generally reckoned up but fifty two , as followeth . the two first containing eighteen a piece , the last , sixteen ; which are but fifty two in my arithmetick . st. asaph . st. asaph . bangor . bangor . anglesey . merioneth . bristol . dorset . bath and wels. wels. bath , taunton . canterb. canterbury . chichest . chichester . lewes . covent . & lich. stafford . derby . covent . salop. ely. ely. exeter . exeter . cornwall . exeter . to●nes . barnstaple . glocester . hereford . hereford . salop. london . london . middlesex . essex . colchester . st. albans . lincoln . lincoln . stow. bedford . buckingham . huntington . leicester . landaff . landaff . st. davids . st. davids . st. davids . carmarthen . cardigan . brecknock . norwich . norwich . norfolk . suffolk . sudbury . oxford . oxford . peterburg . northampton . rochester . rochester . salisbury . wilts . berks. sarum . winchest . winchester . surrey . worcest . worcester . this is the best printed list i have ever seen , presented in weaver's * funerall monuments , having the valuation of each archdeaconry annexed ; taken , as he saith , ( and i believe him therein ) out of sir cotton's library : and yet i am sure it is not compleat . wherefore i supply warwick ( in the diocesse of worcester ) as i find it in a more perfect written catalogue . and yet still one is wanting , even westminster , who●e church was advanced to the see of a bishop by king henry the eighth ; and though since it hath been set back from a cathedrall to a collegiat-church ; yet it still retaineth the honour to send one of their prebendaries ( by the title of their arch-deacon ) to the convocation . and thus we have our full number of fifty four . but whereas the animadvertor taxeth me for saying , the convocation consisted of six-score : i confess , when i first read his words , i had not a church-history by me to confute it . yet i conceived such positiveness in a number improbable to fall from my pen , who had learn'd this lesson from the best of teachers , the spirit of god , not to be peremptory , but to leave a latitude in numbers of this nature . in times . in places . in persons . dan. . . darius being about threescore and two years 〈◊〉 . luk. . . from ierusalem about sixty furlongs . exod. . . about six hundred thousand men on foot . luk. . . iesus began to 〈◊〉 about thirty years of age . joh. . . had rowed about five and twenty furlongs . act. . . added to the church about three thousand souls . but upon inspection of my book , my words were , the whole house consisting of about six score ; where [ about ] is receptive of more or less . besides , the convocation , as to the effectuall managing of matters , properly consisted not of the members belonging thereto , but present therein ; and some five score and ten was the generall and constant appearance , the rest being absent for age , sicknesse , and other detentions . dr. heylyn . which writing ( an instrument our author calls it ) being communicated to the clergy by the lord arch-bishop on the morrow after , did so compose the minds of all men , that they went forwards very cheerfully with the work in hand . the principall of those whom our author calls dissenters , bringing in the canon of preaching for conformity , ( being the eighth canon in the book , as now they are plac'd ) which was received and allowed of , as it came from his hand without alteration . fuller . and calleth it an instrument properly enough , both to the originall notation , and modern acception of the word . instrument is so termed ab instruendo , from instructing . this writing did first instruct us at the present , that , by the judgment of those great states-men and lawyers , we might legally continue , notwithstanding the dissolution of the parliament . and since , this writing hath ( by the event thereof ) instructed us , that seeing the judgments of the grandees in the law were censured erroneous in parliament , it is unsafe in matters of this nature , to rely on the opinions of any [ comparatively ] private persons . as for the modern acception of the word , i appeal to the criticks in language , whether this writing ( as the animadvertor is fain to term it ) of the judges , may not be called by the generall name of instrument , harmoniously enough to the propriety thereof . dr. heylyn . howsoever , our author keeps himself to his former folly , shutting up his extravagancy with this conclusion , fol. . thus was an old convocation converted into a new synod . ] an expression borrowed from the speech of a witty gentleman , as he is called by the author of the history of the reign of king charls , and since by him declar'd to be the lord george digby , now earl of bristow . but he that spent most of his wit upon it , and thereby gave occasion unto others for the like mistakings , was sir edward deering , in a speech made against these canons , anno . where we find these flourishes : would you confute the convocation ? they were a holy synod . would you argue against the synod ? why , they were commissioners . would you dispute the commission ? they will mingle all powers together , and answer , that they were some fourth thing , that neither we know nor imagine ; that is to say , ( as it followes afterwards , pag. . ) a convocationall-synodicall-assembly of commissioners . more of this fine stuff we may see hereafter . in the mean time we may judge , by this remnant , of the whole piece ; and find it upon proof to be very sleight , and not worth the wearing . for first , the gentleman could not , and our author cannot chuse but know , that a convocation and a synod ( as us'd in england of late times ) are but the same one thing under divers names , the one borrowed from a grecian , the other from a latin originall . the convocation of the clergy of the province of canterbury , being nothing but a provinciall synod ; as a nationall synod is nothing else , but the convocation of the clergy of both provinces . secondly , our author knowes by this time , that the commission which seems to makes this doughty difference , changed not the convocation into a synod , ( as some vainly think ) but onely made that convocation active in order to the making of canons , which otherwise had been able to proceed no further then the grant of subsidies . thirdly , that nothing is more ordinary , then for the convocations of all times since the reformation , to take unto themselves the name of synods . for , the articles of religion made in the convocation anno . are called in the title of the book , articuli de quibus in synodo londinensi convenit , &c. the same name given to those agreed on in the convocation , anno . as appears by the title of that book also , in the latin edition . the canons of the year . are said to be concluded and agreed upon in synodo inchoatâ lond. in aede divi pauli , &c. in the year . came out a book of articles , with this title following , viz. articles whereupon it was agreed by the most reverend father in god , the arch-bishop of canterbury , and other the bishops , and the whole clergy in the province of canterbury , in the convocation or synod holden at westminster . the like we find in the year . ( being the last active convocation in queen elizabeth's time ) in which we meet with a book entituled , constitutiones ecclesiasticae , &c. in synodo inchoatâ londini vicesimo quinto die mensis octobris . fuller . i request the reader would be pleased , to call to his remembrance a passage of the animadvertors , on my fifth book , relating to the reigne of king henry the eighth . i must confess my self to be at a loss in this intricate labyrinth , unless perhaps there were some criticall difference between a synod and a convocation ; the first being called by the arch-bishops , in their severall and respective provinces , as the necessities of the church ; the other onely by the king , as his occasions and affairs , did require the same . i find my self now in the like labyrinth , and can meet with no ariadne's thread , to extricate my self . i confess ; commonly , convocation and synod pass for synonyma's , signifying one and the same thing ; yet some make this nice difference . . convocation , which is , in the beginning and ending , parallel with the parliament . . synod , which is called by the king out of parliament . i acknowledge my self a seeker in this point , and will not wilfully bolt mine eyes against the beams of truth , by whomsoever delivered : mean time , i crave leave to enter this my dissatisfaction herein , seeing the animadvertor so lately did confess his , in a thing of the like nature . dr. heylyn . our author finally is to know , that though the members of the two convocations of york and canterbury did not meet in person , yet they communicated their counsells , the results of the one being dispatcht unto the other , and there agreed on , or rejected , as they saw cause for it . fuller . i am not to know it , for i knew it before , and nothing in my book appears to the contrary ; that the two provinciall synods privately did communicate their transactions , as they were in fieri , in the making ; and at last , publickly , viz. when we at westminster had compleated the canons , by our subscription thereunto . dr. heylyn . which laid together , shewes the vanity of another passage in the speech of sir edward deering , where he vapoureth thus , viz. a strange commission , wherein no one commissioner's name is to be found ; a strange convocation , that lived when the parliament was dead ; a strange holy synod , where one part never saw , never conferred with the other . lastly , sir edward deering seems to marvell at the title of the book of canons then in question , expressing , that they were treated upon in convocation , agreed upon in synod . and this , saith he , is a new mould to cast canons in , never us'd before . but had he looked upon the title of the book of canons , anno . he had found it otherwise . the title this , viz. constitutions and canons ecclesiasticall , treated by the bishop of london , president of the convocation for the province of canterbury , &c. and agreed upon with the kings majesty's licence in their synod begun at london , anno . and so much for the satisfaction of all such persons , whom either that gentleman , or this our author , have mis-informed , and consequently abused in this particular . fuller . he hath now vapoured out that , which by the * apostle is termed , even a vapour which appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away . being dead , the animadvertor might have spared this expression upon him . i believe neither he nor the author did wittingly or willingly mis-informe any , and therefore cannot by any charitable pen be justly condemned for abusing them . dr. heylyn . our author proceeds , ibid. now because great bodies move slowly , &c. it was thought fit to contract the synod into a select committee of some twenty six , beside the prolocutor . ] no such contracting of the synod as our author speaks of . there was indeed a committee of twenty six , or thereabouts , appointed to consider of a canon for uniformity in some rites and ceremonies , of which number were the principall of those whom he calls dissenters , and our author too amongst the rest ; who having agreed upon the canon , it was by them presented to the rest of the clergy in convocation , and by them approv'd . and possible it is , that the drawing up o● some other canons might be referr'd also to that committee , ( as is accustomed in such cases ) without contracting the whole house into that small body , or excluding any man from being present at their consultation . fuller . i know not what offence the word contracting may give , but my meaning , obvious to any reader , is this , that a select committee was appointed , to prepare matters of greatest importance . no member being excluded from being present at , but from giving a vote in , that consultation . dr heylyn . but whereas our author afterwards tells us , that nothing should be accounted the act of the house till thrice ( as he takes it ) publickly voted therein . ] it is but as he takes it , or mistakes it rather , and so let it go . fuller . he might have allowed me the liberty of that modest parenthesis , without carping at it . some things i confesse ( having since better informed my self ) passed at the first time ; but others which were meerly new were thrice read , on the same token that it occasioned the contest betwixt the prolocutor and doctor holdsworth . dr. heylyn . but i needed not to have signified , that our author was one of the committee , he will tell it himself ; and he will tell us more then that , publishing himself for one of the thirty six dissenters , the better to ingratiate himself with the rising side . the next day ( so he lets us knovv ) we all subscribed the canons , suffering our selves ( according to the order of such meetings ) to be all concluded by the majority of votes , though some of us in the committee privately dissented in the passing of many particulars . ] so then , our author was content to play the good-fellow at the last , and go along hand in hand with the rest of his company ; dissenting privately , but consenting publickly , which is as much as can be looked for . fuller . it is not worth the while for him who is falling into the grave to endeavour to ingratiate himselfe with any rising-side . i appeal to the animadvertor's own conscience , if i have not written the plaine truth herein . dr. heylyn . our author proceeds , ibid. no sooner came these canons abroad into a publick view , but various were mens censures upon them . ] not possible that in such a confusion , both of affections and opinions , it should otherwise be . non omnibus una voluntas , was a note of old , and will hold true as long as there are many men to have many minds . and yet , if my information deceive me not , these canons found great approbation from the mouths of some , from whom it had been least expected ; particularly from justice crook , whose argument in the case of ship-mony , was printed afterwards by the order of the house of commons . of whom i have been told , by a person of great worth and credit , that having read over the book of canons , when it first came out , he lifted up his hands , and gave hearty thanks to almighty god , that he had liv'd to see such good effects of a convocation . it was very well that they pleased him ; but that they should please all men was not to be hoped for . fuller . this is all additory , nothi●g at all opposite to what i have written ; so we may proceed . dr. heylyn . our author proceeds , fol. . many took exception at the hollowness of the oath in the middle thereof , having its bowels puffed up with a windy &c. a cheveral word , which might be stretched as men would measure it . ] of this &c. which has made so much noise in the world , i shall now say nothing . somewhat is here subjoyn'd by our author in excuse thereof , the rest made up by the observator . onely i shall make bold to ask him , why he observ'd not this &c. when the oath was first under consideration ? or why he signified not his dissent when it came to the vote , and shewed some reasons which might move him to object against it ? it had been fitter for a wise and juditious man to signifie his dislike of any thing when it might be mended , then to joyne with others in condemning it , when it was past remedy . fuller . i was not sensible of any just cause of exception therein . the animadvertor confesseth that i have subjoyned some what in the excuse thereof . and set me add that that somewhat is as much to purpose in the defence of that oath ( being borrowed from as learned and pious a pen , as england then enjoyed ) as any thing , that the animadvertor or his party can alledge . wherefore except , joyning with those who do defend it , be the same with , joyning with those who do condemne it , the animadvertor hath unjustly ranked me amongst the latter . dr. heylyn . but , mala mens , malus animus , as the saying is . the convocation had no ill intent in it when they passed it so , though some few , out of their perversness and corrupt effections , were willing to put their own sense on it , and spoil an hones● meaning text with a factious gloss. but let us follow our author as he leads the way , and we shall find , that ibid. some bishops were very forward in pressing this oath , even before the time thereof . for , whereas a liberty was allowed to all to deliberate thereon , untill the feast of michael the arch-angel , some presently pressed the ministers of their diocesses for the taking thereof . ] it seems by this , that our author was so far from taking notice of any thing done in the convocation , when the canon for the oath was framed , that he never so much as looked into the canon it self , since the book came out . he had not else dreamt of a liberty of deliberation , till the feast of st. michael the arch-angel , which i am sure the canon gives not . the synod did indeed decree , that all arch-bishops and bishops , and all other priests and deacons , in places exempt or not exempt , should , before the second day of november next ensuing , take the following oath , against all innovation of doctrine or discipline . by which we see , that the oath was to be given and taken before the second of november , but no such thing as liberty of deliberation till the feast of st. michael . and therefore if some bishops did press the clergy of their severall and respective diocesses , as soon as they returned home from the convocation ; they might well do it by the canon , without making any such essay of their activity , if providence ( as our author most wisely words it ) had not prevented them ▪ fuller . though there was no solemn order entered , or printed ; yet am i sure , ( having cause to be assured thereof ) such a condescention was agreed on , and i know who did plead the benefit of such deliberation , on the same token it was denied it him . dr. heylyn . if any of the bishops did require their clergy to take the oath upon their knees , ( as he saies they did ) though it be more then was directed by the canon ; yet i conceive , that no wise man would scruple at it , considering the gravity and greatness of the business which he was about . fuller . the oath of allegiance and supremacy , being of as high and holy a nature and concernment , are never urged in that posture . all things are disposed of by divine providence ; and let the doctor write against me , what he pleaseth ; but take heed how he writes corrective animadversions on the proceedings of the greatest and best of beeings . dr. heylyn . but then , ibid. the exception of exceptions was , because they were generally condemned as illegally passed , to the prejudice of the fundamentall liberty of the subject , whereof we shall hear enough in the next parliament . ] not generally condemned , either as illegally passed , or as tending to prejudice of the subjects rights , i am sure of that . scarse so much as condemned by any for those respects , but by such whom it concern'd , ( for carrying on of their de●ignes ) to weaken the authority of the church , and advance their own . but because our author tells us , that we shall find enough of this in the following parliament , we are to follow him to that parliament for our satisfaction : and there we find , that mr. maynard made a speech in the committee of lords against the canons , made by the bishops in the last convocation , in which he endeavoured to prove , &c. fuller . diogenes being demanded what one should give him to strike on the head as hard as he could , give me , ( sayed he ) but an helmet . well fare my helmet , the seasonable interposition of the word endeavoured ! which hath secured me from the blowes of the animadvertor , and perchance his hand thereby retunded . besides i have a double helmet , master [ now serjeant ] mainard , no lesse eminently known for his skill in law , than for his love to the clergy , by pleading so effectually ( in his success as well as desire ) for their tithes . wherefore being weary with this long contest , i resolve for a while even to take my naturall rest , and will quietly sleep , untill iogged by that , which particularly concerneth me . dr. heylyn . endeavoured to prove , that the clergy had no power to make canons , without common consent in parliament , because in the saxon's times , lawes and constitutions ecclesiasticall had the confirmation of peers , and sometimes of the people ; to which great councills our parliaments do succeed . ] which argument , if it be of force to prove , that the clergy can make no canons , without consent of the peers and people in parliament ; it must prove also , that the peers and people can make no statutes without consent of the clergy in their convocation . my reason is , because such councels in the times of the saxons were mixt assemblies , consisting as well of laicks as of ecclesiasticks ; and the matters there concluded on of a mixt nature also , laws being passed as commonly in them in order to the good governance of the common-wealth , as canons for the regulating such things as concern'd religion . but these great councels of the saxons being divided into two parts in the times ensuing , the clergy did their work by themselves , without any confirmation from the king or parliament , till the submission of the clergy to king henry the eighth . and if the parliaments did succeed in the place of those great councells , ( as he saies they did ) it was , because that antiently the procurators of the clergy , not the bishops onely , had their place in parliament , though neither peers nor people voted in the convocations . which being so , it is not much to be admired , that there was some checking ( as is said in the second argument ) about the disuse of the generall making of such church-laws . but checking or repining at the proceeding of any superiour court , makes not the acts thereof illegall ; for , if it did , the acts of parliaments themselves would be reputed of no force , or illegally made , because the clergy for a long time have checkt ( and think they have good cause to check ) for their being excluded . which checking of the commons appears not onely in those antient authors which the gentleman cited , but in the remonstrance tendred by them to king henry the eighth , exemplified at large in these animadversions , lib. . n. . but because this , being a record of the convocation , may not come within the walk of a common lawyer , i shall put him in mind of that memorable passage in the parliament , edw. d. which in brief was this : the commons finding themselves aggrieved , as well with certain constitutions made by the clergy in their synods , as with some laws or ordinances which were lately passed , more to the advantage of the clergy then the common people , put in a bill to this effect , viz. that no act nor ordinance should from thenceforth be made or granted on the petition of the said clergy , without the consent of the commons ; and that the said commons should not be bound in times to come by any constitutions made by the clergy of this realm , for their own advantage , to which the commons of this realm had not given consent . the reason of which is this , ( and 't is worth the marking ) car eux ne veulent estre obligez a nul de vos estatuz ne ordinances faitz sanz leur assent . because the said clergy did not think themselves bound ( as indeed they were not in those times ) by any statute , act , or ordinance , made without their assent in the court of parliament . but that which could not be obtain'd by this checking of the commons , in the declining and last times of king edward . was in some part effected by the more vigorous prosecution of king henry . who , to satisfie the desires of the commons in this particular , and repress their checkings , obtained from the clergy , that they should neither make nor execute any canons , without his consent , as before is said ; so that the kings power of confirming canons was grounded on the free and voluntary submission of the clergy , and was not built , as the third argument objecteth , on so weak a foundation as the pope's making canons by his sole power : the pope not making canons here , nor putting his prescripts and letters decretory in the place of canons , but onely as a remedy for some present exigency . so that the king's power in this particular not being built upon the popes , as he said it was , it may well stand , that kings may make canons without consent of parliament , though he saith they cannot . but whereas it is argued , in the fourth place , that the clause in the statute of submission , in which it is said , that the clergy shall not make canons without the kings leave , doth not imply , that by his leave alone they may make them ; i cannot think that he delivered this for law , and much less for logick . for , had this been looked on formerly as a piece of law , the parliaments would have check'd at it at some time or other , and been as sensible of the kings enchroachments , in executing this power without them , as antiently some of them had been about the disuse of the like generall consent in the making of them . fuller . dormit securus . dr. heylyn . fol. . in the next place our author tells us , that mr. maynard endeavoured also to prove , that these canons were against the king's prerogative , the rights , liberties , and properties of the subject . ] and he saith well , that it was endeavoured to be proved , and endeavoured onely , nothing , amounting to a proof , being to be found in that which followes . it had before been voted by the house of commons , that the canons are against fundamentall laws of this realm , against the kings prerogative , property of the subject , the right of parliament , and do tend to faction and sedition . and it was fit that some endeavours should be used to make good the vote . but , this being but a generall charge , requires a generall answer onely , and it shall be this : before the canons were subscribed , they were imparted to the king by the arch-bishop of canterbury , and by the king communicated to the lords of the councill ; who calling to them the assistance of the judges , and some of the kings councill learned in the laws of this realm , caus'd the said canons to be read and considered of , the king being then present . by all which , upon due and mature deliberation , the canons were approv'd ; and being so approv'd , were sent back to the clergy in the convocation , and by them subscribed . and certainly it had been strange , that they should pass the approbation of the judges and learned lawyers , had they contained any thing against the fundamentall laws of the land , the property of the subject , and the rights of parliament , or been approv'd of by the lords of his majesties councill , had any thing been contained in them derogatory to the kings prerogative , or tending to faction and sedition . so that the foundation being ill laid , the superstructures and objections which are built upon it , may be easily shaken and thrown down . to the first therefore it is ansvvered , that nothing hath been more ordinary in all former times , than for the canons of the church to inflict penalties on such , as shall disobey them ; exemplified in the late canons of . many of which extend not onely unto excommunication , but even to degradation and irregularity , for which , see can. . . &c. to the second ▪ that there is nothing in those canons which determine●h or limiteth the kings authority , but much that makes for , and defendeth the right of the subject , for which the convocation might rather have expected thanks then censure , from ensuing parliaments . to the third , that when the canon did declare the government of kings to be founded on the law of nature , it was not to condemn all other governments , as being unlawfull , but to commend that of the kings as being the best . nor can it logically be inferr'd , that because the kingly government is not receiv'd in all places , that therefore it ought not so to be : or that the government ( by this canon ) should be the same in all places , and in all alike ; because some kings do , and may lawfully part with many of their rights for the good of their subjects , which others do , and may as lawfully retain unto themselves . to the fourth , that the doctrine of non-resistance is built expresly on the words of st. paul , rom. . v. . and therefore to condemn the canon in that behalf , is to condemn the word of god upon vvhich it is founded . finally , to the fifth and last , that the statute of , edw. . declaring , that the daies there mentioned shall be kept for holy-daies , and no other , relates onely to the abolishing of some other festivalls , which had been formerly observ'd in the realm of england , and not to the disabling of the church from ordaining any other holy-dayes , ( on emergent causes ) in the times to come . fuller . dormit securus . dr. heylyn . assuredly that able lawyer would have spoke more home unto the point , could the cause have born it . eloquentem facit causae bonitas , in the orator's language . and therefore looking on the heads of the arguments ( as our author represents them to us ) i must needs think , that they were rather fitted to the sense of the house , than they were to his own . fuller . i now begin to awake , and rub my eyes , hearing somewhat wherein i am concerned , as if i had unfaithfully related these arguments . i confesse it is but a breviat of them , accommodated to the proportion of my book ; and had they been at large , much lustre must be lost whilst related , seeing none but mr. mainard can repeat the arguments of mr. mainard to equal advantage . however , i had them from as observant , and judicious a person as any in house of lords ; and if i should name him , the animadvertor would believe me herein . dr. heylyn . what influence these arguments might have on the house of peers , when reported by the bishop of lincoln , i am not able to affirm : but so far i concur with our author , that they lost neither life nor lustre , as they came from his mouth , who ( as our author sayes ) was a back friend to the canons , because made during his absence and durance in the tower. ] a piece of ingenuity which i did not look for . fuller . there are some pens that if a man do look for ingenuity from them , he may look for it . dr. heylyn . the power of convocation being thus shaken and endangered , that of the high commission and the bishops courts was not like to hold ; the one being taken away by act of parliament , and the other much weakned in the coercive power thereof , by a clause in that act , of which our author tell us , that fol. . mr. pim triumphed at this successe , crying out digitus dei , it is the finger of god , that the bishops should so supinely suffer themselves to be surprised in their power . ] and well might mr. pim triumph , as having gain'd the point he aim'd at , in subverting the coercive power , and consequently the whole exercise of ecclesiastical jurisdiction . but he had no reason to impute it to the finger of god , or to the carelesnesse of the bishops in suffering themselves to be so supinely surpris'd . for first the bishops saw too plainly , that those general words by which they were disabled from inflicting any pain or penalty , would be extended to suspension , excommunication , and other ecclesiastical censures . but secondly , they saw withall that the stream was too strong for them to strive against , most of the lords being wrought on by the popular party in the house of commons , to passe the bill . thirdly , they were not without hope , that when the scots army was disbanded , and that nation satisfied , by the kings condescensions to them , there might be such an explication made of those general words , as to restrain them unto temporal pains and civill penalties , by which the censures of the church might remain as formerly . and fourthly , in order thereunto they had procured a proviso to be entred in the house of peers , that the general words in this bill should extend onely to the high commission court , and not reach other ecclesiastical jurisdiction , for which consult our author , fol. . having thus passed over such matters as concern the church , we will now look upon some few things which relate to the parliament . and the first is that — . fuller . i said not mr. pim had just cause to triumph ; yea somewhat followeth in my history to the contrary , shewing he had no reason to rejoyce , and condemn the bishops herein , seeing not supinesse but prudentiall condescention , for the time , made them rather sufferers then surprized herein . onely i say , there are many alive , who heard him sing aloud this his victoria , and the eccho thereof it still soundeth in their eares . the animadvertor himselfe , sometimes triumpheth over my mistakes , and carrieth me away in his own conceit ; whilst still i am sensible of my owne liberty , that i am in a free condition . dr. heylyn . fol. . dr. pocklinton , and dr. bray , were the two first that felt the displeasures of it , the former for preaching and printing , the latter for licensing two books , one called sunday no sabbath , the other the christian altar . ] no other way to pacifie the high displeasures of the bishop of lincoln , but by such a sacrifice , who therefore is intrusted to gather such propositions out of those two books as were to be recanted by the one , and for which the other was to be depriv'd of all his preferments . and in this the bishop serv'd his own turn , and the peoples too : his own turn first , in the great controversie of the altar , in which he was so great a stickler , and in which pocklington was thought to have provoked him to take that revenge . the peoples turn he serv'd next , in the condemning and recanting of some points about the sabbath , though therein he ran cross to his former practice . who had been not long since so far from those sabbatarian rigors , ( which now he would fain be thought to countenance ) that he caus'd a comedy to be acted before him at his house at budgen , not onely on a sunday in the afternoon , but upon such a sunday also on which he had publickly given sacred orders both to priests and deacons . and to this comedy , he invited the earl of manchester , and divers of the neighbouring gentry . fuller . i was neither an actor in , nor a spectator of that comedy . the better day , the worse deed . i recount it amongst none of those his good works , wherewith he abounded . dr. heylyn . though on this turning of the tide , he did not onely cause these doctors to be condemned for some opinions which formerly himselfe allowed of , but mov'd at the assembly in ierusalem-chamber , that all books should be publickly burnt , which had disputed the morality of the lords-day-sabbath . quo teneam nodo , &c. as the poet hath it . fuller . i have been credibly informed , that when in ierusalem-chamber , mr. stephen marshall urged most vehemently for severe punishment , on the authors of those books ; bishop williams , fell foul on the books , moving they might be burned , that their authors might the better escape . let every one betine his share herein . dr. heylyn . but whereas our author tells us in the following words , that soon after both the doctors deceased for grief , i dare with some confidence tell him , there vvas no such matter ; dr. pocklinton living about tvvo years , and dr. bray above four years after , vvith as great chearfulnesse and courage as ever formerly . hovv he hath dealt vvith dr. cousen , vve shall see more at large hereafter in a place by it selfe , the discourse thereof being too long and too full of particulars , to come vvithin the compasse of an animadversion . in the mean time proceed we unto bishop wren , of vvhom thus as followeth . fuller . i went to peterborough on purpose in quest after information , and saw dr. pocklinton's grave ; on the same token , it was in the church-yard , just in the place , where so many saxons were murdered , and martyred by the danes : and there i heard that he enjoyed not himself after his censure . of dr. bray ( though i could ) i say nothing ; and shall return an answer to dr. cosins at the end of this book . dr. heylyn . our author proceeds , fol. . a bill ( saith our author ) was sent up by the commons against mathew wren bishop of ely , containing articles , &c. ] that such a bill was sent up from the house of commons , is undoubtedly true . and no lesse true it is , that many impeachments of like nature were hammered , at , and about , the same time against many other clergy men of good note , though inferiour order ; the articles whereof were printed and exposed to open saile to their great disparagement . and therefore i would faine know the reason , why this man should be singled out amongst all the rest to stand impeached upon record in our author's history ; especially considering that there was nothing done by the lords in pursuance of it , the impeachment dying in a manner as soon as born . was it because he was more criminall then the other were , or that the charge was better proved , or for what cause else ? fuller . i will give the reader a true and fair● account thereof . many clergy men , ( as the animadvertor observeth ) being then articled against ; i thought , to insert all would clog my book with needlesse numbers , as to omit all , would be interpreted partiality , and unfaithfullnesse in an historian : i chose therefore the middle , ( as the safest ) way , to instance in four ; two doctors , bray and pocklinton ; one dean , i. cosins ; and one bishop , matthew wren , conceiving these a sufficient representation of all the rest . wherefore i cannot see how the animadvertor can properly say , that bishop wren was by me singled out , except a quaternion be a single man. it was not because his charge was better ( which for ought i know was not at all ) proved , but for these reasons : . he was one of the first in time. clamoured against . . he was one of the highest in dignity . clamoured against . . he was one that hath longest been a sufferer for his un-prosecuted accusation . and here had the animadvertor been pleased , as well to take notice of flowers and herbs in my church-history , as what he counteth weeds therein , he might have inserted , ( yea with justice could not have omitted ) this following * passage . bishop wren his long imprisonment , ( being never brought into a publick answer ) hath converted many of his adversaries , into a more charitable opinion of him . dr. heylyn . well , since our author will not , i will tell you , why ( he singled out m. wren amongst all the rest ) and i will tell it in the words of king iames , in the conference at hampton-court , upon occasion of a needlesse exception taken by dr. reynolds at a passage in ecclesiasticus , what trow ye , ( said the king , ) makes these men so angry with ecclesiasticus ? by my sal , i think he was a bishop , or else they would never use him so . and so much for that . fuller . whether ecclesiasticus was a bishop or no , i know not ; this i know that ecclesiastes was a preacher . the words of kings are most proper for the mouths of kings , and soveraignes may speak their pleasure to their subjects , which fit nor fellow-subjects one to another . and so much for that . my extraction who was prebendarius prebendarides , and relation ( as the animadvertor knows ) to two no meane bishops , my uncles , may clear me from any episcopall antipathy . i honour any who is a bishop , both honour and love him who is a religious and learned bishop . dr. heylyn . our author proceeds , fol. . about this time was the first motion of a new protestation to be taken all over england , which some months after was generally performed . ] what time this was our author tells us in the margin , pointing to feb. . about which time there was no mention of the protestation , nor occasion for it . the first mention which was made of the protestation was upon munday , may the third , on which day it was mentioned , fram'd , and taken by all the members of the house of commons , excepting the lord george digby ( now earl of bristol ) and an uncle of his . fuller . i appeal to the surviving members of the house of commons , ( the most competent judges in this point ) whether such a protestation was not hammered ( though not perfected ) about the date by me assigned . acts of state never ride post ; and it seems to me improbable , that the protestation by such unused approperation , to be mentioned , framed , and taken all in one day . but herein i submit to those who best know it . dr. heylyn . the occasion of it was a speech made by the king in the house of peers in favour of the earl of strafford , upon the saturday before ; which mov'd them to unite themselves by this protestation for bringing to condign punishment , all such as shall either by force , practice , plots , counsels , conspiracies , or otherwise do any thing to the contrary of any thing in the same protestation contain'd . which protestation being carried into the house of peers , was after some few dayes generally taken by that house also . but the prevalent party in the house of commons , having further aims then such as our author pleaseth to take notice of , first caus'd it to be printed by an order of the fifth of may , that they might be sent down to the sheriffes and iustices of peace in the severall shires ; to whom they intimated , that as they justified th● taking of it in themselves , so they could not but approve it in all such as should take it . but finding that this did not much edifie with the country people , they desired the lords to concur with them in imposing the same . failing whereof , by an order of their own house onely , iuly . it was declared , that the protestation made by them was fit to be taken by every person that was well affected in religion , and to the good of the common-wealth ; and therefore what person soever did not take the same , was unfit to bear office in the church or common-wealth . which notwithstanding , many refus'd to take it , as our author telleth us , not knowing but that some sinister use might be made thereof : as afterward appeared by those pikes and protestations , which conducted some of the five members to the house of commons . fuller . the animadvertor and the author have in this paragraph lovingly shaken hands together i fear , for meeting and parting at once ; and that it will not be long before we disjoyne them again . dr. heylyn . our author proceeds , fol. . about this time came forth the lord brook his book against bishops , accusing them in respect of their parentage to be de faece populi , of the dregs of the people ; and in respect of their studies ? no way fit for government , or to be barons in parliament . ] a passage mis-becoming no mans pen so much as his that writ it ; whose father neither was of a better extraction then ●ome , nor better left , as in the way of his subsistance , then any of the bishops ( whom he thus upbraideth ) had been left by their fathers . fuller . the animadvertor will , i hope , acknowledge me a fair and ingenuous adversary , on a token best known to us alone . however , christianity obligeth me to take no unworthy advantage of my brother in the same profession . dr. heylyn . from the first part of which calumny , the bishops freed themselves well enough , as appears by our author . and from the second , since they were too modest to speak in their own commendations , our author might have freed them with one of the old tales which are in his budget . and the tale is of a nobleman in king harry the eights time , who told mr. pace , one of the kings secretaries , in contempt of learning , that it was enough for noblemens sons to wind their horn , and carry their hauk fair ; and to leave study and learning to the children of mean men : to whom the aforesaid mr. pace replied , then you and other nobl●men must be content , that your children may wind their horns , and keep their hauks , while the children of mean men do manage matters of estate . and certainly there can be no reason why men that have been verst in books , studied in histories , and thereby made acquainted with the chief occurrences of most states and kingdoms , should not be thought as fit to manage the affairs of state , as those who spend their time in hauking and hunting , if not upon some worse employments . for that a superinduction of holy orders should prove a supersedeas to all civill prudence , is such a wild extravagant fancy , as no man of judgment can allow of ▪ fuller . i never said it , nor thought it ; i will never write a syllable against mine own vocation . the clergy , i am sure , cannot be impaired , and lay-noblemen , i hope , may be improved , ( to make them more industrious to enable themselves ) by the animadvertor's story , well reported , and better urged and applied . dr. heylyn . our author proceeds , fol. . the next day the subscribers were voted to be committed to the tower , save that bishop morton of durham , and hall of norwich found some favour . ] our author speaks this of those twelve bishops , who had subscrib'd a protestation for preserving their rights and votes in the house of peers , during the time of their involuntary absence , to which they were compelled by threats , menaces , and some open acts of violence committed on them . but in the name of one of the bishops , who found the favour of not being sent unto the tower , he is much mistaken ; it not being dr. hall bishop of norwich , but dr. wright bishop of coventry and lichfield , who found that favour at their hands . fuller . not much , who ( if at all ) could not be lesse mistaken . i shall provide , god willing , the next edition shall be reformed herein ; and meane time desire the owner of my former , to rectifie it with their pen , who immediately can remove coventry and lichfield , ( though miles distance ) to norwich , and thereby he will much wright me , and nothing at all wrong himself . dr. heylyn . the like misnomer i find after , fol. . where he speaks of william , earl of bath ; ] the earl of bath of whom he speaks being nam'd henry , and not william , unlesse he chang'd his name when he succeeded in that earldom , as i think he did not , and i am sure our author will not say he did . fuller . that noble earl , ( questionable whether of more honour or learning ) so cordiall to the cause of the church , ( far from all new dipt sectaries , ) never changed his name , till he changed his life , and then of a militant became a triumphant saint . the reader will believe me knowing enough in his christian name , whose relict ( since countess of middlesex ) was my late parishoner at waltham , where i have seen his name above a thousand times , prefixed with his own hand writing , before the severall books in the numerous and choise library at copt-hall . it was indeed a meer mistake of the printer . dr. heylyn . as much he is mistaken also in point of time , leaving the bishops in prison for eighteen weeks , whereas they were scarce detained there for half that time . for , being committed to the tower in the end of december , they were released by an order of the house of peers on the fifteenth of february , being the next day after the bill for taking away their votes had passed in parliament . but then the commons looking on them , as devested of their right of peerage , and consequently ( as they thought ) in the same rank with themselves , return'd them to the tower again : and having kept them there some few weeks ( long enough to declare their power , ) discharged them upon bail , and so sent them home . fuller . a great cry and a little wool. . from the end of december to the fifteen of february was seven weekes . . they continued afterwards there some few weeks , as the animadvertor confesseth . weeks imply two at the least ; some few , denote or in proper sense . lastly some of the bishops staid there longer than others , even for lack of money to pay their fees : if the reader be pleased to take all these up , he will find them fall little short of weeks . and let not the animadvertor wilfully persist in an error , who may know from bishop wren , that none of them were released before the sixth of may. dr. heylyn . our author proceedeth , fol. . about this time the word malignant was first born ( as to common use ) in england , and fixed as a note of disgrace on the kings party , and ( because one had as good he dumb as not speak with the volge ) possibly in that sense it may occur in our ensuing history . ] nothing more possible then that our author should make use of any word of disgrace with which the kings party was reproached . fuller . the animadvertor in this point , proves himselfe a malignant indeed , taxing me with so odious and untrue an aspersion : nothing more improbable , then that my hand should hurt that cause , which my heart did honour in the writing of my book . though this passage be by me premised by way of prevention , if the word malignant casually fell from my pen ; yet such was my cautiousnesse , that very rarely , if at all , it is used as mine own word . besides , the ingenuous reader knoweth that the writers of civill dissentions are sometimes necessitated for differencing of parties , to use those tearmes they do not approve . dr. heylyn . and if he calls them formerly by the name of royalists and high-royalists , as he sometimes doth ; it was not because he thought them worthy of no worse a title , but because the name of malignant had not then been born . fuller . not so . for then since the name malignant was born , i would have used it on them , which i do not : those words of the animadvertor , [ worthy of no worse a title ] intimate , as if royalist and high-royalist were bad titles , which if not honourable must be inoffensive . if royal the primitive be good , [ a * royal law , * a royal priest-hood ] royalist the derivative cannot be bad , much lesse high-royalist , except height makes that bad being added thereunto , which was good before . dr. heylyn . he cannot chuse but know , that the name of round-head was born at the same time also , and that it was as common in the kings party to call the parliamentarians by the name of round-heads , as it was with those of the parliament party , to call the king's adherents by the name of malignants . and yet i do confidently say , that the word round-head , as it was fixed as a note of disgrace on the parliament party , doth not occur , on any occasion whatsoever , in our authors history . but kissing goes by favour , as the saying is ; and therefore let him favour whom he pleases , and kisse where he favoureth . fuller . i confesse the name round-head at the same time trundled about in the mouths of many men ; but i conceived it beneath an historian to make use thereof , because his majesty in all his proclamations , declarations , and other acts of state , never made mention thereof , whilst malignant was often used in acts of parliament . but if my bare mention ( not using ) of malignant , be so distastfull ; i will cut down all the ill wood therein , to the last sprig , quench all the ill fire therein to the last spark ; i meane , god willing , totally delete that paragraph in the next edition . dr. heylyn . our author proceeds , fol. . by this time ten of the eleven bishops formerly subscribing their protestation to the parliament , were after some months durance ( upon good baile given ) released , &c. ] of the releasing of these bishops we have spoke already . we are now onely to observe such mistakes and errors as relate unto it . and first they were not released at or about the time which our author speaks of , that is to say , after such time as the word plunder had begun to be us'd amongst us . plunder both name and thing , vvas unknovvn in england , till the beginning of the war ; and the war began not , till september , an. . which vvas some months after the releasing of the bishops . fuller . i hope novv the animadvertor is dravving to a conclusion , because an ague commonly is leaving one , vvhen beginning to double its fits. formerly he found fault but once , in four pages ; novv four times , in one paragraph . here is nothing mis-timed in this point ; the name plunder beginning in england some months , the practise thereof some weeks , before our war. indeed commission'd plunder begun with the war , but uncommission'd plunder vvas before it , committed by those , vvhose activity onely did authorise ( or rather impower ) them to take avvay the goods of others . such vvere they that plundered , ( for i am sure they will not say they robbed ) the house of the countesse , rivers at long-mellford in suffolk , before the university of cambridge sent their pla●e to the king to york , and consequently before the warr. dr. heylyn . secondly , he telleth us , that ten of the eleven which had subscribed , were released , whereas there were twelve which had subscrib'd as appears fol. . whereof ten were sent unto the tower , and the other two committed to the custody of the black-rod , fol. . and if ten onely were releast , the other two must be kept in custody for a longer time : whereas we find the bishop of norwich at home in his diocess , and the bishop of durham at liberty in london ; they being the two whom he makes so far favour'd by the parliament , as they scap't the tower. fuller . the small numerall fault shall be amended , to prevent exceptions , in my next edition . dr. heylyn . thirdly , he telleth us , that , when all others were releast , bishop wren was still detain'd in the tower , which is nothing so . that bishop was releast upon bail , when the other were returned unto his diocesse , as the others did , and there continued for a time ; when of a suddain he was snatched from his house at downham , in the isle of ely , carried to the tower , and there imprisoned ; never being brought unto a hearing , nor any cause shewed for his imprisonment to this very day . fuller . would it were nothing so indeed , si mea cum vestris valuissent vota . if the animadvertor's and author's joynt-desires might have taken effect , there had been no difference about this passage in my book . tuque domo proprià , nos ( te praesul ) poteremur thou hadst enjoy'd thy house , and we , prelate , had enjoyed thee . but alas it is so , he is still and still ( when all other bishops are released ) detained in the tower , where i believe he maketh gods service , his perfect freedom . my words , as relating to the time when i wrote them , containe too much sorrowfull truth therein . dr. heylyn . fourthly , archbishop williams after his restoring unto liberty ●ent not into the kings quarters , as our author saith , but unto one of his own houses in yorkshire , where he continued till the year . and then came to oxford : not that he found the north too cold for him , or the war too hot ; but to solicit for ren●wing of his commendam in the deanry of westminster ; the time for which he was to hold it drawing towards an end . fuller . nothing false or faulty . the arch-bishop of york , stayed some weeks after his enlargement at westminster , thence he went privately to the house of sir thomas hedley in huntingon shire , and thence to his palace at ca●ood nigh york , where he gave the king a magnificent intertainment . king james setled the deanry of westminster under the great seal on dr. williams , so long as he should continue bishop of lincoln . hinc illa lacrimae , hence the great heaving and hussing at him , because he would not resigne it , which was so signal a monument of his master's favour unto him . being arch-bishop of york , king charls confirmed his deanry unto him for three years , in lieu of the profits of his arch-bishoprick , which the king had taken sede vacante . so that it is probable enough , the renuing that tearm might be a joynt-motive of his going to oxford . but i see nothing which i have written can be cavilled at , except because i call yorkshire the king's quarters , which as yet was the kings whole , when the arch-bishop first came thither , ( as being a little before the war began ) though few weeks after , it became the king's quarters . such a prolepsis is familiar with the best historians ; and , in effect , is little more , then when the * animadvertor calleth the gag and appello caesarem , the books of bishop montague ; who , when they were written by him , was no ( though soon after a ) bishop . dr. heylyn . our author proceeds , fol. . some of the aged bishops had their tongues so used to the language of a third estate , that more then once they ran on that ( reputed ) rock in their speeches , for which they were publickly shent , and enjoyned an acknowledgment of their mistake . ] by whom they were so publickly shent , and who they were that so ingenuously acknowledged their mistake , as my author telleth us not , so neither can i say whether it be true or false . fuller . i tell you again , it is true . the earl of essex and the lord say were two of the lords ( though this be more then i need discover ) who checked them . and of two of those bishops , dr. hall , late bishop of norwich , is gone to god , and the other is still alive . dr. heylyn . but i must needs say , that there was small ingenuity in acknowledging a mistake in that , wherein they had not been mistaken ; or by endeavouring to avoid a reputed rock , to run themselves on a certain rock , even the rock of scandall . fuller . their brief and generall acknowledgment , that they vvere sorry that they had spoken in this point , vvhat had incurred the displeasure of the temporall lords , was no trespass on their own ingenuity , nor had shadovv of scandall to others therein . i confess , men must not bear fals-witness , either against themselves or others ; nor may they betray their right , especially when they have not onely a personall concernment therein , but also are in some sort feoffees in trust for posterity . however , vvhen a predominant power plainly appears , which will certainly over-rule their cause against them ; without scandall , they may ( not to say in christian prudence they ought ) to wave the vindication of their priviledges for the present , waiting , wishing , and praying , for more moderate and equall times , wherein they may assert their right , with more advantage to their cause , and less danger to their persons . dr. heylyn . for that the english bishops had their vote in parliament as a third estate , and not in the capacity of temporal barons , will evidently appear by these reasons following . for first , the clergy in all other christian kingdoms of these northwest parts make the third estate ; that is to say , in the german empire , as appears by thuanus the historian , lib. . in france , as is affirmed by paulus aemilius , lib. . in spain , as testifieth bodinus in his de repub. lib. . for which consult also to the generall history of spain , as in point of practise , lib. , , , . in hungary , as witnesseth bonfinius , dec. . l. . in poland , as is verified by thunus also , lib. . in denmark , as pontanus telleth us in historia rerum danicarum , l. . the swedes observing antiently the same form and order of government as was us'd by the danes . the like we find in camden for the realm of scotland , in which antiently the lords spirituall , viz. bishops , abbots , priors , made the third estate . and certainly it were very strange , if the bishops and other prelates in the realm of england , being a great and powerfull body , should move in a lower sphere in england , then they do elsewhere . but secondly , not to stand onely upon probable inferences , we find first in the history of titus livius , touching the reign and acts of king henry the fifth , that when his funerals were ended , the three estates of the realm of england did assemble toge●her , and declared his son king henry the sixth , being an infant of eight months old , to be their soveraign lord as his heir and successor . and if the lords spirituall did not then make the third estate , i would know who did . secondly , the petition tendred to richard duke of glocester , to accept the crown , occurring in the parliament rolls , runs in the name of the three estates of the realm , that is to say , the lords spirituall , and temporall , and the commons thereof . thirdly , in the first parliament of the said richard lately crowned king , it is said expresly , that at the request and by the consent of the three estates of this realm , that is to say , the lords spirituall , and temporall , and commons of this land assembled in this present parliament , and by authority of the same it be pronounced , decreed , and declared , that our said soveraign lord the king , was , and is the very and undoubted king of this realm of england , &c. fourthly , it is acknowledged so in the statute of eliz. cap. . where the lords spirituall and temporall , and the commons in that parliament assembled , being said expresly , and in terminis , to represent the three estates of this realm of england , did recognize the queens majesty to be their true , lawfull , and undoubted soveraign liege lady , and queen . add unto these the testimony of sir edward cook , though a private person , who in his book of the jurisdiction of courts ( published by order of the long parliament ) chap. . doth expr●sly say ; that the parliament consists of the head and body ; that the head is the king , that the body are the three estates , viz. the lords spirituall , and temporall , and commons . in which words we have not onely the opinion and testimony of that learned lawyer , but the authority of the long parliament also , though against it selfe . those aged bishops had been but little studied in their owne concernments , and betray'd their rights , if any of them did acknowledge any such mistake in challenging to themselves the name and priviledges of the third estate . fuller . in this long discourse , the animadvertor hath given in the severall particulars , whereof i , in my church-history , gave the totall summe ; when saying , that there were passages in the old statutes , which did countenance the bishops sitting in parliament in the capacity of a third estate . i have nothing to returne in opposition , and heartily wish that his arguments ( to use the sea-man's phrase ) may prove stanche and tight , to hold water , when some common-lawyer shall examine them . but seeing the animadvertor hath with his commendable paines go● so farre in this point , i could wish he had gon a little further , even to answer the two common objections against the third-estate ship of bishops . the first is this : the bishop not to speak of bishops suffragan , of the isle of man , is a bishop for all purposes , and intents , of jurisdiction and ordination , yet hath he no place in parliament , because not holding per in egram baroniam , by an intire barony . now if bishops sat in parliament as a third-estate , and not as so many barons , why hath not the bishop of man , being in the province of york , a place in parliament as well as the rest ? secondly , if the bishops sit as a third-estate , then statutes made without them are man● and defective , which in law will not be allowed , seeing there were some sessions of parliament wherein statutes did passe , excluso clero ( at least wise , absente clero ) which notwithstanding are acknowledged obligatory to our nation . i also , request him ( when his hand is in ) to satisfie the objection , taken from a * passage in the parliament at northampton under henry the second , when the bishops challenged their peerage , viz. non sedemus hîc episcopi , sed barones : nos barones , vos barones , pares hîc sumus . we sit not here as bishops , but as barons , we are barons , you are barons , here we are peers , which is much inforced by anti-episcopists . and whereas the animadvertor translated it not as bishops onely , it is more then questionable , that this interpolation only will not be admitted by such who have a mind curiously to examine the matter . i protest my integrity herein , that i have not started these objections of my selfe , having had them urged against me ; and though i can give a bungling answer unto them , i desire that the animadvertor ( being better skill'd in law ) would be pleased ( if it ever comes again in his way ) to returne an answer as short and clear as the objections are ; and i , and many more , will be bound to returne him thanks . dr. heylyn . our author proceeds , fol. . the con●ocation now not sitting , and matters of religion being brought under the cognizance of the parliament , their wisdoms adjudged it not onely convenient , but necessary , that some prime clergy men might be consulted with . ] it seems then , that the setting up of the new assembly , consisting of certain lords and gentlemen , and two or more divines out of every county , must be ascrib'd to the not sitting of the convocation . whereas if that had been the reason , the convocation should have been first warned to re-assemble , with liberty and safe conducts given them , &c. fuller . the animadvertor now enters the list with the wisdoms in parliament , who are most able to justifie their owne act. mean time my folly may stand by in silence , unconcerned to return any answer . dr. heylyn . fol. . it savours something o● a prelaticall spirit to be offended about precedency . ] i see our author is no changeling , primus ad extremum similis sibi , the very same at last as he was at the first . certainly , if it savour of a prelaticall spirit to contend about precedencies , that spirit by some ●ythagorean metempsychosis hath passed into the bodies of the presbyterians , whose pride had swell'd them in conceit above kings and princes , and thus cometh home to our author , &c. fuller . if it cometh home unto me , i will endeavour god-willing to thrust it far from me , by avoiding the odious sin of pride . and i hope the presbyterians will herein make a reall and practicall refutation of this note , in evidencing more humility hereafter ; seasonably remembring , they are grafted on the stock of the bishops , and are concerned not to be high-minded but feare ; lest if god spared not episcopacy , ( for what sins i am not to enquire ) , peaceably possessed , above a thousand years , of power in the church of england , take heed that he spare not presbytery also , which is but a probationer on its good behaviour , especially if by their insolence they offend god and disoblige our nation , the generality whereof is not over-fond of their go●ernment . dr. heylyn . our author proceeds , fol. . we listen not to their fancy who have reckoned the words in the covenant , six hundred sixty six , &c. ] i must confesse my selfe not to be so much a pythagorean , as to find divinity in numbers , nor am taken with such mysteries as some fancy in them . and yet i cannot chuse but say , that the number of six hundred sixty six words , neither more nor less , which are found in the covenant , though they conclude nothing , yet they signifie something . our author cannot chuse but know what pains were taken even in the times of irenaeus to find out antichrist by this number : some thinking then , that they had found it in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with reference to the persecuting roman emperours . some protestants think that they had found it in a dedication to pope paul the fifth , which was paulo v to vice-deo ; the numerall letters whereof , that is to say , d.c.l.v.v.v.i. amount exactly unto six hundred sixty six ! , which is the number of the beast in revelation . the papists on the other side find it in the name of luther ; but in what language or how speld , i remember not . and therefore whosoever he was , which made this observation upon the covenant , he deserves more to be commended for his wit , then condemned for his idlenesse . fuller . the animadvertor might herein have allowed me the liberty of preterition , a familiar figure in all authors , managed by them with , taceo , praetermitto , transeo , we passe by , listen not , &c. when relating things , either parva , of small moment , nota , generally known , ingrata , unwelcome to many readers . under which of these three notions , the point in hand doth fall , i am not bound to discover . dr. heylyn . our author proceeds , fol. . now began the great and generall purgation of the clergy in the parliaments quar●ers , &c. some of whose offences were so foul , it is a shame to report them , crying to justice for punishment . ] and it was time that such a purgation should be made , if their offences were so ●oul as our author makes them . but first , our author might have done well to have satisfied himselfe in all particulars , before he rais'd so foul a scandall on his christian brethren , and not to have taken them up upon hear-say , or on no better grounds then the credit of the first century , which he after mentions . which modesty he might have learnt , . from the author of that scandalous and infamous pamphlet , ( whatsoever he was ) desisting from the writing of a second century , as being sensible , that the subject was generally odious . and certainly , if it were odious in that party to write the same , it must be much more odious in our author to defend the writing . he might have learnt it , . from the most excellent master in the schools of piety and morality which this age hath given us , even the king himselfe ; who as our author telleth us , fol. . would not give way that any such book should be written of the vicious lives of some parliament ministers , when such an undertaking was presented to him . but if their offences were so foul , the writer of the century had some reason for what he did , and our author had some reason for what he saith , especially if the putting in of one herb had not spoil'd all the pot of pottage . but first , qui alterum incusat probri seipsum intueri oporiet , is a good rule in the schools of prudence , and therefore it concerns our author to be sure of this , that all things be well at home , both in his owne person and in his family , before he throw so much foul dirt in the face of his brethren . in which respect manutius was conceived to be the unfittest man in rome ( as indeed he was ) to perform the office of a ce●sor , though most ambitiously he affected and attain'd that dignity ; of whom it is affirmed by velleius paterculus , nec quicquam objicere potuit adolescentibus quod non agnosceret senex , that is to say , that he was able to object no crime to the younger sort , of which himselfe being then well in years , was not also guilty . and secondly , non temerè de fratre malt aliquid credendum esse , was antiently a rule in the schools of charity ; which our author either hath forgotten ; or else never learned . he would otherwise have examin'd the proofs , before he had pronounced the sentence ; and not have positively condemned these poor men for such foul offences as cryed to justice for punishment ; and of such scandalous enormities , as were not fit to be covered with the mantle of charity . but he takes himselfe up at last with a doubt , that there might want sufficient proof to convict them of it . nothing ( saith he ) can be said in their excuse , if ( what was the main matter ) their crimes were sufficiently proved . and if they were not sufficiently proved , as indeed they were not , ( no witnesse coming in upon oath to make good the charge ) our author hath sufficiently prov'd himselfe an unrighteous iudge , an accusator stratrum , as we know who is , in accusing and condemning them for scandalous enormities and foul offences , branding them by the name of baal , and calling them unsavory salt , not fit to be thrown upon the dunghill , yet all this while to be unsatisfied in the sufficiency of the proof . decedis ab officio religiosi iudicis , is the least that can be said here ; and i say no more . onely i note , what sport was made by that century then , and may be made hereafter of this part of the history , in the court of rome ; to which the libellous pamphlets of martin-mar-prelate , publisht in queen elizabeths time , serv'd for authentick witnesses , and sufficient evidence to disgrace this church . nor have they spar'd to look upon this whole businesse as an act of divine retaliation , in turning so many of the regular and orthodox clergy out of their benefices and preferments by our new re●ormers , under colour of some scandalous enormities by them committed ; under pretence whereof so many poor monks and fryers were ( as they say ) turn'd out of their cells with like humanity by those which had the first hammering of the reformation here by law estalisht . fuller . first , as to my selfe , who am most knowing of my owne infirmities : i will confesse them to god , and not plead for them before man. if god's restraining grace hath bridled ●e from scandalous obnoxiousnesse , may he alone have the honour thereof . as for other paines and spots in my soul , i hope that he , ( be it spoken without the least verball reflection ) who is the * fullers sope will scoure them forth with his merit , that i may appear clean by gods mercy . i know full well who it is , that is tearmed the accuser of his brethren , even satan himself ; hence it is that one observeth , he hath his name , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , diabolus , divell , and so also in italian , french , spanish , with some small variation . it being good reason , that he should keep his name in all countries , who keeps his nature in all places being a constant delator and traducer of gods servants ; often , without cause ; alwayes , without measure . but i hope , i may say in this point , get thee behind me satan , i meane , i may justly thrust both name and thing farre from me , even to light where it deserveth . some of my brethren or fathers rather , i reverence and admire for their eminences : others i commend and will endeavour to imitate : others guilty of humane infirmities , i desire to conceale their faults , and ( that not taking effect ) to excuse their persons . such as are past my pleading for , fall under my pitty and have my prayers that god would amend them : but willingly , much lesse causlessely , i will not accuse any ; and my pen and tongue hath been , and shall be tender of their reputations . proceed i now to what i have written concerning the sequestred clergy of england ; wherein i will freely , god-willing , unbosome my mind , and if i perish i perish : i appeal to the searcher of hearts , if i did not desire to do them all just favour , as i hope to find favour from him when i most need it . but as marriners when they have both wind and tide against them , cannot make their desired port in a straight line , and therefore are fain to fetch a compass ; semnably , i desiring to gra●ifie my brethren , and not destroy my selfe ; was ●aine to go about , that in any measure i might with safety do it . and there was no compassing of it without compaceing it ; no reaching the end without going out of the way . first , therefore , i did acknowledge what indeed could not be concealed , and what in truth must be confessed , viz. that some of the ejected clergy were guilty of foul offences , to whom , and whom alone ▪ the name of baal and unsavory salt did relate : nor was it a wonder , if amongst ten thousand and more , some were guilty of scandalous enormities . this being laid down , and yeilded to the violence of the times ; i wrought my selfe by degrees , ( as much as i durst ) to insert what followeth in vindication of many others , rigorously cast out for following in their affections , their preceding iudgements and consciences , and no scandall could justly be charged upon them , pleading for them as ensueth . church-history , book . pag. . . the witnesses against them were seldome deposed on oath , but their bare complaints believed . . many of the complainers were factious people , ( those most accusing their sermons who least heard them ) , and who since have deserted the church , as hating the profession of the ministry . . many were charged with delivering false doctrines , whose posi●io●s were found at the least disputable . such , those accused for preaching that baptism washeth away originall sin , which the most learned and honest in the assembly , in some sense , will not deny , namely that in the children of god it cleanseth the condemning and finall peaceable commanding power of originall sin , though the stain and blemish thereof doth still remain . . some were meerly outed for their affections to the king's cause ; and what was malignity at london , was loyalty at oxford . . yea many moderate men of the opposite party , much be moaned such severity ; that some clergy men , blamelesse for life , and orthodox for doctrine , were ejected onely on the account of their faithfullnesse to the king's cause . and , as much corruption was let out by this ejection ( ma●y scandalous ministers deservedly punished ) ; so at the same time the veins of the english church were emptied of much good blood , ( some inoffensive pastors ) which hath made her body hydropicall ever since ; ill humours succeeding in the room , by reason of too large and suddain evacuation . this being written by me , some ten ( in the parox●sm of the business ) and printed some four years since , was as much as then i durst say for my brethren , without running my selfe into apparent danger . if the papists take advantage at what i have written , i can wash my hands , i have given them no just occasion ; and i hope this my hust defence will prove satisfactory to the ingenuous , that i did not designedly ●etract ●●om any 〈◊〉 ) brethren . but , if this my plea finds no acceptance , and if i must groan under so unjust an accusation , i will endeavour to follow the counsell of the prophet : i will beare the indignation of the lord , because i have sinned against him , until he plead my cause and execute iudgment for me : he will bring me forth to the light , and i shall behold his righteousnesse . dr. heylyn . but to say truth , it is no wonder , if he concurre with others in the condemnation of particular persons , since he concurrs with others in the condemnation of the church it selfe . for , speaking of the separation made by mr. goodwin , mr. nye , &c. fol. . he professeth that , he rather doth believe that the sinfull corruptions of the worship and government of this church , taking hold on their consciences , and their inability to comport any longer therewith , was rather the true cause of their deserting of their country , then that it was for debt or danger , as mr. edwards in his book , had suggested of them . what grounds mr. edwards had for his suggestion , i enquire not now ; though coming from the pen of one who was no friend unto the government and liturgy of the church of england , it might have met with greater credit in our author . for if these men be not allowed for witnesses against one another , the church would be in worse condition then the antient borderers : amongst whom though the testimony of an english man against a sco● , or of a sco● against the english ( in matters of spoil and depredation ) could not find admittance ; yet a scot's evidence against a sc●t , was beyond exception . lege inter limitaneos cautum , ut nullus nisi anglus in anglum , nullus nisi scotus in sco●um testis admit●atur , as we read in camden . we see by this , as by other passages , which way our author's bowl is biassed , how constantly he declares himselfe in favour of those , who have either separated from the church , or appear'd against it . rather then such good people shall be thought to forsake the land for debt or danger , the church shall be accus'd for laying the heavy burthen of conformity upon their consciences , which neither they , nor their fore-fathers , ( the old english puritans ) were resolved to bear . for what else were those sinfull corruptions of this church in go●er●ment and worship , which laid hold of their consciences , ( as our author words it ) but the government of the church by bishops , the rites and ceremonies of the church here by law establisht ; which yet must be allowed of by our author as the more true and reall cause of their separation , then that which we find in mr. edwards ? fuller . i knew mr. edwards very well , my contemporary in queens colledge who often was transported beyond due bounds with the keenness and eagernesse of his spirit ; and therefore i have just cause in some things to suspect him ; especially being informed and assured the contrary from credible persons . as for the five dissenting members , mr. goodwin , mr. nye , mr. sympson , mr. bridge , mr. burroughs , ( to whom mr. archer may be reduced ) they owed not eighteen pence a piece to any in england ; and carried over with them no contemptible summs in their purses . as for lay-gentlemen , and merchants , that went over with them , such as peruse their names , will be satisfied in their responsible , yea , plentifull estates . sr. matthew bointon . sr. william constable . sr. richard saltingston . mr. lawrence , since lord president of the councill . mr. andrewes , since lord major of london . mr. bowrcher . mr. ask , since a judge . mr. james . mr. white . and although the last of these failed beyond the seas , ( a cacching casually with great undertakings ) yet was he known to have a very great estate at his going over . yea , i am most credibly inform'd , by such who ( i am confident ) will not abuse me , and posterity therein , that mr. herbert palmer , ( an anti-independent to the heighth ) being convinced , that mr. edwards , had printed some false-hoods in one sheet of his gangrena , proffered to have that sheet re-printed at his own cost , but some intervening accident obstructed it . dr. heylyn . nor can our author save himselfe by his parenthesis , in which he tells us , that he uses their language onely : for using it without check or censure , he makes it his own as well as theirs , and justifies them in the action , which he should have condemn'd . fuller . this is an hypercriticism which i never heard of before , and now do not believe . in opposition whereunto i return , that if a writer doth slily weave another author's words into his owne cloath , using them without any quotation , then indeed he adopts them his owne . secondly , if he cite the words , with commendation , or explicite approbation of them , then also he asselfeth them , undertakes for them , and is bound to justifie them . thirdly , but if he but barely cite the words , without any emphasis of praise or dispraise , ( the case now in hand ) it amounts to no more , then unto a valeat quantum valere potest , or a sit fides penes authorem , it being left to the reader 's liberty , to believe more or lesse , or nothing thereof ; as the author he citeth , seemeth to be more , or lesse , or not at all credible , to his discretion . dr. heylyn . our author proceeds , fol. . as appears by his own diary , which if evidence against him for his faults , may be used as a witness of his good works . ] the diary which our author speaks of , was the arch-bishops practicall commentary on those words of david , viz. teach me o lord so to number my dayes , that i may apply my heart unto wisdome . fuller . i appeal to the reader of my history , whether i have not given his diary , the due commendation thus writing thereof . book . page . . he was conscientious , according to the principles of his devotion ; witness his care in keeping a constant diary of the passages in his life . now he can hardly be an ill husband , who summes up his receipts and expences every night ; and such a soul is , or wo●ld be good , which enters daily into a scrutiny of his own actions . now an exact diary is a window into his heart who maketh it ; and therefore pitty it is that any should look therein , but either the friends of the party , or such ingenuous foes as will not ( especially in things doubtfull ) make conjecturall comments to his disgrace . dr. heylyn . no memorabl● passage hapned in the whole course of his life , till the end of may , . ( when his papers were seis'● on by mr. prin ) which he had not book'd in a memoriall by the way of a diary or journall . out of which , though mr. prin excerpted nothing but that which he conceiv'd might tend most visibly to his disgrace and disadvantage , and publish'd it to that end in print ; yet when it came to the perusall of equall and indiffer●nt men , it was so far from serving as an evidence of his 〈◊〉 ( as our author words it ) that it shew'd him to be a man of exemplary piety in himselfe , unmov'd fidelity to his friend , of most perfect loyalty to his master ▪ and honest affections to the publick , &c. fuller . if i were delighted in carping at slips of pen or presse , i here have advantage enough , the animad●ertor affirming , that the arch-bishop's papers were seized by mr. prin , . at which time mr. prin was in no capacity to make such a seizure , being himselfe in trouble 〈◊〉 ●is histriomast●●●● ▪ and the dare ( though not confessed in t●● errata ) is no doubt m●●-printed for . thus i behold him who carps at such rifles , like o●●●●ing his n●ighbour for pedi●us ambulando , when , though the iury must find for the pla●niffe , yet he is look●d on but as a vexatious person for his paines . i could wish that all caviling at pr●lal mistakes might be forborn , and that every one would read his adversaries book , as in his conscience he conceiveth it intended by the writer , that so waving all typographicall escapes , they may come the sooner to the cause controverted betwixt them . dr. heylyn . he that shall look upon the list of the things projected to be done , and in part done , by him , fol. , . will find , that both his heart was set on , and his hand engag'd in , many excellent pieces of work , tending to the great honour and benefit both of church and state ; not incident to a man of such narrow comprehensions , a● some of his profest enemies were pleas'd to make him . certain i am , that as mr. prin lost his end , so he could not get much thanks for that piece of service . fuller . if mr. prin lost his end ▪ he shall have no direction from me for the finding thereof . i never beheld the arch-bishop , as a man of narrow comprehensions , but as one who had in his head and heart stowage enough for great undertakings . onely i could wish that his apprehensions , had been adequate to his comprehensions ; i mean , that he had lived to perfect what he projected , and doe what he commendably designed for pious uses , and the publick good . dr. heylyn . our author goes on , fol. . he is generally charged with popish inclinations , and the story is commonly told and believ'd of a lady , &c. ] here is a charge of the archbishops inclination unto popery , and the proof nothing but a tale , and the tale of a lady , quid vento ? mulier ; quid muliere ? nihil . the substance of the tale is this , that a certain lady ( if any lady may be certain ) who turning papist , &c. fuller . i will take the boldnesse to english his latine verse , that the weaker sex may see the strength of his charity unto them . what 's more fickle than the wind ? ev'n a woman in her mind . fickler what 's than woman kind ? nothing in the world we find . dr. heylyn . this lady who turned papist was askt by the arch-bishop the cause of her changing ; to which she answered , that it was because she alwayes hated to go in a croud . and being askt the meaning of that expression , she replyed again , that she perceiv'd his lordship , and many others , making haste to rome ; and therefore to prevent going in a press , she had gone before them . whether this tale be true or false , though he doth not know , yet he resolves to set it down , and to set it down also with this item , that it was generally believ'd . be it so for once . fuller . this sarcasm was put upon him , by a lady , now living in london , and a countess , whose husbands father the arch-bishop married , and thereby brought much trouble and molestation to himselfe . no oedipus needeth to unridle the person , easily spel't by putting the premises together . dr. heylyn . for not being able to disprove it , i shall quit our author with one story , and satisfie the equal reader with another . first for my author , i have heard a tale of a lady too , to whose table one mr. fuller was a welcome though a frequent guest ; and being asked once by her , whether he would please to eat the wing of a woodcock , he would needs put her to the question , how her ladyship knew it was a woodcock , and not a wood-hen . and this he pressed with such a troublesome importunity , that at last the lady answered with some shew of displeasure , that the woodcock was fuller headed , fuller breasted , fuller thighed , and in a word , every way fuller . whether this tale be true or false , i am not able to say ; but being generally believ'd , i have set it down also . fuller . his tale doth not quit mine , which was true , and new , never printed before . whereas his is old , ( made it seemes on one of my name , printed before i was born , ) and false , never by man or woman retorted on me . however if it doth quit mine , he is now but even with me ; and hereafter i shall be above him , by forbearing any bitter return . i had rather my name should make many causelessely merry , then any justly sad , and seeing it lyeth equally open and obvious to praise and dispraise , i shall as little be elated when flattered , fuller of wit and learning , as dejected when flouted , fuller of folly and ignorance . all this , which the animadvertor hath said on my name , i behold as nothing : and as the anagram of his name , heylyn , ne hili , nothing-worth . dr. heylyn . but my other story is more serious , intended for the satisfaction of our author , and the reader both . it was in november , anno . that i receiv'd a message from the lord archbishop , to attend him the next day at two of the clock in the afternoon . the key being turn'd which opened the way into his study , i found him sitting in a chair , holding a paper in both hands , and his eyes so fixt upon that paper , that he observ'd me not at my coming in . finding him in that posture , i thought it fit and manners to retire again . but the noise i made by my retreat , bringing him back unto himselfe , he recall'd me again , and told me after some short pawse , that he well remembred that he had sent for me , but could not tell for his life what it was about . after which he was pleas'd to say ( not without tears standing in his eyes , ) that he had then newly receiv'd a letter acquainting him with a revolt of a person of some quality in north-wales , to the church of rome ; that he knew that the increase of popery by such frequent revolts , would be imputed unto him , and his brethren the bishops , who were all least guilty of the same ; that for his part he had done his utmost , so far forth as it might consist with the rules of prudence , and the preservation of the church , to suppresse that party , and to bring the chief sticklers in it to condign punishment , to the truth whereof ( lifting up his wet eyes to heaven ) he took god to witnesse ; conjuring me ( as i would answer it to god at the day of judgement ) that if ever i came to any of those places , which he , and his brethren , by reason of their great age , were not like to hold long , i would imploy all such abilities as god had given me in suppressing that party , who by their open undertakings , and secret practices , were like to be the ruine of this flourishing church . after some words of mine upon that occasion , i found some argument to divert him from those sad remembrances , and having brought him to some reasonable composednesse , i took leave for the present ; and some two or three dayes after waiting on him again , he then told me the reason of his sending for me the time before . and this i deliver for a truth on the faith of a christian ; which i hope will over-ballance any evidence which hath been brought to prove such popish inclinations , as he stands generally charg'd with in our author's history . fuller . i verily believe all , and every one of these passages to be true , and therefore may proceed . dr. heylyn . our author proceeds , fol. . however most apparent it is by many passages in his life , that he endeavoured to take up many controversies betwixt us and the church of rome . ] and this indeed is novum crimen that is to say , a crime of a new stamp , never coyn'd before . fuller . i call it not novum crimen , which i believe was , in him , ( according to his principles , pium propositum ; but , let me also add , was frustraneus conatus : and that not onely , ex eventu , ( because it did not , ) but ex natura rei , because it could not take effect ; such the reall unreconcileablenesse , betwixt us and rome . dr. heylyn . i thought , that when our saviour said beati pacifici , it had been sufficient warrant unto any man to endeavour peace , to build up the breaches in the church , and to make ierusalem like a city which is at unity in it selfe ; especially where it may be done not onely salva charitate , without breach of charity , but sal●● fide too , without wrong to the faith . the greatest part of the controversies betwixt us and the church of rome , not being in the fundamentalls , or in any essentiall points in the christian religion ; i cannot otherwise look upon it , but as a most christian pious work , to endeavour an atonement in the superstructures . but hereof our author seems to doubt , first whether such endeavours to agree and compose the differences , be lawfull or not ; and secondly , whether they be possible . fuller . i confesse scripture pronounceth the peace-makers blessed . in answer whereunto i will take no notice of iehu his tart return to k. * ioram , what peace so long as the whoredomes of thy mother iezabel , and her witchcrafts are so many ? rather will i make use of the calme counsell of the * apostle , if it be possible , as much as in you lieth , live peaceably with all men. which words , [ if it be possible ] intimate an impossibility of peace , with some natures , in some differences , though good men have done what lyeth ( understand it , lawfully ) in their power to performe : such sometimes the frowardnesse of one ( though the forwardnesse of the other ) side to agreement , which is the true state of the controversie betwixt us and rome . dr. heylyn . as for the lawfulnesse thereof , i could never see any reason produc'd against it , nor so much as any question made of it till i found it here . fuller . all such zealous authors who charge the papists with idolatry , ( and the animadvertor knowes well , who they are ) do question the lawfulnesse of such an agreement . dr. heylyn . against the possibility thereof , it hath been objected , that such , and so great is the pride of the church of rome , that they will condescend to nothing . and therefore if any such composition or agreement be made , it must not be by their meeting us , but our going to them . fuller . i remember , some ( then present , ) have told me of a passage at a disputation in oxford . when dr. prideaux pressed home an argument , to which the * answerer returned reverende professor , memini me legisse hoc ipsissimum argumentum apud bellarminum . at , mi fili ( returned that dr. ) , ubi legisti responsum ? this objection the animadvertor acknowledgeth he hath formerly met with : but where did he meet with a satisfactory answer thereunto ? let me add ; it is not onely the pride of the church of rome , which will not let-goe her power ; but also her covetousnesse , which will not part with her profit , which obstructeth all accommodation betwixt us . and if the church of rome would , the court of rome , will not , quit the premises ; and the latter hath an irresistible influence on the former . in this point , the court of rome , is like the country-man , who willingly put his cause to arbitration ; but on this condition , to have all the land he sued for , with the full profits thereof , to a minute past , and his own costs and charges to a farthing . such and no other agreement , will the court of rome condescend unto . dr. heylyn . but as our author sayeth , that many of the arch-bishops equals adjudged that designe of his to be impossible ; so i may say ( without making any such odious comparisons ) that many of our author's betters have thought otherwise of it . fuller . amongst which many of his betters , the animadvertor undoubtedly is one of the principal . be it so , i will endeavour to be as good as i can , and will not envy but honour my betters whose number god increase . sure i am , amongst these many of my betters , the difference betwixt us and the papists is made never a whit the better , there remaining still 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : and though many may manifest much good wil , to advance , nothing hath taken effect to compleate such a composition . dr. heylyn . it was the petulancy of the puritans on the one side , and the pragmaticalness of 〈◊〉 jesuits on the other side , which made the breach wider than it was at 〈◊〉 first : and had these hot spirits on both sides been charmed a while , moderate men might possibly have agreed on such equal tearms , as vvould have laid a sure foundation for the peace of christendome . fuller . let us behold the originall breach betvvixt the church of rome and us. i name the church of rome first , because confident they caused it ; so that vve may say unto them , pharez , the breach be upon them . this breach vvas made before either puritans or iesuits ever appeared in england . as the animadvertor skill'd in their dates knovveth full vvell . it is therefore suspitious that the wound vvhich vvas made before these parties vvere in being vvill continue , if both of them vvere extinct . i behold the colledge of sorbonists in paris as far from jesuitical pragmaticalness and dr. i. cosens , as one free from puritanical petulancy . yet though the said doctor hath complyed vvith them so far as he could doe vvith christian prudence , sal●â conscientiâ ; and though the sorbonists are beheld as the most learned and moderate papists ; yet i cannot hear of any accommodation betvvixt them , but rather the contrary , even in the point of the apocrypha ( a controversie so learnedly canvased by the doctor ) they being as unvvilling to allovv so few , as he so many books in the bible to be canonical . and here , let me be the animadvertor's remembrancer , ( of vvhat perchance he vvould vvillingly forget ) hovv it vvas not long since he tvvitted me for saying , that the difference about the posture of the communion table , might be accommodated vvith mutual moderation ; and novv he holdeth , by the same means , an expedient betvvixt us and the papists may be advanced . dr. heylyn . moderate men might possibly have agreed on such equall termes ; as would have laid a sure foundation for the peace of christendome . fuller . my name is thomas . it maketh me the more distrust thereof , because i see at this day most cruel wars , betwixt the crowns of spain and france , both which agree to the heighth in the same romish religion . i am sorry their differences are paralleled with a sadder instance , of the deadly wars betwixt the swede and dane , both lutherans alike . and our sea wars betwixt us and the hollander , ( both wel paied for ) are not yet forgotten . all i collect is this ; that if the agreement betwixt us and papists were expedited to morrow ; yet so long as there be severall greatnesses in christendome , there will be ●●stlings betwixt them . and although they are pleased to score their differences ( for the greater credit ) on the account of conscience , and religion ; yet what saith st. iames , from whence * comes warres and fightings amongst you ? come they not hence , even of your lusts , that war in your members ? and it is a sad truth , such the corruption of the humane nature , that mens lives and lusts will last and end together . dr. heylyn . now that all these in the church of rome , are not so stiffely wedded to their own opinions as our author makes them , appears first by the testimony of the archbishop of spa●ato declaring in the high commission , a little before his going hence , that he acknowledged the articles of the church of england to be true , or profitable at the least , and none of them heretical . fuller . the animadvertor hath instanced in an ill person , and in an ill time of the same person . it was just when he was a taking his return to his vomit , and to leave the land , when knowing himselfe obnoxious , and justly under the lash ( for his covetous compliance with forreign invitations ) of king iames ; to get leave to be gone , he would say any thing here ; and unsay it againe , elsewhere . as little heed is to be given to such a proteus , as hold is to be taken of him. dr. heylyn . it appears secondly by a tractate of franciscus de sancta clara , ( as he calleth himself ) in which he putteth such a glosse upon the nine and thirty articles of the church of england , as rendreth them not inconsistent with the doctrines of the church of rome . fuller . by that parenthesis [ as he calleth himselfe ] it is left suspitious , that his true name was otherwise . and he who would not use his own but a false name , might ( for ought i know ) put a false glosse upon our articles ; and though he putteth such a sense upon them , it is questionable whether our articles will accept thereof . to put something upon , sometimes answers to the latin word imponere , which is to deceive and delude , and sometimes is equivalent to our english word impose , which soundeth the forceable or fraudulent obtruding of a thing , against the will and mind of him , or that , whereon it is imposed . lastly , the animadvertor cannot warrant us , that the rest of the church of rome will consent to the iudgement of franciscus de sancta clara ; and if not , then is the breach betwixt us , left as wide as it was before . dr. heylyn . and if without prejudice to the truth , the controversies might have been composed , it is most probable that other protestant churches would have sued by their agents to be included in the peace . fuller . the animadvertor's prudent and politick probability that other protestant churches would , by their agents , sollicite an inclusion into such a peace , mindeth me of the distich wrot on the sumptuous cradle , gorgiously trimmed for the child of queen mary by philip king of spain . quam mariae sobolem , deus optime summe , dedisti ; anglis incolumem redde , tuere , rege . o may the child , to mary god hath given ; for englands good be guarded safe by heaven . whereas indeed this child , pretended at white-hall , may be said born at nonsuch , proving nothing but a mock-mother-tympany . i cannot but commend the kindnesse and care of the animadvertor , for keeping this babe when born ; i mean the agreement betwixt us and the papists . but let us behold it born , see it first affected , and then we shall know , whether forreign protestant churches will dandle this infant , or destroy it ; i mean whether they will declare for , or protest and remonstrate against it . it will be time enough , then , for both our survivor to return an answer . dr. heylyn . if not ; the church of england had lost nothing by it , as being hated by the calvinists , and not lov'd by the lutherans . fuller . short and sharp , much matter in few words , and little truth in much matter . our church of england in relation to forraign protestant churches is here by the animadvertor represented in a strange posture ; like another * ishmael , whose hand was against every one , and every one 's against him. that our church is not hated by the calvinists appears by many and plain passages in the books of those who are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seeming pillars amongst them calvin , beza , zanchy , deodat , mollinaeus , &c. who ( notwithstanding some small differences betwixt us ) lovingly give us the right hand of fellowship . the animadvertor discovers himselfe as little states-man as divine in advising the church of england , by making foes of her friends , to make friends of her foes ; by incurring the enmity of forreign protestants , thereby to procure the amity of papists . the best is , there is no danger to see that day . the poor woman in the gospel , was troubled with a double issue , the one of blood , the life in her body , and the other of money , the life-blood of her estate ; but the * latter was quickly stanched having spent all her living on physitians to no purpose . thus successelesse have their pains proved hitherto , who have endeavoured an accommodation betwixt us and rome , so that the wound betwixt us may justly be beheld as incurable . dr. heylyn . but our author will not here delist ( so soon hath he forgotten his own rule made in the case of mr. love ) and therefore mustereth up his faults , viz. . passion , though an humane frailty , . his severity to his predecessor , easing him before his time , and against his will , of his jurisdiction : . his over-medling in state-matters : . his imposing of the scottish liturgy . of all which we have spoke so much upon other occasions , that is to say , numb . . . . . and therefore do not count it necessary to adde any thing here . fuller . i shall , god willing , remember and practise my rule in the case of mr. love , when the animadvertor i sear will be sound to have forgotten it : here are four faul●s of the arch-bishop mustered up by me ; and is it not a thin muster indeed ? when a gentleman was told , that he would be much ashamed , if all his faults were written in his forehead ; he ( in my mind ) modestly , and wittily replyed , that he should be right glad that his face could hold them all : happy is that man whose faults may be reduced to the number of four. i have in my reply to the forecited pages of the animadvertor , returned my answer unto them ; and therefore , to use his language , account it unnecessary to adde any thing here . i have done no wrong to the arch-bishop's memory , if i have charged him with four ●aults , and to overpoize them , have given him many commendations , in several places of my book , which here i will sum up to confute that loud and late untruth of the animadvertor , when saying , page . . our author gives us nothing of this prelate but his wants and weaknesses . the praise i gave him is reducible to four heads , naturalls or corporalls about his body or person ; morals or civills touching his demeanor to others ; intellectualls , whether innate or acquisite by his own industry ; spiritualls or supernaturalls to which his benefactions ( as the fruit of a lively faith ) are reduced . naturalls . * . nephew to a lord major of london therefore not basely born , page two hundred and sixteen , paragraph . . . chearfull in countenance . page . . paragraph . . . a sharpe and pierceing eye , ibidem . . gravity and quicknesse were well compounded in his face , ibidem . . so chearfull his countenance ( when ascending the scaffold ) as rather to gain a crown than lose his head , page . . paragr . . moralls . . he was temperate in his dyet , pag. . parag . . . chaste in his conversation , ibid. . plaine in his apparrel , ibid. paragr . . . not preferring his owne kindred without merit , ib. pa. . . promoting men of learning and abilyties , ibid. . covetousnesse he perfectly hated , ibid. parag . . . had no project to raise a name or family , ibid. . abridged courtiers bribes , pag. . paragr . . . but not their fees for church preferments , ibid. . not ambitious as appears by his refusing a cardinall's ca● once and again offered him , page . . paragr . . intellectualls . . he had a cleare iudgement , pag. . paragr . . . of a firme memory , ibid. . one of the greatest schollars of our nation , page . . par . . . having an experimentall knowledge of all conditions of clergy-men , page . . par . . spiritualls . . a strict observer of the lords-day in his own person , pag. . para . . . moderate in pressing the book of sports in his owne diocese , ibid. par . . . a worthy instrument in moving king charles to so pious a work as the restoring of the irish impropriations , pag. . paragr . . thus i did vvrite in his due praise as much as i durst , and though lesse then his friends expected , more than i am thanked for . all i vvill adde is this , seeing his head vvas cut off by the ●xe , it had been madnesse in me to run my neck into the halter , in taxing those of cruelty and unjustice , vvhich caused his execution . dr. heylyn . and so i leave him to his rest , in the bosome of abraham in the land of the living . fuller . bosome of abraham , is a scripture-expression , to signifie the repose of the souls of such saints , vvho departed this life before the asscention of our saviour into heaven . where ever the bosome of abraham be , it is good to be there ; and hence it is frequently used by the fathers , to denote the happy condition even of such vvhich departed in the faith since christs ascention . quicquid illud est , ( saith st. augustine ) quod illo significatur sinu , ibi nebridius meus vivit , dulcis amicus meus . for the main , it is a synonymon vvith heaven , and probably all the persons therein , are receptive of a higher degree of glory after the day of iudgement . land of the living , is an old testament-phrase ; vvhich some narrow-breasted commentators have confin'd to temporal happinesse , but importeth much more in my opinion even final felicity , as may appear by * david his expression . i had fainted unlesse i had beleeved to see the goodness of the lord in the land of the living . i have stay'd the longer in the stating of these two expressions , that i may the more safely and sincerely concurre , as i do , with the animadvertor's charity in the final estate of this prelate : with whose memory my pen here makes no truce , but a perfect peace , never hereafter to let the least disgracefull drop of inke to fall upon it . dr. heylyn . from the arch-bishop of canterbury , i should proceed to dr. williams , archbishop of york ; but that i must first remove a block which lyes in my way . our author having told us of the making and printing the directory , is not content to let us see the cold entertainment which it found when it came abroad , but lets us see it in such tearms as wee did not looke for . fuller . this block is no bigger then a straw , so that a flea may leap over it : but the animadvertor is pleased to see all things thorough a magnifying-glasse , as will appear hereafter . dr. heylyn . fol. . such ( saith our author ) was , call it constancy , or obstinacy , love or doting of the generality of the nation , on the common prayer , that the parliament found it fit , yea necessary , to back their former ordinance with a second . ] assuredly , the generality of the people of england is much beholding to our author , for making question , whether their adhering to the liturgy , then by law established , were not to be imputed rather to obstinacy and doting , than to love and constancy ? fuller . it is no question in my iudgement or conscience , when it is out of all question , as either never started or soon decided therein : but a question it is in the practise of our distracted age , which i behold like the citty of ephesus , * some cryed one thing , some another , for the assembly was confused . till this tumult be appeased , i desire to stand by in silence , and give every man his own words , some call constancy and love , which side i doe seem secretly to favour , for giving it the upper hand , and naming it in the first place . others call it obstinacy and doting , as they are severally perswaded . what is my offence , or where is the block the animadvertor complaineth of , as if he needed to call for leavers to remove it ? dr. heylyn . the liturgy had been lookt on as a great blessing of god upon this nation , by the generality of people , for the space of fourscore years and upwards ; they found it established by the law , seal'd by the bloud of those that made it , confirm'd by many godly and religious princes ; and had almost no other forme of making their addresses to almighty god , but what was taught them in the book of common prayer . and could any discreet man think , or wise man hope , that a form of prayer , so universally receiv'd , and so much esteem'd , could be laid by without reluctancy in those who had been so long accustomed to it ? or called obstinacy or doting in them , if they did not presently submit to every new nothing , which in the name of the then disputable authority should be laid before them . and though our author doth professe , that in the agitating of this controversie pro and con , he will reserve his private opinion to himselfe ; yet he discovers it too plainly in the present passage . quid verba audiam , cum facta videam ? is a good rule here . he must needs shew his private opinion in this point , say he what he can ; who makes a question , whether the adhesion of the people generally to the publick liturgy , were built on obstinacy and doating , or on love and constancy . fuller . i concurre with the animadvertor in his encomiastick expressions on the common prayer . otherwise , nothing new , occurs in this , which was not in the former paragraph . and therefore , the blow being the same ( onely layed on with a little more eagernesse ) i conceive the same guard will serve to defend it , without any further repetition . dr. heylyn . but , if it must be obstinacy or doating in the generality of the people , to adhere so cordially to the book of common prayer , i marvell what it must be called in stephen marshall of essex ( that great bell-weather , for a time , of the presbyterians ) who having had a chief hand in compiling the directory , did notwithstanding marry his owne daughter by the forme prescribed in the common-prayer-book ; and ●aving so done , paid down ●ive pounds immediately to the church-wardens of the parish , as the fine or forfeiture for using any other forme of marriage , then that of the directory . the like to which ( i have credibly been informed ) was done by mr. knightly of fawsley , on the like occasion , and probably by many others of the same straine also . fuller . all this is nothing to me , who am not bound to answer for the actions of other men. i know there was in england a juncture of time , which in this point may be compared to the evening twilight ; so called from twalight or double light , the one of the day not wholly gon down , the other of the candle , but newly set up . such the crepusculum vespertinum in our land , when the day of the liturgy yet dimly shined , and the candle of the directory was also lighted ; a short candle , which presently burnt down to the socket . it is possible that in this coincidence , some in majorem cautelam , twisted the liturgy and directory together , as since some have joyned to both , marriage by a iustice of peace ; that so a threefold cable might not be broken . let them , which best can , given an account of their own carriage herein . dr. heylyn . with the like favour he beholds the two universities , as he doth the liturgy , and hard it is to say , which he injureth most . fuller . i injure neither of them . but in this passage , the animadvertor onely whets his sword , and i scoure my shield , preparing against his deadly blow , in the next paragraph . dr. heylyn . and first beginning with oxford , he let us know that , fol. . lately certain delegates from the univesity of oxford , pleaded their priviledges before the committee of parliament , that they were onely visitable by the king , and such who should be deputed by him . but their allegations were not of proof against the paramount power of parliament ; the rather because a passage in an article at the rendition of oxford , was urged against them , wherein they were subjected to such a visitation . ] our author here subjects the university of oxford to the power of the parliament , and that not onely in regard of that paramount power , which he ascribes unto the parliament , that is to say , the two houses of parliament ( for so we are to understand him ) above all estates ; but also in regard of an article concerning the surrendry of oxford , by which that university was subjected to such visitations . fuller . when i see a corslet shot thorough with a musket bullet , and the person wounded that wore it , i may safely say , that corslet is not of proof against the musket . so when i behold the pleadings of the delegates neglected and null'd , i may say that de facto they were not of proof against parliamentary power . a passage possibly written by me , ( such my affection to my aunt ox●ord , ) with more griefe then it is read by the animadvertor with anger ; but truth is truth whether it be writ by one sighing or singing ; readd by one smiling or frowning . the reader needs no interpreter to expound the word parliament , as taken generally at this time , ( successe having beaten the s●●se thereof into mens heads ) for the two houses . loqui cum ●ulgo in this case , i hope is no fault ; these two houses at this time maintained their enthymem to be a compleat syllogism concluding all persons under them ; presuming that the king , though not personally , was vertually with them , a position which i have no calling to examine . as for the clause in the article which hooked the university under parliamentary visitation , heare how the animadvertor reports it . dr. heylyn . i find indeed , that it was agreed on by the commissioners on both sides touching the surrendry of that city ; that the chancellor , masters , and scholars of the university of oxon , and the governors and students of christ-church of king h. . his foundation , and all other heads and governors , masters , fellows , and scholars of the colledges , halls , and bodies corporate , and societies of the same university , and the publick professors and readers , and the orator thereof , and all other persons belonging to the said university , or to any colledges or halls therein , shall and may , according to their statutes , charters and customs , enjoy their antient form of government , subordinate to the immediate authority and power of parliament . but i find not , that any of the heads or delegates of that university were present at the making of this article , or consented to it , or thought themselves oblig'd by any thing contained in it . fuller . this last clause was eagerly urged by the committee against the delegates of the university , and i could wish they could as easily have untied the knot , as answered the hardest objection of bellarmine in the divinity-schools ; the king when privately departing oxford left ( if not a commission ) at least leave with the lords to make as good ●earmes for themselves , and all with them in the citty besieged , as the enemy would give and they could get in that streightned condition . the vniversity therefore was urged by the committee to have given an implicite consent to these articles , and enjoying the benefit , they must share in the burthen thereof . to this , the delegates made many faire and civill answers , strengthned with law and reason : but alasse , great are the odds , though learning be the answerer , where power is the opponent . dr. heylyn . nor indeed could it stand with reason , that they should wave the patronage of a gracious soveraign , who had been a nursing father to them , and put themselves under the arbitrary power of those who they knew minded nothing but destruction toward them . and that the university did not think it selfe oblig'd by any thing contained in that article , appears even by our author himselfe , who tells us in this very passage , that the delegates from the university pleaded their priviledges before the committee of parliament , that they were onely visitable by the king , and such as should be deputed by him ; which certainly they had never done ( unlesse our author will conclude them to be fools or madmen ) had they before submitted to that paramount power , which he adscribes unto the houses . nor did the houses of parliament find themselves impowered by this clause of the article , to obtrude any such visitation on them . and therefore when the delegates had pleaded , and prov'd their priviledges , a commission for a visitation was issued by the two houses of parliament in the name of the king , but under the new broad seal which themselves had made ; which notwithstanding ▪ the university stood still on their own defence , in regard that though the kings name was us'd in that commission , yet they knew well , that he had never given his consent unto it . whereupon followed that great alteration both in the heads and members of most colledges which our author speaks of . fuller . the animadvertor endeavours to runne me on one of these dangerous rocks , either to condemne the university for fools and mad men , whom i love and honour for wise and sober persons , or else to make me incurre the displeasure of the parliament . and the philosopher's answer to the emperour is well known , that it is ill disputing with them that can command legions : the best is , i am not bound to answer to this dangerous dilemma , keeping my selfe close to my calling , viz. reporting vvhat vvas done , but whether iustly or unjustly , let others decide . the animadvertor's boldnesse herein is for me to admire , not imitate . when an old man vvas demanded the cause of his confidence , hovv he durst so freely tell a king of his faults , he rendred a double reason of his boldnesse , orbit●s et senectus . one , that he had no children , and therefore careless to preserve posterity : the other , that he vvas extreamely old , therefore lesse curious to keep that life that vvas leaving him . how it fareth vvith the animadvertor in these two particulars , i know not ; sure i am for my self , that i am not so old to be weary of the world , ( as i hope it is not of me ) ; and god having given me children , i vvill not destroy them , and hazard my selfe by running into needlesse dangers . and let this suffice for an answer . dr. heylyn . nor deals he much more candidly in relating the proceedings of the visitation , vvhich vvas made in cambridge ; the visitors vvhereof ( as acting by the paramount power of parliament ) he more sensibly favoureth , than the poor sufferers , or malignant members , as he calls them , of that university . fuller . the animadvertor sees more in me then i can see in my selfe ; and because vve are both parties engaged , ( the lesse to be credited in our owne cause , ) be it reported to the reader , if pleased , to peruse the conclusion of my history of cambridge , whether i cast not my graines of favour into the scales of the poor sufferers . these i call not malignant members , but with this qualification ( so * tearmed ) . and let not me be condemned for the ill language of others . i say again , as , as an historian , i have favoured no side but told the truth ; so i could not so far unman my selfe , but that for humanity sake ( to say no more , ) i did pitty the sufferers ; on which account , i incurred the displeasure of the opposite party : the best is , causelesse anger being an edglesse sword , i feare it the lesse . dr. heylyn . for whereas the authour of the book called querela cantabrigiensis hath told us of an oath of discovery , obtruded by the visitors upon severall persons , whereby they were sworn to detect one another , even their dearest friends . our author vvho vvas out of the storm , seeming not satisfied in the truth of this relation , must vvrite to mr. ash , who vvas one of those visitors , to be inform'd in that which he knew before . fuller . no person more proper or probable to inform me herein , than mr. ash one of the visitors , who i believed did both know the truth and would not tell a falsehood herein : i was so far from desiring information in what ( as the animadvertor saith ) i knew before , that i protest i know it not yet , being left in such a mist about this oath of discovery . on the one side , my worthy friend mr. peter gunning , fellow of clare hall , ( eminent for his learning and honesty , ) hath since assured me that such an oath was offered and urged upon him by the committee . on the other side , i am , on just grounds , daily confirmed in my confidence , that neither the earl of manchester , nor any under him by his command or consent enforced such an oath , so that where to lay the blame , i know not ; and have neither list nor leasure , further to enquire , who having blistered my fingers already , will burn my hands no more in so dangerous a subject . dr. heylyn . our author proceeds . and on the reading of mr. ash his answer , declares expresly , that no such oath was tendred by him to that university . ] but first , mr. ash doth not absolutely deny , that there was any such oath , but that he was a stranger to it : and possibly he might be so far a stranger to it , as not to be an actor in that part of the tragedy . secondly , mr. ash onely saith , that he cannot call to mind , that any such thing was mov'd by the earl of manchester ; and yet i trow , such a thing might be mov'd by the earl of manchester , though mr. ash after so many years was willing not to call it to mind . or else if no such oath was tendred by him , as our author is assur'd there was not , that part of the tragedy might be acted by mr. good the other chaplain , without communicating his instructions to his fellow visitor . fuller . mr. ash , on serious and solemn recollection , hath since given me assurance , both by his word of mouth , and writing , that no such oath was urged to his knowledge ; and being a minister of the gospell , i am in charity and conscience bound to believe him. dr. heylyn . and therefore thirdly , i would know why mr. good was not writ to also , that having from him the like certificate , our author might have had the better grounds for his unbelief , before he had pronounc'd so positively against the author of that querela . fuller . the reason was because mr. good was dead , and ( had i known whither ) i did not know by what carrier to convay my letter unto him . i pronounced not positively against querela in point of the oath , which i left under very vehement suspitions . dr. heylyn . fourthly , and finally , it is not easie to be thought , that the author of that book should have vented such a manifest falshood , especially in a matter so derogatory to all christian charity , and that neither the earl of manchester , nor either of these two chaplains , or any friends of theirs , should in the space of ten years and more , endeavour to wipe off such an odious imputation , till our author out of pure zeal to the paramount-power , played the advocate in it . fuller . i will freely give all my fees for my advocation to the animadvertor , and will thank him too , if he will be pleased to take them from me to himselfe . it seemes i did not my worke well , who had nothing but displeasure for my wages . possibly the earl of manchester might not know , that the urging of such an oath was objected against him and his ; and probably , if he did know , he satisfied himselfe in his own integrity and innocence , leaving the blame and shame to fall on such as were guilty thereof . dr. heylyn . but to return again to oxford , one of the first effects which followed on the alteration before remembred ( though mentioned by our author in another place ) was the rifling of the treasury in magdalen colledge , of which he tells us , lib. . fol. . that a considerable sum of gold , being by dr. humphry ( who had been master of that colledge ) left in a chest , not to be opened , except some great necessity urged thereunto , was lately shar'd between dr. wilkinson ( who then held the place of president by the power of the visitors ) and the fellows there . but first , our author is mistaken in dr. humphry , though he be willing to entitle him ( whom he calls a moderate non-con●ormis● ) to some benefaction . the summe there found amounted to above twelve hundred double pistolets , the old doctor having no fewer than one hundred for his part of the spoile , and every fellow thirty a piece for theirs ; each pistolet exchang'd at sixteen shillings six pence , and yet the exchanger got well by the bargain too . too great a sum for dr. humphry , who had many children , and no provident woman to his wife , to leave behind him to the colledge , had he been so minded . the money ( as the tradition went in that colledge ) was left there by the founder , to remedy and repair such ruines , as either the casualty of fire , or the ravages of a civil warre might bring upon it ; to which the nature of the coin being all french pieces ( remember that the english at that time were masters of a great part of france ) gives a further testimony . fuller as i have been mistaken in the person , dr. humphry for bishop wainfleet donour of this gold ( following common report therein ) ; so i could heartily have wished i had also erred in the thing it self , i mean , that an a motion of such devoted treasure had never been done . the animadvertor might well have forborn his sparring at the precious memory of that learned and pious dr. humphry . and the new mention of his name , mindeth me of an old fault , which the animadvertor not long since laid to my charge , viz. my calling of thomas bentham [ the deane , saith he , of magdalens oxford , ] the censor thereof . whereas i exactly followed the words of dr. humphry , in his latin life of iewel , page . . tho. benthamus , quamvis censor , eo anno , &c. and i humbly conceive that i having so good a precedent as dr. humphry , president of that colledge , i might as well call their deane , censor in english , as he doth in latin. dr. heylyn . secondly , i would have our author observe , that those whom he accuseth of this act of rapine , vvere neither high royalists , nor covetous conformists , as vve knovv who vvords it ; but men agreeable to the times , and of the same temper and affections vvhich himselfe is of : the conformists never being so covetous as to cast an eye tovvards it , nor the high royalists so ignoble in their greatest extreamities , as to lay hands on it . fuller . if i be one of their persuasion , who shared this gold , ( and i must be so because the animadvertor doth say it ) i have acquitted my self a faithfull historian , in not consulting my own partie 's credit : but unpartially reporting the truth . however i hope god will keep my hands , that my fingers shall not have the guilt of the gold of tholouse . dr. heylyn . and thirdly , i must needs charge our author vvith some partiality in aggravating this fact ( vvhich indeed cannot be excused ) vvith so many circumstances , and passing over the like at cambridge , as a thing incredible ; i cannot beleeve , saith he , hist. camb. fol. . what i have read in the querela cantabrigiensis , that three or four hundred pounds worth of timber brought to clare-hall for the repair of that house , was lately taken away ; that is to say , inverted to the use of some private persons , vvhom our author hath befriended vvith this incredulity . fuller . i did not aggravate the fact nor heavily lean on my pen in relating this passage , nor layed more vveight thereon than meerly to make it cast inke . the animadvertor hath more bitternesse vvrapped up in this one vvord rapine than i have stretched out , in all my relation of this accident . dr. heylyn . nay so extreamly favourable he is to his friends in cambridge , as to profess , that , had he seene it , he would not have beleeved his own eyes ; vvhich is the highest poynt of partiality , and most invincible unbelief that i ever met vvith . fuller . herein the animadvertor is highly-just , ( to say no more ) unto me . is it not cruelty to such as vvrite in distracted times , and are , as desirous to impart dangerous truths to posterity , so also to secure themselves , ( as vvho can blame them ? ) as vvell as they may , to hunt them out of the covert of any figurative or vvary expression : but none so deaf , as he who will not hear , i mean as to understand , the animadvertor knevv my expression pointed at , some too high for me safely to reach . knovv reader , that , vvhat need ( as pleaded ) in time of war took from clare-hall , that conscience in the same person hath since restored to the full , as dr. dillingham my vvorthy friend and master of the colledge hath enformed me . novv though oxford challengeth antiquity to go before cambridge , yet herein let her not disdain to come after her , and to follow so good an example of restitution : for though i have heard , and partly believe , that dr. wilkinson did with might and main oppose the seisure on that gold ; and though they say it appeared , vvhen seriously examined by the visitors , that it vvas not so foul a fact , as generally it is represented ; yet it cannot in all particulars be excused , and therein concur vvith the animadvertor . so that * iacob's counsel to his sons may here be seasonably prescribed , carry the money back again , peradventure it was an over-sight . dr heylyn . there remains nothing now to conclude these animadversions , but some passages relating to archbishop williams : in which i must confesse my selfe not willing to meddle , but that i think it is as much against the rule of distributive justice to give one man too much , as to give another man too little . let us see therefore what he saith of this prelate , and how far he saith truth ▪ the whole truth , and nothing but the truth and first , saith he , &c. fuller . the truth hereof will soon appear by the sequele . for , if the animadvertor shall inflame his smoaking faults , hollow in the ears of every dormant suspition , to awaken it against the memory of this prelate , yea and hang the weight of his greatest guiltinesse on the wyers of the slenderest proofe , then notwithstanding this his plausibility to the contrary premised , he will plainly appear to have a pike ( the sharpnesse whereof his death hath not blunted ) against him. when one was to preach the funeral sermon of a most vitious , and generally hated person , all wondered what he would say in his praise , the preachers friends searing , his foes hoping , that , for his fee , ●e would force his conscience to flattery . for one thing ( said the minister ) this man is to be spoken well o● , by all , and for another thing he is to be spoken ill of , by none . the first is , because god made him ; the second , because he is dead . now seeing besides the premises , common to all christians , yea to all men many worthy works have been done by the bishop ; and especially , seeing known animisities were betwixt him and the animadvertor ( which with ingenuity is an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 - super-over-commanding motive to silence ) the animadvertor had better forborn all which followeth in my judgement , and in the judgement of as many learned and religious men , of all orders and degrees in both universityes , as ever sollicited him to write against my church-history . dr. heylyn . fol. . he sueth to the parliament for favour , and obtained it , whose general in a manner he becomes in laying siege to the town and castle of abercon-way , &c. ] this is the truth , but whether it be the whole truth , or not , i do more then doubt . his suing for and obtaining pardon from the parliament , precedeth in the order of time , his being their general ; and therefore it is not to be thought , but that he had done some special service to the parliament to prepare the way for such a favour . before his commitment to the tower about the bishops protestation , he was grown as odious to the commons , as before he had been honoured by them . he had liv'd some time with the king at oxford , and is said to have done him good services in wales ; and ( which is most ) he had a fair temporall estate , able to yeeld some thousands of pounds for composition in gold-smiths hall . so that there must be somewhat in it more then ordinary , which occasioned that he neither came under fine nor ransome , as the rest of the kings party did . but what that was , whether he serv'd them with intelligence when he was at oxford , or by inhibiting his tenants and neighbours to pay their accustomed taxes to the kings forces when he liv'd in wales , i determine not . certain it is , that before his redintegration with them , he had been in a manner besieged in his house of penrin by the lord byron , for the prohibiting of sending in such provisions as had been required ; and that observing with what carel●ssenesse the kings souldiers did attend that service , he caus'd a sally to be made out of the house , and slew many of them . upon the merit of which service , and the promise of greater , it is no wonder if such ministers and sollicitors of his as were imploy'd in that businesse , compounded for him without fine , though not without money . that which our author tells us of his being their general , seems to have been fore-signified some five or six years before the siege of conway castle . for i remember that about such time as he was prisoner in the tower with the rest of the bishops , his picture was sold commonly in black and white , in his episcopal roabs , with a squa●e cap on his head , a rest in his hand , a musket on his shoulder , and a bandeleir about his neck . for which fancy at that time i could learn no reason , though he came up to it at the last . fuller . this is not contradictory but additory to what i have written , an additory only of suggestions , and suspitions , no probations ; the animadvertor's arrow coming off without a pile , when he saith , i determine not. i had thought when this doctor cathedrae ( for historicall matters ) had so solemnly setled himselfe in the chair , that we should have heard from him some solid determination , which belike he dares not doe : and in my opinion , it had been more consonant to christian charity , not to have discussed what he could not decide ; seeing matters of this nature are to be hunted down , or else it is best they be never started . is this he who so lately professed his aversnesse to meddle with this arch-bishop , and is now so ready to run out against him on all occasions when he hardly hath half an errand ? and rather would than can produce any certainty in his suggestions ? dr. heylyn . but our author goes on , ibid. he was very chaste in his conversation . ] and i hope so too , notwithstanding the scandalous reports of weldon the namelesse author aim'd at ( in the following words ) in his pamphlet called the court of king iames , and some vulgar fames or hear sayes too much credited by a late historian . but i must needs say , that i am not satisfied in the arguments which are brought to prove it . wilson in his unworthy history of the reign of king iames , makes him to be eunuchus ab utero , an eunuch from his mother's womb . the author of the pamphlet called the observator observed , conceives that wilson went too far in this expression , and rather thinks , that he contracted some impotency by falling on a stake when he was a boy , fol , . our author here seems to incline unto this last , assuring us from such who knew the privacies and casualties of his infancy , that this arch-bishop was but one degree remov'd from a misogynist , though to palliate his infirmity to noble females he was most compleat in his courtly addresses . but first , the falsity and frivolousnesse of these defences leave the poor man under a worse suspicion than they found him in . his manly countenance , together with his masculine voyce , shewed plainly that he was no eunuch ; and the agreeablenesse of his conversation with the female sex , did as plainly shew , that he was no misogynist , or woman-hater . and secondly , admitting these surmises to be true and real , they rather serve to evidence his impotency than to prove his chastity ; it being no chastity in that man to abstain from women , who either by casualty , or by nature is disabled from such copulations . the vertue of chastity consisteth rather in the integrity of the soul , than the mutilation of the body ; and therefore more to be ascrib'd to those pious men , qui salvis oculis foeminam vident , in tertullian's language , than to the old philosopher , who put out his eyes to avoid temptations of that nature . so that if this be all which they have to say for the bishop's chastity , these advocates had shewed more wisdom in saying nothing , than speaking so little to the purpose . fuller . i am sorry to see the memory of this bishop , since his decease , to fall on a sharper stake than his body did in his infancy , even the pen of the animadvertors . i confesse , chastity cannot necessarily be concluded from naturall debility , or casual impotency ; there being a possibility of a frying heart in a freezing body , and we know who hath written , ut eunuchus qui amplectitur virginem & gemit . the casualty of his infancy was by me mentioned , and cast in as super-pondium or over-weight , to confirme such as were perswaded before , in his chastity which was never called into question by any person of credit . as for aulicus è coquina , the courtier cut of the kitchin , pretending himselfe such a master of defence in all court-controversies . such as have perused his book , will find cause to say of him , expectavi lanistam ; inveni scurram , rabulam , lnxam . the conversableness of this bishop with women , consisted chiefly , ( if not only ) in his treatments of great ladyes and persons of honour , wherein he did personate the compleatness of courtesie to that sex : otherwise a woman was seldom to be seen in his house . hence it was that the palace of this prelate , had more magnificence than neatnesse therein , sometimes defective in the puntillo's and nicityes of daintinesse , lying lower than masculine cognizance ; and as level to a womans eye , to espy , as easy for her hand to amend . dr. heylyn . our author proceeds ibid. envy it selfe cannot deny , but that whither soever he went , he might be traced by the foot-steps of his benefaction . ] amongst which benefactions it was none of the least , that in both the universities he had so many pensioners ; more ( as it was commonly given out ) then all the noble-men and bishops in the land together : some of which received twenty nobles , some ten pounds , and other twenty marks per annum . and yet it may be said without envy , that none of all these pensions came out of his own purse , but were laid as rent-charges upon such benefices as were in his disposing , either as lord keeper or bishop of lincoln , and assign'd over to such scholars in each university as applyed themselves to him . and because i would not be thought to say this without book , i have both seen and had in my keeping , till of late , ( if i have it not still ) an acquittance made unto a minister in discharge of the payment of a pension of twenty nobles per annum , to one who was then a student in christ-church . the name of the parties i forbeare ; he that receiv'd it , and he for whom it was receiv'd , ( and perhaps he that paid it too ) being still alive . and possible enough it is , that this pensioning of so many scholars had not been past over in silence by our author , if he had not known the whole truth as well as the truth . fuller . his pensioning so many schollers , foundeth more to his credit , than th● paucity of their pensioners to the honour of other lords and bishops . it was impossible that so numerous pensions , could all issue out of his own purse , without great impairing of his estate . and therfore no wonder if he was not the giver , but the bare disposer of some of them to promising pregnancyes , where worth and want did meet together in the same person . and though such payments were not costly to the bishop , they were no lesse comfortable to such as received them ; it being all one with the parched ground whether the water-pot which be-sprinkleth it , be filled from the spring , or from the river . this was don by him without any appearance of evill , with the free and full consent of such incumbents as hee presented , far from the shadow of simonia call compliance , seeing besides the statute to this purpose , in the reign of king henry the eighth , the injunctions of queen elizabeth do countenance a bishops assigning five pounds annually out of every hundred pounds of a benefice to such uses . as for many of the pensions he paied , i am since as well assured , they were expended out of his own purse as i am confident the causelesse cavills in our animadvertor's book , were bred in his own braines , without any other 's suggesting them unto him . dr. heylyn . ibid. much he expended on the repair of westminster abbey-church , &c. the library at westminster was the effect of his bounty . ] this though it be true in part , yet we cannot say of it , that it is either the whole truth , or nothing but the truth . for the plain truth is , that neither the charge of repairing that church , nor furnishing that library , came out of his own private coffers , but the churches rents : for at such time as he was made lord keeper of the great seal ; he caused it to be signified unto the prebendaries of that church , how inconvenient it would be both to him and them to keep up the commons of the colledge ; and gaind so farre upon them that they pass'd over to him all the rents of that church , upon condition that he should pay the annual pensions of the prebendaries , school-masters , quire-men , and inferiour officers , and maintain the commons of the scholars . the rest , amounting to a great yearly value , was left wholly to him upon his honourable word and promise to expend the ●ame for the good and honour of that church . the surplusage of which expenses receiv'd by him for four years and upwards , amounted unto more than had been laid out by him on the church and library ; as was offered to be proved before the lords commissioners at the visitation , anno. . and as for the library at st. iohns , it might possibly cost him more wit than money ; many books being daily sent in to him ( upon the intimation of his purpose of founding the two libraries ) by such as had either suits in court , or businesse in chancery , or any wayes depended on him , or expected any favours from him , either as bishop of lincoln , or dean of westminster . fuller . as the worme on a sudden smot the gourd of ionah , and it withered ; so it is possible , that the most verd●nt and flourishing charity may be fretted and blasted , by ill reports . there is a chapiter-act subscribed with the hands of the prebendaries of westminster ( the date whereof i do not at present remember ) and the copy of it is in the hands of my worthy friend , wherein they thankfully acknowledge the great bounty of this bishop , in expending so much on the repaire of their church . if the library of st. iohns cost him more wit then money , ( as the animadvertor phraseth it , ) sure i am that in the same sense , the founding of fellowships and scholler-ships in that colledge , cost him more money then wit. dr. heylyn . our author proceeds , fol. . he hated popery with a perfect hatred . ] but wilson in his history of great brittain sings another song , whether in tune , or out of tune , they can best tell who liv'd most neere those times , and had opportunities to observe him . fuller . i wonder , that the animadvertor , who in the preface to this his book had branded wilsons history with the name of a most infamous pasquill , maketh mention of any passage therein to a bishop's disgrace . dr. heylyn . there is a muttering of some strange offer which he made to king iames , at such time as the prince was in spain , and the court seemed in common apprehension to warp towards popery , vvhich declared no such perfect hatred ( as our author speaks of ) unto that religion . fuller . the * prophet telleth us of tongues which have muttered perversnesse , and such to me seem they that are authors of this report . dr. heylyn . not was he coy of telling such whom he admitted unto privacies vvith him , that in the time of his greatnesse at court , he vvas accounted for the head of the catholick party , not sparing to declare what free and frequent accesses he gave the principall sticklers in that cause both priests and iesuites , and the speciall services vvhich he did them : and it must be somewhat more than strange if all this be true , that he should hate popery vvith a perfect hatred ; yet not more strange then that he should so stickle in the preferment of dr. theodore price to the arch-bishoprick of armagh in ireland , who died a profest catholick , reconciled to the church of rome , as our author hath it , fol. . but if there be no more truth in the bishop of lincolns hating popery , then in dr. 〈◊〉 dying a professed papist , there is no credit to be given at all to that part of the character . dr. price , though once a great favourite of this bishop , and by him continued sub-dean of westminster many years together , vvas at the last suppos'd to be better affected to bishop laud , than to bishop williams , bishop laud having lately appeared a sui●or for him for the bishoprick of st. asaph . and therefore that two birds might be kild with the same bol● ; no sooner vvas dr. price deceased , but the bishop of lincoln being then at westminster , calls the prebends together , tells them that he had been with mr. sub-deane before his death , that he left him in very doubtfull tearmes about religion , and consequently could not tell in what form to bury him ; that if the dr. had died a profest papist he would have buried him himselfe , but being as it was , he could not see how any of the prebendaries could either with safety or with credit performe that office . but the artifice and design being soon discovered , took so little effect that dr. newel one of the senior prebendaries performed the obsequies , the rest of the whole chapiter attending the body to the grave , with all due solemnity . fuller . i deny not but as a states-man , he might do some civill offices to the romish party in that juncture of time , in compliance to king iames his commands , but this amounteth not to prove him a lover of popery . as for dr. price , i will not rake into his ashes . if he dyed a protestant , 't was the better for him ; but the contrary is generally reported , printed , believed . dr. heylyn . our author proceeds , fol. . he was so great an honourer of the english liturgy , that of his owne cost he caused the same to be translated into spanish , and fairly printed , to confute their false conceipt of our church , &c. ] if this be true , it makes not onely to his honour , but also to the honour of the english liturgy , translated into more languages then any liturgy in the world , whatsoever it be ; translated into latine by alexander alesius , a learned scot in king edwards time ; as afterward by dr. walter haddon in the reign of queen elizabeth and his translation mended by dr. mocket in the time of king iames : translated into french by the command of that king , for the isles of guernsey and iersey : into spanish at the charge of this bishop ( as our author telleth us ) : and finally into greek by one mr. petly , by whom it was dedicated and presented to the late arch-bishop of canterbury , the greatest patron and advancer of the english liturgy . but secondly , i have some reason to doubt , that the liturgy was not translated at the charges of bishop williams . that it was done by his pocurement i shall easily grant : but whosoever made the bill of charges , the church paid the reckoning ; the dominican fryer who translated it , being rewarded with a benefice and a good prebend , as the bishop himselfe did signifie by letter to the duke of buckingham . fuller . i have been credibly informed by those who have best cause to know it , that it was done not onely by his procurement but at his cost , though i deny not but that a benefice might be conferred on the fryer in reward of his paines . thus far i am assured by such as saw it , that the bishop ( who had more skill in the spanish then his policy would publiquely own ) , did with his owne hand correct every sheet therein . dr. heylyn . and as for the printing of the book , i cannot think that it was at his charges neither , but at the charges of the printer ; it not being usuall to give the printer , money and the copy too . fuller . the animadvertor so well practised in printing knowes full well , that though i● be usuall to give money and copies too for a saleable book , which being printed in our owne tongue is every mans money ; yet a spanish book printed in england is chargeable , meeting with few buyers , because few understanders thereof . dr. heylyn . and thirdly , taking it for granted , that the liturgy was translated and printed at this bishop's charges ; yet does not this prove him to be so great an honourer of it as our author makes him . for had he been indeed a true honourer of the english liturgy , he would have been a more diligent attendant on it than he shewed himself : never repairing to the church at westminster ( whereof he was dean ) from the . of february . when the businesse of the great pew was judged against him , till his commitment to the tower in iuly . fuller . one reason why he seldome came to prayers to westminster church , was , because he was permitted but little to live there , after he fell into the king's displeasure , being often sent away the day after he came thither . on the same token , that once sr. iohn cook being sent unto him to command him to avoid the deanery ; mr. secretary , said the bishop , what authority have you to command a man out of his owne house ? which wrought so much on the old knight , that he was not quiet till he had gotten his owne pardon . dr. heylyn . nor ever going to the chappell of the tower ( where he was a prisoner ) to attend the divine service of the church , or receive the sacrament , from iuly . when he was committed , to november . when he was enlarged . a very strong argument that he was no such honourer of the english liturgy , as is here pretended : a liturgy most highly esteemed in all places wheresoever it came , and never so much vilified , despis'd , condemn'd as amongst our selves ; and those amongst our selves who did so vilifie and despise it , by none more countenanced then by him , who is here said to be so great an honourer o● it . fuller . though ( for reasons best known to himselfe ) he went not to prayers in the tower chappell , yet was he his own chaplain to read them in his own chamber . and let me add this memorable passage thereunto . during his durance in the tower , there was a kinsman of sr. william balforés then lieutenant , a scotish man ( and his name , mr. melvin too ) who being mortally sick , sent for bishop williams to pray with him . the bishop read to him the visitation of the sick , having fore-acquainted this dying man , that there was a form of absolution in this prayer , if he thought fit to receive it : wherewith mr. melvin was not onely well satisfied , but got himselfe up as well as he could on his knees in the bed , and in that posture received absolution . dr heylyn . but for this blow our author hath his buckler ready , telling us , ibid. not out of sympathy to non-conformists , but antipathy to arch-bishop laud , he was favourable to some select persons of that opinion . an action somewhat like to that of the earl of kildare , who being accused before henry the eighth , for burning the cathedrall church of cassiles in ireland , profess'd ingeniously , that he would never have burnt the church , if some body had not told him that the bishop was in it . hate to that bishop , an arch-bishop of ireland , incited that mad earl to burn his cathedrall church . and hate to bishop laud , the primate and metropolitan of all england , stir'd up this bishop to raise a more unquenchable combustion in the church of england . so that we may affirm of him as tertullian ( in another case ) of the primitive christians , viz. tanti non est bonum , quanti est odium christianorum . but are we sure that he was favourable to the non-conformists out of an antipathy to bishop laud onely ? i believe not so . his antipathy to the king did as strongly byass him that way , as any thing else . for which i have the testimony of the author of the history of king charls , publisht . who telleth us of him , that being malevolently inclin'd ( about the losse of the great seal ) , &c. fuller . i will not advocate for all the actions of bishop williams , and though the animadvertor beholds my pen as over-partiall unto him , yet i know who it was that wrote unto me , semper es iniquior in archiepiscopum eboracensem . i am a true honourer of his many excellent virtues , and no excuser of his faults , who could heartily wish , that the latter part of his life had been like the beginning thereof . dr. heylyn . and so i take my leave of this great prelate , whom i both reverence for his place , and honour for his parts , as much as any . and yet i cannot choose but say , that i find more reason to condemn , then there is to commend him ; so that we may affirm of him as the historian doth of cajus caesar , son of agrippa , and nephew to the great augustus , viz. tam variè se gessit , ut nec laudaturum magna , nec vituperaturum mediocris materia deficiat , as my author hath it . and with the same character , accommodated to our author , and this present history , i conclude these notes ; subjoyning onely this old saying as well for my comfort as defence , viz. truth , though it may be blam'd , can never be sham'd . fuller . here the animadvertor doth tickle and pinch me both together , yet neither will i laugh nor cry , but keep my former composure . i will take no notice of a piece of mezentism in his joyning of the dead and living together , and conceive my selfe far unworthy , to be parallel'd in the least degree with his eminences . however i will endeavour with the gladiators 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , honestè decumbere , that when i can fight no longer , i may fall handsomely , in the scene of this life . may god , who gave it , have the glory of what is good in me , my selfe the shame of what is bad , which i ought to labour to amend . to the reverend , and his worthy friend , dr. iohn cosin , dean of peter-burgh . sir , you may be pleased to remember that some two years since being informed by our friend mr. davenport , that you took some exceptions at what i had written concerning you , in my church-history , i returned you an answer to this effect . that i would make you just reparation , either in the next edition of my history , or in another book which i was about to set forth of the worthies of england : choosing therein the most proper and conspicuous place , which might render it most visible to the reader . this last book had since been printed , had not the unhappy difference between dr. heylyn , and me , retarded it . what i wrote concerning your accusation in the house of commons , i transcribed out of the manuscript journalls of that house . as for your purgation in the house of lords , i knew not thereof : which maketh such my omssion the more excusable . i am now right glad , that you did so clearly vindicate your innocence . in my next edition , i will do you all possile right ( with improvement ) that my pen can perform : as also , god willing , when i come to treat , in my intended book , of the cathedrall of durham . in the mean time , joyning with hundreds more of my profession , in thanks to you for your worthy work on the apocrypha , and desiring the continuation and increase of gods blessing on your studies , who do abide the champion for our religion in forraign parts , know that amongst your many honourers , you have none more affectionate than your humble servant , thomas fuller . to the religious , learned and ingenuous reader . epistles to the reader by way of preparation are properly placed in the front of a book ; but those by way of recollection follow best in the reare thereof . if you have had the leisure and patience to peruse this book , you deserve the name of a reader indeed ; and i do as heartily wish , as charitably hope thee qualified with those three epithets wherewith i have intitled thee . i must now accost thee , in the language of the levite to the tribes of israell . consult , consider , and give sentence . deal truly and unpartially betwixt me and the animadvertor , please thine owne conscience , though thou displeasest us , and adjudge in thy selfe , where neither of us , where both of us , where one of us , which one of us , is in the right . onely this i will add , for my comfort , and thy better confidence in reading my book , that , according to the received rule in law , exceptio firmat regulam in non-exceptis , it followeth proportionably , that , animadversio firmat regulam in non-animadversis . and if so , by the tacite consent of my adversary himselfe , all other passages in my book , are allowed sound and true , save these few , which fall under his reproof ; and how justly , i submit my cause to thy censure , and thy person to gods keeping , remaining thine in jesus christ. thomas fuller . cranford moate-house . to my loving friend , doctor peter heylyn . i hope , sir , that we are not mutually un-friended by this difference which hath happened betwixt us . and now , as duellers , when they are both out of breath , may stand still and parley , before they have a second passe , let us in cold blood exchange a word , and , mean time , let us depose , at least suspend , our animosities . death hath crept into both our clay-cottages through the windows ; your eyes being bad , mine not good , god mend them both . and sanctifie unto us these monitors of mortality , and however it fareth with our corporeall sight , send our souls that collyrium , and heavenly eye-salve , mentioned in scripture . but indeed sir , i conceive our time , pains , and parts , may be better expended to gods glory , and the churches good , than in these needlesse contentions . why should peter fall out with thomas , both being disciples to the same lord and master . i assure you , sir , ( whatever you conceive to the contrary ) i am cordiall to the cause of the english church , and my hoary ha●res will go down to the grave in sorrow for her sufferings . you well remember the passage in homer , how wise nestor bemoaned the unhappy difference betwixt agamemnon and achilles . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . o gods ! how great the grief of greece the while , and priams selfe , and sons do sweetly smile , yea all the trojan party swell with laughter , that greeks with greeks fall out , and fight to slaughter . let me therefore tender unto you an expedient in tendency to our mutuall agreement . you know full well sir , how in heraldry , two lioncells rampant endorsed , are said to be the embleme of two valiant men , keeping appointment and meeting in the field , but , either forbidden fight by their prince , or departing on tearms of equallity agreed betwixt themselves . whereupon turning back to back , neither conquerors nor conquered , they depart the field severall wayes , ( their stout stomacks not suffering them both to go the same way ) left it be accounted an i●jury , one to precede the other . in like manner , i know you disdain to allow me your equall in this controversie betwixt us , and i will not allow you my superiour . to prevent future tro●ble , let it be a drawn battle , and let both of us abound in our owne sense , severally perswaded in the truth of what we have written . thus , parting and going out back to back here , ( to cut off all contest about precedency ) , i hope we shall meet in heaven , face to face , hereafter . in order whereunto , god willing , i will give you a meeting , when , and where , you shall be pleased to appoint , that we , who have tilted pens , may shake hands together . st. paul writing to philemon concerning onesimus , saith , for perhaps he therefore departed for a season , that thou mightest receive him for ever . to avoid exceptions , you shall be the good philemon , i the fugitive onesimus . w●o knoweth but that god in his providence permitted , yea ordered this difference to happen betwixt us , not onely to occasion a reconciliation , but to consolidate a mutuall friendship betwixt us , during our lives ; and that the surviver ( in gods pleasure onely to appoint ) may make favourable and respectfull mention of him , who goeth first to his grave . the desire of him who remaines . sir , a lover of your parts , and an honourer of your person . tho. fuller . finis . to dr. cornelius burges . sir , i could have wished , that in your book entituled , a case concerning the buying of bishops lands , with the lawfullnesse thereof , &c. you had forborn this following expression against me . part. . pag. . as that flashy jeering author of the late published history of the church ( upon hear-say onely , and out of resolution calumniari fortiter ) hath falsely reported him . let us go back to the occasion of these words . when dr. hacket , may the th . . made a speech , in behalfe of the deans , and chapters of england , for the preventing of the alienation of their lands and revenues , you returned an answer thereunto ; and about the conclusive result thereof , is our present contest . dr. burges . you say , you onely concluded those things unalienable from the church , which were setled upon it by divine right . fuller . i report , you concluded deans and chapters lands alienable without sin of sacriledge , from that particular use ; yet so as that they ought still to be preserved to the church in generall . i confesse , i neither was , ( nor might be ) present in the parliament : and therefore must take it on hear-say . however i distinguish on hear-say which is double , hear-say common . credible . i conceive mine to be of the latter and better sort . and i have no other way to defend my selfe , than by appealing to many members of the house then present , still alive , and firmly remembring that transaction . surely , sir , the parliament never brought into question , whether things might be alienated from the church , which by divine right were setled thereon . it was inconsistent with their prudence , amounting in effect to this question , whether gods , or their power were the highest . and , sir , if you concluded no more than what you say , you concluded what was never controverted by any christian. whereas you call me a flashy writer , god forbid that in all my books such a flash of folly and falshood should be found , as falls from your pen in your own praise . part. . pag. . lin . , . albeit dr. burges performeth more service in that church , than any bishop that ever sat there . i read , act. . . of a cornelius praised by god for his prayers and alms : but you are the first of the name , which , publickly in print , commendeth himselfe . and as for the bishops of that see ; have you forgotten william barlow , who in the marian dayes , exul in germania inopem vitam , ut potuit , toleravit , preaching a practicall sermon of patience and contentednesse to all posterity , whilst another usurped his habitation ? what shall i speak of s●il● , montague , &c. what proportion , i pray , doth a pet●y brook bear to a large lake ? if i be a flashy writer , you should have been so carefull as not to have brought fuell in your book , which i so soon may burn to ashes . part. . pag. . and that this was the high-way , wherein the popish clergy of england long before , ( as well as since ) the conquest , constantly travelled ; take one testimony more of that famous gildas the elder , surnamed sapiens : who being a brittain presbyter , within the sixth century , or hundred of years , after christ , thus chargeth the popish clergy of his time , who had sacked their principles from augustine the monk , sent from rome on purpose to advance the state and pompe of the clergy , under colour of planting the christian faith in england . for thus he saith , britannia habet sacerdotes , &c. brittain ( saith he ) hath priests , but some of them very dol●s : very many ministers , but many of them impudent ones : clergy men , but very * thieves or cheaters : pastors , as they are termed ; but , in truth woolves , standing to slay and flay the souls of the sheep : for that they seek not the good of the people , but the grambing of their owne bellies . they have church houses , but they never repaire to them , unlesse for their own filthy lucre . but know , sir , that herein you are much mistaken in your chronology , for gildas died , saith arch-bishop , usher in his index-chronolog . pag. . in the year of our lord , . augustine the monk came not over ●nto england untill the year . as ●s notoriously known to all that open a book . i am therefore confident that gildas his complaint related onely to his country-men , the brittish clergy without the least reflection on the saxon , which as yet were unconverted pagans . and therefore to say , they had sucked in principles from augustine the monk , is an anti-chronism , which cannot be justified . respect , sir , to your age , degree , and profession , charms my pen into some reverence unto you ; and because , i hear , abler men are undertaking your confutation , i add no more , but remain , your loving friend thomas fuller . finis . an index of the most remarkable persons and passages in this book . to the reader . although a methodicall book be an index to it self : yet an index is not to be contemned by the most industrious reader : whom we request to take notice of the following particulars . i. c. stands for century . b. for book . p. for page . ¶ for paragraph . ii. in the two first books , memorables are ranked onely according to centuries and paragraphs , but afterwards by books . iii. paragraph without page doth for brevity sake referre to that page which was last named . iv. page without book , on the same reason , relates to the last book that was named . v. vvhere no paragraph is named , it sheweth that the page by it self is sufficient notification . lastly , know that the discounting of sheets ( to expedite the work at severall presses ) hath occasioned in the fifth book after page . compleated , to go back again to page ( ) . surrounded in this fashion , to prevent confusion . aaron , a citizen of caerlion , martyred . cent. . ¶ . . abbeys , the prodigious expence in building and endowing them , cent. . ¶ . . multitudes of them causeth the danish invasion , ¶ . . mischiefs done by them , b. . p. , , . prime officers and officines , p. , , . the civil benefits by them , p. , , . presage of their ruin , p. . and offers to overthrow them , p. , . the lesser ( which could not expend . pounds a year ) bestowed on the king , p. , . and the rest ( visited with three sorts of officers , p. , . ) some appear vertuous , p. . others notoriously vitious , p. . all resigned by their abbots ( unwillingly willing ) to the king , p. , &c. rob. abbot , bishop of salisbury , his death and commendation , b. . p. . ¶ . . george abbot , arch-bishop of cant. b. . p. . ¶ . . casually killeth a keeper , p. . ¶ . , &c. befriended by sir edward coke , ¶ . . and bishop andrews , ¶ . . mortified by this chance , ¶ . . seven years after severely suspended from his jurisdiction , b. . ¶ . . his character , ¶ . . and vindication , ¶ . . . tho. adams , alderman of london , foundeth an arabick professours place in cambridge . hist. of cam. p. . ¶ . . adelme , the first bishop of sherborn , cent. . ¶ . . and the first englishman who wrote in latin , or made a verse . ibid. aethelard , arch-b●●hop of cant. calleth a synod , cent. . ¶ . . with the solemn subscriptions thereunto . ibidem . agricola , a principall spreader of pelagianisme in britain , cent. . ¶ . . aidan , bishop of lindissern his due commendation , cent. . ¶ . . dissenteth from the romish church in the celebration of easter , ¶ . . inciteth lay-men to the reading of scripture . ¶ . . st. alban , though a britan , how a citizen of rome , cent. . ● . . converted to christianity by amphibalus , ¶ . . his martyrdome and reported miracles , ¶ . . . his intire body pretended in three places . cent. . ¶ . . enshrined some hundred years after by king offa , cent. . ¶ . . st. albans abbey founded by king offa , cent. . ¶ . . the abbot thereof confirmed first in place of all england , by pope adrian the fourth , b. . p. . ¶ . . all-souls colledge in oxford founded by hen. chichely arch-bishop of cant. b. . p. . arrow , a small city in switzerland , where a congregation of english exiles in the reign of q. mary , b. . p. . ¶ . . alcuinus , or albinus , an eminent scholar and opposer of image-worship , cent. . ¶ . . alfred the saxon monarch his admirable act , cent. . ¶ . . &c. foundeth an university at oxford , ¶ . . &c. a solemn councill kept by him , ¶ . . with the canons made therein . ibidem . his death , ¶ . . alien priors , b. . p. . ¶ . . . of two natures , ¶ . . shaken by other kings , ¶ . . but dissolved by king henry . ¶ . . william allen cardinal his death and character , b. . p. . ¶ . . william amese his bitter sermon against cards and dice , hist. of cam. p. . ¶ . . . leaveth christs colledge for his non-conformity , ¶ . . amphibalus , so named first by i. munmoth , cent. . ¶ . . martyred at redbourn in hartfortshire , ¶ . . the fancies about his stake confuted , ibidem . anabaptists their beginning in england , b. . p. . ¶ . . discovered in london , b. . p. . ¶ . . eleven condemned , and two burnt ¶ . . lancelot andrews his death and character b. . ¶ . , , , . anna king of the east-saxons , happy in his children , cent. . ¶ . . q. anne ( wife to king iames ) her signal letter to the town of rippon , b. . ¶ . . anselme arch-bishop of cant. b. . p. . ¶ . . refuseth to lend king rufus a . pounds , ¶ . . variance betwixt him and king rufus , p. . ¶ . . &c. holdeth a synod at westminster , p. . ¶ . . the constitutions thereof , p. , , , . sent to rome , p. . ¶ . . forbids priests marriage , ¶ . . but dyeth re infecta , p. . ¶ . . io. argentine challengeth all cambridge to dispute with him , hist. of cam. p. . ¶ . . &c. ariminum : british bishops present at the councell kept therein , cent. . ¶ . . and why they refused to receive a salary from the emperour , ibidem . arles : british bishops present at the councell kept therein , cent. . ¶ . . aristobulus fabulously made by grecian writer● a bishop of britain , cent. . ¶ . . armes , la noble families still extant , relating to the atchievements of their ancestours in the holy land , b. . p. , , , . arrianisme infected england , as appeares by gildas his complaint , cent. . ¶ . . king arthur a real worthy of britain , though his actions be much discredited with monkish fictions , cent. . ¶ . . the six articles , contrived by bishop gardiner , b. . p. ¶ . . to the great trouble of poore protestants . ¶ . . the . articles composed , b. . p. . ¶ . . why drawn up in generall terms , ¶ . . by those who had been confessours , . confirmed by statute , . imposed onely on the clergy , ¶ . . the th article ( concerning the authority of the church ) questioned , b. . p. . inserted in some , omitted in other editions , p. . ¶ . . defended by bishop laud against mr. burton , ¶ . . articles of lambeth : see lambeth . thomas arundel , when arch-bishop of york a cruel persecutour , b. . p. . ¶ . . when arch-bishop of cant. active in deposing king rich. the second , p. . ¶ . . visiteth the vniversity of cambridge and all the colledges therein , hist. of cam. p. , , &c. affronted at oxford , b. . p. . ¶ . . but by the kings help too hard for the students , p. . ¶ . his wofull death p. . ¶ . . st. asaph his pious expression , cent. . ¶ . . iohn aschwell challengeth all camb. hist. of camb. p. . ¶ . . his bad successe , ¶ . . &c. anne ascough , b. . p. . ¶ . . plea for leaving her husband , ¶ . . first wracked , then burnt , . her prose , and poetry , . mr. ashley his difference at frankford with mr. home , book . p. , . ¶ . . the sad consequences occasioned thereby , ¶ . . . assembley of divines their first meeting , b. . ¶ . . consisteth of four english quarters , p. . ¶ . . besides the scotish commissioners , p. . ¶ . . the reasons of the royalists why they would not joyne with them , b. . p. . ¶ . . first petition for a fast , p. . ¶ . . troubled with mr. selden , b. . p. . ¶ . . and with the eras●ians , ¶ . . &c. shrewdly checkt for exceeding their bounds , p. . ¶ . . their monuments , p. . ¶ . . rather sinketh then endeth , ¶ . . king athelstan his principle laws enacted at greatlea , cent. ¶ . . . athelwolphus monarch of the saxons maketh [ equivalently ] a parliament act for the paying of tithes , cent. . ¶ . . objections against the validity thereof answered . ¶ . , . et sequentibus . granteth peter-pence to the pope , ¶ . . st. audre her chastity , cent. . ¶ . . twice a wife , still a maid , ¶ . . &c. her miraculous monument confuted , ¶ . . &c. st. augustine , the worthy father bishop of hippo said to be born on the same day with pelagius the heretick , cent. . ¶ . . aurelius ambrosius erecteth a monument in memory of his conquest over the britans , cent. . ¶ . . causelesly slandered by an italian writer , ¶ . . augustine the monk sent by p. gregory to convert england , b. . cent. . ¶ . . by him ( shrinking for fear ) is encouraged , ¶ . . mocked by women in his passage , ¶ . . landeth in england , ¶ . . why chusing rather to be arch-bishop of cant. then london , c. . ¶ . . summons a synod under his ake , ¶ . . his proud carriage therein towards the british clergy , ¶ . . &c. his prophesy ¶ . . arraigned as guilty of murder●ng the monks of bangor , ¶ . . &c. acquitted by the moderation of mr. fox , ¶ . . baptiseth ten thousand in one day , ¶ . . his ridiculous miracle , ¶ . . death and epitaph , ¶ . . without the date of the year , ¶ . . a farewell to him with his character , ¶ . . augustinean monks , b. . p. . ¶ . . colche●er their chief seat , ibidem . augmentation court : the erection , use , cause , name , & abolishing thereof , b. . p. , . augustinean friers , b. . p. . ¶ . . the same in oxford turned into wadham coll. b. . p. . ¶ . . learned writers of their order bred in cambridge , hist. of camb. p. . b. gervase babington , bishop of worcester , his death and praise , b. . p. . ¶ . , . roger bacon , a great school-man and mathematician , falsly accused for a conjurer , c. . p. . ¶ . . many of that name confounded into one , ¶ . . john baconthorp , a little man and great scholar , p. . ¶ . . bailiol coll. founded by . j. bailiol , b. . p. . and . philip baker , provost of kings , an honest papist , hist. of cam. p. . ¶ . . john bale , bishop of ossory , his death , character , and excusable passim , b. . p. . ¶ . , , . bishop bancroft , causlesly condemned for keeping popish priests in his house , b. . ¶ p. . his behaviour in hampton-court conference , p. . et sequentibus . violently prosecuteth mr. fuller unto his death in prison , p. , . ¶ . , . his death , . vindicated from cruelty , covetousness and popish inclinations , , , . his crossing a court project , . bangor : the monks therein massacred , b. . ¶ . . peter baro why leaving his professours place , hist. of cam. p. . ¶ . . different judgements about his departure , ¶ . . william barret fellow of cajus coll. his solemn recantation , hist. of cam. p. . bards , their powerfull practices on the pagan britans , cent. . ¶ . . barnwell nigh cambridge , the original of midsummer fair therein , hist. of cam. p. . ¶ . . a priory therein founded by paine peverell , p. . ¶ . . basil councill : english ambassadours sent thither b. . p. . observations on their commission , p. , . john bastwick his accusation , b. . p. . ¶ . . his plea , . ¶ . . his speech on the pillory , p. . ¶ . . battel abbey founded by king will. the conquerour , b. . ¶ . . the large priviledges thereof , ibidem , and ¶ . . thomas becket , b. . p. . ¶ . . arch-bishop of canterb. . stubborn in defending the clergy , , &c. slain by knights in his own church , ¶ . . the great superstition at his shrine , p. . ¶ . . rob. beale clark of the councill , zealous against bishops , b. . p. . arch-bishop whitgift complains of his insolent carriage , ibidem . bede , though sent for , went not to rome , c. . ¶ . . yet probably went out of his cell , ¶ . . why sur-named venerable , ¶ . . the last blaze & going out of the candle of his life , ¶ . . bennet coll. in cambridge the foundation thereof , hist. of cam. p , , &c. archb. parker a paramount benefactor thereunto , p. . ¶ . . benedictine monks , b. . p. . ¶ . . most ancient of all orders in england , p. , . berkley nuns all with child at once , c. . ¶ . . and b. . p. . ¶ . . berkleys their armes relating to their service in the holy land , b. . p. . ¶ . . their great benefaction to abbeys , hist. of abb. p. . sers by their d●ssolution , . the l. berkley patron to john de trevisa , b. . p. . ¶ . . at whose command be translated the bible into english , ¶ . . bertha the christian wife of king ethelbert [ as yet ] a pagan , a great promotresse of religion , b. . c. . ¶ . . st. john of beverley his miracles , c. . ¶ . . theodorus beza his letter to mr. travers to crave contribution for the city of geneva , b. . p. , . why coldly resented , ibid. bible , three severall translations thereof , b. . p. . a fourth and best by the appointment of king james , b. . p. , &c. vide translatours . birinus converts the west-saxons , c. . ¶ . . breaketh his promise yet keepeth it , ¶ . . made bishop of dorchester , ¶ . . bishops their judisdictions first severed from the sheriffs , b. . p. . ¶ . . bishops in the late long parliament being charged with a premunire for making the late canons , b. . p. . ¶ . . legally defend themselves , ¶ . . acquit themselves from feculencie of extraction wherewith a lord aspersed them , ¶ . , . symptomes of their dying power in parliament , p. . ¶ . . being petitioned against , p. . ¶ . . and assaulted , ¶ . . twelve of them subscribe and present a protest . p. . ¶ . . for which they are imr●soned , p. ¶ . . enlarged on bayle , p. . ¶ . . bishopricks when and why removed from small towns to great cities , b. . ¶ . . five ( on the destruction of abbies ) erected by king henry the eighth , b. . p. . ¶ . . black-friers , the dolefull downfall or fatall vespers thereof , b. . p. . ¶ . , , &c. q. anna bollen hath amatorious letters written unto her from king henry the eighth , b. . p. ( ) ¶ . . preserved ( as some say ) in the vatican , ibidem . her character , p. . ¶ . . solemnly divorced from king henry the eighth , p. . ¶ . . robert bolton an eminent divine his death , b. . p. . ¶ . . edmund bonner , bishop of london , begins to bonner it , b. . p. . ¶ . . deprived under ed. . b. . p. . his cruell articles , h●st . of walth . p. . whom all generations shall call bloudy , b. . s. . ¶ . . why imprisoned in the marshalsey , b. . ¶ . . traverseth a suite with horn bishop of winchester , s. . ¶ . . his counsells plea in his behalf , ¶ . , . . a drawn batel betwixt them occasioned by a provisoe in a new statute , ¶ . . bonnes hommes why so called , b. . p. ¶ . . rich eremites in pretended povertie , ¶ . . books embezeled at the dissolution of abbies b. . p. . to the great losse of learning , ibidem . books preparatory to reformation set forth by king henry the eighth , b. . p. . gilb. bourn , b●shop of bath and wells , why milde in the dayes of q. mary , b. . s. . ¶ . . his death , b. . p. . ¶ . . theoph. brad burn his sabbatarian fancies , b. . p. . ¶ . . thomas brad wardine a great schoolman , c. . p. . ¶ . his just praise , ibidem . afterwards arch-bishop of canterbury . brandons , brothers , successively dukes of suffolk , die of the sweating sicknesse , hist. of cam. p. . ¶ . . bishop parkhurst his epitaph on them , ibidem . thomas brightman his birth , breeding , b. . p. . ¶ . . preferment , ¶ . . writings , ¶ . . good life , ¶ . . and sudden death , ¶ . , . britans their dolefull case whilst pagans , c. . ¶ . . their principall idols , ¶ . . in vain they crave help of the roman emperour against the invasion of the picts , c. . ¶ . . and c. . ¶ . . . britain : the causes hastning the conversion thereof before other countries nearer palestine , c. . ¶ . . why the first planters of christianity therein are unknown , ¶ . . not beholden to rome for her first preachers , ¶ . . not divided into five roman provinces ( as giraldes cambrensis mistakes ) untill the time of flavius theodosi●s , c. . ¶ . . christianity continued therein after the death of king lucius , c. . ¶ . . by the testimony of gildas , tertullian , and origen , ¶ . . in defiance of dempster a detracting writer , ibid. why so little left of the primitive church-history thereof , ¶ . . and c. . ¶ . . british clergie refuse submission to the pope of rome , c. . ¶ . . the dialogue betwixt them and an anchoret , ¶ . . british language the commendation thereof , c. . ¶ . vindicated from causlesse cavils , ¶ . . robert brown his gentile extraction , b. . p. . ¶ . . deserted by his own father , p. . his opinions , p. . spared when his followers were executed , ¶ . . the odd occasion of his imprisonment and death , ¶ . . bruxels benedictine rich nunnery for english gentle-women with good portions , b. . p. . martine bucer called to cambridge , history of camb. p. . ¶ . , , . the various dates of his death , p. . ¶ . . belyed by parsons to die a jew , ¶ . . his bones burnt by card. poole , p. . ¶ . . buckinghamshire paramount for martyrs , b. . p. . ¶ . . dr. cernelius burges his speech against deans and chapters , b. . p. . ¶ . , . henry burton his character , b. . p. . ¶ . cause of disconsent , ¶ . . degradea , p. . ¶ . . his words on the pillory , ¶ . , . brought back from exile in triumph , p. . ¶ . . c. jack cade his rebellion , b. . p. . ¶ . . cadocus his discreet devotion , c. . ¶ . . cadvvallader last k. of vvaks , foundeth at rome a hospitall for the vvelch , c. . ¶ . . since injuriously taken from them , ¶ . . caius colledge in cambridge founded by dr. caius , hist. of camb. p. . ¶ . . who bestowed good lands , building , statutes , name , and armes thereon , ¶ . ▪ , & c. fruitfull with famous physicians , ¶ . . cambray : a nunnery therein founded for english women by the spanish ambassadour , b. . p. . cambridge reported to have received divers privileges from king lucius , c. . ¶ . . her christian students reported slain by the pagan britans , c. . ¶ . & persecuted ( to the dissolution of the university ) by pelagius , c. . ¶ . . reputed first founded by king s●gebert , c. . ¶ . . arguments to the contrary answered , ¶ . , &c. called schola , which was in that age the same with an academy , ¶ . . restored by king edward the elder , c. . ¶ . , . mistaken by john rou●e for the founder thereof , ¶ . . renounceth the popes supremacy in a publick instrument , hist. of camb. p. . ¶ . . the first generall visitation thereof , jure regio , hist. of camb. p. . ¶ . . king henry his injunctions thereunto , p. . ¶ . . edmund campian sent over by the pope to pervert england , b. . p. . ¶ . . his journall letter , p. , , . catch'd by secretary walsingham , ibid. falsly pretends to be cruelly racked , p. . ¶ . . ¶ . . is at last executed . canons made in the last convocation , with the &c. oath therein , b. . p. , . severall opinions about them , p. . mr. maynard his speech against them , p. . ¶ . . the clergy are judged in a praemunire for making them , ¶ . . king canutus his cruelty , c. . ¶ . . conversion and charity , ibidem &c. jo. capon bishop of salisbury , a cruell persecuter under q. mary , b. . s. . ¶ . . the bane of his bishoprick , b. . ¶ . . nic. carr his epitaph , hist. of camb. p. . george carlton bishop of landaf , sent by k. james to the synod of dort , b. . p. . ¶ . . dieth bishop of chichester , b. . ¶ . . carmelites their first coming into england , p. . ¶ . . great priviledges , ¶ . . most carefull keepers of the records of their order , ¶ . . a catalogue of their provincials , p. . their first coming to cambridge , hist. of camb. p. . ¶ . . where they would not commence doctors , and why , ibid. till humphry necton first brake the ice , ¶ . . learned writers of their order which were cambridge-men , hist. camb. p. . ¶ . . carthusian monks , b. . p. . ¶ . . tho. cartwright presents his admonition to the parliament , b. . p. . ¶ . . bandying betwixt him , and dr. whitgift , ¶ . , . examined in the high commission on . articles , b. . p. , &c. sent to the fleet for refusing to answer , p. . discharged the star-chamber by favour of arch-bishop whitgift p. . ¶ . . groweth rich at warwick , b. . ¶ . . and very moderate , ¶ . . the reasons thereof , ibid. his character , ¶ . . dedicates a book to king james , ¶ . . his strange infirmity and death , ¶ . . his first cause of discontentment , hist. of camb. p. . ¶ . . clasheth with dr. whitgift , p. . ¶ . . by whom he is summoned , p . and banished the university , p. . john case dr. of physick , b. . s. . ¶ . . the great favour done by the university to his scholars at oxford , ibidem . caursines what they were , b. . p. . ¶ . . the form of their cruell obligations , p. . with some notes thereon , ibidem . why they were called caursines , p. . ¶ . . st. cedde his difference from st. chad , c. . ¶ . . st. chad his difference from st. cedde , c. . ¶ . . teacheth wulfade the christian faith , ¶ . . chantereyes given to the king , b. . p. . ¶ . . what they were , ¶ . . fourty seven founded in st. pauls church in london , p. , , &c. vast , though uncertain , their number in england , p. . ¶ . . free chappels given to the king , b. . p. . ¶ . . king charles his solemn coronation , b. . ¶ . , &c. restoreth impropriations of ireland to the church , p. . ¶ . . unwillingly consenteth to the taking away of bishops votes in parliament , p. . ¶ . , and . his severall papers in the isle of wight in defence of episcopacie , p. , , &c. his death , which endeth the eleventh book . charles eldest son to k●ng charles , h●s short life , b. . p . ¶ . . an excellent tetrast●ck on his death ▪ ¶ . . charter-house founded by mr. sutton , b. . p. . in some respect exceeding the annuntiata at naples , p. . ¶ . . thomas chase cruelly martyred , b. . p. . ¶ . . geffery chawcer the famous poet , b. . p. . ¶ . . his parentage , armes , and praise , p. . ¶ . , . his enmity to friers , ¶ . . student sometimes in cambridge , hist. camb. p. . ¶ . . as also in oxford , ibidem . chealsey colledge : a large d●scourse of the foundation thereof , b. . p. , , , &c. sr. j. cheek tutour to king edward the sixth , b. . p. . ¶ . . restored to health by king edward's prayers , p. . ¶ . . a prime exile in the reign of q. mary , b. . s. . ¶ . . his sad return into england , ¶ . . orally recanteth , ¶ . . and dyeth for the grief thereof , ibidem . vindicated from slandring ( and mistaking ) pens in his parentage , parts , and posterity , ¶ . . henry chicheley arch-bishop of canterbury foundeth all-souls colledge , b. . p. . ¶ . . soberly returneth a tart jear , p. . ¶ . . saveth abbies by sending king henry the fifth into france , b. . p. . ¶ . . christ-church in oxford , b. . p. ( . ) ¶ . , &c. confirmed by king henry the eighth , ¶ . . the deans , bishops , benefactours , &c. thereof , ¶ . . john christopherson bishop of chichester , a learned man , but great persecuter , under q. mary , b. . s. . ¶ . . christs colledge founded by margaret countesse of darby , hist. of camb. p. . ¶ . . endowed it with richlands , ¶ . . augmented by king edward the sixth , p. . ¶ . . their numerous worthies of this foundation , ¶ . . circumspecte agatis the form thereof , b. . p. . ¶ . . both a statute & a writ grounded thereon , p. . a large discourse of the severall branches thereof , p. , , . cistertians being refined benedictines , b. . p. . ¶ . . exempted by pope adrian the fourth from paying of tithes , and why , p. . ¶ . . their freedome somewhat confined by the lateran councell , ¶ . . clare hall founded by elizabeth countesse of clare , hist. of camb. p. . ¶ . . the masters , benefactours , bishops , &c. thereof , ibidem . anciently called soler hall , p. . ¶ . . ruinous , and lately re-edified , ¶ . . four hundred pounds worth of timber reported taken from it in these troublesome times , which the authour of this book will not believe , ibid. claudia mentioned by st. paul . tim. . . probably a british convert , c. . ¶ . . notwithstanding parsons his cavils to the contrary , ¶ . . cluniack monks being reformed benedictines , b. . p. . ¶ . . elianor cobham dutchess of glocester , accused for a sorceress by some , made a confessour by m. fox , b. . p. , &c. coify a pagan priest , his remarkable speech , c. . ¶ . . colchester claimeth constantine to be born therein , c. . ¶ . . augustinean monks had there their prime residence , b. . p. . ¶ . . colledges ( not in the universities , but ) for superstitious uses given to the king , b. . p. . ¶ . , , . john collet dean of st. pauls , b. . p. ( . ) ¶ . . soundeth pauls school , ¶ . . making the mercers overseers thereof , ¶ . . out of provident prescience , ¶ . . tho. comber master of trinity colledge in camb. highly commended by morinus , history of camb. p. . ¶ . . high commission : arguments for , and against it , b. . p. . constantine the first christian emperour proved a britan by b●rth , c. . ¶ . . t●e obiections to the contrary answered , ¶ . . richly endoweth the church , ¶ . . constantius chlorus the roman emperour , and , though no christian , a favourer of them , c. . ¶ . . buried at york , and not in wales , as florilegus will have it , ¶ . . conventicle the true meaning thereof , b. . p. . ¶ . . convents : some generall conformities used in them all , b. . p. , &c. convocations : three severall sorts of them , b. . p. ( ) ( . ) they complain of erroneous opinions , p. , , &c. corpus christi col . in camb. see bennet colledge . corpus christi coll. in oxford founded by bishop fox , b. . p. ( . ) ¶ . . called the colledge of three languages , ibid. the worthies thereof , ibid. masse quickly set up therein in the first of q. mary , b. . p. . ¶ . , . dr. john cosen charged with superstition : his due praise , b. . p. . ¶ . , &c. the scotish covenant : the form thereof , b. . p. . ¶ . , &c. exceptions to the preface and six articles therein , , , , . never taken by the authour of this book , p. . ¶ . . will. courtney bishop of london , his contests about wickliffe with the duke of lancaster , b. . ¶ . . ¶ . . arch-bishop of canterbury , p. . ¶ . . courts spirituall began in the reign of king william the first : when severed from the sherifs courts , b. . ¶ . . their contesting with the common law how to be reconciled , ¶ . . richard cox dean of christs church accused ( t is hoped , unjustly ) for cancelling manuscripts in oxford library , b. . p. . ¶ . , . flies to frankford in the reign of queen mary , b. . p. . ¶ . . where he headeth a strong party in defence of the english liturgie , p. , . made bishop of ely , b. . p. . his death , and epitaph , p. . ¶ . . thomas cranmer employed by king henry to the pope , b. . p. ( . ) ¶ . . to prove the unlawfulnesse of the kings marriage , ¶ . . thence sent into germany , ¶ . . made arch-bishop of canterbury against his will , ¶ . . defended against the cavils of papists and mr. prin , ¶ . , &c. his death , b. . p. . ¶ . . crekelade or greeklade , an ancient place where greek was professed , c. . ¶ . . crowland monks massacred by the danes , c. . ¶ . . thomas cromwell first known to the world , for defending his mr. card. wolsey , b. . p. ( ) . ¶ . . as the kings vicar in spiritualibus presidenteth it in the convocation , p. . ¶ . . falls into the k●ngs d●spleasure , p. . ¶ . . deservedly envyed , ¶ . . his adm●rable parts , ¶ . . with the history of his death , &c. ¶ . , &c. chancellour of cambridge , hist. of cambridge , p. . ¶ . . richard cromwel , alias williams , kn●ghted for his valour at a solemn tilting , b. . p. . ¶ . . giveth a diamond r●ng in his crest on an honourable occasion , ¶ . . cuthbert arch-bishop of canterbury ( by the kings leave ) first brings bodyes to be buried in the church , b. . p. . ¶ . . d. danes their first arrivall in england , b. . p. . ¶ . . why their countr● ( ●ormerly so fruitfull ) is lately ▪ so barren of people , ¶ . , , . the sad prognosticks of their coming hither , ¶ . . make an invasion into lincolnshire , c. . ¶ . . massacre the monks of crowland , c. . ¶ . . and burn the monastery of medeshamsted , ¶ . , . why their fury fell more on convents then castles , c. . ¶ . . after sixty years absence re-invade england , ibidem a dear peace bought with them , ¶ . . to no purpose , ¶ . . their royall line in england suddenly and strangely extinct , c. . ¶ . . no hostile appearance of them in england . ¶ . . thomas l. darcy beheaded , b. . p. . ¶ . . his extraction vindicated from the causelesse aspersion of king henry the eighth , page , . john davenant sent by king james to the synod of dort , b. . p. . ¶ . . made bishop of salisbury , b. . p. . ¶ . . questioned for his sermon at court , b. . p. . ¶ . , . relates all the passages thereof in a letter to dr. ward , ¶ . . his opinion about the suspension of bishop goodman , p. . ¶ . . his death , p. . ¶ . . st. david a great advancer of monastick life , c. . ¶ . . one of his paramount miracles , ¶ . . st. davids , or menevia , in wales , once an arch-bishoprick , b. . p. . ¶ . . contesteth with canter●ury , ibidem . but is overpowered , ¶ . . deanes and chapters defended in the house of commons by an excellent speech of doctour hackets , b. . p. , , . edward deering his death and praise , b. . p. . ¶ . . sr. anth. dennie his extraction , issue , death , and epitaph , hist. of walt. p. , . dervvianus sent by eleutherius bishop of rome to king lucius to instruct him in christianity , c. . ¶ . . devonshire commotion begun out of superstition , heightned with cruelty , supprest by gods blessing on the valour of the lord russell , b. . p. , , &c. the directory compiled by the assembly of divines , b. . p. . ¶ . . commanded by the parliament , ¶ . . forbidden by the king to be generally used , ¶ . . it and the liturgy compared together , p. , . dissenting brethren , b. . ¶ . why departing the land , ¶ . . kindly entertained in holland , ¶ . . their chief ground-works , ¶ . , . manner of church-service , ¶ . . schism betwixt them , ¶ . , &c. sr. th. dockwray lord prior of st. joanes , b. . p. . ¶ . . and p. . in the dedication . john dod his birth , and breeding , b. . p. . ● . . his peaceable disposition , ¶ . . improving of piety , p. . ¶ . , &c. an innocent deceiver , ¶ . . excellent hebrician , ¶ . . last of the old puritans , ¶ . . dogges meat given to men , b. . p. . ¶ . dominican friers their first coming over into england , b. . p. . ¶ . . after their expulsion set up again by q. mary , p. . the learned men of this order who were bred in cambrid . hist. of cam. p. . de dominis marcus antonius , see spalato . john donne dean of st. pauls prolocutour in the convocation , b. . p. . ¶ . . his life excellently written by mr. isaack walton , ¶ . . doomes-day book composed by the command of will. the conquerour , b. . ¶ . . dort synod , b. . p. . ¶ . . four english divines sent thither , ibidem . king james his instructions unto them , p. , . oath at their admission into it , p. . ¶ . . liberall allowance from the state , p. . ¶ . . various censures on the decisions thereof , p. . ¶ . , &c. the dove on king charles his sceptre ominously broken off , b. . ¶ . . thomas dove bishop of peterborough his death , b. . p. . ¶ . . doway coll. in flanders for english fugitives , b. . p. . a convent there for benedictine monks , b. . p. . and another for franciscan friers , . druides their office , and imployment amongst the pagan britans , c. . ¶ . . the dutch congregation first set up in london , b. . p. . ¶ . . priviledges allowed them by king edward the sixth , ibidem . under queen mary depart with much difficulty and danger into denmark , b. . p. . ¶ . . dublin university founded by queen elizabeth , b. . p. . ¶ . . the severall benefactours ( whereof mr. luke chaloner a chief . ) p. . no rain by day during the building of the colledge , ibidem . the provosts thereof , p. . ¶ . . dubritius arch-bishop of caer-lion , a great champion of the truth against pelagius , c. . ¶ . . a ducate worth about four shillings , but imprinted eight , b. . p. ( ) ¶ . . andrew ducket in effect the founder of queens colledge in cambridge , hist. of cambridge , p. . ¶ . . st. dunstan his story at large , cent. . ¶ . . &c. his death and burial in canterbury , ¶ . . as appeared ( notwithstanding the claim of glassenbury ) by discovery , ¶ . , . dunwolphus of a swine-heard made bishop of vvinchester , c. . ¶ . . durham : the bishoprick dissolved by king edward the sixth , b. . p. . ¶ . . restored by queen mary , ¶ . . vvil. dynet the solemn abjuration injoyned him , wherein he promiseth to worship images , b. . p. . e. easter-day , difference betwixt the british & romish church in the observation thereof , cent. . ¶ . . the controversie stated betwixt them , ¶ . . reconciled by laurentius , ¶ . . the antiquity of this difference , ¶ . . spreads into private families , ¶ . . a counsell called to compose it , ¶ . . setled by theodorus according to the romish rite , ¶ . . eaton colledge founded by k. henry the sixth , b. . edgar , king of england . cent. . ¶ . . disciplined by dunstan for viciating a nun. ¶ . . the many canons made by him why in this book omitted , ¶ . . a most triumphant king , ¶ . . his death , ¶ . . edmund king of the east angles cruelly martyred by the danes , cent. . ¶ . . edward the elder calls a councell to confirm his fathers acts , cent. . ¶ . . gives great priviledges to cambridge , ¶ . . edward the martyr , cent. . ¶ . . barbarously murthered , ¶ . . edward the confessour his life at large , cent. . ¶ . , &c. king edward the first , his advantages to the crown though absent at his fathers death , b. . p. . ¶ . . his atchievements against the turkes , ¶ . . casteth the iews out of england , p. . ¶ . . chosen arbitratour betwixt baliol & bruce , claiming the kingdome of scotland , p. . ¶ . . which kingdome he conquereth for himself , ¶ . . stoutly maintaineth his right against the pope , p. . ¶ . . humbled rob. winchelsey , arch-bishop of cant. ¶ . , . the dialogue betwixt them , . his death and character . p. . ¶ . . his arme the standard of the english yard , ibid. king edward the second his character , b. . p. . ¶ . . fatally defeated by the scots , ¶ . . his vitiousnesse , p. . ¶ . . accused for betraying his priviledges to the pope , ¶ . . his deposing and death , p. . king edward the third , a most valiant and fortunate king both by sea and land foundeth kings hall in cambridge . hist. of camb. p. . ¶ . . his death and character . b. . p. . ¶ . . king edward the fourth gaineth the crown by conquest , b. . p. . ¶ . . beaten afterwards in battel , by the earle of vvarwick . p. . ¶ . . escapeth out of prison , flyeth beyond the seas , returneth and recovereth the crown , ¶ . , . a benefactour to merton coll. in oxford . b. . p. . ¶ . . but malefactour to kings coll. in cambridge , hist. of camb. p. . ¶ . . his death , b. . p. . ¶ . . king edward the fifth barbarously murthered by his vncle richard duke of york , b. . p. . ¶ . . king edward the sixth his injunctions , b. . ¶ . . observations thereon , p. . his severall proclamations , whereof one inhibiteth all preachers in england for a time , p. , . his text royal , and our observations thereon , p. , . &c. giveth an account by letter , to b. fitz-patrick , of his progresse ; p. , . severall letters written by him , p. , . his diary , p. . ¶ . . qu●ck wit , and pious prayer , ¶ . . at his death , ibid. edwin king of northumberland , and in effect monarch of england , after long preparatory promises , cent. . ¶ . , &c. at last converted and baptised , ¶ . . slain by the pagans in battel , ¶ . . egbert , arch-bishop of york , famous in severall respects , b. . p. . ¶ . . his beastly canons , ¶ . . egbert , first fixed monarch of england , cent. . ¶ . . first giveth the name of england , cent. . ¶ . , . is disturbed by the danes , ¶ . . eleutherius bishop of rome his letter to king lucius , cent. . ¶ . . pretendeth to an an●c●enter date then what is due thereunto , ¶ . . sends two divines into britain , ¶ . . elie abbey made the see of a bishop , b. . p. . ¶ . . the feasts therein exceed all in england , b. . p. . ¶ . . q. elizabeth proclaimed , b. . p. . ¶ . . assumeth the title of supream head of the church , b. . p. . ¶ . . defended therein against papists , p. . ¶ . , . &c. excommunicated by pope pius quintus . b. . p. , . her farewell to oxford with a latine oration , b. . p. . ¶ . , . her well-come to cambridge with a latine oration , hist. of cambridge , p. . her death , b. . p. . ¶ . . iohn elmar bishop of london his death and character , b. . p. . ¶ . . elvanus sent by king lucius to eleutherius bishop of rome , cent. . ¶ . . emden : a congregation of english exiles therein in the reign of q. mary under i. scory their superintendent , b. . sect. . ¶ . . q. emma the miraculous purgation of her chastity , cent. . ¶ . , . east-angles their kingdome , when begun , how bounded , cent. . ¶ . . converted to christianity , cent. . ¶ . . east-saxons , the beginning and bounds of their kingdome , cent. . ¶ . . converted to christianity by mellitus , cent. . ¶ . . after their apostasy , reconverted under king sigebert , ¶ . . england when and why first so called , cen. . ¶ . , . the kingdome thereof belongeth to god himself , cent. . ¶ . . englishmen drunk when conquered by the normans , b. . ¶ . . eoves a swine-heard , hence eovesham abbey is so called , cent. . ¶ . . erasmus ( greek professour in camb. ) complaineth of the ill ale therein . hist. of camb. p. . his censure of cambridge and oxford , p. . too tart to townsmen , ibid. erastians why so called and what they held , b. . p. . ¶ . . and . favourably heard in the assembly of divines , ¶ . . ermensewl a saxon idoll , his shape , and office , b. . cent. . ¶ . . ethelbert king his character , b. . cent. . ¶ . . &c. converted to christianity , ¶ . . his death , and the decay of christianity thereon , cent. . ¶ . . ethelbert the vvest-saxon monarch his pious valour , cent. . ¶ . . king ethelred his fault in the font , cent. . ¶ . . why surnamed the unready , ¶ . excommunicating of q. elizab. by pius quintus , displeasing on many accounts , to moderate papists , b. . p. . ¶ . . exeter , the description thereof , b. . p. . ¶ . . loyall and valiant against the rebells though oppressed with faction , p. . ¶ . . and famine , p. . ¶ . . seasonably relieved p. . ¶ . . f. faganus sent by eleutherius bishop of rome to king lucius to instruct him in christianity , cent. . ¶ . . familie of love , their obscure original , b. . p. . ¶ . . worse in practise then opinion , p. . ¶ . . their abjuration before the privy councell . their tedious petition to king james , b. . ¶ . . desire to separate themselves from the puritans , ( to whom their looseness had no relation ) ¶ . . turned into ranters in our dayes , ¶ . . john fecknam abbot of westminster , the chronicle of his worthy life , his courtesie and bounty , b. . p. , . felix bishop of dunwich instrumentall to the conversion of the east-angles , cent. . ¶ . . and to the founding of an university in cambrid . ¶ . . n●cholas felton bishop of ely , his death and commendation , b. . ¶ . . fennes nigh cambridge : arguments pro and con , about the feacibility of their drayning , hist. of camb. p. . & . the design lately performed to admiration , ibid. p. . feoffes to buy in impropr●ations , b. . p. . ¶ . . hopefully proceed , p. . ¶ . . questioned in the exchequer , and overthrown by arch-bishop laud , p. . ¶ . , &c. the fifth part ordered by parliament for the widows and children of sequestred ministers , b. . p. . ¶ . . severall shifts to evade the payment thereof , p. . john fisher bishop of rochester tampereth with the holy maid of kent , b. . p. ( ) ¶ . . imprisoned for refusing the oath of supremacy , ¶ . . his pitifull letter out of the tower for new cloaths , p. ( ) ¶ . . the form of his inditement , p. ( ) ¶ . . made cardinal , p. . ¶ . . the whole hist. of his birth , breeding , death and burial , p. , , , . barnaby fitz-patrick proxy for correction to king edward the sixth , b. . p. . ¶ . . the said kings instruction unto him for his behav●our ●n france , ibidem . flamens in b●itain , mere flammes of j. monmouths mak●ng , cent. . ¶ . . focariae of priests who they were , b. . p. . ¶ . . formosus the pope interdicteth england for want of b●shops , cent. . ¶ . . on good conditions absolveth it again ¶ . . richard fox bishop of vvinchester foundeth corpus christi colledge , b. . p. ( . ) ¶ . . john fox fl●es to franckford in the re●gn of q. mary b. . sect. ¶ . . thence ( on a sad difference ) removes to basi● , sect. . ¶ . . returning into england refuseth to subscribe the canons , b. . ¶ . . is a most moderate non-conformist , ibidem . his latine letter to queen elizabeth that anabaptists might not be burnt , p. . ¶ . . another to a bishop in the behalf of his own son , p. . ¶ . his death , p. . ¶ . . franciscan friers , b. . p. . ¶ . . their frequent subreformation , ¶ . admit boyes into their order , hist. of camb. p. . ¶ . , , . whereat the university is much offended , ibid. franckford , the congregation of english exiles there in the reign of q ▪ mary , b. . sect. . ¶ . . they set up a new discipline in their church , ¶ , . invite ( but in vain ) all other english 〈◊〉 to ioyn with them , ¶ . ▪ . freezland converted to christianity by vvi●h●d a ●axon bishop , cent. . ¶ . . fridona the first english arch-bishop , c. . ¶ . . friers and monks how they differ , b. . p. . friga a saxon idoll , her name , shape and office , b. . cent. . ¶ . . john frith his martyrdome , b. . p. ( ) ¶ . . tho. fuller unjustly hang'd , and saved by miracle , b. . p. . ¶ . . john fuller doctor of law , pitifull when alone , but when with others , a persecutor , b. . p. . ¶ . . see jesus colledge , of which he was master . nich. fuller , a common lawyer , prosecuted to death by bishop bancroft , b. . p. , . ¶ , . leaves a good memory behind him , ibid. nicholas fuller , a divine , his deserved commendation , b. . ¶ . . robert fuller last abbot of waltham , a great preserver of the antiquities thereof , history of vvalt . p. . passeth copt-hall to king henry . p. . his legacy to the church , p. . thomas fuller , pilot who steered the ship of cavendish about the world , b. . p. . g. gant coll. in flanders , for english fugitives , b. . p. . stephan gardiner , bishop of winchester , getteth the six bloudy articles to be enacted , b. . p. . ¶ . , . br●ngeth in a list of latine words in the n. test. which he would not have translated , p. . for his obstinacie first sequestered , then deposed from his bishoprick , b. . p. . and . a politick , plotting persecuter , b. . sect. . ¶ . . yet courteous in sparing mistris clerk the authors great grandmother , ¶ . . his threatning of the english exiles , sect. . ¶ . . dieth a protestant in the point of iustification , ¶ . . henry garnet iesuite , his education and vitiousnesse , b. . p. . ¶ . . canvased in the tower by protestant divines , ¶ . , &c. overwitted with an equivocating room , ¶ . . his arraignment and condemnation , p. . . dejected carriage at his death , . his straw miracle confuted , ¶ . . &c. geneva : such english , who deserted the church at frankford , settled there , b. . p. . ¶ . . their names , ibid. they send a letter to those at frankford , about accommodation , which cometh too late , b. . p. . ¶ . . the state thereof oppressed by the savoiard , sues to england for relief , p. . their suite coldly resented , and why , p. . ¶ . . yet some years after , the necessity thereof bountifully relieved by the english clergy , b. . p. . ¶ . . geneva translation of the bible , made by the english exiles there , b. . p. . ¶ . . the marginal notes thereof disliked by king james , b. . p. . our translatours enjoyned by him to peruse it , p. . ¶ . . the brethren complain for the lack of their notes , p. . ¶ . . which doctor h causelessely inveyed against , . germanus invited hither by the british bishops , cent. . ¶ . . ( assisted with lupus ibid. ) his disputation with the pelagians , ¶ . . in a most remarkable conference at s. albans , ¶ . , . miraculously conquereth the pagan picts and saxons , ¶ . . is said to exchange some relicts for s. albans , ¶ . . his return into britain to suppresse resprouting pelagianisme in a synod , ¶ . , . gilbertine monks , b. . p . ¶ . . ant. gilby a ●ierce non-conformist , b. . p. . ¶ . . gildas , a british writer , calleth his country-men the i●ke of the age , c. . ¶ . . why he omitteth the worthies of his nation , c. . ¶ . . gildas surnamed albanius , struck dumb at the sight of a nun with child , the reported mother of st. david , c. . ¶ . . bernard gilpin refuseth the bishoprick of carlile , and why , b. . p. . ¶ . . his apostolicall life and death , ibid. glasse , the making thereof first brought into england , c. . ¶ . . glassenbury : the most ancient church in christendome [ said to be ] erected therein , c. . ¶ . . the plain platforme thereof , ibidem . the story of the hawthorn thereby , budding on christmas day examined , ¶ . , , . cut down lately by the souldiers , ibidem . the twelve british monks with their hard names dwelling there , c. . ¶ . . though st. patrick never lived in that monastery , ¶ . . the high praise of the place , ibidem . with profane flattery , c. . p. . ¶ . . roger goad the worthy provost of kings colledge , hist. of camb. p. . ¶ . . thomas goad his son sent to the synod of dort , b. . p. . ¶ . . godfathers used to men of mature age , c. . ¶ . . christopher goodman , a violent non-conformist , b. . p. . ¶ . . godfry goodman bishop of glocester , suspended for his refusing to subscribe to the new canons , b. . p. . ¶ . , . john goodman a seminarie priest , bandied betwixt life and death , b. . p. . ¶ . ▪ &c. earle godwin by cheating gets the nunnery of berkley , c. . ¶ . . and the rich mannour of boseham , ¶ . . francis godwin son of a bishop , and himself made bishop of landaff by q. elizabeth , in whose reign he was born , b. . ¶ . . count gondomar jeared by spalato returns it to purpose , b. . p. . ¶ . , and . procureth the enlargement of many iesuites , p. . ¶ . . a bitten complement passed on him by the earle of oxford , p. . ¶ . . king james ( by him willingly deceived , p. . ¶ . . ) his smart return unto him , ¶ . . gravelin nunnery founded by the gages for the english of the poore order of st. clare , b. . p. . the greek-tongue : difference about the pronunciation thereof , hist. of camb. p. . ¶ . , &c. rich. greenham dieth of the plague , b. . p. . ¶ . . humbled in his life time with an obstinate parish which he left at last , ¶ . . but with his own disliking , p. . ¶ . . a great observer of the sabbath , ¶ . . gregory the great●his ●his discourse with the merchants at rome about the english slaves , b. . c. . ¶ . . would in person , but doth by proxy , endeavour englands conversion , ¶ . . his exhortatory letter to augustine , ¶ . . st. grimbald a prime professour in oxford , c. . ¶ . . his contest with the old students therein , and departure in discontent , ¶ . . edmund grindal made bishop of london , b. . p. . ¶ . . his discourse with the non-conformist then arch-bishop of cant. p. . ¶ . . why he fell into the queens displeasure , p. . ¶ . . the latine petition of the convocation pen'd by toby matthews to the queen in his behalf prevaileth not , p. , . his large letter to the queen in defending prophecies , from p. . to p. . offendeth the earle of leicester by denying lambeth house , p. , ¶ . . our english eli , p. . ¶ . . dyes poore in estate , but rich in good works , ¶ . . robert grout-head bishop of lincoln , b. . p. . ¶ . . offendeth the pope , ¶ . . sainted ( though not by the pope ) by the people , ¶ . . gun-powder treason the story at large , b. . p. , , , &c. st. guthlake the first saxon eremite , c. . ¶ . . h. william hacket a blasphemous heretick his story , b. . p. . ¶ . , &c. dr. john hacket his excellent speech in the behalf of deans and chapters , b. . p. , , . alexander hales the first of all school-men , c. . p. . ¶ . . sr. robert hales prior of st. joanes slain in jack straws rebellion , b. . p. . ¶ . . sr. james hales a iudge refuseth to underwrite the disinheriting of queen mary and q. elizabeth , b. . ¶ . . joseph hall ( since bishop of norwich ) sent by k. james to the synod of dort , b. . p. . ¶ . . his speech at his departure thence for want of health , p. . ¶ . . his letter to the author , in iust vindication of that synod against master goodwin , p. . ¶ . . king harold usurpeth the crown , c. . ¶ . . killed , and buried ( with much a do ) in waltham , hist. of walth . p. . ¶ . . samuel harsnet arch-bishop of york his charging of bishop davenant , b. . p. . ¶ . . his death , ¶ . . heafenfield near hexham in northumberland why so called , c. . ¶ . . heile a saxon idoll , their aesculapius , b. . c. . ¶ . . destroyed by augustine the monk , c. . ¶ . . king henry the first , surnamed beauclark , his coronation , b. . p. . ¶ . . married maud a professed votary , p. . ¶ . , , &c. clasheth with anselm , p. . ¶ . , , &c. his death on a surfeit , p. . ¶ . . bred in camb. hist. of camb. p. . ¶ . . king henry the second cometh to the crown , b. . p. . ¶ . . his character , . refineth the common law , & divideth england into circuits , p. . ¶ . . politickly demolisheth many castles , ¶ . . contesteth with thomas becket , p. , , &c. heavy penance for consenting to his death , p. . ¶ . . afflicted with his undutifull son henry , p. . ¶ . . the farre extent of the english monarchy , p. . ¶ . . dies unfortunate in his family , p. . ¶ . . king henry the third under tutours , and governers , b. . p. . ¶ . . by what he so quickly recovered his kingdome , ¶ . . forbiddeth an appeal to the pope for the triall of bastardy , b. . p. , . troubled a long time with the animosityes of his subjects , p. . ¶ . , &c. reformeth his faults , ¶ . . his quiet death , p. . ¶ . , . king henry the fourth gaineth the crown by deposing king richard , b. . p. . ¶ . , . bloudy against poor innocents , p. . ¶ . . subjecteth oxford ( notwithstanding many papal exemptions thereof ) to the visitation of the arch-bish . of cant. p. , . his death , p. . ¶ . . king henry the fifth , whilest prince , engaged himself in a bitter petition , ( with the bishops ) against the poor lollards , b. . p. , . when king , the prelates ( afraid of him , p. . ¶ . . ) divert his activity on the french , ¶ . . his death . king henry the sixth his piety , b. . ¶ . . foundeth eaton colledge , p. . looseth all in france , p. . ¶ . , . foundeth kings coll. in camb. hist. of c. p. conquered by k. edward the . p. . ¶ . . returneth out of scotl. fighteth and is routed , ¶ . . afterward enlarged out of prison and made king , p. . ¶ . . re●mprisoned and murdered , p. . worketh many miracles after his death , p. ( . ) ¶ . . yet could be made a saint by the pope , and why . ¶ . . king henry the seventh his sixfold title to the crown , b. . p. . ¶ . . his extraction , p. . ¶ . . retrencheth the exorbitances of sanctuaries , ¶ . . endeavoureth in vain to get king henry the sixth sainted , p. ( . ) ¶ . . and converteth a lollard and then burneth him , p. ( . ) ¶ . . foundeth the savoy , b. . p. ( . ) ¶ . . his death , ibidem . king henry the eighth marrieth the relict of his brother arthur , b. . p. ( . ) ¶ . . writes against luther , p. ( . ) ¶ . . therefore stiled defender of the faith , ¶ . . embraceth the motion to be divorced , p. ( . ) ¶ . . troubles before it could be effected , p. ( . ) &c. owned supream head of the church , p. . . justified in abolishing the papal power in england , p. ( , ) and ( . ) his large will , from p. . to . observations thereon , p. , . his disease and death , p. . ¶ . . vices and vertues , . imperfect monuments , . prince henry his death , and excellent epitaph , b. . p. . ¶ . . herbert the simoniacal bishop of norwich , b. . p. . ¶ . . charles herle prolocutour in the assembly , b. . p. . ¶ . . hilda the worthy abbesse , c. . ¶ . , . a miracle imputed unto her , ¶ . . arthur hildersham his remarkable life and death , b. . p. . ¶ . , &c. john hilton priest solemnly abjureth his blasphemous heresies before arch-bishop whitgift in the convocation , b. . p. . ¶ . . robert holcot a great school-man his sudden death , c. . p. . ¶ . . john holyman , bishop of bristol , no persecutour in the reign of q. mary , b. . s. . ¶ . . homilies of two sorts , b. . p. . ¶ . . their use , ¶ . . authenticalnesse unjustly questioned , ¶ . . rich. hooker his character , b. . p. . ¶ . . and p. . ¶ . . clasheth with mr. travers about a point of doct. and overpowreth him , ¶ . , , &c. commended by his adversaries for his holinesse , p. . ¶ . . his death , p. . ¶ . . john hooper , bishop of glocester , the first founder of non-conformity in england , b. . p. , , . &c. much opposed by bp. ridley , ibid. till fire and fagots made them friends , p. . ¶ . . robert horne chosen reader of hebrew to the english exiles at frankford , b. . p. . ¶ . . his contest with m. ashley , ¶ . , , . stickleth there for the old discipline , ¶ . , &c. chose a disputant in the conference at westminster , b. . ¶ . . consecrated bishop of winchester , ¶ . . his sute against bonner , p. . ¶ . , , &c. superseded by a provisoe in parliament , ¶ . . his death , p. . ¶ . . ancient hostles in cambridge before any colledges therein were built or endowed , hist. of camb. p. , . though fewer , greater then those in oxford , p. . ¶ . , . richard hun martyr barbarously murthered , b. . p. ( . ) ¶ . . mathew hutton arch-bishop of yorke , by his letter concurreth with lambeth articles , b. . pag. . his death , b. . p. . ¶ . and meniorie rectified from a foule mistake , ¶ . . i. st. james how mistaken to have preached in britain , cent. . ¶ . . king james , b. . p. . ¶ . . his speech at hampton court , p. . and discreet carriage therein , p. . , &c. writeth against the pope , p. . ¶ . & against vorstius , p. . ¶ . . his discourse with the legate , ¶ . . happy in discovery of impostors , p. . ¶ . . . his sicknesse , p. . ¶ . . increased with a plaister , ¶ . . his faith and charity at his death ¶ . . his peaceableness , eloquence , piercing wit , judgement , bounty and mercy , p. . ¶ . . . &c. his funerall sermon preached by bp. williams , b. . pag. . ¶ . . doctor james his good motion in the convocation at oxford , b. . & . . queen jane seymour marryed to king henry the eighth , b. . p. . ¶ . . her letter on her delivery , to the lords of the councell , b. . p. . ¶ . . her death , p. . ibidem . jesuates how differing from jesuites , b. . p. . ¶ . . jesuites their beginning just when other orders in england were dissolved , b. . p. . ¶ . . best butteresses in the romish church , p. . ¶ . . their policie , ¶ . . how in engl. like the astrologers in rome , ¶ . . their bitter contentions with secular priests , b. . p. , . jesuitesses , a viraginous order , & ( i think ) extinct , b. . p. . jesus coll. in cambridge founded by bp. alcock , hist. camb. p. . ¶ . , &c. called the bp. of ely'es house , p. . ¶ . . the masters , benefactors , bishops , &c. thereof , p. . jesus coll. in oxford founded by hugh price , b. . p. . ¶ . . the principalls , bps. benefactors , &c. thereof , ibidem . impropriations endeavoured to be bought in by feoffees , b. . p. . ¶ . , . crushed by archbishop laud , p. . ¶ . . &c. those in ireland restored to the clergie by the bounty of king charles , b. . p. . ¶ . . innes of bishops , or their severall lodging-houses in london , b. . p. . innovations in doctrine and discipline complained of , b. . p. , . john jewell draweth up the gratulatory letter of oxford to queen mary , b. . ¶ . . driven out of corpus christi colledge , ¶ . . his great fall , ¶ . . seasonable and sincere recovery , ¶ . . vice-master of p. martyrs colledge at strasbourg , sect. . ¶ . . one of the disputants against the papists at westminster , b. . ¶ . . his reasons against the councill of trent , ¶ . . his death , and deserved praise , p. . ¶ . . . jewes first came over into england under william the conquerour , b. . p. . ¶ . . highly favoured by w. rufus , ibid. had a chief justicer over them , p. . ¶ . . & a high priest or presbyter , ¶ . . their griping usurie , p. . ¶ . , &c. unfortunate at feast and frayes , p. , ¶ . . cruelly used by k. henry the d. ¶ . . misdemeanours charged on them . p. . ¶ . , cast out of the land by k. edward the first , . though others say they craved leave to depart , ibid. &c. iltutus abused by monkish forgeries , c. . ¶ . . image-worship first setled by synod in england , c. . ¶ . , . injoyned point-blank to poore people to practice it , b. . p. . ¶ . . in a king of the west-saxons , h●s ecclesiasticall laws , c. . ¶ . . he giveth peter-pence to the pope , c. . ¶ . . independents : vide dissenting brethren . sr. fra. inglefield a benefactour to the english coll. at valladol●t , b. . p. . yea to all english papists , p. . ¶ . . st. johns colledge in cambridge founded by the lady margaret , hist. of cam. p. . ¶ . . the masters , bishops ▪ &c. thereof , p. ▪ . st. johns coll. oxford founded by sr. tho. white , b. . s. . ¶ . . the presidents , bishops , benefactours , &c. thereof ▪ ¶ . . king john receives a present from the pope , b. . p. . ¶ . . returns him a stout answer , . for which the whole kingdome is interdicted , p. . ¶ . , , &c. his innocency to the popes injustice , ¶ . . by whom he is excommunicated by name , ¶ . . yet is blessed under his curse , ¶ . . his submission to the pope , p. . ¶ . . resigning his crown , ibid ▪ his unworthy embassey to the king of morocco , p. . ¶ . . lamentable death , ¶ . . and character , ¶ . . joseph of arimathea said to be sent into britain , c. . ¶ . . his drossy history brought to the touch , ¶ . . severall places assigned for his buriall , ¶ . . the oratours of spain in the councill of basel , endeavour to disprove the whole story , b. . p. . ¶ . . whose objections are easily answered , p. . ¶ . . ireland excludeth their own articles , and receiveth the articles of england , b. . p. . ¶ . . italians had in england seventy thousand marks a year of ecclesiasticall revenues , b. . p. . ¶ . . held the best livings and kept no hospitalitie , b. . p. . ¶ . . william juxon bishop of london , made lord treasurer , b. . p. . ¶ . . his commendable carriage , ¶ . . k. q. katharine de valois disobeyeth her husband , b. . p. . ¶ . . therefore never buried , ¶ . , . q. katharine dowager for politick ends married to king henry the eighth , b. . p. ( . ) ¶ . . on what score the match was first scrupled by the king , p. ( . ) ¶ . , , &c. her speech , p. ( . ) her character and death , b. . p. . ¶ . . katharine hall founded by robert woodlark , hist. of camb. p. . ¶ . . in strictnesse of criticisme , may be termed aula bolla , ¶ . . keby a british saint fixed in anglesey , c. . ¶ . . kent : the saxons kingdome therein when beginning , how bounded , c. . ¶ . . first converted to christianity by augustine the monk , b. . c. . ¶ . . the petition of the ministers of kent against subscription , b. . p. . kenulphus king of the west-saxons his charter granted to the abbey of abbington , proving the power of kings in that age in church matters , b. . p. . ¶ . . notwithstanding persons his objections to the contrary , ¶ . . putteth down the arch-bishoprick of lichfield . ketts robert and william their rebellion ▪ b. . p. . ¶ . . their execution , p. . ¶ . . the kings evill : a large discourse of the cause and cure thereof , c. . p. , , . john king dean of christ-church , b. . p. ( . ) present at hampton-court conference , b. . p. . when bishop of london graveleth legate the arrian , p. . ¶ . . condemneth him for a heretick , p. . ¶ . . his cleare carriage in a cause of great consequence , p. . ¶ . , . his death , p. . ¶ . . and eminencies in defiance of popish falshood , ¶ . . . henry king made bishop of chichester , b. . p. . kings hall built by king edward the third , hist of camb. p. . ¶ . . three eminences thereof , ¶ . . kings colledge founded by k. henry the sixth , hist. of camb. p. . john knewstubs minister of cockfield in suffolk , b. . p. . ¶ . . a meeting of presbyterians at his house , ibidem . against conformities at hampton-court conference , b. . p. . his exceptions propounded , p. , and . shrewdly checkt by king james , p. . a benefactour to saint johns colledge , hist. of camb. p. . ¶ . . knights of the garter their institution , qualifications , habilliments , oath , and orders by them observed , how their places become vacant , b. . p. . knights anciently made by abbots , b. . p. , . untill it was forbidden by canon , ibidem . mr. knot the jesuit , his causelesse cavills at mr. sutton confuted , b. . p. . ¶ . , &c. john knox chosen their minister by the english exiles at frankford , b. . s. . ¶ . . opposed in his discipline by dr. cox , ¶ . , . accused for treacherous speeches against the emperour , ¶ . . forced to depart frankford to the great grief of his party , ibidem . l. arthur lake bishop of bath and wells , his death and character , b. . ¶ . . lambeth articles by whom made , b. . p. . ¶ . . nine in number , p. . various judgements of them , p. . ¶ . , &c. lancaster and york houses the battels betwixt them for the crown ; place , time , number slain , and conquerour , b. . p. ● , and . lanck-franck made arch-bishop of canterbury , b. . ¶ . . most kindly treated by the pope , ¶ . . to whom he acouseth thomas elect of york , and remigius elect of lincoln , ¶ . , . his return and imployment , ¶ . . hugh latimer a violent papist , history of cambridge , p. . ¶ . . converted by bilney , ¶ . . his sermon of cards , p. . ¶ . . preacheth before the convocation , b. . p. . ¶ . . deprived of his bishoprick of worcester , p. . ¶ . . why he assumed it not again in the reign of king edward the sixth , b. . p. . ¶ . . his judgement of the contemners of common prayer , p. . ¶ . . william laud made bishop of st. davids , b. . p. . ¶ . . a great benefactour to st. johns in oxford , b. . p. . ¶ . . accused by the scotch for making their liturgy , b. . p. . prepares for his death , b. . p. . ¶ . . his funerall speech and burial , p. . ¶ . , . his birth , breeding and character , p. , , , . laurentius arch-bishop of cant. reconcileth the british to the romish church in the celebration of easter , c. . ¶ . . intending to depart england is rebuked in a vision , ¶ . , . lechlade or latinelade , a place where latine was anciently taught , cent. . ¶ . . thomas lee or leah a prime officer imploied in the dissolution of abbeys , hist. of ab. . visiteth the university of camb. hist. cam. of p. . ¶ . . his injunctions to the university , ibidem . barthol . legate burnt for an arrian , b. . p. . ¶ . , , . &c. dr. leighton his railing book severely censur'd , b. . p. - . ¶ . . recovered after his escape and punished , ¶ . the first lent kept in england , c. . ¶ . . jo. leyland an excellent antiquary follow of christs coll. hist. of cam. p. . ¶ . . wronged in his works by polydore virgil and another namelesse plagiary , b. . p. ( ) ¶ . . imployed by king henry . to collect and preserve rarityes at the dissolution of abbeys , b. . p. . ¶ . . died distracted , ¶ . . lichfield bestrewed with the dead bodies of martyrs , c. . ¶ . . made the see of an arch-bishop by king offa , b. . p. . ¶ . ▪ the builders of the present ( almost past ) cathedral , b. . p. . the praise , and picture thereof , p. . liege coll. in lukeland for english fugitives , b. . p. . william lilly the first schoolmaster of paul's , b. . p. ( ) ¶ . . the many editions of his grammar , p. ( . ) ¶ . . lisbon a rich nunnery for engl. bridgitines , b. . p. . ¶ . , , &c. liturgie an : uniformity thereof when prescribed all over england , b. . p. . three severall editions thereof with the persons employed therein , ibid. bishop latimer his judgement against the contemners thereof , p. . london , why so called , c. . ¶ . . layeth claime to the birth of constantine the emperour , c. . ¶ . . the walls thereof built with jewish stones , b. . p. . ¶ . . the honourable occasion of an augmentation in their armes , b. . p. . ¶ . . william longcampe bp. of ely , his pride , b. . p. . ¶ . . his parallell with cardinal wolsey , ¶ . , &c. lovaine colledge in brabant , for english fugitives , b. . p. . a nunnery ( or rather but halfe a one ) therein for engl. women , b. . p. . ¶ ▪ . lincoln coll. in oxford founded by richard fleming , b. . p. . the rectors , bps. &c. thereof , p. . william linwood writeth his provincial constitutions , his due praise , b. . page . ¶ . . &c. lucius , the different dates of his conversion , c. . ¶ . . do not disprove the substance of his story , ¶ . . might be a british king under the romans , ¶ . . several churches in britain said to be erected by him , ¶ . . confounded by unwary writers with lucius a german preacher in suevia , ¶ . . said to be buried in gloucester , with his dunsticall epitaph , c. . ¶ . . lupus assisteth germanus in his voyage into britain to suppresse pelagianisme , c. . ¶ . . m. madrid coll. in spain for english fugitives , b. . p. . magdalen coll. in ox. founded by william wainsleet , b. . p. . ¶ . . scarce a bp. in england to which it hath not afforded one prelate , ¶ . . sad alterations therein by the visitors in the first of q. mary , b. . ¶ . . the character of this coll. with the violence of rigid non-conformists therein presented in a latine letter of mr. fox , b. . p. . ¶ . , . magdalen colledge in cambridge founded by thomas lord audley , history of cambridge , p. . ¶ . , &c. malignant whence derived , and first fixed as a name of disgrace on the royall party , b. . p. . ¶ . . roger manwaring charged by mr. pym in parliament , b. . ¶ . . for two sermons preached , ibidem . his censure , ¶ . . and submission , ¶ . . marriage of the priests proved lawfull , b. . p. , , , . marriage of a brothers wife is against gods word , and above papal dispensation , b. . p. ( , ) ( , ) ( . ) tho. markant proctor of cambridge made and gave a rare book of her priviledges to the university which was lost , found , lost , found , lost , hist. of camb. p. . ¶ . , . q. mary quickly recovereth the crown in right of succession , b. . ¶ . . in her first parliament restoreth popery to the height , ¶ . , . makes a speech in guild-hall , ¶ . . her character , s. . ¶ . . valiant against the pope in one particular , s. . ¶ . . very melancholy with the causes thereof , ¶ . , . dyes of a dropsey , ¶ . . two sermons preached at her funerall , ¶ . . her deserved praise , ¶ . . for refounding the savoy , ¶ . . her buriall , ¶ . . mary queen of scots flies into england and is there imprisoned , b. . s. . ¶ . . her humble letter to pope pius the fifth , ibidem . her second letter unto him , b. . p. . her death , poetry , buriall , removal to westminster , and [ wel-latined ] epitaph , p. . queen mary , wife to king , charles , her first landing at dover , b. . ¶ . . delivered of a son by a fright before her time , b. . p. . ¶ . . toby matthew arch-bishop of york dying yearly dyes at last , b. . ¶ . . is gratitude to god , ¶ . . maud for four descents the name of the queens of england , b. . p. . ¶ . . maximus usurpeth the empire and expelleth the scots out of britain , c. . ¶ . . draineth the flower of the british nation into france , ¶ . . slain in italy , ¶ . . his memory why inveighed against , ibidem . mr. maynard his learned speech against the late canons , b. . p. . ¶ . . meduinus sent by king lucius to eleutherius bishop of rome , c. . ¶ . . medeshamsted monastery burnt by the danes , c. . ¶ . . mellitus bishop of london converteth the kingdome of essex , c. . ¶ . . departeth england , and why , ¶ . . returneth , ¶ . . and is rejected at london , . his character , . mercia a saxon kingdome when begun , how bounded , c. . ¶ . . converted to christianity under prince peada , c. . ¶ . . thomes merkes bishop of carlile his bold speech in the behalf of king richard the second , b. . p. . ¶ . . tried for treason not by his peers , but a common lury , p. . ¶ . , . his life spared and he mad : bishop of samos in greece , ¶ . . merlin two of the name , c. . ¶ . . his magicall pranks , ¶ . . questionable whether ever such a man , ¶ . . fitted with two other fowles of the same feather , ibidem . merton coll. in oxford founded by walter merton , b. . p. . ¶ . , &c. wardons , bishops , benefactours , and thereof , ¶ . . a by-foundation of post-masters therein , p. . happy in breeding schoolmen , p. . ¶ . . a petty rebellion therein supprest by arch-bishop parker , b. . p. . ¶ . , . not founded before peter-house in cambridge , hist. of camb. p. . ¶ . , &c. sr. walter mild may foundeth emanuel colledge , hist. of cam. p. . ¶ . , . &c. the millenarie petition , b. . p. . the issue thereof , p. . ¶ . , . the millenarie is equivocall , p. . minshulls their honourable armes atchieved in the holy war , b. . p. . ¶ . . miracles their description , b. . p. . ¶ . . long since ceased , p. . ¶ . . and why , ¶ . . yet counterfeited by the papists , ¶ . . &c. the lord mohun his memorable patent , made therein by the pope a count apostolical , b. . p. . john molle his birth , and breeding , b. . p. . ¶ . . his sad dilemma , ¶ . . constancy and death in the inquisition , ¶ . , . monkes , their primitive piety and painfullness , b. . p. . ¶ . , . &c. afterwards voluntarie , not for necessity but convenience , p. . ¶ . , . monuments in churches , q elizab. proclamations ( each copie signed with her own hand ) against the defacers of them , b. . p. . ¶ . . sr. thonas moore his praise and dispraise , b. . p. . ¶ . , . &c. sr. ed. montague , threatned by the duke of northumberland , drawes up the testament of king edward the sixth to disinherit his sisters , b. . ¶ . . his great sufferings for the same , ibidem . james montague bp. of winchester his death , b. . p. . ¶ . . a memorable accident thereat , ¶ ▪ . see sidney colledge . richard montague his character , b. . ¶ . , . rescued by the king from the house of commons , ¶ . . written against by severall authours , ¶ . . left to defend himself , ¶ . . made bishop of chichester , ¶ . . his confirmation opposed , ¶ . , . his death , p , . ¶ . . morris bishop of rochester a great persecutour , b. . s. . ¶ . . mortmain statute , b. . p. . ¶ . . the cause thereof , ¶ . . not a new , but renued law , ¶ . . st. hierom and ambrose angry thereat , ¶ . . the form of the statute , ¶ . . john morton bishop of ely the make-peace betwixt lancaster and york , b. . p. . ¶ . . defended against mr. prin , ¶ . . made archbishop of canter . p. . ¶ . . his death , p. [ . ] thomas morton , since bp. of durham fellow of chelsey coll. b. . p. . erecteth a tomb to casaubon , p. . ¶ . . detecteth the imposture of the boy of bilson , p. . ¶ . . mortuary , when , by whom , and to whom to be paid , b. . p. . ¶ . . n. the naggs-head consecration of matthew parker largely confuted , b. . p. . ¶ . , &c. the small reason of so great report , p. . ¶ . . humphrey necton ( not absolutely the first doctour who commenced in cambridge , but ) first carmelite who commenced dr. therein , hist. of camb. p. . ¶ . . , &c. hugh nevil slew a lion in the holy land , b. . p. . ¶ . . benefactour to waltham abbey , ¶ . . buried therein , hist. of waltham . ralph nevil most triumphant in his issue of any english subject , b. . p. . ¶ . . made three of his daughters nuns , ibidem . george nevil arch-bishop of york , b. . p. . ¶ . . his prodigious feast , p. . ¶ . . afterwards starved to death , ¶ . . rich. nevil the make-king , earle of warwick , b. . p. . ¶ . . on distaste given him , ¶ . . conquereth and imprisoneth king edward the fourth , by whom at last he is overcome and slain , p. . ¶ . . charles nevil earle of westmerland , routed in his rebellion against queen elizabeth , b. . ¶ . , , &c. tho. nevil the most magnificent master , and benefactour of trinity colledge , hist. of cambridge , p. . ¶ . . nice : some british bishops present at the generall councel kept therein , c. . ¶ . . henry nicholas the founder of the familists , b. . p. . ¶ . . his mock-apostolick-stile , ¶ . . non-conformists their beginning in the reign of king edward the sixth , b. . p. . ¶ . . mr. hooper and mr. rogers their first champions , ibidem . their arguments since not so much increased as more inforced , p. . their practise fomented by the english exiles at frankford , b. . s. . ¶ . . especially after the coming of mr. knox thither , s. . ¶ . . and mr. calvins letter , ¶ . . william whittingham head of that party , ¶ . . which in discontent depart to geneva , ¶ . . their persons and opinions return into england , b. . ¶ . . divided into moderate and fierce nonconformists , ¶ . . when their first set was expired a worse succeeded , p. . ¶ . , &c. the northern rebellion , b. . p. . ¶ . . the northern gentry routed therein , ¶ . . northumberland a saxon kingdome when begun , how bounded , c. . ¶ . . afterward subdivided into two kingdomes of bernicia and deira , c. . ¶ . . norwich described , b. . p. . ¶ . . yieldeth to the rebells , p. . ¶ . . seasonably relieved , p. . ¶ . . unjustly taxed with disloyalty , ibid. alex. nowel saved from bonners cruelty by mr. francis bowyer , b. . p. . dedicat . epist. prolocutour in the convocation , . when the articles were made , b. . ¶ . . consisting of holy riddles , b. . ¶ . . his death , ibidem . o. oath taken by english fugitives , when admitted in forrain colledges , b. . p. . of obedience imposed on all papi●●s , b. . p. . another taken by the divines at the synod of dort at their admission , p. . ¶ . . another made in the late canons with an &c. in the midst thereof , b. . p. . ¶ . . oath ex officio , arguments against and for it , b. . p. , , &c. a fourfold behaviour of nonconformists in refusing it , p. . obits what they were , and how performed : six kept in waltham church , this charge — . shillings . pence a piece , hist. of waltham , p. . william occam luther his school man , c. . p. . ¶ . . offa king of mercia maketh lichfield the see of an arch-bishop , c. . ¶ . . inshrineth the body of st. alban , ¶ . . goeth to rome , and giveth peter-pence to the pope , c. . ¶ . , . buried at bedford , ¶ . . sr. john oldcastle h●s opinions , b . p. . his guiltiness examined , p. . left doubtfull to d●vine decision , ibid. barnabas oly a worthy instrument in re-edifying clare hall ejected for refusing the covenant , hist. of camb. p. . ¶ . . st. omers coll. in artois , for english fugitives , b. . p. . observant friers being franciscans , refined , b. . p. . ¶ . . the first order totally and ●inally suppressed by king henry . p. . ¶ . , . set up for a short time by q. mary , p. . ordall , or the triall by fire of suspected persons , the manner thereof , c. . ¶ . . orial coll. in oxford , b. . p. , . lambert osbaston his riddling letter to bishop williams , b. . p. . ¶ . . censured in the star-chamber , p. . ¶ . . restored by parliament , p. . ¶ . . oswald the christian king of northumberland , his miraculous victory in heafenfield , c. . ¶ . . sendeth for preachers out of scotland , ¶ . . is interpreter to bishop aidan , ¶ . . slain in fight by penda the pagan , ¶ . . his hands said never to putrify , ¶ . . in what sense it is true , ¶ . . presently possessed of happinesse , ¶ . . yet his soul prayed for by the superstition of that age , ibidem . oswy the most christian king of northumberland , c. . ¶ . . otho the popes legate lodgeth in oxford , b. . p. . ¶ . . his brother killed , ¶ . , and . himself pursued by the scholars , p. . ¶ . . whereupon he interdicteth the university , ¶ . . but at the bishops intercession , ¶ . . and the scholars solemn pen●●nce , ¶ . . he is reconciled , ibidem . john overall carryeth the kings professours place from mr. wotton , hist. of camb. p. . ¶ . . dean of st. pauls , b. . p. . gives king james an account of lambeth articles , p. . his death , p. . ¶ . . oxford vniversity ( if not founded ) restored by king alfred , c. . ¶ . . the armes of the vniversity , ¶ . . the scholars there of harshly used by king william the conquerour , b. . p. . ¶ . . killed the brother of otho the popes legate , p. . ¶ . . for which he interdicteth the vniversity , p. . ¶ . . till the scholars make their solemn submission , ¶ . . the great and suddain alterations therein in the reign of q. mary , b. . p. , , . a strange mortality anno . at the assizes , b. . p. . ¶ . . counted by aunders a great miracle , ¶ . . though a natural cause be assigned thereof , ¶ . . discontents therein about innovations , b. . p. . ¶ . , &c. p. a pall what it is , with the mysteries thereof , c. . ¶ . . pandulphus his proud carriage , b. . p. . ¶ . . katharine par marryed to king henry the eighth , b. . p. . ¶ . . her enemies conspiracie against her , defeated by gods providence , ¶ , . the form of publick prayer for her , b. . p. . a letter of edward the sixth ( while prince ) unto her , p. , . parishes in england first divided by pope honorius , c. . ¶ . . matthew parker almost looseth his own life to convert the rebells , b. . p. . ¶ . . made archb. of cant. b. . p. . ¶ . . most legally consecrated , ¶ . , &c. in defiance of all popish calumnies , ibidem . his death , p. . ¶ . . and defence against mr. prin , ¶ . . see bennet coll. margaret parker the arch-bishop his exemplary wife , b. . p. . ¶ . . st. patern a pattern for all bishops , c. . ¶ . . st. patrick falsly reported living and dying at glassenbury , c. . ¶ . , , . a distinct person from sen patrick , ¶ . . st. paul by a poeticall hyperbole onely , made to preach in britain , c. . ¶ . . paulinus his death , c. . ¶ . . the pax what it was and the original thereof , hist. of walt. p. . in the third item . peada first christian prince of mercia , c. . ¶ . . pelagius a britan by birth , c. . ¶ . . his principal errours , ¶ . . condemned by many councels under the name of his scholar caelestius , ibid. pembrook hall in cambridge founded by mary de st. paul , hist. of camb. p. . pembrook colledge in oxford founded , b. . ¶ . , . john penry with others executed for libelling against the bishops , b. . p. . ¶ . . rob. persons jesuit cometh over into england , b. . p. . ¶ . . his three strange escapes , p. . ¶ . , . returns to rome , ¶ . . master of the english colledge there , p. . the secular priests bitterly complain of him , p. . ¶ . . st. peter : he never preached in britain ( notwithstanding persons his arguments to the contrary , ) c. . ¶ . . peter-pence first granted to the pope by king ina , c. . ¶ . . amounting at least to seven thousand five hundred pounds per ann . b. . p. ( . ) ¶ . , . peter-house founded by hugo balsham subprior of ely , hist. of camb. p. . ¶ . . endowed many years after , by the same hugo when b●shop of ely , p. , , , . st. petrock captain of the cornish saints , c. . ¶ . . j. philpot stoutly defendeth the truth in the convocation , b. . ¶ . . against railing weston , ¶ . . sealeth it with his blood , ¶ . . john pierce arch-bishop of york his death , and commendation for exemplary temperance , b. . p. . ¶ . . thomas piercy earle of northumberland , his rebellion against q. elizabeth , b. . p. . ¶ . . in maintenance of popery , ¶ . . routed by the queens forces , ¶ . . beheaded at york , ¶ . . james pilkinton : the false report of ten thousand pound given with his daughter , b. . p. . ¶ . . the truth thereof , b. . p. . ¶ . . his death , ibidem . pope pius the fourth his letter and proposalls to q. elizabeth , b. . p. . ¶ . . pope pius the fifth his sentence declaratory against q. elizabeth , b. . p. . players prohibited by proclamation of king edward the sixth , b. . p. . thomas playfer his ranting epitaph , hist. of camb. p. . ¶ . . plegmund of an eminent eremite made arch-bishop of canterbury , c. . ¶ . . consecrateth seven bishops in one day , c. . ¶ . . plunder whence derived , and when first used in england , b. . p. . ¶ . . reg. poole cardinall , why so much favoured by q. mary , b. . ¶ . . godfather to e. tremelius , ¶ . . consecrated archb. of cant. ¶ . . his dry sermon of the pall , ibid. reconcileth england unto rome , ¶ . . his death , b. . s. . ¶ . . well inclined to be a protestant , ¶ . . leaveth all his estate to italians , . chancellour both of cambridge and oxford , hist. of camb. p. . ¶ . . sr. tho. pope . vide trinity colledge oxford . the pope in england in his rising , improveth his power on five sorts of princes , c. . ¶ . . the pope in england in his reigning : a conjectural estimate of his yearly revenues in england , b. . p. ( . ) the pope in england in his ruine : how his usurped power , at the abolition thereof , was restored to several persons to whom it did belong , b. . ¶ . . all preachers ( for a time ) inhibited by a proclamation of king edward the sixth , b. . p. , . premunire-statute why made , b. . p. . the form thereof , p. , &c. why so named , p. . ¶ . . thomas preston ( master of trinity hall ) queen elizabeth her scholar , history of camb. p. . ¶ . . john preston his great favour at court , b. ▪ ¶ . . imployed in a double conference , ¶ . , . temporizeth with the duke of buckingham , ¶ . , . his death and buriall , ¶ . . william prin , b. . p. . ¶ . . accused for libelling against bishops , ¶ . . his plea rejected , p. . ¶ . . and answer refused , ¶ . . his speech on the pillory , ¶ . . and behaviour therein , ¶ . . good employment in his exile , . brought back with triumph , p. . ¶ . . false prophecyes a great trade driven with them in abbeys , hist. of abb. p. . ¶ . . prophecyings in england how ordered , b. . p. . ¶ . . their inconveniences , p. . ¶ . . arch-bishop grindal his large letter to q. elizab. in their defence , p. , &c. provisions of the pope their nature , b. . p. . and b. . p. . ¶ . . redressed by a statute , ¶ . . yet complained of many years after , p. . ¶ . . psalms of david by whom translated into english meeter , b. . p. . ¶ . . the mean doing thereof endeavoured to be defended , ¶ . . purgatory not held in the popish notion before the conquest , b. . p. ● . how maintained in the mungrell religion under king henry the eighth , b. . p. . a merry vision thereof , b. . p. . puritans : when the word first began in that odious sense , b. . ¶ . . vide non-conformists . the arch-bishop of spalato , the first who abused the word to signifie the defenders of matters doctrinall . conformable puritans by whom complained of , b. . p. . ¶ . . q. queens coll. in oxford founded by r. eglesfield , b. . p. , . queens coll. in cambridge founded by q. margaret , history of cambridge , p. . ¶ . . finished by q. elizabeth wife to king edward the fourth , ¶ . . the masters , benefactours , bishops , ibidem . r. reading , a pleasant story between the abbot thereof , and king henry the eighth , b. . p. . ¶ . , . recusants for papists when the name in england first began , b. . p. . ¶ . . our reformation under king henry the eighth cleared from the aspersion of schisme , b. . p. ( , ) and ( . ) william reginald , or reinolds , a zealous papist , his death and character , b. . p. . ¶ . . john reinolds against conformity in hampton-court conference , b. . p. , , , &c. his death , p. . ¶ . . admirable parts and piety , p . ¶ . . desireth absolution at his death , ¶ . . relicts their abominable superstition , and forgery , b. . p. . ¶ . , , &c. rent-corn by statute reserved to colledges , history of cambridge , p. . ¶ . . procured by sr. tho. smith , ¶ . . to the great profit of both universities , ¶ . . r. lord rich his servants sad mistake , b. . p. . ¶ . . which cost his master the losse of his chancellours place , ¶ . . king richard the first endeavoureth to expiate his undutifulnesse by superstition , b , . p. . ¶ . . dearly ransomed , p. . ¶ . , . made better by affliction , p. . ¶ . . his death , burial , and epitaph , ¶ . , &c. king richard the second , b. . p. . ¶ . . his loose life , p. . ¶ . . conspired against by duke henry , ¶ . . forced to depose himself or be deposed , p. . ¶ . . his death , ibid. king richard the third his pompous double coronation , b. . p. ( . ) ¶ . . barbarously murthered his brothers sons , ¶ . . endeavoureth in vain to be popular , p. ( . ) ¶ . , and . unjustly commended by a modern writer , ¶ . . beaten and killed in the battel of bosworth , p. . ¶ . . rippon collegiat church endowed by king james , b. . p. . ¶ . . their land since twice sold , ¶ . . john rogers prime patron of non-conformity , b. . p. . martyred , b. . p. . ¶ . . thomas rogers writeth on the articles of the church of england , b. . p. . ¶ . . first opposeth the opinion of the sabbatarians bitterly enough , p. . ¶ . . rome colledge for english fugitives , b. . p. . the roode what is was , and why placed betwixt the church and chancell . history of walt. p. . in the first item . s. the sabbath : the strict keeping thereof revived by doctour bound , b. . p. . ¶ . . learned men divided therein , p. . ¶ . , &c. liberty given thereon by king james his proclamation in lancashire , b. . p. . ¶ . , . reasons pro and con whether the same might lawfully be read , p. . ¶ . . ministers more frighted then hurt therein , p. . ¶ . . no reading of it enforced on them , ibidem . controversie revived in the reign of king charles , b. . p. . ¶ . , &c. saints numerous and noble amongst the saxons c. . ¶ . . ridi●uously assigned by papists to the curing of sundry diseases , and patronage of sundry professions , b. . p. . ¶ . . sampson , an ancient british bishop , made fine ti●ulo , c. . ¶ . . thomas sampson dean of christ-church in oxford , the first that i find outed his place for puritanisme , b. . p. . ¶ . . edwin sandys bishop of worcester , b. . p. . ¶ . . arch-bishop of york : his death , p. . ¶ . . his sermon before the duke of northumberland at cambridge , hist. of cam● . p. . ¶ . . his ill usage for the same , ¶ . . sardis : some representation of the british at the generall councill kept therein , c. . ¶ . . sarum , secundum usum thereof its originall and occasion , b. . ¶ . . william sawtree , b. , p. . articles against him , ibidem . degraded , p. . ¶ . . and the first man burnt for his religion , p. . saxons , the first mention of them in brit. c. . ¶ . . unadvisedly invited over by king vortiger , ¶ . . erect seven kingdomes in britain , ¶ . . the rabble of their idols , c. . ¶ . . willfully accessorie to their own ruine by the danes , c. . ¶ . . schisme unjustly charged on the english church in their reformation , and returned on rome , b. . p. ( . ) and ( ▪ ) school-men : nine eminent , all of england , most of merton colledge , c. . p. , . their needlesse difficulties , p. . ¶ . . barbarous latine , ¶ . . divisions in judgement , ¶ . . why their learning lesse used in after ages , ¶ . . scotland challenged by the pope , as his peculiar , c. . ¶ . . stoutly denied by the english , ¶ . . scotch liturgie , the whole story thereof , b. . p. . ¶ . , &c. john scotus erigena his birth-place , c. . ¶ . , , . miserably murthered by his scholars , ¶ . . unmartyred by baronius , ¶ . . causlesly confounded with duns scotus , ¶ . . john duns scotus why so called , c. . p. . ¶ . . his birth claimed by three kingdomes , ibidem . seater a saxon idol , his shape and office , b. . c. . ¶ . . secular priests their contesting with monks , c. . p. , . john selden setteth forth his book against tithes , b. . p. . ¶ . , . puzleth the assembly of divines with his queries , b. . p. . ¶ . . richard senhouse preacheth king charles his coronation , and his own funerall , b. . ¶ . . edward seimour duke of somerset lord protectour , b. . p. . ¶ . . his tripartite accusation , p. . ¶ . . imprisoned , yet restored , p. . ¶ . . afterwards impeached of treason , ¶ . . and executed , p. . ¶ . . unjustly , saith a good authour , ¶ . . ( though king edward was possessed of his guiltiness as appeareth by his letter , ibidem . ) his character and commendation , p. . ¶ . . sidney sussex colledge founded ▪ hist. of camb. p. . ¶ . , &c. sigebert king of the east-angles , his religion , and learning , c. . ¶ . . reputed founder of the university of camb. ¶ . . the cavils to the contrary answered , ¶ ▪ , &c. sigebert the pious king of the east-saxons , c. . ¶ . . simon zelotes made by dorotheus to preach in britain , c. . ¶ . . sivil colledge in spain for english fugitives , b. . p. . mr. smart●ernted ●ernted proto-martyr of england , b. . p. ▪ ¶ . , &c. sr. tho. smith benefactour generall to all scholars , hist. of camb. p. . ¶ . , . and also , p. . ¶ . , , . henry smith commonly called the silver-tongu'd , b. . p. . ¶ . , . rich. smith titularie bishop of chalcedon , b. . ¶ . . some write for , others against him : episcopizeth in england , b. . p. . ¶ . . opposed by nicholas smith , and defended by dr. kelison , both zealous papists , ¶ . , , &c. sobriquets what they were , b. . p. . ¶ . fifteen principall of them , ibid. sodomitry the beginning ▪ thereof in england , b. . p. . ¶ . . with too gentle a canon against it , ibid. south saxons their kingdome , when begun , how bounded , c. . ¶ . . converted to christianity by wilfride , c. . ¶ . , &c. taught by him first to fish , ¶ . . spalato his coming over into england , with the whole story of his stay here , departure hence , and burning at rome for a heretick after his death , b. . p. . unto the . king stephen usurpeth the crown , b. . p. . ¶ . . by the perjury of the clergy , p. . ¶ . . variety of opinions and arguments pro and con about him , ¶ . , , &c. the clergy revolt from him , p. . ¶ . . appeareth ( as some say ) in person , summoned to a synod in winchester , p. . ¶ . . a founder of religious houses , p. . ¶ . his death , p. . ¶ . . stewes suppressed by statute , b. . p. . ¶ . . their original , ¶ . . and constitution , p. . ¶ . . arguments pro and con for their lawfulness , ¶ . , . stigandus arch-bishop of cant. his simony , b. . ¶ . . and covetousness , ¶ . . simon stock living in a trunk of a tree esteemed a saint , b. . p. . ¶ . . stonehenge , the description and conceived occasion thereof ▪ c. . ¶ . . tho. stone a conscientious non-conformist discovereth the anatomy of the disciplinarian meetings , p. , &c. his sixteen reasons in his own defence against his accusers herein , p. , &c. j. story a most bloody persecutor , b. . s. . ¶ . . with a fine design trained into england , b. . p. . ¶ . . executed his revenge on the executioner , ibid. strasburgh : the congregation of english exiles therein in the reign of q. mary , b. . s. . ¶ . . jack straw his rebellion , b. . p. . ¶ . . his rabble of rebells in rhythme , p. . ¶ . . their barbarous outrages , p. . ¶ . . and ruin , ¶ . . see wat tyler . sturbridge faire the originall thereof , hist. of camb. p. . ¶ . . subscription first pressed by the bishops , b. . p. . ¶ . . and more rigorously , p. . ¶ . . simon sudbury arch-bishop of canterbury why silent in the conference at st. paul's , b. . p. . ¶ . . slain by the rebells under jack straw , ¶ . . being one hundred thousand , ¶ . . founded ( whilst living ) canterbury colledge in oxford , b. . p. ( . ) ¶ . . matthew sutcliffe dean of exeter his bounty to chealsey colledge , b. . p. . ¶ . . the lands of that colledge restored to his heirs generall , p. . ¶ . . richard sutton his death , b. . p. . ¶ . . the severall mannours bestowed by him on charter-house , ¶ . . the cavils of mr. knot . ¶ . . his constant prayer , p. . ¶ . . sweating sicknesse in cambridge , the cause and cure thereof , hist. of camb. p. . edward sympson an excellent critick , hist. of camb. p. . ¶ . . enioyned a recantation before king james , p. . ¶ . . syon nunnes their notorious wantonnesse , b. . p. . ¶ . . t. adam tarleton bishop of hereford his life and death letter , b. . p. . ¶ . . thrice arraigned for his life , yet escapeth , p. . mr. tavernour high sher●ff of oxford , part of his sermon preached at st. maries , b. . p. . ¶ . . tavistock in devon , the last mitred abbot , made by king henry the eighth , few years before the dissolution , b. . p. . ¶ . . taurinus how by mistake made the first bishop of york , c. . ¶ . . taxers in cambridge their original , hist. of camb. p. . ¶ . , , &c. st. teliau his high commendation , c. . ¶ . . temples of heathen idols , converted into christian churches , c. . ¶ . . our churches succeed not to the holinesse of solomons temple , but of the jewish synagogues , b. . p. . ¶ . . tenths their original , why paid to the pope , b. . p. . ¶ . . commissioners ( being unquestioned gentlemen ) imployed by king henry the eighth to rate them , ¶ . . their instructions , ¶ . . tenths remitted by q. mary , p. . ¶ . . resumed by q. elizabeth , ¶ . . in vain heaved at , at the present in our state , ¶ . . a terrier made of all glebe lands , b. . p. . new testament : severall bishops assigned to peruse the translation of the several books thereof , b. . p. . gardiner gives in a list of latine words which he would not have translated , p. . why , p. . ¶ . . teuxbury abbot in glocestershire controverted whether or no a baron in parliament , b. . p. . ¶ . . theodorus arch-bishop of cant. c. . ¶ . . settleth easter according to the romish rite , ¶ . . the canons of a councill kept by him at hartford , ibidem . tho. thirleby b●shop of ely sent to rome to reconcile england to the pope , b. . ¶ . . no great persecuter in his diocess in the dayes of q. mary , s. . ¶ . . found favour under q. elizabeth , b. . ¶ . . being a prisoner to be envied , ibidem . though reputed a good man , wasted the lands of westminster church , whereof he the first and last bishop , b. . ¶ . . thomas tisdale founder of pembrook colledge in oxford , b. . ¶ . . tythes first given to the clergie , c. . ¶ . , &c. by king athelwolphus . the objections against his grant answered , &c. ibidem , confirmed by the charter of king william the conquerour , b. . ¶ . . three orders exempted from payment of them , b. . p. . ¶ . . thor , a saxon idol , his name , shape , and office , b. . c. . ¶ . . john thrask censured for his iudaicall opinions , b. . p. . ¶ . . george throgmorton an oxford man challengeth all cambridge to d●spute on two questions , hist. of cambridge , p. . ¶ . . the ill successe thereof , ¶ . , &c. toleration of papists set a-foot in the reign of king james , with the arguments pro and con , ● . . p. , and . resumed and reiected in the reign of k. charles , b. . ¶ . , , . rob. tounson bishop of salisbury his death , b. . p. . ¶ . . translatours of the bible their names , and number , b. . p. , . instructions given by king james , p. . their work finished , p. . and defended against causelesse cavils , ibidem . trinity coll. in oxford founded by sir tho. pope , b. . s. . ¶ . . being the first that ga●ned by abbey lands , and made a publick acknowledgement in charitable uses , ibidem . the presidents , b●shops , benefactours , &c. of that colledge . trinity coll. in cambridge founded by king henry the eighth , hist. of cambridge , p. . ¶ . . enriched by queen mary , p. . ¶ . . and enlarged by dr. nevile , ¶ . . the masters , b●shops , benefactours , &c. thereof , ibidem . states-men , divines , criticks , p. . ¶ . . james turber vill bishop of exeter no active persecutor , b. . s. . ¶ . . findeth fair usage after his deprivation , b. . ¶ . . turnaments their ill effects , history of camb. p. . ¶ . . forbidden within five mile of camb. ¶ . , &c. wat tyler his rebellion , b. . p. . ¶ . , &c. parallelled with judas of galilee , p. . ¶ . . the wicklivites defended from having any hand in causing his rebellion , p. . ¶ . . see jack straw . william tyndal his story at large , b. . p. , . tuysc a saxon idol his shape and office , b. . c. . ¶ . . william twisse prolocutor in the assembly , b. . p. . ¶ . . his death , p. . ¶ . . v. valladolit coll. in spain for english fugitives , b. . p. . richard vaughan bishop of london his death , b. . p. . ¶ . . master udal : king james his letter for him , b. . p. . ¶ . . arraigned and condemned , p. . ¶ . . richard vines his argument at vxbridge treaty to prove the sufficiency of ordination by presbyters , b. . p. . ¶ . . polydore virgil collector of peter-pence in england , b. . p. ( . ) ¶ . . benefactour to the church of wells , malefactour to the church of england , ¶ . , . eight forrain universities conclude it unlawfull to marry a brothers wife , b. . p ( . ) ¶ . . university coll. in oxon , founded by king alfred , c. . ¶ . . the maintenance paid out of the kings exchequer , ¶ . . exhibitions allowed to the scholars thereof why detained by william the conqueror , b. . ¶ . . re-founded and endowed , p. university hall in cambridge founded by richard badew , hist. of cam. p. . ¶ . . burnt down , ibidem . see clare hall. conradus vorstius his dangerous opinions , b. . p. . opposed by king james , p. . in his letter to the states , ¶ . , &c. k. vortiger his incestuous match condemned by germanus , c. . ¶ . . calleth in the saxons , ¶ . . burning in lust is burnt to ashes , ¶ . . ursula her fabulous martyrdome at colen , ( with . virgins attending her ) confuted . c. . ¶ . . usurpers how far they are to be obeyed , in the case of king stephen , b. . p. , , . uxbridge treaty , the fruitlesse fruits thereof , b. . p. . ¶ . . conference about church-matters therein , ¶ , . &c. w. wadham colledge in oxford founded by nicholas wadham , b. . p. . ¶ . , . peter of wakefield prophesied against k. john , b. . p. . ¶ . . hanged , p. . ¶ . . whether justly or unjustly , disputed , ibidem . waltham abbey why so named , hist. of walt. p. . ¶ . . the scituation thereof , ¶ . . excused for its bad aire p. . ¶ . . the town first founded by one tovy , ¶ . . but abby , by earle harold , ¶ . . refounded by king henry the second , p. . nicholas abbot of waltham most eminent , hist. of wal. p. . toward the end . john de waltham keeper of the privy seale to k. richard the second , hist. of wal. p. . near the end . roger de waltham a great scholar , hist. of wal. p. . at the bottome . william warham arch-bishop of canterbury his death , and character , b. . p. ( ) ¶ . . john warner , bishop of rochester , chosen to sollicite the bps. cause when charged with a premunire , b. . p. . ¶ . . pleadeth stoutly for their votes in parliament , p. . ¶ . . william watson , a secular priest , his notorious railing against the jesuites , b. . ¶ . , . his treason against k. james , ¶ . . and silly plea at his execution , ¶ . . weasel , the english exiles under q. mary why quickly removing thence , b. . s. . ¶ . . welch , two grand mistakes therein , b. . p. . ¶ . . committed to welch bps. to amend it , ibidem . westminster pretends to a massacre of primitive monks therein , cent. . ¶ . . a church therein built by edward the confessor , said to be consecrated by st. peter himself , c. . ¶ . . five alterations in st. peters therein within . yeares , b. . p. . ¶ . . herbert westphaling , bishop of hereford , s●●dome seen to laugh , b. . ¶ . . west-saxons , their kingdome when begun , how bounded , c. . ¶ . william whitacre master of st. johns in camb. kindly resents are proofe from one of the fellowes , hist of camb. p. . ¶ . . his sicknesse and death , p. . ¶ . . his sad & solemn funerall , ¶ . . john white swalloweth simony to get the bishoprick of winchester , b. . s. . ¶ . . preacheth a satyricall ( yet flattering ) sermon at the funeralls of q. mary , ¶ . . stirred against q. eliz. b. . ¶ . . sr. tho. white , lord maior of london , foundeth st. ionns colledge in ox. b. . s. . ¶ . . iohn whitgift , dr. of d. after much clashing with mr. cartwright , hist. of camb. p. . expelleth h●m , ibid. his letters when archb. of cant. to the l. burleigh and other lords , in defence of conformity , ● . . p. . &c. his death , b. . p . ¶ . . just defence against the exceptions of mr p●in , ¶ . , , , &c. william whittingham head of the english non-conformists at frankford , b. . s. . ¶ . . with whom he departeth to geneva , ¶ . . a fierce non-conformist ( though dean of durham ) in the beginning of q. eliz. b. . ¶ . . john wickliff his parentage , learning , and opinions , b. . p. . ¶ . . &c. marvelously spread and why , p. . ¶ . . his quiet death , ¶ . . richard wightwick an eminem benefactor to pembrook colledge in oxford , b. . ¶ . . edward wightman burnt for a heretick , b. . p. . ¶ . . wilfride a champion for the romish easter , c. . ¶ . . his prevailing argument , ¶ . . envyed by theodorus arch-bishop , ¶ . . converteth the south-saxons , ¶ . , &c. persecuted by king alfride , c. . ¶ . . appealeth to rome , ¶ . . dyeth , ¶ . . william the first conquereth king harold in sight , c. . ¶ . . rebateth his conquering sword with composition , ¶ . . calleth a synod of his bishops at winchester , b. . ¶ . . is civill to the pope , ¶ . . yet so as he is true to his own interest , ¶ . . refuseth to do fealty to pope gregory the seventh , ¶ . , . suffers none of his barons to be excommunicated without his consent , ¶ . . divides the jurisdiction of the bishops from the sheriffs , ¶ . , . quits the crown by conquest , but kept it by composition , ¶ . . his death and buriall , ¶ . . william rufus crowned , b. . p. . ¶ . . his covetuousness , ¶ . , . contests with anselme , p. . ¶ . . john williams , bishop of lincoln , made lord keeper , b. . p. . ¶ . , , &c. preacheth king james his funerall sermon , b. . ¶ . . exceptions thereat , ¶ . . excluded attendance at the coronation , ¶ . . looseth the keepers place , ¶ . , &c. is sued in the star-chamber , from p. , to . severely censured there , ibidem . fined the second time in the same court , p. , . vindicateth his extraction , p. . ¶ . the first and most active in the bishops protestation , p. . the brief account of his life and death , p. , . winchester pretends to a massacre of primitive monks therein , c. . ¶ . . king stephen summoned , said to be present at a synod there , b. . p. . ¶ . , . a famous school therein founded by william wickham , b. . p. . ¶ . . r. wincelsey arch-bishop of cant. humbled by king edward the first , c. . p. . ¶ . , &c. why finding no favour from the pope , p. . ¶ . . restored to his archbishoprick , p. . ¶ . . wine , when first permitted to english monks to drink , b. . p. . ¶ . . dr. thomas winniff preacheth in the convocation , b. . ¶ . . woden a saxon idol his name , shape and office , b. . c. . ¶ . . women present at a church-councill , c. . ¶ . . womens brawles , mens thralls , b. . p. . ¶ . . . english wools improvement in manufactures , b. third , ( but misprinted fourth , ) p. . ¶ . . when the dutch workmen invited into england , ¶ . , , &c. woolfred arch-bishop of cant. kept a councell at celichyth , c. . ¶ . . the acts thereof , ibid. wolphere king of mercia his cruel murthering of his sons , c. . ¶ . . thomas wolsey cardinal foundeth cardinals colledge in oxford , b. . p. ( . ) ¶ . , &c. would have his servants serve none but the king , p. ( ) ¶ . . falleth into the kings displeasure , & dyeth , b. . p. ( . ) ¶ . . &c. wolstan bishop of worcester , the english janus , keeps his bishoprick by resigning it , b. . ¶ . . his death , . nich. wootton , dean of cant. and york , his death and character , b. . p. . ¶ . . dr. wright a moderate visitor in oxford , b. . ¶ . . recanteth and dyeth a protestant in his perfect senses , notwithstanding sanders slanders to the contrary , ibidem . st. tho. wyat his rising to hinder the spanish match , b. . ¶ . . how his fool abused the queens herauld , ¶ . , , . his insolent demands , ¶ . . entreth southwark and quitteth it , ¶ . , . retarded in his march , ¶ . . stopped at ludgate and taken in fleetstreet , ¶ . . penitent at his execution , ¶ . . y. a year ill lost , and well found in the saxon chronologie , c. . ¶ . . ed. year , if his name was not anne , his dear poetry against the masse , wherein every verse cost him a lash , b. . ¶ . . york : constantius chlorus buried there , c. . ¶ . . layeth claime to the birth of constantine the emperour , ¶ . . an arch-bishops pall bestowed thereon by pope gregory , c. . ¶ . . claimeth precedency of canterbury , b. . p. . ¶ . . on what title , ibid. the arch-bishops thereof not satisfied with the popes nice distinction , p. . ¶ . . york and lancaster houses the battels betwixt them for the crown ; place , time , number slain , and conquerour , b. . p. , and . york clergy , though late , at last acknowledged the kings supremacy , b. . p. ( . ) ¶ . , , &c. thomas young arch-bishop of york , lost by gaining , b. . p. . ¶ . . his death , ibidem . john young bishop of rochester his death , b. . p. . ¶ . . z. baltazer zanches a spanish protestant builds an almes-house for the eng. poore at totnam , b. . p. . ¶ . . he the first ( his family since the best ) confectioners in england , ibidem . eudo de zouch , the first person of honour chancellour of cambridge , hist. of camb. p. . ¶ . . therefore not exacted obedience of the bishop of ely. zurich : the congregation of english [ most learned ] exiles therein in the dayes of q. mary , b. . s. . ¶ . . who refuse to joyn with those at frankford and why , ¶ . . errata . book . pag. lin .   for sarisbury , read sherborn . after , since the conquest , add , which left any issue . in these two ▪ lines transpose harpsfield , for alanus copus .   read it thus , of his predecess●ur wickham , or successour wainfleet . ( ) for dr. greenhil , read dr. daniel greenwood .   ( ) for but he , read be he therefore .   ( ) for . shillings , read , four shillings .   ( for impunity , read impurity . for briston , read bruiton .   for st. iohns , read st. maryes . for the second , read the sixth . for grandchild to edward the fourth , read great grandchild to edward the fourth his father .   for faithfull , read thankfull owen . for roasted , read wasted .   for sr. iames ( in some coppies not corrected ) read sr. henry .   for mr. yeale , read master beale .   for anthony , read christopher .     for anthony , read christopher .   for detestation , read detection . for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 .   for can thereof , read thereof can . for he left , read fel.     for sisters , read brothers son.   for greater , read lesser .   prebendarie of stanford , dele prebendarie .   for colchester , read glocester .   for truth is to be , read belief is to be . hist. of camb. for sciarum , read scientiarum .   for majestic , read majoraltie . courteous reader , i am sensible of a mistake in the catalogue of vice-chancellours and proctours of cambridge , ( besides a needless repetition of two , twice ) betwixt the years , and . inclusively . it arose from some difference betwixt the written coppies i used , and such ( i believe , the truer ) as are since printed . i see what , not whither , to sly , who can discover , do confesse , but [ for the present ] cannot rectify the errour , craving the charitable assistance of my mothers sons herein . the best is , all the mistake lyeth within the compasse of three years , ( all officers being right before and after ) and the fortunes of greece , the truth i mean of our church-history , is not concerned therein . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e ☜ psal. . * virgill eg. * rom. . . * cor. . . * job . . * cit●d in cam. romains . pag. . * meaning his brother alfred whom godwin had shamefully murthered . * luke . . * cor. . . * st augustin . * aulularia plauti . * page , , and often elsewhere . * in vit. aesopi . * gen. . . * page . . towards the bottom thereof * amos . . cor. . dan. . . tehss . . . psal. . . * numb . . . * luk. . . * sam. . . * esaiah . . * in his life page , . * esdr. . . * heb. . . * psal. . . * exod. . . diog. laert. in vita chrysippi . * math. . . * as in the 〈…〉 wh●ch i have seen under the hand of the animadve●●o● . * in his s●●●e●on cantab. m. sc. * pag. , . * vide , infra . part . . pag. . * anno . fox , acts and monuments . * the government of england , though often translated from one family , yea nation to another , yet hath so long continued monarchical . the breaks in my answer relate respectively to those in the doctor 's animadversions . * king. . . * king. . . * exod. . . * act. . . * in his microcosm , p. . * 〈◊〉 cit . in vita 〈◊〉 ola . * s. metaphrastes , comment . de petro et paulo ad diem . junij . of thessal . . . * pag. . cent. p. . deu. . . church hist. v. . pag. . * seb. munsterus de germania . * de prim ec. brit. psal. . * in his councels . * in his primord . eccl. angl. * act. . . * le●bia pieriis sapho soror addita mu●is , ausonius . notes for div a -e camd. in brit. fol. . lactant. lib. cap. . * lib. . pag. ● in brit. fol. id. in wiltsh . fol. . * in the last page . * pag. ut prius . * iames . . camd. brit. fol. . id. in worcest . fol. . richardsons state of europe lib. . camd in scotland , fol. . * acts . . corinth . . . gal. . . * church hist. book . page . parag . * lib pag and oft before . * page . camden in richmondshire , fol. . camden in kent , fol. . form of baptism . conference pag. . * deut. . . matth . . ●●●●●wood 〈◊〉 . cap v. * i request the reader to consult my words , as rendred by the animadvertor , in the formar paragraph . * iudges . . heylins cosmog . pag . * for the elder buckstors and beckman , i am as certain they were , as uncertain were , publike professors . * gen . . * gen. . . * gen. . * gen. . . * gen. . * numb . . parenes . ad scotos p . greg. m. epist. . camden in wilts . . * iohn . camd. in k●nt , . * carew in cornwall . * cronicon pag. . h. le strange alliances of divine offices , pag. . * as appears in dr. tuckers charisma p. . * britar . lat. pag. . acts of convoc . anno . * in his animadversion on my . lib. or reign of q mary . * matth. , * iohn . . * cor. . . * ( a record lately so priced by the animadv ) * in his account h s. his appendix . stowe survey , p . * his description of barbary . * vide supra , part . chap. brerewoods enq. cap. . camden in monmout●●h . hist. of st. george lib. . cap. . . stow in hen . acts . . * rom. . . * out of exact intelligence sent from his neer kindred , to venice , and thence to mr. calendrine , now minister of the dutch church . hist. lib. ● . * church . hist. . book , p. . * in his introduction . * gen. . . camden in radnor ▪ selden . tit. hon. part . . c. . stat. . edw. antiquit. britan . in stratf . * sam. . . h. c. . * acts . . vossig . de lat. hist. holy state , title memory . camb. in ham. fol . ovid met. lib. . history of florence . camdens annals . an. . acta convoca●ionis . pres. to the directory . * heb. . . hollinsh p. * ier. . . defence of the apolog. * king. . stat h . c. . * i bilieve this should be better , as may appear in the errata . but because the page is mistaken , , for , i dare not alter it . * so is his name in my corrected books . * in his list of the masters of st. iohns . * iob. . . * in his introduction . numb . . * in particulars , their total sum , to my remembrance , not being cast up . stows survey of lond. p . * in his eliz. anno . acts . . vid. sup . part . . p. . * vid. sup●●a c. . ●ag●● ●● * iude . * in his advertisemen●s on the history of king charles , p. . * pag. . li. . * verstegan of decayed intelligence . * stow his survey of london , pag. . * hist. ecclesiast . seculo decimo quinto , pag. . * sam. . * in his elizab. anno . * esay . . * plutarchus . * exod. . . * in the margin this note dr h in oxfo●d causlesly inveyeth against the geneva notes . * a●●a● , p. . * dr. c●●k●n 〈…〉 disensione eccles a●g●●r pag . * camdens 〈◊〉 , anno ● . pag. . * acts . . * rom . . * in his short view of the reign of king. charles . * in the cabala , and in the historical observations of mr. rushworth notes for div a -e mica . . . * mr. b●ll in dr. prestons life . * compare his page with his page . * de piscibus in ●●ce trutta . * mills ' catal. of honour , pag. . * joh. . ● * h. le strange esa ; * gal. . . * i am informed c. offspring is still alive . sam. . . * eph. . . psal. . . * jam. . . * gen. . . * before his time , he was about to begin a new section and dedication as appeares by the to in text. * pag. . * cambden's remains pag. . * eccle● . * in these his animadversions ( as by him set forth pag. . * psal. . . * heb. . . * deut. . . * p●● . . . * cor. . . * pag. . &c. * jam . ● . * book . p. . * jam. . . * pet. . * animadversions , pag. . * alledged by th● animadvertor , formerly in his fourth book . * mal. . . rev. . . mich. . . math. . * king. . . * rom. . . * mr i. sb. * iames. . * gen. . * luke . . . * all these quotations are taken out of the eleventh book of my church history . conf●ssio . lib. . cap. . * psal. . . * acts. . . * hist. of camb. pag. . parag . . * gen. . . ecclus. ● . . * esay . . . notes for div a -e . notes for div a -e goodwin , in epi●● . bath . & well . * the latin word being raptores , might ( by the doctors favour ) be better englished plunderers . good thoughts in worse times consisting of personall meditations, scripture observations, meditations on the times, meditations on all kind of prayers, occasionall meditations / by tho. fuller ... fuller, thomas, - . this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text r in the english short title catalog (wing f ). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a wing f estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) good thoughts in worse times consisting of personall meditations, scripture observations, meditations on the times, meditations on all kind of prayers, occasionall meditations / by tho. fuller ... fuller, thomas, - . [ ], [i.e. ] p. printed by w.w. for john williams ..., london : . errata: p. . reproduction of original in yale university library. eng meditations. devotional exercises. conscience. a r (wing f ). civilwar no good thoughts in worse times. consisting of personall meditations. scripture observations. meditations on the times. meditations on all kind fuller, thomas f the rate of defects per , words puts this text in the f category of texts with or more defects per , words. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - jennifer kietzman sampled and proofread - jennifer kietzman text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion good thoughts in worse times . consisting of personall meditations . scripture observations . meditations on the times . meditations on all kind of prayers . occasionall meditations . by tho. fuller . b. d. london , printed by w. w. for john williams at the crowne in st pauls church-yard . . to the christian reader . when i read the description of the tumult in ephesus , acts . . ( wherein they would have their diana to be jure divino , that it fell down from iupiter ) it appears to me the too methodicall caracter of our present confusions . some therfore cryed one thing , and some another , for the assembly was confused and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together . o the distractions of our age ? and how many thousand know as li●tle why the sword was drawn , as when it will be sheathed . indeed , ( thankes be to god ) we have no more house burnings but many heart burnings , and though outward bleeding bee stanched , it is to be feared that the broken vaine bleeds inwardswhich is more dangerous . this being our sad condition , i perceive controversiall writing ( sounding somewhat of drums & trumpets , ) doe but make the wound the wider , meditations are like the ministrel the prophet called for , to pacifie his minda●liscomposed with passion , which moved mee to adventure on this treatise , as the most innocent and inoffensive manner of writeing . i confesse a volumn of another subject , and larger size , is expected from mee . but in london i have learnt the difference , betwixt downright breaking , and craving time of their creditors . many sufficient merchants though not soluable from the present make use of the latter , whose example i follow . and though i cannot pay the principall , yet i desire such small treatises may be accepted , from me as interest or consideration mony , untill i shal god willing be enabled to discharge the whole debt . if any wonder that this treatise comes patron-lesse into the world , let such know that dedications begin now adayes to grow out of fashion . his policy was commended by many , ( and proved profitable unto himselfe ) who insted of select godfathers , made all the congregation witnesses to his child , as i invite the world to this my booke , requesting each one would patronise therein such parts and passages thereof , as please them , so hoping that by severall persons the whole will be protected . i have christian reader , ( so far i dare goe , not inquiring into the syre-name of thy side or sect ) nothing more to ●urthen thy patience with . onely i will add , that i finde our saviour in turtullian and ancient latine fathers , constantly stiled a * sequestrator in the proper notion of the word . for god and man beeing at ods , the difference was sequestied or referred into christs his hand to end and umpire it . how it fareth with thine estate on earth i know not , but i earnestly desire , that in heaven both thou and i may ever bee under sequestration in that mediator for gods glory and our good , to whose protection thou art committed by thy brother in all christian offices . tho. fuller . personall meditations . i. curiosity curbed . often have i thought with my selfe , what dis●ase i would be best con●ented to die of . none please mee . the stone , the cholick terrible , as expected , intollerable , when felt . the palsie is death before death . the consumption a flattering disease , cozening men into hope of long life at the last gaspe . some sicknesse besot , others enrage men , some are too swift , and others too slow . if i could as easily decline diseases as i could dislike them , i should be immortall . but away with these thoughts . the marke must not chuse what arrow shall be shot against it . what god sends i must receive . may i not be so curious to know what weapon shall wound me , as carefull to provide the plaister of patience against it . only thus much in generall : commonly that sicknesse seiseth on men , which they least suspect . he that expects to be drown'd with a dropsie may bee burnt with a fe●vour , and she that feares to bee sw●lne with a tympany may be shriveled with a consumption . ii. deceiv'd , not hurt . hearing a passing-bell , i prayed that the sick man might have through christ , a safe voyage to his long home . afterwards i understood that the party was dead some houres before ; and it seemes in some places of london the tolling of the bell , is but a preface of course to the ringing it out . bells better silent then thus telling lyes . what is this but giving a false alarum to mens devotions , to make them to be ready armed with their prayers for the assistance of such , who have already fought the good sight , yea and gotten the conquest ? not to say that mens charityherein may be suspected of superstition in praying for the dead . however my heart thus powred out , was not spilt on the ground . my prayers too late to doe him good , ●ame soone enough to speake my good will . what i freely tendred god ●airely tooke , according to the integrity of my intention . the partie i hope is in abraham's and my prayers i am sure are returned into my owne ●osom . iii. nor full , nor fasting . living in a country uillage where a buriall was a rarity , i never thought of death , it was so seldome presented unto me . comming to london where there is plenty of funeralls , ( so that coffins crowd one-another , & corps in the grave justle for elbow roome ) i slight and neglect death because grown an object so constant and common . how foule is my stomach to turne all foode into bad humours ? funeralls neither few nor frequent , worke effectually upon mee . london is a library of mortality . uolumes of all sorts and sizes , rich , poore , infants , children , youth , men , old men daily die ; i see there is more required to make a good scholler , then onely the having of many bookes : lord be thou my schoolemaster , and teach mee to number my dayes that i may apply my heart unto wisedome . iiii. strange and true . i read in the * revelatation of a beast , one of whose heads was as it were wounded to death . i expected in the next verse , that the beast should die , as the most probable consequence , considering . it was not a scratch , but a wound . . not a wound in a fleshly part , or out-limbs of the body , but in the very head , the throne of reason . . no light wound , but in outward apparition , ( having no other probe but st. johns eyes to sea●ch it ) it seemed deadly . but marke what immediately followes , and his deadly wound was healed . who would have suspected this inference ●rom these premises . but 〈◊〉 not this the lively em●lem of my naturall cor●uption ? sometimes i conceive that by gods grace i have conquered and kill'd , subdued and ●laine , maim'd and morti●d the deedes of the ●sh : never more shall i be molested or bufseted , with such a bosom sinne when , alas ! by the next ●eturne , the news is , it is r●vived , and recovered . thus tenches though grievously gashed , p●esently plaister themselves whole by that ●limie and unctious hu●our they have in them ; and thus the inherent balsam of badnesse quickly cures my corruption , not a scarre to be seene . i perceive i shall never finally kill it , till first i be dead my selfe . v. blushing to be blushed for . a person of great quality was pleased to lodge a nig●t in my house . i durst not invite him to my family-prayer , and therefore for that time omitted it : thereby making a breach in a good custome & giving sathan advantage to assault it . yea the loosening of such a linke , might have endangered the scattering of the chaine . bold bashfulnesse , which durst offend god , whil'st it did feare man . especially considering that though my guest was never so high , yet by the lawes of hospitality , i was above him , whilst he was under my roofe . hereafter whosoever cōmeth within the dores , shall bee requested to come within the discipline of my house ; if accepting my homely diet , he will not refuse my home-devotion ; and sitting at my table , will be intreated to kneel downe by it . vi . alash for lazinesse . shamefull my sloath , that havedeferred my night-prayer , till i am in bed . this lying along is an improper posture for piety . indeed there is no contrivance of our body , but some good man in scripture hath hanseled it with prayer . the publican standing , iob * ●ting , hezeki●h , lying on his bed , * eli●h with his face between his l●ggs . but of all gestures give me st. paules , * for this cau●e i bow my knees to the father of ●y l● j●sus christ . kn● wh●n they may , then they must be b●nded i have read a copy of a grant of liberty , from queene mary to henry r●ffe earle of sussex , giving him * leave to weare a night-cap or co● in her maj●sties presence , counted a great favour because of his infirmity . i know in case of necessity , god would gratiously accept my devotion , bound downe in a sicke dressing ; but now whilst i am in perfect health , it is inexcusable . christ commanded some to take up their bed , in token of their full recovery ; my lazinesse may suspect , least thus my bea● taking me up , prove a presage of my ensuing sicknesse . but may god pardon my idlenesse this once , i will not againe offend in the same kind , by his grace hereafter . vii . roote , branch , and fruit . a poor man of sevil in spaine , having a fair and fruitfull peare-tree , one of the fathers of the inquisition desired ( such tyrants requests , are commandes ) some of the fruit thereof . the poore man , not out of gladnesse to gratifie , but feare to offend , as if it were a sinne for him to have better fruit , then his betters , ( suspecting on his deniall the tree might be made his owne rod , if not his gallows ) plucked up tree , roots and all , and gave it unto him . allured with love to god , and advised by my owne advantag● , what he was frighted to do● , i wil freely performe . god calleth on mee to present h●m with * fruits , meet for repentance . yea let him take all , soule and body , powers , and parts , faculties , and members of both , i offer a sacrifice unto himselfe . good reason , for indeed the tree was his , before it was mine , and i give him of his owne . bes●des it was doubtfull , whether the poore 〈◊〉 ●ateriall tree , be●ng removed , would grow 〈◊〉 . some plants , transplanted ( especially when old ) become sullen , and do not enjoy themselves , in a ●oile wherewith they were ●nacquainted . but sure i am when i have given my selfe to god , the mov●ng of my soule shall be the ●ending of it , he will dresse so {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} and {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} so prune and purge mee , that i shall bring forth ●ost fruit in my age . viii . god speed the plow . i saw in seed-time an husbandman at plow , in very raining day , askin● him the reason , why h● would not rather leav● off , then labour in suc●foule weather , his answe● was returned me in the● country rythme . sow beanes in the mud and they 'le come up like wood . this could not bu● minde mee of * david expression , they that so● inteares , shall reape i● joy . he that goeth fort● and weepeth , bearing pre●cious seed , shall doubtless● come againe with rejoyceing , bringing his sheave● with him . these last five yeare● have been a wett and ●oeful seeds time to me , ●nd many of my afflicted brethren . little hope have wee , as yet , to come ●gaine to our owne ●omes ; and in a literall sense , now to bring our sheaves , which wee see others dayly carry away , on their shoulders . but if we shall not share in the former , or latter harvest here on earth , the third and last in heaven , wee hope undoubtedly ●o receive . ix . cras cras . great was the abundance and boldne● of the frogs in * egypt , which went up and came into their bedchambers , and beds , and kneadingtroughs , and very ovens . strange that those fenndwellers should approach the siery region ; but stranger , that pharoah should bee so back ward to have them removed , and being demanded of moses when hee would have them sent away , answered , to * morrow hee ●uld bee content with ●eir company one ●ght , at bed and at bord , ●ath belike to acknow●dge either gods justice 〈◊〉 sending , or power in ●emanding them , but ●ill hoping that they ca●ally came , and might ●sually depart . leave i any longer to ●onder at pharoah , and ●en admire at my selfe . ●hat are my sinnes but 〈◊〉 many toades , spit●g of venome & spawn●ng of poyson ; croaking 〈◊〉 my judgement , cree●ing into my will , and ●rawling into my affections , this i see , and suffer and say with pharoah , t●morrow , to morrow i w● amend . thus as the h●brew tongue , hath n● proper present-tense , bu● two future-tenses , so a● the performances of m● reformation , are onely i● promises for the time to come . grant , lord , i may seosonably drowne this pharoah-like procrastination in the sea of repentance , least it drowne me in the pit of perdition . x. green when gray . ●n september i saw a tree bearing roses , ●hilst others of the same ●ind , round about it , were barren ; demanding the cause of the gardi●er , why that tree was ●n exception from the ●ule of the rest , this reason was rendred , because that alone being clipt close in may , was then hindred to spring and sprout , and therefore tooke this advantage by it selfe , to bud in autumne . lord , if i were curb'● and snip't in my younger yeares by feare o● my parents , from those vicious excrescencies , to which that age wa● subject , give mee to have a godly jealousie over my heart , suspecting an 〈◊〉 - spring , least corrupt nature , ( which without thy r●raining grace will have a vent ) break forth in my reduced yeares into youthfull vanities . xi . miserere . there goes a tradition of ovid , that fa●ous poet ( receiving ●ome countenance from ●is owne co session * ) ●hat when his father was ●bout to beate him , for ●ollowing the plea●ant , ●ut profitles●e study of ●etrie , he u● correct●on promiss'd his father , ●ever more to make a ●erse , and made a verse , ●n his very promise . pro●ably the same in sense , ●ut certainely more elegant for composure , the● this verse with commo● credulity hath taken up . parce precor , genitor , posthac non versisicabo . father on me pitty take verses i no more will make . when i so solemnely promise my heavenly father to sinne no more . i sinne in my very promise , my weake prayer● made to procure my pardon , increase my guiltinesse , o the dulnesse and deadnesse of my heart therein ! i say my prayers as the * iewes eate the ●ssover in haste . and ●hereas in bodily acti●s motion is the cause 〈◊〉 heate ; cleane contra● , the more speed i make in my prayers the ●older i am in my de●otion . xii . monarchy and mercy . ●n reading the roman , ( whilst under consulls ) 〈◊〉 belgick historie of the ●nited provinces , i re●ember not any ca●itall offender being ●ondemned , ever forgiven●ut alwayes after sentence , followes executio● it seemes that the ve● constitution of a mul● tude is not so inclina● to save as to destro● such rulers in aristocr● cies or popular state● cannot so properly 〈◊〉 called gods , becau● though having the gre●attributes of a deity● power , and iustice , the● want ( or wil● not use then 〈◊〉 god-like property of gods , clemen● to forgive . may i dye in that government , under which was borne , where a m●narch doth comman●kings where they se●●use , have gratiously ●anted pardons , to men ●pointed to death ; ●rein the lively image 〈◊〉 god , to whom belongs 〈◊〉 and * forgive●sse . and , although i ●ill endeavour so to be●ve my selfe , as not to ●ed my soveraignes fa●ur in this kind , yet be●use none can warrant ●s innocency in all ●ings , it is co● fortable ●ing in such a common●ealth , where pardons●retofore on occasion ●ve been , and hereaf● may be procured . xiii . what helps not hurt a vaine thought are in my heart , insta●ly my corruption ●taines it selfe to be 〈◊〉 advocate for it , plea●ding that the worst the could be said against 〈◊〉 was this , that it was vaine thought . and is not this the b● that can be said for 〈◊〉 remember o my sou● the * fig tree was char●ed not with bearing no●ous , but no fruit . yea● barren fig-tree bare 〈◊〉 fruit of annoyance , cut it downe why cumbreth it the groun● ? vain thoughts doe this ill in my heart that they doe no good ●esides the ●ig-tree pester'd but one part of of the garden , good grapes might grow , at the same time , in other places of the vineyard . but seeing my soule is so intent on its object , that it cannot attend two things at once , one tree for the time being is all my vineyard . a vaine thought engrosseth all the ground of my heart , till that be rooted out , no good meditation can grow with it or by it . xiiii . alwayes seen , never minded . in the most healthfull times , two hundred and upwards , was the constant weekely tribute paied to mortality in london . a large bill but it must be discharged can one city spend according to this weekely rate , and not be bankerupt of people ? at least wise must not my short be called for , to make up the reckoning ? when onely seven young-men and those chosen , * by lot , were but yearely taken out of athens , to be devoured by the monster minotaure , the whole citty was in a constant fright , children for themselves , and parents for their children . yea their escaping of the first , was but an introduction to the next yeares lottery . were the dwellers and lodgers in london weekly to cast lotts , who should make up this two hundred , how would every one be affrighted ? now none regard it . my security concludes the aforesaid number , will amount of infants and old folke . few men of middle age and amongst them , surely not my selfe . but oh ! is not this putting the evill day far from me , the ready way to bring it the nearest to me ? the lot is weakly drawn ( though not by mee ) for mee , i am therefore concerned seriously to provide , lest that deaths price , prove my blanke . xv . not whence , but whither . finding a bad thought in my heart , i disputed in my selfe the cause thereof , whether it proceeded from the devil , or my owne corruption , examining it by those signes , divines in this case recommended . . whether it came in incoherently , or by dependance on some object presented to my senses . . whether the thought was at full age at the first instant , or infant-like , grew greater by degrees . whether out or in the road of my naturall● inclination . but hath not this inquiry , more of curiosity then religion ? hereafter derive not the pedigree , but make the mittimus of such malefactors . suppose a confederacy betwixt theeves without , and false servants within , to assault and wound the master of a family : thus wounded , would he discuss , from which of them , his hurts proceeded , no surely , but speedily send for a surgeon , before he bleed to death . i will no more put it to the question , whēce my bad thoughts come , but whither i shall send them , least this curious controversy insensibly betray mee into a consent unto them . xvi . storme , steere on . the mariners sayling with st. paul , bare up bravely against the tempest , whilst either art or industry could befriend them . finding both to faile , and that they could not any loner be are up into the winde , they even let their ship drive . i have indeavoured in these distemperate times , to hold up my spirits , and to steere them steddily . an happy peace here , was the port wherat i desired to arive . now alasse the storme growes to s●urdy for the pilot. hereafter all the skill i will use , is no skill at all , but even let my ship saile whither the winds send it . noahs arke was bound for no other port , but preservation for the present , ( that sh● being all the harbour ) not intending to find land , but to sloat on water . may my soule , ( though not sailing to the desired haven ) onely be kept from sinking in sorrow . this comforts mee that the most weather-beaten vessell cannot properly be seized on for a wrack , which hath any quick cattle remaining therein . my spirits are not as yet forfeited to despaire , having one lively spark of hope in my heart , because god is even where he was before . . wit-out-witted . ioab chid the man , ( unknown in scripture by his name , well knowne for his wisedome , ) fo● not killing absalon when hee saw him hanged in the tree , promising him for his paines , ten shekles and a girdle . but the man , ( having the kings command to the contrary , ) refused his proffer . well hee knew that politick stats men would have dangerous designes fetcht out of the fire , but with other mens fingers . his g●rdle promised might in payment , prove an haltar . yea hee added moreover , that had hee kild absalon , joab himself * would have set himselfe against him . satan daily solicits me to sinne , ( point blancke against gods word , ) baiting me with profers best pleasing my corruption . if i consent , he who last tempted , first * accuseth me . the fauning spannnell , turnes a fierce lion and roareth out my faults in the eares of heaven . grant , lord , when satan shall next serve me , as joab did the nameless israelite , i ma● serve him , as the name lesse israelite , did joa● flatly refusing his deceitfull tenders . xviii . hereafter . david fasted & prayed for his sick sonn● , that his life might be prolonged . put when he was dead , this consideration comforted him . i shall * goe to him , but hee shall not returne to me . peace did long lie languishing in this land . no small contentment that to my poore power , i have prayed and preached for the preservation thereof . seeing since it is departed this supports my soule , having little hope that peace here should returne to mee ; i have some assurance that i shall goe to peace heareafter . xix . bad at best . lord , how come wicked thoughts to perplex me in my prayers , when i desire and endeavour onely to attend thy s●rvice ? now i perceive the cau● thereof . at other times i have willingly entertained them , and now they entertaine themselves against my will . i acknowledge thy justice , that what formerly i have invited , now i cannot expell . give me here after alwayes to bolt out such ill guestes . the best way to be rid of ●uch bad thoughts in my prayers is not to receive them out of my prayers . xx . compendium dispendiune . pope boniface the ●th at the end of each hundred yeares , 〈◊〉 a iubilee at r●me , wherein people , bringing themselves , and money thither had pardon for their sinnes . put centenary yeares return'd but seldome popes were old before and ●vetuous when they came to their place . few had the happinesse to fill their coffers with iubilee-coyne . hereupon , * clement the sixth reduced it to every fifteenth yeare . gregory the eleventh to every three and thirtieth . paul the second , and sixtus the fourth to every twentieth fifth yeare . yea , an agitation is reported in the conclave , to bring downe iubilees to fifteenth , twelve , or ten yeares , had not some cardinalls , ( whose policy was above their coveteousnes ) opposed it . i serve my prayers , as they their iubilees . perchance they may extend to a quarter of an houre , when powred out at large . but some dayes i begrutch this time as too much , and omit the ●reface of my prayer , with some passages conceived lesse material , and ●unne two or three peti●ions into one , so contracting them to halfe a quarter of an houre . not long after , this also seemes two long ; i decontract and abridge the abridgement of my prayers , yea , ( be it confessed to my shame and sorrow that hereafter i may amend it ) too often i shrinke my prayers to a m●nute , to a moment , to a lord have mercy upon me . scripture observations . i. prayer may preach . father , i thank thee ( said our * sav our , being ready to ●aise lazar●s , that thou h●st hea●d me . and i ●now that thou he 〈◊〉 me 〈◊〉 , but because of the p●ople that stand by , i said it , that they may believe that thou hast sent me . it is lawfull for ministers in their publique prayers to insert passages for the edifying of their auditors , at the same time petitioning god & informing their hearers . for our saviour glancing his eyes at the peoples instruction , did no whit hinder the stead fastnesse of his lookes , lifted up to his father . when before sermon i pray for my soveraigne & master king of great britaine , france , and ireland , def●nder of the faith , in all causes , and over all persons , &c. some ( who omit it themselves ) may censure it in me for superfluous : but never more neede to teach men the kings title , & their owne ●uty , that the simple may be informed , the forgetfull remembred thereof , and that the affectedly ignorant , who will not take advice , may have all ●cuse taken from them . wherefore in powring forth my prayers to god , well may i therein sp●inkle some by-drops for the instruction of the people . ii. the vicious meane . zophar the naamath●te mentioneth a sort of men , in whose mouthes wickednesse is sweet , * they hide it under their ton●ue , they spare it , and forsa●e it not , but keepe it still in their mouth . this furnisheth me with a tripartite division of men in the world . the first and best are those , who 〈◊〉 sin out , loathing it in their judgments , and leaving it in their practice . the second sort , notoriously wicked , who swa●low sinne downe , actually and openly committing it . the third endeavouring and expedient betwixt heaven and hell , neither doe nor deny their lusts ; neither spitting them out nor swallowing them downe , but rolling them under their tongues , epicurizing theron , in their filthy fancies and obscene speculations . if god at the last day of judgement hath three hands , a right for the sheep , a left for the goates , the middle is mos● proper for these third sort of men . but both these latter kinds of sinners shall be confounded together . the rather because a sinne thus rolled , becomes so soft and suple , and the throat is so short and slippery a passage , that insensibly it may slide downe from the mouth into the stomach , and contemplative wantonnesse quickly turnes into practicall uncleanesse . iii. store no sore . iob had a custome to offer burnt offerings according to the number of his sonnes , for * he said , it may be that my sonnes in their feasting hav● sinned , and cursed god in their hearts . it may be , not it must be , he was not certaine but suspected it . but now ; what if his sonnes had not sinned ? was iob's labour lost , and his sacrifice of none effect ? oh no! only their property was altered ; in case his sonnes were found f●ulty , h●s sacrifices for them were propitiatorie , & through christ obtained their pardon : in case they were innocent his offerings were eucharisticall , returning thankes to gods restraining grace , for keeping his sonnes from such sinnes , which otherwise they would have committed . i see in all doubtfull matters of devotion , it is wisest to be on the sures● side , better both lock , and bolt , and barre it , then leave the least doore of danger open . hast thou done what is disputable whether it be well done ? is it a measuring cast whether it be lawfull or no ? so that thy conscience may seeme in a manner to stand neuter , su● a conditional pardon out of the court of heaven , the rather because our selfe-love is more prone to flatter , then our godly jealousie to suspect our selves without a cause , with such humilit● heaven is well pleased . for suppose thy selfe over-cautious needing no forgivenesse in that particular , god will interpret the pardon thou prayest for to be the praises presented unto him . iiii. line on line . moses in gods name did counsell joshua , deutronomie . . be strong , and of a good courage , for thou shalt bring the children of israel int● the land which i sware to them . god immediately did command him , josh. . . be strong and of a good courage , and againe v. . onely be thou strong and very couragious ; and againe v. . have i no● commanded thee ? be strong and of a good courage , be not affraid , neither be not dismaid , lastly the rubenites , and gadites heartily desired him , v. . onely be strong and of a good courage . was joshua a dunce or a coward ? did his witt or his valour want an edge ? that the same precept must so often be press'd upon him , no doubt neither but god saw it needfull , that 〈◊〉 should have courage of proofe , who was to encounter both the froward iew , and the fierce canaanite . though metal on metal , colour on colour be falfe heraldry , * line on line , precept on precept , is true divinity . be not therefore offended ô my soule , if the same doctrine be often delivered unto thee by different preachers : if the same precept ( like the * sword in paradise , which turned every way ) doth hunt and haunt thee , tracing thee which way soever thou turnest rather conclude that thou art deeply concerned in the practice thereof which god hath thought fit should be so frequently inculcated into thee . v. o the depth . had i beheld sodome in the beauty thereof and had the angel told me , that the same should be suddainly destroyed , by a mercilesse element , i should certainly have concluded that sodome should have been drownd led thereunto by these considerations . . it was situated in the plaine of i●rdan , a flat , low , level country . . it was well watered * every where , and where alwayes there is water enough there may sometimes be too much . . iordan had a quality in the first moneth to overflow * all his bankes . but no dropp of moisture is spilt on sodom , it is burnt to ashes . how wide are our conjectures , when they guesse at gods judgements ? how farre are his wayes abo●e our apprehensions ? especially when wicked men with the sodomites wander in strange sinnes out of the rode of common corruption , god meets them with strange punishments , out of the reach of common conception , not coming within the compasse of a rationall suspition . vi . selfe , selfe-hurter . vvhen god at the first day of judgment , arraigned eve , she transferred her fault on the * serpent which beguiled her . this was one of the first fruits of our depraved nature . but ever after regenerate men in scripture making the confession of their sinnes , ( whereof many precedents ) cast all the fault on themselves alone , yea david when he numbred the people , though it be express'd that * satan prov●ked him thereunto , and though david pr●bably might be sensible of his temptation , yet he never accused the devil , but derived all the guilt on himselfe * i , it is that have sinned , good reason for satan hath no impu sive power , he may strike fire , till he be w●ary , ( if his mal●ce c●n be weary ) except mans corruption bri●g ●he ●nder , the match , cannot be lighted away then with that plea of course . the deuill owed me ashame owe thee he might , but pay thee he could not , unlesse thou wer 't as willing to take his black money , as he to tender it . vii . god , behold a troope commeth . the * amalakite who brought the tidings to david began with truth , rightly reporting the overthrow of the israelites , cheaters must get some credit , before they can cozen , and all falsehood , if not founded in some truth , would not bee fixed in any beliefe . but proceeding he told six lyes successively . . that saul called him . . that he came at his call . . that saul demanded who he was . . that hee return'd his answer . . that saul commanded him to kill him , . that he kill'd him accordingly . a wilfull falsehood told , is a cripple not able to stand by it selfe , without some to support it , it is easie to tell a lye , hard to tell but a lie . lord , if ibe so unhappie to relate a falshood ; give me to recall it or repent of it . it is said of the pismires , that to prevent the growing ( and so the corrupting ) of that corne which they hoord up , for their winter provision , they bite off both the ends thereof , wherein the generating power of the graine doth confist . when i have committed a sinne , o let me so order it , that i may destroy the procreation thereof , and i , by a true sorrow , condemne it to a bles●ed barrennesse . viii . out meanes in miracles . vvhen the angell brought * saint peter out of prison , the iron gate opened of it's owne accord . but comming to the house of mary the mother of john , marke was faigne to stand before the doore , and knock . when iron gave obedience , how can wood make opposition ? the answer easie . there was no man to open the iron-gate , but a portresse was provided of course to unlock the doore , god would not therefore shew his finger , where men's hands were appointed to do the worke . heaven will not super-institute a miracle , w●ere ordinary meanes we ●formerly in peacea● possession . but if they 〈◊〉 depart or resigne ( 〈◊〉 confessing 〈◊〉 ●ufficiency ) there 〈◊〉 succeed in their vacancy . lord , if onely wooden obstacles ( such as can be removed by might of man ) hindred our hope of peace , the arme of flesh might relieve us . ●ut alasse they are iron obstructions , as come not within human power or policy to take a way . no proud flesh shall therefore presumptuously pretend to any part of the praise , but ascribe it soly to thy selfe , if now thou shouldest be pleased after seaven yeares hard apprentiship in civill war●es , miraculously to burn our indentures , and restore us to our former liberty . ix . military mourning . some may wonder at the strang incoherence in the words and acti●ns . s●m . . . and david lamented , with this lamentation , ●ver saul , and over jona●han his sonne . also hee ●ad them teach the children of judah the use of 〈◊〉 bow . but the connexion is excellent . for that is the most souldier-like-sor●ow , which in middest of griefe can give order , for revenge , on such as have slaine ●heir friends . our generall fast was first appointed to 〈◊〉 the massacre of our ●ethren in ireland . but it is in vaine , to have a finger in the eye , if we● have not also a sword 〈◊〉 the other hand ; such tam● lamenting of lost friends● is but lost lamentation● we must bend our bow● in the camp , as well as ou●knees in the churches , an● second our posture of piety with martiall provision● . x. no stoole of wickednesse . some times i have disputed with my selfe , which of the two were most guilty . david wh● said in hast all men are * lyars , or that wicked man who * sat and spake against his brother , and slandered his owne mothers sonne . david seemes the greater offender ; for mankind might have an action of defamation against him , yea , he might justly be challenged for giving all men the lye . but marke david was in hast , he spake it in transitu , when he was passing , or rather posting by , or if you please , not david , but davids haste rashly vented the words . wheras the other sate , a sad solemne , serious , premeditate , deliberate posture , his malice had a full blow with a steddy hand , a● the credit of his brother . not to say that sate carries with it the countenance of a iudiciall proceeding , as if he made 〈◊〉 session or bench-business● thereof , as well condemnning as accusing unjustly . lord , pardon my cursory , and preserve me from sedentary sinnes . if in haste or heate of passion i wrong any , give me at leisure to aske thee and them forgivenesse . but o let me not sit by it , ●tudiously to plot , or 〈◊〉 mischiefe to any out of malice prepense . to ●hed bloud , in coole ●loud , is bloud with a witnesse . xi . by degrees . ●ee by what staires wicked * ahaz , did climb up to the heigth of prophanesse . first he * saw an idolatrous altar at damascus . our eyes when gazing on sinfull objects are out of their calling and gods keeping . secondly he lik'd it . there is a secred fascination in superstition , and our soules soone bewitched , with the gawdinesse of false service from the simplicity o● gods worship . thirdly he made the like to it . and herein vriah the priest ( patr● and chaplaine well me● was the midwife to del● ver the mother-altar of damascus of a babe , like unto it , at hierusale● . fourthly he * sacrificed on it . what else could be expected , but that when he had tuned this new instrument of idolatry , he would play upon it . fifthly , he commanded the * people to doe the like . not content to confine it to his personall impiety . lastly , he removed gods altar away . that venerable altar , by divine appointment peaceably possess'd of the place , for . yeares and upwards , must now be violentlyejected by a usurping vpstart . no man can be starke naught at once . let us stop the progresse of sin in our soule at the first stage , for the further it goes , the faster it will increase xii . the best bedmaker . vvhen a good man is ill at ease , god promiseth to make all his * bed in his sicknesse . pillow , bolster , head , feet , sides , all his bed . surely that god who made him , knowes so well his measure and temper , as to make his bed to please him . herein his art is excellent , not sitting the bed to the person , but the person to the bed , insusing patience into him . but o how shall god make my bed , who have no bed of mine owne to make ? thou foole , hee can make thy not having a bed , to be a bed unto thee . when jacob slept on the * ground who would not have had his hard lodging , therewithall to have his heavēly dreame ? yea the poore woman in jersey , * which in the reigne of queen mary , was delivered of a child , as she was to be burnt at the stake , may be said to be brought to bed in the fire . why not ? if gods justice threatned to cast * jezabel into a bed of fire , why might not his mercy make , the very flames a soft bed to that his patient martyr . xiii . when begun , ended . the scripture giveth us a very short account of some battailes , as if they were flightes without sights , and the armies parted as soone as met . as gen . . sam. . cro. . . some will say the spirit gives in onely the summe of the successe , without any particular passages in acheiving it . but there is more in it , that so little is said of the fight . for sometime the question of the victory , is not disputed at all , but the bare propounding decides it . the stand of pikes , oftimes no stand , & the footemen so fitly called as making more use of their feet then their hands . and when god sends a qualme of feare over the souldiers hearts , it is not all the skill and valour of their commanders , can give them a cordiall . our late warre hath given us some instances hereof . yet let not men tax their armyes for cowardise , it being probable , that the badnesse of such as staid at home of their respective sides , had such influence on those in field , that souldiers hearts might be feare-broken , by the score of their sinnes , who were no souldiers . xiiii . too late , too late . the elder brother laid a * sharpe and true charge against his brother prodigal , for his riot and luxury . this nothing affected his father , the mirth , meat , musick at the feast , was notwithstanding no whit abated . why so ? because the elder brother was the younger in this respect , & came too late . the other had got the speed of him , having first accused himselfe , ( verses before ) and already obtained his pardon . satan , ( to give him his due ) is my brother , and my elder by creation . sure i am , hee will be my greivous accuser . i will endeavour to prevent him , first condemning my selfe to god my father . so shall i have an act of indempnity before he can enter his action against mee . xv . lawfull stealth . i find two ( husband and wife ) both stealing , and but one of them guilty of felony . and rachel * had stolne the images that were her fathers , and jacob stole away unawares to laban the syrian . in the former a complication of theft lying , sacriledge , and idolatry ; in the latter no sin at all . for what our conscience tels us is lawfull , and our discretion , dangerous , it is both conscience and discretion to doe it with all possible secrecy . it was as lawfull for jacob in that case privately to steale away , as it is for that man , who findes the sun-shine too hot for him , to walke in the shade . god keep us from the guilt of rachels stealth . but for jacobs stealing away , one may confess the fact , but deny the fault therein . some are said to have gotten their life for a prey if any , in that sense , have preyed on , ( or if you will ) plundered their own liberty , stealing away from the place , where they conceived their selves in danger , none can justly condemne them . xvi . text improved . i heard a preacher take for his text , am i not thy asse , * upon which thou hast ridden ever since i was thine unto this day , was i ever wont to doe so unto thee ? i wondred what he would make thereof , fearing hee would starve his auditors for want of matter . but hence he observed . . the siliest and simplest being wronged , may justly speake in their own● defence . . worst men , have 〈◊〉 good title to their own● goods . balaam a sorcerer yet the asse confesseth twise he was his . . they who have done many good offices , and faile in one , are often not onely unrewarded for former service , but punished for that one offence . . when the creatures formerly officious to serve us , start from their wonted obedience ( as the earth to become barren and aire pestilential ) man ought to reflect on his owne sinne as the sole cause thereof . how fruitfull are the seeming barren places of scripture . bad plow-men , which make balkes of such ground . wheresoever the surface of gods word doth not laugh and sing with corne , there the heart thereof within is merry with mines , affording , wherenot plaine matter , hidden mysteries . xvii . the royall bearing . god is said to have brought the israelites out of aegypt an * aeagles-wings . now eagles , when removing their young-ones , have a different posture from other foule , proper to themselves ( fit it is that there should be a distinction betwixt soveraigne and subjects ) carrying their prey in their talons , but young ones on their backs , so interposing their whole bodyes betwixt them and harme . the old eagles body , is the young eagles-sheild , and must be shott through , before her young ones can be hurt . thus god , in saving the iewes , put himselfe betwixt them and danger . surely god so loving under the law , is no lesse gracious in the gospell : our soules are better secured , not onely above his wings , but in his body ; your life is hid * with christ in god . no feare then of harme , god first must be pierced , before wee can be prejudiced . xviii . none to him . it is said of our saviour , his fan * is in his hand . how well it fits him , and he it ? could satans clutches snatch the fan , what worke would he make ? he would fan , as he doth * winnow , in a tempest , yea , in a whirle-winde , and blow the best away . had man the fan in his hand especially in these distracted times , out goes for chaffe , all oposite to the opinions of his party seeming sanctity wil carry it away from such who with true , ( bu● weak grace , ) have ill natures and eminent corruptions . there is a kind of darnell , called lolium murinum because so counterfeiting corne , that even the mice themselves , ( experience should make them good tasters , ) are sometimes deceived therwith . hypocrites in like manner so act holinesse , that they passe for saints before men , whose censures often barne up the chaffe , and burne up the graine . well then ! christ for my share . good luck have hee with his honour . the fan is in so good a hand , it cannot be mended . onely his hand , who knowes hearts is proper for that employment . xx . humility : it is a strange passage , rev. . , . and one of the elders answered saying unto mee , what are these who are arrayed in white robes , and whence came they ? and i said unto him , sir , thou knowest . and he said unto me , these are they who have come out of great tribulation , &c. how comes the elder when asking a question to be said to answer ? on good reasō : for his quaere in effect , was a resolution , he ask't st. iohn , not because he thought he could , but knew he could not answer . that johns ingenuous confession of his ignorance might invite the elder to inform him . as his question is called an answer , so gods comm●nds are grants . when he enjoynes us , repent , believe , it is onely to draw from us a free acknowledgment of our impotency to performe his commands . this confession being made by us , what he enjoynes he will enable us to doe . mans owning his weaknesse , is the onely stock for god thereon to graft the grace of his assistance . meditations on the times . i. name-generall . heber had a sonne borne in the dayes when the * earth was divided . conceive we it just after the confusion of tongues , when mankind was parcelled out into severall colonies . wherefore heber to perpetuate the memorie of so famous an accident , hapning at the birth of his sonne , called him peleg , which in the hebrew tongue signifieth partition or division . we live in a land and age of dissention . counties , cities , townes , villages , families , all divided in opinions , in affections . each man almost divided from himselfe , with feares and distractions . of all the children , borne in england within this last five yeares and brought to the font , ( or if that displeas , to the bason ) to be baptized , every male may be called peleg , and female , palgah in the sad memoriall of the time of their nativity . ii. wofull wealth . barbarous is the custome of some english people on the sea side , to prey on the goods of poore shipwrack't merchants . but more divelish in their designe , who make false fires , to undirect sea-men in a tempest , that thereby from the right road , they may be misled into danger and destruction . england hath been toss'd with an hirricano of a civill warre . some men are said to have gotten great wealth thereby . but it is an ill leap when men grow rich per saltum , taking their rise from the miseries of a land , to which their owne sinnes have contributed their share . those are farre worse , ( and may not such be found ? ) who by cunning insinuations , and false glosings , have in these dangerous dayes trained and betrayed simple men into mischeife . can their pelfe prosper ? not got by valour or industry , but deceit ; surely it cannot be wholsome , when every morsell of their meate is mummie , ( good physick but bad food ) made of the corps of mens estates . nor will it prove happy , it being to be feared , that such who have been enriched with other men's ruines , will be ruined by their own riches . the child of ten yeares , is old enough to remember the beginning of such men's wealth , and the man of threescore and ten is young enough to see the ending thereof . iii. a new plot . vvhen herod had beheaded iohn the baptist , some might expect that his disciples would have done some great matter , in revenge of their masters death . but see how they behave themselves . and his * disciples came and tooke up the body and buried it , and went and told iesus . and was this all ? and what was all this ? alasse poore men ! it was some solace to their sorrowfull soules , that they might lament their losse to a fast friend , who though for the present unable to helpe , was willing to pitty them . hast thou thy body unjustly imprisoned , or thy goods violently detained , or thy credit causelesly defamed ? i have a designe whereby thou shalt revenge thy selfe , even goe and tell iesus . make to him a plaine and true report of the manner and measure of thy sufferings , especially there being a great difference betwixt iesvs then clouded in the flesh , and iesvs now shining in glory , having now as much pitty and more power to redresse thy greivances . i know it is counted but a cowardly trick , for boyes when beaten but by their equals , to cry that they 'l tell their father . but during the present necessitie , it is both the best wisedome and valour , even to complaine to thy father in heaven , who will take thy case into his serious consideration . iiii. providence . marvelous is gods goodnesse , in preserving the young ostridges . for the old one , leaveth her * egges in the earth , and warmeth them in the dust , forgetting that the foot may crush them , or that the wild beast may breake them . but divine providence so disposeth it , that the bare nest hatcheth the egges , and the warm'th of the sandy ground discloseth them . many parents ( which otherwise would have been loving pelicans ) are by these unnaturall warres , forced to be ostridges to their own children , leaving them to the narrow mercy of the wide world . i am confident that these orphanes ( so may i call them whilst their parents are a live ) shall be comfortably provided for . when worthy master samuel herne famous for his living , preaching , and writing lay on his death bed , ( rich onely in goodnesse and children ) his wife made much womanish lamentation , what should hereafter become of her little ones , peace ( sweet heart said hee ) that god who feedeth the * ravens will not starve the hernes . a speech censured as light by some , observed by others as propheticall , as indeed it came to passe , that they were well disposed of . despaire not therefore o thou parent of gods blessing for having many of his blessings , a numerous off-spring . but depend on his providence for their maintenance : finde thou but faith to believe it , he will finde meanes to effect it . v. coles * for fagot . in the dayes of king edward the sixth when bonner was kept in prison , reverend ridley having his bishoprick of london would never goe to dinner at fulham without the company of bonners * mother and sister ; the former alwayes sitting in a chaire , at the upper end of the table , these guests , were as constant as bread and salt at the board , no meale could be made without them . o the meeknesse , and mildnesse of such men as must make martyres ! active charity alwayes goes along with passive obedience . how many ministers wives & childrē , now adayes are outed of house and home ready to be starved , how few are invited to their tables , who hold the sequestrations of their husbands or fathers benefices ? yea many of them are so farr from being bountifull , that they are not just , denying or detaining from those poore soules that pittance , which the parliament hath alotted for their maintenance . vi . fugitives over taken . the city of geneva is seated in the marches of severall dominions , france , savoy , switzerland ; now it is a fundamentall law in that signiory , to give free accesse to all offenders , yet so as to punish their offence , according to the custome of that place wherein the fault was committed . this necessary severity doth sweep their state from being the sink of sinners , the rendevouz of rogues , and head-quarters of all malefactors , which otherwise would fly thither in hope of indempnity . herein i highly aprove the discipline of geneva . if we should live to see churches of severall governments permitted in england , it is more then probable that many offenders , not out of conscience , but to escape censures , would fly from one congregation to another , what * nabal said snllenly and spightfully , one may sadly foresee , & fore-say of this land , many servants now adayes will breake every man from his master ; many guilty persons abandoning that discipline under which they were bred and brought up , will shift and shelter themselves under some new model of government . well were it then if every man , before he be admitted a member of a new congregation , doe therein first , make satisfaction for such scandalous sinnes , whereof he stands justly charged in that church which he deserted . this would conduce to the advanceing of vertue and the retrenching of notorious licentiousnesse . vii both and neither . a city was built in germany upon the river weser , by charles the emperour , & vuidekind , first christian-duke of saxony ; and because both contributed to the structure thereof , it was called * mynethyne , ( at this day , by corrupt pronunciation mindin ) to shew the joynt-interest both had in the place . send lord , in thy due time , such a peace in this land , as prince and people may share therein ; that the soveraigne might have what hee justly calls myne , his lawfull prerogative , and leave to the subjects their propriety . such may be truely termed an accommodation which is ad commmodum utriusque for the benefit of both parties concerned therein . viii . fed with fasting . the salmon may passe for the ridle of the river . the oldest fisherman never as yet met with any meate in the maw thereof , thereby to advantage his conjecture on what bil of fare that fish feedeth . it eats not flys with the pearch , nor swollowes wormes with the roach , nor suckt dew with the oisters , nor devoureth his fellow fishes with the pike , what hath it in the water , but the water ? yet salmons grow great , and very fat in their season . how doe many ( exiles in their owne country ) subsist now adayes of nothing , and wandering in a wildernesse of want ( except they have manna miraculously from heaven ) they have no meate on earth from their owne meanes . at what ordinary or rather extraordinary do they diet ? that for all this have cheerefull faces , light hearts , and merry countenances . surely some secret comfort supports their soules . such never desire , but to make one meale all the days of their lives , on the * continuall feast of a good conscience . the fattest capons yeild but sad merry-thoughts to the greedy glutton , in comparison of those delightfull dainties which this dish dayly affords such , as feed upon it . ix . bare in fat pasture . forresters have informed mee , that out-lodging deere are seldom seen to be so fat as those as keep themselves within the parke . whereof they assigne this reason that those straglers ( though they have more ground to range over , more grasse and graine to take their repast upon , yet they ) are in constant feare as if conscious , that they are trespassers , being out of the protection , because out of the pale of the parke . this makes their eyes and eares alwayes to stand sentinells for their mouthes , least the master of the ground pursue them for the dammage done unto him . are there any which unjustly possesse the houses of others ? surely such can never with quiet and comfort enjoy either their places or themselves . thy alwayes listen to the least noise of newes , suspecting the right owner should be reestated , whose restitution of necessity inferres the others ejection , lord that though my meanes be never so small , grant they may be my meanes , not wrongfully detained from others , having a truer title unto them . x. much good doe you . one * nicias a philosopher having his shooes stollen from him , may they ( said he ) fit his feet that tooke them away . a wish at the first view very harmelesse , but there was that in it , which poysoned his charity into a malicious revenge . for he himselfe had hurl'd or crooked feet , so that in effect he wish'd the theefe to be lame . whosoever hath plundred mee of my bookes and papers , i freely forgive him ; and desire that he may fully understand & make good use thereof , wishing him more joy of them , then he hath right to them . nor is there any snake , under my herbes , nor have i ( as nicias ) any reservation , or latent sense to my selfe , but from my heart doe desire , that to all purposes and intents my bookes may be beneficiall unto him . onely requesting him , that one passage in his ( lately my ) bible [ namely eph . . ] may be taken into his serious consideration . xi . the use of the alphabet . there was not long since a devout , but ignorant papist dwelling in spaine . he perceived a necessity of his owne private prayers to god , besides the pater nosters , ave maries , &c. used of course in the romish church . but so simple was he , that how to pray hee knew not . onely every morning humbly , bending his knees , and lifting up his eyes , and hands to heaven , he would deliberately repeate the alphabet . and now ( said he ) o good god put these letters together to spell syllables , to spell words , to make such sense , as may bee most to thy glory , and my good . in these distracted times , i know● what generalls to pray for . gods glory , truth and peace , his majesties honour , priviledges of parliament , liberty of subjects , &c. but when i des●nd to particulars , whē , how , by whom i should desire these things to be effected i may fall to that poorepious mans . a. b. c. d. e. &c. xii . the good effect of a bad cause . god in the leviticall law , gave this reward , to the woman causelesly suspected of her iealous husband , that the bitter water , which she was to drinke in the priests presence , should not onely doe her no harme , but also procure her children , * if barren before . that water ( drunk by her to quench the fire of her husbands jealousie , ) proved like the spaw unto her , so famous for causing fruitfulness . thus her innocence was not onely cleared , but crowned . his gracious majesty hath been suspected to be popishly inclined . a suspition like those mushroomes , which pliny * recounts amongst the miracles in nature , because growing without a roote . well he hath passed his purgation , a bitter mornings-draught , hath he taken downe for many yeares together . see the operation thereof ; his constancy in the protestant religion , hath not onely been assured to such who unjustly were jealous of him , but also by gods blessing , he dayly growes greater , in men's hearts , pregnant with the love and affection of his subjects . xiii . the child man . iohn gerson the pious and learned chancelour of paris , beholding and bemoaning the generall corruption of his age , in doctrine and manners , was wont to get a * quire of little children about him , and to intreate them to pray to god in this behalfe . supposing their prayers , least defiled with sinne , and most acceptable to heaven . men now adayes are so infected with 〈◊〉 alice , that little children are the best chaplaines to pray for their parents . but o where shall such be found , not resenting of the faultes and factions of their fathers ? gersons plot will not take effect . i will try another way . i will make my addresse to the holy child jesus , so is he stiled * even when glorified in heaven ; not because he is still under age ( like popish pictures , placeing him in his mothers armes and keeping him in his constant infancy ) but because with the strength and perfection of a man he hath the innocence and humility of a child him onelywill i employ to interceed for me . xiiii . worse , before better . strange was the behaviour of our saviour , towards his beloved lazarus , * informed by a messenger of his sicknesse he aboade two dayes still in the place where i was . why so slow ? bad sending him , or to him , on a dying mans errands . but the cause was , because lazarus was not bad enough for christ to cure , intending not to recover him from sicknesse , but revive him from death , to make the glory of the miracle greater . england doth lie desperately sick , of a violent disease in the bowels thereof . many messengers we dispatch ( monthly fasts , weekly sermons , daily prayers ) to informe god of our sad condition . he still stayes in the same place , yea , which is worse , seemes to go backward , for every day lesse likely-hood , lesse hope of helpe . may not this bee the reason that our land must yet bee reduced to more extremity , that god may have the higher honour of our deliverance . xv . all sinne , all suffer . the mariners that guided the ship in the tempest , acts . . had a designe for their owne safety with the ruine of the rest ; intending ( under pretence of casting out an anchor ) to escape in a bo●te , by themselves . but the soldiers prevented their purpose , and cut off the cord of the boate , and let it fall into the sea . one and all : all sinck , or all save . herein their martiall law did a piece of exemplary justice . doe any intend willingly ( without speciall cause ) to leave the land , so to avoid that misery which their sinnes with others have drawne upon it ; might i advise them , better mourne in , then move out of sad zion . hang out the * scarlet lace at the casement , ( eyes made red withsorrow for sinne ) but slide not downe out of the window without better warrant . but if they be disposed to depart , and leave their native soyle , let them take heede their fly-boate meets not with such souldiers as will send them back , with shame and sorrow , into the ship againe . xvi . eate worthily . saul being in full pursuite of the flying philistines made a law , that no israelite should * eat untill evening . but it was the judgement of jonathan that the army if permitted to eate had done greater execution on their enemies . for time so lost was gained being layed out in the necessary refection of their bodyes . yea marke the issue of their long fasting . the people at night coming with ravenous appetites did eat the fles● with the * bloud , to the provoaking of gods anger . many english people having conquered some stes●ly lusts which fight against their soules , were still chasing them , in hope finally to subdue them . was it a pious or politique designe to forbid such the r●ceiving of the sacrament ; their spirituall food ? i will not positively conclude that such if suffere● to strengthen themselves with that heavenly repast , had thereby been enabled more effectually to cut downe their corruptions . onely two things i will desire . first that such jonathans , who by breaking this custome have found benefit to thēselves , may not be condemned by others . ly i shal pray that two hungry yeares make not the third a glutton . that communicants , two twelve moneths together forbidden the lords supper , come not , ( when admitted thereunto ) with better stomach then heart , more greedinesse then preparation . xvii . devotions duplicat . vvhen the iewish sabbath in the primitive times , was newly changed into the christians-lords . day , many devout people , twisted both together in their observation , abstaining from servile-workes , and keeping both saturday and sunday wholy for holy employments . during these civill warres , wednesday and fryday fasts have been appointed by different authorities . what harme had it been , if they had been both generally observed . but alas ! when two messengers being sent together on the same errand fall out and fight by the way , will not the worke be worse done then if none were employed ? in such a paire of fasts it is to be feared that the divisions of our affections rather would increase then abate gods anger against us . two negatives make an affirmative . dayes of humiliations are appointed for men to deny themselves , and their sinfull lusts. but doe not our two fasts more peremptorily affirme and avouch our mutuall malice and hatred ? god forgive us , we have cause enough to keepe ten but not care enough to keepe one monethly day of huiliation . xviii . law to themselves . some . yeares since in the vniversity of cambridge it was solemnly debated betwixt the h●ads , to debarre young schollers of that liberty allowed them in christmas , as inconsistent with the discipline of students . but some grave governours maintained the good use thereof , because thereby in twelve dayes they more discover the dispositions●of schollers then in twe ve moneths before . that a vigilant vertue indeed , which would be earely up at prayers and study , when all authority to punish lay a sleepe . vice these late yeares hath kept open house in england . welcome all commers without any examination . no penance for the adulterer , stocks for the drunkard , whip for the petty larciner , brand for the felon , gallowes for the murderer . god all this time us tries as he did * hezekiah , that he might know all that is in our hearts , such as now are chast , sober , just , true , shew themselves acted with a higher principle of piety , then the ●are a voyding of punishment . xx . the new disease . there is a desease of infants ( and an in●ant-disease , having ●carcely as yet gotten a proper name in latin ) cal●ed the ricketts . wherein the head waxeth too great , whil'st the legges , and lower parts waine too little . awoman in the west hath happily healed many , by cauterizing the veine behind the eare . how proper the remedy for the malady i engage not , experience oftimes out-doing art , whil'st wee behold the cure easily effected , and the naturall cause thereof hardly assigned . have not many now adaies the same sicknesse in their soules ? their heads swelling to a vast proportion , and they wōderfully inabled with knowledge to discourse . but alasse how little their leggs ? poore their practise , and lazy their walking in a godly conversation . shall i say that such may be cured by searing the veine in their head , not to hurt their hearing , but hinder the ( itching ) of their eares . indeed his tongue deserves to be burnt , that tlekes of searing the eares of others ; for faith commeth by hearing . but i would have men not heare fewer sermons , but heare more in hearing fewer sermons . lesse preaching better heard , ( reader lay the emphasis , not on the word lesse , but on the word better ) would make a wiser and stronger christian , digesting the word from his head into his heart to practice it in his conversation . meditations on all kind of prayers . . newly awaked . by the leviticall law , the firstling of every cleane creature which opened the * matrix was holy to god . by the morall analogy thereof , this first glance of mine eyes , is due to him . by the custome of this kingdome , there accreweth to the land-lord a fine and herriot from his tenant , taking a further estate in his lease . i hold from god this clay cottage of my body ; ( an homely tenement , but may i in some measure be assured of a better before outed of this . ) now being raised from last nights sleepe i may seeme to renue a life . what shall i pay to my land-lord ? even the best quick creature which is to be found on my barren copy-hold namely the calves of my lips , praising him for his protection over mee . more he doth not aske , lesse i cannot give , yea such is his goodnesse and my weaknesse , that before i can give him thankes , he giveth me to be thankfull . ii. family-prayer . long have i search't the scriptures to find a positive precept enioyning , or precedent observing dayly prayer in a family , yet hitherto have found none proper for my purpose . indeed i read , that there was a * yearely sacrifice offered at bethlehem for the family of iesse ; but if hence we should inferre household holy dutyes , others would conclude they should onely be annuall . and whereas it is said , poure out thine indignation on the heathen , and on the families which have not called on thy name , the word taken there in a large acception reproveth rather the want of nationall , then domesticall service of god . but let not propha● nesse improve it selfe , o● censure family-prayer for will-w●rship , as wanting ● warrant in gods word . for where god injoyneth a generall du y as to ●erve and feare him , there ●ll p●rticular meanes , ( wh●reof prayer a principall ) t●nding thereun●o are commanded . and ●urely the pious house●olds of * abraham , * io●hua , and * cornelius , had ●ome holy exercises to ●hemselves , as broader ●hen their personall devotion , so narrower then the publique service , just adequate to their owne private family . iii. selfe without other-selfe . some loving wife may perchance be ( though not angry with ) grieved at her husband , for excluding her from his private prayers , thus thinking with herselfe ; must i be discommoned from my husbands devotion ? what ? severall closset-chappells , for those of the same bed and board ? are not our credits embarqud in the same bottom , so that they swim or sinke together ? may i not be admitted an auditour at his petitions , were it onely to say amen thereunto ? but let such a one seriously consider what the * prophet saith , the family of the house of david apart , and their wives apart ; the family of the house of nathan apart , & their wives apart . personall private faults must be privately confessed . it is not meet , shee should know all the bosom sins of him , in whose bosom she lieth . perchance being now offended , for not hearing her husbands prayers she would be more offended , if shee heard them . nor hath s●e just cause to complaine , seeing herein nathans wife , is equall with nathan himselfe ; what liberty she alloweth , is allowed her , and may as well as her husband claime the priviledge privately and apart to power forth her soule unto god in her daily devotions . yet man and wife , at other times ought to communicate in their prayers , all other excluded . iv. groanes . how comes it to passe that groanes made in men by gods spirit cannot bee uttered ? i finde two reasons thereof . first , because those groans are so low , and little , so faint , fraile , and feeble , so next to nothing ; these still-borne babes only breath without crying . secondly , because so much diversity , yea contrariety of passion , is crowded within the compasse of a groane . in it is comprized sorrow for our sins , joy in christ , fear of hell , hope of heaven , love of god , hatred of sinne . now as when many men at the same time pressing out at a narrow wicket , all stick , and stop each other , so no wonder if so many passions at the same time , striving to vent themselves at the na●row outlet of a groane , are stayed from being expressive , and the groane become unutterable . how happy is their condition , who have god for their interpreter ? who not onely understands what they do , but what they would say . daniel could tell the meaning of the dreame , which nebuchadnezzar had forgotten . god knowes the meaning of those groanes which never as yet knew their owne meaning , and understands the sense of those sighes , which never understood themselves . v. ejaculations their use . eiaculations are short prayers , darted up to god on emergent occasions . if no other artilery had been used this last seven yeares in england , i will not affirme more soules had been in heaven , but fewer corpes had been buried in earth . o that with david we might have said my heart * is fixed , being lesse busied about fixing of muskets . the principall use of ejaculations , is against the fiery * dartes of the i evill . our adversary inje●s , ( how he doth it god k●owes , that hee doth it we know , ) bad motions into our hearts , and that we may be as nimble with our antidotes , as he with his poysons , such short prayers are proper and necessary . in bard h●vens ( so choacked up with the envious sands that great ships drawing many soote water can not come neare ) lighter and lesser pinnasses may freely and safely arive . when wee are time-bound , placebound , or person bound , so that wee cannot compose our selves to make a large solemn prayer , this is the right instant for ejaculations , whether orally uttered , or onely poured forth in wardly in the heart . vi . their priviledge . eiaculations take not up any roome in the soule . they give liberty of callings , so that at the same instant one may follow his proper vocation . the husbandman may dart forth an ejaculation and not make a balke the more . the seaman never the lesse steere his ship right , in the dark'st night . yea the soldier at the same time , may shoot out his prayer to god , and aime his pistoll at his enemy , the one better hitting the marke for the other . the feild wherein bees feed is no whit the barer for their biting , when they have tooke their full re past on flowers or grasse , the ox may feed , the sheep fat on their reversions . the reason is because those little chymists destil onely the refined part of the floure , leaving the grosser substance thereof . so ejaculations bind not men to any bodily observance , onely busie the spirituall half , which maketh them consistant with the prosecution of any other imploiment . vii . extemporary prayers . in extemporary prayer what men most admire god least regardeth . namely the volubility of the tongue . herein a tertullus may equal , yea exceed saint . paul himselfe whose * speech was but meane . o , it is the heart , keeping time and tune with the voyce which god listneth unto . otherwise the nimblest tongue tires , and loudest voyce growes dumbe before it comes halfe way to heaven . make it ( said god to moses ) in all * things , like the patterne in the mount . onely the conformity of the wordes with the mind , mounted up in heavenly thoughts is acceptable to god . the gift of extemporary prayer , ready utterance may be bestowed on a reprobate , but the grace thereof , [ religious aflections ] is onely given to gods servants . viii . their causelesse scandall . some lay it to the charge of extemporary prayers , as if it were a diminution to gods majesty to offer them unto him , because ( alluding to davids expression to * ornan the jebufite , ) they cost nothing , but come without any paines or industry to provide them . a most false aspersion . surely preparation of the heart , ( though not premeditation of every word ) is required thereunto . and grant the party praying at that very instant fore-studieth not every expression , yet surely he hath formerly laboured with his heart and tongue too , before he attained that dexterity of utterance , properly and readily to expresse himselfe . many houres in night no doubt he is waking , and was by himselfe practising scripture phrase , and the language of canaan , wl ilst such as censure him , for his lazinesse , were fast a sleep in their ●eds . supp● one should make an entertainment for strangers with flesh , fish , foule , venison , fruit , all out of his owne fold , field , ponds , parke , orchard , will any say that this feast cost him nothing who made it ? surely although all grew on the same , and for the present he bought nothing by the penny , yet he or his ancestors for him did at first dearely purchase these home-accommodations , when that this entertainment did arise . so the party who hath attained the faculty and facility of extemporary prayer , ( the easie act of a laborious habit ) though at the instant not appearing to take paines , hath bin formerly industrious with himselfe , or his parents with him ( in giving him pious education ) or else hee had never acquired so great perfection , seeing only long practice makes the pen of a ready writer . ix . night-prayer . death in scripture is compared to sleepe . well then may my night-prayer be resembled to making my will . i will be carefull not to die intestate ; as also not to deferre my will-making , till i am not compos mentis till the lethargie of drousinesse seize upon mee . but being in perfect memory i bequeath my soule to god ; the rather because i am sure the divell will accuse mee when sleeping . o the advantage of spirits above bodyes ! if our clay-cottage be not cooled with rest , the roofe falls a fire . satan hath no such need : the * night is his fittest time . thus mans vacation is the terme for the beasts of the forrest , they move most , whil'st he lies quiet in his bed . least therefore , whilst sleeping i be out-lawed for want of appearance to satan's charge ; i committ my cause to him , who neither ●mbers nor sleepes ; answer for me o my god . x. a nocturnall . david surveying the firmament , brake forth into this consideration , when i considered the heavens the worke of thy fingers , the * moon & thestarres , which thou hast created ; what is man &c. how cometh he to mention the moone and starres , and omitt the sunne . the other being but his pensioners , shining with that exhibition of light , which the bounty of the sun alots them . it is answered ; this was davids night meditation , when the sunne departing to the other world , left the lesser lightes onely visible in heaven , and as the skie is best beheld by day in the glory thereof , so it is best surveyed by night , in the variety of the same . night was made for man to rest in . ●ut when i cannot sleep , may i with this psalmist entertaine my waking , with good thoughts . not to use them as opium , to invite my corrupt nature to 〈◊〉 , but to bolt out bad thoughts , which otherwise would possesse my soule . xi . set prayers . set prayers are prescript formes of our own , or others composing such are lawfull for any , and needfull for some to use . lawfull for any . otherwise god would no● have appointed the priests , ( presumed o● themselves best able to pray ) a forme of blessing the people . nor would our saviour have set u● his prayers , which ( as the towne-bushell is the standard both to measure corne , and other bushels by , ) is both a prayer in it selfe , and a pattern or plat-forme of prayer , such as accuse set-formes to be pinioning the wings of the dove , will by the next returne affirme that girdles and garters made to strengthen and adorne , are so many shackles and fetters , which hurt and hinder mens free motion . needfull for some . namely for such who as yet have not attained ( what all should endeavour ) to pray extempore , by the spirit . but as little children , ( to whom the plainest and evenest roome at first , is a labarinth ) are so ambitious of going , an-hye-lone , that they scorne to take the guidance of a forme , or bench to direct them , but will adventure by themselves , though often to the cost of a knock and a fall : so many confesse their weaknes in denying to confesse it , who refuseing to be beholden to a set-forme of prayer , preferre to fay non-sence rather then nothing in their extempore expressions . more modesty , and no le●e piety it had been for such men , to have prayed longer with set-formes , that they might pray better without them . xii . the same againe . it is no base and beggerly shift , ( arguing a narrow and necessitous heart ) but a peice of holy and heavenly thrist often to use the same prayer againe . christs practice is my directory herein , who the third time said the same * words . a good prayer is not like a stratagem in warre to be used but once . no , the oftener , the better . the cloathes of the israelites whilst they wandered fortie yeares in the wildernesse , never waxed old as if made of perpetuano indeed . so a good prayer , though often used is still fresh and faire in the eares and eyes of heaven . despaire not then thou simple soule ; who hast no exchange of raiment , whose prayers cannot appeare every day , at heavens court , in new cloaths thou maist be as good a subject , though not so great a gallant , coming alwayes in the same sute . yea perchance the very same , which was thy fathers and grand-fathers before thee , ( a well composed prayer is a good heire-toome in a family , & may hereditarily bedescended to many generations , ) but know thy comfort , thy prayer is well know to he●ven to it , which it is a co●stant customer . onely adde new , or new degrees of old affections thereunto , and it will be acceptable to god , thus repaired , as if new erected . xiii . mixt-prayers . mixt-prayers are a methodicall composition , ( no casuall confusion ) of extempore and premeditate prayers put together . wherein the standers , still are the same , and the essentiall parts , ( confession of sin , begging of pardon , craving grace for the future , thanking god for former favours &c. ) like the bones of the prayer remaine alwayes unaltered . whilst the moveable petitions ( like the flesh & colour of thy prayers ) are added , abridged , or altered , as gods spirit adviseth and enableth us , according to the emergencies of present occasions . in the mid-land-sea galleys are found to be most usefull , which partly runne on the legges of oares , and partly flye with the wings of sailes , whereby they become serviceable both in a wind and in a calme . such the conveniency of mixtprayer , wherein infused and acquired graces meet together , and men partly move with the brea the of the holy spirit , partly row on by their owne industry . such medley prayers are most usefull , as having the stedinesse of premeditate , and the activity of extemporary prayer , joyned together . xiiii . take your company along . it is no disgrace for such who have the guift and grace of extemporary prayer , sometimes to use a set-forme , for the benefit and behoof of others . iaacob though he could have marched on a man's pace , yet was carefull not to over-drive the children , and eewes * big with young . let ministers remember to bring up the r●re in their congregations , that the meanest may goe along with them in their devotions . god could have created the world ex tempore , in a moment , but was pleased ( as i may say ' , ) to make it premediatly in a set-method of six dayes , not for his own , ease , but our instruction , that our heads and hearts might the better keep pace with his hands , to behold and consider his workmanship . let no man disdaine to set his owne nimblenesse backward that others may goe along with him . such degrading ones-selfe is the quickest proceeding in piety , when men preferre the edification of others before their owne credit and esteeme . xv . prayer must be quotidian . amongst other arguments inforceing the necessity of daily-prayer , this not the least that christ injoynes us to petition for dayly bread . new-bread we know is best , and in a spirituall sense , our bread , ( though in it selfe as stale and moldie as that of the gibeonites ) is every day new , because a new and hot blessing ( as i might say ) is dayly beg'd , and bestowed of god upon it . manna must dayly be gathered , & not provisionally be hoorded up , god expects that men every day addresse themselves unto him , by petitioning him for sustenance . how contrary is this to the common-practice of many . as camells in sandy-countries are said to drink but once in seven dayes , and then in praesens , praeteritum , & futurum , for time past , present , and to come , so many , fumble this , last , 〈◊〉 next weekes devotion all in a prayer . yea some deferre all their praying till the last day . constantine had a conceite that because baptisme wash't away all sinns , he would not be baptized till his death-bed , that so his soule might never loose the purity thereof , but immediately mount to heaven . but sudden death preventing him , he was not baptized at all , as some say , or onely by an arrian bishop as others a●irme . if any erroniously on the same supposition put off their prayers to the last , let them take heed , least long delayed , at last they prove either none at all or none in effect . xvi . the lords prayer . in this age wee begin to think meanely of the lords prayer , oh how basely may the lord think of our prayers . some will not forgive the lords prayer for that passage therein , as we forgive them that trespasse against us . others play the witches on this prayer . witches are reported ( amongst many , other hellish observations , whereby they oblige themselves to satan ) to say the lords prayer backwards . are there not many , who though they doe not pronounce the syllables of the lords prayer retrograde ( their discretion will not suffer them to be betraied , to such a non-sence sin , ) yet they transpose it in effect , desiring their dayly-bread , before gods kingdom come , preferring temporall benefits before heavenly blessings . oh ; if every one by this marke should be tryed for a witch , how hard would it goe with all of us . lamiarum plena sunt omnia . xvii . all best . at the siedge and takeing of new-carthage in spaine there was dis●ention betwixt the souldiers , about the crown murall due to him , who first footed the walles of the city , two pretended to the crown . parts were taken , and the roman army siding in factions , was likely to fall foule , and mutually fight against it selfe . scipio the generall prevented the danger by providing two murall * crownes , giving one to each who claimed it , affirming that on the examination of the prooffes , both did appeare to him at the same instant to climb the wall . o let us not set severall kinds of prayers at varience betwixt themselves , which of them should be most usefull , most honourable . all are most excellent at several times , crown gro●nes , crown ejaculations , crown extemporary , crown sett , crown mixt prayer , i dare boldly say , he that in some measure loves not all kind of lawfull prayers , loves no kind of lawfull prayers . for if we love god the father , we can hate no ordinance , his child though perchance an occasion may affect one above another . xviii . all manner of prayer . it is an antient stratagem of satan , ( yet still he useth it , still men are cheated by it , ) to set gods ordinance at variance , ( as the desciples fell out amongst themselves ) which of them should be the greatest . how hath the readers pue been clash't against the preachers pulpit , to the shaking almost of the whole church , whether that the word preached or read be most effectuall to salvation . also whether the word pre●ch'd or catechiz'd , most usefull . but no ordinance so abused as prayer . prayer hath been set up against preaching , against catech●zing , against it selfe . whether publick or private , church or closet , set or extempore prayer the best . see how st. paul determines the controversie * {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} with all manner of prayer , ( so the geneva translation ) and supplication in the spirit . preferring none , commending all lawfull prayer to our practise . xx . to god alone . amongst all manner of prayer to god , i find in scripture neither promise , precept , nor precedent to warrant prayers to saints . and were there no other reason , this would incourage me to pray to christ alone because . st. paul struck elimas blind , christ made blind bartemeus see . st. peter kill'd ananias and saphira with his word , christ with his word revived dead lazarus . the disciples forbad the synophaenician woman , to call after christ , christ called unto her after they had forbidden her . all my saviours workes are saveing workes , none extending to the death of mankind . surely christ being now in heaven , hath not lesse goodnesse because he hath more glory , his bowels still earn on us . i will therefore rather present my prayers to him , who alwayes did heale , then to those who sometimes did hurt . and though this be no convinceing argument to papists , 't is a comfortable motive to protestants . a good third , where so good firsts and seconds have been lay'd before . occasional meditations . i. love & anger . i saw two chil dren fighting together in the street . the father of the one passing by , f●rch't his sonne away and corrected him ; the other lad was left without any check , though both were equally faulty in the fray. i was halfe offended that , being guilty alike , they were not punished alike : but the parent would only meddle with him over whom he had an undoubted dominion , to whom he bare an unfayned affection . the wicked sinne , the godly smart most in this world . god singleth out his owne sonnes , and beateth them by themselves : whom hee loveth he * chasteneth . whilest the ungodly ; preserved from affliction , are reserved for destruction . it being needlesse that their haire should bee shaved with an hired * rasor whose heads are intended for the * axe of divine justice . ii. upwards , upwards . how large houses doe they build in london on little ground ? revenging themselves on the narrownesse of their roome with store of stories . excellent arithmetick ! from the roote of one floore , to multiplie so many chambers . and though painfull the climbing up , pleasant the staying there , the higher the healthfuller , with clearer light and sweeter aire . small are my meanes on earth . may i mount my soule the higher in heavenly meditations , relying on divine providence ; ( he that fed many thonsands with * five loaves , may feed me and mine with the fifth part of that one loafe , that once was all mine . higher my soule ! higher ! in bodily buildings , commonly the garrets are most emptie , but my minde the higher mounted , will bee the better furnished . let ●severance to death bee my uppermost chamber , the roof of which grace is the pavement of glory . iii. bew●re wanton wit . i saw an indentu e too fairely engrossed ; for the writer ( beter scrivener then clearke ) had so filled it with flourishes that it hindred my reading thereof , the wantonnesse of his pen made a new alphabet , and i was subject to mistake his d●shes for reall letters . what dammage hath unwarie rhetorick done to religion ? many an innocent reader hath taken damas●en & theophilact at their word , counting their eloquent hyperboles of christs pres●nce in the sacrament , the exact standards of their judgement , whence after ages brought in t●ansubstantiation . yea from the fa●hers elegant apostraphe'es to the d●ad ( lively pictures by hasty eyes may be taken for living persons ) prayers to saints tooke their originall . i see that truths secretary must use a set hand , in wrighting important points of divinity . ill dancing for nimlle wits , on the precipisses of dangerous doctrines . for though they cscape by their agility , others ( encouraged by their examples ) may bee brought to destr●ction . iv. ill. done un done . i saw one● , whether ●ut of haste , or want 〈◊〉 skill , put up his sword the wrong way ; it cut even when it was sheathed , the edge being transposed where the back should have been : so that , perceiving his errour , he was feigne to draw it out , that hee might put it up againe . wearied and wasted with civill warre , wee that formerly loathed the mann● of peace ( because common ) could now be content to feede on it , though full of wormes and putrified : some so desirous thereof that they care not on what termes the warre be ended , so it bee ended : but such a peace would bee but a truce , and the conditions thereof would no longer bee in force , then whilest they are in force . let us pray that the sword be sheathed the right way , with gods glory ; and without the dangerous dslocation of prince and pe●ples right : otherwise it may justly be suspected , that the sword put up , will be drawn out again , and the articles of an i●l agreement , though engrossed in parchment , not take effect , so long as paper would continue . v. a pace a pace . rowing on the thames , the waterman confirmed mee in what formerly i had learnt from the maps ; how that river westward runnes so crooked as likely to lose it selfe in a labyrinth of its owne making . from reading to lon●on , by land , thirty by water an hundred miles . so wantonly that streame disporteth it selfe , as if as yet unresolved whether to advance to the sea , or retreat to its fountain . but the same being past london ( as if sensible of its former lazinesse , and fearing to be checkt of the ocean , the mother of all rivers , for so long loytering ; or else , as if wearie with wandring and loth to lose more way : or lastly , as if conceiving such wildenesse inconsistent with the gravity of his channel , now grown old , and ready to bee ●urted in the sea ) runnes in so direct a line , th●t from london to gravesend , the number of the 〈◊〉 are eq●ally twenty both by land and by water . ala● ! how much of my life is lavisht away ? oh the intricacies , windings , wandrings , turnings , tergiversations of my dece●full youth ! i have lived in the middest of a crooked generation * , and with them have turned aside unto * crooked wa●es . high time it is now for mee to make streight * paths for my feet and to redeeme what is past , by amending what is present and to come . flux , flux ( in the germa●ne tongue ; quick , quick ) was a mot●o of b●shop * jewels , presaging the approach of his death . may i make good use thereof , make haste , make haste , god knows how little time is l●st me and may i bee a good husband to improve the short remnant thereof . vi . alwaies the rising sunne . i have wondred why the romish church do not pray to saint abraham , saint david , saint hezekiah , &c. as well as to the apostles , and their successors since christs time ; for those antient patriarks , by the confession of papists , were long since relieved out of lim bo ( soon out , who were never in ) and admitted to the sight and presence of god , especially abraham , being father of the faithfull , as well gentile as ●ew , would ( according to their principles ) bee a proper patron for their petitions . but it seemes that moderne saints rob the old ones of their honour , a garnet , or late bernard of paris , have severally more prayers made unto them then many old saints have together . new beesoms sweepe cleane ; new * cisternes of fond mens owne hewing , most likely to hold water . protestants , in some kinde , serve their living ministers , as papists their dead sa●uts . for aged pastors , who have bor● the heat of the day , in our church , are justled out of respect by young preachers , not having halfe their age , nor a quarter of their learning and religion . yet let not the former bee disheartened , for thus it ever was and will be , english-athenians , 〈◊〉 for novelties , new sects , new schismes , new doctrines , new disciplines , new prayers , new preachers . vii . charitie , charitie , church storie reports of saint john , that being growne very aged ( well nigh a hundred yeeres old ) wanting strength and voice to make a long sermon , hee was wont to goe up into the pulpet , and often repete these words , babes k epe your selves from idols , brethren love one another . our age may seeme suffi●iently to have provided against the growth of idolatry in england . o that some order were taken for the increase of charity ! it were liberty enough , if for the next seaven yeeres , all sermons were bound to keepe residence on this text . brethren love one another . but would not some fall out with themselves , if appointed to preach unity to others . vindicative s●irits , if confined to this text , would confine the text to their passion : by brethren understanding only such of their own party . but o , seeing other monopolies are dissolved let not this remain , against the fundamentall law of charity . let all bend their heads , hearts and hands , to make up the breaches in church and state . but too many now a daies are like pharaohs magicians , who could conjure up * with their charmes more new frogs , but could not remove or drive away those multitude of frogs which were there before . unhappily happy in making more rents and discentions , but unable or unwilling to compose our former differences . viii . the sensible plant. i heard much of a sensible pl●nt , and counted it a senselesse relation ( a rational beast , carrying as little contradiction ) untill beholding it , mine eyes ushered my judgement into a beleef thereof . my comprehension thereof is this . god having made three great staires [ vegetable , se●sible and reasonable creat●res ] that men thereby might climbe up i●to the knowledge of a deity , hath placed somethings of a middle nature ( as halfe paces betwixt the staries ) so to make the step lesse , and the ascent more easie for our meditations . thus this active plant ( with visible motion ) doth border and confine on sensible creatures . thus in affrick , some most agil and intelligent marmasits may seeme to shake ( fore feete shall i say or ) hands , with the rudest salvages of that countrey , as not much more then one remove from them , in knowledg and civility . but by the same proportion may not man , by custome and improvement of piety , mount himselfe neere to an angelicall nature . such was enoch , who whilest liveing on earth , * walked with god . o may our conversation be in * heaven . for shall a plant take a new degree & proce●d sensible , and shall man have his grace stayed for want of sufficiency , and not vvhilest living here , commence angel , in his holy and heavenly affections . ix . christ my king . i reade how king edward the first , ingenuously surprized the welch into subjection , proferring them such a prince as should be . the son of a king . . borne in their owne countrey . . whom none could taxe for any fault . the welch accepted the conditions , and the king tendred them his sonne edward , an infant , newly borne in the castle of carnarvan . doe not all these qualifications mystically center themselves in my saviour ? . the king of heaven saith unto him , thou art my sonne , * this day have i begotten thee . . our true countrey man , reall flesh , whereas hee tooke not on him the nature of angels . . without spot or blemish , like to us in all things , sin only excepted . away then with those wicked men , who * will not have this king to rule over them . may he have dominion in and over me . thy kingdome come . heaven and earth cannot afford a more proper prince for the purpose , exactly accomplished with all these comfortable qualifications . x. tribulation . i finde two sad etymologies of tribulation . one from ( tribulus ) a three forked thorn , which 〈◊〉 that such afflictions which are as full of paine and anguish unto the soule , as a thorn thrust into a tender part of the flesh is unto the body , may properly be termed tribulations . the other , from tribulus , the head of a flail , or flagell , knaggie and knotty ( made commonly as i take it , of a thick black-thorne ) and then it imports , that afflictions , falling upon us as heavie as the flaile , threshing the corne , are stiled tribulations . i am in a streight which deduction to embrace , from the sharpe or from the heavie thorne . but which is the worst , though i may choose whence to derive the word , i cannot choose so , as to decline the thing i must * through much tribulation , enter into the kingdome of god . therefore i will labor not to bee like a young colt , first set to plough , which more tires himselfe out with his owne untowardnesse ( whipping himselfe with his mis-spent mettle ) then with the weight of what he drawes ; and will labour patiently to beare what is imposed upon me . xi . beware . i saw a cannon shot off . the men , at whom it was levelled , fell flat on the ground , and so escaped the bullet . against such blowes , falliug is all the fencing , and prostration all the armour of proofe . but that which gave them notice to fall downe was their perceiving of the fire before the ordnance was discharg'd . oh the mercy of that fire ! which , as it were , repenting of the mischiefe it had done , and the murther it might make , ran a race , and outstript the bullet , that men ) at the sight thereof ) might bee provided , when they could not resist to prevent it . thus every murthering piece , is also a warning piece against it selfe . god , in like manner , warnes before he wounds ; frights before hee fights . yet forty dayes and ninevegh shall be destroyed . oh let us fall down before the lord our maker ; then shall his anger be pleased to make in us a daily passe over , and his bullets levelled at us shall flie above us . xii . the first - fruits . papists observe ( such are curious priers into protestants carriage ) that charity in england lay in a swound , from the dissolution of abbies , in the reigne of king henry the eighth , till about the tenth of queen elizabeth . as if in that age of ruine , none durst raise religious buildings , and as if the axe and hammer , so long taught to beat down , had forgot their former use to build up for pious intents . at last comes * william lambert , esqure , and first founds an hospitall at greenwich in kent , calling that his society ( like politique joab , after * davids name . ) the poore people of queene elizabeth . and after this worthy man followed many , that wee may almost dazle papists eyes with the light of protestants good works . the same papists perchance may now conceive charity so disheartened in our dayes ( by these civill warres and the consequences thereof ) that no protestants hereafter should bee so desperate as to adventure upon a publique good deede . o for a lambert . junior ( & i hope some of his linage are left heires to his lands and virtues ) who shall breake through the ranks of all discouragements ; so that now english protestants , being to begin a new score of good works , might from him date their epoche . such a charity deserves to bee knighted for the valour thereof . xiv . the recruit . i reade how one main argument which the apostle paul enforceth on timothy , to make full proofe of his ministery is this , * for i am now ready to be offered , and the time of my departure is at hand . thus the dying saints , drawing neere to heaven , their marke , is the best spur for the surviving to make the more speed in their race . how many excellent divines have these sad times hastened to their long home ? ( so called in scripture * not because long going thither , but long [ ever ] tarrying there . ) how many have beene sorrow-shot to their heart ? o that this would edge the endeavours of our gen●ration , to succede in the dead places of worthy men . shall the papists curiously observe and sufficiently boast , that their stapleton was borne on the same day , on which sir thomas more was beheaded , ( as if his cradle made of the others coffin , ) and shall not our nurseries of learning supply the void roomes of our worthies deceased . no sin i hope to pray , that our timothyes come not short of our pauls , as in time , so in learning and religion . xv . the mongrel . i finde the naturall philosopher , making a caracter of the lions disposition , amongst other his qualities reporteth that first the lion * feedeth on men , and afterwards ( if forced with extremitie of hunger ) on women . satan is a roaring lion seeking whome hee may devoure . only hee inverts the method , and in his bill of fare takes the second course first . ever since hee over tempted our grand-mother eve , encouraged with successe , hee hath preyed first on the weaker sex . it seemes hee hath all the vices , not the virtues of that king of beasts , a woolfe lion , having his cruelty without his geuerositye . xviii . edification . i read in a learned phisitian , how our pro vident mother , nature , foreseeing men ( her wan ton children ) would bee tampering with the edge-tooles of minerals , hid them farre from them , in the bowels of the earth , whereas shee exposed plants and herbs more obvious to their eye , as fitter for their use . but some bold empericks , neglecting the latter ( as too common ) have adventured on those hidden minerals , oft times ( through want of skill ) to the hurt of many , and hazard of more . god , in the new testament , hath placed all historical and practical matter ( needfull for christians to know and beleeve ) in the beginning of the gospell . all such truths lie above ground , plainly visible , in the litteral sence . the prophe ticall and difficult part comes in the close ; but though the testament was written in greeke , too many reade it like hebrew , beginning at the end thereof . how many trouble themselves about the revelatiou , who might bee better busied in plaine divinity ? safer prescribing to others , and practising in themselves , positive piety ; leaving such mistical minerals to men of more judgement to prepare them . xix . mad , not mad . i finde st. paul in the same chapter confesse and deny madnesse in himselfe . acts. . verse . and being exceeding mad against them , i persecuted them even unto strange cities , verse . when festus challenged him to be beside himselfe , i am not mad most noble festus . whilest hee was mad indeede , then none did suspect or accuse him to be distracted ; but when converted , and in his right minde , then festus taxeth him of madnesse . there is a country in affrica , * wherein all the natives have pendulous lips . hanging downe like dogs-eares , alwaies raw and sore ; here only such as are handsome are pointed at for monsters in this age , wherein polluted and uncleane lips are grown epidemicall , if any refraine their tongues from common sins , alone are gazed at as strange spectacles . xx . the deepest cutt. i beheld a lapidary cutting a diamond , with a diamond hammer and anvil both of the same kinde . god in scipture stiled his servants his * jewels . his diamonds they are , but alas , rude , rough , unpolished , without shape or fashion , as they arise naked out of the bed of the earth , before art hath dressed them . see how god by rubbing one rough diamond against maketh both smooth . barnabas afflicts paul and paul afflicts barnabas , by their hot falling out , hierom occasioneth trouble to ruffinus , and ruffinus to hierom. in our unnaturall war , none i hope so weake and wilfull as to deny many good men ( though misled ) engaged on both sides . o how have they scratcht . and raced , and pierced , and bruised , and broken one another ? behold heavens hand grating one diamond with another ; as for all those who un-charitably deny any good on that party which they dislike , such shew themselves diamonds indeede in their hardnesse ( cruel censuring ) but none in any commendable qualitie , in their conditions . finis . page , line . for such , reade sue . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a e- 〈◊〉 kings . . 〈◊〉 : * seque●er . notes for div a e- * rev. . . * iob. ● . * 〈◊〉 kings 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . * eph . . * weavers f●n . mon. p . * math. . . ioh● . . * psa. . , . * exod. . . * exod. . . * de tristibus lib. eleg. . * exod. ● . . * dan . * luk. . * plut. 〈◊〉 lives in thesco . act. . . * sam. . . * rev. . . * sam. . . . * examen . con . trident . pag. . colum . . notes for div a e- * john . * job . . * iob. . . * esa. . . * gen. . . * gen. . . * chr. . . * gen. . . * chro. . . * chro. . . * sam . * psal. . * psal. . . * kings . . * verse * ver . * ver. . * ver. . * psal. . . * ●en . . . * fox martir . volum . * rev. . . * iuke . . * gen. . . * num. . . . * exod. . * colos. . . * mat. . . * i ●ke . . notes for div a e- * gen. . * marti . * iob. . . * psal. . * pro. . . * fox mar●yrolog . . volum . p. . * sam. . . * mun●ers cosmog. li . . cap. c . * pro. . . * plutarch moralls . * numb. . . * nat. hist. lib. ch. . * in his life juxta finem . * act. . . * john . * jo●h . . * sam. . . * vers. . * cro. . . . notes for div a e- * e●od . . . * sam. . ● . * gen. . . * josh. . . * acts . . * zach . * psal. . * ephes. . . * cor. . . * heb. . . * sam. . . * rev. . . * psal. . . * mat. . . * gen. * pluta●k in scipo's life . pag. . * eph. . . notes for div a e- * heb. . . * isa. . . * mat. . . * mat. . . * philip . . * psal. . * heb. . . * in his life . p. . * jer. . . * exod. . . * gen. . . * philip . . * psal. . * luk . . acts . . see cem●dens b●t . in kent pag. . * sa● . , . * tim. . * eccles. . pitzeus in vita stapletoni in viros prius qu● in terminas saevit . pin. nat. hist. lib. . cap. . * munster cosmog. * malac. . . acts . . the historie of the holy vvarre by thomas fuller ... fuller, thomas, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing f estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) the historie of the holy vvarre by thomas fuller ... fuller, thomas, - . marshall, william, fl. - . cleveland, john, - . the third edition. [ ], , [ ] p. : folded map printed by roger daniel and are to be sold by john williams ..., cambridge : . added t.p., engraved by william marshall, preceded by "a declaration of the frontispice" signed: j.c. [i.e. john cleveland]. date of publication from wing. reproduction of original in british library. chronological tables and index: p. [ ]-[ ] at end. imperfect: lacks folded map. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng crusades. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - jennifer kietzman sampled and proofread - jennifer kietzman text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a declaration of the frontispice . before you travel to the holy land , behold a page that in the front doth stand to give you ●ym and guidance in the way . first europe bids your observation stay upon a purse of gold ( warres surest nerve ) whose every crosse is interess'd to serve i'●b ' holy warre . the gain ( alas ! ) no more then crosses gules in ●●●ad of cross●● or. but see the troups see bow they march along ▪ where severall ranks and orders make a throng promiscuously blended ; sex and age , nation and language joyntly do engage their devout forces to redresse thy woes , ierusalem , ravisht by barbarous foes . pet●r the monk leaving his sullen cell , his beads and offices , and every spell of his mysterious zeal breaks forth at last to kindle 〈◊〉 the world with fatall blast . first kings proceed ; and captains follow them : the 〈…〉 upon the diadem . the next are prelates ; who stray farre from home to winne the glorious name of martyrdome . since all their mild perswasions could not work upon th● obdurate antichristian turk , they will at length ( if nought prevent their plot ) confute his alcoran with sword and shot . after those reverend men , whose cloven mitres speak them not warriours so much as writers . a bald-pate regiment of friars comes ; whose crowns might serve the army for their drums , and give as full a sound , if you 'l confesse the greatest noise 〈◊〉 arise from emptin●sse . then moves the main battalia , straitly knit into a steadie 〈◊〉 halanx ▪ square , but fit to spread or lengthen , or with art to pare the corners till the band grow circular t' environ th' enemy ; briefly , to reduce their various postures unto every use . these are the onely forces ; all the rest impediments but specious at the best . but oh amazement ! what is that we see ? a troup of ladies in the next degree . each one appears a pallas in the field dropt newly from jove's brain with spear and shield : or mars so long 〈◊〉 venus hath possest , courage is 〈◊〉 into her tender ●●cast . march on , brave amazons ; co●quest and praise 〈…〉 of immortall bayes ; which you , when autumn age shall pluck your hair , in stead of costly perriwigs may wear . march on : for the shrill trumpet and the fife your tongues may serve ; then to secure your life you need no weapons , every face and eye carrieth sufficient artillerie . a slender company doth next succeed : call it the in●antrie ; 't is so indeed . as if the driving of the turks away from christian cities were but childrens play . the last in this religious army crawls a band collected out of hospitals and spittles . one would think this piteous fight did rather come from warre then go to fight . their commendation 's this , how-e're the day shall chance to prove , they 'l hardly run away . this is the totall muster . let the book tell their a●●hie ▪ ements ; mean time as you look upon this frontispice , you●● plainly see their dismall end and sad catastrophe . th' incensed angel with his flaming blade great slaughter of per●idious souls hath made . to teach us truth and justice , see how god scourges their falshood with a fiery rod. then the grand signor his proud fauchion stretches with domineering hand over the wretches . low prostrate as his foot . can christian eyes endure this figure ? let the captives rise , surly black saracen ; their bended knee has higher objects then to reverence thee : they serve a lord greater then mahomet , though now their sunne be darken'd and beset with ●louds of disadvantage , time will be when such poore things shall triumph over thee ; and their old prophesie shall be made good , thy moon shall then be turned into bloud . the last of their destroyers that you see , is that same ghastly thing th' anatomie doth represent ; a naked cage of bone , from whence the winged soul long since is flown ▪ they call it death . he with his double band , sicknesse and casualtie on either hand , met many stragglers , forcing them to yield : and where the turk before him got the field , he tooke the gleanings . thus our so●ldiers fell by th' angel , turk , and death ; heaven , earth , and hell . those that escap'd c●me home as full of grief as the poore purse is emptie of relief . they 're turn'd , and so is 〈◊〉 ; but nothing in 't , till n●w devotion shall repair the mint . mean while reade ●'re the historie : your brain there you may fill , though not the purse again . j. c. the historie of the holy warre . by tho : fuller . b. d. prebendary of sarum late of sidney ▪ coll. in cambridge iohn . . . the houre cometh when ye shall neither in this mountain nor yet at jerusalem worship the father acts. . if this counsel be of men it will come to nought . ●●nted by tho : busk one of the printers to the university of cambridge & are sold by io : williams at the crane in s. p. church-yard ▪ the historie of the holy vvarre ; by thomas fvller , b. d. prebendarie of sarum , late of sidney colledge in cambridge . the third edition . cambridge , printed by roger daniel , and are to be sold by john vvilliams at the signe of the crown in pauls church-yard . . to the honourable edward montagu st. john powlet , sonnes and heirs to the right honourable edward lord montagu of boughton . john lord powlet of hinton ▪ st george . when i observe the severall alterations in nobilitie , i find foure principall actours on the theatres of great families ; the beginner , advancer , continuer , and ruiner . the beginner is he who by his vertues refineth himself from the drosse of the vulgar , and layeth the foundation of his house : an excellent workman indeed , as who not onely bringeth his tools , but maketh his materials . the advancer , who improveth the patrimonie of honour he receiveth ; and what his father found glasse and made crystall , he findeth crystall and maketh it pearl . the continuer , who keepeth his nobility alive , and passeth it along neither marring nor mending it ; but sendeth it to his son as he received it from his father . the ruiner , who basely degenerateth from his ancestours ; so that in him nobilitie hath runne so farre from its first starting , that it is tired : and whilest he liveth he is no better then his grandfathers tombe ; without , carved over with honourable titles ; within , full of emptinesse , or what is worse , corruption . now to apply . you cannot be beginners of your families ; that care was cared for before your nurses were chosen , or your cradles provided . your fathers , though of late years fixed in a higher sphear , were bright starres long before . none can go on in our english chronicles , but they must meet with a montagn and a powlet , either in peace in their gowns , or in warre in their armour . yea , when i go backward by the streams of your paternall nobilitie , ( not to speak of the tributarie brooks of their matches ) i can never find the first fountain ; and hope none shall ever find the last fall . for as for the ruiners of houses , i should rend that thought out with my heart , if it should conceive that of you . nay , let me tell you ; if you be but bare continuers of your honour , you deceive both the desires and hopes of your friends . good is not good when proceeding from them from whom farre better is expected . your youthfull vertues are so promising , that you cannot come off in your riper age with credit without performing what may redound to the advancing of the honour of your family , and without building your houses one storie higher in the english historie . now know , next religion , there is nothing accomplisheth a man more then learning . learning in a lord is as a diamond in gold . and if you fear to hurt your tender hands with thornie school-questions , there is no danger in meddling with history , which is a velvet-study , & recreation-work . vvhat a pitie is it to see a proper gentleman to have such a crick in his neck that he cannot look backward ! yet no better is he who cannot see behind him the actions which long since were performed . history maketh a yong man to be old , without either wrinkles or gray hairs ; priviledging him with the experience of age , without either the infirmities or inconveniences thereof . yea , it not onely maketh things past , present ; but inableth one to make a rationall conjecture of things to come . for this world affordeth no new accidents , but in the same sense wherein we call it a new moon , which is the old one in another shape , and yet no other then what had been formerly . old actions return again , furbished over with some new and different circumstances . now amongst all particular histories ( i may say ) none is more generall then this of the holy warre , which now i present to your honours . some will condemn me for an ill husband , in lavishing two noble patrones in one book , whereas one of them might have served to have patronized many volumes . but first , i did it in the weak expression of my thankfulness unto you , being deeply indebted to you both ; and i thought it dishonestie to pay all to one creditour and none to another : and therefore conceived it best , to share my estate joyntly betwixt you , as farre forth as it would extend . secondly , considering the weaknesse of this vvork , now being to walk abroad in the world , i thought it must be led by both arms , and needed a double supporter . and now i am sure this holy warre , which was unhappie heretofore , when acted ; will be happie hereafter , now written and related , because dedicated to your honours . so resteth broad-windsor , march . . your honours in all service tho. fuller . to the reader . in this work i can challenge nothing to my self , but the composing of it . the materialls were found to my hand : which if any historian will make , let him not be commended forwit , but shamed for falshood . if every where i have not charged the margin with the authours names , it is either because the storie is authour for itself ( i mean , generally received ) or to avoyd the often citing of the same place . where i could not go abroad myself , there i have taken air at the window , and have cited authours on others citations ; yet so that the stream may direct to the fountain . if the reader may reap in few houres what cost me more moneths , just cause have i to rejoyce , and he ( i hope ) none to complain . thus may the faults of this book redound to my self , the profit to others , the glory to god. to his worthily dear friend , thomas fvller , b. d. upon his excellent work , the holy warre . peace is thy calling , friend ; thy title , warre : what , doth thy title with thy calling jarre ? the holy warre ! this makes the wonder cease : an holy warre becomes a man of peace . tasso , be silent ; my friend speaks : his storie hath robb'd thy poeme of its long liv'd glorie . so rich his vein , his lines of so high state , thou canst not feigne so well as he relate . godfrey first entred on this warre , to free his saviours tombe from turks captivitie : and too too meanly of himself he deems , if thus he his redeemer not redeems . a glorious end ●sppan● did he fear to 〈◊〉 , in losing life , to gain christs sep●lchre , but i dare say , were godfrey now alive , ( godfrey , who by thy penne must needs survive ) he would again act o're his noble toil , doing such deeds as should the former foil ; if for no other reason , yet to be deliver'd unto time and fame by thee : nor would he fear in such exploits to bleed ; then to regain a tombe , now not to need . robert gomersall , vicar of thorncombe in devon. of this our authours book i 'll say but this , ( for that is praise ample enough ) 't is his : nor all the muses nor apollo's layes can sing his worth : be his own lines his bayes . robert tyrling . on mr fullers historie of the holy warre . then , christians , rest secure : ye need not band henceforth in holy leagues for th' holy land , to conquer and recover 't from the turk : 't is done already : fvllers learned work and penne more honour to the cause doth bring , then did great godfrey or our lion-king . ierusalem with darknesse long beset , captiv'd to time more then to mahomet , inthrall'd to silence and oblivion ( a bondage worse then that of babylon ) is now redeem'd . lo , by this sacred story how she revives into her ancient glory ! look , how her bury'd pinnacles 'gin to peep out of their venerable dust and sleep ! see , how the temple and the sepulchre , wak'd with the trumpet of this holy warre from their own grave and ruines , do resent a resurrection by this monument ! stay , pilgrimes , stay ; wander not hence so farre ▪ set up your rest here in this holy warre , here you may visit and adore the shrine for which so many saints in arms combine . behold the zealous squadrons how they stand arm'd with devotion for the holy land . they 'll take you , if not it : while ye admire their zeal , your love will kindle at this fire . thus learned fvller a full conquest makes , triumphs o're time and mens affections , takes captive both it and them ; his historie me thinks is not a warre but victorie : where every line does crown ( such strength it bears ) the authour laureate , and a trophey rears . james duport , b. d. t. c. to his worthy and learned friend , mr tho. fuller upon his excellently composed historie of the holy warre . captain of arts , in this thy holy warre my muse desires to be thy ●rumpeter , in thy just praise to spend a blast or two : for this is all that she ( poore thing ) can do . peter the hermite , like an angrie owl , would need● go fight all armed in his cowl . what , had the holy man nought else to do , but thus to lose his bloud and credit too ? seeking to winne christs sepulchre , god w●t , he found his own : this was the ground he got . except he got more ground , when he one day besi●ging antioch fiercely ran away . much wiser was the pope : at home he stay'd , and made the world believe he wept and prai'd . mean while ( behold the fruit of feigned tears ) he sets the world together by the ears . his head serves him , whil'st others use their hands : whil'st princes lose their lives , he gets their lands . to winne the holy land what need kings roam ? the pope can make an holy land at home by making it his own : then for a fashion , 't is said to come by constantines donation . for all this fox-craft , i have leave ( i hope ) to think my friend farre wiser then the pope , and hermite both : he deals in holy warres not as a stickler in those fruitlesse jarres , but a composer rather . hence this book ; whereon whil'st i with greedie eyes do look , me thinks i travel through the holy land , viewing the sacred objects on each hand . here mounts ( me thinks ) like olivet , brave sense ; there flows a iordan of pure eloquence : a temple rich in ornament i find presented here to my admiring mind . strange force of art ! the ruin'd holy citie breeds admiration in me now , not pitie . to testifie her liking , here my muse makes solemn vows , as holy pilgrimes use . i vow , dear friend , the holy warre is here farre better writ then ever fought elsewhere , thousands have fought and died : but all this while , i vow there nothing triumphs but thy style . thy wit hath vanquisht barbarisme more then ever godfrey's valour did before . might i but choose , i rather would by farre be authour of thy book then of that warre . let others fight ; i vow to reade thy works , prizing thy ink before the bloud of turks . j. booth , b. d. c. c. c. on the title of this book . how comes stern warre to be accounted holy , by nature fierce , complexion melancholy ? i 'll tell you how : sh' has been at rome of late , and gain'd an indulgence to expiate her massacres ; and by the popes command sh● has been a pilgrime to the holy land , vvhere freeing christians by a sacred plot , she for her pains this epithet hath got . h. atkins . nor need ierusalem that holy mother envie old tr●y ; since she has found another to write her battels , and her warres rehearse in prose as elegant as homers verse . let sueton's name august as caesars be ; curtius more worlds then alexander see ; let joseph in his countreys siege survive , and phenix-like in his own ashes thrive : thy work , great fvller , will out-live their glory , and make thy memory sacred as thy storie . thy stile is clear and white : thy very name speaks purenesse , and addes lustre to the frame . all men could wish , nay long , the world would jarre , so thou 'dst be pleas'd to write , compose the warre . h. hutton , m. a. c. jes. to my friend mr thomas fuller , on his book the holy warre . vvhile of thy book i speak , friend , i 'll think on thy iordan for my purest helicon ; and for bifork'd parnassus , i will set my phansie on the sacred olivet . 't is holy ground which now my measur'd feet must tread on ; then ( as in due right 't is meet ) let them be bare and plain : for quainter art may sacrifice to thee without a heart ; and while it praiseth this thy work , may preach his glory , rather then thy merits reach , here , reader , thou may'st judge and well compare who most in madnesse , iew or romane , share : this not so blind , yet in the clearest day does stumble still on stocks , on stones , on clay ; the other will in bright and highest noon choose still to walk by glimmering light o●th ' moon . here thou mai'st represented see the fight between our earthly flesh and heavenly sp'rit . lo , how the turk doth drive with flaming sword , salvation from him and gods holy word , as once the angel did rebellious vice with adam force from blessed paradise . and this in style diamond-like doth shine , which firmest parts and clearest do combine , and o're the sad ground of the iewish storie as light embroiderie explaies its glorie . the temple rais'd and ruin'd seems more high in his strong phrase , then when it kiss'd the skie . and as the viper , by those pretious tears which phaethon bemon'd , of amber wears a rich ( though fatall ) coat ; so here inclos'd with words so rare , so splendent , so compos'd ev'n mahomet has found a tombe , which shall last when the fainting loadstone lets him fall . henry vintener . to his old friend mr fuller . i love no warres , i love no jarres , nor strifes fire : may discords cease ; let 's live in peace ; this i desire . if it must be vvarres we must see ( so fates conspire ) may we not feel the force of st●el ; this i desire ; but in thy book when i do look and it admire ; let warre be there , but peace elswhere ; this i desire . tho. jackson . to his worthy friend mr thomas fuller on his book , the holy warre . there 's not a storie , friend , in thy book told , but 's a jewel ; each line a thread of gold . though warre sound harsh , and doth our minds affright , yet cloth'd in well-wrought language 't doth delight . such is thy gilded phrase , i joy to reade in thee massacres , and to see men bleed . oft have i seen in hangings on a wall the ruines of great troy , and priams fall ; a storie in it self so full of woe , 't would make the grecian weep that was the foe : but being wrought in arras , and made gay with rich embroiderie , 't makes th' beholder say , i like it well ; this flame , that scarre is good ; and then commend , this wound , that stream of bloud . things in themselves distastefull are by art made pleasant , and do much delight the heart . such is thy book : though it of bloud relate and horrid warre , whose very name we hate , yet clad in arras-language and thy phrase , doth not affright , but with delight amaze , and with such power upon our senses seise , that 't makes warre , dreadfull in it self , to please . william johnson , q. coll. to his dear friend mr. fuller . vve need not now those zealous v●t'ries meet , or pilgrimes turn ; but on our verses feet . thy quill hath wing'd the earth ; the holy land doth visit us , commanded by thy hand . if envie make thy labours prove thy losse , no marvel , if a croisade wear the crosse. clement bretton , sidn . coll. the history of the holy vvarre . book i. chap. . the destruction of the city and temple of ierusalem by the romanes under the conduct of titus . when the jews had made the full measure of their sinnes runne over by putting to death the lord of life , gods judgements ( as they deserved , and our saviour foretold ) quickly overtook them : for a mighty army of the romanes besieged and 〈◊〉 the city of jerusalem , wherein by fire , famine , sword , civil discord , and forreign force * eleven hundred thousand were put to death . an incredible number it seemeth : yet it cometh within the compasse of our belief , if we consider that the siege began at the time of the passeover , when in a manner all judea was inclosed in jerusalem , all private synagogues doing then their duties to the mother-temple ; so that the city then had more guests then inhabitants . thus the passeover first * instituted by god in mercy to save the israelites from death , was now used by him in justice to hasten their destruction , and to gather the nation into a bundle to be cast into the fire of his anger . besides those who were slain , ninety seven thousand were taken captives ; and they who had bought our saviour for thirty pence , * were themselves sold thirty for a pennie . the generall of the romanes in this action was titus , sonne to vespasian the emperour . a prince so good , that he was styled the * darling of mankind for his sweet and loving nature , ( and pity it was so good a stock had not been better grafted ! ) so virtuously disposed , that he may justly be counted the glory of all pagans , and shame of most christians . he laboured what lay in his power to have saved the temple , and many therein ; but the jews by their obstinacy and desperateness made themselves uncapable of any mercy . then was the temple it self made a sacrifice , and burnt to ashes ; and of that stately structure which drew the apostles admiration , not a stone left upon a stone . the walls of the city ( more shaken with the sinnes of the jews defending them , then with the battering rammes of the romanes assaulting them ) were levelled to the ground ; onely three towres left standing to witnesse the great strength of the place , and greater valour of the romanes who conquered it . but whilest this storme fell on the unbelieving jews , it was calm amongst the christians ; who warned by christs predictions , and many other prodigies , fled betimes out of the city to pella ( a private place beyond jordan ) which served them in stead of a little zoar to save them from the imminent destruction . chap. . how iudea was dispeopled of iews by adrian the emperour . threescore years after , adrian the emperour rebuilt the city of jerusalem , changing the situation somewhat westward , and the name thereof to aelia . to despite the christians , he built a * temple over our saviours grave , with the images of jupiter and venus , another at b●thl●h●m , to adonis her minion : and to enrage the jews , did engrave swine over the gates of the city : who storming at the profanation of their land , brake into open rebellion , but were subdued by julius severus the emperours lieutenant , an experienced captain , and many thousands slain , with bencochab their counterfeit messias ( for so he termed himself ) that is , the sonne of a star , usurping that prophesie , * out of iacob shall a star arise ; though he proved but a fading comet , whose blazing portended the ruine of that nation . the captives , by order from adrian , were transported into spain ; the countrey laid waste , which parted with her people and fruitfulnesse both together . indeed pilgrims to this day here and there light on parcels of rich ground in palestine : which god may seem to have left , that men may tast the former sweetnesse of the land , before it was sowred for the peoples sinnes ; and that they may guesse the goodnesse of the cloth by the finenesse of the shreds . but it is barren for the generality : the streams of milk and hony wherewith once it flowed , are now drained dry ; and the * whole face of the land looketh sad , not so much for want of dressing , as because god hath frowned on it . yet great was the oversight of adrian , thus totally to unpeople a province , and to bequeath it to foxes and leopards . though his memory was excellent , yet here he forgot the old romanes rule , who to prevent desolations , where they rooted out the natives , planted in colonies of their own people . and surely the countrey recovered not a competency of inhabitants for some hundred years after . for though many pilgrimes came thither in after-ages , yet they came rather to visit then to dwell : and such as remained there , most embracing single lives , were no breeders for posterity . if any say that adrian did wilfully neglect this land , and prostitute it to ruine for the rebellion of the people ; yet all account it small policy in him , in punishing the jews to hurt his own empire , and by this vastation to leave fair and clear footing for forrein enemies to fasten on this countrey , and from thence to invade the neighbouring dominions : as after the persians and saracens easily overran and dispeopled palestine ; and no wonder if a thin medow were quickly mown . but to return to the jews ; such straglers of them , not considerable in number , as escaped this banishment into spain ( for few hands reap so clean as to leave no gleanings ) were forbidden to enter into jerusalem , or so much as to behold it from any rise or advantage of ground . * yet they obtained of the after-emperours , once a year ( namely on the tenth of august , whereon their citie was taken ) to go in and bewail the destruction of their temple and people , bargaining with the souldiers who waited on them , to give so much for so long abiding there ; and if they exceeded the time they conditioned for , they must stretch their purses to a higher rate : so that ( as s. hierome noteth ) they who bought christs bloud , were then glad to buy their own tears . chap. . of the present wofull condition of the iews ; and of the small hope , and great hinderances of their conversion . thus the main body of the jews was brought into spain , and yet they stretched their out-limbs into every countrey : so that it was as hard to find a populous city without a common sink , as without a company of jews . they grew fat on the barest pasture , by usury and brokage ; though often squeezed by those christians amongst whom they lived , counting them dogs , and therefore easily finding a stick to beat them . and alwayes in any tumult , when the fence of order was broken , the jews lay next harms : as at the coronation of richard the first , when the english made great feasts , but the pillaged jews paid the shot . at last , for their many villanies ( as falsifying of coin , poysoning of springs , crucifying of christian children ) they were slain in some places , and finally banished out of others : out of england anno , by edward the first ; france , by philip the fair ; spain , by ferdinand ; portugall , by emmanuel . but had these two latter kings banished all jewish bloud out of their countreys , they must have emptied the veins of their best subjects , as descended from them . still they are found in great numbers in turkie ; chiefly in salonichi , where they enjoy the freest slavery : and they who in our saviours time so scorned publicanes , are now most employed in that office , to be the turks toll-gatherers : likewise in the popish parts of germany ; in poland ; the pantheon of all religions : and amsterdam may be forfeited to the king of spain , when she cannot shew a pattern of this as of all other sects . lastly , they are thick in the popes ▪ dominions , where they are kept as a testimony of the truth of the scriptures , and foyl to christianity , but chiefly in pretence to convert them . but his holinesse his converting faculty worketh the strongest at the greatest distance : for the indians he turneth to his religion , and these jews he converteth to his profit . some are of opinion of the generall calling of the jews : and no doubt those who dissent from them in their judgements , concur in their wishes and desires . yet are there three grand hinderances of their conversion : first , the offence taken and given by the papists among whom they live , by their worshipping of images , the jews being zelots in the second commandment : secondly , because on their conversion they must * renounce all their goods as ill gotten ; and they will scarce enter in at the door of our church , when first they must climbe over so high a threshold : lastly , they are debarred from the use of the new testament , * the means of their salvation . and thus we leave them in a state most pitifull , and little pitied . chap. . of the flourishing church in iudea under constantine : iulian his successe in building the temple . adrian his profanation of jerusalem lasted * years , as s. hierome counteth it : during which time , the christians under the ten persecutions had scarce a leap-year of peace and quiet , and yet bare all with invincible patience ; yea , some were too ambitious of martyrdome , and rather wooed then waited for their own deaths . at last , constantine ( a britan by birth , as * all authours agree , save one or two late wrangling grecians , who deserve to be arrained for felony , for robbing our land of that due honour ) stanched the issue of bloud wherewith the church had long been troubled , and brought her into acquaintance with peace and prosperity . then helen his mother ( no lesse famous amongst the christians for her piety , then the ancient helen amongst pagans for her beauty ) travelled to jerusalem ; zeal made her scarce sensible of her age , being years old : and there she purged mount calvary & bethlehem of idolatry ; then built in the places of christs birth , and buriall , and elsewhere in palestine , many most stately and sumptuous churches . and because she visited the stable and manger of our saviours nativity , jews and pagans slander her to have been * stabularia , an ostleresse or a she-stable-groom : the same nickname which since impudent papists ( not for the same reason , but with as little truth ) put on reverend * cranmer , archbishop of canterbury . but these dead flies were not able to corrupt the sweet ointment of her name , fragrant to posterity ; and as a * father writeth of her , bona stabularia , quae maluit aestimari stercoraria ut christum lucrifaceret . to her is ascribed the finding out of the crosse , the memory whereof is celebrated the third of may. and from that time the church flourished in palestine , being as well provided of able bishops , as they of liberall maintenance . afterwards julian going about to confute god , befooled himself , and many jews . this apostate studied to invent engines to beat down christianity : yet all the vapours of his brain could not cloud so bright a sunne . he gave the jews liberty ( not so much out of love to them , as hatred to christians ) with money and materials to build again their temple , hoping by raising it to ruine the truth of christs prophesie . * hither flocked the jews with spades and mattocks of silver to clear the foundation ; the women carried away the rubbish in their laps , and contributed all their jewels and ornaments to advance the work . but a sudden * tempest made them desist , which carried away their tools and materials , with balls of fire which scorched the most adventurous of the builders . thus they who sought to put out the truth of christs words , by snuffing it made it burn the brighter . but the wonder of this wonder was , that the hearts of the jews , and of him who set them on work , were hardened by obstinacy , to be so miracle proof that all this made no impression in them . yet * afterwards , the christians in the place where solomons temple was , built a stately church : but not in opposition to god , or with intent to reestablish jewish rites , but in humility , and for the exercise of christian religion : which church was long after the seat of the patriarch . but for fear to exceed the commission of an historian , ( who with the outward senses may onely bring in the species , and barely relate facts , not with the common sense passe verdict or censure on them ) i would say , they had better have built in some other place , ( especially having room enough besides ) and left this floore where the temple stood , alone to her desolations . yea , god seemeth not so well contented with this their act , the christians being often beaten out of that church ; and at this day * whosoever ( though casually ) entreth therein , must either forfeit his life , or renounce his religion . chap. . syria conquered by chosroes ; chosroes , by heraclius the grecian emperour . the next remarkable alteration happened under phocas the emperour , who ( saith * tyrius ) had a nature answering his name , which signifieth a seil , or sea-calf : for as that fish ( little better then a monster ) useth lazily to lie sleeping and sunning it self on the shore ; so this carelesse usurper minded nothing but his own ease and pleasure , till at last he was slain by heraclius his successour : as seldome tyrants corpses have any other balm at their buriall , then their own bloud . phoeas his negligence betrayed the empire to forrein foes , and invited chosroes the persian to invade it , who with a great army subdued syria and jerusalem . a conquest little honourable , as made against small resistance , and used with lesse moderation : for besides many other cruelties , he sold many thousands of christians to the jews their old enemies , who in revenge of their former grudg , put them not onely to drudgery , but to torture . chosroes to grace his triumph carried the crosse away with him , forced all the christians in persia to turn * nestorians , and demanded of heraclius the grecian emperour , that he should renounce his religion , and worship the * sun. thus we see how light-headed this pagan did talk , being stark drunk with pride . but the christian emperour entring persia with great forces , quelled at last this vaunting sennacherib : for to him might he well be compared , for pride , cruelty , blasphemous demands , and the manner of his death , being also slain by siroes one of his sons . heraclius returning took jerusalem in his way , and there restored * the crosse ( counted a precious jewel ) to the temple of the sepulchre , the cabinet whence it had been violently taken away ; and in memoriall thereof instituted on the . of sept. the feast of the exaltation of the crosse. yet * some make the celebration thereof of greater antiquity : and the grecians write , that chrysostome ( an hundred years before ) died on the day called the exaltation of the crosse. this if it be true , and not antedated by a prolepsis , then heraclius gave the lustre ( not first originall ) to this festivall , and scoured bright an old holy-day with a new solemnitie . chap. . of the deluge of the saracens in syria , the causes of the far spreading of mahometanisme . but the sinnes of the eastern countreys , and chiefly their damnable heresies , hastened gods judgements upon them . in these western parts , heresies like an angle caught single persons ; which in asia , like a drag-net , took whole provinces . the stayed and settled wits of europe were not easily removed out of the old rode and tract of religion , whiles the active and nimble heads of the east were more desirous of novelties , more cunning to invent distinctions to cozen themselves with , more fluent in language to expresse their conceits , as alwayes errours grow the fastest in hot brains . hence it came to passe , that melchites , maronites , nestorians , eutycheans , jacobites , overspread these parts , maintaining their pestilent tenents with all obstinacy , which is that dead flesh which maketh the green wound of an errour fester by degrees into the old sore of an heresie . then was it just with god to suffer them who would not be convinced with christian councels , to be subdued by the pagans sword : for though chosroes had not long a settled government in palestine , but as a land-floud came and went away quickly ; yet the saracens who shortly followed , as standing water drowned all for a long continuance . * these under haumer prince of arabia , took jerusalem , conquered syria , and propagated the doctrine of mahomet round about . it may justly seem admirable how that senselesse religion should gain so much ground on christianity ; especially having neither reall substance in her doctrine , nor winning behaviour in her ceremonies to allure professours . for what is it but the scumme of judaisme and paganisme sod together , and here and there strewed over with a spice of christianity ? as mahomets tomb , so many sentences in his alcoran seem to hang by some secret loadstone , which draweth together their gaping independences with a mysticall coherence , or otherwise they are flat non-sense . yet this wonder of the spreading of this leprosie is lessened , if we consider that besides the generall causes of the growing of all errors ( namely the gangrene-like nature of evil , and the justice of god to deliver them over to believe lies who will not obey the truth ) mahometanisme hath raised it self to this height by some peculiar advantages : first , by permitting much carnall liberty to the professours ( as having many wives ) and no wonder if they get fish enough , that use that bait : secondly , by promising a paradise of sensuall pleasure hereafter , wherewith flesh and bloud is more affected ( as falling under her experience ) then with hope of any spirituall delights : thirdly , by prohibiting of disputes , and suppressing of all learning ; and thus mahomet made his shop dark on purpose , that he might vent any wares : lastly , this religion had never made her own passage so fast and so farre , if the sword had not cut the way before her , as commonly the conquered follow for the most part the religion of the conquerours . by this means that cursed doctrine hath so improved it self , that it may outvie with professours the church of rome , which boasteth so much of her latitude and extent , though from thence to inferre that her faith is the best , is falsely to conclude the finenesse of the cloth from the largenesse of the measure . now the condition of the christians under these saracens was as uncertain as april-weather . sometimes they enjoyed the liberty and publick exercise of their religion : and to give the mahometans their due , they are generally good fellows in this point , and christians among them may keep their consciences free , if their tongues be fettered not to oppose the doctrine of mahomet . sometimes they were under fierce and cruell affliction , their bishops and ministers forced to fly from their places were kept very poore , as alwayes the clergy under persecution count that god gives them living enough , when he gives them their lives . * tyrius mentioneth one memorable massacre , which they narrowly escaped . for a spitefull and malicious saracen had secretly defiled one of their mosques in jerusalem ; which deed being imputed to the poore christians , they were all presently dragged to the place of execution to be put to death , when behold a young man , a zealous christian , by an officious lie ( the most lawfull of all unlawfull things ) confessed himself alone to be guilty of the fact , and so being killed by exquisite torments , saved the lives of many innocents . in memory of which act , the christians in jerusalem kept a constant solemnity , and once a year triumphantly marched with palms in their hands into the city , to perpetuate the remembrance of this deliverance . the longest vacation from persecution they enjoyed , was when * charles was emperour of the west , surnamed the great : a surname which he did not steal , but justly win and deserve ; not like pompey , who got the title of the great , though as cesar observed he gained his chief fame for martial feats , by conquering the weak and cowardly bithynians . but this charles , loved of his friends , feared of his foes , subdued the strong and lusty lombards : yet did he not christianity more good by his war , then by his peace concluded with aaron emperour of the saracens , under whom the christians in palestine obtained many priviledges and much prosperity ; though this weather was too fair to last long . chap. . the original and increase of the turks ; their conquering the saracens , and taking of ierusalem . but the christians in palestine afterward changed their masters , though not their condition , being subdued by the turks . it will be worth our and the readers pains to enquire into the originall of this nation , especially because ( as the river nitus ) they are famous and well known for their overflowing stream , though hidden and obscure for their fountain . whence they first came authours onely do agree in disagreeing : but most probable it is out of scythia , * pomponius mela reckoning them among the inhabitants of that countrey nigh the river tanais . this scythia ( since called tartaria ) was a virgin-countrey , never forced by forrein arms : for the monarchs who counted themselves conquerours of the world ( by a large synecdoche taking a sixth part for the whole ) never subdued it . alexander sent some troups to assault naura and gabaza , two out-counties thereof , as an earnest that the rest of his army should follow : but hearing how these were welcomed , willingly lost his earnest , and disposed of his army otherwise . the romane eagles flew not thus farre , and though heard of , were never seen here . the reasons that made the turks leave their native soyl , was the barrennesse thereof ; and therefore the * poet maketh famine ( which sometimes travelleth abroad into other countreys ) here to have her constant habitation . and yet no doubt so vast a countrey would maintain her people , if the wildnesse thereof were tamed with husbandry : but the people ( scorning that their ground should be better civilized then themselves ) never manure it ; and had rather provide their bread with the sword then with the plough . other partiall causes might share in these turks removall , but the cause of causes was the justice of god , to suffer this unregarded people to grow into the terrour of the world for the punishment of christians : and we may justly hope , that when the correction is done , the rod shall be burnt ; especially finding already their force to abate , being at this day stopt with the half-kingdome of hungary , who formerly could not be stayed by the whole empire of greece . the first step these turks took out of their own countrey was into turcomania , a northern part of armenia , conquered and so called by them : where they lived like the scythian nomades , alwaies wandring yet alwaies in their way , none claiming a propriety in the land as his , all defending the common interest therein as theirs . the next step was into persia , whither they were called to assist mahomet the saracen sultan against his enemies ; where taking notice of their own strength , the saracens cowardize , and the pleasure of persia , they under tangrolipix their first king overcame that large dominion . then did the turks take upon them the mahometan religion , and having conquered the saracens by their valour , were themselves subdued by the saracen superstition . an accident more memorable because not easily to be paralleled ( excepting king † amaziah , who having taken edom was took with the idolatry thereof ) because conquerours commonly bring their religion into the places they subdue , and not take it thence . their third large stride was into babylon , the caliph whereof they overcame . and shortly after under cutlu-muses their second king , they wan mesopotamia , the greatest part of syria , and the city of † jerusalem . mean time whilest these vultures ( turks and saracens ) pecked out each others eyes , the christians ( if they had husbanded this occasion ) might have advantaged themselves , and might have recovered their health by these contrary poysons expelling each other . but the grecian emperours given over to pleasure and covetousnesse , regarded not their own good , till at last the turks devoured them ; as ( god willing ) shall be shewed hereafter . as for those christians who lived in palestine under the turks , they had no lease of their safety , but were tenants at will for their lives & goods to these tyrants : though it rained not down-right , yet the storm of persecution hung over their heads ; their minds were ever in torture , being on the rack of continuall fear and suspense ; and simon himself was no better then an honourable slave , though patriarch of jerusalem , as appeareth by his † letters of complaint . chap. . the character of peter the hermite ; his soliciting the holy warre ; the councel at clermont , and the successe thereof . it happened there came a pilgrime to jerusalem called peter , an hermite , born at amiens in france ; one of a contemptible person : his silly looks carried in them a despair of any worth ; and yet ( as commonly the richest mines lie under the basest and barrennest surface of ground ) he had a quick apprehension , eloquent tongue , and what got him the greatest repute , was accounted very religious . with him simon the patriarch of jerusalem often treated , concerning the present miseries of the christians under the turks ; what hope of amendment ; and how the matter might secretly be contrived , that the princes of europe might assist and relieve them . peter moved with the patriarchs perswasions , the equity and honourablenesse of the cause , and chiefly with a vision ( as they say ) from † heaven ( wherein our saviour himself appointed him his legate , with a commission to negotiate the christian cause ) took the whole businesse upon him , and travelled to rome to consult with pope urbane the second about the advancing of so pious a design . now , though many cry up this hermite to have been so pretious a piece of holinesse , yet † some suspect him to be little better then a counterfeit , and a cloke-father for a plot of the popes begetting : because the pope alone was the gainer by this great adventure , and all other princes of europe , if they cast up their audite , shall find themselves losers : this with some is a presumption , that this cunning merchant first secretly employed this hermite to be his factour , and to go to jerusalem to set on foot so beneficiall a trade for the romish church . as for the apparition of our saviour , one may wonder that the world should see most visions when it was most blind and that that age most barren in learning , should be most fruitfull in revelations . and surely had peter been truly inspired by god , and moved by his spirit to begin this warre , he would not have apostared from his purpose : so mortified a man would not have feared death in a good cause , as he did afterwards , and basely ran away at † antioch . for when the siege grew hot , his devotion grew cold ; he found a difference betwixt a voluntary fast in his cell , and a necessary and undispensable famine in a camp : so that being well hunger-pincht , this cunning companion who was the trumpet to sound a march to others , secretly sounded a retreat to himself , ran away from the rest of the christians , and was shamefully brought back again for a † fugitive . but to return to pope urbane , who was zealous in the cause to further it , and called a council at clermont in france , where met many princes and prelates to whom he made a long oration ; † authours differ in the mould , but they agree in the metall , that it was to this effect : first , he bemoned the miseries of the christians in asia , and the vastation of those holy places . jerusalem , which was once the joy of the whole earth , was now become the grief of all good men : the chapell of christs conception , at nazareth ; birth , at bethlehem ; buriall , on mount calvarie ; ascension , on mount olivet , once the fountains of piety , were now become the sinks of all profanenesse . next , he encouraged the princes in the council , to take arms against those infidels , and † to break their bonds in sunder , and to cast their cords farre from them , and ( as it is written ) to cast out the handmaid and her children . otherwise , if they would not help to quench their neighbours houses , they must expect the speedy burning of their own , and that these barbarous nations would quickly overrun all europe . now to set an edge on their courage , he promised to all that went this voyage , a full remission of their sins and penance here , and the enjoying heaven hereafter . lastly , thus concluded , † gird your swords to your thighs , o ye men of might . it is our parts to pray , yours to fight ; ours with moses to hold up unwearied hands to god , yours to stretch forth the sword against these children of amalek . amen . it is above belief with what chearfulnesse this motion , meeting with an active and religious world , was generally entertained ; so that the whole assembly cried out , † god willeth it : a speech which was afterwards used as a fortunate watch-word in their most dangerous designes . then took many of them a crosse of red cloth on their right shoulder , as a badge of their devotion : and to gain the favourable assistance of the virgin mary to make this warre the more happy , her † office was instituted , containing certain prayers , which at canonicall houres were to be made unto her . if fame which hath told many a lie of others , be not herein belyed her self , the things concluded in this council , were the same night reported at impossible distance in the utmost parts of christendome . what spirituall intelligencers there should be ; or what echoes in the hollow arch of this world should so quickly resound news from the one side thereof to the other , belongeth not to us to dispute . yet we find the † overthrow of perseus brought out of macedon to rome in four dayes ; & fame ( mounted no doubt on some pegasus ) in domitians time , brought a report miles in one day . chap. . arguments for the lawfulnesse of the holy war. it is stiffely canvased betwixt learned men , whether this war was lawfull , or not . the reasons for the affirmative are fetcht either from piety or policy : and of the former sort are these . . all the earth is gods land let out to tenants ; but judea was properly his demesnes , which he kept long in his own hands for himself and his children . now though the infidels had since violently usurped it , yet no prescription of time could prejudice the title of the king of heaven , but that now the christians might be gods champions to recover his interest . . religion bindeth men to relieve their brethren in distresse , especially when they implore their help , as now the † christians in syria did ; whose intreaties in this case , sounded commands in the ears of such as were piously disposed . . the turks by their blasph●mies and reproches against god and our saviour , had disinherited and devested themselves of all their right to their lands ; and the christians as the next undoubted heirs , might seize on the forfeiture . . this war would advance and increase the patrimony of religion , by propagating the gospel , and converting of infidels . if any object that religion is not to be beaten into men with the dint of sword ; yet it may be lawfull to open the way by force , for instruction , catechising , and such other gentle means to follow after . . the beholding of those sacred places in palestine would much heighten the adventurers devotion , and make the most frozen heart to melt into pious meditations . . † this enterprise was furthered by the perswasions of sundry godly men , s. bernard and others . now though a lying spirit may delude the prophets of achab , yet none will be so uncharitable as to think god would suffer his own michaiah to be deceived . . † god set his hand to this war , and approved it by many miracles which he wrought in this expedition , and which are so confidently and generally reported by credit-worthy writers , that he himself is a miracle that will not believe them . neither want there arguments derived from policie . . palestine was a parcell of the romane empire , though since won by the saracens : and though the emperour of constantinople could not recover his right , yet did he alwayes continue his claim , and now ( as † appeared by his letters read in the placentine councel ) alexius requested these princes of the west to assist him in the recovery thereof . . a preventive warre grounded on a just fear of an invasion is lawfull : but such was this holy war. and because most stresse is laid on this argument , as the main supporter of the cause , we will examine and prove the parts thereof . though umbrages and light jealousies created by cowardly fansies be too narrow to build a fair quarrel on ; yet the lawfulnesse of a preventive warre founded on just fear , is warranted by reason and the practice of all wise nations . in such a case it is folly to do as countrey-fellows in a fence-school , never ward a blow till it be past : but it is best to be before-hand with the enemy , lest the medicine come too late for the malady . in such dangers to play an after-game , is rather a shift then a policy ; especially seeing war is a tragedy which alwayes destroyeth the stage whereon it is acted ; it is the most advised way , not to wait for the enemy , but to seek him out in his own countrey . now that the mahometans ( under whom the turks and saracens are comprehended , differing in nation , agreeing in religion and spite against christians ) were now justly to be feared , cannot be denyed . so vast was the appetite of their sword , that it had already devoured asia , and now reserved grecia for the second course . the bosphorus was too narrow a ditch , and the empire of grecia too low an hedge to fence the pagans out of west-christendome : yea , the saracens had lately wasted † italy , pillaged and burned many churches near rome it self , conquered spain , inroded aquitain , and possessed some islands in the mid-land-sea . the case therefore standing thus , this holy warre was both lawfull and necessary : which like unto a sharp pike in the bosse of a buckler , though it had a mixture of offending , yet it was chiefly of a defensive nature , to which all preventive warres are justly reduced . lastly , this warre would be the sewer of christendome , and drain all discords out of it . for active men like mill-stones in motion , if they have no other grist to grind , will set fire one on another . europe at this time surfeited with people , and many of them were of stirring natures , who counted themselves undone , when they were out of doing ; and therefore they employed themselves in mutuall jarres and contentions : but now this holy warre will make up all breaches , and unite all their forces against the common foe of christianity . chap. . reasons against the holy warre . yet all these reasons prevail not so forcibly , but that * many are of the contrary opinion , and count this warre both needlesse and unlawfull , induced thereunto with these or the like arguments . . when the jews were no longer gods people , judea was no longer gods land by any peculiar appropiation ; but on the other side , god stamped on that countrey an indeleble character of desolation , and so scorched it with his anger , that it will never change colour , though christians should wash it with their bloud . it is labour in vain therefore for any to endeavour to re-establish a flourishing kingdome in a blasted countrey : and let none ever look to reap any harvest , who sow that land which god will have to lie fallow . . grant the turks were no better then dogs , yet were they to be let alone in their own kennel . they and the saracens their predecessours , had now enjoyed palestine four hundred and sixty years : prescription long enough to soder the most crackt title , and not onely to corroborate but to create a right . yea , god himself may seem herein to allow their title , by suffering them so long peaceably to enjoy it . . to visit those places in jerusalem ( the theatre of so many mysteries and miracles ) was as uselesse as difficult ; and might be superstitious if any went ( as it is to be feared too many did ) with placing transcendent holinesse in that place , and with a wooden devotion to the materiall crosse. the † angel sent the women away from looking into the sepulchre , with he is risen , he is not here ; and thereby did dehort them and us , from burying our affections in christs grave , but rather to seek him where he was to be found . at this day a gracious heart maketh every place a jerusalem , where god may as well and as acceptably be worshipped . s. hilarion † though he lived in palestine saw jerusalem but once , and then onely because he might not seem to neglect the holy places for their nearnesse and vicinitie . and s. hierome ( though himself lived at bethlehem ) disswaded paulinus from coming thither ; for the pains would be above the profit . . lastly , this warre was a quicksand to swallow treasure , and of a hot digestion to devour valiant men : no good , much evil came thereby ; and the christians that went out to seek an enemy in asia , brought one thence , to the danger of all europe , and the losse of a part thereof . for though ▪ — careat successibus opto , quisquis ab eventu factan●tanda put at : — may ●e never speed , who from the issue censures of the deed : and though an argument fetcht from the successe is but a cyphre in it self , yet it increaseth a number when joyned with others . these reasons have moved the most † moderate and refined papists , and all protestants generally in their judgements to fight against this holy war. but as for the opinion of bibliander ( who therein stands without company ) if † bellarmine hath truly reported it , it is as far from reason , as charity ; namely , that these christians that went to fight against the saracens , were the very army of gog and magog spoken of by the prophet † ezekiel . yet must we not here forget , that such as at this time went to jerusalem ( whether ridiculously or blasphemously , or both , let others judge ) did carry a † goose before them , pretending it to be the holy ghost . chap. . the private ends and profits of the pope , which he is charged by authours to have had in this holy warre . it is enough with some to make it suspicious that there were some sinister ends in this war , because gregory the seventh , otherwise called hildebrand ( and by luther , † larva diaboli ) the worst of all that sate in that chair , first began it : but death preventing him , urbane the second ( whom cardinall benno called † turbane for troubling the whole world ) effected it . and though the pretences were pious and plausible , yet no doubt the thoughts of his holinesse began where other mens ended , and he had a privie project beyond the publick designe ; first , to reduce the † grecians into subjection to himself with their three patriarchs of jerusalem , antioch , and constantinople , and to make the eastern church a chapell of ease to the mother church of rome . secondly , this warre was the popes house of correction , whither he sent his sturdy and stubborn enemies to be tamed . such high-spirited men whom he either feared or suspected , he condemned to this employment , as to an honourable banishment : and as saul being afraid of david sent him to fight against the philistines , that so he might fall by their sword ; so the pope had this cleanly and unsuspected conveyance to † rid away those he hated , by sending them against infidels . this appeared most plainly in the matter of the emperour himself , whom he sent from home that so he might rob his house in his absence . at the beginning of this warre , the popes temporall power in italy was very slender , because the emperours dominions did gird him close & hard on all sides : but soon after he grew within short time without all measure , and did lurch a castle here , gain a city there from the emperour , whiles he was imployed in palestine : so that by the time that the christians had lost all in syria , the emperour had lost all in italy ; his dominions there being either swallowed up by peters patrimony , or by private princes and upstart free-states , which as so many splinters flew out of the broken empire . thirdly , hereby the pope determined on his side the gainfullest controversie that ever was in christendome . this was about the investiture of bishops , whether the right lay in the pope or in secular princes . now his holinesse diverted this question out of princes heads , by opening an issue another way ; and gave vent to the activity of their spirits in this martiall imployment , and in the mean time quietly went away without any corrivall , concluding the controversie for his own profit . lastly , he got a masse of money by it . he had the office to bear the bag , and what was put into it , as contributed to this action from pious people , and expended but some few drops of the showres he received . guesse the rest of his griping tricks from this one which † matth. paris reporteth . first , he prompted many people in england unfit for arms , to take upon them to vow to go to the holy war , and this was done by the exhortation and preaching of the friars . this done , he compelled and forced those votaries ( whose purses were more usefull for this service then their persons ) to commute their journey into money , the payment whereof should be as meritorious as their pilgrimage . and thus scraped he a masse of coin from such silly people as thought themselves cleansed of their sinnes when they were wiped of their money , and who having made themselves slaves to the pope by their rash vow , were glad to buy their liberty at his price . as the pope , so most of the clergy improved their estates by this warre : for the secular princes who went this voyage , sold or morgaged most of their means , ( selling for gold to purchase with steel and iron ) and the clergy were generally their chapmen . for they advised these undertakers , seeing this action was for christ and his church , rather to make over their estates to spirituall men , of whom they might again redeem the same , and from whom they should be sure to find the fairest dealing , then to lay-men . † godfrey duke of bouillon sold that dukedome to the bishop of liege ; and the castle of sartensy and monsa , to the bishop of verdune . baldwin his brother sold him the city of verdune . yea , by these sales the † third part of the best feoffs in france came to be possessed by the clergy ; who made good bargains for themselves , and had the conscience to buy earth cheap , and to sell heaven dear . yea , this voyage laid the foundation of their temporall greatnesse , till at last the daughter devoured the mother , and wealth impaired religion . chap. . the quality and condition of those people who undertook the warre . it is not to be expected that all should be fish which is caught in a drag-net , neither that all should be good and religious people who were adventurers in an action of so large a capacity as this warre was . we must in charity allow , that many of them were truly zealous and went with pious intents . these were like to those of whom bellarmine speaketh , who had no fault praeter nimiam sanctitatem , too much sanctity , which † a learned man interpreteth too much superstition . but besides these well-meaning people , there went also a rabble-rout , rather for company then conscience . † debters took this voyage on them as an acquittance from their debts , to the defrauding of their creditours : servants counted the conditions of their service cancelled by it , going away against their masters will : thieves and murderers took upon them the crosse , to escape the gallows : adulterers did penance in their armour . a lamentable case that the devils black guard should be gods souldiers . and no wonder if the successe was as bad as some of the adventurers , especially seeing they retained their old conditions under a new climate . and ( as if this voyage had been like to repentance , never too soon nor too late for any to begin ) not onely green striplings unripe for warre , but also decayed men to whom age had given a writ of ease , became souldiers ; and those who at home should have waited on their own graves , went farre to visite christs sepulchre . and which was more , women ( as if they would make the tale of the amazons truth ) went with weapons in mens clothes ; a behaviour at the best immodest : and modesty being the case of chastity , it is to be feared that where the case is broken , the jewel is lost . this enterprise was also the mother of much non-residence , many prelates and friars ( fitter to handle a pen-knife then a sword ) left their covents and pastorall charges to follow this businesse . the totall summe of those pilgrim-souldiers amounted to three hundred thousand , and † some writers do double that number . no doubt the christians army had been greater , if it had been lesse ; for the belly was too big for the head ; and the medley of nations did rather burden then strengthen it . besides , the army was like a cloth of many colours , and more seams ; which seams though they were curiously drawn up for the present , yet after long wearing began to be seen , and at last broke out into open rents . chap. . the adventurers sorted according to their severall nations . the french , dutch , italian , and english were the four elementall nations whereof this army was compounded : of these the french were predominant ; they were the cape-merchants in this adventure . that nimble nation first apprehended the project , and eagerly prosecuted it . as their language wanteth one proper word to expresse stand ; so their natures mislike a setled , fixed posture , and delight in motion and agitation of businesse : yea , france ( as being then best at leasure ) contributed more souldiers to this warre then all christendome besides . the signall men were , hugh sirnamed le grand , brother to the king of france , godfrey duke of bouillon , baldwine and eustace his younger brother , stephen earl of bloys father to stephen afterwards king of england , reimund earl of tholo use , robert earl of flanders , hugh earl of saint-paul , baldwine de burge , with many more ; besides of the clergy , aimar bishop of puy and legate to the pope , and william bishop of orange . germany is slandered to have sent none to this warre at this first voyage ; and that other pilgrims passing through that countrey , were mocked by the dutch and called † fools for their pains . it is true , the germane adventurers in number answered not the largenesse and populousnesse of their countrey : for henry the emperour ( a prince whom the pope long hacked at , and hewed him off at last ) † being desirous to go this voyage , was tied up at home with civill discords . yet we find a competency of souldiers of that nation , besides those under godescalcus a priest , emmicho the rhene-grave , and count herman their leaders . but though germany was backward at the first , yet afterwards it proved the main atlas of the warre : that nation like a heavie bell was long a raising , but being got up made a loud sound . italy sent few out of her heart and middle provinces nigh rome . the pope was loth to adventure his darlings into danger : those white boyes were to stay at home with his holinesse their tender father : wherefore he † dispensed with them for going , as knowing how to use their help nearer , and to greater profit . peters patrimony must as well be looked to , as christs sepulchre . but though the pope would spend none of his own fewel , he burnt the best stakes of the emperours hedge , and furthered the imperiall party to consume it self in this tedious warre . out of the furthermost parts of italy , boemund prince of tarentum , and tancred his nephew ( both of the normane seed , though growing on the apulian soyl ) led an army of twelve thousand men . and lombardy was also very liberal of her souldiers towards this expedition . england ( the popes pack-horse in that age , which seldome rested in the stable , when there was any work to be done ) sent many brave men under robert duke of normandy , brother to william rufus ; as beauchamp , and others , whose names are lost . neither surely did the irishmens feet stick in their bogs , though we find no particular mention of their archievements . spain had other use for her swords against the saracens at home , and therefore sent none of her men abroad . as † one saith , the spaniards did follow their own holy warre ; a work more necessary , and no lesse honourable . thus they acted the same part , though not on the same stage , with our pilgrims , as being also imployed in fight against the infidels . poland had the same excuse for not much appearing clean through this warre ; because she lieth bordering on the tartars in her appendant countrey of lituania , and therefore was busied in making good her frontiers . besides , no wonder if prussia , lituania , and livonia were not up in this service ; for it was searee break of day with them , and the sunne of the gospel was newly ( if at all ) risen in those parts . yea , poland was so farre from sending men hither , that she fetcht them from hence , † and afterwards implored the aid of the teutonick order , who came out of palestine to assist her against her enemies . hungarie might bring filling-stones to this building , but few foundation or corner-stones , and at this time had no commander of note in this action . scotland also presenteth us not with any remarkable piece of service which her men performed in all this warre . it was not want of devotion , which was hot enough in that coid countrey : rather we may impute it to want of shipping , that countrey being little powerfull at sea : or ( which is most probable ) the actions of this nation are hidden , as wrapped up in the bundle with some others ; i should guesse under the french , but the intimacy of those two people is of a farre later date . denmark and norway near-acquainted with the arctick pole , though they lagged the last , ( and may therein be excused because of the length of the way ) were sharers in the honour of this imployment , and performed good sea-service . sweden either acted not at all , or else had a very short part in this businesse . that countrey being a separatist because of her remote situation , had little communion with other parts of europe . and indeed histories are mute of sweden , but that of late gustavus his victory hath put a tongue into them , and hath made that countrey famous to all posterity . chap. . the sad beginning of the warre . their first setting forth was checked with bad successe . for walter sensaver a nobleman ( but what countrey-man it is unknown ) † who had more of the sail of valour then balast of judgement ; led forth an ill-grown and unproportioned army , with many thousand foot , and † eight horsemen onely . but we must not think that this fowl should flie far , whose wings were so short , and train so long . his men were routed and slain by the bulgarians , and he himself through many miseries scarce recovered constantinople . peter the hermite with his army went further to meet his own destruction . for after many difficulties having crossed the bosphorus , they came into asia , and there found some cities forsaken by the turks their inhabitants . this they imputed to their enemies fear , which proceeded from their policy : and therefore being more greedy to pillage , then carefull to fortifie the places they took , hunted after preys so long till they became one themselves . hugh brother to the king of france , with his sirname of the great , had as little successe as the former ; his army being quickly abridged by the furious bulgarians in their passage , and † he brought prisoner to constantinople . besides these , one gorescalcus a priest , a wolf in sheeps clothing , and emmicho a tyrant-prince near the rhene , led forth a rout of wicked people , who carried the badge of the crosse , and served the divel under christs livery , killing and pillaging the poore jews and other people in germany as they went. this made coloman king of hungary , not onely deny them passage through his countrey , ( and no wonder if he was loth to lodge those guests who were likely to rob their host ) but also put most of them to the sword . some suspected these beginnings to be but the bad breakfast to a worse dinner ; and therefore abandoning their resolutions , returned home : others little moved herear , conceived these first defeats to be but the clarifying of the christian army from the dregs of base and ruder people . chap. . the pilgrimes arrivall at constantinople , entertainment , and departure . but now ( to speak in my * authours phrase ) the chaffe being winnowed with this fanne out of gods floore , the good grain began to appear . godfrey duke of bouillon set forth , and marched through hungary with an army of civill and well-conditioned souldiers ; so also did boemund , reimund , and robert the normane , whose setting forth bare divers dates : and they embraced severall courses through severall countreys ; but the first rendezvous where all met was at constantinople . this was no pleasant prospect to alexius the grecian emperour , to see the sea full of ships , the shore of souldiers . he had gotten the empire by bad practices ( by deposing and , cloistering nicephorus his predecessour ) and an ill conscience needeth no enemy but it self : for now he affrighteth himself with the fansie , that these pilgrims were so many pioners come to undermine him . yea , he seemeth to have entailed his jealousies on all his successours ; who never cordially affected this warre , but suspected that these western christians made but a false blow at jerusalem , and meant to hit constantinople . but though he had a storm in his heart , yet he made all fair weather in his face ; and finding these his guests so strong that they could command their own welcome , he entertained them rather for fear then love . at last it was * covenanted betwixt them , that what countreys or cities soever ( jerusalem alone excepted ) once belonging to this grecian empire , should be recovered by these latines , should all be restored to alexius ; in lieu whereof he was to furnish them with armour , shipping , and all other warlick necessaries . thus might that emperour have much improved his estate by these adventures ; but he ( like those who cannot see their own good for too stedfast looking on it ) by his over-carefulnesse and causelesse suspicion , deprived himself of this benefit , and implunged himself in much just hatred for his unjust just dealing and treachery . polybius ( though a grecian him self ) yet thus painteth out his countreymen amongst the greeks ; if one should lend a talent , though he should have for it ten bonds , ten seals , and twice as many witnesses , yet the borrower will not keep his credit . it seems alexius was one of this same faith , who though so solemnly engaged on his honour to perform this agreement so advantagious to himself , most un-princelike brake his word , and molested these pilgrims afterwards . † some question the discretion of these princes in this agreement , to bargain to purchase alexius his profit with their bloud , and conceive that they much under-valued themselves in swearing homage unto him ; which onely † robert earl of flanders ( remembring that he was free-born and bred ) refused to do : yet they may herein be partly excused ; for they apprehended it of absolute necessity to gain this emperours favour , on what price soever , because his countrey was the high-way through which they must passe . besides , their zeal to be at their journeys end made them insensible of any future disadvantages , so be it they might have but present expedition to the place they were bound for . and we may also think that alexius his liberall gifts had great efficacy in this matter , to win these princes to his own desires . chap. . the estate of asia ; siege , and taking of nice : turks overthrown in battel . at our last mentioning of the turks and their victories , we left them possest of jerusalem , and the greater part of syria : but since they have thrived better , and won the lesser asia from the grecian emperour . indeed those emperours with their own hands lifted up the turks into their throne , and caused them thus speedily to conquer . for giving themselves over to pleasure , they gave little countenance , and lesse maintenance to men of service and action : whereby the martiall sparks in noble spirits were quenched ; and no wonder if virtue did wither where it was not watered with reward . secondly , out of covetousnesse the emperours unfurnished their frontiers of garrisons , and laid them open to invasions ; a notorious soloecisme in policy : for if doores in private houses are to be locked , much more frontiers in kingdomes . neither did it a little advantage the turks proceedings , that the grecian empire fell to eudoxia a woman , and her children in minority , too weak pilots to steer so great a state in the tempest of war. and although after other changes it fell to alexius , one whose personall abilities were not to be excepted against ; yet he being totally busied at home , to maintain his title against home-bred foes , had no leisure to make any effectual resistance against forrein enemies . nor did the death of cutlu-muses their king any whit prejudicethe tu●kish proceedings : for solyman his sonne succeeded him , a prince no lesse famous for his clemency then his conquests ; as victory to generous minds is onely an inducement to moderation . in this case under the tyranny of the turks stood asia the lesse ; and though there were many christians in every city , yet these being disarmed , had no other weapons then those of the primitive church , tears and prayers . but now these western pilgrimes arriving there , besiege the city of nice with an army as glorious as ever the sunne beheld . this city was equally beholden to nature and art for her strength ; and was formerly famous for the first generall council , called there by constantine against arius , wherein were assembled . bishops . the pilgrimes had a lombard for their engineer ; the neighbouring wood afforded them materials , whereof they made many warlike instruments , and hoped speedily to conquer the city . but breathed deer are not so quickly caught . the turks within being experienced souldiers , defeated their enterprises . and here one might have seen art promising her self the victory , and suddenly meeting with counter-art which mastered her . the lake ascanius whereon the city stood , having an out-let into the sea , much advantaged the besieged , whereby they fetch● victualls from the countrey , till at last that passage was locked up by the grecian fleet . soon after the city was surrendred , on composition that the inhabitants lives and goods should be untouched ; whereat the souldiers who hitherto hoped for the spoyl , now seeing themselves spoiled of their hope , shewed no small discontentment . solymans wife and young children were taken prisoners , and the city ( according to the agreement ) was delivered to tatinus the grecian admirall in behalf of alexius his master . from hence the christians set forward to the vale of dogorgan , when behold solyman with all his might fell upon them ; and there followed a cruel battel , fought with much courage and variety of successe . a cloud of arrows darkned the skie , which was quickly dissolved into a showre of bloud . the christians had many disadvantages : for their enemies were three to one ; & valour it self may be pressed to death under the weight of multitude . the season was unseasonable ; the scorching of the sunne much annoying these northern people , whilest the turks had bodies of proof against the heat . besides , the christians horses affrighted with the barbarous sounds of the turkish drummes , were altogether unserviceable . however , they bravely maintained their fight by the speciall valour and wisdome of their leaders , ( amongst whom boemund , and hugh brother to the king of france , deserved high commendations ) till at last finding themselves overmatched , they began to guard their heads with their heels , and fairly ran away . when in came * robert the normane in the very opportunity of opportunity . much he encouraged them with his words , more with his valour , slaying three principall turks with his own hands . this sight so inspired the christians , that coming in on fresh , they obtained a most glorious victory . two thousand on their side were slain , whereof william the brother of tancred , godfrey de mont , and robert of paris were of speciall note . but farre greater was the slaughter of their enemies , especially after that godfrey of bouillon , who had been absent all the battel , came in with his army : yet they wanted a hammer to drive the victory home to the head , having * no horses to make the pursuit . solyman flying away burned all as he went ; and to prop up his credit , gave it out that he had gotten the day , pleasing himself to be a conquerour in report . this great battel was fought july the first ; though some make it many dayes after : yea , so great is the variety of historians in their dates , that every one may seem to have a severall clock of time , which they set faster or slower at their own pleasure : but as long as they agree in the main , we need not be much moved with their petty dissensions . chap. . the siege and taking of antiochia ; corboran overcome in fight ; of christs spear , and of holy fraud . from hence with invincible industry and patience , they bored a passage through valleys , up mountains , over rivers , taking as they went the famous cities , iconium , heraclea , tarsus , and conquering all the countrey of cilicia . this good successe much * puffed them up ; god therefore to cure them of the pleurisie of pride , did let them bloud with the long and costly siege of antiochia . this city watered by the river orontes , and called reblath of the hebrews , was built by seleucus nicanor , and enlarged by antiochus . compassed it was with a double wall , one of square stone , the other of brick ; strengthened with towers , and had a castle on the east rather to be admired then assaulted . here the professours of our faith were first named † christians : and here s. peter first sate bishop , whose fair church was a patriarchall seat for many hundred years after . before this city the pilgrimes army incamped , and strongly besieged it : but the turks within manfully defending themselves under auxianus their captain , frustrated their hopes of taking it by force . the siege grew long , and victuals short in the christians camp : and now † peter the hermite being brought to the touch-stone , discovered what base metall he was of : ran away with some other of good note , and were fetcht back again , and bound with a new oath to prosecute the warre . at last , one within the city ( though authours agree neither of his name nor religion , some making him a turk , others a christian ; some calling him pyrrhus , some hemirpherrus , others emipher ) in the dead of the night betrayed the city to boemund . the christians issuing in , and exasperated with the length of the fiege , so remembred what they had suffered , that they forgot what they had to do , † killing promiscuously christian citizens with turks . thus passions like heavie bodies down steep hills , once in motion move themselves , and know no ground but the bottom . antiochia thus taken , was offered to alexius the emperour ; but he refused it , suspecting some deceit in the tender ; as bad men measure other mens minds by the crooked rule of their own . hereupon it was bestowed on boemund ; though this place dearly purchased was not long quietly possessed : for corboran the turkish generall came with a vast army of persian forces , and besieged the christians in the city , so that they were brought into a great strait betwixt death and death , hunger within and their foes without . many secretly stole away , whereat the rest were no whit discomfited , counting the losse of cowards to be gain to an army . at last , they generally resolved rather to lose their lives by whole-sale on the point of the sword , then to retail them out by famine , which is the worst of tyrants , and murdereth men in state , whilest they die in not dying . it did not a little encourage them , that they found in the church of s. peter that † lance wherewith our saviours body was pierced : they highly prized this military relique of christ , as if by wounding of him it had got virtue to wound his enemies , and counted it a pawn of certain victory . whether this spear was truly found , or whether it was but invented to cozen men with , we will not dispute : however , it wrought much with these pilgrimes ; for conceit oftentimes doth things above conceit , especially when the imagination apprehendeth something founded in religion . marching forth in severall armies they manfully fell upon their enemies , and being armed with despair to escape , they sought to fell their lives at the dearest rate . valour doth swell when it is crushed betwixt extremities ; and then oftentimes goeth beyond her self in her atchievements . this day by gods blessing on their courage they got a noble conquest . some saw † s. george in the aire with an army of white horses fighting for them ; but these no doubt did look through the spectacles of fansie . and yet though we should reject this apparition , we need not play the origens with the story of s. george , and change all the literall sense into an allegory of christ and his church : for it is improbable that our english nation , amongst so many saints that were , would choose one that was not , to be their patrone ; especially seeing the world in that age had rather a glut then famine of saints . and here let me advertise the reader once for all , not to expect that i should set down those many † miracles where with authours who write this warre so lard their stories , that it will choke the belief of any discreet man to swallow them . as the intent of these writers was pious , to gain credit and converts to the christian faith , so the prosecuting of their project must be condemned , in thinking to grace the gospel in reporting such absurd falsities . but let us know that heaven hath a pillorie , whereon fraus pia her self shall be punished : and rather let us leave religion to her native plainnesse , then hang her ears with counterfeit pearls . the pride of the turks being abated in this battel , and an of them being slain , the christians grew mightily insolent , and forgot to return to god the honour of the victory . whereupon followed a great mortality , and died in few dayes ; whether this proceeded from the climate ( the bodies of europe not being friends with the aire of asia , till use by degrees reconcileth them ) or whether it was caused by their intemperance : for after long fasting they would not measure their stomachs by the standard of physick , and dieting themselves till nature by degrees could digest the meat ; but by surfeiting digged their graves with their own teeth . and now we are come to the skirts and borders of palestine . wherefore as heralds use to blazon the field before they meddle with the charge , so let us describe the land before we relate the actions done therein . if in bowling they must needs throw wide which know not the green or alley whereon they play ; much more must they misse the truth in story , who are unacquainted with that countrey whereon the discourse proceedeth . briefly therefore of the holy land ; as not intending to make a large and wide description of so short and narrow a countrey . chap. . a pisgah-sight , or short survey of palestine in generall ; and how it might maintain men . palestine is bounded on the north with mount libanus ; west with the mid-land-sea ; south , with the wildernesse of paran , parting it from egypt ; and east , with the mountains of gilead , and the river of arnon . to give it the most favourable dimensions ; from the foot of libanus to beersheba , north and south , may be allowed miles : and from ramoth-gilead to endor , east and west , seventy ; which is the constant breadth of the countrey . in which compasse in davids time were maintained † thirteen hundred thousand men , besides women , children , and impotent persons : and yet the tribes of † benjamin and levi were not reckoned . true this must needs be , for truth hath said it : yet is it wonderfull . for though the united provinces in the low-countreys maintain as many people in as little a plot of ground , yet they feed not on home-bred food ; but have poland for their granary , the british ocean for their fish-pond , high-germany for their wine-cellar ; and by the benefit of their harbours unlock the store-houses of all other countreys . it fared not thus with the jews , whose own countrey fed them all . and yet the seeming impossibility of so many kept in so small a land will be abated , if we consider these particulars : . people in those hot countreys had not so hot appetites for the quantity of the meat eaten , nor gluttonous palates for the variety of it . . the countrey rising and falling into hills and vales , gained many acres of ground : whereof no notice is taken in a map ; for therein all things presented are conceived to be in plano : and so the land was farre roomthier then the scale of miles doth make it . . they had pasturage to feed their cattel in , in out-countreys beyond palestine . thus the tribe of † reuben grased their cattel east-ward , even to the river euphrates . . lastly , the soyl was transcendently fruitfull , as appeareth by that great † bunch of grapes carried by two men : for though many a man hath not been able to bear wine , it is much that one should be loaden with one cluster of grapes . if any object against the fruitfulnesse of this countrey ; that there were many wildernesses therein , as those of maon , ziph , carmel , gibeon , judah , and these must needs cut large thongs out of so narrow a hide : it is answered , that these wildernesses took up no great space , as probably being no bigger then our least forrests in england . as for the greater deserts , we must not conceive them to lie wholly waste , but that they were but thinly inhabited : for we find * fix cities with their villages in the wildernesse of judah . principall commodities of this countrey were , . balm , which * wholly failed not long after our saviours passion ; whether because the type was to cease when the truth was come , or because that land was unworthy to have so sovereign bodily physick grow in her , where the physician of the soul was put to death . . honey , and that either distilled by bees those little chymists ( and the pasture they fed on was never a whit the barer for their biting ) or else rained down from heaven , as that which * jonathan tasted , when his sweet meat had like to have had sowre sauce , and to have cost him his life . besides these , milk , oyl , nuts , almonds , dates , figs , olives : so that we may boldly say , no countrey had better sauce and better meat , having fowl , fish in sea , lakes , and rivers ; flesh of sheep , goats , bucks , and kine . mines of gold and silver with pearls and precious stones , judea rather had not then wanted ; either because god would not have his people proud or covetous ; or because these are not essentiall to mans life ; or because nature bestoweth these commodities in recompense on barren countreys . horses they had none but what they bought out of egypt for service , using asses for burden , oxen for drawing , and mules for travel . and for many hundred years they used no horses in battel , till david took some from * hadadezer . the greatest inconvenience of the land was that it had wild beasts ; and their sheep were not securely folded like ours in england , which stand more in danger of men then wolves . the chief river of the countrey was jordan : over which the israelites passed on foot ; afterwards elijah made a bridge over it with his cloke : and our saviour washed the water hereof , by being baptized in it . this ariseth from the springs of jor and dan ; whence running south he enlargeth himself first into the waters of merom , then into the lake of genesareth or tiberias ; and hence recovering his stream , as if sensible of his sad fate , and desirous to deferre what he cannot avoid , he fetcheth many turnings and windings , but all will not excuse him from falling into the dead sea . authours are very fruitfull on the barrennesse of this sea , ( where sodome once stood ) writing how on the banks thereof grow those hypocrite apples and well-complexioned dust ( the true emblemes of the false pleasures of this world ) which touched fall to ashes . chap. . galilee described . palestine contained four provinces : galilee on the north , trachonitis beyond jordan on the east , judea on the south , and samaria in the middle . galilee was divided into the upper and lower . the upper ( called also galilee of the gentiles , because it bordered on them ) comprehended the tribes of asher and nepthali . asher entertaineth us with these observables : . † misrephothmajim , the nantwich of palestine , where salt was boyled . . sarepta , where elijah multiplyed the widows oyl . . tyre , anciently the royall-exchange of the world ; but of this ( as of sidon and ptolemais ) largely hereafter . . ephek , whose walls falling down gave both the death and grave-stones to of benhadads souldiers . . cana the great , whereof was that woman whose daughter christ dispossessed of a devil . . belus , a rivulet famous for his glassie sand . . mount libanus , whether so called ( as our albion ) from his snowie top , or from frankincense growing thereon . nepthali with these : . abel-beth-maacha : in this borough sheba that vermine earthed himself , till a womans wisdome threw his head over the walls : and pity it was those wals should have stood , if they had been too high to throw a traytours head over them . . harosheth , the city of sisera , who for all his commanding of iron-chariots , was slain with one iron-nail . . capernaum , where christ healed the centurions servant , and not farre off fed an army of guests with five loaves and two fishes : so that if we consider what they ate , vve may wonder that they left any thing ; if what they left , that they are any thing . . kedesh , a citie of refuge , whither they were to flie that killed men unawares . as for those who formerly priviledged sanctuaries in england , where the worst traitours and wilfullest murderers were secure from punishment , they rather propounded romulus then moses for their president . . riblah , where king zedekiah ( more unhappy that he saw so long , then that he was blind so soon ) had his eyes put out , after he had beheld the slaughter of his sonnes . . cesarea-philippi , the chief city of decapolis , which was a small territory on both sides of jordan , so called of ten cities it contained ; though authours wonderfully differ in reckoning them up . . christs mount , so named because it was his pulpit , as the whole law was his text , when he made that famous sermon in the mount . this sunne of righteousnesse , which had all palestine for his zodiack , the twelve tribes for his signs , stayed longest here and in zabulon ; and as s. hierome * observeth , as these two tribes were first carried into captivity , so redemption was first preached in these countreys . lower galilee consisted of zabulon and issachar . zabulon presenteth us with naim , where our saviour raised the widows sonne , so that she was twice a mother , yet had but one child . . cana the lesse , where he shewed the virginity of his miracles at a marriage , turning water into wine . . bethulia , where judith strook off holofernes his head , though some since have strook off that story , not onely from canonicall scripture , but from truth . . bethsaida , upbraided by christ , famous for her great means , great ingratitude , great punishment . . nazareth , where our saviour had his conception and education . . tiberias , so called by herod the tetrarch in the honour of tiberius . . mount carmel , the jewish parnassus , where the prophets were so conversant . . tabor , where our saviour was transfigured , the earnest of his future glory . . the river kishon , gods besome to sweep away sisera's great army . in issachar we find tarichea , taken with great difficulty by vespasian . . shunem , where elisha was so often entertained by an honourable woman . and as if this land had been thirsty of bloud , here in this tribe were fought the battels of gideon against the midianites , jehu against jehoram , saul against the philistines upon mount gilboa . david therefore cursed that mountain , that neither dew nor rain should fall on it . but of late some english travellers climbing this mountain were well wetted ; david not cursing it by a propheticall spirit , but in a poeticall rapture . chap. . the description of samaria . samaria contained half manasses on this side jordan , and the tribe of ephraim . in the former we meet with bethshean , on the walls whereof the philistines hanged sauls body . . tirzah , where zimri ( whose onely goodnesse was , that he reigned but seven dayes ) burned himself and the kings palace . . thebez , where abimelech , prodigall of his life , but niggardly of his reputation , not so pained with his death , as angry with his killer , ( because a woman ) would needs be killed again by his armour-bearer . . megiddo , where josiah that bright sunne set in a cloud , engageing himself in a needlesse quarrel , wherein he was slain . . cesarea-stratonis , where herod was eaten up with worms . . jezreel , a royall city of the kings of israel , nigh which lay the vineyard or rather bloud-yard of naboth . ephraim was adorned with samaria the chief city of israel , which at this day sheweth more ruines then jerusalem . . shiloh , where the ark was long leiger ; and where eli heart-broken with bad news , brake his neck with a fall . . sichem , where dinah bought the satisfying of her curiosity with the losse of her chastity . and as if the ground here were stained with persidiousnesse , here simeon and levi killed the sichemites , joseph was sold by his brethren , abimelech usurped the government , the ten tribes revolted from rehoboam . . mount ephraim , a ridge of hills crossing this countrey . . gerizzim and ebal , two mountains : the blessings were pronounced on the one , and the curses on the other . chap. . iudea surveyed . judea comprised the tribes of benjamin , dan , simeon , and judah . benjamin flourished with gilgal , where joshua circumcised the israelites . they hitherto had been fellow-commoners with the angels , feeding on manna , which here ceased ; god withdrawing miracles where he afforded means . . gibeon , whose inhabitants cozened joshua with a passe of false-dated antiquity : who would have thought that clouted shoes could have covered so much subtilty ? here joshua sent his mandate to the sunne to stand still , and to wait on him whilest he conquered his enemies . . nob , where doeg , more cruel then the kings cattel he kept , slew eighty five priests as innocent as their ephods were white . . jericho , whose walls were battered down with the found of rammes horns . . bethel , where god appe●red to jacob. . ai , where the israelites were slain for the sacriledge of achan . dan had these memorables . . joppa a safe harbour , where jonah fled from gods service . . ashdod or azotus , where d●gon did twice homage to the ark , not onely falling bare , but ting off his head and hands . . gath , a seminary of giants , where goliah was born . . ekron , where beelzebub the god of flies had a nest or temple . . timnath , where judah committed incest with tamar , but betrayed himself by his own tokens , and beat himself with his own staff . hence samson fetcht his wife , whose epithalamium proved the dirge to so many philistines . . modin , where the maccabees were buried . . sorek , the chief if not onely rivulet of this tribe . entring on the south-coasts of simeon , we light on askelon , where herod was born . . gaza , chief of the five satrapies of the philistines , the gates whereof samson carryed away ; and hither being sent for to make sport in the house of dagon , acted such a tragedy that plucked down the stage , slew himself , and all the spectatours . . more inland ; ziklag , assigned by achish to david . . beersheba and gerar , where abraham and isaac lived most constantly , near unto the brook of besor . the tribe of judah was the greatest of all , so that simeon and dan did feed on the reversion thereof , and received those cities which originally belonged to this royall tribe . memorable herein were . hebron , the land whereof was given to caleb , because he and joshua consented not to the false verdict which the jurie of spies brought in against the land of canaan . . nigh , in the cave of machpelah , the patriarchs were buried ; whose bodies took livery and seasin in behalf of their posterity , which were to possesse the whole land . . kiriath-sepher or debir , an ancient university of the canaanites : for though parnassus was onely in greece , yet the muses were not confined to that countrey . . tekoa , where amos was born , fetcht from the herdsmen to feed gods sheep ; and to dresse his vine , from gathering wild-figs . . zoar , lots refuge ; near to which his wife for one fare-well glance at sodome , was turned into a pillar of salt , to season us to measure a sinne by the infinitenesse of god who forbiddeth it . adjoyning is lots cave ; where he affecting solitarinesse , had too much company of his own daughters . . carmel , where nabal lived as rich as foolish ; but those grains of wisdome which were wanting in him , were found over-weight in his wife . here uzziah pastured his cattel : a king , yet delighted in husbandry ; as thrift is the fewel of magnificence . . bethlehem , where our saviour was born . . jerusalem , whereof afterwards . chap. . of trachonitis . we want one adequate word of a countrey to expresse the tribes of reuben , gad , and half-manasses beyond jordan . trachonitis cometh the nearest , so called because it riseth up in sharp hills , which are known to ptolomie by the name of hippus ; to strabo , of trachones ; but in scripture , of mount hermon , or gilead . reuben , though disinherited of the birth-right , had this honour of an elder brother , that he was first provided for . his chief places , heshbon and medeba , and macherus , the strongest in-land city in that part of the world . mount abarim , a chain of hills , the highest whereof was nebo ; the top-cliff of nebo , pisgah ; whence moses viewed the land : hereabouts the angel buried him , and also buried his grave , lest it should occasion idolatry . the river arnon parteth this tribe from moab . in gad , we find peniel where jacob wrestled with god ; lost a sinew , but got a blessing : jabesh-gilead , where saul was buried : ramoth-gilead , where ahab was slain : rogelim , the mannour of barzillai , superannuated to be a courtier : mahanaim , where the angels appeared to jacob : the forrest of ephraim , where that execution was done by jephthah on the ephraimites , for not pronouncing that heavie aspiration in shibboleth : the river jabbok . in manasses , edrei the city of og , on whose giant-like proportion the rabbines have more giant-like lies : gadara , whose inhabitants loved their swine better then their saviour . they that desire to be further informed of canaan , let them spare pains to strike fire , and light their candle at sir walter ralegh's torch . chap. . the description of the citie of ierusalem ; the observables within and about her . jerusalem by the often change of her fortunes , hath somewhat altered her situation , having hitched her self more north-west-ward . for the mountain of calvarie , which formerly she shut out of her gates , as the infamous place of execution , she now embraceth within her walls as her most venerable monument . on the south of jerusalem ( once part of her , now excluded ) lyeth mount sion , famous anciently for the palace of david : on the east , mount olivet , parted with the vale of jehoshaphat ; which ( some will have ) shall be the hall for the great assizes of the world at the day of judgement , whilest others more modestly conceive that the place as well as the time is concealed . on the west , the hill of gihon : and on the north it is indifferent plain . the monuments which are still extant to be seen without or within the city , are reduceable to one of these three ranks , . certainly true ; as the mountains compassing it , which are standards too great and too heavie for either time or warre to remove : and such also are some eminent particulars of some places , which constant tradition without rupture hath entailed on posterity . . of a mixt nature ; where the text is true , but superstition and fansie have commented on it . . stark lies , without a ragge of probabilitie to hide their shame ; where the believer is as foolish as the inventer impudent . we will bundle them together , and let the reader sort them at his discretion : for it is hard to fit the throats , as to please the palates of men ; and that will choke one mans belief which another will swallow as easily credible . neither let any censure this discourse as a parenthesis to this history , seeing that to see these reliques was one principall motive with many to undertake this pilgrimage . to begin without the city : on the south there remain the ruines of davids palace , too near to which was uriahs house ; and the * fountain is still shewed where bathsheba's washing of her body occasioned the fouling of her soul. next , davids tomb is to be seen wherein he was buried : his monument was inriched with a masse of treasure , saith josephus : out of which hircanus years after took three thousand talents . but surely david who despised riches in his life , was not covetous after his death : and i am sure they are his own words , that * man shall carry nothing away with him , neither shall his great pomp follow him . thirdly , aceldama that burying-place for strangers : and the grave that every where hath a good stomach , hath here a boulimia or greedy worm ; for it will devoure the flesh of a corpse in hours . fourthly , absaloms pillar , which he built to continue his memory , though he might have saved that cost , having eternized his infamy by his unnaturall rebellion . fifthly , the houses of annas and caiaphas , to passe by others of inferiour note . on the east ; first , mount olivet , from whence our saviour took his rise into heaven . the chappel of ascension , of an eight-square round mounted on three degrees , still challengeth great reverence ; and there the footsteps of our saviour are still to be seen , which cannot be covered over . secondly , the fig-tree which christ cursed : for he who spake many , here wrought a parable ; this whole tree being but the bark , and christ under it cursing the fruitlesse profession of the jews . thirdly , the place where s. stephen was stoned ; and the stones thereabouts are over-grown with a red rust , which is ( forsooth ) the very bloud of that holy martyr . fourthly , the place where judas surprised our saviour , and he fell down on a stone , in which the print of his elbows and feet are still to be seen . fifthly , the sepulchre of the blessed virgin : whose body after it had been three dayes buried , was carried up by the angels into heaven ; and she let fall her * girdle to s. thomas , that his weak faith might be swaddled therewith : otherwise he who in the point of christs resurrection would have no creed , except he made his own articles , and put his finger into his side , would no doubt hardly have believed the virgins assumption . with this legend we may couple another , which though distant in place will be believed both together : they shew at * bethlehem a little hole over the place where our saviour was born , through which the starre which conducted the wise men fell down to the ground . but who will not conclude but there was a vertigo in his head , who first made a starre subject to the falling-sicknesse ? sixthly , the vale of hinnom or tophet , in which wise solomon befooled by his wives , built a temple to moloch . seventhly , cedron , a brook so often mentioned in scripture . the west and north-sides of jerusalem were not so happily planted with sacred monuments ; and we find none thereon which grew to any eminency . we will now lead the reader into jerusalem : where first on mount moriah ( the place where isaac was offered , though not sacrificed ) stood solomons temple , destroyed by the chaldeans , rebuilt by zorobabel : afterward herod reedified it so stately ( saith josephus ) that it exceeded solomons temple ; if his words exceed not the truth . but no wonder if he that never saw the sunne , dare say that the moon is the most glorious light in the heavens . secondly , solomons palace , which was * thirteen years in building , whereas the temple was finished in * seven : not that he bestowed more cost and pains ( because more time ) on his own then on gods house : * but rather he plied gods work more throughly , and entertained then more builders ; so that contrary to the proverb , church-work went on the most speedily . thirdly , the house of the forrest of lebanon , which was ( as appeareth by comparing the text ) fourty cubits longer , and thirty cubits broader then the temple it self . but no doubt the holy spirit speaking of holy buildings , meaneth the great cubit of the sanctuary ; but in other houses , the ordinary or common cubit . it was called the house lebanon , because hard by it solomon planted a † grove , the abridgement of the great forrest ; so that the pleasures of spacious lebanon were here written in a lesse character . fourthly , pilates palace , and the common hall , where the judge of the world was condemned to death . fifthly , the pool of bethesda , the waters whereof troubled by the angel , were a panpharmacon to him that first got into them . here was a spittle built with five porches , the mercy of god being seconded by the charity of man ; god gave the cure , men built the harbour for impotent persons . sixthly , the house of dives the rich glutton : and therefore ( saith † adricomius ) it was no parable : but may we not retort his words ? it was a parable , and therefore this is none of dives his house . sure i am , th●ophylact is against the literall sense thereof , and saith , they think † foolishly that think otherwise . but my discourse hasteth to mount calvary , which at this day , hath almost ingrossed all reverence to it self . it is called calvarie , golgotha , or the place of a skull , either because the hill is rolled and † rounded up in the fashion of a mans head , ( as † pen in the brittish tongue signifieth both an head , and a copped hill ) or because here the bodies of such as were executed were cast . as for that conceit , that adams skull should here be found , it is confuted by s. hierom , who will have him buried at hebron . neither is it likely , if the jews had a tradition that the father of mankind had here been interred , that they would have made his sepulchre their tiburn where malefactours were put to death , and the charnel-house where their bones were scattered . over our saviours grave stood a stately church , built say some by helen , say others by constantine : but we will not set mother and sonne at variance ; it might be she built it at his cost . in this church are many monuments : as the pillar whereunto christ was bound when scourged , wherein red spots of dusky-veined marble † usurped the honour to be counted christs bloud . secondly , a great clift in the rock , which was rent in sunder at the passion , whereby the bad thief was divided from christ , ( the sign of his spirituall separation ) and they say it reacheth to the centre of the earth : a thing hard to confute . thirdly , certain pillars which being in a dark place under ground , are said miraculously to weep for our saviours suffering . but i referre those who desire the criticismes of those places without going thither , to read our english travellers : for in this case , as good wares and far cheaper peny-worths are bought at the second hand . to conclude our description of palestine , let none conceive that god forgot the levites in division of the land , because they had no entire countrey allotted unto them . their portion was as large as any , though paid in severall summes : they had cities with their suburbs , tithes , first-fruits , free-offerings ; being better provided for then many english ministers , who may preach of hospitality to their people , but cannot go to the cost to practice their own doctrine . a table shewing the variety of places names in palestine . in the old testament . at christs time . in s. hieromes time . at this day . azzah . gaza . constantia . gazra . a japho . joppa .   jaffa . b ramah . arimathea .   ramma . c shechem . sychar . neapolis . pelosa . d lydda . diospolis .   capharsalama antipatris .   assur . e zarephath . sarepta .   saphet . f emmaus . nicopolis .   bethsan .   scythopolis .   tzor . tyrus .   sur. g laish . dan. leshem . cesarea-philippi paneas . belina . h jerusalem . hierosolyma . aelia . cuds . i samaria . samaria . sebaste .   cinnereth . k tiberias .   saffet . l accho . ptolemais .   acre . gath.   dio-cesarea . ybilin . m dammesek . damascus .   sham. n arnon .   areopolis . petra . o rabbah . philadelphia .     waters of merom . semochonite lake .   houle . p chap. . the siege and taking of ierusalem . by this time cold weather ( the best besome to sweep the chambers of the air ) had well cleared the christians camp from infection ; and now their devotion moved the swifter , being come near to the centre thereof , the city of jerusalem . forward they set , and take the city of marrha , and employ themselves in securing the countrey about them , that so they might clear the way as they went. neither did the discords betwixt reimund and boemund much delay their proceedings , being in some measure seasonably compounded ; as was also the sea-battel betwixt the pisans and venetians . for the venetians seeing on the pisans the † cognizance of the crosse , the uncounterfeited pasport that they wear for the holy warre , suffered them safely to go on , though otherwise they were their deadly enemies , yea , and set five thousand of them at liberty , whom they had taken captive . the pilgrimes kept their easter at tripolie , whitsuntide by cesarea-stratonis , taking many places in their passage ; and at last came to jerusalem . discovering the city afarre off , it was a pretty sight to behold the harmony in the difference of expressing their joy ; how they clothed the same passion with diverse gestures ; some prostrate , some kneeling , some weeping ; all had much ado to manage so great a gladnesse . then began they the siege of the citie on the north , ( being scarce assaultable on any other side by reason of steep and broken rocks ) and continued it with great valour . on the fourth day after , they had taken it but for want of scaling-ladders . but a farre greater want was the defect of water , the springs being either stopped up or poysoned by the turks ; so that they fetcht water † five miles off . as for the brook cedron , it was dried up , as having no subsistence of it self , but meerly depending on the benevolence of winter-waters , which mount olivet bestoweth upon it . admirall coligni was wont to say , he that will well paint the beast warre , must first begin to shape the belly ; meaning that a good generall must first provide victuals for an army : yea , let him remember the bladder in the beasts belly as well as the guts , and take order for moisture more especially then for meat it self ; thirst in northern bodies being more unsupportable then famine : quickly will their courage be cooled , who have no moisture to cool their hearts . as for the christians want of ladders , that was quickly supplied : for the genoans arriving with a fleet in palestine , brought most curious engineers , who framed a wooden tower , and all other artificiall instruments . for we must not think , that the world was at a losse for warre-tools before the brood of guns was hatched : it had the † battering ramme , first found out by epeus at the taking of troy ; the balista to discharge great stones , invented by the phenicians ; the catapulta , being a sling of mighty strength , whereof the syrians were authours : and perchance king † uzziah first made it ; for we find him very dextrous and happy in devising such things . and although these bear-whelps were but rude and unshaped at the first , yet art did lick them afterwards , and they got more teeth and sharper nails by degrees ; so that every age set them forth in a new edition , corrected and amended . but these and many more voluminous engines ( for the ramme alone had an hundred men to manage it ) are now virtually epitomized in the cannon . and though some may say , that the finding of guns hath been the losing of many mens lives , yet it will appear that battels now are fought with more expedition , and victory standeth not so long a neuter , before she expresse her self on one side or other . but these gunnes have shot my discourse from the siege of jerusalem : to return thither again . by this time , in the space of a † moneth , the genoans had finished their engines which they built † seven miles off : for nearer there grew no stick of bignesse . i will not say , that since our saviour was hanged on a tree , the land about that city hath been cursed with a barrennes of wood . and now for a preparative , that their courage might work the better , they began with a fast , and a solemn procession about mount olivet . next day they gave a fierce assault ; yea , † women played the men , and fought most valiantly in armour . but they within being fourty thousand strong , well victualled and appointed , made stout resistance till the night ( accounted but a foe for her friendship ) umpired betwixt them , and abruptly put an end to their fight in the midst of their courage . when the first light brought news of a morning , they on afresh ; the rather , because they had † intercepted a letter tied to the legs of a dove ( it being the fashion of that countrey both to write and send their letters with the wings of a † fowl ) wherein the persian emperour promised present succours to the besieged . the turks cased the outside of their walls with bags of chaff , straw , and such like pliable matter , which conquered the engines of the christians by yielding unto them . as for one sturdy engine whose force would not be tamed , they brought † two old witches on the walls to inchant it : but the spirit thereof was too strong for their spells , so that both of them were miserably slain in the place . the day following , duke † godfrey fired much combustible matter , the smoke whereof ( the light cause of an heavie effect ) driven with the wind , blinded the turks eyes ; and under the protection thereof , the christians entred the citie : godfrey himself first footing the walls , and then his brother eustace . the turks retired to solomons temple ( so called because built in the same place ) there to take the farewell of their lives . in a desperate conflict there , the foremost of the christians were miserably slain , thrust upon the weapons of their enemies by their fellows that followed them . the pavement so swam , that none could go but either through a rivulet of bloud , or over a bridge of dead bodies . valour was not wanting in the turks , but superlatively abundant in the christians , till night made them leave off . next morning mercy was proclaimed to all those that would lay down their weapons : for though bloud be the best sauce for victory , yet must it not be more then the meat . thus was jerusalem wonne by the christians , and * twenty thousand turks therein slain , on the fifteenth of july being friday , about three of the clock in the afternoon . * tyrius findeth a great mystery in the time ; because adam was created on a friday , and on the same day and hour our saviour suffered . but these synchronismes , as when they are naturall they are pretty and pleasing ; so when violently wrested , nothing more poor and ridiculous . then many christians , who all this while had lived in jerusalem in most lamentable slavery , being glad to lurk in secret ( as truth oftentimes seeketh corners , as fearing her judge , though never as suspecting her cause ) came forth joyfully , wellcomed and embraced these the procurers of their liberty . three dayes after it was concluded , as necessary piece of * severity for their defence , to put all the turks in jerusalem to death ; which was accordingly performed without favour to age or sex . the pretence was for fear of treason in them , if the emperour of persia should besiege the city . and some slew them with the same zeal wherewith saul slew the gibeonites ; and thought it unfit that these goats should live in the sheeps pasture . but noble tancred was highly displeased hereat , because done in cold bloud , it being no slip of an extemporary passion , but a studied and premeditated act ; and that against pardon proclaimed , many of them having compounded and paid for their lives and liberty . besides , the execution was mercilesse , upon sucking children , whose not-speaking spake for them ; and on women , whose weaknesse is a shield to defend them against a valiant man. to conclude , severity hot in the fourth degree , is little better then poyson , and becometh cruelty it self : and this act seemeth to be of the same nature . the end of the first book . the history of the holy vvarre . book ii. chap. . robert the normane refuseth the kingdome of ierusalem ; godfrey of bouillon chosen king ; his parentage , education , and virtues . eight dayes after jerusalem was wonne , they proceeded to the election of a king : but they had so much choice that they had no choice at all ; so many princes there were , and so equally eminent , that justice her self must suspend her verdict , not knowing which of them best deserved the crown . yet it was their pleasure to pitch on robert the normane as on the man of highest descent , being son to a king : for great hugh of france was already returned home , pretending the colick ; though some impute it to cowardlinesse , and make the disease not in his bowels , but his heart . robert refused this honourable profer ; whether because he had an eye to the kingdome of england now void by the death of william rufus , or because he accounted jerusalem would be incumbred with continuall warre . but he who would not take the crown with the crosse , was fain to take the crosse without the crown , and never thrived afterwards in any thing he undertook . thus they who refuse what god fairly carveth for them , do never after cut well for themselves . he lived to see much misery , and felt more , having his eyes put out by king henry his brother ; and at last found rest ( when buried ) in the new cathedrall church of glocester under a † wooden monument , bearing better proportion to his low fortunes then high birth . and since , in the same quire he hath got the company of another prince as unfortunate as himself , king edward the second . they go on to a second choice ; and that they may know the natures of the princes the better , their servants were examined on oath to confesse their masters faults . the * servants of godfrey of bouillon protested their masters onely fault was this , that when mattens were done he would stay so long in the church , to know of the priest the meaning of every image and picture , that dinner at home was spoiled by his long tarrying . all admired hereat , that this mans worst vice should be so great a virtue , and unanimously chose him their king. he accepted the place , but refused the solemnity thereof ; and would not wear a crown of gold there , where the saviour of mankind had worn a crown of thorns . he was sonne to eustace duke of bouillon , and ida his wife , daughter and heir to godfrey duke of lorrein ; born , saith † tyrius , at bologne a town in champaigne on the english sea , which he mistaketh for bouillon up higher in the continent near the countrey of lutzenburg . such slips are incident to the penns of the best authours : yea , we may see canterbury mistaken for cambridge , not onely in † munster , but even in all our own printed statute-books in the . of richard the † second . he was brought up in that school of valour , the court of henry the . the emperour . whilest he lived there , there happened an intricate suit betwixt him and another prince about title of land ; and because judges could not untie the knot , it was concluded the two princes should cut it asunder with their sword in a combat . godfrey was very † unwilling to fight , not that he was the worse souldier , but the better christian : he made the demurre not in his courage , but in his conscience ; as conceiving any private title for land not ground enough for a duell : yea , we may observe generally , that they who long most to fight duels , are the first that surfet of them . notwithstanding , he yielded to the tyranny of custome , and after the fashion of the countrey entred the lists : when at the first encounter his sword brake , but he struck his adversary down with the hilt , yet so that he saved his life , and gained his own inheritance . another parallel act of his valour was when , being standard-bearer to the emperour , he with the imperiall ensign killed rodulphus the duke of saxony in single fight , and fed the eagle on the bowels of that arch-rebell . his soul was enriched with many virtues , but the most orient of all was his humility , which took all mens affections without resistance : and though one saith , take away ambition , and you take away the spurs of a souldier ; yet , godfrey without those spurs rode on most triumphantly . chap. . the establishing of ecclesiasticall affairs , and patriarchs in antioch and ierusalem ; the numerosity of palestine-bishops . but now let us leave the helmets , and look on the mitres , and consider the ordering of ecclesiasticall affairs . for the common-wealth is a ring , the church the diamond ; both well set together receive , and return lustre each to other . as soon as antioch was taken , one bernard ( a reverend prelate ) was made patriarch there with generall consent . but more stirre was there about that place in jerusalem : for first arnulphus , a worthlesse and vitious man , was by † popular faction lifted up into the patriarchs chair ; but with much ado was avoided , and dabert , archbishop of pisa , substituted in his room : one very wise and politick , an excellent book-man in reading of men , and otherwise well studied , especially as that age went , wherein a mediocrity was an eminency in learning . but he was infected with the humour of the clergy of that age , who counted themselves to want room , except they justled with princes . as for arnulphus , he never ceased to trouble and molest this dabert ; and as a firebrand smoketh most when out of the chimney , so he after his displacing was most turbulent and unquiet , ever sitting on his skirts that sate in the patriarchs chair , till after many changes he struggled himself again into the place . under these patriarchs many archbishops and bishops were appointed , in the very places ( as near as might be ) where they were before the saracens overrunning the countrey , and good maintenance assigned to most of them . but at this time bishops were set too thick for all to grow great ; and palestine fed too many cathedrall churches to have them generally fat . † lydda , jamnia , and joppa , three episcopall towns , were within four miles one of another . yea , † tyrius makes bishops under the archbishop of tyre , under the archbishop of caesarea , under the archbishop of scythopolis , under the archbishop of rabbah , besides suffragan churches , which it seems were immediately depending on the patriarch of jerusalem , without subordination to any archbishop . surely , many of these bishops ( to use bishop † langhams expression ) had high racks , but poor mangers . neither let it stagger the reader , if in that catalogue of tyrius he light on many bishops seats which are not to be found in mercator , ortelius , or any other geographer ; for some of them were such poor places , that they were ashamed to appear in a map , and fall so much under a geographers notice , that they fall not under it . for in that age bishops had their sees at poor and contemptible villages ; ( as here in england before the conquest , who would suspect sunning in barkshire , or dorchester near oxford to have had cathedrall churches ? ) till in the dayes of * william the first , bishops removed their seats to the principall towns in the shire . chap. . the saracens conquered at askelon . mahomets tombe hung not so strong but now it began to shake , and was likely to ●all . these victories of the christians gave a deadly wound to that religion . wherefore the saracens combined themselves with the turks to assist them , there being betwixt these two nations , i will not say an unity , but a conspiracy in the same superstition , so that therein they were like a nest of hornets , stirre one and anger all . wherefore coming out of egypt under ammiravissus their generall , at askelon they gave the christians battel . but god sent such a qualm of cowardlinesse over the hearts of these infidels , that an hundred thousand of them were quickly slain ; so that it was rather an execution then a fight ; and their rich tents which seemed to be the * exchequer of the east-countrey , spoiled ; so that the pilgrimes knew not how to value the wealth they found in them . this victory obtained , such pilgrimes as were disposed to return , add ressed themselves for their countrey ; and these merchants for honour went home , having made a gainfull adventure . those that remained were advanced to signories in the land ; as tancred was made governour of galilee . nor will it be amisse to insert this story : peter bishop of anagnia in italy , was purposed here to lead his life without taking care for his charge , when behold s. magnus * patron of that church appeared to him in a vision , pretending himself to be a young man who had left his wife at home , and was come to live in jerusalem . fie , said peter to him , go home again to your wife : whom god hath joyned together , let no man put asunder . why then , replied s. magnus , have you left your church a widow in italy , and live here so farre from her company ? this vision , though calculated for this one bishop , did generally serve for all the non-residents which posted hither , and who payed not the lawfull debt to their conscience , whilest by needlesse bonds they engaged themselves to their own will-worship . for though souls of men be light , because immateriall , yet they may prove an heavy burden to these carelesse pastours who were to answer for them . after the return of these pilgrimes , the heat of the christians victories in syria was somewhat allayed : for † boemund prince of antioch marching into mesopotamia , was taken prisoner , and godfrey besieging the city of antipatris , then called assur , though hitherto he had been alwayes a conquerour , was fain to depart with disgrace . so small a remora may stay that ship which saileth with the fairest gale of successe . chap. . the original and increase of the hospitallers ; their degenerating through wealth into luxury . † about this time under gerard their first master , began the order of knights-hospitallers . indeed more anciently there were hospitallers in jerusalem ; but these were no knights : they had a kind of order , but no honour annexed to it ; but were pure alms-men , whose house was founded , and they maintained by the charity of the merchants of amalphia a city in italy . but now they had more stately buildings assigned unto them , their house dedicated to s. john of jerusalem ; knights-hospitallers and those of s. john of jerusalem being both the same ; although learned † dr ridley maketh them two distinct orders , for which our † great antiquary doth justly reprove him . but such an errour is veniall ; and it is a greater fault rigidly to censure , then to commit a small oversight . the one sheweth himself man , in mistaking ; the other no man , in not pardoning a light mistake . to make one capable of the highest order of this knighthood ( for their † servitours and priests might be of an inferiour rank ) the party must thus be qualified : eighteen years old at the least ; of an able body ; not descended of jewish or turkish parents ; no bastard , except bastard to a prince , there being honour in that dishonour , as there is light in the very spots of the moon . descended he must be of worshipfull parentage . they wore a red belt with a white crosse ; and on a black cloke the white crosse of jerusalem , which is a crosse crossed , or five crosses together , in memory of our saviours five wounds . yet was there some difference betwixt their habit in peace and in warre . their profession was to fight against infidels , and to secure pilgrimes coming to the sepulchre ; and they vowed poverty , chastity , and obedience . reimundus de podio their second master made some additionalls to their profession : as , they must receive the sacrament thrice a year ; heare masse once a day if possible : they were to be no merchants , no usurers ; to fight no private duells ; to stand neuters , and to take no side , if the princes in christendome should fall out . but it is given to most religious orders , to be clear in the spring , and mirie in the stream . these hospitallers afterwards getting wealth , unlaced themselves from the strictnesse of their first institution , and grew loose into all licentiousnesse . what was their obedience to their master , but rebellion against the patriarch their first patrone ? as shall be shewed hereafter . what was their poverty but a couzenage of the world ; whilest their order sued in form a pauperis , and yet had † nineteen thousand mannours in christendome belonging unto them ? neither will it be scandalum magnatum to their lordships , to say what saint † bernard speaketh of their chastity , how they lived inter scorta & epulas , betwixt bawds and banquets . and no wonder if their forced virginity was the mother of much uncleannesse : for commonly those who vow not to go the high-way of gods ordinance , do haunt base and unwarrantable by-paths . i will not forestall the history , to shew how these hospitallers were afterwards knights of rhodes , and at this day of malta ; but will conclude with the ceremonies used at their creation , because much materiall stuff no doubt may be picked out of their formalities . there is delivered them , . a † sword , in token that they must be valiant , . with a crosse-hilt ; their valour must defend religion : . with this sword they are struck three times over the shoulders , to teach them patiently to suffer for christ : . they must wipe the sword ; their life must be undefiled . . gilt spurres are put on them , because they are to scorn wealth at their heels : . and then they take a taper in their hands , for they are to lighten others by their exemplary lives ; . and so go to hear masse : where we leave them . † at the same time knights of the sepulchre were also ordained , which for their originall and profession are like to these knights-hospitallers . the order continueth to this day . the padre guardian of jerusalem maketh them of such as have seen the sepulchre : they should be gentlemen by birth ; but the padre carrieth a chancerie in his bosome , to mitigate the rigour of this common law , and will admit of him that bringeth fat enough , though no bloud : as of late he made an apothecary of aleppo of that honour : so that there the sword of knighthood is denyed to none who bring a good sheath with them , and have a purse to pay soundly for it . chap. . the scuffling betwixt the king and patriarch about the city of ierusalem ; the issue thereof . not long after , there was started a controversiè of great consequence betwixt the king and patriarch : the patriarch claiming the cities of jerusalem and joppa , with the apperteinances ; the king refusing to surrender them . the patriarch pleaded , that these places anciently belonged to his predecessours : he set before the king the hainousnesse of sacriledge ; how great a sin it was when princes , who should be nursing-fathers and suckle the church , shall suck from it : and shewed how the common-wealth may grow fat , but never healthfull , by feeding on the churches goods . on the other side the king alledged , that the christian princes had now purchased jerusalem with their bloud , and bestowed it on him : that the patriarchs overgrown title was drowned in this last conquest ; from which , as from a new foundation , all must build their claims who challenge any right to any part in that city . secondly , he pleaded , it was unreasonable that the king of jerusalem should have nothing in jerusalem ( as at this day the romane emperour is a very ciphre , without power or profit in rome ) and should live rather as a sojourner then a prince in his royall city , confined to an airy title , whilest the patriarch should have all the command . to this the patriarch answered , that the christians new conquest could not cancell his ancient right , which was enjoyed even under the saracens ; that this voyage was principally undertaken for advancing the church , and not to restore her onely to her liberty , and withhold from her her lands , so that in this respect she should find better usage from her foes then from her children . if we mistake not , the chief pinch of the cause lieth on the patriarchs proof , that the lands he demanded formerly belonged to his predecessours : and we find him to fail in the main issue of the matter . true it was , that for the last thirty years the patriarchs , on condition they should repair and fortifie the walls of jerusalem , were possessed of a fourth part of the city , even by grant from bomensor the emperour of the saracens , in the yeare of our lord . but that ever he had the whole city , either by this or by any previous grant , it appeareth not in tyrius ; who saith moreover , * we wonder for what reason the lord patriarch should raise this controversie against duke godfrey . let me adde , that this our authour is above exception : for being both a politick states-man and pious prelate , no doubt his penne striketh the true and even stroke betwixt king and patriarch . besides , he might well see the truth of this matter , writing in a well-proportioned distance of time from it . those who live too near the stories they write , oftentimes willingly mistake through partiality ; and those who live too farre off , are mistaken by uncertainties , the footsteps of truth being almost worn out with time . but to return to godfrey , who though unwilling at first , yet afterwards not onely on candlemasse-day restored to the patriarch the fourth part of the city , but also on the easter following , gave him all jerusalem , joppa , and whatsoever he demanded : conditionally that the king should hold it of the patriarch till such time as he could conquer babylon , or some other royall city fit for him to keep his court in . if in the mean time godfrey died without issue , the patriarch was to have it presently delivered unto him . we will be more charitable then those , that say that the patriarch herein did * bewitch and bemad godfrey to make this large donation to him , by torturing his conscience at the confession of his sinnes . onely we may question the discretion of this prince in giving a gift of so large a size : for charities eyes must be open as well as her hands ; though she giveth away her branches , not to part with the root . and let the reader observe , that godfrey at the time of this his bountifull grant lay on his death-bed , sick of that irrecoverable disease which ended him . how easily may importunity stamp any impression on those whom desperate sicknesse hath softned ! and if the sturdiest man nigh death may be affrighted into good works for fear of purgatory , no wonder if devout godfrey were pliable to any demand . * pierce plowman maketh a witty wonder , why friers should cover rather to confesse and bury , then to christen children ; intimating it proceeded from covetousnesse , there being gain to be gotten by the one , none by the other . and this was the age wherein the covents got their best living by the dying : which made them ( contrary to all other people ) most to worship the sunne setting . chap. . godfreys death and buriall . authours differ on the death of this noble king : some making him to die of that long-wasting sicknesse ; others , of the † plague : it may be the plague took him out of the hands of that lingring disease , and quickly cut off what that had been long in fretting . he died july . having reigned one yeare wanting five dayes . a prince valiant , pious , bountifull to the church : for besides what he gave to the patriarch , he founded canons in the temple of the sepulchre , and a monastery in the vale of jehoshaphat . we would say his death was very unseasonable ( leaving the orphane state not onely in its minority , but its infancy ) but that that fruit which to mans apprehension is blown down green and untimely , is gathered full-ripe in gods providence . he was buried in the temple of the sepulchre , where his tombe is inviolated at this day ; whether out of a religion the turks bear to the place , or out of honour to his memory , or out of a valiant scorn to fight against dead bones ; or perchance the turks are minded as john king of england was , who being wished by a courtier to untombe the bones of one who whilest he was living had been his great enemy , oh no , said king john , would all mine enemies were as honourably buried . chap. . baldwine chosen king. he keepeth ierusalem in despite of the patriarch . godfrey being dead , the christians with a joynt consent dispatched an embassie to baldwine his brother , count of edessa ( a city in † arabia , the lord whereof had adopted this baldwine to be his heir ) entreated him to accept of the kingdome : which honourable offer he courteously embraced . a prince whose body nature cut of the largest size , being like † saul , higher by the head then his subjects . and though the goths had a law alwayes to choose a † short thick man for their king ; yet surely a goodly stature is most majesticall . his hair and beard brown , face fair , with an eagles nose ; which in the † persian kings was anciently observed as a mark of magnanimity . bred he was a scholar , entred into orders , and was prebendary in the † churches of rhemes , liege , and cambray ; but afterwards turned secular prince , as our † athelwulphus , who exchanged the mitre of winchester for the crown of england . yet bald wine put not off his scholarship with his habit , but made good use thereof in his reign . for though bookishnesse may unactive , yet learning doth accomplish a prince , and maketh him sway his sceptre the steadier . he was properly the first king of jerusalem ( his brother godfrey never accounted more then a duke ) and was crowned on christmas-day . the reason that made him assume the name of a king , was thereby to strike the greater † terrour into the pagans . thus our kings of england from the dayes of king john were styled but lords of ireland , till henry the . first entituled himself king , because † lord was sleighted by the seditious rebells . as for that religious scruple which godfrey made , to wear a crown of gold where christ wore one of thorns , baldwine easily dispensed therewith . and surely in these things the mind is all : a crown might be refused with pride , and worn with humility . but before his coronation there was a tough bickering about the city of jerusalem . dabert the patriarch , on the death of godfrey , devoured jerusalem and the tower of david in his hope , but coming to take possession , found the place too hot for him . for garnier earl of gretz , in the behalf of king baldwine ( who was not yet returned from edessa ) manned it against him . but so it happened , that this valiant earl died three dayes after , which by † dabert was counted a just judgement of god upon him for his sacriledge . now though it be piety to impute all events to gods hand , yet to say that this mans death was for such a sinne , sheweth too much presumption towards god , and too little charity towards our neighbour . indeed if sudden death had singled out this earl alone , it had somewhat favoured their censure ; but there was then a generall mortality in the city which swept away ● * thousands : and which is most materiall , what this patriarch interpreted sacriledge , others accounted loyalty to his sovereign . as for that donation of the city of jerusalem and tower of david which godfrey gave to the patriarch , some thought that this gift overthrew it self with its own greatnesse , being so immoderately large : others supposed it was but a personall act of godfrey , and therefore died with the giver ; as conceiving his successours not obliged to perform it , because it was unreasonable that a prince should in such sort fetter and restrain those which should come after him . sure it is , that baldwine having both the stronger sword , and possession of the citie , kept it perforce , whilest the patriarch took that leave which is allowed to loosers , to talk , chafe , and complain ; sending his bemoaning letters to † boemund prince of antioch , inviting him to take arms , and by violence to recover the churches right ; but from him received the uselesse assistance of his pity , and that was all . chap. . the church-story during this kings reigne . a chain of successive patriarchs ; dabert , ebremare , gibelline , and arnulphus : their severall characters . afterwards , this breach betwixt the king and patriarch was made up by the mediation of some friends : but the skinne onely was drawn over , not dead flesh drawn out of the wound ; and arnulphus ( whom we mentioned before ) discontented for his losse of the patriarchs place , still kept the sore raw betwixt them . at last dabertus the patriarch was fain to flee to antioch , where he had plentifull maintenance allowed him by bernard patriarch of that see. but he was too high in the instep to wear another mans shoes , and conceived himself to be but in a charitable prison whilest he lived on anothers benevolence . wherefore hence he hasted to † rome , complained to the pope , and received from his holinesse a command to king baldwine to be reestablished in the patriarchs place , but returning home died by the way at messana in sicily , being accounted seven years patriarch , four at home , and three in banishment . whilest dabert was thrust out , one ebremarus was made patriarch against his will by king baldwine . an holy and devout man ; but he had more of the dove then the serpent , and was none of the deepest reach . he hearing that he was complained of to the pope for his irregular election , posted to rome to excuse himself , shewing he was chosen against his will : and though preferment may not be snatched , it needs not be thrust away . but all would not do ; it was enough to put him out , because the king put him in . wherefore he was commanded to return home , and to wait the definitive sentence , which gibellinus archbishop of arles and the popes legate should pronounce in the matter . gibellinus coming to jerusalem , concluded the election of ebremarus to be illegall and void , and was himself chosen patriarch in his place ; and the other in reverence of his piety made archbishop of cesarea . and though arnulphus ( the firebrand of this church ) desired the patriarchs place for himself , yet was he better content with gibellinus his election , because he was a through-old man , and hoped that candle would quickly go out that was in the socket . * to this gibellinus king baldwine granted , that all places which he or his successours should winne , should be subject to his jurisdiction ; and this also was confirmed by pope paschall the . but bernard patriarch of antioch found himself much aggrieved hereat ; because many of these cities by the ancient canon of the council of nice , were subject to his church . at last the pope took the matter into his hand , and stroked the angry patriarch of antioch into gentlenesse with good language . he shewed , how since the council of nice the countrey had got a new face ; ancient mountains were buried , rivers drowned in oblivion , and they new christened with other names : yea , the deluge of the saracens tyranny had washed away the bounds of the churches jurisdictions , that now they knew not their own severals , where mahometanisme so long had made all common and waste . he desired him therefore to be contented with this new division of their jurisdictions : especially because it was reasonable , that the king of jerusalem and his successours should dispose of those places , which they should winne with their own swords . bernard perceiving hereby how his holinesse stood affected in the businesse , contented his conscience that he had set his title on foot , and then quietly let it fall to the ground , as counting it no policy to shew his teeth where he durst not bite . gibellinus never laid claim to the city of jerusalem , whether it was in thankfulnesse for this large ecclesiasticall power which king baldwine had bestowed upon him , or that his old age was too weak to strive with so strong an adversary . he sate four years in his chair , and arnulphus thinking he went too slow to the grave , is suspected to have given him something to have mended his pace , and was himself substituted in his room by the especiall favour of k. baldwine . this arnulphus was called mala corona , as if all vices met in him to dance a round . and no wonder if the king being himself wantonly disposed , advanced such a man : for generally , loose patrons cannot abide to be pinched and pent with over-strict chaplains . besides , it was policy in him to choose such a patriarch as was liable to exceptions for his vitious life ; that so if he began to bark against the king , his mouth might be quickly stopped . arnulphus was as quiet as a lamb , and durst never challenge his interest in jerusalem from godfreys donation ; as fearing to wrastle with the king , who had him on the hip , and could out him at pleasure for his bad manners . amongst other vices he was a great church-robber , who to make emmelor his niece a princesse , and to marry eustace prince of sidon , gave her the city of jericho for her dowrie , and lands belonging to his see worth five thousand crowns yearly . and though papists may pretend that marriage causeth covetousnesse in the clergy , yet we shall find when the prelacy were constrained to a single life , that their nephews are more church-bread then now the children of married ministers . yea , some popes not onely fed their bastards with church-milk , but even cut off the churches breasts for their pompous and magnificent maintenance . and thus having dispatched the story of the church in this kings reigne , we come now to handle the businesse of the common-wealth entirely by it self . chap. . a mountain-like army of new adventurers after long and hard travail delivered of a mouse . alexius his treachery . the fame of the good successe in palestine summoned a new supply of other pilgrimes out of christendome . germany , and other places which were sparing at the first voyage , made now amends with double liberality . the chief adventurers were , guelpho duke of bavaria , ( who formerly had been a great champion of the popes against henry the emperour ; and from him * they of the papall faction were denominated guelphes , in distinction from the imperiall party which were called gibellines : ) hugh brother to the king of france , and stephen earl of blois , ( both which had much suffered in their reputation for deserting their fellows in the former expedition , and therefore they sought to unstain their credits by going again ) stephen earl of burgundy , william duke of aquitain , frederick count of bogen , hugh brother to the earl of tholose : besides many great prelates ; diemo archbishop of saltzburg , the * bishops of millain and pavie , which led out of lombardy ; the totall summe amounting to . all stood on the tiptoes of expectation to see what so great an army would atchieve ; men commonly measuring victories by the multitudes of the souldiers . but they did nothing memorable , save onely that so many went so farre to do nothing . their sufferings are more famous then their deeds ; being so consumed with plague , famine , and the sword , that † conrade abbot of urspurg , who went and wrote this voyage , believeth that not a thousand of all these came into palestine , and those so poore that their bones would scarce hold together : so that they were fitter to be sent into an hospitall then to march into the field ; having nothing about them wherewith to affright their enemies , except it were the ghost-like ghastlinesse of their famished faces . the army that came out of lombardy were so eaten up by the swords of the turks , that no fragments of them were left , nor news to be heard what was become of them : and no wonder , being led by prelates unexperienced in martiall affairs ; which though perchance great clerks , were now to turn over a new leaf , which they had no skill to reade . † luther was wont to say , that he would be unwilling to be a souldier in that army where priests were captains ; because the church , and not the camp , was their proper place ; whereas going to warre , they willingly outed themselves of gods protection , being out of their vocation . but the main matter which made this whole voyage miscarry in her travail , was the treachery of the midwife through whose hands it was to passe . for alexius the grecian emperour feared , lest betwixt the latines in the east in palestine , and west in europe , as betwixt two milstones , his empire lying in the midst should be ground to powder . whereupon , as these pilgrims went through his countrey , he did them all possible mischief , still under pretence of kindnesse , ( what hinderer to a false helper ? ) calling the chief captains of the army his sonnes ; but they found it true , the more courtesie , the more craft . yea , this deep dis●embler would put off his vizard in private , and professe to his friends that he delighted as much to see the turks and these christians in battel , as to see † mastiffdogs fight together ; and that † which side soever lost , yet he himself would be a gainer . but when they had passed grecia , and had crossed the bosporus ( otherwise called the arm of s. george ) entring into the dominion of the turks , they were for thirty dayes exposed a mark to their arrows . and though this great multitude was never stabbed with any mortall defeat in a set battel , yet they consumed away by degrees , the cowardly turks striking them when their hands were pinnioned up in the straits of unknown passages . the generalls bestrewed the countrey about with their corpses . great hugh of france was buried at tarsus in cilicia ; duke guelpho , at paphos in cyprus ; † diemo the archbishop of sal●zburg saw his own heart cut out , and was † martyred by the turks at chorazin : and god ( saith my authour ) manifested by the event , that the warre was not pleasing unto him . chap. . antipatris and cesarea wonne by the christians . the variety of king baldwines successe . mean time king baldwine was imployed with better successe in palestine : for hitherto joppa was the onely port the christians had ; but now by the assistance of the genoan fleet ( who for their pains were to have † a third part of the spoil , and a whole street to themselves of every city they took ) baldwine wonne most considerable havens along the mid-land-sea . he began with antipatris , to ransome the christian honour which was morgaged here , because godfrey was driven away from hence : and no wonder , having no † shipping ; whereas that army which takes a strong harbour , otter-like must swim at sea as well as go on ground . next he took cesarea-stratonis , built and so named in the honour of cesar augustus , by herod the great ; who so † politickly poised himself , that he sate upright whilest the wheel of fortune turned round under him . let antony winne , let augustus winne , all one to him ; by contrary winds he sailed to his own ends . cesarea taken , baldwine at rhamula put the turks to a great overthrow . but see the chance of warre ; few dayes after at the same place he received a great defeat by the infidels , wherein besides many others , the two stephens , earls of burgundy and blois , were slain . this was the first great overthrow the christians suffered in palestine : and needs must blows be grievous to them who were not used to be beaten . the king was reported slain , but fame deserved to be pardoned for so good a lie ; which for the present much disheartned the christians , a great part of the souldiers courage being wrapped up in the life of the generall . baronius ( as bold as any † bethshemite to pry into the ark of gods secrets ) † saith , this was a just punishment on baldwine for detaining the churches goods . but to leave hidden things to god , the apparent cause of his overthrow was his own † rashnesse , being desirous to ingrosse all the credit alone , without sending for succours and supplies from his neighbours . he assaluted his numerous enemies with an handfull of men ; and so brake himself , with covetousnesse to purchase more honour then he could pay for . and herein he discovered his want of judgement , being indeed like an arrow well-feathered , but with a blunt pile ; he flew swift , but did not sink deep . thus his credit lay bleeding , but he quickly stanched it . the pagans little suspecting to be re-incountred , gave themselves over to mirth and jollity ( as security oftentimes maketh the sword to fall out of their hands from whom no force could wrest it ) when baldwine coming on them with fresh souldiers , strook them with the backblows of an unexpected enemy , which alwayes pierce the deepest , routed them and put them to the flight . this his victory followed so suddenly after his overthrow , that some mention not the overthrow at all , but the victory onely ; as that good horseman is scarce perceived to be thrown , that quickly recovereth the saddle . chap. . the conquest of sundry fair havens by the christians ; ptolemais , &c. vvhilest the king was thus busied in battel , tancred prince of galilee was not idle , but enlarged the christian dominions with the taking of apamea and laodicea . these cities in coelosyria were built by * antiochus : and they agreed so well together , that they were called sisters ; and as in concord , so in condition they went hand in hand , being now both conquered together . ptolemais next stooped to the christian yoke ; so named from ptolemeus philometor king of egypt ; a city on the mediterranean , of a triangular form , having two sides washed with the sea , the third regarding the champion . the genoan galleys being in number , did the main service in conquering , and had granted them for their reward large profits from the harbour , a church to themselves , and jurisdiction over a fourth part of the city . this ptolemais was afterwards the very seat of the holy warre . let me mind the reader of a latine proverb , * lis ptolemaica ; that is , a long and constant strife ; so called from ptolemais , a froward old woman who was never out of wrangling . but may not the proverb as well be verified of this citie , in which there was ninescore years fighting against the turks ? with * worse successe did baldwine count of edessa , and earl joceline besiege charran in mesopotamia : for when it was ready to be surrendred , the christian captains fell out amongst themselves , were defeated by the pagans , and the two forenamed earls taken prisoners . this charran is famous for † abrahams living , and his father terahs dying there : and in the same place rich † crassus the romane vomited up the sacrilegious goods he had devoured of the temple of jerusalem , and had his army overthrown . nor here may we overpasse , how boemund prince of antioch with a great navie spoiled the harbours of grecia , to be revenged of treacherous alexius the emperour . voluntaries for this service he had enough , all desiring to have a lash at the dog in the manger , and every mans hand itching to throw a cudgel at him ; who like a nut-tree must be manured by beating , or else would never bear fruit : yet on some conditions an agreement at last was made betwixt them . to return to palestine . the next city that felt the victorious arms of the christians , was byblus ; a good haven , and built by heveus the sixth sonne of canaan . here adonis was anciently worshipped , whose untimely death by a bore venus so much bemoned : and the fable is moralized , when lust lamenteth the losse of beauty consumed by age . nor did tripoli hold out long after ; so called , because joyntly built by the tyrians , sidonians , and aradites . and berytus ( since barutus ) accompanied her neighbour , and both of them were yielded unto the christians . the king created one bertram , a well-deserving noble-man , earl of tripoli ; who did homage to the king for his place , which was accounted a title of great honour , as being one of the four tetrarchies of the kingdome of jerusalem . chap. . the description of sidon and tyre ; the one taken , the other besieged in vain by baldwine . sidon is the most ancient citie of phenicia . and though the proud grecians counted all barbarians besides themselves , yet phenicia was the schoolmistress of grecia , and first taught her her alphabet . for cadmus a phenician born , first invented and brought letters to thebes . sidon had her name from the eldest sonne of * canaan , and was famous for the finest crystall-glasses , which here were made . the glassie sand was fetched miles off , from the river belus : but it could not be made * fusile till it was brought hither ; whether for want of tools , or from some secret sullen humour therein , we will not dispute . this city anciently was of great renown : but her fortune being as brittle as her glasses , she was fain to find neck for every one of the monarchs yokes ; and now at last ( by the assistance of the * danish and norvegian fleet ) was subdued by the christians . fleshed with this conquest , they next besieged tyre . sea and land , nature and art consented together to make this city strong : for it was seated in an island , save that it was tacked to the continent with a small neck of land , which was fortified with many walls and towers . it is questionable whether the strength or wealth of this city was greater ; but out of question that the pride was greater then either . here the best purples were died , a colour even from the beginning destined to courts and magistracy ; and here the richest clothes were embroidered and curiously wrought . and though generally those who are best with their fingers are worst with their arms , yet the tyrians were also stout men , able mariners , and the planters of the noblest colonies in the world . as their city was the daughter of sidon , so was it mother to romes rivall carthage , leptis , utica , cadiz , and nola. the most plentifull proof they gave of their valour was , when for three years they defended themselves against nebuchadnezzar ; and afterwards stopped the full career of alexanders conquests ; so that his victorious army which did flie into other countreys , was glad to creep into this city . yet after seven moneths siege ( such is the omnipotency of industry ) he forced it , and stripped this lady of the sea naked beyond modesty and mercy , putting all therein to the sword that resisted , and hanged up of the prime citizens in a rank along the sea-shore . yet afterwards tyre out-grew these her miseries , and attained , though not to her first giant-like , yet to a competent proportion of greatnesse . at this time wherein king baldwine besieged it , it was of great strength and importance , insomuch that finding it a weight too heavy for his shoulders , he was fain to break off his siege and depart . with worse successe he afterwards did rashly give battel to the vast army of the persian generall , wherein he lost many men , all his baggage , and escaped himself with great difficulty . chap. . the pleasurable voyages of king baldwine , and his death . after the tempest of a long warre a calm came at last , and king baldwine had a five years vacation of peace in his old age : in which time he disported himself with many voyages for pleasure : as , one to the red-sea , not so called from the rednesse of the water , or sand , as some without any colour have conceited ; but from the neighbouring edomites whom the grecians called erytheans , or re● men , truly translating the hebrew name of edomites : they had their name of rednesse from their father † edom. and here baldwine surveyed the countrey , with the nature and strength thereof . another journey he took afterwards into † egypt , as conceiving himself ingaged in honour to make one inrod● into that countrey , in part of paiment of those many excursions the egyptians had made into his kingdome . he took the city of † pharamia , anciently called rameses , and gave the spoil thereof to his souldiers . this work being done , he began his play , and entertained the time with viewing that riddle of nature , the river of nilus , whose stream is the confluence of so many wonders : first , for its indiscoverable fountain ; though some late geographers , because they would be held more intelligent then others , have found the head of nilus in their own brains , and make it to flow from a fountain they fansie in the mountains of the moon , in the south of africa : then , for the strange creatures bred therein ; as river-bulls , horses , and crocodiles : but the chiefest wonder is the yearly increasing thereof from the † . of june to the midst of september , overflowing all egypt , and the banks of all humane judgement to give the true reason thereof . much time baldwine spent in beholding this river , wherein he took many fishes , and his death in eating them : for a new surfet revived the grief of an old wound , which he many years before received at the siege of ptolemais . his sicknesse put him in mind of his sinnes , conscience speaking loudest when men begin to grow speechlesse : and especially he grieved , that having another wife alive , he had married the countesse of sicilie , the relict of earl roger : but now heartily sorrowfull for his fault , he sent away this his last wife ; yet we reade not that he received his former again . other faults he would have amended , but was prevented by death . and no doubt where the deed could not be present , the desire was a sufficient proxy . he died at laris , a city in the road from egypt , and was brought to jerusalem , and buried on palm-sunday in the temple of the sepulchre , in the year of his reign . a prince superiour to his brother godfrey in learning , equall in valour , inferiour in judgement ; rash , precipitate , greedy of honour , but swallowing more then he could digest , and undertaking what he was not able to perform ; little affected to the clergy , or rather to their temporall greatnesse , especially when it came in competition with his own ; much given to women , ( besides the three wives he had , first marrying gutrera an english-woman ; after her death , tafror an armenian lady ; and whilest she yet survived , the countesse of sicilie ) yet he had no child , god commonly punishing wantonnesse with barrennesse . for the rest , we referre the reader to the dull epitaph written on his tomb , which ( like the verses of that age ) runneth in a kind of rythme , though it can scarce stand on true feet : rex baldwinus , iudas alter maccabaus , spes patriae , vigor ecolesiae , virtus utriusque ; quem formidabant , cui dona tributa ferebant , * cedar , aegypti dan , ac homicida damascus ; proh dolor ! in modico clauditur hoc tumulo . baldwine another maccabee for might ; hope , help of state , of church , and boths delight ; cedar , with egypts dan of him afraid , bloudy damascus to him tribute paid : alas ! here in this tomb is laid . let him whô pleaseth play the critick on the divers readings ; and whether by dan be meant the souldan , or whether it relateth to the conceit that antichrist shall come of the tribe of dan. but perchance the text is not worth a comment . chap. . baldwine the second chosen king ; prince eustace peaceably renounceth his right . it happened the same day king baldwine was buried , that baldwine de burgo his kinsman and count of edessa came casually into the city , intending onely there to keep his easter : when behold the christian princes met together for the election of a new king. the greater part did centre their suffrages on prince eustace , brother to the two former kings , but then absent in france . they alledged , that it was not safe to break the chain of succession , where the inversion of order bringeth all to confusion ; and , that it was high ingratitude to the memories of godfrey and baldwine , to exclude their brother from the crown ; especially he being fit in all points to be a king , wanting nothing but that he wanted to be there ; that in the mean time some might be deputed to lock up all things safe , and to keep the keyes of the state till he should arrive . on the other side , some objected the dangers of an interregnum , how when a state is headlesse , every malecontent would make head ; inconveniences in another countrey would be mischiefs here , where they lived in the mouth of their enemies : and therefore to stay for a king , was the way to lose the kingdome . then joceline prince of tiberias , a man of great authority , offered himself a moderatour in this difference , and councelled both sides to this effect : to proceed to a present election , and therein to be directed , not confined by succession ; though they missed the next , let them take one of godfreys kindred : as the case now stood ▪ he must be counted next in bloud that was next at hand ; and this was baldwine count of edessa , on whom he bestowed much superlative praises . all were much affected with these his commendations ; for they knew that joceline was his sworn adversary , and concluded that it must needs be a mighty weight of worth in baldwine , which pressed out praise from the mouth of his enemy : though indeed private ends prompted him to speak this speech , who hoped himself to get the earldome of edessa when baldwine should be translated to jerusalem . however , his words took effect , and baldwine hereupon was chosen king , * and crowned on easter-day by arnulphus the patriarch . mean time some secretly were sent to prince eustace to come and challenge the crown . but he hearing that another was already in possession , though he was on his journey coming , quietly went back again . a large alms , to give away a kingdome out of his charity to the publick cause . baldwine was of a proper personage , and able body , both nigh rhemes in france , sonne to hugh count of rorstet and millisent his wife . he was exceedingly charitable to the poore , and pious towards god ; witnesse the brawn on his hands and knees made with continuall praying : valiant also , and excellently well seen in all martiall affairs . we had almost forgotten what happened in this yeare , the death of alexius the grecian emperour , that arch-hypocrite and grand enemy of this warre . on whom we may bestow this epitaph : if he of men the best doth know to live who best knows to dissemble , justly then to thee , alexius , we this praise must give , that thou to live didst know the best of men . and this was it at last did stop thy breath , thou knew'st not how to counterfeit with death . his sonne calo-johannes succeeded him in his empire , of whom we shall have much cause to speak hereafter . chap. . the ecclesiasticall affairs of this kings reigne . according to our wonted method , let us first rid out of the way church-matters in this kings reigne , that so we may have the more room to follow the affairs of the common-wealth . we left arnulphus the last patriarch of jerusalem ; since which time the bad favour of his life came to the popes nose , who sent a legate to depose him . but arnulphus hasted to rome with much † money , and there bought himself to be innocent , so that he enjoyed the place during his life . guarimund succeeded in his place , a very religious man , by whom god gave the christians many victories . he called a council at neapolis or sichem , wherein many wholesome things were concluded for reformation of manners . betwixt him and william archbishop of tyre ( an english man ) there arose a difference , because this archbishop would not receive his confirmation of him , ( from whom by ancient right he should take it ) but from the pope , counting it the most honour to hold of the highest landlord : and indeed the pope for gain confirmed him , though he should have sent him to the patriarch . but the court of rome careth not though men steal their corn , so be it they bring it to their mills to grind . after guarimunds death , stephen abbot of s. john de valia was chosen patriarch ; once a cavallier , but afterward laying down the sword , he took up the word , and entred into orders . he awaked the patriarchs title to jerusalem , which had slept during his three predecessours , and challenged it very imperiously of the king ; for he was a man of spirit and metall . and indeed he had too much life to live long . for the king fearing what flame this spark might kindle , and finding him to be an active man , gave him ( as it is suspected ) a little more active poison , which cut him off in the midst of his age , and beginning of his projects . the king coming to him when he lay on his death-bed , asked him how he did : to whom he answered , my † lord , for the present i am as you would have me . a cruel murder , if true : but it is strange , that he whose hands ( as we have said ) were hardened with frequent prayer , should soften them again in innocent bloud . wherefore we will not condemn the memory of a king on doubtfull evidence . the patriarchs place was filled with william prior of the sepulchre , a fleming ; a man better beloved then learned . chap. . knights-templars , and teutonicks instituted . about this time the two great orders of templa●s and teutonicks appeared in the world . the former under hugh de paganis , and ganfred of s. omer their first founders . they agreed in profession with the hospitallers , and performed it alike , vowing poverty , chastity , and obedience , and to defend pilgrimes coming to the sepulchre . it is † falsely fathered on s. bernard , that he appointed them their rule ; who prescribeth not what they should do , but onely † describeth what they did : namely , how they were never idle , mending their old clothes when wanting other imployment ; never played at chesse or dice , never hawked not hunted , beheld no stageplayes ; arming themselves with faith within , with steel without ; aiming more at strength then state ; to be feared , not admired ; to strike terrour with their valour , not stirre covetousnesse with their wealth in the heart of their enemies . other sweet praises of them let him who pleaseth fetch from the mouth of this mellifluous doctour . indeed at first they were very poor ; in token whereof they gave for their † seal , two men riding on one horse . and hence it was , that if the turks took any of them prisoners , their constant ●ansome was a † sword and a belt ; it being conceived that their poor state could stretch to no higher price . but after their order was confirmed by pope honorius ( by the intreaty of stephen the patriarch of jerusalem ) who appointed them to wear a white garment , to which euge●ius the third added a red crosse on their breast , they grew wonderfully rich by the bounty of severall patrons : yea , † the king and patriarch of jerusalem 〈◊〉 this infant-order so long in their laps till it brake their knees , it grew so heavie at last ; and these ungratefull templars did pluck out the feathers of those wings which hatched and brooded them . from alms-men they turned lords ; and though very valiant at first , ( for they were sworn rather to dye then to flie ) afterwards lazinesse withered their arms , and swelled their bellies . they laughed at the rules of their first institution , as at the swadling-clothes of their infancie ; neglecting the patriarch , and counting themselves too old to be whipped with the rod of his discipline ; till partly their vitiousnesse , and partly their wealth caused their finall extirpation , as ( god willing ) shall be shewed * hereafter . at the same time began the teutonick order , consisting onely of dutch-men well descended , living at jerusalem in an house which one of that nation bequeathed to his countreymen that came thither on pilgrimage . in the yeare their order was honoured with a great master , whereof the first was henry a-walpot ; and they had an habit assigned them to wear , black crosses on white robes : they were to fight in the defence of christianity against pagans . but we shall meet with them more largely in the following story . chap. . the christians variety of successe ; tyre taken by the assistance of the venetians . it is worth the readers marking , how this kings reign was checquered with variety of fortune : for first , roger prince of antioch ( or rather guardian in the minority of young boemund ) went forth with greater courage then discretion ; whereunto his successe was answerable , being conquered and killed by the turks . but baldwine on the of august following , forced the turks to a restitution of their victory , and with a small army gave them a great overthrow , in spite of gazi their boasting generall . to qualifie the christians joy for this good successe , joceline unadvisedly fighting with balak , a petty king of the turks , was conquered and taken prisoner : and king baldwine coming to deliver him , was also taken himself ; for which he might thank his own rashnesse : for it had been his best work to have done nothing for a while , till the venetian succours which were not farre off , had come to him ; and not presently to adventure all to the hazard of a battel . yet the christians hands were not bound in the kings captivity : for eustace grenier , chosen vice-roy whilest the king was in durance , stoutly defended the countrey : and count joceline , which had escaped out of prison , fighting again with balak at hircapolis , routed his army , and killed him with his own hands . but the main piece of service was the taking of tyre , which was done under the conduct of guarimund the patriarch of jerusalem ; but chiefly by the help of the venetian navie , which michael their duke brought , who for their pains were to have a third part of the city to themselves . tyre had in it store of men and munition ; but famine increasing ( against whose arrows there is no armour of proof ) it was yielded on honourable terms . and though perhaps hunger shortly would have made the turks digest courser conditions , yet the christians were loth to anger their enemies valour into desperatenesse . next year the king returned home , having been eighteen moneths a prisoner , being to pay for his ransome an hundred thousand michaelets , and for security he left his daughter in pawn . but he payed the turks with their own money , or ( which was as good coin ) with the money of the saracens , vanquishing bors●quin their captain at antiochia : and not long after , he conquered dordequin another great commander of them at damascus . to correct the ranknesse of the christians pride for this good successe , damascus was afterward by them unfortunately besieged : heaven discharged against them thunder-ordinance , arrows of lightning , small shot of hail , whereby they being miserably wasted were forced to depart . and this affliction was increased when boemund the young prince of antioch , one of great hope and much lamented , was defeated and slain . authours impute these mishaps to the christians pride , and relying on their own strength , which never is more untrusty then when most trusted . true it was , god often gave them great victories , when they defended themselves in great straits : hereupon they turned their thankfulnesse into presumption , grew at last from defending themselves to dare their enemies on disadvantages to their often overthrow : for god will not unmake his miracles by making them common . and may not this also be counted some cause of their ill successe , that they alwayes imputed their victories to the materiall crosse which was carried before them ? so that christ his glory after his ascension suffered again on the crosse by their superstition . chap. . the death of baldwine the second . king baldwine a little before his death renounced the world , and took on him a religious habit . this was the fashion of many princes in that age , though they did it for divers ends . some thought to make amends for their disordered lives by entring into some holy order at their deaths : others having surfeited of the worlds vanity , fasted from it when they could eat no more because of the impotency of their bodies : others being crossed by the world by some misfortune , sought to crosse the world again in renouncing of it . these like furious gamesters threw up their cards , not out of dislike of gaming but of their game ; and they were rather discontented to live then contented to dye . but we must believe that baldwine did it out of true devotion , to ripen himself for heaven , because he was piously affected from his youth ; so that all his life was religiously tuned , though it made the sweetest musick in the close . he died not long after , on the of august , in the year of his reign ; and was buried with his predecessours in the temple of the sepulchre . by morphe a grecian lady his wife , he had four daughters : whereof millesent was the eldest ; the second alice , married to young boemund prince of antioch ; the third hodiern , wife to reimund prince of tripoli ; and mete the youngest , abbesse of bethanie . chap. . of fulco , the fourth king of ierusalem . fulco earl of tours , main , and anjou , coming some three years before on pilgrimage to jerusalem , there took in marriage millesent the kings daughter . he had assigned to him the city of tyre , and some other princely accommodations for his present maintenance , and the kingdome after the death of his father in law , which he received accordingly . he was welnigh years old : and by his first wife he had a sonne , geffrey plantagenet earl of anjou ; to whom he left his lands in france , and from whom our kings of england are descended . this fulco was a very valiant man , able both of body and mind . his greatest defect was a weak memory , ( though not so bad as that of † messala corvinus , who forgot his own name ) insomuch that he knew not his own servants ; and those whom he even now preferred , were presently after strangers unto him . yet though he had a bad memory whilest he lived , he hath a good one now he is dead , and his virtues are famous to posterity . chap. . the church-story during this kings reigne ; the remarkable ruine of rodolphus patriarch of antioch . the church of jerusalem yielded no alterations in the reign of fulco . but in antioch there was much stirre who should succeed bernard that peaceable long-lived man , who fate years , and survived eight patriarchs of jerusalem . now whilest the clergie were tedious in their choice , the laity was too nimble for them , and they ( thinking it equall to have an hand in making , who must have their arms in defending a patriarch ) clapped one † rodolphus of noble parentage into the chair . he presently took his pall off from the altar of s. peter , thereby sparing both his purse and pains to go to rome , and acknowledging no other superiour then that apostle for his patrone . this man was the darling of the gentry , ( and no wonder if they loved him who was of their cloth and making ) but hated of the clergy . wherefore knowing himself to need strong arms who was to swim against the stream , he wrought himself into the favour of the princesse of antioch , the widow of young boemund , so that he commanded all her command , and beat down his enemies with her strength . he promised to make a marriage betwixt her and reimund earl of poictou , ( a frenchman of great fame , who was coming into these parts ) but he deceived her , and caused the earl to marry constantia the daughter of this lady , by whom he had the principality of antioch . indeed this constantia was but a child for age ; but they never want years to marry , who have a kingdome for their portion . the patriarch to make sure work , bound prince reimund by an oath to be true to him : but friends unjustly gotten , are seldome comfortably enjoyed : of his sworn friend , he proved his sworn enemy , and forced him to go up to rome , there to answer many accusations laid to his charge ; wherein the ground-work perchance was true , though malice might set the varnish ▪ on it . the main matter was , that he made odious comparisons betwixt antioch and rome , and counted himself equal to his holinesse . rodolphus coming to rome found the popes dores shut against him , but he opened them with a golden key . money he sowed plentifully , and reaped it when he came to be tried ; for he found their hands very soft towards him whom formerly he had greased in the fist . he also resigned his old pall , and took a new one from the pope . as for his other crimes , it was concluded that albericus bishop of ostia should be sent into syria the 〈…〉 , to examine 〈◊〉 , and to proceed accordingly with the ●atriarch as things there should be found alledged and proved : whereat his adversaries much stormed , who expected that he should instantly have been deposed . yet afterwards they prevailed mightily with albericus the lega●e , and bowed him on their side . he coming to antioch cited the patriarch to appear ; who b●ing thrice called , came not . on his absence all were present with their conjectures what should cause it . some impu●ing it to his guiltinesse ▪ others to his contempt ; others to his fear of his enemies potency , or judges partiality : for indeed the legate came not with a virgin judgement , but ravished with prejudice ; being prepossessed with this intent to dispossesse him of his place . some thought he relied on his peace formerly made at rome , where the illegality of his election was rectified by his laying down his first pall , and assuming a new one from the pope . here was it worth the beholding in what severall * streams mens affections ran . all wished that the tree might be felled , who had hopes to gather chips by his fall ; and especially one arnulphus , and dean lambert , the promoters against the patriarch . others pitied him , and though perchance content that his roof might be taken down , were loth he should be razed to the ground . some reserved their affections till they were counselled by the event which side to favour ; and would not be engaged by any manifest declaration , but so that they might fairly retreat if need required . amongst other prelates which were present , serlo archbishop of apamea was one , who formerly had been a great enemy to the patriarch , but had lately taken himself off from that course . the legate demanded of him why he proceeded not to accuse the patriarch as he was wont : to whom he answered , * what formerly i did , was done out of unadvised heat against the health of my soul , discovering the nakednesse of my father , like to cursed cham ; and now god hath recalled me from mine errour : so that i will neither accuse , nor presumptuously judge him , but am ready to die for his safety . hereupon the legate immediately ( such was the martiall law in a church-man ) deposed him from his archbishoprick . little hope then had the patriarch , who saw himself condemned in his friend : and he himself followed not long after , being thrust out by violence , cast into prison , and there long kept in chains ; till at last he made an escape to rome , intending there to traverse his cause again , had not death ( occasioned by poison , as is thought ) prevented him . chap. . calo-iohannes the grecian emperour demandeth antiochia ; reimund the prince thereof doeth homage to him for it . calo-johannes the grecian emperour came up with a † vast army of horse and foot , and demanded of reimund prince of antioch , to resigne unto him that whole signorie , according to the composition which the christian princes made with † alexius his father . hereat reimund and all the latines stormed out of measure : had they purchased the inheritance of the land with their own bloud , now to turn tenants at will to another ? some pleaded , that the ill usage of alexius † extorted from godfrey and the rest of the pilgrimes that agreement ; and an oath made by force , is of no force , but may freely be broken , because not freely made . others alledged , that when antiochia was first wonne , it was offered to alexius , and † he refused it : so fair a tender was a paiment . others argued , that that generation which made this contract was wholly dead ; and that the debt descended not on them to make it good . but most insisted on this , that alexius kept not his covenants , and assisted them not according to the agreement . indeed he called these princes his sonnes ; but he disinherited them of their hopes , and all their portion was in promises never payed . no reason then , that the knot of the agreement should hold them fast , and let him loose . the worst of these answers had been good enough , if their swords had been as strong as the grecian emperours . but he coming with a numerous army , in few dayes overcame all cilicia ( which for fourty years had belonged to the prince of antioch ) and then besieged the city of antioch it self . force is the body , and resolution the soul of an action : both these were well tempered together in the emperours army ; and the city brought to great distresse . whereupon fulk king of jerusalem with some other princes , fearing what wofull conclusion would follow so violent premisses , made a composition between them . so that reimund did homage to the emperour , and held his principality as a vassall from him . and though four years after the emperour came again into these parts , yet he did not much harm ; pillaging was all his conquest . some years after he died , being accidentally poisoned by one of his own arrows which he intended for the wild boar . a prince so much better to the latines then his father alexius , as an honourable foe is above a treacherous friend . his empire he disposed to emmanuel his sonne . chap. the succession of the turkish kings , and the saracen caliphs : of the unlimited power of a souldan ; some resemblance thereof anciently in the kingdome of france . no great service of moment was performed in the reigne of king fulk ; because he was molested with domesticall discords , and intestine warres against paulinus count of tripoli , and hugh earl of joppa : onely beersheba was fortified , and some forts built about askelon , as an introduction to besiege it . also skirmishes were now and then fought with variety of successe , against sanguin one of the turks great princes . and here let the reader take notice , that though we have mentioned many commanders , as auxianus , corboran , ammiravissus , tenduc , gazi , balak , dordequin , borscquin , sanguin , some turkish , some saracen , yet none of these were absolute kings , ( though perchance in courtesie sometimes so styled by writers ) but were onely generals and lieutenants accountable to their superiours , the caliphs either of babylon or egypt : who what they were , we referre the reader to our chronology . caliph was the pope ( as i may say ) of the saracens , a mixture of priest and prince . but we need not now trouble our selves with curiosity of their successions ; these caliphs being but obscure men , who confined themselves to pleasures , making play their work , and having their constant diet on the sawce of recreation . we are rather to take notice of their generalls and captains , which were the men of action . for a souldan ( which was but a vice-roy ) with his borrowed light , shineth brighter in history then the caliph himself . yet may we justly wonder , that these slothfull calip●s should do nothing themselves , and commit such unlimited power to their soulda●● , especially seeing too much ●●ust is a strong tentation to make ambitious flesh and bloud di●loyall . yet something may be said for the caliph of egypt , besides that the pleasures of that countrey were sufficient to invite him to a voluptuous life : first , the awfull regard which the egyptians had of their princes , gave them security to trust their officers with ample commission . secondly , herein they followed an ancient custome practised by the pharaohs anciently , who gave unto joseph so large authority ; as we may reade in genesis . some example also we have hereof in france about nine hundred years ago . childerick , theodorick , clovis , childebert , dagobert , &c. a chain of idle kings well linked together , gave themselves over to pleasures privately , never coming abroad ; but onely on may-day they shewed themselves to the people , riding in a chariot ado●ned with flowers , and drawn with oxen , ( ●low cattel , but good enough for so lazy luggage ) whilest charles martell and pipin , maiours of the palace , opened packets , gave audience to embassadours , made warre or peace , enacted and repealed laws at pleasure , till afterwards from controllers of the kings houshold they became controllers of the kings , and at last kings themselves . to return to egypt : let none be troubled ( pardon a charitable digression to satisfie some scrupulous in a point of chronologie ) if they find anciently more kings of the egyptians , and longer reigning then the consent of times will allow room for : for no doubt that which hath swelled the number , is the counting deputies for kings . yea , we find the holy spirit in the same breath , . reg. . . speak a vice-roy to be a king and no king ; there was no king in edom ; a deputy was king. chap. . the lamentable death of king fulk . when fulco had now eleven years with much industry and care ( though with little enlarging of his dominions ) governed the land , he was slain in earnest as following his sport in hunting , to the great grief of his subjects . and we may hear him thus speaking his epitaph : a ●are i hunted , and death hunted me ; the more my speed was , was the worse my speed : for as well-mounted i away did flee , death caught and kill'd me , falling from my steed . yet this mishap an happy misse i count , that fell from horse that i to heaven might mount . a prince of a sweet nature ; and though one would have read him to be very furious by his high-coloured countenance , yet his face was a good hypocrite ; and ( contra leges istius coloris , saith † tyrius ) he was affable , courteous , and pitifull to all in distresse . he was buried with his predecessours in the temple of the sepulchre , leaving two sonnes , baldwine who was , and almerick years old . chap. . the disposition of baldwine the third ; the care of queen millesent in her sonnes minority . baldwine succeeded his father , who quickly grew up , as to age , so in all royall accomplishments , and became a most complete prince ; well-learned , especially in history ; liberall ; very witty and very pleasant in discourse : he would often give a smart jest , which would make the place both blush and bleed where it lighted : yet this was the better taken at his hands , because he cherished not a cowardly wit in himself , to wound men behind their backs , but played on them freely to their faces ; yea , and never refused the coin he payed them in , but would be contented ( though a king ) to be the subject of a good jest : and † sometimes he was well-favouredly met with ; as the best fencer in wits school hath now and then an unhappy blow dealt him . some thought he descended beneath himself in too much familiarity to his subjects ; for he would commonly call and salute mean persons by their names : but the vulgar sort , in whose judgements the lowest starres are ever the greatest , conceived him to surpasse all his predecessours , because he was so fellow-like with them . but whilest yet he was in minority , his mother millesent made up his want of age with her abundant care , being governour of all : a woman in sex , but of a masculine spirit . she continued a widow : and as for childrens sake she married once ; so for her childrens sake she married no more . † s. be●●●ard and she spake often together by letters : he extolled her single life , how it was more honour to live a widow , then to be a queen : † this she had by birth , that by gods bounty ; this she was happily begotten , that she had manfully gotten of her self . yet we find not that she made a vow never to marry again ; wherein she did the wiser : for the chastest minds cannot conclude from the present calm , that there will never after arise any lustfull storm in their souls . besides , a resolution is a free custody ; but a vow is a kind of prison , which restrained nature hath the more desire to break . chap. . of fulcher patriarch of ierusalem , and the insolency of the hospitallers against him . william , who was last possessed of the patriarchs chair in jerusalem , was none of the greatest clerks . but whatsoever he was for edifying of the church , he was excellent at building of castles ( one at askelon , another at ramula , a third called blank-guard for the securig of pilgrimes ) till at last having sate in his place fifteen years , he was translated to heaven , and on earth fulcher archbishop of tyre succeeded him . an honest old man , whose weak age was much molested with the pride and rebellion of the hospitallers , who lately had procured from the pope a plenary exemption from the patriarch . this his holinesse did the more willingly grant , because hereby he made himself absolute master of all orders , pinning them on himself by an immediate dependance , and so bringing water to his mill by a straighter and nearer stream . but hereby the entirenesse of episcopall jurisdiction was much maimed and mangled , and every covent was a castle of rebells , armed with priviledges to fight against their lawfull diocesan . now as these hospitallers wronged the power of the bishops , so did they rob the profit of poor priests , refusing to pay any tithes of their mannours , which contained many parishes , ( so that the pastours who fed the flocks , were starved themselves ; and having laboured all day in the vineyard , were at night sent supperlesse to bed ) the hospitallers pleading that the pope had freed them from these duties ; as if an acquittance under the hand of his holinesse was sufficient to discharge them from paying of tithes , a debt due to god. other foul crimes they also were guilty of : as , outbraving the temple of the sepulchre with their stately buildings ; giving the sacraments to , and receiving of excommunicate persons ; ringing their bells when their patriarch preached , that his voice might not be heard ; shooting † arrows into the church to disturb him and the people in divine service ; a bundle whereof were hung up as a monument of their impiety . fulcher the patriarch crawled to rome , being years old , to complain of these misdemeanours ; carrying with him the archbishop of tyre , and five other bishops . but he had sped better , if in stead of every one of them he had carried a bag of gold . for the hospitallers prevented him , and had formerly been effectually present with their large bribes ; so that the patriarchs suit was very cold : and no wonder , seeing he did afford no fewel to heat it . the cardinals eyes in the court of rome were old and dimme ; and therefore the glasse wherein they see any thing must be well-silvered . indeed two of them , octavian , and john of s. martin , favoured christs cause and his ministers ; but † all the rest followed gifts , and the way of balaam the sonne of bosor . but here † baronius , who hitherto had leaned on tyrius his authority , now starteth from it : and no wonder , for his penne will seldome cast ink , when he meeteth with the corruption of the romish court . but sure it was , that the good patriarch wearied with delayes , returned back with his grievances unredressed . whereupon the hospitallers grew more insolent ; and under pretence of being free from fetters , would wear no girdle ; denying not onely subjection , but any filiall obedience to a superiour . chap. . of almericus patriarch of antioch ; his instituting of carmelites ; their differing from the pattern of elias . after the tragicall life and death of rodolphus patriarch of antioch , who was twelve years patriarch , counting his banishment , haymericus by the contrary faction and power of prince reimund succeeded him , with little quiet and comfort of his place . and here to our grief must we take our finall farewell of the distinct succession of the patriarchs of antioch , with the years that they sate ; such is the obscurity and confusion of it . yet no doubt this † haymericus was the same with almericus , who about the year first instituted the order of carmelites . indeed formerly they lived dispersed about the mountain of carmel : but he gathered them together into one house ; because solitarinesse is a trespasse against the nature of man , and god when he had made all things good , saw it was not good for man to be alone . surely from great antiquity in the primitive church , many retired themselves to solitary places , ( where they were alwayes alone , and alwayes in the company of good thoughts ) chiefly to shade themselves from the heat of persecution . whose example was in after-ages imitated by others , when there was no such necessity : as here by these carmelites ; whose order was afterwards perfected in the year , by albert patriarch of jerusalem , with certain canonicall observations imposed upon them . and in the next age , these bees which first bred in the ground and hollow trees , got them hives in gardens ; and leaving the deserts , gained them princely houses in pleasant places . they pretended indeed that they followed the pattern of elias , though farre enough from his example : first , for their habit ; they wore † white coats guarded with red streaks : but they have no colour in the bible that elias ever wore such a livery ; it suits rather with joseph then with him . secondly , by their order they were to ride on he-asses ; whereas we read that elias went on foot , and rode but once in a chariot of fire . thirdly , they by the constitution of pope nicolas the . had † sisters of their company living near unto them ; we find elias to have no such feminine consorts . fourthly , they lived in all lust and lazinesse , as † nicolas gallus their own generall did complain , that they were sodomites , and compared them to the tail of the dragon : so that their luxury differed from elias his austerity , as much as velvet from sackcloth . wherefore that the carmelites came from mount carmel cannot be denyed : but on that mountain i find that both elias and baals priests gathered together ; and let the indifferent reader judge which of them their lives do most resemble . afterwards pope honorius . counting the party-coloured coats these carmelites did wear to be too gaudy , caused them to wear onely white , the colour which nature doth die ; simple , and therefore fittest for religion . but melexala king of egypt , who formerly was very bountifull to the carmelites , knew not his alms-men in their new coats , but changed his love , as they their livery , and persecuted them out of all egypt . it seemeth afterwards , by the complaint of † mantuan , that they wore some black again over their white : for he playeth on them , as if their bad manners had blacked and altered their clothes . now though palestine was their mother , england was their best nurse . ralph fresburg , about the year , first brought them hither ; and they were first seated at newenden in † kent . an † hundred and fourty english writers have been of this order . and here they flourished in great pomp , till at last king henry the as they came out of the wildernesse , so turned their houses into a wildernesse ; not onely breaking the necks of all abbeys in england , but also scattering abroad their very bones , past possibility of recounting them . chap. . edessa lost ; the hopefull voyage of conrade the emperour and lewis king of france to the holy land , blasted by the perfidiousnesse of emmanuel the grecian emperour . empires have their set bounds , whither when they come , they stand still , go back , fall down : this we may see in the kingdome of jerusalem ; which under godfrey and the two first baldwines was a gainer , under fulk a saver , under the succeeding kings a constant loser till all was gone . for now sanguin prince of the turks ( as bloudy as his name ) wrested from the christians the countrey and city of edessa , one of the four tetrarchies of the kingdome of jerusalem . and though sanguin shortly after was stabbed at a feast , yet noradine his sonne succeeded , and exceeded him in cruelty against the christians . the losse of edessa ( wherein † our religion had flourished ever since the apostles time ) moved conrade emperour of the west , and lewis the . surnamed the young , king of france , to undertake a voyage to the holy-land . pope eugenius the . bestirred himself in the matter , and made s. bernard his soliciter to advance the design . for never could so much steel have been drawn into the east , had not this good mans perswasion been the loadstone . the emperours army contained two hundred thousand foot , besides fifty thousand horse : nor was the army of king lewis much inferiour in number . in france they sent a † distaff and a spindle to all those able men that went not with them , as upbraiding their effeminatenesse : and no wonder , when women themselves went in armour , ( having a brave lasse like another penthesilea for their leader , so befringed with gold , that they called her † golden-foot ) riding astride like men ; which i should count more strange , but that i find all women in england in the same posture on their horses , till † anna , wife to king richard the second , some years since , taught them a more modest behaviour . the turks did quake hearing of these preparations , which to them were reported farre greater then they were , fame ( contrary to all other painters ) making those things the greatest which are presented the farthest off . conrade with his army took his way through grecia ; where emmanuel the emperour , possessed with an hereditary fear of the latines , fortified his cities in the way , as knowing there needed strong banks where such a stream of people was to passe . and suspecting that if these pilgrimes often made his empire their high-way into palestine , little grasse would grow in so trodden a path , and his countrey thereby be much endamaged ; he used them most treacherously , giving them bad welcome that he might no more have such guests . to increase their miseries , as the dutch encamped by the river * melas , ( if that may be called a river which is all mud in summer , all sea in winter ) deserving his name from this black and dismall accident , it drowned many with its sudden overflowings , as if it had conspired with the grecians , and learned treachery from them . they that survived this sudden mishap , were reserved for lingring misery . for the grecian emperour did them all possible mischief , by mingling lime with their meal , by killing of stragglers , by holding intelligence with the turks their enemies , by corrupting his coyn , making his silver as base as himself , ( so that the dutch sold good wares for bad money , and bought bad wares with good money ) by giving them false conductours which trained them into danger , so that there was more fear of the guides then of the way . all which his unfaithfull dealings are recorded by that faithfull historian † * nicetas choniates : who though a grecian born , affirmeth these things ; the truth of his love to his countrey-men no whit prejudicing his love to the truth . chap. . the turks conquered at meander ; the dutch and french arrive in palestine . scarce had the dutch escaped the treachery of the greeks , when they were encountred with the hostility of the turks , who waited for them on the other side of meander . the river was not fordable ; ship or bridge the christians had none : when behold conrade the emperour adventured on an action , which because it was successefull , shall be accounted valiant ; otherwise we should term it desperate . after an † exhortation to his army , he commanded them all at once to flownce into the river . meander was plunged by their plunging into it : his water stood † amazed , as unresolved whether to retreat to the fountain , or proceed to the sea , and in this extasie afforded them a dry passage over the stream . an act which , like that of horatius cocles his leaping into tiber , † plus famae ad posteros habiturum quàm fidei , will find more admirers then believers with posterity . the affrighted turks on the other side , thinking there was no contending with them that did teach nature it self obedience , offered their throats to the christians swords , and were killed in such number , that whole piles of dead bones remain there for a monument ▪ like those heaps of the cimbrians slain by marius near marseils , where afterwards the inhabitants walled their vineyards with sculls , and guarded their † grapes with dead men . hence conrade made forward to iconium , now called cogni , which he besieged in vain , to the great losse of his army . the king of france followed after with great multitudes , and drank of the same cup at the grecians hands , though not so deeply : till at last , finding that those who marched through the continent met with an ocean of misery , he thought better to trust the wind and sea then the greeks ; and taking shipping safely arrived in palestine , where he was highly welcomed by reimund prince of antioch . some weeks were spent in complying , entertainments , and visiting holy places ; till at last , elianor wife to the king of france , who accompanied her husband , made religion her pander , and played † bankrupt of her honour ; under pretence of pilgrimage , keeping company with a base saracen jester , whom she preferred before a king. thus love may blindfold the eyes , but lust boreth them out . yea , now she pleaded that she might be no longer wife to the king , because she was too near unto him , within the degrees forbidden . this new-started scruple never troubled her before : but some have sluces in their consciences , and can keep them open , or shut them as occasion requireth . chap. . damascus besieged in vain ; the return of the emperour and king ; with the censure on this voyage . the late-come pilgrimes having sufficiently recreated themselves , the emperour and the king of france concluded to besiege damascus : for a small town was conceived too narrow an object of their valour , whilest so eminent an action was adequate to the undertakers . damascus is so pleasant a city , that mahomet durst never enter into it , lest this deceiver should be deceived himself , and be so ravished with the pleasures of the place , that he should forget to go on in that great work he had in hand . some make eliezer abrahams steward builder of this citie , because he is called eliezer of damascus ; though that phrase speaketh him rather to have had his birth or dwelling there , then the city her building from him . to passe this by , because as the foundations are hidden in the ground , so the founders of most ancient places are forgotten ; it was for many years after the metropolis of syria , and was now straitly besieged by the christians with great hope of successe , had they not afterwards fallen out amongst themselves who should eat the chickens before they were hatched . conrade and king lewis destined the city to theodorick earl of flanders , lately arrived in those parts : whilest other princes which had been long resident in palestine , and born the heat of the warre grudged hereat ; and their stomachs could not digest the cruditie of a raw upstart to be preferred before them . yea , some of the christians corrupted with turkish money ( though when they received it , it proved but † guilded brasse ; may all traitours be payed in such coin ) perswaded the king of france to remove his camp to a stronger part of the walls : which they long besieged in vain , and returned home at last , leaving the city and their honours behind them . the french proverb was verified of this voyage , much bruit and little fruit . they not onely did no good in the holy land , ( † save that some think their coming advantaged king baldwine for the taking of the city of askelon ) but also did much harm . for now the turks seeing one city both bear the brunt and batter the strength of both armies , began to conceive that their own fear was their greatest enemy ; and those swords of these new pilgrimes which they dreaded in the sheath , they sleighted when they saw them drawn ; and shook off that aw which had formerly possessed them , of the strength of the western emperour . many thousand christians perished in this adventure , whose souls are pronounced by all the writers of this age to be carried up into heaven on the wings of the holy cause they died for : whose blessed estate i will not disprove ; nor will i listen to the unhappy dutch proverb , * he that bringeth himself into needlesse dangers , dieth the devils martyr . we must not forget how the french king coming homeward was taken prisoner by the fleet of the grecian emperour , and rescued again by gregory admirall to roger king of sicilie . when he was safely arrived in france , in open parliament his wife was divorced from him . her nearnesse in bloud was the onely cause specified ; and the king took no notice of her inconstancy , accounting those but foolish husbands who needlessely proclaim their wives dishonesty . he gave her back again all the lands in franc● which he had received with her in portion ; scorning her wealth which neglected his love . herein he did nobly , but not politickly , to part with the dukedomes of poictou and aquitain , which he enjoyed in her right : for he brake his own garland by giving her her flowers back again ; mangled and dismembred his own kingdome , and gave a * torch into henry king of england his hands ( who afterwards married her ) to set france on fire . chap. . an apologie for s. bernard , whom the vulgar sort condemned for the murderer of those that went this voyage . slander ( quicker then martiall law ) arraigneth , condemneth , and executeth all in an instant . this we may see in poor s. bernard , who was the mark for every mans tongue to shoot arrows against : and when this voyage had miscarried , many * condemned him , because his perswasion set this project not onely on foot but on wings ; as if he had thrust so many men , as one morsell , into the jaws of death . but much may be alledged truly to excuse this good man. first , he was but an instrument imployed by pope eugenius and a * provinciall council of french bishops to forward the designe . rather then should they have blamed his holinesse who set him on work : but the saddle oftentimes is not set on the right horse , because his back is too high to be reached , and we see commonly that the instruments are made skreens to save the face of the principall from scorching . secondly , the true cause of the ill successe was the vitiousnesse of the undertakers . for germany at this time fo●feted of lewd people ; and those grew the fattest which lived on the high-wayes . but this voyage robbed the whole countrey of her † theeves ; and then no wonder if they found their death in asia , who deserved it in europe . hear what † otho frisingensis , who went this voyage , speaketh impartially in the matter : if we should say that bernard that holy abbot was inspired by gods spirit to inci●e us to this warre , but we through our pride and wantonnesse not observing his holy commands deservedly brought on our selves the losse of our goods and lives , we should say nothing but what is agreeable to reason , and to ancient examples . however , it was an heavie affliction to s. bernards aged back to bear the reproch of many people : it being a great grief for one to be generally condemned as guilty , for want of proof of his innocency . and though god set his hand to s. bernards testimoniall by the many † miracles which that father wrought , yet still some challenged him for a counterfeit . and surely this humiliation was both wholesome and necessary for him . for the people , who cannot love without doting , nor approve without admiring , were too much transported with an high opinion of this man and his directions ▪ as if that arrow could not misse the mark which came out of s. bernards bow . wherefore this miscarriage came very seasonably to abate their over-towring conceits of him ; and perchance his own of himself . and no doubt he made a good use of this bad accident . the lesse his fame blazed , the more his devotion burned ; and the cutting off of his top , made him take deep root , and to be made more truly humble and sanctified . in his book of † consideration he maketh a modest defence of himself ; whether we referre the reader . to conclude ; the devotion of this man was out of question so neglecting this world , that he even did spit out that preferment which was dropped into his mouth : but as for his judgement , it was not alwayes the best : which gave occasion to the proverb , bernardus non videt omnia . chap. . vnseasonable discords betwixt king baldwine and his mother ; her strength in yielding to her sonne . upon the departure of emperour conrade and k. lewis , noradine the turk much prevailed in palestine . nor was he little advantaged by the discords betwixt mille●ent queen-mother and the nobility ; thus occasioned : there was a noble-man called manasses , whom the queen ( governing all in her sonnes minority ) made constable of the kingdome . this man unable to manage his own happinesse , grew so insolent that he could not go , but either spurning his equals , or trampling on his inferiours . no wonder then , if envy , the shadow of greatnesse , waited upon him . the * nobility highly distasted him : but in all oppositions the queens favour was his sanctuary ; who to shew her own absolutenesse , and that her affection should not be controlled , nor that thrown down which she set up , still preserved the creature she had made . his enemies perceiving him so fast rooted in her favour , and seeing they could not remove him from his foundation , sought to remove him with his foundation ; instigating young king baldwine against his mother , and especially against her favourite . they complained how the state groaned under his insolency ; he was the bridge by which all offices must passe , and there pay toll ; he alone sifted all matters , and then no wonder if much bran passed ; he under pretence of opening the queens eyes did lead her by the nose , captivating her judgement in stead of directing it ; he like a by-gulf devoured her affection , which should flow to her children . they perswaded the king he was ripe for government , and needed none to hold his hand to hold the sceptre . let him therefore either un tie or cut himself loose from this slavery , and not be in subjection to a subject . liberty needeth no hard-pressing on youth , a touch on that stamp maketh an impression on that waxen age . young baldwine is apprehensive of this motion , and prosecuteth the matter so eagerly , that at length he coopeth up this manasses in a castle , and forceth him to abjure the kingdome . much stirre afterwards was betwixt him and his mother ; till at last to end divisions , the kingdome was divided betwixt them : she had the city of jerusalem , and the land-locked part ; he the maritime half of the land . but the widest throne is too narrow for two to sit on together . he not content with this partition , marcheth furiously to jerusalem , there to besiege his mother , and to take all from her . out of the city cometh † fulcher the good patriarch , ( his age was a patent for his boldnesse ) and freely reproveth the king : why should he go on in such an action wherein every step he stirred , his legs must needs grate and crash both against nature and religion ? did he thus requite his mothers care in stewarding the state , thus to affright her age , to take arms against her ? was it not her goodnesse to be content with a moyety , when the whole kingdome in right belonged unto her ? but ambition had so inchanted baldwine , that he was penetrable with no reasons which crossed his designes : so that by the advice of her friends she was content to resign up all , lest the christian cause should suffer in these dissensions . she retired her self to † sebaste , and abridged her train from state to necessity . and now the lesse room she had to build upon , the higher she raised her soul with heavenly meditations ; and lived as more private , so more pious till the day of her death . chap. . reimund prince of antioch overcome and killed ; askelon taken by the christians ; the death of king baldwine . these discords betwixt mother and son were harmonie in the ears of noradine the turk : who coming with a great army wasted all about antioch ; and prince reimund going out to bid him battel , was slain himself , and his army overthrown : nor long after joceline count of edessa was intercepted by the turks , and taken prisoner . as for constantia the relict of reimund prince of antioch , she lived a good while a widow , refusing the affections which many princely suiters proffered unto her , till at last she descended beneath her self to marry a plain man , reinold of castile . yet why should we say so , when as a castilian gentleman ( if that be not a needlesse tautologie ) as he maketh the inventory of his own worth , prizeth himself any princes fellow : and the proverb is , each lay-man of castile may make a king , each clergy-man a pope ? yea , we had best take heed how we speak against this match : for almericus patriarch of antioch for inveighing against it , was by this prince reinold set in the heat of the sunne with his † bare head besmeared with honey ( a sweet bitter torment ) that so bees might sting him to death . but king baldwine mediated for him , and obtained his liberty that he might come to jerusalem , where he lived many years in good esteem . and gods judgements are said to have overtaken the prince of antioch : for besides the famine which followed in his countrey , he himself afterwards fighting unfortunately with the turks , was taken prisoner . but let us step over to jerusalem ; where we shall find king baldwine making preparation for the siege of askelon : which citie after it had been long locked up , had at last an assaultable breach made in the walls thereof . the templars ( to whom the king promised the spoil if they took it ) entred through this breach into the citie : and conceiving they had enow to wield the work and master the place , set a guard at the breach , that no more of their fellow-christians should come in to be sharers with them in the booty . but their † covetousnesse cost them their lives : for the turks contemning their few number put them every one to the sword . yet at last the city was taken , though with much difficulty . other considerable victories baldwine got of the turks ; especially one at the river jordan , where he vanquished noradine : and twice he relieved cesarea-philippi , which the turks had straitly besieged . but death at last put a period to his earthly happinesse , being poisoned ( as it was supposed ) by a jewish physician ; for the rest of the potion killed a dog to whom it was given . this kings youth was stained with unnaturall discords with his mother , and other vices , which in his settled age he reformed . let the witnesse of noradine his enemy be believed ; who honourably refused to invade the kingdome whilest the funerall solemnities of baldwine were performing ; and professed the christians had a just cause of sorrow , † having lost such a king , whose equall for justice and valour the world did not afford . he died without issue , having reigned one and twenty years . so that sure it is the printers mistake in tyrius , where he hath four and twenty years assigned him , more then the consent of time will allow . chap. . king almerick his disposition . almerick brother to king baldwine , earl of joppa and askelon , succeeded to the crown . but before his coronation he was enjoyned by the popes legate and by the patriarch of jerusalem , to dis-misse agnes his wife , daughter to joceline the younger , count of edessa , because she was his cousin in the fourth degree ; with this reservation , that the two children he had by her , baldwine and sibyll , should be accounted legitimate , and capable of their fathers possessions . a prince of excellent parts ; of a most happy † memory , ( wherein also his brother baldwine was eminent , though fulk their father was wonderfully forgetfull ; so true is the maxime , pure per sonalia non propagantur , parents entail neither their personall defects nor perfections on their posterity ) solid judgement , quick apprehension ; but of a bad utterance , which made him use words onely as a shield when he was urged and pressed to speak , otherwise he preferred to be silent , and declined popularity , more then his brother baldwine affected it . very thrifty he was ; and though † tully saith , dici hominem frugi non multum habet laudis in rege , yet moderate frugality is both laudable and necessary in a king. but our almerick went somewhat too farre , and was a little poore in admiring of riches , laying great taxations on the holy places to their utter impoverishing : yet was he not mastered by his purse , but made it his vassall , and spared no money on a just occasion . he never received accusation against any of his officers , and never reckoned with them ( count it as you please , carelessenesse or noble confidence ) because he would not teach them to be dishonest by suspecting them . nor is it the last and least part of his praise , that william archbishop of tyre ( so often mentioned ) wrote the holy warre at his instance . once he angred the good archbishop with this question , † how the resurrection of the body may be proved by reason ? hereat the good prelate was much displeased , as counting it a dangerous question wherewith one removeth a foundation-stone in divinity , though with intent to lay it in the place again . but the king presently protested , that he demanded it not out of any diffidence in himself about that article , but in case one should meet with a sturdy man , who ( as too many now-a-dayes ) would not trust faith on her single bond , except he have reason joyned for security with her . hereupon the archbishop alledged many strong arguments to prove it , and both rested well satisfied . chap. . ecclesiasticall businesse ; a sultan of iconium , and the master of the assasines desired to be christened ; the common-wealth of the assasines described . in the church of jerusalem we find almerick still patriarch : a frenchman born , but little fit for the place , to which he was preferred by the favour of sibyll , countesse of flanders , the kings sister . mean time the church needed a salick law , to forbid distaffs to meddle with mitres ; and neither to be , nor to make patriarchs . but the most remarkable church-matter in this kings reign , was the clandestine christening of a sultan of iconium . and more of his courtiers might have followed him , but that his embassadours being at rome , were offended there with the vitiousnesse of christians lives ; which made them to exclaim , † how can fresh and salt water flow from the same fountain ? this hath made many pagans to step back , which had one foot in our church , when they have seen christians believe so well , and live so ill ; breaking the commandments against the creed . not long after , the great master of the assasines was really disposed to receive our religion ; and to this end sent an embassadour to king almerick , which embassadour was treacherously slain by one of the templars . the † king demanded this murderer of the master of the templars , that justice might passe upon him . but the master proudly answered , that he had already enjoyned him penance , and had directed to send him to the pope , but stoutly refused to surrender him to the king. this cruel murder imbittered the assasines more desperately against the christians . these assasines were a precise sect of mahometans , and had in them the very spirits of that poysonous superstition . they had some six cities , and were about fourty thousand in number , living near antaradus in syria . over these was a chief master , ( hell it self cannot subsist without a beelzebub ; so much order there is in the place of confusion , ) whom they called † the old man of the mountains . at his command they would refuse no pain or perill , but stab any prince whom he appointed out to death ; scorning not to find hands for his tongue , to perform what he enjoyned . at this day there are none of them exstant , ( except revived by the jesuits ; for sure ignatius loyola , the lame father of blind obedience fetched his platform hence ) being all , as it seems , slain by the * tartarians , anno . but no tears need be shed at their funeralls : yea , pity it is that any pity should be lavished upon them , whose whole government was an engine built against humane society , worthy to be fired by all men ; the body of their state being a very monstrosity , and a grievance of mankind . chap. . dargan and sanar two egyptian lords contending about the sultanie , sanar calleth in the turks to help him . of the danger of mercenary souldiers ; yet how , well qualified , they may be serviceable . egypt was a stage whereon the most remarkable passages in the reign of king almerick were acted . it will be necessary therefore to premise somewhat concerning the estate of that kingdome at this time . whilest the turks thus lorded it in syria and the lesser asia , the saracen caliph commanded in egypt ; under whom two great lords , dargan and sanar , fell out about the sultanie or vice-royship of that land . but sanar fearing he should be worsted by dargan , sued to noradine king of the turks at damascus for aid : who sent him an army of turks , under the command of syracon an experienced captain , against sultan dargan . so dargan and sanar met and fought . the victory was dargans ; but he enjoyed it not long , being shortly after slain by treachery , whereby sanar recovered the sultans place . mean time how strange was the voluptuous lethargy of the caliph elhadach , to pursue his private pleasures , whilest his vice-royes thus fought under his nose , and imployed forrein succours , yet he never regarded it ; as if the tottering of his kingdome had rocked him fast asleep ! nor was he moved with that which followed , and more nearly concerned him . for syracon the turkish captain , whom sanar had gotten to come into egypt , would not be intreated to go home again ; but seized on the city of belbis , fortified it , and there attended the arrivall of more turks from damascus , for the conquest of egypt . which afterwards they performed ; the land being never completely cleared of them , till at last they conquered the whole kingdome , partly under this syracon , and wholly under saladine his nephew . and here my discourse ( by the leave of the reader ) must a little sally forth to treat of the danger of entertaining mercenary souldiers . they may perchance be called in with a whistle , but scarce cast out with a whip . if they be slugs , they indanger a state by their slothfulnesse ; if spirited men , by their activity . cesar borgia , machiavils idol , whose practice he maketh the pattern of policy , saith , * that he had rather be conqu●red with his own men , then be conquerour with an army of others ; because he counted that conquest to be none at all . yet good physick may be made of poyson well corrected : they may sometimes be necessary evils ; yea , good and serviceable to defend a land , if thus qualified : first , if they have no command of castles , or place near about the princes person ; for then they have a compendious way to treason , if they intend it . secondly , if they be not entertained in too great numbers , but in such refracted degrees , that the natives may still have the predominancy ; for a surfeit of forrein supplies is a disease incurable . thirdly , if the prince who imployeth them , hath their wives , children , and estates in his own hands ; which will be both a caution and pawn for their fidelity , and will also interest their affections more cordially in the cause . lastly , if they be of the same religion with them , and fight against the enemy of the religion of both ; for then they are not purely hirelings , but parties in part , and the cause doth at least mediately concern them . i believe that it will scarcely be shown , that the protestants have turned tails and betrayed them they came to assist . we may observe , the low-countreys have best thrived by setting this trade of journey-men souldiers on work . let them thank god and the good english : for if francies duke of anjou with his frenchmen had well succeeded , no doubt he would have spread his bread with their butter . next them the venetians have sped best : for they have the trick , when they find it equally dangerous to cashier their mercenary generall or to entertain him any longer , fairly to kill him ; as they served * carmignola . england hath best thrived without them : under gods protection we stand on our own legs . the last i find are an handfull of almains used against * kett in norfolk in the dayes of king edward the sixth . and let it be our prayers , that as for those hirelings which are to be last tried and least trusted , we never have want of their help , and never have too much of it . chap. . sanar imploreth the aid of king almerick ; a solemn agreement made betwixt them , and ratified by the magnificent caliph . sultan sanat perceiving himself pressed and overlayed by these turks , who with syracon their captain refused to return , and of assistants turned invaders , borrowed the help of almerick king of jerusalem to avoid them out of egypt . whilest almerick marched thither , an unfortunate battel was fought betwixt boemund the third of that name prince of antioch , reimund count of tripoli , calaman grecian governour of cilicia , and joceline the third the ti●ular count of edessa , on the one side ; and noradine king of the turks , on the other . the turks got the victory , and these four christian princes were taken prisoners ; and their army lost so much good bloud that day , that cast it into an irrecoverable consumption , and hastened the ruine of this kingdome . noradine following his blow , wonne cesarea-philippi . neverthelesse almerick went on effectually in egypt , and for a time expulsed the turks out of this land. but syracon would not so quickly quit the countrey ; but goeth to the caliph of babylon , ( who was opposite to him of egypt , each of them claiming as heir to mahomet the false prophet , the soveraignty over all that were of the saracen law ) and offereth him his means for the exstirpation of this schismaticall caliph , and the reduction of all egypt to the subjection of the babylonian . the motion was joyfully entertained , and syracon with a mighty power descendeth into egypt . sanar affrighted hereat maketh new and larger profers to king almerick to stop this deluge of his enemies , and profereth him a pension of fourty thousand ducates yearly for his behooffull assistance . but the king understanding that the sultan ( how much soever he took upon him ) was subject to a higher lord , would make no such bargain with him , but with the caliph himself ; and therefore sent his embassadours , * hugh earl of cesarea , and a knight-templar , along with the sultan to caliph elhadach then resident at cairo . arriving at his palace , they passed through dark passages well guarded with armed ethiopians . hence they were conducted into goodly open * courts of such beauty and riches , that they could not retain the gravity of embassadours , but were enforced to admire the rarities they beheld . the farther they went , the greater the state ; till at last they were brought to the caliphs own lodging . where entring the presence , the sultan thrice prostrated himself to the ground before the curtain behind which the caliph sat . presently the traverse wrought with pearls was opened , and the caliph himself discovered , sitting with great majesty on a throne of gold , having few of his most inward eunuchs about him . the sultan humbly kissed his masters feet ; and briefly told him the cause of their coming , the danger wherein the land stood , the profers he had made to king almerick , desiring him now to ratifie them , and in demonstration thereof to give his hand to the kings embassadours . the caliph demurred hereat , as counting such a gesture a diminution to his state ; and at no hand would give him his hand bare , but gave it in his glove . to whom the resolute earl of * cesarea ; sir , said he , truth seeketh no holes to hide it self . princes that will hold covenant , must deal openly and nakedly : give us therefore your bare hand ; we will make no bargain with your glove . he was loth to do it ; but necessity ( a more imperious caliph then himself at this time ) commanded it : and he did it at last , dismissing the christian embassadours with such gifts as testified his greatnesse . according to this agreement king almerick cordially prosecuted his businesse , improving his utmost might to expell syracon with his turks out of egypt ; whom he bade battel , and got the day though he lost all his baggage : so that the conquest in a manner was divided ; the turks gaining the wealth , the christians the honour of the victory . following his blow , he pinned up the turks afterward in the city of alexandria , and forced them to receive of him conditions of peace , and then returned himself with honour to askelon . chap. . almerick against his promise invadeth egypt ; his perjury punished with the future ruine of the kingdome of ierusalem ; his death . when a crown is the prize of the game , we must never expect fair play of the gamesters . king almerick having looked on the beauty of the kingdome of egypt , he longed for it : and sought no longer to drive out the relicks of the turks , but to get egypt to himself : and the next year , against the solemn league with the caliph , invaded it with a great army . he falsly pretended that the caliph would make a private peace with noradine king of the turks ; and hence created his quarrel . for he hath a barren brain , who cannot fit himself with an occasion if he hath a desire to fall out . but gilbert master of the hospitallers chiefly stirred up the king to this warre , upon promise that the city and countrey of pelusium , if conquered , should be given to his order . the templars were much against the design ( one of their order was embassadour at the ratifying of the peace ) and with much zeal protested against it , as undertaken against oath and fidelity . an oath being the highest appeal , perjury must needs be an hainous sinne , whereby god is solemnly invited to be witnesse of his own dishonour . and as bad is a god-mocking equivocation : for he that surpriseth truth with an ambush , is as bad an enemy as he that fighteth against her with a flat lie in open field . i know what is pleaded for king almerick , namely , that christians are not bound to keep faith with idolaters , the worshippers of a false god , as the egyptian caliph was on the matter . but open so wide a window , and it will be in vain to shut any doores . all contracts with pagans may easily be avoided , if this evasion be allowed . but what saith s. hierome ? † it matters not to whom , but by whom we swear . and god to acquit himself , knowing the christians prosperity could not stand with his justice after their perjury , frowned upon them . and from hence authours date the constant ill successe of the holy warre . for though this expedition sped well at the first , and almerick wonne the city of belbis or pelusium , yet see what a cloud of miseries ensued . first , noradine in his absence wasted and wonne places near antiochia at pleasure . secondly , † meller prince of armenia , a christian , made a covenant with noradine , and kept it most constantly , to the inestimable disadvantage of the king of jerusalem . this act of meller must be condemned , but withall gods justice admired . christians break their covenant with saracens in egypt , whilest other christians , to punish them , make and keep covenant with turks in asia . thirdly , the saracens grew good souldiers on a sudden : who were naked at first , and onely had bows ; but now learned from the christians to use all offensive and defensive weapons . thus rude nations alwayes better themselves in fighting with a skilful enemy . how good mark-men are the irish now-a-dayes , which some seventy years ago , † at the beginning of their rebellions , had three men to discharge a hand-gun ! fourthly , almericks hopes of conquering egypt were frustrated ; for after some victories he was driven out , and that whole kingdome conquered by saladine ( nephew to syracon ) who killed the caliph with his horse-mace as he came to do him reverence , and made himself the absolutest turkish king of egypt . and presently after the death of noradine , the kingdome of the turks at damascus was by their consent bestowed upon him . indeed noradine left a sonne , mele●ala , who commanded in part of his fathers dominions ; but saladine after his death got all for himself . thus rising men shall still meet with more stairs to raise them ; as those falling , with stumbling-blocks to ruine them . mean time jerusalem was a poor weather-beaten kingdome , bleak and open to the storm of enemies on all sides , having no covert or shelter of any good friend near it , lying in the lions mouth betwixt his upper and neather jaw ; damascus on the north , and egypt on the south ; two potent turkish kingdoms , united under a puissant prince , saladine . this made almerick send for succours into europe : for now few voluntaries came to this service ; souldiers must be pressed with importunity . our western princes were prodigall of their pity , but niggardly of their help : the heat of the warre in palestine had cooled their desires to go thither : which made these embassadours to return without supplies , having gone farre to fetch home nothing but discomfort and despair . lastly , king almerick himself wearied with whole volleys of miseries , ended his life of a bloudy flux , having reigned eleven full years , and was buried with his predecessours : leaving two children , baldwine and sibyll , by agnes his first wife ; and by mary his second wife ( daughter to john proto-sebastus , a grecian prince ) one daughter , isabell ; married † afterwards to hemphred the third , prince of thorone . chap. . baldwine the fourth succeedeth ; his education under william the reverend a●rchbishop of tyre . baldwine his sonne , the fourth of that name , succeeded his father : so like unto him , that we report the reader to the character of king almerick , and will spare the repeating his description . onely he differed in the temper of his body , being enclined to the lepro●ie called elephan●iasis , noysome to the patient , but not infectious to the company : not like king uzziahs , but naamans leprosie ; which had it been contagious , no doubt the king of assyria , when he went into the house of rimmon , would have chosen another supporter . mean time the kingdome was as sick as the king ; he of a leprosie , that of an incurable consumption . this baldwine had the benefit of excellent education under william archbishop of tyre , a pious man and excellent scholar , skilled in all the learned orientall tongues , besides the dutch , and french his native language ; a moderate and faithfull writer : for in the latter part of his history of the holy warre , his eye guided his hand , till at last the taking of the city of jerusalem so shook his hand , that his penne fell out , and he wrote no more . treasurer he was of all the money contributed to the holy war ; chancellour of this kingdome ; imployed in severall embassies in the west ; present at the lateran council , the acts whereof he did record : † cardinall he might have been , but refused it : in a word , unhappy onely that he lived in that age , though that age was happy he lived in it . chap. . the vitiousnesse of heraclius the patriarch of ierusalem ; his embassie to henry the second , king of england , with the successe ; the maronites reconciled to the romane church . after the death of almerick patriarch of jerusalem , heraclius was by the queen-mother mary , second wife to king almerick , for his handsomenesse preferred to be patriarch . † william archbishop of tyre was violent against his election , because of a prophesie , that as heraclius king of persia wonne , so an heraclius should lose the crosse. but others excepted , that this exception was nothing worth : for let god give the man , and let the devil set the name . as for those blind prophesies , they misse the truth ofter then hit it ; so that no wise man will lean his belief on so slender a prop. but heraclius had a worse name then his name , the bad report of his vitious life ; keeping a vintners wife , whom he maintained in all state like an empresse , and owned the children he had by her . her name † pascha de rivera , and she was generally saluted , the † patriarchesse . his example infected the inferiour clergie , whose corruption was a sad presage of the ruine of the realm : for when prelates the seers , when once those eye-strings begin to break , the heart-strings hold not long after . in his time the maronites were reconciled to the romane church . their main errour was the heresie of the monothelites , touching one onely will and action in christ. for after that the heresie of nestorius about two persons in our saviour was detested in the eastern churches , some thought not themselves safe enough from the heresie of two persons , till they were fallen with the opposite extremity of one nature in christ : violence making men reel from one extreme to another . the errour once broched , found many embracers : as no opinion so monstrous , but if it hath had a mother , it will get a nurse . but now these maronites renouncing their ten ents , received the catholick faith ; though soon after , when saladine had conquered their countrey , they relapsed to their old errours : wherein they continued till the late times of pope gregory the thirteenth , and clement the eighth , when they again renewed their communion with the romane church . they live at this day on mount libanus , not exceeding twelve thousand house-holds , and pay to the great turk for every one above twelve years old , † seventeen sultanines by the year ; and for every space of ground sixteen span square , one sultanine yearly ; to keep themselves free from the mixture of mahometanes . a † sultanine is about seven shillings six pence of our money . to return to heraclius ; soon after he was sent embassadour to henry the second , king of england , to crave his personall assistance in the holy warre , delivering unto him the royall standard , with the keyes of our saviours sepulchre , the tower of david , and the city of jerusalem , sent him by king baldwine . king henry was singled out for this service before other princes , because the world justly reported him valiant , wise , rich , powerfull , and fortunate : and ( which was the main ) hereby he might expiate his murder , and gather up again the innocent bloud which he had shed of thomas becket . besides , heraclius entituled our henry to the kingdome of jerusalem , because geoffrey plantagenet his father was sonne ( some say , brother ) to fulk , the fourth king of jerusalem . but king henry was too wise to bite at such a bait , wherein was onely the husk of title , without the kernel of profit . yet he pretended he would go into palestine ; and got hereby a masse of money towards his voyage : making every one , as well clerk as lay ( saving such as went ) to pay that year the tenth of all their revenues , moveables , and chattells , as well in gold as in silver . of every city in england he chose the richest men ; as in london two hundred , in york an hundred , and so in proportion : and took the tenth of all their moveables , by the * estimation of credible men who knew their estates : imprison●ing those which refused to pay , sub eleemosynae titulo vitium rapacitatis includens , saith walsingham . but now when he had filled his purse , all expected he should fulfill his promise ; when all his voyage into palestine turned into a journey into france . heraclius , whilest he stayed in england , consecrated the temple-church in the suburbs of london , and the house adjoyning belonging to the templars ; since turned to a better use , for the students of our municipall law ; these new templars defending one christian from another , as the old ones christians from pagans . chap. . saladine fitteth himself with forrein forces . the originall and great power of the mammalukes , with their first service . in the minority of king baldwine , who was but thirteen years old , milo de planci a noble-man was protectour of the realm : whose pride and insolence could not be brooked , and therefore he was stabbed at ptolemais , and reimund count of tripoli chosen to succeed him . now saladine seriously intendeth to set on the kingdome of jerusalem , and seeketh to furnish himself with souldiers for that service . but he perceived that the ancient nation of the egyptians had lasted so long , that now it ran dregs ; their spirits being as low as the countrey they lived in , and they fitter to make merchants and mechanicks then military men : for they were bred in such soft imployments , that they were presently foundred with any hard labour . wherefore he sent to the circassians by the lake of meotis , near taurica chersonesus , and thence bought many slaves of able and active bodies . for it was a people born in a hard countrey ( no fewel for pleasure grew there nor was brought thither ) and bred harder ; so that war was almost their nature , with custome of continuall skirmishing with the neighbouring tartars . these slaves he trained up in military discipline , most of them being christians , once baptized ; but afterwards untaught christ , they learned mahomet , and so became the worse foes to religion for once being her friends . these proved excellent souldiers and speciall horsemen , and are called mammalukes . and surely the greatnesse of saladine and his successours stood not so much on the legs of their native egyptians , as it leaned on the staffe of these strangers . saladine , and especially the turkish kings after him , gave great power , and placed much trust in these * mammalukes : who lived a long time in ignorance of their own strength ; till at last they took notice of it , and scorning any longer to be factours for another , they would set up for themselves , and got the sovereignty from the turkish kings . thus princes who make their subjects over-great , whet a knife for their own throats . and posterity may chance to see the insolent janizaries give the grand seignor such a trip on the heel as may tumble him on his back . but more largely of these mammalukes usurping the kingdome of egypt ( god willing ) in its proper place . thus saladine having furnished himself with new souldiers , went to handsel their valour upon the christians ; invaded the holy land , burning all the countrey before him , and raging in the bloud of poor christians , till he came and encamped about askelon . mean time whilest reimund count of tripoli , protectour of the kingdome , with philip earl of flanders , & the chief strength of the kingdome were absent in celosyria , wasting the countrey about emissa and cesarea , young king baldwine lay close in askelon , not daring to adventure on so strong an enemy . with whose fear saladine encouraged , dispersed his army , some one way , some another , to forrage the countrey . king baldwine courted with this opportunity , marched out privately , not having past four hundred horse , with some few footmen , and assaulted his secure enemies , being six and twenty thousand . but victory standeth as little in the number of souldiers , as verity in the plurality of voices . the christians got the conquest , and in great triumph returned to jerusalem . this overthrow rather madded then daunted saladine : who therefore to recover his credit , some moneths after with his mammalukes fell like a mighty tempest upon the christians , as they were parting the spoil of a band of turks , whom they had vanquished ; put many to the sword , the rest to flight . otto grand master of the templars , and hugh sonne in law to the count of tripoli , were taken prisoners ; and the king himself had much ado to escape . and thus both sides being well wearied with warre , they were glad to refresh themselves with a short slumber of a truce solemnly concluded ; and their troubled estates breathed almost for the space of two years . which truce saladine the more willingly embraced , because of a famine in the kingdome of damascus , where it had scarce * rained for five years together . chap. . the fatall jealousies betwixt the king and reimund earl of tripoli . but this so welcome a calm was troubled with domesticall discords . for the kings mother , ( a woman of a turbulent spirit ) and her brother his steward , accused reimund count of tripoli , governour of the realm in the kings minority , as if he affected the crown for himself : which accusation this earl could never wholly wipe off . for slender and lean slanders quickly consume themselves ; but he that is branded with an hainous crime , ( though false ) when the wound is cured , his credit will be killed with the scarre . before we go further , let us view this earl reimunds disposition , and we shall find him marked to do mischief , and to ruine this realm . he was sonne to reimund , grandchild to pontius earl of tripoli , by cecilie the daughter of * philip king of france , great-grandchild to bertram first earl of tripoli , great-great-grandchild to reimund earl of tholose , one of speciall note among the primitive adventurers in the holy warre . his mother was hodiern , third daughter to baldwine the second , king of jerusalem . a man whose stomach was as high as his birth ; and very serviceable to this state , whilest the sharpnesse of his parts were used against the turks ; which at last turned edge against the christians : proud , not able to digest the least wrong ; and though long in captivity amongst the turks , yet a very truant in the school of affliction , who never learned the lesson of patience : so revengefull , that he would strike his enemy , though it were through the sides of religion and the christian cause . for this present accusation of treason , good authours seem to be his compurgatours for this at this time , though afterwards he discovered his treacherous intents . and because he could not rise by his service , he made his service fall by him ; and undid what he had done for the publick good , because thereby he could not attain his private ends . he commanded over the 〈◊〉 of tripoli , which was a territory of large extent , wherein he was absolute lord. and by the way we may take notice of this as one of the banes of the kingdome of jerusalem , that the principalities of antioch , tripoli , and edessa ( whilest it was christian ) were branches of this kingdome , but too big for the body : for the princes thereof on each petty distast would stand on their guard , as if they had been subjects out of courtesie , not conscience : and though they confessed they owed the king allegeance , yet they would pay no more then they thought fitting themselves . to return to king baldwine ; this suspicion of earl reimund , though at first but a buzze , soon got a sting in the kings head , and he violently apprehended it . whereupon reimund coming to jerusalem , was by the way commanded to stay , to his great disgrace . but some of the nobility foreseeing what danger this discord might bring , reconciled them with much labour . however , baldwine ever after looked on this earl with a jealous eye . jealousie , if it be fire in private persons , is wild-fire in princes , who seldome rase out their names whom once they have written in their black bills . and as the italian proverb is , suspicion giveth a passe-port to faith to set it on packing ; so this earl finding himself suspected , was never after cordially loyall , smothering his treachery in this kings life , which afterwards broke forth into an open flame . chap. . saladine is conquered by king baldwine , and conquereth mesopotamia ; discords about the protectourship of ierusalem ; the death and praise of baldwine the fourth . the kingdome of damascus being recovered of the famine , saladine having gotten his ends by the truce , would now have the truce to end ; and breaking it ( as not standing with his haughty designes ) marched with a great army out of egypt through palestine to damascus , much spoiling the countrey . and now having joyned the egyptian with the damascene forces , re-entred the holy land . but young king baldwine meeting him , though but with seven hundred to twenty thousand , at the village frobolt , overthrew him in a great battel ; and saladine himself was glad with speedy flight to escape the danger , and by long marches to get him again to damascus . afterward he besieged berytus both by sea and land ; but the vigilancie and valour of king baldwine defeated his taking of it . saladine finding such tough resistance in the holy land , thought to make a better purchase by laying out his time in mesopotamia . wherefore passing euphrates , he wonne charran and divers other cities : and then returning , in syria besieged aleppo , the strongest place the christians had in that countrey ; so fortified by nature , that he had little hope to force it . but treason will runne up the steepest ascent , where valour it self can scarce creep : and saladine with the battery of bribes made such a breach in the loyalty of the governour , that he betrayed it unto him . thus he cometh again into the holy land more formidable then ever before , carrying an army of terrour in the mentioning of his name , which drove the poore christians all into their fensed cities . as for king baldwine , the leprosie had arrested him prisoner , and kept him at home . long had this kings spirit endured this infirmity , swallowing many a bitter pang with a smiling face , and going upright with patient shoulders under the weight of his disease . it made him put all his might to it , because when he yielded to his sicknesse , he must leave off the managing of the state ; and he was loth to put off his royall robes before he went to bed , a crown being too good a companion for one to part with willingly . but at last he was made to stoop , and retired himself to a private life , appointing baldwine his nephew ( a child of five years old ) his successour ; and guy earl of joppa and askelon , this childs father in law , to be protectour of the realm in his minority . but soon after he revoked this latter act , and designed reimund earl of tripoli for the protectour . he displaced guy , because he found him of no over-weight worth , scarce passable without favourable allowance , little feared of his foes , and as little loved of his friends . the more martiall christians sleighted him as a slug , and neglected so lazy a leader that could not keep pace with those that were to follow him : yea , they refused ( whilest he was protectour ) at his command to fight with saladine ; and out of distast to their generall , suffered their enemy freely to forrage ; which was never done before : for the christians never met any turks wandring in the holy land , but on even terms they would examine their passe-port how sufficient it was , and bid them battel . guy stormed at his displacing , and though little valiant , yet very sullen , left the court in discontent , went home , and fortified his cities of joppa and askelon . what should king baldwine do in this case ? whom should he make protectour ? guy had too little , reimund too much spirit for the place . he feared guy's cowardlinesse , lest he should lose the kingdome to the turks ; and reimunds treachery , lest he should get it for himself . thus anguish of mind and weaknesse of body ( a doughtie conquest for their united strengths , which single might suffice ) ended this kings dayes , dying young at five and twenty years of age . but if by the morning we may guesse at the day , he would have been no whit inferiour to any of his predecesssours ; sours ; especially if his body had been able : but ( alas ! ) it spoiled the musick of his soul , that the instrument was quite out of tune . he reigned twelve years , and was buried in the temple of the sepulchre : a king happy in this , that he died before the death of his kingdome . chap. . the short life , and wofull death of baldwine the fifth an infant . guy his father in law succeedeth him . it is a rare happinesse of the family of s. laurence , barons of hoath in ireland , that the heirs for years together alwayes have been of age before the death of their fathers : for minors have not onely baned families , but ruined realms . it is one of gods threatnings ; i will give children to be their princes , and babes shall rule over them . with this rod god strook the kingdome of jerusalem thrice in fourty years ; baldwine the third , fourth , and fifth , being all under age ; and this last but five years old . he was the posthumus sonne of william marquesse of montferrat , by sibyll his wife , sister to baldwine the fourth , daughter to king almerick : she afterwards was married to guy earl of joppa and askelon . now reimund earl of tripoli challenged to be protectour of this young king , by the virtue of an act of the former king so assigning him . but sibyll mother to this infant , to defeat reimund , first murdered all natural affection in her self , and then by poyson murdered her son ; that so the crown in her right might come to her husband guy . this baldwine reigned eight moneths , eight dayes , saith mistaken munster : and some mistake more , who make him not to reign at all ; cruel to wrong his memory of his honour , whom his mother had robbed both of his life and kingdome . his death was concealed , till guy his father in law had obtained by large bribes to the templars and heraclius the patriarch , to be crowned king : one more ennobled with his descent from the ancient family of the lusignans in poictou , then for any * eminency in himself : his gifts were better then his endowments . yet had he been more fortunate , he would have been accounted more virtuous ; men commonly censuring that the fault of the king , which is the fate of the kingdome . and now the christian affairs here posted to their wofull period , being spurred on by the discords of the princes . chap. . church-affairs : of haymericus patriarch of antioch ; of the grecian anti-patriarchs ; and of the learned theodorus balsamon . whilest heraclius did patriarch it in jerusalem , one haymericus had the same honour at antioch . he wrote to henry the second king of england , a bemoning letter of the christians in the east , and from him received another , fraught with never ▪ performed fair promises . this man must needs be different from that haymericus who began his patriarchship in antioch anno , and sate but twelve years , say the * centuriatours : but * baronius , as different from them sometimes in chronologie as divinity , maketh them the same . then must he be a through-old man , enjoying his place above fourty years ; being probably before he wore the style of patriarch , well worn in years himself . i must confesse , it passeth my chymistry to exact any agreement herein out of the contrariety of writers . we must also take notice , that besides the latine patriarchs in jerusalem and antioch , there were also grecian anti-patriarchs appointed by the emperour of constantinople : who having no temporall power nor profit by church-lands , had onely jurisdiction over those of the greek church . we find not the chain of their succession , but here and there light on a link ; and at this time in jerusalem on three successively : . athanasius ; whom though * one out of his abundant charity is pleased to style a schismatick , yet was he both pious and learned , as appeareth by his epistles . . leontius , * commended likewise to posterity for a good clerk and an honest man. . dositheus , * inferiour to the former in both respects : isaac the grecian emperour sent to make him patriarch of constantinople ; and dositheus catching at both , held neither , but betwixt two patriarchs chairs fell to the ground . antioch also had her greek patriarchs : as one sotericus displaced for maintaining some unsound tenets about our saviour : after him theodorus balsamon , the oracle of the learned law in his age . he compiled and commented on the ancient canons : and principally set forth the priviledges of constantinople ; listening , say the romanists , to the least noise that soundeth to the advancing of the eastern churches , and knocking down rome wheresoever it peepeth above constantinople . this maketh bellarmine except against him as a partial writer ; because a true historian should be neither party , advocate , nor judge , but a bare witnesse . by * isaac the grecian emperour this balsamon was also deceived : he pretended to remove him to constantinople , on condition he would prove the translation of the patriarch to be legall , which is forbidden by the canons . balsamon took upon him to prove it : and a lawyers brains will beat to purpose when his own preferment is the fee. but herein he did but crack the nut for another to eat the kernel : for the emperour mutable in his mind , changing his favourites as well as his clo●hes before they were old , when the legality of the translation was avowed , bestowed the patriarchship of constantinople on another ; and theodorus was still staked down at antioch in a true spirituall preferment , affording him little bodily maintenance . chap. . the revolt of the earl of tripoli ; the christians irrecoverably overthrown , and their king taken prisoner . there was at this time a truce betwixt the christians and saladine , broken on this occasion : saladines mother went from egypt to damascus , with much treasure and a little train , as sufficiently guarded with the truce yet in force ; when reinold of castile surprised and robbed her . saladine glad of this occasion , gathereth all his strength together , and besiegeth ptolemais . now reimund earl of tripoli appeareth in his colours , vexed at the losse of the government . his great stomach had no room for patience : and his passions boyled from a fever to a phrensie ; so that blinded with anger at king guy , he mistaketh his enemy , and will be revenged on god and religion ; revolting with his principality ( a third part of the kingdome of jerusalem ) to saladine ; and in his own person under a vizard , assisted him in this siege . out of the city marched the templars and hospitallers , and falling on the turks killed twenty thousand of them . yet they gave welnigh a valuable consideration for their victory , the master of the hospitallers being slain ; and a brave generall in battel never dieth unattended . saladine hereupon raiseth his siege ; and reimund earl of tripoli , whether out of fear the christians might prevail , or remorse of conscience , or discontent , not finding that respect he expected of saladine , ( who had learned that politick maxime to give some honour , no trust to a fugitive ) reconciled himself to king guy ; and sorry for his former offence , returned to the christians . king guy hereupon gathering the whole strength of his weak kingdome to do their last devoir , determined to bid saladine battel ; though having but fifteen hundred horse and fifteen thousand foot , against an hundred and twenty thousand horse and an hundred and sixty thousand foot . nigh tiberias the battel was fought : they closed in the afternoon ; but night moderating betwixt them , both sides drew their stakes till next morning : then on afresh . the christians valour poised the number of their enemies ; till at last the distemper of the weather turned the scales to the turks side . more christians ( thirsty within and scalded without ) were killed with the beams the sunne darted , then with the arrows the enemies shot . reinold of castile was slain , with most of the templars and hospitallers . * gerard master of the templars , and boniface marquesse of montferrat were taken prisoners ; and also guy the king , who saw the rest of his servants slain before his eyes , onely obtaining of saladine the life of his schoolmaster . yea , in this battel the flower of the christian chevalrie was cut down : and what was most lamented , the crosse ( saith matthew paris ) which freed men from the captivity of their sinnes , was for mens sinnes taken captive . most impute this overthrow to the earl of tripoli , who that day commanded a great part of the christian army , and is said of some treacherously to have fled away . but when a great action miscarrieth , the blame must be laid on some ; and commonly it lighteth on them who formerly have been found false , be it right or wrong : so impossible is it for him who once hath broken his credit by treason , ever to have it perfectly joynted again . it increaseth the suspicion , because this earl , afterwards found dead in his bed , ( as some say ) was circumcised . victorious saladine , as he had thrown a good cast , played it as well ; in a moneth conquering berytus , biblus , ptolemais , and all the havens ( tyre excepted ) from sidon to askelon . he used his conquest with much moderation , giving lives and goods to all , and forcing no christians to depart their cities , save onely the latines . this his gentlenesse proceeded from policy , well knowing that if the christians could not buy their lives cheap , they would sell them dear , and fight it out to the uttermost . askelon was stout , and would not surrender . wherefore saladine , loth with the hazard of so long a siege to check his fortune in the full speed , left it , and went to jerusalem , as to a place of lesse difficulty and more honour to conquer . chap. . ierusalem wonne by the turks , with wofull remarkables thereat . before the beginning of the siege , the * sunne , as sympathizing with the christians woes , was eclipsed . a sad presage of the losse of jerusalem . for though those within the city valiantly defended it for a fortnight , yet they saw it was but the playing out of a desperate game which must be lost : their foes near , their friends farre off ; and those willing to pity , unable to help . why then should they prolong languishing , where they could not preserve life ? concluding to lavish no more valour , they yielded up the city , on condition all their lives might be redeemed , a man for ten , a woman for five , a child for * one besant : and fourteen thousand poor people not able to pay their ransome , were kept in perpetuall bondage . all latines were cast out of the city ; but those of the greek religion were permitted to stay therein : onely saladine to two frenchmen gave liberty to abide there , and maintenance to live on , in reverence to their age : the one robert of corbie , a souldier to godfrey of bouillon when he wanne this city ; the other fulk fiole , the first child born in the city after the christians had conquered it . saladine possessed of jerusalem , turned the churches into stables , sparing onely that of the sepulchre for a great summe of money . solomons temple he converted to a mosque , sprinkling it all over with rose-water , as if he would wash it from profanenesse , whilest he profaned it with his washing . thus jerusalem , after it had fourscore and eight years been enjoyed by the christians , by gods just judgement was taken again by the turks . what else could be expected ? sinne reigned in every corner ; there was scarce * one honest woman in the whole city of jerusalem . heraclius the patriarch , with the clergy , was desperately vitious : and no wonder if iron rust , when gold doth ; and if the laity followed their bad example . this dolefull news brought into europe , filled all with sighs and sorrows . pope urbane the third ( as another eli at the arks captivity ) died for grief : the cardinals lamented out of measure , vowing such reformation of manners ; never more to take bribes , never more to live so vitiously , yea , never to ride on an * horse so long as the holy land was under the feet of the turks . but this their passion spent it self with its own violence ; and these marriners vows ended with the tempest . in this generall grief of christendome there was one woman found to rejoyce , and she a german prophetesse called s. christian , a virgin . who as she had foretold the day of the defeat , so on the same she professed that she saw in a vision christ and his angels rejoycing . for the losse of the earthly canaan was gain to the heavenly ; peopling it with many inhabitants , who were conquerours in their overthrow ; whilest they * requited christs passion , and dyed for him who suffered for them . but for the truth both of the doctrine and history hereof , none need burden their belief farther then they please . we will conclude all with roger hovedens witty descant on the time : * when jerusalem was wonne by the christians , and afterwards when it was lost , an urbane was pope of rome , a frederick emperour of germany , an heraclius patriarch of jerusalem . but by his leave , though the first of his observations be true , the second is a flat falsity , the third a foul mistake , and may thus be mended : ( it is charity to lend a crutch to a lame conceit ) when the crosse was taken from the persians , heraclius was emperour : and when it was taken from the turks , heraclius was patriarch . thus these curious observations ( like over-small watches ) not one of a hundred goeth true . though it cannot be denyed , but the same name ( as henry of england , one the win-all , another the loose-all in france ) hath often been happy and unhappy in founding and confounding of kingdomes . but such nominall toyes are rags not worth a wise mans stooping to take them up . the end of the second book . the history of the holy vvarre . book iii. chap. . conrade of montferrat valiantly defendeth tyre , and is chosen king. in this wofull estate stood the christian affairs in the holy land , when conrade marquesse of montferrat arrived there . his worth commandeth my penne to wait on him from his own countrey till he came hither . sonne he was to boniface marquesse of montferrat , and had spent his youth in the service of isaacius angelus the grecian emperour . this isaacius , fitter for a priest then a prince , was alwayes bred in a private way ; and the confining of his body seemeth to have brought him to a pent and narrow soul. for he suffered rebells to affront him to his face , never sending any army against them , but commending all his cause to a company of bare-footed friars whom he kept in his court , desiring them to pray for him , and by their pious tears to quench the combustions in the empire . but our conrade plainly told him , he must use as well the weapons of the * left hand as of the right ; meaning the sword as well as prayers : and by the advice of this his generall , he quickly subdued all his enemies . which his great service found small reward : * onely he was graced to wear his shoes of the imperiall fashion ; a low matter , but there ( forsooth ) accounted an high honour . but soon after isaac was sick of this physitian who had cured his empire . if private debters care not for the company of their creditours , much lesse do princes love to see them to whom they ow themselves and their kingdome : so unwelcome are courtesies to them when above their requi●all . now it is an ancient policy , to rid away high spirits by sending them on some plausible errand into remote parts , there to seek for themselves an honourable grave . to this end isaacius by the perswasions of some spurred on conrade ( free enough of himself to any noble action ) to go into palestine , there to support the ruinous affairs of the christians . conrade was sensible of their plot , but suffered himself to be wrought on , being weary of the grecians bas●nesse ; and came into the holy land with a brave company of gentlemen furnished on their own cost . for a while we set him aside , and return to saladine : who by this time had taken askelon , on condition that king guy , and gerard master of the templars should be set at liberty . not long after was the castle of antioch betrayed unto him by the * patriarch ; and the city , scarce got with eleven moneths siege , was lost in an instant , with five and twenty strong towns more which attended the fortune of antioch : and many provinces thereto belonging came into the possession of the turks . must not the christians needs be bankrupts if they continue this trade , buying dear and selling cheap , gaining by inches and losing by ells ? with better successe those in tripoli ( which city the wife of earl reimund after his death delivered to the christians ) defended themselves against saladine . for shame they would not forgo their shirts , though they had parted with their clothes . stark-naked from shelter had the christians been left , if stripped out of tripoli and tyre . manfully therefore they defended themselves ; and saladine having tasted of their valour in tripoli , had no mind to mend his draught , but marched away to tyre . but conrade of montferrat , who was in tyre with his army , so used the matter , that saladine was fain to flie , and leave his tents behind him , which were lined with much treasure : and the christians had that happinesse to squeeze that sponge which formerly was filled with their spoil . they in tyre in token of gratitude chose this conrade king of jerusalem ; swearing themselves his subjects who had kept them from being the turks slaves . to strengthen his title , he * married elisa or isabella ( authours christen her with either name ) formerly espoused to humfred of thoron , sister to baldwine the fourth , daughter to almerick king of jerusalem . by this time king guy was delivered out of prison , having sworn never more to bear arms against saladine : which oath by the clergie was adjudged void , because forced from him when he was detained in prison unjustly against promise . the worst was , now he had gained his liberty he could not get his kingdome . coming to tyre , they shut the gates against him , owning no king but conrade . thus to have two kings together , is the way to have neither king nor kingdome . but guy following the affront as well as he might , and piecing up a cloth of remnants , with his broken army besieged ptolemais . the pisanes , venetians , and florentines , with their sea-succours came to assist him . but this siege was churchwork , and therefore went on slowly ; we may easier perceive it to have moved then to move , especially if we return hither a twelve-moneth hence . chap. . the church-story in the holy land to the end of the warre ; the use and abuse of titular bishops . vve must now no longer look for a full face of a church in the holy land ; it is well if we find one cheek and an eye . though jerusalem and antioch were wonne by the turks , the pope ceased not to make patriarchs of both . we will content our selves with the names of those of jerusalem , finding little else of them remarkable . after heraclius , thomas agni was patriarch , † present in the laterane council under innocent the third . geraldus succeeded him , who † sided with the pope against frederick the emperour . albertus , patriarch in jerusalem when the christians lost their land in syria . he prescribed some rules to the † carmelites . after him , antonie beak bishop of duresme , the most triumphant prelate of the english militant church except cardinall wolsey . he founded and endowed a colledge for prebends at † chester in the bishoprick of duresme : yet no doubt he had done a deed more acceptable to god , if in stead of sacrifice he had done justice , and not defrauded the lord vessie's heir , to whom he was guardian . let those who are delighted with sciographie , paint out ( if they please ) these shadow-patriarchs , as also those of antioch , and deduce their succession to this day : for this custome still continueth , and i find the suffragans to severall archbishops and bishops in germany and france , style themselves bishops of palestine : for example ; the suffragans of tornay , munster , mentz , utrecht , sens , triers , write themselves bishops of sarepta , ptolemais , sidon , hebron , cesarea , azotus . but well did one in the council of trent give these titular bishops the title of figmenta humana , mans devices ; because they have as little ground in gods word and the ancient canons for their making , as ground in palestine for their maintenance : yea , a titular bishop soundeth a contradiction : for a bishop and a church or diocese , are relatives , as a husband and his wife . besides , these bishops by ascending to so high an honour , were fain to descend to many indecencies and indignities to support themselves , with many corruptions in selling of orders they conferred , the truest and basest simonie . however the pope still continueth in making of them . first , because it is conceived to conduce to the state and amplitude of the romane church to have so many bishops in it , as it is the credit of the apothecarie to have his shop full , though many outside-painted pots be emptie within . secondly , hereby his holinesse hath a facile and cheap way both to gratifie and engage ambitious spirits , and such chameleons as love to feed on air . yea , the pope is not onely free of spirituall dignities , but also of temporall titular honours ; as when in the dayes of queen elisabeth he made thomas stukely ( a bankrupt in his loyalty as well as in his estate ) marquesse of lemster , earl of weisford and caterlogh , vicount murrough , baron rosse and hydron in ireland : the best is , these honours were not heavie nor long worne , he being slain soon after in barbarie , else the number of them would have broken his back . lastly , there is a reall use made of these nominall bishops : for these cyphres joyned with figures will swell to a number , and sway a side in a generall council , as his holinesse pleaseth ; so that he shall truly cogere concilium , both gather and compell it . of the four archbishops which were at the first session in the council of trent two were meerly titular , who never had their feet in those churches whence they took their honour . but enough hereof ; now to matters of the common-wealth . chap. . frederick barbarossa his setting forth to the holy land ; of the tyrannous grecian emperour . matter 's going thus wofully in palestine , the christians sighs there were alarms to stir up their brethren in europe to go to help them , and chiefly frederick barbarossa the germane emperour . impute it not to the weaknesse of his judgement , but the strength of his devotion , that at seventy years of age , having one foot in his grave , he would set the other on pilgrimage . we must know that this emperour had been long tied to the stake , and baited with seven fresh successive popes ; till at last not conquered with the strength , but wearied with the continuance of their malice , he gave himself up to be ordered by them ; and pope clement the third sent him on this voyage into the holy land . marching through hungarie with a great army of one hundred and fifty thousand valiant souldiers , he was welcomed by king bela. but changing his host , his entertainment was changed ; being basely used when he entred into the grecian empire . of the emperours whereof we must speak somewhat . for though being to write the holy warre , i will climbe no hedges , to trespasse on any other story ; yet will i take leave to go the high-way , and touch on the succession of those princes which lead to the present discourse . when conrade emperour of germany last passed this way , emmanuel was emperour in greece : who having reigned thirty eight years , left his place to alexius his sonne ; a youth , the depth of whose capacity onely reached to understand pleasure ; governed by the factious nobility , till in his third year he was strangled by andronicus his cousin . andronicus succeeded him ; a diligent reader and a great lover of † s. pauls epistles , but a bad practi●er of them : who rather observing the devils rule , that it is the best way for those who have been bad , to be still worse , fencing his former villanies by committing new ones , held by tyranny what he had gotten by usurpation ; till having lived in the bloud of others , he died in his own , tortured to death by the headlesse multitude ; from whom he received all the cruelties which might be expected from servile natures when they command . then isaacius angelus , of the imperiall bloud , was placed in his throne ; of whom partly † before . nero-like , he began mildly , but soon fell to the trade of tyranny : no personall , but the hereditary sinne of the emperours . he succeeded also to their suspicions against the latines , as if they came through his countrey for some sinister ends . this jealous emperour reigned when frederick with his army passed this way ; and many bad offices were done betwixt these two emperours by unfaithfull † embassadours , as such false mediums have often deceived the best eies . but frederick finding perfidious dealings in the greeks , was drawn to draw his sword ; taking as he went , † philippople , adrianople , and many other cities , not so much to get their spoil , as his own security . isaac understanding hereof , and seeing these pilgrimes would either find or make their passage , left all terms of enmity , and fell to a fair complying , accommodating them with all necessaries for their transportation over the bosporus , pretending to hasten them away because the christians exigencies in palestine admitted of no delay : doing it indeed for fear , the grecians loving the latines best when they are furthest from them . chap. . the great victories and wofull death of frederick the worthy emperour . frederick entring into the territories of the turkish sultan of iconium , found great resistance , but vanquished his enemies in four severall set battels . iconium he took by force , giving the spoil thereof to his souldiers , in revenge of the injuries done to his uncle conrade the emperour by the sultan of that place . the citie of philomela he made to sing a dolefull tune , ra●ing it to the ground , and executing all the people therein as rebells against the law of nations , for killing his embassadours : and so came with much difficulty and honour into syria . saladine shook for fear , hearing of his coming ; and following the advice of † charatux his counseller ( counted one of the wisest men in the world , though his person was most contemptible ; so true it is none can guesse the jewel by the casket ) dismantled all his cities in the holy land save some frontier-places , rasing their walls and forts , that they were not tenable with an army . for he feared if the dutch wonne these places , they would not easily be driven out : whereas now being naked from shelter , he would weary them with set battels , having men numberless , and those near at hand ; and so he would tame the romane eagle by watching him , giving him no rest nor respite from continuall fighting . it is therefore no paradox to say , that in some case the strength of a kingdome doth consist in the weaknesse of it . and hence it is , that our english kings have suffered time , without disturbing her meals , to feed her belly full on their in-land castles and citie-walls ; which whilest they were standing in their strength , were but the nurseries of rebellion . and now , as † one observeth , because we have no strong cities , war in england waxeth not old , ( being quickly stabbed with set battels ) which in the low-countreys hath already outlived the grand climactericall of threescore and ten years . but frederick the emperour , being now entring into the holy land , was to the great grief of all christians suddenly taken away , being drowned in the river of saleph ; a river ( such is the envie of barbarisme obscuring all places ) which cannot accurately be known at this day , because this new name is a stranger to all ancient maps . if he went in to wash himself , as some write , he neither consulted with his health nor honour : some say , his horse foundred under him as he passed the water ; others , that he fell from him . but these severall relations , as variety of instruments , make a dolefull con●ort in this , that there he lost his life : and no wonder , if the cold water quickly quenched those few sparks of naturall heat left in him at seventy years of age . † neubrigensis conceiveth that this his sudden death was therefore inflicted on him , because in his youth he fought against the popes and church of rome : but i wonder that he seeing an emperour drowned in a ditch , durst adventure into the bottomlesse depths of gods counsels . let it content us to know that oftentimes heaven blasteth those hopes which bud first and fairest ; and the feet of mighty monarchs do slip , when they want but one step to their enemies throne . after his death frederick duke of suevia , his second sonne , undertook the conduct of the army . now the turks conceiving grief had steeped and moistened these pilgrimes hearts , gave them a sudden charge , in hope to have overthrown them . but the valiant dutch , who though they had scarce wiped their eyes had scoured their swords , quickly forced them to retire . then frederick took the citie of antioch , which was easily delivered unto him , and his hungry souldiers well refreshed by the citizens , being as yet for the most part christians . marching from hence in set battel , he overthrew dordequin generall of saladines forces , slew four thousand , and took a thousand prisoners with little losse of his own men ; and so came to the city of tyre , where he buried the corpse of his worthy father in the cathedrall church , next the tomb of the learned origen ; and guilelmus tyrius the worthy archbishop preached his funerall sermon . we may hear his sorrowfull army speaking this his epitaph unto him ; earth scarce did yield ground enough for thy sword to conquer , how then could a brook afford water to drown thee ? brook , which since doth fear ( o guilty conscience ) in a map t' appear . yet blame we not the brook , but rather think the weight of our own sinnes did make thee sink . now sith 't is so , wee 'l fetch a brackish main out of our eyes , and drown thee once again . from hence by sea they were conveyed to the christians army before ptolemais , where young frederick died of the plague : and his great army which at first consisted of an hundred and fifty thousand at their setting forth out of germany , had now no more left then † eighteen hundred armed men . chap. . the continuation of the famous siege of ptolemais ; the dutch knights honoured with a grand master . we have now at our leisure overtaken the snail-like fiege of ptolemais , still slowly creeping on . before it the christians had not onely a nationall but an oecumenicall army ; the abridgement of the christian world : scarce a state or populous city in europe but had here some competent number to represent it . how many bloudy blows were here lent on both sides , and repayed with interest ? what sallies ? what assaults ? what encounters ? whilest the christians lay betwixt saladine with his great army behind them and the city before them . one memorable battel we must not omit . it was agreed betwixt saladine and the christians to try their fortunes in a pitched field : and now the christians were in fair hope of a conquest , when an † imaginary causelesse fear put them to a reall flight ; so ticklish are the scales of victory , a very mote will turn them . thus confusedly they ran away , and boot would have been given to change a strong arm for a swift leg . but behold , geoffrey lusignan king guy's brother ( left for the guarding of the camp ) marching out with his men , confuted the christians in this their groundlesse mistake and reinforced them to fight ; whereby they wonne the day , though with the losse of two thousand men and gerard master of the templars . it was vainly hoped , that after this victory the city would be sur●endred : but the turks still bravely defended it , though most of their houses were burnt and beaten down , and the city reduced to a bare sceleton of walls and towers . they fought as well with their wits as weapons , and both sides devised strange defensive and offensive engines : so that mars himself , had he been here present , might have learned to fight , and have taken notes from their practice . mean time famine raged amongst the christians ; and though some provision was now and then brought in from italy , ( for so far they fetched it ) yet these small showers after good droughts parched the more , and rather raised then abated their hunger . once more we will take our farewell of this siege for a twelve-moneth : but we must not forget that at this time , before the walls of ptolemais , the teutonick order or † dutch knights ( which since the dayes of baldwine the second lived like private pilgrimes ) had now their order honoured with henry of walpot their first grand master , and they were enriched by the bounty of many germane benefactours : these though slow , were sure , they did hoc agere , ply their work ; more cordiall to the christian cause then the templars , who sometimes to save their own stakes would play booty with the turks . much good service did the dutch knights in the holy warre ; till at last ( no wise doctour will lavish physick on him in whom he seeth faciem cadaverosam , so that death hath taken possession in the sick mans countenance ) finding this warre to be desperate and dedecus fotitudinis , they even fairly left the holy land , and came into europe , meaning to lay out their valour on some thing that would quit cost . but hereof hereafter . chap. . richard of england and philip of france set forward to the holy land ; the danger of the interviews of princes . the miseries of the christians in syria being reported in europe , made richard the first , king of england , and philip the second surnamed augustus , king of france , to make up all private dissensions betwixt them , and to unite their forces against the turks . richard was well stored with men , the bones , and quickly got money , the sinews of warre ; by a thousand princely skills gathering so much coin as if he meant not to return , because looking back would unbow his resolution . to hugh bishop of duresme , for his life , he sold the county of northumberland ; † jesting he had made a new earl of an old bishop : he sold barwick and roxburgh to the scottish king for ten thousand pounds : yea , he protested he would sell his city of † london ( if any were able to buy it ) rather then he would be burthen some to his subjects for money . but take this as he spake it , for a flourish : for pretending he had lost his old , he made a new seal , wherewith he squeezed his subjects , and left a deep impression in their purses ; forcing them to have all their † instruments new-sealed , which any way concerned the crown . having now provided for himself , he forgot not his younger brother john earl of morton ▪ who was to stay behind him ; an active man , who if he misliked the maintenance was cut for him , would make bold to carve for himself : lest therefore straitned for means he should swell into discontent , king richard gave him many earldomes and honours , to the yearly value of four thousand marks . thus he received the golden saddle , but none of the bridle of the common-wealth : honour and riches were heaped upon him , but no place of trust and command . for the king deputed william bishop of ely his viceroy ; choosing him for that place rather then any lay-earl , because a coronet perchance may swell into a crown , but never a mitre : for a clergie-mans calling made him uncapable of usurpation in his own person . thus having settled matters at home , he set forth with many of our nation , which either ushered or followed him . of these the prime were , baldwine archbishop of canterbury , hubert bishop of salisbury , robert earl of leicester , ralph de glanvile late chief justice of england , richard de clare , walter de kime , &c. the bishops of dures●e and norwich , though they had vowed this voyage , were dispensed with by the court of rome ( † quae nulli deest pecuniam largienti ) to stay at home . his navie he sent about by spain , and with a competent number took his own journey through france . at tours he took his pilgrimes scrip and staff from the archbishop . his staff at the same time † casually brake in pieces ; which some ( whose dexterity lay in sinister interpreting all accidents ) construed a token of ill successe . likewise , when he and the french king with their trains passed over the bridge of lyons , † on the fall of the bridge this conceit was built , that there would be a falling out betwixt these two kings ; which accordingly came to passe , their intercourse and familiarity breeding hatred and discontent betwixt them . yea , the interviews of equall princes have ever been observed dangerous . now princes measure their equality not by the extent of their dominions , but by the absoluteness of their power ; so that he that is supreme and independent in his own countrey , counteth himself equall to any other prince how great soever . perchance some youthfull kings may disport and solace themselves one in anothers company , whilest as yet pleasure is all the elevation of their souls : but when once they grow sensible of their own greatnesse , ( a lesson they will quickly learn , and shall never want teachers ) then emulation will be betwixt them ; because at their meeting they cannot so go in equipage , but one will still be the foremost : either his person will be more proper , or carriage more courtlike , or attendance more accomplished , or attire more fashionable , or something will either be or conceived to be more majesticall in one then the other : and corrivalls in honour count themselves eclipsed by every beam of state which shineth from their competitour . wherefore the best way to keep great princes together , is to keep them asunder , accommodating their businesse by embassadours , lest the meeting of their own persons part their affections . chap. . king richard conquereth sicilie and cyprus in his passage to the holy land . at lyons these two kings parted their trains , and went severall wayes into sicilie . king richard in his passage , though within fifteen miles of rome , wanting ( forsooth ) either devotion or manners , vouchsafed not to give his holinesse a visit : yea , plainly told † octavian bishop of ostia the popes confessour , that having better objects to bestow his eyes on , he would not stirre a step to see the pope : because lately without mercy he had simoniacally extorted a masse of money from the prelates of england . at messana in sicilie these two kings met again : where to complete king richards joy , behold his navie there safely arriving , which with much difficulty and danger had fetched a compasse about spain . and now king richard by his own experience grew sensible of the miseries which merchants and mariners at sea underwent , being alwayes within few inches , often within an hairs breadth of death . wherefore now touched with remorse of their pitifull case , he resolved to revoke the law of wracks , as a law so just that it was even unjust . for formerly both in england and normandie , the † crown was intituled to shipwrackt goods , and the king jure gentium made heir unto them ; which otherwise jure naturali were conceived to be in bonis nullius , pertaining to no owner . but now our richard refused to make advantage of such pitifull accidents , and to strip poore mariners out of those rags of their estates which the mercy and modesty of the waves and winds had left them . and therefore on the moneth of october , at messana , in the presence of many archbishops and bishops , he for ever † quitted the claim to wracks : so that if any man out of the ship cometh alive to the shore , the property of the shipwrackt goods is still preserved to the owner . yea , this grant was so enlarged by our succeeding kings , that † if a dog or a cat escaped alive to land , the goods still remained the owners , if he claimed them within a yeare and a day . tancred at this time was king of sicilie ; a bastard born : and no wonder if , climbing up the throne the wrong way , he shaked when he sate down . besides , he was a tyrant ; both detaining the dowrie and imprisoning the person of joan wife to william late king of sicilie , and sister to king richard. but in what a case was he now , having two such mighty monarchs come unto him ! to keep them out , was above his power , to let them in , against his will. well he knew it was wofull to lie in the rode where great armies were to passe : for power knoweth no inferiour friend ; and the land-lord commonly loseth his rent , sometimes his land , where the tenant is too potent for him . at last he resolved ( how wisely or honestly let others judge ) openly to poise himself indifferent betwixt these two kings , secretly applying himself to the french : which king richard quickly discovered , as dissembling goeth not long invisible before a judicious eye . mean time the citizens of messana did the english much wrong , if not by the command , with the consent of the king. for though it be unjust to father the base actions of unruly people on their prince ; yet tancred not punishing his people for injuring the english , when he might and was required thereunto , did in effect justifie their insolencies , and adopt their deeds to be his . wherefore king richard to avenge himself , took messana by assault , seized on most forts in the island , demanding satisfaction for all wrongs done to him and his sister . tancred though dull at first , now pricked with the sword , came off roundly with many thousand ounces of gold ; and seeing , as the case stood , his best thrift was to be prodigall , gave to our king what rich conditions soever he demanded . worse discords daily encreased betwixt the king of france and england ; king richard slighting the king of france his sister whom he had promised to marry , and expressing more affection to beringaria daughter to the king of navarre . some princes interposing themselves in this breach , rather asswaged the pain then removed the malady : so dangerous are ruptures betwixt great ones , whose affections perchance by the mediation of friends may be brought again to meet , but never to unite and incorporate . king philip thinking to forestall the market of honour , and take up all for himself , hasted presently to ptolemais : richard followed at his leisure , and took cyprus in his way . isaac ( or cursac ) reigned then in cyprus ; who , under andronicus the grecian emperour ( when every factious noble-man snatched a plank out of that shipwracked empire ) seized on this island , and there tyrannized as a reputed king. some falsely conceived him a pagan : and his faith is suspected , because his charity was so bad ; killing the english that landed there , not having so much man as to pity a woman , and to suffer the sea-sick lady beringaria to come on shore . but king richard speedily overran the island , honoured isaac with the magnificent captivity of silver fetters ; yet giving his daughter liberty and princely usage . the island he pawned to the templars for ready money . and because cyprus by antiquity was celebrated as the seat of venus , that so it might prove to him , in the joyous moneth of may he solemnly took to wife his beloved lady beringaria . chap. . the taking of the city ptolemais . vvhilest king richard stayed in cyprus , the siege of ptolemais went on : and though the french king thought with a running pull to bear the city away , yet he found it staked down too fast for all his strength to stirre . mean time , the plague and famine raged in the christians camp ; which the last year swept away fifty princes and prelates of note : who , no doubt , went hence to a happy place ; though it was before pope clement the sixth † commanded the angels ( who durst not but obey him ) presently to convey all their souls into paradise which should die in their pilgrimage . this mortality notwithstanding , the siege still continued . and now the christians and turks , like two fencers long playing together , were so well acquainted with the blows and guards each of other , that what advantage was taken betwixt them was meerly casuall , never for want of skill , care , or valour on either side . it helped the christians not a little , that a concealed christian within the citie , with letters unsubscribed with any name , gave them constant and faithfull intelligence of the remarkable passages amongst the turks . no prince in this siege deserved more then leopoldus duke of austria ; who fought so long in assaulting this city , till his armour was all over gore bloud , save the place covered with his belt . † whereupon he and his successours the dukes of austria , renouncing the six golden larks , their ancient arms , had assigned them by the emperour a fesse argent in a field gules , as the paternall coat of their family . by this time king richard was arrived , ( taking as he came a dromond , or saracen ship , wherein were fifteen hundred souldiers , and two hundred and fifty † scorpions , which were to be imployed in the poysoning of christians ) and now the siege of ptolemais more fiercely prosecuted . but all their engines made not so wide a breach in that cities walls , as envie made betwixt the french and english kings . yet at last the turks despairing of succour , their victuals wholly spent , yielded up the city by saladines consent , on condition to be themselves safely guarded out of it : all christian prisoners saladine had were to be set free , and the crosse to be again restored . the houses which were left , with the spoil and prisoners , were equally divided betwixt philip and richard. whereat many noble-men , partners in the pains , no sharers in the gains , departed in † discontent . some turks for fear embraced the christian faith , but quickly returned to their † vomit : as religion died in fear , never long keepeth colour , but this dayes conver●s will be to morrows apostates . hereupon it was commanded that none hereafter should be baptized against their wills . here the english cast down the ensignes of leopoldus duke of austria , which he had advanced in a principall tower in ptolemais ; and as some say , threw them into the jakes . the duke , though angry at heart , forgot this injury till he could remember it with advantage ; and afterwards made king richard pay soundly for this affront . it is not good to exasperate any , though farre inferiour : for , as the fable telleth us , the beetle may annoy the eagle , and the mouse befriend the lion . when the city was taken , it grieved the christians not a little that their faithfull † correspondent , who advised them by his letters , could no where be found : pity it was that rahabs red lace was not tied at his window . but indeed it was probable that he was dead before the surrendring of the city . greater was the grief that the crosse did no where appear , either carelessely lost , or enviously concealed by the turks . whilest the christians stormed hereat , saladine required a longer respite for the performance of the conditions . but king richard would not enlarge him from the strictnesse of what was concluded ; conceiving that was in effect to forfeit the victory back again . besides , he knew he did it onely to gain time to fetch new breath : and if he yielded to him , his bounty had not been thanked , but his fear upbraided , as if he durst not deny him . yea , in anger king richard commanded all the turkish captives which were in his hands , † seven thousand in number , to be put to death ( except some choice persons ) on that day whereon the articles should have been but were not performed . for which fact he suffered much in his repute , branded with rashnesse and cruelty , as the murderer of many christians : for saladine in revenge put as many of our captives to death . on the other side the moderation of the french king was much commended , who reserving his prisoners alive , exchanged them to ransome so many christians . chap. . the unseasonable return of the king of france . mean time the christians were rent asunder with faction : philip the french king , odo duke of burgundy , leopold duke of austria , most of the dutch , all the genoans and templars siding with king conrade ; king richard , henry count of champaigne , the hospitallers , venetians , and pisans taking part with king guy . but king conrades side was much weakened with the sudden departure of the french king ; who eighteen dayes after the taking of ptolemais returned home , pretending want of necessaries , indisposition of body , distemper of the climate , though the greatest distemper was in his own passions . the true cause of his departure was , partly envie , because the sound of king richards fame was of so deep a note that it drowned his ; partly † covetousnesse , to seize on the dominions of the earl of flanders lately dead ; flanders lying fitly to make a stable for the fair palace of france . if it be true what † some report , that saladine bribed him to return , let him for ever forfeit the surname of augustus , and the style of the most christian prince . his own souldiers disswaded him from returning , beseeching him not to stop in so glorious a race , wherein he was newly started : saladine was already on his knees , and would probably be brought on his face , if pursued . if he played the unthrift with this golden occasion , let him not hope for another to play the good husband with . if poverty forced his departure , king richard † profered him the half of all his provisions . all would not do , philip persisted in his old plea , how the life of him absent would be more advantagious to the cause , then the death of him present ; and by importunity got leave to depart , solemnly swearing not to molest the king of englands dominions . thus the king of france returned in person , but remained still behind in his instructions , which he left ( with his army ) to the duke of burgundy ; to whom he prescribed both his path and his pace , where and how he should go . and that duke moved slowly , having no desire to advance the work where king richard would carry all the honour . for in those actions wherein severall undertakers are compounded together , commonly the first figure for matter of credit maketh ciphres of all the rest . as for king philip , being returned home , such was the itch of his ambition , he must be fingering of the king of englands territories , though his hands were bound by oath to the contrary . chap. . conrade king of ierusalem slain : guy exchangeth his kingdome for the island of cyprus . about the time of the king of france his departure , conrade king of jerusalem was murdered in the * market-place of tyre ; and his death is variously reported . some charged our king richard for procuring it : and though the beams of his innocency cleared his own heart , yet could they not dispell the clouds of suspicions from other mens eyes . some say humphred prince of thoron killed him , for taking isabella his wife away from him . but the generall voice giveth it out that two assasines stabbed him ; whose quarrell to him was onely this , that he was a christian. these murderers being instantly put to death , † gloried in the meritoriousnesse of their suffering : and surely were it the punishment not the cause made martyrdome , we should be best stored with confessours from gaols , and martyrs from the gallows . conrade reigned five years , and left one daughter , maria iole , on whom the knight-templars bestowed princely education . and this may serve for his epitaph , the crown i never did enjoy alone ; of half a kingdome i was half a king. scarce was i on , when i was off the throne ; slain by two slaves me basely murdering . and thus the best mans life at mercy lies of vilest varlets , that their own despise . his faction survived after his death , affronting guy the antient king , and striving to depose him . they pleaded that the crown was tyed on guy's head with a womans fillet , which being broken by the death of his wife queen sibyll ( who deceased of the plague with her † children at the siege of ptolemais ) he had no longer right to the kingdome ; they objected he was a worthlesse man , and unfortunate . on the other side , it was alledged for him , that to measure a mans worth by his successe , is a ●quare often false , alwayes uncertain . besides , the courtesie of the world would allow him this favour , that a king should be semel & semper , once and ever . whilest guy stood on these ticklish terms , king richard made a seasonable motion , which well relished to the palate of this hungry prince ; to exchange his kingdome of jerusalem for the island of cyprus , which he had redeemed from the templars , to whom he had pawned it : and this was done accordingly to the content of both sides . and king richard with some of his succeeding english kings wore the title of † jerusalem in their style for many years after . we then dismisse king guy , hearing him thus taking his farewell ; i steer'd a state warre-tost against my will : blame then the storm , not th' pilots want of skill , that i the kingdome lost , whose empty style i sold to englands king for cyprus isle . i pass'd away the land i could not hold ; good ground i bought , but onely air i sold. then as a happy merchant may i sing , though i must sigh as an unhappy king. soon after , guy made a second change of this world for another . but the family of the lusignans have enjoyed cyprus some hundred years : and since by some transactions it fell to the state of venice ; and lately by conquest , to the turks . chap. . henry of champaigne chosen king ; the noble atchievements and victories of king richard. conrade being killed and guy gone away , henry earl of champaigne was chosen king of jerusalem by the especiall procuring of king richard his uncle . to corroborate his election by some right of succession , he married isabella , the widow of king conrade and daughter to almerick king of jerusalem . a prince ( as writers report ) having a sufficient stock of valour in himself , but little happy in expressing it ; whether for want of opportunity , or shortnesse of his reign , being most spent in a truce . he more pleased himself in the style of prince of tyre then king of jerusalem ; as counting it more honour to be prince of what he had , then king of what he had not . and now the christians began every where to build : the templars fortified gaza ; king richard repaired and walled ptolemais , porphyria , joppa , and askelon . but alas ! this short prosperity , like an autumne-spring , came too late and was gone too soon to bring any fruit to maturity . it was now determined they should march towards jerusalem : for all this while they had but hit the but ; that holy city was the mark they shot at . richard led the vantguard of english ; duke odo commanded in the main battel over his french ; james of auvergne brought on the flemings and brabanters in the rere . saladine , serpent-like , biting the heel , assaulted the rere , not far from bethlehem ; when the french and english wheeling about , charged the turks most furiously . emulation , formerly poyson , was here a cordiall , each christian nation striving not onely to conquer their enemies , but to overcome their friends in the honour of the conquest . king richard seeking to put his courage out of doubt , brought his judgement into question , being more prodigall of his person then beseemed a generall . one † wound he received , but by losi●g his bloud he found his spirits , and laid about him like a mad-man . the christians got the victory , without the losse of any of number or note , save james of auvergne , who here died in the bed of honour : but more of the turks were slain then in any battel for fourty years before . had the christians presently gone to jerusalem , probably they might have surprised it , whilest the turks eyes were muffled and blindfolded in the amazement of this great overthrow . but this opportunity was lost by the backwardnesse and unwillingnesse of king richard and the english , say the † french writers . to cry quits with them , our † english authours impute it to the envie of the french ; who would have so glorious an action rather left undone , then done by the english. they complain likewise of the treachery of odo duke of burgundie , who more carefull of his credit then his conscience , was choked with the shame of the sinne he had swallowed , and died for grief , when his intelligence with the turks was made known . this cannot be denyed , that saladine sent ( term them bribes or presents ) both to our king and the french duke , and they received them : no wonder then if neither of them herein had a good name , when they traded with such familiars . but most hold king richard attempted not jerusalem , because as a wise architect , he would build his victories so as they might stand , securing the countrey as he went ; it being senselesse to besiege jerusalem a straggling city , whilest the turks as yet were in possession of all the sea-ports and strong forts thereabout . about this time he intercepted many camels loaded with rich commodity , those eastern wares containing much in a little . and yet of all this , and of all the treasures of england , sicilie , and cyprus which he brought hither , king richard carried home nothing but one † gold-ring : all the rest of his wealth melted away in this hot service . he wintered in askelon , intending next spring to have at jerusalem , chap. . the little-honourable peace king richard made with saladine ; of the value of reliques . but bad news out of europe shaked his steadiest resolutions , hearing how william bishop of ely , his vice-roy in england , used unsufferable insolencies over his subjects : so hard it is for one of base parentage to personate a king without over-acting his part , also he heard how the king of france and john earl of morton his own brother , invaded his dominions ; ambition , the pope in their belly , dispensing with their oath to the contrary . besides , he saw this warre was not a subject capable of valour to any purpose ; the venetians , genoans , pisans and florentines being gone away with their fleets , wisely shrinking themselves out of the collar , when they found their necks wrung with the hard imployment . hereupon he was forced first to make the motion of ( in plain terms , to begge ) peace of saladine . let saladine now alone to winne , having all the game in his own hand . well knew he how to shoot at his own ends , and to take aim by the exigencies wherein he knew king richard was plunged . for he had those cunning gypsies about him , who could read in king richards face what grieved his heart ; and by his intelligencers was certified of every note-worthy passage in the english army . upon these terms therefore or none ( beggers of peace shall never be choosers of their conditions ) a truce for three ( some say , five ) years might be concluded , that the christians should demolish all places they had walled since the taking of ptolemais ; which was in effect to undo what with much charge they had done . but such was the tyranny of king richards occasions , forcing him to return , that he was glad to embrace those conditions he hated at his heart . thus the voyage of these two kings , begun with as great confidence of the undertakers as expectation of the beholders , continued with as much courage as interchangeablenesse of successe , baned with mutuall discord and emulation , was ended with some honour to the undertakers , no * profit either to them or the christian cause . some farre-fetched dear-bought honour they got ; especially king richard , who eternized his memory in asia : whom if men forget , horses will remember ; the turks using to say to their horses when they started for fear , dost thou think king richard is here ? profit they got none , losing both of them the hair of their heads in an acute disease ; which was more , saith † one , then both of them got by the voyage . they left the christians in syria in worse case then they found them : as he doeth the benighted traveller a discourtesie rather then a kindnesse , who lendeth a lantern to take it away , leaving him more masked then he was before . and now a little to solace my self and the reader with a merry digression , after much sorrow and sad stories ; king richard did one thing in palestine which was worth all the cost and pains of his journey , namely , he redeemed from the turks a chest full of holy reliques ( which they had gotten at the taking of jerusalem ) so great , as † four men could scarce carry any way . and though some know no more then esops cock how to prize these pearls , let them learn the true value of them from the romane jewellers . first , they must carefully distinguish between publick and private reliques : in private ones some forgery may be suspected , lest quid be put for quo ; which made s. † augustine put in that wary parenthesis , si tamen martyrum , if so be they be the reliques of martyrs . but as for publick ones approved by the pope , and kept in churches ( such no doubt as these of king richards were ) oh let no christian be such an infidel as to stagger at the truth thereof ! if any object , that the head of the same saint is shewed at severall places ; the whole answer is by a † synecdoche , that a part is put for the whole . as for the common exception against the crosse , that so many severall pieces thereof are shown , which put together would break the back of simon of cyrene to bear them ; it is answered , distrahitur , non diminuitur , and like the loaves in the gospel , it is miraculously multiplied in the dividing . if all these fail , † baronius hath a rasour shaveth all scruple clear away : for , saith he , quidquid sit , fides purgat facinus ; so that he worshipeth the false reliques of a true saint , god taketh his good intention in good worth , though he adore the hand of esau for the hand of jacob. but enough of thesefooleries . chap. . king richard taken prisoner in austria ; sold and sent to the emperour ; dearly ransomed , returneth home . king richard setting sail from syria , the sea and wind favoured him till he came into the adriatick ; and on the coasts of istria he suffered shipwrack : wherefore he intended to pierce through germany by land , the next way home . but the nearnesse of the way is to be measured not by the shortnesse but the safenesse of it . he disguised himself to be one hugo a merchant , whose onely commodity was himself , whereof he made but a bad bargain . for he was discovered in an inne in austria , because he disguised his person not his expenses ; so that the very policy of an hostesse , finding his purse so farre above his clothes , did detect him : yea , saith mine authour , facies orbiterrarum nota , ignorari non potuit . the rude people flocking together , used him with insolencies unworthy him , worthy themselves : and they who would shake at the tail of this loose lion , durst laugh at his face now they saw him in a grate . yet all the weight of their cruelty did not bow him beneath a princely carriage . leopoldus duke of austria hearing hereof , as being lord of the soil , seised on this royall stray ; meaning now to get his penny-worths out of him , for the affront done unto him in palestine . not long after the duke sold him to henry the emperour , for his harsh nature surnamed asper , and it might have been saevus , being but one degree from a tyrant . he kept king richard in bands , charging him with a thousand faults committed by him in sicilie , cyprus , and palestine . the proofs were as slender as the crimes grosse ; and richard having an eloquent tongue , innocent heart , and bold spirit , acquitted himself in the judgement of all the hearers . at last he was † ransomed for an hundred and fourty thousand marks , colein weight . a summe so vast in that age , before the indies had overflowed all europe with their gold and silver , that to raise it in england they were forced to sell their church-plate to their very chalices . whereupon out of most deep divinity it was concluded , that they should not celebrate the sacrament in † glasse , for the brittlenesse of it ; nor in wood , for the sponginesse of it , which would suck up the bloud ; nor in alchymie , because it was subject to rusting ; nor in copper , because that would provoke vomiting ; but in chalices of latine , which belike was a metall without exception . and such were used in england for some † hundred years after : untill at last john stafford archbishop of canterbury , when the land was more replenished with silver , inknotteth that priest in the greater excommunication that should consecrate poculum stanneum . after this money † peter of blois ( who had drunk as deep of helicon as any of that age ) sendeth this good prayer , making an apostrophe to the emperour , or to the duke of austria , or to both together : bibe nunc , avaritia , dum puteos argenteos larga diffundit anglia . tua tecum pecunia sit in perditionem . and now , thou basest avarice , drink till thy belly burst , whil'st england poures large silver showre ▪ to satisfie thy thirst . and this we pray , thy money may and thou be like accurst . the ransome partly payed , the rest secured by hostages , king richard much befriended by the dutch prelacy , after eighteen moneths imprisonment returned into england . the archbishop of colein in the presence of king richard , as he passed by , brought in these words in saying masse , now i know that god hath sent his angel , and hath delivered thee out of the hand of herod , and from the expectation of the people , &c. but his soul was more healthfull for this bitter physick , and he amended his manners ; better loving his † queen beringaria , whom he slighted before : as souldiers too often love women better then wives . leave we him now in england , where his presence fixed the loyalty of many of his unsetled subjects ; whilest in austria the duke with his money built the walls of vienna : so that the best stones and morter of that bulwark of christendome are beholden to the english coin . we must not forget how gods judgements overtook this duke , punishing his dominions with fire and water , which two elements cannot be kings but they must be tyrants ; by famine , the ears of wheat turned into worms ; by a gangrene , seising on the dukes body , who cut off his leg with his own hand , and died thereof : who by his testament ( if not by his will ) caused some thousand crowns to be restored again to king richard. chap. . the death of saladine ; his commendation , even with truth , but almost above belief . son after , saladine the terrour of the east ended his life , having reigned sixteen years . consider him as a man , or a prince , he was both wayes admirable . many historians ( like some painters , which rather shew their skill in drawing a curious face then in making it like to him whom it should resemble ) describe princes rather what they should be then what they were ; not shewing so much their goodnesse as their own wits . but finding this saladine so generally commended of all writers , we have no cause to distrust this his true character . his wisdome was great , in that he was able to advise ; and greater , in that he was willing to be advised : never so wedded to his own resolves , but on good ground he would be divorced from them . his valour was not over-free , but would well answer the spurre when need required . in his victories he was much beholden to the advantage of season , place , and number ; and seldome wrested the garland of honour from an arm as strong as his own . he ever marched in person into the field , remembring that his predecessours , the caliphs of egypt , brake themselves by using factours , and imploying of souldans . his temperance was great , diet sparing , sleep moderate , not to pamper nature , but to keep it in repair . his greatest recreation was variety and exchange of work . pleasures he rather sipped then drank off ; sometimes , more to content others then please himself . wives he might have kept sans number , but stinted himself to one or two ; using them rather for posterity then wantonnesse . his justice to his own people was remarkable ; his promise with his enemies generally well kept . much he did triumph in mercy : fierce in fighting , mild in conquering ; and having his enemies in his hand , pleased himself more in the power then act of revenge . his liberality would have drained his treasure , had it not had a great and quick spring , those eastern parts being very rich . serviceable men he would purchase on any rate ; and sometimes his gifts bare better proportion to his own greatnesse then the receivers deserts . vast bribes he would give to have places betrayed unto him , and often effected that with his gold which he could not do with his steel . zealous he was in his own religion , yet not violent ●gainst christians quà christians . scholarship cannot be exspected in him who was a turk by his birth ( amongst whom it is a sinne to be learned ) and a souldier by breeding . his humility was admirable ; as being neither ignorant of his greatnesse , nor over-knowing it . he provided to have no solemnities at his funerals ; and ordered that before his corpse a black cloth should be carried on the top of a spear , and this proclaimed , † saladine conquerour of the east had nothing left him but this black shirt to attend him to the grave . some entitle him as descended from the royall turkish bloud : which flattering heralds he will little thank for their pains ; counting it most honour , that he being of mean parentage , was the first founder of his own nobility . his stature ( for one of that nation ) was tall . his person rather cut out to strike fear then winne love ; yet could he put on amiablenesse when occasion required , and make it beseem him . to conclude ; i will not be so bold , to do with him as an eastern † bishop doth with plato and plutarch , whom he commendeth in a greek hymn to christ , as those that came nearest to holinesse of all untaught gentiles : ( belike he would be our saviours remembrancer , and put him in mind to take more especiall notice of them at the day of judgement . ) but i will take my farewell of saladine with that commendation i find of him , † he wanted nothing to his eternall happinesse , but the knowledge of christ. chap. . discords amongst the turks ; the miserable death of henry king of ierusalem . saladine left nine ( some say , twelve ) sonnes , making saphradine his brother overseer of his will : who of a tutour turned a traitour , and murdered them all excepting one , called also saphradine , sultan of aleppo ; who , not by his uncles pity , but by the favour and support of his fathers good friends was preserved . hence arose much intestine discord amongst the turks ; all which time the christians enjoyed their truce with much quiet and security . not long after , henry king of jerusalem , as he was † walking in his palace to solace himself , fell down out of a window , and brake his neck . he reigned three years . but as for the particular time he died on , i find it not specified in any authour . chap. . almerick the second , king of ierusalem ; the great armie of the dutch adventurers doth little in syria . after his death , almerick lusignan , brother to king guy , was in the right of his wife crowned king of jerusalem : for he married isabella the relict of henry the last king. this lady was four times married : first , to humphred prince of thorone ; then to the three successive kings of jerusalem , conrade , henry , and this almerick . he was also king of cyprus ; and the christians in syria promised themselves much aid from the vicinity of that island . but though he was near to them , he was far from helping them , making pleasure all his work ; being an idle , lazy , worthlesse prince . but i trespasse on that politick rule , of princes we must speak the best , or the least ; if that be not intended , when the truth is so late that danger is entailed upon it . in his time , henry emperour of germany , indicted by his conscience for his cruelty against king richard , seeking to perfume his name in the nostrils of the world , which began to be unsavourie , set on foot another voyage to the holy land . pope celestine the third sent his legates about to promote this service , shewing how god himself had sounded the alarm by the dissention of the turks : jerusalem now might be wonne with the blows of her enemies ; onely an army must be sent , not so much to conquer as to receive it . generall of the pilgrimes was henry duke of saxony ; next him , frederick duke of austria , herman landtgrave of thuringia , henry palatine of rhene , conrade archbishop of mentz , conrade archbishop of wurtzburg , the bishops of breme , halberstadt , and regenspurg , with many more prelates ; so that here was an episcopall army , which might have served for a nationall synod : insomuch that one truly might here have seen the church militant . we have no ambition , saith * one of their countrey-men , to reckon them up ; for they were plurimi & nulli , many in number , none in their actions . some of these souldiers were imployed by henry the emperour ( who knew well to bake his cake with the churches fuel ) to subdue his rebells in apulia . this done , they passed through grecia , and found there better entertainment then some of their predecessours . hence by shipping they were conveyed into syria : here they brake the * truce made by king richard , ( it seemeth by this , it was the last five years ) the pope dispensing therewith ; who can make a peace nets to hold others , but a cobweb for himself to break through . the city berytus they quickly wanne , and as quickly lost . for henry the emperour suddenly died , the root which nourished this voyage , and then the branches withered . henry also duke of saxony , generall of this army , was slain . and conrade archbishop of mentz , one of the electours , would needs return home to the choice of a new emperour ; knowing he could more profitably use his voice in germany then his arms in syria . other captains secretly stole home ; and when the souldiers would have fought , their * captains ran away . and whereas in other expeditions we find vestigia pauca retrorsum , making such clean work that they left little or no reversions ; of this voyage many safely returned home with whole bodies and wounded credits . the rest that remained fortified themselves in joppa . and now the feast of s. martin was come , the dutch their arch-saint . this man being a germane by birth , and bishop of tours in france , was eminent for his * hospitality ; and the dutch badly imitating their countrey-man , turn his charity to the poor into riot on themselves , keeping the eleventh of november ( i will not say holy-day , but ) feast-day . at this time the spring-tide of their mirth so drowned their souls , that the * turks coming in upon them , cut every one of their throats , to the number of twenty thousand : and quickly they were stabbed with the sword that were cup-shot before . a day which the dutch may well write in their kalendars in red letters died with their own bloud ; when their camp was their shambles , the turks their butchers , and themselves the martinmasse-beeves : from which the beastly drunkards differ but a little . the citie of joppa the turks rased to the ground ; and of this victory they became so proud , that they had thought without stop to have driven the christians quite out of syria . but by the coming of * simon count of montford ( a most valiant and expert captain , ●ent thither by philip the french king with a regiment of tall souldiers , at the instance of innocent the third , that succeeded celestine in the papacy ) and by civil discord then reigning amongst the turks themselves for sovereignty , their ●ury was repressed , and a peace betwixt them and the christians concluded for the space of * ten years : during which time the turks promised not to molest the christians in tyre or ptolemais . which peace so concluded , the worthy count returned with his souldiers into france . chap. . a crusado for the holy land diverted by the pope to constantinople ; they conquer the grecian empire . this truce notwithstanding , another army of pilgrims was presently provided for syria : the tetrarchs whereof were baldwine earl of flanders , dandalo the venetian duke , theobald earl of champaigne , boniface marquesse of montferrat , with many other nobles . leave we them a while taking the city of jadera in istria for the venetians . mean time if we look over into greece , we shall find isaac angelus the emperour deposed , thrust into prison , his eyes put out , ( the punishment there in fashion ) so that he ended his dayes before he ended his life , by the cruelty of alexius angelus his brother , who succeeded him . but young alexius , isaac angelus his sonne , with some grecian noble-men , came to the courts of most western princes to beg assistance to free his father and expell the tyrant . he so deported himself , that each gesture was a net to catch mens good will ; not seeking their favour by losing himself , but though he did bow , he would not kneel : so that in his face one might read a pretty combat betwixt the beams of majesty and cloud of adversity . to see a prince in want , would move a misers charity . our western princes tendered his case , which they counted might be their own ; their best right lying at the mercy of any stronger usurper . young alexius so dressed his meat , that he pleased every mans palate ; promising for their succours to disingage the french from their debts to the venetian ; promising the venetian satisfaction for the wrongs done them by the grecians ; and bearing the pope in hand he would reduce the eastern churches into his subjection : things which he was little * able to perform . but well may the statute of bankrupt be sued out against him who cannot be rich in promises . these his fair profers prevailed so farre , that the pope commanded , and other princes consented , that this army of pilgrimes levied for the holy land , should be imployed against the usurping grecian emperour . many taxed his holinesse for an unjust steward of the christian forces , to expend them against the grecians , which were to be laid out against the infidels : especially now when palestine , through the dissension of the turks , offered it self into the christians arms to be regained . others thought the pope took the right method ; because he which should winne jerusalem must begin at constantinople : and by this warre the grecian empire , which was the bridge to syria , would be made good , and secured for the passage of pilgrimes . the souldiers generally rejoyced at the exchange of their service : for the barren warres in syria starved the undertakers ; and a cook himself cannot lick his fingers where no meat is dressed . there nothing but naked honour was to be gotten , here honour clothed with spoil ; the usurpers treasure would make brave scrambling amongst them : and it was good plowing up of that ground which had long laien fallow . setting sail from jadera ( which city they had subdued to the venetian , forcing them to pay three thousand * cony-skins yearly for tribute to that state ) like good fensers they strook at the head , and made for constantinople : which they quickly took , after some hot skirmishes . alexius angelus the usurper , with his wife , whores , and treasure , fled away . blind isaac angelus was fetched out of prison ; he and young alexius his sonne saluted joynt emperours . which brittle honour of theirs was quickly broken : for soon after the father died , being brought into an open place , kept before in a close pent dungeon ; and having long fasted from good air , he now got his death by surfeiting on it . his sonne was villanously strangled by alexius ducas , called from his beetle brow mur●iphlus : one of base parentage , who was tumultuously chosen emperour by the people . this ducas offered some affronts to the latines which lay before constantinople in their ships . wherefore , and also because they were not payed for their former service , they the second time assaulted the city , and took it by main force ; killing none , but robbing all ; ravishing women , and using a thousand insolencies . some fled for their succour to the shrines of saints : but the sanctuaries needed sanctuaries to protect themselves , the souldiers as little respecting place , as formerly age or sex : not standing on any reverence to the saints , they stood upon them , making footstools of their images and statues . nicetas choniates , hitherto an historian , now a plaintiff , ( writing so full of ohs and exclamations as if the while pinched by the arm ) rather without measure then cause bemoaneth the outrages the latines here committed . poore man ! all the miseries our saviour speaketh off in a siege , met in him : his flight from constantinople was in winter , on the * sabbath-day , his wife being great with child . but when the object is too near the eye , it seemeth greater then it is : and perchance he amplifieth and aggravateth the cruelty of these pilgrimes , being nearly interessed therein himself ; especially when the rhetorick of grief is alwayes in the hyperbole . nor is it any news for souldiers to be so insolent when they take a citie by assault : which time is their * saturnalia , when servants themselves do command , acknowledging no other leader or captain then their own passions . within a twelve-moneth all greece was subdued save onely adrianople : baldwine earl of flanders chosen emperour ; thomas maurocenus elected first latine patriarch in constantinople ; boniface marquesse of montferrat made king of thessalie ; geoffrey of troy , a frenchman , prince of achaia and duke of athens : the venetians got many rich islands in the aegean and ionian seas : so that one could not now see the grecian empire for empires . it was now expected that they should have advanced hence into palestine : but here having well feathered their nests , they were loth to flie any further . and now no wonder if the christians affairs in palestine were weak and lean , the pope diverting the meat that should feed them another way . chap. . the pope sendeth an army of croises against the albingenses . three severall opinions concerning that sect . pope innocent the third having lately learned the trick of imploying the army of pilgrimes in by-services , began now to set up a trade thereof . for two years after he levied a great number of them , whom he sent against the albingenses in france . these were reputed hereticks , whom his holinesse intended to root out with all cruelty ; that good shepherd knowing no other way to bring home a wandring sheep then by worrying him to death . he fully and freely promised the undertakers the self-same pardons and indulgences as he did to those who went to conquer the holy land ; and very conscionably requested their aid onely for fourty dayes , hoping to chop up these albingenses at a bit . though herein he was deceived , and they stuck in his and his successours teeth for fifty years together . the place being nearer , the service shorter , the work lesse , the wages the same with the voyage into syria , many entred themselves in this imployment , and neglected the other . we will trace this army by their footsteps , and our penne must wait on their swords . and i hope that his holinesse , who absolved many of their vows from palestine , and commuted them into a journey into france , will also of his goodnesse dispense with my veniall digression herein , in prosecuting their actions . yea indeed , i need not his dispensation , being still resident on my own subject , this also being styled , the holy war , the warre for the crucifix , the army of the church ; the souldiers also bearing the badge of the crosse on their coat-armour . but first let us throughly examine what these albingenses were , and what they held : a question that will quit the cost in studying it . they were a younger house of the waldenses , and branched from them ; not different in doctrine , but later in time , and distant in place : so called from the countrey albigeois in france , where they lived . i find three grand different opinions of authours concerning them . first , * some make them to have been very monsters in life and doctrine ; so that the heaviest punishment was too light for them . and this is the generall voice of most writers in that age , and all romanists in our dayes . secondly , others clean contrary hold , that these waldenses ( for i make them and the albingenses synonyma , as * others have done ) were onely the true church of god in that age , whilest all others being corrupted with abominable superstition , were no true church at all . these alone were gods virgins , his witnesses in sackcloth , his woman in the wilderness , his sealed ones , his seven thousand whose knees were not suppled with the baalisme of that age . this is the expresse opinion of some strict protestants ; and of some who speak it not out , yet mutter it to themselves . thirdly , a third sort * explode this opinion , as trespassing on divine providence ; that god who neither slumbereth nor sleepeth , should be in so long a lethargie as to suffer hell to eat up his heaven on earth for so many years together , leaving no true church but so small a company of such simple people . they conceive that the maintainers hereof engage themselves in a labyrinth of difficulties , hanging too great a weight on so slender a string , in making such an handfull of men the onely church for so long continuance . more moderately therefore they hold , that these albingenses were a purer part of the church ; and though guilty of some errours , ( as there must be a dawning before the day ) and charged with more , yet they maintained the same * doctrine in ore , which since luthers time was refined : so that the main body of the church visible at this time was much in dilapidations , whilest the albingenses , as an innermost chapell thereof , was best in repair . let the reader choose the probablest opinion when he hath perused the evidences of all sides ; which we will now produce , deducing the history of these albingenses from their first originall . chap. . the beginning of the albingenses ; their dispersion , persecution , increase , names , and nick-names . about the year , peter waldo a merchant of lyons , rich in substance and learning ( for a lay-man ) was walking and talking with his friends , when one of them suddenly fell down dead . which lively spectacle of mans mortality so impressed the soul of this waldo , that instantly he resolved on a strict reformation of his life : which to his power he performed ; translating some books of the bible ; instructing such as resorted to him in godlinesse of life ; teaching withall , that purgatory , masses , dedication of temples , worshipping of saints , prayers for the dead , were inventions of the devil , and snares of avari●● , that monkery was a stinking carrion , the church of rome the whore of babylon , the pope that antichrist paramount : he sharply lanced the vitious ulcers of clergie-mens lives , reproving their pride and luxury . soon got he many followers , both because novelty is a forcible loadstone , and because he plentifully relieved his poor disciples ; and those that use that trade shall never want custome . the archbishop of lyons hearing such doctrines broched as were high treason against the triple crown , ferreted waldo and his sectaries out of lyons and the countrey thereabouts . but persecution is the bellows of the gospel , to blow every spark into a flame . this their division proved their multiplication . some fled into the alpes , living there on so steep hills , and in so deep holes , that their enemies were afraid to climbe or dive after them . here they had the constant company of the snow : and as it by the height of the hils was protected from the sun-beams , so they from the scorching of persecution , even to luthers time . others fled into picardy , flanders , england , alsatia , bohemia , * bulgaria , croatia , hungaria , and whither not ? the perfume of the popes presence not keeping this supposed vermine out of italy it self . many of them were cruelly massacred , five and thirty burgesses of mayence burned at bingen in one fire , eighteen at mayence , fourscore at straesburg at the instance of the bishop thereof . but martyrs ashes are the best compost to manure the church : for others were wonne to their opinion , by beholding their constancy and patience . strange that any should fall in love with that profession , whose professours were so miserable ! but truth hath alwayes a good face , though often but bad clothes . they were called by sundry names : sometimes from the places where they lived : as from albigeois , tholouse , lyons , picardy , bohemia ; albingenses , tholousians , lyonists , picards , bohemians . sometimes from their principall pastour : as from waldo , joseph , henry , esperon , arnold ; waldenses , jofephists , henricians , esperonites , arnoldists . in england they were termed lolards , from * lolard their teacher ; not as some friar descanteth , quasi lolium in area domini . it appeareth not whether they were thus called of others , or called themselves . but grant the latter : and if any object , that they seemed ashamed of christ theirfirst godfather , who gave them the name of christians , thus to denominate themselves from their teachers ; i answer , it is the same the papists do , calling themselves benedictines , dominicans , franciscans , &c. from the founders of their orders . they had also nick names ; called , first , poor men of lyons : not because they chose to be poor , but could not choose but be poor , being stripped out of all their goods : and why should the friars glory be this peoples shame ? they mocking at poverty in others , which they count meritorious in themselves . secondly , patarenians ; that is , sufferers , whose backs were anvils for others to beat on . thirdly , turlupins ; that is , dwellers with wolves , ( and yet might they be gods sheep ) being forced to flee into woods . fourthly , likewise they were called sicars ; that is , cut-purses . fifthly , fraterculi ; that is , shifters . sixthly , insabbatae ; that is , observers of no sabbath . seventhly , pasagenes ; that is , wanderers . as also arians , manicheans , adamites ( how justly will appear afterwards . ) yea , scarce was there an arrow in all the quiver of malice which was not shot at them . chap. . the albingenses their answer , confessing some , denying most crimes laid to their charge ; commendations their adversaries give them . come we now to the full and foul indictment wherewith these albingenses are charged : that they gave no reverence to * holy places ; rejected the baptisme of infants ; held that temporall power was grounded in grace ; that it was a meritorious work to persecute the priests of rome and their subjects : with the adamites they went naked ( an affront to nature ; ) with the manicheans they made two first causes , god of good , the devil of evil ; held community of all things , even of wives amongst them ; were * sorcerers and conjurers ; ( pretending to command the devil , when they most obeyed him ) guilty of incest , buggery , and more unnaturall sins , whereby men ( as it were ) run backward to hell . no whit affrighted with this terrible accusation , many late writers dare by their advocates to defend them , though confessing them guilty of some of these , but not in so high and hainous a manner as they are accused . true it is , because most of that age ranne riot in adoring of churches , ( as if some inherent sanctity was seeled to their roof , or plaistered to their walls ; yea , such as might more ingratiate with god the persons and prayers of people there assembled ) the waldenfes ( out of that old errour not yet worn out , that the best way to straighten what is crooked , is to over-bow it ) denied churches that relative holinesse and fit reverence due unto them . baptisme of infants they refused not ( though * saint bernard , taking it rather from the rebound then first rise , chargeth them therewith ) but onely deferred it till it might be administred by one of their own ministers ; their tender consciences not digesting the popish baptisme , where clear water by gods ordinance , was by mans additions made a salve or plaister . that dominion was founded in grace , seemeth to be their very opinion : yea , it hangeth as yet in the schools on the file , and is not taken off , as a thing disputable , finding many favourers . but grant it a great errour ( for wicked men shall be arraigned before god , not as usurpers , but as tyrants ; not for not having right , but not right using the creatures ) yet herein they proceeded not so far as the papists now-a-dayes , to unthrone and depose excommunicated princes : so that they who do most , have least cause to accuse them . that they spoke too homely and coursely of the romish priests , inveighing too bitterly and uncharitably against them , condemning all for some , may per chance be proved : and no wonder if they speak ill of those from whom they felt ill . but take their speeches herein , as the words of men upon the rack , forced from them by the extremity of cruel usage . in these errours the albingenses hope to find favour , if men consider , first , the ignorance of the age they lived in : it is no news to stumble in the dark . secondly , the frailty ( that squire of the body ) attending on mans nature ; yea , he shall be immortall who liveth till he be stoned by one without fault . thirdly , the errours themselves , which are rather in the out-limbs then vitalls of religion . and it may be conceived they might have been reclaimed , if used with gentle means , not catechised with fire and fagot ; it being a true rule , that mens consciences are more moved with leading then dragging or drawing . but the sting of the indictment is still behind in the tail or end thereof ; charging them with such hainous errours in doctrine , and vices in life : all which the patrones for the defendants * deny and defie , as coined out of the mint of their enemies malice . it will be objected , if denying the fact might serve the turn , we should have no male factours : this therefore is but a poore plea , barely to deny , when that such clouds of witnesses are against them . and grant they have a few stragling writers , or some sleeping records which may seem to acquit them , what are one or two men ( though suppose them giants ) against a whole army ? to this i find it answered for the albingenses , that it hath been the constant practice of the romish writers , alwayes to defame those that differ from them , especially if they handle too roughly the noli me tangere of the popes supremacy . in later times what aspersions , as false as foul , have * cochleus and * bolsecus laid on luther and calvine ? now how fearlesse will they be ●osteal at midnight , who dare thus rob men of their good name at noon-day ? when such authours as these lie with a witnesse , yea , with many * witnesses , who could disprove them ; no wonder if they take liberty falsely to accuse the albingenses , conceiving themselves out of the reach of confutation , writing in such an age when all the counsel is on their own side , being plaintiffs , and none assigned for the defendants . secondly , i find they produce the authenticall copies ( such as are above their enemies calumnies ) of the catechismes , apologies , remonstrances of these albingenses ; wherein the distilled doctrine of the protestants is delivered free from manicheisme , or any other heresie fathered upon them . thirdly , their enemies slanders plainly appear in some particulars ; which justly shaketh the credit of the whole accusation . for whereas they are charged with the adamites willingly to haue gone naked , we find them rather nudati then nudi , forced thereunto by the popes legate : who being about to take the city of carcassone in france , where these people most swarmed , he would not grant them their lives but on this condition , that both males and females should go forth , and passe by his army † stark-naked . argued it not a very foul stomach in him who could feed his eies with contentment on such a sight , which otherwise would more deeply have wounded the modesty of the beholder then of the doers , who did it by compulsion ? see now how justly these innocents are charged ! as well may the israelites be blamed for cruelty to themselves , in putting out their own eies , when they were commanded to do it by the merciless ammonite . lastly , they are cleared by the testimonies of their very enemies ; and who knoweth not , but such a witnesse is equivalent to a generall consent ? for those , who , when bemadded with anger , most rave and rage against them , yet per lucida intervalla , in their cold bloud , when their words are indicted from their judgements not passions , do most sufficiently acquit them from these accusations . reinerius , a jacobine monk , and a cruel inquisitour of the waldenses , testified , † that they lived justly before men , and believed all things well of god , and held all the articles contained in the creed ; onely they blasphemed the romish church , and hated it . claudius de seissell archbishop of turin confesseth , as touching their life and manners they were sound and unreproveable , without scandall amongst men , giving themselves ( to their power ) to the observation of the commandments of god. king lewis the twelfth of france being throughly informed of the faith and life of the waldenses in his time , bound it with an oath , that they were better men then he or his people . the same king having killed many of those poore people , and having called the place where they lived , vallis meretricia , for their painted and dissembled piety , upon better instructions changed the name , calling it from himself , † the vale of lewis . william de belai lieutenant of piemont gave this commendation of the merindolites ( a sprig which some hundred years after sprouted from the waldenses ) † that they were a laborious people , averse from suits , bountifull to the poore , duly paying their princes tributes and lords dues , serving god with daily prayers , and shewing forth much innocency in manners . thuanus , one that writeth truth with a steady hand , jogged neither by romanists nor huguenots , thus charactereth the † con-waldenses , a stemme of that stock we speak of ; they used raw pelts clapped about them for their clothes , the foure fect whereof served instead of buttons ; all equall in poverty , having no beggars amongst them ; their diet on deer and milk : yet was there scarce any amongst them but could read and write handsomely , understand the bible , and sing psalms ; scarce a boy , but could presently or by heart give an account of his faith : tribute they payed very religiously , &c. more might be added ; but i end with gamaliels words , † if this work be of men , it will come to nought ; but if it be of god , yè cannot overthrow it . it argueth the goodnesse of their cause , in that all their enemies cruelty ( unwise to think to spoil the growth of chamomill by trampling on it ) could never suppresse them ; but they continued till the dayes of luther , when this morning-starre willingly surrendred his place to him a brighter sun . but enough of their life and manners . and if any condemn me for superfluity herein , i guard my self with † s. austines shield , non est multiloquium , quando necessaria di●untur , quant alibet sermonum multitudine ac prolixitate dicantur . chap. . the holy armie advance against the albingenses ; the cities of besier and carcassone taken . pope innocent the third having now gathered together an army of one hundred thousand pilgrimes , set forwards for the finall exstirpation of the poor albingenses . the best champions for his holinesse herein , were the duke of burgundy , the earls of nevers , st. paul , auxerre , geneva , poictiers , with simon earl of montfort ; o● the clergie , milo the popes le●gate , the archbishops of sens , rovan ; the bishops of clermont , nevers , lisieux , bayeux , charters , with divers others ; every bishop with the pilgrimes of his jurisdiction : to whom the pope promised paradise in heaven , but not one peny on earth . their work was to destroy the albingenses , which were in great numbers in daulphine , province , narbonne , tholouse , and other parts of france . their commission also extended to the rooting out of all their friends and favourers , whether detected , or onely suspected ; such as were reimund earl of tholose , reimund earl of foyx , the vicecount of besiers , gaston lord of berne , the earl of bigorre , the lady of la vaur , with divers others . see here a new gate to heaven never opened before , for men to cut their way thither through the throats of their innocent brethren ! behold the holy ghost , who once came down in the form of a dove , now counterfeited in the shape of a vulture ! but we must not forget how just before the warre began , the pope pretending to reclaim them by reasons to the church of rome : to which end he gave order for a disputation with them . the parties , place , and time were agreed on ; who , where , when they should dispute : but in fine nothing was effected . yea , who ever knew conferences in so great oppositions to ripen kindly , and bring any fruit to perfection ? for many come rather for faction then satisfaction , resolving to carry home the same opinions they brought with them : an upright moderatour will scarce be found , who bangeth not to one side : the place will be subject to suspicion , and hinder liberty : boldnesse and readinesse of speech with most ( though not most judicious ) auditours , will bear away the bell from solidity of arguments : the passages in the disputing will pe partially reported , and both sides will brag of the conquest ; so that the rent will be made worse , and more spirits conjured up then allayed . but now words ended in blows ; the pope onely entertaining them in * conferences , that in the mean time he might prepare his great armies more suddenly to suppresse them . the first peice of service his souldiers performed , was in sacking the city of besiers , and burrough of carcassone : in which many catholicks , stedfast in the romish faith , did dwel , and promiscuously were slain with the albingenses ; yea , priests themselves were cut in pieces in their priestly ornaments , and under the banner of the crosse : so that the swallowing of their foes made their friends also go down glib through their throats , without danger of choking . as for the city of carcassone which was not far from the burrough ; to the inhabitants thereof those immodest conditions were propounded , whereof formerly : which they refused ; and god better provided for them : for whilest the city was besieged , they escaped out by the benefit of a vault under ground , and so shifted abroad for themselves . chap. . simon earl of montfort chosen captain of the holy warre ; he conquereth the king of aragon , prevaileth against the albingenses , and at last is killed by a woman . hitherto this warre was managed by the popes legate : but now it was concluded that a secular captain should be adjoyned to him , in whose person the chief command should reside over martiall affairs ; and for his pains , by the popes donation , he was to enjoy all countreys that should be conquered from the albingenses or their favourers . the place was offered to the duke of burgundy , who refused it , saying , he had lands and lordships enow of his own , without spoiling others of their goods . it was waved also by the earls of st. paul , and nevers , whether out of conscience or policie ; because though the pope gave them the bears skin , they must first kill and flay him themselves . at last simon of montfort , nigh paris , accepted of it , swearing to vex the lords enemies . and for a breakfast to begin with , he was seised of the vicecounty of besiers , proceeding from hence to take many castles and cities . one grand inconvenience attended on this army of pilgrimes : for when their quarantine , or fourty dayes service , was expited , ( the term the pope set them to merit paradise in ) they would not stay one whit longer : like post-horses they would runne to their set stage , but could not be spurred one foot further ; contenting themselves they had already purchased heaven , and fearing they should be put in possession thereof too soon , by losing their lives in that service . and though the bishops perswaded some few to stay , that so the surplusage of their merits might make up the arterages of their friends which wanted them , yet could they not prevail to any purpose . nor could they so cast and contrive their matters , the tide of peoples devotion being uncertain , but that betwixt the going out of the old and coming in of the new store of pilgrimes , there would be a low ebbe , wherein their army was almost wasted to nothing : whereof the albingenses made no small advantage . however , the earls of tholouse , foix , and comminge , and prince of berne , the patrones of the albingenses , finding they were too weak for this holy army , sheltered themselves under peter king of aragon ; whose homagers they were , receiving investiture from him , though their dominions lay on this side of the pyrenean hills . this king had the greatnesse of the earl of montfort in suspicion ; fearing lest these severall principalities , which now were single arrows , should be bound in one sheaf , conquered and united under earl simon . wherefore he fomented a faction in them against the holy armie ; publickly protesting against the proceedings of earl simon ; charging him to have turned the bark of gods church into a pirates ship , robbing others and inriching themselves under the pretence of religion , seizing on the lands of good catholicks for supposed hereticks , using gods cause as hunters do a stand , in it the more covertly to shoot at what game they please : otherwise , why was the vicecount of beziers , who lived and died firm in the romish faith , lately trained into the legates hand , and against oaths and promises of his safe return , kept close prisoner till his death , and his lands seized on by earl simon ? at last the king of aragon taking the earl of montfort on the advantage ( shooting him as it were betwixt wind and water , the ending of the old and beginning of new pilgrimes ) forced him to a battel . the king had thirty thousand foot and seven thousand horse ; but the earl , of both foot and horse not above two thousand two hundred . they closed together near the castle of moret : and the king , whether out of zeal of conquest and thirst of honour , or distrust of under officers , or desire to animate others , or a mixture of all , ranne his curver so openly , and made his turns and returns in the head of the army , that so fair a mark invited his enemies arrows to hit him ; by whom he was wounded to death , and fell from his horse : to lesson all generals to keep themselves , like the heart , in the body of the army , whence they may have a virtuall omnipresence in every part thereof ; and not to expose their persons ( which , like crystall vials , contain the extracted spirits of their souldiers spilled with their breaking ) to places of imminent danger . with his body fell the hearts of his men : and though the earls of tholouse , foix , and comminge , perswaded , entreated , threatned them to stay , they used their oratorie so long till their audience ran all away , and they were fain to follow them , reserving themselves by flight to redeem their honour some other time . simon improving this victory , pursued them to the gates of tholouse , and killed many thousands . the friars imputed this victory to the bishops benediction , and adoring a piece of the crosse , together with the fervency of the clergies prayers , which remaining behind in the castle of moret , battered heaven with their importunity . on the other side , the albingenses acknowledged gods justice in punishing the proud king of aragon ; who , as if his arm had been strong and long enough to pluck down the victory our of heaven without gods ●eaching it to him , conceived that earl simon came rather to cast himself down at his feet then to fight . but such reckonings without the host are ever subject to a rere-account . yet within few years the face of this warre began to alter : ( with writers of short-hand we must set a prick for a letter , a letter for a word , marking onely the most remarkables . ) for young reimund earl of tholouse , exceeding his father in valour and successe , so bestirred himself , that in few moneths he regained what earl simon was many years in getting : and at last earl simon besieging tholouse , with a stone which a woman let flie out of an engine , had his head parted from his body . men use not to be niggards of their censures on strange accidents : some paralleled his life with abimelech that tyrant-judge ; who with the bramble ( fitter to make a fire then a king of ) accepted of the wooden monarchie , when the vine , olive , figge-tree declined it . they paired them also in their ends , death disdaining to send his summons by a masculine hand , but arresting them both by a woman . some perswaded themselves they saw gods finger in the womans hand ; that because the greater part of his cruelty lighted on the weaker sex , ( for he had buried the lady of la vaur alive , respecting neither her sex nos nobility ) a woman was chosen out to be his executioner : though of himself he was not so prone to cruelty , but had those at his elbow which prompted him to it . the time of his death was a large field for the conceits of others to walk in ; because even then when the pope and three councils , of vaur , montpelier , and laterane , had pronounced him sonne , servant , favourite of the faith , the invincible defender thereof : and must he not needs break , being swoln with so many windie titles ▪ amongst other of his styles he was * earl of leicester in england , and father to simon montfort the * catiline of this kingdome , who under pretence of curing this land of some grievances , had killed it with his physick , had he not been killed himself in the battel of eveshold in the reigne of henry the third . and here ended the storm of open warre against the albingenses , though some great drops fell afterwards . yea , now the pope grew sensible of many mischiefs in prosecuting this people with the holy warre : first , the incongruity betwixt the word and the sword ; to confute hereticks with armies in the field , opened clamorous mouths . secondly , * three hundred thousand of these croised pilgrimes lost their lives in this expedition , within the space of fifteen years ; so that there was neither citie nor village in france , but by reason here of had widows and orphanes cursing this expedition . and his holinesse , after he had made allowance for his losse of time , bloud , and credit , found his gain de clare very small . besides , such was the chance of warre , and good catholicks were so intermingled with hereticks , that in sacking of cities they were slain together . whereupon the pope resolved of a privater way , which made lesse noise i● the world , attracted lesse envy , and was more effectuall ; to prosecute them by way of inquisition . hereby he might single them out by retail , rooting out the tares without hurting the corn , and overthrowing them by piece-meal whom he could never stagger in grosse . dominick a spaniard was first authour hereof . well did his mother , being with child of him , dream that she had a dog * vomiting fire in her wombe . this ignivomous curre ( sire of the litter of mendicant friars called dominicanes ) did bark at and deeply bite the poore albingenses . after his death , pope honorius for his good service bestowed a saintship on him : for he dreamed he saw the church of rome falling , and dominick holding it up with his shoulders ; wherefore he canonized this atlas of their religion . the proceedings of this inquisition were the abridgement of all cruelty , turning the sword of justice into the butchers ax . but no doubt god , when he maketh * inquisition for bloud , will one day remember this bloudy inquisition . and who can but admire at the continuance of the doctrine of the albingenses to this day , maugre all their enemies ▪ let those privy-counsellers of nature , who can tell where swallows lie all winter , and how at the spring they have a resurrection from their seeming deadnesse , let those , i say , also inform us in what invisible sanctuaries this doctrine did lurk in spite of persecution , and how it revived out of its ashes at the coming of luther . to conclude ; it is observed , that in those parts of france where the albingenses were most cruelly handled , now the protestants ( heirs to most of their tenets ) flourish most : as in the countreys of gascongne , daulphine , and languedoc . chap. . king almerick for his lazinesse deposed by the pope . welcome the holy land , welcome ptolemais : how shallow and almost quite dry is the stream of pilgrimes grown here , since the pope hath drained it with so large a by-chanel into france ! as for almerick the idle king of jerusalem , we find him as we left him , drowning his cares constantly in wine : his hands being lazier then those that are printed in the margent of a book , which point what others should read ; whilest he would neither do , nor order what should be done : so true was it of him , what is said * of another , titularis non tutelaris rex ; defuit non praesuit reipublicae . and now the warre betwixt noradine saladines sonne and saphradine his uncle , about the sovereignty , lasting nine years , ended with saphradines death ; and noradine contented himself with the government of aleppo , whilest saphradines two sonnes shared his dominions , coradine commanding in damascus and syria , and meledine in egypt . the former of these without any resistance built a fort in mount tabor , to the great annoyance of the christians . to prevent farther mischief arising from almericks negligence , the pope ( who would have a finger in every crown , and a hand in this ) deposed him from the kingdome . this almerick , grieved to lose what he was never carefull to keep , soon after died for sorrow . but how doth this agree with marinus sanutus , who maketh him to die of a surfet of * gilt-heads five years sooner , and saith there was five years interregnum in palestine , wherein the christians had no king at all ? chap. . iohn bren made king of ierusalem . a most promising voyage into palestine of new pilgrimes ; which remove the seat of the warre into egypt . in the place of almerick the pope appointed john de bren , a private french gentleman , to be king. who , to twist his title with another string , married maria iole the sole daughter of conrade late king of jerusalem . this john had behaved himself right valiantly amongst other latine princes in the voyage against the greeks , and was a most martiall man , as all do witnesse : onely one calleth him * imbellem hominem ; why i know not , except he be of that humour to delight to be one of the antipodes , treading opposite to a world of writers besides . in the beginning of his reigne this accident ( whether monstrous or miraculous ) fell out : in france , a boy ( for his years ) went about singing in his own tongue , iesus lord , repair our losse ; restore to us thy holy crosse. numberlesse children ranne after him , and followed the same tune their captain and chanter did set them . no bolts , no barres , no fear of fathers or love of mothers could hold them back , but they would to the holy land to work wonders there ; till their merry musick had a sad close , all either perishing on land , or drowned by sea . it was done ( saith my ● * authour ) by the instinct of the devil , who , as it were , desired a cordiall of childrens bloud to comfort his weak stomach long cloyed with murdering of men . soon after began the lateranè councel under innocent the third : wherein many things were concluded for the recovery of the holy land ; as , that the crosse should every where be preached with zeal and earnestnesse to procure pilgrimes ; that all * tiltings in christendome for three years should be forbidden , that so the spears of christians might onely be broken against infidels ; that clergie-men that went this voyage might ( if need were ) morgage their church-livings for three years to provide themselves with present necessaries ; that all debters , during their pilgrimage ( though bound by oath in conscience , the strongest specialty ) should be dispenced with to pay no use to their creditours ; who if christians , by excommunications ; if jews , were to be forced by the secular power to remit their interest ; that all priests should contribute the twentieth part of their revenues for three years , to advance this designe . and lest ( saith his holinesse ) we should soem to lay heavy burdens on others which we will not touch with our least finger , we assigne a ship at our own cost to carry our pilgrimes of the citie of rome ; and disburse for the present what can be spared from our necessary expences , to the summe of thirty thousand pounds , to further the project : and for three years to come , we and our brethren the cardinals of rome , will fully pay the tenth of our church-profits . hereupon next spring a numerous armie set forward to palestine , conducted by pelagius the popes legate , andrew king of hungarie ( who having washed himself in the river of jordan , would stay no longer , but instantly returned home ) the three electorall archbishops , with those of liege , wurtzburg , bamberg , straesburg , paris , &c. lewis duke of bavaria , leopold of austria , a navie of our english , besides florentines , genoans , and many other nations . the autumne they spent in the fruitlesse besieging of the fort of mount tabor ; whilest king john bren wonne from the turks the castle of pilgrimes , a piece of great consequence on the sea-side . then was it debated on both sides of translating the warre into egypt . which many advised to be done : for that countrey afforded the turks their vict●●● and munition ; and the best way to draw them low , was to stop them in the fountain . it was also most honour to rouze the lion in his own denne . and palestine was so forraged , that there was nothing to be gleaned in the stubble ; whereas egypt was so rich and fruitfull , it cared not for the frowns of heaven , so it might have the favour of nilus ; and there was no fear to want bread in that the granary of the world . that , according to the rule , plus animi est inferenti periculum , quam propulsanti ; the christians would be heartned , but the egyptians discouraged in the invasion of egypt . the sad spectacle of their countreys vastation would disturb their minds , make them diffident of their own worth , and unsufficient to maintain their cause . lastly , the christians might leave when they list , reserving at all times ptolemais to entertain them , in case fortune should crosse their designes . but the reasons to the contrary wanted not weight but weighing . they considered not ( what was objected ) that to invade a strong entire countrey without having a partie within it to side with them , was to endeavour to cleave a tree with a beetle without a wedge . besides , egypt was an exception from the rules of all other countreys , and had certain locall maximes of leading of an army appropriated to it alone . that valour must needs have the fall , when it wrastleth with nature it self , and fighteth against bogs , rivers , and inundations . that it was more agreeable to reason , first to recover and defend what once was their own , before they attempted other mens possessions . that these their forces afforded little hope of victory in another kingdome , which were not able to clear their own countrey , and the forts in syria , from so dangerous an enemy . lastly , that the egyptians fighting for their fathers , wives , and children , would raise their valour to the highest point of resolution . these arguments notwithstanding , the watch-word was given for egypt ; whither all addressed themselves . and here began the discords betwixt king john and the popes legate , who challenged not onely an influence but a predominancy in every thing , and would dictate to the g●nerall what he should do in martiall affairs : he presumed on his book-learning to controll the practice of experienced captains by his military speculations . the king stormed hereat , shewing there were some mysteries in the captain-craft not communicable to any which had not served the trade , and which the heart of a scholar was too narrow to contain ; that though scholarship was a stock fit to graff any profession on , yet some good time is requisite thereunto ; and that they must not think to proceed military masters at their first admission in a camp ; that though the legate might conceive himself to know the latitude of warlike principles , yet he knew not the use of distinctions , exceptions , and cautions of application ; and might easily be misled by disproportion and dissimilitude of examples , the variation of circumstances , the infinitenesse of punctuall occurrences : wherefore he forbad him to meddle with martiall matters , challenging them to belong to his own disposall . but pelagius the legate highly opinioned of his own sufficiencie , as if his place made him infallible in every thing , and loth to confesse himself besides the cushion whilest he sat in the chair , would have an oar in all actions . he held this conclusion , that the generall rules of warre were easily known ; and as for the qualification of them pro exigentia hic & nunc , herein reason was the key of the work , which scholars having most perfected by learning , were thereby the most competent judges what should be done on all occasions . how dearly the christians payed for this his errour , and how this discord , smothered for a while , brake out , we shall see hereafter . mean time , hoising up sails , the pilgrimes navie safely arrived at damiata . chap. . damiata besieged and taken ; the christians unadvisedly refuse honourable conditions . damiata is a chief haven of egypt , anciently pelusium ; seated on the eastern-most stream of nilus . here the east and west world met together to exchange their wares ; she grudging for trade to give the upper hand to alexandria it self . at their landing * the moon was almost totally eclipsed : whence the christians conceited ( guesse the frailnesse of the building by the unconstancy of the foundation ) that the overthrow of the mahometanes ( whose ensigne was the * half-moon ) was portended . but the calculations of after-chances seldome hit right . in the siege of this citie they were to encounter with a fourefold difficulty , besides damiata it self : first , with a great chain crossing the harbour : which with indefatigable pains , and art mingled with labour , they brake asunder ; industry in action b●eing as importunity in speech , by continuall inculcation forcing a yielding beyond the strength of reason . secondly , the river nilus did much annoy them . this river ( the height of whose flowing is the egyptian almanack , whereby they prognosticate future plenty or penury ) now out of time and beyond measure drowned the countrey . bold fishes swamme into the christians tents , who took them with their hands , * though willingly they could have wanted such dainties ; for the sauce was more then the meat . against this mischief they fensed themselves with prayer , and a publick fast enjoyned by the legate ; whereby the water soon abated . and lest gods mercy herein , when gotten , should be forgotten , a publick thanksgiving was proclaimed , that this favour obtained by prayer might be kept by praises . thirdly , they were to grapple with the fort of pharia , a seeming-impregnable place , betwixt them and damiata . to check this fort , the christians built a towre on ships : which suddenly falling , brained many , bruised more of their own men ; and all who felt not the blow , were stricken with the fright . king john comforted his souldiers discouraged hereat , desiring them to apprehend actions by their true causes ; and as not to vaunt of blind victories , so not to be dismaied at casuall mishaps , so purely accidentall , that there was no guard against them in the schools of defence , either of wisdome or valour . by his advice a more substantiall towre was built , the rarest piece in that kind the world ever saw ; by the manning whereof , after many bloudy assaults , they mastered the fort of pharia . fourthly , they had to do with meladine king of egypt , who lay besides them , constantly furnishing the citie with men and victuals , and exercising the christians with continual skirmishes . in one , with his wild-fire he did them much harm , and king john was dangerously scorched . but seeing that the christians hewed their way through the rocks of all difficulties , he propounded peace unto them by the mediation of noradine his brother , king of damascus ; profering them , if they would depart , to restore them the true crosse , the citie of jerusalem , and all the land of palestine . * the english , french , and italians would have embraced the conditions , pleading . that honourable peace was the centre of war , where it should rest ; that they could not satisfie their conscience to rob these egyptians of their lands without a speciall command from god ; that it was good wisdome to take so desperate a debt whensoever the payment was tendred ; otherwise , if they would not be content with their arms full , they might perchance return with their hands empty . but the legate would no wayes consent , alledging this voyage was undertaken not onely for the recovery of palestine , but for the exstirpation of the mahometane superstition . and herein no doubt he followed the instructions of his master , whose end in this warre was , that this warre should have no end , but be alwayes in doing though never done . he knew it was dangerous to stop an issue which had been long open ; and would in no case close up this vent of people by concluding a finall peace . besides an old prophesie , ● * that a spaniard should win jerusalem , and work wonders in those parts , made pelagius that countrey-man more zealous herein . coradine angry his profer was refused , beat down the walls of jerusalem and all the beautiful buildings therein , save the tower of david and the temple of the sepulchre . not long after , damiata having been besieged one year and seven moneths , was taken without resistance ; a plague and famine had made such a vastation therein . the christians entred with an intent to kill all ; but their anger soon melted into pity , beholding the city all bestrawed with corpses . the sight was bad , and the sent was worse ; for the dead killed the living . yea , gods sword had left their sword no work : of ● * three-score and ten thousand but three thousand remained ; who had their lives pardoned on condition to cleanse the city : which imployed them a quarter of a year . hence the christians marched and took the city of tanis ; and soon after the pope substituted ● * john de columna , a cardinall , legate in the place of pelagius . chap. . new discords betwixt the king and the legate ; they march up to besiege cairo . great was the spoil they found in damiata : wherein , as in strong barred chests , the merchants of egypt and india had locked up their treasure . a full yeare the christians stayed here , contented to make this inne their home . here arose new discords betwixt the king and the new legate , who by virtue of his legation challenged damiata for his holinesse , which by publik agreement was formerly assigned to the king. bren in anger returned to ptolemais , both to puff out his discontents in private , and to teach the christians his worth by wanting him : for presently they found themselves at a losse ; neither could they stand still without disgrace , nor go on without danger . the legate commanded them to march up ; but they had too much spirit to be ruled by a spirituall man , and swore not to stir●e a step except the king was with them . messengers therefore were sent to ptolemais to fetch him . they found him of a steelie nature ; once through hot , long in cooling : yet by promising him he should have his own desires , they over-perswaded him not to strave an armie by feeding his own humours . scarce after eight moneths absence was he returned to damiata , but new divisions were betwixt them : the legate perswaded the armie to march up and besiege cairo ; he promised , if they would obey him , they should quickly command all egypt , by present invading it . let defenders lie at a close game , and offer no play . delayes are a safe shield to save , but celerity the best i word to winne a countrey . thus alexander conquered the world before it could bethink it self to make resistance . and thus god now opened them a doore of victorie , except they would barre it up with their own idlenesse . but the king advised to return into syria ; that cairo was difficult to take , and impossible to keep ; that the ground whereon they went , was as treacherous as the people against whom they fought ; that better now to retire with honour , then hereafter flie with shame ; that none but an empirick in warre will deny , but that more true valour is in an orderly well grounded retreat , then in a furious rash invasion . but the legate used an inartificiall argument drawn from the authority of his place , thundering excommunication against those that would not march forward : and now needs must they go when he driveth them . the crafty egyptians ( of whom it is true , what is said of the parthians , their flight is more to be feared then their fight ) ran away , counterfeiting cowardlinesse . the christians triumphed hereat ; as if the silly fish should rejoyce that he had caught the fisherman , when he had swallowed his bait . the legate hugged himself in his own happinesse , that he had given so successefull advice . and now see how the garland of their victory proved the halter to strangle them . chap. . the miserable case of the drowned christians in egypt . damiata surrendred in ransome of their lives . egypt is a low level countrey , except some few advantages which the egyptians had fortified for themselves . through the midst of the land ran the river nilus ; whose stream they had so bridled with banks and sluces , that they could keep it to be their own servant , and make it their enemies master at pleasure . the christians confidently marched on ; and the turks perceiving the game was come within the toil , pierced their banks , and unmuzzling the river , let it runne open mouth upon them ; yet so , that at first they drowned them up but to the middle , reserving their lives for a further purpose , thereby in exchange to recover damiata and their countreys liberty . see here the land of egypt turned in an instant into the egyptian sea ! see an army of sixty thousand , as the neck of one man , stretched on the block , and waiting the fatall stroke ! many cursed the legate , and their own rashnesse , that they should follow the counsel of a gowned man ( all whose experience was clasped in a book ) rather then the advice of experienced captains . but too late repentance , because it soweth not in season , reapeth nothing but unavoidable miserie . meladine king of egypt seeing the constancy and patience of the christians , was moved with compassion towards them . he had of himself strong inclinations to christianity , wearie of mahometanisme , and willing to break that prison , but for watchfull jaylers about him . he proferred the christians their lives on condition they would quit the countrey and restore damiata . they accepted the conditions , and sent messengers to damiata to prepare them for the surrendring of it . but they within the citie , being themselves safe on shore , tyrannized on their poore brethren in shipwrack ; pretending , that this armie of pilgrimes deserved no pity , who had invited this misfortune on themselves by their own rashnesse ; that if they yielded up this citie for nothing , which cost so many lives , they should betray themselves to the derision of the whole world ; that if these perished , more men might be had , but no more damiata's ; being a place of such importance , it would alwayes be a snaffle in the mouth of the egyptian king. on the other side , the friends of the distressed christians confessed , that indeed their voyage was unadvised and justly to be blamed ; yet worse and more inconsiderate projects have armies oft undertaken , which , if crowned with successe , have been above censure , yea , have passed not onely without questioning but with commendations : but this is the misery of misery , that those who are most afflicted of god , shall be most condemned of men . wherefore they requested them to pity their brethren , and not to leave them in this forlorn estate . how clamorous would their innocent bloud be in the court of heaven , to sue for revenge on those who forsook them in this distresse ! and grant damiata a citie of great consequence ; yet cities in themselves were but dead things , and men were the souls to enliven them : so that those souldiers which wonne damiata , if preserved alive , might haply recover as strong a citie afterwards . but finding their arguments not to prevail , they betook themselves to arms , by force to compell the adverse party to resigne the citie . king john also threatned , in case they denied to surrender it , to give up to meladine ptolemais in syria in exchange for damiata . at last , according to the agreement , damiata was restored to the turks , and the christian army let out of the trap wherein it was taken . meladine out of his princely goodnesse furnished them with ● * victuals , and with horses to carry their feeble persons upon . and thus the christians had the greatest blow given them without a blow given them ; the egyptians obtaining their victory not by bloud but by water . chap. . iohn bren resigneth the kingdome of ierusalem to frederick the second , germane emperour . there was also concluded a peace with the turks for eight years . and now matters being settled as well as they might be in syria , king john took a journey to rome ; where he was bountifully feasted , and honourably entertained by the pope . here it was agreed ( whether at the first by his voluntary offer , or working of others , it appeareth no● ) that he should resigne the kingdome of jerusalem to frederick the second , germane emperour , who was to marry iole the sole daughter of king john by his first wife ; though by a second he had another , martha , married to robert emperour of constantinople : so that he was father in law both to emperour of east and west . some condemned his resignation as an unadvised act ; as if he had first parted from his wits , who would willingly part from a kingdome ; whilest others commend his discretion : for first , his wife was dead , in whose right he held his kingdome , and thereby a door was opened for other litigious pretenders to the crown . secondly , it was policie , fugere ne fugaretur ; yea , this was no flight , but an honourable departure . well he knew the turks power to invade , and his own weaknesse to defend what was left in syria : so that finding the weight too heavy for himself , he did well to lay it on stronger shoulders . thirdly , before his resignation he had little more then a title : and after it he had nothing lesse ; men having so tuned their tongues to salute him king of jerusalem , that he was so called to the day of his death . lastly , what he wanted in the statelinesse of his bed , he had in the soundnesse of his sleep ; and though his commons perchance were shorter , yet he battled better on them . he got now more in a twelve-moneth then in seven years before , going from countrey to countrey : and yet the farther this stone rolled , the more mosse he gathered . in france , besides rich gifts left to himself , he had the managing of sixty thousand crowns ; the legacie which philip augustus the king on his death-bed * bequeathed to the templars and the holy warre . in england he received from henry the third many great presents ; though afterwards he proved but * unthankfull for them . in spain he got a rich wife , beringaria , the daughter of the king of castile . in italie he tasted very largely of the popes liberali●ie , and lived there in good esteem . but he went off the stage without an applause , because he lost himself in his last act ; perfidiously raising rebellions against frederick his sonne in law , at the instigation of his holinesse . nor recovered he his credit , though after he went to his sonne robert to constantinople , and there did many good offices . he died anno . chap. . the true character of frederick ; how the history of his life is prejudiced by the partiality of authours on both sides . the nuptiall solemnities of frederick with the lady iole were performed at rome , in the presence of the pope , with all ceremonies of majesty ; and frederick promised to prosecute in person his title in palestine within two years . little hope have i to content the reader in this kings life , who cannot satisfie my self ; writers of that age are so possessed with * partiality . the faction of the guelfes and gibellines discovereth not it self more plainly in the camp then in the chronicles : yea , historians turn schoolmen in matters of fact , arguing them pro & con . and as it is in the fable of the man that had two wives ; whilest his old wife plucked out his black hairs , the evidence of his youth , his young one ungray-haired him , that no standards of antiquity might remain , they made him bald betwixt them : so amongst our late writers ; whilest protestants cut off the authority from all papized writers of that age , and romanists cast away the witnesse of all imperialized authours then living ( such as urspergensis is , and generally all germanes ) counting them testes domesticos , and therefore of no validitie , betwixt them they draw all historie of that time very slender , and make it almost quite nothing . we will not engage our selves in their quarrels ; but may safely believe , that frederick was neither saint , nor devil , but man. many virtues in him his foes must commend , and some vices his friends must confesse . he was * very learned , according to the rate of that age , especially for a prince , who onely baiteth at learning , and maketh it not his profession to lodge in . wise he was in projecting ; nor were his thoughts ever so scattered with any sudden accident , but he could instantly recollect himself . valiant he was , and very fortunate ; though this tendeth more to gods praise then his : wondrous bountifull to scholars and souldiers ; whose good will he enjoyed , for he payed for it . but this gold had its allay of cruelty ; though this was not so much bred in him as he brought to it : treasons against him were so frequent , he could not be safe but he must be severe , nor severe without incurring the aspersion of crueltie . his pride was excessive ; and so was his wantonnesse : a nunnes vail was but a slender shield against his lust : this sinne he was given to , * which was besides the custome of the dutch , saith one , who though great friends to bacchus , are no favourites of venus ; which is strange , that they should heap up so much fewel , and have no more fire . in a word , he was a better emperour then a man , his vices being personall , most hurting himself ; his virtues of a publick nature , and accomplishing him for government . chap. . mines and countermines betwixt the emperour and the pope , seeking to blow up , or at leastwise to stay the projects each of other . it is verily conceived that the pope provided this match for frederick to imploy him in palestine , whilest he at home might play his game at pleasure . for as provident nature in marshalling the elements , assigned fire a place in the verge and border of this lower world farre from the rest , lest otherwise the activity thereof might set the others in combustion : so the pope disposed this hot violent-spirited emperour farre off , and engaged him in a distant and dangerous warre out of the borders of europe . frederick smelt the project of his holinesse , being also master in the art of dissembling , though he must acknowledge the pope his senior i● that faculty : wherefore he deferred the performance of his promise and his voyage into palestine from moneth to moneth , and yeare to yeare , wisely gaining time by losing . the truth was , he was not yet ripe for such an expedition . the pope was afraid of his valour , he of the popes treachery , and more feared him behind his back then the turk before his face . he was loth to let go the eagle he had in hand , to catch the little bird that was in the bush . wherefore as yet he refused to go , pleading that the eight years truce , which king bren had made with the turks , was not yet expired ; before which time to fight against them , was to fight against god and conscience : and that it was no way to propagate the faith by breach of faith . pope honorius continued still to put him in mind of his promise : yea , he rubbed his memory so roughly , he fetched off the skinne , with his threats and menaces . but before fredericks journey began , honorius his life ended , and gregory the ninth succeeded him ; who at the first dash excommunicated the emperour for his delay . know by the way , that his name-sake gregory the seventh ( otherwise hildebrand ) first handselled his excommunication on henry the fourth . before his time the imperiall majesty ( what is observed of the seal , that it is never hit with thunder ) was never fulminated against with excommunication : afterward nothing more usuall ; till the commonnesse of those thunderbolts caused their contempt , and the emperours natures were so used to this physick it would not work with them . of late his holinesse is grown more advised , very sparingly using them , especially against protestant princes ; counting it policie to hold that weapon within the scabbard , which hath no other edge but what is given it by the opinion of those against whom it is used . frederick at last cometh forth of germany with his army , marcheth through italy , cometh to brindisi , where the plague seizeth on his men , whereof died the landtgrave of thuringia , and others . soon after he fell very desperately sick himself , which stayed his journey many moneths . it went near to the pope , that the emperour was so near to him : his case now was worse then formerly . for he had rouzed the lion out of his denne , but could not get him into the net . his sicknesse must either be more or lesse to do good . and the pope having no variety of weapons , excommunicated him afresh , pretending fredericks disease was onely the cramp of lazinesse , and that he was sick to do good , but sound to do mischief ; as appeared by his unjust seizing on the goods of lewis landtgrave of thuringia late deceased . the emperour protested his innocency , accused the popes injustice , putting himself on the triall of all christian princes● to whom he wrote letters . at last health came , and frederick departed , bearing up with his navy for palestine . the pope hearing thereof , be-libelled him more fouly then ever before , because like an undutifull sonne he departed without his fathers blessing , being not absolved and reconciled to his mother the church . chap. . frederick recovereth all palestine and ierusalem without expence of time or bloud . see how gods blessing goeth along with the popes curses ! the fame of fredericks valour and maiden fortune , never as yet spotted with ill successe , like an harbinger hastening before , had provided victorie to entertain him at his arrival ; yea , this emperour , swifter then cesar himself , overcame before he came over into palestine . at this time the state of the turks in syria was very aguish , and fredericks coming put them into a shaking fit . * coradine was dead , his children in minority , the turkish souldans factious , boiling in enmity one against another . whereupon the sultan of babylon , who was of chiefest authority , and governed syria , profered frederick so honourable conditions as he might desire , but could never hope for ▪ namely , to restore unto him jerusalem and all palestine , in as full and ample a manner as it was possessed by baldwine the fourth , before saladine subdued it ; to set all christian captives at liberty ; provided , that the turks might have accesse to the sepulchre , ( though not lodging in the citie but suburbs , and that in small numbers at a time ) there to do their devotions , they also having a knowledge of , and giving an honour to christ , though no better then ignorance and dishonour of him . frederick before he ratified any thing by oath , sent to have the popes approbation : * who ill intreated and imprisoned his messengers , denied them audience , and contemptuously tore the emperours letters . wherefore frederick without , yea , against his holinesse consent , concluded a ten years truce with the sultan ; and on * easter-day triumphantly entring jerusalem , crowned himself king with his own hands . for gerard patriarch of jerusalem , and oliver master of the templars , with all the clergie , absented themselves ; neither was there any * masse sung in the citie as long as the emperour being excommunicated remained there . see that produced as it were in an instant which the succession of many years could not perform , all the holy land recovered ! some gallants perchance ( whose curious palates count all conquests drie meat which are not juiced with bloud ) will dispraise this emperours victory for the best praise thereof , because it was so easily gotten without drawing his sword for it . but they deserve to go naked who scorn to wear good clothes if they cost not dear . the templars were vexed at heart that they had no partnership in the glory of this action ; yea , this touched their copy-hold : had they lived lazie thus long in palestine , sucking the * sweet of christendome to no purpose ? see , frederick with few men , little money , lesse time , as master of his craft , had finished that which these bunglers had so long in vain been fumbling about ! wherefore they wanting true merit to raise themselves to the pitch of fredericks honour , sought by false detraction to depresse him to the depth of their own basenesse ; defaming him , as if he conspired with the sultan to the ruine of all christianity . in the mean time the christians every where built and repaired the cities of palestine , being now resigned into their hands . joppa and nazareth they strongly fortified : the walls of jerusalem were repaired , the churches therein adorned , and all publick edifices either wholly cast their skin with the snake , or at leastwise renewed their bill with the eagle , having their fronts either built or beautified . but new tackling to an old rotten keel will never make serviceable ship . short were the smiles of this citie , which groning under gods old curse , little joyed her self in this her new bravery . the end of the third book . the history of the holy vvarre . book iv. chap. . frederick battered with the popes force , and undermined with his fraud , leaveth palestine , and returneth into italy . thus the christian affairs in palestine were in good case and possibility of improvement . but the pope knew he should catch no fish if the waters were thus clear : wherefore he stirred up john bren , fredericks father in law ( guesse whether his plots ran not low when he used such dregs ) to raise a rebellion in italy against him . his holinesse spread a false report of purpose , that frederick was dead . who would think there were so much substance in a shadow ! this vain rumour wrought reall effects , strengthening fredericks foes with hopes , and staggering his friends with fear and uncertainties . bren striking the iron whilest it was hot , wonne many places from the emperour : and though time soon after was delivered of her daughter truth , yet the confutation came too late , to shut the door when the steed was stoln ; the pope having attained his ends , and served his turn already . a jubile of liberty was proclaimed to all the emperours subjects , and they dispensed with from the pope for their allegeance to him . milan , and many other cities in italy , formerly imperiall , danced at this musick , made a foot-cloth of their masters livery , and from this time dated themselves free-states . here was brave gleaning , where all ranne away with whole sheaves ; where robbery was priviledged for lawfull purchase . and the pope , wise enough not so to give away the pie but to keep the best corner for himself , carved all apulia for his own part . whilest hostility in italy , treason beset frederick in syria ; the templars intimated to the s●ltan his privie project to wash himself in jordan , that so he might be surprized . but the sultan ( no doubt out of pity to see a lion catched in a fox-trap , there being a consangumity of all princes , and the royall bloud which runneth in their veins causing a sympathie of majesty betwixt them ) scorned to advantage himself by treachery , and sent their letters to frederick : who afterwards used the templars , and generally all the clergie in palestine ( counting them complices with the pope ) coursely , not to say cruelly . at last having confirmed his ten years truce , and having appointed reinoldus duke of bavaria his lieutenant in syria , without noise he cometh into europe . for to return triumphantly in state , had been but an alarm to awaken envy , and a warning-piece for his enemies to prepare against him . he outsailed fame it self , landing in italy in person before he arrived there in report . then the love of his loyall subjects , hitherto rather coverted then quenched , appeared ▪ and though formerly forced to a contrary motion , returned now quickly to their own prince their proper centre . within fifteen dayes , assisted with the duke of spoletum , frederick recovered all which was wonne from him , and unravelled the fair web of john brens victory , even to the very hemme thereof . then was all italy ( resembled by geographers , for the fashion thereof , to a mans legge ) troubled with the incurable gout of schisme and faction : not a city of note in it which was not dichotomized into the sect of the guelfes , which favoured the pope , and gibellines , which adhered to the emperour . guelfes for the pope . in rome ursini sabellii in florence adimaerii bondelmontii amidei cerchii rircii medicei pactii interminelli in lucea in padua in genoa fosci grimaldi fregosu in bononia caneduli pepuli marescotii in ferrara estenses in milain vicecomites in mantua gonzagae gibellines for the emperour in rome columnienses frangepanes caesarini in florence paxii uberti donati albicii strozi salviati in lucea obicii in padua carraerii in genoa spinolae adurnii dorii in bononia bentivoli malvecii in ferrara saligureri in milain turregiani in mantua bonacursii i will not quarrel with the tradition , * that elves and goblins in our english tongue had their first originall from the depravation of the names of guelfes and gibellines . if so , sure i am , what now we make terriculamenta infantum , scarecrows to affright children , were then true harpies to devour men . i would farther prosecute these discords ; and also shew how frederick was forced to ask pardon of him who had mostwronged him , and dearly to purchase his absolution from the pope ; ( for though this emperours heart was as hard as stone , yet was it furrowed , dinted , and hallowed at last with the popes constant dropping and incessant raining of curses upon him ) but i dare wander no farther in this subject , lest any should question my passe ; but return back to the holy land . chap. . the tartars first appearing in the world affright both christians and turks ; of their name and nature ; whether turks or tartars be easier convertible to the true religion . reinoldus duke of bavaria being left fredericks lieutenant in syria , wisely discharged his office , and preserved the peace entire which was concluded with the sultan of babylon . but the templars sought by all means to bring this ten years truce to an untimely end ; which was as bad as a lent to them , wherein they must fast from fighting , the meat and drink of turbulent spirits . these counting all luke-warm which were not scalding hot , condemned reinoldus for want of zeal in the holy warre , and gave him many a lift to heave him from his place ; but still he sat sure , poised with his own gravity . not did the enmity of henry king of cyprus much trouble him , who challenged the principality of antioch , as next of kinne to the prince deceased : for reinold met and defeated him in battel , and bestowed antioch on * frederick , base sonne to frederick the emperour . but that which kept both christians and turks in aw , and made them willing mutually to observe the truce , was the fear of the tartars , a fierce nation , which now had their first flight out of their own nest into the neighbouring countreys . these tartarians , anciently called scythians , inhabit the northern part of asia , a countrey never conquered by any of the monarchs , priviledged from their victorious arms chiefly by its own barrennesse : for except souldiers were ambitious of hunger and cold , here is nothing to countervail their pains of an invasion ▪ yea , no meat to maintain them . it is true , rhubarb the best of drugs groweth in this the worst of countreys : but souldiers seek rather for food then physick when they invade a countrey . a greater part of their land is undiscovered , though map-makers , rather then they will have their maps naked and bald , do periwig them with false hair , and fill up the vacuum ( especially towards the north ) with imaginary places of † vng , and gog , and the plains of bargu : so true it is what one saith wittily in the comedie , that phantastes the servant of geographus travelled further beyond the arctick circle then ever his master durst . if it be surest to follow the most , the stream of writers make it called tartaria from the river tartar : but europe and asia will by wofull experience justifie the etymologie , if deduced from tartarus , hell. for when the spring-tides of this nation overflowed the banks , hell might seem to have broken loose , and to have sent so many devils abroad . as for those that count them the off-spring of the ten tribes of israel , which salmanaser led away captive , because tatari or totari signifieth in the hebrew and syriack tongue , a residue or remnant , * learned men have sufficiently confuted it . and surely it seemeth a forced and overstrained deduction , to farrefetch the name of tartars from an hebrew word , a language so farre distant from them . but no more hereof : because perchance herein the womans reason hath a masculine truth ; and the tartarians are called so , because they are called so . it may be , curious etymologists ( let them lose their wages who work in difficult trifles ) seek to reap what was never sown , whilest they study to make those words speak reason , which are onely voc●s ad placitum , imposed at pleasure . under their new name tartarians , they keep their old nature of scythians , fierce , cruel ; yea , sometimes in stead of other meat , making a man their meat . * one humour they have , much affecting the owl , a bird which other nations scorn and hate , as the usher of ill luck . the occasion was this : a king of tartary sought for by his enemies , hid himself in a bush , whither his foes came to seek him ; when presently an owl flew out of the place : whereupon they desisted from further search , conceiving that that anchorite bird proclaimed nothing was there but solitude and desolation . hence in gratitude they never count themselves more gay then when their helmets are hung with owls feathers . whereat i should strange more , but that i find this fowl dedicated to † minerva the goddesse of wit , and that athens ( schoolmistresse of the world ) counted it a token of victory . the king of these tartarians styleth himself , the great cham , and is monarch of a great part of the world in possession , of the rest in imagination . he taketh and his subjects give him little lesse then divine honour ; who in other things at this time were pure pagans and idolaters . now their countrey , which is like a po●re man whose common is overstocked with children , swarming with more bees then hives , sent their superfluous numbers to seek their fortunes amongst the christians . they needed no steel armour who had iron bodies . onely with bows , cruelty , and multitude they overranne lituania , podolia , polonia , and those countreys which are the east-boundaries of europe . others took their way southward into asia , committing outrages as they went ; and sensible how incomparably their own countrey was surpassed for pleasure and profit by these new lands , ( blame not their judgement if they preferred a palace before a prison ) they little cared to return home . their incursions into europe were so farre and frequent , that pope innocent the fourth , about the yeare , began to fear them in italy . wherefore he sent askelin , a friar much admired in that age , with three other , into tartaria , to convert that nation to christianity . where askelin , instead of teaching them the elements of our religion , laid this foundation , to amplifie to them the power of the pope , setting him out in his full dimensions , how he was above all men in the christian world . a good nurse , to feed infants , in stead of milk , with such drie bones : enough almost to affright them from entring into our church , seeing such a giant as they painted the pope , to stand before the doore . but baiothnoi chief captain of the tartarian army ( for they were not admitted to speak with the great cham himself ) cried quits with this friar , outvying him with the greatnesse and divinity of their cham ; and sent back by them a blunt letter : * pope , know this ; thy messengers came and b●ought letters to us : thy mess●ngers spake great words ; we know not whether thou enjoynedst them , or whether they spake of themselves : and in thy letters thou writest thus ; many men you k●ll , slay , and destroy — at last he thus concluded ; if thou wilt set upon our land , water , and patrimony , it behoveth that thou , pope , in thy proper person come unto us ; and that thou come to him who containeth the face of the whole earth ; meaning their great cham. n●ver did his holinesse so meet with his ma●ch before . he durst not meet the great cham of the east , his competitour in the imaginary monarchie of the world , to trie whose title was truest . let others tear their skins , he would sleep in a whole one . and indeed that shepherd loved his flock of christians better , then by his absence in a long journey into tartaria to expose them to the wolves . and so the conversion of tartarie at that me was disappointed . it is a pretty qu●re , whether turks or tartars be easier converrible to christian religion : i mean ex parte objecti ; for otherwise all things are equally easie to an infinite agent . now it seemeth the tartars are reducible with most facility to our religion : for pure paganisme and native infidelity , like white cloth , will take the tincture of christianity ; whereas the turks are soiled and stained with the irreligious religion of mahometanisme , which first with much pains must be scoured out of them . and though they may seem to be in some forwardnesse to conversion , because they have a kind of knowledge and reverence of christ , yet the best joynt of their belief must be broken before it can be well set , and every drop of their present religion pumped out before true faith be infused into th●m . and experience , the most competent witnesse herein , hath proved . that afterwards more tartars , both private men and princes , then turks of either condition , have embraced christianity . enough at this time ; we shall have occasion too soon to speak more of the tartars . chap. . the greeks recover their empire from the latines ; the holy warre thereby much end●maged . it was conceived that it would be much beneficiall to the pilgrimes in their voyages to palestine , that the latines were lately possessed of the grecian empire : for what is saved , is gained : and grant that the latines in greece should not actually assist in the holy warre , yet it was a considerable advantage what all justly expected , that pilgrimes should now have safe and secure passage through grecia , the pitfall which formerly had devoured so many . but these fair hopes soon miscarried . for what through the celerity of theod orus lascaris , and the gravity of john ducas his sonne in law , who reigned as grecian emperours in nice , the greeks recovered every foot of ground that the latines had wonne from them : onely the venetians being ▪ good at holdfast , kept then portion when all others had spent theirs , and enjoy candie to this day . this is imputed to their discretion in their choice , who in the sharing of this empire amongst the western princes , refused the continent countreys ( though greater in extent , and ●cher in cities , ) and chose rather the islands , which being as little worlds in themselves , were most capable of 〈◊〉 fortifications , especially in their way , who were most powerfull as sea . sixty years almost did the latines make a hard shift to hold constantinople , under five succeeding emperours● . baldwine the first , earl of flanders ; . henry his brother , . peter , count of 〈◊〉 in france , henrie's sonne in law ; . robert ; . baldwine the second , and last . an example which the observers of the ominou● circulation or return of names alledge , that as a baldwine was the first , so a baldwine was the last lati●e emperour in grecia . of these , the first baldwine had his hands and feet out off , and died in a ditch ; peter invited to a feast , payed the shot with his life ; the other three died without any violence , but with much misery . and thus their conquest of greci● , like a little sprig stuck into the ground , did 〈◊〉 at the first whilst it had any 〈◊〉 , but then withe●ed for want of a 〈◊〉 . indeed it was impossible long to continue : for when the generation of the primitive adventurers , in this action were dead , there wanted another to succeed them ; and the countreys whence they came were so farre off that supplies of latine people came thither very slowly : onely venice well peopled her parts from the vicinity of her dominions . and that number of souldiers which is sufficient by sudden conquest to overrunne a countrey , is incompetent without a second edition of new supplies , to make good , manage , and maintain it : especially being to meddle with the greeks , farre exceeding them in number , subject onely out of fear , longing daily for their liberty and opportunity to recover it . let never any pilgrimes hereafter make greece their inne in their journey to palestine . yea , also at this time the furnace of the grecian jealousie was made seven times hoter : for besides this civil , an ecclesiasticall and spirituall breach happened betwixt them and the latines ; which we come now to describe . chap. . the uncurable breach betwixt the eastern and western churches , with the occasion thereof . hitherto grecians and latines lived together in palestine in some tolerable correspondence ; differing in judgement , but complying in affections ; as counting themselves two severall sides , yet both making up the body of christians . but now by an unhappy discord they were irreconcilably parted asunder , to the great advantage of the turks and prejudice of the holy warre . we will fetch this flame from the first spark ; and though we go farre about , the length of the journey will be recompensed by the goodnesse of the way . anciently in the primitive time the church of rome was esteemed the first and chiefest of all others , but without any jurisdiction above them . because that was the imperiall citie and queen of the world , therefore the church therein was highest in account ; as the candle which is in the fairest candlestick is alwayes set above the rest ( though otherwise equall unto it in light ) at the upper end of the table . it happened afterward that the emperour removed his seat from rome to constantinople ; whereupon orphane rome suddenly decayed ( for the emperours court carried day with it , and left night behind it ) was chief mourner at the funeralls of her own greatnesse ; and from a pleasant garden turned a wildernesse overgrown with goths , vandals , and other barbarous weeds : whilest constantinople tricked and tired her self , started up in an instant great , rich , and stately ; insomuch that john her patriarch claimed to be universall bishop above all other . gregory the great , bishop of rome , stoutly withstood him , protesting that he was the usher of antichrist who assumed that swelling title ; wherein he heated the brand to mark his successour with : for boniface ( save one , the next ) pope of rome so dealt with phocas the emperour of constantinople , that he got himself confirmed universall bishop over the whole world . a chaplain and a patrone well met , both usurpers , supporting one another ( like stones in an arch ) with their reciprocall aid ; phocas held boniface in his chair , and boniface kept phocas in his throne . and thus was the pope of rome first possessed of his primacie both of dignity and authority , both of precedencie and of power and jurisdiction over all other churches . as for his pretence , to challenge it by commission from christ and succession from peter , this string to his bow is so full of gauls , frets , and knots , it cannot hold , and is broken by many learned divines . however , constantinople rather overborn then overcome , for want rather of strength then stomach , ever rebelled , or rather resisted ( for no rebellion against usurpation ) romes supremacy ( especially when she found her self befriended with any advantage ) for many hundred years after . it happened ( to come to the matter in hand ) that a grecian * archbishop went to rome , there to have his confirmation . where the court demanded of him such unreasonable fees ( toll more then the grist ) that the prelate perceived it would weaken him to be confirmed , and shake his estate to settle him in his bishoprick . home therefore he cometh with a loud alarm against the extortions of rome , and mustereth together many of his countrey-men ; who hereupon for ever withdrew their obedience from rome , and threw off that heavy yoke they could not bear , hereafter owning her for their sister not mother . it may seem strange that the romane court being here justly taxed for extortion , would not amend it . but how often soever she be told of her dirty face , she will never wash it : for reforming would argue a former fault ; and they feared , if they yielded themselves guilty in one point , it would shake the whole fabrick of their credit . besides , if the grecians had received satisfaction and redresse in this grievance , it would have given them pretence to prepare more requests , aed to think that they also were due . lastly , no strength of perswasion will draw men from those sinnes which are glued unto them by their profit . thus the avarice of the romish officers ( as of late the shamefull shamelesse covetousnesse of their indulgence-mongers occasioned luthers falling from them ) caused the grecians wholly to renounce their subjection to that see : and germanus patriarch of constantinople now grew absolute of himself , without any dependencie on the pope . his holinesse despairing to reduce them by fair means , proclaimed warre against them . and as formerly against the albingenses , so now against the grecians , resolved to send an army of * croised souldiers : it being his custome to make the secular power little better then an hangman to execute those he shall please to condemn ; yea , he hath turned the back of the sword rewards infidels , and the edge against christians dissenting from him in small matters . but few-voluntaries were found for this service , because of a pious horrour and religious reluctancie against so odious an imployment : onely in * cyprus ( i believe in a private persecution rather then open warre ) some grecians were put to death ; the pope using the same severity against wolves and wandring sheep , foes and prodigall children . chap. . wherein the greeks dissent from the latines ; what must charitably be conceived of them . besides their rejecting of the popes both ecclesiasticall and temporall tyranny , the greeks differ from the latines in other matters of moment : for they maintain the procession of the holy spirit from the father alone . as for their other tenents , they stand in some middle terms of opinion betwixt papists and protestants ; yet so , that they approch near the papists in more , to us in more weighty and dominative points . with rome they concurre in transubstantiation , in the whole sacrifice of the masse , in praying to saints and for the dead , in auricular confession , in worshipping of pictures ( onely of christ and our lady ) but all images they detest ; a kind of purgatory they hold , but not in hell or the skirts thereof , nor by any outward torment . with us they consent in the sufficiency of the scriptures to salvation , in denying the infallibility of the church , ( much more of the pope ) the overplus of merits , service understood , indulgences , liberaties out of purgatorie , and the like . hereupon the romanists condemn them all for hereticks and castawayes , killing more then a third of all christians ( as cain did a quarter of mankind with a blow ) with this their uncharitable censure . but heaven-gate was not so easily shut against multitudes when s. peter himself wore the keyes at his girdle . and let us not with rash judging thrust all into the pit of hell whom we see walking near the brink thereof . we shall think better of them if we consider , that first , their tenets wherein they dissent from the romanists are sound enough , save that of the holy ghost . concerning which it is an usefull quaere , whether , granting the first authours and ringleaders of that errour in a bad condition , there be not some favour to be allowed to those who in simplicity succeed to hereditary errours received from their ancestours , if they do not wilfully barre nor bolt their eyes against the beams of the truth , but be willing ( as we charitably conceive of the greeks ) to receive and embrace better instruction . secondly , the master of the sentences ( waited on herein with other * learned men ) is of opinion , that in the sense of the greek church a filio and per filium is no reall difference , but a question in modo loquendi . sure it would have grated the foundation , if they had so denied the procession of the holy ghost from the sonne , as thereby to make an inequality betwixt the two persons : but since their form of speech is , that the holy ghost proceedeth from the father by the sonne , and is the spirit of the sonne , without making any difference in the consubstantiality of the persons , their doctrine may passe with a favourable interpretation . thirdly , our quickest sight in the matters of the trinity is but one degree above blindnesse . wherefore , as concerning it , let our piety lodge there where in other disputes the deceit of sophisters used to nestle it self , namely , in universalibus , in large and generall expressions , and not descend to curious particulars . to search into the manner of the ●spirits procession , is neither manners nor religion : and rather falleth under an awfull adoration and belief , then an exact and curious enquirie . lastly , this their tenet doth not infect any other point in divinity with its poysonous inferences . some errours are worse in their train then in themselves , which ( as the dragon in the revelation drew down a third part of the starres with his tail ) by their bad consequences pervert other points of religion : but this grecian opinion ( as learned men propound it ) concerning the holy ghost , hath this happinesse , that it is barren , and begetteth no other bad tenets from it , being entire in it self . more may be alledged for the lessening of this errour : but grant it in its full extent , yet surely the moderate judgement of that learned * divine whose memory smelleth like a field the lord hath blessed , will abide triall ; who in effect thus concludeth , their schismes are sinfull , wicked , and inexcusable ; their doctrine dangerous , but not so damnable as excluding from all possibility of salvation . as for the observation of a * schoolman , that afterwards the turks wonne constantinople on whitsunday , the day dedicated to the memoriall of the holy spirit , as if god herein pointed at the sinne of the grecians in dishonouring the holy ghost ; we leave it to the readers discretion , desiring rather to be scepticall then definitive in the causes of gods judgements . chap. . a comparative estimate of the extent of the greek and latine church ; what hope of reconcilement betwixt them ; the influence this breach had on the holy warre . if that religion were surely the best which is of the greatest latitude and extent , surveyers of land were fitter then divines to judge of the best religion . neither is it any matter of great moment to measure the greatnesse of either church : but because rome maketh her universality such a masterpiece to boast of , let us see if the greek church may not outshoot her in her own bow . if we begin with the grecian church in africa under the patriarch of alexandria , thence proceeding into asia , and fetch a compasse about syria , armenia , asia the lesse , with cyprus , candie , and other islands in the mid-land-sea , and so come into grecia ; if hence we go into russia and muscovia ( who though differing in ceremonies , dissent not in doctrine ; as a sundry dialect maketh not a severall language ) to take onely entire kingdomes , and omit parcels : it is a larger quantity of ground then that the romish religion doth stretch to , since luther cut so large a collop out of it , and withdrew north-europe from obedience to his holinesse . perchance the romanists may plead they have lately improved the patrimony of their religion by new purchases in both indies : but who knoweth not that those people , rather watered then baptized , affrighted with cruelty into christianity , deserve not to be accounted settled and well-grounded professours of their religion ? as for reconciliation betwixt the grecians and latines , it is utterly improbable , except the greeks submit to the popes primacie , which they will never do . no hope then of their meeting together , when neither party will stirre step towards other . true it is , some fourty years since ( anno ) the bishops of little russia ( a countrey following the eastern church , but under the king of poland ) on condition they would accept the popes * supremacie , were dispensed with , and permitted in other matters to adhere to the greek church , and keep union with it ; the pope manifesting herein , that he aimeth not so much at the reduction of the greeks to the truth , as to his own obedience . besides the hatred they have against the popes pride , another great hindrance of the union is the small intercourse the eastern christians have or desire to have with the western . they live amongst the turks , and are grown to be contented slaves ; and having long since parted with their hopes , now almost have lost their desire of liberty . we must not forget , how some fifty years ago solemn news was reported in rome , that the * patriarch of alexandria , with all the greek church in africa , by their embassadours had submitted and reconciled themselves to the pope , and from him received absolution and benediction : all which was a politick lie , perchance therefore reported , that it might make impression in the minds , and raise and confirm the spirits of the vulgar , who easily believe all that their betters tell them . and though afterwards this report was controlled to be false , yet mens spirits then being cold , were not so sensible of it as before : and the former news came to many mens ears who never heard afterwards of the check and confutation thereof . nor is there any state in the world that maketh such use and advantage , as the papall doth , of false news . to conclude ; as it is a maxime in philosophy , ex quibus constamus , ex iisdem nutrimur : so a great part of their religion consisting of errours and falshoods , it is suitable that accordingly it should be kept up and maintained with forgeries and deceits . to return to palestine ; this rent ( not in the seam but whole cloth ) betwixt these churches was no mean hindrance to the holy warre . formerly the greeks in syria were not so clearly cut asunder from the latines , but that they hung together by one great sinew in the common cause , agreeing against the turk the enemy to both : but since this last breach , the greeks did in their desires propend and incline to the turks , being better contented they should conquer , from whom they should have fair quarter , free exercise of their religion , and secure dwelling in any citie , paying a set tribute ; then the latines , who they feared would force their consciences , and bring their souls in subjection to the popes supremacie . expect we then never hereafter , that either their hearts or hands should afford any assistance to our pilgrimes in their designes . * some conceive , that at this day if the western christians should stoutly invade turkie with any likelihood to prevail , the greeks therein would runne to aid them . but others are of a contrary judgement ; considering , first , the inveterate and inlaid hatred ( not to be washed off ) they bear the latines : secondly , the jealousie they have that they will never keep promise with them , who have alwayes a warrant dormant from the pope to break all contracts prejudiciall to the romish church : thirdly , that custome and long continuance in slavery have so hardened and brawned their shoulders , the yoke doth not wring them so much : yea , they had rather suffer the turks , being old full flies , to suck them , then to hazard their galled backs to new hungry ones ; finding by experience , that they themselves live on better terms of servitude under the turk , lesse grated and grinded with exactions , then some of their countrey-men do under the latines ; for instance , in zante and candie under the venetians . chap. . theobald king of navarre maketh an unsuccessefull voyage into palestine . the ten years truce by this time was expired which frederick made with the turks ; and reinold vice-roy of palestine by instructions from him concluded another truce of the * same term with them . he saw that this young christian kingdome of jerusalem , like an infant , would thrive best with sleeping , with peace and quietnesse : nor was it any policie for him to move at all , where there was more danger to hurt then hope to help their present estate . but though this peace was honourable and profitable , having no fault but that frederick made it ; yet the templars who did not relish the father , must needs distast the child : they complained that this peace was not used as a slumber to refresh the souldiers spirit , but as a lethargie to benumme their valour ; and chiefly snarled at this indignity , that the turks had accesse to the temple of the sepulchre , and that goats had free-commonage in the sheeps pasture . wherefore pope gregory , to * despite the emperour frederick , caused the dominicans and franciscans his trumpeters , to incite people to the holy warre . these were two twin-orders , but the dominican the eldest ; which now were no sooner hatched in the world , but presently chirped in the pulpits . in that age sermons were news , and meat for princes not common men : yea , the albingenses with their preaching had drowned the voices of secular priests , if these two orders had not helped to out-noise those supposed hereticks . these amplified with their rhetorick the calamity of the christians , tyrannie of the turks , merit of the cause , probability of successe ; performing their parts with such gravity , shew of devotion , accents of passion , not glued on for the present purpose but so naturall as from true affection , that many were wooed to undertake the voyage : principally , theobald king of navarre , almerick earl of montfort , henry of champaigne , peter earl of bretaigne , with many others of inferiour rank . ships they had none ; wherefore they were fain to shape their passage by land through grecia : where they were entertained with treachery , famine , and all the miseries which wait on distressed armies . these came last that way , and ( i may say ) shut the door : for no christian army ever after went that tedious journey by land . having passed the bosporus , they marched into bithynia : thence through galatia they came unto the mountain taurus ; where they were much damnified by the turks , who fell on and off upon them , as they were advised by their own advantages . the christians desired no other gift but that a set battel might be given them ; which the turks would not grant , but played at distance and would never close . but with much ado the christians recovered to antioch , having scarce a third part of them left , their horses all dead , and themselves scarce mounted on their legs , miserably weak ; as what the mercy of sword , plague , and famine had pleased to spare . hence the templars conducted them to gaza ; where they fell on forraging the countrey of the sultan , assaulting no places which were of strength , or honour to subdue , but onely spoiled poore villages , which counted themselves walled with the truce as yet in force . abundance of wealth they got , and were now late returning home , when after their plentifull supper a dear and ●harp reckoning was called for : behold , the turks in great numbers fell upon them near unto gaza ; and the christians down with their bundles of spoil , and out with their swords , bravely defending themselves till such time as the night parted the fray . here they committed a great errour , and ( as one may say ) a neglect in over-diligence : for in stead of reposing themselves to rest , and appointing a set watch , they all lay in a manner perdues , no one slumbering all night , but attending their enemies ; contrary to the rules of an armie , which with argus should never have all its eyes wake or sleep together . next morning when the turks , whose numbers were much in creased , set upon them , alas ! they being but few to many , faint to fresh , were not able to make any forcible resistance : yet , what they could not pay in present , they pawned their lives for ; that their arms being too weak for their hearts , they were rather killed then conquered . earl henry was slain , almerick taken prisoner , the king of navarre escaped by the swiftnesse of his spanish gennet ; which race , for their winged speed , the poets feigned to be begot of the wind . mean time the other christians looked on , and saw their brethren slaughtered before their eyes ; and yet though they were able to help them , were not able to help them , their hands being tied with the truce , and reinoldus charging them no way to infringe the peace concluded with the sultan . hereupon many cursed him as the christians cut-throat ; he as fast condemned the king of navarre and his army for breaking the truce . and though the papall faction pleaded that the former peace concluded not these late adventurers , and that it was onely made with frederick the emperour ; yet he representing the whole body of christianity , all the bundle of their shifts could not piece out a satisfactory answer , but that they were guilty of faith-breaking . home hastened the king of navarre with a small retinue , clouding himself in privatenesse ; as that actour who cometh off with the dislike of the spectatours , stealeth as invisibly as he may into the tiring-house . expectation , that friendly foe , did him much wrong ; and his performance fell the lower , because men heightened their looking for great maters from him . chap. . richard earl of cornwall saileth to the holy land ; his performance there , and the censure thereof . * fifteen dayes after the departure of theobald , richard earl of cornwall , brother to henry the third then king of england , landed at ptolemais . this prince was our english crassus , or croesus ; cornwall was his indies , where he turned tinne into gold and silver . so well-moneyed he was , that for ten years together he might for every day expend an * hundred marks : so that england never since had together a poorer king and a richer subject . before he began his voyage he craved a subsidie of prayers from the monks of s. albanes : yea , scarce was there any covent appearing for piety , to whose devotions he recommended not himself ; counting that ship to fail the surest which is driven with the breath of godly mens prayers . theodoricus lord prior of the english hospitallers , with many other barons and brave souldiers attending him , passed through france , and was there honourably entertained by king lewis . being come to the mediterranean sea , the popes legate brought him a flat countermand , that he must go no further , but instantly return . richard at first was astonished hereat : but quickly his anger got the mastery of his amazement , and he fell on fuming ; * was this christ vicar ? unlike was he to him , who was thus unlike to himself , who would say and unsay , solemnly summon , then suddenly cashier his holy souldiers . this was deluding of peoples devotions with false alarms , to make them put their armour on to put it off again . as for his own self , he had vowed this voyage , his honour and treasure was ingaged therein , and the pope should not blast his settled resolutions with a breath : his ships were manned , victualled , and sailing forward ; and in such great actions the setting forth is more then half the journey . all know his holinesse to be too wary an archer to shoot away his arrows at nothing . he had a mark herein , a plot in this restraint , but that too deep for others to fathom . it could not be this , to make this rich earl ( a fish worth angling for ) to commute his voyage into money , and to buy a dispensation of his holinesse to stay at home , as formerly he had served many meaner pilgrimes . surely though the popes covetousnesse might have prompted , his wisdome would have disswaded him from a project spunne with so course a threed . on saileth earl richard , and safely arriveth at ptolemais ; where he is well welcomed , especially by the clergy , solemnly singing , * blessed is he that cometh in the name of the lord. he proclaimed , no christian should depart for want of pay ; for he would entertain any , and give them good wages that would do work in this warre . but he found the christians there shivered into severall factions , and the two great orders , hospitallers and templars , two great confusions of the holy cause . of these the hospitallers were the seniors in standing , their originall being dated eighteen years before the templars ; and therefore challenged superiority . but that which made the younger brother so brisk , was , that he was his fathers darling . the templars in all their broils had support from the pope , because the others were suspected to have a smack of the imperiall faction . this made them active , daring , offering of affronts : and what countrey-men soever the templars were , they were alwayes italians , that is , true to the triple crown . these being madded with ambition , were the more outragious for their high fare ( their great revenues ) and deserved to be dieted with a poorer pittance , except they would have used their strength better . our earl knew , to please one side would certainly displease the other , and to please both would probably please neither . wherefore he managed his matters entirely to himself , without relating to either of the parties , taking no ground of their giving , but bowling at the publick good by the aim of his own eye . the sultans in syria ( for the turkish power there was divided into severall sultanies , as those of damascus , * cracci , seisser , but babylon the chiefest ) hearing of richards preparations , profered peace unto him . but whilest as yet the conditions were in suspense , richard fortified askelon ( in all the bunch there was not a better key , or harbour of more importance ) not onely to strength but state , with marble pillars and statues ; though the silent ruines thereof at this day confesse not to the beholders that any such cost was ever bestowed there . he also caused the corpses of the christians killed at the late battel at gaza , and hitherto unburied , decently to be interred ; and appointed an annuall salarie to a priest to pray for their souls . hereby he had the happinesse with little cost to purchase much credit ; and the living being much taken with kindnesse to the dead , this burying of those christians , with pious persons wonne him as much repute as if he killed so many turks . at last the truce for ten years was concluded with the sultan ; all christian captives were discharged and set free , many forts of them restored , and matters for the main reduced to the same estate they were at the first peace with frederick the emperour ; and richard returning through sicily and by rome , where he visited his holinesse , safely came home to england : where he was welcomed with bad news , that a discontented cornish-man , banished for his misdemeanours , had found out tinne-mines in * bohemia ; which afterwards more asswaged the swelling of this earls bags then all his voyage to palestine : for till that time that metall was onely fetched from england , which afforded meat to some forrein countreys , and dishes to all . his voyage was variously censured : the templars which consented not to the peace , flouted thereat , as if all this while he had laboured about a difficult nothing , and as good never a whit as never the better , for the agreement would never hold long . others thought he had abundantly satisfied any rationall expectation : for he * compelled , saith one , the saracens to truce , ( a strange compulsion without , violence , except the shewing of a scabbard ) he restored many to the life of their life , their liberty ; which alone was worth all his pains ; the peace he concluded was honourable ; and a cheap olive-branch is better then dear bayes . two of our english richards were at palestine ; one famous for drawing his sword , the other his purse . he was also remarkable herein , that he brought all his men and ships safe home , ( next of kin to a miracle ) and none will deny , but that in such dangerous adventures a saver is a gainer . one good he got hereby , this journey brought him into play amongst forrein princes ; henceforward the beyond-sea-world took notice of him , and he of it . never would he have had the face to have courted the crown imperiall , if these his travels had not put boldnesse and audacity into him , which made him afterwards a stiff rivall to bid for the empire of germany . chap. . the corasines cruelly sack the city of ierusalem , and kill the christians therein . about this time ( though we find not the punctuall date thereof ) happened the death of reinoldus fredericks lieutenant in syria , who by his moderation had been a good bene factour to the holy warre . but the templars counted him to want metall , because he would not be mad and causelesly break the truce with the sultan . in his grave was buried the happinesse of the christians in palestine : for now the lawlesse templars observe no other rule but their own will. and now the inundation of the tartarians in spite of all dammes and banks overranne the north of asia , and many nations fled from their own countreys for fear of them . amongst other the corasines ( called by some choermines , and gro●ssoms ) a fierce and warlike people , were notwithstanding by the tartarians forced to forsake their land . being thus unkennelled , they had their recourse to the sultan of babylon , and petitioned him to bestow some habitation upon them . their suit he could neither safely grant nor deny : a deniall would egge their disconten●● into desperatenesse ; and such sturdy dangerous vagabonds might do much harm : to admit them to be joynt-tenants in the same countrey with the turks , was a present inconvenience , and would be a future mischief . in stead therefore of giving them a house , he sent them to a work-house ; yet so , that they apprehended it a great courtesie done unto them : for he bestowed on them all the lands which the christians held in palestine ; liberall to give away what was none of his , and what the others must purchase before they could enjoy . the sultan encouraged them to invade that countrey ; whose people he pretended were weak and few , the land wealthy and fruitfull , so that the conquest would be easie , especially they having his assistance in the present service , and perpetuall patronage hereafter . animated herewith in come the corasines with their wives and children ( bringing their housholds with them to win houses and lands for them ) into syria , and march directly to jerusalem ; which being a weak and unfortified place , was taken without resistance . weak and unfortified ! strange ! it is confessed on all sides , that frederick the emperour and reinoldus his lieutenant spared no expense in strengthening this city ; since which time we find no solemn taking it by the turks : who then can expect lesse then an impregnable place , where so much cost was sown ? which driveth us to conceive one of these three things ; either that the weaknesse of this citie was chiefly in the defenders hearts ; or else that formerly there happened some blind and silent dispoiling of this place not mentioned by authours ; or lastly , that jerusalem was a jericho , i mean , a place cursed in building , like pharaohs lean kine , never ● whit the fatter for devouring much meat ; and which still went in rags , though her friends bestowed change of raiment upon her . thus this city , after that it had been possessed fifteen years by the christians , was wonne by this barbarous people , never since regained to our religion . sleep , jerusalem , sleep in thy ruines , at this day of little beauty and lesse strength , famous onely for what thou hast been . the christians flying out of jerusalem with their families , took their course towards joppa ; but looking back , beheld their own ensignes advanced on the city-walls , so done in policie by their enemies . whereupon their credulity thus commented , that their fellows had beaten the corasines in jerusalem , and by these * banners invited them to return : but going back , they found but cold ( or rather too hot ) entertainment , being slain every mothers child of them . dull nostrils ! not to sent so stale and rank a stratagem of their foes , so often used , so easily defeated ; not to send some spies to taste the bait before all swallowed it . but men marked out for destruction , will runne their own heads into the halter . chap. . robert patriarch of ierusalem , with the whole strength of the christians , conquered by the corasines . the desperatenesse of the disease priviledgeth the taking of any physick . the christians being now in deep distresse , resolved on a dangerous course , but as ( as their case stood ) thought necessary : for they made peace with the sultan of dama●cus and seisser , and with the sultan of cracci ; ( these were dynastes in syria of some good strength , and were at discord with the sultan of babylon ) and swearing them to be faithfull , borrowed an armie of their forces , with them joyntly to resist the corasines ; seeking , saith * frederick the emperour , to find fidem in perfidia , trust in treachery . many suspected these auxiliary forces ▪ thinking , though the forrest-wolves fell out with the mountain ones , they would both agree against the sheep . robert patriarch of jerusalem was a most active commander over all . s. lukes day was the time agreed upon for the fatall battel ; near tiberias was the place . as the christians were ordering themselves in aray , it was questioned in what part of their armie their new turkish assistants should be disposed , and concluded that they should be placed in the front , where if they did no other good , they would dull the appetite of their enemies sword . this is thought to have been a notorious errour , and cause of their overthrow . for though those souldiers who mean to be false , will never be made faithfull in what place soever they be bestowed , yet may they be made lesse dangerous if cast into the body or main battel of the army , whence they have no such scope to fling out , and to take advantage of place to do mischief , as they have either in the front or wings thereof , thus in cesars time , crassus an experienced generall under him being to bid the gauls battel , * auxiliares copias , quibus ad pugnam non multùm confidebat , in mediam aciem collocavit ; that so being hemmend in before and behind , they might be ingaged to fight manfully without starting away . and to instance in later times ; our richard the third ( who though he usurped the crown , had , as none will deny , a true title both to prowesse and martiall policie ) marching to bosworth , placed * suspected persons ( whose bodies were with him and hearts with earl henry ) in the midst ; and those whom he most trusted , before , behind , and on every side . the battel being joyned , the † turks ranne over to the other side ; though some braved them onely with cowardlinesse not treachery , and that they fled from the battel but not fell to the enemies . the christians manfully stood to it , and though over-powred in number , made a great slaughter of their enemies , till at last they were quite overthrown . of the teutonick order escaped but three ; of three hundred templars , but eighteen ; of two hundred hospitallers , but nineteen : the patriarch ( to use his own words ) whom god reputed unworthy of martyrdome , saved himself by flight , with a few others . and this great overthrow , to omit lesse partner-causes , is chiefly imputed to the templars former so often breaking the truce with the sultan of babylon . thus were the christians conquered by the corasines , and beaten by a beaten nation ; palestine being wonne by those who could not keep their own countrey . improving this victorie they left nothing to the christians but tyre , ptolemais , and antioch , with some few forts . soon after , these corasines elated herewith fell out with the sultan himself ; who in anger rooted out their nation , so that * none of their name remained : yea , * all writers are silent of them both before this time and ever after : as if god at this very instant had created this people to punish christians ; which service performed , they were annihilated again . chap. . lewis the ninth setteth forward against the turks ; the occasion of his journey , and his attendants . some two years after , lewis the ninth of that name , king of france , came to assist the christians . the occasion of his voyage , this ; he had been visited with a desperate sicknesse , insomuch that all art cried craven , as unable to help him ; and the physicians resigned him to divines , to begin with him where they ended : they also gave him over ; and for a while he lay in a trance , not the least breath brought news of any life left in him . then blanch the queen-mother ( and queen of mothers for her care of her sonne and his kingdome ) * applied a piece of the crosse unto him . thereat ( whether thereby , let others dispute ) he revived and recovered ; and thereupon was croised , and in thankfulnesse bound himself with a vow to sail to the holy land . but his nobility disswaded him from that designe : the dangers were certain , the successe would be doubtfull of so long a journey ; his own kingdome would be left desolate , and many mischiefs unseen as yet , would appear in his absence : besides , his vow was made in his sicknesse , whilest reason was scarce as yet in the peaceable possession of his mind , because of the remnant-dregs of his disease : it might also be dispensed with by the pope ; yea , his deserts did challenge so much from his holinesse . king lewis , as perswaded hereat , laid down the crosse to the great comfort and contentment of all the beholders : but then * altering his countenance , he required the crosse should be restored to him again , and vowed to eat no bread untill he was recognized with the pilgrimes badge . and because his vow should suffer no diminution or abatement from his disease , now no longer lewis the sick , but lewis the sound undertook the holy warre . his nobles seeing him too stiff to be unbent , and counting it a kind of sacrilegious counsel to disswade him from so pious a work , left him to his own resolutions . there went along with him his two brothers , charles earl of anjou , robert earl of artois , his own queen , and their ladies , odo the popes legate , hugh duke of burgundie , william earl of flanders , hugh earl of st. paul , and william longspath earl of sarisbury with a band of valiant english men , who went without licence from henry king of england : for in those dayes this doctrine went currant , that their princes leave was rather of complement then essentiall to their voyage ; as if the band of this holy warre was an acquitance from all others . our henry displeased at this earls departure , for his disobedience deprived him of his earldome and castle of sarisbury , not suffering that sheep to grase in his pasture which would not own him for his shepherd . william also sonne to this * earl , smarting for his fathers fault , never enjoyed that honour . and though king henry himself being a prince of more devotion then policie , did most affectionately tender this holy cause , yet he used this necessary severity towards this earl at this time ; first , because it would weaken his land thus to be dispeopled of martiall men ; secondly , his subjects forwardnesse might be interpreted a secret check of his own backwardnesse in that warre ; thirdly , the sucking in of forrein aire did wean people from their naturall prince , and did insensibly usher into their hearts an alienation from their own sovereigne , and a dependence on the king of france ; lastly , he had some thoughts on that voyage himself , and reserved such prime peers to attend on his own person thither . the pope gave to this king lewis his charges , the tenth of the clergies revenues through france for three years ; and the king imployed the popes collectours to gather it , knowing those leaches were the best suckers . hereupon the states of the clergy were shaved as bare as their crowns ; and a poore priest who had but twenty shillings annuall pension , was forced to pay two yearly to the king : and this by my * authour is made the cause of his following ill successe , there being much extortion used by his under-officers . no wonder then if the wings of that army did quickly flag , having so heavy a weight of curses hanging upon them . and though money be the sinews of warre , yet ill-gotten money , like gouty sinews , rather paineth then strengtheneth . true it is , that this pious king was no way guilty thereof , but such as were under him ; and oftentimes the head doth ach for the ill vapours of the stomach . he himself most princely caused to be proclaimed through his realm , if any merchant or other had been at any time injured by the kings exactours , either by oppression or borrowing of money , let him bring forth his bill , shewing how and wherein , and he should be recompensed . how this was performed we find not ; but it was a good lenitive plaister to asswage the peoples pain for the present . having at lyons took his leave of the pope , and a blessing from him , he marched towards avignon : where some of the city wronged his souldiers , especially with foul language . wherefore his nobles desired him that he would besiege the citie , the rather because it was suspected that therein his father was poysoned . to whom lewis most christianly , i come not out of france to * revenge my own quarrels , or those of my father or mother , but injuries offered to jesus christ. hence he went without delay to his navie , and committed himself to the sea . chap. . lewis arriveth in cyprus ; the conversion of the tartarians hindred ; the treachery of the templars . sailing forward with a prosperous wind , he safely arrived in cyprus ; where alexius lusignan king of the island entertained him according to the stateliest hospitality . here the pestilence ( one of the ready attendants on great armies ) began to rage : and though a french * writer saith it was minax mag●s quàm funesta , yet we find in others , that two hundred and fourty gentlemen of note died by force of the infection . hither came the embassadours from a great tartarian prince ( but surely not from cham himself ) invited by the fame of king lewis his piety , professing to him , that he had renounced his paganisme , and embraced christianity ; and that he intended to send messengers to pope innocent to be further instructed in his religion . but some christians which were in tartary disswaded him from so doing , lest the tartarians coming to rome should behold the dissolutenesse of mens lives there , and so refuse to suck the milk of sweet doctrine from so sowre and bitter nipples , besmeared about with bad and scandalous conversation . yea , never could the christian religion be shewed to * pagans at any time on more disadvantages : grecians and latines were at deadly feud ; amongst the latines , guelfes and gibellines sought to ruine each other : humility was every-where preached , and pride practised : they perswaded others to labour for heaven , and fell out about earth themselves : their lives were contrary to their doctrines , and their doctrines one to another . but as for these embassadours , king lewis received them very courteously , dismissing them with bounteous gifts . and by them he sent to their master a ten● , wherein the history of the bible was as richly as curiously d●picted in needle-work ; hoping thus to catch his soul in his eyes , and both in that glorious present : pictures being then accounted lay-mens books , though since of many condemned as full of errata's , and never set forth by authority from the king of heaven to be means or workers of faith . whilest lewis stayed in cyprus , the templars in the holy land began to have his greatnesse in suspicion . this order ( as both the other , of hospitallers and teutonicks ) though mown down to the bare roots at the last unfortunate battel , yet now in three years space sprung up as populous as ever before ; their other brethren which lived in their severall covents and commandries over all europe , having now refurnished the houses in palestine . now these templars were loth king lewis should come to ptolemais , though they counterfeited he should be very welcome there . they formerly there had commanded in chief without controll , and were unwilling , having long sat in the saddle , now to dismount and hold the stirrup to another . besides , they would not have so neat and cleanly a guest see their slutrish houses , fearing lewis his piety would shame their dissolutenesse , ( being one so godly in his conversation , that by the preaching in his life he had converted many * saracens ) yea , perchance he being a strict disciplinarian would punish their vicious manners . wherefore they wrote to him out of syria , to accept of a peace with the sultan of egypt now offered , and to proceed no further in warre against him . the french king , whose heart was ever open to any fair agreement , and shut against any dishonourable suspicions , had entertained the motion , had not the king of cyprus , being more studied in the templars treacheries , better instructed him : for he told him , this was but a * trick of their great master , who under-hand had sent to the sultan , and procured him to profer this peace onely for their own private ends , for to divert the king from coming amongst them . lewis , though the mildest and most patient of princes , yet not a drone which wanted the sting of anger , commanded the master of the templars upon the price of his head thenceforward to receive no embassage , nor keep any intelligence with their enemy , and resolved with himself to invade egypt . chap. . the wise preparations of the egyptians ; the valour of the french at their landing ; damiata wonn● . but he stood so long in aiming , that the bird saw him , and had leisure to flie away , and meladine the egyptian king to provide himself to make resistance . last time ( some thirty years before ) when the christians under john bren invaded egypt , they were not impeached in their arrivall , but suffered to land without any opposition . but meladine now was sensible of the discommodity in permitting his ●oes safely to come on shore : for first , they wasted and spoiled the countrey & the provision about them : secondly , opportunity was given to male contents and ill-disposed persons to flie to the enemy : lastly , he found it most policy to keep the enemy off at arms end , and to close at the last ; and not to adventure his kingdome on the single die of a battel , but rather to set it on a chance , that so he might have the more play for it . wherefore he resolved to strengthen his maritime places , and not suffer them to land ; though also herein he met with many difficulties . for as nothing was more certain then that lewis would set on egypt , so nothing more uncertain ; and because it was unknown at what time or place he would come , all times and places were provided for . this exhausted a masse of treasure to keep in pay so many souldiers for many moneths together . but it is no time to dispute about unnecessary thirft , when a whole kingdome is brought into question to be subdued . and because the landing-places in egypt are of great disadvantage to the defendants , yielding them no shelter from the fury of their enemies artillery , being all open places and plain ( the shores there being not shod against the sea with huge high rocks , as they are in some other countreys , because the land is low and level ) meladine was forced to fortifie welnigh an hundred and eighty miles along the sea-side ; and what nature had left bare , art put the more clothes on ; and by using of great industry ( such as by tully is fitly termed horribilis industria ) in short space all that part of egypt was fenced which respecteth the sea . winter being past , robert duke of burgundie , and alphonse king lewis his brother arrived in cyprus with a new army ; and hereupon they concluded to set forward for egypt , and attempted to land near damiata . but the governour thereof with a band of valiant souldiers stoutly resisted them . here was a doubtfull fight : the egyptians standing on the firm ground , were thereby enabled to improve and * inforce their darts to the utmost , whilest the french in their ticklish boats durst not make the best of their own strength . besides , those on land threw their weapons downwards from the forts they had erected , so that the declivity and downfall did naturally second the violent impression of their darts . how-ever , the infidels at last were here beaten with what commonly was their own weapon , i mean , multitude ; so that they fled into the town , leaving behind them their governour and five hundred of their best souldiers dead on the shore . damiata was a strong city , the taking whereof was accounted the good task of an army for a yeare . but now the egyptians within were presented afresh with the memory of the miseries they indured in the last long siege by the christians ; and fearing lest that tragedy should be acted over again , set fire on their houses , and in the night saved themselves by flight . the french issuing in quenched the fire , and rescued much corn and other rich spoil from the teeth of the flame . meladine much troubled with this losse , to purchase peace * offered the christians all jerusalem in as ample a manner as ever formerly they had enjoyed it ; all prisoners to be restored , with a great summe of money to defray their charges , and many other good conditions : so that we may much wonder at his profusenesse in these profers , and more at the christians indiscretion in their refusall . for though some advised to make much of so frank a chapman , and not through covetousnesse to outstand their market ; yet the popes legate and robert earl of artois , heightened with pride that they could not see their profit , and measuring their future victories by the largenesse of their first footing in egypt , would make no bargain except alexandria , the best port in egypt were also cast in for vantage , to make the conditions down-weight : and king lewis , whose nature was onely bad because it was so good , would in no wise crosse his brother in what he desired . whereupon the turks seeing themselves in so desperate condition , their swords being sharpened on extremity , provided to defend their countrey to the utmost . chap. . discords betwixt the french and english ; the death and disposition of meladine king of egypt . about this time brake out the dissensions betwixt the french and english. the cause whereof ( as some say ) was , for that the earl of sarisbury in sacking a fort got more spoil then the french. but surely the foundation of their discontents lay much lower , being on old enmity betwixt the two nations , and robert earl of artois used earl william and his men with much discourtesie . the robert stood much on the royaltie of his descent , being brother to king lewis , though nothing of kin in conditions , being as bountifull to deal injuries and affronts as the other alms and charitable deeds . the english earl , though he stood on the lower ground in point of birth , yet conceived himself to even him in valour and martiall knowledge . and though godly king lewis used all his holy-water to quench these heart-burnings , his successe answered not this pains , much lesse his desires ; onely his cooling perswasions laid their enmities for the present fairly asleep . amidst these broils died meladine the egyptian king. a worthy prince he was ; though some write very coursely of him : as he must rise early , yea , not at all go to bed , who will have every ones good word . let christians speak of him as they found : whose courtesies to them when they were half-drowned in egypt , if they will not confesse , they deserve to be wholly drowned for their ingratitude . in the latter end of his age he quite lost the good will of his subjects , and lived unloved , and died unlamented , though a deserving and fortunate man , which oftentimes covereth a multitude of faults . the chief reason whereof was , because they suspected him to be unsound in his religion , and offering to christianity : besides , having reigned above thirty years , his government became stale ; and good things , if of long continuance , grow ●edious , they being rather affected for their variety then true worth : lastly , the rising sunne stole the adorers from the sunne setting ; and melechsala his sonne being an active and promising prince , reigned before in mens desires over the kingdome . to him now they all applied themselves ; and having more wisdome in their generation then the christians , instantly ceased their private diss●nsions . and now the sultans of damascus , aleppo , and babylon twisted themselves in a joint agreement with melechsala to defend their mahometane religion . chap. . robert earl of artois fighting with the egyptians contrary to the counsel of the master of the templars , is overthrown and drowned . from damiata the french marched up towards cairo ; the governour whereof offended with melechsala , promised to deliver that regall citie to the french. with some danger and more difficultie they passed an arm of nilus , being conducted by a fugitive saracen to a place where it was foordable . hence earl robert marched forward with a third part of the army , and suddenly assaulting the turks in their tents ( whilest melechsala was absent in solemnizing a feast ) put them to flight . hereupon this earl pro●laimed himself in his hopes monarch of the world : this blow made his enemies reel , the next would fell them : now speed was more needfull then strength : this late victory , though gotten , was lost if not used : what though they were not many ? the fewer the adventurers , the greater the gain : let them therefore forwards , and set on the whole power of the turks , which was incamped not farre off . but the master of the templars , in whom the sap of youth was well dried up , advised the earl to stay and digest the honour he had gotten , expecting the arrivall of the rest of their armie : for the work was weighty they undertook , and needed two shoulders , the united strength of the christians , effectually to manage it : his souldiers were weary , and must be refreshed ; and it was madnesse to starve them to day in hope of a feast to morrow : that they were to march through a strange countrey , and their best instructours were behind : let them stay for their lantern , and not go in the dark . he minded him that he overvalued his victory , not considering the enemies strength , whose harvest was not spoiled by losing an handfull of men . but the earl , full of the emptinesse of self-conc●it , allowed no counsel for currant but that of his own stamp , he scorned to wait the leisure of another opportunity , and opprobriously objected to the * templars the common fame , that the holy land long since had been wonne , but for the collusion of the false templars and hospitallers with the infidels . here the earle of sarisbury interposed himself to make peace , and to perswade robert to listen to the wholesome counsel that was given him . but his good will was rewarded with coward , dastard , english tail , and such like contumelious terms . wherefore said our earl , well , generall , on in gods name ; * i believe this day you will not dare to come nigh to my horses tail . and now the touchstone must tell what is gold , what is brasse . marching on , they assaulted the castle of mauzar , and were notably repulsed ; and melechsala coming in with his whole strength , hemmed them in on every side . the christians were but the third part of the armie ; and at the present , they themselves were scarce the half of themselves , being faint for want of refreshing . yet never shall one read more valour in so little a volume : they played their parts most stoutly . as for the french earl who went on like thunder , he went out like smoke , crying to the earl of sarisbury , flee , flee , for god fighteth against us . to whom our earl , god forbid my fathers sonne should flee fom the face of a saracen . the other seeking to save himself by the swiftnesse of his horse , and crossing the river , had there water enough to drown him , but too little to wash from him the stain of rashnesse and cowardise . thus died the earl of artois : who had in him the parts of a good generall , but inverted and in transposition , bold in counsel , fearfull in execution . he was one of that princely quaternion of brothers which came hither at this voyage , and exceeded each other in some quality ; lewis the holiest , alphonse the subtillest , charles the stoutest , and this robert the proudest . as for the earl of sarisbury , he resolved to sell his life at such a rate that the buyer should little boast of his penny-worth , slaying many a turk ; and though unhorsed and wounded in his legs , stood on his honour when he could not stand on his feet ; and refusing all quarter , upon his knees laid about him like a desperate man. the longer he fought , the fewer wounds he had ; and there at last he breathed forth his soul in the middest of his enemies . of all the christians there escaped no more then two templars , one hospitaller , and one common souldier , the messengers of this heavy news . the french writers , because they can say little good , say little of this battel , and lessen the overthrow as much as may be ; which authours of other nations have more fully reported . thus sometimes unfortunate gamest●rs fl●tter themselves , belie their own purses , and dissemble their losses , whereof the standers by take more accurate notice . p. aemylius ( an italian , born at verona ; but by long writing the french history his penne is made free denison of france ) though with his hand he doth hide the orifice of the wound , yet it is too narrow to cover the whole sore round about : so that it plainly appeareth , that a great and grievous and most mortall blow was here given to the christians . chap. . king lewis almost in the same place hath the same wofull successe , conquered and taken captive by melechsala . it is easier to be conceived then expressed , what generall grief this dolefull news brought to the french ; who followed not farre off , and who before had cause enough to sorrow for themselves : for the plague began to rage furiously amongst them , and daily swept away thousands . mean time good king lewis sent many of the weakest and impotentest people down the river to damiata , there to enjoy the benefit of privacie , good attendance , and physick . melechsala having intelligence hereof , met them by the way ; and setting upon them ( having neither arm to fight , nor legs to runne away ) either burned or drowned them all , save one english man , alexander giffard ( whose ancient and famous family flourisheth to this day at chellington in staffordshire ) who wounded in five places of his bodie , escaped to the french , and reported what had happened to the rest . and by this time melechasala understood of the correspondency betwixt king lewis and the governour of cairo , for the betraying of the city : whereupon he caused him suddenly to be apprehended ; whereby the french king lost all hopes to obtain that place of importance . yea , now full willingly would the christians have accepted the terms formerly offered them ; and now their hungry stomachs would make dainties of those conditions which before , when full of pride , they threw away as fragments . but the turks now sleighted them as not worth the treating with ; and as knowing that these frenchmen , who at their first landing were more then men , would at last be lesse then women . then began the french lords to perswade king lewis to provide for the safety of his own person , and to return to damiata . they told him , that if he stayed with them , there was no hope grounded on probability ( and what was any other but a wilfull self-delusion ? ) of his escaping : if he were killed , his death would be a living shame to their religion ; if taken prisoner , how would mahomet insult over christ ! the captivity of the most christian of the most christian kings would be foundation ●nough for the turks thereon to build tropheys of eternall triumph . but lewis would not leave them , that they might not leave him , but resolved to be a commoner with them in weal and wo ; disdaining to be such a niggard of his life as not to spend it in a good cause in so good company . forward they march , and come to the fatall place where the last battel was fought . there behold the mangled , headlesse , handlesse , feetlesse corpses of their fellow-countreymen . they knew in generall they were all their friends ; none knew his particular friend . the cause of this unwonted cruelty to the dead , was a proclamation which melechsala made , assigning a great summe of money to every one who would bring the head , hand , or foot of a christian : and this made many of his covetous cowards ( who carried their valour in their purses ) to be couragious . whilest the french were here bemoning their fellows , melechsala came upon them with an infinite multitude , and put them all ( being few and feeble ) to the sword ; taking king lewis , with his two brethren , alphonse and charles , prisoners . instantly the turks went up with french ensignes to damiata , hoping so suddenly to surprise it . which proje●t had it took effect , then farewell king lewis for ever . he must be sent a present to the caliph of babylon , from whom never any returned alive ; melechsala being but purgatory , whence there was redemption ; but the babylonian caliph hell it self , from whence no hope of release . but god defeated their designe ; for the turks could not french it so handsomely , but that they were discovered . the very language of their hands made them suspected afarre off , because they could not counterfeit the french idiotismes in managing their bucklers , that nation being most punctuall and criticall in their military postures : but being come near , it was plain for any to read turk in their beards and complexions ; so that they departed without having what they de●ired . chap. . the wofull impression which the ill successe of the french wrought on the christians in europe . some made more hast then good speed ( bad news being the worst ware a ship can be fraught with ) to sail into france with the sad tidings of this overthrow . these intelligencers blanch , the queen-mother and regent of france , rewarded with the gallows : and my authour doubteth not to pronounce them all * martyrs . but let them be contented with the corone● of their own innocence , though without the crown of martyrdome ; that honour alone belonging to such as suffer death for fundamentall points of religion . but so great an eclipse could not long be kept from the eyes of the world ; and this doleful and dismall news was sounded and seconded from every side . then was there a generall lamentation over all christendome , chiefly in france , where all were so sorrowfull , that any mirth was counted profanenesse . many bounded not themselves within the banks of grief , but brake out into blasphemy , both in france and elsewhere , taxing justice it self of being unjust ; and not content to admire what they could not conceive , condemned gods proceedings herein to be against right , because above their reason . fools , because they could not conquer on earth , did quarrel with heaven . this bad breath , though it came but from the teeth of some , yet proceeded from the corrupted lungs of others : some spake but out of present passion , but others even out of inbred atheisme . many who before were but luke warme in religion , now turned stark cold . in venice and some others cities of italy , the inh●bitants whereof * matthew paris calleth semichristian●s , but half-christians ( though this his harsh appellation wanteth three parts of charity ) began wholly to tend to apostasie . and now for a crutch to stay their reeling faith , it was high time for the clergy to ply the pulpits . they perswaded those rachels who in this voyage had lost any children and would not be comforted , that their children were in a most blessed condition : they emptied all their boxes of their colours of rhetotorick , there with to paint out the happinesse of their estate which they enjoyed in heaven : they pieced out their sermons with reporting of miracles ▪ how william earl of sarisbury appeared to his * mother , and assured her that he reigned most glorious in heaven . she presently forgot her grief for losing her sonne , for joy that she had found a saint , yea , a martyr . this was their constant custome ; when any in europe wept for the losse of their friends in this warre , their tears were instantly dried up with some hot miracle that was reported them : wherewith the silly people were well pleased ; as babes of clouts are good enough to keep children from crying . about this time many thousands of the english were resolved for the holy warre , and would needs have been gone , had not the king strictly guarded his ports , and kept his kingdome from running away out of doores . the king promised he would go with them , and hereupon got a masse of mony from them for this journey . some say , that he never intended it ; and that this onely was a trick to stroke the skittish cow to get down her milk . his stubborn subjects said , that they would tarry for his company till midsummer , and no longer . thus they weighed out their obedience with their own scales , and the king stood to their allowance . but hearing of this sorrowfull accident , both prince and people altered their resolution ; who had come too late to help the french in their distresse , and too soon to bring themselves into the same misery . chap. . king lewis exchanged for damiata , stayeth some years at ptolemais . but to return to egypt ; where king lewis was kept prisoner by melechsala , who often felt his disposition about the resigning of damiata , but found that to hear of death was more welcome musick unto him . but see here a sudden alteration : one tarqueminus a sturdy mammaluke , with another of that society , killed melechsala in the very heighth of his victorious happinesse , and succeeded him in the egyptian kingdome . this tarquemine came in with an intent to send lewis the same way : which poor prince was onely armed with innocence and majestie , and yet his bare person defended his person from that cruel attempt : such an awfull impression did his very presence , saith my authour , strike into him who would have stricken him . but we may rather think that the city of damiata was king lewis his corslet , and that all the towres and walls of that place fenced him ; tarquemnius reserving his person as an equivalent ransome , thereby to redeem that royall citie . now lewis had changed his lord , but not his lamentable condition , continuing still a prisoner . at last he was restored to his liberty , on condition , that the christians should surrender damiata , and he also pay back to the turks many thousand pounds , both for ransome of christian captives , and in satisfaction of the vastations they had committed in egypt . lewis for security of this money , pawned to the turk the pyx and host ( that is , the body of christ transsubstantiated in the eucharist ) as his chiefest jewel which he should be most carefull to redeem . hence , in perpetuall memory of this conquest , we may see a * wafer-cake and a box alwayes wrought in the borders of that tapestry which is brought out of egypt . note by the way , that the turks were most unreasonable in their rates of ransoming souldiers , and in all other their pecuniary demands . for their own countrey being near to the fountain of gold and silver , they made as if it flowed as plentifully in other places , measuring the wealth of other lands by their own , and asking as much for a private mans ransome as would drain a princes purse in these western parts . thus was damiata restored again to the turks , and the christians punctually performed their promises ; though the false miscreant on the other side set not half the captives free , killed all the sick persons whom by promise he should relieve , and ( contrary to the agreement ) suffered not any christian to transport any of his goods out of egypt . hence lewis sailed to ptolemais : where he lived in a miserable case , being forsaken of his brothers , subjects , friends , and the pope himself . his brothers , alphonse and charles , though sent into france to solicite his suit , and to advance his ransome with speed , yet being arrived forgot the affliction of joseph ; and the king was as farre from their mind as their sight : wherefore god justly visited alphonse with an incurable disease . his subjects , though furious at first in bemoning him , yet the fit past , complained not so much for him as on him ; charging him for ill managing the matters in egypt by his cowardlinesse and indiscretion . his friends the pisans and genoans reviled him as the marrer of their mart , damiata being formerly their most gainfull port ; but now their hony was spoiled by destroying their hive : for the sultan seing the city taken twice of the christians in short time , to prevent further dispute about it , took away the subject of the question , and rased it to the ground . the pope forsook him : and though many intreated his holinesse not to prosecute the emperour frederick any further , from whom lewis expected all the beams of his comfort , yet he would hear of no submission from him , but sought finally to ruine him . onely blanch , king lewis his mother , was carefull for her sonne , and laboured his cause day and night . but alas ! her armes were too short to bring all ends together . and having gathered a considerable summe of money , and shipped it for palestine , a tempest in a moment * cast that away which her care and thrift was many moneths in getting . all this he bore with a soul not benummed with stoicall senslessenesse , but becalmed with christian patience : * a second job ; so that what pleased god , pleased him . it somewhat mitigated his misery , that he had the company of his consort margaret , a woman worthy so good a husband . here she bore him a child , which because another benoni , or sonne of sorrow , was called tristram . but that * name is more ancient , nor had it its birth from the christening of this child . foure yeares king lewis lived ( not to say , loitered ) in syria , daily expecting in vain that some prince of europe should fetch him off with honour , being loth to return till he could carry home his credit with him . and though he was out of his kingdome , yet was he in his kingdome , whilest surveying there the sacred monuments wherewith he was so highly affected . chap. . the common-wealth of the mammalukes described , presenting us with many unexampled remarkables . now more largely of tarqueminus , and his killing melechsala , and of the common-wealth of the mammalukes begun by him . and because great is the merit of this story , as very memorable , we will fetch it from its first originall . saladine ( as is touched * before ) was the first of the turkish kings who began the gainfull trade of the mammalukes . these were christian captives , brought out of taurica cher●onesus , and instructed as in mahometanisme so in all military discipline ; saladine disposing them in martiall nurseries , and continuing a constant succession of them one under another . it is above belief how much and speedily they were improved in warlike exercises : art doubled their strength by teaching them to use it . and though they came rough out of their own countrey , they were quickly hewen and polished by education : yea , their apprehensions prevented the precepts , and their practise surpassed the presidents of those that instructed them . as it is observed in fruits and flowers , that they are much bettered by change to a fitter soil ; so were these people by altering their climate : the cold countrey wherein they were bred , gave them big and robustious bodies ; and the hot climate whereinto they were transplanted , ripened their wits , and bestowed upon them craft and activity , the dowrie of the southern countreys . they attained to be expert in any service ; especially they were excellent horsemen : and at last they began to ride on the backs and necks of the turkish kings themselves . true it is , saladine kept his distance over them , used them kindly , yet made them not wantons ; and so poised these mammalukes with his native egyptians , that in all actions he still reserved the casting voice for himself . but meladine and melechsala his successours , entertained them without number , and instructed them beyond reason , so that under them in a manner they monopolized all places of strength and command ; till at last , the stemme of these mercenary souldiers being too great for the stock of the natives , the turkish kingdome in egypt , like a top-heavy tree , became a windfall . indeed , the dastardnesse of the egyptians made these mammalukes more daring and insolent . for the egyptians more loved profit then honour , and wealth then greatnesse ; and though contented to abide labour , would in no wise undergo danger . merchandise they where wholly imployed in ; and it seemed they used trading so long , till at last they made sale of their own spirits . yea , one could not now know egypt to be egypt , but onely by the overflowing of nilus , not by any remaining ancient marks of valour in the peoples disposition . thus the genius of old kingdomes in time groweth weaker , and doteth at the last . but to come to tarqueminus ; he being one of these mammalukes , and perceiving how easie it was for those that did support , to supplant the turkish kings , with another of his associates slew melechsala , as it was said . and because it was unfitting so great a prince should go to the grave alone , he also sent his children and intimate friends thither to attend him . tarqueminus afterwards procured of his society to be chosen king of egypt . he was the solon or lycurgus of this slavish common-wealth , and by the consent of the rest of his company he enacted many laws : whereof these were those of the grand charter , which admitted of no revocation : first , that the * sultan , or chief of this servile empire , should be chosen alwayes out of the mammalukes . secondly , that none should be admitted to the order of the mammalukes which were either jews or turks by birth , but onely such as being born christians , were afterwards taken captives , and then from the time of their slavery had been instructed in the mahometane religion . thirdly , that though the sonnes of the mammalukes might enjoy their fathers lands and wealth , yet they might not take upon them the name or honour of a mammaluke . fourthly , that the native egyptians should be permitted no use of weapons , but onely such as with which they fought against weeds , to till and manure the land . in surveying this state , we can turn no way but must meet with wonders : first , one would think that there was such an indelible character of slavery in these captives , and such a laesum principium in them , that none of them ever should make a good prince , as knowing no more how to sway a scepter then a pure clown to manage a sword ▪ or else that they should over-state it , turn tyrants , and onely exchange their slavery , by becoming vassals to their own passions . yet many of them in their kinds were worthy princes for government , no whit inferiour to those which are advantaged with royall birth and breeding . secondly , it is a wonder they should be so neglective of their own children . how many make an idol of their posterity , and sacrifice themselves unto it , stripping themselves out of necessaries to provide their heirs a wardrobe ! yea , it is a principle in most moderate minds , to advance their posterity ; thinking hereby in a manner they overcome death , and immortalize their memories , in leaving their names and honours to their children : whereas the contrary appeared in these mammalukes . thirdly , it is admirable that they fell not out in the election of their prince , being in a manner all equall amongst themselves . we see elective states in christendome , though bound with the straitest laws , often sagge aside into schismes and factions ; whereas this strange empire in their choice had no dangerous discords , but such as were quenched in the kindling . lastly , who ever knew a wall that had no better cement , to stand so sure and so long ? two hundred sixty and seven years this state endured ; and yet had it to do with strong and puissant enemies . some kingdomes ow their greatnesse not so much to their own valour and wisdome as to the weaknesse of their neighbours : but it fared not thus with the mammalukes . to omit prester john , who neighboured them on the south ; on all other sides they were encompassed with potent opposers : from whom right valiantly they defended themselves , till in the yeare they were overcome by selimus the great turkish emperour . to conclude ; as for the amazons and their brave atchievements , with much valour and no manhood ; they and their state had onely being in the brains of fabulous writers : as for the assasines , or regiment of rogues ; it never spread to the breadth of any great countrey , nor grew to the height of a kingdome ; but being the jakes of the world , was cast out in a place betwixt barren hills : but this empire of vassals was every way wonderfull , stretching so farre over all egypt and most of syria , and lasting so long . a strange state ! wherein slavery was the first step to their throne , and apostasle the first article in their religion . chap . the manner of the death of frederick king of ierusalem ; his will , and posterity after him . an interregnum both in germanie and the kingdome of ierusalem . in this same yeare frederick king of jerusalem and emperour of germanie ended his troublesome dayes . a prince , who in the race of his life met with many rubs , some stumbles , no dangerous fall . besides the turk , he had to do with the pope ( the pope immortall in his succession . ) and though his holinesse was unfit for warre ( as being alwayes old , and never ripe for that place till almost rotten ) yet he used his own head , and commanded the hands of others ; whereby he kept frederick in a continuall warre . yet never could he have beaten him with fair play , had he not used a weapon , if not against the law of arms , against the law of god , and against which no guard , arming his subjects against him , and dispensing with the oath of allegeance . but he gave frederick the mortall wound , in setting himself against himself ; i mean , henry his eldest sonne . and though frederick easily conquered that rebellious youth , and made him fast enough , keeping him in prison in apulia , where he died : yet he carried the grief hereof to his grave . for now he knew not where or in whom to place any confidence ; as suspecting the single cord of loyalty would not hold in others , which brake in his own sonne though twisted with naturall affection . the greatnesse of his spirit was a great hastening of his death ; and being of a keen , eager , and active nature , the sharpnesse of the sword cut the scabbard the sooner asunder . bow he could not , break he must . what-ever is reported , he died of no other poison then sorrow , ( which ushered him into a wasting ague ) grief being a burden whereof the strongest shoulders can bear the least . as for the same , that * maufred his base son should stifle him with a pillow ▪ though i must confesse he might be taken on suspicion , as likely enough to play such a devilish prank ; yet it is unreasonable , that he who is acquitted by the * authours of the same time , should be condemned on the evidence of the writers of after-ages . he died at florence in an obscure castle on s. lucies day , having reigned king of jerusalem three and twenty years . by his will he bequeathed many ounces of gold to the knights templars and hospitallers , in recompence of the wrongs they had received by him . he left a great summe of money for the recovery of the holy land , to be disposed at the discretion of the foresaid knights . he forbad any stately funerall for himself , though in his life immoderately excessive in pomp ; as if he would do penance for his pride after death . a prince , who had he not been hindred with domesticall discords , would have equallized caesar himself : for if thus bravely he ●aid about him , his hands being tied at home with continuall dissentions , what would he have done if at liberty ? a scandal is raised since his death , that he was but * a millers sonne ; but he would have ground them to powder who in his life-time durst have averred it . indeed he was very happy in mechanicall matters , such as we may term liberall handicrafts ; as casting , founding , carving in iron and brasse : nether did this argue a low soul , to dabble in such mean imployments , but rather proved the amplitude and largenesse thereof ; of so generall acquaintance , that no art was a stranger to him . but the suspicion of his birth rose from the almost miraculous manner of it ; constantia his mother bearing him when welnigh sixty years of age . but both in scripture and other writers , we may see the sonnes of long barren-mothers to have been fruitfull in famous atchievements . pity it was that he had some faults : yea , pity it had been if he had not had some . but his vices indeed were notorious and unexcusable . many wives and concubines he had , and by them many children . his wives . his legitimate children . their preferment . . constantia , queen of aragon . henry , who rebelled against him . king of the roman●s . . iole , daughter to john bren. conrade . duke of suevia . . agnes , daughter to the marquesse of moravia ; childlesse divorced . . rutina . . isabella of bavaria . agnes . married to conrade land●grave of hessen . . mawd , daughter to john king of england . constance . wife to lewis land●grave of hessen .   his base sonnes . his concubine blanch. . henzius . king of sardin●a . . maufred . usurper of sicily . . frederick . prince of antioch . it is much , that succession adventured in so many severall bottoms , should miscarry : yet these foure sonnes dying , left no lasting issue ; and in the third generation fredericks stock , and that whole ra●e of suevian princes was extinct : which in the judgement of some men was a judgement of god on him for his lasciviousnesse . we must not forget a memorable passage which happened more then twenty yeares after fredericks death : * one tylo colupp , a notable juggler , sometime brought up at the court , cunningly sowing together all the old shreds of his courtship , and stretching them out with impudency , pretended to be frederick the emperour , long detained in captivity in palestine . the difference betwixt their a●pects was easily reconciled ; for few phys●ognomy marks are so deeply fixed in any face , but that age and misery will alter them . the credulity of the vulgar sort presently betrayed them to be couzened by him : yea , some princes took this brasse for gold without touching it . but the best engine which gave this puppet his motion , was a bruit constantly buzzed , that frederick was not dead . for princes , the manner of whole deaths hath been private and obscure , fame commonly conjureth again out of their graves , and they walk abroad in the tongues and brains of many , who affirm and believe them to be still alive . but the world soon suifeted of this cheaters forgerie ; and this glow-worm when brought into the light , shined no more , but at nantes was burnt to ashes by rodulphus the emperour . after fredericks death there was an interregnum for three and twenty yeares in the empire of germany . true it is , that of some , william earl of holland ( one without a beard , not valour ) was nominated emperour . the spirituall electours chose richard , brother to our king henry the third . and as in cornwall he got much coin , so germany gave him a bottomlesse bag to put it in . a third party named alphonse king of castile , an admirable mathematician : but the ointment of his name is marred with the dead flie of his atheisticall speech , that if he had been in gods stead , he could have framed the world better then now it is . notwithstanding the best dutch writers make an interregnum , as counting the empire still a widdow and all these rather her suiters then any her husband . in like manner also in palestine there was not any king for fourteen years after fredericks death . the right indeed lay in conrade duke of suevia , fredericks sonne by iole daughter to john bren king of jerusalem : but he was so imployed in defending himself in sicily against mau●ted his base brother ( who soon after dispatched him out of the way ) that he had no leisure to prosecute his title to the fragments of his kingdome of jerusalem . chap. . the pastorells killed in france ; king lewis returned home . go we back to king lewis , who all this while stayed in palestine , busying himself partly in building and fencing of sidon and cesarea , partly in composing discords betwixt the pisans and genoans , even proceeding to threaten them into agreement : but these armed men little cared for his naked menacing . he being also an excellent religious antiquary and critick on holy monuments , much employed himself in redeeming of old sacred places from the tyranny of time and oblivion . mean time , in his kingdome of france happened this strange accident ; an * hungarian pesant , who is said to have been an apostate to mahomet and well learned , gathered together many thousands of people , pretending they had intelligence from heaven to march to the holy land . these took on them the name and habit of pastorelli , poore shepherds ; in imitation belike ( as the devil is gods ape ) of those in the gospel , who were warned by angels in a vision to go to bethlehem . being to shape their course into palestine , they went into france ; shewing they had a vertigo in their heads , mistaking the west for the east ; or else , that like vagabonds they were never out of their way . the holy lamb was their ensigne , but their actions neither holy nor lambe-like . they pillaged and killed the poor jews as they went ( an unhappy nation , whose heads lie pat for every ones hands to hit , and their legges so stand in mens way that few can go by them without spurning at them : ) where they wanted jews , they made jews of christians , especially if they were rich , using them with all cruelty . but at last near burdeaux threescore thousand of them were slain , and the rest dispersed . a rhymer of that age ( or in courtesie call him a poet ) made this epitaph on them ; * m semel , & bis c , li conjungere disce ; duxit pastorum saeva megaera chorum . learn to put together well , what m , c , c , l , i , do spell ; when some devilish fiend in france did teach the shepherds how to dance . by this time lewis in syria had stayed out the death and buriall of all his hopes to receive succour from his own countrey . long expecting in vain that france should come to him , he at last returned to it . the greatnesse of the burden he bore , made him to go the faster ; and being loaden with debts to his italian creditours , he secretly hasted home : where safely arriving , besides loyaltie to their prince , love to a stranger was enough to make him welcome . chap. . the conversion of the tartarians . haalon conquereth persia , and extinguisheth the caliphs of babylon . lewis is gone , and left the christians in syria in a wofull condition , without hope of amendment . now , can any good come out of tartary ? can the northern wind blow a comfortable warmth ? yea ; see a strange vicissitude of things ! haito the christian king of armenia had travelled to mango the cham of tartary , to communicate to him the present danger of the t●rks , and to consult of a remedy . he shewed , how if order were not taken with them in time , they would over-runne all asia : let him not count that he lay out of their rode , because of his remote situation : for what is the way wanderers will not trace ? he might expect onely this courtesie , to be last devoured . in conclusion , haito prevailed so farre with this pagan , that he not onely promised his assistance , but also was baptised , and took the christian religion on him : so also did his whole countrey by his example ; and christianity being the court-fashion , none would be out of it . never since the time of constantine the great , did the devill at once lose a greater morsel , or was there made a more hopefull accession to the faith. understand we this conversion of tartary ( though authours predicate it universally of that whole countrey ) onely of cathaia , the eastern and most refined part of that empire : for cannibals were still in the north , who needed first to be converted to reason and to be made men , before they could become christians . also at this same time we find a swarm of western tartarian heathens forraging * poland . so it seemeth , so vast was the empire , that it was still night in the west , though it was day in the eastern part thereof . now , whether the conversion of these tartarians was solemnly , deliberately , and methodically wrought by preaching , first those things wherein the light of nature concurreth with faith ; then , those wherein humane reason is no foe but standeth neuter ; such as are merely of faith , leaving the issue of all to god , whose * oratory onely can perswade souls : or whether ( which is more probable ) it was but tumultuously done , many on a sudden rather snatching then embracing religion , we will not dispute . sure it is that mango sent haalon his brother ( who is said to have married a wife an excellent christian , and * descended from the wise-men who came to see our saviour ) with a great army to suppresse the turks and assist the christians . it seemeth his army rid post ; for falling into persia , he conquered it sooner then one can well travell it , * in half a year . it facilitated his victory , because that countrey had much unfurnished her self to furnish her forrain colonies and garisons in syria : and generally active nations are strongest abroad , and weakest at home ; where they are onely strong with conceit of their strength believed in other countreys . the city samarchanda onely resisted him . haalon seeing it would not come at the first , let it stay ; counting it beneath a conquerour to tempt his fortune with a long siege , which perchance might alter the whole course of the cards , and make him rise a loser . wherefore he himself onely skimmed the cream of the conquest , and went away with what was easie and smooth , deputing an inferiour captain to hew this knotty service ; who after a long siege subdued it . for in respect of the age of this siege , that of troy was but a child , it lasting * seven and twenty yeares ; and at last not taken but yielded up , the defendants then wanting clothes to cover their nakednesse . from persia haalon marched to babylon : the caliph whereof called musteazem , was so superstitious an idolater to his wealth , that he would not provide necessaries for the defense of the city ; and therefore it was quickly subdued . the covetous caliph he * famished to death , and then filled his mouth with melted gold . every where mosques went down and churches up . hence into mesopotamia : which he instantly conquered , with the cities of aleppo and edessa . he wonne and restored many places to conrade the christian prince of antioch , which the turks formerly detained from him . yea , this tartarian armie so awed melechem the mammaluke prince of egypt , who succeeded tarqueminus , that he durst not budge . and many other good offices this haalon did to the christians in syria . chap. . the discord betwixt the genoans and venetians , who burn the genoans ships in ptolemais . but they were unworthy of this happinesse , who would not be at leisure to make use of it , but busied themselves in private dissensions , the genoans against the pisans and venetians . these states ( as many other in italy ) at this time were so proud in their masters old clothes , they scarce knew themselves , grown brave with the feathers the eagle had moulted , and set up by the breaking of the emperour in italy . the venetians and genoans were hardly matched : the pisans were not so strong , but as stomachfull as either of them , and then in this point of policie superiour to both ; that first siding with the genoans , they whipped the venetians : then when they were sufficiently humbled , taking part with the venetians , they stripped and iashed the genoans : and the scales being even before , pisa made that weigh down by course wherein she cast her grains . now not content to fall out at home within the dores of italy , they must fight in syria in the open street , where the turks looked on and laughed at them ; counting it in their apprehension as good sport as to see a spider poison a toad . besides their old grudges transported hither out of italy , this green wound was the cause of their dissension here : in ptolemais these three states had their severall streets , severall markets for trading , and courts for causes both civill and criminall : but all three had one church ( that of s. sabbas ) common unto them , by the ordering of the pope himself ; who counted the same church might serve the worshipers of the same god : but the * venetians by the virtue of an ancient agreement betwixt them and king baldwine for their service in winning this city , challenged a peculiar interest therein . hereabout was their old bustling ; and in a tumult , the genoans at that time surpassing for number , drave the venetians out of the church : yea , philip of montfort , a french governour of ptolemais in the time of the interregnum , wanting not onely policie for a magistrate , but wit for a man ( blondus * saith he was half-mad , and his actions speak him no lesse ) compelled the venetians generally to forsake the city . implacably incensed hereat , the venetians arm thirteen galleys which they had at tyre , and coming to ptolemais forc'd a sunder the chain which crossed the haven , and burned five and twenty ships of the genoans which lay there . for alas ! being straitned in the haven , they had no room ( being intangled ) to turn and free themselves one from another . and though united force be most forcible , yet not when so stifled and smothered that it cannot expresse and exercise it self . many brave souldiers in these ships lost their lives in a bundle , without selling them , or ever opening their wares . to avenge this losse , the state of genoa sent from home a navie of fiftie ships of all sorts , which came to tyre . there meet they with reinetius zenus duke of venice , with the united power of the venetians and pisans , counting no fewer then seventy four vessels well provided . they would have fought in the very haven of tyre , but the governour of the city forbad it : it would be more scandalous to christianity ; the roving fireballs might hurt the city , and sinking ships hinder the harbour ; besides , the conquered party would probably complain of the partiality of the place , that it more favoured one side ; they should not fight under his nose ; if they had a mind to it , let them out and try their fortunes in the open sea . chap. . the genoan navie beaten by the venetian ; sea and land-service compared , both in danger and honour . accordingly it was performed ; out they go and fall to their work . their gallies , like ostriches , used their legges more then their wings , more running with oars then flying with sails . at that time , before ordinance was found out , ships were both gunnes and bullets themselves , and furiously ranne one against another . they began with this arietation : herein strength was much but not all ; nimblenesse was also very advantageous to break and slent the down-right rushings of a stronger vessel . then fell they to grappling : here the steady ship had the better of it ; and those souldiers who best kept their legges could best use their arms , the surest stander being alwayes the foundest striker . much valour was shewed on both sides , and at last the victory fell to the venetian . the genoans losing five and twenty of their ships , fled , and saved the rest in the haven of tyre , after a most cruel and desperate battel . and surely , generally sea-fights are more bloudy then those on the land , especially since gunnes came up , whose shot betwixt wind and water ( like those wounds so often mentioned in the scripture under the fifth rib ) is commonly observed mortall . yea , full harder it is for a ship , when arrested and ingaged in a battel , to clear it self , then for souldiers by land to save themselves by flight . here neither his own two nor his horses four legges can bestead any ; but like accidents they must perish with their subjects , and sink with their ship . and then why is the sea victory lesse honour , being more danger , then one atchieved by land ? is it because sea-service is not so generall , nor so full of varieties , and the mysteries thereof sooner learned ? or because in sea-fights fortune may seem to be a deeper sharer , and valour not so much interested ? whatsoever it is , the laurel purchased on land hath a more lively verdure then that which is got at sea . we return to the venetians : who using or rather abusing this conquest , enter ptolemais , cast out all genoans thence , throw down their buildings both publick and private , demolish the fort which they had builded at s. saba , rifle and spoil their shops , warehouses and storehouses : onely the pope prevailed so farre with them , that they set at liberty the prisoners they had taken . ten years did this warre last betwixt these two states in syria , composed at last ( saith my authour ) by the authority of pope clement the fourth , and by famine ( the bad cause of a good effect ) which in palestine starved them into agreement . longer these warres lasted betwixt them in italy : their successe , like the sea they fought on , ebbing and flowing . in this costly warre pisa was first beggered ; and for all her politick partaking , genoa at last trode so heavy upon her , that ever since she hath drooped and hung the wing , and at this day is maid to florence , who formerly was mistresse of a good part of italy . but i have no calling and lesse comfort to prosecute these bloudy dissensions : for warres of christians against infidels are like the heat of exercise , which serveth to keep the body of christianity in health ; but these civil warres amongst themselves , like the heat of a feaver , dangerous , and destructive of religion . chap. . charles made king of sicily and ierusalem by the pope ; hugh king of cyprus pretendeth also to go to ierusalem . we have now gotten pantaleon , a frenchman , who succeeded robert in the titular * patriarchship of jerusalem , to be pope , by the name of urbane the fourth . to advance the holy cause , after fourteen years interregnum in syria , he appointed charles duke of anjou , yonger brother to king lewis of france , king of sicily and jerusalem , and it was ratified by clement the fourth his successour . this honour was first offered to lewis himself ; but piety had dried up in him all ambitious humours : then to our henry of england ; but his warre-wasted purse could not stretch to the popes price : at last , this charles accepted it . but it is not for any speciall favour to the bush , if a man run under it in a storm : it was no love to charles , but to himself , to be sheltred from maufred , that the pope conferred this honour upon him . and the wife of charles ; that she might go in equipage with her three sisters , being queens , sold all her * jewels to furnish her husband with money to purchase these kingdomes : that sex loving bravery well , but greatnesse better . now the pope ( whose well grounded and bounded bountie will never undo him ; for where he giveth away the meat he selleth the sauce ) * conditioned with charles on these termes : first , that he should conquer maufred then king of sicily , who molested the pope ; and that he should finally subdue all the remaining race of frederick the second , emperour , who claimed that kingdome . secondly , in acknowledgement that he held these kingdomes from the pope , he should pay him an annuall pension of four ( some say fourty ) thousand pounds . provided , if this charles should chance to be chosen emperour of germany , that then he should either resigne sicily back again into the hands of his holinesse , * or not accept the empire . for he knew that all emperours would be possessed with an anti-papall spirit ; and that they would hold sicily , not in homage from the church , but as a member of the empire : besides , the pope would not dispense that princes should hold pluralitie of temporall dominions in italy ; especially , he was so ticklish he could not endure the same prince should embrace him on both sides . ever since , the twinne-titles of sicily and jerusalem have gone together ; and fit it is that the shadow should follow the substance . charles subdued maufred and conradine his nephew ( the last of the suevian race , and grandchild to emperour frederick ) and was possessed of sicilie , and lived there ; but as for the gaining of jerusalem , he little regarded it , nor came thither at all : a watchfull king , who never slept in his kingdome . his absence gave occasion to * hugh king of cyprus to furbish up new his old title to the kingdome , as lineally descended from almerick the second . and coming to ptolemais , he there was crowned king of jerusalem : but the extremity of the famine ( all things being excessive dear ) much abated the solemnity and state of his coronation . chap. . the tartarians alienated from the christians ; bendocdar tyrannizeth over them , and lewis king of france setteth forth again for to succour them . but betwixt two kings the kingdome went to the ground : for * haalon the tartarian prince , and late christian convert , was returned home to succeed his brother mango in the empire , leaving abaga his sonne with competent forces in the city of damascus , which he had wonne from the turks . soon after , abaga followed his father , aud substituted guirboca his lieutenant in damascus . this guirboca , upon the occasion of his nephew rashly slain by the christians in a broil , fell off wholly from christianity , with all the tartarians his countreymen . the occasion this ; the dutch christians return with great booty they had taken from the turks ; * guirboca's nephew meeteth them , demandeth it for himself ; the christians deny him ( as souldiers are very tender-conscienced in that point , counting it a great sinne to part with the spoil they are possessed of : ) hence brawls , then blows ; guirboca's nephew is slain : hereat the tartarians ( who were very humorous in their friendship ; if not observed to an inch , lost for ever ) in discontent , all either reel aside to mahomet , or fall back to paganisme . herein the christians cannot be excused : infant-converts must be well tended . it had been discretion in them , even against discretion to have yielded a little to these tartarians , and so to continue their amity , which was so advantageous to the holy warre . however , one may question the truth of their conversion , whether reall at first : this spring was too forward to hold ; and the speedy withering of their religion argueth it wanted root . and as tame foxes , if they break loose and return wild , do ten times more mischief then those which are wild from the beginning ; so these renegadoes raged more furiously then any pagans against religion . guirboca sacrificed many christians to the ghost of his nephew , destroyed cesarea and burnt it , using all cruelty against the inhabitants . nor lesse were the christians plagued at the same time with bendocdar the mammaluke prince in egypt ; who succeeded melechem , and every where raging against them , either killed or forced them to forswear their religion . the city of joppa he took and burned ; and then wonne antioch , slaying therein twenty thousand , and carrying away captive an hundred thousand christians . but it may justly be suspected that these numbers were written first in figures , and therefore at too much length , when the adding of nothing may increase many thousands . these wofull tidings brought into europe , so wrought on the good disposition of lewis king of france , that he resolved to make a second voyage into palestine to succour the christians . he so fixed his mind on the journeys end , that he saw not the dangers in the way . his counsel could not disswade , though they did disswade him . first , they urged , that he was old ; let younger men take their turns : they recounted to him his former ill successe ; how lately had that hot countrey scorch'd the lilies of france , not onely to the blasting of the leaves , but almost withering of the root ? besides , the sinews of the christians in syria were so shrunk , that though lifted up , they could not stand ; that nature decayed , but not thus wholly destroyed , was the subject of physick ; that the turks had got a habit of conquering , and riveted themselves into the possession of the countrey ; so that this voyage would but fleet the cream of the kingdome to cast it into the fire . but as a vehement flame maketh feuel of whatsoever it meeteth ; so this kings earnest resolution turned bridles into spurres , and hind rances into motives to his journey . was he old ? let him make the more speed , lest envious death should prevent him of this occasion of honour . had he sped ill formerly ? he would seek his credit where he lost it : surely , fortunes lottery had not all blanks , but that after long drawing he should light on a prize at last . were the christians in so low a case ? the greater need they had of speedy help . thus was this good kings judgement over-zealed . and surely though devotion be the naturall heat , discretion ( which wanted in him ) is the radicall moisture of an action , keeping it healthfull , prosperous , and long-lived . well , king lewis will go , and to this end provideth his navie ; and is accompanied with philip and tristram his sonnes , theobald king of navarre his sonne in law , alphonse his brother , and guido earl of flanders . there went also edward eldest sonne to henry king of england . it was a wonder he would now adventure his head when he was to receive a crown , his father being full-ripe to drop down without gathering , having reigned longer then most men live , fifty and five yeares . but thirsty was this edward of honour : longshanks was he called : and as his strides were large , so vast and wide was the extent of his desire . as for his good father , he was content to let go the staff of his age for to be a prop to the church . and though king lewis was undiscreet in going this journey , he was wise in choosing this his companion , to have this active prince along with him ; it being good to eye a suspicious person , and not to leave him behind . with edward went his brother edmund earl of lancaster , surnamed crouch-back ; not that he was crook-shouldered , or camel-backed : ( from which our english poet most zealously doth vindicate him ; * edmond like him the comeliest prince alive , not crook-bac'd , ne in no wise disfigured , as some men write , the right line to deprive , though great falsehood made it to be scriptured . ) but from the crosse , anciently called a crouch ( whence crouched friars ) which now he wore in his voyage to jerusalem . and yet it maketh it somewhat suspicious , that in latine * records he is never read with any other epithet then gibbosus . but be he crooked or not , let us on straight with our story . chap. . king lewis besiegeth the city of tunis ; his death and commendation . lewis now having hoised up sail , it was concluded by the generall consent of his counsell , that to secure and clear the christians passage to palestine from pirates , they should first take the city of carthage in africa by the way . this carthage long wrastled with rome for the sovereignty , and gave as many foils as she took , till scipio at last crushed out her bowels with one deadly fall . yet long after the city stood before wholly demolished , to be a spurre to put metall into the romanes , and to be a forrain mark for their arrows , lest otherwise they should shoot against themselves . at last by the counsel of cato it was quite destroyed : who alledged , that it was not safe to have a knife so near their throat ; and though good use might be made of an enemy at arms end , yet it was dangerous to have him too close to ones side ; as carthage was within a dayes sail from rome . out of the ruines of this famous citie , tunis arose ; as often a stinking elder groweth out of the place where an oak hath been felled . thieving was their trading : but then as yet they were apprentices to p●racie , whereof at this day they are grown masters . yea , not considerable was tunis then in bignesse , great onely in mischief . but as a small scratch just upon the turning of a joynt is more troublesome then a bigger sore in another place ; so this paltry town ( the refuge of rogues , and wanderers home ) seated in the passage betwixt europe , asia , and africa , was a worse annoyance to christian traffick then a whole countrey of , saracens elsewhere . wherefore both to revenge the bloud of many christians , who passing this way to palestine were either killed or taken captive , as also to secure the way for the time to come , lewis with his whole fleet ( augmented with the navy of charles king of sicilie and jerusalem , his brother ) bent his course to besiege it . it was concluded both unnecessary and unfitting , first in a fair way to summon the city ; because like pernicious vermine they were to be rooted out of the world by any means : nor was it meet to lavish the solemn ceremonies of warre on a company of thieves and murderers . the siege was no sooner begun but the plague seised on the christian armie : whereof thousands died ; amongst others , tristram king lewis his sonne : and he himself of a flux followed after . this lewis was the french josia , both for the piety of his life and wofulnesse of his death , ingaging himself in a needlesse warre . many good laws he made for his kingdome : that not the worst , he first * retrenched his barons power to suffer parties to trie their intricate titles to land by duells . he severely punished blasphemers , * fearing their lips with an hot iron . and because by his command it was executed upon a great rich citizen of paris , some said he was a tyrant : he hearing it , said before many , i would to god that with fearing my own lips i could banish out of my realm all abuse of oaths . he loved more to heare sermons then to be present at masse : whereas on the contrary our * henry the third said , he had rather see his god then hear another speak of him though never so well . his body was carried into france there to be buried , and was most miserably tossed ; it being observed , that the sea cannot digest the cruditie of a dead corpse , being a due debt to be interred where it dieth ; and a ship cannot abide to be made a bier of . he was sainted after his death by boniface the eighth , and the five and twentieth day of august ( on which day in his first voyage to palestine he went on shipboard ) is consecrated to his memorie . herein he had better luck then as good a man , i mean our henry the sixth , who could not be canonized without a mightie summe of money ; belike angels making saints at rome . chap. . tunis taken ; the french return home , whilest our edward valiantly setteth forward for palestine . by this time tunis was brought to great distresse , and at last on these conditions surrendred ; that it should pay yearly to charles king of sicily and jerusalem fourtie thousand crowns ; that it should receive christian ministers freely to exercise their religion ; if any saracen would be baptized , he should be suffered ; that all christian captives should be set free ; that they should pay back so much money as should defray the christians charges in this voyage . our edward would needs have had the town beaten down , and all put to the sword ; thinking the foulest quarter too fair for them . their goods ( because got by robberie ) he would have sacrificed as an anathema to god , and burnt , to ashes : his own share he execrated , and caused it to be burnt , forbidding the english to save any thing of it ; because that coals stolen out of that fire , would sooner burn their houses then warm their hands . it troubled not the consciences of other princes to enrich themselves herewith , but they glutted themselves with the stolen honie which they found in this hive of drones : and which was worse , now their bellies were full they would go to bed , return home , and goe no further . yea , the young king of france , called philip the bold , was fearfull to prosecute his journey to palestine ; whereas prince edward struck his breast , and swore , that though all his friends forsook him , yet he would enter prolemais , though but onely with fow in his horse-keeper . by which speech he incensed the english to go on with him . the rest pleading the distemperature of the weather , went to sicily , in hope with change of aire to recover their health : where many of them found what they sought to avoid , death : amongst other , theobald king of navarre , and isabell his wife , and william earl of flanders , who ended their dayes at drepanum . besides , their navie was pursuivanted after with a horrible tempest , and a curse ( entailed either on their ill-gotten goods , or deserting gods cause , or both ) arrested them in their return : so that of this great wealth little was landed in europe , their ships being wracked , and the goods therein cast into the sea ; with which the waves played a little , and then chopped them up at a morsel . whilest the weather frowning on them , smiled on the english , prince edward no whit damnified either in his men or ships , with elenor his tender consort then young with child , safely arrived at ptolemais , to the great solace and comfort of the christians there being in great distresse . chap. . prince edwards performance in palestine : he is dangerously wounded ; yet recovereth , and returneth home safe . at his arrivall the last stake of the christians was on losing ; for bendocdar the mammaluke prince of egypt and syria , had brought ptolemais to so low an ebbe , that they therein resolved ( if some unexpected succour reversed not their intentions ) within three dayes to resigne the citie unto him . edward landing stayed this precipitation , who arrived with his armie there in the very interim , in opportunitie it self , which is the very quintessence of time ; so that all concluded his coming ( thus hitting the mark ) was guided by the hand of an especiall providence . and now those who before in despair would have thrown up their cards , hope at least to make a saving game ; and the christians taking comfort and courage , both defie their enemies , and their own thoughts of surrendring the citie . prince edward having sufficiently manned and victualled ptolemais , taking six or seven thousand souldiers , marched to nazareth ; which he took , and slew those he found there . after this , about midsummer , understanding the turks were gathered together at cakhow fourtie miles off , very early in the morning he set upon them , slew a thousand , and put the rest to flight . in these skirmishes he gave evident testimonies of his personall valour : yea , in cold bloud he would boldly challenge any infidel to a duell . to speak truth , this his conceived perfection was his greatest imperfection : for the world was abundantly satisfied in the point of his valour ; yet such was his confidence of his strength , and eagernesse of honour , that having merited the esteem of a most stout man , he would still supererogate : yea , he would profer to fight with any mean person , if cried up by the volge for a tall man : this daring being a generall fault in great spirits , and a great fault in a generall , who staketh a pearl against a piece of glasse . the best was , in that age a man fighting with sword and buckler , had in a manner many lives to lose ; and duells were not dangerous . whilest he stayed at ptolemais , elenor his lady was delivered of a fair daughter , called from her birth-place joan of acres : but fear of her husbands death abated her joy at her daughters birth . the turks not matching him in valour , thought to master him with treachery , which was thus contrived : the admirall of joppa , a turk , pretended he would turn christian , and imployed one anzazim an assasine in the businesse betwixt him and prince edward ; who carried himself so cunningly , that by often repairing to our prince he got much credit and esteem with him . * some write , this anzazim was before alwayes bred under ground , ( as men keep hawks and warre-horses in the dark , to make them more fierce ) that so coming abroad , he should fear to venture on no man. but sure , so cunning a companion had long conversed with light , and been acquainted with men , yea , christians and princes , as appeareth by his complying carriage ; else , if he had not been well read in their company , he could not have been so perfect in his lesson . but let him be bred any where , or in hell it self : for this was his religion , to kill any he was commanded , or on the non-performance willingly to forfeit his life . the fifth time of his coming he brought prince edward letters from his master , which whilest he was reading alone and lying on his bed , he struck him into the arm with an invenomed knife . being about to fetch another stroke , the prince with his foot gave him such a blow that he felled him to the ground ; and wresting the knife from him , ranne the turk into the belly , and slew him ; yet so , that in struggling he hurt himself therewith in the forehead . at this noise in sprang his servants , and one of them with a stool beate the braines out of the dead turks head , shewing little wit in his owne ; and the prince was highly displeased , that the monument of his valour should be stained with anothers crueltie . it is storied , how * elenor his lady sucked all the poyson out of his wounds , without doing any harm to her self : so sovereign a medicine is a womans tongue , anointed with the vertue of loving affection . pitie it is so pretty a story should not be true , ( with all the miracles in lovers legends ) and sure he shall get himself no credit , who undertaketh to confute a passage so sounding to the honour of the sex : yet can it not stand with what * others have written ; how the physician who was to dresse his wounds , spake to the lord edmund and the lord john voysie to take away lady elenor out of the princes presence , lest her pitie should be cruell towards him , in not suffering his sores to be searched to the quick . and though she cried out and wrung her hands , madame , said they , be contented ; it is better that one woman should weep a little while , then that all the realme of england should lament a great season : and so they conducted her out of the place . and the prince , by the benefit of physick , good attendance , and an antidote the master of the templars gave him , shewed himself on horse-back whole and well within fifteen dayes after . the admirall of joppa hearing of his recoverie , utterly disavowed that he had any hand in the treacherie : as none will willingly father unsucceeding villany . true it is , he was truly sorrowfull ; whether because edward was so bad , or no worse wounded , he knoweth that knoweth hearts . * some wholly acquit him herein , and conceive this mischief proceeded from simon earl of montforts hatred to our prince , who bearing him and all his kindred an old grudge for doing some conceived wrong to his father , ( in very deed , nothing but justice to a rebell ) hired , as they think , this assasine to murder him ; as a little before for the same quarrell he had served henry sonne to richard king of the romanes , and our edwards cousin germane , at viterbo in italy . it is much this simon living in france should contrive this princes death in palestine : but malice hath long arms , and can take men off at great distance . yea , this addeth to the cunning of the engineer , to work unseen ; and the further from him the blow is given , the lesse is he himself suspected . whosoever plotted , god prevented it , and the christians there would have revenged it , but edward would not suffer them . in all haste they would have marched and fallen on the turks , had not he * disswaded them , because then many christians unarmed , and in small companies , were gone to visit the sepulchre , all whose throats had then probably been cut before their return . eighteen moneths he stayed at ptolemais , and then came back through italy , without doing any extraordinarie matter in palestine . what musick can one string make when all the rest are broken ? what could edward do alone , when those princes fell back on whom the project most relied ? lewis and charles were the main undertakers ; edward entertained but as an adventurer and sharer : and so he furnished himself accordingly , with competent forces to succour others , but not to subsist of themselves . but as too often , where the principal miscarrieth , the second and sureties must lie at the stake to make the debt good : so in their default he valiantly went forward , though having in all but thirteen ships and some thousands of men , ( too many for a plain prince to visit with , and too few for a great one to warre with ) and performed what lay within the compasse of his power . in a word , his coming to ptolemais and assisting them there , was like a cordiall given to a dying man , which doth piece out his life ( or death rather ) a few grones and as many gasps the longers . by this time henry his aged father being dead ( his lamp not quenched but going out for want of oil ) the english nobilitie came as farre as the alpes in savoy to wait on edward in his return . leave we him then to be attended home by them to receive the crown , to which no lesse his vertues then birth entitled him . since the conquest he was the first king of his name , and the first that settled the law and state ( deserving the style of * englands justinian ) and that freed this kingdome from the wardship of the peers ; shewing himself in all his actions after , capable to command not the realm onely but the whole world . chap. . rodulphus the emperours voyage to palestine hindred . the duke of mechlenburg his captivitie and inlargement . before edwards departure , hugh king of jerusalem and cyprus concluded a peace ( to our * princes small liking ) with the mammaluke sultan of egypt , to hold onely in and near ptolemais ; whereby the christians had some breathing-time . but that which now possessed all mens thoughts and talk in syria , was the expectation of rodulphus to come thither with a great armie ; who ( after two and twentie yeares interregnum ) was chosen emperour of germany . this rodulphus was a mean earl of haspurg ( frederick the last emperour was his * godfather ; who little thought , that having so many sons of his own , his god-son should next succeed him ) and lived in a private way . but now the empire refusing her rich suiters , married this earl without any portion , onely for pure love . a preferment beyond his expectation , not above his deserts : for germany had many bigger lights , none brighter . pope gregory the tenth would not ratifie his election , but on this condition , that he should in person march with an armie to palestine . and though this was but an old policie , to send the emperours far away , that so he might command in chief in their absence ; yet his holinesse did so turn and dresse this third-bare plot with specious pretenses of piety , that it passed for new and fresh , especially to those that beheld it at distance . but rodulphus could not be spared out of germany , being there imployed in civil discords : the knees of the dutch princes were too stiff to do him homage , till he softned them by degrees . and indeed he was not provided for the holy warre , and wanted a stock of his own to drive so costly a trade , having no paternall lands considerable , no bottom to begin on ; though through his thrift and providence he first laid the foundation of the austrian familie . yet somewhat to answer expectation , he sent henry duke of mechlenburg with competent forces into palestine : who coming to ptolemais , made many notable incursions into the countrey about damasco , with fire and sword destroying all as he went , and carrying thence many rich booties ; till at last he was circumvented & taken prisoner by the mammalukes . twenty six yeares he lived in captivity , keeping his conscience free all the while : at last the sultan of egypt ( a renegado germane , who formerly had been engineer to this dukes father ) set him at liberty , together with martine his servant ; that he who so long had shared of his miserie , might also partake of his happinesse . no sooner had this duke put to sea , but he was again taken by pirates ; and the sultan , out of pitie to this distressed prince , and out of scorn that fortune should frustrate and defeat his reall courtesie , set him free again . at last he came safely home , and was there welcomed with asmuch wonder as joy ; his subjects conceiving his return a resurrection , having buried him in their thoughts long before . here he found * two counterfeits , who pretended themselves to be this duke , and on that title challenged lodging with anastasia his lady . but the one of them had a softer bedfellow provided him , a pool of water , wherein he was drowned ; the other was made a bonefire of , to solemnize the joy of the dukes return . chap. . charles king of ierusalem ; his intentions in syria stopped by the sicilian vespers ; his death , and sonnes succession . by this time charles king of jerusalem and sicily had made great preparations for the holy war. and to make his claim to the kingdome of jerusalem the stronger , he bought also the title of maria domicella princesse of antioch , which pretended aright to the same . he sent also roger the count of s. severine as his vice-roy to ptolemais : where he was honourably received in despite of hugh king of cyprus , by the especial favour of albertine morisine the venetian consul there . and now his navie was reported to be readie , and that by the way he had a project upon michael paleologus the emperour of greece : whē all his intentions were suddenly blasted ; it so happening , that on easter day , as the bell tolled to even-song , all the throats of the frenchmen in sicily were cut in a moment by the natives thereof , and that island won by peter king of aragon . the grand contriver of this massacre was one jacobus prochyta a physician ; and i dare say he killed more in an houre then he cured all his life-time . those that condemn the sicilians herein , cannot excuse the french ; such formerly had been their pride , lust , covetousnesse , and crueltie to the people of that island , putting them causelesly to exquisite torture , so that an ordinary hanging was counted an extraordinarie favour . but the secrecie of contriving this slaughter of the french was little lesse then miraculous ; that so many knowing it , none should discover it ; like cunning dogs , barking in triumph after they had bitten , not before , to give any warning . hence grew the proverb of the sicilian vespers ; though their even-song was nothing to the english mattens intended in the gunpowder-treason . mean time king charles was at rome , beholding the making of cardinals , when this doleful news was brought unto him , and struck him to the heart . he survived a year or two longer , but dull and melancholick , living as it were without life , and died at last , having reigned king of jerusalem twentie year . a prince which had tasted of various successe ; fortune for a while smiling on him , and at last laughing at him . his son charles succeded him in the kingdome of naples and in the title of jerusalem . he was surnamed cunctator , delayer ; not in the same sense as fabius the shield of rome was so called : he onely stayed till opportunitie was come ; our charles , till it was passed . i find nothing memorable of him except this , that offended with the templars in palestine for taking part against him with the king of cyprus , he seised on their lands , and confiscated all their goods they had in naples or any other part of his dominions , how ever , let him have room in the catalogue of our kings of jerusalem . for as high hills near the sea-side , though otherwise never so base and barren ground , yet will serve to be sea-marks for the direction of mariners : so this charles , together with hugh , john , and henry , kings of cyprus , pretending also to jerusalem , though we reade nothing remarkable of them , will become the front of a page , and serve to divide and distinguish times , and to parcell the historie the better to our apprehension . as for the bare anatomie of their reigne ( for we find it not fleshed with any historie ) with the dates of their beginnings and endings , we shall present it to the reader hereafter in our chronologie . chap. . the succession of the mammaluke princes in egypt . alphir taketh tripoli and tyre ; the wofull estate of ptolemais . but whilest these titular kings slept , the mammaluke princes were vigilant to infest the reliques of the christians in palestine : which princes succession we will adventure to set down ; nor are we discouraged with the difficulties which encounter us herein . the hardnesse in the story of the mammalukes proceedeth ( as we conceive ) from one of these causes : first the state is not written directly , but by reflexion ; not storied by any constant writer of their own , but in snaps and parcels , as the chroniclers , of neighbouring christian countreyes have catched at them . secondly , out of a popular errour , their chief captains by reason of their large authoritie passe for absolute kings . thirdly , the same king hath many names , and the same name by translation in sundrie languages is strangely disguised . how-ever , we will use our best conjectures in these uncertainties : and a dimme candle is better then no light . bendocdar or bandodacar , otherwise melechdaet , was the last egyptian prince we mentioned . a dangerous man to the christians , but that abaga the tartarian took him to task , and kept him in continuall imployment . this abaga had a prettie trick to make cowards valiant , causing them that ranne away from the battell , ever after to wear womens clothes . bendocdar died at damascus of a * wound he received in armenia : or , as some say , by cold in swimming over euphrates . elpis succeeded him , his * sonne ( say some ) but the mammalukes laws forbid that except his extraordinary worth was his facultie , and dispenied with him ad succedendum patri . but who knoweth not that the eastern tongue speaketh nephewes and kinsmen to be sonnes ? some wholly omit him ; enough to make us suspect that he was onely some deputy clapped in to stop up the vacancie till melechsaites was chosen . melechsaites ( called by marinus , melechmessor ) wonne the strong castle of mergath from the hospitallers . he much loved and was very bountifull to the carmelites , who lived dispersed in syria : but afterwards he banished them out of his countrey , because they altered their habit , and wore white coats at the appointment of pope honorius ; the turks being generally enemies to innovations , and loving constancy in old customes . nor was this any mishap but an advantage to the carmelites , to lose their dwellings in syria , and gain better in europe , where they planted themselves in the fattest places : so that he who knoweth not to choose good ground , let him find out an house of the carmelites ( a mark that faileth not ) for his direction . alphir was next to melechsaites , otherwise called elsi . he perceiving that now or never was the time finally to expell the christians out of palestine , whilest the princes in europe were in civil warres , besieged and wonne tripoli , sidon , berytus , and tyre , beating them down to the ground , but suffering the inhabitants on some conditions to depart . nothing now was left but ptolemais : which alphir would not presently besiege , lest he should draw the christians in europe upon him ; but concluded a peace for five yeares with the venetians , as not willing wholly to exasperate them by winning all from them at once , and thinking this bitter potion would be better swallowed by them at two severall draughts . mean time ptolemais was in a woful condition . in it were some of all countreys ; so that he who had lost his nation , might find it here . most of them had severall courts to decide their causes in ; and the plenty of judges cause●● the scarcity of justice , malefactours appealing to a trial in the courts of their own countrey . 〈◊〉 was sufficient innocencie for any offender in the venetian court , that he was a venetian . personall acts were entituled nationall , and made the cause of the countrie . outrages were every-where practised , no-where punished ; as if to spare divine revenge the pains of overtaking them , they would go forth and meet it . at the same time , there were in fitters about prosecuting their titles to this citie , no fewer then the venetians , genoans , pisans , florentines , the kings of cyprus and sicily , the agents for the kings of france and england , the princes of tripoli and antioch , the patriarch of jerusalem , the masters of the templars and hospitallers , and ( whom i should have named first ) the legate of his holinesse , all at once with much violence contending about the right of right nothing , the title to the kingdome of jerusalem , and command of this citie ; like bees , making the greatest humming and buzzing in the hive when now ready to leave it . chap. . ptolemais besieged , and taken by sultan serapha . within the city were many voluntaries lately come over , five hundred whereof were of the popes furnishing . but belike he failed afterwards in his payment to them , the golden tide flowing not so fast out as into his holinesse coffers . the souldiers being not payed , according to their blunt manners , would pay themselves ; and marching out , pillaged the countrey , contrary to the truce : sultan serapha ( who succeeded alphir ) demanding restitution , is denied , & his embassadours ill intreated . hereupon he sitteth down before the city with six hundred thousand men . but we are not bound to believe that alexanders souldiers were so big as their shields speak them which they left in india , nor asian armies so numerous as they are reported . allow the turks dominions spacious and populous , and that they rather drained then chose souldiers ; yet we had best credit the most niggardly writers , which make them an hundred and fiftie thousand . serapha resolveth to take it , conceiving so convenient a purchase could not be over-bought : the place , though not great , yet was a mote in the eye of the turkish empire , and therefore pained them . peter belvise master of the templars , a valiant captain , had the command of the citie assigned him by generall consent . he encouraged the christians to be valiant , not like prodigall heirs to lose this city for nothing , which cost their grandfathers so much bloud ; at least let them give one blaze of valour ere their candle went out . how should they shew their friends their faces , if they shewed their foes their backs ! let them fight it out manfully ; that so , if forced at last to surrender it , they might rather be pitied for want of fortune then justly blamed for lack of valour . and now ptolemais being to wrastle her last fall , stripped her self of all combersome clothes : women , children , aged persons , weak folks ( all such hindering help , and mouths without arms ) were sent away ; and twelve thousand remained , conceived competent to make good the place . serapha marcheth up furiously ; his men assault the city , with open jaws ready to devoure it , had not their mouths been stopped with the artilery the christians shot at them . back they were beaten , and many a turk slain . but serapha was no whit sensible thereof : who willingly would lose a thousand men in a morning for a breakfast , double so many at a dinner , and continue this costly ordinarie for some daies together ; yea , in spite he would spend an ounce of turkish bloud , to draw a drop of christian. in this conflict peter belvise was slain with a poisoned arrow : a losse above grieving for . many were strong in desiring the honour who were weak to discharge the office . but the worst mischief was ; the christians were divided amongst themselves , and neglected to defend the citie , conceiving that though that was taken , yet every particular nation could defend it self , having their buildings severally fortified : and this dangerous fansie took off their thoughts from the publick good , and fixed them on their private ends . mean time , the patriarch of jerusalem , and others ( some name with them henry king of jerusalem and cyprus ) more seeking their safetie then honour , secretly fled ( with their bodies after their hearts ) out of the citie ; and some of them shunning a noble death , fell on a base end , being drowned in the sea . their cowardlinesse is imputed by some authours to all the rest ; whereas it appeareth on the contrarie , they most valiantly behaved themselves . at last , the turks entred the citie by undermining the walls , and conceived their work now done , when it was new begun . for they found ptolemais not a citie , but a heap of cities thrown together : wherein the people of every countrey so fensed themselves in their severall sorts , that they powdered the turks with their shot when they entred the streets . it is hardly to be paralleled in any siege , that a taken citie was so long before it was taken : for it held out fiftie daies ; and the knights hospitallers made good their castle for * two whole moneths together . but alas ! as the severall parts of insecta being cut asunder , may wriggle and stirre a while , not live long ; so these divided limbes could not long subsist , and at last most of them were slain . yet was it a bloudie victorie to the turks ; most of them that entered the citie being either burned with fire , or killed arrows , or smothered with the fall of towres , the very ruines ( as thirstie of revenge ) killing those that ruined them . serapha evened all to the ground , and ( lest the christians should ever after land here ) demolished all buildings ; the turks holding this position , that the best way to be rid of such vermine , is to shave the hair clean off , and to destroy all places wherein they may nestle themselves . some say he plowed the ground whereon the citie stood , and sowed it with corn : but an * eye-witnesse affirmeth , that still there remain magnificent ruines , seeming rather wholy to consist of divers conjoyned castles , then any way intermingled with private dwellings . no fewer then an hundred thousand latine christians ( all that were left in syria ) fled at this time into cyprus . it is strange what is reported , * that above five hundred matrones and virgins of noble bloud , standing upon the shore of ptolemais , and having all their richest jewels with them , cried out with lamentable voice , and profered to any mariner that would undertake safely to land them any where , all their wealth for his hire , and also that he should choose any one of them for his wife . then a certain mariner came , and transporting them all freely , safely landed them in cyprus ; nor by any enquirie could it after be known ( when he was sought for to receive his hire ) who this mariner was , nor whither he went. the hospitallers for haste were fain to leave their treasure behind them , and hide it in a vault ; which being made known from time to time to their successours , was fetched from thence by the * galleys of malta about three hundred yeares afterwards . henry king of cyprus to his great cost and greater commendation , gave free entertainment to all pilgrimes that fled hither , till such time as they could be transported to their own countreys ; and thanks was all the shot expected of these guests at their departure . thus after an hundred ninetie and four yeares ended the holy warre ; for continuance the longest , for money spent the costliest , for bloudshed the cruellest , for pretenses the most pious , for the true intent the most politick the world ever saw . and at this day , the turks to spare the christians their pains of coming so long a journey to palestine , have done them the unwelcome courtesie , to come more then half the way to give them a meeting . the end of the fourth book . a supplement of the historie of the holy warre . book v. chap. . the executing of the templars in france . my task is done . whatsoever remaineth is voluntary and over-measure , onely to hemme the end of our historie that it ravel not out : as to shew , what became of the templars , the teutonick order , and the hospitallers ; what were the hindrances of this warre ; what nation best deserved in it ; what offers were afterwards made to recover jerusalem ; by how many challengers that title at this day is claimed ; what is the present strength of jerusalem ; what hope to regain it ; with some other passages which offer attendance on these principall heads . know then , some nineteen yeares after the christians had lost all in palestine , the templars , by the cruel deed of pope clement the fifth , and foul fact of philip the fair king of france , were finally * exstirpared out of all christendome . the historie thereof is but in twilight , not clearly delivered , but darkened with many doubts and difficulties : we must pick out letters and syllables here and there aswell as we may ; all which put together spell thus much . pope clement having long sojourned in france , had received many reall courtesies from philip the king ; yea , he owed little lesse then himself to him . at last , philip requested of him a boon , great enough for a king to ask and a pope to grant ; namely , all the lands of the knights templars through france , forfeited by reason of their horrible heresies and licentious living . the pope was willing to gratifie him in some good proportion for his favours received ( as thankfulnesse is alwayes the badge of a good nature ) and therefore being thus long the kings guest , he gave him the templars lands and goods to pay for his entertainment . on a sudden all the templars in france they clapt into prison , wisely catching those lions in a net , which had they been fairly hunted to death , would have made their part good with all the dogs in france . damnable sinnes were laid to their charge ; as , sacrificing of men to an idol they worshipped , rosting of a templars bastard and drinking his bloud , spitting upon the crosse of christ , conspiring with turks and saracens against christianitie , sodomie , bestialitie , with many other villanies out of the rode of humane corruption , and as farre from mans nature as gods law . well ; the templars thus shut in prison , their crimes were half-proved . the sole witnesse against them was one of their own order , a notorious malefactour ; who at the same time being in prison and to suffer for his own offenses , condemned by the master of their order , sought to prove his own innocency by charging all his own order to be guiltie . and his case standing thus , he must either kill or be killed , die or put others to death , he would be sure to provide water enough to drive the mill , and fwore most heartily to whatsoever was objected against the order . besides , the templars being brought upon the rack , confessed the accusations to be true wherewith they were charged . hereupon all the templars through france were most cruelly burned to death at a stake , with james the grand master of their order . chap. . arguments produced on either side , both for the innocencie and guiltinesse of the templars . there is scarce a harder question in later historie then this , whether the templars justly or unjustly were condemned to suffer . on the one side , it is dangerous to affirm they were innocent , because condemned by the pope , infallible in matters of such consequence . this bugbear affrighteth many , and maketh their hands shake when they write hereof . if they should say the templars were burned wrongfully , they may be fetched over the coals themselves for charging his holinesse so deeply ; yea , hereby they bring so much innocent bloud on the popes head as is enough to drown him : some therefore in this matter know little , and dare speak lesse , for fear of afterclaps . secondly , some who suspect that one eye of the church may be dimme ; yet hold that both the eyes , the pope and generall council together , cannot be deceived . now the council of vienne countenanced the exstirpation of the templars , determined the dissolution of their order , and adjudged their lands to be conferred to the knights-hospitallers . men ought then to be well advised how they condemn a generall council to be accessorie post factum to the murder of so many men . for all this , those who dare not hollow , do whisper on the other side , accounting the templars not malefactours but martyrs : first , because the witnesse was unsufficient , a malefactour against his judge ; and secondly , they bring tortured men against themselves . yea , there want not those that maintain that a confession extorted on the rack is of no validitie , if they be weak men and unable to endure torment , they will speak any thing ; and in this case their words are endited not from their heart but outward limbes that are in pain : and a poor conquest it is , to make either the hand of a child to beate , or the tongue of the tortured man to accuse himself . if they be sturdie and stubborn , whose backs are paved against torments , such as bring brasen sides against steely whips , they will confesse nothing . and though these templars were stout and valiant men , yet it is to be commended to ones consideration , whether slavish and servile souls will not better bear torment , then generous spirits , who are for the enduring of honourable danger and speedie death , but not provided for torment , which they are not acquainted with , neither is it the proper object of valour . again , it is produced in their behalf , that being burned at the stake , they denied it at their death , though formerly they had confessed it ; and whose charitie , if not stark-blind , will not be so tender-eyed as to believe that they would not breath out their soul with a lie , and wilfully contract a new guilt in that very instant wherein they were to be arraigned before the judge of heaven ? a templar being to be burned at burdeaux , and seeing the pope and king philip looking out at a window , cried unto them , * clement thou cruell tyrant , seeing there is no higher amongst mortall men to whom i should appeal for my unjust death , i cite thee together with king philip to the tribunall of christ the just judge who redeemed me , there both to appear within one yeare and a day ; where i will lay open my cause , and justice shall be done without any by-respect . in like manner , * james grand master of the templars , though by piece-meal he was tortured to death , craved pardon of god , and those of his order , that forced by extremitie of pain on the rack , and allured with hope of life , he had accused them of such damnable sinnes , whereof they were innocent . moreover , the people with their suffrage acquitted them : happie was he that could get an handfull of their ashes into his bosome , as the relique of pious martyrs , to preserve . indeed little heed is to be given to peoples humours ; whose judgement is nothing but prejudice and passion , and commonly envie all in prosperitie , pitie all in adversitie , though often both undeservedly : and we may believe that the beholding of the templars torments when they were burned , wrought in the people first a commiserating of their persons , and so by degrees a justifying of their cause . however vulgus non semper errat , aliquando elìgit : and though it matters little for the gales of a private mans fancie , yet it is something when the wind bloweth from all corners : and true it is , they were generally cryed up for innocents . lastly , pope clement and king philip were within the time prefixed summoned by death to answer to god for what they had done . and though it is bad to be busie with gods secrets ; yet an argment drawn from the event , especially when it goeth in company with others , as it is not much to be depended on , so it is not wholly to be neglected . besides , king philip missed of his expectation , and the morsell fell besides his mouth ; for the lands of the templars , which were first granted to him as a portion for his youngest sonne , were afterwards by the council of vienne bestowed on the knights-hospitallers . chap. . a moderate way what is to be conceived of the suppression of the templars . betwixt the two extremities of those that count these templars either malefactours or martyrs , some find a middle way ; whose verdict we will parcell into these severall particulars . . no doubt there were many novices and punies amongst them , newly admitted into their order ; which if at all , were little guiltie ; for none can be fledge in wickednesse at their first hatching : to these much mercy belonged : the punishing of others might have been an admonition to them ; and crueltie it was , where there were degrees of offenses , to inflict the same punishment , and to put all of them to death . . surely many of them were most hainous offenders . not to speak what they deserved from god ( who needeth not pick a quarrel with man , but alwayes hath a just controversie with him ) they are accounted notorious transgressours of humane laws : yet perchance if the same candle had been lighted to search , as much dust and dirt might have been found in other orders . . they are * conceived in generall to be guiltlesse and innocent from those damnable sinnes wherewith they were charged : which hainous offenses were laid against them , either because men out of modestie and holy horrour should be ashamed and afraid to dive deep in searching the ground-work and bottome of these accusations , but rather take them to be true on the credit of the accusers ; or that the world might the more easily be induced to believe the crimes objected to be true , as conceiving otherwise none would be so devilish as to lay such devilish offenses to their charge ; or lastly , if the crimes were not believed in the totall summe , yet if credited in some competent portion , the least particular should be enough to do the deed , and to make them odious in the world . . the chief cause of their ruine was their extraordinary wealth : they were feared of many , envied of more , loved of none . as naboths vineyard was the chiefest ground for his blasphemie , and as in england , * sr john cornwall lord fanhop said merrily , that not he , but his stately house at ampthill in bedford-shire , was guiltie of high treason : so certainly their welath was the principall evidence against them , and cause of their overthrow . it is quarrell and cause enough , to bring a sheep that is fat to the shambles . we may believe king philip would never have tooke away their lives if he might have took their lands without putting them to death : but the mischief was , he could not get the hony unlesse he burnt the bees . some will say , the hospitallers had great , yea greater revenues , nineteen thousand mannors to the templars nine thousand ; yet none envied their wealth . it is true : but then they busied themselves in defending of christendome , maintaining the island of rhodes against the turks , as the teutonick order defended pruss-land against the tartarian ; the world therefore never grudged them great wages who did good work . these were accounted necessary members of christendome , the templars esteemed but a superfluous wenne ; they lay at rack and manger and did nothing : who had they betook themselves to any honourable employment , to take the turks to task either in europe or asia , their happinesse had been lesse repined at , and their overthrow more lamented . and certain it is , that this their idlenesse disposed them for other vices ; as standing waters are most subject to putrifie . i heare one * bird sing a different note from all the rest in the wood ; namely , that what specious shews soever were pretended , the true cause of their ruine was , that they began to desert the pope and adhere to the emperour . if this was true , no doubt they were deeply guiltie , and deserved the hard measure they suffered . sure i am , how-ever at this time they might turn edge , they had formerly been true blades for his holinesse . all europe followed the copie that france had set them . here in england king edward the second of that name , suppressed the order , and put them to death ; so by vertue of a writ sent from him to sir john wogan , lord chief justice in ireland , were they served there ; and such was the secrecie of the contrivance of the businesse , that the storm fell upon them before they saw it , and all the crannies were so closely stopped that none could steal a glimpse of the mischief intended against them . in germany they found some mercy and milder dealing : for * hugh wildgrave coming with twenty of his order all in armour into a council of dutch bishops , who intended to execute the sentence of the pope upon them , there protested his innocencie , and appealed to the next pope who should succeed clement , as to his competent judge . hereupon their lives were spared ; onely they were forced to renounce the name of templars , and to enter themselves into other orders ; chiefly of hospitallers and teutonicks , on whom their lands were bestowed . we will conclude all with that resolution of a * brace of spanish writers , who make this epilogue to this wofull tragedie ; concerning these templars , whether they were guiltie or not , let us suspend our censure till the day of judgement ; and then and no sooner shall we certainly be informed therein . chap. . of the teutonick order ; when they left palestine , and on what conditions they were entertained in prussia ; their order at last dissolved . frequent mention hath been formerly made of the teutonick order , or that of dutch knights , who behaved themselves right valiantly clean through the holy warre : and , which foundeth much to their honour , they cannot be touched either for treason or faction , but were both loyall and peaceable in the whole service . but at last they perceived , that by the course of the cards they must needs rise losers if they continued the warre in the holy land , and even resolved to abandon it . it happened at the same time , that conrade duke of mazovia offered them most honourable conditions ; namely , the enjoying of prussia , on condition they would defend it against the infidels which annoyed it . indeed the fratres gladiferi , or sword-bearing brothers , brave slashing lads , undertook that task : but finding either their arms too weak , or swords too blunt to strike through their enemies , they imployed the aid of , and conjoyned themselves to this teutonick order . hereupon , in the yeare of our lord , hermannus de saltza , fourth master of these dutch knights , came with most of his order into prussia ; yet so that he left a competent number of them still in palestine , which continued and did good service there even to the taking of ptolemais . but the greater number of the dutch knights , in prussia , did knight-service against the tartarians , and were christendomes best bank against the inundations of those barbarous people . by their endeavours the prussians which before were but heathen-christians , were wholly converted ; many a brave citie builded , specially marienburg , where formerly a great oak stood ; ( who would think so many beautifull buildings would spring out of the root of one tree ? ) and those countreys of prussia and livonia , which formerly were the course list , are now become the rich fringe of europe . at last the prussians grew weary of the tyrannous oppression of those dutch knights , ( as appeareth by the grievances they presented ) and applied themselves to casimire king of poland . he took to task lewis erlinfuse the master of their order ; and so ordered him , that whereas before he pleaded himself to be a free prince of the empire , hereafter he should acknowledge the king of poland for his lord and master . the successours to this lewis fretted against this agreement , as prejudicial to them : they could do no lesse then complain , and could do little more ; for the king of poland in spite of their resistance held them to their agreements . albert of the house of brandenburg was the last grand master of this order , and first duke of prussia . he breake the vow of their order , losing his virginitie to keep his chastitie , and married dorothie daughter to the king of denmark . the other teutonicks protested against him , and chose gualther croneberg in his roome : yea , albert was proscribed in a diet in germanie , and his goods confiscated , but the proscription never executed , the emperour of germanie being the same time employed in matters of greater moment which more nearly concerned himself . and thus in this albert , for ought we can find to the contrarie , the teutonick order had its end , and was quite dissolved . chap. . the severall flittings of the knights-hospitallers , from cyprus , by rhodes , nice , syracuse , to malta . we must now wait on the hospitallers to their lodgings , and we have done . we left them driven from ptolemais , and landed at cyprus ; where king henry courteously entertained them . but a friends house is no home : hence therefore they were conveyed to their severall alberges in europe . but such active spirits could not long be idle ; such running streams would not end in a standing pond . wherefore they used all their own strength , and improved their interest with all their benefactours , to furnish out a fleet : which done , under fulk de villeret their grand master they wonne the island of rhodes from the turks , eighteen yeares after ptolemais was lost , and there seated themselves . besides rhodes , they also enjoyed these five adjacent islands , saith my authour , nicoria , episcopia , iolli , limonia , and sirana ; places so small , that consulting with maps will not find them out : enough almost to make us think with tertullian of delos , that once there were such islands , which at this day are quite vanished away . two hundred and fourteen yeares , to the terrour of the turks , comfort of the christians , and their own immortall fame , they maintained this island , and secured the seas for the passage of pilgrimes to jerusalem : till at last in the yeare , after six moneths siege they surrendred the citie to their own honour , and shame of other christians who sent them no succour in season . yet changing their place they kept their resolution to be honourably imployed . hence they sailed to nice in piemont , a city lying opposite to africa , from whence the moores and saracens much infested christendome . wherefore charles duke of savoy bestowed that citie upon them to defend it ; counting the courtesie rather done to him then by him , that they would accept it . afterwards , they perceived it was more needfull to stop the turks invasions then their pillagings : they had lately wonne buda , and ( as it was thought ) would quickly stride over the adriatick sea , and have at italie . wherefore the hospitallers left nice , and planted themselves at syracuse in sicilie : where they right valiantly behaved themselves in defending that countrey . but charles the fifth , a politick prince , though he saw their help was usefull , yet desired not much to have them live in his own countrey . he liked their neighbourhood better then their presence , to have them rather neare then in his kingdome . wherefore he appointed them the island of malta to keep for themselves , their grand maister onely paying yearly to the king of spain a * falcon in acknowledgement they held it from him . loth were the hospitallers to leave sicilie , that paradise of pleasure , and went very unwillingly from it . malta is an island in the mid-land-sea , seated betwixt europe and africa , as if it meant to escape out of both as being in neither . here s. paul suffered shipwrack , when the viper stung him not , but the men did , * condemning him for a murderer . and here the hospitallers seated themselves , and are the bulwark of christendome to this day , giving dayly evident proof of their courage . but their master-piece was in the yeare , when they couragiously defended the city of malta besieged by soliman : when he discharged seventie eight thousand bullets ( some of them seven spans in compasse ) against it , big enough not onely to overthrow walls but overturn mountains ; yet notwithstanding they held out valiantly five moneths , and at last forced the turk to depart . these knights of malta are at this day a good bridle to tunis and algiers . i am informed by a good * friend ( who hath spent much yet lost no time in those parts ) that these knights are bound by vow not to flie from the turks , though one man or one galley to foure ( half which ods hercules himself durst not venture on ; ) but if there be five to one , it is interpreted wisdome not cowardlinesse , to make away from them : also if a christian ship wherein there is a knight of malta take a turkish ship , that knight is bound by his order first to go aboard to enter it . the grand master of this order hath a great command , and is highly esteemed of ; insomuch that the * authour of the catalogue of the glory of the world , believeth he is to take place next to absolute kings , above all other temporall princes , even above kings subject to the empire . sure he meaneth , if they will give it him ; otherwise it seemeth improper that the alms-man should take place of his benefactours . yet the lord prior of the hospitallers in england was chief baron of the realm , and had precedencie of all other lords : and here his order flourished with great pomp till their finall period ; which i now come to relate . chap. . the hospitallers in england stoutly withstand three severall assaults , which overthrew all other religious foundations . the suppression of the hospitallers in england deserveth especiall notice , because the manner thereof was different from the dissolving of other religious houses ; for manfully they stood it out to the last , in despite of severall assaults . . cardinall wolsey , by leave from the pope , suppressed certain small houses of little value , therewithall to endow his colledges in oxford and ipswich . he first shewed religious places were mortall , which hitherto had flourished in a seeming eternitie . this leading case of wolseys did pick the motter out of all the abbeys-walls in england , and made a breach in their strongest gate-houses , teaching covetousnesse ( an apt scholar ) a ready way to assault them : ( for it is the dedication , not the value of the thing dedicated , stampeth a character of sacrednesse upon it . ) and king henry the eighth concluded , if the cardinall might eat up the lean covents , he himself might feed on the far ones , without danger of a sacrilegious surfet . true it is , wolsey not wholly but in part alienated the lands of these pettie houses , reserving them still to the generall end of pious uses : but the king followed this pattern so farre as it was for his purpose , and neglected the rest . . for not long after , the * parliament granted him all religious houses of and under the value of two hundred pounds yearly : and it was thought , that above ten thousand persons , masters and servants , lost their livelihoods by the demolishing of them . and for an introduction to the suppression of all the residue , he had a strait watch set upon them , and the regulars therein tied to a strict and punctuall observation of their orders , without any relaxation of the least libertie ; insomuch that many did quickly un-nunne and disfriar themselves , whose sides formerly used to goe loose , were soon galled with strait lacing . . then followed the grand dissolution or judgement-day on the world of abbeys remaining ; which of what value soever were seised into the kings hands . the lord cromwell , one of excellent parts but mean parentage , came from the forge to be the hammer to maul all abbeys . whose magnificent ruines may lesson the beholders , that it is not the firmnesse of the stone nor fastnesse of the morter maketh strong walls , but the integritie of the inhabitants . for indeed foul matters were provided against some of them , as sodomie and much uncleannesse : whereupon unwillingly willing , they resigned their goods and persons to the kings mercie . but the knights-hospitallers ( whose chief mansion was at st. johns , nigh london ) being gentlemen and souldiers of ancient families and high spirits , would not be brought to present the king such puling petitions and publick recognitions of their errours as other orders had done . they complained it was a false consequence , as farre from charitie as logick , from the induction of some particular delinquents to inferre the guiltinesse of all religious persons . wherefore like stout fellows they opposed any that thought to enrich themselves with their ample revenues , and stood on their own defense and justification . chap. . the hospitallers at last got on an advantage and suppressed . but barnabe's day it self hath a night ; and this long-lived order , which in england went over the graves of all others , came at last to its own . they were suffered to have rope enough , till they had haltered themselves in a praemunire : for they still continued their obedience to the * pope , contrary to their allegiance , whose usurped authoritie was banished out of the land ; and so ( though their lives otherwise could not be impeached for any vitiousnesse . ) they were brought within the compasse of the law . the case thus standing , their deare friends perswaded them to submit to the kings mercie , and not to capitulate with him on conditions , nor to stop his favour by their own obstinacie , but yield whilest as yet terms honest and honourable , would be freely given them : that such was the irresistiblenesse of the kings spirit , that like a torrent it would bear down any thing which stood betwixt him and his desires ; if his anger were once inflamed , nothing but their bloud could quench it : let them not flatter themselves into their own ruine , by relying on the aid of their friends at home , who would not substitute their own necks to save theirs from the ax ; nor by hoping for help from forrein parts , who could send them no seasonable succour . this counsell harsh at first , grew tunable in the eares of the hospitallers ; so that contented rather to exchange their clothes for worse then to be quite stript , they resigned all into the kings hands . he allowed to sr william weston lord prior of the order , an annuall pension of one thousand pounds : but he received never a penny thereof , but died * instantly , struck to the heart when he first heard of the dissolution of his priory : and lieth buried in the chancell of clarkenwell , with the portraiture of a dead man lying on his shroud , the most artificially cut in stone ( saith my * authour ) that ever man beheld . others had rent assigned them of l , l l , l l , l l , l l , l l , according to their severall qualities and deserts . at the same time justs and tornaments were held at westminster : wherein the challengers against all comers , were sr john dudly , sr thomas seymore , sr thomas poinings , sr george carew , knights ; anthonie kingstone , and richard cromwell , esquires ; to each of whom for reward of their valour , the king gave a hundred markes of yearely revenues , and a house to dwell in , to them and their heires , out of the lands belonging to these hospitallers . and at this time , many had danae's happinesse , to have golden showres rained into their bosomes . these abbey-lands , though skittish mares to some , have given good milk to others : which is produced as an argument , that if they prove unsuccessefull to any , it is the users default , no inherencie of a curse in the things themselves . but let one keep an exact register of lands , and mark their motions , how they ebbe and flow betwixt buyers and sellers , and surely he will say with the poet , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . and this is most sure ; let land be held in never so good a tenure , it will never be held by an unthrift . the hospitallers priory-church was preserved from down-pulling all the dayes of king henry the eighth : but in the third yeare of king edward the sixth , with the bell-towre ( a piece of curious workmanship , graven , gilt , and enamelled ) it was undermined and blown up with gunpowder , and the stone imployed in building the lord protectours house in the strand . thus as chirurgeons in cutting off a gangrened leg , alwayes cut it off above the joynt , even where the flesh is whole and sound : so ( belike for fear of further infection ) to banish monkerie for ever , they rased the structures and harmlesse buildings of priories , which otherwise in themselves were void of any offence . they feared if abbeys were onely left in a swound , the pope would soon get hot water to recover them : to prevent which , they killed them and killed them again , overturning the very foundation of the houses , infringing , altering , and transferring the lands , that they might never be reduced to their own propertie . some outrages were committed in the manner of these dissolutions : many manuscripts , guilty of no other superstition then red letters in the front , were condemned to the fire : and here a principall key of antiquitie was lost , to the great prejudice of posteritie . but in sudden alterations it is not to be expected that all things be done by the square and compasse . chap. . queen mary setteth up the hospitallers again ; they are again deposed by queen elisabeth . queen mary ( a princesse more zealous then politick ) attempted to restore abbeys to their pristine estate and former glory : and though certain of her counsellers objected , that the state of her kingdome and dignity thereof and her crown imperiall could not honourably be furnished and maintained without the possession of abbey-land ; yet she * frankly restored , resigned , and confirmed by parliament all ecclesiasticall revenues which by the authority of that high court in the dayes of her father were annexed to the crown , protesting she set more by her salvation , then by ten kingdomes . but the nobilitie followed not her example : they had eaten up the abbey-lands , and now after twenty yeares possession digested and turned them into good bloud in their estates : they were loth therefore to emptie their veins again ; and the forwardest romanist was backward enough in this costly piece of devotion . however , out of her own liberalitie , she set up two or three bankrupt covents , as sion and westminster , and gave them stock to trade with . the knights also of s. john of jerusalem she reseated in their place ; and sr thomas tresham of rushton in northamptonshire was the first and last lord prior after their restitution : for their nests were plucked down before they were warm in them , by the coming in of queen elisabeth . to conclude ; in the founders of religious houses were some good intents mixt with superstitious ends ; amongst the religious persons themselves , some pietie , more loosnesse and lazinesse ; in the confounders of those houses , some detestation of the vices of friars , more desire of the wealth of friaries ; in god , all just , all righteous , in permitting the badnesse and causing the destruction of these numerous fraternities . chap. . observations on the holy warre ; the horrible superstition therein . we have finished the story of the holy warre : and now i conceive my indentures are cancelled , and i discharged from the strict service and ties of an historian ; so that it may be lawfull for me to take more libertie , and to make some observations on what hath been past . before i go further , i must deplore the worlds losse of that worthy work which the lord verulam left unfinished , concerning the holy warre ; an excellent piece , and alas ! it is but a piece : so that in a pardonable discontent we may almost wish that either it had been more , wholly to have satisfied our hunger , or lesse , not at all to have raised our appetite . it was begun not in an historicall but in a politick way , not reporting the holy warre past with the turks but advising how to manage it in the future . and no doubt if he had perfected the work , it would have proved worthy the authour : but since , any have been deterred from finishing the same ; as ashamed to add mud-walls and a thatched roof to so fair a foundation of hewen and polished stone . from that authour we may borrow this distinction , that three things are necessary to make an invasive warre lawfull ; the lawfullnesse of the jurisdiction , the merit of the cause , and the orderly and lawfull prosecution of the cause . let us apply it to our present purpose in this holy warre : for the first two , whether the jurisdiction the christians pretended over the turks dominions was lawfull or not ; and , whether this warre was not onely operae but vitae pretium , worth the losing so many lives ; we referre the reader to what hath been said in the * first book . onely it will not be amisse , to adde a storie or two out of an * authour of good account . when charles the sixth was king of france , the duke of bourbon sailed over into africa with a great armie , there to fight against the saracens . the saracen prince sent an herald to know of him the cause of his coming : the duke answered , it was to revenge the death of christ the sonne of god , and true prophet , whom they had unjustly crucified . the saracens sent back again their messenger to demonstrate their innocencie , how they were not saracens but jews which put christ to death , and therefore that the christians ( if posteritie should be punished for their predecessours fault ) should rather revenge themselves on the jews which lived amongst them . * another relateth , that in the yeare of our lord , the great turk sent a letter to the pope , advertising him how he and his turkish nations were not descended from the jews , but from the trojans , from whom also the italians derive their pedegree , and so would prove himself a kinne to his holinesse . moreover he added , that it was both his and their dutie to repair the ruines of troy , and to revenge the death of their great grandfather hector upon the grecians ; to which end , the turk said he had already conquered a great part of greece . as for christ , he acknowledged him to have been a noble prophet , and to have been crucified of the jews , against whom the christians might seek their remedie . these two stories i thought good to insert , because though of later date , and since the holy warre in palestine was ended , yet they have some reference thereunto , because some make that our quarrel to the turks . but grant the christians right to the turks lands to be lawfull , and the cause in it self enough deserving to ground a warre upon : yet in the prosecuting and managing thereof , many not onely veniall errours but unexcusable faults were committed ; no doubt , the cause of the ill successe . to omit the book called the office of our lady , made at the beginning of this warre to procure her favourable assistance in it , ( a little manual , but full of blasphemies in folio , thrusting her with importunate superstitions into gods throne , and forcing on her the glory of her maker ; ) superstition not onely tainted the rind , but rotted the core of this whole action . indeed most of the pottage of that age tasted of that wild gourd . yet farre be it from us to condemn all their works to be drosse , because debased and allayed with superstitious intents : no doubt there was a mixture of much good metall in them , which god the good refiner knoweth how to sever , and then will crown and reward . but here we must distinguish betwixt those deeds which have some superstition in them , and those which in their nature are wholly superstitious , such as this voyage of people to palestine was . for what opinion had they of themselves herein , who thought that by dying in this warre , they did make christ amends for his death ? as one saith : which if but a rhetoricall flourish , yet doth hyperbolize into blasphemie . yea , it was their very judgement , that hereby they did both merit and supererogate ; and by dying for the crosse , crosse the score of their owne sinnes , and score up god for their debtour . but this flieth high , and therefore we leave it for others to follow . let us look upon pilgrimages in generall , and we shall finde pilgrimes wandring not so farre from their own countrey as from the judgement of the ancient fathers . wee will leave our armie at home , and onely bring forth our champion : heare what * gregorie nyssene saith , who lived in the fourth centurie , in which time voluntary pilgrimages first began ; though before there were necessary pilgrimes , forced to wander from their countrey by persecution . where , saith hee , our lord pronounceth men blessed , hee reckoneth not going to jerusalem to be amongst those good deeds which direct to happinesse . and afterwards , speaking of the going of single-women in those long travels ; a woman , saith he , cannot go such long journeys without a man to conduct her ; and then whatsoever we may suppose , whether shee hireth a stranger or hath a friend to waite on her , on neither side can shee escape reproof , and keep the law of continencie . moreover ; if there were more divine grace in the places of jerusalem , sinne would not be so frequent and customarie amongst those that live there : now there is no kinde of uncleannesse which there they dare not commit ; malice , adultery , thefts , idolatrie , poysonings , envies and slaughters . but you will say unto me , if it be not worth the paines , why then did you goe to jerusalem ? let them heare therefore how i defend my self ; i was appointed to goe into arabia to an holy councel , held for the reforming of that church : and arabia being neare to jerusalem , i promised those that went with me , that i would go to jerusalem to discourse with them which were presidents of the churches there ; where matters were in a very troubled state , and they wanted one to be a mediatour in their discords . we knew that christ was a man born of a virgin , before wee saw bethlehem ; wee believed his resurrection from death , before we saw his sepulchre ; we confessed his ascension into heaven , before we saw mount olivet : but we got so much profit by our journey , that by comparing them , wee found * our owne more holy then those outward things . wherefore you that feare god , praise him in what place you are . change of place maketh not god nearer unto us : wheresoever thou art , god will come to thee , if the inne of thy soul be found such , as the lord may dwell and walke in thee , &c. a patrone of pilgrimages not able to void the blow , yet willing to break the stroke of so pregnant and plain a testimony , thus seeketh to ward it ; that indeed pilgrimages are unfitting for women , yet fitting for men . but sure god never appointed such means to heighten devotion necessary thereunto , whereof the half of mankinde ( all women ) are by their very creation made uncapable . secondly , he pleadeth , that it is lawfull for secular and lay-men to goe on pilgrimages , but not for friars , who lived recluse in their cells , out of which they were not to come : and against such ( saith hee ) is nyssens speech directed . but then , i pray , what was peter , the leader of this long dance , but an hermite ? and ( if i mistake not ) his profession was the very dungeon of the monasticall prison , the strictest and severest of all other orders . and though there were not so many cowls as helmets in this warre , yet alwayes was the holy armie well stocked with such cattell : so that on all sides it is confessed that the pilgrimages of such persons were utterly unlawfull . chap. . of superstition in miracles in the holy warre , ranked into foure sorts . besides superstition inherent in this holy warre , there was also superstition appendant or annexed thereunto , in that it was the fruitfull mother of many feigned miracles . hitherto wee have refrained to scatter over our storie with them ; it will not be amisse now to shovell up some of them in a heap . * one peter ( not the hermite ) found out the lance wherewith christ was pierced : and to approve the truth thereof against some who questioned him herein , on palm-sunday taking the lance in his hand , hee walked through a mightie fire without any harm : but it seemeth hee was not his crafts-master , for hee died soon after . * an image of our lady brought from jerusalem , but set up neare damascus , began by degrees to be clothed with flesh , and to put forth breasts of flesh , out of which a liquour did constantly flow : which liquour the templars carried home to their houses , and distributed it to the pilgrimes which came to them , that they might report the honour thereof through the whole world . * a sultan of damascus who had but one eye , chanced to lose the other , and so became stark-blinde ; when coming devoutly to this image , though he was a pagan , having faith in god , and confidence therein , he perfectly was restored to his sight . infinite are the sholes of miracles done by christs crosse in jerusalem ; insomuch that my * authour blamed the bishop of acon , who carried the crosse in that battel wherein it was lost to the turks , for wearing a corselet ; and therefore ( saith he ) he was justly slain : because his weak faith relied on meanes , not on the miraculous protection thereof . when conrade landt-grave of thuringia was inrolled in the teutonick order to goe to the holy warre , and received his benediction ( as the fushion was ) the * holy ghost visibly descended upon him in the shape of fire . the said conrade received of god as a boon for his valour in this service , the rare facultie , * that by looking on any man he could tell whether or no he had committed a mortall sinne , yea , at first fight descrie their secret sinnes . but the last miracle of our lady in palestine is the lady of all miracles ; which was this : in the yeare , when the holy land was finally subdued by the turks , the chamber at nazareth wherein the angel gabriel saluted her with joyfull tydings , was wonderfully * transported into sclavonia . that countrey being unworthy of her divine presence , it was by the angels carried over into italie , anno . that place also being infested with thieves and pirates , the angels removed it to the little village of loretto ; where this pilgrime-chappel resteth it selfe at this day , and liketh her entertainment so well , it will travel no further . but enough : for fools meat is unsavourie to the taste of the wise . i have transgressed already : two instances had been sufficient ( as noah preserved but two of all unclean creatures ) the rest might be lost without losse , and safely be drowned in oblivion . how-ever , we may observe these millions of miracles are reducible to one of these foure ranks : . falsely reported , never so much as seemingly done . asia the theatre whereon they were acted , is at a great distance , and the miracles as farre from truth , as the place from us . and who knoweth not , when a lie is once set on foot , besides the first founders , it meeteth with many benefactours , who contribute their charitie thereunto . . falsely done ; insomuch as at this day , they are * sented amongst the romanists . who would not laugh to see the picture of a saint weep ? where one devout catholick lifteth up his eyes , ten of their wiser sort wag their heads . . truly done , but by the strength of nature . suppose one desperately sick , a piece of the crosse is applied to him , he recovereth ; is this a miracle ? nothing lesse ; how many thousands have made an escape after death in a manner hath arrested them ? as therefore it is sacriledge , to father gods immediate works on naturall causes ; so it is superstition , to intitle naturall events to be miraculous . . many miracles were ascribed to saints which were done by satan . i know it will non-plus his power to worke a true miracle ; but i take the word at large : and indeed vulgar ( not to say , humane ) eyes are too dimme to discern betwixt things wonderfull and truly miraculous . now satan , the master-juggler needeth no wires or ginnes to worke with , being all ginnes himselfe ; so transcendent is the activitie of a spirit . nay , may not god give the devil leave to goe beyond himself ; it being just with him , that those who will not have truth their king and willingly obey it , should have falshood their tyrant to whom their judgement should be captivated and inslaved . chap. . the second grand errour in prosecuting the holy warre , being the christians notorious breaking their faith with infidels . next unto superstition , which was deeply inlayed in the holy warre , we may make the christians truce-breaking with the infidels the second cause of their ill successe . yet never but once did they breake promise with the turks ; which was ( as i may say ) a constant and continued faith-breaking , never keeping their word . to omit severall straining of the sinewes and unjoynting the bones of many a solemne peace , we will onely instance where the neck thereof was clearly broken asunder . . when godfrey first won jerusalem , pardon was proclaimed to all the turks which yielded themselves ; yet three dayes after in cold bloud , they were all , without difference of age or sex , put to the sword . . almerick the first swore , effectually to assist the saracens in driving the turks out of egypt ; and soon after invaded egypt , and warred upon the turks against his promise . i know something he pretended herein to defend himself , but of no validitie ; and such plausible and curious wittie evasions to avoid perjurie , are but the tying of a most artificiall knot in the halter , therewith to strangle ones own conscience . . there was a peace concluded for some time betwixt king guy and saladine ; which non obstante , reinold of castile robbed saladines own mother : whereupon followed the miserable overthrow of the christians , and taking of jerusalem . . our richard , at his departure from palestine , made a firm peace for five yeares with saladine , and it stood yet in force when henry duke of saxonie coming with a great armie of new adventurers invaded the turkish dominions . . frederick the second , emperour , made a truce of ten yeares with the sultan of babylon ; and yet in despite thereof , theobald king of navarre forraged the countrey of gaza , to the just overthrow of him and his armie . . reinold vice-roy of palestine , in the name of frederick the emperour , and after him our richard earl of cornwall , drew up a firm peace with the said sultan ; which was instantly disturbed and interrupted by the turbulent templars . . lastly , the venetians , in the name of all christian princes , concluded a five yeares peace with alphir the mammaluke prince of egypt ; yet some voluntaries in ptolemais pillaged and robbed many saracen merchants about the citie . but pardon them this last fault , we will promise they shall never do so any more in palestine , hereupon losing all they had left there . and how could safetie it selfe save this people , and blesse this project so blackly blasted with perjury ! as it is observed of tyrants , where one goeth , ten are sent to the grave ; so where one truce concluded with the turks did naturally expire and determine , many were violently broken off . a sinne so repugnant to all moral honestie , so injurious to the quiet and peace of the world , so odious in it selfe , so scandalous to all men , to dissolve a league when confirmed by oath ( the strongest bond of conscience , the end of particular strife , the souldier of publick peace , the sole assurance of amitie betwixt divers nations , made here below , but inrolled in his high court whose glorious name doth sign it ; ) a sinne , i say , so hainous , that god cannot but must severely punish it . david asketh , who shall dwell upon thy holy hill ? and answereth himselfe , hee that sweareth to his neighbour , and disappointeth him not , though it were to his own hindrance . no wonder then , though the christians had no longer abidance in the holy hill of palestine ( though this , i confesse , is but the bark-of the text ) driving that trade wherewith none ever thrived , the breaking of promises : wherewith one may for a while fairly spread his train , but he will moult his feathers soon after . chap. . of the hindrances of the good successe in the holy warre ; whereof the popes , and emperours of greece , were the two principall . so much concerning those laesa principia in this holy warre , superstition and perjurie , which struck at the root of it . come we now to consider many other hindrances , which abated the good successe thereof . amongst these we will not be so heretical as to deny the popes primacie ; but account him the first cause of their ill success . such wounds as we finde in his credit , we will neither widen nor close up ; but even present them to the reader as we found them . in foure respects he baned the christians good speed in this warre : . he caused most of their truce-breaking with the turks , urging men thereunto . thus pope celestine drove on the christians against the turks , whilest as yet the peace our richard concluded with them was not expired ; and so many other times also . for alas ! this was nothing with his holinesse ; who sitting in the temple of god , so farre advanceth himself above god , as to dispense with oathes made sacred by the most holy and high name of god ; and professing himselfe the sole umpire and peace-maker of the world , doth cut asunder those onely sinews which hold peace together . . in that twice the kingdome of jerusalem was offered to the christians , and the popes legates would not suffer them to accept it : ( no doubt , by instructions from their master ; this being to be presumed on , that those his absolute creatures altered not a tittle , but went according to the copie that was set them ) once anno ; when pelagius the legate refused the free offer of melechsala : and the second time , some thirtie yeares after ; when the same bountifull profer was refused by odo the popes legate : for when the same melechsala againe offered the free resignation of the whole kingdome of jerusalem , whereby the same day great quietnesse had entered into all christendome , with the end of much bloudshed and miserie ; the legate * frontosè contradioens , would in no wise receive the conditions offered . . frederick the second , emperour , was possessed of it ; when the pope molested him , and stirred up the templars against him , as so many needles to prick him when he was to sit down on the throne . . by diverting the pilgrimes , and over-titling his own quarrels to be gods cause ; nothing being more common with him , then to employ those armies which were levied for the holy warre , in subduing the albingenses and many other of his private enemies . by all these it plainly appeareth , that what fair shews soever his holinesse made , calling councils , appointing legates , providing preachers , proclaiming pardons , to advance this warre ; yet in very deed , he neither intended nor desired that the christians should make a finall conquest of palestine , but be imployed in continuall conquering it . he would have this warre go on cum decente pausa , fair and softly : let the christians now beat the turks , and then the turks beat the christians ; and so let them take their turns , whilest his private profit went on . for ( as we touched before ) to this warre the pope condemned all dangerous persons ( especially the emperours of germanie ) to be there imployed . as little children are often set to school , not so much to learn , as to keep them out of harmes way at home : so this carefull father sent many of his children to the holy warre , not for any good he knew they would either do or get there , but it would keep them from worse doing ; which otherwise would have been paddling in this puddle , raking in that channel , stirring up questions and controversies unfavourie in the nostrils of his holinesse , and perchance falling into the fire of discord and dissension against their own father . indeed at last this warre ended it self in despite of the pope : who no doubt would have driven this web ( weaving and unweaving it , penelope-like ) much longer if he could : yet he digested more patiently the ending thereof , because the net might be taken away when the fish was already caught , and the warre spared now the germane emperours strength thereby was sufficiently abated in italie . much also this warre increased the intrado of the popes revenues . some say , purgatory-fire heateth his kitchen : they may adde , the holy warre filled his pot , if not paid for all his second course . it is land enough , to have the office of collecting the contributions of all christendome given to this warre . so much for his great receits hereby . and as for what he expended , not too farre in the point . if the pope ( saith * their law ) thrusteth thousands of souls into hell , none may say to him , why dost thou so ? it is presumption then to make him answer for money , who is not accountable for men . with the pope let the emperours of greece their jealousie go , as the second bane of the christians successe in this warre . these emperours tormented themselves in seeking that they would have been loth to find , the treacherie of the latines ; and therefore to begin first , used them with all treacherie : whereof , largely * formerly . and surely , though a cautious circumspection be commendable in princes ; yet in such over-fear , they were no lesse injurious to themselves then to the western pilgrimes . yea generally , suspiciousnesse is as great an enemy to wisdome , as too much credulitie ; it doing oftentimes as hurtfull wrong to friends , as the other doth receive wrongfull hurt from dissemblers . chap. . the third hindrance , the equalitie of the undertakers ; the fourth , the length of the journey . the next cause of their ill successe was the discord arising from the paritie of the princes which undertook this voyage . many of them could abide no equall ; all no superiour : so that they had no chief , or rather were all chiefs ; the swarm wanted a master-bee , a supreme commander , who should aw them all into obedience . the germane emperour ( though above all ) came but seldome , and was not constant amongst them : the king of jerusalem ( especially in the declining of the state ) was rather slighted then feared : the popes legate usurped a superioritie , but was never willingly nor generally obeyed . surely smaller forces being united under one command would have been more effectuall in proof ( though not so promising in opinion and fame ) then these great armies variously compounded by associations and leagues , and of the confluence of princes otherwise unconcurring in their severall courses . livie writing of that great battel ( the criticall day of the worlds empire ) betwixt hannibal and scipio , * it is small , saith he , to speake of , yet of much moment in the matter itself , that when the armies joyned , the shouting of the romanes was farre more great and terrible , as being all of one voice from the same nation ; whilest hannibals souldiers voices were different and disagreeing , as consisting of severall languages . if such a toy be considerable , and differing in tongues lesseneth the terriblenese in an armie ; how doth dissenting in hearts and affections abate the force thereof ? and what advantage had the united turks against divided christian princes which managed this warre ? had the emulation betwixt those equall princes onely been such as is the spurre of vertue , farre from enmitie and hatefull contention , striving with good deserts to outstrip those who by the same means sought to attain to the like end ; had it been mixed with love in regard of the affinitie of their affections and sympathie of their desires , not seeking the ruine of their competitour but succouring him in danger ; then such simultates had been both honourable and usefull to the advantage of the holy cause : but on the other side , their affections were so violent , and dispositions so crooked , that emulation in them boyled to harred , that to malice , which rested better satisfied with the miserable end of their opposite partner , then with any tropheys deservedly erected to their own honour . and herein the warres betwixt the venetians and genoans in syria are too pregnant an instance . the length of the journey succeedeth as the fourth impediment . there needed no other hindrance to this voyage then the voyage ; the way was so long . in sensation , the object must not be over-distant from the sense ; otherwise lynceus eyes may see nothing : so it is requisite in warlike adventures , that the work be not too farre from the undertakers . indeed the romanes conquered countreys farre from home : but the lands betwixt them were their own , wherein they refreshed themselves ; and well may one lift a great weight at armes end if he hath a rest to stay his elbow on . so though spain hath subdued much in the indies , yet there they met with none or naked resistance . it fared not thus with the christians in this warre : by the tediousness of their journey their strength was exhausted ; they ranne dregs when first they were broched in syria , and as it were scattered their powder in presenting , before they came to discharge . frederick barbarossa wrote a braving letter to saladine , reckoning up the severall nations in europe under his command , and boasting what an army of them he would bring into syria . * saladine answered him , that he also ruled over as many peoples , and told him , that there was no sea which hindred his men from coming quickly together ; whereas saith he , you have a great sea , over which with pains and danger you must passe before you can bring your men hither . besides , if the christians shaped their journey by land , then their miseries in hungarie , grecia , and asia the lesse , made their land-journey more tedious and troublesome , then if they had gone by sea . chap. . the fifth impediment , clergie-men being captains . that prelates and clergie-men were often generalls in this action ( as peter the hermite , pelagius the cardinall , and many others ) was another cause of their ill successe : for allow them able in their own way , for matter of learning , yet were they unsufficient to manage martiall affairs . many who in england have learned the french tongue , aud afterwards have gone over into france , have found themselves both deaf and dumbe in effect , neither hearing to understand , nor speaking to be understood : they in like manner , who frame themselves in their studies a model of leading an armie , find it as full of errours as rules , when it cometh to be applied ; and a measure of warre taken by book , falleth out either too long or too short , when brought into the field to be used . i have heard a storie of a great map-monger , who undertook to travel over england by help of his maps , without asking the least direction of any he met . long he had not ridden but he met with a non plus ultra , a deep unpassable gullet of water , without bridge , ford , or ferry . this water was as unknown to his camdens or speeds maps , as to himself ; because it was neither body nor branch of any constant river or brook , ( such as onely are visible in maps ) but an ex-tempore - water , flowing from the snow which melted on hills . worse unexpected accidents surprise those who conceive themselves to have conned all martiall maximes out of authours , and warrant their skill in warre against all events , out of their great reading ; when on the sudden some unwonted occurrent taketh them unprovided , standing amazed till destruction seiseth on them . indeed , sometimes such unlooked-for chances arrest even the best and most experienced generalls , which have long been acquainted with warre ; nor are they priviledged by all their experience from such casualties , nor are they so omniscient but that their skill might be posed therewith , a minute shewing sometimes what an age hath not seen before : but then such aged commanders have this advantage , that finding themselves at a fault , they can soonest know where to beat about and recover it . adde to the inabilitie , the incongruitie of prelates going to sight . true , in defensive warres necessitie is their sufficient dispensation ; but otherwise it is improper . in the battel against amalck , josua fought ; moses prayed ; the levites bare the ark , no office of command in the camp. and better it had been that cardinall columna had been at his beads , or in his bed , or any where else , then in the camp in egypt ; where by his indiscreet counsel he brought all the lives of the christians into danger . chap. . the sixth hindrance , the diversity of the climate disagreeing with the bodies of europe ; and what weakneth northern men going southward . now followeth the diversitie of the climate , which caused the death of many thousands of the christians , sweeping them away with horrible plagues and other diseases . for even as men when they come into a new corporation , must pay their fees before they can be freemen thereof and set up trading therein ; so it alwayes cost the christians of europe a dangerous sicknesse at least , before they could be well acquainted with the aire and climate of palestine . amongst other diseases the leprosie was one epidemicall infection which tainted the pilgrimes coming thither . this ( though most rise in our saviours time , god so ordering it that judea was sickest while her physician was nearest ) at this time of the holy warre was very dangerous . hence was it brought over into england ( never before known in this island ) and many lazar-houses erected for the relief of those infected therewith : their chief houses was at burton-lazars in leceister-shire . i say not , as this disease began with the holy warre in england , so it ended with it : sure such hath been gods goodnesse , that few at this day are afflicted therewith ; and the leprosie of leprosie , i mean the contagion thereof , in this cold countrey is much abated . many other sicknesses seised on the pilgrimes there , especially in summer . the turks , like salamanders , could live in that fiery countrey , whose scorching our northern bodies could not endure . yea , long before i find it observed by vitruvius , that they who come cold into hot countreys , cannot long subsist , but are dissolved ; whilest those that change out of hot into cold , find not onely no distemper and sicknesse by the alteration , but also grow more healthfull , solid , and compacted : but this perchance is easilyer said then maintained . but let us not hereupon be disheartened to set on our southern foes for fear to be impaired , nor they invited to invade us by hope to be improved . know , it is not so much the climate , as bad and unwholesome diet inraging the climate against us , which unfineweth those northern nations when they come into the south : which bad diet , though sometimes necessary for want of better food , yet is most-times voluntary through mens wilfull intemperance . in the portugall action anno , more english owed their calenture to the heat of wine then weather . why do our english merchants bodies sadge well enough in southern aire ? why cannot our valour thrive as well there as our profit ; but chiefly for this , that merchants are carefull of themselves , whilest souldiers count it basenesse to be thristie of their own healths ? besides , the sinnes of the south unmasculine northern bodies . in hot countreys the sirens of pleasure sing the sweetest , which quickly ravish our eares unused to such musick . but should we marching southwards observe our health in some proportion of temperance , and by degrees habituate ourselves to the climate ; and should we keep ourselves from their sinnes , no doubt the north might pierce the south as farre , and therein erect as high and long-lasting tropheys , as ever the south did in the north. nor must it have admittance without examination into a judicious breast , what some have observed ; that northern people never enjoyed any durable settled government in the south . experience avoweth they are more happie in speedy conquering then in long enjoying of countreys . but the first monarch the world ever knew ( i mean , the assyrian ) came from the north : whence he is often styled in scripture , the king of the north ; conquering , and for many yeares enjoying those countreys which lie betwixt him and the sunne ; as chaldea , mesopotamia , babylonia , syria , egypt : to speak nothing of the turks , who in the dichotomizing of the world fall under the northern part , and coming out of scythia at first subdued most southern countreys . chap. . the seventh impediment , the vitiousnesse of the undertakers . thus are we fallen on the next hindrance of successe in this holy warre , the vitiousnesse of the undertakers . but here first we must make an honourable reservation for many adventurers herein , whom we confesse most pious and religious persons . let us not raise the opinion of our own piety by trampling on our predecessours , as if this age had monopolized all goodnesse to it self . some no doubt most religious and truly valiant ( as fearing nothing but sinne ) engaged themselves in this action ; of whom i could onely wish , that their zeal herein had either had more light or lesse heat . but with these , i say not how many , but too many went most wicked people , the causers of the ill successe . it will be objected , sanctitas morum hath been made of some a note of the true church , never the signe of a fortunate armie : look on all armies generally , we shall find them of the souldiers religion , not troubled with over-much precisenesse : as our king john said , ( whether wittily or wickedly , let others judge ) that the buck he opened was fat , yet never heard masse : so many souldiers have been successefull without the least smack of pietie ; some such desperate villains , that fortune ( to erroneous judgements ) may seem to have favoured them for fear . true : but we must not consider these adventurers as plain and mere souldiers , but as pilgrimes and gods armie ; in whom was required , and from whom was expected more pietie and puritie of life and maners then in ordinarie men : whereas on the contrarie , we shall make it appear , that they were more vitious then the common sort of men . nor do we this out of crueltie or wantonnesse , to wound and mangle the memorie of the dead ; but to anatomize and open their ulcerous insides , that the dead may teach the living , and lesson posteritie . besides those that went , many were either driven or fled to the holy land . those were driven , who having committed some * horrible sinne in europe , had this penance imposed on them , to travell to jerusalem to expiate their faults . many a whore was sent thither to find her virginitie : many a murderer was injoyned to fight in the holy warre , to wash off the guilt of christian bloud by shedding bloud of turks . the like was in all other offences ; malefactours were sent hither to satisfie for their former wickednesse . now god forbid we should condemn them , if truly penitents , for impious . may he who speaketh against penitents , never have the honour to be one ; since repentance is the younger brother to innocence it self . but we find that many of them reverted to their former wickednesse : they lost none of their old faults and got many new , mending in this hot countrey as sowre ale in summer . others fled hither , who having supererogated the gallows in their own countries by their severall misdemeanours , theft , rapes , incest , murders , to avoid the stroke of justice , protected themselves under this voyage ; and coming to palestine , so profited in those eastern schools of vices , that they learned to be more artificially wicked . this plainly appeareth , as in sundrie other authours , so chiefly in tyrius , a witnesse beyond exception , who * often complaineth hereof . and if we value testimonies rather by the weight then number , we must credit so grave a man , who writeth it with griefe , and had no doubt as much water in his eyes as ink in his pen , and surely would be thankfull to him that herein would prove him a liar . chap. . the eighth hindrance , the treacherie of the templars ; of sacriledge alledged by baronius , the cause of the ill successe . robert earl of artois upbraided the master of the templars , that it was the common speech , that the holy land long since had been wonne , but for the false collusion of the templars and hospitallers with the infidels : which words , though proceeding from passion in him , yet from premeditation in others , not made by him but related , deserve to be observed the rather , because common reports ( like smoke , seldome but from some fire , never but from much heat ) are generally true . it is not to be denied , but that both these orders were guiltie herein , as appeareth by the whole current of the storie . yea , king almerick fairly trussed up twelve templars at once , * hanging them for delivering up an impregnable fort to syracon . these like a deceitfull chirurgeon , who hath more corruption in himself then the sore he dresseth , prolonged the cure for their private profit ; and this holy warre being the trade whereby they got their gains , they lengthened it out to the utmost : so that their treacherie may passe for the eighth impediment . baronius * concludeth this one principall cause of the christians ill successe , that the kings of jerusalem took away that citie from the patriarchs thereof , herein committing sacriledge , a sinne so hainous , that malice it self cannot wish an enemy guilty of a worse . but whether or no this was sacriledge , we referre the reader to what hath been largely discussed before . and here i could wish to be an auditour at the learned and unpartiall arguing of this question , whether over-great donations to the church may not afterwards be revoked ? on the one side it would be pleaded , who should be judge of the over-greatnesse ? seeing too many are so narrow-hearted to the church , they count any thing too large for it ; yea , some would cut off the flesh of the churches necessary maintenance , under pretense to cure her of a tympanie of superfluities . besides , it would be alledged , what once hath been bestowed on pious uses , must ever remain thereto : to give a thing and take a thing , is a play too childish for children ; much lesse must god be mocked therewith , in resuming what hath been conferred upon him . it would be argued on the other side , that when kings do perceive the church readie to devoure the commonwealth by vast and unlimited donations unto it , and clergie-men grown to suspicious greatnesse , armed with hurtfull and dangerous priviledges derogatorie to the royaltie of princes ; then , then it is high time for princes to pare their overgrown greatnesse . but this high pitch wee leave to stronger wings : sure i am in another kinde , this holy warre was guiltie of sacriledge , and for which it thrived no whit the better ; in that the pope exempted six and twentie thousand manours in europe , belonging to the templars and hospitallers , from paying any tithes to the priest of the parish ; so that many a minister in england smarteth at this day for the holy warre . and if this be not sacriledge , to take away the dowrie of the church without assuring her any joynture in lieu of it , i report my self to any that have not the pearl of prejudice in the eye of their judgement . chap. . three grand faults in the kingdome of ierusalem , hindring the strength and puissance thereof . come we now to survey the kingdome of jerusalem in it self : we will take it in its verticall point , in the beginning of bald wine the third , when grown to the best strength and beautie ; yet even then had it some faults , whereby it was impossible ever long to subsist . . it lay farre from any true friend . on the west it was bounded with the mid-land-sea , but on all other sides it was environed with an ocean of foes , and was a countrey continually besieged with enemies . one being to sell his house , amongst other commendations thereof , proclaimed , that his house had a very good neighbour ; a thing indeed considerable in the purchase , and might advance the sale thereof a yeares value : sure i am , the kingdome of jerusalem had no such conveniencie , having bad neighbours round about : cyprus indeed their friend lay within a dayes sail ; but alas ! the kings thereof had their hands full to defend themselves , and could scarce spare a finger to help any other . . the kingdome was farre extended , but not well compacted : all the bodie thereof ran out in arms and legs . besides that ground inhabited formerly by the twelve tribes , and properly called the holy land ; the kingdome of jerusalem ranged northward over all coelosyria and cilicia in the lesser asia : north-eastward , it roved over the principalities of antioch and edessa , even unto carrae beyond euphrates : eastward , it possessed farre beyond jordan the strong fort of cracci , with a great part of arabia petrea : southward , it stretched to the entrance of egypt . but as he is a strong man , whose joynts are well set and knit together , not whom nature hath spunne out all in length and never thickened him ; so it is the united and well compacted kingdome entire in it self which is strong , not that which reacheth and strideth the farthest . for in the midst of the kingdome of jerusalem lay the kingdome of damascus , like a canker feeding on the breast thereof : and clean through the holy land , though the christians had many cities sprinkled here and there , the turks in other strong holds continued mingled amongst them . . lastly , ( what we have touched once before ) some subjects to the kings of jerusalem , namely , the princes of antioch , edessa and tripoli , had too large and absolute power and authoritie ; they would do whatsoever the king would command them , if they thought good themselves . now subjects should be adjectives , not able to stand without ( much lesse against ) their prince , or they will make but bad construction otherwise . these three hindrances in the kingdome of jerusalem added to the nine former , will complete a jurie . now if any one chance to censure one or two of them , let him not triumph therein ; for we produce not these impediments severally but joyntly , not to fight single duells but all in an armie ; non noceant quamvis singula , juncta nocent . chap. . what is to be conceived of the incredible numerousnesse of many armies mentioned in this storie . frequent mention hath been made through this holy warre of many armies , aswell christian as turkish , whose number of souldiers swell very great ; so as it will not be amisse once for all to discusse the point concerning the numerousnesse of armies anciently . and herein we branch our opinion into these severals . . asian armies are generally observed greater then those of europe : there it is but a sucking and infant company to have ten thousand ; yea , under fiftie thousand no number . the reason of their multitude is , not that asia is more populous , but more spatious then europe . christendome is enclosed into many small kingdomes and free states ; which severally can send forth no vast numbers , and seldome agree so well as to make a joynt collection of their forces : asia lieth in common , in large countreys , and many of them united under one head . besides , it is probable ( especially in ancient times , as may be proved out of scripture ) that those eastern countreys often spend their whole stock of men , and imploy all their arms-bearing people in their martiall service , not picking or culling them out , as we in europe use to do . . modern armies are farre lesse then those in former ages . the warre - genius of the world is altered now-a-dayes , and supplieth number with policie ; the foxes skinne pieceth out the lions hide . especially armies have been printed in a smaller letter since guns came up : one well-mounted cannon will spare the presence and play the part of a whole band in a battel . . armies both of europe , and chiefly in asia ( as farther off ) are reported farre greater then truth . even as many old men use to set the clock of their age too fast when once past seventie ; and growing ten yeares in a twelve-moneth , are presently fourscore , yea , within a yeare or two after , climbe up to an hundred : so it is in relating the number of souldiers ; if they exceed threescore and ten thousand , then adrotunditatem numeri , they are hoised up to an hundred , and then fiftie thousand more cast in for advantage . not to speak of the facil mistake in figures ; one telleth , at the first voyage of pilgrimes there went forth * six hundred thousand : * another counteth three hundred thousand slain at the last taking of ptolemais : their glib pens making no more reckoning of men then of pinnes . we perchance may do justly in imitating the unjust steward , setting down in the bill of our belief but fifty for every hundred . nor is it any paradox , but what will abide the touch , that competent forces of able and well-appointed and well-disciplined souldiers under an experienced generall , are farre more usefull then such an unwieldie multitude . little loadstones will in proportion attract a greater quantitie of steel then those which be farre greater , because their poles are nearer together , and so their virtue more united : so shall we find braver atchievements by moderate armies , then by such portentous and extravagant numbers . i never read of any miracle done by the statue of s. christopher in paris , though he be rather of a mountainlike then manlike bignesse . yea , such immoderate great armies are subject to great inconveniences . . they are not so easily manageable ; and the commands of their generall cool , and lose some virtue in passing so long a journey through so many . . it is improbable that so many thousands can be heaped together , but the armie will be very heterogeneous , patched up of different people unsuiting in their maners , which must needs occasion much cumbrance . . these crowds of souldiers may hinder one another in their service ; as many at the same time pressing out at a wicket . . victuals for so many mouthes will not easily be provided ; the provisions of a countrey serving them but a meal , they must fast afterwards . . lastly , such great numbers ( though this , i must confesse , is onely per accidens , yet often incident ) beget carelessenesse and confidence in them ; as if they would not thank god for their victories , but conceive it a due debt owed to their multitudes . this hath induced some to the opinion to maintain , that a competent able armie of thirtie thousand ( which number gongaza that brave generall did pitch on as sufficient and complete ) need not fear upon a paritie in all other respects , any company whatsoever to come against them : such are enough , being as good as a feast , and farre better then a surfeit . chap. . of the numberlesse christians which lost their lives in this service . xerxes viewing his armie , consisting of more then a million , from an high place all at a sight , is said to weep at the thought , that within an hundred yeares all those would be mowed down with death : but what man could behold without flouds of teares , if presented to him at one view , the infinites of people which lost their lives in this action ! in the first voyage went forth ( as the most conscionable counters report ) three hundred thousand : of these we can make the reader but spend-thrifts accounts , all is gone , without shewing the particulars . for after the taking of jerusalem , this armie was drawn so low , that godfrey being to fight with ammiravissus the egyptian , and bringing forth his whole strength , had but twelve hundred horse and nine thousand foot left him . at the second setting forth , of two hundred and fiftie thousand led hither by hugh brother to the king of france and sundrie other bishops , not a thousand came into palestine . in the third voyage , conrade the emperour led forth no fewer then two hundred thousand foot and fiftie thousand horse ; nor was the armie of king lewis of france farre inferiour : of whom such as returned make no noise , as not considerable in number . at the fourth setting forth , frederick barbarossa counted an hundred and fiftie thousand souldiers in his armie : of whom when they came to ptolemais , no more then * eighteen hundred armed men remained . fifthly , what numbers were carried forth by our richard the first and philip of france , i find not specified ; no doubt they did bear proportion to the greatnesse of the undertakers : all which at their return were consumed to a very small companie . to omit severall other intermediate actions of many princes , who went forth with armies and scarce came home with families ; king lewis carried forth two and thirty thousand : of which onely six thousand came home , as their own writers report , who tell their tale as it may best found for the credit of their countrey ; whilest * others count eightie thousand to have lost their lives in that voyage : yea , * some reckon no sewer then and hundred thousand common men , besides seven counts , to have died in cyprus of the plague . * at his second voyage to tunis , of an hundred and twentie ships which lay at anchor at trape in sicily , there were no more saved then the mariners of one onely french ship , and the thirteen ships of our prince edward ; all the rest , with men , armour and munition did miserably perish . but enough of this dolefull subject . if young physicians with the first fee for their practise are to purchase a new church-yard , pope urbane the second might well have bought some ground for graves when he first perswaded this bloudie project ; whereby he made all jerusalem , golgotha , a place for seulls ; and all the holy land , aceldama , a field of bloud . chap. . the throne of deserts : what nation merited most praise in this warre ; and first of the french and dutch service therein . as in the first book we welcomed each severall nation when they first entred into this service ; so it is good manners now to take our solemn farewell of them at their going out , and to examine which of them deserved most commendation for their valour in this warre . and herein me thinketh the distinction usuall in some colledges , of founders , by founders , and benefactours , may properly take place . the founders of this holy warre , are the french ; the by-founders , the dutch , english , and italian ; the benefactours ( according to the different degrees of bountie ) the spanish , polish , danish , scots , and all other people of europe . the french i make the founders for these reasons : first , because they began the action first . secondly , france in proportion sent most adventurs . some voyages were all of french , and all voyages were of some french. yea , french men were so frequent at jerusalem , that at this day all western europeans there are called franks ( as once i conceived , and perchance not without companie in my errour ) because so many french men came thither in the holy warre . since , i am converted from that false opinion , having found that two hundred yeares before the holy warre was dreamed of , namely , in the time of constantine * porphyrogenetes emperour of the east , all western christians were known to the greeks by the name of franks ; so that it seemeth the turks borrowed that appellation from the grecians . thirdly , as france sent the most so many of most eminent note : she sheweth for the game no worse cards then a pair royall of kings ; lewis the young , philip augustus , and saint lewis ; besides philip the bold his sonne , who went half-way to tunis . the first and last christian king of europe that went to palestine was a french man ; and all the kings of jerusalem , frederick the emperour onely excepted , originally were of that nation . fouthly , even at this day france is most loyall to the cause . most grand masters of the hospitallers have been french men : and at this day the knights of malta , who have but four albergies or seminaries in all christendome , have * three of them in france ; viz. one of france in generall , one of avergne , and one of provence . yet france carrieth not the upper hand so clearly , but that germanie justleth for it ; especially if we adde to it the low-countreys , the best stable of wooden horses , and most potent in shipping in that age of any countrey in europe : which though an amphibion betwixt both , yet custome at this day adjudgeth it dutch. now these are the severall accents of honour in the germane service : first , that countrey sheweth three emperours in the holy warre ; conrade , frederick barbarossa , and frederick the second . the last of these was solemnly crowned and peaceably possessed king of jerusalem . secondly , germanie sent more princes to this warre then all europe besides . it would be an infinite task to reckon them all ; it being true of the germane nobility , what logicians say of a line , that it is divisibilis in semper divisibilia . here honours equally descend to sonnes and daughters ; whereby they have counts without counting in the whole empire : there were seventeen princes of henault , and seven and twenty earls of mansfield all living together : so that one of their own countrey men saith , that the dutch esteem none to be men , but onely such as are noble-men . we will not take notice of germanie as it is minced into petty principalities , but as cut into principall provinces . we find these regnant princes ( for as for their younger brethren , herein they are not accounted ) to have been personally present in the holy warre : prince palatine of rhene , henry duke ( or as others , king ) of bohemia , joboslaus , or ladislaus duke of saxonie , henry the younger mar quesse of brandenburg , otho archbishops of mentz , conrade siphred archbish. of triers , theodoricus archbish. of colen , theodoricus dukes of austria , leopoldus the second frederick leopoldus the third , surnamed the glorious dukes of bavaria , guelpho henry lewis landt-graves of thuringia , herman lewis marquesse of moravia , conrade duke of mechlenburg , henry earls of flandres , theodoricus philippus baldwine william dampier guido dukes of brabant , godfrey henry earl of holland , william all these ( i say not , these were all ) went themselves , and led forth other companies , suitable to their greatnesse . the reader , as he lighteth on more , at his leisure may strike them into this catalogue . thirdly , germanie maintained the teutonick order , wholly consisting of her nation ; besides templars and hospitallers , whereof she had abundance : of whose loyall and valiant service we have spoken largely before . lastly , she fought another holy warre at the same time against the tartars and other barbarous people , which invaded her on her north-east-part . and though some will except , that that warre cannot be intituled holy , because being on the defensive , it was rather of nature and necessitie then pietie : yet upon examination it will appear , that this service was lesse superstitious , more charitable to christendome , and more rationall and discreet in it self ; it being better husbandrie , to save a whole cloth in europe , then to winne a ragge in asia . chap. . the english and italian service compared ; of the spanish , polish , norvegian , hungarian , danish , and swedish performance in this warre . next in this race of honour follow england and italie being verie even and hard-matched . england ( it is no flatterie to affirm what envie cannot denie ) spurreth up close for the prize ; and though she had a great disadvantage in the starting , ( italie being much nearer to palestine ) yet she quickly recovered it . our countrey sent one king , ( richard the first ) and three kings sonnes ( robert courthois , richard of cornwall , and prince edward ) to this warre . yea , england was a dayly friend to this action : and besides these great and grosse summes of visible adventurers , she dropped and cast in privily many a pilgrime of good qualitie ; so that there was scarce any remarkable battel or memorable siege done through the warre wherein there were not some english of eminent desert . yet italy cometh not any whit behind , if the atchievements of her severall states , venetians , genoans , pisans , sicilians , florentines , were made and moulded up together . yea , for sea-service and engineers in this warre , they bear the bell away from all other nations . but these things allay the italian service : . it was not so abstracted from the dregs of mercinarinesse as that of other countreys , ( whose adventurers counted their very work herein sufficient wages ) but before they would yield their assistance they indented and covenanted with the king of jerusalem to have such and such profits , pensions , and priviledges in all places they took , to them and their posteritie ; not as an honorarie reward freely conferred on them but in nature of wages ex pacto contracted for aforehand : as the genoans had in ptolemais , and the venetians in tyre . . these italians stopped two gaps with one bush : they were merchant-pilgrimes , and together applied themselves to profit and pietie . here in tyre they had their banks , and did drive a sweet trade of spices and other eastern commodities . . lastly , as at first they gave good milk , so they kicked it down with their heel , and by their mutuall discord caused the losse of all they helped to gain in syria . spain was exercised all the time of this warre in defending her self against the moores and saracens in her own bowels : yet such was her charitie , that whilest her own house was on burning , she threw some buckets of water to quench her neighbours : and as other nations cast their superfluitie , she her widows mite into the treasurie of this action ; and produceth two theobalds kings of navarre , and alphonse king of castile , that undertook expeditions to palestine . hungary sheweth one king , andrew ; who washed himself in jordan , and then shrinking in the wetting returned presently home again . but this countrey , though it self did go little , yet was much gone through to the holy warre ( being the rode to syria for all land armies ) and merited well in this action , in giving peaceable passage and courteous entertainment to pilgrimes ; as to duke godfrey , and frederick barbarossa , with all their souldiers as they travelled through it . had the kings of hungarie had the same principle of basenesse in their souls as the emperours of grecia , they had had the same cause of jealousie against the christians that passed this way ; yet they used them most kindly , and disdained all dishonourable suspicio●s . true it is , at the first voyage , king coloman , not out of crueltie but carefulnesse and necessary securitie , did use his sword against some unruly and disorderly pilgrimes : but none were there abused which first abused not themselves . but what-ever hungarie was in that age , it is at this day christendomes best land bulwark against the turks : where this prettie custome is used , that the men wear so many feathers as they have killed turks ; which if observed elsewhere , either feathers would be lesse , or valour more in fashion . poland could not stirre in this warre , as lying constant perdue of christendome against the tartarian ; yet we find * boleslaus crispus duke or king thereof ( waiting on , shall i say ? or ) accompanying conrade the emperour in his voyage to palestine ; and having defraid all his and his armies costs and charges towards constantinople , he returned home , as not to be spared in his own countrey . but if by king davids * statute , the keepers of the baggage are to be sharers in the spoil with the fighters of the battel , then surely poland and such other countreys may entitle themselves to the honour of the warre in palestine ; which in the mean time kept home , had an eye to the main chance , and defended europe against forrein invaders . norway ( in that age the sprucest of the three kingdomes of scandia , and best tricked up with shipping ; though at this day the case is altered with her , and she turned from taking to paying of tribute ) sent her fleet of tall souldiers to syria : who like good fellows , asked nothing for their work but their victuals , and valiantly wonne the city of sidon for the king of jerusalem . and it is considerable , that syria ( but a step or stride from italie ) was a long race from norway ; so that their pilgrimes went not only into another countrey but into another world . denmark was also partner in the foresaid service . also afterwards , ericus * her king , though he went not quite through to the holy land , yet behaved himself bravely in spain , and there assisted the winning of lisbon from the infidels . his successour * canutus anno , had provided his navie , but was prevented by death : his ships neverthelesse came to syria . of sweden in this grand-jurie of nations i heare no vous avez ; but her default of appearance hath been excused * before . chap. . of the scottish , welsh , and irish , their severall adventures . there remain behind the scottish , welsh , and irish. it may occasion suspicion , that these nations either did neglect or are neglected in this holy warre , because clean through this historie there is no mention of them or their atchievements . true it is , these countreys can boast of no king of their own sent to syria , nor of any great appearing service by them alone performed . it seemeth then they did not so 〈◊〉 much play the game themselves , as bet on the hands of others : and haply the scottish service is accounted to the french ; the welsh and irish , to the english. that scotland was no ciphre in this warre , plainly appeareth ; . in that * david , earl of huntington , and younger brother to william the elder king of scotland , went along with our richard the first ; no doubt suitably attended with souldiers . this david was by a tempest cast into egypt , taken captive by the turks , bought by a venetian , brought to constantinople , there known and redeemed by an english merchant , and at last safely arrived at * alectum in scotland ; which alectum he in memorie and gratitude of his return called dundee , or dei donum , gods gift . . by the plentifull provision which there was made for the templars and hospitallers : who here enjoyed great priviledges : this amongst many others , ( take the scottish law in its pure naturals ) that the master of the knicts of the temple and chief priors of the hospitall of jerusalem ( wha were keepers of strangers to the haly grave ) sould be receaved themselves personally in any suit without entertaining a procuratour for them . nor must we here forget a saint , willam a scot , of perth by birth , by trade a baker , in charitie so abundant that he gave his tenth loaf to the poore , in zeal so fervent that he vowed to visit the holy land . but in his journey , as he passed through kent , he was slain by his servant , buried at rochester ; afterwards sainted , and shewed many miracles . neither may we think , whilest all other nations were at this martiall school , that wales the while truanted at home . the welsh , saith my * authour , left their forrests ; and now with them no sport to the hunting of turks : especially after that * wizo and walter his sonne , had founded the fair commandrie for hospitallers at slebach in pembroke-shire , and endowed it with rich revenues . ireland also putteth in for her portion of honour in this service . indeed , for the first fourescore yeares in the holy warre , ireland did little there , or in any other countrey . it was divided into many pettie kingdomes ; so that her peoples valour had no progressive motion in length , to make any impression in forrein parts , but onely moving round in a circle at home , their pettie reguli spending themselves against themselves , till our henry the second conquered them all . after which time the irish began to look abroad into palestine : witnesse many houses for templars , and the stately priorie of kilmainam nigh dublin for hospitallers ; the last lord prior whereof at the dissolution , was sir john rawson . yea , we may well think , that all the consort of christendome in this warre could have made no musick if the irish harp had been wanting . chap. . of the honourable arms in scutcheons of nobilitie occasioned by their service in the holy warre . now for a corollarie to this storie , if we survey the scutcheons of the christian princes and nobilitie at this day , we shall find the arms of divers of them pointing at the atchievements of their predecessours in the holy warre . thus the * dukes of austria bear gules a fesse argent , in memory of the valour of leopoldus at the siege of ptolemais ; whereof before . the duke of savoy * beareth gules a crosse argent , being the crosse of s. john of jerusalem ; because his predecessours were speciall benefactours to that order , and assisted them in defending of rhodes . queens colledge in cambridge ( to which i ow my education for my first seven yeares in that universitie ) giveth for parcel of her arms , amongst many other rich coats , the crosse of jerusalem ; as being founded by queen margaret , wife to king henry the sixth , and daughter of renate earl of angiers and titular king of sicilie and jerusalem . the noble and numerous familie of the douglasses in scotland ( whereof at this day are one marquesse , two earls , and a vice count ) give in their arms a mans heart , ever since * robert bruce king of scotland bequeathed his heart to james douglasse , to carry it to jerusalem ; which he accordingly performed . to instance in particulars were endlesse : we will only summe them up in generals . emblemes of honour born in coats occasioned by the holy warre , are reducible to these heads : . scallop-shells : which may fitly for the workmanship thereof be called artificium naturae . it seemeth pilgrimes carried them constantly with them , as diogenes did his dish , to drink in . * i find an order of knights called equites cochleares , wearing belike cocle or scallop-shells , belonging to them who had done good sea-service , especially in the holy warre : and many hollanders ( saith my authour ) for their good service at the siege of damiata were admitted into that order . . saracens heads ; it being a maxime in heraldrie , that it is more honourable to bear the head then any other part of the bodie . they are commonly born either black or bloudie . but if saracens in their arms should use christians heads , i doubt not but they would shew ten to one . . pilgrimes or palmers scrips or bags ; the arms of the worshipfull family of the * palmers in kent . . pilgrimes staves , and such like other implements and accoutrements belonging unto them . . but the chiefest of all is the crosse , which though born in arms before , yet was most commonly and generally used since the holy warre . the plain crosse , or s. georges crosse , i take to be the mother of all the rest ; as plain-song is much seniour to any running of division . now as by transposition of a few letters , a world of words are made ; so by the varying of this crosse in form , colour , and metall ( ringing as it were the changes ) are made infinite severall coats : the crosse of ierusalem or five crosses , most frequently used in this warre ; crosse patée , because the ends thereof are broad ; fichée , whose bottom is sharp , to be fixed in the ground ; wavée , which those may justly wear who sailed thither through the miseries of the sea , or sea of miseries : molinée , because like to the rind of a mill : saltyrée , or s. andrews crosse : florid , or garlanded with flowers : the crosse crossed : besides the divers tricking or dressing ; as piercing , voiding , fimbriating , ingrailing , couping ; and in fansie and devices there is still a plus ultra ; insomuch that crosses alone as they are variously disguised , are enough to distinguish all the severall families of gentlemen in england . exemplary is the coat of george villiers duke of buckingham ; five scallop-shells on a plain crosse , speaking his predecessours valour in the holy warre . for sir nicolas de villiers knight , followed edward the first in his warres in the holy land ; and then and there assumed this his new coat : for formerly he bore sable three cinquefoils argent . this * nicolas was the ancestour of the duke of buckingham , lineally descended from the ancient familie of villiers in normandie ; then which name none more redoubred in this service : for we * find john de villiers the one and twentieth master of the hospitallers ; and another philip de villiers master of rhodes , under whom it was surrendred to the turks ; a yielding equall to a conquest . yet should one labour to find a mysterie in all arms , relating to the qualitie or deserts of the owners of them ( like chrysippus , who troubled himself with a great contention to find out a stoicall assertion of philosophie in every fiction of the poets ) he would light on a labour in vain . for i believe ( be it spoken with loyaltie to all kings of arms , and heralds their lieutenants in that facultie ) that at the first , the * will of the bearer was the reason of the bearing ; or if at their originall of assuming them there were some speciall cause , yet time since hath cancelled it : and as in mythologie , the morall hath often been made since the fable ; so a sympathy betwixt the arms and the bearer hath sometimes been of later invention . i denie not but in some coats some probable reason may be assigned of bearing them : but it is in vain to digge for mines in every ground , because there is lead in mendip hills . to conclude ; as great is the use of arms , so this especially , to preserve the memories of the dead . many a dumbe monument , which through time or sacriledge hath lost his tongue , the epitaph , yet hath made such signes by the scutcheons about it , that antiquaries have understood who lay there entombed . chap. . some offers of christian princes for palestine since the end of the holy warre , by henry the fourth of england , charles the eighth of france , and iames the fourth of scotland . as after that the bodie of the sunne is set , some shining still surviveth in the west : so after this holy warre was expired , we find some straggling rayes and beams of valour offering that way ; ever and anon the christian princes having a bout with that design . to collect the severall essayes of princes glancing on that project , were a task of great pains and small profit ; specially , some of them being umbrages and state-representations rather then realities , to ingratiate princes with their subjects , or with the oratorie of so pious a project to wooe money out of peoples purses , or thereby to cloke and cover armies levied to other intents : besides , most of their designes were abortive , or aborsive rather , like those untimely miscarriages not honoured with a soul or the shape and lineaments of an infant . yet to save the readers longing , we will give him a tast or two ; and begin with that of our henry the fourth of england . the end of the reign of this our henry was peaceable and prosperous . for though his title was builded on a bad foundation , yet it had strong buttresses : most of the nobilitie favoured and fenced it : and as for the house of york , it appeared not ; its best bloud as yet ranne in feminine veins , and therefore was the lesse active . now king henry in the sunne-shine evening of his life ( after a stormy day ) was disposed to walk abroad , and take in some forrein aire . he pitched his thoughts on the holy * warre , for to go to jerusalem , and began to provide for the same . one principall motive which incited him was , that it was told him he should not die till he had heard masse in jerusalem . but this proved not like the revelation told to old * simeon : for king henry was fain to sing his nunc dimittis , before he expected ; and died in the chamber called ierusalem in westminster . by comparing this prophesie with one of apollo's oracles , we may conclude them to be brethren ( they are so alike ) and both begotten of the father of lies : for the devil eartheth himself in an homonymie , as a fox in the ground ; if he be stopped at one hole , he will get out at another . how-ever , the kings purpose deserveth remembrance and commendation , because really and seriously intended . farre better , i believe , then that of charles the eighth king of france : who in a braving embassage which he sent to our henry the seventh , gave him to understand his resolutions ; to make re-conquest of naples , but as of a bridge to * transport his forces into grecia ; and then not to spare bloud or treasure ( if it were to the impairing of his crown and dispeopling of france ) till either he had overthrown the empire of the ottomans , or taken it in his way to paradise ; and hence ( belike ) he would have at jerusalem , invited ( as he said ) with the former example of our henry the fourth . but our king henry the seventh ( being too good a fencer to mistake a flourish for a blow ) quickly resented his drift ( which was to perswade our king to peace , till charles should perform his projects in little britain and elsewhere ) and dealt with him accordingly . and as for the gradation of king charles his purposes , naples , grecia , jerusalem , a stately but difficult ascent , ( where the stairs are so farre asunder , the legs must be long to stride them ) the french nation was weary of climbing the first , and then came down , vaulting nimbly into naples and out of it again . more cordiall was that of * james the fourth king of scotland , that pious prince : who being touched in conscience for his fathers death ( though he did not cause it , but seemed to countenance it with his presence ) ever after , in token of his contrition , wore an iron chain about his body ; and to expiate his fault , intended a journey into syria . he prepared his navie , provided his souldiers , imparted his project to forrein princes ; and verily had gone , if at the first other warres , and afterwards sudden death had not caused his stay . chap. . the fictitious voyage of william landt-grave of hesse to palestine confuted . these are enough to satisfie ; more would cloy . onely here i must discover a cheat , and have it pilloried , lest it trouble others as it hath done me : the storie i find in calvisius , anno : take it in his very words ; william the landt-grave appointed an holy voyage to palestine ; chose his company out of many noblemen and earles , in number ninetie eight : he happily finished his journey ; onely one of them died in cyprus . he brought back with him six and fourtie ensignes of horse . seven moneths were spent in the voyage , fab. so tarre calvisius , avouching this fab. for his authour . each word a wonder ; not to say , an impossibilitie . what ? in the yeare , when the deluge of mahometanes had overrun most of grecia , asia , and syria ? william , a landt grave ( of hesse , no doubt ) neither the greatest nor next to the greatest prince in germanie , farre from the sea , unfurnished with shipping , not within the suspicion of so great a performance ? six and fourtie horse-ensignes taken ? where ? or from whom ? was it in warre , and but one man killed ? a battel so bloudlesse seemeth as truthlesse ; and the losing but of one man savoureth of never a one . but seven moneths spent ? such atchievements beseem rather an apprentiship of yeares then moneths . besides , was fame all the while dead , speechlesse , or asleep , that she trumpeted not this action abroad ? did only this fab. take notice of it ? be he faber , fabius , fabianus , fabinianus , or what you please . why is it not storied in other writers ? the dutch men giving no scant measure in such wares , and their chronicles being more guiltie of remembring trifles then forgetting matters of moment . yet the gravity of calvisius recording it , moveth me much on the other side ; a chronologer of such credit , that he may take up more belief on his bare word then some other on their bond . in this perplexitie , i wrote to my oracle in doubts of this nature , mr. joseph mead fellow of christs colledge in cambridge , since lately deceased : heare his answer ; sir , i have found your storie in calvisius his posthume chronologie , but can heare of it no where else . i sought reusners basilica genealogica , who is wont with the name of his princes to note briefly any act or accident of theirs memorable , and sometimes scarce worth it : but no such of this william landt-grave . so in conclusion , i am resolved it is a fable out of some romainza ; and that your authour fab. is nothing but fabula defectively written . but you will say , why did he put it into his book ? i answer , he himself did not ; but had noted it in some paper put into his chronologte , preparing for a new and fuller edition : which , himself dying before he had digested his new edition ( as you may see i think somewhere in his preface ) those who were trusted with it after his death to write it out for the presse , foolishly transferred out of such a paper or perhaps out of the margin , into the text ; thinking that fab. had been some historian , which was nothing but that she-authour fabula . if this will not satisfie , i know not what to say more unto it . thus with best affection i rest yours , joseph mead . christ. coll. june . . this i thought fit to recite , not for his honour but to honour my self , as conceiving it my credit to be graced with so learned a mans acquaintance . thus much of offertures . i will conclude with that speech of the lady margaret , countesse of richmond and derbie , and mother to our king henry the seventh ( a most pious woman , as that age went ; though i am not of his faith that believed her to be the next woman in goodnesse to the virgin mary : ) she used to say , that if the christian princes would undertake a war against the turks to recover the holy land , she would be their * laundresse . but i believe she performed a work more acceptable in the eyes of god , in founding a professours place in either universitie , and in building christs and s. johns colledges in cambridge , ( the seminaries of so many great scholars and grave divines ) then if she had visited either christs sepulchre or s. johns church in jerusalem . chap. . the fortunes of ierusalem since the holy warre ; and her present estate . seven yeares after the latine christians were finally expelled out of syria , some hope presented it self of reestablishing them again . for casanus the great tartar prince , having of late subdued the persians , and married the daughter of the armenian king ( a lady of great perfection ) and of a mahometane become a christian , at the request of his wife he besieged the citic * jerusalem , and took it without resistance . the temple of our saviour he gave to the armenians , georgians , and other christians , which flocked thick out of cyprus there to inhabit . but soon after his departure it fell back again to the mammalukes of egypt ; who enjoyed it till selimus the great turk , anno , overthrew the empire of mammalukes , and seised jerusalem into his hand : whose successours keep it at this day . jerusalem better acquitteth it self to the eare then to the eye ; being no whit beautifull at all . the situation thereof is very uneven , rising into hils and sinking into dales ; the lively embleme of the fortunes of the place ; sometimes advanced with prosperitie , sometimes depressed in misery . once it was well compacted , and * built as a citie that is at unitie in it self ; but now distracted from it self : the suspicious houses ( as if afraid to be infected with more miserie then they have alreadie , by contiguousnesse to others ) keep off at a distance , having many waste places betwixt them ; not one * fair street in the whole citie . it hath a castle , built ( as it is thought ) by the pisans , * tolerably fortified . good guard is kept about the citie , and no christians with weapons suffered to enter . but the deepest ditch to defend jerusalem from the western christians , is the remotenesse of it ; and the strongest wall to fence it , is the turkish empire compassing it round about . poor it must needs be , having no considerable commoditie to vent ; except a few beads of holy earth , which they pay too deare for that have them for the ferching . there is in the citie a covent of franciscans , to whom christians repair for protection during their remaining in the citie . the padre guardian appointeth these pilgrimes a friar , who sheweth them all the monuments about the citie : scarce a great stone , which beareth the brow of reverend antiquitie , that passeth without a peculiar legend upon it : but every vault under ground hath in it a deep mysterie indeed . pilgrimes must follow the friar with their bodies and belief ; and take heed how they give tradition the lie , though she tell one never so boldly . the survey finished , they must pay the guardian both for their victuals and their welcome , and gratifie his good words and looks ; otherwise if they forget it , he will be so bold as to remember them . the guardian farmeth the sepulchre of the turk at a yearly rent : and the turks which reap no benefit by christs death , receive much profit by his buriall ; and not content with their yearly rent , squeez the friars here on all occasions , making them pay large summes for little offenses . the other subsistence which the friars here have , is from the benevolence of the pope and other bountifull benefactours in europe . nor getteth the padre guardian a little by his fees of making knights of the sepulchre : of which order i find , some hundred yeares since , sr john chamond of * lancels in cornwall to have been dubbed knight . but i believe no good english subject at this day will take that honour , if offered him ; both because at their creation they are to swear loyaltie to the pope and * king of spain , and because honours conferred by forrein potentates are not here in england acknowledged , neither in their style nor precedency , except given by courtesie : witnesse that famous case of the count arundel of wardour , and queen elisabeths peremptory resolve , that her sheep should be branded with no * strangers mark , but her own . the land about it ( as authours generally agree ) is barren . yet * brochard a monk , who lived here some two hundred yeares since , commendeth it to be very fruitfull . sure he had better eyes to see more then other men could ; or else by a synecdoche he imputeth the fertilitie of parcels to the whole countrey . but it is as false a consequence , as , on the other side , to conclude from the basenesse of bagshot-heath , the barrennesse of all the kingdome of england . we may rather believe , that since the fall of the jews from gods favour , the once-supernaturall fertilitie of the land is taken away , and the naturall strength thereof much abated and impaired . chap. . whether it be probable that this holy warre will ever hereafter be set on foot again . thus we state the question ; whether this holy warre , i mean , for the winning of the citie of jerusalem and recovering of palestine , will probably ever hereafter be projected and acted again . we may believe this tragedie came off so ill the last acting , that it will not be brought on the stage the second time . . the pope will never offer to give motion to it , as knowing it unlikely to succeed . policies of this nature are like sleights of hand , to be shewed but once ; lest what is admired at first be derided afterwards . . princes are grown more cunning , and will not bite at a bait so stale , so often breathed on . the popes ends in this warre are now plainly smelt out ; which though prettie and pleasing at first , yet princes are not now , like the native indians , to be cozened with glasse and gaudie toyes : the loadstone to draw their affection ( now out of non-age ) must present it self necessary , profitable , and probable to be effected . . there is a more needfull work nearer hand ; to resist the turks invasion in europe . heark how the grecians call unto us , as once * the man in the vision did to s. paul , come over into macedonia , and help us . yea , look on the popes projects of the last edition , and we shall find the businesse of the sepulchre buried in silence , and the holy warre running in another chanel , against the turks in christendome . lastly , who is not sensible with sorrow of the dissensions ( better suiting with my prayers then my penne ) wherewith christian princes at this day are rent in sunder ? wounds so wide that onely heavens chirurgerie can heal them : till which time no hope of a holy warre against the generall and common foe of our religion . we may safely conclude , that the regaining of jerusalem and the holy land from the turks , may better be placed amongst our desires then our hopes ; as improbable ever to come to passe : except the platonick yeare , turning the wheel of all actions round about , bring the spoke of this holy warre back again . chap. . of the many pretenders of titles to the kingdome of ierusalem . no kingdome in the world is challenged at this day by such an armie of kings as this of jerusalem : it is sooner told what princes of europe do not , then what do lay claim to it ; they be so many . take their names as i find them in the catalogue of stephen a cypriot . . the emperours of the east . the patriarchs of ierusalem . the lusignans , kings of cyprus . emfred prince of thorone . conrade de la-rame marquesse of montferrat . the kings of england . his holinesse . the kings of naples . the princes of antioch . the counts of brienne . the kings of armenia . the kings of hungarie . the kings of aragon . the dukes of anjou . the dukes of loraine . lewis the eleventh , king of france . the dukes of bourbon . the dukes of savoy . iames de lusigna , base sonne to the king of cyprus . charles de lusigna , sonne to the prince of galilee . the state of genoa . the marquesse of montferrat . the count of la-vall . the arch duke of nize . the sultan of egypt . the emperour of the turks . it seemeth by the naming of lewis ●he eleventh and james the bastard of cyprus , that this list was taken about the yeare . and now how would a herald sweat with scouring over these time-rustie titles , to shew whence these princes derived their severall claims , and in whom the right resteth at this day ? and when his work is done , who should pay him his wages ? my clew of thread is not strong enough , on the guidance thereof for me to venture into this labyrinth of pedegrees ; we will content our selves with these generall observations : . it seemeth this catalogue containeth as well those who had jus in regno as those who had jus ad regnum : as namely , the prince of thorone , and patriarchs of jerusalem , and state of genoa ; whose ambition surely soared not so high as to claim the kingdome of jerusalem , but rather perched it self upon some lands and signories challenged therein . . a small matter will serve to intitle a prince to a titular kingdome : in this case , kings can better digest corrivals where they be many , and all challenge what is worth nothing . in this catalogue it seemeth some onely intitle themselves out of good fellowship and love of good company : these like squirrels recover themselves , and climbe up to a claim on the least bough , twig , yea leaf of a right . thus the counts of brienne in france ( if any still remain of that house ) gave away their cake and kept it still ; in that john bren parted with his right to this kingdome , in match with iole his daughter to frederick the second emperour , and yet the earls of his familie pretend still to jerusalem . . we may believe , that by matches and under-matches some of these titles may reside in private gentlemen ; especially in france : and what wonder ? seeing within fourteen generations , the * royall bloud of the kings of judah ran in the veins of plain joseph a painfull carpenter . . at this day some of those titles are finally extinct : as that of the emperours of the east , conquered by the ottoman family : their imperiall eagle was so far from beholding the sunne , that the half-moon dazzled , yea quite put out his eyes . rank in the same form the kings of armenia , and sultans of egypt . . some of these titles are translated : that of the lusignans , kings of cyprus , probably passed with that island to the state of venice ; the claim of the hungarian kings seemeth at this day to remain in the germane emperour . . some united : the claim of the archdukes of nize ( a style i meet not with elsewhere ) twisted with that of the duke savoy ; the kings of naples and aragon now joyned in the king of spain . . of those which are extant at this day , englands appear●● first ; our richard receiving it in exchange of king guy 〈◊〉 the island of cyprus . guy's resignation was voluntarie and publick ; the world was witnesse to it : he truly received a valuable consideration , which his heirs long peaceably enjoyed ; and our english kings styled themselves * kings of jerusalem , till afterwards they disused it for * reasons best known to themselves . our poet harding , in a paper he presented to king henry the sixth , cleareth another double title of our kings thereunto : and because some palates love the mouldie best , and place the goodnesse of old verses in the badnesse of them , take them as they fell from his penne ; to ierusalem , i say , ye have great right from erle geffray that hight plantogenet , of aungeoy erle , a prince of passing might , the eldest sonne of fouke , and first beget , king of ierusalem by his wife dewly set ; whose sonne geffray foresaid gat on his wife henry the second , that was known full rise . yet have ye more , from bawldwyne paralyticus king afterward , to the same king henry the crown sent and his banner pretious , as very heire of whole auncestrie descent of bloud by title lineally from godfray boleyn , and robert curthose , that kings were thereof and chose . . then cometh forth the pope title ; who claimeth it many wayes : either because he was the first and chiefest mover and advancer of this warre , lord paramont of this action , and all the pilgrimes no better then his servants ; and then according to the rule in civil law , * quodcunque per servum acquiritur , id domino acquiritur suo : or else he challengeth it from john bren , who * subjected that kingdome to the see of rome ; and yet the said john used the style of jerusalem all the dayes of his life , and also gave it away in match with his daughter : or else he deriveth it as forfeited to him by the emperour frederick the second and his sonnes , for taking arms against the church . but what need these farre-abouts ? they go the shortest cut , who accounting the pope gods lieutenant on earth ( though by a commission of his own penning ) give him a temporall power ( especially in ordine ad spiritualia ) over all the kingdomes of the world . the originall right of jerusalem he still keepeth in himself , yet hath successively gratified many princes with a title derived from him : nor shineth his candle the dimmer by lighting of others . first he bestowed his title on charles of anjou , king of sicilie ( from which root spring the many-branched french competitours ) and since hath conferred the same on the house of aragon , or king of spain . which king alone weareth it in his style at this day , and maketh continuall warre with the turk , who detaineth jerusalem from him : yea , all west christendome oweth her quiet sleep to his constant waking , who with his galleys muzzleth the mouth of tunis and algier . yea , god in his providence hath so ordered it , that the dominions of catholick princes ( as they term them ) are the case and cover on the east and south to keep and fense the protestant countreys . the quit-rent which the king of spain payeth yearly to the pope for the kingdomes of jerusalem , naples , and sicilie , is foure thousand crowns , sent to his holinesse upon a * hackney : who grudgeth his tenant so great a penie-worth ; yet cannot help himself , except he would follow the friars advice , to send home the spanish hackney with a great horse after him . what credit there is to be given to that through-old ( if not doting ) prophecie , that a * spaniard shall one day recover jerusalem , we leave to the censure of others ; and mean time we will conclude more serious matters with this pleasant passage : when the late warres in the dayes of queen * elisabeth were hot between england and spain , there were commissioners on both sides appointed to treat of peace : they met at a town of the french kings : and first it was debated , what tongue the negotiation should be handled in . a spaniard , thinking to give the english commissioners a shrewd gird , proposed the french tongue as most fit , it being a language which the spaniards were well skilled in ; and for these gentlemen of england , i suppose ( said he ) that they cannot be ignorant of the language of their fellow-subjects ; their queen is queen of france as well as england . nay in faith , masters ( replyed doctor dale , the master of requests ) the french tongue is too vulgar for a businesse of this secrecie and importance , especially in a french town : we will rather treat in hebrew the language of jerusalem , whereof your master is king ; i suppose you are herein as well skilled as we in french. at this day the turk hath eleven points of the law in jerusalem , i mean possession : and which is more , prescription of a hundred and twentie yeares , if you date it from the time it came into the ottoman familie ; but farre more , if you compute it from such time as the mammaluke turks have enjoyed it . yea , likely they are to keep it , being good at hold-fast , and who will as soon lose their teeth as let goe their prey . with the description of the greatnesse of which empire will we ( god willing ) now close this historie . chap. . of the greatnesse , strength , wealth , and wants of the turkish empire ; what hopes of the approching ruine thereof . the turkish empire is the greatest and best-compacted ( not excepting the romane it self in the height thereof ) that the sunne ever saw . take sea and land together ( as bones and flesh make up one bodie ) and from buda in the west to tauris in the east , it stretcheth about three thousand miles : little lesse is the extent thereof north and south . it lieth in the heart of the world , like a bold champion bidding defiance to all his borderers , commanding the most fruitfull countreys of europe , asia , and africa : onely america ( not more happy in her rich mines then in her remotenesse ) lieth free from the reach thereof . populous it is not ; for men will never grow thick where meat groweth thinne : it lieth waste , according to the old proverb , grasse springeth not where the grand signors horse setteth his foot . besides , a third part ( i may say , halfe ) of those in turkie are not turks , but either jews or christians . the strength of this empire consisteth either in bones or stones , men or munition . of the first , the best stake in the turks hedge is his great number of horsemen called * timariots , conceived to exceed seven hundred thousand fighting men : these are dispersed over all dominions , and have lands allotted unto them in reward of their good service and valour , much in the nature of those souldiers of the romish empire called beneficiari . and indeed the turkish empire resembleth the romane in many particulars : not that they ever studied imitation , and by reading of historie conformed their state to romane precedents , ( farre be it from us to wrong them with the false imputation of so much learning ) but rather casually they have met in some common principles of policie . of these timariots , on occasion and competent warning , he can bring into the field an hundred and fiftie thousand , all bound by the tenure of their lands to arme , clothe , feed , pay themselves : so great an armie , which would drain the wealth of other princes , doth cost the great turk no drop of expense . next follow his best footmen , called janizaries , taken young from their christian parents ( parallel to the romane pretorian souldiers ) being the guard of the grand signors person . but as they watch about him , so he casteth a watchfull eye on them ; seeing of late they are grown from painfull to be proud , yea insolent and intolerable : it being true of these janizaries in the turkish empire , as of elephants in an armie ; if well ruled , they alone are enough to winne the battel ; if unruly , they alone are enough to lose it . as for all other sorts of the turks , both foot and horse , they are but slugs ; as whom the grand signor little trusteth , and others need lesse fear . his frontier cities , especially those which respect christendome , are exactly fortified . rank with these such places of importance and castles as command passages of consequence . as for his inland-cities , there is no superfluous , scarce competent , strength in them . but if we allow those people to be chaste who never were solicited to be otherwise , then may many cities lying in the bowels of his empire passe for strong , which for a long time have not had not in haste are likely to have the temptation of a siege . of ordinance he hath great store , and hath excellent materials to make them of ; and is also very powerfull in shipping . indeed ships of great burden would be burdensome in those narrow seas , and experience hath found lesser vessels of greater use , whereof he hath store . and though the turks either want ingenie or industrie , either care not or cannot be good ship-wrights themselves ; yet the spite is , as long as there is gold amongst the turks there will be drosse amongst the christians , i mean some who for base gain will betray the mysteries of our usefull arts unto them . as for wood to build with , he hath excellent in bithynia ; yea , generally in this wild empire , trees grow better then men . to his sea-munition may be reduced his multitude of slaves , though not the informing yet ( against their wills ) the assisting form of his galleys , and in whom consisteth a great part of their strength and swiftnesse . nor must we forget the pirates of tunis and algier , which are turks and no turks : sometimes the grand signor disclaimeth , renounceth , and casteth them off to stand upon their own bottom ; as when those christian princes which are confederate with him , complain to him of the wrongs those sea●obbers have done them . but though he sendeth them out to seek their own meat , he can clock them under his wings at pleasure : and we may verily believe , though sometimes in the summer of his own prosperitie he throweth them off as an upper garment of no use , yet in cold weather he will buckle them on again ; and if necessitie pincheth him , receive them not as retainers at large but as his best servants in ordinarie . nor is it the last and least part of the strength of this empire , that all her native people are linked together in one religion : the discords about which in other kingdomes have been the cause , first of the unjoynting , and then of the finall ruine and desolation of many worthy states : whereas here , the mahometane religion ( if i wrong it not with so good a name ) is so full of unitie and agreement , that there is no difference and dissension about it . yea , well may that coat have no seam which hath no shape . a senselesse ignorant profession it is , not able to go to the cost of a controversie : and all colours may well agree in the dark . next the strength followeth the wealth ; yea , it is part thereof : for all rich kingdomes may be strong , and purchase artificiall fortification . the certain and constant revenues of the great turk are not great , if withall we consider the spatiousnesse of his dominions . some have mounted his ordinarie yearly income to eight * millions of gold . but men guesse by uncertain aim at princes revenues ; especially if they be so remote : we may believe that in their conjecture herein , though they misse the mark , they hit the butt . farre greater might his intrado be , if husband●ie , and chiefly merchandise , were plied in his countrey ; merchants being the vena porta of a kingdome ; without which it may have good limbes , but emptie veins , and nourish little . now although this empire be of a vast extent , having many safe harbours to receive strangers there , and stable commodities ( chiefly if industrie were used ) to allure them thither ; yet hath it in effect but foure prime places of trading ; constantinople , cairo , aleppo , and tauris . as for the extraordinarie revenues of the grand signor , by his escheats and other courses , if he pleaseth to take them , they are a nemo scit : for in effect he is worth as much as all his subjects ( or flaves rather ) throughout his whole empire are worth , his spunges to squeeze at pleasure . but the lion is not so fierce as he is painted , nor this empire so formidable as fame giveth it out . the turks head is lesse then his turbant , and his turbant lesse then it seemeth ; swelling without , hollow within . if more seriously it be considered , this state cannot be strong , which is a pure and absolute tyrannie . his subjects under him have nothing certain but this , that they have nothing certain ; and may thank the grand signot for giving them whatsoever he taketh not away from them . their goods they hold by permission not proprietie ; not sure that either they or theirs shall reap what they sow , or eat what they reap : and hereupon husbandrie is wholly neglected : for the plowman ( aswell as the ground he ploweth ) will be soon out of heart , if not maintained and ( as i may say ) composted with hopes to receive benefit by his labours . here great officers , if they love themselves , must labour not to bee beloved : for popularitie is high treason ; and generally wealth is a sinne to be expiated by death . in a word , it is a cruel tyrannie , bathed in the bloud of their emperours upon every succession ; a heap of vassals and slaves ; no nobles ( except for time being , by office ) no gentlemen , no free-men , no inheritance of land , no stirp or ancient families ; a nation without any moralitie , arts and sciences , that can scarce measure an acre of land or houre of a day . and needeth not that kingdome constant and continued pointing , which is cemented with fear not love ? may wee not justly think , that there be many in this empire which rather wait a time then want desire to overthrow it ? for though some thinke the grecians in turkie bear such inveterate hate to the latine christians , that they would rather refuse deliverance then accept them for their deliverers ; yet surely both they , and perchance some native turks , out of that principle of desiring libertie ( the second rule next preserving life in the charter of nature ) would be made ( if this empire were seriously invaded , so that the foundation thereof did totter ) sooner to find two hands to pluck it downe then one finger to hold it up . and we have just cause to hope that the fall of this unwieldie empire doth approch . it was high noon with it fiftie yeares ago ; we hope now it draweth near night : the rather , because luxurie , though late , yet at last hath found the turks out , or they it . when first they came out of turcomania , and were in their pure naturals , they were wonderfully abstemious , neglecting all voluptuousnesse , not so much out of a dislike as ignorance of it : but now having tasted the sweetnesse of the cup , they can drink as great a draught as any others . that paradise of corporall pleasure which mahomet promised them in the world to come , they begin to anticipate here , at leastwise to take an earnest of it , and have well soked themselves in luxurie . yea , now they begin to grow covetous , both prince and people , rather seeking to enjoy their means with quiet then enlarge them with danger . heaven can as easily blast an oak as trample a mushrome . and we may expect the ruine of this great empire will come : for of late it hath little increased its stock , and now beginneth to spend of the principall . it were arrant presumption for flesh to prescribe god his way ; or to teach him , when he meaneth to shoot , which arrow in his quiver to choose . perchance the western christians , or the grecians under him ( though these be better for seconds then firsts , fitter to foment then raise a faction ) or his own janizaries , or the persian , or the tartarian , or some other obscure prince not as yet come into play in the world , shall have the lustre from god to maul this great empire . it is more then enough for any man to set down the fate of a single soul ; much more to resolve the doom of a whole nation when it shall be , these things we leave to providence to work , and posteritie to behold : as for our generation , let us sooner expect the dissolutions of our own microcosmes , then the confusion of this empire : for neither are our own sins yet truly repented of , to have this punishment removed from us ; nor the turks wickednesse yet come to full ripenesse , to have this great judgement laid upon them . soli deo gloria . the preface to the chronológie . herein i present the reader with a generall view and synopsis of the whole storie of the age of the holy vvarre ; that he may see the coherence betwixt the east and the west , and in what equipage and correspondencie of time the asian affairs go on with those of europe : for they will reflect a mutuall lustre and plainnesse on one another . the chronologie is marshalled into rankes and files : the ranks , or transverse spaces , contain twenty years on a side ; the files , or columnes directly downward , are appropriated to those severall states whose name they bear . in the six first columnes i have followed helvicus with an implicite faith , without any remarkable alteration , both in ingraffing of yeares and making them concurre , as also leaving sometimes emptie spaces . in the other columnes i have followed severall authours , and left the years unnoted where the time was uncertain ; counting it better to bring in an ignoramus then to find a verdict where the evidence was doubtfull and obscure . such long notes as would not be imprisoned within the grates of this chronologie , we have referred by asterisks to the foot of the page . know that every note belongeth to that yeare wherein it beginneth , except signed with this Θ which reduceth it to the yeare it endeth in . br. standeth for brother : s. sonne : m. moneths : d. dayes . note , whilest there were caliphs of egypt , then the sultans were but deputies and lieutenants ; but afterwards the mamaluke sultans were absolute princes , acknowledging no superiour . anno dom. popes . emper. of the east . emper. of the west . kings of england . kings of france . holy warre , and kings of ierusalem . urbane the second . alexios comnen● henry the fourth . william rufus . philip the first . the council of clermont foundeth the holy warre . . voyage under goderey duke of bouillon . nice , wonne by the christians . antioch , wonne by the christians . m. d. jerusalem , wonne by the christians . paschal the second . godfrey king of jerusalem . baldwine his brother . henry the first . . voyage under severall princes & pr●ates , cesarea . wonne by the christians . apami● , laodic●a , wonne by the christians . ptolemais , wonne by the christians . m. . henry the fifth lewis the grosse . tripolis wonne by the christians . berytus , sidon wonne by the christians .         caliphs of syria . caliphs of egypt .         mustetah●r must●al princes of antioch .       bo●mund .         patriarchs of antioch . patriarchs of ierusalem . m rs . of kn. hospitallers .       he is taken captive . taucred manageth the state in his absence . berard . . arnulphus m. . gerard . ii. dabertus . he stickleth for jerusalem , to get it from the king. elamir , s. boemund ransomed . ii. reimund de podio . he unfortunately besiegeth charras ; travelleth into france ; flieth to antioch ; iii. ebremarus put in by the king , displaced by the pope . thence to rome : returneth and wa●keth grecia with his navie . dieth in sicily . iv. gibellinus , archbishop of arles . boemund the second ▪ s. yet a child , and living in apulia : in whose minoritie , first tancred , then roger his kinsman , were princes in trust . v. arnulphus , archdeacon of jerusalem . anno dom. popes . emper. of the east . emper. of the west . kings of england . kings of france . holy warre , and kings of ierusalem . m. d. baldwines voyages into egypt ; . when he took pharamia . gelasius . d. . calo jo-annes s. baldwines voyages into egypt ; . when he got his death .   baldwine the second , his kinsman . calixtus the second . he fighteth on disadvantage with the turks , and is taken captive . mm. . d. . m. he is dearly ransomed . tyre taken by the christians honorius the second . lotharius the saxon . baldwine getteth so much spoil from the conquered turks as serveth to pay his ransome . m. d. innocenteus the second . * fulk earl of anjou , in right of millecent his wise , eldest daughter to k. baldwine . princes of antioch . patriarchs of antioch patriarchs of ierusalem . mrs of kn hospitallers   caliphs of syria . caliphs of egypt .     he is accused for his wicked life ; posteth to rome , and there buyeth to be innocent .   mrs of kn-templars . musteraschad s. roger fighting unadvisedly with the turks is slain Θ vi. guarimund ● of amiens . hugh de paganis , godfrid of s. omars . these first nine yeares there were but nine templars . raschid s. afterwards deposed by the w●se-man of the ismaclites . boemund now of age , cometh to antioch , and marrieth king baldwines daughter . the order of the templars confirmed by the pope and a council .   vii . stephanus suspected to have been poysoned by the king.   everard ●   he is surprised and slain lu cilicia . viii . william prior of the sepulchre . master of the templars , to whom peter cluniacensis writ a book in praise of this order .   alice the relict of boemund , princesse regent in the minoritie of constantia her daughter .             anno dom. popes . emper. of the east . emper. of the west . kings of england . kings of france . holy warre , and kings of ierusalem . stephen the usurper conradus the third . lewis the seventh , or the younger . m. . baldwine the third , s. edessa wonne by sanguine from the christians . m. d. . emanuel comnenus s. c●l●stin● the second . m. . lucius the second . m. . fugenius the third . . voyage , under conrade the emperour , and lewis king of france . damascus besieged in vain . discords betwixt baldwine and his mother millecent . fredaricus barbarossa . m. . d. . anastasius the fourth . m. . d. . baldwine taketh the citie of askelon . princes of antioch . patriarchs of antioch patriarches of ierusale● mrs of kn. hospitallers mrs of kn. templars . caliphs of syria . casiphs of egypt .   muctaphil s. to mustetaher . reimund earl of poictou , in right of constantia his wife . he acknowledgeth himself vassall to the grecian emperour ; and resigneth cilicia to him . rodulpaus chosen patriarch by the laitie .   elhaphit , s. in the yeare of his reigne he was killed by one nosradine . vide tyr. lib. . cap. . & calvis . in anno .   ro●ert of burgundie , tyr. lib. . c. .       almericus       . fulc●er archbishop of tyre .     he honourably entertaineth the k. of fran. is slain in battel by noradine tyr. lib. . c. .   gaza given to the templars to defend . constantia his wi●l . princ●sse .   bernard d trenellape .     the hospitallers rebell against the patriarch & deny to pay tithes .   rainold of castile marrieth constantis , and is prince in her right . Θ the templars with bernard their master through their own covetousnesse slain at askelon . Θ anno dom. popes . emper. of the east . emper. of the west . kings of england . kings of france . holy warre , and kings of ierusalem . adrian the fourth . henry the second . m. . d. . alexander the third . order of the carmelites first begun in syria . almerick his b ● . at the instance of sultan sanc● he g●eth into egypt , and d●●veth out syracon . caela●●a-philippi lost . almerick contrary to his promi●e invadeth egypt . he taketh a voyage into grecia , to visit the emperour his kinsman . baldwine the fourth : princes of antioch . patriarchs of antioch . patriarches of ierusalem . mrs . of kn. hospitallers mrs of kn. templars . caliphs of syrìa . casiphs of egypt . he , to despite the grecian emperour , wasteth the island cyprus . almerick cruelly tormented for speaking against pr. reinolds marriage . in vain he crawleth to rome to complain of them . bertrand de bianch : fort . * elhadach . these caliphs of egypt are very difficult to regulate by chronologie ; and are ever heteroclites , either deficient or redundant in the proportion of time consenting with other princes . hitherto we have followed helvicus ; now adhere to tyrius , lib. . cap. . & lib. . cap. . iii. augerius de balben . he is taken prisoner , tyr. l. . c. . philip of naples .   x. amalricus prior of the sepulchre .   afterward he renounceth his place , tyr. lib. . c. . iii. arnoldus de campis .   reinold carried captive to aleppo .     mustene-iged . boemund the third , s. to reimund . he prescribeth rules to the carmelites .             v● gi●bertus assalit : who to get pelusium for his own order , instigated k. almerick ( contrary to his oath ) to invade egypt . templars hanged for traytours . otto de sancto amando , one that feared neither god nor man. tyr. lib. . c. . sinar & dargon fight for the sultany of egypt . he is conquered and taken prisoner ; ransometh himself .                   mustezi , s. vi. castus .   turkish k. of egypt .     saladine with his horsemace knocketh out the brains of el●adach the last turkish caliph in egypt , tyr. lib. . cap. . vii . jobertus . the templars basely kill the embassadour of the assasines .       anno dom. popes . emper. of the east . emper. of the west . kings of england . kings of france . holy warre , and kings of ierusalem . william marquesse of montferrat marrieth sibyll the kings sister . saladine shamefully conquered at askelon . fatall jealousies betwixt the king and reimund prince of tripoli for many yeares .     m. .         m. d. m. . alexius comnenꝰ . philip augustus , s. lucius the third . andronicus , s. baldwine disabled with leprosie retireth himself from managing the state. m. ● . m d. urbane the third . isaacius angelus . baldwine the fifth , after eight moneths poysoned . m. d. gregory the eighth . guy de lusignan in right of sibyll his wife . m. . d. . clement the third . conrade marquesse of montferrat defendeth tyre , and is chosen king. guy taken prisoner ; jerusalem won by saladine . guy having got libertie , befiegeth prolemais . m. . richard the first . . voyage under frederick surnamed barbarossa . henry the sixth , s. . voyage under rich. of eng. philip of fran. m. d. conrade murdered in the market-place of tyre . ptolema is taken . cel●●tine the third guy exchangeth his kingdome of jerusalem for cyprus . m. . henry earl of champaigne . al●xius comnenus ang●zus . princes of antioch . patriarchs of antioch . patriarches of ierusale● mrs . of kn. hospitallers mrs of kn. templ●rs .   caliphs of syrta turkish k. of egypt . viii . roger de moris .               reinold of castile , once prince of antioch ransomed from captivity .       he getteth damascus & the whole turkish kingdome in syria , ( tyr. lib. . c. . ) in despite of noradines sonne .   arnoldus de troge , tyr. lib. . c.         boemund by putting away theodora his lawfull wife , c●useth much trouble in this state.       narzai , s. these great figures reckon saladines reigne of yeares ( for so many authours give him ) from his seifing of the kingdome of damase . but if we count his reigne from the killing of the egyptian caliph , he began far sooner . xi . heraclius , archbish. of cesarea .               he dieth in an embassie to the princes in europe .     gerardus ridford .   he travelleth into the west , cometh into england , consecrateth the temple church in london , and returneth without any aid . he went with heraclius into the west ; returneth :           antioch by the patria●ch betrayed to saladine . Θ is slain in a battel neare prolemais . he is taken prisoner . tericus , master of the templars during gerards durance . gerad is set at liberty and slain in the siege of prolemais .   * ix . garnerius de neapoli syriae .   mrs of dutch knights henry a walpot .         antioch wonne again from the turks by frederick d. of suevia .               the time of boemunds death is as uncertain as who was his successour ; onely we find from this time forward , the same princes ( but without name or certain date ) ●lyled both of antioch and tripoli .   he lived viciously , and died obscurely .   ***     ** x. ermegar dus daps.   saphadine , br. to saladine .           anno dom. popes . emper. of the east . emper. of the west . kings of england . kings of france . holy warre , and kings of ierusalem . almerick the second , king also of cyprus . . voyage , under henry duke of saxonie . m. . d. . henry the palatine , he●man land●grave , &c. winne berytus . innocentius the third . the dutch-men miserably killed on s. martines day . otho the fourth . simon earl of montfort cometh into palestine and maketh a profitable peace . john his br. isaacius again with alexius his s. baldwine earl of flandres . . voyage , under baldwine earl of flandres ; but by the pope diverted against the grecian usurping emperour . interregnum of ● years . almerick die●h of a surfer , according to marinus sanutus . henry his br. the holy warre turned against the albin genses in france . almerick for his lazinesse deposed by the pope , dieth soon after . johnbren made king of jerusalem by the pope . frederick the second . an army of children going to the holy warre wofully perish by the way . princes of antioch . patriarchs of ierusale● . mrs of kn. hospitallers mrs of kn. templars . mrs of dutch knights . caliphs of syria . turkish kings of egypt .         betwixt him and saladines sonnes ( whom at last he conquered and subdued ) was long warre , to the great comfort and profit of the christians .                   xii . albertus succeedeth heraclius , spond .                     ii. otto a-kerpin .             xi . gotfridu● de denyjon .             he perfecteth and writeth a rule to the carmelites , idem .           leo king of armenia restoreth to the templars what he had violently taken from them .         iii. hermannus bart.         meladine ( as most compute ) succeedeth his father saphadine in egypt .                   xiii . thomas agni .     iv. hermannus a saltza .             xii . alphonsus de portugallia .                   anno dom. popes . emper. of the east . emper. of the west . kings of england . kings of france . holy warre , and kings of ierusalem . the great laterane council , to advance the holy warre . m. d. peter earl of auxerre . . voyage under andrew king of hungarie . honorius the third . henry the third , ● . damiata besieged . damiata taken . the christians intrapped in water , restore damiata for their libertie ; and conclude an eight-yeares truce . robert . he d●eth . john bren cometh into france , and there receiveth rich legacies from philip augustus . lewis the eighth . m. . he is honourably entertained at rome , and resigneth his kingdome . gregory the ninth . st lewis . frederick , by marriage of ●ole brens daughter . baldwine the second . ● . voyage under frederi●k ; who crowned himself king of jerusalem ; and concluding a ten-yeares truce , returneth into europe , leaving reynold duke of bavaria his vice-roy in palestine . princes of antioch . patriarchs of ierusale● mrs of kn. hospitallers mrs of kn. templars . master of dutch kn. caliphs of syria . turkish kings of egypt .   he is present in the laterane council to solicite the holy warre . xiii . gotheridus de-la-rat . p. de monte acuto .                 saphadine ( according to m. par●● p. . ) dieth for grief that the ●or● nigh to d●miata was taken . Θ                     he fighteth stoutly with the rest of his order at the taking of damiata , mat. paris , pag. & . meladine                 is wonderfully kind to the christians half-drowned in egypt .                     crowns bequeathed by the k. of fr. to the hospit . and templars .     xiiii . geraldus . xiiii . guarenus de monte acuto . oliver .         taher . s.   a bitter enemy he was to frederick the emperour , and sided with the pope and templars against him .             the 〈◊〉 k●igh●s under hermannus their master come into prussia ; yet so as many of * them still remained in syria .               an inveterate enemie to frederick , whom he most spitefully and treacherously used .   the pr. of antioch dieth without lawfull issue .             xvi . bertrandus de campis .     frederick base s. to fred. the emp. is by reinoldus vice-●oy of jerurusalem made pr. of antioch , in spite of henr. k. of cyprus , who claimed that place .                       mustenatzer . anno dom. popes emper. of the east . emper. of the west . kings of england . kings of france . holy warre , and kings of ierusalem . the former ten-years truce expired , reinold concludeth another of the same term . . voyage under theobald king of navarre he is unfortunately overthrown in battel at gaza . m. . celestine the ●ou●th . . voyage under richard earl of cornwall . d. . the see void . innoce●tius the fourth . the corasines conquer the christians , and sack jerusalem . . voyage under s. lewis king of france . he arriveth in cyprus , and there wintereth ; taketh damiata ; beateth the saracens . interr●gnum of years wherein there were many competiours for the empire . robert earl of artois slain . lewis taken prisoner . interregnum of years . the pastorells overthrown in france . king lewis being ransomed cometh into palestine ; recovereth and fortifieth sidon : returneth into france . m. . d. . princes of antioch . patriarchs of ierusalem . mrs of kn. hospitallers mrs of kn. templars . mrs of dutch kn. caliphs of syria   turkish k● of egypt .                                                             x v. robertus   hermannus pe●ragorinus , m. pari● , pag. . v. conrade land●grave of hassia .       xvii . petrus de villebride ;                 he was in the battel against the corasines : as appeareth in m. paris ; where he writeth a bemoning letter . taken captive by the corasines , m. paris , pag. . all the templars slain to eighteen * the hospitallers to nineteen , the dutch knights to three .                         the antiochians , fighting unadvisedly with the turks , are overthrown .           he dieth at damiata's taking .             melechsala .             mammaluke sultans of egypt .   the pa●●iarch of je●usalem was taken prisoner with the king of france magdeburg . ce● . . col. . all the hospitallers with their master slain to one . all the templars with their master slain to two .     tarqueminus . conrade ● . to frederick prince of antioch .   xix . hugo revel : he made a stature whereby women were admitted into this order .                 great chās of tartary .         vi. poppo .   mango perswaded by haito k. of armenia to turn christian.           anno dom. popes emper. of the east . emper. of the west . kings of england . kings of france . holy warre , and kings of ierusalem . alexander the fourth . these yeares following the genoans fighting against the venetians and pisans , ba●●en the ruine of the christians in pale●tine . m. . d. . michael palaeologus . urbane the fourth . m. . d. . charles earl of anjou , by the pope made king of jerusalem and sicilie . clement the fourth . m. . d. . hugh king of cyprus . ● . voyage under st lewis king of france , the see void .   charles of sicilie , and our prince edward . tunis taken . lewis dieth . gregory the tenth . philip the bold . prince edward cometh to p●olemais ; is desperately wounded , yet recovereth . rodulphus ab haspurg . edward the first . princes of antioch . patriarchs of ierusalem . mrs of kn. hospitallers . masters of dutch kn. caliphs of syria great cha●s of tatary . mammaluke sultuns of egypt .   xvi . pantaleon , a frenchman .             musteazem , the last caliph of syria , a covetous miser , conquered by the tartarians . melech , otherwise called clothes .                   haalach br●o mango taketh the citie of babylon ,             haalach the tartarian cometh to antioch ; is there kindly entertained by prince conrade       bendocdar .   he is made pope by the name of urbane the fourth , platina .     haala●h succeedeth his br. mango .                 conrade cometh into europe to succour contadine his kinsman .       abaga cham his s. he winneth the kingdome of damascus from the tartarian :       vii . hanno de sanger hausen       xx. n●colaus longar .   taketh saphe● , and killeth all that would not turn mahometanes : winneth joppa .         antioch in the absence of conrade wonne by bendocdar .               boemund the fourth .                                       anno dom. popes emper. of the east . emper. of the west . kings of england . kings of france . holy warre , and kings of ierusalem . m. d. the last voyage under henry duke of mechlenburg . innocent the 〈◊〉 . m. . adrian the fifth . m. ● d. . maria domicella 〈◊〉 of an●ioch , resigneth her right of the kingdome of jerusalem to charles . john the . m. ● d. nicolas the third m. d. the see void . martine the second the sicilian vespers . andr●nic● paleol●gus charl●s the second , surnamed the lame , or the delayer . john his s. m. d. henry his br. honorius the fourth . philip the fair. d. . nicolas the fourth . tripoli sidon be●ytus tyre lost Θ m. ptolemais besieged ; adolphus of nassau . taken : and the latine christians finally expelled out of syr●● . m. . d. . the see void . c●lestine the v. m. . d. . boni●ac● the eighth .   if the reader do observe any difference betwixt our former computation in the book and our chronologie here , let him rather rely on this latter , which i take to be better perfected . princes of antioch . patriarchs of ierusale● . mrs of kn. hospitallers mrs of kn. templars . mrs of dutch kn. great cha●s of tatary . mammaluke sultans of egypt . dieth may bo●mund the fifth , s. under the tuition of the bishop of to●to●● .         xxi . jo●n de villiers .   dieth by cold gotten with swimming in euph a●es . mel●ch●a●t , or m●lech●ar●● .       hermann● the third .                         he is poysoned by the sultan of babylon . Θ boemund now of age , sideth against the templars to the destruction of the christian cause . about this time we find a namelesse patriarch of jerusalem , — xxii . odo de pinibus .   tangodor his b● . ●yled himself mahomer cham and was a great persecutour of the chri●tians . argon cham killed his br. mahome●●he favoureth the christians .                 p●ter belius , a valiant souldier . burchard● schu●dens . he expelleth the ●arm●lites out of syria for changing their coats .       lucie his ●ister , married in europe . vide calvis . in boc anno .   the hospitallers winne the castle of mergath .         ragaithus his br. a lazie voluptuous glu●ton . ● ●who fled out of p●olemais when it was be sieged , and was drowned in his flight● it seemeth his name was drowned with him .     ●lpis , or a ●p● x. how ever , one hugh challengeth both the title of antioch , and principa●itie of trip●li , ●nolls pag.   xx . vicil●elm● de villare● . he is chosen governour of ptolemais , & therein slain . casanus , s. to argon . he was very favourable to the christians : *       deposed . seraph , or arraphus .     james mosaibergamon last master of the templars in syria , continuator bell● sacri , lib. . cap , & . conrad● de fer●uangen .             a catalogue of authours cited in this book . a adricomius , de terrâ sanctâ . paul. aemylius ; basileae , per seba●●ianum henric-petri ; in fol. albertus aquensis , chron. hierosol . alfonso villeg . alphonsus de castr. s. ambrose . ammian . marcellin . antoninus . jo. antonius summontius . tho. aquinas . arnoldus lubecens . s. athanasius . athenaeus . aventinus . s. augustine . b sr fr. bacon . balaeus . barklay . baronius , annal. eccl. colon. agrippinae , . . bellarmine . bernard . chr. besoldus ; arg●ntinae , , in ● . bibliander . blondus . hect. boethius . bolsecus . bonaventure . bracton . bridenbach . brierwood . brochardus . buchanan . burton . bydulph . bzovius . c cesars comment . calvisius , francofurti ; edit . x , in ● . camden . jo. cammanus . canon law. carew . cassanaeus . cedrenus . chemnitius . civil law . cochlaeus . sr edw. coke . continua●or guil. tyrii . continuator matth. paris . continuator urspergensis . sr rob. cotton . d daniel . p. diaconus . mart. dominic . dressaeus . e egnatius . erasmus . estius . jo. euchaitensis . eulogium chron. eusebius . f fazellius . field . fox , acts and monuments ; . edition , . otho frisingensis . froissard . fuller . g gaguinus . gerson . godwine . goffridus . grafton . gwillam . h harding . sr jo. harrington . chr. helvicus chron. marpurg . , infol . dr. heylin . s. hierome . hieronimo roman . hospinian . rog. hoveden , francofurti , in fol. hen. huntington ; francofurti , , in fol. i ●p . jewel . illyricus . josephus . k rich. knolls , turkish hist. . edition , , in fol. krantzius . l lambert . lampadius mellificium hist. marpurgi , , in ● . livie . lindwood . lipsius . lombard . luther . m machiaviell . magdeburgenses centuriae , basileae . in fol. jo. magnus . guil. malmesburiensis ; franco●urti , , in fol. mantuan . marinus sanutus . martini chron. mr mead. p. mela. mercator . monstrell . morison . seb. munster . n nauclerus . nicetas choniates ; apud haeredes eustathii vignon , . in ● . neubrigensis . theod. à nyem . greg. nyssen . o ovid. p pantaleon . matth. paris ; london , , in fol. jo. paul perin , luthers forerunners , translated by s. leonard ; lond. . pero m●xya . peter de bloys . peter de valle sarnensi . peter de vineis . pierce plowman . pitzaeus . platina . polybius . possevine . r sr w●lter ralegh . reinerius . reineccius . dr. r●dley . rivetus . claud. rubis . s an. coc. sabellicus ; lugduni , in aedibus nic. petit. . sr edw. s●ndys . g. sandys travels . scaliger . scotus . mr selden . duserres . socrates . sozomen . jo. speed. statutes of eng. scotl. stephanus cypriot . t theodoret. theophylact. theophanes . thuanus . tremellius . hist. conc . trident. tullie . guil. tyrius basileae , , in fol. v vincent . polyd. virgil. vitruvi●s . volaterran . urspergensis ; basileae , apud petrum pernam , . w weaver , fun. mon. dr whitaker . dr white . z zuerius boxhorn . a table shewing the principall things contained in this historie . a   b. ch. abaga maketh cowards v●liant abbeys , how and why suppressed in england , , , adamites against their will , albingenses ; three opinions concerning them ,   their originall , persecution , nick-names ,   defended from crimes objected ,   commended by their adversartes ,   ibid. alexius emp. his treachery . causeth the christians overthrow , his death and epitaph ,   alexius ang●lus the younger a princely begger , almerick k. of ierusalem his character , he hel●eth the sultan of egypt ,   invadeth egypt against promise ,   his death ,   ibid. almerick the second , deposed for lazinesse ,   almerick patriarch of antioch , ierusalem ,   andronicꝰ a bad practicer of s. paul antioch wonne by the christians , betrayed by the patr. to saladine , recovered by the duke of sueuia ,   finally lost to the sultan of egypt , apostasie of many christians in europe upon k. lewis captivitie ,   arms of gentlemen ●eserved in this warre , a●nulphus the firebrand-patriarch of ierusalem , , , ● assasines , their strange commonweal   b baldwine k. of ierus . his nature , he wins ant●pa●ris and cesarea ,   his two voyages into egypt , his death ,   b●ldwine the second chosen king ,   he is taken prisoner , & ransomed ,   ● he renounceth the world , & dieth ,   baldwine the third his ch●racter , discord b●twixt him & his mother   he winneth ascalon ,   his death and commendation ,   ibid. baldwine the fourth ,   he conquereth saladine ,   . he is arrested with leprosie : his death , and praise ,   ibid. baldwine the fifth poysoned by his mother ,   baldwine earl of flanders emperour of constantinople , theodore balsamon how cousened , battels at or neare dogargan , antioch ,   askelon , rhamula ,   meander ,   tiberias ,   ptolemais , bethlehem ,   moret in france ,   gaza , tiberias ,   manzor in egypt ,   manzor again ,   bendocdar sultan of egypt , , bernard patriarch of antioch , an apologie for s. bernard , biblianders wild fansie , bishops numerous in palestine , boemund prince of antioch , he is taken prisoner , he wasteth grecia ,   boemund the second ,   boemund the third ,   c caliphs , their voluptuousnesse , , calo-iohannes grecian emper.   carmelites , their originall luxury , and banishment ,   carthage described , chalices in england , why of latten , charatux one of the wisest men in the world ,   charles earl of anjou , k. of ierus . he dieth for grief ,   charles the second , surnamed the delayer ,   ibid. children marching to ierusalem wofully perish , choermines , their obscure originall and finall suppression ,   clerks no fit captains ,   clermont council , climate how it altereth health , conferences betwixt opposite parties in religion never succeed , conrade emperour of germany his unfortunate voyage , he conquereth the turks ,   conrade of montferrat k. of ierus . he is miserably slain ,   conversions of pagans hindred by christians badnesse ,   how it must orderly and solemnly be done ,   edmund cr●uchback not crooked ,   d dabertus patriarch of ierusal . he scuffleth with the kings for that city , & dies in banitshment ,   , , damascus described ,   in vain besieged by the christians ,   ibid. damiat a twice taken by the christians , and twice surrendred , ,   ● , danish service in this warre ,   drunkennesse wofully punished , a duell declined , duells forbidden by st lewis , e ebremarus patriarch of ierusal . prince edward his voyage , he is desperately wounded , and recovereth ,   elianor qu. of france playeth false with her husband , elianor wife to prince edward , her unexampled love to her husband , elhadach caliph of egypt , emmanuel emperour of greece ,   engines before guns , english service in this warre ,   equality of undertakers ruineth this holy warre .   eustace refuseth the kingdome , f faith-breaking the cause of the christians overthrow ,   fames incredible swiftnesse , the strength of imaginarie fear forts make some countries weaker , franks , how ancient in the east , fred. barbarossa his unhappy voyage his wofull drowning ,   frederick the second , k. of ierusalem , his disposition ,   his grapplings with the pope ,   his death , and posteritie ,   french service in this warre ,   fulcher pa●riarch of ierusalem , fulk king of ierusalem ,   , g galilee described , genoans atchievements in this warre , germane service in this warre ,   germane nobility numerous ,   ibid. st george , gibellines and guelfes , godfrey king of ierusalem , his vertuous vice ,   ibid. his death ,   a goose carried by the pilgrimes to ierusalem , greek church rent from the latine , on what occasion ,   ibid. wherein it dissenteth ,   what charitably is to be thought of them ,   ibid. what hope of reconcilement ,   guarimund patriarch of ierusalem , guy king of ierusalem ,   he is taken prisoner ,   he exchangeth his kingdome for cyprus , h haalon cham of tartar●e , , . helen no ostleresse , henry e. of champaigne k. of ierus . his wofull death ,   henry earl of mechlenburgh his long captivity & late deli verance , henry the fourth k. of england his intended voyage to ierusalem , heraclius the vitious patriarch of ierusalem , holy fraud , holy warre , arguments for it , arguments against it ,   unlikely again to be set on foot , hugh king of ierusalem and cyprus , i james iv , k. of scotland , hath some intentions for ierusalem , ianizaries their present insolencie , ierusalem destroyed by titus , rebuilt by adrian ,   largely described ,   wonne by the christians under godfrey ,   lost to saladine , recovered by frederick the emp. finally wonne by the choermines , her present estate at this day , iews their wofull present condition , the hindrance of their conversion ,   ibid. interviews of princès dangerous , iohn bren k. of ierusalem ,   his discords with the legate ,   ibid. he resigneth his kingdome ,   irish service in this warre , isaacius angelus emp. of constant. italian service in this warre ,   iudea described , k king for deputie in eastern tongues , three faults in the kingdome of ierusalem which hindred the strength of it , knights-hospitallers their original they degenerate through wealth into luxury ,   ibid. they rebell against the patriarch about tithes ,   brawl with the templars , flit from cyprꝰ by rhodes to malta the manner of their suppression in england ,   , in vain restored by qu. mary ,   knights . templars instituted , many slain through their own covetousnesse ,   they become rich and proud , their treachery hindereth the holy warre , they are finally exsirpated out of christendome ,   arguments for and against their innocency , with a moderate way betwixt them ,   , knights teutonicks their institution they are honoured with a grand master , they come into prussia , their service there , knights of the sepulchre , l laterane council , length of the journey hindrance of this warre , leopoldus duke of austr . his valour leprosie , lewis the young k. of france his wofull journey , . st lewis his voyage to palestine , he wintereth in cyprus ,   lands in egypt , winnes damiata ,   is conquered and taken captive ,   dearly ransomed ,   st lewis his second voyage , he besiegeth tunis ,   his death and praise ,   ibid. m mahometanisme ; the cause why it is so spreading , mammalukes their originall , their miraculous empire , maronites their tenents and reconcilement to rome , meladine king of egypt his bounty to the christians , why not loved of his subjects , his death ,   ibid. melechsala his son king of egypt ,   ibid. melechsaites sultan of egypt ,   mercenary souldiers dangerous , yet how , well qualified , they may be usefull ,   ibid. miracles of this warre examined , and ranked into foure sorts : viz. not done ; falsely done ; done by nature ; done by satan ; n nice besieged and taken by the christians , nilus his wonders and nature , northern armies may prosper in the south , n●rvegian service ,   numbers number lesse slain in these warres ,   what numbers competent in an army ,   numbers of asian armies , what we may conceive of them ,   ibid. o observation of rog. hoveden confuted , offers at palestine since the end of the warre , office of the virgin why instituted , owls why honored by the tartarians p palestine in general● described , . pastorells in france slain , . pelagius the legate , . peter the hermite his character , . he proves himself but an hypocrite   ibid. peter k. of aragon , a favourer of the albingenses slain in battel , philip augustus k. of france his voyage to palestine , and unseasonable return ,   pilgrimages proved unlawfull , the popes private profits by the holy warre , he the principall cause of the ill successe , polands service in this warre ,   ptolemais wonne by the christians , regained by saladine ,   after three yeares siege recovered by the christians , finally taken by sultan serapha , q qvalitie of the adventurers in this warre , r red sea why so called , reformation , why rome is averse from it , reimund earl of tripoli , his discords with baldwine , his apostasie to saladine ,   his suspicious death ,   ibid. relicks how to be valued , why so many before death renounced the world , richard k. of england his voyages to palestine , he taketh sicily and cyprus in his passage ,   vanquisheth salad . in a set battel ,   in his return he is taken prisoner in austria , and ransomed ,   richard earl of cornwall his voyage to palestine , robert d. of normandie his valour , . he refuseth the kingdome of ierusalem , and thr●veth not after , rodulphus chosen unexpectedly emperour of germanie , sendeth supplies to syria ,   ibid. rodulphus the unhappie patriarch of antioch , s sacriledge , saladine killeth the caliph of egypt , succeeds in egypt and damascus ,   ibid. conquereth guy ,   taketh ierusalem and all syria ,   his commendations and death , scholars without experience no good generalls , scottish service in this warre ,   sea and land service compared , simon earl of montfort concludeth a truce in syria , chosen captain against the albingenses ,   is killed by a woman ,   ibid. sidon described ; wonne by the christians , lost to the sultan of egypt , spanish service in this warre ,   stephen patriarch of ierusalem , superstition tainting this whole war suspected souldiers in armies where to be placed , sultans their large commissions , sweden appeareth not in the holy warre , t tartaria described ,   tartars , their name and nature ,   ibid. when first known to the world ,   ibid. converted to christianitie ,   their relapse to paganisme ,   the occasion ,   ibid. theobald king of navarre his unhappie voyage , titular bishops their use and abuse , pretenders of titles to the kingdome of ierusalem , tunis described ; besieged , taken by the christians ,   turks whence descended , their large strides into asia ,   ibid. harder to be converted then tartars , turkish empire ; its greatnesse , strength , and welfare ; the weaknesse and defects of it ; what hopes of its approching ruine tylo colupp a not able cheater , tyre described , taken by the christians ,   valiantly defended by conrade , wonne by sultan alphir , v venetians performance in this warre , their bloudie sea-battel with the genoans , vi●iousnesse of the pilgrimes which went to palestine ,   w vvafer-cake why wrought in the borders of all egyptian tapestrie , welsh service in this warre , william patriarch of ierusalem , william landt-grave of hesse his fictitious voyage to ierusalem confuted , women warriours ,   wracks first quitted by the kings of england to their subjects , finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e anno dom. . . * iosephus , lib. . belli iud. gr. c. . lat. c. . * exod. . . * adricom . in actis apost . fol. . credo , ex hegesippo . * suctonius , in tito . euseb. e●cl . hist. l. . c. . . * hieron . ●om . . pag. . * num. . . * sand. trav. fol. . * hieron . tom . . pag. . munster cosmogr . p. . polyd. virg. p. . sandys trav. pag. . * p. heylin , microcos . in palestine , pag. . * sir e. sandys survey of the west . * epist. ad paulinum ; tom . . p. . * camden , brit. pag. . . * ambros. cont . in theodosium . * fox , martyrol . p. . * ambros. ibid. . * ammianus ma●cel . lib. . sub initio . * socrat. hist. eccl. lib. . cap. . theodoret , lib. . cap. . sozom. lib. . cap. . * adricom . descript. t●rrae sanctae ▪ pag. . * sand. trav. p. . * belli sacri l. b. . cap. . . theophanes in annal. * paulus d●aconus , miscel. lib. . * cedrenus . . * tyrius , bell . sac . lib. . cap. . * baronius , in martyrolog . . sep. * tyrius . bell . sacr . l. . pag. . . * lib. cap. . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . . suetonius , in caesare . * lib. . cap. ult . * ovid. . metam . sabell . aen. . lib. . . knolles , tur. hist. pag. . † chron. . . † tyrius , lib. . cap. . † knoll●s tur. hist. pag. . † tyrius , lib. . cap. . † ursperg . chron. pag. . quem tamen postea multi hypocritam ●uisse dicebant . † sabell . enn. . lib. . col . . et. aemilius , digest . franc. pag. . in philippo ● . † ut desertor signorum , fratrum commiliton úmque proditor . † sabell . ▪ en. . lib. . tyrius , lib. . cap. . baron . anno . w. mal●sb . lib. . cap. . all have severall set orations . † baronius , in anno . col . . † baronius , in anno . col . . † sabell . en. . lib. . pag. . † baronius , ●om . . pag. . † livius , lib. . † tyrius , lib. . cap. . † bellarm. lib. . de rom. pont. cap. . † ibidem . † baronius , tom . . pag. . † sabell . eun. . lib. . pag. . * iob. cammanus , de jure majest . thes. . et albert. aqu. chro. hieros . lib. . cap. . et reine●cius in praef. hist. orient . † mat. . . † hie●on . ●om . . p. . in epist. ad paulinum . † vide besoldum , de regibus hieros . p. & sequentibus . † lib. . de rom. pon. cap. . † ezek. . . † aventinus , lib. . annal. † in his chronology . † bal●us , in rom. pont. in vrban . . † mat. dress . de bello sac . cited by lampadius mellisic . 〈◊〉 . part . . p. . † see daniel , in henry the third , p. . † hist. angl. pag. , & . diversis muscipulis simplicem dei populum substantiâ suâ moliebatur romana curia private , nihil petens nisi aurum & argentum . † aemilius , de gest . fran. pag. . † daniel in henry first , pag. . † whitaker , de eccl . contro . . cap. . † albert. aqui● . chron. hierosol . lib. . cap. . tyrius , lib. . cap. . † malmesb. lib. . p. . † centurist . ex ursperg . cent . . col . . † pantaleon , de viris ger. part . . p. . † daniel , in will. the second , pag. . daniel , ut priús . † amilius , de gest . fran. pag. . † munster , cosmog . mar. . † malmesb. l. . p. . † calvisius , po . in ann . aemilius , de gest . fran. p. . iuly . † malmesb. l. . p. . vrspergens . p. , & * urspergens . pag. . aug. . dec. . * m. paris , pag. . aemilius , de gest . fran. p. . lib. . vide erasmum in adagio . graeca fides . † m. paris , pag. . † malmesb. . may . iune . * m. paris , pag. . & h. hunting . lib. . p. ● . * w. malmsb. pag. . iuly . * v●spergens . pag. . † acts . . octo. . † sabell . enn. . lib. . pag. . et aemilius , in philip the first , pag. . iune . † p. aemil. pag. . † tyrius , lib. . cap. . iune . † m. paris , in gulielmo secundo pag. . † mundus senescens patitur phantasias as falsorum miraculorum ; propterea sunt nunc habenda miracula valde suspecta , gerson . † sam. . . † chron. , . . † chron. . , . † num. . . * iosh. . . * munster , in terra sancta pag. . & in aegypt . pag. . * sam. . . * sam. . . † iosh. . . * in . mat. * morisons trav. part . . pag. . * psal. . . * sandys , pag. . * bidulphs trav. pag. & morisons , part . . pag. . * king. . . * king. . . * vide tremel . in locum . † adricom . ex hieron . p. . † theatr. terr . sanct . . † 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , comment . in , luc. † illyricus , in . matth. † camdens brit. in butking hamshire . † bridenb . de domin . sepulcro . a sandys , pag. . b adricom . p. . c merison , p. . d ralegh , p. . e adricom . p. . f ralegh , pag. . g sandys , p. . h ralegh , p. . i sandys , p. . k adricom . p. . l sandys , p. . m adricom . p. . n bidulp● , p. . o adricom . p. . p sandys , p. . dec. . † sabelli●us , enn. . lib. . pag. . april . may . iune . iune . † aemilius , pag. . † plin. nat. hist. lib. . cap. . † chron. . . iuly . † m. paris , pag. . † p. aemilius , pag. . & tyrius , lib. . cap. . iuly . iuly . † tyrius , lib. . cap. . † p. aemilius , pag. . † the manner set down at large , bidulphs trav. pag. . † tyrius , lib. . cap. . iuly . † idem lib. . cap. . * m. paris , pag. . * lib. . c. . iuly . * besoldus , de regibus hierosol . ex variis autoribus , pag. . notes for div a -e anno dom. iuly . p. aemylius , pag. . henry hunting . lib. . pag. ● . † cambden brit. pag. . * tyrius , lib. . cap , . † lib. . cap. . † lib. . cosmog . p. . † as caius proveth it plainly out of walfingham . † quantum potuit renitebatur , ●tyrius , lib. . cap. . † fatuo populo suffragia inconsulta ministrante , tyrius , lib. . cap. . † vide tabulas adricomii . † lib. . c. † in the archbishops of cant. p. . * fox martyrolog . p. . aug. . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . * baronius out of brunus in anno . † tyrius . lib. . cap. . idem , l●b . . cap. . † hospinian . de orig . mon. fol. . † in his view of civill law , pag. . † mr. selden ▪ in his preface of tithes , pag. . † hospinian . d●●ig . mon. fol. . hospinian . ut priús . † camb. brit. pag. . † cited by volateran . † sand. trav. pag. . † sand. trav. pag. . * lib. . cap. * centuriatores , centur . . col . . de schism . * in his pass . . † p. aemilius , lib. . † plin. lib. . cap. . † tyrius , lib. . cap. . † munst. cosmog . lib. . pag. . † pantal. in vita carol. . † tyri●s , lib. . cap. . † fox , martyrol . pag. . dec. . † munst. cosmog . p. . † cambden , brit. pag. † tyrius , lib. . cap. . * vrsperg . pag. . † tyrius , lib. . † tyrius , lib. . cap. . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . baronius in anne . * pantal. de hist. germ. part . . pag. . * ursperg . pag. . † in chrōnico , pag. . † cited by lampad . melli● . histor . part . . pag. . † besoldus . † p. aemil. pag. . † munst. cos. mog . pag. . † ursperg . pag. . † tyrius , lib. . cap. . † tyrius , lib. . cap. . † iosephus . † sam. . † in annal. eccles. anno . & rursu● , anno . † tyrius , lib. . cap. . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . idem , cap. . * vide erasm. ad●g . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . † gen. . . † iosephus . tyrius , lib. . cap. . idem . * gen. . . * sand. trav. pag. . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . dec. . tyrius , lib. . cap. . † scalig. on festus , in aegyptius : & fuller , miscell . lib. . cap. . † tyrius , lib. . cap. . † calvisius makes it to be wonne at the former voyage . † sand. trav. pag. . mar. . * aliter caesar . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . april . † tyrius , lib. . cap. . † tyrius , lib. . cap. . † baronius , in anno . † quarto & quinto cap. exhort . † weaver , fun. mon. pag. . † hospin . de orig . mon. † tyrius , lib. . cap. . * lib. . cap. , , . tyrius , lib. . cap. . iune . † tlin . lib. . cap. . † tyrius , lib. . * baronius , in anno . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . idem , lib. ● . cap. . † tyrius , lib. . cap. . † vide suprà , book . c. . † vrsperg . pag. . tortis sacramentis . † vide suprà , book . c. . sir walter ralegh . part . book . chap. . gen. . . 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 . tyrius , lib. . cap. 〈◊〉 . † lib. . cap. . † tyrius , lib. . cap. . † epist. . col . . † illud tibi ex genere , istud ex munere dei ; illud feliciter 〈◊〉 es , hoc viriliter nacta , epist. . col . † tyrius , lib. . cap. . † alii omnes abeuntes post munera , secuti sunt vias balaam filii bosor . tyrius , lib. . cap. . † annal. eccl●s . in anno . † compare baronius with himself in these years , , , , and we shall find haymericus and almericus the same . polyd. virg. lib. . cap. . sabel . enn. . lib. . hospin . de orig . mon. † antoninus , tit . . cap. . † balaeus in vita nicol. . † vide baleum , centur . . cap. ● . in app●nd . . † eclo● . . immutarunt mutati vellera mores . † yet c●mden saith they were first se●ted in northumberland . † pitsaeus , in indice carm. † christiano nomini à temporibus apostolorum devota . tyrius , lib. . cap. . † p. aemil. in ludov. . † nicetas , in emm. comn . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . † cambd. britan . in surry . * nicetas , 〈◊〉 prius . * in vit● manuel . com. lib. . sect. . † knoll● , turk . hist. pag. . † nicetas in man. comn . lib. . sect. . † liv. lib. . † munst. cosmog . lib. . pag. . † ser●es , ( translated by grims●on ) in vita ludov . . & p. aemylius , in ejusdem vita . † ●●eodor . à niem , de privilegis impe●ii , cap. de conrado . † sabellicus . * cited by luther , on gen. . * serres , in ludov. . * goffridus , in vita bern. lib. . cap. . * baron . annal . eccl. in anno . insistens operi sibi commisso ab eugenio . † germania tun● latrociniis frequens , purgabatur ●o genere hominum , k●antz . . sax. cap. . † in vita fred. lib. . cap. . in fine . † goffrid . ut pri●● . † lib. . cap. ● . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . † tyrius , lib. . cap. . † idem , ibidem . † tyrius , lib. . cap. . † tyrius . lib. . cap. . aug. . † tyrius , lib. . cap. . febr. . † tyrius , lib. . cap. . † in ●rat : pr● deiotar● . † tyrius , lib. . cap. . baron . in anno . † m. paris , in anno . † tyrius , lib. . cap. . † m. paris , anno . p. aemyl . in ludov. jun. * m. paris , ( aut ejus continuator ) in anno . * mach. prince , cap. . se malle vinci suis armis quàm alienis victorem esse . * mach. prince , cap. . * speed , edward . aug. . aug. . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . * idem , cap. . * idem , cap. . sept. . † non considerandum cui , sed per quem juraveris , comment . . ezech. † centurist . centur. . in almerico . † morison , in the description of ireland , anno . may. † tyrius , lib. . cap. . iuly . † centurist . centur. in episcopis . † besoldus , de reg. hieros . pag. . † besoldus , pag. . † patriarchissa , marinus san. lib. . par . . cap. . † possevine , appar . sacr . in maron . † brierwood , enquiries , cap. . * daniel , in henry . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . nov. . * centurist . cent. . in baldvino . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . centurist . cent. . in baldvino . may . camd. brit. in the descript . of the countie of dublin . isa. . . cosmog . lib. . in terra sa●cta . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . & . calleth him hom●●em indiscretum & p●n●tus inutilem . * centur. . in episcop . * annal. eccl. in haymeric● . * baronius , in anno . * nicetas choniates , in isaacio angelo , pag. . * idem ibidem . * nicetas chron. in isaacio , pag. . may. . iuly . . * besoldus , in guidone ; ex crusi● . sept. . octo. . * m. paris ▪ in anno . besoldus , in guidone , pag. . * besoldus , in guidone , pag. . * roger hoveden , in henric● . anno . * quandam morti salvatoris vicem cum multa devotione rependunt , baronius in anno . * loco priùs citato . notes for div a -e anno dom. * nicetas , in isaacio angelo ▪ lib. . sect. * nicera● , in isaacio angelo , lib. . sect. mobvov 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . * sabell . ●nn . . lib. . p. hoveden . * ●e●oldus , ex ritio de reg. p. . aug. † centur. cent. . cap. . † matth. paris , in anno . † centur. ut prius . † cambden , brit. pag. . godwin , in episc. dunelm . see this catalogue of patriarchs altered and perf●ct●d in the chronologie . adri●omius , in te●ra sancta . history of trent , li● . . pag. . ●amd . brit. in his descript . of dublin . history of trent , lib. . pag. . arnoldus lub●censis . iune . † nicetas choniates , in fi●e vitae andronici . † in the first chapter of this book . † nicetas choniates , in isaaci● , lib. . pag. . † baronius , annal. aug. . mar. . may . † amilius , in phil. augusto , pag. , & . † barklay , bellum in anglia non senescit . † lib. . cap. . iune . † aemylius , in phil. . pag. . † fuga imaginario metu o●ta , sabell . enn. . l●b . . pag. . † munster , d● germania , lib. . pag. . † matthew paris , rich. . pag. . † martinus , in richard● . † speed , in richard the first , † matthew paris , ●n ●ichardo , pag. ● . † roger hoveden , in richard● , pag. . † idem , ibidem . † h●vede● ▪ i● rich. . pag. . & matth. taris●n eodem , pag. . † bractōn , lib. . cap. . † quietum clamavit wreck , &c. roger hoveden , in rich. . pag. . † sir. ed. coke , v●l . . fol. † chemnitius , ex weselo , exam. ●onc . trid. tract . de indulg . † pantal. de illustribus germaniae , part . . pag. . iune . † matth. paris . in anno . iuly . † roger hoveden , in rich. . p. . † fox , martyrol . pag. † hoveden , in rich. . pag. . † p. aemilius , in philipp● august● , p. . but matthew paris saith but ▪ ● . iuly . † matthew paris . p. . † speed , out of hoveden , in rich. . † matth. paris . in richard● . p. . apr. . * roger hoveden in rich. . p. . saith , on the calends of may ; but sabellicus putteth it sooner . † aemylius , in phil. augusto , p. . † reger hoveden ▪ in rich. . p. . sept. calvisius . † sabell . enn. . lib. . pag. . † p. aemyl . in phil. augusto , p. . † p. aemyl . ibidem . † matth. paris . in rich. . p ▪ . † p. aemyl . pag. . excepto hoc annulo nudus in●psque . * p. aemyl . p. . tanto duorum regum conatu nihil actum . † daniel , p. . † matth. paris . in rich. . p. . † in lib. de oper . mon. ● . . † bellarm. de reliq . cap. . † annal. eccl. in anno . octo. . dec. . dec. . † matth. paris . in rich. . † lindwood , lib. . de summ● tri. fol. . † eulogium ; ● chronicle cited by fox , martyrol . in rich. . † epist. . † speed , in rich ▪ . febr. . † sabell . enn. . lib. . p. † ioan ▪ euchait●nsis , jampridem e●oniae graec● editus . † sabell . enn. . l. . p. ▪ † continuator ursp. in anno . et m. paris . in codem . * ●rsp . chron. in anno . pag. . * vrsp. ut prius . * baron . annal . eccl. i● anno . . * pantal. de vi . illustr . germ. in vit● s. martini . * knolls , turk . hist. pag. . * magdeburgenses , cent. . cap. ● . sub finem . * knolls , ut pri●s . * nicetas . * blondus , l. . decad. . p. . iuly . apr. . * in libello cu●titulus , status constantinopolis sect. . p , . * servorum hic di●s est . lips. lib. . satur. cap. . apr. . crowned may . * io. paul. perin . de albing . lib. . cap. . * dr. field of the church . lib. . cap. . we acknowledge them ( viz. wickliff , husse , hierome of prague , &c. to have been the wo●●y servants of god , and holy martyrs & confessours , suffering in the cause of christ against antichrist ; yet do we not think that the church of god was found onely in them . * dr. white , in his reply to fisher , pag. . . the waldenses maintained the same doctrine in substance with the modern protestants . * matth. paris . in hen. . in anno . * io. paul. perin . hist. waldens . l. . c. . * reinerius , fol. . art . . * claudius rubis , history of lyons , pag. . * in his . ●●omily on the canticles . * bishop iewcl , apol. part . . chap. . divis . waldo and the rest , for ought we know , and i believe ( setting m●lice aside ) for ought you know , were godly men . their greatest errour was that they complained of the dissolute and vi●●ous lives of the clergy . * in vita lutheri . * in vita calvini . * solidly confuted by d. whitaker , de notis ecclisiae , cap. . out of melan●hthon , sleidan , gryneus , beza , eye-witnesses † so witnesseth peter de valle sarnensi , being himself a monk , and lately printed ( anno ) in paris . see rivet on genesis , pag. . † cited by fox in his martyr●l . p. . † thuanus . tom . . lib. . pag. . † idem , tom . . lib. . pag. . † tom. . lib. . pag. . † acts . , . † in his preface to his retractat . * io. paul. peri● . de albing , lib. . cap. . see the substance of this following story , in io. paul perin . lib. . cap. . & dein●eps . * see cambd. in l●icester-shire . * also in worcester-shire . * peri● , of the albingen ses , lib. . c. . * martyrol . in vita dominici . * psal. . . * of chilperick king of france . * a fish called aurata , or aurella . * theod. à niein , de privileg . imper . cap. de expedit . hicrosol . * matth. paris . in anno pag. . pr●i●igio diabolico penitus infatuati . * centuri●t . cent. . cap. . nov. iuly . * matth. paris . in ioan. pag. . * munster . * illis tamen deliciis carere malu●ssent matth. paris . pag. . aug. . febr. * p. aemyl . pag. . * magdeburg . cent . cap. . col . . nov. . * p. aemil. pag. . * magdeburg . pag. . * p. aemyl . pag. . * p. aemyl . in phil. . pag. . * matth. paris . pag. . * blondus , fazellus , &c. for the pope . ursperg . petrus de vineis ( till corrupted with bribes ) &c. for the emperour . matth. paris , a moderate man , whom we follow most . * pantal. de viris illustr . germ. part . ● . pag. . * praetet gentis morem , egnatius . mar. . sept. . aug. . * centuriat . * centuriat . * matth. paris . in anno . pag. . * matth. paris . in anno . pag. . * idem , ibidem . notes for div a -e anno dom. * sr iohn harington . * magdeburg . cent. . cap. . † see mercators maps . * see brierwoods enquiries , chap. . * sab●ll . enn. . lib. . pag. , † vide eras. adag . in noctua volat . * magd●burg . cent. . cap. . sed ex vinc●nt lib. . cap. . . . . . . * matth. paris . in anno . pag. . * matth. paris . in anno ● . pag. . * idem , pag. . sr ▪ edw. s●nd . relig. of the west . pag. . & . * bonavent . . sent. dist . . art . . quest . . scotus , . sent. dist . . quaest . . th. aquin. part . . quaest . . art . . * in his third book of the church . chap. * estius dist . . §. . * possevin . in apparatu sacro , rutheni . see brierwoods enquiries , chap. . * sr edw. sand. west . relig. pag. . * idem , pag. . * magdeburg . cent. . cap. . decennales inducias nuper denu ò confirm ârat . * iidem , ibidem . * matth. paris , pag. . oct. . * cambden , in cornwall . * matth. paris . in he● . . pag. . * idem , pag. . * called anciently arabia petraea , tyrius , lib. . cap. . * matth. paris , pag. . * cambden , in cornwall . matth. paris ▪ pag. . * matth. paris , pag. . * in his letter to richard of cornwall . * caes. lib. . de bello gallico . * graft . in ri●h . . fol. . † matth. paris , pag. . * matth. paris , pag. . * except any make them to be chorasmii a people placed by ath●naeus in the east of parthia . * matth. paris , pag. . et p. aemyl . in d. ludov. pag. . * fox , martyrolog . pag ▪ . * camden , in wiltshire . * matth. paris . in anno . pag. . fox , matyrolog . pag. . * matth. paris . pag. . aug. . sept. . * p. aemyl . in lud●v . . pag. ● . * p. aemyl . ut priús . * p. aemyl . pag. . * knolls , turk hist. pag. . iune . * p. aemyl . pag. . . . * matth. paris , pag. . knolls , turk . hist. matth. paris . pag. . * matth. paris . pag. . * erimus , ( credo ) hodie , ubi non audebis caudam equi mei attingere . idem ibid. apr. . * quos martyres credimus esse manifestos . matth. paris . pag. . * ut priús . * matth. paris . pag. . * du serres , in the life of lewis the . * matth. paris . pag. . * matth. paris . pag. . * s ● . tristram a knight long before . see carew , in cornwall , fol. . * book . . chap. . * knolls , turk . hist. pag. . * bzovius , anno . § . * falsum ex ejus temporis hominum testimonio e●●e convinci●ur , pantal. in fred. ● . dec. . as others ▪ . * others say a falconers , or , a physicians . see munster , de italia , lib. . pag. . gathered out of lampad . mellif . hist. part . . pag. . * calvisius , anno . ex spang . et pantal. in rodulpho caesare . * matth. paris . pag. . * magdeburg . gem. . cap. . col . . apr. . marinus sanutus . magdeburg . cent. . cap. . col . . * calvisius , ex hist. pol. in anno . * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a. thanasius . * magdeburg . cent. . cap. . pag. . * so knolls , turk . hist. pag. . the magdeburgenses say lesse , semestri spatio , cent. . cap. . col . . * magdeburg . & knolls , ut prius . * calvisius , in anno . ex bizar● . * so saith blondus . decad . . lib. . pag. . but if we consult with tyrius , lib. . cap. . the genoans and not the venetians wonne ptolemais . * l●co priùs citato . * platina , in urban . iv . * besoldus , de reg . sicil. pag. . & . * see these conditions at large ( five and twenty in number ) out of io. anton. summ●nt . cited in besoldus , pag. . * platina , in clem. iv . neve imperium romanum , etiam ultrò oblatum , acciperet . * calvifius , in anno . ex marino sanuto . sept. . * calvisius , ex marino sanuto , in anno . * magdeburg . cent. . cap. . col . . * harding , chap. . * vincents discoveries of brooks errours , tit. lancaster . * sr. walter ralegh , hist. part . . lib. . cap. . * alf●nso villeg . in the life of s. lewis . * continuat . matth. paris . in anno . * continuas . matth. paris . in anno pag. . * speed , in edward the first . * see fox martyrolog . pag. . * p. aemyl . in d. ludovico , pag. . * continuat . matth. paris . in anno . pag. . * sr. robert cotton , in his henry iii. * marinus sanutus . * pantal. de illustr . germ. part . . in vita rodulphi . * pantal. de illustr . germ. part . . pag. . * vide calvisium in anno . & magdeburg . cent. . * magdeburg . cent. . cap. . col. . * lampad . mellif . bist . part . . pag. . * sand. trav. pag. . * lampad . pag. . * sand. trav. pag. . notes for div a -e anno dom. * sabellicus , enn. . lib. . platina , in vita clem. v. * hospin . de orig . mon. cap. . fol. . * p. aemylim in philippo pulchro . * urspergens . paralip . fol. . antonius ; tit . . cap. . §. ● . * camdens brit. in bedfordshire . * jacob. stephanus , de jurisdictione , lib. . cap. . §. . * hospin . de orig . mon. cap. . fol. . * hicronima romano , de la republica christ. lib. . cap. . et pero mexya , de la silva de varia lettion . lib. . cap. . * hospin . de orig . mon. cap. . fol. . * acts . . * mr. gr. gibs of s. perrot , dorset . * cassanaem . part . . considerat . . * statut. in ● henr. viii . * parlam . anno . henr. viii . * weaver , mon. pag. . may ' * idem , pag. . stow . * parlam . anno ● & ● phil. & mariae . * chap. . and . * froissard , lib. . cap. , . * monstrell . lib. . cap. . * epist. seu orat. de iis qui adeunt hierosol . edit . gr. lat. parisils , . * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . * m. paris . in anno . * idem . * m. paris . * roger hoveden , in anno . * nauclcrus gen. . * chron. pruten . * spondanus , in anno . * miraeula , si pi●a utilitate aut necessitate careant , de facto suspecta sunt & rejicienda , gerson . psal. . * m. paris . pag. . huic pacis formae ex papae mandato rebellis erat legatus , & frontosè contradicens , &c. * dist. . can . si ●apa suae & fraternae salutis negligens . * book . chap. , . * lib. ● . * m. paris . pag. . * totum vulgus , tam casti quàm incesti , adulteri , homicidae , perjuri , praedones , albertus aqueusis , chron. hierosol . lib. . cap. . besoldus , pag. . ex brochardo , malefactor deprehensus , homicida , latro , fur , incestuosus , adulter , fornicator , timet à judice condignam poenam , & transfretat in terram sanctam . * especially in the end of king almericks life . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . * annal. ecclesiast . in anno , & . * malmesb. lib. . pag. . sexagies ( surely a mistake for sexies ) centum millia . * lamp. mellific . hist. pag. . tyrius , lib. . cap. . ursperg . in chron. pag. . * p. aemyl in phil. aug. pag. . * knolls , turk . hist. pag. . * magdeburg . cent. . col . . * fox , in martyrol . in hen. . pag. . * vide m. solden on polyelbion , pag. . * sāndy ; travels , pag. . tyrius , lib. cap. . & lib. . cap. . * munst. cosmog . in polon . * . sam. . . * vide calvisium in anno . & io. magnum , hist. goth. lib. . cap. . * baroni●s , in anno . * lib. cap. ● . * buchan . in guilielmo senjore . * hect. boeth . third book of majest . cap. . lambert , peramb . kent . * w. malms . lib. . pag. . * cambden , in pembr . * pantal. de illustr . germ. part . . pag. . * hospin . de orig . mon. cap. . fol. . * camden in his descript . of cludisdale . * zuerius boxborn his apologie for the holland shipping . * guill . in his heraldrie . * burton in leicestershire . * hospin . de orig . monin ioan. * dr. ridly , view of the civil law , § . pag. . * lord verulam , in his henry vii . pag. . * luke . . * l. verulam . in henry vii . * buchanan , in the life of iames iiii . * camdens remains . * centuriatores . pag. totius operis penult . * psal. . . * bydulph , pag. . * sandys travels , pag. . * carew , in his survey of cornwall . pag. . * bydulph . pag. . * camdens elisabeth . in anno . * deterra sancta . part . . cap. . * acts . . * matth. . . * sabcllicus , ennead . . lib. . pag. . * in his proeme , fol. . * institut . lib. . tit . . §. . * knolls , hist. turk . pag. . * sr. edwin sandys , view of the west world , pag. . * centur iatores . cent. . cap. . col . . * heylin . microcos . in palestine . * knolls , in his descrip . of the greatnesse of the turkish empire . * knolls . notes for div a -e * anno . helvicus giveth baldwine the second sixteen yeares : but herein he is deceived ; as also in allowing king fulk but eight . we according to the consent of the best authours , have given the former thirteen , the latter ten . * . this catalogue of the masters of the hospitallers i find in hospinian , de origine monachatûs . it seemeth strange this nestor rodulphus should govern his order yeares ; yet it appeareth to be so , if we compare tyrius , lib. . cap. . * that antioch was betrayed by a patriarch , is plain by sabellicus : but whether almericus was this traytour-patriarch , or whether it was done by the grecian antipatriarch , is uncertain . here we cease that columne as despairing to continue their succession any longer . *** . here is a subject for industrie to deserve well , in filling up the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the masters of the templars , from the death of gera●d till the yeare , whose names we cannot find . ** hitherto the succession of the patriarchs of jerusalem is accurately collected out of tyrius . the order of those which follow , is not so authentick , being catcht as we might out of severall authours . * . severall authours assigne severall dates wherein the dutch knights came into prussia : perchance they came in severall parcels . their succession i had out of pantaleon , munster , and the centurists . quaere whether these masters of the dutch knights in prussia had also command over those of their order in syria . * here we are at another losse for the names of the templars , and will be thankfull to those which will help us to them . * for in the ninth yeare of his reigne he winneth the city of jerusalem and restoreth it to the eastern christians ; who soon after lose it to the sultan of egypt . the history of the worthies of england who for parts and learning have been eminent in the several counties : together with an historical narrative of the native commodities and rarities in each county / endeavoured by thomas fuller. history of the worthies of england fuller, thomas, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing f estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) the history of the worthies of england who for parts and learning have been eminent in the several counties : together with an historical narrative of the native commodities and rarities in each county / endeavoured by thomas fuller. history of the worthies of england fuller, thomas, - . fuller, john, b. or . [ ], [i.e. ], [i.e. ], , [ ], , p. : port. printed by j.g.w.l. and w.g. for thomas williams ..., london : . errata: prelim. p. [ ]. index: p. - at end. st edition. dedication and preface by the author's son, john fuller, who finished the printing of the work, "according to the copy the author left behind him." reproduction of original in huntington library. arranged by counties, with the commodities, manufactures, etc., of each, followed by brief biographies of its "worthies". created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng great britain -- biography. great britain -- description and travel. great britain -- history, local. wales -- biography. wales -- description and travel. wales -- history, local. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread - emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the graver here hath well thy face design'd . but no hand fuller can expresse thy mind for that a resurrection giues to those whom silent monuments did long enclose . the history of the worthies of england , vvho for parts and learning have been eminent in the several counties . together with an historical narrative of the native commodities and rarities in each county . endeavoured by thomas fuller , d. d. london , printed by j. g. w. l. and w. g. for thomas williams , and are to be sold at the sign of the bible in little britain . mdclxii . to his sacred majesty . most dread soveraign : the tender of these ensuing collections is made with as much fear and reverence , as it was intended with duty and devotion by the author whilest living . the obligation that lieth upon me to endeavour him all right , forced me unto this presumption . it is the first voice i ever uttered in this kind , and i hope it will be neither displeasing to your majesty , or blamed by the vvorld ; whilest ( not unlike that of the son of croesus ) it sounds loyalty to my soveraign , and duty to my father . the matter of this work , for the most part , is the description of such native and peculiar commodities as the several counties of your kingdom afford , with a revival of the memories of such persons which have in each county been eminent for parts or learning . if this age abound with the like , it is their glory ; if not , the perusal may perhaps beget in them a noble emulation of their ancestors . may your majesties raign be happy and long , to see your countries commodities improved , and your worthies multiplied . so prayeth , your majesties meanest subject , the authors orphan , john fuller . to the reader . reader , thou hast here presented to thy view a collection of the vvorthies of england , which might have appeared larger , had god spared [ my dear father ] the author life . at his death there remained unprinted , the bishoprick of durham , the counties of derby , dorset , gloucester , norfolk , northampton , northumberland , nottingham , oxford , rutland , with part of kent , devonshire , and the cities of london and westminster , which now at length ( according to the copy the author left behind him , without the least addition ) are made publick . it is needless here to acquaint thee with the nature of the work , it being already fully set down in the first sixteen sheets thereof . yet thou mayst be pleased to take notice , that ( although the title promiseth thee only the history of the worthies of england ) in the end there is added a short description of the principality of wales . the discounting of sheets ( to expedite the work at severall presses ) hath occasioned the often mistake of the folio's . what ever faults else occur in this impression , it is my request , that thou wouldest score them on my want of care or skill in correcting the same , that they may not in the least reflect on the credit of my dead father . john fuller . errata . first book pag. . line . for mutive read mutire . l. . for commoreat ●… . commoveat . l. . for proselytes r. prose to its . gloucestersh . pag. . l. . add , were many . l. . for may seem to be , r. many . london pag. . l. . for unius r. unus . l. . for duellum r. duellam . l. . for suscipiendum r. suscipiendam , p. . l. . for primus acie r. primâ acie . york shire pag. . l. . for or , a fess betwixt three water bougets , or , r. argent , a fess betwixt threee water bougets , gules . wales preface l. . for grains r. pains , p. . l. . add phrase , p. . l. . dele half . p. . l. . for castro r. castor , p. . l. . for gold r. no gold , p. . l. . for is here , r. might have been here , p. . l. . for freed r. free , p. . l. . for must , r. might , p. . l. . for awarded r : avoided , l. . for as r. then . the worthies of england chapter i. the designe of the ensuing work. england may not unfitly be compared to an house not very great , but convenient , and the several shires may properly be resembled to the rooms thereof . no , as learned master camden and painful master speed with others , have discribed the rooms themselves ; so is it our intention , god willing to discribe the furniture of those rooms ; such eminent commodities , which every county doth produce , with the persons of quality bred therein , and some other observables coincident with the same subject . cato that great and grave philosopher did commonly demand , when any new project was propounded unto him , * cui bono , what good would ensue , in case the same was effected . a question more fit to be asked , then facile to be answered in all undertakings , especially in the setting forth of new books , insomuch , that they themselves , who complain , that they are too many already , help dayl●… to make them more . know then , i propound five ends to my self in this book : first , to gain some glory to god. secondly , dead●… ●… thirdly , to present examples to the living . fourthly , to entertain the reader with delight . and lastly , ( which i am not ashamed publickly to profess ) to procure some honest profit to my self . if not so happy to obtain all , i will be joyful to attain some , yea , contented and thankful too , if gaining any [ especially the first ] of these ends , the motives of my endeavours . first , glory to god , which ought to be the aim of all our actions , though too often our bow starts , our hand shakes , and so our arrow misseth the mark . yet i hope that our discribing so good a land , with the various fruits and fruitful varieties therein , will ingage both writer and reader , in gratitude to that god , who hath been so bountiful to our nation . in order whereunto , i have not only alwayes taken , but often sought occasions , to exhort to thankfulness ; hoping the same will be interpreted , no stragling from my subject , but a closing with my calling . secondly , to preserve the memories of the dead . a good name is an oyntment poured out , smelt where it is not seen . it hath been the lawful desire of men in all ages to perpetuate their memories , thereby in some sort revenging themselves of mortality , though few have found out effectual means to perform it . for monuments made of wood , are subject to be burnt ; of glass , to be broken ; of soft stone , to moulder ; of marble and metal , ( if escaping the teeth of time ) to be demolished by the hand of covetousness ; so that in my apprehension , the safest way to secure a memory from oblivion , is ( next his own vertues ) by committing the same in writing toposterity . thirdly , to present examples to the living , having here precedents of all sorts and sizes ; of men famous for valour , wealth , wisedome , learning , religion , and bounty to the publick , on which last we most largely insist . the scholar being taxed by his writing-master , for idlenesse in his absence , made a fair defence , when pleading that his master had neither left him paper whereon , or copy whereby to write . but rich men will be without excuse if not expressing their bounty in some proportion , god having provided them paper enough . [ the * poor you have alwayes with you ] and set them signal examples , as in our ensuing work will plainly appear . fourthly , to entertain the reader with delight . i confess the subject is but dull in it self , to tell the time and place of mens birth , and deaths , their names , with the names and number of their books , and therefore this bare sceleton of time , place , and person , must be fleshed with some pleasant passages . to this intent i have purposely interlaced ( not as meat , but as condiment ) many delightful stories , that so the reader if he do not arise ( which i hope and desire ) religiosior or doctior , with more piety or learning , at least he may depart jucundior , with more pleasure and lawful delight . lastly , to procure moderate profit to my self in compensation of my pains . it was a proper question , which plain dealing jacob pertinently propounded to laban * his father in law : and now when shall i provide for mine house also ? hitherto no stationer hath lost by me , hereafter it will be high time for me ( all things considered ) to save for my self . the matter following may be divided into real and personal , though not according to the legal acception of the words . by real , i understand the commodities and observables of every county : by personal the characters of those worthy men , who were natives thereof . we begin with a catalogue of the particular heads whereof this book doth consist , intending to shew , how they are severally useful , and then i hope , if good as single instruments , they will be the better as tuned in a consort . chap. ii. the real topicks insisted on in the respective counties . the native commodities . no county hath cause to complain with the grecian * widdowes , that they are neglected in the daily ministration . god hath not given all commodities to one , to elate it with pride , and none to others to deject them with pensivenesse ; but there is some kind of equality betwixt the profits of counties to continue commerce ' and ballance trading in some proportion . we have therefore in this work taken especial notice of the several cōmodities which every shire doth produce . and indeed god himself enjoyneth us to observe the variety of the earths productions , in this kind . for speaking of the land of * havilah , ( where saith he ) there is gold , and the gold of that land is good , there is bdellium , and the onix-stone . see here how the holy spirit points at those places where god hath scattered such treasure , and the best thereof in all kinds , that man ( if so disposed ) may know where to gather them up . i confess england cannot boast of gold , and precious stones , with the land of havilah , yet affordeth it other things , both above and beneath ground , more needful for man's being . indeed some shires , joseph ▪ like , have a better coloured coat then others ; and some with benjamin have a more bountiful messe of meat belonging unto them . yet every county hath a childs portion , as if god in some sort observed gavel-kind , in the distribution of his favours , * o that men would therefore praise the lord for his goodness , and declare the wondrous works which he doth for the children of men . know reader , when a commodity is general to all england , then to avoid repetition , it is entered in that county where there was the first , or else the most and best of that kind . and we have so contrived it , that generally ; three commodities are treated of in every county . the manufactures . some heathen have causlesly complained of nature as a step-mother to man-kind , because other creatures come into the world clothed with feathers , furs , or fleeces &c. or armed with pawes , clawes , beaks , tusks , horns , hoofs , whilest man is exposed naked into the world . i say a causles charge , because providence having given men hands , and reason to use them , ( two blessings denyed to other creatures , ) all clothing and fencing is eminently and transcendently bestowed upon him . it is very remarkable to see the manufactures in england , not knowing whether more to admire the rarity or variety thereof . undoubtedly the wealth of a nation consisteth in driving a native commodity through the most hands to the highest artificial perfection , whereof we have taken especial cognisance in the respective counties , yet so as ( though breifly nameing ) not largely handling that manufacture whereon we have formerly insisted . it must not be forgotten that there be some things which cannot properly be termed natural commodities , because of their quality altered and disguised by mens industry , and yet they attain not the reputation of manufactures . as salt , being water boyled , malt , barley dryed , cider , apples pressed ; seeing therefore they have a mixt nature they are promiscuosly placed as suiteth best with my own conveniency . medicinal waters . the god of nature hath not discovered himself so variously wonderful in any thing as in the waters of fountains , rivers , &c. england hath as large a share herein as any country , and her springs wonderful on several accounts . . colour , black , red , yellow , &c. . tast , sweet , bitter , salt , acide , corroding , astringing , &c. . odour , stinking of sulphur , like the scouring of a gun very fowl . . sound , beating somtimes like a march , sometimes like a retreat on several occasions . . heat , luke-warm , and gradually hot even to scalding . . weight , considerably heavier or lighter in proportion to other watters . . motion , though many miles from the sea , sympathizing therewith ebing and flowing accordingly . . effects , some being surgeons to heale sores , others physitians to cure diseases . the last is proper for our pen , being the largess of heaven to poor people who cannot go to the price of a costly cure . of these more have been discovered by casualty than industry , to evidence that therein we are not so much beholden to mans paynes as gods providence . many springs formerly soveraign have since lost their vertue , yet so that other springs have found it , so that their sanative qualities may seem not taken away but removed . and as there are many mean men of great ability yet depressed in obscurity , so no doubt there are in our land aquae incognitae of concealed worth and vertue , in effect no whit inferior to those which in fame are far above them . however the gift which nature holdeth forth may be doubled in the goodnesse thereof , if the hand of art do but help to receive it , and the patients be prepared with physick in the using of such water , otherwise fons vitae , may be fons mortis , if diet , due time , and quantity be not observed . some will say that our english waters must needs be raw , because so far from the fire , whilest those are better boyled , which lying more south are neerer the sun . but experience avow's the contrary , that england affordeth most sanative waters for english bodies , if men were as judicious in taking , as nature is bountiful in tendering them . as for the proprietaries of such ( or rather of the ground surrounding such ) medicinal waters , as i would not have them detrimented in the least degree by the conflux of people unto them : so it is injurious in my judgement for them to set them to sale and make gain of gods free gift therein . i confess water was commonly sold in the land of canaan proved by that passage in the * prophet , h●… every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters and he that hath no money &c. yea so churlish were the edomites to the israelites that they would not give , that is afford them * water for mony . but it is considerable , well-w ater in those hot countries , was acquired with vast pains and expence , it being dearer to sink a well then build an house , besides many frustrations in that kind before their indeavous found full effect , which made it the more equal for the owners , by such sales to make profit , or rather to make up their reparations . but no such cost being expended in the case in hand , it may be accounted a kind of simonie , in such as sell ease and help to poor people , though they may lawfully buy it , as passive and necessitated thereunto . the wonders . of these england affordeth many , which by several authors are variously reckoned up . one reckoneth foure as most remarkable , * another accounted six , a third bringeth then up to * thirteen , which since some have increased . indeed if so many men , had all agreed in one number , that had been a wonder indeed . but under this title we compre hend all rarityes , which are out of the ordinary road of nature , the illustration whereof may minister unto us matter of profitable discourse . of these wonders , some were transient , lasting onely for a time , ( like extraordinary ambassadors imployed on some great affair , ) others liegers and permanent , the most proper for our pen to observe . and to prevent vacuitie in some counties ( that this topicke of wonders might be invested with some matter ) some artificial rarities are ( but very sparingly ) inserted , such as transcend the standard of ordinary performance , but thse are cast in as over weight , the former being onely our proper subject . our great design herein is that men may pay the tribute of their admiration , where the same is due , to god himself , who , as david observeth * only doth great wonders . only , exclusively of men and angels . doth , that is really solidly and substantially , iuglers doe shew not doe , whose pretty workes are not praestationes , but praestigiae . great wonders , called in scripture magnalia , and if the latin alloweth the word , we could grant the divel his parvalia doing of petty feats , greatened into wonders by his cunning , and our credulity . wel let our admiration be given to god , seeing deliberate wondering ( when the soul is not suddenly surprised ) being raised up to an height is part of adoration , and cannot be given to any creature without some sacrile●…ge . such wondring consists of reverence and ig norance , which best becometh even the wisest of men , in their searches after god his wayes . as for that unkind wondring , which melts not man's heart like wax into the praysing of god , but clay like hardneth it unto stupefaction , behold you despisers and wonder * and perish , god keep all good men from being guilty thereof . a secondary end i have herein to shew that england fals not short of forraign countries in wonderful sights the same in kind though not in degree . italy hath her grotta dela sibilla , we in summerset-shire our wockley hole . spain her anas , we our mole , &c. bnt wonders like prophets are not without honour save in their own country , where constancy ( or at least commonnesse of converse ) with them abateth their respect and reputation . the buildings . next * we take notice of the signal structures which each county doth afford . indeed the italians do account all english to be gothish buildings , onely vast , ( and greatnesse , must have something of coarsnes therein ) however abating for their advantage above us in materialls , marble , pophery &c. their pallaces may admire the art in some english fabricks , and in our churches especially . elisha beholding hasael , wept by way of prophecie foreseeing that ( amongst other many mischeifs ) he would set fire on the strong * cities ( and by consequence on the fair houses ) in israel . but well may we weep when looking back on our late civil war , remembring how many beautiful buildings were ruined thereby , though indeed we have cause to be thankful to god that so many are left standing in the land. but what said our saviour to his disciples , when transported with wonder at the goodly stones in the temple , * are these the things you looke upon ? such transitory buildings are unworthy of a christians admiration . and let it be our care that when the fairest and firmest fabricks fall to the ground , yea when our earthly house be dissolved , we may have an house not made with hands , but eternal in the * heavens . local proverbs . a proverb is much matter decocted into few words . hear what a learned * critick saith of them ; argutae hae brevesque loquendi formulae , quamvis è trivio petitae et plebi frequentatae suas habent veneres , et genium cujusque gentis penes quam celebrantur , atque acumen ostendunt . some will have a proverb so called from verbum a word and pro ( as in proavus ) signifying before , being a speech which time out of mind hath had peaceable possession in the mouths of many people . others deduce it from verbum a word , and pro for vice ( as in propraeses ) in stead of , because it is not to be taken in the literal sence , one thing being put for an other . six esentials are required to the compleating of a perfect proverb , namely that it be . . short. . playn . . common . . figurative . . antient. . true. otherwise it is no proverb but a. . oration . . riddle . . secret. . sentence . . upstart . . libel . i have only insisted on such local proverbs in their respective counties , wherein some proper place or person , is mentioned , such as suggest unto us some historical ●…int and the interpretation thereof afford some considerable information , and conduce to the illustration of those counties wherein they are used . herein i have neglected such narrow and restrictive proverbs as never travelled beyond the smoke of the chimneys of that town wherein they were made , and though perchance significant in themselves , are unknown to the neibouring counties , so far they are from acquiring a national reception . besides . i have declined all such which are frivolous , scurrilous , scandalous , confining our selves onely to such whose expounding may contribute to the understanding of those shires wherein they are in fashion . objection . it is more proper for a person of your profession to imploy himself in reading of , and commenting on the proverbs of solomon * to know wisdome and instruction to perceive the words of understanding . whereas you now are busied in what may be pleasant , not profitable , yea , what may inform the fleshly not edifie the inward man. answer . let not our fellow servants be more harsh unto us then our master himself , we serve not so severe a lord , but that he alloweth us sawce with our meat , and recreation with our vocation . secondly , god himself besides such as i may call supernatural proverbs ( as divinely inspired ) taketh notice and maketh use of the natural or native proverbs of the country , praysing , approving , and applying some , * physitian cure thy self , * the dog is returned to his vomit , and the swine which was washed to her wallowing in the mire ; d●…sliking and condemning others , and commanding * them to be abolished . the fathers have eaten sowre grapes , and the childrens teeth are set on edge . now seeing antiquity without verity is no just plea that any thing should be continued ; on this warrant , i have in these our country-proverbs alledged more than i allow , branding some with a note of infamy , as fit to be banished out of our discourse . lastly , besides information much good may redound to the reader hereby ; it was the councel which a wise gave to a great man , read histories that thou dost not become a history . so may we say , read proverbs that thou beest not made a proverb , as god threatned the sinful people of * israel . sure i am that david by minding of a country , ( no canonical proverb ) viz. [ * wickednesse proceedeth from the wicked ] was thereby disfwaded from offering any violence to the person of saul then placed in his power , whereby he procured much tranquillity to his own conscience . we have not confined our selves to proverbs in the strict acception thereof , but sometimes insist on such which have onely a proverbial tendency or lye ( as one may say ) in the marches betwixt proverb and prophecie , where they afford us a fit occasion to salley forth into such discourse , as may conduce to the history of our nation . the medicinal herbs . some maintain this position , that every country cures the diseases , which it causes , and bringeth remedies , for all the maladies bred therein . an opinion which grant not true , yet may have much of truth therein , seeing every country , and england especially affordeth excellent plants were it not partly for mens laziness , that they will not seek them , partly for their ignorance that they know not when they have found them , and partly for their pride and peevishnesse , because when found , they disdain to use and apply them . indeed quod charum , charum , what is fetch'd farr , and bought dear , that onely is esteemed ; otherwise were many english plants as rare as they are useful we would hug in our hands , what we now trample under our feet . for proof hereof let not the reader grudge to peruse these words of a grand herbalist , speaking of virga aurea , or golden-rod , growing plentifully , but discovered lately in middlesex . gerard in his herbal . pag. . it is extolled above all other herbs , for the stopping of blood in sanguinolent ulcers , and bleeding wounds , and hath in time past been had in greater estimation and regard then in these dayes ; for in my remembrance i have known the dry herb which came from beyond the seas , sold in bucklars-bury in london , for two shillings six pence the ounce . but since it is found in hamsted wood , even as it were at the towns end , no man will give two shill●…ngs six pence for an hundred weight of it , which plainly sets forth our inconstancy and suddain mutability , este●… ming no longer of anything ( how precious soever it be ) then while it is strange and rare . we may also observe that many base and barren heaths and hills , which afford the least food for beasts , yeeld the best physick for man , one may also take notice that such places that are nearest to london , cambridge , oxford , bath , or where some eminent herbalist hath his habitation , afford us the greater variety of medicinal herbes . not that more have growne but more are knowne there abouts , where the native plants are not better , but more happie in their vicinitie to such discoverers . and now to be always within the reach if not the touch of mine owne calling we may observe in scripture that gods spirit directs men to the gathering of such simples of his owne planting . is there no * balme in gilead ? true in a literal sense , as well as mystically of our saviour . now the reason why i have been so sparing in this topick , and so seldome insist thereon , is because these herbs grow equally for goodness and plenty , in all counties , so that no one shire can without manifest usurpation intitle it ) selfe thereunto . besides they are so common , and numerous , they would justle out matter of more concernment . however we have noted it where the herb is rare and very useful , and in our following book ( though here the method be transposed ) have placed medicinal herbs , next medicinal waters , conceiving that order most natural . chapter iii. of the first quaternion of persons . viz. . princes . . saints . . martyrs . . confessours . we take the word , as it is of the common gender , inclusive of both sexes , and extend it onely to kings with their wives and children . of the second sort we have but few , and those onely from the time of king edward the fourth , who first married his subject , or native of his dominions . we confine our selves to such as were born since the conquest , otherwise we should be swallowed up , should we lanch out beyond that date into the saxon government , especially into the gulph of their heptarchie , where a prince could not be seen for princes . but if a british , or saxon-king comes under our pen , we preferre to take cognizance of him in some other notion , ( as of saint , martyr , souldier , &c. ) so to preserve the topick of prince ship intire according to our design . we have stinted our selves onely to the legitimate issue of kings . and after such who are properly princes , we have ( as occasion is offered ) inserted some who in courtesie , and equity may be so accepted as the heires to the crown , ( in the lancastrian difference ) though not possessed thereof ; or else so near a kin thereunto , that much of history doth necessarily depend upon them . we have observed these nativities of princes , because such signal persons , are not onely oakes amongst under-woods , but land-markes amongst oakes , and they directorie for the methodical regulation of history . besides , in themselves they are of special remarke , as more or less remote from the crown ; not onely their own honour , but the happiness of thousands being concerned in their extraction , and divine providence most visible in marshalling the order thereof . for although nasci à principibus fortuitum est , may pass for a true instance in grammar , it is no right rule in divinity ; which , though acknowledging * rich and poor the work of gods hands , pronounceth princes to be men * of his right hand , made strong for himself , that is , purposely advanced to imploy their own greatness to his glory . let none object that the wives of kings need not to have been inserted , as persons of no such consequence in government ; seeing it is the constant practice of the spirit of god , after the mention of a new king in judah , to record the name of his mother , and her parentage ; * his mothers name also was micaiah the daughter of uriel of gibeah : * his mothers name was althaliah the daughter of omri * his mothers name was hamutal the daughter of jeremiah of libuah . and divines generally render this reason thereof , that if such kings proved godly and gracious , then the memory of their mothers should receive just praise for their good education ; if otherwise that they might be blamed for no better principling them in their infancy . saints . this word accepts of several interpretations , or rather they are injuriously obtruded upon it . . saints of fiction , who never were in rerum natura , as st. christopher &c. . saints of faction , wherewith our age doth fwarme , alledging two arguments for their saintship . first , that they so call themselves ; sec●…ndly , that those of their own party call them so . neither of these belong to our cognizance . . saints of superstition , reputed so by the court of rome . . saints indeed , parrallel to st. pauls * widows indeed , and both deserve to be honoured . it is confessed , in this our book we drive a great trade in the third sort , and i cannot therefore but sadly bemoan that the lives of these saints are so darkned with popish illustrations , and farced with fauxeties to their dishonour , and the detriment of church history . for as honest men , casually cast into the company of cozeners , are themselves suspected to be cheats , by those who are strangers unto them , so the very true actions of these saints found in mixture with so many forgeries , have a suspicion of falshood cast upon them . inquiring into the causes of this grand abuse , i find them reducible to five heads . . first , want of honest hearts , in the biographists of these saints , which betrayed their pens to such abominable untruths . . secondly , vvant of able heads , to distinguish rumours from reports , reports from records , not choosing but gathering , or rather not gathering , but scraping what could come to their hands . . thirdly , want of true matter , to furnish out those lives in any proportion . as cooks are sometimes fain to lard lean meat , not for fashion but necessity , as which otherwise would hardly be eatable for the drynesse thereof ; so these having little of these saints more then their names , and dates of their deaths ( and though sometimes not certain ) do plump up their emptinesse with such fictious additions . . fourthly , hope of gain , so bringing in more custome of pilgrims to the shrines of their saints . . lastly , for the same reason for which herod persecuted * st. peter , ( for i count such lyes a persecuting of the saints memories ) merely because they saw it pleased the people . by these and other causes it is come to pass , that the observation of * vives is most true , quae de sanctis scripta sunt , praeter pauca quaedam , multis foedata sunt commentis , dum qui scribit affectui suo indulget : & non quae egit divus , sed quae illum egisse vellet , exponit ; what are written of the saints , some few things excepted , are defiled with many fictions , whilst the writer indulgeth his own affection , and declareth not what the saint did do , but what he desired that he should have done . to this let me couple the just complaint of that honest dominican melchior * canus . dolenter hoc dico , multò severius a laertio vitas philosophorum scriptas , quam à christianis vitas sanctorum , longèque incorruptius & integrius suetonium res caesarum exposuisse , quam exposuerint catholici , non res dico imperatorum , sed martyrum , virginum & confessorum ; i speak it to my grief ( saith he ) that the lives of the philosophers are more gravely written by laertius , than saints are by christians , and that suetonius hath recorded the actions of the caesars with more truth and integrity , than catholick●… have the lives , i say not of princes , but even of martyrs , virgins , and confessours . to return to our english saints . as our catalogue beginneth with alban , it endeth with thomas bishop of hereford , who dyed anno domini . the last englishman canonized by the pope . for , though anselme was canonized after him ( in the reign of king henry the seventh ) he was no english , but a frenchman , who dyed more then an hundred years before him . since which time , no english , and few foreigners have attained that honour , which the pope is very sparing to confer . first because sensible , that multitude of saints abateth veneration . secondly , the kalender , is filled ( not to say pestered ) with them , justling one another for room , many holding the same day in copartnership of festivity . thirdly , the charge of canonization is great , few so charitable as to buy it , the pope too covetous to give it to the memories of the deceased . lastly , protestants daily grow more prying into the popes proceedings , and the [ suspected ] perfections of such persons , who are to be sainted ; which hath made his holynesse the more cautious , to canonize none whilest their memories are on the must , immediately after their deaths , before the same is fined in the cask , with some competent continuance of time , after their decease . noble martyrs . st. ambrose in his te deum doth justifie the epithet , and by martyrs all know such only are imported , who have lost their lives for the testimony of a fundamental truth . however we find the word by one of the purest writers in the primitive times , attributed to such who were then alive . cyprianus epist. . as marshalled by pamelian . cyprianus nemesiano felici , lucio , alteri felici , litteo , coliano , victori , faderi , dativo , coepiscopis ; item , compresbyteris & diaconibus , & caeteris fratribus in metallo constitutis , martyribus dei patris omnipotentis & jesu christi domini , & dei conservatoris nostri , aeternam salutem . see here how he bemartyreth such who as yet did survive , but in so servile a condition ( condemned to the mines ) that they were almost hopelesse , without miracle to be released . yet dare we not presume on this precedent of st. cyprian ( children must not do what their fathers may ) to use the word so extensively , but by martyrs understand persons ( not in the deepest durance and distresse ) but actually slain for the testimony of jesus christ ; which by an ingenious pen is thus , not ill expressed . what desperate challenger is he ? before he peris●… in the flame , what ere his pain or patience be , who dares assume a martyrs name ? for all the way he goes he 's none till he be gone it is not dying but 't is death , only gains a martyrs wreath . now such martyrs as our land hath produced , are reducible to three different ranks . . britons , suffering under dioclesian , the persecuting roman emperor , as alban , amphibalus , &c. . saxons , massacred by the pagan danes , as king edmund , ebba , &c. . english , murdered by the cruelty of papists , since the year . as william sawtree , john badby , &c. in the two former of these we are prevented , and they anticipated from us , by the popes canonizing them under the title of saints . the third and last only remain proper for our pen , martyred by the romish prelates for above an hundred and fifty years together . i confess i have formerly met with some men , who would not allow them for martyrs , who suffered in the reign of queen mary , making them little better then felons de se , wilfully drawing their blood on themselves . most of these i hope are since convinc'd in their judgement , and have learn'd more charity in the school of affliction , who by their own losses have learn'd better to value the lives of others , and now will willingly allow martyrship to those , from whom they wholy with-held , ( or grudgingly gave ) it before . we have reckoned up these martyrs according to the places of their nativity , where we could find them , which is my first choice , in conformity to the rest of this work . but in case this cannot be done my second choyce is , ( for know reader t is no refuge ) to rank them according to the place of their death , which is their true birth-place in the language of * antiquity . hear how a right antient authour expresseth himself to this purpose , * apte consuetudinem tenet ecclesia , ut solennes beatorum martyrum vel confessorum christi dies , quibus ex hoc mundo ad regionem migraverunt vivorum , nuncupentur natales , & eorum solennia non funebria , tanquam morientium , sed , ( utpote in vera vita nascentium ) natalitia vocitentur . now if the day of their death be justly entituled their birth-day , the place of their death may be called their birth-place by the same analogy of reason and language . we have given in a list of martyrs names in their respective countyes , but not their total number , only in●…isting on such who were most remarkable , remiting the reader for the rest , to the voluminous pains of mr. fox , who hath written all , ( and if malicious papists be believed more then all ) of this subject . worthy confessors . all good christians are concluded within the compase of confessors in the large acception thereof . * with the mouth confession is made unto salvation : but here we restrain this title to such , who have adventured fair and far for martyrdome , and at last , not declined it by their own cowardize , but escaped it by divine providence . confessor is a name none can wear whom it cost nothing , it must be purchased for the maintenance of the faith , with the losse of their native land , liberty , livelyhood , limbs , any thing under life it self . yet in this confined sense of confessors , we may say with leah , at the birth of * gad behold a troop cometh , too many to be known , written , read , remembred , we are forced therefore to reconfine the word to such , who were candidates and probationers , for martyrdome in proxima potentia . there was not a stride , but , ( to use davids expression ) * but a step betwixt them and death , their wedding clothes were made ( but not put on ) for their marriage to the fire . in a word they were soft waxe , ready chafed and prepared , but the signature of a violent death was not stamped upon them . manifold is the use of our observing these confessors . first to show that god alone hath parramount power of life and death . preserving those who by men are * appointed to dye . one whose son lay very sick , was told by the physician , your son sir , is a dead man , to whom the father ( not disheartned thereat ) returned , i had rather a physician should call him so an hundred times , than a judge on the bench , should do it once , whose pronouncing him for a dead man , makes him to be one . but though both a physician in nature , and a judge in law , give men for gon , the one passing the censure , the other sentence of death upon them , god , to whom belongeth the issues from death , may preserve them long in the land of the living . hereof these confessors are eminent instances , and may god therefore have the glory of their so strange deliverances . secondly it serveth to comfort gods servants in their greatest distress . let hand joyne in hand ; let tyrants piece the lions cruelty with the fox his craft ; let them face their plots with power , and line then with policy all shall take no effect . gods servants ( if he seeth it for his glory and their good ) shall either be mercifully preserved from , or mightily protected in dangers , whereof these confessours are a cloud of witnesses . we have an english proverb , threatned folks live long , but let me add , i know a threatned man who did never dye at all , namely the prophet elijab , threatned by cruel and crafty iesabel , the * gods do so to me and more also , if i make not thy life like one of their lives by to morrow at this time , yet did he never tast of mortallity , being conveyed by a fiery ( hariot into heaven . now although our ensuing history presenteth not any miraculously preserved from death , yet affordetb it plenty of strange preservations of persons to extream old age , though they wear the marks of many , and mighty mens menacies , who plotted and practised their destruction . we have persued the same course in confessors , which we embraced in martyrs , viz. we have ranked them according to their nativities , where we could certainly observe them , to make them herein uniforme with the rest of our book . but where this could not be attained , we have entred them in those counties , where they had the longest or sharpest 〈◊〉 . and this we humbly conceive proper enough , seeing their confessor-ship in a strict sense did bare true date , from place of their greatest persecution . chapter iv. of popes , cardinals and prelates before the reformation . popes . i meet with a mess of english natives advanced to that honour . pope john-joan is wholly omitted , partly because we need not charge that see with suspicious and doubtful crimes , whose notorious faults are too apparent ; partly because this he-she , though allowed of english extraction , is generally believed born at * ments in germany . wonder not that so few of our countrymen gain'd the triple-crown . for first , great our distance from rome , who being an island or little world by our selves , had our archbishop of canterbury , which formerly was accounted alterius orbis papa . secondly , 〈◊〉 ●…talians of late have ingrossed the papacy to themselves , and much good may their monopolie do them , seeing our english may more safely repose themselves in some other seate , then the papal chair , more fatal , ( it is to be feared ) to such as sit therein , than ever * eli's proved unto him . yea , i assure you , four popes was a very fair proportion for england ; for having perused the voluminous book of pantaleon , de viris illustribus germaniae ; i find but six popes dutchmen by their nativity , viz. stephen the eighth , gregory the fifth , silvester the second , leo the ninth , victor the second , and adrian the sixth . seeing therefore germany in the latitude thereof , a continent five times bigger than england , measured by the aforesaid * pantaleon with advantage , i say , seeing germany , the emperour whereof is , or ought to be patron to the pope , produced but six of that order , england's four acquit themselves in a very good appearance . i need not observe that our english word pope , came from the latine papa , signifying a father , a title anciently given to other bishops , but afterwards fixed on the see of rome . one would have him call'd papa by abbreviation , quasi pater patriarcharum , flitting only the two first syllables . a prety conceit , which i dare no more avouch than his fancy , who affirmed the former syllable in papa to be short in verse , for the pope personal , who indeed are short-lived ; whilest the same syllable is long , the word being taken for the succession of popes , who have lasted above a thousand years . cardinals . a word of their names , numbers , degrees , dignities , titles and habit. cardinals are not so called , because the hinges on which the church of rome doth move ; but from cardo , which signifieth the * end of a tenon put into a mortais being accordingly fixed and fastned to their respective churches . anciently cardinalis imported no more than an ecclesiastical person , beneficed and inducted into a cure of soules ; and all bishops generally made cardinals as well as the pope of rome . in proof whereof , there were anciently founded in the church of saint pauls , two cardinals chosen by the dean and chapter out of the twelve petty canons , whose office it was to take notice of the absence and neglect of all in the quire , to give the eucharist to the minister of that church and their servants , as well in health as in sickness , to hear confessions , appoint penance , and to commit the dead to convenient sepulture . and two of them lie buried in the church of saint faiths with these epitaphes . hic homo catholicus vvilielmus vvest tumulatur , pauli canonicus minor ecclesiae vocitatur , qui fuerat cardinalis bonus atque sodalis , &c. perpetuis annis memores estote johannis good succentoris , cardinalisque minoris , &c. many other churches besides saint pauls retained this custome of cardinal making . viz. ravenna , aquileia , millain , pisa , beneventana in italy , and compostella in spain . but in processe of time cardinal became appropriated to such as officiated in rome , and they are reckoned up variously by authours , fifty one , fifty three , fifty eight , sixty i believe their number arbitrary to ben creased or diminished , ad libitum domini papae . they are divided into three ranks . cardinall bishops , assessors with the pope . priests , assistants to the pope . deacons , attendants on the pope . the former of these have chaires allowed them , and may sit down in presence of his holynesse , and these are seven in number , whose sees are in the vicinage of rome , and some englishmen have had the honour to be dignified by them . bishop of hostia , bishop of porto , r. kilwardby . bishop of sabine , bishop of alba , nic. breakspeare . bishop of preneste , bernar. 〈◊〉 . simon 〈◊〉 . bishop of rufine . bishop of tusculane . cardinall priests succceed , generally accounted twenty eight , divided into foure septenaries , whose titles are here presented with such englishmen , * who attained to be honoured with such churches in rome . . st. maries beyond tyber . st. chrysogon steph. langhton a. d. . st. ce●…ily beyond tyber thomas wolsey , an. d. . st. anaftasia john morton an. d. . st. laurence in damaso . st. marke . st. martin in the mount william alan , an. d. . st. sabine john stafford , an. d. . st. prisca reginald pole , an. d. . st. balbine . st. nereus & achileus phil. repington , an. d. . st. sixtus . st. marcellus . st. susan . . st. praxis ancherus , an. do. chr. bambridge , an. d. . st. peter ad vincula ancherus , an. do. chr. bambridge , an. d. . st. laurence in lucina . st. crosses jerusalem boso an. dom. . s. steph. in mount celius robert curson , an. do. ▪ robert summercote , a.d. . st. john and st. paul robert curson , an. do. ▪ robert summercote , a.d. . the . crowned saints . the holy apostles . s cyriacus in the baths thomas bourchier , an. d. . st. eusebius robert pullen , an. dom. . st. puntiana boso . an. dom. . st. vitalis — st. — john fisher , an. dom. . st. marcelline & peter . st. clement . observe i pray you this catalogue of titles ( taken out of sir henry spelman his glossary ) is imperfect , * st. pastor , being omitted therein , whereof boso was at last made cardinal . for these cardinals were not so mor●…aised to their churches , but that they might be removed , especially if advanced a story higher ( from cardinal deacons to priests , from priests to bishops ) and sometimes though remaining on the same flore , they were removed ( to make room for others ) to some other title . many more englishmen we had created cardinals , whose certain titles are unknown . but let us proceed to the cardinal deacons . in number , . st. mary in dompusinica . . st. lucy . . st. mary the new . . st. cosmus and st. damian . st. gregory . . st. mary in the greek school . . st. mary in the porch . . st. nicholas by the prison . . st. angelus . . st. eustachius . . st. mary in the water . . st. mary in the broad way . . st. agathe . . st. lucia on thto p of sabine . . st. quintin . . st. the last lost by the scribe , in curia . i onely find one englishman boso by name made cardinal deacon , of st. cosmus and st. damian , but it was not long before he was advanced to be a cardinal bishop . the habit of cardinals is all scarlet , whereof theodore beza tartly enough , thus expresseth himself . crede meae nullo satur antur murice vestes , divite nec cocco pallia tincta mihi . sed quae rubra vides sanctorū caede virorū et mersa insonti sanguine cuncta madēt . aut memor istorū quae celat crimina vestis pro domino justo tincta pudore rubet . my clothes in purple liquor ne're were stewd nor garments ( trust me ) richly di'd in grain . these robes you see so red , i have imbrew'd in gore of guiltless saints , whom i have slain . or mindful of the faults thay hide , with shame , the bashfull clothes do blush their wearers blame . they wore also a red hat of a peculiar fashion to themselves , and rid abroad on horsback on scarlet foot-clothes , and * pope paul the second , made it penal for any beneath their order in rome , to use the same . yea to such a height of pride did they aspire , that we read this note in the roman pontifical , notandum , quod caesar antequam coronetur simplici diademate sedet post primum episcopum cardinalem , & si quis rex adest , sedet tunc post primum omnium presbyterum cardinalem . indeed making their own canons , and being their own heralds to marshal their own precedency , they had been much to blame if not carving a good portion of honour to themselves , whilest devout princes , abused by bad instructors and their own erroneous consciences , gave to the clergy what they were pleased to demaund . none might elect the pope , save such as were cardi. yea none out of that order were eligible into the papacy , as in england , one must first be a sergeant before he be a iudge . cardinal deacons were , in equal capacity of being popes with cardinal priests , and oftentimes , were preferred before them as they could strenthen their faction , which carried all in these ( and i could wish in no other ) elections . william allen , who died anno , was the last englishman advanced to this honour , so that our country hath not had a cardin●…l these sixty years , which from the former six hundred years , was never without one or two of that order . this may seem a wonder , our nation being as meriting as any for the romish cause , and having as good heads as any , why should they not weare as gay hats as others ? nor will the reasons assigned for the contrary give satisfaction , viz. . that the pope commonly makes cardinals to gratifie foreign kings , whilest our english soveraigns have ever since been of a different religion from his holinesse . . that our english catholicks living beyond seas in the nature of exiles , and under persecution ( as they call it , ) so high an honour is inconsistent with their suffering condition . . that our englishmen want preferment and estates , to maintain the distance of so great a dignity . there are at the present two english natives in france of noble extraction and romish perswasion , much voyced in common discourse for their probability to such preferment ; but on what grounds i do not know , and list not to enquire . surely the matter is not great , seeing that dignity hath been observed to be rather fatal then fortunate to the english , and attended with some sad and sudden casualties . . cardinal mackelsfield was four moneths buried before his cap was brought him . . cardinal sertor dyed in italy in the juncture of time , inter pileum datum & susceptum . . cardinal fisher , when his cap was come to calis , had his head struck off at tower-hill . . cardinal somercot was poysoned in the very conclave to prevent his selection to the popedome . . cardinal evosham was sent the same way on the same occasion . . cardinal bambridge was poysoned at rome , by one of his servants being an italian . if such their successe , i suppose it far easier for englishmen to have their caps ( though courser and cheaper ) made of our own countrey-wool , which will be more warm , and may prove more healthful for the wearers thereof . i have done with this subject , when i have observed that there is a cardinal , bishop of sabine , a place near rome ; and a cardinal priest of saint sabine a church dedicated to her memory in the same city ; the not heeding whereof i suspect hath bred much confusion in our english writers . the best is , our englishmen , when they write of places in italy cannot commit greater and grosser mistakes , then what italians have done , when they have wrote of towns and places in england ; though perchance such is their pride , that they will say it is our duty to be exact in italy , and their courtesie to take any notice of england . let not the reader wonder if cardinals inserted in others , are omitted in our catalogue , viz. ulricus , ancherus , theobaldus , bernardus de anguiscello , &c. seeing i am unsatisfied in some of them , whether they were cardinals ; in others , whether they were englishmen , forreign countries laying more probable claim unto them . nor will it quit the cost of a contest , nothing more then their names being left in history withouta ny other observeables . prelates before the reformation . next succeed such eminent clergy-men who attained to the honour of being arch-bishops and bishops in england , and were famous in their generations . objection . these popes , cardinals and prelates , were superstitious persons and limbs of antichrist , whose names are better lost then kept . yea , it mattered not much , if some good josiah served their bones as those of the idolatrous priests of * jeroboam , even burn them to ashes , that so their bodies and memories might perish together . answer . i am afraid our age affords those , who if they were to manage that act , would together with their bones , sans difference ( notwithstanding the distinguishing epitaph ) burn the bodies of the young and old prophet , i mean utterly extirpate the ministerial function . but i answer , it must be confess'd they were deeply died with the errors and vices of the age they lived in , yet so that some of them were for their devotion exemplary to posterity ; and the very worst of them , though yeelding nothing fit for our imitation , may afford what is well worth our observation . and here be it remembred , that the same epithete in severall places accepts sundry interpretations . he is called a good man in common discourse , who is not dignified with gentilitie ; a good man upon the exchange , who hath a responsable estate ; a good man in a camp , who is a tall man of his armes ; a good man in the church , who is pious and devout in his conversation . thus whatsoever is fixed therein in other relations , that person is a good man in history , whose character affords such matter as may please the palate of an ingenious reader , and i humbly crave the honour to be his taster in this behalf . now of bishops before the conquest , the most were meerly nuda nomina , naked names . as for such appearing clothed with remarkable history , most of them move in an higher sphere of saints , and so are anticipated . since the conquest ; for the first seven kings , many prelates were foreigners , generally french , and so aliens from our subject . it will therefore be seasonable to begin their catalogue about the time of king henry the third , deducing it unto the popish bishops , who were deprived in the first of queen elizabeth . chap. v. since the reformation . next those prelates before , follow such as were since the reformation , much different ( not in title but ) tenure from the former , holding their places not from the pope , but their prince , and practising the principles of the protestant religion , for the term of a hundred and twenty years , since the latter end of the reign of king henry the eighth . amongst these , malice it self meets with many , which it must allow for their living , preaching , and writing , to have been the main champions of truth against error , learning against ignorance , piety against prof●…ss , religion against superstition , unity and order against faction and confusion , verifying the judicious observation of forreigners , clerus britanniae , gloria mundi . these prelates , may be digested into five successive setts , or companies , under their respective arch-bishops , allowing each of them somewhat more then twenty years , as large a proportion for the life of a bishop ; as seventy years for the age of a man. . arch-bishop cranmers , whereof four , besides himself , were burnt at the stake , and the rest exiled in germany . . arch-bishop parkers , in the beginning of queen elizabeth leading halcion-days , without any considerable opposition against the hierarchy . . arch-bishop whitgifts , much pen-persecuted , and pelted at with libellous pamphlets , but supported by queen elizabeths zeal to maintain the discipline established , . arch-bishop abbot's , fortunate all the peaceable reign of king james , and beginning of king charles , though the skie was red and lowring , foretelling foul weather to follow , a little before their death . . arch-bishop juxton's , whose episcopal chairs , were not only shrewdly shaken , but ( as to outward appearance ) overturned in our late mutinous distempers . i know the man full well , to whom mr. charles herle ( president of the assembly ) said somewhat insultingly , i le tel you news , last night i buryed a bishop , ( dashing more at his profession then person ) in westminster abbey , to whom the other returned with like latitude to both , sure you buried him in hope of resurrection , this our eyes at this day see performed , and it being the work of the lord , may justly seem marvellous in our sight . it is also very remakable , that of this fift and last company , [ all bishops in . ] nine are alive at this present , viz. ( pardon me if not enumerating them exactly according to their consecration ) london , bath , wells , ely , salisbury , bongor , covent . and lichfield , oxford , rochester and chichester . a vivacity hardly to be parallel'd of so many bishops in any other age , providence purposely prolonging their lives , that as they had seen the violent ruining , they might also behold the legal restitution of their order . now although not the quick but ( the ) dead worthies properly pertain to my pen , yet i crave leave of the reader in my following work , to enter a brief memorial of the place of their nativities . partly because lately they were dead though not in law , in the list of a prevalent party , partly because they are dead to the world , having most attained , if not exceeded the age of man threescore and ten years . to conclude , though the apostles words be most true that the lesser are blessed of the greater , and that imperative and indicative blessings , allways descend from the superiour , yet an optative blessing ( no more then a plain prayer ) may properly proceed from an inferiour , so that a plain priest and submissive son of the church of england , may blesse the bishops and fathers thereof . god sanctifie their former afflictions unto them , that as the * fire in the furnace only burnt the bonds ( setting them free who went in fetterr'd ) not the cloths ( much lesse the bodies ) of the children of the captivity , so their sufferings without doing them any other prejudice , may only disingage their souls from all servitude to this world. and that for the future , they may put together , not only the parcels of their scattered revenues , but compose the minds of the divided people in england , to the confusion of the factious and confirmation of the faithful in israel . chapter vi. of such who have been worthy states-men in our land. the word statesmen is of great latitude , sometimes signifying such who are able to manage offices of state , though never actually called thereunto . many of these men concealing themselves in a private condition , have never arrived at publike notice . but we confine the term to such , who by their princes favour have been preferred to the prime places , of . lord chancellours . of . lord treasurers of england . of . secretaries of state. to whom we have added some lord admirals of england , and some lord deputies of ireland . lord chancellours . the name is taken from cancelli , which signifies a kind of wooden network , which admitteth the eyes of people to behold , but forbids their feet to press on persons of quality , sequestred to sit quietly by themselves for publick imployment . hence chancells have their denomination , which by such a fence were formerly divided from the body of the church ; and so the lord chancellour had a seat several to himself , free from popular intrusion . i find another notation of this office , some deducing his name à cancellando , from cancelling things amisse , and rectifying them by the rules of equity and a good conscience , and this relateth to no meaner author then johannes * sarisburiensis . hic est qui leges regni cancellat iniquas , et mandata pii principis aequa facit . siquid obest populis , aut legibus est inimicum quicquid obest , per eum desinit esse nocens . 't is he , who cancelleth all cruel lawes , and in kings mandates equity doth cause , if ought to land or laws , doth hurtful prove , his care that hurt doth speedily remove . he is the highest officer of the land , whose principal imployment is to mittigate the rigour of the common law with conscientious qualifications . for as the prophet complaineth that the magistrates in israel had turned * jud●…ment into wormwood , the like would dayly come to passe in england , where high justice would be high injustice , if the bitterness thereof were not sometimes seasonably sweetned with a mixture of equity . he also keepeth the great seal of the land , the affixing whereof preferreth what formerly was but a piece of written parchment , to be a patent or charter . for though it be true what solomon sayes * where the word of a king is , there is power ; yet that word doth not act effectually , until it be produced under the publick seal . some difference there is between learned authours , about the antiquity of this office , when it first began in eng●…and . polydore virgil , who though an italian , could ( when he would ) see well into english antiquities , makes the office to begin at the conquerour . and b. godwin accounteth them sufficiently ridiculous , who make swithin bishop of winchester , chancellor of england under k. athelwolfe . severall persons are alledged * chancellours to our english kings before the conquest , and king ethelred appointed the abbat of elie , ut in * regis curia cancellarii ageret dignitatem . the controverfie may easily be compremized by this distinction ; chancellour before the conquest , imported an office of credit in the kings court ( not of judicature , but ) of residence , much in the nature of a secretary . thus lately he was called the chancellour ( understand not of the diocess , but ) of the cathedral-church , whose place was to pen the letters belonging thereunto . whereas the notion of the kings chancellour since the conquest , is inlarged and advanced to signifie the supreme judge of the land. the lord keeper of the great seal , is in effect the same with the lord chancelour of england : save that some will have the lord chancellours place ad terminum vitae , and the lord keepers ad placitum regis . sure it is , that because nicholas heath late arch-bishop of york , and chancellour of england , was still alive , though outed of his office , sir nicholas bacon was made lord keeper , and in his time the power of the keeper was made equal with the authority of the chancellour by act of parliament . we have begun our catalogue of chancellours at sir thomas more , before whose time that place was generally discharged by clergy men , entered in our book under the title of eminent prelates . if any demand , why such clergy-men , who have been lord chancellours , are not rather ranked under the title of statesmen , than under the topick of prelates ? let such know , that seeing episcopacy is challenged to be jure divino , and the chancellours place confessed to be of humane institution , i conceive them most properly placed and to their best advantage . if any ask , why the lord chancellours who meddle so much in matters of law , are not rather digested under the title of lawyers then under that of statesmen ? let such know , it is done , because some chancellours were never lawyers ex professo , studying the laws of the land , for their intended function , taking them only in order to their own private accomplishment . whereof sir christopher hatton was an eminent instance . as we begin our catalogue with sir thomas more , we close it with sir thomas coventry , it being hard to●…ay , whether the former were more witty and facetious , or the later more wise and judicious . lord treasurers . kings without treasure will not be suitably obeyed , and treasure without a treasurer will not be safely preserved . hence it was that the crowns and scepters of kings were made of gold , not only because it is the most pure and precious of metalls , but to show , that wealth doth effectually evidence and maintain the strength and state of majesty . we may therefore observe , not only in prophane but holy writ ; not only in old , but new testnment , signal notice taken of those who were * over the treasury , in which great place of trust , the eunuch served candace queen * of ethiopia . the office of lord treasurers was ever beheld as a place of great charge and profit . one well skilled in the perquisits thereof , being demanded , what he conceived the yearly value of the place was worth ? made this return , that it might be worth some thousands of pounds to him ( who after death ) would go instantly to heaven , twice as much to him , who would go to purgatory , and a nemo scit to him who would adventure to go to a worse place . but the plain truth is , he that is a bad husband for himself , will never be a good one for his soveraign , and therefore no wonder if they have advanced fair estates to themselves , whose office was so advantagious , and they so judicious and prudent persons , without any prejudice to their master , and ( for ought i know ) injury to his subjects . we have begun our catalogue at william lord powlett marquess of winchester . for although before him , here and there lay-lords were intrusted with that office , yet generally they were bishops , and so anticipated under our topick of eminent prelates , and blame me not if in this particular , i have made the lustrè of the lords spiritual , to eclipse the lords temporal , drowning their civil office in their ecclesiastical employment . we close our catalogue of lord treasurers , with francis lord cottington . secretaries of state. there were but two of these at once in the kings time , whereof the one was styled the principal secretary , the other the secretary of estate . some have said that the first in the senioritie of admition , was accounted the principall , but the exceptions in this kind , being as many as the regularities ( the younger being often brought over the head of the elder to be principal ) their chiefnesse was penes regis arbitrium . nor was the one confined to forreign negotiations , the other to domestick businesse , ( as some have believed ) but promiscuously ordered all affaires , though the genius of some secretaries did incline them most to forreign transactions . their power was on the matter alike , and petitioners might make their applications indifferently to either , though most addressed themselves to him , in whom they had the greatest interest . their salaries were some two hundred pounds a piece , and five hundred pounds a piece more for intelligence and secret service . before the reformation clergy-men ( who almost were all things ) were generally secretaries of estate , as oliver king , secretary to edward . edward . and henry the . and those came under our pen in the notion of eminent prelates . we therefore begin our catalogue of secretaries from sir thomas cromwell , in the reign of king henry the eighth , because from him until our time a continued series of lay-men ha●…e discharged that office. we ●…onclude our secretaries of state with sir john cook , who perceiving his aged body not so fit for such active times , resigned his place about the beginning of the long parliament , though surviving some years after in a private condition . we will for the more safety follow the pattern of so wise a states-man , and where he gave over his office , we will give over writing of those officers , for fear we tread too neere on the toes of the times , and touch too much on our modern distempers . amiralls or admiralls . much difference there is about the original of this word , whilst most probable their opinion who make it of eastern extraction , borrowed by the christians from the saracens . these derive it from amir , in arabick a prince , and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , belonging to the sea , in the greek language , such mixture being precedented in other words . besides , seeing the sultans dominions in the time of the holy war , extended from sinus arabius , to the north eastern part of the midland-sea , where a barbarous kind of greek was spoken by many , amirall ( thus compounded ) was significatively comprehensive of his jurisdiction , admirall is but a depraving of amirall in vulgar mouths . however it will never be beaten out of the heads of the common sort , that seeing the sea is scene of wonders , something of wonderment hath incorporated it self in this word , and that it hath a glimps , cast , or eye of admiration therein . our english kings following the precedent of the politick romans , who very seldome entrusted places of great importance ( especially during life ) in a single person , as also that they might gratifie more and trust less , divided the over-sight of sea-matters betwixt a triumvirate of amiralls , and ( like wary merchants ) ventured the charge in several bottoms for the more safety . . the north amirall . . the south amirall . . the west amirall . his jurisdiction reached from the mouth of thames , to the outmost orcades ( though often opposed by the scots ) and had yarmouth for his prime residence . his bounds stretched from the thames mouth to the lands end , having his station generally at portsmouth . his power extended from the lands end to the hebrides , ( having ireland under his inspection ) milford haven the chief stable for his wooden horses . i find that richard fitz-alin earl of arundell , was by king richard the second , made the first amirall of all england , yet so , that if three co-admiralls were restored as formerly , his charter expired . john vere earl of oxford , was , the sirst of hen. the seventh , amirall of england , and kept it until the day of his death . afterwards men were chequered , at the pleasure of our princes , and took their turns in that office. for this cause i can make no certain catalogue of them , who can take with my most fixed eye , no steddy aime at them ( the same persons being often alternately in , and out of the place ) whilst officers protermino vitae , may be with some certainty recounted . yet have we sometimes inserted some memorable amiralls under the ti●…le of statesmen ; and vice-amiralls under the topick of seamen , because the former had no great knowledge in navigation , ( i say great ) it being improper , they should be seamasters who in no degree were seamen ) and were imployed rather for their trust , then skill , to see others do their duty , whilst the latter were allwayes persons well experienced in maritine affairs . lord-deputies of ireland . ever since king henry the second conquered ireland , few of our english princes went thither in person , and none continued any long time there , save king john , and king richard the second , neither of them over-fortunate . but that land was governed by a substitute , commissioned from our kings , with the same power though sometimes under several names . lord lieutenants . lord deputies . lord cheif justice●… . these were also of a double nature , for some staid in england and appointed deputies under them , to act all irish affairs . others went over into ireland , transacting all things by presence , not proxie . immediately deputed by the king to reside there . we insist on this title , as which is most constant and current amongst them . not of the kings bench or common-pleas but of all ireland . this power was sometime sole in a single person and sometimes 〈◊〉 in two together . thus these three titles are in sense synonima , to signifie the same power and place . some erroniously term them presidents of ireland , a title belonging to the particular governours of mounster and connagh . it is true of ireland what was once said of * edom , their deputies were kings . no vice-roy in christendome ( naples it self not excepted ) is observed in more state . he chooseth sheriffes , and generally all officers , save bishops and judges , and these also , though not made by his commanding , are usually by his commending to the king. he conferreth knighthood , hath power of life and death , signified , by the sword carried commonly before him , by a person of honour . his attendance and house-keeping is magnificent , partly to set a copy of state to the barbarous irish , by seeing the difference betwixt the rude rabble routs runing after their native lords ; and the solemnity of a regulated retinue ; partly to make in that rebellious nation , a reverential impression of majesty , that by the shadow they may admire the substance , and proportionably collect the state of the king himself , who therein is represented . our english kings were content with the title of lords of ireland , until king henry the eighth , who , partly to shew his own power to assume what style he pleased , without leave or liberty from the pope ( whose supremity he had suppressed in his dominions ) partly the more to awe the irish , wrote himself king thereof , anno dom. . from which year we date our catalogue of lord deputies , as then , and not before , vice-royes indeed . indeed it was no more then needs , for king henry the eighth to assume that title , seeing , quod efficit tale magis est tale , and the commission whereby king henry the second made william-fitz-adelme his lieutenant of ireland , hath this direction ; archiepiscopis , episcopis , regibus ; comitibus , baronibus , et omnibus fidelibus suis in hibernia , salutem . now , though by the post-poning of these kings to arch-bishops and bishops , it plainly appears that they were no canonical kings , ( as i may say ) i mean solemnly invested with the emblems of sovereignty , [ the king of * connagh , the king of thomond ] yet were they more then kings , even tyrants in the exercise of their * dominions , so that , king henry was in some sort necessitated to set himself king paramount above them all . chapter vii . of capital judges , and writers on the common law. by capital judges , we understand not those who have power to condemn offenders for capital faults , as all the twelve judges have ( or any serjeant commissioned , to ride the circuit , ) but the chief judges , who as capital letters stand in power and place above the rest , viz. . the chief justice of the kings bench. . of the common pleas , . the chief baron of the exchequer , and the learned antiquary , sr. henry spelman , * avoweth the title of capital justicers , properly applicable to these alone . the chief justice of the kings , or upper bench , is commonly called the lord chief justice of england , a title which the lord chancellor ( accounting himself chief in that kind ) looks on , as an injurious usurpation . and many alive may remember how sr. edward cook was accused to k. james , for so styling himself in the frontespiece of his reports , part the tenth and eleventh , insomuch , that the judg was fain to plead for himself , erravimus cum patribus , as who could have produced plenty of precedents therein . . the chief justice of the common pleas in place beneath , is in profit above the former . so that some have out of designe quitted that , to accept of this : amongst these was sr. edward mountague , in the raign of k. henry the eighth , who being demanded of his friends , the reason of his self-degradation ? i am now ( saith he ) an old man , and love the kitching above the hall , the warmest place best suiting my age. the chief baron is chiefly imployed in the exchequer , to decide causes which relate to the kings revenue . their brevia or writts did commonly run with this clause , that the judg should have and hold his place , quam diu se benè geserit , so long as he well behaved himself , on this token , that sr. john walter , lord chief baron of the exchequer , being to be outed of his place , for adjudging the loan-mony illegal , pleaded for himself ; that he was guilty of no misdemeanour , who had only delivered his judgment according to his conscience . others are granted from the king , durante nostro beneplacito ; to continue in their office , during his will and pleasure . we begin the army of our judges , ( for some few , like the forlorne hope , advance higher , ) about the time of king edward the first . it is impossible exactly to observe that inn of court , wherein each of them had his education , especially some of them being so ancient , that in their times , lincolnes inn and greys inn were lincoln's inn and grey's inn , i mean , belonged to those their owners , from whom they had their names , as being , before they were appropriated to the students of our municipall lawes . here i will condemn my self , to prevent the condemning of others , and confesse our characters of these judges to be very brief and defective . indeed , were the subject we treat of overstrewed with ashes , ( like the floor of bells temple ) it were easie to finde out and follow the footsteps therein : but here is no such help to trace the footings of truth , time having almost out-worn all impressions thereof . i perceive though judges leave more land than bishops , they leave lesse memorialls behind them , of the time , place , and manner , when and where born , and dyed , and how they demeaned themselves . in the same topick with judges , we have also placed such as have been writers of our common-law , and such conjunction we hope ) is no disparagement , considering many of them were capital judges , ( as broke , dyer , coke , &c. ) and the rest , learned men , of great repute in their profession , insomuch that the judges themselves , in several cases , have submitted to their judgments . and here i can but admire at the comparative paucity of the books of our common-law , in proportion to those written of the civil and canon law. oh how corpulent are the corpus'es of both those lawes . besides their shadows are far bigger than their bodies ; their glosses larger than their text. insomuch , that one may bury two thousand pounds and upwards in the purchase , and yet hardly compasse a moity of them : whereas all the writers of the common-law , ( except they be much multiplyed very lately ) with all the year-books belonging thereunto , may be bought for threescore pounds , or thereabouts , which with some men is an argument , that the common-law imbraceth the most compendious course to decide causes , and by the fewness of the books , is not guilty of so much difficulty and tedious prolixity , as the common and civil lawes . yet is it most true , that common law-books are dearer than any of the same proportion , quot libri , tot librae , holdeth true in many , and is exceeded in some of them . yea , should now an old common law-book be new-printed , it would not quit cost to the printrr , nor turn to any considerable account . for the profession of the law is narrow in it self , as confined to few persons , and those are already sufficiently furnished , with all authors on that subject , which with carefull keeping and good using , will serve them and their sons sons , unto the third generation . so that a whole age would not carry off a new impression of an ancient law-book , and ( quick return being the life of trading ) the tediousness of the sale would eat up the profit thereof . all i will adde is this , that , that taylor , who being cunning in his trade , and taking exact measure of a person , maketh a suit purposely for him , may be presumed to fit him better than those , who , ( by a general aim ) at randome make cloaths for him . in like manner , seing our municipal law , was purposely composed by the sages of this land , who best knew the genius of our nation , it may be concluded more proper for our people , and more applicable to all the emergencies in this half-island , than the civil law , made for the general concernment of the whole empire , by such who were unacquainted with the particularities of our land and nation . chapter viii . of souldiers and seamen , with the necessity to encourage the trade of fishing . souldiers succeed , though it almost affrighteth my pen to meddle with such martial persons . it is reported of the god of the jews , that he would have no share in the pantheon at rome , except he might have ( and that justly too ) the whole temple to himself . so lately we have been so sadly sensible of the boisterousness of souldiers , one may suspect , they will [ though unjustly ] justle all others out of the book , to make room for themselves . but since their violence hath ( blessed be god ) been seasonably retrenched , we have adventured to select some signal persons of that profession , whose prowesse made eminent impression on forreign parts ( so purposely to decline all medling with the dolefull and dangerous distractions of our times ) beginning our list in the reign of king edward the d. and concluding in the beginning of king charles . seamen . surely divine providence did not make the vast body of the sea , for no other use , than for fishes to disport themselves therein , or , ( as some do conceit ) only for to quench and qualifie the drought and heat of the sun with the moysture thereof , but it was for higher intendmens . chiefly , that by sailing thereon , there may be the continuing of commerce , the communicating of learning and religion ( the last from palestine the staple thereof ) and the more speedy and convenient portage of burthens , seeing , a laden ship doth flie in comparison of the creeping of an empty waggon . now to speak what envy cannot deny , our englishmen , either for fights , or discoveries , whether for tame ships , merchants men , or wild ships , men of war carry away the garland , from all nations in the christian world. learned keckerman , * who being a german by birth , was unbiased in his judgment , and living in dantz , ( a port of great trading , whither seamen repaired from all parts ) and writing a book de re nautica , may be presumed skilful therein , alloweth the english the best seamen , and next to them the hollanders . and if the later dare deny the truth hereof , let them remember the late peace they purchased of the english , and thank god , that they met with so conscientious chapmen , who set no higher price thereon . yea , let the dutch know , that they are the scholars to the english , in some of their discoveries : for i find the four first circumnavigators of the world thus qualified for their nativities , . magellanus , a spaniard . . sr. francis drake , an englishman . . sr. thomas candish , an englishman . . oliver noort , an hollander . but be it known , that the last of these had an englishman , captain * mellis by name , pilot to conduct him . yet let not my commending of our english seamen be misinterpreted , as if i did not refer all successe to the goodnesse of god , the grand admiral of the world. the praising of instruments ( by way of subordination ) is no more detrimental to the honour of the principal , than the praising of the edge of the axe is a disparagement to the strength of the arm which useth it . god i confesse by his providence ordereth all by land and by sea ; yea , he may be said to be the first shipwright ; for i behold the arke , as a bird , wholly hatcht ▪ but utterly unfledg , without any feathers of masts and tackling , it could only float , and not sail , yet so , that therein was left pattern enough for humane ingenuity to improve it to naval perfection . yea , god himself hath in scripture taken signal notice of the dextrous in this nature , on which account we finde the tyrians , or men of * hiram , praised , for that they had knowledg of the sea , when sent with the servants of solomon to ophir . we begin our catalogue of seamen in the raign of king edward the d. before which time there were many good seamen in england , but few good english-seamen , our king using mariners of the hanse towns. but it is no good huswifery to hire chair-women to do that , which may as well and better be done by her own servants . in the time of edward the third , england grew famous for sea-fights with the french , and encreased in credit , especially since the navy royal was erected by q. elizabeth . some conceive it would be a great advancement to the perfecting of english navigation , if allowance were given , to read a lecture in london concerning that subject , in imitation of the late emperour charles the fifth , who wisely considering the rawness of his seamen , and the manifold shipwracks which they sustained in passing and repassing between spain and the west ▪ indies , established , not only a pilote major , for the examination of such as were to take charge of ships in that voyage , but also founded a lecture for the art of navigation , which to this day is read in the contraction house at sivil : the readers of which lecture , have not only carefully taught and instructed the spanish mariners by word of mouth , but have also published sundry exact and worthy treatises , concerning marine causes , for the direction and encouragement of posterity . here it were to be wish'd , that more care were taken for , and encouragement given to the breeding of fishermen ; whom i may call the spawn , or young frie of seamen ; yea such as hope that mariners will hold up , if fishermen be destroyed , may as rationally exspect plenty of hony and wax , though only old stocks of bees were kept without either casts or swarmes . nor can fishermen be kept up , except the publick eating of fish at set times be countenanced , yea enjoyned by the state. some suspect , as if there were a pope in the belly of every fish , and some bones of superstition in them , which would choak a conscientious person , especially if fasting dayes be observed . but know that such customes grew from a treble root , of popery , piety , and policy ; and though the first of these be pluck'd up , the other must be watered , and maintained ; and statesmen may be mortified and wise without being superstitious : otherwise the not keeping of fasting-dayes will make us keep fasting-dayes , i mean , the not forbearing of flesh , for the feeding on fish , for the good of the state , will in processe of time prove the ruine of fishermen , they of seamen , both of englishmen . we are sadly sensible of the truth hereof in part , ( god forbid , in whole ) by the decay of so many towns on our north-east sea , hartlepool , whitebay , bridlington , scarborough , wells , cromer , lestof●… , alborough , orford , and generally all from new castle to harewitch , which formerly set out yearly ( as i am informed ) two hundred ships , and upwards , inployed in the fisherie , but chiefly for the taking of ling , that noble fish , corrival in his joule with the surloin of beef , at the tables of gentlemen . these fishermen , set forth formerly , with all their male family , sea-men , sea-youths , i had almost said , sea-children too , ( seeing some learn'd the language of lar-board , and star-board , with bread , and butter , ) graduates in navigation , and indeed the fishery did breed , the natural and best elemented seamen . but since our late civil wars not three ships are imployed yearly for that purpos●… , fishermen preferring rather to let their vesse●… lye , and rot in their havens , than to undergo much pain and peril ; for , that would not at their return quit cost in any proportion . so that it is suspicious , that in processe of time we shall lose , ( the masters being few and aged ) the mystery of ling-catching , and perchance the art of taking and handling some other kinde of sound and good fish ▪ no nation ( without flattery to our selves be it spoken ) using more care and skill in ordering of that commodity . yea , which is a greater mischief , it is to be feared , that the seminary of sea-men will decay . for ( under correction be it spoken ) it is not the long voyages to the east-indies &c. which do make , but marr sea-men ▪ they are not the womb , but rather the grave of good mariners , it is the fishery which hath been the nursery of them , though now much disheartened , because their fish turn to no account , they are brought to so bad markets . nor is there any hope of redressing this , but by keeping up fasting-dayes , which our ancestors so solemnly observed . i say , our ancestors , who were not so weak in making , as we are willfull in breaking them , and who consulting the situation of this island , with the conveniencies appendant thereunto , suited their lawes and accommodated their customes to the best benefit thereof . nor was it without good cause why wednesdayes and fridayes were by them appointed for fish-dayes : i confesse some forreigners render this reason , ( and father it upon clemens alexandrinus ) that , because those dayes were dedicated by the heathen , the one to mercury the god of cheating , the other to venus the goddesse of lust , therefore the christians should macerate themselves on that day with fasting , in sorrowful remembrance of their pronity to the vices aforenamed : but waving such fancies our english fish , or fasting-dayes are founded on a more serious consideration . for our english fishermen , in kent , sussex , hants●…re , &c. set forth on monday , and catch their fish , which on tuesday they send up to london , where on wednesday it is sold and eaten . such therefore , who lately have propounded to antidate fish-eating , and to remove it from wednesday to tuesday , must thereby occasion the encroaching on the lords-day , to furnish the markets with that commodity . again , such fishermen as returned on tuesday , set forth afresh on wednesday , to take fish , which on thursday they send up to london , to supply the remainder of the week ; it being observable , that so great is the goodnesse of god to our nation , that there is not one week in the year wherein some wholesome fish , caught on our own coast , is not in the prime season thereof . as for staple or salt-fish , there are those that are acquainted in the criticismes thereof , and have exactly stated , and cast up the proportions , who will maintain , that it will do the deed , and set up the fishery as high as ever it was , if every one in england able to dispend a hundred pounds per annum , were enjoyned to lay out twenty shillings a year , in staple-fish , a summ so inconsiderable in the particulars , that it will hurt none , and so considerble in the total , it will help all of our nation . if any censure this for a tedious digression , let it be imputed to my zeal for the good of the common-wealth . chapter ix . of writers on the cannon and civil law , physick , chemistry , and chirurgery . i sometimes wondered in my self at two things in the primitive church , during the time of the apostles , first , that seing they enjoyed all things in * common , what use they had of lawyers , seing no propriety , no pleading , and such a communion of all things gave a writ of ease to that profession . and yet i find mention made of * zenas the lawyer , no scribe of the law , ( as many amongst the jews ) but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an advocate , or barrister therein . secondly , i wondered what use there was of physicians in the church , seeing the apostles miraculously cured all maladies , and so ( in my apprehension ) gave a supersedeas to the practitioners in that faculty , and yet i find honourable mention made of * luke , the beloved physician . but since i have wondred at my wondring thereat ; for that communion of goods was but t●…mporal , for a short continuance , and topical , of a narrow compasse , practised onely in judea , or thereabouts , whilest the churches amongst the gentiles continued their propriety , and particularly at rome , where zenas had his habitation , and had work enough , no doubt , to exercise his profession , even amongst christians themselves . as for the apostles , they had not alwayes power at their own pleasure to work mi●…acles and cure diseases in all persons , no , nor allwayes in themselves ( witnesse * sick st. paul , receiving in himself the sentence of death ) but as they were directed , for the glory of god , and other occasions : and therefore notwithstanding their miraculous power , st luke might have plenty of practice in his profession . not was it probable , that god ( the authour of all ingenuity ) would by the giving of the gospel utterly extinguish any literal calling , which formerly had been publickly , lawfully , and needfully professed . we have in our following book , given in the list of some eminent lavvyers , civilians , and cannonists , who have wrote on that subject , though we confess them very few in number , their profession being lately undeservedly disgraced , though now we congratulate the probability of the restitution thereof to its former dignity . sure i am , in the dayes of queen elizabeth , when an embassadour was sent to foreign princes , if it were an affair of grand importance , and more than a mere matter of magni●…ent complement , some able civilian , [ as doctor hadden , dale , fletcher , &c. ] was joyned in commission with the noble-man , imployed on that embassie . and as the iron doggs bear the burthen of the fuel , while the brasen-andirons stand only for state , to entertain the eyes ; so the negotiating part was loaded on the civil 〈◊〉 , whilest the pomp-pageantry was discharged at the cost of the noble-man . writers on physick . the p●…ecept in the apocrypha hath a canonical truth therein , honour the physician for necessity sake ; and although king asa justly received little benefit by them , because of his preposterous addressing himself to them , before he went to * god : and the. woman in the gospel ( troubled with the issue ) reaped lesse ease by * their endeavours ; because god reserved her a subject for his own miraculous cure ; yet in all ages millions have been cured by their practice . the ancient bri●…tans , who went without cloathes , may well be presumed to live without physick ; yet , seing very beasts know what is good for themselves ( the dear , the cretan dictamum , and toad , his antidote of plantaine ) sure they had some experimental receipts used amongst them , and left the rest to nature , and temperance to cure : the saxons had those they termed leaches , or bloud-letters , but were little skilled in methodical practise . under the normans , they began in england , ( and would we had ferch'd physicians onely , and not diseases from france . ) yet three hundred years since it was no distinct profession by it self , but practiced by men in orders , witness * nicholas de fernham , the chief english physician and bishop of durham , hugh of evesham , a physician and cardinal , grisant , a physician and pope . yea , the word physician , appears not in our statutes , till the days of king henry the eight , who incorporated their colledge at london , since which time they have multiplied and flourished in our nation , but never more , and more learned then in our age , wherein that art , and especially the anatomical part thereof is much improved , our civil wars perchance occasioning the latter . we begin our catalogue at richardus anglicus our first physician , flourishing anno . and continue to doctor harvey , whom i may term gulielmus anglicus , such honour he hath done england by his worthy writings . thus wishing them all happy success in their practice , i desire a custome in france , and other forreign parts , naturalized in england , where a physician is liable to excommunication , if visiting a patient thrice before he acquainteth a priest of his sickness , that so the medicine for soul and body , may go hand in hand together . chimistry . chimistry is an ingenious profession , as which by art will force somewhat of worth and eminence from the dullest substance , yea the obduras'st , and hardest hearted body , cannot but shed forth a tear of precious liquor , when urged thereunto with its intreaties . they may be termed parcel-physicians , every day producing rare experiments , for the curing of many diseas es . bu i must confess there occurs t few , ( and of those few , fewer modern ones ) through the whole series of our book : yet may we be said to have extracted the spirits ( i mean such as were eminent therein ) of this profession , being confident the judicious reader , will value one jem , before many barly corns , and one drop of a true extract , before many bottles of worthless water . chirurgery . necessary and ancient their profession , ever since mans body was subject to enmity and casualty . for , that promise , * a bone of him shall not be broken , is peculiar to christ. as for the other , * to keep them in all their ways , that they dash not their foot against a stone , though it be extended to all christians , yet it admitteth ( as other temporal promises ) of many exceptions according to gods will and pleasure . it seemeth by the parable of the good * samaritan , who bound up the passengers wounds , pouring in oil and wine , that in that age , ordinary persons had a general insight in chirurgery , for their own and others use . and it is reported to the just praise of the scotch * nobility , that anciently they all were very dextrous thereat , particularly it is written of james the fourth king of scotland , quod vulnera scientissime tractaret , he was most scilful at the handling of wounds . but we speak of chirurgery , as it is a particular mystery , professed by such as make a vocation thereof . of whom we have inserted some ( eminent for their writings or otherwise ) amongst physicians , and that ( as we hope ) without any offence , seeing the healing of diseases and wounds were anciently one calling , ( as still great the sympathy betwixt them , many diseases causing wounds , as ulcers , as wounds occasioning diseases , as feavers , ) till in process of time they were seperated , and chirurgions only consigned to the manual operation . thus wishing unto them , the three requisits for their practise , an eagles eye , a ladies hand , ond a lions heart , i leave them , and proceed . chap. x. writers . being to handle this subject , let not the reader expect that i will begin their catalogue from fabulous antiquity , or rather fanciful fabels . for if the first century of j. bale or j. pits . their british writers were garbled , four parts of five would be found to be trash , such as . samothes gigas . magus samotheus . sarron magius . druys sarronius . bardus druydius . albion mareoticus . brytus julius . gerion augur . aquila septonius . perdix praesagus . cambra formosa . plenidius sagax , &c. of these some never were men , others ( if men ) never were writers , others ( if writers ) never left works continuing to our age , though some manuscript-mongers may make as if they had perused them . it is well they had so much modesty , as not to pretend inspection into the book of life , seeing all other books have come under their omnividencie . we are content to begin our number , at gildas ( commonly surnamed ) the wise , ( flourishing about the year . ) and are right gald to have so good a general , to lead our army of writers , taking it for a token of good success . now these writers were either such who wrote before , or since the reformation of religion . the former again fall generally under a treble division , as either historians , philologists , or divines , and we will insist a little on their several imployments . of writers on philology and divinity . doctor collens kings professor in cambridge , and that oracle of eloquence once founded his speech ( made to entertain strangers at the commencement ) on the words of * saint paul , salute philologus and olympas . under the former , he comprised all persons persent , eminent in humane learning , under the later , all skillful in heavenly divinity . indeed philology properly is terse and polite learning , melior literatura , ( married long since by martianus capella to mercury ) being that florid skill , containing onely the roses of learning , without the prickles thereof , in which narrow sense thorny philosophy is discharged as no part of philology . but we take it in the larger notion , as inclusive of all human liberal studies , and preposed to divinity , as the porch to the palace . having passed the porch of philology , we proceed to the palace of divinity . the writers in this faculty , we distinguish into two sorts . first , positive divines , such i mean , whose works are either comments on , or else expositions of some portion of sacred writ . secondly , school-men , who have made it their business to weave find threads of nicer distinctions . writers on history . this is either ecclesiastical or civil . of both these , england presenteth many , but generally moncks before the reformation , who too much indulging to holy fraud , have farced their books with many feigned miracles , to the prejudice of truth . however , herein foreign historians have been as guitly as english-men of the same age , witness the complaint of * mariana the jesuit , which one may justly wonder how it passed the index expurgatorius . quis enim negare possit fastos ecclesiasticos , aliquando adulatione temporum , aut potius incuria hominum , multis maculis contaminatos , libris aliis , quibus preces ecclesiasticae ritusque sacrorum continentur , multas fuisse inspersas confusasque fabulas & commenta : addam nonnunquam in templis reliquias dabias , prophana corpora pro sanctorum ( qui cum christo in coelo regnant ) exuviis sacris fuisse proposita . est enim miserum negare non posse , quid sit turpe confiteri ; at nescio quo pacto fictis saepe fabulis , & prae posteris mendaciorum nugis , populus magis quam veritate ac synceritate capitur , ea est mentis nostrae inanitas , has sordes , ubi semel irrepserunt in ecclesiam sacrorum ritus libros ecclesiasticos , nobis fortassis dormientibus , attrectare nemo audet , mutive nemo , ne impietatis suspicionem commoreat , scilicet , & religioni adversarius esse videatur . nor hath our land been altogether barren of historians since the reformation , having yielded some of as tall parts , and large performances , as any nation in christendome . besides these , we have adventured to adde such as have been eminent in poetry , which may not unfitly be termed the binding of proselites good behaviour , tying it to the strict observation of time and measure . amongst these , some are additioned with the title of laureat , though i must consess , i could never find the root whence their bays did grow in england , as to any solemn institution thereof in our nation . indeed , i read of petrarch , ( the pre-coetanean of our chaucer ) that he was crowned with a laurel , in the * capitol , by the senate of rome , anno . as also that frederic the third emperour of germany , gave the laurel to * conradus celtes , and since the count palatines of the empire claime the priviledge , solemnly to invest poets with the bays . the branches hereof , in all ages have been accounted honourable , in so much that king james in some sort , wav'd his crown ( in the two and twenty-shilling-pieces ) to wear the laurel in his new twenty-shilling-pieces . on the same token , that a wag passed this jeast thereon , that poets being always poor , bays were rather the embleme of wit then wealth , since king james no sooner began to wear them , but presently he fell two shillings in the pound in publique valuation . as for our english poets , some have assumed that style unto themselves , as john kay in his dedication of the seige of rhodes to king edward the fourth , subscribing himself his humble poet laureat . others have in complement given the title to such persons as were eminent in that faculty , and nothing more usuall then to see their pictures before their books , and statues on their tombs , ornamented accordingly . however , all this is done by civil courtesie , or common custome , no ceremonious creation in court or university . i write not this , as if i grudged to poets a whole grove of laurel , much less a sprig to incircle their heads , but because i would not have any specious untruth imposed on the readers belief . yet want there not those , who do confidently averr that there is always a laureat poet in england , and but one at a time , the laurel importing conquest and sovereignty , and so by consequence soleness in that faculty ; and that there hath been a constant succession of them at court , who beside their salary from the king , were yearly to have a tun of win , as very essential to the heightning of fancy . this last i conceive founded , on what we find given to geffery chaucer , vigesimo secundo anno richardi secundi concessum galfrido chaucer unum dolium vini per annum durante vitâ , in portu civitatis london , per manus capitalis pincernae nostri . but chaucer , besides his poetical accomplishments , did the king service both in war and peace , as souldier and embassadour , in reward whereof , this and many other boons were bestow'd upon him . musicians . musick is nothing else , but wild sounds civilised into time and tune . such the extensiveness thereof , that it stoopeth as low as bruit beasts , yet mounteth as high as angels . for horses will do more for a whistle then for a whip , and by hearing their bells gingel away their weariness . the angels in heaven imploy themselves in musick , and one ingeniously expresseth it to this effect * we know no more what they do do above , save only that they sing , and that they love. and although we know not the notes of their musick , we know what their ditty is , namely hallalu-jah . such as cavil at musick , because * juball , a descendant from wicked cain , was the first founder thereof , may as well be content to lye out of dores , and refuse all cover to shelter them , because jaball , of the same extraction , being his own brother , first invented to dwell in tents . i confess there is a company of pretenders to musick , who are commonly called crowders , and that justly too , because they crowd into the company of gentlemen both unsent for , and unwelcome ; but these are no more a disgrace to the true professors of that faculty , then monkies are a disparagement to man-kind . now right antient is the use of musick in england , especially if it be true what i read in a worthy father , and i know not which more to admire , either that so memorable a passage should escape master camdens , or that it should fall under my observation . clemens alexand. strom. lib. . pag. . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . they say , even those which compose histories , that in the island of britanny , there is a certain cave , lying under a mountain , in the top thereof gaping . the wind therefore falling into the cave , and dashing into the bosome of a hollow place , there is heard a tinckling of cymbals , beating in tune and time. where this musical place should be in britain , i could never find ; yet have been informed , * that doctor miles smith , bishop of hereford , found something tending that way ( by the help of an active fancy ) in herefordshire . but waving this natural , the antiquity of artificial musick in this island , is proved by the practice of the bards , thereby communicating religion , learning and civility , to the britans . right glad i am , that when musick was lately shut out of our churches , ( on what default of hers i dare not to enquire ) it hath since been harboured and welcomed in the halls , parlors and chambers , of the primest persons of this nation . sure i am , it could not enter into my head , to surm se that musick would have been so much discouraged by such who turned our kingdome into a commonwealth , seeing they prided themselves in the armes thereof , an impaled harp being moity of the same . when it was ask'd what made a good musitian , one answered a good voice , another that it was skill , but he said the truth , who said , it was incouragement . it was therefore my constant wish , that seeing most of our ▪ musicians were men of maturity , and arrived at their full age and skill , before these distracted times began , and seeing what the historian wrote in another sence , is true here in our acception and application thereof , res est unius seculi populus virorum ; i say , i did constantly wish , that there might have been some semenary of youth set up , to be bred in the faculty of musick , to supply succession , when this set of masters in that science had served their generation . yet although i missed of what i did then desire , yet thanks be to god , i have lived to see musick come into request , ( since our nation came into right tune ) and begin to flourish in our churches and elsewhere , so that now no fear but we shall have a new generation skillful in that science , to succeed such , whose age shall call upon them to pay their debt to nature . if any who dislike musick in churches , object it useless ( if not hurtful ) in divine services , let them hear what both a learned and * able divine alledgeth in defence thereof . so that although we lay altogether aside the consideration of ditty or matter , the very harmony of sounds being framed in due sort , and carried from the ear to the spiritual faculties of the soul , it is by a native puissance and efficacy greatly available to bring to a perfect temper , whatsoever is there troubled , apt as well to quicken the spirits , as to allay that which is too eager , soveraign against melancholy and dispair , forceable to draw forth tears of devotion , if the mind be such as can yield them , able both to move and moderate all affections . in recounting up of musitians , i have only insisted on such who made it there profession , and either have written books of that faculty , and have attained to such an eminence therein , as is generally acknowledged . otherwise the work would be endless to recount all up who took it as a quality of accomplishment , amongst whom king henry the eighth must be accounted , who ( as erasmus testifies to his knowledge ) did not onely sing his part sure , but also compose services for his chappel , of four , five , and six parts , though as good a professor as he was , he was a great destroyer of musick in this land ; surely , not intentionly , but accidentaly , when he suppressed so many quires at the desolution . romish exile writers . after the writers before the reformation , succeed those romish banished writers since the same , all living since the reign of q ▪ mary which might have been distanced from the former with a black line interposed , as beheld under a far different ( yea worse ) qualification . for the superstitions of the former were the more pardonable , as living in a dark age , which are less excusable in these since the light of the gospel . i confess the word exile carries much of commiseration therein , and with chatably minded men bespeaks pitty to the persons , untill the cause of their banishment be well considered . for some in the first of queen elizabeth willfully left the land , and so in effect banished themselves , others having their lives forfeited by the laws , had their deaths mercifully commuted by ou●… magistrates into banishment . objection . these men might have been lost without loss , and been omitted in your book as no limbe , but a wen , yea an ulcer thereof . answer . grant them never so bad , being digested into a classis by themselves , their mixture cannot be infectious to others . secondly , abate their errours , and otherwise many of them were well meriting of the commonwealth of learning . lastly , the passages of their lives conduce very much to the clearing of ecclesiastcal history . in noting of their nativties , i have wholly observed the instructions of pitse●…s , where i knock off with his death , my light ending with his life in that subject , since which time i have neither list to enquire , nor conveniency to attain , of these romish fugitives beyond the seas . a just complaint of the numerosity of needless books . solomon was sensible of this vanity , even in his time , when pronouncing of book there is no end . the heathen poet took notice thereof , scribimus indocti doctique poemata passim . poems write a main we do , learned and unlearned too . all this was before the invention of printing , when books came but single into the publique , which since that mistery is made common , come swimning into the world like shoals of fishes , and one edition spawneth another . this made learned erasmus for company sake to jeer himself , that he might the more freely jeer others , * multi mei similes hoc morbo laborant , ut cum scribere nesciant , tamen a scribendo temporare non possunt . many men like my self , are sick of this decease , that when they know not how to write , yet cannot forbear from writing . a worthy english barronet in his book ( incomparable on that subject ) hath clearly and truly stated this point . here i expect , that the judicious reader will excuse me , if i take no notice of many modern phamphliteers , seeing unlearned scriblers , are not ranked with learned writers ; yea , it was , though tartly , truly said , to the author of such a book , dum scateant alii erratis , datur unica libro menda tuo , tot●…m est intiger error opus . whilst others flow with faults , but one is past in all thy book , 't is fault from first to last . indeed the press , at first a virgin , then a chast wife , is since turned common , as to prostitute her self to all scurrilous pamphlets . when the author of an idle and impersect book , endeth with a caetera dessiderantur , one altered it non dessider antur , sed desunt . indeed they were not ( though wanting ) wanted , the world having no need of them , many books being like king joram , who lived not being desired , yea , the press begineth to be an oppression of the land , such the burden of needless books therein . some will say , the charge may most justly be brought against your self , who have loaded the land with more books , then any of your age. to this i confess my fault , and promise amendment , that god willing hereafter i will never print book in the english tongue , but what shall tend directly to divinity . chap. xi . of benefactors to the publick , wherein also choise charities are recommended to men of estates . these are reducible to several heads , and we will begin with them who have been builders of churches . such centurions who have erected us synagogues , places for gods publick vvorship , seem to me to have given good testimony of their love to our nation . bitter was the brave which railing rabsheca sent to holy hezekiah proffering him * horses on condition that the other were but able to find riders for them . but it grieves me to see the superstition of the former insult over the religion of this present age , bragging that she left us ten thousand churches and chappels more or lesse ready built , if we can find but repairers to keep them up : it is in my opinion both dishonorable to god , and scandalous to all good men to see such houses daily decay : but there is a generation of people who to prevent the verifying of the old proverb , pater noster built churches , and our father plucks them down ; endevour to pluck down both churches and our father together , neglecting , yea despising the use both of the one and the other . be it here remembred , that it is not only equal but just , that such as have been founders of churches or grand benefactors unto them , should have due respect in preserving their monuments from violation or incroachment of others . i urge this the rather , because abuses have been frequent in this kind , even to those that have deserved best . i cannot with patience remember the story of henry keble lord maior of london . who , besides other benefactions in his life time , rebuilded alder-mary-church run to very ruines , and bequeathed at his death a thousand pounds for the finishing thereof . yet within sixty years after , his bones were unkindly yea inhumanely cast * out of the vaute wherein they were buried , his monument plucked down for some wealthy person of the present times , to be buried therein , i could not but on this occasion rub up my old poetry ; facit indignatio versus . the author to alder-mary church . ungrateful church , orerun with rust , lately buried in the dust ; utterly thou hadst been lost , if not preserv'd by keble's cost : a thousand pounds might it not buy , six foot in length for him to lie : but outed of his quiet tombe , for later corps he must make roome : tell me where his dust is cast , though 't be late , yet now at last ; all his bones with scorne ejected , i will see them recollected : vvho faine my self would kinsman prove to all that did god's temples love . alder-mary churches answer . alas ! my innocence excuse , my wardens they did me abuse , vvhose avarice his ashes sold , that goodness might give place to gold ; as for his reliques , all the town , they are scattered , up and down ; see'st a church repaired well , there a sprinkling of them fell ; see'st a new church lately built ? thicker there his ashes spilt : o that all the land throughout , kebles dust were throwne about places scattered with that seed , vvould a crop of churches breed . i could wish this was the last barbarisme in this kind , and am sorry that upon small inquiry , i could insist on later instances . free-schools and colledges . i place schools before colledges , because they are introductory thereunto , intended for the b●…eeding of children and youth , as the other for youth and men . and seeing much of truth is contained in our english proverb , it is as good to be unborn as unbred , such may in some sort seem their second-parents , who have provided for their education . these schools are of two kinds . first , those wherein only a salary is given to the school-master to teach children gratis , and these i confess are good . secondly , such wherein a select number of scholars have competent maintenance allowed towards their living in the university , and these all will acknowledge are better . some do suspect a surfet in our land of the multitude of schools , because the nursery is bigger then the orchard , the one breeding more plants then the other can maintain trees , and the land not affording sufficient preferment for them , learning is forced to stoop to mean courses to make a livelihood . but i conceive that store in this kind is no sore ▪ and if we must not do evil that good may come thereof , we must not forbear doing that which is good , for fear of accidental evils which may arise from the same . bridges . builders of bridges ( which are high-waies over water ) and makers of caused-waies , or causways ( which are bridges over dirt ) though last in order , are not least in benefit to the commmon-wealth . such conveniences save the lives of many , ease the labour of moe painful travellers , and may be said in some sort to lengthen the day , and shorten the way to men in their journeys ; yea , bridges make and keep this our island a continent to it self . how great the care of the ancient romans to repair them , for the safety of passengers , appears by the origination of pontifex , having the inspection over bridges , by his primitive institution . indeed the word bridge appears not in all scripture , whereof this the reason ; the rivers of palestine were either so shallow , that they were passable by foords , as of * jabbok , * arnon and * jordan , before it grew navigable ; or else so deep , that they were ferried * over , as jordan , when neer his fall into the dead sea : but most of ours in england are of a middle size ; so deep , that they cannot be foorded ; so narrow , that they need not to be ferried over . hence come our so eminent bridges , in so much that such structures are accounted amongst our english * excellencies . however palestine was subject with england to the same inconveniences of bad high-waies , and there●…ore in the list of charitable actours reckoned up by the * prophet , he is accounted as a principal , the restorer of paths to dwell in ; for indeed some waies may be said not-habitable , being so ●…eep and dirty that they cut off all intercourse , the end general of all mens dwelling together . i will conclude this topick of bridges with this memo●…able accident . mawd q ▪ to king henry the first being to pass the river ley about stratford , near the falling of the said river into the thames , was almost * drowned in riding over it . but this proved the bad cause of a good effect ; for hereupon she built the beautiful bridge there , for the benefit of travellers : and the village probably from a fair arch or bow therein , received ( as some conceive ) the addition of stratford bow. far be it from me to wish the least ill to any who willingly would not have their fingers to ake , or an hair of their heads lessned . yet this i could desire , that some covetous churls who otherwise will not be melted into works of charity , may in their passing over waters be put into peril without peril . understand me , might be en●…angered to fright but not ●…urt , that others might fare the better for their fears ; such misers being minded thereby to make or repair bridges for publick safety and convenience . alms-houses . because we live in an age , wherein men begin to be out of charity with charity it self ; and there be many covetous ( not to say sacrilegious ) people , whose fingers itch to be nimming the patrimony of the poor ; we will here present the cavils of this against the charity of former ages herein . cavil . . show us the foundation of such structures in scripture , either in the old or new testament . as for the place with fiue porches , wherein the * impotent poor lay , near the pool of bethesda , it was of another nature . alsmhouses therefore not being jure divino may lawfully be abolished . answer . the constitution of the jewish was far different from our english common-wealth , wherein every one originally was a freeholder of some proportion of land , which , though aliened , reverted to the owner at the year of jubilee . there needs not an express or particular precept for all our actions , that general one , * he that hath pity upon the poor lenaeth unto the lord , is bottome broad enough to build more alms-houses on , than all ages will afford . besides this precept , we have the practice of the primitive christians in the time of the apostles , * parting with the propriety of all their estate , and well then may we appropriate a part of ours , for the releif of the poor . cavil . . the builders of them for the most part , have been people formerly guilty of oppression , who , having lived like wolves , turn lambs on their death-beds , and part with their fleece to people in want . having ground the faces of the poor , they give the toll thereof to build an alms-house , though too little to hold half the beggars which they have made . answer . the aspersion cannot be fastned on many founders , so free from the same , that malice may sooner break her own teeth and jawes too , th●…n make impression on their reputation . but , grant the charge true , in this sense , beatum est fuisse , blessed are they that have been bad ; * aud such were some of you : let not envious man repine at that , whereat the blessed angels rejoyce , the conversion of sinners , and their testifying thereof by such publique expressions . cavil . . such builders generally have a pope in their belly , puffed up with a proud opinion to merit by their performances . answer . when did the caviller steal the touch-stone of hearts ? ( for , god , i am sure would not lend it him , who saith , * my glory will i not give to another ) that he is so well acquainted with mens thoughts and intentions . charity , saith the * apostle , thinketh no evil , whereas this caviller thinks little good . we are bound to believe the best of such founders , especially of such who lived since the reformation , whereby the dangerous error of merit was exploded . cavil . . grant them guiltlesse of superstition , they are guilty of vain-glory. witness the building of such houses commonly by high ▪ way sides , whenas our saviour saith , let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth . answer . the objecter shall have leave to build his alms ▪ house , in what private place he please ; in the middle of a wood , if he shall think fitting , ( but we know who saith ) let your light so shine before men , that they may see your good works , and glorifie your father which is in heaven . that they may see yours good works , though not as finis operis , yet as modus operandi thereby to provoke others to imitation . cavil . . as some affirm of tobacco , that it causeth as much rheume as it bringeth away : alms-houses do breed as many poor as they relieve . people in such places , presume to be idle , beholding hospitals as their inheritance , wherein their old age shall be provided for . answer . what is good per se , ought not to be waved for what is ill per a dens this calleth aloud , to the care and integrity of feoffees intrusted , to be wary in their elections . besides , i must stick to mine old maxime , it is better that ten drones be fed then one bee be famished . cavil . . such places are generally abused against the will of the founders . statutes are neglected . what is said of the laws in poland , that they last but three dayes , is as true of the short lived orders in alms-houses . not the most indigent , or who have been the most laborious , but the best befriended reap the benefit thereof . answer . i could wish that alms-houses were the only places , wherein laws were broken . but grant too much truth in the cavil , all will say from the beginning it was not so , and i will hope , unto the end it shall not be so . cavil . . hospitals generally have the rickets , whose heads , their masters , grow over great and rich , whilest their poor bodies pine away and consume . answer . surely there is some other cure for a ricketish body , than to kill it , viz. by opening obstructions and deriving the nutriment to all parts of the same . but , enough of this unwelcome subject , whereof what is spoken , is not to put new cavils into the heads of any , but to pluck old ones out of the hearts of too many , who have entertained them . if these our answers seem not satisfactory to any ; know , that as a left handed man hath great odds in fencing , against one that is right handed : so in controversies of this kind , cavillers with their sinister inferences from mens frailties , have a vast advantage over those , who are of candid and ingenuous dispositions . many faults must be confessed in such foundations , which for the future may be amended . but , grant corruptions should continue in such foundations , it is not plea enough for their abolition . if the sentence of condemnation was pronounced on those , who saw christ naked , and would not* cloth him ; how heavy a doome will fall on such , who found christ clothed , and stript him in his poor members of endowments given to their maintenance ? here let me recommend some choice charity to bountiful hearts and plentiful estates . it were arrant presumption for any to imprison freedome it self , and confine anothers bounty by his own [ pretended ] discretion . let the charitably minded do what , when , where , how , to whom , and how much , god and their own goodnesse shall direct them . however it will not be amisse humbly to represent unto them the following considerations : the rather because many well affected to the publick good , have lately been disheartned with the frustrations of former charity . first , for the time : it is best to do it whilest they are living , to prevent all suspicions that their intentions should be misimployed . sem will not be angry with me for saying cham was a mocker of his father . peter will not be offended if i call judas a betrayer of his master : honest executors will take no exception if i justly bemoan that too many dishonest ones have a●…used the good intents of the testators . how many legacies sound and whole in themselves have proved before they were payed , as maimed as the cripples in the hospitalls , to whom they were bequeathed ? yea as the blinded syrians ( desiring to go , and beleiving they went to * damascus ) were led to their enemies , and into the midst of samaria , so is it more then suspicious , that many blind and concealed legacies , intended for the temple of god , have been imployed against the god of the temple . next for the objects of well doing . surely a vigilant charity must take the alarum from the groans of the prisoners . the schoolmen reduce all corporal charity to seven principal heads , visito visit men in misery * ebedmelech jeremiah poto give drink to the thirsty * obediah . the prophets cibo meat to the hungry * nehemiah the jews & rulers redimo to rescue the captive as * abraham did to lot tego cover the naked * dorcas the widowes colligo dress the wounded * the good jaylor saint paul condo bury the dead the devout men . saint stephen . see here how these . kinds of good works are placed like the planets , whilst to redeem captives , stands like the sun in the midst of all the rest . indeed it may be sadly presumed ; that such captives oft times want visiting , meat , drink , clothes , dressing , and all things but burying ( except any will say , that they are buryed alive ; liberty being the life of mans life ) so that the redeeming of captives is eminently comprehensive of all these outward acts of charity . yea this act may extend it self to a spiritual concernment ; to save many souls from damnation ; seeing it may be feared that many dispairing of ransome , may put their souls in thraldome to purchase the liberty of their bodies , and renounce their religion . could therefore wish , that there were in london , a corporation of able and honest merchants ( whereof that city affordeth a plentiful choice ) legally impowered to receive and imploy the charity of well affected people for a general goale delivery , of all english captives , in tunis , tripoli , algier , salli , &c. and our countrymen first discharged , if there were any surplusage running over , that it might be disposed for the ransoming of christians of what country soever . this were a heroick act indeed , whereby christians endevour to be like christ himself , who was the grand redeemer . oh , that i might be but instrumental ( in the least degree ) to advance their enlargement ; i should behold it as an advancement to my self . two reasons make me the more importunate therein ; one , because the papists had a company of fryers in england , of the order of the holy trinity , de redimendis captivis , which being now extinct , i humbly conceive that we are bound in conscience , as to quench the superstition , so to continue the charity of so good a design . secondly , because whilst other beggars can tell their own tale , we must plead for them who cannot plead for themselves ; there being so great a gulf of distance betwixt us and them ; and god grant , that we may never passe over to theirs , but they return to our condition . objection , . it maketh marriners cowards , who presuming on good mens charity , that they shall be ransomed , do not fight it out valiantly against the turks , as they ought and might , but surrender themselves on such expectations . answer . i see not but the same objection lies with equal force against the redeeming of souldiers taken in land fights , by what foe soever , by exchange , or otherwise . secondly , accidentall and sinister miscarriages , ought not to discourage any sincere intention . lastly , let those , who have given the best testimonies of their valour , be first redeemed , and let them lye longer , to suffer bad usage , till the feeling thereof , shall convert them into more valour , if ( after their liberty procured ) ingaging again on the same occasion . objection , . the late long parliament made an act , since ( after some intermission ) renewed , charging a taxe on merchants goods ( known by the name of algier dutie ) for the redemption of captives in turkey . answer . the blessing of god light on the hearts of those ( if living ) who first moved , and since revived it , as i doubt not but those departed this life , have found their reward . i could heartily wish , that yearly a catalogue were printed of the names of such prisoners thereby redeemed , not knowing whether it would be more honourable for , or satisfactory to this nation . but seeing such provisions fall short of doing the work , and cannot strike home to break off the fetters of all prisoners , it will not be amiss to implore the auxiliary charity of others . next i desire them to reflect upon aged sequestred ministers ; whom with their charge , the ( generally ill paid ) fifth part will not maintain , say not it will be interpreted an affront to the state to releive them , which it hath adjudged offenders . if the best of beings should observe this rule , all the world would be starved . secondly , some of them , abateing only that their conscience inclined them to the royal cause , were otherwise unblameable both in life and doctrine . thirdly , the better divines they were , the worse they are able to shift for themselves , having formerly no excursion into secular affairs , so that applying themselves only to , and now debarred the exercise of the ministry , they are left in a sad condition . lastly , allow them faulty , yet quid teneri infantes ? &c. it is pity their wives and children should be ruined for their offence , but enough hereof , seeing in motions of this nature , a word is enough to the wise , and half a word too much for others . lastly , i recommend unto their charity , such servants who have nothing save what they have gained by their industry , and have lived seven years and upwards , with the same master , i mean not apprentices , but such covenant servants , which are bound to their masters ( their year being ended ) with no other indentures then their own discretion , and are sensible that they must run a hazard , and may loose with their alteration . especially such females , who prefer a good master in certain , before a good husband in hopes , and had rather serve in plenty , then wed and adventure poverty . i confess such is the cruelty of some masters , no servant can , and such the ficklenesse of others , no servant may stay long with them . such a master was he , who being suitor to a gentlewoman , came every time he visited her , waited on by a new man ( though keeping but one at once ) such was his unconstancy and delight in change. whereupon when taking leave of his mistresse , he proferred to salute her spare your complements ( said she unto him ) for probably i shall shortly see you again , but let me , i pray you , salute your servant , whom i shall never behold any more . however though sometimes the ●…ault may be in the masters , or mistresses , yet generally servants are to be blamed in our age , shifting their places so often without cause . the truth is , the age that makes good soldiers , marrs good servants , cancelling their obedience , and allowing them too much liberty . what nabal applied falsely and spitfully to david ( there be many servants now a dayes which break away every man from his master ) was never more true then now . yea , what tully said of the roman * consull ( chose in the morning and put out before night ) some servants have been so vigilant , they never slept in their masters houses , so short their stay , so soon their departure . the ficklenesse and fugitivenesse of such servants , justly addeth a valuation to their constancy , who are standards in a family , and know when they have met with a good master , as it appears , their masters know when they have met with a good servant . it is pity but such properties of a houshold should be incouraged , and bounty bestowed upon them , may be an occasion to fixe other servants to stay the longer in their places , to the general good of our nation . i desire these my suggestions should be as inoffensively taken , as they are innocently tendred . 〈◊〉 i know there was in the water of * bethesda after the angell had troubled it , a medicinal power . i know also that such impotent folk as lay in the five porches , were the proper subjects to be cured : but alas ! they wanted one at the critical instant , to bring their wounds and the cure together , and to put them seasonably into the water . i am as confident that there be hundreds in england , really willing and able to releive , as that there are thousands that do desire , and in some sort deserve their charity . but there wanteth one in the pr●…per juncture of time , to present such poor objects , to their liberality , and if these my weak endevours may be in any degree instrumentall to promote the same , it will be a great comfort unto me . i will conclude this subject with a motive to charity , out of the road of , besides , if not against the ordinary logick of men. * give a portion to seven and to eight , for thou knowest not what evill shall be upon the earth . to seven and to eight , that is , extend thy bounty to as high a proportion of deserving persons , as can consist with thy estate , for thou knowest not what evill will be upon the earth , matters are mutable , and thou mayest need the relief of others . ergo , saith the miser , part with nothing , but keep all against a wet day , not so , solomon , advising to secure somewhat in a safe bank , the backs and bowels of the poor . never evil more likely to , never people less knowing of the same then our selves . and therefore the counsell never out of , is now most in season . why benefactors since , are distinguished from them , before the reformation . i conceive it not fit to mingle both together , for these two reasons ▪ first , because of the difference of their charity since the reformation , as not parched up by the fear of the fire of purgatory , but kindly ripened by the sun , viz. a clear apprehension by the light of the scripture , that they were bound to do good works . secondly , because a romish * goliah hath defied our english israel , taxing our church since the reformation , as able to shew few considerable pieces of charity , in comparison of those beyond the seas , who may hence be easily confuted . indeed when i read the emulations between peninna and hanna , it mindeth me of the contests betwixt the church of rome and us , such the conformity between them . her * adversary provoked hanna sore , for to make her fret , because the lord hath shut up her womb. but how did hanna rejoyce afterwards ? the * barren hath born seven , and she that hath many children , is waxed feeble . it is confessed immediately after the reformation , protestant religion stood for a while in amaze ( scarcely recovered from the marian persecutitn ) and was but * barren in good works . but since her beginning to bear fruit , she hath overtaken her roman corrival , and left her fairly behind . let the extent of time , and content of ground be proportionably stated , and england cannot be matched for deeds of charity in any part of spain , france , and italy , as by the ensuing catalogue of benefactors to the publick will appear . objection . you had better omitted them , leaving them modestly to multiply and increase in their own silence and secresie . you know how dear david paid for * numbring the people . answer . david did not offend in meer numbring the people , but in not paying the poll-money , appointed by * god in such cases ( purposely to decline the plague ) which omission argued his pride of heart . it is lawful for protestants , without any just suspicion of vain ▪ glory and ostentation , to make a list , and take the number of benefactors in this kind , provided the quit-rent of praise , be principally paid to the lord of heaven . besides we are not challengers , but defenders of our selves herein , against the challenge of another , desiring to do it in all humility , in confidence of our good cause . and here i can hold no longer , but must break forth into a deserved commendation of good works . glorious things in scripture are spoken of you , yea fruits of the spirit . by them the gospel is graced , wicked men amazed , some of them converted , the rest of them confounded , weak christians confirmed , poor christians relieved , our faith justified , our reward in heaven by gods free grace amplified ; angels rejoyce for them , devils repine at them , god himself is glorified in them . oh therefore ! that it were in my power , to exhort my countrymen , to pursue good works with all earnestnesse , which will add so much to their account . some will say , if the english be so forward in deeds of charity , as appeareth by what you said before , any exhortation thereunto is altogether supers●…uous . i answer , the best disposed to bounty may need a remembrancer ; and i am sure that nightingale , which would wake , will not be angry with the thorn which pricketh her breast when she noddeth . besides , it is a truth what the poet saith , qui monet ut facias quod jam facis , ipse monendo laudat , & hortatu comprobat acta suo . who , what thou dost , thee for to do doth move , doth praise thy practice , and thy deeds approve . thus the exhortations of the apostles at jerusalem , were commendations of st. paul , only they would that we should remember the poor , the same which i also was forward to do . lastly , though many of our nation be free in this kind , there want not those , who instead of being zealous are jealous of good works , being so far from shining themselves , that they enviously endevour to extinguish the light of others ; whose judgements i have laboured to rectifie herein . the stating of the word reformation , with the extensiveness thereof . no word occurs oftner in this our book then reformation : it is as it were the aequator , or that remarkable line , dividing betwixt eminent prelates , leaed writers , and benefactors to the publick , who lived before or after it. know then that this word in relation to the church of england , is of above twenty years extent . for the reformation was not advanced here , as in some forraign free-states , suddenly not to say ( rapidly ) with popular violence , but leisurely and treatably as became a matter of so great importance , besides the meeting with much opposition , retarded the proceedings of the reformers . we may observe that the jews returned from the captivity of babylon at three distinct times , under the conduct of several persons . . when the main body of the captives was brought home by * zorobabel , by whom the second temple was built . . when a considerable company returned with * ezra , by whom the church part ( as i may tearm it ) was setled in that nation . . when * nehemiah ( no doubt with suitable attendance ) came home and ordered the state moiety repairing the vvalls of jerusalem . in like manner we may take notice of three distinct dates and different degrees of our english reformation , though in relation to the jewish , i confess the method was altogether inverted . for , . the civil part thereof , when the popes supremacy was banished in the reign of king henry the eight . . vvhen the church service was reformed , as far as that age would admit , in the first year of king edward the sixth . . vvhen the same ( after the marian interruption ) was resumed and more refined in the reign of queen elizabeth . the first of these i may call the morning star. the second the dawning of the day . the third the rising of the sun ; and i deny not but that since that time his light and heat hath been increased . but now the question will be , what is to be thought of those prelates , writers , and benefactors , which lived in the aforesaid interval betwixt the beginning and perfecting of this reformation . for these appear unto us like unto the batable ground lying betwixt england and scotland ( whilest as yet two distinct kingdomes ) in so dubious a posture it is hard to say to which side they do belong . it is answered the only way to decide this difference is to observe the inclinations of the said persons so far forth as they are discovered in their writings and actions : such as appear in some good degree favourers of the gospel are reputed to be since whilest those who are otherwise , are adjudged to be before the reformation . chap. xii . of memorable persons . the former heads were like private houses , in which persons accordingly qualified , have their several habitations . but this last topick is like a publick inn , admitting all comers and goers , having any extraordinary ( not vitious ) remark upon them , and which are not clearly reducible to any of the former titles . such therefore , who are over , under , or beside the standard of common persons ; for strength , stature , fruitfulnesse , vivacity , or any other observeable eminence , are lodged here under the notion of memorable persons , presuming the pains will not be to me so much in marking , as the pleasure to the reader in knowing them . under this title we also repose all such mechanicks , who in any manual trade have reached a clear note above others in their vocation . objection . it is deforme spectaculum an uncouth sight , to behold such handy-crafts-men blended with eminencies in ingenious professions ; such a mottley colour is no good wearing . how would william cecill , lord treasurer of england , and baron of burghleigh be offended , to behold james york the blacksmith , set with him at the same table amongst the natives of lincolne-shire ? answer . i am confident on the contrary , that he would be highly pleased , being so great a statesman , that he would countenance and encourage his industrious country man , accounting nothing little , without the help whereof , greater matters can either not be attained or not long subsist . yea , we see what signal notice the spirit of god takes of the * three sons of lamech , the first founders of tent-making , organs , and iron-works ; and it is observable , that whereas all their names are forgotten , which built the tower of babel ( though done on design to get them a * name ) these three mechanicks , viz. jabal , jubal , and tubal cain , are nominatim recorded to all posterity . thus is it better to bottome the perpetuity of ones memory , on honest industry and ingenuous diligence , then on stately structures and expensive magnificence . i confesse it is easier to add to any art than first to invent it , yet because there is a perfection of degrees , as well as kinds , eminent improvers of an art may be allowed for the co-inventers thereof , being founders of that accession , which they add thereunto , for which they deserve to be both regarded and rewarded . i could name a worshipful family in the south of england , which for . several descents , and some hundreds of years , have continued in the same stay of estate , not acquiring one foot of land , either by match , purchase , gift , or otherwise , to their ancient patrimony . the same may be said of some handycrafts , wherein men move in the same compasse , but make no further progresse to perfection , or any considerable improvement , and this i impute generally to their want of competent encouragement . chap. xiii . of lord maiors of london . i have concluded this work with these chief officers in that great city . a place of so great honour and trust , that it hath commonly been said , that on the death of an english king , the lord maior is the subject of the greatest authority in england , many other offices determining with the kings life ( till such time as their charters be renewed by his successor ) whereas the lord maiors trust continueth for a whole year , without any renewing after the inter-regnum . objection . such persons had better been omitted , whereof many were little better then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , though by good fortune they have loaded themselves with thick clay , and will be but a burden in your book to the readers thereof . answer . all wise men will behold them under a better notion , as the pregnant proofs of the truth of . proverbs , not contradictory , but confirmatory one to another . prov. . . prov. . . the blessing of the lord maketh rich. the hand of the diligent maketh rich. the one as the principal , the other as the instrumental cause , and both meeting in the persons aforesaid . for though some of them were the younger sons of worshipful and wealthy parents , and so had good sums of money left them ; yet being generally of mean extraction , they raised themselves by gods providence , and their own painfulness . the city in this respect , being observed like unto a court , where elder brothers commonly spend , and the younger gain an estate . but such lord maiors are here inserted , to quicken the industry of youth , whose parents are only able to send them up to ( not to set them up in ) london . for wha●… a comfort is it , to a poor apprentice of that city , to see the prime magistrate thereof , riding in his majoralibus with such pomp and attendance , which another day may be his hap and happiness . objection . it commeth not to the share of one in twenty thousand , to attain to that honour ; and it is as impossible for every poor apprentice in process of time to prove lord maior , as that a minum with long living mould become a whale . answer . not so , the later is an utter impossibility as debarred by nature , being fishes of several kinds . whereas there is a capacity in the other , to arive at it , which puts hopes ( the only tie which keeps the heart from breaking ) into the hearts of all of the attainablenesse of such preferment to themselves . doctor hutton arch-bishop of york , when he came into any great grammar school ( which he did constantly visit in his visitations ) was wont to say to the young scholars , ply your books boys , ply your books , for bishops are old men , and surely the possibility of such dignity is a great encouragement to the endévours of students . lord maiors being generally aged , and always but annual , soon make room for succession , whereby the indevours of all freemen in companies are incouraged . but if they should chance to fall short , as unable to reach the home of honour ( i mean the majoralty it self , yet if they take up their lodgings at sheriffe , alderman , and common-councellour with a good estàtè , they will have no cause to complain . i confess some counties in our ensuing discourse , will appear lord-maior-less , as cumberland , dorset-shire , hant-shire , &c. however though , hitherto , they have not had , hereafter they may have natives advanced to that honour , and it may put a lawful ambition into them , to contend who shall be their leader , and who should first of those shires attain to that dignity . as lately sir richard cheverton skinner descended ( i assure you ) of a right antient and worshipful family , was the first in cornwall , who opened the dore for others ( no doubt ) to follow after him . nor must it be forgotten that many have been lord-maiors mates , though never rémembred in their catalogues , viz. such , who by fine declined that dignity , and as i am glad that some will fine , that so the stock of the chamber of london may be increased , so am i glad that some will not fine , that so the state of the city of london may be maintained . i begin the observing of their nativities , from sir william sevenoke , grocer , lord maior . for though there were lord maiors . years before , yet their birth-places generally are unknown . it was , i confess , well for me in this particular , that mr. stow was born before me , being herein the heir of endevours , without any pain of my own . for knowing that cuilibet artifici in sua arte est credendum , i have followed him and who him continued , till the year . at what time their labours do determine . since which term , to the present year , i have made the catalogue out by my own inquiry , and friends intelligence . to speak truth to their due praise , one may be generally directed to their cradles , though by no other candle , then the light of their good works , and benefactions to such places . chap. xiv . a catalogue of all the gentry in england , made in the reign of king henry the sixth , why inserted in our book . after we have finished the catalogue of the worthy natives of every shire , we present the reader with a list of the gentry of the land , sollemnly returned by select commissioners into the chancery , thence into the records in the tower on this occasion . the commons in parliament complained , that the land then swarmed with pilours , ●…obbers , oppressers of the people , man-stealers , fellons , outlaws , ravishers of women , unlawful haunters of forrests and parks , &c. whereupon it was ordered , for the suppressing of present and preventing of future mischeifs , that certain commissioners should be impowered in every county , to summon all persons of quality before them , and tender them an oath , for the better keeping of the peace , and observing the kings laws both in themselves and retainers . excuse me , reader , if i be bold to in●…pose my own conjecture , who conceive , what ever was intended to palliate the businesse , the principal intent was , to detect and suppress such who favoured the title of york ; which then began to be set on foot , and afterwards openly claimed , and at last obtained the crown . . even-done , of the method general used in this catalogue . the first amongst the commissioners is the bishop of their diocesse , put before any earl , partly because he was in his own diocesse , partly because giving of oaths ( their proper work ) was conceived to be of spiritual cognisance . besides the bishop , when there were three ( as generally ) commissioners , the first of them was either an earl , or at least ( though often intituled but chivaler ) an actual baron , as will hereafter appear : and which will acquaint us partly with the peerage of the land in that age. next follow those who were knights for the shire in the parliament foregoing , and , if with the addition of chivaler or miles , were knights by dubbing , before of that their relation . all commissioners expressed not equal industry and activity in prosecution of their trust . for besides the natural reasons , that in all affairs , some will be more rigorous , some more remiss by their own temper , some more , some less fancyed their imployment , insomuch as we find some shires ; . over done , as oxford and cambridge-shires , whose catalogues are too much allayed , descending to persons of meaner quality . . even done , as generally the most are , where the returns bear a competent proportion to the populousness and numerousnesse of the counties . . under done , as shropshire , york-shire , northumberland , &c. where the returns do not answer to the extent of those shires . . not done . which i sadly confess , and cannot help , being twelve in number as hereafter will appear . i dare not conjecture the cause of this casualty , whether in such shires , the oaths were never tendred , or tendred and not taken , or taken and not returned , or returned and not recorded , or recorded and not preserved , or preserved but misplaced in some roll , which hitherto it hath not been my hap to lite upon . it is possible that some disgusted the kings design , as who under the pretence of keeping the peace , indevoured to smother and suppress such , who should appear for the title of york , whereof more in the respective countyes . may the reader be pleased to take notice , that in the reign of henry the sixth , de such a place , began then to be left off , and the addition of knight and squire to be assumed . yet because no fashion can be generally followed at first , such additions are used in the returns of some shires , and neglected in others . in some counties we have the names of a few mechanicks , returned with their trades , brasier , smith , ironmonger , &c. who no doubt were considerable , either in themselves , as robustious persons , or in their servants as numerous , or in their popular and tumultuous influence of others . and grant these passing under the name of valecti , ( whereof formerly ) it appears by the penalty imposed on their recusancy of the oath , that they were substantial 〈◊〉 which stood ( and propably could make others go ) on their own account . some clergymen , not only regular , as abbots and priors , but secular parochial priests , are inserted in some returns . these some will say might well be omitted , as nothing informative to the gentry of the land , because dead stakes in the hedge , then unconcerned in posterity , because forbidden marriage . however i have here presented as i found them , intending neither to mingle nor mangle , conceiving that if i were found guilty either of omissions or alterations , it might justly shake the credit of the whole catalogue . indeed if the word superstition importeth not trespassing on religion , and if the bare signification be adequate to the etymology thereof , a super stando , for standing in his own opinion too curiously , on a thing which in the judgement of others , may not merit so much exquisitenesse , i here voluntarily confess my self superstitious in observing every punctillo according to the original . may the reader be pleased to take notice that in mens proper names , some letters of like sound , are confounded in vulgar pronunciation , as v for f. fenner and venner , k. and c. kary and cary ; f. and ph. as purfrey and purphrey , though the name be the same in both . sometimes the name is spelled , not truly , according to orthography , but according to the common speaking thereof , which melteth out some essential letters , as becham for beauchamp . again there is such an allusion betwixt the forms of some letters ( nothing symbolyzing in sound ) that as they are written ( though not in ordinary ) in record-hand , they may easily be mistaken by writer or reader , through the similitude of their character , as , m e n f n l g w o u s r t y this hath put us many times to a stand , and sometimes to a loss , what letter , it hath been . but we have in all particulars conformed our transcript to the original in all possible exactness , though afterwards taking the boldness to interpose our opinion in our observations . a later list might be presented of the english gentry , towards the end of the reign of king henry the eighth , but such would be subject to just exception . for , as the gibeonites , though by their mouldy bread , and clouted shooes , pretending to a long peregrination , were but of the vicinage : so most of those gentry , notwithstanding their specious claim to antiquity , will be found to be but of one descent , low enough in themselves , did they not stand on the vantage ground , heightned on the rubbish of the ruines of monasteries . chap. xv. of shire-reeves or shiriffes . reeve ( which hath much affinity with the dutch grave ) signifieth an officer to oversee and order , being chief in the shire . in latin vice-comes , or vicecount . and , seeing shadows in effect are as ancient as the bodies , they may be beleived as old as counts , and counts as counties , and counties as king alfred , who first divided england into shires about the year of our lord . the late fashion was , that the clerk of the peace for each county , in michaelmas-term , presented to the lord cheif justice of the kings bench , sixe or more names of able persons for that office. the lord chief justice calling the other judges into the exchequer chamber ( where the attorney general , and the sollicitour attends ) presented three out of that number unto the king , out of which the king pricks one , who stands sheriffe of the county . his power is sufficiently known , to suppress riots , secure prisoners , distrain for debts , execute writs , return the choice of knights and burgesses for parliament , empannel juries , attend the jud●… 〈◊〉 the execution of malefactors , &c. several statutes * have provided , that no man should be sheriffe in any county , except he hath land sufficient in the same county , to answer the king and his people . and it is remarkable , that since the beginning of that office , it appeareth not upon any record , that ever any sheriffe pro tempore failed in his estate , but was responsible in his place . whereas it is too plain by sad precedents , that some receivers ( being men of meaner estates ) have . sheriffes are bound to abide in their proper persons , within the * county , that they may the more effectually attend their office. and in our remembrance , some great persons , whose activity in parliament was suspected , have been made sheriffes to keep them out of harms way , and confine them at home . but later years have dispenced with such critical niceties , ( unreasonable that the sheriffe himself should be a prisoner in his own county ) allowing him more liberty on the providing of an able deputy in his absence . though i will not avouch it true , there may be somewhat of truth in their spiteful observation , who maintain , that the shrevalty in ancient times was honos sine onere , in the middle times honos cum onere , and in our days , little better than onus sine honore , though ●… trust the office will now be restored to its former honour . honos sine onere , an honour without a burden . as when prince edward the first , was for many years together high-sheriffe of bedford and buckingham-shire ; and many prime peers of the land , were honorary sheriffes , gracing the place with accepting it ; living where they pleased themselves , and appointing their substitutes to transact the businesse of the county . honos cum onere , an honour with a burden , from king edward the third , till within our remembrance . for the principal gentry in every shire , of most ancient extractions and best estates , were deputed for that place , keeping great attendance and hospitality : so that as some transcripts hath for the fairness of their character not only evened , but exceeded the original , the vice-comes have pro tempore equalled the count himself and greatest lords in the land for their magnificence . onus sine honore , a burden without honour , when it was obtruded on many as a punishment for the trouble and charge thereof , and laid as a burden , not on the back of that horse which was best able to carry it , but who was least able to cast it off , great persons by friends and favour easily escaping it , whilst it was charged on those of meaner estates : though i do beleive it found all them esquires , and did not make any so , as some will suggest . hence was it , that many sheriffs were forced to consult principles of thrift , not being bound so to serve their country , as to disserve themselves and ruine their estates ; and instead of keeping open houses ( as formerly ) at the assises , began to latch ( though not lock ) their dores , providently reducing it to an ordinary expence , and no wise man will conclude them to be the less loyal subjects , for being the more provident fathers . at the end of every shire , after the forenamed catalogue of the gentry , in the reign of king henry the sixth , i have set down a list of the sheriffes from the beginning of king henry the second , untill the end of king charles , carefully collected out of the records . for i hope that by the former , which i call my broad ( representing the gentry of one generation all over england ) and this which i term my long catalogue , extending it self successively through many ages , i hope , i say , both being put together , may square out the most eminent of the antient gentry , in some tolerable proportion . most eminent , seeing i confess , neither can reach all the gentry of the land . for as in the catalogue of king henry the sixth , many antient gentlemen were omitted , who were minors in age , and so uncapable of taking an oath , so doth not the list of sheriffs comprehend all the gentry in the shire , finding three sorts of people excluded out of the same . such who were . above discharging the office. . besides beneath above . such were all of the peerage in the land , which since the reign of king edward the third were excused i am sure de facto , not imployed in that place , as inconsistent with their attendance in parliament . secondly , such who were besides the place , priviledged by their profession from that office , which may be subdivided into , . swordmen , imployed in wars beyond the seas , thus sir oliver ingham , and sir john fastoffe both great men , and richly landed in norfolk , were never sheriffes thereof , because imployed in the french wars , the one under king edward the third , the other under king henry the fifth . . gownmen , as iudges , sergeants at law , barristers , auditors , and other officers in the exchequer , &c. . * cloakmen . such courtiers as were the kings servants and in ordinary attendance about his person . lastly , such as were beneath the place , as men of too narrow estates to discharge that office , especially as it was formerly in the magnificent expensivenesse thereof , though such persons might be esquires of right ancient extraction . and here under favour i conceive , that if a strict enquiry should be made after the ancient gentry of england , most of them would be found amongst such middle-sized persons as are above two hundred , and beneath a thousand pounds of annual revenue . it was the motto of wise sir nicholas bacon , mediocria firma , moderate things are most lasting . men of great estates in national broiles have smarted deeply for their visible engagements , to the ruine of their families , whereof we have had too many sad experiments , whilest such persons who are moderately mounted above the level of common people into a competency , above want and beneath envy , have by gods blessing on their frugality , continued longest in their conditions , entertaining all alterations in the state , with the less destructive change unto themselves . let me add , that i conceive it impossible for any man , and difficult for a corporation of men , to make a true catalogue of the english gentry . because , what mathematicians say of a line , that it is divisibilis in semper divisibilia , is true hereof , if the latine were , ( which for ought i know , if as usuall is ) as elegant , addibilis in semper addibilia . not only because new gentry will every day be added ( and that as i conceive justly too , for why should the fountain of honour be stopped , if the channel of desert be running ? ) but because ancient gentry will dayly be newly discovered , though some of them perchance for the present , but in a poor and mean condition , as may appear by this particular . it happened in the reign of king james , when henry earl of huntington , was lieutenant of leicester-shire , that a labourers son in that county , was pressed into the wars , as i take it to go over with count mansfield . the old man at leicester , requested his son might be discharged , as being the only staff of his age , who by his industry maintained him and his mother . the earl demanded his name , which the man for a long time was loth to tell ( as suspecting it a fault for so poor a man to confess a truth ) at last he told his name was hastings . cosen hastings said the earl , we cannot all be top branches of the tree , though we all spring from the same root , your son my kinsman shall not be pressed . so good was the meeting of modesty in a poor , with courtesie in an honourable person , and gentry i believe in both. and i have reason to beleive , that some who justly own the sirnames and blood of bohuns , mortimers , and plantagenets ( though ignorant of their own extractions ) are hid in the heap of common-people , where they find that under a thatched cottage , which some of their ancestors could not enjoy in a leaded castle , contentment with quiet and security . to return to our catalogue of sheriffs . i have been bold to make some breif historical observations upon them , which i hope will not be unpleasing to the reader , whom i request first to peruse our notes on bark-shire , because of their publick influence on the rest , facilitating some difficulties which return in the sheriffes of other counties . after we have presented the sheriffs names , we have annexed their addition , either of estate , as esquire , or degree , as knight , baronet , &c. and this we have done always after , sometimes before k. henry the sixth . for , although the statute of additions , was made in the first of king henry the fifth , to individuifie ( as i may say ) and separate persons from those of the same name : and although it took present effect in such suits and actions , where processe of utlary lieth , yet was it not universally practiced in other writings , till the end of the reign of king henry the sixth . after their additions , we have in a distinct columel , assigned the places of their habitation , where we could proceed with any certainty , leaving some blanks to imploy the industry of others . we have endevoured ( as neer as we could ) to observe proportion of time , in denoting their places , left otherwise our there be confuted by our then , the date of the kings reign which is prefixed . if sometimes we have made a prolepsis , with virgil his lavinia litora , i mean if we have placed some sheriffs too early in their possessions , a little before their families were fixed there , i hope the candid reader will either wink or smile at the mistake . it often commeth to pass , that the same sheriff in the same shire , hath two or more fair seats . this should raise their gratitude to god , whose own son was not so well provided , not having where to lay his hand . in this variety , our catalogue presenteth but one , sometime the oldest , sometimes the fairest , and sometimes freely to confess ) what comes first to my memory . the best is , truth doth not abate thereby , knowing so much law ; that where a man hath an houshold in two places , he shall be said to dwell in both of them ; so that this addition in one of them , doth suffice . next to the place of sheriffes , we set down their arms , whereof largely in the next chapter . we conclude the catalogue of sheriffes with a comment upon them presenting their most remarkable actions . our husbandmen in middlesex , make a distinction between dodding and threshing of wheat , the former being only the beating out of the fullest and fairest grain , leaving what is lean and lank to be threshed out afterwards . our comment may be said to have dodded the sheriffes of several counties , insisting only on their most memorable actions , which are extant in our printed histories , otherwise my eyes could not look into lock'd chests ( i mean ) pierce into the private records of families , carefully concealed and kept in their choicest cabinet . besides , such unprinted records are infinite ( understand it in the same sense in which the strength of tire is called * infinite ) too many for one authour to manage , and therefore are left to such as undertake the description of several counties . chap. xvi . of the coats of arms , affixed to such , who have been sheriffs of counties . something must be premised of arms in general . they may seem in some sort to be jure divino to the jews , having a precept for the practise thereof . every * man of the children of israel shall pitch by his own standard , with the ensign of their fathers house . the use thereof is great both in war and peace . i begin with war , because arms had their first rise from arms , and had a military origination . vvithout these an army cannot be methodized , and is but an heap of men . like an army ( saith the * scripture ) terrible with banners . vvithout which an army is not terrible , but ridiculous , routing it self with its own confusion . now , as no army without banners ; so no banner without arms therein . if the trumpet give * an uncertain sound , who shall prepare himself to the battail . now , as the trumpet tells the time , so the banner proclaims the place of meeting , and if it have not distinguishable emblems therein , who shall know whither to repair to his captain or company ? arms are also useful in peace , to distinguish one man from another . they be termed nomina visibilia , visible names . for , as a name notifieth a man to the ear , so his arms do signifie him to the eye , though dead many years since ; so signal the service of arms on tombs , to preserve the memory of the deceased . arms anciently were either assumed or assigned . for at first men took what arms they pleased , directed by their own fancy . a custome still continuing in the low-countryes , where the burgers chuse their own arms with as great confidence as tradesmen make their mark , or innkeepers set up their signs in england . assigned arms were such as princes , or their officers under them appointed to particular persons , in reward of their service . and , whereas assumed arms were but personal , these generally were hereditary and descended to their families . it is the rule general in arms , that the plainer the ancienter , and so consequently more honourable . arma primò nuda sine ornatu . and when a memorable gentleman ( understand me such an one , the beginning of whose gentry might easily be remembred ) was mocking at the plain coat of an ancient esquire , the esquire returned , i must be fain to wear the coat , which my great-great-grana-father left me , but had i had the happiness to have bought one , as you did , it should have been guarded after the newest fashion . two colours are necessary and most highly honourable ; though both may be blazoned with one word [ as varrey ] ( formerly born by the beauchamps of hatch in wilt-shire , and still quartered by the duke of somerset ) three are very honourable ; four commendable ; five excusable ; more , disgraceful . yet have i seen a coat of arms ( i mean within the escocheon ) so piebald , that if both the metalls , and all the colours ( seven in all ) were lost elsewhere , they might have been found therein . such coats were frequently given by the heralds ( not out of want of wit , but will to bestowe better ) to the new gentry in the end of the reign of king henry the eighth . one said of a coat that it was so well victualled , that it might endure a siege , such the plenty and variety of fowl , flesh and fish therein ; though some done so small , one needed a magnifying glass to discover them ; but such surfeited coats have since met with a good * physician , who hath cured many of them . i can not but smile at his fansie , who ( counting himself , no doubt , wonderfully wittie ) would be a reformer of our heraldry , and thought it fine , if it were thus ordered , that all , descended of ancient nobility . should give their field or. extracted from undoubted gentry .   argent . advancing themselves by sea-adventures .   azure . raised by their valour in war.   gules . gown-men preferred for learning .   sable . countrymen raised by good husbandry .   vert. indeed , as these metals and colours are reckoned up in order , so are they reputed in honour , save that the contest betwixt azure and gules is not so clearly decided . or and azure in composition are conceived the richest ; argent and sable the fairest coat , because setting off each other discernable at the greatest distance . the lion and eagle are reputed the most honorable , the cross the most religious bearing ; a bend is esteemed the best ordinarie , being a belt born in its true posture athwart , as a fess is the same worne about the middle . things natural in the charge presented in their proper colour are best ; and herbes vert far better than or , as flourishing better than fadeing ; even stained are no stained colours when natural . but seeing the whole mistery of heraldry , dwells more in the region of fansie , than judgment , few rules of assurance can be laid down therein . we meet with some few coats which have reasons rendered of their bearing . thus , whereas the earls of oxford anciently gave their coat plain , quarterly gules and or , they took afterward in the first a mullet or star argent , because the cheife of the house had a falling-star ( as my * authour saith ) alighting on his shield , as he was fighting in the holy-land . but it were a labour in vain for one to offer at an account , for all things borne in armorie . this mindeth me of a passage in the north , where the ancient and worthy family of the gascoignes gave for their arms the head of a lucie or pike , cooped in pale ; whereon one merrily , the lucy is the finest fish , that ever graced any dish ; but , why you give the head alone , i leave to you to pick this bone. a question which on the like occasion may be extended to beasts and fowle , whose single heads are so generally born in several coats . after the names and places of sheriffs exemplifyed in their respective counties , we have added their arms ever since the first of king richard the second . and , though some may think we begin too late ( the fixing of hereditary arms in england , being an hundred years ancienter ) we find it sometimes too soon to attain at any certainty therein . in peruseing these arms , the reader will meet with much observeable variety , viz. . that the same family sometimes gives two paternal coats , as , spencer in northampton-shire . quarterly arg. and gules , the second and third , charged with a fret or , over all on a bend sable . escallops of the first . azure a fess ermin betwixt . sea meaws heads erased arg. sometimes two distinct families and names , give the self same coat , as in barkshire , fettiplace gules cheverons argent . hide .   the same name ; but being distinct families in several counties , give different arms. grey . in leicester-shire , barry of . argent and azure , in chief . torteauxes . in northumberland , gules a lyon rampant with a border engrailed argent . the same name in the same shire , being distinct families , gives different coats , as in northampton shire . green. of greens-norton , azure three bucks trippant or. of drayton , argent a cross engrailed gules . the same name and family in the same shire , gives the same coat for essentials , but disguised in colours as in northampton-shire . tresham . of lifden . of newton . the same family giveth a coat this day , bearing some general allusion to , but much altered and bettered from what they gave some sixty years since , and forbearing to give an instance hereof , for some reason , i refer it to the readers discovery . contented with the coat it self , i have not inserted the differences of younger houses , crescents , mullets , martlets , &c. chiefly because they are generally complained of , and confessed as defective , subject to coincidence , and not adequate to the effectual distinguishing of the branches from the same root . as the affixing of differences if done , were imperfect , so the doing thereof , is not only difficult , but also dangerous . dangerous , for it would bring many old houses ( and new ones too ) on his head , who undertakes it , so undistinguishable are the seniorities of some families , parted so long since , that now it is hard to decide , which the root , and which the branch . i remember a contest in the court of honour , betwixt the two houses of constable , the one of flamborongh head , the other of constable-burton , both in york-shire , which should be the eldest . the decision was , it was never decided , both sides producing such ancient evidences , that in mounting up in antiquity like hawks , they did not only lessen but fly out of sight , even beyond the kenn and cognizance of any record . the case i conceive occurs often betwixt many families in england . some names we have left without arms. physicians prescribe it as a rule of health , to rise with an appetite ; and i am loth the reader should fill himself with all which he might desire . but ( not to dissemble ) i could not with all mine own , and friends skill and industry , attain their coats , as of families either extinct in those counties before the first , or only extant therein since the last visitation of heralds . yet let not my ignorance be any mans injury , who humbly desireth , that such vacuities may hereafter be filled up by the particular chorographers of those respective counties . this i am sure , a needle may be sooner found in a bottle of hay , ( a task though difficult , yet possible to be done ) than the arms of some sheriffs of counties be found in the heraulds visitations of the said counties . for many were no natives of that shire , but came in thither occasionally from far distant places . thus the arms of sir jervis clifton ( thrice high-sheriff of kent in the reign of king henry the sixth ) are invisible in any kentish heralds office , as not landed therein himself though living at braburn , on the jointure of isabel his wife , the * widdow of william scot esq and i doubt not but instances of the same nature frequently are found in other counties . we will conclude this discourse of arms with this memorable record , being as ancient as the reign of king henry the fift . claus. . henrici quinti membrana . in dorso in turre londinensi . rex vic ▪ salutem . &c. quia prout informamur diversi ●…omines qui in viagiis nostris ante haec tempora factis , arma & tunicas armorum vocat . coat armours in se susceperunt , ubi nec ipsi , nec eorum antecessores hujusmodi armis ac tunicis armorum temporibus retroactis usi fuerint & ea in presenti viagio nostro in proximo deo dante faciend . exercere proponant ; et quanquam omnipotens suam gratiam disponat prout vult in naturalibus , equaliter diviti & pauperi ; volentes tamen quemlibet ligeorum nostrorum predictorum juxta status sui exigentiam modo debito pertractari & haberi . tibi praecipimus quod in singulis locis intra ballivam tuam , ubi per breve nostrum nuper promonst . faciendis proclamari facias , quod nullus cujuscunq , status , gradus , seu conditionis fuerit , hujusmodi arma sive tunicas ●…rmorum in se sumat , nisi ipse jure antecessorto vel ex donatione alicujus ad hoc su●…ficientem potestatem habentis ea possideat aut possidere debeat . et quod ipse arma sive tunicas illas ex cujus dono obtinet , die monstrationis suae personis ad hoc per nos assignatis seu assignandis manifeste demonstret exceptis illis qui nobiscum apud bellum de agincourt armu portabant sub poenis non admissionis ad proficiendum in viagio praedicto sub numero ipsius cum quo retentus existit , ac perditionis vadiorum suorum ex causa praedicta praeceptorum , nec non rasura , & ruptura dictorum armorum & tunicarum vocat . coat-armours , tempore monstrationis suae praedicto , si ea super illum monstrata fuerint seu inventa , & hoc nulla tenus omittas , t. r. apud civitatem , nov. sarum secundo die junii . per ipsum regem . the king to the sheriff health , &c. because there are divers men as we are informed , which before these times in the voyages made by us , have assumed to themselves arms and coat-armors where neither they nor their ancestors in times past used such arms or coat armours , and propound with themselves to use and exercise the same in this present voyage which ( god willing ) we shortly in●…end to make . and although the omnipotent disposeth his favours in things natural , as he pleaseth , equally to the rich and poor , yet we willing that every one of our leige subjects , should be had and handled in due manner , according to the exigence of his state and condition . we command thee , that in every place within thy bailiwick , where by our writ we have lately shewn , you cause to be proclaimed , that no man of what state degree or condition soever he be , shall take upon him such arms or coats of arms , save he alone who doth possesse or ought to possesse the same , by the right of his ancestors , or by donation and grant of some , who had sufficient power to assign him the same . and that he , that useth such arms or coats of arms , shall on the day of his muster , manifestly shew to such persons assigned , or to be assigned by us for that purpose , by virtue of whose gift he enjoyeth the same . those only excepted who carried arms with us , at the battle of agincourt ; uuder the penalties not to be admitted to go with us in our foresaid voyage under his command by whom he is for the present retained , and of the loss of his wages , as also of the rasing out , and breaking off the said arms called coat-armours at the time of his muster aforesaid , if they shall be shewed upon him , or found about him . and this you shall in no case omit . witnesse the king at the city of new sarum , june the second . consimilia brevia diriguntur vicecom . wilts , sussex , dors. sub eadem data . i could wish a reviving of this instrument in our age , many up-starts in our late civil wars , having injuriously invaded the arms of ancient families . chap. xvii . of the often altering of sirnames , and the various writing thereof . having dealt so largely in sirnames , it is necessary to observe , that sirnames of families have been frequently altered , some families deposing their old , and assuming new names on several occasions : but cheifly for , . concealment in time of civil wars . a name is a kind of face , whereby one is known ; wherefore taking a false name is a vizard whereby men disguise themselves , and that lawfully enough , when not fradulently done to deceive others , but discreetly in danger , to secure themselves : thus during the contest 'twixt york and lancaster , carington in warwick-shire took the name of smith . la blunt the name of croke in buckingham-shire , with many others . . for advancement when adopted into an estate , as newport the name of hatton , in northampton-shire ; throckmorton the name of carew at beddington in surrey , as long before westcoat the name of littleton in stafford-shire . besides the same sirname continued , hath been variously altered in writing . first , because time teacheth new orthography , altering , spelling , as well as speaking . secondly the best gentlemen anciently were not the best scholars , and ( minding matters of more moment ) were some what too incurious in their names . besides , writers ingrossing deeds , were not over critical in spelling of names , knowing well where the person appeared the same , the simplicity of that age , would not fall out about misnomer . lastly , ancient families have been often removed into several counties , where several writings follow the several pronunciations . what scholar knoweth not , that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their greek name for jupiter , is by their seven dialects , written ten several wayes and ( though not so many dialects in england ) there is a real difference betwixt our southern , western , and northern pronunciations . hence it is that the same name hath been so often disguised unto the staggering of many , who have mistook them for different . idem non idem , quaeruntque in nomine nomen . the same they thought was not the same , and in their name they sought their name . thus i am informed , that the honourable name of villiers is written fourteen several ways , in their own evidences , and the like ( though not so many ) variations , may be observed in others . and the name of roper in darby-shire , changed from musard to rubra-spatha , rospear , rouspee , rooper , roper . i insist the longer on this point , because in our catalogue of sheriffs , the same sirname is variously written , which some ( without cause ) may impute to my carelesnesse , being the effect of my care , conforming the orthography exactly to the original , where such variation doth plainly appear , and however such diversity appeareth in the eye of others , i dare profess that i am delighted with the prospect thereof . chap. xviii . of modern battels . immediately before our farewell to the respective counties , we have inserted a breviate of modern battels since our civil distempers . i need here premise nothing of the difference betwixt a skirmish ( being only the ingagement of parties ) and a battle being an incounter betwixt generals with their armies . nor yet of the difference betwixt praelium a fight or battel , and bellum a war , the former being a fight in field , the later the continuance of hostility ( which may be for many years ) whilst the difference dependeth undecided . peracto pr●…lio manet bellum . and though a truce may give a comma or colon to the war , nothing under a peace can put a perfect period thereunto . in describing these battels , i am for distinction sake necessitated to use the word parliament improperly , according to the abusive acception thereof for these latter years . let us think and judge with the wise , but if we do not speak with the vulgar , we shall be dumb to the vulgar . otherwise i know a parliament properly , is a compleat syllogisme , the lords and commons being the two propositions , the king the conclusion thereof , and our english tongue wanteth one word to express the dissenting part of a parliament , and i trust in god , as our language doth not afford the name , so our land shall not hereafter behold the nature thereof . these battels are here inserted , not with any intent ( god knows my heart ) to perpetuate the odious remembrance of our mutual animosities ; that heart burnings may remain , when house burnings are removed ; but cheifly to raise our gratitude to god , that so many battels should be fought in the bosome of so little a land , and so few scars and signs thereof extant in their visible impressions . such , who consider how many men we have lost , would wonder we have any left , and such , who see how many we have left , that we had any lost . in a word , as it is said of the best oyl , that it hath no tast , that is , no tang , but the pure natural gust of oyl therein , so i have indevoured to present these battels according to plain historical truth , without any partial reflections . chap. xix . of the number of modern shires or counties in england ; and why the worthies in this work are digested county-wayes . i say modern , not meaning to meddle with those antiquated ones , which long since have lost their names and bounds , as * winchelcomb-shire united to gloucester-shire , * howdon-shire annexed to york-shire , and hexham-shire to northumberland . as little do we intend to touch on those small tracts of ground , the county of poole and the like , being but the extended limits and liberties of some incorporations . we add shires or counties , using the words promiscuously as the same in sense . i confess , i have heard some criticks making this distinction betwixt them , that such are shires which take their denomination from some principal town , as cambridgeshire , oxford-shire , &c. whilest the rest not wearing the name of any town , are to be reputed counties , as norfolk , suffolk , &c. but we need not go into wales to confute their curiosity ( where we meet merioneth-shire , and glamorgan-shire , but no towns so termed ) seeing devon-shire doth discompose this their english conceit ; i say , english shires and counties , being both comitatus in latine . of these there be nine and thirty at this day , which by the thirteen in wales , are made up fifty two , england ( largely taken ) having one for every week in the year . here let me tender this for a real truth , which may seem a paradoxe , that there is a county in england , which from the conquest , till the year ( when mr. camdens last latine britannia was set forth ) never had count or earl thereof , as hereby may appear , in his conclusion of bark-shire . immediately it followeth . haec de bark shire , quae hactenus comitis honore insignivit neminem . in hujus comitatus complexu sunt parochiae . now this may seem the more strange , because comes and comitatus are relative . but , under favour i humbly conceive , that though bark shire never had any titular , honourary or hereditary earl , till the year . ( when francis lord norris was created first earl thereof ) yet had it in the saxons time ( when it was first modelled into a shire ) an officiary count , whose deputy was termed vice-comes as unto this day . why the worthies in this work are digested county-ways . first , this method of marshalling them is new , and therefore i hope neverthelesse acceptable . secondly , it is as informative to our judgements , to order them by counties according to their place , as by centuries ( so oft done before ) according to the time ; seeing where is as essential as when to a mans being . yea both in some sort may be said to be jure divino , understand it ordered by gods immediate providence , and therefore are coupled together by the apostle , acts . . and hath determined the times before appointed , and the bounds of their habitation . if of their habitation in general , then more especially of the most important place of their nativity . the spirit of god in scripture taketh signal notice hereof , * the lord shall count when he writes up the people , that this man was born there . * philip was of bethsaida , the city of andrew and peter ; and all know how st. paul got his best liberty , where he saw the first light in tarsus a city of cilicia . when augustus c●…ar issued out a decree to taxe the whole world , it was ordered therein , that * every own should go into his own city , as the most compendious way to prevent confusion , and effectually to advance the businesse . i find the same to expedite this work , by methodizing the worthies therein according to the respective places of their nativities . if some conceive it a pleasant sight in the city of london , to behold the natives of the several shires , after the hearing of a sermon , passe in a decent equipage to some hall , there to dine together for the continuance and increase of love and amity amongst them : surely this spectacle will not seem unpleasant to ingenuous eyes , to see the heroes of every particular county , modelled in a body together , and marching under the banners of their several eminencies . here may you behold how each county is innated with a particular genius , inclining the natives thereof to be dexterous , some in one profession , some in another ; one carrying away the credit for souldiers , another for seamen , another for lawyers , another for divines , &c. as i could easily instance , but that i will not forestall the readers observation ; seeing some love not a rose of anothers gathering , but delight to pluck it themselves . here also one may see , how the same county was not always equally fruitful in the production of worthy persons ; but , as trees are observed to have their bearing and barren years : so shires have their rise and fall in affording famous persons , one age being more fertile then another , as by annexing the dates to their several worthies will appear . in a word , my serious desire is , to set a noble emulation between the several counties , which should acquit themselves most eminent in their memorable off spring . nor let a smaller shire be disheartned herein , to contest with another larger in extent , and and more populous in persons , seeing viri do not always hold out in proportion to homines . thus we find the tribe of simeon , more numerous than any in israel ( judah and dan only excepted ) as which at their coming out of egypt , afforded no fewer , than * fifty nine thousand and three hundred . yet that tribe did not yeild prince , preist , prophet , or any remarkable person ; apocrypha , judith only excepted . multi gregarii , pauci egregii ; and multitude with amplitude is never the true standard of eminency , as the judicious reader by perusing and comparing our county catalogues , will quickly perceive . a case of concernment propounded , and submitted to the equity of the reader . it is this . many families time out of mind , have been certainly fixed in eminent seats in their respective counties , where the ashes of their ancestors sleep in quiet , and their names are known with honour . now possibly it may happen , that the chief mother of that family , travelling in her travel by the way side , or by some other casualty , as visit of a friend , &c. may there be delivered of the heir of her family . the question is , whether this child shall be reputed the native of that place where his mother accidentally touched , or where his father , and the father of his fathers have landed for many generations . on the one side , it seemeth unreasonable to any man according to his historical conscience , that such a casual case should carry away the sole credit of his nativity . this allowed , & tota anglia londinizabit , a moiety almost of the eminent persons in this modern age , will be found born in that city , as the inn-general of the gentry and nobility of this nation . whether many come to prosecute law-suits , to see and to be seen , and on a hundred other occasions , among which i will not name , saving of house-keeping in the countrey . one instance of many . i find by the register of st. dunstans , in the west , london , that thomas wentworth afterward earl of strafford was born in that parish , and christned in the church aforesaid , his mother big with child , probably coming thither for the conveniency of a midwife . now what a wrong is it to deprive woodhouse , wentworth in york-shire , where his family hath continued in a noble equipage for many years , there possest of a large revenue , of the honour of his nativity ? on the other side it is clea●… in the rigour of the law ( and i question whether chauncery in this case , will or can afford any remedy ) that the minute of the birth of any person at any place , truly entitles the same to his nativity . this is plain by the statutes of those colledges in either university , that confine fellowships to counties , and it will be said , transit onus cum honore , the burthen as well as the profit is to be conveyed on the same occasion . reader , the case thus stated , is remitted to thy own arbitration . however thus far i have proceeded therein , in this following work , that when such alterations ( for i can give them no better term ) and accidental straglings from the known place of their family shall appear unto me , i am resolved to enter them in those places accordingly . but until i receive such intelligence , i will confidently admit them in that place which is generally known in persons of honour for the principal habitation of their family . chap. xx. that clergy-men formerly carried the register of their birth-place in their sirnames , and why ; as also that ( since the reformation ) the sons of the married clergy have been as successeful as others . it was fashionable for the clergy ( especially if regulars , monks , and friers ) to have their surnames ( for syr-names they were not ) or upper-names , because superadded to those given at the font , from the places of their nativity , and therefore they are as good evidence to prove where they were born , as if we had the deposition of the midwife , and all the gossips present at their mothers labours . hence it is that in such cases we seldome charge our margin with other authors , their sirname being author enough , to avow their births therein . some impute this custome to the pride of the clergy , whose extraction generally was so obscure , that they did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , were ashamed of their parentage . an uncharitable opinion , to fixe so foul a fault on so holy a function ; and most false , many in orders appearing of most honourable descent . yet richard bishop of london , quitted angervill , though his father sir * richard angervil , was a knight of worth and worship , to be called of bury ; where he was born , and william bishop of winchester waved pattin to wear waynfleet , though he was eldest son to * richard pattin an esquire of great ancientry . others say , that the clergy herein affected to be levi-like , * who said to his father and to his mother i have not seen him , practising to be mimicks of * melchisedech , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , without father , without mother , without descent , so to render themselves independent in the world , without any coherence to carnal relations . surely some were well minded herein , that as they might have no children , they would have no fathers , beholding the place of their birth , as co-heir at least to their estates , to which many did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , plenti●…ully pay for their nursing therein . question . but oftentimes it comes to passe , that there be many towns in england , the same to a title both in spelling and calling . so that on such uncertain evidence , no true verdict can be found for their nativity . one instance of many , william of wickham was the famous founder of new colledge in oxford . but how can his cradle be certainly fixed in any place , when it is equally rockt betwixt twenty villages of the same denomination .   shire . hundred . wickham berks kentbury high wickham bucks burnham west wickham bucks disborough wickham west camb. chilforde wickham essex thurstable wickham s. paul essex hinckford . wickham bonant essex uttlesford wickham hants titchfield wickham-brux . kent st. austins wickham east kent su●…ton wickham vvest kent ibidem vvickham linc. ellowe . vvickham brook suffolk risbridge vvickham suffolk wilforde vvickham skeyth suffolk hartesmer vvickham oxford banbury vvickham sussex bramber vvickham york ridall vvickham york pickering vvickham abbey york ibidem . see here a lottery , and who dare assure himself of the prize , having nineteen blanks against him . indeed if election should be made by the eminency of the place , high vvickham in buckingham-shire would clearly carry it , as an ancient borough town , sending burgesses to parliament . but all these being vvickhams alike , bring in their claims to the aforesaid vvilliam , and how shall the right be decided ? the same question may be demanded of several other persons on the same occasion . answer . i confess the case often occurs , though seldome so many places be competitors ; wherefore herein we have our recourse to the circumstances in the history of such a controverted person , and consult the most important of them with our greatest diligence and discretion . noscitur è socio qui non noscetur ab ipso . we by their company do own . men by themselves to us unknown . such circumstances may be called the associats of a mans life , as where they most conversed , had their kindred ; got their preferment , &c. and these though not severally , joyntly se●…ve as so many lights to expound the place of his birth , and clearing the homonymi●… of many places , state that town justly wherein he was born . thus are we not only in bivio or trivio , but as i may say in vigentivio being to find wickhams birth amongst twenty of his namesake villages . but discovering john perrot his father , richly landed about winchester , and the principal actions of his life presented thereabouts , with some other remarks , all meeting on the same scene , one may safely conclude , that wickham in hamp-shire , the eight in the aforesaid catalogue ) is that individual wi●…kham wherein this prelate took his first degree , i mean proceeded into the light of this world. the like evidence ( though not always so clear ) hath upon diligent search directed us in differences of the same nature . an expedient when several places claim the birth of the same person . it often cometh to passe that two or more places intitle themselves to the nativity of the same man ; here my endevour is to keep the peace ( as well as i may ) betwixt them , as in the instance here inserted , bradwardin . castrum , unde ortum & nomen t. bradwardinus arch. cant. habuit . camden brit. in herefordshire . t. bradwardinus hartfeldiae natus in dioecesi cicestriensi . j. bale de script . brit. cent. . pag. . tho. bradwardinus patria southsaxia , ex civitate cice stria oriundus . joh. pits de ang. scrip. anno . natus fertur bradwardinus hatfeldiae , in comitatu suffolciensi . godwin . in catal. episc. londini impres . anno . see here four places challenge one man , and i am as unwilling to accuse any of falshood , as i am unable to maintain all in the truth . however the difference may thus be accomodated , bradwardins ancestors fetch'd their name from that place in herefordshire , according to camden ; though he himself was born ( as bale saith ) at hartfeld in sussex ; within the city ( saith pits ) of chichester , interpret him ex●…ensively not to the walls , but diocesse and jurisdiction thereof . as for suffolk in bishop godwin , i understand it an erratum in the printer for sussex . our usual expedient in the like cases is this , to insert the character at large of the controverted person in that county , which ( according to our apprehension ) produceth the best evidence for him ; yet so , that we also enter his name with a reference in the other respective places , which with probability pretend unto him . if equal likelyhood appear unto us on all sides , that county clearly carries away his character , which first presenteth it self to our pen , in the alphabetical order . thus lately , when the same living was in the gift of the lord chancellour , lord treasurer , and master of the wards , that clerk commonly carried it , who was first presented to the bishop . however , though in the disputable nativities of worthy men , first come , first serv'd , a caveat is also entred in other counties , to preserve their titles unprejudiced . it must not be forgotten , that many , without just cause , by mistake , multiply differences in the places of mens births . the papists please themselves with reporting a tale of their own inventing , how the men of two towns in germany fell out , and fought together , whilst one of them was for martin , the other for luther , being but the several names of the same person . if one author affirms bishop jewel born at buden , another at berinerber , let none make strife betwixt these two writers , the former naming the house and village , the later the parish wherein he was born , a case which often occurs in the notation of nativities . that the children of clergymen have been as successeful as the sons of men of other professions . there goeth a common report , no less uncharitable than untrue , yet meeting with many beleivers thereof , as if clergy mens sons were generally signally unfortunate , like the sons of ely , * hophnies , and phineaz's , dissolute in their lives , and * doleful in their deaths ; this i may call a libell indeed , according to sir francis bacon his description thereof ; for first , it is a lye , a notorious untruth ; and then a bell , some lowd and lewd tongue hath told , yea rung it out , and perchance was welcome musick to some hearers thereof . it is first confest , that the best saints and servants of god , have had bad as well as good children extracted from them . it is the note of illiricus on those words of saint john to the elect lady : * i rejoiced greatly , when i found of thy children walking in the truth . he saith not all thy but of thy children , intimating that she had mingled ware , corn and tares in those who were descended from her . thus aaron ( for i desire to restrain my self in instances of the priests ) had nadab and abihu , two * strange fire offerers , as well as his godly sons eliazar and ithamar . yea , i find one of the best fathers , having two ( and those i beleive all he had ) of the worst * sons , even samuel himself . nor do we deny , but that our english clergy have been unhappy in their off-spring , ( though not above the proportion of other professions ) whereof some have not unprobably assigned these causes . first , if fellows of colledges , they are ancient be●…ore they marry . secondly , their children then are all benjamins , i mean the children of their old age , and thereupon by their fathers ( to take off as much as we may the weight of the fault from the weaker sex ) cockered and indulged , which i neither defend or excuse , but bemone and condemn . thirdly , such children after their fathers death are left in their minority , to the careless care of friends and executors , who too often discharge not their due trust in their education , whence it is such orphans too osten embrace wild courses to their own destructions . but all this being granted , we maintain that clergy-mens children have not been more unfortunate , but more observed than the children of the parents of other professions . there is but one minister at one time in a whole parish , and therefore the fewer they are , the easier they are observed both in their persons and posterities . secondly , the eminency of their place , maketh them exposed and obvious to all discoveries . thirdly , possibly malice may be the eye-salve to quicken mens sight , in prying after them . lastly , one ill success in their sons , maketh ( for the reasons aforesaid ) more impression in the ears and eyes of people , then many miscarriages of those children whose fathers were of another function . ( i speak not this out of intent to excuse or extenuate the badnesse of the one , by the badnesse of the other , but that both may be mutually provoked to amendment . ) in a word , other mens children ; would have as many eyesores , if they had as many eyes seeing them . indeed , if happinesse be confin'd unto outward pomp and plenty , and if those must be accounted unfortunate ( which i in the true meaning of the word must interpret unprovidenced ) who swim not in equal plenty with others , then that epithet may be fixed on the children of the clergy . whose fathers coming late to their livings , and surprised by death , not staying long on them ( which at the best afforded them but narrow maintenance ) leave them oft-times so ill provided , that they are forced without blame or shame to them ( as i conceive ) to take sometimes poor and painful employments for their livelyhood . but by our following endevours it will plainly appear , that the sons of ministers have by gods blessing proved as eminent as any who have raised themselves by their own endevours . for statesmen george carew , privy councellor of england , scotland , and ireland ; and as able a man [ absit invidia ] as the age he lived in produced , was earl of totnes , the same place whereof his father was arch-deacon . sir edwin sandys , son to arch-bishop sandys , will be acknowledged even by his enemies , a man of such merit , that england could not afford an office which he could not manage . for lawyers , sir thomas richardson , lately , and the never sufficiently to be commended sir orlando bridgeman , now lord chief justice , with many others . for seamen ▪ sir francis drake , that great scourge and terror to the spanish pride . if any say , these are but thin instances out of so thick a number , de tot modo milibus unus , few of so many hundreds , know we have only taken some eminent persons , leaving the rest , for fear to be counted forestallers to the collection of the reader in our ensuing book . but the sons of ministers have never been more successeful , then when bred in the professions of their fathers , as if some peculiar blessing attended them , whilst they continue therein . thus of the prelatical clergy , we have francis godwin a bishop , the son of a bishop , and doctor john king son to his reverend father the bishop of london . and of other clergy men we have three generations of the wards in suffolk . as many of the shutes in york shire , no lesse painful then pious and able in their professions . let me add , that there were at one time fellows of kings colledge , sons of eminent divines , and afterwards doctors of divinity . samuel collings . thomas goad . william sclater . and i believe there were not severally in their generations , men more signal in their different eminencies . it is easie for any to guess out of what quiver this envenomed arrow was first shot against the children of clergy men ; namely , from the church of rome . who in their jurisdiction forbid the banes of all clergymen , against the law of nature , scripture , and the practice of the primitive church . and in other places unsubjected to their power , bespatter the posterity of the clergy with their scandalous tongues . yet be it known unto them , the sons of english priests or presbyters may be as good as the nephews of roman cardinals . however , because antidotes may be made of poysons , it is possible that good may be extracted out of this false report ; namely , if it maketh clergy-men more careful to go before their children with good examples , to lead them with good instructions ; to drive and draw them ( if need so requireth ) with moderate correction seasonably used , putting up both drye and wet prayers to god for his blessing on their children . as also , if it maketh the children of clergy-men to be more careful , by their circumspect lives , to be no shame to the memory and profession of their fathers . chap. xxi . general rules for the author and readers . ease . i have ranked all persons under their respective titles , according to their seniorities , of the ages they lived in . good the method of the sons of jacob , sitting down at the table of their [ unknown ] brother * joseph , the first according to his birthright , and the youngest according to his youth . if therefore , on this account , a mean man take place of a mighty lord , the later ( as being dead ) i am sure will not , and the living reader should not be offended thereat . of the dates of time annexed to the persons and their actions . the sun , that glorious creature , doth serve mankind for a double use , to lighten their eyes with his beams , and minds with his motion . the later is performed by him as appointed for * signs and for seasons , as he is the great regulator of time , joynted into years and months , carved into weeks and dayes , minced into hours and minutes . at what a sad loss are such , who living in lone houses , in a gloomy winter day , when the sun doth not at all appear , have neither the benefit of watches , silent clocks , nor of clocks , speaking watches , being ready oft-times to mistake noon for night , and night for noon . worse errors are committed by those , who being wholy ignorant in chronology , set the grand-children before their grandfathers , and have more hysteronproterons , than of all other figures in their writings . the maxime , he who distinguisheth well instructeth well , is most true in the observing of the distinction of time . it will pose the best clerk to read ( yea to spel ) that deed , wherein sentences , clauses , words and letters , are without points or stops , all continued together . the like confusion ariseth , when persons and their actions are not distanced by years , nor pointed with the periods of generations . i have endevoured in my following work , to time eminent persons by one of these notations , first , that of their morning or nativity , the second , that of their noon or flourishing , the last , that of their night or death . the first is very uncertain , many illustrious men being of obscure extraction . the second more conspicuous , when mens lustre attracts many eyes to take notice of them . many see the oake when grown , ( especially if a standard of remark ) whilst few ( if any ) remember the acorn , when it was set . the last is not the least direction , as which is generally observed . it cometh to pass somtimes , that their deaths acquaint us with their births , viz. when attended on their tomb with intelligence of their age , so that by going backward so many years from their coffins we infallibly light on their cradles . some persons in our works are notified by all of these indications , most with two , and all with one of them . when we find a contest amongst chronologers , so that with the mutinous ephesians , * some cry one thing , and some another , being as much dispersed in their opinions , as the amorites in their persons ( when defeated by saul ) so * that two of them were not left together , in such a case , i have pitched on that date ( under correction of better judgements ) which seemed to me of greatest probability . an apology for qualificatives used , and blanks left in this history . i approve the plain country by-word , as containing much innocent simplicity therein , almost and very nigh , have saved many a lie. so have the latines their prope , fere , juxta , circiter , plus minus , used in matters of fact by the most authentick historians . yea , we may observe , that the spirit of truth it self , where numbers and measures are concerned , in times , places and persons , useth the aforesaid modificatives , save in such cases , where some mystery contained in the number , requireth a particular specification thereof . in times . in places . in persons . dan. . . darius being about threescore and two years old . luk. . . from jerusalem about sixty furlongs . exod. . . about six hundred thousand men on foot . luke . . jesus began to be about thirty years of age . joh. . . had rowed about five and twenty furlongs . act. . . added to the church about thousand 〈◊〉 . none therefore can justly find fault with me , if on the like occasion i have secured my self with the same qualificatives . indeed such historians who grind their intelligence to the powder of fraction , pretending to cleave the pin , do sometimes misse the but. thus one reporteth , how in the persecution under dioclesian , there were neither under nor over , but just nine hundred ninety nine martyrs . yea , generally those that trade in such retail-ware , and deal in such small parcells , may by the ignorant be commended for their care , but condemned by the judicious for their ridiculous curiosity . but such who will forgive the use of our foresaid qualificatives ( as but limping and lamenesse ) will perchance not pardon the many blanks which occur in this book , accounting them no better then our flat fallingto the ground , in default of our industry where they found their best preferment , especially if convents or dignities of signal note ; as henry of huntington , not born , but arch-deacon there ; william of malmsbury , and matthew of westminster , no natives of those towns ; but monks of the monasteries therein . however to prevent cavils , and avoid confusion , and to distinguish those from the former , their names are marked with s. n. for second nativity , to shew , that whence soever they fetcht their life , here they found their best livelyhood . but when a person plainly appears born beyond the seas , we take no notice of him , though never so highly advanced in england , as without our line of communication , and so not belonging to this subject . what rem . for remove when affixed in the margin doth denote . we meet with some persons in this our work , whose nativities we cannot recover with any great probability , neither by help of history , or heraldry , or tradition , or records , or registers , or printed , or writen books , which hitherto have come to our hands . now if such persons be of no eminence , we intend not to trouble our selves and reader with them , let obscurity even go to obscurity , when we find no great note in them , we take not any notice of them . but in case they appear men of much merit , whose nativities are concealed by some casualty , we are loath that their memories , who whilst living were worthies , now dead should be vagrants , reposited in no certain place . wherefore we have disposed them in some shire or other , not as dwellers , no nor so much as sojourners therein . but only as guests , and we render some slight reasons , why we invited them to that place , rather then another , seeing a small motive will prevail with a charitable mind , to give a worthy stranger a nights lodging . however , that these may not be confounded with those , of whose nativities we have either assurance or strong presumption . we have in the margin charactered them with a rem . for remove , it being our desire that they should be transplanted on the first convincing evidence , which shall appear unto us , to their proper place . and therefore i behold them as standing here with a staffe in their hands , ready to pack up , and go away , whither any good guide shall give them direction . always provided , that as they are set here , with little , they be not removed hence with lesse probability ; an unset bone is better then a bone so ill set , that it must be broken again to double the pain of the patient . and better it is these persons should continue in this their loose and dislocated condition , than to be falsly fixed in any place , from whence they must again be translated . now reader ( to recollect our marginal or prefixed characters ) know it is the best sign when no sign at all is added to a name , for then we proceed on certainty ; at least wise , on the credit of good authors , for the place of his nativity , thus the best of the house giveth his coat plain , whilst the following differences are but the diminutions of the younger brothers , viz. . amp. where our evidence of a persons birth is but conjectural and craveth further instruction . . s. n. when having no aim at the place of their birth , we fixe them according to their best livelyhood . . rem . when wholly unsatisfied of their position , we remit their removal to the readers discretion . now seeing order only makes the difference betwixt a wall and a heap of stones , and seeing , quibene distinguit bene docet , we conceived our selves obliged to part , and not jumble together the several gradations . how persons belonging to several topicks are ranked . it often 〈◊〉 to passe , that the same person may justly be entituled to two or more ●…opicks , as by the ensuing may appear . for not seeking due information . but let such know , that those officers , who by their place are to find out persons enquired after , deserve neither to be blamed nor shamed , when having used their best diligence , they return to the court a non est inventus . for my own part , i had rather my reader should arise hungry from my book , than surfeited therewith ; rather uninformed than misinformed thereby ; rather ignorant of what he desireth , than having a falsehood , or ( at the best ) a conjecture for a truth obtruded upon him . indeed , i humbly conceive that vacuity which is hateful in nature , may be helpful in history . for , such an hiatus beggeth of posterity , to take pains to fill it up with a truth ( if possible to be attained ) whereas , had our bold adventure farced it up with a conjecture , intus existens prohibuerit extraneum , no room had been left for the endevours of others . what ampliandum , so often occurring in this book , doth import . it is sufficiently known to all antiquaries , that causes brought to be heard and determined before the roman judges , were reducible to two kinds . . liquets . . ampliandums . when the case as clear and plain , was pre●… decided . when , being dark and difficult , they were put off to farther debate , somewhat alluding to our demurrs . hence it is , that we find the roman * oratour complaining of an unjust judge , cum causam non audisset , & potestas esset ampliandi , dixit sibi liquere . i should be loth to be found guilty of the like offence in rash adjudging mens nativities to places , on doubtful evidence , and therefore when our presumptions do rather incline then satisfie , we have prefixed amp. before the names of such persons . for when they appear undoubted english , and eminent in their respective qualities , it would be in us a sin of omission not to insert them ; and yet being ignorant of the exact place of their birth , it would be presumption peremptorily to design it without this note of dubitation , though on the most tempting probabilities . know also that when amp. is used in the arms of sheriffs , it is only done in such an exigent , where there are different coats of very ancient families , and largely diffused , as [ nevil , ferrers , basset , &c. ] so that it is hazardous for me to fixe on one in such great variety . what s. n. frequently appearing prefixed to mens names doth signifie . when we cannot by all our indevours inform our selves of the nativities of some eminent person , we are forced to this refuge ( so creditable , that i care not what eyes behold us entring under the roof thereof ) to insert such persons in those counties , where we find them either first or highest preferred : and this we conceive proper enough , and done upon good consideration . for the wild irish love their nurses as well ( if not better ) than their own mothers , and affect their foster-brothers , which suckt the same breast , as much as their natural-brothers whith sprang from the same womb. if any say these are the wild irish , whose barbarous customes are not to be imitated , i defend my self by the practice of more civilized people . the latines have a proverb , non ubi nascor , sed ubi pascor , making that place their mother , not which bred , but which fed them . the greeks have but one word , 〈◊〉 , both for life and livelyhood . the hebrews accounted that place was to give a man his native denomination , where he had his longest and most visible 〈◊〉 , from ( though not sometimes in ) his infancy . by which common mistake jesus was intituled on the cross , of nazareth instead of bethlehem . yea , we may observe ; that though generally our english clergy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from their birth places : yet some few quitted them , to be named from those 〈◊〉 , two of bishops , writers , arth. lakes . two of seamen , souldiers , sir francis drake .   physicians , benefactors , jo. caius .   statesmen , souldiers , sir ralph sadler . three of bishops , writers , benefactors , lancelot andrews . three of statesmen , lawyers , benefactors , sir nicholas bacon .   martyrs , bishops , writers , thomas cranmer .   statesmen , lawyers , writers , sir francis bacon . four of saints , bishops , writers , statesmen , tho. becket . four of lawyers , statesmen , writers , benefactors , william lord cecil .   confessors , bishops , writers , benefactors ed. grindall .   souldiers , seamen , statesmen , writers , sir walter raleigh . the question is now , under what head they shall be properly placed , seeing so many lay claim unto them ? some will say , let them be ranked in that capacity wherein they excelled . this i humbly conceive is an invidious work for any to perform . seeing none have made me , i will not make my self a judge in this case , many appearing equally eminent in their several capacities , but have embraced the following order . first , the titles of saints and martyrs carrieth it clearly from all others , i behold them as heavenly honours , and glory outshines gold ; next i deny not , i have an affection for benefactors to the publick , and much indulge that topick , clean thorough this work , * david saith to god himself , thou art good , there is a clear spring , and thou doest good , there is a comfortable stream . benefaction therefore being a god-like ▪ act , blame me not if under that title , those have been ranked , who otherwise had more outwardly honourable relations . for the rest i am not ashamed to confesse , that casualty in such who came first , and conveniency in such , who agreed best with my present occasion , regulated them in their method , and so be it they be here , the placing of them is not so much material . chap. xxii . an accommodation to prevent exceptions about the precedency of several professions . iam sadly sensible , that being to treat of the worthies in several professions ; i shall incur many mens displeasure , in not ranking th●…m according to their own desires ; the rather because there always hath been a battel royal about precedency , betwixt , . swordmen and gow●…men . . swordmen and swordmen . . gownmen and gownmen . concerning the first couple , the question ▪ an doctor praecedat militem ? hangeth as yet on the file , and i believe ever will , as which is often determined affirmatively in time of peace , but always negatively in time of war. nor less is the contest betwixt swordmen and swordmen ( i mean of the same side and interest ) about priority , whether land or sea captains should take place . the former they plead , that they fight on a fixed element ( not so subject as the sea to casual advantages ) which being a setled theatre of valour , men may indifferently try their courage upon it . the sea captain alledgeth , that the greater danger the greater dignity , and precedency therefore due to their profession , who encounter the winds and the water , besides the fierceness and the fury of their enemies . besides , it is very difficult if possible for a ship engaged in fight , to escape by flight , whereby many in land battels easily preserve themselves . i confess that custome ( the best herald in controversies of this kind ) hath adjudged the precedency to land captains , but not without the great grudge and regret of 〈◊〉 therein . we may observe in nature , that though the water and earth make one globe , and though providence preserveth the earth from being overflown by the water , yet the water as the lighter element , challengeth the highest place to its self , and watcheth all opportunities , ( especially when great rain meet with low banks ) to regain its superiority by inundations . sea captains in like manner , though depressed by practice and custome to give place to land captains , do it with that distast and dislike , that thereby ( though they cannot recover their right ) they continue their claim to precedency , watching their opportunity , and now ( in our so many naval expeditions ) not altogether out of hope to regain it . nor less the difference betwixt gownmen and gownmen , who should take the upper hand ▪ witnesse the contest betwixt doctors of phyfick , and of canon law , on that accompt , the former pleading the following instrument in their behalf . memorandum quod anno domini , in vigilia purificationis beatae mariae virginis , in plena convocatione regentium & non regentium , per fidem convocatorum declaratum est , quod doctor in medicina dextram partem cancellarii in congregationibus & convocationibus retineret & non sinistram , doctor vero in jure civili partem sinistram & non dextram . facta est haec declaratio ex praecepto regis richardi secundi post conquestum , anno regni sui octavo , add to this what a great * professor of philosophy , living in padua anno , concludeth after a long debating of the question . dicamus ergo cum sancta romana ecclesia , quod medicina est nobilior jure civili , quodque medicinae professores domini mereantur dici ; juristae vero praecones . but for all this , the doctors of the canon ( since in england united with the civil ) law , will not yeild unto them , pleading for themselves ; first , that professions are to take place according to the dignity of the subject they are employed about . secondly , that the soul is more worth than the body , which is the sphear of the physician . thirdly , that canonists meddle with many cases of soul concernment , and therefore ought to have the precedency . wherefore , to prevent all exceptions about priority , may the reader acquaint himself with this our method therein . . we place princes ; and both loyalty and civility will justifie us therein . . saints ; as our saviour said * my kingdome is not ; so their dignity is not of this world , and therefore none i hope will repine thereat . . . martyrs and confessors . if any grudge them this their high place , let them but give the same price they paid for it , and they shall have the same superiority . . eminent prelates ; a distance which they might justly claim in those days above others , as generally the lord chancellours and treasurers of the land. . statesmen ; whose eminent offices do warrant and avouch this their station against all opposition . . capital judges ; to whom this place doth of right belong . these premised , in the next four we have observed an order without order . some will maintain that sometimes a ryot is as good as a dyet : when at a feast all meats cast together , help one to digest another . qui vivit medice , vivit misere , sure i am , scribit misere , qui scribit methodice , i mean , when tyed up to such strict terms of method , in such cases that every misplacing is subject to exception . i commend the no less politick then peaceable custome of the skinners and merchant taylors of london , who after many long and costly suits betwixt their companies for precedency , to prevent future quarels agreed with themselves at last , to go first by turns or alternatly . the same method i embrace in ranking souldiers , seamen , civilians , physicians , sometimes one first , sometimes another , ringing no artificial but a meerly casual change in the ordering their professions . these thus ranked next follow , . learned writers . though many of these since the reformation , being doctors of divinity , may challenge precedency of some named before , yet they will not be discontented to come last , having learned the apostles rule , * in honour preferring one another , and god make us as humble as we are humbled . . benefactors to the publick . it is good to conclude and go out with a good savour , on which account these worthy persons are placed last , to leave the grateful perfume of their memory behind them . as for memorable persons , they are last , last placed , because ( as that title 〈◊〉 taken by us ) they are cast in , as superpondium , or overweight , our work being ended before . chap. xxiii . of the authors from whom our intelligence in the following work hath been derived . the plain english saying hath very much of downright truth therein ; i tell you my tale and my tale-master , which is essential to the begetting of credit to any relation . indeed when one writeth with st. john ( waving his infallible inspiration ) that which we have heard , which we have seen with our eyes , which we have looked upon , and our hands have handled , such clogging a book with authors were superfluous , which now is necessary in him that writeth what was done at distance , far from , in time long before him . first , to assert and vindicate the writer . when adam complained that he was naked , god demanded of him , who told thee that thou wast naked ? intimating thus much , that if he could not produce the person who first so informed him , he might justly be suspected ( as indeed he was ) the author as well as utterer of that sad truth . our saviour said to * pilate , sayest thou this thing of thy self , or did others tell thee ? and all things reported are reducible to this dichotomie , . the fountain of invention . . the chanell of relation . if one ignorantly buyeth stolen cattel , and hath them fairly vouched unto him , and publickly in an open fair payeth tole for them , he cannot be damnified thereby : the case i conceive of him who writeth a falsehood , and chargeth his margin with the author thereof . secondly , to edifie and inform the reader ; frustra creditur quod sine agnitione originis creditur . it is vainly beleived , which is beleived without the knowledge of the original thereof . yea , properly it is no rational b●…leif , but an easy , lazy , supine credulity . such as designingly conceal their authors , do it either out of guiltinesse or envy . guiltinesse , when conscious to themselves , that if inspection be made of such quotations , they will be found defectively , redundantly , or injuriously cited , distorted from their genuine intention . or else they do it out of envy . tyrants commonly cut off the stairs by which they climb up unto their thrones ( witness king richard the third , beheading the duke of buckingham ) for fear , that if still they be left standing , others will get up the same way . such the jealousie of some writers , that their readers would be as ( if not more ) knowing than themselves , might they be but directed to the original , which they purposely intercept . some to avoid this rock of envy , run on as bad of ostentation , and in the end of their books , muster up an army of authors , ( though perchance they themselves have not seriously perused one regiment thereof ) so that the goodnesse of their library , not greatnesse of their learning may thence be concluded , that they have ( if with the prophets * axe some were not borrowed ) for i will not say have read , many books in their possession . i have endevoured to steer my course betwixt both these rocks , and come now to give in the particulars , whence i have derived my information , knowing full well quantus author , tanta fides . these may be referred to . heads ; first , printed books ; secondly , records in publick offices ; thirdly , manuscripts in the possession of private gentlemen . to which we may adde a fourth , viz. instructions received from the nearest relations , to those persons , whose lives we have presented . we pass by printed books , ( cited in the margin ) and obvious to all who are pleased to consult them , and first pitch on the records of the tower. master william riley was then master of those jewels , for so they deserve to be accompted , seeing a scholar would preferre that place before the keeping of all the prisoners in the tower. i know not whether more to commend his care in securing , dexterity in finding , diligence in perusing them , or courtesie in communicating such copies of them , as my occasions required , thanks being all the fees expected from me . i place next the records in the exchequer , for although i had a catalogue of the sheriffs of england lent me by master high-more of the pipe-office , which i compared with another , of that learned knight sir winkefield bodenham , yet bei●…g frequently at aloss , i was forced to repair to the originals in the exchequer . here le●… not my gratitude be buried in the graves of master john witt , and master francis boyton , both since deceased , but whilst living advantagious to my studies . to these authentick records let me adde , the church registers in several parishes , denied indeed by our commons lawyers , but stickled for by some canonists to be records-fellows at least , and having though not the formality in law , the force thereof in history , very useful to help us in many nativities . and here i cannot but bemoan the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that great g●…lph , or broad blank left in our registers , during our civil wars , after the laying aside of bishops , & before the restitution of his most sacred majesty . yea , hereafter this sad vacuum is like to prove so thick , ( like the aegyptian darkness ) that it will be sensible in our english histories . i dare maintain that the wars betwixt york and lancaster , ( lasting by intermission some sixty years ) were not so distructive to church-records , as our modern wars in six years . for during the former , their differences agreed in the same religion , impressing them with reverence of all sacred muniments , whilst our civil wars founded in faction , and variety of pretended religions , exposed all naked church records , a prey to their armed violence . let me adde , that it conduced much to the exactness of jewish genealogies , that their children were solemnly circumcised and named on the eight-day . on the contrary , the omitting the baptizing of infants , till they be adult , ( which causeth , that though the weekly birth exceed the burials , the burials exceed the christenings in london , ) will perplex those who in the next age shall write the nativities of such persons . say not it matters not though their nativities be utterly forgotten . for though their fathers were factious phanaticks , the sons ( by gods grace ) may prove sober christians and eminent in their generations . the last port to which i traffiqued for intelligence , towards our insuing work , was by making my addresses by letters and otherwise , to the nearest relations of those whose lifes i have written . such applications , have sometimes proved chargable ; but if my weak pains shall find preferment , ( that is acceptance ) from the judicious reader , my care and cost is forgotten , and shall never come under computation . here i cannot but condemn the carelessness , not to say ingratitude of those ( i am safe whilst containing my self in general terms ) who can give no better account of the place , where their fathers or grand-fathers were born , then the child unborn , so that sometimes we have been more beholden to strangers for our instructions herein , then to their nearest kindred . and although some will say sons are more comfortably concerned to know the time of their fathers death , then place of their birth , yet i could almost wish , that a moderate fine were imposed on such heirs , whose fathers were born before them , and yet they know not where they were born . however , this i must gratefully confess , i have met with many who could not , never with any who would not furnish me with information herein . it is observable , that men born an hundred years since and upwards , have their nativities fixed with more assurance , then those born some eighty years since . mens eyes see worst in the twilight , in that intervale after the sun is set , and natural light ended , and before candles are set up , and artificial light begun . in such a crepusculum oftime those writers lived , who fall short of the history of bale and leland , yet go before the memory of any alive , which unhappy insterstice hath often perplexed us , and may easier be complained of , then amended . to conclude , should i present all with books , who courteously have conduced to my instruction , the whole impression would not suffice . but i remember the no less civil then politick invitation of * judah to the tribe of simeon , come up with me into my lot , [ to conquer the cananites ] and i likewise will go with thee into thy lot , if such who have lent me theirs , shall have occasion to borrow mine assistance , my pains , brains and books , are no more mine , then theirs to command , which ( besides my prayers for them , and thanks to them , ) is all my ability in requital can perform . chap. xxiii . a double division of the english gentry , . according to the nation whence they were extracted , . according to the profession whereby they were advanced . this discourse i tender the reader , as a preparative to dispose him for the better observing and distinguishing of our english gentry , in our ensuing lives and catalogue of sheriffs . we begin with the britains the aborigines , or native inhabitants of the south of this island , but long since expelled by the saxons into the west thereof ; none then remaining in , some since returning into our land , of whom hereafter . we confess the romans conquered our country , planted colonies , and kept garrisons therein , but their descendants are not by any character discernable from the british . indeed , if any be found able to speak latine naturally , without learning it , we may safely conclude him of roman extraction . mean time , it is rather a pretty conceit , then a solid notion of that great * antiquary , who from the allusion of the name collecteth the noble family of the cecils ( more truly sytsilts ) descended from the cecilii a senatorian family in rome . the saxons succeed , whose of-spring at this day are the main bulk and body of the english ( though not gentry ) nation , i may call them the whole cloath thereof , though it be garded here and there , with some great ones , of foreign extraction . these saxons though pitifully depressed by the conquerour , by gods goodness , king henry the first favour , their own patience and diligence , put together the plankes of their shiprack'd estates , and aferwards recovered a competent condition . the danes never acquired in this land a long and peaceable possession thereof , living here rather as inroders then inhabitants , the cause that so few families ( distinguishable by their surnames ) are descended from them , extant in our age . amongst which few , the respected stock of the denizes , ( often sheriffs in * devon and gloustershire ) appear the principal . as for fitz-hardinge , the younger son of the king of denmark , and direct ancestour of the truly honourable george lord berkeley , he came in long since when he accompanied the conquerour i must confess , that at this day , there passeth a tradition among some of the common people , that such names which terminate in son , as johnson , tomson , nicolson , davison , saunderson , are of danish origination . but this fond opinion , is long since con●…uted by vestegan , that ingenious and industrious * antiquary . yea , he urgeth this as an argument ( which much prevaileth with me ) why those surnames were not derived from the danes , because they had no such name in use amongst them , as john , thomas , nicholas , david , alexander , from whence they should be deduced . yea , he further addeth , that it is more probable , that they made the childs name , by adjecting the syllable son to the appellation of the father ; ( a custome which is usual , even at this time amongst the vulgar sort of the dutch. ) yet is there not remaining any sign thereof amongst the names of our age , which probably might have been , canutson , ericson , gormoson , heraldson , rofolson , &c. the normans or french , under the conquerour swarmed in england , so that then they became the only visible gentry in this nation , and still continue more then a moity thereof ; several catalogues of their names i have so largely exemplifyed in my church-history , that some have taxed me for tediousness therein , and i will not adde an new obstinacy to my old error . but besides these , we have some surnames of good families in england , now extant , which though french , are not by any diligence to be recovered in the lists of such as came over with the conquerour , and therefore we suppose them to have remained of those gentlemen and others , which from henault attended queen isabel , wife unto king edward the second . of this sort was deureux , mollineux , darcy , coniers , longchamp , henage , savage , danvers , with many more . of the british or welsh , ( after their expulsion hence by the saxons ) some signal persons have returned again , and by the kings grant , matches , purchases , &c. have fixed themselves in fair possessions in england , especially since the beginning of the reign of their country-man , king henry the seventh , rewarding the valour of many , contributing to his victory in the battle of bosworth . of the welsh , now re-estated in england , and often sheriffs therein , some retain their old surnames , as the griffins in northamptonshire , the griffiths and vaughans in yorkshire ; some have assumed new ones , as the caradocks , now known by the new name of * the newtons in somersetshire . many scotch ( long before the union of the two kingdomes under king james ) seated themselves in this land , flying hither for succour from their civil wars , and surely it was against their mind , if they all went back again : distress at sea hath driven others in , as the stewards high-sheriffs in cambridgeshire . as other accidents have occasioned the coming in of the scrimpshires an hundred years since high sheriffs in staffordshire , more lately the nappers in bedfordshire , and before both , the scots of scots-hall in kent . i much admire that never an eminent irish native grew in england to any greatness , so many english having prospered in that country . but it seems , we love to live there , where we may command , and they care not to come where they must obey . our great distance from italy , always in position , and since the reformation in religion , hath caused that few or none of that nation , have so incorporated with the english , as to have found families therein . yet have we a sprinkling of italian protestants , castilian a valiant gentleman , of berkshire . the bassanoes excellent painters and musicians , in essex , which came over into england under king henry the eight , and since in the raign of queen elizabeth , sir horatio palavicine , ( receiver of the popes revenues ) landed in cambridgeshire , and the caesars ( aliàs dalmarii ) still flourishing in hartfordshire , in worshipful estates , though i never find any of these performing the office of sheriff . the high-dutch of the hans towns , antiently much conversed in our land , ( known by the name of easterlings ) invited hither by the large priviledges our kings conferred upon them , so that the steel-yard proved the gold-yard unto them . but these merchants moved round in their own sphere , matching amongst themselves , without mingling with our nation . onely we may presume , that the easterlings , ( corruptly called stradlings ) formerly sheriffs in wiltshire , and still famous in glamorganshire , with the westphalings , lately sheriffs of oxfordshire , were originally of german extraction . the low country-men frighted by duke d'alvas tyranny , flocked hither under king edward the sixth , fixing themselves in london , norwich , canterbury , and sandwich . but these confined themselves to their own church discipline , and for ought i can find , advanced not forward by eminent matches into our nation . yet i behold the worthy family of de la fountain in lecestershire , as of belgian original , and have read how the ancestours of sir simon d'us in suffolk , came hither under king henry the eight , from the dunasti or d'us in gelderland . as for the spaniards , though their king philip matched with our queen mary , but few of any eminence now extant ( if i well remember ) derive their pedigrees from them . this i impute to the shortness of their reign , and the ensuing change of religions . probable it is , we might have had more natives of that kingdome to have setled and flourished in our nation , had he obtained a marriage with queen elizabeth , ( of blessed memory ) which some relate he much endeavoured . as for portugal few of that nation have as yet fixed their habitations , and advanced families to any visible height in our land. but it may please god , hereafter we may have a happy occasion , to invite some of that nation to reside , and raise families in england . mean time the may's ( who have been sheriffs in sussex ) are all whom i can call to mind of the portugal race , and they not without a mixture of jewish extraction . come we now to the second division of our gentry , according to the professions whereby they have been advanced . and here to prevent unjust misprision , be it premised , that such professions found most of them gentlemen , being the ( though perchance younger ) sons of wealthy fathers , able to give them liberal education . they were lighted before as to their gentility , but now set up in a higher candlestick , by such professions which made a visible and conspicuous accession of wealth and dignity , almost to the ecclipsing their former condition . thus all behold isis , increased in name and water , after its conjunction with thame at dorchester , whilst few take notice of the first fountain thereof , many miles more westward in gloucestershire . the study of the common-law , hath advanced most antient extant families in our land. it seems they purchased good titles , made sure setlements , and entailed thrift with their lands , on their posterity . a * prime person of that profession hath prevented my pains , and given in a list of such principal families , i say principal , many being omitted by him in so copious a subject . miraculous the mortality in egypt , where there was not a * house wherein there was not one dead . but i hope , it will be allowed marvellous , that there is not a generous and numerous house in england , wherein there is not one , ( though generally no first born but a younger brother , ) antiently or at this day living , thriving , and flourishing , by the study of the law. especially if to them ( what in justice ought ) be added those who have raised themselves in courts relating to the law. the city hath produced more then the law in number , and some as broad in wealth , but not so high in honour , nor long lasting in time , who like land-floods , soon come , and soon gone , have been dried up before the third generation . yet many of these have continued in a certain channel , and carried a constant stream , as will plainly appear in the sequel of our worthies . the church before the reformation , advanced many families . for though bishops might not marry , they preferred their brothers sons to great estates . as the kemps in kent , peckhams in sussex , wickham in hampshire , meltons in yorkshire . since the reformation , some have raised families to a knightly and worshipful estate , hutton , bilson , dove , neil , &c. but for sheriffs , i take notice of sandys in worcester and cambridgeshire , westphaling in herefordshire , elmar in suffolk , rud in carmarthenshire , &c. sure i am , there was a generation of people of the last age , which thought they would level all clergy-men , or any descendants from them , with the ground . yea , had not gods arme been stretched out in their preservation , they had become a prey to their enemies violence , and what they had designed to themselves ( and in some manner effected ) had ere this been time perfectly compleated . as for the inferiour clergy , it is well if their narrow maintenance will enable them to leave a livelihood to their little ones . i find but one ( * robert johnson by name ) attaining such an estate , that his grand-son was pricked sheriff of a county , but declined the place , by pleading himself a deacon , and by the favour of arch-bishop laud. the study of the civil-law , hath preferr'd but few . the most eminent in that faculty , before the reformation being persons in orders , prohibited marriage . however since the reformation there are some worshipful families which have been raised by the study in this faculty . yet have our wars ( which perhaps might have been advocated for in turks and pagans , who bid defiance to all humanity , but utterly mis-beseeming christians ) been a main cause of the moulting of many eminent and worthy persons of this profession . nor could it be expected that the professors of humane laws should have been allowed favour , during our unnatural dissentions , ( the promoters thereof having a constant pique at whatever bore but the resemblance of order and civility ) when the true dispensers of gods laws , yea the law of god , yea god himself , was vilified and contemned . the best is , that as divine providence hath in his mercy been pleased to restore our soveraign , so with him we have received both our ancient laws and liberties . and now it begins to be●… fair weather again , as with this so with all other necessary and useful vocations , which in due time may repair their decayed fortunes . physick hath promoted many more , and that since the reign of king henry the eighth . indeed before his time , i find a doctor of physick , father to reginald , first and last lord bray . but this faculty hath flourished much the three last fifty years , it being true of physick , what is said of sylla , suos divitiis explevit . sir william butts physician to king henry the eight , doctor thomas wendy and doctor hatcher to queen elizaheth , raised worshipful and wealthy families in norfolk , cambridge , and lincolnshire , having born the office of sheriff in their respective counties . some have raised themselves by sea service , and letters of mart , especially in the reign of queen elizabeth , when we had war with the spaniard . but such estates , as flowing so have ebb'd , with the tide , seldome of long continuance . such prises have been observed best to prosper , whose takers had least of private revenge , and most of publick service therein . amongst these , most remarkable the baronets family of drakes in devonshire , sometimes sheriffs of that county . some have raised themselves by their attendance at court , rewarded by the kings favour . court , where many have carried away more , for bringing the less to it . here some younger brothers have found their lost birth-right , mending their pace to wealth , though they started late by their nativity . but i only generally point at , without touching them , that i may not fore-stall the reader , whose pains may be pleasant unto him , in his own discovery thereof . many have advanced themselves by their valour in forreign wars , especially in france , as the knolls , a noble family , and the ●…aveleys , often sheriffs in cheshire , so that mars in this sense , may be said to be the father of plutus , his steel weapons procuring to his followers the more acceptable mettals of gold and silver . but the worst is , where foreign wars have raised one , our late civil ones , have ruined ten families . some may object , that as they have destroyed , so they have raised many families ( which before in themselves were mean and contemptible ) to high titles , and large possessions . all i shall return in answer thereunto , is that as most alive saw them rise ( per saltum ) by unwarrantable means to such a pitch of preferment , so there is but few alive , but may ( if not willingly and willfully blind ) see them deservedly thrown down with disgrace and contempt , to their former mean and despicable condition . clothing as it hath given garments to millions of people , hath conferred coats of armes ( and gentility therewith ) on many families in this land. as on the springs high-sheriffs of suffolk . the country with her two full breasts , grasing and tillage , hath raised many families * josephus rendreth a reason , as weak in it self , as wide from the truth , why abells sacrifice was preferred before cains , viz. because abell fairly took , what nature freely tendred in the increase of his cattle , whilst cain violently wounded the earth with his ploughing . but saint * paul teacheth use better doctrine , that faith caused the reception of the one , and unbelief the rejection of the other . surely , both callings are equally acceptable to god , who hath so blessed their indeavours , that thereby many have gained estates , inabling them to serve sheriffs of their county . but i forbear to instance them , least what was the honour of their ancestours to raise such families , be counted in this captious age to be a dishonour to their posterity , to be raised by so plain ( though honest and necessary ) an employment . some ( the surer to hit the mark of wealth ) have had two strings to their bow , a complication of prefessions , concurring to their advancement . thus the chichlies in cambridgeshire , are descendants from a lord mayor ; allied also collaterally to an archbishop of canterbury . on the main , we may observe , how happy a liberal ( at least lawful ) vocation , hath proved to younger brethren , whereby ephraim hath out-grown manasse , the younger out-stript the heir of the family . i knew a school-boy , not above twelve years old , and utterly ignorant in all logical terms , who was commanded to english the following distick , dat galenus opes , dat justinianus honores , cum genus , & species , cogitur ire pedes . onely they favoured the boy so far , to inform him , that galenus did signifie the profession of physick , justinianus of law , on which ground he thus proceeded , galenus , the study of physick , dat , giveth , opes wealth , justinianus , the study of law , dat , giveth , honores , honour , cum , when , genus , high birth , & species , and beauty , [ having no other calling ( saith the boy ) to maintain them , ] cogitur , is compel'd , ire pedes , to go on foot. to prevent such foot-travailing , it is good to be mounted on a gainful vocation , to carry one out of the mire , on all occasions . chap. xxiv . some general exceptions against the style and matter of the author prevented . exception . . you usurp the style of princes , speaking often in the plural ; come we now , passe we now , proceed we now , &c. which is false grammar , from a single , ill ethicks from a private person . answer ▪ first , i appeal to any exercised in reading of books , whether the same be not used in other authors . secondly , we , in such cases includeth the writer and reader , it being presumed that the eye of the one goeth along with the pen of the other . thirdly , it also compriseth all other writers , out of whom any thing is transcribed , and their names quoted in the margin . let me add to gods glory , my friends credit , and my own comfort , that our we , is comprehensive of all my worthy friends , who by their pains or purses , have been contributive to my weak endevours . exception . the worthies of england being your subject , you have mingled many unworthies among them , rather notorious then notable , except in the same sense wherein barrabas is termed * notable in the gospel . answer . such persons are so few , their number is not considerable ; secondly , they are so eminent in their generations , that their omission would make a maim in history ; thirdly , how bad soever their morals , their naturals and artificials were transcendent , and the oracle like wisdome of wicked achitophel , found praise from the * pen of the holy spirit ; lastly , the worst of such men have a black line ( serving pro nigro carbone ) prefixed to their name for distinction sake . exception . you might better have omitted the mention of some modern persons , reputed * malignants by the present power , and blasted by these times in their estates . answer . all persons unhappy , must not presently be accounted unworthy , especially in distracted times . have you not heard of that humerous waterman on the thames , who would carry none in his boat , save such who would go along with the tide , till by feeding his humour he had almost starved himself , for want of employment ? i should be as peevish as partial , should i admit those only into my catalogue of worthyes , who of late years did swim in plenty , seeing many have been great sufferers , deservedly commendable by the testimony of their adversaries . exception . you only report the vertues , but conceal the faults of many persons within our own memories . answer . i conceive my self bound so to do , by the rules of charity . when an orator was to praise a person deceased , generally and justly hated for his viciousnesse , it was suspected that he would for his fee , force his conscience by flattery to commend him , whose expectations he thus defeated , this dead person ( saith he ) must in one respect be spoken well of by all , because god made him ; and in another respect , should not be spoken ill of by any because he is dead ; & de mortuis nil nisi bonum . how much more , when men have many good virtues , with some faults , ought the later to be buryed in their graves with forgetfulnesse . exception . you make many uncivil and unsatisfactory references of your reader , to those books which you have formerly printed , remiting them to be there further informed , as if when you had invited guests , you consigned them over ( coming to dine with you ) to fetch a dinner at an house they do not know ; it being probable that many may read this your book , who never had your former works . answer . such refferences are very sparing , only to avoyd repetition in those lifes , which i have formerly written at large , as , st. dunstans , cardinal woolsey , thomas lord cromwell , sir john cheek , arch-bishop whitgift , mr. perkins , &c. and i appeal to all writers of many books ( of which fault i my self am guilty ) whether such refferences be not usual in the like cases . i will not add that i have passed my promise ( and that is an honest mans bond ) to my former stationer , that i will write nothing for the future , which was in my former books , so considerable , as may make them inter-fere one with another to his prejudice . exception . you often apply the word create to men , as to create a cardinal , an earl , &c. vvhereas consciencious people , allow that word appropriable to god alone , as importing the making of something out of nothing . answer . i hope our common lawyers will plead for me in this case , having the phrase so frequent in their mouths , to create right , to create a title . besides , i observe , that such who scruple the useing the simple verb , boggle no whit at the compound to recreate and recreations . now seeing to recreate is to create twice , i understand not how the useing this word once should be a sin , whilst it is no sin in the repetition or reaction thereof . in a word , in words of this nature , i conceive one may conform himself to the custome of common language . exception . you out of flattery , conceal the mean extraction of many ( especially modern ) men , who have attained to great preferment , pointing at the place of their birth , but suppressing their parentage . answer . i conceive my self to have done well in so doing . if enquiry be made into all mens descents , it would be found true what the poet doth observe . majorum primus quisquis fuit ille tuorum aut pastor fuit , aut illud quod dicere nolo . the first of all thine ancestors of yore , was but a shepheard , or , i say no more . besides , it plainly proveth the properness of their parts , and tallnesse of their industry , who thereby , and by gods blessing thereon , reached so high preferment , though disadvantaged by standing on so low ground of their extraction . exception . hast makes wast , you have hudled your book too soon to the presse , for a subject of such a nature . you should have sent to the gentry of several counties , to have furnished you with memorables out of their own pedegrees , and should have taken a longer time to compose them . — nonumque prematur in annum . eight years digest what you have rudely hinted , and in the ninth year let the same be printed . answer . that ninth year might happen eight years after my death , being sensible of the impression of age upon me , and a stranger to my method , would hardly rally my scattered and posthumed notes . by the difficulty to get some few , i conclude the impossibility to procure all the observeables out of gentlemens records , and therefore leave the task to the industry of others in their respective counties . exception . . some instructions have lately been sent you , concerning some persons which appear not in this your vvork . answer . lately indeed , though neither many nor considerable , since such shires were put under the press . in holland , vvagons go to , and return from their stages at set hours , though carrying but one passenger , and sometimes altogether empty . such the condition of the press it stays for no man , nor will attend the leisure ( not to say lagging ) of any , but proceedeth on with what it hath in present , be it never so little . exception . in your , protestant writers , you promiscuously mingle some very zealous for episcopacy , others as active for presbytery , these ought to have been sorted severally by themselves , seeing the great distance of judgement betwixt them . answer . i hope such conjoyning of them , may happily presage a comfortable expedient betwixt them , who differ not in fundamentals of religion . . i had rather privately bemoan , then publickly proclaim , the difference betwixt them when alive , charitably believing that being dead ; jam bene conveniunt , & in unâ sede morantur now they are agreed well , and in bliss together dwell . however it is not without precedents in the best authors , to conjoine those in history , who dissent in opinion ; vvitnesse thuanus when concluding every year , with the funerals of eminent persons , though fervent in opposite perswasions . exception . there is great disproportion , betwixt your catalogue of statesmen , beginning the lord treasurers , under king henry the seventh ; the lord chancelours , under king henry the eighth ; other statesmen at other epoches : whereas had you observed the same aera in all of them , it had added much to the uniformity of your vvork ; and as all start not from the same place , they run not to the same mark , some being continued to this day , some concluded seven years since , such imparity making the list seem lame , like the legs of a badger . answer . i hope , that a more charitable fancy , with as good a judgement , will compare it to the pipes of an organ ; which though of an uneven length , contribute to the better melody . a reason is rendred , in the respective places , where these general topicks are premised , why such several catalogues begin and end at such times . and i do believe , that they will prove satisfactory to such ingenuous readers , that come with no cavilling premeditation . exception . in your catalogue of learned writers , you have omitted many , as may appear by pitseus his appendix illustrium angliae scriptorum . for , of the four hundred by him mentioned , not fifty appear in your list of them . answer . pitseus himself shall plead for me , who , in his preface to his appendix , ingenuously confesseth , eos adhuc efficere non valeo dignos , qui inter illustres scriptores locum obtineant . so that one may call them obscuros illustres , little being known of the books which they wrote , less of the times when they lived , nothing of the places where they were born . however , seeing some persons of eminence have stragled amongst them , i have selected such with my best care , and presented them in my catalogue . exception of some men you have little save their name , life , and death , and yet you tearm such eminent persons . answer . surely they were so in themselves , and deserve more should be then is left written of them , through the injury of time . all that i will plead in my own defence is this ; there is an officer in the exchequer , called clericus nihilorum , or the clerk of the nichils , who maketh a roll of all such sums as are nichill'd by the sheriff upon their estreats of the green wax , when such sums are set on persons , either not found , or not found solvible . this roll , he delivereth into the treasurers remembrancers office , to have execution done upon it for the king ; and thus the clerk hath done his duty , leaving it to them to see , if they can make any thing of his return . i conceive in like manner i have performed my utmost , in that i return such persons to have nothing more to be said of them , findable by all my endevours . however i consign them over to more able historians , whose pains i will neither prejudice nor discourage ; but if they be pleased to begin where i ended , i wish them more happy success in their discoveries . exception . your book is surcharged with scripture observations , and reflections in divinity , even when no necessity leadeth you thereunto . answer . the reader hath con●…itentem , but i will never acknowledge reum , pleading custome and conscience in my just excuse . custome being habited by my profession therein . the learned observe of st. luke , that being a physician by his function , and describing the great difference between paul and barnabas , he made use of an expression in his own faculty , * and there was betwixt them a dissention [ in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ] that is , the height and heat of a burning feaver . so that the spirit of god guiding his pen , permitted him to make use of the language proper to his vocation . and i presume the same favour will be indulged to me by all ingenuous persons , to have ( i will not say a partiality ) but an affection to the expressions of , and excursions into my own calling . secondly , i plead conscience , that , seeing some may cavil this work to be a deviation from my function ( and i my self perchance sensible of some truth therein ) i will watch and catch all opportunity to make a fair regresse to my profession . exception . you lay down certain rules for the better regulating your work , and directing the reader , promising to confine your self to the observation thereof , and break them often your self . for instance , you restrain the topick of lawyers to capital judges and writers of the law , yet under that head insert judge paston , and others , who were only puny iudges in their respective courts ; you limit statesmen to lord chancelours , treasurers , english secretaries of state , &c. and put in sir edward waterhouse ▪ who was secretary but in ireland . in a word , few heads are preserved pure according to their constitution , without the mixture of improper persons amongst them . why did you break such rules , when knowing you made them ? why did you make such rules , when minding to break them ? and this is an exception of exceptions against you . answer . i never intended to tye my self up so close , without reserving lawful liberty to my self upon just occasion . indeed we read of st. * egwin the third , bishop of worcester , that he made for himself a pair of iron shakels , and locking them close unto his leggs , cast the key thereof into the severn , desiring never to be loosed till he had made satisfaction for his sins ; returning from rome , a fish leaped into the ship , in whose belly was found the key , and so egwin was miraculously restored to his liberty . had i in like manner fettered my self to the topicks propounded , on presumption of so strange a release , none would have pitied my restraint , wilfully contracted on my self . but the best is , i resolved to keep the key in my own hands , to enlarge my self when i apprehended a just cause thereof . however i have not made use of this key , to recede from my first limitations , save where i crave leave of , and render a reason to the reader ; such anomalous persons being men of high merit , under those heads where they are inserted . exception . you have omitted many memorable persons still surviving , as meriting as any you have inserted . answer . the return of * martial in a case not much unlike , may much befriend me herein , mi●…aris veteres , vacerra , solos , nec laudas nisi mortuos poet as , ignos●…as petim●…s vacerra , tanti non est , ut placeam tibi , perire . deceased authors thou admir'st alo●…e , and only praisest poets dead and gone . vacerra pardon me : i will not buy thy praise so dear , as for the same to dye . all men being like-minded with martial herein , none surviving will distaste their omission in a work , for reasons afore-alledged ( save in some cases ) confined to the memories of the departed . exception . speaking of the commodities of several counties , you say the wool of hereford shire is best , and yet gloucester-shire is best , the vvheat of hereford-shire is best , and yet middlesex best , the lead of darby-shire best , and yet somerset-shire best , the iron of sussex best , and stafford-shire best . the same may be observed in your praising of persons , making several men at the same time the best poets , divines , schoolmen , &c. and this must be both falshood and flattery together . answer . impute it ( i pray ) to my peaceable disposition , unwilling to occasion discord betwixt eminencies , the rather because things of the same kind may severally be the best in sundry qualities . some wool best for cloath , other for hats , some wheat best for yeilding of most , other finest flower , some lead best for bullets , other for sheeting houses , some iron best for ordnance , other for nails , keys , and smaler u●…ensils . neither is it without precedent in scripture to character several men best in the same profession , both * * 〈◊〉 and josiah being commended to have had none like unto them neither before nor after them . exception . during the later years of king charles of blessed memory , you have for the most part omitted the sheriffs in your catalogue . answer . there was then , ( as i may say ) a schisme in that office , betwixt the sheriffes and anti sheriffes . as for the former , made by the kings designation , and beheld as the only legal ones , i durst not name them , as the times then stood , when i collected that catalogue , for fear lest thereby i might betray some of them ( till that time concealed ) to a sequestration . i therefore preferred to leave a void space in my list , and wish it were the worst breach or desolation made by our late civil wars . exception . but since the happy turn of the times , you might have inserted them , not only without any danger , but with great honour unto them . answer . when the danger was removed , the difficulty did deter me . for in those tumultuary times ; the royal sheriffes did not regularly , ( according to ancient custome ) pass their accounts in the exchequer at london , so that i was at a losse to recover certainty herein . wherefore according to my general motto , [ a blank is better then a blot ] i left a vacuity for them . for which bald place , the reader ( if so pleased ) may provide a perewake , and with his pen insert such sheriffes as come to his cognizance . exception . it was expected , that you should have presented the maps of all shires , which would have added much light and lustre to your work , ( which now is as an house without windows , very dark and uncomfortable ) as also that you should have cut the arms of all gentlemen , in copper ( at the least in vvood ) which would have been more satisfactory to them , and ornamental to your book . answer . 〈◊〉 are 〈◊〉 , as i have found by dear experience ▪ besides , when they are done , they are not done , the working them off at the rowling presse being as expensive as the graving them ; both which will mount our book to an unreasonable price ; secondly , it would be disgraceful to cut those maps worse , and difficult ( if not impossible ) to do them better then they are done already . thirdly , such gentlemen ( not formerly furnished therewith ) may procure them at a cheaper rate then i could afford them . lastly , such new re-graving them would be injurious to the owners of the old maps , and i will not bottome my profit on another mans prejudice . exception . you betray unworthy partiality in omitting and inserting of persons . for john of gaunt , though son to a king , and worthy vvarrier , can get no room in your book , whilst simon de gaunt a bishop of salisbury ( both of them by their sirnames equally appearing forreigners ) hath a place found for him therein . it seems a prelate finds more favour from you then a prince . answer . is there not a cause , and that a satisfactory one ? i prefer not a prelate before a prince , but truth before both , and the methodical regulation of my book , according to the rules premised , without which all will fall to confusion . it is as notoriously known , that john of gaunt was born at gaunt in flanders ( and so an alien from our subject ) as plainly it appeareth , that simon de gaunt ( though his father was a fleming ) was born in london , magister simon de gaunt ( saith matt●…ew of vvestminster ) editus londini , vir in arte theologiae peritus . exception . you discover much negligence in dateing of particular persons , instancing the time only when they flourished , without observing when they were born or dye●… ; and this mindeth me of a passage in * tully , charging verres the deputy of sicily with notorious lazinesse , quod nunquam solem nec orientem , nec occidentem viderat , that he never saw the sun rising , being in bed after , nor setting being in bed before it : thus your pen is altogether a sluggard , only taking notice of them when shining in the vertical height , without either beholding them rising out of their cradle , or setting in their coffin . answer . let tully tell out his story , and it will befriend and furnish me with a just defence . sicily ( saith he ) enjoyeth so clear a skie , that the sun is seen there every day in the year rising or setting . intolerable therefore the sloth of verres ( noble at nothing but oppression ) that he never saw the sun either to rise or set , as roosted after or before ; were it so that either the rising or setting of eminent persons ( their birth and death ) were ( with the sicilian sun ) ever visible , as always recorded by authors , i would confess my self justly taxed with unexcusable lazinesse : but seeing sometimes a pannick silence herein , not meeting either with the midwife , or sexton , who delivered or buryed such people , we conceive our selves have satisfied , if instanceing only the time wherein such persons flourished . exception . it had been more proper and more satisfactory for you to have placed your exceptions and answers , rather at the end then beginning of your book , when the reader had wholly perused it , only premising you will be responsible to such objections as would be made against your endevours herein . answer . i am of his opinion , who said , premising , is better then promising . sure it is a safer way to prevent a disease then to remove it . besides i hope , that , clearing these obstructions in the front of my book , i shall smooth the readers way , and invite him the rather to peruse it . however these answers ( whereever placed ) are placed aright , if meeting ( which i desire ) a candid acceptance thereof . exception . it is easie for one to cast down a pillar of his own erection , but let another set it up , and then let him trye his strength thereat . none will pinch themselves so as to fetch blood , though others may do it . your exceptions are all of your own making to your own advantage . answer . i have endevoured to propound them without any partiality . however if my labours meet with greater and more exception from others against them , i hope they shall also meet with the general courtesie and candor of course , which custome hath in some sort made due to authors , to forgive their smaller faults , on which comfortable confidence i proceed . chap. xxv . an apologie for the unvoluntary omissions in this book . when i first communicated my design herein to a person of * honour , he offered this grand objection against it , that no industry could be so circumspect , or intelligence so comprehensive , but that many memorable persons would escape his observation , and then exception will be taken at such omissions . this objection many since have renewed and enforced , alledging that the omitting of one shall get me more anger then the inserting of many , gain me good will. to this i answer first in general . it is the priviledge of divine writ alone , to be so perfect that nothing may be taken thence , or added thereunto ; the best humane authors have had their failings in their best performances , far be it from me to pretend my dimme eyes more quick-sighted then st. bernards , who notwithstanding non vidit omnia ; i trust therefore , that favour will be indulged to my endevours , for my many infirmities . to come to particulars , some seeming omissions will appear to be none , on better enquiry , being only the leaving of many persons ( which belong not to our land ) to their forraign nativities . if any ask , why have you not written of john a gaunt ? i answer , because he was john of gaunt , born in that city in flanders . thus whilst our kings possessed large dominions in france ( from king william the conquerour , to king henry the sixth ) many eminent english men had their birth beyond the seas , without the bounds of our subject . secondly , i hope real omissions will neither be found many nor material ; i hope i shall not appear like unto him , who undertaking to make a description of the planets , quite forgot to make mention of the sun , i believe most of those who have escaped our pen , will be found stars of the lesser magnitude . thirdly , i protest in the presence of god , i have not wittingly , willingly or wilfully shut the dore against any worthy person which offered to enter into my knowledge , nor was my prejudice the porter in this kind , to exclude any ( of what perswasion soever out of my book ) who brought merit for their admission , besides , i have gon , and rid , and wrote , and sought and search'd with my own and friends eyes , to make what discoveries i could therein . lastly , i stand ready with a pencel in one hand , and a spunge in the other , to add , alter , insert , expunge , enlarge , and delete , according to better information . and if these my pains shall be found worthy to passe a second impression , my faults i will confess with shame , and amend with thankfulnesse to such as will contribute clearer intelligence unto me . these things premised , i do desire in my omissions the pardon especially of two sorts , concerned in my history ; first writers since the reformation , ( having those before it compleatly delivered unto us ) who cannot be exactly listed . first , for their numerousnesse , and therefore i may make use of the latine distick , wherewith john pitseus * closeth his book of english writers . plura voluminibus jungenda volumina nostris nec mihi scribendi terminus ullus erit . more volums to our volums must we bind , and when that 's done a bound we cannot find . secondly , for the scarcenesse of some books , which i may term publici-privati juris , because though publickly printed , their copies were few , as intended only for friends , though it doth not follow that the writers thereof had the less merit , because the more modesty . i crave pardon in the second place for my omissions , in the list of benefactors to the publick , for , if i would , i could not compleat that catalogue , because no man can make a fit garment for a growing child , and their number is daily encreasing . besides if i could , i would not . for i will never drain ( in print ) the spring so lowe , but to leave a reserve ; and some whom i may call breeders for posterity , who shall passe un-named , in which respect , i conceive such benefactors most perfectly reckoned up , when they are imperfectly reckoned up . all i will add is this , when st. paul writing to the * philippians had saluted three , by name , viz. euodias , syntyche , and clement , he passeth the rest over with a salutation general , whose names are in the book of life . thus i have indevoured to give you the most exact catalogue of benefactors ; but this i am sure , what is lost on earth by my want of industry , instruction , &c. will be found in heaven , and their names are there recorded , in that register which will last to all eternity . as for my omitting many rarities and memorables , in the respective counties , i plead for my self , that mine being a general description , it is not to be expected that i should descend to such particularities , which properly belong to those who write the topography of one county alone . he shewed as little ingenuity as ingeniousnesse , who cavilled at the map of grecia for imperfect , because his fathers house in athens was not represented therein . and their expectation in effect is as unreasonable , who look for every small observeable in a general work . know also , that a mean person , may be more knowing within the limits of his private lands , then any antiquary whatsoever . i remember a merry challenge at court , which passed betwixt the kings porter , and the queens dwarfe , the latter provoking him to fight with him , on condition that he might but choose his own place , and be allowed to come thither first , assigning the great oven in hampton court for that purpose . thus easily may the lowest domineere over the highest skill , if having the advantage of the ground within his own private concernments . give me leave to fill up the remaining vacuity , with , a corrollary about the reciprocation of alumnus . the word alumnus is effectually directive of us ( as much as any ) to the nativities of eminent persons . however we may observe both a passive and active interpretation thereof . i put passive first , because one must be bred before he can breed ; and alumnus signifieth both the nursed child and the nurse , both him that was educated , and the person or place which gave him his education . wherefore laurentius valla ( though an excellent grammarian ) is much deceived , when not admitting the double sense thereof , as by the ensuing instances will appear . passive pro educato . active pro educatore . cicero dolabellae . mihi vero gloriosum , te juvenem consulem florere laudibus , quasi alumnum disciplinae meae . plinie lib. . de italia . terra omnium terrarum alumna , eadem & parens numine deum electa . de finibus . b. aristoteles , caeterique platonis alumni . augustinus lib. . civit. jovem alumnum cognominaverunt , quod omnia aleret . the design which we drive on in this observation , and the use which we desire should be made thereof is this , viz. that such who are born in a place , may be sensible of their engagement thereunto ; that if god give them ability and opportunity , they may expresse their thankfulnesse to the same . quisquis alumnus erat , gratus alumnus erit . a thankful man will feed the place which did him breed . and the truth hereof is eminently conspicuous in many persons , but especially in great prelates before , and rich citizens since the reformation . bark-shire hath wilt-shire on the west , hamp-shire on the south , surry on the east , oxford and buckingham-sh●…re ( parted first with the isis , then with the flexuous river of thames ) on the north thereof . it may be fancied in a form like a lute lying along , whose belly is towards the west , whilst the narrow neck or long handle is extended toward the east . from coleshull to windsor , it may be allowed in length forty miles . but it amounteth to little more then half so much in the broadest part thereof ▪ it partaketh as plentifull as any county in england of the common commodities , grasse , grain , fish , foul , wooll , and wood , &c. and we will particularly instance on one or two of them . naturall commodities . oakes . it was given in instruction to the spies sent to search the land of canaan , that amongst other enquiries , they should take particular notice , whether there be * wood therein or not ? an important question , the rather because at that time the israelites were in arabia the desert , where they saw not a tree in many moneths travaile ( in so much that it is recorded for a wonder , that in elim were * seventy palm trees ) and now knew the worth of wood by wanting it . but bark-shire affordeth abundance of trees of all kinds , though her oakes in windsor-forest for the present come onely under our commendation . first for their firmness , whereof our ships are made . the oake in other kingdoms may be called cowardly , as riving and splitting round about the passage of the bullet , fearing as it were the force thereof ; whilst our english , as heart of oake indeed , though entred with bullet , remaineth firm round about it . secondly , for the conveniencie of portage . the wealth of a covetous man ( wanting an heart to make use thereof ) may not unfitly be compared to the oakes and firre-trees , ( good and plentifull indeed ) in the high-lands in scotland , but growing on such unaccessible mountains , no strength or art can render them usefull , nature in this kind having given them full coffers , but no key to unlock them . whereas so indulgent is divine providence to england , that our four principal forests lie either on the sea , or navigable rivers ; viz. new-forest on the sea , shirewood on the trent , dean on the severne , and this windsor-forest on the thames , and i could wish more care were taken for preserving the timber therein . bark the very name of this shire justly intitles us here to handle this commodity , ( though common to other counties , ) because bark-shire ( as some will have it ) was so called from a stripped or * bark-bared-oake , to which signal place the people repaired in time of trouble to make their generall defence . it is essential for making good leather , though lately one hath propounded a way to tanne it solid and saleable without the help thereof , on condition ( and good reason too ) he may be allowed reasonable profit for so rare an invention . but many think , that he that waits for dead mens shooes , and he that stays for leather-shooes made without bark , may both of them go a long time bare-foot . trouts . this is a pleasant and wholesom fish , as whose feeding is pure and cleanly , in the swiftest streams , and on the hardest gravell . good and great of this kind are found in the river of kennet nigh hungerford , though not so big as that which gesner affirmes taken in the leman-lake , being three cubits in length . they are in their perfection in the moneth of may , and yearly decline with the buck. being come to his full growth , he decays in goodness , not greatness , and thrives in his head till his death . note by the way , that an hog-back and little head , is a sign that any fish is in season . other commodities of this , return in other counties , where they may be mentioned with more conveniencie . the manufactures . clothing . it is plyed therein , and because we meet with the best of our manufactures in the first of our shires , a word of the antiquity thereof . . cloth sure is of the same date with civility in this land. indeed the ancient brittains are reported to go naked , clothed onely with colours painted , custom making them insensible of cold , with the beggar , who being demanded how he could go naked , returned , all my body is face . but no sooner had the romans reduced this island , but cloth though course , such as would hide and heat , was here generally made and used . . fine cloth ( though narrow ) for persons of worth at home to wear , and for forreign exportation began in england about the beginning of the reign of king edward the third . before which time our statutes take no cognizance of clothing as inconsiderable , ( wooll being transported in specie ) and needing no rules to regulate it , save what prudence dictated to private husbands with their own families . . broad cloth ( wherein the wealth of our nation is folded up ) made with broad loomes , two men attending each of them , began here in the reign of king henry the eighth . and i have been informed that jack of newberry was the first that introduced it into this county . well may the poets feign minerva the goddess of wit , and the foundress of weaving , so great is the ingenuity thereof . the buildings . windsor castle was a royal seat ever since the conquest , but brought to the modern beauty , chiefly at the cost of king edward the third . it is a castle for strength , a palace for state , and hath in it a colledge for learning , a chappel for devotion , and an almes-house ( of decayed gentlemen ) for charity . in this palace most remarkeable , the hall for greatness , winchester-tower for height , and the terrace on the north-side for pleasure , where a dull eye may travaile twenty miles in a moment . nor boasteth so much , that it consisteth of two great courts ; as that it conteined two great kings [ john of france , and david of scotland , ] prisoners therein together , as also that it was the seat of the honourable order of the garter . many neat houses and pleasant seats there be in this county , both on the kennet and thames , which seem dutifully to attend at distance on windsor castle , as aldermaston , inglefield , &c. most sweet in their situations . proverbs . i meet with [ but one ] in this county , but either so narrow that they stretch not beyond the bounds thereof , or else so broad , that all other counties equally share in the cause and usage of them . wherefore seeing this is the first english shire in the alphabetical order , to avoid a vacuity , we will here insert such proverbs , wherein england or english-men are by express mention concerned . but first we will dispatch that sole proverb of this county , viz. the vicar of bray , will be vicar of bray still . ] bray , a village well known in this county , so called from the bibroces a kind of ancient britons inhabiting thereabouts . the vivacious vicar hereof living under king henry the . king edward the . queen mary and queen elizabeth , was first a papist , then a protestant , then a papist , then a protestant again . he had seen some martyrs burnt ( two miles off ) at windsor , and found this fire too hot for his tender temper . this vicar being taxed by one for being a turn-coat , and an unconstant changeling , not so , said he , for i alwaies kept my principle , which is this , to live and die the vicar of bray . such many now adayes , who though they cannot turn the wind , will turn their mils , and set them so , that wheresoever it bloweth , their grist shall certainly be grinded . proceed we now to the proverbs general of england : when our lady falls in our lords lap ] then let england beware a sad clap ] then let england beware a mishap ] aliàs , then let the clergy-man look to his cap. ] i behold this proverbial prophecy , or this prophetical menace , to be not above six score yeares old , and of popish extraction since the reformation . it whispereth more then it dare speak out , and points at more then it dares whisper ; and fain would intimate to credulous persons , as if the blessed virgin offended with the english for abolishing her adoration watcheth an opportunity of revenge on this nation . and when her day ( being the five and twentieth of march , and first of the gregorian year ) chanceth to fall on the day of christs resurrection , then ( being as it were fortified by her sons assistance ) some signal judgment is intended to our state , and church-men especially . such coincidence hath hap'ned just fifteen times since the conquest , as elias ashmole esquire , my worthy friend , and learned mathematician , hath exactly computed it ; and we will examine by our chronicles , whether on such yeares any signal fatalities befell england . a. d. anno reg. d. l. g. n. signal disasters . w. rufus . g k. rufus made a fruitless invasion of wales . h. first . g k. hen. subdueth normandy , and d. robert his brother . h. first . g he forbiddeth the popes legate to enter england . r. first . g k. richard conquereth cyprus in his way to palestine . k. john . g the french invade normandy . k. john . g k. john resigneth his kingdom to the pope . ed. first . g nothing remarkable but peace and plenty . ed. first . ag war begun with scotland , which ended in victory . r. second . ag the scots do much harm to us at peryth fair. h. sixth . g lancastrians worsted by the yorkists in fight . h. eighth . g k. henry entred scotland , and burnt edenburgh . hitherto this proverb hath had but intermitting truth at the most , seeing no constancy in sad casualties . but the sting ( will some say ) is in the taile thereof , and i behold this proverb born in this following year . q. mary . g q. mary setteth up popery and martyreth protestants . charles . g the unprosperous voyage to the isle of rees . charles . g the first cloud of trouble in scotland .   g the first complete year of the english common-wealth ( or tyranny rather ) which since , blessed be god , is returned to a monarchy . the concurrence of these two dayes doth not return till the year . and let the next generation look to the effects thereof . i have done my part in shewing , remitting to the reader the censuring of these occurrences . sure i am so sinfull a nation deserves that every year should be fatal unto it . but it matters not , though our lady falls in our lords lap , whilst our lord sits at his fathers right hand , if to him we make our addresses by serious repentance . when hempe is spun england is done. though this proverb hath a different stamp , yet i look on it as coined by the same mint - master with the former , and even of the same age. it is faced with a literal , but would be lined with a mysticall sense . when hemp is spun , that is , when all that necessary commodity is imployed , that there is no more left for sailes and cordage , england ( whose strength consists in shipping ) would be reduced to a doleful condition . but know under hempe are couched the initial letters of henry the . edward the . mary , philip and elizabeth , as if with the life of the last , the happiness of england should expire , which time hath confuted . yet to keep this proverb in countenance , it may pretend to some truth , because then england with the addition of scotland lost its name in great brittain by royal proclamation . when the black fleet of norvvay is come and gone ] england build houses of lime and stone , ] for after wars you shall have none . ] there is a larger edition hereof , though this be large enough for us , and more then we can well understand . some make it fulfilled in the eighty eight , when the spanish-fleet was beaten , the sur-name of whose king , as a learned * author doth observe , was norvvay ▪ others conceive it called the black fleet of norway , because it was never black ( not dismall to others , but wofull to its own apprehension , ) till beaten by the english , and forced into those coasts according to the english historian . they betook * themselves to flight leaving scotland on the west , and bending towards norway ill advised . ( but that necessity urged , and god had infatuated their councells ) to put their shaken and battered bottoms into those black and dangerous seas . i observe this the rather , because i believe mr. speed in this his writing , was so far from having a reflexion on , that i question , whether ever i had heard of this prophecy . it is true that afterwards england built houses of lime and stone , and our most handsome and artificiall buildings , ( though formerly far greater and stronger , ) bear their date from the defeating of the spanish fleet. as for the remainder , after wars you shall have none ; we find it false , as to our civil wars by our woful experience . and whether it be true or false , as to forreign invasions hereafter , we care not at all , as beholding this prediction either made by the wild fancy of one foolish man ; and then , why should this many wise men attend thereunto ? or else by him , who alwaies either speaks what is false , or what is true with an intent to deceive ; so that we will not be ellated with good , or dejected with bad success of his fore-telling . england is the ringing island . ] thus it is commonly call'd by foreigners , as having greater , moe , and more tuneable bells than any one county in christendom , italy it self not excepted , though nola be there , and bells so called thence , because first founded therein . yea , it seems , our land is much affected with the love of them , and loth to have them carryed hence into forreign parts , whereof take this eminent instance . when arthur bulkley the covetous bishop of * bangor , in the reign of king henry the eighth , had sacrilegiously sold the five fair bels of his cathedral , to be transported beyond the seas , and went down himself to see them shipp'd , they suddenly sunk down with the vessell in the haven , and the bishop fell instantly blind , and so continued to the day of his death . nought else have i to observe of our english bells , save that in the memory of man , they were never known so long free from the sad sound of funerals of general infection , god make us sensible of , and thankfull for the same . when the sand feeds the clay , england cryes * well a-day : ] but when the clay feeds the sand , it is merry with england . ] as nottingham-shire is divided into two * parts , the sand and the clay , all england falls under the same dicotomie , yet so as the sand hardly amounteth to the fifth part thereof . now a wet year , which drowneth and chilleth the clay , makes the sandy ground most fruitfull with corn , and the generall granarie of the land , which then is dearer in other counties ; and it is harder for one to feed foure , than foure to feed one . it is furthermore observed , that a drought never causeth a dearth in england , because ( though parching up the sandy ground ) the clay , being the far greatest moiety of the land , having more natural moisture therein , affordeth a competent encrease . — england were but a fling , ] save for the crooked stick and the gray-goose-wing . ] but a fling that is , a slight , light thing , not to be valued , but rather to be cast away , as being but half an island . it is of no great extent . philip the second , king of spain , in the reign of queen elizabeth called our english ambassadours unto him , ( whilst as yet there was peace betwixt the two crowns ) and taking a small map of the world , layed his little finger upon england , ( wonder not if he desired to finger so good a countrey , ) and then demanded of our english ambassadour , where england was ? indeed it is in greatness inconsiderable to the spanish dominions . but for the crooked stick , &c. ] that is , use of archery . never were the arrows of the parthians more formidable to the romans , then ours to the french horsemen : yea remarkable his divine providence to england , that since arrowes are grown out of use , though the weapons of war be altered , the english mans hand is still in ure as much as ever before , for no country affords better materials of iron , saltpeter and lead ; or better work-men to make them into guns , powder , and bullets ; or better marks-men to make use of them being so made : so that england is now as good with a streight iron , as ever it was with a crooked stick . england is the paradise of women , hell of horses , purgatory of servants . ] for the first , billa vera women , whether maids , wives , or widowes , finding here the fairest respect , and kindest usage . our common-law is a more courteous carver for them , than the civil-law beyond the seas , allowing widows the thirds of their husbands estates with other priviledges . the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or highest seats are granted them at all feasts , and the wall ( in crowding , most danger to the weakest , in walking most dignity to the worthiest ) resigned unto them . the indentures of maid-servants are cancelled by their marriage , though the term be not expired ; which to young-men in the same condition is denyed . in a word , betwixt law and ( laws-corrival ) custom , they freely enjoy many favours , and we men , so far from envying them , wish them all happiness therewith . for the next , ●… englands being an hell for horses ] ignoramus , as not sufficiently satisfied in the evidence alledged . indeed the spaniard , who keeps his gennets rather for shew than use ; makes wantons of them . however , if england be faulty herein in their over-violent riding , racing , hunting ; it is high time the fault were amended , the rather because , the * good man regardeth the life of his beast . for the last , ●… pugatory for servants ] we are so far from finding the bill , we cast it forth as full of falshood . we have but two sorts , apprentices , and covenant-servants . the parents of the former give large summes of money to have their children bound for seven yeares , to learn some art or mystery ; which argueth their good usage , as to the generality in our nation . otherwise it were madness for men to give so much money to buy their childrens misery . as for our covenant-servants , they make their own covenants , and if they be bad , they may thank themselves . sure i am , their masters if breaking them and abusing their servants with too little meat or sleep , too much work or correction , ( which is true also of apprentices ) are liable by law to make them reparation . indeed , i have heard how in the age of our fathers , servants were in far greater subjection than now adayes , especially since our civil wars hath lately dislocated all relations ; so that now servants will do whatsoever their masters injoyn them ; so be it , they think fitting themselves . for my own part , i am neither for the tyranny of the one , nor rebellion of the other , but the mutuall duty of both . as for vernae , slaves or vassals , so frequent in spain and forreign parts , our land and lawes ( whatever former tenures have been , ) acknowledg not any for the present . to conclude , as purgatory is a thing feigned in it self ; so in this particular it is false in application to england . a famine in england begins first at the horse-manger . ] indeed it seldom begins at the horse-rack ; for , though hay may be excessive dear caused by a dry summer , yet winter-grain ( never impaired with a drought ) is then to be had at reasonable rates . whereas , if pease or oates , our horse-grain , ( and the latter mans-grain also generally in the north for poor people ) be scarce , it will not be long ere wheat , rie , &c. mount in our markets . indeed , if any grain be very dear , no grain will be very cheap soon after . the king of england is the king of devils . ] the german emperour is termed the king of kings , having so many free princes under him : the king of spain , king of men , because they willingly yield their sovereign rational obedience : the king of france , king of asses , patiently bearing unconscionable burdens : but why the king of england king of devils ? i either cannot , or do not , or will not understand . sure i am , s. gregory gave us better language when he said , angli velut angeli , for our fair complexions ; and it is sad we should be devils by our black conditions . the english are the frenchmen's apes . ] this anciently hath been , and still is charg'd on the english , and that with too much truth , for ought i can find to the contrary . — dolebat , et dici potuisse , & non potuisse refelli . — it is to us a pain this should be said , and not gain-said again . we ape the french chiefly in two particulars . first in their language , ( which if jack could speak , he would be a gentleman ) which some get by travell , others gain at home with dame eglentine in * chaucer , entewned in her voice full seemly , and french she spake full feteously after the scole of stratford at bowe , for french of paris was to her unknow . secondly in their habits , accounting all our fineness in conformity to the french-fashion , though following it at greater distance than the field-pease in the country the rath ripe pease in the garden . disgracefull in my opinion , that seeing the english victorious armes had twice charged through the bowels of france , we should learn our fashions from them to whom we taught obedience . the english glutton . ] gluttony is a sin anciently charged on this nation , which we are more willing to excuse than confess , more willing to confess than amend . some pretend the coldness of climate in excuse of our sharp appetites ; and plead the plenty of the land ( england being in effect all a great cookes-shop , and no reason any should starve therein , ) for our prodigious feasts . they alledge also that foreigners ( even the spaniards themselves ) coming over hither , acquit themselves as good trencher-men as any ; so that it seems want , not temperance makes them so abstemious at home . all amounts not to any just defence , excess being an ill expression of our thankfullness to god for his goodness . nor need we with the egyptians to serve up at the last course a dead mans head , to mind us of our mortality , seeing a feast well considered is but a charnel house of foul , fish and flesh ; and those few shell-fish that are not kill'd to our hands are kill'd by our teeth . it is vaine therefore to expect that dead food should alwaies preserve life in the feeders thereupon . * long beards heartless , painted-hoods witless ; ] gay-coats graceless , make england thriftless . ] though this hath more of libell than proverb therein , and is stark false in it self , yet it will truely acquaint us with the habits of the english in that age. long-beards heartless . ] our english did use nutrire comam , both on their head and beards , concieving it made them more amiable to their friends , and terrible to their foes . painted-hoods witless . ] their hoods were stained with a kind of colour , in a middle way betwixt dying and painting , ( whence painters-stainers have their name ) a mystery vehemently suspected to be lost in our age. hoods served that age for caps . gay-coats graceless . ] gallantry began then to be fashionable in england , and perchance those who here taxed them therewith would have been as gay themselves , had their land been as rich and able to maintain them . this sing-song was made on the english by the scots , after they were flush'd with victory over us in the reign of king edward the second . never was the battle at cannae so fatal to the romans , as that at sterling to the nobility of england ; and the scots puffed up with their victory , fixed those opprobrious epithets of heartless , witless , graceless upon us . for the first , we appeal to themselves , whether englishmen have not good hearts , and with their long beards , long swords . for the second we appeal to the world , whether the wit of our nation hath not appeared as considerable as theirs in their writings and doings . for the third we appeal to god , the onely searcher of hearts , and trier of true grace . as for the fourth thriftless , i omit it , because it sinks of it self as a superstructure on a foundred and sailing foundation . all that i will adde is this , that the grave , sage and reduced scotish-men in this age , are not bound to take notice of such expressions made by their ancestors ; seeing when nations are at hostile defiance , they will mutually endeavour each others disgrace . he that england will win , ] must with ireland first begin . ] this proverb importeth that great designs must be managed gradatim , not only by degrees , but due method ; england , it seems , is too great a morsel for a forreign foe to be chopped up at once , and therefore it must orderly be attempted , and ireland be first assaulted . some have conceived , but it is but a conceit ( all things being in the bosom of divine providence , ) that , had the spanish armado in eighty eight fallen upon ireland , ( when the well affected therein were few and ill provided , ) they would have given a better account of their service to him , who sent them . to rectify which errour , the king of spain sent afterward john de aquila into ireland , but with what success is sufficiently known . and if any foreign enemy hath a desire to try the truth of this proverb at his own peril , both england and ireland lie for climate in the same posture they were before . in england a buss●…l of march dust is wo●…th a king●… randsom . ] not so in southern sandy counties , where a dry march is as destructive , as here it is beneficial . how much a kings randsom amounteth unto , england knows by dear experience , when paying one hundred thousand pounds to redeem richard the first , which was shared between the german emperour and leopoldus duke of austria . indeed a general good redounds to our land by a dry march , for if our clay-grounds be over-drowned in that moneth , they recover not their distemper that year . however , this proverb presumeth seasonable showers in april following , or otherwise march dust will be turned into may-ashes , to the burning up of grass and grain ; so easily can god blast the most probable fruitfulness . england a good land and a bad people . ] this is a french proverb , and we are glad , that they being so much admirers and magnifiers of their own , will allow any goodness to another country . this maketh the wonder the less , that they have so much endeavoured to get a share in this good country , by their former frequent invasions thereof ; though they could never since the conquest , peaceably posse●…s a hundred yards thereof for twenty hours , whilst we for a long time have enjoyed large territories in france . but this proverb hath a design to raise up the land to throw down the people , graceing it to disgrace them . we english-men are , or-should be ready humbly to confess our faults before god , and no less truly , then sadly to say of our selves ; ah sinfull nation ! however before men we will not acknowledge a visible badness above other nations : and the plain truth is , both france and england have need to mend , seeing god hath formerly justly made them by sharpe wars alternately to whip one another . the high-dutch pilgrims when they beg , do sing ; the french-men whine and cry ; the spaniards curse , swear , and blaspheme ; the irish and english steal . ] this is a spanish proverb , and i suspect too much truth is suggested therein , the rather because the spaniards therein spare not themselves , but unpartially report their own black character . if any ask why the italians are not here mentioned , seeing surely their pilgrims have also their peculiar humours ; know , that rome and loretta the staples of pilgrimages , being both in italy , the italians very seldom ( being frugal in their superstition . ) go out of their own country . whereas stealing is charged on our english , it is confess'd , that our poor people are observed light-fingered , and therefore our lawes are so heavy , making low felony highly penal , to restrain that vice most , to which our pezantry is most addicted . i wish my country more true piety , then to take such tedious and useless journeys ; but if they will go , i wish them more honesty , then to steal ; and the people , by whom they pass , more charity , than to tempt them to stealth , by denying them necessaries in their journey . princes . john , eldest son of king edward the first and queen eleanor , was born at windsor before his fathers voyage into syria . his short life will not bear a long character , dying in his infancy * . ( the last year of the reign of king henry the d. ) and was buryed august the . in westminster , under a marble tomb , in-laid with his picture in an arch over it . * eleanor eldest daughter to king edward the first and queen eleanor , was born at windsor anno dom. . she was afterwards marryed by a proxy , ( a naked sword being in bed interposed betwixt him and her body , ) to alphons king of arragon with all ceremonies of state. and indeed they proved but ceremonies , the substance soon 〈◊〉 , the said king alphons dying anno dom. . before the consummation of the m●…rriage . but soon after this lady found that a living earl was better then a dead king. when marryed to henry the d. earl of berry in france , from whom the dukes of 〈◊〉 and kings of sicil are descended . this lady deceased in the seven and twentieth of her fathers reign , anno dom. . margaret , third daughter of king edward the first and queen eleanor , was born at windsor * in the d. year of her fathers reign , . when fifteen year old she was marryed at westminster , july th . . to john the second duke of brabant , by whom she had issue , john the third duke of brabant , from whom the dukes of burgundy are descended . mary , sixth daughter of king edward the first and queen eleanor , was born at windsor april the . . being but ten years of age , she was made a nun at amesbury in wilt-shire without her own , and ( at the first ) against her * parents consent , meerly to gratify queen eleanor her grand-mother . let us pity her , who probably did not pity her self , as not knowing a vaile from a kerchief , not understanding the requisites to , nor her own fitness for that profession , having afterwards time too much to bemoan , but none to amend her condition . as for the other children of this king , which he had by eleanor his queen , probably born in this castle , viz. henry . alphonse . blanche . dying in their infancy immediately after their baptism , it is enough to name them , and to bestow this joynt epitapb upon them . ●…leansed at font we drew untainted breath , not yet made bad by life , made good by death . the two former were buryed with their brother john , ( of whom before ) at westminster in the same tomb , but where blanche was interred is altogether unknown . edward the third son to edward the second and queen isabel , was born at windsor october . . ( and proved afterwards a pious and fortunate prince . ) i behold him as meerly passive in the deposing of his father , practised on in his minority by his mother and mortimer . his french victories speak both of his wisdom and valour ; and though the conquests by king henry the fifth were thicker , ( atchieved in a shorter time ) his were broader , ( in france and scotland by sea and land , ) though both of length alike , as lost by their immediate successours . he was the first english king which coined* gold , which with me amounts to a wonder , that before his time all yellow payments in the land should be made in foreign coin. he first stamped the rose-nobles , having on the one side , jesus autem transiens per medium illorum ibat . and on the reverse , his own image with sword and shield , sitting in a ship waving on the sea. hereupon an english rhymer , * in the reign of king henry the sixth , for four things our noble she weth to me , king , ship , and swerd , and power of the see. he had a numerous and happy issue by philippa his queen , after whose death , being almost seventy years old , he cast his affection on alice pie●…ce his paramour , much to his disgrace ; it being true what epictetus returned to adrian the emperour , asking of him what love was , in puero , pudor ; in virgine , rubor ; in soemina , furor ; in juvene , ardor ; in sene , risus . in a boy , bashfulness ; in a maid , blushing ; in a woman , fury ; in a young man , fire ; in an old man , folly . however , take this king altogether at home , abroad , at church , in state , and he had few equals , none superiours . he dyed anno dom. . * william , sixth son of king edward the third and queen philippa , was born at windsor . indeed his second son born at hatfield was of the same name , who dyed in his infancy , and his mother had a fond affection for another william , because her fathers , brothers , and a conquering name , till his short life also , dying in his cradle , weaned her from renewing her desire . as for king edwards female children , isabel , joan , blanch , mary and margaret , there is much probability of their french , and no assurance of their english nativity . henry the sixth , son to henry the fifth , was born in windsor-castle , against the will of his father , by the wilfulness of his mother . he was fitter for a coul then a crown ; of so easie a nature , that he might well have exchanged a pound of patience for an ounce of valour : being so innocent to others , that he was hurtful to himself . he was both over-subjected and over-wived ; having marryed margaret the daughter of reinier king of jerusalem , sicily and arragon , a prince onely puissant in titles , otherwise little able to assist his son in law. through home-bred dissentions he not onely lost the foreign acquisitions of his father in france , but also his own inheritance in england to the house of york . his death , or murder rather , happened . this henry was twice crowned , twice deposed , and twice buryed , ( first at chertsy , then at windsor , ) and once half sainted . our henry the seventh cheapned the price of his canonization , ( one may see for his love , and buy for his money in the court of rome ) but would not come up to the summe demanded . however this henry was a saint ( though not with the pope ) with the people , repairing to this monument from the farthest part of the land , and fancying that they received much benefit thereby . he was the last prince whom i find expresly born at windsor . it seems that afterwards our english queens grew out of conceit with that place , as unfortunate for royal nativities . saints . margaret alice rich were born at abbington * in this county , and were successively prioresses of catesby in northampton-shire . they were sisters to st. edmund , whose life ensueth , and are placed before him by the courtesie of england , which alloweth the weaker sex the upper hand . so great the reputation of their holiness , that the former dying anno . the latter . both were honoured * for saints , and many miracles reported by crafty , were believed by credulous people , done at their shrine by their reliques . st. edmund son to edward rich and mabel his wife , was born at * abbington in bark-shire , and bred in oxford . some will have edmunds-hall in that university built by his means , but others ( more probably ) nam'd in his memory . he became canon of salisbury , and from thence , by the joynt-consent of pope , king and monkes , ( three cords seldom twisted in the sa ne cable ) advanc'd arch-bishop of canterbury , where he sate almost ten years till he willingly deserted it ; partly , because offended at the power of the popes legate , making him no more then a meer cypher , signifying onely in conjunction ( when concurring with his pleasure ; ) partly , because vexed at his polling and peeling of the english people , so grievous , he could not endure , so general , he could not avoid to behold it . for these reasons he left the land , went ( or , shall i say , fled ? ) into france , where he sighed out the remainder of his life , most at pontiniack , but some at soyssons where he dyed anno . pope innocent the fourth canonized him six years after his death , whereat many much wondred , that he should so much honour one , a professed foe to papal extortions . * some conceived he did it se defendendo , and for a ne noceat , that he might not be tormented with his ghost . but what hurt were it , if all the enemies of his holiness were sainted , on condition they took death in their way thereunto ? sure it is that lewis king of france , a year after translated his corps , and , three years after that , bestowed a most sumptuous shrine of gold , silver , and chrystal upon it ; and the . of november is the festival appointed for his memorial . martyrs . it appeareth by the * confession of thomas man ( martyred in the beginning of king henry the eighth ) that there was at newberry in this county a glorious and sweet society of faithful favourers , who had continued the space of fifteen years together , till at last by a certain lewd person , whom they trusted and made of their council , they were betrayed , and then many of them to the number of six or seven score were abjured , and three or four of them burnt . now although we knew not how to call these martyrs who so suffered , their names no doubt are written in the book of life . we see how the day of the gospel dawned as soon in this county , as in any place in england , surely seniority in this kind ought to be respected , which made paul a pusney in piety to * andronicus and iunia his kinsmen , to enter this caveat for their spiritual precedency who were in christ before me . ] on which account , let other places give the honour to the town of newberry , because it started the first ( and i hope not tire for the earliness thereof ) in the race of the reformed religion . yea doctor william twis , the painful preacher in that parish , was wont to use this as a motive to his flock , to quicken their pace , and strengthen their perseverance in piety , because that town appears the first fruits of the gospel in england . and windsor the next in the same county had the honour of martyrs ashes therein , as by the ensuing list will appear . there was in windsor a company of right godly persons , who comfortably enjoyed themselves , untill their enemies designed their extirpation , though it cost them much to accomplish it , one of them confessing that for his share he expended an hundred marks , besides the killing of three geldings . these suspecting that the judges itinerant in their circuit would be too favourable unto them , procured a special session , got four arraigned and condemned by the commissioners , whereof the three following were put to death , on the statute of the six articles . . * anthony persons , a priest and profitable preacher , so that the great clerks of windsor thought their idleness upbraided by his industry . being fastned to the stake he laid a good deal of straw on the top of his head , saying , this is gods hat , i am now arm'd like a souldier of christ. . robert testwood , a singing-man in the quire of windsor . there hapned a contest betwixt him and another of that society , singing an anthem together to the virgin mary . robert philips on the one side of the quire. robert testwood on the other side of the quire. oh redemtrix & salvatrix ! non redemtrix , nec salvatrix . i know not which sung the deepest base , or got the better for the present . sure i am , that since by gods goodness the nons have drowned the ohs in england . testwood was also accused for disswading people from pilgrimages , and for striking off the nose of the image of our lady . . henry fillmer church-warden of windsor , who had articled against their superstitious vicar for heretical doctrine . these three were burnt together at windsor , anno . and when account was given to their patient death to king henry the eighth sitting on horse-back , the king turning his horses head said , alas poor innocents ! a better speech from a private person then a prince , bound by his place not only to pity , but protect oppressed innocence . however by this occasion other persecuted people were pardoned and preserved , of whom * hereafter . this storm of persecution thus happily blown over , bark-shire enjoyed peace and tranquillity for full twelve years together , viz. from the year of our lord . till . when dr. jeffrey the cruel chancellour of sarisbury , renewed the troubles at newberry and caused the death of julins palmer . see his character ( being born in coventry ) in warwickshire . john gwin . thomas askine . these three july . . were burnt in a place nigh newberry called the * sand-pits , enduring the pain of the fire with such incredible constancy , that it confounded their fo●…s , and confirmed their friends in the truth . confessors . john marbeck was an organist in the quire of windsor and very skilful therein , a man of admirable industry and ingenuity , who , not perfectly understanding the latin tongue , did out of the latin with the help of the english bible make an english concordance , which bishop gardiner himself could not but commend as a piece of singular industry , professing that there were no fewer then twelve learned men to make the first latin concordance ; and king henry the eighth hearing thereof , said that he was better imployed , then those priests which accused him . let therefore our modern concordances of cotton , newman , bernard , &c. as children and grand-children do their duty to marbecks concordance , as their parent at first endeavour'd in our language . this marbeck was a very zealous protestant , and of so sweet and amiable nature , that all good men did love , and few bad men did hate him . yet was he condemned anno . on the statute of the . articles to be burnt at windsor , had not his pardon been procured , divers assigning divers causes thereof ; . that bishop gardiner bare him a speciall affection for his skill in the mystery of musick . . that such who condemned him , procured his pardon out of remorse of conscience , because so slender the evidence against him , it being questionable whether his concordance was made after the statute of the . articles or before it , and , if before , he was freed by the kings general pardon . . that it was done out of design to reserve him for a discovery of the rest of his party ; if so , their plot failed them . for being as true as steel , ( whereof his fetters were made , which he ware in prison for a good time ) he could not be frighted or flattered to make any detection . here a mistake was committed by mr. fox in his first edition , whereon the papis●…s much insult , making this marbeck burnt at windsor for his religion , with anthony persons , robert testwood , and henry fillmer . no doubt mr. fox rejoyced at his own mistake , thus far forth ; both for marbecks sake who escaped with his life , and his enemies who thereby drew the less guilt of bloud on their own consciences . but hear what he pleads for his mistake . . marbeck was dead in law , as condemned whereon his errour was probably grounded . . he confessing that one of the four condemned was pardoned his life , misnaming him 〈◊〉 instead of marbeck . . let papists first purge their lying legend from manifest and intentionall untruths , before they censure others for casuall slips and un-meant mistakes . . recognizing his book in the next edition , he with blushing amended his errour . and is not this penance enough according to the principals of his accusers confession , contrition , and satisfaction ? all this will not content some morose cavillers whom i have heard jeeringly say , that many who were burnt in fox in the reign of queen mary , drank sack in the days of queen elizabeth . but enough is said to any ingenious person ; and it is impossible for any author of a voluminous book consisting of several persons and circumstances ( reader in pleading for master fox , i plead for my self ) to have such ubiquitary intelligence , as to apply the same infallibly to every particular . when this marbeck dyed is to me unknown , he was alive at the second english edition of the book of martyrs . thirty and nine years after the time of his condemnation . robert benet was a lawyer living in windsor , and a zealous professor of the true religion . he drank as deep as any of the cup of affliction , and no doubt had been condemned with testwood , persons , and the rest ; had he not at the same time been sick of the * plague-sore in the prison of the bishop of london , which proved the means of his preservation ; thus it is better to fall into the hands of god , than into the hands of men . and thus as out of the devourer came food , out of the destroyer came life , yea the plague-sore proved a cordial unto him . for by the time that he was recovered thereof , a pardon was freely granted to him ; as also to sir thomas cardine , sir philip hobby , ( both of the kings privy-chamber ) with their ladies and many more designed to death by crafty bishop gardner , had not his majesties mercy thus miraculously interposed . cardinalls . i have read of many , who would have been cardinals , but might not . this county afforded one , who might have been one , but would not , viz. william laud , the place being no less freely profered to , then disdainfully refused by , him with words to this effect : that the church of rome must be much mended , before he would accept any such dignity . an expression which in my mind amounted to the emphaticall periphrasis of never . but we shall meet with him hereafter under a more proper topick . prelats . william of reading a * learned benedictine , imployed by king h. the second in many embassies , and by him preferred arch-bishop of bourdeaux , where he dyed in the reign of king richard the first . john de bradfield , sive de lato campo . finding fifteen villages of the name , i fixt his nativity at bradfield in berks , as ( in my measuring ) the nearest to rochester , where he was chanter and bishop * . if mistaken , the matter is not much seeing his sir-name is controverted and otherwise written , john de hoe . however being charractred , vir conversationis honestae , decenter literatus & in omnibus morigeratus . i was desirous to crowd him into our book where i might with most probability . richard beauchamp was brother saith bishop godwin to walter beauchamp ( mistaken for william , as may appear by * mr. camden ) baron of st. amand , whose chief habitation was at wydehay in this county , he was bred doctor in the laws , and became bishop first of hereford , then of salisbury . he was chancellour of the garter , which office descended to his successors , windsor-castle the seat of that order being in the dioces of salisbury . he built a most beautifull chappel ( on the south-side of st. maries chappel ) in his own cathedral , wherein he lyeth buryed . his death hapned anno dom. . since the reformation . thomas godwin was born at * oakingham in this county , and first bred in the free school therein . hence was he sent to magdalen colledge in oxford , maintained there for a time by the bounty of doctor layton dean of york , till at last he was chosen fellow of the colledge . this he exchanged on some terms for the school-masters place of barkley in gloucester-shire , where he also studied physick , which afterwards proved beneficial unto him ; when forbidden to teach school in the reign of queen mary . yea bonner threatned him with fire and faggot , which caused him often to obscure himself and remove his habitation . he was an eloquent preacher , tall and comely in person ; qualities which much indeared him to q. elizabeth , who loved good parts well , but better , when in a goodly person . for . years together he never failed to be one of the select chaplains , which preached in the lent before her majesty . he was first dean of christ-church in oxford , then dean of canterbury , and at last bishop of bath and wells . being infirm with age , and deseased with the gout , he was necessitated for a nurse to marry a second wife , a matron of years proportionable to himself . but this was by his court-enemies ( which no bishop wanted in that age ) represented to the queen to his great disgrace . yea they traduced him to have married a girl of twenty years of age , until the good earl of bedford * casually present at such discourse ; madam , ( said he to her majesty ) i know not how much the woman is above twenty , but i know a son of hers is but little under forty . being afflicted with a quartern feaver , he was advised by his physicians to retire into this county , to oakingham the place of his birth , seeing in such cases native ayr may prove cordial to patients , as mothers milk to ( and old men are twice ) children . here he dyed ( breathing his first and last in the same place , ) november the . . and lyeth buried under a monument in the south-side of the chancell . thomas ramme was born at * windsor in this county , and admitted in kings colledge in cambridge anno dom. . whence he was made chaplain first to robert earl of essex , then to charles lord mountjoy , both lord lieutenants in ireland , after many mediate preferments , he was made bishop of fernos and laghlin in that kingdom , both which he peaceably injoyed , anno . william lawd was born at reading in this county , of honest parentage , bred in saint johns colledge in oxford , whereof he became p●…esident ; successively bishop of saint davids , bath and wells , london , and at last arch-bishop of canterbury . one of low stature , but high parts ; piercing eyes , chearfull countenance , wherein gravity and pleasantness , were well compounded : admirable in his naturalls , unblameable in his morals , being very strict in his conversation . of him i have written in my ecclesiastical history , though i confess it was somewhat too soon for one with safety and truth , to treat of such a subject . indeed i could instance in some kind of course venison , not fit for food when first killed , and therefore cunning cooks bury it for some hours in the earth , till the rankness thereof being mortified thereby , it makes most palatable meat . so the memory of some persons newly deceased are neither fit for a writers or readers repast , untill some competent time after their interment . however i am confident that unpartial posterity , on a serious review of all passages , will allow his name to be reposed amongst the heroes of our nation , seeing such as behold his expence on st. pauls as but a cypher , will assign his other benefactions a very valuable signification , viz. his erecting and endowing an almes-house in reading , his increasing of oxford library with books , and st. johns colledg with beautifull buildings . he was beheaded jan. . . states-men . sir john mason knight was born at abbington ( where he is remembred among the benefactors to the beautifull almes-house therein , ) bred in all souls in oxford . king hènry the eighth coming thither was so highly pleased with an oration mr. mason made unto him , that he instantly gave order for his education beyond the seas , as confident he would prove an able minister of state. this was the politick discipline of those days to select the pregnancies of either universities , and breed them in forraign parts for publique employments . he was privy-councellour to king henry the eighth , and k. edward the sixth . one * maketh him his secretary of state , which some suspect too high ; * another , but master of the requests , which i believe as much beneath him . he continued councellor to q. mary , and q. elizabeth , to whom he was treasurer of the household , and chancellor of the university of oxford . mr. camden gives him this true character , vir fuit gravis , atque eruditus : which i like much better then that which followeth , so far as i can understand it , * ecclesiasticorum * beneficiorum incubator maximus . surely he could be no canonical incumbent in any benefice , not being in orders , which leaveth him under the suspicion , of being a great ingrosser of long leases in church-livings , which then used to be let for many years , a pityful pension being reserved for the poor curate . thought possibly in his younger time , he might have tonsuram primam , or be a deacon , ( which improved by his great power ) might qualify at least countenance him for the holding of his spiritual promotions . he died . and lieth buried in the quire of st. pauls ( over against william herbert first earl of pembroke , ) and i remember this distick of his long epitaph : tempore quinque suo regnantes ordine vidit , horum a consiliis quatuor ille fuit . he saw five princes , which the scepter bore , of them , was privy-councellour to four. it appears by his epitaph , that he left no child of his own body , but adopted his nephew to be his son an heir . sir thomas smith knight was born at abbington , bred in the university of oxford , god and himself raised him to the eminency he attained unto , unbefriended with any extraction . he may seem to have had an ingenuous emulation of sir tho. smith senior , secretary of state , whom he imitated in many good qualities , and had no doubt equalled him in preferment , if not prevented by death . he attained only to be master of the requests , and secretary to k. james , for his latine letters , higher places expecting him , when a period was put to his life novemb. . . he lieth buried in the church of fullkam in middlesex , under a monument erected by his lady , frances daughter to william lord chandos , and since countess of exeter . souldiers . henry umpton knight , was born ( as by all indications in the heralds office doth appear ) at wadley in this county . he was son to sir edward umpton , by anne ( the relick of john dudley earl of warwick , and ) the eldest daughter of edward seymour duke of somerset . he was imployed by queen elizabeth embassadour into france , where he so behaved himself right stoutly in her behalf , as may appear by this particular . in the moneth of march anno . being sensible of some injury offered by the duke of gwise to the honour of the queen of england , he sent him this ensuing * challenge . for as much as lately in the lodging of my lord du mayne and in publick elsewhere , impudently , indiscreetly , and over boldly you spoke badly of my soveraign , whose sacred person , here in this county i represent . to maintain both by word and weapon her honour , ( which never was called in question among people of honesty and vertue ) i say you have wickedly lyed in speaking so basely of my soveraign , and you shall do nothing else but lie , whensoever you shall dare to taxe her honour . moreover that her sacred person ( being one of the most complete and vertuous princess that lives in this world ) ought not to be evil spoken of by the tongue of such a perfidious traytor to her law and country , as you are . and hereupon i do defy you , and challenge your person to mine with such manner of arms as you shall like or choose , be it either on horse back or on foot . nor would i have you to think any inequality of person between us , i being issued of as great a race and noble house ( every way ) as your self . so assigning me an indifferent place , i will there maintain my words , and the lie which i gave you , and which you should not endure if you have any courage at all in you . if you consent not , meet me hereupon , i will hold you , and cause you to be generally held for the arrantest coward , and most slanderous slave that lives in all france . i expect your answer . i find not what answer was returned . this sir henry dying in the french kings camp before lofear had his * corps brought over to london , and carryed in a coach to wadley , thence to farington , where he was buryed in the church on tuesday the . of july . he had allowed him a barons hearse , because dying ambassadour leigier . writers . hugh of reading quitted his expectances of a fair estate , and sequestring himself from worldly delights , embraced a monastical life , till at last he became abbot of reading . such , who suspect his sufficiency , will soon be satisfied when they read the high commendation which petrus bloesensis arch deacon of bath , ( one of the greatest scholars of that age ) bestoweth upon him . he wrote a book ( of no trival questions ) fetcht out of the scripture it self , the reason why i. bale * ( generally a back-friend to monks ) hath so good a character for him , who flourished anno dom. . roger of windsor * was undoubtedly born in this town , otherwise he would have been called roger of st. albans , being chanter in that convent . now in that age monks were reputed men of best learning and most leasure . the cause why our english kings alwaies choose one of their order ( who passed by the name of historicus regius , the kings historian ) to write the remarkable passages of his time . our roger was by king henry the third selected for that service , and performed it to ●…is own great credit and the contentment of others . he flourished in the year of our lord . robert rich son to edward and mabell his wife , brother of st. edmund arch-bishop of canterbury , was born at abbington in this county ; he followed his brother at very great distance both in parts and learning , ( though accompanying him in his travells beyond the seas ) and wrote a book of the life , death and miracles of his brother , being much to blame , if he did not do all right to so near a relation . he dyed about the year of our lord . richard of wallingford was born in that market town , pleasantly seated on the river thames , wherein his father was a black-smith . he went afterwards to oxford , and was bred in merton coll ▪ then a monke , and at last abbot of st. albans , where he became a most expert mathematician , especially for the mechanical part thereof , and ( retaining somewhat of his fathers trade ) was dexterous at making pritty engines , and instruments . his master-piece was a most artificial clock , made ( saith my * author ) magno labore , majore sumptu , arte verò maxima , with much pain , more cost , and most art. it remain'd in that monastry in the time of john bale ( whom by his words i collect an eye-witness thereof ) affirming that europe had not the like ; so that it seemed as good as the famous clock at strasburg in germany , and in this respect better , because ancienter ; it was a calendar as well as a clock , shewing the fixed stars and planets , the ebbing and flowing of the sea , minutes of the hours , and what not ? i have heard that when monopolies began to grow common in the court of france , the kings jester moved to have this monopoly for himself , viz. a cardescue of every one who carried a watch about him , and cared not how he employed his time. surely the monks of saint albans were concerned to be carefull how they spent their hours , seeing no convent in england had the like curiosity ; this their clock gathering up the least crum of time , presenting the minutary fractions thereof ; on which account , i conceive richard the maker thereof , well prepared for the time of his dissolution , when he died of the leprosie , anno dom. . since the reformation . henry bullock was most prob●…bly born in this county , where his ancient name appears in a worshipful estate . he was bred fellow and doctor of divinity in queens colledge in cambridge . a good linguist , and general scholar , familiar with erasmus , ( an evidence of his learning , it being as hard to halt before acriple , as to deceive his judgement , ) calling him bovillum in his epistles unto him . by the way our english writers , when rendring a sirname in latine which hath an appellative signification , content them to retein the body of the name , and only disguise the termination , as cross , peacok , crossus , peacocus , &c. but the germans in such a case doe use to mould the meaning of the name , either into latine , as i. fierce they translate i. ferus , bullock , bovillus , or into greek , as swarts they render melanthon , reeck-lin capnio . t is confessed our bullock * compelled by cardinal wolsy wrote against luther , but otherwise his affections were biased to the protestant party . the date of his death is unknown . william twis was born at spene in this county , which was an ancient roman * city mentioned by antonine in his itinerary by the name of spinae . this mindeth me of a passage in † clemens alexandrinus , speaking of sanctified afflictions , nos quidem è spinis uvas colligimus ; and here in another sense gods church gathered grapes , this good man , out of this thornie place . hence he was sent by winchester-school to new-colledge in oxford , and there became a general scholar . his plaine preaching was good , solid disputing better , pious living best of all . he afterwards became preacher in the place of his nativity ( spinham lands is part of newberry , ) and though generally our saviours observation is verified , a prophet is not without honour save in his own country , ( chiefly because minutiae omnes pueritiae ejus ibi sunt cognitae ) yet here he met with deserved respect . here he laid a good foundation , and the more the pity , if since some of his fancifull auditors have built hay and stubble thereupon . and no wonder if this good doctor toward his death was slighted by sectaries , it being usuall for new-lights to neglect those who have born the heat of the day . his latin works give great evidence of his abilities in controversial matters . he was chosen prolocutor in the late assembly of divines , wherein his moderation was very much commended , and dying in holborn he was buried at westminster , anno dom. . william lyford was born at peysmer in this county , and bred in magdalen colledge in oxford , where he proceeded bachelour of divinity . he was also fellow of that foundation , on the same token that his conscience post factum was much troubled , about his resigning his place for money to his successor , but ( as his friends have informed me ) he before his death took order for the restitution thereof . the modesty of his mind was legible in the comeliness of his countenance , and the meekness of his spirit visible in his courteous carriage : he was afterwards fixed at 〈◊〉 in dorset-shire , where his large vineyard required such an able and painfull vine-dresser ; here he layed a good foundation ( before the beginning of our civil wars ) with his learned preaching and catechising ; and indeed , though sermons give most sail to mens souls , catechising layeth the best ballast in them , keeping them stedy from being carri●…d away with every wind of doctrine . yet he drank a deep draught of the bitter cup , with the rest of his brethren , and had his share of obloquie from such factious persons as could not abide the wholsome words of sound doctrine . but their candle ( without their repentance ) shall be put out in darkness , whilst his memory shall shine in his learned works he hath left behind him . he died about the year of our lord , . romish exile w●…iters . thomas hyde was born at * newberry in this county , and bred a master of art in new colledge in oxford ; he was afterwards canon of winchester , and chief master of the school therein : he , with ●…ohn marti●…l the second master , about the beginning of the reign of queen elizabeth , left both their school and their land , living long beyond the seas ; this hyde is charactred by * one of his own perswasion , to be a man of upright life , of great gravity and severity : he wrote a book of consolation to his fellowexile . and died anno dom. . b●…nefactors to th●… publick . alfrede the fourth son to k. athelwolph was born at * wantage a market-town in this county . an excellent scholar , though he was past * twelve years of age before he knew one letter in the book ; and did not he run fast who starting so late came soon to the mark ? he was a curious poet , excellent musician , a valiant and successeful souldier , who fought seven battles against the danes in one year , and at last made them his subjects by conquest , and gods servants by christianity . he gave the first institution , or ( as others will have it ) the best 〈◊〉 to the university of oxford . a prince who cannot be painted to the life without his losse , no words reaching his worth . he divided . every natural day ( as to himself ) into three parts , eight hours for his devotion , eight hours for his imployment , eight hours for his sleep and refection . . his revenues into three parts , one for his expences in war , a second for the maintenance of his court , and a third to be spended on pious uses . . his land into thirty two shires , which number since is altered and increased . . his subjects into hundreds , and tythings , consisting of ten persons , mutually pledges for their good behaviour ; such being accounted suspitious for their life and loyalty that could not give such security . he left learning , where he found ignorance ; justice , where he found oppression ; peace , where he found distraction . and having reigned about four and thirty years , he dyed and was buried at winchester , anno . he loved religion more then superstition , favoured learned men more then lasie monks , which [ perchance ] was the cause that his memory is not loaden with miracles , and he not solemnly sainted with other saxon kings who far less deserved it . since the reformation . peter chapman was born at * cokeham in this county , bred an iron-monger in london , and at his death bequeathed five pounds a year to two scholars in oxford , as much to two in cambridge ; and five pounds a year to the poor in the town of his nativity , besides threescore pounds to the prisons in london , and other benefactions . the certain date of his death is to me unknown . john kendrick was born at reading in this county , and bred a draper in the city of london . his state may be compared to the * mustard-seed , very little at the beginning , but growing so great , that the birds made nests therein , or rather he therein made ne●…ts for many birds ; which otherwise being either infledged or maimed , must have been exposed to wind and weather . the worthiest of davids worthies were digested into * ternions , and they again subdivided into two ranks . if this double dichotomie were used to methodize our protestant benefactors since the reformation , sure i am that mr. kendrick will be ( if not the last of the first , ) the first of the second three . his charity began at his kindred , proceeded to his friends and servants , ( to whom he left large legacies , ) concluded with the poor , on whom he bestowed above twenty thousand pounds , reading and newbury sharing the deepest therein . and if any envious and distrustfull miser ( measuring other mens hearts by the narrowness of his own ) suspecteth the truth hereof , and if he dare hazard the smarting of his bleered eyes to behold so bright a sun of bounty , let him consult his will * publickly in print . he departed this life on the . day of september , . and lyes buried in st. christophers london . to the curate of which parish he gave twenty pounds per annum for ever . richard wightwick , bachelor of divinity , was rector of east isley in this county : what the yearly value of his living was i know not , and have cause to believe it not very great ; however one would conjecture his benefice a bishoprick by his bounty to pembroke colledge in oxford , to which he gave one hundred pounds per annum , to the maintenance of three fellows and four scholars . when he departed this life is to me unknown . memorable persons . thomas cole commonly called the rich clothier of reading . tradition and an authorless pamphlet make him a man of vast wealth , maintaining an hundred and fourty meniall servants in his house , besides three hundred poor people whom he set on work ; insomuch that his wains with cloth filled the high-way betwixt reading and london , to the stopping of king henry the first in his progress ; who , notwithstanding ( for the incouraging of his subjects industry ) gratified the said cole , and all of his profession , with the set measure of a yard , the said king making his own arme the standard thereof , whereby drapery was reduced in the meting thereof to a greater certainty . the truth is this , monkes began to lard the lives of their saints with lies , whence they proceeded in like manner to flourish out the facts of famous knights , ( king arthur , guy of warwick , &c. ) in imitation whereof some meaner wits in the same sort made description of mechanicks , powdering their lives with improbable passages , to the great prejudice of truth : seeing the making of broad-cloath in england could not be so ancient , and it was the arme ( not of king henry ) but king edward the first , which is notoriously known to have been the adequation of a yard . however , because omnis fabula fundatur in historia , let this cole be accounted eminent in this kind , though i vehemently suspect very little of truth would remain in the midst of this story , if the grosse falshoods were pared from both sides thereof . john winscombe , called commonly jack of newberry , was the most considerable clothier ( without fancy and fiction ) england ever beheld . his looms were his lands , whereof he kept one hundred in his house , each managed by a man and a boy . in the expedition to flodden-field against james king of scotland he marched with an hundred of his own men , ( as well armed , and better clothed then any ) to shew that the painfull to use their hands in peace could be valiant , and imploy their armes in war. he feasted king henry the eighth and his first queen katharine at his own house , extant at newberry at this day , but divided into many tenements . well may his house now make sixteen clothiers houses , whose wealth would amount to six hundred of their estates . he built the church of newberry from the pulpit westward to the tower inclusively , and died about the year . some of his name and kindred of great wealth still remaining in this county . lord mayors . name father place company time john parveis john parveis erlgeston fishmonger nicholas wyfold thomas wyfold hertley grocer william webbe john webbe reading salter thomas bennet thomas bennet wallingford mercer the names of the gentry of this county , returned by the commissioners in the twelfth year of king henry the sixth , . robert bishop of sarum . commissioners to take the oaths . william lovel chivaler   robert shotsbroke , knights for the shires . william fyndern .   johan . prendegest . praeceptor hospitalis st. johan . jerus . in anglia de grenham johannis golefre armigeri willielmi warbelton ar. willielmi danvers ar. johannis shotesbrooke ar. thomae foxle ar. phi. inglefeld ar. thomae rothewell ar. willielmi perkyns ar. thomae drewe ar. richardi ristwold ar. richardi makeney ar. johannis rogers ar. willielmi stanerton ar. willielmi floyer ar. thomae bullok ar. richardi bullok ar. johannis estbury ar. johannis kentwode ar. richardi hulcote ar. johannis gargrave ar. johannis chaumpe ar. willielmi baron ar. willielmi fitzwaryn ar. johannis stowe . willielmi hales johannis hyde johan . stokys de brympton willielmi fachell roberti vobe thomae pynchepole johannis yorke johannis ildesle thomae ildesle johannis colle richardi wydeford richardi abberbury thomae lanyngton thomae denton nicholai whaddon petri delamare johannis martyn thomae frankeleyn willielmi felyce richardi hamwell roberti wodecok johannis warvyle johannis rokys johannis seward willielmi walrond iohannis medeford rogeri merlawe willieimi latton richardi shayle thomae coterell iohannis george iohannis sewalle iohannis sturmy thomae hammes iohannis wering roberti beche iohannis coventre iohannis lokwode iohannis fitzwarwin henrici samon thomae plesance edwardi gybbes will coke de kingeston lyle iohannis firry nicholai hunt hugonis mayne willielmi newman senioris davidis gower iohannis dienys richardi dancastre willielmi drew de hungford iohannis parker de doington willielmi standard richardi collis nicholai long roberti chevayn richardi walker walteri canonn . de crokeham . parker roberti rove de abendon iohannis richby de reding iohannis stokes de abendon iohannis whitwey willielmi umfray simonis kent iohannis hatter willielmi brusele richardi irmonger richardi vayre gilberti holeway iohannis london willielmi pleystow iohannis bancbury thomae liford henrici ildesle iohannis chebeyn iohannis mortymer iohannis spynache iohannis moyn de faryndon iohannis ely iohannis goddard willielmi ditton walteri suttou nicholai barbour willielmi iacob iohannis benet de newberry iohannis magot willielmi croke de newberry willielmi clement iohannis moyn de moryton roberti freman iohannis lewes thomae steward willielmi sydmanton richardi waltham iohannis babeham iohannis clere iohannis botele de newberry richardi meryvale willielmi waleys iohannis beneton willielmi croke de welford willielmi charectour willielmi hertrugge iohannis kybe willielmi wylton richardi coterell laurentii alisandre thomae bevar vincentii bertilmewe iohannis pynkeney thomae attevyne iohannis crouchfeld iohannis smewyn iohannis sifrewast iohannis batell iohannis bythewode thomae bowell thomae hony walteri waryn iohannis yernemouth henrici russel●… roberti ivenden henrici berkesdale iohannis absolon iohannis berkesdale iohannis clerk de inkpenny richardi bertlot gilberti cohenhull gilberti vyell gilberti attewyke richardi attepitte thomae padbury hugonis rose iohannis woderove thomae pert iohannis merston richardi grove rogeri burymill thomae grece richardi pekke richardi mullyng iohan. parker de wokingham iohannis whitede iohan. sherman de wyndesor willielmi wodyngton rogeri felter willielmi felde iohannis billesby iohannis gunter iohannis glover richardi atteforde iohannis stacy iohannis baron de wytenham iohannis horwode willielmi more willielmi at-mille henrici de la river iohannis poting henrici brown iohannis brown richardi rissul iohannis yatynden iohannis kete iohannis pernecote rogeri gunter thomae swyer richardi bocher de thacham iohannis elys de thacham thomae mery richardi phelipp iohannis thoursey & iohannis bassemore . gardiners complain that some kind of flowers and fruits will not grow prosperously and thrive kindly in the suburbs of london ; this they impute to the smoak of the city offensive thereunto . sure i am that ancient gentry in this county sown thick in former , come up thin in our age. antiqua è multis nomina pauca manent . of names which were in days of yore , few remain here of a great store . i behold the vicinity of london as the cause thereof , for though barkshire be conveniently distanced thence , ( the nearest place sixteen , the farthest sixty miles from the same ) yet the goodness of the ways thither , and sweetness of the seats there , ( not to speak of the river thames , which uniteth both in commerce , ) setteth barkshire really nearer then it is locally to london : the cause , i believe , that so few families remain of the forenamed catalogue . the paucity of them maketh such as are extant the more remarkable , amongst whom william fachel or vachel ( the nth . in number ) was right ancient , having an estate in and about reading , as by the ensuing deed will appear : sciant presentes & futuri , quod ego joannes vachel dedi , concessi , & hac praesente charta mea confirmavi rogero le dubbare , pro servicio suo , & pro quadam summa pecuniae quammihi dedit primo manibus , totum & integrum illud tenementum cum pertinentiis suis quod habui in veteri vico rading inter tenementum quod quondam fuit thomae goum in parte boreali , & tenementum quod quondam fuit jordani le dubbar in parte australi , habend . & tenend . dicto rogero , & haeredibus suis vel assignatis , libere quiete , integre , in bona pace in perpetuum de capitalibus dominis illius foedi per servicium inde debitum & consuetum , reddendo inde annuatim mihi & haeredibus vel assignatis meis duos solidos & sex denarios , ad festum sancti michaelis , pro omni servicio seculari , exactione , & donand . & ego praedictus joannes & heredes mei vel mei assignati , totum praedictum tenementum cum omnibus suis pertinentiis dicto rogero , & haeredibus vel assignatis suis warrantizabimus , & contra omnes gentes defendemus in perpetuum per servitium praedictum . in cujus rei testimonium praesenti chartae sigillum meum apposui , hiis testibus , radulpho de la batili , thom. de lecester , nicho. bastat , waltero gerard , robert. le taylur , johan . le foghel , bado le foghellar , gilberto de hegfeild , & aliis . dat. rading duodecimo die februarii , anno regni regis edward . fil . regis henrici vicesimo nono . the descendents of this name are still extant in this county at coley in a worshipfull condition . sheriffes . anciently this county had sometimes the same , sometimes a distinct sheriffe from oxfordshire , as by the ensuing catalogue will appear so well as we can distinguish them . of barkshire . of both . of oxfordshire . anno hen. ii. restoldus willielm . de pontearch   henr. de oille richard. de charvill   henricus de oille gilbertus de pinchigen     henricus de oille gulielmus pinchigen     manassar arsic richard. lucy   idem . adam . le cadinns   idem . adam . de catmer   thomas basset idem .     adam . de catmer   idem .   idem .   idem .   idem .   hugo de bockland   adam . banaster idem .   idem . idem .   idem . idem . & hugo de bockland   idem . anno   anno hugo de bockland   alard . banaster idem .   idem . idem .   rob. de turvill hugo   idem . idem .   idem . hugo de s to . germano   idem . idem .   galf. hose idem .   galf. hosatts idem .   idem . idem .   rob. witefield idem .   idem . idem .   alan . de furnell   idem . rogerus filius renfr .   idem . anno richard . i. anno robertus filius renfr .   rob. de la mara robertus de la mara   willielmus briewere   idem .   idem .   idem .   willielmus filius rad.   henricus de oille philippus filius rob.   henr. de oille & alan . de marton .   pagand . de chaderington philip. filius rob.   hugo de nevill alan . de manton .   galf. de savage stephan . de turnham   hugo de nevill johannes de ferles .   galfr. de salvage anno johannes . anno stephan . de turnham   hugo de nevill johannes de ferles .   galfr. slavagius     rob. de cantelu gilbert . basset   fulk . de cantelu richard. caverton   nich. de kent     will. briewere & will. briewere   rich. de parco     hubert . de burgo .   jo. de wickeneholt junior   thom. banaster   richard. de tus     tho. basset     rob. de amnari   richardus de tus.   tho. basset robert. de magre   idem . johan . de wikenholton   idem . & rob. de magre idem .   idem .   johan . de wikenholton       tho. basset johan . de wikenholton   rob. e magre     tho basset idem .   rich. letus   johan . de wikenholton     anno hen. iii. anno   richardus filius reg.   fulco de breantee hen. de saio .   rad. de bray idem .   idem . idem .   idem .   idem cum filiis radulph . de   hen. de saio . bray . idem . idem .   falkesius de breantee     ric. de brakele fakesius de breantee   ric. de ripariis hen. de saio   ric. de brakele   henricus de saio   hugo de batonia   galfr. de craucombe ,     rob. de haya hugo de bada   philippus de albritaco rob. de haya   galfr. de craucombe hen. de saio   galf. de craucombe     rob. de haya idem .   idem . idem .   idem .   johan . de hulcot .     rob. de maplederham   englelard de cicomaco     nich. de hedington   johan . bruus idem .   idem . rob. bren ▪   johan . de tiwe simon de lauchmore   idem . idem .   idem . sim. de lauchmore .   johan . de plesseto     will. hay idem .   will. hay idem .   idem . idem .   idem . alanus de farnham   will. hay idem .   idem . sheriffs of barkshire and oxfordshire . hen. iii. anno aland . de farhnam anno idem . anno widom . filius roberti anno idem . anno idem . anno nich. de henred for years together . anno walter . de la knivere anno idem . anno idem . anno fulco de kucot anno idem . anno john de s to . walerico anno idem . anno idem . anno nich. de wiffrewash anno tho. de s to . wigore anno idem . anno will. de insula . anno rog. epis. cov. & lich. anno idem . edw. i. anno gilb. ki●…kby anno idem . anno idem . anno hen. de shoctebroke anno hen. de shoctebroke anno jacob. de patebery anno hen. de shoctebroke anno alanus filius rol. anno idem . anno jac. croke anno joh. de cridemers anno johan . de cridemers anno idem . anno idem . anno johan . de tudemers anno radul . de beauyes anno radul . de beauyes anno thom. de duners anno idem . anno idem . anno willielmus de gresmull anno richar. de wilniescote anno will. de bremchele for years together . anno hen. de thistelden for years together . anno nich. de spershete for years together . edw. ii. anno tho. danvers anno rich. de ameray anno idem . anno tho. danvers anno idem . anno idem . & phil. de la beach anno phil. de la beach anno richar. de windsor anno richar. de poltiampton anno idem . anno otvelus pursell , & richar. de la bere anno richar. de la bere , & joh. de brumpton anno johan . de brumpton anno idem . anno drogo barentine for years together . edw. iii. anno johan . de brumpton anno idem . anno johan . de bockland anno philip. de la beach anno rich. de colshul . anno idem . anno johan . de brumpton anno willielm . de spershalt anno johan . de alveton anno willielm . de speshalt anno johan . de alveton for years together . anno edward . de morlins anno robert. fitz-ellis anno johan . de alveton for years together . anno johannes laundeles for years together . anno johan . de alveton richar. de nowers anno johan . de willamscot anno johan . laundeles anno idem . anno idem . anno robert. de moreton anno idem . anno roger. de elmerugg anno idem . anno roger , de cottesford anno idem . anno idem . anno roger. de elmerugg for years together . anno roger. de cottesford anno tho. de la mare anno idem . anno gilbert . wace anno roger. de elmerugg anno johan . james anno gilbert . wace anno regind . de maliris anno johan . de rothwell reader , let me freely confess my self to thee , had i met with equall difficulty in the sheriffs of other counties as in this , the first shire it had utterly disheartned me from proceeding . the sheriffs of barkshire and oxfordshire are so indented , or ( pardon the metaphor , ) so intangled with elflocks , i cannot comb them out . i will not say that i have done always right in dividing the sheriffs respectively , but have endeavoured my utmost , and may be the better believed , who in such a subject could meet with nothing to bribe or bias my judgment to partiality . be it premised , that though the list of sheriffs be the most comprehensive catalogue of the english gentry , yet is it not exactly adequate thereunto . for i find in this county , the family of the pusays so ancient , that they were lords of pusay , ( a village nigh faringdon ) long before the conquest , in the time of king canutus , holding their lands by the tenure of cornage ( as i ●…ake it , ) viz. by winding the horn , which the king aforesaid gave their * family , and which their posterity , still extant , at this day do produce . yet none of their name , ( though persons of regard in their respective generations , ) appear ever sheriffs of this county . i am glad of so pregnant an instance , and more glad that it so seasonably presenteth it self in the front of our work , to con●…ute their false logick who will be ready to conclude negatively , for this our catalogue of sheriffs excluding them the lines of ancient gentry whose ancestors never served in this office. on the other side , no ingenuous gentleman can be offended with me if he find not his name registred in this roll , seeing it cannot be in me any omission , whilst i ●…ollow my commission , faithfully transcribing what i find in the records . richard i. willielmus briewere , ] he was so called , ( saith * my author ) because his father was born upon an heath , though by the similitude of the name , one would have suspected him born amongst briers . but see what a poor mans child may come to : he was such a minion to this king richard the first , that he created him baron of odcomb in sommersetshire . yea , when one fulk paynell was fallen into the kings displeasure , he gave this william briewere the town of bridgewater , to procure his reingratiating . his large inheritance ( his son dying without issue ) was divided amongst his daughters , married into the honourable families of breos , wake , mohun , la-fert , and percy . philippus filius rob. ] alan . de marton . ] it is without precedent , that ever two persons held the shrevalty of one county , jointly , or in co-partnership , london or middlesex alone excepted , ( whereof hereafter . ) however , if two sheriffs appear in one year , ( as at this time , and frequently hereafter ) such duplication cometh to pass by one of these accidents ; . amotion of the first put out of his place for misdemeanor , ( whereof very rare precedents ) and another placed in his room . . promotion . when the first is advanced to be a baron in the year of his shrevalty , and an other substituted in his office. . mort. the former dying in his shrevalty , not priviledged from such arrests to pay his debt to nature . in these cases two ( and sometimes three ) are found in the same year , who successively discharged the office . but if no such mutation happened , and yet two sheriffs be found in one year , then the second must be understood sub-vice-comes , ( whom we commonly also call mr. sheriffe in courtesie , ) his deputy , acting the affaires of the county under his authority . however , if he who is named in this our catalogue in the second place , appear the far more eminent person , there the intelligent reader will justly suspect a transposition , and that by some mistake the deputy is made to precede him , whom he only represented . be it here observed , that the place of under-sheriffs in this age was very honourable , not hackned out for profit . and although some uncharitable people ( unjustly i hope ) have now adays fixed an ill character on those who twice together discharged the place , yet anciently the office befitted the best persons ; little difference betwixt the high-sheriffe and under-sheriffe , save that he was under him , being otherwise a man of great credit and estate . henry iii. fulco de breantee . oxf. ] this fulco , or falkerius , or falkesius de breantee , or breantel , or brent , ( so many several ways is he written , ) was for the first six years of this king high-sheriffe of oxford , cambridge , huntington , bedford , buckingham , and northampton shires , ( counties continued together ) as by perusing the catalogues will appear . what this vir tot locorum , man of so many places was , will be cleared in * middlesex , the place of his nativity . rog . epis . covent . & lich . ] that bishops in this age were sheriffs of counties in their own dioceses , it was usuall and obvious . but bark-shire lying in the diocess of sarum , oxfordshire of lincolne , that the far distant bishop of coventry and lich. should be their sheriffe , may seem extraordinary and irregular . this first put us on the inquiry who this roger should be , and on search we found him surnamed de molend , aliàs longespe , who was * nephew unto king henry the third , though how the kindred came in i can not discover . no wonder then if his royal relation promoted him to this place , contrary to the common course ; the king in his own great age , and absence of his son prince edward in palestine , desiring to place his confidents in offices of so high trust . edward ii. phil. de la beach ] their seat was at aldworth in this county , where their statues on their tombs are extant at this day , but of stature surely exceeding * their due dimension . it seems the grecian officers have not been here , who had it in their charge to order tombs , and proportion monuments to the persons represented . i confess corps do stretch and extend after their death , but these figures extend beyond their corps , and the people there living extend their fame beyond their figures , fancying them giants , and fitting them with porportionable performances . they were indeed most valiant men , and their male issue was extinct in the next kings reign , whose heir generall ( as appeareth by the h●…ralds visitation , ) was married to the ancient family of whitlock . sheriffs of bark-shire and oxfordshire . name place armes rich. ii.     anno     edmund stoner   azure , ●…ars dancet●…ee or , a chief g. tho. barentyn   sable , eaglets displayed arg. armed or. gilbertus wa●…     iohannes ieanes     richar. brines     tho. barentyn ut prius   iohan. hulcotts   fusilee or & gules a border azure . rober. bullocke arborfield gu. a cheveron twixt bulls heads arg. armed or. iohan. holgate     tho. barentyn ut prius   gilb. wace , mil.     thomas pool     williel . attwood     hugo . wolfes     robert. bullock ut prius   williel . wilcote     tho. farington   sable , unicorns in pale , current , arg. armed or. tho. barentyn ut prius   edrum . spersholt     williel . attwood     iohan. golafre     idem .     hen. iv.     anno     will. wilcote     tho. chaucer iohan. wilcote ewelme ox. partee per pale ar. & g. a bend counter-changed . robert. iames     idem .     tho. chaucer ut prius   will. langford     rob. corbet , mil.   or. a raven proper . iohan. wilcote     th. harecourt , m. stanton ox. gules , two barrs or. petrus besiles lee berk. argent , torteauxes . rob. corbet mil. ut prius   will. li●…le mil.   or , a fess betwixt cheverons sable . hen. v.     anno     thomas wykham   arg. cheverons sable , ●…etwixt roses gules . iohan. golofre     iohan. wilcote ut prius   rober. ieames     tho. wikhammil . ut prius   rober. andrews     iohan. wilcote     will. lysle ut prius   idem . ut prius   hen. vi.     anno     willielmus lisle ut prius   tho. stonore ut prius   ioh. gowfre , at .     ri. walkested , mi.     tho. wykham ut prius   tho. stonar ut prius   rober. iames     phil. englefield inglefield barry of six gules & arg. on a cheife or , a lion passant azure . tho. wikham . mi. ut prius   will. finderne     will. darell   azure a lion ramp . arg. crowned or. steph. haytfield     rich. restwold   argent three bends sable . tho. fetiplace childre . gules , cheverons arg. ri. quatermayns oxfor . g. a fess betwixt hands or. iohan. norys   quarterly , arg. & gules , a fret or , with a fess azure . edward . rede*     walter skull †   * g. a saltyre twixt garbs or. iohan. stokes   † ar. a bend ... betw . lions-heads erased of the field . petrus fetiplace ut prius   iohan. norys ut prius   iohan. charles     iohan. lidyard benham arg. on a chiefe or , a flower de luce gules . io. roger , iuri .     edw. langford     idem .     iohan. penicok     will. wikham ut prius   edward . rede ut prius   io. chalers , mil.     io. roger , ar . ut prius   tho. stonore ut prius   ric. quatermayns ut prius   rob. harecourte ut prius   wal. mantell     iohan. noris , ar . ut prius   will. brocas , ar .     tho. de lamore , ar .   arg. martlets . & sable edward . iv.     anno     rich. harecourte ut prius   ri. restwood , ar . ut pruis   idem . u prius   tho. roger , ar . ut prius   io. barantyn , ar . ut prius   tho. stonore , ar . ut prius   ri. harecourt , ar . ut prius   ioh. howard , mil. norkf . gu. a bend inter croslets fitchie argent . will : norys , mil. ut prius   tho. prout , ar .     ed. langford , ar .     will. staverton     will. bekynham ,     iohan. langston     hump. forster , ar . aldermastō . s. a cheveron between arrows argent . tho. de lamoremi . ut prius   tho. restwold ut prius   iames vyall     johan . norys , ar . ut prius   hum. talbot , mil.   g. a lion ramp . within a border engrailed or. tho. de la more ut prius   will. norys , mil. ut prius   rich. iii     anno     tho. kingeston     iohan. bar●…ntyn     edward . frauke ut prius   hen. vii .     anno     edw. mountford     will. norys , mil. ut prius   tho. say     will. besilles ut prius   th. delamore . mi. ut prius   ioha . horne , mil.     will. harecourt ut prius   ro. harecourt , ar . ut prius   geo ▪ gainsord , ar .     id●…m .     ioh. ashfield , ar .     hugo shirley , ar .   paly of , , & az. a cant. er. anr. fetiplace , ar . ut prius   ge. gainsford , ar .     iohan. basket   az. a cheveron erm. betwixt leopards heads or. will. besilles , ar . ut prius   rich. flower , mil.     io. williams , mil. tame ox. az. an organ-pipe in bend sinister saltirewise surmounted of another dexter betwixt crosses patee arg. will. harecourt ut prius   edw. grevill , ar .     e. chamberlain †     io. horne , ar .   † gules a cheveron arg. twixt escallops or : idem .     io. langford , mil.     hen. viii .     anno     will ess●…x , ar . lamborn az. a cheveron ermin betwixt eagles displayed arg. will. harecourt ut prius   will. barantin , ar . ut prius   tho. haydock , ar .     wal. raducy , mil.     si. harecourt , mil. ut prius   io. dauncy , mil.   azure a dragon or. & lion comb●…tant arg. geor. foster , mil. ut prius   ed. chamberl. mi. ut prius   will. essex , mil. ut prius   tho. englefeld , ar . ut prius   hen. brugges , ar .   argent on a cross s. a leopards-head or. io. oswalston , ar .     sim. harecourt ut prius   io. fetiplace , ar . ut prius   will. essex , mil. ut prius   will. barantin , m. ut prius   tho. denton , ar .   gul●…s a cheveron , twixt . cressents arg. tho. ellyot , ar .     si. harecourt , mil. ut prius   will. stafford , ar . bradfield or. a chev. g. & a canton erm. hen. brugges , ar . ut prius * az. on a fess engrailed or , between spear-heads arg. a grey-hound cursant sable . tho. umpton , * ar . wadley   hum. forster , mil.     will. farmar , ar .   arg. a fess sable twixt leo-pards heads erased gul. walt. stoner , mil. ut prius   tho. carter , ar .     an. hungerford   sable , bars , arg. in chief plates . si. harecourt , mil. u●… prius   ioh. williams , mi. ut prius   rich. brigges , ar . ut prius   will. essex , mil. ut prius   wal. stoner , mil. ut prius   will. barantin , m. ut prius   will. farmor , ar . ut prius   ioh. williams , ar . ut prius   hum. foster , mi. ut prius   le. chamberlain ut prius   edw. iv.     anno     fra. englefeld , m. ut prius   anth. cope , * mil. hanwel * ar●… a chev. az. betw . roses guslipp'd & leav'd vert , flowers de luce , or. will. rainsf . mil.     richar. fines , ar . broughton , az. lions rampant or , will. hide , ar . s. denchw . gu. cheverons ar. le chamberl. mi. ut prius   rex phil. & ma. regina .     anno     io. williams , mi. & io. brome , mil. ut prius   , ric. brigges , mil. ut prius   , will. rainsford     , tho. brigges , ar . ut prius   , ioh. denton , ar . ut prius   , rich. fines , ar . ut prius   reg. eliza ▪     anno     edw. ashfeld , ar .     edw. fabian , ar .     ioh. doyle , ar .   or bendlets az. hen. norys , ar . ut prius   ric. wenman , ar .   quarterly gules & az. a cross patence or. ioh. croker , ar . tame p. ox. argent on a cheveron engrailed gules between crows , as many mullets or , pierced . tho. stafford , ar . ut prius   christ. brome     henry iv. thomas chaucer . ] he was sole son to geffery chaucer , that famous poet , from whom he inherited fair lands , at dunnington-castle in this county , and at ewelme in oxfordshire . he married maud daughter and coheir of sir john burwash , by whom he had one only daughter named alice , married unto william de la pole duke of suffolk . he lyeth buried under a fair tomb in ewelme church , with this inscription . hic jacet thomas chaucer , armiger , quondam dominus istius villae & patronus istius ecclesiae , qui obiit . die mensis novembris anno dom. . & matilda uxor ejus , quae obiit . mensis aprilis anno domini . henry v. thomas wikham . ] i behold him as kinsman , and next heir to william wykham , that famous bishop of winchester , to whom the bishop left , notwithstanding above * six thousand pounds bequeathed by him in legacies , ( for the discharge whereof he left ready mony ) one hundred pound lands a year . as for his arms , viz. argent , two cheverons sable between three roses gules ; a most ingenious * oxfordian conceiveth those cheverons ( aliàs couples in architecture ) given him in relation to the two colledges he built , the one in oxford , the other in winchester . it will be no sin to suspect this , no original of , but a post-nate-allusion to his armes , who was ( whatever is told to the contrary ) though his parents were impoverished , of a * knightly extraction . but if it was his assigned , and not hereditary coat , it will be long enough ere the heraulds office grant another to any upon the like occasion . henry vi. johanes gowfre , ar. no doubt the same with him who do hen. nti . was written john golofre . he is the first person who is styled esquire , though surely all who were before him were ( if not knights ) esquires at the least : and afterwards this addition grew more and more fashionable in the reign of king henry the sixth . for after that ●…ack straw ( one of the grand founders of the levellers ) was defeated , the english gentry , to appear above the common sort of people , did in all publick instruments insert theit native or acquired qualifications . edward iv. john howard , miles . ] he was son to sir robert howard , and soon after was created a baron by this king , and duke of northfolk by king richard the third , as kinsman and one of the heirs of anne dutchess of york and northfolk , whose mother was one of the daughters of thomas mowbray duke of northfolk . soon after he lost his life in his quarrell who gave him his honour in bosworth field . from him descended the noble and numerous family of the howards , of whom i told * four earls and two barons sitting in the last parliament of king charles . i have nothing else for the present to observe of this name , save that a * great antiquary will have it originally to be holdward ( l. and d. being omitted for the easier pronunciation ) which signifieth the keeper of any castle , hold , or trust committed unto them , wherein they have well answered unto their name . did not thomas howard earl of surry well hold his ward by land , when in the reign of king henry the eighth he conquered the scots in flodden-field , and took james the fourth their king prisoner ? and did not charles howard ( afterwards earl of nottingham ) hold his ward by sea in . when the armado was defeated ? but hereof ( god willing ) hereafter ; humphry foster , ar. ] this must be he ( consent of times avowing it ) who was afterwards knighted , and lyeth buried in saint martin●… in the fields london , with the following * inscription . of your charity , pray for the soul of sir humphery foster knight , whose body lyeth buried here in earth under this marble-stone ; which deceased the . day of the month of september , . on whose soul sesu have mercy , amen . hen●…y vii . robert harecourt , miles . ] right ancient is this family in france , having read in a french * herauld who wrote in the reign of king edward the sixth , that it flourished therein eight hundred years , as by a genealogy drawn by him should appear . of this family ( for both give the same coat at this day ( viz. ) g●…les two barrs or , ) a younger branch coming over at the conquest , fixed it self in the norman infancy at staunton harecourt in oxfordshire . and i find that in the reign of king ●…ohn , richard de harecourt of staunton aforesaid , marrying orabella daughter of saer de quincy earl of winchester , had the rich manor of bosworth in leicester-shire bestowed on him for his wifes portion . i cannot exactly distinguish the several harecourts contemporaries in this county , and sheriffs thereof , so as to assign them their severall habitations , but am confident that this robert harecourt ( sheriffe in the reign of king henry the seventh , ) was the same person whom king edward the fourth made knight of the garter . from him lineally descended the valiant knight sir simon harecourt , lately slain in the wars against the rebells in ireland , whose son , a hopefull gentleman , enjoys the manor of staunton at this day . john basket . ] he was an esquire of remark and martiall activity in his younger days , who in some years after removed to devenish in dorsetshire , to whom king henry the eighth , going over into france , committed the care of that county , as by his following letter will appear : henry viii . by the king. trusty and well-beloved , we greet you well . and whereas we at this time have written as well to the sheriff of that our shire , as also to the justices of our peace within our said shire , commanding and straightly charging , that as well the said sheriffs as the said justices , endeavour them for the keeping of our peace and the entertainment of our subjects , in good quiet and restfullness , durying the time of our journey into the parties of beyond the sea ; to the which we entend to dispose us about the latter end of this present month of may : and forasmuch also as we have for your great ease spared you of your aettendance upon us in our said journey , and left you at home to doe us service in keeping of our peace , and good rule amongst our said subjects . we will therefor●… and command you that dureing the time of our said absence out of this our realme , ye have a speciall over-sight , regard and respect , as well to the sheriff , as to the said justice , how and in what diligence they do , and execute our commandement , comprised in our said letters . and that ye also from time to time as ye shall see meet quickly and sharply call upon them in our name , for the execution of our said commandement ; and if you shall find any of them remiss or negligent in that behalf , we will that ye lay it sharply to their charge , advertising that in case they amend not their defaults , ye will thereof advertise our councell rem●…ining with our dearest daughter the princess , and so we charge you to do indeed : and if our said sheriffe or justice , or any other sheriffe or justice of any shire next to you , upon any side adjoyning , shall need or require your assistance , for the execution of our said commandements , we will and desire you that what the best power ye can make of our subjects i●… harneys , ye be to them aiding and assisting from time to time as the case shall require . not failing hereof as you intend to please us , and as we specially tru●…t you . given under our signet at our manor of greenwich , the . day of may. henry viii . william essex , ar. ] he was a worthy man in his generation , of great command in this county , ( whereof he was four times sheriffe , ) and the first of his family who fixed at lambourn therein , on this welcome occasion . he had married elizabeth , daughter and sole heir of thomas rogers of benham , whose grandfather john rogers had married elizabeth , daughter and heir of john shote●…broke of bercote in this county ( whose ancestors had been sheriffs of barkeshire in the fourth , fifth and sixth of king edward the third , ) by whom he received a large inheritance . nor was the birth of this sir william ( for aferwards he was knighted ) beneath his estate , being son unto thomas essex esquire , remembrancer and vice-treasurer unto king edward the fourth ; who dyed november . . lyeth buried with a plain epitaph in the church of kensington , middlesex . he derived himself from henry de essex , baron of rawley in essex , and standard-bearer of england , ( as i have seen in an exact pedigree attested by master camden , ) and his posterity have lately assumed his coat , viz. argent an orle gules . there was lately a baronet of this family , with the revenues of a baron , but * riches endure not for ever , if providence be not as well used in preserving as attaining them . humphry forster , knight . ] he bare a good affection to protestants , even in the most dangerous times , and * spake to the quest in the behalf of master marbeck that good 〈◊〉 ; yea he confessed to king henry the third , that never any thing went so much against his * conscience which under his graces authority he had done , as his attending the execution of three poor men martyred at windsor . edward vi. francis inglefield , mil. ] he afterwards was privy-councellor unto queen mary , and so zealous a romanist , that after her death he left the land , with a most large inheritance , and lived for the most part in spain . he was a most , industrious agent to solicite the cause of the queen of scots , both to his holiness , and the catholick king. as also he was a great promotor of , and benefactor to the english colledge at valladolit in spain , where he lyeth interred in a family of his alliance is still worshipfully extant in this county . queen mary . john williams , miles . ] before the year of his sherivalty was expired , queen mary made him lord williams of tame in oxfordshire . in which town he built a small hospitall , and a very fair * school ; he , with sir henry bennyfield , were joynt-keepers of the lady elizabeth , whilst under restraint , being as civil as the other was cruel unto her. bishop ridley when martyred requested this lord to stand his friend to the queen , that those leases might be confirmed which he had made to poor tenants ; which he * promised and performed accordingly . ▪ his great estate was divided betwixt his two daughters and coheirs , one married to sir henry norrice , the other to sir richard wenman . queen elizabeth . henry norrice , ar. ] son-in-law to the lord williams aforesaid . he was by queen elizabeth created baron norrice of ricot in oxfordshire ; it is hard to say whether this tree of honour was more remarkable for the root from whence he sprung , or for the branches that sprang from him : he was son to sir henry norrice , who suffered in the cause of queen anne bullen , grandchild to sir edward norrice , who married fridswide sister and coheir to the last lord lovell . he was father ( though himself of a meek and mild disposition ) to the martiall brood of the norrices , of whom * hereafter . elizabeth his great grandchild , sole daughter and heir unto francis norrice earl of barkshire , and baroness norrice , was married unto edward wray esquire , whose only daughter elizabeth wray , baroness norrice lately deceased , was married unto 〈◊〉 bertue earl of lindsey , whose son , a minor , is lord norrice at this day . sheriffs of barkeshire alone . name place armes reg. eliza .     anno     edw. unton , mil. wadley 〈◊〉 on a fess eng. or , twixt spear-heads arg. a hound cursant , s. collered gu. io. fetiplace , ar . chilrey g. chev. argent . will. forster , ar . aldermerston sable , a chev ▪ betw . arrows arg. a chev. will. dunch , ar . litlewitnā or , 〈◊〉 toures in 〈◊〉 & a flour de lice in base . arg. ioha . winchcomb budebury   hen. nevill , mil. billingber   tho. essex , ar . lamborn 〈◊〉 . a 〈◊〉 . erm. betw . eagles arg. ric. lovelace , ar . hurley gules . on a chiefe indented , sable , three marvets or. anth. bridges , ar . hemstedmarshal   thom. parry , ar .   see our notes . io. 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 . ut prius   tho stafford , ar . bradfeld or , a chev. gul. & canton er. tho. stephans , ar .     hum 〈◊〉 . ar . ut prius   tho. bullock , ar . 〈◊〉 gules a chev. twixt three bulls-heads ar. armed or. tho ▪ read , ar . abington g. a saltyre twixt 〈◊〉 , or. 〈◊〉 . molens , ar . clapgate   be. fetiplace , ar . ut prius   edw. fetiplace , ar . ut prius   chri. lillcot , ar . rushcomb or. 〈◊〉 vairry arg. & sable . edm. dunch , ar . ut prius   thom. parry . ar . ut prius   tho. 〈◊〉 , ar . shaw. azure a fess 〈◊〉 inter ▪ 〈◊〉 or. iohan. 〈◊〉 , ar .     rich. ward , ar .     fr. winchcombe ▪ ut prius   hum. forster , ar . ut prius   ricar . hide , ar . s. denchw . gules , chev●…rons arg. hen. nevill , ar . ut prius   edm. wiseman , ar . stephenton sable , a chev. twixt bars of spears arg. chri. lidcotte , mi. ut prius   hen. pool , mil.     tho. reede , mil. ut prius   sa. backhouse , ar . swallofield   ioha . norris , mil.     ed. fetipl●… , mil. ut prius   ed. dunch , ar . & 〈◊〉 ja. ut prius   jac. rex .     anno     edm. dunch , ar .   sable , a chev. betw . towers argent . ant. blagrave , ar .   or. on a bend sable , greaves errased at the ankle , ar. tho. read , ar . ut prius   will. stonhou . ar . radley arg. on a fess sable , between falcons volant az. a leopards-heads and mullets , or. fr. winchcombe ut prius   will. foster , mil. ut prius   anth. barker , mil. suning .   ric. lovelace , ml . ut prius   tho. vachell , mil. colly . bender of six peeces , er. & az tho. hinton , ar .     car. wiseman , ar . ut prius   io. ayshcombe , ar .     will. young , mil.     will. standin , ar . a●…borfield   val. knightley , m.   quarterly er. & or. pales . gu. ioh. catcher , ar .     hum. foster , ar . ut prius   gabri . pyle , mil. compton   io. winchcombe ut prius   io. marrycot , ar .     will. hide , ar . ut prius   io. blagrave , mil. ut prius           car ▪ i. rex     anno     ioh. darrell , bar. w. woodh . az. a lion ramp . or , crowned arg●…t . edr. clark , mil. ardigton   gor. willmot , ar . charlton   edw. yates , barr. buckland   sam. dunch , ar . ut prius per fess embattel'd arg. & sable yates caunterchanged . io. fetiplace , ar . ut prius   hen. samborn , ml . moulsford   hen. powle , ar .     edm. dunch , ar . ut prius   hum. dolman , ar . ut prius   will. barker , ar . ut prius   ric. harrison , mi. hurst or , on a cheife sable , eagles displaied of the first . ge. stonhouse , b. ut prius   hump. hide , ar . ut prius   geo. puresy , ar . wadley s. pair of gantlets dipping , ar. peregrine hobby bisham ar. fusiles upon slippers g●… . tanfield vachel ut prius                   io. southleg , ar .     queen elizabeth . edward unton or umpton , miles . ] this ancient and worshipfull name was extinct in the days of our fathers for want of issue male , and a great part of their lands devolved by an heir-general to g. purfen of wadley esquire , whose care is commendable in preserving the monuments of the umptons in farington church , and restoring such as were defaced in the war to a good degree of their former fairness . besilius fetiplace ] some may colourably mistake it for basilius or basil , a christian-name frequent in some families , whereas indeed it is besil a surname . these liv'd in great regard at lee , thence called besiles-lee in this county , untill elizabeth danghter and heir of william besiles , last of that name , was married unto richard fetiplace , whose great-great-grand-child was named besile , to continue the remembrance of their ancestors . reader , i am confident an instance can hardly be produced of a surname made christian in england , save since the reformation ; before which time the priests were scrupulous to admit any at font , except they were baptized with the name of a scripture or legendary-saint . since it hath been common ; and although the lord coke was pleased to say he had noted many of them prove unfortunate , yet the good success in others confutes the generall truth of the observation . king james . richard lovelace , knight . ] he was a gentl●…man of mettal , and in the reign of queen elizabeth making use of letters of mart , had the successe to light on a large remnant of the king of spains cloth of silver , i mean his west-indian fleet ; wherewith he and his posterity are the warmer to this day : king charles created him lord lovelace of hurley . king charles . sir john darell , baronet . ] he being the first , who in the catalogue of sheriffs occurreth of that order , a word of the institution thereof . we meddle not with ancient baronets , finding that word formerly promiscuously blended with bannerets , ( sir ralph fane in a * patent passed unto him , is expressly term'd a baronet , ) but insist on their new erection in the ninth of king james . their qualifications . their service . their dignity . . they were to be persons , morum , probitate spectati . . descended at least of a grand-father , by the fathers side , that bare arms. . having a clear estate of one thousand pounds per annum , two thirds thereof at least in possession , the rest in reversion expectant on one life only , holding in dower or in joynture . . each of them was to advance towards the planting of the province of ulster in ireland , with colonies and castles to defend them , money enough to maintain thirty foot for three years , after the rate of eight pence a day for everyone of them . . the first years wages was to be paid down on the passing of their patent , the remainder , as they contracted with the kings commissioners , authorized to treat and conclude thereof . . they were to take place , with their wives and children respectively , immediately after the sons of barons ; and before all knights-bachelours of the bath , and bannerets ; save such solemn ones ashereafter should be created in the field by the king there present , under the standard royall displayed . . the addition of sir was to be prefixed before theirs , of madam , their wives names . . the honour was to be hereditary , and knighthood not to be denied to their eldest sons of full age , if desiring it . . for an augmentation in their arms they might bear a bloody hand in a canton or escutcheon , at their pleasure . the king did undertake that they should never exceed two hundred , which number compleated if any chanced to die without issue-male , none were to be substituted in their place , that so their number might daily diminish , and honour increase . he did also promise for himself and his heirs , that no new order under another name should be superinduced . the battles . newberry the first . septemb. . the earl of essex having raised the siege of glocester , and returning towards london , was rather followed then overtaken by the kings army . both sides might be traced by a tract of bloody foot-steps , especially at auborn in wilts , where they had a smart encounter . at newberry the earl made a stand : here happen'd a fierce fight on the east-side of the town , wherein the londoners did shew that they could as well use a sword in the field , as a met-ward in a shop . the parliament was conceived to lose the most , the king the most considerable persons ; amongst whom the earl of carnarvon and sunderland , the viscount falkland , colonel morgan , &c. both armies may be said to beat and be beaten , neither winning the day , and both the twi-light . hence it was that both sides were so sadly filled with their supper over night , neither next morning had any stomack to break-fast , but keeping their stations , were rather contented to face , then willing to fight one another . newberry the second . octob. . one would wonder , where the earl of essex , so lately stript out of all his infantry in cornwall , so soon reinvested himselfe with more foot , save that london is the shop-general of all commodities , recruited with fresh ( but not fresh-water ) souldiers , he gave the king battle . this fight was as long and fierce as the former , but the conquest more clear on the parliaments side . the cornish ( though behaving themselves valiantly ) were conceived not to doe so well , because expected to have done better . the royalists were at night fain to hang lighted matches on the hedges , ( so to similate their aboad thereabouts ) whilst they drew of , securing their canon in dunnington-castle , ( the governour whereof sir j. bois did the king knights service , ) and so in a pace slower then a flight , and faster then a retreat , returned in as good order as their condition was capable of . many here lost their lives , as if newberry were so named by a sad prolepsis , fore-signifying that that town should afford a new-burying place to many slain in two bloody battles . the farewell . being to take my leave of this shire , i seriously considered what want there was therein , that so i might wish the supply thereof . but i can discover no naturall defect , and i therefore wish the inhabitants , a thankfull heart to that god , who hath given them a country so perfect in profit and pleasure . withal it is observed that the lands in barkshire are very skittish , and often cast their owners , which yet i impute not so much to the unruliness of the beasts , as to the unskilfullness of the riders . i desire heartily , that heareafter the barkshire gentry may be better settled in their , saddles so that the sweet places in this county , may not be subject to so many mutations . bedford-shire . bedford-shire hath northampton-shire on the north , huntington and cambridge-shires on the east , hartford-shire on the south , buckingham shire on the west thereof . it lieth from north to south in an ovall form , and may be allowed two and twenty miles in length , though the generall breadth thereof extendeth not to full fifteen . the soil consisteth of a deep clay , yet so that this county may be said to wear a belt or girdle of sand about , or rather athwart the body thereof , ( from woburne to potton ) affording fair and pleasant , as the other part doth fruitfull and profitable places for habitation , which partakes plentifully in the partage of all english conveniencies . here let this caveate be entred to preserve its due [ but invaded ] right , to much grain growing in this county . for corne-chandlers ( the most avouchable authors in this point ) will inform you , that when hartford-shire wheat and barley carries the credit in london , thereby much is meant ( though miscalled ) which is immediately bought in and brought out of hartford-shire , but originally growing in bedford shire , about dunstable and else where . but let not the dry nurse , which onely carried the child in her armes and dandled it in her lap , lay claime to that babe which the true mother did breed and bear in her body . naturall commodities . barley . white , large , plump and full of flower . the country man will tell you , that of all our grains this is most nice , and must be most observed in the severall seasons thereof . it doth not onely allay hunger , but also in a manner quencheth thirst , when ordered into malt. it is ( though not so t oothsome ) as wholesome as wheat it self , and was all the staff of bread , which christs body leaned on in this life : eating to attest his humanity ; ba●…ly-loaves to evidence his humility . malt. this is barley with the property thereof much altered , having passed both water and fire , ste●…ped and dried on a kilne . that the use hereof was known to the greeks , plainly appears by the proper word wherewith they expresse it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; and no maltster of bedford can better describe the manner thereof then is done by * aetius ; est hordeum madefactum , quod germen emisit , deinde cum ligulis enatis tostum est . besides , we read of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and * athenaeus maketh mention of such , who were — — 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , drinkers of barley-wine . a liquor probably more wholesome for northern bodies then that which groweth in grapes . what great estates maltsters got formerly in this county , may be collected from the wealth of the ale-brewers therein , there being so near a relation betwixt the two callings . for i read in the reign of king henry the fifth , of william murfley an ale-brewer of dunstable , ( accounted , i confe●…s , a lollard , and follower of the lord cobham ; ) who when * taken , had two horses trapped with gilt armour led after him , and had a pair of gilt-spurs in his bosome , expecting ( say they ) knight-hood from the lord cobham . and although i believe not the report in full habitude , it is enough to intimate unto us , that in that age it was a wealthy imployment . fullers-earth . great store of this is digged up not far from woburne in this county , whence it is commonly called woburne-earth . such the use thereof in drapery , that good cloth can * hardly be made without it , forreign parts affording neither so much , nor so good of this kind . no wonder then if our statutes strictly forbid the transportation thereof , to preserve the perfection of clothing amongst our selves . but were this fullers-earth like terra lemnia , or sigillata , and all the parcells thereof lock'd up under a seal , yet the dutch ( so long as they are so cunning , and we so careless , ) will stock themselves hence with plentifull proportions thereof . larks . the most and best of these are caught and well dressed about dunstable in this shire a harmless bird whilst living , not trespassing on grain ; and wholesome when dead , then filling the stomack with meat , as formerly the ear with musick . in winter they fly in flocks , probably the reason why alauda signifieth in latins both a lark and a legion of souldiers ; except any will say a legion is so called , because helmetted on their heads and crested like a lark , therefore also called in latine galerita . if men would imitate the early rising of this bird , it would conduce much unto their healthfu●…ness . the manufactures . fat folke ( whose collops stick to their sides ) are generally lasie , whilst leaner people are of more activity . thus fruitfull countries ( as this is for the generality thereof ) take to themselves a writ of ease ; the principall cause why bedford shire affords not any trades peculiar to it self . the buildings . this county affordeth no cathedral , and the parochial churches intitle not themselves to any eminency . onely i hear such high commendations of a chappel and monument erected at maldon by thomas earl of elgin to the memory of his deceased lady diana cecil , that i am impatient till i have beheld it , to satisfie my self , whether it answereth that character of curiosity which credible persons have given thereof . taddington , amphtill and wobourn carry away the credit amongst the houses of the nobility in this county . wonders . at hareles-wood commonly called harold in this county , the river of ouse * anno . parted asunder , the water from the fountain standing still , and those towards the sea giving way , so that it was passable over on foot for three miles together , not without the astonishment of the beholders . it was an ominous prefage of the sad civil wars betwixt the two houses of york and lancaster . there is a rivolet in this county ( though confining on buckingham-shire ) near a village called aspeley , and takes the strange operation thereof from his pen , who ( though a poet ) is a credible author , the brook which on her bank doth boast that earth alone , which noted of this i le , converteth wood to stone . that little aspeleys earth we anciently instile , 'mongst sundry other things , a wonder of the i le . but , by his leave , there is an other of the same nature in northampton-shire , which because lesse known , i will there enlarge my self on that subject . proverbs . as plain as dunstable road. ] it is applyed to things plain and simple without either welt or guard to adorne them , as also to matters easie and obvious to be found without any difficulty or direction . such this road being broad and beaten , as the confluence of many leading to london from the north and north-west parts of this land. as crooked as crawley brook . ] this is a nameless brook arising about wobourn , running by crawley , and falling immediately into the ouse . but this proverb may better be verifyed of ouse it self in this shire , more maeandrous then maeander , which runneth above eighty miles in eighteen by land . blame it not , if sensible of its sad condition , and presaging its fall into the foggy fens in the next county , it be loth to leave this pleasant place ; as who would not prolong their own happiness ? the baylife of bedford is coming ] this proverb hath its originall in this , but use in the next county of cambridge , the river ouse running by is called the baylife of bedford , who swelling with rain , snow-water , and tributary brooks in the winter , and coming down on a suddain arresteth the i le of ely with an inundation . but i am informed that the drayners of the fenns , have of late with incredible care , cost , art and industry , wrested the mace out of this bayliffs hand , and have secured the country against his power for the future . princes . margaret beaufort countess richmond and derby , no person of judgement or ingenuity will find fault with her posture under this title , who was great-great-grand-child to king edward the third , and mother to king henry the seventh , besides her [ almost incredible ] alliance to so * many forreign princes . thus reader , i am confident i have pleased thee as well as my self , in disposing her in this place . and yet i am well assured , that were she alive she would ( half-offended hereat , ) be more contented to be ranked under another and lower topick of benefactors to the publick ; yea , ( if left to her own liberty ) would chuse that reposing place for her memory . this is not onely most consonant to her humility and charity , ( desiring rather to be good then great , ) but also conformable to her remarkable expression , ( according to the devotion of those darker days , ) that if the christian princes would agree to march with an army for the recovery of palestine , she would be their landress . this is she who besides a professor of divinity place in both universities , founded the two fair colledges of christs and saint johns in cambridge . by the way be it observed , that cambridge hath been much beholden to the strength of bounty in the weaker sex. of the four halls therein , two , viz. clare and pembroke , were ( as i may say ) feminine foundations ; and of the . colledges , one third , queens , christs , saint johns and sidney , owe their original to worthy women . whereas no female ever founded colledge in oxford , ( though bountifull benefactors to many , ) seeing queens colledge therein , though commended to the queens of england for its successive patronesses , had r. eglesfield for the effectual founder thereof . and cambridge is so far from being ashamed of , she is joyfull at , and thankfull for such charity , having read of our saviour himself , that mary magdalen , and joanna , * and susanna , and many other women ministred unto him of their substance . but this worthy lady margaret being too high for a mean man to commend , is long since gone to the great god to reward , dying in the beginning of the reign of her grand-child king henry the eight . saints . ainulphus of royal british bloud was an holy hermit , who waving the vanities of this wicked world , betook himself in this county to a solitary life , renowned for the sanctity ( or rather sanctimony ) thereof . the age he lived in is not exactly known , but sure it is , that ainulphs-bury ( a town in the confines of this and huntington-shire , ) was erected in his memory , part whereof ( corruptly called ainsbury ) is extant at this day , and the rest is disguised under the new name of saint neots . martyrs . thomas chase , an ancient and faithfull labourer in god's vineyard , led his life most in buckingham-shire , but found his death in this county , long kept in durance and hanged at last in the bishops prison at wobourn . his executioners to palliate their murder , and asperse his memory , gave it out that he had destroyed himself . a loud lye , seeing he was so loaden with * chaines , that he could not lift up his own body . but the clearing hereof must be remitted to that day , wherein all things done in secreet shall be made manifest . his martyrdome happened in the reigne of king henry the seventh , anno domini . prelates . silvester de everton , for so is he written in the records of * carlile , ( though eversden and everseen in other books ) which are most to be credited , as passing under the pens of the best ( and to his particular the most knowing ) clearks , no doubt , took his name from everton a village in this ( but the confines of cambridge ) shire . he was a man memorable for his preferment , and very able to discharge the lay-part thereof , receiving the great seal , anno the . of king henry the third . and is commended for one most * cunning in customes of chancery . the same year he was chosen bishop of carlile , though demurring on the acceptance thereof ( conscious to himself perchance as unqualified ) his consecration was deferred untill the next year . he with the rest of the english bishops addressed themselves to king henry the third , and boldly enough requested-required of him , that all forreigners and 〈◊〉 persons might be put out of their bishopricks . now , as to the point of insufficiency , the king singling out this silvester thus bespake him . * et tu silvester carliolensis , qui diu lambens cancellariam , clericorum meorum clericulus extitisti , qualiter post-positis multis theologis , & personis reverendis , te in episcopum sublimavi , omnibus satis notum est . and thou silvester of carlile , who so long licking the chancery , was the little clark of my clergy-men , it is sufficiently known to all , how i advanced thee to be a bishop , before many reverend persons , and able divines . his expression licking the chancery hath left posterity to interpret it , whether taxing him for ambition , liquorishly longing for that place : or for adulation , by the soft smoothing of flatery making his way thereunto : or for avarice , licking it so , that he gained great ( if good ) profit thereby . as for his expression , little cleark , it is plain it referred not to his stature , but dwarfness in learning . however all this would not perswade him into a resignation of his bishoprick , though it was not long before he lost both it and his life , by a fall from a skittish-horse , anno domini . i find no bishop born in this county since the reformation , and therefore we may go on in our propounded method . capital judges , and writers on the law. sir john cokeyn knight , chief baron of the exchequer in the reign of king henry the fourth , founded a worshipfull family at , and imparted his sirname to cokeyn-hatley in this county . but being convinced , that he was born at ashbourn in derbyshire , i have reserved his character for that county . edmond wingate esq. was a native of this county , whose family flourisheth at hartington therein : he was bred in greys - 〈◊〉 in the study of our common-law , whereof he wrote besides others a book intitled , the reason of the common-law , and is lately deceased . writers . john of dunstable , so called from a market-town in this county wherein he was born . if hitherto the reader hath not , it is high time for him now , to take notice of a person of such perfection . indeed at first my pen feared famishing , finding so little ; since surfetting , meeting so much of this man. for this john of dunstable was john of all arts , as appeareth by his double epitaph , one inscribed on his monument , the other written on his memory . but be it premised of both , that we will not avouch the truth of the latine , or quantity in these verses ; but present them here as we find them , with all their faults , and his vertues on whom they were made . on his tombe in saint stephen's wallbrook , london . clauditur hoc tumulo qui 〈◊〉 pectore clausit , dunstable i , juris astrorum conscius ille , ......... ..... .... 〈◊〉 pondere 〈◊〉 ; hic vir erat tua laus , tua lux , 〈◊〉 musica princeps quique tuas fulces per 〈◊〉 sparserat artes , .......................................................... suscipiant proprium 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sibi cives the second made by * john wheathamsted , abbot of saint albans . musicus hic michalus alter , novus & ptolomaeus . junior ac atlas supportans robore 〈◊〉 . pausat sub cinere ; melior vir de muliere nunquam natus erat , vitii quia labe carebat . et virtutis opes possedit unicus omnes . perpetuis annis celebretur fama johannis dunstable ; in pace requiescat & hic sine fine . what is true of the bills of some unconscionable trades-men , if ever paid , over paid ; may be said of this hyperbolical epitaphs , if ever believed , over believed . yea , one may safely cut off a third in any part of it , and the remainder will amount to make him a most admirable person . let none say that these might be two distinct persons , seeing ( besides the concurrence of time and place , ) it would bank-rupt the exchequer of nature to afford two such persons , one 〈◊〉 at once being as much as any will believe . this dunstable died an . . sinee the reformation . george joy was born in this * county , though the exact place be not expressed . he was a great friend to master * tindall , and therefore perfectly hated by woolsey , fisher , and sir thomas moor , the perticulars of his sufferings if known would justly advance him into the reputation of a confessor . ▪ he translated some parts of the bible into english , and wrote many books reckned up by bale ; notwithstanding many machinations against his life , he found his coffin where he fecht'd his cradle , in sua patria sepultus , being peaceably buried in his native country . the last year of king edward the sixth . francis dillingham was born at dean in this county , and bred fellow in christ-colledge in cambridge . he was an excellent linguist , and subtile disputant . my father was present in the bachillors-scholes , when a greek act was kept , between him and william alabaster of trinity-colledge , to their mutuall commendation . a disputation so famous that it served for an aera or epoche , for the scholars in that age , thence to date their seniority . he was afterwards chosen anno . to be one of the translators of the bible , and being richly beneficed at wilden in this county , died a single man , leaving a fair estate to his brother master thomas dillingham , who was chosen one of the late assembly , ( though for age , indisposition , and other reasons not appearing therein , ) and for many years was the humble , painfull , and faithfull pastor of deane , the place of his nativity . william sclater was born at * layton-buzard in this county , son to anthony sclater the minister thereof for fifty years together , who died well nigh an hundred years of age . this william his son was bred in 〈◊〉 , then in kings colledge in cambridge , where he commenced bachillor , and ( after many years discountinance ) doctor of divinity . hence he was invited to be 〈◊〉 at walsal in stafford-shire , where he began his sermons ( afterwards printed ) on the three first chapters of the romans . afterwards john coles esquire of sommerset-shire over-intreated him into the western parts , where he presented him vicar of pitmister . here he met with manifold and expensive vexations , even to the jeopardy of his life , but by the goodness of god his own innocency and courage , with the favour of his diocesan , he came off with no lesse honour to himself , then confusion to his adversaries . he was at first not well affected to the ceremonies of the church , but afterwards on his profound studying of the point , he was reconciled to them , as for order , and decency , and by his example others were perswaded to conforme . constancy of studying contracted the stone upon him , which he used to call flagellum studiosorum . nor was his health improved by being removed to a wealthier living , when john lord pawlet of hinton ( at the instance of elizabeth his lady , in whose inheritance it was , a worthy favourer of piety and pious men , ) preferred him to the rich parsonage of limpsam in somerset-shire , where indeed there was scarce any element good save the earth therein . whereupon for his own preservation he was re-perswaded to return to pitmister , there continuing till the day of his death , which happened in the year of our lord . in the fifty one year of his age , leaving many learned works behind him , as his comment on the romans , and on the thessalonians , sermons at pauls cross , and the treatise of tithes , styled the ministers portion , with other posthume works , some since set forth by , more remaining in the hand of his son william scalter doctor of divinity , and minister at london , lately deceased . benefactors to the publick . sir william son to william harper was born in the town of bedford , but bred a merchant-taylor in the city of london . where god so blessed his endeavours , that anno . he was chosen lord mayor thereof . in gratitude to god and the place of his nativity , he erected and * endowed a free-schole in bedford , in which town he lyeth buryed . henry grey son to henry grey was born at wrest in this county . something must be premised of his extraction . richard grey third earl of kent of that family , was so profuse a person , that he wilfully wasted his estate , giving away what he could not spend to the king and others ; so little he reflected on sir henry grey his brother ( but by a second venter ) of wrest in this county . hereupon the said sir henry , though heir to his brother richard after his death ; yet perceiving himself overtitled or rather under-stated , for so high an honour , ( the undoubted right whereof rested in him ) declined the assuming thereof . thus the earldome of kent lay ( though not dead ) asleep in the family of the greys almost . years , viz. form the of king henry the eight till the . of queen elizabeth , when she advanced reginald grey , grandchild to sir hen. grey aforesaid , ( who had thriftily recruted himself with competence of revenues ) to be earl of kent , anno . this reginald dying issuelesse within the year , henry his brother ( the subject of our present description ) succeeded to his honour . a person truly noble , expending the income of his own estate and of his ladies fair joynter , ( mary the relict of edward earl of darby ) in hospitality . he was a most cordiall protestant , on the same token that being present at the execution of the queen of scots , when she requested the nobility there , to stand by and see her death , he ( * fearing something of superstition ) hardly assented thereunto . yet was he as far from the faction as superstition , deserving the caracter given unto him . * omnibus verae nobilitatis ornamentis vir longè honoratissimus . he left no isue , except some will behold him in some sort parent of sidney colledge in cambridge , as one of the executors to the foundress thereof , who did both prove and improve her will , besides his personall benefaction thereunto . and being the surviving executor , he did perpetuate the fellowships ( formerly temporary ) according to the implicite trust deposited in him , to the advantage of that foundation . he died anno domini . francis cleark knight , was born at eaton-soton in this shire near to saint neots , in the lordship there commonly called the parsonage . he was a noble benefactour to sidney-colledge , augmenting all the scholarships of the foundation , and erecting a fair and firme range of building . such his skill in arithmetick and architecture , that staying at home , he did provide to a brick what was necessary for the finishing thereof . he founded four new fellowships , and had he been pleased to consult with the colledge , the settlement with the same expence might have proved more advantageous . for , though in gifts to private persons , it be improper that the receiver should be the director thereof , a corporation may give the best advise to improve the favours conferr'd upon it . but it is a general practice , that men desire rather to be broad then thick benefactours . however seeing every one may do with his own as he pleaseth , blessed be the memory of this worthy knight , whose gift in effect was selt by the colledge before the giver thereof was seen , being himself a meer stranger unto it . some say , that because this was the youngest foundation in the university ( generally the last child hath the least left it , ) his charity pitched upon it . but i have been informed , that sir f●…ancis coming privately to cambridge , to see unseen , took notice of doctor ward his daily presence in the hall , with the scholars conformity in caps , and diligent performance of exercises , which indeared this place unto him . thus the observing of old statutes , is the best load-stone to attract new benefactours . his death happyned , anno domini , memorable persons . a woman , whose name i cannot recover , lived , died , and is buried at dunstable in this county . it appeareth by her * epitaph in the church , that she had nineteen children at five births , viz. three several times three children at a birth , and five at a birth , two other times . how many of them survived to mans estate is unknown . here i must dissent from an * author maintaining that more twins were born in the first age of the world , then now adays . whereas we meet with none but single births in the patriarchs before the flood , and more 〈◊〉 six hundred years after the deluge , esau and jacob were the first twins mentioned in scripture . lord mayors . name father place company time thomas chalton thomas chalton dunstable mercer william stoker thomas ●…toker eaton draper william butler ●…ichard butler bidenham grocer william harper william harper bedford merchant-taylor the names of the 〈◊〉 of this county returned by the commissioners in the twelfth year of king henry the sixth . william bishop of lincoln , john de fanhope chivaler . commissioners . john wenlock armig. knights for the shire . john gascoigne armig. knights for the shire . abbatis de woborn , & sui celerarii abbatis de wardon prioris de dunstable prioris de chekesond prioris de nunham prioris de chaldwell prioris de buschemede simonis filbrigge , chivaler . henrici bronnflete , chivaler . thomae 〈◊〉 chivaler . thomae maningham thomae hoo johannis broughton iohan. enderby roberti mordant iohan. hertusherne hen. godfrey iohan. boteler de northzele hum. acworth iohan. ragon thomae ragon iohan. 〈◊〉 iohan. radwell iohan. fyse iohan. coldington chri. preston steph. cruker tho. roxston will. lancelin hen. de lye iohan. conquest de houghton tho. lonnde walte . l●…nnde iohan. lonnde rich. merston iohan. ●…eeke junioris tho. peeke will. peeke iohan. glove junioris iohan. turvey de turvey iohan. ferrour de bedford iohan. gerveys de maldon hen. etewell rober. bollock will. wale nich. ravenhull nich. low valentini bailli de luton willielmi white de eadem iohan. boughton hugonis hasselden thomae bailli de houghton will. trought hen. manntell rober. valence iohan. attehay will. ypping iohan. petifer tho. purvey will. purvey will. shotfold will. wingate will. kene tho. stokker ade alford iohan. morton tho. morton tho. stratton tho. chamberlain radulp. cleark math. stepeing nich. harding will. marham rich. sampson rober. warner iohan. coke de crawley . will. sileham will. purvey will. rede tho. blondell will. milward rober. ratele iohan. kiggill de todinton iohan. pestell de nunham thomae chopper de turvey iohan. marram thomae jakes iohan. pikot will. molso iohan. sewell hen. sewell radul . falwell hug. billingdon iohan. baldoe will. palmer rober. davy , junioris iohan. stanlow rich. lincoln waleri taillard thomae spencer de geton iohan. spencer iohannis king de harowdon iohan. wait will. bochell thomae william roberti ratull rober. warner de le hethe io●…an . potter iohan. grecell will. bocher de henlow will. h●…le de chitingdon iohan. halle will. ludsopp iohan. conquest de houghton stephani cruker tho. rokeston will. lancelein hen. de lye ●…o . ragon iohan. mepurshale iohan. fitz iohan. pekke , junioris hugonis billingdou tho. pekke will. pekke iohan. glove , junioris hungry time hath made a glutton ●…eal on this catalogue of gentry , and hath left but a very little morsell for manners remaining ; so few of these are found extant in this ●…hire , and fewer continuing in a gentile equipage . amongst whom i must not forget the family of the blundels , whereof sir edward blundell behaved himself right valiantly , in the unfortunate expedition to the isle of ree . sheriffs of bedford and buckingham-shire . hen. ii. anno rich. basset & albertus de veer . rob. carun anno henri●… de essex constituit simonem fitz. petre vicecomitem for years . anno gal. filius radulph anno rich. fil●…us o●…rti for years . anno hug. de la leg●… & rich. filius osberti for years . anno david . archidea . & will. filius rich. anno will. filius rich. & david . arch. for years . anno will. filius rich. for years . anno will. rufus for years . anno will. rufus , & oger . filius ogeri , pro dimad . anni . rich. i. anno will. rufus for years . anno simon . de belchampe for years . anno will. de albeny & rob. braybrook johan . r. anno will. de albeny anno galf. filius petri , & rob. de braybrook for years . anno rob. de braybrook & rob. filius hemer . anno rob. & rober. anno rob. filius hemeri anno ●…dem . anno rob. de braybrook for years . anno rob. de braybrook , & hen. filius ejus anno hen. braybrook , & rob. pater ejus anno idem . anno hen. braybrook anno idem . hen. iii. anno anno fulco de breantel anno idem . anno ful. de breantel & rad. de bray for years . anno ful. de breantel anno walt. de pateshull de accestane for years . anno steph. de wegrave & will. de martiwaste anno steph. de segne anno steph. de segne & rich. de atteneston for years . anno steph. de segne & joh. ulecot anno radus . filius reginald anno will. de bello campo . & ric. de porchhalt anno will. de bello campo anno reginald . de albo monasterio anno rob. de hega anno pau●…us penire anno idem . anno joh. ●…rumband anno will. holdwell for years . anno alex. de hammeden for years . anno nul . tile com. in rotulo anno simon de glendon anno idem . anno rob. le savage . rich. le savage filius johan . anno rob. de tottenhall anno idem . anno alex. de hamden . for years . anno alex. de hamden . & simon de pateshill for years . anno edw. filius regis primogenitus anno idem . anno edw. filius primo genitus & barthol . de towen subvic . ejus for years . edw. i. anno thomas de bray anno idem . anno hugo de stapleford for years . anno johan . de chedney for years . anno radul . de goldington for years . anno will. de boyvill for years . anno will. de tarrevill anno joh. de popham anno idem . anno will. de turrevill for years . anno sim. de bradenham anno walter . demolesworth for years . edw. ii. anno gil. de holme , & wal. de molesworth anno will. merre for years . anno walt. de molesworth , & joh. de pabenham for years . anno joh. de la hay anno idem . anno joh. de la hay , & rog. de tirringham . anno phil. de aylesbury . & rich. de cave anno rich. de cave , & ingilran de berenger anno idem . anno ingelramus berenger anno anno rog. de tiringham anno rog. de tiringham & joh. de la hay anno johan . de la hay & phil. de aylesbury . edw. iii. anno johan . de la mareschall & phil. de aylesbury anno idem . anno joh. de mareschall anno phil. de aylesbury for years . anno nul . titl . com. in rotulo anno rad. de wedon anno idem . anno rich. ward anno rad. de wedon anno nich. de passelow , & will. aloton anno idem . anno nich. passelow anno ger. de braybrook anno henric. chalfhunt , & gerrard . de braybrook anno joh. aygnell , & hen. chalfhunt anno hen. chalfhunt , & joh. wignell anno tho. de swinford anno idem . anno will. croyser anno idem . anno tho. fernibrand anno idem . anno joh. chastilion , & tho. fernibrand anno joh. chastilion anno ger. de braybrook anno idem . anno pet. de salford , & gerbraybrook anno pet. de salford anno joh. de hampden , & hug. chastilion anno joh. de hampden anno idem . anno pet. de salford anno joh. de hampden anno pet. de salford for years . anno joh. de aylesbury for years . anno johan . chyne anno johan . ragoun anno johan . aylesbury anno johan . de arden anno johan . de broughton anno johan . de ollueyge henry ii. richardus basset , & albericus de veer . ] the catalogue of the sheriffs of cambridge and huntington-shires , as also of essex and hartford-shire , beginneth with the same names so that ●…ix counties ( but all lying together ) were under their inspection . none need to question , but that this albericus de veer was the very same with him , who by maud the empress was made the first earl of oxford , of whom hereafter this year in cambridge-shire . mean time we take notice of an usterosis , beholding r. basset ( though first named ) as his under-sheriff . . henry de essex . ] he is too well known in our english chronicles , being baron of raleigh in essex , and hereditary standard-bearer of england . it happened in the reign of this king , there was a fierce battle fought in flint-shire at coleshull , betwixt the english and welch , wherein this henry de essex , * animum & signum simul abjecit , betwixt traitor and coward cast away both his courage and banner together , occasioning a great over-throw of english. but he that had the baseness to doe , had the boldness to deny the doing of so foul a fact ; untill he was challenged in combate by robert de momford , a knight , eye-witness thereof , and by him overcome in a duell . whereupon his large inheritance was confiscated to the king , and he himself , partly thrust , partly going into a convent , hid his head in a coul●… , under which , betwixt shame and sanctity , he blushed out the remainder of his life . david archidiaconus , &c. ] it may justly seem strange , that an arch-deacon should be sh●…riff of a shire , and one would have sought for a person of his profession rather in a pulpit , then in a shire-hall . some will answer , that in that age men in orders ingrossed not onely places of judicature , but also such as had military and martial relations , whereof this sheriff did in some sort partake . but under correction , i conceive , that though bishops ( who had also temporall baronies ) were sometimes sheriffs , yet no inferiour clergy-men , being in orders , were ever advanced to that office , neither in anoient , nor in modern times . sure i am , that in the reign of king charles , one being pricked sheriff of rutland , escaped , pleading that he was a deacon . yet we meet with many , whose surnames sound of church-relation , both in the catalogue of ancient and modern sheriffs . . abbot of london . arch-deacon of cornwall . bishop of sussex . chaplain of norfolke clerk of northamptonshire dean of essex frier of oxfordshire moigne of dorsetshire m on of devonshire parson of buckinghamshire pope of oxfordshire prior of london it addeth to the difficulty , that whereas persons of their profession were formerly enjoyned single lives , we find in this list some of their sons in the next generation sheriffs also . but take one answer to all , as these were lay ▪ men , so probably their ancestors were ecclesiasticks , and did officiate according to their respective orders and dignities . these afterwards having their patrimony devolved unto them , by the death of their elder brethren , were dispenced with by the pope to marry , yet so that they were always afterwards called by their former profession , which was fixed as a surname on their posterity . thus we read how in france , hugh de lusignian , being an arch-bishop ( and the last of his family ) when by the death of his brethren , the signieuries of partnay , soubize , &c. fell unto him , he obtained licence to marry , on condition that his posterity should bear the name of archevesque , and a miter over their arms for ever . as for the surname of pope in england , it is such a transcendent , i cannot reach it with mine own , and must leave it to more judicious conjectures . king john. . rob. de braybrook , & hen. filius . ejus . ] . hen. braybrook , & rob. pater ejus . ] here is a loving reciprocation . first , a son under-sheriff to his father , ▪ that was his duty ; secondly the father under-sheriff to his son , that was his courtesie . indeed i can name one under sheriff to his own father , being a gentleman of right worthy extraction and estate , which son afterwards ( in my memory ) became lord chief justice , and treasurer of england . henry iii. edvard . filius regis primo-genitus . ] it soundeth not a little to the honour of these two shires , that prince edward , afterwards the most renowned king of england , ( first of his christian name since the conquest ) was their sheriff for five years together . yea , the imperial-crown found him in that office , when it fell unto him , though then absent in palestine . we may presume , that bartholomew de fowen his under-sheriff , was very sufficient to manage all matters under him . sheriffs of bedford and buckingham-shire . name place armes rich. ii.     anno     ioh. de aylesbury aylesbury azure a cross argent . tho. peynere     egidius daubeny somer . gules four lozenges in fess argent . tho. sackwell sussex quarterly or and gules a bend vayre . ioh. de aylesbury ut prius   idem . ut prius   ioh. widevill northam . arg. a fess , & canton gu. rob. dikeswell     tho. covell   az. a lion ramp . arg. a file of lambeaux gu. ioh. de aylesbury ut prius   rad. fitz. rich.     tho. peynere     tho. sackvill ut prius   edm. hampden hampden buc. arg. a saltire g. betw . eaglets displayed az. will. teringham teringhá b. az. a cross ingrailed arg. tho. peynere     phil. walwane     ioh. longvile wolvertō gules a fess indented betwixt cross croslets arg. edm. hampden ut prius   regin . ragon     ioh. worship     idem .     hen. iv.     anno     tho. eston     edw. hampden ut prius   ro. beauchamp eaton bed. g. a fess , betw . martlets or. reg. ragon     iohan. boys kent or a griffin sergreant s. within borders g. idem .     edw. hampden ut prius   tho. peynere     rich. hay   sable , three pickaxes arg. bald. pigott stratton bed.   tho. strickland york sh. g. a chev. or between crosses formee arg. on a canton ermin , a bucks-head erased , sable . rich. wyott     bald. pigott ut prius   hen. v.     a●…no     tho. strickland ut pri●…s   edw. hampden ut prius   tho. wauton     rich. wyott     ioh. gifford     will. massy     walt. fitz. rich.     iohan. radwell     ioh. radwellet     will. massy     idem .     hen. vi.     anno     iohan. wauton     ioh. chen ▪ y mil. cheneys b. checky or & az. a fess g. fretty erm. rich. wyott     ioh. cheney ut prius   will. massy , ar .     hum. stafford , ar .   or , a chev. g. a quarter erm. tho. wauton , mi.     tho. hoo   quarterly sable , and arg. ioh. cheney ut prius   egid. daubeny , m. ut prius   tho. wauton , mil.     ioh. glove     ioh. hampden , ar . ut prius   ioh. broughton     rob. manfeld     hum. stafford , mi. ut prius   ioh. hampden ut prius   walt. strickland ut prius   ioh. brekenoll     edw. campden ut prius   edw. rede     tho. singleton     ioh. wenlock   arg. a chev. betw . black-moreheads conped proper . tho. rokes     tho. gifford     gor. longvile ut prius   idem . ut prius   will. gedney     ioh. hampden ut prius   ro. whittingham     rob. olney     edw. rede , ar .     ioh. poulter hartf . arg. a bend voided sable . tho. singleton     tho. charlton , m.     ioh. hampden ut prius   ioh. maningham     ioh. heyton , ar .     ioh. broughton   arg. a chev. betwixt mullets gules . edward . iv     anno     edw. rede , ar .     tho. reynes     idem .     pet. house , ar .     ioh. broughton ut prius   ioh. bottiler , mil. biddenham g. a fess compone arg. & sable betw . six crosses croslets or. tho. hampden ut prius   ioh. foster , ar . berks . s. a chev. engrailed betw . arr. a. will. lucy , ar .   g. crasaly or , pikes hauriant arg. rob. dooth , ar . chesh . arg. boars-heads erased sable , tusked or. regin . grey wrest . bed. barry of ar. & az. in chief toreauxes . ioh. lanoston , ar .     ioh. botiler , mil. ut prius   rich. bulstrode   see our notes in bucks . hugo . brudenell buck . ar. a cheveron gu. between chapp●…ws az. edw. molinen     io. rotheram , ar . luton bed. vert roe-bucks tripping or , a baston g. tho rokes     tho. fowler     rich. enderby , ar .   arg. bars dancette s. a pale in chief ermine . ioh. verney   az. on a cross arg. five mullets g tho. hampden ut prius   rich. iii     anno     dru. brudnell ut paius   tho. fowler     ioh. boone , mil.     hen. vii .     anno     gor. ingleton     tho. rokes     tho. fowler     ioh. r●…theram ut prius   rich. go●…frey     ioh. laneston se.     rich. r●…stwood lavache b ▪   edw. ●…kaine , ar . hatley arg. three cocks g. rich. godfrey , ar .     will. r●…de     tho. darell lillingstō b. az. a lion ramp . or , crowned argen●… ▪ tho. langston     ioh. gefford , ar .     david . phillip , ar .     rich ●…estwood     hug. conway , mi.   s. on a b●…ne twixt cotises ar. a rose g. twixt ●… annulets of the ioh. st. iohn , mi. bletso . bed. arg. on a chief gules mullets pierced or. rich blount , ar .   b●…rry formy 〈◊〉 of ●… or & sable . edw. bulstrod , ar . ut prius   tho. darell ar . ut prius   ioh. cheyney , ar . ut prius   will. gascoigne cardintō b. arg. on a pale s. a lucies-head erected or. ioh. longvile , mi. ut prius   geor. harvey , ar .   ●… . on a 〈◊〉 arg. three tre-foiles 〈◊〉 . hen. viii .     anno     ioh. mordant , ar . tur●…ey be. a●… . a cheveron-inter . estoiles s. ioh. dive , ar . brum●… b. parte per pale arg. & g. a fess azure . rad. verney , ar . ut prius   tho. dineham , ar .     will. gascoigne ut prius   edw. bray , ar .   arg. a chev. between . eagles-legs ●…rased ●… . ioh. st. iohn , mil. ut prius   gor. harvey , mil. ut prius   will. gascoigne ut prius   mi●…h . fisher , ar .     will. rede , mil.     ioh cheney , ar . ut prius   rob. lee , mil. quarendon ar. a fess b●…tw . cr●…ssants s. rob. 〈◊〉 , ar . winge bu. az. bellets , , ●… , & , or , in a chief of th●… second , a lion issuant 〈◊〉 . tho. langston , ar .     rad. verney ut prius   tho. rotherham ut prius   ●…dw . grevill , mil.   sable a bordure & cross engrai●…ed or , therein five pellets . ●…an . pigote , ar . ut prius   ●… i●…h h●…pden , m. ut prius   ioh. st. iohn , mil , ut prius   ●… mich. fisher     rob. dormer , ar . ut prius   edw. dun , mil.     rob. lee , mil. ut prius   ioh. st. iohn , mil. ut prius   rog. 〈◊〉 , ar . shrop . or , a riven proper . tho. longvile , ar . ut prius   will. windsor , m. bradenham gules , a saltier arg. between cross croslets or. rob. dormer , mil. ut prius   tho. rotheram , ut prius   rad. verney , mil. ut prius   joh. gostwick , m. willingtō arg. a bend gules cotized sable twixt cornish choughes proper on a chief or mullets ve●…t . idem . ut prius   tho. giffard , ar .     mich. fisher , mil.     lod. dy●…e , ar . ut prius   rob. drury , mil.   arg. on a chief ●…vert the lette●… tau betwixt mullets pierced or. edw. vi.     anno     fran ▪ russell ▪ mil. cheneis a lion ramp . gules on a chiefe sables ●…calops of the first . fran. pigott , ar . ut prius   ioh. st. iohn , mil. ut prius   tho. rotheram , ut prius   oliv. st. iohn , ar . ut prius   tho. pigott , ar . ut prius   maria reg.     anno     will. dormer , mi. ut prius   rex phil. & ma. regina .     anno     arth. longvile , ar . ut prius   rob. drury , mil. ut prius   rob. peckham , mi.     tho. pigott , ar . ut prius   hum. 〈◊〉 , m.   arg. a bend engrailed sable .     reg. eliza :     anno     will. hawtry , ar . checkers b. argent lioncells passant sable betwixt gemews in ●…end . tho. teringham ut prius   rob. drury , mil. ut prius   ioh. goodwin , ar .     paul damil , ar .     tho. fleetwood , vache bu. parte per pale nebule az & or. marteletts counterchanged . hen cheyne , ●…ui . tuddington   ioh. cheny , ar .   amp. ioh. burlacy , ar .     will. dormer , mi. ut prius sable a fess engrailed 〈◊〉 flower . de luce arg. edw. ashfeld , mi.     lod. mordant , mi. ut prius   tho. pigo●… , ar . ut prius   lodo. dive , ar . ut prius   gor peckham , mi.     rad. astry , ar . harlingtō b. barry-wave of . arg. & az. on a chief g. bezants . henry vi. tnomas hoo . ] if any ask me the place of his residence in these counties , i must returne , non sum informatus . but this is he , who is caractered by * master camden , vir egregius , whom king henry the sixth made knight of the garter , and lord hoo and ha●…tings . he left four daughters thus married . anne to sir jeffry bollen . eleanor to sir richard carew . jane to robert cople , esq. elizabeth to sir john devenish . from the first of these was queen elizabeth descended . some of the issue male of the same family were very lately extant in hertford-shire . john wenlock . ] his surname seemeth to have something in it of salopi●…n reference , to a market-town therein so called ; however , his principal residence was ( but where , to me unknown ) in this county , whereof he was returned knight to the pa●…liament , in the twelfth of this kings reign . the very same , whom afterwards this king created baron wenlock , and knight of the garter , and who afterwards lost his life in his cause , valiantly fighting in the battle of teuxbury . it is charity to enter this memorial of him , the rather because he died without issue , ( and his fair estate forfeited to king edward the fourth , was quickly scattered amongst many courtiers ) but from his cousin and heire-general , the lauleys in shropshire are lineally descended . henry vii . sir john saint john , mil. ] there were three sir john saint johns successively in the same family , since their fixing in this county : . the father , ( this year sheriffe ) being son to sir oliver saint john , by margaret daughter and sole heir to sir john beauchamp . this margaret was afterwards married to john duke of somerset , to whom she bare margaret , mother to king henry the seventh . . the son [ sheriffe in the seventh year of king henry the eighth . ] . the grand-child , sheriffe in the third of edward the sixth , and father to oliver the first lord saint john. this we insert to avoid confusion , it being the general complaint of heraulds , that such homonymie causeth many mistakes in pedigrees . william gascoigne . ] much wondering with my self how this northem name stragled into the south , i consulted one of his family , and a good antiquary , by whom i was informed that this william was a younger brother of gauthorpe house in york-shire , and was settled at cardinton nigh bedford in this county , by marrying the inheritrix thereof . he was afterwards twice sheriffe under king henry the eighth , knighted , and controler of the house of cardinall woolsey . a rough gentleman , preferring rather to profit then please his master . and although the pride of that prelate , was sar above his covetousnesse , yet his wisedome well knowing thrift to be the fuell of magnificence , would usually disgest advice from this his servant , when it plainly tended to his own emolument . the name ( and which is worse ) the essate is now quite extinct in this county . henry viii . john mordant , ar. ] he was extracted of a very ancient parent in this county , and married one of the daughters and heirs of henry vere of addington in northampton-shire , whereby he received a great inheritance , being by aged persons , in those parts , remembred by the name of john of the woods . ( reader i was born under the shadow ) , and felt the warmth of them , ) so great a master he was of oaks and timber in that county , besides large possessions he had in essex , and elswhere . king henry the eight owning him deservedly for a very wise man , created him baron mordant of turvey . william windsor , mil. ] he was descended from walter fitz * otho , castle-keeper of windsor , in the time of king william the conqueror , and was by king henry the eighth created baron windsor of bradenham in buckingham-shire ancestor to the present lord windsor , descended from him by an heir-general so that hickman is his surname . e●…ward vi. francis russel , mil. ] he was son to john lord russel , afterward earl of bedford . succeeding his father in his honour , so great was his hospitality that queen elizabeth was wont to say pleasantly of him , that he made all the beggars . he founded a small school at wobourne , and dying in great age and honour , was buried at cheneys . oliver saint john , ar. ] he was by queen elizabeth made lord saint john of bletso in this county , and left two sons who succeeded to his honour . first john whose onely daughter anne was married to william lord effingham , and was mother to elizabeth now countess dowager of peterborough . his second son was oliver , blessed with a numerous issue , and ancestor to the present earl of bullinbrook . queen mary . william dormer , mil. ] he was son to sir robert dormer ( sheriffe the . of k. henry the . ) by jane newdigate his wife , which lady was so zealous a pap●…st , that after the death of q. mary , she left the land , and lived beyond the seas . this sir william by mary sidney , his wife , had a daughter , married to the count of feria , when he came over hither with king philip. this count , under pretence to visit his sick lady , remaining here , did very earnestly move a * match betwixt king philip , his master , and queen elizabeth , which in fine took no effect . he the●… also mediated for jane dormer , his grand-mother , and some other fugitives , that they might live beyond the seas , and receive their revenues out of england ; which favour the queen though not fit to indulge , whereat the count was so incensed , ●…hat he moved pope pius the fourth to excommunicate her , * though his wife did with all might and maine oppose it . sheriffs of this county alone . name place armes reg. eliza .     anno     〈◊〉 . rotheram , es. farly vert , roe bucks tripping or , a baston gul. ioh 〈◊〉 ●…ewelbury g. a salter engrailed arg. ge. kenesham . es. temsford   ioh. spencer , esq cople   nich. luke , esq. woodend ar. a bugle-horn s. hen. butler , esq. biddenhā g. a fess cho●…kee ar. & s. betw . cross 〈◊〉 ar. ioh. tompson , es. crawley   ric. conquest , es. houghton q. ar. & s. a labelw ▪ th points . lodo. dive , esq. brumham parte per pale ar. et g. a fess az. ioh. rowe , esq & ric. charnock , es. holeot ar. on a bend s. crosses croslet of the field oliv. st. john , es.   ar. on a chief g. mullets or. ric. charnock , es. ut prius   will. butler , esq. ut prius   rad. astry , esq. westning barr●…wavee of six ar. & az. on a chief g. bezants . oliv. st. john , es. ut prius   ge rotheram , es. ut prius   exp. hoddeson , es. ut prius   will. duncombe batlesden party per chev. count●…r flore g. & arg. talbots-heads erazed countercharged . nich. luke , esq. ut prius   ioh. dive , esq ut prius   wil. gostwick , es. willingtō arg. a bend g. cotized s. twixt c●…rnish chaughes proper on a chief or mullets vert . ric. conquest , es. ut prius   tho. cheney , esq. sundon   edr. rateliffe , kt. elstow arg. a bend engrailed s. w●…ll . butler , esq ut prius   ioh. crost , kt.     ric charnocks , es. ut prins   geo. francklyn , malvern   ioh. dive , kt. ut prius   jac. rex .     anno     ioh. dive , kt. ut prius   ioh. leigh , esq.     edr. sands , kt. eaton   fran. anderson , e. eworth arg. a cheveron twixt cross-croslets s. tho. snagge , kt. marson   edw mord●…nt , es. ockley a●…a . a chev. 〈◊〉 estoyles s. tho. ancell , esq. barford g. on a saltier or , betw . bezants a malcel of the first . fran ventres , kt. campton azu . a lutie beewaot bendswavy arg. rob. sandy , esq.     wil. beecher , esq. hooberry   ric. sanders , esq. marson parte per ch. ar. & s. elephants heads erazed ceunterchanged . edw. duncombe ut prius   will. plomer , esq. holms vert a ch. between lions-heads erazed o●… billited g. rog. burgoyne , * sutton   oliv. luke , kr. ut prius * g a chev. or , between talbots on chief embattled arg. as many martlets s. edw. conquest , k●… ut prius   ge. keynsham , es.     fran. stanton , es. birchmor .   will. bryers , esq. woodbery   will. hawkins , es. tilbrook   fran. clerke , kt.     math. denton , es. barton   car. i. rex     anno     ioh. wingate , esq . harlingtō s. a bend erm. cotized or betw . martlets arg. edw. gostwick , kt . ut prius   ioh. moore , esq .     anth. chester , ba.   p●…r pale , ar. & s. a chev. betw . ●…ams-heads ervsed armed or , within a horderingrailed roundly , all counterchanged . mich. grigg , esq .     will. cater , esq . * kempston   edm. anderson , ut prius   ia. beverley , esq . † clapwell * erm. an a pile g. a lion pass . gard. or. oufl . winch , esq . everton   hum. monoux , es . wootton † e●…mine , a rose gules . rich. gery , esq . bushmede   hen. chester , esq . ut prius   will. boteler , esq . ut prius   will. plomer , esq . ut prius   rich. child , esq . puddingtō g. a chev. engrailed erm. twixt doves arg. ioh. burgogne , es . ut prius   tho. alflon , kt. b. wodhill azure , ten stars or.         nich. denton , esq .         math. taylor , esq . eaton   the farewell . being to take my farewell of this county , i am minded of the mistake ( what writer is free from them ? ) in mr. stow , telling us of * tide-boats , till-boats and barges , which come from bedford-shire down the thames to london , which surely must row over many miles of drie-land in their passage thereunto . but , if there be a possibility of such a conveyance by art and industry to be effected , may his words prove true by way of prediction , seeing certainly such a conveniency must needs be advantagious to this county . buckingham-shire . buckingham-shire it is a long narrow county , ( the miles therein proportioned accordingly ) stretching forty four miles from north to south , whilst the breadth is content with fourteen at the most . a fruitfull country , especially in the vale of alesbury , where one [ lately ] intire pasture , called beryfield ( now part of the inheritance of sir robert lee , baronet ) in the mannor of quarendon , is let yearly for eight hundred pounds , the tenant not complaining of his bargaine . this county takes its name from buckingham the chief town therein , as that from beeches , ( called in the saxon tongue buccen ) growing plentifully thereabouts , as in other places in this county , and therefore placed first amongst its naturall commodities . beech. this was esteemed sacred amongst the romans . * manius curi●…s juravit se ex praeda nihil attigisse , praeter guttum faginum quo sacrificaret ; protested , that he touched nothing of the prey besides a beech-cup , wherewith he should sacrifice . it is also medicinall , though we would wish none sore lips or eyes , to try the truth of * plinys report , whether beech-leaves cure the one , or the ashes of beech-mast heal the other . our ordinary u●…e thereof ( besides making of many utensils ) is for building of houses . one asked , when beach would make the best timber , meaning what season of the year was best to cut it down for that purpose : it was answered , that beech would make the best timber when no oake was to be had ; a time i assure you which daily approcheth in our land. hence it was , that such care was taken in the reign of king * henry the eighth , ( when woods were in a far better condition then now adays , ) for the preserving of the standells of beech. as also it was provided in the * first of queen elizabeth , that no timber-trees of oak , beech and ash , ( where beech deservedly is made second , ) being one foot square at the stub , and growing within fourteen miles of the sea , or any navigable river , should be converted to coal or fewell , as the debasing of that , which if nature did not first intend , necessity must employ for better service . sheep . the best and biggest bodied in england are the vale of ailsbury in this county , where it is nothing to give ten pound or more for a breed-ram . so that , should a forrainer hear of the price thereof , he would guess that ram rather to be some roman engine of battery , than the creature commonly so called . i know not , whether his observation , with the reason thereof , be worth the inserting , who first took notice , that our cattle for food , are english , when feeding in the field , but french when fed on in a family . english . sheep . . ox. . calfe . . hog . . pigg . french . mutton . . beef , . veal . . bacon . . pork . whereof he assigned this reason , that after the norman-conquest the french so tyrannized over the english-tenants , that they forced them to keep and feed their cattle , but the monsieurs eat all their good meat , after it was slaughtered . forrainers much admire at our english sheep , because they doe not ( as those beyond the seas ) follow their shephards like to a pack of dogs , but wander wide abroad ; and the popish priests tell their simple flocks , that this disobedience of our sheep happeneth unto us , * because ( risum teneatis amici ? ) we have left the great shephard the pope , whereas they did so long before our separation from rome , because freed from the fear of wolves ( infesting them in forraine parts ) they feed safely in the fields , needing neither guide to direct , nor guard to defend them . tame pheasants . they first took their name from phasis a river in asia , and long their flight thence into england : a fowl fair in the feathers , a cock especially , ( males by nature ( though female by art ) the finest of both sexes ) and dainty in the flesh . aboundance of these are kept about wicombe , the care being more then the cost , seeing their generall repast is on pismires . whether these tame be as good as wild-pheasants , i leave to pallate-men to decide . the manufactures . it is true of this county , that it liveth more by its lands then by its hands . such the fruitfulness , venting the native commodities thereof at great rates , ( thank the vicinity of london , the best chapman ) that no handy-crafts of note , ( save what common to other countries ) are used therein . except any will instance in bonelace , much thereof being made about owldney in this county , though more i believe in devonshire , where we shall meet more properly therewith . proverbs . * buckingham-shire bread and beef . ] the former is as fine , the latter as fat in this as in any other county . if therefore the inhabitants thereof come with hearty grace and hungry appetites , no doubt both strength and health will follow on their repast . here if you beat a bush it's odds youl 'd start a * thief . ] no doubt there was just occasion for this proverb at the originall thereof , which then contained satyricall truth , proportioned to the place before it was reformed , whereof thus our * great antiquary . it was altogether unpassable in times past by reason of trees , untill that leofstane abbot of st. albans did cut them down , because they yeilded a place of refuge for thieves . but this proverb is now antiquated , as to the truth thereof , buckingham-shire affording as many maiden assizes as any county of equall populousness . yea , hear how she pleadeth for her self , that such high-way-men were never her natives , but fled thither for their shelter out of neighbouring counties . saints . st. edburg daughter unto redwald king of the east-angles embraced a monasticall life at alesbury in this coun●…y , where her body was deposited , and removed afterwards to edburgton , ( now edburton ) in suffolk her native country ; it seems her person would make one county proud , which made two happy . alesbury observing her memory on the day of — — — whilst edburton was renowned for her miracles . by the way , it seems wonderfull that in scripture we onely meet with one posthumemiracle , viz. the grave-f●…llow of elisha , raised with the touch of his bones ; whilst most of popish miracles are [ reported ] born after the saints death , meerly to mold mens minds to the adoration of their reliques . st. rumald was the same with st. rumbald , ( commonly called by country people st. grumbald , ) and st. rumwald as others spell him ; but distinct from another st. rumwald of irish ext●…action , a bishop and martyr , whose passion is celebrated at m●…chlyn in braband . this criticisme , reader , i request thee to take on my credit for thy own ease , and not to buy the truth of so difficult a tris●…e with the trouble i paid for it . entring now on the legend of his life , i writ neither what i believe , nor what i expect should be believed , but what i find written by others . some make him son of a british * king , which is sufficiently confuted by his own saxon name . more probable their tale who relate him son to a king of northumberland , by a christian daughter of penda king of mercia . being born at * kings sutton in this county , as soon as he came out of his mothers womb , he cryed three times , i am a christian. then making a plain consession of his faith , he desired to be baptized , chose his godfathers and his own name rumwald . he also by his fingers * directed the standers by to fetch him a great hollow-stone for a font , which sundry of his fathers servants essayed in vain as much above their strength : till the two priests ( his●… designed godfathers ) did goe and fetch it easily at his appointment . being baptized , he for three days discoursed of all the common places of popery , and having confirmed their truth , he bequeathed his body to remain at sutton one year , at brackly two , and at buckingham ever after . this done he expired . reader , i partly guess by my own temper how thine is affected with the reading hereof , whose soul is much divided betwixt severall actions at once . . to frown at the impudency of the first inventors of such improbable untruths . . to smile at the simplicity of the believers of such improbable untruths . . to sigh at that well-intended devotion abused with such improbable untruths . . to thank god that we live in times of better and brighter knowledge . now although st. rumwald was born in this county , he was most honoured at boxley in kent , and thereon a story depends . there was in the church of boxley a short statue of st. rumwald ( as of a boy-saint ) smal , hollow , and light , so that a child of seven years of age might easily lift it . the moving hereof was made the criterion of womens chastity . such who paid the priest well might easily remove it , whilst others might tugg at it to no purpose . for this was the contrivance of the cheat , that it was fastned with a pin * of wood by an invisible stander behind . now when such offered to take it who had been bountifull to the ▪ priest before , they bare it away with ease , which was impossible for their hands to remove who had been close-fisted in their confessions . thus saith my * author it moved more laughter then devotion , and many chast virgins and wives went away with blushing faces , leaving ( without cause ) the suspicion of their wantonness in the eyes of the beholders ; whilst others came off with more credit , ( because with more coyn , ) though with less chastity . the certain time of his life is unknown , but may be guessed about the year . martyrs . john scrivener was martyred at amersham anno dom. . on whom an extraordinary piece of cruelty was used , his own * children being forced to set the first fire upon him , for which the law deut. . . was most erroneously pretended , as will appear by the perusing thereof , if thy brother , the son of thy mother , or thy ▪ son , or thy daughter , or the wife of thy bosome , or thy friend which is as thy own soul entice thee secretly , saying , let us go and serve other gods . — — thou shalt not consent unto him , nor hearken unto him . — — but thou shalt surely kill him , thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death . see we here how in the case of idolatry one is to spare none related unto them , either as equalls or inferiors . but this law injoines not children to accuse or execute their own parents , as scrivener his children were compelled to do . a barbarous cruelty , especially seeing the civil law among the heathen romans did provide , that filius non torquetur in caput parentis , a son shall not be examined on the rack to accuse his father , in such cases wherein his life is concerned . others besides scrivener were martyred , and more confessors 〈◊〉 in this small county , * anno . then in all england elsewhere for twenty years together . p●…elates . richard de wendover , ( a place well known in this shire , ) was rector of bromley in kent , where the bishop of rochester hath a palace ▪ and that see being vacant , he was lawfully chosen the bishop thereof . but edmond arch-bishop of canterbury ( afterwards sainted ) refused to give him consecration , because he was rude * and unlearned . hereupon wendover appealed to the pope , whom he found his better friend , because edmond ( a bitter inveigher against papal extorsions ) was a foe unto him , and so was consecrated . now none will gr●…dge him his place amongst our worthies , seeing what he lack'd in learning he had in holiness , and such his signal * sanctity , that after his death he was by speciall mandate of king henry the third buried in the church of westminster ( as another jehojadah ) for his publick * goodness , anno . john buckingham ( for so his name is truly written ) aliàs bokingham and bukingham , took his name and nativity no doubt from buckingham in this county , a-la-mode of that age. he was bred at the university of oxford , and although since by some causelesly slandered for want of learning , was a great disputant , and well studied scholar , as his * works do declare . he was afterwards preferred bishop of lincoln , where several contests happened betwixt him and pope boniface the ninth , who in revenge ex plenitudine potestatis removed him from lincoln to litchfield , that is , from the hall into the kitchin , a bishoprick of less credit and profit . buckingham grew sullen hereat , and would rather shut himself out , then play at a less game , and so quitting episcopacy . lived and died a private monck at canterbury , where he lies buried the lowermost in the body of christ-church , under a very fair grave-stone , as my * industrious friend hath well retrived his memory , though the brasse on his monument be worn or rather torn away . he indented with the prior and covent at canterbury , to build him a chantry-chappel near his sepulcher , which i find not performed . john young was born at * newton-longvile in this county , and bred in new-colledge in oxford , on the same token that there are no fewer then ten youngs in their register , reckoned fellows of that foundation ; and one said , that seeing the colledge was always new , well may many fellows be young therein . this john young became warden thereof , and afterwards was made bishop of the fair city of callipoli in greece . an excellent place to fat a ( neither camel nor lion but ) camelion in , and seeing the great turk was his tenant , little the rent he paid to this his landlord . however this titular bishoprick gave him precedency , a vote in general councils , and power of ordination . but some english earth doth not well with such grecian aire , and for his better support he was made master of the rowles jan. . in the first of king * henry the eighth , and either died or resigned his office some eight years after . as i remember he lieth buried with a brass inscription in new-colledge chappel . john holyman was born at * codington in this county , bred in new-colledge in oxford , and afterwards became a benedictine in reading , untill that monastery was dissolved . queen mary in the first of her reign preferred him bishop of bristoll , whilst his predecessor paul bush ( deprived for being married ) was yet alive . he lived peaceably , not embrewing his hands in protestants bloud , and died seasonably for himself , a little before the death of queen mary , . since the reformation . john harley was born in the parish of newport-paganel in this county , as a learned * antiquary ( a native of the same place ) hath informed me , where some of his kindred were lately ( if not still ) in being . he was bred first fellow , then school-master in magdalen-colledge in oxford , in the dangerous days of king henry the eighth , he was an hearty but concealed protestant . in the first week of the reign of king edward the sixth , whilst most mens minds stood at a gaze ( it being dead-water with them , which way the tide would turn , ) master harley in the parish-church of saint peters in oxford and a solemn lent-sermon , publiquely preached antipapal doctrine , and powerfully press'd justification by faith alone , whereupon the over-officious * vice-chancellor hurried him up to london for an heretick , there to answer for his contempt . but the case was soon altered , harley was acquitted , commended , preferred to be tutor to the sons of john earl of warwick , afterwards duke of northumberland . he was thence made bishop of hereford . it is said of * abraham , he was buried in a good old age . it cannot be said of our harley , he died in an old age ( finding him not above fifty , ) though expiring in a good age in two respects ; in relation to the piety of his life past , and in reference to the future troubles , which immediately followed . surely had he survived a little longer , he had lost his life , as he did his bishoprick for being * married , in the first of q. mary . doctor laurence humphred , harley his scholar in magdalen-colledge hath consecrated this distick to the memory of his master , though the muses in my mind looked very solemnly , without the least smile at the making thereof , flo●… domui harlaeus , socius ludique magister , celsus-deinde throno , celsior inde polo. he died anno domini . shifting from place to place , the cause why there is no certain intelligence where he was interred . robert aldrich , although he lived but in the twilight of religion , he is justly to be placed not on the dark but light side of reformation . for though his actions were but weak , his affections were sincere therein . * born he was at burnham in this county , bred in kings-colledge in cambridge , ▪ proctor of that university anno . about which time many letters passed betwixt him and his familiar friend erasmus , who stileth him blandae eloquentiae juvenem . he was afterward school-master , then fellow and provoster of eaton , and at last made bishop of carlile , anno . by king henry the eighth . he was never a through paced papist , ( much lesse a persecutor of protestants , ) though a complyer with some superstitions . he died at horncastle in lincoln shire , ( a house belonging to his see ) in the reign of queen * mary , . william alley was born at * wi●…kham in this county , bred first at eaton , then in kings-colledge , where he was admitted anno domini . hence he went away being batchelour of arts , and afterwards became lecturer in saint pauls , i say lecturer , which name though since it hath sounded ill in some jealous ears as infected with faction , was an ancient office founded in some cathedralls to read divinity there , and this master alleys learned lectures ( according to that age ) are extant in print . he was consecrated bishop of exeter , july . . and dying . lyeth buried under a fair marble in his own cathedrall . richard cox was born at * whaddon in this county , and bred for some years in kings-colledge in cambridge ; even when cardinal woolsy was erecting christs-church in oxford . this great prelate , desiring that this his colledge should be as fair within as without , and have learning answerable to the building thereof , employed his emisaries , to remove thither the most hopefull plants of cambridge , and this richard cox amongst the rest . he became afterwards school-master of eaton , which was happy with many florishing wits under his endeavours , and haddon amongst the rest whom he loved with filiall affection , nor will it be amisse to insert the poeticall passe betwixt them . walter haddon to doctor cox his school-master . vix caput attollens è lecto scribere carmen qui velit , is voluit , scribere plura , vale. doctor cox to walter haddon his scholar . te magis optarem salvum sine ●…armine fili quam sine te salvo , carmina multa , vale. hence he was sent for to be instructor to prince edward , which with good conscience , to his great credit he discharged . here , reader , forgive me in hazarding thy censure , in making and translating a distick upon them , praeceptor doctus , docilis magis an puer ille ? ille puer docilis , praeceptor tu qu●…que doctus . master more able , child of more docility ? docil the child , master of great ability . at last he was prefered bishop of ely . commendably continuing therein , whatever causless malice hath reported to the contrary , twenty one years , and dying anno domini , . thomas bickley was born at * stow in this county , bred first chorister , then scholar , then fellow in magdalen-colledge in oxford . in the first of edward the sixth his detestation of superstition may rather be commended , then his discretion in expressing it , when ( before the publique abolishing of popery ) at evening-prayer he brake the consecrated host with his hands , and * stamped it under his feet , in the colledge-chappel . afterwards he fled over into france , living an exile at paris & orleans all the reign of queen mary . returning into eugland , he became chaplain to arch-bishop parker , who preferred him warden of merton-colledge , wherein he continued twenty years . when pass'd the age of a man ( eighty years old ) he began the life of a bishop , and was rather contented , then willing to accept the bishoprick of chichester * freely offered unto him . yet lived he eleven years therein , and died ninety years of age , april . and had a most sumptuous funerall , all the gentry of the vicinage doing their homage to the crown of his old age , which was foun'd in the way of truth . he led a single life , left an hundred pound to merton-colledge , and other moneys to pious uses . john king was born at warnhall nigh tame in this county , robert king the last abbot of osney and first bishop of oxford being his great uncle , he was first deane of christ-church , then bishop of london , being ful fraught with all episcopal qualities , so that he who endeavoureth to give a perfect account thereof , will rather discover his own defects , then describe this prelates perfections . he died anno dom. . being buried in the quire of saint pauls with the plain epitaph of resurgam , and i cannot conceal this elegant elegie made upon him . sad relique of a blessed soul , whose trust we sealed up in this religious dust . o do not thy low exequies suspect , as the cheap arguments of our neglect . 't was a commanded duty that thy grave as little pride as thou thy self should have . therefore thy covering is an humble stone , and , but a word , * for thy inscription ; when those that in the same earth neighbour thee , have ●…ach his chronicle & pedigree . they have their waving pennons and their flaggs , of matches and alliance formal braggs . whenthou ( although from ancestors thou came , old as the heptarchy , great as thy name , ) sleepst there inshrin'd in thy admired parts , and hast no heraldry but thy deserts . yet let not them their prouder marbles boast , for they rest with less honor , though more cost . go search the world , & with your mattokwound the groaning bosom of the patient ground . digg from the hidden veins of her dark womb all that is rare and precious for a tomb : yet when much treasure , & more time is spent , you must grant his the nobler monument , whose faith standsore him for a hearse , & hath the resurrection for his epitaph . see more of the character of this most worthy prelate , in our ecclesiasticall history anno . wherein he died . richard montague was born at * dorney ( where his father was vicar of the parish ) within . miles of eaton , and so ( though not within the reach ) within the sight of that staple place for grammar learning , wherein he was bred ; thence was he chosen successively fellow of kings colledge in cambridge , fellow of eaton , parson of stanford rivers in essex , canon of windsor , parson of petworth , elected bishop of chichester , and at last of norwich . he spent very much in repairing his parsonage-house at petworth , as also on his episcopal house at allingbourn near chichester . he was most exact in the latin and greek ; and in the vindication of tithes wrestled with the grand antiquary of england , and gave him a fair flat fall in the point of a greek criticisme , taxing him justly for mistaking a god ( amongst the aegyptians ) more then there was , by making a man amongst the grammarians fewer then they should be . he hath many learned works extant against the papists , some in english , some in latin ; and one called , his appello caesarem , which ( without his intent and against his will ) gave occasion of much trouble in the land. he began an ecclesiasticall history , and set forth his apparatus , and alas ! it was but an apparatus ; though , through no default of his , but defect of his health ; sicknesse , troublesome times , and then death surprizing him : had it been finished , we had had church annalls to put into the ballance with those of baronius ; and which would have swayed with them for learning , and weighed them down for truth . he dyed anno dom : . henry king d. d. son to john king ( lately mentioned ) bishop of london and his wife ( of the ancient family of the conquests ) was born in this county , in the ●…me town , house , and chamber with his father ; a locall coincidence which in all considerable particulars cannot be parallel'd . we know the scripture-proverb used in exprobration , * as is the mother so is the daughter , both wicked , both wofull . but here it may be said by way of thankfullness to god , and honour to the persons , as was the father so is the son , both pious , both prosperous , till the calamity of the times involved the later . episcopacy anno . was beheld by many in a deep consumption , which many hoped would prove mortal . to cure this it was conceived the most probable cordiall , to prefer persons into that order , not only unblameable for their life , and eminent for their learning , but also generally beloved by all disingaged people ; and amongst these king charles advanced this our doctor , bishop of chichester . but all would not do , their innocency was so far from stopping the mouth of malice , that malice almost had swallowed them down her throat . since god hath rewarded his patience , giving him to live to see the restitution of his order . david saith , that the good * tree [ man ] shall bring forth his fruit in due season ; so our doctor varied his fruits according to the diversity of his age . being brought up in christ-church in oxford , he delighted in the studies of musi●…k and poetry , more elder he applyed himself to oratory and philosophy , and in his reduced age fixed on divinity , which his printed sermons on the lords-prayer , and others which he preached , remaining fresh in the minds of his auditors will report him to all posterity . he is still living anno domini . writers on the law. sir george crook knight , son of sir john crook and elizabeth unton his wife , was born at * chilton in this county , in the second year of the reign of queen elizabeth , bred first in oxford , then a double reader in the inner temple , serjeant at law , and the kings serjeant , justice first of the common-bench . jacobi , and then of the upper-bench . caroli . his ability in his profession is sufficiently attested by his own printed reports . eight eminent judges of the law out of their knowledge of his great wisdome , learning and integrity , approving and allowing them to be published for the common benefit . he was against the illegality of ship-money , both publickly in westminster-hall , and privately in his judgment demanded by the king , though concluded to subscribe ( according to the course of the court ) by plurality of voices , the country-mans wit ( levelled to his brain ) will not for many years be forgotten . that ship-money may be gotten by h●…ok , but not by crook , though since they have paid taxes ( loins to the little finger , and scorpions to the rod of ship-money , ) but whether by hook or crook , let others inquire . his piety in his equall and even walkings in the way of god through the several turnings and occasions of his life , is evidenced by his charity to man , founding a chappel at beachley in buckingham-shire , two miles at least distanced from the mother-church , and an hospitall in the same parish with a liberall revenue . considering his declining and decaying age , and desiring to examine his life , and prepare an account to the supreme judge , he petitioned king charles for a writ of ease , which though in some sort denied , ( what wise mr. would willingly part with a good servant ? ) was in effect granted unto him . he dyed at waterstock in oxford shire , in the eighty second year of his age , anno dom. . edward bultstrode esq. born in this county , bred in the studies of our municipall laws in the inner temple , and his highness his justice in north-wales , hath written a book of divers resolutions and judgments , with the reasons and causes thereof , given in the court of kings-bench in the reigns of king james and king charles ; and is lately deceased . souldiers . sir william windsor knight . i am confident herein is no mislocation beholding him an ancestor to the right honourable thomas windsor hickman lord windsor , and fixed at bradenham . he was deputed by king edward the third in the fourty seventh year of his reign lord lieutenant of ireland , which country was then in a sad condition . for the king was so intent on the conquest of france ( as a land nearer , fairer , and due to him by descent , ) that he neglected the effectuall reduction of ireland . this encouraged the irish grandees ( their o's and mac's ) to rant and tyrant it in their respective seignieuries , whilst such english who were planted there , had nothing native ( save their surnames ) left ; degenerating by degrees to be irish in their habits , manners and language . yea , as the wild irish are observed to love their nurses or fosters , above their natural mothers , so these barbarizing english were more endeared to the interest of ireland which fed , then of england which bare and bred them . to prevent more mischief this worthy knight was sent over , of whose valour and fidelity the king had great experience . he contracted with the king to defray the whole charge of that kingdome , ( as appeareth by the instrument in the * tower ) for eleven thousand two hundred thirteen pounds , six shillings and eight pence per annum . now sir william undertook not the conquest , but custody of the land in a defen sive war. he promised not with a daring mountebank to cure , but with a discreet physician to ease this irish gout . indeed i meet with a passage in * froissard relating how sir william should report of himself , that he was so far from subduing the irish , he could never have access to understand and know their countries , albeit he had spent more time in the service of ireland , then any englishman then living . which to me seems no wonder , the irish vermin shrowding themselves under the scabs of their bogs , and hair of their woods . however he may truly be said to have left that land much improved , because no whit more impaired during those dangerous distractions , and safely resigned his office ( as i take it ) in the first of k. richard the second . arthur gray baron of wilton is justly reckoned amongst the natives of this shire , whose father had his habitation ( not at wilton a decayed castle in hereford-shire whence he took his title , but ) at waddon a fair house of his family not far from buckingham . he succeeded to a small estate much diminished on this sad occasion . his father william lord gray being taken prisoner in france , after long ineffectuall soliciting to be ( because captivated in the publick service ) redeemed on the publick charge , at last was forced to ransom himself with the sale of the best part of his patrimony . our arthur endeavoured to advance his estate by his valour being entered in feats of war , under his martial father at the siege of lieth , . where he was * shot in the shoulder , which inspirited him with a constant antipathy against the scotch . he was afterwards sent over lord deputy into ireland anno . where before he had received the sword or any emblemes of command ut * acrioribus initiis terrorem incuteret , to fright his foes with his fierce beginning , he unfortunately fought the rebels at glandilough to the great loss of english blood . this made many commend his courage above his conduct , till he recovered his credit , and finally suppressed the rebellion of desmund . returning into england , the queen chiefly relied on his counsel for ordering our land-forces against the spaniards in . and fortifying places of advantage . the mention of that year ( critical in church differences about discipline at home , as well as with foreign foes abroad ) mindeth me that this lord was but a back-friend to bishops , & in all divisions of votes in parliament or council-table sided with the anti-prelatical party . when secretary davison , that state-pageant , ( raised up on purpose to be put down , ) was censured in the star-chamber about the business of the queen of scots , this lord gray onely defended him , as doing nothing therein but what became an able and honest minister of state. an * ear-witness saith , haec fuse oratoriè & animosè greium disserentem audivimus . so that besides bluntness ( the common and becoming eloquence of souldiers ) he had a real rhetorick , and could very emphatically express himself . indeed this warlike lord would not wear two heads under one helmet , and may be said always to have born his beaver open , not dissembling in the least degree , but owning his own judgment at all times what he was . he deceased anno dom. . writers . roger de wendover was born at that market-town in this county , bred a benedictine in st. albans , where he became the kings historian . know , reader , that our english kings had always a monck , generally of st. albans ( as near london , the staple of news and books ) to write the remarkables of their reigns . one addeth ( i am sorry he is a * forrainer , and therefore of less credit at such distance , ) that their ▪ chronicles were lock'd up in the kings library , so that neither in that kings , nor his sons life they were ever opened . if so , they had a great encouragement to be impartiall , not fearing a blow on their teeth , though coming near to the heels of truth , which in some sort were tied up from doing them any hurt . this roger began his chronicle at the conquest , and continued it to the year . being the . year of king henry the third . indeed mathew paris doth quarter too heavily on the pains of wendover , who onely continuing his chronicle for some years , and inserting some small * alterations , is intituled to the whole work . as a few drops of blood , because of the deep hiew thereof , discoloureth a whole bason of water into rednesse ; so the few and short interpolations of paris , as the more noted author , give a denomination to the whole history , though a fabrick built three stories high whereof our roger laid the foundation , finished the ground-room and second loft , to which by mr. paris was added the garret , as since the roof by w. rishanger . this wendover died about the year of our lord . john amersham was born in that small corporation in this county , bred a monck in st. albans , where he contracted not onely intimacy , but in some sort identity of affection , with john wheathamsted abbot thereof ; insomuch that what was said of two other friends was true of them , ( ethicks making good the grammar thereof ) duo amici vixit in eodem conventu . now there was a great faction in that convent against their abbot , which to me seemeth no wonder ; for the generality of moncks being lewd , lazy and unlearned , they bare an antipathy to their abbot , who was pious , painfull , and a profound schollar . nor did they onely rail on his person whilst living , but also revile his memory when dead . our amersham , surviving his dear friend , wrote a book ( besides other of his works ) intituled the * shield of wheathamsted , therein defending him from the undeserved darts of his enemies obloquy . he flourished anno dom. . mathew stokes was born in the * town , and bred in the school of eaton , untill he was admitted in kings-colledge in cambridge , anno domini . he afterwards became fellow of that house , and at last esquire bedle , and register of the university . a register indeed both by his place and painfull performance therein ; for he ( as the poets fain of janus with two faces ) saw two worlds , that before and after the reformation . in which juncture of time so great the confusion and embezeling of records , that had not master stokes been the more carefull , i believe , that though cambridge would not be so oblivious as massala corvinus who forgot his own name , yet would she have forgotten the names of all her ancient officers . to secure whose succession to posterity , mr. stokes with great industry and fidelity collected a catalogue of the chancellours , vice-chancellours and proctors . he was a zealous papist ( even unto persecution of others ) which i note not to disgrace his memory , but defend my self , for placing him before the reformation , though he lived many years in the reign of q. elizabeth . since the reformation . walter haddon was born of a knightly family in this * county , bred at eaton , afterwards fellow in kings-colledge , where he proceeded doctor of law , and was the kings professor in that faculty , chosen vice-chancellour of cambridge . soon after he was made president of magdalen-colledge in oxford , which place he waved in the reign of queen mary , and sheltered himself in obscurity . queen elizabeth made him one of the masters of her requests , and employed him in several embassies beyond the seas . her majesty being demanded whether she preferred him or buchanan for learning , wittily and warily returned , buchananum omnibus antepono , haddonum nemini postpono . indeed he was a most eloquent man , and a pure ciceronian in his stile , as appeareth by his writings , and especially in his book against osorius . the rest may be learned out of his epitaph . s. memoriae . gualtero haddono equestri loco nato juris consulto , oratori , poet●… celeberrimo , graecae latinaeque eloquentiae sui temporis facile principi , sapientia & sanctitate vitae , in id evecto , ut reginae elizabethae à supplicum libellis magister esset , destinareturque majoribus nisi facto immaturius cessisset : interim in omni gradus viro longe eminentissimo , conjugi sui optimo meritissimoque anna suttona , uxor ejus secunda flens maerens desiderii sui signum posuit . obiit anno salut . hum . . aetatis . this his fair monument is extant in the wall at the upper end of the chancell of christs-church in london . where so many ancient inscriptions have been barbarously defaced . laurence humphred was born in this * county , bred in magdalen-colledge in oxford , a great and generall scholar , able linguist , deep divine , pious to god , humble in himself , charitable to others . in the reign of queen mary he fled into germany , and there was fellow-commoner with mr. jewell , ( whose life he wrote at large in latine ) in all his sufferings . here he translated origen de recta fide , and philo de 〈◊〉 tate out of greek . returning into england in the reign of queen elizabeth , he was made 〈◊〉 of magdalen-colledge in oxford , and dean of winchester . higher preferment he 〈◊〉 ver attained , because never desired it , though a learned * author seems to put it on another account , fortasse eo quod de adiaphoris non juxta cum ecclesia anglicana senserit . i deny not but he might scruple some ceremonies , but sure i am he was much molested in his colledge with a party of fierce ( not to so furious ) nonconformists , from whom he much dissented in judgment . he died anno dom. . here i must confess a mistake in my ecclesiastical history ( misguided therein with many others by general tradition ) when i reported the gold lately found and shared amongst the president and fellows of magdalen-colledge in oxford , to have been the gift of this doctor humphred , which since appeareth a legacy left by william wainfleet their founder . would i had been mistaken in the matter as well as in the person , that so unworthy an act had never been performed . but what said * jacob to his sons ? carry back the money again , peradventure it was an oversight . seasonable restitution will make reparation . roger goad was born at * houton in this county , and was admitted scholar in kings-colledge in cambridge . leaving the colledge he became a school-master at guilford in surrey . but pity it is that a great candle should be burning in the kitchin , whilst light is lacking in the hall , and his publique parts pent in so private a profession . he was made not to guide boys , but govern men . hence by an unexpected election he was surprised into the provostship of kings-colledge , wherein he remained fourty years . he was thrice vice-chancellonr of cambridge ; a grave , sage and learned man. he had many contests with the young frie in this colledge , chiefly because he loved their good better then they themselves . very little there is of his in print , save what he did in conjunction with other doctors of the university . by his testament he gave the rectory of milton to the colledge , and dying on saint marks day . lieth buried in a vestery on the north-side of the chappel . john gregory was born november . . at amersham in this county , of honest though mean parents , yet rich enough to derive unto him the hereditary infirmity of the gout , which afflicted him the last twenty years of his life . he was bred in christ-church in oxford , where he so applied his book , that he studied * sixteen hours of the four and twenty for many years together . he attained to be an exquisite linguist and general scholar , his modesty setting the greater lustre on his learning . his notes on dr. redleys book of civil-law gave the first testimony of his pregnancy to the world , and never did text and comment better meet together . he was first chaplain of christ-church , and thence preferred by bishop duppa , prependary of chichester and sarum , and indeed no church-preferment compatible with his age was above his deserts . he died at kidlington in oxford-shire . and was buried at christ-church in oxford . i find a smart epitaph made by a friend on his memory , and it was in my mind as well valiantly ( consider the times ) as truly indited . ne premas cineres hosce , viator , nescis quot sub hoc jaeent lapillo ; graeculus , hebraeus , syrus , et qui te quovis vincet idiomate . at nè molestus sis ausculta , & causam auribus tuis imbibe : templo exclusus et avita religione jam senescente , ( ne dicam sublatâ ) mutavit chorum , altiorem ut capesceret . vade nunc , si libet , & imitare . r. w. his opera posthuma are faithfully set forth , by his good friend john gurgain , and deservedly dedicated to edward bish esquire , one so able that he could , charitable that he would , and valiant that he durst relieve master gregory in his greatest distress . samuel collins , son to baldwin collins ( born in coventry , a pious and painfull preacher , prodigiously bountifull to the poor , whom queen elizabeth constantly called father collins ) was born and bred * at eaton , so that he breathed learned aire from 〈◊〉 of his nativity . hence coming to kings-colledge in cambridge , he was succes●…ively chosen fellow , provost , and regius professor . one of an admirable wit and 〈◊〉 , the most fluent latinist of our age : so that as caligula is said to have sent 〈◊〉 souldiers vainly to fight against the tide , with the same success have any encountred the torrent of his tongue in disputation . he constantly read his lectures twice a week , for above fourty years , giving notice of the time to his auditours in a ticket on the school-dores , wherein never any two alike ; without some considerable difference in the critical language thereof . when some displeased courtier did him the injurious courtesie to preferre him downwards ( in point of profit ) to the bishoprick of bristol , he improved all his friends to decline his election . in these troublesome times ( affording more preachers then professors ) he lost his church but kept his chair , wherein he died about the year . william oughtred was ( though branched from a right ancient family in the north ) born in the town , bred in the school of eaton , became fellow of kings-colledge ; and at last was beneficed by thomas earl of arundel at albury in surrey . all his contemporaries unanimously acknowledged him the prince of mathematicians in our age and nation . this aged simeon had ( though no revelation ) a strong perswasion that before his death he should behold christs anointed restored to his throne , which he did accordingly to his incredible joy , and then had his dimittis out of this mortal life , june . . romish exile writers . thomas dorman was born at ammersham in this county , being nephew unto thomas dorman of the same town , a confessour in the reign of king henry the eighth . true it is , this his uncle through weakness did abjure ( let us pity his , who desire god should pardon our failings , ) but was ever a cordial protestant . he * bred this thomas dorman juni●…r at berkhamsted-school ( founded by dr. incent ) in hartfordshire , under mr. reeve a protestant school-master . but this dorman turn'd tail afterwards , and became a great romanist , running over beyond the seas , where he wrote a book intituled against alexander nowel , the english calvinist . j. pits doth repent that he affordeth him no room in the body of his book , referring him to his * appendix . he flourished anno . memorable persons . john mathew mercer , son to thomas mathew was born at sherington in this county , lord mayor of london , anno dom. . he is eminent on this account that he was the first * bachelar that ever was chosen into that office . yea it was above a hundred and twenty years before he was seconded by a single person succeeding him in that place , viz. sir john * leman lord mayor . it seemeth that a lady mayoresse is something more then ornamentall to a lord mayor , their wives great portions or good providence , much advantaging their estates , to be capable of so high a dignity . dame hester temple , daughter to miles sands esquire was born at latmos in this county , and was married to sir thomas temple of stow baronet . she had four sons and nine daughters , which lived to be married , and so exceedingly multiplied , that this lady saw seven hundred extracted from her body . reader , i speak within compass , and have left my self a reserve , having bought the truth hereof by a wager i lost . besides there was a new generation of marrigable females just at her death , so that this aged vine may be said to wither , even when it had many young boughs ready to knit . had i been one of her relations , and as well enabled as most of them be , i would have erected a monument for her thus design'd . a fair tree should have been erected , the said lady and her husband lying at the bottom or root thereof ; the heir of the family should have ascended both the middle and top-bough thereof . on the right-hand hereof her younger sons , on the left her daughters should as so many boughs be spread forth . her grand-children should have their names inscribed on the branches of those boughs , the great-grand-children on the twiggs of those branches , the great-great-grand-children on the leaves of those twiggs . such as surviv'd her death should be done in a lively green , the rest ( as blasted ) in a pale and yellow fading-colour . * plinie , who reports it as a wonder worthy the chronicle , that chrispinus hilarus , praelata pompa , with open ostentation , sacrificed in the capitol , seventy four of his children and childrens children attending on him , would more admire if admitted to this spectacle . * vives telleth us of a village in spain of about an hundred houses , whereof all the inhabitants were issued from one certain old man who then lived , when as that village was so peopled , so as the name of propinquity how the youngest of the children should call him , could not be given . lingua enim nostra supra abavum non ascendit , our language ( saith he , meaning the spanish ) affords not a name above the great-grandfathers father . but had the off-spring of this lady been contracted into one place , they were enough to have peopled a city of a competent proportion , though her issue was not so long in succession , as broad in extent . i confess very many of her descendants dyed before her death , in which respect she was far surpassed by a roman matron , on whom the * poet thus epitapheth it , in her own person . viginti atque novem , genitrici callicratea , nullius sexus mors mihi visa fuit . sed centū et quinque explevi bene messibus annos , intremulam baculo non subeunte manun . twenty nine births callicrate i told , and of both sexes saw none sent to grave . i was an hundred and five winters old , yet stay from staff my hand did never crave . thus in all ages god bestoweth personal felicities on some , far above the proportion of others . the lady temple dyed anno dom. . lord mayors . name father place company time john brokle william brokle newport paganel draper thomas scot robert scot dorney draper henry collet robert collet wendover mercer john mathew thomas mathew shreington mercer john mundy william mundy wycombe goldsmith john coates thomas coates bearton salter the names of the 〈◊〉 of this county r●…turned by the commissioners in the twelfth year of king henry the sixth , . william bishop of lincoln , commissioners to take the oathes . reginald de gray de ruthyan chivaler .   thomas sakevile miles , knights for the shire .   william wapload . knights for the shire .   reginaldi lucy , chiv. walteri lucy , chiv. iohan. cheyne , chiv. tho. chetewode , chiv. iohan. cheyne , arm. iohan. hampden de hampden , ar. andreae sper●…ing thomae rokes , ar. iohan. lange●…on , ar. iohan. iwardby , ar. david breknook , ar. thomae stokes , ar. iohan. hampden de kimbell . walteri fitz richard , armigeri . iohan. stretlee , ar. tho. shyngelton , ar. thomae cheyne , ar. iohan. stokes , ar. thomae gifford , ar. iohan. gifford d●… whaddon senioris , ar. thomae boteler , ar. rob. puttenham , ar. roberti olney de weston , ar. iohan. tyringham , ar. iohan. brekenock , ar. thomae rufford , ar. iohan. dayrell , ar. nicolai clopton edmundi brutenell iohan. sewell iohan. watkins willillmi brook de chesham . bernardi sanderdon thomae more will. fouler . iohannis arches iohan. skydmore iohan. kimbell will. joyntour rogeri more iohan. horewode iohan. baldewin thomae atte welle will. chapman de aylesbury tho. turnour iohan. knight de hampslape will. watford thomae oliver will. colingrgg de toursey thomae malins will. parker de eton will. burton persone ecclesiae de crowle iohan. clerke de olney rich. hawtreve iohan. giffard de hardmede iohan. tapelo de hampslape thomae knight de eadem iohan. giffard de whaddon junioris iohan. sapcote de olney rich. arnecok will. edy nich. brackwell will. sambroke iohan. edy junioris thomae edy iohan. puchas will. berewell ade ashinden david . whitchirche iohan. sweft will. britwell de cherdesle iohan. verney eustachii grenvile iohan. fitz iohn will. gerebray tho. maudeleyn iohan. vesy tho. wodewarde rich. enershawe iohan. harewold de weston hen. loveden iohan. thorp iohan. parker de fenny stratford nicholai baker de crowle nich. hobbesson tho. malette iohan. kerye tho. tappe rich. hoo de snenston iohan. manchestre iohan. phelip hen. hunkes rich. miches will. meridale tho. edward iohan. vaux will. dun hen. toursey hen. dicon will. winslowe iohan. bilindon hen. porter tho. turgens rober. dalafeld math. colett iohan. hampden de wycombe iohan. wellesburn tho. merston will. attegate tho. mery rich. milly will. wodeward tho. pusey roberti broun de beknesfeld iohan. iourdeley tho. houghton rich. yaulode iohan. gold de ailesbury will. clarke de eadem will. clarke de culverdon thomae kene de horsendon will. symeon will. fether iohan. caradons will. combe de aylesbury will. gill rich. lamburn will. hid●… tho. bristow nich. baron will. cook de fertwell iohan. glover de kimbell iohan. balke de aylesbury iohan. lucy & rich. lucy sheriffs . this county had the same with bedford-shire , untill they were parted in the seventeenth year of queen elizabeth . since which time these have been the sheriffs of this county alone . name place armes reg. eliza .     anno     ioh. croke , ar . chilton g. a fess between martlets arg. griff. hampden , armiger . hampden argent a saltire gules betwixt eaglets az. mich ▪ blount , ar .   barry 〈◊〉 of . or. & sable . rob. drury , ar . 〈◊〉 arg on a chief vert the 〈◊〉 tau betw●…xt 〈◊〉 pierced or. rich. crafford , ar .     paul. darell , ar . lillingstone az. a lion rampant or , 〈◊〉 argent . th. tasborough , a.   az. on a cross arg. mullets g. edm. verney , ar .   arg. lions passant s. betwixt gemewes in bend. will. hawtrey , ar . checkers       az. billets , , , & . or , in a chief of the second a lion issuant sable . rob. dormer , ar . wing   edw. bulstrod , ar . see our notes . arg. on bars s. martlets or. ioh. temple , ar . stow * ar. on a bend s. cubit arms issuant out of pettet clouds rayonated all proper rending of a of a 〈◊〉 or. ioh. goodwin , ar . see of k. james .   ioh. burlace , * ar .     fran. cheney , ar . chesham the vache checky or & 〈◊〉 fess g fretty erm. ge. fleetwood , a.   partee per pale nebulee az. & 〈◊〉 , martilets counterchanged . ale. hampden , a. ut prius   hen. longvile , ar . wolvertō gules a fess indented twixt crosses 〈◊〉 arg. tho. pigot , ar . dodershal s. 〈◊〉 arg. mic. harecourt , a.   or. barrs gules . edw. tirrell , ar . thornton arg. chev. az. within a border engrailed g. an. tirringham , a. tirringham az. a 〈◊〉 engrailed arg. ioh. dormer ut prius   will. garrend , ar .   see our notes in northamptonshire . will. clarke , mil.     tho. 〈◊〉 , ar .   g. a chev. between cressets ar. will. burlace , ar . ut prius   anth. chester , ar . chichely per pale arg. & sable , a chev. between rams-heads erased armed or , within a border ingrailed , roundelly , all counterchanged . fran. cheney , mi. ut prius   reg. jac.     anno     fran. cheney , mi. ut prius   w. willoughby . m   amp. ri. ingoldesby , m. lethenbor . erm. a saltire engrailed s. hen. longvile . m. ut prius   will. andrews , m   g. a saltire or , charged with another , 〈◊〉 . fran fortescu , m.   az. a bend engrailed ar. cotised or. anth. greenway , a.     rob. lovet , mil. liscomb arg. wolves passant in pale s. iero. horsey , mil.   az. horses-heads couped or , bridled ar. edw. tirrell , mil. ut prius   sim. may ne , ar .   arg. on a bend ingr . s. dexter handsof the first . bri. iohnson , ar . beaconfield quarterly azure & g. a cross patoncee , & a chief or. edm. wheeler , mi. riding-co . or. a chev. between leopards-heads 〈◊〉 . th. temple , m. & b. ut prius   ioh. laurence , mi. iver arg. a cross knotted g. on a chief az. leopards-heads or. fra. duncombe , a.   party per chev. counter-flore , g. & arg. talbots-heads erazed countercharged . be. winchombe , a. see our notes .   hen. lee , m. & ba. quarrendō arg. a fess betwixt cressants sable . ioh. denham , mil.   gules 〈◊〉 erm. will. fleetwood ut prius * per pale or & g. a lion ramp . 〈◊〉 three flower de luces counterchanged . fra. goodwin , * m.     will. pen , † ar . pen † arg. on a fess s. plates . reg. caro .     anno     edw. coke , mil. stoke partee per pale g. & az. eagles argent . gil. gerrard , bar .   quarterly , the & arg. a sal. g. the & az. a lion ramp . erm. crowned or. tho. darel , a. ut prius   f. catesby . a. northamp . ar. lions passant , s. crowned or. the. lee , ar . ut prius   will. 〈◊〉 , m. ut prius   tho. hide , baro .   or , a chev. betwixt 〈◊〉 az. in chief an eagle of the first . 〈◊〉 . dupper , ar .     rob. dormer , ar . ut prius   fran. 〈◊〉 , mi. ut prius   pet. temple , mil. ut prius   heneage proby , a.   erm. on a fess ▪ g ▪ a lion passant the tail extended , or. anth. chester , ba. ut prius           tho. archdale , ar ,         rich ▪ grevile , mi.   sable a border & cross engrailed or , thereon pellets .         hen. beak , ar .         will. collier , ar .     queen elizabeth . john croke ar. ] being afterwards knighted , he was the son of sir john crook a six-clerk in chancery , and therefore restrained marriage untill enabled by a statute of the . of henry the eighth . his 〈◊〉 in the civil warres between york and lancaster concealed their proper name le blount under the assumed one of croke . as for this sir john croke , first sheriff of buckingham after the division of bedfordshire , he was most fortunate in an issue happy in the knowledge of our municipall law : of whom sir john croke his eldest son speaker of the parliament in the . of queen elizabeth . he received this eulogium from her majesty , that he had proceeded therein with such wisdome and discretion , that none before him had deserved better . as for sir george his second son , we have spoken of him * before . robert dormer ar. ] he was on the . of june . made baronet by king james , and on the . day of the same month was by him created baron dormer of wing in this county . his grand-child robert dormer was by k. charles in the . of his reign created viscount ascot and earl of carnarvan . he lost his life , fighting for him who gave him his honour , at the first battle of newbury . being sore wounded , he was desired by a lord , to know of him what suit he would have to his majesty in his behalf , the said lord promising to discharge his trust in presenting his request , and assuring him that his majesty would be willing to 〈◊〉 him to the utmost of his power : to whom the earl replied , i will not dye with a suit in my mouth to any king , save to the king of heaven by anne daughter to philip earl of pembrook and montgomery , he had charles now 〈◊〉 of carnarvan . edward bulstrod ar. ] i have not met with so ancient a coat ( for such it appeareth beyond all exception ) so voluminous in the blazon thereof , viz. sable , a bucks head argent , attired or , shot the nose with an arrow of the third , headed and feathered of the second , a cross patee fitchee betwixt the attire , or. hen. longvile ar. ] he had to his fourth son sir michael longvile , who married susan sole daughter to hen. earl of kent . now , when the issue in a direct line of that earldome failed in our memory , mr. selden was no less active then able to prove that the barony of 〈◊〉 was dividable from the earldome , and descended to the son of the said sir michael , and thereupon he sate as baron ruthyn in our late long parliament . since his death his sole daughter and heir hath been married unto sir henry yelverton of easton in the county of northampton baronet , a worthy gent. of fair estate , so that that honour is likely to continue in an equipage of breadth proportionable to the height thereof . king james . benedict winchcombe ar. ] his armes ( too large for the little space allotted them ) i here fully represent in gratitude to the memory of his ancestor , so well deserving of * newbury , viz. azure , on a chev. engrailed between three birds or , as many cinque foiles of the first , on a chief of the second a flower the luce between two spears heads of the first . king charles . edward coke kt. ] this was our english 〈◊〉 , so famous for his comments on our common-law . this year a parliament was called , and the court-party was jealous of sir edwards activity against them , as who had not digested his discontentments . hereupon to prevent his election as a member , and confine him to this county , he was prick'd sheriff thereof . he scrupuled to take the oath , pretending many things against it , and particularly that the sheriff is bound thereby to prosecute lollards , wherein the best christians may be included . it was answered , that he had often seen the oath given to others without any regreet , and knew full well that lollard in the modern sense imported the * opposers of the present religion , as established by law in the land. no excuses would serve 〈◊〉 turn , but he must undertake this office . however his friends beheld it , as an injurious degradation of him , who had been lord chief-justice , to attend onthe judges at the assises . francis cheney mil. ] it is an epidemical disease , to which many ancient names are subject , to be variously disguised in writing . how many names is it chesney , chedney , cheyne , chyne , cheney , &c. and all de casineto . a name so noble and so diffused in the catalogue of sheriffs , it is harder to miss then find it any county . here , reader , let me amend and insert what i omitted in the last county . there was a fair family of the cheneys flourishing in kent , ( but landed also in other counties , ) giving for their armes , azure , six lions rampant argent , a canton ermin . of this house was henry chency high sheriffe of this county and bedford shire in the . of q. elizabeth , and not long after by her created baron of tuddington in bedford-shire . in his youth he was very wild and venturous , witness his playing at dice with henry the second king of france , from whom he won a diamond of great worth at a cast : and being demanded by the king , what shift he would have made to repair himself in case he had lost the cast ; i have ( said young chency in an hyperbolical brave ) sheeps tails enough in kent , with their wool to buy a better diamond then this . his reduced age afforded the befitting fruits of gravity and wisdome , and this lord deceased without issue . as for sir francis cheney sheriff for this present year , we * formerly observed the distinct armes of his family . this worthy knight was father to charles cheney esq. who by his exquisite travelling hath naturalized foreign perfections into himself , and is exemplarily happy in a vertuous lady , jane daughter to the truly noble william marquis of new-castle , and by her of hopefull posterity . the farewell . on serious consideration , i was at a loss to wish to this county , what it wanted , god and the kings of england have so favoured it with naturall perfections , and civil priviledges . in avowance of the latter it sheweth more burrow-towns ( sending burgesses no fewer then twelve to the parliament ) then any shire , ( though thrice as big ) lying in the kingdome of mercia . now seeing at the instant writing hereof , the generall news of the nation is , of a parliament to be called after his majesties coronation , my prayers shall be that the freehoulders of this county shall ( amongst many therein so qualified ) chuse good servants to god , subjects to the king , patriots to the county , effectually to advance a happiness to the church and common-wealth . cambridge-shire . cambridge-shre hath lincoln shire on the north , northfolk and suffold on the east , essex and hartford-shire on the south , huntington , and bedford-shires on the west , being in length thirty five , in breadth not fully twenty miles . the tables therein as well furnished as any , the south-part affording bread and beer , and the north ( the isle of ely ) meat thereunto . so good the grain growing here , that it out-selleth others some pence in the bushel . the north-part of this county is lately much improved by drayning , though the poorest sort of people will not be sensible thereof . tell them of the great benefit to the publick , because where a pike or duck fed formerly , now a bullock or sheep is fatted , they will be ready to return , that if they be taken in taking that bullock or sheep , the rich owner ●…indicteth them for felons ; whereas that pike or duck were their own goods only for their pains of catching of them . so impossible it is that the best project though perfectly performed should please all interests and affections . it happened in the year . upon the dissolution of the great snow their banks were assaulted above their strength of resistance , to the great loss of much cattle , corn , and some christians . but soon after the seasonable industry of the undertakers , did recover all by degrees , and confute their jealousies who suspected the relapsing of these lands into their former condition . this northern part is called the isle of eelie , which * one will have so named from the greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fenny or marish-ground , but our saxon ancestors were not so good grecians , and it is plain that plenty of eels gave it its denomination . here i hope i shall not trespass on gravity , in mentioning a passage observed by the * reverend professour of oxford doctor prideaux , referring the reader to him for the authours attesting the same . when the priests in this part of the county would still retain their wives , in despight of whatever the pope and monks could doe to the contrary , their wives and children were miraculously turned all into eels ( surely the greater into congers , the less into griggs ) whence it had the name of eely , i understand him a lie of eels . no doubt the first founder of so damnable an untruth , hath long since received his reward . however for this cause we take first notice amongst this counties naturall commodities , of eels . which though they be found in all shires in england , yet are most properly treated of here , as most , first , and best , the courts of the kings of england being thence therewith anciently supplyed . i will not ingage in the controversy whether they be bred by generation as other fish , or aequivocally out of putrefaction , or both ways which is most probable ; seeing some have adventured to know the distinguishing marks betwixt the one and other . i know the silver eels are generally preferred , and i could wish they loved men but as well as men love them , that i my self might be comprised within the compass of that desire . they are observed to be never out of season , ( whilst other fishes have their set times , ) and the biggest eels are ever esteemed the best . i know not whether the italian proverb be here worth the remembring , give eels without wine to your enemies . hares . though these are found in all counties , yet because lately there was in this shire an hare-park nigh new-market , preserved for the kings game , let them here be particularly mentioned . some prefer their sport in hunting before their flesh for eating , as accounting it melancholick meat , and hard to be digested , though others think all the hardness is how to come by it . all the might of this silly creature is in the flight thereof , and remember the answer which a school-boy returned in a latine distick , being demanded the reason why hares where so fearfull , cur metuunt lepores ? terrestris , nempe , marinus , aethereus quod sit , tartareusque canis . whether or no they change their sex every year , ( as some have reported ) let huntsmen decide . these late years of our civil wars have been very destructive unto them , and no wonder , if no law hath been given to hares , when so little hath been observed toward men . saffron . though plenty hereof in this county , yet because i conceive it first planted in essex we thither refer our description thereof . willows . a sad tree , whereof such who have lost their love make their mourning garlands , and we know what exiles hung up their * harps upon such dolefull supporters . the twiggs hereof are physick to drive out the folly of children . this tree delighteth in moist places , and is triumphant in the isle of ely , where the roots strengthen their banks , and lop affords fuell for their fire . it groweth incredibly fast , it being a by-word in this county , that the profit by willows will buy the owner a horse , before that by other trees will pay for his saddle . let me adde , that if green ash may burn before a queen , withered willows may be allowed to burn before a lady . manufactures . paper . expect not i should by way of preface enumerate the several inventions , whereby the ancients did communicate , and continue their notions to posterity . first by writing in leaves of trees still remembred , when we call such a scantling of paper a folio or leafe . hence from leaves men proceeded to the bark of trees , as more solid , still cou●…enanced in the notation of the word liber . next they wrote in labels or sheets of lead , wherein the letters were deeply engraven , being a kind of printing before printing , and to this i refer the words of job ( an author allowed contemporary with , if not senior to moses himself . ) * oh that my words were now written , oh that they were printed in a book . to omit many other devices in after ages to signify their conceptions , paper was first made of a broad flag ( not unlike our great dock ) growing in and nigh canopus in egypt , which it seems was a s●…aple commodity of that country , and substantiall enough to bear the solemn curse of the prophet , the paper-reeds by the brooks shall wither ; be driven away , and be no more . * our modern paper is made of grinded raggs , and yet this new artificiall doth still thankfully retain the name of the old naturall paper . it may pass for the emblem of men of m●…an extraction , who by art and industry , with gods blessing thereon come to high preferment . * he raiseth the poor out of the dust , and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill , that he may set him with his princes , even with the princes of his people . one may fin●… , if searching into the pedigree of paper , it cometh into the world at the doungate , raked thence in rags , which refined by art , ( especially after precious secrets are written therein ) is found fit to be choicely kept in the cabinets of the greatest 〈◊〉 . pity it is that the fi●…st author of so usefull an invention cannot with any * assurance by assigned . there are almost as many severall kinds of paper as conditions of persons betwixt the emperor and beggar , imperial , royal , cardinal , and so downwards to that course paper called emporetica , usefull onely for chapmen to wrap their wares therein . paper participat●…s in some sort of the caracters of the countrymen which make it , the venetian being neat , subtile and courtlike , the french light , slight and slender , the dutch thick , corpulent and gross , not to say sometimes also charta bibula , sucking up the ink with the sponginess thereof . paper is entred as a manufacture of this county , because there are mills , nigh sturbridge-fair , where paper was made in the memory of our fathers . and it seemeth to me a proper conjunction , that seeing cambridge yeildeth so many good writers , cambridg-shire should afford paper unto them . pitty , the making thereof is disused ; considering the vast sums yearly expended in our land for paper out of italy , france , and germany , which might be lessened were it made in our nation . to such who object that we can never equall the perfection of venice-paper , i return , neither can we match the purity of venice-glasses , and yet many green ones are blown in sussex , profitable to the makers and convenient for the users thereof , as no doubt such courser ( home-spun paper ) wouldbe found very beneficiall for the common-wealth . baskets . these are made of the osiers plentifully growing in the moist parts of this county , an acre whereof turns to more profit then one of wheat . a necessary utensill in an house , whereby many things are kept , which otherwise would be lost . yea , in some sort it saved the life of st. paul , when let down by the wall of damascus in * a basket . whence some ( not improbably ) conjecture him hominem tricubitalem , a man of low stature . martial confesseth baskets to have been a brittish invention , though rome afterwards laid claime thereunto . barbara de pictis veni baseauda britannis , sed me jam mavult dicere roma suam . foreign basket first in brittain known , am now by rome accounted for her own . their making is daily improved with much descant of art , splitting their wickers as small as threads , and dying them into several colours , which daily grow a greater commodity . the buildings . cambridge is the chief credit of this county , as the university is of cambridge . it is confess'd , that oxford far exceeds it forsweetness of situation ; and yet it may be maintained , that though there be better aire in oxford , yet there is more in the colledges of cambridge . for , oxford is an university in a town , cambridge , a town in an university ; where the colledges are not surrounded with the offensive embraces of streets , but generally situated on the out-side , affording the better conveniency of private walks and gardens about them . but having * formerly written of the fabricks of cambridge , i forbear any further inlargement . eely minster . this presenteth it self afar off to the eye of the traveller , and on all sides at great distance , not onely maketh a promise , but giveth earnest of the beauty thereof . the lanthorn therein built by bishop hotham , wherein the labour of twenty years , and five thousand ninety four pounds eighteen shillings ten pence half penny farthing was expended , is a master-piece of architecture . when the bells ring , the wood-work thereof shaketh and gapeth , ( no defect but perfection of structure ) and exactly chocketh into the joynts again ; so that it may pass for the lively embleme of the sincere christian , who , though he hath motum trepidationis , of * fear and trembling , stands firmly fixt on the basis of a true faith . rare also is the art in the chappel of saint maries , the patern or parent of that in kings-colledge in cambridge , though here ( as often elsewhere ) it hath happened , the child hath out-grown the father . nor must the chappel of bishop west be forgotten , seeing the master-masons of king james , on serious inspection , found finer stone-work herein , then in king henry the seventh his chappel at westminster . it grieved me lately to see so many new ligh's in this church , ( supernumerary windows more then ●…re in the first fabrick ) and the whole structure in a falling condition , except some good mens cha●…y seasonably support it . yet , was i glad to hear a great antiquary employed to transcribe and preserve the monuments in that church , as all others in the late-drowned-land . and it is hard to say , which was the better office , whether of those who newly have dried them from the inundation of water , or of those who shall drain them from the deluge of oblivion , by perpetuating their antiquities to posterity . wonders . let me here insert an artificial wonder of what is commonly called devils-ditch ; country-folk conceiting that it was made by the devil , when the devil he made it , being the work of some king or kings of the east angles . see the laziness of posterity , so far from imitating the industry of their ancestors , that they belibell the pure effects of their pains as hellish atchivements . but if the aforesaid kings meerly made this ditch to get themselves a name , divine justice hath met with them , their names being quite forgotten . more probably it was made to divide and defend their dominions from the kingdome of mercia , or possibly to keep the people in employment , for diversion of mutinous thoughts , laziness being the mother of disloyalty , industry of obedience . proverbs . cantabrigia petit aequales aequalia . cambridge requires all to be equal . ] some interpret this of their commons , wherein all of the same mess go share and share alike . others understand it of the expenses out of the hall , all being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in their collations , all paying alike . which parity is the best preservative of company , according to the apothegme of solon , which * plutarch so commends for the wisedome thereof , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , equality breeds no battles . otherwise it is a murthering-●…hot where one pays all the reckoning , as recoiling on him that dischargeth it : yea such inequality is a certain symptome of an expiring society . some expound the words , that graduates of the same degree , ( either within or without the university ) are to be fellows well met one with another . dido had a piece of state in her court peculiar to her self , ( which may be called an equipage indeed ) where she had a hundred servants in ordinary attendance * all of the same age . thus the same degree in effect levells all scholars , so that seniority of years ought not to make any distance betwixt them , to hinder their familiarity . i have nothing else to adde of this proverb , saving that it is used also in oxford . cambridge-shire camels . ] i cannot reconcile this common saying to any considerable sense , i know a camel passeth in the latine proverb , either for gibbous and distorted , or for one that undertaketh a thing awkely or ungeenly . * camelus saltat , or else for one of extraordinary bulk or bigness , all unappliable in any peculiar manner to the people of this county , as straight and dexterous as any other , nor of any exorbitant proportions . all that i can recover of probability is this , the fen-men dwelling in the northern part of this county , when stalking on their stilts are little giants indeed , as * master camden hath well observed . however that mathematician who measured the height of her●…ules by the bigness of his foot , would here be much mistaken in his dimensions , if proportionably collecting the bulk of their bodies from the length of their legs . a boisten horse and a cambridge master of art , are a couple of creatures that will give way to no body . ] this proverb we find in the letter of william zoon written to george bruin in his theatre of cities , and it is objected against us by an * oxford antiquary , as if our masters wanted manners to give place to their betters , though all things considered it soundeth more to their honour then disgrace . for mark what immediately went before in the same * author , in plateis ambulantes , decedi sibi de via , non à civibus solùm , sed etiam à peregrino quovis nisi dignitate excellat , postulant : walking in the streets , they require , not onely of the towns-men , but also of every stranger except they excell in dignity , that they goe out of the way unto them . herein two things are observable in the scholars , . their manners or civility . . their manhood or courage . if the party , whatever he be , appear dignified above them , they willingly allow him superiority , what is this , but to give what is due to another ? if he seem beneath them , then they doe uti jure suo , and take what is their own to themselves . what rea●…on is it he should give place to a towns-man ? ut quid cedat plenum vacuo , scientia ignorantiae ? this mindeth me of a passage in plutarch concerning themistocles , when a boy going home from school , he met one of the athenian tyrants in the city , and the people cryed out unto him to goe out of the way , what ( said themistocles ) is not all the street broad enough for him , but i must be put out of my path and pace to make room for him ? this was interpreted by such as heard him , as a presage of his future magnanimity . and surely it shews not want of breeding , but store of spirit , when a man will not be put out of his way , for every swelling emptiness that meets him therein . an henry-sophister ] so are they called , who after four years standing in the university , stay themselves from commencing bachelors of art , to render them ( in some colledges ) more capable of preferment . several reasons are assigned of their name . that tradition is senseless , ( and inconsistent with his princely magnificence ) of such who fansie , that k. henry the eighth coming to cambridge , staid all the sophisters a year , who expected a year of grace should have been given unto them . more probable it is , because that king is commonly conceived of great strength and sta●…ure , that these sophistae henriciani were elder and bigger then others . the truth is this , in the reign of king henry the eighth , after the destruction of monasteries , ●…earning was at a loss , and the university ( thanks be unto god more scar'd then hurt ) stood at a gaze what would become of her . hereupon many students staid themselves , two , three , some four years , as who would see , how their degrees , ( before they took them ) should be rewarded and maintained . martyrs . william flower was born at * snow-hill in this county , bred first a monk in ely , till relinquishing his habit he became a secular priest and a protestant , and after many removals fixed at last at lambeth . wonder not , reader , to see a long black line prefixed before his name , which he well deserved to distinguish him from such men , who had an unquestionable title of martyrdom . whereas this flower dangerously wounded a popish priest with a woodknife , ( a mischievous weapon ) in saint margarets westminster , just at the ministration of the masse , so that the bloud of the priest spirted into the challice . a fact so foul , that the greatest charity would blush to whisper a syllable in the excuse thereof . as for such who in his defence , plead the precedent of elia his killing of baals priests , they lay a foundation for all impiety in a christian common-wealth . if in the old world giants were the product of those marriages , when the sons of god took to wives the * daughters of men , ( a copulation not unlawfull , because they were too near a kin , but because they were too far off ; ) what monsters will be generated from such mixtures , when extraordinary actions by immediate commissions from god shall be matched unto ordinary persons of meer men , and heaven unjustly alledged and urged for the defence of hell it self ? however it plainly appears that flower afterwards solemnly repented of this abominable act , and was put to death for the testimony of the truth . grudge not reader to peruse this following parallel , as concerning the hands of the martyrs in the reign of queen mary . the right-hand of thomas tomkins was burnt off in effect ( so as to render it useless ) by bishop bonner , some days before he was martyr'd . arch-bishop canmer at the stake first thrust his right hand into the flame to be burnt in penance for his subscription to a recantation . the right hand of william flower , before he went to the stake , was cut off by order of the judges for his barbarous fact . yet though his right hand suffered as a malefactour , there want not those who maintained that * martyr belongs to the rest of his body . prelats . stephen de fulborn was born at fulborn ( no other of that name in england ) in this county . going over into ireland to seek his providence ( commonly nick-named his fortune ) therein , he became anno ▪ * bishop of waterford , and lord treasurer of ireland . hence he was preferred arch-bishop of tuam , and once , and again was chief justice of that ( allow me a prolepsis ) * kingdome . he is reported to have given to the church of glassenbury in england , * indulg●…nces of an hundred days which i cannot understand , except he promised pardon of so many days , to all in his province who went a pilgrimage to that place ; and this also seems an over-papal act of a plain arch-bishop . he died . and was buried in trinity church in dublin . nicholas of ely , was so called ( say some ) from being arch-deacon thereof , which dignity so died his denomination in grain , that it kept colour till his death , not fading , for his future higher preferments , though others conjecture his birth also at ely. when the bold barons obtrued a chancellour * ( a kings tongue and hands by whom he publickly speaks and acts ) anno . they forced this nicholas on king henry the third for that office , till the king some months after displaced him , yet ( knowing him a man of much merit ) voluntarily chose him l. treasurer * when outed of his chancellors place , so that ( it seems ) he would trust him with his coffers , but not with his conscience ; yea he afterwards preferred him bishop of worcester , then of winchester . here he sate . years , and that cathedrall may ( by a synedoche of a novel part for the whole ) challenge his interment , having his heart * inclosed in a wall , though his body be buryed at waverly in ●…urry . william of botlesham was born at bottlesham ( contractly botsam ) in this county . this is a small village , which never amounted to a market-town , some five miles east of cambridge , pleasantly seated in pure aire , having rich arable on the one , and the fair health of new-market on the other side thereof . it hath been the nursery of refined wits , affording a triumvirate of learned men , taking their lives there , and names thence : and to prevent mistakes ( to which learned pens in this point have been too prone ) we present them in the ensuing parallels . william a of bottlesham , john of bottlesham , nicholas of bottlesham , made by the pope , first bishop of bethlehem in syria , afterwards anno . bishop of landaffe , and thence removed to rochester . a famous preacher , confessor to king richard the second , and learned writer , but by walsingham and bale , called john by mistake . he dyed in febru . anno . nor must we forget that he was once fellow of pembroke-hall . was bred in peter-house in cambridge , whereunto he was a benefactor , as also to the whole university , chaplain to t. arundel , archbishop of canterbury ; by whose recommendation he was preferred to succeed his towns-man in the see of rochester ; which he never saw ( saith my b authour ) as dying in the beginning of the year . was a carmelite bred in cambridge , afterwards removed to paris , where in sorbone he commenced doctor of divinity . returning to cambridge he became prior of the carmelites ( since queens-colledge ) where he wrote many books , and lies buried in his own c covent anno domini . let all england shew me the like of three eminent men , ( all contemporaries at large ) which one petty village did produce . let bottlesham hereafter be no more fam'd for its single becon , but for these three lights it afforded . thomas of new market was born therein , and though that town lyeth some part in suffolk , my * author assures his nativity in this county . he was bred in cambridge , an excellent humanist and divine , ( having left some learned books to posterity ) and at last was advanced to be * bishop of carlile . surely then he must be the same with thomas merks , consecrated anno . * consent of time most truly befriending the conjecture . merks also and market being the same in effect . neither doth the omission of new in the least degree discompose their identity , it being usuall to leave out the prenomen of a town for brevity sake , by those of the vicenage , ( amongst whom there is no danger of mistake , ) commonly calling west-chester , chester , south-hampton , hampton . if the same , he is famous in our english histories , because his devotion ( in a transposed posture to publick practise ) * worshiped the sun-setting , king richard the second , for which his memory will meet with more to commend then imitate it . yet was his loyalty shent , but not sham'd : and king henry the fourth being sick of him , not daring to let him to live , nor put him to death , ( because 〈◊〉 prelate ) found an expedient for him of a living death , confining him to a titular * grecian bishoprick . he dyed about . thomas thirlby doctor of laws , was ( as i am assured by an excellent * antiquary ) born in the town , and bred in the university of cambridge , most probably in trinity hall . he was very able in his own faculty , and more then once employed in embasseys by king henry the eighth , who preferred him bishop of westminster . here , had thirlby lived long , and continued the course he began , he had prevented queen mary from dissolving that bishoprick , as which would have dissolved it self for lack of land , sold and wasted by him . and though probably he did this to raise and enrich his own family , yet such the success of his sacriledge , his name and alliance is extinct . from westminster he was removed to norwich , thence to ely. he cannot be followed ( as some other of his order ) by the light of the fagots kindled by him to burn poor martyrs , seeing he was given rather to prodigality then cruelty , it being signally observed that he wept at arch-bishop cranmers degradation . after the death of queen mary , he was as violent in his opinions , but not so virulent in his expressions ; always devoted to queen mary , but never invective against queen elizabeth . he lived in free custody , dyed , and is buried at lambeth . since the reformation . godfrey goldsborough d. d. was born in the town of cambridge , where some of his sur-name and relation remained since my memory . he was bred in trinity-colledge , ( pupil to arch-bishop whitgiff ) and became afterwards fellow thereof , at last he was consecrated bishop of gloucester anno dom. . he was one of the second set of protestant bishops , which were after those so famous for their sufferings in the marian days , and before those who fall under the cognizance of our generation ; the true reason that so little can be recovered of their character . he gave a hundred mark to trinity ▪ colledge , and died anno dom. . robert townson d. d. was born in saint botolphs parish in cambridge , and bred a fellow in queens-colledge , being admitted very young therein , but . years of age . he was blessed with an happy memory , insomuch that when d. d. he could say by heart the second book of the aeneads which he learnt at school , without missing a verse . he was an excellent preacher , and becoming a pulpit with his gravity . he attended king james his chaplaine into scotland , and after his return was preferred dean of westminster , then bishop of salisbury . hear what the author of a pamphlet , who inscribeth himself a. w. saith in a book which is rather a satyre then a history , a libell then a character , of the court of king james , for after he had slanderously inveighed against the bribery of those days in church and state , hear how he seeks to make amends for all . king james's court , pag. , . some worthy men were preferred gratis to blow up their [ buckingham and his party ] fames , ( as tolson a worthy man paid nothing in fine or pension , and so after him davenant in the same bishoprick . ) yet these were but as musick before every hound . now although both these persons here praised were my god-fathers and uncles , ( the one marrying the sister of , the other being brother to my mother ) and although such good words seem a rarity from so railing a mouth , yet shall not these considerations tempt me to accept his praises on such invidious terms as the author doth proffer them . o! were these worthy bishops now alive , how highly would they disdain to be praised by such a pen , by which king james their lord and master is causelesly traduced ! how would they condemn such uncharitable commendations , which are ( if not founded on ) accompanied with the disgrace of others of their order ? wherefore , i their nephew in behalf of their memories , protest against this passage , so far forth as it casteth lustre on them , by eclipsing the credit of other prelates their contemporaries . and grant corruption too common in that kind , yet were there besides them at that time , many worthy bishops raised to their dignity by their deserts , without any simonicall complyances . doctor townson had a hospitall heart , a generous disposition , free from covetousness , and was always confident in gods providence , that , if he should dye , his children ( and those were many ) would be provided for , wherein he was not mistaken . he lived in his bishoprick but a year , and being appointed at very short warning to preach before the parliament , by unseasonable ●…tting up to study , contracted a fever , whereof he died , and was buried in westminster abbey , anno dom. . thomas ( son to william ) westfield d. d. was born anno dom. . in the parish of saint maries in ely , and there bred at the free-school under master spight , till he was sent to jesus-colledge in cambridge , being first scholar , then fellow thereof . he was curate , or assistant rather , to bishop felton , whilst minister of saint mary le bow in cheapside , afterward rector of hornsey , nigh , and great saint bartholomews in london , where in his preaching he went thorow the four evangelists . he was afterwards made arch-deacon of saint albans , and at last bishop of bristol , a place proffered to , and refused by him twenty five years before . for then the bishoprick was offered to him to maintain him ; which this contented meek man , having a self-subsistence , did then decline , though accepting of it afterwards , when proffered to him to maintain the bishoprick , and support the episcopall dignity by his signall devotion . what good * opinion the parliament ( though not over-fond of bishops ) conceived of him , appears by their order ensuing , the thirteenth of may . from the committee of lords and commons for sequestration of delinquents estates . upon information in the behalf of the bishop of bristoll , that his tenants refuse to pay him his rents , it is ordered by this committee , that all profits of his bishoprick be restored to him , and a safe conduct be granted him to pass with his family to bristoll , being himself of great age , and a person of great learning and merit . jo. wylde . about the midst of his life he had a terrible sickness , so that he thought ( to use his own expression in his diary ) that god would put out the candle of his life , though he was pleased onely to snuff it . by his will ( the true copy whereof i have ) he desired to be buried in his cathedral church neer the tombe of paul bush , the first bishop thereof . and as for my worldly goods , ( reader , they are his own words in his will ) which ( as the times now are ) i know not well where they be , nor what they are , i give and bequeath them all to my dear wife elizabeth , &c. he protested himself on his death-bed a true protestant of the church of england , and dying junii . . lyeth buried according to his own desire above mentioned , with this inscription ; hic jacet thomas westfield , s. t. d. episcoporum intimus , peccatorum primus . obiit . junii , anno mdcxliv . senio & moerore confectus . tu lector ( quisquis es ) vale & resipisce . epitaphium ipse sibi dictavit vivus . monumentum uxor moestissima elizabetha westfield marito desideratissimo posuit superstes . thus leaving such as survived him to see more sorrow , and feel more misery , he was seasonably taken away from the evil to come . and according to the anagram made on him by his daughter , thomas westfield , i dwel the most safe . enjoying all happiness and possessing the reward of his pains , who converted many , and confirmed more by his constancy in his calling . states-men . john tiptoft son and heir of john lord tiptoft , and * joyce his wife ( daughter and co-heir of edward charlton lord powis by his wife eleanor , sister and co-heir of edmund holland earl of kent ) was born at * everton in this ( but in the confines of bedford ) shire . he was bred in baliol-colledge in oxford , where he attained to great learning , and by king henry the sixth was afterwards created first vice-count , then earl of worcester , and lord h●…gh constable of england , and by k. edward the fourth knight of the garter . the skies began now to lowre , and threaten civil wars , and the house of york fell sick of a relapse . mean time this earl could not be discourteous to henry the sixth who had so much advanced him , nor disloyall to edward the fourth in whom the right of the crown lay . consulting his own safety , he resolved on this expedient , for a time to quit his own and visit the holy-land . in his passage thither , or thence , he came to rome , where he made a latin speech before the pope , pi●… the second , and converted the italians into a better opinion then they had formerly of the english-mens learning , insomuch that his holiness wept at the elegancy of the oration . he returned from christs sepulcher to his own grave in england , coming home in a most unhappy juncture of time , if sooner or later , he had found king edward on that throne , to which now henry the sixth was restored , and whose restitution was onely remarkable for the death of this worthy lord. thus those who when the house of the state is on fire , politickly hope to save their own chamber , are sometimes burned therein . treason was charged upon him for secret siding with king edward , who before and afterward de facto , and always de jure , was the lawfull king of england ; on this account he lost his life . then did the axe at one blow cut off more learning in england then was left in the heads of all the surviving nobility . his death happened on saint lukes-day . edward lord tiptoft his son was restored by edward the fourth , earl of worcester . but dying without issue his large inheritance fell to his three * aunts , sisters to the learned lord aforesaid , viz. first philip , married to thomas lord ross of ham-lake . second , jo●…ne , wife of sir edmund ingoldsthorp of borough-green in this county . third joyce , married unto sir edward sutton son and heir of john lord dudley , from whom came edward sutton lord dudley , and knight of the garter . john cheeke knight , tutor to king edward the sixth , and secretary of state , was born over against the market-cross in cambridge . what crosses afterwards befel him in his course of life , and chiefly before his pious death , are largely related in our church-history . souldiers . the courage of the men in this county before the conquest , plainly appeareth by this authentick passage in a memorable author , who reporteth , that when the rest of the east angles cowardly fled away in the field from the danish army , * homines comitatus cantabrigiae viriliter obstiterunt : the men of the county of cambridge did manfully resist . our author addeth , unde anglis regnantibus laus cantabrigiensis provinciae splendidè florebat ; whence it was that whilst the english did rule , the praise of the people of cambridge shire did most eminently flourish . nor lost they their reputation for their manhood , at the coming in of the normans , who partly by the valour of their persons , partly by the advantage of their fens , made so stout resistance , that the conqueror who did fly into england , was glad to creep into ely. yea , i have been credibly informed that cambridge-shire men commonly passed for a current proverb , though now like old coine , almost grown out of request . indeed the common people have most robustious bodies , insomuch that quartersacks were here first used , men commonly carrying on their backs ( for some short space ) eight bushels of barly , whereas four are found a sufficient load for those in other counties . let none say that active valour is ill inferred from passive strength , for i do not doubt but ( if just occasion were given ) they would find as good hands and arms as they do backs and shoulders . writers . matthew paris is acknowledged an english-man by all , ( save such who mistake parisius for parisiensis ) and may probably be presumed born in this ( as bred in the next ) county , where the name and family of paris is right ancient , even long before they were settled therein at hildersham , which accrued unto them by their marriage with the daughter and heir of the * buslers . sure i am , were he now alive , the parises would account themselves credited with his , and he would not be ashamed of their affinity . he was bred a monke of saint albans , skilled not only in poetry , oratory and divinity , but also in such manual as lye in the suburbs of liberal sciences , painting , graving , &c. but his genius chiefly disposed him for the writing of histories , wherein he wrote a large chronicle from the conquest , unto the year of our lord . where he concludes with this distich ; siste tui metas studii , matthaee , quietas nec ventura petas , quae postera proferat aetas . matthew here cease thy pen in peace , and study on no more ; nor do thou rome at things to come , what next age hath in store . however he afterwards resuming that work , continued it untill the year . this i observe , not to condemn him , but excuse my self from inconstancy , it being it seems a catching disease with authors , to obey the importunity of others , contrary to their own resolution . his history is unpartially and judiciously written , ( save where he ●…geth too much to monkish miracles and visions , ) and no writer so plainly discovereth the pride , avarice , and rapine of the court of rome , so that he seldome kisseth the ●…opes to●… without biting it . nor have the papists any way to wave his true jeeres , but by suggesting , haec non ab ipso scripta , sed ab aliis falsò illi * ascripta ; insinuating a suspicion of forgery , in his last edition : understand them in what ●…ome . years ●…ince was set forth by mathew parker , whereas it was done with all integrity , according to the best and most ancient manuscripts , wherein all those anti-papal passages plainly appear , as since in a latter and exacter edition , by the care and industry of doctor william wats . this mathew left off living and writing at the same time , viz. anno . i will only adde , that though he had sharp nailes , he had clean hands , stri●…t in his own , as well as striking at the loose conversations of others , and for his eminent austerity was imployed by pope innocent the fourth , not only to visit the monkes in the diocess of norwich , but also was sent by him into norway , to reform the discipline in holui , a fair convent therein , but much corrupted . helias rubeus was born at * triplow in this county , bred d. d. in cambridge . leland acquainteth us that he was a great courtier , and gracious with the king , not informing us what king it was , nor what time he lived in ; onely we learn from him , that this rubeus ( conceive his english name rouse , or red ) seeing many who were nobilitatis portenta ( so that as in a tympany their very greatness was their disease ) boasted ( if not causelesly ) immoderately of their high extraction , wrote a book contra nobilitatem inanem . he is conjectured to have flourished about the year . john eversden was born at one of the eversdens in this county , bred a monk in bury-abbey , and the cellerer thereof an officer higher in sense then sound , being by his place to provide diet ●…or the whole convent , assigning particular persons their portions thereof ; but our eversdens mind mounted above such mean matters , busied himself in poetry , law , history , whereof he wrote a fair volume from the * beginning of the world , according to the humour of the historians of that age ; starting all thence , though they run to several marks . being a monk he was not over fond of fryers . and observeth that when the franciscans first entred bury anno . there happened a hideous hericano , levelling trees and towers , and whatsoever it met with . the best was , though they came in with a tempest , they went out with a calme , at the time of the dissolution . this john flourished under king edward the third , and dyed about the year . richard wetherset , commonly called of cambridge , ( saith bale ) because he was chancellour thereof . but there must be more in it to give him that denomination , seeing many had that office besides himself . he was a great scholar , and deep divine , it being reported to his no small praise , that he conformed his divinity to * scripture , and not to the rules of philosophy . he flourished under king edward the third anno . william caxton born in that town ( a noted stage betwixt roiston and huntington ) * bale beginneth very coldly in his commendation , by whom he is charactered , vir non omnino stupidus , aut ignavia torpens ; but we understand the language of his liptote , the rather ●…ecause he proceedeth to praise his diligence and learning . he had most of his education beyond the seas , living . years in the court of margaret dutchesse of burgundy , sister to king edward the fourth , whence i conclude him an anti-lancastrian in his affection . he continued polychronicon , ( beginning where trevisa ended , ) unto the end of king edward the fourth , with good judgment and fidelity . and yet when he writeth * that king richard the second left in his treasury money and jewells , to the value of seven hundred thousand pounds , i cannot credit him , it is so contrary to the received character of that kings riotous prodigality . caxton carefully collected and printed all chaucers works , and on many accounts deserved well of posterity , when he died about the year . since the reformation . richard huloet was born at * wishich in this county , and brought up in good learning . he wrote a book called the english and latine a b c , and dedicated the same to thomas goowrich bishop of ely , and chancellor of england . some will condemn him of indiscretion , in presenting so low a subject to so high a person , as if he would teach the greatest states-man in the land to spell aright . others will excuse him , his book being , though , of low of generall use for the common people , who then began to betake themselves to reading , ( long neglected in the land ) so that many who had one foot in their grave , had their hand on their primer . but i believe that his book ( whereof i could never recover a sight ) though entitled an a b c , related not to literall reading , but rather to some elementall grounds of religion . he flourished anno domini . john richardson was born of honest parentage at linton in this county , bred first fellow of emanuell , then master of saint peters , and at last of trinity-colledge in cambridge , and was regius professor in that university . such who represent him a dull and heavy man in his parts , may be confuted with this instance . an extraordinary act in divinity was kept at cambridge before king james , wherein doctor john davenant was answerer , and doctor richardson amongst others the opposers . the question was maintained in the negative , concerning the excommunicating of kings . doctor richardson vigorously pressed the practice of saint ambrose excommunicating of the emperour theodosius , insomuch that the king in some passion returned , profecto fuit hoc ab ambrosio insolentissimè factum . to whom doctor richardson , rejoyned , responsum vere regium , & alexandro dignum , hoc non est argumenta dissolvere , sed desecare . and so sitting down he desisted from any further dispute . he was employed one of the translators of the bible , and was a most excellent linguist , whose death happened anno dom. . andrew willet d. d. was born at ely in this county , bred fellow of christs-colledge in cambridge . he afterwards succeeded his father in the parsonage of barley in hertford shire , and became prebendary of ely. he confuted their cavill who make children the cause of covetousness in clergy-men , being bountifull above his ability , notwithstanding his numerous issue . no less admirable his industry appearing in his synopsi●… , comments , and commenta●…ies , insomuch that one considering his polygraphy , said merrily , that he must write whilst he slept , it being unpossible that he should do so much when waking . sure i am , he wrote not sleepily nor oscitantèr , but what was solid in it self , and profitable for others . a casuall fall from his horse in the high-way near hodsden breaking his leg , accelerated his death . it seems that gods promise to his children to keep them in all their ways , that they dash not their foot against the stone , 't is ( as other temporall promises ) to be taken with a tacit clause of revocation , viz. if gods wisdome doth not discover the contrary more for his glory and his childrens good . this doctor died anno domini . sir thomas ridley kt. dr. of the laws , was born at ely in this county , bred first a scholar in eaton , then fellow of kings-colledge in cambridge . he was a general scholar in all kind of learning , especially in that which we call melior literatura . he afterwards was chancellor of winchester , and the vicar generall to the arch-bishop of canterbury : his memory will never dye whilst his book called the view of the ecclesiastical laws is living ; a book of so much merit , that the common lawyers ( notwithstanding the difference betwixt the professions ) will ingeniously allow a due commendation to his learned performance in that subject . he died anno domini . on the two and twentieth day of january . arthur hildersham was born at strechworth in this county , descended by his mothers side from the bloud-royal , being great-great-grand-child to george duke of clarence , brother to edward the fourth . yet was he not like the proud nobles of tecoa , who counted themselves too good to put their hands to gods work . but being bred in christs-colledge in cambridge , he entred into the ministry . how this worthy divine was first run a ground with poverty , and afterwards set a float , by gods providence , how he often alternately lost and recovered his voice , being silenced and restored by the bishops , how after many intermediate afflictions , this just and upright man had peace at the last , is largely reported in my ecclesiastical history , to which ( except i adde to the truth ) i can adde nothing on my knowledge remarkable . he died anno domini . r. parker , for so is his christian name defectively written in my book , was born in ely , ( therefore place-nameing himself eliensis ) was son ( as i am confident ) to master parker arch-deacon of ely , to whom that bishoprick in the long vacancy ( after the death of bishop cox ) was profered , and by him refused , tantum opum usuram iniquis conditionibus sibi oblatam respuens . our parker was bred in , and became fellow of caius-colledge , an excellent herauld , historian , and antiquary , author of a short , plain , true , and brief manuscript , called sceletos cantabrigiensis , and yet the bare bones thereof , are fleshed with much matter , and hath furnished me with the nativities of severall bishops who were masters of colledges . i am not of the mind of the italian , ( from whose envy god deliver us ) polidore virgil , who having first served his own turn with them , burnt all the rare english manuscripts of history he could procure , so to raise the valuation of his own works . but from my heart i wish , some ingenious person would print mr. parkers book , for the use of posterity . he was a melancholy man , neglecting all preferment , to enjoy himself , and died in the place of his nativity , as i conjecture , about . michael dalton esquire , he was bred in the study of our municipall-law in lincolns inn , and attained great skill in his own profession . his gravity graced the bench of justices in this county , where his judgment deservedly passed for an oracle in the law , having enriched the world with two excellent treatises , the one of the office of the sheriffs , the other of the justices of peace . out of the dedicatory epistle of the later , i learnt this ( which i knew not before ) that k. james was so highly affected with our english government by justices of peace , that he was the first , who setled the same , in his native country of scotland . mr. dalton dyed before the beginning of our civil distempers . thomas goad d. d. was son to dr. roger goad ( for more then fourty years provost of kings-colledge ) but whether born in the provosts lodgings in cambridge , or at milton in this county , i am not fully informed . he was bred a fellow under his father , afterwards chaplain to arch-bishop abbot , rector of hadly in suffolk , prebendary of canterbury , &c. a great and generall scholar , exact critick , historian , poet , ( delighting in making of verses , till the day of his death ) school-man , divine . he was substituted by k. james , in the place of doctor hall , ( indisposed in health ) and sent over to the synod of dort. he had a commanding presence , an uncontrolable spirit , impatient to be opposed , and loving to steere the discourse ( being a good pilot to that purpose ) of all the company he came in . i collect him to have died about the year . andrew marvail was born at * mildred in this county , and bred a master of arts in trinity-colledge in cambridge . he afterwards became minister in hull , where for his life time he was well beloved . most facetious in his discourse , yet grave in his carriage , a most excellent preacher , who like a good husband never broached what he had new brewed , but preached what he had pre●…studied some competent time before . insomuch that he was wont to say , that he would crosse the common proverb , which called saturday the working day , and munday the holy day of preachers . it happened that anno dom. . jan. . crossing humber in a barrow-boat , the same was sand-warpt , and he * drowned therein , by the carelesness ( not to say drunkenness ) of the boat-men , to the great grief of all good men . his excellent comment upon saint peter , is daily desired and expected , if the envy and covetousness of private persons for their own use , deprive not the publick of the benefit thereof . benefactors to the publick . hugo de balsham ( for so is he truly written ) was born in this county as may easily be spelled out of the four following probabilities put together . first , it was fashionable for clergy-men in that age to assume their surnames from the place of their nativity . secondly , balsham is an eminent village in this county , whereof an ancient * author taketh notice , naming thence the neighbouring ground amaenissima montana de balsham . thirdly , there is no other village of that name throughout the dominions of england . fourthly , it is certaine this hugh was bred in this county , where he attained to be sub-prior , and afterwards bishop of ely. this hugh was he who founded peter-house in the university of cambridge , the first built ( though not first endowed ) colledge in england . this foundation he finished anno . bestowing some lands upon it , since much augmented by bountifull benefactors . he sat years in his see , and dyed june the . . sir william horn salter , son to thomas ho●…n was born at snail-well in this county , he was knighted by king hen. the seventh , and anno . was l. mayor of london . he gave bountifully to the preachers at saint pauls crosse , and bestowed five hundred * marks to the mending of the high ways , betwixt cambridge the county town where he had his first life , and london the city where he got his best livelihood . know in that age horn his five hundred marks , had in them the intrinsick value of our five hundred pounds , which in those days would go very far in the wages of laborers . sir william ( son of john ) purcase was born at gamlinggay in this county , bred a mercer in london , and lord mayor thereof , anno . he caused morefields under the walls to be made plain ground , then to the great pleasure , since to the greater profit of the city . sir thomas ( son of john ) kneisworth was born at kneisworth in this county , bred a fishmonger in london , whereof he was lord mayor , anno . he appointed the water-conduit at bishop-gate to be built , to the great convenience of the city , formerly much wanting that usefull element . be it here observed for the incouragement of the industry of cambridg-shire apprentices , that by the premises it doth appear that this small county in the compass of eighteen years afforded three l. mayors and benefactors , which no other shire of equal or greater quantity ever produced . since the reformation . john crane was born in wishbeech in this county , bred an apothecary in cambridg , so diligent an youth , that some judicious persons prognosticated that he would be a rich man. dr. butler took so great a fancy unto him , that he lived and died in his family , yea and left the main body of his rich estate unto him . this mr. crane had a large heart , to entertain his friends , and annually very nobly treated all the oxford men at the commencement . he gave at his death no less then three thousand pounds to charitable uses , bestowing the house he lived in ( and that a very fair one ) aster his wives death , on the publick professor of physick , and in settlement of his other benefactions , discreetly reflected on wishbeech where he was born , ( to which he gave l . to build a town-hall ) cambridge , where he lived , lin , where he was well acquainted , ipswich , where doctor butler ( the first founder of his estate ) was born , and kingston where his lands lay . he in some sort gives preventing physick to the scholars now he is dead , by giving l . to be lent gratis to an honest man , the better to enable him to buy good fish and fowl for the university , having observed much sickness occasioned by unwholsome food in that kind . he bequeathed to dr. wren bishop of ely , and doctor brounrigg bishop of exeter , one hundred pounds a piece by his will , and as much by a codecil annexed thereunto . besides his concealed charities , his hand was always open to all the distressed royalists . he died in may , . memorable persons . william collet was born at over in this county , bred a clerk in london , till at last he attained to be keeper of the records in the tower , none equalling him in his dexterity in that office . he went the same path with his predecessor in that place , master augustine vincent , but out-went him as survivor . and because method is the mother of memory , he orderly digested all records , that they were to be found in an instant . he abominated their course , who by a water would refresh a record , to make it usefull for the present , and useless ever after . he detested under the pretence o●… mending it , to practice with a pen on any old writing , preserving it in the pure natu●…e thereof . indeed master selden and others in their works , have presented posterity with a plentifull feast of english rarities , but let me say that collet may be called their caterer , who furnished them with provision on reasonable rates . he died to the great grief of all antiquaries anno dom. . edward norgate son to robert norgate d. d. master of bennet-colledge , was born in cambridge , bred by his father-in-law ( who married his mother ) nicholas felton bishop of ely , who finding him inclined to limning and heraldry , permitted him to follow his fancy therein . for , parents who cross the current of their childrens genius , ( if running in no vicious chanells ) tempt them to take worse courses to themselves . he was very judicious in pictures , to which purpose he was imployed into italy to purchase them for the earl of arundel . * returniug by marseilles he missed the money he expected , and being there unknowing of , and unknown to any , he was observed by a french gentleman ( so deservedly styled ) to walk in the exchange ( as i may ●…ll it ) of that city , many hours every morning and evening , with swift feet and sad face , forwards and backwards . to him the civil monsieur addressed himself , desiring to know the cause of his discontent , and if it came within the compass of his power , he promised to help him with his best advise . norgate communicated his condition , to whom the other returned , take i pray my counsel , i have taken notice of your walking more then ▪ miles a day , in one furlong upwards and downwards , and what is spent in needless going and returning , if laid out in progressive motion , would bring you into your own country . i will suit you ( if so pleased , ) with a light habit , and furnish you with competent money for a footman . norgate very chearfully consented , and footed it ( being accommodated accordingly ) through the body of france , ( being more then five hundred english miles , ) and so leasurely with ease , safety , and health , returned into england . he became the best illuminer or limner of our age , employed generally to make the initial letters in the patents of peers , and commissions of embassadours , having left few heirs to the kind , none to the degree of his art therein . he was an excellent herald by the title of — and which was the crown of all , a right honest man. exemplary his patience in his sickness ( whereof i was an eye-witness ) though a complication of diseases , stone , ulcer in the bladder , &c. ceased on him . he died at the heralds office , anno dom. . lord mayors . name father place company time robert clopton thomas clopton clopton draper william horn thomas horn snaylewell salter william purchase john purchase gamelinghey mercer thomas kneisworth john kneisworth kneisworth fish-monger thomas mirfine george mirfine ely skinner william bowyer william bowyer harstone — richard mallory anthony mallory papworthamus mercer the names of the gentry of this county returned by the commissioners in the twelfth year of king henry the sixth , . john bishop of ely , commissioners to take the oathes . john de tiptoft chivaler . william allington knights for the shire . john burgoin miles . knights for the shire . will. pole , mil. iohan. colvyle , mil. will. hazenhull , mil. will. malory , mil. iohan. argenton , mil. will. alyngton senioris de horseth laurencii cheyne de ditton hen. somer de grancotre iohan. cheyne de longstanton thomae dischalers de whaddon will. frevill de shelford ioha●… . hore de childerle ioh. st. george de haclee will. st. george de eadem rob. bernard de iselham rob. alyngton de horseth walt. clovile de pampisworth walt. cotton de ladevade . will. burgoyne de caxton ioh. moris de trumpiton ioh. pigot de aviton tho. cotton de lanwade simo. brunne de wenelingham edm. seyntlowe de malketon alexan. child de horton iohan. keterich de beche nicholai cald●…cote de melreth walt. hunty don de trumpiton radul . sanston de sanston will. fulburne de fulburn rob. kingston de berklow rich. stotevil de brinkelee rich. foster de bodekisham iohan. ansty senioris de ovye iohan. totehill de swafham iohan. chirche de bassingburn edm. bendisch de barenton iohan. ansty junioris de tanerisham radul . hamelin de sanston iohan. fulburn de fulburn iohan. borlee de iselham iohan. bury de stretelee magistri de chepenham de chepenham nich. hamond de swofham tho. cantyes de littillington iohan. walter de cranden iohan. west de croxton iohan. knesworth de knesworth warini ingrith de melreth iohan. wilford sen. de badbrurgham iohan. wilford junio . de eadem sim. hokington de hokington iohan. clopton de clopton iohan. bungeye de fulburn ioh. mars de abiton tho. danseth de conyton tho. haneheech de shelford hen. calbech de balsham will. sternede de stapileford iohan. wizhton de hokington rob. anfleys de eltislee will. eremilond de iselham iohan. vescey de swanesey galf. clopton de clopton . will. baily de saham tho. parker de kertelenge tho. bulseham de chenele iohan. bate de reche iohan. taillour de brinkle iohan. cotisford de weston rog. hunte de balseham iohan. how de sanston tho. paris de eadem iohan , trope de dokisworth iacob . russil de skelington rich. hoggepound de wrotting iohan. palgrave de eadem tho. cokeparker de campis iohan. petzt . de eadem steph. petiz de eadem iohan. lambard de eadem iohan. smith de eadem iohan. britsale de berkelow will. fuller de lintone iohan. plukerose de eadem thomae hamont de eadem iohan. person de eadem iohan. haberd de onye iohan. orveye de ditton philip. grome de hinton edm. preston de botisham tho. bunte de eadem ioh. wilkin de wilburgham will. thornton warnier de saham tho. stapelton de badburgham iohan. ray de novo mercato hen. attelane de beche iohan. knith de eadem walt. fote de middilton ioh. andrew de waterbeche rob. bertelct de eadem iohan. tylly de eadem hen. clerke de eadem ioh. annfleys de critton iohan. fox de eadem richard. mably de howis iohan. attechercke de eadem iohan. mably de eadem will. colyn de maddyngle iohan. custance de eadem tho. mesynger de eadem will. reynolt de eadem will. knight de chesterton iohan. bacon de eadem ioh. bernard de eadem henrici speed dehyston will. page de eadem iohan. smith sen. de eadem walt. spernd de cotenham hen. mey de eadem hugon . bernard de eadem will. burbage de drayton iohan. gifford de eadem rober. salman de eadem hen. roys de lolworth iohan. asplen de eadem iohan. ganelock de over ioh. sampson bocher de eadem iohan. barby de eadem hen. okeham de eadem will. shetere de wenelingham iohan. de botre de eadem iohan. shetere de eadem will. bakere de swansey sim. hurlpeny de eadem rich. wright de eadem iohan. halton de eadem ioh. howesson de ellysworth iohan. bole de eadem will. fermour de eadem iohan. wareyan de eadem io. annfleys de papworth everard io. kent de papworth anneys iohan dantre de granele io. annfleys de conyton thom. crispe de eadem will. beton de fendrayton will. pecard de eadem ioh. grewere de eadem rich. hemington de longstanton henri . rede de eadem io. page jun. de eadem will driffeld de eadem ioh. hawkyn de eadem will. atte low de eadem tho. pelle de hokington ioh. fulham de eadem ioh. williem de westwyk tho. herward de eadem hen. page de rampton will page de eadem ioh. watesson de eadem ioh. bette de herdewyk tho. newman de toft tho. basely de eadem tho. crispe de caldecote ioh. faceby de eadem tho. adam de everisdon magna henri . bocher de eadem tho. tant de everisdon parva will baron de eadem will. parnell de kingston rich. mading le de eadem ioh. couper de eadem sim. lavenham de brunne galfri . norman de eadem sim. wareyn de stowe will semer de eadem thom. bette de eadem iohan. freman de esthatbee iohan. bradfeld de eadem tho. fysher de gamelingey ioh. brampston de eadem walt. aydrok de eadem ioh. smith de eadem iohan. drap●…r de eadem iohan. goneld de croxton willielm . redford de eadem iohan. michell de eltislee iohan. gylmyn de eadem thom. bernard de eadem tho. burgoyn de caxton ioh. noris de eadem iohan. pachat de eadem will. mold de whaddon richar. lylye de eadem iohan. oradle de eadem will. adam de melreth tho. cosyn de eadem will. lylye de eadem iohan. gentyng de eadem ioh. zok●…sle de meldeburn iohan. turnere de eadem tho. gentyng de eadem iohan. bayly de eadem nich. pulter de eadem will. turpin de knesworth ioh. street de eadem will. willwys de royston thom. mellman de eadem walt. king jun. de hungrihatle guidonis moyn de eadem iohan. pynk de eadem ioh. malbern de stepilmorden iohan. crystmasse de eadem iohan. busshe de eadem will. frost de gyldemyorden iohan. lyly de eadem rich. pern de eadem rich. wolleys de bassingburn iohan. parlet de eadem iohan. reymond de eadem iohan. bettele de eadem rich. batte de abiton thomae lorkin de eadem ioh. gibbe de litillington iohan. benizch de eadem will. baker de tadlow tho. pelle de eadem ioh. goslin de cranden . will. ward de tadlow ioh. derby sen. de copton rich. derby de eadem tho. sherlee de shengey iohan. smith de eadem will. pink de wendy prioris de bernwell prioris de angleseye prioris de speneye prioris de fordham will. lasselys persone ecclesiae de over . tho. attewode persone ecclesiae de ellisworth ioh. terinton persone ecclesiae de lolworth ioh. deping persone eccl. de ●…ritton nich. holey persone eccl. de ●…wansey ioh. car away persone eccl. de fulburn radulphi wathe persone eccl. de willburgham parva wil. lavender persone eccl. de middilton rich. drayton persone eccl. de kingston . tho. lawngham persone eccl. de eltyslee rob. dixon persone ecclesiae de shelford magna adam persone eccl. de dokisworth will. midleton persone eccl. de clopton ioh. blak persone eccl. de hungrihatlee will. mowt vicarii ecclesia de brunne ioh. camisby persone eccl. de sneyleswell iohan. smith persone eccl. de brynkle io. bocher vicarii eccl. de longstanton io. gotobed vicarii eccl. de swafham rect. de chenele vicarii de dittons valens persone eccl. de fiditton the sheriffs of cambridge and huntington-shires . hin . ii. auno rich. basset , albericus de veer . auno paganus vic. & rob. grimball . auno idem . auno auno idem . auno auno idem . auno idem . auno nich. de chenet auno hamo petom vic. auno idem . auno hamo petom , & phil. de daventre auno phil. de daventre for years . auno ebrar . de beach , & war. de basingborn auno idem . auno ebrardus de beach for years . auno walt. filius hugonis for years . auno walt. filius hugonis , & will. filius stephani auno walt. filius hugonis auno rad. de bardulff . auno idem . auno nich. filius roberti for years . rich. i. anno nich. filius roberti anno will. muschet anno idem . anno rich ▪ anglicus anno idem . anno reginaldus de argentuen anno idem . anno tho. de huntsd●…on anno merric . de marignes anno rob. de iusula . joh . r. anno rob. de insula anno idem . anno hamo de valoignes , & rall . de valoigne anno walt. de stuieclea anno idem . anno rob. de tateshall , & magister aristoteles anno idem . anno iosteli . de stuieclea anno idem . anno fulco filius theobaldi for years . anno will. comes . sarisb . & wer. de marigne anno will comes . sarisb . hen. iii. anno anno fulco de breante , & de radul . bray anno idem . anno idem . anno fulkesius de breante , & joh. de ulicot for years . anno galf. de hacfield sive hadfield for years . anno geremias de caxton for years . anno henri . de colvel for years . anno hugo de hodeng anno rad. de hereford for years . anno phil. de staunton for years . anno henr. colvile anno idem . anno simon . de ho●…ton anno idem . anno ioh. de moyne anno ioh. de moyne , & ioh. de marines anno idem . anno will. de la stow anno idem . anno will. le moyne anno ioh. de scalarus anno ioh. de scalarus , & ioh. lovell . anno saer de frivile anno iohan. lovell for years . anno almaricus pech anno saerus de frivile anno idem . anno rob. del estre anno idem . edw. i. anno rob. del estre anno idem . anno walt. shelfhanger anno will le moyne for years . anno bal. de s to georgio anno will. de rothing anno idem . anno tho. de belhus . for years . anno hugo de babington for years . anno will. de mortuo mari anno will de sutton anno tho. de gradinor anno idem . anno rob. hereward anno rob. de bajose for years . edw. ii. anno ioh. crekes , & rob. de hoo for years . anno iohan. de crekes for years . anno tho. de stolarus anno idem . anno radul . giffard for years . anno math. de bassingborne anno ioh. de crekes anno almaricus de zouch for years . edw. iii. anno math. de bassingborne anno idem . anno almar . la zouch anno idem . anno will. le moyne anno will. filius ioh muchett anno rich. de bajocis , & warr. de bassing anno anno ioh. de lymbery , & will. muschetts anno tho. de lacy anno will. muschett anno idem . anno warrin . de bassingborn anno idem . anno ioh. de papworth , & ioh. de lacy anno warr. de bassingborn for years . anno rob. de engane anno idem . anno guido . de s to cler. for years . anno iohan. lisle de rubeo . monts . anno gui. de st. clere anno idem . anno tho. de scalar anno ioh. de harewdon anno nich. stanell for years . anno ioh. furneux , & tho. cheyne anno nich. styvecle for years . anno will. de pappeworth anno rog. harlaston anno tho. sewalle anno tho. torell anno bald. st. george anno ioh. deugayne sheriffs of cambridge and huntington . name place armes rich. ii.     anno     ioh. avenel gamlinggay . arg. a fess betw . annulets g. az. cresuly , a fess dansette ar. will. moygn●…     radu . wykes     hen. english     tho. sewale     will. moygne ut prius   phil. tillney   arg. a chev. betwixt griffins-heads erased g. hen. english     ioh. heningford   g. unicorns-heads cooped or. rob. paris hildershā   will. pappeworth     will. chenye   azure a fess inter leopards-faces or. edw. de la pole     rob. de paris ut prius   nice . steucle stivele h   ioh. kinost     will. chenye , mi.     nich. paris ut prius   ioh. lakynghech     ioh. harlington     andr. newport   arg. a cheveron , gules betwixt leopards-heads s. idem . ut prius   hen. iv.     anno     tho. hasdden     will. rees & jo. howard   gules a bend betwixt six cross croflets fitchee arg. idem .     ioh. hobildon ut prius   idem .     rob. scotte     ioh. bernakes     ioh. hobildon     ioh. paniel     bald. st. george hatley c. arg. a chief az. over all , a lion ramp . g. crowned or. will. allein     rob. scotte     hen. v.     anno     rob. hockshe cho     will. alington horsheath s. a bend betwixt billetts arg. tho. reviles     rob. scott     walt. pole , mil. ut prius   will. asconhall     tho. reviles     rob. scott     idem . ut prius   idem . ut prius   hen. vi.     anno     ro. scott , & will ▪ alington ut prius   wal de la pole , m. ut prius   nich. slyvebley     ioh. hore childerley   tho. dischalers whaddon gules scallops , . arg. nich. alington ut prius   walt. de la pole ut prius   lavi . cheyney ditton c. amp. ioh. austey     io. shardelo●… , m.     ioh. 〈◊〉 .   s. a bend ar. between cotisses dancette or. rob. stonham   arg. on a cross sable escalopes or. rog. hunt     idem .     rob. stonham ut prius   idem .     will. alington ut prius   gilb. hore ut prius   hen. langley     idem .     will. lee     tho. peyton isleham s●… . a cross ingrailed or , in the first quarter a mullet arg. wil. st. george , m. ut prius   idem . ut prius   ioh. chalers ut prius   id●…m .     tho. bernard   ar. a bear ramp . & border eng. s. wal. trumpingtō trūpington az. cresulee trumpets or. ioh. harlaston   arg. a fess ermin erised sable . will. alington ut prius   tho. tiesham northamp . parteè per saltyrs , sa. & or. trefoiles of the first . tbo . peyton ut prius   wi●…l . hasdden     hen. paris , ar . ut prius           tho. tresham , ar . ut prius   ioh. colvill , mil.   az. a lion ramp . arg. over all a label g. tho. findern , m.     edw. iv.     aano     ioh. alington , ar . ut prius   ioh. stuke , ar .     idem .     ioh. cheyne     ioh. boughton , ju   ar. a ●…hev . betwixt mullets g. ioh. berleley , mil.   gul. a chev. betwixt crosses from & arg. ioh. forster , * ar .     will. st. george , ut prius * s. a chiv. betwixt arrows ar. rich. sapcote , m. elton sable dove-coats arg. tho. gray , ar .   barry of six , arg. & az. torteauxes in chief . tho. gray , mil. ut prius   ioh. austy     tho. p●…gott abington c. sable pickaxes argent . io. broughton , m. ut prius   io. cheyue , mil.     tho cotton , ar . ladwade c. s. a cheveron twixt griffonsbeads eraced arg. will. alington , ju . ut prius   will. frevill , ar . sheford ca , g. cressants ermine . rob. patis , ar . ut prius   tho. huntingdon     gal. blodwell     rob. tilney ut prius   rich. iii.     anno     rob. tan●…eld     ioh. wake , ar . salston c. or , barrs gules torteaxes in chief . io. hudleston , * m   * g. frettee arg. hen. vii .     anno   * g. a lion ramp . queve forchee , arg. within a border v. charged an enteir of escallop . or. will. findern     tho. oxenburgg*     will. taillard †   † quarterly arg. & s. a cross patonce quarterly perced counterch . ioh. hafilden     will. wentworth   s. a chev. betwixt leopards-heads or. tho. cheyney , m.     will. cheyney , ar .     ioh. burgoyne caxson ca. az. a talbot passant arg. tho. cotton , ar . ut prius   gerrard steukly     tho. cheney , m.     chri. peyton , ar . ut prius   rich. stutvill , ar . brynklo ca. barruly arg. & g. a lion ramp . sable . rob. peiton , mil. ut prius   tho. cotton , ar . ut prius   jo. clarevax     edw. lucy , ar .   g. crusuly or , lucies , [ or pikes ] hauriant arg. tho. cheyne , m.     chri. druell , ar .     ioh. frevile , ar . ut prius   anth. mallory , ar .   or , a lion ramp . g. collered of the first . idem . ut prius   will. findern , m.     tho. gery     hen. viii .     anno     fra. halisden , ar .     ioh. paris , ar .     egid. alington , m. ut prius   tho. cotton , ar ▪ conningtō az an eagle displayed arg. tho. throsby     ra. chamberlein   or , fretty s. on a cheif of second bezants . ioh. paris , ar . ut prius   ioh. cutte , mil. childerly c. argeni on a b●…ud engrailed s. plates . will. tanfeld , ar .     anth. malory , ar . ut prius   egid. alenton , m. ut prius   fran. alisdon , ar .     ioh. moor , ar .     ioh. huddleston ut prius   anth. hansard   gules three mullets argent . ioh. huddleston ut prius   rob. payton , ar . ut prius   tho. piggot , ar . ut prius   rob. aprice , ar . vvashingly ●…s . s. spears-heads arg. ioh. paris , ar . ut prius   an. h. hansard , ar . ut prius   egi. alington , m. ut prius   anth. malory , ar . ut prius   tho. eliot , mil. carltō●…   r●…ch . sapcotte , m. ut prius   tho. chichele , ar .   or a chev. betwixt cinkfoiles gules . rob. peyton , mil ut prius   tho. crumwell , a.   see our notes in this year . tho. megges , ar .     tho. hutton , ar .     phu . paris , ar . ut prius   rich. crumwell , hinchinbrook h. sable a lion rampant argent . oliv. leder , ar .     edw. north , mil. catlidge az. a lion passant or between flower de lices arg. rob. aprice , ar . ut prius   tho. eliot , mil. ut prius   egid. alington , m. ut pri●…s   law. tailard , m. ut prius   edw. vi.     anno     tho. cotton , ar . ut prius   ioh. hudleston ut prius   ioh. cotton , ar . ut prius * ar. on a chev. betwixt boars-heads couped s. ●…as many scallops or , a border vert b●…zantee . tho. bolles , * ar .     ioh. cutte , mil.     egi. alington , m. ut prius   ma. regi .     anno     rob. peyton , ar . ut prius   rex phil. & ma. regina .     anno     oliv. leaden , mil.     law. tayla rd , m. ut prius   ioh. cotton , mil. ut prius   rob. tirwhite , m. linco . gules , pewets or. wil. laurence , ar . st. ives arg. a cross ragule g. on a chief of the second a lion passant gardant or. reg. eliza .     anno     ioh. hutton , ar .   ar. a chief vert , charged with an eagle disp , within a border eng . g. tho. cotton , mil. ut prius arg. on a cbev . g. lozinges or twixt as many goats-heads grazed az. armed & chollered of the third on a chief s. a lion passant gardant ermine . fran. hynde , ar . madenly c.   hen. darcy , ar . leightō h. azure cinque-fotles betwixt crosses-croflets arg. cle. chichiley , ar . ut prius   will. mallory , ar . ut prius   hen. williams , alias cromwell , m. ut prius   wil. worthingtō     rob peyton , ar . ut prius   tho. revell . ar .     hen. longe , ar . shengey c. s. ' a lion ramp . betwixt crosses crossed argent . fran. hynde , ar . ut prius   hen. crumwell ut prius   ioh. cutts , mil. ut prius   tho. wendy hastin●…ield ca. az. a chev. twixt lions-heads eraced within a border engrai●…ed or. ioh. hutton , ar . ut prius   will. mallory , ar . ut prius   rob. bevill , ar . chastertō g. a chev. or betwix●… bezantes . tho. reu , ar .     fitz rad chamberlaine ut prius   tho : holmes , ar .     hen. crumwell , m. ut prius   rob. taylor     tho. cotton . ar . ut prius   hen. darcy , mil. ut prius   anth. cage , mil.   partie per pale az. & g. over all a saltire or. tho. wendy , ar . ut prius   rob. peiton , ar . ut prius   fran. crumwell ut prius   rad. bevill , ar . ut prius   fran. hynde , m. ut prius   tho. chichley , ar . ut prius   ioh. cotton , ar . ut prins   hen. crumwell ut prius   ioh. peyton , ar . ut prins   tho. march , ar . waresley h. or , pales az. on a chief g. talbets-heads erazed of the fi●…st . rob. brudenell diddington h. ar a cheverou g. twixt capps azure anth. cage , ar . ut prius   iar. clifton , mil. leighton h. sa. semee de cinq foiles a lion ramp . argent . oli. crumwell , m. ut prius   egi. allington , ar . ut pri●…s   will hind , ar . ut prius   ioh. cutts , mil. ut prius   tho. wendy , ar . ut prius   ioh. bedell , mil. & pri . iaco. hamarton hunt. gules a chev. engrailed betwixt scollopps a●…g . reg. jac.     anno     ioh. bedell , mil. ut prius   ioh. peyton , mil. ut prius   rob. bevill , mil. ut prius   tho ▪ iermy , mil. tevershā c. arg. a lion ramp . guarda nt g. rob. payne , mil. medlow h , az. a bend trunked r●…gulee betwixt six esto●…les or. ioh. cage , ar . ut prius   oliv. cheney , mi. steukley h ,   reg. millicent , m.     sim. steward , mi. sturney c. q●…arterly , first france on a bord●…r . g. ferm●…lauxes or. the second or , a fess checky arg . and az. a border engrailed g. edw. hind , ar . ut prius   tho. baldwyn , ar .     edw. aldred , ar .     mi. sands , m. & b wilburham or a fess indented betwixt crosses-croslets fitche g. fran. brown , ar .     will. wendy , ar . ut prius   tho. steward , m. ut prius   ioh. cutts , mil. ut prius   tho. maples , ar . stow az. a chev. quarterly o●… . & ar. between flower deluce . of the second . rob. symonds wichsord c.   ed. pe●…ton , m. & b. ut preus   rob audley , ar : st ives   iac. reynold , mil.     car. reg.     anno     mart. peirce , ar . cambr . g. a cheveron , ermine twixt d●…a* ons-heads eraced arg. ioh. goldsburgh godman chester a.   rob. hagar , ar . buyne-cast : ca. a●…g . on a bend s. lyons passant of the first . tho. parker , ar .     iacob . pedley , ar .     tho. terrell , ar . fulborn c. arg. two cheverons az. within a border engrailed g. rich. covil , ar .   az. a lion ramp . arg. a file os lambeaux g. capel . bedell , ar . ut prius   anth. cage , ar . ut prius   rob. ballam , ar .     ludo. dyer , bar. gr. ston ton hu. o●… , a chief indented gules . the sheriffs of cambridge-shire alone . name place armes ioh. carleton , ba. chevely arg. on a bend sa. mascats of the first . tho. chichesley ut prius   tho. wendy , ar . ut prius g. a fess twixi scallops or. tho. pichard * trūpington arg. a fess betwixt crosses fitchee g. ioh crane , † ar . kingston   ioh. cotton , mil. landwad s. a cheveren betwixt 〈◊〉 ●…heads erazed arg. the sheriffs of cambridge and huntington-shires again . name ●…lace armes tho. martin , mil. barton arg. an eagle displayed g. idem . ut prius   on slo . winch , ar .     tris. diumond wel.   edward iv. thomas cotton , ar. ] this thomas cotton ( different in arms , and descent from the cottons of hunt. ) was of cambridg-shire ( the same person who in the. gentry of that county [ henric●… . . ] was returned the twenty second in order . henry the viii . thomas eliot , mil. ] he was son to sir richard * eliot , and born , some say , in suffolk , but his house and chief estate lay in this county . after his long sailing into forraign parts , he at last cast anchor at home , and being well skilled in greek and latine was the author of many excellent works . of these one in latine was styled * defensorium bonarum mulierum , or the defence of good women ; though some will say that such are hardly found , and easily de●…ended . he wrote also an excellent dictionary of latine and english , if not the first , the best of that kind in that age ; and england then abounding with so many learned clergy-men , i know not which more to wonder at , that they mist , or he hit on so necessary a subject ; let me adde bishop cooper grafted his dictionary on the stocke of sir thomas eliot , which worthy knight deceased . and was buried at carlton in this county . thomas cromwell , ar. ] here reader i am at a perfect los●… , and do desire thy charitable hand to lead me . no cromwell thomas can i find at this time in this county , and can hardly suspect him to be the cromwell of that age , because only additioned armiger . indeed i find him this very year created baron of okeham , but cannot believe that he was un-knighted so long , besides the improbability that he would condescend to such an office , having no interest i ever met with in cambridg-shire , though ( which may signifie somewhat ) he was at this time chancellor of the university of cambridge . thus i have started the doubt , which others may hunt down to their own satisfaction . edward north , mil. ] he was a prudent person , and in managing matters of importance of great dispatch , not unskilled in law , and eminently imployed in the court of augmentation . a court though short lived ( erected in the end of king henry the eighth , dissolved in the beginning of king edward the sixth his reign ) yet very beneficial to the officers therein . this sir edward was made by queen mary baron of catlidge in this county , and was a considerable benefactor to peter-house in cambridge , where he is remembred in their parlour with this distich under his picture ; nobilis hic vere fuerat si nobilis ullus , qui sibi 〈◊〉 nobilitatis erat . he was father to roger lord north , and great-grand-father to dudly lord north now surviving . edward the vi. john * huddleston , mil. ] he was highly honored afterwards by queen mary , and deservedly . such the t●…ust she reposed in him , that ( when jane grey was proclaimed queen ) she came privately to him to ●…alston , and rid thence behind his servant ( the better to disguise herself from discovery ) to framlingham castle . she afterwards made him ( as i have heard ) her privy-councellor , and ( besides other great boones ) bestowed the bigger part of cambridgecastle ( then much ruined ) upon him , with the stones whereof he built his fair house in this county . i behold his family as branched from the huddlestones in cumberland . queen elizabeth . john cuts , mil. ] he was a most bountifull house-keeper , as any of his estate , insomuch that queen elizabeth in the beginning of her reign ( whilst as yet she had peace with spain ) the sickness being at london , consigned the spanish embassadour to this knights house in this county . the embassadour coming thither , and understanding his name to be john cuts , conceived himself disparaged to be sent to one of so short a name , the spanish gentlemen generally having voluminous surnames , ( though not so long as the deity in new-spain , called * yoca huvaovamaorocoti ) usually adding the place of their habitation for the elongation thereof . but soon after the don found that what the knight lacked in length of name , he made up in the largeness of his entertainment . henry cromwell , mil. ] this was the fourth time he was sheriff in the reign of the queen . he was son to richard cromwell esquire , sheriff in the . of king henry the eighth , to whom his valour and activity so endeared him , that he bestowed on him so much abby-land in this county , as at that day , at a reasonable rate , is worth twenty thousand pounds a year , and upwards . he was no whit at all allyed to ( though intimately acquainted with ) thomas lord cromwell , ( the mauler of monasteries , ) which i knowingly affirme , though the contrary be generally believed . for when doctor goodman late bishop of gloucester presented a printed paper to oliver cromwell ( grand child to this our sheriff ) mentioning therein his near affinity to the said lord cromwell , the pretended protectour , desirous to confute a vulgar errour , in some passion returned , that lord was not related to my family in the least degree . jarvasius clifton , mil. ] he had a fair estate at barrington in somerset-shire , whence he removed to huntingtonshire , on his match with the sole daughter and heir of sir henry darcy of leighton-bromswold in that county . this sir jarvase was by king james created baron of leighton aforesaid , and there began a beautifull house , which he lived not to finish . his sole daughter katherine was married to esme steward , duke of lenox , to whom she bare the truly illustrious ( by virtues and high extraction , ) james duke of richmond . king james . simon steward , mil. ] i remember he lived ( after he was knighted ) a fellow-commoner in trinity-hall , where these his armes are fairly depicted in his chamber , with this distich over them . francorū carolus voluit sic stemmata ferri , singula cum valeant sunt meliora simul . french charls would have these coats to be thus worn ; when singly good , their better jointly born . but how the royal name of steward came first into this county , consult i pray the ensuing epitaph in ely minster , transcribed ( as my son hath informed me ) by himself , exactly from his monument . premendo sustusit . ferendo vicit . secundum redemptoris mundi adventum expectat hic marcus steward miles , filius haeresque simeonis steward armig. nicholao steward armig. geniti , qui patrem habuit richardum steward armig. quem genuit thomas steward armig. johannis steward militis filius , cujus pater erat johannes steward miles , ejus nominis in angliâ primus , qui cum jacobo roberti scotiae regis filio in franciam tranfretans , ( regnante tunc henrico quarto ) vento eorum propositis opposito , in anglicano littore applicuerunt , ubi diu post pro obsedibus custodiebantur : sed hic johannes in amorem cujusdam virginis anglicanae , nomine talmach , incidens , obtentâque johannae reginae veniâ , cui ancilla inserviebat , eam in conjugem cepit , in fidemque regis henrici dum vixisset solenniter est juratus . hujus pater erat alexander , quem genuit andreas steward , miles , alexandri , cognominati ferocis filiorum natu minimus , cujus pater erat walterus steward , à dun de vale in scotiâ dictus . sed primus in genealogiâ hâc summonitus , & hic sepultus , ex annâ unâ filiarum & haeredum roberti huicke armig. reginae elizabethae medici pri marii , varios habuit liberos , quos omnes inadultos fata rapuere , praeter duos , marians scilicet gulielmo forster in com. berke . militi nuptam , & simionem steward militem , haeredem filiúmque suum moestissimum , qui pii officii , singularisque erga patrem amoris gratiâ , hoc posuit monumentum , ubi inscriptum legas , quòd cum multos annos , & bello , & pace , pro patriâ feliciter egisset , aetate tandem confectus militari singulo , & auratis calcaribus à jacobo rege screnissimo ornatus , senex pene octogenarius fatali necessitati concessit , . februarii , anno salutis . the farewell . it is hard for a physitian to prescribe proper physick to such a patient , who hath a hot liver , and a cold stomack , because what is good for the one is bad for the other . as hard it is , for weather to please the concernments of this county , whose northern part being moist and fenny , desires fair weather ; ●…outh and south-eastern dry and heathy , delighteth so much rain , th●…t it can well digest ( save in harvest time ) one shower every day , and two every sunday . but the god of heaven , * who can make it rain on one place , and not on another , can fit tue nec●…ssity of b●…th , and i remitte them both to his providence . ches-shire . ches-shire lieth in form of an axe , wirral being the handle thereof , having lanca-shire ( parted with the river mersey ) on the north , a corner of york-shire on the north-east , darby and stafford ▪ shires , ( severed with mountains ) on the east , shrop-shire on the south , denbigh , flint-shire , and the irish ocean on the west thereof . the longest part ( advantaged with excursions ) is four and fourty , the broadest twenty five miles . this county was reputed a palatinate before the conquest , and since continued in the same dignity . it is much senior to lancashire in that honour , which relateth to cheshire as the copy to the original , being palatinated but by king edward the third , referring the duke of lancaster to have his regal juridiction . adeò integrè & liberè sicut comes cestriae , &c. and whereas records are written in the common-law , contrà coronam & dignitatem regis , in this county they run thus , contra dignitatem gladii cestriae . it aboundeth with all things necessary to mans life , and it is observable that all the rivers , and rivolets therein , rise in , or run through , some meer or pool , as cumber-meer , bag-meer , pick-meer , ridley-pool , petty-pool , &c. so that cheshire hath more lakes in this kind , then all the neighbouring counties , affording plenty of carps , tenches , trouts , eeles , &c. therein . the gentry of this county are remarkable upon a four-fold account . . for their numerousness , not to be parallel'd in england in the like extent of ground . . their antiquity , many of their ancestors being fixed here before the norman-conquest . . their loyalty , especially against a northern enemy , heartily hateing a * scot , understand it before the union of the two kingdomes . . hospitality , no county keeping better houses , which because all growes on their own , may be the better afforded . one said pleasantly that it appeared to all people that the cheshire gentry were good house-keepers , because they gave so many wheat-sheaves ( bread being the staffe of hospitality , wheaten the best of bread ) in their coats of armes . indeed i have told no fewer then six and twenty , called garbs in herauldry , which are born in the several coat-armours of the gentry of this county . the original whereof is sufficiently known to be out of conformity to hugh 〈◊〉 the fifth earl-palatine of chester , who gave azure six garbs , or. and many of the gentry of the county being his dependents , had assigned them , or did assume in their sheilds something in allusion thereunto . naturall commodities . salt. this is most essentiall to mans lively-hood , without which neither sacrifice was acceptable to god , nor meat is savory to man. it is placed on the board with bread , to shew that they are equally necessary to mans sustenance . a general in our late wars soundly chid a captain for his so soon surrendring of a castle , seeing he had store of powder therein . i had ( returned the captain ) plenty of black , but no white powder at all . and here it is remarkable to observe the defects which sundry places have herein . . some countries have salt without flesh within many miles , as in the south-part of africa . . some have plenty of flesh , but no salt to make use thereof , as in many parts of tartary . . some have flesh and salt , but the flesh utterly uncapable of seasoning , as about nombre de dios , and other places near the meridian in america . . some have flesh , salt , and flesh capable thereof , but so unconscionably dear , that common people have little comfort therein , as in france ▪ no country having salt most plentifull , and ( for reason of state ) most excessive in the ▪ rate thereof . these things considered , we who have flesh , salt , salt at reasonable prises , and flesh capable thereof , have cause to professe , o fortunati nimium bona si sua norint angligenae ▪ the manner of making of salt in this county , is so largely and exactly described by mr. camden , that nothing can be added thereunto . cheese . poor men do eat it for hunger , rich for digestion . it seems that the ancient * british had no skill in the making thereof , till taught by the romans , and now the romans may even learn of us more exactness therein . this county doth afford the best for quantity and quality , and yet their * cows are not ( as in other shires ) housed in the winter , so that it may seem strange that the hardiest kine should yield the tenderest cheese . some esayed in vain to make the like in other places , though hence they fetch'd both their kine and dary-maids . it seems they should have fetch'd their ground too , ( wherin surely some occult excellency in this kind ) or else so good cheese will not be made . i hear not the like commendation of the butter in this county , and perchance these two commodities , are like stars of a different horizon , so that the elevation of the one to eminency is the depression of the other . mill stones . stones they are naturall , as fitted for that purpose , artificial . very great and good , are digged up at mowcop-hill in this county , though one moity thereof be in staffordshire , out of which the river trent doth arise . how necessary these are for mans sustenance , is proved by the painful experience of such aged persons , who wanting their molare teeth must make use of their gums for grinders , and such bad shifts should men be put to , if wanting mills where stones turn corn into bread . manufactures considerable , i meet with none in this county , and therefore proceed . the buildings . beestone-castle , situated on a steep-hill , carried away the credit of this county for building ; it was erected by ray●…ulf the third earl of chester , when he returned victorious from the holy land . i am much taken with the neatness of the structure , though , i confess , my eye never did , and now never shall behold it . when some justly quarrell at virgill his fiction , making dido fall in love with eneas , who indeed was dead many years before her cradle was made . others have sought ingeniously to salve the anticronisme in history , by the plea that she fell in love with his picture which she saw in tapestry . yet i may truly aleadge for my self that i was affected with the delight of this castle , though by me never seen , and now levelled to the ground , ( since the late wars ) beholding the delineation thereof , cut by the charge of john savage esquire . veraque cum desunt maenia picta juvant when real walls are vanish'd quite , painted ones doe us delight . i confess learn'd leland is very confident that this castle shall see better times , deriving his intellegence from ancient predictions . tempus erit quando rursus caput ex●…ret altum , vatibus antiquis si vas mihi credere vati . beestone in time its head a loft shall heave , if i a prohet , prophets may believe . but i give credit to lelands history , when he tells what is past , more then to his prophecy when he foretells what is to come . the wonders . it is reported by credible and believed by discreet persons , that there is a pool adjoyning to brereton , the seat of the honorable family of the breretons , wherein bodies of trees are seen to swim for certain days together , before the death of any heir of that house . if so , let not all men look for so solemn summons to pay their debts to nature . god grant us that gray-haires , dimness of sight , dulness of other senses , decay in general of strength , death of our dearest relations , ( especially when far younger then our selves ) before our eyes , &c. may serve us ( instead of swimming logs ) and be sanctified unto us , for sufficient and effectual monitors of our mortality . we must not forget the many fir-trees found here buried under ground , whereof largely hereaft●…r in * a more proper place . the people of this county cut such pieces of wood very small , and use them instead of candles , which give a good light . my * author adds , that such wooden-candles have long snuffes , and yet saith he ( which to me amounts to a wonder , ) in falling do no harm , though they light into tow , flax , or the like . strange that the least fire should be so dead as not to be revived with such cordials : let not this encourage careless servants to tempt providence with such combustible conjunctions . no county being more sadly sensible of casualties by fire . nantwich , a fair market therein , being * twice burnt down to the ground , within the compass of one hundred and fifty years . proverbs . cheshire chief of men. ] say not that this proverb carries a challenge in it , and our * 〈◊〉 of kent will undertake these chief of men , for ingrossing manhood to themselves . and some will opposeto this narrow county-proverb , an english one of greater latitude , viz. no man so good , but another may be as good as he . for , rather then any difference sh●…ll arise , by wise and peaceable men , many chief's will be allowed . indeed the cestrians have always demeaned themselves right valiantly in their undertakings . this was well known to k. richard the second , who in dangerous times sent for * two thousand cheshire men , all archers , to attend him . which number , in time of a suspicious parliament was * doubled by him , all having bouch of court , ( bread and beer ) and six pence a day , large wages in that age . pity it was that the valour of these cheshire men , was once wasted against themselves , in a terrible battle betwixt king henry the fourth , and henry percy surnamed hotspurr , not ill described by our author , there * dutton , dutton kills ▪ a done doth kill a done ; a booth , a booth ; and leigh by leigh is overthrown ; a venables , against a venables doth stand ; and troutbeck fighteth with a troutbeck hand to hand ; there molineux doth make a molineux to die ; and egerton , the strength of egerton doth try ; o cheshire wert thou mad , of thine own native gore , so much untill this day thou never shedst befor●… ! nor doth this abate our former commendation of their loyalty , the cause they maintained , being so intricate and perplexed ; one side fighting for mortimer , who should be king by right ; the other for henry the four●…h , who actually was so ; and politick men , who know the one were loyall , will be loth to say , that the other were traitors . let no ill-natured wit , urge in opposition to the manhood of cheshire men , their late miscarriage under a worthy knight , whom i forbear to name , partly , because he nameeth himself , ( though i say nothing of him , ) partly , because before my pains pass the press , he will probably be honorably additioned . for had other counties seasonably contributed their promised assistance , what now proved an abortive birth would have been a vital infant . besides , better things were provided for our gracious soveraign , that he the copy , as god the original might not come in the tempestuous wind of war , fire of 〈◊〉 , or earthquake of open enmity , but in the still * voice of a peaceable composition . and to shew that this should not be mans work , god suffered both the men of kent , and cheshire chi●…f of men to fail in their loyal endeavours , that it might onely be gods work , and justly marvailous in our eyes . better wed over the mixon then over the moor. over the 〈◊〉 , that is hard by or at home , mixon being that heap of compost which lyeth in the yards of good husbands . then over the moor , that is fun off or from london . the road from chester leading to london , over some part of the moor-lands in staffondshire . the meaning is , the gen●…ry in cheshire find it more profitable to match within their county , then to bring a bride out of other 〈◊〉 . . because better acquainted with her birth and breeding . . because ( though her portion perchance may be less ) the expence will be less to maintain her . such 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 county have been observed , both a prolonger of worshipfull families , and the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 them , seeing what * mr. camden reported of the citizens of 〈◊〉 , is verified of the cheshire gentry , they are all or an alliance . cardinals . william makilesfield was saith my author * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . bishop † godwin 〈◊〉 little 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 [ 〈◊〉 ] in civitate 〈◊〉 . however i conceive him born in this 〈◊〉 finding a 〈◊〉 market-town and forrest therein so named , though he was reputed a 〈◊〉 , because 〈◊〉 in that age was in the 〈◊〉 of coventry and lichfield . but , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not swim against the stream , i remit the reader to his character in warwickshire . 〈◊〉 . william booth was first bred in 〈◊〉 inn in london , in the studie of our municipall laws , till he 〈◊〉 that profession on the proffer of a 〈◊〉 place in saint pauls , and took orders upon him . it was not long before he was 〈◊〉 bishop of letchfield , and six years after translated to 〈◊〉 . he expended much money 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 died and was buried in saint maries chappell in southwell . laurence booth brother ( but by another mother ) to william aforesaid , was bred and became master of 〈◊〉 - hall in 〈◊〉 ; and was chancellour of that university . he made the composition 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 colledge to their mutuall advantage , and was an eminent 〈◊〉 to his own colledge , bestowing thereon all the 〈◊〉 ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 church , amongst which was st. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the colledge of a pension of five pounds which he redeemed , and and conferred there on the 〈◊〉 and patronage of overton-waterfield in huntingtanshire . as it is gods , so it is all ! 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 method , in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 servants ▪ be faithfull in a little , and thou shalt rule over much . doctor booth well performing his chancellors place , in cambridge , was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 the fixth . well 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ▪ of king 〈◊〉 the fourth made lord high chancellor , ( 〈◊〉 seems his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , but 〈◊〉 ) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ▪ bishop of york , and deserving well of both sees . for he built in the first the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 colledge , and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . it must not be forgotten than this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ▪ till the day of his death , and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and bishop 〈◊〉 , not that they were 〈◊〉 ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ) of the place , but the place 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ▪ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with them , as it is this day by the right reverend father in god benjamin lany lord bishop of peturborough . this arch-bishop died anno dom. . john booth brother to laurence , aforesaid , bachellor of laws , was consecrated bishop of exceter in the sixth of king edward the fourth , . he built the bishops chair or seat in his cathedral , which in the judicious eye of bishop * godwin hath not his equall in england . let me adde , that though this be the fairest chair , the soft cushion thereof was taken away , when bishop vescy alienated the lands thereof . the worst was , when bishop booth had finished this chair , he could not quietly sit down therein , so troublesome the times of the civil wars betwixt york and lancaster . so that preferring his privacy , he retired to a little place of his own purchasing at horsley in hampshire , where he dyed april the first . and was buried in saint clements danes , london . we must remember that these three prelates had a fourth and eldest brother sir roger booth knight , of barton in lancashire , father of margaret , wife of ralph nevill third earl of westmerland . and may the reader take notice , that though we have entred these bishops ( according to our best information ) in cheshire , yet is it done with due reservation of the right of lancashire , in case that county shall produce better evidence for their nativities . thomns savage was born at * maklefield in this county , his father being a knight , bred him a doctor of law in the university of cambridge . hence was he preferred bishop of rochester , and at last arch-bishop of york . he was a greater courtier then clerke , and most dextrous in managing secular matters , a mighty nimrod , and more given to hunting , then did † consist with the gravity of his profession . no doubt there wanted not those , which taxed him , with that passage in * saint jerome , penitus non invenimus in scripturis sanctis , sanctum aliquem venatorem , piscatores invenimus sanctos . but all would not wean him from that sport , to which he was so much addicted . his provident precedent spared his successors in that see many pounds of needless expences , by declining a costly instaulation , being the first who privately was instauled by his vicar . yet was he not covetous in the least degree , maintaining a most numerous family , and building much , both at scroby and cawood . having sate seven years in his see , he died , . his body being buried at york , his heart at maklefield , where he was born , in a chapel of his own erection , intending to have added a colledge thereunto , had not death prevented him . since the reformation . william chaderton d. d. here i solemnly tender deserved thanks to my manuscript * author , charitably guiding me in the dark , assuring , that this doctor was ex praeclaro chadertonorum cestrensis comitatus stemmate prognatus . and although this doubtfull direction doth not cleave the pin , it doth hit the white , so that his nativity may with most probability ( not prejudicing the right to lancashire when produced ) here be fixed . he was bred first fellow , then master of queens , and never of magdalen-colledge in cambridge , ( as reverend bishop * godwin mistaketh ) and chosen first the lady margarets then kings professor in divinity , and doctor whitacre succeeded him immediately in the chair . he was anno . made bishop of chester , then of lincoln . . demeaning himself in both to his great commendation . he departed this life in april . his grand-child a virtuous gentlewoman of rare accomplishments , married to mr. joceline esquire , being big with child , wrot a book of advise , ( since printed and intitled ) the mothers legacie to her unborn infant , of whom she died in travail . william james d. d. was born in this * county , bred a scholar in christs-church in oxford , and afterwards president of the university colledge . he succeeded bishop mathews in the deanary and bishoprick of durham . he had been chaplain to robert dudly earl of lecester , and ( i hope ) i may lawfully transcribe what i read , sir j. harrington view of the church of england , pag. . this hope of comfort came to his lord-ship thereby , that if it pleased god to impart any mercy to him , ( as his mercy endureth for ever , ) it was by the especial ministry of this man , who was the last of his coat , that was with him in his sickness . he was a principal means of recovering durham house unto his see. this house was granted by king edward the sixth , to the lady ( afterwards queen ) elizabeth , ( only for term of life , ) and lay long neglected during her raign , till bishop james about the sixth of king james regained it , and repaired the chappel , ( which he found not only profaned , but even defaced ) to his great cost , and furnished it very decently . he once made so * compleat an entertainment for queen elizabeth , that her majesty commended the order and manner thereof for many years after . this maketh me the more to admire at what i have heard reported , that when king james in his progress to scotland anno . passed through the bishoprick of durham , some neglect was committed by this bishops officers , for which the king secretly and sharply check'd this bishop , who layed it so to heart , that he survived the same reproof not a full twelvemonth . john richardson was ( as he told me ) born in this county , of a family of good worship and great antiquity therein . after his hopeful education in country schools , he was bred in the university of dublin , where he was graduated doctor in divinity , and afterwards was made bishop of ardagh in ireland . in the late rebellion he came over into england , continuing for many years therein . episcopal gravity was written in his countenance , and he was a good divine according to the rule , bonus textuarius , bonus theologus , no man being more exact in knowledge of scripture , carrying a concordance in his memory . great was his paines in the larger annotations , especially on ezechiel . for let not the cloaks carry away the credit from the gowns and rochet in that work , seeing this bishop might say , pars ego magna fui , and doctor featly , with others of the episcopal party , bare a great share therein . our saviour we know , lived on the charity * of such good people , as ministred unto him ; and yet it may be collected that it was his constant custome , ( especially about the feast of the * passover ) to give some almes to the poor . so our bishop who was relieved by some , had his bounty to bestow on others , and by his will ( as i am informed ) he bequeathed no inconsiderable legacy to the colledge in dublin . he died anno . in the . year of his age. states men . sir thomas egerton knight , was extracted from the ancient family of the egertons of ridley in this county , bred in the study of the municipal laws of our land , wherein he attained to such eminency , that queen elizabeth made him her solicitor , then master of the rolls , and at last keeper of the great seal , may . in the . year of her raign , . olaus magnus reporteth that the emperour of muscovia , at the audience of embassadours , sendeth for the gravest and seemliest men in musco and the vicinage , whom he apparelleth in rich vests , and placing them in his presence , pretendeth to forraigners , that these are of his privy-council , who cannot but be much affected with so many reverend aspects . but surely all christendome afforded not a person which carried more gravity in his countenance and behaviour , then sir thomas egerton , in so much that many have gone to the chancery on purpose only to see his venerable garb , ( happy they who had no other business ) and were highly pleased at so acceptable a spectacle . yet was his outward case nothing in comparison of his inward abilities , quick wit , solid judgment , ready utterance . i confess master * camden saith he entred his office ▪ magna expectatione & integritatis opinione , with a great expectation and opinion of integrity . but no doubt had he revised his work in a second edition , he would have afforded him a full-faced commendation , when this lord had turned his expectation into performance . in the first of king james , of lord keeper he was made lord ●…hauncellour , which is only another name for the same office , and on thursday the seventh of novemb. . of lord elismer he was created viscount brackley . it is given to courts whose jurisdictions do border , to fall out about their bounds , and the contest betwixt them , is the hotter , the higher the spirits and parts of the respective judges . great the contention for many years together betwixt this lord of equity , and sir edward cook the oracle of justice at westminster-hall , i know not which of them got the better , sure i am such another victory would ( if this did not ) have undone the conqueror . he was attended on with servants of most able parts , and was the sole chancellor since the reformation , who had a * chaplain which ( though not immediatly ) succeeded him in his place . he gave over his office which he held full twenty years , some few days before his death , and by his own appointment his body was brought down and buried at duddleston in this county , leaving a fair estate to his son , who was afterwards created earl of bridgwater . when he saw king james so profuse to the scots , with the grave fidelity of a states-man , he sticked not often to tell him , that as he held it necessary for his majesty amply to remunerate those his country-men , so he desired him carefully to preserve his crown-lands for his own support , seeing he or his successour●… , might meet with parliaments , which would not supply his occasions , but on such conditions as would not be very acceptable unto him . it was an ordinary * speech in his mouth to say , frost and fraud both end in foul. his death happened anno dom. . capit●…l judges . sir humphry starkey was born with most probability in this county , where his name is in good , hath been in a better esteem and estate . he in the study of our laws so profited , that ( after some intermediate dignities ) he was preferred chief baron of the exchequer . i cannot with certainty fix his admission into that office ( confused * times causing confused dates ) but with as much certainty as we can collect , we conclude him preferred to that place . henrici . we need enquire no farther into his ability , finding him by so wise and frugal a king , imployed in a place belonging to his coffers , who though he was sometimes pleased to be remiss in matters which concerned his subjects , was ever carefull in things wherein his own emolument was interested . wonder not that we have so little left of this judge his actions , because empson and dudly ( loaders grinding more then the chief miller ) were such instruments , whose over-activity made all others seem slugs in that court. it doth sound not a little to the praise of our starkey , that whereas that age was justly complaining of the extortions of the kings officers , nothing of that nature ( no hearing , best hearing in this kind ) is laid to his charge . he was buried in leonard shorditch , where this remains of his epitaph . orate pro animabus humphredi starkey , militis , nuper capitalis baronis de scaccario domini regis henrici septimi , & isabellae uxoris ejus , & omnium amicorum suo●…um , &c. the date of his death , defaced on his tombe , appeareth * elsewhere to be at the end of k. henry the seventh , so that his on the bench was parallel with his soveraigns sitting on the throne , begun in the first , and ended in the last of his raign . sir henry bradshaw knight . this surname being diffused in darbyshire and lancashire , aswell as in this county , his nativity advantaged by the alphabet , ( first come first served ) is fixed herein . he became so noted for his skill in our common law , that in the sixth of k. edward the sixth in hillary terme , he was made chief baron of the exchequer , demeaning himself therein to his great commendation . pity it is that demetrius who is well reported of all* men , should suffer for his name sake demetrius the silver smith , who made the shrines for * diana , and raised persecution against saint paul. and as unjust it is , that this good judge of whom nothing ill is reported , should fare the worse for one of the same surname of execrable memory , of whom nothing good is remembred . i have cause to conceive , that this judge was outed of his place for protestant inclination . mariae finding no more mention of him . sir randal crew was born in this county , bred in the study of our municipal law , wherein such his proficiency , that ( after some steps in his way thereunto ) in the . of k. james he was made lord chief justice of the upper bench , and therein served two kings , ( though scarce two years in his office ) with great integrity . king charles his occasions calling for speedy supplies of money , some great-ones adjudged it unsafe to adventure on a parliament , ( for fear in those distempered times , the physick would side with the disease , ) and put the king to furnish his necessities by way of loan . sir randal being demanded his judgement of that design , and the consequence thereof , ( the imprisoning of r●…usants to pay it ) openly manifested his dislike of such preter-legal courses , and thereupon , november . . was commanded to forbear his sitting in the court , and the next day was by writ discharged from his office , whereat he discovered no more discontentment , then the weary travailer is offended , when told that he is arrived at his journies end . the country hath constantly a smile for him for whom the court hath a frown , this knight was out of office , not out of honour , living long after at his house in westminster , much praised for his hospitality . indeed he may the better put off his gown , ( though before he goeth to bed ) who hath a warm suit under it , and this learned judge , by gods blessing on his endeavours , had purchased a fair estate , and particularly crew-hall in cheshire , ( for some ages formerly the possession of the falshursts ) but which probably was the inheritance of his ▪ ancestors . nor must it be forgotten , that sir randal first brought the model of excellent building into these remorter parts , yea , brought london into cheshire , in the loftiness , sightliness and pleasantness of their stuctures . one word of his lady , a virtuous wife being very essential to the integrity of a married judge , lest what westminster-hall doth conclude , westminster bed-chamber doth revoke . he married julian daughter and co-heir of john clipsby of clipsby in northfolk , esq. with whom he had a fair inheritance . she died at que in surry , . and lieth buried in the chancell of richmond with this epitaph . antiquâ fuit orta domo , pia vixit , inivit virgo pudica thorum , sponsa pudica polum . i saw this worthy judge in health . but he survived not long after , and be it remembred he had a younger brother sir thomas crew , a most honest and learned ser●…eant in the same profession . whose son john crew esquire , ( of his majesties privy-councel , ) having been so instrumental to the happy change in our nation , is in generall report , ( which no doubt will be effected before these my paines be publick ) designed for some title of honour . sir humfrey davenport . his surname is sufficient to intitle this county unto him , but i will not be peremtory till better information . he was bred in the temple , had the reputation of a studied lawyer , and upright person , qualities which commended him to be chosen chief baron of the exchequer . how he behaved himself in the case of the ship-money , is fresh in many mens memories . the reader cannot be more angry with me , then i am grieved in my self , that , for want of intelligence , i cannot doe the right which i would and ought , to this worthy judges memory , who died about the beginning of our civil distempers . souldiers . sir hugh calvely born at calvely in this county . * tradition makes him a man of teeth and hands , who would feed as much as two , and fight as much as ten men , his quick and strong appetite , could disgest any thing but an injury , so that killing a man , is reported the cause of his quitting this county , making hence for london , then for france . here he became a most eminent souldier , answering the character our great * antiquary hath given him , arte militari ita in galliâ inc●…ruit , ut vivide ejus virtuti nihil fuit impervium . i find five of his principall a●…hievements . . when he was one of the thirty english in france , who in a duel encountred as many britans . . when in the last of king edward the third , being governour of calice he looked on , ( his hands being tyed behind him by a truce , yet in force for a month , ) and saw the english slain before his eyes , whose bloud he soon after revenged . . when in the first of king richard the second , after an unfortunate voyage of our english nobility , beaten home with a tempest , he took bark bulloigne and five and twenty other french-ships , besides the castle of mark , lately lost by negligence , which he recovered . . when in the next year he spoiled estaples , at a fair-time , bringing thence so much plunder as enriched the calicians for many years after . . when he married the queen of aragon , which is most certain , her armes being quartered on his tomb , though i cannot satisfy the reader in the particularities thereof . the certain date of his death is unknown , which by proportion may be collected about the year . after which time , no mention of him , and it was as impossible for such a spirit not to be , as not to be active . sir robert knowles knight , was born of mean parentage in this * county , yet did not the weight of his low extraction depress the wings of his martial mind , who by his valour wrought his own advancement . he was another of the thirty english , who for the honour of the nation , undertook to duel with as many * britons , and came off with great reputation . he was afterwards a commander in the french-war under king edward the third , where in despight of their power he drove the people 〈◊〉 him like sheep , destroying towns , castles and cities , in such manner and number , that many years after , the sharp points , and gable end of overthrown houses , ( cloven asunder with instruments of war ) were commonly call'd knowles * his mitres . the last piece of his servrce , was performed in suppressing wat tiler and his rebells . then i behold aged sir robert , buckling on his armonr , as old priam at the taking of troy , but with far better success , as proving very victorious ; and the citizens of london infranchized him a member 〈◊〉 of , in expression of their thankfulness . his charity was as great as his valour , and he rendred himself no less loved by the english , then feared of the french. he gave bountifully to the building of rochester-bridge ▪ founding a chappel and chantery at ●…he east end thereof , with a colledge at 〈◊〉 in yorkshire , where constance his lady was born , endowing it with one hundred and eighty pounds per annum . he died at his 〈◊〉 of scon●…-thorp in norfolk , in peace and honour , whereas 〈◊〉 generally set in a cloud ; being at least ninety years of age , for he must be 〈◊〉 no 〈◊〉 then 〈◊〉 years old , when anno●… ●… . he was a generall under k. ed●… 〈◊〉 third , and he 〈◊〉 untill the 〈◊〉 . of august . being buried in white-friers in london , to which he had been a great benefactour . john smith captain , was 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 county , as master arthur smith his kins man , and my school-master did inform me . but whether or no , related unto the worshipfull family of the smiths at * 〈◊〉 . i know not . he spent the most of his life in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . first in hungary under the empe●… , fighting against the turks , three of which , he himself killed in single duells , and therefore , was authorized by * 〈◊〉 king of hungary to bear three turks-heads , as an augmentation to his armes . here 〈◊〉 gave intelligence to a besieged city in the night , by significant 〈◊〉 - works formed in 〈◊〉 , in legible characters , with many strange performances , the scene whereof is laid at such a distance , they are cheaper credited , then confuted . from the turks in europe , he passed to the pagans in america , where towards the latter end of the raign of queen elizabeth , such his perills , preservations , dangers , deliverances , they seem to most men above belief , to some beyond truth . yet have we two witnesses to attest them , the prose and the pictures both in his own book , and it soundeth much to the diminution of his deeds , that he alone is the herauld to publish and proclaime them . two captains being at dinner , one of them fell into a large relation of his own atchivements , concluding his discourse with this question to his fellow , and pray sir ( said he ) what service have you done ? to whom he answered , other men can tell that . and surely such reports from strangers carry with them the greater reputation . however , moderate men must allow captain smith to have been very instrumentall , in setling the plantation in virginia , whereof he was governour , as also admiral of new-england . he led his old age in london , where his having a princes mind imprison'd in a poor mans purse , rendred him to the contempt of such who were not ingenuous . yet he efforted his spirits with the remembrance and relation of what formerly he had been , and what he had done . he was buried in sepulchres-church-quire , on the south-side thereof , having a ranting epitaph inscribed in a table over him , too long to transcribe . onely we will insert the first , and last verses , the rather because the one may fit alexanders life for his valour , the other his death for his religion ; here lies one conquer'd that hath conquer'd kings . oh may his soul in sweet elysium sleep . the orthography , poetry , history and divinity in this epitaph are much alike . he on the . of june , . physicians . if this county hath bred no writers in that faculty , the wonder is the less , if it be true what i read , that if any here be sick , they * make him a posset , and tye a kerchieff on his head ; and if that will not mend him , then god be mercifull to him . but , be this understood of the common people , the gentry having the help ( no doubt ) of the learned in that profession . writers . thomas eclestone ( a village in broxtone hundred ) was born in this county , bred a franciscan in oxford . leland saith of him , that under the conduct of prudence and experience , he contended with many paces to pierce into the penetrales of learning . he wrote a book of the succession of franciscans in england , with their works and wonders , from their first coming in , to his own time , dedicating the same to ( not g. notingham the provinciall of his order ) but to his friend and fellow-frier , his mortified mind ( it seems ) not aiming at honour therein . he wrote another book intituled , de impugnatione * ordinis su●… per dominicanos , of the assaults which the dominicans made on his order . these two sorts of friers whipping each other with their cords or knotted girdles to the mutual wounding of their reputations . he died anno domini . since the reformation . ralph radcliffe was born in this * county , who travelling southward , fixed himself at hitching in hertfordshire , where he converted a demolished house of the carmelites , into a publique grammar-school . he here erected a fair stage , whereon , partly to entertain his neighhours , and partly to embolden his scholars in pronuntiation , many interludes were acted by them . * pitz. praiseth him , being a school-master , that he confined himself to his own profession , not medling with divinity , and yet amongst his books he reckoneth up a treatise of the burning of sodome , and another of the afflictions of job . nor must we forget his book entitled de triplice memoriâ , of the threefold memory , which ( though i never met with any that saw it ) may probably be presumed , of the water wax iron memory , receiving things very somewhat very hardly easily   retaining them no a little long time. he flourished under the raign of king edward the sixth , anno domini . and it is likely he died before the raign of queen mary . john speed was born at farrington in this county as his own * daughter hath informed me ; he was first bred to a handicraft , and as i take it to a taylor . i write not this for his but my own disgrace , when i consider how far his industry hath outstript my ingenious education . sir fulk grevill , a great favourer of learning , perceiving how his wide soul was stuffed with too narrow an occupation , first wrought his inlargement as the said author doth ingeniously confess , whose * merits to me-ward i do acknowledge in setting this hand free from the daily imployments of a manuall trade , and giving it his liberty thus to express the inclination of my mind , himself being the procurer of my present estate . this is he who afterwards designed the maps and composed the history of england , though much help'd in both ( no shame to crave aid in a work too weighty for any ones back to bear , ) by sir robert cotton , master camden , master barkham and others . he also made the usefull genealogies preposed formerly to english bibles in all volumes , having a patent granted him from king james , in reward of his great labours , to receive the benefit thereof to him and his . this was very beneficiall unto them by composition with the company of stationers , untill this licentious age neglecting all such ingenious helps to understand scripture , and almost levelling ( if not prevented ) the propriety of all authors of books . he dyed in london anno . and was buried in saint giles without criplegate , in the same parish with master john fox , so that no one church in england , containeth the corps of two such usefull and voluminous historians . master josias shute preach'd his funerall sermon : and thus we take our leaves of father speed , truly answering his name in both the acceptions thereof for celerity and success . john dod was born at shottliedge in this county , ( where his parents had a competent estate ) bred in jesus-colledge in cambridge , by nature a witty , by industry a learned , by grace a godly divine , successively minister of hanwell in oxford , fenny-compton in warwick , cannons-ashby and fausly in northampton-shire , though for a time silenced in each of them . a father ( who shall pass nameless ) is censured by some for his over-curiosity in his conceit , rather then comment , math. . . and he opened his mouth and taught them . for christ ( saith he ) taught them often , when he opened not his mouth , by his example , miracles , &c. here i am sure , accordingly master dod , when his mouth was shut , ( prohibited preaching ) instructed almost as much as before , by his holy demeanour , and pious discourse . a good chimist , who could extract gold out of other mens lead , and how loose soever the premises of other mens discourse , piety was always his naturall and unforced conclusion inferred thereupon . for the rest i refer the reader to master samuel clark , by whom his life is written , wherein are many remarkable passages . i say master samuel clark , with whose pen mine never did , nor shall interfere . indeed as the flocks of jacob were distanced three * days journeys from those of laban , so ( to prevent voluntary or casuall commixtures ) our styles are set more then a months journey asunder . the jewish rabbins ( have a fond and a false conceit , that methuselah , who indeed dyed in the very * year ( and his death a sad prognostick ) of the deluge , had a cabin built him in the outside of noahs ark , where he was preserved by himself . but most true it is , that good father dod , though he lived to see the flood of our late civil wars , made to himself a cabin in his own contented conscience , and though his cloths were wetted with the waves , ( when plundred ) he was dry in the deluge , such his self-solace in his holy meditations . he dyed being eighty six years of age , anno . when thieves break in a house and steal , the owner thereof knows for the present that he is robbed , but not of what or how much , till some days after he finds out , by the want of such things which were taken from him . the vicenage of fausly , where mr. dod dyed , knew then they were bereaft of a worthy treasure , though ignorant in the perticulars of their losses , till daily discovery hath by this time made them sensible thereof . benefactors to the publique . sir richard sutton was born at * presbury in this county , he is generally believed a knight , though some have suspected the same , but suppose him but esquire . he was one of a plentifull estate and bountifull hand . it happened that william smith bishop of lincoln began brasen-nose-colledge , but dyed before he had finished one nostrill thereof , leaving this sutton his executor , who over-performed the bishops will , and compleated the foundation with his own liberall additions thereunto . when the following verses were composed , in the person of brasen-nose-colledge , the muses seemed neither to smile nor frown , but kept their wonted countenance . but take them as they are . begun by one but finish'd by another , sutton he was my nurse , but smith my mother : or if the phrase more proper seem , say rather , that sutton was my guardian , smith my father ; 'cause equal kindness they to me exprest , better i neither love , love both the best . if both they may be call'd , who had one will , what one design'd , the other did fulfill . may such testators live who good intend , but if they dye , heaven such exec'tors send . this worthy knight being born in this county , deservedly reflected upon his own country-men , making them ( and those of lancashire ) most capable of preferment . i collect his death to have happened about the middle of the raign of king henry the eighth . since the reformation . robert brassy was born at * bunbury ( contracted for boniface-bury ) in this county , bred d. d. in kings-colledge in cambridge , whereof he was elected the . provost . he being a learned and stout man , publickly protested against the visitors of the * university in the raign of queen mary , as to his own colledge . say not he onely opposed superstition with superstition , pleading popish exemptions : for considering the times , he drave the nail which would best go , and thereby took off the edge of those persecuting commissioners . but let none envy him a place under this title , who deserved so well of cambridge . for when many doctors therein , whose purblind souls saw onely what was next them , for the present , and either could not , or would not look far forward to posterity , had resolved to sell their rights in sturbridge-fair for a trifle to the towns-men , ( which if done , the vice-chancellor might even have held the stirrup to the mayor , ) he only * opposed it and dash'd the designs . he dyed anno domini . and lyes buried on the south-side of the chappell . george palin was ( as i have cogent presumptions ) born at wrenbury in this county , bred a merchant in london , free of the company of girdlers . indeed we may call his benefactions aureum cingulum charitatis , the golden girdle of charity . with our saviour he went about * doing good , compleating the circuit of his bounty , continuing till he ended where he began . . to wrenbury ( where we believe him born ) two hundred pound to purchase lands for the relief of the poor . . nine hundred pound for the building of almes-houses in or about london . . to trinity-colledge in cambridge three hundred pound . . to the colledge of saint johns the evangelist in cambridge , three hundred pounds . . to the hospitall of saint thomas in southmark , fifty pounds . . to the preachers at pauls cross , towards the bearing of their charges , two hundred pounds . . toward the making a sweet chime in bow-church , one hundred pounds . . to six prisons in and about london , sixty pounds . . to brasen-nose-colledge in oxford , two scholar-ships , to each yearly four pounds . . to the colledge of saint john baptist in oxford , two scholar-ships of the same value . . to christ-church hospital , three hundred pounds . . to the church and poor ( to buy them gowns ) of wrenbury , seventy pounds . with other benefactions ; verily , i say unto you , i have not met a more universall and unpartial charity to all objects of want and worth . he died about the beginning of the raign of king james . john brewerton knight , a branch of that well-spred tree in this county , was bred one of the first scholars of the foundation in sidney-colledge , and afterwards being brought up in the study of the common-law , he went over into ireland , and at last became the kings serjeant therein . i say at last , for at his coming thither ( in the tumults of tirone ) neither rex nor lex , neither king nor serjeant were acknowledged , till loyalty and civility were by degrees distilled into that nation . he obtained a plentifull estate , and thereof gave well nigh three thousand pounds to sidney-colledge . now as it is reported of ulysses returning from his long travail in forraign lands , that all his family had forgot him , so when the news of this legacy first arrived at the colledge , none then extant therein ever heard of his name , ( so much may the spunge of forty years blot out in this kind ) onely the written register of the colledge faithfully retained his name therein . this his gift was a gift indeed , purely bestowed on the colledge , as loded with no detrimentall conditions in the acceptance thereof . we read in the prophet , * thou hast increased the nation , and not multiplied their joy. in proportion whereunto we know it is possible , that the comfortable condition of a colledge may not be increased , though the number of the fellows and scholars therein be augmented , superadded branches sucking out the sap of the root . whereas the legacy of this worthy knight , ponebatur in lucro , being pure gain and improvement to the colledge . his death happened about the year . john barnston d. d. was born of an ancient family in this county , bred fellow of brasen-nose-colledge in oxford , afterwards chaplain to chancellor egerton , and residentiary of salisbury . a bountifull house-keeper , of a cheerfull spirit , and peaceable disposition , whereof take this eminent instance . he sate judge in the consistory when a church-warden , out of whose house a chalice was stolen , was sued by the parish to make it good to them , because not taken out of the church-chest , ( where it ought to have been reposited ) but out of his private house . the church-warden pleaded that he took it home onely to scoure it , which proving ineffectuall , he retained it till next morning to boil out the in-laid rust thereof . well ( said the doctor ) i am sorry that the cup of union and communion should be the cause of difference and discord between you . go home and live lovingly together , and i doubt not , but that either the thief out of remorse will restore the same ; or some other as good will be sent unto you , which by the doctors secret charity came to pass accordingly . he founded an hebrew lecture in brasen-nose-colledge and departed in peace in the beginning of our wars about the year . memorable persons . william smith was born in this county , wherein his surname hath been of signal note for many ages . his genius inclined him to the study of heraldry , wherein he so profitted , that anno — — he was made persuivant of arms. by the name of rougdragon , he wrote a description geographical and historicall of this county , left ( it seems ) in the hands of raynulph crew knight , sometimes l. chief justice of the kings bench , and lately set forth by the favour of mr. raynulph crew grand-child to that worthy knight , the time of his death is to me unknown . william web a native of this county , was bred a master in arts ▪ and a●…terwards betook himself to be a clark of the mayors court in chester . it appeareth also he was under ▪ sheriffe to sir richard lee high-sheriffe of this county , in the thirteenth year of king james . he compiled a description of cheshire and chester , lately printed by procurement of that no less communicative then judicious antiquary sir simon archer of tamworth , in warwickshire . i cannot attain the certain date of his death . randal crew esquire , second son to sir clipsby , grand-child to judge crew . he drew a map of cheshire , so exactly with his pen , that a judicious eye would mistake it for printing , and the gravers skill and industry could little improve it . this map i have seen , and reader , when my eye directs my hand , i may write with confidence . this hopefull gentleman went beyond the seas , out of design to render himself by his travells more useful for his country , where he was barbarously assassinated by some french-men , and honourably buried with generall lamentation of the english at paris . lord mayors . name father place company time hugh witch richard witch nantwich mercer thomas oldgrave william oldgrave knotysford skinner edmond shaw john shaw donkenfield goldsmith james spencer robert spencer congleton vintner thomas offley william offley chester merchant-taylor humfry weld john weld eaton grocer thomas moulson       i am certainly informed that this moulson●…ounded ●…ounded a fair school in the town where he was born , but am not instructed where this is , or what salary is setled thereon . reader , know this , that i must confess my self advantaged in the description of this county , by daniel king a native of this county , whence it seems he travelled beyond the seas , where he got the mystery both of survaying and engraving . so that he hath both drawn and graven the portraicture of many ancient structures now decayed . i hope in process of time this daniel king will out-strip king edgar , erecting more abbeys in br●…ss , then he did in stone , though he be said to have built one for every day in the year . but cheshire is chiefly beholding to his pains , seeing he hath not only set forth two descriptions thereof , ( named the vale royal of england , ) with the praise to the dead persons the authors thereof duly acknowledged , but also hath enlivened the same with severall cuts of heraldry and topography , on whom we will bestow this distick . kingus cestrensi , cestrensis patria kingo lucem alternatim , debet uterque suam . cheshire to king and king to cheshire owes , his light , 〈◊〉 doth 〈◊〉 ▪ what each b●…stows . what is amiss in my poetry , shall be amended in my prayers for a blessing on his and all ingenious-mens undertakings . cheshire is one of the . pretermitted counties , the names of whose gentry were not returned into the tower , in the . year of k. henry the sixth . sheriffs . hen. ii. anno gilbert . pipehard anno rich. de pierpoint rich. i. anno recorda manca johan . anno 〈◊〉 rich. de burham anni incerti hen. iii. anno rich. de sonbach anno rich. de wrenbury anno iordan . de peulesdon anno hugh de hatton . edw i. anno patrick de heselwall anno will. de spurstow anno rich. de wilbraham anno will. de prayers anno robert. de bressey edw. ii. anno philip. de egerton anno david . de egerton anno will. de mobberley anno rich. filhurst eew. iii. anno joh. de wrenbury anno adam . de parker anno rich. de oulton anno jacob. audley , mil. anno tho. daniers anno tho. le young anno johan . scolehall anno lauren. de dutton , mil. sheriffs . name place armes rich. ii.     anno     hu. de venables kinderton azure bars argent . tho. del . wood     hu. e. of stafford   or , a cheveron gules . idem . ut prius   ioh. massy , mil.   quarterly counterchanged gules & or. in the first a lion pass . rob. gravenour eton azure a garbe or. rob. leigh high-liegh arg. five fusils bend-wise sable . hen. iv.     anno     ioh. massy puddington ut prius , save th●…t in the first quart . flour de lu●…es ar. idem .     hen. 〈◊〉   arg. a cheveron betwixt ravens-heads erazed s. will. bruerton , m. bruerton argent bars sable . hen. v.     anno     tho. 〈◊〉 adlington az. bars arg. a bend c●…mponce or & gules . hugh . dutton dutton quarterly counter-changed arg. & g. in the & quarter a fret or. hen. vi.     anno     rich. warberton arley arg. cheverons and a canton g. a mullet or. ran. bruerton , m. ut prius   ioh. troutbeck   az. troutes 〈◊〉 in triangle , teste a la 〈◊〉 arg. rob. booth , † m. dunham   rob. booth , mil. prioris filius . ut prius † arg. boars-heads eraz ed & erected sable . edw. iv.     anno     will. stanly howton arg. on a bend az stags-beads 〈◊〉 or. rich. iii.     anno     〈◊〉 idem . ut prius   hen. vii .     anno     idem . ut prius   ioh. warberton ut prius   rasp . birkenhead   s. garbes or , within a border engrailed argent . hen. viii .     anno     idem . ut prius   will. stanly , mil. ut prius   geo. holford holford arg. a grey-hound passant s. tho. venables ut prius   idem . ut prius   ioh. done   az. bars arg. on a bend g. arrows . idem . ut prius   edw. fitton gowsworth arg. on a bend az garbs or. ioh. holford ut prius   edw. vi.     anno     idem . ut prius   reg. mari .     anno     will. brereton , k. ut prius   phil & mar.     anno     , pet l●…igh , kni . ut prius   , hu cholmley , es .   gu. in cheif helmets arg. in base a garbe or. , 〈◊〉 . wilbrahā , es . wodey az. bars arg. on a canto●… s. a wolfs-head etased of the second . , tho. venables , es . ut prius   , phi. egerton , esq . ridley arg. a lion ramp . g. betwixt pheons sable . reg. eliza .     anno     wil. cholmley , es . ut prius   ioh. savage , esq . rocksavage . argent lions rampant sable . ral. egerton , es . ut prius   io 〈◊〉 , es ut prius   rich. brook , esq   cbecque or and sable . will. massey , esq . ut prius   ioh. savage , esq . ut prius   hug. cholmly , es . ut prius * az. b●…rs 〈◊〉 erm ▪ on a cheif o●… , a demi lion issuant s. lau. smith * esq . hough   ral. done , esq .   az. bars arg. on a bend g. arrows of the second . geo. calveley , es .   arg. a. fess g. betwixt calves , sable . ioh. savage , esq . ut prius   will. booth , kn . 〈◊〉 arg. 〈◊〉 erected s. tho. stanley , esq .   arg. on a bend az. three ioh. savage , kni . ut prius   ioh. savage , mil. ut prius   hen. manwaring .   argent bars gules . row. stanley , es ut prius   ioh. warren , esq   checkee azu . & o●… , on a canton g. a lion r●…mpant arg. tho. brook , esq . ut prius   ioh. savage , kni . ut prius   ral. egerton , es . ut prius   geo calveley , kn . ut prius   wil. brereton , kn . ut prius   pet. warberton , e. ut prius   wil. leversage , e. whelock arg. a 〈◊〉 betwixt plow-●…hares s. tho. wilbraham ut prius   hug. calveley , es . ut prius   ran. davenport , e. damport a●…g . a cheveron betwixt cross croslets fitch . e s. tho. leigh , esq . ut prius   hu cholmley , kn . ut prius   wil. brereton , kn . ut prius   ioh. savage , kn . ut prius   tho. brook , esq . ut prius   tho. venables : es . ut prius   per. warberton , e. ut prius   per. leigh , esq . ut prius   ioh. done , esq . ut prius   geo. booth , kni . ut prius   edw. warren , kn . ut prius   tho. holcroft , kn .   arg. a cross and border . engrailed s. tho. smith , kn . ut prius   tho. ashton , kn . ashton per cheveron . s. and arg. ric. gravenor , k. ut prius   jac. rex .     anno   * az. a fess arg. frettee g. betw●…xt flower de luces or. geo. le ▪ cester , * toft   wil. davenport , k. ut prius   ra. manwaring , k. ut prius   tho. vernon , kn . hasting or on a fret azure garbes of the first . ioh. savage , kn . ut prius   hen. bunbury , kn . staney arg. on a bend s. chest-rooks of the first . will. brereton , es . ut prius   geff. shakerly , es .   arg. molehills vert . tho. dutton , esq . ut prius   wil. brereton , kn . ut prius   urian . leigh , kn . ut prius   geo. calveley ; kn . ut prius   rich. lea ▪ kn . lea. arg. a cheveron betwixt leopards-heads s. rich. wilbrahā , k. ut prius   ioh. davenport ut prius   ralp . calveley , es . ut prius   ran. manwaring ut prius   ro. cholmondely ut prius   tho. marbury , es . marbury or on a fess engrailed azure garbes of the first . geor. booth , bar . ut prius   tho. smith , kn . ut prius   ric. gravenor , b. ut prius   car. reg.     anno     tho. brereton ▪ kn . ut prius   ioh. done , kn . ut prius   ioh. calveley , es . ut prius   edw. stanley , bar . ut prius   tho. leigh , esq . ut prius   pet. dutron , esq . ut prius   tho. stanley , esq . ut prius   ric. brereton , es . ut prius   edw. fitton , esq . ut prius   pet. venables ut prius   tho. ashton , bar . ut prius   will. leigh , esq . ut prius .   tho. 〈◊〉 bar . duddingtō arg. a cheveron 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 or , betwixt gadds of stteel s. tho. cholmley ut prius   phil. manwaring ut prius   tho. powell , bar . berkenhad sable roses arg. ioh. billot , esq .   arg. on a chief g. cinque foils of the field . hug. calvely , k. ut prius   tho. leigh , esq . ut prius   ri. gravenor , ba. ut prius   rob. totton , esq . winthaw quarterly arg. & g. crescents counter changed . hen. brood , esq .     reader , if thou discoverest any difference in the method betwixt this and the other catalogue of sheriffs , impute it to this cause , that whilst i fetched the rest from the fountain in the exchequer , i took these out of the cestern , i mean the printed book of vale-royal . i presume , that the sheriff who is last named , continued in that office all that intervale of years , till his successor here nominated entred thereon . the reader may with the more confidence relie on their armes , imparted unto me by mr. daniel king , who to me really verifieth his own anagram . daniel king , i kind angel . and indeed he hath been a tutelar one to me , gratifying me with whatsoever i had need to use , and he had ability to bestow . henry iii. hugh de hatton . ] king william the conquerer bestowed lands on one of his name and ancestors at hatton in this county . from him is lineally descended that learned and religious ( witness his pious meditations on the psalmes ▪ ) sir christopher hatton knight of the bath , created by king charles the first , baron hatton of kerby in northampton-shire . the original of this grant of the conquerors is still in this lords possession , preserved in our civil wars , with great care and difficulty by his vertuous lady . on the same token that her lord patiently digested the plundring of his library and other rarities , when hearing the welcome tidings from his lady , that the said record was safely secured . queen mary . sir hugh cholmly or cholmondeleigh . ] this worthy person bought his knight-hood in the field at leigh in scotland . he was five times high-sheriffe of this county , ( and sometimes of flintshire , ) and for many years one of the two sole deputies leiutenants thereof . for a good space he was vice-president of the marches of walles under the right honorable sir henry sidney knight , conceive it during his abscence in ireland . for fifty years together he was esteemed a father of his country , and dying anno . . was buried in the church of mallpasse , under a tombe of allabaster , with great lamentation of all sorts of people , had it not mitigated their mourning , that he left a son of his own name heir to his vertues and estate . john savage , ar. ] i behold him as the direct ancestor unto sir thomas savage kt. and baronet , created by k. charles the first , baron savage of rock savage in this county . this lord ( a very prudent states-man ) married elizabeth eldest daughter and co-heir of thomas lord darcy of chich , viscount colchester , and earl of rivers , honours entailed on his posterity , and now injoyed by the right honorable thomas savage earl rivers . the battles . rowton heath . sept. . his majesty being informed , that colonel jones had seized the suburbs and strong church of st. johns in chester , advanced northward for the relief thereof . poins , one of the parliaments generalls , pursued his majesty . at rowton-heath within . miles of chester the k. army made an halt , whilst his majesty with some prime persons marched into the city . next day a fierce fight happened on the heath , betwixt the kings and poinses forces , the latter going off with the greater loss . judicious persons conceive , that had the royalists pursued this single enemy , ( as yet unrecruited with additional strength , ) they had finally worsted him , which fatall omission ( opportunities admit of no after-games ) proved their overthrow . for next day col. jones drew out his men into the field , so that the royalists being charged on the heath in front and rear , were put to the worst , the whole body of whose army had wings without legs , horse without foot , whilst the parliament was powerfull in both . immediatly after , a considerable party of horse ( the lord byron governour of the city being loth to part with any foot as kept to secure the kings person , ) came out of chester , too late to succour their defeated friends , and too soon to engage themselves . here fell the youngest of the three noble brethren , who lost their lives in the king service , bernard stuart earl of leichfield , never sufficiently to be lamented . the farewell . to take my leave of cheshire , i could wish that some of their hospitality were planted in the south , that it might bring forth fruit therein ; and in exchange i could desire , that some of our southern delicacies might prosperously grow in their gardens , and quinces particularly , being not more pleasant to the palate , then restorative of the health , as accounted a great cordiall . the rather , because a * native of this county , in his description thereof , could not remember he ever saw quince growing therein . chester is a fair city on the north-east side of the river dee , so ancient that the first founder thereof is forgotten , much beholding to the earls of chester and others for increase and ornaments . the walls thereof were lately in good repair , especially betwixt the new-tower and the water-gate . for i find how anno . there was a personal fight in this city betwixt the two * sheriffs thereof , viz. richard massey and peter lycherband , ( who shall keep peace if aged officers break it ? ) who deservedly were fined for the forfeiting of their gravity , to repair that part of the wall. it seems it is more honour to be keeper of a gate in chester , then a whole city elsewhere , seeing eastgate therein was committed to the c●…ody formerly of the earl of oxford , bridgegate to the earl of shrewsbury , watergate to the earl of da●…by , and northgate to the mayor of the city . it is built in the form of a quadrant , and is almost a just square , the four cardinal streets thereof ( as i may call them ) meeting in the middle of the city , at a place called the pentise , which affordeth a pleasant prospect at once into all four. here is a property of building peculiar to the city called the rows , being galleries , wherein passengers go dry without coming into the streets , having shops on both sides and underneath . the fashion whereof is somewhat hard to conceive , it is therefore worth their pains , who have money and leasure to make their own eyes the expounders of the manner thereof . the like being said not to be seen in all england , no nor in all europe again . the buildings . saint werburges church is a fair structure , and had been more beautifull if the tower thereof ( intended some say for a steeple , the first stone whereof was laid . ) had been finished . it was built long before the conquest , and being much ruined was afterward repaired by hugh lupus first earl of chester . it was afterward made by king henry the eighth , one of his five royal bishopricks , oxford , gloucester , bristol and peterborough , being the other four . i say royal bishopricks , as whose ecclesiastical jurisdictions were never confirmed by the pope , nor baronies by the parliament . the first is plain , king henry the eighth erecting them after he had disclaimed the popes supremacy , and in the days of queen mary , when england was in some sort reconciled to rome , the pope thought not fit to contest with the queen about that criticismē , because these five bishopricks were erected without his consent , but suffer'd them to be even as he found them . their baronries also were not ( though their bishopricks were , ) ever confirmed by act of parliament , so that they owed their beings solely to the kings prerogative , who might as well create spiritual as temporal peers , by his own authority . and therefore when some anti-praelatists in the late long parliament , . endeavoured to overthrow their baronries , ( as an ess●…y and preludium to the rest of the bishopricks , ) for want of parliamentary confirmation , they desisted from that design as fond and unfeisable , on better consideration . proverbs . when the * daughter is stoln , shut pepper-gate . ] pepper-gate was a postern of this city , on the east-side ( as i take it ) thereof ; but in times past closed up and shut upon this occasion . the mayor of the city had his daughter ( as she was playing at ball with other maidens in pepper-street , ) stoln away by a young-man , through the same gate ; whereupon in revenge he caused it to be shut up , though i see not why the city should suffer in her conveniences , for the mayor his want of care , or his daughter her lack of obedience . but what shall we say love will make the whole walla gate to procure its own escape . parallel to this proverb is the latine , serò sapiunt phryges , when men instead of preventing , postvide against dangers . martyrs . george marsh was condemned by bishop coats , and cruelly burnt without this city , near unto spittle boughton ; but because he was born elsewhere , see his character in lancashire . prelates . george dounham d. d. son to john dounham bishop of chester , was born in this city , as by proportion of time may most probably be collected . he was bred in christs-colledge in cambridge , elected fellow thereof . * and chosen logick-professor in the university . no man was then and there better skill'd in aristotle , or a greater follower of ramus , so that he may be termed the top-twig of that branch . it is seldome seen , that the clunch-fist of logick ( good to knock a man down at a blow ) can so open it self as to smooth and stroak one with the palme thereof . our dounham could doe both , witness the oration made by him at cambridge , ( preposed to his book of logick ) full of flowers of the choicest eloquence . he preached the sermon april . ●… . at the consecration of james mountague bishop of bath and wells , irrefragably proving therein episcopacy jure divino . he that receiveth a bishop in the name of a bishop , shall receive a bishops reward . it was not long before doctor dounham was made bishop of derry in ireland , then newly augmented with the addition of london-derry , because so planted with english , it was easy to find london in derry , but not derry in derry , so much disguised from itself with new buildings . but this learned bishop was the greatest beauty thereof , indeavouring by gentleness to cicurate and civillize the wild-irish , and proved very successfull therein . the certain date of his death i cannot attain . sea men . david middleton was born in this city , as his kinsman and my * friend hath informed me . he was one of those who effectually contributed his assistance to the making of through lights in the world , i mean new discoveries in the east and west-indies , as we may read at large in his own * printed relation . the tender-hearted reader whose affections go along with his eye , will sadly sympathize with his sufferings , so many and great his dangers , with caniballs and portugals , crocodiles and hollanders , till at last he accomplished his intentions , and setled the english trade at bantam , i meet with no mention of him after . sir henry middleton knight , was younger brother ( as i take it ) to the former , deservedly knighted for his great pains and perills in advancing the english trade . amongst many most remarkable is his voyage into the red-sea , which had like to have proved the dead sea unto him , i mean cost him his life . here he was tolled to land at moha , by the treacherous aga , and then had eight of his men barbarously sl●…in , himself and seven more chained up by the necks . the pretence was because that port was the door of the * holy city , which ( though it be jerusalem in the language of the scripture ) is mecca in the phrase of the alcaron , and it is capitoll for any christian to come so near thereunto . then was he sent eightscore miles and upwards to the bashaw at zenan in arabia , in the month of january . this city of zenan lyeth but sixteen degrees and fifteen minutes of northern latitude from the equator , and yet was so cold , that there was ice of a fingers thickness in one night , as the said sir henry did * relate ; this confuteth the character of these countries misapprehended by antiquity not to be habitable , for the excess of heat therein . at last the turkish bashaw gave him leave to depart , and sailing eastwards , he repaired himself by a gainfull composition with the indians , for the losses he had sustained by the turkes . his ship called the trades increase , well answered the name thereof , untill it pleased god to visit his men therein with a strange disease , whereof one hundred english deceased , the grief whereat was conceived the cause of this worthy knights death , may . . whose name will ever survive whilst middletons bay ( from him so called ) appeareth in the dutch cards . writers . roger of chester was born and bred therein , a benedictine monke in saint werburges . in obedience to the bishop of chester , he wrot a brittish chronicle from the beginning of the world. this was the fashion of all historians of that age , running to take a long rise , [ from the creation it self ] that so ( it seems ) they might leap the further with the greater force . our rogers chronicle was like a ship with double decks , first onely continuing it to the year . and then resuming his subject , he superadded five and twenty year more thereunto , entitling it polycratica temporum . both bale and pitz praise him for pure latine ( a rarity in that age ) and assign . the time of his death , chester the place of his buriall . randal or ranulph hygden , ( commonly called ranulph of chester ) was bred a benedictine in saint werburge . he not onely vamped the history of roger aforesaid , but made a large one of his own from the beginning of the world , commendable for his method and modesty therein . method , assigning in the margent , the date of each action . we read genesis . that light was made on the first , and the sun on the fourth day of the c●…eation , when the light ( formerly diffused and dispersed in the heavens , was contracted , united , ) and fixed in one full body thereof . thus the notation of times confusedly scattered in many antient authors , ( as to our english actions ) are by our ranulphus reduced into an intire bulk of cronology . modesty . who to his great commendation , * unicuique suorum authorum , honorem integrum servans , confeseth himself ( to use his own expression , ) with ruth the moabite , to have gleaned after other reapers . he calleth his book poly-cronicon . he continued sixty four years a monke , and dying very aged , . was buried in chester . henry bradshaw was born in this city , and lived a benedictine therein . a diligent historian , having written no bad chronicle , and another book of the life of saint werburg in verse . take a tast at once , both of his poetry , and the originall building of the city , both for beauty alike . the founder of this city , as saith polychronicon , was leon gawer , a mighty strong giant . which builded caves and dungeons many a one , no goodly building , ne proper , ne pleasant . these his verses might have passed with praise , had he lived , ( as arnoldus vion doth erroniously insinuate * anno . but flourishing more then a century , since [ viz. . ] they are hardly to be excused . however * bale informeth us that he was ( the diamond in the ring ) pro ea ipsa aetate , admodum pius , and so we dismiss his memory with commendation . since the reformation . edward brierwood was as i am informed born in this city , bred in brasen-nose-colledge in oxford . being candidate for a fellowship , he lost it without loss of credit . for where preferment goes more by favour then merit , the rejected have more honour then the elected . this ill success did him no more hurt then a rub doth to an over-thrown bowl , bringing it the nearer to the mark . he was not the more sullen , but the more serious in his studies , ( retiring himself to saint mary-hall ) till he became a most accomplished scholar in logick , witness his worthy work thereof , mathematicks , being afterwards a lecturer thereof in gresham-colledge , all learned and many modern languages , hereof he wrot a learned book , called his enquiries . no sacrilegious enquiries , whereof our age dothsurfet . ( it is a snare after vows to make * enquiries , ) but judicious disquisitions of the originall and extent of languages . a little before his death pens were brandish'd betwixt master byfield and him , about the keeping of the sabbath , master brierwood learnedly maintaining that th ▪ other exacted more strictness therein then god enjoyned . let me contribute my symbole on this subject . our saviour is said to be made * under the law , and yet he saith of himself , the son * of man is lord even of the sabbath . indeed he was made under the fourth commandement , as under the rest of the law , to observe the dominion , not tyranny thereof , ( usurped , partly , by the misinterpretation of the priests partly , by the misapprehension of the people , ) and therefore both by his life and doctrine did manumisse men from that vassallage , that the day instituted for rest and repose should not be abused for self-affliction and torment . to return to our brierwood , i have heard a great scholar in england say , that he was the fittest man whom he knew in england , to sit at the elbo of a professor to prompt him . but in my opinion he was a very proper person to discharge the place himself . i conjecture his death about . john downham younger son of william downham bishop of chester , was ( as far as my best enquiry can recover ) born in this city , bred in cambridge b. d. and afterwards became a painfull and profitable preacher in london . he was the first who commendably discharged that eminent * lecture , plentifully indowed by master jones of munmouth , and is memorable to posterity for his worthy work of the christian warfare . well had it been for england , had no other war been used therein , for this last twenty years , all pious persons being comfortably concerned in the prosecution thereof . seriously considering that their armour is of proof , their quarrel is lawfull , their fight is long , their foes are fierce , their company are saints , their captain is christ , their conquest is certain , their crown is heaven . this grave divine died very aged about the year . benefactors to the publique . william aldersea a pious and godly man , was mayor of the city . demeaning himself in his place with much gravity and discretion . he caused with much cost and industry the catalogue of the mayors of chester to be compleated , and that on this occasion . he found by authentick evidences , that one whetly●…ad ●…ad been four times mayor of chester , and yet his name was never mentioned in the ordidinary book of mayors . this put this good magistrate on the employment , ( detection of faults informes little without correction of them , ) to amend and compleat that lame list out of their records . thus imperfections may occasion perfection , which makes me to hope , that hereafter the defects of this my book ( without prejudice to my profit or credit , ) will be judiciously discovered , and industriously amended by others . this william died the twelfth of october anno . and lyeth buried in the chancell of saint osswalls under a fair stone of alabaster . sir thomas offley son to william offley was * born in the city of chester , and bred a merchant-taylor in london , whereof he became lord mayor anno . the usefull custome of the night bellman ( preventing many fiers and more felonies , ) began in his mayoralty . he was the zachaeus of london , not for his low stature , but his high charity , bequeathing the half of his estate ( computed by a reverend * divine , to amount to five thousand pounds ) unto the poor , although he had children of his own . yea , he appointed that two hundred pound should be taken out of the other half ( left to his son henry ) and employed to charitable uses . he died . and was buried in the church of saint andrews undershaft . i am heartily sory to meet with this passage in my * author . sir thomas offley bequeatheth one half of all his goods to charitable actions . but the parish [ meaning saint andrews undershaft ] received little benefit thereby . if the testators will were not justly performed , it soundeth to the shame and blame of his executors . but if the charity of sir thomas acted eminus not comminus , i mean at some distance , and not at his own habitation , it was no injury for any to dispose of his own at his own pleasure . i find also two other of the same sur-name , not mutually more allyed in bloud , then in charitable dispositions . master hugh offley leather-seller , sheriff of london in the year . buried also in saint andrews aforesaid . besides many other * benefactions , he gave six hundred pounds to this city to put forth † youngmen . mr. robert offley bred in london , and ( as i take it ) brother to the aforesaid hugh offley did in year the of our lord . bestow six hundred pounds on twenty four youngmen in chester whereof twelve were * apprentices . i know not the exact date of his departure . it is hard to instance in a lease of kinsmen born so far from , bred in london , meeting together in such bountifull performances . i believe it was the first of these three offleys on whom the rhythme was made , offley three dishes had of daily roast , an egge , an apple , and ( the third ) a toast . this i behold neither sin nor shame in him , feeding himself on plain and wholesome repast , that he might feast others by his bounty , and thereby deserving rather praise then a jear from posterity . john terer gentleman , and a member of this city . he erected a seemly waterwork built steeplewise at the bridgegate , by his own ingenious industry and charge . this since hath served for the conveying of river-water from the cisterne , in the top of that work , through pipes of lead and wood , to the citizens houses , to their great conveniences . i could wish all designes in the like nature hopefully begun , may as h●…ppily be compleated . my industry cannot attain the exact time of his death , only i find that his son of the same name , indeavoured the like to bring water from a fine spring , to the midst of this city , which i believe was effected . the farewell . and now being to take our leave of this antient and honorable city , the worst that i wish it is , that the distance betwixt dee and the new-tower may be made up , all obstructions being removed , which cause or occasion the same . that the rings on the new-tower ( now only for sight ) may be restored to the service for which they were first intended , to fasten vessels thereunto . that the vessells on that river ( lately degenerated from ships into barks ) may grow up again to their former strength and stature . cornwall . cornwall , it hath its name partly from the form , partly from the inhabitants thereof : from the former it is so called , because narrow in fashion of a horn , which ( by the way ) is a word of all others passing thorough both learned and modern languages with the least variation , keren , hebr. keras , gr. cornu , lat. corn , fr. cuerno , span. corno , ital. horn , eng. horne , dut. kerne , wel. the latter wale signifies strangers , for such were the inhabitants of this county , reputed by their neighbours . it hath devonshire on the west , divided from it generally with the river tamer , encompassed with the sea on all other sides , affording plenty of harbours , so that forraigners in their passage to or from spain , ireland , the levant , east or west indies , sometimes touch herewith , sometimes are driven hither against their will , but never without the profit of the inhabitants , according to the common proverbe , where the horse lieth down , there some hairs will be found . the language of the natives , it is a different tongue from the english , and dialect from the welsh , as more easie to be pronounced , and is sufficiently copious to express the conceits of a good wit both in prose and verse . some have avouched it derived from the greek , producing for the proof thereof many words of one sense in both , as kentron , a spur ; schaphe , a boat ; ronchi , snoring , &c. but the judicious behold these as no regular congruities , but casuall coincidencies , the like to which may be found in languages of the greatest distance , which never met together since they parted at the confusion of babel . thus one would enforce a conformity between the hebrew and english , because one of the three giants sons of anak , was called ahiman . the cornish-tongue affordeth but two natural oaths , or * three at most ; but whether each of them be according to the kinds of oaths , divided by the school-men , one assertory , the other promissory , to which some add a third , comminatory , is to me unknown . the worst is , the common cornish supply this ( i will not say defect ) not onely with swearing the same often over , but also by borrowing other oaths of the english. naturall commodities . diamonds . these of themselves sound high , till the addition of cornish substracteth from their valuation . in blackness and hardness , they are far short of the indian . yet set with a good foyle ( advantaged hypocrisie , passeth often for sincerity , ) may at the first sight deceive no unskilfull lapidary : as their lustre is less then orient diamonds , so herein they exceed them , that nature hath made both their face and their dressing , by whom they are pointed and polished . but , enough hereof , the rather , because some from the latine names of jewells , jocalia , things to be jested and played with , and baubellae , things which are trifles and baubles , spightfully collect that stones , accounted precious , are more beholding to the consent of fancy , then their own intrinsick worth for their high valuation . ambergreese . i confess this precious commodity is fixed to no place in the world , as too great a treasure for any one country to engross , and therefore it is only fluctuating and casually found by small parcells , sometimes in one place , and sometimes in another ; yet , because the last , greatest and best quantity thereof , that ever this age did behold , was found on the coasts of this county , we will here insert a little of the name , nature , and use thereof . it is called ambra-gresia , that is , gray amber , from the colour thereof , which modern name utterly unknown to the antients , doth speak it to be of later invention , whereof a learned doctor of physick hath assigned this probable reason , because it was never found in the midland-sea , ( which in effect was all the seas to the antients ) but onely in the main ocean , which was not navigated on , till within this last two hundred years , since seamen have gotten the use of the card and compass . it is almost as hard to know what it is , as where to find it . some will have it the sperme of a fish , or some other unctuous matter arising from them ; others , that it 's the foam of the sea , or some excrescency thence boiled to such a height by the heat of the sun ; others , that it is a gum that grows on the shore . in a word , no certainty can be collected herein , some physitians holding one way , and some another , but this is most sure , that apothecaries hold it at five pounds an ounce , which some say is dearer then ever it was in the memory of man. it is a rare cordiall for the refreshing of the spirits , and soveraign for the strengthning the head , besides the most fragrant scent , far stronger in consort when compounded with other things , then when singly it self . a mass of this ambergreese was about the third year of king charles found in this county , at low water , close to the shore of the mannor of anthony , then belonging to richad carew , esquire . garlick . here is a great and sudden fall indeed , from the sweetest of gums , to the most stinking of roots . yet is not the distance so great , if the worth of garlick be such as some have avouched it . not to speak of the murmuring * israelites , who prized it before manna it self ; some avow it soveraign for men and beasts in most maladies . indeed the scent thereof is somewhat valiant and offensive , but wise men will be contented to hold their noses , on condition they may thereby hold or recover their health . indeed a large book is written de esu allii , which if it hold proportion with truth , one would wonder any man should be sick and dye , who hath garlick growing in his garden . sure i am , our palate-people are much pleased therewith , as giving a delicious hault-gust to most meats they eat , as tasted and smelt in their sauce , though not seen therein . the best garlick is about * stratton in this county . pilchards . plenty hereof are taken in these parts , persecuted to the shore by their enemies , the tunny and hake , till in pursuance of their private revenge , they all become a prey to the fisherman . the pilchard may seem contemptible in it self , being so small , though the wit of the vulgar here will tell you , they have seen many pilchards an ell-long , understand it laid at length , head and tail together . their numbers are incredible , imploying a power of poor people , in polling , ( that is , beheading , ) gutting , splitting , powdering and drying them , and then ( by the name of fumadoes , ) with oyle and a lemon , they are meat for the mightiest don in spain . i wish , not onely their nets , but fish may hold , suspecting their daily decay , their shoals usually shifting coasts , and verging more westward to ireland . other fish here be which turn to good account , all welcome to fishermens hooks , save the star-fish , esteemed contagious . blew-slate . these are commonly found under the walling-slate , when the depth hath brought the workmen to the water . they are thin in substance , clear in colour , light in weight , and lasting in continuance . generally they carry so good a regard , that ( besides the supply of home-provisions ) great store of them are imported into other parts of the land , and transpotted into france and the low-countries . all that i have to say of slate , is that * cinyra the son of agriopae is said first to have found them in cyprus , for the covering of houses . tinne . the most and best in christendome this county doth produce . yea it was the onely tinne in europe , untill a fugitive miner running hence , discovered tinne in voiteland ; in the confines of bohemia . god may be said in this county , to rain meat ( such the plenty thereof , ) and give dishes too , made of pewter , which hath tinne for the father , and lead for the mother thereof , and in our age doth matriza●…e too much . vast their expence in making their addits , ( understand them addresses , and accesses to the mine , ) with dressing , breaking , stamping ; drying , crazing , washing and melting , all plentifully repayed in the selling of it . the discovery of many of these mines have been very remarkable , for some have gained more sleeping , then others waking , having dreamt that in such [ impropable ] places , tinne was to be found , and pursuing such directions , have found it accordingly . the * poet we know faineth two ports of dreames , sunt geminae somni portae ; quarum : altera ●…ertur cornea , quaveris facilis datur exitus umbris : altera candenti , perfecta nitens elephanto , sed falsa ad coelum m●…ttunt insomnia manes . dreames have two gates , one made [ they say of horn by this port pass , true , and prophēticks dreames white ivory the other doth adorne , by this false shades , and lying fancies streames . strange that the best gate , for matter [ ivory ] should present the worst [ false ] dreames . it seems these cornish dreames passed through the horny gate , which fell out so happily , that , thereby many have been inriched , and left great estates to their posterity . i cannot take my leave of these tinners , untill i have observ'd a strange practice of them , that once in seven or eight years , they burn down ( and that to their great profit ) their own melting houses . i remember a merry epigram in * martial , on one tongilian , who had his house in rome , casually [ reputed ] burnt , and gained ten times as much , by his friends contribution to his loss . collatum est decies . rogo non potes ipse videri incendisse tuam , tongiliane domum ? gaining ten fold , tell truly i desire , tongilian did'st not set thy house on fire ? but here the tinners avow themselves incendiaries of their own houses , on a profitable account . for , during the tinnes melting in the blowing-house , diverse light sparkles thereof , are by the forcible wind , which the bellows sendeth forth , driven up to the thatched roof , on the burning whereof they find so much of this light tinne in the ashes , as payeth for the new building , with a gainfull overplus . the buildings . master attorney noy was wont pleasantly to say , that his house had no fault in it , save onely that it was too near unto london , though indeed distanced thence full three hundred miles , in the remoter part of this county . but seriously one may say , and defend it , that the distance of cornwall from that metropolis , is a conventent inconveniency . as for the structure of their houses , they are generally but mean , though the nobility and gentry have hansome habitations , and amongst them none excelleth . mount-edgecomb●… . it was built by sir richard edgecomb knight , take his character from * one who very wel knew him , mildness and stoutness , diffidence and wisdom , deliberateness of undertakings , and sufficiency of effecting ; made in him a more commendable , then blazing mixture of vertue . in the raign of queen mary ( about the year . ) he gave entertainment at one time , for some good space to the admirals of the english , spanish , and netherland , and many noble men besides . a passage the more remarkable , because i am confident that the admiralls of those nations never met since , ( if ever before ) amicably at the same table . mount-edgcombe was the scene of this hospitality , a house new built and named by the aforesaid knight , a square structure with a round turret at each end , garretted on the top . the hall ( rising above the rest ) yieldeth a stately sound as one entereth it , the parlour and dyning-roome afford a large and diversified prospect both of sea and land. the high scituation ( cool in summer , yet not cold in winter ) giveth health : the neighbour river wealth . two block-houses great safety , and the town of plymouth good company unto it . nor must i forget the fruitful ground about it , ( pleasure without profit , is but a flower without a root , ) stored with wood , timber , fruit , deer and gonnies , a sufficiency of pasture , arable and meadow , with stone , lime , marl , and what not ? i write not this to tempt the reader to the breach of the tenth commandement , to covet his neighbours house , and one line in the prevention thereof . i have been credibly informed that the duke of medina sidonia admiral of the spanish-fleet in the . was so affected at the sight of this house ( though but beholding it at a distance from the sea , ) that he resolved it for his own possession in the partage of this kingdome , ( blame him not if choosing best for himself , ) which they had preconquered in their hopes and expectation . but he had catch'd a great cold , had he had no other clothes to wear , then those which were to be made of a skin of a bear , not yet killed . medicinal waters . i know none in this county , which are reported to be soveraign constantly for any diseases . yet i meet with one so remarkable a recovery , that it must not be omitted . however i remember his good counsell , he that telleth a miraculus truth , must always carry his author at his back . i will onely transcribe his words , speaking of the good offices which angels doe to gods servants . doctor joseph hall then bishop of exeter , since of norwich , in his book called , the great mistery of godliness , pag. . of this kind was that ( no less then miraculous ) cure , which at saint maderns in cornwall was wrought upon a poor cripple , whereof ( besides the attestation of many hundred of the neighbours , ) i took a strict and impartial examination in my last visitation . this man for sixteen years together was fain to walk upon his hands , by reason the sinews of his legs were so contracted , and upon monitions in his dreame to wash in that well , was suddenly so restored to his limbs , that i saw him able both to walk , and get his own maintenance . i found here was neither art , nor collusion . the thing done , the author invisible of god. so authenticall an author , ( without any other assistance ad corroborandum , ) is enough to get belief in any , save , such surly souls , who are resolved on infidelity of what their own eyes have not beheld . the wonders . if the word be strained up to the height , i confess cornwall affordeth none at all ; but if it be slackned , and let down a little , there are those things which this dutchy doth tender , and we all willing to take for wonders , for discourse sake , at the least , viz. the hurlers . these are stones competently distanced , whom tradition reporteth , to be formerly men metamorphoz'd into stones , for hurling ( a sport peculiar to cornwall ) on , and so profaning of the lords-day . thus unequally yoaking scripture and ovid together , the tale is made up betwixt them . but seeing such devotion is not durable which is founded on deceit , we protest against , and reject this fiction , the rather , because ▪ the same lawgiver , who injoyned us , remember thou keepest holy the sabbath day , gave us also in command , thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour , and we will not accept a false doctrine , to make a true use thereof . yet surely conformable to the judgement of those times was this tradition made , and thence one may collect that boisterous exercises ( or labours rather , ) so far from refreshing the weary , that they weary the refreshed , are utterly inconsistent with the conscientious keeping of that day , and deserve heavy punishments , for profaning thereof . otherwise we really believe , these stones were originally set up for limits and bounds , or else a monument erected in memory of some victory here atchieved . main amber . main is in cornish the stone , and amber as some conceive of * ambrosius that valiant brittan , erected probably by him on some victory atchieved against the romans , or some other enemies . this is a master-piece of mathematicks and criticall proportions , being a great stone of so exact position on the top of a rock , that any weakness by touching it may move it , and yet no force can remove it , so justly is it poised . i have heard in common discourse , when this main amber hath been made the embleme of such mens dispositions , who would listen to all counsel , and seem inclined thereunto , but are so fixt , that no reason can alter them from their first resolution . but know reader , that this wonder is now unwondred , for i am credibly informed that some souldiers of late have utterly destroyed it . oh , how dangerous is it for art to stand in the way where ignorance is to pass ! surely covetousness could not tempt them thereunto , though it did make one to deface a fair monument in turkey on this occasion . a tombe was erected near the high-way ( according to the fashion of that country , ) on some person of quality , consisting of a piller , and on the top thereof a chapiter or great globe of stone , whereon was written in the turkish tongue , the brains are in the head. this passed many years undemolished , it being piaculum there to violate the concernment of the dead , untill one not of more conscience , but cunning then others , who had passed by it , resolved to unriddle the meaning of this inscription ; breaking the hollow globe open , he found it full of gold , departed the richer , not the honester for his discovery . sure i am , if any such temptation invited the souldiers to this act , they missed their mark therein . their pretence as i understand to this destructive design was reformation , some people as they say making an idol thereof , which if true , i pitty the destroying of main amber , no more then the stamping and pulverizing of the brasen serpent by king hez●…kiah . but i cannot believe so much stupidity in christians , they took much pains by cutting off the stone to dislodge it from its center , ( in how few minutes may envy ruin what art hath raised in more hours , ) and now cornwall hath one artificial wonder fewer then it had before . except any will say that to keep up the number , the unexampled envy of these souldiers may be substituted in the room thereof . and let them sink in obscurity , that hope to swim in credit by such mis-atchivements . proverbs . by tre , pol , and pen , ] you shall know the cornishmen . ] these three words are the dictionary of such surnames , which are originally cornish , and though nounes in sense , i may fitly terme them prepositions . . tre a town . hence tre-fry , tre-lawney , tre-vanion , &c. . pol signifieth an head. hence pol-wheel . . pen a top. hence pen-tire , pen-rose , pen-kevil , &c. some adde to these a fourth inchoation , viz. car ( which i guess to signify a rock ) as carmino , carzew , &c. but i dare not make additions , but present it as i find it in my author . to give one a cornish hugg . ] the cornish are masters of the art of wrestling , so that if the olympian games were now in fashion , they would come away with the victory . their hugg is a cunning close with their fellow combitant , the fruits whereof is his fair fall , or foil at the least . it is figuratively appliable to the deceitfull dealing of such , who secretly design their overthrow , whom they openly embrace . * hengsten down , well ywrought , ] is worth london town , dear ybought . ] the truth hereof none can confirm , or confute ; seeing under-ground-wealth is a nemo scit , and vast may the treasure be of tinne in this down . sure i am , that the gainfull plenty of metall formerly afforded in this place , is now fallen to a scantsaving-scarcity . but , to make the proverbe true , it is possible , that the cornish diamonds found therein , may be pure and orient ( as better concocted ) in the bowells thereof . for , though crafty ( not to say dishonest ) chapmen , put the best grain in the top , and worst in the bottome of their sack ; such is the integrity of nature , that the coursest in this kind are higher , and the purest still the lowest . * tru-ru , ] triveth eu , ] ombdina geveth try-ru . ] which is to say , tr●…u consisteth of three streets , and it shall in time be said , here truru stood . i trust the men of this town are too wise , to give credit to such predictions , which may justly prove true to the superstitious believers thereof . let them serve god , and defie the devil with all his pseudo-prophesies . like to this is another fond observation , presaging some sad success to this town , because ru , ru , which in english is woe , woe , is twice in the cornish name thereof . but , let the men of truru , but practice the first syllable in the name of their town , and they may be safe and secure from any danger in the second . he doth sail into cornwall without a bark . ] this is an italian proverb , where it passeth for a description ( or derision rather ) of such a man who is wronged by his wises disloyalty . i wonder the italians should take such pains to travail so far to fetch this expression , having both the name and matter nearer home . name , having the field cornetus * campus in agro falisco , ( called corneto at this day . ) and a people called † corni in latium , with the cornicti montes near tiber , not to speak of its two promontories tearmed by good authors * cornua duo italiae , the two horns of italy . matter , keeping their wives under restraint as generally full of jealousie , which if just , i much bemoan the gaolers , if not , i more pity their prisoners . whereas in our cornwall , the wives liberty is the due reward of their chastity , and the cause of their husbands comfortable confidence therein . he is to be * summoned before the mayor of halgaver . ] this is a joculary and imaginary court , wherewith men make merriment to themselves , presenting such persons as go slovenly in their attire , untrussed , wanting a spur , &c. where judgement in formal terms is given against them , and executed more to the scorn then hurt of the persons . but enough hereof , least i be summoned thither my self . when dudman and ramehead meet . ] these are two forelands , well known to sailers , well nigh twenty miles asunder , and the proverbe passeth for the periphrasis of an impossibility . however , these two * points have since met together , ( though not in position ) in possession of the same owner , sir pierce edgecombe , enjoying one in his own , the other in right of his wife . saints . saint kiby was son to solomon duke of cornwall , whom severall inducements moved to travail . first , because a prophet hath the least honour in his own country . secondly , because britain at that time was infected with arianisme . thirdly , because he had read so much of the works , and heard more of the worth of saint hilary bishop of poicteers in france . this main motive made him address himself to that worthy father , with whom he lived fifty years , and afterwards saith learned leyland was by him made bishop of the isle of anglesey . pardon me reader , if suspending my belief herein , seeing , surely that holy and humble french saint would not pretend to any metropoliticall power , in appointing a bishop in britain . more probable it is that saint hilary made him a bishop at large sine titulo , whereof there are some precedents in antiquity . however into wales he went , and there converted the northern parts thereof to , and confirmed the rest in christianity . a three-fold memoriall is in the isle of anglesey , extant at this day . one of his master , in point hilary , another of himself , in caer-guiby , and a third of both , in holyhead . he florished about the year of our lord , . ursula daughter to dinoth duke of cornwall , was born in this county . this is she , who se life is loaden with such anticronismes , and improbabilities , that it is questionable , whether this fable was ever founded in a truth , or hath any thing in history for its original . this ursula is said to have carried over out of britain , eleven thousand maids of prime quality , besides * threescore thousand of meaner rank , ( seventy one thousand in all , a prodigious number , ) to be married to so many in little britain in france . preposterous in my mind , to proffer themselves , and it had argued more modesty if their husbands had fetcht them hence . but blame them not , who paid so dear for their adventures . all shipp'd from london , some of them were drowned in their passage , the rest slain by the hunnes of colen , say some , at rome , say others , by king attila under gratian the emperour . mendacium aequabile , observing equall temper of untruth , in time , place , and person . however , there is a church at colen dedicated to their memories , where the virgin earth ( let the * reporter have the whetstone ) will digest no other body , no not the corps of an infant newly baptised , ( as good a maid i believe as the best of them ) but will vomit it up in the night time again , as if they had never been buried . this massacre is reported to have happened in the year of our lord . saint meliorus was onely son of melianus , duke of this county , who being secretly made a christian , was so maliced by rinaldus his pagan-brother-in-law , that he first cut off his right-hand , and then his * left-legg , ( no reason of this transposed method of cruelty , save cruelty , ) and at last his head about the year . whose body being buried in some old church in this county , by the miracles reported to be done thereat , procured the reputation of a saint to his memory . prelates . william de gren-vil was born of a worshipfull family in this * county , and became canon of york , dean of chichester , chancellour of england , ( under k. edward the first , ) and arch-bishop of york . but the worst was , two years his confirmation was deferred untill he had paid nine thousand fiveh undred marks . let him thank the pope , who gave him the odd five hundred , not mounting it to even ten thousand . besides he had this favour , not ( as many others ) to be consecrated by a proxy , but the very hands of p. clement the fifth . this paiment reduced him to such poverty , he was relieved by the clergy of his province , by way of benevolence . this , not doing the deed , to make him a saver , he was fain to crave another help of the same hand , under the new * name of a subsidie . indeed it was pity that the father of the diocess should want any thing , which his sons could contribute unto him. he highly favoured the templars , though more pitying , then profiting them , as persons so stiffly opposed by the pope and philip king of france , that there was more fear of his being suppressed by their foes , then hope of their being supported by his friendship . he was present in the councel of vienna , on the same token , that therein he had his place assigned next the arch-bishop of triers , and that i assure you , was very high , as beneath the lowest elector , and above wortzbury or herbipolis , and other german prelates , who also were temporal princes . but now he is gone , and his pompe with him , dying at cawood . and buried in the chappel of saint nicholas , leaving the reputation of an able statesman , and no ill scholar behind him . michael tregury was born in this * county , and bred in the university of oxford , where he attained to such eminency , that he was commended to king henry the fifth , fit to be a forraign professor . this king henry , desiring to conquer france , as well by arts , as armes , ( knowing that learning made civil persons , and loyall 〈◊〉 , ) reflected on the city of cane ( honoured with the ashes of his ancestors ) in normandy , and resolved to advance it an university , which he did anno . placing this michael , the first professor in the colledge of his royal erection . hence king henry the sixth , preferred him arch bishop of dublin in ireland , wherein he * continued . years , deceasing december . . and is buried in the church of saint patrick in dublin . i am sorry to see the author of so many learned books disgraced on his monument , with so barbarous an epitaph . * praesul metropolis michael hic dubliniensis , marmore tumbatus , pro me christum flagitetis . allowing him thirty years old when professor at cane , he must be extreamly aged at his departure . john arundle was born of right ancient parentage of * lanhearn in this county , bred in the university of oxford , and was by king henry the seventh preferred bishop of coventry and lichfield , anno . thence translated to his native diocese of exeter , . impute it to the shortness of his continuance in that see ; that so little is left of his memory , ( not enough to feed , much less feast the pen of an historian . ) he dyed at london , anno . and lyeth buryed saith my author in st. clements , * not acquainting us whether clements east cheap , or clements ▪ danes ; but i conclude it is the latter , because the bishops of exeter had their inne or city-house ( now converted into essex-house ) within that parish . capital judges and writers on the law. there passeth a pleasant * tradition in this county , how there standeth a man of great strength and stature with a black bil in his hand , at polston-bridge ( the first entrance into cornwall , as you pass towards launceston , where the assizes are holden ) ready to knock down all the lawyers that should offer to plant themselves in that county . but in earnest , few of that profession have here grown up to any supereminent height of learning , livelyhood or authority . whether because of the far distance of this county from the supremer courts , or because of the multiplicity of petty ones nearer hand , ( pertaining to the dutchy , * stannerie's , and other franchises , ) enabling atturneys and the like of small reading to serve the peoples turne , and so cutting the profit from better-studyed counsellers . some conceive that sir robert tresillian , chief justice of the kings-bench in the fifth of king richard the second , to be this country-man , though producing no other evidence save tre the initial syllable of his surname , as a badge of cornish extraction . however we have purposely omitted him in this our catalogue ; partly , because not claimed by mr. carew in his survey for their countryman , partly , because no worthy , as justly executed by act of parliament for pronouncing their acts revocable at the kings pleasure . as for one cornish man ( though neither writer nor actual judge ) his worth commands us to remember him : namely , william noy born in this county , was bred in lincolns-inn , a most sedulous student , constantly conversant with ancient records , verifying his anagram : william noy , i moyl in law. he was for m●…ny years the stoutest champion for the subjects liberty , untill king charles entertained him to be his attorney ; after which time , i read this character of him in an history written by an * ingenious gentleman . he became so servilely addicted to the prerogative , as by ferretting old penall statutes , and devising new exactions , he became for the small time he enjoyed that power ; the most pestilent vexation to the subjects that this latter age produced . however others behold his actions with a more favourable eye , as done in the pursuance of the place he had undertaken , who by his oath and office was to improve his utmost power to advance the profit of his master . thus i see that after their deaths , the memories of the best lawyers may turn clients , yea and sue too in forma pauperis , needing the good word of the charitable survivors to plead in their behalf . he dyed , anno domini . . let me add this passage from his mouth that was present thereat . the goldsmiths of london had ( and in due time may have ) a custom once a year to weigh gold in the star-chamber , in the presence of the privy councill and the kings attourney . this solemn weighing by a word of art they call the pixe , and make use of so exact scales therein , that the master of the company affirmed , that they would turn with the two hundereth part of a grain . i should be loath ( said the attorney noy standing by ) that all my actions should be weighed in those scales . with whom i concur in relation of the same to my self . and therefore seeing the ballance of the sanctuary held in gods hand are far more exact , what need have we of his mercy and christs merits to make us passable in gods presence ? souldiers . king arthur , son to uther-pendragon , was born in tintagel-castle in this county , and proved afterward monarch of great britain . he may fitly be termed the british hercules in three respects , . for his illegitimate birth , both being bastards , begotten on other mens * wives , and yet their mothers honest women , deluded , the one by miracle , the other by art-magick of merlin , in others personating their husbands . . painfull life , one famous for his twelve labours , the other for his twelve victories against the saxons , and both of them had been greater , had they been made less , and the reports of them reduced within compass of probability . . violent and wofull death , our arthurs being as lamentable , and more honourable , not caused by feminine jealousie , but masculine treachery , being murdered by mordred , near the place where he was born . * as though no other place on britains spacious earth , were worthy of his end , but where he had his birth . as for his round-table , with his knights about it , the tale whereof hath trundled so smoothly along for many ages , it never met with much beliefe amongst the judicious . he died about the year anno dom . and now to speak of the cornish in generall . they ever have been beheld men of valour . it seemeth in the raign of the aforesaid king arthur , they ever made up his van-guard , if i can rightly understand the barbarous verses of a * cornish poet. nobilis arcturus nos primos cornubienses , bellum facturus vocat ( ut puta caesaris enses ) nobis , ( non aliis reliquis ) dat primitus ict●…m . brave arthur , when he meant a field to fight , us cornish-men did firstof all invite . onely to cornish ( count them cesars swords , ) he the first blow in battle still affords . but afterwards in the time of king * canutus , the cornish were appointed to make up the rear of our armies . say not they were much degraded , by this transposition from head to foot , seeing the judicious in marshaling of an army , count the ●…rength ( and therefore the credit ) to consist in the rear thereof . but it must be pitied , that these people misguided by their leaders , have so often abused their valour in rebellions , and particularly in the raign of king henry the seventh , at black-heath , where they did the greatest execution , with their arrows , reported to be the * length of a taylors-yard , the last of that proportion , which ever were seen in england . however the cornish have since plentifully repaired their credit , by their exemplary valour and loyalty , in our late civil wars . sea-men . john arundel of trerice esquire , in the fourteenth of king henry the eighth took prisoner * duncane campbell a scot , ( accounted their admiral by his own country-men , a pirat by the english , and a valiant man by all , ) in a fight at sea. this his goodly , valiant , and jeopardous enterprise , ( as it is termed ) was represented with advantage by the duke of norfolk to the king , who highly praised and rewarded him for the same . civilians . john tregonwell was born in this * county , bred in oxford , where he proceeded doctor of the laws , both canon and civil , and attaining to great perfection in the theoretick , and practicall parts of those professions , he was imployed to be proctor for king henry the eighth , in the long and costly cause of his divorce from queen katherine dowager . now as it was said of the roman dictator , sylla suos divitiis explevit , so king henry full fraught all those with wealth and rewards , whom he retained in that imployment . this doctor he knighted , and because so dexterous and diligent in his service , gave him a pension of fourty pounds per annum . and upon the resignation thereof , ( with the paying down of a * thousand pounds ) he conferred on him and his heirs the rich demesne and scite of middleton , a mitred abby in dorsetshire , possessed at this day by his posterity . this sir john died about the year of our lord one thousand five hundred and fourty , and is buried under a fair monument in the church of middleton aforesaid . physitians . although this county can boast of no writer graduated in that faculty in the university , and that generally they can better vouch practise for their warrant , then warrant for their practise , yet cornish-men would be offended if i should omit rawe * hayes a blacksmith by his occupation , and furnished with no more learning then is sutable to such a calling , who yet ministred physick for many years , with so often success and generall applause , that not onely the home-bred multitude believed so mainly in him , but even persons of the better calling resorted to him , from the remote parts of the realm , to make tryall of his cunning , by the hazard of their lives , and sundry either upon just cause , or to cloke their folly , reported that they have reaped their errands ends at his hands . he flourished anno dom. . — atwell born in this county and parson of saint tue therein , was well seen in the theoricks of physick , and happy in the practise thereof , beyond the belief of most , and the reason that any can assign for the same . for although now and then he used blood-letting , he mostly for all diseases prescribed milk , and often milk and apples , which ( although contrary to the judgements of the best esteemed practitioners ) either by virtue of the medicine , or fortune of the physitian , or fancy of the patient , recovered many out of desperate extremities . this his reputation for many years maintained it self unimpaired , the rather , because he bestowed his pains and charge gratis on the poor , and taking moderately of the rich , left one half of what he received in the housholds he visited . as for the profits of his benefice , he poured it out with both hands in pious uses . but for the truth of the whole , fit fides penes * authorem . this atwell was living . writers . hucariu the levite was born in this * county , and lived at saint germans therein . all-eating time hath left us but a little morsell for manners of his memory . this we know , he was a pious and learned man , ( after the rate of that age ) and it appeareth that he was eminent in his function of divine service , because levite was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fixed upon him . in his time ( as in the days of eli ) the word of god was precious , which raised the repute of his pains , who wrote an hundred and ten homilies , besides other books . he flourished . john of cornwall ( so called from the county of his * nativity , ) leaving his native soil , studied in forraign universities , cheifly in rome , where his abilities commended him to the cognizance of pope alexander the third . it argueth his learning , that he durst cope with that giant , peter lumbard himself , commonly called the master of the sentences , and who on that account , expected that all should rather obey , then any oppose his judgement . yea it appeareth , that the judgement of this peter bishop of paris , was not so sound in all points , by a passage i meet with in * mathew paris of pope al●…xander the third , writing a letter to an arch-bishop of france , to abrogate the ill doctrine of peter sometimes bishop of paris , about christs incarnation . but our john wrote against him in his life time , a book de homine assumpto , and put peters pen to some pains to write his own vindication . he wrote also a book of philosophy and heresies . wonder not at their conjunction , philosophy being in divinity , as fire and water in a family , a good servant , but bad master ; so sad it is , when the articles of our creed must be tried by the touchstone of aristotle . this john flourished under k. henry the second , anno . simon thurway was born in this * county , bred in our english universities , untill he went over into paris , where he became so eminent a logician , that all his auditors were his admirers . most firm his memory , and fluent his expression , and was knowing in all th●…ngs , save in himself : for , profanely he advanced aristotle above moses , and himself above both . his pride had a great and sudden fall , losing at the same instant , both language and memory , becoming compleatly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without reason or speech . yet was his dumness to all intelligent people , a loud sermon on saint pauls * precept , not to think of themselves more highly then they ought to think , but to think soberly . polydore † virgil saith of him , juvene nil acutius , sene nihil obtusius ; whilest others * adde , he made an inarticulate sound like to lowing . this great judgement befell him about the year of our lord . michael blaunpayn born in * cornwall , ( some so commonly call him michael the master , that he had almost lost his native name , ) was bred in oxford●…nd ●…nd 〈◊〉 , and became as good a riming poet as any in that age. in happened one henry of normandy chief poet to our henry the third , had traduced cornwall as an inconsiderable country , cast out by nature in contempt into a corner of the land . our michael could not en●…ure this affront , but full of poeticall fury falls upon the libeller , take a tast ( little thereof will go far ) of his strains . non opus est ut opes numerē quibus est opulenta , et p●… quas inopes sustentat non ope lenta , piscibus & stanno nusquam tam fertilis ora . we need not number up her wealthy store , wherewith this helpful land relieves her poor , no sea , so full of fish , of tinn no shore . then as a valiant champion he concludeth all with this exhortation to his country-men . quid nos deterret ? si firmiter in pede stemus , fraus ni nos superat , nihil est quod non superemus . what should us fright , if firmly we do stand ? bar fraud , and then no force can us command . his pen so lushious in praising when so pleased , was as bitter in railing when disposed , witness this his satirical character of his foresaid antagonist . est tibi * gamba capri , crus passeris , & latus apri , os leporis , catuli nasus , dens & gena muli , frons vetulae , tauri caput , & color undique mauri , his argumentis quibus est argutia mentis , quod non à monstro differs , satis hic tibi monstro . gamb'd like a goat , sparrow-thigh'd , sides as boar , hare-mouth'd , dog-nos'd , like mule thy teeth & chin , brow'd as old wife , bul-headed , black as more . if such without , then what are you within ? by these my signs , the wise will easily conster , how little thou didst differ from a monster . he flourished anno . though the certain time and place of his death is unknown . godfrey of cornwall was bred a doctor in paris and oxford , and afterwards became a carmelite of no mean esteem amongst those of his own order . it happened in his time that gerardus bononiensis , a french-man , master generall of the carmelites , made two provincials ( formerly but one ) of that order in england , alledging that two * are better then one , and matters would be the more exactly regulated , by their double inspection . the plain truth was , the french-man did it out of covetousness , that so two loaders might bring double grists to his mill. our godfrey appeared a champion for the old way , that matters might run in their ancient channell , and wrote * a book to that purpose , as many others on severall subjects . john baconthorpe , his contemporary , much esteemed him , and quoted him by the title of * doctor solennis . i doubt not but this our godfrey in mannerly requitall , re-gave baconthorpe the courtesie of doctor resolutus , and here i would fain be satisfied how these received epithetes [ doctor profundus , doctor subtilis , &c. ] came first to be fixed on such and such schoolmen . surely they as●…umed them not themselves , which had argued too much pride and presumption . nor could i ever , as yet , meet with any authentique record of pope or university , which setled it upon them . possibly one eminent writer gave it to another his correspondent , who in reciprocation of kindness ( title thou me , and i will title thee , ) returned as splendid a style to him again . this our solemn doctor flourished anno domini . john trevisa was born at caradock in this county , bred in oxford , afterwards vicar of berkeley in gloucester-shire , and chaplain to thomas lord berkeley , at whose instance ( besides other histories writ by him ) he translated the bible into english , a daring work for a private person in that age , without particular command from pope or publique council . some much admire he would enter on this work , so lately performed ( about fifty years before ) by john wicklife . what was this , but actum agere , to do what was done before ? besides wicklife and trevisa agreeing so well in their judgements , it was much he would make a retranslation . such consider not , that in that age it was almost the same pains for a scholar to translate as transcribe the bible . secondly , the time betwixt wicklife and trevisa was the chrisis of the english tongue , which began to be improved in fifty , more then in . years formerly . many course words ( to say no worse ) used before are refined by trevisa , whose translation is as much better then wicklifes , as worse then tyndals . thus , though the fountain of the original hath always clearness alike therein , channels of translations will partake of more or less purity , according to the translators age , industry and ability . this trevisa died a through old man , about the year . since the reformation . john skuish was born in * cornwall , a man of much experience and generall learning . he was saith my author à consiliis to ●…ardinal woolsy , whereby i collect him learned of the laws , and of his counsell , except that , that great prelate like a prince , had counsell of state belonging unto him . this skuish wrote a chronicle being collected out of many severall authors . i have some presumptions to conclude him inclined to the protestant reformation . he flourished anno dom. . bartholomew traheron . the first syllable of his name , and what is added thereunto by my author , * parentum stemmate clarus , and the sameness of his name with an ancient family in this county , are a three-fold cable to draw my belief , that he was this country-man . he was bred in the university of oxford , and having attained to good learning therein , twice travailed beyond the seas . once for pleasure and curiosity into france and italy , whereby he much improved himself . returning home , he became library-keeper to king edward the sixth , and dean of chichester . the second time for safety and necessity , in the first of q. mary , getting ( i believe ) his best subsistance ( being an exile in germany , ) with making and translating of books , where he was living . and may be rationally presumed to dye before q. elizabeth came to the crown , because being a man of merit , and ecclesiastically dignified , we hear no more of his preferment . richard carew esquire , son to thomas carew and elizabeth e●…gecomb , was born at anthony in this county , of right worshipfull parentage , who honoured his extraction with his learning . he was bred a gentleman-commoner in oxford , where , being but fourteen years old , and yet three years standing , he was called out to dispute ex tempore , before the earls of leicester and warwick , with the matchless sir philip sidney . — si quaeritis hujus , fortunam pugnae , non est superatus ab illo . — ask you the end of this contest ? they neither had the better , both the best . he afterwards wrote the pleasant and faithfull description of cornwall , and i will not wrong his memory with my barbarous praise , after so eloquent a pen. sed haec * planiùs & planiùs docuit richardus carew de anthonie , non minus generis splendore , quàm virtute & doctrina nobilis qui hujus regionis descriptionem latiore specie , & non ad tenue elimavit , quemque mihi praeluxisse non possum non agnoscere . this his book he dedicated to sir walter raleigh , with this modest complement , * that he appealed to his direction , whether it should pass ; to his correction , if it might pass ; and to his protection , if it did pass . adding moreover , that duty not presumption , drawing him to that offering , it must be favour , not desert , must move the other to the acceptance thereof . this survey was set forth . and i collect the author thereof died about the middle of the raign of k. james . i know not , whether he or his son first brought up the use of gambadoes , much worne in the west , whereby whilest one rides on horseback , his leggs are in a coach , clean and warme , in those dirty countries . charles herle was born in this county , of an antient and worshipfull family , bred ( though never fellow * ) in exeter-colledge , and at last richly beneficed in lancashire . we read how pharaoh * removed all the egyptians , ( the priests alone excepted ) from one end of the borders of the land to the other end thereof , but we the ministers in england are of all men most and farthest removeable , three hundred miles and more being interposed betwixt the place of mr. herles birth and benefice . he was a good scholar , and esteemed by his party a deep divine , and ( after the death of doctor twiss ) president of the assembly . as i dare not defend all the doctrine delivered in his printed books ; so i will not inveigh against him , lest in me it be interpreted a revenge on his memory for licencing a book * written against me , wherein i was taxed for popish complyance , though since ( in my self still the same man ) i groan under a contrary representation . the best is , innocence doth turn such groans in to songs of gladness . mr. herle departed this life about . having received no instructions of any eminent benefactors in this county , either before or since the reformation , we may proceed to memorable persons . — * kiltor in the last cornish commotion , ( which was in the raign of king edward the sixth , anno dom. . ) was committed to launceston gaol , for his activity therein . this man lying there , in the castle-green , upon his back , threw a stone of some pounds weight , over the towers top , ( and that i assure you is no low one , ) which leadeth into the park . john bray tenant to master richard carew , ( who wrote the survey of this county ) carried upon his back about the year . at one time by the space well near of a butt length , six * bushells of wheaten meal , reckoning fifteen gallons to the bushell , and upon them all the miller , a lubber of four and twenty years of age . john roman his contemporary , a short clo●…nish ▪ grub , may well be joyned with him . he may be called the cornish milo , so using himself to burdens in his child-hood , that when a man , he would bear the whole carkase of an oxe , and ( to use my * authors words ) yet never tugged thereat . veal , an old man of bodmin in this county , was so beholden to mercuries predominant strength in his nativity , that without a teacher , he became very skilfull in well-near all manner of handy-crafts , a carpenter , a joyner , a mill-wright , a free-mason , a clock-maker , a carver , a mettall-founder , architect , & quid non ? yea , a chirurgeon , physitian , alchimist , &c. so as that which * gorgias of leontium vaunted of the liberall sciences , he may prosess of the mecanicall , viz. to be ignorant in none . he was in his eminency anno . edward * bone of ladock in this county , was servant to mr. courtney therein . he was deaf from his cradle , and consequently dumb , ( nature cannot give out where it hath not received , ) yet could learn , and express to his master any news that was stirring in the country . especially , if there went speech of a sermon within some miles distance , he would repair to the place with the soonest , and setting himself directly against the preacher , look him stedfastly in the face , while his sermon lasted , to which religious zeal , his honest life was also answerable . assisted with a firm memory , he would not onely know any party , whom he had once seen , for ever after , but also make him known to any other , by some speciall observation and difference . there was one kempe , not living far off , defected accordingly , on whose meetings , there were such embracements , such strange , often , and earnest tokenings , and such hearty laughters , and other passionate gestures , that their want of a tongue , seemed rather an hinderance to others conceiving them , then to their conceiving one another . lord m●…yors i meet with but this one and that very lately [ sir richard cheverton skinner ] born in this county , imputing it chiefly to their great distance from london . insomuch that antiently when cornish-men went ( or rather were driven up by the violence of their occasions ) to that city , it was usual with them to make their wills , as if they took their voyage into a forraign country . besides the children of the cornish gentry , counted themselves above , and those of the poorer sort counted themselves beneath a trade in london , as unable to attain it , by reason of the differance of their language , whose feet must travail far to come to london , whilst their tongues must travail further to get to be understood when arrived there . this is one of the twelve pretermitted counties , the names of whose gentry were not returned into the tower in the . of king henry the sixth . sheriffs of cornwall . hen. ii. anno recorda manca anno eustachius fil . stephani for years . anno alanus de furnee for years . anno hug. bardulph dapifer anno idem . anno idem . rich. i. anno will. de bachland anno rich. revel for years . johan . r. anno ioh. de torrington anno hug. bardolph anno rich. flandry anno idem . anno idem . anno will. de botterel for years . anno ioh. filius richard. for years . hen. iii. anno anno anno guliel . lunet anno idem . anno idem . anno gul. de pucot anno reg. de valle torta walt. de treverden anno reg. de valle torta anno gul. bregnen junior rog. de langford reg. de valle torta a blank in the records to the end of this kings raign , ( being forty four years ) except , any suppose ( which is not very probable , that ) the three forementioned persons , all , two , or one of them , continued so long in their office. edw. i. anno anno anno ioh. wigger anno idem . anno rob. de chini anno anno will. de munckton for years . anno alex. de sabridsworth anno idem . anno idem . anno simon . de berkeley anno idem . anno edw. comes cornubiae for years . anno thom. de la hide for years . edw. ii. anno anno anno pet. de gaviston com. cornubiae anno idem . anno idem . anno tho. de la hide anno tho. de excedekney anno rich. de polhampton anno rich. de hewish anno hen. de willington anno anno anno isab. regina angliae anno nullus titulus in rotulo anno nullus titulus in rotulo anno nullus titulus in rotulo anno isab. reg. angliae , regis consors anno idem . edw. iii. anno eliz. regina , regis mater for years . anno will. de botreaux anno idem . anno ioh. petit anno idem anno ioh. de chudeleigh anno ioh. hamly ioh. petit anno idem . anno anno edw. dux cornubiae anno hen. terrill rog. de prideaux anno edw. dux cornubiae anno idem . anno guliel . pipehard anno edw. dux cornubiae for years . anno ioh. northcot will. auncell anno idem . anno idem . anno guliel ▪ auncell anno edward . dux cornubiae to the end of this kings raign . sheriffs . name place armes rich. ii.     anno     nich. wampford     rad. carmino   azure a bend or , a labell of points g. oto . de bodrigay     will. talbot amp.   ioh. bevill gwarnack arg. a bull passant g. armed & tripped or. wa. archdeacō , m. anthony arg. cheverons s. wil. fitzwanter , m.     rich. de kendall   arg. a cheveron betwixt dolphins sable . ioh. bevill ut prius   nich. wamford     ioh. colyn     rich. sergeaux     tho. peverell     will. talbot ut prius   ioh. colyn     ioh. col shall     ioh. herle   arg. a fess g. betwixt sheldrakes proper . ia. chuddelegh   ermin , lions rampant g. will. talbot ut prius   ioh. bevill ut prius   ioh. colshull     gal. seyntal●…yn   or , on a cross g. bezants . hen. iv.     anno     hen. fil . regis hen. . primogenitus & johannes keynes .   the armes of england with the difference of the heir apparent . idem . ut prius   idem . ut prius   idem . ut prius   pre. henricus ut prius   ioh. cole     pre. henricus ut prius   idem . ut prius   idem . ut pri●…s   idem . ut prius   idem . ut prius   idem . ut prius   hen. v.     anno     ioh. kederow     idem .     will. talbot ut prius   oto . trevarthā , m.     hen. fullford   g. a cheveron arg. ioh. arundel , mil. lanhearn s. swallows in pile arg. steph. derneford     ioh. arundel , mi. ut prius   ioh. arundel , mil. trerice ut prius , with due difference . hen. vi.     anno     ioh. arundel , m●… . ut prius   tho. carmyno ut prius   will. talbot ut prius   ioh. herle , mil. ut prius   ioh. arundel , mil. ut prius     ioh. namson     tho. carmino ut prius   ro. chambleyn     la. chuddeleigh ut prius       ioh. herle , mil. ut prius   tho. bonevill s. mullets , , , & . ar. ioh. yerd     tho. whalesbrew ut prius   ren. arundel ut prius   ioh. collshull     ich. nanson     ioh. masndy     th whalesbrough     ioh. blewet   or , a cheveron betwixt eagles displaied vert . ioh. arundel ut prius   ni vel mic. power     io. champernoun   gul. a saltire vairee , twixt billets or. ioh. austill     hen. foretscu   az. a bend engrailed arg. cotissed or. ioh. trevilyan †     ioh. basset   † g. a demyhorse arg. issuing out of the waves of the sea . ioh. nanson     tho. butside     will. dawbeney   arg. a fess lozengee gules . th walesbrough     ioh. petyt     ioh. conkworth     ioh. nanson , ar . ut prius   ioh. arundel     ioh. walesbrough ut prius   ioh. trevilian , ar .     edw. iv.     anno     ro. champernon ut prius   ren. arundel ut prius   ren. arundel ut prius   tho. bere     alver . cordburgh     will. bere     ioh. collshull , m.     ioh. sturgeon , ar .     alver . cornburgh     ioh. arundel , mil. ut prius   ioh. fortescu , ar . ut prius   idem . ut prius   idem . ut prius   idem . ut prius   rich. dux glouc. vir , ad terminum vic . suae .   france and england , on a label of three ermine , as many cantons g. ioh fortescu , ar .     egid. dawbeney ut prius   will. cornsnyowe     rob. willoughby ,     rich. nanson     tho. greenvil   gules three rests or. tho. fullford   gules , a cheveron arg. rich. iii.     anno     ioh. treffey foy s. a cheveron betwixt hawthorns arg. ia. tirell , mil. essex . arg. cheverons az. within a border engrailed g. will. houghton     hen. vii .     anno     tho. greenvil ut prius   ioh. tremayn   g. armes in circle joyned at the tronkes , or with hands proper . alex. carew anthony or , lions passant gardant s. armed and langued g. rich nanson     ioh. treffey , mil. ut prius   ioh. roscarrock roscarrock arg. a chever . twixt roses g. a sea ▪ tenchnayat proper . th. tregarthen , a. walt. enderby , ar . linco . arg. bars dancette s. a pale in cheif ermine . rich. vivian *     wal. enderby , ar .   * arg. a lion ramp , g. mounted on barrs wavee in base az. petrus bevell ut prius   edw. arundel , ar . ut prius   ●… ioh. basset     pe. edgcombe , m. edgcombe g. on a bend ermin between cotises or , boars-heads cooped arg. idem . ut prius   ioh. treffey , mil. ut prius   wil. treffey , ar . ut prius   pet. bevill ut prius   wit. trevanyon cary-hays arg. on a fess , b escalops or between cheverons g. ioh. godolphin* godolghā   rich. vivian , ar . ut prius * g. an eagle displayed with heads twixt flour de luces argent . pet. eggcombe , m. ut prius   mich. vivian , ar . ut prius   wil. t●…evanion , a. ut prius   th. trevanion , m. ut prius   hen. viii .     anno     ioh. arundel , mi. talvern   ro graynfield , a. ut prius   wil. carsew , ar . bokelly s. a goat passant arg. attired and tripped or. iac : eryse , ar .   s. a chevern twixt griffons sergeant or. ioh. ca●…myno ut prius   ioh. carew , at . ut prius   wit. trevanion , m. ut prius   pe. eggcombe , m.     io. basset , mil.     ro. greenfield , a. ut prius   io. arundell de trevise , ar . ut prius   ioh. skewys , ar .     ioh. basset , mil. ut prius   ro. greenfield , a. ut prius   io. arundell de trevise , ar . ut prius   will. lour , ar .   az. a cheveron engrailed or between roses arg. rich. penrose , ar .   arg. bends s. charged with rest of the field . ri. greenfield , ar . ut prius   hu. trevanyon , a. ut prius   ioh. chamond , ar . launcels arg. a cheveron betwixt flour de luces g. wil. godolphin , a.     chri. t●…ednoke , a.     ioh. arundell de trevise , ar , ut prius   hu. trevanion , m. ut prius   wi. godolphin , m.     pe. edgcombe , m. ut pr●…us   ioh. reshymar , m. hailford az. bars arg. in chief a wolf passant of the first . ioh. chamond , m ut prius   hug. trevanyō , m.     wi. godolphin , m.     ioh. reskymer , ar . ut . prius   ioh. arundell , ar . ut prius   ioh. arundell , m. ut prius   hu. trevanyon , a. ut prius   ric. chamond , ar . ut prius   ric. greenfield , a. ut prius   tho. saint albine , ar . ut prius   ioh. trelawney , a. pool arg. a cheveron s. betwixt oake-leaves vert . edw. vi.     anno     ioh. milaton , ar .     pet. chamond , ar . ut prius   wil. godolphin , m. ut prius   ric. roscorrek , ar . ut prius   hu. trevanyon , m. ut prius   reg. mohun , ar .   or , a cross engrailed sable . reg. mari .     anno     io. arundell de trevise , mil. ut prius   phil. & mar.     anno     , io. arundell de lanhern , mil. ut prius   , ric. edgcombe , a. ut prius   , io r●…skymer , ar . ut prius   , ioh. bevil , ar . ut prius   , io carminoe , ar . ut prius   reg. eliza .     anno     reg. mohun , ar . ut prius   ioh. trelawny , ar . ut prius   ric. roscarrake , a. ut prius   ric. chamond , ar . ut prius   hen. chiverton , ●… .   arg. a castle s. on a hill ve●…t . hu trevanyon , a. ut prius   will. milliot , ar .     ioh trelawny , ar . ut prius   ioh. st. albyen , ar . ut prius   wi. godolphin , m. ut prius   pet. edgcombe , a. ut prius   hen. curwen , mi. cumbe . arg. frettee g. a chief az. will. mohun , ar . ut prius   pet. courtney , ar . ladock or torteaux and a file with as many lambeaux az. ioh. arundel de trevise , ar . ut prius   ioh. bevil ut prius   geo. ke●…kwick , ar . ●…atch-french arg lions in bend passant s. cotised g. rich. g●…evill , ar .     will. mohum , ar .     will. louer , ar . ut prius   fr. godolphin , ar . ut prius   ioh. arundel , ar . ut prius   ioh.     rich carew , ar . ut prius   ge. greenvill , ar . nt prius   tho. cosworth , a. cosworth arg , on a chev. betwixt wings az b●…zants . io. roscarroke , ar . ut prius   ioh. wray , ar . trebigh s. a fess betw . b●…tle-axes ar. ●… ant. rouse , ar . halton o●… , an e●…gle displayed b. prunin ? her w●…ng 〈◊〉 and langued g. tho. st. albin , ar . ut prius   will. bevill , ar . ut prius   walt. kendall , ar .   argent a 〈◊〉 betwixt d●…lphins s. geo kegwhich , a. ut prius   ri. cham●…ernown ut prius   tho. lower , ar . ut prius   ioh. trelawne , ar . ut prius   car. trevanion , a. ut prius   ber. grenvill , ar . ut prius   pet. courtney , ar . ut prius   will. bevill , ar . ut prius   will. wray , ar . ut prius   fran. buller , ar . tregarrids s. on a plain cross arg. quart erpierced e●…gles of the field . hanibal vivian ut prius   anth. rouse , ar . ut prius * s. croissants , within a border agent . arth. harris , ar . * & primo iac.     jac. rex .     anno     arth. harris , ar . ut prius   fr. godolphin , m. ut prius   nic. predeaux , ar . padstow a cheveron sab. in chief , a fyle with lambeaux g. deg. chamond , a. ut prins   ioh. arundell , ar . ut prius   io. rashly , a. mo . ioh ▪ acland , m.   sa. a cross twixt croissants argent . cheekee arg. & s. a fess g. chri. harris , mil. ut prius   ri. edgcombe , m. ut prius   rich. bullar , ar . ut prius   will wrey , mil. ut prius   will. coriton , ar .   argent a saltire sable . rich. roberts , ar . trewro az. estoyles and a chief wavy or. io. chamond , ar . ut prius   will. dode , ar .     fran. vivian . ar .   argent a li●…n ram●…ant g. rich. carsew , ar . ut prius   reskmim . boniton cardew arg. a chev●…twixt flow●…rs de luces s. nich. glyn , ar . glynfford arg. a chev. betwixt sammons spears s. sa. pendervis , a. *     ioh. speccot , ar . †   * s. a falcon rising betwe●…t mullets o●… . rich. gedy , ar .     io. moyle , ar . vir . * s. germains † or on a bend g. millroinds argent . car. reg.   * g. a moyle passant arg. anno     tho. wivell , ar .     ioh. trefuses , ar .   arg. a cheveron betw . wharrow spindles s. io. rashleigh , ar . ut prius   geor. he le , ar .   g. a bead losengee erm.     io. trelawney , m. ut prius   ioh. prideaux , ar . ut prius   nic. loure , mil. ut prius   cha. t●…evanio , a. ut prius   hu. bosgawen , ar .   vert a bull passant arg. ar●…ed or , in a cheif ermin a rose gules . io. st. albin , a. ut prius   rich. buller , mil. ut prius   fran godolpin , a. ut prius       rich. trevill , ar .   or , a cross engrailed sa. in the first quarter a mull●…t g. fran. willear                         edw. heile , ar . ut prius   edward iii. roger de priddeaux . ] my eye cannot be entertained with a more welcome object , then to behold an antient name , not onely still continuing to , but eminently flourishing in our age . on which account , i cannot but congratulate the happiness of this family , expecting a daily accession of repute from the hopefull branches thereof . edward iv. john arundle , mil. ] this worthy knight was forewarned , ( by what calker i wot not , ) that he should be slain on the * sands . this made him to shun his house at efford ( alias ebbing-ford ) as too maritime , and remove himself to trerice , his more inland habitation in this county . but he found it true , fata viam inveniant ; for being this year sheriff , and the earl of oxford surprizing mount michael ( for the house of lancaster ) he was concerned by his office , and command from the king , to endeavour the reducing thereof , and lost his life in a skirmish on the sands thereabouts . thus it is just with heaven , to punish mens curiosity in enquiring after , credulity in believing of , and cowardise in fearing at such prognostications . thomas granvil . ] be it entred ( by way of caveat ) that there is some difference in the blazoning of the coat of the granvils or greenvils . what usually are termed therein rests , being the handles of spears ; ( most honorable in tilting to break them nearest thereunto , ) are called by some criticks , 〈◊〉 , being the necessary appendants to organs , convaying wind unto them . if , ( as it seemeth ) their dubious form , as represented in the scutcheon , doth ex aequo answer to both , with me they shall still pass for the rests of spears . for though i dare not deny , but the greenvils might be good musitians , i am assured they were most valiant souldiers in all their generations . but the merits of this ancient family are so many and great , that ingrossed they would make one county proud , which divided would make two happy . i am therefore resolved equally to part what i have to say thereof , betwixt cornwall and devonshire . richard iii. the reader will take notice , that , ( as it is in our catalogue ) richard duke of gloucester was high-sheriff of this county , ad terminum vitae , a strange precedent , ( if it may be said to go before , which hath nothing to follow after , ) seeing for the last two years , he was both king of england and sheriff of cornwall . we therefore behold all the following persons unto the first of king henry the seventh , but as so many deputies under him , and amongst these we take speciall notice of james tirrel , mil. ] this is he , so infamous in our english histories , for his activity in murdering the innocent sons of king edward the fourth , keeping the keyes of the tower , and standing himself at the foot of the staires , whilst mr. forest and j. dighton , stifled them in their beds . i behold this sir james as an essex-man , though now the prime officer of this county . for king richard accounted cornwall the back dore of rebellion , and therefore made this knight the porter thereof . indeed it is remote from london , and the long sides of this county afford many landing-places , objected to britain in france , whence the usurper always feared ( and at last felt ) an invasion , and therefore he appointed him sheriff to secure the county , as obliged unto him , by gratitude for favours received , and guilt for faults committed . this tirrel was afterwards executed for treason , in the tower yard in the beginning of king henry the seventh . henry vii . john basset . ] this was a busie year indeed in this county , when the cornish commotion began ( headed by flammock a lawyer , and michael joseph a blacksmith , ) at the town of bodmin . let none impute it to the neglect of this sheriff , that he suppressed them not , seeing ( besides that they quickly quitted this county , and went eastward ) it was not the work of posse comitatus , but posse regni , to encounter them . however , after long-running , ( for they marched the breadth of the land , from cornwall to kent , before battle was bid them , ) they were overtaken , and overcome at black-heath . peter edgcombe , mil. ] the names of pierce [ or peter ] and richard , have been ( saith my * author ) successively varied in this family , for six or seven descents . such chequering of christian names serve heraulds instead of stairs , whereby they ascend with assurance into the pedigrees of gentlemen , and i could wish the like alternation of font-names fashionable in other families . for where the heirs of an house , are of the same name , for many generations together , it occasioneth much mistake , and the most cautious , and conscientious heralds , are guilty of making incestuous matches , confounding the father for the son , and so reciprocally . queen elizabeth . richard chamond , esq. ] he received at gods-hand an extraordinary favour of long life , serving in the office of a justice of peace almost sixty * years . he saw above fifty several judges of the westerne circuit , was uncle and great-uncle to three hundred at least , and saw his youngest child above fourty years of age . willian mohun . ] he was descended from the ancient lords of dunster , and earls of somerset , of which one received a great papall priviledge , whereof largely in my church history . i behold him as grand-father to john lord mohun of oakehampton , ( descended by a coheir from the courtneys earls of devonshire , ) and great-grand-father to the right honourable warwick lord mohun . anthony rouse , esq. ] give me leave only to transcribe what i find written of him , * he employeth himself to a kind , and uninterrupted entertainment of such as visit him , upon his not sparing , inviting , or their own occasions , who ( without the self-guilt of an ungrateful wrong ) must witness , that his frankness confirmeth their welcome , by whatsoever means , provision , the fewell of hospitality , can in the best manner supply . he was father to francis rouse , late provost of eaton , whose industry is more commendable then his judgment in his many treatises . king james . francis godolphin , mil. ] master carew confesseth in his * survey of this county , that from him he gathered sticks to build that nest , who was assistant unto him in that playing labour , as he termeth it . this ingenious gentleman entertained a dutch mineral-man , and taking light from his experience , built thereon far more profitable conclusions , from his own invention , practicing a more saving way , to make tinn , of what was rejected for refuse before . and here the mention of his ingenuity , minds me how hereditary abilities are often intailed on families , seeing , he was ancestor unto sidney godolphin slain at ....... in devonshire , valiantly fighting for his lord and master . his christian and sur-name divisim signifie much , but how high do they amount in conjunction ? there fell wit and valour , never sufficiently to be bemoaned . william wrey , mil. ] he was direct ancestor to sir chichester wrey knight and baronet , who though scarce a youth in age , was more then a man in valour , in his loyall service . he married anne one of the daughters and co-heirs of will. bourchier earl of bath , whose son bourchier chichester , shall ever have my prayers , that he may answer the nobleness of his extraction . richard roberts . ] he was afterwards created a baron , and was father unto the right honourable the lord roberts , one of his majesties most honourable privy council , lately designed deputy of ireland , as a person of singular ability and integrity . the battles . i shall inlarge my self the rather on this subject , because building my discourse therein , not on the floting sands of uncertaine relations , but the rock of reall intelligence . having gotten a manuscript of sir ralph hoptons , ( courteously communicated unto me by his secretary master tredui , ) interpolated with his own hand , being a memoriall of the remarkables in the west , at which that worthy knight was present in person . i begin with that which is called the battle of liskerd , taking the name from the next town of note thereunto , otherwise bradock-downe was the particular place thereof . before the fight began , the kings side took it into their seasonable consideration , that seeing by the commission the lord mohun brought from oxford , four persons , [ viz. the said lord mohun , sir ralph hopton , sir john berkeley and colonel ashburn ham , ] were equally impowered in the managing of all military matters , and seeing such equality might prove inconvenient , ( which hitherto had been prevented with the extraordinary moderation of all parties , ) in ordering a battle , it was fittest to fix the power in one chief , and generall consent setled it in sir ralph hopton ▪ he first gave order that publick prayers should be had in the head of every squadron , and it was done accordingly , ( and the enemy observing it , did stile it saying of mass , as some of their prisoners afterwards did confess . ) then he caused the foot to be drawn up in the best order they could , placed a forelorn of musketiers in the little inclosures , winging them with the few horse and dragoons he had . this done two small mynion - drakes speedily and secretly fetched from the lord mohuns house , were planted on a little barrough within randome-shot of the enemy , yet so , that they were covered from their sight , with small parties of horse about them . these concealed mynions were twice discharged with such success , that the enemy quickly quitted their ground , and all their army being put into a rout , the kings forces had the execution of them , which they performed very sparingly . they took twelve hundred and fifty prisoners , most of their colours , all their cannon , ( being four brass-guns upon carriages , ( whereof two were twelve-pounders , ) and one iron ●…aker , ) all their ammunition , most of their armes , and marching that night to liskard , the kings forces first gave god publick thanks and then took their own private repose . stratton fight succeeds on tuesday . may . but first let us take a true account of the two armies respectively , with the visible inequality betwixt them . the kings forces were in want of ammunition , and were to hew out their own way up a steep-hill with their valour , exposed to all disadvantages and dangers . their horse and dragoons exceeded not five hun dred , their ●…oot about two thousand four hundred in number . the parliament army had plenty of all provisions , and had advantagiously barocadoed themselves on the top of a hill. their horse indeed were not many , ( having lately sent away twelve hundred to surprizethe sheriff and commissioners at bodmin , ) but foot were five thousand four hundred by pole as their major generall did acknowledge . as for the kings forces order was given that by four severall avenues they should force their passage to the top of the hill , which was very steep , the enemy as obstinately indeavouring to keep them down , as the other did valiantly strive to ascend . the fight continued doubtfull with many countenances of various events , ( from . of the clock in the morning till . in the afternoon , ) amongst which most remarkable the smart charge made by m. g. chudeleigh , with a stand of pikes , on sir bevill greenfield , so that the knight was in person overthrown , and his party put into disorder , which would have proved destructive unto it , had not sir john berkeley ( who led up the musketiers on each side of sir bevill greenfield , ) seasonably relieved it , so re-inforcing the charge , that major general chudelegh was taken prisoner . betwixt three and four of the clock the commanders of the kings forces , who embraced those four severall ways of ascent , met to their mutuall joy almost at the top of the hill , which the routed enemy confusedly forsook . in this service , though they were assaylants they lost very few men , and no considerable officer , killing of the enemy about three hundred , and taking seventeen hundred prisoners , all their cannon [ being thirteen pieces of brass-ordnance , ] and ammunition , [ seventy barrels of pouder , ] with a magazin of bisket , and other provisions proportionable . for this victory publick prayer and thanksgiving was made on the hill , and then the army was disposed of , to improve their success to their best advantage . for this good service sir ralph hopton was afterwards , at oxford , created baron of * stratton , in form as followeth , carolus dei gratia angliae , &c. cum & nominis nostri & posteritatis interest , & ad clara exempla propaganda utilissimè compertum , palam fieri omnibus premia , apud nos vertuti sita , nec perire fidelium subditorum officia , sed memori & benevolo pectore fixissimè insidere ; his praesertim temporibus , cum plurimorum ( quibus antehac nimium indulsimus ) temerata , aut suspecta fides , pretium aliorum constantiae addidit . cumque nobis certò constat radulphum hopton militem de balneo splendidis & antiquis natalibus , tum in caetera sua vita integritatis & morum eximium , tum in hac novissima tempestate , fatalique regni & rebelli motu , rari animi fideique exemplum edidisti , regiae dignitatis in eaque publice contra utriusque adversarios assertorem & vindicem acerrimum . quippe quia non solum nascenti huic furori ( nec dum omnibus manifesto ) optimis consiliis fortis in curia senator restiteret ; sed insinuante se latius veneno & crescente foerocia dom●…m ad suos reversus fortior miles in agro suo somersetensi & vicini partibus omni ope & manu iniquissimam causam oppugnaverit , in arce praesertim sherbornianâ sub auspiciis marchionis hertfordiae egregiam operam navaverit . mox ulterius progressus pollenti in devonia factionis tyrannide , & munitissima civi●…ate in foedus illecta , & jam undique bonis subditis perniciem minante , ipse penè in illa regione hospes , contracto è cornubia milite , & primoribus statim impetum eorum repressit , jacentésque & afflictas nostras partes mirifica virtute recreavit : et licet summis necessitatibus conflictanti exigua pars negocii ●…ostes erant , tantum ab●…uit ut vel illis , vel istis succumberet , ut contra copiis auctiores & bellico apparatu instructissimos , saepiùs signis collatis in aciedemicans semper superior excesserit . testis lanestonia , saltash , bradock , aliaque obscura olim nomina & loca , nunc victoriis illius & perduellium cladibus nobilitata . vix etiam ab his respiraverat cum novus belli furor lassas jam ferè & continuis praeliis luxatas vires numerocissimo exercitu adortus , uberiorem triumphandi dedit materiam . cum ille in campis strattoniae , in difficillimas licet angustias redactus , inops militaris instrumenti & consumpto jam pulvere tormentario , armatos inermis , vallo munitos intectus , sola causa & virtute animatus , ita retudit , concidit , castris exuit , ut totam belli molem cum ipsis authoribus prof●…igavit ; quicquid fugae illius residuum erat , inter urbis unius moenia eaque arcta obsi deon●… astricta concluso . qua quidem pugna memorabili praeter quod miserum popellum , jugo intolerabili levaverat , sedes suas expulsis , ecclesias pastoribus , pacem omnibus , & firmamentum pacis obsequium pristinum restituerit . et jam sequenti armorum nostrorum faelicitati qua partes regni occidentales maturius ad officium & verum dominum redierunt & viam aperuisse & momentum ingens extitisse libentissime profitemur ; in hac opera lau dabili cum praefatus radulphus perstet adhuc invicto animo & industria indefessa nullo arduo quantumvis labore & periculo excusatus , cumque mille argumentis testatum fecerit , honorem salutemque nostram sibi omni fortuna & captio potiorem , nos virum fortissimum optimeque affectum animum benigno studio prosequi & amplius demereri volentes , hunc & praeconio merito ornandum , & propriori ad nos gradu extollendum censuimus . sciatis igitur nos de gratia nostra speciali 〈◊〉 ex certa scientia & mero motu praefatum radulphum hopton ad statum , gradum , stilum , dignitatem , titulum & honorem baronis hopton de stratton in comitatu nostro cornubiae , &c. in cujus rei testimonium has literas nostras fieri fecimus patentes . teste meipso apud oxon. quarto die septembris , anno regni nostri decimo nono . this honour determined in this lord , dying issuless at bruges in flanders , since which time king charles the second hath conferred the title of baron of stratton on sir john berkeley , younger sonto sir maurice berkeley of bruiton in somerset-shire . this was he who was one of the first four tetrarchs or joint-managers in chief of marshall matters in cornwall , this is he who was so highly instrumentall in the reducing of exeter , being afterwards deservedly appointed the governour . how since he hath shared in his majesties sufferings beyond the seas is sufficiently known . as for the generall disarming and disbanding of the parliament army in this county anno . it was a conquest without a battle , on this occasion ▪ i have seen the head , bow down to take a thorne out of the foot. such the proportion of cornwall to england , and such was the condescention of the king to come into this county . essex followed him with all his forces , till he pen'd himself in a narrow place ( or rather large pound , ) so that he was surrounded on all sides , with the sea and the kings souldiers . hereupon essex ( with some prime commanders ) shipped himself for plimouth , thence for london , whither also their horse forced their passage ( without considerable loss , ) under the conduct of sir william belfore , whom the kings horse did sequi , non assequi , follow but not overtake . the foot left behind , submitted to the king on such conditions as are generally known . his majesty earnestly endeavouring ( by the enemies own confession , ) the exact observing of articles , which if some unruly royalist did violate , ( souldiers will hardly wear bad cloaths , whilst their foes being in their power have better on their backs , ) it was not so much an offering as returning of an injury , some of them having formerly felt the same usage on the like occasion . the parliament foot did not depose their disaffections with their armes , soon resuming ( or rather retayning ) their former principles , which made them adde new armes to their old inclinations in the second battle at newbury . the farewell . being now to part with this county , i wish it all happiness , and particularly that flaws or flaughs may either never come thither or quickly depart thence . which being a kind of english hericano hath little civility therein , as throwing down some houses , more trees , and making more waste with the blast thereof . and may the same divine providence , which is their 〈◊〉 , be also neptune unto it , to secure this county , from the fury of water , as well as from the fierceness of the wind , that their lioness may never get a lion unto it , so to propagate inundations betwixt them . and now to wish an honour to this dutchy , and therewith a happiness both to it and all england , the strength of my weak prayers ( twisted with many millions more proceeding from loyall hearts in this land ) shall never be wanting , that god would be pleased to bestow a duke of cornwall , of the loines of our gracious soveraign , to be possessed of the vertues , and to be heir apparent to the lands of his father . a duke , presumed in law to be of full age to all purposes and intents , the first minute of his birth , which happy minute god in due time send for the comfort of our nation . cumberland . cumberland hath scotland on the north , northumberland and westmerland on the east , lancashire on the south , and the irish●… sea on the west . it is not unlike a half moon in the form thereof , which from its tips north and south may be allowed to be somewhat more then . miles , though east and west it spreadeth not above . miles . the soyl though generally hard , and exacting much toyl to improve it , is pleasant with the varieties , and profitable with these naturall commodities . pearls . these are found commonly by the river irt , where mussels ( as also oysters and other shellfish , ) gaping for the dew , are in a manner impregnated therewith . so that some conceive that as dew is a liquid pearl , so a pearl is dew consolidated in these fishes . here poor people getting them at low water , sell to jewellers for pence , what they sell again for pounds . indeed there is a spanish proverbe , that a lapidary who would grow rich , must buy of those who go to be executed , ( as not caring how cheap they sell , ) and sell to those that go to be married , as not caring how dear they buy . but waving these advantages , such of that mistery which trade with country-people herein , gaine much by buying their pearls , though far short of the indian in orientness . but whether not as usefull in physick is not as yet decided . black-lead . plenty hereof is digged up about keswick , the onely place ( as i am inform'd ) where it is found in europe , and various is the use thereof . . for painters ( besides some mixture thereof in making lead●…colours , ) to draw the pictures of their pictures , viz. those shadowy lines made onely to be unmade again . . for pens , so usefull for scholars to note the remarkables they read , with an impression easily deleble without prejudice to the book . . for feltmakers for colouring of hats . . to scoure leaden cisternes , and to brighten things made of iron . . in flanders and germany , they use it for glasing of stuffs . besides these visible , surely there are other concealed uses thereof , which causeth it daily to grow the dearer , being so much transported beyond the seas . copper . these mines lay long neglected , ( choak'd in their own rubbish ) till renewed about the beginning of queen elizabeth , when plenty of copper was here afforded , both for home-use and ●…orraign transportation . but copper it self was too soft for severall military services , and could not alone ( no single person can prove a parent ) produce brass most usefull for that purpose . here taste and see , divine providence , which never doth its work by halfes , and generally doubleth gifts by seasonable giving them . lapis calaminaris ( whereof hereafter in due place , ) was then * first found in england , the mother of brass as copper the father hereof . hence came it to pass that queen elizabeth left more brass then she found iron-ordnance in the kingdome . and our wooden walls ( so our ships are commonly call'd ) were rough-casted over with a coat of a firmer constitution . we must not forget the names of the two dutch-men ( good froggs by sea , but better moles by land , ) who re-found out these copper-mines , wherein also some silver ( no new milk without some creame therein , ) viz. thomas shurland and daniel hotchstabter of auspurge in germany , whose nephews turning purchasers of lands hereabouts , prefer easily to take what the earth tenders in her hands above ground , then painfully to pierce into her heart for greater treasure . i am sorry to hear , and loath to believe what some credible persons have told me , that within this twenty years the copper within this county hath been wholly discontinued , and that not for want of mettall , but mining for it . sad , that the industry of our age could not keep , what the ingenuity of the former found out . and i would willingly put it on another account , that the burying of so much steel in the bowells of men , dureing our civil wars , hath hindred their digging of copper out of the entralls of the earth , hoping that these peaceable times will encourage to the resuming thereof . the buildings . this county pretendeth not to the mode of reformed architecture , the vicinity of the scots causing them to build rather for strength then state. the cathedrall of carlile , may pass for the embleme of the militant-church , black but comely , still bearing in the complexion thereof , the remaining signes of its former burning . rose-castle , the bishops best seat , hath lately the rose therein withered , and the prickles in the ruins thereof onely remain . the houses of the nobility and gentry are generally built castle-wise , and in the time of the romans , this county ( because a limitary ) did abound with fortifications , mr. cambden taking notice of more antiquities in cumberland and northumberland , then in all england besides . the wonders . although , if the word , wonders , be strained up high and hard , this county affordeth none , yet if the sense thereof be somewhat let down , the compass thereof fetcheth in the moss-troopers . so strange the condition of their living , if considered in their original , increase , height , decay and ruine . . originall , i conceive them the same called borderers in mr. cambden , and charactered by him to be a wild and war-like people , they are called moss-troopers , because dwelling in the mosses , and riding in troops together . they dwell in the bounds , or meeting of two kingdomes , but obey the laws of neither . they come to church as seldome as the . of february comes into the kalender . . increase , when england and scotland were united in great britain , they that formerly lived by hostile incursions , betook themselves to the robbing of their neighbours . their sons are free of the trade by their fathers copy , they are like unto job ( not in piety and patience , but ) in suddain plenty and poverty , sometimes having flocks and heards in the morning , none at night , and perchance many again next day . they may give for their motto , vivitur ex rapto , stealing from their honest neighbours , what sometimes they re-gain . they are a nest of hornets , strike one and stir all of them about your ears . indeed if they promise safely to conduct a traveller , they will perform it with the fidelity of a turkish janizary , otherwise , wo be to him that falleth into their quarters . . height , amounting forty years ●…ince to some thousands . these compelled the vicenage , to purchase their security , by paying a constant rent unto them . when in their greatest height , they had two great enemies , the laws of the land , and the lord william howard of naworth . he sent many of them to carlisle , to that place , where the officer always doth his work by day-light . yet these moss-troopers , if possibly they could procure the pardon for a condemned person of their company , would advance great sums out of their common stock , who in such a case , cast in their lots amongst themselves , and all have one * purse . . decay , caused by the wisdome , valour and diligence , of the right honorable charles l. howard , now earl of carlisle , who routed these english-tories with his regiment . his severity unto them will not onely be excused , but commended by the judicious , who consider , how our great lawyer doth describe such persons who are solemnly 〈◊〉 . bracton . lib. tertio tract . . cap. . ex tunc gerunt caput lupinum , ita quod sine judiciali inquisitione ritè 〈◊〉 , & secum 〈◊〉 judicium portent , & meritò sine l●…ge pereunt , qui secundum legem vivere recusarunt ; thenceforward [ after they are out-law'd ] they wear a * woolfs-head , so that they lawfully may be destroyed , without any judiciall inquisition , as who carry their own condemnation about them , and deservedly die without law , because they refused to live according to law. . ruine . such the success of this worthy lords severity , that he made a through reformation amongst them , and the ring-leaders being destroyed , the rest are reduced to legall obedience , and so i trust will continue . proverbs . — * if skiddaw hath a cap ] scruffell wots full well of that . ] these are two neighbour hills , the one in this county , the other in anan-dale in scotland . if the former be capp'd with clouds and foggy mists , it will not be long before rain falls on the other . it is spoken of such who must expect to sympathize in their sufferings , by reason of the vicinity of their habitation . tum tua res agitur paries cum proximus ardet . when thy neighbours house doth burn , take heed the next be not thy turn . the cumberlanders have found the truth hereof by their sad experience , in our civil wars , paying dear for their vicinity with scotland . * skiddaw , lauvellin , and casticand , ] are the highest hills in all england . ] i know not how to reconcile this ryme , with another which i meet with in the same * author , i●…gleborrow , pendle and penigent , are the highest hills between scotland and trent . but in order of an expedient betwixt them , we may observe . first , that every county is given to magnify ( not to say altify ) their own things therein . secondly , that the survey goes according to the guess of mens eyes ( as never exactly measured ) variable according to severall apprehensions . thirdly , some hills are higher in view , rising almost perpendicularly of a suddain by themselves , whilst the invisible greatness of others is not heeded so much , which mount with the country about them creeping up insensibly by degrees . mean time no mention of plynillymon hill , as being in wales , and without compare the monarch of all mountains south of scotland . saints . saint h●…rebert priest and confessor may justly be referred to this county . for there is a lake therein ( * bede calleth it pr●…grande stagnum ) nigh keswick made by the river darwent , wherein three islands are found , in the least of which this herebert lead an eremiticall life . if he travailed hence it was to visit his friend saint cuthbert , betwixt whom such intimacy , that 〈◊〉 telling him how his own death approached , herebert falling down at his * feet , importunately requested him , that they might both pass out of this world together , which by saint cuthberts prayers is said to be obtained . thus as they were loving in their lives , so in their death they were not devided ; departing this world the same day and hour , anno dom. . saint alrike born and bred in this county , led an eremiticall life in a forrest near to carlile . this man did not more macerate himself with constant fasting , then time since hath consumed his memory , which hath reduced it to nothing more then the scelleton of his name , without any historicall passages to flesh and fill up the same , for i account the report of saint * goderick , another hermite , ( and present at this mans death ) not worth the remembring , viz. that he saw the soul of alrike ascend to heaven , as it were in a sphericall form of a burning wind , but we lissen unto it but as unto wind . he dyed anno . martyrs . this county affordeth none in the raign of queen mary , whereof accept a double reason . first , the people thereof generally were nuzell'd in ignorance and superstition . secondly , such as favoured the reformation were connived at by owin ogelthorp , the courteous bishop of carlile , who crowed queen elizabeth , and who in requittall had a favour for him had he lived any longer . however cumberland had one native , who going up to london , first found a husband and then met with martyrdome therein , viz. elizabeth foster was born at * graystock in this county , though her maiden sur-name be unknown . travailing to london , she was there married to one john forster cutler , of the parish of saint brides in fleetstreet , and being summoned before bonner , for not coming to church , was imprisoned and strictly examined . being moved by the bishop to desert her answers , i will not ( said she ) go from them by gods grace . hereupon she was condemned , and being fifty five years of age accordingly suffered with six other martyrs , all in one fire in smithfield , jan. . . prelates . roger whelpdale was born in the borders of this county , ( so that westmerland pretends to a share of him ) bred in baliol-colledge in oxford , and afterwards became provost of queens-colledge in that university . a good . logician witness his books of . summulae logicales . . mathematician . de quanto & continuo . . divine . de deo invocando . bale * ingenuously confesseth , that he cannot find where this learned man after his long labours in oxford , led the rest of his life , and pitz ( who seeing with bales eyes , both are blind or sighted together ) is at the same loss . but herein we are able guide our guides , and light a candle to direct them , for he was by king henry the fifth , preferred bishop of carlile , . he sate three years in that see , and dying at london feb. . . was buried in saint pauls . roger lay●…urn was born of a noble family , not living far from * carlile . a noble family indeed , expiring in the days of our grand-fathers , when elizabeth sole daughter and heir of sir francis layburn , was married to thomas dacre last baron of gilsland and graystock . this roger was bred fellow in pembroke-hall , doctor of divinity , and at last was consecrated bishop of carlile , . two years after he solemnly accepted of the mastership of pembroke-hall in cambridge , which i have heard called episcopale collegium , not onely because it hath bred so many bishops ( for the proportion thereof , ) but chiefly because many prelates have held the mastership thereof , even untill their death . doctor layburn dyed soon after . before he could express his good intentions to his colledge or cathedrall . since the reformation . edmund grindall was born at saint bees in this county , bred scholar , fellow and master of pembroke-hall in cambridge , and proctour of the university . in the raign of queen mary , he fled beyond the seas , and was no violento in the troubles of franckford , but with all meekness to his might , endeavoured a pacification . returning home he was made successively bishop of london , arch bishop of york and canterbury , by queen elizabeth , highly favouring him for his learning , piety , modesty and single life ; till at last he lost her love , by the mischievous practices of his enemies . his fault was for keeping others from breaking two of gods commandements , thou shalt not steal , when he would not let the lord of leicester have lambeth-house ; and , thou shalt not commit adultery , when he would not permit julio , the earls italian physician , to marry another mans wife . but it was objected againsthim to the queen , that he was a fierce defender of factious prophecying , which in process of time would undermine the hierarchy , though moderate men were of the opinion , they might prove profitable , as by arch-bishop grindall , limited and regulated . being really blind more with grief then age , ( dying at sixty four ) he was willing to put off his clothes before he went to bed , and in his life time to resigne his place to doctor whitgiff , who * refused such acceptance thereof . and the queen , commiserating his condition , was graciously pleased to say , that , as she had made him , so he should die an arch bishop , as he did july . . worldly wealth he cared not for , desiring onely to make both ends meet ; and as for that little that lapped over , he gave it to pious uses in both universities , and the founding of a fair free-school at saint bees , the place of his nativity . henry robinson d. d. was born in * carlile , bred fellow , and at last provost of queens-colledge in oxford , and afterwards . was consecrated bishop of the place of his nativity . when queen elizabeth received his homage , she gave him many gracious words , of the good opinion , which she conceived of his learning , integrity and sufficiency for that place . moreover adding , that she must ever have a care to furnish that see with a worthy man , for his * sake who first set the crown on her head , and many words to the like purpose . he was a prelate of great gravity and temperance , very mild in * speech , but not of so strong a constitution of body as his countenance did promise . and yet he lived to be a very old man. he dyed anno dom. ... richard senhouse d. d. was born of worshipfull parentage at netherhall in this county . a valiant man in his younger days , and i have heard that in his old age , he felt the admonitions of his youthfull over-violent exercises . he was bred fellow of saint johns-colledge in cambridge , and became an excellent preacher , his sermons losing no lusture by his good utterance , and gracefull delivering of them . he was chaplain to king charles whilst prince , and preached his sermon at his coronation . he was preferred bishop of carlile , enjoying the place but a short time . he dyed anno domini . capitall judges and writers on the law. sir richard hutton * was born at perith of a worshipfull family , ( his elder brother was a knight , ) and bred in jesus colledge in cambridge . he intended his studies for divinity , till disswaded by the importunity of his friends ( amongst whom george earl of cumberland most eminent , ) he became barrister in grays-inn . but in expression of his former affection to divinity , he seldome ( if ever ) took fee of a clergy-man . afterwards being recorder of york , he was knighted and made judge of the common-pleas . in the case of ship-money , though he was against the king , ( or rather for the commons ) yet his majesty manifested not the least distast , continuing to call him the honest judge . this person so pious to god , and charitable to his poor members , was dissolved about the beginning of our national misery . thus god before he new ploweth up a land , with the furrows of a civil war , first cutteth down his old crop , and gathereth them like ripe sheaves into his barn . he dyed at serjeants-inn , and was buried at his earnest desire without any funerall sermon , ( save what his own vertues preached to posterity , ) at st. dunstons in the west on the . day of febr. anno dom. . sir john banks was born at keswick , of honest parents , who perceiving him judicious and industrious , bestowed good breeding on him in grays-inn , in hope he should attain to preferment , wherein they were not deceived . after he was called to the bar , for some years he solicited suits for others , thereby attaining great practicall experience . he afterwards might laugh at them , who then did smile at him , leaving many behind him in learning , whom he found before him in time , untill at last he was knighted by k. charles , made first his at●…urney , then chief justice of the common-pleas , dying in the midst and heat of our civil dissentions . he ordered by his will ( the copy whereof i have received from my good * friend ) that his body should be buried under some plain monument , at the discretion of his executors , and after an epitaph mentioning the severall places he had held , this motto to be added , non nobis domine , non nobis , sed nomini tuo da gloriam . it must not be forgotten that by his said will he gave to the value of thirty pounds per annum , with other emoluments to be bestowed in pious uses , and chiefly to set up a manufacture of course cottons in the town of keswick , which i understand hath good , and is in hopes of better success . civilians . george porter was born at weery-hall in the parish of bolton in this county , of gentile extraction . he was afterward fellow of queens-colledge in cambridge , doctor and professor of civil-law therein , for above thirty years , so that he might have been made comes imperii primi ordinis , according to the constitution of theodosius the emperor , allowing that honour to professours in that faculty , * cum ad viginti annos observatione jugi , ac sedulo docendi labore pervenerint . he was of a pitifull nature , and we commonly called him ( for i had oft the honour to be in his mess , ) the patron of infirmities , whose discourse was always defensive and charitable , either to excuse mens failings , or mitigate their punishments . he was valiant as well as learned , and with his sterne looks and long sword , frighted three thieves from setting upon him . he dyed anno domini . . and doctor collins , ( who with saint chrysostome was in laudatoriis hyperbolicus , ) preaching his funerall sermon , endeavoured to heighten his memory to his soul , mounting it above the skies for his modesty and learning . writers . john canon . some will have him so called , because canon of some cathedral church , and if so , there were hundreds of john canons besides himself : others , because he was doctor of canon law , which leaves as great a latitude as the former , for hundreds ( with equall right ) to justle with him for the same surname . i have cause to conceive , untill i shall be clearly convinced to the contrary , that he was born at canonsby in this county , by being set by for brevities sake . bilious bale bespattereth him more then any of his order . hear how he ranteth , he turned a * minotaure , ( i should say minorite ) and with his thrasonicall boasting , &c. but i am not bound to believe him , the rather , because trithemius a forraign , judicious and moderate writer , giveth him great commendation . whence i collect that his worth was not like a candle in the house , onely burning at home in england , but a torch , blazing abroad beyond the seas , the university of paris and other places taking signall notice of his learning . he flourished under k. edward the second . william egremont . he hath almost lost his true surname amongst the various writing thereof . * bale calleth him egumonde , ( though no such place in all england , ) pits , reduceth it to a saxon name , and calleth him * egmund ; leland , ( for a reason immediately following ) nameth him william of stamford , but egremont is the orthography of his name , from a small market-town ( yet a barony of the late earls of sussex , ) in this shire where he was born . quitting this cold country , he took his progress into the south , and fixing himself at stamford , became an augustinian eremite , and proceeded doctor of divinity . going beyond the seas , he was by the pope made episcopus pissinensi●… , ( some poor pitifull bishoprick , so that one would scarce trouble himself to find it out to have the profit there●…f , and therewith held the suffragane-ship under henry beaufort bishop of lincoln . indeed that voluminous diocess ( a full fourth part of england , before eli , peterborough and oxford , were cantoned out of it ) required a co-adjutor . many are the learned works written by him , and ( seeing he is doubly qualified ) i thought fitter to repose him under the topick of writers then of prelates , being confident that he got more credit by his books , then profit by his bishoprick . he flourished under king richard the second , anno . john skelton was a younger branch of the skeltons of skelton in this county . i crave leave of the reader , ( hitherto not having full instructions , and ) preserving the undoubted title of this county unto him , to defer his character to norfolk , where he was beneficed at diss therein . since the reformation . richard crakenthorp d. d. was descended of an ancient family in this county , as appeareth by their frequent being sheriffs thereof . he was bred fellow of queens-colledge in oxford , and afterwards in the first of king james went over chaplain to the lord evers , sent embassadour to the king of denmark , and other prime princes of germany . here by use he got an easiness in the latine tongue , and correspondency with several persons of eminent learning . he was an excellent logicia●… , ( witness his work in that kind ) and became chaplain in ordinary to king james , rector of black-notley in essex , greater preferments expecting him , had not his death prevented it . pliny observeth , that posthume children born after the death of their father , and caesars , ( understand such , who are cut out of the womb of their mother ) prove very happy in success . what reason soever naturalists assign hereof , divines justly impute it to gods goodness , graciously remembring those orphans , which cannot remember their own parents . the observation may be applyed to the books of this worthy doctor , set forth after his death , one called ▪ vigilius dormitàns , in defence of the emperour justinian , and a generall councill held by him anno . set forth by his brother george crakenthorp ; the other being an answer to the manifesto of the arch-bishop of spalato , set forth by that learned antiquary dr. john barkham , and both of these books finding an universall and gratefull reception among the learned and religious . i cannot certainly fix the date of his death , and be it here solemnly entred that westmerland shall be unprejudiced , if he were born ( as a most credible person hath informed me ) at newbiggin in this county . — salkeld was a branch of a right worshipfull family in this county , bred a divine beyond the seas , but whether 〈◊〉 or secular priest i know not . coming over into england to angle for proselites , it seems his line broke , and he was cast into prison . hence he was brought out and presented to k. james , by whose arguments ( and a benefice bestowed on him in somersetshire , ) he became a protestant . this he used in all companies to boast of , that he was a royall convert , — nobisque dedit solatia victor and was it not a noble thing , thus to be conquer'd by a king ? indeed his majesty in some of his works styleth him the learned salkeld , which the other much vaunted of , often telling it to such who well knew it before , for fear they might forget it . his preaching was none of the best , and he retained some popish ( though not opinions ) fancies to the day of his death . i have heard much of his discourse more of his own praise , then to his own praise in my judgement . but his true character may be taken out of the book he wrot of angells . he died about the year , . gerard langbain d. d. was born at kirk-banton in this county , bred first fellow in , then provost of queens-colledge in oxford . a skilfull antiquary , ingenious , industrious and judicious in ●…is writings , as by his works will appear . who so shall read over the history of th●… councill of trent , transl●…ted out of italian by sir nathaniel brent , will conceive it so compleat a narration of all the concernments in that council , that nothing of consequence can be added thereunto . yet this his mistake will be confuted , by perusing the works set forth by doctor langbain , of the dissent of the gallican churches from severall conclusions in that council . as his brain was the mother of some , so was it the midwife to other good books , which he procured to be published . especially a book made by sir john cheeke , concerning rebellion and loyalty , seasonably reprinted in the beginning of our civil wars . but alas , such then was the noise of mens animosities , that the still voice of truth could not be heard amongst them . more excellent tracts were expected from him , ( particularly an edition of brian twine , with additions concerning the antiquity of oxford , ) when god was pleased almost in the midst of his days to put an end to his life , anno . benefactors to the publick . robert eaglesfield born in this county , was a pious and learned man according to the rate of that age , chaplain and confessor to philippa , queen to king ed ward the third . he founded a fair colledge in oxford , by the name of queens-colledge , for a provost and twelve fellows , whom he ordered to sit in the hall in purpura , and that they should be attended on more curiali . he appointed that those of cumberland and westmerland should be proper for perferment in his foundation , rendring this reason why he reflected most on those northern counties , propter insolitam vastitatem , & melioris literaturae infrequentiam . but prevented by death , he finished not his intentions , leaving onely to the colledge the mannor of renwick in this county , with the impropriation of burgh under stanmore , and , which i assure you was considerable , most excellent statutes . to shew himself both courtier and scholar , he ordered that in the hall they should speak either latine or french. he bequeathed his colledge to the honorary patronage of the queens of england , and his sur-name is still extant in this county in persons of quality , but how to him related to me unknown . he dyed about the year of our lord . memorable persons . maud the daughter of thomas lord lucy , sister and heir of anthony lord lucy , and baron of cokermouth , the widow of gilbert humfrevile , earl of angus , was the second wife of henry percy , earl of northumberland . who , when she saw that she should dye without issue , gave to earl henry her husband , the castle and honour of cokermouth , with many other mannors in copeland and westmerland , with condition , that his issue should bear her armes of the lucies , [ viz. gules , three lucies [ or pikes ] hauriant argent , ] quartered , with their own armes of the percies . and for it levyed a fine , in the court of king richard the second . hitherto verbatim out of master * mills . but , by his favour , his words are not sufficiently expressive of the agreement betwixt them . the earl conditioned , not onely to quarter the armes of the lucies , ( as the percies now quarter many more besides , viz. poynings , fitz-pain , brians , &c. ) but he also covenanted ( as in the words of the instrument ) deferre quateriatim , to bear them quarterly with his own armes , incorporated into one coat in effect . this promise the percys have bona fide perform'd , preserving so near a relation between the two coats , that in a manner , mutuò se ponunt & auferunt ; so that , if either , both always appear together . this lady is entred amongst memorable persons , partly , because of her harmless device , to perpetuate her memory ; partly , because of her great affection to her husband ; she but a second , and no wife of his youth , bringing him no children , and having ( no doubt ) heirs of her own name and blood , though she were barren , would be bountifull to endow that family with possessions , which she could not enrich with posterity . say not the percys profit , was the lucies loss ; for , what saith the * scripture ? is it not lawfull for me to doe what i will with mine own ? she died about the year of our lord . lord mayors . i find none of this county , nor is the wonder great if it be true what credible persons have informed me , that there are no carriers ( the post from carlile is excepted , ) which immediately come from this county to london . it seems cumberland is terra suis contenta bonis , neither proud of the gayety , nor covetous of the money of london . the names of the gentry of this county returned by the commissioners , in the twelfth year of king henry the sixth . marmaduke bishop of carlile , commissioners . thomas de dacre de gilsland . william legh chivaler , knights for the shire . william laton armiger . knights for the shire . tho. barnby prioris carlioli will. reddekar abbatis de holm tho. stanley abbatis de wederhill rog. kirkeby prioris de seynt beys alex. walton prioris de lanecost rich. hodleston crist. culwan , sheriff pet. tilioll ioh. penyngton ioh. skelton ioh. lamplewe nich. radclyff , mil. hen. fenwyk hug. de louther will. stapleton ioh. broughton tho. culwen tho. delamore geor. warthwyk will. twates ioh. eglisfeld , sen. will. martindale , sen. ioh. hoton hug. forster ioh. de skelton will. thirskeld will. louther de rosa ioh. de denton will. arlosch rich. de kirkebride will. dykes tho. de stanewikes ioh. blanerhasset tho. aglanbly tho. appulby tho. salkeld tho. beuchamp rol. vaux ade de denton tho. grane tho. hethryngton tho. de sandes ioh. swynburn ioh. eglisfeld , junio . rich. eglisfeid will. martyndail , junioris ioh. culwen tho. senenhans will osmonderlawe will. lowther de crokdaile nich. irton alex. heighmore ioh. rybton rob. bristow will. aglanby ioh. louther de alwardby nioh . stanle tho. wodhall will. hodliston de copland rob. scot de caldebeke will. denton majoris karlioli will. cardoile tho. frankyssh ballivi ibidem tho. delmore will. kelet ioh. graneson galf. barre ioh. middilham ioh. person de lowswater pet. iakson de eadem rich. bristow leo. howchonson will. redman tho. rickman de cokyrmouth , baker this is a comfortable catalogue , for one delighting in ancient families to practice upon . it is the observation of vitruvius ( alledged and approved by master * cambden ) that northern-men advancing southward , non possunt durare sed disolvuntur , cannot endure the heat , but their strength melteth away and is disolved , whilst southern-people removing northward , non modo , non laborant immutatione loci , valetudinibus , sed etiam confirmantur , are not only , not subject to sickness through the change of place , but are the more confirmed in their strength and health . sure i am , that northern gentry transplanted into the south , by marriage , purchase or otherwise , doe languish and fade away wi●…hin few generations . whereas southern men on the like occasions removing northward acquire a setlement in their estates with long continuance . some peevish natures ( delighting to comment all things into the worst sence ) impute this to the position of their country , as secured from sale by their distance from london , ( the staple place of pleasure , ) whilst i would willingly behold it as the effect and reward of their discreet thrift and moderate expence , two thirds of this catalogue of cumberland being still extant , and the third extinct , for lack of issue and not estate . sheriffs of cumberland . hen. ii. anno hildretas anno recorda manca . anno anno anno rob. fitz. troit for years . anno idem & adam filius ejus . anno adam filius rob. trutts anno rob. de vaus anno anno rob. t●…utt . adam filius ●…jus pro eo . anno rob. de vallibus anno idem . anno rob. de vallibus & rog. de legeire anno rob. de vallibus ●…or years . anno hug. de morwich anno idem . anno idem . & nich. frater ejus . rich. i. anno will. de aldelin for years . joh . rex . anno will. de stuteivill & johan ▪ laleman anno idem . anno will. de stutevill & phus. escrar anno idem . anno idem . anno rog. de lasy constabut . cestrie . anno idem . anno rog. de lasy constabut . cestrie , & walt. marescallus for years . anno hug. de nevill for years . anno rob. de ros , & alanus candebe●… . hen. iii. anno walt. mauclere for years . anno walt. ephus . carliol . & rob. filius will. de hampton for years . anno walt. ephus . carliol . & tho. filius johannis anno idem . anno tho. de muleton for years . anno will. de dacre for years anno ioh. daylock for years . anno will. com. albemarl . & remigius de todington for years . anno eustachius de bayloel for years . anno eustachius de baylloet & mathe. de ebor. for years . anno rad. de dacre edw. i. anno rob. carliol . ephus . math. cordil . & roger. de pocklington anno idem . anno rob. de hampton anno idem . anno idem . anno ioh. de windeburne & anno mich. de neilbigging ad. newbegin . gil. cureweune anno idem . anno idem . anno rob. de brus for years . anno mich. de arcla ( arcla ) for years . anno will. de mulecaster for years . anno ioh. de lucy anno idem . anno will. de mulcaster anno idem . edw. ii. anno alex. de wastwenthoyte anno andreas . de harcla for years . anno andr. de harcla & alex. de bastenthwayt mi. for years . anno nul . titulus , comitis in hoc rotulo anno anno anno anno hen. de malton & rob. le brum . anno hen de malton edw. iii. anno pet. tilloll & rob. & brun anno anno pet tilloll anno rad. de dacre ( ranulphus ) for years . anno ric. de denton anno anth. de lucy & roul . vaux anno idem . anno anth. de lucy anno idem . anno hug. de moriceby , & anth. de lucy anno idem . anno hug. de moriceby anno idem . anno tho. de lucy , & hug. de moriceby anno idem . anno tho. de lucy anno idem . anno idem . anno rich. de denton anno idem . anno hug. de louthre anno idem . anno idem . anno nul . titulus comitis in rotulo anno will. de thirkeld anno rob. tillioll anno idem . anno will. de lancaster anno chri. de moriceby anno rob. de tillioll anno idem . anno chri. de moriceby anno idem . anno idem . anno idem . anno will. de windesor anno idem . anno adam . puinges anno idem anno idem . anno ioh. de denton anno rob. de moubray anno ioh. de derwentwater anno ioh. de denton anno ioh. de derwentwater anno ioh. bruyn king henry ii. robertus de vaus . ] alias de vaux or de vallibus , a right ancient name ( still extant ) in this county . there is a cross in the church-yard of beu-castle , about twenty foot in height , all of one square stone carved with the armes of vaux , whence master cambden concludeth it , ( though otherwise the inscription thereon not legible ) of their erection . i behold this robert as father to john de vallibus , of whom * mathew paris saith , that he was one of those , that , muneribus excaecati , à fidelitate , quam baronibus in commune juraverant , recesserunt : blinded with bribes , they went back from the ( some will say , such breach no breach of ) fidelity , which they had jointly sworn to the barons . indeed the same author reckoneth him amongst those whom * he termeth , clarissimos milites , on whose loyalty and valour king henry the third relied . the lord vaux of harrowden in northamptonshire , doth hence fetch his extraction . king henry iii. walt. epis . carliol . & rob. filius will. de hampton . ] this walter bishop of carlile , was he , who commonly was called male-clerk , english it as you please , bad-scholar or clergy-man . it seems to me a strange transposition , that henry the first king of england , should be termed beau-clerk , a good-scholar , and our walter a bad one , who was a bishop in orders . however though male-clerk , had he been bon-homme a good-man , the matter had been much mended . but i find little praise of his manners . indeed he was lord trea surer of england , and found false both in word and deed , avowing his accounts even , when he was justly charged with an hundred pound ( a summe in that age , in the purse of a poor king ) debt to the exchequer . this cost him much molestation , so that at last he resigned his bishoprick , which by my * author is beheld as no kindly act of mortification , but that he came unjustly by his place , and was afraid to lose , though ashamed to keep it any longer . he afterwards became a friar at oxford , as if lacking learning in his youth , he would recover it in his old age , where he dyed october . . edward ii. andreas de harcla . ] had his latter end answered his beginning , he might deservedly have been ranked , amongst the worthies of westmerland , ( where he was born at harcla , ) whereas now it shall suffice , to make this oblique mention of him in this place . he behaved himself right handsomely in the service of king edward the second , many years together , especially at the battle of borough-brigge , where he killed humphrey bohun , earl of hereford , and took thomas plantagenet , earl of lancaster , with many others of the nobility prisoners , and delivered them to the king. in reward whereof he was created in the . ●…ear of that king , earl of carlile , and had the isle of man bestow'd upon him . next year , i know not upon what discontentment , he fell into private confederacy with the kings foes the scots , for which he was taken and condemned . now lest the nobility of others should by secret sympathy suffer , in his disgracefull death , the earl was first parted from the man , and his honour severed from his person , by a solemn degradation , having his knightly spurs hewed off from his heels , which done he was hang'd , drawn and quartered . sheriffs . name place armes rich. ii.     anno     io. derwentwater   ar. barrs g. ●… a canton of the second , a cinqsoile of the first . wil de stapleton*     gilb. de culwen † 〈◊〉 ▪ argent a lion rampant sable . io. de dewērwater ut prius † arg. frettee g. a cheif azure . ama. mounceaux     rober. parning     ama. mounceaux     ioh. therlwall     ama. mounceaux     ioh. therlwall     pet. tillioll     ioh. ireby   a●…gent , frettee a canton sable . rich. redman   g. cussions erm. buttoned and tasselled or. chri. moriceby     ioh. de ireby ut prius   tho. de musgrave   azure , six annulets or. rich. redman ut prius   pet. tiliot     ioo . de ireby ut prius   ricq . redman ut prius   wil. culwen ut prius   rich. redman ut prius   hen. iv.     anno     will. leigh     will. louther   or. six annuletes sable . rich. redman , & wil. osmunderlaw ut prius arg a fess between martlets sable . pet. tillioll     idem .     r●…ch . skelton   〈◊〉 fess 〈◊〉 flower de 〈◊〉 or. will. louther ut prius           ioh. delamore     rob. rodington     rich. redman , m. ut prius   hen. v.     anno     ia. harington ▪ m.   sable , frettee argent . will. stapelton ut prius   chri culwen , m. ut prius   ioh. lancaster   arg. bars g. on a canton of the same a lion passant or. wil. osmunder law ut prius   rob. louther , mi. ut prius   ioh. lamplough   or , cross floury sable . will. stapilton ut prius   will. stapleton & ut prius   rich. ratcliffe darwentwater . arg. a bend engrailed sable . hen. vi.     anno     will. leigh , mil.     chri. gulwen , m. ut prius   chri. moresby , m.   arg. a cross s. in the first quarter a 〈◊〉 of the second . nich. ratcliffe , m. ut prius or , five fusils in fess , az. io. penington , m.     chri. culwen ut prius   chri. moresby ut prius   tho. delamore   argent , mattlets , . & . sable . ioh. penington ut prius   ioh. skelton     ioh. l●…mplow , m. ut prius   chri. culwen ut prius   io. penington , m. ut prius   ioh. broughton   arg. a chev. betwixt mullets g. hen. fenwick , m.   per fess g. & arg. six martlets counterchanged chri. culwen , m. ut prius   chri. moresby ut prius   hug. louther ut prius   ioh. skelton , ar .     will. stapilton ut prius   tho. beauchamp   amp. tho. delamore ut prius   chri. curwen ut prius   ioh. skelton , ar . ut prius   ioh. broughton , ut prius   tho. delamore ut prius   th. crakenthorp ,   or , a cheveron betwixt mullets pierced az. tho. curwen , m. ut prius   ioh. skelton , ar . ut prius   roul . vaux , ar .   chekee , or and gules . tho. delamore ut prius       ioh. hodilston , ar .   gules frettee argent . hug. louther , ar . ut prius   tho. curwen ut prius   rich. salkeld   vert. frettee argent . hen. fenwick , m. ut prius   edw. iv.     anno     rich. salkeld , ar . ut prius   roul . vaux , ar . ut prius   idem . ut prius   oh . hudleston , m. ut prius   th. lamplough , a. ut prius   rich. salkeld , ar . ut prius   roul . vaux , ar . ut prius   ioh , hodilston , m. ut prius   idem . ut prius   will. leigh , mil.     chri moresby , m. ut prius   will. parr , mil. westm . arg. bars az. a border 〈◊〉 s. ioh. hodilston , m. ut prius   will. leigh . mil.         ric. dux . glouc. & io. hodilstō , m. sub. ut prius france and england , on a label of erm ▪ as many cantons gules . idem .     rich. dux . glouc. ut prius   nul . titulus comit is in rotulo .     rich. dux . glou. ut prius   idem . ut prius   idem . ut prius   rich. iii.     anno     rich. salkeld ut prius           hen. vii .     anno     chri. moresby , m. ut prins   nul . titulus comitis in rotulo .     chri. moresby , m. ut prius   th. beauchamp , a. ut prius       nul . titulus co●… in rotulo .     ioh. musgrave , m. ut prius   nul . titulus comitis in rotulo .     edw. redman ut prius   rich. salkeld , m. ut prius   chri. moresby , m. ut prius   tho. beachamp ut prius   chri dacre , ar .   gu. fscalop-shells argent . idem . ut prius   idem . ut prius   idem . ut prius   idem . ut prius   idem . ut prius   idem . ut prius   hug. hutton , ar .   amp. chri. dacre , ar . ut prius   io. hudleston , m. ut prius   ioh. ratcliffe , ar . ut prius   idem . ut prius   hen. viii .     anno     ioh. curwen , m. ut prius   io. penington , mi. ut prius   ioh. shelton , mil. ut prius   io crakenthorp , 〈◊〉 . ut prius   idem & edward . musgrave ut prius   ioh. radcliffe , m. ut prius   ioh. louther , m. ut prins   tho. curwen , mi. ut prius   gawin . eglesfeld   or , eglets displaied gules . ioh. radciffe , mi. ut prius   edw. musgrave ut prius       christ dacre ut prius       ioh. ratcliffe , mi. ut prius   chri. curwen , mil. ut prius   chri. dacre , mil. ut prius   ioh. ratcliffe , mi. ut prius   edw. musgrave , m. ut prius   wil. peningtō , m. ut prius   tho. wharton , m.   sable , a maunch argent . rich ▪ ireton   arg. a fess s. 〈◊〉 in chief gules . christ. dacre , m. ut prius   wil. musgrave , m. ut prius   christ. curwen ut prius   cut. hutton , ar . ut prius   tho. wharton , m. ut prius   tho. curwen , m. ut prius   ioh. lamplo , mil.     ioh. thwaits , ar .   arg. a cross s. frette or. tho. wharton , m. ut prius   tho. dalston , ar . dalston arg. a cheveron between ravens-heads s. billed or. wil. musgrave , m. u t prius   ioh. louther , mi. u t prius   tho. salkeld , ar . u t prius   edw. aglyonby , a.   azu . bars and martlits in cheif 〈◊〉 . rob. lamplo , ar . ut prius   tho. sandford   per cheveron s. and erm ▪ two boars-heads in chief coopedor . edw. vi.     anno     tho. wharton , m. ut prius   ioh. leigh , ar .     ioh. lamplow , ar . ut prius   ioh. louther , mil. ut prius   ric. eglesfeld , ar . ut prius   will. penington ut prius   reg. mari .     anno     tho. leigh , ar .     phil. & mar.     anno     , . rich. musgrave ut prius   , . tho. sandford , a.     , . rob. lamplow , a. ut prius   , . ioh. leigh , ar . ut prius   , . will. penington ut prius   eliz. reg.     anno     th. dacre , sen mi. ut prius   th. lamplough , a. ut prius   hug. ascough , m & hen. curwen , a. ut prius s. a fess or , 〈◊〉 asses passant , ar. mained & unguled of the second . will. musgrave ut prius   ant. hudleston , a. ut prius   chri. dacree , ar . ut prius   wil : penington , a. ut prius   rich. louther , ar . ut prius   ioh. dalston , ar . ut prius   cut. musgrave , ar . ut prius   sim. musgrave , ar . ut prius   hen. curwen ut prius   geo. lamplough ut prius   ioh. lamplough ut prius   will. musgrave ut prius   will. musgrave ut prius   anth. hudleston ut prius   ric. salkeld , ar . & hen. tolston , ar . ut prius vert , on a cheif azu . ●… martlets or. ioh. dalston , ar . ut prius   geo. salkeld , ar . ut prius   fr. lamplough , a. ut prius   ioh. lamplough ut prius   hen. curwen , ar . ut prius   chri. dacre , ar . ut prius   wilfr . lawson , ar .   per pale , arg. and s. a chev. counterchanged . ioh. dalston , ar . ut prius   ioh. midleton , ar .     geo. salkeld ; ar . ut prius   ioh. dalston , ar . ut prius       rich. louther , ar . ut prius   hen. curwen , 〈◊〉 . ut prius   chr. pickering , ar .   ermin a lion rampent azure crowned or. ioh. southwike , a ▪     will. musgrave , a. ut prius   ger. louther , ar . ut prius   ioh. dalston , ar . ut prius   lau. salkeld , ar . ut prius   chri. dalston , ar . ut prius   wilfri . lawson ut prius   tho. salkeld , ar . ut prius   ios. penington , ar . ut prius   nich. curwen , ar . ut prins   will. orfen●…r , ar .     edm. dudley , ar .   or a lion rampant duble queve vert. will. hutton , ar . & prim . jac. ut prius   jac. rex .     anno     will. hutton , ar . ut prius   ioh dalston , ar . ut prius   chri. picke●…ing , a. ut prius   wilf . lauson , m. ut prius   chri. pickering m. ut prius   hen. blencow , ar .   sable on a bend chaplets g. will. hutton , m ut prius   ios. penington , ar . ut prius   chr. pickering , m. ut prius   wilf . lawson , m. ut prius   th. lamplough , a. ut prius   edw. musgrave , m. ut prius   rich. flecher , ar . hutton arg. a salter engrailed betwixt roundlets each ch●…rged with a pheon of the field . will. musgrave , m. ut prius   wil. hudleston , a. ut prius   geo. dalston , ar . ut prius   hen. curwen , mi. ut prius   io lamplough , a. ut prius   hen. fetherston   g. a chev. betwixt oestridges feathers . fran. dudley vid. admi. tho. dudley , ar . & edw. dudley , ar . defund . & tho. lamplough , mil. ut prius     ut prius     ut prius   rich. samford , m ▪ ut prius   rich. fletcher , m. ut prius   car. reg.     anno     hen. blencowe , m. ut prius   pet. senhouse , ar . scascall arg. a 〈◊〉 proper . chri. dalston , ar . ut prius   will. layton , ar .     wil●… musgrave , m. ut prius   chr. richmond , a.     leon. dykes , ar .   or , cinquefoils sable . ioh. skelton , ar . ut prius   will. orfener ar .     rich. barvis , ar . ut prius   will. lawson , ar .     patri curwen , ar . ut prius   tho. dacre , 〈◊〉 ut prius   ti. fetherston , 〈◊〉 ut prius       chri. louther , ar . ut prius   hen. fletcher , bar . ut prius                   hen. tolson , ar . ut prius   edward iv. richard duke of gloucester . ] he is notoriously known to posterity , without any ●… comment or character to describe him . in his armes , it is observable , that the younger sons of kings , did not use our common modern manner of differences , by cressants , mullets , martilets , &c. but assumed unto themselves , some other differencing devices . wonder not that his difference being a labell ( disguised with some additions ) hath some allusion to eldership therein , whilst this richard was but the third son , seeing in his own ambition , he was not onely the eldest , but onely child of his father , as appeareth by his project , not long after , to basterdize both his brethren . and now did he begin to cast an eye on , and forecast a way to the crown , by securing himself of this county , which is the back ( as northumberland the fore ) door into scotland . in the mean time , cumberland may count it no mean credit , that this duke was for six years together , and at that very time , her high-sheriff , when he was made , ( or rather made himself ) king of england . henry viii . thomas wharton . ] this must needs be that worthy person , whom king henry the eighth , afterwards created first , l. wharton , of wharton in westmerland , and who gave so great a defeat to the scots at solemn moss , that their king james the fifth , soon after died for sorrow thereof . indeed the scotish writers conceiving it more creditable to put their defeat on the account of anger , then of fear , make it rather a surrender then a battle , as if their country-men were in effect unwilling to conquer , because unwilling to fight . such their disgust taken at oliver sentclear , a man of low birth , and high pride , obtruded on them that day , by the king for their generall . and to humor their own discontentment , they preferred rather to be taken prisoners by an enemy , then to fight under so distasted a commander . as for the lord wharton , i have read , ( though not able presently to produce my author , ) that for this his service , his armes were augmented , with an orle of lions paws in saltier gules , on a border or. the farewell . i understand two small manufactures are lately set up therein , the one of course broad-cloath at cokermouth , ( vended at home . ) the other of fustians some two years since at carlile , and i wish that the undertakers may not be disheartned with their small encouragement . such who are ashamed of contemptible beginnings , will never arrive at considerable endings . yea , the greatest giant was ( though never a dwarfe ) once an infant , and the longest line commenced from a little point at the first . derby-shire . derby-shire hath york-shire on the north , nottingham-shire on the east , leicester-shire on the south , stafford and cheshire on the west . the river south darwent falling into trent , runneth through the middle thereof . i say south darwent , for i find three more north thereof . darwent which divideth the west from the east riding in yorkshire . darwent which separateth the bishoprick of durham from northumberland . darwent in cumberland which falleth into the irish ocean . these i have seen by critical authors written all alike , enough to perswade me , that dower , the brittish word for water had some share in their denomination . the two extreams of this shire from north to south , extend to thirty eight miles , though not fully twenty nine in the broadest part thereof . the south and east thereof are very fruitful , whilest the north part ( called the peak ) is poor above , and rich beneath the ground . yet are there some exceptions therein . witness the fair pasture nigh haddon ( belonging to the earl of rutland ) so incredibly battling of cattel , that one proffered to surround it with shillings to purchase it ; which because to be set side-ways , ( not edge-ways ) were refused . natural commodities . lead . the best in england ( not to say europe ) is found in this county . it is not churlish , but good natured metal , not curdling into knots and knobs , but all equally fusil ; and therefore most useful for pipes and sheets , yea , the softnesse thereof will receive any artificial impressions . the miners thereof may be called a common-wealth within our common-wealth , governed by laws peculiar to themselves , often confirmed by act of parliament , and take a few of them . . if any of this nation find a * rake , or sione , or leading to the same , he may set in any ground to get lead oar. . but churches , houses and gardens are free from this custom of the minery . . all miners ought to commence their suits for oar-debt , in the bargemoot-court , otherwise they must lose their * debt , and pay cost too . . the barge-master keeps his two great courts twice a year in barge-moot-hall , the steward under him once in three weeks to decide controversies , and punish offences betwixt miners . . plaintiffs or defendants having three verdicts passed against them , are bound up for ever . . he that stealeth oar twice , is * fined , and the third time struck through his hand with a knife unto the haft into the stow , and is there to stand until death , or loose himself by cutting off his hand . . the lord for lot , hath the thirteenth dish of oar , within their mine , and six pence a load for cope . this manual ( as other liberal ) art , hath terms peculiar to it sef , which will not be understood without an interpreter of their own profession . * bunnings . polings , stemples , forks , and slyder , 〈◊〉 , yokings , soletrees , roach and rider , water holes , wind holes , veyns , coe-shafts , and woughs , maine rakes , cross rakes , brown henns , buddles , and soughs , bre●…k-offs , and buckers , randum of the rake , freeings , and chasing of the stole to th' stake , starting of oar , smilting , and driving drifts , prim-gaps , roof-works , flat-works , pipe-works , shifts , cauke , spar , lid-stones , twitches , daulings and pees , fell , bous , and knock-bark , forstid-oar and tees , bing-place , barmoot court , barge-master and stowes , crosses , holes , hange-benches , turntree and coes , founder-meers , taker-meers , lot , cope , and sumps , stickings , and stringes of oar , wash-oar , and pumps , corfe , clivies , deads , meers , groves , rake-soil the gange , binge-oar , a spindle , a lampturne , a fange , fleaks , knocking 's , coestid , trunks and sparks of oar , sole of the rake , smitham , and many more . let me adde , that whereas miners complain , that lead in somerset-shire ( as the tinne in cornwall ) doth dayly decay , here it doth improve and encrease . for , as if phoebus himself had been their vulcan , massy pieces of lead are frequently found ( whereof lately i had one in my hand ) so well ripened in the bowels of the earth , that they seemed refined , such the original purity thereof . manufactures . mault . though commonness causeth contempt , excellent the art of the first inventing thereof . i confesse it facile to make barley water , an invention which found out it self , with little more than the bare joyning the ingredients together . but to make mault for drink , was a master-piece indeed . how much of philosophy concurred to the first kill of mault , and before it was turned on the floor , how often was it tossed in the brain of the first inventer thereof . first to give it a new growth more than the earth had bestowed thereon . swelling it in the water to make it last the longer , by breaking it , and taste the sweeter by corrupting it . secondly , by making it to passe the fire , the grain ( by art fermented ) acquiring a lusciousnesse ( which by nature it had not ) whereby it doth both strengthen and sweeten the water wherein it is boyled . ale. ceres being our english bacchus , this was our ancestors common drink , many imputing the strength of their infantry ( in drawing so stiff a bow ) to their constant ( but moderate ) drinking thereof . yea , now the english begin to turn to ale ( may they in due time regain their former vigorousness : ) and whereas in our remembrance , ale went out when swallows came in , seldom appearing after easter ; it now hopeth ( having climed up may hill ) to continue its course all the year . yet have we lost the preservative , what ever it was , which ( before hops was found out ) made it last so long in our land some two hundred years since , sor half a year at the least after the brewing thereof ; otherwise of necessity they must brew every day , yea pour it out of the kive into the cup , if the prodigious english hospitality in former ages be considered , with the multitude of menial servants and strangers entertained . now never was the wine of sarepta better known to the syrians , that of chios to the grecians , of phalernum to the latines , than the canary of derby is to the english thereabout . buildings . chatsworth erected by the magnificent lady elizabeth cavendish countess of shrewsbury , is a stately structure thus described by the * poet , stat chatsworth praeclara domus , tū mole superba , tum domino magnis , celerē deroëntis ad undā . miranti similis portam praeterfluit amnis hic tacitus , saxis , infra , supraque sonorus . chatsworth which in its bulk it self doth pride and lord ( both great ) stands derwens bank beside . which slides still by the gate , as full of wonder , though loud with stones above the house & under the garden on the backside , with an artificial rock and wilderness , accomplisheth the place with all pleasure . wonders . god who is truely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , the onely worker of wonders , hath more manifested his might in this than in any other county in england ; such the heaps of wonders therein , amongst which we take special notice of maim tor , or mam-tor . tor is a hill ascending steep as glassenbury-tor . maim , saith * one , because maimed or broken in the top thereof . others following the vulgar pronounciation will have it mam-tor ( that is ) the mother hill , because it is always delivered , and presently with child again : for incredible heaps of sandy earth constantly fall thence , yet is it not visibly diminished , having , it seems , ( as a constant stream ) such a spring of matter whence it is recruited . it may pass for the embleme of the liberal man , never impoverished by his well-bounded and grounded charity , his expences being re-supplyed by a secret providence . medicinal waters . buxton well , dedicated to st. anne , sending forth both cold and warm water , is little less than miraculous in the effects , thus described by our * author . haec resoluta senum confirmat membra trementum , et refovet nervos lotrix haec lympha gelatos , huc infirma regunt baculis vestigia claudi , ingrati referunt baculis vestigia spretis . huc , mater fieri cupiens , accedit inanis , plenaque discedit , puto , nec veniente marito . old mens numb'd joynts new vigor here acquire , in frozen nerves , this water kindleth fire . hither the creples halt , some help to find , run hence , their 〈◊〉 unthankt left behind . the barren wife here meets her * husbands love , with such success she strait doth mother prove . this well is also famous for the abode of mary queen of scots thereby , who found much refreshing by the waters thereof . princes . i find no prince since the conquest , who saw his first light in this county , probably because our english kings never made any long residence therein . saints . st. alkmund , son to alred , king of northumberland slain in a battel , on the behalf of ethelmund vice-roy of worcester , pretending to recover lands against duke wolstan , who detained them , was therefore reputed saint and martyr . it would pose a good scholar to clear his title to the later , who lost his life in a quarrel of civil concernment . on which account in all battels betwixt christians , such as are slain on one side , may lay claim to martyr-ship . however it befriendeth his memory , that his body translated to derby , was believed to do miracles , being there with great veneration interred in a church called saint alkmunds ( on the right hand ) as passengers ( from the south ) go over the bridge , whither the northern people made many pilgrimages , till discomposed by the reformation . what relation alkmundsbury a town in hantingdonshire hath unto him , is to me unknown . martyrs . joan wast was a blind woman in the town of derbey , and on that account the object of any mans alms , rather than the subject of his cruelty . besides , she was seemingly a silly soul , and indeed an innocent , though no fool. and what saith our * saviour , for judgement am i come into this world , that they which see not might see , and that they which see , might be made blind . this poor woman had a clear apprehension of gods truth , for the testimony whereof she was condemned , and burnt at the stake , by the command of bishop baines , who as he began with the extreams , mistress joyce lewis , one of the best ; and this joan wast , one of the basest birth in his diocess : so no doubt ( had not queen mary died ) he would have made his cruelty meet in persons of a middle condition . cardinals . roger curson was born , saith my * author , ex nobili quodam anglorum genere , of worshipful english extraction . now i find none of his sirname out of this county , ( except some branches lately thence derived ) but in the same , two right ancient families , one formerly at croxton ( whose heir general in our age was married to the earl of dorset ) the other still flourisheth at — in this county ; which moves me to make this roger a native thereof . bred he was first a scholar in oxford , then a doctor in paris , and lastly a cardinal in rome , by the title of saint stephen in mount celius . when the city of damiata in egypt was taken under john brenn king of jerusalem , our cardinal curson was there accompanying pelagius the popes cardinal : he wrote many books , and came over into england as the popes legate in the raign of king henry the third . the certain time of his death is unknown . philip de repingdon took , no doubt , his name and birth from repingdon ( commonly contracted and called repton ) in this county : and i question whether any other in england of the same name . he was bred , and commenced first batchelor , then doctor of divinity , in oxford , where he became a great champion and assertor of the doctrine of john vvickliff , which caused him much trouble , and many strict examinations . but , alas , he became like the seed on * stony ground , which not having root in it self , endured but for a while , and withered away in persecution : for he solemnly recanted his opinions , * novemb. . anno . and to give the better assurance that he was a true anti-vvickliffite , from a professor he became a pers●…cutor , and afterwards was termed rampington by those poor people , whom he so much molested . then preferment flowed in thick and threefold upon him , from a canon , he became abbot of leicester ; and anno . he was made chancellor of oxford , . bishop of lincoln , . by pope gregory the twelfth , he was created cardinal of saint nerius and achilleius ; though that pope had solemnly sworn he would make no more cardinals , till the schisme in rome were ended . the best is , the pope being master of the oath-office may give himself a pardon for his own perjury . what moved this repington willingly to resign his bishoprick . is to me unknown . prelates . william gray , was son to the lord gray of codnor in this county . he suffered not his parts to be depressed by his nobility ; but , to make his mind the more proportionable , he endeavoured to render himself as able as he was honourable . he studied first in baliol colledge in oxford , then at ferrara in italy , where he for a long time heard the lectures of guarinus of verona , that accomplished scholar . no man was better acquainted with the method of the court of rome , which made our king appoint him his procurator therein . it is hard to say , whether pope nicholas the fifth , or our king henry the sixth , contributed most to his free election to the bishoprick of eely ; whilest it 〈◊〉 out of doubt , his own deserts concurred most effectually thereunto . he sate in that see twenty four years , and wrote many * books , which the envy of time hath denied to posterity . bishop godwin by * mistake maketh him chancellor of england , whereas indeed , he was lord treasurer in the ninth of king edward the fourth , anno . let me adde , he was the last clergy-man that ever discharged that office , until bishop juxton in our days was preferred thereunto . he died aug. . . and lies buried between two marble pillars in his church , having bestowed much cost in the reparation of the famous bellfrie thereof . since the reformation . george cooke , d. d. brother to sir john cooke secretary of state , was born at trusley in this county , bred in pembroke hall in cambridge . afterwards he was beneficed at bigrave in hertford-shire , where a lean village ( consisting of but three houses ) maketh a fat living . hence , he was successively made bishop of bristol and hereford . a meek , grave and quiet man , much beloved of such who were subjected to his jurisdiction . he was in the same condemnation with the rest of his brethren for subscribing the protest in parliament in preservation of their priviledges . the times trod so heavily upon him , that ( though he ever was a thrifty person ) they not onely bruised the foot , but brake the body of his estate : so that he had felt want , if not relieved by his rich relations , dying about the year . states-men . sir john cooke , younger brother to sir francis cooke was born at trusley ( in the hundred of appletree ) in this county , of ancient and worshipful parentage , allied to the best family in this county . he was bred fellow of trinity colledge in cambridge , and being chosen rhetorick lecturer in the university , grew eminent for his ingenious and critical readings in that school on that subject : he then travailed beyond the seas for some years ; returning thence rich in foraign language , observations , and experience . being first related to sir fulk grivell lord brook , he was thence preferred to be secretary of the navy , then master of the requests , and at last secretary of state for twenty years together . he was a very zealous protestant , and did all good offices for the advancement of true religion : and died the eighth of septemb. . capital judges and writers on the law. john stathom . he was born in this county , in the raign of king henry the sixth , and was a learned man in the laws , whereof he wrote an abridgement , much esteemed at this day for the antiquity thereof . for otherwise , lawyers behold him ( as souldiers do bows and arrows , since the invention of guns ) rather for sight than service . yea , a grandee in that profession hath informed me , that little of stathom ( if * any at all ) is law at this day , so much is the practice thereof altered , whereof the learned in that faculty will give a satisfactory accompt ; though otherwise it may seem strange that reason continuing alwayes , the same law grounded thereon , should be capable of so great alteration . the first and last time that i opened this author i lighted on this passage , * molendinarius de matlock tollavit bis ●…ò quod ipse audivit rectorem de eadem villa dicere in dominica ram. palm . tolle , tolle . the miller of matlock took toll twice , because he heard the rectour of the parish read on palme * sunday , tolle , tolle , i. e. crucifie him , crucifie him . but , if this be the fruit of latine service , to encourage men in felony , let ours be read in plain english. sir anthony fitz-herbert , son of ralph fitz-herbert , esquire , was born at norbury in this county . he was first the kings serjeant at law , and was afterwards , in the fourteenth of king henry the eighth , made one of the justices of the common pleas ; so continuing until the thirtieth year of the said king , when he died . he wrote the excellent book de natura brevium , with a great and laborious abridgement of the laws , and a kalendar and index thereunto ; monuments which will longer continue his memory , than the flat blew marble stone in norbury church under which he lieth interred . sea-men . sir hugh willoughby was * extracted from a right worthy and ancient stock at riseley in this county . he was in the last year of the raign of king edward the sixth employed for the north-east passage , and by the king and merchants of london , made captain general of a fleet for discovery of regions , and places unknown . their fleet consisted of three ships , the bona esperanza admiral , of one hundred and twenty tun ; the edward bonaventure ( whereof richard chancelour pilot-major ) of one hundred and sixty tun ; and the good confidence of ninety tun. a large commission was granted unto them , which commission did not bear date from the year of our lord , but from the year * of the world , . because in their long voyage they might have occasion to present it to pagan princes . they departed from debtford , may . . and after much foul weather , steered up north-north-east . but on the second day of august a tempest arose , and their ships with the violence of the wind were much shattered , and the bonaventure , scattered from the other two ships , which never after saw it again . sir hugh , holding on his course , descried a land ( which for ice he could not approach ) lying from synam ( an island belonging to the king of denmark ) one hundred and sixty leagues , being in latitude seventy two degrees . this was then called willoughby-land , as well it might , seeing it had neither then , or since , any owner or inhabitant pretending to the propriety thereof . it appeareth by a will found in the ship which was the admiral , in the pocket of a person of quality , how in january . sir hugh and most of his company were then in health , though all soon after froze to death in a river or haven , called arzina in lapland . we are bound in charity to believe them well prepared for death , the rather because they had with them a minister , * mr. richard stafford by name , ( one of the twelve councellors to manage the design ) who read constantly every morning and evening the english service , to those who were in the admiral , with the bible and paraphrases thereon . so that this may be termed , the first reformed fleet , which had the english prayers and preaching therein . however seeing nocumenta , documenta , and , that the ship-wrecks of some are sea-marks to others ; even this knights miscarriage proved a direction to others . as for the bonaventure , which answering its name , was onely found by losing it self , it returned safe , and performed afterwards most excellent service , in opening the traffick to muscovy . thus , as the last dog most commonly catcheth the hare , which other dogs have turned and tired before ; so such who succeed in dangerous and difficult enterprises , generally reap the benefit of the adventures of those who went before them . as for sir hugh and his company their discoveries did thaw , though their bodies were frozen to death ; the english the summer following finding a particular account of all passages of their voyages remaining entire in the ship wherein they perished . lapland hath since been often surrounded ( so much as accosts the sea ) by the english , the west part whereof belongeth to the king of sweden , but the east moity , to the muscovite . they were generally heathen , as poor in knowledge as estate , paying their tribute in furres , whose little houses are but great ●…oles , wherein generally they live in the ignorance of money . here let me insert a passage ( to refresh the reader after this long and sad story ) of a custom in this barbarous country , from the mouths of credible merchants , whose eyes have beheld it . it is death in lapland to marry a maid without her parents or friends consent . wherefore if one beare affection to a young maid , upon the breaking thereof to her friends , the fashion is , that a day is appointed for their friends to meet , to behold the two young parties to run a race together . the maid is allowed in starting , the advantage of a third part of the race , so that it is impossible , except willing of her self , that she should ever be overtaken . if the maid overrun her suitor , the matter is ended , he must never have her , it being penal for the man again to renew the motion of marriage . but if the virgin hath an affection for him , though at the first running hard , to try the truth of his love , she will ( without atalantaes golden balls to retard her speed ) pretend some casualty , and make a voluntary hault before she cometh to the mark , or end of the race . thus none are compelled to marry against their own wills ; and this is the cause that in this poor countrey the married people are richer in their own contentment than in other lands , where so many forced matches make fained love , and cause real unhappinesse . physicians . thomas linacer doctor of physick , was born in the town of * 〈◊〉 , bred in oxford , whence , he afterwards travelled beyond the seas , residing chiefly at rome and florence . returning into england , he brought languages along with him , and was the first restorer of learning in our nation . it is questionable . whether he was a better latinist or grecian , a better grammarian or physician , a better scholar or man for his moral deportment . by his endeavours , galen speaks better latine in the translation , than he did greek in the original . the last volume whereof linacer promised to dedicate to arch-bishop warham , and excuseth his failing therein by a latine letter , which for several reasons i have here exemplified . first , for the quicknesse of conceit and purity of style therein . secondly , because never formerly printed . thirdly , because there is but one copy thereof writren with linacers own hand , prefixed to that numerical book , which he presented to the said arch bishop bestowed by my old friend doctor george ent on the colledge of physicians . lastly , because doctor christopher merrick hath been pleased carefully to compare it with the original . reverendissimo in christo patri , ac domino , domino gulielmo dei gratiâ cantuariensi archi-episcopo , totius angliae primati , & apostolicae sedis legato , thomas linacrus medicus , salutem cum debita dicit observantia . quod tibi ( archiepiscope clarissime ! ) opus hoc , sicuti promiseram , non dedicavi , sed ejus duntaxat exemplum ad te misi , nolis , obsecro , pro spectatâ humanitate tuâ , me magis aut promissi putare immemorem , aut ejus levem habuisse curam , quin id implere maximè cupientem , facere tamen non potuisse . nam cùm in eâ sententiâ sic perstitissem , ut ex ea me , praeter unum , nemo hominum dejicere potuisset , is profectò , nec alius , eam mutavit . quippe rex ipse , cùm ex certorum hominum sermone , qui nimio studio mei , mea omnia nimio plus praedicant , intellexisset , è tribus partibus , quibus tota medicinae ars integratur , hanc , quae hoc codice continetur , esse reliquam ; eam quoque , veluti justam sibi , nec à reliquis nuncupatione distrahendam , vendicavit : justitque domino iohanni chambre , observantissimo paternitatis tuae famulo , tum praesenti atque audienti , ut sibi eam inscriberem . itaque cùm te perspicere non dubitem , quantum apud me valere , quamque legis instar haberi debeat ejus voluntas ; non difficulter , ut spero , à te impetrabo ( id quod etiam magnis precibus contendo ) ut alio quopiam , ex iis , quae in manibus sunt , opere , & studiosis ( ut opinor ) futuro non ingrato , oppigneratam tibi fidem reluere liceat . quod si concedes , utrumque per te simul fiet , ut & voluptate , quam ex requisitis à tanto principe vigiliis meis concepi , eâ fruar ; & solicitudine , quâ pro redimenda fide angebar , eâ liberer . nec eò spectat ( reverendissime praesul ! ) haec tam sedula excusatio , quasi ullas meas nugas sic censeam , ut tibi usquam expetitas , expetendasve putem . sic eam potius intelligi postulo , cum tu mihi primus ad otium literarium beneficiis aditum aditum patefeceris , justissimum existimâsse me , tibi ejus otii rationem aliquam esse reddendam , ex qua me intelligeres non omnino id frustrà conterere : sed cùm id , partim instituendis quibusdam , partim his qualiacunque sunt , ad usum studiosorum scribendis impendam , hoc agere imprimis , ut qui ex eo audientes legentésve fructum aliquem percipient , tibi , quem non minimum ejus autorem ubique profiteor , bonam ejus partem acceptam referant . quod utique tum in his , quae jam edidimus , velim faciant , tum quae alias unquam scribam ; nedum quae tibi nominatim ( modò vita supersit ) dicabuntur . diu valeas , pater amplissime . no englishman in that age had so learned * masters , viz. demetrius , politian , and hermolaus barbarus ; so noble patrons , viz. laurence medices duke of florence , whilest he was beyond the seas , king henry the seventh and eighth ( to whom he was chief physician ) after his return into england ; so high born scholars , prince arthur , with many lords sons his contemporaries ; so learned friends , erasmus , melancthon , vives , &c. this linacer founded two publick lectures in oxford , and one in cambridge ( dutifully his respect to his mother , double above his aunt ) for the study of physick , and that students of that faculty of both universities may meet the more conveniently together , he founded the colledge of physicians in london . i much wonder at what i find in good * authors , that linacer a little before his death turned priest , and began to study the scripture , with which he formerly was unacquainted , in so much , that reading the fifth , sixth , and seventh chapters of saint matthew , he vowed , that either this was not the gospel , or we were not christians , which speech ( though much condemned by the * relater thereof ) is capable of a charitable sense , as taxing mens practice so much different from gods precepts . he died anno dom. . on the twelfth of october , and lieth buried in saint pauls , under a stately monument built to his memory by doctor john caius , and a phenix is erected on the top thereof . yea , i may call these two doctors , the two phenixes of their profession in our nation , and justifie the expression , seeing the later in some sort sprang of the ashes of the former , and caius came not into general credit till after the decease of linacer . writers . thomas ashburne was born at that well-known market town in this county , ( and not in stafford shire , as both bale and pits mistake ) and became an augustinian therein ; going afterwards to oxford he was doctorated in divinity . he was a great adversary to wickliff , and in that synod wherein his doctrines were condemned for heresie , by ten bishops , twenty lawyers , and four and forty divines , our ashburne made up one of the last number . yet once he did some good , or rather diverted much evil . it happened that one peter pateshul an augustinian preaching in london , had some passages in favour of wickliff , which so displeased those of his own order , that they plucked him out of the pulpit , dragged him into the covent of augustines ( near broadstreet ) intending more violence to his person . this allarumed the londoners ( amongst whom a considerable party of wickliffites ) to rescue poor pateshul , who in their rage had burnt the covent about the friers ears , had not our * ashburne with his prayers and tears seasonably interceded . he flourished under king richard the second , . benefactors to the publick since the reformation . elizabeth hardwick was daughter to john hardwick of hardwick in this county , esquire . a lady of an undaunted spirit , and happy in her several marriages to great persons . first , to sir william cavendish , then to sir william saintloo , and at last to george earl of shrewsbury . she left two sacred ( besides civil ) monuments of her memory in this county ; one that i hope will not [ her tomb in all-hallows ] the other , that i am sure cannot be taken away , as registred in the court of heaven : her stately alms-house for twelve poor people in derby . it will not be amiss here to relate a passage which is reported of this countess . mary queen of scots being committed to the keeping of her husband george earle of shrewsbury , the custody of so great a princess on the earls cost , was found not onely chargeable , but dangerous ; the popish party daily practising her enlargement . now it happened that this * countess coming to court , queen elizabeth demanded of her , how the queen of scots did . madam ( said she ) she cannot do ill , while she is with my husband , and i begin to grow jealous , they are so great together . the queen , who disliked any familiarity of that royall prisoner with so great a peer , presently ordered her removal thence into the custody of others . this countess died , anno dom. — there is a free schoole in the town of derby , built as i understand by that corporation , and endowed with threescore pounds a year , and i conjecture mr. r. fletcher thrice bayliff of the town , i say , by his laudatory epitaph , i conjecture him very instrumental to this work. i understand also that the said town hath large priviledges , in so much that l●…ndoners in some cases pay toal at derbey , but derbey men in no case toal at london . i grudge them not their great priviledges , so long as they employ their publick stock to pious uses . to conclude this topick , i meet with this memorable passage in one , who continueth the work of an industrious * author , which i will not , yea must not omit . divers well disposed citizens of london , desirous ( as yet ) not to be named , being born in or near to ashburne in the peak , in the county of derbey , combining their loving benevolence together , have builded there a fair school-house , with convenient lodgings for a master , and liberal maintenance allowed thereto . i hope that their forwardnesse hath since provoked many , and that their charity ( to allude to their staple commodity of this county ) but in the oar , in the times of our fathers , hath since been refined to perfection . the names of the gentry of this county returned by the commissioners in the twelfth year of king henry the sixth . william bishop of coventrie and lichfield . commissioners to take the oaths . henry de grey de codnore . richard vernon . knights for the shire . john cokayne . knights for the shire . roberti carrington . nicholai maysham . thome stokkes iohan. wyther thome henster rog. wolley . iohan. strelley iohan. allibon iohan. chester iohan. wandell iohan. houghton will. orme will. burton will. rossel . hen. sanky thome hye will. peek thome peek thome roberd , brasier . roberti warpeley iohan. fassakirley hen. bancroft iohan. hegge rob. shore hen. crabbe iohan. cooke rich. peek rob. hewster iohan. tykhull edm. iohnson iohan. stretton hen. shepherd thome draper vvill. thorstell iohan. burton vvill. maskyr vvill. satteby rob. stanley , smith tho. stanley , ironmonger hen. cook edm. lacy iohan. pesall johan . peek , curriour johan . benet , brasier nicholai lacy iohannis by watyr johannis spicer johannis lockyer , sen. iohannis lockyer , jun. richardi baker iohannis dunston thome stanley , smith williel . smith , tailor . johannis wodecok roberti clerk , smith iohannis manyashe , glover . nicholai cust roberti hudgray iohannis greaterler richardi walker iohannis butler johan . chestirshire johan . bower , senioris johan . bower , junioris johannis halom nicholai baxter williel . cartwright . rich. brown skinner henrici derley roberti potter hankeston johannis potter richardi whitehalls johannis wede plasterer johan . persal , tailour iohannis hoke rich. wright iohannis somer rad. batesson johan . litlechirch willielmi johnson richardi talliour richardi colleman roberti nundi iohannis hegge iohannis hatton willielmi goldsmith willielmi bullock rogeri spicer . richardi mody willielmi seler iohannis stone henrici shore willielmi walker iohannis west johannis pen willielmi cutteler richardi keye willielmi shepherd johan . deye , couper roberti euyngton henrici perpoint , chivalier thome folliambe , armigeri nicholai johnsill , armigeri iohannis leek , armigeri williel . ulkerthorpe , armigeri iohannis lynacre , armigeri simonis ulgerthorpe , gent. thome caus , gentleman rob. newbolt , gent. rad. clappewell willielmi hardwick gent. willielmi lynacre ; gent. williel . ulgerthorp , gent. johan . halmworth de stanley iohannis whitington gent. iohannis bothe de elmeton , gent. iohannis barker de dore , gent. rich. seliok , gent. roberti wennesley , gent. joh. marshal de egynton , gent. thome marshal de onlecotes , gent. will. smith de egynton , gent. rob. parker de norton . tho. fox de aston . johannis noble de hohneffeld ioh. parker de norton tho. cook de eadem will. del more de grenhul williel . botonne willielmi parker de shirlond rich. stykland , de ashover rad. huchonson , de eadem roberti seriount de dronfield vvilliel . outrem de holmfeld iohannis fox de barleylees rad. atte wode iohannis shanghe de somersale iohannis shagheuoc will. roudolf williel . budde iohannis capronn iohannis brailesforth roberti shoter richardi callcroft de chesterfeld richardi delkere de eadem ely dikkesson de eadem thome callcroft de eadem henrici de brythrechefold , arm. thome hugate de chesterfeld johan . harison de egynton johan . spynkhull roberti hasellherst willielmi grene de ken walmersho sannyer atkin de eadem thome walshe de stanley roberti bishangh de sutton johan . webster de bellesouer thome mariori de eadem iohan. wodeword thome withwyth willielmi aleyn de norton willielmi bullok de eadem rogeri pynder de pilleslay willielmi pynder de eadem . johan . amori thome gresley , chivaler roberti francys , armigeri iohannis curson de croxhale henrici holland de caldwale iohannis abbeny thome stokes iohannis franceys de tykenall will. lymster iohannis waren iohannis perfy richardi eyton thome tronche nicholai chaloner johannis elton johannis godhale , senioris johannis elton , junioris willielmi pont richardi twigg thome paynter johannis moseley johan . smith ferrour . johan . smith , baker . johannis elyson johannis sharp richardi madley johannis baker rad. gyles rogeri wilkinson johannis bate johannis pees roberti vernonn rogeri cowhope richardi smalley roberti twyforth walteri twyforth iohannis stathum thome makworth johan . lathebury johan . welbek iohan. leymestyr richardi keys ingram frannceys jerardi moynell hen. makworth roberti smalley rich. frannceys de stanton roberti cokfeld gilberti keys de spondon iohann . grandon de eadem iohannis grandon de denby henrici slack de stanley roberti winter tho. babyngton joh. sancheverell will. lemestre roberti kneton iohannis roleston de lee walteri wolley iohannis gretray de elton ioh. richardeson de alsop rogeri hawe de elton . nicholai mountgomery chiv. hen. kneton , armigeri rad. shirley . armigeri henrici bradbourne . henrici bothe , armigeri iohannis curson , armigeri thome kneton de mircaston willielmi dethyk de braidesall nicholai fitz-herbert iohannis fitz-herbert willielmi mountgomere rob. shanghe iohannis ronyngton . iohannis roleston de swarston willielmi lemestyr . iohannis crewker henrici de sale galfridi de sale rob. miller de roddesley rob. millner de roddesley thome prynce de trusseley thome saperton ioh. dantre de hatton ●…illielmi de crosse de hilton roberti weyke de hatton rich. slater de brailesforth rob bradshaugh de wyneley thome prince de eadem . richardi millner de hagge petri de la pole radulphi de la pole henrici de la pole johannis mountgomery henrici rolleston iohannis rollesley , senioris iohannis rollesley , junioris iohannis northwode johannis cooke de edensore rogeri calton de ea . willielmi hikedonne sen. de eadem will. hikedonne , jun. rogeri north de b●…bynhall willielmi jackson de hassop rogeri cok de edensore io. stafford de midleton johan . stafford de eyham rich. cobyn de eyham io. shakerley de par longesdon oliveri halley de aston iohannis balgy de aston rob. hayr de padley rad. leche de padley willielmi hayr de eadem thurstam de hall thome woderoffe nicholai scaley nich. del eyre de hope will. kingesson roberti ratcliff de mellehour iohannis hide de longlee nich. hollond de lyes thome wolley de chalesworth willialmi wolley de eadem iohan. del bothe de chalesworth thome wagstaffe de glossop nich. wagstaffe de eadem . rad. bradbury de oldresset . rogeri bradbury de eadem iacobi de lye de fernely iohan. shaleros de shaleros vvill. ragge de bondon edwardi bradshaugh de eadem nicholai bronn de mershe egidii claybrook , vicarii ecclesiae de castelton thome claybrook de eadem . rad. newham de eadem thome newham de eadem thome newham de flixton rich. newham de castelton thome nedham de foxlowe roberti woderof de vvormhill iohannis tunsted de eadem iohannis nedham de eadem hug. vvillesson de lytton richardi ropere de eadem vvillel . bradshaugh de tiddeswall hugonis strelley de burg vvill. manyashe de manyashe thome fletcher de eadem . iohannis delmere de eadem rich. none de hurdelow nich. bradshaugh de tiddeswall henrici bradshaugh de eadem henrici bradshaugh de eadem rog. massy de highlowe rich. stafford de ead . henrici stafford de derley thome fox de banford rad. bagshaugh de cunbes willielmi bagshaugh de capella supra le fryth . thome bagshaugh de rigge radul . stanley personae de kirke-ireton iohannis stepyngstones capellani & vicarii ecclesiae de penteryche . sheriffs of derby and nottingham shires . hen. ii. anno osbertus silvan anno radulph . filius engelrami anno idem . anno anno idem . anno anno radus filius engelrami , for five years . anno rob. filius radulph . for four years . anno will. filius radulph . for eight years . anno will. filius rad. & serlo de grendon anno serlo de grendon anno will. filius rad. & serlo de grandon anno radul . mordach , for seven rich. i. anno rad. murdach anno null . tit. com. in rotulo . anno anno anno anno willel . breewerre , for five years . reg. johan . anno williel . bryewerr anno anno hugo . bardulph . & willel . de lech anno idem . anno hugo . bardul . & regin . de carduill anno rob. de veteri ponte & rich. de bello campo anno idem . anno idem . anno idem . ut custos . anno anno idem . anno ph. marc. & pet. markes , for four years . anno ph. de marc. & eustach . de ludenham . anno ph. de marc. hen. iii. anno anno ph. marc. for six years . anno radulph . filius nicholai anno idem . anno idem . anno rad. filius nich. & hugo . le bell , for . years . anno rad. filius nich. & will. de derley anno idem . anno hugo . filius rad. & rob. le vavesor anno idem . anno idem . anno williel . de cantilupo , & bald. de pannton anno idem . anno baldwin . de pannton , for five years . anno rob. de vavesor , for eight years . anno roger de lunetal . anno idem . anno idem . anno simon . de heydon anno idem . anno simon . de aslacton anno johan . de baylloel & simon . de heidon . anno idem . anno will. fil . herberti ut custos hen. filius ejus . anno hugo . de stapilford cleric . ejus . anno idem . anno regin . grey & hugo de stapelford , for . years . anno hugo . de stapilford , clericus . anno walterus ebora . archiepiscopus . anno idem . edw. i. anno walt. ebora . archiep. anno walt. de stirchesley , for . years . anno gervasius de clifton , for . years . anno johan . de arasle , for five years . anno will. chetworth anno idem . anno ph. de pannton anno walt. goufle , for . years . anno johan . de harington anno rad. de shirle anno idem . anno rich. de turneaus anno rad. de shirle anno petrus picot , for . years anno will. de chelardeston edw. ii. anno petrus picot & williel . de chelaston anno johan . de strichesley anno rad. de crophul anno idem . anno idem . & johan . de la beach anno anno idem . anno johan . de bellaside , for . years . anno idem . & hugo de stokes anno johan . darcy anno idem . anno idem . anno anno hen. de taucombye anno idem . edw. iii. anno rob. ingram anno idem . anno johan . greet & mundus cressey anno tho. languilers anno idem . anno rob. de jorce anno idem . anno anno johan . de oxon. anno tho. de bickeringe , & joh. de oxon. anno idem . anno tho. de beckeringe anno egid. de meyguil , & joh. de oxon anno idem . anno egidius de meyguil . anno hugo de hercy anno nich. de langforde anno idem . anno johan . de musters & nich. de langford anno gervasius de clifton anno tho. de bickeringe anno johan . de vaux anno idem . anno idem . anno johan . walleys , for five years . anno walt. de monte gomeri , & johan . walleys anno rog. michal anno rich. de grey & rogerus michael anno johan . de gresley anno hen. de bralesford anno rob. de morton anno rog. beler . anno idem . anno rich. de bingham anno simon . de leykes anno rob. de twiford anno idem . anno idem . anno sampson de strelley anno roger. belor , for five years . anno johan . francis anno samp. de strelley anno anno sheriffs of derby and nottingham shires . name place armes . rich. ii.     anno     i     all the reign of this king.   recorda manca . 〈◊〉 iv.     anno     i     from the first to the last year of this king.   recorda manca . hen. v.     anno     i     this kings whol raign .   recorda manca . hen. vi.     anno     ioh. gokain , mil. a shdown . arg. three cocks , gules . tho. chaworth , m. wiverton . azure , ch●…verons , or. rich. vernon , mil. haddon . arg. fretty , sab. a canton , g ioh. la zouch , mil. haringw . gul. . bezants , a quarter er. tho. greisly , mil. greisly c. varry , erm. and gules . norm babingt ●… a. dethlck . arg. ten torteauxes , . . . & . ioh. cokain , mil. ut prius .   ioh. cakfeld , ar .     hug willoughby , 〈◊〉 ris●…ly . or , on bars , gul. water bougets , arg. nich. montgom . m*     will. meringe .   * g. achev . bet . flow . de lys or. rob. markham , m ▪   az. in a chief , or , a lion issuant gul. and border , arg. ioh. kokain , mil ▪ ut prius   tho. darcy .     ioh. curson . kedliston arg. on a bend , sab. . popingaies , or , collared vert. ioh. hikeling .     will. meringe .     ioh. cockfeld .     tho. st●…nnton .   vorry , arg. and s. a canton , g. io. walbyes .     io. pole. radburne per pale , or , and sab. a saltire engrailed counterchanged . tho. nevil . *   * gules , a saltire , ermin . io. stathum .     rob. strelley .     tho. blount .   bar nebulee of six , or , and s. nich. fitz-herbert norbnry . arg. a chief vairee , or , and gules , a bend , sable . tho. stannton ut prius   rich. willough by . ut prius   rob. clifton . clifton n sable , seme de cinque foils , a lion rampant , arg. rob. strelley .     will. plumpton , m.     ioh. grisley , mil. ut prius   ioh. stanop . shelford quarterly ermine and gules . will. babington . ut prius   ioh. wastneis . hendon sable , a lion rampant , arg. collared , gules . will. chaworth , ar . ut prius   will. fitz-herbert . ut prius   rob. clifton ar : ut prius .   edw. iv.     anno     rich. willoughby ut prius   ioh. stanhop , ar . ut prius   idem . ut prius   rob. strelley , mil.     ph. okere , mil.     nich. fitz-herb . ar ut prius   nich. kniveton , ar . mercasto gul. a chev. vairee , arg. and sable . rob clifton , mil. ut prius   hen. perpoint , mil. halm per. arg. a lion rampant , sable , in an orle of cinque foyles , gules . will. blount , ar . ut prius   hen. perpoint , mil. ut prius   ger. clifton , ar . ut prius   ioh. curson , ar . ut prius   ph. oker .     hen. stathum , ar .     will. basset , ar . brailesf . or , three piles , gules , a canton , ermin . rad. pole , ar . ut prius   gerv. clifton , ar . ut prius   ioh. babington , ar . ut prius   rob. markham , mil. ut pri●…s   rob. eyre .     ●…ar . pilkinton .     rich. iii.     anno     gerv. clifton , mil. ut prius   ioh curson , ar . ut prius   nich montgomery . ut pr●…us   hen. vii .     anno     ioh. byron , mil.     ioh. curson , ar . ut prius   gerv. clifton . ut prius   ioh. leeke , ar . sutton d. arg. on a saltyr engrailed , sable , . annulets , or. nich. knifton , sen. ut prius       iacobus savage , ar .     nich. byron , ar .     nich. knifton , jun. ut prius   bri. stamford , ar .     hen. willoughby , m ut prius   rad. shirley , mil. shirley d. paly of six , or , and azure , a canton , erm. tho. babington . ut prius   wil. bothe , ar .     humf. hercy , ar .     rad. longford , m.     gerv. clifton , mil. ut prius   will. perpoint , ar . ut prius   hen. vernam , mil. ut prius   simon . digby , ar .   azure , a flower de lys , arg. will. mering , mil.     idem .     edw. stanhope , m. ut prius   idem . ut prius   hen. viii .     anno.     br. stapulton , mil.     will. zouch , ar . ut prius   rich. basset , ar . ut prius   geo. chaworth , ar . ut prius   roger minars :     will. mering , mil.     ioh. zouch , mil. ut prius   rob. browne , ar .     br. stapulton , mil.     ioh. markham , m. ut prius   god. fuliamb , mil. ut prius   ioh. cokain , mil. ut prius   will. perpoint , mil , ut prius   ioh. vernon , ar . ut prius   ioh. byron , mil.     godf. fuliamb , mil. ut prius   ioh. markham , mil. ut prius   ioh. vernon , ar .     iohn byron , mil.     nich. strelley , ar .     tho. cokain , mil. ut prius   hen. sachenerel , m.   argent , a saltire , azure , . water bougets , arg. will. coffin , ar .     ioh. hercy , ar .     anth. babing ton , m ut prius       rad. langford , mil     godf. fuliamb mil. ut prius   nich. strelley , mil.     ioh. markham , mil. ut prius   will. basset , mil. ut prius   gerv. clifton , mil. ut prius   hen. sachenerel , m. ut prius   ioh. byron , mil.     ioh. hercy , arm .     ioh. zouch , ar . ut prius   ioh. markham . mil. ut prius   gerv. clifton , mil. ut prius   edw. vi.     anno     fran. leeke ut prius   ioh. hercy , mil.     tho. cokain , mil. ut prius   hen. sotton , mil.     ioh. byron , mil.     anth. nevil , mil. ut prius   phil. & mar.     anno     m. ioh. port , mil.     . . geo. clifton , mil. ut prius   . . ia. fuliamb , mil. ut prius   . . io. chaworth . mil ut prius   . . will. hollis , mil. houghton erm. . piles , sable . . . gerv perpoint , m. ut prius   eliz. reg.     anno     tho. kockeyne , mil. ut prius   will. mering , mil.     ioh. zouch , mil. ut prius   tho. stanhop , mil. ut prius   humf. bradborn , 〈◊〉     fr. molineux , ar .   azure , a cross moline quarter pierced , or. tho. gerard , mil.     godf. 〈◊〉 , m. ut prius   fr. curson , arm . & anth. strelly . ut prius   sheriffs of derby-shire alone . e●…iz . reg.     anno     nich. langford .     tho. kokayn , mil. ashburne arg. three cocks , gules . pet. frechvile , ar .   azure , six scallops●… argent . ioh. zouch , mil.   gul. ten bezants , a quarter er. fra. leke , ar . sutton arg. on a saltire , engrailed , sab. . annulets , or. humf. bradborn .     germ. pole. ar .     ioh. manners , ar . haddon or , two bars , az. on a chief quarterly , flower de lys of france , and a lion of 〈◊〉 . fran. wortley , ar . * york shire   will. basset , ar . †     godf. fuliamb , ar . * walton * arg. a bend with besants betwixt martlets , gul. tho. cockain , mil. ut prius   ioh. zouch , mil. ut prius † or , piles , gul. a canton er. ioh. harper , ar . † calke ● s. a bend bet . . scallops , or. hen. cavendish . ar* chatswo . † arg. a lion rampant within a border engrailed , s able . fran. curson , ar . † kedlifton   ioh. vernon , ar . *   * sable , bucks heads cabosed , arg. attired , or. tho. cockayn , mil. ut prius   fran. leake , ar . ut prius † arg. on a bend , sab. . popingais or , collered , vert. will. kniveton , ar . mircaston   ioh. manners , ar . ut prius * arg. frettee sab. a canton , g. godf. fuliamb , ar . ut prius   humf. dethick , ar .   arg. a fesse varr●… , or , and gul. bet . . water bougets , sa. tho. gresley , ar . † greisly c.   will. basset , ar . ut prius † varry , ermin and gules . fran. cockain , ar . ut prius   ioh. rodes , ar . balbrough arg. a lion passant , bend-ways , gul. dotfessed ermin , betw . will. cavendish , ar . ut prius   geo. curson , ar . ut prius . acorns , azure . ioh manners , ar . ut prius   hen. sacheverel , ar   arg. a saltire , az. . water bougets , argeet . io. willoughby , ar* riseley   edw cockain , ar . ut prius * or , on two bars , gul. . water bougets , argent . pet. frechvile , ar . ut prius   fran fitz-herbert . norbury argent , a chies varry , or , and gules , a 〈◊〉 , sable . tho. gresley , mil. ut prius   jacobus .     anno     tho. gresley , mil ●…t prius   fran. leake , mil. ●…t prius   ioh. harper , mil. ut prius   hen willoughby . a ut prius   rich harpe●… , ar . ut prius   hen. cavendish , ar ut prius   ioh. curson , ar ▪ ut prius   tho. burdet , ar .   az on 〈◊〉 , or , . martlets , gules . geo. fulwood mil.     he●… . leigh , mil.   gul. a cross engrailed , in the first quarter a lozenge , arg. tho. 〈◊〉 , mil. *     will kniv●…ton , bar . ut prius * gul. on a bend , argent , . ioh. bullock , ar .   crosses patee , sable . hen. agard , ar .     fran. munday , ar .     rog. manners . mil. ut prius   godf. tacker , ar .     ioh. milward , ar .   erm. on a fess , gules , . plates tho. eyre , ar .     iacinth sacheverel ,   argent , on a saltyre , azure , . water bougets of the field . 〈◊〉 . kniveton , m. ut prius   ioh. fitz-herbert . ut prius   carol . i.     anno     hen. harper , ar . ut prius   ioh fitz herb. mil. ut prius   edw. vernon , mil. ut prius   t●…o . burton , ar .     ioh. stanhope , mil. ut prius   fran. bradshaw , ar .     humf. oakeover , ar .     ioh. manners , ar . ut prius   fran. foliamb , b●…r . ut prius   ioh. gell. ar .     ioh. millward , ar . ut prius   ioh. harpur , mil. ut prius   ioh. harpur , bar . ut prius   ioh. curson , bar . ut prius   ioh. agard , ar .         ioh. harpur , bar . ut prius           edw. cooke , bar .   partee per 〈◊〉 , gules and azure , . eagles , argent .     mich bartonar .     hen. viii . . john vernon , arm. ] indeed i meet with many vernons in this catalogue of sheriffs , henry , john , &c. but cannot find him i seek for , viz. sir george vernon of haddon in this county . i assign my self this reason , that he never executed that office , because it was beneath a prince to be a sheriff ; and such his vast revenues and retinue , that in the beginning of queen elizabeth , he was called the king of the peak . this sir george left two daughters , coheirs , elizabeth married to sir john manners , ancestor to the present earl of rutland , and margaret to sir thomas stanley , younger son of the house of derby , deriving a vast inheritance to their husbands . how this sir john , this year sheriff , stood to him related , is to me unknown : sure i am , some of his surname and alliance still flourish in this and the neighbouring counties , where they have a fair estate . yet will they remember their motto , ver non semper floret , so ill it is to trust in the fading spring of humane felicity . the farewell . i understand that it is fashionable in this county for adventurers to begin a mine with this solemn expression , * for the grace of god , and what i there can find . by the grace of god understanding good success , otherwise saving grace is not to be sought for by mining of earth , but mounting up to heaven by faith and repentance . this their expression i approve , the earth being the lords , and the fulness thereof ( both beneath and above ground ) belongeth unto him . i have read , that the vicars in that country doe receive every tenth dish of oar for their due , being obliged thereby to pray heartily for the miners . now though no such place or profit belongeth unto me , yet , treating of this subject , i conceive my selfe bound ( if not in conscience ) in courtesie , to wish these work-men a good speed in their lawful endeavours , whilest they only undermine the earth , and not their neighbours right by fraudulent practices . may their lot prove a prize unto them , that they may gain , at the least no blank to lose thereby . particularly , may divine providence fecure the persons of their labourers from damps and other casualties , which have happened to many , when the earth ( though cruel to kill ) was courteous to bury them by the same mischance . devon-shire . devon-shire hath the narrow sea on the south , the severn on the north , cornwal on the west , dovset and somerset-shire on the east . a goodly province , the second in england for greatnesse , clear in view without measuring , as bearing a square of fifty miles . some part thereof , as the south-hams , is so fruitful , it needs no art ; some so barren , as dart-more , it will hardly be bettered by art ; but generally ( though not running of it self ) it answers to the spur of industry . no shire showes more industrious , or so many husbandmen , who by marle ( blew and white ) chalk , lime , sea-sand , compost , sope-ashes , rags , and what not ? make the ground both to take and keep a moderate fruitfulnesse ; so that virgil , if now alive , might make additions to his georgicks , from the plough-practice in this county . as for the natives thereof , generally they are dexterous in any imployment , and queen elizabeth was wont to say of their gentry , they were all born courtiers with a becomming confidence . natural commodities . silver . this formerly was found in great plenty in the parish of comb-martin ( miners be ing fetcht out of derby-shire for the digging thereof ) in the reign of king edw. . ( which as appeareth by * record on the account of those trusted therein ) turned to a considerable profit . in the two and twentieth year of the raign of king edward the first , william wymondham accounted for two hundred and seventy pounds weight of silver . it was forged for the lady elianor dutchesse of barr , and daughter to the said king , married the year before . in the twenty third year of the said king , was fined five hundred and twenty one pounds ten shillings weight . in the four and twentieth year of his raign , there was brought to london in fined silver in wedges , seven hundred and four pounds three shillings and one peny weight . in the twenty fifth year of his raign , though three hundred and sixty miners were impressed out of the peak and wales , great was that years clear profit in silver and lead . in the raign of edward the third , it appeareth by the record of particular accountants , that the profits of the silver were very considerable towards the maintainance of the kings great expences in the french war. these mines long neglected ( as i conjecture , by reason of the civil wars bewixt york and lancaster ) were re-entred on by an artist in the raign of queen elizabeth , who presented a silver cup made thereof to the earl of bath , with this inscription : in martins-comb●…ng ●…ng lay i hid , obscure , deprest with grossest soil . debased much with mixed lead , till bullmer came , whose skill and toil reformed me so pure and clean , as richer no where else is seen . these mines have not as yet recovered their former credit : though i understand that some are still pursuing this design , and i do wish well to their endeavours . not that private men should lose by their lead ▪ but the publick gain by their silver . tinn . god said to israel by the mouth of his * prophet , and i will take away all thy tinn . sad the case of this county , if so served . but what went before ? † thy silver is become drosse . it seemeth the kings of israel , being reduced to poverty , debased their coine ( the last refuge of princes ) adulterating it with tinn , and herein god promised , that their coine should be refined to the true standard . this th●… litteral meaning of the promise , mistically importeth ; that god would restore the primitive purity of his service , purged from errours and vices . in this mistical sense , it will not be amisse to wish , that god would take away the tinn from devon-shire , seeing such taking it away may consist with the continuance and advance of the metal therein . as for their litteral tinn , so plentiful herein , i wish some artifice might be found out ( hitherto unknown ) to sever the gold and silver from the tinn , without wasteing : till this be done , i desire some invention might prepare sea-coals for the melting thereof ; hereby much wood would be saved , and the product of the tinn not diminished , and not so much wasted in the blast , which now they are fain to run over three or four times : i am incouraged in the feasibility thereof , because a † learned chymist ( no emperick , but well experimented ) affirmed , that it may be done , on his own knowledg , by many trials which he hath made upon it . herrings . these still are taken in great , and were formerly in greater plenty in this county . for i read of great quantities of them for six or seven years together , taken at limmouth , until the * proctor ( as is said ) not contented with reasonable and indifferent tythes , vexed the poor fisher-men , with unusual and extraordinary payments . whether since the god of nature , to condemn such covetousnesse , hath with-drawn such store of fish , or whether the fisher-men disheartned with such exactions , with-drew their own industry , i know not . this i know , that light gains , as in all other commodities , so especially in tythes of this nature , make the heaviest purses . but we shall speak more conveniently of herrings in norfolk . strawberries , in latine fraga , most toothsome to the palate , ( i mean if with claret wine or sweet cream ) and so plentiful in this county , that a traveller may gather them , sitting on horse-back in their hollow high-wayes ; they delight to grow on the north side of a bank , and are great coolers . these small and sowre , as growing wild ( having no. other gardiner then nature ) quickly acquire greatnesse and sweetnesse , if transplanted into gardens , and become as good as those at porbery in somerset-shire , where twenty pounds per annum ( thank the vicinity of bristol ) have been paid for the tythe thereof . i would not wish this county the increase of these berries , according to the proverb ; cut down an oak , and set up a strawberry . hurtberries , in latine vaccinia , most wholsome to the stomack , but of a very astringent nature , so plentiful in this shire , that it is a kind of harvest to poor people , whose children nigh axminster , will earn pence a day for a moneth together , in gathering them . first they are green , then red , and at last a dark blew . the whitest hands amongst the romans did not disdain their blacknesse , witnesse the † poet , — vaccinia nigra leguntur . nothing more have i to observe of these berries , save ; that the antient and martial family of the baskervills in hereford-shire give a cheveron betwixt three hurts proper , for their arms. manufactures . bone-lace . much of this is made in and about honyton , and weekly returned to london . some will have it called lace , à lacinia , used as a fringe , on the borders of cloaths ; bone-lace it is named , because first made with bone ( since wooden ) bobbins . thus it is usual for such utensills both in the latine and english names , gratefully to retain the memory of the first matter they were made of ; as cochleare , a spoon , ( whether made of wood or metal ) because cockle-shells were first used to that purpose . modern the use thereof in england , not exceeding the middle of the raign of queen elizabeth : let it not be condemned for a superfluous wearing , because it doth neither hide nor heat , seeing it doth adorn : besides ; ( though private persons pay for it ) it stands the state in nothing , not expensive of bullion , like other lace , costing nothing save a little thread descanted on by art and industry : hereby many children , who otherwise would be burthensome to the parish , prove beneficial to their parents : yea , many lame in their limbs , and impotent in their arms , if able in their fingers , gain a lively-hood thereby ; not to say , that it saveth some thousands of pounds yearly , formerly sent over seas , to fetch lace from flanders . the buildings . bediford bridg is a stately structure , and remarkable in many respects . it standeth out of and far from any publick road , in a corner of the county , so that bediford bridg is truly bediford bridg , intended solely for the convenience of that town . it is very long , consisting of twenty four peares , and yet one william alford ( another milo ) of bediford carried on his back for a wager , four * bushel , salt-water-measure , all the length thereof . it is very high , so that a barge of sixty tuns may passe and repasse ( if taking down her masts ) betwixt the peares thereof . the foundation is very firmly fixed , and yet it doth ( or seem to ) shake at the slightest step of a horse . the builder of so worthy a work , is not ( the more the pity ) punctually known . yet tradition ( the best authour where no better is to be had ) maketh that finished by the assistance of sir theobold greenvill , the goldneyes and oketenets , ( persons of great power in those parts ) peter quivill bishop of exeter granting indulgencies to all such as contributed to the forwarding thereof . as for the houses of the gentry in this county , some may a●…tract , none ravish the beholder , except it be wenbury the house of the heales near plimouth , almost corrival with greenwich it self , for the pleasant prospect thereof . the wonders . not to speak of a river about lidford , whose stream sinketh so deep , that it is altogether invisible , but supplying to the eare that it denies to the eye , so great the noise thereof . there is in the parish of north-taunton ( near an house called bath ) a pit , but in the winter a pool , not maintained by any spring , but the fall of rain water ( in summer commonly dry . ) of this pool it hath been observed , that before the death or change of any prince , or some other strange accident of great importance , or any invasion or insurrection , ( though in an hot and dry season ) it will without any rain overflow its banks , and so continue till it be past that it prognosticated . be the truth hereof reported to the vicenage ( the most competent judges thereof ) seeing my authour * ( who finished his book . ) reporteth , that it over-flowed four times within these last thirty years . some will be offended at me , if i should omit the hanging stone , being one of the bound stones which parteth comb-martin from the next parish . it got the name from a thief , who having stoln a sheep and tyed it about his own neck to carry it on his back , rested himself for a while upon this stone , which is about a foothigh , until the sheep struggling * , slid over the stone on the other side , and so strangled the man. let the lawyers dispute whether the sheep in this case was forfeited to the kings almoner as a deo-dand : it appeareth rather a providence , then a casualty , in the just execution of a malefactor . to these wonders , i will add , and hazard the readers displeasure for the same , the gubbings . so now i dare call them ( secured by distance ) which one of more valour durst not do to their face , for fear their fury fall upon him . yet hitherto have i met with none , who could render a reason of their name . we call the shavings of fish ( which are little worth ) gubbings ; and sure it is they are sensible that the word importeth shame and disgrace . as for the suggestion of my worthy and learned * friend , borrowed from † buxtorfius , that such who did inhabitare montes gibberosos , were called gubbings , such will smile , at the ingenuity , who dissent from the truth of the etymology . i have read of an england beyond wales * ; but the gubbings-land is a scythia within england , and they pure heathens therein . it lyeth nigh brent-tor in the edg of dartmore . it is reported , that some two hundred years since , two strumpets being with child , fled hither to hide themselves , to whom certain lewd fellows resorted , and this was their first original . they are a peculiar of their own making , exempt from bishop , arch-deacon , and all authority either ecclesiastical or civil : they live in cotts ( rather holes than houses ) like swine , having all in common , multiplied without marriage into many hundreds : their language is the drosse of the dregs of the vulgar devonian ; and the more learned a man is , the worse he can understand them . during our civil wars , no souldiers were quartered amongst them , for fear of being quartered amongst them . their wealth consisteth in other mens goods , and they live by stealing the sheep on the more , and vain it is for any to search their houses , being a work beneath the pains of a sheriff , and above the power of any constable . such their fleetnesse , they will outrun many horses ; vivaciousnesse , they out live most men , living in the ignorance of luxury , the extinguisher of life : they hold together like burrs , offend one , and all will revenge his quarrel . but now i am informed , that they begin to be civilized , and tender their children to baptisme ; and return to be men , yea christians again : i hope no civil peopl●… amongst us will turn barbarians , now these barbarians begin to be civilized . proverbs . to devon-shire ground . ] it is sad when one is made a proverb by way of derision ; but honourable to become proverbial , by way of imitation , as here devon-shire hath set a copy of industry and ingenuity to all england . to devon-shire land is to pare off the surface or top-turffe thereof , then lay it together in heaps and burn it , which ashes are a marvailous improvement to battle barren ground . thus they may be said to stew the land in its own liquor , to make the same ground to find compost to fatten its self ; an husbandry , which where ever used , retains the name of the place where it was first invented , it being usual to devonshire land in dorset-shire , and in other counties . a plimouth cloak . ] that is a cane or a staffe , whereof this the occasion . many a man of good extraction , comming home from far voiages , may chance to land here , and being out of sorts , is unable for the present time and place to recruit himself with cloaths . here ( if not friendly provided ) they make the next wood their drapers shop , where a staffe cut out , serves them for a covering . ho may remove mort-stone . there is a bay in this county called mort-bay , but the harbour in the entrance thereof is stopped with a huge rock , called mort-stone , and the people merrily say that none can remove it , save such who are masters of their wives . if so , wise socrates himself ( with all men who are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , under covert-feme ( as i may say ) will never attempt the removal thereof . — first hang and draw , then hear the cause by lidford law. ] lidford is a little and poor ( but antient ) corporation in this county , with very large priviledges , where a court of the stanneries was formerly kept . this libellous proverb would suggest unto us , as if the towns-men thereof ( generally mean persons ) were unable to manage their own liberties with necessary discretion , administring preposterous and preproperous justice . i charitably believe , that some tinners , justly obnoxious to censure , and deservedly punished ( by fine or otherwise ) for their misdemeanors , have causelessely traduced the proceedings of that court , when they could not maintain their own innocence . saints . wenfride boniface was born at c●…editon ( corruptly kirton ) once an episcopal see in this county , bred a monk under abbot wool●…hard in exeter . hence he went to rome , where pope gregory the second ( perceiving the ability of his parts ) sent him to germany , for the converting of that stiffe-necked nation . this service he commendably performed , baptising not fewer than a hundred thousand in bavaria , thuringia , hassia , friesland , soxony , &c. but here i must depart from * bale , because he departeth ( i am sure ) from charity , and i suspect from verity it self . charity , who ( according to his bold and bald a●…ocaliptical conjectures ) maketh him the other beast assending out of the earth with two † horns . and why so ? because forsooth he was made by the pope metropolitan of mentz , and kept the church of colen in commendam therewith . secondly verity , when saying that he converted men terrore magis quam doctrinâ , it being utterly incredible ; that a single man should terrifie so many out of their opinions . and if his words relate to ecclesiastical censures ( with which weapons boniface was well provided ) such were in themselves ( without gods wonderful improving them on mens consciences ) rather ridiculous then formidable to force pagans from their former perswasions . but if bale ( which is very suspitous ) had been better pleased with the germans continuing in their pagan principles , than their conversion to corrupted christianity ; he will find few wise and godly men to joyn with his judgment therein . yet do i not advocate for all the doctrines delivered and ceremonies imposed by boniface ; beholding him as laying the true foundation , jesus christ , which would last and remain , but building much hay and stubble of superstition thereon . but he himself afterwards passed a purging fire in this life , killed at borne in friesland , with fifty four of his companions , anno dom. . in the sixty year of his age , after he had spent thirty six years , six moneths , and six dayes in his german imployment . willibald , descended of high parentage , was born in this † county , nephew to st. boniface aforesaid , whom he followed in all respects ; later in time , lower in parts , lesse in pains , but profitable in the german conversion ; wherein he may be termed his uncles armour-bearer , attending him many a mile , though absent from him at his death . herein he was more happy than his uncle , that being made bishop of eystet in germany , as he lived in honour , so he died in peace , anno dom. . martyrs . agnes pirest or prest , was the sole martyr under the raign of queen mary ; wherefore as those parents which have but one child , may afford it the better attendance as more at leasure : so seeing by gods goodnesse , we have but this single native of this county , yea of this diocesse ; we will enlarge our selves on the time , place , and cause of her suffering . . her christian name , which mr. fox could not learn , we have recovered from another excellent * authour . . i am informed by the inhabitants thereabouts , that she lived at northcott in the parish of boynton , in the county of cornwall , but where born , is unknown . she was a simple woman to behold , thick , but little and short in stature ; about fifty four years of age . she was indited on monday * the fourth week in lent , an. phil. and mar. & . before w. stanford justice of the assize ( the same as i conceive , who wrote on the pleas of the crown : ) so that we we may observe more legal formality was us●…d about the condemnation of this poor woman , than any martyr of far greater degree . her own * husband and children were her greatest persecutors , from whom she fled , because they would force her to be present at masse . she was presented to james troublefield bishop of exeter , and by him condemned for denying the sacrament of the altar . after her condemnation she refused to receive any money from well affected people ; saying , * she was to go to that city where money had no mastery . she was burnt without the walls of exeter , in a place called sothenhay , in the moneth of november . she was the onely person in whose persecution bishop troublefield did appear ; and it is justly conceived that black-stone his chancellour was more active than the bishop , in procuring her death . confessors . this county afforded none either in or before the raign of q. mary ; but in our age it hath produced a most eminent one , on an account peculiar to himself . john molle was born in or nigh * south-mollton in this county , bred in france , where he attained to such perfection in that tongue , that he made a dictionary thereof for his own use : after his youth spent in some military imployments of good trust , he was in his reduced age made , by thomas lord burgley and president of the north , one of the examiners in that court. going afterwards governour to the lord ross , he passed the alps ( contrary to his own resolution ) prizing his fidelity to his charge above his own security . no sooner were they arrived at rome , but the young lord was courted and feasted , mr. molle arrested and imprisoned in the inquisition . i hus at once did he lose the comfort of his wife , children , friends , own land , and liberty , being kept in most strict restraint . adde to all these vexations , visits of importunate priests and jesuits , daily hacking at the root of his constancy with their objections ; till finding their tools to turn edge , at last they left him to his own conscience . what saith the holy spirit ? revel . . . come out of babylon my teople . but here alas was he , who would , but could not come thence , detained there in durance for thirty years together : how great his sufferings were , is onely known to god , who permitted , his foes , who inflicted , and himself , who endured them ; seeing no friend was allowed to speak with him alone . he died in the . year of his age , about the year of our lord . cardinals . vvilliam courtney was born ( probably at okehampton ) in this county , son to hugh courtney earl of devon-shire , successively bishop of hereford , winchester and canterbury ; the credit of t. walsingham an exact historian ( and born before courtney was buried ) maketh me confident , that the pope made him a cardinal , and ciaconius and onuphrius two italians , confirm the same ; that a bishop of london ( though mistaking his name , adam for william ) was at this time rewarded with a red hat. how stoutly he then opposed john of gaunt ( wickliffe his patron ) in his church of st. paul is largely related in my church history , and i can add nothing thereunto . for if the men of laconia ( whose work was to study concisenesse ) punished him severely , for speaking in three , what might have been said in two words ; criticks will severely censure me , for such tedious repetition . onely we may observe ; that when arch-bishop of canterbury , his metropolitical visitation charged through and through , every diocesse in his own province , no resistance being of proof against him , all opposers giving some trouble to him , but disgrace to themselves ; soon suppressed by his high bloud , strong brains , full purse , skill in law , and plenty of powerful friends , in the english and romish court. the difficulty which he underwent herein , made the work easie to his successors ever after . he deceased july . anno domini . prelates . robert chichester . here i had been at a perfectlosse , had i not met with a good guide to direct me : for i had certainly from his sirname concluded him born at chichester in sussex , according to the custome of other clergy-men . but this single swallow ( which makes no summer ) had a flight by himself , retaining his paternal name , descended from a noble and ancient family ( saith my author* ; ) still flourishing [ at rawleigh ] in this county . he was first dean of sarisbury , then anno . consecrated bishop of exeter ; highly commended by many vvriters , for his piety , though the principal thereof consisted in his pilgrimages to rome , and procuring reliques thence . he bestowed much money in building and adorning his cathedral , and having sate therein two and twenty years , died and was buried , on the south side of the high altar , nigh a gentleman of his own sirname , whose inscribed arms are the best directory to this bishops monument . gilbert foliot was born at tamerton * foliot in this county , abbot of glocester , ( bale saith exeter ) then successively bishop of hereford and london . he was observed when a common † brother of his covent , to inveigh against the prior ; when prior , against the abbot ; when abbot , against the pride and lazinesse of bishops ; but when he himself was bishop , all was well , and foliots mouth when full , was silent : whether because all things do rest quiet in their center , or because age had abated his juvenile animosity ; or because he found it more facil to find faults in others , then mend them in himself . indeed , oft times meer moros●…ness of nature , usurps the reputation of zeal , and what is but a bare disgust of mens persons , passeth for dislike of their vices . however our foliot , the lesse he had in satyrs , the more he had of elegies afterwards , secretly bemoaning the badnesse of the age he lived in : hear a passe betwixt him and a strange voice , satans challenge . * o gilberte foliot dum revolvis tot & tot , deus tuus est † ashtarot . foliots answer . mentiris daemon , qui est deus sabaoth , est ille meus . he finds little favour from our historians of his age , because they do generally becketize ; whilst foliot was all for the king , being a professed enemy to the ( not person , but ) pride of that prelate* . this wise and learned bishop died feb. . . robert foliot arch-deacon of oxford , was neer cosen * ( and therefore is placed country man ) to gilbert aforesaid . he was bred first in england , then in france , where he got the sirname of robertus melundinensis , probably from the place of his longest abode . he was first tutor to becket , and becket afterwards was patron to him , by whose procurement he succeeded his kinsman in the see of hereford . he wrote several books , whereof one of the sacraments of the old law is most remarkable . hitherto we have followed bale with blind obedience , until bishop godwin , whom we rather believe , hath opened our eyes in two particulars : that robert de melune ( bishop also of hereford ) was a distinct person from our robert. that our foliot was advanced bishop after the † death of becket , probably for the affection he bore unto him , not the assistance he received from him . his deah happened anno . nor must we forget , there was also one hugh foliot arch-deacon of shrewsbury , afterwards bishop of hereford ; of whom nothing remains , but his name and the date of his death . william brewer , was born in this county ( or in somerset-shire ) whereof william his father was several years sheriffe under king henry the second , * where we shall insist on the occasion of his sirname . bishop godwin informeth us , that he was brother to sr. william brewer knight , if there be not an errour therein , seeing two brethren surviving their parents together ; both of a name , are seldome seen in the same family . he was preferred bishop of exeter anno . a great courtier , and employed in such † embassies proper for a person of prime quality , as when he was sent to conduct isabel sister to king henry the third , to be married to frederick the emperour ; whom he afterwards attended to the holy land ▪ returning to his see , he set himself wholly to the adorning and enriching thereof , founding a dean and prebendaries , allowing the later the annual stipend of four pounds , which they receive at this day . but i am lately informed that the dean and residenciaries of exeter have since augmented the salary of all the prebendaries at large to twenty pounds a year : which intelligence if false , they are not injured , if true , they are courteously used . this bishop died anno domini . william de raleigh , was born at that well known town in this county , preferred first canon of st. pauls , then successively bishop of norwich and * winchester : the last of which cost him much trouble , his election being stiffely opposed by king henry the third , intending a valentinian ( uncle to the queen ) for that bishoprick ; whom the monks of winchester refused ; terming him , vir sanguinum , a man of bloud . whether in that sense wherein david is so termed ( and on that account prohibited the building of the temple ) because a martial man ; or whether onely because descended of high bloud , whose descent was all his desert , so that they ridgidly adhered to the election of raleigh . king henry who seldome used to be angry , and more seldome to swear ; sware in his anger , that he would have his will at last , or they should never have bishop ; and how his conscience came off vvithout perjury herein , his own conf●…ssor vvas best able to satisfie him . raleigh had ( be●…ides his own merits ) two good friends , his purse and the pope , the former procuring the later . he presented his holynesse with six thousa●…d mark , which effected his work. here two persons were at once deceived , the pope not expecting so great a sum should be tendred him , and raleigh not suspecting he would take all ; but leave at least a morsel for manners . but his hands will take what ever is tendred him , if not too hot or too heavy . raleigh thus runin debt , could never creep out thereof , though living very privately , and dying very penitently : for when the priest brought the ●…uchrist unto him , lying on his death-bed ; raleigh expressing himself in language like to that of john baptist † : i have need to come to thee , and comest thou to me ; would rise out of his bed to meet him . his death happened anno dom. . richard courtney was one of great * linage ( allied to the earl of devonshire ) and no lesse learning ( excellently skilled in the knowledg of both laws : ) so that at the instant suit of k. henry the fifth ; he was preferred bishop of norwich , anno . his person ( the inne of his soul , had a fair sign ) was highly favoured by his prince , and beloved by the people ; yet all this could not prolong his life : so that he died of a flux at the siege of harflew in normandy , in the second year of his consecration , and his corps brought over , was honourably entombed in westminster . j●…ames cary , was born in this county , his name still flourishing nt cockington therein : he was at rome made bishop of lichfield , and travailing thence homewards towards england , did again light on the pope at flor●…nce , just at the news of the vacancy of exeter , and the same see was bestowed on him , the more welcome , because in his native county . say not this was a degradation ; for though in our time lichfield is almost twice as good as exeter , ●…xeter then was almost four times as good as lichfield . this appeareth by their valuations of their income into * first-fruits ; exeter paying the pope six thousand ducats , whilst lichfield paid onely seventeen hundred at the most . but what ever the value of either or both was , cary enjoyed neither of them ; dying and being buried in florence . thus , though one may have two cups in his hand , yet some intervening accident may so hinder , that he may taste of neither . he died . john stanbery , was ( saith † bale out of leland ) in occidentali 〈◊〉 parte natus . but the western parts , being a wide parish , thanks to our authour , who hath * particularized the place of his nativity , viz. the farm of church-hill , within the parish of bratton or broad-town in this county , where some of his name and kindred remain at this day . he was bred a carmelite in oxford , and b●…came genera●…ly as learned as any of his order , deserving all the dignity which the ●…niversity did or could confer upon him . king h●…n . the sixth highly favoured and made him the first provost of eaton , being much ruled by his advice in ordering that his new foundation . he was by the king designed bishop of norwich , but william de la poole duke of suffolk ( see the presumption of a proud favourite or minion rather ) got it from him for his own chaplain , and stanbery was for to stay his stomack on the poor bishoprick of bangor , till anno , he was advanced bishop of hereford . leland doth condemn him for his over compliance with the pope in all his intollerable taxes , and others commend him as much for his fidelity to his master king hen. whom he deserted not in all his adversity ; so that this bishop was taken prisoner in the battail of northampton . say not to this prelate , as eliab to david , † why camest thou down hither ? with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wildernesse ? i know the pride and the malice of thy heart , for thou art come down to see the battail ; for stanbery being confessor to king henry , he was tyed by his oath to such personal attendance . after long durance in warwick castle , he was set at liberty , and dying anno , was buried in the convent of carmelites at ludlow ; where his barbarous and tedious epitaph ( ill suiting with the authour of such learned and pithy books ) is not worth the inserting . peter courtne●… son to sir * phillip courtney , was born at powderham in this shire . he was first preferred arch-deacon , then bishop of ●…xeter , expending very much money in finishing the north tower , giving a great ( called peter ) bell thereunto . he was afterwards anno , translated to winchester ; where he sat five years . it is much one of so illustrious birth should have so obscure a burial , bishop godwin con̄fessing that he knew not whereabouts in his church he lyeth interred . since the reformation . john jewel bearing the christian name of his father , grandfather , and great grandfather , was born at buden ( a farm possessed more than two hundred years by his ancestors ) in the parish of 〈◊〉 , nigh illfracombe in this county , on the th of may . his mothers sirname was bellamy , who with her husband john jewel lived happily fifty years together in holy wedlock , and at their death left ten children behind them . it may be said of his sirname ; nomen , omen , jewel his name , and pretious his vertues : so that if the like ambition led us english men , which doth foraigners , speciously to render our sirnames in greek or latine , he may be termed johnnes gemma , on better account then gemma frisius entituleth himself thereunto . he was chiefly bred in the school of barstable , where john harding afterwards his antagonist , was his school fellow , and at years of age was admitted in merton coll●…dge , under the tuition of john parkhurst , afterwards bishop of norwich . such his sedulity , rising alway at of the clock , and not going to bed till ; that he was never punished for any exercise ; and but once for absence from chappel . hence he was removed to corpus christi colledge , where he proved an excellent poet ( having all horace by heart ) linguist , and orator . thus having touched at all humane arts , he landed at divinity , being much assisted by peter martyr the kings professor therein . st. † jerome telleth us that so great was the intimacy betwixt pamphilius that worthy martyr , a priest , and eusebius the bishop of caesarea , ut ab uno alter nomen acceperet ; that they mutually were sirnamed the one from the other , pamphilius eusebii , and eusebius pamphilii : no lesse the unity of affections be twixt these two , who accordingly might be called martyrs jewell , and jewells martyr ; as seldome in body , and never in mind asunder . what eminent changes afterwards befel him in the course of his life , how he fled into germany , lived at zurick , returned into england , was preferred bishop of salisbury , wrote learnedly , preached painfully , lived piously , died peaceably , anno dom. . are largely related in my ecclesiastical history , and i will trouble the reader with no repetitions . john prideaux was born at hartford in the west part of this county , bred scholar , fellow , and r●…ctor of exeter colledg in oxford , canon of christ-church , and above thirty years kings professor in that university . an excellent linguist , but so that he would make words wait on his matter , chiefly aiming at expressivenesse therein ; he had a becomming fe●…ivity , which was aristotles , not st. pauls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . admirable his memory , retaining what ever he had read . the welch have a proverb ( in my mind somewhat uncharitable ) he that hath a good memory , giveth few alms ; because he keepeth in mind , what and to whom he had given before : but this doctor cross'd this proverb , with his constant charity to all in want . his learning was admired by forreigners , sextinus amma , rivet , &c. he was not vindicative in the least degree : one * intimate with him , having assured me , that he would forgive the greatest injury , upon the least show of the parties sorrow , and restore him to the degree of his former favour ; and though politicians will thence collect him no prudent man , divines will conclude him a good christian. episcopacy in england being grievously wounded by malevolent persons , king charles the first conceived that the best wine and oil that could be powred into those wounds , was , to select persons of known learning and unblameable lives to supply the vacant bishopricks ; amongst whom dr. prideaux was made bishop of worcester . but alasse , all in vain , such the present fury of the times . he died of a feaver , and i have perused a manuscript book ( but alasse not made by oxford , but worcester-shire muses ) of verses on his funeral . amongst which i take notice of these , define mirari caecos errasse tot ignes , in prompt●… causa est , lux prideauxus obit . mortuus est prideaux ? scriptis post funera vivit ; aufertur letho mitra , corona datur . to these we may add the chronogram , which i meet with amongst the same verses . iohannes prideavxvs 〈◊〉 vvigorniae mortvvs , est . . he was buried at bredon in worcester-shire , august the ●…th . such as deny bishops to be peers , would have conceived this bishop a prin●…e , if present at his interment , such the number and quality of persons , attending his funeral . states-men . sir arthur chichester knight , was descended of a right ancient family , dwelling at rawley in this county . he spent his youth first in the university , then in the french and irish wars ; where by his valour he was effectually assistant , first to plough and break up that barbarous nation by conquest , and then to sow it with seeds of civility , when by king james made lord deputy of ireland . ind ed good laws and provisions had been made by his predecessors to that purpose , but alas they were like good lessons set for a lute out of tune , uselesse untill the instrument was fitted for them . wherefore in order to the civilizing of the irishry , in the first year of his government he established two new circuits for justices of assize , the one in connaught , the other in munster . and whereas the circuits in former times onely encompassed the english pale ( as the cynosura doth the pole ) henceforward , like good planets in their several spheres , they carried the influence of justice , round about the kingdom . yea , in short time , ireland was so cleared of theeves and capital offenders , that so many malefactors have not been found in the two and thirty shires of ireland , as in six * english shires in the western circuit . he reduced the mountains and glinns on the south of dublin ( formerly thorns in the sides of the english-pale ) into the county of wicklowe , and in conformity to the english custome , many irish began to cut their mantles into cloaks . so observant his eye over the actions of suspected persons ; that tyrone was heard to complain that he could not drink a full carouso of † sack , but the state was within few hours advertised thereof . after he had been continued many years in his deputy-ship , and deservedly made a lord , king james recalled him home , and ( loath to leave his abilities unimployed ) sent him embassadour to the emperour , and other german princes . being besieged in the city of mainchine ( a place much indebted to his prudence , for seasonable victualling it : ) by count tilley ; he sent him word that it was against the law of nations to besiege an embassadour : tilley returned , that he took no notice that he was an embassadour . the lord chichester replied to the messenger ; had my master sent me with as many hundred men , as he hath sent me on fruitlesse messages , your general should have known , that i had been a souldier , as well as an embassadour . king james at his return , entertain'd him with great commendation , for so well discharging his trust , and he died in as great honour as any english-man of our age , anno dom. . . capital judges . sir william herle knight , was made by king edward the third , chief justice of the kings-bench , in hillary term , the first year of his raign , and before the term ended , ( viz. jan. the . ) was made chief judge of the common pleas , by his own free consent , as i have cause to conceive ; he standing fair in the kings favour . for , whereas sixty marks was in that age the annual salary of that place , the king * granted him an augmentation of two hundred and forty marks a year , so long as he kept that office. this was some four years , for i find sir john † stoner put into his place , in the fourth of the kings raign , yet so , that this sir william was his successor the year after , such alterations being usual in that age . i collect him to die in the ninth of king edward the third ( the mention of him sinking that year ) and is placed here ; because , if not born at ( which is most probable ) he was owner of illfracombe in this county , the mannor whereof was held by his issue till the raign of king henry the seventh ; and i understand that a family of his name , and i believe of his linage , hath still a worshipful existence in cornwall . sir john cary knight , was born at cockington in this county , and applying himself to the study of the laws , was made chief baron of the exchequer in the tenth year of king richard the second . the greatest fault i find charged on him , was loyalty to his lord and master , which , if any dare call a disease : i assure you it is a catching one , among conscientious people . on this honourable account this judge lost his office , goods , and lands , in the first of king henry the fourth ; whose losses , not long after providence plentifully repayed to his posterity ; on this occasion . a knight errant of arragon comming into england , and challenging any to tilt with him , was undertaken by sir robert cary , son to sir john aforesaid ; who vanquished the vain glorious don ; so that king henry the fifth out of a sympathy of valour , restored all his estate unto him . this judge dyed about the year of our lord . sir william hankford was born at amerie in this county ( a mannor , which from owners of the same name by their daughter and heir descended to the hank fords ) bred in the study of the laws , till he became chief justice of the kings bench , in the first of king henry the fifth ; which place he adorned with great learning and integrity , though doleful the manner of his death ; on this occasion : coming home discontented from london , he expressed extream anger ( somewhat trespassing on his judicial gravity ) against his keeper ; for that ( as he said ) his deer were stolen , and charged him to shoot any man in the park whom he should find there , and stood not being spoken unto , and he would discharge him . the next night being dark , he presents himself , and refusing to stand , the keeper according to his injunction , shot and killed him . the stump of the oak , nigh which this sad accident happened , hath been shewn to some eminent lawyers riding that circuit , which are yet alive . however no violent impression is intimated in this his peaceable epitaph on his monument in amerie church : hic jacet will. hankford miles , quondam capitalis justiciarius domini r. de banco , qui obiit duodecimo die decembris anno domini . cujus , &c. his figure is portraied kneeling , and out of his mouth in a label , these two sentences do proceed ; miserere mei deus secundum magnam misericordiam tuam . beati qui custodiant judicium , & faciunt justitiam omni tempore . no charitable reader , for one unadvised act will condemn his memory , who , when living , was habited with all requisites for a person of his place . sir john fortescue was born of a right ancient and worthy family in this county , first fixed at wimpstone in this shire ; but since prosperously planted in every part thereof . they give for their motto forte scutum salus ducum , and it is observable that they attained eminency in what profession soever they applyed themselves . in the field . in westminster hall. in the court. sir hen fortescue a valiant and fortunate commander under king henry the fifth in the french wars , by whom he was made governour of meux in berry . sir hen. fortescue was lord chief justice of ireland , and justly of great esteem for his many vertues ; especially for his sincerity in so tempting a place . sir john . fortescue that wise privy councellor , overseer of queen elizabeth her liberal studies ; and chancellor of the exchequer , and dutchy of lancaster . sir adrian fortescue porter of the town of calice , came over with king henry the seventh , and effectually assisting him to regain the crown , was by him deservedly created knight banneret . sir john fortescue our present subject , lord chief justice and chancellour of england , in the raign of king henry the sixth , whose learned commentaries on the law , make him famous to all posterity .   sir lewis pollard of kings nimet in this county , sergeant of the law , and one of the justices of the kings bench in the time of king henry the eighth , was a man of singular knowledg and worth ; who by his lady elizabeth had , eleven sons , whereof four attained the honour of knighthood : sir hugh . sir john of ford. sir richard. sir george , who got his honour in the defence of bullen . all the rest , especially john arch deacon of sarum , and canon of exeter , were very well advanced . eleven daughters married to the most potent families in this county , and most of them knights : so that ( what is said of cork in ireland , that all the inhabitants therein are kinne ) by this match almost all the ancient gentry in this county are allied . the portraiture of sir lewis and his lady , with their two and twenty children , are set up in a glasse window at nimet-bishop . there is a tradition continued in this family ; that the lady glassing the window in her husbands absence at the term in london ; caused one child more then she then had , to be set up , presuming ( having had one and twenty already , and usually conceiving at her husbands coming home ) she should have another child ; which inserted in expectance , came to passe accordingly . this memorable knight died anno . sir john doderidg knight , was born at ...... in this county , bred in exeter colledg in oxford ; where he became so general a scholar , that it is hard to say , whether he was better artist , divine , civil , or common lawyer , though he fixed on the last for his publick profession ; and became second justice of the kings bench. his soul consisted of two essentials , ability and integrity , holding the scale of justice with so steady an hand , that neither love nor lucre , fear or flattery , could bow him on either side . it was vehemently suspected that in his time , some gave large sums of money , to purchase places of judicature . and sir john is famous for the expression , that as old and infirm as he was , he would go to tyburn on foot to see such a man hang'd ; that should proffer money for a place of that nature ; for certainly those who buy such offices by whole sale , must sell justice by retail , to make themselves savers . he was commonly called the sleeping judg , because he would sit on the bench with his eyes shut , which was onely a posture of attention , to sequester his sight from distracting objects , the better to lissen to what was alledged and proved . though he had three wives successively , out of the respectful families of germin , bamfield , and culme , yet he left no issue behind him . he kept a hospital house at mount-radford neer exeter , and dying anno domini . the thirteenth day of september ; ( after he had been seventeen years a judg ) in the seventy third year of his age , was interred under a stately tomb in our ladys chappel in exeter . to take my leave of the devonian lawyers , they in this county seem innated with a genius to study law , none in england ( northfolk alone excepted ) affording so many ; cornwal indeed hath a famine , but devon-shire makes a feast of such , who by the practice thereof have raised great estates . three sergeants were all made at one call●… , sergeant glanvil [ the elder ] dew , and harris , of whom it was commonly said ( though i can nor care not to appropriate it respectively : ) one gained as much as the other two . spent gave one town in this shire , tavistock by name , furnisheth the bar at this present , with a constellation of pleaders , wherein the biggest stars sergeant glanvil , who shineth the brighter , for being so long eclipsed ; and sergeant maynard , the bench seeming sick with long longing for his sitting thereon . as it is the honour of this county to breed such able lawyers ; so is it , its happinesse , that they have most of their clients from other shires , and the many suits tried of this county , proceed not so much from the litigiousnesse , as populousnesse of her inhabitants . souldiers . sir richard greenvil knight , lived and was richly landed at bediford in this county . he was one of the twelve peers which accompanied robert fitz-haimon in his expedition against the welsh ; when he overthrew rhese ap theodore , prince of south-wales , and justine lord of glamorgan ; and divided the conquered countrey betwixt those his assistants . this sir richard in my apprehension appears somewhat like the patriarch * abraham : for he would have none make him rich , but god alone , though in his partage , good land was at neath , ( nidum a city in antoninus ) in glamorgan-shire allotted unto him . indeed abraham gave the tenth to god in melchisedeck , and restored the rest to the king of sodom , the former proprietary thereof . this knight ( according to the devotion of those darker dayes ) gave all to god , erecting and endowing a monastery ( dedicated to the virgin mary ) at neath , for cistertians , bestowing all his military acquests on them for their maintenance , so that this convent was valued at li. per. annum at the dissolution . thus having finished and setled this foundation , he returned to his own patrimony at bediford in this county , where he lived in great repute , . under the raign of king william rufus , ( and may seem to have ●…ntailed hereditary valour on his name and still flourishing posterity . james lord audley is challenged by several counties , ( stafford-shire , herefordshire , dorsetshire , &c. ) and that with almost equal probability , to be their native : but my authour , well verst in the antiquities of this shire , clearly adjudgeth his birth thereunto : avouching the castle of barstable the place of his principal mansion and inhabitance . this is that lord audley , so famous for his valiant service in france , at the battail of poictiers , where the black prince rewarded him with a yearly pension of marks , which presently the lord audley gave as freely to his four esquires ; having ( as he said ) received this honour by their means . the news of this largesse being quickly brought to the prince his ears , he questioned the lord , whether he conceived his gift not worthy his esteem ; as beneath his acceptance ? to whom the lord replyed , th●…se squires have done me long and faithful service , and now especially in this battail , without whose assistance i being a single man , could have done little . besides , the fair estate left meb●… my ancestors , enableth me freely to serve your highnesse ; whereas these my men may stand in need of some support ; onely i crave your pardon for●…giving it away without your licence : the prince highly pleased thereat , praised his bounty as much as his valour , and doubled his former pension into a thousand marks . this noble lord by my computation died about the beginning of the raign of king richard the second . thomas stu●…ley . were he alive , he would be highly offended to be ranked under any other topick than that of princes ; whose memory must now be content and thankful too , that we will afford it a place amongst our souldiers . he was a younger brother , of an ancient , wealthy , and worshipful family , nigh illfracombe in this county , being one of good parts , but valued the lesse by others ; because over-prized by himself . having prodigally mis-spent his patrimony , he entred on several projects ( the issue general of all decaied estates ) and first pitched on the peopleing of florida , then newly found out in the west indies . so confident his ambition , that he blushed not to tell queen elizabeth , that he preferred rather to be soveraign of a mole-hill , than the highest subject to the greatest king in christendome ; adding moreover , that , he was assured he should be a prince before his death : i hope ( said queen elizabeth ) i shall hear from you , when you are stated in your principality : i will write unto you ( quoth stukely . ) in what language ? ( said the queen ) he returned , in the stile of princes ; to our dear sister . his fair project of florida being blasted for lack of money to pursue it , he went over into ireland , where he was frustrate of the preferment he expected , and met such physick , that turned his feaver into frensie . for , hereafter resolving treacherously to attempt , what he could not loyally atchieve , he went over into italy . it is incredible how quickly he wrought himself thorough the notice into the favour , through the court into the chamber , yea closet , yea bosome of pope pius quintus . ; so that some wise men thought his holinesse did forfeit a parcel of his infallibility , in giving credit to such a glorioso , vaunting that with three thousand souldiers he would beat all the english out of ireland . the pope finding it cheaper to fill stuckleys swelling sails , with aiery titles , than real gifts , created him baron of ross , viscount murrough , earl of wexford , marquesse of lemster , and then furnished this title-top-heavy general , with eight hundred souldiers paid by the king of spain for the irish expedition . in passage thereunto stuckley lands at portugal , just when sebastian the king thereof , with two moorish kings , were undertaking of a voyage into affrica . stuckly scorning to attend , is perswaded to accompany them . some thought he wholly quitted his irish design , partly because loath to be pent up in an island ( the continent of affrica affording more elbow-room for his atchievements ) partly because so mutable his mind , he ever loved the last project ( as mothers the youngest child : ) best . others conceive he took this affrican in order to his irish design ; such his confidence of conquest , that his break-fast on the turks , would the better enable him to dine on the english in ireland . landing in affrica , stuckley gave counsil , which was safe , seasonable and necessary ; namely , that for two or three dayes they should refresh their land souldiers ▪ whereof some were sick , and some were weak , by reason of their tempestuous passage . this would not be heard , so furious was don sebastion to engage ; as if he would pluck up the bays of victory out of the ground , before they were grown up ▪ and so in the battail of alcaser their army was wholly defeated : where stuckley lost his life . a fatal fight , where in one day was slain , three kings that were , and one that would be fain . this battail was fought anno . where stuckley with his eight hundred men behaved himself most valiantly , till over-powered with multitude . i hope it will be no offence , next to this bubble of emptinesse , and meteor of ostentation , to place a precious pearl , and magazine of secret merit , whom we come to describe . george monck . some will say he being ( and long may he be ) alive ; belongs not to your pen , according to your premised rules . but know he is too high to come under the roof of my regulations , whose merit may make laws for me to observe . besides , it is better that i should be censured , than he not commended . passe we by his high birth ( whereof hereafter ) and ●…ard breeding in the low-countreys , not commencing a captain per saltum ( as many in our civil wars ) but proceeding by degrees from a private souldier , in that martial university . passe we also by his imployment in ireland , and imprisonment in england for the king ; his sea service against the dutch ; posting to speak of his last performanc●… , which should i be silent , would speak of it selfe . being made governour of scotland , no power or policy of o. c. could fright or flatter him thence . scotland was his castle , from the top whereof he ●…ook the true prospect of our english affairs . he perceived that since the martyrdom of king charls , several sorts of goverment ( like the sons of jesse before samuel ) pafsed before the english people ; but neither god nor our nation had chosen them . he resolved therefore to send for despised david out of a forreign field ; as well assured that the english loyalty would never be at rest , till fixed in the center thereof . he secured scotland in faithfull hands , to have all his foes before his 〈◊〉 , and leave none behind his back . he entreth england with excellent foot , but his horse so lean , that they seemed tired at their first setting forth . the chiefest strength of his army consisted in the reputation of the strength thereof , and wise conduct of their general . the loyal english did rather gaze on , than pray for him , as ignorant of his intentions , and the apostle observeth that the private man knoweth not how to say amen to what is spoken in an unknown language . now the scales began to fall down from the eyes of the english nation ( as from saul , when his sight was received ) sensible that they were deluded , with the pretences of religion and liberty , into atheisme and vassallage . they had learnt also from the souldiers ( whom they so long had quartered ) to cry out one and all , each shire setting forth a remonstrance of their grievances , and refusing farther payment of taxes . lambert cometh forth of london , abounding with more outward advantages than general monk wanted ; dragon like he breathed out nought but fire and fury , chiefly against the church and clergy . but he met with a saint george , who struck him neither with sword nor spear ; but gave his army a mortal wound , without wounding it . his souldiers dwindled away , and indeed a private person ( lambert at last was little more ) must have a strong and long hand on his own account to hold an whole army together . the hinder part of the parliament sitting still at westminster , plied him with many messengers and addresses . he returned an answer neither granting nor denying their desires ; giving them hope , too little to trust , yet too much to distrust him . he was an absolute riddle , and no ploughing with his heifer to expound him . indeed had he appeared what he was , he had never been what he is , a deliverer of his countrey . but such must be as dark as midnight , who mean to atchieve actions as bright as noon-day . then was he put on the unwellcome office to pluck down the gates of london , though it pleased god that the odium did not light on him that acted , but those who imployed him . hence forward he sided effectually with the city : i say the city , which if well or ill affected , was then able to make us a happy or unhappy nation . immediately followed that turn of our times , which all the world with wonder doth behold . but let us not look so long on second causes , as to lose the sight of the principal , divine providence . christ on the crosse said to his beloved disciple behold thy mother ; and said to her behold thy sonne : thus was he pleased effectually to speak to the hearts of the english , behold your soveraign , which inspirited them with loyalty , and a longing desire of his presence ; saying likewise to our gracious soveraign , behold thy subjects , which encreased his ardent affection to return ; and now , blessed be god , both are met together , to their mutual comfort . since the honours which he first deserved have been conferred upon him , compleated with the title of the duke of albemarle , and master of his maj●…sties horse , &c. nor must it be forgotten that he carried the scepter , with the dove thereupon ( the emblem of peace ) at the kings coronation . but abler pens , will improve these short memoires into a large history . sea-men . william wilford was a native nigh plymouth in this county , a valiant and successeful sea-man . it happened in the raign of king henry the fourth , that the french out of britain by a sudden invasion burnt sixteen hundred houses in plymouth , if there be not a mistake in the figures , which i vehemently suspect . sure it was a most sad desolation , remembred at this day in the division of plymouth , whereof the one part is called the britons-side , the other the old-town . but let the french boast their gain , when the game is ended , which now was but began . this fire enflamed all the english , and especially our wilford , with desire of revenge . within a short time he made them to pay besides costs and charges , more than sixfold damages , by taking forty ships on the coast of britains , and burning as many at penarch ; besides many towns and villages for six leagues together . i collect the death of this w. wilford , to be about the beginning of the raign of king henry the fifth ▪ sr. hvmphrey gilbert , or jilbert , or gislibert , was born at green-way in this county , the pleasant seat of his family for a long continuance . he was famous for his knowledg both by sea and land. in the year he valiantly and fortunately served in ireland : afterwards he led nine companies to the assistance of the hollanders . in the year he set forth with five ships to make discoveries in the north of america , where he took sezin and possession of new-found-land ( according to the ancient solemn ceremony of cutting a turf ) for the crown of england . he resolved to adventure himself in his return in a vessel of sorty tun. and with two ships ( the onely remains of five ) did make for england . in the instant of their winding about ( i may confidently report what is generally in this county averred and believed : ) a very great lion , not swimming after the manner of a beast , with the motion of his feet ; nor yet diving sometimes under water , and rising again ; ( as porpyces and dolphins do ) but rather gliding on the water with his whole body , except legs in sight , shunned not the ship , nor the marriners , who presented themselves in view ; but turning his head too and fro , yawning and gaping wide , made a horrible roaring . it is conceived no spectrum or apparition , but a real fish , seeing we read that such like a lion , in all lineaments was taken at sea anno . and presented to pope martin the fourth . instantly a terrible tempest did arise , and sir humphrey said cheerfully to his companions , we are as neer heaven here at sea as at land. nor was it long before his ship sunck into the sea withal therein , though the other recovered home like jobs messengers , to bring the tydings of the destruction of their companions . this sad accident happened . ....... cock . i am sorry i cannot add his christian name , and more sorry that i cannot certainly avouch his nativity in this county ( though inclined with many motives to believe it ) being a cock of the game ) indeed . for in the eighty eight , solus * cockus anglus in sua inter medios hostes navicula , cum laude periit . and whereas there was not a noble family in † spain , but lost either son. brother , or nephew in that fight ; this cock was the onely man of note of the english , who fighting a volanteer in his own ship , lost his life to save his queen and countrey . unus homo nobis pereundo restituit rem . pity it is his memory should ever be forgotten , and my pen is sensible of no higher preferment , then , when it may be permitted , to draw the curtains about those who have died in the bed of honour . sir francis drake . having formerly in my holy state written his life at large , i will forbear any addition ; and onely present this tetrastrick , made on his corps when cast out of the ship ( wherein he died ) into the sea. * religio quamvis romana resurgeret olim . effoderet tumulum non puto drake tuum . non est quod metuas , ne te combusserit ulla posteritas , in aqua tutus ab igne manes . though romes religion should in time return , drake none thy body will ungrave again : there is no fear posterity should burn those bones which free from fire in sea remain . he died ( as i am informed ) unmarried , but there is of his alliance a worshipful family extant in this county , in the condition of a baronet . sir walter rawleigh . the sons of heth said unto abraham , thou * art a great ●…rince amongst us , in the choice of our sepulchres bury thy dead , none shall withold them from thee . so may we say to the memory of this worthy knight , repose your self in this our catalogue underwhat topick you please , of states-man , sea-man , souldier , learned wrirer , and what not ? his worth unlocks our closest cabinets , and provides both room and wellcome to entertain him . he was born at * budeley in this county , of an ancient family , but decaied in estate , and he the youngest brother thereof . he was bred in oriel colledg in oxford , and thence comming to court , found some hopes of the queens favours reflecting upon him . this made him write in a glasse window , obvious to the queens eye , fain wauld i climb , yet fear i to fall , her majesty either espying , or being shown it , did under-write , if thy heart fails thee , climb not at all . however he at last climbed up by the stairs of his own 〈◊〉 . but his introduction into the court bare an elder date . from this occasion : this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 coming cut of ireland to the english court in good habit ( his 〈◊〉 being then a considerable part of his estate ) found the queen walking , till meeting with a plashy place , she seemed to scruple going thereon . presently raleigh cast and spred his new plush cloak on the ground whereon the q●…een trod gently , rewarding him afterwards with many suits , for his so free and seasonable tender of so fair a foot 〈◊〉 . thus an advantagious admission into the first notice of a prince , is more than half a degree to 〈◊〉 . it is reported of the women in the balear islands , that to 〈◊〉 their sons expert archers ; they will not , when children , give them their break-fast before they had hit the mark . such the dealing of the queen with this knight , making him to earn his honour , and by pain and peril , to purchase what places of credit or profit were bestowed upon him . 〈◊〉 it was true of him , what was said of cato 〈◊〉 ; that he seemed to be born to that onely which he went about : so dexterous was he in all his undertakings , in court , in camp , by sea , by land , with sword , with pen , witnesse in the last his history of the world ; wherein the onely default or ( defect rather ) that it wanteth one half thereof . yet had he many enemies ( which worth never wanteth ) at court , his cowardly detractors , of whom sir walter was wont to say , if any man accuseth me to my face , i will answer him with my mouth ; but my tail is good enough to return an answer to such who 〈◊〉 me behind my ba●…k . civilians . john cowel was born at yarnesborow in this county , bred first at eaton , then in kings-colledg in cambridg . he was proctor thereof . doctor of the law , master of trinity hall , vice-chancellour in the year and , doctor of the arches , & vicar general to archbishop bancroft . though civil was his profession , such his skill in common law , he was as well able to practice in westminster hall as doctors commons . in his time the contest was heightned , betwixt the civilians and common lawyers , cowell being the champion of the former , whom king james countenanced as far as he could with conveniency . indeed great were his abilities , though a grand oracle of the common law , was pleased in derision to call him doctor cow-heele ; and a cow-heele ( i assure you ) well dress'd is good meat , that a cook ( when hungry ) may lick his fingers after it . two chief monuments he hath left to posterity , his book intituled institutiones 〈◊〉 anglicani , and his interprerer of the hard words in the common-law . indeed he had both the essentials of an interpreter , who was both gnarus and sidus . many slighted his book , who used it ; it being questionable whether it gave more information or offence . common lawyers beheld it as a double trespasse , against them ; first pedibus ambulando , that a civillian should walk in a profession several to themselves ; secondly , that he should pluck up the pales of the bard terms , wherewith it was inclosed , and lay it open and obvious to common capacities . but an higher offence was charged upon him , that he made the king to have a double prerogative , the one limited by law , the other 〈◊〉 ; which being complained of in parliament , his book was called in and condemned . some other advantages they got against him , the grief whereof ( hearts sunk down are not to be boyed up ) hastened his death anno domini . and he lieth buried in trinity-hall chappel . arthvr dvck , was born of wealthy parentage at heavy-tree in this county . he was bred in oxford , fellow of all-souls-colledge , and wrote the life of arch bishop chicheley the founder thereof , in most elegant latine . proceeding doctor of law , he became chancellour of wells and london , and master of the 〈◊〉 , designed also master of the roles , had not an intervening accident diverted it . one of most smooth language , but rough speech : so that what the * comedian faith of a fair 〈◊〉 in mean apparel , was true of him . in ipsa inesset forma , vestes formam 〈◊〉 . had there not been a masculine strength in his matter , it had been marred with the disadvantage of his utterance . he died on the lords day , and ( in effect ) in the * church , about : leaving a great estate to two daughters , since married to two of his name and kindred . writers . roger the cistertian , lived ( neer the place of his birth ) at ford abbey in this county . here the judicious reader will please himself to climb up the two following mountains of extreams ( onely with his eye ) and then descend into the vale of truth , which lieth betwixt them . leland . bale cent. . num. . doctis artibus & 〈◊〉 , insolito quodam animi ardore , noctes atque dies invigilavit . invigilavit fallaciis atque imposturis diabolicis , ut christi gloriam obscuraret . i believe that bilius bale , would have been sick of the yellow jaundies , if not venting his choller in such expressions . but to speak impartially , the works of this roger concerning the revelations of elizabeth abbesse of schonaugh , and the legend that he wrote of st. ursula , with her thousands of maids kill'd at colen , are full ( to say no worse ) of many fond falsities . he lived mostly in the low countries , and flourished under king henry the second . john de ford was probably born at , certainly abbot of ford in this county ; esteemed insignis theologus in his age ; following the foot-steps of his friend and patron baldwin , arch-bishop of canterbury . he travailed into forrain parts , which he did not , as too many , weed , but gathered the flowers ; returning stored with good manners , and stock'd with good learning . he endeavoured , that all in his convent should be like himself , and ford-abbey in his time had more learning therein , than three convents of the same bignesse . he was confessor to king john , wrote many pious works , and dying , was buried in his own convent , without any funeral pomp , about the year . richard fishaker or fizacre ( matthew * paris termeth him fishacle ) was , saith † 〈◊〉 , born in exoniensi patria , which i english , in devonshire . he was bred first in oxford , then in paris , and became a dominican friar : for his learning and preaching as highly esteemed as any of that age . he was ( saith learned leland ) as fast linked in friendship to robert bacon ( of whom * hereafter ) as ever 〈◊〉 to bacchius , or thes●…us to perithous : so that one may say ofthem , there was two friends . this richard disdaining to survive robert a●…oresaid , hearing of his death , expired in the same year . and was buried at oxford . john cut - 〈◊〉 was born at the manor of gammage in this county , where his name and family do continue owners thereof . now , because that which is pretty is pleasing , and what is little , may be presumed pretty ; we will insert the short ( and indeed all the ) information we have of him . * in the time of king edward the third , johannes rupe-scissanus , or de rupe scissa [ cutclif ] being a very sincere and learned man , opposed himself against the doctrine and manners of the clergy , and wrote against the pope himself . i see baleus non vidit omnia , for pitzeus , it is no wonder if he be pleased to take no notice of a writer of an opposite judgment to himself . when we receive , then will we return more intelligence of this authour . richard chichester was not born at chichester in sussex , as his name doth import , but was an † extract of that ancient family , still flourishing at raleigh in this county . he became a monk in westminster , seldome spending any spare time in vanity ; but laying it out in reading scripture and good history . he wrote a chronicle from hengisius the saxon , to the year of our lord . done indeed fide historica . his death happened about the year . robert plympton was born in plypmton in this county , and bred an augustinian in the town of his nativity . he was afterwards preferred arch-deacon of totnesse , conscientiously discharging his place : for perceiving people extreamly 〈◊〉 , he was another john baptist in his painful preaching repentance unto them , which sermons he caused to be written ; and it is conceived they wrought a very good 〈◊〉 on the devonians . the time wherein he flourished is not certainly known . nicholas upton was born in this county , of an ancient family , still flourishing therein at ........... he was bred doctor in the canon-law , and became canon of salisbury , wells and st. pauls . humphrey duke of glocester , the me ▪ coenas . general of goodnesse and learning , had him in high esteem , and gave him great rewards : hereupon upton , in expression of his gratitude , presented his patron with a book ( the first in that kind ) of heraldry , and the rules thereof ; a book since set forth in a fair impression , by edward bish esquire , a person composed of all worthy accomplishments . he flourished under king henry the sixth . since the reformation . richard hooker was born at * heavy-tree nigh exeter , bred in corpus christi colledg in oxford , and afterwards was preferred by arch-bishop whitgift master of the temple , whilst at the same time mr. walter travers was the lecturer thereof . here the pulpit spake pure canterbury in the morning , and geneva in the afternoon , until travers was silenced . hooker his stile was prolixe , but not tedious , and such who would patiently attend and give him credit all the reading or hearing of his sentences , had their expectation over-paid at the close thereof . he may be said to have made good musick with his fiddle and stick alone , without any rosin ; having neither pronunciation nor gesture to grace his matter . his book of ecclestiastical politie is prized by all generally , save such who out of ignorance cannot , or envy will not understand it . but there is a kind of people who have a pike at him , and therefore read his book with a prejudice ; that as jephtha vowed to sacrifice the first living thing which met him , these are resolved to quarrel with the first word , which occurreth therein . hereupon it is , that they take exception at the very title thereof , ecclesiastical politie ; as if unequally yoked ; church with some mixture of city-nesse , that the discipline jure divino , may bow to humane inventions . but be it reported to the judicious , whether when all is done , a reserve must not be left for prudential supplies in church government . true it is , his book in our late times was beheld as an old-almanack grown out of date ; but blessed be god , there is now a revoluion , which may bring his works again into reputation . mr. hooker leaving london ( no inclination of his own , but obedience to others , put him on so publick a place ) retired to his small benefice in kent , where he put off his mortality anno , leaving the memory of an humble , holy , and learned divine . here i must retract ( after a * father no shame for a child ) two passages in my church history . for , whereas i reported him to die a bachilour , he had † wife and children , though indeed such as were neither to his comfort , when living , nor credit when dead . but parents cannot stamp their children from their heads or hearts . secondly , his monument was not erected by sir edwin sandys ( a person as probable as any man alive for such a performance ) but by sir william cooper , now li ving in the castle of hartford , and let the good knight have the due commendation thereof . john reinolds was born in this county , bred in corpus-christi-colledge in oxford , of whom i have spoken plentifully in my church-history . nathaniel carpenter , son to a minister , was born in this county , bred fellow of exeter-colledge in oxford . he was right-handed in the cyclopedy of all arts ; logick , witnesse his decades , mathematicks , expressed in the book of his geography , and divinity , appearing in his excellent sermons called achitophel . as for his opticks it had been a master-piece in that kind , if truly and perfectly printed . i have been informed , that to his great grief , he found the written preface thereof cachristmass pies in his printers house ( pearles are no pearles , when cocks or coxcombs find them ) and could never after from his scattered notes recover an original thereof . he went over into ireland , where he became chaplain to james usher arch-bishop of armagh , and school-master of the kings wards in dublin . a place of good profit , great credit , greatest trust , being to bring up many popish minors in the protestant religion , who under his education grew daily out of the nonage of their years and vassall●…ge of their errours . he died in dublin , robert usher ( soon after bishop of kildare ) preached his funeral sermon , on that text , behold a true israelite , wherein there is no guile , shewing how he was truly a nathaniel , gods gift , and a carpenter , a wise builder of gods house , until the dissolution of his own tabernacle , about the year . benefactors to the publick . peter blundell of tiverton in this county , was a clothier by his profession , and through gods blessing on his endeavours therein , raised unto himself a fair estate . nor was he more painful and industrious in gaining , then pious aud prudent in disposing thereof ; erecting a fair free-school in the town of his nativity : by his will he bequeathed thereto a competent maintenance ( together with conveniency of lodging ) for a master and usher . and lest such whose genius did encline , and parts furnish them for a further progresse in learning , should through want of a comfortable subsistency be stopped or disheartned , he bestowed two scholarships and as many fellowships on sidney colledge in cambridge ; carefully providing that the scholars bred in his school at tiverton , should be elected into the same . i cannot attain to a certainty in the time of his death , though it be thought to have happened about the year . william burgoin esquire must not be forgotten , finding this his epitaph on his marble stone in the church of arlington . here lies will. burgoin a squire by discent , whose death in this world many people lament . the rich for his love ; the poor for his almes ; the wise for his knowledge ; the sick for his balmes . grace he did love , and vice conroul : earth hath his body , and heaven his soul. he died on the twelfth day of august in the morning , . as the inscription on his said tomb doth inform us . memorable persons . henry de la pomeray lived at , and was lord of berry-pomeray in this county . this henry taking heart at the imprisonment of richard the first by leopaldus duke of austria , surprized and expulsed the monkes out of michaels-mount in cornwal , that there he might be a petty prince by himself . but , being ascertained of his soveraignes inlargement , and fearing deserved death , to prevent it , he laid violent hands on himself , as roger hoveden doth report . but the * descendants from this pomeray make a different relation of this accident ; affirming , that , a serjeant at armes of the kings came to his castle at berry-pomeray , and there received kind entertainment for certain dayes together , and at his departure , was gratified with a liberal reward . in counter-change whereof he then , and no sooner , revealing his long concealed errand , flatly arrested his host , to make his immediate appearance before the king , to answer a capital crime . which unexpected , and ill carried message , the gentleman took in such despight , that with his dagger he stabbed the messenger to the heart . then despairing of pardon in so superlative an offence , he abandoned his home , and got himself to his sister , abiding in the island of mount-michael in cornwal : here he bequeathed a large portion of his land to the religious people dwelling there , to pray for the redeeming of his soul ; and lastly ( that the remainder of his estate might descend to his heir ) he caused himself to be let blood unto death . john de beigny knight , lived lord of ege-lifford in this county , who having been a great travailer and souldier in his youth , retired home , married , and had three sons in his reduced age. of these , the third put himself on forraign action , in the war against the saracens , in spain ; whereof fame made a large report , to his fathers great contentm●…nt , which made him the more patiently dispence with his absence . but after that death had bereft him of his two elder sons , he was often heard to say , oh that i might but once embrace my * son , i would be contented to die presently . his son soon after returning unexpectedly , the old man instantly expired with an extasie of joy. an english father i see can be as passionate as the italian mother , which died for † joy , after the return of her son from the battail of 〈◊〉 . thus , if all our randome desires should hit the mark , and if heaven should alwayes take us at our word , in our wishes ; we should be tamed with our wild prayers granted un●…ous us , and be drowned in the deluge of our own passions . this knight ( as i take it ) flourished under king edward the third . child , ( whose christian name is unknown ) was a gentleman , the last of his family , being of ancient extraction at plimstock in this county , and great possessions . it happened that he hunting in dart-more , lost both his company and way in a bitter snow . having killed his horse , he crept into his hot bowels for warm●…h , and wrote this with his bloud ; he that findes and brings meto my tombe , the land of plimstock shall be his doom . that n●…ght he was frozen to death , and being first found by the monkes of tav●…stock , they with all possible speed hasted to interre him in their own abby . his own 〈◊〉 of plimstock hearing thereof , stood at the ford of the river to take his body from them . but they must rise early , yea not sleep at all , who over-reach monkes in matter of profit . for they cast a slight bridge over the river , whereby they carried over the corps and interred it . in avowance whereof , the bridge ( a more premeditate structure ( i believe ) in the place of the former extempore passage ) is called guils bridge to this day . and know reader , all in the vicinage will be highly offended with such who either deny or doubt the credit of this common tradition . and sure it is , that the abbot of tavistock got that rich manor into his possession . the exact da●…e of this childs death i cannot attain . nicholas andrew tremaine were twins and younger sons to thomas tremaine of 〈◊〉 in this county esquire . had they preceded hypocrates in time , posterity would have presumed them the sympathising twins , whereof he maketh so large mention . such their likenesse in all lineaments , they could not be distinguished but by their several habits , which , when they were pleased on private confederacy to exchange for disport , they occasioned more mirthful mistakes , than ever were acted in the amphitruo of plautus . they felt like pain though at distance , and without any intelligence given , they equally desired to walk , travail , sit , sleep , eat , drink together , as many credible gentry of the vicinage ( by relation from their father ) will attest . in this they differred , that at new-haven in france , the one was a captain of a troop , the other but a private souldier . here they were both slain , death being pitiful to kill them together , to prevent the lingering languishing of the surviver . lord-mayors . never one of this office was a devon-shire man by birth , on my best enquiry : whereof some assigne these reasons . the distance of the place , whose western part is removed from london two hundred miles . because the devonians have a little london ( understand it exeter ) in their own county ; ( besides other haven towns ) wherein wealth is gained near at hand . but what ever be the cause , this county hath made so little use of the exchange in london : no english shire-men have applyed themselves more profitably to the kings court , and innes of court therein ; or hath attained greater wealth and honour by living in those places . the names of the ●…entry of this county , returned by the commissioners in the year of king henry the sixth . . e. bishop of exeter   roger champernounce knight . knights for the shire . commissioners to take the oaths . phillip cary knight . philip. courtney chiv .. nicholai carru chiv . thomae brrok chiv . 〈◊〉 dynham chi . roberti chalonns chi . 〈◊〉 herle chiv . thomae carmynowe ar . roberti hille armig . johannis chichester ar . 〈◊〉 chuddelegh ar . roberti cornn armig . baldewini foleford ar . 〈◊〉 speake armig . johannis wise arm . johannis 〈◊〉 arm . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 arm . 〈◊〉 hille armig . walteri reynell armig . 〈◊〉 holand arm . johannis bamfield ar . nicholai keynes arm . johannis 〈◊〉 de 〈◊〉 armigeri johan . prideaux de ( adeston arm . johannis gorges arm . thomas denys armig . philip. lacy armig . ricardi yard armi . walteri polard arm . johannis holand arm . johannis 〈◊〉 ar . thomae werthe armig . willielmi malerbe ar . johannis malerbe ar . johannis yeo armig . edwardi saint john ar . thomae boneville arm . vvillielmi wanard johannis copleston . nicholai radeford . johannis mulys . henrici fortescu . henrici drewe . johannis lauerance vvillielmi mey . henrici vvhiting . ricardi piperoll johannis marshal rogeri baron . stephani giffard willielmi byshop . nicholai coterell . willielmi blenche johannis bolter . nicholai trebarth ar . petri frie. ricardi yeo. nicholai tyrant . johannis gambon sen. walteri whitelegh ar . vvillielmi h●…leway . thomae kyngeslond . thomae ●…erot petri eggecombe ar . johannis harry . thomae prons . thomae latom. willielmi colyn . johannis cokeworthy . henrici 〈◊〉 ar . walteri elyot . johannis 〈◊〉 ar . 〈◊〉 beard . edwardi pomeray ar . roberti kirkham . sheriffs of devonshire . h●…n . ii. anno galfridus de furnell . anno richardus com. anno richardus de ridner , & williel . boterell , anno anno williel . de botterell . anno anno hugo de ralega , for years . anno robertus filius bernardi , & hugo de ralega . anno robertus filius bernardi . anno hugo ralega . anno robertus filius bernardi , for years . anno comes reginaldus . anno idem . anno idem . anno comes regin . paganus , capels & alan . de furnell . anno williel . ruffus . anno idem . anno ●…ugo de gunds . anno ●…dem . anno anno 〈◊〉 bruer for years . rich. i. anno willielmus de brewere . anno henry de furnell for years . johan . rex anno willielmus de wratham . anno osbt. filius willielmi . anno radulp. morin . anno idem . anno willielmus brieuere & radus de mora. anno willielmus brieuere . anno idem . anno williel . brieuere , & radus de mora , for years . anno robertus de vetere ponte , & guido de bello-campo . anno anno robertus de vetere ponte , & guido de bello-campo . anno idem . anno idem . anno hen. iii. anno. robertus de currency . anno. idem . anno. robtus de courtney . anno. robtus de courtne : walter de pohier . anno. anno. anno. walter de trererd : walter de pohier . anno. regin . de villa torta . anno. 〈◊〉 : raleg . anno. williel : de boleia . anno. idem . anno. rogerus : la zouch . anno. tho. de cicencester & tho. de lawill . anno. idem . anno. idem . anno. tho de la : wile . anno. robtus de valibus et ric. de langford . anno n●…cus de molis et walter de bada . anno idem . anno vvalterus de bada , for years . anno vvalterus de bathond . anno idem . anno vvilliel . de englefeurd . anno idem . anno idem . anno radus de vvilton . anno ger. de horton , & hen. de horton filius . anno idem . anno vvillielmus de cu rcen say anno idem . anno radus lodescomb . anno idem & johan . de muscegros . anno radus de esse . for years . anno vvilliel . de bikels . edvv. i. anno thomas delpin . anno idem . anno anno anno matthew de egglesheill . anno thomas delpin . anno vvarinus de sechevile . anno idem . anno thomas delpin , for years . anno vvilliel . de munketon et rog. de ingepen . anno robtus de vvodton . anno mathew filius johannis . anno idem . anno idem et . tho. de scobhull . anno mathew et tho. anno gilber . de knovill for years . anno thomas de ralegh for years . anno edvv. ii. anno thomas de ralegh . anno nich. de kirkham . anno nich. de tukesbury for years . anno idem , & mathew ferneaux . anno mathew de furneaux . anno . math. de furneaux , et robt. de horton . anno anno mathew de clivedon . anno math. de clivedon , et robt. de bendon . anno robt. de bendon joh. de bikkebur . anno idem . anno rob. bendon , & nic. cheigne anno nul . tit. com. in rotulo . anno anno matheus de crowthorne . anno math. de crowthorne , & jacob . de cokington . edvv. iii anno james de cokington . anno vvilliel . de chiverston . anno anno vvilliel . de fawconbge . anno mathew de crowthorne . anno idem . anno regin . de moveforti . anno vvillielmus de alba marla . anno idem . anno anno johanes de ralegh de grandeport . anno johan . ralegh de grandport . anno idem . anno anno johan . ralegh de charles . anno vvillil . pupard . anno anno edward . dux cornubiae , & vvalt . horton . anno hen. tirell , johan . childston . anno idem . anno radus brit. rad. peaupell . anno anno almaricus fitz. vvarren . anno idem . anno robtus atte haach . anno vvilliel auncel . anno idem . anno ricus chambeuon . anno idem . anno idem . anno johan . daubernonn . anno vvilliel . yoo . anno ricus de brankescomb for years . anno almaricus fitz. warren . anno martin . fitzacre . anno williel . de brighele . anno johanes boyes . anno williel . de servington . anno anno ricus de brankescomb & ric. channbuon . anno anno tho. chavubuon . anno ricus beaumond . anno nichus whitting . anno ricus chusden . anno johanes damuarle . anno richus de brandescomb . anno nichus la pomeray . anno johan . de ralege . i cannot deny , but i have a catalogue of the sheriffs of this county ( beginning but anno . the th of king edward the third ) whence and by whom collected to me unknown , somewhat differing from this list , now by us exemplified , though i shall forbeare the nominating of them , as sticking to the catalogue communicated unto me out of the pipe office. henry the second . . richardus comes . ] this is but a blind and lame indication richard the earle , not telling us , whereof , as if there had been but one english earle richard in that age. whereas there was rich. fitz-gilbert , earle of clare , and rich. de ripariis , [ or rivers ] both flourishing at this time. but here , the letters of these must be meant , who was earl of this county , the self same who married avis , daughter and heir of reginald earl of cornwal , the base son of king henry the first . * . willielmus brewer ] his mother unable ( to make the most charitable constructions ) to maintain , cast him in brewers , ( whence he was so named ) or in a bed of † brakes , in new forrest . in him the words of david found performance , when my father and mother forsake me , the lord taketh me up . king henry the second riding to rousea stag , found this child , and caused him to be nursed and well brought up till he became a man , and ( the honour of all foundlings ) a prime favourite to king henry and richard the first , made baron of odcomb , and his issue male failing , his large inheritance was by daughters derived to breos , wake , la fort , and percy . edvvard the third . . william yoo. ] his family is still extant in this county , in a worshipfull condition , on the same token that they give for their arms , * argent , a cheveron sable , between three turky-cocks in their prideproper . let no over-critick causlesly cavill at this coat , as but a moderne bearing , because turky-cocks came not into england till about the tenth † year of the reign of king henry the eighth , being here formerly shown as rareties , though not fed on as tablefoule till that time . besides , heraulds have ever assumed that priviledge to themselves , to assigne for arms , both those creatures which are found only in forraign countries ( leopards , tigers , &c. ) and those , whose sole existence is in the fancie of poets and painters , as a* phenix , harpey and the like . sheriffs . name . place . armes . rich. ii.     anno.     joh. damerell throwley   joh. fitzpayn   or , three piles azure . joh. strech     wal. corn   arg. a chevron betwixt bugle horns , garnished sab. ric. champernoun modberie gules , a saltire varee , betwixt billeis ar. ric. kendall   argent a cheveron betwixt dolphins sable . wil. de hasthorpt .     ja. chudleygh   ermin , three lions ramp . gu. ric. whitiley   azure on a bend , or torteauxes . ric. champernoun ut prius   john pawlet .   sab. swords in pyle ar. nic. kerckham .   erm. lyons ramp . g. within a border engrailed s. alias ar . will. bonevile . vviscombe sab. . mullets arg. pierced gules . will. carminow   az. a bend or , a label of points gule . joh. greenvile bediford gules rests or. tho. rawleigh rawleigh gules , à bend lozingee arg. tho brook     will. ferers   arg. a bend gu. on a chief vertrect cinque foiles the field . vvil. malehe●…b   or a cheveron gules between nettle leaves proper . tho. ●…everell   gules a fess arg. betwixt six crosses patee or. vvill. beaumont   azure seme , or , flower de lis , a lion ramp . or         hen. iv.     anno.     joh. keynes     tho. pomeroy . pery pom. or. a lion rampant gules . john herle , miles ilfarcombe arg. a fess gules betwixt sheldrakes proper . john keneys     john vvike northwick   john b●…vil cornwal arg. a bul passant g. armed and tripped , or. john che●…eldon     phil. cole   arg. a bull passant sab. armed , or , within a border of the second bezantee . joh. herle , miles ut prius   edw●… pine   gules a cheveron ermine be-between pine apples , or , vvill. cheney pineho gules on a fess of four lozengies , arg. as many escalops sab. robert     ric. pomeroy ut prius   ric. peveril ut prius   hen. v.     anno.     tho. beaumond ut prius   tho. pomeroy ut prius sab. sixe swallows in pile argent . joh. arundell cornwall   joh. bevill ut prius   vvil. talbot talbotswick .   ste. dumeford     hug. courtnay powderham or , torteauxes . tho. be●…umont ut prius   rob. challons     tho beaumond ut prius   hen. vi.     anno. ut prius   tho. beaumond & sr. vvil. bonvile . ut prius   ric. hanckford     tho , brook     vvil. palton do umberl .   joh. bamp●…yld polmo●…e or , on a bend gules mullets arg. tho. beaumond ut prius   rob. hill     la. chudleigh ut prius   ioh. bozome   argent bolts gulcs . edw. pemeroy ut prius   edw. pine ut prius   ioh. cheynede ut prius   tho. stowell   gules . a cross lozenges , argent . rog. champernoun ut prius   tho. beaumont ut prius   tho. arundell ut prius   ja. chudleigh ut prius   vvil. beauchamp   gules a fess betwixt six martlets , or. rob. burton   argent , palmer slaves , in fess az. vvil. vvadham somer gules , a cheveron betwixt roses arg. rich. yeard yeardcol . arg. a chev. g. be●…wixt water-boug●…ts of the 〈◊〉 ▪ ioh. cheny ut prius   ioh. bluet   or. a cheve . 〈◊〉 ●… eagl●…s displaied gul●…s . nic. b●…oughton   arg. a chev. 〈◊〉 mullets gules . hen. fortescue .   azure , a bend ingrailed ar. 〈◊〉 o●… . th ●… budeokshed st. b●…deox sa. lo●…enges , in fes . between 〈◊〉 ●…eads cabossed , arg . hugh 〈◊〉 affeton 〈◊〉 pears , or. jer. 〈◊〉 ut prius       〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉     hen. 〈◊〉 ut prius   iohn 〈◊〉 ut prius   rich h●…les   arg. a 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 griffins heads erased . 〈◊〉 ▪ and. hillingdon     edw. landford     john nan●…an     rich. hales ut prius   bald. sutford miles     john dinham   gul. fu●…ils in fess , within a border , 〈◊〉 ▪ walt. dennis holcombe 〈◊〉 . battle-axes , gules edward iv.     anno     john cheney ut prius   idem ut prius   john chiche●…er   checky or and gules , a chie●… varry . john arundle ut prius   christop . wolsey     will. dynis , 〈◊〉 . ut prius   phil. beaumont ut prius   rich. chichester ut prius   nich. carew , arm.   or. lions passant sab. armed and langued , gules . phil. courtn●…y ut prius   phil. copleston warley aar . a cheveron ingraild , gules between leopards heads , 〈◊〉 . john cheney ut prius   rich. pomeray ut prius   rich. chichester ut prius   otho g●…lbert   arg. on a cheveron sab. three roses , of the field . cha. dinham ut prius   john sapcote   sable , dove-coats , 〈◊〉 edw. courtnay ut prius       rob. willoughby     giles daubeney   gules , 〈◊〉 in fess. arg . will. courtnay ut prius   richard iii.     anno     vvill. courtney ut prius   hamath ▪ malevorer yorkshire sable , three 〈◊〉 cursant , in 〈◊〉 argent . tho. malevorer 〈◊〉 . maheel ut prius   henry vii .     anno     john hawell , miles   or , on a bend sable , goats passant 〈◊〉 of the field . rich. edgcombe m. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , on a bend , er . betwixt 〈◊〉 , or , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 coped , arg. robert 〈◊〉     roger holand   azure , flower de lis , a lion 〈◊〉 gardant , arg . john hallywell ut prius   vvill ▪ 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉     vvalter enderby     rich. pomeray , 〈◊〉 . ut prius   roger holand , arm ut prius   peter edgcombe 〈◊〉 ut prius   〈◊〉 . fortescue , arm . ut prius   vvil. carew , miles ut prius   per ▪ edgcomb , 〈◊〉 ut prius   roger holand , arm ut prius   james chudleigh , a ut prius   rich. vvhytley , ar ut prius   rich. vvadham , a. ut prius   rich hallywell , 〈◊〉 . ut prius   john fortescue , ut prius   vvil. norwood , ar     john kyrcham ut prius   john 〈◊〉 ut prius   thom. denys , arm . ut prius   henry viii .     anno     tho. 〈◊〉 , armiger ut prius   john crocker , arm . linam arg. a chev. engrailed betwixt crowes proper . thom. goodman     thom. denys , miles ut prius   vvil. carew , armiger ut prius   nich. vvadham . 〈◊〉 . ut prius   john clifton , miles   sab. semee of cinquefoiles , a lion rampant , argent . john speak , miles   arg 〈◊〉 barrs azure , over all an eagle displayed gules . peter edgcombe ut prius   thom. dennys ut prius   ralph paxsal     tho. stukley , arm . ut prius   vvilliam courtney ut prius   thomas dennis ut prius   john kirckham , mi. ut prius   john basset , miles   arg. three 〈◊〉 wavee 〈◊〉 vv. courtnay , mil. ut prius   phi. champernoun ut prius   tho. dennys , miles ut prius   peter edgcomb , m. ut prius   joh. chamond , ar. cornwal●… arg. a cheveron betwixt three flower de lis , gules . georg. st. leoger   azure , fretee arg . a chief - gules tho. dennys , miles ut prius   rich. grenvile ut prius   vvil. courtney vt prius   john fullford   gules , a cheveron arg . hugh pollard ut prius arg. a cheveron sab. between escalop-shells , gules . geor. carew , arm. ut prius   rich. pollard ut prius   hugh chamond ut prius   hugh pollard ut prius   john fulford , mil. ut prius   hugh paulet , mil. ut prius   george carew ut prius   rich. edgcombe ut prius   hugh stukeley ut prius   hugh pollard ut prius   edvvard vi.     anno     peter carew , miles ut prius   gwin . carew , miles ut prius   peter courtney ut prius   tho. dennys , miles ut prius   john chich●…ster ut prius   rich ▪ chudleigh , ar . ut prius   phil. reg. ma. regin .     anno     rich. edgcombe ut prius   . tho. dennys , miles ut prius   . iames cortenay , a. ut prius   . rob. 〈◊〉 , armig . cockington ut prius . iohn fullford , 〈◊〉 . ut prius   elizabeth , regin .     anno     rob. dennys , miles ut prius   〈◊〉 tho. southcoat , ar .   arg. a cheveron gul. betwixt three coots , sab. arth. champernoun ut prius   john st. leger , miles ut prius   christ. coppleston , a ut prius   richard fortescue , a ut prius   richard duke , arm . 〈◊〉 partee per fess . arg. and azure chaplets counterchanged . thomas mounck , ar .   gules , a ceveron ▪ betwixt lions heads erased , arg. per. edgcombe , arm . ut prius   lewis 〈◊〉 , ar . ut prius   robert dennys , ar . ut prius   vvill. stroade , ar .   arg. conyes sab. john mallet armig .   azure escalops or. tho. southcote , ar . ut prius   〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , armig burrington   john 〈◊〉 , miles ut prius   tho. carew armig . ut prius   arthur 〈◊〉 ut prius       richard bampfiel●… ut prius   ●…ohn chichester a. ut prius   rog. prideaux , ar .   arg. a cheveron sab. a label gules . vvil. cortenay , mi ut prius   john 〈◊〉 , miles ut prius   john fitz. 〈◊〉 .   arg. a crosse , gul. 〈◊〉 de sang. hugh fortescue ut prius   ed. seimour , miles bury - 〈◊〉 gules , angels-wings palewayes 〈◊〉 , or , richard reynell   masonry , arg. a chief ▪ indented or , on a bend gules , mill●… ▪ arg. humph ▪ specote     will. kyrcham , ar . ut prius               ric. champernoun ut 〈◊〉   will. sttowd , arm . ut prius   tho. 〈◊〉 , mile ut 〈◊〉   ed. seimour , armig ▪ ut prius   vvill. st●…owd , 〈◊〉   arg. balls heads , cabossed , sab. armed , or. iohn coplestone , 〈◊〉     vvill. fortescue ar . ut prius   henry roll ut 〈◊〉   tho. rugway , arm . torre   〈◊〉 ▪ parker , 〈◊〉 .   sab. bucks heads cabossed , between flanches , or. thom. heal , armig .   gules , a bend lozengie ermine . alias arg. 〈◊〉 in pale . vvilliam pool , ar . shute gules , on the middlemost a leopards head , or. amic . bamfield , ar . ut prius   king james .     anno     ami ▪ bamfield , a. ut prius   iohn drake , a. ash ut infr●… , edward semour , a. ut prius   iohn abbot , a.   gules , a cheveron betwixt pears , or. robert rolles , a. ut prius   iohn acland , mil●…s   checky , arg. and sab a fess. gules . vvill. grymes , a.     hugh acland , armig . ut prius   thomas vvise , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sable , three-cheverons , ermine per cheveron , arg. and purple a lion rampant counterchanged edw gyles , 〈◊〉     george smith , miles     john specot , miles ut prius   john gefford , arm .   sab. lozenges in fess , 〈◊〉 . george southcoate , ut prius   thomas heale , ar . ut prius   war●… . heale 〈◊〉 ut prius   christ savo●… y , miles     〈◊〉 heale , 〈◊〉 ut prius   edmond parker , ar . ut prius   edm. 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 ut prius   henry tottle , arm .   azure , on a bend argent cottised , or. a lion passant , sa. simon leach     king charles i.     〈◊〉     〈◊〉 fry , armig . yarty vert , horses in pale cur . arg . john northcoate , a.   arg. croslets bendwaise , 〈◊〉 waler young , arm .     henry rouswel , mil. fordabbey   john davy , armiger   arg. a cheveron sab. 〈◊〉 mullets gules , peirced . henry ashford , arm . ashforde arg. three pine-apples vert , twixt cheveronels , sable . edward 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 anery ●…arty per cheverons azu , and erm ▪ ●… stags heads , cabos . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 drake , bar. buckland sab. a fess. 〈◊〉 between the pole starrs arg. alias , a 〈◊〉 wings elevated . 〈◊〉 ermine , a lion passant , gules . ut prius . ●…ohn 〈◊〉 , ar . ut prius   thomas drew , miles     thomas heale , ba. fleet   dennys roll , 〈◊〉 . ut prius   thomas vvise , arm . ut prius   john poole , 〈◊〉 ut prius   nichol ▪ 〈◊〉 , m oxon or , barrs , gules . nicholas putt 〈◊〉 arg. a lion rampant , impounded within a muscle , sable . richard collums , a   azure , a cheveron ermine , bebetwixt pellicans vulning themselvs , or. edmond 〈◊〉 ut prius   henry careye ut prius   john acland , armi . ut prius   richard greenvile , ut prius   francis drake , miles ut prius       richard ii. . john damerel ] throwely in dartmore , his chief 〈◊〉 , came to his family by match with the eldest daughter and coheir of 〈◊〉 , ( who married avis , sole heir to sr. william le prouze , in the raign of k. edward the second ) her two younger sisters being married to north-coat and wibery , amongst whom a great inheritance was divided . and by writ of particion ( sued out in the of k. edward the third ) * throwley fell to the share of damerel . henry vii . . richard edgecomb . ] he was a knight and memorable in his generation . for , being zealous in the cause of henry earl of richmond , ( afterwards k. henry the . ) he was in the time of k. richard the . so hotly persued and narrowly searched for , that he was forced to hide himself in his thick woods , at his house at 〈◊〉 in cornwal . here extremity taught him a suddain policy , to put a stone in his cap , and tumble the same into the water , whilest these rangers were fast at his heels , who looking down after the noise , and seeing his cap swimming thereon , * supposed that he had desperately 〈◊〉 himself , and ( deluded by this honest fraud ) gave over their farther persuit , leaving him at liberty to shift over into britain . nor was his gratitude lesse than his ingenuity , who in remembrance of his delivery , after his return , built a chappel ( lately extant ) in the place where he lurked , and lived in great repute with prince and people . king henry the seventh rewarded his loyalty by bestowing the castle of totnes in this countyupon him . edward vi. . peter carew , miles ] this active gentleman had much adoe to expedite himself , and save his life , being imprisoned for his compliance with sr. thomas wyate afterwards he did signal service in the irish warrs . this memorial remaineth for him viro nobilissimo , d. petro carew ; equiti aurato : est hoc structum monumentum : qui obiit rosae in laginiâ hyberniae novembris , sepultus autem waterfordiae , decembris , . terra cadav●…r habet . the rest of the epitaph is not legible . queen elizabeth . . robert dennis , miles ] this worthy knight , anno . erected a fair almes-house in the suburbs of exeter , for poor aged men , allowing to each a plot of ground for an herber , and pence weekly . this family so ancient in this county ( deriving its name and original from the danes ) is now extinct , the heir-general being married into the house of the rolles . . amias bampfield , arm. ] right ancient and worthy his extraction , especially since one of his ancestors married one of the daughters and co-heirs of the lord semaur , or de sancto mauro , whereby a fair inheritance at south-molton , in this county , accrewed into this family , in which church this amias with his father lyeth interred : and their joynt-epitaph will acquaint us with the numerosity of their issue then living or dead . twelve of seventeen are not , of fifteen are eleven proceeding from this stock , praise be to god in heaven . however pottimore near exeter is their prime habitation , and hath been ever since the time of k. edward the first , witnesse this inscription on a monument in that church , hic ●…acet joh. bampfield , & agnes uxorejus , pater & mater will ▪ bampfield , qui hanc ecclesiae maximam campanam fieri fecerunt , . as for sr. coplestone bampfield ( now sheriffe of this county ) and so cordial to the kings cause in the worst of times , he doth by his vertues add a new lustre to his ancient extraction . king charles . dennis rolls arm. ] his mother was coheir to sr. thomas dennis , knight , of right ancient extraction . as for this worthy esquire , i remember the old sentence , praestat nulla quam pauca dicere de carthagine , on which account i forbear further praise of him . he was the last of his house , not in the sence wherein salust is called altimus suae domus , because he lavished away all his lands in luxury , but god denyed his male-issue to attain to mans estate . the farewell . i am most credibly informed , that a rock , lately ( so lately that as yet it is not named ) hath been discovered by an hamburger being master of a ship , who made the first report thereof ( on his own oath , and the oaths of all in his company ) to the corporation of seamen at the trinity-house nigh london . it lyeth one league off from the start in devonshire . it is more then suspicious , that many hundreds have here had their silent deaths , never landing to relate the cause of their destruction . for it is very dangerous for a ship that draweth above eleven or twelve foot water , if it should chance to strike upon it at a low water , with an indifferent sea. it is the more dangerous because : picked the form thereof , so that if you chance to heave one cast upon it , the next cast shall be no less than fourteen or fifteen fathome water . i am sorry if the discoverer hereof met not with a proportionable reward , understanding that he had made a better bargain if he had addressed himself first to the dutch , ( most bountifull in such cases ) though our nation be most concerned therein . let all ships passing thereby be fore-armed because , fore-warned thereof , seeing this rock can no otherwise be resisted than by avoiding . exeter . exeter ▪ it is of a circular ( and therefore most capable ) form , sited on the top of an hill , having an easie assent on every side thereunto . this 〈◊〉 much to the cleannesse of this city , nature being the chief scavenger thereof , so that the rain that falleth there falleth thence by the declivity of the place . the houses stand sidewaies backward into their yards , and onely 〈◊〉 with their gables towards the street : the city therefore is greater in content than appearance , being bigger than it presenteth it self to 〈◊〉 through the same . manufactures . cloathing is plyed in this city , with great industry and judgment . it is hardly to be believed what credible persons attest for truth , that the return for serges alone in this city amounteth weekly , ( even now when trading though not dead is sick ) to three thousand pounds , not to ascend to a higher proportion . but the highest commendation of this city is for the loyalty thereof , presenting us with a pair-royal of services herein ; when besieged by perkin werbeck , in the reign of king henry the seventh . the western rebels , in the raign of king edward the sixth . the parliament forces , in the raign of king charles the first . there valour was invincible in the two first , and their loyalty unstained in the last , rewarded by their enemies with the best made , and best kept articles , yea in the very worst of times , a depressed party therein were so true to their principles , that i meet with this epitaph in the chancell of st. sidwells . hic jacet hugo grove in comitatu wilts , armiger , in restituendo ecclesiam , in asserendo regem , in propugnando legem ac libertatem anglicanam , captus & decollatus maii , . the buildings . the cathedrall dedicated to st. peter is most beautifull , having the west end thereof adorned with so lively statues of stone , that they plainly speak the art of those who erected them . there is in this city a castle , whitherto king richard the usurper repaired , and for some dayes reposed himself therein . he demanded of the inhabitants , how they called their castle , who returned the name thereof was rugemont , though i confesse it a rarity , that the castle in a city should be called by any other name than a castle . hereat the vsurper was much abashed , having been informed by wizards , that he should never prosper after he had met a thing called rugemont . it seems sathan either spoke this oracle low or lisping , desirous to palliate his fallacy and ignorance ; or that king richard ( a guilty conscience will be frighted with little ) mistook the word , seeing not rugemont but richmond , ( the title of king henry the seventh ) proved so formidable to this vsurper . as for parish-churches in this city , at my return thither this year i found them fewer than i left them at my departure thence years ago . but the demolishers of them can give the clearest account , how the plucking down of churches conduceth to the setting up of religion ; besides i understand that thirteen churches were exposed to sale by the publick cryer , and bought by well-affected persons , who preserved them from destruction . the wonders . when the city of exeter was besieged by the parliaments forces , so that only the southside thereof towards the sea was open unto it , incredible number of larks were found in that open quarter , for multitude like quails in the wildernesse ( though blessed be god ) unlike them both in cause and effect , as not desired with mans destruction , nor ●…ent with gods anger , as appeared by their safe digestion into wholesome nourishment : hereof i was an eye and mouth witnesse . i will save my credit in not conjecturing any number , knowing , that herein though i should stoop beneath the truth , i should mount above belief : they were as fat as plentifull , so that being sold for two pence a dozen , and under , the poor ( who could have no cheaper , as the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 meat ) used to make pottage of them , boyling them down therein . seve●…al natural causes were assigned hereof : . that these fowl frighted with much shooting on the land , 〈◊〉 to the sea-side for their refuge . . that it is familiar with them in cold winters ( as that was ) to shelter themselves in the most 〈◊〉 parts . . that some sortes of seed were lately fown in those parts which invited them thither for their own repast . however the cause of causes was divine 〈◊〉 , thereby providing a feast for many poor people , who otherwise had been pinched for provision . princes . henrietta youngest childe of king charles and queen mary , was born at bedfordhouse in this city , anno . on the sixteenth day of june . after her long and sad night of affliction , the day dawn'd with her , in her brothers happy returne . since she is marryed to the duke of orleance . i hope that i once related unto her as a chaplain , may ever pray for her , that her soul may be sanctified with true grace , and she enjoy both the blessings of this and a better life . prelates . bartholomeus iscanus , born in this * city , was accounted in that age the oracle of learning and religion , so that in all conventions to that purpose his suffrage clearly carried it . he became afterwards bishop in the place of his nativity , being intimate with his city-man , whose character next followeth , baldwin of devonshire , then but abbot of ford , afterwards advanced to higher preferment . these mutually dedicated books each to others commendation so that neither wanted praise nor praised himself . this leland calleth pulcherimum certamen . indeed this alternation of reciprocal encomiums , became them the better , because it was merit in both , flattery in neither . this bartholomew was an opposer of becket his insolence : and having sate bishop years ended his life , anno . baldvinus devonius was born in this city , of poor parentage , save that in some sort a worthy man may be said to be father to himself . his preferment encreased with his learning and deserts , being first a school-master , then an arch-deacon , then abbot of ford : afterwards bishop of worcester , and lastly arch-bishop of canterbury . an eloquent man , and a pious preacher , according to the devotion of those dayes , so that the errours which he maintained may justly be accounted the faults of the tim●…s , and in him but infirmities . when king richard the first went to palestine , he conceived himself bound both in conscience and credit , to partake of the pains and perils of his soveraign , whom he attended thither but not thence , dying there , and being buried at tyre , anno dom. . walter bronscombe was son to a very mean * man in this city , and therefore the more remarkable , that taking no rise from his extraction , he raised himself by his own industry to be bishop of exeter . here he built and endowed an hospital for poor people , and also founded a fair colledge at perin in cornwall . the angel gabriel was very much beholding to him , for instituting an annual festival unto him , ( observed , as i humbly conceive , only in his own cathedral , or own diocesse at the most ) and least people sho●…ld complain of the dearnesse of their devotion , he left good land to defray the cost of that solemnity . he is much blamed for compassing the mannour of bishops-clift to his church by indirect means , to which i can say nothing , but only observe , that this small city , within eighty years did afford three eminent prelates ( whereof two episcopi in patria ) the natives thereof , which will scarcely be paralell'd in any place of the same proportion , he died anno . . writers . josephus iscanus was born at this city , anciently called isca , from the river isk , ( now named eske ) running thereby . a golden po●…t in a leaden age , so terse , and elegant were his conceipts and expressions , . this our english maro had for his mecenas baldwin archbishop of canterbury . but i revoke my words , and desire to turn maro into cornelius nepos , under whose name the dutch-men have lately printed a poem , made by this josephus , debello trojano . it soundeth much to a mans honour , even to be mistaken for another man of eminency : for though there may be much of error in the mistake , there must be something of truth in the error , especially with the judicious : yea in such case a general conformity betwixt the persons is not enough to build the mistake on , without some 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; as here the affinity of phrase , and fancy betwixt these two poets . this 〈◊〉 nepos under whose name the poems of this josephus were printed , flourished in the time of tully . indeed i finde not any poems made by him , though having to that purpose perused all scaliger , de arte 〈◊〉 , as a most probable authour . but most sure it is , that this corn●…lius was most judicious in that art , because valerius catullus dedicated his poem unto him , as best able to p●…sse a learned censure thereon , this josephus iscanus flourished under king john , anno , being arch-bishop of burdeaux . i have nothing more to observe of him , save what , with the readers pardon , i cannot omit , viz. that this josephus alwayes minded me of another josephus iscanus , i mean joseph hall , lately bishop of exeter , a witty poet , when young , a painfull preacher , and solid divine in his middle , a patient - sufferer in his old age , of whom god willing , more * in due place . william of exeter was * born in this city , bred a doctor of divinity in oxford , and afterwards became 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 in the place of his nativity . now in his age fome franciscan friers so praised the perfectiou of poverty , that they touched the popes coppy-hold of inheritance , for if poverty was so essential to piety , papal pomp , and plenty must needs argue prophaneness : in confutation hereof , this william of exeter undertook william of ockam , though indeed impar congressus betwixt them ; for exeter , a fair city did not more exceed ockam a smal village in surrey in beauty , and building , than that ockam william excelled this exeter william in parts and learning ; however what he wanted in brains , he had in a good back to assist him : and william of exeter with john the three and twentieth pope of rome was able to undertake any authour of that age , he flourished in the year of our lord . under the raign of king edward the third . since the reformation . richard martyn was born in this city , and bred partly in the court , partly in the inns of court ; and at last ●…etook himself to the study of the law , he was accounted one of the highest witts of our age and his nation , king james being much delighted with his facetiousnesse , a quality ( which with other of his abilities ) commended him to be chosen recorder of london ; he is eminent , as for many speeches , so especially for that he made in parliament in the tenth year of king james , when account was taken of forty gentlemen in the house , which were not twenty , and some of them not sixteen years of age : formerly ( said this r●…order martyn ) it was the custome of old men to make lawes for young ones , : but now nature is invaded and inverted , seeing young men enact lawes to govern their fathers : he had an excellent pen , and wrote very much , and the more the pitty that they are suppressed from publick use ; his death happened about the year . william martin kinsman to the aforesaid recorder was born in this city , and bred a student in the lawes of the land : he wrote a short and clear of the kings of england since the conquest . i have been credlbly informed , that king james took some exceptions at a passage therein , sounding either to the derogation of his own family , or of the scotch nation , which he took so tenderly that mr. martin was brought into trouble for the same ; and though he wethered out the kings displeasure , and was reconciled to his majesty , yet he never r●…covered his former chearfulnesse . it seems that a princes anger is a disease which though cured , is not cured , grief for the same being conceived to hasten his death , which happened about the year . william tucker , was born in this * city , bred fellow of new-colledge in oxford , and after became doctor in divinity , canon of sarisbury , arch-deacon of barnstable , and dean of lichfield , . the purity of his latine pen procured his preferment , writing , and dedicating a book to queen elizabeth , de charismate , of our kings of england their gracious healing the evil , being the best that i have seen on that subject , vindicating such cures from all imposture , unlawfull magick , and from some french writers bold usurpations , who lay claim to it , as originally belonging to their kings alone ; whereas , under correction i conceive , that the word soveraign which properly importeth the supream majesty , doth also in our english tongue , in a secondary sence signi●…ie , what is cordial to cure and heal diseases or sores , ever since such sanative power hath been annexed to the crown of england . this doctor may be said to have worn half a miter , seeing his congee de-lire was signed ( if not sent ) to elect him bishop of glocester , but afterwards by order f●…om king james it was revoked , on what occasion i list not to enquire . i conjecture the date of his death was much about the year . john barkham , born in this city , was bred in corpus christi colledge in oxford , whereof he was fellow , chaplain afterwards to archbishop bancroft , and parson of bocking in essex . much his modesty and no lesse his learning ; who , ( though never the publique parent of any ) was the carefull nurse of many books , who otherwise had expired in their infancy , had not his care preserved them . he set forth d. ▪ crackenchorp his posthume book against spalato , and was helpfull to john speed , in the composing of his english history ; yea , he wrote the whole life of the raign of king john , ( which is the king of all the raigns in that book , for profound penning ) discoverable from the rest of the different style , and much scripture scited therein : mr. guillim in his heraldry , was much beholden to this doctors emendations . he was a greater lover of coyns than of money , rather curious in the stamps , than covetous for the mettall thereof . that excellent collection in oxford library was his gift to the arch-bishop , before the arch-bishop gave it to the university . he dyed march . . benefactors to the publick . joan tuckvile , a merchants widdow in this city , first procured the possession , then the consecration of a parcel of ground which she had fairly compassed about , for the interment ofsuch as were executed at hevie-tree hard by , allowing land to buy a shrone for every one of them ; that such as dyed malefactors might be buried as men , yea as christians ; who having passed under the hand of justice , received a boon from her hand , who was mercifull to the dead : this i may call exemplary charity indeed , as which set a coppie for others , but such as hitherto hath not ( to my knowledg ) by any been transcribed . she dyed about the beginning of the raign of queen elizabeth . the farewel . malice knoweth no other heaven than to do mischief to others , though thereby no good to it fels : such the spite of the cornish rebels besieging exeter , who to damnifie the city , damned and stopped up the channel of the river ex ( near to a village thence called * weare at this day ) to such a degree that thereby the accesse of lesser vessels is much hindred , and of the greater ships wholly debarred . some knowing sr. simon baskervile , ( a physician and native of this place ) to have a plentifull purse , and publick spirit , wished he would have taken the work in hand , to cure this obstruction : but it was no physicians work to meddle therewith , nor is it either powder of steel , or gilded pils which can do the deed , but onely pills of massy gold and silver , so expensive is the performance . indeed several acts of* parliament have ordered the removeal of these stoppages , but nothing is effected in this kinde , these real remoraes remaining as before . it is urged as an argument of aristotle , against the conceit of plato his having all women in common , and their children to be brougbt up on the publique charge , that then the education of such children will be neglected , because wh●…t is ever mans work , is no manswork : the truth hereof appeareth in the slow avoiding of these steam - 〈◊〉 . i could heartily wish , that one act of parliament more [ an eunuch , yet not barren ] may be made , eunuch , that it may beget no more acts to cause the retarding and elongation of this work ; yet not barren , that it may effectually remedy this grievance , and that a general good be no longer postponed to mens private profit . dorcet-shire . dorcet-shire . it hath devonshire on the west , somerset and wilt-shire on the north , hant shire on the east , and the narrow sea on the south , extending from east to west about forty miles , though not past six and twenty the broadest part thereof . it hath a self-sufficiency of all commodities necessary for mans temporal well-being , and needs not be beholding to any neighbouring county ; for it can . feed it self with fine wheat , fat flesh , dainty fowle , wild and tame , fresh fish from sea and rivers . to this meat it yieldeth that sawce , without which all the rest is little worth , i mean salt , made here in some measure , but which hath been and may be in more abundance . . cloathe it self with its own wooll , and broad-cloath made thereof ; and it is believed , that no place in england affordeth more sheep in so small a compass as this county about dorchester . and as they are provided for warmth in their woollen , so for cleanliness , with their linnen-cloath , great store of good flax and hemp growing therein . . build its own houses with good timber out of black-more forrest , and with ( if not better , i am sure more ) freestone out of portland , most approaching that of normandy ( as in position so ) in the purity thereof . nor wanteth it veins of marble in the isles of purbeck . and to all this an excellent air , and the conveniency of a sea , to export for their profit , and import for their pleasure , as whose necessities were provided for before . natural commodities . tenches . plenty hereof are bred in the river * stowre , which is so much the more observable , because generally this fish * loveth ponds better than rivers , and pits better then either . it is very pleasant in taste , and is called by some the physician of fishes . though in my opinion may better be styled the surgeon ; for it is not so much a disease as a wound that he cureth , nor is it any potion but a playster which he affordeth , viz. his natural unctuous glutinousness , which quickly consolidateth any green g●…sh in any fish . but the pike is * principally beholding unto him for cures in that kind , and some have observed , that that tyrant , though never so hungry , forbeareth to eat this fish which is his physician ; not that pikes are capable ( which many men are not ) of gratitude : but that they are indued with a natural policy , not to destroy that which they know not how soon they may stand in need of . tobacco-pipe-clay . this is a fine clay , which will burn white ( while others turn red ) found in several parts of england ; but so far from the sea , it will not quit cost of portage to london , save from two places , . poole , in this county . . isle of wight . this wrought alone makes an hard pipe , but so shrunk and shriveled , it is unhandsome to the eye . this wrought alone , makes a fair and full pipe , but so brittle , that it is uncerviceable for use . both compounded together make these utensils both hard and handsome . this clay brought to london by ship for ballast , is there worth about thirty shillings the tun. hemp. england hath no better than what groweth here betwixt remister and byrdport , the use whereof is of absolute necessity for cordage , cloathing , &c. so that a man may admire that the seed being so profitable , and our land affording so much strong and dèep ground proper for the same , so little is sown thereof . the rather , because hemp in effect secureth it self , first against cattel , against which it is its own fence , seeing none ( deer only excepted ) will offer to eat thereof . secondly , from thieves , not because it is ominous for them to steal that which is the instrument of their execution , but because much pains ( which idle persons hate at their hearts ) is required to reduce hemp to profit : whilest wheat and barley left in the field , are more subject to felony , as which , when threshed will render a present profit . but see more of this commodity in lincoln-shire . to these we may adde rubia silvestris , vvild madder , which groweth at hodhill in this county , on the next side of the river at stur-paine ( two miles from blanford ) at warham likewise , and at other places , and at a place called somervill near to chappel , which by the landing place , as ye come from altferr●… to chesil , is in * great abundance . it is an assured remedy for the yellow jaundice , openeth the obstructions of the spleen , &c. buildings . the houses of the gentry herein are built rather to be lived in , than to be looked on , very low in their scituation ( for warmth and other conveniencies ▪ ) indeed the rhime holds generally true of the english structures , the north for greatness , the east for health , the south for neatness , the west for wealth . however amongst the houses in this county , lullworth castle , and sherburn-lodge are most eminent , escaping pretty well in the late war , so that they have cause neither to brag nor complain . proverbs . as much a kin as lenson-hill to pilsen-pen . ] that is no kin at all . it is spoke of such who have vicinity of habitation or neighbourhood , without the least degree of consanguinity or affinity betwixt them . for these are two high hills , the first wholy , the other partly in the parish of broad windsor , whereof once i was minister . yet , reader , i assure thee , that sea-men make the nearest relation betwixt them , calling the one the cow , the other the calf ; in which forms it seems they appear first to their fancies , being eminent sea-marks to such as sail along these coasts . and although there be many hills interposing betwixt these and the sea , which seem higher to a land traveller , yet these surmount them all : so incompetent a judge , and so untrue a surveyor is an ordinary eye of the altitude of such places . stab'd with a byrdport dagger . ] that is , hang'd , or executed at the gallowes . the best , if not the most hemp ( for the quantity of ground ) growing about byrdport a market town in this county . and hence it is , that there is an ancient statute ( though now disused and neglected ) that the cable ropes for the navy royal were to be made there abouts , as affording the best tackling for that purpose . dorset-shire dorsers . ] dorsers are peds or panniers carried on the backs of horses , on which haglers use to ride and carry their commodities . it seems this homely , but most useful implement was either first found out , or is most generally used in this county , where fish-jobbers bring up their fish in such contrivances above an hundred miles , from lime to london . saints . edward , son to edgar king of england , was in his child-hood bred under the cruel correction of elfrida his mother-in-law , who used for small faults to whip him with wax-candles . in so much , that it is reported , it made such an impression in this young princes memory , that , when a man , he could not endure the sight of * wax-candles . but edward afterwards outgrew his mothers tuition , and succeeded his father in his throne . however , such her ambition , that , advantaged with the others easiness of nature , she managed most matter of state , leaving her son in-law little more than the bare title of soveraign . not contented herewith , and to derive the scepter to her own son ethelred , caused him to be stab'd at corfe castle , in this county , coming in a civil visit unto her . his hidden ●…ody being miraculously discovered , was first buried at warham , and thence removed to shaftsbury , which town for a time was termed * saint edwards , from his interment . his murder hapned about the year of our lord , . cardinals . john morton was born at saint andrews milborne in this county , of a right worshipful family still extant therein . he was bred in oxford , and after many mediate preferments , made bishop of ely , anno . not long after , when many groaned under the tyranny of king richard the third , this prelate first found out the design of marrying elizabeth eldest daughter to edward the fourth of the house of york , to henry earl of richmond , the last who was left of the line of lancaster . indeed the earls title to the crown , was not enough to make a countenance therewith , much less a claim thereto ; but , as the lady had a title , and wanted a man to manage it ; the earl was man enough to manage any design , but wanted a title ; and pursuing this advice , by gods blessing , he gained the crown , by the name of henry the seventh . in expression of his gratitude , he made this bishop chancellor of england , and afterwards arch-bishop of canterbury . he was a great instrument in advancing a voluntary contribution to the king through the land ; perswading prodigals to part with their money , because they did spend it most ; and the covetous , because they might spare it best . so making both extreams to meet in one medium , to supply the kings necessities ; who , though prodigiously rich , may be said always to need , because never-satisfied . this bishop with vast cost , cut a new channel in the fennes , for the publick good , but it neither answered his expectation nor expence . he was magnificent in his buildings , and bountiful to poor scholars , enjoyning his executors to maintain twenty poor scholars in oxford , and ten in cambridge twenty years after his death , which hapned in october , . prelates . john stafford , son to humphrey stafford , sixth earl of stafford , was born at * hooke in this county ( then a most stately house belonging to this family ) and bred a doctor of the laws in oxford ▪ he was afterwards dean of the arches , and dean of saint martins . this was a fair colledge near aldersgate in london , founded anno . by ingelricus , and edvardus his brother , priviledged by our kings of england with great immunities ; the cause of many and high contests betwixt this colledge and the city of london . afterwards he was made bishop of wells , and for eighteen years ( a continuance , hardly to be parallel'd ) was chancellor of england . at last he was advanced arch-bishop of canterbury , and no prelate ( his peer in bi●…th and pre●…erment ) hath either less good , or less evil recorded of him . he died at maidstone , . and lies buried in canterbury . robert morton was * brothers son to cardinal morton ( of whom before ) whose father had a fair habitation at saint andrews milborne in this county . his relation to so good an uncle , mixed with his own merits , preferred him to the bishoprick of worcester . of whom we have little more than the date of his consecration , . and of his death . he lieth buried in the body of saint pauls church in london . james turbervil , or de turbida villa , was born of a worshipful family , who long have lived in great account in this * county ●… first a monk , but afterwards brought up in new-colledge in oxford . he was consecrated bishop of exeter . and deserved right well of that see. when he entred thereon , it was most true what his * successor therein since said , that the bishop of exeter was a baron , but a bare one : so miserably that cathedral had been pilled and polled . but bishop turbervil recovered some lost lands , which bishop voysey had * vezed : and particularly obtained of queen mary the ●…estitution of the fair manor of crediton . but , who can stay what will away ? it was afterwards alienated again in the reign of queen elizabeth . this bishop turbervil carried something of trouble in his name , though nothing but mildnesse and meeknesse in his nature . hence it was , that he staved off persecution from those in his jurisdiction , so that not so many as properly may be called some , suffered in his diocesse . he being deprived in the beginning of queen elizabeth , lived peaceably for many years in great liberty , the privacy of whose life caused the obscurity of his death , and the uncertainty of the date thereof . since the reformation . thomas winniffe was born at sherborne in this county , and was bred contemporary with doctor hackwell in exeter colledge in oxford , and we may observe a three-fold parallel betwixt these two eminent persons . first they were fellows of the same foundation . secondly chaplains to the same illustrious master , prince henry . thirdly , both out of ( indiscretion at the worst ) no ill intent , ran on the same rock , though not to the same degree of damage . dr. hackwel , for opposing the spanish match , was un-chaplain'd , and banished the court ; doctor winniffe , for a passage in his sermon ( not against , but ) about gondomer , was committed close prisoner to the tower , and there for some days remained . during which time , a great lord ( who shall pass nameless ) with great importunity endevoured to beg away all his church preferment , to dispose of at his pleasure . no ( said king james ) i mean not thus to part with the man. the lord perceiving his suit hopeless , vowed most solemnly , that he did it only to try his royal resolution , protesting that his majesty had not one of more merit amongst all his chaplains . indeed he was observed to run ( with emulation without envy ) in the race of vertue even with any of his order , striving to exceed them by fair industry , without offering proudly to justle their credit , much less falsly to supplant their reputation . he was first dean of gloucester , afterward of saint pauls , and lastly was chosen bishop of lincoln , . being one of those six choice persons elected , ut nutantis episcopatus molem , pietatis ac probitatis suae fulcimine sustentarent . all in vain , being borne down under the ruines thereof . since that government hath been happily resumed , and long may it flourish in its full lustre . he died anno dom. . and was buried at lamburne in essex , having formerly been the painfull minister thereof . he was seventy eight years of age , and hath a handsome monument erected to his memory , the epitaph whereof being too long to transcribe , thus beginneth ; effare marmor silens quid & quem luges ; funus non privatum , sed publicum , anglicanae ecclesiae ( nisi deus antevertat ) penè cadaver , thoman wynnyffum , &c. i would adde more in his just commendation , but because i am prohibited by his epitaph , whereof this the conclusion , anima haec in coelos recepta non laudationem quaerit sed imitationem . nor will we forget that for some years before his aged father was buried in the same grave . souldiers . thomas basket , esquire , of divelish in this county . how much king h●…nry the eighth confided in his wisdom and valour , will plainly appear by the letter he wrote unto him , exemplified by us in our observations of the sheriffs of this county in the twelfth year of the reign of the king aforesaid . he was commonly called little mr. basket the great souldier . he died about the year of our lord . john russel , son of — russel , esq was born at * kingston-russel in this county , and being bred beyond the seas , arrived at great accomplishments , and returned home about the time when philip king of castile ( father to charles the fifth emperour ) was forced by foul weather into the haven of weymouth . but , it is an ill wind that blows no body profit , this accident proving the foundation of mr. russels preferment . for when sir thomas trenchard bountifully received this royal guest , mr. russel was sent for , to compleat the entertainment ; king philip taking such delight in his company , that at his departure he recommended him to king henry the seventh , as a person of abilities fit to stand before princes , and not before mean men . indeed he was a man of spirit , carrying a badge of valour ( no blemish , but a beauty ) in his face , the loss of an eye at the siege of montrule . king henry the eight much favoured him , making him controller of the houshold , and privy councellor , and anno . created him lord russ●…l , and made him keeper of the privy seal . a good share of the golden showre of abby lands fell into his lap ; two mitred ones , viz. tavestock in devonshire , and thorney in cambridge-shire , being conferred upon him , and at this day possessed by his posterity . king edward the sixth ( who made him earl of bedford ) sent him down to suppress the western commotion , and relieve the besieged city of exeter , which difficult service he performed with no less wisdom than valour , success than either . this worthy lord died in the month of march , . and lieth interred at cheineys in buckingham shire . sir ri●…rd bingham was born at binghams-melcolm in this county , of as ancient a family as any therein , having my self seen an inquisition of lands taken ou●… of the tower rolls , which william de bingham his ancestor , held in dorset shire in the reign of king henry the third . in his youth he traced most parts of the world , to search for service , and find fit objects for his valour . he was at the siege of saint quintin in france , the sacking of lieth in scotland , served in candia under the ven●…tian against the turk ; then returned into the netherlands , being obse●…ved to be fortis & foelix in all his undertakings . his judgement was much relied on in eighty eight , about ordering the land army in tilbery camp. after long travelling , his feet were fixed in ireland , where he was not bebogg'd ( as some otherwise his equals ) with ill success ; but being president of connaugh , conquered and drove away o rorke , that most dangerous rebel . sir william fitz-vvilliams , lord deputy of ireland , was offended at that service , though he could find no fault therewith , save that it was not done by * h●…mself . indeed bingham met with that which all men of merit must expect ( except they will be surprized unawares ) envy from others , suspecting that their own bays did wither , because his did seem so verdant . hereupon they accused him of cruelty , to the queen and her council , who being employed in connaugh ( the very ireland of ireland in that age ) was necessitated into severity for his own security . for this cause he was brought over into england outed his offices , and kept for some time * in restraint , all which he being inured to hardship , as who had not eat his bread ( nor fasted neither ) all in a place , bare with invincible courage . but neglected worth will come into fashion once in seven years . tyrone begins to trouble munster , and none found fit for to order him but sir richard bingham , who is sent over with more honour and power , marshal of ireland , and general of l●…mster , to undertake that service , whereof no doubt he had given a good account , had not death overtaken him at dublin . wherever buried , he hath a monument of mention in the south side of westminster abbey . sea men. richard clark of * vveymouth in this county was a most knowing pilot , and master of the ship called the delight , which anno . went with sir humphrey gilbert for the discovery of norembege . now it happened ( without any neglect or default in the same richard ) how that ship struck on ground , and was cast away in the year aforesaid , on thursday august . yet wave followed not w●…ve faster than wonder wonder , in the miraculous preservation of such as escaped this shipwrack . . * sixteen of them got into a small boat , of a tun and half , which had but one oar to work withal . . they were seventy leagues from land , and the weather so soul , that it was not possible for a ship to brook half a course of sail. . the boat being over-burdened , one of them , mr. hedly by name , made a motion to cast lots , that those four which drew the shortest , should be cast over-board , provided , if one of the lots fell on the master , he notwithstanding should be preserved , as in whom all their safety were concerned . . our richard clark their master disavowed any acceptance of such priviledge , replying , they would live or die together . . on the fifth day mr. hedly ( who first motioned lot-drawing ) and another died , whereby their boat was somewhat allightned . . for five days and nights they saw the sun and stars but once , so that they onely kept up their boat with their single oar , going as the sea did drive it . . they continued four days without any sustenance , save what the weeds which swam in the sea , and salt water did afford . . on the seventh day , about eleven a clock they had sight of , and about three they came on the south part of new found land . . all the time of their being at sea , the wind kept continually so●…th , ( which if it had shifted on any other point , they had never come to land ) but came contrary at the north within half an hour after their arrival . . being all come safe to shore , they kneeled down , and gave god praise ( as they justly might ) for their miraculous deliverance . . they remained there three days and nights , having their plentiful repast , upon berries and wild peason . . after five days rowing along the shore , they hapned on a spanish ship of saint ▪ john de luz , which courteously brought them home to biskay . . the visitors of the inquisition coming aboard the ship , put them on examination , but by the masters favour , and some general answers , they escaped for the present . . fearing a second search , they shifted for themselves , and going twelve miles by night , got into france , and so safely arrived in england . thus we may conclude with the psalmist , they which do go down into the sea , and occupy in the great waters : these men see the works of the lord , and his wonders in the deep . george summers , knight , was born in or near lyme , though on my best enquiry ( living some years within seven miles of the place ) i could not attain the exactness thereof . he afterwards was a successful voyager into far distant countries , and first discovered the bermuda's , from and by him named the summer islands . a plantation , though slighted of late , ( whether for want of industry in the planters , or staple commodities , i hnow not ) yet were it in the hand of the spaniard ( as by gods blessing never shall ) it would be over-considerable unto us . yea , that which now is quarrelled at for not feeding us with any provision , might then stop the mouths , yea knock out the teeth of such who now so undervalue it . i say , they were called the summer islands from this knight , which i conceive necessary to observe . for , i find , that though the county of somerset is undoubtedly so called from sommerton , once the principal town therein , yet because that town at this day is mean and obscure , some have strongly fancied , and stifly defended it so named from the summer , the fruitfulnesse whereof so appeareth therein . possi●…ly in processe of time , ( with a more probable cover for their mistake ) these summer islands may be conceived so named , because there winter doth never appear . this sir george summers was a lamb on the land , so patient that few could anger him , and ( as if entring a ship he had assumed a new nature ) a lion at sea , so passionate , that few could please him . he died ( modest conjectures are better than confident untruths ) about the year of our lord , . before we take our final farewell of the seamen in this county , i conceive fit , that the following note should not be forgotten . anno . when tho. cavendish , esq was in the pursuit of his voyage about the world , some of his men august . went a shoar at cape quintero to fetch fresh water , when two hundred spanish horsemen came poudring from the hills upon them . they being hard at work , in no readiness to resist , suddenly surprized , and over-powered in number , were sl●…in , to the number of twelve men , a third of which losse fell on this county , whose names ensue ; . william kingman of dorset-shire in the admiral . . william biet of vveymouth in the vice admiral . . henry blacknals of weymouth . in the hugh-gallant . . william pit of sherborne . in the hugh-gallant . but their surviving country-men , ( being but fifteen in number who had any weapons on the shoar ) soon revenged their death , who coming from the works , not only rescued the rest , but also ●…orced the enemy to retire with the losse of . of his men , and then watered there in despight of all opposition . civilians . sir thomas ryves , doctor of the laws , was born at * little langton in this county , bred in new colledge in oxford . a general scholar in all polite learning , a most pure latinist ( no hair hanging at the neb of his pen ) witness his most critical book of sea-battels ; a subject peculiar , i think , to his endeavours therein . he was at last made the kings advocate , & indeed he formerly had been advocate to the king of heaven , in his poor ministers , in his book entituled , the vicars plea , wherein much law , and learning , and reason , and equity is shewen in their b●…half . a grievance 〈◊〉 camplained of than heard , oftner heard than pitied , and oftner 〈◊〉 than redressd , so unequal is the contest betwixt a poor vicars plea , and a wealthy impropriators purse . he was a man of valour as well as of much learning , and gave good evidence therof ( though wel stricken in years ) in our late wars . he died in his native county , about the year benefactors to the publick since the reformation . robert rogers , born at * poole in this county , was afterwards a leather-seller in london , and dying a rich batchelor , bequeathed a great part of his estate to pious uses , viz. for the building of alms-houses in pool l. for the relief of poore prisoners ( neither atheists nor 〈◊〉 ) each man , at the sum of twenty nobles , l. for poor preachers ( allowing to each man ten pound ) l. to decaied artificers , charged with wife and children l. to the merchant adventurers , for the relief of old , and support of young freemen , l. to christs hospital l to erect alms-houses in and about london , l. for a weekly dole of bread to the poor , l. for the maintaining of two scholars in each university , intrusting the leather-sellers with the managing thereof , l. i have only gathered the greatest clusters of his charity which the top boughs thereof did produce , purposely concealing the smaller bunches of his bounty , growing on the under branches . he died anno dom. * . and lieth buried in christ-church in london . memorable persons . thomas de la lynd , a gentleman of a fair estate in this county killed a white hart in blackmore forrest , which king henry the third by expresse will had reserved for his own chase . hereupon a mulct was imposed upon him and the whole county ( as accessary for not opposing him ) which is paid , called white-hart - silver to this day into the exchequer . my self hath paid a share for the sauce , who never tasted any of the meat ; so that it seems kings venison is sooner eaten than digested . let the latine proverb , albo gallo , &c. in dorset-shire , be turned into albo cervo ne manum admoliaris . arthur gregory of lyme in this county had the admirable art of forcing the seal of a letter , yet so invisibly , that it still appeared a virgin to the exactest beholder . secretary walsingham made great use of him , about the pacquets which passed from forraign parts to mary queen of scotland . he had a pension paid unto him for his good service out of the exchequer ; and died at lyme about the beginning of the reign of king james . william englebert , born at * sherborne , was an incomparable ingeneere , and much used in the eighty eight . queen elizabeth , ( an excellent house-wife of her treasure ) allowed him a pension of one hundred marks per annum , which was paid him until the day of his death . he requested of king iames his privy councel leave to serve foreign princes and states ( long peace rendring him useless in england ) proffering to wave his pension on that condition , but they utterly denied him licence to depart , who lived and died in westminster about the year , . the names of the gentry of this county returned by the commissioners in the twelfth year of king henry the sixth . william bishop of bath and wells , chancellor of england . commissioners to take the oaths . william de botreaux , chivaler .   john chedyok , knight . knights for the shire .   william turbervill . knights for the shire .   humf. stafford , chiv ioh. newburgh , sen. radulph . bush iohan. latymer iohan. neburgh , jun. williel . bronning roberti frampton nicholai latymer walteri gonis thome manston iohan. cammel iohan. frantleroy henrici sherard will. anketill iohan. hering iohan. carent roberti turbervile richardi fitton iohannis mone iohannis peterel rich. strode iohannis de la lynde roberti rempston will. gerrard will. godwyn will. dakcombe roberti savage roberti bannet edw. stone roberti larkestoke iohannis frampton de dorchester rogeri rochford iohannis stampford roberti hymerford stephani russel henrici russel roberti tredosa willi. chetil walt. hayngstrigge ioh. talbot simonis talbot richardi byle williel . hornsbow radulphi belton iohannis phillippe thome anketill willielmi clavil de ferne willielmi morton de chestesbury willielmi cole willielmi bontley iohan. butt rogeri grogge de lyme willielmi warner de pole roberti bertram de dorchester tho. tinam de lyme rob. abbot de melcombe regis richardi kaynell iohan. hillary de shirborn iohan. scryveyn de shirborn . sheriffs of dorset and somerset shires . hen. ii. anno warinus anno rich. de raddona anno warinus de lisoris rich. de raddona anno anno rich. de raddona warinus de lisoris anno anno warinus de lisoris anno idem . anno robertus de bello campo . anno gilbertus percy anno rich. de raddon gilb. de percy anno rob. de pucherel , for four years . anno alud . de lincolne , for six years . anno rob. de bello campo , for seven years . anno will. de bendenger anno idem . anno rob. filius pag. anno idem . anno idem . rich. i. anno hugo bardulph anno rob. anno willielmus de chahaignes rad. de chahaignes , for . years . anno will. chahaignes walt. de giffardus anno anno will. de chaignes pet. de schidemore anno will. de cahaignes . reg. johan . anno pet. de schidemore anno rob. belet hen. de stokes anno hubert . de burge alanus de wigton anno idem . anno idem . anno will. de monte acuto , for four years . anno will. briewre rad. de brey anno idem . anno will. mallet , sive malet , for four years . anno rich. de marisco rog. de pealton hen. iii. anno anno pet. de malo lacu . anno idem . anno idem . anno rog. de forda ralph . clericus anno rog. de forda ralph . clericus . anno sheriffs of dorset-shire . radus germein ermegundus de wenham sheriffs of somerset-shire rob. de ford. rich. abbas de michelem . anno sheriffs of dorset-shire . radus germin rich. episcopus saresb. gilbert . de staplebigg . sheriffs of somerset-shire johan . russel , & radus russel . joscelin . bathon . episcopus . lucas rupel . anno sheriffs of dorset-shire . ricus episcopus saresb. gilbert . de staplebig . sheriffs of somerset-shire joscelin . bathon . episcopus . lucas russel . anno sheriffs of dorset-shire . rich. episcopus saresb. gilbert . de staplebigg . sheriffs of somerset-shire joscelin . bathon . episcopus . will. de schorewell . anno will. filius henerici anno idem . anno tho. de cirencester anno idem . anno idem . & hen. de campo florido anno tho. de cirencester hen. de campo florido anno tho. de cirencester anno idem . anno idem . & hen. de campo florido anno tho. de cirencester hen. de campo florido anno tho. de cirencester anno idem . anno idem . anno jordan oliver . anno hugo . de vinon for six years . anno hugo . de vinon . barth . peach , for four years . anno hen. de derleg . anno elias de cabian . anno idem . anno idem . anno idem . & walterus de burges . anno steph. de hasseton anno idem . anno walt. de burges anno williel . everard . humf. chaehet . will. lecombe clericus anno phil. de cerve anno idem . anno johan . basset anno johan . basset hen. aultun anno phil. basset hen. aulton , for five years . anno tho. de sancto vigor . anno idem . anno joh. de sancto waller tho. de sancto vigore edw. i. anno joh. de sancto valerno . anno rich. de coleshul . for five years . anno joh. de cormailess anno idem . anno idem . anno joh. de cormailes pet. de bolemer anno joh. de cormailes anno joh. de sancto laudo , for six years . anno rich. de burghunt anno idem . anno walt. de lovene anno idem . anno walt. de glouc. for five years . anno nich. de chednoy anno joh. gerbert anno idem . anno joh. de la lee. anno joh. gerberte anno idem . anno math. fornius johan . de monte acuto anno idem . anno nich. de langland edw. ii. anno nich. de cheney walt. de easthidmore anno rich. de chiseldon . anno idem . anno idem . anno walt. esquidemor tho. de marleberge anno walt. de esquidemore anno joh. de chidiokes anno joh. de earle anno math. de furneaux . anno joh. de kingston anno idem . anno tho. de marleberge nich. de cheigney anno tho. de marleberge nich. de cheigney anno joh. tichburne anno tho. de marleberge anno anno idem . anno idem . anno idem . edw. iii. anno . will. de whitfeld , for four years . anno will. de whitfeld hugo . de langland anno joh. de wraxhale anno idem . anno hildebrand de london joh. de wroxhall anno hildebrand . de london joh. de london anno walt. de rodney hildebrand . de london walt. de rodney anno walt. & hildebrand . walterus anno walt. & hildebrand . walterus anno walt. & hildebrand . walterus anno joh. de durburgh anno hugo tirell anno edw. de stradlinge anno tho. de cary , for . years . anno johan . de palton anno idem . anno idem . anno joh. de sancto laudo . joh. de palton anno joh. de sancto laudo anno rich. de turbuil anno idem . anno joh. de raleigh anno idem . anno theobald . de gorges edrius de chivedon anno tho. de bridport anno joh. atte hall anno idem . anno joh. langland , for four years . anno edw. cheyne anno idem . anno will. de winterborne anno roger. mamugford anno joh. hameley anno hugo . de durburgh anno will. latymer anno edw. fitz-herbert anno hugo . burburgh sheriffs of dorset and somerset shires . name place armes . rich. ii.     anno     ioh. de la mare . nonny c. gul. . lions passant gard . arg. will. stafford .   gul. . oak leaves , arg. ioh. burgherst .   g●…a ●…ion ramp . with tails , o will. latymer ▪   gul. across patance , or. will. bonevile . chuton sab . mullets , arg. pierced , g. edw. fitz-herb .   per pale , az. and gul. . lyons rampant , arg. joh. streche .     ioh. burgherst . ut prius * arg. a chev. engrailed , gul. betw . . leopards heads , az. ioh. copleston . * devon.   humf. de stafford hoke d. or , a chev gul on a cant . er. ioh. rodney rodney or , . eaglets displayed ; purp . joh. moygne   ar. . bars , & . mull. in chi. s tho. brooke .   gul. on a chev. arg. a lion ramp . sab. crowned , or. ioh. berkeley . *     humf. de stafford . ut prius . * gul. a chev. betwixt ten crosses sormee , arg. ioh. beach .     theob . wickham .     tho. berkeley ut prius   ioh. mogyne . ut prius   ioh. rodnev . ut prius   tho. dacombe stepleton vert , a 〈◊〉 surgeant , arg.     hen. iv.     anno     tho. arthur , mil.     rich. boyton , & ioh. lutterel , mil. dunster c. or , a bend betw . . mart●…ets , ●… ioh. frome .     will. worth.     idem . ut prius   rich. boyton .     walt. rodney . ut prius   ioh. horsey . clifton d azure , horses heads coped , or , bridled , argent . math. coker . † coker   rich. boyton .   † arg. on a bend , gul. . leopards heads , or. humf. stafford , mil. ut prius   ioh. horsey . ut horsey   hen. v.     anno     walt hungerford .   sab. . bars and . pla●…es , a●…g . ioh. warre .     humf. stofford , m. ut prius   rich. boyton     math. coker . ut prius   ioh. flory . comb flo   rob. hill.   gul. a ch●…veron engrailed , erm. betwixt . garbs , or. ioh. neuburgh .     rob. hill. ut prius   hen. vi.     anno     rob. hill , & ut prius   rob coker . ut prius   humf. stafford . ut prius   edw. stradling .   pale ways of . arg. and az. egid. daubeny a s. 〈◊〉 on a bend , g. . cinque foils , or will. fynderne . b   a gul. . lozenges in fess , ar. will. carrant . c   b arg. ●… chev. betwixt crosses pateee fitchee , sable . ioh. stourton , mil. d candel .   ioh. warre   c arg. three round cheverony of gules and azure . ioh. pawlet . e nonny c ▪   ioh. stourton . ut pr●…us d sable , a bend , or , betwixt . fountains proper . ioh. seyndowe .     ioh. seymor . f haahbech e sable , . swords in pyle , arg. hills and pomels , or. will. carrant . ut prius   tho. thame .   f gules , two angels wings pale ways inverted , or. ioh. sentelo .     will. stafford . ut prius g arg. a chev. engrailed betw , talbots heads erased , sab. edw. hall. or hull . g     walt. rodney . ut prius   will. carrant . ut prius   will. stafford . ut prius   ioh. saint lowe .     ●… edw. hall , mil. ut prius   rob. capps .     ioh. norys   quarterly , arg. and gules , a fret , or , with a fess , az. will. carrant . ut prius   tho. chidiokes chidiokd gul. an in-escoucheon betw . an orle of martilets , arg. edw. hall , mil. ut prius   ioh. austil .   a●…g . a saltire ragule , vert. will. carrant , ar . ut prius   tho. tame .     ●… rich. warre     nich. latymer . ut prius   ioh. cheney , ar . plume checky , or , and azure , a●…fess gul. frettee , ermin . io. willoughby , ar . †     nich. saint low , ar .   † s. b. a cross engrailed , or. rob. warre , ar .     ioh. scintbarbe     ioh. carrant , jun. ar . ut prius   edw. iv.     anno     humf. stafford . ut prius   tho. he●…bert , ar . ut prius   id●…m . ut pr●…us   will. browinge , ar ▪     ch●…istoph . wo●…sley   arg. a chev. s. betw . . cornish choughs proper . io. sydenham , sen. * brimpt●…n   geo. darrel , mil. †   * sab. . ra●…ens , a gent. rob. st●…wel , ar . * stowel † az. a lyon ramp●…nt , or , crownad , arg. rog. stourton , mil. ut prius   christop . worsly . m ut prius * gut. a cross lozenge , arg. nich. latimer , mil ut prius   ioh. cheverel , ar .   arg. on a saltire , az. . water bougets , or , a chief , gul. ioh. baconell .     rob. palmer , ar .     egid daubency ut prius   will. colingborne     tho. norton , ar .   vert , a lion rampant , or , alibi , arg. will. beckl●…y .     ●… will say , a●…m .     edw , hardgile .     egid. daubney , ar . ut prins   rich. mo●…eton . s. anch. milborne . 〈◊〉 , gul. and e●…min , a go●…ts head erased , a●…g . on th●… fi●…st and last qu●…rter . rich. iii.     anno     nich. crowmer .     edw. redwaine .   gu●… . . cushions , e●…m . but●…oned and tasselled , or. tho fulford . *         * gules , a cheveron , arg. hen. vii .     anno     amic . paulet . ut prius   ioh. tu be●…vile . bere do. erm , a lion rompant , gules , crowned , or. iam. daubney . ut prius       will. maruen . pertword   amic . pauler , mil. ut prius arg. a demi lion rampant couped , sab. charged on the shoulder w●…th a flow ▪ de lys , ●… will. knole , ar .     walt. enderby .     edw. carew . devonsh . or , . lions passant gardant . s. armed and lan●…ued , gul. samp. norton , ar . ut prius   edw. gorges , mil.   〈◊〉 , or , and azure . rog. newbourgh , ut prius   rich. pudsey , mil.     nich. wadham , ar . 〈◊〉 . gules , a ch●…veron betwixt ▪ roses , arg. amic . paulet , mil ut prius   will. marrin , ar . ut prius   will. carew , mil. ut prius   ioh. trevilion , mil. nettle c. gul. a demi-horse arg. issuing out of the waves of the sea . edw. wadham , ar . ut prius   hen. ●…uedale , ar .   arg. a cross moline , gul. ioh. horsey , ar . ut prius   ioh. sidenham , ar . ut prius   ioh carew , mil. ut prius   ioh. williams , mil. oxfordsh . azure , an organ-pipe in bend sinister saltire wise surmounted of another dexter betw . . rich. weston , ar .     hen. viii .   crosses pattee , arg. anno.     tho. trenchard , m. wotton d per pale arg. & az. palets , s ioh. speake , mil. whitlack . arg. bars , az. over all , an eagle displayed , gul. walt. rodney . ut prius   egid. strangways melbury sab. . lions passant , arg. will. compton , m.   sab. a lion passant , or , inter three helmets , arg. edw. gorges , mil. ut prius   ioh. seymor , mil. ut prius   tho. de la lynd , m.   gul. . bucks heads cooped , argent . egid. strangways . ut prius   edw. hungerford . ut prius   ioh. bourchier , ar .   arg. a cross engrailed , gules , betw . . water bougets , sab. will. wadham , ar . ut prius   ioh. rogers , mil.     will. carrant , ar . ut prius   tho. trenchard , m. ut prius   egid. strangways . ut prius   geo. speke , ar . ut prius   ioh. seymor , mil. ut prius   ioh. russel , mil. kingston . arg. a lion ramp . gules , on a chief , s. . scalops of the first . andr. lutterel , m. *     edw. gorges , mil. ut prius * arg. a fess betw . . otters , s. tho. arundel , ar . wiltshire sab. swallows . . & . arg edw. seymor , mil. ut prius   tho. more , mil. melplash ermin on a cbeveron betwixt . mores heads proper , two swords , arg. egid. strangways , m ut prius   nich. wadham , m. ut prius   pran . dawrel , ar . ut prius   hugo . pawlet , mil. ut prius   tho. horsey , mil. ut prius   hen. long. mil. wiltshire . sab. a lion rampant betwixt . crosses crossed , arg. tho. speke , mil. ut prius   tho. arundel , mil. ut prius   egid. strangways , m ut prius   hugo . pawlet , mil. ut prius   ioh. pawlet , mil. ut prius   ioh. horsey , mil. ut prius   nich. fitz-james , a. redlinch azure , a dolphin naiant imbowed , argent . ioh. sidenham , ar . ut prius   edw. vi.     anno     hugo . pawler , mil. ut prius   ioh. thinn , mil. wiltshire barry of ten , or , and sab. tho. speke , mil. ut prius   gor. de la lynd , ar . ut prius       ioh. rogers , mil. ut prius   phil. & mar.     anno     ioh. tregonwel , mil. midleton . arg. . ogresses bet . . cotises in fess , sable , as many cornish choughes proper . ioh. sidenham , mil ut prius   hen. ashley , mil. * s. g. win.   ioh. wadham , ar . ut prius * azure , a cinque foile , ermin , a border engrailed , or. humf. colles , ar .     ioh. horssey , mil. ut prius   eliz. reg.     anno     tho. dyer , mil.   or , a chief indented , gul. ia. fitz-iames , mil ut prius   ioh wadham , mil. ut prius   geo. speke , mil. ut prius   ioh. horner , ar . melles sab. . talbots passant , arg. hen. ashley , mil. ut prius   hen. uuedall , ar . ut prius   tho. morton , ar . ut prius   sheriffs of dorcet-shire alone . eliz. reg.     anno     rob. coker , ar . * maypoud . * arg. on a bend , gul. leopards heads , or. rob. williams , ar . a herringst   ioh. young , ar .   a arg. a grey-hound current betw . birds within a border engrailed , sab. will. hadeley , ar .     hen. uudall , ar . b     ioh. strode , ar . c parnham b arg. a cross moline , gules . rich. rogers , ar . d brianston c ermin , on a canton , sable , a cr●…ssant , argent . ioh. horsey , mil. e clifton   math. arundel , m. f wiltshire d arg. a mullet , s. on a chief , gul. a flower de lys , or. will. web , ar . g motcomb   nich. turbervil , ar . h bere e az ▪ . horses heads coped , or , bridled , argent . tho. mullins , ar .     tho. chafin , ar . chettle f s. . swallows . . . & . . ar. geo. trenchard , ar . i vvoolton g gul. a cross betw . . eaglets close , or. nich. martin . ar . k     ioh. williams , ar . ut prius h erm. a lyon rampant , gul. crowned , or. tho. strangways , a. ut prius   hen. coker , ar . ut prius i per pale , arg. and azure , in the first . palets , sablo . ioh. horsey , ar . ut prius   christ. percy , ar . m   k az. . bendlets , arg. a chief , ermine . rich. rogers , ar . ut prius   rob. frampton , ar . n   m or , a lion ram●… . az. quartered with g. lucies hauriant , argent . ioh. brown , ar . frampton   tho. chaffin , ar     radus horsey , ar . ut prius n sab. . lions paws issuing out of the dexter and sinister base points erected in form of a cheweron , argent , armed , gules . ioh. williams , ar . ut prius   geo. morton . ut infra   rob. strod , ar . ut prius   tho. hussy , ar . o shopwick   geor. trenchard , m ut prius o barry of . erm. and gul. tho. freke , ar . shrowton   gor. mo●…ton , ar . clenston quarterly , gul. & er. a goats head errased , arg. in the first and last quarter . rob. miller , ar . * briddie   tho. uudall , ar . ut prius   ioh. stoker , ar .   * azure , four mascles , or. ioh. rogers , ar . ut prius   jacob .     anno     ioh. fitz-iames , ar . lewston az. a dolph . naiant imbow . ar. ioh. tregonwel , ar . milton   ioh. ryves , ar . blanford   rob. napper , mil. middle m. arg. a salt . s. bet . . roses , gul. vvill. vveb , mil. ut prius   christ. auketil , ar .   arg. a saltire ragule , vert. edr. uuedall , mil. ut prius   ioh. heni●…g , ar . pokeswell barry wavy of six pieces on chief , gul. . plates . tho. freke , mil.     ioh. strangways , m ut prius   rob. coker , a●… . ut prius   ioh. hanham , mil. wimborn   ioh. brewyne , ar . addle-m . azure , a crossmoline , or. ioh. tregonwel ar . ut prius   ioh. browne , mil.     v valt . earl , mil. charboro . gal. . escalops & a border engrailed , arg. anth. ashly , mil. * s. g. wim .   nath. napper , mil. ut prius * az. a cinque foil , ermin , a border engrailed , or. edw. lawrence , m. †     ioh. harbyn , ar .   † ermin , a cross ragulee , gul. a canton , erminess . vvill. francis , ar . * combflor .   bam. chafin , ar .   * ar. a che. bet . . mull. g. pierc . carol . i.     anno     fran. chaldecot , a.     vvill. uuedell , mil ut prius   fitz-james , ar .   azure , a dalphin naiant imbowed , arg. tho. still , ar . redlinch   angel. grey , ar . st●…nsford   joh. mellet , mil. ut prius   bria . vvilliams , m. ut prius   joh. brown , ar .     vvill. colyer , ar . pidle * per pale , arg. and azure , . palets , sab. tho. trenchard , *     joh. feele . ar .     rich. rogers , arm . ut prius       rich. bingham , ar . melcombe azure , a bend cotized betw . six crosses pattee , or. vvil. churchil , a. *       * sab. a lyon ramp . arg. debruised with a bend , gul. ed. lawrence , mil. ut prius       b●…llum nobis haec otia secit .                     hen. v. . john newburgh . ] this family of the newburghs , or de novo burgo , is right ancient , as which derive their pedigree from a younger son of henry the first earle of warwick of the norman line . yea , master cambden saith , that they held winfrot with the whole hundred , by the gift of king henry the first , per servitium camerarii in capite de domino rege , that is , in service of chamberlaine in chiefe from the king , though afterwards under the reigne of king edward the first it was held by sergeanty , namely , by holding the lauer or ewre for the king to wash in , upon his coronation day . hen. viii . . egidius strangwayes . ] thomas strangways was the first advancer of this family in this county , who though born in lancashire , was brought into these parts by the first marquess of dorcet , and here raised a very great inheritance . nor was it a little augmented through this marriage with one of the daughters and inheritrices of hugh stafford of suthwich , by whom there accrued unto him woodford , where guy brent , a baron and renowned warriour once had a castle . the heirs of this thomas built a fair seat at milbery . . thomas more , mil. he dwelt at melplash in the parish of netherbury , and by tradition is represented a very humerous person . aged folk have informed me ( whilest i lived in those parts ) by report from their fathers , that this sir thomas , whilest sheriffe , did in a wild frolick , set open the prison , and let loose many malefactors . afterwards considering his own obnoxiousness for so rash a fact , he seasonably procured his pardon at court , by the mediation of william pawlet lord treasurer ( and afterward marquess of winchester ) and a match was made up betwixt mary this sheriffs daughter , and co-heir , and sir thomas pawlet , second son to the said lord , by whom he had a numerous issue . the farewell . and now being to take our leave of this county , i should according to our usual manner wish it somewhat for the compleating of its happiness . but it affording in it self all necessaries for mans subsistance ; and being through the conveniency of the sea supplyed with forraign commodities , i am at a loss what to begge any way additional thereunto . yet seeing great possessions may be diminished by robbery , may the hemp [ the instrument of common execution ] growing herein , be a constant monitor unto such who are thievishly given whither their destructive ways tend ; and mind them of that end which is due unto them , that they leaving so bad , may embrace a better [ some industrious ] course of living . durham . durham . this bishoprick hath northumberland on the north ( divided by the rivers derwent and tine ) york-shire on the south , the german sea on east and on the west ( saith mr. speed ) it is touched by cumberland ( touched he may well say , for it is but for one mile ) and westmerland . the form thereof is triangular , the sides not much differing , though that along the sea-coasts is the shortest , as not exceeding twenty three miles . however this may be ranked amongst the 〈◊〉 shires of england : and yet i can remember the time when the people therein were for some years altogether unreprosented in the parliament ; namely , in the interval after their bishop was dep●…ved of his vote in the house of lords , and before any in the house of commons were appointed to appear for them . princes . cicely nevil . though her nativity cannot be fixed with any assurance ( whose fathers vast estate afforded him a mansion house for every week in the year ) yet is she here placed with most probability , raby being the prime place of the nevils residence . she may pass for the clearest instance of humane frail felicity . her happiness . her miseries . she was youngest daughter and child to ralph earl of westmerland ( who had one and twenty ) and exceeded her sisters in honour , being married to richard duke of york . she saw her husband kill'd in battel ; george duke of clarence , her second son , cruelly murdered ; edward her eldest son , cut off by his own intemperance , in the prime of his years ; his two sons butchered by their uncle richard , who himself , not long after , was slain at the bartel of bosworth . she was blessed with three sons ( who lived to have issue ) each born in a several kingdom , edward , at bourdeaux in france ; george , at dublin in ireland ; richard , at fotheringhay in england . she saw her own reputation murdered publickly at p●…uls-cross , by the procurement of her youngest son richard , taxing his eldest brother for illegitimate . she beheld her eldest son edward , king of england , and enriched with a numerous posterity .   yet our chronicles do not charge her with elation in her good , or dejection in her ill success , an argument of an even and steady soul in all alterations . indeed she survived to see elizabeth her grand child married to king henry the seventh , but little comfort accrued to her by that conjunction , the party of the yorkists were so depressed by him . she lived five and thirty years a widow , and died in the tenth year of king henry the seventh , . and was buried by her husband in the quire of the collegiate church of fotheringhay in northampton-shire , which quire being demolished in the days of king henry the eighth , their bodies lay in the church-yard without any monument , until * queen elizabeth coming thither in progress , gave order that they should be interred in the church , and two tombs to be erected over them . hereupon , their bodies lapped in lead , were removed from their plain graves , and their coffins opened . the duchess cicely had about her neck hanging in a silver ribband , a * pardon from rome , which penned in a very fine roman hand , was , as fair and fresh to be read as if it had been written but yesterday . but alas , most mean are their monuments , made of plaister , wrought with a trowell , and no doubt there was much daubing therein , the queen paying for a tomb proportionable to their personages . the best is , the memory of this cicely hath a better and more lasting monument , who was a bountiful benefactress to queens colledge in cambridge . saints . bede , and ( because some nations measure the worth of the person by the length of the name ) take his addition , venerable . he was born at * girwy ( now called yarrow ) in this bishoprick , bred under saint john of beverly , and afterwards a monk in the town of his nativity . he was the most general scholar of that age . let a sophister begin with his axioms , a batchelor of art proceed to his metaphysicks , a master to his mathematicks , and a divine conclude with his controversies and comments on scripture , and they shall find him better in all , than any christian writer in that age , in any of those arts and sciences . he expounded almost all the bible , translated the psalms and new testament into english , and lived a comment on those words of the * apostle , shining as a light in the world , in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation . he was no gadder abroad , credible authors avouching that he never went out of his cell ; though both cambridge and rome pretend to his habitation . yet his corps after his death , which happened anno . took a journey , or rather were removed to durham and there enshrined . confessors . john wickliffe . it is a great honour to this small county , that it produced the last maintainer of religion ( before the general decay thereof ) understand me , learned bede , and the firm restorer thereof , i mean this wickliff , the subject of our present discourse . true it is , his nativity cannot be demonstrated in this bishoprick , but if such a scientia media might be allowed to man , which is beneath certainty , and above conjecture , such should i call our perswasion , that wickliff was born therein . first , all confess him a northern man by extraction . secondly , the * antiquary allows an ancient family of the wickliffs in this county , whose heir general , by her match , brought much wealth and honour to the brakenburies of celaby . thirdly , there are at this day in these parts , of the name and alliance , who continue a just claim of their kindred unto him . now he was bred in oxford , some say in baliol , others more truly in merton colledge : and afterwards published opinions distasteful to the church of rome , writing no fewer than two hundred volumns ( of all which largely in our ecclesiastical history ) besides his translating of the whole bible into english. he suffered much persecution from the popish clergy . yet after long exile , he , by the favour of god and good friends returned in safety , and died in quietness , at his living at lutterworth in leicestershire , anno . the last of * december , whose bones were taken up and burnt . years after his death . disdain not reader , to learn something by my mistake . i conceive that mr. fox in his acts and monuments had entred the names of our english martyrs , and confessors , in his kalender , on that very day whereon they died . since i observe he observeth a method of his own fancy , concealing the reasons thereof to himself ; as on the perusing of his catalogue will appear . thus vvickliff dying december the last , is by him placed january * the second , probably out of a design to grace the new year with a good beginning : though it had been more true , and ( in my weak judgement ) as honourable for vvickliff to have brought up the rear of the old as to lead the front of the new year in his kalender . prelates . the nevills . we will begin with a quaternion of nevils , presenting them in parallels , and giving them their precedency before other prelates ( some their seniors in time ) because of their honourable extraction . all four were born in this bishoprick , as i am informed by my worthy friend mr. charles nevil , vice-provost of kings in cambridge , one as knowing 〈◊〉 universal heraldry as in his own colledge ; in our english nobility , as in his own chamber ; in the ancient , fair , and far branched family of the nevils , as in his own study . * ralph nevil was born at raby in this bishoprick , was lord chancellour under king henry the third ( none discharging that office with greater integrity and more general commendation ) and bishop of chichester , . he built a fair house from the ground in chancery lane , for himselfe and successors for an inne , where they might repose themselves , when their occasions brought them up to london . how this house was afterwards aliened , and came into the possession of henry lacy , earl of lincoln ( from whom it is called lincolns inne at this day ) i know not . sure i am , that mr. mountague ( late bishop of chichester ) intended to lay claim therunto , in right of his see . but alas , he was likely to follow a cold scent ( after so many years distance ) and a colder suit , being to encounter a corporation of learned lawyers so long in the peaceable possession thereof . bishop nevil was afterwards canonically chosen by the monks ( and confirmed hy king henry the third ) arch-bishop of canterbury , being so far from rejoycing thereat , that he never gave any 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ( or reward for their good news ) to the two monks which brought him tidings , nor would allow any thing toward the discharging their costly journey to rome ; foreseeing perchance that the pope would stop his consecration . for some informed his holiness , that this ralph was a prelate of high birth , haughty stomach , great courtship , gracious with the king , and a person probable to disswade him from paying the pension ( promised by his father k. iohn ) to the court of rome , & then no wonder if his consecration was stopped theron . but was it not both an honor & happiness to our nevil thus to be crost with the hands of his holiness himself ? yea it seems that no crosier ( save only that of chichester ) would fit his hand , being afterwards elected bish. of winchester , & then obstructed by the k. who formerly so highly favor'd him . he built a chappell without the east gate of chichester , dedicated to s. michael ; and having merited much of his own cathedral , died at london , . alex. nevil , third son of ralph lord nevil , was born at raby , became first canon , then arch-bishop of york , where he beautified and fortified the castle of cawood with many turrets . he was highly in honour with king richard the second , as much in hatred with the party opposing him . these designed to imprison him ( putting prelates to death not yet in fashion ) in the castle of rochester , had not our alexander prevented them by his flight to pope urban to rome , who partly out of pity ( that he might have something for his support ) and more out of policy , ( that york might be in his own disposal upon the removal of this arch-bishop ) translated him to saint andrews in scotland , and so dismissed him with his benediction . wonder not that this nevil was loth to go out of the popes blessing into a cold sun , who could not accept this his new arch - bishoprick , in point of credit , profit , or safety . . credit . for this his translation was a post-ferment , seeing the arch-bishoprick of saint andrews was subjected in that age unto york . . profit . the revenues being far worse than those of york . . safety . scotland then bearing an antipathy to all english ( and especially to the nevils , redoubted for their victorious valour in those northern parts ) and being in open hostility against them indeed half a loaf is better than no bread , but this his new translation was rather a stone , than half a loaf , not filling his belly , yet breaking his teeth , if feeding thereon . this made him preferre the pastorall charge of a parish church in lovaine , before his arch-nobishoprick , where he died in the fifth year of his exile , and was buried there in the convent of the carmelites . rob. nevil , sixth son of ralph , first earl of westmerland , by joane his second vvife , daughter of iohn of gaunt , bred in the university of oxford , and provost of beverly , was preferred bishop of sarisbury , in the sixth of king henry the sixth , . during his continuance therein , he was principal founder of a convent at sunning in berkshire ( anciently the bishops see of that diocess ) valued at the dissolution ( saith bishop godwin ) at l. s. d. ob . which i rather observe , because the estimation thereof is omitted in my ( and i suspect all other ) speeds catalogue of religious houses . from sarisbury he was translated to durham , where he built a place called the exchequer , at the castle gate , and gave ( in allusion of his two bishopricks , which he successively enjoyed ) two annulets innected in his paternal coat . he died , anno dom. . geo. nevil , fourth son of rich. nevil earl of salisbury was born at midleham in this bishoprick , bred in baliol colledge in oxford , consecrated bishop of exeter , when he was not as yet twenty years of age , so that in the race not of age , but youth , he clearly beat tho. arundel , who at twenty two was made bishop of ely. some say this was contrary not only to the canon law , but canonical scripture . s. paul forbidding such a neophyte or novice admission into that office , as if because rich. the make-king earl of warwick , was in a manner above law , this his brother also must be above canons . his friends do plead that nobility and ability supplyed age in him ; seeing five years after , at . he was made lord chancellor of england , and discharged it to his great commendation . he was afterwards made arch-bishop of york , famous for the prodigious feast at his installing , wherein , besides flesh , fish , and fowle , so many strange dishes of gellies . and yet amongst all this service i meet not with these two . but the inverted proverb found truth in him , one gluttonmeal makes many hungry ones : for some years after falling into the displeasure of king edward the fourth , he was flenderly dyetted , not to say famished in the castle of calis ; and being at last restored by the intercession of his friends , died heart-broken at blyth , and was buried in the cathedral of york , . besides these , there was another nevil ( brother to alexander aforesaid ) chosen bishop of ely , but death , or some other intervening accident hindered his consecration . since the reformation . robert horn was born in this * bishoprick , bred in saint johns colledge in cambridge . going thence under the raign of king edward the sixth he was advanced dean of durham . in the marian days he fled into germany , and fixing at frankford , became the head of the episcopal party , as in my ecclesiastical history at large doth appear . returning into england , he was made bishop of vvinchester , feb. . . a worthy man , but constantly ▪ ground betwixt two opposite parties , papists and sectaries . both of these in their pamphlets sported with his name , as hard in nature , and crooked in conditions , not being pleased to take notice , how horn in scripture importeth power , preferment , and safety ; both twitted his person , as dwarfish and deformed , to which i can say nothing , ( none alive remembring him ) save that such taunts , though commonly called ad hominem , are indeed ad deum , and though shot at man , does glance at him , who made us , and not we our selves . besides it shews their malice runs low for might , ( though high for spight ) who carp at the case when they cannot find fault with the jewel . for my part , i mind not the mould wherein , but the metal whereof he was made , and lissen to mr. * cambden his character of him , valido & foecundo ingenio , of a sprightful and fruitful wit. he died in * southwark , june . . and lyeth buried in his own cathedral near to the pulpit . and now reader , i crave leave to present thee with the character of one who ( i confess ) falls not under my pen according to the strictness of the rules which we proposed to follow , as not being of the number of those bishops , who may not unfitly be termed ( with noah ) righteous in their generations , having seen two sets ( if i may so speak ) of their order , but preferred to that dignity since our late happy revolution . he is here fixed ( though no native of this county ) because the fittest place , i conceive ( it is happy when the antidote meets the poyson where it was first suck'd in ) seeing formerly treating ( in my church history ) of this cathedral , i delivered his character ( to his disadvantage ) very defectively . john cosen , d. d. was born in the city of norwich , bred in cays colledge in cambridge , whereof he was fellow . hence was he removed to the mastership of peter-house in the same university . one whose abilities , quick apprehension , solid judgement , variety of reading , &c. are sufficiently made known to the world in his learned books , whereby he hath perpetuated his name to posterity . i must not pass over his constancy in his religion , which rendereth him aimable in the eys not of good men only , but of that god with whom there is no variableness , nor sh●…dow of changing . it must be confessed that a sort of fond people surmised as if he had once been declining to the popishperswasion . thus the dim sighted complain of the darkness of the room , when alas , the fault is in their own eyes : and the lame of the unevenness of the floor , when indeed it lieth in their unsound leggs . such were the silly folk , ( their understandings ( the eys of their minds ) being darkned , and their affections ( the feet of their soul ) made lame by prejudice , ) who have thus falsly conceited of this worthy doctor . however , if any thing that i delivered in my church history ( relating therein a charge drawn up against him , for urging of some ceremonies , without inserting his purgation , which he effectually made , clearing himself from the least imputation of any fault ) hath any way augmented this opinion , i humbly crave pardon of him for the same . sure i am , were his enemies now his judges ( had they the least spark of ingenuity ) they must acquit him , if proceeding according to the evidence of his writing , living , disputing . yea , whilest he remained in france , he was the atlas of the protestant religion , supporting the same with his piety and learning , confirming the wavering therein , yea dayly adding proselytes ( not of the meanest rank ) thereunto . since the return of our gracious soveraign , and the reviving of swooning episcopacy , he was deservedly preferred bishop of durham . and here the reader must pardon me , if willing to make known my acquaintance with so eminent a prelate . when one in his presence was pleased with some propositions , wherein the pope condescended somewhat to the protestants , he most discreetly returned ( in my hearing , ) we thank him not at all for that which god hath always allowed us in his word : adding withall , he would allow it us so long as it stood with his policy , and take it away so soon as it stood with his power . and thus we take our leave of this worthy prelate , praying for his long life , that he m●…y be effectual in advancing the settlement of our yet distracted church . civilians . richard cosin doctor of law was born at hartly poole ( a well known harbour for the safety ) and some observe a providence that he who afterwards was to prove the grand champion of episcopacy , should ( amongst all the counties of england ) be born in 〈◊〉 ●…ishoprick . his father was a person of quality , a captain of a company in must●…borough field , whence his valour returned with victory and wealth ; when crossing the river tweed [ o the uncertainty of all earthly happiness ! ] was drowned therein , to the great losse of his son richard : and greater , because he was not sensible thereof , as left an infant in the cradle . his mother afterwards married one mr. meddow , a york-shire gen●…leman , who bred this his son-in-law at a schoole at scypton in the craven ; wherein , such his proficiency , that before he was twelue years old , [ little less than a wonder to me in that age from so far a country ] he was admitted in trinity colledge in cambridge : some of his friends in queens colledge in that university had a design to fetch him thence , had not doctor beamont prevented the plot , in making him scholar and fellow as soon as by his age , degree , and the stat●…tes he was capable thereof . he was a general scholar , geometrician , musician , physician , divine , but chiefly civil and canon lawyer . by arch-bishop whitgift , he was preferred to b●… first chancellor of worcester [ in that age a place non tam gratiosus , quam negotiosus ] and afterwards dean of the arches , wherein he carried himself without giving ( though many took ) offence at him . of these one wrote a book against him called the abstract [ abstracted saith my author from all wit , learning , and charity ] to whom he returned such an answer in the defence of the high commission , and oath ex officio , that he he put his adversary to silence . others lay to his charge , that he gave many blank licences , the common occasions of unlawful marriages , and the procurer herein is as bad as the thief , robbing many a parent of his dear child thereby . but always malice looks through a multiplying glasse . euclio complained , intromisisti sexcentos coquos , thou hast let in six hundred cooks , when there was but two truely told [ anthrax and congrio ] so here was there but one which a fugitive servant stole from the register to make his private profit thereby . god in his sickness granted him his desire which he made in his health , that he might be freed from torture , which his corpulency did much suspect , bestowing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 upon him , a sweet and qutet departure , pious his dying expressions ; i desire to be dissolved , and to be with christ ▪ phil. . the wages of sin is death , rom. . come lord jesus , come quickly , revel . . and his last words was these , farewell my surviving friends , remember your mortality and eternal life . he gave forty pound to the building of a chamber in trinity colledge , and fifteen pound per ▪ annum for the maintenance of two scholar-ships therein : a good gift out of his estate , who left not above fifty pound a year clear to his heir ; a great argument of his integrity , that he got no more in so gainful a place . dying at doctors commons , he was buried by his own appointment in lambeth church , and doctor andrews preached his funeral sermon . amongst the many verses made by the university of cambridge , this ( with the allowance of poetical licence ) came from no bad fancy . magna deos inter lis est exorta : creatas horum qui lites dir●…mit , ille deest . cosinum petiere dii componere tantas lites , quod vero jure peritus erat . it must not be forgotten that doctor barlow ( afterwards bishop of lincoln ) was bred by doctor cosen , at his charge in his own family , who in expression of his thankfulness , wrote this doctor cosen's life , out of which most of our aforesaid character hath been excerped . writers . william shirwood was born in this * bishoprick ( being otherwise called william of durham ) bred first in university colledge in oxford , then in paris , and afterwards was made chancellor of lincoln . in his time the university of oxford was interdicted for some affronts offered to the popes legate , and had lain longer under that burden , had not the hands of this * william helped to remove it , shewing therein no less his love to his mother , than his power with the pope . in that age the english clergy did drive a great trade of preferment in france ( king henry the third having large dominions therein ) and amongst the rest this william was advanced arch bishop of roan , where he died anno dom. . john of darlington was born in this bishoprick , at a town so called , needing no other indication , than the rode passing thorow it into scotland . he was bred a dominican , and a great clerk. * mat. paris giveth him this testimony , that he was one , qui literatura pollebat exellenter & consilio . king henry the third made him his confessor ( which argueth his piety , that so devout a prince used him in so consciencious an office ) and afterwards he became arch-bishop of dublin in ireland on this occasion . the prior and * covent of trinity church , chose william de la corner the kings chaplain , whilest the dean and chapter of saint patricks elected f●…omund le brun , the popes chaplain into that see. hence ensued an hot and high contest , and pope john . unwilling to engage therein ca●…ted both their elections , and pitched on our darlington as a good expedient . a person in whom king and pope met in some equal proportion , seeing he was ( as we have said ) confessor to the one , and to the other his collector of peter-pence , ( as also to his two successors nicholas the third , and martin the fourth ) thorow all ireland . many books he wrote to * posterity , and returning into england , sickned , died and was buried in preaching friers in london , . william siveyer was born at shinkley in this bishoprick , where his father was a * siveyer or sive-maker ; and i commend his humility in retaining his fathers trade for his surname , to mind him of his mean extraction . he was bred in merton colledge , whereof he became warden , and provost of eaton , and afterward bishop of carlile , . whence five years after he was tra●…lated to durham . his sur-name so contemptible in english , sounds ●…erially , and episcopally when latinized . in which language he is rendred , gulielmus severus , severity well agreeing with the gravity of his function . he died anno dom . all i will ad is this , that england neither before nor since saw two ●…ieve-makers sons at the same juncture of time advanced to so high dignity , this william in the church , sir richard empson in the common wealth . 〈◊〉 the reformation . thomas jackson , born of a good family in this county was designed to be a merchant in new-castle , till his parents were diverted by ralph lord 〈◊〉 , and perswaded to make him a scholar . he was admitted first in queens colledge in oxford , and then became candidate of a fellowship in corpus christi ; knowing of the election but the day before , he answered to admiration , and was chosen by general cons●…nt . soon after , in all likelihood , he lost his life , being drowned in the river , and taken out rather for desire of decent burial , than with hope of any recovery : he was wrap'd in the cowns of h●…s fellow students ( the best shrowd which present love and need could provide him ) and being brought home to the colledge , was revived by gods blessing on the care of doctor chenil , equally to all peoples joy and admiration . his gratitude to the fisher-men ( who took him up ) extended to a revenue unto them ●…u ring his life . thus thankful to the instrument , he was more to the principal , striving to repay his life to that god who gave it him . he was afterwards vicar of new castle ( a factor for heaven , in the place where he was designed a merchant ) a town full of men and opinions wherein he endeavoured to rectifie their errors , and unite their affections . at this distance was he chosen president of corpus christi colledge , never knowing of the vacancy of the place , till by those letters ( which informed him ) it was refilled with his elect●…on . here he lived piously , ruled peaceably , wrote profoundly , preached painfully . his charity had no fault , if not of the largest size , oftentimes making the receiver richer , than it left him that was the donor thereof . learn the rest of his praise from the learned writer of his life , in whom nothing wanting , save the exact place of his birth , and date of his death , which hapned about the year , . samuel ward was born at bishops middleham in this county , his father being a gentleman of more ancientry than estate . he was first scholar of christs , then fellow o●… emanuel , and afterwards master of sidney colledge in cambridge , and margare●… professor therein for above twenty years . now , because the pen of a pupil may probably be suspected of partiality ; of an historian i will turn a translator , and only endeavour to english that character , which , * one who knew him as well as most men , and could judge of him as well as any man , doth bestow upon him . age , perge cathedram ornare ( quod facis ) sacram subtilitate non levi , rapidâ , vagâ , sed orthodoxa quam coronat veritas , et justa firmat soliditas , patiens librae : antiqu●… at is , crypta tu penetras frequens , scholasticorum tu profundos vortices , te'nulla fallit , nulla te scium latet distinctionum tela , rationum stropha tam perspicacem mente , judicio gravem ; linguis peritum , tamque nervosum stylo , his addo genium temperatum , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , placidum , modestum , lite rixosâ , procul . go to , go on , deck ( as thou doest ) the chaire , with subtilty not light , slight , vage ás air , but such as truth doth crown , and standing sure , solidly fix'd will weighing well endure . antiquities hid depths thou oft doest sound , and school-mens whirl-pools which are so profound . distinctions threads none can so finely weave , or reason wrench , thy knowledge to deceive , none thy quick sight , grave judgement can beguile , so skill'd in tongues , so sinewy in style ; add to all these that peaceful soul of thine , meek , modest , which all brawlings doth decline . he turned with the times as a rock riseth with the tide ; and for his uncomplying there with , was imprisoned in saint johns colledge in cambridge . in a word , he was counted a puritan before these times , and popish in these times , and yet being alwayes the same , was a true protestant at all times . he died anno . and was the first man buried in sidney colledge chappel . memorable persons . anthony lord gray , and eighth earl of kent of that surname , son of george gray , 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 salvam his wife , son to anthony gray , esq and briget holland his wife , son to g●…orge gray second earl of kent of that family ( who died in the twentieth year of king henry the seventh ) was born at * branspath in this bishoprick . if any ask what occasion drew his ancestors into the north , know that his grandfather was invited thither to enjoy the company of his friend and kinsman , the earl of westmerland . this gentleman being bred in the university of — applyed himself to the study o●… divinity , and became rector of burbach in leicester-shire , where he preached con●…antly , and kept an hospitable house for the poor according to his estate . it hapned 〈◊〉 by the death of henry gray his kinsman , and the seventh earl of kent , that earldom descended upon him , anno dom. . we read of sigismund the emperour , that when he had knighted a doctor of the laws , the knight doctor sequested himself from the company of doctors , and associci●…ted wholly with knights ; whereat the emperor smiled , and taxed his folly , for ( said he ) can make many knights at my pleasure , though indeed i cannot make one doctor . not so this good lord , who after the accession of his title did not in the least degrte disdain the society of his fellow ministers , to converse with the nobility ; yea , he ●…bated nothing in the constancy of his preaching , so long as he was able to be led up into the pu●…pit . he had read in scripture this character given to the * bereans , these were more noble than these in thess●…lonica , in that they received the word with all readiness , and counted it most noble to labour in gods vineyard , and to deliver his word to others . however a diamond is best when set in gold , and goodness is most illustrious when supported with greatness . he was summoned as a peer to parliament , but excused himself , by reason of indisposition and age. such his humility , that honours did not change manners in him . thus a mortified mind is no more affected with additions of titles , than a corps with a gay coffin . by magdalene purefoy his wife , he had ( besides other children ) henry ninth earl of kent . he died anno dom — sheriffs . expect not that to make this bishoprick uniform with other counties , i should present a catalogue of the sheriffs thereof . for the princely prelate of this bishoprick ( his s●…l not oval like others , but round , the more princely proportion ; and as i remember , gave a crowned mitre for his crest ) was himself always paramount sheriffe , deputing one , ( often his own servant ) under him to execute the office. this deputy never acc●…unted at the exchequer , but made up his audit to the bishop , to whom all perquisites and profits of this place did belong . since after a long discontinuance this county hath obtained its ancient sheriff , the bishop thereof , of whom formerly . the farewell . i understand that there is an intention of erecting an university in durham , and that some hopeful progress is made in order thereunto , which i cannot but congratulate ; for i listen not to their objection , alledging it monstrous for one face to have three eyes , [ one land three universities ] seeing i could wish that argus-like it had an hundred in it . would all men were * moses minded , that all the people of god might prophesie , the rather because i am sure , that ignorance is no more the mother of devotion , than the lying harlot * which pleaded before solomon , was mother to the living child . i confess i was always much affected with their fears , who suspect that this convenience for the north would be a mischief for the south , and this new one in process of time prove detrimental to the old universities . nor were these jealousies , when moved , removed in my serious consideration , not being well satisfied of the intentions and design of some prime persons undertaking the same . but since this fresh-man colledge lived not to be matriculated , much less ( not lasting seven years ) graduated , god in his wisdom seeing the contrary fitter . the worst i should have wished this new spring ( if continuing ) was pure water , pious and orthodox professors to have principled and elemented the members therein with learning and religion . essex . essex hath kent on the south , divided by the river thames ; suffolk on the north , severed by the river stoure , cambridge , hertford shire and middlesex on the west , the two later generally parted by the river ley , and the german ocean on the east . a fair county , bearing the full proportion of five and thirty miles square , plentifully affording all things necessary to mans subsistance , save that the eastern part is not very healthfull in the aire thereof . these parts adjoyning to the sea are commonly called the hundreds of essex , and are very fruitfull in cattle . however the vulgar wits of this county much astonish strangers with the stock of poor people in these parts , five hundred cows , nine hundred sheep , w●…ch indeed are but five cows , and nine sheep , in this part of the county called the hundreds . naturall commodities . saffron . plenty hereof in this county growing about walden a fair market town , which saffron may seem to have coloured with the name thereof . it is called ( as serapione affirmeth ) sahafaran by the arabians , whence certainly our english word is derived . in it self it is atmost admirable cordiall , and under god i owe my life , when sick of the small pox , to the efficacy thereof . now because our own writers may probably be challenged of partialty , hear what forraigners speak in the praise of english saffron . anglia * & hibernia laudatissimum crocum ferunt , quo belgium , germania aliique , vicini cibos condiunt ac medicamentis miscent . * propagatur ( inter alia loca ) etiam in britanniae insulae meridionali parte , quam angliam vocant . natus ex altera vero & septentrionali , quam picti & scoti tenent reprobus est . no precious drug is more adulterated with cartamus , the inward pilling of willow , and generally all yellow flowers , when it is bought in great parcells , which ought to quick en the care of chapmen herein . in a word , the soveraign power of genuine saffron , is plainly proved by the antipathy of the crocodiles thereunto . for the crocodiles tears are never true , save when he is forced where saffron groweth , ( whence he hath his name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or the saffron-fearer , ) knowing himself to be all poison , and it all antidote . oysters . the best in england , fat , salt , green-finn'd , are bred near colchester , where they have an excellent art to feed them in pits made for the purpose . king james was wont to say , he was a very valiant man , who first adventured on eating of oysters ; most probably meer hunger put men first on that tryal . thus necessity hath often been the purveyor to provide diet for delicacy it self , famine making men to find out those things which afterwards proved not onely wholesome , but delicious . oysters are the onely meat which men eat alive , and yet account it no cruelty . sometimes pearls conside rable both in bulk and brightness have been found within them . hops . in latine lupulus , or the little-wolf , which made a merry man complain , that this wolf did too often devour the innocent malt in beer . gerard observes they grow best in those countries where vines will not grow , intimating , that nature pointeth at their use therein . they are not so bitter in themselves as others have been against them , accusing hops for noxious , preserving beer , but destroying those who drink it . these plead the petition presented in parliament , in the raign of king henry the sixth , against the wicked weed called hopps . their back-friends also affirm , the stone never so epidemicall in england , as since the generall reception and use of hops in the beginning of king henry the eighth . but hops have since out-grown and over-topped all these accusations , being adjudged wholesome , if statutable and unmixed with any powder , dust , dross , sand , or other soyl whatsoever , which made up two parts * of three in forraign hops formerly imported hither . they delight most in moist grounds , no commodity starteth so soon and sinketh so suddainly in the price , whence some will have them so named from hopping in a little time betwixt a great distance in valuation . in a word , as elephants , if orderly , were themselves enough alone to gain , if disorderly ; to lose a victory ; so great parcells of this commodity , well or ill bought in the crisis of their price , are enough to raise , or ruine an estate . puits . there is an island of some two hundred acres , near harwick in the parish of littleokeley , in the mannour of matthew gilly esquire , called the puit island , from puits in effect the sole inhabitants thereof . some affirm them called in latine upulae , whilst others maintain , that the roman language doth not reach the name , nor land afford the bird. on saint ▪ * george his day precisely they pitch on the island , seldome laying fewer then four , or more then six eggs. great their love to their young ones . for though against foul weather they make to the main land , ( a certain prognostick of tempests , ) yet they always weather it out in the island , when hatching their young ones , seldome sleeping whilst they ●…it on their eggs , ( afraid it seems of spring-tides ) which signifieth nothing as to securing their eggs from the inundation , but is an argument of their great affection . being young they consist onely of bones , feathers and lean-flesh , which hath a raw gust of the sea. but roulterers take them then , and feed them with gravel and curds , ( that is physick and food , ) the one to scour , the other to fat them in a fortnight , and their flesh thus recruted is most delicious . here i say nothing of eringo roots , growing in this county , the candying of them being become a staple commodity at colchester . these are soveraign to strengthen the nerves , and pity it is , that any vigor acquired by them should be otherwise imployed then to the glory of god. manufactures . this county is charactred like the good wife described by * bathshebah . she layeth her hand to the spindle , and her hands hold the distaffe . bays , and says , and serges , and severall sorts of stuffes , which i neither can or doe desire to name , are made in and about colchester , coxal , dedham , &c. i say , desire not to name , because hoping that new kinds will daily be invented , ( as good reason ) and by their inventers intituled . i know not whether it be better to wish them good wares to vent , or good vent for their wares , but i am sure , that both together are the best . it will not be amiss to pray that the plough may go along , and wheel around , that so being fed by the one ▪ and clothed by the other , there may be by gods blessing , no danger of starving in our nation . gun-powder . why hereof in this , rather then in other counties ? because more made by mills of late erected on the river ley , betwixt waltham and london , then in all england besides . though some suppose it as antient as archimedes in europe , ( and antienter in india , ) yet generally men behold the frier of mentz the first founder thereof , some three hundred years since . it consisteth of three essentiall ingredients : . brimstone , whose office is to catch fire and flame of a suddain , and convey it to the other two . . char-coal pulveriz'd , which continueth the fire , and quencheth the flame , which otherwise would consume the strength thereof . . salt-petre , which causeth a windy exhalation , and driveth forth the bullet . this gun-powder is the embleme of politick revenge , for it biteth first , and barketh afterwards , the bullet being at the mark before the report is heard , so that it maketh a noise , not by way of warning , but triumph . as for white ▪ powder which is reported to make no report at all , i never could meet with artist who would seriously avouch it . for , though perchance the noise may be less and lower , yet no sound at all is inconsistent with the nature of salt-petre , and the ventosity thereof causing the violent explosion of the bullet . it is questionable , whether the making of gun-powder be more profitable or more dangerous , the mills in my parish having been five times blown up within seven years , but , blessed be god , without the loss of any one mans life . the buildings . this county hath no cathedrall , and the churches therein cannot challenge to themselves any eminent commendation . but as for priva●…e houses , essex will own no shire her superior , whereof three most remarkable . . audley-end , built by thomas howard , earl of suffolk and treasurer of england , as without compare the best subjects house in this island . yet is the structure better then the standing thereof , as low on one side , so that it may pass for the embleme of modest merit , or concealed worth ; meaner houses boasting more , and making greater show afar off in the eyes of passengers . . new ▪ hall , built by the ratcliffs , earls of sussex , but bought from them by george villiers , duke of buckingham ; surpassing for the pleasant shady approach thereunto , and for the appurtenances of parks round about it . . copt ▪ hall , ( in records coppice-hall , from the woods thereabouts , ) highly seated on an hill in the mid'st of a park , built by the abbot of waltham , enlarg'd by sir thomas heneage and others ; and it is much that multiform fancies should all meet in so uniform a fabrick . herein a gallery , as well furnish'd as most , more proportionable then any in england , and on this a story doth depend . in the year of our lord . in november here happened an hirecano or wild wind , which entring in at the great east-window , blew that down , and carried some part thereof , with the picture of the lord coventry ( singled from many more , which hung on both ●…ides untouch'd ) all the length of the gallery ( being about . yards ) out of the west-window , which it threw down to the ground . it seems the wind , finding this room in form of a trunk , and coarctated therein , forced the stones of the first window , like pellets , clean thorough it . i mention this the rather , because pious doctor jackson , head of corpus christi colledge in oxford , observed the like wind about the same time as ominous , and presaging our civil dissentions . the wonders . this shire affordeth none properly so called , unless some conceive the bones reducible thereunto digged out of this * county at the ness near harwich , which with their bigness and length amazed the beholders . i cannot see how such can maintain them to be the bones of men , who must confess that according to the proportion of the doors and roofs of antient building , ( either as extant or read of ) they must ingredi & incedere proni , go in stooping , not to say lye along . except the avouchers be as incurious of their credit as the travellor was , who affirming that he saw bees as big as dogs , and yet their hives of our ordinary size ; and being demanded what shift they made to get in ; let them ( said he ) look to that . more probable it is , that those were bones of elephants , store whereof were brought over into england by the emperour claudius . indeed some sciolists will boast to distinguish bones of beasts from men by their porosity , which the learned deride as an undifferencing difference . indeed when a scull may be produced of such magnitude , ( which by its form is secured from mistake as appropriate to man alone , ) then the wonder will begin indeed : till which time i behold these shanks and thigh b●…nes pretended to men , to be of elephants . to these wonders it will not be amiss to adde the ensuing relation written by the pen of master thomas smith of sewarstone , in the parish of waltham abby , a discreet person not long since deceased . it so fell out that i served sir edward denny , ( towards the latter end of the raign of queen elizabeth of blessed memory , ) who lived in the abbey of waltham-crosse in the county of essex , which at that time lay in ruinous heaps , and then sir edward began slowly now and then to make even and re-edify some of that chaos . in doing whereof , tomkins his gardner , came to discover ( among other things ) a fair marble stone , the cover of a tombe hewed out in hard stone : this cover , with some help he removed from off the tombe , which having done , there appeared ( to the view of the gardner , and master baker minister of the town , ( who died long since ) and to my self and master henry knagg , ( sir edwards bayliffe , ) the anatomy of a man lying in the tombe abovesaid , onely the bones remaining , bone to his bone , not one bone dislocated : in observation whereof , we wondred to see the bones still remaining in such due order , and no dust or other filth besides them to be seen in the tomb : we could not conceive , that it had been an anatomy of bones only laid at first into the tomb ; yet if it had been the whole carcass of a * man , what became of his flesh and entrals ? for ( as i have said above ) the tomb was clean from all filth and dust , besides the bones . this when we had all well observed , i told them , that if they did but touch any part thereof , that all would fall asunder , for i had onely heard somewhat formerly of the like accident . tryall was made , and so it came to pass . for my own part , i am perswaded , that as the flesh of this anatomy to us became invisible , so likewise would the bones have been in some longer continuance of time . o what is man then , which vanisheth thus away , like unto smoak or vapour , and is no more seen ? whosoever thou art that shalt read this passage , thou mayst find cause of humility sufficient . proverbs . essex miles . ] these are cryed up for very long , understand it comparatively to those in the neighbouring county of middlesex , otherwise the northern parts will give essex odds , and measure miles therewith . the truth is this , good way , and a good horse , shorten miles , and the want of either , ( but both especially ) prolong them in any country whatsoever . essex stiles . ] see the proverbs in suffolk . ] essex calves . ] a * learned authour telleth us that italy was so called , quasi vitalae , because the best calves were bred therein . sure this will be condemned as a far fetched and forced deduction ; but if true , essex may better pretend to the name of italy , producing calves of the fattest , fairest and finest flesh in england , ( and consequently in all europe , ) and let the butchers in eastcheap be appealed unto as the most competent judges therein . sure it is a cumberland-cow may be bought for the price of an essex-calfe , in the beginning of the year . let me adde that it argueth the goodness of flesh in this county , and that great gain was got formerly by the sale thereof , because that so many stately monuments were erected antiently therein for butchers , ( inscribed carnifices in their epitaphs ) in cogshall , chelmsford , church and elsewhere , made of marble , inlaid with brass , ( befitting , saith my * author a more eminent man , ) whereby it appears , that these of that trade have in this county been richer , ( or at least prouder ) then in other places . the weavers beef of colchester . ] these are sprats caught hereabouts , and brought hither in incredible abundance , whereon the poor weavers ( numerous in this city ) make much of their repast , cutting rands , rumps , surloyns , chines , and all joynts of beef out of them , as lasting in season well nigh a quarter of a year . they are the minums of the sea , and their cheapness is the worst thing , ( well considered the best ) which can be said of them . were they as dear , they would be as toothsome ( being altogether as wholesome ) as anchovies , for then their price would give a high gust unto them in the judgement of pallat men. true it is , that within these last sixteen years , better men then weavers have been glad of worse meat then sprats , ( and thankfull to god if they could get it ) in the city of colchester . jeering * coxhall . ] how much truth herein , i am as unable to tell , as loth to believe . sure i am , that no town in england of its bigness , afforded more martyrs in the raign of queen mary , who did not jeer or jeast with the fire , but seriously suffered themselves to be sacrificed , for the testimony of a good conscience . if since they have acquired a jeering quality , it is time to leave it , seeing it is better to stand in pain , till our legs be weary , then sit with ease in the chair of the scorners . he may fetch a flitch of bacon from dunmoe . ] this proverb dependeth on a custome practiced in the priory of dunmow , which was founded saith * speed , by juga , a noble lady , anno iiii. for black nuns . but it seems , afterwards the property thereof was altered into a male-monastery , the mortified men wherein were mirthfull sometimes , as hereby may appear . any person , from any part of england , coming hither , and humbly kneeling on two stones at the church-door , ( which are yet to be seen , ) before the prior or convent , might demand at his own pleasure a gammon or flitch of bacon , upon the solemn taking of the ensuing oath , you shall swear by the custome of our confession , that you never made any nuptiall transgression , since you were married man and wife , by houshold brawles , or contentious strife ; or otherwise in bed or at bord , offended each other in deed or word : or since the parish-clerk said amen , wished your selves unmarried agen ; or in a twelve-moneth and a day , repented not in thought any way ; but continued true and in desire , as when you joyn'd hands in holy quire. if to these conditions without all fear , of your own accord you will freely swear ; a gammon of bacon you shall receive , and bear it hence with love and good leave . for this is our custome at dunmow well known , though the sport be ours , the bacons your own . it appeareth in an old * book on record , that richard wright of badesnorth in norfolk , in the twentieth third of henry the sixth , when john canon was prior ; that stephen samuel of little-easton in essex , the seventh of edward the fourth , when roger rullcot was prior ; and that thomas lee of coxhall in essex , the second of henry the eight , when john taylor was prior , demanded their bacon on the premisses , and receiv'd it accordingly . princes . henry fitz-roy naturall son to king henry the eight . here we confess our trespass against our own rules , who confined our selves to the legitimate issue of kings ; presuming that the worth of this henry will make amends for our breach of order herein . he was begotten on the body of the lady talbois , and born at * blackmore-mannor in this county , anno . being afterwards created earl of no●…tingham , and duke of richmond . he confuted their etymology who deduced bastard from the dutch words boes and art , * that is an abject nature , and verifyed their deduction deriving it from * besteaerd , that is the best disposition : such was his forwardness in all martiall activities , with his knowledge in all arts and sciences ; learned leland dedicating a book unto him . he married mary daughter to thomas duke of norfolk , and dying anno . ( in the seventeenth year of his age , ) was buried at framlingham in suffolk with great lamentation . saints . saint helen was born at colchester in this county , daughter to coel king thereof , as all our british authors unanimously doe report . she was mother of constantine the first christian emperour , and is famous to all ages for finding out christ's cross on mount calvary . hence it is , that in memoriall hereof , the city of colchester giveth for its arms a * cross enragled between four crowns . a scandal is raised on her name that she was stabularia , a stableress , whereof * one rendreth this witty r●…ason , because her father was comes stabuli ( an high office , equivalent to the constable in france ) unto the emperour . others ( more truly ) make her so nick named by pagan malice , for her officious devotion in finding out the stable of christs nativity . heathen pens have much aspersed her , calling her 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , whose tongues are no slander , seeing the disciple is not above his master . more was i moved , when first finding thispassage in paulinus the pious bishop of nola , paulin. epist. . ad severum this englished ad verbum . prompto filii imperatoris adsensu mater augusta , patefactis ad opera sancta thesauris , toto abusa fisco est . she being mother emperess , the treasuries being set open to pious works , by the ready consent of her son the emperor , she wholly abused the exchequer . i wondred to see paulinus charging such abuses upon her , being a person so prodigiously charitable , that he is said to have sold himself to redeem a widows son from captivity ; but consulting the best of * orators , i find abuti sometimes fixing no fault , and importing no more then † uti ; so that abusing the exchequer , signifieth no more then a full & free usage thereof . she died at rome being eighty years of age , anno domini . saint constantine son to the aforesaid saint helen , was born also at colchester , one sufficiently known to all posterity by the meer mentioning of him . my pen shall now do penance with its silence , to expiate its tediousness in describing his character in our ecclesiasticall history . he died anno domini . saint ethelburgh hildetha theorithoid edilburge wolfhild sister to erkenwald bishop of london was by him appointed first abbess of the nunnery of barking in this county , by him built and endowed . here she led a very austere life , and obtained the veneration of a saint after her death , which happened . sister to st. ethelburgh aforesaid , succeeded her in the government of the said nunnery for the term of four and twenty years , so that she died very aged with the reputation of a saint . anno . ( the first of whose name soundeth greek , the second saxon , ) was in this respect inferior to the two former , because no abbess but onely a nun of barking . yet did she equall them in some sort in the holiness of her life , and her memory may go a breast with them in the classis of sts. she died . wife to ina k. of the west-saxons , by the consent of her husband ( who went a pilgrim to rome ) became a nun at barking , & after her death anno . room was made for her memory amongst the rank of saints . afterwards barking - nunnery destroyed by the danes , was rebuilt by king edgar . daughter to wulfhelme e. of the west-saxons , ( born after the . year of her mothers barrenness ) was by king edgar made abbess of barking , which was the first nunnery of england , the richest ( valued at above l . of year rent at the dissolution ) and the fruit fullest of saints as by this parallel doth appear . st. wolfhild died anno . saint osith . she was daughter to the king of the east-angles , and wife to suthred last king of east-saxons ; by whose consent forsaking the world , she was veiled , and at last became abbess of a monastery of her own founding at chich in this county ; untill the danes infesting these fea-coasts , cut off her head in hatred of religion . yet this her head , after it was cut off was carried by saint osith [ oh wonder ! oh lie ! ] three * furlongs , and then she fell down and died . the same mutatis mutandis is told of saint dionys in france , saint winefride in wales and others , such being the barrenness of monkish invention , that unable to furnish their severall saints with variety of fictions , their tired fancie is fain to make the same miracle serve many saints . she was martyred about the year of our lord . saint neots ( why sir-named adulphius i know not ) was born ( saith * bale , ) either in essex or kent , but † pitz. who wrote sixty years after him , saith positively he was born in essex . it seemeth he met with some evidence to sway down the even beam to preponderate on the side of this county . waving the pleasures of the world , he lived long an e●…emite in cornwell , and then leaving his solitary life , he became a painfull and profitable preacher of the gospell . he was a zacheus for his stature , and with him tall in piety and charity . he moved king alfred to found ( or restore ) the university of oxford , on which account his memory is sacred to all posterity . he died anno dom. . whose body was buried by one barry his scholar in eynsebury , ( since st. neots ) in huntington-shire , and some say was afterwards removed to the abby of crouland . martyrs . of the forty four martyrs in this shire , three were most remarkable . . john laurence who at the stake was permitted a * posture peculiar to himself ; for being so infeebled with long durance and hard usage , that he could not stand ; he had a chair allowed him , and had the painfull ease to sit therein . nor must we forget , how little children being about the fire , c●…ied unto him , god strengthen you , god strengthen you , which was beheld as a product of his providence , who out of the mouth of babes and sucklings ordained strength , as also it evidenced their pious education . to say hosanna is as soon learnt by children , as go up thou bald head , if it be as surely taught unto them . . thomas hawkes gentleman , first brought into trouble for refusing to christen his child after the popish fashion . this man going to the stake promised his friends to give them some solemn token of the clearness and comfort of his conscience . in performance where of , whilst his body was burning he raised up himself ; and though having the sence , having no fear of the fire , joyfully clapp'd his hands over his head , to the admiration of all the beholders . . rose allin a virgin , who being in her calling , ( fetching beer for her bedrid mother , ) was intercepted by justice , or rather un-justice tyrrell , who with a candle most cruelly burnt her wrists , which her fire-proof patience most constantly endured : what was said of the roman scaevola , when he burnt his hand before porcenna , is more appliable to this maid , manum amisit , sed palmam retinuit ▪ tyrrell did this meerly by the law of his list ; otherwise no statute ( except written on the back-side of the book ) did authorize him for so tyrannicall an act : some days after , the fire which here took livery and seisin of her hand , brought her whole body into the possession thereof . confessors . richard george labourer , of west-barfold , is most eminent amongst the many confessors in this shire . for he had successively three wives , whereof * two were burnt , and the third imprisoned for religion , viz. . agnes george , burnt at stratford-bow , june . . . christian george , burnt at colchester , may . . . ........... george , imprisoned in colchester , and escap'd by queen maries death novemb. . . some who consult the dates of his wives deaths , will condemn him for over-speedy marriage ; and the appetite to a new wife is not comely , before the grief for the former be well digested . such consider not , that their glorious death in so good a cause , was the subject rather of his joy then grief , and that being necessitated ( for his children sake ) to marry , he was carefull , as it appears , to marry in the lord. nor did he thrust his wives into the fire , and shrink back from the flames himself , who being imprisoned * in colchester , had followed his two first , and gone along with his last to the stake , had not divine providence by queen maries death prevented it . cardinalls . thomas bourchier was son to sir william bourchier , who ( though but an english knight ) was a french earl of ewe in normandy , created by king henry the fifth , and had a great ▪ estate in this county , with many mansion-houses , * hawsted being the place of their ▪ principall residence , where i presume this prelate was born . he was bred in the university of oxford , whereof he was chancellour . dean of saint martins , then successively bishop of worcester , ely , arch-bishop of ca●…terbury , and cardinall by the title of saint cyriacus in the baths . a prelate , besides his high birth aforesaid , and brotherhood to henry bourchier , first earl of essex of that surname , remarkable on many accounts . first , for his vivacity , being an old man , and proportionably , an older bishop . . being consecrated bishop of * worcester . the fourteenth of henry the sixth . . dying arch-bishop of canterbury . the second of k. henry the seventh . whereby it appeareth , that he wore a mitre full fifty one years , a term not to be paralleld in any other person . secondly , he saw strange revolutions in state , the civil-wars between lancaster and york , begun , continued , and concluded . for , though bishop morton had the happiness to make the match , arch-bishop bourchier had the honour to marry king henry the seventh , to the daughter of king edward the fourth , so that his hand first solemnly held that sweet posie , wherein the white and red roses were tied together . thirdly , for his wary compliance , that he lost not himself in the labyrinth of such intricate times , applying himself politiquely to the present predominant power . however it may be said of him , praestitit hic praesul nil tanto sanguine munere tempore dignum . he left no monument to posterity proportionable ( what was an hundred pounds , and a chest given to cambridge ? ) to his great blood , rich place , and long continuance therein . but this my * author imputeth unto the troublesomeness of the times , seeing peace was no sooner setled , and the land began to live , but he died march . . i know not what generous planet had then influence on the court of rome , this i know , that england never saw such a concurrence of noble prelates ; who , as they were peers by their places , were little less by their descent . i behold their birth a good buttress of episcopacy in that age , able in parliament to check and crush any antiprelaticall project , by their own relations . but let us count how many were contemporaries with thomas bourchier , from his first consecration at worcester , till the day of his death . john stafford , son to the earl of stafford , arch-bishop of canterbury . robert fitz-hugh bishop of london . henry beauford , son to john duke of lancaster , bishop of winchester . william gray , son to the lord gray of codnor , bishop of ely. marmaduke lumley , extracted from the lord lumley , bishop of lincoln . richard beauchamp , brother to the l. saint amand , bishop of sarum . lionel woodvile , son to the earl of rivers , bishop of sarum . peter courtney , extracted from the earls of devon , bishop of exeter . richard courtnee , of the same extraction , bishop of norwich . john zouch , descended of the lord zouch , bishop of landaffe . george novile , brother to the make-king earl of warwick , arch-bishop of york . william dudley , son to the lord dudley , bishop of durham . william piercy , son to the earl of northumberland , bishop of carlile . but after the death of bourchier , i meet with but three bishops of noble extraction , viz. james stanley , edmond audley and cardinall pole. however , they were , though of lower image , of no less learning and religion . prelates . richard de barking took his name ( according to the clergy-mens heraldry in that age ) from that well noted town in this county . in process of time he became ab●…ot of * westminster for twenty four years . he was so high in favour with king h●…nry the third , that he made him one ' of his speciall councellours , chief baron of the exchequer , ●…nd for a short time * lord treasurer of england . he died anno. . buried in westminster-church , whose marble tombe before the middle of the altar , was afterwards pulled down ( probably because taking up too much room , ) by frier combe , sacri●…t of the house , who laid a plain marble stone over him , with an epitaph too tedious and barbarous to be transcribed . john de chesill . there are two villages so called in this county , where the north-west corner thereof closeth with cambridge-shire . i will not define in which this john was born , time having left us nothing of his actions , saving the many preferments thorough which he passed , being dean of saint pauls , successively arch-deacon and bishop of * london , and twice chancellor of england . viz. anno domini . in the . of king henry the third ▪ viz. anno domini . in the . of king henry the third ▪ he was afterward also * lord treasurer of england , and died anno domini . in the seventh year of the raign of king edward the first . john of waltham was so named from the place of his nativity , and attained to be a prudent man , and most expert in government of the state , so that he became master of the rolls , keeper of the privy seal , and anno . was consecrated bishop of salisbury . but he miss'd his mark , and met with one , who both matched and mastered him , when refusing to be visited by courtney arch-bishop of canterbury , on the * criticisme , that pope urbane the sixth , who granted courtney his commission was lately dead , till the arch-bishop excommunicated him into more knowledge and humility , teaching him that his visitations had a self-support , without assistance of papal power , cast in onely by the way of religious complement . this john of waltham was afterwards made lord treasurer , and richard the second had such an affection for him , that dying in his office , he caused him to be buried ( though many muttered * thereat ) amongst the kings , and next to king edward the first in westminster . his death happened . roger walden , taking his name from his birth , in that eminent market-town in this county , was as considerable as any man in his age , for the alternation of his fortune . first he was the son of a poor man , yet by his industry and ability , attained to be dean of york , treasurer of calis , secretary to the king , and treasurer of england . afterwards , when thomas arundell arch-bishop of canterbury fell into the disfavour of king richard the second , and was banished the land , this roger was by the king made arch-bishop of canterbury , and acted to all purposes and intents , calling of synods , and discharging of all other offices . however , he is beheld as a cypher in that see , because holding it by sequestration , whilst arandell the true incumbent was alive , who returning in the first of king henry the fourth resumed his arch-bishoprick . and now roger walden was reduced to roger walden , and as poor as at his first beginning . for though all maintained that the character of a bishop was indelable , this roger found that a bishoprick was delable , having nothing whereon to subsist , untill arch-bishop arundell , nobly reflecting upon his worth , or want , or both , procured him to be made bishop of london . but he enjoyed that place onely so long , as to be a testimony to all posterity of arundell his civility unto him , dying before the year was expired . he may be compared to one , so jaw-fallen with over long ●…asting , tha●…●…e cannot eat meat when brought unto him , and his spirits were so depressed with his former ill fortunes , that he could not enjoy himself in his new unexpected happiness . why he was buried rather in saint bartholomews in smithfi●…ld , then his own cathedrall church , is too hard for me to resolve . since the reformation . richard howland was born at * newport-p●…nds in this county , first hellow of peterhouse , then chosen . master of magdalen , and next year master of saint johns-colledge in cambridge . he was twice vice-chancellor of the university , in the year . he was consecrated bishop of * peterborough , in which place he continued sixteen years , and died in june . john jegon was born in this * county at coxhall , fellow first of queens , then master of bennet-colledge in cambridge , and three times vice-chancellour of the university . a most serious man and grave governour , yet withall of a most face●…ious disposition , so that it was hard to say whether his counsel was more grateful for the soundness , o●… his company more acceptable for the pleas●…ess thereof . take one eminent instance of his ●…genuity . whilst master of the colledge he chanced to punish all the under-graduates therein for some generall offence , and the penalty was put upon their heads in the buttery . and because that he disdained to convert the money to any private use , it was expended in new whiteing the hall of the colledge . whereupon a scholar hung up these verses on the skreen , doctor jegon , bennet-colledge master , brake the scholars head , and gave the walls a plaister . but the doctor had not the readiness of his parts any whit impaired by his age for perusing the paper ex tempore he subscribed , knew i but the wagg that writ these verses in a bravery , i would commend him for his wit , but whip him for his knavery . queen elizabeth designed him , but king james confirmed him bishop of norwich , where if some in his diocess have since bestowed harsh language on his memory , the wonder is not great , seeing he was a somewhat severe presser of conformity , and dyed anno domini . samuel haresnet was born at colchester in the parish of saint butolph , bred first scholar , then fellow , then master , of pembrock-hall in cambridge . a man of gr●…t learning , strong parts and stout spirit . he was bishop first of chichester , then of norwich , and at last arch-bishop of york , and one of the privy councill of king charles , the . last dignities being procured by thomas earl of arundell , who much favoured him and committed his younger son to his education . dying unmarried he was the better enabled for publick and pious uses , and at chigwell in this county , ( the place of his first church-preferment , ) he built and endowed a fair grammer school . he conditionally bequeathed his library to colchester where he was born , as by this passage in his * will may appear : item , i give to the bayliffs and corporation of the town of colchester , all my library of books , provided , that they provide a decent room to set them up in , that the clergy of the town of colchester , and other divines may have free access for the reading and studying of them . i presume the town corresponding with his desire , the legacy took due effect . he died anno domini . and lieth bu●…ied at chigwell aforesaid . augustine linsell d. d. was born at bumsted in this county , bred scholar and fellow in clare-hall in cambridge . he applyed himself chiefly to the studies of greek , hebrew , and all antiquity , attaining to great exactness therein . he was very knowing in the antient practices of the jews , and from him i learned , that they had a custome at the circumcising of their children , that certain undertakers should make a solemn stipulation for their pious education , conformable to our god-fathers in baptisme . he was afterwards made bishop of peterborough , where ( on the joint-cost of his clergy ) he procured theophilact on the epistles ( never printed before ) to be fairly set forth in greek and latine . hence he was remove●… to hereford where he died . . states-men . sir thomal audley knight , where born , my best industry and inquiry cannot attain . he was bred in the studie of the laws , till he became atturney of the dutchie of lancaster , and sergeant at law , ( as most affirme ) then speaker of the parliament , knighted , and made keeper of the great seal , june . . being the twenty fourth of king henry the eight , and not long after was made lord chancellor of england , and baron audley of audley end in this county . in the feast of abby lands , king henry the eight carved unto him the first cut ( and that i assure you was a dainty morsell , ) viz. the * priory of the trinity in eald-gate ward london , dissolved . which as a van currier foreran other abbeys by two years , and foretold their dissolution . this i may call ( afterwards called dukes-place ) the covent garden within london , as the greatest empty space within the walls , though since filled , not to say pestered , with houses . he had afterwards a large partage in the abby lands in severall counties . he continued in his office of chancellour thirteen years , and had one onely daughter margaret , who no doubt answered the pearl in her name , as well in her precious qualities , as rich inheritance , which she brought to her husband thomas last duke of norfolk . this lord audley died april . . and is buried in the fair church of saffron-walden with this lamentable epitaph , the stroak of deaths inevitable dart , hath now , alas ! of life beref●…t the heart , of sir thomas audley , of the garter knight , late chancellor of england under our prince of might henry the eight , worthy of high renown , and made him lord audley of this town . this worthy lord took care , that better poets should be after then were in his age , and founded magdalen-colledge in cambridge giving good lands thereunto , if they might have enjoyed them according to his donation . sir ricnard morisin knight , was born in this county , as j. bale his fellowexile doth * acquaint us : yet so , as that he qualifieth his intelligence with ut fert●…r , which i have commuted into our marginall note of * dubitation . our foresaid author addeth that , per celebriora anglorum gymnasia artes excoluit : bred probably first in eton or winchester , then in cambridge or oxford , and at last in the inns of court. in those he attained to great skill in latine and greek , in the common and civil law , insomuch , that he was often imployed ambassadour by king henry the eight , and edward the sixth , unto charles the fifth emperor , and others princes of germany , acquitting himself both honest and able in those negotiations . he began a beautifull house at cashobery in hertford-shire , and had prepared materialls for the finishing thereof ; but alas , this house proved like the life of his master who began it , i mean king edward the sixth , broken off , not ended , and that before it came to the middle thereof . yea , he was forced to fly beyond the seas , and returning out of italy died at * strasburgh on the . of march , anno domini . to the grief of all good men . yet his son sir charles finished his fathers house in more peaceable times , whose great-grand daughter ( augmented by matches with much honour and wealth ) a right worthy and vertuous lady lately deceased , was wife to the first lord capel , and mother to the present earl of essex . sir anthony cook knight , great-grant child to sir thomas cook lord mayor of london , was born at giddy hall in this county , where he finished a fair house , begun by his great-grand-father , as appeareth by this inscription on the frontispiece thereof , aedibus his frontem proavus thomas dedit olim , addidit antoni caetera sera manus . he was one of the governours to king edward the sixth when prince , and is charactered by master * camden , vir antiquâ severitate . he observeth him also to be happy in his daughters , learned above their sex in greek and latine , namely . mildred marryed unto . william cecil lord treasurer of england . . anne   . nicholas bacon   chancellor   . katherine   . henry killigrew knights .   . elizabeth   . thomas hobby     .   . ralph rowlet     indeed they were all most eminent scholars , ( the honour of their own , and the shame of our sex ) both in prose and poetry , and we will give an instance of the later . sir henry killigrew was designed by the queen , embassadour for france , in troublesome times , when the imployment always difficult , was then apparently dangerous . now katherine his lady , wrot these following verses to her sister mildred cecil , to improve her power with the lord treasurer her husband , that sir henry might be excused from that service , si mihi quem cupio cures mildreda remitti , tu bona , tu melior , tu mihi sola soror . sin malè cunctando retines , vel trans mare mittes , tu mala , tu pejor , tu mihi nulla soror , it si cornubiam , tibi pax six , & omnia l●…ta , sin mare cecili , nuntio bella , vale . we will endeavour to translate them , though i am afraid falling much short of their native elegancy , if , mildred , by thy care he be sent back , whom i request , a sister good thou art to me , yea better , yea the best . but if with stays thou keepst him still , or sendst where seas may part , then unto me a sister ill , yea worse , yea none thou art , if go to cornwall he shall please , i peace to thee foretell , but cecil if he set to seas , i war denounce , farewell . this sir anthony cook died in the year of our lord . leaving a fair estate unto his son , in whose name it continued untill our time . sir thomas smith kt. was born at * saffron walden in this county , and bred in queens-colledge in cambridge , where such his proficiency in learning , that he was chosen out by henry the eight , to be sent over , and brought up beyond the seas . it was fashionable in that age , that pregnant students were maintained on the cost of the state , to be merchants for experience in forraign parts , whence returning home with their gainfull adventures , they were preferred ( according to the improvement of their time ) to offices in their own country . well it were if this good old custome were resumed ; for if where god hath given talents , men would give but pounds , i mean encourage hopefull abilities with helpfull maintenance , able persons would never be wanting , and poor men with great parts would not be excluded the line of preferment . this sir thomas was afterwards secretary of state to queen elizabeth , and a grand benefactor to both universities , as i have formerly declared * at large . he died anno domini . thomas howard , wherever born , is justly reputed of this county , wherein he had his first honour , and last habitation . he was second son to thomas last duke of norfolk , but eldest by his wife margaret , sole heir to thomas lord audley . queen elizabeth made him baron of audley , and knight of the garter ; and king james ( who beheld his father a state-martyr for the queen of ●…ots , ) in the first of his raign , advanced him lord chamberlain , and earl of suffolk , and in the twelfth of his raign july . lord treasurer of england . he was also chancellour of cambridge , loving and beloved of the university . when at his first coming to cambridge , master francis nethersole orator of the university , made a latine speech unto him , this lord returned , though i understand not latine , i know the sence of your oration is to tell me that i am wellcome to you , which i believe verily , thank you for it heartily , and will serve you faithfully in any thing within my power . doctor hasnet the vice-chancellour laying hold on the handle of so fair a proffer , requested him to be pleased to entertain the king at cambridge , a favour which the university could never compass from their former great and wealthy chancellours , i will do it ( saith the lord ) in the best manner i may , with the speediest conveniency . nor was he worse then his word , giving his majesty not long after so magnificent a treatment in the university , as cost him five thousands pounds and upwards . hence it was , that after his death , thomas his second son , earl of bark-shire , not suing for it ( not knowing of it ) was chosen to succeed him , losing the place ( as some suspected ) not for lack of voices , but fair counting them . he died at audley end , anno domini . being grand-father to the right honourable james earl of suffolk . richard weston . i behold him son to sir jerome weston , sheriff of this county in the one and fourtieth of queen elizabeth , and cannot meet with any of his relations , to rectifie me if erronious . in his youth he impaired his estate , to improve himself with publique accomplishment , but came off both a saver and a gainer at the last , when made chancellor of the exchequer , and afterwards ( upon the remove of the earl of marlburrough ) july . in the fourth of king charles lord treasurer of england . but i hear the cocks crow proclaiming the dawning day , being now come within the ken of many alive ; and when mens memories do arise , it is time for history to haste to bed . let me onely be a datary , to tell the reader , that this lord was created earl of portland , february . in the eight of king charles , and died anno domini . . being father to the right honorable jerome now earl of portland . capitall judges . sir john bramstone knight , was born at maldon in this county , bred up in the middle-temple in the study of the common-law , wherein he attained to such eminency , that he was by king charles made lord chief justice of the kings-bench . one of deep learning , solid judgement , integrity of life , gravity of behaviour ; in a word , accomplished with all qualities requisite for a person of his place and profession . one instance of his integrity i must not forget , effectually relating to the foundation wherein i was bred : serjeant bruerton ( of whom * formerly ) bequeathed by will to sidney-colledge well nigh three thousand pounds , but ( for haste or some other accident ) so imperfectly done , that ( as doctor samuel ward informed me ) the gife was invalid in the rigour of the law. now judge bramstone , who married the serjeants widdow , gave himself much trouble ( gave himself indeed , doing all things gratis , ) for the speedy payment of the money to a farthing , and the legal setling thereof on the colledge , according to the true intention of the dead . he deserved to live in better times ; the delivering his judgement on the kings side in the case of ship ●…oney cost him much trouble . the posting press would not be perswaded to stay till i had received farther instructions from the most hopefull sons of this worthy judge , who died about the year . souldiers . robert fitz-walter . it is observable what i read in my * author , that in the raign of king john , there were three most eminent knights in the land , 〈◊〉 for their prowess , viz. robert fitz-roger , richard * mont-f●…chet and this robert fitz-walter . two of which three ( a fair proportion ) fall to be natives of this county . this robert was born at woodham-walters , and behaved himself right 〈◊〉 on all occasions , highly beloved by king richard the first , and king john , untill the later banished him the land , because he would not prostitute his daughter to his pleasure . but worth will not long want a master , the french-king joyfully entertained him , till king john recalled him back again on this occasion : five-years truce being concluded betwixt the two crowns of england and france , an english-man challenged any of the french , to just a course or two on horse-back with him , whom fitz-walter ( then o●… the french party ) undertook , and at the first * course , with his great spear , fell'd horse and man to the ground . thus then and ever since english-men generally can be worsted by none but english-men . hereupon the king , next day sent for him , restored his lands with license for him to repair his castles , ( and particularly bainards-castle in london , ) which he did accordingly . he was styled of the common-people , the marshall of gods army and holy-church . he died anno domini . and lieth buried in the priory of little-dunmow . sir john hawkewood knight , son to gilbert hawkewood * tanner , was born in † sible heningham . this john was first bound an apprentice to a * taylor in the city of london , but soon turned his needle into a sword , and thimble into a shield , being pressed in the service of king edward the third for his french wars , who rewarded his valour with knighthood . now that mean men bred in manuall and mechanick trades , may arrive at great skill in martiall performances , this hawkewood , though an eminent , is not the onely instance of our english nation . the heat of the french wars being much remitted , he went into italy and served the city of florence , which as yet was a free state. such republiques preferred forrainers rather then natives for their generalls , because , when the service was ended , it was but disbursing their pay , and then disbanding their power , by cashering their commission ; such forraigners having no advantage to continue their command , and render themselves absolute , because wanting an interest in alliances and relations . thus a single stake if occasion serves , is sooner plucked up then a tree fastned to the earth , with the many fibrae appendant to the root thereof . great the gratitude of the state of florence to this their generall hawkewood , who in testimony of his surpassing valour and singular faithfull service to their state , adorned him with the statue of a man of armes , and sumptuous monument , wherein his ashes remain honoured at this present day . well it is that monument doth remain seeing his coenotaph or honorary tombe , which sometimes stood in the parish church of sible-heningham ( arched over , and in allusion to his name berebussed with * hawkes flying into a wood , ) is now quite flown away and abolished . this sir john hawkewood married domnia daughter of barnaby the warlike brother of galeasius lord of millain , ( father to john the first duke of mallain , ) by whom he had a son named john born in italy , made knight and naturalized in the seventh year of king henry the fourth , as appeareth by the * record , johannes , filius johannis haukewood , miles , natus in partibus italiae factus indigena ann. . hen. . mater ejus nata in partibus transmarinis . this valiant knight dyed very aged anno . in the eighteenth of king richard the second , his friends founding two chantreys to pray for his and the souls of john oliver and thomas newenton esquires , his military companions , and , which probably may be presumed , born in the same county . thomas ratcliff lord fitz-walter second earl of sussex of that surname , twice lord deputy of ireland , was a most valiant gentleman . by his prudence he caused that actuall rebellion brake not out in ireland , and no wonder if in his time it rained not war there , seeing his diligence dispersed the clouds before they could gather together . thus he who cures a disease may be the skilfubest , but he that prevents it is the safest physician . queen eliz●…beth called him home to be her lord chamberlain , and a constant court faction was maintained betwixt him and robert earl of leicester , so that the 〈◊〉 and the leicesterians divided the court , whilst the 〈◊〉 as neuters did look upon them . sussex had a great estate left him by his ancestors , leicester as great given or restor'd 〈◊〉 by the queen : 〈◊〉 was the hones●… man and greater souldier , 〈◊〉 the more faceit 〈◊〉 and deep politician ; not for the generall good , but his particular profit . great the 〈◊〉 betwixt them , and what in vain the queen endeavoured , death performed , taking this earl away , and so the competition was 〈◊〉 . new-hall in this county was the place if not ( as i believe ) of his birth , of his principall habitation . he dyed .... ... and lyeth buried in the church of saint olives hartstreet london . sir francis and sir horace vere sons of geffrey vere . esquire , who was son of john vere the 〈◊〉 earl of oxford , were both born in this county , though severall places ( he●…ngham castle , colchester , tilbury juxta clare , ) be by sundry men assigned for their nativity . we will first consider them severally , and then compare them together . sir francis was of a fiery spirit and rigid nature , undaunted in all dangers , not over valuing the price of mens lives , to purchase a victory therewith . he served on the scaene of all christendome where war was acted . one masterpiece of his valour was at the battle of newport , when his ragged regiment ( so were the english then called from their ragged cloths , ) help'd to make all whole , or else all had been lost . another was , when for three years he defended ostend against a strong and numerous army , surrendering it at last a bare skeliton to the king of spain , who paid more years purchase for it , then probably the world will endure . he dyed in the beginning of the raign of king james , about the year of our lord ... sir horace had more meekness , and as much valour as his brother , so pious , that he first made his peace with god , before he went out to war with man. one of an excellent temper , it being true of him what is said of the caspian sea , that it doth never 〈◊〉 nor flow ; observing a constant tenor , neither 〈◊〉 nor depressed with success . had one seen him r●…turning from a victory , he would by his silence have suspected that he had lost the day ; and had he beheld him in a retreat , he would have collected him a conqueror , by the chearfulness of his spirit . he was the first baron of king charles his creation . some years after coming to court he fell suddenly sick and speechless , so that he dyed before night anno domini . . no doubt he was well prepared for death , seeing such his vigilancy , that never any enemy surprised him in his quarters . now to compare them together , ( such their eminency , that they would hardly be parallell'd by any but themselves : ) sir francis was the elder brother , sir horace lived to be the older man , sir francis was more feared , sir horace more loved , by the souldiery : the former in martiall discipline was oftimes rigidus ad ruina●… ; the later seldome exceeded adterrorem . sir francis left none , sir horace no male issue , whose four co-heirs are since matched into honorable families . both lived in war , much honored ; dyed in peace , much lamented . henry vere was son of edward vere the seventeenth earl of oxford , and anne trentham his lady , whose principall habitation ( the rest of his patrimony being then wasted ) was at heningham castle in this county . a vigorous gentleman , full of courage and resolution , and the last lord chamberlain of england of this family . his sturdy nature would not bow to court-compliants who would maintain what he spake , spake what he thought , think what he apprehended true and just , though sometimes dangerous and distastefull . once he came into court with a great milk-white feather about his hat , which then was somewhat unusuall , save that a person of his merit might make a fashion . the reader may guess the lord , who said unto him in some jeer , my 〈◊〉 you weare a very fair feather ; it is true ( said the earl , ) and if you mark it there 's ●…e'r a t●…int in it . indeed his family was ever loyall to the crown , deserving their motto , vero nil verius . going over one of the four engish colonells into the low countries , and endeavouring to raise the siedge of bxeda , he so over-heat himself with marching , fighting and vexing , ( the design not succeeding ) that he dyed few days after anno domini ... he married diana one of the co-heirs of william earl of exeter , ( afterwards married to edward ea●…l of elgin , ) by whom he left no issue . physicians . william gil●…t was born in * trinity parish in colchester , his father being a counsellour of great esteem in his profession , who first removed his family thither from clare in suffolk , where they had resided in a gentile equipage some centuries of years . he had ( saith my informer ) the clearness of venice glass without the brittleness thereof , soon ripe and long lasting in his perfections . he commenced doctor in physick , and was physician to queen elizabeth , who stamped on him many marks of her favour , besides an annuall pension to encourage his studies . he addicted himself to chemistry , attaining to great exactness therein . one saith of him that he was stoicall , but not cynicall , which i understand reserv'd , but not morose , never married , purposely to be more beneficiall to his brethren . such his loyalty to the queen , that , as if unwilling to survive , he dyed in the same year with her . his stature was tall , c●…plexion cheerfull , an happiness not ordinary in so hard a student and retired a person . he lyeth buried in trinity church in colchester , under a plain monument . mahomets tombe at mecha is said strangely to hang up , attracted by some invisible load-stone , but the memory of this doctor will never fall to the ground , which his incomparable book de magnete will support to eternity . writers . gervase of tilbury born at that village in this county , ( since famous for a c●…mpe , against the spaniards in . ) is * reported nephew to king henry the second . but though nepos be taken in the latitude thereof ( to signify son , to brother , sister , or child , ) i cannot make it out by the door , and am loth to suspect his coming in by the window . this gervase may be said by his nativity , to stand but on one foot ( and that on tip toes ) in england , being born on the sea side , at the mouth of thames , and therefore no wonder if he quickly convayed himself over into forraign parts . he became courtier and favorite to his kinsman otho the fourth emperour , who conferred on him the marshal-ship of the arch-bishoprick of arles , ( which proveth the imperiall power in this age , over some parts of province , ) an office which he excellently discharged . though his person was wholly conversant in forraign aire , his pen was chiefly resident on english earth , writing a chronicle of our land , and also adding illustrations to g●…ffrey monmouth . he flourished anno . under king john. adam of barking ( no mean market in this county ) was so termed from the town of his nativity . wonder not , that , being born in the east of england , he went west-ward as far as sherborn ( where he was a benedictine ) for his education ; it being as usuall in that age for monkes , as in ours for husbandmen , to change their soil for the seed , that their grain may give the greater encrease . he was a good preacher and learned writer , and surely would have soared higher , if not weighed down with the ignorance of the age he lived in , whose death happened anno . ralph of cogshall in this county , was first canon of barnewell nigh cambridge , and afterwards turn'd a cistertian monke . he was a man * incredibilis frugalitatis & parsimoniae , but withall of great learning and abilities . these qualities commended ▪ him to be abbot of cogshall ( the sixth in order after the first foundation thereof , ) where he spent all his spare hours in writing of chronicles , and especially of additions to radulphus niger . afflicted in health he resigned his place , and died a private person about the year . roger of waltham was so called from the place of his nativity . i confess there be many walthams in england and three in essex : but as in herauldry the plain coat speaks the bearer thereof to be the best of the house , whiles the younger brethren give their armes with differences ; so i presume that waltham here without any other addition , ( of much ▪ waltham , wood-waltham , &c. ) is the chief in that kind , viz. waltham in this county within twelve miles of london , eminent in that age for a wealthy abby . the merit of this roger , being ( saith * bale ) tersè , nitidè & eleganter eruditus , endeared him to fulke basset bishop of london , who preferred him canon of saint pauls . he wrot many worthy works , flourishing under king henry the third , anno domini . john godard ( wherever born ) had his best being at * cogshall in this county , where he became a cistercian monke . great was his skill in arithmetick , and mathematicks , a science which had lain long asleep in the world , and now first began to open it's eyes again . he wrot many certain treatises thereof , and dedicated them unto ralph abbot of cogshall . he flourished anno dom. . aubrey de vere extracted from the right honorable earls of oxford , was born ( saith my * authors ) in bonaclea villa trenovantum , three miles srom saint osith , by which direction we find it to be great bentley in this county . now although * a witty gentleman saith , that noble-men have seldome any thing in print save their cloths , yet this aubrey so applyed his studies , that he wrote a learned book of the eucharist . in his old age he became an augustinian of saint osiths , preferring that before other places , both because of the pleasant retireness thereof , and because his kindred were great benefactors to that covent , witness their donation de septem * libratis terrae thereunto . this aubrey , the most learned of all honorable persons in that age , flourished anno domini . thomas maldon was born at * maldon , no mean market town in this county , anciently a city of the romans called camulodunum . he was afterwards bred in the university of cambridge , where he commenced doctor of divinity , and got great reputation for his learning , being a quick disputant , eloquent preacher , solid in defining , subtle in distinguishing , clear in expressing . hence he was chosen prior of his own monastery in maldon , where he commendably discharged his place till the day of his death , which happened . thomas waldensis was son to john and maud netter , who declining the surname of his parents , took it from * walden the noted place in this county of his nativity ; so much are they mistaken , that maintain , that this waldensis his name was vuedale , and that he was born in hant-shire . in some sort he may be termed anti-waldensis , being the most professed enemy to the wicklevites , who for the main revived and maintained the doctrine of the waldenses . being bred a carmelite in london , and doctor of divinity in oxford , he became a great champion of , yet vassall to , the pope ; witness his sordid complement , consisting of a conjunction , or rather confusion and misapplication of the words of ruth to naomi , and david to goliah . perge domine * papa , perge quò cupis : & ego tecum ubicunque volueris , nec deseram , in authoritate dominorum meorum incedam , & in armis eorum pugnabo . he was in high esteem with three succeeding kings of england , and might have changed his coul , into what english miter he pleased , but refused it . under king henry the fourth , he was sent a solemn embassadour . about taking away the schism●… , and advancing an union in the church , and pleaded most eloquently before the pope , and segismund the emperour . he was conf●…ssor and privy ▪ councellour to king henry the fifth , ( who died in his bosome ) and whom he taxed for too much lenity to the wicklevites , so that we behold the breath of waldensis , as the bellows which blew up the coals , for the burning of those poor christians in england , under king henry the sixth , he was employed to provide at paris all necessaries for his solemn coronation , and dying in his journey thether anno . was buried at roan . he was years provinciall of his order , throughout all england , and wrot many books against the wicklevites . bale citeth four ( all sorraign ) authors , which make him solemnly sainted , whilst * pitzeus more truly and modestly onely affirmeth , that he died , non sine sanctitatis opinione . indeed , as the pagans had their lares and penates , dii minorum gentium , so possibly this thomas , ( though not publickly canonized ) might pass for a saint of the lesser size , in some particular places . since the reformation . thomas tuss●…r was born at riven-hall in this county , of an ancient family ( since extinct ) if his own * pen may be believed . wh●…lst as yet a boy he lived in many schools , wallingford , s●…int pauls , eaton , ( whence he went to t●…inity hall in cambridge , ) when a man , in stafford-shire , suffolk , northfolk , cambridge-shire , london , and where not ? so that this stone of sisiphus could gather no moss . he was successively a musitian , school master , servingman , husbandman , grasier poet , more skilfull in all , then thriving in any v●…cation . he traded at large in oxen , sheep , dairies , grain of all kinds , to no profit . whether he bought or sold , he lost , and when a renter impoverished himself , and never inriched his landlord . yet hath he laid down excellent rules in his book of husbandry and houswifery , ( so that the observer thereof must be rich ▪ ) in his own d●…fence . he spread his bread with all sorts of butter , yet none would stick thereon . yet i hear no man to charge him with any vicious extravagancy , or visible carel●…ssness , imputing his ill success to some occult cause in gods counsel . thus our english 〈◊〉 , might say with the poet , — — monitis sum minor ipse meis , none being better at the theory , or worse at the practise of husbandry . i match him with thomas 〈◊〉 - yard , they being mark'd alike in their poeticall parts , living in the same time , and 〈◊〉 alike in their estates , both low enough i assure you . i cannot find the certain date of his death ▪ but collect it to be about . francis quarles esquire , son to james quarles esquire , was born at s●…wards , in the parish of ru●…ford in this county , where his son ( as i am inform'd ) hath an estate in expectancy . he was bred in cambridge , and going over into ireland , became secretary to the reverend james usher arch-bishop of armagh . he was a most excellent poet , and had a mind by assed to devotion . had he been contemporary with plato , ( that great back-friend to poets , ) he would not onely have allowed him to live , but advanced him to an office in his common wealth . some poets , if debarr'd pro●…ess , want oness , and satyricalness , ( that they may neither abuse god , themselves , nor their neighbours , ) have their tongues cut out in effect . others onely trade in wit at the second hand , being all for translations , nothing for invention . our q●…arles was free from the f●…ts of the first , as if he had drank of jordan in stead o●… helicon , and slept on mount olivet for his pernassus , and was happy in his own invention . his visible poetry ( i mean his emblems ) is excellent , ca●…ching therein the eye and fancy at one draught , so that he hath out aleiated therein , in some mens judgement . his verses on job are done to the life , so that the reader may see his sores , and through the●… the anguish of his soul. the troubles of ireland , where his loss●…s were great , forced his return hither , bearing his crosses with great patience ; so tha●… ( according to the advice of saint hierome , ) verba vertebat in opera , and practiced the job he had described , dying about the year . joseph mede was born in this county , a little east of bishop-startford . men in ●…cripture generally are notified by their fathers , as johnadab the son of rechab , simon the son of jona . some few are described by their sons , as simon of cyren , the father of * alexander and rufus , wherein it is presumed that their sons were most eminent , and their branches not known by the root , but the root by the branches . such the case here , where the parents obscure in themselves , may hereafter be known for having joseph mede to their son. he was bred in christs-colledge in cambridge , where he attained to great learning by his own industry . r. was shiboleth unto him , which he could not easily pronounce , so that a set-speech cost him the double pains to another man , being to fit words as well to his mouth as his matter . yet by his industry and observation , he so conquered his imperfection , that though in private discourse , he often smiled out his stammering into silence , yet chusing his words , he made many an excellent sermon , without any considerable hesitation . the first fruits of his eminent studies , was a written treatise , de sanctitate relativa , which he presented to bishop andrews , who besteded him with the kings favour , when his election into his fellow-ship met with some opposition . he afterwards became an excellent linguist , curious mathematician , exact text-man ; happy in makeing scripture to expound it self by parallel places . he was charitable to poor people with his almes , and to all people with his candid censure . of one who constantly kept his cell , ( so he called his chamber ) none travailed oftener and farther over all christendome . for things past he was a perfect historian ; for things present , a judicious novilant ; and for things to come , a prudentiall ( not to say propheticall ) conjecturer . to his private friends he would often insist on the place of scripture , judges . . and the land had a rest four score years , which was the longest term of peace which he ever observed the church of god to enjoy , after which many troubles did ensue . and seeing the same lease of halcion days was expired in england since the first of queen elizabeth , he grievously suspected some strange concussion in church and state , which came to pass accordingly . i confess his memory hath suffered much in many mens judgements , for being so great a fauter of the fancifull opinion of the millenaries . yet none can deny but that much is found in the ancient fathers tending that way . besides , i dare boldy say , that the furious factors for the fift monarchy hath driven that nail which master mede did first enter , farther then he ever intended it , and doing it with such violence , that they split the truths round about it . thus when ignorance begins to build on that foundation , which learning hath laid , no wonder if there be no uniformity in such a mungrell fabrick . he died in the fifty third year of his age anno domini . leaving the main of his estate to the colledge , about the value of l . a large sum to issue out of the purse of a scholar . benefactors to the publick . richaed badew born of a knightly family at * great badew ▪ ( commonly called great baddow nigh chelmesford , ) was bred in the university of cambridge . he so profited in literature , that by generall consent anno . the scholars therein chose him their chancellour ; in which year this richard purchased two tenements in milne-street , and in their place erected a small colledge , by the name of university-hall , wherein scholars living under a principall had their chambers gratis , ( a great favour in that age ) though otherwise maintaining themselves on their own expences . sixteen years after by a sad accident this colledge was casually burnt down to the ground , whereupon doctor badew with the consent of the university resigned all his interest therein , into the hands of elizabeth countess of clare , who fayrely refounded this colledge as in * due place here after god willing shall be related . since the reformation . walter mildmey knight , was born at chelmesford in this county , where he was a younger son to thomas mildmey esquire . he was bred in christs-colledge in cambridge , where he did not ( as many young gentlemen ) study only in complement , but seriously applyed himself to his book . under king henry the eighth and king edward the sixth , he had a gainfull office in the court of augmentations during the raign of queen mary , he practised the politick precept , bene vixit qui bene latuit . no sooner came queen elizabeth to the crown , but he was called to state-imployment , and it was not long before he was made chancellour of the exchequer . it is observed , that the exchequer never fareth ill , but under a good prince ; such who 〈◊〉 of conscience will not oppress their people , whilst tyrants pass not for what they 〈◊〉 out of their subjects . indeed queen elizabeth was very carefull not to have her coffer swell'd with the consvmption of her kingdom , and had consciencious officers under her , amongst whom sir 〈◊〉 was a principall . this knight sensible of gods blessing on his estate and knowing that , omne beneficium requirit officium , cast about to make his return to god. he began with his be●… to christs ▪ colledge in cambridge , only to put his hand into practise , then his bounty embraced the generous resolution ( which the painfull piety of st. paul 〈◊〉 to himself , viz. ) not to build on another mans foundation , but on his own 〈◊〉 he 〈◊〉 a new colledge in cambridge by the name of emanuel . a right godly gentleman he was , though some of his baek friends suggested to the queen , 〈◊〉 he was a better 〈◊〉 then subject , and that he was over-popular in parliaments , insomuch , that his life did set sub nubeculd under a cloud of the royal displeasure . yet was not the cloud so great , but that the beams of his innocence , 〈◊〉 those of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ▪ had easily dispelled it , had he survived longer , as appeared by the great grief the queen professed for the loss of so grave a councelour , who leaving 〈◊〉 - sons and three ▪ daughters ; dyed anno dom. . 〈◊〉 petre , daughter to sir william petre secretary of state , and sister to iohn lord petre was certainly born in this county , but uncertain whether at 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 or engerstone , three fair houses in essex of that wealthy family . thus variety of habitations 〈◊〉 the nativities of great persons doubtfull , whilest we are led with more assurance to the cradles of meaner people . she was marryed to nicholas wadham of merrifield in 〈◊〉 - shire esq. we read of * ahab ▪ that he sold himself to work wiekedness , whom jezebel his wife stirred up : but this worthy man gave himself over to all actions of bounty and charity , whom , his wife answering her name ( a gift of god indeed ) encouraged therein . he founded , she finished , both 〈◊〉 endowed wadham colledge in oxford , by whose joynt bounty it is become as rich as most , more uniform than any colledge in england . thomas eden d.l. was born in the south-part of sudberry within this county , where his name and family are continued in a worshipfull degree in ballington hall. he was bred fellow and then master of trinity hall in cambridge , a singular good advocate , chancellour of ely , commissary of 〈◊〉 and westminster , professor of law in gresham-colledge , &c. but leaving his ability in his own profession to be praised by others , his charity here comes under our cognizance , who bestowed one thousand pounds on trinity hall , therewith purchasing lands to maintain wax candles in the chappel , an annual commemoration with a latin speech , and other excellent benefactions . he dyed anno ●…moni . leaving a considerable estate , and making mr. iames bunce alderman of london his executor ( though an utter stranger unto him ) on this occasion . the alderman repaired to him for his advice on a will wherein he was executor , desiring from him the true meaning of a clause therein : the doctor returned that the passage in question was equally capable of two several senses ; but tell me ( said mr. 〈◊〉 ) what do you believe in your conscience was the very mind of the testator , being my resolution to perform it what ever it cost me . a speech which stayed with the doctor after the speaker thereof was departed , making such impression in his spirit ; that hence he concluded the alderman a 〈◊〉 person , and deputed him the executor to his own will. i am informed that since the doctors death , a match hath been made between their nearest relations . memorable persons . matilda fitz ▪ walter , by some surnamed the faire ; by others ▪ the chast ; ( qualities admirable when united ) was daughter to that 〈◊〉 knight sir robert fitz walter , of woodham ▪ fitz ▪ walter in this county of whom * before . some would perswade us , that as the trojan-war was occasioned by helena in revenge of her wantonness : so the barons-war , in the raign of king iohn by this matilda , in reward of her chastity , which the king in vain did assault ; though surely the same was too private and personal to cause a national ingagement ; especially the fact being only attempted , not effected . the king banishing her father beyond the seas ( in hope by his absence the 〈◊〉 to compass his desire ) renued his 〈◊〉 with more earnestness , and the same success . for matilda still answered her anagram , tal maid , both in stature and 〈◊〉 of her vertuous resolution ; till at last the king , quia noluit consentire * toxicavit 〈◊〉 , procuring one to poyson her in a poach'd egge ; meat which in the shell may safely be eaten after a 〈◊〉 , out of it , not after a malicious hand . i much admire she was not made a saint , ( a dignity in those dayes conferr'd on some of less desert ) and conceive she had surely been sainted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and found the less favour for being no votarie , but a virgin at large . she was murdered . and lyeth buryed betwixt two pillars in the quire of little-dunmo-church . i have nothing to adde to this story , save to observe that he who procured her poysoning in her 〈◊〉 , was poysoned in his own drink afterwards . simon lynch , son of william lynch gentleman , was born at groves in the parish of 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 . ▪ bred a student in queens colledge in cambridge , and afterwards bishop aylmere his kinsman bestowed on him a small living ( then not worth above 〈◊〉 . per 〈◊〉 ) at north weale nigh epping 〈◊〉 this county , and ●…ly said unto him , play cousin with this a while , till a better comes . but mr. lynch continued therein ( the first and last place of his ministry ) sixty four years . the bishop ●…terwards 〈◊〉 him brent-wood weale , three times better 〈◊〉 north - 〈◊〉 , to whom mr. lynch ( to use his own words ) return'd this answer , that he 〈◊〉 the weal of his 〈◊〉 souls before any other weal whatsoever . he lived sixty one years in wedlock with elizabeth eane his wife . he was an excellent house keeper , 〈◊〉 yet provided well for his ten children . he was buryed at north-wale annò 〈◊〉 . lord mayors . name 〈◊〉 place company time william edwards william edwards hoton grocer robert basset robert basset billenkei salter iohn shaa iohn shaa rochford goldsmith laurence aylmer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 draper william baily iohn 〈◊〉 thackstead draper 〈◊〉 allen richard 〈◊〉 thackstead mercer richard martin thomas martin saffron walden goldsmith thomas 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 skinner walden clothworker 〈◊〉 dean george deane muchdunmowe skinner . the names of the gentry of this county returned by the commissioners , in the 〈◊〉 year of king henry the sixth . ralph bishop of london or his 〈◊〉 generall , the bishop being absent beyond the 〈◊〉 . commissioners to take the 〈◊〉 iohn earl of oxford . henry 〈◊〉 chivaler . knights for the shire . iohn tyrill chivaler . knights for the shire . ioh. mongom . chiv . nich. thorle , chiv . 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 , chiv . edm. benst . chiv . ioh. fitz-sim . chiv . will. golingh . chiv . ludov. ioh. ar . ioh 〈◊〉 , ar . rob. darey , ar . tho. 〈◊〉 , ar . edvar . torell , ar . will. 〈◊〉 , ar . tho. rolf. ioh. teye , arm . tho. knevet , ar . hen. langley , ar . georgii langham ar . ricardi fox , ar . ioh. helyon ar . tho. batyll , ar . tho. henenyngh . ar . ioh. godmanston , ar . rob. hunte , ar . ioh. leventhorp , jun. arm . tho. barington , ar . tho. pynthon , ar . tho. pykenham , ar . galf. robell , ar . hen. chater●…on , ar . tho. storkedale , ar . will. senklere , ar . ioh. godeston , ar . rogeri spyce , ar . tho. bendysh , ar . hug. nayllingh . ar . tho. rigedon ricardi priour ioh. green ioh. basset rogeri deyncourt ioh. poynes ioh. santon ioh malton tho. basset ioh. walchif edm. prest on rob. sudbury ioh. baryngton w●…ll . ardale nich. mortimer hen. aleyn rob. weston ioh. chamber tho. chittern will. aleyn ioh. beche rob. pri●…ur ballivi burgi colcesteri rich. beamond will. gorge balivi burgi de maldon rob. simond de hatfield tho. hardekyn tho. mullyng ioh. gale de farnham ioh. stodehawe tho. aldres egidii lucas ioh. stanford rob. wade tho. blosme will. ga●…ton rob. wright de thurrok . ioh. barowe rob. brook de dedham ioh. steph●…nede de elmestede tho. andrew rich. dykeleygh will. cony ioh. rouchestre ioh. marlere rob. de bury tho. stanes ioh. à benham de witham rich. jocep ioh. berdefeld tho. brentys tho. selers ioh. boreham rob. seburgh hen. maldon ioh. caweston th. mars . de dunmow . ioh. hereward de thapstede ioh. fil. will. atte fan ▪ de eadem reg. bienge de eadem walt. goodmay will. spaldyng hug. dorsete rich. atte more radul . bonyngdon tho. barete radul . de uphavering ioh. gobyon will. scargoyll ioh. shyunyng vvill. higham ioh. riche ioh. veyle senioris ioh. hicheman edm. botere ioh. vvestle vvill. admond ioh. campion rich. sewale vvalt . tybenham ioh. marshant de peldon rich. eylotte ioh. baderok ioh. vvayte de branketre ioh. parke de gestmyngthorp will. manwode hen. hoberd rog. passelewe will. atte cherche will. reynold ioh. sailler rich. billingburgh allani bushe ioh. wormele ioh. glyne rob. ferthyng mart. stainer rob. beterythe rob. smyth de waltham . observations . some part of this county lyeth so near london , that the sound of bow-bell ( befriended with t●…e wind ) may be heard into it . a bell that ringeth the funerall knell to the ancient gentry , who are more healthfull and longer-liv'd in counties at greater distance from the city . r. bishop of london being absent beyond the seas , was robert fitz-hugh , who was twice sent * embassadour into germany , and once unto the pope . john earl of oxford , was john de vere second of that name , and eleventh earl of oxford ; beheaded afterwards anno . in the fifth of king edward the fourth for his loyalty to the house of lancaster . henry bourchier ] here additioned chivaler , appears by all proportion of time and place the self same person , who marryed elizabeth sister to ●…ichard plantaganet duke of york , and who by his nephew king edward the fourth was created earl of essex ▪ he dyed an aged person ▪ i conceive that his father william lord bourchier ( earl of ewe in normandy ) was living when this henry bourchier was chosen knight for the shire ; a place usually conferred on the eldest sons of peers , in the life-time of their fathers . john te●…ryll chivaler ] was chief of that family , rich andnumerous in this county , of exemplary note and principall regard . great thorndon was the place of their sepulture , where their monuments to the church , both ruinous . this name ( if still alive ) lies gasping in this county , but continuing health●…ull in buchingham shire . john mountgomery , chivaler . ] i find him supervisor to the will of sir robert darcy , anno . and conceive that surname since utterly extinct . maurice bruyn , chivaler . ] he had his seat at south-okenton . from the two heirs generall of this family often married , charles branden duke of suffolk , the tirells , berners , harlestons , heveninghams , and others are descended . a branch of the heir-male removed into hant-shire , since into dorset-shire , where they subsist in a right worshipfull equipage . william goldingham , chivaler . ] though the great tree be blasted , a small sprig thereof still sprouteth in this county . john doreward , esq. ] he lived at bocking-doreward , in this county , and was patron of the rich parsonage therein , which no ingenious person will envy to the worthy incumbent doctor john gauden . this john doreward lieth buried in the church with this inscription , hic jacet johannes doreward armiger , qui obiit xxx . die januar. anno domini mil. cccc . lxv . & blancha uxor ejus quae obiit ... die mens ... anno dom. mil. cccc . lx . quorum animabus propitietur deus , amen . claviger aethereus nobis sit janitor almus . robert darcy , ar. ] an ancient name in this county , having danbury ( whilst living ) for their residence ; and the church in maldon ( when dead ) for their sepulture , where there be many of their shamefully defaced monuments . this robert darcy afterwards knighted , by his will made the fifth of october . bequeathed his body to be buried in alhallows-church in maldon before the alter , where his father lyed in a tombe of marble . he willed that forty marks should be disposed for two thousand masses ( four p●…nce a masse ) to be said for his soul , an●… the souls of his relations , within six weeks after his discease ; willing also that every priest in pembroke-hall in cambridge , should have a share of that money , &c. he made elizabeth his wife , and others his executors : the earl of essex , the lord dinham , thomas mountgomery , thomas terryll , supervisors of his will , beseeching them to help his son thomas and all his children . he willed the earl of essex and the lord dinham should have a butt of malmsy , sir thomas mountgomery and sir thomas terryll a pipe of red wine for their pains . thomas darcy his son , esquire of the body to king henry the sixth and edward the fourth , married margaret , one of the d●…ughters and heirs of john harelton of suffolk , esquire . he dyed . of september . as appears by his epitaph on his tombe in the church aforesaid . henry langley , esq. ] he lived at langley-wilebores in the parish of rickling , in the church whereof he lyeth buried with this inscription , hic jacet henricus langley , armiger , qui obiit xx . septemb. m. cccc . lviii . & margareta uxor ejus una filiarum , & haredum johannis waldene , armiger . quae obiit v. martii m. cccc . liii . there is in the same church a monument for his son , the more remarkable , because the last of his family . here lyeth henry langley , esq. and dame catherine his wife , which henry departed this life , ii . april m. cccc . lxxxviii . and dame katherine died .... the year of our lord god ...... .... it is not usuall for the wife of an esq. to be styled dame , except she was daughter to an earl , or relict to a knight . this h●…nry left three daughters , ( portracted on his marble tombe ) betwixt whom his inheritance was divided . thomas heneningham , ] his family flourisheth in norfolk . johannes leventhorp , jun. ar. ] his posterity flourisheth in hertford-shire . thomas baryngton , ar. ] he lived at barington-hall in the parish of hatfield-brad-oake , and lyeth buried in the church with this inscription . hic jacent thomas barington , armig. & anna uxor ejus , qui quidem thomas obiit v. aprilis m. cccc . lxxii . & anna proximo die sequenti , quorum animabus propitietur altissimus . see here a sympathizing wife , dying the next day after her husband , of whom it may be said , he first deceas ▪ d , ●…he for few hours try'd to live without him , lik'd it not , and dy'd . the family is of signall nativity , enriched with large possessions in the raign of king stephen , by the barons of montfitchet ; and since received an accession of honour and estate , by marrying with winifred , daughter and co-heir of henry pole lord montague , son of margaret plantagenet countess of salisbury , descended of the bloud royall . at this day there is a baronet thereof , with other branches of good account . thomas bendysh , ar. ] bomsted in this county was and is the habitation of his family . egidius lucas . ] the name is honourable at this day , and hath a seat with fair possessions near colchester , but how related to this giles , i know not . sure i am , that it appeareth on a window , in the north-side of the church of saxham-parva in suffolk , that anno domini . ( five years before this return of gentry ) one thomas lucas ( kneeling there with his wife in their coat-armours ) was servant , secretary and one of the council , to jasper duke of bedford and earl of pembroke . thomas barret , ] was an esquire of signall note , and the ensuing nameless * manuscript will acquaint us with the time of his death , thomas barryt squ●…r to kyng harry the sixt , oftentimes imployed in the french warrs , under the command of john du●… of bedford ; as also john duc of norfolk , being alway trew leige man to his soveraign lord the king ; having taken sanctuary at westminstre to shon the fury of his and the kings enemyes , was from these hayled forth , and lamentably hewyn a peces , about whilke tym or a lityl before , the lord skales late in an evening entrying a wherry bolt with three persons , and rawghing toowards westminstre , there likewise too have taken sanctuary , was discride by a woman , where anon , the wherry man fell on him , murthered him , and cast his mangled corpes alond by saint marie overys . as for the date of his death , we may learn it out of his epitaph on his tombe in the church of saint martins in the fields london . hic jacet thomas barret prenobilis armiger , qui quidem thomas erat abstractus de sanctuario beati petri westmonasterii , & crudeliter interfectus per manus impiorum contra leges anglie , & totius universalis ecclesie privilegia & jura , anno domini . & anno illustrissimi regis edward . quarti post conquestum primo . sub eod●…m quoque marmoreo lapide johannes barret ejusdem thome primogenitus sepelitur , qui quidem johannes obiit ..... die ..... anno .... this family of the barrets received much wealth by the daughter and heir of bell house , of bellhouse ( an ancient and fair seat in the parish of avely in this county ) and some few years since determined in sir edward barret knight , lord baron of newburg in scotland , chancellor of the duchy of lancaster , a hospitall house-keeper , and founder of an almes-house in avely aforesaid . he adopted lennard esquire ( son to the lord dacres by the daughter of the lord north , ) heir to his estate , on condition he should assume the surname of barret . sheriffs of essex and her●…ford shire . hen. ii. anno rich. basset & albericus de verr. anno rich. de lucy . anno mauricus anno anno mauricus de tireter , for years . anno tullus-bovilla anno nich. decanus , for years . anno nich. decanus & steph. de bell. campo dimid . anno anno rob. mantellus , for years . anno oto . filius willielm . for years . rich. i. anno oto . filius willielm . anno idem . anno galf. filius petri anno galf. filius petri & rich. heriett anno anno galf. filius petri & simon . pateshalla anno will. de long. campo . canc. dom. regis anno reginall . de argento . anno regind . de argent ▪ & hug. de nevil . & hum. de barton . anno hugo de nevill & iohan. de nevill johan . rex . anno hugo . de nevill & iohan. de nevill anno idem . anno rich. de montfitchet & ioh. de cornheard anno rich. de montfitchet anno rich. de montfitchet & ioh. de cornheard anno math. mantell com. for years . anno ioh. mantell anno albic . willielm ▪ filius fulconis anno comes . albericus & idem willielm . for years . anno math. mantell & galf. roinges anno rob. mantell fr. & h. matheus mantell hen. iii. anno anno will. marescallus & ioh. de cornerd anno walt. de udon anno rob. mantell anno steph. de segne & ra●… . filius reginal . anno idem . anno steph. de segne & petr. de s ●o edward . anno rich. de argentoem ▪ & will. de culcword , for years . anno rob. de walsh anno will. de hollewell anno will. de coleworth anno petr. de tany for years . anno bartr . de crioll anno ioh. de walton anno idem . anno rich. de munfitchet , for years . anno will. filius regind . for years . anno rich. de whitsand anno hen. de helegton anno anno idem . anno rad. de ardene anno idem . anno tho. de cameden anno hub. de monte cam. anno idem . anno rich. de taney anno rich. de taney & math. de la mare anno math. de la mare anno ●…dem . anno idem . anno nich. le epigornell anno nich. de sathrich anno idem . anno idem . anno ioh. de kammell & walt ▪ de essex . anno will. de blunvill anno idem . anno walt. de essex edw. i. anno walt. de essex anno idem . anno tho. de sandivic . anno laur. de scio anno idem . anno idem . anno will. de san. caro anno regin . de ginges for●… ●… years . anno idem & will. de lamburne anno idem . anno hugo . de blound anno idem . anno rad. de 〈◊〉 anno idem . anno hen. grap●…ill anno idem . anno will. le grose anno will. de su●…ton anno idem . anno idem . anno simon . de bradenham anno idem . anno idem . anno ioh. de le anno idem . anno will. de harpden anno ioh. de bassenburne anno idem . anno ioh. de la le anno idem . anno ioh. de harpessend edw. ii. anno walt. de bauds anno alanus de goldingham anno idem . anno gafr . de la le , & ioh. de la hay anno idem . anno ioh. aignell anno ioh. ward de hoo anno rich. perers , for years . anno iohan. de vouret & rad. giffard anno idem . anno nich engayn anno idem . anno adam . frances anno tho. gobium anno rich. de perers anno idem . edw. iii. anno rich. perers anno will. baud anno rich. de perers . anno idem . anno ioh. de wanton anno ioh. de la hay & ioh. de wanton anno ioh. de la hay & adam de bloy anno will. baud & adam bloy anno ioh. de coggeshall , for years . anno idem , & will. de wanton anno will. atte moore anno hen. gernet anno idem . anno ioh. de cogeshall anno idem . anno ioh. de cogeshall , for years . anno pet. de boxstede anno tho. lacy anno ioh. de cogeshall anno idem . anno idem . anno hugo . fitz simond anno will. de enefeld anno tho. de chabham anno idem . anno roger. le louth anno idem . anno hugo . blount anno will. de leyre anno guido . de boys anno tho. fittling anno ioh. iernoun anno tho. de helpeston anno ioh. oliver anno tho. chardlowe anno ioh. heuxteworth anno idem . anno tho. basingborn anno will. baud anno ioh. de broumpton anno ioh. filiol anno edw. fitz simond anno ioh. battail anno rob. fitz williams richard i. will. de longo campo cancellarius domini regis . ] this is that insolent bishop of ely , our chroniclers having so much anger at his pride , and no pity at his downfall . he seems a riddle to me , who was lord-chancellour of england , ( a norman by birth ) and could not speak a word of * english. it seems chancery-suits in that age were penned and pleaded in french. king john. hugo . de nevil , & johan . de nevil . ] hugh was he who attended king richard the first , and slew a lyon in the holy-land ; a great benefactour to waltham-abby , in which church , he was * buried . john was his son , to whom mat. * paris giveth this testimony , non ultimus inter angliae nobiles patris sui pedetentim seque●…s vestigia . these worthy persons in my ecclesiasticall history i mistook for the ancestors of ( who were but the allies to ) the honourable family of the nevills , being since informed , that the issue-male of this hugh and john is long since extinct . edward ii. walter de baud . ] this ill-sounding-surname , is both ancient and honorable . * some do deduce it from baden a marquisate in germany , and most sure it is , that they here have flourished . generations , as followeth . . sir * simon baud or bauld knight , died in the holy-land , . . sir nicholas baud knight , died in gallicia in spain , . . sir walter baud knight , died at coringham ( in this county , ) . . sir william baud knight , died at coringham , . . sir walter de baud sheriff this year , died at coringham , . . sir william de baud died at coringham , . . sir john de baud knight , died in gascoigne . . sir william de baud knight , died at hadham-parva , . thrice sheriff under king edward the third . . thomas baud , ( the first esq. of his line ) died at hadham aforesaid . thomas baud , the second esq. died at hadham , . he was sheriff in the . of king henry the sixth . . sir thomas baud knight , died in london , . . john baud esq. died at coringham , . the bauds held land in this county , of the dean and chapter of saint pauls , by paying a fee-buck and doe in their seasons . they were brought ( alive , as i take it ) in procession to the high-altar in the church , where the dean and chapter met them , apparalled in copes ( embroydered with bucks and does , the gift of the bauds to their church ) with garlands of roses on their heads , and then the keeper who brought them * blowed their deaths , which was answered by the company of horners in london , resounding the same . other ceremonies were used better befitting their mouths , who cried out † great is diana of the ephesians , then the ministers of the gospell . some seem'd to excuse it as done in commemoration of the property of that place * altered to a christian-church , from a temple of diana . i suspect the bauds extinct in essex , and understand them extant in northamton-shire . sheriffs of essex and hertford-shire . name place armes rich. ii.     anno     rob. goldington   argent , lions passant azure . ioh. fitz-simonds   argent , escoucheons gules . edw. bensted     ioh. seawale   s. a cheveron betwixt gaddbees argent . will. godmanston     galf. de dersham     tho. battaile   g. a griffon sergriant within a border engrailed or. ioh. walton   argent , a flower de luce g. galf. brockhole     ioh. rigwin     idem .     hen. english     walt. atte lee     galf. michell     will. cogeshall , m. cogshal arg. a cross between escalops sable . adam . frances     tho. cogeshall ut prius   tho. sampkin     will bateman   sab. lions dormant argent . idem . ut prius   idem . ut prius   idem . ut prius   hen. iv.     anno     edw. bensted     ioh. heward , & will. marvy     helmingus legett   ermine , a lion ramp . gules . tho. swinborn   gul. boars-heads couped and crusyle of crosses argent . idem . ut prius   edw. bensted     gerar , braibrooke   〈◊〉 . mascells conjoyned , , . and . gules . elming . legett ut prius   will. loveney     ioh. walden     tho. aston   per fess arg. and sa. in fess flower de luces , lying each to other betw . mullets counterchanged . will. cogeshall ut prius   hen. v.     anno     ioh. tirrel heron arg. cheverons az. within a border engrailed g , ioh. hayward , mil.     tho. barre , mil.     lodow. johan .     regin . malyns     ioh. haward , mil.     rob. darcy danbury argent , cinquefoiles gules lodov joh●…n .     s idem , & will. loveny     hen. vi.     anno     ioh. tirrell ut prius   maur. bruyn , mil : s. okentō azure , a cross molin●… or. ioh. barley   ermine , barrs wavey sable . ioh. doreward bocking   conandus aske     tho. tirrell ut prius   ioh. hotoft     nich. rikhull     hen. langley rickling   nich. thorley , mil.     ioh. durward     rob. whittington     galf. rokhill     maur. bruyn , mil. ut prius   edw. tirrell ut prius   rich. alread     rob. whittington     rich. whitherton     ioh. tirrell ut prius   rad. astley     ●… nich morley   arg. a lion ramp . s. crown'd ' or. ioh. hende     tho. tirrell ut prius   tho. pigot     tho. baud coringham gules , cheverons argent . ioh. hende , jun.     geo. langham   arg. a fess g. and a label of points az. galf. rockhill     phil. bottiller wood-hall gu. a fess compone a●…g . and s. betwixt crosses croslets o●… , tho. barington , ar . barringtō-h . arg. cheverons gul. a label of points azure . ioh. godmanston     tho. cobham , mil.     hum. bahun     rich. bothe     ioh. h●…nde , jun.     lodovi. jo●…n     rad. darcy ut prius   tho. tirrell , mil. ut prius   edw. iv.     anno     tho. ju●…     tho. langley , ar .     idem .     ioh. clay , mil.     rog. ree , ar .     la●… . rainford , mil.     hen. barley , ar . ut prius   will. firlon , mil.     walt. writell , ar .     rad bamde , ar .     walt. writell , ar .     rog. ree , mil.     alur . cornbrugh , ar .     ioh. sturgion , ar .     rich. hant , ar .     hen. langley , ar .     will. green , ar .   arg. a cross ingrailed gules . alur . cornburgh     ioh. wode     ioh. sturgion     tho. tirrell ut prius   ioh. fortescu , ar .   azu . a bend engrailed argent cotissed or. rich. iii.     anno     will. say   quarterly or and gules . ioh. sturgeon     rob. percy , mil. & ioh. fo●…telcu , mil. ut prius   hen. vii .     anno     ioh. fortescu , mil. ut prius   hen. marny , ar .   gul. a lion ramp . gardant arg. will pirton , mil.   ermine . on a cheveron ingrailed az. leopards-heads or. hen. teye , ar .   arg. a fess betw . mar●…ets in chief , and a chev. in base az. ioh bottiler , ar . ut prius   rob. turbervile dorse . ermin a lion ramp . g. crow●…d or. ioh. berdefeild , ar .     hen. marny ut prius   rich. fitz-lewis , m. thorndō e. sab. a cheveron betwixt trefoiles arg. rob plummer     will. pulter hitching argent , a bend voided sable . rob. newport , ar . pethāfurnis   tho. perient , ar . diggswell gules , cre●…sents argent . ioh. verney , mil.   az. on a cross arg. mullets g. rog. wentworth , m.   sa. a chev. betwixt leopards-heads or. hen. teye , mil. ut prius   will. pirton , ar . ut prius   hum. torrell , ar .   g. bulls-heads couped or. will. skipwith , ar . linco . arg. barrs g. in chief a greyhound cursant s. idem . ut prius   rob. darcy , ar . ut prius   ioh. broket , ar . brocket-ha . or , a cross patonce sable . idem . ut prius   hum. torell , ar . ut prius   hen. viii .     anno     ioh. levinthorpe , ar .   arg. a bend gobonated g. & s. betw . cotisses of the second . will. litton , ar . kebworth ermin , on a chief indented az. crowns ducal or. anth. darcy , ar . ut prius   edw. tirrell , ar . ut prius   ioh. seintler , ar .     will. fitz-williams   lozeng●… , argent and gules . ioh veer , ar .   quarterly g. and or in the first a mullet argent . wist . browne , mil.     tho tirrell , mil. ut prius   ioh cut , mil.   arg. on a bend ingrailed sa. plates . ioh. veer , mil. ut prius   tho. bonham , ar .     tho. teye , mil. ut prius   ioh. christmas , ar .     hen. barley , ar . ut prius   ioh. veer , mil. ut prius   tho leventhorp , ar . ut prius   tho. bonham , ar .     edw. tirrell , ar . ut prius   egid. capell , mil. hadham g. a lion ramp . betwixt crosses botonie fitchie or. ioh. bollis , ar . wallingtōh . arg. on a cheveron betwixt boars-heads cooped s. as many scallops or , within a border vert b●…antee . ioh. broket , ar . ut prius   ioh. smith , ar .     phil. butler , mil. ut prius   bri. tuke , mil.   partee per fess indented az. & g. lions passant in pale or. will. west . mil.     tho. perient , sen. ar . ut prius   hen. parker , mil.   arg. a lion passant g. between bars s. ther●…n besants , in ●…hief as many bucks-heads cabosed of the third . ioh. rainsford , m.     ioh. smith , ar .     phil. butler , mil. ut prius   ioh. mordant , mil. bed . sh . arg. a cheveron inter estoiles sable . rad. rowlet , ar . st. albansh .   ioh. bowles , & ioh. sewstes ut prius   ioh. wentwarth , ar . ut prius   anth. cook , ar . gidy-hall . e. or. a cheveron chekee gu. and az. betwixt cinque-foiles of the last . rob. litton , ar . ut prius   ioh. coningsby & * south mim .   edr. broket ut prius * g. conies seiant within a border ingrailed argent . edw. vi.     anno     edw. broket , ar . ut prius   ioh. cook , ar . ut prius   ioh. gates , mil. high easter   geor. norton , mil.     hen. tirrell , mil. ut prius   tho. pope , mil.   partee per pale or a●…d az. on a cheveron between griffins-heads erazed , flower de luces all counter-changed . phil. & mar.     anno     ioh. wentworth , m. ut prius   edw. broket , ar . ut prius   will. harris , ar . & tho. sylesden , ar .   or , on a bend az. cinquefoils of the field . ioh. botler , mil. ut prius   tho. pope , mil. ut prius   tho. mildmay , ar . chelmesford argent , lions rampant az. eliz. reg.     anno     rad. rowlet , mil.     edw. capell , mil. ut prius   tho. golding , mil.   gul. a cheveron or enter besants . tho. barington , ar . ut prius   hen. fortescu , ar . ut prius   will. ayliffe , ar .   sab. a lion ramp . or. coller'd gul. between crosses patee o●… the second . rob. chisler , ar .     ioh. buket , ar .     sheriffs of this shire alone . name place armes eliz. reg.     geor. tuke , esq . ut prius   tho. lucas , esq . colchester arg. a fess betwixt annulets gules . tho. golding , kni . ut prius   iam. altham , esq . mark-hall   edw. barret , esq . bel-house   tho. mildmay , kni ut prius   arth. harris , esq . ut prius   edw. pirton , esq . ut prius   ioh. peter , kni . writtle gul. a bend between escalops argent . wistan . brown , esq .     gab. pointz , esq .   barry of eight or and gules . edw. huddleston , es . cambr . gules , frettee argent . hen. capell , esq . ut prius   tho. barington , kn . ut prius   & tho. darcy , esq . ut prius   ioh. wentworth ut prius   thomas tay , esq . ut prius   tho. lucas , kni . ut prius   hen. apleton , esq .   arg. a fess ingrailed betwixt apples g. sliped v●…rt . bria . darcy , esq . ut prius   arth. harris , esq . ut prius   rob. wroth , esq . loughton arg. on a bend sa. leopards-heads erased of the first , crowned or. edm. hudleston , k. ut prius   gabr. poyns , esq . ut prius   rad. wiseman , esq .   s. a cheveron ermine betwixt cronells of spears arg. ric. warren , esq .     ioh. wentworth , es . ut prius   hum. mildmay , esq . ut prius   will. ayloffe , esq . braxted ut prius . edw. saliard , esq .     geo. harvey , esq .     tho. mildmay , esq ut prius   will. harris , esq . ut prius   ier. weston , esq .   or , an eagle displayed sab. the head regardant . tho. meade , kni .   gu. a cheveron ermine betwixt trefoiles arg. hen. smith , esq .     rich. franke , esq .     hen. maynard , kni . & . iac. easton arg. a cheveron az. betwizt hands gules . jac. rex .     anno     hen. maynard , kni . ut prius   tho. rawlins , esq .   s. swords barrways blads ar. hilts or. ioh. sammes , kni . *     gam . capel , kni . ut prius * or a lion ramp . s. vulnerated in the mouth . hen. maxey , kni †     rog. aple●…on . esq . ut prius † gu. a fess betwixt talbots-heads erased arg. tho. mildmay , kni . ut prius   ioh. dean , kni .   sable , a fess ermine betwixt chaplets arg. tho. wiseman , kni . ut prius   hen. leigh , kni .     ro. worth , mort. & edrus . elrington , es . * ut prius * ar. a fess d●…uncette s. 〈◊〉 between cornish-choughs above below . har. g●…imston , kn . † bradfield   will. smith , esq .   † arg. on a fess s. spur-rowels or. tho. lucas , esq . ut prius   pau. bayning , k & b. bentley   tho. bendish , bar . bumsted arg. a chev. betwixt rams-heads ●…rased azure . will. smith , kni .     will. pert , esq .   arg. on a bend azu . mascalls or. ste. soame , kni .     tho. ●…ourney , kni .     caro. prat , esq .     ●… edr. b●…telar , esq . ut prius   char. rex .     anno     arth. harris , kni . ut prius   hug. everard , esq much-walt . ar●… . a fess 〈◊〉 betw . sta●… g. tho. nightingale , ●… . newport-p . ermine , a rose gules . hen. mildmay , kni . graces ut prius . edr. allen , bar . hat●…eld pri. sab. a cross potent or. tho. bendish , bar .   ut prius . ioh me●…de , kni . ut prius   hen smith , esq .     ric. saltonstall , kn . woodham-mortimere   cran. harris , kni .   ut prius . hum. mildmay , kni . danbury ut prius . ioh. lucas , esq . ut prius   will. lucking , bar . waltham sable a fess indented betwixt leopards-heads or. will. wiseman , bar . canfield-h . ut prius . marl. lumley , esq . bardfield m.   rob. luckin , esq . ut prius   rob. smith , esq .         tim. middleton , esq     rich. everard , bar . ut prius   ric. harlakenden , e.   azure a fess ermine betwixt lions-heads reased or. az. on a fess or. a lion passant g. in chief bezantis . ioh. pyot , esq .     henry vi. philip bottiller . ] he was son to sir philip bottiller knight , who lieth buried in walton-church in hertfordshire , with the following inscription , hic jacet corpus domini philippi butler militis , quondam domini de woodhall , & hujus ecclesie patroni , qui obiit in festo sancti leonardi , anno domini m. cccc . xxi . & regis henrici quinti post conquestum ultimo . cujus anime propitietur deus , amen . these butlers are branched from sir ralph butler baron of wem in shropshire , and his wife heir to william pantulfe , lord of wem , soon after the entry of the normans ; and still flourish in deserved esteem , at wood-hall in hertford-●…hire . henry vii . henry marny , ar. ] till disproved with clear evidence to the contrary , this henry marny esquire , shall pass with me for him who was then servant , afterwards executor to the kings mother , the lady margaret countess of richmond . the very same , who afterwards was knighted , made chancellor of the dutchy , and created lord marny by king henry the eighth , and whose daughter and sole heir elizabeth , was with a fair inheritance married to thomas howard viscount bindon . john christmas , ar. ] such will not wonder at his surname , who have read the romans cognominated ja●…arius , aprilis , &c. yea , festus * himself is well known in scripture , probably so called from being born on some solemn festivall , the occasion , no doubt , of this sheriffs surname at the first . if the name be extinct in essex , it remaineth in other counties , and the city of london , where ...... christmas esquire ( a great promoter of my former and present endeavours ) must not by me be forgotten . henry viii . william fitz-williams , ar. ] i cannot exactly design his habitation , but conceive it not far from waltham abby , in the south west part of this county ; because , he bequeathed * . pounds to mend the high-ways , betwixt chigwell and copers-hall . he was afterwards knighted by king henry the eighth , on a worthy occasion , whereof hereafter , in his sheriffalty of north-hampton-shire in the . of king henry the eight . he bequeathed . pounds to poor maids marriages , . pounds , to the university , &c. and delivering a catalogue of his debtors into the hands of his executors , he freely forgave all those , over whose names he had written * amore dei remitto . brian tuke , knight . ] he was treasurer of the chamber to king henry the eight , ( as appears by his epitaph ) and dying anno . lyeth buried with dame grissel his wife ( deceasing two years after him ) under a fair tombe in the north isle of the quire of saint margarets in lothbury , london . lealand giveth him this large commendation , that he was anglicae linguae eloquentiâ mirificus . * bale saith , that he wrot observations on chaucer ; as also against polidore virgill , for injuring the english , of whom then still alive , he justly and generously demanded reparations , though since his unresponsable memory can make us no satisfaction . edward vi. sir john gates . ] he was descended from sir geffry gates knight , who , as appears by his epitaph in the church of high-eastern , bought the mannor of garnets in that parish of one koppenden , gentleman . this sir geffry was six years captain of the isle of wight , and marshall of callis , and there kept with the pikards worschipfull warrys : ( reader it is the language of his epitaph ) and died anno dom. . as for this sir john gates knight , descendant from the said sir jeffry , he is heavily charged with sacriledge in our histories , and ingaging with john dudley duke of northumberland in the title of queen jane , he was beheaded the . of august the first of queen mary . queen elizabeth . ralph rowlet , knight . ] he married * one of the learned daughters of sir anthony cook , sister to the wives of the lord chancellour bacon and treasurer cecill . his family is now extinct , one of his daughters marrying into the then worshipfull ( since honorable ) family of the mainards , and with her devolved a fair inheritance . . james altham , esq. ] his armes ( casually omitted in our list ) were , pally of six , ermin and azure , on a chief gules , a lyon rampant , or. his name-sake , and direct descendent , now living at markhall , made knight of the bath at the coronation of king charles the second , addeth with his accomplished civility to the honor of his ancestors . king james . . henry mainard , kt. ] he was father to william maynard , bred in saint john's colledge in cambridge , ( where he founded a logick professor ) created baron of wicklow in ireland , and easton in this county , whose son william lord maynard hath been so noble an encourager of my studies , that my hand deserveth to wither , when my heart passeth him by without a prayer for his good successe . . paul banning , kt. and bar. ] no doubt the same person , who afterwards was created viscount banning of sudbury . his son was bred in christ-church , of most hopeful parts ( descended from the sackvils by the mother-side ) and promising high performance to his country ; but alas cut off in the prime of the prime of his life . he left two daughters which ( though married ) left no issue ; so that his large estate will be divided betwixt the children of his four sisters , wives to the marquess of dorchester , viscount grandison , the lord dacres of the south , and henry murrey , esq of the bed-chamber to king charles . king charles . john lucas , esq ] this worthy person equalling his extraction with his vertues , was at oxford , made baron by king charles the first . i understand he hath one sole daughter ( to whom i wish a meet consort , adequate to her birth and estate ) seeing the barony , began in this lord , is suspicious in him to determine . the battels . though none in this county , ( the heart of the eastern association ) yet the siege [ anno . ] of colchester must not be forgotten . know then that the remnant of the royalists routed in kent , with much difficulty recovered this county , the parliliaments forces pursuing them . march much farther they could not , such their weariness and want of accommodation : bid battel to their numerous foes they durst not , which was to run in the jaws of ruine , wherefore they resolved to shelter themselves for a time in colchester . reader , pardon a digression ▪ winchester castle was by the long-parliament ordered to be made untenable ; but the over-officious malice of such who executed the order ( wilfully mistaking the word ) made it untenantable . to apply the distinction to 〈◊〉 ; all men beheld it as tenantable , full of faire houses , none as tenable in an hostile way for any long time , against a great army . but see what diligence can do : in few days they fortified it even above imagination . indeed the lining of the wall was better than the faceing thereof , whose stone outside was ruinous , but the in-side was well filled up with earth , which they valiantly maintained . nor was it general fairfax they feared so much , as general famine , ( that grand conqueror of cities ) having too much of the best sauce , and too little of the worst meat . insomuch , that they were fain to make mutton of those creatures which kill she●…p , and beefe of cattel which never wore horns , till they were forced to submit to the worst , ( but best they could get ) of conditions . here those two worthy knights , sir charles lucas , and sir george lisle ( the one eminently a whole troop of horse , the other a company of foot ) were cruelly sentenced and shot to death ; whose bodies have since had a civil resurrection , restored to all possible outward honour , by publick funerall solemnities . the farewell . i wish the sad casualties may never return , which lately have happened in this county . the one . in the hundred of * dengy , the other . in the hundred of rochford and isle of foulness ( rented in part by two of my credible parishoners , who attested it , having paid dear for the truth thereof , ) whe●… an army of mice , nesting in ant-hills , as conies in burroughs , shaved off the grass at the bare roots , which withering to dung was infectious to cattle . the march following , numberless flocks of owls from all parts flew thither , and destroyed them , which otherwise had ruined the country , if continuing another year . thus , though great the distance betwixt a man and a mouse , the meanest may become formidable to the mightiest creature by their multitudes ; and this may render the punishment of the philistines more clearly to our apprehensions , at the same time pestered with * mice in their barns , and pained with emerods in their bodies . gloucester-shire . gloucester-shire hath worcester and warwick-shire on the north , oxford and wilt-shire on the east , somerset-shire on the south , hereford-shire , with the river wye on the west , extending from her south to north avon . miles , but lessened in her broadest part from east to west , to twenty eight . the severne runneth through it , entring this county as a river encreasing in it to an eastuary , and becometh little lesse than a sea before it departs out of it . some * affirm that this county was anciently like the land of gerar , wherein * isaac sowed and reaped an hundred fold ( the greatest proportion of encrease which the good ground in the * parable brought fourth . ) but the same men seem to insinuate , that this shire tired out with its over ▪ fruitfulnesse , hath become barren in these later times . true it is , as lions are said to be tamed by watching , not suffering them to take any sleep ; so the most generous and vigorus land , will in time be imbarrened , when always pinched with the plough , and not permitted to slumber at all , and lie fallow some competent time ; otherwise with moderate respite and manuring , some tillage in this county is as fruitful as in any other place . as for pasturage , i have heard it reported from credible persons , that such the fruitfulness of the land nigh slimbrige , that in spring time let it be bit bare to the roots , a wand laid along therein over night , will be covered with new-grown grasse by the next morning . natural commodities . tobacco . this lately grew in this county , but now may not . it was first planted about winchcomb , and many got great estates thereby , notwithstanding the great care and cost in planting , replanting , transplanting , watering , snailing , suckering , topping , cropping , sweating , drying , making and rowling it . but it hath been prohibited of late by act of parliament , as hindering our english plantation in the west indies , abating the revenues of the state in customs and impost , and spoiling much of our good ground , which might be employed for corn or cattel . as for the praise of tobacco , with the vertues thereof , they may better be performed by the pens of such writers , whose pallates have tasted of the same . oak . england hath the best in the world , not for finenesse , but firmnesse . indeed out-landish oaks have a smaller grain , and therefore fitter for wainscot ; and whilest they make the best linings , our english oak is the substantial out-side . the best in england is in dean forrest in this county , and most serviceable for shipping ; so tough , that when it is dry , it is said to be as hard as iron . i have * read , that in the reign of queen elizabeth , the spaniard sent an embassador over purposely to get this wood destroyed ( by private practices and cunning contrivances ) who had he effected his embassie , deserved a good reward at his return . it is suspicious if not timely prevented , carelesness and waste will gratifie the spaniard , with what then he could not accomplish . steele . it is eldest brother of iron , extracted from the same oare , differing from it not in kind , but degree of purity , as being the first running thereof . it is more hard and brittle ( whilest iron is softer and tougher ) useful for the making of english knives , sit●…es , sisers , shears , &c. but fine edges cannot be made thereof , as lancets for letting of blood , incision knives , dissecting knives , razors , &c. i have been informed that sir bafil brooke ( the great steele-maker in this county ) his patent to prohibit the importing of forraign steele , was revoked on this account , because that no artist could make the aforesaid instruments of english steele , but must have it from damascus , spain , flanders , &c. as for iron , though plentiful in this , it may be treated of in another county with more conveniency . manufactures . cloathing . as good as any in england for finenesse and colour , is wrought in this county , where the cloathiers have a double advantage . first , plenty of the best wooll growing therein on cots wold-hills ; so that whereas cloathiers in some counties fetch their wooll far off , with great cost , it is here but the removing it from the backs of the sheep into their works houses . secondly , they have the benefit of an excellent water for colouring their cloath , being the sweet rivolet of strowd , which arising about branfield , runneth crofs this shire into the severn . now no rational man will deny occult qualities of perfection in some above other waters ( whereby spanish steele non natura sed tinctura , becomes more tough than ours in england ) as the best reds ( a colour which always carried somewhat of magistracy therein ) are died in strowd water . hence it is , that this shire hath afforded many wealthy cloathiers , whereof some may seem in their loomes to have interwoven their own names into the cloaths , called ( webs-cloath and clutterbucks ) after the names of the first makers of them , for many years after . mustard . the best in england ( to take no larger compasse ) is made at tewksberry in this county . it is very wholesome for the clearing of the head moderately taken , and i believe very few have ever surfeited thereof , because not granted time , but demanded present payment for the penalty of excesse , turning democritus himself presently to heraclit●… , as the * husband-man poetdoth observe , seque lacessenti fletum factura sinapis . it is generally used in england , and the jest is well known of two serving-men , contesting about superiority ; my master ( saith the one ) spends more in mustard , than thine does in beefe ; whereunto the other returned , the more sawcy men his followers . but seriously this should raise our gratitude to god for the plentiful provisions of flesh and fish spent in this land , when mustard , a meer complement to both , amounteth to more thousands of pounds by the year than will be believed . wine . this formerly grew in this county , but now doth not , witness the many places therein still called vineyards , whereof one most eminent nigh gloucester , the palace of the bishop ; and it appears by ancient records , that some towns in this shire paid rent-wines in great proportions ; so that england , though it doth not ferre vinum , is ferax vini , capable ( especially in a hot summer ) to produce it to good perfection . but in later ages this commodity hath been disused , partly because better and cheaper may be procured from beyond the seas , and partly because experience proveth other native liquors more healthful for our english bodies . sider . we must not forget sider , anciently a native of this , since a free denizon of all other counties , made of apples here grown in hedge-rows ( which both fence and feed ) in great abundance . such * who deduce sider from the latine sicera as that from the hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ( signifying any liquor which immoderately taken doth intoxicate ) make a more proper allusion therein , than true deduction thereof . the portugal calls it vinho contrafeyto , and surely much claret and white is vended in england which grew in no other grapes than what apple-trees afford . some maintain , that the coldness and windiness ( easily correctable with spice ) is recompenced by the temperate looseness caused by the moderate drinking thereof . but the staple use of sider is at sea , where it quencheth thirst better than other liquor , and if subject to corrupt in hot countries , quickly purgeth it self to a pure constitution . buildings . the abbey ( since cathedral ) church of gloncester , is a beautiful building , advanced by several successive abbots . it consisteth of a continued window-work , but hath the loudest praises from the whispering-place therein . take its manner from that learned author , who ( though it seems never seeing it ) hath by his steady aim in philosophy , better guessed and described it than i , who have been an eare and eye witnesse thereof . * there is a church at gloucester ( and as i have heard , the like is in some other places ) where , if you speak against a wall , softly , another shall hear your voice better a good way off , than near hand . enquire more particular of the frame of that place . i suppose there is some vault , or hollow , or isle behind the wall , and some passage to it , towards the farther end of that wall , against which you speak ; so as the voice of him that speaketh , slideth along the wall , and then entreth at some passage , and communicateth with the air of the hollow ; for it is preserved somewhat by the plain wall , but that is too weak to give a sound audible , till it hath communicated with the back air. the church in all the siege of the city , and our civil wars was decently preserved ; which i observe to his commendation , who was the governor thereof . since i have read that by act of parliament it was setled on the city to maintain and repair , and hope their practice hath proved precedential to other places in the same nature . as for civil structures in this county , our late wars laid a finger on barkley , their arme on sudeley castle ( seated where the vailes and vvoulds meet ) and the fair clasp to joyn them together being in part pluck'd down . but their loynes have been laid on cambden-house ( one of the newest and neatest in england ; built by baptist hicks viscount cambden ) pressed down to the very foundation . wonders . there are frequently found ( at alderley in this county ) oysters , cockles , and periwincles of stone . such , who conceive these were formerly real shell fish , brought so far by some accident into the land , engage themselves in a sea of inextricable difficulties . others more probably account them to be lusus naturae ; and know , that as * the foolishnesse of god is wiser than men , and the weaknesse of god is stronger than men : so the disportings of the god of nature are more grave than the most serious employment of men . for , such riddles are propounded on purpose to pose those profoundshallow rabbies , counting themselves of the cabinet , when they are scarcely of the common councel of nature ; so unable to read such riddles , that they cannot put the letters thereof together , with any probability . the higre . men as little know the cause of the name , as the thing thereby signified . some pronounce it the eagre , as so called from the keennesse and fiercenesse thereof . it is the confluence or encounter ( as supposed ) of the salt and fresh water in severne , equally terrible with its flashings and noise to the seers and hearers , and oh how much more then to the feelers thereof . if any demand , why the thames hath not an higre as well as the severne , where we find the same cause , and therefore why meet we not with the same effects ? i re-demand of them , why is there not an euripus with the same reciprocation of tides , as well about the other cyclides , as euboea alone ? thus in cases of this kind , it is easier to ask ten , than answer one question with satisfaction . but hear how the * poet describeth this higre ; — until they be imbrac't in sabrins soveraign armes : with whose tumultuous waves , shut up in narrower bounds , the higre wildy raves ; and frights the stragling flocks , the neighbouring shores to fly a far as from the main it comes with hideous cry . and on the angry front , the curled ●…oam doth bring the billows 'gainst the banks , when fiercely it doth fling , hurles up the slimy ooze , and makes the scaly brood leap madding to the land , affrighted from the flood ; oreturns the toyling barge , whose steers-man doth not lanch , and thrusts the furrowing beak into her ireful panch . as when we haply see a sickly woman fall into a fit of that which we the mother call ; when from the grieved womb she feels the pain arise , breaks into grievous sighs , with intermixed cries , bereaved of her sence ; and strugling still with those that 'gainst her rising pain their utmost strength oppose , starts , tosses , tumbles , strikes , turns , touses , spurns , and sprauls , casting with furious limbs her holders to the walls : but that the horrid pangs torments the grieved so , one well might muse from whence this sudden strength should grow : all that i will adde is , that had this been known to the roman * poet , when he thus envied against his shee-friend , tu levior cortice , & improbo iracundior adria — thou art more light , more angry than the cork , and uncouth adrian . i say , had it been known , he would have changed adria into higrea , the former being a very calme in comparison of the later . we will conclude all with that , which at first was a wonders fellow , until the strangeness thereof abated by degrees . there is a kind of bird as yet not known by any proper name , which cometh in great companies , but seldom in this county . yet oftner than welcome . in bulk not much bigger than a sparrow , which may seem to carry a saw , or rather a sithe on his mouth , for with his bill which is thwarted crosse-wise at the end , he will shave or cut an apple in two at one snap , eating only the kernels thereof , spoyling more than he doth devour . they come about harvest time , when apples begin to be ripe ; so that these birds may be said to drink up many hogs-heads of sider , as destroying them in their causes , and preventing the making thereof . the like have been seen in cornwall , where at first they were taken ( saith my * author ) for a forboden token , understand him for a presage of ill success . proverbs . as sure as god's in gloucester-shire . ] this proverb is no more fit to be used than à toad can be wholsom to be eaten , which can never by mountebancks be so dieted and corrected , but that still it remains rank poyson . some i know seek to qualifie this proverb , making god eminently in this ( but not exclusively out of other ) counties ; where such the former fruitfulness thereof , that it is * said to return the seed with increase of an hundred fold . others find a superstitious sense therein , supposing god by his gracious presence more peculiarly fixed in this country , wherein there were more and richer mitred abbeys than in any two shires of england besides ▪ but when all is done , the best use of this proverb is totally and finally to banish it out of the mouths and minds of all mankind . you are a man of duresley . ] it is taken for one that breaks his word , and faileth in performance of his promises , ●…llel to fides graeca , or fides punica . duresly is a market and cloathing town in 〈◊〉 ●…ounty , the inhabitants whereof will endeavour to confute and disprove this 〈◊〉 , to make it false now , whatsoever it was at the first original thereof . 〈◊〉 , the worst places , in the midst of epidemical viciousness , have afforded some exceptions from the wickled rule therein , * the cretians are always lyars , was the observation of a poet , and application of the apostle ; yet we find some cretians whom the holy spirit alloweth for * devout men . thus sure i am , there was a man of dur●…sley , who was a man of men , edward fox by name , a right godly and gracious prelate , of whom * hereafter . however the men of duresly have no cause to be offended with my inserting this proverb , which if false , let them be angry with the author , the first man that made it ; if true , let them be angry with the subject , even themselves who deserve it . it is long in coming as cotswold barley . ] it is applied to such things as are slow but sure . the corn in this cold county on the wowlds exposed to the winds , bleak and shelterless , is very backward at the first , but afterwards overtakes the forwardest in the county , if not in the barn , in the bushel , both for the quantity and goodness thereof . he looks as if he had liv'd on tewksbury mustard . ] it is spoken partly of such who always have a sad , severe , and tetrick countenance . si ecastor hic homo * sinapi victitet , non censeam tam tristem esse posse . partly on such as are snappish , captious , and prone to take exceptions , where they are not given , such as will crispare nasum , in derision of what they slight or neglect . the traces have always the wind in their faces . ] this is founded on fond and false tradition , which reporteth that ever since sir william tracy was most active amongst the four knights , which killed thomas becket ; it is imposed on tracies for miraculous penance , that whether they go by land or by water , the wind is ever in their faces . if this were so , it was a favour in a hot summer to the females of that family , and would spare them the use of a fan. but it is disproved by daily experience , there being extant at this day in this county two houses , the one honourable , the other worshipful , growing from the same root ; so that we see it is not now , and therefore believe that it was never true . if any say that after so many generations this curse at last is antiquated , know , that according to popish principles , it deserved rather to be doubted of late , seeing no gentile family in england since the reformation have more manifested their cordial disaffection to popery by their sufferings and writings , as hereafter will appear . princes . i cannot discover any prince who took his first ●…andsel of life in this county . let not my unhappinesse discourage the industry of others in their enquiry herein . saints . kenelme , son of kenwolfe , king of mercia , succeeded his father therein , being a child but of seven years old , so that his harmless years had not attained to any worldly guile , and his vertuous inclination promised great hopes , when quenrid his ambitious sister , caused him to be kill'd , as standing in her way to the crown . solomon * saith , curse not the king ( much less kill him ) no not in thy thought , for a bird in the air shall carry the voice , and that which hath wings shall tell the matter , that is , a discovery shall surely and swiftly be made , by remote , unsuspected , and improbable means , whereby it is thought the murder of this infant-king was reve●…led . but i cannot belive what the golden legend relates , how a white dove ( which belike had seen the deed done ) got it engrossed in parchment , and posting to s. peters in rome , laid it on the high altar to be read , where in the saxon character it was thus found , at clenc in a cow-pasture kenelme the kings child lieth beheaded under a thorn. others * say ( agreeing in all other particulars ) the discovery was made by an angel , and for fear they should fall out , it may be thus accommodated , that the angel was in a dove-like apparition . as for his sister quenrid , she was so far from getting the crown , that she is said to have lost her eyes , which fell out of her head , and bloodied her primer ( a womans book , as it seems , in that age ) whilest her brothers corps was solemny buried at winchcomb , and had in holy veneration . martyrs . james baynam , esquire , son to sir * alexander baynam , knight , was born at — in this county , bred in learning and knowledge of the latine and greek tongues . he afterward became a student of the law in the middle temple , and when a pleader , was charitable to the poor , in giving ; to the rich , in moderating his fees ; and what was the crown of all the rest , a true lover of the gospel , in the dawning of reformation . saint paul saith , * it is appointed for all men once to dye , and yet the same apostle saith of himself , * in deaths often , so many and great his pains and perils . and truly our baynam encountered often with death , so that a little book of martyrs might be made of his sufferings . first , sir thomas moore sent for him to chelsey , and tying him to a tree in his garden , ( called by him the tree of truth ) caused him to be most cruelly scourged , to make him renounce his opinion . this not succeding , sir thomas himself saw him cruelly racked in the tower , till at last he was perswaded to abjure , and solemnly carried a torch and a faggot in the church of st. pauls . hereby he rather exchanged than escaped the fire , finding such a fire in his own conscience , he could not be at quiet , till in the church of st. augustines , the next parochial church to st. pauls , ( that the antidote might be brought as near as he could conveniently to the place of the poison ) he publickly recanted his recantation : for which he was afterwards kept a fortnight in stocks in the bishop of londons cole house , with irons upon him , chained again by sir thomas more to a post two nights , cruelly handled for a seven-night at fulham , scourged for a fortnight in the tower , and at last sent to a second tree of truth , i mean , to the stake ; whereat he was burned in smithfield , april . . here * mr. fox reports a passage , which i cannot with credit insert , or omit , but take it as i find it ; when his armes and legs were half consumed in the fire , he spake these words ; o ●…e papists , behold , ye look for miracles , and here now you may see a miracle , for in this fire i feel no more pain , than if i were in a bed of downe ; but it is to me as sweet as a bed of roses . soft and sweet both , to please the touch and smell , a double wonder . i believe it might be a falshood , but no lye in the author reporting it , who possibly might be abused in his intelligence . secondly , it is possible that this good man , feeling so much pain before , might through gods goodnesse have none at his death . thirdly , this story may be kept on the deck , to counterpoise the scales , against that of father * briant a popish priest , who reported himself cruelly racked in the tower , and yet , se nihil quicquam doloris sensisse , that he felt not any pain at all . lastly , though our saviour ju●…ly taxeth those , who were * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , slow in heart to believe such things as were revealed in the scripture , yet neither god nor man w●…ll be offended with the incredulous in such reports , attested onely with humane suspicious authority . prelates . tideman de winchcombe was born in this county , at the market town formerly famous for a rich abbey , now for plenty of poore therein . he was preferred first abbot of benle , then bishop of landaffe , and lastly of worcester by king richard the second his importunity to the pope , notwithstanding one john green was fairly elected thereunto . this tideman was the kings physician , and very well skilled in that faculty . be it observed by the way , that i am dayly more confirmed in my opinion , that till the last two hundred years , physick in england was not a distinct profession from divinity , and the same persons physicians and confessors to princes . say not these functions were inconsistent , the former u●…ually departing , the later commonly coming to dying men ; for the several professions did not justle , but succeed one another , so that when potion did end , unction did begin . a practice continued by popish priests in england at this day , gaining commodity and concealment by being such pluralists in their profession , having the most , best , and last privacy with their patients . this tideman died anno dom. . john chedworth , was born in this * county , and bred in kings colledge in cambridge , being the third * scholar that came thereinto , by election from eaton schoole , though some ( i confesse ) for a short time , make him admitted into merton colledge in oxford . he afterwards was the third provost of kings colledge , possessing the place six years , till at last he was elected bishop of lincoln . he was joyned in commission , by king henry the sixth , with bishop wainfliet of winchester to revise and regulate the statutes of eaton and kings colledges . he sate bishop about eighteen years , and dying . lies buried in his own cathedral , under a marble monument . john carpenter was ( as my * author rationally collecteth ) born at westbury in this county , bred in oriall colledge in oxford , whereof he became provost , and chancellor of the university , thence preferred prefect of saint anthonies in london , and at last bishop of worcester . he was so indulgent to westbury , the place of his nativity , that of a mean he made it a magnificent convent , more like a castle than a colledge , walling it about with turrets , and making a stately gate-house thereunto . he had an humorous intent to style himself and successors ( in imitation of bath and wells ) bishops of worcester and vvestbury , which title ( though running cleverly on the tongues end ) never came in request , because therein impar conjunctio , the matching of a collegiate and cathedral church together . he died anno dom. and was buried in his native town of vvestbury . his tomb since his death ( i will use my authors * words , hoping their ignorance if alive understands no latine ) a stolidis quibusdam nebulonibus pudendum in morem mutulatur . as for the colledge of vvestbury it is the inheritance of the right vvorshipful and hospital house-keeper , ralph sadler , esq ▪ and was in these civil broils , unhappily burnt down , though those , who esteemed themselves judicious in war , apprehended neither necessity thereof , no●… advantage thereby . thomas ruthal born at cicester in this county , bred in cambridge , where he commenced doctor of the laws , was by king henry the seventh for his great abilities preferred to be bishop of durham , king henry the eighth made him of his privy councel , notwithstanding the hatred which cardinal vvolsey bare unto him . it happened king henry employed him as a politick person , to draw up a breviate of the state of the land , which he did , and got it fairly transcribed . but it fell out that in stead thereof , he , deceived with the likenesse of the cover and binding , presented the king with a book containing an inventory of his own estate , amounting to an inviduous , and almost incredible summe of * one hundred thousand pounds . vvolsey , glad of this mistake , told the king , he knew now where a masse of money was , in case he needed it . this broke ruthall his heart , who had paid the third part of the cost of making the bridge of new-castle , over tyne , and intended many more benefactions , had not death ( . ) on this unexpected occasion surprised him . since the reformation . edward fox was born in * duresley in this county , bred first in eaton , then in kings colledge in cambridge , whereof he was chosen provost , which place he kept until his death . he was afterwards almoner to king henry the eighth . he first brought doctor cranmer to the knowledge of the king , which doctor first brought the king to the knowledge of himself , how he stood in matter of marriage with the widow of his brother . this doctor fox was after bishop of hereford , and was ( saith my * author ) reformationis ecclesiasticae illius tempore coeptae clanculum fautor . let me adde , he was the principal pillar of the reformation , as to the managery of the politick and prudential part thereof ; being of more activity , and no less ability then cranmer himself . martin bucer dedicated unto him his comment on the gospels ; yea , this bishop wrote many books , whereof that , de differentia utriusque potestatis was his master-piece . he was employed by the king on several embassies into france and germany , and died to the great loss of gods church , may . . states-men . sir ralph butler , knight of the garter , and lord sudeley in this county , was lord treasurer of england about three years , viz. from the seventh of july in the . year of king henry the sixth , being the year of our lord . until the . year of that kings raign . this lord built sudeley castle in this county , which of subjects castles was the most handsome habitation , and of subjects habitations the strongest castle . king edward the fourth●…ent ●…ent for him with such summons , that this lord conjectured ( and that truly enough ) that it was but a preface to his imprisonment : whereupon going to london , and resting himself on a hill , whence he did behold his own castle ; it is thou sudeley , it is thou ( said he ) and not i that am a traytor , and so resigned the same at last into the hand of the king , to procure his own liberty . so true it is , what * solomon saith , the ransome of a mans life are his riches , but the poor heareth not rebuke . i find not the certain date of his death . capital judges and writers on the law. anthony fitz-herbert , for a long time justice of the common pleas , was , * as a good antiquary will have it , born about dean forrest in this county ; but is by * another ( no whit his inferiour ) on better evidence referred to derby-shire , where formerly we have placed his nativity . yea , i have been informed from excellent hands ; the natives of this county , that no capital judge of the three great courts ( though many of the marches ) was ever born in this county : yet are they here as litigious , as in other places . sure i am , that gloucester-shire did breed , if no judge , yet a plaintiff and defendant of the primest quality , which betwixt them ( with many alternations ) traversed the longest suit that ever i read in england ; for a suit was commenced betwixt the heirs of sir thomas talbot , viscout lisle on the one party , and the heirs of — — lord barkley on the other , about certain possessions lying in this county not far from wotton-under-edge , which suit begun in the end of king edward the fourth , was depending until the beginning of * king james , when ( and was it not high time ? ) it was finally determined . but the long barrenness of this county in judges may be recompenced with fruitfulness at last , the rather because gloucestershire at this day sheweth two eminent ones , mr. justice adkins , and mr. justice hales , which grace the court of the common pleas with their known ability and integrity . edward trotman , son of edward trotman , esquire , was born at cam nigh duresly in this county , bred a student of the law till he became a bencher in the inner temple . he wrote an abridgement of sir edward coke his eleven volumes of reports , for the benefit of those who had not money to purchase , or leisure to peruse them at large . yea , such as have both may be profitted thereby : for in my owne profession , and in the book of books , even those who are best acquainted with the chapters , make also use of the contents . this gentleman in his title page ingeniously wisheth that his compendium might not prove dispendium to the reader thereof . and i verily believe he hath had his desire : being informed that his endeavours are well esteemed by the learned in that profession . * he was buried in the temple church , may . anno dom. . souldiers . sir william tracy of todington in this county , was a gentleman of high birth , state , and stomach , much in favour with king henry the second , on whom he was a daily attendant . one fact hath made his memory , call it famous or infamous , because he was the first and forwardest of the four knights , who ( at the encouragement if not command , at leastwise , at the connivance , if not encouragement of the aforesaid king ) imbrewed their hands in the blood of thomas becket . in his old age he went into devon-shire , where he had large possessions , as may appear by so many towns bearing his surname . . wollocomb-tracy . . bovi-tracy . . nimet-tracy . . bradford-tracy , &c. it is reported that he intended a penitential pilgrimage to jerusalem ; but setting to sea , was ever crost with adverse winds . he is conceived to lie buried in the parish church of mort in devonshire , dying about the year of our lord , . seamen . this is scarcely a maritine-shire , rather bordering on the severn than on the sea , having therein no considerable haven , ( bristol being beheld as a city entire of it self ) and therein eminent seamen cannot be expected : yet one family herein hath been most fortunate in such voyages , having their chief seat at lydney , in the forrest of dean , which hath afforded , william winter , knight , and vice admiral of england , famous in his generation for several * performances . . anno . being then but machinarum classicarum praefectus ( english it as you please ) he frighted the french in edenborough frith , assaulting their fort in the island of inchkeith . . anno . he was sent with sir thomas smith , with the sound of the trumpet , and shooting of some cannons , to demand the restitution of callis of the french king. . anno . he conducted a great treasure of the genoan merchants safely into the netherlands , in despight of the french opposing him . . anno . he , with robert beale , clerk of the councel , was employed into zeland , to demand the restitution of our ships , which they had either taken , or did detain . . anno . he did signal service in the station appointed him , coming in ( though not in the heat ) in the coole of the day , when the spanish fleet was fallen towards the shore of zeland , and were sadly sensible of his valour . i conceive him not to survive long after , because , if in life , he would have been in action ; and if in action , i should have found him in cambden's elizabeth ; and therefore from no mention , i conclude no motion , that about this time he departed . besides others of this family unknown to me , and justly referred to this county , as their chief habitation : and were the phrase as proper of men sailing , as fishes swimming in the sea , i should say that lydney-house hath brought forth a shole of mariners , so happy have they been in sea voyages . one wondring how the english durst be so bold , as to put to sea in all weathers , it was returned , that they were provided to saile in all seasons , having both winters and * summers on their side . the more the pity that this worthy family of the winters did ever leave the element of water , to tamper with fire , especially in a destructive way to their king and country . writers . osbernus claudianus , or osbern of gloucester , was bred a benedictine monk in the famous convent in that city . he was learned , saith leland , praeter iliius aetatis sortem , above the standard of that age . he was a good linguist , philosopher , divine , he used to give clearness to what was obscure , facility to what was difficult , politeness to what was barbarous . nor wanted he a becoming facetiousness in his dialogues . he wrote many books , dedicating them to gilbert foliot bishop of hereford , as a comment on the pentateuch dialogue-wise , as also on the incarnation , nativity , passion , and resurrection of our saviour . he wrote also a book called * pan-ormia , dedicating the same to hamelin abbot of gloucester . the title of this book minds me of a pretty passage in * tully . at a publick plea in rome , sisenna an orator who defended his client , affirmed , that the crimes laid to his charge , were but crimina sputatilica : to whom rufius ( the orator who managed the accusation ) rejoyned , that he feared some treachery in so hard a word , quid sputa sit scio , quid tilica nescio . but i am at a worse loss in this uncouth word , though knowing both the parts thereof . i know what pan is , all , what ormia is , a line or hook , but of what subject pan-ormia should treat , is to me unknown . but well fare the heart of j. bale , who ( i believe out of leland ) rendreth it a dictionary , or vocabulary , ●…ooking all words , it seems , within the compass thereof . this osbern flourished under king stephen , anno . robert of gloucester , so called , because a monk thereof . he is omitted ( whereat i wonder ) both by bale and pits , except disguised under another name , and what i cannot conjecture ; they speak truly , who term him a rhimer , whilest such speak courteously , who call him a poet. indeed such his language , that he is dumb in effect to the readers of our age without an interpreter , and such a one will hardly be procured . antiquaries ( amongst whom mr. selden ) more value him for his history than poetry , his lines being neither strong nor smooth , but sometimes sharp , as may appear by this tetrastick , closing with a pinch at the panch of the monk●… , which coming from the pen of a monk is the more remarkable . in the citie of bangor a great hous tho was , and ther vndyr vij . * cellens and ther of ther † nas that c.c.c. moncks hadde othur mo and alle by hure travayle lyvede ▪ loke now if they do so . he flourished some four hundred years since under king henry the second , and may be presumed to have continued till the beginning of king john , . alan of teuxbury , probably born in this country , though bred at canterbury , where he became first a monk of saint saviours , and afterwards prior thereof . very intimate he was with thomas becket , having some reputation for his learning . in his old age , it seems , he was sent back with honour into his native country , and for certain was made abbot of teuxbury , when stephen langton so much endeavoured , and at last accomplished the canonizing of thomas becket . four * authors were employed ( becket his evangelists ) to write the history of his mock-passion and miracles . and our allan made up the quaternion . he flourished under king john , anno . alexander of hales was bred up in the famous monastery of hales , founded by richard king of the romans . after his living some time at oxford , he went over to paris , it being fashionable for the clergy in that ( as for the gentry in our ) age , to travail into france , that clerk being accounted but half learned , who had not studied some time in a forraign university . but , let paris know , that generally our english men brought with them more learning thither , and lent it there , than they borrowed thence . as for this our alexander , as he had the name of that great conqueror of the world , so was he a grand captain and commander in his kind . for as he did follow peter lombard , so he did lead thomas aquinas , and all the rest of the schoole-men . he was the first that wrote a comment on the sentences , in a great volumn , called the summe of divinity , at the instance of pope innocent the fourth , to whom he dedicated the same , for this and other of his good services to the church of rome , he received the splendid title of doctor irrefragabilis . he died anno dom. . and was buried in the franciscan church in paris . thomas de la more , was , saith my * author , born of a knightly family , patria gloucestrencis , a gloucester-shire-man by his country ; for which his observation i heartily thank him , who otherwise had been at an utter losse for his nativity . he thus further commendeth him . pacis & armorum vir artibus undique clarus . a man whose fame extended far for arts in peace , and feats in war. indeed he was no carpet knight , as who brought his honour with him out of scotland on his swords point , being knighted by king edward the first , for his no less fortunate than 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 therein . nor less was his fidelity to his son edward the second , though unable to help him against his numerous enemies . but though he could not keep him from being deposed , he did him the service ●…aithfully to write the manner of his deposition , being a most rare manuscript extant in oxford library . this worthy knight flourished anno dom. . thomas of hales came just an hundred years after alexander of hales in time ; but more than a thousand degrees behind him in ability , and yet following his foot steps at distance . first they were born both in this county , bred minorites in hales mona stery ; whence for a time they went to oxford , thence to paris , where they both proceeded doctors of divinity , and applyed themselves to contravertial studies , till this thomas finding himself not so 〈◊〉 for that imployment , fell to the promoting positive , or rather fabulous poynts of popery , for the maintainance of purgatory . he flourished under king edward the third , anno dom. . thomas neale was born at * yate in this county , bred first in winchester , then new colledge in oxford ▪ where he became a great grecian , hebritian , and publick professor of the later in the university . he translated some rabins into latine , and dedicated them to cardin●…l pole. he is charactered a man * naturae mirum in modum tim●…dae , of a very fearful nature , yet always continuing constant to the roman perswasion . he was chaplain , ( but not domestick , as not mentioned by mr. fox ) to bishop bonner , and resided in oxford . in the first of queen elizabeth , fearing his professors place , would quit him , for prevention he quitted it , and built himself an house over against hart hall , retaining the name of neals house many years after . papists admire him for his rare judgement , and protestants for his strange invention , in first 〈◊〉 the improbable lye of parker●…is ●…is consecration at the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 , since so * substantially confuted . he was living in oxford . but when and where ( here o●… beyond the seas ) he died , is to me unknown . since the reformation . richard tracy , esquire , ●…orn at todington in this county was son to sir william tracy confessor , of whom before . he succeeded to his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , in the defence whereof he wrote * several treatises in the english tongue , and 〈◊〉 mo●…markable , which is entituled , 〈◊〉 to the crosse. this he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , having suffered much himself in his estate for his 〈◊〉 reputed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 also he wrote prophetically anno . few years before the beginning of queen 〈◊〉 many being 〈◊〉 , and so 〈◊〉 armed by his useful 〈◊〉 . it must not be forgotten , how during my abode in cambridge on 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . a book was ●…ound in the belly of a cod ( brought into the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 containing therein three 〈◊〉 , whereof the 〈◊〉 and largest was 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 to the crosse. it was wrapped about with canvas●… and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fish , plundred pl●…ndred out of the pocket of some ship-wracked seaman . the wits of the 〈◊〉 made themselves merry thereat , one making a long copy of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on , whereof this dysti●… , i remember ; * if 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 do bring us books , then we may hope 〈◊〉 bodlyes library ▪ but whilest the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 themselves herewith , the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 beheld i●… as a sad 〈◊〉 ▪ and some , who then little looked for the 〈◊〉 have 〈◊〉 found it in that pl●… . this book was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the author 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but no such book 〈◊〉 in bale , ( though ●…y accurate to * give ●…s a catalogue of his writings . whereby we 〈◊〉 , it was the same made by this richard 〈◊〉 , to which another treatise was annexed , 〈◊〉 one to die , made 〈◊〉 by our tracy , who himself 〈◊〉 about an hundred years since . sir thomas overbury , knight , son to sir nicholas overbury , one of the judges of the marches , was born at borton on the hill in this county , bred in oxford , and attained to be a most accomplished gentleman , which the happiness of his pen , both in poetry and prose doth declare . in the later he was the first writer of characters of our nation , so far as i have observed . but if the great parts of this gentleman were guilty of insolency and petulancy , which some since have charged on his memory ; we may charitably presume that his reduced age would have corrected such juvenile extravagancies . it is questionable , whether robert carre earl of somerset were more in the favour of king james , or this sir thomas overbury in the favour of the earl of somerset , until he lost it by disswading that lord from keeping company with a lady ( the wife of another person of honour ) as neither for his credit here , or comfort hereafter . soon after sir thomas was by king james designed embassadour for russia . his false friends perswaded him to decline the employment , as no better than an honourable grave . better lie some dayes in the tower , than more months in a worse prison . a ship by sea , and a barbarous cold country by land . besides they possessed him , that within a small time , the king should be wrought to a good opinion of him . but he who willingly goes into a prison out of hope to come easily out of it , may stay therein so long till he be too late convinced of another judgment . whilest sir thomas was in the tower , his refusal was represented to the king as an act of high contempt ; as if he valued himself more than the kings service . his strict restraint gave the greater liberty to his enemies to practise his death , which was by poyson performed . yet was his blood legally revenged , which cost some a violent , and others a civil death , as deprived of their offices . the earle was soon abated in king jame's affection , ( o the short distance betwixt the cooling and quenching of a favourite ! ) being condemned and banished the court. the death of this worthy knight did happen anno dom. . john sprint was bred a student in christ church in oxford , and was afterward beneficed at thornbury in this county , a grave and godly divine , but for a long time much disaffected to the ceremonies of the church . it happeened that mr. burton , arch-deacon of gloucester his collegiate and contemporary , took him to task , perswading him seriously to study the point , which he promised , and performed accordingly . he put in the one sc●…le in the other the wo pronounced to such who preach 〈◊〉 the gospel ; and dissert their flocks on pretended scrupulosity . the nature of ceremonies when things indifferent are enjoyned by lawfull authority . weighing both exactly in the ballance of his judgment , he found the former to preponderate , concluding it unlawful for any on such ●…count to leave or lose the exercise of his mini●…erial function . hereupon ) he not only conformed for the future , 〈◊〉 also wrote a book ( dedicated to arch-deacon burton ) called cas●…der ang●…anus , to perswade others to conformity . he died , as i am informed , ●…bout thirty years ago . john workman was born about lasbury in this county , where his father was a servant to sir tho. escourt . he was bred in oxford , and afterwards became for many years the pio●…s and painfull preacher at gloucester , being conformable to church discipline , both in judgement and practise ; and in very deed . it happened that some pressed super-●…nonical ceremonies , and such sesqui-conformists made mr. workman turn first but a semiconformist , and then by degrees to renounce all conformity . he was prosecuted by g. g. his 〈◊〉 , for preaching to the disparagement of the blessed virgin mary , though he pleaded his words were only these , that the papists painted her more like a curtesan , than a modest maid . hereupon he was silenced , and not suffered to teach schoole ; seeing she●… and lambs differ not in hind , but age . at last his good pri●…nd dr. baud ( furnishing him with instructions ) he turned phy●… , and 〈◊〉 unable to preserv●… his pattents in li●…e , he could well prepare them for death . he died about the year . we have put them in parallels , not so much because living at the same time in the same county , as because the one from disliking came to approve ; the other , from approving to dislike conformity ; though both , no doubt , did follow the dictates of their consciences . richard capel was born , as i am informed , in the city of gloucester , whereof his father was alderman , and left him a good temporal estate ; he was bred fellow of magdalen colledge in oxford , where he had many pupils of good qualitie ; and among the rest mr. william pemble , whose books he set forth , and as i remember , finished his imperfect comment on zachary . leaving the colledge he was presented by mr. stephens to a good benefice in this county , where he made his excellent book of temptations ; full fraught with practical piety : so that what judicious person soever readeth it , will experimentally say unto him , as once the lawyer to our saviour , master thou hast well spoken : it carrieth in it such a truth by the confession confession his conscience . one thing he hath irrefragably proved , that there is no temptation which a man is subject to , but what might be suggested by our own corruption , without any injection of satan . we have an english expression , the devil he doth it , the devil he hath it , where the addition of devil amounteth only to a strong denial , equivalent to , he doth it not , he hath it not . my opinion is , if the phrase took not the original from , yet is it applyable to our common and causeless accusing of satan with our own faults , charging him with those temptations , wherein we our selves are always chiefly , and sometimes solely guilty . when the reading of the book of sports on the l●…rds day was pressed upon him , he refused the same , as not comporting with his conscience , and willingly resigned his benefice , living afterwards on his temporal means , and preaching gratis in neighbouring congregations . he died anno dom. — benefactors to the publick . katharine clyvedon , better known by the name of dame katharine berkley , was daughter unto sir john clyvedon , richly landed in this county . she was first married to sir peter le veale , and after to thomas third of that christian name , baron of berkley , whom she survived , living a constant widow for four and twenty years ; great her in●…eritance , augmented with a large joynture , and yet she expended the profits thereof in hospitality and prous ●…es ; amongst which , the * founding of the fair schoole of wootton-under-edge was most remarkable . i have sometimes wondered with my self , to see the vast donations which the family of the berkleys bestowed on mona●…eries : so that there was no religious house with in twenty-miles of their castle ( besides others at greater distance ) which did not plentifully partake of their liberality . all these now are lost and extinct , whilest the endowment of wootton schoole doth still continue ▪ whereof i render this private reason to my own thoughts , because monks were not of gods planting , whilest-teaching of youth is iure divino by a positive precept , teach a child in the trade of his youth , and he will remember 〈◊〉 when ●…e is old : i behold wootton schoole as of great seniority , after winchester , but before eaton in standing . iohn smith late of nibley , esquire , was ef●…ctually instrumental in recovering the lands to this school●… , which since hath been happy in good school . masters , as they in pregnant scholars . this lady died march . . and is buried by her husband in berkley church , in a monument grated about with iron bars . sir william hampton , son to iohn hampton , was born at minchen hampton in this county , bred after a fish-m●…nger in london , where he ●…ved so well , that he became lord mayor thereof , anno . he was the first that set up stocks in every ward , for the punishment o●… vaga●…s and s●…mpets ; on which account i enter him a publick benefactor . for , an house of correction is a kind of alms-house , it being as charitable a work to reclaim the wicked , as to re●…ieve the wanting ; and , were it not for prisons , all the land would be but a prison . since the r●…formation . thomas bell born in this county , was twice mayor of the city of gloucester , and raised his estate by gods blessing on his industry and ingenuity , being one of the first , that brought the trade of capping into the city . hereby he got great wealth , sufficient to maintain the degree of knighthood , which king henry the eight ( as i take it ) bestowed on him . he bought from the crown black-friers by the south gate in this city , and reformed the ruines thereof into a beautiful house for himself , and hard by it erected an alms-house , and endowed it with competent revenues . his daughter and sole heir brought a fair estate into the families of dennis . this sir thomas died in the beginning of the raign of queen elizabeth . edward palmer , esquire , ( uncle to sir thomas overbury ) was born at limington in this county , where his ancestry had continued ever since the conquest . of his breeding i can give no exact account , for as the growing of vegetables towards perfection is insensible ; so , ( for want of particular information ) i cannot trace his gradual motions , but find him at last , answering the character given by mr. * cambden , a curious and a diligent antiquary . great his store of coins , greek and roman , in gold , silver , and brasse , and greater his skill in them . his plentiful estate afforded him opportunity to put forward the ingenuity impressed in him by nature for the publick good , resolving to erect an academy in virginia ; in order whereunto he purchased an ●…sland , called palmers island unto this day , but in pursuance thereof , was at many thousand pounds expence ( some instruments employed therein not discharging their trust reposed in them , with corresponding fidelity ) he was transplanted to another world , leaving to posterity the memorial of his worthy but unfinished intentions . he married one of his own name and neighbourhood , the daughter of palmers of compton schorfin , esquire . palmero palmera nobit sic nubilis amnis , — auctior adjunctis nobilitatis aquis . by her he had many children , but most of them desceased , amongst whom , muriel married to michael rutter of this county , esquire , inheriting her fathers parts and piety , left a perfumed memory to all the neighbourhood . this edward palmer died at london , about the year , . hugh pirry was born in wootton under-edge , a known market town in this county , bred a merchant in london , whereof he was sheriff , anno dom. . he brought the best servant , that ever hath , or will come to the town of wootton , i mean the water , which in his life time , on his own cost , he derived thither , to the great benefit of the inhabitants . he had read , how * job had warmed the poor with the fleece of his sheep , and observed what sheep job had left , he lost ; and what he had laid out , was left him ; that wooll onely remaining his , which he had expended on the poor . master pirry therefore resolved on pious uses , but prevented by death , bequeathed a thousand pounds and upwards , for the building and endowing of a fair alms-house in wo●…on aforesaid ▪ which is persormed accordingly . god hath since visibly blessed him in his fair posterity , four daughters , the eldest married to the lord fitz williams of northampton , the second to sir — of glamorgan , the third to sir robert be●…wes of lancaster ▪ and the youngest ( the relict of viscount camden's second son ) to sir william fermoure of northampton-shire . he died anno dom. lord mayors . name . father . place . company . time will. hampton . john hampton . minchen hamptō . fish-monger . john brug or bruges . thomas brug or bruges . dymmock . draper . leon. holliday . william holliday . redborough . merchant taylor richard ven. — wottō under-edg — — thomas viner . thomas viner . — gold-smith . the names of the gentry of this county returned by the commissioners in the twelfth year of king henry the sixth . the keeper of the spiritualties of the bishoprick of worcester , sede vacante . commissioners for taking the oaths . james de berkeley . james greyndore . knights for the shire . robert stanshaw . knights for the shire . guidonis whitington richardi norman iohannis hurtesley thome hoke johannis joce johannis anne johannis panncefote chivaler johannis cassy edwardi brugge rob. whitington willielmi boteler willielmi moryn johannis stough●…on roberti vobe johannis morvan clementis de mitton johannis moryn johannis s●…ll willielmi pen●…ock johan . gifford , chivaler reginaldi machyn , walteri fr●…sh thome sloughter nicholai eynesham radulphi bottiller , chivaler . johannis grennell baldewini rouse willielmi somervile johannis harewel walteri eode rob bushel willielmi ashton richardi grevell willielmi tracy , jun. mauricii berkeley de beverston chev. iohannis langley . egid●…i brugge iohannis de la mare will. prelat iohannis lym●…k galfred . hide johan . solers johan . hampton thome l●…yney ioh. kendale henrici clifford iohan. trye thome harsefeld edmundi . rodebergh thome stanton thome sky richardi venables johan . pol●…yn roberti volpenne joh. lingescote ioh. stanre thome ocle thome bamvile roberti clavile thome skey johan . roddely thome berkeley de glaucestria roberti frompton roberti stronge richardi ●…ichards mauric●…i berkeley de ul●…y , chivaler nicholai poyntz joh. kemmys joh. coderington nicholai stanshaw nicholai alderley iohan. blunt thome bradston iohan. westow ●…ohan . burnel , junio●…is willielmi fourde thome tanner de dorfoleye iohannis basset de naylesworth . sheriffs . hen. ii. anno milo de gloucester . anno walter de hereford anno will. de bello campo anno anno idem . anno anno idem . anno idem . anno idem . anno will. pypard , for four years . anno gilb. pypard , for four years . anno radus filius stephan . anno will. frater ejus . anno idem , for fifteen years . rich. i. anno w●…ll . filius stephani . will. marescallus . anno rich. de muegros . anno idem . anno will. marescallus . anno nich. de avenel . anno idem . anno idem . anno herbertus filius herberti . anno idem . anno idem . & will. de la pomeray anno herbertus filius herberti . rex johan . anno comes will. marescallus . anno johan . avenell . anno idem . anno will. marescallus . & tho. de rochford . anno idem . anno idem . anno will. marescallus & rich. de haseburn . anno idem . anno rich. de muegros . anno reginal . pintevolt . anno idem . anno gerard. atia . anno rich burgies . anno engelard . de cicomato . anno rich. burgies . anno idem . for five years . hen. iii. anno anno radus . musard , for . years . anno radus . musard . petrus egeword . anno radus musard . anno idem . anno idem . anno will. putot , for . years . anno hen. de bada . anno idem . anno will. talbot . anno petrus de egeword . anno tho. de sancto martino . anno idem . anno w●…ll . talbot . anno thurstan . de despenser . anno idem . anno johan . filius galfri . anno galfri de derhurst . anno johan . filius galfri . anno marsdatus canoni . anno johan . filius galfri , for five years . anno rob. de valeram . anno galf. de derherst . anno rob. de valeram anno nicus de monte acuto . anno rob. valeram . anno reginal . de eide . anno rob. valeram . anno johan . de fleminge . anno idem . anno adam de hittested , for four years . anno will. de lesseberowe . anno idem . anno rob. de maysy . anno johan . de brun. anno idem . anno idem . anno matheus werill . anno idem . anno idem . anno regin . de acle & roger : de anno chedney pet. de chavent . anno idem . for five years . edw. i. anno petrus de chavent . anno walt. bockking clicus . anno reginald . de acle . anno adam de buttiller , for years anno rich. de ripariis . anno walter de stuchesley , for four years . anno rogerus de lakington . anno idem . anno idem . anno galfrid . de mandriacre . anno idem . anno fulco de locy. anno 〈◊〉 . anno fulco de locy. anno tho. de gardinis . anno idem . for six years . anno johan . de langley . anno rich. talebot . anno idem . anno johan . de novo burgo . anno tho. de gardinis , for years edw. ii. anno johan . langley . anno nich. de kingston , & johan . de aunesley . anno idem . anno johan . aunesley , & johan . de acton . anno idem . anno will. mannsel , & rob. darcy anno idem . anno rich. de la river . for . years . anno johan . de hamp●…on , for . years . anno anno johan . besmaunsel & will. tracy . anno idem . anno idem . edw. iii. anno tho. de rodberg . anno idem . anno idem . anno will. gamage , & tho. rodbergh . anno tho. berkeley de cobberly . anno idem . anno rich. de foxcot , for . years . anno tho. berkeley de cuberley rich. de foxcot . anno tho. de berkeley . anno idem . anno walter dastin . anno simon basset , for . years . anno walt. dastin . & ph. mareschall . anno johan . de weston . anno idem . anno will. de ledene . anno tho. de berkeley de cobberly , & will. ledene . anno tho. de berkely , de coberl . anno rob. de herdesle . for years . anno thomas moygne . anno idem . anno idem . anno johan . tracy , for years . anno johan . points . anno idem . anno johan . tracy . anno johan . clifford . anno tho. de ocle . anno johan . ioce . anno nich. de berkeley . anno petrus de veel . anno johan . ioce . anno petrus de chavent . edw. i. . walt. de stuchesly . ] the king directed his letters to this sheriff , enjoyning him , ●…o take an exact account of the number and names of all the villages , within the several hundreds of the county , with the persons , the present possessors thereof , and return his collection with speed and safety , into the exchequer , according to this tenor. edwardus dei gratia , rex angliae , dominus hiberniae , & dux aquitaniae , vice-comiti glouc. salutem . quia quibusdam certis de causis certiorari volumus , qui & quot hundredi sunt in balivatua , & quorum sunt . et quae & quot civitates , burgi , & villae , sunt in quolibet hundredorum illorum , & qui sunt domini eorundem . tibi praecipimus , firmiter injungentes , quod modis , & v●…is omnibus , quibus plenius ac diligentius poteris , te informes de praemissis . ita quod super . proxim ▪ fafr . tentum apud scaccarium nostrum . thesaurarium , & barones nostros de eodem scaccario poss is plen●… informare , & tu ipse , in propria persona tua , sis ad dictum scaccar . super prox . fafr . tentum ex hac causa , nisi tunc licentiam à nobis habueris absens esse . et tunc per illum quem super perfr . tuum per te mittes ad scaccar . praedictum thesaurum & barones praedictos de praemissis plenius facias informare . ita quod in te , vel in ipso , quem pro te , ad dictum sca●…ccar . sic mittes defectus aliquis non inveniatur , per quod ad te graviter capiamus . et habeas ibi tunc hoc breve . teste meipso apud clypston , quinto die mar●…it , an regni nostri nono . in obedience to the kings command , this sheriff vigorously prosecuted the design , and made his return accordingly on the same token , that , it thus began , nulla est civitas in comitat. gloucest . there is no city in the county of gloucester . whence we collect , that gloucester in that age ( though the seat of a mi●…red abby ) had not the reputation of a city , untill it was made an episcopal see by k. hen. . the like letters were sent to all other sheriffs in england , and their returns made into the exchequer , where it is a kind of dooms-day-book , junior , but commonly passeth under the name of nomina villarum . i have by me a transcript of so much as concerneth gloucester-shire ( the reason why this letter is here exemplified ) communicated unto me , with other rarities ( advancing this subject ) by my worthy friend mr. smith of nibley . it must not be omitted , that though the aforesaid catalogue of nomina villarum was begun in this year , and a considerable progresse made therein , yet ( some unexpressed obstacles retarding ) it , was not in all particulars completed , until years after , as by this passage therein may be demonstrated ; bertona regis juxta gloucester . & ibidem hund●…idum , & hundr . margarettae reginae angliae . now this margaret queen of england , daughter to philip the hardy king of france , and second wife to this king edward the first , was not married unto him , until the of her husbands reign , anno . edw. iii. tho. berkeley de cobberley . ] he is commended in our * histories for his civil ▪ usage of k. edw. . when p●…isoner at berkeley castle , at this day one of the seats of that right ancient famiiy . and right ancient it is indeed , they being descended from robert fitz-harding , derived from the kings of denmark ; as appeareth by an inscription on the * colledge-gate at bristol . rex henricus secundus & dominus robertus filius hardingi filii regis daciae , hujus monasterii primi fundatores extiterunt . this robert was entirely beloved of this king , by whose means his son maurice married the daughter of the lord of berkeley , whereby his posterity retained the name of berkeley . many were their mansions in this county , amongst which cobberley accrued unto them by matching with the heir of chandos . their services in the holy war , alluded unto by the crosses in their arms , and may seem to be their benefactions , ( whereof in my church history ) signified by the mitre in their crest . of this family was descended william lord berkeley , who was honoured by king edward the fourth with the title of viscount berkeley , created by k. rich. . earle of nottingham , ( and in the right of his wife , daughter of thomas mowbray ) duke of norfolk . henry the s●…venth made him marquess berkeley , and marshal of england . he died without issue . at this day there flourisheth many noble stems sprung thereof , though george lord berkeley , baron berkeley , lord mowbray , segrave , bruce be the top branch of this family . one who hath been so signally bountiful in promoting these ( and all other ) my weak endeavours , that i deserve to be dumb , if ever i forget to return him publick thanks for the same . . john points . ] remarkable the antiquity of this name and family ( still continuing in knightly degree in this county ) for i read in dooms-day-book , drugo filius ponz tenet de rege frantone . ibi decem hide geldant de hoc manerio . and again , walterus filius ponz tenet de rege lete . ibi decem hide geldant . i behold them as the ancestors of their family , till i shall be informed to the contrary , though i confess they were not seated at acton in this county , until the days of king edward the second , when sir nicholas points , married the daughter and heir of acton , transmitting the same to his posterity . sheriffs . name . place . armes . rich. ii.     anno     tho. bradwell .     johan . tracy . todingtō or , a scallop sab. betw . two bends , gules . radulph . waleys . * sodbury   tho. bradewell .   * azure , . mullets , or. joh. de thorp . mil.   argent , a fess nebule , sable , betw . . trefoiles , gules . tho. fitz nichol.     radus waleys . ut prius   tho. berkeley . cobberley gules , a cheveron betwixt ten crosses formee , argent . tho. burgg . †     tho. bradewell . ut prius † azure , three flower de lys , ermine . tho. berkeley . ut prins   laur. seabrooke .     tho ▪ burgg . ut prius   maur. de russell . derham argent , on a chief , gules , . bezants . hen. de la river .     joh. de berkeley . ut prius .   gilbertus denis .   gules , a bend ingrailed , az. betw . . leopards heads , or , ●…essant flower de lis of the d will. tracy . ut prius   maur. russel . ut prius   rob. poyns . acton barry of eight , or , and gul. johan ▪ berkeley . ut prius   johan . bronings .     hen. iv.     anno     hen ▪ de la river .     maur. russel , & ut prius   rob sommerville     rob ▪ whittington .   gules , a fess checkee , or , and argent . wil. beauchamp , m     idem     johan . grendore .   per pale or , and vert , . guttees or drops , counterchanged . maur. russel . ut prius .   rob. whittington . ut prius   rich. mawrdin .     alex. clivedon .     will. wallwine .   gules , a bend within a b●…rder , ermine . joh. grendore , mil. ut prius   hen. v.     anno     will. beauchamp powkes .   joh. berkley , mil. ut prius   joh. grevel . campden or , on a cross engrailed within the like border , sab. ten annulets of the first , with a mullet of five poynts in the dexter quarter . idem . ut prius   will. tracy . ut prius   will. bishopeston :     joh. brugg , arm . ut prius   joh. willecots .     idem .     hen. vi.     anno     joh. panfote .   gules , lions rampant , arg. joh. blacket , mil.     steph. hatfild , mil.     joh. grevil , arm . ut prius   joh. panfote . ut prius   guido whittington ut prius   rob. andrew .   sab. a saltire engrailed , ermin , on a chief , or , . flower de lys of the first . egidius brigge . *     maur. berkeley , mil ut prius   steph. hatfield .   * arg. on a cross , sab. a leopards head , or. joh. towerton .     cuido whittington ut prius   joh panfote . ut prius   maur. berkeley , mil ut prius   idem . ut prius   joh. beauchamp , m.     will. stafford . thornb . or , a cheveron , gules . joh. stourton , mil.   sable , a bend or , between . fountains prop●…r . idem . ut prius   joh. bo●…iller .     rob. leversey ,     will. traey . ut prius   idem . ut prius   will. gifford .     joh. botiller .     hen. clifford . frampton checky , or and az. on a bend g. lioncels ramp . of the fi●…st joh. trye . * on severn   joh. gise . † elmor * arg. a bucks head gules . will. tracy . ut prius or , abend , azure . jac. clifford . ut prius † lozengy varry and gul. on a ca●…ton , or , a mullet of . points , sable . joh. vele . *     egidius brigge . ut prius   joh. gise . ut prius * arg. on a bend , sab. three calves , or. wal. devereux . m. †     j●…h . barre , mil.   † arg. a fesse fules in chief , three torteauxes edw. hūgerford , m*     nich. latymer . †   * s. ●… bars ar. plates in chi●…f tho. hungerford . ut prius † gules , a cross patance , or. edw. iv.     anno     joh. grivel , arm . ut prius   maur. denis . ut prius   idem . ut prius   maur. berkley , ar . ut prius   ed. hungerford , m. ut prius   joh. huggford , at .     joh. newton , ar     joh. grivel , mil. ut prius   rob. poynts , mil. ut prius   joh. cassy , arm .   arg. a cheveron betwixt three griffons heads erased , gul. rich. beauchamp , m     idem .     humph. forster .     joh. botiller . mil.     tho. whitington , a. ut prius   tho. norton . ar .     rob. poines . ut prius   tho. baynam , ar .   or , a 〈◊〉 . betwixt . bull●… heads , arg ▪ edw. langley . †     walt. denis . ut prius † or , a cross saltire , gul. jo. st. lowe , mil.     rob. poyntz , ar . ut prius   rich. iii.     anno     alex. baynam . ut prius   joh. hudleston , ar .     will. berkley , m. ut prius   & rob. poynts . ut prius   hen. vii .     anno     rob. poyntz , mil , ut prius   joh. st. low , mil.     joh. welsh , ar . ut prius       tho. moreton .     christ. 〈◊〉 tortworth gul. on a ch●…veron arg. . bars gemelle , sable . tho. hungerford , m. ut prius   rich. pole , arm .   az. semee de flower de lize , or , a lion rampant , arg. rob. miles .     walt. denis , mil. ut prius   edw. berkley . mil. ut prius   joh. whitington , a ut prius   rob. poynts , mil. ut prius   rich. pole , ar . ut prius   alex. baynam , mil. ut prius   egidius brugge , m. ut prius   joh. huddleston , m.     rob. poynts , mil. ut prius   alex. bay nam , mil. ut prius   idem . ut prius   egidius genel .     j●…h . ●…utiller . ar .     edw. tame , ar .     joh. panneffot . ut prius   anth. poyntz . ar . ut prius   hen. viii .     anno     maur. berkley , mil. ut prius   th●… . poyntz , ar . ut prius   christ. baynam , ar . ut prius   rob. mor●…on , mil.     will. tracy , mil. ut prius   will , kingston , mil misterden azure , a plain crosse between l●…opards ●…eads , or. man●… . berkley , mil. ut prius   alex. baynam , mil. ut prius   christ. baynam , m. ut prius   ioh. whittington , a. ut prius   will. denis , mil. ut prius   egidius tame , mil.     tho. poyntz , ar . ut prius   tho berkley , mil. ut prius   antho. poyntz , mil ut prius   edw. tame , mil.     edw. wadham , mil   gules , a 〈◊〉 betwixt . roses , arg. ioh walsh , mil. ut prius   will. denis , mil. ut prius   anth. poyntz , mil. ut prius   wil. throgmorton a ut prius   ioh. w●…lsh , mil. ut prius   edw. wadham , mi. ut prius   walter denis , mil. ut prius   anth. kingston , ar . ut prius   rich legon , mil.   argent , lions passant , gul. ioh. walsh , mil. ut prius   ioh. st. lo ▪ mil.     edw. tame , mil.     wal●… . den●…s , mil. ut prius   nich. poyntz , mil. ut prius   ioh. walsh , mil. ut prius   ●…dw . wadham , m. ut prius   edw. tame , mil.     walt. denis , mil. ut prius   geo. baynham , mil. ut p●…ius   nich. poyntz , mil. ut prius   nich. vv●…kes , ar .   az. a lion 〈◊〉 checkque argent an●… gules . edw. vi.     anno     milo pertrich , mil.   checkee , ar. & s. on a bend . g. scallops , or. a●…th . porter , ar . * newmark   tho. briges , mil. ut prius * gules , . marlions wings in saltire , arg. ant●… . kingston , mil ut prius   walt. denis , mil. ut prius   hugo denis , ar . ut prius   phil. & mar.     anno     m . an. hungerford , m ut prius   . . nich. wikes , ar , ut prius   . . walt. ●…enis , mil. ut prius   . . nich. pann●…fort . ut prius   . . nich. brayne . ar . little de. az ▪ a boar●… head g●…les , on a fesse betwixt three hunters horns , arg. . th. 〈◊〉 , ●… ut prius   eliz. reg.     anno     rich. arnold , mil.     rich. tracy , ar . ut prius   nich. walsh , ar . ut prius   geo. huntley , ar . 〈◊〉 . arg. on a chev . betw . stags heads couped , sable , as many bugles stringed of the first . will read , ar . †     rich. berkley , ar . ut prius   egidius pole , mil. ut prius † azure , a griffon ramp . or. will. palmer , ar .     wil. hungerford , ar ut prius   rob. brane , ar . ut pr●…us   nich. poynts , mil. ut prius   rich. baynam , ar . ut prius   tho. smith , ar .     ioh. bigford , ar .     rob. strange , ar .     tho. porter , mil. ut prius   tho. wye , ar .     vvalt . campton , ar harthry   tho. chester . almondsb   ioh tracy , mil. ut prius   will. read , ar . ut prius   ●… rich. pate , ar .     tho. porter , mil. ut prius   ●… tho. baynham , ar . ut prius   tho. smith , ar . nibley sab. on a chev. engrailed , betwixt crosses patee fitchee or , flowers de lys az. each charged on the top with a plate . an. hungerford , ar . ut prius   ioh , higford , ar . dixton   paul. tracy , ar . stanway   th. throgmortō , m. ut prius   hen. pole , mil. ut prius   tho. lucy , ar .     will. dutton , ar .   quarterly arg. and gul. in the d . and d. quarter a fret , or. ioh poyntz , mil. ut prius   will. chester , ar .     ioh. davers . mil , cinencest gul. a chev. inter mullets , or. ioseph benham , ar .     hen. winston , mil.     ioh. chamberlain , a. prestbury gul. an inescoucheon arg. an orle of mullets , or. ioh. hungerford , m ut prius cheokey , or and sab. a fesse , gul. edw. winter , mil. lidney   geo. huntley .     th. throgmortō , m ut prius   will. dutton , ar . ut prius   tho. baynham . ar . ut prius   jacobus .     anno     hen. pole , mil. ut prius   egid. read , ar . ut prius   tho. seymer , mil. button g. wings conjoyned , or , with in a border gobonated , arg. vvill. norwood . * leckhāpt .   tho. estcourt , mil. † lasbury * ermin , ●… cross engrailed , gu. anno rob woodroff , m   † erm. on a chief indented g. . stars , will. guyes , ar . ut prius   ioh. tracy , mil. ut prius   paul. tracy , ar . ut prius   rob. bathurst , ar . lechlade   ioh. carter , ar . charlton   will. kingston , ar . ut prius   rich. brent , ar .     hen. fin●…h , ar .     radus c●…tton , ar .   az. a cheveron between three cotton weeks , arg. tho. chester , ar . knolle   rich. hill , mil.     ph. langley , ar . mangotsfi ut prius . tho. baker , mil.     tho. thynn , mil. wiltshire barry of ten , or and sable . tho. hodges , ar . shipron   rich. rogers , mil. eastwood   ioh. dowle , ar .     carol . i.     anno     will , sandys , mil. misterden   tho. nicholas , ar prestbury   vvill. masters , mil grencest .   rich. tracy , m. & b. ut prius   hen. dennis ar . paule ch. ut prius . radus dutton , mil. standish ut prius . geo. vvinter , mil.     hen. poole , a●…m . ut prius   egid. fetiplace , m. coln alin gul. two cheverons , arg. edw. stephens , ar . l. sodbury   will leigh , ar .     rich ducy , bar. frowcest . or , two lions passant , gults . ioh. poyntz , mil , ut prius   rob. codrington , ar codering ton arg. a fes●… imbattled , sable , between . lions passant , gu.     ●…     fr. creswick , ar . bristol   ●…               or , on a fess , gul. . chess-rooks of the first , as many martlets in chief , sab. vvill. brown , ar . hasfield   hen. viii . . william kkngston , mil. ] i read in an industrious * author , that sir will. kingston was created by k. hen. . knight of the garter , which i humbly conceive to be a mistake , having several exact catalogues of all admitted into that order , amongst whom he doth not appear ; yet was he lieutenant of the tower , and captain of the guard to k. hen. . by whom he was much trusted and employed . cardinal wolsey had it given him in advice , to beware of * kingston , which he mistook for the market town in surry well known , and therefore declined going thither , though many miles his nearer way , in passage to the court. but at last he found this our sir anthony his formidable & fatal kingston , when sent to fetch him out of the north , with some of the gua●…d . and , though he treated the card. most courteously ( saluting him on his * knees ) yet the sight of him went to his heart , dying within few days after . edw. vi. . anthony kingston , mil. ] this was that terr●…ble provost marshal of the kings army in the execution of the western rebels , whose memory i find accused by * sir iohn heywood for his cruelty , and defended by † mr. carew . this sir anthony , so frightful to all guilty persons , fell himself into the same fear , in the reign of q. mary , on this occasion . some were said to have a design to raise war against the queen , and resolved to provide the sinews before the bones of war , money before men . in order whereunto their design was to rob the exchequer , then furnished with . ●… . this being discovered , mane were accused as plotters , more as privy , amongst whom sir anthony kingston , being sent for to come up , he died ( for fear of death , some suppose ) in his * way to london . the farewell . i congratulate the felicity of this county in the return of the episcopal see to the chief city th●…reof ; the rather seeing some questioned its charter , and would have had it un citied , because un bishoped in our civil wars , though ( with their leave ) by the courtesie of england , once a city and ever a city . may the same hereafter ever remain there to take away all suspicion in that kind for the future . hant-shire hath berk-shire on the north , surrey and sussex on the east , the sea on the south , dorcet and wilt-shire on the west . from north unto south it extendeth unto fifty foure miles , not stretching above thirty miles from the east to the west thereof . a happy countrey in the foure elements , if culinary fire in courtesie may pass for one , with plenty of the best wood for the fuel thereof ; most pure and peircing the aire of this shire ; and none in england hath more plenty of clear and fresh rivulets of [ troutful ] water , not to speak of the friendly sea conveniently distanced from london : as for the earth , it is both fair and fruitful , and may pass for an expedient betwixt pleasure and profit ; where by mutual consent they are moderately accommodated . yet much of the arable therein is stony ground , though not like that in the gospel , where the grain grew up and withered so soon , having no * deepness of earth , this bringing plenty of corn to perfection . indeed , that in the parable may be presumed inwardly a rock onely faced over with superficial earth , whereas this hath solid earth enough , but abounding with little loose stones lying above it , which are conceived to keep the corn the warmer ; and therefore some skilfull in husbandry have maintained , that the taking of them away , doth more hurt than good to the ground . the south-west part of this county is called the new forrest , not in the same sense as new colledge in oxford , then at the founding the newest , which since hath gained many puis nes thereunto ; but because the junior of all forrests in england , many having been dis - none in-forrested since the conquest . true it is , king henry the th . made a forrest about his palace of hampton in middlesex by the name of hamptonforrest ; but it never obtained peaceable possession in publique pronunciation , ( blame not the people thereabout if in point of profit their tongues would not cross their hearts ) as this new-forrest did . whereof hereafter . natural commodities . red deer . great store of these were lately in new forrest , so called because newly made by k. william the conqueror , otherwise ten years hence it will be six hundred years old : indeed , as augustus c●…sar is said to have said of herod king of judaea , that it was better to be his hog than his childe : so was it most true of that king william , that it was better to have been his stag than his subject ; the one being by him spared and preserved , the other ruined and destroyed : such was the vastation he made of townes in this county to make room for his game . and it is worth our observing the opposition betwixt the characters of k. edgar . k. william . * templa deo , templis monachos , monachis dedit agros . * templa adimit divis , fora civibus , arva colonis . and now was the south-west of this county made a forest indeed , if as an * antiquary hath observed , a forest be so called , quia foris est , because it is set open and abroad . the stags therein were stately creatures , jealous , revengeful ; insomuch , that i have been credibly inform'd , that a stag unable for the present to master another , who had taken his hinde from him , waited his opportunity , till his enemy had weakned himself with his wantonness , and then kill'd him . their flesh may well be good , whose very horns are accounted cordial . besides , there is a concave in the neck of a green-headed stag , when above his first crossing , wherein are many worms some . inches in length , very useful in physick , and therefore carefully put up by sir theodore mayerne , and other skilful physicians . but i beleive there be few stags now in new-forest , fewer harts , and not any harts-royal ( as escaping the chase of a king ) though in time there may be some again . hony. although this countie affordeth not such lakes of honey , as some * authors relate found in hollow trees in muscovy , nor yieldeth combes equal to that which pliny * reporteth seen in germany , eight foot long , yet produceth it plenty of this necessary and profitable commoditie . indeed hantshire hath the worst and best hony in england , worst , on the heath hardly worth five pound the barrel , best , in the champian where the same quantity will well nigh be sold for twice as much . and it is generally observed , the finer the wheat and wooll , both which very good in this county , the purer the hony of that place . hony is useful for many purposes , especially that hony which is the lowest in any vessel . for it is * an old and true rule , the best oyle is in the top ; the best wine in the middle , and the best hony in the bottome . it openeth obstructions , cleareth the breast and lights from those humors which fall from the head , loosneth the belly , with many other soveraign qualities , too many to be reckoned up in a winters day . however we may observe three degrees , or kinds rather of hony. . virgin hony , which is the purest , of a late swarm which never bred bees . . chaste hony , for so i may term all the rest which is not sophisticated with any addition . . harlot hony , as which is adulterated with meal , and other trash mingled therewith . of the first and second sort i understand the counsel of salomon , my * sonne eat hony for it is good , good absolutely in the substance , though there may be excess in the quantitie thereof . wax . this is the cask , where hony is the liquour , and being yellow by nature , is by art made white , red and green , which i take to be the dearest colours , especially , when appendant on parchment . wax is good by day and by night , when it affordeth light , for sight the clearest , for smell the sweetest , for touch the cleanliest . useful in law to seal instruments , and in physick , to mollifie sinewes , ripen and dissolve ulcers , &c. yea , the ground and foundation of all cere-cloath ( so called from cera ) is made of waxe . hoggs . hantshire hoggs , are allowed by all for the best bacon , being our english westphalian , and which well ordered hath deceived the most judicious pallats . here the swine feed in the forrest on plenty of acorns , ( mens meat in the golden , * hogs food in this iron age , ) which going out lean , return home fat , without either care or cost of their owners . nothing but fulness stinteth their feeding on the mast falling from the trees , where also they lodge at liberty , ( not pent up , as in other places , to stacks of pease ) which some assign the reason of the fineness of their flesh , which though not all glorre ( where no bancks of lean , can be seen for the deluge of fat ) is no less delicious to the taste , and more wholsome for the stomack . swines-flesh by the way is observed most nutritive of mens bodies , because of its assimilation thereunto . yet was the eating thereof forbidden to the jewes , whereof this reason may be rendred , ( besides the absolute will of the law-giver , ) because in hot countries mens bodies are subject to the meastes and leprosies , who have their greatest repast on swines-flesh . for the climate of canaan , was all the year long as hot , as england betwixt may and michael-mass , and it is penal for any butchers with us in that term to kill any pork in the publick shambles . as for the manufacture of clothing in this county , ( diffused throughout the same ) such as deny the goodness of hant-shire cloath , and have occasion to wear it , will be convinced of its true worth by the price which they must pay for it . the buildings . the cathedral in winchester yeildeth to none in england for venerable magnificence . it could not be opus unius saeculi , perfected by the contributive endeavours of several successive bishops , whereof some lie most sumptuously interred in their chappel-like-monuments . on the walls of the quire on each side , the dust of the saxon-kings , and ancient bishops of this church were decently intombed ( many hundred years after ) by richard fox bishop of this see , till in the beginning of our civil wars , they were barbarously thrown down by the souldiers . josephus reports ( what some hardly believe ) how herod took many talents of treasure out of the sepulchre of david ; sure i am they met with no such wealth here in this mine of mortality amongst the ashes , which did none any injurie , and therefore why malice should scratch out that , which did not bite it , is to me unknown . as for civil structures , basing , built by the first marquess of winchester , was the greatest of any subjects house in england , yea larger than most ( eagles have not the biggest nests of all birds ) of the kings palaces . the motto love loyaltie , was often written in every window thereof , and was well practised in it , when for resistance on that account , it was lately levelled to the ground . next basing , bramsell , built by the last lord zouch in a bleak and barren place , was a stately structure , especially before part thereof was defaced with a casual fire . the wonders . there is an oake in this county , which by most credible people is generally reported to put forth green leaves yearly on , or about , christ-mas day . it groweth nigh lindhurst in the new forrest , and perchance i could point more exactly at the position thereof , but am loath to direct some ignorant zealot , lest he cut it down under the notion of superstition , and make timber of this oake , as some lately have made fewel of the hawthorn at glassenburie . proverbs . manners makes a man , quoth william wickham . this generally was his motto inscribed frequently on the places of his founding , so that it hath since acquired a proverbial reputation . we commonly say in the . church , god makes a man , as who truly created him . . court , clothes make a man , as which habit and adorn him . . change , money makes a man , which puts him in a solvable condition . . schools , manners make a man , as which compleat and accomplish him . grant the two middle expressions , the extravagancy of our pride and covetousness , the first and last must be allowed proportionable to piety and truth . without manners one is but a man-beast or centaure . now seeing no man without manners , no manners without some learning , no learning without teaching , no teaching of youth to that in a grammer free-school ; of men to that in a colledge , in an universitie ; how much thanks doth posteritie owe to this vvickham's memory . canterbury is the higher rack , but winchester is the better manger , ] w. edington , * bishop of winchester , was the authour of this expression , rendring this the reason of his refusal to be removed to canterbury , though chosen thereunto . indeed though canterbury be graced with an higher honor , the revenues of winchester lying entirely , are more advantagious to gather riches thereon . the proverb is appliable to such , who prefer a wealthy privacy , before a less profitable dignity . yet know that that manger did once partly maintain that rack , viz. when john white bishop of winchester was injoyned by queen mary , to pay a thousand pound a year to cardinal poole , archbishop of canterburie , for the better support of his estate . the isle of * wight hath no monks , lawyers , nor foxes . ] this speech hath more mirth , than truth in it . that they had monks i know , * black ones , at carisbrook ; white ones , at quarter in this island . that they have lawyers they know , when they pay them their fees ; and that they have foxes their lambs know . however , because perchance they have fewer in proportion to places of the like extent , ( and few or none are often coupled in common discourse ) let not that which was pleasantly spoken be frowardly taken , but pass as we found it to posteritie . princes . henry eldest son of king john and his wife isabel , born at winchester anno . was one ( besides the account of longaevity ) eminent in his generation . he was a most pious king , son to a prophane father [ king john ] a very poor king , brother to a most wealthie [ richard king of the romans . ] a very weak king , father to a most wise son , edward the first . the tragi-comedie of his life was eminent in many particulars . . he had scarce half a kingdome in the beginning of his reign , lewis of france , being brought in to be king by the english in their hot , and cast out in their cold bloud . . he had no part of a kingdome in the middle of his reign , imbroyled with war with his barons , beaten in battle , imprisoned , and no king in effect . . he had all the kingdome in the end of his reign . for as soon as prince edward began to man it , this his son may be accounted his father , by whom he attained a comfortable old age. he was not so weak , but that he knew who were wiser then himself , and would be governed by them , one main cause which procured his death in peace , and burial in pomp , in the abbey of westminster of his own foundation , anno dom. . eleanor tenth daughter , sixteenth and youngest child of king edward the first , was born at * winchester the . of may . and died in her infancy , so that the epitaph which i find elsewhere of an infant of meaner birth may be applyed unto her . ( she lieth buried at saint peters vvestminster , having her picture upon her monument with three of her brothers . ) arthur , eldest son to king henry the seaventh , and queen elizabeth , was born , ( being partus * octomestris , yet vital and vigorous , contrary to the rules of physicians ) at * winchester the . day of september . some will wonder at his name , whereof no alliance , nor english prince , since the unhappy arthur duke of britain , supposed to be made away by king john , his cruel uncle . but because this prince by his fathers side , was , with king arthur of british extraction , and because born at winchester where king arthur kept his court , and his [ pretended ] round table still to be seen , that name was bestowed upon him . he died at ludlow , in the sixteenth year of his age , anno . and is buried in the cathedral of worcester , more known to posterity by the widow he left , the lady katherine dowager , ( and the effects ensuing thereon ) then by any of his own personal performances . saints . edburgh eight daughter of king edward the elder and his first by queen edgiva gave when but three years of age a great * augury of her future pietie , her father presenting before her , and leaving to her choyce , on the one hand the new testament and a * challice . on the other , jewels , rings and bracelets . she took the new testament and the challice ( conceive it not because of massy silver , but ) acted with the principal of infant pietie ; hereupon her parents left her to her own disposal , who became a nun at winchester after the order of saint benedict under-going the austeritic of that order . it is reported of her , ( forgive me reader , though i would not write these things they are so absurd , i cannot but write them they are so absurd ; ) that she would by night play the part of a * pious thief and steal the socks of all the other nuns , and having carefully washed and annointed them , restore them to their beds sides . this saint edburg died on the . of june . some of her bones being kept at winchester , others say * at wilton , ( so facile the mistakes in latine betwixt wiltonia and wintonia ) and the rest were translated to pershore , an abbey in the diocess of worcester . martyrs . this county being in the diocesse of vvinchester , escaped very well in the marian dayes from any visible persecution . under god it might thank stephen gardener , or rather gardners policy . this bishop like a cunning hunter preserved the game fair at home , and killed it in the walkes of other keepers : it was not he , but bloody bonner , who procured the death of , john philpot son of sir * peter philpot knight , was born in this county , whose family had an ancient habitation at therein . he proceeded mr. of arts in new colledge in oxford ; and afterwards being arch-deacon of lincoln , was a zealous promoter of the protestant religion . in the first of queen mary , being a member of the convocation , his heart was hot within : and while he was musing , the fire kindled , and he spake with his tongue , which afterwards occasioned his martyrdome . if papists account him a distracted man , none will wonder , who consider how the prophane captaines of israel , called the son of the prophet , a * mad fellow : and if some vehement expressions fell from him during his imprisonment , his enemies cruelty was the cause thereof . seing ill usage , which once made a dumb beast to * speak , may make a sober man overspeak in his passion . but all his sufferings are reported by mr. fox so perfectly , ( perfectum est cui nihil addi potest ) that it is presumption for any to hope to make an essential addition thereunto . he was martyred anno dom. . decemb. . katharine govvches . guillemine gilbert . perotine massey whose husband , a minister of gods word , was for fear fled out of the island . the first of these was the mother , a poor widdow of st. peters port , in the isle of guernsey ; the other two her daughters ( but maried women ) these in the reign of queen mary , were noted to be much absent from the church ; for which they were presented before jaques amy then dean of the island , who finding them to hold opinions against the real presence in the sacrament of the altar , condemned them to be burnt for hereticks , which was done accordingly , july . . add to these an infant without a christian name , and no wonder it is never named , seeing properly it was never born ; but by the force of the flame burst out of his mothers belly , perotine massey aforesaid . this babe was taken up by w. house a by-stander , and by the command of elier gosselin the bailiff ( supreme officer in the then absence of the governour of the island ) cast again into the fire , and therein consumed to ashes . it seems this bloody bailiff , was minded like the cruel tyrant , commanding , canis pessimi ne catulum esse relinquendum , though this indeed was no dogge but a lamb , and that of the first minute , and therefore too young by the levitical law to be sacrificed . here was a spectacle without precedent , a cruelty built three generations high , that grandmother , mother , and grandchild , should all suffer in the same flame . and know reader , these martyrs dying in the isle of guernsey , are here reckoned in hampshire , because that island with jersey ( formerly subordinate to the arch-bishop of constance in normandy ) have since the reign of queen elizabeth , been annexed to the diocess of winchester . prelates . william wickham was born at vvickham in this county , being the son of john perot , and sibel his wife , ( over whose graves he hath erected a chappel at titchfield in this county ) and bred in the university of oxford . he was otherwise called long , from the height of his stature ( as my * authour conceives ) though since it may be applied to the perpetuity of his memory , which will last as long as the world endureth , for his two fair foundations at oxford , winchester . begun * . finished . begun . finished . the charter of the foundation of st. maries-colledge in oxford , was dated the . of november , . in his manour in southwarke , s●…nce called vvinchester-house . the scholars entred thereunto about nine a clock on the . day of april in the same year . the first stone was laid , march . at nine a clock in the morning , in the . year of the age of the founder .   he died in the th . year of his consecration , and th . of his age , in the th . year of the reign of king henry the fourth , and his benefaction to learning is not to be paralleld by any english subject , in all particulars . john russell was born in this county , in the parish of * saint peters in the suburbs of vvinchester . he was bred fellow of new-colledge , and when doctor of canon-law , was chosen chancellor of oxford . yea , that office annual before , was first fixed on * him ( as in cambridge on bishop fisher ) for term of life . by king edward the fourth , he was advanced bishop of lincolne , and by richard the third * ld. chancellor of england , having ability enough to serve any , and honesty too much to please so bad a king. and because he could not bring him to his bent , when the lord hastings was killed , this bishop ( saith my * author ) was for a time imprisoned . he died january the . anno . leaving this character behind him , vir fuit summa * pietate , & ex rerum usu oppidò quàm prudens , doctrina etiam singulari . william warham was born at * ockley of worshipful parentage in this county , bred fellow and doctor of the lawes in new-colledge , imployed by king henry the seventh ( who never sent sluggard or fool on his errand ) to margaret dutches of burgundy , and by him advanced bishop of london , then archbishop of canterbury , living therein in great lustre , till eclipsed in power and profit by thomas vvolsey , archbishop of yorke . it may be said , that england then had ten arch-bishops , if a figure and cypher amount to so many , or else , if it had but two , they were arch-bishop thomas , and arch-bishop vvolsey , drawing all causes to his court-legatine , whilest all other ecclesiastical jurisdictions in england kept a constant vacation . this , vvarham bare with much moderation , contenting himself , that , as he had less honour , so he had less envy , and kept himself coole , whilst vvolsey his screene , was often scorched with just and general hatred . in the case of k. henry his divorce , he was the prime * advocate for queen katherine , and carried it so cautiously , that he neither betrayed the cause of his client , nor incurr'd the kings displeasure . nor will any wonder , that an arch-bishop of canterbury did then plead before an arch-bishop of york , seeing the king at the same time was summoned before his subject . he survived vvolsey's ruine , but never recovered his former greatness , blasted with a praemunir●… with the rest of the clergy , and the heavier , because the higher in dignity . he is said to have expended thirty thousand pounds in the repair of his palaces , the probable reason , why he left no other publick monuments , though arch-bishop twenty eight years , dying anno domini . robert sherborn was born in this * county , and bred first in vvinchester , and then in new coll. was a great schollar , and prudent man , imployed in several embassies by k. henry the seventh , and by him preferred bishop first of st. davids , then chichester : which church he decored with many ornaments and edifices , especially the south-side thereof , where on the one side on the other the * history of the foundation of the church , with the images of the kings of england . the statues of all the bishops of this see , both those of selcey , and of chichester . he often inscribed for his motto , dilexi decorem domus tuae domine ; i have loved the beauty of thy house , ô lord : and sometimes * credite operibus , trust their works . now although some may like his almes better then his trumpet , charity will make the most favourable construction thereof . being . years of age he resigned his bishoprick , and died in the same year , anno dom. . john white was born in this county of a * worshipful house , began on the floor , and mounted up to the roof of spiritual dignitie in this diocess . first scholar in vvinchester , then fellow of new-colledge in oxford , then master of vvinchester-school ; then vvarden of that colledge , and at last , ( taking lincoln bishoprick in his passage ) bishop of vvinchester , all composed in * this distick . me puero custos , ludi paulo ante magister , vitus , & hac demum praesul in urbe fuit . i may call the latter a golden verse , for it cost this vvhite many an angel to make it true , entring into his bishoprick on this condition , to pay to cardinal pole , a yearly pension of a thousand pounds . now though this was no better then simony , yet the prelats pride was so far above his covetousness , and his covetousness so farre above his conscience , that he swallowed it without any regreet . he was a tolerable poet , and * wrote an elegy on the eucharist to prove the corporal presence , and confute peter martyr ; the first and last i believe , who brought controversial divinity into verses . he preached the funeral sermon of queen mary ( or if you will of publique popery in england ) praising her so beyond all measure , and slighting queen elizabeth without any cause , that he justly incurr'd her displeasure . this cost him deprivation and imprisonment , straiter then others of his order ( though freer than any protestant had under popish persecutours ) until his death , which hap'ned at london about the year . since the reformation . thomas bilson was born in the city of * winchester , bred first scholar in winchester-school , then ( taking new-colledge in his passage ) school-master thereof , afterwards warden of the colledge , and at last ( taking worcester in his way ) bishop of winchester . as reverend and learned a prelate as england ever afforded , witness his worthy works , of the perpetual government of christs church , and of christs descent into hell , not ad . patiendum , to suffer , which was concluded on the cross with it is * finished . nor , . praedicandum , to preach , useless where his auditory was all the forlorn hope . neither , . liberandum , to free any , pardon never coming after execution . but , . possidendum , to take possession of hell which he had conquered . and . triumphandum , to triumph , which is most honourable in hostico , in the enemies own country . the new translation of the bible was by king james his command ultimately committed to his , * and dr. smiths ( bishop of gloueester ) perusal , who put the compleating hand thereunto . his pious departure out of this life hapned . henry cotton was born at warblington in this county , being a younger son unto sir richard cotton , knight , and privy councellor to king edward the sixth . queen ( whilest yet but lady ) elizabeth , being then but twelve years of age was his god-mother : he was bred in magdalen colledge in oxford , and was by the queen preferred bishop of salisbury . when she pleasantly said , that formerly she had blessed many of her god-sons , but now her god-son should bless her : reflecting on the solemnity of episcopal benediction . he was consecrated , november the . . at which time william cotton ( of another family ) was made bishop of exeter . the queen merrily saying , ( alluding to the plenty of clothing in those parts ) that she hoped that now she had well cottoned the west . by his wife whose name was patience , he had nineteen children , and died , may the . . arthur lakes was born in the parish * of saint michael , in the town of southampton , bred first in vvinchester-school , then fellow of new-colledge . in his own nature he preferred the fruitfulness of the vine , and fatness of the olive ( painfulness in a private parish ) before the government of the trees , had not immediate providence without his suit and seeking , preferred him successively warden of new-colledge , prefect of saint crosses nigh vvinchester , dean of vvorcester , bishop of bath and vvells . he continued the same in his rochet , what he was in his scholars-gown , and lived a real comment upon saint pauls character of a bishop . . blameless . ] such as hated his order , could not cast any aspersion upon him . . the husband of one vvife , ] he took not that lawful liberty , but led a single life , honouring matrimony in his brethren , who embraced it . . vigilant , ] examining canonically in his own person all those whom he ordained . : sober , of good behaviour . ] such his austerity in diet ( from his university-commons , to his dying day ) that he generally fed but on one ( and that no daintie ) dish , and fasted four times a week from supper . . given to hospitality . ] when master of saint crosses , he encreased the allowance of the poor-brethren , in diet and otherwise . when bishop , he kept . servants in his family , not so much for state or attendance on his person , but pure charity in regard of their private need . . apt to teach . ] the living with his pious sermons , in his cathedral and neighbouring parishes ; and posterity with those learned writings he hath left behinde him . . not given to vvine , ] his abstemiousness herein was remarkable . . no striker , not given to filthy lucre . ] he never fouled his fingers with the least touch of gehazi's reward , freely preferring desert . . one that ruleth well his own house . ] the rankness of house-keeping brake not out into any riot , and a chapter was constantly read every meal , by one kept for that purpose . every night ( besides cathedral and chappel-prayers ) he prayed in his own person with his family in his dining-room . in a word , his intellectuals had such predominancy of his sensuals , or rather grace so ruled in both , that the man in him being subordinate to the christian , he lived a pattern of piety . i have read of one arthur faunt , a jesuite , who entring into orders , renounced his christian name , * because ( forsooth ) never legendary saint thereof , and assumed that of laurence . this gracious arthur was not so superstitiously scrupulous , ( and if none before ) may pass for the first saint of his name , dying in the fifty ninth year of his age . anno domini , . states-men . richard rich knight , was in the words of my author * a gentleman well descended and allied in this county : bred in the temple in the study of our common law , and afterwards became sollicitor to king henry the eighth . his deposition on oath upon words spoken to him in the tower , was the sharpest evidence to cut off the head of sir thomas more . he was under cromwel a lesser hammerto knock down abbeys , most of the grants of which lands going through his hands , no wonder , if some stuck upon his fingers . under king edward the sixth , he was made lord chancellour of england , dischargeing his place with prudence and equity for the terme of five years . foreseeing he should be outed of his office , ( being of the anti-faction to duke dudley ) to prevent stripping , he politickly put off his robes of state , ( resigning his office : ) which done , no danger of catching cold his own under-suit was so well lined , having gotten a fair estate about lees abbey in essex , whereof he was created baron . he died in the beginning of the reign of queen elizabeth , being direct ancestour unto the right honourable charles rich , now earl of vvarwick . william powlet ( where ever born ) had his largest estate , and highest honour , ( baron of basing , and marquess of vvinchester ) in this county . he was descended from a younger house of the powlets of hinton saint george in sommersetshire , as by the crescent in his arms is acknowledged . one * telleth us , that he being a younger brother , and having wasted all that was left him , came to court on trust , where , upon the bare stock of his wit , he traffick'd so wisely , and prospered so well , that he got , spent , and left , more than any subject since the conquest . indeed he lived at the time of the dissolution ( of abbeys , which was the harvest of estates ; and it argued idleness , if any courtier had his barnes empty . he was servant to k. henry the seaventh , and for thirty years together treasurer to k. henry the eighth , edward the sixth , qu. mary , and qu. elizabeth . the 〈◊〉 , in some 〈◊〉 , owed their crowns to his counsel : his policy being the principal 〈◊〉 of duke dudleys designe , to disinherit them . i behold this lord 〈◊〉 like to aged adoram , so often mentioned in scripture , being over the tribute in the dayes of k. * david , all the reign of * k. solomon , untill the first * year of 〈◊〉 . and though our lord powlet enjoyed his place not so many years , yet did he serve more soveraigns , in more mutable times , being ( as he said of himself ) no 〈◊〉 , but an 〈◊〉 . herein the parallel holds not , the honry hairs of ad●…m were sent to the grave , by a violent death , * slain by the people in a 〈◊〉 : this lord had the rare happiness of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , setting in his full splendour , having lived years , and seen out of his body : he dyed , anno domini . sr. thomas lakes was born in the parish of st. michael , in the town of south-hampton , and there bred in grammer-learning , under doctor seravia . by several under offices he was at last deservedly preferred secretary of estate to k. james : incredible his dexterity in dispatch , who at the same time would indite , write , discourse , more exactly than most men could severally performe them . men resembled him to one of the hips-royal of qu. elizabeth , called the swift-sure , such his celerity and solidity in all affairs . no lesse his secresie in concealing , and what was credited to his counsel was alwayes found in the same posture it was left in . add to all these , he was a good man , and a good mans brother , dr. arthur lakes , bishop of bath-and - wells . king james ( who allwayes loved what was facile and fluent ) was highly pleased with his latine pen , who by practice had made tullie's phrase his own . he was one of the three noble hands , who at the court first led mr. george villers into the favour of king james . at last he fell , for the faults of others , into the kings displeasure , being punished for the offences of one of his nearest relations , and of all them fin'd in the star-chamber , he was the only person generally pittied for his suffering : yet even then k. james gave him this publick eulogie in open court , that he was a minister of state fit to serve the greatest prince in europe . he was outed his secretaries place , which needed him more than he it , having atchieved a fair fortune , which he transmitted to posterity . how long he lived afterwards in a private life , is to me unknown . souldiers . beavois an english man was earle of south-hampton , in the time of the conquerer , and being unable to comport with his oppression , banded against him with the fragments of the english men , the strength of hastings the dane , and all the assistance the vvelch could afford . in whose country a battel was fought , near carcliffe , against the normans , anno domini . wherein three nations were conquered by one. beavois being worsted ( success depends not on valour ) fled to carlile , ( a long step from carcliffe : ) and afterwards no mention what became of him . this is that beavois whom the monks cryed up to be such a man , that since it hath been questioned , whether ever such a man , i mean , whether ever his person was in rerum natura : so injurious those are , who in the reports of any mans performances exceed the bounds of probability . all i will add is this , that the sword preserved and shewed to be this beavoises in arundel . castle , is lesser ( perchance worn with age ) than that of king edward the third , kept in westminster-church . seamen . sr. john wallop , born in this county , of a most ancient and respected family , was directed by his genius to sea-service , at what time our coasts were much infested with french-piracies . for , there was a knight of malta , passing in our chronicles , by the name of prior john ( more proper by his profession , to be employed against the turks , lately so victorious in hungary ) who liv'd by pickeering , and undoing many english merchants . but our sr. john made the french pay more than treble dammages , who with eight hundredh men landed in normandy , burnt * one and twenty towns , with divers ships in the havens of traport , staples , &c. and safely returned with wealth and victory . methinks the ancient armes of the wallhops appear propheticall herein , viz. argent a bend-unde sable , interpreted by my * authour , a wave , or sourge of the sea , raised by some turbulent flaw of wind and tempest , prognosticating the activity of that family , in marine performances . robert tomson , merchant , was born at * andover in this county , bred much at bristol in sea-imployments . hence anno . he sailed into spain , and thence two years after shipped himself for nova hispania , to make a discovery thereof , on the same token , that in his passage thither , in a spanish ship , a light like a can●…le ( being nothing else but a meteor frequent by sea and land ) sell on their main mast , which the spaniards on their knees worshiped for st. elmo , the advocate of saylers . he afterwards wrote the description of new spain , with the city of mexico , giving a good , and the first account thereof , of any englishman . during his abode many months in mexico , at dinner he let fall some discourse against saint-worship , for which he was imprisoned in the holy-house , and enjoyned solemn penance by the arch-bishop of mexico , this tomson , being the first ( reputed ) heretick , which was ever seen in america on a penitential scaffold . hence he was sent into spain , and after three years durance in the inquisition , discharged . here a spanish merchants daughter , mary de la barrera by name , fell in love with him , and became his wife , worth to him in barrs of gold and silver * two thousand five hundred pounds , besides jewells of great price . returning into england , he lived with great comfort , and credit therein , so that it may truly be said of him , he had been un●…one , if ( by the cruelty of his enemies ) he had not been undone . writers . lamfrid of winchester was bred a benedictine therein , congregationis giribenne , saith my * authour , wherein i am not ashamed to confess my ignorance . such his learning in those dayes , that he got the general name of doctor eximius , though his few works still extant answer not the proportion of so high a title . he flourished anno . wolstanus of winchester , bred a benedictine , therein attained to the reputation of a great scholar . i listen attentively to the words of * vv. malmsbury , ( who could ken a learned man ) giving him this caracter , vir fuit eruditus , homo etiam bonae vitae & castigatae eloquentiae . but it seemeth , his eloquence was confined to poetry , my author observing , that oratione soluta nunquam politè scripsit . he flourished anno . john of hide , was a monk in the famous abby of hide , in the suburbs of winchester , and became a competent historian , according to the rate of those times , writing certain homilies , * a book of the patience of job , and the story of his own convent : he flourished anno . john of basingstoak , so called from a fair market town in this co●…nty , where he was born . we have a double demonstration of his signal worth , first , because robert grosthead that pious and learned bishop , ( who would not advance any thing which was under eminency ) preferred him arch-deacon of leicester : secondly , the pens of bale and pitz * diametrically opposite one to the other , meet both in his commendation . being bred first in oxford , then in paris , thence he travailed into athens , ( athens as yet was athens , not routed by turkish tyranny ) where he heard the learned lecturs of one * constantina a noble woman , ( not fully twenty * years old ) of the abstruse mysteries of nature . coming home , he brought back many precious books , and had good skill in the greek tongue , ( whereof he wrote a grammar , and is justly reputed the first restorer thereof in england . he was the author of many worthy works , and died , anno . on whom * m. paris bestoweth this eulogy , vir in trivio & quatrivio ad plenum eruditus . john of * hide , was a monk in the famous abby of hide in the suburbs of winchester , and became a competent historian according to the rate of those times , writing certain homilies , a book of the patience of job , and the story of his own covent . he flourished , anno . william alton , a native of a known market-town in this county was a dominican or preaching frier , famous even amongst forreiners for his sermons and sound judgement , avouching the virgin mary tainted with original corruption . he flourished , anno . william lilli●… , was born at * odiam a market-town in this county and travelled in his youth as far as jerusalem . in his return he stayed at rhodes and studied greek , which will seem strange to some , rhodes not being rhodes in that age ( except casually some great critick was there ) seeing otherwise to find elegant in modern greek ( sowred with long continuance ) is as impossible , as to draw good wine out of a vessel of vinegar . hence he went to rome , where he heard john sulpitius and pomponius sabinus great masters of latine in those dayes . after his return dean collet made him the first master of st. pauls school , which place he commendably discharged for . years . here he made his latine grammar , which this great school-master modestly submitted to the correction of erasmus , and therefore such , who will not take it on the single bond of lillie , may trust on the security of erasmus . some charge it for surfeiting with variety of examples , who would have had him onely to set down the bare rules , as best for childrens remembrance . but they may know that such , who learnt grammar in lillies time , were not school-boyes , but school-men ; i mean arrived at mens estate . many since have altered and bettered his grammar , and amongst them my worthy friend dr. charles scarborough , calculating his short , clear and true rules for the meridian of his own son ; which in due time may serve for general use . * our lillie died of the plague , and was buried in the porch of saint pauls , anno dom. . since the reformation . micha●… reneger , was born in this * county , and bred fellow in magdalen-colledge in oxford , where he gained great credit for his skill in learning and languages . he wrote a book in the defence of ministers marriage . thomas sternhold , was born in this * county , and was afterwards a servant to king henry the eighth . i find him a legatee in his will thus mentioned . item , to thomas sternhold , groome of our robes a hundred mark. he was afterwards ( saith my author ) ab intimo cubiculo to king edward the sixth , though i am not satisfied whether thereby he meant gentleman of his privie-chamber , or groom of his bed-chamber . he was a principal instrument of translating of the psalmes into english-meeter ; the first twentie six ( and seven and thirty in all ) being by him performed . yet had he other assistance in that work . many a bitter scoffe hath since been past on their endeavours by some wits , which might have been better imployed . some have miscalled these their translations geneva gigs , and which is the worst , father , ( or mother rather ) the expression on our virgin queen , as falsly as other things have been charged upon her . some have not sticked to say , that david hath been as much persecuted by bungling translators , as by saul himself . some have made libellous verses in abuse of them , and no wonder if songs were made on the translators of the psalms , seeing * drunkards made them on david the author thereof . but let these translations be beheld by unpartial eyes , and they will be allowed to go in equipage with the best poems in that age , however it were to be wisht that some bald rimes therein were bettered , till which time such as sing them , must endeavour to amend them , by singing them with understanding heads , and gratious hearts , whereby that , which is but bad meter on earth , will be made good musick in heaven . as for our thomas sternhold , it was happy for him that he died before his good master , anno . in the moneth of august . so probably preventing much persecution , which would have hapned unto him , if surviving in the reign of queen mary . david whitehead , ( where born to me unknown ) is here placed , because i find a worshipful and ancient family of his name in this county . he was bred a batchelour of divinity in oxford , and flying into germany in the reign of queen mary , was in high esteem at franckford with the english congregation . after his return , queen elizabeth profered him great preferment . and it seems in the first of her reign , the archbishop of canterbury , went a wooing to accept thereof , viz. to . john * feckenham , refusing it upon a popish account , because he would not subscribe to the queens supremacie . . nicholas wotton , † doctor of law , and dean of canterbury , refusing it on a politique account , suspecting the queens short life , and fearing alterations in the state. . this whitehead , * who declined it out of his desire of privacy , though some causelesly suspected him for disaffection to church discipline . for he was by queen elizabeth offered the mastership of the * hospital of the savoy , which he might have accepted without any subscription , but would not , affirming he could live plentifully on the preaching of the gospel ; a rare example of moderation . he was a deep divine , and was chosen one of the disputants primo elizabethae , against the popish bishops . his many books , still extant , testifie his learning and religion . queen elizabeth highly valued his company , the rather because of his consciencious bluntness , wherin one repartee may be remembred . the queen , who ever was iniquior in sacerdotes maritatos , said unto him , * whitehead , i love thee the better , because thou art unmarried , in truth madam ( said he ) i love you the worse because you are unmarried . he died anno dom . nicholas fuller , was as i have cause to conceive born in this county , and when a youth was amanuensis or scribe to dr. horne bishop of winchester ; afterwards he attended ( as tutor servant ) on sir henry wallop to oxford , and returning thence was made minister of allington nigh salisbury in wiltshire , where he had a benefice rather then a living , so small the revenues thereof . but a contented mind extendeth the smallest parish into a diocess , and improveth the least benefice into a bishoprick . here a great candle was put under a bushel ( or peck rather ) so private his place and imployment ; here he applyed his studies in the tongues , and was happy in pitching on ( not difficult trifles , but ) useful difficulties tending to the understanding of scripture . he became an excellent linguist , and his books found good regard beyond the seas , where they were reprinted . drusius , the belgian critick grown old , angry , and jealous that he should be outshined in his own sphear , foully cast some drops of ink upon him , which the other as fairly wiped off again . he charged master fuller for being his plagiary , taking his best notes from him without any acknowledgement thereof ; master fuller confest himself alwayes desirous of drusius his works , but never able , ( such his poverty ) to purchase them , and therefore he could not steal out of those books which his eye never beheld , ( and not to be partial to my name-sake ) let the world judge whether fuller his miscelane be not as good as drusius his wheat . bishop andrewes came to him as the queen of sheba to solomon , to pose him with hard questions , bringing with him a heap of knots for the other to untie , and departed from him with good satisfaction ; he afterwards bestowed on him a great living in this county which master fuller did not long enjoy . he was most eminent for that grace which is most worth , ( yet costeth the least to keep it ) i mean humility , who in his writings doth as fairly dissent from , as freely concur with any mans opinions . he dyed about the year of our lord , . thomas james , was born in the isle * of wight , bred first in winchester , then at new-colledge in oxford , and afterwards proceeded doctor in divinity . he was chosen by sir thomas bodley the keeper of his inestimable library in oxford . and on serious consideration one will conclude the library made for him , and him for it , like tallies they so fitted one another . some men live like mothes in libraries , not being better for the books , but the books the worse for them , which they only soile with their fingers . not so dr. james , who made use of books for his own and the publique good . he knew the age of a manuscript , by looking upon the face thereof , and by the form of the character could conclude the time wherein it was written . he was a member of the convocation held with the parliament of oxford , primo caroli , where he made a motion , that some might be commissioned to peruse the manuscript fathers , in all publique and private english libraries , that thereby the forgery of forreign popish editions might be detected . i believe his design had formerly been by him pursued for many years as appears by this passage in mr. * camden , tho. james oxoniensis vir eruditus , & vere 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , qui se totum literis & libris , involvit , & jam publici boni studio in angliae , bibliothecis excutiendis ( deus opus secundet ) id molitur , quod reipublicae literariae imprimis erit usui . he never attained higher preferment than the subdeanary of wells , and dying . was buried in the chappel of new-colledge in oxford . charles butler , was bred master of arts in magdalen-colledge in oxford , and afterwards beneficed in this county . an excellent musician , who wrote a book of the principles of musick , in singing and setting with the twofold use thereof ( ecclesiastical and civil ) and a critical english man , having composed a grammar of our language ; he also wrote a book of bees , wherein as if he had been their secretary , he appears most knowing in the state-mysteries of their common-wealth , whence * one not unhandsomly on his book . aut à consiliis apibus , butlere , fuisti ; aut à consiliis est apis ipsa tuis . butler he 'l say ( who these thy writings sees ) bees counsel'd thee , or els thou counselst bees . i behold these his books as the receptacle of the leakage and superfluities of his study , and it is no trespass on grace for one to walk and take a turn in the field of nature ; he was also a pious man , a painful preacher , and a solid divine . witnesse his excellent book of the marriage of cousin germans , approved and commended by doctor prideaux as the best ever written on that subject , i conjecture he dyed about the year . romish exile writers . richard white was born at * basing-stoake in this county , bred first in winchester school , then in new colledge in oxford . in the beginning of queen elizabeth leaving the land , he lived first at lovain , then in padua in italy , where he proceeded doctor of the laws . afterwards he became regius professor thereof at doway , for the space of thirty years and more . he wrote many books , and amongst the rest , a brittish and english history , which hitherto i have not been so happy as to see , save at the second hand , as often cited by mr. selden , which makes me believe much merit therein . surely he was better employed in the writing thereof , then in the large comment he hath made on the aenigmatical epitaph set up at bononia . aelia laelia crispis , &c. which many think meerly made by a conceited brain on design to puzzle intellects , to create sense by their ingenuity and industry which was never intended therein . for i am clearly of his opinion , who said , qui ea scribit legi , quae non vult intelligi , debet negligi . i have nothing else to observe of this richard white , save that after he had successively married two * wives , he was made a priest by the special dispensation of pope clement the eight , and that he was alive at doway , . john pits was born in this county , nigh the market town of aulton , witness his words in † vicinio cujus oppidi natus sum ego . son he was to henry pits and elizabeth his wife , sister to nicholas * sanders . it is hard to say whether his hands took more pains in writing , or feet in travelling , if the list of his laborious life be perused , whereby he will appear a very aged person . at . years of age he went to the school of winchester . seven years he staid there , until chosen unto new-colledge . two years he lived in oxford , and then went beyond the seas . one year he stayed and studied in the colledge of rhemes . thence going to rome , he lived . years there in the english-colledge , and was ordained priest. returning to rhemes two yeares he there taught rhetorick and greek . then lived in lorrain and in triers two years . three years at ingolstad in bavaria , where he was made d. d. made canon of verdun in lorrain , and lived there two years . then for twelve years he was confessor to the dutches of cleve . here he wrote many volumes of several subjects , one of the apostolical men , another of the kings and bishops in england , but because he survived not to see them set forth , he was as good as his word , mecum morientur & sepelientur , with him they died and were buried . onely that his book is brought to light , which is intituled , de illustribus angliae scriptoribus , a subject formerly handled by many , so that some stick not to say , j. leland is the industrious bee working all . j. bale is the angry wasp stinging   j. pits is the idle drone stealing   for my part i have made much use of his endeavours to help me with many writers , especially with such english papists , as have been since the reformation . nor will i pay him with rayling , from whose pen i have borrowed much information . some wonder at his invectiveness : i wonder more , that he inveigheth so little ; and seeing he was sisters son to blackmouth'd sanders , it is much that he doth not more avunculize in his bitterness against protestants . after the death of anthonia dutches of cleve , he returned the third time into lorrain , where the bishop of toul , ( who formerly had been his scholar ) gave him the deanary of liverdune , a place of good credit and revenue , where quietly he reposed himself for the remainder of his life for many years , and dying anno . was there buried . benefactors to the publick . besides bishop wickham ( of whom before ) who alone may pass for ten , i meet with none of grand remark before the reformation ; since it , besides many of meaner note , i find two of signal charity . sir william doddington knight , high sheriffe of this county in the third of king james , kept a bountiful house at bremer therein . succeeding to an unexpected estate , he had the words of david frequent in his mouth ; what am i ? or what is my fathers house ? that thou hast brought me hitherto . having a godly jealousie , that some former dysasters in his family had been caused by gods displeasure on his ancestors for holding so many impropriations , he freely and fully restored them to the church , setling them as firmly as law could devise to a greater yearly value , than many will believe , or any imitate . yet was he a man of mourning , or son of affliction all the dayes of his life . no sooner had he seen herbert his eldest son , a most hopeful gentleman , married to a considerable co-heir in somer set-shire , but he beheld him snatcht away by an untimely death . what tragedies have since happened in his household , is generally known . all these he bare with saint-like patience , * hearing the rod , ( that is , understanding and obeying it ) and him who appointed it . in a word , god the skilful lapidary polished him with sharp instruments , that he then did glister as a pearle here , who now shineth as a starre in heaven . he died about the year of our lord , . joseph diggons esquire , was of dutch extraction ( whose father was a sea-man of trinity-house ) but had his longest habitation in this county in a house of his own building at whetham in the parish of lisse . he was bred a fellow-commoner of clare-hall in cambridge , and afterwards became a barrester in the temple . by his will he gave to clare hall ( where none knew his face , nor remembred his name , save the worthy master dr. pask ) all his estate in land , of very improveable rents , to the value of one hundred and thirty pounds per annum ; for the founding of fellowships and scholarships , at the discretion of the master and fellows . he made mr. pickering an attourney of clements-inn ( living at oldham in this county ) an overseer of his will , who faithfully gave the colledge notice thereof , and was very usefull and assistant to them in the settling of the lands aforesaid . mr. diggons died , anno . memorable persons . we must not forget one ( better known to me by his invention than his name ) who , dwelling at stockbridge , in this county , made so artificial a plough , that by the help of engins , and some contrivances , it might be drawn by doggs , and managed by one man , who would plough in one day , well nigh an acre of the light ground in this county . this plough i saw ( some thirty years since ) at stockbridge aforesaid . but the ●…roject was not taking , beheld rather as pretty than profitable , though in the judgment of wise men this groundwork might have been built upon , and invention much improved by the skilfull in mathematicks : for i have heard , that some polititians are back friends ( how justly i know not ) to such projects , which ( if accomplish'd ) invite the land to a losse , the fewer poor being thereby set awork , that being the best way of tillage , which imployeth most about it , to keep them from stealing and starving . so that it would not be beneficiall to state , might a plough be drawn by butterflies , as which would draw the greater burden on the common wealth , to devise other wayes for the maintenance of the poor . the mentioning of these plow 〈◊〉 doggs mindeth me ( one rarity attracteth another ) of other doggs in this county , more usefull for the common-wealth , meeting with this passage in a * modern authour . it is reported , that about portsmouth is a race of small doggs , like beagles , that they use their to hunt moles which they hunt as their proper natural game . if this be true , i wish the continuance and encrease of the breed of this kind of canes venatici . and though the pleasure be not so much as in hunting of hares , the profit is more in destroying those malignant pioneers , mischievous to grasse , more to grain , most to gardens . lord majors . it is no less true the●… strange , that this county , so large in it self , so near to london , weekly changing cloth for money therewith , is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , i mean , hath not contributed one to this topick . such as suspect the truth thereof will be satisfied on their exact survey of stow's survey of london . the names of the gentry in this shire , returned into the tower by the commissioners in the th year of k. henry the sixth , anno . h. epus vvinton , cardinalis angliae .   commissioners to take the oath . reginaldus le warre , miles .     johannes lysle . knights for the shire .   johannes brewe , de stapule .     walter . sandes , chivaler . johannes popham , chivaler . johannes uvedale . willielm . warbleton . thome tame . vvilliam fanconer . roberti dyngle . steph. popham , chivaler . willielm . brokays . willielm . ryngebourne . walter . veere . iohannes hampton . iohannes gyffard . iohannes brinkeley . petri condraye . iohannes skilling . thome ringewood , senior . willielm . persh . iohannes hacket . iohannes haymowe . roberti fursey . roberti tylbourgh . willielm . astel. iohannes balon . iohannes bray . iohannes purbyke . iohannes catevan . willielm . clive . willielm . chellys . iohannes faukoner . iohannes mofunt . willielm . tested . richard. rumsey . willielm . burton . roberti vvhittehede . richard. spicer . johannes atte berwe , de charleford . johannes lawrence . thome rockley . thome yardly . thome benebury . willielm . wellis . iohannes escote . iohannes rotherfield . richard. parkere . iohannes kybbyll . iohannes barbour . symonis almayn . william farcy . richard punchardon . nicholas bernard . nicholas banestre . thome wayte . it will be worth our enquiry , who this chief commissioner henry bishop of winchester was , with his insolent title of cardinal of england . i finde many eminent epithets ( but none of the quorum of st. pauls bishops ) meeting in his person , viz. noble , rich , valiant , politique , and long-lived . noble , being son of john à gaunt , by katharine swinford ( born at beaufort in france , whence he had his name ) ●…rother to king henry the fourth , uncle to king henry the fifth , great uncle to king henry the sixth . rich , commonly called the rich cardinal . in his time the king and courtiers cast a covetous eye on church-endowments , but were diverted from longer looking on them by the councel of arch-bishop chickly , and coin of this bishop beaufort . the former putting the king upon the war with france , the later lending him , on good security , twenty thousand pounds , a sum sounding high in those dayes : he was also called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , the cardinal of england , though we had another ( and his senior ) at the same time of the same order , viz. thomas langley , bishop of durham . valiant , being the pope's legate , ( in plain english , the pope's general ) leading his army into bohemia , in which service he behaved himself , fortius quam episcopum decebat . worldly ●…olitick , venting words on his death-bed to this purpose , that if all england ( some reporters take a longer circuit ) would preserve his life , he was able by his purse to purchase , or by policy to procure it . long life , having been bishop of lincolne and winchester fifty years , yet was he so far from being weaned from the world , he sucked the hardest ( as if he would have bit off the nipples thereof ) the nearer he was to his grave , dying anno . he was in his generation ( by a charitable antiperistasis ) fixed betwixt bishop wickham and wanfleet , but did not equall them in his benefactions to the publick , though he founded a fair hospital in vvinchester , a work ( no doubt ) more acceptable to god , than when he anno undertook and performed a dangerous voyage to jerusalem . it is in my apprehension very remarkeable , that the aforesaid bishops of winchester , wickham , beaufort and wanfleet sate successively in that see , six score years , lacking two , not to be parallel'd in any other bishoprick . to take our leave of this great cardinall , we read of k. * josiah , now the rest of the acts of k. iosiah and his goodness , &c. but as for this prelate , the rest of his acts and his greatness we leave to such as are desirous thereof , to collect them out of our english hystorians . sheriffs of hantshire . hen. ii. anno anno turcinus vic anno turcinus vic anno anno turcinus vic anno anno rich. fil . turcini , for years . anno hugo . de gundevill , for years . anno herudus de stratton . & hugo . de gundevill , for years . anno hen. de stratton , & hugo . de gundevile anno galf. fil . aze , for years rich. i. anno galf. fil . azon anno ogerus fil . ogeri anno joh. de rebez anno will. briewere anno ogerus fil . ogeri anno hugo . de bosco , for years . joh . reg. anno hugo . de basco anno idem . anno will. briewere , & rad. de bray anno galf. fil . petri , & will. stokes anno idem . anno rog. fil . ade , for years . anno walt. briewere , & alan . de bockland anno idem . anno will. briewere anno hugo . de nevill , & galf. de salvaozins anno idem . anno idem . anno will. de s to . johanne anno will. briewere , & will. de s to . johanne hen. iii. anno anno pet. winton epis. & will. de schorewell , for yearr . anno rich. epis. saresb. & bartholomew de kemes anno idem . anno rich. epis. saresb. & gilb. de staplebrigg anno idem . anno nich. de molis , & walt. de romsey anno nich. de molis , & hen. de bada anno idem . anno idem . anno pet. winton epis. & rog. wascelin anno idem . anno hen. fil . nicholai anno hen. fil . nich. & rob. de mara anno galf. de insula anno idem . anno idem . anno emueus de lacy anno idem . anno idem . anno rob. passelewe , for years . anno rob. passell anno hen. facull , for years . anno hen. de farneleg anno ja. le savage anno joh. le jac. savage anno idem . anno will. de wintershull anno regin . fil . petri , & joh. de flemer anno idem . anno regin . fil . petri , & hereward de marisco anno idem . anno joh. de botele anno idem . anno gerar. de grue anno joh. le botele anno idem . anno idem . anno will. de wintershull anno idem . edw. i. anno will. de wintershull anno hen. de shote broke anno joh. de havering , for years . anno will. de braybofe anno idem . anno phil. de foynil anno idem . anno idem . anno simon . de winton anno idem . anno will. de bremschete , for years . anno ingeramus de waleys anno idem . anno rich. aston anno idem . anno hugo . de chickenhull , for years . anno tho. de warblington , for years . anno joh. de gerbg . anno tho. de warblington anno idem . anno idem . anno phil. de foynil anno idem . edw. ii. anno tho. de warblington , for years . anno ja. de norton , & jo. de la bech anno idem . anno joh. de la bech anno idem . anno idem . anno rich. byflett anno rob. de norton anno ja. de norton anno joh. de tichburne anno nul . tit. com. in hoc rotulo anno anno joh. de scures anno idem . anno idem . edw. iii. anno joh. de scures , for years . anno rob. daundelin anno rob. de popeham , & rob. de daundelin anno joh. de palton , & tho. de chisenhall anno joh. de palton anno th. de apsall , for years . anno hen. sturmy anno idem . anno idem . anno joh. de winchester , for years . anno will. de overton anno joh. de palton . anno walt. de haywood , for years . anno tho. de hampton , for years anno nich. woodlocke anno rad. thurnbarne anno idem . anno petr. brugg anno joh. bottiller anno idem . anno tho. warner anno phil. de popham anno laur. de s to . martino anno rich. pauncefott anno theob . de gorges . anno tho. boklands sheriffs of hantshire . name . place . armes . rich. ii.     anno     rad. de norton   vert a lion rampant or. joh. butteshorne     walt. ramsey     will. kingborne     hugo . crane     joh. sandes   arg. a cross ragulee truncked g. joh. shownes     joh. de la zouch     joh. showne     rob. cholmleigh   gul. 〈◊〉 in chief and a garb in base proper . joh. uvedale   argent , a cross moline gules . hen. popham   arg. on a cheveron gul. bucks-heads cabosed or. nic. dabrichcourt*     phil. baynard   * ermine bars humetts gules . rob. cholmleigh ut prius   rob. dynlye     rob. attem●…e     johan . sands , & tho. warner ut prius   tho. warner     joh. waytes     will. audley     idem .     hen. iv.     anno     joh. dovedale     joh. waterton , & joh. chamfloure     joh. barkley   g. a cheveron 'twixt crosses sormee argent . edw. cawdrey   sab. bille●…s or. , , , . idem . ut prius   joh. tichbourne   varry a chief or. joh. berkeley , m. ut prius   will. marshull   sab. bars arg. and a canton g. tho. uvedall ut prius   will. bremsheete     walt. sands , mil. ut prius   will. 〈◊〉     hen. v.     anno     tho. chaucer barks . parted per pale arg. and gul. a bend counterchanged . joh. uvedale ut prius   will. brokes     tho. wickham , m.     edw. cowdrey ut prius   will. bremsbeth     ●…oh . uvedale ut prius   will. kingborne     idem .     hen. vi.     anno     joh. uvedale ut prius   walt. sands , mil. ut prius   joh. de boys , m.   ar. a cheveron s. 'twixt acorns gul. on a canton az. a pair of ●…wings conjoyned or. mauric . brown surrey sab. lions passant gardant 'twixt bends gemeros arg. joh. uvedale ut prius   steph. popham ut prius   will. brokes     tho. th●…me     joh. seymoure   gul. angels wings paleways in verted or. walt. veere   quarterly gul. and or , in the first a mullet arg. joh. giffard     joh. uvedale ut prius   rob. domley     will. brokes     joh. seymor , mil. ut prius   will. fauconer   sab. falcons close argent . tho. uvedale ut prius   joh. lisle , mil.   or , a fess 'twixt chevbrons s. steph. popham , m. ut prius   joh. rogers     tho. thame     hen. trencard dorse . per pale arg. & az. pallets s. tho. mountgomery   gul. a cheveron 'twixt flower de lice or. tho. molegues     hen. brum     tho. uvedale ut prius   rob. fenns     rich. dalingrug     tho. warbleton     tho. uvedale ut prius   tho. thame     joh. seymor , m. ut prius   joh. wallop , ar .   argent , a bend wave sable . mau. berkeley ut prius   ber. brokes     joh. paulett   arg. swords in pile sab. hilts or. hen. brum     joh. philpot   sable , a bend ermine . edw. iv.     anno     joh. wallop , ar . ut prius   joh. paulett , ar . ut prius   idem . ut prius   tho. uvedale ut prius   edw. berkeley , ar . ut prius   galf. gate , mil.     mau. berkeley , ar . ut prius   joh. roger , ar .     joh. whiteheed     rich. darel , mil.   az. a lion rampant arg. crowned or. mau. berkeley , m. ut prius   edw. berkeley ut prius   joh. rogers     carol. bulkley   sab. bulls-heads cabossed arg. tho. troys , ar .     edw. be●…keley ut prius   will. berkeley , ar . ut prius   edw. hardgill     joh. cooke     will. uvedal ut prius   edw. berkeley ut prius   joh. brokes     rich. iii.     anno     rob. pointz   barry of or and vert , a bend gules . joh. roger     rob. carr , & edw. berkeley . ut prius   hen. vii .     anno     joh. cooke     will. uvedale ut prius   joh. tichborne ut prius   joh. pound , ar .     tho. troys , ar .     edw. berkeley , m. ut prius   joh. paulet , jun. ut prius   will. uvedale , m. ut prius   joh. dudley , ar .     joh. giffard , ar .     joh. poundes , ar .     tho. troys , ar .     will , sands , mil. ut prius   dau. owen , mil.     joh. paulett , ar . ut prius   joh. philpot , ar . ut prius   rich. wallop , ar . ut prius   joh. waller , ar . winch , cast. sab. walnut-leaves or , 'twixt bendlets argent . joh. pound , mil.     joh. puterham , m.   sab. an helmet 'twixt croslets in pale argent . rob. white , ar .   azu . a fess 'twixt flower d ▪ liz or. joh. lisle , mil. ut prius   joh. leigh , mil.     idem .     hen. viii .     anno     rob. wallop , ar . ut prius   vvill. sands , mil. ut prius   vvill. paulett ut prius   will. compton , m. prierseen ermin on a bend sab. helmets porper . ar. 〈◊〉 , m.     rich. norton , ar . ut prius   rob. vvallop , ar . ut prius   joh. 〈◊〉 , m.   az. a lozenges in fess argent . joh. lisley , mil. ut prius   vvill. paulett , ar . ut prius   joh. kaleway     vvill. frost     vvill. giffard , m.     vvill. paulett , ar . ut prius   rob. vvallop , ar . ut prius   pet. philpor , ar . ut prius   ant. vvilloughby   sable , a cross engrailed or. tho. lisley , mil. ut prius   will. berkeley , m. ut prius   rich. andrews . ar .     lion. morres     tho. lisley , m. ut prius   rich. pexall , ar .     jo. kaleway , mil.     jo. paulett , ar . ut prius   ant. vvinsore , m.     pet. philpot , mil. ut prius   will. berkeley , m. ut prius   tho. lisley , mil. ut prius   joh. kingshall , ar .     ant. vvinsore , m.     rich. andrews , ar .     joh. kalevary , m.     regi . williams , ar . oxfor . az. an organ-pipe in bend sinister salterwise surmounted on another dexter 'twixt crosses pate argent . joh. kingsmil , ar .   arg. croslettee fitched a chev. erm. 'twixt millro●…ndes sa●… . and a chief of the second . vvill. vvachā , a.     mich. lister , mil.   ermine , on a fess sab. mullets or. geor. paulett , ar . ut prius   edw. vi.     anno     nich. tichborn ut prius   fran. dawtrey , m. ut prius   mich. lister , mil. ut prius   nich. pexall , m.     joh. s●… . lowe , mil.     joh. norton , mil. ut prius   phil. reg. & mar. reg.     anno     nich. tichborn ut prius   , joh. brain     , joh. vvhite , ar . ut prius   , joh. norton , ar . ut prius   , nich. pexall , m.     , oliu. vvallop , m. ut prius   eliz. reg.     anno     tho. pace , ar .     vvill pawle●… , m. ut prius   joh. berkelty , m. ut prius   geor. mills ▪ ar . sussex . per fess argent , and sab. a pale counterchanged bars of the last saliant , musled or. vvill. kingsmil , a. ut prius   rich. norton , ar . ut prius   rich. pexall , m.     mil. bulkley , ar . ut prius   rob. oxenbridge   gul. a lion ramp . double queeve or , withtn a border az. charged with an entoir of escalops gold. hen. seymor , m. ut prius   joh. vvorsley , ar . apledercomb argent , a cheveron sab. 'twixt cornish-choughs proper , gilb. vvells , ar .     vvill. vvaller , ar . ut prius   vvill. jepham , ar .     edw. vvhite , ar . ut prius   edw. aboroe , ar .     rich. vvhite , ar . ut prius   vvalt . sands , ar . ut prins   jo. thurnburgh , ●… .   arg. fretty and a chief gules . hen. giffard , ar .     ben. tichburne , a. ut prius   ja. paget , ar .     hen. ughtread , ar .     rob. vvhite , ar . ut ▪ prius   tho. dabridgcourt ut prius   vvill. vvright , a.     tho. vvest , ar .     fra. relway , ar .     vvill. st. john , ar .   arg. on a chief gul. mullets pierced or. rich. norton , ar . ut prius   edw. goddard , ar .     rich. paulett , ar . ut prius   vvalt . sands , m. ut prius   joh. seymor , m. ut prius   nich ▪ mills , ar . ut prius   vvil. de uvedal , a. ut . prius   rob. oxenbridg ut prius   rich. norton , ar . ut prius   mar. styward , ar .     joh. wh●…te , ar . southwick   vvill. vvallop , a. ut prius   fran. palmes , ar . oreton gul. flower de liz arg. a chief parted bar ways lozengee counter-lozengee silver and azu . ali within a border of the first . vvil. kingsmil , m. ut prius   ben. tichbourn , m. ut prius   & he. vvallop , m. ut prius   jaco . reg.     anno     hen. vvallop , m. ut prius   vvill. abarrow , m.     vvill. dodington     vvil. oglander , m.   azu . a storke ●…etwixt crosses patee 〈◊〉 or. dan. norton , m. ut prius   jo●… . knight , ar .     he. whitehead , m.     tho. stukeley , m. devon . azure , pears or. will. sandys , m. ut prius   will. kingsmil , m. ut prius   rich. norron , m. ut prius   joh. paul●… , mil. ut prius   ●… edw. richards , ar .     ri. worseley , m. b. ut prius   hen. clarke , mil.     joh. compton , ar . ut prius   tho. neele , mil.     tho. lambert     geor. philpot , m.     step. knight , ar .     hen. hook , ar .     arth. willmot , ar .     car. reg.     anno     dan. norton ut prius   em. gadder     joh. mills , bar . ut prius   fran. douse , mil.   or a cheveron lozengee arg. and az. betwixt grey-hounds currant sable . hen. wallop , mil. ut prius   tho. co●…ele     rob. pain , mil.     tho. stewkly , m. ut prius   edw. hooper , ar .     will. beonsaw , m.     ric. whitehead , a.     jo. button , ar .   ermine a fess gules . joh. oglander , m. ut prius   jac. hunt , ar .     rich. mayor , ar .   gul. an anchor arg. on a chief or , roses of the first .     joh. feilder , ar .                     rich. bishop , ar .     the farewell . when some five years since i visited winchester , it grieved me at the heart to be hold that stately structure so far run to ruin , yea my thoughts then interpreted those sad schismes and gaping chincks the heraulds of its downfall , deeming with my self that i discovered ( as physicians in our bodies do cadaverosam ) faciem ruinosam therein . but it rejoyced me when coming there this last year to find it so well amended , by the soveraign medicine of gold or silver , charitably applyed by ▪ its good bishop . i wish all cathedrals in england , sick of the same distemper , as quick and happy a recovery . hartford-shire is so called from hartford the chief town therein , as hartford so termed from the * ford of harts , a * hart couchant in the waters , being the armes thereof ; which convinceth me that hart , not hertford-shire is the orthography of this county . it hath essex on the east , middlesex on the south , buckingham shire on the west , bedford and cambridge shire on the north thereof . it might be allowed a square of . miles , save that the angular insinuations of other counties prejudice the entireness thereof . i have been informed from an ancient ●…stice therein , that one cannot be so advantagiously placed in any part of this shire , but that he may recover another county within the riding of five miles . it is the garden of england for delight , and men commonly say that such who buy a house in hartfordshire pay two years purchase for the aire thereof . it falls short in fruitfulness of essex adjoyning thereunto , to which it was also annexed , under one sheriff ( and one eschetor till after the reign of king edward the third . ) and paynfull * norden writes a bold truth . for deep feedings , or sheep pastures , i take notice of few , and those especially about knebworth . to speak of the soyle , as indeed it is most generally , for my part i take it but a barren countrey in respect of some other shires . indeed this forrestie-ground would willingly bear nothing so well as a crop of wood. but seeing custome is another nature , it hath for many years been contented to bring forth good grain , perswaded thereunto by the industrious husbandman . surely no county can shew so fair a bunch of berries , for so they term the fair habitations of gentlemen of remark , which are called places , courts , halls and mannors in other shires . this county affording no peculiar commodity nor manufacture , we may safely proceed to other observations , when first we have given the due commendation to the horses of this shire . their teames of horses ( oft times deservedly advanced from the cart to the coach ) are kept in excellent equipage , much alike in colour and stature , fat and fair ; such is their care in dressing and well-feeding them . i could name the place and person , ( reader be not offended with an innocent digression ) who brought his servant with a warrant before a justice of peace for stealing his grain . the man brought his five horses tailed together along with him , alledging for himself , that if he were the theefe , these were the receivers , and so escaped . the buildings . theobalds , did carry away the credit , built by sir william , beautified by sir robert cecil his son , both lord treasurers of england . the last exchanged it ( too wise to do it to his losse ) with king james for hatfield-house , which king deceased therein , march . . yea , this house may be said to decease about its grand climacterical , some sixty three years from the finishing thereof , taken down to the ground ( for the better partage among the soldiery ) anno . and from the seat of a monarch is now become a little common-wealth ; so many intire tenements , like splinters have flown out of the materials thereof ; thus our fathers saw it built , we behold it unbuilt , and whether our children shall see it re-built , he only knows who hath written * there is a time to cast away stones , and a time to gather stones together . hatfield-house was first the bishops of ely , then the kings , afterwards by exchange the earls of salisbury : for situation , building , contrivance , prospect , air , and all accommodations , inferiour to none in england . within a little mile thereof lyeth a place called the vineyard , where nature by the midwifery of art , is delivered of much pleasure ; so that the reader must be a seer , before he can understand the perfection thereof . had this place been in graecia , or nigh rome , where the luxuriant fancies of the poets , being subject-bound , improve a tree into a grove , a grove into a forrest , a brook into a river , and a pond into a lake ; i say , had this vineyard been there , it had disinherited tempe of its honour , and hence the poets would have dated all their delights as from a little paradise , and staple-place of earthly pleasure . medicinal waters . one hath lately been discovered neer barnet in a common , as generally sanative springs are found in such places , as if nature therein intimated her intention , designing them for publique profit , not private employment ; it is conceived to run thorough veines of alome by the taste thereof . it coagulateth milk , and the curd thereof is an excellent plaister for any green wounds , besides several other operations . but , as alexander was wont to applaud achilles , not as the most valiant but the most fortunate of men , having homer to trumpet forth his actions : so are these waters much advantaged with the vicinitie of london , whose citizens proclame the praise thereof . and indeed london in this kind is stately attended , having * three medicinal waters within one dayes journy thereof . the catalogue of the cures done by this spring , amounteth to a great number , in so much that there is hope , in process of time , the water rising here will repaire the blood shed hard by , and save as many lives as were lost in the fatal battel at barnet betwixt the two houses of yorke and lancaster . hartford-shire proverbs . hartford-shire clubs and clouted shoon . ] some will wonder how this shire lying so near to london , the staple of english civilitie , should be guiltie of so much rusticalness . but the finest cloth must have a list , and the pure pesants are of as course a thread in this county , as in any other place . yet though some may smile at their clownishness , let none laugh at their industry , the rather because the high-shoon of the tenant payes for the spanish-leather-boots of the landlord . hartford-shire hedge-hogs . ] plenty of hedge-hogs are found in this high ▪ woodland-county , where too often they suck the kine , though the dayry-maid conne them small thanks for sparing their pains in milking them . a creature alwayes in his posture of defence , carrying a stand of pikes on his back , so that if as well victualled as armed , he may hold out a seige against any equal opposition . if this proverb containeth any further reflection on the people in this county , as therein taxed for covetousness , and their constant nudling on the earth ; i will not so understand it , as hoping and believing this to be a false application . ware and wades-mill are worth all london . ] this i assure you is a master-piece of the vulgar wits in this county , wherewith they endeavour to amuse travellers , as if ware a thorough-fare-market , and wades-mill ( part of a village lying two miles north thereof , ) were so prodigiously rich as to countervail the wealth of london . the fallacy lieth in the homonymy of ware , here not taken for that town so named , but appellatively for all vendible commodities . we will not discompose the wit of this proverb , by cavilling that weare is the proper name of that town , ( so called anciently from the stoppages , which there obstruct the river . ) but leave it as we found it , and proceed . hartford-shire kindness . ] this is generally taken in a good and grateful sense for the mutual return of favours received , it being [ belike ] observed that the people in this county at entertainments drink back to them who drank to them , parallel to the latine proverbs , fricantem refrica ; manus manum lavat ; par est de merente bene , bene mereri . however sometimes hartford-shire kindness may prove hartford-shire cruelty , and amount to no less then a monopoly , when this reciprocation of favours betwixt themselves is the exclusion of all others from partaking thereof . princes . william , second son of king edward the third , and philip his wife , took his christian-name from his grandfather , william earle of henault , and his sirname of hatfield from the place of his nativity in this county , where he was born the ninth of his fathers reign , anno domini . and expired within few dayes af●…er . so that what i find written on the late monument of * a noble infant , may also serve for his epitaph . vivus nil poteram fari , quin mortuus infans nunc loquor , ut mortis sis memor , atque vale . living i could not speak , now dead i tel thy duty , think of death , and so farewel . it is uncertain where he was interred , but most believe him buried at westminster . edmund of langley , fifth son to king edward the third , and queen philip , was so sirnamed from kings-langley in this county the place of his nativity . he was created earle of cambridge , in the thirty sixth year of the reign of his father , and duke of york in the ninth year of his nephew king richard the second . he married isabel , daughter and co-heir of peter king of castile : and lie buried at langley together . he had ( besides other children of both sexes ) to his eldest son richard duke of york ; and he died , anno dom. . edmund of haddam , reader , i presume thee to be so much a gentleman , as in courtesie to allow him a prince , who was son to queen katherine by owen theodor , her second husband , womb-brother to king henry the sixth , and father to king henry the seventh . that he was born in this county one may well be confident , seeing there is no haddam in any shire of england save * hartford-shire alone . i confesse therein three villages of that name , but sure no lesse then great haddam was the place of so eminent a native . he was solemnly created earle of richmond at reading , in the . of king henry the sixth . many good works no doúbt he did , when living , whose corps when buried , saved from destruction the fair cathedral of saint davids . for his monument in the midst of the quire , saith my * author , ( as the prebendaries told him ) spared their church from defacing in the dayes of king henry the eighth . i could wish all king henries nearest relations had after their decease been severally so disposed preservatives from ruine & rapine , as the corps of q. katherin dowager did , as some say , save the church of * peterburgh but this ill agreeth with that which * brookes reporteth , viz. that this earl was buried in carmarthen ; and because vincent his professed adversary ( finding fault with him alwayes when any , sometimes when no cause ) taketh no exception thereat ; i the more rely on his testimony . onely it is possible that this earle first enterred in carmarthen , might be afterwards for the more eminence of sepulture removed to saint davids . he died , anno domini , . saints . saint alban , though ( as * saint paul ) a roman by priviledge , but britton , by parentage , was born in this county ( though many hundreds of years before hartfordshire had its modern name and dimensions ) in the city of verulam , and was martyred for christianity under dioclesian an. . the cause and manner whereof , ( with the martyrdome of saint amphibalus hard by rudborn , ) i have so largely related in my * ecclesiastical history , that , as i will repeat nothing , i can add nothing of consequence thereto . except any will conceive this to be remarkable , that good liquoras groweth naturally out of the ruinous walls of verulam , an old city , ( the mother of the new town of saint albans ) as a skilful eye-witness * antiquary and zealous protestant hath observed . had some papist taken first notice hereof , he might probably have made it a miracle , and assign the sanctitie of this place for the root of this liquoras . martyrs . it appeareth by the maps , that africa lieth partly in the torrid , and partly in the temperate zone , nor is the wonder any at all , considering the vastness thereof , extending it self through many degrees . more strange it is that this small county should be partly in a temperate , viz. the western part thereof subjected to the bishop of lincoln , and partly in the torrid climate , namely the eastern moity belonging to the dioces of london , which under bonner was parched with persecution . yet not to make this monster worse then he was , though many in his jurisdiction were much molested , and though tradition points the very place in bishops stortford , where poor people were burnt at the stake , yet my book of martyrs , or eyes , or both be defective , wherein i cannot recover the name of any particular person . pope . nicholas son to robert break-spear ( a lay brother in the abbey of st. albans ) fetcht his name from break-speare a place in * middlesex , but was born at * abbots-langley a town in this county . when a youth , he was put to such servile work in st. albans abbey , that his ingenious soul could not comport therewith . suing to be admitted into that house , he received the repulse , which in fine proved no mis-hap , but a happy-miss , unto him ; for , going over into france , he studied so hard and so happily at paris , that for his worth he was preferred abbot of st. rufus neer valentia , and afterward by pope eugenius the third , was made bishop of alba nigh rome : adnatalis soli memoriam , saith my author , that he , who was refused to be monachus albanensis in england , should be episcopus albanensis in italy . he was employed by the pope for the conversion of the norwegians , and though bale saith ( he were not bale if he were not bitter ) anti-christiano charactere norwegios signavit ; yet his reducing them from paganisme to christianity in the fundamentals was a worthy work and deserves true commendation . he was afterwards chosen pope of rome , by the name of adrian the fourth . there is a mystery more then i can fathome in the changing of his name : seeing his own font-name was a papal one ; yet he preferred rather to be adrian the fourth , then nicholas the third . he held his place four years , eight moneths , and eight and twenty dayes : and anno . as he was drinking , was choakt with a fly : which in the large territory of st. peters patrimony had no place but his throat to get into : but since a flye stopt his breath , fear shall stop my mouth , not to make uncharitable conclusions from such casualties . cardinal . boso ( confessed by all an * english-man ) is not placed in this county out of any certainty , but of pure charity , not knowing , where elswhere with any probability to dispose him . but seeing he was nephew to the late named nicholas , or pope adrian , we have some shadow and pretence to make him of the same county : this is sure , his unckle made him * cardinal in the moneth of december , . and he was a great change-church in rome , being successively , . cardinal deacon of sts. cosma & damiam . . cardinal priest of st. crosses of jerusalem . . cardin. pr. of st. prudentiana . . cardin. pr. of pastor . he was more than instrumental in making alexander the third pope with the suffrages of . cardinals , who at last clearly carried it against his anti-pope victor the fourth . this boso dyed , anno dom. . prelates . richard de ware for this is his true name , as appears in his * epitaph , though some ( pretending his honour , but prejudicing the truth thereby ) sirname him warren . he was made abbot of westminster , and twenty years after treasurer of england , under king edward the first . this richard going to rome , brought thence certain work-men , and rich purphury . and for the rest hear my * author . by whom and whereof he made the rare pavement to be seen at westminster , before the communion table , containing the discourse of the whole world , which is at this day most beautiful ; a thing of that singularity , curiousnesse and rarenesse , that england hath not the like again . see readers , what an enemy ignorance is to art. how often have i trampled on that pavement , so far from admiring , as not observing it . and since , upon serious survey , it will not , in my eyes , answer this character of curiosity , however i will not add malice to my ignorance ( qualities which too often are companions ) to disparage what i do not understand , but i take it on the trust of others more skilful , for a master-peece of art. this richard dyed on the second of december , , the . of king edward the first , and lyeth buryed under the foresaid pavement . ralph baldock so called from the place of his nativity ( a moungrelmarket ) in this county , was bred in merton colledge in oxford . one not unlearned , and who wrote an history of england , which leland at london did once behold . king edward the first much prised and preferred him bishop of london . he gave two hundred pounds whilst living , and left more when dead , to repair the east part of st. pauls , on the same token , that upon occasion of clearing the foundation , an incredible number of heads of oxen were found buried in the ground , alledged as an argument by * some to prove that anciently a temple of diana . such who object that heads of stagges , had been more proper for her , the goddesse of the game , may first satisfie us , whether any creatures ferae naturae ( as which they could not certainly compass at all seasons ) were usually offered for sacrifices . this ralph dyed july the . . being buryed under a marble stone in st. maries chappel in his cathedral . john barnet had his name and nativity from a market-town in this county , sufficiently known by the road passing thorough it . he was first by the pope preferred . to be bishop of worcester , and afterwards was translated to bath and wells . say not this was a retrograde motion , and barnet degraded in point of profit by such a removal . for though worcester is the better bishoprick in our age , in those dayes bath and wells ▪ ( before the revenues thereof were reformed under king edward the sixth ) was the richer preferment : hence he was translated to ely , and for . years was lord treasurer of england , he dyed at * bishops hatfield , june . . and was buried there on the south-fide of the high altar , under a monument , now miserably defaced by some sacrilegious executioner , who hath beheaded the statue lying thereon . thomas rudburne , no doubt , according to the fashion of those dayes , took his name from rudburne a village within four miles from st. albans . he was bred in oxford , and proctor thereof anno * . and chancellour . an excellent scholar , and skilful mathematician ; of a meek and mild temper ( though at one time a little tart against the wic-livites ) which procured him much love with great persons . he was warden of merton colledge in oxford , and built the tower over the colledge gate . he wrote a * chronicle of england , and was preferred bishop of st. davids . he flourished anno domini , . though the date of his death be unknown . reader , i cannot satisfie my self , that any bishop since the reformation was a native of this county , and therefore proceed to another subject . statesmen . sir edvvard waterhouse knight , was born at helmsted-bury in this county , of an ancient and worshipful family , deriving their discent lineally from sir gilbert vvaterhouse of kyrton in low ▪ lindsey in the county of lincoln , in the time of king henry the third . as for our sir edward , his parents were , john waterhouse esquire , a man of much fidelity and sageness . auditor many years to king henry the eighth , of whom he obtained ( after a great entertainment for him in his house ) the grant of a weekly market for the town of helmsted . margaret turner of the ancient house of blunts-hall in suffolk , and cannons in hartfordshire . the king at his departure , honoured the children of the said john waterhouse , being brought before him , with his praise and encouragement , gave a benjamins portion of dignation to this edward , foretelling by his royal augury , that he would be the crown of them all , and a man of great honour and wisdome , fit for the service of princes . it pleased god afterwards to second the word of the king , so that the sprouts of his hopeful youth , only pointed at the growth and greatness of his honourable age . for , being but twelve years old , he went to oxford , where for some years he glistered in the oratorick and poëtick sphear , until he addicted himself to conversation , and observance of state affairs , wherein his great proficiency commended him to the favour of three principal patrons . one was walter devereux earl of essex , who made him his bosome-friend , and the said earl , lying on his death-bed , took his leave of him with many kisses , oh my ned ( said he ) farewell , thou art the faithfullest and friendliest gentleman that ever i knew . in testimony of his true affection to the dead father in his living son , this gentleman is thought to have penned that most judicious and elegant epistle ( recorded in holinsheds history pag. . ) and presented it to the young earl , conjuring him by the cogent arguments of example and rule , to patrizate . his other patron was sir henry sidney ( so often lord deputy of ireland ) whereby he became incorporated into the familiarity of his son sir philip sidney , between whom , and sir edward , there was so great freindlinesse , that they were never better pleased then when in one anothers companies , or when they corresponded each with other . and we find after the death of that worthy knight , that he was a close-concerned mourner at his obsequies , as appeareth at large in the printed representation of his funeral solemnity . his third patron was sir john perot deputy also of ireland , who so valued his counsel , that in state-affairs he would do nothing without him . so great his employment betwixt state and state , that he crossed the seas thirty seven times , until deservedly at last he came into a port of honour , wherein ●…he sundry years anchored , and found safe harbour . for he received the honour of knighthood , was sworn of her majesties privy council for ireland , and chancellour of the exchequer therein . now his grateful soul coursing about how to answer the queens favour , laid it self wholly out in her service , wherein two of his actions most remarkable . first he was highly instrumental in modelling the kingdome of ireland into shires as now they are ; shewing himself so great a lover of the politie , under which he was born , that he advanced the compliance therewith ( as commendable and necessary ) in the dominions annexed thereunto . his second service was , when many in that kingdome shrowded themselves from the laws , under the target of power , making force their tutelary saint , he set himself vigorously to suppress them . and when many of the privy council terrified with the greatness of the earl of desmond , durst not subscribe the instrument , wherein he was proclaimed traitor , sir edward among some others boldly signed the same ( disav●…wing his , and all treasons against his prince and country ) and the council did the like , commanding the publication thereof . as to his private sphear god blessed him , being but a third brother , above his other brethren . now though he had three wives , the first a viliers , the second a spilman , the third the widow of herlakenden of vvood-church in kent esquire , and though he had so strong a brain and body , yet he lived and dyed childlesse , entercommoning therein with many worthies , who are , according to aelius spartianus , either improlifick , or have children in genitorum vituperium , & famarum laesuram . god thus denying him the pleasure of posterity , he craved leave of the queen to retire himself , and fixed the residue of his life at vvood-church in kent , living there in great honour and repute , as one who had no designe to be popular , and not prudent ; rich , and not honest ; great , and not good . he dyed in the fifty sixth year of his age , the . of october . and is buried at vvood church under a table marble-monument , erected to his memory by his sorrowful lady surviving him . reader , i doubt not but thou art sensible of the alteration and improvement of my language in this character , owing both my intelligence and expressions unto edward vvaterhouse now of syon colledge esquire , who , to revive the memory of his namesake and great uncle , furnished me with these instructions . henry cary viscount of falkland in scotland , and son to sir edw. cary , was born at aldnam in this county . he was a most accomplished gentleman , and compleat courtier . by king james he was appointed lord deputy of ireland , and well discharged his trust therein . but an unruly colt will fume and chafe ( though neither switcht nor spur'd ) merely because backt . the rebellious irish will complain only because kept in subjection , though with never so much lenity ; the occasion why some hard speeches were passed on his government . some beginning to counterfeit his hand , he used to incorporate the year of his age , in a knot flourished beneath his name , concealing the day of his birth to himself . thus by comparing the date of the month , with his own birth-day ( unknown to such forgers ) he not only discovered many false writings which were past , but also deterred dishonest cheaters from attempting the like for the future . being recalled into england , he lived honourably in this county , until he by a sad casualty brake his leg on a stand in theobalds park , aud soon after dyed thereof . he married the sole daughter and heir of sir lawrence tanfield , cheif baron of the exchequer , by whom he had a fair estate in oxfordshire . his death happened anno dom. . being father to the most accomplished statesman , lucius ; grandfather to the present henry lord falkland , whose pregnant parts ( now clarified from juvenile extravagancies ) perform much , and promise more useful service to this nation . souldiers . sir henry cary son to sir william cary , and mary bollen , his wife , was ( where-ever born ) made by queen elizabeth , lord chamberlain , baron of hunsdon in this county . a valiant man , and lover of men of their hands , very cholerick but not malicious . once one mr. colt chanced to meet him coming from hunsdon to london , in the equipage of a lord of those dayes . the lord on some former grudge gave him a boxe on the ear ; colt presently returned the principle with interest , and thereupon his servants drawing their swords swarmed about him . you rogues ( said the lord ) may not i and my neighbour change a blow , but you must interpose ? thus the quarrel was begun and ended in the same minute . it was merrily said , that his latine and his dissimulation were both alike , * and that his custome in swearing , and obscenity in speech , made him seem a worse christian than he was , and a better knight of the carpet then he could be . he might have been with the queen , whatsoever he would himself , but would be no more then what he was , preferring enough above a feast in that nature . he hung at court on no mans sleve , but stood on his own botome till the time of his death , having a competent estate of his own given him by the queen . who bestowed on him , in the first of her reign , hunsdon house in this county , with four thousand pounds a year ( according to the valuation in that age ) in fair demesnes , parks , and lands lying about it . yet this was rather restitution than liberality in her majesty : seeing he had spent as great an estate , ( left him by his father ) in her service or rather releif during her persecution under queen mary . ●… this lord suppressed the first northern commotion , ( the sole reason why we have ranked him under the title of soldier ) for which , this letter of thanks was solemnly returned unto him . by the queen . right trusty and wellbeloved cousin , we greet you well . and right glad we are , that it hath pleased god to assist you in this your late service , against that cankred subtil traytor leonard dacres , whose force being far greater in number than yours , we perceive you have overthrown , and how he thereupon was the first that fled , having ( as it seemeth ) a heart readier to shew his unloyal falshood and malice , than to abide the fight . and though the best we could have desired , was to have him taken : yet we thank god that he is in this sort overthrown and forced to flye o●…r realm , to his like company of rebells , whom no doubt , god of his favourable justice will confound with such ends as are meet for them . we will not now by words express how inwardly glad we are , that you have such success , whereby both your courage in such an unequall match , your faithfulnesse towards us , and your wisdome is seen to the world , this your act being the very first that ever was executed by fight in field , in our time , against any rebell : but we mean also in deed by just reward , to let the world see how much we esteem and can consider such a service as this is : and so we would have your self also thank god heartily , as we doubt not but you do , from whom all victories do proceed , and comfort your self with the assurance of our most favourable acceptation . vve have also herewith sent our letter of thanks to sir john foster , and would have you namely thank our good faithful soldiers of barwick , in whose worthy service we do repose no small trust . . of february . . thus far was written by the secretary of state , but the ensuing postscript was all the queens own hand ; the original being preserved by the right honourable henry earl of monmouth ( grandchild to the lord hunsdon ) by whose noble favour i carefully copied it forth as followeth , i doubt much , my harry , whether that the victory given me more joyed me , or that you were by god appointed the instrument of my glory , and i assure you for my countries good the first might suffice , but for my hearts contentation , the second more pleaseth me ; it likes me not a little , that with a good testimony of your faith , there is seen a stout courage of your mind , that more trusted to the goodnesse of your quarrel , th●…n to the weakness of your number . vvell , i can say no more ; beatus est ille servus quem , cum dominus venerit , inveniet facientem sua mandata . and that you may not think that you have done nothing for your profit ( though you have done much for your honour ) i intend to make this journey , somewhat to increase your livelyhood , that you may not say to your self , perditur quod sactum est ingrato . your loving kinswoman . elizabeth regina . three times was this lord in election to be earl of vviltshire , a title which in some sort belonged unto him , in the right of mary his mother , but still some intervening accident retarded it . when he lay on his death bed , the queen gave him a gracious visit , causing his patent for the said earldom to be drawn , his robes to be made , and both to be laid down upon his bed , but this lord ( who could dissemble neither well nor sick ) madam ( said he ) seeing you counted me not worthy of this honour whilst i was living , i count my self unworthy of it now i am dying . he departed this life ann. dom. . and lyeth buryed in a most magnificent monument in vvestminster abbey , being the direct ancestor to the earls of dover and monmouth . physicians . john giles , or of st. giles , was born at * st. albans , probably in the parish of st. giles , long since ( as some more in that town ) demolished . he was bred beyond the seas , where he became so great a scholar , that he not only was physician in ordinary to philip king of france , but also professour of that faculty in paris and montpelier . then waving the care of bodies , he took on him the cure of souls , and was made doctor of divinity . he afterwards became a dominican , and was the first englishman that ever entred into that order . in his old age he was famous for his divinity-lectures read in oxford . but which most perswades me to a venerable reception of his memory , is what i read of him in * matth. paris , how robert grosthead , the pious and learned bishop of lincoln being sick on his death-bed , sent for this mr. john giles , learned in physick and divinity , that from him he might receive comfort both for body and soul. how long this physician surviv'd his patient ( dying in octob. . ) is to me unknown . john de gatesden was undoubtedly born in this county , wherein two villages , the greater and lesse of that name ; such who except that they are written gadesden , will soon be satisfied in their sameness from those who know the sympathy betwixt t. and d. he was bred in merton colledge in oxford , where he so profited in the study of physick . that a * forraigner compiling a catalogue of men eminent in that faculty , acknowledgeth him a writer of high esteem therein . by * one who hath made a list of learned men , he is styled johannes anglicus . i am informed that lately his books have been printed in italy in a folio ; no small honour ( i assure you ) seeing in physick the italians account all tramountain doctors but apothecaries in comparison of themselves . the first treatise in his book is termed * rosa anglica , the english rose , and i doubt not , but as it is sweet in the title , so it is soveraign in the matter therein contained . this john flourished in the year of our lord . writers . alexander nequam , or bad in english , was born in st. albans . many conceived themselves wondrous witty in making jests ( which indeed made themselves ) on his sirname . whereof one eminent instance , nequam had a mind to become a monk in st. albans , the town of his nativity , and thus laconically wrote for leave to the abbot thereof . si vis , veniam . sin autem , tu autem . to whom the abbot returned . si bonus sis , venias ; si nequam , nequaquam . whereupon nequam ( to discompose such conceits for the future ) altered the orthography of his name into neckam . another pass of wit there was ( saith my * author ) betwixt him , and philip repington bishop of lincoln , the lat●…r sending the challenge . et niger & nequam cum sis cognomine nequam , both black and bad , whilst bad the name to thee . nigrior esse potes , nequior esse nequis . blacker thou may'st , but worse thou can'st not be . to whom nequam rejoyned . phi nota foetoris , lippus malus omnibus horis . stinks are branded with a phi , lippus latin for blear-eye . phi malus & lippus , totus malus ergo philippus . phi and lippus bad as either , then philippus worse together . but by the leave of my learned author , this nequam must be much younger than our alexander , or that philip much older than bishop repington , all agreeing that alexander nequam dyed . under king henry the third , whereas philip repington was made bishop of lincoln . under king henry the fourth . but leaving nequam his name , he is known to posterity by the title of ingenii miraculum , being an excellent philosopher , rhetorician and poet , so true it is what tully observeth , omnes artes , quae ad humanitatem pertinent , habent quoddam commune vinculum , & quasi cognatione quadam inter se continentur : besides he was a deep divine , as his books do evidence . he was canon of exeter , and ( upon what occasion i know not ) came to be buryed at worcester , with this epitaph , eclipsim patitur sapientia sol sepelitur : cui si par unus , minus esset flebile funus . vir bene discretus , & in omni more facetus , dictus erat nequam , vitam duxit tamen aequam . wisdom's eclips'd , sky of the sun bereft , yet less the loss if like alive were left . a man discreet , in manners debonair , bad name , black face , but carriage good and fair . others * say he was buryed at st. albans , where he found repulse when living , but repose when dead . william of ware born in that thorough fair town twenty miles from london , was a franciscan bred first in oxford , then in paris . now because some may slight the praise of bale or pits ( as testes domesticos , englishmen commending englishmen ) know that john * pious mirandula , highly extolleth this de ware , though miscalling him john , as ambitious to have him his name-sake . he was instructor to john * duns scotus . and if the scholar to such height did reach , then what was he who did that scholar teach ? he flourished under king henry the third , anno . and is supposed to be buryed in paris . john mandevile knight , born at st. albans in this * county , heir to a fair estate , he applied himself first to the reading of the scriptures , then to the study of physick ( wherein he attained to great perfection ) afterwards to travel for thirty four years together , and at last like another ulysses returning home , was quite grown out of knowledge of all his friends . he wrote a book of his own itinerary thorough africa , the east and north part of asia , containing variety of wonders . now though far travellers are suspected in their relations to wander from the truth , yet all things improbable are not impossible , and the readers ignorance is sometimes all the writers falshood . he used to complain of the church corruptions in his age , being wont to say , * virtus cessat , ecclesia calcatur , clerus errat , daemon regnat , simonia dominatur . he dyed anno dom. . buryed say some in the convent of the williamites , at leige in germany , which st. albans will not allow , claiming his burial , as well as his birth , where a ryming epitaph is appendant on a pillar neer the supposed place of his enterment . nicholas gorham a dominican . we cannot blame the frenchmen , if desirous to gain so great a scholar to be their countryman ; nor must the french blame us , if loath to lose what is duly and truly our own . three things are pretended to countenance his french nativity , . his long living ( and dying at last ) in that land. . the preferment●…e ●…e got there , being confessor to the king of france , which may seem a place of too much privacy to be conferred on a forraigner . . the great credit and esteem which his writings have gained in france , where his manuscript-works , are extant in many libraries . these pleas are over-ballanced with a like number to attest his english extraction . ham in gorham , is notoriously known for no french , but a saxon ordinary termination of a town . . gorham was a village nigh st. albans in this county ; where gorham-berry ( the mannor-house thereof ) is extant at this day . the register of merton colledge in oxford mentioneth the admission of this nicholas gorham a student in their foundation . add to all these , that learned leland and other english antiquaries have always challenged him for their countryman . indeed he was an english-man francised , who going over into france a young man , spent the rest of his life there . many and learned are his books , having commented almost on all the scriptures ; and give me leave to say , no hands have fewer spots of pitch upon them who touched the superstition of that age he lived in . he dyed , and was buryed at paris , about the year of our lord . i will only add that since we have had another nicholas of gorham ( though not by his birth , by his habitation ) as famous for a states-man as the former for a divine . i mean sir nicholas bacon , whose dwelling was at gorham-berry aforesaid . hugh legat born in this * county , bred in oxford , at last became a benedictine in the abbey of st. albans . being much delighted in meditation , he wholly employed himself in commentary on , . john of * hanwell his books of lamentation . . boetius of consolation . thus his soul may be presumed well poized betwixt plumbum & plumam , a weight and a wing to supresse and support it . he flourished anno . john whetamstead was born at wheatamstead in this county , not so famous for the production of the best wheat , whence the place hath its name , as for this john vvhetamsted , who hath his name from that place . he was bred at the priory at tinmouth in northumberland ( a long stride i assure you from the place of his birth ) to which * he bequeathed a challice of gold. he was afterwards abbot of st. albans , and the sixth of that christian name . vast were his expences in adorning of that church , exceeding six thousand pounds . * two criticismes in his buildings i cannot omit , one , that on the north-side of his church ( which he enlightned with new vvindowes ) he set up the statues of those heathen philosophers , which had testified of the incarnation of christ. . that in a little chappel he set up the similitudes of all the saints whose christian names were john , with his own picture , and this prayer in a distick , that though unworthy he might have a place with his namesakes in heaven . besides he procured from humfrey the good duke of glocester , his great mecenas who was buried at st. albans , a suite of vestments worth . marks and the mannor of pembroke in south-wales . many are the books which he left to posterity , being counted no fewer then fourscore and odd several treatises , and dyed about the year . john bourchier baron berners , was son of john bourchier baron berners in the right of margery his wife daughter of sir richard berners of * vvesthorsley in surrey . yet had that honourablo family of the berners , an ancient habitation at * tharfield in this county , which with some probability insinuateth the birth of this noble gentleman therein . he was a martial man well seen in all military discipline , and when michael joseph the black-smith lead the cornish rebells against king henry the seventh , anno . no man did better service then this lord in their suppression , for which he was made cheif governour of calice . having there gotten a repose , who formerly had been a far traveller , and great linguist , he * translated many books out of french , spanish , and italian , besides some of his own making . i behold his as the second ( accounting the lord tiptoft the first ) noble hand which since the decay of learning took a pen therein , to be author of a book . he dyed on the . of march . and is buryed in the great church in calice . and i have * read that the estate of the berners is by an heir-general descended to the knyvets of ●…shwelthorp in norfolk . since the reformation . roger hutchinson was born in this * county , and bred fellow of st. johns colledge in cambridge , where he was very familiar with mr. roger askam , who disdained intimacy with dunces . and as this is euough to speak him scholar , so it is a sufficient evidence to an intelligent jury , to prove him protestant , that being commended by bale for writing a book in english of the image of god ; he is wholly omitted , by john pits . he flourished anno dom. . and probably dyed in the happy reign of edward the sixth , before the following persecution . thomas cartvvright was born in this * county , and was admitted in st. johns colledge in cambridge anno . in the reign of queen mary he left the university ( being probably one of those scholars , which as mr. fox observeth went ( alias were driven ) away from this colledge all at one time ) and betook himself to the service of a counsellour . here he got some skill in the common-law , which inabled him afterwards to fence the better for himself by the advantage thereof . in the reign of queen elizabeth , he returned to cambridge , was chosen fellow first of st. iohns , then of trinity : how afterwards he was made margaret professour , outed thereof for his non-conformity , travelled beyond seas , returned home , became the champion of the presbyterian partie , is largely related in our ecclesiastical history . onely i will add that the non conformists not a greeing which of them ( where there is much choice , there is no choice ) should answer dr. whitgifts reply , i read that mr. cartwright at last was chosen * by lot to undertake it . it seems the brethren concluded it of high and holy concernment , otherwise i know what mr. cartwright hath * written of the appeal to lots , non nisi in rebus gravioribus , & alic●…jus magni momenti ad sortis judicium recurrendumm , maxime , cum per sortem deus ipse in judicio sedeat . one * saith for riches he sought them not , and * another saith , that he dyed rich , and i beleive both ●…ay true , god sometimes making wealth to find them , who seek not for it , seeing many , and great were his benefactors . he dyed and was buryed in warwick , where he was master of the hospital . anno. . daniel dike was born at hempstead in this county , where his father was a minister silenced for his non-conformity . he was bred in ....... colledge in cambridge , and became afterwards a profitable labourer in gods vineyard . witness ( besides his sermons ) his worthy books , whereof that is the master-peice which treateth of the deceitfulnesse of mans heart , wherein he layes down directions for the discovery thereof . as also how in other cases one may be acquainted with his own condition , seeing many men lose themselves in the labyrinths of their own hearts : so much is the terra incognita therein . this book he designed for his pious patron john lord harrington : but alas when the child was come to the birth , there was no strength to bring forth ! before the book was fully finished , the author thereof followed his honourable patron into a better world ; so that his surviving brother ( of whom immediately ) set it forth . and to the lady lucy , countesse of bedford , the lords sister , the same was dedicated . a book which will be owned for a truth , whilst men have any badness , and will be honoured for a treasure , wilst men have any goodnesse in them . this worthy man dyed about the year . jeremiah dike his younger brother was bred in sidney colledge in cambridge , beneficed at epping in essex , one of a chearful spirit . and know reader , that an ounce of mirth , with the same degree of grace , will serve god farther then a pound of sadnesse . he had also a gracious heart , and was very profitable in his ministry . he was a father to some good books of his own ; and a guardian to those of his brother , whose posthume works he set forth . he was one peaceable in israel . and though no zelot in the practice of ceremonies , quietly submitted to use them . he lived and dyed piously , being buryed in his own parish-church . anno dom. . arthur capel esquire , of had●…m in this county , was by king charls the first created a baron . . he served the king with more valour and fidelity then success , during the civil wars , in the marches of wales . after the surrender of oxford , he retired to his own house in this shire , and was in some sort well cured of the [ so then reputed ] disease of loyalty , when he fell into a relaps by going to colcbester , which cost him his life , beheaded in the palace yard in westminster . in his life time he wrote a book of meditation ( published since his death ) wherein much judicious piety may be discovered . his mortified mind was familiar with afflictions , which made him to appear with such 〈◊〉 resolution on the scaffold , where he seemed rather to fright death , then to be frighted with it . hence one not unhappily alluding to his arms ( a lyon rampant in a field gules betwixt three crosses ) thus expresseth himself . thus lion-like capel undaunted stood : beset with crosses in a field of blood. a learned dr. in physick ( present at the opening and embalming of him and duke hambleton ) delivered it at a publike lecture , that the lord capels was the least heart ( whilst the dukes w●…s the greatest ) he ever beheld . which al●…o is very proportionable to the observation in philosophy , that the spirits contracted in a lesser model , are the cause of the greater courage . god hath since been the husband to his widow , ( who for her goodnesse may be a pattern to her sexe ) and father to his children , whom not so much their birth , beauty , and portions , as vertues married to the best bloods , and estates in the land , even when the royalists were at the lowest condition . edvvard symonds born at cottered in this county , was bred in peter house in cambridge , where he commenced master of arts , afterwards minister of little rayne in essex , a man strict in his life and profitable in his preaching , wherein he had a plain and piercing faculty . being sequestred from his living for siding with the king , with david sam. . . he went wheresoever he could go , to worcester , exeter , barnstable , france , and lastly returned to london . he wrote a book in vindication of king charles and was instrumental in setting forth his majesties book , called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . pens were brondished betwixt him and mr. stephen marshal , though all was fair betwixt them before his death . for mr. symonds visited him , lying in his bed at westminster , told him , had i taken you for a wild beast , i would not have rouzed you in your den. he was very conscientious in discharging his calling . being once requested by me , to preach for me , he excused himself for want of competent warning , and when i pleaded , that mine being a country parish would be well pleased with his performance ; i can ( saith he ) content them , but not mine own conscience to preach with so little preparation , he dyed ahout anno dom. . and was buryed in st. peters pauls wharf in london . benefactors to the publique . nicholas dixon , parson for thirty years together of cheshunt in this county . he was also clerk of the pipe-office belonging to the exchequer . see we here why the officers of that place ( as also those of the chancery ) were called clerks , because priests in orders with cure of souls did formerly discharge those offices . he was also under-treasurer , and at last baron of the chequer , when partly by his own bounty , and partly by collection of others , he builded the parish church of cheshunt ( and that i assure you is a very fair one ) with a chancel to the virgin mary . now for an affidavit for the proof hereof , the reader is referred to this his epitaph inscribed in cheshunt chancel , more to be respected for the truth , then wit thereof . o miserere jesu famuli dixon nicolai , ●…ui brevis hospitium tumulus p●…stat satis amplum . istud qui fanum ter denis rexerat annis ad cujus fabricam bursas proprias , alienas , solvit & allexit : quo crevit in ardua templum . pulchrum cancellum , tibi dat , pia virgo novellum : dum laudaris eo , famulo suffragia praestes . clericus hic pipae , subthesaurarius , inde baro scaccarii , se iuste gessit ubique pacem pauperibus dans ▪ * cedat divitis iras . larga manus relevat quos pauperies fera pressit . anno milleno : c. quater , bis bis deca christi octavo moriens , mutans terrestria caelis , octobris luce ter denâ transit ad astra , auxiliare prece qui perlegis haec nicholao , ut sibi cum sanctis praestetur vita perennis . the word rexerat doth intimate that cheshunt was then a rectorie or parsonage , though since impropriated and made a vicarage . what a deal of doe does this pitiful poet make with words at length , and figures ▪ and latine , and greek , to describe the date of his death ? which ( if i understand his signes aright ) was october the thirtieth , one thousand four hundred fourty eight . sir ralph josceline , son to jefferie josceline was born at * sabridgworth in this county , bred a draper in london , whereof he was twice mayor . once anno , and ere the end of that year , was made knight of the bath by king edward the fourth , in the field saith my * author . but seeing there is more of the carpet then of the camp in that order , it is more probable what * another writes , that he was invested knight of the bath at the coronation of elizabeth , queen to the king aforesaid . he was mayor again , anno . when he corrected the bakers and victuallers of the city , and by his diligence were the walls thereof repaired . walls now a mere complement , serving more for the dividing then the defending of the city ; 〈◊〉 that as some forreign cities cannot be seen for the walls , here the walls cannot be seen for the city . sad were the case of london , if not better secured with bones within , then stones about it . th●…s sir ralph died october the . anno . and was buried in the church of sabridgeworth . john incent , son of robert incent , and katharine his wife was born at * berkhamsted in this county . he was afterwards a doctor of law , and advanced anno . ( when richard sampson was preferred bishop of coventry and lichfield ) dean of saint pauls . this john , probably invited by the example of another john ( his mediate predecessour ) collet dean of pauls , founded a fair free-school in the town of his nativity , procuring it confirmed by act of parliament , allowing the master twenty , the usher ten pounds per annum . he died , as i collect , in the beginning of the reign of king edward the sixth . sir thomas white , son to thomas white was born at rixmansworth in this county , and afterwards bred a merchant-taylor in london , of which citie he was lord mayor an. dom. . he first built glocester-hal , and afterwards built and endowed st. johns colledge in oxford the seminarie of many flourishing wits . he bestowed also a va●… summe of money on several corporations to be imployed circularly for the benefit of the poor freemen therein . ionce intended to have presented the reader with an exact particular of his benefactions , till seasonably i reversed my resolution on this consideration . amongst the jewes it was an injury for one removed further off in blood to do the office of a kinsman to the childless widow , until the next of kin had first disclaimed his interest therein ; as in the case of * ruth most plainly appeared . a son , i am sure is nearer then a nephew , therefore it is a more proper performance for one bred in oxford , to collect the particulars of his bounty ( who whither soever he went , left the finger-marks of his charity behind him ; ) then for me distanced a degree farthrr off by my education in another universitie . since the reformation . richard hale esquire , was born at cudicot in this county , and bred a grocer in the ciry of london ; where his industrious endeavours were so blessed , that in a little time he got a great estate . wherefore in expression of his gratitude to god the giver thereof : he founded a very fair school , allowing fourty pounds a year to the master thereof at hartford in this county . a place very prudently chosen for such a purpose . first because the prime town in his native shire . secondly , great the want of a school in that populous place . and lastly , because most pure the aire thereof , so that parents need not fear their childrens loss of health for the gaining of learning . he died anno dom. — . whose wealthy family do still flourish with worth and worship at kings-walden in this county . edward bash knight , was born at aldnam in this county , in the mannor-house then belonging to the noble family of the caries , ( whereof francis his mother afterwards married to george earle of rutland was descended he was an hearty gentleman , and a good english housekeeper , keeping a full table with solid dishes on it , and welcome guests about it . and one may tearm him a valiant man , who durst be hospital in these dangerous dayes . whilest living he was a benefactor to peter-house in cambridge , wherein he was bred a fellow commoner . and at his death bequeathed more thereunto , the particulars whereof i have not yet attained . he gave also twenty ponnds per annum , for the maintenance of a schoolmaster at stansted in this county , where he had his constant habitation . he died anno dom. . many other benefactours this shire hath of late afforded , and amongst them one born in chessunt parish , who founded a school and alms-house therein , whom we leave to be reckoned up by the topographists of this county . memorable persons . thomas waterhouse priest , was born at helmsted in ths county . his will acquainteth us with the wardrobe of men of his order , towards the end of the reign of * q. mary . in the name of the father , and of the son , and of the holy ghost , amen . i thomas waterhouse priest of the catholick faith , whole of body , and of good and perfect remembrance , doe make and ordain my last will and testament the . day of may , in the year of our lord . in manner and form following . first , i bequeath my soul to god almighty the father of heaven , my creator , and unto jesus christ , our lord and god , my redeemer . and i will my body be buried in the chancel within the parish church of hemelhemsted , near to the place where my mother lieth . i beque●…th to the parish church of quainton , my vestment of crimson sattin . i bequeath to the parish church of great barkemsted , my vestment of crimson velvet . i bequeath to the parish church of great hemelsted , my stole and fanon set with pearl . i bequeath to my cozen john waterhouse , the queens servant my standing cup of silver and gilt , with the cover . i bequeath to my servant thomas ashton , ten pound in money which i promised him . i bequeath to my priest , sr. thomas barker , my black gown faced with taffata , &c. and ●… ordain and make my brother john waterhouse , and my cozen richard combe gentlemen , mine executors , these being witnesses , &c. such as jeer him for his gallantry , ( as one of the church triumphant ) may remember that besides his worshipful extraction ( which might the better countenance his clothes ) these were not garments for his wearing , but vestments for his officiating , and according to the opinion of that age , nothing could be too costly in that kind . lord mayors . name father place company time. william cromar john cromar aldenham mercer . . ralph joceline geffrey joceline sabridgworth draper . . william martin vvalter martin — skinner . . ralph ostrich geffrey ostrich hitchin fish-monger . . thomas bradbury vvill. bradbury braughin m●…rcer . . thomas white thomas vvhite rickmansworth marchant-taylor . john vvats thomas vvats buntingford cl●…ath-worker . reader , this is one of the twelve shires , whose gentry were not returned by the commissioners the twelfth of henry the sixth into the tower. sheriffes . this county had the same with essex , until the ninth year of queen elizabeth , when the distinction betwixt the two shires did begin , and these following peculiar to this county . name place . armes q. eliz.     anno ,     g. penruddock , ar .   g. a limb of a tree , ragguled and trunked in bend ar. . row. litton , ar. knebworth erm on a chief indented azure , crowns or. hen. conisby , ar . s. mims gules three coneys seiant within a border ingrailed argent . . vvill. 〈◊〉 ar.     edw. bash arm. stansted per chev. ar. & g. in cheif . martelets s. in base a saltir &c. georg. horsey ar . digswel azure horses heads couped or , brideled argent . t. leventhorp . shingle . hal argent a bend gobonee , s. & g. cotised of the first hen. cocke ar. brocksbor●… quarterly gules and argent . johan . gill. ar. vvidjel s. chev. ar. each with mull. of the first , on a cant . o. a l. pass . g tho. bowles , ar. wallington ar. on a chev. 'tw . bores-heads coup . s. as many scallops o. within a border vert bezantee . edw. verney , ar.   az. on a cross ar. mullets g. phil. butler , ar. vvatton vide the last of q. elizabeth . char. morison , ar . cashobery o , on a chief g. chap. of the first . th. dockwray , ar . putridge s. a che. engr. ar. betw . plates charged with as many pallets g. joh. brocket , ar. broket-hal or. a crosse patoncee sable . hen. conisby , ar . ut prius   fran. haydon , ar . grove quarterly ar. & az. a cross engrailed counter-changed edw. bash , arm. ut prius   hen. capel , arm. hadham g. a ly. ramp . ' tw . crosses botonie fitchie or. ed. pawleter , ar . wimondly ar. a bend voided sable . t. leventhorp , ar . & tho. sadler , ar . ut prius     standon or , a lyon rampant 〈◊〉 per fess azure & gules . joh. cutts , miles . camb . sh. ar. on a bend engrail . s. plates . edw. verney , ar. ut prius   wal. mildmay , ar . pesso-bury argent lyons rampant azure . th. hanchet , ar . hinkworth sable . dexter hands argent . arth. capel , ar. ut prius   j. leventhorp , ar . ut prius   row. litton , ar. ut prius   th. sadler , arm. ut prius   r. coningsby , ar . ut prius   rich. spencer , ar . offley quarterly ar. & g. a fret or , on a bend s. escal . of the first . t. popeblunt , ar .   barry formy nebule of . or , & s. rob. chester , ar . cakenhatch per pale ar. & s. a chev. 〈◊〉 . th. hanchet , ar . ut prius rams heads eras . within a border engr . roundelly all counterch . th●… . bowles , ar. ut prius   edw. denny , mil. & h. boteler , m. essex . g. a saltir ar. ' tw . crosses or.   hatfield-woodhall gules , a fess checky ar. & s. between . 〈◊〉 or. k. james .     hen. boteler ut prius   geo. pu●…ient , ar. d●…gswel gules crescents ar. tho. docwray , ar . ut prius   vva. mildmay , ar . & leon. hide , miles . ut prius     albury or , a chever . between lezenges az. on a chief gules an eagle displayed of the fi●…st . j. leventhorp , ar . ut prius   nich. 〈◊〉 , armig. quick-set   radu . sadler , ar . ut prius   ric. anderson , m.   ar. a chever . betwixt crosses formee sable . rob. boteler mil. ut prius   johan . vvild ar .     w. franckland ar .   arg. a chever . sable betwixt tho. dacres , m. & tho. dacres , ar . chesthunt torteauxes charged with as many scallops of the first . god. pe●…bert . m. & l. pemberton , 〈◊〉 . hartdforbury ar. a chev. betw . buckets s. tho. newes , ar .   s. pallets ar. a canton erm. edw. brisco abotslangly arg. greyhounds in pale sab. tho. read , arm . broket-hal g. a saltir betwixt garbs , or. nich. hide , ar . ut prius   r. pemberton , ar . ut prius   vvil. hale , ar. kings-walden az. a chever . counterbattily , or , edw. newport , ar . pelham   cl. skudamore , m   gules stirrups leather'd and buckl'd or. rich. sidley , ar. digswell az. a fesse wavy betw . goats heads erased ar , attired , or. k charles .     anno.     vvill. litton , m. ut prius   joha . jenning , m. hollywell az. on a fess g. 〈◊〉 . th●… . mide , barr. ut prius   edw. gardner , ar . thunderidge per pale o , & g. on a f. mascles betw . hinds pass . 〈◊〉 . vvill. hoe , ar. hoe . quarterly sable and argent . johan . boteler , m. ut prius   rich. hale , arm . ut prius   hen. cogshil , ar ,     vvill. plomer , ar . radwell vert a chev. betw . lions heads erased or , billited gules . vv. prestley , ar .   s. a chever . ar. charged with anchors of the field betw . as many lions , or , each issuant out of a tower of the second . vvil. leaman ar . north-hal az. a fess betw . dolphins , ar. rad. freeman , ar . aspden . azure 〈◊〉 argent t. coningsby , 〈◊〉 . ut prius   th●… . hewet , ar . pesso-bury sable a cheve , counter battellee betw . . owles argent . johan , gore , ar . gilsden gules a fess betwixt 〈◊〉 atth. pulter ut prius fitchee , or.     joh. gerrard , bar.     joh. gerrard , bar.     cha. nodes , ar.     queen elizabeth . . george horsey , ] the horseys had a free and competent estate at digswell in this county , where they had lived long in good esteem . it hapned that sir john horsey of clifton in the county of dorset ( whose two daughters were married into the families of mohune and arnold ) wanting an heir-male , settled the main of his estate , which was very great , on ralph the son of this george horsey . his father advised this ralph his son ( newly augmented with the addition of so great an estate ) that in case he should have any occasion to sell lands , not to part with his hartford-shire inheritance , which had continued so long in the family , but rather to make sale of some dorset-shire land . but the young gentleman ill-advised sold this his patrimony first of all . for which the rest of his means probably prospered no whit the better ; not one foot thereof remaining at this day to his posterity . i write not this to grieve any of his surviving relations , but to instruct all in obedience to their parents lawful commands . . hen. cock arm. ] he was afterward knighted and 〈◊〉 to q. elizabeth and king iames , who lay at his house may the second , at his first coming out of scotland to london , where so abundant entertainment , that no man of what condition * soever , but had what his appetite desired , which made the k. at his departure heartily thank the good knight for his great expences . this sir henry's daughter was married to the lord delaware . . edward denny knight . ] : was high sheriffe of this countie , when king iames coming from scotland passed through it , he was attended on by men sutably apparell'd and well mounted , with whom he tendred his service to the king , presenting also his majesty with a gallant horse , rich saddle and furniture . but before the year of his shreivalty was expired , king james created him baron denny of waltham , and another supplyed the remainder thereof . king james . . gorge purient arm. ] let me doe my best ● devoir , and last office to preserve the memorie of an ancient & now expired family . digswell i presume was the place of their living , because of their interments therein , whereof this most remarkable . hic jacent joannes perient armiger , pro corpore regis richardi secundi , & penerarius ej●…sdem regis . et armiger etiam regis hen. quarti . et armiger etiam regis henrici quinti ; & magister equitum johanne filie regis navar , & reginae angliae , qui obiit ....... & johanna uxor ejus , quondam capitalis domicilla ....... que obiit xxiv . anno dom. m. ccccxv ........ surely he was a man of merit , being penon or ensign-bearer to one esquire , of the body to three successive kings , and mr. of the horse to one of their queens , to whom his wife was chief lady of honour . thomas dacres miles & mort . ] he was one of the three sheriffes in this county , who within the compasse of ten years died in their shrievalties , as by this catalogue may appear . he was grand-child unto robert dacres esqu . one of the privy council to king henry the eighth . thomas hoe ] this most ancient name ( which formerly had barons thereof ) is now expiring in the male line . this gentlemans sole daughter being married unto ....... kete of london . thomas conisby armiger ] when one told him , that his potent adversarie had prevailed to make him sheriffe , i will not ( said he ) keep a man the more , or a dog the fewer on that account . the farewell , i am sorry to hear that the fair font of solid brasse , brought out of scotland and bestowed by sir richard lea on the abbey church in st. albons is lately taken away : i could almost wish that the plunderers fingers had found it as hot as it was when first forged , that so these theives , with their fault , might have received the deserved punishment thereof . had it bin return'd to the place whence it was taken , to serve for the same use , the matter had not bin so much ; but by an usual alchymy , this brass , is since turned into silver . but let us not so much condole the late losing of the font , as congratulate our still keeping of baptisme , which if some men might have their minds , should utterly be denied to all infants . i wish all infants to be christned in this county , and elsewhere , though not so fair a font , fair water , and which is the best of all , the full concurrence of gods spirit effectually to compleat the sacrament unto them . hereford-shire hath worcester-shire and shrop-shire on the north , glocester shire on the east , monmouth-shire on the south , brecknock and radnor-shires on the west . in form it is almost circular , being from north to south ( measured to the best improvement ) . miles , though from east to west not altogether so much . there cannot be given a more effectual evidence of the healthful aire in this shire , then the vigorous vivacity of the inhabitants therein ; many aged folk which in other countries are properties of the chimneyes , or confined to their beds , are here found in the feild as able ( if willing ) to work . the ingenious serjeant hoskin gave an intertainment to king iames and povided ten aged people to dance the morish before him ; all of them making up more then a thousand yeares , so that what was wanting in one was supplied in another . a nest of nestors not to be found in another place . this county doth share as deep as any in the alphabet of our english commodities though exceeding in vv. for vvood , vvheat , vvooll , and vvater . besides this shire , better answereth ( as to the sound thereof ) the name of pomerania , then the dukedome of germany so called , being a continued orchard of apple trees , whereof much sider is made of , the use whereof we have treated of * before . there is a tract in this county called gylden vale , and if any demand how much gold is to be found therein know that even as much as in chrusaroas or , golden stream , the river of damascus so called from the yellowness of their water as this vail is so named either because gilded with flowers in the spring , or because being the best of molds as gold is of mettalls . here i 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 master camden his cautious commendation of this county . secunda 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inter angliae provincias acquiescere , haud facile est contenta . it is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be accounted the second shire for matter of fruitfulness but the foresaid authour in his whole book never expresseth which is the first , too politick to adjudge so invidious a preheminence . and thus keeping the uppermost seate emptie , such competitour counties are allowed leave , to put in their several claimes which pretend to the prime place of fertility . reader , i am sorry that having not hitherto seen the cathedral of hereford , i must be silent about the building in this county . natural commodities , wooll . such as are ignorant of the qualities thereof may inform themselves therein from the common proverbs . . vvhite as * vvooll ; a scripture phrase , though there be thereof black by nature . . soft as vvooll , and therefore our judges antiently in the parliament-house sat on wooll packs , as well for the easier repose of their age , as to minde them to maintain this staple commodity in its legal priviledges . . as warm as vvooll . and one said merrily ; vvooll must needs be warm , as consisting all of double letters . our english garments from head to foot were formerly made thereof , till the beginning of the reign of k. henry the eighth , when velvet caps becoming fashionable for persons of prime quality , discomposed the proverb , if his cap be made of vvooll , as formerly comprising all conditions of people how high and haughty soever . great the plenty of wooll in this county and greater gods goodness , that generally our northern lands are well stored therewith . * the frier rather descanted then commented , and his interpretation not so much false , as improper for the place dat nivem sicut lanam , he giveth snow like * vvooll , that where most snow falls those places ( if habitable ) are best provided with vvooll . it is well his wanton wit went no further , he scattereth his hoare frost like ashes ; freezing * countries affording most fewel to burn , so careful is providence in dispensing necessaries to mankinde . as for the wooll in this county , it is best known to the honour thereof by the name of lempster ore , being absolutely the finest in this county and indeed in all england , equalling if not exceeding the apulian or tarentine in the south of italy though it cost not so much charge and curiosity in the carefull keeping thereof . for good * authors , inform us that there the sheepherds put in effect a fleece over their fleece using to clothe their sheep with skins to preserve their wooll from the injury of earth , bushes and weather . how well this requiteth their cost i know not , but am sure no such trouble is used on our sheep here . salmons . a daintie and wholesome fish , and a double riddle in nature ; first for its invisible feeding , no man alive having ever found any meat in the maw thereof . secondly , for its strange leaping ( or flying rather ) so that some will have them termed salmons , à saliendo . being both bow and arrow , it will shoot it selfe out of the water an incredible heighth and length . i might adde the admirable growth thereof , if true what is confidently affirmed , that it increaseth from a spawn to a full grown fish within the compasse of a year . plenty of these in this county , though not in such abundance as in scotland , where servants ( they say ) indent with their masters , not to be fed therewith above thrice a weeke . some will say , why salmons in hereford-shire , which are common to other counties ? it is answered , in other counties suitably with the buck , they are seasonable onely in summer , whereas here with buck and doe , they are in season all the year long . this countie may say . salmo non aestate novus , nec frigore desit salmon in summer is not rare , in winter , i of them do share . for the river of wy affords brumal salmons , fat and sound , 〈◊〉 ●…hey are sick and spent in other places . the wonders . there is a little fountain called bone-well nigh richards castle in this county the water whereof is alwayes full of bones of little fishes * or as others conceive of little frogs . seeing it seems such their smalnesse they are hardly to be distinguished . it addeth to the wonder , because this spring can never be emptied of them , but as fast as some are drawn out , others instantly succeed them . to this permanent , let us add two transient wonders on the credit of excellent * authors ; when a battle was fought in this county , anno dom. . betwixt jasper e. of pembrooke , and james butler earl of ormond on the one side , and k. edward the fourth of the other , three suns appeared together in the firmament . such a triple sun ( one real , two representations ) were seen in heaven a little before the roman empire was rent betwixt three competitours , galba , otho , and vitellius ▪ as also since , when the kingdome of hungarie was cantoned betwixt john vayvode , ferdinand afterwards emperor , and the great turke ; such meteors being sometimes prognosticks of so many severall pretenders at once to the same sovereignty . inquiring into the natural cause hereof , we find it to be nothing else but the image of the sun represented in an equal , smooth , thick and watery cloud , not opposite thereunto , ( for then it would make the rain-bow ) nor under the sun , for then it would make those circles called crowns or garlands ) but on one or either side thereof , in a competent or moderate distance . for if it be too far off , then the beams will be too feeble to be reflected ; if too near , the sun will disperse it ; but in such a middle distance , wherein many suns may appear , as a mans face is expressed in all pieces of a broken glasse . to this wonder add a second of * marcley-hill , which an. dom. . rouzed it self as it were , out of its sleep . yea , in some sort it might seem to be in labour for three dayes together , shaking and roaring all that while , to the great terrour of all that heard or beheld it . it threw down all things that opposed it , and removed it self into an higher place . the best use we can make of such accidents , is to fear and not fear thereat , with a reverential awe to god , no servile dread of the thing it self ; * therefore we will not fear though the earth be removed ; and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea. proverbs . blessed is the eye , ] that is betwixt severn and wye . ] some will justly question the truth hereof . true it is , the eyes of those inhabitants are entertained with a pleasant prospect , yet such , as is equalled by other places . but it seems this is a prophetical promise of safety to such that live secured within those great rivers , as if priviledged from martial impressions . but alas ! civil war is a vagrant , and will trace all corners , except they be surrounded with gyges his ring . surely some eyes in that place , besides the sweet rivers of severn and wye , running by them , have had salt waters flowing from them , since the beginning of our late distractions . * lemster bread , and weabley ale. ] it seems both these are best in their kinds , though good in other places of the land. thus , though palestine was universally termed a * land of wheat , yet the spirit of god takes signal notice of the * wheat of minnith and pannag , as finer than the rest . yet is there wheat in england , which justleth for pureness with that of weabley , viz. what groweth about heston in middlesex , yeilding so fine floure , that for a long time the * manchet for the kings of england was made thereof , except any will say it is prized the more for the vicinity to london . saints . ethelbert was king of the east-angles and went to offa king of mercia to treat of a marriage with his daughter ; but queen quendred wife to offa , more ambitious of her own unlawful , then her daughters lawful advancement , practised his death at a village now called sutton-wallis , four miles from hereford . his corps was afterwards removed by milfred ( a petit prince of that country ) to hereford , where he obtained the reputation of a saint and martyr . his suffering happened anno dom. . thomas cantilupe was of honourable extraction , whose father william lord cantilupe had two fair habitations , abergavenny castle in monmouth , and harringworth in northampton-shire , which by an heir-general of that family afterwards descended to the lord zouch . he was bred in oxford ( whereof at last he became chancellour ) and was preferred bishop of hereford . a charitable man may believe him a person of holy life and great learning : but no wise man will credit what walsingham writes of him , that he was never guilty of any mortal sin . going to ( others say returning from ) rome , to assert his church from the encroachment of peckam , arch-bishop of canterbury , he dyed at a city in tuscany , where his flesh was taken off his corps and buryed , whilst his bones were sent for reliques into england , and enshrined at hereford . now , though different dates be assigned of his death , i adhere to bishop godwin , noting his dissolution . he was afterwards canonized by pope john the twenty second , and no fewer then * four hundred twenty five miracles are registred in that church , reported to be wrought at his tomb. i say , just four hundred twenty five , which falls out sewer by five and twenty then the prophets of * baal , and more by five and twenty then the prophets of the groves , in a middle number betwixt both , and all of th●…m i beleive honest and true alike . yea , it is recorded in his legend , that by his * prayers were raised from death to life threescore several persons , one and twenty lepers healed , and three and twenty blind and dumb men to have received their sight and speech . no wonder then what mr. * camden observeth , that in process of time , parum abfuit quin pietatis opinione regio martyri ethelberto praeluxerit ; he lack'd but little to eclipse the lustre of ethelbert , the royal saint and martyr , formerly buryed ( as is aforesaid ) in the same cathedral : indeed it is given to superstition , alwayes to be fondest of the youngest saint . but long since king henry the eighth hath put a period to all emulations betwixt their memories . the bishops of hereford , so highly honoured this thomas , that ( waving their ancient arms ) they assumed the paternal coate of cantilupe ( viz. gules leopards heads inverted , each with a flower de luce in his mouth , or , ) to be successively the arms of their see. this cantilupe lived the latest of any englishman who was canonized , so that blind zeal may even close her stomack , and make up her mouth with the sweet-meats of his memory . martyrs . sir john ( son to sir thomas ) oldcastle was a native of this county , whereof he was sheriff in the seventh of henry the fourth , lord cobham in the right of his wife ; a right valiant man , but great follower of vvickliffe , so that he lost his life on that account . as his body was hanged and burnt in an unusual posture at tyburne , so his memory hath ever since been in a strange suspense betwixt malefactour and martyr : papists charging him with treason against king henry the fifth , and heading an army of more then ten thousand men , though it wanted nine thousand nine hundred ninety and nine thereof , so far as it appears solidly proved . but it hath ever been the practice of the devil and his instruments angry with gods servants for their religion , to accuse them for sedition , perceiving princes generally more jealous of their own honour then gods glory , and most careful to cut off such as oppose their power or persons ; thus christ was accused for disloyalty to caesar ; and st. paul , for raifing of tumults , though they ( as it is plain in the * text ) either raised themselves , or were raised by the pharisees and saducees , pauls professed enemies . but i have so worne out the neb of my pen in my church-history , about clearing the innocency of this worthy knight , that i have nothing to add new thereunto . marian martyrs this diocess affordeth none , such the moderation of robert parfew the bishop thereof . cardinal . adam de easton . we were at a great losse , had we but his bare sirname to direct us to the place of his nativity , seeing scarcely one county in england , which hath not one or more eastons or * eatons ( the same in effect ) therein . but thanks be to our * author , who hath fixed his birth ( though but with an ut videtur ) in this shire . pretenders to skill in palmestry would perswade us , that such , the table in whose hands is narrow beneath and broad above , are marked out for poverty in their youth , and plenty in their old age. i will not say , such the signature in the hands of our adam , but sure i am such his successe . mean his birth , homely his breeding , hard his fare , till by his industry he was advanced dr. of divinity in oxford , wherein he became a great scholar , skill'd in greek and hebrew ( rare accomplishments in that age ) and was very dexterous in all civil negotiations . he was afterwards made cardinal , with the title of st. cicilie , by pope urban , against whom clement the seventh was elected and erected by others . fierce the fight between bears and boars , but far fiercer betwixt two anti-popes , giving no quarter to the opposite party , if brought into their power . urban suspecting treachery in some of his cardinals , imprisoned seven of them at once , and puting five of them into sacks , sunk them into the sea. oh most barbarous urbanity ! our adam being the sixth hardly escaped with life , and may be said in some sort put into a sack , ( though of a larger size ) i mean a streight dungeon , where he remained half starved for five years together , till the death of pope urban . but pope boniface , his successour , restored him to all his honours and dignities , sent him over into england , to king richard the second with most ample commendation . returning to rome , he lived there in all plenty and pomp , and dyed september the seventeenth , . pity it is so good a scholar should have so barbarous an epitaph , scarce worth our translation . artibus iste pater famosus in omnibus adam , theologus summus , cardi que-nalis erat . anglia cui patriam , titulum dedit ista beatae ceciliaeque — morsque suprema polum . adam a famous father in arts all , he was a deep divine , cardi-and - nall , whom england bred , s. cicilie hath given his title — death at last gave heaven . he was interred when dead in the church of st. cicilie , which intituled him when alive , though no happiness ; an honour , which no other english man ( to my observation ) of his order ever injoyed . prelates . john breton , aliàs britton , d●… . of the lawes . he meriteth a high place in this catalogue ; and yet i am at a perfect loss , where to fix his nativity , and therefore am forced to my last refuge , as the * marginal character doth confess . he was a famous lawyer , living in the reign of king edward the first , at whose commandement , and by whose authority he wrote a learned book of the lawes of england , the tenor whereof runneth in the kings name , as if it had been penned by himself . take one instance thereof . . chapter . vve will , that all those , who are fourteen years old , shall make oath that they shall be sufficient and loyall unto us , and that they will be neither felons , nor assenting to felons : and we will , that all be , &c. this style will seem nothing strange to those , who have read justinian his institutions , which the emperour assumed unto himself , though composed by others . it is no small argument of the excellency of this book , that notwithstanding the great variation of our lawes since his time , that his work still is in great and general repute . thus a good face conquereth the disadvantage of old and unfashionable clothes . he was preferred bishop of hereford , in the reign of king henry the third . and although there be some difference betwixt authors about the time , wherein he lived and died ( some assigning a latter date ) i confide in bishop † godwin ( his successour in the same see ) computing his death to happen may . in the third of king edward the first , anno . adam de orlton , was born in the city of hereford . * proceeding doctor of law , he became afterwards bishop in the place of his nativity . this is he so infamous in history for cutting off the life of king edward the second , with his ridling unpointed answer . edwardum regem occidere nolite timere bonum est . to kill king edward you need not to fear it is good . it is hard to say , which of these two were the original , and which the translation ; it being equally probable that the english was latined , as that the latin was englished by such authors as relate this transaction . this mindeth me of a meaner passage ( sic canibus catulos ) which to refresh both the reader and my self , i shall here insert . a schoolmaster being shut out of his school at christmass came to composition with his scholars , and thus subscribed the articles tendred unto him ; aequa est conditio non nego quod petitis . but being readmitted into his house , he called all his scholars to account for their rebellion ; they plead themselves secured by the act of oblivion he had signed . he calls for the original , and perusing it thus pointed it . aequa est conditio ? non ; nego quod petitis . thus power in all ages will take the priviledge to construe its own acts to its own advantage . but to return to de orlton , he made much bustling in the land , passing through the bishopricks of worcester and winchester , and died at last not much lamented , july . . john grandesson was born at * ashperton in this county , a person remarkable on several accounts . for his . high birth , his father gilbert being a baron , and his mother sybill coheir to the lord tregose . . great learning , being a good writer of that age , though bale saith of him that he was orator animosior quàm facundior . . high preferment attaining to be bishop of exeter . . vivacity , sitting bishop in his see two and fourty years . . stout stomack resisting mepham archbishop of canterbury vi & armis , when he came to visite his diocess . . costly buildings , arching the beautifull roofe of his cathedrall , building and endowing a rich colledge of saint mary otterey . he was the bettter inabled to do these and other great benefactions by perswading all the secular clergy in his diocess to make him sole heir to their estates : he died july . anno domini , . thomas bradwardine arch-bishop of canterbury . see him more properly in sussex . richard cli●…ford bishop of london . see him more conveniently in kent . since the reformation . miles smith , d. d. was born in the city of * hereford , which i observe the rather , because omitted in his funeral sermon . his father was a fletcher , and a man of no mean estate , that vocation being more in use formerly , then in our age. he was bred first in brasen-nose-colledge , then chaplain of * christ-church in oxford . a deep divine , great linguist , who had more then a single share in the last translation of the bible , as hereby will appear . . more then fourty * grave divines were imployed in several places on that work . . when it had passed their hands , it was revised by a dozen select ones . . this done , it was referred to the final examination of bish. bilston , and dr. smith . . doctor smith at last was injoyned to make the preface to the translation , as a comely gate to a glorious city , which remains under his own hand in the university library in oxford . yet was he never heard to speak of the work with any attribution to himself more then the rest . he never sought any preferment he had , and was wont * merrily to say of himself , that he was nullius rei praeterquam librorum avarus , covetous of nothing but books . king james preferred him bishop of glocester . wherein he behaved himself with such meeknesse , that in all matters of doubt , the byass of his inclination did still hang 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . he wrote all his books with his own hand ) in that faculty not being short of the professours thereof ) and being seaventy years of age died and was buried in his own cathedrall . souldiers . robert devereux , son of walter devereux earle of essex , was born at * nethwood in this county , november the tenth , . whilst his father as yet was onely viscount of hereford . he was such a master-piece of court and camp , and so bright a light therein , that we will observe his morning , fore-noon , high-noon , afternoon and night . his morning began at his first coming to court , the gates whereof he entred with four great advantages of pitie , kindred , favour , and merit : pitie , on the account of his father lately dead ( to say no more ) and generally lamented : kindred by his mothers side , lettice knowles , near allied to the queen : favour being son in law to leicester , and so was a favourits favourite at the first day , though he quickly stood on his own legs without holding : merit , being of a beautiful personage , courteous nature , noble descent , fair ( though much impaired ) fortune . fore-noon , when the queen favourably reflected on him , as a grand-mother on a grand-child , making him the wanton to her fond and indulgent affection , as by this letter written with her own hand , doth appear : essex , your sudden and undutiful departure from our presence , and your place of attendance , you may easily conceive how offensive it is and ought to be unto us. our great favours bestowed upon you without deserts , hath drawn you thus to neglect and forget your duty : for other construction we cannot make of these your strange actions . not meaning therefore to tolerate this your disordered part ; we gave directions to some of our privy councel to let you know our express pleasure for your immediate repair hitber , which you have not performed as your duty doth bind you , increasing thereby greatly your former offence and undutiful behaviour , in departing in such sort without our privity , having so special office of attendance and charge near our person . we do therefore charge and command you forthwith upon the receit of these our letters , all excuses and delayes set apart , to make your present and immediate repair unto us , to understand our further pleasure . whereof see you fail not , as you will be loth to incur our indignation , and will answer for the contrary at your uttermost peril . the . of april . this letter angry in the first , and loving in the fourth degree , was written to him ( sent by sir thomas gorges ) on this occasion . the earle in pursuance of his own martial inclination , secretly left the court to see some service in france . the q. passionately loving his person , grievously complained of his absence , and often said , we shall have this young fellow knockt on the head , as foolish sidney was , by his own forwardness , and was restless till his return . i behold him in his high-noon , when he brought victory with him home from cadiz and was vertical in the esteem of the souldiery , and may be said to awaken the queens jealousie by his popularitie . his after-noon followed when he undertook the irish action , too knotty service for his smooth disposition , being fitter for personal performance , then conduct and managing of martial affaires . and now his enemies work was halfe done , having gotten such a gulf betwixt him and the queen . for , as antaeus is said to have recruited strength ; when he touched his mother earth : so this earle , wrestling with his enemies , suppressed them , and supported himself by his dayly access to the queen , which distance now denied him . his night approached , when coming over without leave , he was confined by the q. to his house , to reclaim , not ruine him . hither a miscellaneous crew of sword-men did crowd , tendering him their service some of one perswasion some of another , some of all , some of no religion . their specious pretence was to take evil counsellors from the queen , though it had been happie if they had been first taken away from the earle . what his companie said they would doe , the earle knew ; but what would have been done by them , god knowes : the earle rising , and missing of expected support from the city of london quickly sunck in the queens final displeasure , anno domini . he was valiant , liberall to scholars and souldiers , nothing distrustful , if not too confident of fidelity in others . revengefulness was not bred but put into his disposition . 't is hard to say , whether such as were his enemies , or such as should be his friends , did him more mischief . when one flattered him to his face for his valour , no said he , my sins ever made me a coward . in a word , his failings were neither so foul , nor so many , but that the character of a right worthy man most justly belongs to his memory . writers . roger of * hereford born in that city was bred in the university of cambridge being one of the prime promoters of learning therein after the re-foundation of the university by the abbot of crowland . he was an excellent astronomer , and stars being made for signes , was a good interpreter what by these signes were intended . he wrote a book of judicial astrologie , whether to commend or condemn it , such onely can satisfie themselves that have seen his book . he was also skilful in all mettals and minerals and his pretty curiosities made him acceptable to the nobility of england flourishing under king henry the second , an. dom. . william lempst●…r a franciscan , and a dr. of divinity in oxford , was born in that well known town in this county . he wrote collations on the master of the sentences , and questions in divinity , as * j. pits . informeth me , adding withall , haec scripsit , novi , sed non quo tempore novi well i know these works he wrot but for the time i know it not . and i am content ( for companies sake ) with him to be ignorant of the exact date thereof . since the reformation . richard hackluit , was born of an ancient extract in this county , whose family hath flourished at ...... in good esteem , he was bred a student in christ church , in oxford , and after was prebendary of westminster , his genius inclined him to the study of history , and especially to the marine part thereof , which made him keep constant intelligence with the most noted seamen of wapping , until the day of his death . he set forth a large collection of the english sea voyages , ancient , middle , modern , taken partly out of private letters , which never were ( or without his care had not been ) printed . partly out of small treatises , printed , and since irrecoverably lost , had not his providence preserved them . for some pamphlets are produced , which for their cheapnesse and smalnesse men for the present neglect to buy , presuming they may procure them at their pleasure , which small books , their first and last edition being past , ( like some spirits that appear but once ) cannot afterwards with any price or pains be recovered . in a word many of such useful tracts of sea adventures , which before were scattered as several ships , mr. hackluit hath imbodied into a fleet , divided into three squadrons , so many several volumes . a work of great honour to england , it being possible that many ports and islands in america which being base and barren , bear only a bare name for the present , may prove rich places for the future . and then these voyages will be produced and pleaded , as , good evidence of their belonging to england , as first discovered and denominated by english-men . mr. hackluit dyed in the beginning of king iames his reign , leaving a fair estate to an unthrift son , who embezill'd it , on this token , that he vanted , that he cheated the covetous usurer , who had given him spick and span new money , for the old land of his great great grandfather . john gvvillim was of vvelch extraction , but born in this * county , and became a pursuivant of arms , by the name first of portsmouth , then rougecroixe , but most eminent for his methodical display of herauldry , ( confusion being formerly the greatest difficulty therein ) shewing himself a good logician in his exact divisions , and no bad philosopher , noting the natures of all creatures given in armes , joyning fansie and reason therein . besides his travelling all over the earth in beasts , his industry diggeth into the ground in pursuit of the properties of precious stones , diveth into the water in inquest of the qualities of fishes , flyeth into the air after the nature of birds , yea mounteth to the very skies about stars ( but here we must call them estoiles ) and planets their use and influence . in a word he hath unmysteried the mysterie of heraldry , inso much , that one of his own * faculty , thus descanteth ( in the twilight of jest and earnest ) on his performance . but let me tell you , this will be the harm in arming others , you your self disarm ; our art is now anatomized so , as who knows not , what we our selves do know ? our corn in others mill is ill apaid . sic vos non vobis , may to us be said . i suspect that his endevours met not with proportionable reward . he dyed about the latter end of the reign of king iames. john davies of hereford ( for so he constantly styled himself ) was the greatest master of the pen that england in his age beheld , for fast-writing , so incredible his expedition . fair-writing , some minutes consultation being required to decide , whether his lines were written or printed . close-writing , a mysterie indeed , and too dark for my dimme eyes to discover . various-writing , secretary , roman , court , and text. the poetical fiction of briareus the gyant , who had an hundred hands , found a moral in him , who could so cunningly and copiously disguise his aforesaid elemental hands , that by mixing he could make them appear an hundred , and if not so many sorts , so many degrees of writing . yet had he lived longer he would modestly have acknowledged mr. githings ( who was his schollar and also born in this county ) to excel him in that faculty , whilst the other would own , no such odious eminencie , but rather gratefully return the credit to his master again . sure i am , when two such transcendent pen-masters shall again come to be born in the same shire , they may even serve fairly to engross the will & testament of the expiring universe . our davies had also some pretty excursions into poetry and could flourish matter as well as letters , with his fancy as well as with his pen. he dyed at london in the midst of the reign of king james , and lyeth buryed in st. giles in the fields . romish exile writers . humphry ely born in this * county , was bred in st. johns colledge in oxford ; whence flying beyond the seas he lived successively at doway , rome and rheams , till at last he setled himself at pont-muss in lorain , where for twenty years together , he was professor of canon and civil law , and dying . was buried therein with a double epitaph . that in verse my iudgement commands me not to beleive , which here i will take the boldnesse to translate . albion haereseos velatur nocte , viator desine mirari , sol suus hic latitat , wonder not , reader , that with heresies england is clouded ; here her sun he lies . the prose-part my charity induces me to credit ; inopia ferme laborabat , alios inopia sublevans ; he eased others of poverty , being himself almost pinched therewith . benefactors to the publick . john walter was born in the city of hereford . know , reader , i could learn little from the * minister which preached his funeral , less from his acquaintance , least from his children . such his hatred of vain glory , that ( as if charity were guiltinesse ) he cleared himself from all suspicion thereof . yet is our intelligence of him though breif , true , as followeth ; he was bred in london , and became clerk of drapers-hall : finding the world to flow fast in upon him , he made a solemn vow to god , that he would give the surplusage of his * estate ( whatever it was ) to pious uses . nor was he like to those , who at first maintained ten thousand pounds too much for any man , which when they have attained , they then conceive ten times so much too little for themselves ; but after his cup was filled brim-full , to the aforesaid proportion , he conscienciously gave every drop of that which over-flowed , to quench the thirst of people parched with poverty . i compare him to elizabeth in the gospel , who as if ashamed of her shame ( so then reputed ) taken from her hid her self five * moneths , ( so great her modesty ; ) such his concealing of his charity , though pregnant with good works ; and had not the lanthorn of his body been lately broken , it is beleived the light of his bounty had not yet been discovered . he built and endowed a fair almes house in southwark , another at newington ( both in surrey ) on which , and other pious uses , he expended well nigh ten thousand pounds , whereof twenty pounds per annum he gave to hereford the place of his nativity . his wife and surviving daughters were so far from grudging at his gifts , and accounting that lost to them , which was lent to god , that they much rejoyced thereat , and deserve to be esteemed joint-givers thereof , because consenting so freely to his charity . he dyed in the seventy fourth year of his age , . december , anno domini . and was solemnly buried in london . memorable persons . rosamund , that is saith my * authour rosemouth ( but by allufion termed rose of the world ) was remarkable on many accounts . first , for her father vvalter lord clifford , who had large lands about cliffords-castle in this county . secondly , for her self , being the mistress-peice of beauty in that age. thirdly , for her paramour king henry the second , to whom she was concubine . lastly , fot her son vvilliam longspee , the worthy earl of salisbury , king henry is said to have built a labyrinth at vvoodstock , ( which labyrinth through length of time hath lost it self ) to hide this his mistress from his jealous iuno , queen eleanor . but zelotypiae nihil impervium , by some device she got accesse unto her , and caused her death . rosamund was buryed in a little nunnery at godstowe nigh oxford , with this epitaph . hic jacet in tumba rosa mundi non rosamunda , non redolet , sed olet , quae redolere solet . this tomb doth inclose the worlds fair rose so sweet & full of favour and smell she doth now , but you may guess how , none of the sweetest savour . her corps may be said to have done penances after her death . for hugh bishop of lincoln , coming as visitor to this nunnery , and seeing rosamund's body lying in the quire , under a silken herse , with tapors continual●…y burning about it , thought the herse of an harlot , no proper object for the eyes of virgins to contemplate on , therefore caused her bones to be scattered abroad . however after his departure , those sisters gathered her bones together again , put them into a perfumed bag , and inclosed them in lead , where they continued until outed again in the reign of king henry the . the names of the gentry of this county , returned by the commissioners in the twelfth year of king henry the sixth , . thomas bishop of hereford   james de audley   john skudamore chival . knights for the shire . commissioners to take the oaths . john russell .   dom. grey de whilton chiv. vvalteri lucy chivaler radulphi de la bere chival . roberti vvhiteney chivaler . johannis baskervile chival . ●…ohannis merbury armiger . richardi de la mare armig. tho. bromwich sen. armig. iohannis brugge armigeri tho. bromwich jun. armigeri iohannis melborn armiger . iohannis barre armigeri thomae donton armigeri hugonis mortimer armigeri tho. de lastay senioris arm. iohannis skudamore armig. richardi vvigmore armig. vvillielmi croft armigeri vvalteri hackluit armigeri vvillielmi criketot armig. rich. vvalwain de mayde a. maculmi vvalwain armig w. walwain de longford 〈◊〉 . nicholai vvallwayn armig. thomae walwain de stoke ar. r. walweyn de lugwardyn a. willielmi byriton armigeri iohannis stapelton armigeri vvillielmi hereford armig richardi habberhale armig iohannis aberhale armiger . iohannis deverose aamiger . richardi deverose armigeri iohannis de la bere armig. vvillielmi de la bere arm. rogeri bodenham armigeri milonis vvatier armigeri radulphi baskervile armig. thomae de la hay arm. jun. rowlandi lenthall chivaler henrici oldcastlé armigeri henrici slake armigeri richardi ap harry armigeri johannis dansey armigeri henrici ap griffith armig. rogeri wiggemore armig. hugonis monyngton ar. iohannis monyngton ar. vvalteri monington ar. johannis vvise armig. wal. ap rosser vanghan a. johannis dumbleton ar. thomae parker armigeri johannis skellwick ar. johannis harper vvillielmi garnons thomae brugge de leye thom. brugge de brugge thomae smith de webley edmundi gomond johannis alton . johannis vvellynton roberti hunte armigeri boberti bromwich vvillielmi bromwich r. watteis de bedingwey richardi leon iohanni goure vvillielmi smethecote vvillielmi hackluit hugonis hackluit ●…acobi everard tho. brugge de yuenton richardi upton iohannis upton rogeri erlyche iohannis de ey egidii hackluit thomae halle hugonis vvarton iohannis bluwet iohannis luntelye philippi lyngeyn iohannis bevere vvalteri bradford iohannis bradford vvalteri vvalker thomae morton iohannis salisbury iohannis vvalker vvillielmi rafes iohannis sherer iohannis vvaldb●…et richardi vvindesley io. mortimer de bromyerd thomae harlowe iohannis ragon iohannis broun iohannis smith thomae dovile iohannis panton jun. thomae petit thomae horsenet richardi vvynne iohannis vvinter thomae loveday iohannis sheref thomae everard johannis young thomae tomkins vvillielmi shebrond wil. waleyn de bickerton milonis skulle rogeri ●…dmonsham roberti priour . johannis vvatts richardi rovenhal johannis comyn richardi gambdon henrici comyn vvillielmi blanchard vvillielmi monyngton johannis arundell thomae arundell thomae myntrick vvillielmi gray johannis brugge de rosse henrici vvhite richardi coekes johannis vvollrich johannis de vvall. vvilliam lanke will. ap thomas ap l. will. gerrard richardi trevays hugonis cola richardi de la hay hugonis hergest johannis pu vvalteri puy vvillielmi huntington vvillielmi carwardine johannis chabenore vvill. smith de tiberton vvillielmi chamberleyn howel ap howel ap wilmiston johan . wiston johan . hunt de snodhell thomae lightfoot joh. ap thom. de dorston galfredi ap thomas johannis pychard thomae bruyn georgii braynton majoris civitatis hereford . vvalteri mibbe henrici chippenham johannis fulk draper johannis mey johannis fuister thomae hore johannis green richardi green richardi prat thomae bradwardyn richardi russell richardi barbour johannis orchard jacobi orchard johannis dudley richardi houghton rogeri collyng johannis collier thomae choppynham henrici cachepolle thomae knobelle hugonis clerk thomae combe thomae verbum johannis elynner io. heyward de bodenham ro. vvych de ludwardyn . sheriffs of hereford-shire . hen. ii. anno anno walt. de hereford , for years . anno will. de bello campo , f or years . anno idem , & walt. clicums . anno willielmus de la lega . anno gilbertus pypard . anno idem . anno willielmus de braiose . anno idem . anno radulphus pulcherus , for years . anno milo de mucegros , & vvillielmus torelle . anno vvillielmus torelle . anno radul . arden , anno idem . anno idem . rich. i. anno radul . de arden . anno hen. de longo campo . anno vvillielmus de braiosa . anno idem . anno hen. de longo campo , & willielmus de braiosa . anno roger. fitz-mauricis . anno willielmus de braiosa . anno idem . anno willielmus de braiosa , & williemus de burchhull . anno idem . johan . anno walter . de clifford , & gilbertus clifford . anno willielmus de braiosa , & willielmus burchull . anno hubert . de burgo , & rich. de signes , for years anno willielmus de cantulum , & walter . de puhier . anno idem . anno walt. de clifford , & osbert . pil. vvillielmi . anno idem . anno gerer . de atria , & rich. de burges . anno idem . anno endebard . de cicomato , & rich. de burges . anno enozelcardus , de cicomato , & rich. burgeis ( sive burzeis , for years . hen. iii. anno walt. de lascy , & anno tho. de anesey . anno walt. de lascy , & warrinus de grindon . for years . anno walt. de lascy , & tho. de anesey . anno walt. de lascy . anno radulph . fil . nic. & hen. fil . nic. frater ejus , for y. anno radul . fil . nich. & hen. frat . ejus , & jo. de east , for years . anno joan. de fleg . anno idem . anno johan . de munemus . anno williel . fi●…lus warrini . anno idem . anno amaricus de s to . aman. anno amari , de s to . amando , & ricard . de fardingston . anno idem . anno amari , de s to ▪ amando , & matth. de coddray , for years . anno amaricus de cancell , for years . anno waleranus . anno waleranus de bradlegh . anno hugo de kinardell . anno hen. de bradlegh . anno idem . anno williel . de s to ▪ omero . anno idem . anno joan. de brekon ( sive brecon ) for years . anno hen. de penebrige . anno idem & ric. de baggindin . anno robertus de meysy . anno idem . anno robertus de meysy , & adam . de bideford , for years . anno barthol . de buly , & adam . de botiler , for . years edw. i. anno barthol . de stutely , & adam de botiler . anno idem . anno joan. de ware. anno egid. de berkel , for years anno roger. de burghall . anno idem . anno rog. de burg. for years anno hen de solers , for . ye . anno johan . de acton , for . ye . anno milo picard , for years . anno johan . de acton . anno tho. rossal . edw. ii. anno walt. de halits , for ye . anno rog. de chandos , for ye . anno richard. de baskervil . anno idem . anno hugo hakluit . anno idem . anno roger. de elmerugge . anno idem . anno roger chandos , for ye . edw. iii. anno roger. dechandos , for y. anno johannes de rous. anno idem . anno johan . mauger . robert chandos , & jo. le rous anno idem . anno rich. walwayn , for yea . anno johan . walwayn . anno williel . de radour , for years . anno tho pichard . anno joha . sholle , & tho. pichard . anno rich. dansy , & johan . sholle . anno rich. dansy . anno tho. de aston . anno rich. de burges . anno idem . anno rich. bregg . anno rich. de la bere . anno tho. atte. barre , & ric. de la bere . anno ed. hacklut , for years . anno thomas chandois . anno ric. de la. bere , for . yea . anno tho. chandois . anno will. devereux de rod. anno tho. chandois . anno idem . anno edw. de burges . anno walter devereux , & tho. de la bere . anno idem . this county had sheriffs long before king henry the second , as may appear by the direction of this writ , in the first of king henry the first . * henricus dei gratia rex angliae , hugoni de boelande vicecomiti , & omnibus fidelibus suis , tam francis quàm anglicis in herefordshire salutem , &c. but such the uncertainty of their succession , it will be very well , if we can continue our catalogue from the general aera in other counties . edward the second . . richardus de baskervil . ] this name is of great antiquity in these parts , whose ancestours immediately after the conquest , were benefactours to the abby of saint peters in glocester , as by the ensuing will appear . * . bernardus de baskervile cum semetipso , quando habitum monachi suscepit dedit ecclesiae sancti petri glouc. unam hidam tarrae in cumba vvalterus et robertus de baskervile confirmant tempore homelini abbatis . . anno domini robertus de baskervilla . de ierusalem * reversus dedit ecclesiae sancti petri gloc. unam hidam extramuros quidem civitatis , ubi est nunc hortus monachorum , rege henrico confirmante , tempore petri abbatis as these came out of normandy from a town so named , so are they extant at this day in this county , and have formerly been famous , and fortunate for their military atchievments . name place armes rich. .     anno   * aza cross checky or & gules . rob. whitney , ar . * whitney ar. on a cross s. a leopards head , or ▪ sim. de brugge     joh. vvalwayne   g. a bend within a bordure , erm. hugo . carew   or , three lions pass . gardant . s. sim. de brugge ut prius   ●…oh . vvalwayne ut prius   rog. pauncefort   gules , lions rampant , argent . tho. de la barre kinnersley azure , a bend argent cotized , or , twixt martlets of the same . nic. maurdin     tho. oldcastle   argent , a towre triple towred , sable . rinardus , sive kinardus , de la bere     tho. de la barre ut prius   tho. vvalwayn ut prius ar. a chv. betwixt unicorns sable . hu. demonington     tho. oldcastle ut prius   mascre . de la ma.     tho. vvalwayne ut prius   joh. vvalwayne ut prius   tho. de la barre ut prius   idem ut prius   tho. clanowe     idem     hen.     anno     joh. ap . harry     wil-lucy , mil. & 〈◊〉 haklut miles yetton . g. 〈◊〉 or . pikes hauriant , ar. g. battle-axes , or , joh. bodenham     idem . ut prius azure , a fess betwixt chesserooks . or idem . ut prius   joh. merbury     jo. oldcastle , mil. ut prius   jo. skudamore , m. holm . lacy .   joh. smert   gules . stirrops leathered and buckled , or joh. bodenham ut prius   vvill , vvalwein ut prius   hen. .     anno     robert vvhitney ut prius   johan . merbury     johan . bodenham ut prius   johan . brugge ut prius   johan . russel   arg. a cheveron betwixt three crosses croslets fitchee sable . thom. holgot     johan . merbury     〈◊〉 rich. de la bere     idem     hen. .     anno     rich. de la mare     row lenthal   sable , a bend lozengee arg. guid. whittington hampton . g. a fess checky or. and az. johan . merbury     t. de la hay jun.     ro. whitney , mil.     rie . de la mare ut prius   joh. merbury     jo. skudemore , m.     ut prius   . r. whitney , mil.     . t. de lay hay ut prius   tho. merbury     tho. mille     rob. vvhitney ut prius   j. pauncefoote ut prius   vvaltery skull   * arg. a 〈◊〉 .... betwixt 〈◊〉 lions heads 〈◊〉 of the field ric. vvalwin ut prius   vvil. lucy ut prius   idem ut prius   hen. charleton ut prius   tho. parker     rad. vvalwain ut prius   tho. mille.     hum. stafford   or , a chev. g. a quarter erm. walt. devereux vvebley arg. a fess. gules in chief , three torteauxes . walt. skull , mil. ut prius   joh. skudemore ut prius   joh. berry , mil.     tho. parker , ar .     tho. cornwayl   er. a lion ramp . gules crowned or , within a border engrailed , s. 〈◊〉 . vvil. lucy , ar . ut prius   jo. barry , mil.     vvalt . skul , mil ut prius   io. skudamore , m. ut prius   ioh. seymor , mil.   g. angels wings pale-ways inverted or. vv. catesby , m.   ar. lyons pass . 〈◊〉 . corone , or. iam. baskervill erdstey ar. a cheveron gules betwixt heurts proper . edvv. .     anno ,     ioh. vvelford     tho. monington ut prius .   idem 〈◊〉 prius   sim. melburn , ar .     ioh. baskervill , m. ut prius   ioh. lingein , ar .   barry of . or and az. on a bend g. cinque soils ar. tho. cornwall , ar . ut prius * a. . grey-hounds in pale ●…rant sable , collared gules . * vval. vvigmore     vv. baskervil , m. ut prius * quarterly , per fess indented , az. & ar. in the first quarter a lion passant or. * ric ▪ cro●…t , sen. a. croft-cast   ric. croft . sen. m. ut prius   ioh ▪ lingein , m. ut prius   tho. monington . ut prius   iam. baskervil , m. ut prius   rob vvhitney ●…t prius   rich. crofts , mil. ut prius   r●…dulph . haclu it ut prius   i. mortimer , mil.   barry of . or , & az. on a ●…hief of the first , pallet●… inter . esquires bast , dexter , and sini●…ter of the second , an in-escoucheon argent . r. de la bere , m.     simon melborne     ia. baskervil , m. ut prius   iohan. mortimer . ut prius   rich. .     anno.     rich. de la bere m.     tho. cornwal , m. ut prius   rich. crofts , mil. ut prius   hen. .     anno ,     johan . mortimer ut prius   johann . lingeyn ut prius   roger. bodenham ut prius   henric. skudamore ut prius   joh. devereux , m. ut prius   tho ▪ monington ut prius   rich. greenway     ric. de la bere , m.     jo. mortimer , mil. ut prius   edw. blunt , ar .   barry nebule of . or , and s. joh. lingein , mil. nt prius   hen. harper , ar .   a. a lion ramp . withinu a border ingrailed s. ●…oh . lingein , ar. ut prius   rich. greenway ut prius   hen. mile arm.     rich. miners , ar .     joh. mortimer , m. ut prius   t. cornwaile , m. ut prius   idem . ut prius   edw. croft , ar . ut prius   j. ling●…in jun. m. ut prius   r. cornwaile , ar. ut prius   rad. hackluit hackluit . ut prius   hen. mile , ar.     hen.     anno ,     edward . croft , ar. ut prius   rich. de la bere , a. ut prius   th. moningron , ar . ut prius   hen. mile , arm.     edw. croft , mil. ut prius   th. cornwaile , m. ut prius   will. herbert mil.   party per pale az. & g. lions ramp . ar. joh. lingein , mil. ut prius   edw. croft , miles ut prius   rad. hackluit ut prius   rich. cornwail ut prius   joh. lingein , m. ut prius   edw. croft , mil. ut prius   row. morton   quart. g. & erm. in the . & fourth a goats ●… . erased , ar. jaco . baskervile ut prius   jo. skudemore , a. ut prius   hen. vain , arm. kent az. 〈◊〉 - hand gauntlets , or. rich. cornwail ut prius   tho. baskervil , a. ut prius   tho. lingein , m. ut prius   edw. croft , mil. ut prius   ri. vaughan , m.     ric. walwein , ar . ut prius   t. monington , a. ut prius   edw. croft , mil. ut prius   mic. lister , arm.     wil. clinton , ar .     & tho. clinton , ar .     joh. skudamor , a. ut prius   joh. blount , ar . ut prius   j. packington , ar .   per cheveton , s. & arg. in cheif mullets or , in base 〈◊〉 many garbes ●…ules . mich. lister , ar .     tho monington ut prius   rich. vaughan     〈◊〉 . baskervil , m. ut prius   ioh. skudamore ut prius   joh. leingein , ar . ut prius   step. ap harry , ●… .     rog. bodenham . ut prius   edvv. .     anno ,     joh. cornwail , m. ut prius   th. baskervile , ar . ut prius   joh●…n harley , ar. brampton or , a bend cotised sable . jac. baskervile ut prius   jam. baskervil ut prius   joh. skudamore , a. ut prius   phil. r. & ma. reginae .     anno ,     johan . price , miles     tho. howard , ar.   g. a bend between cross croslets fitchie arg. johan . baskervil ut prius   tho. vvinston , ar . ut prius   rich. monington     rog. bodenham , a. ut prius   eliz. reginae .     anno ,     geor. cornwal . m. ut prius   tho. blount , ar. ut prius   joh. harley , arm. ut prius   joh. huband , ar.     geo. ap harry , ar.     jam. baskervil ut prius   jo. skudamore , ar . kelnchurch   georgius price , ar .     vvill. shelley , ar . sussex . s. a fess ingrailed between periwincle shells , or. tho. clinton , ar .     th. baskervlle , a. 〈◊〉   baskerv●…le , a. baskervil , a. ut prius   joh. huband , m.     hngo ap harry     joh. abrahal , ar.   azure porcupines , or. jac. vvhitney . m. ut prius   george price , ar .     juc . vvarcomb     tho. morgan , ar .     wa. baskervil , a. ut prius   vvill. cecil , ar . altrinnis barry of . ar. & azure on eschucheons & s. as many l●…ons ramp . of the first . fran. blount , ar . ut prius   ja. skudamore , a. ut prius   tho. conisby , a. ut prius   ric. walweyn , a. ●…angford g. a bend with a border erm. in chief an hound passant , or. hu. baskevile , a. ut prius   ro. bodenham , a. ut prius   ja. whitney , m. ut prius   jac. boyle , . arm.   partee per bend , embattelled , argent and gules . joh. berington , a. courar   th. baskervile , a. ut prius   cha. brudges , ar . ut prius   will. rudham . a. rudham   rich. tomkins , a. moniton az. a chever . betwixt pheasant cocks or. ro. bodenham , a. ut prius   tho. harley , ar . ut prius   georg. price , ar .     eustac . whitney . ut prius   nich. garnons , a. garnons g. lyo●…s passant or , within a border azure . thomas conisby ut prius   wil. dauntsey , a. brinsop barry wavy of . peeces arg. and gules . hen. vaughan , a.     ja. skudamore , m. ut prius   rich. hyatt , ar. sauntield   tho. harley ut prius   jacob reg.     anno ,     tho. harley , ar. ut prius   joh. blount , arm. ut prius   joh. berington , ar . ut prius   jacob. tomkins , a. ut prius   will. rudhal , ar .     joh. kirle , arm . muchmarcle vert a cheveron betwixt flower de lyces or. rich. hopton , mil. hopton gules seme de crosse 〈◊〉 a lyon rampant or. hu. baskervil , mil. ut prius   hum. cornwall , a. ut prius   rob. kirle , arm . ut prius   joh. colles , arm.     fran. smalman , a. kinnesley   rich. cox , arm.     row. skudmor , ●… . ut prius   ambro. elton , ar . lidbury paly of or & g. on a bend s. mullets of the first . herb. westfaling   a. a cros tw . cheval-traps o. vvill. unet , ar. cas●… . frome sable , a chever on between . lions heads couped , arg. edw. leingein ▪ a. ut prius   joh. bridges , ar .     sam. aubrie , m.   gules a fess ingrailed a●… . iac. rodd , arm.     fran. pember , ar .   ar. more-cocks proper combed and jealoped g. a cheif azure . char. reg.     anno ,     egidius bridges , r. wilton argent on a cross . s. a leopards head , or. fitz will. conisby ut prius   vvill. read , arm.     iohan. kirle , bar. ut prius   iac. kirle , armig . ut prius   walop . brabazon eaton g. on a 〈◊〉 arg. martelets of the first . roger. dansey , ar . ut prius   ph. holman , arm .     ioh. abrahal , arm . ut prius   wil. sku damore ut prius   tho. wigmore , a.   s. ●…rey-hounds currant arg. rog. vaughan , a.     hen. lingei●… , ●…r . ut prius   rob. whitney , m. ut prius           isa●…cus seward         haec fecit     inania     mavors .     amb. elton , ju . a. ut prius   k. henry the sixth . . walter 〈◊〉 . i have vehement and ( to use the lord coke his epithet ) necessary presumptions , to perswade me , that he was the same person , who married anne , daughter and sole heir unto vvilliam lord ferrers of chartley , and in her right was afterwards by this king created lord ferrers . he was father to , . john lord ferrers of chartley , who married cecily sister to henry bourchier , earl of essex , and was father to , vvalter devereux lord ferrers , created viscount hereford , by king edward the sixth , and was father to , sir richard devereux knight , dying before his father , and father to , vvalter devereux , first earl of essex of that family , of whom largely hereafter , god willing , in carmarthen ▪ shire the place of his nativity . edvvard the fourth . iames baskervile miles . iohn mortimer miles . richard de la ber●… miles . this leash of knights were persons of approved valour and loyalty to k. hen. the seventh , by whom ( being knights bachelours before ) they were made knights bannerets in the beginning of his reign , i confesse some difference in the date and place , * one assigning the tower of london , when iasper was created duke of bedford ; * another with ●…ar more probability naming newark , just after the fighting of the battle of stoke hard by . nor doth it sound a little to the honour of hereford-shire , that amongst the thirteen , then banneretted in the kings army , three fall out to be her natives . henry the eighth . ii richardus cornv●…ail ] he was a knight howsoever it cometh to passe he is here unadditioned . i read , how anno domini . in the . of k. henry the eighth , he was a prime person among those many knights which attended the duke of suffolk into france , at what time they summoned and took the town of roy , and * sir richard was sent with four hundred men , to take possession thereof , the only service of remarke , performed in that expedition . queen e●…izabeth . reader , let me confess my self to thee . i expected to have found in this catalogue of sheriffs sr. james crofts ( knowing he was this countryman , whose family flourished at crofts castle ) but am defeated , seeing his constant attendance on court and camp priviledged him from serving in this office. this worthy * knight was accused for complying with wiat , and notwithstanding his most solemn oath in his own defence , he was imprisoned by queen mary , convicted of high treason , restored by queen elizabeth , and made governour of the town and castle of barwick . at the siege of leith he behaved him most vallantly in repelling the foe , and yet when in a second assault the english were worsted , the blame ●…ell on him , ( as if he favoured the french and maligned the l gray then general ) so that he was outed of his government of barwick . yet he fell not so into the queens final disfavour , but that she continued him privy councellor , and made him comptroller of her houshold . he was an able man to manage war , and yet an earnest desirer and advancer of peace , being one of the commissioners in . to treat with the spaniard in flanders : i conceive he survived not long after . his ancient inheritance in this county is lately devolved to herbert crofts d.d. and dean of hereford . . thomas conisby mil. ] i have heard from some of this county a pretious report of his memory , how he lived in a right worshipful equipage , and founded a place in hereford for poor people , but to what proportion of revenue , they could not inform me . . james skudamore knight ] he was father unto sr. iohn skudamore created by king charles viscount slego in ireland . this lord was for some years imployed leiger embassadour in france , and during the tyranny of the protectorian times , kept his secret loyalty to his sovereign , hospitality to his family , and charity to the distressed clergy , whom he bountifully relieved . the farewell . i am credibly informed , that the office of the under-sheriffe of this county is more beneficial , than in any other county of the same proportion ; his fees it seems increasing from the decrease of the states of the gentry therein . may the obventions of his office hereafter be reduced to a lesser summe . and seeing god hath blessed ( as we have formerly observed ) this county with so many w's ' we wish the inhabitants thereof the continuance and increase of one more , wisdome , expressing it self both in the improving of their spiritual concernment , and warily managing their secular estates . huntington-shire is surrounded with north-hampton , bedford and cambridge-shires , and being small in extent hardly stretcheth miles outright , though measured to the most advantage . the general goodness of the ground may certainly be collected from the plenty of convents erected therein at saint neots , hinching-brook , huntington , sautrie , saint ives , ramsie , &c. so that the fourth foot at least in this shire was abbey land belonging to monks and friers , and such weeds we know would ●…ot grow but in rich ground . if any say that monks might not chuse their own habitations being confined therein to the pleasures of their founders ; know there were few founders that did not first consult some religious person in the erection of convents , and such would be sure to chuse the best for men of their own profession . sure i am it would set all england hard to show in so short a distance , so pleasant a park as waybridge , so ●…air a meadow as portsholme , and so fruitful a town for tillage as godmanchester , all three within so many miles in this county . no peculiar commodity or manufacture ( save with others equally intercommoning ) appearing in this county , let us proceed . the buildings . kimbolton castle , this being part of the jointure of queen katharine dowager , was chosen by her to retire thereunto as neither too neer to london to see what she would not , nor so far off but that she might hear what she desired . here she wept out the remnant of her widdowhood ( while her husband was yet alive ) in her devotions . this castle came afterwards by gift to the wingfields , from them by sale to the montagues ; henry late earle of manchester sparing no cost which might add to the beauty thereof . hinching-brooke , once a nunnery and which i am confident will ever be a religious house whilst it relateth to the truly noble edward montague ( earl of sandwich ) the owner thereof . it sheweth one of the magnificent roomes which is to be beheld in our nation . vve must not forget the house and chappel in litle godding ( the inheritance of master ferrer ) which lately made a great noise * all over england . here three numerous female families ( all from one grand-mother ) lived together in a strict discipline of devotion . they rise at midnight to prayers , and other people most complained thereof , whose heads i dare say never ak't for want of sleep . sure i am , strangers by them were entertained , poore people were relieved , their children instructed to read , whilest their own needles were emploied in learned and pious work to binde bibles : whereof one most exactly done was presented to king charles . but their society was beheld by some as an nunnery●…uspecting ●…uspecting that there was a pope ioane therein , which causeless cavill afterwards confuted it selfe , when all the younger of those virgins , practised the precept of st. paul , to marry , bear children , and guide their houses . medicinal waters . there is an obscure village in this county neare st. neots called haile-weston whose very name soundeth something of sanativeness therein , so much may the adding of what is no letter , alter the meaning of a word , for . . aile signifieth a sore or hurt , with complaining the effect thereof . haile , ( having an affinity with * heile the saxon idol for esculapius ) importeth a cure , or medicine to a maladie . now in the afore-said village there be two fountaine-lets which are not farre asunder . . one sweet , conceived good to help the dimness of the eyes . the other in a manner salt , esteemed sovereign against the scabs and leprosie . what saith st. * james ; doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter ? meaning in an ordinary way , without miracle . now although these different waters flow from several fountains ; yet seeing they are so near together , it may justly be advanced to the reputation of a wonder . proverbs . this is the way to beggars bush . ] it is spoken of such who use dissolute and improvident courses which tend to poverty , beggars bush being a tree notoriously known , on the left hand of london road from huntington to caxton . i have heard , how king james , being in progress in these parts , with sir francis bacon the lord chancellour , and having heard that morning , how sir francis had prodigiously rewarded a mean man for a small present , sir francis ( said he ) you will quickly come to beggars bush , and i may even goe along with you , if both be so bountifull . ramsey the * rich - ] this was the cresus or croessus of all our english abbies . for having ( but sixty monks to maintaine therein , the revenues thereof according to the standard of those times amounted unto * seven thousand pounds a year , which in proportion was a hundred pound for every monk , and a thousand for their abbot . yet at the dissolution of monasteries , the income of this abby was reckoned but at * one thousand nine hundred eighty three pounds by the year , whereby it plainly appears how much the revenues were under rated in those valuations . but how soon is crassus made codrus , and ramsey the rich , become ramsey the poor . the wealth of the town , relative with the abby , was dissolved therewith , and moe the mendicants since in ramsey than the monks were before . however now there is great hope that ramsey after the two extremes of wealth and want , will at last be fixed in a comfortable mediocrity , the wish of * agur being granted unto him , give me neither poverty nor riches , especially since it is lately erected ( or rather restored ) to the dignity of a market-town . and surely the convenient scituation thereof since the draining of the fens , doth advantage it to be a staple-place for the sale of fat and lean cattle . saints . elfled , daughter of ethelwold earl of east-angles ( founder of the monastery of ramsey in this county ) was preferr'd abbess of ramsey , & confirm'd by k. edgar therein . she is reported to excel in austerity and holiness of life . when her steward complained unto her , that she had exhausted her coffers with the profuseness of her charity , she with her prayers presently recruited them to their former fulness . vvhen her candle , as she read the lesson , casually went out , there came such a brightness from the * fingers of her right hand , that it inlightned the whole quire ; which is as true as the new lights to which our modern sectaries do pretend , the one having miracles , the other revelations at their fingers-ends . she died anno dom. . being buried in the lady-church at ramsey with high veneration . prelates . vvilliam de vvhitlesey , no printed author mentioning the place of his birth and breeding . he was placed by us in this county , finding whitlesey a town therein ( so memorable for the mere ) and presuming that this william did follow suit with the best of his cote in that age , sirnamed from the places of their nativity ▪ mr. parker ( i tell you my story and my stories-man ) an industrious antiquary , collecteth out of the records of the church of ely , that ( after the resignation of ralph de holbeach ) william de whitlesey arch-deacon of huntington , . was admitted third master of peter-house in cambridge . yet hath he left more signal testimony of his affection to oxford , which he freed * from the jurisdiction of the bishop of lincolne , allowing the scholars leave to choose their own chancellour . he was kinsman to simon islip archbishop of canterbury , who made him vicar general , dean of the arches , and successively he was preferred bishop of rochester , worcester , london , archbishop of canterbury . an excellent scholar , an eloquent preacher , and his last sermon most remarkable to the convocation on this text , veritas * liberabit vos , the truth shall make you free . it seems by the story , that in his sermon he had a 〈◊〉 reflection on the priviledges of the clergy , as exempted by preaching the truth from payment of taxes , save with their own free consent . but all would not serve their turn , for in the contemporary parliament the clergy unwillingly-willing granted a yearly tenth to supply the pressing occasions of king edward the third . this william died anno dom. . since the reformation . francis white was born at st. neots in this county , ( and not in lancashire as i and others have been * mis-informed ) witness the admission book of caius-colledge and the testimonie of his brothers * son still alive . the father to this francis was a minister and had sons who were divines and two of them most eminent in their generation . of these , this francis was bred in caius-colledge , on the same token , that when he was bishop of ely ( and came to consecrate the chappel of peter-house ) he received an entertainement at that colledge , where with a short speech he incouraged the young students to ply their books by his own example , who from a poor scholar in that house by gods blessing on his industry , was brought to that preferment . by the lord grey of grobie he was presented to broughton ashby in leicestershire , and thence ( why should a candle be put under a bushel ? ) he was brought to be lecturer of st. pauls in london , and parson of st. peters in cornhil ; whence he was successively preferred , first deane , then bishop of carlile , after bishop of norwich , and at last of ely. he had several solemn disputations with popish priests and jesuites ( father fisher and others ) and came off with such good successe , that he reduced many seduced romanists to our church . he often chose daniel featly d. d. his assistant in such disputes ; so that i may call this prelate and his doctor , ionathan and his armour-bearer ( being confident that the doctor , if alive , would not be displeased with the comparison as any disparagement unto him ) joyntly victorious over the romish philistines . he died anno. ▪ leaving some of his learned workes to posterity . writers . the candid reader is here requested to forgive and amend what in them is of casual transposition . henry saltry was born in this * county , and became a cistertian monk in the monastery of saltry , then newly founded by simon saint liz , earl of huntington . he was also instructed by one florentian an irish bishop . he wrote a profitable book for his own religion in the maintenance of purgatory , which made him esteemed in that superstitious age . he flourished anno dom. . gregory of huntington , so called from the place of his nativity , was bred a benedictine monke in ramsey , where he became * prior or vice-abbot , a place which he deserved , being one of the most learned men of that age for his great skill in languages . for he was through-paced in three tongues , latine , greek ( as appears by his many comments on those grammarians ) and hebrew , which last he learned by his constant conversing with the jewes in england . but now the fatal time did approach , wherein the iewes ( full loth i assure you ) must leave the land , and many precious books behind them . our gregory partly by love , partly by the kings power ( both together will go far in driving a bargain ) purchased many of those rarities to dispose them in his convent of ramsey ; which as it exceeded other english monasteries for a library , so for * hebrew books that monastery exceeded it self . after this gregory had been prior of ramsey no fewer then † years , flourishing under king henry the third . he died in the reign of k. edward the first about . hugh of saint n●…ots was born in that well known market-town , bred a carmelite in hitching in hartfordshire . hence he went to study in cambridge , where for his worth , the degree of doctorship was by the university * gratis , ( quare whither without paying of fees , or keeping of acts ) conferred upon him . to him bale , ( though that be the best bale which hath the least of bale , and most of leland therein ) giveth this testimony , that living in the egyptian darkness , he sought after the light of truth , adding that he was piscis in palude nihil trahens de sapore palustri , a fish in the ●…enns , drawing nothing of the mud thereof , which is a rarity indeed . many his sermons ; and he wrotea comment on saint luke . he died . and was buried at hitching . william ramsey was born in this county famous for the richest benedictines abbey in england , yet here he would not stay but went to crowland , where he prospered so well that he became abbot thereof . he was a * natural poet , and therefore no wonder , if faults be found in the feet of his verses . for it is given to thorough-pacednaggs , that amble naturally , to trip much whilest artificial pacers goe surest on foot . he wrote the life of st. guthlake , st. neots . st. edmond . the king , &c. all in verse . but that which may seem a wonder indeed is this , that being a poet , he paid the vast debts of others , even fourty thousand * mark for the ingagement of his covent , and all within the compasse of eighteen moneths , wherein he was abbot of crowland . but it rendreth it the more credible , because it was done by the assistance of king henry the second , who to expiate the blood of becket was contented to be melted into coine , and was prodigiously bountiful to some churches . our william died . henry of huntington * son to one nicholas , where born , unknown , was first a canon of the church of lincolne , where he became acquainted with one albine of angiers born in france , but fellow-canon with him of the same church . this albine he afterwards in his writings modestly owned for his master , having gained much learning from him . he was afterwards chaplain to alexander that great bishop of lincoln , ( magnificent unto madnesse ) who made him arch-deacon of huntington , whence he took his d●…nomination . a town which hath received more honour from him than ever it can return to him , seeing huntington had never been mentioned in the mouths , nor passed under the pens of so many foreigners , but for the worthy history of the saxon kings , written by this henry . let me add , that considering the sottishness of superstition in the age , he lived in , he is less smoohted therewith , than any of his contemporaries , and being a secular priest doth now and then abate the pride of monastical pretended perfection . he flourished under king stephen in the year of our lord , . and is probably conjectured to die about the year . roger of st. ives was born at that noted town of this county , being omitted by bale but remembred by * pits ( though seldome sounding when the other is silent ) for his activity against the lollards , and sir john old-castle , against whom he wrote a book , flourishing in the year . since the reformation . iohn yong was a monk in ramsey abbey at the dissolution thereof . now by the same proportion that a penny saved is a penny gained , the preserver of books is a mate for the compiler of them . learned leland looks on this ●…ong , as a benefactor to posterity in that he saved many hebrew books of the noble library of ramsey . say not such preserving was purloyning , because those books belonged to the king seeing no conscience need to scruple such a nicety : books ( though so precious that nothing was worth them ) being in that juncture of time counted worth nothing . never such a massacre of good authours , some few only escaping to bring tidings of the destruction of the rest . seeing this yong is inserted by * bale , and omitted by pits , i collect him to savour of the reformation . as for such who confound him with iohn yong , many years after master of pembrook-hall , they are confuted by the different dates assigned unto them , this being his senior years , as flourishing , anno dom. . john white , brother to francis white bishop of ely , was born at saint neots in this county , bred in caius colledge in cambridge , wherein he commenced master of arts. he did not continue long in the university , but the university continued long in him ; so that he may be said to have carried cambridge with him into lancashire , ( so hard and constant in his study ) when he was presented vicar of eccles therein . afterwards sir iohn crofts a suffolk knight , being informed of his abilities and pittying his remote living on no plentiful benefice , called him into the south , and was the occasion that king iames took cognizance of his worth , making him his chaplain in ordinary . it was now but the third moneth of his attendance at court , when he sickned at london in lumbard-street , dyed and was buried in the church of s. mary * woolnoth . without any other monuments , save what his learned works have left to posterity , which all whohave either learning , piety , or ingenuity , do , yea must most highly cōmend . sir robert cotton knight and baronet son to iohn cotton esquire was born at cunnington in this county discended by the bruces from the bloud royall of scotland . he was bred in trinity-colledge in cambridge where when a youth ; he discovered his inclination to the studie of antiquity ( they must spring early who would sprout high in that knowledge ) and afterwards attained to such eminency , that sure i am he had no superiour if any his equal in the skill thereof . but that which rendred him deservedly to the praise of present and future times , yea the wonder of our own and forreign nations , was his collection of his library in westminster , equally famous for . rarity , having so many manuscript originals , or else copies so exactly transcribed , th●…t , reader , i must confesse he must have more skill then i have to distinguish them . . variety , he that beholdeth their number , would admire they should be rare , and he that considereth their rarity will more admire at their number . . method , some libraries are labyrinths , not for the multitude , but confusion of volumes , where a stranger seeking for a book may quickly loose himself , whereas these are so exactly methodized ( under the heads of the twelve roman emperours ) that it is harder for one to misse then to hit any author he desireth . but what addeth a luster to all the rest is the favourable accesse thereunto , for such as bring any competency of skill with them , and leave thankfulness behind them . some antiquaries are so jealous of their books , as if every hand which toucheth wo●…ld ravish them , whereas here no such suspition of ingenious persons . and here give me leave to register my self amongst the meanest of those who through the favour of sir thomas cotton ( inheriting as well the courtesie as estate of his father sir robert ) have had admittance into that worthy treasury . yea , most true it is what one saith , that the grandest antiquaries have here fetcht their materials . — * omnis ab illo et camdene tua , & seldeni gloria crevit , camden to him , to him doth selden owe , their glory , what they got from him did grow . i have heard that there was a design driven on in the popes conclave after the death of sir robert , to compasse this library to be added to that in rome , which if so , what a vatican had there been within the vatican , by the accession thereof . but blessed be god the project did miscarry to the honour of our nation , and advantage of the protestant religion . for therein are contained many privaties of princes , and transactions of state , insomuch that i have been informed , that the fountains have been fain to fetch water from the stream ; and the secretaries of state , and clerks of the council , glad from hence to borrow back again many originals , which being lost by casualty or negligence of officers , have here been recovered and preserved he was a man of a publick spirit , it being his principal endevour in all parliaments ( wherein he served so often ) that the prerogative and priviledge might run in their due channel , and in truth he did cleave the pin betwixt the soveraign and the subject . he was wont to say , that he himself had the least share in himself , whilest his country and friends had the greatest interest in him . he died at his house in westminster , may the . anno domini , . in the . year of his age , though one may truely say , his age was adequate to the continuance of the ●…reation , such was his exact skill in all antiquity . by elizabeth daughter and co-heire of william brocas esquire , he had onely one son , sir thomas now living , who by margaret daughter to the lord william howard ( grandchild to thomas duke of norfolke hath one son iohn cotton esquire , and two daughters lucie and francis. the opera posthuma of this worthy knight , are lately set forth in one volume to the great profit of posterity . stephen marshall was born at god-manchester in this county , and bred a batchellour of arts in emanuel colledge in cambridge . thence he went very early a reaper in gods harvest , yet not before he had well sharpned his sickle for that service . he became minister at finchfield in essex , and after many years discontinuance , came up to cambridge to take the degree of batchelour of divinity , where he performed his exercise with general applause . in the late long lasting parliament , no man was more gracious with the principal members thereof . he was their trumpet , by whom they sounded their solemn fasts , preaching more publick sermons on that occasion , then any foure of his function . in their sickness he was their confessor in their assembly their councellour , in their treaties their chaplain , in their disputations their champion . he was of so supple a soul that he brake not a joynt , yea , sprained not a sinew in all the alteration of times ; and his friends put all on the account , not of his unconstancy , but prudence , who in his own practice ( as they conceive ) reconciled the various lections of saint pauls * precept , serving the lord , and the times . and although some severely censure him for deserting his principles , yet he is said on his death-bed to have given full ●…tisfaction to such who formerly suspected his sincerity to the presbyterian discipline , dying anno dom. . he was solemnly buried in the ●…bbey at westminster . exi●…-romish-writers . richard broughton was born at great * steuckley in this county , bred at rhemes in france , where he received the order of priesthood , and was sent over into england for the propagation of his partie . here he gave so signal testimony and fidelity to the cause , that he was ( before many others ) preferred . * assistant to the english arch-priest . he wrote many books , and is most esteemed by those of his own religion , for his english ecclesiastical history from the first planting of the gospel , to the coming in of the saxons . but in plain truth , there is little milk , no creame and almost all whey therein , being farced with legendary stuff , taken from authors , some of condemned , most of suspected credit . if by the levitical * law , a bastard should not enter into the congregation of the lord ( understand it , to bear office therein ) to the tenth generation : it is pity , that adulterated authours being an illegitimate off-spring should be admitted to bear rule in church-history . this broughton was living in the latter end of the reign of king iames. benefactors to the publicke . ambrose son to iohn nicholas was born at needenworth in this county , whence he went to london and was bound apprentice to a salter , thriving so well in his trade that anno . he became lord mayor of london . he founded twelve almes houses in mungwel-street in that city , indowing them with competent maintenance . sir wolstan ( son to thomas dixie ) was born at catworth in this county , bred a skinner in london whereof he became lord mayor anno . he was a man made up of deeds of charitie the particulars whereof are too long to recite . he gave . pound to emanuel colledge in cambridge to the founding of a fellowship ; erected a free-school at bosworth in leicestershire and endowed it ; where his family flourish at this day in a worshipfull estate . richard fish●…ourn was born in the town of huntington ; cut out of no mean quarry , being a gentleman by his extraction . leaving a court life ( as more pleasant then profitable ) he became servant to sir raptist hicks , afterwards viscount camden , and by gods blessing on his industry attained a great estate ; whereof he gave two thousand pounds for the buying out of impropriations in the northern parts , and setling a preaching ministery where most want ▪ thereof , he bequeathed as much to the company of mercers , whereof he was free , and the same summe to huntington the place of his nativity , with one thousand marks to christ-church hospital . the whole summe of his benefactions amounted to ten thousand seven hundred pounds and upwards , briefly summed up in his funeral sermon ( commonly called corona charitatis ) preached by master nathaniel shute , wherein ( to use his expression ) he supped up many things with a very short breath , contracting his deeds of charity to avoid tediousness . nor must it be forgotten how this gentleman lying on his death-bed , when ( men are presumed to speak with unmasked consciences ) did professe that to his knowledge he had got no part of his goods unjustly . no man of his quality won more love in health , prayers in sicknesse , and lamentation at his funeral ; dying a single man , and buried in mercers chappel , may the . . memorable persons . sir oliver cromwell knight , son of sir henry cromwell , knight of hinching-brooke in this county , is remarkable to posterity on a four-fold account . first , for his hospitality and prodigious entertainment of king james and his court. secondly , for his upright dealing in bargain and sale with all chapmen , so that no man , who soever purchased land of him , was put to charge of three pence to make good his title ; yet he sold excellent penniworths , insomuch that sir iohn leamon ( once lord mayor of london ) who bought the fair manour of warboise in this county of him , affirmed ; that it was the cheapest land that ever he bought , and yet the dearest that ever sir oliver cromwell sold. thirdly , for his loyalty , alwayes beholding the usurpation and tyranny of his nephew , god-son , and name-sake with hatred and contempt . lastly , for his vivacity , who survived to be the oldest gentleman in england , who was a knight ; though not the oldest knight who was a gentleman ; seeing sir george dalston , younger in years ( yet still alive , ) was knighted some dayes before him . sir oliver died , anno dom. . the names of the gentry of this county , returned by the commissioners , in the twelfth year of king henry the sixth . william bishop of lincoln , commissioners . john de tiptofte , chivaler ,   roger hunt , knights for the shire .   william waton . knights for the shire .   abbatis de ramsey abbatis de sautrey prioris de huntington prioris de s. neoto prioris de stonle archidiaconi eliensis rectoris de somerham prebendaŕii , ecclesiae lincolniens . domini de leighton , rectoris ecclesiae de bluntesham vicarii ecclesiae de gurmecest . vicarii ecclesiae de s. neoto rect. ecclesiae de ript . abbatis nicholai stivecle militis roberti stonham armigeri everardi digby armigeri radulphi stivecle armigeri thomae devyll armigeri thomae nesenham armigeri henrici hethe . johannis bayons armigeri rogeri lowthe edwardi parker walteri taillard iohannis eyr iohannis bekeswell willielmi castell willielmi waldesheefe thomae freman ioannis donold walteri mayll roberti boteler de alyngton roberti boteler de hilton iohannis kirkeby iohannis sankyn roberti langton reginaldi rokesden iohannis pulter roberti wene iohannis sampson de somersh thomae clerevax radulphi pakynton vvillielmi est richardi est roberti creweker vvillielmi maister iohannis morys vvillielmi druell de vveresle radulphi ioce iohannis devyll de chescerton iohannis cokerham richardi b●…singham i. cokeyn parker de kimbolton richardi burgham richardi parker de bukden thomae alcumbury vvillielmi boteler de vveresle vvill. iudde d●… sancto ivone vvillielmi vvassingle vvillielmi vvardale vvillielmi colles laurentii merton thomae judde willielmi boteler de ramsey thomae barboure de eadem thomae rede thomae irlle willielmi holland williel . smith de alcumbury williel . hayward de buckworth richardi boton iohannis cross senioris edmundi fairstede willielmi erythe willi. skinner de brampton willielmi west thomae daniel willielmi daniel iohannis barbour thomae parker de s. neoto edm. faillour de kymbolton thomae bowelas willielmi ●…eete willielmi talers thomae aungevin walteri godegamen iohannis cage johannis manypeny johannis copgray clerici willielmi arneburgh henrici attehill johannis charwalton edmundi ulfe willielmi hare johannis dare willielmi sturdivale richarde brigge mich. carleton ballivi ejusdē ville huntington georgei giddyng iohannis chikson iohannis pecke thome charwalton iohannis abbotesle i meet with this uncomfortable passage in mr. speeds ( or rather in sir robert cottons ) description of this shire . thus as this city , so the old families have been here with time out worne , few onely ( of the many former ) now remaining , whose sirnames before the reign of the last henry were in this shire of any eminency . let others render a reason , why the ancient families in this county ( more in proportion then else where ) are so decayed . this seemeth a probable cause why many new ones are seated herein , because huntington-shire being generally abby-land , ( as is aforesaid ) after the dissolution many new purchasers planted themselves therein . sheriffes of this shire alone . names place armes k. charles     tho. cotton bar. cūnington azure an eagle displaid arg. ioh. hewet . bar. waresly s. a cheveron counter-battellee between owles , argent . tho. lake* knight stoughton * s. a bend betwixt cross cros●…ets fitchie arg. will. armyn ar . orton erm. a salt. engrailed g. on a chief of the . a lion passant , or. vvill. leman vvarbois az. a fess betwixt dolphins . ar. rich. stone mil. stuckly arg. . cinque foils s. a chief az. cambridge-shire and this county may pass for the embleme of man and wife who have long lived lovingly together , till at last upon some small disgust they part bed and board and live asunder : even from the time of king henry the second , these two shires were united under one sheriff , ( as originally they had one earle of the royal blood of scotland ) till in the twelfth of king charles , ( on what mutual distast i know not , they were divided . but the best part of the embleme is still behind : as such separated persons doe on second thoughts some times return together again , as most for their comfort , convenience , credit and conscience ; so these two counties ( after six years division ) have been re-united under the same sheriff , and so continue to this day . the farewell . much of this counties profit depends on the northern roade crossing the body thereof from god mondchester to wainsforde-bridge . a road which in the winter is the ready way , leading not only to trouble but danger ; insomuch that here it coms to pass , ( what war caused in the dayes of * shamgar ) the high wayes are un imployed and travellers walk through by-wayes , to the present prejudice and future undoing of all ancient stages . and indeed though stif-clay ( commonly called stukley ) be the name but of one or two villages in the midst , yet their nature is extensive all over the county , consisting of a deep clay , giving much annoyance to passengers may a mean mans motion be heard ? let the repayring of bad places in that high way , ( which is now the parish , ) be made the county charge , whereby the burden will become the lesse ( born by more backs ) and the benefit the more , when the wayes thereby shall effectually be mended and maintained . kent , in the saxon heptarchie was an entire kingdome by it self , an honour which no other sole county attained unto . it hath the thames on the north , the sea on the east and south , sussex and surrey on the west . from east to west it expatiateth it self into fifty three miles : but from north to south expandeth not above twenty six miles . it differeth not more from other shires then from it self , such the variety thereof . in some parts of it ; health and wealth are at many miles distance , which in other parts are reconciled to live under the same roof ; i mean abide in one place together . nor is the wonder great , if places differ so much which lie in this shire far asunder , when i have * read , that there is a farm within a mile of graves-end , where the cattle alwayes drinking at one common pond in the yard ; if they graze on one side of the house , the butter is yellow , sweet and good ; but if on the other , white , sowrish , and naught . yet needeth there no oedipus to unriddle the same , seeing one side lieth on the chalke , and hath much tre-foile ; the other on the gravel abounding onely with couch-grass . a considerable part of this county is called the vvealde , that is , a vvood-land ground , the inhabitants whereof are called the vvealdish-man . and here , reader , i humbly submita small criticisme of mine to thy censure . i read in m. * speed in vvyats rebellion how sir henry isley and the two knevets conducted five hundred vvelch men into rochester . i much admired how so many cambro-britans should straggle into kent , the rather because that rising was peculiar to that county alone ; since i conceive these vvelch men should be wealdisk-men , viz. such who had their habitation in the woodie side of this shire . however , the goodness of the soyl generally may be guessed from the greatness of the kentish breed , where both the cattle and the poultry are allowed the largest of the land , a giant-ox fed in rumney-marsh was some years since to be seen in london , so high , that one of ordinary stature could hardly reach to the top of his back . here let me observe a slip of the penn in industrious master speed. the aire , saith he , of kent is both wholesome and temperate ( which is confessed most true , but mark what followeth ) as seated nearest to the equinoctial , and farthest from the northern pole. but let his own general map be appealed to as judge , being therein both true and unpartial , and it will appear that some part of devonshire lieth south of kent well nigh a whole degree , or threescore miles . thus we see other mens , other men see our mistakes ; so necessary is mutual candor and charity , because he who forgivet h to day may have need to be forgiven to morrow . and yet i deny not but that kent of all english counties is nearest to france , not because southern-most , but because the sea interposed is there the narrowest . natural commodities . cherries . these were fetched out of flanders , and first planted in this county by king henry the eighth , in whose time they spred into thirty two pārishes ; and were sold at great rates . i have * read that one of the orchards of this primitive plantation consisting but of thirtie acres produced fruit of one year sold for one thousand pounds ; plentie it seems of cherries in that garden , meeting with a scarcitie of them in all other places . no english fruit is dearer then those at first , cheaper at last , pleasanter at all times ; nor is it lesse wholsome then delicious . and it is much that of so many feeding so freely on them , so few are found to surfeit . their several sorts doe ripen so successively that they continue in season well nigh a quarter of a year . it is incredible how many cherries one tree in this county did beare in a plentiful year . i mean not how many pound ( being the fruit of other trees ) have been weighed thereon ( the common fallacy of the word bear amongst the country folke ) but simply how many did naturally grow thereupon . we leave the wholsomness of this fruit both for food and physick to be praysed by others , having hitherto not met with any discommending it . as for the outlandish proverb , he that eateth cherries with noble-men , shall have his eyes spurted out with the stones , it fixeth no fault in the fruit , the expression being merely metaphorical , wherein the folly of such is taxed , who associate themselves equal in expence with others in higher dignity and estate till they be loosers at last , and well laughed at for their pains . saint-foine . saint-foine or holy-hay ; superstition may seem in the name , but i assure you there is nothing but good husbandry in the sowing thereof , as being found to be a great fertilizer of barren-ground ; it is otherwise called polygala , which i may english much milk , as causing the cattle to give abundance thereof . some call it the small clover grass , and it prospereth best in the worst ground . it was first fetcht out of france from about paris , and since is sown in divers places in england , but especially in cobham-park in this county , where it thriveth extraordinary well on dry chalky banks where nothing else will grow . if it prospereth not equally in other dry places , it is justly to be imputed to some errour in the managing thereof , as that the ground was not well prepared or made fine enough , that the seed was too sparing , or else old and decayed , that cattle cropt it the first year , &c. it will last but seven years , by which time the native grasse of england will prevail over this foreigner , if it be not sown again . trouts . we have treated of this fish before , * and confesse this repetition had been a breach of the fundamental laws , premised to this book , were it not also an addition ; kent affording trouts at a town called forditch nigh canterbury , differing from all others in many considerables . . greatness , many of them being in bignesse near to a salmon . . colour , cutting white ( as others do red ) when best in season . . cunning , onely one of * them being ever caught with an angle ; whereas other trouts are easily tickled into taking and fla●…tered into their destruction . . abode , remaining nine moneths in the sea , and three in the fresh water . they observe their coming up thereinto almost to a day and the men of forditch observe them as exactly , whom they catch with nets , and other devices . weld or wold . know , reader , that i borrow my orthographie hereof ( if it be so ) from the dyers themselves . this is a little seed sown in this county some fourty years since ( when first it was brought into england ) with barley , the growth whereof it doth not hinder in any degree . for , when the barley is mowed down in harvest , then this weld or wold first peeps out of the earth , where it groweth , till the may following when it is gathered ; and thus husband-men with one sowing reap two crops : yet so as it taketh up their ground for two years . the use hereof is for the dying of the best yellow . it hath some times been so low as at four pounds a load , ( which containeth fifteen hundred weight ) and somtimes so dear that it was worth fifteen pounds , betwixt which prices it hath its constant motion ; and now is in the aequator betwixt both , worth seven pounds ten shillings . it was first sown in this county and since in northfolk and in other places . madder . this is very useful for dyers , for making of redds and violets . it is a weed whose root onely is useful for dying , ( whilest the leaves only of woade are serviceable for that purpose ) and there are three kinds thereof . . crop-madder worth betwixt . and . l. the hundred . . umber-owe   betwixt . and . l.   . pipe or fat-madder   about . l. . s.   some two years since this was sown by sir nicholas crispe at debtford , & i hope will have good success ; first because it groweth in zeland in the same ( if not a more northern ) latitude . secondly , because wild-madder growes here in abundance ; and why may not tame madder if cicurated by art. lastly because as good as any grew some thirty years since at barn-elms in surrey , though it quit not cost through some error in the first planter thereof , which now we hope will be rectified . flaxe . i am informed by such who should know , that no county in england sends better or more to london . yet doth not our whole land afford the tenth part of what is spent therein : so that we are fain to fetch it from flanders , france , yea as far as aegypt it selfe . it may seem strange , that our soile , kindlie for that seed , the use whereof and profit thereby so great , yet so little care is taken for the planting thereof , which well husbanded would find linen for the rich , and living for the poor . many would never be indicted spinsters , were they spinsters indeed , nor come to so publick and shameful punishments , if painfully imployed in that vocation . when a spider is found upon our clothes , we use to say , some money is coming towards us . the moral is this , such who imitate the industry of that contemptible creature ( which taketh hold with her hands , and is in kings * palaces ) may by gods blessing weave themselves into wealth and procure a plentiful estate . manufactures . though clothing ( whereof we have spoken before ) be diffused through many shires of england , yet is it as vigorously applyed here as in any other place , and kentish cloth at the present keepeth up the credit thereof as high as ever before . thread . i place this the last , because the least of manufactures , thread being counted a thing so inconsiderable : abraham said to the king * of sodom , that he would take nothing from a thread to a shoe latchet ; that is , nothing at all . it seems this hebrew proverb surrounded the universe , beginning at a thread , a contemptible thing , and after the incircling of all things more precious , ended where it begun at a shoe-latchet as mean as thread in valuation . but though one thread be little worth , many together prove useful and profitable , and some thousand of pounds are sent yearly over out of england to buy that commodity : my * author telleth me , that thread is onely made ( i understand him out of london ) at maidstone in this county , where well nigh a hundred hands are imployed about it . i believe a thousand might be occupied in the same work , and many idle women who now onely spin street-thread ( going tatling about with tales , ) might procure , if set at work a comfortable lively-hood thereby . the buildings . the cathedral of rotchester is low and little proportional to the revenews thereof . yet hath it , ( though no magnificence ) a venerable aspect of antiquity therein the king hath ( besides other ) three fair palaces in this shire , greenwich with a pleasant medlay prospect of city , country , water and land , eltham not altogether so wholsome , and otford , which arch-bishop vvarham did so enlarge and adorne with building , that cranmer his successor was in some sort forced to * exchange it with king henry the eighth on no gainful conditions . to lesson the clergy to content themselves with decency without sumptuousness , lest it awaken envy , and in fine they prove loosers thereby . cobham , the house of the late duke of richmond , and ..... the fair mansion of sir edward hales baronet ( adequate to his large estate ) when finished , will carry away the credit from all the buildings in this county . the wonders . a marvellous accident happened august . . in the hamlet of * mottingham ( pertaining to eltham in this county ) in a field , which belongeth to sir percival hart. betimes in the morning the ground began to sink , so much that three great elm-trees were suddenly swallowed into the pit ; the tops falling downward into the hole : and before ten of the clock they were so overwhelmed , that no part of them might be discerned , the concave being suddenly filled with water . the compasse of the hole was about . yards , and so profound , that a sounding-line of fifty fathoms could hardly find or feel any bottom . ten yards distance from that place , there was another piece of ground sunk in like manner , near the high-way , and so nigh a dwelling-house , that the inhabitants were greatly terrified therewith . the navy royal. it may be justly accounted a wonder of art ; and know the ships are properly here handled , because the most , best and biggest of them have their birth ( built at woolwich ) and winter aboad nigh chattam in the river of medway in this county . indeed before the reign of q. elizabeth the ships royal were so few , they deserved not the name of a fleet , when our kings hired vessels from hamborough , lubeck , yea , genoa it self . but such who in stead of their own servants use chair folke in their houses , shall find their work worse done , and yet pay dearer for it . queen elizabeth , sensible of this mischief , erected a navy-royal ( continued and increased by her successors ) of the best ships europe ever beheld . indeed much is in the matter , the excellency of our english-oake ; more in the making , the cunning of our shipwrights ; most in the manning , the courage of our seamen , and yet all to gods blessing who so often hath crowned them with success . if that man who hath versatile ingenium be thereby much advantaged for the working of his own fortune ; our ships , so active to turn and winde at pleasure , must needs be more useful than the spanish ▪ gallions , whose unwieldiness fixeth them almost in one posture , and maketh them the stedier markes for their enemies . as for flemish bottoms , though they are finer built , yet as the slender barbe is not so fit to charge with , they are found not so useful in fight . the great soveraign built at dulwich , a leigership for state is the greatest ship our island ever saw . but great medals are made for some grand solemnity , whilest lesser coyn are more current and passable in payment . i am credibly informed , that that mystery of ship-wrights for some descents hath been preserved successively in families , of whom the petts about chattam are of singular regard ; good success have they with their skill , and carefully keep so precious a pearl , lest otherwise amongst many friends some foes attain unto it . it is no monopoly which concealeth that from common enemies , the concealing whereof , is for the common good . may this mystery of ship-making in england never be lost till this floting world be arrived at its own haven , the end and dissolution thereof . i know what will be objected by forreigners , to take off the lustre of our navy-royal , viz. that ( though the model of our great ships primitively were our own yet , we fetched the first mold and pattern of our frigots from the dunkerks , when in the dayes of the duke of bukcingham ( then admiral ) we took some frigots from them , two of which still survive in his majesties navy by the name of the providence , and expedition . all this is confessed , and honest men , may lawfully learn something from thieves for their own better defence . but it is added , we have improved our patterns , and the transscript doth at this day exceed the original : witnesse some of the swiftest dunkirks and ostenders , whose wings in a fair flight have failed them , overtaken by our frigots , and they still remain the monuments thereof in our navy . not to disgrace our neigbouring nations , but vindicate our selves , in these nine following particulars , the navy-royal exceeds all kingdoms and states in europe . . swift sayling . which will appear by a comparative induction of all other nations . first for the portugal his carvils and caracts whereof few now remain ( the charges of maintaining them far exceeding the profit they bring in ) they were the veriest dr ones on the sea , the rather because formerly their seeling was dam'd up with a certain kind of morter to dead the shot , a fashion now by them disused . the frenchh ( ow dexterous soever in land-battles ) are left-handed in sea-fights , whose best ships are of dutch building . the dutch build their ships so sloaty and boyant they have little hold in the water in comparison of ours , which keep the better winde and so out sail them . the spanish-pride hath infected their ships with loftiness which makes them but the fairer marks to our shot . besides the winde hath so much power of them , in bad weather , so that it drives them two leagues for one of ours to the lee-ward , which is very dangerous upon a lee-shore . indeed the turkish frigots especially some of algier formed and built much near the english mode , and manned by renegadoes , many of them english , being already too nimble heeld for the dutch , may hereafter prove mischievous to us , if not seasonably prevented . . strength . i confine this only to the timber whereof they are made , our english oak being the best in the world. true it is ( to our shame and sorrow be it written and read ) the dutch of late have built them some ships of english oak , which ( through the negligence or covetousness of some great ones ) was bought here and transported hence . but the best is , that as bishop latimer once said to one who had preached his sermon , that he had gotten his fidle-stick but not his rosin so the hollanders with our timber did not buy also our ship-building . now the ships of other countries are generally made of fir and other such slight wood whereby it cometh to passe , that , as in the battle in the forest of ephraim ( wherein absolon was slain , ) the wood devoured more people that day then the sword , the splinters of so brittle timber , kill more than the shot in a sea fight . . comelyness . our friggots are built so neat and snug made long and low : so that ( as the make of some womens bodies hansomely concealeth their pregnancy or great belly ) their contrivance hideth their bigness without suspicion , the enemy not expecting thirty , when ( to his cost ) he hath found sixty peeces of ordnance in them . our masts stand generally very upright whereas those of the spaniards hang over their poop as if they were ready to drop by the board , their deckes are unequal , having many risings and fallings , whereas ours are even . their ports some higher in a tire then others , ours drawn upon an equal line . their cables bad , ( besides subject to rot in these countries ) because bought at the second hand , whereas we make our best markets , fetching our cordage from the fountain thereof . . force . besides the strength inherent in the structure ( where of before ) this is accessary consisting in the weight and number of their guns , those of the sixth . . . . . . fifth . . . . fourth rates carrying . . . . . ordinance mounted . third . . . . second . . . the royal-soveraign being one of the first rates when she is fitted for the seas , carrieth one hundred and four peeces of ordnance mounted . . sea-men . couragious and skilful . for the first we remember the proverb of solomon ; let an other praise thee , not thy own mouth , a stranger , not thy own lips . the spaniards with sad shrug and dutch with a sorrowful shaking of their heads give a tacite assent hereunto . skillful . indeed navigation is much improved especially since saint pauls time , insomuch , that , when a man goes bunglingly about any work in a ship , i have heard our english-men say ; such a man is one of saint pauls mariners . for though no doubt they were as ingenious as any in that age to decline a tempest , yet modern experience affords fairer fences against foul weather . . advantagious vveapons . besides guns of all sorts and sizes from the pistol to whole cannon , they have round-double-head-bur-spike-crow-bar-case-chain shot . i joyn them together because ( though different instruments of death ) they all concur in doing execution . if they be vvind-ward of a ship , they have arrows made to shoot out of a bow with fire-workes at the end , which if striking unto the enemies sails will stick there i fire them , and the ship if they lye board and board they throw hand-granadoes with stinck-pots into the ship which make so noisom a smell that the enemie is forced to thrust their heads out of the ports for air . . provision . . wholsome , our english beef and pork keeping sweet and sound longer then any flesh of other countries , even twenty six moneths to the east and west-indies . . more plentiful , than any prince or state in all europe alloweth . the sea-men having two beef , two pork , and three fish-dayes ; besides every sea-man is alwayes well stored with hooks to catch fish , with which our seas do abound . insomuch that many times six will diet on four mens allowance , and so save the rest therewith to buy fresh meat , when landing , where it may be procured . i speak not this that hereafter their allowance from the king should be the lesse , but that their loyalty to him , and thankfulnesse to god may be the more . . accommodation . every one of his majesties ships and friggot-officers have a distinct cabin for themselves , for which the dutch , french and portugals do envy them , who for the most partlye sub dio under ship-decks . . government . few offences comparatively to other fleets are therein committed , and fewer escape punishment . the offender , if the fault be small , is tried by a court-marshal , consisting of the officers of the ship , if great , by a council of warre , wherein only commanders and the judge advocate . if any sleep in their watches it is pain of death . after a clock none save the captain , lievtenant , and master , may presume to burn a candle . no smoaking of tobacco ( save for the priviledged aforesaid ) at any time , but in one particular place of the ship , & that over a tub of water . preaching they have lately had twice aweek , praying twice aday : but my intelligencer could never hear , that the lords supper for so●…e yeares was administred aboard of any ship , an omission which i hope hereafter will be amended . but never did this navy appear more triumphant , then when in may last it brought over our gracious soveraign being almost becalmed ( such the fear of the winds to offend with over-roughness , ) the prognostick of his majesties peaceable reign . the farwel . being to tak our leave of these our wooden walls , first i wish that they may conquer with their mast and sailes without their gunnes , that their very appearnace may fright their foes into submission . but if in point of honour or safety they be necessitated to ingage , may they alwayes keep the wind of the enemy , that their shot may flye with the greater force , and that the smoake of their pouder pursuing the f●…e may drive him to fire at hazard . may their gunner be in all places of the ship , to see where he can make a shot with the best advantage , their carpenter and his crew be allwayes in the hold presently to drive in a wooden plug ( whereas a shot comes betwixt wind and water ) and to clap a board with tar and camels hair upon it till the dispute be over . their chirurgion and his assistants be in the same place ( out of danger of shot ) to dress the wounded . their captain to be in the uppermost , the lieuetenant in every part of the ship to incourage the sea-men . the chaplain at his devotions , to importune heaven for success and encouraging all his by his good council , if time will permit . medicinal waters . tunbridge - water . ] it is usual for providence when intending a benefit to mankind to send some signal chance on the errand to bring the first tidings thereof ; most visible in the newes of medicinal-waters . the first discovery of this water ( though variously reported ) is believed from a footman to a dutch lord , who passed this way , and drinking thereof found it in taste very like to that at the spaw in germany . indeed , there is a great symbolizing betwixt them in many concurrences , and i believe it is as soveraign as the other , save that it is true of things as of persons , major è longinquo reverentia . surely it runneth thorough some iron-mine , because so good for splenitick distempers . but i leave the full relation to such , who having experimentally found the vertue of it can set their seal of probatum est unto the commendation thereof . proverbs . a kentish yeoman ] it passeth for a plain man of a plentiful estate , yeomen in this county , bearing away the bell for wealth from all of their ranck in england . yeomen contracted for yemen-mein are so called , saith a great * antiquary from gemein , ( g in the beginning is usually turned into y as gate into yate ) which signifieth common in old dutch , so that yeoman is a commoner , one undignified with any title of gentility . a condition of people almost peculiar to england , seeing in france , italy and spain , ( like a lame dye which hath no points betwixt duce and cinque ) no medium between gentlemen and pesants . whereas amongst us the yeomen , ingenui , or legales homines , are in effect the basis of all the nation , formerly most mounting the subsidybook in peace with their purses , and the muster roll in war with their persons . kent as we have said affordeth the richest in this kind whence the rime . a knight of cales , and a gentle-man of wales , and a laird of the north countree . a yeoman of kent with his yearly rent will buy them out all three . cales knights were made in that voyage by robert earle of essex anno dom. to the number os sixty , whereof ( though many of great birth and estate ) some were of low fortunes , and therefore queen elizabeth was halfe offended with the earle for making knighthood so common . of the numerousness of welsh gentlemen we shall have cause to speak hereafter . northern lairds are such who in scotland hold lands in chief of the king , whereof some have no great revenue , so that a kentish yeoman ( by the help of an hyperbole ) may countervail , &c. yet such yeomen refuse to have the title of master put upon them , contenting themselves without any addition of gentility , and this mindeth me of a passage in my memory . one immoderately boasted , that there was not one of his name in all england , but that he was a gentleman , to whom one in the company retnrned , i am sorry , sir , you have never a good man of your name . sure i am in kent there is many a hospital yeoman of great ability , who though no gentleman by descent and title , is one by his means and state , let me also adde by his courteous carriage , though constantly called but goodman , to which name he desireth to answer in all respects . a man of kent . ] this may relate either to the liberty , or to the courage of this county-men . liberty , the tenure of villanage ( so frequent elsewhere ) being here utterly unknown , and the bodies of all kentish persons being of free condition . in so much that it is holden * sufficient for one to avoid the objection of bondage , to say that his father was born in kent . now seeing servi non sunt viri quia non sui sur is , a bond-man is no man , because not his own man ; the kentish for their freedome have atchieved to themselves the name of men. others refer it to their courage , which from the time of king canutus hath purchased unto them the precedency of marching in our english armies to lead the van. joannes sarisbur . de egregiae * curial . ▪ cap. . ob egregiae virtutis meritum , quod potenter & patenter exercuit , cantia nostra primae cohortis honorem , & primos congressus hostium , usque in omnibus diem in omnibus praeliis obtinet . for the de●…ert of their worthy valour , which they so powerfully and publickly expressed . our kent obtaineth even unto this day the honor of the first regiment , and first assaulting the enemy in all battails . our authour lived in the reign of henry the second , and whether kentish-men retain this priviledge unto this day ( wherein many things are turned upside-down , and then no wonder it also forward and backward ) is to me unknown . neither in kent nor christendome . ] this seems a very insolent expression , and as unequal a division . surely the first anthour thereof had small skill in even distribution to measure an inch against an ell ; yea to weigh a grain against a pound . but know reader , that this home-proverb is calculated onely for the elevation of our own country , and ought to be restrained to english-christendome , whereof kent was first converted to the faith. so then kent and christendome , ( parallel to rome and italy ) is as much as the first cut , and all the loafe besides . i know there passes a report , that henry the fourth king of france , mustering his souldiers at the siege of a city , found more kentish-men therein , than forraigners of all christendome beside , which ( being but seventy years since ) is by some made the original of this proverb , which was more ancient in use ; and therefore i adhere to the former interpretation , alwayes provided , — si quid novisti rectius istis , candidus imperti ; si non ; his utere mecum . if thou know'st better , it to me impart ; if not , use these of mine with all my heart . for mine own part i write nothing but animo revocandi , ready to retract it when better evidence shall be brought unto me . nor will i oppose such who understand it for periphrasis of no-where ; kent being the best place of england , christendome of the world. kentish long-tailes . ] let me premise , that those are much mistaken , who first found this proverb on a miracle of austin the monk , which is thus reported . it happened in an english village where saint austin was preaching , that the pagans therein did beat and abuse both him and his associats , opprobriously tying fish-tails to their back-side . in revenge whereof an impudent author relateth , reader , you and i must blush for him , who hath not the modesty to blush for himselfe ) how such appendants grew to the hind-parts of all that * generation . i say they are much mistaken , for the scaene of this lying wonder was not laied in any part of kent , but pretended many miles off , nigh cerne in dorsetshire . to come closer to the sence of this proverb , i conceive it first of outlandish extraction , and cast by forraigners as a note of disgrace on all the english , though it chanceth to stick only on the kentish at this day . for when there happened in palestine a difference betwixt robert brother of saint lewis king of france and our william longspee earle of salisbury , heare how the french-man insulted over our nation . matthew paris . anno dom. . pag. . o timidorum caudatorū formidolositas ! quàm beatus , quàm mundus praesens foret exercitus , si à caudis purgaretur & caudatis . o the cowardliness of these fearful long-tails ! how happie , how cleane would this our arm ie be , were it but purged from tails and long-tailes . that the english were nicked by this speech appears by the reply of the earle of salisbury following still the metaphor ; the son of my father shall presse thither to day , whither you shall not dare to approach his horse taile . some will have the english so called from wearing a pouch or poake , ) a bag to carry their baggage in ) behind their backs , whilest probably the proud monsieurs had their lacquies for that purpose . in proof whereof they produce ancient pictures of the english drapery and armory , wherein such conveyances doe appear . if so , it was neither sin nor shame for the common sort of people to carry their own necessaries , and it matters not much whether the pocket be made on either side , or wholly behinde . if any demand how this nick-name ( cut off from the rest of england ) continues still entaild on kent ? the best conjecture is , because that county lieth nearest to france , and the french are beheld as the firstfounders of this aspersion . but if any will have the kentish so called from drawing and dragging boughs of trees behind them , which afterwards they advanced above their heads and so partly cozened partly threatned king william the conqueror to continue their ancient customes , i say , if any will impute it to this original , i will not oppose . kentish gavel ▪ kind ] it is a custome in this county , whereby the lands are divided equally among all the sons , and in default of them , amongst the daughters ; that is , give all kind , kind signifying a child in the low dutch. this practice , as it appeares in tacitus , was derived to our saxons from the ancient germans teutonibus priscis patrios succedit in agros mascula stirps omnis , ne foret ulla potens . 'mongst the old teuch lest one o'retop his breed , to his sire's land doth every son succeed . it appeareth that in the eighteenth year of king henry the sixth , there were not above fourty persons in kent , but all their land was held in this tenure . but on the petition of divers gentlemen this custome was altered by act of parliament in the . of king henry the eighth , and kentish-lands for the most part reduced to an uniformitie with the rest in england . dover-court , all speakers and no hearers ] there is a village in essex not far from harwich called dover-court formerly famous for a rood burnt in the reign of king henry the eighth . but i take it here to be taken for some tumultuous court kept at dover , the consluence of many blustering sea-men , who are not easily ordered into awful attention . the proverb is applyed to such irregular conferences , wherein the people are all tongue and no eares , parallel to the latine proverb , cyclopum respublica , being thus charactered that therein 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . the father to the bough ] the son to the plough . ] that is , though the father be executed for his offence the son shall neverthelesse succeed to his inheritance . in this county if a * tenant in fee-simple of lands in gavel-kind commit felony , and suffer the judgement of death therefore , the prince shall have all his chattels for a forfeiture . but as touching the land , he shall neither have the escheat of it , though it be immediately holden of himself , nor the day , year and wast , if it be holden of any other ; for in that case the heir , notwithstanding the offence of his ancestor , shall enter immediately and enjoy the lands after the same customes and services by which they were holden before , in assurance whereof the former proverb is become currant in this county . but this rule holdeth in case of felony and of murther onely , and not in case of treason , nor ( peradventure ) in piracy , and other felonies made by statutes of later times , because the custome cannot take hold of that which then was not in being . it holdeth moreover , in case where the offender is justiced by order of law , and not where he withdraws himself after the fault cōmitted , and will not abide his lawful trial . tenterdens steeple is the cause of the breac●… in goodwyn sands . ] it is used commonly in derision of such , who being demanded to render a reason of some inportant accident assign non causam pro causa , or a ridiculous and improbable cause thereof , and hereon a story depends . when the vicinage in kent met to consult about the inundation of goodwyn sands and what might be the cause thereof , an old man imputed it to the building of tenterden steeple in this county ; for those sands ( said he ) were firme lands before that steeple was built which ever since were overflown with sea-water . hereupon all heartily laughed at his unlogical reason , making that the effect in nature which was only the consequent in time ; not flowing from but following after the building of that steeple . but one story is good till another is heard . though this be all whereon this proverb is generally grounded i met since with a * supplement thereunto . it is this . time out of mind mony was constantly collected out of this county to fence the east bancks thereof against the eruption of the seas . and such sums were deposited in the hands of the bishop of rochester . but because the sea had been very quiet for many years , without any encroachings ; the bishop commuted that money to the building of a steeple and endowing of a church in tenterden . by this diversion of the collection for the maintenance of the banks , the sea afterwards brake in upon goodwyn sands . and now the old man had told a rational tale , had he found but the due favour to finish it . and thus sometimes , that is causelesly accounted ignorance in the speaker which is nothing but impatience in the auditors unwilling to attend the end of the discourse . a jack of dover ] i find the first mention of this proverb in our english ennius , chaucer , in his proeme to the cook. and many a jack of dover he had sold which had been two times hot and two times cold . this is no fallacy but good policy in an houshould , to lengthen out the provision thereof , and though lesse toothsome may be wholsome enough : but what is no false logick in a family is false ethicks in an inn , or cooks-shop , to make the abused guest to pay after the rate of new and fresh for meat at the second and third hand . parallel to this is the latine proverb crambe bis cocta , crambe being a kind of colewort , which ( with vinegar ) being raw is good , boiled better , twice boiled noysome to the palat and nauceous to the stomach . both proverbs are appliable to such who grate the ears of their auditors with ungratefull tautologies , of what is worthlesse in it selse , tolerable as once uttered in the notion of novelty ; but abominable if repeated for the tediousnesse thereof . princes . john of eltham second son to king edward the second by isabell his queen was born at eltham in this county . he was afterwards created earle of cornwal . a spritely gentleman , and who would have given greater evidence of abilities , if not prevented by death in the prime of his age . he dyed in scotland in the tenth yeare of the reign of king edward the third . be it observed that hitherto the younger sons to our english kings , were never advanced higher than earls . thus richard second son to king iohn never had higher english honour then the earle of cornwel , though at the same time he were king of the romans : but this iohn of eltham was the last son of an english king , who dyed a plain earl , the title of duke coming a●…erwards into fashion . hence it was that all the younger sons of kings , were from this time forwards created dukes , except expiring in their infancy . bridget of eltham fourth daughter of k edward the fourth and elizabeth his q. was born at eltham in this county . observing her three eldest sisters not over happy in their husbands , she resolved to wed a monastical life and ( no whit ambitious ) of the place of an abbess , became an ordinary votary in the nunnery at dartford in this county , founded by k. edward the . the time of her death is uncertain , but this is certain , that her dissolution hapned some competent time before the dissolution of that nunnerie . edmund youngest son to king henry the . and elizabeth his queen . ( bearing the name of his grand-father edmund of haddam ) was born at greenwich in this county . he was by his father created duke of somerset , and he dyed before he was full five years of age at bishops hatfield in hartford ▪ shire , which then was the nursery for the kings children : little notice generally is taken of this prince , and no wonder , for . who onely act short parts in infant age , are soon forgot , they e're came on the stage . he died anno dom. . in the . year of his fathers reign , and lieth buried ( without any monument ) in westminster . henry the eighth , second son of king henry the seventh , was born at greenwich . a prince who some praise to the skies , others depresse to the pit , whilest the third ( and truer ) sort embrace a middle way betwixt both . extream . mean. extream . some carry him up as the paragon of princes . the great advancer of gods glory and true religion , and the most magnificent that ever sate on the throne . master fox in his acts and monuments , is sometimes very superlative in his commendation ; and so are most protestant authours who wrote under his reign . polidor virgil hath an expression of him to this effect , princeps in quo aequali quasi temperamento magnae inerantvirtutes ac non minora vitia . a prince in whom great virtues and no less vices , were in a manner equally contemperated . sir walter rawleigh in his preface to his great history , whose words may better be read there than transcribed thence , makes him the truest map of tyranny . insomuch , that king james ( who could not abide that any under a king , should speak against a king ) was much offended thereat . and those words worst became the writer so much advanced by the daughter of the said k. henry . for mine own part , i humbly conceive , god effected more by his work , as the instrument , than he was directed by gods word as the principal . indeed he was a man of an uncomptrolable spirit , carrying a mandamus in his mouth , sufficiently sealed when he put his hand to his hilt. he awed all into obedience , which some impute to his skilfulnesse to rule , others ascribe to his subjects ignorance to resist . let one pleasant passage ( for recreation ) have its pass amongst much serious matter . a company of little boyes were by their school-master not many years since appointed to act the play of king henry the eighth , and one who had no presence but ( an absence rather ) as of a whyning voice , puiling spirit , consumptionish body was appointed to personate k. henry himself , only because he had the richest cloaths and his parents the best people of the parish : but when he had spoke his speech rather like a mouse then a man , one of his fellow actors told him ; if you speak not hoh with a better spirit your parliament will not grant you a penny of money . but it is vain to glean in the stubble seeing the lord herbert hath so largely wrote the life of this king that nothing of moment can be added thereunto . he dyed january , . mary eldest daughter to king henry the eighth and q. katharine of spain was born at greenwich the . of february . she did partake of both her parents in her person and properties , having from her father a broad face , big voyce , and undaunted spirit ; from her mother a swarthy complexion , and a mind wholy devoted to the romish religion . she attained the crown by complying with the gentry of norfolk and suffolk , promising them to continue religion as established by k. edward the . after the breach of which promise she never prospered . for first she lost the hearts of her subjects , then her hopes of a child , then the company ( not to say affection ) of her husband , then the city of calais , then her mirth , then her health , then her life , which ended on the. . of november , . queen elizabeth second daughter to king henry the eighth was born at greenwich : septemb. . . she was heire only to the eminences of her father , his learning , bounty , courage and success ; besides grace and true goodness , wherein she was daughter to her mother . her learning appears in her two latine speeches to the university , and a third little better then ex tempore to the poland ambassador . her bounty was better then her fathers , less flowing from humour , and more founded on merit , and ordered with moderation ; seeing that ▪ s the best liberality that so enricheth the receiver that it doth not impoverish the giver . her courage was undaunted , never making her self so cheap to her favorites , but that she still valued her own authority , whereof this an eminent instance ; a prime officer with a white staffe ( whose name i purposely forbear ) coming into her presence , the queen willed him to confer such a place now voyd on one of her servants whom she commended unto him . pleaseth your highness , madam , saith the lord , the disposal thereof pertaineth to me by vertue of this white staffe conferred upon me . true , said the queen ; yet i never gave you your office so absolutely , but i still reserved my self of the quorum : but of the quarum , madam , returned the lord , presuming on the favour of her highnesse . hereat the queen in some passion snatching the staff out of his hand ; you shall acknowledge me , said she , of the quorum quarum quorum before you have it again . the lord waited stafflesse almost a day ( which seemed ●…o long unto him as if the sun stood still ) before the same was reconferred upon him . her success was admirable , keeping the king of spain at armes . end all her reign . she was well skilled in the queen-craft ; and by her policy and prosperity she was much beloved by her people insomuch that since it hath been said , that queen elizabeth might lawfully doe that , which king james might not . for although the laws were equally the rule to them both , yet her popularity sugared many bitter things , her subjects thanking her for taking those taxes which they refused to pay to her successor . she died at richmond march . anno domini . mary ; daughter to king james and anne of denmark his queen , was born at * greenwich april . about eleven a clock at night , and soon after baptized with greater state , than the memory of any then alive in england could recover . king james was wont pleasantly to say , that he would not pray to the virgin mary , but he would pray for the virgin mary ; meaning his own daughter . but it seems his prayers prevailed not ( divine providence having otherwise determined it ) for her long life , who expired in her infancy , and lies buried at westminster . sophia , youngest daughter to king james and queen anne , was born at * greenwich the . day of june . and departed this life three dayes after . this royal babe lieth buried nigh queen elizabeth , in the north part of the chappel of king henry the seventh , represented sleeping in her cradle , wherewith vulgar eyes , especially of the weaker sex , are more affected ( as level to their cognizance , more capable of what is prety , than what is pompous ) ▪ than with all the magnificent monuments in westminster . charles eldest son of king charles and q. mary , was born at greenwich anno . a fright of his mother is generally reported to have accelerated , or rather antedated his nativity . the popish priests belonging to the queen stood ready , watching to snatch the royal babe to their superstitious baptisme ; but the tender care of king charles did out ▪ vigil their watchfullness , commanding doctor web ( his next chaplain in attendance ) to christen it according to the church of england . this done , within few houres he expired , and lyes buried at westminster . saints . ealphage born of good parentage , had his education during his youth in glocestershire , then he became a monk at glastenbury . but , that place not sufficiently suiting the severity of his solitary soul , removing thence he built himself a hut at bath , which smal cel in process of time ( the longest line proceedeth from a little point at first ) proved the beautiful priory in that place . hence by dunstan he was preferred bishop of winchester continuing therein twenty two years ; and at last became bishop of canterbury . it happeneth that the cruel danes seizing on that city put it under decimation . start not , loyal reader , at the word , if in the late tyranny of the times thou thy self hast been against all right and reason decimated in thy purse , as now the poor citizens of canterbury were in their persons . for the danes , under pretence of tribute detained , saved the tenth part of the citizens alive amounting unto eight hundred and four destroyed the other nine parts , no fewer than seven thousand two hundred & thirty six . as for arch-bishop alphage , they demanded of him a greater summe , than he could pay or procure , whose wealth consisted chie●…y in his piety , no currant coin with the pagan danes ; so that after seven moneths imprisonment they barbarously murthered him near greenwich about the year . his corps was first buried in saint pauls , and then removed by the command of king canutus to canterbury . impudent monks have almost as much wronged his memory , as the danes did his person , farcing his life with such abominable lies , that thereby the very truth therein is rendred suspected . agelnoth son to count agelmar , was a * calendred saint in this county being elected archbishop of canterbury from being dean over the canons in that convent . this is the first time i find the dignity of decanus or dean in england so called from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ten , having ( it seemeth at the first ) inspection just over that number , though since an heteroclite in england , as , either over fewer , but six in norwich , bristol , &c. or many more in other cathedrals . he was so pious in his life , that he was commonly called the good . and here one may justly wonder , god having two grand epithets optimus and maximus most give the former the go-by , and strive onely for the latter , to be the greatest , though greatnesse without goodnesse is both destructive to him that hath it , and dangerous to all others about him . going to rome to get his pall from the pope , by him he was courteously entertained , and deserved his welcome , who gave him ( saith my * author ) for the arm of saint augustine bishop of hippo ) one hundred talents of silver , and one talent of gold , citing bishop godwin for his author ; but indeed that bishop though reporting the hundred talents of silver , mentioneth not at all that of gold. perchance mr. weaver had lately read ( still obversing his fancy ) how * pharaoh k. of egypt having taken away king jehoahash , condemned the land in an hundred talents of silver , and a talent of gold ; and to me it is a double wonder ; first , that this archbishop would give ; secondly , that he could give , living in a harraged land , ( wherein so much misery and little money ) so vast a sum . however this mindeth me of a passage in saint augustine speaking of the reliques of the deceased , si tamen martyrum , if so they be of martyrs ; and let me chuse the words of this father on this father , si tamen augustini , if this were the arm of saint augustine and not of some other ordinary ( not to say infamous ) person . well , were one as good a mathematician , as he , who collected the stature of hercules from the length of his foot , it were easie to proportion the price of saint augustines whole body , from this valuation of his arme . and now having so dearly bought it , let him dispose thereof as he pleaseth , and let no man grudge if he gave it to coventry rather than canterbury . he expended much in repairing ( or rather renewing ) of his cathedral of canterbury lately destroyed by the danes , assisted therein by the bounty of king canutus , who at the instance and by the advice of this prelate , did many worthy works . our agelnoth , after he had set . years in his see , died october . in the year . martyrs . william white was born in this * county , and entering into orders , became a great maintainer of the opinions of wicliffe . he was the first married priest in england , since the popes solemn prohibition thereof . i find johan his wife , commended for her modesty and patience , and that she was * conjux talidigna marito . indeed she shared very deep in her husbands sufferings , hardly coming off with her life at the last . for he , though leaving his living ( as unsafe to hold ) still kept his calling , and preached about all the eastern parts of the land. the same mouth which commanded the disciples in time of peace , * goe not from house to house , so to avoid the censure of levity , advised them also , when * ye are persecuted in one city fly to another , so to provide for their own security . such the constant practice of this w. vvhite , who was as a partridge dayly on the wing , removing from place to place . at last he was seised on at norwich , by vvilliam alnwick the cruel bishop thereof , and charged with articles , for which he was condemned and burnt at norwich in september * . he was the protomartyr of all born in this county , and had not five before him in all england , who suffered merely for religion , without any mixture of matter of state charged upon them . as for marian martyrs , we meet with many in this county though not to be charged on cardinal pool arch-bishop of canterbury further then his bare permission thereof . it is observed of bears , that they love to kill their own prey , and ( except forced by famine ) will not feed on what was dead before . such a bear was bloody bonner , who was all for the quick and not for the dead , whilest clean contrary cardinal pool let the living alone , and vented his spleen onely on the dead ( whom he could wrong , but not hurt ) burning the bones of martin bucer and paulus phagius at cambridge . such martyrs therefore , as suffered in this shire , were either by the cruelty of griffin bishop of rochester , or of thornton suffragan of dover . confessors . simon fish esquire , was born in this * county , bred a lawyer in graies-inn london . here he acted that part in a tragedy , wherein the pride of cardinal wolsey was personated , and wherewith that prelate was so offended , that fish was fain to fly , and live two years beyond the seas . there he made , and thence sent over into england , a small but sharp treatise , called the supplication of beggars , termed by * master fox a libel , understand him a little book ; otherwise prizing and praising it for a master-piece of wit-learning and religion , discovering the superstition of that age . this by queen anna bollen was presented to king henry the eighth , who therewith was so highly affected , that he sent for the author home , and favoured him in great proportion . however , many nets were laid by the popish party against him , especially by sir thomas more his implacable enemy , yet fish had the happinesse to escape the hands of men , and to fall into the hand of god more immediately , dying of the plague , . and lieth buried at st. dunstan in london . sir jam . hales was born , did live & was richly landed in this county , one of the justices of the common-pleas , a man of most signal integrity . when the rest of the judges ( frighted at the frowns of the duke of northumberland ) subscribed the disinheriting of the lady mary , and lady elizabeth , he onely refused , as against both law and conscience . yet afterwards in the first of queen mary he fell into the displeasure of bishop gardiner , ( which like juniper coals once kindled hardly quenched ) for urging the observation of some lawes of king edward the sixth . for this he was imprisoned , hardly used , and so threatned by his keeper , that he endeavoured to have killed himself , which being after let at liberty he afterwards effected , drowning himself in a small water near his house , fear and melancholly so much prevailing upon him ; mr. fox concludeth the sad poem of his final estate with this distich . cū nihil ipse vides , propria quin labe laboret , tu tua fac cures , caetera mitte deo. seing nought thou ●…eest but faling in the best , mind thy own matters & leave god the rest . we must look on his foul deed with anger , and yet with pity on the doer thereof , frown on the one , and weep for the other . for seeing he had led a right godly life , and had suffered so much on the account of his conscience , i hope that his station in this place , will not be cavilled at by any charitable persons . he died anno dom. . cardinals . john kemp son to thomas , grand-child to sir john kemp nephew to sir roger kemp both knights , was born at wie in this county , ( where he built a fair colledge for seculars ) bred also in merton colledge in oxford , successively bishop of rochester , chichester and london ; afterwards arch-bishop of york and canterbury , cardinal first by the title of saint balbine , then of saint rufine in rome ; all his preferments are comprehended in the old following * verse . bis primas , ter praesul erat , ●…is cardine functus . he had another honour to make up the distich , being twice lord chancellour of england , so that i may add ; et dixit legem bis cancellari us anglis . such are mistaken , who report him the first raiser of his family to a knightly degree , which he found in that equipage , as is aforesaid , though he left it much improved in estate by his bounty , and some of his name and bloud flourish in kent at this day . he died a very old man , march the . anno . richard clifford . his nativity may bear some debate herefordshire pretending unto him . but because robert clifford was his * brother ( in the first of king henry the fourth high sheriff of this county , and richly landed therein ) i adjudge him a cantian and assign bobbing as the most probable place of his birth . his worth preferred him bishop of london . and he was sent by king henry the fourth as his embassadour to the council of constance . i could hold my hand from ranking him under the topick of cardinals , confident that no ingenious person would take exception thereat . for first he was one in merit and desert . secondly , in general desire and designation . thirdly , ( though no actual cardinal ) he acted as a * cardinal when joyned to their conclave to see fair play amongst them at the choosing of a new pope . yea some mentioned him for the place , who ( counting it more credit to make , than be a pope ) first nominated cardinal columna , and he clearly carried it by the name of martin . during his abode at constance he preached a latine sermon before the emperour and pope . he answered his name de clivo forti , or of the strong rock indeed , viz. * davids ; being a most pious person , returning home he lived in good esteem , with prince and people , until his death , which happened . being buried nigh the present monument of sr. christopher hatton . prelates . ralph of maydenstan . i presume this the ancient orthography of maydston ( a noted town in this county ) the rather , because i met with no other place in england , offering in sound or syllables thereunto . an a author giveth him this short but thick commendation ; vir magnae literaturae & in theologia nominatissimus . insomuch that in the reign of king henry the third . he was preferred bishop of hereford . this prelate bought of one mount-hault a noble-man , a fair house in , and the patronage of st. mary mount-hault ( commonly , but corruptly called mount-haw ) in london , leaving both to his successours in the see of hereford . know reader , that all english bishops in that age had palaces in london for their conveniency , wherein they resided and kept great hospitality during their attendance in parliament . now , although the school-men generally hold , that episcopacy is apex consummatae religionis , then which nihil amplius , nothing higher or holyer in this life ; and though many friers have been preferred bishops as a progressive motion both in dignity and sanctity : yet our ralph was of a different judgement herein . this made him in the year . turn his b miter into a coule , and become a franciscan , first at oxford , then at glocester , where he died about the year . henry de wingham ( a well known town in this county ) was by k. henry the third , preferred chancellour both of england and gascony , dean both of * totten-hall ( quaere where this place is ) and saint martins , and twice embassadour into france . it happened that one ethelmar , wom-brother to king henry the third was then bishop of winchester . a person who properly comes not under my pen ; first , for his foreign nativity . secondly , ( so much as he was english ) he was an unworthy , wanting c age , ability , and orders to qualifie him in that place . hereupon the monks of winchester indeavouring to eject him chose wingham a man of merit ( and might in the court ) to be their bishop , which honour he wisely refused , fearing to incur the kings displeasure . it was not long before his modesty and discretion were rewarded with a peaceable ( in sted of that litigious ) bishoprick , when chosen to london . but he enjoyed his see not full two years dying july . . and was buried in his own cathedral . henry of sandwich , archdeacon of oxford , was consecrated bishop of london . he took part with the seditious barons against king henry the third , for which he was deservedly * excommunicated by othobon the popes legate . going to rome it cost him well nigh an apprenticeship of patience , dancing attendance almost seven years before he could gain his absolution . † which obtained , he returned home , and dying september . . was buried in his own church of st. pauls . richard of graves-end arch deacon of northampton was ( after fulk lovel had freely refused it ) consecrated [ at coventry ] bishop of london , anno . he was the first founder of a covent of carmelites at maldon in essex , and dying at fulham . was buried in his own cathedral . simon mepham was born at mepham in this county . * he was bred in merton-golledge in oxford ; he was a good scholar , as those dayes went , chosen by the monk of cant. approved by king edward the third , and consecrated by the command of the pope , archbishop of cant. he is only famous for two things , his expensive suit with the moncks of canterbury , wherein at last he got the better , though it cost seven hundred pounds in the court of rome . secondly , his magnificent visitation in person of the dioceses south of thames , till he was resisted by grandison bishop of exeter . this aff●…ont did half break mephams heart ; and the pope siding with the bishop against him , brake the other half thereof , hastning his death , which happened anno dommini , . haymo of hithe was born therein , a small town on the sea-side , hithe in old english signifying a landing place , as queen-hithe , garlick-hithe , &c. in london . he was made bishop of rochester in the twelfth of king edward the secondto whom he was confessour . i believe him owner of good temporal means ; first , because he made so much building on a mean bishoprick , erecting the great hall and fair frontispice at his palace in halling , and repairing all the rooms thereof , not forgeting the town of his nativity , where he erected and endowed the * hospital of saint bartholomew for ten poor people . secondly , because in his old age he lived on his own estate , resigning his bishoprick , which the charitable conceive done not out of discontent but defire of retirement to compose himself the better for his dissolution , which happened about the year . john of shepey , prior of rochester , succeeded haymo aforesaid in the same see , and for some time was treasurer of england . his death happened anno domini . william read . i place him in this county with confidence , having clearly conquered all suspicions to the contrary : first , because of his name then flourishing at read in * marden in this county : secondly , because the provost-place of winghamcolledge therein was his first publick preferment . to which i may adde that he was bred fellow of merton-colledge ( abounding with cantians , since a bishop in kent , was founder thereof ) and he merited much of that foundation , not onely building a fair library therein , but furnishing it with books , and astronomical tables of his own making , which ( they say ) are still to be * seen therein with his lively picture inserted . in his reduced age he applied himself to divinity , and by king edward the third was preferred bishop of chichester . retaining his mathematical impressions he commendably expressed them in architecture , erecting a castle egregii operis , saith my * author , at amberley in sussex . his death happened , anno dom. . thomas kemp , brothers son to john kemp archbishop of canterbury , was born of a knightly family in this county , bred in oxford , whereof he became proctor anno . by papal provision he was made bishop of london , consecrated by his uncle at york-house ( now white-hall ) and sate in his see * fourty years from the twenty eighth of henry the sixth , till the fifth of henry the seventh , so that he saw the wars between lancaster and york begun , continued , concluded ; and the two roses tied together in one roy●…l posie . i know not whether his benefactions were adequate to his long possessing of so wealthy a place , finding him to have curiously arched and leaded the divinitie schools in oxford , and built the crosse nigh the church of st. pauls as it stood in our memories , but lately demolished , though guilty of no other superstition , save accommodating the preacher and some about him with convenient places . me thinks , though idle crosses standing onely for shew were published for offenders , this usefull one , which did such service , might have been spared : but all is fish , which comes to the net of sacriledge . this bishop died , anno dom. . james goldwell was born at great chart in this county , bred in all-souls-colledge in oxford , promoted first to be dean of salisbury and secretary to king edward the fourth , and at last made bishop of norwich . he not onely repaired the church at great chart where he was born , but also founded a * chappel on the south-side thereof , where his picture is in the east-window , with his rebus , [ viz. a goldenwell ] in every quarry of the same . he died , anno dom. . thomas goldwell was born at goldwell in the parish of great chart in this county , where his family had long flourished , till * lately alienated . he was by queen mary preferred bishop of saint davids , and as a volunteer quitted the land in the first of queen elizabeth . going to rome he made a deal of do to do just nothing ; prevailing by much importunity with the pope to procure large indulgencies for such who superstitiously were in pilgrimage to , and offered at the well of saint winifrid in his diocesse . the obscurity of his death denieth us the exact date thereof . reader , i am sensible how imperfect my list is of the bishops in this county : the rather because i have heard from my worthy friend and excellent historian mr. fisher , fellow of merton-col . that this his native shire of kent had twelve bishops at one time , whilst i can hardly make up twelve bishops at all times before the reformation . but my defects will be perfectly supplyed by such who shall topographically treat of this subject in relation to this county alone . since the reformation . john poynet was born in this * county ; bred ( say some ) in kings-colledge in cambridge . sure i am he was none of the foundation therein , because not appearing in master hatcher his exact manuscript catalogue . a bale is rather to be believed herein , making him to be brought up in queens colledge in the same university . but where ever he had his education , he arrived at admirable learning , being an exact grecian and most expert mathematician . he presented king henry the . with a horologium ( which i might english dial , clock or watch , save that it is epitheted * sciotericum ) observing the shadow of the sun , and therein shewing not only the hours , but dayes of the month , change of the moon , ebbing and flowing of the sea , &c. i confesse the modern mystery of watch-making is much completed ( men never being more curious to divide , more carelesse to imploy their time ) but surely this was accounted a master-peece in that age . his sermons so indeared him to king edward . that he preferred him ( whilst as yet scarce thirty six yeares of age ) to the bishoprick of rochester , then of winchester . but alas ! these honor 's soon got were as soon lost , being forced to fly into high germany in the first of queen mary . where before he was fully fourty , and before he had finished his book begun against thomas martin in defence of ministers marriage , he died at strasburg the . august . and was buried there with great lamentation . richard fletcher was born in this * county , brother to doctor giles fletcher the civilian and embassadour in russia , and bred in bennet colledge in cambridge . he was afterwards dean of peterborough at what time mary queen of scots was beheaded at fotheringhay , to whom he made saith my authour * verbosam orationem a wordy speech of her past , present and future condition , wherein he took more pains that he received thanks from her who therein was most concerned . hence he was preferred bishop of peterborough , and at last of london ; my * authour saith he was presul splendidus , and indeed he was of a comly presence and queen elizabeth knew full well . gratior est pulcro veniens è corpore virtus the iewel vertue is more grac'd when in a proper person cas'd . which made her alwayes on an equality of desert to reflect favourably on such who were of graceful countenance , and stature . in one respect this bishop may well be resembled to john peckham archbishop of canterbury , of whom i find this character , * quanquam gestu & incessu , saepeetiami n sermone gloriosus videretur & elatus ; animo tamen fuit benignissimo & perquam comi . although he seemed a boaster , and puffed up both in gesture and ga●…e , and sometimes in his speech also : yet was he of a loving disposition & exceeding courteous . such a one was bishop fletcher , whose pride was rather on him , than in him , as only gate and gesture-deep , not sinking to his heart , though causelesly condemned for a proud man , as who was a good hypocrite and far more humble than he appeared . he married a lady of this county , * who one commendeth for very vertuous , which i●… so , the more happy she in her self , though unhappy that the world did not believe it . sure i am , that queen elizabeth ( who hardly held the second matches of bishops excusable ) accounted his marriage a trespasse on his gravity , whereupon he fell into her deep displeasure . hereof this bishop was sadly sensible , and seeking to lose his sorrow in a mist of smoak , died of the * immoderate taking thereof , june the fifteenth , . brian duppa , d. d. the worthy bishop of winchester was born at lewsham in in this county : staying for farther instructions , i am forced to deferre his life to our additions . states-men . sir edward poynings , knight , was in martial performances inferiour to none of his age , and a native of this county , as from the catalogue of the sheriffs therein may be collected . we will insist only on his irish action , being employed by king ▪ henry the seventh to conjure down the last walking spirit of the house of york , which haunted that king , i mean perkin warbeck . having ferreted him out of ireland , he seriously set him self to reclaim that barbarous nation to civility , and in order thereunto passed an act in parliament , whereby all the statutes made in england b●…fore that time , were enacted , established , and made of force in ireland . he caused also another law to be made , that no act should be propounded in any parliament in ireland , till first it had been transmitted into england , approved there by the king , and returned thence under his broad seal . now though this act seemeth prima facie , prejudicial to the liberty of the irish subjects , yet was it made at the request of the commons upon just & important cause , being so sensible of the oppression , and laws imposed by private lords , for their particular ends , that they rather referred themselves to the kings justice , than to the merciless mercy of so many masters . also to conform ireland to england , he procured the passing of an act ; that the irish barons should appear in parliament in their robes , which put a face of grandeur and state on their convention . and indeed formalities are more than formalities in matters of this nature , essentiall to beget a veneration in barbarous people , who carry much of their brain in their eyes . he thriftily improved the kings revenues , and obtained a subsidy of twenty six shillings eight pence , payable yearly for five years , out of every six score acres manured . the worst was , the burden fell on their backs , whose islands were most industrious , whereby the soveraign became not more wealthy , but the subjects more lazy , the mischief being as apparent as the remedy impossible . many more large laws of his making found but narrow performance , viz. only within the pale . nor was henry the seventh ( though in title ) in tr●…th lord of all ireland , but by the favour of a figure , and large synechdeche , of a part for the whole . these things thus ordered , sir edward was recalled in to england , created a baron , and dying in the beginning of king henry the eight , left a numerous natural , but no legitimate issue . sir anthony st. leger , is rationally reputed a kentish man ( though he had also a devonshire relation ) as will appear to such who peruse the sheriffs of this county . he was properly the first vice-roy of ireland , seeing shadows cannot be before their substance , and in his deputy-ship henry the eight ( in the . year of his reign ) assumed the title of king and supream head of the church of ireland . to him all the irish nobility made their solemn submission , falling down at his feet upon their knees , laying aside their girdles , skeines and caps . this was the fourth solemn submission of the irish to the kings of england , and most true it is , such seeming submissions have been the bane of their serious subjection . for out of the pale our kings had not power either to punish or protect , where those irish lords ( notwithstanding their complemental loyalty ) made their list the law to such whom they could over-power . he caused also certain ordinances of state to be made , not altogether agreeable with the rules of the law of england , a satisfactory reason hereof , being given in the * preamble to them . quia nondum sic sapiunt leges & jura , ut secundum ea jam immediate , vivere & regi possint . because the [ irish ] as yet do not so savour the laws [ of england ] as immediately to live after , and be ruled by them . thus the greatest statesmen must sometimes say , by your leave to such as are under them , not acting alway according to their own ability , but others capacity . he seized all the abby lands in ireland for the kings use , a flower of the crown which alone had made a posey , if continued thereunto . but alas the revenues of abby lands are as 〈◊〉 as their buildings , nothing more than the rubbish thereof remaining in the kings exchequer . he made a law , that no children should be admitted to church livings , which importeth the frequency of that abuse in former times . he perswaded o neile , o brian , &c. to go over into england to surrender their lands into the kings hands , promising they should receive them again from him by letters patents , with the addition of earls , which was done accordingly . at his desire the king conferred on them houses nigh dublin , that residing there , they might suck in civility with the court air . these things thus setled he returned into england , and died ( as i take it ) in the raign of king edward the sixth . sir henry sidnry , was son to sir william sidney of pensherst in this county , who by his own worth , was advanced into the favour of queen elizabeth ( never a whit the lesse for marrying mary dudley , sister to robert earl of leicester ; ) he was by her made knight of the garter , lord president of wales , and for eleven years ( off and on ) deputy of ireland . now , though generally the irish are querelous of their deputies ( what patient for the present will praise his chirurgion , who soundly searcheth his sore ? ) yet sir henry left a good memory , and the monuments of a good governor behind him . . he * made annaly a territory in loynsteresse by the sept of offerralles , one entire shire by it self , called the county of longford ; he likewise divided the province of ●…onaght into six counties . . in a parliament held the eleventh of elizabeth , he abolished the pretended and usurped captain-ships , and all extortions incident thereunto . . he caused an act to pass , whereby the lord deputy was authorized to accept the surrenders of the irish se●…gniories , and to re-grant estates unto them , to hold of the crown by english tenures and services . . because the inferiour sort of the irish were poor , and not ames●…able by law , he provided , that five of the best persons of every sept , should bring in all the persons of their surname , to be justified by the law. . a law was made , that for the civil education of the youth , there should be one free schoole at least , in every diocesse . . to acquaint the people of mounster and conaght with the english government again ( disused amongst them for two hundred years ) he instituted two presidency courts in those two provinces . . to augment the revenues of the crown , he resumed and vested therein ( by the power of the same parliament ) more than half the province of ulster , upon the attainder of shane o neale . . he raised customs upon the principal commodities of the kingdom , and reformed the abuses of the exchequer by many good instructions from england . . he established the composition of the pale , in lieu of purveyance and sesse of souldiers . it must not be forgotten , that he caused the statutes of ireland unto his own time , to be printed , and so ( saith my * author ) ex umbra in solem eduxit , he brought them out of the shadow into the sun-shine . whereas formerly they were only in manuscript ; a sad case , that men should be obliged to the observation of those laws , scarce ever seen by one in an hundred subjected thereunto . being to leave ireland , anno . and now ready to go up into his ship , he took his * leave thereof with the words of the psalmist , * when israel came out of egypt , and jacob from a strange people ; rejoycing in heart , that , he came with a clear conscience from that dangerous employment . he died at worcester , may the fifth , . and his corps being brought to pensherst , were there solemnly interred amongst his ancestors . i will close his life with this encomium which i find in a worthy * author : his disposition was rather to seek after the antiquities , and the weal-publick of those countries which he governed , than to obtain lands and revenues within the same ; for i know not one foot of land that he had , either in wales or ireland . sir philip sidney . reader , i am resolved not to part him from his father , such the sympathy betwixt them , living and dying both within the compass of the same year . otherwise , this knight in relation to my book , may be termed an ubiquitary , and appear amongst statesmen , souldiers , lawyers , writers , yea princes themselves , being ( though not elected ) in election to be king of poland , * which place he declined , preferring rather to be a subject to queen elizabeth , than a soveraign beyond the seas . he was born at pensherst in this county , son to sir henry sidney ( of whom before ) and sisters son to robert earl of leicester , bred in christs church in oxford . such his appetite to learning , that he could never be fed fast enough therewith ; and so quick and strong his digestion , that he soon turned it into wholsome nourishment , and thrived healthfully thereon . his homebred abilities travel perfected with forraign accomplishments , and a sweet nature set a glosse upon both . he was so essential to the english court , that it seemed maimed without his company , being a compleat master of matter and language , as his arcadia doth evidence . i confesse i have heard some of modern pretended wits cavil thereat , meerly because they made it not themselves : such who say , that his book , is the occasion that many pretious hours are otherwise spent no better , must acknowledge it also the cause , that many idle hours are otherwise spent no worse , than in reading thereof . at last , leaving the court , he followed the camp , being made governor of flushing , under his uncle earl of leicester . but the walls of that city ( though high and strong ) could not confine the activity of his mind , which must into the field , and before zutphen was unfortunately slain with a shot , in a small skirmish , which we may sadly tearm a great battel , considering our heavy losse therein . his corps being brought over into england , was buried in the quire of st. pauls with general lamentation . sir francis walsingham , knight , was born in this county , wherein his family long flourished at chiselhurst , though i * read , that originally they fetch their name from walsingham in norfolk . he was bred in kings colledge in cambridge , and gave the king of ●…pain his bible to the library thereof . as a traveller many years beyond the 〈◊〉 he learnt experience , as an agent he practised it there , and after his return , a secretary of state : he taught it to many emisaries imployed under him . none alive did better ken the secretary craft , to get counsels out of others , and keep them in himself . m●…rvellous his ●…agacity in examining suspected persons , either to make them confesse the truth , or confound themselves by denying it to their detection . cunning his hands , who could unpick the cabinets in the popes conclave ; quick his ears , who could hear at london , what was whispered at rome ; and numerous the spies and eyes of this argus dispersed in all places . the jesuites being out-shot in their own bow , complain'd , that he out-equivocated their equivocation , having a mental reservation deeper and farther than theirs . they tax him for making heaven●…ow ●…ow too much to earth , oft-times borrowing a point of conscience , with full intent never to pay it again , whom others excused by reasons of state , and dangers of the times . indeed his simulation ( which all allow lawful ) was as like to dissimulation ( condemned by all good men ) as two things could be , which were not the same . he thought that gold might , but intelligence could not be bought too dear ; the cause that so great a states man left so small an estate , and so publick a person was so privately buried in saint pauls , anno dom. . his only daughter frances was successively matched to three matchlesse men , sir phili sidney , robert earl of essex , and richard earl of clanricard . capital judges and writers on the law. sir john fineux , was by all probability born at swinkfield in this county ( as i am informed from my good friend mr. thomas fineux , a descendant from him ) a place ( * saith mr. cambden , ) bestowed on his ancestor by t. criol , a great lord in kent , about the raign of king edward the second . i learned from the same gentleman , that he was eight and twenty years of age , before he betook him to the study of the law , that he followed that profession twenty eight years before he was made a judg , and that he continued a judge for twenty eight years , whereby it appears , that he lived fourscore and four years . this last exactly agrees with * sir henry spelman , making him continue lord chief justice of the kings bench , from the eleventh of king henry the seventh , until the seventeenth of king henry the eight . he was a great benefactor unto saint augustines in canterbury , whose prior william mallaham thus highly commendeth him in a * manuscript instrument , vir prudentissimus , genere insignis , justitia praeclarus , pietate refertus , humanitate splendidus & charitate foecundus , &c. now though some will say , his convent may well afford him good words , who gave them good deeds ; yet i believe this character of him , can in no part be disproved . he died about the year . and lies buried in christ church in canterbury ; who had a fair habitation in this city , and another in herne in this county , where his motto still remains in each window , misericordias domini cantabo in aeternum . sir roger manwood , born at * sandwich in this county , applyed himselfe from his youth , to the study of the common law ; wherein he attained to such eminency , that by queen elizabeth he was preferred second justice of the common pleas , in which place he gave such proof of his ability and integrity , that not long after in * hillary term , in the . of queen elizabeth , he was made chief baron of the exchequer , discharging that office to his 〈◊〉 commendation , full fourteen years , till the day of his death . he was much employed in matters of state , and was one of the commissioners who sate on the trial of the queen of scots . his book on the forest laws is a piece highly prized by men of his profession . in vacation time his most constant habitation was at saint stephens in canterbury , where , saith my * author , the poor inhabitants were much beholding to his bounteous liberality . he erected and endowed a fair free schoole at sandwich , the place of his nativity , and died in the . of queen elizabeth , anno dom. . sir henry finch , knight , was born in this county of right worshipful extraction , ( their ancient sirname being herbert ) a family which had and hath an hereditary happinesse of eminency in the study of the laws . he was sergeant at law to king james , and wrote a book of the law , in great esteem with men of his own profession ▪ yet were not his studies confined thereunto , witnesse his book of the calling of the jews ; and all ingenious persons which dissent from his judgement will allow him learnedly to have maintained an error , though he was brought into some trouble by king james , conceiving that on his principles he advanced and extended the jewish commonwealth , to the depressing and contracting of christian princes free monarchies . he was father unto sir john finch , lord chief justice , and for a time lord keeper , and baron of foreditch , who is still alive . souldiers . kent hath so carried away the credit , in all ages , for man-hood , that the leading of the front , or van-guard ( so called from avant-guard , or goe on guard , because first in marching ) in former times hath simply and absolutely belonged unto them ; i say absolutely , for i find two other shires contending for that place . the best is , it is but a book-combate , betwixt learned writers , otherwise if real , such a division were enough to rout an army , without other enemy . but let us see how all may be peaceably composed . it is probable , that the * cornish-men led the van in the days of king arthur , who being a native of cornwall , had most cause to trust his own country-men . but i behold this as a temporary honour , which outlasted not his life who bestowed it . the men of archenfeld in hereford-shire , claimed by custom to lead the * van-guard , but surely this priviledge was topical , and confined to the welsh wars , with which the aforesaid men , as borderers were best acquainted . as for kent , cantia nostra primae cohortis honorem , & primos congressus hostium usque in hodiernum diem in omnibus praeliis obtinet , saith my * author . reader , it may rationally be concluded that the ensuing topick had been as large in this as in any county in england , seeing it is bounded by the sea on the east and south sides thereof , had not the author departed this life before the finishing of the same . seamen . william adams , was ( as his own * pen reporteth ) born at gillingham in this county , and take the brief account of his life , being the first englishman , who effectully discovered japan . twelve years he lived at home with his parents . twelve years he was apprentice and servant to nich. diggins , a brave seaman , for some time he was master of one of the queens ships . ten years he served the english company of barbary merchants . fourteen years ( as i collect it ) he was employed by the dutch in india . for he began his voyage . pilot to their fleet of five sail , to conduct them to japan ; and in order to the settlement of trade endured many miseries . he who reads them will concur with cato , and repent that ever he went thither by sea , whither one might go by land. but japan being an island , and unaccessible , save by sea , our adams his discretion was not to be blamed , but industry to be commended in his adventures . he died at firando in japan about . civilians . nicholas wotton , son to sir robert , was born at bockton-malherb in this county , a place so named ( as it seems ) from some noxious and malignant herbs , growing therein . what the natural plants there may be , i know not , sure the moral ones , are excellent , which hath produced so many of the honourable family of the wottons ; of whom this nicholas , doctor of civil laws bred in oxford , may be termed a center of remarkables , so many met in his person . . he was dean of the two metropolitan churches of canterbury and york . . he was the first dean of those cathedrals . . he was privy councellor to four successive soveraigns , king henry the eight , king edward the sixth , queen mary , queen elizabeth . . he was employed , thirteen several times in embassies to forraign princes . now because there are some of so diffident natures , that they will believe no total summe , except they peruse the particulars , let them satisfie themselves with what followeth . five times to charls the fifth emperor . once to philip his son , king of spain . once to francis the first , king of france . once to mary queen of hungary , governess of the netherlands . twice to william duke of clive . once to renew the peace between england , france , and scotland , anno dom. . again to the same purpose at cambra , . once sent commissioner with others to edinbourgh in scotland , . we must not forget how in the first of queen elizabeth , the archbishoprick of canterbury was * proffered unto , and refused by him . he died january the twenty sixth , anno dom. . being about seventy years of age , and was buried in canterbury . giles fletcher , ( brother of richard fletcher , bishop of london ) was born in this county , as i am credibly * informed . he was bred first in eaton , then in kings colledge in cambridge ; where he became doctor of law. a most excellent poet , ( a quality hereditary to his two sons , giles and phineas ) commissioner into scotland , germany , and the low-countries for queen elizabeth , and her embassador into russia , secretary to the city of london , and master of the court of requests . his russian embassie to settle the english merchandise was his master-piece , to theodor juanowich duke of muscovia . he came thither in a dangerous juncture of time , viz. in the end of the year . first , some forraigners ( i will not say they were the hollanders ) envying th●… free trade of the english , had done them bad offices . secondly , a false report was generally believed that the spanish armado had worsted the english fleet ; and the duke of muscovy ( who measured his favour to the english , by the possibility he apprehended of their returning it ) grew very sparing of his smiles , not to say free of his frowns on our merchants residing there . however our doctor demeaned himself in his embassie with such cautiousness , that he not only escaped the dukes fury , but also procured many priviledges for our english merchants , exemplified in mr. hackluit . returning home , and being safely arrived at london , he sent for his intimate friend mr. wayland , prebendary of s. pauls , and senior fellow of trinity colledge in cambridge ( tutor to my father , from whose mouth i received this report ) with whom he heartily exprest his thankfulnesse to god for his safe return from so-great a danger ; for the poets cannot fansie ulrsses more glad to be come out of the den of polyphemus , than he was to be rid out of the power of such a barbarous prince , who counting himself by a proud and voluntary mistake , emperour of all nations , cared not for the law of all nations ; and who was so habited in blood , that had he cut off this embassadors head , he and his friends might have sought their own amends ; but the question is , where he would have found it ? he afterwards set forth a book , called , the russian commonwealth , expressing the government or tyranny rather thereof ; wherein , saith my * author , are many things most observable . but queen elizabeth indulging the reputation of the duke of muscovy as a confederate prince , permitted not the publick printing of that , which such who have private copies , know to set the valuation thereon . i cannot attain the certain date of his death . physicians . robert floid , who by himself is latined robertus de fluctibus , was born in this county , and that of a knightly family , as i am informed , bred ( as i take it ) in oxford , and beyond the seas . a deep philosopher , and great physician , who at last fixed his habitation in fan-church-street , london . he was of the order of the rosa-crucians , and i must confesse my self ignorant of the first founder and sanctions thereof , perchance none know it , but those that are of it . sure i am , that a rose is the sweetest of flowers , and a cross accounted the sacredest of forms or figures , so that much of eminency must be imported in their composition . his books written in latine are great , many and mystical . the last some impute to his charity , clouding his high matter with dark language , left otherwise the lustre thereof should dazle the understanding of the reader . the same phrases he used to his patients , and seeing conceit is very contributive to the well working of physick , their fancy or faith-natural was much advanced by his elevated expressions . his works are for the english to sleight or admire , for french and forraigners to understand and use : not that i account them more judicious than our own countrymen , but more inquiring into such difficulties . the truth is , here at home his books are beheld not so good as chrystal , which ( some say ) are prized as precious pearls beyond the seas . but i conclude all with the character , which my worthy ( though concealed ) friend thus wrote upon him . lucubrationibus quas solebat edere profusissimas semper visus est plus sumere laboris , quam populares nostri volebant fructum , quia hunc fere negligebant , prae tedio legendi , & prejudicio quodam oleam perdendi operamque , ob cabalam , quam scripta ejus dicebantur olere magis quam peripatum , & ob ferventius hominis ingenium , in quo plerique requirebant judicium . he died on the eighth of september , anno dom. . william harvey , son of thomas harvey , was born at folkston in this county . his father had a week of sons ; whereof this william bred to learning , was the eldest ; his other brethren being bound apprentices in london , and all at last ended in effect in merchants . they got great estates , and made their father the treasurer thereof , who being as skilful to purchase land , as they to gain money ▪ kept , employed , and improved their gainings to their great advantage ; so that he survived to see the meanést of them , of far greater estate than himself . our william was bred in caius colledge in cambridge , where he proceeded doctor of physick . five years also he studied at padua , making a good composition of forraign and domestick learning : so that afterwards he was ( for many years ) physician to king charles the first . and not only doctor medecinae , but doctor medicorum . for this was he that first found out the circulation of the blood ; an opinion which entred into the world with great disadvantages . for first , none will be acquainted with strangers at the first sight , as persons generally suspected ; as if to be unknown , were part of being guilty . secondly , the grandees of this profession were of the opposite judgement , heavy enough without any argument to overlay ( and so to stifle ) any infant opinion by their authority . but , truth , though it may be questioned for a vagrant , carrieth a passport along with it for its own vindication . such have since shaken friendly hands with doctor harvey , which at first tilted pens against him . and amongst the rest riolanus that learned physician , if not ambabus ulnis , with one arm at the least doth embrace his opinion , and partly consent thereunto . this doctor , though living a batchelor , may be said to have left three hopeful sons to posterity ; his books , . de circulatione sanguinis , which i may call his son and heir ; the doctor living to see it at full age , and generally received . . de generatione , as yet in its minority ; but , i assure you growing up apace into publick credit . . de ovo , as yet in the nonage thereof , but infants may be men in due time . it must not be forgotten , that this doctor had made a good progresse , to lay down a practice of physick , conformable to his thesis , of the circulation of blood ; but was plundered of his papers in our civil war : unhappy dissentions , which not onely murdered many then alive ; but may be said by this , ( call it mischief or mischante ) to have destroyed more not yet born , whose diseases might have been either prevented or removed , if his worthy pains had come forth into the publick : and i charitably presume , that grateful posterity will acknowledge the improvements of this opinion , as superstructures on his foundation ; and thankfully pay the fruit to his memory , who watered , planted , ( not to say made ) the root of this discovery . he hath since been a second linaore and great benefactor to the colledge of physicians in london , where his statue stands with this inscription . gulielmo harveo viro monumentis suis immortali hoc insuper coll. med. london . posuit . qui enim sanguin . motum ( ut & animal . ortum ) dedit meruit esse stator perpetuus . he died in the eightieth year of his age , june . anno dom. . writers . john of kent , so called , because born in this * county ; after he had studied at home with good proficiency , went over into france , where he became canon in the church of saint maries in angiers . but afterwards being weary of worldly wealth , he quitted that place , and turned a franciscan fryer , and by pope innocent the fourth , he was sent a joynt ▪ legate into england . he flourished in the year of our lord , . haimo of feversham , both had his first breath at , and fetched his name from feversham in this county . when a man , he left the land , and repairing to paris , applied his studies so effectually , that leland saith he was inter aristotelicos , aristotelissimus . he became a franciscan in the church of saint dennis it ▪ self , and returning into england , was elected provincial of his order . afterwards he was called to reside in rome for his advice , where quitting his provincialship to his successor , he was chosen general of the franciscans . surely he had much real , or reputed merit , being so highly prized by the italians , who generally do as much undervalue us english , as they over-admire themselves . speculum honestatis , the glasse of honesty , ●…aith * one , was the title given unto him , though dark and false this glasse , if bale may be believed , who taxeth him for being an inquisitor after , and * persecutor of good people , especially when imployed by the pope into grecia . lying on his death-bed , at anagnia in italy , the pope in person came to visit him , which was no small honour unto him , but all would not prolong his life , which he ended anno . having first , at the command of pope alexander the fourth , corrected and amended the roman breviary . simon stock was born in this * county , and when but twelve years of age , went into the woods ( whereof this shire then afforded plenty ) and became a hermite . this christian diogenes had for his tub , the stock of a hollow tree , whence he fetched his name , and ( abating his sex ) was like the nymphs called hama-druides , which were the properties of oak trees . here he had ( saith leland ) water for his nectar , and wild fruits for his ambrosia . one may admire how this man here met with learning , except by inspiration , and except books ( as at the original ) were written on barks of trees , where with he conversed : yet the university of oxford would force a batchelor of divinity-ship upon him : and many are the superstitious writings he lèft to posterity . reader , behold here how the roaring lyon hath translated himself into a mimical ape , endeavouring a mock parallel betwixt this simon and simeon in the gospell . old simeon had a * revelation that he should not die till he had seen our saviour come in the flesh. this simon aged . years , had a † revelation , that before his death , he should behold a holy order of carmelites come out of syria , which fell out accordingly . at their arrival in england , our simon quitted his oak , and advanced forward to meet them , as of whom , though he had no sight , he had a vision before , which is probably as true , as that he was fed seven years with manna in mount carmel . he was chosen the general governour of their order all over europe : and died in the hundred year of his age , anno dom. . and was buried at burdeaux in france . thomas hashlwood . i find the name very ancient in a worshipful family in northampton-shire , and professe not only my inclination but propensity , to gain him for the credit of my native country . but that needs not to be ( and i ought not to make it ) rich with the wrong of others . indeed i find a haselwood ( transposition makes no mutation ) in suffolk , and another in northumberland : but their vast distance from the monastery of leeds in this county , wherein our haselwood was bred an augustinian fryer , ( with some other insinuations , too long to report ) prevail with me to fix him in this place . he was an excellent scholar himself , and a fortunate school-master to teach others , and became a faithful and painful historian . bale * ( out of william botiner , an industrious collector of antiquities ) assigneth him to flourish under king edward the second , . but * mr. weaver light on a manuscript of his making in sir robert cottons library , wherein he particularly speaks of the atchievements of edward the black prince , which i here thought fit to exemplifie . edwardus filius edw. . primogenitus , princeps walliae fortunatissimus , & miles in bello audacissimus , inter validissima bella gesta militaria , magnifice ab eodem peracta , johannem regem franciae apud poyteizes debellavit , & pluribus , tam nobilibus quam aliis , de dicto regno captis , & interfectis , eundem regem captivavit , & ipsum potenter in angliam ductum patri suo praesentavit . henricum etiam intrusorem hispaniae , potentissime in bello devicit , & petrum hispaniae regem , dudum à regno suo expulsum , potenti virtute in regnum-suum restituit . unde propter ingentem sibi probitatem , & actus ipsius triumphales , memoratum principem , inter regales regum memorias , dignum duximus commendandum . thus have i ( not kill'd two birds with one bolt , but ) revived two mens memories with one record , presenting the reader ( according to my * promise ) with the character of this prin●… , and style of this writer , speaking him ( in my conjecture ) to have lived about the raign of king richard the second . since the reformation . sir thomas wiat , knight , commonly called the elder , to distingish him from sir thomas wiat ( raiser of the rebellion ( so all call it ) for it did not succeed ) in the raign of queen mary , was born at allyngton castle in this county , which afterwards he repaired with most beautiful buildings . he was servant to king henry the eight , and fell ( as i have heard ) into his disfavour , about the business of queen anna bollen , till by his innocence , industry , and discretion , he extricated himself . he was one of admirable ingenuity , and truly answered his anagram , wiat , a wit. * cambden saith he was , eques auratus splendide doctus . it is evidence enough of his protestant inclination , because he translated davids psalms into english meter ; and though he be lost both to bale and pits in the catalogue of writers , yet he is plentifully found by * leland , giving him this large commendation . bella suum merito jactet florenti●… dantem regia petrarchae carmina roma probat , his non inferior patrio sermone viattus eloquii secum qui decus omne tulit . let florence fair her dante 's justly boast , and royal rome her petrarchs numbred feet , in english wiat both of them doth coast : in whom all graceful eloquence doth meet . this knight being sent embassador by king henry the eight , to charles the fifth emperour , then residing in spain ; before he took shipping , died of the pestilence in the * west country , anno . leonard diggs , esquire , was born in this county , one of excellent learning , and deep judgement . his mind most inclined him to mathematicks , and he was the best architect in that age for all manner of buildings , for conveniency , pleasure , state , strength , being excellent at fortifications . lest his learning should die with him , for the publick profit he printed his tectonicon , prognostick general , stratiotick , about the ordering of an army , and other works . he flourished anno dom. . and died , i believe , about the beginning of the reign of queen elizabeth . nothing else have i to observe of his name , save that heredita●…y learning may seem to run in the veins of his family , witnesse , sir dudley diggs of chilham castle in this county , made master of the rolls , . whose abilities will not be forgotten whilest our age hath any remembrance . this knight had a younger son , fellow of all souls in oxford , who in the beginning of our civil wars , wrote so subtile and solid a treatise , of the difference betwixt king and parliament , that such royalists , who have since handled that controversie , have written plura non plus ; yea , aliter rather than alia of that subject . thomas charnock , was born in the isle of thanet in this county , as by his own * words doth appear . he discovereth in himself a modest pride ; modest stiling himself ( and truly enough ) the unlettered scholar ; pride , thus immoderately boasting of his book discovering the mysteries of the philosophers stone , for satisfying the minds of the students in this art , then thou art worthy as many books as will lie in a cart. however herein he is to be commended , that he ingeniously confesseth the persons , ( viz. william byrd prior of bath , and sir james a priest of sarisbury ) who imparted their skill unto him . this charnock in the pursuance of the said stone ( which so many do touch ; few catch , and none keep ) met with two very sad disasters : one on new-years day ( the omen worse than the accident ) anno . when his work unhappily fell on fire . the other three years after , when a gentleman , long owing him a grudge , paid him to purpose , and pressed him a souldier for the relieving of calice . whence we observe two things , first , that this charnock was no man of estate , seeing seldom , if ever a subsidy man , is pressed for a souldier . secondly , that though he practised * surgery , yet he was not free of that society , who by the statute hen. . are exempted from bearing armour . but the spight of the spight was , that this was done within * a month ( according to his own computation , which none con confute ) of the time wherein certainly he had been made master of so great a treasure . such miscarriages , frequent in this kind , the friends of this art , impute to the envy of evil spirits maligning mankind so much happinesse , the foes thereof conceive that chymists pretend ( yea , sometimes cause ) such casualties to save their credits thereby . he was fifty years old anno . and the time of his death is unknown . francis thinne was born in this county , and from his infancy had an ingenuous inclination to the study of antiquity , and especially of pedignees . herein hee made such proficiency , that he was prefer robert glover , son to thomas glover , & mildred his wife , was born at * ashford in this county . he addicted himself to the study of heraldry , and in the reward of his pains was first made a pursuivant porcul tho. milles sisters son to robert glover aforesaid , was born at ashford in this county , and following his uncles direction , applyed himself to be eminent in the genealogies of our english nobility . john philpot , was born at faulkston in this county , and from his child-hood had a genius enclining him to the love of antiquity . he first was made a pursuivant extraordinary , by the title of blanch-lion , then red towards the end of the raign of q. elizabeth , to be an herald , by the title of lancaster . a gentleman painful , and well deserving , not only of his own office , but all the english nation . whosoever shall peruse the voluminous works of raphael hollinshed , will find how much he was assisted therein by the help of mr. thinne , seeing the shoulders of atlas himselfe may bee weary , if sometime not beholding to hercules to relieve him . he died . lis , and then somerset herald . when the earle of derby was sent into france to carry the garter to k. henry the third , * mr. glover attended the embassage , and was , as he deserved , well rewarded for his pains . he by himselfe in latine began a book , called the catalogue of honour of our english nobility , with their arms and matches . being the first work in that kind ; he therein traced untrodden paths , and therefore no wonder if such * who since succeeded him in that subject , have found a nearer way , and exceed him in acurateness therein . being old rather in experience than years , he died not . years old , anno . and lieth buried under a comely monument in saint giles without creplegate , london , on the south wall of the quire. let * mr. cambdens commendation pass for his epitaph , artis heraldicae studiosissimus , peritissimusque , qui in foecialium collegio somerseti titulum gessit , robertus gloverus . if the expression were as properly predicated of a nephew , as of the next brother , one might say , he raised up seed unto his uncle glover , in setting forth his catalogue of honour , in english , as more useful therein , because chiefly of our nationall concernment . he was employed on a message of importance from q. elizabeth unto henry the fourth king of france , be ing then in normandy , which trust he discharged with great fidelity , and incredible scelerity , being returned home with a satisfactory answer to her highness before she could believe him arrived there . in memory of which service , he had given him for the crest of his arms , a chappeau with wings , to denote the mercuriousnesse of this messenger . he died anno . in ordinary , by name of roughdragon , and afterwards somerset herald . he made very pertinent additions to the second edition of mr. cambdens remains , and deserved highly wel of the city of london , proving in a learned and ingenious book , that gentry doth not abate with apprentiship , but only sleepeth during the time of their indentures , and awaketh again when they are expired . nor did he contribute a little to the setting forth of his uncles catalogue of honour . he died anno . and was buried in bennet pauls-wharf . thomas playferd was born in this county , as some of his nearest relations have informed me . he was bred fellow of saint johns colledge in cambridge , and chosen . to succeed peter barrow in the place of margaret professor . his fluency in the latine tongue seemed a wonder to many , though since such who have seen the sun admire no more at the moon , doctor collins not succeeding him so much in age , as exceeding him in eloquence . the counsel of the apostle is good , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . his foe-friends commending of him , and his own conceiting of himself made too deep an impression on his intellectuals . it added to his distemper , that when his re●…election to his place ( after his last two years end ) was put into the regent-house , a great doctor said detur digniori . however he held his professor-ship until the day of his death , . and lieth buried with an hyperbolical epitaph in s. botolphs in cambridge . john bois , d. d. was descended of a right ancient and numerous family in this county , deriving themselves from j. de bosco , entring england with william the conqueror , and since dispersed into * eight branches extant at this day in their several seats . our john was bred fellow of clare-hall in cambridge , and afterwards preferred dean of canterbury , famous to posterity for his postils in defence of our liturgy . so pious his life , that his adversaries were offended that they could not be offended therewith . a great prelate in the church did bear him no great good will for mutual animosities betwixt them , whilest gremials in the university ; the reason perchance , that he got no higher preferment , and died ( as i conjecture ) about the year . benefactors to the publick . sir john philpot was born in this county , where his family hath long resided at upton-court , in the parish of sibbertswood . he was bred a citizen and grocer in london , whereof he became mayor , . in the second of king richard the second our english seas wanted scouring , over-run with the rust of piracies , but chiefly with a canker fretting into them , one john mercer a scot , with his fifteen spanish ships . to represse whose insolence , our philpot on his own cost set forth a fleet , a project more proportionable to the treasury of a prince , than the purse of a private subject . his successe was as happy as his undertaking honourable , and mercer brought his wares to a bad market , being taken * with all his ships and rich plunder therein . two years after he conveyed an english army into britaine , in ships of his own hiring , and with his own money released more than . arms there , which the souldiers formerly engaged for their victuals . but this industry of philpot interpretatively taxed the lazinesse of others , the nobility accusing him ( drones account all bees pragmatical ) to the king , for acting without a commission . yea , in that ungrateful age , under a child-king , pro tantorum sumptuum praemio , veniam vix obtinuit . however , he , who whilest living , was the scourge of the scots , the fright of the french , the delight of the commons , the darling of the merchants , and the hatred of some envious lords , was at his death lamented , and afterwards beloved of all , when his memory was restored to its due esteem . william sevenock was born at sevenock in this county . in allusion whereunto he gave * seven acorns for his arms , which if they grow as fast in the field of heraldry , as in the common field , may be presumed to be oaks at this day . for it is more than . years since this william ( bred a grocer at london ) became anno . lord mayor thereof . he founded at sevenock a fair free schoole for poor peoples children , and an alms house for * twenty men and women , which at this day is well maintained . since the reformation . sir andrew jud , son of john jud was born at tunbridge in this county , bred a skinner in london , whereof he became lord mayor anno . he built alms houses nigh saint ellens in london , and a stately free schoole at tunbridge in 〈◊〉 , submitting it to the care of the company of skinners . this fair schoole hath been twice founded in effect , seeing the defence and maintenance whereof hath cost the company of skinners in suits of law , and otherwise , * four thousand pounds , so careful have they been ( though to their own great charge ) to see the will of the dead performed . william lamb , esquire , sometime a gentleman of the chappel to king henry the eighth , and in great favour with him , was born at * sutton-valens in this county , where he erected an alms-house , and a well endowed schoole . he was a person wholly composed of goodnesse and bounty , and was as general and discreet a benefactor as any that age produced . anno . he began , and within five months finished the fair conduit at holborn-bridge , and carried the water in pipes of lead more than two thousand yards at his own cost , amounting to fifteen hundred pound . the total summe of his several gifts moderately estimated exceeded six thousand pounds . he lies buried with his good works in saint faiths church under saint pauls ; where this inscription , set up ( it seems by himself in his life time ) is fixed on a brasse plate to a pillar . o lamb of god which sin didst take away and ( as a lamb ) wast offered up for sin . where i ( poor lamb ) went from thy flock astray , yet thou ( good lord ) vouchsafe thy lamb to win home to thy fold , and hold thy lamb therein , that at the day , when goats and lambs shall sever , of thy choice lambs , lamb may be one for ever . the exact time of his death , i cannot meet with , but by proportion i conjecture it to be about . frances sidney , daughter of sir william , sister to sir henry ( lord deputy of ireland , and president of wales ) aunt to the renowned sir philip sidney , was born ( and probably at pensherst the ancient seat of the sidneys ) in this county . a lady endowed with many virtues , signally charitable , expending much in large benefactions to the publick . she bestowed on the abby church of westminster a salary of twenty pounds per annum for a divinity lecture ; and founded sidney sussex colledge in cambridge , of which largely in my church-history . she was relict of thomas ratcliff , the third earl of sussex . this worthy lady died childless ( unlesse such learned persons who received their breeding in her foundation may be termed her issue ) on the ninth day of may , anno . as appeareth by her * epitaph . sir francis nethersole , knight , born at nethersole in this county , was bred fellow of trinity colledge in cambridge , and afterwards became orator of the university . hence he was preferred to be embassador to the princes of the union , and secretary to the lady elizabeth , queen of 〈◊〉 ; it is hard to say whether he was more remarkable for his doings or sufferings in her behalf . he married lucy eldest daughter of sir henry goodyear of polesworth in warwick - 〈◊〉 , by whose encouragement ( being free of himself to any good design ) he hath founded and endowed a very fair school at polesworth aforesaid , and is still living . memorable persons . simon , son of william lynch , gent. was born at groves in the parish of staple in this county , decemb. . . but see more of his character under this title in essex , where his life and death were better known . mary waters was born at lenham in this county , and how abundantly intituled to memorability , the ensuing epitaph in markeshall church in essex will sufficiently discover . here lieth the body of mary waters , the daughter and co-heir of robert waters of lenham in kent , esquire , wife of robert honywood of charing in kent , esquire , her only husband , who had at her decease lawfully descended from her , three hundred sixty seven children ; sixteen of her own body , one hundred and fourteen grand-children , two hundred twenty eight in the third generation , and nine in the fourth . she lived a most pious life , and in a christian manner died here at markeshall , in the ninety third year of her age , and in the forty fourth year of her widowhood , the eleventh of may , . thus she had a child for every day in the ( though leap ) year , and one over . here we may observe , that ( generally ) the highest in honour , do not spread the broadest in posterity . for time was , when all the earls in england ( and those then seventeen in number ) had not , put together , so many sons and daughters , as one of them had , viz. * edward somerset , earle of worcester . and yet of both sexes he never had but * thirteen . but to return to mistresse waters , she since hath been much out-stript in point of * fruitfulnesse , by one still surviving ; and therefore this worthy matrone ( in my mind ) is more memorable on another account , viz. for patient weathering out the tempest of a troubled conscience , whereon a remarkable story dependeth : being much afflicted in mind , many ministers repaired to her , and amongst the rest , reverend mr. john fox , than whom no more happy an instrument to set the joynts of a broken spirit . all his counsels proved ineffectual , insomuch that in the agony of her soul , having a venice-glass in her hand , she brake forth into this expression , i am as surely damn'd as this glasse is broken , which she immediately threw with violence to the ground . here happened a wonder , the glasse rebounded again , and was taken up whole and entire . i confesse it is possible ( though difficult ) so casually to throw as brittle a substance , that lighting on the edges it may be preserved ; but happening . immediately in that juncture of time , it seemed little lesse than miraculous . however the gentlewoman took no comfort thereat ( as some have reported , and more have believed ) but continued a great time after ( short is long to people in pain ) in her former disconsolate condition without any amendment . until at last , god , the great clock-keeper of time , who findeth out the fittest minutes for his own mercies , suddenly shot comfort like lightning into her soul ; which once entred , ever remained therein ; ( god doth no palliate cures , what he heals it holds ) so that she led the remainder of her life in spiritual gladnesse . this she her self told to the reverend father thomas morton bishop of duresme , from whose mouth i have received this relation . in the days of queen mary she used to visit the prisons , and to comfort and relieve the confessors therein . she was present at the burning of mr. bradford in smithfield , and resolved to see the end of his suffering , though so great the presse of people , that her shooes were trodden off , and she forced thereby to go barefoot from smithfield to saint martins , before she could furnish her self with a new pair for her money . her dissolution happened as is aforesaid , anno . nicholas wood was born at halingborne in this county , being a landed man , and a true labourer . he was afflicted with a disease called boulimia , or caninus apetitus ; insomuch that he would devour at one meal , what was provided for * twenty men , eat a whole hog at a sitting , and at another time thirty dozen of pigeons ; whilest others make mirth at his malady . let us raise our gratitude to the goodness of god , especially when he giveth us appetite enough for our meat , and yet meat too much for our appetite ; whereas this painful man spent all his estate to provide provant for his belly , and died very poor about the year . we will conclude this topick of memorable persons with a blanck mention of him , whose name hitherto i cannot exactly attain , being an ingenuous * yeoman in this county , who hath two ploughs fastened together so finely , that he plougheth two furrows at once , one under another , and so stirreth up the land twelve or fourteen inches deep , which in so deep ground is very good . scholars know that hen-dia-duo is a very thrifty figure in rhetorick , and how advantagious the improvement of this device of a twinne-plough may be to posterity , i leave to the skilful in husbandry to consider . lord mayors . name . father . place . company . time . will. sevenock . william rumshed . sevenock . grocer . . thomas hill. william hill. hillstone . grocer . . rich. chawry . william chawry . westram . salter . . andrew jud. john jud. tonbridge . skinner . . john rivers . richard rivers . pensherst . grocer . . edw. osburne . richard osburne . ashford . clothworker . . tho. polloccil . william polloccil . footseary . draper . . william rowe . thomas row. pensherst . iron●… monger . . cuthbert aket . thomas aket . dertford . draper . the names of the gentry of this county returned by the commissioners in the twelfth year of king henry the sixth . henry arch-bishop of canterbury . commissioners to take the oaths . robert de poynyngs , knight . richard widvile . kights for the shire . john perye . kights for the shire . will. prioris ecclesiae christi canter . prioris de rouchester abbatis sancte radgundis . abbatis de langedon abbatis de boxle . abbatis de lesnes . prioris sancti georgii cartur . prioris de ledes . prioris de tunbregge prioris de bilsington . prioris de horton . rogeri heron magistri 〈◊〉 ▪ de maydston . thome ward rectoris ecclesiae de wroham . thome mome recto●… ris ecclesiae de dele henrici benwortham rectoris ecclesiae de bourne . 〈◊〉 ashton prepositi coll ▪ de wingham . will. palmer rectoris eccl. de smerden . rich. corden . archidiaconi roffensis johannis gladwyn magistri collegii de cobham . will. lyef rectoris ecclesie de heriettesham . johan . corwel magistri de stode . rob. rectoris ecclesiae de redelegh . fratris andree birchford mil. de swynfeld magistri hosp. de osprenge . simonis chepynden rectoris ecclesiae de wornesel . johannis petthe mil. rogeri chamberleyn , mil. galfridi louther . johannis darsel . willihelmi 〈◊〉 . willielmi cheyney . willielmi clifford . edwardi gilfford . rogeri 〈◊〉 . thome browne . reignaldi peckham . johannis seyntleger . johannis bamburgh . lodewici clifford . willielmi garnel . johannis cheyney . thome walsingham . willielmi vvarner . johannis dennis de vvelle . valentini baret . willielmi manston . 〈◊〉 berton . johannis isaac . thome ballard . willielmi sepuans . willielmi pikhill . thome sepuans . johannis greneford . edmundi hardes . johannis digges . edwardi lymsey . johannis shyngleton richardi bamme . richardi chiche . roberti shandeford . willielmi frogenale . richardi combe . thome betenham . johannis kelsham . edmundi pashele . henrici horne de apledre . thome achier . johannis 〈◊〉 de hoo. roberti watten . stephani cossington . willielmi channz . rogeri honyngton . johannis horne de lenham . walteri colepepar . nicholai colepepar . willielmi burys . willelmi gullby . johannis norton . johannis feerby de paulstrey . iohannis erhithe . stephani norton . willielmi kereby . rogeri appulton . roberti mollyngton . willielmi isle de son●… . willielmi hodestle . thome hardes . iohannis oxenden . thome brokhill de saltwode . nichola●… brokhill de saltwode . adomari digge . willielmi bertyn . edwardi seint iohn . richardi malman . roberti cappes . iohannis vinche . richardi horn de westwell . will. lane de cantnaria . will. chilton de eadem . will. benet de eadem will. bellington de eadem . ioh. rose de eadem . vvill. osborn de eadem . roberti stopingdon de eadem . gilberti germayn . thome normayne de cant. iohannes foochunt de eadem . vvill. bryan de eadem . richardi curteler de eadem . richardi prat de eadem . edmundi vvykes de eadem . vvill. baker de eadem . rogeri manston . iohannis hetesle . thome salisbury . iohannis carleton . iohannis gotysle . iohannis dandylion . will. isaak . thome apuldrefeld . will. steveday . iohannis moyne . iohannis gerwinton . iohannis feneaux . will. sutton de northburne . stephani monyn . iohannis broke de snaxton . iohannis petit de char●…ham . vvill. valence . tho. hollys de godmarsham . iohannis rolling . nicholai hame . roberti yerde . richardi bruyn . vvill. brokman . guidonis elys . thome simond de hertley . iohannis may. thome horden . thome burgeys . iohannis golde . iohannes hoigges . thome springet . rogeri twisden . iohannis hore . iohannis derby . will. collings de thameto . walteri gore . thome champion . iohan. chamberlain . hen. hicks de rouchestre . vvill. sidenore . radulfi towke . iohannis wareve de vvy . vvill. goldwell de godyinton . vvill. goldwell de chart. richardi sprot . thome chiterynden . vvill. enfynge . vvill. spert . roberti tropham de wingham . roberti goodebarne . thome bevesle . will. iuenet . iohannis iuenet . iohannes brenchesle s●…n . iohannis brenchesle jun. laur. betleston de bydynden . iohan. pitlesden de tynderdi . thome hames de eadem . thome berkynden . thome gosebourne . will. gosebourne . iohannis edyngham . richardi edyngham . hugonis godwyn . peteri colepeper . walt. baker de maidston . steph. colney de eadem . laur. stonstreet de eadem . will. enton . thome mellere de lenham . caur . mellere de eadem . hen. boycote . will. hadde . robert purse . ●…ehannis laurence . robert norton . rich. dawdemere . will. roger. thome grymston . iohannis tuttesham . galfrid yong. simonis goldsmith . ioh. croweche de wateringbery . ioh. reve. ioh. westbery . thome stydolf . tho. hilles de brenchesle . laur. hilles . ioh. slyhand . vvill. woadlond de vvest-gate . ioh. philpot de eadem . thome tenham de thaneto . thome pawlyn de thaneto . ioh. roger de vvhitstaple . iohannis salmon de vvhitstaple . vvill. hall de eastrey . thome hunt de crud deswode . vvill. licheffeld de norbourn . henrici bynton . adde chanceler . thome newman de chistlet . richardi bomoure de eadem . thome causant de eadem . vvill. philip de hierne . thome loucher . roberti lovelass . thome cadbery . thome rokesle . roberte virle . ioh. rose de shorham . vvill. holden de hunten . ioh. rolff de vvrotham . iohannis swan de southfleet . iohannis mellere de vvimelingwelde . iohannis eythorst de tenbam . vvill. blosme de tenderden . iacobi budde de vvhitresham . richardi combre . vvillielmi vvotton de denton . iohannis biunham . roberti hothe de ryvere . thome willok de wy . vvill. vvillok de wy . iohannis atte cambre de bokton aluph . iohannis sandre de bokton aluph . iohannis colman de eastwell . io. walter de eastewl . tho. richard de wy . thome cartere de crundale . will. lucas de essheford . rich. atte sole kenington . iohannis roberd de eadem . iohannis sandre de conybrohe . thome chapman . iohannis ely. will. ixning . nicholai roger de mersham . nichol ai kenet . johannis weston . henrici tepynden . barthol . atte boure . will. bregges de ore. reginalai d●…ylonde . nicholai dane . richardi langedon . stephani hoigge . 〈◊〉 harry . ●…illielmi iden . johannis h●…wet de chertham . willielmi egerden . johannis bertlot de cantuaria . johannis lynde de eadem . rob. becket de eadem johan . edle de ead . ioh. edmond de ead . johan . osburn de ea . johan . pikerel de ea . lau●… . winter de ead . will. atte wode de ea . thome cherch de ea . iohan. bronns de ea . rob. pycot de eadem . rich. galding de ead . thome pollard de ea . johan . pende de ead . thome mott de ead . thome lamsyn de ea . joh. malling de ead . joh. cosyn de ead . joh. bertholt de ead . david marryes de eadem . ade body de eadem . henrici piers de ead . johannis robart de cranebroke . willielmi hert de 〈◊〉 . richardi fawconer . johannis bakke . johannis bereham . johannis bettenham iohannis watte de hankherst . will. bernes de ead . richardi hodingfold nicholai piers. willielmi piers de molash . richardi monyn . willielmi cobham . johannis baily de hoo. roberti reynold . henrici rowe . richardi groucherst de horsmonden . johannis jud. walteri fletcher de tunbridge . johannis picot de ea . ●…illielmi randolf de eadem . rich. johnson de ea . simonis fitz●…aufe . thome barbour de wrotham . willielmi menyware . iohannis rowe . richardi ruxton . stephani atte bourn de gontherst . will. robert de ead . ioh. thorp de gillingham . io. spencer de melton ioh. spencer de eadem , jun. io. petyge de gravesend . ioh. pete de eadem . will. doget de ead . roberti baker de ead . iohan. igelynden de bydinden . richardi smith de shorne . michaelis atte dean . richardi lewte . iohannis bottiler de clyne . thome gardon de ea . thome peverel de cukston . ioh. chambre de ead . will. holton de heo . simonis walsh de creye . iohannis mayor de rokesle . thome shelley de farnburgh . ioh. mellere de orpington . ioh. shelley de bixle . willielmi bery . iohannis bery . thome cr●…ssel . iohan. manning de codeham . roberti merfyn . roberti chesman de greenwich . philippi dene de wolwich . radulphi langle de beconham . will wolty de eadem . ioh. smith de sevenock . ioh. cartere de nemesing . tho. palmer de otford . nicholai atte bore de bradest . rog. wodeward de●…ea . willielmi rothel . roberti allyn . iohannis knolls . richardi rokesle . iohannis steynour . radulfi stanhall de westerham . rich. yong de eadem . rich. paris de eadem thome martin de ●…donbregge . thome peny . iohannis dennet de edonbregge . willielmi kirketon de fankham . iohannis crepehegge iohannis hellis de dernthe . iohan. chympeham . rob. coats de stone . roberti stonestrete de ivechesch . iohan. hogelyn de ea . iohannis lowys . petri thurban . thome beausrere . steph. ive de hope , sen. willielmi newland de brokland . hen. aleyne de ead . willielmi wolbale . iohannis creking . stephani vvyndy . henrici dobil . simonis odierne . roberti hollynden . de stelling . will. bray de eadem . petri neal de elmestede . steph. gibbe de stonting . rich. shotwater de eadem . rogeri hincle de elham . andree vvodehil de eadem . nicolai campion . vvill. atte berne de lymyne . iohannis cartere de abyndon . rich. knight , de stelling . will. kenet de bonington . iacobi skappe . iacobi godefray . ioh. baker de caldham . roberti dolyte ▪ roberti woughelite . ioh. chilton de newington . tho. chylton de ead . thome turnour de rouchester . ioh. ●…ust de eadem ioh. houchon de ead . stephani riviel . warini wade . thome groveherst . will. berford de newington . iohannis grendon de upcherche . iohannis hethe de bakchild . rich. groveherst de syndingbourn . ioh. sonkyn de ead . p. haidon de borden . thome waryn de lenham . rich. dene de hedecrone . walteri terold . hugonis brent . sheriffs . hen. ii. anno rualons . anno radul . picot , for six years . anno hugo de dovera , for seven years . anno gerv. de cornhilla , for six years . anno gervat . & rob. fil . bernardi . anno rob. filius bernardi , for eight years . anno will. filius nigelli . anno alanus de valoigns . for four years . rich. i. anno regnal . de cornhill , for six y●…ars . anno will. de sancta mardalia . walt. filius dermand . anno reginald . de cornhill . anno idem . anno idem . rex johan . anno reginald . de cornhill , for eleven years . anno johan fitz vinon & reginald . de cornhil , for six years . hen. iii. anno hubert . de burgo . hugo de windlesore , for seven years . anno hub. & roger de grimston , for three years . anno huber . de burozo & will. de brito , for six years . anno bartholomeus de criol , for six years . anno hum●… . de boh. comes essex anno ●…dem . anno petrus de sabaudia & bertram de criol . anno 〈◊〉 de criol & johan . de cobham . anno john de cobham , for five years . anno reginald . de cobham , for eight years . walterus de bersted . anno reginaldus de cobham . anno fritho . poysorer . anno idem . anno johannis de cobham . anno dem . anno ●…dem . anno . rob. walerand . tho. de la wey . anno rogerus de layburne . anno idem . anno rog. & hen. de burne , for three years . anno steph. de penecester , & henricus de ledes , for three years . anno henricus malemeins . edw. i. anno hen. malemenis mort. anno will. de hents . anno will. de valoigns , for four years . anno robertus de schochon . anno robertus de schochon . anno idem . anno idem . anno petrus de huntinfend . anno idem . anno idem . anno hamo . de gatton . anno will. de chelesend . anno idem . anno idem . anno will. de brimshete . anno idem . anno johan . de northwod . anno johannes & johannes & burne . anno johan . de burne . anno idem . anno idem . anno will. trussel . anno idem . anno . hen. de apuldrefeld . anno johan . de northwod . anno hen. de cobham . anno idem . anno warresius de valoynes . anno idem . anno johan . de northwod . anno idem . anno will. de cosington . anno galfridus colepepar , for four years . edw. ii. anno henricus de cobham . anno johan . de blound , for five years . anno will. de basings & johannes de h●…ulo , jun. anno idem . anno hen. de cobham . anno johannes de malemeyns de hoo. anno idem . johannes de fremingham . anno johan . & hen. de sardenne . anno hen. & wi●…l . septuans . anno nul . tit. com. in hoc rotulo . anno will. stevens & radus savage . anno nul . tit. com. in rotulo . anno johannes de shelvinge . anno johannes de fremingham . anno idem . edw. iii. anno radulph de sancto laur. anno will. de orlaston . anno johannes de shelvingges & will. de orlaston . anno johannes de bourne , johannes de shelvingges . anno johannes de bourne . anno tho. de brockhull , laur. de sancto laur. anno tho. de brockhull . anno steph. de cobham . anno idem . anno idem . anno tho. de brockhull . anno w●…ll . morants . anno idem . anno henrici de valoyns . anno johannes de mereworth . anno johannes de widleston , jo ▪ hannes de mereworth . anno johannes de widleston , for four years . anno williel . de l●…ngele . anno johannes de fremingham , anno vvilliel . de langele , arnaldus s●…nvage . anno n●…l . tit. com. in hoc rotulo . anno will. de langele . anno jacob. lapin . anno will. de apelderfeld . anno j●…cobi . lapin . anno reginal . de duk , sive dyk . anno gilb. de helles . anno will. de apelderfeld . anno radus fremingh●…m . anno williel . wakenade . anno will. de apelderfeld . anno idem . anno idem . anno willielmi pimpe . anno will. de 〈◊〉 . anno j●…hannes colepepar . anno ●…dem . anno ricus atte les. anno johannes de brockhull . anno johannes colepepar . anno will de apelderfeld . anno williel . pimp . anno johannes 〈◊〉 anno 〈◊〉 . colepepar anno rob. notingham anno williel . pimpe anno nic. arte crouch anno henrici apulder●…eld . henry iii. i hubert de burgo , & hugo de windlesore . ] this is that hubert so famous in our chronicles , late lord chamberlain unto king john and lord chiefe justice of england . in this year of his 〈◊〉 , he not only valiantly defended the castle of dover , against lewis the french kings son , but also in a naval confl●…ct overthrew a new supply of souldiers sent to him for his assistance . i behold this hugo joyned with him ( as the shadow to the substance ) as his under-sheriff , acting the affairs of the county in his absence . ii hubert de burozo , & will. de brito . ] this year anno . hugo de burgo ( of whom immediately before ) was in the month of februa●…y , by the king made earle of kent , and for a farther reward , had granted unto him the third penny of all the kings profits arising in the said county , and hubert de burozo succeeded him in his office. but i humbly conceive him the same * person , who was both comes and vice-comes of kent at the same time , a conjuction often precedented in other counties . the rather , because this hubert lived many years after , till at last he got the kings ill will , for doing him so many good offices , not dying till the twenty seventh year of his raign , anno . edw. i. johan . de northwod . ] this was a right ancient family in this county , for i find in the church of minster in shepy this inscription , hic jacent rogerus norwod & boan uxor ejus , sepulti ante conquestum . possibly they might be buried here before the conquest , but the late character of the letter doth prove it a more modern inscription . the chief r●…sidence of the norwods , was a house of their own name in the parish of milton-chu●…ch , where they have many fair monuments , but with defaced epitaphs . one of their heirs was married into the family of the nortons , of whom * hereafter . sheriffs . name . place . armes . rich. ii.     anno     tho. de cobham . roundall g. on a chev. or , cress. sa. jo. de fremingham freming   〈◊〉 c de peckham y●…ldham sab. a chev . or , between . cross croslets fitchee arg. will. septuans milton   arnald . s●…vage bobbing arg. . lionc●…ls , , & . sab. tho. brockhul cale-hill gul. a cross ingraild between . cross-croslets fitche ar     rob. corby boughton   arnold . savage ut prius   radus seintleger 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . fretee arg. a chief gul. 〈◊〉 . de gulde●…ord hempsted o●… , a saltyr betwixt martlets sable . jacobus peckham ut prius   will. burcestre ●…antshire   rich. de berham berham arg. . b●…ars sable , . & . 〈◊〉 or. ●…ho . chich † dungeon   wil●… . barry sev●…ngton † az. lions rampant , within a border , arg. joh. fremingham     tho. colepeper pepenbnry arg. a bend engrailed gules . ●… will. haut waddenhal or , a cross engrailed gules . tho. seintleger ut prius   nich. potyne queen-co .   joh botiller . gravency a●…g . on a chief sab. . cups covered or. hen. iv.     anno     r b c●…ifford bobbing checkee or , and azure , a fess within a border , gul. tho. lodelow joh diggs 〈◊〉 digs cou. 〈◊〉 , on a cross , arg. . eaglets displayed , sable . tho. hyach     rich cliderow g ldstanton . arg. on a cheveron , gules , b●…twixt 〈◊〉 spread-eagles , sable , annulets , or.     valent baret lenham   〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉     edw. haut . ut prius   will. snayth   † ar. . 〈◊〉 g. on a chief , s. a bar 〈◊〉 of the first . reginald . pimpe † pimps co.   joh darel cale-hil . az. a lion rampant or , crowned argent . will. notebeame     hen. v.     anno     will. clifford ut prius   rob. clifford . ut prius   will. langley     will darel ●…t prius   joh darel ut prius   rich. cliderow ut prius   joh burgh     will. haut hautsburn . ut 〈◊〉     joh. darel . ut prius   hen. vi.     anno     〈◊〉 darel . ut prius   wil●… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . azure , . lions rampant , argent , a canton erm. joh rykeld eastlinghā .   will. clifford ut p●…ius   will. culpeper preston ut prius . tho. ellis burton 〈◊〉 , on a cross s. . cressants a. will. scot braborne amp. joh. peach lullingston   joh. seintleger ut prius   edward gulfort ha●…den ut prius . will. burys b●…omeley   rich wo●…veile . northāp . arg. a fess and canton , gul. will. clifford ut prius   will. manston manston   jacobus fienis k●…msing az . lions rampant , or. rich w●…ller grome-br . sab. . v vallnut-leaves , or , between . benlets , argent . edw gul●…eford ut prius   gervasius clifton brabourn . sable , semi de cinque foyles , a lion rampant , argent . joh. yeard denton   joh wa●…ner vote●…crey   will. mareys 〈◊〉 † sable , lions pass . in bend , double cotised , argent . tho. brown † surrey   will. crowmer tunstal arg. a cheveron 〈◊〉 three ravens , sable . joh. 〈◊〉 feversham   will. 〈◊〉 sundridge e●…min , a fesse gules . will. kene well . hal   steph. 〈◊〉 . ut prius   hen. crowmer ut prius   garvasius clifton . ut prius   rob. horn horns place   tho ballard ho●…ton   joh 〈◊〉 . repton   joh 〈◊〉 , mil. ut prius   〈◊〉 . belkn●…p , arm . the moat   alex eden , arm . westwell   joh g●…ldeford , ar . ut prius   〈◊〉 . clifton , mil. ut prius   t●…o . brown mil & ut prius   joh. scot , ar . vicis . vic . scots-hal ut prius . edw. iv.     anno     joh. isaac , ar . howlets   will. peach , mil.     idem .     joh. diggs , ar ▪ ut prius   alex. clifford , ar . ut prius   vvill. haut , mil. ut prius   ●…oh . colepeper , mil. ut prius   〈◊〉 . se●…ntleger , ar . ut prius   hen. f●…rrers , ar . warw shire   joh. bromston , ar . preston   rich colepeper , ar . oxenhoath ut prius . ja peckham , ar . ut prius   joh. fogge , mil.     joh. isley , ar . ut prius   will haut , mil. ut prius   〈◊〉 . green , ar . scadbury gules , across 〈◊〉 ermin , within a border gobony arg. and sable . will. cheyney , ar . ut prius   rich. haut , ar . ut prius   rich. lee , ar . delce   ioh. fogge , mil.     geo. brown , mil. ut prius   rich. haut , ar . ut prius   rich. iii.     anno     will. haut , mil. ut prius   ioh. banne . grench   rich brakenbury , mil the moat   & will. cheyney . ut prius   hen. vii .     anno     will. cheyney . ut prius   ioh. pymp , ar . ut prius   hen. f●…rrers , mil. ut prius .   walt. roberts . glastenb .   will , boleyn , mil. norfolk argene , a cheveron 〈◊〉 , inter three buls heads 〈◊〉 sable , armed or. will. scot , mil. ut prius   ioh. darel , ar . ut prius   tho. kemp , ar . ollantie   rich. 〈◊〉 , mil. halden ut prius ioh. peach , ar .     ioh. diggs , ar . ut prius   〈◊〉 . walsingham , ar . scadbury pally of . arg. and sab. 〈◊〉 fesse gules . 〈◊〉 w clifford , ar . ut prius   rob wotton , ar . bocton arg. a saltire engrailed , sab. alex. colepeper , ar . ut prius   tho. eden , ar .     will. 〈◊〉 , mil. ut prins   rad. seintleger . ut prius   will. crowmer , ar . ut prius   ioh. langley , ar . knowlton   tho k●…mp . mil.     alex colepeper , ar . ut prius   henry vaine . tonbridg 〈◊〉 , gantlets 〈◊〉 , or. reginald . peckham . ut prius .   hen. viii .     will. growmer , mil. ut prius   iacobus diggs , a●… . ut prius   tho. boleyn , mil. ut prius   tho. kemp , mil.     io. norton , mil. northwood   alex. colepeper , ar . ut prius   tho. cheyney , ar . ut prius   will. scot , mil. ut pr●…us   tho. boleyn , mil. ut prius   ioh. crisps , ar . quekes   ioh. wiltshire , mil. stone   ioh. roper , ar . eltham . party per fesse , az. and or , a pale counterchanged , three row. bucks-heads erased of the second . rob. sonds , ar . * town place   ioh. f●…gge , mil.     geo. guldeford , mil. ut prius   will. haut , mil. ut prius * ar. black mores heads couped prop. bet . 〈◊〉 s. hen , v●…ne , ar . ut prius   w ll whetnal , ar . hex●…al vert , a bend ermin . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 scot , mil. ut prius   will kemp , ar .     edw 〈◊〉 , mil. ut prius   ●… vvill. vvaller , mil. ut prius   r●…ch . clement , mil. ightham   vvi●…l . finch , mil. east-well arg. a cheveron between . griffins passant sable . tho. roberth , ar . glastenb .   tho. ponings , mil. o●…tenhang . barry of . or and v●…rt , a bend , gules . edw. vvo●…ton . mil. ut prius   tho 〈◊〉 . mil. 〈◊〉   vvill. hau●… , mil. ut prius   vvill sidney , mil pensher●…t or , a pheon azure . anth. seintleger , m. ut prius   ●… anth. sonds , ar . ut prius   reginald sco●… . mil. ut prius   henry iseley , mil. ut prius   humph. style , mil. langley-pa sable , a fesse engrailed frettee between . flowers de lis , or. ioh. fogge , mil.     percival hart , mil. lullingst .   hen. 〈◊〉 , at .     edw. vi.     anno   az. a fesse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . goats heads erased arg. 〈◊〉 or. 〈◊〉 sidley , ar . scadbury   g●…o . harper , mil. sutton sab. a lion rampant within a border engrailed , gules . tho. culpeper , ar . ut prius   tho. w●…at , mil.     hen sley , mil. ut prius   ioh. guldeford , mil. ut prius   phil. & mar.     anno     m. ●… rob. southwel , m. merworth   m. . & ●… . wil. roper , ar . ut prius   & tho. kemp. mil.     &     & geo. vane , ar . ut prius   & 〈◊〉 wotton , ar . ut prius   eliz. reg.     anno     nich. crisps , ar .     warh . seintleger , ar . ut prius   ioh. tufton , ar . hothfield s. an eagle displayed erm. a border arg. ri●…h . baker , ar . * sisingherst   tho. walsingham , ar ut prius * az. a fesse or , between three swans beads erased , beaked , gules , tho. kemp , mil.     ioh. mayney , ar . will. isley , ar . ut prius   ioh. sidley , ar . southfleet   will. c●…owmer , ar . ut prius   ioh. brown , ar . browns pla . az. a chev. betw . escalops or , within a border engrailed , g. edw. isaac , ar . patricks-b .   ioh. leonard , ar . chevinin . or , on a fesse gules , flower de lis of the first . walter mayne , sen. ar spilsil   tho vane , sen. mil. badsel ut prius tho. willoughby , ar bore place o●… , frette azure . 〈◊〉 hales , mil. woodch . gules , arrows , or , headed and feathered , argent . ioh. tufron , ar . ut prius   tho. scot , mil. ut prius   edw. boys , ar . fredville or , a griffin sergreant , sable , within two borders , gules . tho. vvotton , ar . ut prius   tho. copinger , ar . tho. vane , ar . ut prius bendy of six , or , and gul. on a f●…sse , azure , three plates . tho. sonds , ar . ut prius   geo. hart , mil. ut prius   rich. baker , mil. ut prius   iust. champneys , ar . hall-plac per pale , arg. and sab. a lion rampant within a border engrailed counterchanged . nich. sonds , ar . ut prius   vvill. cromer , ar . ut prius   iacobus hales , mil. ut prius   . ioh. fineux , ar . haw-co . vert , a cheveron between . e●…glets displayed , or. rich hardres , ar .     vvill. sidley , ar . ut prius   tho. vvilloughby , ar . ut prius   sampson leonard , ar ut prius   rob. bing , ar . w o●…ham quarterly s. & ar. a lion ra . in the first quarter of the sec. mich. sond , ar . * throughley   edw vvotton , mil. ut prins * ut prius tho palmer , ar .     moilo finch , mil. eastwell arg. a chev. betwixt criffins passant , sable . tho. kemp , ar .     martin ba●…nham , ar .   s. a cross eng . bet . cress. 〈◊〉 . rog. twisden , ar . east peckh . gyrony 〈◊〉 four , arg. & gul. a saltire between as many croslets all counterchanged . ioh. smith , ar . ostenhang .   tho. scot , ar . ut prius   petr. manwood , ar . st. steph   ia. crome●… , mil. ut prius   jacobus .     anno     jacob. cromer , mil. ut prius   tho. b●…ker , mil. ut prius   moilus finch , mil. ut prius   nort. knatchbul , mil mersham azure croslets fitchee between bendlets , or. rob. edolph , mil. hinx-hill   edw. hales , mil. ut prius   vvill. vvithens , m south end   n ch . gilborn , mil. charing   max dallison , mil. halling gules , cr●…ssents , or , a canton ermin . vvill. steed , mil steed hill   an●…h . awcher , mil. hautsbourn † sab. bars , and as many cinquesoils in chief , or. edw filmer , mil. † e. sutton   edwin sandis , mil. northborn or , a fess dancy , bet . cros●… . g. vvill. beswick , ar . spelmōden gul. b●…sants , a 〈◊〉 or. gabr. livesey , ar . hollingbor . ar. a lion ramp gul. between trefoils , ve●…t . tho. norton , mil. bobbing   edw scot , ar . ut prius   john sidley bar. ut prius   tho. roberts , mil. & b. glastenb .   george fane , mil. ut prius   ioh hayward , mil. hollingbor .   tho. hamond , mil. brasted arg. ●…n a cheveron engrailed betwixt martlets sable , as many cinque foils , or. carol . i.     anno     isa. sidley , m. & bar . g●… . chart. ut prius . basilius dixwel , ar . folkston ar. a che. g bet . flow . de lys s ●… dw . engham , mil. goodnestō . arg. a chev. sab. betw . ogresses , a chief , gules . vvill. campion , m combwel   rich. brown , ar . singleton ut prius . rob. lewkner , mil. acris azure , three cheverons , arg. nich. miller , ar . crouch   tho. style , bar . watringb ut prius . ioh. baker , bar . ut prius   edw. chute , ar . surrendē   vvil. culpeper , bar . ut prius   geo. sands , mil. ut prius   tho. hendley , mil courshorn   edw. maisters , mil. e. langdō   david polhill , ar . otford   iacob . hugeson , ar . lingsted   vvil brokman , m. joh. honywood , m. bithborow evington           ioh. rayney , bar .     edw monins , bar . waldershāe court. azure , a lion passant betwixt escalops , or. ioh. hendon ▪ mil.     richard the second . . arnold savage . ] he was a knight , and the third constable of queenborough-castle . he lieth buried in bobbing church , with this inscription , orate specialiter pro animabus arnoldi savage , qui obiit in vigil . sancti andreae apost . anno . & domine joanne uxoris ejus quae fuit fil . &c. the rest is defaced . . gulielmus barry . ] in the parish church of senington in this county , i meet with these two sepulchral inscriptions , orate pro anima isabelle quondam uxoris willielmi barry , militis . hic jacet joanna b●…rry quondam uxor willielmi b●…rry , militis . there is in the same church a monument , whereupon a man armed is pourtrayed , the inscription thereon being altogether perished , which in all probability , by the report of the parishioners , was made to the memory of sir william barry aforesaid . henry the fourth . valentine barret . ] he lieth buried in the parish church of lenham in this county , under a grave-stone , thus inscribed , hic jacet valentine barret , arm. qui obiit novemb. . . & cecilia uxor ejus , quae obiit , martii . . quorum animabus — henry the sixth . . william scot . ] he lieth buried in brabo●…ne chu●…ch , with this epitaph , hic jacet willielmus scot de braborne arm. qui obiit . febr. . cujus anim — sis testis christe quod non jacet hic lapis iste , corpus ut ornetur sed spiritus ut memoretur . quisquis eris qui transieris sic perlege , plora , sum quod eris fueramqu●… quod es , pro me precor ora . his family afterwards fixed at scots hall in this county , where they flourish at this day in great reputation . . john seintleger . ] i find him entombed in ulcombe church , where this is written on his grave , here lieth john seintleger , esq and margery his wife , sole daughter and heir of james donnet , . wonder not that there is no mention in this catalogue of sir thomas seintleger , a native and potent person in this county , who married anne the relict of henry holland d. of exeter , the sister of k●…ng edward the fourth , by whom he had anne , mother to thomas manners , first earle of rutland . for the said sir thomas seintleger was not to be confided in under king henry the sixth ; and afterwards , when brother-in-law to king edward the fourth , was above the office of the sherivalty . . richardus waller . ] this is that renowned * souldier , who in the time of henry the fifth , took charles duke of orleans , general of the french army , prisoner at the battel of agin-court , brought him over into england , & held him in honorable restraint or custody at grome-bridge , which a manuscript in the heralds office notes to be twenty four years : in the time of which his recess , he newly erected the house at grome-bridge upon the old foundation , and was a benefactor to the repair of spelherst church , where his armes ●…emain in stone-work over the church porch : but lest such a signal piece of service might be entombed in the sepulchre of unthankful forgetfulnesse , the prince assigned to this ri●…hard waller and his heirs for ever , an additional crest , viz. the arms or escoucheon of france , hanging by a label on an oak , with this motto affixed , haec fructus virtutis . from this richard , sir william vvaller is lineally descended . . willielmus crowmer . ] this year happened the barbarous rebellion of iack cade in kent . this sheriff , unable with the posse comitatus , to resist their numerousness , was taken by them , and by those wild justicers committed to the fleet in london ; because , as they said ( and it must be so if they said it ) he was guilty of extortion in his office. not long after , these reformers sent for him out of the fleet , made him to be brought to mile-end , where , without any legal proceedings , they caused his head to be * smitten off , and set upon a long pole on london bridge , next to the lord say aforesaid , whose daughter he had married . john scot , arm. et vicissem vic. ] i understand it thus , that his under-sheriff supplied his place , whilest he was busied in higher affairs . he was knighted , much trusted and employed by king edward the fourth . i read in a * record , johannes scot , miles , cum c. c. soldariis ex mandato domini regis apud sandwicum pro salva custodia ejusdem . the aforesaid king , in the twelfth year of his raign , sent this sir iohn ( being one of his privy councel , and knight marshall o●… calis ) with others , on an embassie , to the dukes of burgundy and britain , to bring back the earls of pembroke and richmona , whose escape much perplexed this kings suspicious thoughts . but see his honourable epitaph in the church of braborne . hic jacet magnificus ac insignis miles joha●…nes scot quondam regis domus , invictissimi principis edwardi quarti , controll . & nobilissima integerrimaque agnes uxor ejus . qui quidem johannes obiit anno . die mens . octob. . richard the third . . richardus brakenbury , mil. & willielmus cheney . ] the former was of an ancient extraction in the north. i behold him as nearly allied ( if not brother ) to sir robert brakenbury , constable of the tower , who dipped his fingers so deep in the blood of king edward the fifth and his brother . it concerned king ●…ichard , in those suspitious times , to appoint his confident : sheriff of this important county ; but he was soon un-sheriffed by the kings death , and another of more true integrity substituted in his room . henry the seventh . . will. boleyn , mil. ] he was son to sir ieffery boleyne , lord mayor of london , by his wife , who was daughter and co-heir to thomas lord hoo and hastings . this sir vvilliam was made knight of the bath at the coronation of king richard the third . he married one of the daughters and co-heirs of thomas butler , earl of ormond , by whom ( besides four daughters married into the worshipful and wealthy families of shelton , calthrop , clere , and sackvil ) he had sir tho. boleyn , earle of vviltshire , of whom hereafter . . joh : peach , arm. this year perkin vvarbeck landed at sandwich in this county , with a power of all nations , contemptible not in their number or courage , but nature and fortune , to be feared , as well of friends as enemies , as fitter to spoil a coast , than recover a country . sheriff peach ( knighted this year for his good service ) with the kentish gentry , acquitted themselves so valiant and vigilant , that perkin sh●…unk his horns back again into the shell of his ships . about . of his men being taken , and brought up by this * sheriff to london , some were executed there , the rest on the sea coasts of kent , and the neighbouring counties , for sea-marks to teach perkin's people to avoid such dangerous shoars . henry the eighth . joh . norton , mil. ] he was one of the captains , who in the beginning of the raign of king henry the eight went over with the . archers , under the conduct of sir edward poynings , to assist margaret , dutchesse of savoy ( daughter to maximillian the emperour , and governesse of the low-countries ) against the incursions of the duke of guelders ; where this sir john was knighted by charles , young prince of castile , and afterwards emperor . he lieth buried in milton church , having this written on his monument ; pray for the souls of sir john norton , knight , and dame joane his wife , one of the daughters and heirs of john norwood , esq who died febr. . . . thomas cheyney , arm. ] he was afterward knighted by king henry the eighth , and was a spriteful gentleman , living and dying in great honour and estimation ; a favourite and privy counsellor to four successive kings and queens , in the greatest ●…urn of times england ever beheld ; as by this his epitaph in minster church , in the isle of shepey will appear . hic jacet dominus thomas cheyney , inclitissimi ordinis garterii miles , guarduanus quinque portuum , ac thesaurarius hospitii henrici octavi , ac edwardi sexti , regum ; reginaeque mariae ac elizabethae , ac eorum in secretis consiliarius , qui obiit — mensis decembris , anno dom. m. d.l.ix . ac reg. reginae eliz. primo . . john wiltshire , mil. ] he was controller of the town and marches of calis , anno . of king henry the seventh . he founded a fair chappel in the parish of stone , wherein he lieth entombed with this inscription , here lieth the bodies of sir john wiltshire , knight , and of dame margaret his wife ; which sir john died . decemb. . and margaret died — of — bridget his sole daughter and heir was married to sir richard vvingfield , knight of the garter , of whom formerly in cambridge-shire . . john roper , arm. ] all the memorial i find of him , is this inscription in the church of eltham , pray for the soul of dame margery roper , late vvife of john roper , esquire , daughter and one of the heirs of john tattersall , esquire , who died febr. . . probably she got the addition of dame ( being wife but to an esquire ) by some immediate court-attendance on katharine first wife to king henry the eighth . king james . . moile finch , mil. ] this worthy knight married elizabeth , sole daughter and heir to sir thomas heneage , vice chamberlain to queen elizabeth , and chancellor of the dutchy of lancaster . she in her widowhood , by the special favour of king james was honoured vicoun●…ess maidston , ( unprecedented , save by * one , for this hundred years ) and afterwards by the great grace of king charles the first , created countesse of vvinchelsey , both honors being entailed on the issue-male of her body ; to which her grand-child , the right honourable heneage ( lately gone embassador to constantinople ) doth succeed . the farewell . having already insisted on the courage of the kentish-men , and shown how in former ages , the leading of the van-guard was intrusted unto their magnanimity , we shall conclude our description of this shire , praying that they may have an accession of loyalty unto their courage , ( not that the natives of kent have acquitted themselves less loyal , than those of other shires ) but seeing the one will not suffer them to be idle , the other may guide them to expend their ability for gods glory , the defence of his majesty , and maintenance of true religion . canterbury . canterbury is a right ancient city , and whilest the saxon h●…ptar chy flourished , was the chief seat of the kings of kent . here thomas becket had his death , edward surnamed the black prince and king henry the fourth their interment . the metropolitan dignity first conferred by gregory the great on london , was for the honour of augustine afterwards bestowed on this * city . it is much commended by william of malmesbury for its pleasant scituation , being surrounded with a fertile soil , well wooded , and commodiously watered by the river stoure , from whence it is * said to have had its name durwhern , in british , a swift river . it is happy in the vicinity of the sea , which affordeth plenty of good fish. buildings . christ church , first dedicated , and ( after . years intermission to saint thomas becket ) restored to the honour of our saviour , is a stately structure , being the performance of several successive arch-bishops . it is much adorned with glasse windows . here they will tell you of a foraign embassador , who proffered a vast price to transport the east window of the quire beyond the seas . yet artists who commend the colours , condemn the figures therein , as wherein proportion is not exactly observed . according to the maxime , pictures are the books , painted windows were in the time of popery the library of lay men ; and after the conquest grew in general use in england . it is much suspected aneyling of glass ( which answereth to dying in grain in drapery ) especially of yellow , is lost in our age , as to the perfection thereof . anciently colours were so incorporated in windows , that both of them lasted and faded together : whereas our modern painting ( being rather on than in the glass ) is fixed so faintly , that it often changeth , and sometimes falleth away . now , though some being only for the innocent white , are equal enemies to the painting of windows as faces , conceiving the one as great a pander to superstition , as the other to wantonnesse ; yet others of as much zeal and more knowledge , allow the historical uses of them in churches . proverbs . canterbury-tales . ] so chaucer calleth his book , being a collection of several tales , pretended to be told by pilgrims in their passage to the shrine of saint thomas in canterbury . but since that time canterbury-tales are parallel to fabulae milestae , which are charactered , nec verae , nec verisimiles , meerly made to marre precious time , and please fanciful people . such are the many miracles of thomas becket ; some helpful ( though but narrow , as only for private conveniency ) as when perceiving his old palace at otford to want water , he struck his staff into the dry ground ( still called saint thomas his well ) whence water runneth plentifully to serve that house ( lately re-built ) unto this day . others spightful : as when ( because a smith dwelling in that town had clogged his horse ) he ordered , that * no smith afterwards should thrive within that parish . but he , who shall go about seriously to confute these tales , is as very a fool , as he was somewhat else , who first impudently invented and vented them . prelates . stephen langton . here we are at a perfect losse for the place of his birth , his surname affording us so much direction , in effect it is none at all . inopes nos copia fecit , finding no fewer than twelve langtons ( though none very near to this place ) which makes us fly to our marginal refuge herein . stephen , born in england , was bred in paris , where he became one of the greatest scholars of the christian world , in his age . he was afterwards consecrated cardinal of saint chrysogone , and then by papal power intruded arch-bishop of canterbury , in defiance of all opposition which king john could make against him . many are his learned works , writing comments on all the old , and on some of the new testament . he was the * first that divided the whole bible into chapters , as robert stephens a french-man , that curious critick and painful printer , so ne six score years since , first subdivided into verses . a worthy work , making scripture more managable in mens memories , and the passages therein the sooner to be turned to , as any person who is ●…ooner found out in the most populous city , if methodized into streets and houses with signs , to which the figures affixed do fitly allude . say not this was a presumption , incurring the curse denounced to such , who adde to scripture , it being no addition but an illustration thereof . besides , god set the first pattern to mens industry herein , seeing the distinction of some verses may be said to be jure divino , as those in the lamentations and elsewhere , which are alphabetically modelled . as causless their complaint , who cavil at the inequality of chapters , the eighth of the first of kings , being sixty six , the last of malachy but six verses , seeing the entireness of the sense is the standard of their length , or shortness . it is confessed some few chapters end , and others begin obruptly : and yet , it is questionable , whether the ateration thereof would prove advantageous , seeing the reforming of a small fault , with a great change , doth often hurt more than amend : and such alterations would discompose millions of quotations , in excellent authors conformed to the aforesaid received divisions . here it must not be concealed , that notwithstanding this general tradition of langtons chaptering the bible , some learned men make that design of far ancienter date , and particularly that able antiquary * sir henry spelman . this i am confident of , that stephen langton did something much material in order thereunto , and the improver is usually called the inventor , by a complemental mistake . however , though i believe langton well employed in dividing the bible , he was ill bus●…ed in rending asunder the church and kingdom of england , reducing king iohn to sad extremities . he died , and was buried at canterbury anno dom. . souldiers . william prude , esquire , ( vulgarly called proud ) was born in this city , where his stock have continued for some hundreds of years , bred a souldier in the low countreys , where he attained to be lieutenant colonel . he was slain iuly . . at the siege of mastrich . his body ( which i assure you was no usual honour ) was brought over into england , and buried in the cathedral of canterbury , in saint michaels chappel on the south side of the quire , with this inscription on his monument ; stand souldiers ; ere you march ( by way of charge ) take an example here , that may enlarge your minds to noble action ▪ here in peace rests one whose life was war , whose rich encrease of fame and honour from his valour grew , unbegg'd , unbought , for what he won he drew by just desert : having in service been a souldier , till near sixty from sixteen years of his active life , continually fearless of death ; yet still prepar'd to die in his religious thoughts : for ▪ midd'st all harmes he bare as much of piety as armes . now souldiers on , and fear not to intrude the gates of death by th' example of this prude . he married mary daughter of sir adam sprackling , knight , and had issue by her four sons and three daughters ; to whose memory his surviving son searles prude hath erected this monument . writers . osbern of canterbury , so called , because there he had his first birth , or best being , as chanter of the cathedral church therein . an admirable musitian , which quality endeared him ( though an englishman ) to lankfrank , the lordly lombard , and arch-bishop of canterbury . he was the english * jubal , as to the curiosity thereof in our churches . an art , which never any spake against who understood it ; otherwise apollo is in a sad case , if midas his ears must be his judges . however in divine service all musick ought to be tuned to edification ( that all who hear may understand it ) otherwise it may tend to delight not devotion , and true zeal cannot be raised where knowledge is depressed . this osbern wrote the life of saint dunstan in pure latine , according to that age , flourishing under william the conquerer , anno . simon langton , was by his brother stephen langton the arch-bishop , preferred arch-deacon of canterbury ; who , carne & sanguine revelante ( saith the * record ) made the place much better , both to him and his successors , in revenue and jurisdiction . a troublesome man he was , and , on his brothers score , a great adversary to king iohn , even after that king had altered his copy , and became , of a fierce foe , a son-servant to the pope , by resigning his crown unto him . but our simon could not knock off when he should , having contracted such an habit of hatred against k. iohn , that he could not depose it , though commanded under the pain of excommunication . this caused him to trudge to the court of rome , where he found little favour . for , such who will be the popes white boyes , must watchfully observe his signals , and not only charge when he chargeth , but retreat when he retreateth . this simon ( beside others ) wrote a book of the penitence of magdalene , in relation ( it seems ) to himself , though she found more favour in the court of heaven , than he at rome . he died anno dom. — benefactors to the publick . john easday , was alderman and mayor of this city , anno . he found the walls thereof much ruined , and being a man but of an * indifferent estate , began the reparation thereof at ridingate , and therein proceeded so far as his name is inscribed on the wall ; whose exemplary endeavours have since met with some to commend , none to imitate them . thomas nevile , born in this city of most honourable extraction , as his name is enough to notifie and avouch . he was bred in cambridge , and master first of mag dalen , then of trinity colledge , and dean of canterbury . he was the first clergy man ( sent by arch-bishop whitgift ) who carried to king james tidings of the english crown ; and it is questionable whether he brought thither or thence more welcome news ( especially to the clergy ) acquainting them with the kings full * intentions to maintain church-discipline , as he found it established . but the main matter commending his memory is his magnificency to trinity college , whose court he reduced to a spacious and beautiful quadrangle . indeed he plucked down as good building as any erected , but such as was irregular intercepting the sight , disturbing the intended uniformity of the court , whereby the beauty at this day is much advanced . for as the intuitive knowledge is more perfect , than that which insinuates it self into the soul gradually by discourse , so more beautiful the prospect of that building , which is all visible at one view , than what discovers it self to the sight by parcels and degrees . nor was this doctor like those poets , good only at translation , and bad at invention , all for altering , nothing for adding of his own , who contributed to this colledge ( i will not say a widows mite , but ) a batchelours bounty : a stately new court of his own expence , which cost him three thousand pounds and upwards . much enfeebled with the palsie , he died an aged man anno dom. — the farewell . i am heartily sorry that the many laudable endeavours for the scouring and enlargement of the river stoure ( advantagious for this city ) have been so often defeated , and the contributions given by well-disposed benefactors ( amongst whom mr. rose , once an alderman of canterbury gave three hundred pounds ) have missed their ends , praying that their future enterprises in this kind may be crowned with success . for the rest i refer the reader to the pains of my worthy friend mr. william somner , who hath written justum volumen of the antiquities of this city . i am sorry to see him subject-bound ( betrayed thereto by his own modesty ) seeing otherwise , not the city , but diocesse of canterbury had been more adaequate to his abilities . i hope others , by his example will undertake their respective counties ; it being now with our age , the third and last time of asking the banes , whether or no we may be wedded to skill in this kind , seeing now use , or for ever hold your pens , all church monuments leading to knowledge in that nature , being daily irrecoverably imbezeled . lancashire . lancashire : hath the irish sea on the west , york-shire on the east , cheshire ( parted with the river mersey ) on the south , cumberland and westmerland on the north. it rangeth in length from mersey to wenander-mere , full fifty five miles , though the broadest part thereof exceedeth not one and thirty . the ayre thereof is subtil and piercing , ( being free from foggs saving in the mosses ) the effects whereof are found in the fair complections and firme constitutions of the natives therein , whose bodies are as able as their minds willing for any laborious employment . their soyle is tolerably fruitful of all things necessary for humane sustenance : a●…d , as that youth cannot be counted a d●…nce , though he be ignorant , if he be docible , because his lack of learning is to be scored on the want of a teacher ; so sterilitie cannot properly be imputed to some places in this county , where little graine doth grow , because capable thereof ( as daily experience doth avouch ) if it were husbanded accordingly . this shire , though sufficiently thick of people , is exceedingly thin of parishes , as by perusing this parallel will plainly appear , rutland hath in it , parishes forty * eight . lancashire hath in it , parishes thirty * six . see here how rutland being scarce a fifth part of lancashire in greatness , hath a fourth part of parishes more therein . but , as it was a fine sight to behold sir tho. more , when * lord chancellour of england , every morning in term time , humbly ask blessing in vvestminster-hall of sir john more his father , then a pusnie judge : so may one see in this shire some chapels , exceeding their mother-churches in fairness of structure and numerousnesse of people , yet owning their filial relation and still continuing their dutiful dependance on their parents . but for numerosity of chapels , surely the church of manchester , exceedeth all the rest , which ( though anciently called , but villa de manchester ) is for wealth and greatnesse corrival with some cities in england , having no lesse then nine chapels , which before these our civil wars , were reputed to have five hundred communicants a peice . insomuch that some clergy men , who have confulted gods honour with their own credit and profit , could not better desire for themselves , than to have a lincoln-shire church , as best built , a lancashire parish , as largest bounded , and a london audience , as consisting of most intelligent people . the people , generally devout , are , ( as i am informed ) northward and by the west popishly 〈◊〉 ; which in the other parts ( intended by antiperistasis ) are zealous protestants . hence is it , that many subtile papists , and jesuits have been born and bred in this county , which have met with their matches ( to say no more ) in the natives of the same county ; so that thereby it hath come to passe , that the house of saul hath waxed weaker and weaker , and the house of david stronger and stronger . natural commodities . oates . if any ask why this graine growing commonly all over england , is here entered as an eminent commodity of lancashire ? let him know , that here is the most and best of that kind ; yea wheat and barlie may seem but the adopted , whilst oates are the natural issue of this county ; so inclined is its genius to the production thereof . say not oates are horse-graine , and fitter for a stable then a table . for , besides that the meal thereof is the distinguishing form of gruel or broth from water , most hearty and wholsome bread is made thereof , yea anciently north of humber , no other was eaten by people of the primest quality . for we read , how william the conquerour bestowed the mannour of castle bitham in lincoln-shire , upon stephen earl of albemarle and holderness , chiefly for this consideration , that thence he might have * wheaten bread to feed his infant son , oaten bread being then the diet of holderness and the counties lying beyond it . allume . i am informed that allume is found at houghton in this county , within the inheritance of sir richard houghton , and that enough for the use of this and the neighbouring shires , though not for transportarion . but because far greater plenty is afforded in york-shire , the larger mention of this mineral is referred to that place . oxen. the fairest in england are bred ( or if you will , made ) in this county , with goodly heads , the tips of whose horns are sometimes distanced five foot afunder . horns , are a commodity not to be slighted , seeing i cannot call to mind any other substance , so hard , that it will not break , so solid , that it will hold liquor within it , and yet so clear , that light will pass through it . no mechanick trade , but hath some utensils made thereof , and even now i recruit my pen with ink from a vessel of the same . yea it is useful cap-a-pe , from combs to shooing-horns . what shall i speak of the many gardens made of horns , to garnish houses ? i mean artificial flowers of all colours . and besides what is spent in england , many thousand weight are shaven down into leaves for lanthorns and sent over daily into france . in a word the very shavings of horn are profitable , sold by the sack , and sent many miles from london for the manuring of ground . no wonder then that the horners are an ancient corporation , though why they and the * bottle-makers were formerly united into one company , passeth my skill to conjecture . the best horns in all england : and freest to work without flaws , are what are brought out of this county to london , the shop-general of english industry . the manufactures . fustians . these anciently were creditable wearing in england , for persons of the primest quality , finding the knight in * chaucer thus habited . of fustian he weared a gippon all besmottred with his haubergion . but it seems they were all forreign commodities , as may appear by their modern names . . jen fustians , which i conceive so called from jen a city in saxony . . ausburgh fustians made in that famous city in swevia . . millaine fustians , brought over hither out of lumbardy . these retain their old names at this day , though these several sorts are made in this county , whose inhabitants buying the cotton , wool , or yarne , coming from beyond the sea , make it here into fustians , to the good employment of the poor and great improvement of the rich therein , serving mean people for their out - 〈◊〉 , and their betters for the lineings of their garments . bolton is the staple-place for this commodity , being brought thither from all parts of the county . as for manchester , the cottons thereof carry away the credit in our nation , and so they did an hundred and fifty years agoe . for when learned * leland on the cost of king henry the eighth , with his guide travailed lancashire , he called manchester , the fairest and quickest town in this county , and sure i am , it hath lost neither spruceness nor spirits since that time . other commodities made in manchester are so small in themselves and various in their kinds , they will fill the shop of an haberdasher of small wares , being therefore too many for me to reckon up , or remember , it will be the safest way to wrap them all together in some manchester-tickin , and to fasten them with the pinns ( to prevent their falling out and scattering ) or tye them with the tape , and also , ( because sure bind sure find ) to bind them about with points and 〈◊〉 all made in the same place . the buildings . manchester , a collegiate as well as a parochial church , is a great ornament to this county , the quire thereof , though but small is exceeding beautiful , and for woodwork an excellent peice of artifice . the wonders . about * vviggin and elsewhere in this county , men go a fishing with spades , and mathooks , more likely one would think to catch moles then fishes with such instruments . first , they pierce the turffie ground , and under it meet with a black and deadish water , and in it small fishes do swim . surely these pisces fossiles or subterranean fishes must needs be unwholesome , the rather because an unctuous matter is found about them . let them be thankful to god in the first place , who need not such meat to feed upon . and next them let those be thankful , which have such meat to seed upon , when they need it . proverbs . [ lancashire fair women . ] i believe that the god of nature , having given fair complections to the women in this county , art may save her pains , ( not to say her sinnes , ) in endeavouring to better them . but let the females of this county know , that though in the old testament express notice be taken of the beauty of many women , a sarah , b rebekah , c rachel , d 〈◊〉 , e thamar , f abishag , g esther ; yet in the new testament no mention is made at all of the fairness of any woman ; not because they wanted , but because grace is chief gospel-beauty , elizabeths h unblameableness , the virgin maries i pon●…ering gods word ; the canaanitish womans k faith ; mary magdalens l charity ; lydia her m attention to pauls preaching ; these soul-piercing perfections , are far ●…etter than skin-deep fairness . it is * written upon a wall in rome . ribchester was as rich as any town in christendome . and why on a wall ? indeed the italians have a proverb , a wall is the fools paper , whereon they scribble their fancies . 〈◊〉 not to be overcurious in examining hereof , we suppose some monumental wall in rome , as a register , whereon the names of principal places were inscribed , then subjected to the roman empire : and probably , this ribchester anciently was some eminent colony ( as by pieces of coins and colu●…s there dayly digged out doth appear . ) however at this day it is not so much as a mercate town , but whether decaied by age , or destroyed by accident , is uncertain . here reader give me leave , the historian must not devour the divine in me , so as to debar me from spiritual reflections , what saith s. * paul ? we have here no continuing city : and no wonder , seing mortal men are the efficient , moldring buildings the material , and mutable laws the formal cause thereof . and yet s. paul was as well stocked with cities as any man alive : having three , which in some sort he might call his own ; * tarsus , where he was born , * jerusalem where he was bred at the feet of gamaliel , and * rome , whereby he received the priviledg of freedome : all which he waved as nothing worth , because of no abiding and continuance . martyrs . john rogers was born in this * county , and bred in the university of cambridge , a very able linguist and general scholar . he was first a zealous papist , till his eyes being opened , he detested all superstition , and went beyond * seas , to vvitenberg , where ( some years after tyndal ) he translated the bible , from genesis till the revelation , comparing it with the original : coming to england he presented it in a fair volumne to king henry the 〈◊〉 prefixing a dedicatory epistle , and subscribing himself ( those dangerous dayes required a disguise ) under the name of * thomas matthew . and now reader that is unriddled unto me which hath pusled me for some years ; for i finde , that k. james , in the * instructions which he gave to the translators of the bible enjoyned them to 〈◊〉 the former translations of , . tindal , . matthews , . coverdale , . 〈◊〉 , . geneva . now at last i understand who this matthews was ( though unsatisfied still in vvhitchurch ) believing his book never publickly printed , but remaining a manuscript in the kings library . yet this present could not procure mr. rogers his security , who it seems for fear of the articles was fain to fly again beyond seas , and returning in the raign of king edward the six●… became a preacher of london . he and mr. hooper were the two greatest sticklers against ceremonies , though otherwise allowing of episcopal government . he was the first martyr , who suffered in smithfield , in queen maries dayes , and led all the rest , of whom we may truly say , that if they had not be●…n flesh and blood ▪ they could not have been burnt : and if they had been no more then flesh and blood they would not have been burnt . the non-conformists account it no small credit unto them , that one of their opinion , ( as who would not flinch from the faith ) was chosen by divine providence , the first to encounter the fire . such may remember , that no army is all front , and that as constant did come behinde as went before . had those of an opposite judgment been called first , they had come first to the stake ; and in due time the defenders of ceremonies were as substantial in their sufferings . this john rogers was martyred , febr. . . * john bradford was born at * manchester , in this county , and bred first a lawyer in the inns of court , and for a time did solicite suits for sr. john harrington ▪ afterwards ( saith my * authour , ex rixoso causidico mitissimus christi apostolus : going to cambridg a man in maturity , and ability , the university by special grace bestowed on him the degree of master of art : and so may he be said to commence , not only per saltum , but per volatum , the jesuit doth causlesly urge this his short standing for an argument of his little understanding ; whereas he had alwayes been a hard student from his youth : and his writings and his disputings give a sufficient testimony of his learning . it is a demonstration to me , that he was of a sweet temper , because * parsons who will hardly afford a good vvord to a protestant , saith , that he seemed to be of a more soft and milde nature than many of his fellowe 〈◊〉 indeed he was a most holy and mortified man , who secretly in his closet would so weep for his sinnes , one would have thought he would never have smiled again : and then appearing in publick , he would be so harmlesly pleasant , one would think he had never wept before : but mr. fox his pains have given the pens of all posterity a vvrit of ease , to meddle no more with this martyr , who suffered anno dom. . george marsh was born at * dean in this county , bred a good scholar in a grammer-school , and then lived in the honest condition of a farmer : after the death of his wife he went to * cambridge , where he followed his studies very close , and afterwards solemnly entring into orders , became a profitable preacher and curate to mr. lawrence sanders , the worthy martyr , causlesly therefore doth * parsons asperse him , that he of a farmer turned a preacher , as if he had done it immediately ( with many of our age leaping from the plough to the pulpit ) concealing his academical breeding , such is the charity of his jesuitical reservation . as little is his charity for condemning him for answering 〈◊〉 and fearfully at first , to such who examined him about the sacrament of the altar , seeing the said marsh condemned himself for doing it , as therein too much consulting carnal respects to save his life , as appears in mr. fox , whence the jesuite fetcheth all his information . but marsh made amends for all these failings with his final constancy , being both burnt and scalded to death ( having a barrel of pitch placed over his head , an accent of cruelty peculiar to him alone ) when he was martyred at vvestchester , apr. . . cardinals . william alan was born in this county ( saith my * authour ) nobilibus parentibus , of 〈◊〉 parentage . he was bred in oriel colledg , in the university of oxford , and became head of s●… . maries hall therein , then going beyond the seas he became kings 〈◊〉 at 〈◊〉 , cannon of cambray , and rhemes , and at last by pope sixtus quint us made cardinal priest of martins in rome , . and deserved his red hat by his good service the year after against his native country . but hear what different characters two authours of several perswasions bestow upon him . pitzeu ▪ 〈◊〉 ano. script . page . . godwin in his catalogue of cardinals , page . he was somewhat ▪ above an ordinary man in stature , comely of countenance , composed in his ga●…e , affable in all meetings ; and for the gifts of his mind , pious , learned , prudent , grave , and though of great authority , humble , modest , meek , patient , peaceable , in a word , beautified and adorned with all kinds of virtues . he was the last of our english cardinals , in time , and first in wickedness , deserving not to be counted among english men , who , as another herostratus , to atchieve himself a name amongst the grandees of earth , endeavoured to fire the church of england , the noblest ( without envy be it spoken ) in the christian world , so that his memory deserveth to be buried in oblivion . he collected the english exil●…s into a body , and united them in a colledg , first at doway , then at rhemes , so great an advancer , that we may behold him as founder of that seminary . he ●…yed at rome , anno . and preferred rather to be buried in the english school , than in the church of st. martins , which gave him the title of cardinal . prelates . hugh oldham , born in this county , at oldham , a village some fix miles from manchester , bred in queens colledge in cambridge , was no ill scholar , and a good man , most pious according to and above the devotion of the age he lived in ; he was afterwards bishop of exeter , a foe to a monkish superstition , and a friend to university learning . brazen-nose colledge in oxford , and corpus-christi colledge therein will for ever bear witnesse of his bounty , to advance religion , and learning . besides the town of manchester have good cause to remember him , who founded and endowed a school therein , with large revenue , appointing the warden of the colledge therein , caput scholae . this bishop , having a tough contest with the abbot of tavestock , was excommunicated for refusing to stand to the decision of the court of rome . he had formerly built a chapel , in the south side of his cathedrall , and dying excommunicate ( on the aforesaid account ) was buried , not in the very church , but brink thereof , and body of the wall. he dyed anno dom. . james stanley , d. d. brother of thomas , earl of darby , was born in this county , and was by k. henry the seaventh ( his kinsman by marriage ( preferred bishop of ely , . a man more memorable than commendable , who never resided at his own cathedral . i can partly excuse his living all the summer with the earl his brother , in this county , but must condemn his living all the winter at his * mannour at somersham , in huntingtonshire , with one who was not his sister , and wanted nothing to make her his wife save mariage . however if jehu allowed a burial to his most profest enemy , on this account , that she was * a kings daughter , none i hope will grudge his memory a room in this book , were it only because he was an earles brother . he dyed anno . he●…ry standish was , as i have just cause to conclude , extracted from the standishes of standish in this county , bred a franoiscan , and dr. of divinity in cambridge , and afterwards made bishop of s. asaph . i neither believe him so good as pitz doth character him , pietate & doctrina clarum , nor so bad as bale doth decry him , making him a doteing fool. sure i am , there was impar congressus , betwixt him and erasmus , as unequal a contest , as betwixt a childe and man , not to say , dwarf and 〈◊〉 . this stand●… is said to have fallen down on his knees before king henry ▪ the eighth , petitioning him to continue religion , established by his ancesters , and 〈◊〉 into ma●…ers of divinity , he cited the * col●…s for the corinthians , which being but a memory-mistake in an aged person , needed not to have exposed him so much , as it did , to the laughter of the standers by . after he had sate years , bishop of st. 〈◊〉 , he died very aged , . john christopherson was born in this * county , bred first in pembrook hall , then fellow of st. johns ; and afterwards master of trinity colledge in cambridge : an excellent scholar , and linguist especially . i have seen a greek tragedy , made and written by his own hand , ( so curiously that it seemed printed ) and presented to k. henry the eight : he no lesse eleganly ( if faithfullly ) translated philo and 〈◊〉 into latine : besides his own benefaction to the masters lodgings and 〈◊〉 , he was highly instrumental in moving queen mary to her magnificent bounty to trinity colledge . in the visitation of cambridge , he was very active in burning the bones of 〈◊〉 , being then elect bishop of chichester , scarcely continuing a year in that place . all expected , that at his first coming into his diocesse , he should demean himself very favourably . for why should not the poets observation of princes be true also of prelates . — mitissima sors est regnorum sub rege novo — subjects commonly do finde new made soveraigns most kinde . but he had not so much mercy as nero , to begin courteously , having no sooner put on his episcopal ring , but presently he washed his hands in the blood of poor martyrs , whereof in due * place . in the first of qu. elizabeth he was deprived , and kept in some restraint , wherein he dyed , about the year . since the reformation . james pilkinton , d.d. was the third son of james pilkinton of * rivington , in this county , esq. a right ancient family , being informed by my good friend master william ryley , norrey , and this countryman , that the pilkintons were gentlemen of repute in this shire , before the * conquest , when the chief of them , then sought for , was fain to disguise himself , a thresher in a barn . hereupon partly alluding to the 〈◊〉 of the flail ( falling sometime on the one , sometime on the other side ) partly to himself embracing the safest condition for the present , he gave for the motto of his armes , now thus , now thus . this james , bred fellow of st. johns in cambridge , was in the first of qu. mary forced to fly into germany , where he wrote a comment * on ecclesiastes , and both the epistles of st. peter : after his return , in the first of qu. elizabeth , he was chosen master of st. johns , and march the d . was consecrated bishop of durham . nine years after the northern rebels came to durham , and first tore the bible , then the * english liturgy in pieces . unhappy ( though most innocent ) book , equally odious to opposite parties ; such who account the papists heretiques esteeming it popish , whilest the papists themselves account it heretical . the bishop had fared no better than the book , could he have been come by . but when the rebellion was suppress'd ▪ the bishop commenced a suit against qu. elizabeth for the lands and goods of the rebels attainted in the bishoprick , as forfeited to him by his charter , and had * prevailed , if the parliament had not itnerposed , and on special consideration pro hoc tempore adjudged them to the queen . he dyed anno dom. . edwin sandys was born at conisby in this county ; whose good actings , great sufferings , pious life , and peaceable death , . are plentifully related in our church . history . richard barnes was borne at * bolde near warrington in this county , bred in brasen-nose colledg , in oxford , and afterwards advanced suffragan bishop of nottingham , thence he was preferred to carlile , . and seven years after to durham . he was himself one of a good nature , ( as by the sequele will appear ) but abused by his credulity and affection to his brother john barnes , chancellour of his diocesse . * a man , of whom it is hard to say , whether he was more lustfull , or more covetous : who , where as he should have been the man who ought to have reformed many enormities in the diocess , was indeed the authour of them , permitting base and dishonest persons to escape scot-free for a piece of mony , so that the bishop had a very ill report every where . by the suggestion of this ill instrument , the patriarchall man mr. gilpin , fell into this bishops displeasure , and by him was suspended from his benefice . but the good bishop afterwards restored him ; and visiting him at his house , took him aside into the parlour , and thus accosted him ; father gilpin , * i acknowledge you are fitter to be bishop of durham , then my self to be parson of this church of yours : i ask forgiveness for errors passed ; forgive me father ; i know you have hatched up some chickens that now seek to pick out your eyes , but so long as i shall live bishop of durham , be secure , no man shall injure you . this bishop sate about eleven years in his see , and dyed a very aged man , a little before the spanish invasion , anno dom. . john woolton was born at wiggin in this county , of honest parents , and worshipful by his mothers side . he was bred a short time in oxford , and in the reign of queen mary , attended his unkle alexander nowell in his flight beyond the seas . returning into england , he was made first cannon residentiary , and after , anno . bishop of exeter , being an earnest assertor of conformity against opposers thereof . he met ( whilst living ) with many hard speeches , but after his death ( when mens memories are beheld generally in their true colours ) he was restored to his deserved esteem , even by those who formerly had been his adversaries . he indited letters full of wisdome and piety , becoming the strength of one in health , not two hours before his death , which happened march the . anno . it is a part , though not of his praise , of his happiness , that his daughter was married to francis godwin bishop of hereford , whose learned pen hath deserved so well of the church of england . matthevv hutton . i have given a large account of him formerly , in my ecclesiastical history . however having since received an exact a●…narie ( as i may so say ) from his nearest relation , of his life , i will here insert an abridgement thereof . . being son to matthew hutton of priest ▪ hutton in this county , he was born anno dom. . . he came to cambridge in the . year of his age , anno . the . of k. henry the eighth . . cōmenced . bach. of arts , mr. . chosen margaret professor of divinity , december . anno . in the . of queen elizabeth . . in the same year commenced bachelour of divinity . . elected master of pembroke-hall may the . and the same year september the fifth , admitted regius professor , anno . . answered a publick act before q. eliz. and her court at cambridg . a. . married in the same year katharine fulmetby ( neice to thomas goodrick late bishop of ely ) who died soon after . . made dean of york , anno . . married for his second wife beatrix fincham , daughter to sir thomas fincham of the isle of ely . resigned his mastership of pembroke-hall , and his professours place to dr. whitgift april . a. . . married frances , wid. of martin bowes , son of sir martin bowes , alderman of london , nov. . . . chosen bishop of durham , june . anno dom. . . confirm'd by the dean and chapter july . . consecrated by john arch-bishop of york , july . . translated to york , and consecrated at lambeth , anno . the thirty seventh of queen elizabeth , by john arch-bishop of canterbury , and others march . . he dyed in january , anno . in the seventie sixth year of his age . he gave an hundred marks to trinity colledge in cambridge , and founded an hospital at wareton in this county . in a word , he was a learned prelate , liv'd a pious man , and left a precious memory . martin heton was born in this county ( as by his epitaph on his monument lately set up by his daughters in the church of ely may appear ) and bred first a student then a canon of christs-church , on whom queen elizabeth bestowed the bishoprick of ely , after . years vacancie thereof . now although his memory groweth under the suspicion of simoniacal compliance , yet this due the inhabitants of ely do unto him , that they acknowledge him the best house ▪ keeper in that see ▪ within mans remembrance . he dyed july . . leaving two daughters married in those knightly families of fish and filmer . richard bancroft was born at ......... in this * county , bred in jesus colledge in cambridge , and was afterwards by queen elizabeth made bishop of london , by king james arch bishop of canterbury . indeed he was in effect arch-bishop whilest bishop , to whom doctor whitgift in his decrepite age remitted the managing of matters , so that he was the soul of the high commission . a great statesman he was , and grand champion of church discipline , having well hardned the hands of his soul , which was no more then needed for him , who was to meddle with nettles and bryers , and met with much opposition . no wonder if those who were silenced by him in the church , were loud against him in other places . david speaketh of * poison under mens lips . this bishop tasted plentifully thereof from the mouths of his enemies , till at last , ( as mithridates ) he was so habited to poisons , they became food unto him . once a gentleman coming to visit him , presented him a lyebell , which he found pasted on his dore , who nothing moved thereat ; cast it ( said he ) to an hundred more which lye here on a heap in my chamber . many a lyebell , [ lye ] ( because false ) [ bell ] because loud ) was made upon him . the aspersion of coveteousnesse , though cast , doth not stick on his memory ; being confuted by the estate which he left , small in proportion to his great preferment . he cancelled his first will , wherein he had bequeathed much to the church , which gave the occasion for scurrilous pens to passe on him ; he who never repented of doing ill , repented that once he made a good will. whereas indeed , suspecting an impression of popular violence on cathedralls , and fearing an alienation of what was bequeathed unto them , he thought fit to cancel his own , to prevent others cancelling his testament . this partly appears by his second will , wherein he gave the library at 〈◊〉 ( the result of his own , and three predecessors collections ) to the university of cambridge ( which now they possesse ) in case the archi episcopal see should be extinct . how came such a jealousie into his mind ? what fear of a storm when the sun shined , the skye clear , no appearance of clouds ? surely his skill was more then ordinary in the complexion of the common-wealth , who did foresee , what afterward ( for a time ) came to pass . this clause providentially inserted , secured this library in cambridge , during the vacancy of the archi-episcopal see ; and so prevented the embeselling , at the least the dismembring thereof , in our late civil distempers . he dyed anno dom. . and lyeth buryed at the church in lambeth . thomas jones was born in this county , bred master of arts in cambridge , but commenced doctor of divinity in the university in dublin . he was first chancellour then dean of st. patricks in that city , and thence was made bishop of meath , anno . and the next month appointed by queen elizabeth one of her privy councel in ireland . hence he was translated to be archbishop of dublin , an. . and at the same time was by king iames made chancellour of ireland , which office he discharged thirteen years , dying april . . as he was a good officer for the king , he was no bad one for himself , laying the foundation of so fair an estate , that sir roger iones his son , was by king charles created viscount renelaugh . thus whilst the sons of the clergy men in england never mounted above the degree of knighthood , two of the clergy men in ireland attained to the dignity of peerage : i say no more , but good success have they with their honour in their persons and posterity . richard parr was born in this * county , bred fellow of brazen-nose colledg in oxford : whilest he continued in the university , he was very painfull in reading the arts to young scholars , and afterwards having cure of souls , no lesse industrious in the ministery . he was afterwards preferr'd to be bishop of man , by the earl of derby , lord thereof : for the lords of that island have been so absolute patrons of that bishoprick , that no lease made by the bishop , is valid in law , without their confirmation . this prelate excellently discharged his place , and died anno domini , — souldiers . sr. william molineux , kt. of sefton in this county : he was at the battel of navarret , in spain , made knight banneret by edward the black prince , anno . under whose command he served in those warrs , as also for a long time , in the warrs of france . from whence returning homewards , he dyed at * canterbury , anno . on whom was written this epitaph . miles honorificus molineux subjacet intus ; t●…rtius edwardus dilexit hunc ut amicus : fortia qui gessit , gallos , navaros que repressit , sic cum recessit , morte feriente decessit , anno milleno trecento septuageno , atque his junge duo : sic perit omnis homō . his monument is not extant at this day , and it is pity that so good a sword did not light on a better pen ; and that pallas ( so much honoured by him in her military relation ) did not more assist in his epitaph in her poetical capacity . sr. william molineux , junior , knight , descendant from the former , flourished under k. henry the eighth , being a man of great command in this county , bringing the considerable strength thereof to the seasonable succour of the duke of norfolk , with whom he performed signal service in flodden-field . it is confes●…ed on all sides , that the scots lost the day , by not keeping their ranks , but not agreed on the cause thereof . bucanan ( who commonly makes the too much courage of his countrymen the cause of their being conquered ) imputes it to their indiscreet pursuing of the english , routed at the first . others say , they did not break their ranks , but they were broken , unable to endure the lancashire archers , and so forced to sunder themselves . in this battail the scotch king , and chiefest gentry were slain ; the english loosing scarce any , of the sc●…ts scarce any but of prime note . the king afterwards wrote his gratulatory letter , to sr. * william molin●…ux , in forme following : trusty and welbeloved , we greet you well , and understand as well by the report of our right trus●…y cousin and counsellor , the duke of norfolk , as otherwise , what acceptable servi●…e you amongst others lately did unto us , by your valiant towardnesse in the assisting of our said cousin , against our great enemy , the late king of scots ; and how couragiously you as a very hearty loving servant , acquitted your self for the overthrow of the said late king , and distressing of his malice and power , to our great honour , and the advancing of your no little fame and praise : for which we have good cause to favour and thank you , and so we full heartily do ; and assured may you be , that vve shall in such effectual wise remember your said service in any your reasonable pursuits , as you shall have cause to think the same rightwell imployed to your comfort and weal hereafter . given under our signet , at our castle at windsore , the of november . it appears by our authour , that th●… like letters , mutatis mutandis , were sent unto sr. edward stanley , and some other men of principal note , in lancashire and cheshire . i have nothing more to observe , save that these two worthy sr. vvilliams were ancestors unto the truly honourable the lord molineux , viscount marybourgh in ireland , lately deceased . writers . hugh of manchester was , saith my authour , when adolescens [ a youth ] a dominican , but when juvenis [ a young man ] he changed his copy , and turned a franciscan . say not he degraded himself , choosing a later order then he left ▪ for it seems that amongst them the last is counted the best , as of a more refined perfection . he was a great scholar , and highly esteemed in that age , for his severity and discretion . an imposter happened at this time , pretending himself first blind , then * cured at the tomb of king henry the third , so to get coine to himself , and credit to the dead king. but our hugh discovered the cheat ▪ and writing a book de 〈◊〉 diliriis , dedicated it to king edward the first , who kindly accepted thereof , preferring that his fathers memory should appear to posterity , with his true face , 〈◊〉 painted with such false miracles . this hugh with another franciscan , was imployed by the same king to philip , king of france , to demand such lands as he detained from him in aquitain . such who object , that sitter men than friers might have been found for that service , consider not how in that age such mortified men were presumed the most proper persons , peaceably to compremise differences between the greatest princes . this embassie was undertaken anno dom. . richard ulverston was born in this * county , at ulverston , a well-known market in loyns●…ay-hundred : a great * antiquary ( ambitious of all learned mens acquaintance ) complained , that he knew him not so well as he desired , he was bred in oxford , and wrote a book intituled the articles of faith , or the creed of the church , this lay latent a good while , till john stanberry bishop of hereford rescued it from the moaths , some thirty years after the authours death , and bestowed a double light upon it ; one in producing it into the publick , the other illustrating it with a commentary he wrote thereon . say not , this was false her●…ldry , but true . humility , to see a bishop commenting ( which is not usual ) on the book of a priest , bale concludeth all thus ▪ ▪ longum non doctrina potest obscuro carcere claudi . — — no●… will worth long be confin'd , but make its own way forth . the time and place of his death are equally uncertain ; but by probability about . under the reign of king henry the sixt . thomas * penketh , so was his true name ( though wrested by some latinists into pen●…hettus , and miswritten penthy , and penker , by some english ) taken from a village in this county . he was bred an augustinian in warrington , and a doctor of divinity in oxford , a deep scotist , and of so great a memory , that * foreiners ( amongst whom he lived ) report of him , that had all the books of scotus been lost , he could easily have restored every word of them . he was called to be professor at padua , and returning into england , became provincial of his order . but his last act stained his former life , who promoted the bastardizing of the issue of k. edward the th . and as dr. shaw ushered , his flattery held up the train of the usurper's praises , in a sermon at st. pauls , in preaching whereof , he who had formerly forfeited his honesty , lost his* voice , a proper punishment for a parasite . his disgrace had some influence on his order , which then verticall and numerous , ●…ayly 〈◊〉 in england , to their dissolution . this thomas dyed , and was buryed in london , . john standish . short mention shall serve him , who might have been left out w●…thout losse . he was nephew to henry standish , bishop of st. asaph , of no mean family in this county . one would suspect him ●…ot the same man , called by pale a scurrillous fool , and admired by pit●… for piety and learning , jealous lest another man should be more wise to salvation than himself : he wrote a book against the translation of scripture into english ▪ and presented it to the parliament . his death happened seasonably for his own safety , . a little before the death of queen mary . since the reformation . thomas leaver was born in this * county , where his family and name still remains , at two villages , called leaver at this day . he was bred fellow and batchelour of divinity o●… st. johns colledge in cambridge , whereof he was chosen master , . he was also preferred master of sherburn-house , or hospital in the bishoprick , a place it seems of good profit and credit , as founded by hugh pudsey , bishop of durham , and earle of northumberland . in the beginning of queen mary he was forced to fly beyond the seas , and became the principal pastour ( for they had three other ) of the english exiles at arrow in switzerland , which congregation i behold , as the least , so the freest from factions of any in that age of our nation . he was , saith my * author , virtutum in omni mansuetudine seminator , and besides some sermons , and a comment on the lords prayer , he wrote a book intituled , the right path way to christ. after the death of queen elizabeth coming over into england , he took a journey to durham , to visite his old hospital of sherburne , and falling sick by the way , dyed * at ware , anno . in that very juncture of time , when what church-preferment he pleased courted his acceptance thereof . i finde two more of his name , ralph leaver , and john leaver ( probably his kinsmen ) exiles for their conscience in germany , in the reign of queen mary . william whitacre was borne at holme in this county , whose life hath been formerly twice * written by me . he dyed anno . alexander nowell was born . of a knightly family at read * in this county , and at * thirteen years of age being admitted into brasen-nose colledge in oxford , studied thirteen years therein . then he became school-master of westminster . it happened in the first of queen mary he was fishing upon the thames , an exercise wherein he so much delighted , insomuch that his picture kept in brazen-nose colledg , is drawn with his lines , hooks , and other ●…ackling , lying in a round on one hand , and his angles of several sorts , on the other . but whilest nowel was catching of fishes , bonner was catching of nowel , and understanding who he was , designed him to the shambles , whither he had certainly been sent , had not mr. francis bowyer then merchant , afterwards sheriffe of london , safely conveyed him beyond the seas . without offence it may be remembred , that leaving a bottle of ale ( when fishing ) in the grasse ; he found it some dayes after , no bottle , but a gun , such the sound at the opening thereof : and this is believed ( casualty is mother of more inventions than industry ) the original of bottled-ale in england . returning the first of queen elizabeth he was made dean of st. pauls , and for his meek spirit , deep learning , prudence , and piety , the then parliament and convocation both , chose , injoyned and trusted him to be the man to make a 〈◊〉 for publick use , such a one as should stand as a rule , for faith and manners to their posterity . 〈◊〉 ( by the way ) is an ancient church ▪ ordinance , as appears by * theophilus and * apollos , both exercised 〈◊〉 . it remained in state during th●…●…rimitive church , and did not decline till popery began to encrease ▪ for , 〈◊〉 catechising continued , it had made the laity more wise in religion , than would well have stood with the interest of the church of rome . it was therefore outed by school-divinity , and then a fruitfull olive was cut down , to have a b●…amble set in the room thereof . in the first reformation protestants revived this ordinance , and by the use thereof religion ●…ot the speed , and great ground of superstition ; till the jesuits sensible thereof have since outshot us in our own bow , most carefull to catechise their novices , whilest english protestants ( for i will not condemn foreig●… churches ) grew negligent therein . what is the reason that so much ●…loth so soon changeth colour ▪ even because it was never well 〈◊〉 : and why do men so often change their opinions ? even because they were never well catechised . he was confessour to queen elizabeth , constantly preaching the first and last lent-sermons before her. he gave two hundred pounds per annum to maintain thirteen schollars in brasen . nose colledge . he died being ninety years of age , not decayed in sight , febru . . . john d ee , where born i cannot recover , was a man of much motion , and is mentioned in this place , where he had his ( though last ) best fixation . he was bred ( as i believe ) in oxford , and there doctorated , but in what faculty i cannot determine . he was a most excellent mathematiti an and astrologer , well skilled in magick , as the antients did , the lord * bacon doth , and all may accept the sence thereof , viz. in the lawfull knowledg of naturall philosophie . this exposed him , anno . amongst his ignorant neighbours , where he then lived , at mortclack in surrey , to the suspicion of a conjurer : the cause i conceive , that his library was then seized on , wherein were * four thousand books , and seven hundred of them manuscripts . this indignity joyned with the former scandal , moved him to leave the land , and go over with sr. edward kelly , into bohemia , as hereafter shall be more * fully related . returning to mortclack , . the same scandal of being a conjurer , haunted him again : two years after viz. . he was under a kinde of restraint , which caused him to write to the lady scydemore , to move queen elizabeth , either , that he might declare his case to the counsel , or have liberty under the broad seal to depart the land. next year he wrote an apologetical letter to arch-bishop whitgift , which it seems found good reception : yea , at last he gave such satisfaction of the lawfulness and usefulness of his studies ▪ that the queen ( besides many considerable new-years gifts sent unto him ) presented him warden of manchester in this countie , . where he had many contests and suits with the fellows of that colledge . the last mention i find of him , is in mr. camden , to whom he presented an ancient roman inscription , found about manchester , and mr. * camden in his requital , presented him with this commendation . hanc mihi descripsit , qui vidit , cl. mathematicus , j. d ee , collegij manchestrensis custos . and indeed all the books he hath left behind him , speak him a learned , as those , de usu globi terrestris . de nubium , solis , lunae , ac planetarum distantiis , &c. an aged man , being dedicated to king edward the sixth , and he dying about the beginning of king james . roger fenton , d. d. fellow of pembroke-hall in cambridge , was born in this county , as appeareth by his epitaph , in st. stephens wallbrook , london , being the painfull , pious , learned and beloved minister thereof . little is left of him in print , save a sollid treatise against usury . great was his intimacy with dr. nicholas 〈◊〉 , being contemporaries , collegiates , and city-ministers together , with some 〈◊〉 in their sirnames , but more sympathy in their natures . once my own father gave dr. fenton a visite , who excused himself from entertaining him any longer ; mr ▪ fuller ( said he ) hear how the passing-bell towls 〈◊〉 this very instant , for my dear friend , dr. felton , now a dying ; i must to my study , it 〈◊〉 mutually agreed upon betwixt us in our healths , that the surviver of us should 〈◊〉 the others funerall-sermon . but see a strange change , god , to whom belongs the * 〈◊〉 from death , was pleased ( with the patriarch * jacob blessing his 〈◊〉 ) wittingly to guide his hands 〈◊〉 , reaching out death to the living , and life to the dying , so that dr. felton recovered , and not only performed that last office to his friend dr. fenton , but also survived him more than ten years , and dyed bishop of 〈◊〉 ▪ roger fenton dyed in the fiftieth year of his age , anno dom. . buryed in his own church , under a monument made at the expence of the parish . robert boiton was born at blackborne in this county , on whit sunday 〈◊〉 ▪ 〈◊〉 year , as infamous for the massacre of many protestants in france , so for the 〈◊〉 of some eminent in england . his parents having a narrow estate , struggled with their necessities , to give him liberal education ; and he was bred first in 〈◊〉 ▪ then in brazen-nose colledge in oxford . he had isocrates his six marks , or properties of a good scholar , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . his want of means , proved an advancement unto him : for , 〈◊〉 having whence to buy books , he borrowed the best authours of his tutor , read over , abridged into note-books , and returned them . he was as able to express himself , in latine , or greek , as english ; and that stylo imperatorio . he was chosen one of the disputants before king james , at his first coming to the university , and performed it with great applause . thus far i have followed my authour mentioned in the margine , but now must depart from him a little in one particular . though mr. boltons parents were not overflowing with wealth , they had a competent estate ( as i am informed by credible intelligence ) wherin their family had comfortably continued long time in good repute . sr. angustine nicholls presented him to the rectory of broughton in northamptonshire , sending him his presentation unexspectedly , from his chamber in sergeants ●…nn , where d. king bishop of london , being accidentally present , thanked the judge for his good choice , but told him withall , that he had deprived the university of a singular ornament . besides his constant preaching he hath left behinde him many usefull books , the witnesses of his piety and learning , and dyed in the th year of his age , december . . john weever was born at ▪ in this county , bred in queens colledge in cambridge , under dr. john person his worthy tutor . he was very industrious in the studie of antiquity , and composed a usefull book of funeral monuments , in the diocesse of canterbury , rochester , london , and norwich : he dyed in london in the fifty sixth year of his age , and was buried in st. james clerken-well , where he appointed this epitaph for himself , lancashire gave me breath , and cambridge education . middlesex gave we death , and this church my humation . and christ to me hath given a place with him in heaven . the certain date of his death i cannot attain , but by proportion i collect it to be about the year of our lord , . ralph cudvvorth , d. d. the second son of ralph cudworth , of wernith-hall near manchester esquire ; chief lord of ouldham , was bred fellow of emanuel-colledge in cambridge . a most excellent preacher , who continued and finished some imperfect works of mr. perkins , and after his decease supplyed his place in st. andrews in cambridge . he was at last presented by the colledge to the parish of auler in somersetshire , anno . . lawrence chaderton was born at chaderton in this county , of ancient , and wealthy parentage , but much nuzled up in popish superstition . he was intended for a lawyer , and in order thereunto , brought up some time in the inns of court , till he changed his profession , and admitted himself in christs colledge in cambridge . his father hearing that he had altered his place , studies , and religion , sent him a poke with a groat therein , for him to go a begging therewith , disinheriting him of ●…hat fair estate , which otherwise had descended upon him . but god who taketh men up when their fathers and mothers forsake them , provided him a comfortable subsistance , when chosen fellow of the colledge . he was for many years lecturer at st. clements in 〈◊〉 , with great profit to his auditors , afterwards made by the founder first master of emanuel . he was chosen by the non-conformists to be one of their four representatives in hampton-court conference , and was afterwards employed one of the translators of the bible . he had a plain but effectual way of preaching . it happened that he visiting 〈◊〉 friends , preached in this his native countrey , where the word of god ( as in the dayes of samuell ) was very pretious . and concluded his sermon which was of two hours continuance at least , with words to this effect . that he would no longer trespasse upon their patience . whereupon all the auditory cryed out , ( wonder not if hungry people craved more meat ) for god 〈◊〉 sir go on go on . herea●… mr. chaderton was surprised into a longer discourse , beyond his expectation , in satisfaction of their importunity , and ( though on a sudden ) performed it to their contentment and his commendation . thus , constant preachers , like good house keepers , can never be taken so unprovided , but that , ( though they make not a plentiful feast ) they can give wholsome food at a short warning . he commenced dr. in divinity , when frederick prince palatine ( who married the lady elizabeth ) came to cambridge . what is said of mount caucasus , that it was never seen without snowe on the top , was true of this reverend father , whom none of our fathers generation knew in the universitie , before he was gray headed , yet he never used spectacles till the day of his death , being ninety four years of age . he was not disheartned with that common saying , he that resigneth his place before his death , buryeth himself alive , but put off his clothes long before he went to bed , divested himself of the master-ship of emanuel colledge , that so he might see a worthy successor in his life time . the blessing which befell * job , was in some sort appliable unto him , he saw his successors to the fourth generation . i mean doctor presson , and after his death doctor sancroft , and after his death doctor holesworth , who preached his funeral sermon anno . about the ninety fourth year of his age . george walker was born at hauxhead in fournifells , of religious parents . being visited when a child , with the small-poxe , and the standers by expecting his dissolution , he started up out of a trance , with this ejaculation , lord take me not away till i have shewed forth thy praises , which made his parents devote him to the ministery after his recovery . he was bred b. d. in st. johns colledge in cambridge , where he attained to be well skilled in the oriental tongues , an excellent logician and divine , mr. foster ( formerly his tutor ) resigned unto him his living of st. john the evangelist , london , wherein mr. walker continued the painful preacher well nigh fourty years , refusing higher preferment often profered him . dr. felton ( the same morning he was elected bishop of ely ) made him his chaplain , and dr. featly chose him his second in one of his disputations against father fisher , yea mr. walker alone had many encounters with the subtillest of the jesuitical party . he was a man of an holy life , humble heart , and bountiful hand , who deserved well of sion colledge library , and by his example and perswasion , advanced about a thousand pounds towards the maintenance of preaching-ministers in this his native county . he ever wrote all his sermons , though making no other use of his notes in the pulpit , than keeping them in his pocket , being wont to say , that he thought he should be out if he had them not about him . his sermons since printed , against the prophanation of the sabboth , and other practises and opinions , procured him much trouble , and two years imprisonment , till he was released by the parliament . he dyed in the seventy year of his age , anno dom. . romish exile writers . edward rishton was born in this * county , and bred some short time in oxford , till he fled over to doway , where he was made master of arts. hence he removed to rome , and having studyed divinity four years in the english colledge there , was ordained preist . then was he sent over into england to gain proselites , in prosecution whereof , he was taken and kept prisoner three years . yet was the severity of the state so mercifull unto him , as to spare his life , and only condemn him to banishment . he was carried over into france , whence he went to the university of pontmuss in loraine , to plye his studies . during his abode there , the place was infected with the plague . here rishton for●…ate the physicians rule , cit●… , procul , longe , tarde , flye away soon , live away far , s●…ay away long , come again slowly . for he remained so long in the town , till he carried away the infection with him , and going thence , dyed at st. manhow , . i presume no ingenuous papist will be censorious on our painful munster , learned junius , godly greenham , all dying of the pestilence , seeing the most conscientious of their own perswasion subject to the same , and indeed neither love nor hatred can be collected from such casualties . thomas worthington was born in this * county , of a gentile family , was bred in the english colledge at doway , where he proceeded bachelour in divinity , and a little before the eighty eight was sent over into england as an harvinger for the spanish invasion , to prepare his party thereunto . here he was caught and cast into the tower of london : yet found such favour , that he escaped with his life , being banished beyond the seas . at triers he commenced doctor in divinity , and in process of time , was made president of the english colledge at rhemes . when after long expectation the old testament came out in english at rhemes ( permitted with some cautions for our lay-catholicks to read ) this worthington wrote his notes thereupon , which few protestants have seen , and fewer have regarded . he was alive in . but how long after is to me unknown . if not the same , ( which for his vivaciousness is improbable ) there was a father worthington , certainly his kinsman and countryman , very busie to promote the catholick cause in england , about the beginning of king charles . he dining some thirty years since , with a person of honour in this land , ( at whose table i have often eaten ) was very obstreperous in arguing the case for transubstantiation , and the ubiquitariness of christs body ; suppose ( said he ) christ were here . to whom , the noble master of the house ( who till then was silent ) returned , if you were away , i beleive he would be here . worthington perceiving his room more wellcome then his company , embraced the next opportunity of departure . anderton whose christian name i cannot recover , was born in this county , and brought up at blackborne school therein , and ( as i have been informed ) he was bred in christs colledge in cambridge , where for his eloquence he was commonly called golden mouth anderton ; afterwards he went beyond the seas , and became a popish preist , and one of the learnedst amongst them . this is he , who improving himself on the poverty of mr. robert bolton , sometimes his school-fellow , ( but then not fixed in his religion , and fellow of brazenose colledge ) perswaded him to be reconciled to the church of rome , and go over with him to the english seminary , promising him gold enough , a good argument to allure an unstable mind to popery , and they both appointed ●… meeting . but it pleased the god of heaven , who holdeth both an hour-glass and reed in his hand ; to measure both time and place , so to order the matter , that though mr. bolton came , mr. anderton came not accordingly . so that rome lost , and england gain'd an able instrument . but now i have lost j. pitz to guide me , and therefore it is time to knock off , having no direction for the date of his death . benefactors to the publick . william smith was born at * farmeworth in this county , bred fellow in pembroke hall in cambridge , and at last by king henry the eighth , preferred bishop of lichfield and coventry . that politick prince to ease and honour his native country of wales , erected a court of presidency , conformable to the parliaments of france , in the marshes thereof , and made this bishop first president , those parts lying partly in his diocesse . he discharged the place with singular integrity , and general contentment , retaining that office till the day of his death , when he was removed to be bishop of lincoln . a good name is an ointment poured out , saith solomon , and this man wheresoever he went , may be followed by the perfume of charity he left behind him . . at lichfield he founded an hospital for a master , two preists , and ten poor people . . in the same place he founded a school , procuring from king henry the seventh , that the hospital of downholl in cheshire , with the lands there unto belonging , should be bestowed upon it . say not this was robbing the spittle , or at the best robbing peter to pay paul , seeing we may presume so charitable a prelate , would do nothing unjust , though at this distance of time we cannot clear the particulars of his proceedings . at farmeworth where he was born , he founded a school , allowing ten pounds annually ( in that age no mean salary ) for the master thereof . the university of oxford discreetly chose him ( oxford being in his diocesse of lincoln ) their chancellour , and lost nothing thereby , for he proved a more loving nephew than son , so bountiful to his aunt oxford , that therein he founded brazen nosecolledge but dyed , before his foundation was finished . * molineux a famous preacher about henry the eigths time , descended of the house of sefton in the county of lancaster , builded the church at sefton anew , and houses for schools about the church-yard ; and made the great wall about magdalen colledge in oxford . edvvard halsall in the county of lancaster esquire , sometimes chamberlain of the exchequer at chester , founded a free-school in halstall , and endowed it with competent revenue , for the maintenance of a schoolmaster there for ever . when this party lived , i cannot as yet recover . thomas west was younger brother to the lord de la ware , and parson of manchester ; on whom the barony was devolved , his brother dying issuelesse ; the pope allowed him to marry for the continuance of so honourable a family , upon condition that he would build a colledge for such a number of preists ( fellows under a warden ) as the bishops of durham and lichfield should think fit , which he did accordingly in manchester . the endowment of this collegiate and parochiall church , were the gleabe and tithes of the parsonage of that parish , and besides them , scarce any other considerable revenue . i say the gleab , esteemed about . acres of that county ( half as much more as the statute ) measure ; besides a considerable part of the town commonly called the deans gate , corruptly for st dionise gate , ( to whom with the virgin mary , and st. george , manchester church was dedicated ) built upon the gleab-land belonging to the church . as for the tythes of the parish , they lye in two and thirty hamblets , wherewith the collegiats were to be maintained , which were , one warden and four fellows ; the integrated and incorporate rector unto whom the parsonage was appropriated . there were also two chaplains , singing-men , queristers , and organists . this colledge hath passed many dissolutions and refoundations . but was lately dissolved , and the lands thereof sold by the late act for sale of dean and chapters lands : some skilful in the gospel much bemoaning it , and some learned in the law , conceiving , that being but the gleab of that rectory , it came not within the compasse of that act : but blessed be god it since hath reverted to its former condition . since the reformation . john smith was born at ......... in this county , bred in magdalen c●…ll . in cambridge . whereof he became fellow and proctor of the university , when past sixty years of age , when the prevaricators gave him this homonyous salute ave pater . this man could not fidle , could not tune himself to be pleasant and plausible to all companies : but he could , and did make that little coll. great ; wherein he had his education . the poets fain how bachus , by reason of his mother semyles her untimely death , was taken out of his mothers womb , and sewed into the thigh of jupiter his father , where he was bred untill the full time of his nativity . a fiction which finds a morall in this magdalen coll. whos 's mother may be said to decease before the infant was fit to be borne , and that mr. smith performed the rest of the parents part thereunto . indeed ed. stafford duke of buckingham , the first founder thereof , gave it little more than a name . the lord audley bestowed on it a new name , with little buildings and lesse indowment , magnificent dr. nevil for a time was mr. thereof , but ( according to the fashion of the world the rich shall still have more ) his affections were all for trinity coll. to which he was after removed . onely mr. smith by his long life and thrifty living , by what he gave to , and what he saved for the colledge , so improved the condition thereof , that though he left it lateritium as he found it , yet what he found poor and empty he left rich and full of scholars . nor must we forget his painfulnesse , when with dr. gouge he sollicited the suit called magdalen colledge case , nor yet his patience , when he lay so long in the fleet , for refusing to submit to an order of chancery ( fearing their cause would be prejudiced thereby ) so that he may be called the confessor of the colledge , from inconsiderable income . he raised by his carefulnesse considerable profit to the fellows of that house , and by observing the statutes , brought the colledge into such reputation for learning , that yearly it afforded one or more eminent scholars . in a word , he was a true servant to the colledge all his life and at his death , to which he bequeathed all he had , six hundred pounds at least , and dyed anno. dom. . .. george clarke haberdasher , a plain honest man , just , temperate and ●…ugal : and according to his understanding , ( which in the worlds esteem was not great ) devout , a daily frequenter of the prayers in the colledge church , and the hearer of sermons there . not long before the breaking forth of our civil dissentions ; dying without issue , he made the poor his heir ; and did give them one hundred pounds per annum , in good lands lying in a place called crompsall , within a mile from manchester ; i have not yet attained the certain date of his death . humphrey chetham , third son of henry chetham of crompsall gentleman , is thought ( on just ground ) to descend from sir jeffrey chetham of chetham , ( a man of much remark in former dayes ) and some old writings in the hands of worshipful persons , not far remote from the place , do evidence as much , but the said sir geffrey falling in troublesome times into the kings displeasure ; his family ( in effect ) was long since ruinated . but it seems his posterity was unwilling to fly far from their old ( though destroyed ) nest , and got themselves a handsome habitation at crompsall hard by , where james , elder brother of this humphrey chetham , did reside . the younger brethren george , humphrey , and ralph , betook themselves to the trading of this county , dealing in manchester commodities , sent up to london ; and humphrey signally improved himself in piety and outward prosperity . he was a diligent reader of the scriptures and of the works of sound divines , a respecter of such ministers , which he accounted truely godly , upright , sober , discreet and sincere . he was high-sheriffe of this county , . discharging the place with great honour . insomuch that very good gentlemen of birth and estate did wear his cloth at the assize , to testifie their unfeigned affection to him , and two * of them of the same profession with him●…elf , have since been sheriffs of the county . grudge not reader , to go through so long a porch , for i assure thee it leads unto a fair pallace ; to as great a masterpiece of bounty , as our age hath afforded . this mr. chetham by his will bearing date the . of january . gave . l. to buy a fee-simple estate of . l. for ever , for the education of forty poor children in manchester at school , from about . till . years of age , when they are to be bound out apprentizes . they must be the children of poor but honest parents , no bastards , nor diseased at the time wherein they are chosen , not lame or blind , in regard the town of manchester hath ample means already ( if so employed ) for the maintenance of such impotents . indeed , he intended it for a seminary of religion and ingenuity , where the aforesaid boyes were to have diet , lodging , apparel and instruction . he gave a . l. for books to a library , and a . l. to prepare a place for them . he bequeathed . l. to buy books , ( such as he himself delighted in ) for the churches of manchester , bolton , and other chapels thereabouts ; he gave the remainder of his estate ( debts and legacies first paid ) to the encrease of the books in the library . now as the loaves in the gospel , multiplyed in the breaking , so mr. chethams estate did not shrink but swell in the calling of it in ; insomuch , that the aforesaid surplusage , is known to be the better part of two thousand pounds . dying a bachelour , he appointed george chetham esquire , citizen and grocer of london ( whereof he was chosen alderman . and fined for the same ) and edward chetham gent. executors of his will and testament : god send us more such men , that we may dazle the eyes of the papists , with the light of protestant good works . and know reader i am beholding for my exact information herein , to my worthy friend mr. johnson , late preacher of the temple , and one of the feoffees appointed by mr chetham for the uses aforesaid . memorable persons . sir edmund de trafford knights , sir thomas de ashton knights , were persons of high esteem , as anciently descended , and richly reveneued in this county , how great their skill was in chemistry , will appear by the following patent ( faithfully transcribed with mine own hand , out of the original in the tower ) granted unto them by king henry the sixth , in the four and twentieth year of his reign . rex omnibus ad quos , &c. salutem . * sciatis , quod cum dilecti & fideles nostri , edmundus de trafford miles , & thomas ashton miles , nobis per quandam supplicationem monstraverint , quod quamvis ipsi super certis metallis , per artem sive scientiam philosophiae operari vellent , metalla imperfecta de suo proprio genere transferre , & tunc ea per dictam artem sive scientiam , in aurum sive argentum perfectum transubstantiare , ad omnimodas probationes & examinationes , sicut aliquod aurum sive argentum in aliqua minera crescens , expectandum & indurandum , ut dicunt ; nihilominus certae personae illis malevolentes , et malignantes , supponant ipsos per artem illicitam operari , & sic ipsos in probatione dictae artis sive scientiae impedire et perturbare p●…ssunt . nos praemissa considerantes , ac conclusionem dictae operationis , sive scientiae scire volentes , de gratia nostra speciali concessimus & licentiam dedimus iisdem edmundo & thomae , & ipsorum servientibus , quod ipsi artem sive scientiam praedictam , operari & probare possint licite & impune , absque impetione nostra vel officiariorum nostrorum quorumcunque ; aliquo statuto , actu , ordinatione , sive provisione in contrarium facto ordinat . sive provis . non obstante . in cujus , &c. t. r. apud westmond . septimo die aprilis . the king to all unto whom , &c. greeting . know ye , that whereas our beloved & loyal edmund de trafford knight , and thomas 〈◊〉 knight , have by a certain petition shown unto us , that although they were willing by the art or science of philosophie , to work upon certain metalls , to translate imperfect metalls from their own kind , and then to transubstantiate them by the said art or science , as they say ; into perfect gold or silver , unto all manner of proofs and trialls , to be expected and indured , as an●… gold or silver growing in any mine , notwithstanding certain persons ill willing , and maligning them , conceive them to work by unlawful art , and so may hinder and disturb them in the triall of the said art and science . we considering the premisses , and willing to know the conclusion of the said working or science , of our special grace have granted and given leave to the same edmund and thomas , and to their servants , that they may work and trie the aforesaid art and science , lawfully and freely , without any hinderance of ours , or of our officers whatsoever , any statute , act , ordinance , or provision , made , ordained , or provided to the contrary notwithstanding . in witness whereof , the king at westminster , the . day of april . mr. ...... kidson . reader , i presume not now to direct thee , who my self am at a losse , and grope for a guide ▪ leland in his itinerary , speaking of warton a village in this county , observeth , that mr. kidson was born there , a passage which never had fallen from his pen , had he not been one of signal remark . who this mr. kidson was , where he lived , what he did , where he dyed , i shall be thankful to such as give me satisfaction . richard rothvvell was born at or near * bolton in the mores , in this county . taking the ministry ( after his education in cambridge ) upon him , he disposed his temporal estate to his freind to live of the gospell . i remit the reader to his life extant at large in print , wherein this most remarkable , viz. his dispossessing of john fox near nottingham of a divel , there passing betwixt them a large discourse , by way of question and answer . i know that such confabulations are common in the church of rome , to whose exorcists , satans language is as familiar as erasmus his dialogues are well known to men , or those of corderius to school-boys . but such accidents amongst protestants are very rare , and therefore the more to be observed . there are i confess , more thomases then my self , much given to mistrust ( whose faith will be at a stand herein ) however finding it atteste●… by an honest and * able person , i dare not deny the truth thereof . all i will say , is this , that is the best beleif , which is neither over forward , nor over-froward , which , as it will not run it self out of breath with too much speed , will not be like a 〈◊〉 horse , which no force can make to go farther . he dyed at mansfield in nottingham-shire , . in the ▪ year of his age . no●… could i write lesse of him , whom * one termeth orbis terra ▪ rum anglicarum oculum , the eye of our english world , and my book would seem 〈◊〉 and blind , if passing him over in silence . lord mayors .   name . father . place . company . time. nicholas mossey edward mossey hough clothworker . james pemberton . james pemberton eccleston●… goldsmith . reader , lancashire is one of the . pretermitted counties , the names of whose gentry , were not returned into the tower , in the twelfth year of k. henry the sixth . sheriffes . name . place . armes . reginae elizab.     anno ,     johan . talbot , ar .   arg. lions rampant , purpre ▪ rob. 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 .     joh. 〈◊〉 , m. atherton 〈◊〉 falcons , or. joh. southworth     tho. hesketh , m.   arg. on a bend s. garbs , or. tho. houghton , a. houghton 〈◊〉 . bars argent . edw. trafford , ar . tr●…fford argent a griffin ramp . gules . ric. mollineux , m sheff●…on 〈◊〉 a cross moline , or. tho. laugnton , m.   arg. 〈◊〉 gules . edw. holland , ar .   az. a l. r. sem . de fluer de l. ar. joh. preston , arm .   arg. bars , ou a cant. gules , a tho. ●…utler , arm .   cinque foil , or. edw. trafford , a. ut prius   fran ▪ holt , arm .   arg. on a bend engrailed s. flower de luce of the first . rich. holland , a. ut prius   will. boothe , ar .   arg. 〈◊〉 heads erased and erected s. fran ▪ holt , arm . ut prius   rich. bold , arm .   argent a 〈◊〉 rampant s. io-zeenge ▪ of the field & sables . ro●… . dalton , ar .     johan ▪ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 party per pale 〈◊〉 , az. and or martlets counter chang'd arg. a mullet sable . rad ▪ ashton ▪ ar . *     edw. trafford , m. ut prius   joh. byron miles   argent . bendlets gules . 〈◊〉 . holland , ut prius   joh. atherton , ar . ut prius   edwar. trafford , ut prius   tho. preston , ar . ut prius   richard. asheton ut prius   johan . fleetwood ut prius   tho. talbot , ar . ut prius   rich. mollineux ut prius   rich. bold , ar . ut prius   jac. asheton , ar . ut prius   edw. fitton , ar .   az. on a bend arg. . garbs o. richard. asheton ut prius   radulp. asheton ut prius   tho. talbot , arm . ut prius   〈◊〉 . holland ut prius   rich. molleneux ut prius   richard. asheton ut prius   rich. houghton ut prius   robert. hesketh ut prius   cut. halsall , m.   arg. . griffins heads erazed . a edward . trafford ut prius   k. james .     anno ,     nic. moseley , mil.   s. a chev. betw . pick ▪ axes , arg thom. baker , mil.     edw. fleetwood , a. ut prius   rich. ashton , mil. ut prius   rob , 〈◊〉 , ar . ut prius   edw. trafford , m. ut prius   roger. nowell , a.   arg. . cups covered s. johan . fleming , a.     cut. halsall , m. ut prius   rob. bindlose , a. borwick quarterly per fess indented g. & on a bend , or. rich. shi●…born , a.     edw. stanley , ar .   arg. on a ●…end az. . stags heads caboshed , or. rolan ▪ moseley , a ut prius   edw. trafford , m. ut prius   ric. 〈◊〉   s. weavers shuttles , argent . leonar . ashawe , a     edw. moore , ar .   vert. ten trefoiles . . . and . argent .                         k. charles .   courteous reader , do not behold these vacuities , as the effect of my lazinesse . nor will i excuse my self , by accusing of others . the rather because , in gratuitisnulla est jnjusticia , it was no wrong in any to deny , what was bounty in them to bestow , on me . but know all my industry and importunity could not procure the seasonable sight of the records of this county ( not kep●… a●… the rest in the exchequer but in a proper place by themselves ) thereby to supply the begining and finishing of this our catalogue .                                                                                         the batails . at preston in andernesse , august . . duke hambleton resolving to play an aftergame of loyalty , entred england with an army more numerous then well disciplined . most beheld him as one rather cunning than wise , yet rather wise , than valiant . however he had officers who did ken the war-craft , as well as any of our age. he would accept of no english assistance , so to engrosse all the work and wages to himself . some suspect his officers trust was undermined , ( or over-moneyed rather ) whilst others are confident , they were betrayed by none save their own security . indeed the common souldiers were perswaded that the conquest would be easy , rather to be possessed then purchased , their van and rear were many miles asunder , and they met the resistance of major general lambert , before they expected it . h●… at preston gave the scotch army such a blow , as setled or stund it , though it reeled on some miles more southward into staffordshire , where at ulceter , the duke was taken prisoner * , and utterly defeated . as for the defeat of james earl of derby in this county , at the end of august , anno . it amounted not to a battle ; which properly is the engagement of two formed armies . whereas the forces of the earl , were s●…attered before fully 〈◊〉 red , to a firm consistency . yet this had been a battle , if not prevented by the vigilancy of coll. lilburn and others , whose seasonable service to the parliament , was not so great in it self , as in the most considerable consequences thereof . the farewell . i am informed that pillyn-mos is the fountain of fewell [ turfe ] in this county , and is conceived inexhaustible by the vicinage . may it prove so . but if it should chance to fail , may gods grace ( which the vulgar in their profane proverb unequally yoak therewith ) i say may gods grace never be drained to those that stand in need thereof . and because this county may be called the cock-pit of conseience , wherein constant combates betwixt religion and superstition , may the contest betwixt them prove like the morning twilight , wherein ( after some equal conflict betwixt them ) the light gaineth the final conquest of the darkness . one word more to this shire and i have done . let me be the remembrancer , that hugh of manchester in this county * wrote a book in the reign of k. edward the first . intituled , de fanaticorum deliriis . of the doteages of fanaticks . at which time an impostor had almost made elianor the queen mother mad ; by reporting the posthume-miracles done by her husband king henry the third , till this our hugh setled her judgement aright . i could wish some worthy divine ( with such lancashire doth abound ) would resume this subject , and shew how antient and modern fanaticks , though differing much in their wild fancies and opinions , meet together in a mutual madness and distraction . leigestershire . leicester-shire . this county is ( though not exquisitely ) circular in the form , whilst leicester the shire-town is almost the exact center thereof , and the river soare , diameter-like , divides it into two equal halfes . having lincolne , and rutland-shire on the east , darby and nottingham-shire on the north , warwick-shire on the west , and northampton-shire on the south . it extendeth from north to south thirty and three miles ( measured from the utmost angle ) but exceedeth not twenty seven in the breadth thereof . here 〈◊〉 avoid all offence we 〈◊〉 collect the quality of this soyle from a * native thereof . who may be presumed exact in this quadri-partition . south-west . north ▪ west . north ▪ east . south-east rich ground plentiful in corn and pasture , but wanting wood , forceing the inhabitants to make use of straw , cowe●… ▪ &c. for the most part , hard and barren , yielding fruit not without labour and expence , but well stored with wood & pit-cole . good soyle , apt to bear corn and grass and sufficiently provided with fuell . much ▪ like the last for fruitfulnesse , & of the two , better furnished with fuel . however these four quarters being put together into the body of one shire , competently supply their mutual defects . natural commodities . beans . plenty of these in this county , especially about barton in the beans , in the hundred of sparkhen-hoe , where they appear like a forrest toward the time of harvest . wherefore the scouts of charles duke of burgundie , who mistook a field full of high * thistles , near unto paris , for the army of the king of france , with their lances held upright , might here commit the like mistake with more probability . though beans be generally beheld , but as horse and hog-graine , yet were they mans * meat , even in the plentiful country of canaan , called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pholl in the hebrew , whence some deduce the word pulse , though none dare affirm that daniel his pulse was made thereof . but more of this * grain hereafter . cole . these are digg'd up plentifully at cole-orton , in the hundred of west goscot . i say cole-orton , for there is another village called cold-orton in this shire . an addition , which no lesse truly than sadly would be prefixed to most towns in this county , if not warmed in vvinter with this under-ground-fewell , that above-ground is so much decayed . i confess 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a treasure of coles , passeth both in the greek and latine proverb , for a frustrated expectation , and his hopes fall very low , who , looking for gold , either in specie or in oar●… , lighteth only on a heap of coles , which anciently used to be buryed in the earth , for boundaries or * limits of lands . however such mines of coles as these , without any help of alcumy , are quickly turned into gold and silver , sold at good rates to the countryes round about . manufactures in this county are not to be expected , for where the husbandmans acre-staffe , and the shepheards-hook are as in this county in staie , there they engross all to themselves , and command manufactures to observe their distance from them . the buildings . this county afordeth no cathedralls , and as for the parish-churches therein , they may take the eye , not ravish the admiration of the beholder . bottsford , is one of the primest , very fair and large , with a high spire steeple . at the suppression of abbeys , many ancient monument , of the albanies and rosses , were removed hither out of the priory of beaver , by the command of thomas earl of rutland , and pity it was , that his commendable care was not imitated in other places . as for ci●…il structures , there is a seeming parity betwixt many fair houses in this shire , only something monarchical ( above the ordinary aristocracy of fabricks ) apppears in the heigth , strength and workmanship of the stone tower , built by william lord hastings at ashby de la-zouch . also the fair , large , and beautiful pallace , built at broadgate , by thomas grey marquess of dorset , challengeth the preheminence above the rest . the wonders . there is a village in this county named charleton , sirnamed curley , and all that are born therein , have an harsh and wratling kind of speech , uttering their words with much difficulty and wharling in the throat , and cannot well pronounce the letter r. surely this proceedeth not from any natural imperfection in the parents ( whence probably the tribual * lisping of the ephramites did arise ) because their children born in other places , are not haunted with that infirmity . rather it is to be imputed to some occult quality in the elements of that place . thus a learned author * informeth us , that some families at labloin in guyen in france , do naturally stut and stammer , which he taketh to proceed from the nature of the waters . as for the inability distinctly to pronounce r. it is a catching disease in other counties . i knew an * essex man , as great a scholar as any in our age , who could not for his life utter , carolus rex britanniae without stammering . the best was , the king had from him in his hearty prayers , what he wanted in his plain pronunciation . my father hath told me , that in his time , a fellow of trinity colledge , probably a native of charleton in this county , sensible of his own imperfection herein , made a speech of competent length with select words both to his mouth and for his matter , without any r. therein , to shew that men may speak without being beholding to the dogs letter . proverbs . bean-belly leicester-shire . ] so called from the great plenty of that grain growing therein . yea , those in the neighbouring counties , use to say merrily , shake a leicester-shire yeoman by the collar , and you shall hear the beans rattle in his belly ; but those yeomen smile at what is said to rattle in their bellies , whilst they know good silver ringeth in their pockets . indeed i read a latine proverb , a fabis abstineto , forbear beans ; whereof some make a civil interpretation , meddle not with matters of state , because anciently men cast in a bean , when they gave their suffrages in publick elections ; others expound it physically , because beans are windy and discompose the tranquillity of mens minds , by their slatuous evaporation ; the reason assigned for the general report that pythagoras prohibited the eating of them to his scholars . yet an excellent * authour informs me , that pythagoras had his repast on beans more than on any kind of pulse . however nothing will put leicester-shire men out of conceit of their beloved beans , the rather because their plenty argueth the goodnesse of their ground . for , whereas lean land will serve for puling pease and faint fetches , it must be a strong and fruitful soyle indeed , where the masculine beans are produced . if bever have * a capp , ] you churles of the vale look to that . ] that is , when the clouds ( as he expoundeth it ) hang over the towers of the castle , it is a prognostick of much rain and moisture , to the much indamaging of that fruitful vale , lying in the three counties of leicester , lincoln , and nottingham . but alas , though the cap may be there still , the head ( or the crown thereof ) i am sure is not there , [ i mean beaver castle it self ] being lately demolished in our civil wars , though i hear some part thereof is in rebuilding . i wish the workmen good success , though i suspect the second edition ( to use a scholars metaphor ) of this castle , will not be ●…o full and fair as the former . princes . iane grey , * eldest daughter of henry grey , duke of suffolk , by francis 〈◊〉 , eldest daughter to mary , second sister to king henry the eighth , was born at broadgates , near unto leicester . no lady which led so many pious , lived so few pleasant dayes , whose soul was never out of the non-age of afflictions , till death made her of full years to inherit happiness ; so severe her education . vvhilest a childe , her father's , was to her an house of correction , nor did she write woman , sooner than she did subscribe wife , and in obedience to her parents , was unfortunately matched to the l. guilford dudley ; yet he was a goodly , and ( for ought i ●…ind to the contrary ) a godly gentleman , whose worst fault was , that he was son to an ambitious father . she was proclaimed but never crowned queen , living in the tower , which place , though it hath a double capacity , of a palace , and a prison , yet appeared to her chiefly in the later relation . for she was longer a captive than a queen therein , taking no contentment all the time , save what she found in god , and a clear conscience . her family , by snatching at a crown which was not , lost a coronet , which was their own , much degraded in degree , and more in estate . i would give in an inventory of the vast wealth they then possessed , but am loth to grieve her surviving relations with a list of the lands lost by her fathers attainture . she suffered on tower-hill , 〈◊〉 on the twelfth of february . katharine grey was second daughter to henry duke of suffolk . t is pity to part the sisters , that their memories may mutually condole and comfort one another . she was born in the same place , and ( when her father was in height ) married to henry lord herbert , son and heir to the earl of pembroke ; bu●… the politick old earl , perceiving the case altered , and what was the high way to honour , turned into the ready road to ruin , got pardon from queen mary , and brake the marriage quite off . this heraclita , or lady of lamentation thus repudiated , was seldome seen with dry eyes for some years together , sighing out her sorrowful condition ; so that though the roses in her cheeks looked very wan and pale , it was not for want of watering . afterward edward seymour earl of hertford married her privately without the queens licence , and concealed till her pregnancy discovered it . indeed our english proverb , it is good to be near a kin to land , holdeth in private patrimonies , not titles to crowns , where such aliances hath created to many much molestation . queen elizabeth beheld her with a jealous eye , unwilling she should match either forreign prince or english peer , but follow the pattern she set her of constant virginity . for their presumption , this earl was fined fifteen thousand pounds , imprisoned with his lady in the tower , and severely forbidden her company . but love and money will find or force a passage . by bribing the keeper he bought ( what was his own ) his wifes embraces , and had by her a surviving son edward , ancestor to the right honourable the duke of somerset , she dyed january . a prisoner in the tower . after nine years durance therein . mary grey the youngest daughter , frighted with the infelicity of her two elder sisters , jane and this katharine , forgot her honour to remember her safety , and married one whom she could love , and none need fear , martin kayes of kent esq. who was a judge at court ( but only of doubtful casts at dice , being se●…jeant-porter ) and died without issue , the . of april . martyrs . hugh latimer was born at thurcaston in this county , what his father was , and how qualified for his state , take from his own mouth , in his first sermon before king edward , being confident the reader will not repent his pains in perusing it . my father was a yeoman , and had no lands of his own ; onely he had a farme of three or four pounds a year at the uttermost , and hereupon he tilled so much as kept halfe a dozen men , he had walk for an hundred sheep , and my mother milked thiry kine , he was able , and did finde the king an harness with himself , and his horse , whilest he came unto the place , that he should receive the kings wages . i can remember i buckled his harness when he went to black heath field . he kept me to school , or else i had not been able to have preached before the kings majestie now . he married my sisters with five pounds , or twenty nobles a piece : so that he brought them up in godliness and fear of god : he kept hospitallity for his poor neighbours , and some almes : he gave to the poor , and all this did he of the same farme , where he that now hath it , payeth sixteen pounds by the year and more , and is not able to do any thing for his prince , for himself , nor for his children , or give a cup of drink to the poor . he was bred in christ's colledg , in cambridg , and converted under god by mr. bilney , from a violent papist to a zealous protestant . he was afterwards made bishop of worcester , and four years after outed , for refusing to subscribe the six articles : how he was martyred at oxford . is notoriously known . let me add this appendix to his memory , when the contest was in the house of lords , in the raign of k. henry the eighth , about the giving all abby lands to the king ▪ there was a division betwixt the bishops of the old and new learning ; for by those names they were distinguished . those of the old learning unwillingly willing ▪ were contented , that the king should make a resumption of all those abbies which his ancestors had founded , leaving the rest to continue according to the intention of their founders . the bishops of the new learning were more pliable to the kings desires , only latimer was dissenting , earnestly urging , that two abbies at the least , in every diocess of considerable revenues , might be preserved for the maintenance of learned men therein . thus swimming a good while against the stream , he was at last carried away with the current . eminent prelates before the reformation . gilbert segrave born at segrave in this county , was bred in oxford , where he attained to great learning , as the books written by him do declare . the first preferment i find conferred on him was , the provosts place of st. sepulchers in york , and the occasion how he obtained it is remakable . the pope had formerly bestowed it on his near kinsman , which argueth the good value thereof , seeing neither eagles , nor eagles birds do feed on flyes . this kinsman of the popes lying on his death bed , was troubled in * conscience ( which speak●…eth loudest when men begin to be speechlesse , and all sores pain most when nere night ) that he had undertaken such a cure of souls upon him , who never was in england , nor understood english , and therefore requested the pope his kinsman , that after his death the place might be bestowed on some learned english-man , that so his own absence and negligence might in some sort be repaired by the residence and diligence of his successor , and this segrave to his great credit , was found the fittest person for that performance . he was afterwards preferred bishop of london sitting in that see not full four years , dying anno dom. . walter de langton was born at vvest-langton in this county . he was highly in favour with king edward the first , under whom he was bishop of coventry and liechfield , and treasurer of england . he granted him also liberty of free * warren in vvest and thorpe langton in this county the patrimoniall inheritance of this prelate . vvith his own innocence and friends assistance , at long sailing he weathered out the tempest of the popes displeasure . longer did he groan under the undeserved anger of king edward the second , chiefly , because this bishop sharply reproved him when as yet but prince for his * debauchery . see here the great difference betwixt youth , some hopefully , some desperately riotous . of the former was henry the fifth , who when king , is said to have rewarded and advanced such , who had reproved and punished him when prince . of the latter was king edward , not only wild but mad in his vitiousnesse . but our langton at length , was brought saith my * author in regis semigratiam into the kings half favour , let me add & in populi sesquegratiam , and into the peoples favour and half , who highly loved and honoured him . his tragicomical life , had a peaceable end in plenty and prosperity , he found his cathedral of li●…hfield mean , and left it magnificent , and it will appear by the instance of our langton , josseline of wells and others , that bishops continuing unremoved in their see , have atcheived greater matters then those who have been often translated , though to richer bishopricks . indeed prodigious was his bounty in building and endowing his cathedral , wherein he continued almost . years , and dying . was buryed in the chappel of st. mary of his own erection . rogerde * martival son and heir of sir aukitell de martivall kt. ( who gave for his arms argent a cinque foyle sable ) was born at nowsley in this county . he was first arch-deacon of leicester , then dean of lincoln , and at last consecrated bishop of salisbury , in the reign of king edward the second . now seeing bishop godwin , hath nothing more of him save his name and date , it is charity further to inform posterity that he was the last heir male of his house , and founded a colledg at * nowsley , temp . edw. . for a warden and certain brethren , which in the . of hen. . was valued to dispend yearly ( besides all charges ) . l. . . . d. his estate descended to joyce de martivall his sister , married unto sir ralph hastings lineal ancestor to the now earl of huntington . as for the mannor of nowsley as it came by the mother , so it went away with her daughter , into the family of the herons ; and by her daughter into the family of the hazleriggs , who at this day are the possessors thereof . this bishop dyed in the midst of lent , . robert wivil was born of worthy and wealthy parentage at * stanton wivil in this county , at the instance of philippa queen to king edward the third , the pope , anno . preferred him bishop of salisbury . it is hard to say whether he were more dunce or dwarfe , more unlearned or unhansome , insomuch that t. walsingham tells us , that had the pope ever seen him ( as no doubt he felt him in his large fees ) he would never have conferred the place upon him . he sate bishop more then . years , and impleaded william mountague earl of salisbury in a writ of right for the castle of salisbury . the earl chose the trial by battell , which the bishop accepted of , and both produced their champions into the place . the combatant for the bishop coming forth all clad in white , with the bishops own * arms ( viz. ) ( gules fretty varee , * a chief or ) empailed no doubt with them of his see on his surcote . some highly commended the zeal of the bishop asserting the rights of his church , whilest others condemned this in him , as a unprelatical act , god allowing duells no competent deciders of such differences . and moderate men to find out an expedient , said , he did this not as a bishop but baron ; the best was , the matter was taken up by the kings interposing , and the bishop with . marks , bought of the earl the quiet possession of the castle , and dyed anno d●…m . . being buryed under a marble stone about the middle of the quire. since the reformation . joseph hal●… was born at ashby de la zouch , in this county , where his father under the earl of huntington , was governour or bayly of the town . so soon almost as emanuel colledge was admitted into cambridge , he was admitted into that colledge , within few years after the first foundation thereof . he passed all his degrees with great applause ▪ first noted in the university , for his ingenuous maintaining , ( be it truth , or paradox ) that mundus senescit , the world groweth old . yet , in some sort , his position confuteth his position , the wit and quickness whereof did argue an increase , rather than a decay of parts in this latter age . he was first beneficed by sir r. drury at hallsted in suffolk , and thence removed by edward lord denny , ( afterward earl of norwich ) to waltham abbey in essex . here i must pay the tribute of my gratitude to his memory , as building upon his foundation , beholding my self , as his great grandchild in that place , three degrees from him in succession : but oh , how many from him in ability ! his little catechisme hath done great good in that populous parish , and i could wish that ordinance more generally used all over england . being doctor of divinity , he was sent over by k. james to the synod of dort , whence only indisposition of body forced him to return before the rest of his collegues . he was preferred first dean of worcester , then bishop of exeter , then bishop of exeter , then bishop of no place ; surviving to see his sacred function buryed before his eyes . he may be said to have dyed with his pen in his hand , whose writing and living expired together . he was commonly called our english * seneca , for the purenesse , plainesse , and fulnesse of his style . not unhappy at controversies , more happy at comments , very good in his characters , better in his sermons , best of all in his meditations . nor will it be amiss to transcribe the following passage out of his will. in the name of god , amen . i joseph hall , d.d. not worthy to be called bishop of norwich , &c. first , i bequeath my soul , &c. my body i leave to be interred without any funeral pomp , at the discretion of my executors , with this only monition , that i do not hold gods house a meet repository for the dead bodies of the greatest saints . he dyed september the . anno dom. . and was buryed at hyhem near norwich . statesmen . george villiers was born at brooksby in this county , 〈◊〉 son to his father sir george villiers and second son to his mother mary beaumont . being debarred ( by his late nativity ) from his fathers lands , he was happy in his mothers love , maintaining him in france , till he returned one of the compleatest courtiers in christendom , his body and behaviour mutually gracing one another . sir tho. lake may be said to have ushered him to the english court , whilest the lady lucy countess of bedford led him by the one hand , and william earl of pembroke by the other , supplying him with a support far above his patrimonial income . the truth is , sommersets growing daily more wearisome , made villiers hourly more welcome to k. james . soon after he was knighted , created successively baron viscount villiers , earl , marquess , duke of buckingham , and to bind all his honours the better together , the noble garter was bestowed upon him . and now offices at court , ( not being already void ) were voided for him . the earl of worcester was perswaded to part with his place of master of the horse , as the earl of nottingham with his office of admiral , and both conferred on the duke . he had a numerous and beautiful female kindred , so that there was hardly a noble stock in england into which one of these his cients was not grafted . most of his neices were matched with little more portion then their uncles smiles , the forerunner of some good office or honour to follow on their husbands . thus with the same act did he both gratifie his kindred , and fortifie himself with noble alliance . it is seldome seen that two kings , ( father and son ) tread successively in the same tract as to a favourite ; but here king charles , had as high a kindness for the duke as k. james . thenceforward he became the plenipotentiary in the english court , some of the scottish nobility making room for him , by their seasonable departure out of this life . the earl of bristoll was justled out , the bishop of lincoln cast flat on the floor , the earls of pembroke and carlisle content to shine beneath him , holland behind him , none even with , much lesse before him . but it is generally given to him , who is the little god at the court , to be the great devil in the countrey . the commonalty hated him with a perfect hatred , and all miscarriages in church and 〈◊〉 , at home , abroad , at sea and land were 〈◊〉 on his want of wisdom , valour or loyalty . john ●…elton a melancholy malecontented gentleman , and a sullen souldier , apprehending himself injured , could find no other way to revenge his conceived wrongs , then by writing them with a point of a knife in the heart of the duke , whom he stabbed at portsmouth . anno dom. . it is hard to say how many of this nation were guilty of this murther , either by publick praising or private approving thereof . his person from head to foot could not be charged with any blemish , save that some hypercriticks conceived his brows somewhat over pendulous , a cloud which in the judgement of others was by the beams of his eyes sufficiently dispelled . the reader is remitted for the rest of his character , to the exquisite epitaph on his magnificent monument , in the chappel of henry the seventh . capital judges . sir robert belknap . being bred in the study of the laws , he became chief justice of the common pleas october the . in the . of king edward the third , and so continued till the general rout of the judges , in the wonder-working parliament the eleventh of richard the second , when he was displaced on this occasion . the king had a mind to make away certain lords , viz. his unkle the duke of glocester , the earls of arundel , warwick , darby , nottingham , &c. who in the former parliament had been appointed governors of the kingdome . for this purpose he called all the judges before him to nottingham , where the kings many questions in fine were resolved into this , whether he might by his regal power revoke what was acted in parliament . to this all the judges , sir vvilliam skipwith alone excepted , answered affirmatively and subscribed it . this belknap underwrote unwillingly , as foreseeing the danger , and putting to his seal said these words , there wants nothing but an hurdle an horse and an halter , to carry me where i may suffer the death i deserve ; for if i had not done this , i should have dyed for it , and because i have done it , i deserve death for betraying the lords . yet , it had been more for his credit and conscience , to have adventured a martyrdome in the defence of the laws , then to hazzard the death of a malefactour in the breach therof . but judges are but men , and most desire to decline that danger , which they apprehend nearest unto them . in the next parliament , all the judges were arrested in vvestminster-hall of high treason ; when there was a vacation in term time , till their places were resupplied . sir r. tresilian , cheif justice of the kings bench , was executed . the rest thus named and reckoned up in the printed * statutes , robert belknap , john holt , john cray , william burgh , roger fulthorp , all judges and knights , with j. locktan serjeant at law , had their lands ( save what were intailed ) with their goods and chattels , forfeited to the king , their persons being banished , and they by the importunate intercession of the queen , hardly escaping with their lives . belknap is placed in this county , only because i find a worshipful family of his name fixed therein , whereof one was high sheriff in the . of k. henry the . provided this be no prejudice to sussex , the same * name being very ancient therein . sir robert catelin , descended from the ancient family of the catelins of raunds in northampton shire , ( as doth appear by the heralds visitation ) was born at * biby in this county . he was bred in the study of the municipal laws , profiting so well therein , that in the first of q. elizabeth , he was made lord cheif justice of the kings bench. his name hath some allusion to the roman * senator , who was the incendiary of that state , though in nature far different , as who by his wisdom and gravity was a great support to his nation . one point of law i have learned from him , at the tryall of thomas duke of norfolk , who pleaded out of bracton , that the testimonies of forreigners ( the most pungent that were brought against him ) were of no validity . here sir robert delivered it for law , that in case of treason they might be given in for evidence , and that it rested in the brest of the * peers , whether or no to afford credit unto them . he had one ( as what man hath not many ) fancy , that he had a prejudice against all those , who write their names with an alias , and took exceptions at one in this respect , saying , that no honest man had a double name , or came in with an alias . the party asked him what exceptions his lordship could take , at jesus christ , alias jesus of nazareth . he dyed in the sixteenth year of queen elizabeth , and his coat of arms , viz. [ party per cheveron azure and or , lions passant guardant counterchanged ; a cheif pearl ] is quartered by the right honourable the lord spencer , earl of sunderland , this judges daughter and sole heir being married to his ancestor . some forty years since a gentleman of his name and kindred , had a cause in the upper-bench , to whom the cheif justice therin said , your kinsman was my predecessour in the court and a great lawyer , my lord ( replied the gentleman ) he was a very honest man , for he left a small estate : but indeed , though his estate was not considerable , compared to his successors then present , it was in it self of a good valuation . writers . william de leicester otherwise called william de montibus ( which i would willingly english william of the woulds ) was born in leicester in this county , bred in oxford , where he was doctor and professor of divinity , so eminent for his learning that he was known to and much beloved by the * nobility of the land . he was also known by the name of * mr. william an evidence i assure you sufficient to avouch his majesterialty in all learning . he was removed to lincolne , and became first canon , then chancelour of the church . boston of bury reckoneth up many and learned books of his making . he flourished under king john . and lyeth buryed at lincolne . richard belgrave was born saith j. * pitz at chichester in sussex , but at belgrave in leicester-shire saith mr. william burton , whom i rather beleive , because he wrote a particular description of this county . now surely the more is the exactness of the authour , the less the extent of his subject , especially making it his set-work ( what was pits his by-work ) to observe the natives of this shire : but both agree him to be a carmelite , bred in cambridge , an excellent divine and good schoolman , more learned then eloquent . he wrote one book of theological determinations , and another of ordinary questions , flourishing in the year - under king edward the second . robert de leicester was born therein , but bred in oxford a franciscan fryer . he was one of those who brought preaching into fashion in that age , and was much esteemed for his faculty therein , by most of the nobility . but robert mascall bishop of hereford , ( as pious and learned as any in that age ) had an extraordinary affection for him . our leicestrian robert appeareth also a good chronologer , having written judiciously of the hebrew and roman computation . in his reduced age , he retired to leichfield , where he dyed and was buryed in the monastery of the franciscans . thomas ratclif born at ratcliffe in this county , was bred an augustinian in leicester , where he was ordinis sui * episcopus , strain the word no higher then to overseer of his order . he had ingenium fecundum & amplum , and pity it was , that he had , vitae institutum sterile & angustum . however to enlarge his soul , he wrote divers books and flourished anno . bartholomevv culie was born at radoliffe-culie in this county , as the exact describer * thereof avoucheth . and therefore pitz committeth a double mistake about this one writer , first calling him conway , then making him a welshman by his nativity . how hard is it to commit one , and but one error ? this bartholomew was an excellent philosopher , and wrote a book of generation and corruption , and although j. pitz. confesseth himself ignorant of the time he lived in , my authour assureth me that he flourished under king edward the third . william de lubbenham was born at lubbenham in this county , brought up in oxford , a good * philosopher and a divine , was after a white fryer , or carmelite in coventry , and after became provincial of the order , which place he kept till he dyed . he wrote upon aristotles posteriors , and one book of ordinary questions . he dyed in the white fryers in coventry . in the . year of k. edward the third . jeffery de harby was born at harby in this county and bred in oxford , where he became provincial of the augustines , and confessor to k. edward the third . wonder not when meeting with so many confessors to that king , presuming he had but one at one time , conscience not standing on state and variety in that kind . for know king edward reigned . years , and confessors being aged , before admitted to their place , his vivaciousnesse did wear out many of them . besides , living much beyond the seas , it is probable that he had his forraign and his home confessors . our jeffery was also of his privy counsel , being as prudent to advise in matters politick , as pious in spiritual concernments . such as admired he was not preferred to some wealthy bishoprick , must consider that he was ambitious and covetous to be poor , and wrote a violent book in the praise and perfection thereof against armachanus . dying in london , he was buryed in the church of the augustines , about the year . william de folvil was born at ashbye-folvil in this county , and therefore when * bale calleth him lincolniensem , understand him not by county , but by diocesse . he was bred a franciscan in the university of cambridge , and engaged himself a great master of defence in that doughty quarrel pro pueris induendis , that children under the age of . might be admitted into monastical orders . for whereas this was then complained of as a great and general grievance ; that by such preproperous couling of boyes , and vailing of girles , parents were cozened out of their children , and children cozened out of themselves , doing in their minority they knew not what , and repenting in their maturity , not knowing what to do , our folvil with more passion then reason , maintained the legality thereof . he dyed and was buryed in * stamford , anno . henry de knighton was born at knighton in this county , sometime abbot of leicester , who wrote his history from william the conquerour , to the time of king richard the second , in whose reign he dyed . it seemeth lelandus non vidit omnia , nor his shadow bale , nor his shadow pits , all three confessing that the history of this knighton never came to their hands . whereas of late , it hath been fairly printed with other historians , on the commendable cost of cornelius bee. thus it is some comfort and contentment to such , whom nature hath denyed to be mothers , that they may be drye nurses , and dandle babes in their laps , whom they cannot bear in their wombs . and thus this industrious stationer ( though no father ) hath been foster father to many worthy books , to the great profit of posterity . william woodford . i cannot fixe his nativity with any certainty , because so many woods and fords , ( and would the former did continue as well as the latter ) and consequently so many towns called woodfords in england . he is placed here , because his surname in this age . , flourished in great eminency in this * county . he was bred a franciscan , and though bilious bale giveth him the character of * indoctè doctus , we learn from leland , that he was one of profound learning , and thomas waldensis owneth and calleth him magistrum suum , his master . indeed woodford set him the first copy of railing against wickliffe , being deputed by t. arundel archbishop of canterbury to confute , publickly in writing , his opinions . he dyed and was buryed at colchester . thomas langton was born at west-langton in this county , bred a carmelite in london , but first brought up in oxford . he wrote a book of their own ordinary acts ; another called the tryal of henry crump doctor in divinity ; another book against the errors of the said doctor crump . reader , we are beholden to my * author , for retriving this writers memory , which otherwise appears not in leland , bale , or pits . he flourished under k. henry the fourth , anno dom. . robert de harby was born at harby in this county , bred a carmelite in their covent at lincolne . he seems to be a doctor in * divinity , and surely was a great adorer of the virgin mary , writing many sermons of her festivities . he flourished . richard turpin was born at knaptoft in this county , very lately ( if not still ) in the possession of that antient family , and was one of the gentlemen of the english garrison of calis in france , in the reign of king henry the eighth . such soldiers generally in time of vvar had too much , in time of peace to little work , to employ themselves therein . commendable therefore the industry of this richard , who spent his spare hours in writing of a chronicle of his time . he dyed anno domini . in the 〈◊〉 fifth year of the aforesaid kings reign . this i observe the rather , that the reader may not run with me on the rock of the same mistake , who in my apprehension confounded him with richard turpin the herauld , first blew-mantle , and then created winsor in the beginning of queen elizabeth . writers since the reformation . henry smith . commonly called silver-tongued smith , preacher at st. clemen●…s danes . but i refer the reader to his life writ by me at large , and preposed to his printed sermons . john duport d. d. son to tho. duport esquire , was born at shepshed in this county , bred fellow , then master of jesus colledge in cambridge , once proctour , and thrice vice-chancelour of that university . he was one of the translators of the bible , and a reverend man in his generation , who bestowed the perpetual advowsance of the rectory of harston on the colledge . men generally in scripture are notified by their fathers , seldome by their sons , as simon * of cyrene father of alexander and rufus , persons [ no doubt ] of signal worth in that age. thus this doctor is remarkable for his son ( by rachel daughter to richard cox bishop of ely ) james duport d.d. fellow of trinity colledge , and lately greek professor , happy in the education of many hopefull pupils of worship and honour , as they more happy in so able a tutor . his father d. john duport deceased . william burton esquire , son of ralph burton of lindley in this county , ( who had a more ancient inheritance belonging to his name at falde in staffordshire ) a place remarkable , because no * adder , snake , or lizard , ( common in the confines ) were ever seen therein ▪ as if it were a land-island and an ireland in england ▪ this vvilliam was born at lindley , august . . bred in brazen-nose colledge , and wrote an alphabetical description of the towns and villages in this county , with the arms * and pedegrees of the most ancient gentry therein . the sparks of his ingenuity herein , have since set fire on mr. dugdale , my worthy friend , to do the like to warwickshire ( lately under one sheriff with leicester-shire ) and i hope in process of time they may inflame many others into imitation , that so ( give me leave to match an english and greek word together ) the county graphy of our land may be compleated . robert burton , his younger brother , born febr. . . afterwards student of christs-church oxon , and batchellor of divinity . he wrote an excellent book ( commonly called , democritus junior ) of the anatomy of melancholy ( none to the native , to describe a countrey ) wherein he hath piled up variety of much excellent learning . on whose tomb is this epitaph . paucis notus , paucioribus `ignotus ; hic jacet democritus junior , cui vitam-pariter & mortem dedit melancholia . scarce any book of philology in our land hath in so short a time passed so many impressions . he died rector of segrave ( presented by his patron george lord berkeley ) in this county , about . richard vines was born at blazon in this county , and bred in magdalen colledge in cambridge , where he commenced master of arts. now although many healthfull souls in their age , break out in their youth , he was never given to any extravagancy . hence he was chosen school-master of hinckley in this county , a profession wherein many a good minister hath been ( and it is pity that any but a good man should be ) imployed . entring the ministry , after other intermediate places ( such as are his censurers would be his compurgators , if privie to the weighty causes of his just removal ) he was fixed at last at s. lawrence jury in lon●…on . an excellent preacher , skilfull to cut out doctrines in their true shape , naturally raised , to sew them up with strong stitches ; substantially proved , and set them on with advantage on such backs , who should wear them effectually applied . he was one ( yea , i may say one of sevenscore in the assembly . ) the champion of their party , therefore called their luther , much imployed in their treaties at uxbridge and isle of wight . his majesty , though of a different judgement , valued him for his ingenuity , seldome speaking unto him without touching ( if not moving ) his hat. which by master vines was returned ( though otherwise blunt and unobservant ) with most respectfull language and gestures ; which i will not say was done by all his fellow divines there present . he was most charitably moderate to such as dissented from him , though most constant to his own principles ; witness his forsaking of his mastership of pembroke-hall for refusing of the engagement . such who charged him with covetuousness , are confuted with the small estate he left to his wife and children . it seemeth that the sand in his hour-glass ( though sticking high on each side ) was but hollow in the middle , for it sunk down on sudden . visible decays appeared in him a year before his death , though rather in his limbs than parts , spirits than spirit . but alas , the best mind cannot make good musick where the instrument of the body is out of tune ; his speech grew very low . not a week before his death , preaching in s. gregories , a rude fellow cried out unto him , lift up your voice , for i cannot hear you ; to whom mr. vines returned , lift you up your ears , for i can speak no lowder . indeed his strength was much spent by his former pains , so that some suppose had he wrought less he had lived longer . he was buried febr. the . . in his own parish church , where mr jacome modestly and learnedly performed his funeral sermon . much lamented , as by many others , so by his own parish , where he piously indeavoured to make them all of one piece who were of different colours , and to unite their judgements who dissented in affections . john cleveland was born in this county at hinckley ( where his father was vic●…r ) and bred therein under mr. ricard vines his school-master ; he was afterwards scholar of christs , then fellow of s. johns in cambridge , and during the late civil wars was much conversant in the garison of newark , where ( as i am informed ) he had the place of advocate general . a general artist , pure latinist , exquisite orator , and ( which was his master-piece ) eminent poet. his epithetes were pregnant with metaphors , carrying in them a difficult plainness , difficult at the hearing , plain at the considering thereof . his lofty fancy may seem to stride from the top of one mountain to the top of another , so making to it self a constant level and champian of continued elevations . such who have clevelandized , indeavouring to imitate his masculine stile , could never go beyond the hermophrodite , still betraying the weaker sex in their deficient conceits . some distinguish between the veine and strain of poetry , making the former to flow with facility , the latter press'd with pains , and forced with industry . master cleveland's poems do partake of both , and are not to be the less valued by the reader , because most studied by the writer thereof . as for his anagram john cleveland heliconean dew . the difficult trifle i confess , is rather well endevoured then exactly performed . he dyed on thursday morning the of april . at his chamber in greys inne , from whence his body was brought to hunsdon house , and on saturday being may day , was buryed at colledge hill church , mr. john pearson his good friend preaching his funeral sermon . he rendred this reason why he cautiously declined all commending of the party deceased , because such praising of him would not be adequate to any expectation in that auditory , seeing such who knew him not , would suspect it far above , whilest such who were acquainted with him , did know it much beneath his due desert . the self same consideration , shall put a period to my pen , in his present character , only this i will adde , that never so eminent a poet , was interred with fewer ( if any remarkable ) elegies upon him . i read in an excellent * authour , how one joannes passerativus , professor of the latine tongue in the university of paris , being no bad poet , ( but morose and conceited of himself ) forbad by his dying words , under an imprecation , that his herse should be burthened with bad funeral verses , whereupon out of fear to offend his ghost , very few verses were made upon him , too much the modesty and charity of mr. cleveland , by any such injunction to obstruct his friends , expressing their affection to his memory . be it rather imputed to the royal party , at that juncture of time generally in restraint , so that their fancies may seem in some sort to sympathize with the confining of their persons , and both in due season may be inlarged . of such verses as came to my hand these were not the worst , made by my good * friend since deceased . ye muses do not me deny i ever was your votary , and tell me seeing you do daigne , t' inspire and feed the hungry brain , with what choice cates ? with what choice fair ? ye cleevelands fancy still repair . fond man , say they , why dost thou question thus ? ask rather with what nectar he feeds us . but i am informed , that there is a book intended by the poets of our age , in the honour of his memory , who was so eminent a member of their society . beńefactors to the publick . sir john poultney knight , was born in this county at * poultney , in the parish of misterton , bred in the city of london , and became four times lord mayor thereof . he built a * colledge to the honour of jesus & corpus christi , for a master and seven chaplains in st. laurence church in candleweek-street in london , in the . of edward the third , which church was after denominated of him st. laurence poultney . he built the parish church of alhallows the lesse in thames street , and the monastery of white fryers in coventry , and a fair chappel on the north side of st. pauls in london , where he lyeth buryed , who dyed . the . year of edward the third , he was a great benefactour to the hospital of st. giles by holborn , and gave many great legacies to the relief of prisoners and the poor . since the reformation . reader , if any demand of me the names of the natives of this county , benefactors to the publick since the reformation , all my answer is , non sum informatus , and let the court judge whether this be the fault of the councel or of the client , and i doubt not but the next age will supply the defects hereof . only postliminio , i have by the help of my good * friend , at last recovered one who may keep possession of the place , till others be added unto him . robert smith citizen , and merchant-taylor of london , was born at mercate harborough in this county , and became comptroller of the chamber of london , and one of the four attorneys in the majors court. a painful person in his place , witness the many remaining monuments of his industry whilst he acted in his office , betwixt the years . and . nor was his piety any whit beneath his painfulness , who delivered to the chamberlain of london , seven hundred and fifty pounds to purchase lands for the maintenance of a lecturer in the town of his nativity , as also for several other pious uses , as in the settlement of those lands are particularly expressed . he dyed as i collect , about . memorable persons . know reader , that by an unavoidable mischance , the two first following persons , who should have been entred under the topick of souldiers are ( with no disgrace i conceive ) remembered in this place . edmond applebie knight , was son to iohn applebie esquire , and born at great applebie , whence their family fetched their name , and where at this day * ( i hope ) they have their habitation . he was a mighty man of arms , who served at the battel of cressy , the . of k. edward the third , where he took mounsieur robert d'n mailarte a nobleman of france prisoner . now know though the pens of our home-bred historians may be suspected of partiality , yet english atcheivements acknowledged by french authours , such as froizard is , who taketh signal notice thereof ; commandeth belief . afterwards in the eight year of richard the second he went into france , with iohn of gaunt , duke of lancaster , to treat of a peace betwixt both kingdomes . lastly in the ninth of richard the second , he accompanied the said duke , and the lady constance his wife , daughter aud coheir of peter king of castile , in his voyage into castile , who then went over with a great power to invest himself in the said kingdome , which by descent belonged to his wife , and was then usurped by henry base brother unto king peter . john herdvvicke esq born at lindley in this county , was a very lowe man ( stature is no standard of stoutnesse ) but of great valour , courage , and strength , this is he , though the tradition goeth by an unknown name , by whose good conduct , henry earl of richmond , afterwards king henry the seventh , in the battel of bosworth , got the advantage of ground , wind , and sun , each singly considerable but little lesse then an army in themselves , when all put together . besides he assisted him with the service of many men and great horses . he dyed one thousand five hundred and eleven , leaving six daughters and coheirs , and was buryed at non-eaton in warwick-shire . iohn * poultney born in little shepey was herein remarkable , that in his sleep he did usually rise out of his bed , dresse him , open the dores , walk round about the fields , and return to his bed not wakened ; sometimes he would rise in his sleep , take a ●…taff , fork , or any other kind of vveapon that was next his hand , and therewith lay about him , now striking , now defending himself , as if he were then encountred or charged with an adversary , not knowing ( being awaked ) what had passed . he afterwards went to sea with that famous but unfortunate sir hugh willoughby knight , and was ( together with all the fleet ) frozen to death in the north east passage , about nova zembla . henry noel esq i will incur the readers deserved displeasure , if he appear not most memorable in his generation . he was younger son to sir andrew noel of dalby in this county , who for person , parentage , grace , gesture , valour , and many other excellent parts , ( amongst which , skill in musick ) was of the first rank in the court. and though his lands and livclyhood were small , having nothing known certain , but his annuity and pension , as gentleman to queen elizabeth , yet in state , pomp , magnificence and expences , did ever equalize the barons of great worth . if any demand whence this proceeded , the spanish proverb answers him , that which cometh from above , let no man question . being challenged by an italian gentleman to play at baloun , he so heat his blood , that falling into a feaver he dyed thereof , and by her majesties appointment , was buryed in the abbey of westminster , and chapel of st. andrew , anno . lord maiors .   name . father . place . company . time. geffrey fielding * william fielding lutterworth mercer william heriot iohn heriot segrave draper robert billesdon alex bilsesdon queeningsborough haberdasher christoph. draper iohn draper melton-mowbray ironmonger george bolles thomas bolles newbold grocer sheriffs of leicester and warwick-shire . hen. ii. anno , geffrey clinton anno , robert fitz hugh . anno , robert fitz hugh . anno , william de bello campo & robert fitz hardulph . anno , ●…ertram de bulmer , & raph basset . anno , raph basset . anno , w. basset for raph his br. anno , robert fitz geffrey . & william basset . anno , willam basset . anno , rap. glanvil & w. basset . anno , william basset for years anno , bert. de verdun for . anno , raph de glanvil , & bertram de berder . anno , raph de glanvil , & bert. de perdun , arn. de burton arn. de barton , & adam de aldedelega . anno , raph de glanvil , adam de aldedelega , bertram de verdun , a. de barton . anno , idem anno , raph de glanvil , & bertram de verdun . anno , raph de glanvil , & michael belet . anno , idem anno , idem rich. i. anno michael belet . anno hugh bishop of coventry . anno hugh ●…ardolph , & hugh clarke . anno hugh bp. coventry , gilbert de segrave , & reginald basset . anno reginald basset . anno regin . basset , & gilbert . segrave . anno regin . basset , williel . aubein , & gilb. segrave . anno regin . basset . anno regin . basset , williel . aubein , & gilbert ●…egrave . anno rob. harecourt . king john . anno regin . basset . anno robert. harecourt . anno rob. harecourt , & godfry de l●…ege . anno william de cantelupe , robert. de poyer . anno robert. poyer . anno hugh chaucomber , for years . anno robert. roppest . anno idem . anno william de cantelupe , rob. poyer . anno rob. poyer for years . hen. iii. anno will. de cantelupe , & phil. kniton . anno philip de kniton . anno idem . anno will. de cantelupe , & will. de luditon . anno will. de luditon . anno idem . anno john russell , & john winterborne . anno rob. lupus . anno idem . anno idem . anno will. stutewill , & will. ascellis . anno will. ascellis . anno stephen de segrave , & will. edmonds . anno will. edmonds . anno idem . anno steph. de segrave , joh. de riparas . anno raph bray . anno raph. fitz nichol. raph. brewedon . anno raph. & will. erleg . anno will. de lucy . anno idem . anno hugh pollier , & philip ascett . anno hugh pollier for years . anno baldwin paunton . anno idem . anno philip murmuny . anno idem . anno idem . anno will. maunsel , for y. anno alan swinford . anno anketill martivaus . anno idem . anno will. bagot , for years . anno will. morteyn , & will. bagot . edvv. i. anno william mortimer . anno idem . anno idem . anno william hanelin . anno idem . anno idem . anno tho. de hasele , & robert verdon . anno robert verdon , & osb. bereford , for years . anno rob. verdon , osbert bereford & tho. farendon . anno idem . anno tho. farendon , & foulk lucy . anno foulk lucy . anno william bonvill . anno idem . anno stephen baber . anno idem . anno steph. baber , & will. de castello . anno will. de castello , for years . anno john broughton . anno idem . anno philip gayton . anno idem . anno john deane , & richard herehus . anno idem . anno idem . anno richard whitnere . anno idem . edvv. ii. anno john deane , & geffrey segrave . anno richard herthull . anno idem . anno john deane . anno idem . anno john olney . anno idem . anno william trussell . anno idem . anno walter beauchamp . anno walt. beauchamp , & will. nevill . anno ralph beler . anno william nevill . anno thomas le rous. anno idem . anno anno hen. nottingham , rob. morin , & oliver walleis . anno idem . anno idem . edvv. iii. anno roger aylesbury . anno thomas blancfront . anno robert burdet . anno rob. burdet , & roger la zouch . anno roger aylesbury . anno idem . anno hen. hockley , & roger la zouch . anno roger la zouch , for years . anno william peito . anno robert bereford . anno john wallis . anno idem . anno tho. beauchamp , earl of warwick , for years . anno john peach . anno william catesby . anno richard harthull . anno roger hillary . anno ●… john boyvill . anno john burdet . anno vvilliam breton . anno richard harthull . sheriffs of leicester and warwick . name . place . arms. richardvs ii.     anno ,     roger per●…wich     〈◊〉 . de bermingham   per pale indented arg. and sab. williel . flamuil aston l. argent a manch azure . thomas . ralegh 〈◊〉 arg. seme of croslets g. a cross moline sable . t. de bermingham ut prius   willielm . baggot     idem .     joh. bermingham ut prius   jo. calveleigh , m.   ar. a fess g. betw . . calves s. johannes parker olney . 〈◊〉 .   richardus ashby   az. a cheveron ermin betwixt three leopards heads , or. williel . flamuil ut prius   ado. de lichfeld     rob. de 〈◊〉 .   sable a fret argent . johann . mallory swinford . 〈◊〉 or ly●…ns passant gardant s. th. de woodford sproxt . l. sable , leopards heads feasant gules , fleur de luces arg. thomas ondeby     robertus veer   quarterly g. & o. a mullet , ar. amp. henricus nevill     robert. goushul     〈◊〉 . eynefford     ado. de lichfeld     hen. iv.     anno ,     johan . berkely , m. 〈◊〉 g. a cheveron 'twixt cinquefoils arg. hen. n●…vill , mil. ut prius   alex. trussel , mil.   ar. fretty g. on every point a bez. johannes blaket nowesly . 〈◊〉 azure a b●…nd cotized , between 〈◊〉 crosse croslets fitchee or. idem . ut prius   ●…on . berkley , mil. ut prius   thomas lucy charlcot . w g. seme de croslets lucies horient arg. johannes parr   arg. bars az. a border ingrailed sable . hen. nevill , mil. ut prius   will. brokesby   undee arg. and s. a canton g. robert●…s castell withibroke gules , bars and a castle in a canton argeut . barth . brokesby . ut prius   hen. v.     anno ,     tho. crewe , arm .     rich. hastings , m.   argent a manch sable . tho. burdet , mil. newton-b . az. on . bars o. . martlets g. johannes malbory ut prius   will. bishopston   or . bends s. a can●…on ermin . johann . salveyn     b●…rth . brookesby ut prius   tho. ardington & tho. maureward . c. orton . l. az. a fess arg. betw . cinquefoils or. hen. vi.     anno ,     rich. hastings , m. ut pri●…s   humph. stafford huncote . l or a cheveron g. and a quarter e●…min . johann . mallory ut prius   richar. cloddale     rich. hastings . m. ut prius   thomas stanley   arg. on a bend az. bucks-h . o. willielmus payto chesterto●… . barry of peices ar. and g. per nichol. ruggeley   pale indented & counterchanged humphr . stafford ut prius   w. mountford , m   bendee of peices , or and az. rich. hastings , m. ut prius   thom. foulhurst     thom. ardin●…on     willielmus . lucy ut prius   wil. payto , mil. ut prius   rob●…tus ardern   ermin a fess checky or and az. hum. stafford , m. grafton   laurent . berkley ut prius   thomas ashby lowedby . ut prius . vvil. mountford ut prius   w. bermingham & lawr. sherrard ut prius staplef●…rd . 〈◊〉   idem . ut prius arg. a cheveron g. betwixt . torteauxes . rob. harecourt bosworth . l or bars gules . tho. erdington b●…ow . l. argent lyons passant or. th. everingham   gules a lyon rampant vary , corone or. tho. porter , a. & will. purefoy , ar . drayton . l. s. pair of gantlets clipping vvill. purefey ut prius ( or joyned together ) argent . vvillielm . lucy ut prius   w. mountford , m ut prius   rob. motun , m. pekleton l. argent a cinquesoile azure . w. be●…mingham ut prius   leonar . hastings kerby . l. arms ut prius thomas berkley ut prius   williel . hastings ut prius   tho. walsh , ar . wanlip . l g. bars gemews , a bend arg. tho. maston , ar .     h. filongley , ar . filonley . w   edm. mountford . ut prius   edw. iv     anno ,     tho. ferrers , ar .   amp. joh. grevil , arm .   sab. a bordure & cross engrailed or , thereon pellets . idem . ut prius   will. harecourt ut prius   joh. huggford , a.     th. throgmorton cought . w.   rad. woodford , a knipton . l. gules , on a cheveron argent . bars gemellee sable . edw. rawleigh , m ut prius   tho. ferrers , mil. ut prius   joh. grevil , mil. ut prius   sim. mountford ut prius   vvill. motum , a ut prius   joh. higgford , a. ut prius   joh. grevil , mil. ut prius   vvill. lucy , ar . ut prius   vv. trussell , m. elms●…horp . 〈◊〉   johan . branfitz     joh. grevill , mil. ut prius   thom. poultney misterton . 〈◊〉 . arg. a fess indented g. in cheif . leopards heads sable . rich. boughton l●…ford . w. sable cressants or. thomas cokesey     edward felding 〈◊〉 . w ar. on a fess az. lozenges o rich. iii.     anno ,     thom. entwysel   arg. on a be●… sable martlets of the field . humph. beaufort guies●…lif . w ermin on a bend az cinquefoils or. r. broughton , a. & r. throgmorton ut prius     ut prius   henricus vii .     anno ,     joh●…nnes digby   azure a flower de luce arg henricus lisle   or. a fess 〈◊〉 chev. sab. r. throgmorton ut prius   vvil. lucy , miles ut prius   tho. brereton , ar .   argent bars sable . johan . villars , ar . brokesby . l arg. on a cross g. escalops , o. r. throgmorton ut prius   thom. pulney , m. ut prius   rad. sherley , m. 〈◊〉 l. paly of . or. and azure a canton ermin . johan . villars , a. ut prius   ed. rawleigh , m. ut prius   vv. brokesbury     tho. nevill , ar . ut prius   rich. pudsey , m.     joh. villars , ar . ut prius   tho. hasilrig , a. nouselee . l arg. a cheveron betwixt hasel leavesvert . edw. belknap , a.     nich. mallory , a. ut prius   henricus lysle , a ut prius   nich. brome , ar .     h. willoughby   or , on bars gules , water-bouguets argent . edw. raleigh , m. ut prius   tho. trussel , ar . ut prius   will. skevington skevington arg. bulls heads erased sable . hen. viii .     anno ,     simon digby , ar . ut prius   johan . aston , m.     mau. berkley , ar . ut prius   will. turpin , ar . knaptost l. g. on a bend arg. lions heads erased sable . edw. ferers , mil. amp.   johan . digby , m. ut prius   will. skevington ut prius   m●… . berkley , m. ut prius   simon digby , ar . ut prius   edw. ferrers , m. ut prius   hen. willougby ut prius   edw. digby , ar . ut prius   will. skevington ut prius   will. browne , ar .     edw. conway , ar . ragley . w. s on a bend betw . gotises , ar. a rose g. betw . annulets of the first . tho. lucy , miles . ut prius   h. willoughby , m ut prius   g. throgmort . 〈◊〉 ut prius   tho. pu●…tney , m. ut prius   rog. ratclisse , m.   argent a bend engrailed sable . rich. verney . ar . w. az. on a cross arg. mullets g. christ. villars , a. ut prius   johan . villars , m. ut prius   joh. harrington ut prius   johan . audley , a.     regin . digby , ar . ut prius   w. broughton , a.     vval●… . smith , ar .     johan . villars , m. ut prius   tho. nevill , ar .   gules a saltyre ermine . johan . digby , ar . ut prius   rich. catesby , a.   ar. lyons passant s. corone , o rog. vvigston , a. wolston . w   fulco . grevil , m. beachamp . w sab. a bo●…der and cross engrailed or thereon . pellets . g. throgmorton utp rius   regin . digby , a. ut prius   rich. catesby , m. ut prius   fran. poultney , & vvill. leigh , ar . ut prius g. a cross ingrailed ar. in the first quarter a lozenge , or.   ut prius   edvv. vi.     anno ,     fulco . grevill , m. ut prius   ambro. cave , m.   azure frettee argent . rich. munnar , m.     edw. hastings , m. ut prius   vv. vvigeston , a. ut prius   tho. nevill , miles ut prius   phil. rex . & m. r.     anno ,     r. throgmorton ut prius   tho. hastings , m. ut prius   edw. grevill , m. ut prius   fran. shirley , ar . ut prius   vv. wigeston , m. ut prius   bran. cave , arm . ut prius   elizab. reginae .     anno ,     tho. lucy , arm . ut prius   will. skeffington ut prius   tho. nevill , mil. ut prius   rich. verney , m. ut prius   johan fisher , ar . pa●…ington . per bend g. o. a griffin ramp . counterch . within a bord . vary . williel . devereux   ar. a f. g. in cheif torte●…es . geor. turpin , m. ut prius   fran. smith , ar . ashby . l. arg. a cross g. betw . . peacocks proper . the reader , may perceive some ( not considerable ) difference , betwixt this our catalogue , and the printed one , set forth by mr. burton in his description of this shire . i will neither condemn his no●… commend my own , but leave both to the examination of others . king richard the second . . thomas de woodford . ] he was the eldest son of sir robert de woodford a wealthy knight , who dying before his father , left five sons , viz. john , walter , humphrey , ralph and john. sir robert their grandfather , out of design to perpetuate his posterity , ( adventured in five bottoms ) made all his grandchildren in effect elder brothers , dividing his vast estate amongst them ; an equal unequal partition to be injurious to the heir ( without his demerit ) that he might be bountiful to his other brethren : but it thrived accordingly . for that great family ( which had long continued in great accompt and estate ) by reason of this * division , in short space utterly decayed , not any part of their lands ( thus disposed ) now in the tenure of the name , and some of the male heirs descended from the five brethren , now living in a low condition ; and no wonder , they soon made a hand of all , where the thumb was weakned , to strengthen the four fingers . henry the fifth . . thomas burdet miles . ] the samenesse of name and nearnesse of kindred , giveth me here a just occasion to insist on a memorable passage , concerning thomas burdet esq grandchild and heir to sir thomas here named . when as king edward the fourth ( in his absence ) had killed a fat white buck in his park at arrow in warwick-shire , which he greatly esteemed ; upon the first hearing of it , wished the bucks head and horns in his belly , that moved the king to kill it . upon the misconstruing of which words , he was accused of treason , attainted , and beheaded , . e. . . and was buried in the grey fryers in london . thus far our english chronicles with joint consent agree in the same tune , but i meet with one * author , reaching one note higher then all the rest , adding as followeth , these words spoken and so wrested , were the colour of his death , but the true cause was the hard conceit and opinion , which the king had of him , for that he had ever been a faithful friend , and true councellour , to george duke of clarence his brother , between whom there had been bitter enmity . whatsoever was the cause of such severity against him , burdet patiently and chearfully took his death , affirming he had a bird in his brest ( his own innocency ) that sung comfort unto him . henry the sixth . . humphrey stafford . ] being afterwards knighted , he was by king henry the sixth , made governour of callice , and coming over into england , was slain by jack cade : but god hath a blessing for those whom rebells curse . sir humphrey stafford his grandchild fixed himself at blatherwick in northampton-shire , where his posterity doth flourish to this day . . william hastings . ] the reader needeth not my dimme candle to direct him to this illustrious person . he was son to sir leonard hastings ( sheriffe two years before ) and was he whom king edward the third , or rather edward plantagenet ( because more in his humane then royal capacity ) so delighted in , that he made him his lord chamberlain , baron hastings of ashby de la zouch , &c. as he loved the king very well , so after this kings death , he is charged to have loved jane shore too well , and richard duke of glocester , perceiving him to obstruct the way to his ambitious designs , ordered his removal , causing him to be beheaded . edw. . as when living he was dear , so being dead his corps are near to edw. . buried under a very fair monument in windsor chappel . he was grandfather to george hastings first earl of huntington . edvvard the sixth . . edvvard hastings miles . ] queen mary , much delighting in his devotion , created him baron of loughborough . he founded and endowed a handsome hospital at stoke pogeis in buckingham-shire , whither ( after the queens death ) weary of the world he retired himself , and therein dyed without issue . the foresaid ( and that a very fair ) town of loughborough , hath since again afforded the title of a baron to a younger branch of the same honourable family , henry hastings second-son to henry ( second of that christian name ) earl of huntington , who by his virtues doth add to the dignity of his extraction . queen elizabeth . . john fisher armiger . ] his father thomas fisher alias hawkins , being a collonel under the duke of somerset in * musleborough field , behaved himself right valiantly , and took a scotch man prisoner , who gave a griffin for his arms : whereupon the said duke conferred on him the arms of his captive , to be born within a border varrey , in relation to a prime coat which the said duke ( the granter thereof ) quartered as descended from the lord beauchamps of hatch . sheriffs of leicester-shire alone . name . place . arms. elizab. reginae .     anno ,     geo. sherard , ar . stapleford argent a cheveron gules betwixt three torteauxes . hen. poole , arm .     brian . cave , arm .   azure frettee argent . jac. harington , m p●…leton . sable a fret argent . geo. hastings , m.   argent a maunch sable . fr. hastings , ar .   the same with due difference . edw. leigh , arm .   g. a cross ingrailed ar. in the first quarter a lozenge , o. geo●… . turpin , m. knaptoft . g. on a bend argent . lyons heads erazed sable . rog. ville●…s , ar .   ar. on a cross g. escalops , o tho. skevington skevingt . arg. . bulls heads erased s. nic. beaumont , a. coleorton az. seme de flewer de liz . a lyon rampant or. tho. ashby , arm .   a chev. erm. tw . . leop. heads . tho. cave , arm . ut prius   fran. hastings , a. ut prius   geor. purefey , a. drayton   brian . cave , a. engersby ut prius with due difference . andr. noell , a. dalby or , fretty gules a canton ermin hen. iurvile , a. aston gules gheverons varry . will. turpin , ar . ut prius   a●…h . faunt , ar . foston a●… . crus ule fitche , a l. ramp . g with due difference . will. cave , arm . pikwell   tho. skeffington ut prius   belgrave belgrave g. a chev. er. twixt mascles , a ut prius with due difference . edw. turvile , a. thurlston   geor. 〈◊〉 , a. ut prius   geor. villers , ar . brokesby arms ut prius thom. cave , ar . ut prius   will. turpin , ar . ut prius   hen. beaumont ut prius   williel . cave , ar . ut prius   henri . cave , ar . ut prius   will. skipwith , a cotes . arg. bars gules in chief a grey●…ound cursant sable . will. digby , ar . welby azure a fleur de liz argent . t. sk●…ffington , a. ut prius   rog. smith , arm . withcock gules on a gheveron or , betw . bezaunts croslets formy fitchee . georg. ashby , ar . quenby   tho. humfreys . swepston   jacob . r.     anno ,     will. faunt , mil. faufton arms ut prius will. noell , arm . wellsbor . arms ut prius basil. brook , miles lubbenham   tho. nevill , mil. holt gules a saltyre ermin hen. hastings , m. leicester arms ut prius will. villers , a●… . brokesby   joh. plummer . ar . marston ermin a bend varry cotised s. t. beaumont , mil. coleorton   brian . cave , mil. engersby   〈◊〉 . hasilrig , m. nowsley argent a cheveron betwixt . hasel leaves vert . tho. stavely , ar .   barry of ar. and gules , over all . a flower de luce sable . wolstan . dixy , m bosworth az. a lyon rampant & cheif or. vvill. faunt , m. ut prius   vv. holford , m. welham   edw. hartop , ar . buckminster s. a cheveron twixt otters ar. vv. gerveis , a. & peatling   vvil. roberts , m. sutton per pale ar. & g. a lyon ramp . s. johan . cave , arm . pikwell   alex. cave , mil. bagrave   richard. holford wistowe   geo. 〈◊〉 , ar .     johan . bale , mil. carleton - curley . per pale vert & g. an eagle displayed arg beaked & armed , o hen. shirley , m. stanton . paly of . or , & az. a canton erm. k. charles .     anno ,     tho. hartoppe , m. ut prius   nathan . lary , ar .     georg. aisby , ar .     er. de la fontain , m   g. a bend or in the sinister cheif a cinque foile ermin . w. vvollaston , a.   sable mullets pierced argent . joh. banbrigge , a. lockinton arg. a cheveron embateled betw . battle-axes sable . johann . brokesby ut prius   joh. st. john , m.   arg. on a cheif g. mullets or. tho bu●…ton m. b. 〈◊〉 s. a chev. betw . owles argent 〈◊〉 . or. fran. sanders , a.   partee p. ch. ar. & s. e●…eph . beads counterch . joh. poultney , ar . 〈◊〉 arg. a fess indented g. . leop. heads in cheif sable . hen. skipwith , m ut prius   rich. roberts , m.     joh. wha●…ton , ar .     will. holford , ar .     johan . pate , arm .     arch. palmer , ar .                 johan . stafford , a.     will. hewit , arm .   sable a chever . counterbattellee , betwixt owles argent queen elizabeth . . francis hastings . ] i believe him the same person with sir francis hastings fourth son to francis , second . earl of huntington of that sirname , to whose many children mr. * cambden giveth this commendation , that they agreed together in brotherly love though not in religion , some protestants , others papists , all zealous in their perswafion . our sir francis wrote a learned book in the defence of our religion ( rather carped at then confuted by parsons in his three conversions ) and was an eminent benefactor to emmanuel colledge : but if i be mistaken in the man , and these prove two different persons , the reader will excuse me for taking occasion by this his namesake and near kinsman , of entring here the memorial of so worthy a gentleman . . anthony faunt esquire . ] he was a gentleman of a comely person and great valor ( son unto william faunt apprentice of the law of the inner temple , one of great learning and wisdome ) and had in the low countreys served under william prince of orange , where he gained much martial experience . returning into his countrey he underwent some offices therein with good esteeme , being this year chosen sheriff of the shire . in the next year , ( which was . ) he was chosen lieutenant general of all the forces of this shire to resist the spanish invasion . but his election being crost by henry earl of huntington ( lord leiutenant of the county , ) he fell into so deep a fit of melancholy * , that he dyed soon after . . vvilliam skipvvith esq ] he was afterwards deservedly knighted , being a person of much valor , judgment , learning and vvisdome , dexterous at the making fit and acute * epigrams , poesies , mottoes , and devises , but chiefly at impresses , neither so apparent that every rustick might understand them , nor so obscure that they needed an oedipus to interpret them . the farewell . being now to take my leave of this county , it is needless to wish it a friday market ( the leap-day therein , and it is strange there should be none in so spacious a shire ) presuming that defect supplied in the vicinage ; rather i wish that the leprosy may never return into this county , but if it should return ( we carry the seeds of all sins in our souls , sicknesses in our bodies ) i desire that the lands may also ( without prejudice to any ) returne to the hospital of burton lazars in this shire , if not intire , yet in such a proportion as may comfortably maintain the lepers therein . lincolne-shire . this county in fashion , is like a bended bowe , the sea making the back , the rivers welland and humber , the two horns thereof , whiles trent hangeth down from the latter like a broken string , as being somewhat of the shortest . such persecute the metaphor too much , who compare the river witham , ( whose current is crooked ) unto the arrow crossing the middle thereof . it extendeth . miles from south to north , not above . in the middle and broadest part thereof . being too volluminous to be managed entire is divided into three parts , each of them corrival in quantity with some smaller shires ) holland on the south-east , kesteven on the south-west , and lindley on the north to them both . holland , that is , hoyland or hayland , from the plenty of hay growing therein , may seem the reflection of the opposite holland in the neatherlands , with which it sympathyzed in the fruitfulness , lowe and wet scituation . here the brakishnesse of the water , and the grossenesse of the ayre , is recompenced by the goodnesse of the earth , abounding with deries and pasture . and as god hath ( to use the * apostles phrase ) tempered the body together , not making it all eye or all ear ( nonsense that the whole should be but one sense . ) but assigning each member the proper office thereof , so the same providence , hath so wisely blended the benefits of this county , that take collective lincolne-shire and it is defective in nothing . natural commodities . pikes . they are found plentifully in this shire , being the fresh-water-wolves , and therefore an old pond-pike , is a dish of more state than profit to the owners , seeing a pikes belly , is a little fishpond , where lesser of all sorts have been contained . sir francis * bacon alloweth it ( though tyrants generally be short-lived ) the surviver of all fresh-water-fish , attaining to forty years , and some beyond the seas have trebled that term . the flesh thereof must needs be fine and wholsome , if it be true what is affirmed , that in some sort it cheweth the cud , and yet the less and middle size pikes , are preferred for sweetnesse before those that are greater . it breedeth but once * ( whilest other fishes do often ) in a year ; such the providence of nature preventing their more multiplying , least the waters should not afford subjects enough for their tyranny . for want of other fish ▪ they will feed one on another ; y●…a what is four footed shall be fish with them , if it once come to their jawes ( biteing sometimes for cruelty and revenge , as well as for hunger ) and because we have publickly professed , that to delight , as well as to inform is our aim in this book , let the ensuing story ( though unwarranted with a cited authour ) find the readers acceptance . a cub-foxe , drinking out of the river arnus in italy , had his head seised on by a mighty pike , so that neither could free themselves , but were ingrapled together . in this contest a young man runs into the water , takes them out both alive , and carrieth them to the duke of florence ; whose palace was hard by . the porter would not admit him , without promising of sharing his full half in what the duke should give him . to which he ( hopelesse otherwise of entrance ) condescended . the duke highly affected with the rarity , was in giving him a good reward , which the other refused , desiring his highnesse would appoint one of his guard , to give him an hundred lashes , that so his porter might have fifty , according to his composition . and here my intelligence leaveth me how much farther the jest was followed . but to return to our english pikes , wherein this county is eminent , especially in that river which runneth by lincolne , whence grew this proverb . [ witham pike england hath nene like . ] and hence it is that mr. * drayton maketh this river poetizing in her praises , always concluding them , thus to her proper song , the burden still she bare : yet for my dainty pikes i am without compare . i have done with these pikes , when i have observed , ( if i mistake not ) a great mistake in mr. stow , affirming that pickrels were brought over ( as no natives of our land ) into england , at the same time with carps , and both about the beginning of the reign of king henry the eighth . now if pickrels be the deminatives of pikes , ( as jacks of pickrels ) which none i conceive will deny , they were here many hundred years since , and probably of the same seniority with the rivers of england . for i find in the bill of fare , made at the prodigious feast at the installing of george nevil arch-bishop of york , anno , that there was spent three hundred * lupi fluviatiles , that is , river pikes , at that entertainment . now seeing all are children before they are men , and pikes pickrels at the first , pickrels were more anciently in england then that author affirmeth them . wild-foule . lincoln-shire may be termed the aviary of england for the wild-foule therein , remarkable for their , . plenty , so that sometimes in the month of august , three thousand mallards with birds of that kind , have been caught at one draught , so large and strong their nets , and the like must be the readers belief . . variety , no man ( no not gesmar himself ) being able to give them their proper names , except one had gotten adam his nomenclator of creatures . . deliciousnesse , wild-foule being more dainty and digestable then tame of the same kind , as spending their grossie humours with their activity and constant motion in flying . now as the eagle is called jovis ales , so here they have a bird which is called the kings bird , namely knuts , sent for hither out of denmark , at the charge , and for the use of knut or kanutus king of england . if the plenty of birds have since been drained with the fenns in this county , what lincoln-shire lacks in her former , foul , is supplyed in flesh ( more mutton and beef ) and a large first makes amends for a lesse second cours●… . but amongst all birds we must not forget , dotterells . this is avis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a mirthmaking bird , so ridiculoussy mimical , that he is easily caught ( or rather catcheth himself ) by his over-active imitation . there is a sort of apes in india , caught by the natives thereof after this manner : they dress a little boy in his sight , undresse him again , leave all the childs apparel behind them in the place , and then depart a competent distance . the ape presently atti●…eth himself in the same garments , till the childs cloaths become his chains , putting off his feet by putting on his shoos , not able to run to any purpose , and so is soon taken . the same humour , otherwise persued , betrayeth the dotterells . as the fowler stretcheth forth his arms and legs , going towards the bird , the bird extendeth his legs and wings approaching the fowler , till surprised in the net. but it is observed , that the foolisher the fowl or fish , [ woodcocks , dotterels , ●…odsheads , &c. ] the finer , the flesh thereof . feathers . it is pity to part lancashire ticking ( lately spoken of ) and lincoln-shire feathers making so good beds together . i cannot find the first beginning of feather-beds , the latine word pulvinar for a cusheon , pillowe , or bolster , sheweth , that the entrals of such utensils amongst the romans , were made but of dust , and our english plain proverb , de puerperis , they are in the straw ; shows feather-beds to be of no ancient use amongst the common sort of our nation , and beds of down ( the cream of feathers ) are more modern then they . the feathers of this county are very good ) though not so soft as such as are imported from bardeaux in france ) and although a feather passeth for the emblem of lightnesse it self , they are heavy enough in their prises to such as buy any quantity , and daily grow dearer . pippins . with these we will close the stomach of the reader , being concluded most cordial by physicians ; some conceive them to be of not above a hundred years seniority in england : however they thrive best , and prove biggest ( not kentish excepted ) in this county , particularly in holland , and about kirton therein , whence they have acquired addition of kirton pippins , a wholsome and delicious apple , and i am informed , that pippins graffed on a pippin stock , are called renates , bettered in their generous nature by such double extraction . fleet-hounds . in latine called petronii , or petrunculi , from petra a rock , either because their feet are sound and solid , ( and therefore named 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , by xenophon ) or from the hard and rocky ground , whereon they were accustomed to hunt . these with much certainty of scent , and quicknesse of feet , will run down a hare in a short time . janus ulitius a dutchman , some years since came into england , & though a man of the gown ) employed in publick affairs ) for diversion , he went down into this county , to spend one winter , where conversing with some young gentlemen , he hunted twice a week with so great content , that the season ( otherwise unpleasant ) was past before he perceived how it went. hear him expressing himself , sed & petrunculi illi , qui vestigiis eorum non minus celeriter quam sagaciter instant haud facile trihorio minus leporem aliquem defatigant , ut in lincolniensi montium aequijugi tractu aliquoties ipse vidi , and yet i assure you the hares in this county on ancaster-heath , do ( though lesser ) far exceed in swiftnesse and subtilty of doubling those of the vallyes and plains . such a petronius or fleet-hound , is two hounds in effect . sed premit inventas , non inventura latentes . illa feras , quae petroniis bene gloria constat . to the petronian , both the praise is due , quickly to find , and nimbly to persue . grey-hounds . in latin termed veltraga , or vertragus , or vertagus , derived it seems from the dutch word , velt a field , and rach or brach a dog , and of how high esteem the former , and these , were amongst the ancients , the reader may infer from the old burgundian law. siquis canem veltraum , aut segutium vel petrunculum praesumpserit involare , jubemus ut convictus coram omni populo posteriora ipsius osculetur . martial speaking of these greyhounds , thus expresseth himself , non sibi sed domino venatur vertragus acer . illaesum leporem , qui tibi dente feret . for 's master , not himself doth greyhound toyl , whose teeth to thee return the unhurt spoyl . i have no more to observe of these greyhounds , save that they are so called ( being otherwise of all colours ) because originally imployed in the hunting of grays , that is , brocks and badgers . mas-tiffes . known to the romans by the name of molossi , from molossia a county in epirus , whence the fiercest in that kind were fetched at first , before better were brought out of brittain . gratius an ancient poet , contemporary with virgil , writing his cynegeticon or poem of hunting , giveth great praise to our english mastiffes , highly commending their valour , only taxing them , that they are not handsomly made . haec una est catulis jactura britannis . the brittish whelps no blemish know , but that they are not shap'd for show . which thing is nothing in my mind , seeing beauty is no whit material to a souldier . this county breedeth choice mastiffes for the bull and bear , and the sport is much affected therein , especially about stamford , whereof hereafter . what remaineth concerning mastiffes is referred to the same topick in somerset-shire . thus the three kinds of ancient hunting , which distinctly require fleetnesse , scent , and strength , are compleatly performed in this county , by a breed therein , which are answerably qualified . this i have inserted , because as to my native country in general , so to this here in particular , i would not willingly do lesse right , then what a stranger hath done thereunto . * before we come to catalogue the worthies of this county , it is observable , that as it equalled other shires in all ages , so it went beyond it self in one generation , viz. in the reign of queen elizabeth , when it had natives thereof . . edward clinton lord admiral . . william cecil lord treasurer . sir edmund anderson lord chief justice . . john whitgift arch-bishop of canterbury . . peregrine bartu lord general in france . . tho. wilson dr. of law , and secretary of state. all * countrymen and contemporaries . thus sea and land , church and camp , sword and mace , gospel and law , were stored with prime officers out of this county . nor must it be forgotten , though born in the same shire , they were utterly unrelated in kindred , and raised themselves independently ( as to any mutual assistance ) by gods blessing , the queens favour , and their own deserts . the buildings . here the complaint of the prophet taketh no place , taxing men to live in ceeled pallaces whilst the temple of god lay wast , no county affording worse houses , or better churches . it addeth to the wonder , that seeing in this soft county , a diamond is as soon found as a flint , their churches are built of pollished stones , no natives but naturalized by importation from forreign parts . i hope the inhabitants of this shire , will endevour to disprove the old proverb , [ the nearer to the church , the further from god. ] because they have substituted a better in the room thereof , viz. the further from stone , the better the churches . as for the cathedral of lincoln , whose floor is higher then the roof of many churches , it is a magnificent structure , proportionable to the amplitude of the diocesse . this i dare boldly say , that no diocesse in christendome , affordeth two such rivers , viz. [ thames and trent ] for the southern and northern bounds , and two such universities , cambridge and oxford , both in the content thereof , before * three smaller bishopricks were carved out of it . amongst the houses of the nobility , i take signal notice of two . one i may call a premeditate building , viz. tattershall ( belonging to the right honourable the earl of lincolne ) advanced by degrees at several times , to the modern magnificence thereof . but grimsthorp i may term an ex tempore structure , set up on a suddain by charles brandon duke of suffolk , to entertain king henry the eighth , in his progress into these parts . the hall therein was fitted to a fair suit of hangings , which the duke had by his wife mary the french queen , and is now in the possession of the right honourable montague earl of lindsey . the wonders . at fishtoft in this county , no mice or rats are found , insomuch , that barns built party per pale , in this and the next parish , on one side are annoyed , on the other side ( being fishtoft moiety ) are secured from this vermin . surely no piper ( what is notoriously known of hamell in westphalia ) did ever give them this mice-delivery by his musick . it is easier to conjure up many , then allay one difficulty , other places in england affording the like . at one of the rodings in essex , no hogs will root . in another common no mole will cast . in linley in * leicestershire , no snakes are found . i believe they overshoot the mark , who make it a miracle , they undershoot it who make it magick , they come the nearest to truth , who impute it to occult qualities . if some men will swound at some meat , yea but smelling it unseen by their disaffection thereunto , why may not whole species and kinds of creatures have some antipathetical places , though the reason thereof cannot be rendred ? surely as sampson at his marriage propounded a riddle to his companions to try their wits thereon , so god offereth such aenigmaes in nature , partly that men may make use of their admiring as well as of their understanding , partly that philosophers may be tanght their distance betwixt themselves , who are but the lovers , and god , who is the giver of wisdome . let it also passe ( for this once ) for a wonder , that some seven score years since , nigh harlaxton in this shire , there was found ( turned up by one ploughing the ground ) a golden * helmet of antick fashion , i say cassis non aurata sed aurea , a helmet not guilt but of massive gold , studded with precious stones , probable of some prime roman commander . whence i observe ; first , that though no edge-tool to offend may be made of gold and silver , yet defensive weapons may thereof be compounded . secondly , that the poetical fiction of glaucus his golden arms is founded on history . for ( not to speak of solomon his golden sheilds ) great commanders made use of arms of that mettal , if not for strength , for state and ornament . lastly , it was presented to queen katharine , first wife to king henry the eighth , who though not knowing to use it as a helmet , knew how to employ it as made of gold and rich jewells . proverbs . lincolne-shire bagpipes . ] i behold these as most ancient , because a very simple sort of musick , being little more then the oaten pipe improved with a bag , wherein the imprisoned wind pleadeth melodiously for the inlargement thereof . it is incredible with what agility it inspireth the heavy heels of the country clowns , overgrown with hair and rudenesse , probably the ground-work of the poetical fiction of dancing satyrs . this bagpipe in the judgement of the rural midas's , carryeth away the credit from the harp of apollo himself , and most persons approve the blunt bagpipe above the edge tool instruments of drums and trumpets in our civil dissentions . as loud as tom of lincoln . ] this shire carryes away the bell for round-ringing , from all in england , though other places may surpasse it for changes , more pleasant for the variety thereof ; seeing it may be demonstrated that twelve bells will afford more changes than there have been hours since the creation . tom of lincoln , may be called the stentor ( fifty lesser-bells may be made out of him ) of all in this county . expect not of me to enter into the discourse of popish baptizing and naming of bells , many charging it on them for a prophane , and they confessing enough to make it a superstitious action . all the carts that come to crowland are shod with silver . ] venice and crowland , sic canibus catulos , may count their carts alike ; that being sited in the sea , this in a morasse and fenny ground , so that an horse can hardly come to it . but , whether this place since the draining of the fenns , hath acquired more firmnesse than formerly , is to me unknown . * 't is height makes grantham steeple stand awry . ] this steeple seems crooked unto the beholders ( and i believe will ever do so , until our age erect the like by it for height and workmanship ) though some conceive the slendernesse at such a distance is all the obliquity thereof . eminency exposeth the uprightest persons to exception , and such who cannot find faults in them , will find faults at them , envying their advancement . as mad as the baiting bull of stamford . ] take the original hereof . william earl warren lord of this town in the time of king john , standing upon the castle walls of stamford , saw two bulls fighting for a cow in the meadow , till all the butchers dogs , great and small , persued one of the bulls ( being madded with noyse and multitude ) clean through the town . this sight so pleased the said earl , that he * gave all those meadows ( called the castle meadows ) where first the bull duel began , for a common to the butchers of the town ( after the first grasse was eaten ) on condition that they find a mad bull , the day six weeks before christmas day , for the continuance of that sport every year . some think that the men must be mad as well as the bull , who can take delight in so dangerous a wasttime ; whereby that no more mischeif is done , not mans care ; but gods providence is to be praised . he looks as the devil over * lincoln . ] lincolne minster is one of the statelyest structures in christendome . the south-side of it meets the travellers thereunto , twenty miles of , so that their eyes are there many hours before their feet . the divel is the map of malice , and his envy ( as gods mercy ) is over all his works . it grieves him what ever is given to god , crying out with that flesh-divel , ut quid haec perditio ? * what needs this wast ? on which account he is supposed to have overlook'd this church , when first finished with a torve and tetrick countenance , as maligning mens costly devotion , and that they should be so expensive in gods service : but , it is suspicious , that some who account themselves saints , behold such fabricks with little better looks . he was born at * little wittham . ] this village in this county by orthography is witham , near which a river of the same name doth rise . but such nominal proverbs take the advantage of all manner of spelling as due unto them . it is applyed to such people as are not overstock'd with acutenesse . the best is , all men are bound to be honest , but not to be witty . grantham gruel , nine grits , and a gallon of water . ] gruel ( though homely ) is wholsome spoon-meat , physick for the sick , and food for persons in health , water is the matter , grits the form thereof , giving the being thereunto . now gruel thus imperfectly mix'd , is wash rather , which one will have little heart to eat , and get as little heart thereby . the proverb is appliable to those who in their speeches or actions multiply what is superfluous , or ( at best ) less necessary , either wholly omitting or lesse regarding the essentials thereof . they held together as the men of * marham when they lost their common . ] some understand it ironically , that is , they were divided with several factions , which proverb , mutato nomine , is used in other counties . yea long since * virgil said the same in effect of the men of mantua , when they lost their lands to the souldiers of augustus . — en quo discordia cives , perduxit miseros ? en queîs consevimus agros ? see townsmen what we by our jars are grown and see for whom we have our tillage sown . indeed when a common danger calls for a union against a general enemy , for any then to prosecute their personal quarrels , and private grudges , is a folly always observed , often reproved , sometimes confessed , but seldome reformed . others use this proverb , only as an expression of ill successe , when men strive to no purpose , though plotting and practising together ; to the utmost of their power , being finally foiled in their undertakings . princes . henry eldest [ surviving ] son of john of gaunt duke of lancaster , was born at the castle of bullingbrook in this county , and bred ( according to the discipline of those days ) in camp and court , in both which he proved a good proficient . by nature , he was made more to command then obey , being ambitious , cholerick , and withal couragious , cunning to catch , careful to keep , and industrious to improve all advantages . being netled with some injuries received from king richard the second he complotted with a good party of the nobility to depose him . miscarriages in his government , ( many by mi●…managing , more by the missucceeding of matters ) exposed him to just exception , besides his own debauchery , and how easily is a dissolute government dissolved . having by the murther of king richard atcheived the government to himself , he reigned with much difficulty and opposition . though his father was a great patron , he was a great persecutor of the wickliffites , though not so much out of hatred to them , as love to himself , thereby to be ingratiated with the clergy , then potent in the land. when duke , he wore on his head , an antick hood , which he cast not off when king , so that his picture is generally known by the crown superadded thereon . lying on his death-bed , he was rather querulous then penitent , much complaining of his sufferings in keeping , nothing bewayling his sin in getting the crown . fire and faggot was first kindled in his reign in england to burn ( pardon the prolepsis ) poor protestants , and happy had it been , had they been quenched at his death , which happened anno dom. . this henry was the only prince born in this connty since the conquest , though a good authour by mistake , entituleth this county to another , an ancienter henry : yet so that he giveth him with one hand to it in his book of maps , and takes him away with the other in his chronicle . j. speed in his description of lincolne-sh . parag. . j. speed in his chronicle in the life of w. 〈◊〉 . pag. . this shire triumpheth in the births of beaucleark k. henry the first , whom selby brought forth . henry , fourth and youngest son of king william was born at selby in york-shire . i believe mr. speed the chronocler , before mr. speed the chorographer , because therein concurring with other authors . besides , consult the alphabetical index of his map , and there is no selby in this shire , we have therefore placed king henry the first in york-shire , and thought fit to enter this observation not to reprove others , but least i be reproved my self . saints . here i make no mention of st. botolph , because there is no constat ( though very much probability ) of his english nativity , who lived at , and gave the name to botolphs town ( corruptly boston ) in this county . gilbert de sempringham , there born in this county , was * of noble extraction , joceline his father being a knight , to whom he was eldest son , and heir to a great estate . in body he was very deformed , but of subtile wit and great courage . travelling over into france , there he got good learning , and obtained leave from the pope , to be founder of those epicoene , and hermaphrodite convents , wherein monks and nuns lived together , as under one roof , but with partitions betwixt them . sure it was to him a comfort and credit , ( which is confidently related by credible authors ) to see . convents , . monks , . nuns ( women out-superstition men ) of his order , being aged , one hundred and six years . he appointed the fair convent at sempringham ( his own rich inheritance ) to be mother , and prime residence of his new erected order . he dyed anno . hugh was a child , * born and living in lincoln , who by the impious jews was stoln from his parents , and in derision of christ and christianity ( to keep their cruel hands in ure ) by them crucified , being about nine years old . thus he lost his life , but got a saintship thereby , and some afterwards perswaded themselves that they got their cures at his shrine in lincoln . however this made up the measure of the sins of the jews in england , for which not long after they were ejected the land , or ( which is the truer ) unwillingly willing they departed themselves . and whilst they retain their old manners , may they never return , especially in this giddy and unsettled age , for fear more christians fall sick of judaisme , then jews recover in christianity . this hugh was martyred anno dom. . on the . of july . martyrs . anne askevve , daughter of sir william askewe knight , was born at kelsey in this county , of her piety and patience , when first wracked in the tower , then burnt in smithfield , i have largely treated in my church history . she went to heaven in a chariot of fire . july . . cardinals . robert sommercot . there are two villages north and south sommercot in this 〈◊〉 ( and to my notice no where else in england ) fromone of which i presume he took his nativity and name : yet because * bale affirmeth lawrence sommercot his brother or kinsman , born in the south of england , we have affixed our note of dubitation . but out of doubt it is , he was a right learned man , to whom * matthew paris gives this short but thick commendation , viz. vir fuit discretus , & circumspectus , omnibus amabilis merito & gratiosus . by pope gregory the ninth , he was made cardinal of st. stephens , anno . he was a true lover of his countrymen , and could not abide to hear them abused , the cause that his choler was twice raised , when the pope said in his presence , that there was not a faithful man in england , though wisely he repressed his passion . after this pope gregories death , he was the formost of the 〈◊〉 elects for the papacy , and on fair play , the most probable person to carry the place , but he was double barr'd : first , because an honest man as any in that age . secondly , because an english-man , the italians desiring to monopolize the choice to themselves . hereupon in the holy conclave ( the better place the better deed ) he was made away by poison ; to make room for celestine to succeed him , who sate that skittish place but a short time , dying . days after our somercots death , which happened anno dom. . prelates . william of ganesborough , was born in that fair market town , which performeth more to the eye , then fame hath reported to the ear thereof . he was bred a franciscan in oxford , and became the twenty fifth lecturer of his order . he was afterwards sent over by king edward the first , with hugh of manchester , to philip king of france , to demand reparation for some dammages in aquitaine . he was a mighty champion of the popes infallibility , avowing that what david indulged to his son adonijah , never saying unto him , * why didst thou so ? ought to be rendred by all to his holynesse , being not to be called to an account , though causing the damnation of thousands . i remember when i was in cambridge , some thirty years since , there was a flying , though false report , that pope urban the eight , was cooped up by his cardinals , in the castle of st. angelo . hereupon a waggish scholar said , jam 〈◊〉 est , papa non potest errare , it was then true ( according to their received intelligence ) that the pope could not straggle or wander . but our ganesborough stoutly defended it in the literal sense against all opposers , for which his good service , pope boniface the eight preferred him bishop of worcester , where he sate . years , and dyed . william ayrmin , was descended of an ancient family in this county , still extant in great eminency of estate at osgodby therein . he was for some time , keeper of the seal , and vice-chancellour to king edward the second , at what time anno . the following misfortune befell him , and take the original thereof out of an anonymal croniclering manuscript . episcopus eborum , episcopus eliae , thesaurarius , abbas beatae mariae eborum , abbas de selbie , decanus eborum , dominus willielmus arymanee vice-cancellarius angliae , ac dominus johannes dabeham , cum . ferme hominum , tam equitum , quam peditum , & civibus properanter civitatem egredientes , quoddam flumen swale nuncupatum sparcis cuneis transeuntes , & indispositis seu potius confusis ordinibus , cum adversariis congressi sunt . scoti siquidem in marte gnari amplitudinem eorum exercitus caute regentes , in nostris agminibus strictis audacter irruerunt ; nostrorum denique in brevi laceratis cuneis atque dissipatis , corruerunt ex nostris , tam in ore gladii quam aquarum scopulis suffocati , plusquam . & capti sunt domini johannes de papeham , & dominus willièlmus de arymanee , ut praefertur , de cancellaria , &c. the arch-bishop of york , the bishop of ely , lord treasurer , the abbot of st. maries in york , the abbot of selby , the dean of york , mr. william arymane vice-chancelour , and mr. john dabehame , with almost . men as well horse as foot , and citizens hastily going out of the city , passing over a certain river called swale , with scattered parties , * and with disordered , or rather confused ranks , encountred the enemy . the scotch cunning in war , waryly ruling the greatnesse of their army , boldly rushed on our men with well ordered troops , and afterwards in short time having broken , and scattered ou●… parties , there fell of our men , with the mouth of the sword , and chok'd with the water , more then . and mr. iohn de pabehame , and mr. william arymane of the chancery , as aforesaid , were taken prisoners . afterwards recovering his liberty he was made chancelour of england , and bishop of norwich , in the . year of king edward the second . he gave two hundred pounds to buy land to maintain priests to say masse for his soul. he dyed anno dom. . at charing cross nigh london , when he had been eleven years bishop . i am credibly informed , that he bestowed the mannor of silk willoughby in this county , on his family , which with other fair lands is possessed by them at this day . william waynflet , was born at waynflet in this county , whence he took his denomination , according to the custome of clergymen in that age : for otherwise he was eldest son to richard pattin , an ancient esquire in this county , and i understand , that at this day they remain at barsloe in darbyshire , descended from the said knight . but of this worthy prelate , founder of magdalen-colledge in oxford , abundantly in my church-history . william lynvvood , was born at * lynwood in this county , and proceeded doctor of the laws ( probably rather by incorporation then constant education ) in oxford , long living a commoner in gunvil hall in cambridge . he was chancellor to the arch●…bishop of canterbury , keeper of the privy seal to king henry the sixth , and was employed in several embassies into spain and portugall . he wrote a learned comment on the english provincial constitutions , from stephen langhton to archbishop chichley , and his pains at last was rewarded with the bishoprick of st. davids , where he dyed . william ascough , was descended of a worshipful and very ancient family now living at kelsey in this county , the variation of a letter importing nothing to the contrary . i have seen at sarisbury , his arms , with allusion to the arms of that house , and some episcopal addition . such likeness is with me a better evidence then the samenesse , knowing , that the clergy in that age delighted to disguise their coats from their paternal bearing . he was bred doctor of the laws , a very able man in his profession , became bishop of sarum , confessor to king henry the sixth , and was the first ( as t. gascoigne relateth ) of bishops , who discharged that office , as then conceived beneath the place . some will say , if king henry answered the character commonly received of his sanctity , his confessor had a very easie performance . not so , for always the most conscientious are the most scrupulous in the confession of their sins , and the particular enumeration of the circumstances thereof . it happened , that i. cade with his cursed crew ( many of them being the tennants of this bishop ) fell fowl on this prelate , at edington in this shire , bishop godwin saith , illi quam ob causam infensi non hab●…o compertum . he could not tell why they should be so incensed against him . but i conceive , it was because he was learned , pious and rich , three capital crimes in a clergyman . they plundered his carriages , taking ten thousand marks ( a mine of money in that age ) from him , and then to secure their riot and felony , by murder and high treason , dragged him as he was officiating from the high altar . and although they regarded difference of place no more , then a wolf is concerned whether he killeth a lamb in the fold or field , yet they brought him out of the church to a hill hard by , and there barbarously murdered him , and tore his bloody shirt in peices , and left his stripped body stark naked in the place . sic concussa cadit populari mitra tumultu , protegat optamus nunc diadema deus . by peoples fury mitre thus cast down , we pray henceforward god preserve the crown . this his massacre happened june . . when he had sate almost twelve years in the see of sarisbury . richard fox , was born at grantham in this county , as the fellows of his foundation in oxford have informed me . such who make it their only argument to prove his birth at grantham , because he therein erected a fair free school , may on the same reason conclude him born at tanton in sommerset shire , where he also founded a goodly grammar school . but what shall i say ? ubique nascitur qui orbi nascitur , he may be said to be born every where , who with fox was born for the publick and general good . he was very instrumental in bringing king henry the seventh to the crown , who afterwards well rewarded him for the same . that politick prince , ( though he could go alone as well as any king in europe , yet ) for the more state , in matters of moment he leaned principally on the shoulders of two prime prelates , having archbishop morton for his right , and this fox , for his left supporter , whom at last he made bishop of winchester . he was bred first in cambridge , where he was president of pembroke-hall ( and gave hangings thereunto with a fox woven therein ) and afterwards in oxford , where he founded the fair colledge of corpus christi ( allowing per annum to it , . l. . s. . d. ) which since hath been the nursery of so many eminent scholars . he expended much money in beautifying his cathedral in winchester , and methodically disposed the bodies of the saxon kings and bishops ( dispersedly buryed in this church ) in decent tombs erected by him on the walls on each side the quire , which some souldiers ( to showe their spleen at once against crowns and miters ) valiantly fighting against the dust of the dead , have since barbarously demolished . twenty seven years he sate bishop of this see till he was stark blind with age . all thought him to dye to soon , one only excepted , who conceived him to live too long , viz. thomas wolsey , who gaped for his bishoprick , and endevoured to render him to the displeasure of k. henry the eigth , whose malice this bishop though blind discovered , and in some measure defeated . he dyed anno domini . and lyes buryed in his own cathedral . since the reformation . thomas goodrich was son of edward goodrich , and jane his wife of kirby in this county , as appeareth by the york-shire visitation of heralds , in which county the allies of this bishop seated themselves , and flourish at this day . he was bred in the university of cambridge d. d. say some , of law say others , in my opinion more probable , because frequently imployed in so many embassies to forraign princes , and at last made by king henry the eighth bishop of ely ( wherein he continued above tweney years ) and by king edward the sixth , lord chancellour of england . nor will it be amisse to insert and translate this distick made upon him ; et bonus & dives , bene junctus & optimus ordo : praecedit bonitas pone sequuntur opes . both good and rich , well joyn'd , best rank'd indeed : for grace goes first , and next doth wealth succeed . i find * one pen ●…pirting ink upon him ( which is usual in his writings ) speaking to this effect , that if he had ability enough , he had not too much to discharge his office. i behold him as one well inclined to the protestant religion , and after his resignation of the chancellors place , to stephen gardiner , his death was very seasonable for his own safety . may . , in the first of queen mary , whilst as yet , no great violence was used to protestants . john whitgift was born at grimsby in this county , successively bred in queens , pembroke-hall , peter-house and trinity colledge in cambridge , master of the later , bishop of worcester , and arch bishop of canterbury . but i have largely written his life in my ecclesiastical history , and may truly say with him , who constantly returned to all inquirers , nil novi novi , i can make no new addition thereunto ; only since i met with this * anagram , joannes whitegifteus . non vi egit , favet jhesus . indeed , he was far from violence , and his politick patience was blessed in a high proportion , he dyed anno . feb. . john still d. d. was born at grantham in this county , and bred first fellow of christs , then master of st. iohns , and afterwards of trinity colledge in cambridge , where i have read in the register this commendation of him , that he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , nec collegio gravis aut onorosus . he was one of a venerable presence , no lesse famous for a preacher ; then a disputant . finding his own strength , he did not stick to warn such as he disputed with in their own arguments , to take heed to their answers , like a perfect fencer , that will tell aforehand in what button he will give his venew . when towards the end of the reign of queen elizabeth , there was an [ unsucceeding ] motion of a dyet or meeting which should have been in germany , for composing of matters of religion ; * doctor still was chosen for cambridge , and doctor humfred for oxford , to oppose all comers for the defence of the english church . anno . being then the second time vice-chancelour of cambridge , he was consecrated bishop of bath and wells , and defeated all causelesse suspition of symoniacal compliance , coming clearly thereunto , without the least scandal to his person or losse to the place . in his days god opened the bosome of the earth , mendip hills affording great store of lead , wherewith and with his own providence ( which is a constant mine of wealth ) he raised a great estate , and layed the foundation of three families , leaving to each of them a considerable revenue in a worshipful condition . he gave five hundred pounds for the building of an almes-house in the city of wells , and dying february . . lies buryed in his own cathedrall under a neat tomb of alabaster . martin fotherby d. d. was born at great grimsby in this county , of a good family , as appeareth by his epitaph on his monument , in the church of allhallows lumbard street london . he was bred fellow of trinity-colledge in cambridge , and became afterwards one and twenty years prebendary of canterbury , then he was preferred by king iames bishop of salisbury ; he dyed in his calling , having begun to put in print an excellent book against atheists most useful for our age , wherein their sin so aboundeth . his death happened march . . not two full years after his consecration . statesmen . edvvard fines lord clinton , knight of the garter , was lord admiral of england , for more then thirty years , a wise , valiant and fortunate gentleman . the masterpeice of his service was in mustleborough field , in the reign of king edward the sixth , and the battail against the scots . some will wonder , what a fish should do on dry land , what use of an admiral in a land fight . but know , the english kept themselves close to the shore , under the shelter of their ships , and whilst their arrows could do little , their spears lesse , their swords nothing , against the scots ( who appeared like a hedge of steel , so well armed and closed together ) the great ordnance from their ships , at first did all , making such destruction in the scottish army , that though some may call it a land-fight , it was first a victory from the sea , and then but an execution on the land. by queen elizabeth ( who honoured her honours by bestowing them sparingly ) he was created earl of lincoln may . . and indeed he had breadth to his height , a proportionable estate , chiefly in this county , to support his dignity , being one of those , who besides his paternal inheritance , had much increased his estate . he dyed january the sixteenth , . and lyeth buryed at windsor , in a private chappel under a stately monument , which elizabeth his third wife , daughter to the earl of kildare , erected in his remembrance . thomas wilson , doctor of laws , was born in this * county , bred fellow of kings-colledge in cambridge , and afterwards was tutor in the same university , to henry and charles brandons , successively dukes of suffolk . hard shift he made to conceal himself in the reign of queen mary . under queen elizabeth he was made master of the hospital of st. katharines , nigh the tower of london , upon the same token that he took down the quire , which , my * author saith ( allow him a little hyperbole , was as great as the quire at st. pauls . i am loth to believe it done out of covetousnesse , to gain by the materials thereof , but would rather conceive it so run to ruin , that it was past repairing . he at last became secretary of state to q. elizabeth for four years together . it argues his ability for the place , because he was put into it ; seeing in those active times , under so judicious a queen , weaknesse might despair to be employed in such an office . he dyed anno dom . . . thomas lord burge or borou●…h , son to william lord burge , grandson to thomas lord burge , ( created baron by king henry the eight ) was born in his fathers fair * house at gainsborough in this county . his first publick appearing was , when he was sent embassador into scotland , anno . to excuse bothwell his lurking in england , to advise the speedy suppressing of the spanish faction , and to advance an effectual association of the protestants in that kingdome for their kings defence , which was done accordingly . now when sir william russel lord deputy of ireland was recalled , this lord tho. burgh , was substituted in his room , anno . mr. camden doth thus character him . * vir acer , & animi plenus , ●…ed nullis fere castrorum rudimentis . but where there is the stock of valour with an able brain , experience will soon be graffed upon it . it was first thought fit , to make a months truce with tyrone , which cessation like a damm , made their mutual animosities for the present swell higher , and when removed for the future , run the fiercer . the lord deputy ( the truce expired ) streightly besieged the fort of blackwater the only receptacle of the rebells in those parts ( i mean besides their woods and bogs ) & the key of the county of tyrone . this fort he took by force , and presently followed a bloody battle , wherein the english paid dear for their victory , loosing many worthy men , and amongst them two that were foster brothers [ fratres collactanei ] to the earl of kildare , who so layed this losse to his heart , ( amongst the irish , foster brethren are loved above the sons of their fathers ) that he dyed soon after . tyrons credit now lay a bleeding , when to stanch it , he rebesieged blackwater , and the lord deputy , whilst indevouring to relieve it was struck with untimely death , before he had continued a whole year in his place . all i will add is this , that it brake the heart of valiant sir john norris ( who had promised the deputies place unto himself , as due to his deserts ) when this lord burgh was superinduced into that office. his relict lady ( famous for her charity , and skill in chirurgery ) lived long in westminster , and dyed very aged some twenty years since . william cecil . know reader , before i go farther , something must be premised concerning his position in this topick . * virgil was prophane in his flattery to augustus caesar , profering him his free choice after his death , to be ●…anked amongst what heathen gods he pleased , so that he might take his place either amongst those of the land , which had the oversight of men and cities , or the sea-gods , commanding in the ocean ; or the skye-gods , and become a new constellation therein . but without the least adulation , we are bound to profer this worthy peer his own election ; whether he will be pleased to repose himself under benefactors to the publick , all england in that age being beholden to his bounty ( as well as the poor in standford , for whom he erected a fair bead-house ) acknowledging under god and the queen , their prosperity the fruit of his prudence . or else he may rest himself under the title of lawyers , being long bred in the inns of court , and more learned in our municipal-law , then many who made it their sole profession . however , for the present , we lodge this english nestor ( for wisdome and vivacitie ) under the notion of states-men , being secretarie and lord-treasurer for above thirty years together . having * formerly written his life at large , it will be enough here to observe , that he was born at bourn in this county , being son to richard cecil esq ( of the robes to king henry the eighth , and a legatee in his will ) and jane his wife , of whom hereafter . he was in his age moderator aulae , steering the court at his pleasure , and whilst the earl of leichester would indure no equall , and sussex no superiour therein , he by siding with neither , served himself with both . incredible was the kindness which queen elizabeth had for him , or rather for her self in him , being sensible that he was so able a minister of state. coming once to visit him being sick of the goute at burley house in the strand , and being much heightned with her head attire ( then in fashion ) the lords servant who conducted her thorow the door , may your highness ( said he ) be pleased to stoop , the queen returned , for your masters sake i will stoop , but not for the king of spains . this worthy patriot departed this life in the seventy seventh year of his age , august the th . . capitall judges . sr. william de skipvvith , was bred in the study of the laws , profiting so well therein , that he was made , in trinity terme , lord chief baron of the exchequer , in the thirty fifth , * continuing therein untill the fortieth , of the reign of king edward the third . i meet not with any thing memorable of him in our english histories ; except this may pass for a thing remarkable , that , at the importunity of john of gaunt duke of lancaster , this sr. william condemned william * wichkam , bish. of winchester , of crimes rather powerfully objected then plainly proved against him ; whereupon the bishops temporalls were taken from him , and he denied access within twenty miles of the kings court. i confess there is a village in the east riding of yorkshire , called skipwith , but i have no assurance of this judge his nativity therein : though ready to remove him thither , upon clearer information . sr. william skipvvith junior . he was inferior to the former in place ( whom i behold as a puisne judge ) but herein remarkable to all posterity ; that he would not complie , neither for the importunity of king richard the second , nor the example of his fellow * judges , in the th . year of that kings reign ) to allow , that the king by his own power might rescinde an act of parliament . solus inter impios mansit integer gulielmus skipwith * miles clarus ideo apud posteros . and * shined the brighter for living in the midst of a crooked generation , bowed with fear and favour into corruption . i know well , that the collar of s. s. s. ( or esses ) worn about the necks of judges ( and other persons of honor ) is wreathed into that form , whence it receiveth its name . chiefly from sanctus simon simplicius , an uncorrupted judge in the primitive times . may i move that every fourth link thereof , when worn , may mind them of this skipvvith , so upright in his judgment in a matter of the highest importance . having no certainty of his nativity , i place him in this county , where his name at ormesby hath flourished ever since his time , in a very worshipfull equipage . sr. william huse●… knight was born , as i have cause to believe , in this county , where his name and familie flourish in a right worshipfull equipage . he was bred in the study of our municipall law , and attained to such eminencie therein , that by king edward the fourth , in the one * and twentieth of his reign , he was made lord chief justice of the kings bench. king henry the seventh ( who in point of policy was onely directed by himself ) in point of law , was chiefly ruled by this * judge , especially in this question of importance . it hapned that in his first parliament , many members thereof were returned , who ( being formerly of this kings partie ) were attainted , and thereby not legal to sit in parliament , being disabled in the highest degree , it being incongruous that they should make laws for others , who themselves were not inlawed . the king not a little troubled therewith , remitted it as a case in law to the judges . the judges assembled in the exchequer chamber , agreed all with sr. vvilliam husee , ( their speaker to the king ) upon this grave and safe opinion , mixed with law and convenience , that the knights and burgesses attainted by the course of law , should forbear to come into the house , till a law were passed for the reversall of their attainders , which was done accordingly . when at the same time it was incidently moved in their consultation , what should be done for the king himself , who likewise was attainted ? the rest unanimously agreed with sr. vvilliam husee , that the crown takes away all defects , and stops in blood , and that by the assumption thereof the fountain was cleared from all attainders and corruptions . he died in * trinity term , in the tenth year of king henry the th . sr. edmund anderson knight , was born a younger brother of a gentile extract at flixborough in this county and bred in the inner temple . i have been informed that his father left him l. for his portion , which this our sr. edmund multiplyed into many , by his great proficiency in the common law , being made in the twenty fourth of queen elizabeth chief justice of the common pleas. when secretary davison was sentenced in the star chamber for the business of the queen of scots , judge anderson said of him , that therein he had done * justum non juste , and so acquitting him of all malice , censured him , with the rest , for his indiscretion . when h. ●…uff was arraigned about the rising of the earl of essex , and when sr. edward coke the queens solicitor opposed him , and the other answered syllogistically , our anderson ( sitting there as judge of law not logick ) checked both pleader and prisoner ob stolidos syllogismos for * their foolish syllogismes , appointing the former to press the statute of king edward the third . his stern countenance well became his place , being a great promoter of the established church-discipline , and very severe against all brownists when he met them in his circuit . he dyed in the third of king james , leaving great estates to several sons , of whom i behold sr. francis anderson of euworth in bedfordshire the eldest , whose son sr. john , by a second wife audrey butler ( neece to the duke of buckingham ) and afterwards married to the lord dunsmore in vvarwickshire ) was ( according to some conditions in his patent ) to succeed his father in law in that honour , if surviving him . this i thought fit to insert , to vindicate his memory from obl●…vion , who being an hopefull gentleman ( my fellow colleague in sidney colledge ) was taken away in the prime of his youth . souldiers . sr. frederick tilney knight had his chief residence at * bostone in this county . he was a man of mighty stature and strength , above the proportion of ordinary persons . he attended king richard the first . anno dom. . to the seidge of acon in the holy land , where his atcheivements were such , that he struk terror into the infidels . returning home in safety he lived and died at terington nigh tilney in norfolk , where the measure of his incredible stature was for many 〈◊〉 preserved . sixteen * knights flourished from him successively in the male line , till at last their heir generall being married to the duke of norfolk , put a period to the lustre of that ancient family . peregrine berty , lord willoughby , son of richard berty , and katharine dutchess of suffolk . reader , i crave a dispensation , that i may with thy good leave , trespass on the premised laws of this book , his name speaking his foraign nativity , born nigh hidleberg in the palatinate . indeed i am loath to omit so worthy a person . our histories fully report his valiant atcheivements in france and the netherlands , and how at last he was made governour of berwick . he could not brook the obsequiousness and assiduity of the court , and was wont to say that he was none of the reptilia , which could creep on the ground , the camp was his proper element , being a great souldier , and having a suitable magnanimity . when one sent him an insulting challenge , whilst he lay sick of the gout , he returned this answer , that , although he was lame of his hands and feet , yet he would m●…et him with a peice of a rapier in his teeth . once he took a gennet , mannaged for the war , which was intended for a present to the king of spain , and was desired by a trumpeter from the general to restore it , offering this lord l. down for him , or l. per annum during his life at his own choise . this lord returned , that if it had been any commander , he freely would have sent him back , but being but an horse , he loved him as well as the king of spain himself , and would keep him . here i will insert a letter of queen elizabeth , written to him with her own hand , and reader deale in matters of this nature , as when venison is set before thee , eat the one and read the other , never asking whence either came , though i profess , i came honestly by a copy thereof , from the original . good peregrine , we are not a little glad that by your journey you have received such good fruit of amendment ; specially when we consider how great vexation it is to a minde devoted to actions of honour , to be restrained by any indisposition of body , from following those courses , which to your own reputation and our great satisfaction you have formerly performed . and , therefore as we must now ( out of our desire of your well doing ) cheifly enjoyne you to an especial care to encrease and continue your health , which must give life to all your best endeavours ; so we must next as seriously recommend to you this consideration . that in these times when there is such appearance , that we shall have the triall of our best and noble subjects , you seem not to affect the satisfaction of your own private contentation , beyond the attending on that which nature and duty challengeth from all persons of your quality and profession . for if necessarily ( your health of body being recovered ) you should elloigne your self by residence there from those imployments , whereof we shall have too good store ; you shall not so much amend the state of your body , as happily you shall call in question the reputation of your mind and judgment , even in the opinion of those that love you , and are best acquainted with your disposition and discretion . interpret this our plaineness we pray you to our extraordinary estimation of you , for it is not common with us to deal so freely with many ; and believe that you shall ever find us both ready & willing in all occasions to yeild you the fruits of that interest , which your endeavours have purchased for you in our opinion and estimation . not doubting , but when you have with moderation made tryal of the success of these your sundrie peregrinations , you will find as great comfort to spend your dayes at home as heretofore you have done ; of which we do wish you full measure , howsoever you shall have cause of abode or return . given under our signet at our mannor of nonesuch the seventh of octob. in the year of our reigne . your most loving soveraign e. r. it appears by the premises , that it was written to this lord when he was at the spaw in lukeland , for the recovery of his health , when a second english invasion of the spaniard was ( i will not say fear'd , but ) expected . now though this lord was born beyond the seas accidentally ( his parents flying persecution in the reign of queen mary ) yet must he justly be reputed this country man , where his ancestors had flourished so many years , and where he was baron vvilloughby in right of his mother . he dyed anno dom. . and lyes buryed under a stately monument at eresby in this county . sir edvvare harvvood was born●…nigh bourn in this county , a valiant souldier and a gracious man. such who object , that he was extremely wilde in his youth , put me in minde of the return which one made to an ill natur'd man in a company , who with much bitterness had aggravated the debauched youth of an aged and right godly divine : you have proved ( said he ) with much pains what all knew before , that paul was a great persecutor before he was converted . i have read of a bird , which hath a face like , and yet will prey upon a man ; who coming to the water to drink , and finding there by reflexion , that he had killed one like himself , pineth away by degrees , and never afterwards enjoyeth it self . such in some sort the condition of sir edward . this accident , that he had killed one in a private quarrell , put a period to his carnal mirth , and was a covering to his eyes all the dayes of his life . no possible provocations could afterwards tempt him to a duell : and no wonder if one's conscience loathed that whereof he had surfeited . he refused all challenges with more honour than others accepted them ; it being well known , that he would set his foot as far in the face of his enemie , as any man alive . he was one of the four standing colonels in the low-countries , and was shot at the seige of mastricht , anno dom. . death was so civil to him as to allow him leave to rise up on his knees , & to crie lord have mercy upon me . thus a long death-prayer after short piety is not so good , as a short prayer after a long pious conversation . seamen . job hartop was ( as himself * affirmeth ) born at bourn in this county , and went anno . ( early dayes i assure you for the english in those parts ) with sir john hawkins , his generall , to make discoveries in new spaine . this job was chief gunner in her majesties ship called the iesus of lubeck , being the queens by no other title , but as hired for her money , who in the beginning of her reign , before her navy-royall was erected , had her ships from the hans-townes . long and dangerous was his journey , eight of his men at cape-verd being killed , and the general himself wounded with poyson'd arrowes , but was cured by a negro drawing out the poyson with a clove of * garlick , enough to make nice noses dispence with the valiant smell for the sanative vertue thereof . he wrote a treatise of his voyage , and is the first i met with , who mentioneth that strange tree , which may be termed the tree of food , affording a liquor which is both meat and drink ; the tree of raiment , yielding needles wherewith , and threed whereof mantles are made ; the tree of harbour , tiles to cover houses being made out of the solid parts thereof , so that it beareth a self sufficiency for mans maintenance . iob was his name , and patience was with him , so that he may pass amongst the confessors of this county . for , being with some other by this general , for want of provisions left on land , after many miseries they came to mexico , and he continued a prisoner twenty three years , viz : two years in mexico , one year in the contractation-house in civil , another in the inquisition-house in triana , twelve years in the gallies , four years ( with the cross of st. andrew on his back ) in the everlasting-prison , and three years a drudge to hernando de soria , to so high a summ did the inventorie of his sufferings amount . so much of his patience , now see the end which the lord made with him . whil'st enslaved to the aforesaid hervando , he was sent to sea in a flemish , which was afterward taken by an english ship , called the galeon-dudley , and so was he safely landed at portsmouth , decemb. the second , . and i believe lived not long after . sir william mounson knight , was extracted of an antient family in this shire , and was from his youth bred in sea-service , wherein he attained to great perfection . queen elizabeth having cleared ireland of the spanish forces , and desiring carefully to prevent a relapse , altered the scaene of the war , from ireland to spaine , from defending to invading . sir richard leveson was admiral , our sir william vice-admiral , anno . these without drawing a sword killed trading quite on the coasts of portugal , no vessels daring to goe in or out of their harbours . they had intelligence of a caract ready to land in sisimbria , which was of tun , richly laden out of the east-indies , and resolved to assault it , though it seemed placed in an invincible posture . of it self it was a gyant in comparison to our pigmy ships , and had in her three hundred spanish gentlemen ; the marquess de sancta cruce lay hard by with thirteen ships , and all were secured under the command of a strong and well fortified castle . but nothing is impossible to mars valour and gods blessing thereon . after a ●…aire dispute ( which lasted for some houres ) with sillogismes of fire and sword , the caract was conquered , the wealth taken therein amounting to the value of ten hundred * thousand crownes of portugal account . but though the goods gotten therein might be valued , the good gained thereby was inestimable , for henceforward they beheld the english with admiring eyes , and quitted their thoughts of invasion . this worthy knight dyed about the mid'st of the reign of king iames. writers . this county hath afforded many , partly , because so large in it self , partly , because abounding with so many monasteries ( whereof two mitred ones crowland and bardney ) the seminaries of many learned men . not to speak of the cathedral of lincoln and embrio university of stamford , wherein many had their education . wherefore to pass by faelix crowlandensis , kimbertus lindesius and others , all of them not affording so much true history , as will fill a hollow quill therewith , we take notice of some principal ones and begin with , gilbert of holland . he took his name , not as others from a single town , but a great part of ground , the third part of this tripartite county , which in my apprehension argues his diligence in preaching thereabouts . but quitting his native land , he was invited by the famous st. bernard to go to , and live with him at clarvaulx in burgundy , where he became his scholar . some will prize a crum of forreign praise , before a loafe of english commendation , as subject to partiality to their own countrymen . let such hear how abbot trithemius the german commendeth our gilbert , vir erat in scripturis divinis studiosus & egregie doctus , ingenio subtilis & clarus eloquio . the poets feig●… , that hercules for a time supplyed the place of wearied atlas in supporting the heavens ; so our gilbert was frequently substitute to st. bernard , continuing his sermons where the other brake ●…ff , from those words in lectulo meo per noctes , &c. unto the end of the book , being forty six sermons , in style scarce discernable from st. bernards . he flourished anno dom. . and was buryed at gistreaux in france . roger of crouland , was bred a benedictine monk therein , and afterwards became abbot of friskney in this county . he was the seventh man in order , who wrote the life of thomas becket . some will say his six elder brethren left his pen but a pitiful portion , to whom it was impossible to present the reader with any remarkable novelty in so trite a subject . but know , that the pretended miracles of becket daily multiplying , the last writer , had the most matter in that kind . he divided his book into seven volumes , and was full fifteen years in making of it , from the last of king richard the first , to the fourteenth of king iohn . but whether this elephantine birth answered that proportion of time in the performance thereof , let others decide . he flourished anno domini . eliasde trekingham , was born in this county , at a village so called , as by the sequents will appear . * ingulphus relateth , that in the year of our lord . in the month of september , count algar with others , bid battle to the danes in kesteven , a third part of this county , and worsted them , killing three of their kings , whom the danes buryed in a village therein , formerly called laundon , but after trekingham . nor do i know any place , to which the same name on the like accident can be applied , except it be alcaser in africa , where anno . sebastian the portugal and two other morish kings were killed in one battle . i confess no such place as trekingham appeareth at this day in any catalogue of english towns. whence i conclude it either a parish some years since depoulated , or never but a churchlesse village . this * elias was a monk of peterborough , doctor of divinity in oxford , a learned man and great lover of history , writing himself a chronicle from the year of our lord , till . at what time it is probable he deceased . hugo kirksted , was born at that well known town in this county , being bred a benedictine-cistercian-bernardine . a cistercian is a reformed benedictine , a bernardine is a reformed cistercian , so that our hugh may charitably be presumed pure , as twice refined . he consulted one serlo an aged man , and one of his own order , and they both clubbing their pains and brains together made a chronicle of the cistercians from their first coming into england , anno . ( when walter de espeke founded their first abby at rivaax in york-shire ) our hugh did write , serlo did indict , being almost * an hundred years old , so that his memory was a perfect chronicle of all remarkable passages , from the beginning of his order . our hugo flourished anno domini . william lidlington was born , say some , at that village in cambridge-shire , at a village so named in this county say others , with whom i concur , because he had his education at stamford . he was by profession a carmelite , and became the fifth provincial of his order in england . monasteries being multiplyed in that age , gerardus a frenchman , master general of the carmelites , in a synode at narbone , deputed two english provincials of that order , to the great grievance of our lidlington , refusing to subscribe to the decisions of that synode . his stubbornesse cost him an excommunication from pope clement the fifth , and four years pennance of banishment from his native country . mean time our lidlington living at paris acquired great credit unto himself by his lectures and disputations . at last he was preferred provincial of the carmelites in palestine ( whence from mount carmel he fetched their original ) and he himself best knew whether the depth of his profit answered the heigth of his honour therein , which i suspect , the rather , because returning into england he dyed and was buryed at stanford , anno dom. . nicholas stanford . he was born at that well-known town ( once offering to be an university ) and bred a bernardine therein . the eulogy given him by learned leland ought not to be measured by the yard but weighed in the ballance . admirabar hominem ejus aetatis tam argute , tam solido , tamque significanter potuisse scribere , i admired much that a man of his age , could write , so smartly , so solidly , so significantly : understand him not , that one so infirm with age or decrepit in years , but that one living in so ignorant and superstitious a generation could write so tercely ; flourishing ( as may be collected ) about the year of our lord . john bloxham was born at that town in this county , and bred a carmelite in chester . i confess it is a common expression of the country folk in this county , when they intend to character a dull , heavy , blundering person , to say of him , he was born at bloxham ; but indeed our iohn ( though there first incradled ) had acuteness enough , and some will say activity too much for a fryer . he advantagiously fixed himself at chester , a city in england , nere ireland , and not far from scotland , much conducing to his ease , who was supream prefect of his order , through those three * nations , for two years and a half . for afterwards he quitted that place , so great was his employment under king edward the second and third , in several embassies into scotland and ireland , flourishing anno . john hornby was born in this * county , bred a carmelite d. d. in cambridge . in his time happened a tough contest betwixt the dominicans and carmelites about priority . plaintiffe . judges . defendant . dominican .   carmelite . iohn stock ( or stake rather , so sharp , and poinant his pen ) left marks in the backs of his adversaries . iohn donwick the chancellor , and the doctors of the university . iohn hornby who by his preaching and writing did vindicate the seniority of his order . but our hornby with his carmelites clearly carried away the conquest of precedency , and got it confirmed under the authentique seal of the university . however , the dominicans desisted not to justle with them for the upper hand until henry the eight made them friends by thrusting both out of the land. our hornby flourished anno domini , and was buried at his convent in boston . boston of bury , for so he is generally called . i shall endevour to restore him first to his true name , then to his native countrey . some presume boston to be his christian , of bury , his sirname . but seeing boston is no font-name , and godfathers were consciencious in those dayes ( i appeal to all english antiquaries ) in imposing if not scripture or saints names : yet such as were commonly known ( the christianizing of sirnames to baptized infants being of more modern devise ) we cannot concur with their judgment herein . and now thanks be to doctor iohn caius , who in the catalogue of his authors cited in the defence of the antiquity of cambridge , calleth him iohn boston of bury , being born at and taking his sirname from boston in this county ( which was customary for the clergymen in those dayes ) though he lived a monk in bury . thus in point of nativities , suffolk hath not lost , but lincoln-shire hath recovered a writer belonging unto it . he travelled all over england , and exactly perused the library in all monastaries , whereby he was enabled to write a catalogue of ecclesiasticall writers , as well forraign as english extant in his age . such his acuratness , as not only to tell the initiall words in every of their books , but also to point at the place in each library , where they are to be had . john leland oweth as much to this iohn boston , as iohn bale doth to him , and iohn pits to them both . his manuscript was never printed , nor was it my happiness to see it , but i have often heard the late reverend arch-bishop of armagh rejoyce in this , that he had , if not the first , the best copie thereof in europe . learned sir james ware transcribed these verses out of it , which because they conduce to the clearing of his nativity , i have here inserted , requesting the reader not to measure his prose by his poetry , though he dedicated it to no meaner then henry the fourth , king of england . qui legis hunc librum , scriptorum , rex miserere , dum scripsit vere , non fecit , ( ut aestimo ) pigrum . si tibi displiceat , veniat tua gratia grandis quam cunctis pandis , haec sibi sufficiat . scriptoris nomen botolphi villa vocatur ; qui condemnatur nisi gratum det deus omen . sure it is , that his writings are esteemed the rarity of rarities , by the lovers of antiquitys , which i speak in humble advice to the reader , if possessed thereof to keep , and value them , if not , not to despise his books , if on any reasonable price they may be procured . this iohn boston flourished anno dom. . laurence holebeck , was born saith my * author apud girvios , that is amongst the fenlanders . i confess , such people with their stilts do stride over much ground , the parcells of severall shires , norfolk , suffolk , cambridg , huntington , northampton , lincolnshire , but i have fixed him right in this county , where holebeck is not far from crowland in holland . he was bred a monk in the abby of ramsey , and was very well skill'd in the hebrew tongue according to the rate of that age. for the english-men were so great strangers in that language , that even the priests amongst them , in the reign of king henry the eight , as * erasmus reporteth , isti quicquid non intelligunt , haebraicum vocant , counted all things hebrew , which they did not understand , and so they reputed a tablet which he wrote up in walsingham in great roman letters , out of the rode of common cognizance . holebeck made an hebrew dictionary , which was counted very exact according to those days . i. pitz , doth heavyly complaine of robert wakefeild , ( the first hebrew professor in cambridg ) that he purloined this dictionary to his private use , whereon all i will observe is this . it is resolved in the law , that the taking of another mans sheep is felony , whilst the taking away of a sheep-pasture is but a trespass , the party pretending a right thereunto . thus i know many men , so conscientious , that they will not take twenty lines together from any author ( without acknowledging it in the margin ) conceiving it to be the fault of a plagearie . yet the same criticks repute it no great guilt to seize a whole manuscript , if they can conveniently make themselves the masters , though not owners thereof , in which act none can excuse them , though we have had too many precedents hereof . this laurence died anno dom. . bertram fitzalin . finding him charactered illustri * stemmate oriundus , i should have suspected him a sussex man and allied to the earls of arundell , had not * another author positively informed me he was patria lincolniensis , bred b. d. in oxford , and then lived a carmelite in the city of lincolne . here he built a faire library on his and his freinds cost , and furnish'd it with books , some of his own making , but more purchased . he lived well beloved , and dyed much lamented the seventeenth of march , . writers since the reformation . edmund sheffeild ( descended from robert sheffeild , recorder of london , * knighted by king henry the seventh . for his good service against the rebells at black-heath ) was born at butterwick in the isle of axholm in this country , and was by king edward the sixth created baron thereof . great his skill in musick who wrote a book of sonnets according to the italian fashion . he may seem swan like to have sung his own funeral , being soon after slaine ( or murthered rather ) in a skirmish against the rebells in norwich ; first unhorsed and cast into a ditch , and then slaughtered by a butcher , who denyed him quarter , . he was direct anchester , to the hopeful earl of moulgrave . peter morvving was born in this * county , and bred fellow of magdalen colledg in oxford . here i cannot but smile at the great praise which * i pitz bestoweth upon him . vir omni latini sermonis elegantia bellè instructus , & qui scripta quaedam , tum versu , tum prosa tersè , nitidèque composuisse perhibetur . it plainly appeareth he mistook him for one of his own perswasion , and would have retracted this caracter , and beshrewed his own fingers for writing it , had he known him to have been a most * cordial protestant . nor would he have afforded him the phrase of claruit sub philippo et mariâ ; who under their reigns , was forced for his conscience , to fly into germany , where he supported himself by preaching to the english exiles . i find not what became of him after his return into england in the reigne of queen elizabeth . anthony gilby was born in this county , * and bred in christs colledge in cambridge , where he attained to great skill in the three learned languages . but which gave him the greatest reputation with protestants , was , that in the reign of queen mary he had been an exile at geneva , for his conscience . returning into england , he became a feirce , fiery and furious opposer of the church discipline established in england , as in our ecclesiasticall history may appear . the certaine date of his death is to me unknown . john fox was born at boston in this county , and bred fellow in magdalen colledg in oxford . he fled beyond the seas in the reign of queen mary , where he set forth the first and least edition of the book of martyrs , in latine , and afterwards returning into england , inlarged and twice revised the same in our own language . the story is sufficiently known of the two * servants , whereof the one told his master , he would do every thing , the other ( which was even esop himself , ) said he could do nothing , rendering this reason , because his former fellow servant would leave him nothing to do . but in good earnest , as to the particular subject of our english martyrs , mr. fox hath done every thing , ( leaving posterity nothing to work upon ) and to those who say , he hath overdone somthing , we have returned our answer * before . he was one of prodigious charity to the poor , seeing nothing could bound his bounty but want of mony to give away : but i have largely written of his life and death in my church history . thomas sparks d. d. was born at south * sommercot in this county , bred in oxford , and afterwards became minister of bleachley in buckingham-shire . an impropriation which the lord gray of wilton ( whose dwelling was at whaddon hard-by ) restored to the church . he was a solid divine and learned man , as by his works still extant doth appear . at first he was a non-conformist , and therefore was chosen by that party as one of their champions in the conference of hampton court. yet was he wholy silent in that disputation , not for any want of ability , but because ( as afterwards it did appear ) he was convinced in his conscience at that conference of the lawfullness of ceremonies , so that some accounted him king james's convert herein . he afterwards set forth a book of unity and uniformity , and died about the year of our lord , . doctor tighe was born at deeping in this county , bred ( as i take it ) in the university of oxford . he afterwards became arch deacon of middlesex , and minister of alhallowes barking london . he was an excellent textuary and profound linguist , the reason why he was imployed by king james in translating of the bible . he dyed ( as i am informed by his nephew ) * about the year of our lord , . leaving to john tighe his son , of carby in this county , esquire , an estate of one thousand pounds a year , and none i hope have cause to envy or repine thereat . fines morison brother to sir richard morison , lord president of munster , was born in this county of worshipfull extraction , and bred a fellow in peter-house in cambridge . he began his travels may the first , over a great part of christendome and no small share of turky , even to jerusalem , and afterwards printed his observations in a large book , which for the truth thereof is in good reputation , for of so great a traveller , he had nothing of a traveller in him , as to stretch in his reports . at last he was secretary to charles blunt deputy of ireland , saw and wrote the conflicts with , and conquest of tyrone , a discourse which deserveth credit , because the writers cye guide his pen , and the privacy of his place acquainted him with many secret passages of importance . he dyed about the year of our lord , . benefactors to the publique . having formerly presented the reader with two eminent ones , bishop wainfleit founder of new colledge , and bishop fox , founder of corpus christi in oxford , he , ( if but of an ordinary appetite ) will be plentifully feasted therewith , so that we may proceed to those , who were , since the reformation . william ratcliff , esq and four * times alderman of the town of stamford , died anno dom. . gave all his messuages , lands and tenements in the town , to the maintenance of a free-school therein , which lands for the present yeild thirty pounds per annum or there-abouts , to a school-master and usher . i am informed that an augmentation was since given to their stipend by william cecil , lord treasurer , but it seems that since some intervening accident hath hindered it from taking the true effect . jane cecil , wife to richard cecil , esquire , and co-heire to the worshipfull families of * ekington and wallcot , was born in this county , and lived the maine of her life therein . job speaking of parents deceased , his sons ( saith he ) * come to honour , and he knoweth it not : but god gave this good woman so long a life ( abating but little of an hundred years ) that she knew the preferment of her son william ●…ecil , for many years in her life , lord treasurer of england . i say , she knew it and saw it , and joyed at it , and was thankfull to god for it ; for well may we conclude her gratitude to god from her charity to man. at her own charges , anno . she leded and * paved the friday market cross in stamford : besides fifty pound given to the poor , and many other benefactions . her last will was made anno dom. . but she survived some time after , and lies buried in the same vault with her son , in st. martins in stamford . george trigg gentleman , was as i collect a native of this county , he gave anno dom. four hundred pounds * to be lent out for ever , upon good security , without interest , to poor young trads-men and artificers in stamford . he also bestowed a tenement upon the parson and poor of st. johns in the same town . richard sutton , esquire , was born at knaith in this county , bred a souldier in his youth , and was somwhat of pay-master by his place , much mony therefore passing through , some did lawfully stick on his fingers , which became the bottom of his future estate . he was afterward a merchant in london , and gained great wealth therein . such who charge him with purblindness in his soul , looking too close on the earth , do themselves acquit him from oppression , that though tenax , he was not rapax , not guilty of covetousness , but parcimony . indeed , there was a merchant his comrage ; whose name i will conceal ( except the great estate he left doth discover it ) with whom he had company in common , but their charges were severall to themselves , when his friend in travell called for two faggots , mr. sutton called for one , when his friend for half a pint of wine , mr. sutton for a gill , under-spending him a moity ; at last , mr. sutton hearing of his friends death , and that he left but fifty thousand pounds estate . i thought ( said ●…e ) he would dye no rich man , who made such needless expences . indeed , mr. suttons estate doubled his , and he bestowed it all on charter-house , or suttons hospitall . this is the master-peice of protestant english charity , designed in his life , compleated after his death ; begun , continued and finished with buildings and endowments , sin●… causa socia , soly at his charges . wherein mr. sutton appears peerless in all christendom , on an equall standart and valuation of revenue . as for the canker of popish malice endeavouring to fret this fair flower , we have returned plentifull answers to their cavells in our ecclesiasticall history . mr. sutton died anno dom. . robert johnson was born at stamford , whereof maurice his father had been chiefe magistrate . he was bred in cambridge , and entring into the ministry , he was beneficed at luffenham in rutland , at what time that little county was at a great losse for the education of the children therein , and mr. johnson endeavoured a remedy thereof . he had a rare faculty in requesting of others into his own desire , and with his arguments could surprise a miser into charity . he effectually moved those of the vicinage , to contribute to the building and endowing of schools , money or money worth stones , timber , carriage , &c. not flighting the smalest guift , especially , if proportionable to the givers estate . hereby finding none , he left as many free schools in rutland , as there were market towns therein . one at oakeham , another at uppingham well faced with buildings and lined with endowments . hitherto he was only a nurse to the charity of others , erecting the schools aforesaid , as my * author observeth , who afterwards proved a fruitful parent in his own person , becoming a considerable benefactor to emanuel and sidney colledges in cambridge . and though never dignified higher then archdeacon of leicester , he left an estate of one thousand pounds per annum , which descended to his posterity . he dyed about the year of our lord . frances wray , daughter to sir chichester wray lord chief justice , was born at glentworth in this county and married first unto sir george st. paul of this county , and afterwards to robert rich first earl of warwick of that sirname . she was a pious lady , much devoted to charitable actions , though i am not perfectly instructed in the particulars of her benefactions . only i am sure magdalen colledge in cambridge , hath tasted largely of her liberality , who dyed in the beginning of the reign of king charles . memorable persons . james yorke a blacksmith of lincolne , and an excellent workman in his profession . insomuch that if pegasus himself would wear shoes , this man alone is fit to make them , contriving them so thin and light , as that they would be no burthen to him . but he is a servant as well of apollo as vulcan , turning his stiddy into a study , having lately set forth a book of heraldry called the union of honour , containing the arms of the english nobility , and the gentry of lincolne-shire . and although there be some mistakes ( no hand so steady as alwayes to hit the nail on the head ) yet is it of singular use and industriously performed : being set forth anno . lord maiors .   name . father . place . company . time. john stockton richard stockton bratoft mercer . nicholas aldwin richard aldwin spalding mercer . william rennington robert rennington bostone fishmonger . william forman william forman gainsborough haberdasher . henry hoberthorn christ. hoberthorn waddingworth merchant-tay . . henry amcoates william amcoates astrap fishmonger . john langley robert langley althrope goldsmith . iohn allot richard allot limbergh fishmonger . nicholas raynton robert raynton highington haberdasher . the names of the gentrie of this county returned by the commissioners in the twelfth year of king henry the sixth . william bishop of lincoln . commissioners . lion de welles chivaler .   thomas meres . knights of the shire .   patricius skipwith . knights of the shire .   johannis willoughby militis roberti ros militis humfridi littelbery armig . phillippi tilney armigeri johannis copuldik armig . richardi laund armigeri willielmi braunche armig . richardi pynchebek richardi welby richardi benynington willielmi goding de boston gilberti haltoft will. hughbert de doning . vvill. quadring de tofte iohan. pawlyn de frampton vvill. vvalcote de spaldyng thom. overton de swynshed hug. dandison de vvrangle roberti hughson de boston rich. whiteb. de gosberkirk ioh. docking de vvhaploade will. calowe de holbetch will. ●…awode de whaploade nich. gyomer de sutton de holand godf. hilton militis iohannis busshe militis nicholai bowel militis philippi dymmok militis iohannis gra militis iohannis pygot armigeri iohannis boys armigeri galfridi painell armigeri maunceri marmeon armig . willielmi eton armigeri iohannis markham iohannis trenthall gent. thom. holme gent. ioh. saltby de gunwardby thomae repynghale iohannis hesill de carleton iohannis leek de grantham will. mapulbeck de cranth . ioh. chevercourt de stannf . nich. mason de blankeney ioh. chapeleyn de sleford thomae sleford de kirkeby ioh. hardyng de kime ioh. wykes armigeri de kisteven hugonis midleton militis rogeri wentworth armigeri roberti auncell de grymesby willielmi bleseby de bleseby thomae fereby de burten iohannis ufflete de halton iohannis thoresby de croxby andreae godehand de whalesby iohannis tomlinson de wotton roberti morley armigeri iohannis abbot de hatclif iohannis smith de elkington abbatis de neusom iohannis teleby canonici ejusdem abbatis iohannis cawode de oxeomb iohannis langton de somercotes william marshall de somercotes roberti pigot do parva grymesby thomae spaldyng de claxby ioh. hamond parsone de whalesby iohannis boucher de tynton richardi alesby de hatclif clerici rogeri glaston parsone de alesby roberti lackwode de vvhalesby iohannis nundye de vvhalesby chapellani . sheriffs of lincolne-shire . hen. ii. anno , rainerus de bada anno , jordanus de blossevilla anno , walterus de amundevel , for seven years anno , petrus de gossa anno , idem anno , willielmus de insula anno , aluredus de poiltona anno , philippus de kime anno , idem anno , walterus de grimesby anno , idem anno , walt. & al. de poilton anno , walt. & al. de poilton anno , idem anno , idem anno , drogo filius radulphi anno , idem anno , will. basset for years anno , nigel . fillius alexandri anno , idem anno , idem rich. i. anno , nigellus filius alex. anno , gerardus de camvill roger. de stikewald anno , gerardus de camvill anno , gerard. & roger stikelralde . anno , idem anno , gerardus & eustacius de hedenham anno , simond kimmeo & petrus de trihanton anno , sim. de kime & pet●…us de beckering et robertus de trihanton anno , idem anno , philip. filius roberti joh . rex . anno , robertus de tateshall anno , ger. de cemvill & hugo fillius ricardi for six years anno , thomas de muleton anno , idem anno , idem anno , huber . de burgo & alex. ormesby ( ut custos ) anno , huber . alex. ( ut custos ) anno , hubertus de burozo & robertus de aoziulver anno , hub. de burozo et rob. aquilum anno , hubertus de burgo & rob. aquilum alex. de puncton anno , idem anno , johannis marescallus . hen. iii. auno , willi. comes saresb. & willi. filius warner . auno , willi. comes sarisb . & johan . bonet for five years auno , steph. de segne & radulphus filius regin . auno , idem auno , hugo lincolne episcopus & rad. filius regin . auno , hugo episcop . & rad. auno , radulp. filius regin . auno , idem auno , idem auno , robertus de rokefeld auno , walt. de cuerame & willielmus de curum auno , walt. & willielmus auno , phil. de ascellus auno , philippus auno , philippus auno , philippus auno , robertus lupus , for four years auno , radulphus basset for years auno , willielmus de derleg auno , willi. filius de curzim for five years auno , gilbertus de cheile for four years auno , roger. beler & roger. & haeres ejusdem auno , williel . de leverton auno , joh. de cockerington . auno , will. de angleby , & williel . de notingham . auno , hamo hauteyn auno , idem auno , willielmus de grey auno , idem auno , idem auno , will. & rich. de grey , fil. ejus haeres , et will. de notingham clericus auno , will. & rich. will. & ja. panton auno , idem auno , jacobus panton for four years auno , tho. de bolton edvv. i. anno , thomas anno , thomas anno , richardus de harington anno , nicholaus de rye anno , idem anno , idem anno , adamus de sancto laudo anno , idem anno , idem anno , radulphus de arnehall anno , rad. de arnehall , & walt. de stuchesle anno , idem anno , idem anno , robertus de cadworth for five years anno , johan . dyne anno , idem anno , johan . & radulphus de trihampton anno , robertus le venur . for four years anno , rad. de paynell et rich. de draycot anno , idem anno , ricardus de howell anno , hugo de bussey anno , idem anno , tho. fil. eustarchi anno , idem & johan . nevill anno , thom. de burnham for five years . edvv. ii. anno , radulphus paynell anno , idem anno , thom. de burnham anno , johan . de nevill & rad. de rye anno , idem anno , johannes anno , johannes anno , tho de tittele , & joh. de nevill anno , idem anno , johan . de nevill , & robertus stannton . anno , robertus de stannton anno , robertus & simon de landerthorpe anno , johan . de bella fide for four years anno , simon le chamberlaine anno , simon & riginaldus donington anno , idem edvv. iii. anno , tho. de novo mercato anno , simon kinardsley anno , tho. de novo mercato anno , tho. de novo mercato anno , rad. de santo laudo & tho. de novo mer. anno , reginal de donington , & rad. de santo laudo anno , idem anno , johan de trehampton anno , idem anno , rad. de santo laudo & regin . de donington anno , johan . dé bolingbroke , & joh. de trehampton anno , gilbertus de beaved anno , idem anno , willielmus disney , & gilbertus de leddred anno , idem anno , willielmus franuke anno , johannes de hundon anno , saierus de rochford anno , idem anno , johan . de trehampton anno , idem anno , anno , saierus de rochford , for six years anno , tho. fulvetby & sajerus de rochf , for years anno , edw. de cormil . anno , idem anno , johan . de boys anno , idem anno , will. haudley for years anno , tho. de fulvetby for four years anno , willielmus bussy anno , johannes hode anno , tho. de kidale anno , kogerus beler anno , radulphus paynell sheriffes . name . place . arms. richard . ii.     anno ,     thom. de kydale ferribie sable , a saltyr raguled argent . will. de spaygne     johann . ponger     tho. thimorby irenham arg. pallets , & mullets in bend s. will. de belesby bele●…bye ar●…a chev. ' twix●… steel gads . s johannes pong●…r     johannes bussy hather argent bars sable . williel . spaygne     johannes bussy ut prius   philip. de tilney boston ar. a cheveron 'twixt griffins h●…ads erased gules . will. de belesby ut prius   anketin . m●…llore     walter . taylboys   arg. a cross salt. & chief g on the last , escallops of the first . johannes bussy ut prius   johann . rochford   quarterly o●… & g. bezants on a border sable . henr. de recford     joh. cupuldicke haringtō ar. a ch. 'twixt croses . crossed g. johann . skipwith or●…sbye a●…g . bars g. in chief a greyh●…und cursant sable . johann . vvalch grimsbye g. bars gemelles a bend arg. rogerus wel●…y   s. a fess 'twixt flour de l. ar. henricus . bidford & joh. litelbury , m.   ar. lions p●…ssant gardant , g. hen. .     anno ,     jo. cobeldikes , m. ut prius   joh. rochford , m. & tho. swynford . ut prius   ger. soi●…hil , mil. redborne g. an eagle displayed argent . t. wilough●…y , m. eresby az. a fret of eight peices , or ▪     thomas hanlay     henr. redford , m.     rad. rochford , m. ut prius   t. chauworth , m.   azure , two chevtrons , or. johan . rochford ut prius   joh. de waterton waterton barry of . ermin and gules . cressants sable . rob. waterton , ut prius   hen. .     anno ,     thomas clarell     robertus hilton   arg. bars az. over all a flour de luce , or. t. cumberworth , m cumberw .   nicholas tournay cainby arg. a chev. 'twixt bulls passant , sable , armed , or. joh. normanvile     thom. chaworth ut prius   rich. haunsard s. kelsey gules , three mullets argent . robertus roos melton g. three water-bougets argent . rob. & tho. clarel     hen. .     anno ,     wal. talboyes , m. ut prius   johann . haytfeld     robertus hilliard     johannis talboys ut prius   will. cupuldicke ut prius   henricus retsord     hamo sutton willought argent a quarter sable , a crescent gules . will. rither , mil.     t. cumberworth , m     rob. roos , miles ut prius   johan . pigott , ar . dodin●…tō sable three pickaxes argent . tho. darcy , arm . norton az. crusuly cinque soiles arg. johan . cunstable halsham quarterly g. & vaire a bend , o robert. roos , m. ut prius   thom. meres , ar . kirton gules a fesse 'twixt waterbougets ermin . philippus tilney , ut prius   h. willoughby , m. ut prius   johannes nevil   amp. nichol. bower , m.     rog. pedwardyn burt. ped.   johannes sothil ut prius   thomas moigne   sab. a fess dancette , betwixt . annulets or.     johan . harington   argent a fret sable . thomas meres ut prius   nicholaus . bowet     manc . marmyon , m scrivelby varry az. and arg. a bend g. brian . stapleton   arg. a lyon rampant sable . will. rither , mil.     nich. bowet , m.     johannes nevil ut prius   rich. waterton ut prius   hen. retford , m.     joh. tempest , m.   arg. a bend 'twixt . martlets s. ioh. harington , a. utprius   ric. waterton , a. ut prius   w. skipwith , mil. ut prius   joh. marmyon , a. ut prius   edw. .     anno ,     joh. burgh , arm . gainsbor . az. . flower de luces ermin . tho. blound , ar .         vvil. skipwith , m. ut prius   brian . stapleton , m ut prius   joh. wichcote , a. harpswell ermin , two boares gules . rob. cunstable , m ut prius   thomas meres ut prius   ri. fitz williams , m maple-th . lozengee argent and gules . rich. tempest , m. ut prius   richard. welby ut prius   l. thornburgh , a.     thomas kyme freisney g. a cheveron betwixt crosses crossed or. joh. villers , arm . leicest . sh. a. on a crosse g. escallops , or. th. wimbech , ar .     rob. markham , m sidebroke . az. in chief or , a lyon issuant g. and border argent . tho. bolles , arm . haugh . az. cups arg. holding as many boars heads erected , or. willielm . brown amp.   tho. tempest , ar . ut prius   joh. bushy , mil. ut prius   rob. talboys , m. ut prius   will. tirwhit , ar . kettleby gules , puits , or. rich. iii.     anno ,     thomas knight     rob. dymock , m.   sable lyons passant guardant argent crowned , or. thomas meres . ut prius   henric . vii .     anno ,     thom. pinchbeck     brian . standford     johan . copuldick ut prius   tho. tempest , m. ut prius   oliv. st. john , m.   arg. on a chief g. m●…llets , or , peirced . h. willoughby , m. ut prius   thomas vvelby ut prius   johan . skipwith , ut prius   johan . husee . sleford or , a plain crosse vert. vv. shiriolli , m.     georg. taylboys , ut prius   mance . marmyon ut prius   tho. knight , ar .     th. dalaland , m. ashbi●… .   vvill. ascue , ar . kelsey . s. a fesse o. betwixt asses , pass . argent , main'd of the second . vvill tirwhit , m ut prius   h. willoughby , m ut prius   rob. dimmock , m ut prius   leon. percy , arm .   or. a lyon rampant azure . vvill. ascu , mil. ut prius   milo bushy , mil. ut prius   rob. sutton , arm . ut prius       vvill. ascugh , m. ut pr●…us   hen. viii .     anno ,     rob. dymock , m. ut prius   thomas parr , m. northam . argent , bars azure a border engrailed sable . edw. guldeford , a. kent . or , a saltyr entre martlets sable . tho. cheyne , mil.     mar. constab. j. m. ut prius   g. fitz williams , a. ut prius   leo. dymmock , m. ut prius   will. hansard , m. ut prius   will , ●…rwhi , m. ut prius   th. burgh , jun. m. ut prius   rob. tirwhit , m. 〈◊〉 prius   will. ●…skue , mil. ut prius   franc. ●…rown , ar .     andr. billesby , m ut prius   rob. tirwhit , m. ut prius   thom. burgh , m. ut prius   gilb. taylboy●… , m ut prius   will. skipwith , a. ut prius   th. portington , a.     g. fitz williams , a ut prius   andr. b●…esby , m. ut prius   will. hussey , m. ut prius   will. disney , ar . nort. d s. argent on a fesse ▪ g. flower de lucies , or. joh. markham , m. ut prius   g fi zwilliam●… , m ut prius   joh. goodrick , ar .   argent on a fesse gules , 'twixt lyons passant guardant s. a flower de luce 'tween cressants , or. edw. dymock , . utprius   will. titwhit , m. ut prius   jo. harrington , m ut prius   w. newenham , m     will. sandon , m.   or , a cheif azure . rob. tirwhit , m. ut prius   tho. dymock , ar . ut prius   rob. hussey , mil. ut prius   will. sandon , ar . ut prius   franc. ascugh , m. ut prius   will. dallison , ar . laugh●…on . g. cressants or , a cant. e●…m . andr. nowel , ar .   or , fretly gules , a canton erm. edw. vi.     anno ,     edw. dymock , m. ut prius   joh. copledick , m. ut prius   fran. ayscough , m. ut prius   richard. bolles , 〈◊〉 . ut prius   ric. thimolby m. ut prius   will. skipwith , m. ut prius   r. phil. & mar. reg.     anno ,     fran. ascough , m. & w. mounson , ar . ut prius s. carlton or , cheverons , gules . & e. dymock , m. ut prius   & nic. disney , a. ut prius   & t. li●…lebery , a. ut prius   & w. thorold , a. blanc●…ney sab. goats salient argent . elizab. reg.     anno ,     rob. tirwhit , mil. ut prius   ric. thimolby , m. ut prius   rich. welby , arm . ut prius   adlerdus vvelby , a ut prius   vvil. skipwith , m. ut prius   rich. berty , arm . grimsthorp . arg. battering rams in pale barry az. arm'd & garnish'd o. tho. st. pole , arm . snarsord . arg. a lyon rampant bica●…de gules , crowned or. rich. disney , arm . ut prius   joh. copledick , ar . ut prius   johan . carr , arm . sleford . g. on a ch ▪ veron arg. mullets sable . rich. bolles , arm . ut prius   tho. quadring , a.   erm. a fesse engrailed gules . anthon. tharold , ut prius   vvil. hunston , a.   sable fusils , ermin a border engrailed argent . rob. savill , arm .   arg. on a bend s. owls of the . andr. gedney , a. b. enderb . argent . luc●…es salt●…ways az. vvil. metham , a. bulling ▪ ●… . quaterly az. & arg. on the first a f●…owe de ●…ce or. g. hennage , ar . haynton . or , a greyhound current s. 'twixt leopards heads az. a bord . g joh. mounson , ar . ut prius   franc. manby , a. elsham . arg. a lyon ramp . s. in an o●…le of escallops g. tho. st. pole , ar . ut prius   w. fitzwilliams , a ▪ ut prius   rob. carr , jun. a. ut prius   daniel disney , a. ut prius   edw. tirwhit , ar . ut prius   edw. dymock , m. ut prius   vvil. hennage , a ut prius   barth . armyn , ar . osgodbie . erm a saltyre engrailed g. on a cheif of the second , a lyon pas . o. edw. ascough , a. ut prius   g●…o . st. pole , ar . ut prius   joh. markham , a. ut prius   johan . savile , ar . dod●…ngtō . arg. on a bend s. owls of the . carolus huss ▪ y , a. ut prius   nic. sanderson , a. filling●…ā . pally of . arg. and az. on a bend sable anulets or. valent. brown , ar croft .   vvill. vvr●…y , ar . glentwor . azure on a cheif or. martlets gules . phi●…ip . tirwhit , a. ut prius   johan . meres , ar . ut prius   tho. mounson , m. ut prius   vv. hennage , m. ut prius   rob. ●…rwhit , ar ut prius   th. grantham , a. goltho . ermin a crisfin sergreant his tail nowed g. rog. dallison , ar . ut prius   vvill. pelham , a. & vvill. armyn , m. broklesbie ut prius az. pellicans argent . jacob . rex .     anno ,     vvill. armyn , m. ut prius   edw. marbury , m. girsby . arg. on a fesse engrailed az. garbs , o. rich. amcots , mil.   arg. a castle twixt cups covered azure . vvill. vvelby , m. ut prius   gerv. helwish , m. wortetly . or a fesse azure & bend gules . rich. ogle , miles pinchbeck arg. a fesse 'twixt two cressants jess . & as many flower de l. g. johan . reade , m. vvrangle g. on a bend arg. shovelers s. beaked , or. joh. hatcher , m. carebye .   rob. ti●…whit , arm . camerin . ut prius . joh. langton , m. langton . quarterly sab. and o. a bend ar. nic. sanderson , m ut prius   ed. carr , m ▪ & b. ut prius   joha . thorold , m. ut prius   franc. south , mil. kelstern . arg. bars g. in cheis a mull. s. anth. thorold , a. ut prius   edwar. huss ▪ y ▪ m. ut prius   joh. buck , miles hanby barry bendy o. & az. a cant. er. tho. taylor , ar . dodingtō .   ric. hickson , ar . ropsley .   geo. southco●… , m. bliburgh .   tho. midlecot , m. boston   vvill. lister , ar . coleby . erm. on a fesse s. mullets arg. carolus i.     anno ,     jo. vvray , m. & b. ut prius   johan . bolles , ar . scampton ut prius with a flower de luce for difference . jac. brampton , ar . touse .   geor. hennage , m. ut prius   vvil. armyn , bar . ut prius   dan ▪ deligne , m. harlaxon . or , a b●…nd gules a chief checky argent and azure . edw. ascough , m. ut prius   vv. thorold , m. ut prius   jervas . scroop , m. cokering - a●…ure a bend or. vv. nor●…ō , m. & b ton .   vvil. pelham , m. ut prius   edw. hussey , mil. ut prius   anthonius irby , m boston . arg. a fret of . peices s. on a canton g. a chaplet o. tho. grantham , a. ut prius   joh. brownlew , a. belton . o. an escocheon , & orle of martlets sable . tho. trollop , a.   vert bucks pas . arg. mained and unguled o. a border argent . thoma lister , ar . ut prius   joh. hobson , ar .   sab. a cinquefoi●… arg. a cheif checquy o. & az. richard the second . . john walch . ] proportion of time and place , evidence him the same person , of whom i read , in the eighth year of the reign of this king , anno ▪ stows chron . on st. andrews day , there was a combat fought in the lists at westminster , betwixt an english esq named john walch of grimesby , and one of navar , called mortileto de vilenos , who had accused him of treason to the king and realm . in which combat the navarois was overcome , and afterwards hang'd for his false accusation . henry the fourth . . john rochford miles . ] the same no doubt with him who was sheriff in the . of k. richard the second . i confesse there was a knightly family of this * name at rochford in essex , who gave for their arms argent , a lyon rampant sable , langued , armed and crowned gules ; quartered at this day by the lord rochford earl of dover , by the butlers and bollons descended from them . but i behold this lincolnshire knight , of another family , and different arms , quartered by the earl of moulgrave , whence i collect his heir matched into that family . consent of time and other circumstances , argue him the same with sir john rochford , whom * bale maketh to flourish under king henry the fourth , commending him for his noble birth , great learning , large travail through france and italy , and worthy pains in translating iosephus his antiquities , polychronicon , and other good authors into english. richard the third . . ro●…ert dimock miles . ] this sir robert dimock at the coronation of king henry the seventh , came on horse back into vvestminster hall , where the king dined , and casting his gauntlet on the ground , challenged any who durst question the kings right to the crown . king henry being pleased to dissemble himself a stranger to that ceremony , demanded of a stander by , what that knight said ? to whom the party returned , he challengeth any man to fight with him , who dares deny your highnesse to be the lawful k. of england . if he will not fight with such a one ( said the king ) i will. and so sate down to dinner . henry the seventh . . john husee . ] this was undoubtedly the same person , whom king henry the eigth afterwards created , the first and last baron husee of sleford , who ingaging himself against the king , with the rebellious commons , anno , was justly beheaded , and saw that honour begun and ended in his own person . henry the eighth . . thomas burge miles . ] he was honourably descended from the heir general of the lord cobham of sterbury in * surry , and was few years after created baron burge , or burough by king henry the eigth . his grandchild thomas lord burge deputy of ireland , and knight of the garter , ( of whom * before ) left no issue male nor plentiful estate , only four daughters , elizabeth married to sir george brook , frances to the ancient family of copinger in suffolk , anna , wife to sir drue drury , and katharine married to ..... knivet of norfolk , mother to sir john knivet knight of the bath , at the last installment , so that the honour which could not conveniently be divided , was here determined . king charles . . jervasius scroop miles . ] he ingaged with his majesty in edge-hill-fight , where he received twenty six wounds , and was left on the ground amongst the dead . next day his son adrian obtained leave from the king to find and fetch off his fathers corps , and his hopes pretended no higher then to a decent interment thereof . hearty seeking makes happy finding . indeed , some more commendedthe affection , than the judgement of the young gentleman , conceiving such a search in vain , amongst many naked bodies , with wounds disguised from themselves , and where pale death had confounded all complexions together . however he having some general hint of the place where his father fell , did light upon his body , which had some heat left therein . this heat was with rubbing , within few minutes , improved into motion ; that motion , within some hours into sense ; that sense , within a day into speech ; that speech within certain weeks , into a perfect recovery , living more then ten years after , a monument of gods mercy and his sons affection . he always after carried his arme in a scarfe , and loss of blood made him look very pale , as a messenger come from the grave , to advise the living to prepare for death . the effect of his story , i received from his own mouth , in lincolne-colledge . the farewel . it is vain to wish the same successe to every husband man in this shire , as he had , who some seven score years since at harlaxton in this county , found an helmet of gold as he was plowing in the field . besides , in treasure trove , the least share falleth to him who first finds it . but this i not only heartily wish , but certainly promise to all such who industriously attend tillage in this county ( or else where ) that thereby they shall find ( though not gold in specie , yet ) what is gold worth , and may quickly be commuted into it , great plenty of good grain , the same which * solomon foretold , he that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread. it is in effect but the suburbs at large of london , replenished with the retyring houses of the gentry and citizens thereof , besides many pallaces of noble-men , and three [ lately ] royal mansions . wherefore much measure cannot be expected of so fine ware ; the cause why this county is so small , scarce extending east and west to miles in length , and not exceeding north and south in the bredth thereof . it hath hertford-shire on the north , buckingham-shire on the west , essex parted with ley on the east , kent and surrey ( severed by the thames ) on the south . the ayr generally is most healtful , especially about high-gate , where the expert inhabitants report , that divers that have been long visited with sickness , not * curable by physick , have in short time recovered , by that sweet salutary ayr . natural commodities . wheate . the best in england groweth in the vale lying south of harrow-the-hill nigh hessen , ( where providence for the present hath fixed my habitation ) so that the * kings bread was formerly made of the fine flower thereof . hence it was , that queen elizabeth received no composition money from the villages thereabouts , but took her wheat in kinde for her own pastry and bake-house . there is an obscure village hereabouts called perivale , which my * author will have more truly termed purevale ( an honour i assure you unknown to the inhabitants thereof ) because of the cleerness of the corn growing therein , though the purity thereof is much subject to be humbled with the mildew , whereof * hereafter . tamarisk . it hath not more affinity in sound with tamarind , then sympathy in extraction ( both originally arabick ) general similitude , in leaves and operation , onely tamarind in england is an annual , ( dying at the approach of winter ) whil'st tamarisk lasteth many years . it was first brought over by bishop grindal out of switzerland ( where he was exile under queen mary ) and planted in his garden at fulham in this county , where the soile being moist and fenny , well complied with the nature of this plant , which since is removed , and thriveth well in many other places . yet it groweth not up to be timber , as in arabia , though often to that substance that cups of great size are made thereof ; dioscorides , saith , it is good for the tooth-ach , ( as what is not , and yet indeed what is good for it ? ) but it is especially used for mollifying the hardness , and opening the stopping of the belly . manufactures . leather . this , though common to all counties , is entred under the manufactures of middlesex , because london therein , is the staple-place of slaughter ; and the hides of beasts there bought , are generally tanned about enfield in this county . a word of the antiquity and usefulness of this commodity . adams first suit was of leaves , his second of leather . hereof girdles , shoes , and many utensils ( not to speak of whole houses of leather , i mean coaches ) are made . yea , i have read how frederick the second emperour of germany , distressed to pay his army , made monetam coriaceam , coin of leather , making it currant by his proclamation , and afterwards when his souldiers repayed it into his exchequer , they received so much silver in lieu thereof . many good-laws are made ( and still one wanting to enforce the keeping of them ) for the making of this merchantable commodity , and yet still much unsaleable leather is sold in our markets . the lord treasurer barleigh ( who always consulted artificers in their own art ) was indoctrinated by a cobler in the true tanning of leather : this cobler taking a slice of bread , tosted it by degrees at some distance from the fire , turning many times till it became brown and hard on both sides . this my lord ( saith he ) we good fellowes call a tanned tost , done so well that it will last many mornings draughts , and leather thus leisurely tanned and turned many times in the fat , will prove serviceable , which otherwise will quickly fleet and rag out . and although that great statesman caused statutes to be made according to his instructions , complaints in this kind daily continue and encrease . surely were all of that occupation as honest as simon the tanner ( the entertainer of simon peter in joppa ) they would be more conscientious in their calling . let me add , what experience avoweth true , though it be hard to assign the true cause thereof , that when wheat is dear , leather alwayes is cheap , and when leather is dear then wheat is cheap . the buildings . hampton court was built by that pompous prelate . cardinal woolsey , one so magnificent in his expences , that whosoever considereth either of these three , would admire that he had any thing for the other two left unto him , viz. his house-building . house-keeping . house-furnishing . he bestowed it on king henry the eight , who for the greater grace thereof , erected it ( princes can conferr dignities on houses as well as persons ) to be an honour , increasing it with buildings till it became more like a small city , than a house . now whereas other royal pallaces ( holdenby , oatlands , richmond , theobalds ) have lately found their fatal period , hampton court hath a happiness to continue in its former estate . non equidem invideo , miror magis , undique totis usque adeo spoliatur agris . i envy not , its happy lot , but rather thereat wonder ; there 's such a rout , our land throughout , of pallaces by plunder . let me add , that henry the eight enforrested the grounds hereabouts ( the last of that kinde in england ) though they never attained the full reputation of a forrest , in common discourse . osterly house ( now sir william wallers ) must not be forgotten , built in a park by sir thomas gresham , who here magnificently entertained and lodged queen elizabeth . her majesty found fault with the court of this house as too great , affirming , that it would appear more handsome , if divided with a wall in the middle . what doth sir thomas , but in the night-time sends for workmen to london ( money commands all things ) who so speedily and silently apply their business , that the next morning discovered that court double , which the night had left single before . it is questionable whether the queen next day was more contented with the conformity to her fancy , or more pleased with the surprize and sudden performance thereof . whilest her courtiers disported themselves with their several expressions , some avowing it was no wonder he could so soon change a building , who could build a change ; others ( reflecting on some known differences in this knights family ) affirmed , that any house is easier divided than united . proverbs . a middlesex clown . ] some english words , innocent and in-offensive in their primitive nation , are bowed by custome to a disgraceful sense , as villain originally nothing but a dweller in a village and tiller of the ground thereabouts . churle in saxon coorel a strong * stout husbandman . clown from colonus , one that plougheth the ground , ( without which neither king nor kingdome can be maintained ) of which middlesex hath many of great estates . but some endeavour to fix the jgnominious sense upon them , as if more arrant rusticks then those of their condition elsewhere ; partly , because nobility and gentry are respectively observed ( according to their degree ) by people far distant from london , less regarded by these middlesexians ( frequency breeds familiarity ) because abounding thereabouts , partly , because the multitude of gentry here ( contraries are mutuall commentaries ) discover the clownishness of others , and render it more conspicuous . however to my own knowledge , there are some of the yeomantry in this county , as compleatly civill as any in england . he that is a low ebbe at newgate , may soon be a flote at tieburne . ] i allow not this satyricall proverb as it makes mirth on men in misery , whom a meer man may pity for suffering , and a good man ought to pity them for deserving it . tieburne , some will have it so called from tie and burne , because the poor lollords for whom this ( instrument of cruelty to them , though of justice to malefactors ) was first set up , had their necks tied to the beame , and their lower parts burnt in the fire ; others will ●…ave it called from twa and burne that is two rivolets which it seems meet near to the place . but whencesoever it be called , may all endeavour to keep themselves from it , though one may justly be confident , that more souls have gone to heaven from that place , then from all the churches and church-yards in england . when tottenham-wood is all on fire , then tottenham-street is naught but mire . ] i find this proverbe in the description * of tottenham , written by mr. william bedwell , one of the most learned translators of the bible . and seeing so grave a divine stoop'd to solow a subject , i hope i may be admitted to follow him therein . he thus expoundeth the proverb . when tottenham-wood , of many hundred-acres , on the top of an high hill in the west-end of the parish , hath a foggie mist hanging and hovering over it in manner of a smoak , then generally foul weather followeth , so that it serveth the inhabitants instead of a prognostication . i am confident as much mire now , as formerly in tottenham-street , but question , whether so much wood now as anciently on tottenham-hill ? tottenham is turn'd french. ] i find this in the same place of the same author , but quoting it out of mr. heiwood . it seems about the beginning of the reign of king henry the eigth , french mechanicks swarmed in england , to the great prejudice of english artisans , which caused the insurrection in london on ill may-day , anno dom. . nor was the city onely , but country villages for four miles about filled with french fashions , and infections . the proverb is applied to such , who contemning the custome of their own country , make themselves more ridiculous , by affecting forraign humours and habits . princes . edvvard sole surviving son of king henry the eight , and jane his wife , was born at hampton ▪ court in this county , anno dom. . he succeeded his father in the kingdome , and was most eminent in his generation , seeing the kings of england fall under a five-fold division . . visibly vicious , given over to dissolutenesse and debauchery , as king edward the second . . potius extra vitia , quàm cum virtutibus , rather free from vice then fraught with virtue , as king henry the third . . in quibus aequali temperamento , magnae virtutes inerant nec minora vitia , in whom vices and virtues were so equally matched , it was hard to decide which got the mastery , as in king henry the eight . whose good qualities beat their bad ones quite out of distance of competition , as in king edward the first . whose virtues were so resplendent , no faults ( humane frailties excepted ) appeared in them , as in this king edward . he died july . . and pity it is , that he who deserved the best , should have no monument erected to his memory , indeed a brass altar of excellent workmanship , under which he was buried ( i will not say sacrificed with an untimely death by the treachery of others ) did formerly supply the place of his tombe , which since is abolished under the notion of superstition . guesse the goodness of his head and heart ▪ by the following letters written to barnaby fitz-patrick ( gentleman of his bedchamber , and brought up with him , copyed out from the originalls , by the reverend arch-bishop of armagh , and bestowed upon me . say not they are but of narrow and personal concernment , seeing they are sprinkled with some passages of the publique . neither object them written by a child , seeing he had more man in him than any of his age. besides , epistles are the calmest communicating truth to posterity , presenting history unto us in her night cloths , with a true face of things , though not in so fine a dress as in other kindes of writings . edvvard , we have received your letters of the eighth of this present moneth , whereby we understand how you are well entertained , for which we are right glad ▪ and also how you have been once to goe on pilgrimage : for which cause we have thought good to advertise you , that hereafter if any such chance happen , you shall desire leave to goe to mr. pickering or to paris for your business , and if that will not serve to declare to some man of estimation , with whom you are best acquainted , that as you are loth to offend the french king , because you have been so favourably used , so with safe con●…cience you cannot do any such thing being brought up with me , and bound to obey my laws . also that you had commandment from me to the contrary , yet if you be vehemently procured , you may go as waiting on the king , not as intending to the abuse , nor willingly seeing the ceremonies , and so you look on the masse . but in the mean season regard the scripture or some good book , and give no reverence to the masse at all . furthermore remember when you may conveniently be absent from the court to tarry with sir william pickering to be instructed by him how to use your self ▪ for women , as far forth as you may avoid their company : yet if the french king command you , you may some time dance , so measure be your meane , else apply your self to riding , shooting , tennis , or such honest games , not forgetting some times ( when you have leisure ) your learning , cheifly reading of the scriptures . this i write , not doubting but you would have done , though i had not written but to spur you on ; your exchange of crowns you shall receive either monthly or quarterly by bartholomew campaignes factor in paris . he hath warrant to receive it by , here , and hath written to his factors to deliver it you there ; we have signed your bill for wages of the chamber which fitzwilliams hath , likewise we have sent a letter into ireland to our deputy , that he shall take surrender of your fathers lands , and to make again other letters patent , that those lands shall be to him , you , and your heirs lawfully begotten for ever , adjoyning thereunto two religious houses you spake for , thus fare you well , from westminster the of december , . mr. barnaby , i have of late sent you a letter from bartholmew campaigne for your payment by the french embassadors pacquet . i doubt not but your good nature shall profitably and wisely receive the kings majesties letter to you , fatherly of a child , comfortably of your soveraign lord , and most wisely of so young a prince : and so i beseech you that you will think wheresoever you go , you carry with you a demonstration of the kings majesty , coming a latere suo , and bred up in learning and manners with him , with your conservation and modesty , let me therefore believe the good reports of the king to be true , and let them perceive what the king is when one brought up with him , habeat virtutis tam clarum specimen . this i write boldly as one , that in you willeth our masters honour and credit ; and i pray you use me as one that loveth you in plain termes . scribled in hast , from westminster the of december . . yours to use and have w. cecill . to the kings maiesty , according to my bounden duty , i most humbly thank your highness for your gratious letters of the of december , lamenting nothing but that i am not able by any meanes , nor cannot deserve any thing of the goodness your highness hath shewed towards me . and as for the avoiding of the company of the ladies , i will assure your highness , i will not come into their company , unless i do wait upon the french king. as for the letter your majesty hath granted my father for the assurance of his lands , i thank your highness , most humbly confessing my self as much bound to you as a subject to his soveraign for the same . as for such simple news as is here , i thought good to certifie your majesty . it did happen that a certain saint standing in a blind corner of the street , where my lord admirall lay , was broken in the night-time , when my lord was here , which the french men did think to have been done by the english-men , and the english-men did think it to have been done by some french-men , of spite because the english-men lay in that street , and now since that time they have prepared another saint , which they call our ladie of silver , because the french king that dead is , made her once of clean silver , and afterwards was stoln , like as she hath been divers times , both stolen and broken in the same place , which ladie was at this present sunday being the of this month , set up with a solemn procession , in the which procession came first in the morning , divers priests of divers churches , with crosses and banners , and passed by the place where she should stand , then afterwards about a of the clock came the legat of rome , in whose company came first afore him sixty black canons of our ladies church , then came after them one that carried the legates hat in such sort as they carry the great seal in england ; then came the master of paris next to the cardinall which carried the image that should be set up ; then came the legate himself all in red , and with a white surpless , still blessing , accompanied with the bishop of caers ; & after him came the four presidents of the town , with all the councel of the town ; also there went before , and came behind , divers officers of the town with tip-staves , and so they have set her up with great solemnity , and defended her with a double grate , to the intent she should be no more stolen nor broken ; and the poor people lie still in the foul streets worshi ping her . further , as i am crediblie informed , the legate that lieth here , doth give pardons and bulls daily , and one of the kings treasures standeth by , and receiveth the money to the kings use ; other news i have none , decemb. the . the meanest and most obliged of your subjects bernaby fitz-patrick . edvvard , we have received your letters of the of decemb. whereby we perceive your constancy , both in avoiding all kind of vices , and also in following all things of activity or otherwise , that be honest and meet for a gentleman , of the which we are not a little glad , nothing doubting your continuance therein . we understand also by certain letters you sent to the earl of pembroke and mr. vice-chamberlaine , that you have some lack of muletts , and that you desire to have sent to you some of ours , whereupon we have considered , that our muletts being old and lame , will do you but little service , and at least less , then good ones bought there . for which cause we have willed bartholomew champagne , to deliver you crownes by exchange for the buying of your two muletts over and besides your former allowance . here we have little news at this present , but only that the challenge you heard of before your going was very well accomplished . at t●…lt there came eighteen defendants , at tournay twenty , at barriers they fought eight to eight , a twelfth night : this last christmas hath been well and merrily past . afterwards there was run a match at tilt six to six which was very well runne ; also because of the lord riches sickness , the bishop of ely was made chancellour of england during the parliament . of late there hath been such a tide here as hath overflown all medowes and marshes . all the isle of dogges , all plumsted marsh , all shippey , foulness in essex , and all the sea coast was quite drowned . we hear that it hath done no lesse harme in flanders , holland and zealand , but much more , for townes and cities have been there drowned . we are advertised out of almaine , that duke morice is turned from the emperour , and he with the protestants levieth men to deliver the old duke of sax , and the land grave out of prison . the cause of our slowness in writing this letter , hath been lack of messengers , else we had written before time . now shortly we wil prove how ye have profited in the french tongue , for within a while we will write to you in french. thus we make an end , wishing you as much good as our selves . at westminster the of jannuary , . edvvard , we have received your letters , dated at paris the twelfth of this instant , and also mr. pickerings letter written to our trusty well beloved couzen the duke of northumberland on your behalf . whereby we perceive both the great preparation for the warrs , which the french king our brother maketh . and also how that you are ill furnished of all things , meet to go such a journey , so that he thinketh that your costs will not be born under . l. whereupon we have given order to bartholomew campagine for to deliver you in paris french crowns over and besides all moneys sent you heretofore ; and besides your diet . also , whereas you seem to find a lack for the moylettis , there was appointed to you french crowns for the buying of the same , because they could not well be transported . also order is given for your horses to be carried over to you with dilligence , which we trust shall like you well . we have no more to you , but to will you not to live too sumptiously as an ambassadour , but so as your proportion of living may serve you , we mean because we know many will resort to you ▪ and desire to serve you . i told you how many i thought convenient you should keep . after you have ordered your things at paris go to the court , and learn to have more intelligence if you can , and after to the vvarrs to learn somwhat to serve us . news from hence i shall write you when you send us some , in the mean season none but that ( thanks be to god ) all is well for the present . fare you well from westminster the of february , . edvvard , vve have received your letters of the second and fifteenth of aprill . vvhereby we perceive then you were at nancy , ready to go together with mr. pickering to the french camp , and to the intent you might be better instructed 〈◊〉 to use your self in these warrs , we have thought good to advertise you of our pleasure therein . first we would wish you , as much as you may conveniently , to be in the french kings presence , or at least in some part of his army , where you shall perceive most business to be , and that for two causes : one is because you may have more experience in the warrs , and see things that might stand you in stead another day . the other is , because you might be more profitable in the language . for our embassador who may not weare harness cannot well come to those places of danger , nor seem so to serve the french king as you may , whom we sent thither for that purpose . it shall be best for you therefore hereafter , as much as you may to be with the french king , and so you shall be more acceptable to him , and do your self much good . vve doubt not also but of such things as you see there done , you will not fail●… to advertise us as you have well begun in your last letters , for thereby shall we iudge of your diligence in learning , and seeing things that be there done ; we shall be nothing wearied with often advertising , nor with reciting of particularity of things , and to the intent we would see how you profit in the french , we would be glad to receive some letters from you in the french tongue , and we would write to you again therein . vve have a little been troubled with the smale pox , which hath l●…tted us to write hitherto ; ●…ut now we have shaken that quite away . thus fare you well , at greenwich the third of may anno . edvvard , vve have received your letters , dated at rhemes the fourth of this instant , by which we understand , how the french king doth mean now to set forth a new army to resist the emperour , and that for that cause you think you cannot yet ask leave to return without suspition till this bray do cease . in which thing we like your opinion very well , and the rather because you may peradventure see more things in this short journey ( if so be it , that the emperor doth march towards you ) then you have seen all the while you have been there . neverthelesse as soon as his businesse is once over past , you with mr. pickerings advice may take some occasion to ask leave for this vvinter to come home ▪ because you think there shall few things more be done , then have been already , in such manner and form as we have written in our former letters . vve pray you also to advertise for how long time you have received your diets . bartholomew campaigne hath been paid six vveeks agon , till the last of september , and we would be very glad to know whether you have received so much at his factors hands . more we have not to advertise you , and therefore we commit you to god. from hampton court the . of october anno dom. . martyrs . smithfield neer london , being bonners shambles , and the bone-fire generall of england , no wonder if some sparks thereof were driven thence into the vicenage , at barnet , izlington , and stratford bow , where more then twenty persons were martyred , as in mr. fox doth appear . nor must we forget mr. john denley burnt at uxbridge , who began to sing a psalm at the stake , and dr. story ( there present ) caused a prickley * fagot to be hu●…led in his face , which so hurt him , that he bled therewith . now the singing * nightingale needed no thorn but only the sleeping one , to awake it . we may beleive that this martyrs prick-song indeed , made good melody in the ears of the god of heaven . prelats . richard northall , was saith my * author born in this county , adding moreover praetoris londinensis , ejusdem cognominis ut fertur filius , but take pretor , either for major or sheriffe , and no such man appeareth in stow , his exact survay of london , so that one may thence safely conclude the negative , no such person in those places , though probably he might hold some other eminent office in that city . by the way , the applying the names of roman * magistrates to our english officers , wherein every one followeth their own fancy in assigning the correspondency , hath cau●…ed much uncertainty in matters of this nature . but we willingly believe this robert of wealthy extraction , though he became a carmelite , and afterward chaplain to king richard the second , who for his good preaching preferred him bishop of ossory , for a time * chancelour of ireland , and at last arch-bishop of dublin . he wrote a set of sermons for the whole year , lived much beloved for his learning and virtues , and died no less lamented , anno dom. on the day of july . since the reformation . william wickham , born at * enfield in this county , bred in kings-colledge , was bishop first of lincolne , then of winchester , where he may be termed william wickham junior in distinction of his name-sake and predecessor ; one equal to any of his order in piety and painfullnesse ( though little of him extant in print ) superiour to all in patience , dying anno of the strangury , when he had not made water for * fourteen days together . this mindeth me of an usuall prayer amongst the modern jews ( had they no worse customes their company would be wellcome unto us ) praising god as well for their vents of ejection , as mouths for the admission of nourishment . souldiers . falcatius , or fulke de brent , was a middlesex-man by his nativity , whose family so flourished th●…rein in former ages ( remaining in a meaner condition to this day ) that an * antiquarie will have the rivolet brent , which denominateth brentford , so named from them , which is preposterous in my opinion , believing them rather named from the rivolet . this fulk was a minion to king john , whose dangers indeared martial-men unto him , who the more to oblige his fidelity , gave him in marriage margaret the daughter of warrin fitz - gerald his chamberlaine , late wife to baldwin de rivers , many muttering thereat , and the ladie her self ( it seems ) not well satisfied therewith , as beneath her deserts . hereupon our * author , lex connectit eos , amor & concordia lecti , sed lex qualis ? amor qualis ? cōcordia qualis ? lex exlex , amor exosus , concordia discors . now both of them be'ng brought into a bed , by law , and love , and concord joyned are : what law ? what love ? what cōcord did them wed ? law lawless , loath'd love , concord which did jarr . this fulke was highly in favour with king henry the third ; who by the valour of this his generall , obtained the great victory at lincolne . but afterwards , when the land was setled in peace , fulke found himself less respected , set by , and not set by , hung up like the axe , when it hath hew'n all the hard timber , on the wall unregarded . he endeavoured therefore to embroile the nation in a new war , and , like a dishonest chirurgion , willfully to blister the sound flesh into a sore , to gaine by the cureing thereof . this not succeeding ( all being weary of civil warr ) he presuming on the kings lenitie , and his own merit ( accounting himself too high to come under the roofe of any law ) committed many outrages of felonies and murders . he was esteemed too bad to live , such his present desperateness , yet too good to be put to death , such his former deserts ; and therefore ( as an expedient between both ) he was condemn'd to perpetuall banishment . he went to rome ( none had more need to confess his faults ) where he lived * obscurely , died miferably , and was buried ignobly , anno . sir ralph sadlier , son of sadlier , esquire , was born at hackney in this county , where he was heir to a fair inheritance . he first was servant to the lord cromwell , and by him advanced into the service of king henry the eighth . a prince judicious in men and meat , ( and seldome deceived in either ) who made him cheife secretary of state. he was much knowing , ( and therefore most imployed ) in the scotch affairs , much complicated with state intricacies , which he knew well to unfold . it is seldome seen that the pen and sword , goun and corselet , meet eminently as here , in the same person . for in the battle of muscleborow , he or●…ered and brought up our scattered troops , ( next degree to a rout ) 〈◊〉 them to fight by his own example , and so for his valour was made a knight bannaret . of these two kinds , one by way of encouragement made before , the other by way of r●…ward , 〈◊〉 a feild 〈◊〉 , more safe , and no less honourable in my opinion . sir ralph was of the second sort and the last which survived in england of that order . yet was he little in stature , tall not in person but performance . queen eliz. made him chance●…our of the dutchy . during his last embassie in scotland , his house at standon in her●…forashire , was built by his steward in his absence far greater then himself desired , so that he never joyed therein , and died soon after , anno . in the year of his age . how●…ver it hath been often filled with good company , and they feasted with great chear by the hereditary hospitality therein . i must not forget , how when this knight attended his master the lord cromwel at rome , ( before the english renounced the papal power ) a ●…ardon w●…s granted ( not by his own , but a servants procuring , ) for the sins of that fami●…y , for three immediate generations , ( expiring in r. sadlier esquire , lately dead ) which was extant , ( but lately lost o●… displaced ) amongst their records , and though no use was made thereof , much mirth was made therewith . capital judges and writers on the law. sir thomas frovvick knight , was born at elinge in this county , son to thomas frowick esquire ; by his wife , who was daughter and heire to sir john sturgeon , knight , ( giving for his armes , azure three sturgeons , or , under a fret gules ) bred in the study of our municipal law , wherein he attained to such eminency , that he was made lord chief justice of the common pleas , on the of september , in the year of the reign of king henry the seventh . four years he sate in his place , accounted the oracle of law in his age , though one of the youngest men that ever enjoyed that office. he is reported to have dyed floridâ juventute , before full forty years old , and lyeth buryed with joane his wife , in the church of finchley in this county , the circumscription about his monument being defaced ; onely we understand that his death hapned on the seventeenth of october , . he left a large estate to his two daughters , whereof elah the eldest was married to sir john spelman ( one of the justices of the kings bench ) grand-father to sir henry that renowned knight . sir william stamford , knight , was of staffordian extraction , robert his grand-father living at rowley in that county . but william his father was a merchant in london , and purchased lands at hadley in middlesex , where sir william was born august . . he was bred to the study of our municipal lawes , attaining so much eminence therein , that he was preferred one of the judges of the common pleas ; his most learned book of the pleas of the crown , hath made him for ever famous amongst men of his own profession . there is a spirit of retraction of one to his native country , which made him purchase lands , and his son settle himself again in staffordshire ; this worthy judge died august , and was buried at hadley in this shire , in the last year of the reign of queen mary , . writers . john acton . i find no fewer then seventeen actons in england , so called as i conceive originally from ake , in saxon an oake , wherewith antiently no doubt those townes were well stored . but i behold the place nigh london , as the paramount acton amongst them . our iohn was bred doctor of the laws in oxford , and afterwards became canon of lincolne , being very able in his own faculty . he wrote * a learned comment on the ecclesiasticall constitutions of otho and ottob one ( both cardinalls and legats to the pope in england ) and flourished under king edward the first , anno . ralph acton was bred in the university of oxford , where he attained ( saith my author * ) magisterium theologicum , and as i understand magister in theologiâ is a doctor in divinity , so doctor in artibus is a master of arts. this is reported to his eternall commendation evangelium regni dei fervore non modico praedicabat in medijs romanarum superstitionum tenebris . and though somtimes his tongue lisped with the siboleth of the superstition of that age , yet generally he uttered much pretious truth in those dangerous days , and flourished under king edward the second , anno . roger tvviford . i find eleven towns so named in england , ( probably from the confluence of two fords thereabouts ) and two in this county . he was bred an augustinian friar , studied in both universities , and became a doctor in divinity . in his declining age he applyed himself to the reading of the scripture and the fathers , and became a painfull and profitable preacher . i find him not fixed in any one place , who is charactered , * concionum propalator per dioecesin norvicensem , an itinerant ( no errant ) preacher through the diocess of norwich . he was commonly called goodlu●…k ( and good-luck have he with his honour ) because he brought good success to others ( and consequently his own welcome ) with him whithersoever he went , which made all places and persons ambitious and covetous of his presence . he flourished about the year of our lord , . robert hovvnslovv was born in this county at hownslow , a village well known for the road through , and the heath besides it . he was a fryar of the order of the holy trinity , which chiefly imployed themselves for the redemption of captives . indeed locusts generally were the devourers of all food , yet one kind of locusts were themselves wholesome , though course food , whereon iohn baptist had his common repast ; thus fryers ( i confess ) generally were the pests of the places they lived in , but to give this order their due , much good did redound from their endeavours . for this robert being their provinciall for england , scotland and ireland , rich people by him were affectionately exhorted , their almes industriously collected , such collections carefully preserved , till they could be securely transmitted , and thereby the liberty of many christian captives effectually procured . he wrote also many synodall sermons , and epistles of confequence to severall persons of quality , to stir up their liberality . he flourished ( sayes pitseus ) anno dom. . a most remarkable year by our foresaid author , assigned either for the flourishing , or for the funeralls of eleven famous writers , ( yet so , as our robert is dux gregis , and leads all the rest ) all contemporaries , whereas otherwise , for two or three eminent persons to light on the same year , is a faire proportion through all his book , de illustribus angliae scriptoribus . since the reformation . william gouge born at stratford-bow in this county , bred in kings colledge in cambridge , where he was not once absent from publique service morning * and evening the space of nine years together . he read fifteen chapters in the bible everyday , and was afterwards minister of blackfryers in london . he never took a journey meerly for pleasure in all his life ; he preached so long , till it was a greater difficulty for him to go up into the pulpit , then either to make or preach a sermon , and dyed aged seventy nine years , leaving the examples of his humility , faith , patience , &c. to the imitation of posterity , being buryed in his own church , december . . benefactors to the publick . a namelesse hermite ( dwelling in the hermitage where now the school is ) on his own cost , caused gravel to be digg'd in the top of hygate-hill ( where now is a fair pond of vvater ) and therewith made a causway from hygate to islington ; a two handed charity , providing water on the hill , where it was wanting , and cleanesse in the vale , which before ( especially in winter ) was passed with much molestation . since the reformation . alice daughter of thomas vvilkes , was a poor maid born in islington , where her cap was casually shot through with an * arrow without any hurt to her head . she afterwards was thrice married to wealthy husbands ( whereof iustice owen the last ) and built at islington near to the place of her deliverance , a proper alms-house by her well endowed . this lady expended to charitable uses here and elsewhere , what amounted to the full sum of two thousand three hundred pounds and upwards , and lyeth buryed as i take it in islington . sir julius caesar knight , was born in this county , his father having a house * nigh unto tottenham . his father was a doctor of physick to queen elizabeth , and descended of the ancient family of the dalmarii in italy . this his son was bred in oxford , and after other intermediate preferments , was advanced chancelour of the dutchy of lancaster , and sworn a privie counsellor on sunday the . of july . and afterwards was preferred master of the rouls . a person of prodigious bounty to all of worth or want , so that he might seem to be almoner general of the nation . the story is well known of a gentleman , who once borrowing his coach , ( which was as well known to poor people as any hospital in england ) was so rendevouzed about with beggers in london that it cost him all the money in his purse to satisfie their importunity , so that he might have hired twenty coaches on the same terms . sir francis bacon lord verulam was judicious in his election , when perceiving his dissolution to approach , he made his last bed in effect in the house of sr. julius . he continued more then years master of the rolles , and though heaved at by some expectants , sate still in his place well poyzed therein , with his gravity and integrity . vir tantarum elemosynarum non movebitur , a man of so great alms and prayers ( made by him and for him ) shall not be removed . nor was it without a prosperous omen , that his chief house in hartford shire was called benington , that is , villa benigna the bountiful village , as one * author will have it , or as * another villa beneficii the town of good turns , from the river so named running by it . what shall i speak of his arms , viz. gules roses argent on a chief of the first , so many roses of the second , embleming the fragancy of the memory he hath left behind him . his monument in great st. hellens london , being out of the road of ordinary fancies , was thus designed by himself . the ensuing description is contrived in form of a deed , and imitateth ruffled parchment , in allusion to his office , as master of the rolles . omnibus christi fidelibus ad quos hoc praesens scriptum pervenerit . sciatis , me iulium dalmare alias caesarem militem : utriusque doctorem ; elizabethae reginae supremae curiae admiralitatis judicem ; & unum è magistris libellorum , iacobo regi à privalis concilliis , cancellarium scaccarii scriniorum magistrum haec praesenti charta mea confirmasse me annuente divino numine naturae debitum libenter solviturum , quam primum deo placuerit . in cujus rei memoriam , manum meam , & sigillum apposui . datum . februarii . julius caesar here his seal or coat of arms is affixed ; and beneath them is written irrotulatur coelo . he dyed the twenty eigth day of april , anno domini , in the seventy ninth of his age. memorable persons . peter fabel . i shall probably offend the gravity of some to insert , and certainly curiosity of others to omit him . some make him a fryer , others a lay gentleman , all a conceited person , who with his merry devises , deceived the devil , who by grace may be resisted , not deceived by wit. if a grave bishop in his * sermon speaking of brute his coming into this land , said it was but a bruit , i hope i may say without offence , that this fabel was but a fable , supposed to live in the reign of king henry the sixth . ........ trestram was a gardener by his occupation , living at branford in this county . this man anno dom. . fell into a most violent inflammation of the lungs , accompanied with a terrible feaver , shortnesse of breath , stitch of both sides , dry cough , and an unquenchable thirst. dr. theod. * deodate being his neighbour ( then physician to prince henry and the lady elizabeth ) beholding him of a ruddy and sanguine complexion , adventured to let him blood , though he was of threescore and sixteen years of age . once he let him blood about twenty ounces , by which evacuation ( his blood being extremely putrified ) he felt ease for three hours , but afterwards all his accidents returned as violent as before . next morning he repeated the bleeding in the same quantity , whereby the patient only found a momentary ease , his pain returning as violent as before . the third day remembring the rule of hypocrates , that blood must be let to the changing of the colour , he adventured again on as copious a phlebotemy as before whereby the sickman found an extraordinary ease , who in three days had lost more then sixty ounces of blood. this trestram survived eight years after , and dyed anno . a most eminent instance against those who endevour to prove the decay of the world , because men cannot spare so much by bloodletting as in former ages . lord maiors .   name . father . place . company time. henry frowicke henry frowicke totenham mercer . william marrow stephen marrow stebunheath mercer . william hallin nicholas hallin fullham fishmonger . humphrey heyford roger heyford stratford bowe goldsmith . christopher askew . john askew edmonton draper . john lyon thomas lyon peryfare grocer . thomas curteis john curteis enfield fishmonger . john jolles thomas jolles strafford bowe draper . the names of the gentry of this county , returned by the commissioners in the twelfth year of king henry the sixth . richard bishop of london . commissioners to take the oaths . the prior of the hospital of st. johns of jerusalem .   john ash knights for the shire .   richard maideston knights for the shire .   johannis harpeden militis thomae a chaleton militis johannis boys militis henrici somer iohannis frampton thomae hasele thomae b frowyk simonis campe alexandri anne willielmi c wrothe iohannis chichele roberti warner d iohannis shordyche edmundi bibbesworth walteri grene thomae holgyll thomae malton iohannis drayton willielmi swanlond willielmi norton iohannis barnvile richardi richmond roberti oliver willielmi bray roberti foster henrici filingsley iohannis bronn roberti charyngworth richardi skarburgh richardi bronn iohannis e elryngton vvillielmi brokherst iohannis danyell . what is generally true of the gentry in all counties , that being in continuo fluxu , labitur , & labetur , in omne volubilis aevum , is most true in this county , where the stream thereof runneth most rapid , to make more speedy room for succession ; so that the gentry in middlesex , seem sojourners , rather then inhabitants therein . is it not strange , that of the thirty three forenamed families , not three of them were extant in the shire , one hundred and sixty years after , viz. anno dom. . as appeareth by the alphabetical collection , set forth by mr. * norden in that year . i impute the brevity ( as i may term it ) of such gentry in this county , to the vicinity of london to them , or rather of them to it , and hope , that worshipful families now fixed in middlesex , will hereafter have longer continuance . thomae a chaleton militis . ] i can hardly believe him of the same family ( r. being slipped out in the writing thereof ) with thomas carleton , who dyed anno domini . being buryed under a much defaced monument in edmontonchurch , and whom the inhabitants deliver by tradition , to have been a man of great command in this county . thomae b frovvyk ] he was owner of gunners-bury in the parish of great eling , wherein he lyes buryed , and was father of famous judge frowyk of whom before . willielmi c wroth ] ancestor to sir henry vvrot●… , still living at durance , whose great grandfather sir thomas vvroth , fled over for his religion into germany , in the reign of queen mary ; and it is observable , that he , who then went away for his conscience , hath alone of all this catalogne , his name remaining in this county . as for vvilliam vvroth mentioned in this catalogue , he was son to vvill. vvroth esquire , who dyed the . of * march , the ninth of henry the fourth , who was the son of iohn vvroth , who married maud sole daughter unto thomas durand , by whom the house of durands was devolved unto him . john shordyche . ] so called from shorditch on the north of bishops gate , in london , whereof he was owner , as also of the mannor of hackney . i say shorditch so named here ( in the twelfth of king henry the sixth ) and some hundred years before , quasi shorditch , or the ditch that was the sewer or publick drain to the north-east part of the city . hereby appeareth the vanity of their conceits who will have it so called from iane shore ( the minion of edward the fourth ) reported to dye here pitifully ( as much pitied though not relieved ) in the reign of king richard the third . reader , be pleased to take notice , that though mr. norden in his survey of this county , passeth over this sirname in silence , yet the progeny of this iohn shorditch hath still a confiderable estate at icknam therein . johannis e elryngton ] these had an house sometimes at * neusdon in this county , but are since extinct , and the last that i find of the name was iohn elryngton , filycer of the city of london , and keeper of the records of the common pleas , who dying . is buryed with an inscription in hackney church . the sheriffs . some perchance may expect , that in conformity to other counties , i should here insert the sheriffs of middlesex , reserving those of london to the descr●…ption of that city . these proceed on an old vulgar error , that the sheriffs aforesaid have their several jurisdictions divided accordingly . whereas indeed both are jointly and equally sheriffs of london and middlesex , having not only concurrent but united power in all places . nor know i any difference betwixt them , save that he , who is first chosen taketh place , and he who liveth the neerest to the tower , hath the poultrie , the other vvood street-counter , assigned to his service . but more of them in london . all i will add is this , the gentry in middlesex have herein a priviledge above any county in england , that they are not eligible ( except also they be freemen of london ) to be sheriffes of this shire , which doth cut off from them the occasion of much expences . the battells . brandford fight . november the . it began on the south west side of the town near zion house : some execution being done by great guns , and a boat on the thames with many therein sunk , and capt. quarles ( an active citizen on the parliament side ) drowned before he could recover the shore . soon was the scene of this tragedy removed to the north of the town , near acton , and the kings forces fell fiercely on the regiment of collonel denzil hollis then present in parliament , and put them to the worst . here the welsh under sir ....... salisbury their leader , made true the greek proverb , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , he that flyeth will fight again . 〈◊〉 these who shewed swift heels at edgehill ●…attle , use as stout arms [ as any ] in this fight . for formerly they were little better then naked , whereas since they had recovered armour to fence their bodies , and resolutions to arme their minds . next day being sunday , marched out the militia of london , but both armies may be said to have kept the sabboth , faceing each other without any considerable action . it is incredible how many cart loads of victuals were carried out from london , enough to have feasted their souldiers for some days , and fed them for some weeks . in the evening the kings forces drew off towards kings town . the number of the slain on both sides amounted not to a thousand , and the reputation of the victory on the kings side , was more then the effect thereof , for then the royalists did nose and beard the populous city of london , and did triumphare ( though not in ) sub hostico . indeed the accession of citizens to the king answered not rational expectation , wealth though loyal being always fearful , and loath to hazzard a certain estate . this is most sure , that many scores of prisoners taken by the king , were by him freely dismissed without other ransome , then a strict oath to serve no more against him . now what oath office is kept in london ; i know not , nor what pope therein had power to dispence with so sacred an obligation . but these met with such confessors , who seemingly satisfied them in the violation of this oath , so that some weeks after they appeared on the same side as fierce as before . the farewell . this county is much infested with the mildew . that it is , i know to my cost , but could not purchase the knowledge what it is , much lesse how it might be prevented at the same price , though having diligently enquired into the name and nature thereof . some will have it called mildew , quasi maldew , or illdew , others meldew or hony-dew , as being very sweet ( oh how lushious and noxious is flattery ! ) with the astringency thereof , causing an atrophy a consumption in the grain . his etymology was peculiar to himself who would have it termed mildew , because it grindeth the grain aforehand , making it to dwindle away almost to nothing . it falleth ( be it mist or dew ) when corn is almost ripe for the sicle , and antidateth the harvest ( not before it is welcome but ) before it is wished by the husbandman , grain being rather withered then ripened thereby . if after the fall a good rain or strong wind cometh , it washeth and wipeth it off , so that no mischeif is done : otherwise the hot sun arising , sealeth ( to use the husbandmans phrase ) the mildew upon the straw , and so intercepteth the nourishment betwixt the root and the ear , especially if it falleth not on the hoase ( which is but another case , and hath another tunicle under it ) but on the stripped straw near to the top of the stalk . grain growing under hedges ( where the wind hath least power ) is most subject thereunto , though vvheat of all grain is most , bearded vvheat of vvheat is least liable unto it : not that the hawnes thereof are spears to fright the mildew from it , but advantagious gutters to slide it away the sooner , which sticketh on notted or pollard vvheat . inland counties , northampton-shire , bedford-shire , &c. complain the least , maritime the most of mildew which insinuateth the vapors of the sea to be causall thereof . some hold , that seeing it falls from the skies , earth hath no guard for heavens blowe , save praier , which in this very case is prescribed by * solomon . but others conceive , that humane may be subordinate to spiritual means , to prevent not the falling but the hurting of this dew in such a degree , and hopefully expect the remedy from the ingenuity of the next generation . i am the rather confirmed in my hopes , because a help hath been found out against the smooting of vvheat , at leastwise in some good proportion , i say the smooting of vvheat which makes it a negro , as mildew makes it a dwarfe , viz. by mingling the seed with lyme as your husbandmen will inform you . and for my vale to this county , i heartily desire , that either god would of his goodnesse spare the fruits of the earth , from so hurtful a casualty , or put it into the minds of men ( if it may stand with his vvill ) to find out some defensitive in some part , to abate the malignity thereof . london . it is the second city in christendome for greatnesse , and the first for good government ; there is no civilized part of the world but it hath heard thereof , though many with this mistake , that they conceive london to be the country , and england but the city therein . some have suspected the declining of the lustre thereof , because of late it vergeth so much vvestward , increasing in buildings in convent garden , &c. but by their favour ( to disprove their fear ) it will be found to burnish round about , to every point of the compasse , with new structures daily added thereunto . it oweth its greatnesse under gods divine providence , to the well conditioned river of thames , which doth not ( as some tyrant rivers in europe ) abuse its strength in a destructive way , but imployeth its greatnesse in goodnesse , to be beneficial for commerce , by the reciprocation of the tide therein . hence it was that when k. james offended with the city , threatned to remove his court to another place , the lord maior [ boldly enough ] returned that he might remove his court at his pleasure , but could not remove the river of thames . * erasmus will have london so called , from lindus a city of rhodes , averring a great resemblance betwixt the language and customes of the britains and grecians . but mr. camden ( who no doubt knew of it ) honoureth not this his etymology with the least mention thereof . as improbable in my apprehension , is the deduction from ludstown , town being a saxon , no brittish termination ) and that it was so termed from lan dian a temple of diana ( standing where now st. pauls doth ) is most likely in my opinion . manufactures . natural commodities are not to be expected to growe in this place , which is only the field of art , and shop general of england , cheapsiae being called the best garden only by metaphore , seeing otherwise nothing but stones are found therein . as for london manufactures they are so many , i shall certainly loose my self in this labyrinth if offering to enter : in leaving therefore all intermediate inventions to others ; i will only insist on the needle and the engine , as the least and greatest instruments imployed therein . needles . the use hereof is right ancient , though sewing was before needles . for we * read that our first parents made themselves aprons by sewing fig leaves together , either fastning them with some glutinous matter , or with some sharp thing joyning them together . a pin is a blind needle , a needle a pin with an eye . what nails do in solid , needles do in supple bodies , putting them together ; only they remain not there formally but vertually , in the thread which they leave behind them . it is the womans pencil and embroidery [ vestis acu picta ] is the masterpeice thereof . i say embroydery much used in former , neglected in our age , wherein modern gallants ( affecting variety of suits ) desire , that their cloaths should be known by them , and not as our ancestors , they by their cloaths , one suit of state serving them for several solemnities . this industrious instrument , needle , quasi ne idle , ( as some will have it ) maintaineth many millions . yea , he who desireth a blessing on the plough and the needle , ( including that in the card and compass ) comprehendeth most employments at home , and abrode , by land and by sea . all i will add is this , that the first fine spanish needles in england , were made in the reign of queen mary , in cheapside by a negro , but such his envy , that he would teach his art to none , so that it dyed with him . more charitable was elias crowse a german , who coming over into england , about the eigth of queen elizabeth , first taught us the making of spanish needles , and since we have taught our selves the using of them . the engine . this general word ▪ 〈◊〉 to all machins or instruments , use in this city hath confined to signifie that which is used to quench scare-fires therein . one mr. jones a merchant ( living in austin fryers ) fetched the first form thereof from norenberge , and obtained a patent of king james that none should be made without his approbation . two were begun but not finished in his life time , who dyed in the great plague primo caroli primi ; since which time , william burroughs city-founder , now living in ●…bury , hath so compleated this instrument , that his additions , amount to a new invention , having made it more secure from breaking , and easie to be cleansed , so that with the striking out of a wedge , it will cleanse it self , and be fit to work again in four minutes . since , the aforesaid 〈◊〉 hath made about threescore of these engines for city and country . the cooper , carpenter , smith , founder , brasier and turner contribute their skills to the 〈◊〉 o●… it ▪ yet may the price thereof be compassed for thirty five pounds . it hath gained , because it hath saved many pounds , and ( which is unvaluable ) many lives of men in this city . the best ( though not the biggest ) was lately in the church of ●…t . james clarken-well , as hath many times been experimented . a good musician makes a good instrument , and it was a poor blew cap ( better known by his work then name ) who played so w●…ll thereon , that ( though not with the left handed gibeonites to hit the mark within a hairs breadth ) he could hit within the scantling of a shilling : since a newer at st bridgets church is a better , and no wonder if the younger out active those who are more ancient ; all wish'd this engine may be brought forth once a quarter to be scoured , oyled , and trimmed , but not to be used . but if there be an occasion thereof , may it effectually perform that , for which it was intended . the buildings . st. pauls . this is the only cathedral in christendome dedicated solely to that saint : great the pillars ( little legs would bowe under so big a body ) and small the windows thereof , darknesse in those dayes being conceived to raise devotion , besides it made artificial lights to appear with the more solemnity . it may be called the mother church indeed , having one babe in her body st. faiths , and another in her arms st. gregories . surely such , who repair to divine service in st. faiths , may there be well minded of their mortality , being living people , surrounded with the antiperistasis of the dead both above and beneath them . for the present i behold st. pauls church , as one struck with the dead palsie on one side , the east part and quire thereof being quick and alive , well maintained and repaired , whilst the west part is ruinous and ready to fall down . little hopes it will be repaired in its old decayes , which is decayed in its new reparations , and being formerly an ornament , is now an eyesore to the city ; not to say unto the citizens in general , some being offended that it is in so bad , and others that it is in no worse condition . the repairing of this church was a worthy monument of the piety and charity of arch-bishop laud , not only procuring the bounty of others , but expending his own estate thereon . we dispair not but that his majesties zeal in commending this work to their care , will in due time meet with the forward bounty of the citizens . it is no sin to wish , that those who have plundered the cloak and cover of st. pauls ( not left behind by , but ) violently taken from him , might be compelled to make him a new one of their own cost , at leastwise to contribute more then ordinary proportions thereunto . as for the parochial churches in london they have all either cast their skins with the snake , or renewed their bills with the eagle , having at the least their fronts beautified , if not their bodies rebuilt . amongst which st clements eastcheap , is not to be forgotten , the monument of the bounty of baldwin hamey doctor in physick . so that what is written in a modest challenge to the papist on the entry into the new built church of st. giles in the fields , may be inscribed on the rest. 〈◊〉 viator ! anne bonis operibus effoetum est hoc seculum ? the bridge . the middle thereof is properly in none , the two ends in two counties middlesex and surrey . such who only see it beneath where it is a bridge , cannot suspect it should be a street , and such who behold it above where it is a street , cannot beleive it is a bridge , it was made with great cost , and is maintained with daily charge against the batery and assault of the tide : the sad riddle is generally known to all , which happened here some twenty years since , when a lamentable fire could not be quenched , because there was such store of water , hindering all accesse thereunto . the exchange . this was built by sir thomas gresham knight , anno domini . in imitation of that at antwerp , but so that the copy exceedeth the original , queen elizabeth named it the royal burse , but it is commonly called the exchang●… or change , because by bargains 〈◊〉 ven there , wares are changed for wares , and wares for mony , and mony for money . yet because much of mutability is imported in the word change , it may be a fit remembrancer to merchants meeting here , not to build their hopes of perpetuity on what is so subject to vicissitude and alteration . well may this place be termed the change , where poor men so soon become rich by good successe , and richmen poor by losses and casualties unexpected . the tower. this to wave the fable of julius caesar , was first founded by king vvilliam the conquerour , finished by william rufus ▪ encompassed with a ditch by william longcamp bishop of ely , enlarged by king henry the third , fortified by king edward the fourth , beautified by king richard the third , repaired by king henry the eighth , since whose time no considerable addition thereunto . the morter thereof ( to make it bel●…ke the more tenacious ) was , saith my * author , tempered with the blood of beasts , and this tower was built to secure london in both senses , to 〈◊〉 or defend it , as occasion should require . it is a palace , a prison , a liberty , a town , a castle , and what not ? most remarkable for the armory , mint , ward-robe and [ formerly ] the unicorns-horn therein . armory . i place this before the mint , because of solon his speech to croesus that he that hath the best steel will command all his gold and silver . here many justly admire at the prodigeous greatnesse of some ancient corslets . if tully , seeing a little man wearing a long sword , said pleasantly , that he was alligatus gladio , tyed to his sword , surely at the sight hereof he would conclude wearers imprisoned in their arms . this hath put men on many conjectures , some collecting hence the strength and stature of the former ages , far above ours . others parrallel them with the shields left by alexander to lye in india , purposely to possesse posterity with an untruth , about the proportion of the persons of his soldiers . if i may interpose my conjecture ( and if he may speak of john of gaunt , who never fought in his armour ) i conceive those arms so signally great , not made to march in ( as too ponderous for any under a gyant ) but to stand therein in a breach where they might be serviceable . nor can a general diminution of mens strength be justly inferred from the disproportion of arms in our and former ages . i say general diminution , seeing all ages even in the same country have produced some of greater some of 〈◊〉 dimensions . for if we compare the common armour used three hundred years since ( and yet extant in the tower ) with ours of modern use , no such sensible difference will be found betwixt them , as should argue an universal decay . it is confessed that their arrows exceeded ours both in bigness and length . but a * learned author 〈◊〉 this rather to their continual practice in shooting from their infancy , then to their strength and stature : so that it is rather difuse , then disability in our age , that we cannot shoot the like , and since the invention of guns , the light use we make of arrows , have made them the lighter in the making . mint . many of these anciently in most cities and some towns. these afterwards ( as so many spangles in one peice of gold ) were united in the tower. of late it was much imployed to coin the plate of our nation , to make state-mony , whence one said , caesaris effigies nulla est , sed imaginis expers , crux duplex super est dira , gemensque lyra. and another , may their successe , like to their coin appear , send double crosses for their single chear . sure i am , their coin , goeth under a general suspicion of being as bad as their cause . but i hope hereafter , when the question is asked of our coiners , whose image and superscription is this ? it will be returned the caesars of england . ward-robe . this was not that for the kings wearing apparel , or live●…es of servants kept elsewhere in an house so called , in the parish of st. andrews ward robe , but for vests or robes of state , with rich carpets , canopies and hangings to be used on great solemnities . here lately was a rich peice * of arras , presenting the sea-fight in eighty eighth , and having the living portractures of the chiefest commanders , wrought in the borders thereof . on the same token , that a * captain , who highly prized his own service , missing his picture therein , complained of the injury to his friend , professing of himself that he merited a place there , as well as some therein remembred , seeing he was ingaged in the middle of the fight . be content ( quoth his friend ) thou hast been an old pirate , and art reserved for another hanging . there were also kept in this place , the ancient cloaths of our english kings , which they wore on great festivals ; so that this ward robe was in effect a library for antiquaries , therein to read the mode and fashion of garments in all ages . these king james , in the beginning of his reign , gave to the earl of dunbar , by whom they were sold , resold , and re-re-resold at as many hands almost as briarius had , some gaining vast estates thereby . the unicorns-horn . amongst the many precious rarities in the tower , this ( as another in windsor-castle ) was in my memory , shown to people . it belongs not to me to enquire , what is become of them , but rather to discuss , . whether there be such a creature as an unicorn . . what kind of animal it is ? . what the fashion and colour of his horn. . what the use & effect . of his horn. for the first , they produce a weak proof , who alledge them to be the supporters of the scottish-arms , and of the arms of some english gentlemen , particularly of the family of paris in cambridge-shire ; seeing most heralds wear the addition of painters , and the fancy of painters pretends to the priviledge of a lawlesse liberty . but , besides that it is uncivil to give the lye to a common tradition , the former existence of such a creature ( and surely no species is wholly lost ) is cleared from several places of scripture , * god hath as it were the strength of an unicorn . * will the unicorn be willing to serve thee ? * my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn , &c. true it is , the word in the * original importeth nothing of any horn therein ( as doth the latin unicornis , and the greek monoceros ) yet i am confident it is right rendred , because it is so rendred . such was the learning and piety of the persons imployed in that translation . proceed we now to the second quaere about the kind thereof . surely it is distinct from the rhinoceros ( carrying a horn not on his forehead but on his nose ) because the exaltation of his horn is not considerable , as not bunching forth much above a foot in the prominency thereof . he is commonly pictured , bodyed like a buck , with a horn advanced out of his forehead , some two yards in proportion , and this his picture confuteth his picture , seeing generally he is held to be no beast of prey , but which feedeth on the grass , and if so , his mouth cannot meet with the ground ; the interposition of his horn so fancifully fixed , making so great distance betwixt them . the plain truth is , i , who first questioned whether there were any unicorns , am since convin●…ed that there are so many sorts of them , the indian oxe , the indian asse , the o●…yx , &c. famous for carrying one horn , but which is the prize in this lottery i cannot decide , seeing none alive in our land have seen a four footed beast of that kind , and julius scaliger saith truly , ex libris colligere quae prodider unt authores longe est periculosissimum ; rerum ipsarum cognitio vera è rebus ipsis est . olaus worme , one no lesse a curious inquirer into the mysteries , then careful preserver of the rarities of nature , physician at this day to the king of denmark , in a learned work which he lately set forth endevoureth to prove all under a general mistake , who fancy a unicorn a four footed beast , proving the same to be a fish in the northern seas , of . foot in length , a long horn in his forehead ( no more cumbersome in the portage , then ears are to other beasts ) with which horn he tilteth at his prey , and having pierced it through , doth afterward feed upon it . if it be objected to the contrary , that in * scripture he is ranked amongst the qua●… ; and the unicorns shall come down with them , and the bullocks with the bulls , and their land shall be soaked with blood , and their dust made fat with fatnesse ; it will be answered , that unicorns there are not real , but metaphorical ( rendred appellatively robusti in some translations ) importing that strong enemies both by water and land , shall invade idumaea to the utter destruction thereof . come we now to the fashion and colour of the horn , conceiving it no considerable controversie concerning the length and bignesse thereof , quantity not varying the kind in such cases . some are plain , as that in st. marks in venice ; others wreathed about , as that at st. dyonis neer paris , with anfractuous spires , and cocleary turnings about it , which probably is the effect of age , those wreaths being but the wrinkles of most vivacious unicorns . the same may be said of the colour , white , when newly taken from his head ; yellow , like that lately in the tower of some hundred years seniority , but whether or no it will ever turn black , as that of aelians and plinies description , let others decide . the last quaere remains of the virtue of this horn , which some exalt so high , that it is not only antidotal to several venomes , and substances destructive by their qualities , which we can command our selves to believe ; but also that it resisteth poysons which kill by second qualities , that is , by corrosion of parts ; wherein i concur with my learned * author , and doubt such exceed the properties of its nature , and the promises of experiment will not secure the adventure ; and i believe few mountebanks will be so daring as to poyson themselves on the security of such an alexipharmacon . i have done reader with this subject , when i have told thee that two of my worthy friends ( yea , the friends to mankind by their general generosity ) dr. baldwin hamey and sir francis prugean , the one had the horn it self ( which to my dim eyes at some distance seemed like a taper of wreathed waxe ) the other hath the socket ( as i may term it ) of the fish , into which this horn was fixed . i have heard , that upon experiment , a great cure against poyson hath been done with some grains the●…erof ; and it is improbable that the vigour of the vigour of nature , should extrude that so specious to sight , which is not also soveraign to service . since i am informed that the same dr. hamey , hath parted with the propriety thereof to the colledge of physicians , and they have solemnly presented this unicorns horn to his majesty , to supply the place of that in the tower , which our civil wars have embeseled . proverbs . a london jury , hang half and save half . ] some affirm this of an essex , others of a middlesex jury , and my charity believes it equally true , that is , equally untrue of all three : what gave first occasion to this libelling proverb i know not ; this i know , reports of this nature , like round bodies , down precepices , once m●…ved move themselves , and a mouse may stir what a man cannot stay in this kind . the best is , though none can hinder a slanderer from speaking , they may hinder them from speaking truth . this proverb would fain suggest to credulous people , as if londoners frequently impannelled on juries , and loaded with multiplicity of matters , aim more at dispatch then justice , and to make quick riddance ( though no hast to hang true men ) acquit half and condemn half . thus ●…hey divide themselves in aequilibrio , betwixt justice and mercy , though it were meet the latter should have the more advantage , and the beam break on the pitiful side . others extend this proverb also to their arbitrations betwixt party and party ; as if not minding the merits of the cause , they cleave the thing controverted into equal moities betwixt plainuff and defendant . the falsnesse of these suggestions will appear to such , who by perusing history do discover the london jurors most consciencious in proceeding secundum allegata & probata , always inclining to the merciful side in saving life , when they can find any cause or colour for the same , and amongst many thousands take two most memorable instances . the first , sir nicholas throgmorton , who on the of april . was ( in the reign of queen mary ) arraigned for high treason in guildhall , before sir thomas white lord maior , the earls of shrewsbury and derby , sir thomas bromley lord cheif justice , &c. mr. edward griffin the attorney general , pressed the prisoner very sorely for his correspondency with the carews in the west , and his being privy to the rising of sir thomas wyat. sir nicholas pleaded many hours for himself , no lesse stoutly then wisely , yet with due submission to the conrt , till at last his jury passed upon him , whose names ad perpetuam rei memoriam are here inserted . * . wheston . . lucar . . yoong . . martin . . beswike . . barscarfeld . . kightleie . . low. . painter . . banks . . calthrop . . cater . these acquitted the prisoner , and though much menaced by the court , stood stoutly to their verdict , for which they were all imprisoned , five * of them fined , and paid . l. a peice , the rest lower sums , and after their discharge from durance , commanded to attend the council table at an * hours warning . the other is of a person who was lately arraigned in guildhall , and whom i list not to name , partly because he is easily guessed , partly because he was of so turbulent a spirit , that his name would set all my book at dissention . he being charged with what concerned his life , was by an uncorrupted jury , though heavily pressed to the contrary , clearly acquitted , and one passage ( omitted in his printed tryal ) i must here insert . speaking his farewell to the jury now ready to depart the bar , he requested them to remember a statute in the reign of king henry the seventh , as making much in his behalf . sirrah , said one judge on the bench to this prisoner , i know that statute better then you do ; to whom he calmly replyed , i believe you sir , but i desire that these gentlemen of the jury should understand it but as well as i do ; and so it seems they did , for his life was saved thereby . a fool will not part with his bawble for the tower of london . ] this tower anciently was ( and in part still is ) the magazine of englands wealth . there the silver , the mint of money , and there the brasse and iron to defend it , the armory and store-house of ordnance ; yet fools so doat on their darling fancies , that they prize them above all this treasure . but alass ! quod scribimus , & legimus , & ridemus , hoc facimus ; we do our selves what we deride in others . every one is addicted to some vanity or other , which he will not part with on any conditions , so weak and wilful we are by nature . he that will not freely and sadly confess that he is much a fool , is all a fool. london lick penny. ] the countryman coming up hither by his own experience will easily expound the meaning thereof . the best is , it is also london get penny , to those who live here , and carefully follow their vocations . london cockneys . ] let us observe first the antiquity of this proverb , then the meaning ; lastly , the application thereof to londoners . it is more then four hundred years old ; for when hugh bigot , added artificial fortifications to the natural strength of his castle at bungey in suffolk , he gave out this rhime , therein vaunting it for impregnable ; were i in my castle of bungey , upon the river of waveney , i would ne care for the king of * cockeney . meaning thereby king henry the second , then peaceably possessed of london whilest some other places did resist him , though afterwards he so humbled this hugh , that he was fain with large sums of money , and pledges for his loyalty , to redeem this his castle from being razed to the ground . i meet with a double sense of this word cockeney , some taking it for , . one coaks'd or cockered , made a wanton or nestle-cock of , delicately bred and brought up , so that when grown men or women , they can endure no hardship , nor comport with pains taking . . one utterly ignorant of husbandry , and huswifery , such as is practiced in the country , so that they may be perswaded any thing about rural commodities , and the original thereof , and the tale of the citizens son , who knew not the language of cock , but call'd it neighing is commonly known . here i take no notice of his * fancy who will have it called cockney by transposition , quasi incoct , raw and rude , as forc'd and far fetch'd . the name is generally fix'd on such who are born within the sound of bow-bell , and are tender enough , and sufficiently ignorant in country businesses . one merrily perswaded a she citizen , that seeing malt did not grow , the good huswifes in the countrey did spin it ; i knew as much said the cockney , for one may see the threds hang out at the ends thereof . however , be it known unto all people , that as there are delicate and silly folk in the countrey ; so are there as hardy men and skilful huswives in the city , no disparagement to any of what place soever . ane ill word meets another , and it were at the bridge of london . ] this is a scottish * proverb , and indeed a scottish text needs a scottish comment thereon . however , i thus guesse at the meaning thereof ; london-bridge is notoriously known for a narrow passe , and numerous passengers , so that people meeting thereon , a quarrel will quickly be engendred , if one of them hath not the wit or patience , to step into a shop , if on foot ; if on horseback to stay in the void places . thus words quickly enflame a difference , except one of the parties have the discretion of silence , yeilding or departure . billings-gate language . ] billings was formerly a gate , though now rather portus then porta , being the prime landing place , and market for some sea commodities . now , although as fashionable people live there , as elsewhere in the city , yet much rude folk repair thither , so that one may term this the esculine gate of london , from the drosse and dregs of the baser people flocking thither . here one may hear linguas jurgatrices ; yea shrewd words are sometimes improved into smart blows betwixt them . i doubt not , but that rome , venice , paris , and all populous cities have their billings-gate language , in those places where rude people make their rendezvouz . kirbies castle , and megses glory . spinolas pleasure , and fishers folly. ] these were four houses about the city , built by citizens , large and sumptuous above their estates , whose memories are likely longer to continue by this rhime , then by their own pompous buildings . the fi●…st of these is so uncastelled , the glory of the second so obscured , that very few know ( and it were needlesse to tell them ) where these houses were fixed . as for spinola ( a genoan made free-denizon ) the master and fellows of a colledge in cambridge , know too well what he was , by their expensive suit known to posterity , by magdalen colledge case . if his own countrey ( i mean the italian ) curse did overtake him , and if the plague of building did light upon him , few i believe did pity him . as for the last , it was built by jasper fisher , free of the goldsmiths , one of the six clerks in chancery , and a justice of peace , who , being a man of no great wealth ( as indebted to many ) built here a beautiful house , with gardens of pleasure , and bouling alleys about it , called devonshire house at this day . however , it seems this was an ancient vanity , even in the days of king david , their inward thought is , that their houses shall continue for ever , and their dwelling places to all generations : they call their lands after their own names . he will follow him like a st. anthonies pig . ] st. anthonie is notoriously know for the patron of hogs , having a pig for his page in all pictur●…s , though for what reason unknown , except , because being an hermit , and having a cell or hole , digged in the earth , and having his generall repast on roots , he and hogs did in some sort entercommon both in their diet and lodging . there was a fair hospital built to the honour of st. anthony , in bennets fink in this city . the protectors and proctors whereof claimed a priviledge to themselves , to garble the live pigs in the markets of the city , and such as they found starved , or otherwise unwholsom for mans sustenance , they would slit in the ear , tie a * bell about their necks , and let them loose about the city . none durst hurt or take them up ( having this livery of st. anthony upon them ) but many would give them bread , and feed them in their passage , whom they used to follow whining after them . but , if such pigs proved fat , and well liking ( as often they did ) the officers of st. anthonies hospital would seize on them for their own use . the proverb is appliable to such , who have servile saleable souls , who for a small reward , will lack-wey many miles , pressing their patrons with their unwelcome importunity . he was born within the sound of bow-bell . ] this is the periphrasis of a londoner at large , born within the suburbs thereof ; the sound of this bell exceeding the extent of the lord maiors mace. it is called bow-bell , because hanging in the steeple of bow-church , and bow-church because built on bows or arches . * john dun mercer , gave , two tenements to maintain the ringing of this bell nightly at nine a clock , which sounded to servants a retreat from their work , and a march to their supper and bed ; and therefore conceived by some masters to ring too soon , by most apprentices too late . william copland the kings merchant about the year . gave a bigger bell for the same purpose , and had the hansel thereof himself , being first rang as a knell at his burial . — st. peters in the poor . where no tavern alehouse or sign at the dore. ] under correction i conceive it called in the poor , because the augustinian friers professing wilful poverty , for some hundred of years , possessed more than a moiety thereof . but as one gave for his motto malim dives esse quam haberi ; this parish may say malim pauper vocari quam esse , which ever was ( not to say is ) one of the richest in london , which their signlesse houses doe avouch , being a sign of the eminency of their inhabitants , ubi quisque sui ipsius index , sufficiently notified and distinguished by themselves . how ancient the use of signs in this city on private houses is to me unknown , sure i am , it was generally used in the reign of king edward the fourth , witnesse that dear jest of a well meaning citizen , who lost his life in those dangerous times for saying he would leave the crown to his son. i suspect this proverb is lately a little discomposed , and that some publick houses for entertainment have stept or crept into this parish . to dine with duke humphrey . ] this proverb hath altered the original meaning thereof . for first it signified aliena vivere quadra , to eat by the bounty , or feed by the favour of another man. for humphrey duke of gloucester ( commonly called the good duke ) was so hospital , that every man of fashion , otherwise unprovided , was welcome to dine with him . it not being so proper for strangers to sup in those dayes , with the greatest house keepers . the said duke was so bountiful , that his * alms-dish of silver , was very massie when empty ( what then when full ; ) which alms-dish came afterwards into the possession of the duke of somerset , who sent it to the lord rivers , to sell the same to furnish himself for a sea-voyage . but after the death of good duke humphrey , ( when many of his former alms-men were at a losse for a meals meat ) this proverb did alter its copy , to dine with duke humphrey , importing , to be dinnerlesse . a general mistake fixed this sense , namely , that duke humphrey was buryed in the body of st. pauls church , where many men chaw their meat with feet , and walk away the want of a dinner ; whereas indeed that noble person interred in st. pauls , was sir * john beauchamp constable of dover , warden of the cinque ports , knight of the garter , son to guy earl of warwick , and brother to thomas earl of warwick , whilst duke humphrey was honourably buried in st. albans . i will use you as bad as a jew . ] i am sure i have carried the child home , and layed it at the fathers house , having traced this proverb by the tract from england in general to london , thence to the old jury , whence it had its first original ; that poor nation ( especially on shrove-tuesday ) being intollerably abused by the english , whilst they lived in the land. i could wish , that wheresoever the jews live , they may not find so much courtesie as to confirm them in their false , yet not so much cruelty as to discourage them from the true religion ; till which time i can bemone their misery , condemn the christians cruelty , and admire gods justice in both . see we it here now fulfilled , which god long since * frequently foretold , and threatned , namely that he would make the jews become a proverb , if continuing rebellious against him . i passe not for the flouts of prophane pagans , scoffing at the jews religion , * credat judaeus apella , but to behold them thus proverbiascere , for their rebellions against god , minds me of the performance of gods threatning unto them . good manners to except my lord maior of london . ] this is a corrective for such , whose expressions are of the largest size , and too general in their extent , parallel to the logick maxime ; primum in unoquoque genere est excipiendum , as too high to come under the roof of comparison . in some cases it is not civil to fill up all the room in our speeches of our selves , but to leave an upper place voyd , as a blank reserved for our betters . i have dined as well as my lord maior of london . ] that this proverb may not crosse the former , know , that as well is not taken for as dubiously or daintily , on variety of costly dishes , in which kinds , the lord maior is paramount for magnificence . for ( not to speak of his solemn invitations , as when henry pickard , lord maior . did in one day entertain a * messe of kings , edward king of england , john king of france , david king of scots , and the king of cyprus , besides edward prince of wales , and many prime noble-men of the land ) his daily dinners , are feasts both for plenty , guests and attendants . but the proverb hath its modest meaning , i haue dined as well , that is , as comfortable , as contentedly , according to the rule ; satis est quod sufficit , enough is as good as a feast , and better then a surfeit , and indeed nature is contented with a little , and grace with lesse . as old as pauls steeple . ] different are the dates of the age thereof , because it had two births or beginnings . for if we count it from the time wherein it was originally co-founded by k. ethelbert , with the body of the church , anno six hundred and ten , then it is above a thousand and forty years of age. but if we reckon it from the year . when burnt with lightning from heaven , and afterwards rebuilt by the bishops of london ; it is not above five hundred years old . and though this proverb falls far short of the latine ones , antiquius arcadibus , antiquius saturno : yet serveth it sufficiently to be returned to such , who pretend those things to be novell , which are known to be stale , old , and almost antiquated . he is only fit for ruffians-hall . ] a ruffian is the same with a swaggerer , so called , because endevouring to make that side to swag or weigh down , whereon he ingageth . the same also with swash-buckler , from swashing , or making a noise on bucklers . west-smith-field ( now the horse-market ) was formerly called * ruffians-hall , where such men met casually and otherwise , to try masteries with sword and buckler . moe were frighted then hurt , hurt then killed therewith , it being accounted unmanly to strike beneath the knee , because in effect it was as one armed against a naked man. but since that desperate traitor rowland yorke * first used thrusting with rapiers , swords and bucklers are disused , and the proverb only appliable to quarrelsome people ( not tame , but wild barretters ) who delight in brawls and blows . a loyal heart may be landed under traitors bridge . ] this is a bridge under which is an entrance into the tower ( over against pink gate ) formerly fatal to those who landed there , there being a muttering that such never came forth alive , as dying ( to say no worse ) therein , without any legal tryal . the proverb importeth , that passive innocence overpower'd with adversaries , may be accused without cause , and disposed at the pleasure of others ; it being true of all prisoners , what our saviour said to and of st. * peter , another shall carry thee whither thou wouldst not . queen elizabeth may be a proofe hereof , who in the reign of queen mary her sister , first stayed and denyed to land at those stairs , where all traytors and offenders customably used to land , till a lord ( which my * author would not , and i cannot name ) told her she should not choose , and so she was forced accordingly . to cast water into the thames . ] that is , to give to them w●…o had plenty before ; which notwithstanding is the dole general of the world. yet let not thames be proud of his full and fair stream , seeing water may be wanting therein , as it was anno . the fourth of william rufus , when men might walk over * dryshod ; and again * anno . a strong wind lying west and by south , which forced out the fresh and kept back the salt-water . he must take him a house in * turn-again lane. ] this in old records is called * wind-again lane , and lyeth in the parish of st. sepulchres , going down to fleet-dike , which men must turn again the same way they came , for there it is stopped . the proverb is applied to those , who sensible that they embrace destructive courses , must seasonably alter their manners , which they may do without any shame to themselves ; it is better to come back through turn-again ( though a narrow and obscure ) lane , then to go ( on an ill account ) straight forwards in a fair street hard by , whence , vestigia nulla retrorsum , as leading westward to execution . he may whet his knife on the threshold of the fleet. ] the fleet is a place notoriousl●… known for a prison , to which many are committed for their contempts , more for their debts . so called it is from a brook running by , as that ( of tygris in armenia ) from its former fleetnesse , though now it creepeth flow enough , not so much for age ; as the injection of city excrements wherewith it is so obstructed . the proverb is appliable to those who never owed ought , or else having run into debt have crept out of it , so that now they may defie danger and arrests , yea may triumphare in hostico , laugh in the face of the serjeants . surely the threshold of the fleet so used , setteth a good edge on the knife , and a better on the wearer thereof , acting him with a spirit free from all engagements . all goeth down gutter-lane . there is a small lane ( inhabited anciently by gold-beaters ) leading out of cheapside , east of foster-lane , which orthography presents to the reader by the name of * guthurun-lane , from him the once owner thereof . but common people ( we must speak with the volge and think with the wise ) call it guttur lane , pleading for their mispronouncing it , that the narrow form thereof is like the throat or gullet , and such a one would have pleased apitius the epicure , who wished to himself tricubitale guttur . the proverb is appliable to those who spend all in drunkennesse and gluttony , meer belly-gods , whom the * philosopher called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : i confesse the word both in sound and sense , hath some affinity with that of st. pauls of the * gretians , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , idle-bellyes , save that our gastrimargi are far worse , so named from the meer madnesse and distraction of their appetite . as lame as st. giles criple-gate . ] st. giles was by ●…irth an athenian , of noble extraction and great estate , but quitted all for a solitary life . he was visited with a lamenesse ( whether natural or casual i know not ) but the tradition goes , that he desired not to be healed thereof for his greater mortification : if so , his judgement differed from all the good lame-men in the gospel , importunate for ease from their infirmity . he is accompted the patron of criples ; and whereas churches dedicated to other saints of better footmanship , get the speed of him and come into the city , generally lame st. giles laggeth behind in the suburbs , as in london , cambridge , salisbury , &c. criplegate was so called before the * conquest , from criples begging of passengers therein . and indeed they may prescribe for their custome , ever since the lame-man begged an alms of ●…eter and iohn at the beautiful gate of the temple . this proverb may seem guilty of false herauldry , lamenesse on lamenesse , and in common discourse , is spoken rather merrily then mournfully of such , who for some light hurt , lagg behind , and sometimes is applied to those , who out of lazinesse ( none so lame as they that will not go ) counterfeit infirmity . you are all for the hoistings , or hustings . ] it is spoken of those who by pride or passion are mounted or elated to a pitch above the due proportion of their birth , quality , or estate ; such as are all in altitudinibus , so that common persons know not how to behave themselves unto them . it cometh from hustings , the principal and highest court in london , ( as also in winchester , lincolne , york , &c. ) so called from the french word haulser , to raise or lift up . the mention of the hustings , a court so called , mindeth me of another court , called the court of hall-mote , and i am resolved to run the hazard of the reader 's anger with this my digression , to rectifie a mistake in some , and prevent it in others . sir edward coke , institut . . part . cap. . this is derived of hall and mote , as much as to say , the hall court , id est , conventus civium in aulam publicam ; every company in london having a hall wherein they kept their courts , and this court antiently called hall-mote , or folk-mote . with whom verbatim concurreth ( who would not willingly dissent from him in point of common-law ) the learned doctor cowel in his interpreter . but let all take heed that they confound not this court , with another more antient , ( and more proper for the cognizance of the pen of a divine ) viz. haly-mote court , being a court derived from haly , which is holy , and mote a meeting , being an assembly kept before the lord mayor and sheriffs , for the regulation of the company of the bakers in london , ( wherein the staffe of bread , and therein the life of the poor is so much concerned ) formerly kept on the lords day , ( whence it took its name ) before the feast of st. thomas . but a court of common-councell 〈◊〉 . the th . . altered that court , until the thursday before st. thomas's day , as since by a later act of the same councel , it is removed unto the monday before the said festival . the antient title of this court ranne as followeth ; curia sancti-motus tenta in guilhaldea civitatis london . coram majore , & vicecomitibus civitatis london . die dominico proximo ante festum st. thomae apostoli , ad horam sextam , ante meridiem ejusdem diei , secundum consuetudinem civitatis london . such who are learned in the lawes , and are pleased to reflect on the name of my author * and worthy friend on the margin , will not in the least degree suspect the truth hereof . before i come to enroll the list of the worthies of this city , i premise the words londinas and londinensis , as some have curiously stated their senses , according to whose fancy , . londinas signifieth one born in london wheresoever he doth live . . londinensis   one living in   wheresoever he was born . could this be made a truth , this distinction would be very serviceable to me in this work ; but it will not hold water , finding on due enquiry , that by the best criticks , both are used promiscuously for an●… , either born , or living in that city , save , that londinas ( answering to the question cujas ) signifieth persons alone , whilst londinensis importeth either persons or things relating to that city , as turris londinensis , pons londinensis , &c. princes . katherine third daughter of k. henry the third , and q. eleanor , was born at * london , anno dom. . november the th . being st. katherins day , whose name was therefore given unto her at the font , by boniface archbishop of canterbury , her uncle and godfather . she dyed in her very infancy , on whom we will presume to bestow this epitaph . wak't from the wombe , she on this world did peep , dislik tit , clos'd her eyes , fell fast asleep . she lyeth interr'd at westminster , in the space betwixt the chappels of king edward and st. bennet . joan eldest daughter , and third child of k. edward the second , and q. isabel , was born in the * tower of london , about the year . she was afterward married to david the second , k. of scotland , continuing his wife twenty eight yeares . this was she ( * as i conceive ) who was commonly called joan make-peace ; ( and we know blessed are the peace makers ) improving her power ( though sometimes with small successe ) to do good offices betwixt the two kingdomes . coming into england to visit her brother k. edward the third , she deceased here without issue , anno . and lyeth buried in gray-friers london . it will not be amiss in reference to her name , here to observe , that joan ( which is feminine to john ) was a frequent name in the royal family of england , as also amongst foreign princes ; and no wonder , seeing we find a worthy woman of that name , * benefactresse to our saviour himself . however , seeing in later times it hath been counted but a course and homely name , and some proverbs of contempt have been cast thereon : it hath since been m ollified into jane , ( sounding finer it seemes to an english eare ) though this modern name will hardly be found in any english writer three hundred yeares ago . katherine , youngest daughter to k. henry the . and elizabeth his queen , was born in the tower of london , on the day of february , anno dom. . deceasing few dayes after . it is a sad ( and probably too true an ) account , of an antient man , which is given in his epitaph , * here lies the man was born , and cry'd , liv'd sixty yeares , fell sick , and dy'd . what was a bad character of his aged unprofitablenesse , is a good one of this infant ladies innocence , of whom we know nothing , save that she sucked , fell sick and deceased . only let me adde , she was the last princesse born in the tower ; our english kings hereafter removing their residence to bridewel and white-hall , and using the tower not so much as a palace for the state , as prison for the strength thereof . anna bollen , daughter of the lord thomas bollen earl of wiltshire , was ( as some of her honourable relations still surviving do conjecture ) born in london , and became second wife to k. henry th . indeed he passionately affected her , when but a lords daughter , but did not marry her till she was a princesse ; created by him marchionesse of pembroke , partly to make her the more proportionable match , and partly to try how she would become a ●…oronet , before she wore a crown . the papists much disparage her memory ( malice will lye , or must be dumb ) making all her wit to consist in boldnesse , her beauty in a french garb and her modesty in a cunning ●…oynesse ; whereas indeed she was a lady accomplished in body , ( was it likely k. henry would love what was not lovely ? ) and vertuous in mind , and , whilst a favourite of the kings , a favourer of all good men , and great promoter of the gospel . the inconstancy of her husbands affections , is conceived by most moderate men , ( what else soever was pretended ) her chiefest crime , and cause of her death , which happened anno . katherine howard , daughter to the lord edmond howard , son to thomas duke of norfolk , was ( though her father had large lands and houses in many places ) probably born in london , and at last became fifth wife to k. henry the eighth . such as desire to know the names , number and successe of all six , may conceive k. henry thus speaking on his death bed , three kates , two nans , and one dear jane i wedded , one spanish , one dutch , and four english wives , from two i was divorc'd , two i beheaded , one died in childbed , and one me survives . of this katherine howard little is reported , and yet too much , if all be true , of her incontinency , which cost her her life . the greatest good the land got by this match , was a general leave to marry cousin-germans , formerly prohibited by the canon , and hereafter permitted by the common-law ; a door of lawful liberty left open by god in scripture , shut by the pope for his private profit , opened again by the king , first , for his own admittance , ( this katherine being cousin-german to anna bollen , his former wife ) and then for the service of such subjects , as would follow him upon the like occasion . this lady was beheaded anno domini . saints . not to speak of st. sedd born in this city , * and afterwards bishop thereof , of whom we find nothing reported , save that he was very instrumental to the converting of the mercians ; we begin with wulsine who was born in this * city , of worthy parents , breeding him up in the devotion of that age ; and became a benedictine monk , till at last by his fast friend st. dunstan , he was preferred , first abbot of westminster , whence he was afterwards removed to be bishop of sherburne in dorsetshire . a mighty champion he was for a monastical life , and therefore could not be quiet till he had driven all the secular priests out of sherburne , and substituted monks in their room . i read not of any miracle done by him either whilst living , or when dead , save , that in the juncture of both , he is said with st. stephen to have seen heavens opened , &c. he had contracted great intimacy with one egeline , a virtuous knight , who died on the same day with him , and he injoyned his monks that they should both be buried in one grave ; their joynt death happened january the th . anno . thomas becket , son to gilbert becket merchant , and maud his wife , was born in this city , in the place where now mercers-chappel is erected . i have , reader , been so prodigal in the large description of his life , in my ecclesiastical history , that i have no new observable left to present you with . onely when i consider of the multitude of vows , made by superstitious pilgrims to his sbrine ( where the stones were hallowed with their bended knees ) i much admire at their will-worship , no vowes appearing in scripture but what were made to god alone . and therefore most impudent is the attempt of those papists , tampering to corrupt holy writ , in favour of such vowes , reading in the vulgar latine , prov. . . ruina est homini devotare sanctos , & post vota retractare . instead of ruina est homini devorare sancta , & post vota retractare . it is a snare to a man who often maketh vowes to saints , and after vowes retracteth them . it is a snare to a man who devoureth that which is holy , and after vowes to make enquiry . this becket was slain ( as is notoriously known ) on innocents-day , in his own church of canterbury , . martyrs . william sautre , aliàs chatris , parish-priest of the church of st. osiths london , was the first englishman that was put to death by fire , for maintaining the opinions of wicliffe . in the primitive times ( pardon reader , no impertinent digression ) such the lenity and tendernesse of the fathers of the church , towards hereticks , that , contenting themselves with condemning their blasphemous opinions , they proceeded to no penalty on their persons . yea , in after ages , when the christian * emperour would have punisht the furious donatists with a pecunlary mulct , the holy men of those times so earnestly interceded , as to procure the remission . and st. augustine himself , who was most zealous in his writing against those donatists , * professeth he had rather be himself slain by them , than by detecting them , be any cause they should undergoe the punishment of death . whereas henceforward in england , many were brought to the fire by the bishops , and others of the clergy , whose opinions were neither so blasphemous , nor deportment so inhumane as ancient hereticks . i confesse not onely simple heresie was charged on this sautre , but also a relapse thereinto after abjuration , in which case such is the charity of the canon-law , that such a person is , * seculari judicio sine ulla penitus audientia relinquendus , not affording any audience to one relapsed , though he should revoke his opinions . quite contrary to the charitable judgement of st. chrysostome who sticked not to say , * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; if thou fall a thousand times , and repent thee of thy folly , come boldly into the church . there is some difference amongst authors , about the legal proceedings against this sautre , by what power he was condemned to dye : * walsingham will have him die during the sitting of the parliament secundo henrici quarti , by vertue of the law then made against hereticks . others will have him put to death , not by any statute-law then made , but as convicted in a provincial councel of the archbishop of canterbury . the latter seemeth most true , because the writ de haeretico comburendo , ( sent down by the advice of the lords temporal , to the mayor of london , to cause his execution ) bare date the of february ; whereas it was ordered in that * parliament , that the penal statutes made therein , should not take effect till after vvhitsontide . but , by what power soever it was done , poor sautre was burnt in smithfield , about the of february , . one criticisme of cruelty and hypocrisie is most remarkable . the close of the archbishops sentence of degradation , when sautre was committed over to the secular * court , endeth with this expression , beseeching the court aforesaid , that they will receive favourably the said william unto them thus recommitted . we are much beholding to baronius , for the better understanding this passage , * informing us that it was ever fashionable with their clergy to this day , that when they consigne an heretick over to the secular for execution , they effectually intercede that he may not be punished with death . for , it appeareth in prosper , that bishops were excommunicated an. . for being accusers of priscilian ( the first heretick who was confuted with steel ) that age conceiving all tendency to cruelty , utterly inconsistent with clerical profession . and hence it was , thinks the aforesaid baronius , that this custome was taken up , of the clergie's mock-mercy , in their dissembled mediation for condemned hereticks . i say dissembled : for , if the lay , having them in his power , shall defer the doing of it more than ordinary , it is the constant tenet of the canonists , ( relying on a bull of alexander the th . . ) he is to be compell'd unto it by spiritual censures . we have been the larger upon this sautre's death , because he was the english protestant ( pardon the prolepsis ) proto-martyr . but every son must not look to be an heir , we will be shorter on the rest in this city , contenting our selves with their bare names , except some extraordinary matter present it self to our observation . john badby was an artificer in black friars in london , condemned , and burned in smithfield , about . henry prince of vvales ( afterwards king henry the th . ) happened to be present at his execution , who not onely promised him pardon on his recantation , but also a stipend out of the kings treasury , sufficient for his support ; all which badby refused . he was put into an empty tun , ( a ceremony of cruelty peculiar to him alone ) and the fire put therein . at the first feeling thereof , he cryed * mercy , mercy , begging it of the god of heaven , which noble prince henry mistook for a kind of revocation of his opinions , and presently caused the fire round about him to be quenched , renewing his promises unto him with advantage , which badby refused the second time , and was martyred . but reader , i will engage no deeper in this copious subject , lest i lose my self in the labyrinth thereof . * joseph left off to number the corn in egypt , for it was without number ; the cause alone of my desisting in this subject . yea , bloudy bonner had murdered many more , had not that hydropical humor which quenched the life of queen mary , extinguished also the fires in smithfield . prelates . here in this city we are at a greater losse , as to this topick , than in any shire in england : for in vain it is for any man to name himself thomas of london , john of london , &c. such sirnames not reaching their end , nor attaining their intention , viz. 〈◊〉 diversifie the person , the laxity of so populous a place leaving them as unspecified as it found them . we therefore have cause to believe , that many clergy-men both bishops and writers born in this city , did not follow suit with others of their coat , to be named from the place of their nativity , but from their fathers , the reason why we can give so slender an account of them as followeth . simon of gaunt , was born in this city , * ( his mother being an english woman , his father a flemming ) and being bred in good literature , became so famous , that by king edward the first he was preferred bishop of salisbury , . he gave the first leave to the citizens thereof , to fortifie that place with a deed ditch , partly remaining , and a strong wall wholly demolished at this day . now seeing good laws are the best walls of any foundation , no lesse was his care for the church , than city of salisbury , making good statutes , whereby it was ordered even unto our age . he dyed about the year . john kite , was born in * london , bred in oxford , sent embassadour into spain , made a grecian titulary arch bishop , ( receiving thence as much profit , as men shear wool from hogs ) and at last the real bishop of carlisle : yet is his epitaph in the church of stepney neither good english , latine , spanish or greek , but a barbarous confusion , as followeth , under this stone closyd & marmorate lveth john 〈◊〉 , londoner naciste . encreasing invirtues rose to hyghestate in the fourth edwards chappel by his yong life sith which the seuinth henries service primatife proceeding still in virtuous efficase to be in favour with this our kings grase . with witt endewyed chosen to be legate , sent into spain , where he right joyfully combined both princes in pease most amate . in grece archbishop elected worthely and last of carlyel ruling postorally : kepyng nobyl houshold with great hospitality . on thousand fyve hundred thirty and seuyn inuyterate with carys consumed with age , the nineteeth of jun reckonyd full euyn passed to heauyn from worldly pylgramage , of whose soul good peopul of cherite prey , as ye wold be preyd for , for thus must you lye ; ie●…u mercy , lady help . these , if made years ago , had been excusable , but such midnight verses are abominable , made , as it appears , in the dawning of good learning and pure language . yet because some love poetry , either very good or very bad , that if they cannot learn from it , they may laugh at it , they are here inserted . willliam knight , was born in this * city , bred fellow of new-colledge in oxford , on the same token , that there have been ten of his sirname , fellowes of that foundation . he proceeded doctor of law , and a noble * pen makes him secretary to king henry the eighth . sure it is , he was the first person imployed to the pope , to motion to him the matter of his divorce ; advertizing the king , by his weekly dispatches , how slowly his cause , ( though spurred with english gold ) crept on in the court of rome . after his return , the king rewarded his industry , fidelity and ability , with bestowing the bishoprick of bath and wells upon him . in wells ) with the assistance of dean woolman ) he built a stately covered crosse in the market-place , for the glor●… of god , and conveniency of poor people , to secure them from the weather , adding this inscription ; laus deo , pax vivis , requies defunctis . he dyed september . anno . nicolas heath , was born , and had his childhood in the city of london , being noted for one of st. * anthonies pigs therein , ( so were the scholars of that school commonly called , as those of st. pauls , pauls pigeons ) and bred first in * christs-colledge , then fellow of clare-hall in cambridge ▪ by k. henry the eighth ( to whom he was almoner ) he was preferred bishop first of rochester , then of worcester : deprived by k. edward the sixth , restored by q. mary , who advanced him arch-bishop of york , and lord chancelour of england . a moderate man , who would not let the least spark of persecution be kindled in his diocess , if any in his province . in the conference at westminster betwixt papists and protestants , primo elizabethae he was a kind of moderatour , but interposed little . infected b●… his fellow-prisonerpopish-prelates , he could not be perswaded to take the oath of supremacie , for which he was deprived . he led a pious and private life on his own lands ; at cobham in surrey , whither q. elizabeth came often to visit him , and dyed about the year of our lord . since the reformation . john younge d. d. was borne in * cheapside , and bred in pembroke-hall in cambridge , whereof he became master ; hence he was preferred rector of st. giles cripple ▪ gate , and at last bishop of rochester . a constant preacher , and to whose judgement q. elizabeth ascribed much in church matters . better bishopricks were often offered to , and as often refused by him ; particularly , when norwich was proferred him , by one who affirmed it to be a higher seat : bishop young pleasantly returned ; yea , but it is a harder , and not so easie for an old man , since the cushion was taken away from it ; meaning , since dr. scambler had scambled away the revenues thereof . he dyed anno dom. . and lyeth buried at bromly church in kent , where his son most solemnly and sumptuously interred him , though he enjoyned all possible privacy , and on his death-bed forbad all funeral expences . but in such cases it may become the charity and affection of the survivers , to do what beseemes not so well the modesty and discretion of the dying to desire . william cotton d. d. was bon in this city , ( though his infancy was much conversant about finchley in middlesex ) as his * nearest relation hath informed me . he was bred in queens colledge in cambridge , preferred by queen elizabeth , arch-deacon of lewis , and canon residentiary of st. pauls . hence he was advanced and consecrated bishop of ex●…ter , november the . . during his sitting there , mr. snape a second cartwright ( not for abilities but activity ) came out of gersey , and plentifully sowed the seeds of non-conformity in his diocesse , which the vigilancy of this stout and prudent prelate , plucked up by the roots , before they could come ▪ to perfection . in his old age he was apoplectical , which malady deprived him of his speech some dayes before his death ; so that he could only say amen , amen , often reiterated . hereupon some scandalous tongues broached this jeer , that he lived like a bishop , and dyed like a clark , and yet let such men know , that no dying person can use any one word more expressive ; whether it be an invocation of his help in whom all the promises are amen ; or whether it be a submission to the divine providence in all , by way of approbation of former , or option of future things . i will only add and translate his epitaph transcribed from his monument . a paulo ad petrum pia te regina vocavit : whom th' queen from paul to peter did remove : cum petro & paulo coeli rex arce locavit . him god with paul , and peter plac'd above . he lyeth buried in the north-side of the quire of exeter , but his monument is distanced from the place of his interment , in a north-east chappel . his death happened anno domini . lancelot andrevvs d. d. was born in this city in tower street , his father being a seaman of good repute belonging to trinity house . he was bred scholar , fellow and master of pembroke hall in cambridge . he was an unimitable preacher in his way , and such plagiaries who have stolen his sermons could never steal his preaching , and could make nothing of that whereof he made all things as he desired . pious and pleasant bishop felton ( his contemporary and colleague ) indevoured in vain in his sermon to assimulate his style , and therefore said merrily of himself ; i had almost marr'd my own natural trot by endevouring to imitate his artificial amble . but i have spoken largely of this peerlesse prelate in my church-history . he dyed anno dom. . thomas dove d. d. was born in this city , as a * credible person of his nearest relation hath informed me , bred a tanquam , ( which is a fellowes fellow ) in pembroke-hall in cambridge . he afterwards became an eminent preacher , and his sermons substantial in themselves , were advantaged by his comely person and graceful elocution . q. elizabeth highly * affected , and anno . preferred him dean of norwich , advancing him eleven yeares after to the bishoprick of peterborough . he departed this life . in the thirtieth year of his bishoprick , on the thirtieth of august , who kept a good house whilst he lived , and yet raised a family to knightly degree . john howson d. d. was born in st. * frides parish in this city , bred a scholar in st. pauls school , whence going to oxford , he became a student and canon of christ-church , and afterwards was consecrated bishop of oxford , may . . being his * birth-day in his climacterical , then entring upon the year of his age . his learned book , in what case a divorce is lawfull , with his sermons against sacriledge , and stating of the popes supremacy , in sermons , injoyned on him by king james , ( to clear his causelesse aspersion of favouring popery ) and never since replyed unto by the romish party , have made him famous to all posterity . he was afterwards removed to the bishoprick of durham , but continued not long therein ; for he dyed in the year of his age , th of february , anno domini . and was buried in st. pauls in london . john davenant d. d. born in watling-street , was son to john davenant a wealthy citizen , whose father was of davenants lands in essex . when an infant newly able to go , he fell down a high pair of staires , and rising up at the bottome smiled , without having any harme ; god and his good angels keeping him for further service in the church . when a child , he would rather own his own frowardnesse , than anothers flattery , and when soothed up by the servants , that not john but some other of his brothers did cry ; he would rather appear in his own face , than wear their disguise ; returning , that it was none of his brothers , but john only cryed . he was bred first fellow-commoner , then fellow , then margaret profeslor , then master of queens ▪ ●…lledge in cambridge . at a publick election , he gave his negative voice against a near kinsman , and a most excellent * scholar ; cosen ( said he ) i will satisfie your father , that you have worth , but not want enough to be one of our society . returning from the synod of dort , he was elected bishop of sarum , . after his consecration being to perform some personal service to king james at newmarket , , he refused to ride on the lords day , and came ( though a day later to the court ) no lesse welcome to the king , not only accepting his excuse , but also commending his seasonable forbearance . taking his leave of the colledge , and of one john rolfe , an ancient servant thereof , he desired him to pray for him . and when the other modestly returned , that he rather needed his lordships prayers : yea john ( said he ) and i need thine too , being now to enter into a calling wherein i shall meet with many and great temptations . pŕaefuit qui profuit , was the motto written in most of his books , the sense whereof he practised in his conversation . he was humble in himself , and ( the consequence thereof ) charitable to others . indeed once invited by bishop field , and not well pleased with some roisting company there , he embraced the next opportunity of departure after dinner . and when bishop field , proferred to light him with a candle down stairs , my lord , my lord ( said he ) let us lighten others by our unblameable conversation , for which speech some since have severely censured him , how justly i interpose not . but let others unrelated unto him write his character , whose pen cannot be suspected of flattery , which he when living did hate , and dead did not need . we read of the patriarch israel that the time drew nigh , that he * must dye ; must , a necessity of it . such a decree attended this bis●…op happy to dye , before his order ( for a time ) dyed , april . and with a solemn funeral he was buried in his own ●…dral , dr. nicholas ( now dean of st. pauls ) preaching an excellent sermon●…t ●…t his in ▪ terment . mathevv wren d. d. was born in this city ( not far from cheap-side ) but descended ( as appears by his arms ) from the worshipful family of the wrens in northumberland . he was bred fellow of pembroke-hall in cambridge where he kept the extraordinary philosophy act before king james . i say kept it with no lesse praise to himself , then pleasure to the king , where if men should forget , even dogs would remember his seasonable distinction , what the kings hounds could perform above others , by vertue of their prerogative . he afterward became an excellent preacher , and two of his sermons in the university were most remarkable ; one preached before the judges on this text ; * and let judgement run down like waters , and righteousnesse as a mighty stream ; at what time the draining of the fens was designed , suspected detrimental to the univer●…ity : the other when newly returned from attending prince charles into spain , on the words of the psalmist , * abyssus abyssum invocat , one depth calleth another . he was afterwards preferred master of peterhouse , dean of windsor , bishop of norwich and ely : some in the long parliament fell so heavily on him , that he was imprisoned in the tower almost fifteen years , and his cause never heard . surely had the imposers been the sufferers hereof , they would have cryed it up for a high piece of injustice . but as st. * paul had the credit to be brought with intreaties out of prison , by those who sent him thither : so this prelate hath had the honour , that the same parliamentary power ( though not constituted of the same persons ) which committed him , caused his inlargement , still living . statesmen . * sir thomas more was , anno domini born in milkstreet london , ( the 〈◊〉 that ever shined in that via lactea ) sole son to sir john more knight , one of the justices of the kings bench. some have reported him of mean parentage , meerly from a mistake of a modest word , in an epitaph of his own making on his monument in chelsey church . where nobilis is taken not in the civil but common law sense , which alloweth none noble under the degree of barons . thus men cannot be too wary what they inscribe on tombs , which may prove a record ( though not in law , in history ) to posterity . he was bred first in the family of arch-bishop morton , then in canterbury colledge ( now taken into christ church ) in oxford , where he profited more in two , then many in ten years continuance . thence he removed to an inn of chancery called new inn , and from thence to lincolns inn , where he became a double reader . then did his worth prefer him to be judge in the sheriffe of londons court , whilst a pleader in others . and although he only chose such causes which appeared just to his conscience , and never took fee of widow , orphane or poor person ; he gained in those days four hundred pounds per annum . being made a member of the house of commons , he opposed king henry the seventh , about money for the marriage of his daughter margaret : whereat the king was much discontented , when a courtier told him , that a beardlesse boy ( beard was never the true standard of brains ) had obstructed his desires . which king being as certain , but more secret then his son in his revenge , made more the mark of his displeasure , who to decline his anger had travelled beyond the seas , had not the kings going into another world stopped his journey . king henry the eighth coming to the crown , and desirous to ingratiate himself by preferring popular and deserving persons , knighted sir thomas , and made him chancelour of the dutchy of lancaster , the kings personal patrimony . finding him faithfull in lesser matters ( according to the method of the gospel ) he made him in effect ruler of all , when lord chancelour of england ; a place wherein he demeaned himself with great integrity , and with no less expedition . in testimony of the later , it is recorded , that calling for the next cause , it was returned unto him , there are no more to be heard , all suits in that court depending , and ready for hearing , being finally determined . whereon a rhythmer . when more some years had chancelor been , ●…o more suits did remain , the same shall never more be seen , till more be there again . falling into the kings displeasure for not complying with him about the queens divorce , he seasonably resigned his chancellours place , and retired to his house in chelsey , chiefly imploying himself in writing against those who were reputed hereticks . and yet it is observed to his credit ( by his great friend erasmus ) that whilest he was lord chancellor no protestant was put to death , and it appears by some passages in his utopia , that it was against his mind that any should lose their lives for their consciences . he rather soyled his fingers then dirtied his hands in the matter of the holy maid of kent , and well wiped it off again . but his refusing ( or rather not accepting ) the oath of supremacy , stuck by him , for which he was . months imprisoned in the tower , bearing his afflictions with remarkable patience he was wont to say that his natural temper was so tender ▪ , that he could not indure a philip ; but a supernatural principle ( we see ) can countermand , yea help natural imperfections . in his time ( as till our memory ) tower prisoners were not dyet●…d on their own , but on the kings charges ; the lieutenant of the tower providing their fare for them . and when the lieutenant said that he was sorry that commons were no better , i like ( said sir thomas ) your dyet very well , and if i dislike it , i pray turn me out of dores . not long after he was beheaded on tower hill , . . he left not above one hundred pounds a year estate , perfectly hating covetousnesse as may appear by his refusing of four or five * thousand pounds offered him by the clergy . among his latin books his utopia beareth the bell , containing the idea of a compleat common-wealth in an imaginary island ( but pretended to be lately discovered in america ) and that so lively counterfeited , that many at the reading thereof mistook it for a real truth . insomuch , that many great learned men , as budeus , and johannes paludanus , upon a fervent zeal , wished that some excellent * divines might be sent thither to preach christs gospel ; yea , there were here amongst us at home sundry good men and learned divines , very desirous to undertake the voyage to bring the people to the faith of christ , whose manners they did so well like . by his only son mr. john more , he had five grandchildren , thomas and augustin born in his life time , who proved zealous romanists ; edward , thomas and bartholomew ( born after his death ) were firm protestants , and thomas a married minister of the church of england . margaret more . excuse me reader , for placing a lady among men and learned statesmen . the reason is , because of her 〈◊〉 affection to her father , from whom she would not willingly be parted ( and for me shall not be ) either living or dead . she was born in bucklers-bury in london at her fathers house therein , and attained to that skill in all learning and languages , that she became the miracle of her age . forreigners took such notice hereof , that erasmus hath dedicated some epistles unto her . no woman that could speak so well , did speak so little : whose secresie was such , that her father entrusted her with his most important affairs . such was her skill in the fathers , that she corrected a depraved place in st. cyprian , for whereas it was corruptly writen she amended it nisi vos sinceritatis . * nervos sinceritatis . yea she translated eusebius out of greek , but it was never printed , because i. christopherson had done it so exactly before . she was married to william roper of eltham in kent esquire , one of a bountiful heart and plentiful estate . when her fathers head was set up on london bridge , it being suspected it would be cast into the thames , to make room for divers others ( then suffering for denying the kings supremacy ) she bought the head , and kept it for a relique ( which some called affection , others religion , others superstition in her ) for which she was questioned before the council , and for some short time imprisoned , until she had buryed it ; and how long she her self survived afterwards , is to me unknown . thomas wriothesley knight of the garter , was born in * barbican , son to william wriothesley york herauld , and grandchild to john vvriothesley ( descended from an heir general of the ancient family of the dunsterviles ) king of arms. he was bred in the university of cambridge ; and if any make a doubt thereof , it is cleared by the passage of mr. ascams letter unto him , writing in the behalf of the university when he was lord chancellour , quamobrem academia cum omni literarum ratione , ad te unum conversa ( cui uni quam universis aliis se chariorem intelligit ) partim tibi ut alumno suo , cum authoritate imperat : partim , ut patrono summo , demisse & humiliter supplicat , &c. he afterwards effectually applyed his studies in our municipal law , wherein he attained to great eminency . he was by king henry the eighth , created baron of titchborne at hampton court , january the first , . and in the next year about the beginning of may by the said king made chancelor of england . but in the first of king edward the sixth , he was removed from that place ( because a conscienciously rigorous romanist ) though in some reparation he was advanced to be earl of southampton . he dyed at his house called lincolns place in holborn , . the . of iuly , and lyes buryed at st. andrews in holborn . william paget knight , was born * in this city of honest parents , who gave him pious and learned education , whereby he was enabled to work out his own advancement ; privy-councellour to successive princes , which , though of different perswasions , agreed all in this , to make much of an able and trusty minister of state. . king henry the eighth made him his secretary , and imployed him embassador to ch. the emperor and francis king of france . . king edward the sixth made him chancellor of the dutchy , comptroller of his houshold , and created him baron of beaudesert . . queen mary made him ●…eeper of her privy seal . . queen elizabeth dispenced with his attendance at court , in favour to his great age , and highly respected him . indeed duke dudley in the dayes of king edward ignominiously took from him the garter of the order ; quarrelling , that by his extraction he was not qualified for the same . bur if all be true which is reported of this dukes * parentage , he of all men was most unfit to be active in such an imployment . but no wonder if his pride wrongfully snatched a garter from a subject , whose ambition endevoured to deprive two princes of a crown . this was restored unto him by queen mary , and that with ceremony and all solemn accents of honour , as to a * person , who by his prudence had merited much of the nation . he dyed very old , anno , and his corps ( as i remember ) are buryed in lichfield , and not in the vault under the church of drayton in middlesex where the rest of that family , i cannot say lye ( as whose coffins are erected ) but are very compleatly reposed in a peculiar posture , which i meet not with elsewhere ; the horrour of a vault , being much abated with the lightnesse and sweetnesse thereof . thomas wentvvorth , was born ( his mother coming casually to london ) in chancery lane in the parish of st. * dunstans in the west . yet no reason yorkshire should be deprived of the honour of him , whose ancestors long flourished in great esteem at vvent-worth-vvoodhouse in that county . he was bred in st. iohns colledge in cambridge , and afterwards became a champion patriot on all occasions . he might seem to have a casting voice in the house of commons ; for where he was pleased to dispose his yea or nay , there went the affirmative or negative . it was not long before the court gained him from the country , and then honours and offices were heaped on him ; created baron and viscount wentworth , earl of strafford and lord deputy of ireland . when he went over into ireland , all will confesse , he laid down to himself this noble foundation ; vigorously to endevour the reduction of the irish to perfect obedience to the king , and profit to the exchequer . but many do deny the superstructure ( which he built thereon ) was done by legal line and plummet . a parliament was called in england , and many crimes were by prime persons of england , scotland and ireland , charged upon him . he fenced skilfully for his life , and his grand-guard was this , that ( though confessing some misdemeanors ) all proved against him amounted not to treason . and indeed number cannot create a new kind , so that many trespasses cannot make a riot , many riots one treason , no more then many frogs can make one toad . but here the d●…stinction of acumulative and constructive ▪ treason was coyned , and caused his destruction . yet his adversaries politickly brake off the edge of the axe , which cut off his head , by providing his condemnation should not passe into precedent to posterity , so that his death was remarkable but not exemplary . happy had it been , if ( as it made no precedent on earth so ) no remembrance thereof had been kept in heaven . some hours before his suffering he fell fast asleep , alledged by his friends , as an evidence of the clearnesse of his conscience , and hardly to be parallel'd , save in st. * peter , in a dead sleep , the night before he was to dye , condemned by herod . his death happened , . he hath an eternal monument in the matchlesse meditations of king charles the first , and an everlasting epitaph in that weighty character * there given him , i looked upon my lord of strafford as a gentleman , whose abilites might make a prince rather afraid than ashamed , in the greatest affairs of state , &c. god alone can revive the dead , all that princes can perform , is to honour their memory and posterity , as our gracious soveraign king charles hath made his worthy son knight of the garter . lyonel cranfield son to randal cranfield citizen , and martha his wife , daughter to the lady dennis of gloucester-shire , ( who by her will , which i have perused , bequeathed a fair estate unto her ) was born in bassing-hall street , and bred a merchant , much conversant in the custome-house . he may be said to have been his own tutor , and his own university : king iames being highly affected with the clear , brief , strong , yea and profitable sense he spake , preferred him lord treasurer . baron of cranfield , and earl of middlesex . under him it began to be young flood , in the exchequer ( wherein there was a very low ebb when he entred on that office ( and he possessed his treasurers place some four years , till he fell into the duke of bucks ( the best of friends , and worst of foes ) displeasure . some say this lord , who rose cheifly by the duke ( whose near kinswoman he married ) endevoured to stand without , yea in some cases ( for the kings profit ) against him , which independency and opposition that duke would not endure . flaws may soon be found , and easily be made breaches , in great officers , who being active in many cannot be exact in all matters . however this lord by losing his office , saved himself , departing from his treasurers place , which in that age was hard to keep : insomuch , that one asking , what was good to preserve life ? was answered , get to be lord treasurer of england , for they never do dye in their place , which indeed was true for four successions . retiring to his magnificent house at copt-hall , he there enjoyed himself contentedly , entertained his friends bountifully , neighbours hospitably , poor charitably . he was a proper person , of comely presence , chearful , yet grave countenance , and surely a solid and wise man. and though their soul be the fattest , who only suck the sweet milk , they are the healthfullest , who ( to use the latine phrase ) have tasted of both the breasts of fortune . he dyed as i collect anno , and lyeth interred in a stately monument in the abby at westminster . writers on the law. fleta or fleet . we have spoken formerly of the fleet as a prison , but here it importeth a person disguised under that name , who , it seems being committed to the fleet , therein wrote a book of the common laws of england , and other antiquities . there is some difference concerning the time , when this learned book of fleta was set forth , but it may be demonstrated done before the fourteenth of the reign of king edward the third : for he saith * that it is no murder except it be proved that the party slain was english and no stranger , whereas this was altered in the fourteenth year of the said * king , when the killing of any ( though a forreigner living under the kings protection ) out of prepensed malice , was made murder . * he seemeth to have lived about the end of king edward the second , and beginning of king edward the third . seeing in that juncture of time , two kings in effect were in being , the father in right , the son in might , a small contempt might cause a confinement to that place , and as loyal ubjects be within it as without it . sure it is , that ( notwithstanding the confinement of the author ) his book hath had a good passage , and is reputed law to posterity . christopher st. german . reader wipe thine eyes , and let mine smart , if thou readest not what richly deserves thine observation ; seeing he was a person remarkable for his gentility , piety , chastity , charity , ability , industry and vivacity . . gentility ; descended from a right ancient family , born ( as i have cause to believe ) in london , and bred in the inner temple in the study of our laws . . piety ; he carried saint in his nature ( as well as in his surname ) constantly reading and expounding every night to his family , a chapter in the bible . . chastity ; living and dying unmarried without the least spot on his reputation . . charity ; giving consilia and auxilia to all his * people gratis . indeed i read of a company of ●…hysicians in athens , called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , because they would take no money of their patients , and our st. german , was of their judgement as to his clients . . ability ; being excellently skill'd in civil , caxon and common law ; so that it was hard to say wherein he excelled . add to these his skill in scripture , witnesse his book called the doctor and student : where the former vics divinity with the l●…w of the later . . industry ; he wrote several works wherein he plainly appeareth not only a favourer of , but champion for the reformation . vivacity ; l●…ving to be above eighty years old , and dying anno dom. . was buryed at st. alphage london , near criplegate . william rastal , was born in this city ( sisters son to sir thomas more ) and was bred in the study of our common law , and whoever readeth this passage in pitz. , will thence conclude him one of the two chief justices of england , pitz. de ang. script . aetat . . anno . factus est civilium & criminalium causarum alter ex duobus per angliam supremis judicibus ; whereas in deed he was but one of the justices of the kings bench : yet his ability and integrity , did capacitate him for higher preferment , being also a person of industry . he wrote the life and set forth the works of his uncle more , made a collection of , and comment on the statutes of england . great was his zeal to the ro●…ish religion ▪ flying into flanders , with the changing of his countrey ( under king edward the sixth ) he changed the nature of his studies , but then wrote worse books on a better subject , i mean divinity . he undertook bishop juel , as much his over match in divinity , as rastal was his , in the common law. the papists are much pleased with him , for helping their cause ( as they conceive ) and we are not angry with him , who hath not hurt ours in any degree . he dyed at lovain . and lyeth buryed with his wife in the same tomb , and this epitaph may be bestowed on him . rastallus tumulo cum conjuge dormit in uno , unius carnis pulvis & unus erit . know that winifrid clement his wife , was one of the greatest female scholars , an exact grecian , and ( the crown of all ) most pious according to her perswasion . souldiers . no city in europe hath bred more ( if not too many of late ) and indeed we had had better t●…adesmen if worse souldiets . i dare not adventure into so large a subject , and will instance but in one ( to keep possession for the rest ) submitting my self to the readers censure , whether the parties merit , or my private relation puts me on his memorial . sir thomas roper son of thomas roper servant to queen elizabeth , was born in friday street in london , whose grandfather was a younger son of the house of heanour in derby shire . indeed furneaux was the ancient name of that family , until richard furneaux marryed isald the daughter of ..... roper of beighton in the county of derby esquire , and on that consideration was bound to assume the name of * roper by indenture , dated the s●…venth of henry the sixth . this sir thomas going over into the lowe countries became page to sir john norrice , and was captain of a foot company at sixteen years of age : what afterwards his martial performances were , to avoid all suspicion of flattery ( to which my relation may incline me ) i have transcribed the rest out of the original of his patent . cum thomas roper eques auratus , è secretioribus concilliariis nostris in regno nostro hyberniae , jampridem nobis bellicae virtutis splendore clarus innotuerit ; utpote qui quam plurimis rebus per eum in nuperrimo bello hujus regni fortiter gestis , praeclarum nomen & strenui militis , & prudentis ducis reportavit : cujus virtus praecipuè in recessu in provinciâ nostrâ conaciae prope le boyle emicuit , ubi paucissimis admodum equestribus ingentes equitum turmas per regni meditullia hostiliter grassantes fortiter aggressus : ita prudentiâ suâ singulari receptui cecinit , ut non modo , & se , & suos , sed etiam totum exercitum ab ingenti periculo liberavit , hostesque quam plurimos ruinae tradidit . qui etiam , cum provincia nostra ultoniae bello deflagaverat , ob exploratam animi fortitudin●…m ab honoratissimo comite essexiae exercitus tunc imperatore , unius ex omnibus designatus fuit ad duellum eum makal , uno ex fortissimis tyronentium agminum ducibus suscipiendum , nisi praedictus makal duello praedicto se exponere remisset . cumque etiam praedictus thomas roper , in nuperrimo bello apud brest in regno gallie se maximis periculis objiciendo & sanguinem suum effundendo fortitudinem suam invictam demonstravit : qui etiam in expeditione portugalenci se fortiter ac honorifice 〈◊〉 ac etiam apud bergen in belgio cum per hispanos obsideretur invictissimae fortitudinis juvenem in defensione ejusdem se praebuit . qui etiam in expugnationis kinsalensis die primus 〈◊〉 juxta 〈◊〉 propissime constitutus fuerat , hispanesque ex eo oppido sepius eodem die 〈◊〉 , fortissime felicissimeque , & ad maximam totius exercitus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 & profligavit . sciatis igitur quod nos intuitu praemissorum dominum thomam roper millitem , &c. whereas thomas roper knight , one of our privy councellors of our kingdome of ireland , long since hath been known unto us famous , with the splendor of his warlike vertue ; as who by the many atchievements valiantly performed by him in the late war of this kingdome , hath gained the eminent repute both of a stout souldier , and a disc●…eet commander ; whose valour chiefly appeared in his retreat near le boyle in ●…ur province of conaught , where with very few horse he undantedly charged great troops of the horse of the enemy , who in a hostile manner forraged the very bowels of the kingdome , and by his wisdome made such a singular retreat , that he not only saved himself and his men , but also delivered the whole army from great danger , and slew very many of his enemies . who also when our province of ulster was all on fire with war , being one out of many , was for the tryed resolution of his mind , chosen by the right honorable the e. of essex , then general of the army , to undertake a duel with makal , one or the stoutest captains in the army of tyrone , had not the said makal declined to expose himself to the appointed duel . and also when the aforesaid thomas raper , in the late war in the kingdome of france at brest , by exposing himself to the greatest perils , and sheding of his own bloud , demonstrated his courage to be unconquerable . who also i●… the voyage to portugal , behaved himself valiantly and honorably ; as also at bergen in the nether-lands , when it was besiedged by the spaniards , approved himself a young man of 〈◊〉 valour in the defence thereof . who also in the day wherin kinsale was assaulted , was placed in the first ranck , nearest of all unto the town , and with no less success then valour , to the great safety of the whole army beat back and put to flight the spaniards , who in the same day made several sallies out of the tow●… . know therefore , that we in 〈◊〉 of the premises have appointed the aforesaid thomas roper knight , &c. then followeth his patent , wherein king charles in the third of his raign created him baron of bauntree , and viscount 〈◊〉 in ireland . i will only adde from exact intelligence , that he was a principal means to break the hearts of irish rebels ; for whereas formerly the english were loaded with their own cloths , so that their slipping into bogs did make them , and the slopping of their breeches did keep them prisoners therein ; he first being then a commander put himself into irish trouzes , and was imitated first by all his officers , then souldiers , so that thus habited they made the more effectual execution on their enemies . he died at 〈◊〉 rest , anno dom. . . and was buried with anne his wife ( daughter to sir henry 〈◊〉 , ) in saint johns church in dublin . seamen . i behold these sea men as the sea it ●…elf , and suspect , if i launch far therein , i s●…all see land no more : besides , i know there be many laws made against forestalers , and would be loth to fall under that penalty ; for preventing the pains of some able person a 〈◊〉 of the trinity - 〈◊〉 , who may write a just tract thereof . civilians . sir henry martin knight , was born in this city , where his father left him forty pounds a year , and he used merrily to say , that if his father had left him 〈◊〉 , he would never have been a scholar , but lived on his lands ; whereas this being ( though a large encouragement , but ) a scant maintenance , he plyed his book for a better livelyhood . he was bred a fellow in new colledge in oxford , and by the advice of bishop andrews addressed himself to the study of the civil law. by the advice of the said bishop , master martin had weekly transmitted unto him from some proctors at lambeth , the brief heads of the most important causes which were to be tried in the high commission , then with some of his familiar friends in that faculty they privately pleaded those causes amongst themselves , acting in their chamber what was done in the court. but mr. martin , making it his work , exceeded the rest in amplifying and agravating any fault moving of anger and indignation against the guilt thereof , or else in extenuating and excusing it , procure pitty , obtain pardon , or at least prevail for a lighter punishment . some years he spent in this personated pleading , to enable himself against he was really called to that profession . hence it was that afterwards he became so eminent an advocate in the high commission , that no cause could come amiss to him . for he was not to make new armour , but only to put it on and buckle it , not to invent but apply arguments to his cliant . he was at last knighted and made judge of the prerogative for probate of wills , and also of the admiraltry in causes concerning forraign traffick ; so that as king james said pleasantly ; he was a mighty monarch in his jurisdiction over land and sea , the living and dead . he died very aged and wealthy , anno dom. . physicians . richardus anglicus was certainly a man of merit , being eminently so denominated by foraigners , ( amongst whom he conversed ) from his country , and he who had our nation for his name , cannot have less then london for his lodging in this our catalogue of worthies . he is said to have studied first in oxford , then in paris , where he so profited in the faculty of physick , that he is counted by simphorianus * champerius ( a stranger to our nation , and therefore free from flattery , ) one of the most eminent writers in that profession . now , because he was the first english man , whom i find famous in that calling , may the reader be pleased with a receipt of the several names of the books , left by him to posterity . . * a tractate of 〈◊〉 . . of the ru●…es of urins . . of the signs of diseases . . of prognostick signs . . of letting bloud . . to●…alen ●…alen . . of feavors . . a correction of alchymy . . a mirour of alchymy . . of physick . . repressive . . of the signs of feavors . leland reporteth , that besides these , he writ other works , which the envy of time hath denied unto us . he flourished about the year of our lord . john 〈◊〉 was born in this city , * bred fellow of baliol-colledge in oxford , where he contracted familiarity with his colleague and mecaenas , i. tiptoft earl of worcester . he afterwards travelled into italy , and at ferrara was a constant auditor of gwarinus an old man , and famous philosopher . hitherto our phreas made use only of his ears , hereafter of his tongue , when of hearer he turned a teacher ; and see the stairs whereby he ascended . . he read physick at ferrara , concerning medicinal herbs . . then at florence , well esteemed by the duke thereof . . then at padua , ( beneath florence in beauty , above it in learning , ) an university where he proceeded doctor of physick . . then at rome , where he was gratious with pope paul the second , dedicating unto him many books translated out of greek . the pope rewarded him with the bishoprick of bath and wells , dying before his consecration , * poisoned ( as is vehemently suspected ) by some , who maligned his merit ; heu mihi quod nullis livor medicabilis herbis ! solomon himself , who wrot of all simples , from the * cedar in lebanus , to the hysop on the wall , could find no defensative against it ; which made him cry out * but who can stand before envy ? no wonder therefore , if our phreas ( though a skilful botanist ) found mens malice mortal unto him . he died at rome anno domini . and lelands commendation of him may serve for his epitaph , if but , hic jacet johannes phreas be prefixed before it ; qui primus anglorum erat , qui propulsâ barbarie , patriam honesto labore bonis literis restituit . andrew borde doctor of physick , was ( i conceive ) bred in oxford , because i find his book called the breviary of health examined by that university . he was physician to king henry the eighth , and was esteemed a great scholar in that age . i am confident his book was the first written of that faculty in english , and dedicated to the colledge of physicians in london . take a tast out of the beginning of his dedicatory epistle , egregious doctors and masters of the eximious and arcane science of physick , of your urbanity exasperate not your selves against me for making this little volume of physick , &c. indeed his book contains plain matter under hard words , and was accounted such a jewel in that age , ( things whilst the first are esteemed the best in all kinds , ) that it was printed , cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum , for william midleton , anno . he died as i collect in the raign of queen mary . writers . * not●…elmus of london . having casually let slip his forelock , i mean his episcopal capacity , ( being successively bishop of london , and arch-bishop of canterbury , ) under which he ought to be entred , we are fain to lay hold on his hind-part , ( that his memory may not escape us ) taking notice of him as a writer . in his age shined a constellation of three learned men , bede , alcuinus , and our nothelme , whom the two former by their letters invited to writ ( a performance proper for his pen ) the gests of gregory the great , and the disciples sent by him with austin the monk , for the conversion of britain . nothelme the more effectually to enable himself for this work , went to rome , obtained leave from pope gregory the second , to peruse his records ; then sent his compleated collections to bede , to be inserted in his church history . bede in gratitude , ( according to the courteous custome of the learned exchange , ) dedicated to him his thirty questions on the books of kings . his death happened anno domini . william fitz-stephens was descended saith leland of norman nobility , but born in this city , and bred a monk in canterbury . he wrote many learned works , and one in latine of the description of london , since commendably ( because rare to come by ) translated and added to the survey of london . say not that london then , was but the suburbs to the london now , for the bigness and populousness thereof ; seeing in fitz stephens time , it accounted thirteen conventual and an hundred and six and thirty parochial churches , not producing so many at this day ▪ so that it seems though there be more bodies of men , there be fewer houses of god therein . as for the populousness thereof in his time , it was able to set forth sixty thousand foot , which i believe it may treble in our time . it could also then raise twenty thousand horsemen , which would pose it at this day to perform . but as railing rabshekah made jerusalem weaker , [ not able to set two thousand riders on horses ] so possibly fitz-stephens might make london stronger then it was . i hope one may safely wish this city may be better in holiness , as bigger in houses , then it was when fitz-stephens flourished . albricius of london . leland maketh him a native of this city , and signally learned , though little is extant of his writings , save a work of the original of heathen gods. herein he sheweth how mankind having by error and ignorance , left and lost the true god , multiplyed deities , that a mock-infinite ( viz. what was but indefinite in number ) should supply his place , who was infinite in nature . albricius flourished anno domini . william sengham born of mean , but honest parents , being one of a meek nature , and quick wit , was brought up in learning , wherein he attained to great perfection . he wrote many books and one de fide & legibus , wherein * bale highly praiseth this passage , there is no other law for the salvation of men , besides the gospel of christ our lord. now although this be but a plain expression of the common truth , yet was it beheld as an oracle in that ignorant age . thus a beam of noon-day might it be seen at mid-night , would shine as the sun it self ; besides , these words were uttered in that age , when impudent friers began to obtrud on the world a fift forged gospel , ( consisting of superstitious ceremonies and ) called aeternum evangelium , which did much mischief in the church amongst credulous men . this william is supposed by some an augustinian frier , who flourished anno dom. . laurentius anglicus was certainly an english-man , and probably a londoner , but brought up and living most of his time in paris , where he was master of the colledge , which had an * english-man for the sign thereof . hence i collect it for building little better then our ordinary inns for entertainment , where probably our country men had their lodgings for nothing . this laurence , being a learned and pious person , stoutly opposed that mock gospel commonly called * evangelium aeternum , with the mendicant friars the champions thereof . he wrote a smart book contra pseudo-praedicatores ; but afterwards being frightned with the popes thunderboults , and the friars threatnings , he cowardly recanted . but what saith * solomon a just man falleth seven times , [ the vulgar latine addeth in die , in one day , ] and riseth again , as we hope this laurence did , who flourished anno dom. . * nicholas lyra was ( as barnabas a jew-cypriot , and saul a jew-gilician a jew-english man , the first by nation , the second by nativity . he had the r●…bbins at his fingers ends , but conversed so long with , that at last he was converted by some franciscans to be a christian ; and i behold nicholas [ conquerour of his people ] as his font-name then given him , as predictory of those victories he afterwards got , by his disputings and writings , over his own country-men . nor doth the church of god more complain of nicholas , that proselite of antioch , ( the last of the seven deacons , and first founder of the nicholaitans whom god hated , ) then it doth commend our nicholas , who vigorously confuted the jews ; who expect the rising of the sun in the afternoon , waiting for messias still to come . i read , how some fifty years before , henry the third , founded a house called domus conversorum , ( where now the office of the rolls is kept in chancery-lane , ) where converted jews were accommodated with lodging , and a small salary . but i believe lyra made no use thereof , contenting himself to live first in oxford , then in paris a franciscan fryar , and wrote comments on all the old and new-testament , whereof so different the editions , that i am certainly informed , one is so bad , one can hardly give too little ; and one so good , one can hardly give too much for it . though sometimes he may be wide of the mark , and this harp be out of tune , yet uncharitable their censure of lyra delirat , whilst * luther highly praiseth him ▪ because his wanton wit did not gad after empty allegories , but with the good house-keeper stays at home , keeping himself close to the text in his literal interpretations . now though there were many jewish synagogues in england , ( at york , cambridge , northampton , &c. ) yet the old jury in london , equalling all the rest in numerousness , lyra his birth is here assigned with best assurance , though dying in paris about the year . bankinus of london , not bancks of london , ( who taught his horse reason to perform feats above belief , ) but one of hgher parts , and worse employed . being an augustinian friar he set himself wholly to suppress the poor wicklevicks , and being ready to dispute against them in a publique council , was taken off in his full speed with the following accident , worthy of the readers observation ; bale de script . brit. cent. . num. . sed terrae ▪ motus justissima summi dei vindicta , subito exortus , diruptis passim domorum edificitis , immanes eorum impetus fregit , ac vires infirmavit . but an earthquake by the just revenge of the most high god , suddenly arising , by breaking asunder the buildings of the houses , brake their cruel assaults , and weakned their forces . this if literally true , deserved a down-right ( and not only so slenting a ) mention . but hitherto meeting it in no other author ; i begin to suspect it ment metaphorically of some consternation of mind , wherewith god's restraining grace charmed the adversaries of the truth . bankinus flourished under king richard the second , anno . robert ivory was , saith leland , none of the meanest natives of this city , a carmelite and president general of his order , d. d. in cambridge . he wrote several * books , and prece & precio , procured many more , wherewith he adorned the library of white-fryars in fleet-street . he dyed november the fifth , . juliana barnes was born ex antiquâ & illustri domo . understand it not in the sense wherein the same was said of a certain pope , born in a ruinous cottage , where the sun did shine through the rotten walls and roof thereof . but indeed she was descended of a respective family , though i , not able to find the place , am fain to use my marginal mark of greatest uncertainty . she was the diana of her age for hunting and hawking , skilful also in fishing , and wrote three * books of these exercises , commending the practise thereof to the gentry of england . the city of leyden is scited in the very bottom of the low-countries , so that the water setled their , would be soon subject to putrefaction , were it not by engins forced up that it might fall , and so by constant motion kept from corruption . idleness will betray noble mens minds to the same mischief , if some ingenious industry be not used for their imployment . our julian also wrot a book of heraldry . say not the needle is the most proper pen for the woman , and that she ought to meddle with making no coats , save such as dorcas made for the widows , seeing their sex may be not only pardoned , but praised for such lawful diversions . no gentleman will severely censure the faults in her 〈◊〉 , but rather imitate * julius scaliger who passing his verdict on all poets , and coming to do the like on sulpitia a roman poetress ( living under domitian ) thus courteously concludeth , ut tam 〈◊〉 heroinae ratio habeatur , non ausim objicere ei judicii severitatem . she flourished anno domini . under king henry the sixth . robert fabian was born and bred in this * city , whereof he became sheriff . treating his guests with good chear and wellcome , he doubled his dishes with pleasant discourse , being an excellent historian , witness two chronicles of his own writing . . from brutus to the death of king henry the second . . from the first of k. richard , to the death of k. henry the seventh . he was also an excellent poet , both in latine , french and english. a modern * master wit , in the contest betwixt the poets of our age , for the laurel maketh apollo to adjudge it to an alderman of london , because to have most wealth was a sign of most wit. but had the scene of this competition been laid seven score years since , and the same remitted to the umpirage of apollo , in sober sadness he would have given the laurel to this our alderman . as for his histories , if the whole strain of them doth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , it must be indulged to him that followed the genius of his own education . he died at london . and was buried in the church of all-hallows , where he hath a * tedious and barbarous epitaph , as commonly ( reader , i should be glad to have my observation confuted , ) who hath worse poetry then poets on their monuments ? after his death , cardinal wolsey caused so many copies of his book as he could come by to be burnt , because therein he had opened the coffers of the church too wide , and made too clear discovery of the revenues of the clergy . thomas lupset was born in this * city , and was related to most english and some forraign learned eminencies of his age . . bred a child in the house of dean ●…olet . . under w. lilly in st. pauls school . . sent to oxford , where he became greek professor . resigns his place to his friend ludovicus vives . . travailed into italy , and at padua was familiar with c. pole. . was known unto erasmus , who giveth him this character ; hujus ingenio nihil gratius , nihil amantius . . intended divinity , diverted by cardinal woolsy . . at paris was tutor to th. winter , a ward to the cardinal . . returning into england , was known to king henry the eight . . began to grow into his favour , when cut off with a consumption . in the prime of his life . he died in london , and lieth buried in the church of saint alphage nigh cripplegate , without a monument . since the reformation . john rastall was a * citizen and printer of london , by marriage a kin to sir thomas more , and when the said sir thomas and bishop fisher wrote in defence of purgatory , to prove it by scripture , rastall undertook to maintain it by reason . surely , he that buy 's the two former books , deserveth to have this last given him to make him a saver . some will say , the former two indeavoured to prove the fire , and rastall the smoak of purgatory . but to pass by his works in divinity , he 〈◊〉 a good mathematician , and made a comedy of europe , asia and africa , which , my * author saith , was very witty , and very large ; and i can believe the later , seeing he had three parts of the world for his subject ; and how long would it have been had america been added . he wrote a book against john frith , but afterwerds ( convinced with his adversaries arguements ) recanted it of his own accord ; the cause why we have placed him since the reformation . he wrote a book of the terms of law , and made an index to justice fitz herbert ; yea , i behold this john as father to rastall the famous lawyer , of whom * before . he died and was buried at london . edward hall . we may trace him from his cradle to his coffin , as followeth . . he was a citizen of lond●…n by his * birth . . he was bred a scholar at eaton . . thence he removed and was one of the * foundation of kings-colledge . . thence he went to grays-inn , and studied the municipal-law . . he became common serjeant of london , for the well discharging whereof he , was advanced to be one of the judges in the sheriffs court. . wrote an elegant history of the wars of york and lancaster , from k. henry the fourth , till the end of king henry the * eight . . died a very aged man . he was as by some passages in his book may appear , in that age well affected to the reformation . he lieth buried in the church of saint sithes ( contracted i think for saint osiths ) where i cannot recover any epitaph upon him . william fulke d. d. was born in this * city , bred first fellow of saint john's , then master of pembroke hall in cambridge . his studies were suitable to his years , when young , a good philosopher , witness his book of meteors ; afterwards his endeavours ascended from the middle region of the aire , to the highest heavens , when he b●…came a pious and solid divine . now the romanists , seeing they could no longer blind-fold their laitie from the scriptures , resolved to fit them with false spectacles , and set forth the rhemish translation ; which by doctor fulke was learnedly confuted , though he never attained any great prefer●…ent in the church . here it is worth our pains to peruse the immediate succession of masters in pembroke-hall , because unparallel'd in any english foundation . edm. grindall , archp. of cant. mat. hutton , archp. of york . jo. whitgift , archp. of cant. jo. young , 〈◊〉 . of rochester . william fulke , d. d. lanc. andrews , bp. of winchester . sam. harsnet , archp. of york . nic. felton , bp. of eely . here , though all the rest were episcopated , doctor fulke was but doctor fulke still , though a man of great merit . this proceeded not from any disaffection in him to the hierarchie ( as some would fain suggest ) but principally from his love of privacy , and place of margaret-professour , wherein he died anno dom. . edmond spencer born in this * city , was brought up in pembroke-hall in cambridge , where he became an excellent scholar , but especially most haypy in english poetry , as his works do declare . in which the many chaucerisms used ( for i will not say affected by him ) are thought by the ignorant to be blemishes , known by the learned to be beauties to his book ; which notwithstanding had been more salable , if more conformed to our modern language . there passeth a story commonly told and believed , that spencer presenting his poems to queen elizabeth : she highly affected therewith , commanded the lord cecil her treasurer , to give him an hundred pound ; and when the treasurer ( a good steward of the queens money ) alledged that sum was too much , then give him ( quoth the queen ) what is reason ; to which the lord consented , but was so busied , bel●…ke , about matters of higher concernment , that spencer received no reward ; whereupon he presented this petition in a small piece of paper to the queen in her progress , i was promis'd on a time , to have reason for my rhyme ; from that time unto this season , i receiv'd nor rhyme nor reason . hereupon the queen gave strict order ( not without some check to her treasurer ) for the present payment of the hundred pounds , she first intended unto him . he afterwards went over into ireland , secretary to the lord gray , lord deputy thereof ; and though that his office under his lord was lucrative , yet got he no estate , but saith my * author , p●…culiari poetis fato semper cum paupertate conflictatus est . so that it fared little better with him , then with william xilander the german , ( a most excellent linguist , antiquary , philosopher and mathematician , ) who was so poor , that ( as * thuanus saith ) he was thought , fami non famae scribere . returning into england , he was robb'd by the rebels of that little he had , and dying for grief in great want , anno . was honorably buried nigh chaucer in westminster , where this distick concludeth his epitaph on h●…s monument , anglica te vivo vixit plausitque poesis , nunc moritura timet te moriente mori . whilst h●…iu didst live , liv'd english poetry , which fears , now thou art dead , that she shall die . nor must we forget , that the expence of his funeral and monument , was defrayed at the sole charge of robert , first of that name , earl of essex . john stow son of thomas stow , who died anno . grand-child to thomas stow , who died . ( both citizens of london , and buried in saint michaels in cornhill ) was born in this city , bred at learning no higher then a good gramar-scholar , yet he became a painful , faithful , and ( the result of both ) useful historian . here , to prevent mistake by the homonymie of names , i request the reader to take special notice of three brace of english writers , . sir thomas ( commonly with the addition of de la ) more , who lived under , and wrote the life of king edward the second . . john leland , bred in oxford , the most exquisite grammarian of his age , who flourished anno . . john stow , a benedictine monke of norwich , anno . who wrote various collections , much cited by caius in his history of cambridge . . sir thomas more , the witty and learned chancellour of england . . john leland , bred in cambridge , the most , eminent antiquary under k. henry the eight . . john stow , this londiner , and historian . i confess , i have heard him often accused , that ( as learned guicciardine is charged for telling magnarum rerum minutias ) he reporteth res in se minutas , toys and trifles , being such a smell-feast , that he cannot pass by guild-hall , but his pen must tast of the good chear therein . however this must be indulged to his education ; so hard it is for a citizen to write an history , but that the fur of his gown will be felt therein . sure i am , our most elegant historians who have wrote since his time ( sir francis bacon , master camden , &c. ) though throwing away the basket , have taken the fruit , though not mentioning his name , making use of his endeavors . let me adde of john stow , that ( however he kept tune ) he kept time very well , no author being more accurate in the notation thereof . besides his chronicle of england , he hath a large survey of london , and i believe no city in christendome , rome alone excepted , hath so great a volume extant thereof . plato was used to say , that many good laws were made , but still one was wanting , viz. a law to put all those good laws in execution . thus the citizens of london have erected many fair monuments to perpetuate their memories , but still there wanted a monument to continue the memory of their monuments ( subject by time , and otherwise to be defaced ) which at last by john stow was industriously performed . he died in the eightieth year of his age april . . and is buried at the upper end of the north-isle of the quire * of saint andrews-undershaft . his chronicle since continued by another , whose additions are the lively embleme of the times he writeth of , as far short of master stow in goodness , as our age is of the integrity and charity of those which went before it . giles fletcher was born in this * city , son to giles fletcher dr. in law , and embassadour into russia , of whom formerly in kent . from westminster-school he was chosen first scholar , then fellow of trinity colledge in cambridge . one equally beloved of the muses and the graces , having a sanctified wit , witness his worthy poem intituled christs victory , made by him being but bachelour of arts , discovering the piety of a saint , and divinity of a doctor . he afterward applied himself to school-divinity , ( cross to the grain of his genius , as some conceive ) and attained to good skill therein . when he preached at saint maries , his prayer before his sermon usually consisted of one entire allegory , not driven , but led on , most proper in all particulars . he was at last ( by exchange of his living ) setled in suffolk , which hath the best and worst aire in england , best about bury , and worst on the sea-side , where master fleticher was beneficed . his clownish and low parted parishoners , ( having nothing but their shoos high about them , ) valued not their pastour according to his worth , which disposed him to melancholy , and hastened his dissolution . i behold the life of this learned poet , like those half-verses in virgils aeneids , broken off in the middle , seeing he might have doubled his days according to the ordinary course of nature ; whose death happened about the year . he had another brother phineas fletcher fellow of kings-colledge in cambridge , and beneficed also in norfolk , a most excellent poet , witness his purple island , and several other pieces of great ingenuity . john donne was born in this city of wealthy parentage , extracted out of wales , one of an excellent wit , large travail , and choice experience . after many vicissitudes in his youth , his reduced age was honoured with the doctorship of divinity , and denary of saint pauls . should i endeavour to deliver his exact character , ( who willingly would not doe any wrong ) should do a fourfold injury . . to his worthy memory , whose merit my pen is unable to express . . to my self , in undertaking what i am not sufficient to perform . . to the reader , first in raising , then in frustrating his expectation . . to my deservedly honored friend master isaac walton , by whom his life is so learnedly written . it is enough for me to observe he died march . anno dom. . and lieth buried in saint pauls under an ingenious and choice monument , neither so costly as to occasion envy , nor so common as to cause contempt . romish exile writers . john heiwood was born in * london , and was most familiar with sir thomas more , whom he much resembled in quickness of parts , both undervaluing their friend to their jest , and having ingenium non edentulum , sed mordax . i may safely write of him , what he pleasantly * writes of himself , that he applied mirth more then thrift , many mad plays , and did few good works . he hath printed many english proverbial epigrams , and his monumenta literaria are said to be non tam labore condita , quàm lepore condita . he was highly in favour with queen mary , and after her death , fled for religion beyond the seas . it is much , that one so fancyful should be so conscientious . he lived , and ( for ought i find ) died at mechlin about the year . gasper heiwood his son , was a great jesuit , and executed here in q. elizabeths raign . maurice chamnee most probably born in this city , was bred a friar in charter-house , now called suttons hospital . he was imprisoned for refusing the oath of supremacy , with . of his order , all which lost their lives for their obstinacy , whilst our maurice ( like jobs messenger ) only escaped alone to tell of his fellows misfortune , and write the history of the execution . some of chamnee's party , report to his praise , that * martyrdome was only wanting to him , and not he to martyrdome . others more truly tax him , for warping to the will of king henry the eighth , not so much to decline his own death , as to preserve his covent from destruction , who sped in the first , and failed in the latter . however fearing some afterclaps , he fled beyond the seas , passing the rest of his life in the low-countries , dying anno dom. . edmund campian was born in this * city , and bred fellow in saint johns-colledge in oxford , where he became proctor anno . when queen elizabeth visited that university , being made deacon by the protestant church ; he afterwards renounced that order , and fled beyond the seas . a man of excellent parts , though he who rod post to tell him so , might come too late to bring him tidings thereof , being such a valuer of himself , that he swelled every drop of his ability into a bubble by his vain ostentation . and indeed few who were reputed scholars , had more of latine , or less of greek , then he had . he was sent over with father parsons into england , to reduce it to the church of rome ; to this purpose he set forth his ten reasons so purely for latine , so plainly and pithily penned , that they were very taking , and fetch'd over many ( neuters before ) to his perswasion . it was not long before he was caught by the setters of the secretary walsingham , and brought to the tower , where one of his own religion saith that he was * exquisitissimis cruciatibus tortus , rack'd with most exquisite torments . yet the * lieutenant of the tower truly told him , that he had rather seen then felt the rack , being so favourably used therein , that being taken off , he did presently go to his lodging without help , and used his hands in writing . besides , ( as campian confess'd ) he was not examined upon any point of religion , but only upon matters of state. some days after he was ingaged in four solemn disputations , to make good that bold challenge he had made against all protestants . place . auditors . time. opposers . questions . campians answer . the chappel in the tower. the lieutenant of the tower , mr. bele , clerk of the counsel withmany protestants and papists . august alexander nowell dean of pauls . . whether the protestants had cut off many goodly and principal parts of scripture from the body thereof ? affirmative     septem . william day dean of windsor . . whether the catholick church be not properly invisible ? negative     william fulk d. d. . whether christ be in the sacrament substantially , very god and man in his natural body ? affirmative     roger goad d. d. . whether after the consecration the bred & wine are transubstantiated ? negative       william fulk d. d. . whether the scriptures contain sufficient doctrine for our salvation ?         roger goad d. d. . whether faith only justifyeth ?         john walker           william clarke     an * authentick author giveth this unpartial account of campian in his disputation , ad disputandum productus expectationem concitatam aegre sustinuit , and in plain truth , no man did ever boast more when he put on his armour , or had cause to boast less when he put it off . within few days , the queen was necessitated for her own security to make him the subject of severity , by whose laws he was executed in the following december . benefactors to the publike . thomas pope knight , was born in this city , as my worthy friend doctor seth ward the head , and others of the society of trinity colledge in oxford have informed me . i behold him as fortunae suae fabrum , the smith ( who by gods blessing ) hammered out his own fortune without any patrimonial advantage . indeed he lived in an age which one may call the harvest of wealth , wherein any that would work might get good wages at the dissolution of abbyes . herein he was much employed , being under the lord cromwell , an instrument of the second magnitude , and lost nothing by his activity therein ; however by all the printed books of that age he appeareth one of a candid carriage , and in this respect stands sole and single by himself . that of the abby lands which he received , he refounded a considerable proportion for the building and endowing of trinity-colledge in oxford . he died as i collect about the beginning of the raign of queen elizabeth . there are in oxford shire many descendants from him continuing in a worshipful estate , on the same token , that king james came in progress to the house of sir 〈◊〉 pope knight , when his lady was lately delivered of a daughter , which babe was presented to king james with this paper of verses in her hand , which because they pleased the king i hope they will not displease the reader ; see this little mistress here , did never sit in peters chair ; or a triple crown did wear , and yet she is a pope . no benefice she ever sold , nor did dispence with sins for gold , she hardly is a sevenight old , and yet she is a pope . no king her feet did ever kiss , or had from her worse look then this ; nor did she ever hope , to saint one with a rope . and yet she is a pope . a female pope you 'l say , a second joan , no sure she is pope innocent or none . i behold the earl of down in ireland ( but living in oxford shire ) the chief of the family . thomas curson born in alhallows lumbard street , armorour , dwelt without bishop-gate . it happened that a stage-player borrowed a rusty musket , which had lien long leger in his shop : now though his part was comical he therewith acted an unexpected tragedy , killing one of the standers by , the gun casually going off on the stage , which he suspected not to be charged . o the difference of divers mens in the tenderness of there consciences ! some are scarse touch'd with a wound , whilst others are wounded with a touch therein . this poor armourer was highly afflicted therewith , though done against his will , yea without his knowledge , in his absence , by another , out of meer chance . hereupon he resolved to give all his estate to pious uses , no sooner had he gotten a round sum , but presently he posted with it in his apron to the court of aldermen , and was in pain till by their direction he had setled it for the relief of poor in his own and other parishes , and disposed of some hundreds of pounds accordingly , as i am credibly informed by the then church-wardens of the said parish . thus as he conceived himself casually ( though at great distance ) to have occasioned the death of one , he was the immediate and direct cause of giving a comfortable living to many , he dyed anno domini . edward allin was born in the aforesaid parish near devonshire-house , where now is the sign of the pie. he was bred a stage-player , a calling which many have condemned , more have questioned , some few have excused , and far fewer consciencious people have commended . he was the roscius of our age , so acting to the life , that he made any part ( especially a majestck one ) to become him . he got a very great estate , and in his old age following christs councel , ( on what forcible motive belongs not to me to enquire ) he made friends of his unrighteous mammon . building therewith a fair colledge at dulwich in kent , for the relief of poor people . some i confess count it built on a foundred foundation , seeing in a spiritual sense none is good and lawfull money save what is honestly and industrously gotten ; but perchance such who condemn master allin herein , have as bad shillings in the bottome of their own bags if search were made therein ; sure i am , no hospital is tyed with better or stricter laws , that it may not sagg from the intention of the founder . the poor of his native parish saint buttolph ●…ishopgate have a priviledge to be provided for therein before others . thus he who out-acted others in his life , out did himfelf before his death , which happened anno domini . william plat was born in this city ( as his heir hath informed me ) son to sir hugh plat , grand-son to richard plat alderman of london . he was a fellowcommo●…er b●…ed in saint johns colledge in cambridge , and by his will bequeathed thereunto lands to maintain fellows and scholars , ( fellows at thirty , schollars at ten pounds per annum ) so many as the estate would extend unto . but this general and doubtful settlement was liable to long and great suits betwixt the colledge and the heirs of the said william , until anno . the same were happily compoled betwixt the colledge and john plat clerk , ( heir to the foresaid william ) when a settlement was made by mutual consent of four scholars at ten , and two fellows at fifty pounds per annum . here i mention not thirty pounds yearly given by him to the poor of hornsey and high-gate , with a lecture founded therein . this william plat died anno . alexander strange son to a doctor in law , was born in * london , bred in peter-house in cambridge , where he commenced bachelour of divinity , and afterwards for * forty six years was vicar of layston , and prebend of saint pauls , where his prebenda submersa the corps whereof were drowned in , the sea afforded him but a noble year . now , because layston church stood alone in the fields , and inconveniently for such who were to repair thereunto , he built at buntingford ( a thorow-road market , mostly in his parish , a neat and strong chappel è stipe collatitiâ , from the bounty others gave , and he gathered . ) wherefore having laid the foundation , before well furnished for the finishing thereof , he gave for his motto , beg hard or beggard . none could tax him ( with the scribes and pharisees ) for binding heavy burthens and grievous to be born , and laying them on other mens shoulders , whilst he himself would not move them with one of his fingers . first , because the burthens were not heavy , being light in the particulars , though weighty in the total summe . secondly , he bound them on none , but profest himself bound unto them , if pleased to take them up for a publick good . thirdly , he put his , and that a bountiful hand unto them , purchasing land out of his own purse to pay for the daily reparation thereof . he also promoted the building of a free-school in the said place , to which some sisters worsh●…pfully born in the same town , wealthily and honourably married , were the foundresses , yet so as it will still be thankful to contributors thereunto for better accommodation . this master strange being no less prosperous then painful in compounding all differences among his neighbours , being a man of peace went to eternal peace december . in the eightieth year of his age . to the readér . pauperis est numerare , they have but few who have but a number . it passeth my power to compute the benefactors natives of this city , whose names are entred in fair tables ( the counterpart of the original no doubt kept in heaven , ) in their respective parishes ; so that in this city it is as easy to find a steeple without a bell hanging in it , as a vestry without such a memorial fixed to it : thither i refer the reader for his better satisfaction , and proceed to the lord mayors .   name father place company time iohn rainwell robert rainwell london ●…ish-monger nicholas wotton thomas wotton london draper robert large thomas large london mercer stephen foster robert foster london fish-monger ralph varney ralph varney london mercer iohn tate iohn tate london mercer bartholom iames edward iames london draper iohn percivall roger percivall london merchant-taylor richard haddon william haddon london mercer william brown iohn brown london mercer henry kebble george kebble london grocer william brown iohn brown london mercer george monox n●…t named lon●…on draper thomas seymer iohe seymor london mercer william holleis william holleis london baker george ●…arn george barn london haberdasher william garret iohn garret london grocer william chester iohn chester london draper thomas rowe robert rowe london merchant-taylor william ●…llen william allen london mercer iames hawes thomas hawes london cloath-worker nichol woodrofe david woodrofe london haberdasher iohn branche ●…ohn branche london draper thomas blanke thomas blank london haderdasher george barne george barne london haberdasher martin calthrop martin calthrop london draper iohn garret william garret london haberdasher thomas low simon low london haberdasher ●… henry rowe thomas rowe london mercer iohn swinnerton thomas swinnerton london merchant-taylor sebastan harvey iames harvey london iron-monger william cockain william cockain london skinner martin lumley iames lumley london draper iohn goare gerrard goare london merchant-taylor robert ducy henry ducy london merchant-taylor robert titchborn ........ titchborn london skinner sheriffs of london and middlesex . hen. ii. anno quatuor vic. anno gervasius , & johan . anno gervasius , & johan . filius radulphi . anno anno remiencus fili . berigarii , & socii ejus . anno anno johan . filius radulphi . anno eri saldus sutarius , & vital , clicus . anno remiencus filius boringarii , & will. fil . isabell , for years . anno johan . bievinitte , & bald. clicus anno rad. orificus , & rad. vinter . andre . buckerol , adlord . crispus , david de cornhill , & rog. blundus , for years . anno bricknerus de haverhil , & pet. fil . walter . anno idem . anno will. fil . isab anno waleran . johan . filius nigelli . anno will. fil . isab. & arnulphus buxell . anno will. & regin . le viell . anno idem . anno idem . anno will. & fil . isab. for years . rich. i. anno henri . de cornhill & rich. fil . renner . anno rich filius renner ut supra . anno will & hen. fil . renner . anno nichol. duke , & pet. neveley . anno rog. duke , & rich. fil . alwin . anno will. fil . isabel , & will. fil . arnold . anno rob. besont , & joh. de josue . anno gerard. de anteloch , & rob. durant . anno rog. blunt , & nicol. ducket . anno constant. fil . arnold . & rob. le beau. k. john . anno arnold . fil . arnold . & rich. fil . barthol . anno rog. dorset , & jacob. bartholomew . anno walter . filius alic. & simon . de aldermanbury . anno norman . blundell , & johan . de eely . anno walt. broune , & will. chamberlain . anno tho haverel , & hamon . brond . anno johan walgrave , & rich. de winchester . anno johan . holihand , & edm. fil . gerard. anno rog. winchester , & edm. hard i. e. anno petrus duke , & tho. neal. anno petr. le josue , & will. blound . anno adam . whiteley , & step. le grasse . anno johan . fil . pet. & joh. garland . anno randolp . eyland , & constan. josue . anno martin . fil . alic. & petr. bate . anno solom . basinge , & hug. basinge . anno joh. travers , & audre . newland . hen. iii. anno benedict . seinturer , & will. bluntivers . anno tho. bockerel , & rad. holyland . anno johan . veile , & johan . le spicer . anno rich. wimbledon , & johan . veile . anno rich. renger . & johan . veile . anno rich. renger , & tho. lambart . anno idem . anno johan . travars , & aud. bockerell . anno idem . anno rog. duke , & martin . fil . will. anno idem . anno steph. bokerel , & hen. cocham . anno idem . anno will. winchester , & rob. fil . johan . anno rich walter . & johan . de woborne . anno micha . de s. helen , & walter . de enfeild . anno hen. de edmonton , & gerard. bat. anno sim. fil . mar. & rog. blunt. anno rad. ashwy , & johan . norman . anno gerard. bat. & rich. vel rob. hardle . anno hen. cobham , & jordan . de coventry . anno johan . toloson , & gervasius . anno johan . codras , & joh. wilhall . anno reymond . bongey , & rad. ashwy . anno johan . gisors , & mich. tony. anno tho. duresme johan . voil . anno johan . fil . joh. & rad. ashwy . anno hugo . blunt. & adam . basing . anno rad. foster , & nich. bat. anno rob. de cornhill , & adam . de bewley . anno simon . fil . mar. & laurent . frowick . anno johan . voile , & nic. bat. anno nich. fil . josue , & galf. winchester . anno rich. hardell , & joh. toloson . anno humf. bat. will. fil . richardi . anno laur. frowick , & nic. bat. anno will. duresme , & tho. wimborne . anno johan . northamton , & rich. picard . anno rad. ashwy , & rob. limon . anno steph. doe , & hen. walmond . anno mich. bocherel , & joh. minor. anno rich. otwell , & will. ashwy . anno rob. cornhill , & joh. adrian . anno idem . anno adam . brouning , & hen. coventry . anno iohan. northampton , & rich. picard . anno iohan. taylor , & rich. walbrook . anno rob. de mount. piter . osbert . de suffolk . anno greg. rokesley , & tho. de detford . anno edward . blunt , & petr. anger . anno iohan. hind , & iohan. walraven . anno iohan. adrian , & lucas . de baten-court . anno walter . harvy , et will. duresme anno tho. baseing , et rob. cornhill anno walt. potter , & phil. taylor anno greg. rokesley , & hen. walleys anno rich. paris , & johan . de wodeley edw. i. anno johan . horne , & walt. potter anno nico. winchester , & hen. coventry anno lucas de batencourt , & hen. frowick anno johan . horne , & rad. blunt anno rob. de arer , & rad. le fewre . anno johan . adrian , & walt. langley anno rob. baseing , & will. le meyre anno tho. fox , & rad. delamore anno will. farenden , & nich. winchester anno will. le meyre , & rich. chigwell anno rad. blunt , & ankerin de betavill anno johan . goodcheap , & martin . box anno steph. cornhill , & rob. rokesley anno walt. blunt , & johan . wade anno tho. cross , & gualt . hawteyne anno w. hereford , & tho. stanes anno w. beta●…ne johan . de canter . anno fulke of st. edmond , & salom. langford anno tho. romaine , & w. de leyre anno rad. blunt , & hamond . box anno hen. boll vel bolle , & elias russel anno rob. rokesley jun. & mort. aubery anno hen. box , & rich. glocester anno johan . dunstable , & adam . de halingbury . anno tho. de suffolk , & adam . de fulham anno rich. re●…ham , & tho. sely anno johan . armenter , & hen. fingrith anno lucas de havering , & rich. champnes anno rob. callor , & pet. de bescant anno hugo pourte , & sim. paris anno w. combmartin , & johan . de burford anno rog. paris , & johan . de lincolne anno will. cawson , & regin . thunderley anno galf & sim. billet edw. ii. anno nico. pigot , & nigebrury anno w. baseing , & jam. butteler anno rog. le palmer , & jacobus de saint edmons anno sim. cooper , & petr. blackney anno sim. metwood , & rich. wilford anno johan . lambin , & will. lutkin anno rob. gurden , & hugo . garton anno steph. abingdon , & hamond chigwell anno hamond goodcheap , & willielm . bodeleigh anno will. caston , & rad. balancer anno johan . prior , & will. furneux anno johan . pointell , & joh. dalling anno sim. de abington , & johan ▪ preston anno rena . & will. prodham anno rich. constantine , & rich. de hackney anno johan . grantham , & rich. de ely anno adam . de sarisbury , & johannis de oxford anno benet . de fulham , & johan . cawson anno gilb. mordon , & joh. causton anno rich. rothing , & rog. chauntclere edw. iii. anno hen. darcy , & johan . haughton anno sim. frances , & hen. combmartim anno rich. lazar , & will. gisors anno rob. of eley , & tho. wharwood anno johan . mocking , & and. auberey anno nico. pike , & johan . husband anno johan . hamond , & will. hansard anno johan . kingstone , & walt. turke anno walt. mordon , & rich. upton anno johan . clarke , will. curtes anno walt. neale , & nic. crane anno will. de pomfrett , & hugo marbler anno will. thorney , & rog. frosham anno adam lucas , & barth . morris anno rich. de barkeinge , & johan . de rokesley anno johan . loufkin , & rich. killingbery anno johan . steward , & joh. aylesham anno geffred . witchingham , & tho. leg anno edmund hemenhall , & johan . de gloucester anno joh. croyden , & will. clopton anno adam brapson , et rich. fas , vel bas anno hen. picard , et sim. dolseby anno adam . de bury , & rad. de lynn . anno johan . notte , & will. de worcester . anno johan . wroth , & gilb. de stenineshorpe . anno johan . peache , & joh. stotley . anno will. wold vel wild , & johan . little. anno will. nottingham , & rich. smelt . anno walt. vel tho. forster , & tho. brandon . anno rich. nottingham , & tho. dolsell . anno stephan . candish , & barth . frostlinge . anno iohan. barnes , & iohan. buris . anno sim. de bennington , & iohan. de chichester . anno iohan. dennis , et walt. berny . anno will. holbech , et iacob . tame . anno iohan. de s. alban . et iacob . andrew . anno rich. de croyen , et iohan. hiltoft . anno iohan. de metford , et simon . de mordon . anno iohan. bukylsworth , et iohan. vel tho. ireland . anno iohan. ward , et tho. de lee. anno iohan. turnegold , et will. dickman . anno rob. girdeler , et adam . wimondham . anno iohan. piell , et hugo . holdich . anno will. walworth , et rob. gayton . anno adam . staple , et rob. hatfeild . anno iohan. philpot , et nich. brembar . anno iohan. aubery , et iohan. fished . anno rich. lyons , et will. woodhouse . anno iohan. hadley , et will. newport . anno iohan. northampton , et rob. land. king john . walter brown . ] this is he who with rosia his wife founded the hospital of saint mary without bishopsgate , commonly called saint mary spittle . henry the third . simon . fitz-mary . ] he founded the hospital of mary , called bethlehem ( corruptly bedlam ) without bishops-gate . sheriffs of london and middlesex . name . armes . rich. ii.   anno   andr. pikeman   nich. de twiford arg. two bars , and on a canton sab. a buckle of the first . johan . bosham   tho. cornwallis   johan . helesdon   will. barret   walt. doget   will. knightcott   johan . hende arg. on a cheveron az. escalop shells of the field , on a chief of the second , a lion passant of the first . johan . rote   adam . bam erm. on a chief indented s. an annulet between trefoils arg. johan . sely   johan . more argent , a fess dauncetle gul. & sab. between mullets of points pierced of the third . simon . winchcombe   nich. exon gules , a cross between croslets fitched or. johan . fresh vert , a fess ingraled or in chief an annulet sable . johan . churchman   johan . organ   will. moore   will. stanndon sable , on a cheveron between lions-heads erased arg. cloves proper . hugo . tastolfe   will. venour gules , on a fess or , escallops & , sable . tho. austen   adam . carleille   johan lovey   johan . walcott arg. on a fess sab. escalops or. tho. vynant   johan . francis ermine , on a canton sab. a harp arg. johan . chadworth arg. on a bend s. trefoils of the first . hen. vauner   gilb. muchfeld   tho. newton   urogo . barentme s. eagle●…s arg. in the midst an annulet or. rich. whittington gul. a fess compony or and az. in the dexter canton an annulet . will. brampton   tho. knoll azure , semy of croslets and a cross recercilte or. will. shiringham   roger. ellis   tho. wilford   will. panker   johan . woodcoke or , on a bend gules , crosses bottony fitched at foot of the first . will. askham gules , a fess or , between dolphins najant argent . johan . warmer   johan . wade   hen. iv.   anno   will. walderne arg. a bend between griffons-heads erazed sable . will. hide   will. gnote   johan . wakeley   rob. chichley or , a cheveron ingrailed between cinquefoiles gul. rich. merlaw quarterly gules , and sable , an orle of martlets of the second . tho. polle   tho. fawkoner pally of arg. and sab. on a bend vert trefoils of the first . tho. polle   tho. fawkoner ut prius . hen. barton ermin . a saltire sab. voided of the field . will. crowmer argent , a cheveron ingrailed between choughs proper . nich. wotton arg. a saltire ingrailed sable . galf. brooke   hen. haltoh   hen. pounfrayt   will. norton   tho. dukes   johan . law   will. chichley armes before . johan . penn   tho. pike   johan . raynwell per pale indented argent and sable , a cheveron gules . walt. cotton   hen. v.   anno   johan . sutton   johan . michell   johan . michell sab. a cheveron between escalops or. tho. aleyn   will. cambrigg azu . a cross patonce between swans arg. adam . everard   johan . coventre arg. on a cheveron s. between columbines proper a bezant . rob. widington   hen. rede   johan . gedney arg. on a fess azu . eaglets displayed or , between as many leopards-heads 〈◊〉 johan . parvies or a fess vert , over all a saltire gules . rad. b●…rton   johan . botiller   rob. whitingham   johan . welles lozengy or and ermin . a lion rampant gules . johan . botiller   will. weston   rich. gosselin   hen. vi.   anno   will. eastfield sab. a cheveron between boyes heads arg. crined or. rob. tatersall   tho. wadeford   nich. james   johan . bithwater   sim. se●…man   will. milreth   johan . brockle checkee or and vert . a chief argent rob. arnold   johan . higham   rob. otteley argent , lions-heads erazed within a border ingrailed sable . hen. frow●…cke   johan . abbot   tho. duffhous   will. rus   rad. holland   rob. large arg. a bend azure , between mullets ●…ules . walt. chichley or a cheveron betwixt cinquefoils gu. steph. brown arg. cheverons s. on a canton ermin . an annulet of the second . johan . hatherley   johan . padesley arg. flower deliz . az. charged on the middle with annulets or. johan . olyney g. besanty flanches s. on each a lion ramp . gardant argent . tho. chalton azu . a lion rampant regardant arg. crowned or. johan . linge   tho. brunewell   simon . eyre g. a porcupine saliant arg. quitted and chained about the neck or. rob. clopton gul. a fess ermin . between mascles or. tho. chatworth ermin . pyles sab. on a canton or , a flower deliz azu . will. gregory per pale or and azu . lions rampant indorsed & regardant counterchanged . tho. marsted   will. chapman   will. halys   hugo . dike   nich. yoo , sive goo ▪   rob. markhall   phil. malpas   johan . sutton   will. wettenhall   will. combes   rich. rich   tho. beaumond   rich. norden   johan . norman or , bars gul. on a chief arg. as many flower deliz sable . nich. wyfor●…   steph. foster sa. a cheveron ingrailed ermin , between pheons arg. hugo . vvich ar. on a cheveron gu. plates between caterfoils sliped vert. johan . darby   galf. felding arg. on a fess az. lozenges or. rob. horne   galf. bullen arg. a cheveron gul. between bulls-heads couped sab. armed or. vvill. abram   tho. scot arg. a cheveron between gridirons sable . vvill. catlowe   vvill. marrowe az. a fess ingrailed or , between maiden-heads , arg. crined of the second . tho. caning   vvill. hulyn arg. a cheveron az. within a border ingrailed sable . vvill. dere   johan . middleton   math. philip sable , semy of flower de liz or a lion rampant ermin , crowned gold. chri. marter   rich. lee azure , on a fess between cotises or leopards-heads gul. rich. allyn az. a pale ingrailed ermin . johan . vvalden   tho. cooke or , a cheveron compony g. and az. betw . cinquefoils of the third . vvill. tayllour   johan . felde   johan . young lozengie or and arg. on a bend azu . ebeckes-heads erased of the first . tho. oldgrave az. a cheveron ingrailed ermin , between owls or. johan . styward   rad. varny az. on a cross arg. mullets or. tho. reyner   vvill. edward arg. a fess between martlets sable . ●… rad. jocelin az. a wreath arg. and sab. adorned wit horse-bells or. rich. nedeham   johan . stocker   johan . plommer   edw. iv.   anno   johan . lambard   rich. fleming   geor. ireland   johan . lock   will. hampton gul. a fess checky or and az. within a border arg. bar●…h . james az. on a cheveron between lions pass . gardant or , as many escalops sable . rob. basset   tho. muschamp   johan . tate per fess or and gules , a pale counterchanged between cornish choughs . johan . stone   hen. wever , mil.   will. constantin   johan . brown az. a cheveron between escalops or , within a border ingrailed . johan . stockton g. a cheveron vary arg. and s. between mullets silver . hum. hayford arg. a cheveron s. between roe-bucks tripping gules . tho. stalbroock   will. heriot per pale ermin . and erminess cressants counterchanged . simon . smith   rob. drope arg. gutte de poix on a cheif g. a lion passant gardant or. rich. gardiner per fess arg. and sab. a pale counterchanged between griffons-heads erased of the field . johan . crosbey   johan . vvard●…   johan . shelley   johan . aley●…   tho. bledlowe   johan . brown   vvill. stocker   rob. billesdon az. a bend cotised or , in the sinister chief an eagles-head erased of the second . tho. hill s. a chev. erm. betw . lions passantgua . edw. shaw arg. a chev. between losinges ermines within a border gules . rob. colwich   hugo . brice argent , fretty gul. a plain cross of the first , within a border azure , verdoy of cinquefoils or. rich. rawson   will. horne   hen. collet s. on a cheveron between hinds triping arg. as m●…ny annulets of the first . johan . stocker   rob. harding   rob. byfeld   tho. ilam   johan . ward   will. bacon   tho. daniell armes before . rob. tate   rich. chawry arg. on a cheveron s●… . between birds az. as many annulets of the first . rich iii.   anno   johan . mathew gyrouny of s. and gul. a lion ramp . or , within a border az●… . charged with crosses pattee gold. will. wh●…te s. on a chev ro●… between ewers arg. as many martlets gul. tho. northland   mill. marten or , bars gul. on the first , an e●…chion ermin . rad. astry ●…arry wavy arg. and az. on a chief gul. bezants . tho. breteyn   hen. vii .   anno   johan . tate armes before . johan . swan   johan . percivall per cheveron g. and az. grey-hounds heads ●…rased argent . hugo . clopton paly of or and azure , a lion rampant counterchanged . tho. frukell   will. remington gyrouny of ermin . & az. a dolphin naiant or. rad. tilney ar. a cheveron between gri●…-heads erased gul. will. isacke   will. capell gu. a lion ramp . 'twixt crosses botony fitchy or. johan . brooke   hen. coote   hugo . pemberton   tho. wood   will. borne per pale indented or. and ar. a cheveron be●…en escalopshells gul. will. welbeck   will. purches a●…g . a lion rampant azu . wherion a fess s. charged with besants . rob. fabian   johan . winger arg. on a cheveron between mascles s. as many besants . nich. alwyn arg. a fess nubilee az. between lions passant sable . johan . warner   tho. knesworth ermin . a cheveron wavy gul. between grey-hounds passant . he●… . somer   johan . shawe armes before . rich. haddon or , a mans leg couped at the thigh az. barth . rede per pale g. and s. a croslet botony fitched at base between flower de liz or. tho. vvindew   tho. burdbery sa. a cheveron ermin . between round buckles arg. the tongs pendant . steph. jenings arg. a cheveron g. betwixt plomets s. ●…ac . vvilford   rich. brond   johan . hawes   vvill. stede   laur. aylemer , mil.   hen. hedde   hen. kebill argent , a cheveron ingrailed gul. on a chief azu . mullets or. nich. nynis   chri. hawes   tho. grannger   rog. acheley gules , on a fess ingrailed between griffons-heads erased or , as many crosses patty sitched sable . vvill. brown armes before . rich. shore   rog. ●…rove   vvill. coppinger bendy of arg. and g. on a fess vert plats within a border of the second . vvill. fitz-vvill .   will. botiler arg. on a fess compone g. & az. betwixt croslets of the third annulets or. johan . kirkby   tho. exmewe arg. a cheveron checke g. & sil. between escalopshells s. within a berder of the second ennurny of leopards-heads , and entoir of annulets or. rich smith   hen. viii .   anno   georg. monox arg. on a cheveron s. between holly-leaves proper as many besants , on a chief g. a bird between anchors or , johan . doget   johan . wilborne   johan . rest   nich. shelton   tho. mirfin   rob. fenrother   rob. aldernes   johan . brugges arg. on a cross sa. a leopards-head or. rog. basford sab. dancing bears or. jac. yarford   johan . mundy   hen. warly   rob. baily   tho. seymor sable , a fess imbatiled with ogresses 'twixt as many wings arg. johan . thirston   tho. baldry   rad. simonds   johan . aleyn   jacob. spens   johan . wikenson   nich. pertrich 〈◊〉 argent and sab. on a bend , g. 〈◊〉 o. johan . kime gul. a cheveron ●…etwixt cross cro●…s or. johan . skevington arg. bulls-heads erased sable . johan . bretton   tho. pargiton   johan . rudston   johan . champnes per pale ar. and s. a lion ramp . 〈◊〉 a border ingrailed counterchanged ▪ mich. english * * s. lions passant arg. johan . junis   rad. dodmer   will. roche   johan . counton   chri. askew   steph. peacocke   nich. lambard   johan . hardy   will. howles   rad. warren   johan . long   mich. dormer azu . billets , , , and . or , in a chief of the second , a lion issuant sa. arm . and langued gul. walt. champion   vvill. dauntsey   rich. cophin   rich. gresham   edw. altam   rich. reynolds   johan . prise   vvill. forman   tho. kitson , mil.   nich. lawson   vvill. denham   hum. munmoth   johan . cotes   rob. paget   vvill bowyer   johan . gresham   tho. lewyn   vvill. vvilkinson   nich. gibson azu . storks rising proper . johan . fairy   tho. huntlowe   mart. bowes   vvill. louton   roland . hill , mil.   hen. suckley   hen. hoberthorne   hen. amco●…s arg. a castle betwixt cups covered az. rich. tolus   johan . dobes   johan . wilford   and. judde   georg. barnes   rad. aleyn   rich. jerveys   tho. curtys   edw. vi.   anno   rob. chertesey   tho. white   will. lock   johan . ayliffe   johan . york   rich. turke   agust . hinde   johan . lyon   johan . lambert   johan . cooper   johan . maynard arg. a ch●…ron azu . betwixt hands gules . will. gerrard   rex . phil. & mar. regi .   anno   tho. offley arg. on a cross az. formee ●…rt . a lion passant or. betwixt cornish choughes proper . will hewet   david . woodroffe   will. chester   tho. leigh   johan . macham   will. harpur   johan . white   rich. mallary   jaco . altham   johan . hales   rich. champion   reg. elizab.   anno   tho. lodge   rog. martin   chri. diaper   tho. roo   alex. avenon argent , a cheveron gul. `twixt heur●…s proper . hum. baskervill   will. allen   rich. chamberlain   edw. bauckes   rowland . haward   edw. jackman   lion. ducket azure , bars dancette or , in chief bezants . johan . rivers   jacob. h●…wys   amb. nicolas   johan . langley sab. a cheveron e●…mine , `twixt rams-heads erazed argent . thomas ramsey   will. bond   johan . c●… ffe   jacob. bacon   hen. becher   will. dane   fran. barnham   will. boxe   johan . milles   johan . braunch   rich. pipe azu . crusuly , pypes or. nich. woodroffe   jacob. harvy   tho. pullyson   tho. blancke   anth. gamage   edw. osborn   walstans . dixe   will. kimpton   georg. barne   nich. backhouse   fran. bowyer or , a bend vary betwixt cotises gul. georg. bonde   tho. starkey   mart. caltherpe checke or and azure , a fess ermin . johan . hart   rod. woodcoke   johan . allott   rich. m●…rtin   will. webbe   will. rowe argent , on a cheveron azure , between tresoils parted per pale gul. and vert , as many bezants . cutb. buckell   will. masham   johan . spencer   steph. slany   hen. willingsley   anth. ratli●…   hen. prannell   rob. house   will. elkin   johan . catcher   tho. skynner arg. on a cross az. formy fleury a lion passant or between cornish coughes proper . hugo . offeley   rich. saltenstall   rich. gourney gul. a cheveron , betwixt mallets or. steph. soame sable , a cheveron `twixt mallets ar. nich. mouseley   rich. brooke   will. rider azure , ●…rescents or. benedic . barnham   johan . gerrard   rob. taylor   pavel . banning   pet. haughton   rob. lee   tho. benett   tho. lowe   leon. holliday   johan . watts   ricard . goddard   hen. rowe   johan . moore   edw. holmenden   rob. hampson   rog. clarke   hum. welde   the. cambell   will. craven argent , a fess betwixt cress cro●…s fitchy gules . hen. anderson argent , a cheveron betwixt cross croslets sable . will. glover   jacob . rex .   anno   jam. pemberton arg. a cheveron betw . buckets sable . johan . swynnerton argent , a cross formee flurt sable . will. rumney   tho. middleton   tho. hayes , mil. ermin . leopards-heads erased gules oliver . stile , arm .   clem. scudamore gules , stirrups leathered and buckled , or. johan . jolles , mil.   will. l●…man   johan . leman azure , a f●…ss betwixt dolphins arg. galf. elwis   nich. stile   georg. booles az. cups arg. holding as many bores-heads erected or. rich. far●…ington   rich. pyott   fran. jones   edw. barkham argent , pallets gules , over all a cheveron . georg. smithes   edw. rotheram   alex. prescot   tho. bennett   hen. jay   pet. proby   mart. lumley   will. gore g. a fess betw . cros●…ets fitc●…ee or. johan . gore g. a fess betw . cros●…ets fitc●…ee or. allanus cotton   cu●… . harbert   will. holeday   rob. johnson   rich. herve   hugo . hamersley   rich. deane   jacob. cambell   edrus . allen   rob. ducy or , lions passant gules . geor. whitmore vert , fretty or. nich. ranton   johan . hodges   hum. handford , m.   tho. moulson   rad. freeman azure , lozinges , argent . roland . heylinge   rob. parkhurst   car. rex .   anno   johan . poole   chri. c●…ithenowe   edrus . bromfeild   rich. fenn   maur. abbot , mil.   hen. garway ▪ arg. a pile surmounted by a fess , between leopards-heads gules . rowland backhouse   will. acton , m. & bar .   edmund . wright   humphi . smith   arthur abdey or , chevorons betwixt cinque-folis sable . rob. cambell * ar. on a cheveron s. between pellets , each charged with a martlet of the field , as many mascles o●… . sam. cranmer   hen. prat *   hugo . perry   hen. andrews   gilb. harrison   rich. gurney paly counter-paly of peeces per fess or. & a●… . joh. highlord sab. a bend flory , argent . joh. cordell   tho. soame   joh. gaire   will. abell   jac. gerrard   tho. atkin   edw. rudge   isaac . pennington   joh. woolaston sab. mullets pierced argent . tho. adams ermme , catts azure . johan . warner or , a cheveron betwixt boars-heads eras. sable . johan . towse   abram . reynardson arg. cheverons engrailed and a canton g. whereon a mascle of the field . georg. garret , mil.   georg. clarke arg. on a bend gules , between ogresses as many swans proper . johan . langham argent bears-heads erazed sa. musled or. tho. andrews arg. on a cheveron ●…ngrailed betwixt tersoils vert , as many mullets or. johan . fouke vert. a flower de luce argent . jacob. bunce   will. gibbs   rich. chambers   johan . kendrick   tho. foot arg. a cheveron , and in the dexter-point a trefoyle sable . tho. cullum   simon . edmunds   the reader ( whom i presume no less charitable then judicious ) will not be offended with the many naked blanks or arme-less spaces , annexed to these sheriffs . he that thinks the sheriffs of london as cognoscible persons ( especially so long since ) as these of other counties , may with equal truth maintain the springs of rivers as easily discernable as their channels . for the sheriffs of counties were men of known and grown estates , equally eminent for the roots whence they sprang , as for the branches springing from them ; whereas many sheriffs of london ( like those plants which the gardiners tearm annual , lasting but a year ) appear only eminent during their sherifalty , a●…d afterwards no motion or mention of them , especially of such as died before their mayoralty , the true reason why we could attain but so few armes with any assurance . henry the sixth . . phillipus malpas . ] he * gave by his testament l . to relief of poor prisoners , and every year for five years . shirts and smocks , . pair of sheets , . gowns of freeze to the poor . to . poor people in london , every one . shillings . pence ; to poor maids marriages , . marks ; to high-ways , . marks ; . marks the year to a graduate to preach ; . pounds unto preachers at the spittle on the three easter holy-days , &c. . richard rich. ] he was a mercer , and founded almes-houses at * hodsden in hartford-shire , which no doubt were by him competently endowed , though now the almes-houses are as poor as the almes-folk , the one needing repairing , as much as the other relieving . edward the fourth . . ricard rawson . ] he * gave by testament large legacies to the prisoners , hospitals , and lazer-houses . to other poor , to high-ways , to the water-conduits , besides to poor maids marriages . pounds , and his executors to build a large house in the church-yard of saint maries spittle , wherein the mayor and his brethren doe use to sit , and hear the sermons in easter holy-days . . thomas ilam . ] he newly builded the great * conduit in the cheap , of his own charges , to the great convenience of the city . henry the seventh . . henry kebl●… . ] he gave to high-ways * . pounds , to poor maids marriages . marks , &c. to . almes-men in london . pence the week for ever . he was when living a great benefactor to the building of alder-mary-church , and by his testament gave . pounds towards the finishing thereof , how barbarously he was afterwards requited , and his body cast out of the grave , we have * formerly largely bemoaned and with just indignation . henry the eighth . . george monox . ] he re-edified the decayed * parish-church of waltamstow or walthamstow in essex , he founded there a free-school , and almes-houses for thirteen almes-people , he made also a cawsey of timber over the marshes from walthamstow to lock-bridge . the farewell . and now , being to take my farewell of this great city , i cannot forget the verse , which i find amongst others , in master camden's commendation thereof . urbs pietate potens , numeroso cive superba . potent in piety , in her people proud . but see the romish charity , who confine all piety to popery . the index expurgato●…ius , printed at madrid by lewes sanchez . commandeth the forepart of the verse , concerning their piety to be expunged , letting the latter moity of their pride to remain . may i in this particular be the humble remembrancer of the city , ( without the least intrenching on his place , who worthily dischargeth that office , ) to cross and consute that peevish and partial index . let it be their endeavours , to delete out of their hearts , all high conceits of their populousness , and effectually to express grace and goodness in their conversations . nor let the city of london ever forget quantillum interfuit inter maximam civitatem et nullam ; how little distance there lately was betwixt the greatest city and none at all , if gates and barrs ( as it is generally received ) be the essential difference of a city . but god who can produce light out of darkness can make the plucking d●…wn of the gates , to be the setting up of the city . wherefore though the eleventh day of march , be generally beheld as the first day of spring , london may date her spring from the eleventh day of february . when she effectually felt the vernal heat after a long winter of woe and misery . i heartily wish this honourable city what ever may conduce to the continuance and increase of the happiness thereof . especially that the river of thames , the lif●… of london ( as which easeth , adorneth , inricheth , feedeth and fortifieth it , ) may have its channel constantly continued : the millers riddle , if i have water , i will drink wine ; but if i have no water , i must drink water . is appliable to this city ; so long as thames-water continues , londoners may wine it ; but should it fail , they must drink water indeed , and some perchance brackish too , as made of their tears . i will not pry too nearly and narrowly into the fancy of our * poet , speaking of the ruins of old rome , ne ought save tiber hasting to his fall , o worlds inconstancy ! remains of all : that , which is firm doth flit and fall away , and that is flitting doth abide and stay . and yet by his leave , greater rivers then tiber have in process of time had their streams by casualties or neglect , partly drained , wholy dryed , or otherwise diverted . my humble request therefore to the officers of the city is , effectually to own their concernment in the river of thames , in clearing and cleansing it from sholes , sands , and other obstructing incroachments , that they may leave it as well to posterity , as they found it from their fathers . westminster . westminster is the greatest city in england next london , not onely in position , but by the dimensions thereof . for let it be taken ( as truly it ought ) extensively with the liberty of lancaster from temple-bar , and it filleth as much ground ( not to say containeth more reasonable souls ) then any city in the land. but as a proper man seemeth a dwarfe , when placed next to a giant ; such the infelicity of westminster , whose due greatness , devoured by the vicinity of london , is insensible in the eyes of the beholders . it was anciently called thorney , and afterwards westminster , for distinction from saint pauls , called in ancient times * eastminster . the buildings . the abbey church is beheld as a rare structure , with so small and slender pillars ( greatest legs argue not the strongest man ) to support so weighty a fabrick , built by king henry the third , and afterwards much enlarged and beautified by the abbots thereof . adjoyning to it , is the chappel of king henry the seventh , which leland calls the miracle of the world. indeed let the italians deride our english , and condemn them for gothish buildings , this they must admire , and may here take notes of architecture ( if their pride would permit them ) to perfect theirs accordingly . in this chappel the founder thereof , with his queen lieth interr'd , under a monument of solid * brass , most richly gilded , and artificialy carved . some , slight it for the cheapness , because it cost but a thousand * pounds in the making thereof . such do not consider it , as the work of so thrifty a prince , who would make a little money go far ; besides , that it was just at the turning of the tide ( as one may term it ) of money , which flowed after the finding out of the west-indies , though ebbing before . amongst the civil structures , westminster-hall is eminent , erected by king w. rufus , for the hall to his own court , built with copwebless beams , conceived of irishwood . sure i am , we then had no command in that island , as first subdued by king henry the second . it is one of the greatest rooms in christendome , and indeed it needeth to be of good capacity , to receive so many plantiffes and defendants , being at such mutual distance of affection . next is white-hall , the palace of ou●… english kings , which one term'd a good hypocrite , promising less then it performeth , and more convenient within then comely without , to which the nursery of saint james's was an appendant . as for the houses of noble-men all along the strand , i desire to be excused from commending some , lest it should by caviling spirits be implicitely interpreted a dispraise of the rest . besides , i am ignorant under what name to commend them to posterity ; so many houses daily new-dipt , assume to themselves new names , according to the alteration of their owners . i conclude them therefore all best , and best of all , whilst they continue in the hands of their present possessors . proverbs . as sure as exchequer pay . ] all know , that the exchequer was formerly the treasury of the kings of england , kept in this city , the pleading part on the one side , and the paying part on the other side of westminster-hall . this proverb was in the prime thereof , in the raign of queen elizabeth , who maintained her exchequer to the heigth , that her ex●…hequer might ma●…tain her . the pay thereof was sure inwards , nothing being remitted which was due there to the queen ; and sure outwards , nothing being detained which was due thence from the queen , full and speedy payment being made thereof . this proverb began to be crost about the end of the raign of king james , when the credit of the exchequer began to decay , and no wonder if the streams issuing thence were shallow , when the fountain to feed them was so low , the revenues of the crown being much abated . there is no redemption from hell. ] there is a place partly under , partly by the exchequer court commonly called hell ; i could wish it had another name , seeing it is ill jesting with edge tools , especially with such as are sharpened by scripture . i am informed that formerly this place was appointed a prison for the kings debtors , who never were freed thence , untill they had paid their uttermost due demanded of them : if so , it was no hell but might be termed purgatory according to the popish erronious perswasion . but since this proverb is applyed to moneys paid into the exchequer , which thence are irrecoverable , upon what plea or pretence whatsoever . as long as megg of westminster . ] this is applyed to persons very tall , especially if they have hop-pole-heighth wanting breadth proportionable thereunto . that such a gyant woman ever was in westminster , cannot be proved by any good witness , ( i pass not for a late lying pamphlet ) though some in proof thereof produce her grave-stone on the south-side of the cloistures , which ( i confess ) is as long an large and entire marble , as ever i beheld . but be it known , that no woman in that age was interred in the cloistures , appropriated to the sepultures of the abbot and his monkes . besides , i have read in the records of that abby of an infectious year , wherein many monkes dyed of the plague , and were all buried in one grave , probably in this place under this marble monument . if there be any truth in the proverb , it rather relateth to a great gun , lying in the tower , commonly call'd long megg , and in troublesome times , ( perchance upon ill may day in the raign of king henry the eighth , ) brought to westminster , where for a good time it continued . but this nut ( perchance ) de●…erves not the cracking . princes . edward the first was born in westminster , being a prince placed by the posture of his nativity , betwixt a weak father , and a wilful son. yet he needed no such advantage for foils to set forth his 〈◊〉 worth . he was surnamed longshanks , his step being another mans stride , and was very high in stature . and though oftimes such who are built four stories high are observed to have little in their cock-loft , yet was he a most judicious man in all his undertakings , equally wise to plot , as valiant to perform , and ( which under divine providence was the result of both , ) happy in success at sea , at land , at home , abroad , in vvar , in peace . he was so fortunate with his sword at the beginning of his raign , that he awed all his enemies with his scabbard , before the end thereof . in a word he was a prince of so much merit that nothing under a chronicle can make his compleat character . edward sole ●…on to king henry the sixth , and margaret his queen , was * born at westminster on the day of octo. . now when his father's party was totally and finally routed in the battail at teuks-bury , this prince being taken prisoner , presented to king edward the fourth , and demanded by him , on what design he came over into england , returned this answer , that he came to recover the crown , which his ancestos for three desents had no less rightfully then peaceably possessed . an answer for the truth , befitting the son of so holy a father as king henry the sixth , and for the boldness thereof , becoming the son of so haughty a mother as queen margaret . but presently king edward dashed him on the mouth with his 〈◊〉 , and his brother richard crook-back stab'd him to the heart with his dagger . a barbarous murder , without countenance of justice in a legal , or valour in a military way . and his blood then shed was punished not long after . here i am not ashamed to make this observation . that england had successively three edwards , all princes of wales , sole or eldest sons to actual kings ; two dying violent , all untimely deaths , in their minority , before they were possessed of the crown , viz. edward son to henry . stab'd in the seventeenth years of his age . edward edward . stifled tenth edward richard . pined away eleventh the murder of the second may justly be conceived the punishment of the murder of the first , and the untimely death of the last , ( of whom more in * yorkshire , ) a judgement for the murder of the two former . edward eldest son of edward the fourth and elizabeth his queen , was born in the sanctuary of westminster , november . . his tender years are too soft , for a solid character to be fixed on him . no hurt we find done by him , but too much on him , being murthered in the tower by the procurement of his unckle protector . thus was he born in a spiritual , and kill'd in a temporal prison . he is commonly called king edward the fifth , though his head was ask'd , but never married to the english crown ; and therefore in all the pictures made of him , a distance interposed , forbiddeth the banes betwixt them . elizabeth eldest daughter of king edward the fourth and elizabeth his queen was born in * westminster on the eleventh of february . she was afterwards married to king henry the seventh , and so the two houses of york and lancaster , united first hopefully in their bed , and a●…terwards more happily in their issue . b●…sides her dutifulness to her husband , and fruitfulness in her children , little can be extracted of her personal character . she dyed ( though not in child bearing ) in child-bed , being safely delivered on candlemas day , anno ▪ of the lady katharine , and afterwards falling sick , languished until the eleventh of february , and then died in the thirty seventh year of her age , on the day of her * nativity . she lieth buried with her husband in the chappel of his erection , and hath an equal share with him in the use and honour of that his most magnificent monument . cecily second daughter to king edward the fourth , by elizabeth his queen , bearing the name of cecily dutchess of york , her grand ▪ mother and god mother , was born at westminster . in her child-hood mention was made of a marriage betwixt her and james ( son to james the third ) prince of scotland . but that motion died with her father , heaven ( wherein marriages are made ) reserving that place for margaret her eldest sisters eldest daughter . she long led a single life , but little respected of king henry the seventh her brother in law . that politick king knowing , that if he had none , or no surviving issue by his queen , then the right of the crown rested in this cecily , sought to suppress her from popularity , or any publick appearance . he neither preferred her to any 〈◊〉 prince , nor disposed of her to any prime peer of england , till at last this lady wedded her self to a linconshire lord , john baron wells , whom king henry advanced viscount and no higher . after his death , my ( a ) author saith , she was re-married , not mentioning her ( b ) husbands name , whence i conclude him an obscure person , and this lady rather married then match'd , such the distance betwixt their degrees . probably this cecily , consulting her comfort , more then her credit did it of design , so to be beneath the jealousie of king henry the seventh . she left no children , and the date of her death is uncertain . charles the second ( son to king charles the first of blessed memory ) ( and mary , youngest daughter to henry the fourth king of france , ) was born at saint james's may . . great was the general rejoycing thereat . the university of oxford congratulated his birth with printed poems , and it was taken ill , though causelesly , by some , that cambridge did not do the like : for then the wits of the university were sadly distracted into several counties , by reason of the plague therein . and i remember , cambridge modestly excused herself in their poem made the year after , at the birth of the lady mary , and it will not be amiss to insert and translate one tetrastick , made by my worthy * friend , quod fuit ad nixus academia muta priores , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 carolus , aegra fuit . spe veniente novâ si tunc tacuisset amores , non tantùm morbo digna , sed illa mori . prince charles forgive me , that my silent quill , joy'd not thy birth , alas sore sick was i. new hopes now come , had i been silent still , i should deserve both to be sick and die . his birth was accompanied with two notable accidents in the heavens . the star venus was visible all day long , as sometime it falls out neer her greatest elongation . and two day●… after there was an ecclipse of the sun , about eleven digits , observed by the greatest * mathematicians . and now reader , give me leave to be silent my self , and present thee with the expressions of a most ingenious * gentleman ; to behold this babe , heaven it self seemed to open one eye more then ordinary . — such asterisks and celelestial signatures affixt to times so remarkable as this , usually are 〈◊〉 , prophetically hinting and pointing out somewhat future of eminent contingency . yea such have since been the occurrences in the life of this pious prince , that rightly considered they will appear ( not onely eminent above the common standard of actions , but ) full of miracle and amazement . he was on the . of january . at scoon crowned king of scotland ; being before invaded by an army under the conduct of o. c. soon after quitting that kingdome he marched for england , and on the . of september . nigh * worcester was fought , and lost the day , though he ( to use my * authors expression ) acted beyond the expectation of his friends , and to the great applause of his very enemies . narrow search was made after his person , yea a thousand pounds ( a bait his politique enemies made sure would have been bit at , ) promised to such who should betray him . yet god ( whose angels ●… were his life-guard ) miraculously preserving him out of the hands of his enemies , he safely passed over into france to the queen his mother . during his continuance beyond the seas , great were the proffers tendered unto him if forsaking the protestant religion ; but alas ! as soon might the impotent waves remove the most sturdy rocks , as they once unfix him ; such his constancy , whom neither the frowns of his afflictions , nor smiles of secular advantages , could make to warp from his first principles . at length his piety and patience were rewarded by god , with a happy restitution to his undoubted dominions , and he after a long and tedious exile , landed at dover , may . . to the great joy of his three kingdomes . a prince whose vertues i should injure , if endeavouring their contraction within so narrow a scantling . and yet , i cannot pass over that , wherein he so much resembleth the king of heaven , ( whose vicegerent he is ) i mean his merciful disposition , doing good unto those who spightfully used and persecuted him . and now it is my hearty prayer , that god who appeared so wonderful in his restauration , would continue still gracious to us in his preservation , confounding the plots of his adversaries , that upon him and his posterity the crown may flourish forever . mary eldest daughter of king charles the first and queen mary , was born at saint james's november . . when her royal father out of his paternal love , began to cast about for a fitting confort , this peerless princess ( though tender in years , rich in piety and wisdome , ) made it her humble request , she might be match'd as well in her religion as affection ; which happened answerable to her desires . for not long after , a marriage , treated betwixt her and count william of nassau , eldest son to henry prince of orange , was concluded , and this royal pair wedded accordingly may . . the february following , having at dover taken her leave of the king her father ( the last time she ever saw him on earth , ) she embarked for , and within few days landed in holland . his majesties affairs in england daily growing worse and worse , at length the sad news of his horrid murder arrived at her eares : this was seconded with the loss of her husband the prince of orange , who deceased october . . yet such her signal patience that she underwent the weight of so many heavy afflictions ( sufficient to break the back of a mean christian ) with a courage far surpassing the weakness of her sex . but amidst these her calamities god was pleased to remember mercy , blessing her the november ensuing with a hopeful son . the complexion of the times being altered in england , she came over to congratulate the happiness of her brother his miraculous restitution . when behold sickness arrests this royal princess no bail being found by physick to defer the execution of her death , which happened . on the . of december following , she was honourably [ though privately ] interred at westminster in the chappel of king henry the seventh , and no eye so dry but willingly afforded a tear to bemoan the loss of so worthy a princess . james third son of king charles and queen mary , october was . . born at saint james's . he was commonly stiled duke of york , though not solemnly created until january . . at the rendition of oxford he was taken prisoner , and some two years after , through the assistance of one colonel bamfield , made his escape , landing safe in holland . hence he went for france , where he so prudently deported himself , that he soon gained the favour and honour of the whole court. yea , such was this princes valour and prowess , that before arrived at the age of one and twenty years , he was made leiutenant general of the forces of the king of france , a thing which sounds highly to the esteem of this duke , being a sufficient argument as well of his policy as magnanimity ; seeing a wise head is equally required warily to consult , as a stout heart resolutely to act , for the due performance of that office . this trust he discharged to the admiration of all , atchieving so many noble and heroick exploits , which rendred him renow'd throughout the christian world . yet such the bafeness and ingratitude of the french , that concluding a peace with o. c. the usurper of england , they wholy forgot his former services , and consented to the expulsion of this prince and his royal brothers out of that kingdome . 〈◊〉 valour cannot long lye neglected , soon was he courted by don john de austria into flanders , where in the action at dunkirk , he far surpassed his former deeds , often forgetting that he was a prince to shew himself a true souldier , such his hazarding his person , ( really worth ten thousand of them ) to the great molestation of his true friends . since god out of his infinite love to the english , hath safely returned this duke to his native country , where that he may long live , to be the joy and delight of the whole nation , i shall constantly beg of god in my daily devotions . elizabeth second daughter of king charles the first and queen mary , was born at saint james's anno . on the . day of december . she proved a lady of parts above her age , the quickness of her mind making recompence for the weakness of her body . for the remainder of her life i will my hold peace , and listen to my good friend master * john buroughs thus expressing himself in a letter unto me . the princess elizabeth with her brother henry duke of glocester , being by order of parliament to be removed to carisbroke-castle in the isle of wight , ( where his most excellent maiesty was lately a prisoner ) were accordingly received by mr. anthony mild may from the earl and countess of leceister . at penshurst in kent , and began their unwilling journey on friday . of august . on the . of the same month they were first lodged in carisbroke-castle aforesaid . the princess being of a melancholy temper , ( as affected above her age with the sad condition of her family , ) fell sick about the beginning of september following , and continu●… 〈◊〉 for three or four days , having onely the advise of doctor bignall a worthy and able 〈◊〉 of newport . after very many rare ejaculatory expressions , abundantly demonstrating her unparalelled piety , to the eternal honour of her own memory , and the astonishment of those who waited on her , she took leave of the world on sunday the eighth of the same september . her body being embalmed , was carefully disposed of in a coffin of lead , and on the four 〈◊〉 twentieth of the said month , was brought ( in a borrowed coach ) from the castle to the town of newport , attended thither with her few late servants . at the end of the 〈◊〉 , the corps were met and waited on by the mayor and aldermen thereof in their formalities to the church , where about the middle of the east part of the chancel in saint thomas 〈◊〉 chappel , her highness was interr'd in a small vault purposely made , with an inscription of the date of her death engraved on her coffin . the 〈◊〉 of norway , where a winters day is hardly an hour of clear light , are the 〈◊〉 of wing of any foul under the firmament , nature teaching them to bestir themselves , to lengthen the shortness of the time with their swiftness . such the active piety of this lady improving the little life alloted her , in running the way of gods commande●… . 〈◊〉 third daughter to king charles the first and queen mary , was born at 〈◊〉 james's , march . anno domini . she was a very pregnant lady above 〈◊〉 , and died in her infancy when not full four years old . being minded by those * 〈◊〉 her , to call upon god even when the pangs of death were upon her , i am not able , saith she , to say my long prayer , ( meaning the lords-prayer ) but i will say my short one , lighten mine eyes , o lord , lest i sleep the sleep of death ; this done , the little lamb gave up the ghost . katharine fourth daughter to king charles the first and queen mary , was born at white hall , ( the queen-mother then being at saint james's ) and survived not above half an hour after her baptizing . so that it is charity to mention her whose memory is likely to be lost , so short her continuance in this life . the rather because her name is not entred as it ought , into the register of saint martins in the fields , as indeed none of the kings children save prince charles , though they were born in that parish : and hereupon a story depends . i am credibly informed , that at the birth of every child of the king , born at whitehall or saint james's , full five pounds were ever faithfully paid to some unfaithful receivers thereof , to record the names of such children in the register of saint martins . but the money being emb●…iled ( we know by some , god knows by whom , ) no memorial is entred of them . sad , that bounty should betray any to such baseness , and that which was intended to make them the more solemnly remembred , should occasion that they should be more silently forgotten . say not , let the children of mean persons be written down in registers , kings children are registers to themselves , or all england is a register to them . for sure i am , this common confidence hath been the cause , that we have been so often at a loss , about the nativities and other properties of those of royal extraction . charles stuart son to the illustrious james stuart duke of york , by anne daughter to the right honourable edward hide earl of clarendon , and lord chancellour of england , and frances his lady , descended of the ancient family of the aylesburies , high-sheriffs for many years together of bedford and buckinghamshire , in the reign of king edward the second * and third , was born at worcester-house . day of october . and christened by the right reverend father in god gilbert l. bishop of london , his majesty and george duke of albemarle being his god-fathers , and mary the queen-mother his god-mother : he was declared duke of cambridge , a title which to the great honour of that university for these four hundred years , hath been onely conferred either on forraign princes , or persons of the royal bloud . this princely infant dyed may . . saints . saint wulsy being a man reputed when living , ( and reported when dead ) of great vertue , and innocency ; * was by saint dunstan , created the first abbot of westminster , where he lived many years very exemplary for his conversation , untill his death , which happened anno dom. . then was his body buried in the same monastery , and the . day of september was kept by the citizens of london , with great veneration of his miracle-working memory . martyrs . i meet with none in this city , and in my mean judgment it is most observable that london having two pages ( as i may term them ) attending it , viz. westminster and southwark , both joyned to it in buildings , should be so different from it in condition ; in london we have no room to hold martyrs , in the other two no martyrs to take up any room . inquiring the cause thereof , we find these three places ( though contiguous not to say continued ) in the raign of queen mary under three several jurisdictions ; london under bloudy bonner who made havock of all he could come at : southwark under politick gardner , who took wit in his anger , of whom * formerly : this westminster under john fecknam abbot thereof , with power episcopal , a man cruel to none , courteous and charitable to all who needed his help or liberality . confessors . rain ( which country-people say goeth by planets , ) goeth by providence . * i caused it to rain upon one city , and caused it not to rain upon another . persecution observeth the same method , ordered by the same power and pleasure . a shower of bloud fell upon london , whilst westminster the next city did escape . so that i find neither martyr nor confessor therein . meeting with none before , let us proceed to prelates since the reformation . richard neile was born in kings-street in this city , and was bred in saint johns-colledge in cambridge , he was afterwards vicar of chesthunt in the county of hartford , presented thereunto by the honourable family of the cecills ; he was the first and last native of this city , who became the dean , and so the supreme magistrate thereof . through many bishopricks of coventry and lichfield , durham and winchester , he was at last preferred arch-bishop of york , being also privy counsellor to king james and king charles . he died anno domini . john warner d. d. was born in the parish of saint * clements danes , within the precincts of this city , bred in magdalen-colledge in oxford , at last preferred bishop of rochester . this worthy bishop perceiving the want of a fixed font in the cathedral church of canterbury , bestow'd one upon it , whether more curious or costly , my author * could not decide it , being both ways so excellent and exquisite . a gift the more remarkable , because the * first , which hath been offered by any private hand to that church of later times . but i suspect now this font it self is washed away in the deluge of our late wars under the notion of superstition . god hath given him a great estate , and a liberal heart to make use of it . keeping good hospitality in the christmas at brumley , as he fed many poor , so he freed himself from much trouble ; being absent when the rest of the bishops subscribed their protest in parliament , whereby he enjoy'd liberty in the restraint of others of his order . he was an able and active advocate for episcopacy , in the house of lords speaking for them as long as he had any voice left him , and then willing to have made signs in their iust defence , if it might have been permitted him . but it is now high time for me to put out my candle when day-light shines so bright , i mean to desist from charactering of persons who are so perfectly known to so many alive . i will only adde , this eminent prelate hath since seen the happy restitution of his order , injoying again his former dignity , who now is ( and long may be ) living . statesmen . sir francis bacon knight , youngest son to sir nicholas bacon lord keeper , was born in york-house anno . for being demanded his age by queen elizabeth , he returned , that he was two years younger then her majesties reign . he was bred in trinity-colledge in cambridge , and there first fell into a dislike of aristotles philosophy , as barren and jejune , inabling some to dispute , more to wrangle , few to find out trueth , and none , if confining themselves to his principles . hence it was that afterwards he traded so largely in experiments , so that as socrates is said to be the first , who stooped towring speculations into practical morality : sir francis was one of the first , who reduced notional to real and scientifical philosophy . he was afterwards bred in grays-inn in the study of our municipal law , attaining to great eminency , but no preferment therein , during the reign of queen elizabeth ; imputable to the envy of a great person , who hindred his rising , for fear to be hindred by him if risen , and eclipsed in his own profession . thus the strongest wing of merit cannot mount , if a stronger weight of malice doth depress it . yet was he even then favorite to a favorite , i mean , the earl of essex , and more true to him , then the earl was to himself . for finding him to prefer destructive before displeasing counsel , sir francis fairly for sook , not h●…s person , ( whom his pity attended to the grave ) but practises , and herein was not the worse friend , for being the better subject . by k. james he was made his solicitor , and afterwards his atturney , ( then priviledged contrary to custome to ●…it a member in dom. com. ) and at last lord chancellor of england . his abilities were a clear con●…utation of two vulgar errors errors , ( libells on learned men ) first , that judgement , wit , fancy , and memory , cannot eminently be in conjunction in the same person , whereas our knight was a rich cabinet , fill'd with all four , besides a golden key to open it , elocution . secondly , that he who is something in all , is nothing in any one art , whereas he was singular in singulis , and being in - at - all came off with credit . such as condemn him for pride , if in his place , with the fift part of his parts , had been ten times prouder themselves ; he had been a better master if he had been a worse , being too bountiful to his servants , and either too confident of their honesty , or too conniving at their falshood . the story is told to his advantage , that he had two servants , one in all causes patron to the plantiffe , ( whom his charity presumed always injured , ) the other to the defendant , ( pitying him as compelled to law , ) but taking bribes of both , with this condition , to restore the money received if the cause went against them ? their lord ignorant hereof , always did unpartial justice , whilst his men ( making people pay for what was given them ) by compact shared the money betwixt them , which cost their master the loss of his office . leading a private life , he much delighted to study in the shade of solitariness , and many useful discoveries in nature were made by him , so that he may be said to have left nothing to his executors and all to his heirs , under which notion the learned of all ages may be beheld . his vast bounty to such who brought him presents from great persons occasioned his want afterwards , who in rewarding them so remembred that he had been lord chancellor , that he forgot that he was but the lord verulam . a viscountry that began and ended in him dying issu'less , it being remarkable , that though we have had two earls ( of several * families ) of saint albans , yet was there no lord verulam , as if it were referved for that antient roman colony to be buried in its own reverend ruins and in this peerless lords everlasting memory , much admired by english , more by out-landish men ; distance diminishing his faults to be invisible to forreign eyes , whilst we beheld his perfections abated with his failings . he died anno domini . in the house of the earl of arundel at high-gate , and was buried in saint michaels church in saint albans , master mutis his grateful servant erecting a monument for him . since i have read that his grave being occasionally opened , his scull , ( the relique of civil veneration ) was by one king a doctor of physick made the object of scorn and contempt , but he , who then derided the dead , is since become the laughing stock of the living . writers . sulcard of westminster was an english-man by birth , bred a benedictine monke . he was one of an excellent wit , meek disposition , candid behaviour , and in great esteem with * king edward the con●…essor . what progress he made in learning , may easily be collected from what is recorded in an old manuscript , in westmonasterio vixerunt simul abbas , eadwinus & sulcardus coenobita : sed sulchardus doctrina major erat . he flourished anno domini . under king william the conquerour . gilbert of westminster bred first monkc then abbot thereof . he gave himself to the study of humane learning , then of divinity , and through the guidance of anselme arch-bishop of canterbury attained to great knowledge in the scriptures . afterwards he studied in france , visited rome , in his return from whence he is reported to have had a disputation with a learned jew , which afterwards he reduced into the form of a dialogue , and making it publique he dedicated it to saint anselme . he dyed anno . and was buried in westminster . mathew of westminster was bred a monke therein , and as accomplished a scholar as any of his age . observable is the grand difference betwixt our english history , as he found it and as he left it . he found it like polyphemus when his eye was bored out , a big and bulky body , but blind . memorable actions were either presented without any date which little informed , or too many dates which more distracted the reader . our mathew reduced such confused sounds to an articulate and intelligible voice , regulating them by a double directory of time , viz. the beginnings and deaths of all the kings of england and arch bishops of canterbury . he wrote one history from the beginning of the world to christ ; a second , from christs nativity to the norman conquest ; a third ; from thence to the beginning of king edward the second , augmenting it a●…terwards with the addition of his life and king edward the thirds . he named his book flores historiarum , and if sometimes ( for it is but seldome ) he presenteth a flower less fragrant , or blasted bud , the judicious reader is not tyed to take what he tenders , but may select for his own ease a nosegay out of the choicest flowers thereof . he dyed about the year . since the reformation . beniamin johnson was born in this city . though i cannot with all my industrious inquiry find him in his cradle , i can fetch him from his long coats . when a little child he lived in harts-horn-lane near charing-cross , where his mother married a bricklayer for her second husband . he was first bred in a private school in saint martins church , then in vvestminster school , witness his own * epigram ; camden , most reverend head , to whom i owe all that i am in arts , all that i know . how nothing's that , to whom my country owes the great renown and name wherewith she goes , &c. he was statutably admitted into saint johns-colledge in cambridge , ( as many years after incorporated a honorary member of christ-church in oxford ) where he continued but few weeks for want of further maintenance , being fain to return to the trade of his father in law . and let not them blush that have , but those that have not a lawful calling . he help'd in the building of the new structure os lincolns-inn , when having a trowell in his hand , he had a book in his pocket . some gentlemen pitying that his parts should be buried under the rubbish of so mean a calling , did by their bounty manumise him freely to follow his own ingenuous inclinations . indeed his parts were not so ready to run of themselves as able to answer the spur , so that it may be truly said of him , that he had an elaborate wit wrought out by his own industry . he would sit silent in learned company , and suck in ( besides wine ) their several humors into his observation . what was ore in others , he was able to refine to himself . he was paramount in the dramatique part of poetry , and taught the stage an exact conformity to the laws of comedians . his comedies were above the volge , ( which are onely tickled with down right obscenity ) and took not so well at the first stroke as at the rebound , when beheld the second time ; yea they will endure reading , and that with due commendation , so long as either ingenuity or learning are fashionable in our nation . if his later be not so spriteful and vigorous as his first pieces , all that are old will , and all that desire to be old , should excuse him therein . he was not very happy in his children , and most happy in those which died first , though none lived to survive him . this he bestowed as part of an epitaph on his eldest son , dying in infancy . * rest in soft peace and ask'd , say here doth lye , ben johnson his best piece of poetry . he dyed anno domini . and was buried about the belfry in the abby-church at vvestminster . masters of musick . christopher tye doctor of musick , flourished in the reign of king henry the eight and king edward the sixth , to whom he was one of the gentlemen of their chappel , and probably the organist . musick , which received a grievous wound in england at the disolution of abbyes , was much beholding to him for her recovery ; such his excellent skill and piety , that he kept it up in credit at court and in all cathedrals during his life . he translated the acts of the apostles into verse , and let us take a tast of his poetry , in the former treatise to thee dear friend theophilus ; i have written the veritie of the lord christ jesus . vvhich he to do and eke to teach ; began untill the day ; in which the spirit up did him fetch to dwell above for aye . after that he had power to do even by the holy ghost ; commandements then he gave unto his chosen least and most . to whom also himself did shew from death thus to revive : by tokens plain unto his few even forty days alive . speaking of gods kingdome with heart chusing together them ; commanding them not to depart from that jerusalem . but still to wait on the promise of his father the lord ; of which ye have heard me ere this unto you make record . pass we now from his poetry ( being musick in words ) to his musick , ( being poetry in sounds ) who set an excellent composition of musick of four parts , to the several chapters of his aforementioned poetry , dedicating the same to king edward the sixth , a little before the death of that good prince , and printed it anno domini . he also did compose many excellent services and anthems of four and five parts which were used in cathedrals many years after his death , the certain date whereof i cannot attain . john douland was ( as i have most cause to believe ) born in this city ; sure i am he had his longest life and best livelyhood therein , being servant in the chappel to queen elizabeth and king james . he was the rarest musician that his age did behold : having travailed beyond the seas , and compounded english with forreign skill in that faculty , it is questionable whether he excell'd in vocal or instrumental musick , a chearful person he was passing his days in lawful meriment , truly answering the anagram made of him , * johannes doulandus annos ludendo hausi . christian the fourth k. of denmark coming over into england , requested him of k. james who unwillingly willing parted with him . many years he lived ( as i am credibly informed ) in the danish court , in great favour and plenty , generally imployed to entertain such english persons of quality as came thither . i cannot confidently avouch his death at denmark , but believe it more probably then their assertion , who report him returned and dying in england about the year . benefactors to the publique . james palmer b. d. was born in this city and bred in magdalen-colledge in cambridge ; the company of carpenters in london , gave him an exhibition towards his maintenance there , or lent it him rather ; for since , his bounty hath repaid them the principle with plentiful consideration . he was afterwards for many years the constant preacher of saint bridgets in fleetstreet , the onely church preferment he enjoyed : i perceive thus craft and cruelty may raise a quick and great , but plain frugallity ( especially if vivacious ) will advance a better and surer estate . though sequestred in these times ; what he had formerly gained in his place , he hath since bestowed in building and endowing , over against the new chappel in westminster , a fair almes-house for twelve poor people ; besides this , many and great have his gifts been to ministers poor widdows , and wonder not reader , if they be unknown to me , which were unknown to his own left-hand , all this he did in his life time . o it giveth the best light when one carrieth his lant-horn before him ! the surest way that ones will shall be performed , is to see it performed . yea , i may say , that his poor people in his almes-house are in some sort provided for , not onely from head to foot , but also from body to soul , he constantly preaching to them twice a week . he dyed anno . memorable persons . edmond doubleday esquire , was of a tall and proper person , and lived in this city . nor had this large case a little jewell , this long body a lazy soul , whose activity and valour was adequate to his strength and greatness , whereof he gave this eminent testimony . when sir thomas knevet was sent november . . by king james to search the cellar beneath the parliament-house , with very few , for the more privacy , to attend him , he took master doubleday with him . here they found gui faux with his dark-lant-horn , in the dead of the night , providing for the death of many the next morning . he was newly come out of the divels closset , ( so i may fitly term the inward room where the powder lay , and the train was to be laid , ) into the outward part of the cellar ; faux beginning to bussel , master doubleday instantly ordered him at his pleasure , up with his heels , and there with the traytor lay the treason flat along the floor , by gods goodness detected , defeated . faux vowed ( and though he was a false traitor , herein i do believe him , ) that had he been in the inner room , he would have blown up himself and all the company therein . thus it is pleasant musick to hear disarmed malice threaten , when it cannot strike . master doubleday lived many years after deservedly loved and respected , and died about the year of our lord . the farewell . seeing the well-being ( yea being ) of this city consisteth in the kings court and in the courts of justice , i congratulate the happy return of the one , praying for the long continuance of the other ; yea , may the lawyers in westminster-hall never again plead in their armour , ( as they did in the time of wyats rebellion , ) but in their peaceable gowns and legal formalities . nor doth this wish onely extend to the weal of westminster , but all england . for no such dearth in a land , as what is caused from a drought of justice therein . for if judgement do not run down as * waters , and righteousness as a mighty stream , injustice like an ocean will drown all with its inundation . nor folk hath the german ocean on the north and east thereof , suffolk severed by the river waveny on the south-side , cambridge-shire parted by the river ouse , and a small part of lincoln shire on the west ; it extendeth full . miles from east to west , but from north to south stretcheth not above thirty miles . all england may be carved out of norfolk , represented therein , not onely to the kind but degree thereof . here are fens and heaths , and light and deep , and sand and clay-ground , and meddows and pasture , and arable and woody , and [ generally ] woodless land , so gratefull is this shire with the variety thereof . thus , as in many men , though perchance this or that part may justly be cavelled at , yet all put together , complete a proper person : so norfolk collectively taken hath a sufficient result of pleasure and profit , that being supplied in one part which is defective in another . this county hath the most churches of any in england , ( six hundred and sixty , ) and , though the poorest livings , yet ( by some occult quallity of their good husbandry , and gods blessing thereon , ) the richest clergy-men . nor can there be given a greater demonstration of the wealth and populousness of this county , than , that in the late act for an assessment upon england , at the rate of sixty thousand pounds by the month , for three months , norfolk with the city of norwich , is rated at three thousand two hundred sixty six pounds , thirteen shillings , and four pence , the highest proportion of any shire in england . and , though norfolk hath little cause to please and less to pride it self in so dear purchased pre-eminence , yet it cannot but account it a credit , to see it self not undervalued . natural commodities . it shareth plentifully in all english commodities , and aboundeth with the best and most . rabbits . these are an army of natural pioners , whence men have learned cuniculos agere , the art of undermining . they thrive best on barren ground , and grow fattest in the hardest frosts . their flesh is fine and wholesome . if scotish-men tax our language as improper , and smile at our wing of a rabbit , let us laugh at their shoulder of a capon . their skins were formerly much used , when furs were in fashion , till of late our citizens , of romans are turned grecians , have laid down their grave gowns , and took up their light cloaks ; men generally disliking all habits , though emblemes of honour , if also badges of age . their rich or silver-hair-skins , formerly so dear , are now levelled in prices with other colours , yea , are lower then black in estimation , because their wool is most used in making of hats , commonly ( for the more credit ) called half-beavers , though many of them hardly amount to the proportion of semi-demi-castors . herrings . great store and very good of these are caught nigh yarmouth , where once every year on the feast of saint michael , is a fair held for the sale of fish , and such the plenty of herrings there constantly vented , that incredible the sum which is raised thereby . indeed , the fishing for herrings is a most gainful trade , fish though contemptable in it self , considerable in its company , swiming in such shoals , that what the whale hath in bigness the herring hath in number . ( it may well mind such who excell in strength and valour , not to boast or be proud thereof , seeing the greatest courage may be soon pressed to death under unequal number . ) yea , red-herrings in england mostly eaten for sauce to quicken the appetite , serve in holland and elsewhere for food to satisfy hunger . i will conclude the natural commodities of this county , with this memorable passage , which i have read in a modern * author ; the lord f. w. assured me of a gentleman in norfolk , that made above l . sterl . of a piece of ground not forty yards square , and yet there was neither mineral nor metal in it . he a●…ter told me , it was onely a sort of fine clay , for the making a choise sort of earthen ware ; which some that knew it , seeing him dig up , discovered the value of it , and sending it into holland , received so much money for it . my belief tireth in coming up to the top of this story , suspecting the addition of a cypher . but if it were so , how much would it have inriched us , if those mockchina-dishes had been made in england . manufactures , worsteds . these first took their name from * worsted a village in this county , originally it is nothing but woollen-thred spun very fine , and for the more strength twisted together : but o! it surpassesh my skill to name the several stuffs ( being vvorsted disguised with vveaving and colouring ) made thereof . it argueth the usefulness and publick profit of this commodity , ( which first found a general repute in england toward the end of the raign of king henry the sixth ) that there are no fewer then fourteen statutes now in force in the well ordering thereof to merchantable proof ; and appointing which of them may , which may not be transported . not to speak of four vvardens * of vvorsted vveavers to be chosen yearly within the city of norwish , and other four out of the county of northfolk , with their solemn oath , office and authority . as for worsted stockins they were first made in england anno . by * vvilliam rider an ingenious apprentice living against saint magnus church at the foot of london bridge : this william chancing to see a pair of knit worsted stockins in the lodging of an italian merchant , who had brought them from man●…ua , borrowed them , and making the like by that pattern , presented them to vvilliam earl of pembroke who first wore them in england . proverbs . norfolk dumplings . ] this cannot be verified of any dwarfish , or diminutive stature of people in this county , being as tall of their bodies , and as tall of their arms too , i assure you , as any in england . but it relates to the fare they commonly feed on , so generally called . i wish , much good may it do them , and that their bodies thereby may be enabled for all natural , civil and spiritual performances . norfolk vviles . ] such the skill of the common people hereof in our common-law , wherein they are so versed , ut si nihil sit * litium , lites tamen ex juris apicibus serere callent . if i must go to law , i wish them rather of my counsel then my adversaries . for whereas pedibus ambulando is accounted but a vexatious suit in other counties , here ( where men are said to study law as following the plough tail ) some would perswade us , that they will enter an action for their neighbours horse but looking over their hedge . now , although we listen to this but as a jeer , yet give me leave to observe two parts in vviles . vvittiness which all must commend . vvickedness condemn . sure i am , that in * scripture a vvile always male audit , is taken in an evil sense , as wherein the simplicity of the dove is stung to death by the subtilty of the serpent . but no more hereof least norfolk-men commence a suit against me , though i verily believe many therein are of as peaceable dispositions as any in other places . a yarmouth capon . ] that is a red-herring . no news for creatures to be thus disguised under other names , seeing criticks by a libyon bear , sub pelle libystidis ursae , understand a lion , no bears being found in the land of libya . and i believe few capons ( save what have more fins then feathers ) are bred in yarmouth . but to countenance this expression , i understand that the italian friers ( when disposed to eat flesh on fridays ) call a capon , piscem è corte , a fish out of the coop . he is arrested by the baily of marshland . ] the aire of marshland in this county is none of the wholesomest , being surrounded with the sea and fens on all sides . hence it is that strangers coming hither , are clapt on the back with an ague , which sometimes lasts them longer then a stuffe suit. the best is when such prisoners have paid the bailiffs fees and garnish , and with time and patience have weathered out the brunt of that disease , they become habited to the aire of the country , and arrive in health at a very great age . princes . i meet with no prince since the conquest taking his first breath in this county , probably , because so remote from the principal place of royal residence . prelats . gilbert berkeley was * born in this county , but descended from the ancient barons of that name , as appeareth by his armes . he was consecrated bishop of bath and wells in the first of queen elizabeth , and sate therein . years . he died of a lethargy being . years of age . and is buried on the north-side of the communion-table of his own cathedral . john aylmer brother to sir robert aylmer knight , was born , at aylmerhall in the parish of tilsely in this county , as his nearest surviving relations have informed me , from whom i have received the following information . when he was but a child going toward school , henry gray duke of suffolk having some discourse with , took so much liking unto him , that after he had been bred some years in the university of cambridge , he made him his chaplain , and committed his daughter the lady jane gray to his tuition . in the reign of queen mary he fled over beyond sea , and was little less then miraculously saved from the searchers of the ship , by the ingenuity of a marchant who put him into a great wine-but which had a partition in the middle , so that master aylmer sate in the hind part , whilst the searchers drank of the wine which they saw drawn out of the head or other end thereof . returning into england he was made arch-deacon of lincoln , and at last bishop of london . he was happy in a meet yoke-fellow , having a gratious matron to his wife , by whom he had many children , and one son to which arch-bishop whitgift was godfather , and named him tob-el , that is , the lord is good , in memorial of a great deliverance bestowed on this childs mother . for when she was cast out of her coach in london , ( by a mastiff casually seising upon the horses ) she received no harm at all , though very near to the time of her travail . bishop aylmer was well learned in the languages , a ready disputant , and deep divine . he was eighteen years bishop of london , and dying anno . in the . year of his age , had this for part of his epitaph , which bishop vaugham ( sometimes his chaplain , afterwards his successor ) made upon him . ter senos annos praesul , semul exul & idem bis pugil in causa religionis erat . eighteen years bishop , and once banish'd hence and twice a champion in the truths defence . i understand it thus , once a champion in suffering , when an exile for religion , and again in doing , when chosen one of the disputants at westminster against the popish bishops primo elizabethae ; except any expound it thus : once champion of the doctrine against papists , and afterwards against the discipline of the non-confromists , none more stoutly opposing or more fouly belibelled of them . god blessed him with a great estate , the main whereof he left unto samuel aylmer his eldest son , ( high-sheriff of suffolk in the reign of king charles ) and amongst his youngest sons ( all well provided for ) doctor aylmer rector of haddam in hartfordshire , was one of the most learned and reverend divines in his generation . john towers was born in this county , bred fellow of queens-colledge in cambridge ; and became chaplain to william earl of northampton , who bestowed on him the benefice of castle-ashby in northampton-shire . he was preferred dean and at last bishop of peterborough . he was a good actor when he was young , and a great sufferour when he was old , dying ( about the year . ) rich onely in children and patience . nothing but sin is a shame in it self , and poverty as poverty ( especially since our saviour hath sanctified , it by suffering it ) is no disgrace . capital judges and writers on the law. ralph de-hengham so named from a fair market-town in this county , was made lord chief-justice of the kings-bench in michaelmas term in the * second year of king edward the first , when the king was newly returned from the holy-land . he sate . years in that place ( saving that one winborne was for a * year or two interposed ) and at the general purging and garbling of the judges , which happened in the . year of the aforesaid king , when all the judges ( except two , john de * metingham and elias de bekingham , ) were cast out by the parliament for their corruption , fined , banished and imprisoned , then this ralph was merced in seven thousand marks , for bribery , and ejected out of his place . some will say , let him wither in silence , why do you mention him amongst the worthies of our nation ? i answer , penitence is the second part of innocence , and we find this ralph after his fine payed , made chief-justice of the * common-pleas , sub recipiscendi fiducia , under the confidence generally conceived of his amendment . he died the next , being the . * year of the raign of king edward the first , he lies buried in the church of saint paul , where he hath or had this epitaph , per versus patet hos anglorum quod jacet hic flos legum , qui tuta dictavit vera statuta . ex hengham dictus radulphus vir benedictus . one must charitably believe that he played a good after-game of integrity , and if injoying longer life , he would have given a clearer testimony thereof . william paston esq. son of clement paston , esq. and beatrix his wife , ( sister and heir to jeffry sommerton esq. ) was born at paston in this county . he was learned in the laws of this realm and first was serjeant to king henry the sixth , and was after by him preferred second judge of the common-pleas . i confess having confined our catalogue to capital judges or writers on the law , he falls not under our method in the strictness thereof . but i appeal to the reader himself , whether he would not have been highly offended with me , had i in silence passed over a person so deserving his observation . he was highly in favour with king henry the sixth , who allowed him , besides the ordinary salary assigned to other judges , one hundred and ten marks , ( reader behold the standard of money in that age and admire ) with two gowns to be taken yearly out of the exchequer , as by the ensuing letters patents will appear ; henricus dei gratia rex angliae & franciae , & dominus hiberniae , omnibus ad quos praesentes literae pervenerint , salutem : sciatis quod de gratia nostra speciali , & ut dilectus , & fidelis noster willielmus paston unus justiti . nostrorum de com . banco statum suum decentius manu tenere , & expensas , quas ipsum in officio pradicto facere oportebit , sustinere valeat ; concessimus ei centum & decem marcas percipiendum singulis annis ad scaccarium nostrum , ad terminos pasche & sancti michaelis per equales portiones ; & duas robas per annum percipiendum , unam videlicet cum pellura ad festum natalis domini , & aliam cum limra ad festum pentecostes , ultra feodum consuetum , quamdiu ipsum stare contigerit in officio supradicto . in cujus rei testimonium has literas nostras fieri fecimus patentes , teste meipso apud westminst . xv. die octobris anno regni nostri octavo . what pellura is i understand , furr , but what limra is ( if rightly written ) i would willingly learn from another , though some are confident it is taffata . i wonder the less at these noble favours conferred on the said william paston judge , for i find him in grace with the two former kings , being made serjeant by king henry the fourth , and of ●…is counsel for the dutchie of lancaster , and in the reign of king henry the fifth , he was in such esteem with sir john falstofe knight , that he appointed him one of his feoffees , whom he enabled by a writing under his hand to recover debts from the executors of king henry the fifth . this william paston married agnes daughter and heir of sir edmond berrey , by which marriage the pastons rightly quarter at this day the several coats of hetherset , wachesham , craven , gerbredge , hemgrave and kerdeston , and received both advancement in bloud and accession in estate . this said vvilliam paston died at london , august . . and lies buryed in norwich ; so that his corps by a peculiar exception do straggle from the sepulture of their ancestors , who from vvolstan de paston ( who three years after the conquest * came into england to vvilliam earl of glandwill , ) were all interred at paston . he lest rich revenues to john paston esquire , his eldest son , who married margaret daughter and heir of john mautby ; and no mean estate to vvilliam his second surviving son , who married anne daughter to edmond duke of somerset . sir edward coke knight , son of robert coke esquire , and of vvinefred knightly his wife , was born at mileham in this county ; bred , when ten years of age , at norwich-school , and thence removed to trinity-colledge in cambridge . after four years continuance there , he was admitted into cliffords-inn-london , and the year following entered a studient of the municipal-law in the inner-temple . such his proficiency therein , that at the end of six years ( exceeding early in that strict age ) he was call●…d to the bar , and soon after for three years chosen reader in lyons-inn . here his learned lectures so spred forth his fame , that crouds of clients sued to him for his counsel , and his own suit was the sooner granted , when tendering his affections in order to marriage , unto briget daughter and co-heir of john paston esquire . she was afterwards his incomparable wife , whose portion moderately estimated , viis & modis , amounted unto thirty thousand pounds , her vertues not falling under valuation , and she enriched her husband with ten children . then began preferment to press upon him , the city of norwich chusing him recorder , the county of norfolk their knight to parliament , the queen her speaker therein , as also successively her solicitor and attorney . king james honoured him with knighthood , and made him chief justice , first of the common-pleas , then of the kings-bench . thus beginning on a good bottome left him by his father , marrying a wife of extraordinary wealth , having at the first great and gainful practice , afterwards many and profitable offices , being provident to chuse good penny-worths in purchases , leading a thrifty life , living to a great age , during flourishing and peaceable times , ( born as much after the persecution under queen mary , as dying before our civil wars ) no wonder if he advanced a fair estate , so that all his sons might seem elder brethren , by the large possessions left unto them . some falsly character him a back-friend to the church and clergy , being a grand benefactour to the church of norwich , who gratefully under their publique seal honoured him with the ensuing testimony , edwardus coke armiger , saepius & in multis difficillimis negotiis ecclesiae nostrae auxiliatus est , & nuper eandem contra templorum helluones , qui dominia , maneria & haereditamenta nostra devorare sub titulo obscuro ( concelatum dicunt ) sponte suâ nobis insciis , & sine mercede ullâ legittimè tutatus est ; atque eandem suam nostri defensionem , in perpetuam tantaerei memoriam , quam posterorum , ( si opus fuerit ) magna cum industria & scriptis redegit , & nostrae ecclesiae donavit . as for the many benefices in his own patronage , he freely gave them to worthy men , being wont to say in his law-language , that he would have church-livings pass by livery and seisin , not bargain and sale. five sorts of people he used to fore-design to misery and poverty ; chemists , monopolizers , concelers , promoters , and rythming poets . for three things he would give god solemn thanks ; that he never gave his body to physick , nor his heart to cruelty , nor his hand to corruption . in three things he did much applaud his own success ; in his fair fortune with his wife , in his happy study of the laws , and in his free coming by all his offices , nec prece , nec pretio , neither begging , nor bribing for preferment . his parts were admirable , he had a deep judgment , faithful memory , active fancy ; and the jewel of his mind was put into a fair case , a beautiful body , with a comely countenance ; a case , which he did wipe and keep clean , delighting in good cloaths , well worne , and being wont to say , that the outward neatness of our bodies , might be a monitor of purity to our souls . in his pleadings , discourse and judgements , he declined all circumlocutions , usually saying , the matter lies in a little room . in all places , callings and jurisdictions , he commended modesty and sobriety within their boundaries , saying , if a river swells beyond its banks , it loseth its own channel . if any adverse party crossed him , he would patiently reply , if another punisheth me , i will not punish my self . in the highest term of business he made vacation to himself at his table , and would never be perswaded privately to retract , what he had publikely adjudged , professing , he was a judge in a court , and not in a chamber . he was wont to say , no wise man would do that in prosperity , whereof he should repent in adversity . he gave for his motto , prudens qui patiens , and his practise was accordingly , especially , after he fell into the disfavor of king james . the cause hereof the reader may find in our english chronicles , whilst we behold , how he employed himself when retired to a private life , when he did frui suo infortunio , and improv'd his loss to his advantage . he triumphed in his own innocency , that he had done nothing illegally , calling to mind the motto which he gave in his rings when made serjeant , lex est tutissima cassis , the law is the safest helmet . and now he had leisure to peruse what formerly he had written , even thirty books with his own hand , most pleasing himself with a manual , which he called his vade mecum , from whence at one view he took a prospect of his life pass'd , having noted therein most remarkables . his most learned and laborious works on the laws , will last to be admired by the judicious posterity whilst ●…ame hath a trumpet left her , and any breath to blow therein . his judgement lately passed for an oracle in law , and if since , the credit thereof hath causelesly been questioned , the wonder is not great . if the prophet himself , living in an incredulous age , found ●…ause to complain , * who hath believed our report ? it need not seem strange , that our licentious times have afforded some , to shake the authenticalness of the reports of any earthly judge . he constantly had prayers said in his own house , and charitably relieved the poor with his constant almes . the foundation of suttous-hospital ( when indeed but a foundation ) had been ruined before it was raised , and crush'd by some courtiers in the hatching thereof , had not his great care preserved the same . the free-school at thetford was supported in its being by his assistance , and he founded a school on his own cost at godwick in this county . it must not be forgotten , that doctor whitgift ( afterwards arch-bishop of canterbury ) was his tutor , who sent unto his puple , when the queens atturney , a fair new testament with this message ; he had now studied common-law enough , let him hereafter study the law of god. let me adde to this , that when he was under a cloud at court , and outed of his judges place , the lands belonging to the church of norwich , which formerly he had so industriously recovered and setled thereon , were again called into question , being begged by a peer , who shall pass nameless . sir edward desired him to desist , telling him , that otherwise he would put on his gown and cap , and come into westminster-hall once again , and plead there in any court in justification of what he had done . he died at stoke poges in buckingham-shire , on wednesday the . of september being the . year of his age , whose last words were , thy kingdome come , thy will be done . sir thomas richardson knight , was born at mulbarton in this county , his father being minister thereof . he was bred in the study of our municipal-law , and became the kings serjeant therein . afterwards , on the . of november . he was sworn chief justice of the common-pleas , that place having been void ten months before . but coming now to our own times , it is safest for me to break off . virgil , i remember , put a period to his eclogue with et hylax in limine latrat — vve 'l verfifie no more , for do but hark , hylax doth bark , at th' entrance of the dore. seeing many will be ready to carp , it is safest for me to be silent , whilst his brass monument on the south-side of vvestminster abby , thus entertaineth the reader ; deo om. thomae richardsoni iceni equitis aurati humanum depositum . ille juris municip . omnes gradus exantlavit conventus tertii ordinis ann . jacobi regis , & . prolocutor extitit ; fori civilis ( communium placitorum vocant ) supremum magistratum quinquennium gessit ; ad summum tandem primarii per angliam judicis tribunal a rege carolo evectus : expiravit anno aetatis . salutis mdcxxxiiii . tho. richardson fil . unicus eques aur. baro scotiae designatus patri incomparabili posuit . this judge married for his second lady elizabeth beaumont , the sister ( as i take it ) of mary countess of buckingham , and the relict of ........ ashburnham knight . she was by king charles created baroness of craumount in scotland , and ( though issueless by the judge ) the honour descended to his grand-child . souldiers . robert venile knight , one i confess whose name i never heard of , till meeting with this memorable note in a modern * historian ; and here must not be forgotten , robert venile knight , a norfolk man ; who when the scots and english were ready to give battle , a certain stout champion of great stature , commonly called tournboll , coming out of the scots army , and challenging any english man to meet him in a single combate ; this robert venile accepteth the challenge , and marching towards the champion , and meeting by the way a certain black mastife dog , which waited on the champion , he suddenly with his sword cut him off at the loyns , and afterwards did more to the champion himself , cutting his head from off his shoulders . this put me with blushing enough ( that one so eminent in himself should be altogether to me obscure , ) upon the inquiry after this valiant knight , but all my industry could not retrive him in any author , so that he seems to me a kin to those spirits , who appear but once , and finally vanish away . sir oliver hingham was born , richly landed , and ▪ buried in hingham , an eminent market-town in this county . a right valiant man , whom king edward the third left governour of aquitain in france , an honorable , but difficult place , being to make good a great country with a few men , against a fierce and numerous enemy . yet he gave a good account of his trust . when the french lay before burdeaux , the citizens thereof , to abuse the enemies hopes , set open their gates , displaying the golden-lilies , the french-armes on their towers , as if they were theirs ; the french were no sooner securely entred , but brave oliver , captain of this city , and warden of the whole country for king edward , gave them such an * entertainment , that they drank not so much claret-wine in the city , as they left bloud behi nd them . this happ'ned in the thirteenth year of the reign of king edward the third . this sir oliver liv'd many years after , and was made knight of the garter , and lies buried at hingham under a fair tomb of free-stone curiously wrought , with his resemblance in his coat-armour ( having a crowned * owle out of an ivy-bush for his crest ) lying upon a rock , beholding sun , moon , and stars , ( because a great travailer ) all lively set forth in metal , with four and twenty mourners about his monument . john fastolfe knight , was a native of this county , as i have just cause to believe , though some have made him a french-man , meerly , because he was baron of sineginle in france , on which account they may rob england of many other worthies . he was a ward ( and that the last ) to john duke of bedford , a sufficient evidence to such who understand time and place to prove him of english extraction . to avouch him by many arguments valiant , is to maintain that the sun is bright , though since the stage hath been over bold with his memory , making him a thrasonical puff , and emblem of mock-valour . true it is sir john oldcastle did first bear the brunt of the one , being made the make-sport in all plays for a coward . it is easily known out of what purse this black peny came . the papists●…ailing ●…ailing on him for a heretick , and therefore he must also be a coward , though indeed he was a man of arms , every inch of him , and as valiant as any in his age . now as i am glad that sir john oldcastle is put out , so i am sorry that sir john fastolfe is put in , to relieve his memory in this base service , to be the anvil for every dull wit to strike upon . nor is our comedian excusable , by some alteration of his name , writing him sir john falstafe , ( and making him the property of pleasure for king henry the fifth , to abuse ) seeing the vicinity of sounds intrench on the memory of that worthy knight , and few do heed the inconsiderable difference in spelling of their name . he was made knight of the garter by king henry the sixth , and died about the second year of his reign . sir clement paston knight , fourth son to sir vvilliam paston , son to sir john paston , a famous soldier , and favorite to king edward the fourth , ( sent by him with the lord scales to conduct the lady margaret , the sister of the king , to her husband charles duke of burgundy , ) son to vvilliam paston the judge , was born at paston in this county . when a youth he was at the burning of conquest in france , and afterwards by king henry the eight was made captain of one of his ships of war , and in a sea-fight took a french gally , and therein the admiral of france prisoner , called the baron of blancard , whom he brought into england , and kept at castor nigh rarmouth , till he had payed . crowns for his ransome , besides the spoil of the galley , wherein he had a cup and two snakes of gold , which were the admirals , and which sir clement used during his life on festivals , and at his death bequeathed them to his family for a monument . he received divers wounds , and was left for dead at muscleburough-field in scotland . when sir thomas vvyat in the reign of queen mary , was worsted at ludgate , and desired for the more civil usage to render himself to a gentleman , he submitted himself ( saith our historian ) to sir clement paston . he served at new-haven , having command of some ships of queen elizabeth , and was pensioner to two kings , and two queens successively . so rare was his happiness , that he spent his old age honourably , quietly and in good house-keeping in this county , where at oxnit , he built a goodly house for hospitality , and a hospital hard by , for six poor serving-men , retainers to his name and family , allowing them convenient maintenance . he died anno domini . . and lieth buried in a fair tombe in the church at oxnit . seamen . no county in england doth carry a top and top gallant more high in maritime performances , then norfolk . witness the proportion of yarmouth alone in the ensuing catalogue of ships , used by king edward the third against calis . the south-fleet ships . the north-fleet ships . ships of london . ships of yarmouth . the mariners thereof . the mariners thereof . mariners of london . mariners of yarmouth . or . know reader , i cannot with all my diligence and interest recover the original of this catalogue , as extant not in the tower , ( where by my friends favour i could do something ) but in the kings great vvardrobe in london , out of which it is cited by our * author . but our times ( i fear ) have brushed it away with the rest of the vvardrobe . however give me leave to make some annotations thereon . . these ships , as by their great number appeareth , were small vessels : yet as good as any in that age of england ; and better ( witness their victories ) then any in france . . the proportion may seem strange that yarmouth should afford , well nigh , twice as many ships and mariners , as london it self . . except it was that the king spared london , at this time , as the sure reserve for his navy , on all occasions . . or except there be a mistake in the numbers , ( figures in writing , as well as figures in rethorick may , with a small dash , have their meiosis made an hyperbole . ) and the various lections in the mariners of yarmouth doth something shake ( though not shatter ) the credit of the account . . the numbers may be very true , yarmouth in that age being so populous a place , that ( though but one parish ) a lamentable plague in one year did sweep thence * men to the grave . thus , though the church ( and that very large ) could never hold their living , the church yard could contain the dead . seeing persons alive will not be pressed in their pews so close , as corps may be crowded together in their graves . but let us proceed to the particular sea men of this county , and let none be offended if a frier be put in the front before all the rest , viz. nicholas of lynne * born in that town , bred in oxford , and is generally accounted a franciscan frier . but my * author , being a carmelite himself , makes him one of his own order . and all acknowledge him an excellent musician , mathematician , and astrologer . it is reported of him , how in the year . being the thirty year of the reign of king edward the third , he sailed , with others , to the most northern islands in the world . then leaving his company , and taking his astrolabe , he , by the help of art-magick , ( so mathematicians are nick-named by the ignorant ) went as far as the pole it self , where he discovered four in-draughts of the ocean , from the four opposite quarters of the world , from which many did conceive , as well the flowing of the sea , as blasts of the winds to have their original . were these things true , and had they been known to the ancients , as it would have spared philosophers much pains , in disputing the moon the cause of the motion of the tide in the sea , so had it spoiled * virgil his fancy , in making the country of aeolia the onely magazene of the winds . sure i am , gerardus mercator hath so graced the fancy of this frier , that he made his description of the countries about the artick pole , conformable to this his imaginary discovery , preferring to fill that his map with a fiction , then otherwise to leave it altogether empty . but the other parts of his book have more solid and substantial truths , ór else weak were the shoulders of his atlas to support the world therewith . but to return to frier nicholas . * one tells us he wrote a book of his discoveries , and intituled it inventio fortunata . sure it is , he was highly honoured by our learned * chaucer , witness his testimony of him , styling freere n. linne , a reverend clerk. but all his learning could not sence him from death , which happened about the year . and he was buried in linne , the town of his nativity . peter read what he was , his ensuing epitaph on his monument in the south-isle in saint peter's church in norwich will fully acquaint you , here under lieth the corps of peter read esquire , who hath worthily served not onely his prince and country , but also the emperour charles the fifth , both at his conquest of barbary , and his siege at tunis , as also in other places . who had given him by the said emperour for his valiant deeds the order of barbary . who died the . day of december in the year of our lord god . we place him among sea men because finding first his mention in * hakluit's voyages , and salt-water is the proper element of the pen of that author . secondly , because his service was performed at tunis , a port-town in a sea expedition . now , although we confess it follows not , that he was born in or about norwich , because buried therein ; ( vast oftimes the distance betwixt the cradles and coffins of far-travaillers , ) yet let none dislike his placing here , but such who can disprove it , and depose the negative , that elsewhere he had his nativity . it is observable that this sir peter , kinghted by the emperour , as appears in his epitaph , ( let me adde anno . ) is onely styled , not less modestly then truly esq. upon his monument . i confess some maintain that though higher honours ( baron , count , &c. ) are onely local to be owned by the person receiving them , in that place where they are given him : yet that knighthood given by a sovereign prince is universal and passeth currant , through all christendome . but others , their equals , as stifly deny it , and one who is their superior , ( i mean queen elizabeth ) who in the case of * count arundle , would not admit of any forreign honour conferred on her subjects , avowing that her sheep should onely be known by her own mark. writers . john baconthorpe was born in a * village so called in this county , bred a carmelite in the convent of blackney , and afterwards studied first in oxford , then in paris , one remarkable on many accounts . first for the dwarfishness of his stature , scalpellum calami atramentum charta libellus , his pen-knife , pen , ink-horn , one sheet of paper , and any of his books would amount to his full height . as for all the books of his own making , put together , their burden were more then his body could bear . secondly , for his high spirit in his low body . indeed his soul had but a small diocess to visit , and therefore might the better attend the effectual informing thereof . i have heard it delivered by a learned doctor in physick , ( at the anatomy lecture in london ) who a little before had been present at the emboweling and and embalming of duke hamilton and the lord capel , that the heart of the former was the largest , the latter the least he had ever beheld , inferring hence , that contracted spirits act with the greatest vigorousness . thirdly , for his high title , wherewith he was generally termed the resolute doctor . two sorts of people he equally disliked , scepticks who are of none ; and unconstant people who are [ successively ] of all opinions , and whilst others turned about like the wheel , he was as fixed as the axletree in his own judgement . yet this his resoluteness was not attended with censuring of such who were of another opinion , where equal probability on either side allowed a latitude to dissent . he groaped after more light then he saw , saw more than he durst speak of , spake of more then he was thanked for by those of his superstitio●…s order , amongst whom ( saith bale ) neither before , nor after , arose the like for learning and religion . most agree in the time of his death , anno . though dissenting in the place of his burial , assigning blackney , norwich , london , the several places of his interment . john golton born at tirington in this county , was chaplain to william bateman bishop of norwich , and first master ( by the appointment of the founder ) of * gonvil-hall in cambridge . leland allows him a man plus quam mediocriter doctus & bonus , for which good qualities king * henry the fourth advanced him arch-bishop of armagh and primate of ireland . he was imployed to the court of rome in the heavy schisme betwixt pope urban the sixth and clement the seventh , which occasioned his writing of his learned treatise , de causa schismatis ; and because , knowing the cause conduceth little to the cure without applying the remedy , he wrote another book de remediis ejusdem . it seemeth he resigned his arch-bishoprick somewhat before his death , * which happened in the year of our lord . alan of lynne was * born in that famous mart-town in this county , and brought up in the university of cambridge , where he proceeded doctor of divinity , and afterwards became a carmelite in the town of his nativity . great his diligence in reading many and voluminous authors , and no less his desire , that others with him should reap the fruit of his industry , to which end he made indexes of the many writers he perused . an index is a necessary implement , and no impediment of a book , except in the same sense wherein the carriages of an army are termed impedimenta . without this , a large author is but a labyrinth without a clue to direct the reader therein . i confess , there is a lazy kind of learning , which is onely indical ; when scholars ( like adders which onely bite the horse heels ) nibble but at the tables , which are calces librorum , neglecting the body of the book . but , though the idle deserve no crutches , ( let not a staff be used by them , but on them , ) pity it is the weary should be denied the benefit thereof , and industrious scholars prohibited the accommodation of an index , most used by those who most pretend to contemn it . to return to our alan , his herculean labour in this kind doth plainly appear to me , who find it such a toil and trouble , to make but an index of the indexes he had made of the authors following . aegidius alcuinus ambrosius anselmus aquinas augustinus baconthorpe basil bede belethus . bles. bernard berthorius cassianus cassiodorus chrysostome cyril damascen gerard. laodic . gilbert gorham gregory haymo hierome hilary hugo josephus neckam origen pamph. eusebius phil. ribot raban remigius richard all these * i. bale , professeth himself to have seen in the carmelites library at norwich , acknowledging many more which he saw not . now , although it be a just and general complaint , that indexes for the most part are heteroclites , i mean , either redundant , in what is needless , or defective , in what is needful ; yet the collections of this alan were allowed very complete . he flourished anno . and was buried at lynne in the convent of carmelites . william wells was born ( saith * pitz. ) at wells , the cathedral see in somerset-shire , wherein no doubt he is mistaken : for , ( be it reported to any indifferent judgement , that ) seeing this vvilliam had his constant converse in this county , ( living and dying an augustinian in his covent at lynne , ) and seeing there is a vvells no mean market-town in this shire , with more probability he may be made to owe his nativity and name to norfolk . he was for twenty years provincial of his order in england , doctor of divinity in cambridge , an industrious man and good writer ; abate only the siboleth of barbarisme , the fault of the age he lived in . he died and was buried at lynne . john thorpe was born in a village so called in this county , bred a carmelite at norwich , and doctor at cambridge . logick was his master-piece ; and this dedalus wrote a book intituled the labyrinth of sophismes , and another called the rule of consequences , for which he got the title of * doctor ingeniosus . this minds me of a prognosticating distick on the physiognomies of two children , hic erit ingenuus non ingeniosus , at ille ingeniosus erit , non erit ingenuus the later of these characters agreeth with our thorpe , who had a pound of wit for a dram of good nature , being of a cruel disposition , and a violent persecutor of william white , and other godly wickliffites . he died anno domini . and lieth buried at norwich . his name causeth me to remember his name-sake of modern times lately deceased , even mr. john thorpe b. d. and fellow of queens-colledge in cambridge , my ever honored tutor , not so much beneath him in logick , as above him in the skill of divinity and an holy conversation . john skelton is placed in this county , on a double probability . first , because an ancient family of his name , is eminently known long fixed therein . secondly , because he was beneficed at dis a market-town in norfolk . he usually styled himself ( and that nemine contradicente , for ought i find ) the kings orator and poet laureat . we need go no further for a testimony of his learning than to erasmus , styling him in his letter to king henry the eight , britannicarum literarum lumen & decus . indeed he had seholarship enough , and wit too much ; seeing * one saith truly of him , ejus sermo salsus in mordacem , risus in opprobrium , jocus in amaritudinem . yet was his satyrical wit unhappy to light on three noli me tangere's , viz. the rod of a schoolmaster , the couls of friars , and the cap of a cardinal . the first gave him a lash , the second deprived him of his livelyhood , the third almost outed him of his life . william lilly was the school-master , whom he fell foul with , though gaining nothing thereby , as may appear by his return . and this i will do for w. lilly , ( though often beaten for his sake ) endeavour to translate his answer ; quid me sceltone fronte sic apertâ carpis , vipereo potens veneno ? quid versus trutinâ meos iniquâ libras ? dicere vera num licebit ? doctrinae , tibi dum parare famam , et doctus fieri studes poeta , doctrinam nec habes , nec es poeta . vvith face so bold , and teeth so sharp of vipers venome , why dost carp ? vvhy are my verses by thee weigh'd in a false scale ? may truth be said ? vvhilst thou to get the more esteem a learned poet fain wouldst seem : skelton thou art , let all men know it , neither l●…arned , nor a poet. the dominican friars were the next he contested with , whose vitiousness lay pat enough for his hand ; but such foul lubbers fell heavy on all which found fault with them . these instigated nix bishop of norwich , to call him to account for keeping a concubine , which cost him ( as it seems ) a suspension from his benefice . but cardinal vvolsey ( impar congressus betwixt a poor poet and so potent a prelate ) being inveighed against by his pen , and charged with too much truth , so persecuted him , that he was forced to take sanctuary at vvestminster , where abbot islip used him with much respect . in this restraint he died june . . and is buried in saint margarets chappel with this epitaph , j. sceltonus vates pierius hic situs est . the word vates being poet or prophet , minds me of this dying skeltons prediction , foretelling the ruine of cardinal vvolsey . surely , one unskilled in prophecies , if well versed in solomons proverbs , might have prognosticated as much , that , pride goeth before a fall . we must not forget , how being charged by some on his death-bed , for begetting many children on the aforesaid concubine ; he protested , that in his conscience he kept her in the notion of a wife , though such his cowardliness that he would rather confess adultery , ( then accounted but a venial ; ) than own marriage esteemed a capital crime in that age . since the reformation . john barret was born of an honest family at * linne in this county , bred a carmelite of white-friars in cambridge , when learning ran low , and degrees high in that university . for many usurped scarlets , qualified onely with ignorance and impudence , ( properties seldome parted ) so that a scholar could scarcely be seen for doctors , till the university sensible of the mischief thereby , appointed doctor cranmer ( afterwards arch-bishop of canterbury ) to be the poser-general of all candidates in divinity , amongst whom he stopt barret for insufficiency . back goes barret to linne , turns over a new , yea many new leaves , plying his book to purpose , whose former ignorance proceeded from want of pains , not parts ; and in short time became a tollerable , a good , an excellent , and admirable scholar , and commencing doctor with due applause , lived many years a painful preacher in norwich , always making honourable mention of * doctor cranmer , as the means of his happyness . indeed he had been ever , if not once , a dunce , who if not debarred had never deserved his degree . bale saith that in the reign of q. mary , he returned to his vomit , and became a great papist . but his praises are better to be believed then his invectives , and seeing wood not growing crooked , but warping with weight , may be straightned again , we charitably believe that though complying in times of persecution , he returned to the truth in the reign of queen elizabeth , in the beginning whereof he died . edmond gourney born in this county , was bred in queens and bennet-colledge in cambridge , where he commenced bachelour of divinity , and afterwards was beneficed in this shire . an excellent scholar , who could be humorous and would be serious , as he was himself disposed ; his humors were never prophane towards god , or injurious towards his neighbours , which premised , none have cause to be displeased if in his fancies he pleased himself . coming to me in cambridge when i was studying , he demanded of me , the subject whereon i studied , i told him i was collecting the witnesses of the truth of the protestant religion through all ages even in the depth of popery , conceiving it feasible though difficult to evidence them . it is a needless pains ( said he ) for i know that i am descended from adam , though i cannot prove my pedigree from him . and yet reader , be pleased to take notice he was born of as good a family as any in norfolk . his book against transubstantiation , and another on the second commandement , are learnedly and judiciously written , he died in the beginning of our civil wars . benefactors to the publique . godfrey bollen knight , son of jeffrey bollen , was born at * salle in this county . being but a second brother he was sent into the city to acquire wealth , ad aedificandum domum antiquam . unto whose atchievements fell in both the blood and inheritance of his eldest * brother for want of issue male. by which accumulation he attained great wealth , and anno domini . was lord mayor of london . by his testament made in the next year , he gave liberally to the prisoners , hospitals , and ( a ) lazer-houses . besides , ( b ) he gave one thousand pounds ( the greatest sum i meet with in that age to pious uses , ) to poor housholders in london : and two hundred pounds to those in norfolk . but it was the height of his and our happiness that he was great-grand-father by the mothers side to queen elizabeth . james hobart was born in this county , though i dare not say at halles-hall , which he left to his posterity . he was atturney-general , and of the privy-counsel to king henry the seventh , by him dubbed knight at such time as he created henry his son prince of wales . this worthy patriot ( besides his many benefactions to his parish-church in london , ) built a fair bridge over the river * vvaveny , betwixt this county and suffolk , and a firm cause-way thereby , with many other works of charity , so that the three houses of his issue , planted in this county , with fair possessions , may be presumed to prosper the better , for the piety of this their ancestour . andrew perne was born at * bilny , bred in peter-house , whereof he was fellow and master , as also proctor and vice-chancellour of cambridge and dean of ely. very bountiful he was to his colledge wherein he founded a fellowship and scholarships . besides many rare * manuscripts he acquired to their library . but his memory ought most to be honoured ( saving gods living temples , is better then building dead colledges ) on this account , because in the days of queen mary , he was the skrene to keep off the fire of persecution , from the faces and whole bodies of many a poor protestant , so that by his means no gremial of the university was martyred therein . i know he is much taxed for altering his religion four times in twelve years , ( from the last of king henry the eight , to the first of queen elizabeth , ) a papist , a protestant , a papist , a protestant ; but still andrew perne . however be it known , that though he was a bending vvillow , he was no smarting vvillow , guilty of compliance not cruelty , yea preserving many who otherwise had been persecuted . he was of a very facetious nature , excellent at blunt-sharp jests , and perchance sometimes too tart in true ones . one instance of many ; this dean chanced to call a clergy-man fool , ( who indeed was little better ) who returned that he would complain thereof to the lord bishop of ely. do ( saith the dean ) when you please , and my lord bishop will confirm you . yet was doctor perne himself at last heart-broken with a jest , ( as i have been most credibly informed from excellent hands , ) on this occasion . he was at court with his pupil arch-bishop vvhitgift in a rainy afternoon , when the queen was ( i dare not say wilfully ) but really resolved to ride abroad , contrary to the mind of her ladies , who were on hors-back ( coaches as yet being not common ) to attend her . now one clod the queens jester was imployed by the courtiers to laugh the queen out of so inconvenient a journey . heaven ( saith he ) madam diswades you , it is cold and wet ; and earth diswades you , it is moist and dirty . heaven diswades you , this heavenly minded man arch-bishop whitgift ; and earth diswades you , your fool clod , such a lump of clay as my self . and if neither will prevail with you , here is one that is neither heaven nor earth , but hangs betwixt both , doctor perne , and he also diswades you . hereat the queen and the courtiers laugh'd heartily , whilst the doctor look'd sadly , and going over with his grace to lambeth , soon saw the last of his life . since the reformation . sir thomas gresham was born in this county , bred a mercer and merchant in the city of london , where god so blessed his endeavours that he became the wealthiest citizen in england of his age , and the founder of two stately fabricks , the old exchange a kind of colledge for merchants , and gresham-colledge a kind of exchange for scholars . i have learn'd from goldsmiths , that vessels made of silver and guilt , are constantly burnished ; seldome or never those few which are made of massy gold , whose real intrinsick worth disdaineth to borrow any foyl from art. let lesser donations be amplified with rhetorical prayses . nothing need be said of this worthy knights gifts , but his gifts , and take them truly copied from the original of his will , as followeth , first , concerning the building in london called the royal exchange , with all shops , cellars , vaults , tenements thereunto belonging ; i will , and dispose one moity to the mayor , commonalty , and citizens of london , upon confidence that they perform the payments , and other intents hereafter limited . the other moity of the said buildings , to the wardens and commonalty of the mystery of mercers , of the city of london , upon trust that they perform the payments , and other intents hereafter mentioned . i will and dispose , that they the said mayor and commonalty , do give and distribute for the sustentation , maintenance , and finding four persons , from time to time to be chosen , nominated , and appointed by the said mayor , &c. to read the lectures of divinity , astronomy , musick , and geometry , within mine own dwelling house in the parish of saint hellens . i give and dispose , out of this moity , two hundred pouuds to be payed to the four readres sufficiently learned , fifty pounds to each yearly . i likewise give the said mayor , &c. fifty three pounds to be yearly distributed in manner following , unto eight almes-folks , whom the said mayor , &c. shall appoint to inhabit my eight almes-houses in the parish of st. peters poor , the summe of six pounds , thirteen shillings , four pence , to each of them to be payed at four usual terms , &c. i likewise dispose out of this moity , fifty pounds yearly , to be distributed by the said mayor , &c. to the prisoners in new-gate , lud-gate , the kings-bench , the marshalsey , the counter in wood-street ; ten pounds to each prison , to be paid among the poor thereof . the other moity of the said building disposed to the mercers , i will and dispose , out of it , to be by them paid one hundred and fifty pounds to the finding , &c. three persons to be by the wardens , &c. chosen , nominated , and appointed to read the lectures of law , physick , and rhetorick . that the said mercers shall out of their moity , yearly expend one hundred pounds at four several dinners , for the whole company of the said corporation , in the mercers-hall in london , on every quarter day . that they shall distribute to the several hospitals of christ-church , saint bartholomews , the spittle at bedlam , the hospital for the poor in southwark , and the poultry-counter , fifty pounds yearly in money or other provisions ten pounds , my mansion house with the gardens , stables , &c. i give to the mayor and commonalty of london , and also to th●… wardens and commonalty of the mystery of mercery , to have and to hold in common , upon trust and confidence that they observe , perform , and keep my will , and true meaning hereafter expressed . my will , intent , and meaning is , that the said mayor , and commonalty , and their successors , and that the said wardens and commonalty of t●…e mercers , shall permit and suffer seven persons , by them from time to time to be elected and appointed as aforesaid , to meet and sufficiently learned to read the said seven lectures , to have the occupation of all my said mansion house , gardens , &c. for them aud every of them there to inhabite , study , and daily to read the said several lectures . and my will is , that none shall be chosen to read any of the said lectures , so long as he shall be married , neither shall receive any fee or stipend appointed for the reading of the said lectures . moreover , i will and dispose , that the said mayor , and commonalty , and mercers , shall enjoy the said royal exchange , &c. for ever , severally by such moities as is before expressed ; provided , they do in the tearm of fifty years provide and obtain sufficient and lawful dispensations and licenses , warrant and authority , upon trust and confidence , and to the intent that they shall severally for ever maintain and perform the payment , charges , and all other intents and meanings thereof , before limited and expressed , according to the intent and true meaning of these presents . and that i do require and charge the said corporations and chief governours thereof , with circumspect diligence , and without long delay , to procure and see to be done , and obtained such licenses as they will answer for the same before almigbty god , for if they , or any of them , should neglect to obtain such licenses , no prince nor counsel in any degree , will deny or defeat the same ; and if conveniently by my will or other conveyance , i might assure it , i would not leave it to be done after my death . then the same shall revert to my heirs , whereas i do mean , the same to the commonweale , and then their default thereof , shall be to the reproch and condemnation of the said corporation before god. &c. this worthy knight compleated his second change , i mean of a mortal life for a blessed eternity , on the . of november . and lieth buried in the parish church of saint hellens . sir william paston knight , son and heir to erasmus paston of paston esquire , is justly recounted a publick benefactour . true it is , the family whence he was extracted , were always forward in deeds of charity . according to the devotion of the days they lived in . witness their ●…ountiful donations to the abbys of saint bennet in the holme , and bromholme in this county , after the reformation ; they had not ( with too many ) less heat , because more light , but continued the stream though they changed the channel of charity . this sir william erected a very fair school , with thirty pounds per annum , for the maintenance thereof at northwalsam in this county , a deed no doubt acceptable to the god of heaven . solomon saith , teach a child in the trade of his youth . but alas ! it's above the reach of poor parents to teach their children , lacking learning to do it themselves , and livelyhood to hire others , save where such good persons as this worthy knight , have made provision for them . this sir william married francis the daughter of sir tho. clear of stokesby , and was great-grand-father to sir william paston the bountiful promoter of all my weak endeavours . henry howard youngest son of henry howard , earl of surrey , and brother to thomas howard last duke of norfolk , was bo●… at * shotesham in this county . he was bred a serious student for many years in kings colledge in cambridge , then in trinity-hall , * going the ordinary path and pace to the degree of mastership , without any honorary advantage . here he became a grea●… and general scholar , witness his large and learned work intituled , a d●…pensative against the poyson of supposed prophesies , and dedicated to sir francis walsingham . his fortune left him by his father , was not great , and he lived privately all the reign of queen elizabeth , till king james advanced him in honour and wealth . here , for variety sake , and the better to methodize our matter , we will make use of a distinction common in the custome-house , about bills of lading , inwards and outwards , observing what greatness were imported and conferred on him , what gratitude was exported and performed by him . inwards . outward . . king james created him baron of marnehill in dorset shire . . earl of northampton . . lord privy seal . . lord warden of the cinque ports . . knight of the garter . . cambridge chose him her chancellour . . he founded and endowed an hospital for twelve poor women and a governour , at rising in this county . . another for twelve poor men and a governour , at clun in shropshire . . another at greenwich in kent , for a governour and twenty poor men , of whom eight are to be chosen out of shotesham , the place of his nativity . he died the . of june . and was buried in the ancient chappel of the castle of dover . memorable persons . — sharnborn , born at , and lord of sharnborn a considerable mannor in this county . this manner william the conquerour , out of the plenitude of his power conferred on one warren a norman souldier . but sharnborn was not so tame , as silently to set down , and suffer a stranger peaceably to possess his inheritance , which his english ancestors for many years had injoyed , but fairly traversed his title , ( i will not say in westminster-hall , as of later erection in the reign of king rufus ) but in that publick place , where pleas were held in that age . surely none but a norfolk-man , durst go to law with the conquerour , and question the validity of his donations . yea brave sharnborn got the better of the suit , and the kings grant was adjudged void . this is pertinently pressed by many to prove that king william ( though in name ) was in very deed no conquerour , but came in by composition to keep the laws of england . now as i am heartily sorrowful that sharnborn possessed ever since , ( almost . years ) by that name and family , should in our age be sold , and aliened from it , ( whose heir males are just now extinct ) so am i cordially glad that it is bought by a worthy person , francis ash esquire , which , with some limitation hath freely setled it ( being of good yearly value ) on emanuel-colledge , and may they as long enjoy it as the former owners , if before that term , the day of judgement put not a period to all earthly possessions . lord mayors . name father place company time godfry bullen geffrey bullen salle probably mercer bartholomew rede robert rede crowmer goldsmith richard gresham john gresham holt mercer john gresham john gresham holt mercer thomas cambell robert cambell fullsam iron-monger john leman john leman gillingham fish-monger edward barkham edward barkham south-akere draper the names of the gentry of this county returned by the commissioners in the twelfth year of king henry the sixth . william bishop of norwich . commissioners to take the oaths . john de morley chivaler . robert cliffton , mil. knights for the shire . john roys . knights for the shire . abbatis de langle abbatis de creek abbatis de wendelyng abbatis de derham prioris sancte fidis prioris de vvalsyngham prioris de tetford prioris de linne prioris de yernemouth prioris de ingham prioris de cokysforde prioris de westar prioris de penteneye prioris de castelacre prioris de bromhill prioris de ghildham prioris de wyrmingheye prioris de bokynham prioris de bromholm prioris de hyking prioris de petreston prioris de flycham prioris de baeston iohan. clyfton , mil. briani stapulton , mil. tho. kerdeston hen. inglose , mil. tho. tudenham , mil. rog. harsick , mil. hen. richford , mil. iohan. curson , mil. henry grey williel●…i calthorp iohan. fitz-rauf de moris thomae willoughby oliveri groos thomae chaumbir edmundi winter nich. apilyerde vvill. apilyerde nicholai castel edmundi stapulton thomae pigot henrici walpole thomae trusbute willielmi byllingford willielmi daubeney thomae astele radulphi lampet iohannis woodehouse iohan. berney de redham ioh. berney de wythingham georgii holkham vvillielmi yelverton edmundi vvychyngham iohan. heydon vvill. grey de merston vvillielmi raimis thomae dengayne iohannis clepisby iohannis strange richardi gogh christopheri strange henrici catte iohannis bakon henrici nottyngham henrici sharyngton roberti martham vvillielmi bellingford vvalteri aslak thomae lovell thomae shuldham simonis fincham vvill. vvalton thomae derham roberti godard thomae kervile hen. stormer iohan. hamond georg. hethe iohan. fox de castelacro nich. bokkyng nich. stonwell vvill. spynk thomae chelton iohan. bekkeswell iohan. rysele roberti popyngeay iohan. vventworth vvalt . eton vvill. thurleton vvill. tweyth edmundi sekford iohan. michell thomae boys iohan. dory iohan. bacheler thomae selors thomae brigge thomae gurney vvill. brampton iohan. clare iohan. austyn iohan. bolle roberti brom iohan. knight galfridi grey iohan. bullok iohan. brustbon simonis godknap robert. padyrys robert. blogge rich. chirche ade mundforth iohan. gigges vvill. dyton galfridi craneweys edmundi massingham osberti mundford tho. fyssher iohan. seche vvill. thakker vvill. barbour iohan. crane iohan. holdernese leonardi claxton tho. fannyngham tho. 〈◊〉 iohan. thursby iohan. vvesinham rich. frank nich. frank iohan. vvythe iohan. parlementer vvill. vvythe rad. brecham roberti vvalsyngham vvill. kirton iohan. stannton iohan. miryoll iohan. syff tho. spicer tho. salysbury iohan. vvaryn iohan. vvarner rich. lychour iohan. bury iohan. brekerope edmundi goldyng iohan. tylney andr. swanton vvill. kellowe iohan. abbot iohan. frewill vvill. stapulton iohan. vvayte iohan. gybbon rober. brandon nich. vvythe iohan. nicolasson iohan. andrewe alexan. draper tho. midleton iohan. thorn vvill. sylk simon . body nich. benpre edmund . bonet tho. feltwell rad. midylton rich. baker iohan. howard iohan. eye rich deye rich. billingforth iohan. tremche will. bullman will. candelere vvill. stokker iohan. bosse iohan. sturmy vvill. fyrsk iohan. parker sen. hetersite rog. scot iohan. joye hen. vvarner tho. manning rich. cans tho. norwold iohan. bredeman georg. palgrave iohan. rede . vvill. ede tho. gyle tho. candeler tho. stywarp iohan. vvalpell tho. canon iohan. mortoft rich. vewtre iohan. alcok vvill. james iohan. tylls rog. brook iohan. bee vvill. tanerham rich. baret iohan. loumour tho. vvalisch galf. brewster vvill. newegate iohan. man pet. hokkeham vvill. seyne iohan. monk iohan. lewes iohan. seforth tho. colles iohan. chapman edmund . clerk tho. bertram rob. norwich iohan. sweyn iohan. puttok tho. trunch iohan. wynse iohan. byrston tho. stipoard rich. cordy iohan. webbe rich. vvode iohan. spark iohan. atte mere iohan. ely iohan. dany edmund . wode tho. richeforth iohan. dawes alani . twykke simon . cook nich. parke . iohan. legge rich. henke rob. ling tho. monnsewes tho. yekesworth iohan. trench iohan. elyngham iohan. bettys iohan. porter iohan. bemys iohan. molitis edw. wylnby will. moletis tho. holley nich. holley robert. holley simon . dykone iohan. westhaw edmund . parker galf. fox iohan. draper iohan. homerston hen. aphagh will. atte hagh hugo . bedenham vvill. prentys iohan. vvatterden tho. burgh iohan. doggyng geor. vvyton vvill. sparkam iohan. baily hen. thursby iohan. mersch galf. cobbe denys vvellys tho. moket edmund . cole vvill. cole iohan. scorowr iohan. reppes vvalt . vvedurby iohan. brechinham vvill. payn alex. payn iohan. brygg iohan. crosse steph. silvestre bob. teyser tho. bowde iohan. swayn , jun. iohan. grenede folsham rob. kervyle simon . tyller iohan. arnald rich. carleton edmund . michell iohan. vvodesende vvill. stubbe iohan. lawyes hen. lesingham iohan. jucewode nich. rake vvill. fox iohan. green vvill. dallyng nich. vvaterman vvill. norwhich iohan. tasburgh iohan. brampton robert. brese edmund . ade tho. pye rich. rede johan . gerard johan . dam johan . bernard johan . l●…ford tho. sto●…agh rich. ballord tho. walsham johan . spany johan . penny johan . hastynges rich. stotevyle tho. arnald robert. elys will. granour rich. elys johan . berhyng rog. hoddes will. baily johan . crancle nich. baxter robert. dooke nich. pykeryng robert. kent tho. unphrny walt. heylot tho. rycheman johan . howard johan . levoth johan . annsell robert. fyllisson rog. calleston tho. halle robert. martham galf. walle johan . panne johan . cobald johan . phelipp johan . merschgate robert. cupper tho. eyre johan . cobbe rich. flykke robert. heyloth johan . mannyng simon . falsham robert. hendy lauren. oky radulph . bronnyng johan . pepyr tho. martyn johan . roche johan . span oliv. kevet johan . deynes johan . holler johan . fuller johan . puttok edmund . rysyng robert. atte lee johan . broune de weveton johan . meleman tho. brydge thom. roose gals . bolayn will. blonnevyse edmund . yonghousbond edmund . godewyn tho. twytwell rich. holdyche johan . holtman robert. randes tho. glaveyn robert. wyrmegey tho. person robert. vvylly johan . maynard johan . de pulham vvillielm . arnald de crommer robert. russell johan . vvodewane ade vvilliamson , & robert. cravell sheriffs of norfolk and suffolk . hen. ii. anno rich. basset , & alberi . de veer anno will. de nova villa , & will de jeaxmeto anno will. de caisuei , sive caisuer anno anno will. anno anno anno anno will. de chaisu anno oggerus dapifer , for years . anno barth . glanvill , & vinar . capellanus , & will. bardull , for years . anno vinar . capellanus , for years . anno vin. pro dimid . anno & will. fil . hervei dimid . rich. i. anno will. filius hervei anno idem . anno rob. filius rog. & pet. de edichfeld anno rob. filius rog. & sam. de salia anno idem . anno idem . anno osber . de longo campo anno idem . anno idem . anno rob filius rog. & rich. de gosfeld joh . reg. anno rob. filius rog. & rich. de gosfeld anno idem . anno pet. de mealton anno idem . anno idem . anno alex. de dunham , & alex. banister anno idem . anno johan . de cornheard , for years . anno walt. de huntingfeld , & will. esturmi anno idem . anno rob. fil . rog. & will. filius rosicke anno will. sive walt. de huntingfeld , will. escurmi anno johan . fil . rob. & rob. de kent anno johan . filius rob. filius rogeri hen. iii. anno anno hubert . de burge anno idem . anno idem . anno hu. & ric. de frefingfeld . anno hubert . & rich. ducket anno idem . anno hub. & tho. ingoldethorpe anno idem . anno hugo . rufus anno idem . anno herb. de alencum , for years . anno rob. de brivas anno idem . anno tho. de heningham anno idem . anno tho. ingoldesthorpe anno idem . anno rob. de broyons anno johan . de ulecott anno idem . anno hen. de heketon , & hamo . passeleve anno idem . anno hamo . passeleve , for years . anno rob. de savage , for years . anno will. de swyneford anno idem . anno idem . anno hamo . hanteyn anno hamo . & hen. de stanho anno idem . anno phil. marnium , & will. de hekam anno nich. espigornel , for years . anno rob. de norton anno idem . anno idem . anno will. giffard anno idem . edw. i. anno will. giffard anno idem . anno rob. filius johannis anno walt. de shelfhaugre anno idem . anno walt. granimt anno johan . brito , & will. de bedham anno idem . anno idem . anno will. de doinge anno idem . anno will. de rochinger , for years . anno rich. de belhus anno will. de nedham anno idem . anno idem . anno will. de gerbe anno idem . anno idem . anno will. de rideston anno idem . anno will. de sutton anno idem . anno will. de ailton anno rob. hereward , for years . anno egid. de mumpinzon edw. ii. anno tho. de sancto omero anno hen. de seagrave anno rob. baygnard anno idem . anno idem . anno rob. & alex. de claveringe anno rich. de claveringe anno rich. de retham anno rich. & alex. de claveringe anno johan . de fitton , & will. de rungeton anno johan . howard anno johan . seafoule anno johan . howard , & edw. hemingne anno idem . anno idem . anno anno egid. de wachesham anno idem . anno idem . edw. iii. anno tho. de lindringham , & rob. de walkefare anno johan . de londham anno idem . anno idem . anno rog. de 〈◊〉 anno rog. de bourne , & rog. de kird●…ston anno rog. de bourne , & edw. de baconsthorpe anno johan . de cailly anno idem . anno rob. de causton anno idem . anno johan . de harsike anno rob. causton , & joh. harsike anno rob. anno tho. belisforde anno edw. de creting anno idem . anno idem . anno johan . haward anno will. de midleton anno idem . anno idem . anno johan . de colby anno idem . anno will. de midleton anno idem . anno edw. de creting anno idem . anno tho. de mareux anno guido seynclere anno idem . anno idem . anno johan . de battlesden anno idem . anno tho. de sancto omero for years . anno rog. gyney anno will. de clere anno tho. morieux anno idem . anno rog. holdich anno idem . anno edw. de thopre anno rob. bacon anno johan . mantby anno johan . mantby anno will. de kirdeston anno oliver . de calthrope anno johan . de browes . henry the second . barth . glanvill , & vinar . capellanus . ] it may seem strange that this vinar . capellanus , that is , vini . the chaplain , should be sheriff so many years together . one would have sought for a person of his profession , rather in the pulpit , then in the shire-hall . but in that age men in orders did not onely engross places of judicature , but also such as had military and martial relation , whereof the sheriffs place in some sort may seem to partake . sure i am , that under the reign of king charles , one prick'd sheriff of rutland escaped , by pleading that he was a deacon . but now all this is said , this 〈◊〉 . the chaplaine may still be a lay-man , seeing in england multi clerici sunt laici , many clerks by name , are no clerks by profession . chaplain may be his surname , and the same with de capella or capell , a right ancient name i assure you . sheriffs of norfolk and suffolk . name . place . armes . rich. ii.     anno     johan . harsikes   or , a chief indented sable . steph. de hales     joh. de mantby     will. winter   checkey , or and sab. a fess arg. will. de 〈◊〉     joh. de volveston     joh. tudenham     andr. cavendish cavendish sab. bucks-heads cabosed arg. attired or. rad. bigot , mil.   party per pale , or and vert , a lion ramp . g. galf. michell     tho. corsonn   ermin . a bend compone arg. and sable . idem . ut prius   hugo . fastolfe   quarterly or. and az. on a bend gul. escalops arg. rob. carbonell     johan . knivett bucknhā arg. a bend within a border engrailed sab. will. winter ut prius   will. argente , m.   gules , cups covered argent . gilb. debenham   s. a bend'twixt crescents or. tho. corsonn ut prius   idem . ut prius   will. rees   arg. 〈◊〉 - heads gul. a chief or. idem . ut prius   hen. iv.     anno     joh. gournay   pale-wayes of pieces or and azure . joh. heningham edw. oldhall   quarterly , or & g. a border sab. charged with escallop-shels arg. joh. inglesthorpe   gul. a cross ingrailed argent . rob. ramsey   gul. rams-heads cabosed arg. idem . ut prius   nic. winchinghā     rob. berney , mil. parkhal r. per pale gul. and ermin . a cross engrailed ermin . will. rees ut prius   rad. ramsey ut prius   oliver . groose   quarterly arg. and az. on a bend sab. martlets or. rob. berney , mil. ut prius   tho. lovell   arg. a ch●…v . az. 'twixt squirrels seiant gul. hen. v.     anno     edw. oldhall     ioh. heaveninghā ut prius   joh. spencer   quarterly , arg. and g. a bend s. in the . & . a fret or. and. botiller   gul. a fess componee arg. and s. 'twixt crosses patee fitche edw. winter ut prius   oliv. groos ut prius argent . joh. fitz - 〈◊〉   gules , a fess vairee     idem .     hen. vi.     anno     rob. cliston , m.   sab. semi of cinque-foils and a lion ramp . arg. within a border of the first , charged with verdoy of trefoyles of the second . joh. shardlow   ar. a chev. g. 'twixt croslets az. bri. stapilton   az. a lion ramp . queve fourchee or. oliver . groose ut prius   johan . tirrey     gilb. debenham ut prius   hen. drury , ar . halsted s. arg. on a chief vert the letter tau 'twixt mullets pierced or. hen. dray , ar .   az. a fess 'twixt cheverons or. joh. shardlow , m. ut prius   joh. ropley     tho. thudenhā , m.     hen. grey , ar . ut prius   joh. fitz-rauf ut prius   tho. chambre     johan . hopton   ermine on barrs sab. mullets or. joh. heaveninghā ut prius   tho. brewes   az. semy of croslets and a lion rampant or. milo stapilton ut prius   ro●… . chamberlain     will. calthrop●…   checke or and az. a fess ermin . tho. brewes ut prius   joh. fitz rauf ut prius   joh. hopton , ar . ut prius   will. tirrel   arg●… cheverons azu . within a border engrailed gul. tho. daniel     phil. wentworth   sable , a 〈◊〉 betwixt leopards-heads or. egid. sto. loe , ar .     johan . gray ut prius   johan . germin rushbroke s. a cressant 'twixt mullets ar. johan . clopton suf. sab. a bend arg. 'twixt cotisses dauncette or. tho. sharnbrone     joh. denston     joh. wingfeld letheringham arg. on a bend gul. cotised sa. wings of the first . joh. clopton , ar . ut prius   rich. bothe , ar .   arg. boars-heads erased sable ' tusked or. ●…gid . sto. loe , ar .     will. calthorpe ut prius   phil. wentworth ut prius   edw. iv.     anno     tho. hayward , m     tho. mountgōery   gu. a cheveron betwixt flower de 〈◊〉 o idem . ut prius   wil. calthrope , ar . ut prius   alex. cressener     will. hopton , ar . ut prius   tho. mountgōery ut prius   joh. twyer     rog. ree , ar .     joh. heveninghā ut prius   will. knivett , at . ut prius   joh. wingfeld , m. ut prius   rog. ree , mil.     rob. radliff●…     joh. hasting , ar .   or a maunch gules . will. calthorp , m. ut prius   tho. howard , mi.   gul. a bend'twixt cro●…ets fitchee argent . rob. radliffe , ar .     will. hopton , ar . ut prius   will. knivett , mi. ut prius   alex. cressener     hen. wenthworth ut prius   rich. iii.     anno     joh. wingfeild . ar . ut prius   rad. willoughby rich. pole   per pale or and sab. a saltire engrailed counterchanged . johan . paston   arg. flower de luces az. a chief indented or. hen. vii .     anno     johan . paston ut prius   e●…m . bedingfeld   ermin . an eagle displayed gul. rad. shelton , m●… .   az. a cross or. rob. lovell ut prius   simon . wiseman   sab. a cheveron ermin . 'twixt cronells of a tiltspear arg. phil. lewes , ar .     rob. brandon , 〈◊〉 .   barry of arg. and gul. over all a lion rampant or , crowned per pale arg. of the second . joh. wingfeld , m. ut prius   will. carewe , m.     rob. southwell     rog. le strange , a. hunstantō gul. lions passant argent . rob. curson , mil. ut prius   edw. arundell , m.     phil. calthrope , m. ut prius   will. bolein , mil.   arg. a cheveron 'twixt bulls-heads sab. arm'd or. hum. catesby , ar .     rob. clere , mil.   arg. on a fess az. eagles or. edw. jeney , mil.     idem .     johan . shelton ut prius   idem . ut prius   phil. bothe , mil. ut prius   rob. brandon , m. ut prius   idem . ut prius   hen. viii .     anno     ric. wentworth ut prius   joh. hevingham ut prius   rog. townesend raynham az. a cheveron ermin . 'twixt scallops arg. lio. talmarsh , ar . helmingham argent , a fret sable . tho. gibbon , ar .   or , a lion rampant sab. debrused with a bend gul. charged with escallops arg. joh. heydon , m.   quarterly arg. and gul. a cross ant. wingfeld , m. ut prius engrailed counterchanged . ric. wentworth , m. ut prius   will. paston , ar . ut prius   rog. townsend , a. ut prius   joh. heydon , mil. ut prius   hum. wingfeld , a. ut prius   th. bedingfeld , m. ut prius   joh. shelton , mil. ut prius   joh. heveninghā ut prius   ioh. heydon , mil , ut prius   rog. towsend ut prius   fran. lovell , ar . ut prius   phil. filvey , mil.     will. paston , mil. ut prius   edw. bedingfeld , ut prius   tho. jermyn , ar . ut prius   hen. fermour , m.     tho. lestrange , m. ut prius   tho. lush , or rush     rich. southwell     walt. hubard , m. blickling s. an estoile with points 'twixt flanches ermin . will. drury , mil. ut prius   edm. windham cowtherk az. a cheveron betwixt lions-heads erased or. fran. lovell , mil. ut prius   edw. knivett , m. ut prius   will. fermoure , m.     tho. jermyn , mil. ut prius   johan . 〈◊〉 , m. ut prius   fran. lovell , mil. ut prius   will. drury , mil. ut prius   edw. vvindhā , m. ut prius   hen. hubbard , ar . ut prius   edw. vi.     anno     joh. robsart , mil.   vert a lion 〈◊〉 or , valned in the shoulder . nich. le strange ut prius   edm. vvindhā , m. ut prius   vvill. vvalgrave   party per pale arg. and gules . joh. robsat , mil. ut prius   tho. cornwallis brome s. sable guttee arg. on a fess of the second , cornish choughs of the first . phillip . & mari .     anno     tho. vvoodhouse kimberly no. s. a cheveron betwixt cinquefoils ermin . , joh. shelton , mil. ut prius   , joh. sulyard , ar . suffol . arg. a cheveron gul. ' twist pheons sable , , chri. heydon , m. ut prius   , hen. doly , mil.   gul. bucks-heads cabosed arg. , amb. jermyn , ar . ut prius   elizab. reg.     anno.     joh. apleyard , ar . suffol . az. a cheveron or , 'twixt owls arg. rob. vvingfeld , a. ut prius   tho. tindall , mil.     vvill. buts , mil.     tho. vvoodhouse ut prius   owin . hopton , m. ut prius   vvill. paston , m. ut prius   lion. talling , ar .     edw. c●…re , ar . ut prius   vvill. vvalgrave ut prius   chri. heydon , m. ut prius   edw. vvitipole     rad. shelton , ar . ut prius   amb. jermyn , m. ut prius   hen. doly , ar . ut prius   tho. felton , ar . playford g. lions passant ermin . crowned or. henry the seventh . phillip calthrope , miles . ] he was a very grave gentleman , ( and lived to a great age ) yet withal of a very merry , and pleasant conceit , whereof take this instance . he sent as much cloth of fine french-tauney , as would make him a gown , to a tailor in norwich . it happened , one john drakes a shoo-maker coming into the shop , liked it so well , that he went and bought of the same as much for himself , enjoyning the taylor to make it of the same fashion . the knight being informed hereof , commanded the taylor to cut his gown as full of holes , as his sheers could make , which purged j. drakes of his proud humour , that he would never be of the gentlemans fashion again . henry the eight . edmund windham . ] he was a gentleman of a fair estate in this county , great birth and aliance , ( whose grand mother , was daughter to john howard duke of northfolk , ) but it seems somewhat given to his passion . this caused him ( in the . of this kings reign ) to strike master clere , a gentleman of his own county , in the kings tennis court. for this he was araigned in the great hall at greenwich , before master gage , comptroler of the kings houshold , and other justices , and one quest of gentlemen , another of yeomen passed upon him , to enquire of the same stripe , by whom he was found guilty , and had judgement to lose his right-hand . then was he brought in to solemn execution , by sir willian pickering knight martial , and confessing his fault , desired that the king of mercy would be pleased to take his left-hand , and spare his right ; for therewith ( said he ) i may hereafter be able to do his grace service . the king informed hereof by his justices , granted his full pardon , neither to lose hand , land , nor goods , but restored him to his liberty . see more of him in the third of king edward the sixth . edward the sixth . edmund windham , mil. ] of him before in the twenty ninth of king henry the eight , he now made good his former promise to the son , which he made to his father , of using his right-hand in the service of his sovereign . for in this year kets rebellion began in this couuty , which this sheriff endeavoured , withal his power and policy to suppress , till at last it proved a task beyond his strength to perform . queen mary . thomas woodhouse , mil. ] though he be the first of his surname , whom we meet in our catalogue , i find many of his family anciently employed in state-affairs . in a manuscript-collection ( extant in the library of sir thomas cotton ) of persons summoned to parliament , by king edward the third , i read , . rex dilecto clerico suo roberto de woodhouse , archidiacono de richmund , thesaurario salutem . negotia nos & statum regni contingentia , &c. vobis mandamus firmiter injungentes , quod omnibus aliis praetermissis , &c. . john woodhouse , esq was servant , and one of the * executors to king henry the fifth . . sir vvilliam vvoodhouse , ( neer related to our sheriff ) was * vice-admiral of our english fleet at musoleburrough-field . . philip vvoodhouse , esq was very active at the taking of cadiz , and * knighted there for his good service , by the earl of essex . and ever since there hath been a military inclination in this family , which hath manifested it self on several occasions . sheriffs of norfolk alone . name . place . armes . eliz. reg.     anno     tho. townsend , ar . rainham az. a cheveron ermine , betwixt escallops arg. drugo . drury , ar .   arg. on a chief vert the letter tau betwixt mullets pierced or. hen. weston , mil.     basing . gaudy , ar .   vert , a tortois passant argent . tho. knivett , mi.   arg. a bend within a border engrailed sab. edw. clere , mil.   argent , on a fefs azu . eaglets or. arth. heven nghā   quarterly or & g. a border sab. charged with escallop-shels arg. will. paston , mil.   arg. flower de luces az. a chief indented or. will. heydon , m.   quarterly ar. & g. a cross ingrailed counterchanged . hen. woodhouse kimberly sab. a cheveron ' 〈◊〉 cinque●…oils ermin . tho. hogan , ar . hen. hogan , ar . ut prius arg. a cheveron ingrailed vary . or & gul. ' 〈◊〉 hurts each charged with lions legs erased argent . nath. bacon , ar . suffol . gul. on a chief arg. mullets sable . clem. paston , ar . ut prius   ●…oh . peiton , mil.   sable , a cross ingrailed or. rob. southwell     hen. dolney , ar .     milo. corbett , ar . 〈◊〉 or , a raven proper . hen. gaudy , ar . ut pri s   b●…sing . gaudy , m. ut prius   phil. woodhouse ut prius   tho. clere , ar . ut prius   hum. guibon , ar .   or , a lion rampant sab. debrused with a bend gul. charged with escallops arg. nich. bacon , mil. ut prius   clem. spelman , m.   sab. platee proper , flaunches argent . nath. bacon , ar . ut prius   ric. jenkinson , ar .   or , bars gemells gul. ' 〈◊〉 boars-heads and necks erased s. basen . gaudy , m. ut prius   ar●…h . hemingham ut prius   edm. doyley , & . jac.   gul. bucks-heads cabosed arg. jac. reg.     anno     edm. doyley , ar . ut prius   hen. spelman , m. ut prius   rad. hare , mil.   gul. bars ▪ and a chief indented or. le'stran . mordant   arg. a cheveron betwixt estoils sable . hen. gawdy , mil. ut prius   hamo . le strange hunstantō gul. lions passant argent . tho. barney , mil. parkhal r. per pale gul. and ermin . a cross engrailed ermin . chri. gawdy , mil. ut prius   tho. corbet , ar . ut prius   tho. lewer , mil.     jac. calthrope , m.   checkee or and azu . a fess erm. joh. heveningham ut prius   ric. jenkinson , ar . ut prius   aug. palgrave , m.   azu . a lion passant argent . anth. drury , mil. ut prius   tho. holland , m.   az. semy of flower de luce a lion ramp . guardant arg. hen. beddingfeld   ermin . an eagle desplayed gul. tho. heirne , mil.     will. yelvertō , ba.   arg. lion cells rampant gul. a chief of the second . rich. berney , bar . ut prius   le'stran . mordant ut prius   . tho. woodhouse ut prius   car. reg.     anno     tho. holle , arm .   or , on a cheveron s. unicorns-heads erased argent . car. legroose , m.   quarterly , arg. and azu . on a bend s ▪ 〈◊〉 or. fran. gawdy , ar . ut prius   rob. gawdy , mil. ut prius   rog. townsend , b. ut prius   fran. mapes , ar .     tho. pettus , ar . recheath gul. a fess arg. ' 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or. jo. hobart , m. & b. blickling sab. an estoil with points 'twixt flanches ermin . will. heveninghā ut prius   joh. wentworth ut prius   edr. barkham , m.   arg. pallets gul. over all a cheveron . will. paston , ar . ut prius   edr. asteley , ar .     august . holt , 〈◊〉 . ut prius           tho. guibon , m. ut prius   joh. coke , ar .   party per pale gul. and azu . eagles displayed argent .     valen. pell , mil.         tho. barney , ar . ut prius   queen elizabeth . drugo drury , arm. ] this sir dru being afterwards knighted , was joyned in commission with sir amias paulet , to keep mary queen of scots , and discharged his dangerous trust therein . it moveth me not , that i find both these knights branded for * puritans , being confident , that nick-name , in relation to them both , was first pronounced through a popish mouth , causlesly offended at their religion . king charles . roger . townsend baronet . ] he was a religious gentleman , expending his soul in piety and charity , a lover of god , his service , and servants , a grave * divine saith most truly , that incroachments on the church , are like breaches of the seas , a thousand to one if they ever return . but this worthy knight may be said to have turn'd the tide , restoring impropriations to the church , to some hundreds in yearly valuation . he married mary , daughter and co-heir of horatio lord vere of tilbury , by whom he had sir horace , who for his worth was deservedly created a baron at the coronation of king charles the second . the farewell . and now being to take my leave of this county , i wish the inhabitants thereof may make good use of their so many churches , and cross that pestilent proverb , the nigher to the church , the farther from god , substituting another ( which will be a happy change ) in the room thereof , viz. the more the churches , the more sincere the devotion . norwich is ( as you please ) either a city in an orchard , or an orchard in a city , so equally are houses and trees blendid in it , so that the pleasure of the country , and populousness of the city meet here together . yet in this mixture , the inhabitants participate , nothing of the rusticalness of the one , but altogether of the urbanity and civility of the other . natural commodities . flowers . the dutch brought hither with them , not onely their profitable crafts , but pleasurable cur●…osities . they were the first who advanced the use and reputation of flowers in this city . a flower is the best complexioned grass , ( as a pearl is the best coloured clay , ) and daily it weareth gods livery , for * he cloatheth the grass in the field . solomon himself is out-braved therewith , as whose gallantry onely was adopted , and on him , their 's innate and in them . in the morning ( when it groweth up ) it is a lecture of divine providence ; in the evening , ( when it is cut down withered ) it is a lecture of humane mortality . single flowers are observed much sweeter then the double ones , ( poor may be more fragrant in gods nostrils then the rich ) and let florists assign the cause thereof , whether because the sun doth not so much dry the intricacies of such flowers which are duplicated . great the art in meliorating of flowers , and the rose of roses [ rosa mundi ] had its first being in this city . as jacob used an ingenious * invention to make laban's cattle speckled or ring-straked , so , much the skil in making tulips feathered and variegated , with stripes of divers colours . in my judgement those flowers carry it clearly , which acquit themselves to a double sense , sight and smel , for though in some thing it may be true , optime quae minime olent , yet in flowers ( besides a negation of an ill ) the position of a good sent , is justly required . manufactures . stuffs . it is an ill wind which bloweth no man good , even storms bring vvrecks to the admiral . the cruelty of duke d'alva , as it blew the dutch out off their own , brought them into this city , and with them their manufactures , which the english quickly learned from them , until norwich became the staple of such commodities for the whole land. for the nimble wooffe its artificial dancing in several postures about the standing warpe , produceth infinite varieties in this kind . expect not i should reckon up their several names , because daily increasing , and many of them are binominous , as which , when they begin to tire in sale , are quickned with a new name . in my child-hood there was one called stand-far-of , ( the embleme of hypocrisie ) which seemed pretty at competent distance , but discovered its coursness , when nearer to the eye . also perpetuano , so called from the lasting thereof , ( though but a counterfeit of the cloaths of the israelites , which endured in the vvillderness . * years , ) satinisco , bombicino , italiano , &c. comineus saith , that a favorite must have an handsome name , which his prince may easily call on all occasions ; so a pretty pleasing name , complying with the byers fancy , much befriendeth a stuffe in the sale thereof . by these means norwich hath beaten sudbury out of distance in the race of trading . indeed in the starting , ( the south having the better of the north , and bury or city , being before vvich or vicus a village , ) sudbury had the advantage , but now norwich is come first to their mark. the buildings . the cathedral therein is large and spacious , though the roof in the cloysters be most commended . when some twenty years since , i was there , the top of the steeple was blown down , and an officer of the churce told me , that the wind had done them much wrong , but they meant not to put it up , whether the wrong or the steeple , he did not declare . amongst private houses , the duke of norfolks palace is the greatest i ever saw in a city out of london . here a covered bowling-alley ( the first i believe of that kind in england , ) on the same token , that when thomas , last duke of norfolk , was taxed for aspiring ( by marriage of the q to the crown of scotland , ) he protested to queen elizabeth , that , when he was in his bowling-alley at * norwich , he accounted himself as a king in scotland . as for the bishops palace , it was formerly a very fair structure , but lately unleaded , and new covered with tyle by the purchasers thereof . whereon a wag not unwittily , thus palaces are altered , we saw john leyden , now wat tyler , next jack straw . indeed there be many thatch'd houses in the city , so that luther ( if summoned by the emperour to appear in this place ) would have altered his expression , and said instead of tyles of the house , that if every straw on the roof of the houses were a divel , notwithstanding he would make his appearance . however , such thatch is so artificially done ( even sometimes on their chancels ) that it is no eye-sore at all to the city . physicians . john goslin born in this * city , was first fellow , and afterwards master of caius-colledge in cambridge , proctor of the university , and twice vice-chancellour thereof : a general scholar , eloquent latinist , a rare physician , in which faculty he was regius professor . a strict man in keeping , and magistrate in pressing the statutes of colledge and university , and a severe punisher of the infringers thereof . and here , courteous reader , let me insert this pleasant passage ( seeing cato himself may sometimes smile ) without offence . i remember when this doctor was last vice-chancellour , it was highly penal for any scholar to appear in boots , as having more of the gallant , then civil student therein . now a scholar undertook for a small wager , much beneath the penalty , to address himself ocreated unto the vice-chancellour , which was beheld by others as a desperate adventure . carrying his state in his urinal , he craved his advise for an hereditary numness in his legs , ( and something of truth therein ) which made him in his habite to trespass on the universities statutes , to keep them warme . the vicechancellour pitying instead of pun●…shing him , prefcribed him his best receipts , and so by this fraus honesta , he effected his desires . this doctor was a worthy benefactour to katharine-hall ( to which he had no relalion , save what his bounty created , ) bestowing thereon the fair bull-inn , of considerable value . if he who giveth a nights lodging to a servant of god , shall not lose his reward , certainly he that bestoweth inn and all upon the sons of the prophets , shall find full compensation . the rather , because that hall pent formerly for lack of ground , and complaining with the sons * of the prophets , — the place where we dwell , is too strait for us ; may now say with * isaac , the lord hath made room for us ; by this convenient addition . he died in his vice-chancellour ship anno . john caius born in this city , son to robert caius , was bred fellow in gonvile hall in cambridge . hence he travailed into italy , where he studied much and wrote several learned treatises . returned home , became physician to queen mary , and improved gunvile-hall into a colledge . he bestowed good land on , erected fair buildings in , bequeathed thrifty statutes to , produced a proper coat of arms for , and imposed a new name on this foundation , gonvile and caius colledge . he wrote an excellent book of the antiquity of cambridge . when king james passed thorough this colledge , the master thereof presented him a caius de antiquate cantabridgiae , fairly bound ; to whom the king said , what shall i do with this book , give me rather caius de canibus , a work of the same author very highly praised , but very hardly procured . few men might have had a longer , none ever had a shorter epitaph , fui caius . writers since the reformation . robert watson born in this city , was excellently well skilled in the laws , and ( saith bale ) à dispensatione sive administratione domesticâ , ( english it as you please ) to arcsh-bishop cranmer . * being imprisoned for his religion , he often disputed during his restraint with several papists , concerning transubstantiation , and at length having gained his enlargement , wrote a treatise in elegant latine , ( dedicating the same to such who with him suffered banishment for their religion , ) wherein he relateth the accidents of his life . i cannot attain to any certainty in the date of his death . benefactors to the publique . william baitman was born in this * city , bred in cambridge , and afterwards became first arch-deacon ; and then by king edward the third made bishop of this his native see. one of an high spirit to maintain the profit and priviledges of his place , and i charitably presume him watchful over his sheep , ( souls subjected to his charge ) because he was so careful of his deer , for the stealing whereof , he enjoyned * penance to robert lord morley , and making him perform them , in the cathedral of norwich , notwithstanding the kings threatning letters to the contrary . this prelate in his travails beyond the seas , perceiving that our english common-law was out-lawed in those parts , and apprehending the absolute necessity that the english should have skill in the cannon and civil-laws , ( for the managing of foreign negotiations ) erected a colledge in cambridge , called trinity-hall , for the study thereof . as he was father to trinity , he was foster-father to gonvil-hall , in the same university , removing it to a more convenient place , building , and setling the revenues thereof , according to the will of the founder . king edward the third , resolving to follow his title to the crown of france , sent this bishop to the pope , to acquaint him with his intentions , in which embassage he died at avenion . since the reformation . thomas legg was born in this * city , bred first fellow in trinity , then jesus-colledge in cambridge , until he was chosen by doctor caius ( then surviving ) the nineteenth * master of gonvil-hall , and the second of gonvil and caius-colledge . he was doctor of the law , and arches , one of the masters of the chancery , twice vice-chancellour of the university , and thirty four years master of his colledge therein . there needeth no other testimony for to avouch his great learning , then the character given him by j. lipsius , in his ( hitherto unprinted ) epistle , in antiquitatis studio , tam egregie , versatus es , ut id de teipso potes quod de se apollo enni . a me omnes cantabrigienses consilium expetunt in literis incerti , quos , ego , mea ope , ex incertis certos , compotesque consilii dimitto . this doctor , though himself a serious man , used to recreate himself with delightful studies , observing gravity in his very pleasures . he composed a tragedy of the destruction of jerusalem , and having at last refined it to the purity of the publique standard some plageary filched it from him , just as it was to be acted . he formerly had made a tragedy of the life of king richard the third , presented with great applause ( queen elizabeth i suppose being a beholder thereof ) in saint johns-colledge-hall . on the same token that john palmer ( afterwards dean of peterburough ) who acted king richard therein , had his head so possest with a princelike humor , that ever after , he did what then he acted , in his prodigal expences , so that ( the cost of a sovereign ill befiting the purse of a subject , ) he died poor in prison , notwithstanding his great preferment . great the bounty of doctor legg unto his colledge , bequeathing . pounds for the building the east-part thereof ; besides , several lesser liberalities . yea , be it remembred , that after thomas bacon , fifteenth master of the colledge , had been a malefactour thereunto , leaving it much indebted , the four succeeding masters ( ill examples avoided do good ) doctor caius , legg , branthwaite , gosling , ( all natives of norwich ) were signall benefactours , though masters of , but stewards for the house ; making it , for the main , their heir , at their decease . doctor legg died july . . in the . year of his age . the farewell . i heartily wish that this city may long flourish in its full lustre . in tendency whereunto may the thatch of all their houses by divine providence , be effectually secured from the merciless element of fire , ( as which knoweth not to be a king , but must be a tyrant , ) whose furious raging is seldome bounded , unless by the want of fewel to feed on . yea , may their straw in due time advance into tyle , that thereby their houses may for the future be better fenced against an other element , i mean the injury of wind and rain . northampton-shire being a long narrow inland county , is stretched from north-east to south-west , and bordereth on more counties then any other in england , being nine in number , viz. on the east . on the west . on the north. on the south . . cambridgeshire . warwickshire . lincolnshire . bedfordshire . huntingtonshire   . rutland . buckinghamshire     . leicestershire . oxfordshire . it is as fruitful and populous as any in england , insomuch that sixteen several towns with their churches have at one view been discovered therein , by my eyes , * which i confess none of the best , and god grant that those who are sharper sighted , may hereafter never see fewer . sure i am there is as little wast ground in this , as in any county in england , ( no mosses , mears , fells , heaths , ( whitering , but a beauty spot , ) which elsewhere fill so many shires with much emptiness , ) northamptonshire being an apple , without core to be cut out , or rind to be pared away . northamptonshire challengeth that all the rivers running through , or by it , are its natives , as bred in it , ( which argueth the elevation , and height of the ground thereof , ) which i believe no other county in england can say . besides , it lendeth two considerable rivers avon to warwick , and cherwell to oxfordshire . the language of the common people is generally the best of any shire in england . a proof whereof , when a boy , i received from a hand-labouring-man herein , which since hath convinced my judgement : we speak i believe ( said he ) as good english any shire in england , because , though in the singing psalms , some words are used to make the meeter unknown to us ; yet the last translation of the bible , which no doubt was done by those learned men in the best english , agreeth perfectly with the common speech of our country . know reader , that doctor bowle my worthy friend , and most skilful botonographist , hath taken notice of a heath in this county nigh to stamford , whereof he giveth this * commendation , as fine a place for variety of rare plants , as ever i beheld . who i am sure hath seen in this kind , as much , both here , and beyond the seas , as any of his age and profession . natural commodities . now though this shire shares as largely as any in those profits which are generall to england , grass , corn , cattle , &c. yet it is most eminent for salt-peter . in latine sal petrae , rather so called , because exudat è petris , it usually sweats out of rocks , then , because it is wrought up at the last to a rocky or a stony consistency . some conceive it utterly unknown to the ancients , which learned hoffman will not allow , onely it was disguised unto them , under the name of sal nitrum , though our modern use was unknown unto them , that pulvis nitrosus , or gun-powder might be made thereof . it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what will easily take fire , the best test of the goodness thereof . but , why is salt-peter ( common to all counties ) insisted on in northamptonshire ? because , most thereof is found in dove-houses , and most dove-houses in this great corn county . yet are not those emblemes of innocency , guilty in any degree of those destructions , which are made by that , which is made thereof . all that i will adde of salt-peter , is this , i have read in a learned * writer that salt-peter-men , when they have extracted salt-peter out of a floor of earth one year , within three or four years after , they find more generated there , and do work it over again . pigeons . these of all fowls , live most sociably in a common-wealth together , seeing their government is not , as bees , monarchical . they are generally reported without gall , understand it , their gall is not sequestred into a distinct vessel , as in other creatures . otherwise we find the effects thereof in their animosities among themselves , ( whose bills can peck as well as kiss ) as also ( if their crops be not clearly drawn , ) in the bitterness of their flesh . they are most swift in flight , and the steerage of their tails conduceth much to their steddy mounting upright . an envious man , having caught his neighbours pigeons in a net , feeding on his stack , pluck'd off their tails and let them go . which , though they could fly forward home , yet were soon after found dead in the dove coat , famished for want of food , as unable to fly up perpendicularly , and so out at the lover . pigeons , against their wills , keep one lent for seaven weeks in the year , betwixt the going out of the old , and growing up of the new grain . probably , our english would be found as docible and ingenious , as the turkish pigeons , which carry letters from aleppo to babilon , if trained up accordingly . but such practices , by these wingposts , would spoil many a foot-post , living honestly by that painful vocation . i find a grievous indictment drawn up against the poor pigeons for felony , as the grand plunderers of grain in this land. my * author computing six and twenty thousand dove-houses in england and wales , and allowing five hundred pair in each house , four bushels yearly for each pair , hath mounted the annual wast they make to an incredible sum . and , if the moity of his proportions hold true , doves may be accounted the causers of dearth , and justly answer their etimology in hebrew jonah , which is deduced from a root , signifying to spoil or to destroy . the advocates for pigeons plead , that they pick up such loose corn , which otherwise would be lost , and uselesly troden into the earth ; that probably divine providence , which feedeth the fowls , by some natural instinct directeth them to such grain , which would be barren and fruitless , that their dung , incredibly fruitful for the manuring of ground , abundantly recompenseth the spoil done by them . however , if pigeons be guilty of so great stealth , they satisfie the law for the same , being generally kill'd for mans meat , and a corrected-pigeon ( let blood under both wings ) is both pleasant and wholesome nourishment . the manufactures . this county can boast of none worth naming , whereof this the reason , sufficient the fruitfulness thereof in corn , grass , ( and what not necessary for nature ? ) for it 's plentiful subsistance . the elder brother who hath the inheritance of his own to maintain him , need not to be bound an apprentice , let the younger turn trades-man , and inlarge his narrow portion by his inaustry . it is enough for northamptonshire to sell their wooll , whilst that other countrys make cloath thereof . i speak not this ( though it be my native ●…ountry ) to praise northamptonshire men for not using , but that northamptonshire men may praise god for not needing manufactures . however the town of northampton may be said to stand chiefly on other mens leggs , where ( if not the best ) the most and cheapest boots and stockens are bought in england . i am credibly informed by a good friend , that the manufacture of cloathing hath by prudent and able persons , been endeavoured effectually ( understand me in design not success ) in this county , and yet ( though fine their wool ) their cloath ran so coarse , it could not be sold without loss ; thus god hath innated every country with a peculiar genius , and when art crosseth nature , neither succeed , but both exceed , where both concurre . buildings . as saint peter hath the primacy of all the other apostles , so the cathedral dedicated unto him in this county , challengeth the precedency of all in england , for a majestick western front of columel-work . but alas ! this hath lately felt the misfortune of other fabricks in this kind . yea , as in a gangrean , one member is cut off to preserve the rest , so i understand the cloysters of this cathedral were lately plucked down to repair the body thereof ; and am heartily glad god in his mercy hath restored the onely remedy ( i mean its lands ) for the cure thereof . as for civil structures , holdenby-house lately carried away the credit , built by sir christopher hatton , and accounted by him the last monument of his youth . if florence be said to be a city , so fine that it ought not to be shown , but on holy-days ; holdenby was a house , which should not have been shown , but on christmas-day . but alas ! holedenby-house is taken away , being the embleme of human happiness , both in the beauty and brittleness , short flourishing , and soon fading thereof . thus one demolishing hammer , can undoe more in a day , then ten edifying axes can advance in a month. next is burleigh-house nigh stamford , built by william lord cecil . who so seriously compareth the [ late ] state of holdenby and burleigh , will dispute w●…th himself , whither the offices of the lord chancellour or treasurer of england be of greater revenues , seeing holedenby may be said to show the seal , and burleigh the purse , in their respective magnificence , proportionable to the power and plenty of the two great ▪ officers that built them . withorpe must not be forgot , ( the least of noble houses , and best of lodges , ) seeming but a dim reflection of burleigh , whence it is but a mile distant . it was built by thomas cecil earl of exeter , to retire to ( as he pleasantly said ) out of the dust , whilst his great house of burleigh was a sweeping . castle ashby the noble mansion of the earl of northampton succeeds , most beautifull before , a casual fire deformed part thereof . but seeing fire is so furious a plunderer , that it giveth whatsoever it taketh not away , the condition of this house is not so much to be condoled , as congratulated . besides these , there be many others , no county in england , yeilding more noble men ; no noble men in england , having fairer habitations . and although the freestone whereof they be built , keepeth not so long the white innocence , as brick doth the blushing modesty thereof ; yet when the fresh luster is abated , the full state thereof doth still remain . the wonders . there is within the demeasnes of boughton , ( the barony of the right honorable edward lord mountague , ) a spring which is conceived to turn wood into stone . the truth is this , the coldness of the water incrustateth wood ( or what else falleth into it ) on every side with a stony matter , yet so that it doth not transubstantiate wood into stone . for the wood remaineth entire within , untill at last wholy consumed , which giveth occasion to the former erroneous relation . the like is reported of a well in candia with the same mistake , that quicquid incidit lapidescit . but i have seen in sidney-colledge in cambridge , a skull brought thence , which was candied over with stone within and without , yet so as the bone remained intire in the middle , as by a casual breach thereof did appear . this skull was sent for by king charles , ( and whilst i lived in the house ) by him safely again returned to the colledge , being a prince as desirous in such cases to preserve others propriety , as to satisfie his own curiosity . medicinal waters . wellingborough-well . some may conceive it called wellingborough , from a sovereign well therein anciently known , afterwards obstructed with obscurity , and re-discovered in our days . but master camden doth marr their mart , avouching the ancient name thereof wedlingburough . however thirty years since a water herein grew very famous , insomuch that queen mary lay many weeks thereat . what benefit her majesty received by the spring here , i know not , this i know , that the spring received benefit from her majesty , and the town got credit and profit thereby . but it seems all waters of this kind have ( though far from the sea ) their ebbing and flowing , i mean in esteem . it was then full tide with wellingburough-well , which ever since hath abated , and now i believe is at low water in its reputation . proverbs . the mayor of northampton opens oysters with his dagger . ] this town being miles from the sea , sea fish may be presumed stale therein . yet have i heard that oysters ( put up with care , and carried in the cool , ) were weekly brought fresh and good to althrope , the house of the lord spencer at equal distance . sweeter no doubt then those oysters commonly carried over the alpes , well nigh . miles from venice to viena , and there ●…eputed ( far fetch'd and deer bought ) daintes to great persons , though sometimes very valiant their savour . nor is this a wonder , seeing plinny tell us , that our english oysters did romanis culinis servire , serve the kitchings of rome ; pickled as some suppose , though others believe them preserved by an ingenious contrivance , ( epicures bear their brains in there bowels , ) and some conceive them carried in their shells . but seeing one of their own emperours gave for his motto ; bonus odor h●…stis , melior civis occisi ; good is the smell of an enemy , but better the smell of a citizen of rome , killed . i say unto such a roman-nose , stinking may be better then sweet oysters , and to their palates we 'll leave them . he that must eat a buttered fagot , let him go to northampton . ] because it is the dearest town in england for fuel , where no coles can come by water , and little wood doth grow on land. camden saith of this county in general , that it is , silvis , nisi in ulteriori & citeriori parte , minùs laetus . and if so when he wrote , fifty years since , surely it is less wooddy in our age . what reformation of late hath been made in mens judgments and manners , i know not , sure i am , that deformation hath been great in trees and timber : who verily believe , that the clearing of many dark places , where formerly plenty of wood , is all the new light this age produced . pity it is no better provision is made for the preservation of woods , whose want will be soonest for our fire , but will be saddest for our water , when our naval walls shall be decayed . say not , that want of wood will put posterity , on witty inventions for that supply , seeing he is neither pious nor prudent parent , who spends his patrimony , on design that the industry and ingenuity of his son may be quick'ned thereby . princes . elizabeth daughter of sir richard woodevill , by the lady jaquet his wife , ( formerly the relict of john duke of bedford , ) was born at grafton honour in this county , in proof whereof many stronge * presumptions may be produced . sure i am , if this grafton saw her not first a child , it beheld her first a queen , when married to king edward the fourth . this elizabeth was widow to sir john grey , who lost his life for the house of lancaster ; and petitioned king edward to take off the sequestration from her joynter . beauty is a good solicitress of an equal sute , especially where youth is to be the judge thereof . the king fell much inamored with her feature , whilst the lady put her self into a chast posture , and kept a discreet distance , neither forward to accept , nor froward to decline his favonr . she confessed her self too worthless to be his wife , yet pleaded too worthy to be his wanton , till at last the king was content to take her upon her own terms , though a widow and his subject . she got more greatness then joy , height then happiness by her marriage ; her husband keeping company with others for his pleasure , her for posterity : nor was it long before the tempest of his lust drave him to another shore , which had a greater share in his affections . this lady liv'd to see the death of her husdand , murder of her two sons , restraint of her self , and rest of her children . and though her condition was altered and bettered , by the marriage of her eldest daughter to king henry the seventh , yet that cunning king , ( who always weighed his love in the ballance of policy ) was not over dutiful to her , nor over-loving to her daughter . she dyed anno domini ... but her memory is most remarkable to posterity for finishing queens-colledge in cambridge , ( wherein i had my first breding , and for it , and all therein , shall ever have an unfeigned affection ) begun by queen margaret , ( wife to king henry the sixth ) an implacable enemy to her husband , so that the two houses of lancaster and york had their first amity in that foundation , a comfortable presage that in process of time they should be publikely and effectually united . richard plantagenet son to richart plantagenet duke of york , was born at fothinghay castle in this county . he was somewhat rumpled in his mothers womb , ( which caused his crooked back ) otherwise handsome enough for a soldier . ajax and ulysses , valour and eloquence , met in his person , having as well a tongue to flatter , as an arm to fight . he compassed the crown by cruelty , and the killing of his nephews , the two sons of king edward the fourth . when king , he made good laws , which never procured him the peoples love , as who beheld vice for his native colour , and virtue for his painted complexion , on design to make himself popular . he lost the crown and his life in the battle of bosworth , where it may be verified of him , what livy saith of hannibal , when beaten by scipio , that in that fight he performed all the offices of a wise general , and valiant souldier , onely fortune did not befriend him . if any except that king richard in this battle was too prodigal of his own person , engaging it too far for a general ; his condition did excuse him herein , with whom it was all one , to dye , as too survive success . his memory hath since met with a modern * pen , who hath not onely purged , but praised it to the height , and pity it is , that so able an advocate , had not a more meriting person to his client . he was slain anno domini . katharine par daughter to sir thomas par , and last wife to king henry the eighth , may probably be presumed a native of this shire . however to prevent cavils , we resign her over to westmerland , where ( god willing ) we shall meet with her character . saints . werburgh was daughter to wolpher prince of mercia , who had his chief * palace of residence at wedon in the street in this county , which place her father bestowed on her for her portion . she was bred a nun , under saint audery her aunt , and abbess at ely , untill such time that she was able , of herself , to go alone without leading , in a monastical life . returning to wedon , she turned that place which had been her fathers palase , into a monastery . besides wedon , she had the inspection of two other monasteries , trekingham in lincolnshire , and hamburge , noted by my * author , neer ely in cambridgeshire , though no such place appear in any modern maps or catalogue . she parted herself , whilst living , successively betwixt these three places . but on her death-bed , commanded her body to be buried at hamburge , when contrary to her will , it was carried to the monastery of trekingham , and the gates thereof fast locked , and carefully watched , to keep so great a treasure . reader , if the day be as long with thee , when thou readest , as it was with me , when i wrote the ensuing story , time may the better be afforded , for the perusal thereof . my * author proceeds . eut see a wonder . [ it were well if we could see , whereas now , by his leave , we do but hear it , ] they , which were appointed to watch the same , fell into a deep sleep , so as the people of hamburge coming in the night for the body , the gates , both of the monastery and church , were opened themselves without mens hands , and taking it away without any resistance , they interred it at hamburge , as before her death she requested . wonder not they were so ambitious for her body , for as werburgh was her name , which by a * great antiquary is interpreted , the keeper or conserver of a burgh or town , so all presumed she would prove a tutelary patroness to the place which possessed her body , seeing * some have reported , that she hath miraculously driven away all geese from wedon , that they shall destroy no grain th●…reabout . if this be true , then as a certain jupiter amongst the heathens , was called * jupiter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 jupiter the flie-flapper , who drave away those offensive insects , let this saint hereafter be termed werburga 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , the chaser away of noisome geese , which spoil grain , grass , and water , where they come . she died anno domini . her body was afterwards taken up , and translated to chester , where hugh lupus , somewhat after the conquest , built the fair monastery of saint werburghs to her memory , converted into a cathedral by king henry the eight . martyrs . this county affordeth no marian martyrs , thanks be to a good and gracious god , a meek and moderate man , david pool bishop of peterburough , whom i here mention the more willingly , not knowing where to fix his nativity . however unus homo nobis . one martyr we had , not chargable on the bishop , but his bloudy arch-deacons account , john gurd of syrsam a shoo-maker burnt in * northampton . as for augustine dudley parson of castor , though some of his familly credibly informed me , that he was martyred , yet on enquiry , his fufferings amounted not to loss of life , and therefore the less wonder , that they escaped the drag-net of master fox's diligence . cardinals . henry chichley was born at higham ferrers in this county , and by the author of antiquitates britanicae , is avouched made cardinal by the title of saint eusebius . but , because this appeareth not in his epitaph on his tombe , ( wherein an exact inventory of all his dignities ) the truth thereof is justly suspected , and i reserve his character to be ranked amongst the benefactors to the publique . prelates . ricard of northampton . adam of northampton . we compound them for several reasons . first , because natives of the same town . secondly , both going over into ireland , there became bishops of the same see. thirdly , because the history of them is , single , so slender it cannot subsist alone , though twisted together ; it is posible that their memories may support one the other . for we have nothing more of them , then the dates of their consecrations and deaths . the former consecrated * bishop of fernose october the . . dyed anno . the later consecrated . died * october the . . having first seen his cathedral church burnt and destroyed by the rebells . william le zouch son to — lord zouch , was born at haringworth in this county , as a * branch of thar honorable family still alive , and critical in their pedigrees , hath credably informed me . from dean he became arch-bishop of york . king edward the third , going over to france , committed the north to the care of this prelate . soon after david king of scots , with a great army invaded it ; he promised himself cesars success , to come and conquer , see and subdue . the rather , because he believed , that he floure of the english chivalry being gone into france , onely priests and peasants were left behind . our arch-bishop with such forces as he could suddenly provide , bid him battle at durham , on saint lukes eve , whereon the scotch king found such a fast , he had little list to feast the day following , being routed and taken prisoner . hence a poet of that age , est pater invictus , sicco de stipite dictus . zouch in french signifying the dry stump of a stick . however his honorable family flourished as a green tree for many years , till withered in our memory , when edward the last lord zouch , dyed without issue male , in the beginning of king charles . to return to our prelate , he began a beautiful chappel on the south-side of his cathedral , intending to be interred therein . but dying before the finishing thereof , was buried before the altar of saint edmund . robert braybrooke was born at a village in this county , well known for the carkase of a castle therein . he was consecrated bishop of london , january . . ●…nd afterwards for six months , was chancellour of england . he dyed . being buried under a marble-stone in the chappel of saint mary . which is all we can recover of this prelate , and , if it be enough to satisfie the readers hunger , he need not leave any thing for manners in the dish . lionell wydevill , or woodvill was born at grafton ( since called grafton honor ) in this county , bred in the university of oxford , whereof , for a time he was chancellour , then made bishop of sarisbury . as he was at first preferred , so his memory is still supported from sinking in silence , rather by the buttresses of his great relations , then the foundation of his own deserts . for he was son to jaquet dutchess of bedford , and richard wydevill e. of rivers , brother to elizabeth q. of england , brother in-law to king edward the fourth , uncle to king edward the fi●…t , and father ( say some ) to stephen gardiner bishop of winchester . heart-broken with grief , with the tragedies he beheld in his own family , caused by the cruelty of king richard the third , he died about the year of our lord . since the reformation . james monta●…ue son to sir edward montague knight , was born at boughton in this county , bred in christs-colledge in cambridge . he was afterwards master , or rather nursing father to sidney-colledge . for he found it in bonds to pay . marks per annum to trinity-colledge , for the ground whereon it is built , and left it free , assigning it a rent for the discharge thereof . when the kings ditch in cambridge made to defend it by its strength , did in his time offend it with its stenche , he expended a hundred marks to bring running water into it , to the great conveniency of the university . he was afterwards bishop first of bath and vvells , then of vvinchester , being highly in favour with king james , who did ken a man of merrit , as well as any prince in christendome . he translated the works of king james into latine , and improved his greatness to do good offices therewith . he died anno domini . and lyeth buried within his fair monument , within his fairer monument , i mean a goodly tombe , in the church of bath , which oweth its well being and beauty to his munificence . francis godwin son to thomas godwin bishop of bath and vvells , was born at * hanningham in this county , bred in christs-church in oxford doctor of divinity , and sub-dean of exeter . he was born in the fourth year of the raign of queen elizabeth , anno . and in the fortieth year of his age . by her majesty made bishop of landaffe . a bishoprick better proportioned to his modesty then merits , as which was much impaired by his predecessor , so that one did t●…uly say , a * bad kitching did for ever spoil the good meat of the bishops of landaffe . he was a good man , grave divine , skilful mathematician , pure latinist , and incomparable historian . the church of landaffe was much beholding to him ; yea , the whole church of england ; yea , the whole church militant ; yea , many now in the church triumphant had had their memories utterly lost on earth , if not preserved by his painfull endeavours in his catalogue of english bishops . i am sorry to see that some have since made so bad use of his good labours , who have lighted their candles from his torch , thereby meerly to discover the faults of our bishops , that their personal failings may be an argument against the prelatical function . he was translated by king james to the bishoprick of hereford , and died very aged in the reign of king charles anno domini . john owen was born at burton - latimers in this county , his father being the worthy and grave minister thereof . he was bred a fellow in jesus-colledge in cambridge , where he commenced doctor of divinity , and was chaplain to king charles , whilst he was a prince . a modest man who would not own the worth he had in himself , and therefore others are the more ingaged to give him his due esteem . in the vacancy of the bishop wrick of saint asaff , king charles , being much troubled with two competitours , advanced doctor owen ( not thinking thereof ) as an expedient to end the contest . indeed his majesty was mistaken in his birth , accounting him a welch-man , but not in his worth , seeing he deserved a far better preferment . besides he was , though not ortus , oriundus è wallia , and by his father ( being a welchman ) he was related to all the best families in north-wales . he out-lived his vote in parliament , and survived to see all contempt cast on his order , which he bare with much moderation , and dyed anno dom. . . robert skinner d. d. was born at pisford in this county , where his father was minister , bred fellow of trinity-colledge in oxford , afterwards an eminent preacher in london , and dean of ............ hence he was preferr'd bishop of bristol , and afterwards of oxford , and is still , and long may he be , living . states-men . sir christopher hatton was born ( i collect at holdenby ) in this county , of a family rather ancient then wealthy , yet of no mean estate . he rather took a bate , then made a meal at the inns of court , whilst he studied the laws therein . he came afterwards to the court in a mask , where the queen first took notice of him , loving him well for his handsome dancing , better for his proper person , and best of all for his great abilities . his parts were far above his learning , which mutually so assisted each other , that no manifest want did appear , and the queen at last preferred him lord chancellour of england . the gown-men grudging hereat , conceived his advancement their injury , that one not thoroughly bred in the laws , should be preferred to the place ; how could he cure diseases unacquainted with their causes , who might easily mistake the justice of the common-law for rigour , not knowing the true reason thereof . hereupon it was , that some sullen serjeants at the first refused to plead before him , until , partly by his power , but more by his prudence , he had convinced them of their errors , and his abilities . indeed he had one sir richard swale doctor of the civil-laws ( and that law some say is very sufficient to dictate equity ) his servant-friend , whose advice he followed in all matters of moment . a scandal is raised , that he was popishly affected , and i cannot blame the romanists , if desirous to countenan●…e their cause with so considerable a person . yet most ●…ue it is that his zeal for the discipline of the church of england gave the first being and life to this report . * one saith , that he was a meer vegetable of the court that sprung up at night , and sunk again at his noon , though indeed he was of longer continuance . yet it brake his heart , that the queen ( which seldome gave boons , and never forgave due debts , ) rigorously demanded the present payment of some arrears , which sir christopher did not hope to have remitted , but did onely desire to be forborn ; failing herein in his expectation , it went to his heart , and cast him into a mortal disease . the queen afterwards did endeavour what she could to recover him , bringing as some say cordial broaths unto him with her own hands , but all would not do . thus no pullies can draw up a heart once cast down , though a queen her self should set her hand thereunto . he dyed anno domini . and is buried under a stately monument in the q●…ire of saint pauls . sir william fitz-williams born at milton in this county , married the sister of sir henry sidney lord deputy of ireland . yea , he himself was * five times lord deputy of that kingdome , a sufficient evidence of his honesty and ability , seeing queen elizabeth never trusted twice , where she was once deceiv'd in a minister of state. she so preserved him in the power of his place , that sending over walter earl of essex ( a person higher in honour ) to be governour of ulster , it was ordered , that the earl should take his commission from the lord † deputy . an intelligent * pen alloweth him serviceable , towards the reduction of that kingdome , in two eminent particulars . first , in raising a composition in mounster , then in setling the possessions of the lords and tenants in monahan , one of the last acts of state ( tending to the reformation of the civil government ) perform'd in the reign of queen elizabeth . his vigilancy was most conspicuous in the eighty-eight , when the routed armado in its return , did look , dared not to land in ireland , except against their wills driven by tempest , when they found the shore worse then the sea unto them . i confess , some * impute the irish rebellion , which afterwards brake out to this deputies severity , in imprisoning suspected persons for concealing spanish goods , though this onely gave the irish a mantle for their intended wickedness . he died anno domini ... sir isaac wake was born in this county , whose father arthur wake * clerk was parson of billing , master of the hospital of saint johns in northampton , and canon of christs-church , and son to john vvake of sancy-forrest esquire , of a most ancient and honorable family . he was bred fellow of merton-colledge in oxford , proctour and oratour of that university , he was afterwards secretary to sir dudley carleton secretary of state , and from his , was advanced into the kings service , and imployed embassadour to venice , where he neglected his own commodity , to attend his majesties imployment , the reason that he died rich onely to his own conscience . coming from venice he was appointed leiger for france , and designed secretary of state , had not death prevented him at paris . he was accomplished with all qualifications requisite for publique employment , learning , languages , experience , abilities ; and what not ? king charles hearing of his death , commanded his corps to be decently brought from paris into england , allowing the expences for his funeral , and enjoyning his neerest relations to attend the performance thereof . these accordingly met his body at bulloin in france , and saw it solemnly conveyed into england , where it was interred in the chappel of the castle of dover , anno dom. ... capital judges and writers on the law. martin de pateshull . let him remain here , till any shall show me a town called pateshulle , in any other county of england ; which village in this shire , gave the name , and afforded the habitation to that ancient * family . though a clergy-man , he was in the * first of king henry the third , made justice of the lower-●…ench or common-pleas , wherein he continued for twelve years and upwards , as appeareth by the date of his death , out of an excellent * author , eodem anno obiit martinus de pateshulle , decanus st. pauli london . . cal. decem. vir mirae prudentiae , & legum regni peritissimus . he was the fourth dean of saint pauls , as reckoned up in bishop godwin his catalogue . in that age we see , clergy men were not onely trusted with the spirit , ( i mean the equity ) but also with the letter of the law , being judges in those courts , wherein were the most strictest proceedings . sir thomas de billing was born in this county , ( where two villages , his namesakes , near northampton , ) and had his habitation in great state at ashwell in this shire . he was made chief-justice of the kings-bench in the * sixth , and so continued till the one and twentieth of edward the fourth , whose lands ( and those very large ) have since by the * lovels descended to the shirlies . nothing else have i to observe of him , save , that he married for his second wife * mary the daughter and heir of robert nesenham of conington in huntingtonshire , the relict of william cotton , ( whose issue possess her inheritance at this day , ) and she lieth intomb'd in vvestminster . sir william catesbye was born in this county , where his family long flourished at asby saint leger . he was first advanced by vvilliam lord hastinges , by whose countenance he came to the notice , then favour of richard the third , though ill requiting it , when betraying him , who caused his preferment . take his character ( transcribing in this kind , is safer then inditing ) from an * author above exception . this catesbye was a man well learned in the laws of this land , and surely great pity it was that he had not had more truth , or less wit. if any object , that being neither lord chief-justice , chief-baron , nor any vvriter on the law. he falleth not under my pen , by the charter of method prefixed to this catalogue , know that though formerly none , he was eminently all officers , in every court of judicature , all the judges shaking at his displeasure . witness the libel which collingborn made , and which cost him his life for the same . the * rat , and the * cat , and lovel the dog , do govern all england under the * hog . the time of his death is uncertain , but , because we find him not molested in the raign of king henry the seventh , ( which had he survived , surely had happened ) it is probable he died before his patron and preferrer , king richard the third . sir richard empson . it is pity to part them , seeing empson may be called the catesbye to king henry the seventh , as catesbye the empson to king richard the third ; both country-men , eminent for having , odious for abusing their skill in law ; active for the prince , injurious to the people . this sir richard was chancellour of the dutchy of lancaster , and from a sieve-makers son , ( at towceter in this county where he was born ) came to sift the estates of the most wealthy men in england . for king henry the seventh , vexed that he had refused columbus his profer , ( whereby the vvest-indies being found out fortunately , fell to ferdinand king of spain , ) resolved to discover indies in england , and to this purpose made empson promotor general , to press the penal-statutes all over the land . impowred hereby , this prolling knight did grind the faces of rich and poor , bringing the grist thereof to the king , and keeping the toll thereof to himself , whereby he advanced a vast estate , which now , with his name , is reduced to nothing . he united the two houses of york and lancaster in the kings coffers , taking no notice of parties or persons , for their former good service , but making all equally obnoxious to fines and forfeitures . but in the beginning of the reign of king henry the eight , he was arraigned , condemed and beheaded , august the . . say not that princes , if sacrificing their ministers to popular fury , will want persons faithfully to serve them , seeing such exemplary justice will rather fright officers from false disserving them ; for in fine , no real profit can redoun to the soveraign , which resulteth from the ruine of his subjects . i must not forget how there was an old man in vvarwickshire , accounted very judicious in judicial astrology , of whom sir richard empson ( then in his prime ) did scoffingly demand , vvhen the sun would change , to whom the old man replyed , even when such a wicked * lawyer as you go to heaven . but we leave him to stand and fall to his own master , and proceed . edward montague son of thomas montague , born at brigstocke in this county , was bred in the inner-temple , in the study of the laws , until his ability and integrity , advanced him lord chief justice of the kings-bench , in the thirtieth of henry the eight . he gave for his motto , equitas justiae norma . and although equity seemeth rather to resent of the chancery , then the kings-bench , yet the best justice will be worm-wood without a mixture thereof . in his times , though the golden showers of abby-lands rained amongst great men , it was long before he would open his lap ( scrupling the acception of such gifts ) and at last received but little in proportion to others of that age . in the thirty seventh of king henry the eight , he was made chief justice of the common-pleas , a descent in honor , but ascent in profit , it being given to old age , rather to be thrifty then ambitious . in drawing up the will of king edward the sixt , and setling the crown on the lady jane , for a time , he swam against the tide and torrent of duke dudley , till at last , he was carried away with the stream , as in our church history , is largely related . outed of his judges office in the first of queen mary , he returned into northamptonshire , and what contentment he could not find in vvestminster-hall , his hospital-hall at boughton afforded unto him . he died anno . and lieth buried in the parish-church of vveekely . sir augustin nicolls son to thomas nicolls , serjeant at law , was born at eckton in this county . now , though according to the rigor of our fundamental premises , he cometh not within our cognizance under this title , yet his merit will justifie us in presenting his character . he was bred in the study of the common-law , wherein he attained to such knowledge , that queen elizabeth made him a , king james his own , serjeant ; whence he was freely preferred one of the judges of the common-pleas . i say freely , king james commonly calling him the judge that would give no money . not to speak of his moral qualifications , and subordinate abilities ; he was renowned for his special judiciary endowments ; patience to hear both parties all they could say , a happy memory , a singular sagacity to search into the material circumstances , exemplary integrity , even to the rejection of gratuities after judgment given . his forbearing to travail on the lords ▪ day , wrought a reformation on some of his own order . he loved plain and profitable preaching , being wont to say , i know not what you call puritanical sermons , but they come neerest to my conscience . the speech of caesar is commonly known , oportet imperatorem stantem mori , which bishop jewell altered and applyed to himself , decet episcopum concionantē mori ; of this man it may be said , judex mortuus est jura dans , dying in his calling , as he went the northern circuit , and hath a fair monument in kendall-church in westmerland . sir robert dallington knight , was born at geddington in this county , bred a bible-clerk ( as i justly collect ) in bennet-colledge , and after became a school-master in northfolk . here having gained some money , he travailed over all france and italy , being exact in his observations , and was after his return secretary to francis earl of rutland . he had an excellent wit and judgement , witness his most acurate aporismes on tacitus . at last he was knighted and preferred master of the charter-house , where the * school-master at his first entering , wellcomed him with a speech in latine verse , spoken by a school-boy , but sure he was more then a boy who indited it . it is hard to say , whether sir robert was more pleased or displeased with the last distick therein , partem oneris vestri minimā ne despice , curam nec pueros itcrum tedeat esse tuam . do not the least part of your trust disdain , nor grudge of boys to take the care again . he lived to be a very aged man past seventy six , and died anno domini . ▪ john fletcher son of richard fletcher d. d. was ( as by proportion of time is collectible ) born in this county , before his father was bishop of bristol or london , and whilst as yet he was dean of peterborough . he had an excellent wit , which the back-friends to stage-plays will say , was neither idle , nor well imploy'd . for he and francis beaumont esquire , like castor and pollux , ( most happy when in conjunction ) raised the english , to equal the athenian and roman theater ; beaumont bringing the ballast of judgement , fletcher the sail of phantasie , both compounding a poet to admiration . meeting once in a tavern , to contrive the rude draught of a tragedy , fletcher undertook to kill the king therein , whose words being over-heard by a listener ( though his loyalty not to be blamed herein ) he was accused of high treason , till the mistake soon appearing , that the plot was onely against a drammatick and scenical king , all wound off in merriment . nor could it be laid to fletcher's charge , what * ajax doth to ulysses . nihil hic diomede remoto . when diomede was gone , he could do nought alone . for surviving his partner , he wrote good comedies himself , though inferiour to the former ; and no wonder , if a single thread was not so strong as a twisted one . he died ( as i am inform'd ) in london of the plague in the first of king charles , . sir henry montague knight , third son to sir edward montague knight , grand-child to sir edward montague knight , lord chief-justice of the kings-bench , was born at boughton in this county . one skilful in mysterious arts , beholding him when a school-boy , foretold that by the pregnancy of his parts , he would raise himself above the rest of his family , which came to pass accordingly . he was bred first in christs-colledge in cambridge , then in the middle-temple , where he attained to great learning in the laws , and passed through many preferments , viz. . sergeant at law. . knighted by king james , july . . . recorder of london . . lord chief-justice of the kings-bench , november . . . lord treasurer of england , decem. . . . baron of kimbolton . . viscount mandevile . . president of the council , septem . . . . earl of manchester . . lord privy-seal . he wisely perceiving , that courtiers were but as counters in the hands of princes , raised and depress'd in valuation at pleasure , was contented rather to be set for a smaller sum , then to be quite put up into the box . thus in point of place and preferment , being pleased to be what the king would have him , ( according to his motto , movendo non mutando me , ) he became almost what he would be himself , finaly advanced to an office of great honour . when lord privy-seal , he brought the court of requests into such repute , that what formerly was called the almes-basket of the chancery , had in his time well nigh as much meat in , and guests about it , ( i mean suits and clients ) as the chancery it self . his meditations on life and death , written in the time of his health , may be presumed to have left good impressions on his own soul , preparatory for his dissolution , which happened . . writers . john of northampton , in latine johannes avonius , was born in the town of northampton , in ipso insulae umbilico , ( saith * bale ) and is not mistaken in his proportion . this mindeth me of a village in this county , sufficiently known , commonly call'd navesby , whose orthography criticks will have navelsby , as in the middle of england . this john became a carmelite in his native town , and so addicted himself to the study of mathematicks , that he became one of the most eminent in that age , for practical experiments . he was author of a work which he called the philosophers ring . this was not like the philosophers stone , a thing meerly imaginary , nor yet was it a work of the cyclopedy of arts , ( as the sound may seem to import , ) but it was in plain truth a perpetual almanack . i say almanack , which word though many make of arabick extraction , a great * antiquary will have it derived from the dutch , al-mon-aght , that is to say , al-mon-heed , the regard or observation of all moons . however this work of john was beheld as a master-piece of that age , and since commented upon by other writers . he flourished anno domini . robert holcot was born in a * village of this county so named , bred in the university of oxford , and afterwards became a dominican in northampton . a deep scholar , and yet commended to be prudent in * rebus agendis , and accounted one of the greatest school-men in that age . nor , was he onely a candle , or domestick light , confin'd within the walls of his own country , but his learning was a publick luminary to all christendome , as appears by the praise which * trithemius bestoweth upon him ; vir in divinis scripturis eruditissimus , & secularium literarum non ignarus ; ingenio praestans , & clarus eloquio , declamator quoque sermonem egregius scripsit multa praeclara opuscula , quibus nomen suum posteris notificavit . he died at northampton of the plague anno , before he had finished his lectures on the seventh of ecclesiastes . i say of the plague , which at that time so raged in england , that our * chroniclers affirm , scarce a tenth person of all sorts was left alive . insomuch , that the churches and church-yards in london not sussicing for their interments , a new church-yard was consecrated in west-smithfield , wherein * fifty thousand were buried , who at that time died of the pestilence . robert dodford was born in a village so called in this county , ( where the wirlyes , gentlemen of good account , have long had their habitation ) so named as i take it , from a ford over the river avon , and dods water-weeds , ( commonly called by children cats tales ) growing thereabouts . he was bred a benedictine monke in the abby of ramsey , and applied himself to the study of the * hebrew tongue , wherewith the library ( of which he was keeper ) in that convent did much abound . he wrote postills on the proverbs , and other sermons , which the envy of time hath intercepted ●…rom us . he is said to have flourished about the year . by bale , though pitz , ( on what account i know not ) maketh him more ancient by an hundred years . peter pateshull was no doubt born in that village not far from northampton , bred a augustinian in oxford , however falling afterwards into some dislike of his order , he procured from walter dysse ( legate , to pope urbane the sixth ) a dispensation to relinquish it , and was made the popes honorary chaplain . afterwards , by often reading the works of wickliffe ( but especially his * book of real universals ) he became of his judgement , and after the death of wickliffe , preached and promoted his doctrine ; he wrote an exposition of the prophesie of hildegardes , ( a stinging comment on a netling text , ) and so taxed the pride and lasiness of all friers , that his book was burnt by command from the pope , and the writer thereof had been burnt also , had he no●… seasonably secured himself by his flight be●…ond the seas . this mindeth me of a passage of a frier , who burned a book of peter ramus , after the death of the author thereof , and then , and there used this distick , in some imitation of ovid , parve nec invideo ( sine me ) liber ibis in ignem , hei mihi quod domino non licet ire tuo . small book , thy fate i envy not , ( without me ) feel the flame ; o had it been thy masters lot , he might have felt the same . but our pateshull was out of retch in bohemia , betwixt which and england , a great intercourse in that age , since king richard the second had married a sister of wincelaus king of bohemia . we behold him as an advancer of wicklivisme in that country , for which john husse and hierome of prague were afterwards condemned . he flourished in the year of our lord . since the reformation . robert crowley was born in this * county , bred master of arts in magdalen-colledge in oxford . it happ'ned that one miles hogheard , whom * pitz maketh a learned writer , and intituleth him , virum doctum , ptum , & in fide catholica mirè zelosum , ( though in master fox it appeareth by his own confession , that he was but an hosier in london , ) wrote railing books against the poor protestants . our crowley took him to task , and confuted him in several treatises . under queen mary he fled over to frankford , and returning , under queen elizabeth was made vicar of saint giles without cripple gate london , where he lieth buried under a fair plated stone in the ●…hancel . he died * on the . of june . eusebius paget was born at ●…ranford in this county , ●…as master ephraim paget , ●…is aged son , late minister of st. edmond the king lombard street , hath informed me . he was admitted at twelve years of age into oxford , where , when a boy , he * brake his right-arme with carrying the pax , though surely some casualty beside so light a weight concurred thereunto . he was commonly called the golden sophister , and yet he proved no leaden graduate . many years he was a painful minister in london , and was author of that excellent book called the history of the bible , and ca●…echisme of the fourty short questions , which hath done as much good to nn ▪ book learn'd people , as any of that kind . the certain date of his death i cannot attain . john preston d. d. was born at heyford in this county , bred in queens-colledge in cambridge , whose life ( interwoven much with church and state matters ) is so well written by his pupill master thomas ball , that all additions thereunto , may seem carrying of coals to new-castle . however , seeing he who carrieth char-coal , ( a different kind from the native coal of that place , ) may meet with a chapman there , on the same confidence a word or two of this doctor . before he commenced master of arts , he was so far from eminency , as but a little above contempt ; thus the most generous wines are the most muddy , before they are fine . soon after his skill in phylosophy , rendred him to the general respect of the university . he was the greatest pupil-monger in england in mans memory , having sixteen fellow-commoners ( most heirs to fair estates ) admitted in one year in queens-colledge , and provided convenient accommodations for them . as vvilliam the popular earl of nassaw , was said to have won a subject from the king of spain , to his own party , every time he put off his hat ; so was it commonly said in the colledge , that every time , when master preston plucked off his hat , to doctor davenant the colledge-master , he gained a chamber or study for one of his pupils . amongst whom one chambers a londoner , ( who dyed very young ) was very eminent for his learning . being chosen master of emanuell-colledge , he removed thither with most of his pupills , and i remember , when it was much admired , where all these should find lodgings in that colledge , which was so full already , oh! ( said one ) master preston will carry chambers along with him . the party called puritan , then being most active in parliament , and doctor preston most powerful with them , the duke rather used , then loved him , to work that party to his complyance . some thought the doctor was unwilling to do it , and no wonder he effected not , what he affected not ; others thought he was unable , that party being so diffusive , and then , in their designs ( as since in their practices ) divided . however , whilst any hope , none but doctor preston with the duke , set by and extolled , and afterwards , set by and neglected , when found useless to the intended purpose . in a word , my worthy friend fitly calls him , the court coment , blazing for a time , and faiding soon afterwards . he was a perfect politician , and used ( lapwing like ) to flutter most on that place , which was furthest from his eggs , exact at the concealing of his intentions , with that simulation , which some make to lye in the marches of things lawful and unlawfull . he had perfect command of his passion , with the caspian sea , never ebbing nor flowing , and would not alter his compos'd pase for all the whipping , which satyrical w●…ts bestowed upon him . he never had wife , or cure of souls , and leaving a plentifull , no invidious estate , died anno domini . july . pass we now from one , who was all judgement and gravity , to an other , ( place and time making the connexion ) who was all wit and festivity , viz. thomas randolph born at houghton in this county , was first bred in westminster-school , then fellow in trinity-colledge in cambridge . the muses may seem not onely to have smiled , but to have been tickled at his nativity , such the festivity of his poems of all sorts . but my declining age being superannuated , to meddle with such ludicrous matters , configneth the censure and commendation of his poems ( as also of his country-man peter haulsted , born at oundle in this county , ) to younger pens , for whom it is most proper . master randolph died anno dom. . nicholas estwick b. d. was born at harowden ( the baronny of the lord vaux ) in this county . a solid protestant , to counterpoise kellison a violent papist , and native of the same village . he was bred fellow of christs-colledge in cambridge , being there beheld as a pious and judicious divine , always cheerful without the least levity , and grave without any morosness . he was afterwards presented by the lord montague , parson of warton , where he lived a painful preacher . years , less then a deacon in his humility , and more then an arch bishop in his own contentment . hence he was [ unwillingly willing ] preferred by the earl of rutland to botsworth in lecestershire , where he had hardly inned one harvest , before , like a ripe sheaf , he was brought into the barn of the grave . thus though young trees are meliorated with transplanting , yet old ones seldome live , and never flourish after their removal . let his works witness the rest of his worth , some of whose books are published , others prepared for the press , and i wish them a happy nativity , for the publique good . coming to take his farewell of his friends , he preached on the fore-noon , of the lords-day , sickned on the after-noon , and was buried with his wife , in the same grave , in warton chancell , the week following . romish exile writers . matthew kellison was born in this * county at harrowden , his father being a servant and tenant of the lord vaux , in whose family his infancy did suck in the romish perswasions . he afterwards went beyond the seas , and was very much in motion . . he first fixed himself at the colledge of rhemes in france . . thence removed to the english-colledge at rome , where he studied in phylosophy and divinity . . returned to rhemes , where he took the degree of doctor . . removed to doway , where for many years he read school-divinity . . re-returned to rhemes , where he became kings professor , and rector of the university . so much for the travails of his feet ; now for the labours of his hands , ( the pains of his pen ) those of his own opinion can give the best account of them . he wrote a book to king james ; which his majesty never saw , and another against sutliff , with many more , and was living . benefactors to the publick . henry chichely son of thomas and agnes chichely , was born at higham-ferrers in this county , bred in oxford , and designed by wickham himself ( yet surviving ) to be one of the fellows of new-colledge ; he afterwards became chaplain to r. metford bishop of sarum , who made him arch-deacon , which he exchanged for the chancelours place of that cathedral . this bishop at his death made him his chief executor , and bequeathed him a fair gilt cup for a legacy . by king henry the fourth , he was sent to the council of risa , . and by the popes own hands was consecrated bishop of saint davids at vienna , and thence was advanced arch-bishop of canterbury , by king henry the fifth . during his reign in the parliament at leicester , a shrude thrust was made at all abbies , not with a r●…bated point , but with sharps indeed , which this arch-bishop as a skilful fencer fairly put by , though others will say he guarded that blow with a silver buckler ; the clergy paying to the king , vast sums of money , to maintain his wars in france , and so made a forreign diversion for such active spirits , which otherwise in all probability would have antidated the dissolution of monasteries . under king henry the sixth he sat sure in his see , though often affronted by the rich cardinal beaufort of winchester , whom he discreetly thanked for many injuries . a cardinals cap was proferred to , and declined by him , some putting the refusal on the account of his humility , others of his pride , ( loath to be junior to the foresaid cardinal ) others of his policy , unwilling to be more engaged to the court of rome . indeed he was thorough-paced in all spiritual popery which concerned religion ; ( which made him so cruel against the vvicklevites , ) but in secular popery , ( as i may term it , touching the interest of princes ) he did not so much as rack , and was a zealous assertor of the english liberties against romish usurpation . great his zeal to promote learning , as appears by three colledges erected and endowed at his expence and procurement . . one with an hospital for the poor at higham-ferrers the place of his nativity . . saint bernards in oxford , afterwards altered and bettered by sir thomas vvhite into saint johns colledge . . all-souls in oxford , the fruitful nursery of so many learned men. he continued in his arch-bishoprick ( longer then any of his predecessors for . years ) full . years , and died april . . william laxton son to john laxton of oundle in this county , was bred a grocer in london , where he so prospered by his painful endeavours , that he was chosen lord mayor , anno domini . he founded a fair school and almeshouse at oundle in this county , with convenient maintenance , well maintained at this day , by the worshipful company of grocers , and hath been to my knowledge the nursery of many scholars , most eminent in the university . these latine verses are inscribed in the front of the building . oundellae natus , londini parta labore , laxtonus posuit senibus p●…erisque levamen . at oundle born , what he did get in london with great pain , laxton to young and old hath set a comfort to remain . he died anno domini . the . of july , and lyeth buried under a fair tombe in the chancel of saint antonies london . since the reformation . nicholas latham was born at * brigtock in this county , and afterwards became minister of al-saints church in barn-wells . this man had no considerable estate left him from his father , nor eminent addition of wealth from his friends , nor injoyed any dignity in the church of england , nor ever held more then one moderate benefice . and yet by gods blessing on his vivacious frugality he got so great an estate , that he told a friend he could have left his son , had he had one , land to the value of five hundred pounds by the year . but though he had no issue , yet making the poor his heirs , he left the far greatest part of his estate to pious uses ; founded several small schools with salaries in country villages , and founded a most beautiful almes-house at oundale in this county ; and i could wish that all houses of the like nature , were but continued and ordered , so well as this is , according to the will of the founder . he died anno domini . and lyeth buried in the chancel of his own parish , having lived . years . edward montague baron of boughton , and eldest son to sir edward montague knight , was born in this county , a pious , peaceable , and hospitable patriot . it was not the least part of his outward happiness , that having no male issue by his first wife , and marrying when past fifty years of age , he lived to see his son inriched with hopeful children . i behold him , as bountiful * barsillai , superannuated for courtly pleasures , and therefore preferring to live honorably in his own country , wherein he was generally beloved , so that popularity may be said to have affected him , who never affected it . for in evidence of the vanity thereof , he used to say , do the common sort of people nineteen courtesies together , and yet you may loose their love , if you do but go over the stile before them . he was a bountiful benefactor to sidney-colledge , and builded and endowed an almes-house at vveekley in this county . * to have no bands in their death , is an outward favour many vvicked have , many godly men want , amongst whom , this good lord , who dyed in restraint in the savoy , on the account of his loyalty to his sovereign . let none grudge him the injoying of his judgement , a purchase he so dearly bought , and truly paid for , whose death happened in the year of our lord , . . memorable persons . there is a memorial entred on the wall of the cathedral of peterburough , for one , who being sexton thereof , interred two queens therein , [ katharine dowager , and mary of scotland , ] more then fifty years interceeding betwixt their several sepultures : this vivacious sexton also buried two generations , or the people in that place twice over . thus having built many houses ( so i find graves frequently called domus aeternales ) for others , some ( as it was fitting ) performed this last office unto him . thus though sextons often meet with bad savours arising from corps too much , ( or rather too little ) corrupted , yet is the instance of his long life aleadged , by such who maintain , that the smelling to perfect mold made of mens consumed bodies is a preservative of life . lord mayors .   name father place company time john rest will. rest peterborouh grocer will. laxton john laxton yongdell grocer ralph freeman will. freeman northampton clothworker reader , this is one of the twelve counties , whose gentry were not returned into the tower in the reign of king henry the sixth . sheriffs of northampton . hen. ii. anno rich. basset , & albrus de vere anno simon . filius petri anno idem . anno anno idem . anno anno idem . anno hugo . gubion anno idem . anno simon . filius petri , & hugo . gubion anno simon . for years . anno rob. filius gawini , for years . anno hugo . de gundevill anno idem . anno idem . anno tho filius bernardi , for years . anno tho. & rad. morin anno galfr. filius petri anno idem . anno idem . rich. i. anno gal. filius petri anno rich. engaigne anno idem . anno gal. filius petri , & rob. filius radulp. anno idem . anno gal. & simon . de patishull anno simon . de patishull , for years . joh . reg. anno simon . patishull , for years . anno rob. de sancei , & hen. filius petri. anno idem . anno pet. de stores , & gilb. groc . anno wal. de preston , & joh. de ulcot . ut custos anno walt. de preston ut custos anno rob. de braybrook ut custos anno rob. ut custos anno rob. & hen. fil . ejus . anno hen. braybrook ut custos anno rob. & hen. ut custos anno hen. de braybrook ut custos anno idem . hen. iii. anno falc . de breantre , & rad. de bray , for years . anno rad. de trublevil , & rad. washingbury , for years . anno stehp . de segne , & will. de marawast , for years . anno hen. de rada , for years . anno will. de coleworth anno idem . anno alan . de maidwell , for years . anno simon . de thorp anno idem . anno rob. bassett anno idem . anno will. de insula . anno hugo . de manneby anno idem . anno will. de insula anno hugo . de manneby anno idem . anno eustacius de watford anno simon . de patishull anno idem . anno idem . anno alanus de tash anno alanus de insh anno idem . anno idem . anno warin . de basingburn , & joh. de oxenden clic . anno joh. de moyne , & nich. de maunden . anno idem . anno idem . anno will. de boyvill edw. i. anno will. de bowvill anno gilb. de kirkby , for years . anno tho. de arden anno rob. de band anno rob. de band in charta quidem asp. h. for years . anno joh. druell , for years . anno rob. de veer anno joh. de ashton , for years . edw. ii. anno anno almaric . de nodardus , & simon . de greenhull anno joh. de willoughby anno idem . anno idem . anno gal. de bradden anno tho. wale anno eustac . de barnby anno joh. de ashton anno joh. de hoby anno joh. de honby anno joh. & egid. de cugelio anno joh. de honby egid. de cugelio , & joh. de wittebur egid. de cugegio , & joh. de wittlebur anno hum. de basingburne , & joh. sto. mauro anno hum. basingburne anno anno joh. de sto. mauro , & joh. daundelin anno joh. & joh. anno joh. daudelin edw. iii. anno will. de sto. mauro , & simon . de lanshall anno will. de sto. mauro anno tho. wake anno idem . anno tho. de buckton anno idem . anno will. lovell , for years . anno tho. wake anno idem . anno tho. wake de blisworth anno idem . anno idem . anno tho. de babenham anno tho. de buckton anno rob. pandeley anno idem . anno idem . anno walt. parles anno idem . anno rich. blundel anno idem . anno pet. mallore anno walt. parles anno idem . anno idem . anno joh. de kaynes , for years . anno andre . landwath anno walt. parles anno rich. wydevill , for years . anno tho. de preston anno idem . anno rich. wydenell anno rob. hotot anno simon . ward anno joh. karnell anno tho. de preston anno rob. poterleyn anno joh. karnell sheriffs of northampton-shire . name . place . armes . rich. ii.     anno     tho. de pre●…ton preston   joh. lions     joh. paveley   erm. on a fess az. cros. patee or. joh. widevill gra●…ton arg. a fess and canton gules . johan . lions     ro. atte chaūbre   argent , . cheverons sable . nich. litlinges     rog. chaumbre ut prius   joh. widevill ut prius   joh. paveley ut prius   ro. de la chaūbre ut prius   rad. parles     joh. paveley , mi. ut prius   joh. widevill ut prius   joh. tindall deane arg. a fess indented , & cressants in chief gul. joh. mallore winewick or , lions passant gardant sab. johan . mulsho   erm. on a bend sa. goats-heads erased arg. armed or. idem . ut prius   idem . ut prius   joh. warwick   checkee , or and azu . a cheveron ermin . joh. mulsho ut prius   idem . ut prius   hen. iv.     anno     joh. warwicke ut prius   joh ▪ cope , & canons ashby arg. on a cheveron az. 'twixt roses g. slipped & leaved ver. flower de liz . or. joh. ch●…wood warkworth quarterly arg. and gul. crosses patee counterchanged . egid. malorye     warin . lucyen     idem .     rich. wedenhall     tho. widevill ut prius   rad. grene gr●…s-nortō az●… . bucks trippan●… or. rad. parles     tho. mulsho ut prius   tho. widevill ut prius   mat. swetenham     hen. v.     anno     tho. wake blisworth or , bars and torteauxes in chief gules . rad. grene ut prius   tho. widevill ut prius   tho. grene , mil. ut prius   joh. manutell     tho. wake ut prius   tho. pilkinton   arg. a cross pattance voided gu. tho. wodevill ut prius   idem . ut prius   hen. vi.     anno     tho. wodevill ut prius   tho. holland brackley az. semide flower de liz . a lion rampant gardant arg. johan . wakerley     joh. catesby catesby a. lions passant sab. corone or. tho. chaumbre ut prius   johan . kivett     tho. widevill grafton   geor. longvill ●… . billinge gules , a fess indented 'twixt cross croslets arg. will. branuspatch     joh. colpeper   arg. a bend engrailed gules . tho. chaumbre ut prius   tho. wodevill ut prius   tho. wake ut prius   joh. holland , mi. ut prius   will. vaux harrowdō checkee arg. and gul. on a chev. az. roses or. rich. widevill ut prius   tho. chaumbre ut prius   eustat . burnby   arg. bars a lion passant gard. in chief gul. tho. holland ut prius   tho. green , mil. ut prius   will. catesby ut prius   joh. marbnry     hen. green drayton argent , a cross engrailed gules . walt. mauntell     tho. wake ut prius   joh. holland , m. ut prius   eustat . burnby ut prius   will. vaux ut prius   tho. wake ut prius   will. catesby , ar . ashby s leg . ut prius . nich. griffin , ar . dingly sab. a griffin sergeant argent . vvill. vaux ut prius   tho. green , mil. ut prius   will. catesby , m. ut prius   nich. griffin , ar . ut prius   tho. g●…een , ar . ut prius   rob. olney , catesby   will. miuntell , ar .     edw. iv.     anno     vvill. fairsax , ar .   arg. barrs gemelles gul. over all a lion rampant sable . tho. vvalker , ar .     idem .     vvalr . mountell     hen. green , ar . draiton ut prius . hen. hudleston   gules , frettee argent . rad. hastings   argent . a maunch sable . rog. salisbury , ar .   gul. a lion rampant arg. crowned betwixt cressents or. guido . vvalston     vvill. newenham     rad. hastings ut prius   joh. hulcot     hen. hudleston ut prius   rich. griffin , ar . ut prius   ric. knightley , ar . fawsley quarterly ermin . and or pales gules . nullus tile . jun. in hoc rotulo .     rog. salsbury ut prius   vvill. chaumbre ut prius   will. catesby , m , ut prius   vvill. newenham .     rob. pemberton , a. rushden a●…g . a cheveron betwixt buckets sab. handled and hooped or. tho. lovell astwell barry nebuly of or and gules . rich. iii.     anno     rob. vvittelbury     rog. vvake , ar . ut prius   rich. burton , ar .   az. a fess'twixt talbots heads erased or. hen. vii .     anno     hen. veer , ar . addin tō quarterly gu. and or , in the first a mullet argent . rich. knightlev ut prius   guido . vvolston     david . phillipps     tho. haliswood   ar. on a cheveron gu. lozenges ermin . betwixt oulets sab. on a chief az. nut-trees or. tho. lovel , ar . ut prius   guid. walston , m.     rob. vvitlebury     joh. danvers , ar .   gul. a cheveron argent , 'twixt mullets of points or. joh. dyve , ar . haddon partee per pale arg. and gul. a fess azure . nich. vaux , mil. ut prius   vvill. hertwell     will. salisbury , ar . ut prius   hum. catesby , ar . ut prius   rich. burton , ar . ut prius   fulc . wod●…hull , a.     nich. vaux , mil. ut prius   tho. andrews , ar . harlston gules , a saltire or , surmounted with another vert. joh. dyve , ar . ut prius   nich. griffin , mil. ut prius   tho. lovell , ar . ut prius   joh. tresham , ar . rushton partee per saltire sa. and or , trefoils of the second . tho. cheyne , mil.   checky or and az. a fess gules , fretty ermin . joh. mulshow , ar . ut prius   hen. viii .     anno     tho. parre , mil. greēs nortō arg. bars az. a border engrailed sable . ric. knightley , m. ut prius   joh. spew , ar .     rad. lane , ar . horton partee per pale az. and gul. saltires argent . joh. catesby , ar . ut prius   rob. mathew , ar . braden   nich. vvodehull     nich. vaux , mil. ut prius   vvill. parre , mil. ut prius   will. gascoighne   arg. on a pale sable , a lucies-head erased or. tho. lucy . mil.   gul. crusuly or lucies hauriant argent . joh. mulshow , ar . ut prius   vvill. parre , mil. horton   joh. clarke , mil.   see our observations on the . year . wil. fitz. wil. sen. milton lozengy arg. and gules . tho. tresham , ar . ut prius   walt. m●…ntel , m.     hum. stafford , m.   or , a ch●…veron gu. and a quarter ermin . nich. odell , ar .     will. fitz. will. m. ut prius   joh. clarke , mil. stamford azure , fretee argent . rich. cave , ar .   azure , a fess ermin . betwixt six seameaves-heads erased argent . vvill. spencer , m. & david : sissill , ar . althorp stamford barry of arg. and azu . on escucheons sab. as many lions rampant of the first . david . cecill , ar . ut prius   vvill. parr , mil. ut prius   tho. griffin , mil. ut prius   joh. clarke , mil. ut prius   vvill. n●…nhā     vvill. parr , mil. ut prius   anth. catesby , ar ut prius   tho. tresham . m. ut prius   vvill. newenham .     rob. kikeman , m.     rich. catesby , m. ut prius   tho. brudenell , ar . dean arg. a cheveron gul. betwixt caps az. turn'd up ermin . tho. griffin , mil.     joh. cope , ar . ut , prius   tho. cave , ar . ut prius   edw. vi.     anno     hum. stafford , m. ut prius   tho. tresham , m. ut prius   rich. catesby , m. ut prius   tho. andrews , ar . ut prius   joh. spencer , ar . ut prius   tho. lovell , ar . ut prius   phillip . & mari .     anno     tho. cave , mil. ut prius   , val. knightley , m. ut prius   , tho. tresham , m. ut prius   , tho. andrews , m. ut prius   , joh. fermor , mil.   arg. a fess s. 'twixt leopards-heads erased gules . , joh. spencer . mil. ut prius   elizab. reg.     anno     e●…w . montague , ar . boughton arg. fusils in fess , gul. a border sable . tho. lovell , ar . astwell barry nebule of six or and gul. tho. spencer , ar . althrop arg. a fess ermin . 'twixt seamaves-heads erased arg. tho. catesby , ar . ashby st. leg arg. lions passant sab. corone or. rob. lane , mil. horton partee per pale azu . and gul. saltyrs argent . edm. brudenel , ar . deane argent , a cheveron gul. betwixt three caps azure , turned up ermin . hum. stafford , m. blatherwick or , a cheveron gul. and a quarter ermin . edw elmes , ar . lilford ermin . bars sab. each charged with elme-leaves transposed or. ric. knightley , m. fawesly quarterly erm. & or , pales g. tho. andrews , ar . cherwellō gul. a cross or surmounted of another vert. will. sanders , ar . *     ed. mountague , m. ut prius * partee per pale sab. and arg. joh. spencer , mil. ut prius elephants-heads counterchanged . tho. lovel , ar . ut prius   tho. tresham , ar . rushton parte per saltyre sab. and or tre●…oils of the second . edm. onley , ar .     rog. cave , ar . stanford azure , frettee argent . tho. brooke , ar . gr. okely or , on a fess azu . scallops of the first . edm. brudnell , m. ut prius   tho. cecil , mil. burghley barry of arg. and azu . on eeuscheons sable , as many lions rampant of the first . will. chauncy , ar . edgecorte or , cheveronels engrailed gul. rich. knightly , m. ut prius   joh. isham , ar . longport gul. a fess and piles in chief wavee , in point argent . edw. griffin , ar . dingley sab. a griffin surgeant argent . joh. spencer , mil. ut prius   euseb. isham , ar . ut prius   barth . tate , ar .     tho. andrews , ar . ut prius   edw. saunders , ar . ut prius   ed. mountague , m. ut prius   g●…or . farmer , mi. easton arg. a fess sab. 'twixt leopards-heads erased gul. joh. spencer , mi. ut prius   edw. watson , ar . rockinghā argent , on a cheveron engrailed az. 'twixt martlets s. as many crescents or. anth. mildmav , ar . apethorp arg. lions rampant azure . thob . chauncy , ar . ut prius   joh. read , ar .   gul. on a bend arg. shovellers sab. beaked or. edw. mountagne ut prius   tho. molsho , ar . thingdon ermi●… . o●… a bend sab. goats-heads erased arg. armed or. rich. chetwood , a.     eras. draydon , ar . can. ashby az. a lion ramp . in chief a globe 'twixt stars or. will. browne , ar .     ed. mountague , ar . ut prius   rob. spencer ▪ mil.   quarterly arg. and gul. the second and third charged with a fret or , over all on a bend sab. escalops of the first . geo. sherley , ar . * astwell   will. tate , ar . & . jac.     jac. reg.   * paly of or and azu . a canton ermin . anno     vvill. tate , ar .     art. fhrogkmortō   gul. on a cheveron arg. barrs geme●…ee sable . joh. freeman , ar . gr. billing   will. samuell , m.     wil. fitz-will . m. milton lozengee arg. and gules . tho. elmes , ar . g●…s nortò ut prius . vvill. saunders , ut prius   tho. tresham , m. newton ut prius . . joh. isham , mil. ut prius   euse. andrews , m. ut prius   joh. vviseman , ar .   sa. a cheveron betwixt cronells [ or spear burs ] arg. vvill. vvillmer , a. sywell   god. chibnall , ar . orlebere   tho. brooke , mil. ut prius   hat. farmer , mil. ut prius   sim. norwich , mil. branton   eras. dryden , bar . ut prius   lodi . pembertō , m. rushton arg. a cheveron 'twixt buckets sab. handled and hooped or. joh. hanbury , mil. kelmarsh   mose . troyoll , ar .     edw. shugburgh , a. nazeby sab. a cheveron betwixt mullets arg. vvil. chauncy , m ut prius   car. reg.     anno     ric. knightley , ar . ut prius   joh. davers , mil.   gul. a cheveron inter mullets or. joh. vvorley , ar . dodford   hen. robinson , m. cransley   tho. elmes , ar . ut prius   fran. nicholls , ar . faxton   joh. hewett , bar . he●…ington sab. a cheveron counter-battille betwixt owles arg. lo. watson , m. & b. ut prius   rich. samwell , m.     joh. driden , bar . ut prius   caro. cokaine , ar . rushton argent , cockes gules . rob. banaster , m.   argent , a cross patee sable . joh. handbury , m. ut prius   phil. hollman , ar .     chri. yelvertō , m. easton arg. lioncels rampant gul. a cheif of the second . anth. haslewood     vvill. wilmer , m.         edr. farmer , ar . ut prius   idem .         vvill. vvard , ar .   azure , a cross patee or. henry the sixth . richard widewill , aliàs wodevill . ] he was a vigorous knight , and married jaquet dutchess of bedford , of most antient extraction in this county , which ( as it appears in the leigder book of sipwell abby ) had flourished four generations before him at grafton-honor in this county . malicious therefore the cavil of richard duke of york , ( which the stage poet hath got by the end , ) affirming , that they were made noble , who were not worth a noble , when this knight was by his son-in-law king edward the fourth , created earl of rivers ; and although his issue-male failed in the next generation , yet am i confident , that besides the apparent royal loine , an ordinary herauld , may with little pains , derive all the ancient nobility of england from his six daughters , most honorably married . henry green . ] he was a very wealthy man ( but of a different family from those of greens-norton , as appears by his armes , ) who first built the fair house of draiton in this county . he had one sole daughter and heir constance , married to john stafford earl of wiltshire , to whom she bare edward stafford earl of wiltshire , who died without issue ; so that her large inheritance devolved unto the family of the veers ; of whom * anon . henry the seventh . henry veer , ar. ] he was son to richard veer esquire , of addington , by isabel his wife , sister and [ at last ] sole heir to henry green of drayton esquire , of whom * formerly . this henry was afterwards knighted , and dying without issue-male , elizabeth his daughter and co ▪ heir was married to john first lord mordant , to whom she brought draiton-house in this county , and other fair lands , as the partage of her portion . nicholas vaux , mil. ] he was a jolly gentleman , both for camp and court , a great reveller , good as well in a march as a masque , being governour of guines in picardie , whom king hen. the eight , for his loyalty and valour , created baron of harouden in this county , ancestor to edward lord vaux now living . this sir nicholas , when young , was the greatest gallant of the english-court ; no knight , at the marriage of prince arthur , appearing in so costly an equipage ; when he wore a gown of purple velvet , pight with pieces of gold , so thick and massive , that it was valued ( besides the silk and furs ) at * a thousand pounds , and the next day wore a colar of s. s. which weighed ( as goldsmiths reported ) eight hundred pounds of nobles . some will wonder , that empson and dudley ( the royal promoters then in prime ) did not catch him by the collar , or pick an hole in his gown , upon the breach of some rusty penal sumptuary statute ; the rather , because lately the earl of oxford was heavily fined for supernumerous attendance . but know , that king henry could better bear with 〈◊〉 ▪ then greatness in his subjects , especially , when such expence cost ●…imself nothing , and conduced much to the solemnity of his sons nuptials . besides , such plate , as wrought , employed artizans , as massive , retain'd its intrinsecal value , with little loss , either of the owners , or common-wealth . henry the eight . thomas par , mil. ] his former residence was at kendal-castle in westmerland , whence he removed into this country , having married maud , one of the daughters and co-heirs of sir thomas green of * green-norton . he was father to queen katharine par , ( which rendereth a probability of her nativity in this county ) and to william marquiss of northampton ; of whom hereafter . william fitz-williams sen. mil. ] this must be the person of whom i read this memorable passage , in * stows survey of london . sir william fitz-williams the elder , being a merchant-taylor , and servant sometime to cardinal wolsey , was chosen alderman of bread-street-ward in london , anno . going afterward to dwell at milton in northamptonshire , in the fall of the cardinal , his former master , he gave him kind entertainment there , at his house in the country . for which deed , being called before the king , and demanded how he durst entertain so great an enemy to the state ; his answer was that he had not contemptuously or wilfully done it , but onely , because he had been his master , and ( partly ) the means of his greatest fortunes . the king was so well pleased with his answer , that saying , himself had few such servants , immediately knighted him , and afterwards made him a privy counsellour . but we have formerly spoken of the benefactions of this worthy knight in the county of essex , whereof he was sheriffe in the sixth of king henry the eight . william par , mil. ] i have cause to be confident , that this was he who being uncle and lord chamberlain to queen katharine par , was afterwards by king henry the eight , created baron par of horton . left two daughters onely , married into the families of tressame and lane. the reader is requested to distinguish him from his name-sake nephew , sheriffe in the . of this kings reign ; of whom hereafter . john clarke , mil. ] i find there was one sir john clarke knight , who in the fifth of henry the eight , at the siege of terrowane took prisoner lewis de orleans , duke of longevile , and marquiss of rotueline . this sir john bare , for his paternal coat , argent on a bend gules , three swans proper , between as many pellets . but afterwards , in memory of his service aforesaid , by special * command from the king , his coat armour was rewarded with a canton sinister azure , and thereupon a demi-ramme mounting argent , armed or , between two flowers de lices in chief of the last , over all a batune dexter-ways argent , as being the arms of the duke his prisoner , and by martial-law belonging to him . he lieth buried in the next county , viz. in the church of tame in oxfordshire , where his coat and cause thereof is expressed on his monument . if this be not the same with sir john clarke our sheriffe , i am utterly at a loss , and desire some others courteous direction . all i will adde is this ; if any demand why this knight did onely give a parcel , and not the entire arms of the duke his prisoner , a learned * antiquary returns this satisfactory answer , that he who ●…aketh a christian captive is to give but part of his arms , ( to mind him of charitable moderation in using his success ) intimating withall , that one taking a pagan prisoner , may justifie the bearing of his whole coat by the laws of armory . i must not conceal that i have read in a most excellent manuscript , ( viz. ) the view of staffordshire , made by sampson erderswicke esquire ; that one william stamford in that county , had good land given him therein , for taking the duke of longevile prisoner , august the . in the fifth of king henry the eight . history will not allow two dukes of longevile captives , and yet i have a belief for them both , that sir john clarke , and william stamford were causae sociae of his captivity , and the king remunerated them both , the former with an addition of honour , the later with an accession of estate . william spencer , miles , & david sisill , arm. ] david cecill , arm. ] sir william spencer dying [ it seems ] in his sherivalty , david sissill supplied the remainder of that , and was sheriffe the next year . this david had three times been alderman * of stamford , ( part whereof called saint martins is in this county , ) viz. . . and . and now twice sheriffe of the county , which proves him a person both of birth , brains , and estate ; seeing in that age , in this county so plentiful of capable persons , none were advanced to that office , except esquires at least of much merrit . the different spelling of his name is easily answered , the one being according to his extraction , of the sitsilts of alterynnis in herefordshire , the other according to the vulgar pronunciation . all i will adde is this , that his grand-child william cecil , ( afterwards baron of burghley , and lord treasurer of england ) being born * anno . was just ten years of age , in the sherivalty of this david his grand-father . william par , mil. ] he was son to sir thomas par , of whom before . ten years after , viz. in the . year of his reign , king henry the eight ( having newly married his sister queen katharine par , ) made him lord par of kendall , and earl of essex , in right of anne bourcher his wife . king edward the sixth , created him marquiss of northampton . under queen mary , he was condemned for siding with queen jane , but pardoned his life , and restored to his lands , as by queen elizabeth to his honour . much was he given to musick and poetry , and wanted not personal valour , not unskillful , though unsuccessful in military conduct , as in the imployment against ket . he died anno domini . without issue . queen mary . thomas tressam , mil. ] he was a person of great command in this county , and was zealous ( against the court faction ) in proclaiming and promoting q. mary to the crown ; she therefore in gratitude , made him the first and last lord prior , of the re-erected order of saint johns of jerusalem . dying without issue , and being buried in rushton church , his large lands descended to his kinsman and heir thomas tressam ; of whom hereafter . queen elizabeth . edmund brudenell , arm. ] this is that worthy person , of whom ( afterwards knighted ) master * camden entereth this honorable memorial , equibus edmundus brudenel eques auratus , non ita pridem defunctus , venerandae antiquitatis summis fuit cultor , & admirator . he may seem to have entailed his learned and liberal inclinations and abilities , on his ( though not son ) heir , thomas lord brudenell of stoughton , then whom none of our nobility , more able in the english antiquities . thomas tressam , arm. ] the queen knighted him in the . year of her reign at kenelworth . hard to say whether greater his delight , or skill in buildings , though more forward in beginning , then fortunate in finishing his fabricks . amongst which the market-house at rothwell , adorned with the armes of the gentry of the county , was highly commendable . having many daughters , and being a great house-keeper , he matched most of them into honorable , the rest of them into worshipful and wealthy families . he was zealous in the romish perswasion , ( though as yet not convicted ) which afterwards cost him a long confinement , in wisbich-castle . thomas cecill , mil. ] he was eldest son to sir william cecill , then baron of burghley , who would not have him by favour excused from serving his country . he afterwards was earl of exeter , and married dorothy one of the co-heirs of the lord latimer . these joyntly bestowed one hundred and eight pounds per annum , on clare-hall in cambridge . thomas andrews , arm. ] he * attended the execution of the queen of scots , at fotheringhay-castle , demeaning himself with much gravity , to his great commendation . anthony milemay , esq. ] he was son to sir walter , privy-councellor , and founder of emanuel-colledge , this anthony was by queen elizabeth knighted , and sent over into france on an embassy , upon the same token , he was at geneva the same time ; ( reader i have it from uncontrolable intelligence ) when theodore beza , their minister , was convented before their consistory , and publiquely checqu'd for peaching too eloquently ; he pleaded , that what they called eloquence in him , was not affected , but natural , and promised to endeavour more plainness for the future . sir anthony , by grace co-heir to sir henry sherington , had one daughter mary , married to sir francis fane , afterwards earl of westmerland . robert spencer , mil. ] he was the fifth * knight of his family , in an immediate succession , well allied and extracted , being a branch descended from the spencers earls of gloucester and * winchester . by king james in the first of his reign , he was created baron spencer of vvormeleiton in the county of vvarwick . he was a good patriot , of a quick and clear spirit , as by one passage may appear . speaking in parliament of the valour of their english ancestors , in defending the liberties of the nation . your ancestours , ( said the earl of arundel ) were keeping of sheep , ( that lord and his predecessours being known for the greatest sheep-masters in england , ) when those liberties were defended . if they were in keeping of sheep ( return'd the other ) yours were then in plotting of treason . whose * animosities for the present cost both of them a confinement , yet so that afterwards the upper house ordered reparations to this lord spencer , as first , ( and causelesly ) provoked . this lord was also he , who , in the first of king james , was sent ( with sir vvilliam dethick principal king of armes , ) to frederick duke of vvirtenberge , elected into the order of the garter ; to present , and invest him with the robes and ornaments thereof , which were accordingly , with great solemnity , performed in the cathedral * of studgard . king james . arthur throgkmorton , mil. ] he was son to that eminent knight , sir nicholas throgkmorton , ( of whom in vvarwick ▪ shire ) and his sister was married to sir vvalter raleigh . this sir arthur was a most ingenious gentleman , and dying without issue-male , his large estate was parted amongst his four daughters married to the lord dacres , the lord vvotton , sir peter temple of stow baronet , and sir edward partridge . john freeman , arm. ] he died without issue , and was a most bountiful benefactour to clare ▪ hall in cambridge , giving two thousand pounds to the founding of fellowships , and scholarships therein . william willmer , arm. ] he was the first pensioner , as doctor james mountague the first master , and sir john brewerton first scholar of the house in sidney-colledge , being all three of them , ( but in several proportions ) benefactours to that foundation . william chauncy , mil. ] these have been very ( but i know not how ) antient in this county , but far antienter in yorkshire . for i meet with this inscriptiou on a monument at sabridgeworth in hertfordshire . hic jacent johannes chancy , ar. filius & heres johannis chancy , ar. filii & heredis willielmi chancy , mil. quondam baronis de shorpenbek in com. ebor. & anna uxor ejus una filiarum johannis leventhorpe , ar. qui quidem johannes obiit vii . maii mcccclxxix . & annaii decemb. mcccclxxvii . quorum animabus . it appeareth to me by a well proved pedegree , that henry chancy esq. of yardlebury in hertfordshire , is the direct descendant from the aforesaid john chancy , whose epitaph we have inserted . king charles . john hewet , baronet ] he had not one foot of land , nor house ( hiring hemington of the lord mountague ) in the whole county , though several * statutes have provided , that the sheriffe should have sufficient land in the same shire , to answer the king and his people . the best is , this baronet had a very fair estate elsewhere . and as our english proverb saith , vvhat is lost in the hundred , will be found in the shire : so what was lost in the shire , would be found in the land. however , this was generally beheld as an injury ; that , because he had offended a great courtier , the sherivalty was by power imposed upon him . the farewell . the worst i wish this my native county is , that nine ( a river which some will have so term'd from nine tributary rivolets ) were ten , i mean made navigable , from peterburg , to northampton . a design which hath always met with many back-friends , as private profit is ( though a secret ) a sworn enemy to the general good . sure i am the hollanders , ( the best copy of thrift in christendome ) teach their little ditches to bear boats. not that their waters are more docible in this kind , then ours , but they are the more ingenious and industrious school-master , of the lesson of publick advantage making every place in their province , to have access unto every place therein , by such cheap transportation . northumberland hath the bishoprick of durham ( seperated by the river dervent running into tine ) on the south , cumberland on the south-west , the german ocean on the east , & scotland on the north and west ; parted with the river tweed , cheviot-hills , and elsewhere , ( whilst our hostility with the scots ) mutuo metu , with mutual fear , now turned into mutual faith , both nations knowing their own , and neither willing to invade the bounds of others . it is somewhat of a pyramidal form , whose basis objected to the south , extendeth above . whilst the shaft thereof narrowing northward ascendeth to full . miles . nature hath not been over indulgent to this county in the fruitfulness thereof , yet it is daily improved , since ( to use the * prophets expression ) they have beat their swords into plough-shares , and spears into pruning-hooks ; and surely such plough-shares make the best furrows , and such comfortable pruning-hooks cut with the best edge . it must not be forgotten , how before the uniting of england and scotland , there lay much wast ground in the northern part of this county , formerly disavowed ( at lestwise not owned by any , ) onely to * avoid the charges of the common defence . but afterwards , so great , sudden , and good the alteration , that the borders becoming safe , and peaceable , many gentlemen inhabiting therabouts , finding the antient wast ground to become very fruitful , in the fourth of king james put in their claimes , and began to contend in law about their bounds , challenging their hereditary right therein . the buildings . one cannot rationally expect fair fabricks here , where the vicinity of the scots made them to build , not for state but strength . here it was the rule with ancient architects , what was firm , that was fair , so that it may be said of the houses of the gentry herein , quot mantiones , tot munitiones , as either being all castles or castle-like able to resist ( though no solemn siege ) a tumultary incursion . before we come to the worthies of this county , be it premised , that northumland is generally taken in a double acception ; first as a county , ( whose bounds we have fore-assigned , ) and secondly , as a kingdome , extending from humber to edenborough-frith , and so taking in the southern-part of scotland . here then we have an oportunity to cry quits with demster , the scotish historian , and to repair our selves of him for challenging so many english-men to be scots . should we bring all them in for northumberlanders which were born betwixt berwick and edenborough , whose nativities we may in the rigor of right justifie to be english , if born therein , whilst the tract of ground was subjected to the saxon heptarchy . but because we will have an unquestionable title to what we claim to be ours , we are content to confine our selves to northumberland in the county-capacity thereof . proverbs . to carry coals to newcastle . ] that is to do , what was done before , or to busy ones self in a needless imployment . parallel to the latine , aquam mari infundere , sidera coelo addere , noctuas athenas ; to carry owles to athenes , which place was plentifully furnished before with fowle of that feather . from berwick to dover three hundred miles over . ] that is , from one end of the land to the other . semnable the scripture expression , from dan to ber-sheba . such the latine proverbs , a carceribus ad metam ; a capite ad calcem , when one chargeth thorough an employment , from the beginning to the end thereof . to take hectors cloake . ] that is , to deceive a friend who confideth on his faithfulness ; and hereon a story doth depend . when thomas piercy earl of northumberland , anno . was routed in the rebellion which he had raised against queen elizabeth , he hid himself in the house of one hector armestrong of harlaw in this county , having confidence he would be true to him , who notwithstanding for money betrayed him to the regent of scotland . it was observed that hector , being before a rich man , fell poor of a sudden , and so hated generally , that he never durst go abroad , insomuch , that the proverb to take * hectors cloak , is continued to this day among them , when they would express a man that betrayeth his friend , who trusted him . we will not lose a scot. ] that is , we will lose nothing , how inconsiderable soever , which we can save , or recover . parallel to the scripture expression , vve will not leave an hooffe behind us . this proverb began in the english borders , when , during the enmity betwixt the two nations , they had little esteem of , and less affection for a scotch-man , and is now happily superseded , since the union of england and scotland into great britain . a scottish mist may wet an english-man to the skin . ] that is , small mischeifs in the beginning , if not seasonably prevented may prove very dangerous . this limitary proverb hath its original in these parts , where mists may be said to have their fountain north , but fall south of tweed , arising in scotland , and driven by the winds into england , where they often prove a sweeping and soaking rain . sure i am our late civil war began there , which since hath wet many an english-man in his own hearts blood , and whether at last the scotch have escaped dry that is best known to themselves . a scotish-man , and a newcastle-grind-stone , travail all the world over . ] the scots ( gentry especially ) when young , leave their native land , ( hard their hap , if losers by their exchange ) and travail into foreign parts , most for maintenance , many for accomplishment . now no ship sets safe to sea without a carpenter , no carpenter is able without his tools , no tools useful without a grind-stone , no grind-stone so good as those of newcastle . some indeed are fetch'd from spain , but of so soft a grit , that they are not fit for many purposes . hence it is that these grind-stones , though mostly in motion , may be said fixed to ships as most necessary thereunto . if they come , they come not ; ] and if they come not , they come . ] we must fetch an oedipus from this county , to expound this riddling proverb , customary in the wars betwixt the crowns of england and scotland . for the cattle of people living hereabout , turn'd into the common pasture , did by instinct and custome return home at night , except violently intercepted by the free-booters , and borderers , who living between two kingdomes , owned no king , whilst vivitur ex rapto , catch who catch may . hence many in these parts , who had an herd of kine in the morning , had not a cow-tail at night , and alternatly proved rich and poor , by the trade aforesaid . if therefore these borderers came , their cattle came not ; if they came not , their cattle surely returned . now although a sprigg of these borderers hath lately been revived ( disguised under the new name of moss-troopers ) yet the union of the two kingdomes , hath , for the main , knock'd this proverb out of joynt , never ( i hope ) to be wholy set again . scotish proverbs currant in this county . * lang or ye cut falkland-wood with a penknife . ] it is spoken of such who embrace unproportionable , and improbable means , to effect the ends propounded to themselves , to as much purpose as to lave the sea with a cockle shell . falkland was one of the king of scotland his royal palaces in fife , having a bo●…ny wood ( whereof great want in the south of this land , where one can hardly find a stick to beat a dog ) about it , so that an axe is proper , and no penknife ( fit onely to fell a forrest of feathers with the timber of quills therein ) for such employment . he is an * aberdeens man , taking his word again . ] it seems the men of that town , a fair haven in the county of mar , have formerly been taxed for breach of promise . i hope it true ( if ever of either ) onely of the old aberdeen , now much decayed , and famous onely for salmon-fishing . if of the new , then i believe it of the townes-men , not scholars living in the university , founded by bishop elfinston . however , we have * formerly observ'd , what is to be believed in such satyrical proverbs . he was born in august . ] at the first hearing thereof i took it for a fortunate person , that month beginning the return of profit , for the pains of the year past . i know amongst the latines some months were counted more unhappy then others , witness the by word mense maio nubunt male . but since i perceive a man may miss his mark , as well by over , as under shooting it . and one may be too serious in interpreting such common speeches . for i am informed by a scotish man , that it is onely the periphrasis of a licorish person , and such said to be born in august , whose tongues will be the tasters of every thing they can come by , though not belonging to them . a yule feast may be quat at pasche . ] that is christmas-cheer may be digested , and the party hungry again at easter . no happiness is so lasting but in short time we must forego , and may forget it . the northern parts call christmas-yule , ( hence the yule-block , yule-oakes , yule-songs , &c. ) though much difference about the cause there . some more enemies to the ceremony , then cheer of christmas , to render that festival the more offensive , make the word of paganish extraction , deriving it from julus the son of aeneas . an etymology fetch'd far from england , and farther from truth . but to omit many forced and feigned deductions , that worthy * doctor hits the mark , bringing it from the latine jubilo ( a word as ancient as varro ) signifying the rural shouting for joy , so that it is a name general for festivals , as lammas yule , &c. though christmas be so called without any addition , as the feast 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 above all others . it is more then probable , that the latines , borrowed their jubilo from the hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the long sound of the trumpet , whence their jubilee got the name . and seeing christs ▪ birth was a freeing us from the slavery of sin , i see not how yule can be cavill'd at in that signification . saints . saint ebba was born in northumberland , being daughter to edilfrid the king thereof : when her father was taken prisoner , she got hold of a boat in humber , and passing along the raging ocean , she safely landed at a place in merch in scotland , which is call'd the promontory of saint ebb unto this day . becoming prioress of coldingham in that country , to preserve her own and fellownuns chastity from the pagan danes , she cut off her own nose , and perswaded the rest to do the like ; that their beauty might be no bait , whilst their deformity did secure their virginity . sure i am , that since , more have lost their noses in prosecution of their wantonness , then in preservation of their chastity . as for the danes , being offended that these nuns would not be the objects of their lusts , they made them the subjects of their fury , burning them and their monastery together . but such the reputed holiness of saint ebb , that many churches , commonly called * saint tabbs , are in north-england dedicated unto her , and her memory is continued in the name of ebb-chester , a little village in the bishoprick of durham . she flourished about the year . prelates since the reformation . george carleton was born in this county ( nigh the borders of scotland ) at norham , his father being the keeper of the important castle therein ; bred in merton-colledge in oxford . hear what our english * antiquary saith of him , whom i have loved in regard of his singular knowledge in divinity , which he professeth ; and in other more delightful literature , and am loved again of him , &c. he was one of the four divines sent by king james to the synod of dort , each of them there observed in their respective eminencies . in carletono praelucebat episcopalis gravitas , in davenantio subactum judicium ; in wardo multa lectio ; in hallo expedita concionatio . doctor carleton was then bishop of landaffe , and afterwards of chichester . his good affections appear in his treatise , entituled , a thankful remembrance of gods mercy . solid judgement in his confutation of judicial astrology , and clear invention in other juvenile exercises . indeed when young , he was grave in his manners , so when old he was youthful in his parts , even unto his death , which happened in the first of king charles . valentine cary was born at * barwick ( which though north of tweed is reduced to this county , ) extracted from the carys barons of hunsdon . he was first scholar of saint johns-colledge in cambridge , then fellow of christs-colledge , afterwards of saint johns again , and at last master of christs-colledge , so that i meet not with any his peer herein , thus bounded and rebounded betwixt two foundations . but the best is , they both had one and the same foundress , margaret countess of richmond . he was vice-chancelour of cambridge , anno . dean of saint pauls , and at last bishop of exeter . a complete gentleman and excellent scholar . he once unexpectedly owned my nearest relation in the high commission court , when in some distress , for which courtesie , i , as heir to him , who received the favour , here publickly pay this my due thanks unto his memory . though some contest happened betwixt him and the city of exeter ; yet i am credibly informed when that city was visited with the sickness , he was bountiful above expectation , in relieving the poor thereof . he died anno domini . and lyes buried under a plain stone in the church * of sain pauls , london . though he hath another monument of memorial in the church of exeter . richard holeworth d. d. was born at newcastle in this county , preferred fellow of saint johns-colledge in cambridge , rector of saint peters in the poor of london , arch-deacon of huntington , and at last master of emanuel-colledge . during his continuance in london , he did dominari in concionibus , and although it be truly observed , that the people in london , honour their pastors ( as john baptist ) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for an hour , ( or short time , ) yet this doctor had his hour measur'd him by a large glass , continuing in publick esteem till the beginning of these civil wars ; when the times turn'd , and he standing still , was left to the censure of factious innovatours . most candid his disposition , and if he had the infirmity of ingenious persons to be cholerick , he prevented others checking it in him , by checking it first in himself . he suffered long imprisonment in ely-house and the tower , for a sermon he made when vicechancellour of cambridge , and at last restored to his liberty , waited on his majesty in the isle of weight . he is here entred amongst the bishops , because profered bristol , but refused it ; and such who know least of his mind , are most bold to conjecture the cause of it . he sleighted not the smalness thereof , because such his manners , loyalty , and conscience , that he would have thanked his sovereign for an injury , much more for a smaller courtesie . wherefore such onely shoot by the aime of their own fancies , who report him to have said he would not wear a bristol stone . sure i am that england had , if any more able , none more zealous to assert episcopacy ; and let that suffice us , that he esteemed the acceptance thereof in that juncture of time , unsafe and unseasonable for himself ; he afterwards took the deanary of worcester , though he received no profit , the place received honour from him , being the last who was entituled ( and indeed it was no more ) with that dignity . pity it is so learned a person left no monuments ( save a sermon ) to posterity , for i behold that posthume-work as none of his , named by the transcriber , the valley of vision , a * scripture expression , but here mis-placed . valley it is indeed , not for the fruitfulness but lowness thereof , ( especially if compared to the high parts of the pretended author , ) but little vision therein . this i conceived my self in credit and conscience concerned to observe , because i was surprised to preface to the book , and will take the blame , rather then clear my self , when my innocency is complicated with the accusing of others . dying about the year . he was buried in his own parish church in saint peters broad-street , his ancient friend doctor jefferies of pembrook-hall taking for his * text. my days are like a shadow that decline . thomas rich and richard abdi esquires , his executors and worthy friends , ordering his funeral with great solemnities and lamentation . souldiers . to speak of this county in general , it breedeth most hardy men . he who deduced the merches , ( so truly called from mercke a limitary bound ) from frequent marching , and warlike expeditions therein , missed the word , but hit the matter . these borderers have been embroyled in several battles agtinst the scotch , witness the battle of chevy-chase , whereof sir philip * sidney is pleased to make this mention . certainly i must confess my own barbarousness , i never heard the old song of percy and douglas , that i found not my heart moved more then with a trumpet , and yet it is sung but by some blind crowder , with no rougher voice then rude style , which being so evil apparell'd in the dust and ●…bweb of that uncivil age , what would it work trimmed in the gorgeous eloquence of pindar ? true it is , the story is not true in the letter and latitude thereof , no earl of northumberland being ever killed in chevy-chase , as by the perusall of the ensuing catalogue will appear . henry percy the first earl , lost his life in a battle against king henry the fourth , anno domini . . henry percy his grand-child , the second earl , was slain on the side of king henry the sixth , against king edward the fourth , anno . . henry his son taking part with k. henry the sixth , was slain at touton-field , in the first of king edward the fourth . . henry his son , promoting a tax for the king , was kill'd , in a tumultuous rout at cockledge , eighteen miles from york , in the fourth of king henry the seventh . . henry his son , died a natural death , in the eighteenth of king henry the eight . . henry his son , died peaceably at hackney neer london , the nine and twentieth of king henry the eight ; in whose reign the scene is laid for the aforesaid trajedy in chevy-chase . this i thought fit to have said , partly , to undeceive people , least long possession might create a title in their belief to the prejudice of truth ; partly , that the noble family of the percy 's , ( what need a good head of hair wear a perriwig , ) for birth and valour equal to any subjects in christendome , should not be beholding to an untruth to commend their martial atchievement . yet though there be more fancy in the vernish , there is much faith in the ground-work of this relation , presenting a four-fold truth to posterity . first , that on light causes , heavy quarrels have happened , betwixt the scotch and english in the borders . secondly , that the percy 's with other families in this county , ( mentioned in this ballade , ) were most remarkable therein . thirdly , that generally the english got the better in these broils . lastly , that for the most part they were victories without triumphs , wherein the conquerour might sigh for his conquest , so dear the price thereof . physicians . william turner was born at * morpeth in this county , bred in the university of cambridge , where he became an excellent latinist , grecian , oratour , and poet. he was very zealous in the protestant religion , writing many books in the defence thereof , and much molested for the same by bishop gardner and others ; he was kept long in durance , and escaping at last by gods providence , fled over beyond sea. at ferrara in italy he commenced doctor of physick , there gaining his degree with general applause . he wrote a great * herball , and a book of physick for the english gentry , as also several treatises of plants , fishes , stones , mettals , &c. he went afterwards into germany , where he lived in great credit and practise , and as i conjecture died there in the reign of queen mary . reader , i conceive him worthy of thy special notice , because he was both a confessor and physician ; qualifications which meet not every day in the same person . thomas gibson . it is pity to part him from the former , because symbolising in many particulars of concernment . both . born in this county , and in the same town of * morpeth . . flourishing atthe self same time . . physicians by profession , and it is said of this thomas , that he did aegritudinum sanationes * incredibiles , incredible cures of diseases . . writing of the same subject , of the nature of hearbs . . professed enemies to popery . this thomas wrote many other books , and one entituled , the treasons of the prelates since the conquest , which work had it come to the hand of a modern * authour , happily it might have much helped him in that subject . he was alive in the last of queen mary , and bale sendeth forth a hearty prayer for the continuance of his he●…th and happiness . writers . ralph fresbourne was born in this * county , bred a souldier , scholar , travailer , ( being a man of great estate ) and at last turn'd a frier . he attended richard , earl of cornwall , and king of the romans , into the holy-land . here he came acquainted with the friers living on mount carmel , which were then much molested with the inrodes of pagans . our ralph , pitying their condition , and much taken with their sanctity and ( as some say ) miracles , brought them over with him into england , and built them an house at holme nigh alnwick in northumberland , in loco carmelo syriae non dissimili , saith my * author , in a place not unlike to carmel in syria . thus pence are like shillings , and as carmel had an hill , with the river kishon running under it , a * forrest beside it , and the mid-land-sea some three miles from it ▪ so this had the river alne , a park adjoyning , and the german-sea at the same distance . but northumberland was but a cold carmel for these friers , who soon got themselves warmer nests in kent , essex , london , and where not ? multiplying more in england , then in any other country , as * mantuan observeth , and hath not ill expressed . cur apud anglorum populos ita creverit , audi : anglicus in syrias veniens exercitus olim , achonem tyrii positam prope litora ponti , quae priùs occurrit , subit is oppresserat armis . hear , why that they so much in england thriv'd : th' english earst in palestine arriv'd , the city acon on the shore of tyre , as next at hand , with arms did soon acquire . and after some verses interpos'd . ista duces tanta intuiti miracula , secum in patriam duxere viros , quibus arma negabant , in laribus sedem assyri●… : & templa domosque construxere novas . pauc is it a f●…ruit annis relligio , quasi virga solo depact a feraci , et veluti palmes robur translata recepit . the captains seeing so great wonders wrought , these friers with them into england brought , what war deni'd at home , they here anew churches and houses built . in years but few increasing twig-like set by happy band , or tree transplanted to a fruitful land . this ralph wrote books of pious exhortations and epistles , and after he had been fourteen years provincial of his own order , died and was buried at holme aforesaid , anno domini . johannes scotus . we have formerly asserted the very scociety of this scotus his nativity to belong to england , and have answered the objections to the contrary . he was * born at dunston , a village in the parish of emildon in this county , as appeareth by a writing in a book of his in merton-colledge , wherein he was bred . he was a franciscan by order , and of such nimble and solid parts , that he got the title of doctor subtilis . hitherto all school-men were ( like the world before the building of * babel ) of one language , and of one speech , agreeing together in their opinions , which hereafter were divided into two reg●…ments , or armies rather , of thomists and scotists , under their several generals opposing one another . scotus was a great stickler against the thomists for that sinful opinion , that the virgin mary was conceived without sin ; which if so , how came she to * rejoyce in god her saviour ? he read the sentences thrice over in his solemn lectures , once at oxford , again at paris , and last at colen , where he died , or was kill'd rather , because falling into a strong fit of an apoplexy , he was interred whilst yet * alive , as afterwards did appear . small amends were made for his hasty burial , with an handsome monument erected over him , at the cost of his order , ( otherwise whether as scot , scholar , or franciscan , he had little wealth of his own , ) in the quire before the high altar . on his monument are inscribed the names of * fifteen franciscans , viz. three popes , and two cardinals on the top , and ten doctors ( whereof six english ) on the sides thereof , all his contemporaries , as i conceive . he died anno dom. . benefactors to the publick . stephen brown grocer , son of john brown , was born at newcaste upon tine in this county , afterwards knighted and made lord mayor of london * . in which year happened a great and general famine , caused much by unseasonable weather , but more by some ( huckstering husbandmen ) who properly may be termed knaves in grain , insomuch , that wheat was sold for three shillings a bushel , ( intollerable according to the standard of those times , ) and poor people were forced to make bread of fern roots . but this sir stephen brown , sent certain ships to dantz , whose seasonable return with rye , suddenly sunk grain to reasonable rates , whereby many a languishing life was preserved . he is beheld one of the first merchants who in want of corn , shewed the londoners the way to the barn-door , i mean , into spruseland , prompted by charity , ( not covetousness ) to this his adventure . he may be said that since his death , he hath often relieved the city on the like occasion , because as * symmachus well observeth , author est , bonorum sequentium qui bonum relinquit exemplum . robert woodlarke was born saith my * author at wakerly in this county . true it is , in my late church history i have challenged him for northamptonshire . because there is no * vvakerly in northumberland . because there is a vvakerly in northamptonshire . but on second thoughts , i resige him clear to this county , loth to higgle for a letter or two ( misprinted perchance ) in the name of a town . this vvoodlarke was the last of the first original fellows , and third provost of kings-colledge in cambridge . he bought three tenements in miln-street , and ( by a mortmain procured from king edward the fourth , ) erected of them a small colledge , by the name of saint katharines-hall . as is the man , so is his strength , great matters cannot be expected from so private a person , who never attained to any prelatical preferment , who was bountiful to his foundation to the utmost of his ability . herein he stands alone , without any to accompany him , being the first and last who was master of one colledge , and at the same time founder of another . this his zoar hath since met with many worthy benefactours , who have advanced it to be considerable both in buildings and revenues . the date of his death i cannot with any certainty affix . memorable persons . machell vivan is a scotish-man by his birth , but because beneficed in this county so many years , shall ( by the readers leave ) pass for an english-man , so far , as to be here inserted . the rather , because he will minister to the present and future ages , just matter of admiration , as by the perusing of the ensuing letter , from my credible friend , well know in london , ( where his surviving father , was not long since the prime magistrate thereof , ) will appear . there is an acquaintance of mine , and a friend of yours , who certified me , of your desire of being satisfied of the truth of that relation i made , concerning the old minister in the north. it fortuned in my journey to scotland , i lay at alnwick in northumberland , one sunday by the way ; and understanding from the host of the house where i lodged , that this minister lived within three miles of that place , i took my horse after dinner , and rid thither , to hear him preach , for my own satisfaction . i found him in the desk , where he read unto us , some part of the common-prayer , some of holy davids psalmes , and two chapters , one out of the old , the other out of the new testament , without the use of spectacles . the bible , out of which he read the chapters , was a very small printed bible . he went afterwards into his pulpit , where he prayed and preached to us about an hour and half . his text was , seek you the kingdome of god , and all things shall be added unto you . in my poor judgement , he made an excellent good sermon , and went cleaverly through , without the help of any notes . after sermon , i went with him to his house , where i proposed these several following questions to him . whether it was true , the book reported of him concerning his hair ? whether or no he had a new set of teeth come ? whether or no his eye-sight ever failed him ? and whether in any measure he found his strength renewed unto him ? he answered me distinctly to all these , and told me , he understood the news-book reported his hair to become a dark brown again , but that is false , he took his cap off , and shewed me it . it is come again like a childs , but rather flaxen , then either brown or gray . for his teeth , he hath three come within these two years , not yet to their perfection ; while he bred them he was very ill . forty years since he could not read the biggest print without spectacles , and now ( he blesseth god ) there is no print so small , no written hand so small , but he can read it without them . for his strength , he thinkes himself as strong now , as he hath been these twenty years . not long since he walked to alnwick to dinner and back again , six north-country miles . he is now an hundred and ten years of age , and ever since last may , a hearty body , very chearful , but stoops very much . he had five children , after he was eighty years of age , four of them lusty lasses , now living with him , the other died lately , his wife yet hardly fifty years of age . he writes himself machell vivan , he is a scotish-man , born near aberdeen . i forget the towns name where he is now pastor , he hath been there fifty years . your assured loving friend , thomas atkin. windsor . septem . . a most strange accident ! for waving the poetical fiction of aeson his re-juvenescency in medeas bath , it will hardly be paired . to begin with scripture , caleb ( or all-heart ) his professing himself as able for any action at eighty , as * forty years before , speaketh no renovation , but continuation of his strength . and whereas * david saith , that his youth was renewed as an eagles , he is to be understood in a metapborical , yea spiritual sense , of the vigorousness , and sprightfulness of grace in his heart , seeing otherwise his great debilitation doth appear at * seventy years , scarce a moity of this mans a age . as for the many miracles , wrought by our saviour , though extending to the cleansings of leapers , curing diseases , casting out divels , yea , reviving the dead , yet they never countermanded nature in this kind , by recruiting the strength of an aged person . as for humane history , i meet not with any to mate him in all particulars . the nearest that treadeth on his heels , is the countess of desmond , married in the reign of king edward the fourth , and yet alive anno . and many years since , when she was well known to sir walter raleigh , and to all the nobles and gentlemen in mounster . but chiefly to the earls ( for there was a succession of them worn out by her vivacity ) of desmond , from whose expectation she detained her jointer . the lord bacon casteth up her age to be an hundred and fourty at least , adding withall , ter per vices dentisse , that she recovered her teeth , after her casting them three several times . all i will adde is this , had this happened in foreign parts , addicted to popery , near the shrine of some saint , superstition with her sickle , might have reaped a great harvest thereby . ........ anderson a townsman and merchant of newcastle , talking with a friend on newcastle-bridge , and fingering his ring , before he was aware let it fall into the river , and was much troubled with the loss thereof , untill the same was found in a fish caught in the river , and restored * unto him . the same is reported by herodotus in his third book , of polycrates a petty king , and the minion of fortune , and may be an instance of the recurrency of remarkable accidents , according to * solomons observation , there is no new thing under the sun . the names of the gentry of this county returned by the commissioners in the twelfth year of king henry the sixth . thomas bishop of dur●…am , commissioners to take the oaths . ralph earl of vvestmerland .   thomas lilborn , knights for the shire .   john carington . knights for the shire .   rob. umfravile , mil. rad. gray , mil. rob. ogle , senior . mil. rob. ogle , jun. mil. johan . bertram , mil. will. elmeden , mil. johan . midleton , mil. will. svynbarn , mil. johan maners , mil. math. whitfeld , mil. vvill. carnaby johan . fenwyk johan . midelton tho. ilderton rob. raymes tho. haggerston rob. maners laur. acton tho. gray de norton tho. blekensop row. thirwall ric. fetherstanhalgh gilb. rotherford vvill. muschaunce gilb. eryngton vvill. clenell johan . heron de netherton tho. reed de redesdale roger. ushere tho. midleton joh. ellerington joh. park rich. lilburne tho. elwick joh. eryngton nic. heron de meldon joh. trewyk joh. chestre lion. chestre joh. horsley de horsley jaco . buk de morpath observations . the fable is sufficiently known of the contest betwixt the wind and the sun , which first should force the travailer to put off his cloaths . the wind made him wrap them the closer about him , whilst the heat of the sun , soon made him to part with them . this is moralized in our english gentry , such who live south-ward near london , ( which for the ●…stre thereof i may fitly call the sun of our nation , ) in the warmth of wealth , and plean●…●…f pleasures , quickly strip and disrobe themselves of their estates and inheritance ; whilst the gentry living in this county , in the confines of scotland , in the vvind of vvar , ( daily alarumed with their blustering enemies ) buckle their estates ( as their armour ) the closer unto them ; and since have no less thriftily defended their patrimony in peace , then formerly they valiantly maintained it in war. the commissioners of this county did not over weary themselves in working , when they returned these persons , presenting no underwood , yea , no standels , but only tymber-oaks , men of great wealth and worship in this shire , as appears by the thinness of their number , but one and twenty . sheriffs of northumberland . hen. ii. anno odardus anno will. de vesci milo anno idem . anno anno idem . anno anno will. de vesci milo , for years . anno rog. statevill , for years . anno rog. de glanvill , for years . rich. i. anno rog. de glanvill anno will. de stutevill , & regin . basset anno nul . tit. com. in hoc rotulo anno anno anno hug. bardoph . for years . anno idem , & ob. fil . will. joh . reg. anno hugo . bardolfe anno will. stutevill , & joh. laleman anno rob. filius rog. & rad. de furnell , for years . anno anno anno rob. filius rog. & rob. de kent anno rob. filius rog. & ang. de corvo anno rob. filius rog. & tho. haltem anno rob. filius rog. & will. de blunvill anno idem . anno idem . anno anno idem . anno aimericus archid. dunelm , & phil. 〈◊〉 anno phil. de ulecot , & will. de stratton hen. iii. anno phil. de ulcot , for years . anno rob. de wittester alias ( wirceser ) anno idem . anno will. briewere , jun. & rog. langford anno will. briever , jun. ut custos , & tho. de tetleburn anno joh. filius rob. & will. coniers , for years . anno joh. filius rob. anno bri. fil . alani , & hug. de magneby , for years . anno bri. fil . alani , & joh. de mersley , for years . anno rich. anno hu. de bolebet , & alan . de kirkby , for years . anno hug. de bolebet , & rob. de camho , for years . anno will. heyrun , for years . anno joh. de plesset anno idem . anno tho. filius mich. anno idem . anno adam . de gesenor , & hug. de hereford clicus . anno adam . de cresenor , & joh. lidegreynes , for years . anno wischardus de charny anno idem . anno rich. de charny , for years . edw. i. anno rob. de hampton , for years . anno joh. de lichegreynes , for years . anno walt. de cannblion anno idem . anno tho. de dyneleston , for years , anno rich. knoul . for years . anno hu. gobium , for years . anno joh. de kirkby anno rob. de balliclo anno idem . anno rog. mynot anno idem . anno joh. de camblion anno lucas talboys anno idem . anno joh. de creppinge , & joh. de sheffeld , for years . edw. ii. anno rob. de fandon anno guid. charroum anno johan . de cannton anno idem . anno will. de felton , & joh. de cannton , for years . edw. iii. anno joh. de insula , & joh. de fenwick anno joh. de littlebourne , for years . anno anno rog. mauduit anno hob. dardins , for years . anno wil. felton , for years . anno rob. bertram , & rob. de fenwicke anno idem . anno rob. reyms anno idem . anno johan . clifford anno idem . anno anno joh. coupeland , for years . anno anno anno anno alan . de strocker anno idem . anno hen. de strocker anno idem . anno johan . heronn anno rog. de widrington anno rich. de horsele anno hen. de strocher , for years . anno rich. de horsele , for years . anno rob. umfravil anno tho. surtis anno johan . fenwicke anno barthram . monboucher anno tho. de ilderton anno rob. umfravil edward the third . . john coupeland . ] this was he , who five years ago , ( viz. in the . of this kings reign ) took david bruce , king of scotland prisoner , in the battle at nevils-cross . buchanan , an author not always to be credited , in the concernments of his own nation , ( seldome allowing victory to the english valour , but either to their treachery , or unequal numbers , ) reporteth , how coupeland , having disarm'd his royal prisoner , duos * pugno dentes excussit , which i will not english , as confident never done by english-man , our chronicles taking no notice of such a cruelty , but that he treated him with strictness , beseeming a prisoner ; and respect , becoming a prince ; until he had surrendered him to king edward , who rewarded him with knight-hood ; and lest his honour , without means to support it , should seem burdensome to him , and contemptible to others , he gave him five hundred pounds per annum , to be paid four hundred out of the customes of london , the other out of those of berwick , until such time as lands of the same value , were setled on him , and his heirs for ever . sheriffs of northumberland . name . place . armes . rich. ii.     anno     bert. monboucher     tho. surties     b●…rt . monboucher     idem .     adom . de atholl   g. on a cheveron or , estoiles s. rob. de clifford   checky or and azu . a fess gules . johan . heronn     hen. de percy , com. morthumb . alnwick or , a lion rampant azure . idem . ut prius   idem . ut prius   idem . ut prius   r●…d . de eure   quarterly or and gul. on a bend sab. escalops argent . idem . ut prius   joh. de filton , m.     hen. de percy com. northumb. ut prius   idem . ut prius               hen. de percy ut prius   idem . ut prius   joh. de fenwick fenwick per pale gul. and arg. martlets counterchanged . hen. iv.     anno     hen. de percy fil . com. northumb. ut prius   ger. heron , m. & rob. umfravill   argent , a fess betwixt cinquefoiles gules . joh. milford , m.     joh. clavering , m.   quarterly or and gul. a bend sa.     rob. umfravill , m. ut prius   rob. lisle , mil.   or a fess betwixt cheverons s. rob. herbotell     tho. grey   gul. a lion ramp . within a border engraild arg. rob. tempest   arg. a bend betwixt martlets s. joh. widrington   quarterly arg. & gu. a bend sab. joh. bertram   or , an orle azure . hen. v.     anno     joh. maveres   or , bars az. a chief gules . edw. hastings , m.   argent , a maunch sable . rob. lisle ut prius   joh. w●…derington ut prius   rob. ogle   arg. a fess betwixt cressants g. edw. hastings ut prius   will. elmeden     tho. surtis     idem .     hen. vi.     anno     joh. bertram , m. ut prius   joh. midleton     joh. bertram , mil. ut prius   joh. widerington ut prius   will. lamb●…on     hen. fenwick , ar . ut prius   will. carnaby , ar .     joh. woderington ut prius   joh. bertram ut prius   rog. woderington ut prius   joh. midleton     math. whitfeld   argent , a bend betwixt 〈◊〉 engrailed sable . joh. bertram . m. ut prius   rog. woderington ut prius   will. eure , mil. ut prius   rob. ogle , mil. ut prius   joh. bertram ut prius   rob. herbotell , m.     joh. heron gawby   idem .     rog. woderington ut prius   joh. heron     rob. claxston     will. haringe     tho. wellden     bertr . herbotell     tho. nevill , mil.   gules a saltire argent . ro. de woderingtō ut prius   rog. thornton     joh. heronford     rob. mitford     joh. burcester     rob. mavers , ar . ut prius   rad. grey , mil. chillingham gules , a lion rampant within a border engrailed argent . joh. heron , mil.     rog. thornton     will. bertram ut prius   rad. grey , mil. ut prius   edw. iv.     anno     joh. midleton , mil.     georg. lumley , m.     idem .     rob. maures , mil. ut prius   ger. woderington ut prius   will. bowes , m●… .   e●…min . bows bent gules . joh. nevill . mil. ut prius   geor. lumley , m.     idem .     idem .     idem .     joh. woderington ut prius   idem . ut prius   idem . ut prius   hen. com. north. ut prius   idem . ut prius   idem . ut prius   idem . ut prius   idem . ut prius   idem . ut prius   idem . ut prius       rich. iii.     anno     hen. com. north. ut prius   rad. herbotle , m. subvic .     hen. com. north. ut prius   rob. maneret , m.     hen. vii .     anno     hen. com. north. ut prius   idem . ut prius   idem . ut prius   nullus ti●… . com.     in hoc rotulo .                 rog. fenwick , ar . ut prius           rob. grey horton ut prius . geor. taylboys , m.   argent , a cross saltire , and chief gules on the last , escallops of the first .             edw. radcliff , m.   arg. a bend engrailed sable .     rad. eure , mil. ut prius       tho. ilderton , m.         nich. ridley , ar .         hen. viii .     anno     nich. ridley , ar .     idem .     idem .                 rad. fenwick , ar . ut prius           chri. thirkill , ar .     georg. skelton , ar .     chri. dacre , mil.   gules , escallops argent . will. elleker , ar .   argent , a fess betwixt waterbougets gules .         will. elleker , m. ut prius   will. heron , mil.     will. eure , mil. ut prius   cut. ratcliffe , ar . ut prius             recorda manca .                                     joh. woderington ut prius   leon. cornaby , m.   ermin . bars vert. joh. de lavale , m.   arg. bars azu . over all a flower de liz or. tho. hilton , mil.     joh. collingwood     tho. hilton , mil. ut prius   joh. horsley , ar .     edw. vi.     auno     joh. de lavele , m. ut prius   tho. hilton , mil. ut prius   joh. foster , mil.   arg. a cheveron vert 'twixt hunters-horns sable . joh. gray , mil. ut prius   rob. collingwood     joh. witherington ut prius   phillip . & mari .     anno     joh. de lavele , m. ut prius   ,     ,     ,     ,     , geo. r●…tcliffe , m. ut prius   elizab. reg.     anno     joh. witherington ut prius   alb. 〈◊〉 fetherston ▪ gul. a cheveron betwixt feathers argent . rob. lawson , ar . haugh   hen. percy , mil. ut prius   rad. grey , mil. ut prius   tho. foster , ar . ut prius   joh. de lavele , ar . ut prius   georg. heron , ar .     cut. carnaby , ar .     cut. collingwood     rob. raydes , ar .     nich. ridley , ar .     joh. delavele , m. geor. heron , m ▪ ut prius   tho. foster , ar . ut prius   cut. caneyby , ar .     tho. grey , mil. ut prius   rob. de lavele , m. ut prius   rob. midleton , ar .     fran. russell , mil.   arg. a lion rampant gul. on a chief sable , escallops of the first . will. fenwicke , ar . ut prius   hen. witheringtō ut prius   cut. colingwood     joh. heron , ar .     rad. grey . ar , ut prius   rob. de lavele , ar . ut prius   jam. ogle . ar . ut prius   rich. radley , ar .     rob. cl●…uding , ar .     hen. anderson , ar .     idem .     will. fenwick , ar . ut prius   ale. f●…therston , ar . ut prius   rad. grey . ar . ut prius   rob. de lavele , ar . ut prius   rad. grey , ar . ut prius   tho. bradford , ar .     idem .     geor. musch●…mpe   or , bars gules . edw. grey . ar . ut prius   idem . ut prius   tho. midleton , ar .     ge. muschamp , ar . ut prius   edw. talbot , ar .   arg. lions ramp . purpure . nich. foster , ar .   argent , a ch●…veron vert 'twixt hunters-horns sable . will. selby , jun. ar . & jacob.     jaco . reg.     anno     will. selby , jun. ar .     rad. de lavale , ar . ut prius   hen. witheringtō ut prius   will. selby , mil.     geor. selby . mil.     rad. de lavale , m. ut prius   edw. talbot , ar . ut prius   joh. de lavale , ar . ut prius   rad. grey , mil. ut prius   claud. foster , ar . ut prius   rad. seldy , mil.     joh. clavering , m.   quarterly or and gul. a bend s. hen. anderson , m.     will. selby , mil.     rob. brandlinge     tho. midleton , ar .     joh. fenwicke , m. ut prius   mat. foster , ar . ut prius   rad. de lavale , m. ut prius   will. muschampe ut prius   joh. clavering , m. ut prius   joh. de lavale , m.   ermine bars vert. car. reg.     anno     cutb. heron , ar .     fran. bradling , ar .         tho. swinborn , m. & duobus tumid .         rob. bradling , ar .     nic. towneley , ar .     nich. tempest , m. ut prius   tho. midleton , ar .         will. carniby , m.     will. witheringtō   quarterlr arg. & gul. a bend s. rob. bewick , ar .             ingratum bello     debemus inane .                         the reader is sensible of more blanks and interruptions , in these sheriffs , then in any other catalogue , whereof this reason may be assigned ; because the sheriffs of northumberland never accompted to the kings majesty in his exchequer , ( from which accompts the most perfect list is made ) until the third year of king edward the sixth yea , they assumed such liberty to themselves , as to siese the issues and profits of their baylwick , and convert them to their own use , with all other debts , fines , and amercements , within the said county , and all emoluments accrueing from alienations , intrusions , wards , marriages , reliefs , and the like . this , though it tended much unto the detriment , and loss of the crown , was for many years connived at , chiefly to incourage the sheriffs in their dangerous office , who in effect , lay constant perdues against the neighbouring scots . but after that , their care was much lessened , by setling the lord-wardens of the marches , it was inacted in the third * of king edward the ●…ixth , that the sheriffs of northumberland should be accountable for their office , as others , in the exchequer . queen elizabeth . francis russell , mil. ] he was son to francis , and father to edward earl of bedford . he married julian daughter ( whom * mills calls elionar , and makes her co-heir ) to sir john foster aforesaid , which occasioned his residence in these parts . it happened on a truce-day , june . . that the english meant to treat , whilst the scots meant to fight , being three thousand to three hundred . now , though it was agreed betwixt them , ( to use the words of the limitary-laws ) that they should not hurt each other with word , deed , or look , they fell on the english , in which tumult this worthy knight lost his life . and , because seldome single funerals happen in great families , his father died the same week in the south of england . the farewell . being now to take our leave of northnmberland , i remember what i have read of sir robert umfrevile , a native of this county , how he was commonly called * robin mendmarket , so much he improved trading hereabouts , in the reign of king henry the fonrth . it will not be amiss to wish this county more mendmarkets , that the general complaint of the decay of traffick may be removed . i confess the knight bettered the markets , by selling therein the plentiful plunder which he had taken from the scots , but i desire it done by some ingenious , and not injurious design , that none may have just cause to complain . nottingham-shire . nottingham-shire hath york-shire on the north , lincolnshire on the east , leicester-shire on the south , and derby shire on the west : nor can i call to mind any county besides this , bounded with four , and but four , shires , ( and those towards the four cardinal points ) without any parcels of other shires interposed . the pleasantness thereof may be collected from the plenty of noble-men , many having their barronies , and more their residence , therein : it is divided into two parts , the sand and the clay , which so supply the defects one of another , that what either half doth afford , the whole county doth enjoy . natural commodities . glycyrize or liquoris . england affordeth hereof the best in the world for some uses , this county the first and best in england : great the use thereof in physick , it being found very pectoral and soveraign for several diseases . a stick hereof is commonly the spoon prescribed to patients , to use in any lingences or loaches : if ( as aeneas his men were forced to eat their own trenchers ) these chance to eat their spoons , their danger is none at all . but liquoris formerly dear and scarce , is now grown cheap and common , because growing in all counties . thus plenty will make the most precious thing a drug , as silver was nothing respected in jerusalem in the dayes of solomon . wonders . we must not forget how two ayres of lannards were lately found in sherwood forrest . these hawks are the natives of saxony , and it seems , being old and past flying at the game , were let or did set themselves loose , where meeting with lanerets , enlarged on the same terms , they did breed together , and proved as excellent in their kind , when managed , as any which were brought out of germany . proverbs . many talk of robin hood , who never shot in his bow. ] that is , many discourse ( or prate rather ) of matters wherein they have no skill or experience . this proverb is now extended all over england , though originally of nottingham-shire extraction , where robin hood did principally reside in sherwood forrest . he was an arch robber , and withall an excellent archer ; though surely the * poet gives a twang to the loose of his arrow , making him shoot one a cloth-yard long , at full forty score mark , for compass never higher than the breast , and within less than a foot of the mark . but herein our author hath verified the proverb , talking at large of robin hood , in whose bow he never shot . one may justly wonder that this archer did not at last hit the mark , i mean , come to the gallows for his many robberies , but see more hereof in the memorable persons of this county . to s●…ll robin hoods penny-worths . ] it is spoken of things sold under half their value ; or if you will , half sold half given . robin hood came lightly by his ware , and lightly parted therewith ; so that he could afford the length of his bow for a yard of velvet . whithersoever he came , he carried a fair along with him , chapmen crowding to buy his stollen commodities . but seeing the receiver is as bad as the thief , and such buyers are as bad as receivers , the cheap penny-worths of plundered goods may in fine prove dear enough to their consciences . as wise as a man of gotham . ] it passeth publickly for the periphrasis of a fool , and an hundred fopperies are feigned and fathered on the town-folk of gotham , a village in this county . here two things may be observed : . men in all ages have made themselves merry with singling out some place , and fixing the staple of stupidity and stolidity therein . thus the phrygians were accounted the fools of all asia , and the anvils of other mens wits to work upon , serò sapiunt phryges , phryx nisi ictus non sapit . in grecia take a single city , and then abdera in thracia carried it away for dull-heads , — * abderitanae pectora plebis habes . but for a whole countrey commend us to the boetians for block-heads , and baeotium ingcnium is notoriously known . in germany auris baetava is taken by the * poet for a dull ear , which hath no skill in witty conceits . . these places thus generally sleighted and scoffed at , afforded some as witty and wise persons as the world produced : thus plutarch himself ( saith * erasmus ) was a baeotian , and erasmus a batavian or hollander , and therefore ( his own copy-hold being touch'd in the proverb ) he expoundeth auris batava a grave and severe ear. but to return to gotham , it doth breed as wise people , as any which causelesly laugh at their simplicity . sure i am , mr. william de gotham , fifth master of michael-house in cambridge , anno . and twice chancellor of the university , was as grave a governor as that age did afford . and gotham is a goodly large lordship , where the ancient and right well respected family of st. andrews have flourished some hundreds of years , till of late the name is extinct in , and lands divided betwixt , female co-heirs , matched unto very worshipful persons . the little * smith of nottingham , who doth the work that no man can . england hath afforded many rare workmen in this kind , whereof he may seem an apprentice to vulcan , and inferiour onely to his master , ( in making the invisible net ) who made a lock and key , with a chain of ten links , which a flea could draw . but what this little smith and great workman was , and when he lived , i know not ; and have cause to suspect , that this of nottingham is a periphrasis of nemo , ou t is , or a person who never was : and the proverb , by way of sarcasm , is applied to such , who being conceited of their own skill , pretend to the atchieving of impossibilities . martyrs . i meet with none within this county , either before or in the marian dayes , imputing the later to the mild temper of nicholas heath , archbishop of york , and diocesan thereof . yet find we a martyr , though not in this , yet of this , county ; as a native thereof here following . thomas cranmer was born at * arse lackton ( speed calls it astackton ) in this county , and being bred in jesus college in cambridge became archbishop of canterbury ; and at last ( after some intermediate failings ) valiantly suffered for the truth at oxford , an. dom. . march . two hungry meals ( saith our english proverb ) makes the third a glutt●…n . this may also be inverted , two glutton meals require the third an hungry one , fasting being then necessary lest nature be surcharged . if the reader hath formerly perused mr. fox his acts and monuments , and my ecclesiastical history , cranmer his story is so largely related in those two books , there is danger of his surfet if i should not now be short and sparing therein : onely one memorable passage omitted by mr. fox ( and that 's a wonder ) i must here insert out of an excellent * author . after his whole body was reduced into ashes , his heart was found intire and untouch'd . which is justly alledged as an argument of his cordial integrity to the truth , though fear too much and too often prevailed on his outward actions : so that what the holy spirit recor●…eth of king * asa , was true of him , — nevertheless the heart of asa was perfect all his dayes , though good man he was guilty of many and great imperfections . the like to this of cranmer is reported of zuinglius , quòd cadavere flammis ab hostibus tradito , cor exuri non potuerit , his foes making this a sign of the obduration and hardness of his heart , his friends of the sincerity thereof . and thus saith my moderate and learned * author , adeo turbat is odio aut amore animis , ut fit in religionis dissensionibus , pro se quisque omnia superstitiosè interpretatur , their minds being so disturbed with hatred or love , as it comes to pass in dissentions of religion , every one interprets all things superstitiously for his own advantage . the best is , our religion , wherein it differs from romish errors , hath better demonstration for the truth thereof , than those topical and osier accidents , lyable to be bent on either side , according to mens fancies and affections . prelates since the reformation . william chappell was born at lexington in this county , and bred a fellow in christs college in cambridge , where he was remarkable for the strictness of his conversation . no one tutor in our memory bred more and better pupils , so exact his care in their education . he was a most subtile disputant , equally excellent with the sword and the shield , to reply or answer . he was chosen provost of trinity college in dublin , and afterwards bishop of corke and rosse : frighted with the rebellion in ireland he came over into england , where he rather exchanged than eased his condition , such the wofulness of our civil wars . he dyed anno . and parted his estate almost equally betwixt his own kindred and distressed ministers , his charity not impairing his duty , and his duty not prejudicing his charity . capital judges . sir john markham , descended of an ancient family , was born at markham in this county , and brought up in the municipal law , till being knighted by edward the fourth , he was made lord chief justice of the kings bench , in the place of sir john fortescue . these i may call the two chief justices of the chief justices , for their signal integrity : for though the one of them favoured the house of lancaster , the other of york , in the titles to the ●…rown ; both of them favoured the house of justice in matters betwixt party and party . it happened that * sir thomas cooke , late lord mayor of london , one of vast wealth , was cast before hand at the court , ( where the lord rivers , and the rest of the queens kindred , had pre-devoured his estate ) and was onely for formalities sake to be condemned in guild-hall , by extraordinary commissioners in oyer and terminer , whereof sir john markham was not the meanest . the fact for which he was arraigned , was for lending money to margaret the wife of king henry the sixth : this he denyed , and the single testimony of one haukins , tortured on the rack , was produced against him . judge markham directed the jury ( as it was his place , and no partiality in point of law to do ) to find it onely misprision of treason ; whereby sir thomas saved his lands though heavily fined , and life though long imprisoned . the king was highly displeased at him , and vowed he should never sit on the bench any more . and here i hope it will not trespass on the grave character of this judge , to insert a modern and pleasant passage , being privy my self to the truth thereof . a lady would traverse a suit of law against the will of her husband , who was contented to buy his quiet by giving her her will therein , though otherwise perswaded in his judgment the cause wold go against her . this lady dwelling in the shire-town , invited the judge to dinner , and ( though thrifty enough of her self ) treated him with s●…mptuous entertainment . dinner being done , and the cause being called , the judge clearly gave it against her : and when in passion she vowed never to invite any judge again ; nay , wife ( said he ) vow never to invite a just judge any more . well , king edward was so vexed , that sir iohn markham was outed of his chief-justice-ship , and lived privately but plentifully the remainder of his life , having fair lands by margaret his wife , ( daughter and co-heir of sir simon leke of cotham in this county ) besides the estate acquired by his practice and paternal inheritance . seamen . edward fenton ( brother to sir jeffrey fenton , of whom * hereafter ) was born in this county , whose nature inclined him wholly to sea-service ; and disdaining to go in a trodden path , he was ambitious to discover unknown passages . his atchievements in this nature are related at large in mr. hackluit , and excellently contracted in an epitaph on his monument in depthford church in kent , erected by the right honourable roger earl of corke , who married his brothers daughter . memoriae perenni edwardi fenton , reginae elizabethae olim pro corpore armigeri , jano o-neal , ac post eum comite desmoniae , in hibernia turbantibus , fortissimi taxiarchi , qui post lustratum improbo ausu , septentrionalis plagae apochryphum mare , & excussas variis peregrinationibus inertis naturae latebras , anno . in celebri contra hispanos naumachia , meruit navis praetoriae navarchus . obiit anno domini . some dayes after the death of queen elizabeth . observe by the way how god set up a generation of military men , both by sea and land , which began and expired with the reign of queen elizabeih , like a suit of clothes made for her , and worn out with her : for providence designing a peaceable prince to succeed her , ( in whose time martial men would be rendred useless ) so ordered the matter , that they all almost attended their mistress , before or after , within some short distance , unto her grave . writers . william mansfeild ( named no doubt from , and ) born at that noted market town in this county , was bred a dominican , and for his skill in logicks , ethicks , physicks , and metaphysicks in his age highly applauded . and because some prize a dram of forraign before a pound of home-bred praise , know that * leander bononiensis ( though mistaking his name massettus ) giveth him the appellation of inclytus theologi●… professor . he defended thomas aquinas against henricus gandavensis , ( though both of them were dead long before ) and got great credit thereby . bale , ( who is not usually so civil in his expressions ) * saith that he did strow branches of palms before christs asse , which if so , was ( i assure you ) no bad employment . he flourished , anno dom. . william nottingham was first prebendary , then chanter of york , bred an augustinian , and fourteen years the provinciall of his order . resigning which place , he went on some great employment to rome , and returning thence by genoa , fell sick and recovered of the plague , being therein a monument of divine mercy to prove that disease ( though in it self mortale ) not alwayes mortiferum . amongst the many books he wrote , his concordance on the evangelists was most remarkable , which i behold as a leading-piece in that kind , though since it hath met with many to follow it ; a worthy work to shew the harmony betwixt those four writers , though it hath met with many to decry the design , being accounted by some impossible . others unnecessary . as if there were contradictions herein past reconciling , whose opinion cannot be reconciled with piety ; seeing the four gospels are indited by one and the same spirit of unity and verity , of truth and concord , whilst in two sentences really contrary , one must be false of necessity . as if it were nothing but the reconciling of those who never fell out . whereas indeed , there are many seeming oppositions therein to raise the reputation thereof . intellecta ab omnibus sunt neglecta a plurimis , and some necessary difficulty becomes scripture , to quicken our prayers , pains , and patience to understand it . * bale giveth him this lukewarme ( call it hot , because coming from his mouth ) commendation , non omnino impius in voluminibus , quae composuit . he dyed , and was buryed at lecester . anno dom. . robert worsop was born ( saith * bale ) in the county , mistaken for the di●…cese of york , seeing worsop is notoriously known to be in nottingham-shire . he was bred an augustinian in the convent of tick-hill not far from doncaster , where he wrote many books , the one called the entrance of the sentences . bale saith , that at last he was made a bishop , not naming his diocese , and no such prelate appearing in our english catalogue it rendereth it suspicious , that either he was some suffragan , or some titulary bishop in greece . he dyed , and was buryed at tick hill , about the year . since the reformation . sir jeffrey fenton knight , born in this county , was for twenty seven years privy-counsellour in ireland to queen elizabeth and king james . he translated the history of francis guicciardine out of italian into english , and dedicated it to queen elizabeth , he deceased at dublin october . . and lyeth buryed in st. patricks church under the same tombe with his father-in law dr. robert weston , sometimes chancellour of ireland . john plough was born in this * county , a pious and learned minister of the word ; who for his conscience fled over into basil in the reign of queen mary . it happened that a book came over into the hands of the english exiles , written against the marriage of ministers , by one miles hoggard , a silly hosier in london , but highly opinioned of his learning . it was debated amongst the english , whether this book should be passed over with neglect , or answered . and here the reader is requested to pardon this digression , as proper enough for my profession . solomon hath two * proverbs , the one immediately succeeding , yet seemingly crossing the other , answer not a fool according to his folly , lest thou also be like ●…nto him . answer a fool according to his folly , lest he be wise in his own conceit . some * will have the first precept given to magistrates ( who are not to make their authoitry cheap , by ingaging against fools ) and the later to belong to all christians . o ther 's distinguish that an answer according to his folly may be twofold ; by way of complying with it , which may not ; and confuting of it which ought to be done . most make a difference between the railing fool and the reasoning fool : the former to be ordered , as hezekiah did * rabshakeh , answer him not a word . but if he be a reasoning fool , who will offer to argue conceited of himself , take him off his speed , with a short and seasonable return . such a fool this hoggard was adjudged , whom john plough undertook to answer , and cut his combe so close , that the other appeared no more . he dyed in the beginning of the reign of queen elizabeth . william brightman was born in nottingham ( where some of his brethren were lately alive ) bred fellow of queen colledge in cambridge , and aftewards beneficed at haunes in bedfordshire . no lover of conformity , yet no hater of conformists ; being charitable to such , who in judgement dissented from him . his memory is most remarkeable for his comment on the revelation , by some protestants approved , praised , admired ; by others sleighted , contemned , condemned . pro. . his very name brightman imports something of illumination and clearness therein . . he makes many hard places to be plain , and mysteries to be histories , by his comment . . he foretold many things forty years ago , which we see performed in our dayes . con. . names are casual , and even lucian himself , as bad as he was , had as much of light and lustre in his name . . he makes many plain places hard , and histories to be mysteries by his mis-interpretation ; expounding the seven asian churches , then literally extant , to be germany , france , england , &c. . shooting so many arrows , no wonder if fome few , rather by hap than aim , hit the mark . sure i am that time and mr. brightman will expound the hardest places in the revelation , but what credit is to be given to the later alone , i will not engage . such who dislike mr. brightmans writing , could not but commend his angelical living , who had so much of heaven in his heart . walking thorough the vineyard of this world , he pluckt and eat a few grapes , but put up none in his vessel , using wealth as if he us'd it not . his clay-cottage did crack and fall down in the same minute , so sudden was his death : but he who dyed daily , could on no day be said to dye suddenly , being alwayes prepared for his dissolution , which happened anno dom. — . memorable persons . robert hood was ( if not by birth ) by his chiefest abode this country-man . † cambden calls him praedonem mitissimum , the gentlest thief that ever was : and know , reader , he is entered into our catalogue , not for his thievery but for his gentleness . take the character of his ( though not good ) less bad behaviour from the pen of our † poet : from wealthy abbots chests , and churles abundant store , what oftentimes he took , he shar'd amongst the poor : no lordly bishop came in lusty robins way , to him before he went , but for his pass must pay : the widow in distress he graciously reliev'd , and remedied the wrongs of many a virgin griev'd . but who made him a judge ? or gave him a commission to take where it might best be spared , and give where it was most wanted ? his principal residence was in shirewood forrest in this county , though he had another haunt ( he is no fox that hath but one hole ) near the sea in the north-riding in york-shire , where robin hoods bay still retaineth his name : not that he was any pirat , but a land-thief , who retreated to those unsuspected parts for his security . one may wonder how he escaped the hand of justice , dying in his bed , for ought is found to the contrary : but it was because he was rather a merry than a mischievous thief , ( complementing passengers out of their purses ) never murdering any but deer , and this popular robber feasted the vicinage with his venison . he played his pranks in the reign of king richard the first , about the year of our lord . thomas magnus . he was an exposed child , left by his mother in the parish of newark . what the † poet saith of the father of cadmus ( commanding his son to find his lost sister europa , or else never to return ) that he was , facto piu●… & sceleratus eodem . expressing in one act a mind , which was both cruel , and was kind . may be applied to the mother of this and all such foundlings . now it happened that some york shire clothiers coming in the dark , ( very early or late ) did light on this child , and resolved to pay both for his nursing and education , the charge whereof would not be great , equally divided betwixt them , according to the proverb , multorum manibus grande levatur onus . an heavy work is light to do , when many hands are put thereto . first then they took order he should be baptized in newark by the name of thomas , ( probably the best person in their company ) and because all of them had interest alike in him , for his sirname they assigned him amang-us , which is amongst us in the northern pronunciation . they were very careful in his breeding . i confess , aristotle urgeth it as an argument against the breeding of children in common , that the care of all will effectually be the care of none , and so the children be neglected . not so here , where this thomas , though he had a common-wealth of foster-fathers , was very well brought up in learning , and became an excellent scholar and states-man , being imployed in many forreign embassies . then took he on him the name of * dr. magnus , ( and was famous thereby both at home and beyond the seas ) on which account he might claim kindred with pompeius magnus , carolus magnus , and albertus magnus , and whom not , who was great for arts , arms , or otherwise ? it soundeth much in his commendation , that he forgot not his gratitude to the town of his nativity , where he erected a fair school , with other benefactions . he flourished ( as i take it ) under king henry the eight . lord mayors . i cannot on my best inquiry recover any native of this county who ever attained to this place of magistracy ; but am informed , that now the feet of one do tread near unto the thr●…shold of that dore of honor , and doubt not but when he hath first entered and opened the way , there will be others soon found to follow him . the names of the gentry of this county returned by the commissioners in the twelfth year of king henry the sixth . john archbishop of york commissioners to take the oaths . humfrey earl of stafford   richard stanhop one of the knights for the shire .   tho. cheworth , chiv . iohan. zouche , chiv . will. plumton , chiv . hug. welughby , chiv . roberti strelley , chiv . hen. perponnt , chiv . rob. ma●…kam , chiv . gerv. cl●…ston , chiv . will. meryng , chiv . hug. 〈◊〉 , chiv . ioh. cokfeld armig . radulphi makerell thome nevyll roberti brewce thome stanton rad. leek richardi sutton thome stanhope iacobi stanhope thome curson willielmi byrton henrici perponnt hugonis hercy iohannis wastnes iohannis gaitford gorgii clay iohannis husse iohannis hiklinge ioh. barbour de leek thome stannton de sutton roberti doyle rogeri perponnt thome hercy richardi bevercotes reberti moresby roberti morewode iohannis clifton roberti dunham iohannis serlby willielmi wilbram thome genel●…y thome sch●…feld thome anne iohannis rolley iohannis atte vikars willielmi boson edm. nornamuyle richardi gatford iohannis becard willielmi remston richardi strelly thome meryng willielmi lassels iohannis powerr willielmi powerr ioh. le●…k de halom thome okere philippi barley thome warberton iohannis alferton willielmi alferton , filius ejus richardi ranchestere de wirssope iohannis vvhite de colyngam iohannis glouseter de carcoston richardi walfeld de newerk roberti kelom de newerk willielmi skrynishire de muskham roberti garnon de muskham ioh. kelom de kelom rob. darley de thorp thome columboll de thorp riginaldi shawe de estwayte gervasii bampton de beston iohannis mathewe de sterroppe willielmi crecy de markham petri creci de markham roberti forsett de grynley will. lord de retford roberti wytham de orston radulphi ●…tuffin de mansfeld wodhous iohannis brannspath de ragnell ioh. brannspath filius ejus de ragnell tho. brannspath de ragnell rad. barre de ragnell iohannis crostes de ragnell iohannis melton de mormanton willielmi clerk de gedlynge radulphi wilbram de vvestmerkham galfridi botelere de vvelhagh rob. norton de kirton iohannis milnere de allerton will. haley de sutton iohan. morehagh de mansfeld ioh. arnall de arnall iohan. spondon de newerk iohan. dennett de newerk hugonis garnon de muskham iohan. crumwell de charleton rob. crumwell filius ejus , de eadem willielmi daynell de egmanton edm. berkyn de allerton henrici payser de clypston simonis caldewell de laxton roberti bliton de cannton rob. waryn dewanton williel . drapour de welhagh iohannis carleton de blithe tho. bagley de blithe walteri carleton de carleton vvill. hogekyngson de misterton ioh. darnall de misterton williel . lyndrike de stockwith willielmi browet de walkryngham richardi caxton de tuxford iohannis parlethorpe de laxton tho. grengorge de allerton . sheriffs . this county had the same sheriffs with derby-shire untill the tenth year of queen elizabeth , wherein they were divided , and since which time these were the particular sheriffs of this shire . name . place . armes . eliz. reg.     anno     tho. cowper , ar .   azure a tortois erected or. ioh. biron , ar .   * gules , a saltyr ermin●… . ioh. nevil , ar . grove † az. in a chief or , a lion issuant g. and 〈◊〉 arg. rob. markham , ar . †     gerv. clifton , mil. clifton sable semi de cinque-soils , a lion ramp . arg. will. hollis , mil. b houghton   th. stanhope , mil. c shelford b ermine . piles sable . hen. perpoynt , ar . d holme c quarterly ermine and gul. geo. chaworth , ar . e wiverton d arg. a lion ramp . sable in an orb of cinque-soils gul. tho. markham , ar . ut prius   ioh. biron , ar .   e azure , two cheverons , or. fra. willoughby , m.   or , on . bars gul. . waterbougets arg . g●…o . nevil , ar . ut prius   will. sutton , ar . arundel arg. a quarter s. a crescent g. fran. molineux , ar . teversha . az. a cross moline quater pierce●… or. rob. markham , ar . ut prius   brian lasles , ar .   argent . chaplets gules . ioh. sydenham , ar . some . shi . sab. . rams argent . geo. chaworth , m ut prius   tho. stanhope , mil. ut prius   fra. willoughby , m. ut prius   ioh. biron , mil.     th. thornhough , ar     ioh. hollis , ar . ut prius   ioh. basset , ar .   or , . piles g. a canton erm fra. willoughby , ar . ut prius   will. sutton , ar . ut prius   rich whalley , ar .     ioh. biron , m●…l .     ioh. thorold , ar .   sable , . goats salient gules . h●…n . chaworth , ar . ut prius   brian las●…els , ar . ut prius   edw. no●●● ar .   az. a lion passant or betwixt . flower 〈◊〉 arg . hen. perpoint , ar . ut prius   rog. ascough , mil.   sable . a fess or , between . asses passant , arg . jacob .     anno     will. reyner , mil.     gab. armstrong , ar .   g. . right hands coped and armed bar-wayes proper . will. sutton , mil. ut prius   will. cowper , ar . ut prius   io. thornhough , ar .     hen. sachererell , ar   arg. on a saltyre . waterbougets of the first . ioh. molineux , ar . ut prius   ger. clifton , mil. ut prius   ioh. molineux , mil. ut prius   ioh. biron , mil.     geo. perkins , mil.     ro. williamson , ar . eastmark . or , a cheveron gules betwixt . tresoils , sab. rob. perpoynt , ar . ut prius   geo. lassels , mil. ut prius   io. thornhough , m.     tho. barton , ar .     will. reason , ar .     tho. hutchinson , m     ioh. white , mil.     ioh. digby , ar .   azure , a flower de luce , arg. math. palmes , ar .   gul. . flower de luces , arg. a chie●… varry . edw. goldinge † & 〈◊〉 . markham , ar . carol , i. ut prius † gules , a cheveron or , betwixt . besants . anno     tim. pusey , ar .     fran. williamson . ut prius   tho. hewet , mil.   sab. a chev. counter-battilee betwixt . owles , arg. jer. teresy , ar .     ith. perkins , ar .     rob. sutton , ar . ut prius   tho. white , ar .     tho. bolles , ar .   az. . cups arg. holding as many boars heads erected , or ioh. melish , ar . *     ioh. biron , mil.   * az. . swans arg. betwixt as many flanches ermine . har. wasteneys , b. † hendon   geo. lassels , mil. ut prius † sab. a lion ramp . arg. collered , gules . fra. thorohaugh , m     ioh. chaworth , ar . ut prius   tho. williamson , ar . ut prius   gilb. edw. nevil , ar . ut prius   q. elizadeth . . william hollis , mil. ] this was that steddy and constant house-keeper , who for his hospitality and other eminent vertues , was commonly called the good sir william : a most honourable title , seeing of gods two grand epithets , optimus , maximus , the former is imbraced by too few , the later affected by too many . this sir william was son to sir william hollis , lord mayor of the city of london , father to john hollis lord houghton of houghton created earl of clare in the . of king charles the first ; and grand-father to the right honourable john the present earl of clare . k. james . . robert perpoint , armig. ] he was afterwards created baron perpoint and viscount newark , and afterwards in the fourth of king charles the first , earl of kingston upon hull . one descended of right ancient and noble extraction , whose ancestors coming over with the conqueror , first fixed at hurst-●…erpoint in sussex , thence removed into this county . i find this remarkable passage recorded of henry de perpoint , who flourished in those parts in the beginning of king edward the first . claus. edvardi . membrana tertia in dorso in tur. londin . memorandum , quod henricus de 〈◊〉 die lunae in 〈◊〉 octab. sancti michaelis , venit in 〈◊〉 apud lincol●…iam , & publicè dixit quod sigillum suum amisit , & protestabatur quod si aliquod instrumentum cum sigillo illo post tempus illud inveniretur consignatum , illud nullius esse valoris vel momenti . memorand . that henry de 〈◊〉 on munday the day after the octaves of st. michael , came into the chancery at lincoln , and said publickly that he had lost his seal , and protested that if any instrument were found sealed with that seal after that time , the same should be of no value or effect . he appeareth a person of prime quality , that great prejudice might arise by the false use of his true seal , if found by a dishonest person , so that so solemn a protest was conceived necessary for the prevention thereof . robert perpoint , a descendent from this henry , was by king edward the third summoned as a * baron to parliament , but died ( as i am informed ) before he sate therein , which hindered the honour of peerage from descending to his posterity . but this robert perpoint was robert the younger , in distinction from his name-sakeancestor , who lived in great dignity under king edward the third , as by the following record will appear . claus. hon. . in dorso memb . . rex priori s. johannis jerusalem in anglia salutem . cum dilectus & fidelis noster robertus de petroponte , qui fidei nostrae & edwardi primogent●…i nostri hactenus constanter adhaesit , in conflictu habito apud lewes captus esset ab inimicis nostris & detentus in prisona hugonis le despenser , donec per septingentas marcas finem fecisset ▪ cum eodem pro ●…edemptione sua , unde walerandus de munceaus se praefato hugoni pro praedicto roberto obligavit per quandam chartam de feoffamento , & scripta obligatoria inter ipsos confecta , quae vobis liberata fuerant custodienda , ut dicitur : nos ipsorum roberti & walerandi indempnitatt prospicere , & eidem roberto gratiam facere volentes specialem : vobis mandamus , firmiter injungentes , quod cartas & scripta praedicta eidem roberto & walerando , vel eorum alteri , sine morae dispendio deliberari faciatis ; & nos inde versus vos servabimus indempnes . in cujus , &c. teste rege apud westmonasterium . die octobris . the king to the prior of st. john jerusalem in england greeting . whereas our beloved and faithful robert perpoint , who hitherto hath constantly adher'd to our trust , and of our first born edward , was taken by our enemies in a skirmish at lewes , and kept in the prison of hugh le dispenser , untill by seven hundred marks he had made an end with him for his ransoming , whereupon walerand of munceaus bound himself to the forenamed hugh for the foresaid robert by a certain charter of feoffment , and obligatory writings made betwixt them , which as is said were delivered to you to be kept : we , willing to provide for the safety of the said robert and walerand , and to do a special favour to the same robert , do command you firmly injoyning , that ye cause the foresaid charters and writings without any delay to be delivered to the same robert and walerand , or to one of them ; and we shall thenceforth save you harmless . witness the king at westminster the . day of october . whoso seriously considereth how much the mark , and how little the silver of our land was in that age , will conclude seven hundred marks a ransom more proportionable for a prince than private person . the best was , that was not paid in effect , which by command from the king was restored again . the farewell . there is in this county a small market town called blithe , which my * author will have so named à jucunditate , from the mirth and good fellowship of the inhabitants therein . if so , i desire that both the name and the thing may be extended all over the shire , as being confident that an ounce of mirth , with the same degree of grace , will serve god more and more acceptably than a pound of sorrow . oxford-shire hath bark-shire ( divided first by the isis , then by the thames ) on the south , glocester-shire on the west , buckingham-shire on the east , warwick and northampton shires on the north. it aboundeth with all things necessary for mans life ; and i understand , that hunters and falconers are no where better pleas'd . nor needeth there more pregnant proof of plenty in this place , than that lately oxford was for some years together a court , a garrison , and an university ; during which time it was well furnished with provisions on reasonable rates . natural commodities . fallow deer . and why of these in oxford shire ? why not rather in northampton-shire , where there be the most , or in york shire , where there be the greatest parks in england ? it is because john rous of warwick telleth me , that at woodstock in this county was the most ancient park in the whole land , encompassed with a stone-wall by king henry the first . let us premise a line or two concerning parks , the case , before we come to wha t is contained therein . . the word parcus appears in varro , ( derivd no doubt à parcendo , to spare or save ) for a place wherein such cattle are preserved . . there is mention once or twice in * dooms-day book of parcus silvestris bestiarum , which proveth parks in england before the conquest . . probably such ancient parks ( to keep j. rous in credit and countenance ) were onely paled , and woodstock the first that was walled about . . parks are since so multiplyed , that there be * more in england than in all europe besides . the deer therein , when living , raise the stomachs of gentlemen with their sport ; and , when dead , allay them again with their flesh . the fat of venison is conceived to be ( but i would not have deer-stealers hear it ) of all flesh the most vigorous nourishment , especially if attended with that essential addition which virgil coupleth therewith , implentur veteris bacchi , pinguisque ferinae , [ old wine did their thirst allay , fat venison hunger . ] but deer are daily diminished in england , since the gentry are necessitated into thrift , and forced to turn their pleasure into profit , jam seges est ubi parcus erat ; and since the sale of bucks hath become ordinary , i believe , in pro●…ess of time the best stored park will be found in a cooks shop in london . wood. plenty hereof do●…h , more hath grown in this county , being daily diminished . and indeed the woods therein are put to too hard a task in their daily duty , ( viz. to find fewel and timber for all the houses in , and many out of , the shire ; ) and they cannot hold out , if not seasonably relieved by pit-cole found here , or sea-cole brought hither . this minds me of a passage wherein oxford was much concerned ; when shot-over woods ( being bestowed by king charles the first on a person of honour ) were likely to be cut down , the university by letters laboured their preservation , wherein this among many other pathetical expressions , that oxford was one of the eyes of the land , and shot-over woods the hair of the eye-lids ; the loss whereof must needs prejudice the sight , with too much moisture flowing therein . this retrenched that design'd for the present ; but in what case those woods stand at this day , is to me unknown . buildings . the colleges in oxford , advantaged by the vicinity of fair free-stone , do for the gen●…rality of their structure carry away the credit from all in christendom , and equal any for the largness of their endowments . it is not the least part of oxfords happiness , that a moity of her founders were prelates , ( whereas ●…bridge hath but three episcopal foundations , peter-house , trinity-hall , and jesus ) who had an experimental knowledge , what belonged to the necessities and conveniences of scholars , and therefore have accommodated them accordingly ; principally in providing them the patronages of many good benefices , whereby the fellows of those colleges are plentifully maintained , after their leaving of the university . of the colleges university is the oldest , pembroke the youngest , christ-church the greatest , lincol●… ( by many reputed ) the least , magdalen the neatest , wadham the most uniform , new-college the strongest , and jesus college ( no fault but its unhappiness ) the poorest ; and if i knew which was the richest , i would not tell , seeing concealment in this kind is the safest . h●…-college is most proper for southern , exeter for western , queens for northern , brazen-nose for north-western men , st. johns for londoners , jesus for wels●…men ; and at other colleges almost indifferently for men of all countries . merton hath been most famous for school-men , corpus chresti ( formerly called 〈◊〉 gollegium ) for linguists , christ-church for poets , all-souls for orators , new-college for civilians , brazen-nose for disputants , queens college for metaphysicians , 〈◊〉 for a la●…e series of regius professor's ; magdalen for ancient , st. johns for modern prelates : and all eminent in some one kind or other . and if any of these colleges were transported into forreign parts , it would alter its kind , ( or degree at least ) and presently of a college proceed an university , as equal to most , and superiour to many , 〈◊〉 beyond the seas . before i conclude with these colleges , i must confess how much i was posed with a passage which i met within the epistles of erasmus , writing to his familiar friend lud●…vicus vives , then residing in oxford , in collegio apum , in the college of bees , according to his direction of his letter : i knew all colleges may metaphorically be rermed the colleges of bees , wherein the industrious scholers live under the rule of one master : in which respect * st. hierom advised rusticus the monk to busie himself in making bee-●…ives , that from thence he might learn , monasteriorum ordinem & regiam disciplinam , the order of monasteries and discipline of kingly government . but why any one college should be so signally called , and which it was , i was at a loss ; till at last seasonably satisfied that it was corpus christi : whereon no unpleasant story doth depend ▪ in the year * . the leads over vives his study being decayed , were taken up and new cast , by which occasion the stall was taken , and with it an incredible mass of honey . but the bees , as presaging their intended and imminent destruction ( whereas they were never known to have swarmed before ) did that spring ( to preserve their famous kind ) send down a fair swarm into the presidents garden : the which in the y●… yielded two swarms , one whereof pitched in the garden for the president , the other they 〈◊〉 up as a new colony into their old habitation , there to continue the memory of this 〈◊〉 doctor , as the university styled him in a letter to the ●…ardinal . it seems the●… bees were aborigines , from the first building of the colledge , being called collegium apum in the founders statutes , and so is john claym●…d , the first president thereof , saluted by * eras●… . the library . if the schools may be resembled to the ring , the library may the better be compared to the diamond therein : not so much for the bunching forth beyond the rest , as the preciousness thereof , in some respects equalling any in europe , and in most kinds exceeding all in england , yet our land hath been ever 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , much given to the love of books , and let us fleet the cream of a few of the primest libraries in all ages . in the infancy of christianity , that at york bare away the bell , founded by arch-bishop egbert ( and so highly praised by alevinus in his epistle to charles the great ) but long since abolished . before the dissolution of abbies , when all cathedr●…s and convents had their libraries , that at ramsey was the greatest r●…bbin , spake the most and best hebrew , abounding in iewish , and not defective in other books . in that age of lay libraries ( as i may term them , as belonging to the city ) i behold that pertaining to guild-hall as a principal , ●…ounded by richard wh●…ington , whence three * cart loads of choice manuscripts were carried in the raign of king edward the sixth on the promise of [ never performed restitution . ] since the reformation , that of benet in cambridge hath for manuscripts exceeded any ( thank the cost and care of mathew parker ) colleg●…ate library in england . of late cambridge library , augmented with the arch-episcopal library of lambeth , is grown the second in the land. as for private libraries of subjects , that of treasurer burlies was the best for the use of a states-man , the lord lumlies for an historian , the late earl of arundels for an herald , sir robert cottons for an antiquary , and arch-bishop ushers for a divine . many other excellent libraries there were o●… particular persons , lord brudnels , lord hat tons , &c. routed by our civil wars , and many books which scaped the execution are fled , [ transported ] into france , flanders , and other forraign parts . to return to oxford library ( which stands like di●… amongst her nymphs , and ) surpasseth all the rest for rarity and multitude of books ; so that if any be wanting on any subject , it is because the world doth not afford them . this library was ●…ounded by humphrey the good duke of glo●…ster ; confounded in the raign of edward the sixth , by those who i list not to name ; re-founded by worthy sir thomas bodley , and the bounty of daily benefactors . as for the kings houses in this county woodstock is justly to be preferred , where the wood and water nymphs might equally be pleased in its ●…uation . queen elizabeth had a great affection for this place , as one of her best r●…membrancers of her condition , when a prisoner here ( in none of the best lodgings ) in the raig●… of her sister . here she escaped a dangerous fire , but whether casual or intentional god knoweth . here hearing a milk-maid merrily singing in the park , she desired exchange of estates , preferring the poorest liberty before the richest res●…raint . at this day it is a fair , wa●… formerly a fairer fabrick , if the labyrinth built here by king henry the second , answered the character of curiosity given it by authors . but long since the labyrinth ( time without the help of ariadne her clue of silk , can unravel and display this most intricate building ) is vanished away . nor must e●…on hard by be forgotten , which though some sullen soul may recount amongst the costly tri●…es , the more ingenious do behold as arts pretty comment , as natures pleasant text , both so intermingled , that art in some sort may seem ●…tural , and nature artificial therein . it was made by thomas b●…shel , es●… sometimes servant to francis bacon lord vor●…am . now because mens expectations are generally tired with the tedious growing of wood , here he set hedges of full growth ( which thrived ●…ll well ) so that where the former left no plants , the following year found trees grown to their full perfection . in a word , a melancholy mind may hear feast it self to a surfeit with variety of entertainments . but rarities of this nature are never sufficiently described till beheld . proverbs . you were born at hogs-norton . ] this is a village , properly called hoch-norton , whose inhabitants ( it seems formerly ) were so rustical in their behaviour , that boarish and clownish people are said born at hogs-norton . to take a burford-bait . ] this it seems is a bait , not to stay the stomach , but to lose the wit thereby , as resolved at last into drunkenness . if the fair market of burford in this county be so much guilty of this foul sin , it is high time to damne the words of this proverb , and higher to detest the practice thereof . otherwise burford-bait may have an hook therein , to choak such souls as swallow it , without their sincere and seasonable repentance . banbury zeale , cheese , and cakes . ] i admire to find these joyned together in so learned an author as mr. cambden , affirming that town fam'd for these three things , quam male conveniunt ? and though zeal be deservedly put first , how inconsistent is it with his gravity and goodness , to couple a spiritual grace with matters of corporeal repast : so that if spoken in earnest , it hath more of a prophane than pious pen ; if in jest , more of a libeller than historian . but to qualifie the man , no such words are extant in the latine cambden , where only we read , nunc autem con●…iciendo caseo oppidum notissimum castrum ostendit , &c. secondly , it being in the english translated by philemon holland , was at the first ( as i have been credibly informed ) a litteral mistake of the printers ( though not confessed in the errata ) set forth in anno dom. . zeal being put for veal in that place . but what casual in that , may be suspected wilful in the next and last edition , anno . where the error is continued out of design to nick the town of banbury , as reputed then a place of precise people , and not over-conformable in their carriage . sure i am that banbury had a gracious , learned , and painful * minister , and this town need not be ashamed of , nor grieved at what scoffers say or write thereof ; only let them adde knowledge to their zeal , and then the more of zeal the better their condition . he looks as the devil over lincoln . ] some fetch the original of this proverb from a stone picture of the devil , which doth ( or lately did ) over-look lincoln colledge . surely , the architect intended it no farther than for an ordinary antick , though beholders have since applied those ugly looks to envious persons , repining at the prosperity of their neighbours , and jealous to be overtopt by their vicinity . the latines have many proverbs parallel hereunto , to express the ill aspects of malevolent spectators , as , cyclopicus obtutus , and the cyclops , we know , were deformed at the best ( envy makes a good face look ill , and a bad , look worse ) vultus titanicus , vultus scythicus , limis oculis os oblique inspicere , thynni more videre , to look like a thuny , a fish , which , as aristotle saith , hath but one eye , and that , as some will have it , on the left side ; so full is malice of sinister acceptions . to return to our english proverb , it is conceived of more antiquity than either of the fore-named colledges , though the secundary sense thereof lighted not unhappily , and that it related originally to the cathedral church in * lincoln . testons are gone to * oxford to study in brazen-nose . ] this proverb began about the end of the raign of king henry the eighth , and happily ended about the middle of the raign of queen elizabeth , so that it continued in use not full fifty years . this the occasion thereof ▪ king henry the eighth , as his in-comes , so his out-goings were greater than any english kings since the conquest . and it belongs not to me to question the cause of either . sure it is , as he was always taking , he was always wanting ; and the showre of abby-lands being soon over , his drought for money was as great as ever before . this made him resolve on the debasing thereof , testons especially ( a coin worth six pence , corruptly called tester , ) so that their intrinsick value was not worth above three shillings four pence the ounce , to the present profit of the soveraign , and future loss of the subjects . yea , so allayed they were with copper ( which common people confound with brass ) and lookt so red therewith , that ( as my author saith ) they * blusht sor shame , as conscious of their own corruption . king edward the sixth , and queen mary earnestly endeavoured the reduction of money to the true standard ( and indeed the coin of their stamping is not bad in its self ) but could not compass the calling in of all base money , partly through the shortness of their raigns , and partly through the difficulty of the design . this by politick degrees was effected by queen elizabeth , with no great prejudice to the then present age , and grand advantage to all posterity , as is justly mentioned on her monument in westminster . send verdingales to * broad-gates in oxford . ] this will acquaint us with the female habit of former ages , used not only by the gadding dinahs of that age , but by most sober sarahs of the same , so cogent is a common custom . with these verdingales the gowns of women beneath their w●…stes were pent-housed out far beyond their bodies , so that posterity will wonder to what purpose those bucklers of past-board were employed . some deduce the name from the belgick verd gard ( derived they say from virg , a virgin , and garder , to keep and preserve ) as used to secure modesty , and keep wantons at distance . others more truly fetch it from vertu and galle , because the scab and bane thereof , the first inventress thereof being known for a light house-wife , who under the pretence of modesty , sought to cover her shame , and the fruits of her wantonness . these by degrees grew so great , that their wearers could not enter ( except going sidelong ) at any ordinary door , which gave the occasion to this proverb . but these verdingales have been disused this fourty years , whether because women were convinced in their consciences of the va●…ity of this , or allured in their fancies with the novelty of other fashions , i will not determine . chronica si penses , cum pugnent oxonienses , post aliquot mēses volat ira per angliginenses mark the chronicles aright ▪ when oxford scholars fall to fight , before many months expir'd england will with wa●… be fir'd . i confesse oxoniensis may import the broils betwixt the townsmen of oxford , or towns men and scholars ; but i conceive it properly to intend the contests betwixt scholars and scholars , which were observed predictional , as if their animosities were the index of the volume of the land. such who have time may exactly trace the truth hereof through our english histories . sure i am , there were shrewd bickerings betwixt the southern and northern men in oxford in the reign of king henry the third , not long before the bloody war of the barons did begin . the like happened twice under king richard the second , which seemed to be the van-curreer of the fatal fights betwixt lancaster and york . however this observation holds not negatively , all being peaceable in that place , and no broils at oxford , sounding the al●…rum to our late civil dissentions . princes . richard son to king henry the second , and queen eleanor ( was the sixth king since the conquest , but second native of england ) born in the city of oxford , anno . whilest a prince he was undutiful to his father , or to qualifie the matter , over-dutiful to his mother , whose domestick quarrels he always espoused . to expia●…e his offence when king , he with philip king of france undertook a voyage to the holy land , where thorough the treachery of templary cowardize of the greeks , diversity of the climate , distance of the place , and differences betwixt christian princes , much time was spent , a mass of money expended , many lives lost , some honour atchieved , but little profit produced . going to palestine , he suffered ship-wrack , and many mischiefs on the coasts of cyprus ; coming for england thorow germany , he was tost with a worse land-tempest , being ( in pursuance of an old grudge betwixt them ) taken prisoner by leopaldu●… duke of austria . yet this coeur de lion , or lion-hearted king ( for so was he commonly called ) was no less lion ( though now in a grate ) than when at liberty , abating nothing of his high spirit in his behaviour . the duke did not undervalue this his royal prisoner , prizing his person at ten years purchase , according to the [ then ] yearly revenue of the english crown . this ransome of an hundred thousand pounds being paid , he came home ; first reformed himself , and then mended many abuses in the land , and had done more , had not an unfortunate arrow shot out of a besieged castle in france , put a period to his life , anno dom. . edmund , youngest son to king edward the first by queen margaret , was born at woodstock , aug. . . he was afterwards created earl of kent , and was tutor to his nephew king edward the third . in whose raign falling into the tempest of false , injurious and wicked envy , he was beheaded , for that he never dissembled his natural brotherly affection toward his brother deposed , and went about when he was ( god wot ) murdered before ( not knowing so much ) to enlarge him out of prison , perswaded thereunto by such as covertly practised his destruction . he suffered at winchester the ninteenth of march , in the fourth of edward the third . edward , eldest son of king edward the third , was born at woodstock in this county , and bred under his father ( never abler teacher met with an apter scholar ) in marshal discipline . he was afterwards termed the black prince , not so called from his complexion , which was fair enough ( save when sun-burnt in his spanish expedition ) nor from his conditions , which were courteous ( the constant attender of valour ; ) but from his atchievements dismal and black , as they appeared to the eyes of his enemies , whom he constantly overcame . but grant him black in himself , he had the fairest lady to his wife this land and that age did afford , viz. joane countess of salisbury and kent , which though formerly twice a widow , was the third time married unto him . this is she whose ga●…ter ( which now flourisheth again ) hath lasted longer than all the wardrobes of the kings and queens in england since the conquest , continued in the knighthood of that order . this prince died before his father at canterbury in the . year of his age , anno dom. . whose maiden success attended him to the grave , as never foyled in any undertakings . had he survived to old age , in all probabilities the wars between york and lancaster had been ended before begun , i mean , prevented in him , being a person of merit and spirit , and in seniority before any suspicion of such divisions . he left two sons , edward who died at seven years of age , and richard , afterwards king , second of that name , both born in france , and therefore not coming within the compass of our catalogue . thomas of woodstock , youngest son of king edward the third , and queen philippa , was sirnamed of woodstock , from the place of his nativity . he was afterward earl of buckingham and duke of gloucester , created by his nephew king richard the second , who summoned him to the parliament , by the title of the kings loving uncle . he married isabel one of the co-heirs of humphrey bohun earl of essex , in whose right he became constable of england ; a dangerous place , when it met with an unruly manager thereof . but this thomas was only guilty of ill tempered loyalty , loving the king well , but his own humors better , rather wilful than hurtful ; and presuming on the old maxime , patruus est loco parentis , an uncle is in the place of a father . he observed the king too nearly , and checked him too sharply ; whereupon he was conveyed to calis , and there strangled . by whose death king richard being freed from the causeless fear of an uncle , became exposed to the cunning plots of his cousin german , henry duke of lancaster , who at last deposed him . this thomas founded a fair colledge at playsie in essex , where his body was first buried with all solemnity , and afterward translated to westminster . anne beauchamp was born at * cavesham in this county . let her pass for a princess ( though not formally ) reductively , seeing so much of history dependeth on her , as , elevated . depressed . . being daughter ( and in fine sole heir ) to richard beaucamp , that most martial earl of warwick . . married to richard nevil earl of sarisbury and warwick , commonly called the make-king , and may not she then by a courteous proportion be termed the make-queen ? . in her own and husbands right , she was possessed of one hundred and fourteen manors in several shires . . isabell , her eldest daughter , was married to george duke of clarence , and anne , her younger , to edward prince of wales , son of henry the sixth , and afterwards to king richard the third . . her husband being killed at barnet fight , all her land by act of parliament was setled on her two daughters , as if she had been dead in nature . . being attainted ( on her husbands score ) she was forced to flye to the sanctuary at beauly in hant-shire . . hence she got her self privately into the north , and there lived a long time in a mean condition . . her want was increased after the death of her two daughters , who may be presumed formerly to have secretly supplyed her . i am not certainly informed when a full period was put by death to these her sad calamities . saints . st. frideswide was born in the city of oxford , being daughter to didan the duke thereof . it happened that one algarus , a noble young man , sollicited her to yield to his lust , from whom she miraculously escaped , he being of a sudden struck * blind . if so , she had better success than as good a virgin , the daughter to a greater and better father , i mean thamar daughter of king david , not so strangely * secured from the lust of her brother . she was afterward made abbess of a monastery , erected by her father in the same city , which since is become part of christ-church , where her body lyeth buried . it happened in the first of queen elizabeth , that the scholars of oxford took up the body of the wife of peter martyr , who formerly had been disgracefully buried in a dunghill , and interred it in the tomb with the dust of st. frideswide . * sanders addeth , that they wrote this inscription , ( which he calleth impium epitaphium ) hic requiescit religio cum ●…uperstitione : though the words being capable of a favourable sense on his side , he need not have been so angry . however we will rub up our old poetry , and bestow another upon them : in tumulo fuerat petri quae martyris uxor , hic cum frideswida virgine jure jacet . virginis intactae nihilum cum cedat honori , conjugis in thalamo non temerata fides . si facer angligenis cultus mutetur , ( at absit ! ) ossa suum ●…ervent mutua tuta locum . intom'd with frideswide , deem'd a sainted maid , the wife of peter martyr here is laid . and reason good , for women chaste in mind , the best of virgins come no whit behind . should popery return , ( which god forefend ! ) their blended dust each other would de●…end . yet was there more than eight hundred years betwixt their several deaths , saint frideswide dying anno . and is remembred in the romish calendar on the nineteenth day of october . st. edwold was younger * brother to st. edmund king of the east-angles , so cruelly martyred by the danes , and after his death that kingdom not onely descended to him by right ; but also by his subjects importunity was pressed upon him . but he declined both , preferring rather a sollitary life and heavenly contemplation . in pursuance whereof he retired to dorcester in this county , and to a monastery called corn-house therein , where he was interred , and had in great veneration for his reputed miracles after his death , which happened anno dom. . st. edward the confessor was born at * i slip in this county , and became afterwards king of england , sitting on the throne for many years , with much peace and prosperity . famous for the first founding of westminster abby , and many other worthy a●…hievements . by bale he is called edvardus simplex , which may signifie either shallow or single ; but ( in what sense soever he gave it ) we take it in the later . sole and single he lived and dyed , never carnally conversing with st. edith his queen : which is beheld by different persons according to their different judgments , ( coloured eyes make coloured objects ) some pitying him for defect or natural impotence ; others condemning him as affecting singelness , for want of conjugal affection ; others applauding it as an high p●…ece of 〈◊〉 and perfection . sure i am , it opened a dore for forreign competitors , and occasioned the conquest of this nation . he dyed anno dom. . and lyeth buryed in westminster abby . cardinals . robert pullen or * pullain or pulley or puley or bullen or pully , for thus variously is he found written . thus the same name passing many mouths seems in some sort to be declined into several cases , whereas indeed it still remaineth one and the same word , though differently spelled and pronounced . in his youth ●…e studied at paris , whence he came over into england in the reign of king henry the fi●…st , when learning ran very low in oxford , the university there being first much affl●…cted by herald the dane , afterwards almost extinguished by the cruelty of ●…he conqueror . our pullen improved his utmost power with the king and prelates for the restoring thereof , and by his * praying , preaching , and publick reading , gave a great advancement thereunto . remarkable is his character in the chronicle of * osny , robertus pulenius scriptur as divin as quae in anglia obsolverant apud oxoniam legere c●…pit , robert pullen began to read at oxford the holy scriptures which were grown out of fashion in england . the fame of his le●…rning commended him beyond the seas , and it is remarkable , that whereas it is usual with popes ( in policy to unravel what such weaved who were before them ) three successive popes continued their love to , and increased honours upon him : . innocent courteously sent for him to rome . . celestine created him cardinal of st. eusebius , anno . . lucius the second made him chancellor of the church of rome . he lived at rome in great respect , and although the certain date of his death cannot be collected , it happened about the year of our lord , . thomas joyce or jorce , a * dominican , proceeded doctor of divinity in oxford , and living there he became provincial of his order , both of england and wales . from this place without ever having any other preferment , pope clement the fifth created him cardinal of st. sabine ; though some conceive he wanted breadth proportionable to such an height of dignity , having no other revenue to maintain it , cardinals being accounted kings fellow , in that age. others admire at the contradiction betwixt fryers p●…ofession and practice , that persons so low should be so high , so poor so rich ; which makes the same men to 〈◊〉 , that so chaste might be so wanton . he is remarkable on this account , that he had * six brethren all dominicans . i will not listen to their compa●…ison , who resemble them to the seven sons of * sceva , which were exorcists ; but may term them a week of brethren , whereof this rubricated cardinal was the dominical letter . there want not those who conceive great vertue in the youngest son of these seven , and that his touch was able to cure the popes evil. this thomas , as he had for the most time lived in oxford , so his corps by his own desire were buried in his convent therein . he flourished anno dom. . prelates . herbert losing was born in * oxford , his father being an abbot , seeing wives in that age were not forbidden the clergy , though possibly his father turned abbot of winchester in his old age , his son purchasing that preferment for him . but this herbert bought a better for himself , giving nineteen hundred pounds to king william rufus for the bishoprick of thetford . hence the verse was made , filius est praesul , pater abbas , simon uterque . meaning that both of them were guilty of simony , a fashionable sin in the reign of that king , preferring more for their gifts than their endowments . reader , pardon a digression : i am confident there is one , and but one , sin frequent in the former age , both with clergy and laity , which in our dayes our land is not guilty of , and may find many compurgators of her innocence therein : i mean the sin of simony , seeing none in our age will give any thing for church livings ; partly because the persons presented thereunto have no assurance to keep them , partly because of the uncertainty of tithes for their maintenance . but whether this our age hath not added in sa●…rilege what it wanteth in simony , is above my place to discuss , and more above my power to decide . to return to our herbert , whose character hitherto cannot entitle him to any room in our catalogue of worthies ; but know that afterwards he went to rome , ( no such clean wash●…ing as in the water of tyber ) and thence returned as free from fault as when first born . thus cleansed from the leprosie of simony he came back into england , removed his bishoprick from thetford to norwich , laid the first stone , and in effect finished the fair cathedral therein , and built five beautiful parish churches . he dyed anno dom. . see more of his character , on just occasion , in suffolk under the title of prelates . owen oglethorp was ( saith my * author ) born of good parentage , and i conjecture a native of this county , finding owen oglethorp his kinsm●…n twice high-sheriff thereof in the reign of queen elizabeth . he was president of magaalen college in oxford , dean of windsor , and at last made bishop of carlile by queen mary . a good natur'd man , and when single by himself very plyable to please queen elizabeth , whom he crowned queen , which the rest of his order refused to do : but when in conjunction with other popish bishops , such principles of stubbornness were distilled into him , that it cost him his 〈◊〉 . however an * author tells me , that the queen had still a favour for him , intending his restitution either to his own or a better bishoprick , upon the promise of his general conformity , had he not dyed suddenly of an apoplexy , . since the reformation . john underhill was born in the city of * oxford , sirst bred in new college , and afterwards rector of lincoln-college in that university ; chaplain to queen elizabeth , and esteemed a good preacher in those dayes . the bishoprick of oxford had now been void . years ; and some suspected that so long a vacancy would at last terminate in a nullity , and that see be dissolved . the ●…ause that church was so long a widow , was the want of a competent estate to prefer her : at last the queen . appointed john underhill bishop thereof . an ingenious * pen ( but whose accusative suggestions are not alwayes to be believed ) hinteth a suspition , as if he gave part of the 〈◊〉 portion this church had to a great courtier , which made the match betwixt them . he dyed . and lyeth buried in the middle quire of christs church . john bancroft was born at ascot in this county , and was advanced by archbishop bancroft his uncle , from a student in christ-church , to be master of universitycollege in oxford . here it cost him much pains and expence in a long suit to recover and settle the ancient lands of that foundation . afterwards he was made bishop of oxford , and during his sitting in that see he renewed no leases , but let them run out for the advantage of his successor . he obtained the royalty of shot-over for , and annexed the vicari●…ge of cudsden to , his bishoprick ; where he built a fair palace and a chappel , expending on both about three thousand five hundred pounds ; cujus munificentiae ( said the oxford orator of him to the king at woodstock ) debemus , quod incerti laris mitra , surrexerit è pulvere in palatium . but now by a retrograde motion that fair building , è palatio recidit in pulverem , being burnt down to the ground in the late wars , but for what advantage , as i do not know , so i list not to enquire . this bishop dyed anno dom. . states = men. sir dudley carleton knight , was born in this county , bred a student in christ-church in oxford . he afterwards was related as a secretary to sir ralph winwood ambassador in the low-countries , when k. james resigned the cautionary towns to the states . here he added so great experience to his former learning , that afterwards our king imployed him for twenty years together ambassador in venice , savoy , and the united provinces ; anne garrard his lady ( co-heir to george garrard , esq ) accompanying him in all his travels , as is expressed in her epitaph in westminster abby . he was by king charles the first created baron of imbercourt in surrey , and afterwards viscount dorchester , marying for his second wife the daughter of sir henry glenham , the relict of paul viscount banning , who survived him . he succeeded the lord conway , ( when preferred president of the council ) in the secretary-ship of state , being sworn at white-hall , decemb. . . he dyed without issue anno dom. . . assigning his burial ( as appears on her tomb ) with his first wife , which no doubt was performed accordingly . souldiers . of the norrises and the knowlls . no county in england can present such a brace of families contemporaries , with such a bunch of brethren on either , for eminent atchievements . so great their states and stomachs , that they often justled together : and no wonder if oxford-shire wanted room for them , when all england could not hold them together . let them be considered root and branch , first severally , then conjunctively . father . mother . father . mother . henry lord norris ( descended from the viscounts lovels ) whose father dyed in a manner martyr for the queens mother , executed about the businesse of anna bullen . margaret , one of the daughters and heirs of john lord williams of tame , keeper of queen elizabeth whilest in restraint under her sister , and civil unto her in those dangerous dayes . sir francis knowlls treasurer to the q. houshold , & knight of the garter , ( who had been an exile in germany under q. mary ) deriving himself from sir robert knowlls that conquering commander in france . — cary , sister to henry lord hunsdon , and cousin-german to queen elizabeth , having mary bullen for her mother . thus queen elizabeth beheld them both , not onely with gracious but grateful eyes . ricot in this county was their chief habitation . thus the husband was allied to the queen in conscience , ( fellow-sufferers for the protestant cause ) the wife in kinred . grays in this county was their chief dwelling . their issue . . william , marshall of barwick , who dyed in ireland , and was father to francis afterward earl of bark-shire . . sir john , who had * three horses in one day killed under him in a battel against the scots . but more of him hereafter . . sir thomas , president of munster . being hurt in a fight , and counting it a scratch rather then a wound , he scorned to have it plaistered ; as if the balsom of his body would cure it self : but it rancled , festred , gangreen'd , and he dyed thereof . . sir henry , who dyed about the same time in the same manner . . maximilian , who was slain in the war of britain . . sir edward , who lead the front at the taking of the groyn ; and fought so valiantly at the siege of ostend . of all six he onely survived his parents . their issue . . sir henry , whose daughter and sole heir was married to the lord paget . . sir william , treasurer of the houshold to k. james , by whom he was created baron knowlls , may . . viscount wallingford , . and by k. charles . in the first of his reign earl of banbury . . sir r. father to sir robert knowlls of greys , now living . . sir francis , who was living at , and chosen a member of the late long parliament ; since dead , aged . . sir thomas , a commander in the low-countries . . lettice , though of the weaker sex , may well be recounted with her brethren , as the strongest pillar of the family . second wife she was to r. dudley , earl of leicester , and ( by a former husband ) mother to r. devereux earl of essex ; both prime favourites in their generations . the norrises were all , martis pulli , men of the sword , and never out of military imployment . the knowlls were rather valiant men than any great souldiers , as little experienced in war. queen elizabeth loved the knowlls for themselves , the norrises for themselves and herself , being sensible that she needed such martial men for her service . the norrises got more honour abroad , the knowlls more profit at home , conversing constantly at court ; and no wonder if they were the warmest , who sate next to the fire . there was once a challenge passed betwixt them at certain * exercises , to be tryed between the two fraternities , the queen and their aged fathers being to be the spectators and judges , till it quickly became a ●…at quarrel betwixt them . thus , though at the first they may be said to have fenced with rebated rapiers and swords buttoned up , in merriment onely to try their skill and strength , they soon fell to it at sharps indeed , seeking for many years together to supplant one another , such the heart-smoking , and then heart-burning betwixt them . and although their inclinations kept them asunder , the one brother-hood coming seldom to court , the other seldomer to camp ; yet the knowlls are suspected to have done the norrises bad offices , which at last did tend to their mutual hurt ; so that it had been happy for both , had these their contests been seasonably turned into a cordial compliance . sir john norris must be resumed , that we may pay a greater tribute of respect to his memory . he was a most accomplished general , both for a charge , which is the sword ; and a retreat , which is the shield , of war. by the later he purchased to himself immortal praise , when in france he brought off a small hand-full of english from a great arm-full of enemies ; fighting as he retreated , and retreating as he fought ; so that alwayes his reer affronted the enemy . a retreat worth ten victories got by surprise , which speak rather the fortune , than either the valour or discretion of a generall . he was afterwards sent over with a great command into ireland , where his success neither answered to his own care , nor others expectation . indeed hitherto sir john had fought with right-handed enemies in france and the netherlands , who was now to fight with left-handed foes , for so may the wilde-irish well be termed , ( so that this great master of defence was now to seek a new guard ) who could lye on the coldest earth , swim through the deepest water , run over what was neither earth nor water , i mean , bogs and marishes . he found it far harder to find out than fight his enemies , they so secured themselves in fastnesses . supplies , sown thick in promises , came up thin in performances ; so slowly were succours sent unto him . at last a great lord was made lieutenant of ireland , of an opposite party to sir john ; there being animosities in the court of queen elizabeth , ( as well as of later princes ) though her general good success rendred them the less to the publick notice of posterity . it grieved sir john to the heart , to see one of an opposite faction should be brought over his head , in so much that some conceive his working soul broke the cask of his body , as wanting a vent for his grief and anger ; for going up into his chamber , at the first hearing of the news he suddenly dyed , anno dom. . queen elizabeth used to call the lady margaret , his mother , her own crew , being ( as it seemeth ) black in complexion , ( a colour which no whit unbecame the faces of her martial issue ; ) and upon the news of his death sent this letter unto her , which i have transcribed from an auth●…ntick copy . to the lady norris . sept. . my own crow : harm not your self for bootless help , but shew a good example to comfort your dolorous yoke-fellow . although we have deferred long to represent to you our gri●…d thoughts , because we liked full ill to yield you the first reflection of misfortune , whom we have alwayes rather sought to cherish and comfort ; yet knowing now , that necessity must bring it to your ear , and nature consequently must move both grief and passion in your heart ; we resolved no longer to smother , neither our care for your sorrow , or the sympathy of our grief for your loss . wherein , if it be true , that society in sorrow works diminution , we do assure you by this true messenger of our mind , that nature can have stirred no more dolorous affection in you as a mother for a dear son , than gratefulness and memory of his service past , hath wrought m●…s his sovereign , apprehension of our miss for so worthy a servant . but now that natures common work is done , and he that was born to dye hath paid his tribute , let that christian discretion stay the flux of your immoderate grieving , which hath instructed you both by example and knowledge , that nothing in this kind hath happened , but by gods divine providence . and let these lines from your loving and gracious sovereign serve to assure you , that there shall ever appear the lively character of our estimation of him that was , in our gracious care of you and yours that are left , in valuing rightly all their faithful and honest endeavours . more at this time we will not write of this unpleasant subject , but have dispatched this gent. to visit both your lord and you , and to condole with you in the true sense of your love , and to pray that the world may see , what time cureth in a weak mind , that discretion and moderation helpeth in you in this accident , where there is so just cause to demonstrate true patience and moderation . your gracious and loving sovereign , e. r. now , though●… nothing more consolatory and pathetical could be written from a prince , yet his death went so near to the heart of the lord , his ancient father , that he dyed soon after . writers . john hanvile took his name ( as i conceive ) from hanwell a village in this county , ( now the habitation of the ancient family of the copes ) seeing none other in england , both in sound and spelling , draweth nearer to his sirname . he proceeded master of arts in oxford , then studied in paris , and travelled over most parts in christendom . he is commonly called * archithrenius , or pri●…ce of lamentation , being another jeremy and man of mourning . he wrote a book , wherein he bemoned the errors and vices of his own age ; and himself deserved to live in a better : yet this doleful dove could peck as well as grone , and somtimes was * satyrical enough in his passion , there being but a narrow ●…age betwixt grief and anger ; and bitterness is a quality common to them both . he flourished under king john , anno . and after his return from his travels , is conceived by some to have lived and dyed a benedictine of st. albans . john of oxford was no doubt so named from his birth in that city ; otherwise had he onely had his education or eminent learning therein , there were hundreds johns of oxford as well as himself . hector boethius * sirnamed him a vado boum , and owneth him the next historian to jeffrey monmouth in age and industry . he was a great anti-becketist , as many more in that age of greater learning ( except stubornness be made the standard thereof ) than becket himself : being † dean of old sar●…m , and chaplain to king henry the second , he was by him imployed with others , to give an account to the pope ( but i question whe●…her he would take it ) of the kings carriage in the business of becket . he was preferred anno . bishop of norwich , where he repaired his * cathedral , lately defaced with fire , built a fair almes-house , and trinity-church in ipswich . his death happened anno dom. . robert bacon , † first scholer of , afterward a familiar friend to , st. edmund archbishop of canterbury , was bred a doctor of divinity in oxford , and when aged became a dominican or preaching fryer ; and for his sermons he was highly esteemed by king henry the third . he was * lepidus & cynicus , and a most profest enemy to peter roach bishop of winchester . mat●…hew paris † gives him and another ( viz. richard de fishakle ) this praise , quibus non erant majores , imò nec pares ( ut creditur ) viventes in theologia , & aliis scientiis : and i listen the rather to his commendation , because being himself a benedictine monk , he had an antipathy against all fryers . i behold this robert bacon as the senior of all the bacons , which like tributary streams disembogued themselves , with all the credit of their actions , into roger bacon , who in process of time hath monopolized the honour of all his sirname-sakes in oxford . our robert dyed anno dom . robert of oxford was not onely an admirer , but adorer of thomas aquinas his contemporary ; accounting his opinions oracles , as if it were a venial sin to doubt of , and a mortal to deny any of them . mean time the bishop of paris , with the consent of the masters of sorbonne , ( the great champions of liberty in this kind ) granted a licence to any scholer , opinari de opinionibus , to guess freely ( and by consequence to discuss in disputations ) any mans opinions , which as yet by a general council were not decided matters of faith . our rober●… , much offended thereat , * wrote not onely against henricus gandavensis and aegi●…ius romanus , but also the whole college of sorbonne : an act beheld of many as of more boldness than brains , for a private person to perform . he flourished under king henry the third , anno dom. . jeffrey chaucer was by most probability born at woodstock in this county , though other places lay stiff claim to his nativity . berk-shires title . londons title . oxford shires title . leland confesseth it likely that he was born in barochensi provincia , and * mr. cambden avoweth that dunington-castle nigh unto newburie was anciently his inheritance . there was lately an old oake standing in the park called chaucers oake . the author of his life , set forth . proveth him born in london , out of these his own words in the testament of love : also in the citie of london , that is to m●…e ●…ot deare and swéete , in which i was foorth growne ; and more kindely love have i to that place than to any other in yerth , ( as every kindely creature hath full appetite to that place of his kindly ingendure . besides , mr. cambden praiseth mr. edmund spencer the londoner for the best poet , * ne chaucero quidem concive excepto , chaucer himself his fellow-citizen not being excepted . leland addeth a probability of his birth in oxford-shire , and † cambden saith of woodstock , cu●… nihil habeat quod ostentet , h●…merum nostrum anglicum , galfredum chaucerum alumnum suum fuisse gloriatur . besides , † ●… . pits is positive that his father was a knight , and that he was born at woodstock . and queen elizabeth passed a fair stone-house next to her palace in that town , unto the tenant by the name of chaucers house , whereby it is also known at this day . now , what is to be done to decide the difference herein ? indeed appion the grammarian would have homer ( concerning whose birth-place there was so much controversie ) raised ab inferis , that he might give a true account of the place of his nativity . however our chaucer is placed he●…e , ( having just grounds for the same ) untill stronger reasons are brought to remove him . he was a terse and elegant po●…t , ( the homer of his age ) and so refined our english tongue , * ut inter expolitas gentium linguas potuit rectè quidem connumerari . his skill in mathematicks was great , ( being instructed therein by joannes sombus and nicholas of linn ) which he evidenceth in his book de sphaera . he being contemporary with gower , was living anno dom. . since the reformation . thomas lydyate . now i find the old sentence to be true , difficile fugitivas mortuorum memorias retrahere , seeing all my industry and inquiry can retrive very little of this worthy person ; and the reader , i hope , will not be angry with me , who am so much grieved with my self for the same . indeed contradicting qualities met in him , eminency and obscurity ; the former for his learning , the later for his living . all that we can recover of him is as followeth ▪ he was born at * alkerton in this county , bred first in winchester school , then in new college in oxford , being admitted therein iune . . an admirable mathematician , witness these his learned works left to posterity : . de variis annorum formis . . de natura coeli & conditione elementorum . . praelectio astronomica . . de origine fontium . . disquisitio phisiologica . . explicatio & additameutnm arg. temp . nat . & ministerii christi . in handling of these subjects , it seems , he crossed scalliger , who was highly offended thereat , conceiving himself such a prince of learning , it was high treason for any to doubt of , much more deny , his opinion : yea , he conceited his own judgment so canonical , that it was heresie for any inferiour person to differ from the same . shall scalliger write a book of the emendation of times , and should any presume to write one of the emendation of scalliger ? especially one no publick professor , and so private a person as lydyate ? however this great bugbear critick , finding it more easie to contemn the person , than confute the arguments of his adversary , sleighted lydyate as inconsiderable , jeering him for a prophet , who indeed somewhat traded in the apocalyptical divinity . learned men of unbiassed judgments will maintain , that lydyate had the best in that contest , but here it came to pass what * solomon had long before observed , nevertheless the poor mans wisdom is despised , and his words are not heard . he never attained higher church-preferment than the rectory of alkerton the town of his nativity , and deserted that ( as i have cause to suspect ) before his death . impute his low condition to these causes , . the nature of his studies , which being mathematical and speculative , brought not , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , grist to the mill . . the nature of his nature , being ambitious of privity and concealment . . the death of prince henry , ( whose library-keeper he was ) and in whose grave lydyates hopes were interred . . his disaffection to church-discipline , and ceremonies used therein : though such wrong his memory , who represent him an anabaptist . his modesty was as great as his want , which he would not make known to any . sir william boswell , well understanding his worth , was a great friend unto him ; and so was bishop williams . he dyed about westminster , as i take it , in the year of our lord , . happy had it been for posterity , if on his death-bed he could have bequeathed his learning to any surviving relation . sir richard baker knight , was a native of this county , and high-sheriff thereof in the . of king james , anno dom. . his youth he spent in learning , the benefit whereof he reaped in his old age , when his estate thorough surety-ship ( as i have heard him complain ) was very much impair'd : but god may smile on them , on whom the world doth frown ; whereof his pious old age was a memorable instance , when the storm on his estate forced him to flye for shelter to his studies and devotions . he wrote an exposition on the lords prayer , which is corrival with the best comments which professed divines have written on that subject . he wrote a chronicle on our english kings , imbracing a method peculiar to himself , digesting observables under several heads , very useful for the reader . this reverend knight left this troublesome world about the beginning of our civil wars . william whateley was born in banbury , ( whereof his father was twice mayor ) and bred in christs-college in cambridge . he became afterwards minister in the town of his nativity ; and though generally people do not respect a prophet or preacher when a man , whom they knew whilest a child ; yet he met there with deserved reverence to his person and profession . indeed he was a good linguist , philoso ▪ pher , mathematician , divine ; and ( though a poetical satyrical pen is pleas'd to pass a jeer upon him ) free from faction . he first became known to the world by his book called the bride-bushe , which some say hath been more condemned than confuted , as maintaining a position rather odious than untrue : but others hold that blows given from so near a relation to so near a relation , cannot be given so lightly , but they will be taken most heavily . other good works of his have been set forth since his death , which happened in the . year of his age , anno dom. . john balle * was born at casfigton ( four miles north-west of oxford ) in this county , an obscure village , onely illustrated by his nativity . he proceeded batchelor of arts in brazen-nose college in oxford , ( his parents purse being not able to maintain him longer ) and went into cheshire , untill at last he was beneficed at whitmore in the county of stafford . he was an excellent school man and school-master , ( qualities seldom meeting in the same man ) a painful preacher , and a profitable writer , and his treatise of faith cannot sufficiently be commended . indeed he liv'd by faith , having but small means to maintain him , ( but ▪ pounds yearly salary , besides what he got by teaching and boording his scholers ) and yet was wont to say he had enough , enough , enough : thus contentment consisteth not in heaping on more fuell , but in taking away some fire . he had an holy facetiousness in his discourse , when his friend having had a fall from his horse , and said that he never had the like deliverance ; yea , ( said mr. balle ) and an hundred times when you never fell ; accounting gods preserving us from , equal to his rescuing us out of , dangers . he had an humble heart free from passion , and though somewhat disaffected to ceremonies and church-discipline , confuted such as conceived the corruptions therein ground enough for a separation . he hated all new lights and pretended inspirations besides scripture ; and when one asked him whether he at any time had experience thereof in his own heart , no ( said he ) i bless god , and if i should ever have such phantasies , i hope god would give me grace to resist them . notwithstanding his small means he lived himself comfortably , relieved others charitably , left his children competently , and dyed piously october the . anno dom. . william chillingworth was born in the city of oxford , so that by the benefit of his birth he fell from the lap of his mother into the armes of the muses . he was bred in trinity college in this university ; an acute and subtil disputant , but unsetled in judgment , which made him go beyond the seas , and in some sort was conciled to the church of rome : but , whether because he found not the respect he expected , ( which some shrewdly suggest ) or because his conscience could not close with all the romish corruptions , ( which more charitably believe ) he returned into england , and in testimony of his true conversion wrote a book entituled , the religion of protestants a safe way to salvation , against mr. knot the jesuit : i will not say , malo nodo malus quaerendus est cuneus , but affirm no person better qualified than this author , with all necessary accomplishments to encounter a jesuit . it is commonly reported that dr. prideaux compared his book to a lamprey , fit for food if the venemous string were taken out of the back thereof : a passage in my opinion inconsistent with the doctors approbation , prefixed in the beginning of his book . this william chillingworth was taken prisoner by the parliament forces at arundel castle , and not surprised and slain in his studi●…es , as archimedes at the sacking of syracuse , ( as some have given it out ) but w●…s safely conducted to chichester , where notwithstanding hard usage hastened his dissolution . daniel featly d. d. was born in ( or very near to ) the city of oxford , his father being a servant of corpus-christi college , and this his son fellow thereof . here he had the honour to make the speech in the college , at the funeral of dr. reynalds . some men may be said to have mutinous parts , which will not obey the commands of him who is the owner of them : not so this doctor , who was perfect master of his own learning . he did not , as quintilian saith of some , occultis thesaur is incumbere ; but his learning was , in numerato , for his present using thereof . he was as good in the schools as in the pulpit , and very happy in his disputes with papists ; for in the conference with f. fisher , ( when fisher was caught in his own net ) though dr. white did wisely cast that net , dr. featly did help strongly to draw it to the shore . it seems , though he was in , yet he was not of , the late assembly of divines ; as whose body was with them , whilest his heart was at oxford : yea , he discovered so much in a letter to the archbishop of armagh , which being intercepted he was proceeded against as a spie , and closely imprisoned , though finding some favour at last , he dyed in the prison college at chelsey , anno dom. . his wifes son hath since communicated to me his pocket-manual of his memorable observations , all with his own hand ; but alas to be read by none but the writer thereof . john white ( descended from the whites in hant-shire ) was born at * stantonst . johns in this county , bred first in winchester , then new-college in oxford , whereof he was fellow ; and fixed at last a minister at dorchester in dorcet-shire well nigh forty years . a grave man , yet without moroseness , as who would willingly contribute his shot of facetiousness on any just occasion . a constant preacher , so that in the course of his ministery he expounded the scripture all over , and half over again ; having an excellent faculty in the clear and solid interpreting thereof . a good governor , by whose wisdom the town of dorchester ( notwithstanding a casual merciless fire ) was much enriched ; knowledge causing piety , piety breeding industry , and industry procuring plenty unto it . a beggar was not then to be seen in the town , all able poore being set on work , and impotent maintained by the profit of a publique brew house , and other collections . he absolutely commanded his own passions , and the purses of his parishioners , whom he could wind up to what height he pleased on important occasions . he was free from covetousness , if not trespassing on the contrary : and had a patriarchal influence both in old and new-england , yet towards the end of his dayes factions and fond opinions crept in his flock ; a new generation arose , which either did not know , or would not acknowledge this good man ; disloyal persons , which would not pay the due respect to the crown of his old age , whereof he was sadly and silently sensible . he was chosen one of the assembly of divines , and his judgment was much relied on therein . he married the sister of dr. burges , the great non-conformist , ( who afterwards being reclaimed wrote in the defence of ceremonies ) by whom he left four sons , and dyed quietly at dorchester , anno dom. . . i hope that * solomons observation of the poor wise man , who saved the little city , [ yet no man remembred him ] will not be verified of this town , in relation to this their deceased pastor , whom i hope they will not , i am sure they should not , forget , as a person so much meriting of them in all considerations . his comment on some part of genesis is lately set forth , and more daily expected . benefactors to the publick since the reformation . thomas tisdall , of glimpton in this county , esquire ; deceasing anno . bequeathed five thousand pounds to george abbot then bishop of london , john bennet knight , and henry aray doctor of divinity , to purchase lands for the maintainance of seven fellows and six scholers : which money deposited in so careful hands , was as advantagiously expended for the purchase of two hundred and fifty pounds per annum . it fell then under consideration , that it was pity so great a bounty ( substantial enough to stand of it self ) should be * adjected to a former foundation ; whereupon a new college ( formerly called broad-gates-hall in oxford ) was erected therewith by the name of pembroke-college , which since hath met with some considerable benefactors . may this the youngest college in england have the happiness of a youngest child , who commonly have in their mothers love , what they lack in the land of their father . we must not forget , that the aforesaid thomas tisdall gave many other charitable legasies , and deserved very well of abington-school , founding an usher therein . memorable persons . anne greene , a person unmarried , was indicted , arraigned , cast , condemned and executed , for killing her child , at the assizes at oxford , decemb. . . after some hours her body being taken down , and prepared for dissection in the anatomyschools , some heat was found therein , which by the care of the doctors was improved into her perfect recovery . charitable people interpret her so miraculous preservation a compurgator of her innocence . thus she intended for a dead , continues a living anatomy of divine providence , and a monument of the wonderful contrivances thereof . if hippolytus , revived onely by poetical fancies , was surnamed virbius , because twice a man ; why may not mulierbia , by as good proportion , be applied to her ? who since is married , and liveth in this county in good reputation . lord mayors . name . father . place . company . time. . john norman john norman banbury draper . thomas pargitor john pargitor chippingnorton salter . michael dormer jeffrey dormer tame mercer the names of the gentry of this county returned by the commissioners in the twelfth year of king henry the sixth . william bishop of lincoln   william de lovell , chiv . commissioners to take the oaths . stephen haytfeld knights for the shire .   richard quatermayns knights for the shire .   tho. wikeham , chiv . lodowici grevill iohannis wisham iohan. banufo humphridi hay iohannis tyso will. thomlyns thome andrey thome atte mille iohannis benet rad. archer ioh. archer thome willes iohannis perysson ioh. crosse de sibford thome eburton thome kynch willielmi brise willielmi dandy richardi stanes iohannis wallrond iohannis daypoll iohannis fabian vvill. page iohannis mose williel . seton iohannis pytte thome helmeden tho. scholes thome sperehawke thome gascoine thome clere ioh. goldwell williel . goldwell iohannis white thome lynne will. smith de bloxham thome chedworth willielmi haliwell ioh. chedworth ioh. de berford robert : q●…inaton richardi atte mille willielmi mason willielmi almer thome tymmes ioh. cross de drayton alexandri byfeld iob. andrew de bodycote thome serchesden theme feteplace , ar . tho. hastyng , ar . will. wallweyn , ar . ioh. hille ar . ioh. lcmilt thome mayor iohannis hood will. gayte iohannis martyn thome martyn ●…ill . fycheler will. brayn nicholai wenne iohannis leche will. leche richardi fremantle roberti carpenter ●…icardi colas ●…ill . coteler richardi coteler iohannis punter henrici suthwik i●…hannis fawlour iohannis mos●…er ioh wynchelcombe will. style thome vyncent ●…ohannis bcdyll iohannis trilling thome marshall iohannis walker will. walker simonis walker thome brys thome mede ioh. freman de pole thome chalkele ioh. godef●…llawe iohannis abraham iohannis turfray richardi howkyn rob. bocher de witteney iohannis rous stephani cornewaill iohannis iurdan iohannis bronne iohannis willeney w●…llielmi fellawe iohannis pere iohan. bray richardi wellwe willielmi wynn will. whittington willielmi dagbill will. dustelyng iohannis danvers thome mason iohan. ayl●…sworth iohan. waver hen●…ici frebody richardi ha●…pour vvill. shitford roberti shitford hugonis culworthe ioh. danus ●…dynton richardi touchestre thome blexham rogere predy vvill. drynkwater thome vvykham de swalelyf vvill. vvillingham roberti campden vvalteri snappe richardi ru●…e thome spycer ioh. draper thome peny thome harys iohannis flore will. rothe ioh. etterton vvill. vvitteney will. wych ioh. potter ioh. fletewell richardi eton ioh. ●…arner will. standell richardi sclaytey de shorldbury ioh. folke tho. takle bayle thome abbatis de eynesham richardi walkestede , chiv . ioh. blount , ar . will. marmyon thome halle ioh. lydier will. berkingham will. rash ioh. whighthill roberti croxford thome carwell thome yerman ioh. somerton will. somerton roberti hare court simonis somerton thome harlyngrigge will. horncastle ioh. yerman ioh. colles ioh. bourman de dadyngton thome magon thome pricket thome pebworth walteri jouster rogeri jouster ioh. cobwell ioh. bingham ioh. tymmes will. frere thome maykyn richardi tanner de wod●…stock willielmi weller ioh. swift richardi stevenes richardi marchall richardi chapman thome snareston ioh. bridde richardi aston will. parsons thome payne ioh. nethercote stephani humpton will. romney ioh. romney roberti rye will. swift will. harryes ioh. tanner de eynesham will. madle thome millward ioh. fisher ioh. webbe edm. rammesby iacobi howes iac. bocher de stunsfeld ioh. megre ioh. ha●…e de barton phillippi frere ioh. frere ioh. stowe ioh. knight ioh. kemster will. kemster rob. quaynaton rob. more , ar . rob. alkerton ioh. chorleton ioh. eburton , jun. ioh. eburton , sen. thome eburton ioh. yonge ioh. balle thome balle ioh. eureshawe galfridi crewe will. tommys will. ayltan ioh. stokes ioh. walle will. smith de chepyng norton iohannis howes thome howes willielmi hide rogeri milton iohannis stacy richardi gurgan iohannis halle iohannis sampson willielmi sampson thome churchehill thome cogeyn willielmi cogeyn richardi bury willielmi houchyns iohannis channdyt willielmi bagge will. rollandright thome fayreford ioh. martyn thome tackle will. weller ioh. maynard richardi couper de eastan will. wrench o h. halle de shorithamton willielmi tunford iohannis tunford iohannis parkyns rob. raynald ioh. mucy will. carter de overnorton tho. balle de parva rowlan-right ioh. hammond ioh. halle ioh. payne ioh. shawe ioh. silver ioh. brewes tho. spillesby ioh. salman ioh. potter , jun. prioris de burcestre ioh. langeston rogeri powre will. anderne ioh. aston ioh. cornwaile richardi purcell iacobi samwell rich. fitz ▪ water tho. wyonb●…ssh ioh. togood rich. togood ioh. spere ioh. shoue nicholai norris thome chapman willielmi durbare thome hoggys thome gurdon tho. markham iohannis lile iohannis sylvester iohannis balegh iohannis chantclere ioh. huntingdon will. baldyngton iohan. burdon iohannis fellipps de overfayford iohaunis fellipps de netherfayford ioh. smith de mellington thome smith de eadem iohan. notebene de fencote will. fitz water ioh. felmersham iohannis abbatis de oseneye iohannis abbatis de thame edm. prioris sancti frideswide tho. baldington , jun. tho. baldington , sen. ioh. iacket thome welles thome longe ioh. ellys rob. crakeall willielmi tyller ioh. dogge andree sparewe will. loy , sen. ioh. chamberleyn ioh. shrovcbury roberti reve ioh. fryday ioh. mayhon ioh. hamond will. halfeknight hugonis benet de thame vvill. collyngrig thome credy ioh. savage bayly ioh. clifton abbatis dorcacestr . ioh. harpeden , chiv . hug. wolf , chiv . thome chancer , ar . rich. drayton , ar . rich. restold , ar . petri feteplace , ar . will. wikham , ar . ioh. fitz-elys , ar . reg. barantyn , ar , will. lynde , ar . rob. simeon , ar . drugonis barantyn ioh. bedford edmundi forster rich. gilot thome chibenhurst thome atte hide rogeri radle petri shotesbroke iohannis hide will. ravenyng willielmi borde williel . skyrmet iohannis elmes thome vine ioh. hertilpole tho. clerk bayly ioh. bayly de puriton iohannis badley vvill. bosenhe thome bartelot rich. calday iohannis crips williel . north iohannis atte water roberti atte water rich. forster thome denton thome atte well de garsingden iohannis holt nicholai neuby ioh. thomley will. bele iohannis lowe rob. hye ioh. bullery ioh. fitz aleyn ioh. waly by clerici thome tretherf●…t tho. balingdon , sen. ioh. smith ioh. skynner rich. english rob. powlegh nich. atte water iohannis hawe thome dodde thome bartelet will. padenale ade hastyng ioh. 〈◊〉 tho baker de watlington richardi hurry ioh. tours thome muttyng thome deven ioh. martyn will. somer ioh. romsey ioh. yonge will. caturmayn ●…ill . hervey hen. benefeld will. north nicholai wotton de kingston ioh. temple ioh. fynamour rich. malpas ioh. boure rob. gorewey ioh. stafford rich. saddock ioh. atte lee will. derenden . the commissioners in this county appear over-diligent in discharging their trust : for , whereas those in other shires flitted onely the cream of their gentry , it is suspicious that here they made use of much thin milk , as may be collected from their numerousness in a county of so small content . i could wish they had spent part of their pains on some other places , seeing we have so little of great , and nothing of some shires in this kind . but i see nothing will here fall out adequate to our desires in all particulars , but still we shall conceive our selves to have cause to complain , of something redundant and something defective . sheriffs . although oxford and berk-shires be divided by the thames , and in the saxon heptarchy were under two different kingdoms , oxford-shire belonging to mercia , and berk-shire to the west saxons ; yet after the conquest they were united under one sheriff , untill the nineth year of queen elizabeth , as by their catalogue formerly presented in berk-shire doth plainly appear : since that year for the more effectual discharge of the office , and greater ease of the subjects , each have had several sheriffs , and oxford-shire as followeth : name . place . armes . eliz. reg.     anno     ric. fines , mil. broughtō . azure , . lions rampant , or. hum. ashfeld , ar .     will. taverner , ar . water e.   tho. gibbons , ar .     ric. waynman , m : tame pa. quarterly g. & az. a cross patonce , or. ioh. danvers , ar . †   † g. a chev. inter . mullets , o. hen. rainford , ar .     will. babington , m.   ar. ten torteauxes , 〈◊〉 - . . & . mich. molyns , ar .     rob. doyle , mil. & ioh. coop , ar . ut infra ut infra   will. hawtry , ar .     ric. corbet , ar .   or , a raven proper . edm. bray , ar .     ric. hudleston , ar .   gul. frettee arg. tho. denton , ar .     anth. cope , ar . hanwell arg. on a chev. az. betwixt . ric. fines . ar . ut prius roses , g. slipped and leaved , on. ogletho●…p , ar . a newingt . vert , . flower de luces , or. ioh. doyle , ar . b   a arg. a chev. varry or and idem . ut prius vert , betwixt . boyes heads mich. blount , ar . c maph du. sable cut of g. ioh. danvers , ar . ut prius b or , two bends , arg. will. clarke , ar .   c barry formy neb●…le of . will. spencer , ar . d yardingt . or and sable . anth. cope , mil. ut prius d quarterly ar. & g. a fret . ro. chamblayn , a. e   or. on a bend sab . . escalops of the first . fran. stonard , ar . f stonard   ric. fenys , mil. ut prius e gul. a cheveron arg. betwixt three escalops , or. oni. oglethorpe , ar ut prius   will. freer , ar . g water e. f az. two bars dancettee or , a chief arg. gorg. broome , ar .     mich. blount , ar . ut prius g gul. two flanches or , three vvheat-ears erect in fess counterchanged . fran. curson , ar .     will. greene , ar .     will. pope , ar . wiscot per pale , or & az. on a chev . betw . . griffins heads erazed , . flower de luces , all counterchanged . ric. farmer , mil. *   * arg. a fess sab . twixt three leopards heads erazed , gul. jacob .     anno     anth. cope , mil. ut prius   gorg. tipping , ar .     iac. harrington , m.   sable , a fret . arg. tho. temple , mil. buckin arg. on two bars sab . . roland . lacy , mil.   martlets , or. hen. samborne , ar .     mich. dormer , mil.   az. ten billets , . . . & . bene. winchcōbe , a   or in a chief of the second , a lion issuant sable . tho. moyle , ar . †   † gul. a mule passant , arg. will. clerke , mil.     hen. lee , bar . dichley arg. a fess betw . . cressants , s. edw. dunch , ar .   s. a chev . betw . . towers , arg. tho. read , ar .   g. a saltire twixt . garbs , o. th. spencer , m. & b. ut prius   ioh. curson , mil.     edw. fenner , ar .     will. cope , m. & b. ut prius   ric. baker , mil.     fra. stoner , mil. ut prius   ●…owlan . lacy , ar .     will. aishcombe , m     walt. dunch , ar . ut prius   carol . i.     anno     ric. blount , mil. ut prius   ric. lovelace , mil. modo dom . lovelace & cope doyley , mil. berk-shire ut prius gul. a chief indented sable , . martlets , or. ric. wenman , mil. modo dom . wenman ut prius ut prius   rob. dormer , mil. ut prius   will. cobb , mil. adderbury   ioh. lacy , mil.     ioh. harborne , ar .     tho. coghill , ar . modo miles . ble●…hing . gules , on a cheveron arg. . ogresses , a chief sable . ioh. mellor , mil.     pet. wentworth miles baranit .   sable , a cheveron betwixt . leopards heads , or. fran. norris , mil.   quarterly arg. & g●…a . a fret , or with a fess az. will. walter , ar . * saresden * az. . eagles displayed , arg t. peniston , m. & b. †   † arg. . cornish-choughs prop. ioh. doyly , ar . ut prius   rad. warcoppe , ar .     ric. libb , ar .     tho. tippin , ar .                                 q. elizabeth . . william taverner , arm. ] this was he , who in the year of his sherivalty came to oxford , and went up into the pulpit at st. maries with a sword by his side , and a gold chain about his neck ; where he made a sermon ( or an oration rather ) to the university , the stuff , or rather bombace whereof we have set down in our ecclesiastical history . now though this was an odde act wherein his zeal was conceived by most to trespass on his discretion , yet was it born the better in those darker dayes from a person well-affected in religion , and abhorring to invade the ministerial function . . robert doyle , mil. ] this year ( if i mistake not ) were the black assizes at oxford , wherein ( contrary to the common course ) the prisoners caused the death of the judge , ( chief-baron bell ) the sheriff , some of the lawyers , many of the justices , and most of the jury ; besides other persons of quality there present . it was generally imputed to the stench of the prisoners clothes and bodies : for whereas other offensive smells are open enemies , and violently assaulting the brain warn men in some sort to avoid or resist them ; a gaolstench trecherously pretendeth alliance , ( as made of man-sweat ) and so insinuates it self with the less suspicion and more danger into the spirits . . william clarke , arm. ] he was son , or ( if the same with sir vvilliam clarke , sheriff in the . of k. james ) grand-child to sir john clarke of northampton-shire in the . of k. henry the eight , whose armes , with the honourable augmentation , and the worthy cause thereof , are there largely described . . richard penys , mil. ] he was a worthy gentleman , and bred fellow ( being the founders kinsman ) of new-college in oxford . he was also lineally descended from james lord say and seal , tresurer of england , in the reign of k. henry the sixth , and in consideration thereof was . jacobi created lord say and seal . he dyed anno dom. . william fenys , his eldest son , was since created viscount say and seal , and is still alive . k. charles i. . richard wenman , mil. ] this worthy knight was by k. charles the first created , first baron wenman of chilmaynam in the county of dublin , and then viscount wenman , of tuant in the county of galloway , both in the kingdom of ireland , by letters patents dated at cambrey the . of july . caroli . the farewell . as for the poorer sort of husbandmen in this county , i wish there may be more sir henry kebles for their sakes : this knight ( though a native of london , and lord mayor thereof ) had such an affection for this and warwick-shire , that he singled out an hundred and fifty of the poorest husbandmen therein , and gave each of them a new * plough-share and a new coulter of iron ; and in my mind that is the most charitable charity , which inableth decayed industry to follow its vocation . rutland-shire is by a double diminutive called by mr. cambden , angliae provinciola minima . indeed it is but the pestel of a lark , which is better than a quarter of some bigger bird , having the most cleanly profit in it : no place so fair for the rider , being more fruitful for the abider therein . ban●…shing the fable of king rott , and their fond conceit , who will have rutland so called from roet , the french word for a wheel , from the rotundity thereof , ( being in form almost exactly orbicular ) it is so termed , quasi red-land ; for as if nature kept a dye-vat herein , a reddish tincture discoloureth the earth , stones , yea the very flieces of the sheep feeding therein . if the rabbins observation be true , who distinguish betwixt arets , the general element of the earth ; and adamah , red ground , from which adam was taken and named ; making the later the former refined : rutlands soil on the same reason may lay claim to more than ordinary purity and perfection . buildings . burgley on the hill belonged formerly to the lords harrington , but since so beautified with buildings by the duke of buckingham , that it was inferiour to few for the house , superiour to all for the stable ; where horses ( if their pabulum so plenty as their stabulum stately ) were the best accommodated in england . but alas , what saith menedemus to chremas in the comedy ? filium unicum adolescentulum habeo . ah quid dixi habere me ? immo habui : so may rutland say , i have ; yea i had one most magnificent house : this burgley being since demolished in our civil war , so just was the poets ancient invective , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mars , mars , bane of men , slaughter-stain'd , spoiler of houses . but when we have first sufficiently bemoned the loss of so many worthy men in our late war , if then we have still any sorrow left , and tears to spare , we will spend them in lamenting the razing and ruining of so many stately structures . wonders . how it will appear to the reader i know not , but it is wonderful in my apprehension , that this county , so pleasant , so fruitful , almost in the middle of england , had not one absolute or entire abby therein ; producing onely two small appurtenances ( of inconsiderable value ) to convents in other counties , viz. okehame , under the custody of the priory of st. anne by coventry , founded by william dalby , for two chaplains and twelve poor ; receiving in all one and twenty pounds per annum . brook , a cell to killingworth , founded by walkeline de ferrers baron of okeham , for black canons , valued at the dissolution at fourty three pounds thirteen shillings and four pence . the like cannot be parallell'd in england , chuse so great a parcel of good ground where you please . shew me so fair a bunch of sweet grapes , which had no more flies to suck them : nor can i conjecture any competent cause thereof , except because edward the confessor by his will gave all rutland to westminster church , which though rescinded by king william the conqueror , yet other convents perchance might be scrupulous to accept , what once belonged to another foundation . proverbs . rutland raddleman . ] i meet in an * author with this blazon , as he termes it , of rutland-shire , though i can scarcely recover the meaning thereof ▪ rad here is the same with red , ( onely more broadly pronounced ) as radcliffe de rubro clivo redcliffe : raddleman then is a reddleman , a trade ( and that a poor one ) onely in this county , whence men bring on their backs a pack of red stone or oker , which they sell to their neighbouring countries for the marking of sheep , well nigh as ●…scernable ( and far less hurtful to the wooll ) as pitch-brands made on their flieces . saints . st. tibba . because this county is princeless , i mean affords no royal nativities , we begin with saints , and here almost we are at a loss , finding but one worshipped therein , and probably a native thereof . but seriously peruse , i pray , the words of our * author , speaking of rihall a village in this county , vvhere , when superstition had so bewitched our anchestours , that the multitude of their pety saints had well neere taken quite away the true god , one tibba , a pety saint or goddesse , reputed to be the tutelar patronesse of hawking , was of fowlers and falconers worshipped as a second diana . this saint of falconers doth stive so high into the air , that my industry cannot flye home after the same , so as to give a good account thereof to the reader . all that i can retrive of her is digested into these following particulars : . she was a female , whose sex ( dubious in the english ) is cleared in the latine cambden , tibba minorum gentium * sancta . . though gentium may import something of heathenism , sancta carries it cleer for christianity ; that she was no pagan deity amongst the britons , ( who were not our ancestors but predecessors ) but a popish she-saint amongst the saxons . . she could not be st. ebba , a virgin saint of whom formerly in northumberland , whom the country-people nick-name tabbs for st. ebbs. . my best inquiry making use of mine own and friends industry , perusing authors † proper to this purpose , cannot meet with this tibb with all our industry . but i will trouble my self and the reader no longer with this saint , which if she will not be found , even for me let her be lost ; onely observe , after that superstition had appointed saints to all vocations , ( st. luke to painters , st. crispin to shoomakers , &c. ) she then began to appoint patrons to recreations ; and surely falconers [ generally ] according to the popish principles , if any need a saint , both to protect them in their despe●…are riding , and pray for a pardon for their profane oaths in their passions . a post-script . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at last we have found it . she was no pagan deity but a saxon saint , as plainly appeareth , because the passage concerning her is commanded to be expung'd out of cambden by the * index expurgatorius , bearing a pique thereat , as grating against their superstitious practice . the same no doubt with tibba , virgin and anchoress ▪ who living at † dormundcaster , dyed with the reputation of holiness about the year . however , reader , i am not ashamed to suffer my former doubts and disquisitions still to stand , though since arrived at better information . benefactors to the publick . william browne esq twice alderman of stamford , merchant of the staple , was ( as i am credibly informed ) extracted from the ancient family of brownes of t●…llthorp in this county . he built on his own proper cost the beautiful steeple , with a great part of the church , of all-saints in stamford , and lyeth therein with his wife buried in a chappel proper to his family . he also erected anno . the old bead-house in that town , for a warden , confrater , twelve poor old men , with a nurse-woman to attend them : to this he gave the manor of swayfeld ( seven miles from stamford ) worth four hundred pounds per annum , besides divers lands and tenements elsewhere . i am loth to insert , and loth to omit , what followeth in my * author , viz. that the pious and liberal gift is much abused by the avarice and mis-imployment of the governors thereof : and charitably do presume , that such faults ( if any ) are since , or will be , suddenly amended . since the reformation . john harington the elder , son to sir james harington , was born at exton in this county , where their ancient family had long flourished . a bountiful house-keeper , dividing his hospitality between rutland and warwick-shire , where he had a fair habitation . he was one of the executors to the lady frances sidney , and a grand benefactor to the college of her founding in cambridge . king james created him baron of exton , and his lady , a prudent woman , had the princess elizabeth committed to her government : when the said princess was married to frederick prince palatine , this lord ( with henry martin doctor of the laws ) was sent over to the palatinate , to see her highness setled at hidleburgh , and some formalities about her dowry and joynture performed . this done , ( as if god had designed this for his last work ) he sickned on the first day of his return , and dyed at wormes in germany , on st. bartholomews day anno dom. . the lord john his son ( of whom in warwick-shire ) did not survive him a year ; both of them signally eminent , the one a pattern for all good fathers , th' other for all gracious sons ; and pity it is the last had not issue to be a president to all grand-children : but god thought it fit , that here the male-issue of that honourable family should expire . memorable persons . — jefferey was born in the parish of okeham in this county , where his father was a very proper man , broad-shouldered and chested , though his son never arived at a full ell in stature . and here we may observe * pliny his observation not true , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , in plenum autem cuncto mortalium generi ●…inorem staturam indies fieri , propemodum observatur , rarosque patribus proceriores , &c. it seems that families sometimes are chequered , as in brains so in bulk , that no certainty can be concluded from such alternations . his father , who kept and ordered the baiting bulls for george duke of buckingham , ( a place , you will say , requiring a robustious body to manage it ) presented him at burleigh on the hill to the duchesse of buckingham , being then nine years of age , and scarce a foot and half in height , as i am informed by credible * persons then and there present , and still alive . instantly jefferey was heightned ( not in stature , but ) in condition , from one degree above rags into silk and sattin , and two tall men to attend him . he was without any deformity wholly proportionable , whereas often dwarfs , pigm●…es in one part , are giants in another . and yet , though the least that england ever saw , he was a proper person compared to him , of whom * sabinus doth write , in his comment upon the metamorphosis : vidit italia nuper virum justa aetate , non majorem cubito , circumferri in caveâ psittaci , cujus viri meminit in suis scriptis hieronymus cardanus . there was lately to be seen in italy a man of a ripe age not above a cubit high , carried about in a parrets cage , of whom hierome cardan in his writings makes mention . it was not long before he was presented in a cold baked pye to king charles and queen mary at an entertainment , and ever after lived ( whiles the court lived ) in great plenty therein , wanting nothing but humility , ( high mind in a low body ) which made him that he did not know himself , and would not know his father , and which by the kings command caused justly his sound correction . he was , though a dwarf no dastard , a captain of horse in the kings army in these late civil wars , and afterwards went over to wait on the queen in france . here being provoked by mr. crofts , who accounted him the object , not of his anger but contempt , he shewed to all , that habet musca suum splenum , and they must be little indeed that cannot do mischief , especially seeing a pistol is a pure leveller , and puts both dwarf and giant into equal capacity to kill and to be killd : for the shooting the same mr. crofts he was imprisoned . and so i take my leave of jefferey , the least man of the least county in england . the names of the gentry of this county returned by the commissioners in the twelfth year of king henry the sixth . william bishop of lincoln commissioners to take the oaths . william de souche de harringworth , chiv .   thomas grenham knights for the shire .   william beaufo knights for the shire .   iohannes basinges de empyngham , mil. iohannes colepepar ▪ de exton , mil. henricus plesington de burley , mil. robertus browne de wodehead , ar . robertus davis de tykencoat , ar . iohannes browne de tygh . ar . iohannes plesington de wissenden , ar . thomas flore de oakham , ar . franciscus clerke de stoke-dry , ar . iohannes chycelden de brameston , ar . iohannes sapcoat de keton , merchant robertus whitwell de eadem , gentleman iohannes clerk de wissenden , merch . willielmus lewis de oakham , merch . iohannes brigge de eadem , merch . ioh. basset de north luffenham , gent. iacobus palmer de eadem , gent. iohannes palmer de eadem , gent. willielmi sheffeild de seyton , gent. iohannes sadington de eadem , gent. rob. sousex de market overton , gent. iohannes vowe de whitwell , gent. willielmus pochon de wissenden , gent. willi●…lmus swafeld de braunston , gent. henricus breton de keton , gent. willi●…lmus uffing●…on de pilton , gent. thomas luffenham de winge . sheriffs . it remaineth now that we give in a list of the sheriffs of this shire ; and here rutland conceiveth it to sound to her credit , that whereas other shires ten times bigger than this , ( viz. norfolk and suffolk ) had but one sheriff betwixt them ; this little county never took-hands to hold with a partner , but had alwayes an entire sheriff to it self ; though anciently the same person ( generally honourable ) discharged the office for many years together , as by the ensuing catalogue will appear . sheriffs from the year of king to the year of king richard de humet tenth of henry . six and twenty of henry . william molduit six and twentieth of henry . first of richard . anna brigg dispensat . first of richard . second of richard . william albeney & william fresney second of richard . nineth of richard . william albevine solus nineth of richard . first of king john benedic de haversham first of king john second of king john robert malduit second of king john fifth of king john ralph normanvill fifth of king john twelfth of king john robert de braibro & henry filius ejus twelfth of king john second of henry . alan basset second of henry . twelfth of henry . jeffrey de rokingham twelfth of henry . thirty eight of henry . ralph de greneham thirty eight of henry . forty third of henry . anketyn de markinall forty third of henry . first of edward . peter wakervill & william bovile first of edward . nineth of edward . alberic de whitleber nineth of edward . seventeenth of edward . edmund earl of cornwall seventeenth of edward . twenty nineth of edward . john burley twenty nineth of edward . thirtieth of edward . marg. widow to edmund earl of cornwall thirtieth of edward . sixth of edward . marg. widow of pierce gavester earl of cornwall sixth of edward . nineth of edward . hugo de audley nineth of edward . seventeenth of edward . edmund earl of kent brother to the king seventeenth of edward . first of edward . hugo de audley earl of glocester first of edward . twenty second of edward . william de bohun earl of northampton twenty second of edward . thirty third of edward . william wade thirty third of edward . thirty eight of edward . humphrey de bohun thirty eight of edward . forty seventh of edward . john de witlesbrough forty seventh of edward . forty nineth of edward . simon ward forty nineth of edward . first of richard . sheriffs . name . place . armes . rich. ii.     anno     ioh wittlebury     tho de burton   azure , a fess betwixt talbots heads erazed , or. ioh. basings     will. moorwood     ioh. de wittlesbury     will. flore okeham ermins , a cinque-foil , erm. walt. skarle     ioh. de calveley     rob. de veer   quarterly gules & or in the fi●…st , a mullet , arg. idem ut prius .   ioh. wittebury     walt. skarles     edw. comes rutland for eight years .   quarterly france and engl. a label arg. charged with . tortea●…es . ●… tho. ondeley     idem .     hen. iv.     recorda manca , all this kings reign .     hen. v.     anno     tho. ondeley     iac. bellers   party per pale , g. & s. a lion ramp . arg. crowned , or. ioh. boyvill*     tho. burton , mil. ut prius * gul. a fess or , between . saltires hu●…t , arg. rob. browne     rob. chisdden     ioh. pensax     th●… . burton , mil. ut prius   idem . ut prius   hen. vi.     anno     tho. burton ut prius   ioh. ondeby     ioh. davies , mil. tickenco .   ioh. colepeper exton arg. a bend engrailed , gul. hen. plesington , m. burley azure , a cross pa●…e betwixt . martlets , arg. tho. burton , mil. ut prius   ioh. denys     ioh. colepeper ut prius   tho. flore ut prius   hen. plesington , m. ut prius   ioh. boyvile ut prius   will. beaufo   ermine , on a bend azure , . ●…inque-foils , or. rob. davies & ioh. pilton     ioh. branspath     hugo . boyvile ut prius   laur. sherard   arg. a cheveron gul. betwixt . torteauxes . will. beaufo ut prius   tho. burton ut prius   hen. plesington , m. ut prius   tho. flore ut prius   will. beaufo ut prius   tho. barkeley   gules , a cheveron betwixt ten cinque-foils , arg. ioh. basings , mil.     will. walker     ioh. boyvile ut prius   will. haselden     hugo boyvile ut prius   rob. fenne   arg. on a fess az. escalopshels of the first , a bordure engrailed as the second . tho. 〈◊〉 ut prius   will h●…on     rob. sherard ut prius   rob. 〈◊〉 ut prius   〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 ut prius   will. haselden     tho. flore , ar . ut prius   tho. dale     rob. fenne ut prius   everard . digby dry-stoke azure , a flower de lys , arg. edw. iv.     anno     ioh. francis     tho. palmer     idem .     will greenham , ar ▪     tho. flore , ar . ut prius   ric. sopcotts , mil.   sab. . dovecoats , arg. will. browne tolethorp sable , . mallets , arg. galfr. sherard ut prius   ioh. dale , ar .     tho. flore , ar . ut prius   brian . talbot , ar .     tho. berkley , mil. ut prius   will. haselden     ioh. pilton , ar .     will. browne ut prius   ioh. sapcote ut prius   david . malpas   arg. a cross patee , az. hen. mackworth normant . per pale inde●…ed erm. & s. a chev. gul. 〈◊〉 , or. ioh. pilton     galfr. sherard ut prius   will. palmer     david . malpas ut prius   rich. iii.     anno     will. browne stamford ut prius galf. sherard ut prius   ioh. pilton     hen. vii .     anno     everard . digby martinth . arg. on a fess azure , lozenges , or. will. browne ut prius   david . malpas ut prins   maur. berkley ut prius   iho. sapcots ut prius   ioh. digby , mil. ut prius   rob. harrington , a.   sable , a frettee , arg. christoph. browne ut prius   ioh. pilton     tho. sherard ut prius   tho. sapcots , ar . ut prius   geo. mackworth ut prius   rob. harrington , a. ut prius   everard . digby , ar . ut prius   ioh. chisleden     christ. browne , ar . ut prius   ioh. digby ut prius   ioh. harrington ut prius   maur. berkley ut prius   will. pole     tho. sherard ut prius   ric. flowre , ar . ut prius   ioh. coly , ar .     ever . feilding , mil. martins t. argent on a fess az. three fusils , o●… . hen. viii .     anno.     christ. browne , ar . ut prius   edw. sapcote ut prius   geo. mackworth , ar . ut prius   ioh. harrington , ar . ut prius   everard . digby , ar . ut prius   tho. brokesby , ar .     ioh. caldecott     ioh. harrington ut prius   ion. digby , mil. ut prius   everard . digby , ar . ut prius   will. f●…ilding , ar . ut prius   io. harington , ju . a ▪ ut prius   io. harington , se. ar . ut prius   geo. mackworth , ar . ut prius   ioh. digby , mil. ut prius   f●…n . b●…owne , ar . ut prius   ioh. ●…aldecot , ar .     will. filding , ar . ut prius   edw. sapcors ut prius   ●… ever●…rd . digby , m. ut prius   edw. ca●…esby , ar .   argent , two lions passant s. crowned , or. ●… geo mackworth , ar . ut prius   edw. sap●…ots , ar . ut prius   ev●…rard . digby , m. ut prius   ioh. h●…rington , ar . ut prius   geo. mackworth , ar . ut prius   edw. sapcots , ar . ut prius   ●… andr. nowell , ar . b●…ooke or , sr●…ttee gul. a canton erm. ti●… . burdenell , ar . ut in●…a   fra. mackworth , ar . ut prius   ●… rich. cecell , ar .   barry o●…ten arg. & az. on . escutcheons sable , as many lions rampant of the first . ioh. harington , m. ut prius   kenelm . digby , ar . ut prius   edw. 〈◊〉 , ar . ut prius   fra. mackworth , ar . ut prius   g●…o . sherard , ar . ut prius   anch. browne , ar . ut prius   edw. sapcots , m●…l . ut prius   edw. vi.     anno     anth. colly , ar .     ●… simon . d●…gby , ar . ut ▪ prius .   kenelm . digby , ar . u●… prius .   andr. noell , ar . ut prius .   anth. colly , ar .     ioh. harington , m ut prius .   iac. harington , ar . ut prius   mar. reg.     anno     kenelm . digby , ar . ut prius   simon . digby , ar . ut prius   fra. mackworth , ar . ut prius   andr. n●…ll , ar . ut prius   anth. browne , ar . ut prius   edw. brudenell , ar .   arg. a cheveron g. betwixt capps az. turned up erm. eliz. reg.     anno     anth. colly , ar .     iac. harington , mil ▪ ut prius   kenelm . digby , ar . ut prius   geo. sherard , ar . ut prius   will. caldecot , ar .     g●…o . mackworth , ar . ut prius   ioh. floure , ar . ut prius   iac. harington , m. ut prius   kenelm . digby , ar . ut prius   anth. colly , ar .     ioh. floure , ar . ut prius   maur. berkley , ar . ut prius   anth. browne ut prius   geo. mackworth , ar . ut prius   tho. cony , ar .   sab. a bar and two barrulets twixt . conies currant arg. rob. sapcots , ar . ut prius   will. caldecot , ar .     anth ▪ ●…olly , ar .     ioh. floure , ar . ut prius   iac. harington , mil. ut prius   mich. ca●…esby , ar . ut prius   geo. mackworth , ar . ut prius   will. feilding , ar . ut prius   roger. smith ▪ ar . leicest sh gules on a cheveron or , betwixt . b●…zants , . croslets sormee fi●…chee . anth. colley , ar .     tho. coney , ar . ut prius   kenelm . digby ut p●…s   iac. harington , m. ut prius   andr. nowell , mil. ut prius   geo. sheffeild , ar . seaton arg. a cheveron twixt three garbes , gules . rob. sapcots , ar . ut prius   hen. harenten , ar . ut priu●…   will. feilding , ar . ut prius   roger. smith , ar . ut prius   iac. harington , m. ut prius   ioh. harington , m. ut prius   andr. nowell , mil. ut prius   will. feilding , ar . ut prius   hen. ferrers , ar .   arg. on a bend gul. cotized ▪ sab. horshooes , arg. ioh. harington , m. ut prius   tho. mackworth , ar ut prius   andr. nowell , mil. ut prius   iac. harington , m. ut prius   ioh. harington , m. ut prius   jacob .     anno     will. bodendin , ar .     will. boulstred , m.     basil. feilding , ar . ut prius   hen. barkley , ar . ut prius   guido . palmes ,     edw. nowell , mil. ut prius   tho. mackworth , ar . ut prius   will. halford , ar . leicest . sh arg. a grey●…ound passant on a chief sab. flower de liz . of the feild . ioh. elmes , ar . * north h.   rob. lane , mil.     anth. andrews , ar .   * erm. bars sab. each charged with . elm leaves transposed , or. fran. bodinden , ar .     ed. noell , m. & bar . ut prius   rich. cony , mil. ut prius   guido . palmes , m.     abr. iohnson , ar .     rich. halford , ar . ut prius   anth. colley , ar .     ed. haringtō , m. & b ridlingtō ut prius rob. lane , mil.     rob. tredway , ar .     ioh. osborne , ar .   quarterly erm. and azure , a cross or. carol . i.     anno     guido . palmes , m.     will. gibson , mil.     he●… . mackworth , ar ut prius   ever . fawkener , ar .     ioh. huggeford , ar .     ioh. wingfeild , mil.   arg. a bend gul. cotized sab. wings of the first . ric. hal ford , ar . ut prius   anth. colley , mil.     ric. hickson , ar .     fran. bodington , m.     hen. mynne , mil.     edw. ha●…rington , mil. & bar . ut prius   edw. andrews , ar .     ioh. barker , ar .     tho. levett , ar .     rob. horsman , ar . stretton   tho. wayte , ar .                     abel barker     henry vii . . christopher browne , arm. ] this sheriff came over with king henry the seventh , and assisted him against richard the third 〈◊〉 for which good service king henry the eight granted to francis browne ( son of our sheriff ) of council to the lady margaret , the following patent : henricus octavus dei gracia angliae , franciaerex , fidei defensor , & dominus 〈◊〉 , omnibus ad quos praesentes litterae pervenient , salutem . sciatis quod no●… de gratia nostra speciali con●…essimus pro nobis & heredibus nostris , quantum in nobis est , dilecto nostro francisco browne armigero , quod ipse ad totam vitam suam non ponatur , impanellet . nec juret . in assisis juratis inquisitionibus attinctis seu aliis recognitionibus aut juratis quibuscunque , licet ille seu eorum aliquis tangant nos vel heredes nostros , ac licet nos vel heredes nostri soli aut conjunctim cum aliis sit una pars . concessimus etiam , ac per presentes conced mus eidem francisco , quod ipse de cetero non fiat vicecomes nec escaetor nostri vel heredum nostrorum in aliquo comitatu regni nostri angliae : et quod ipse ad offic . vic . escaetoris superius recitat . habend . exercend . faciend . recipiend . aut occupand . ullo modo per nos vel heredes nostros assignet . ordinet . seu compellet . aut aliqualit . artet . ullo modo nec ad ascend . jurat . super aliqua triatione , arrainatione alicujus assisae coram quibuscunque justic . nostris vel heredum nostrorum ad assisis capiend . assign . aut aliis justic . quibuscunque ; & quod non ponatur nec impanelletur in aliqua magna assisa infra regni nostri angliae inter partes quascunqne contra voluntatem suam licet nos vel heredi nostri sit una pars . et ulterius de habundanciori gratia nostra concessimus praefato francisco , quod si ipse ad aliqua officia superdict . seu aliquod praemissorum eligat . ipseque & officia superdict . recusavit , extunc idem franciscus aliquem contemptum dep●…rdit . poenam fortisfitur . aut aliquos exutos fines , redemptiones seu amerciament . quaecunque occasione omissionis sive non omissionis aut alicujus eorundem nullatenus incurrat fortisfaciat aut perdet ; sed quod praesens carta nostra de exemptione coram quibuscunque justic . nostris & hered . nostr . ac in quocunque loco aut curia de record . per totum regnum nostrum praedict . super demonstratione ejusdem chartae nostrae , absque aliquo brevi praecept . seu mandat . aut aliquo alio superinde habend . seu persequend . vel aliqua proclamatione faciend . praefato francisco allocetur . concessimus etiam , & per praesentes concedimus eidem francisco , quod ipse de cetero durante vita sua in praesentia nostra aut hered . nostrorum , aut in praesentia alicujus , sive aliquorum magnatum , dominorum spiritualium vel temporalium , aut aliquorum aliorum regni nostri , quorumcunque quibuscunque temporibus futuris pilio sit coopertus capite , & non exuat aut deponat pilium suum à capite suo occasione vel causa quacunque contra voluntatem aut placitum suum ; & ideo vobis omnibus & singulis , aut quibuscunque justic. judicibus , vicomitibus , escaetoribus , coronatoribus , majoribus , praepositis balivis & aliis officiariis & ministris nostris & hered ▪ nostr●…rum firmiter injungendo mandamus , quod ipsum franciscum contra hanc concessionem nostr . & contra tenorem exegent . aut effect . praesent . non vexetis , perturb . molest . in aliquo seu gravetis . in cujus reitestim . has literas nostras fieri fecimus patentes . teste meipso apud westm. sexto die julii , anno regni nostri decimo octavo . per ipsum regem & de dat . praedict . authoritate parliamenti . tolethorpe ( the chief place of residence at this ▪ day of christopher browne esquire , who hath born the office of sheriff in this county , . ) was by deed conveyed unto john browne from thomas burton knight , in the fiftieth year of king edward the third . i meet with a browne lord mayor of london , . the son of john browne of oakham . the farewell . let not the inhabitants of rutland complain , that they are pinned up within the confines of a narrow county ; seeing the goodness thereof equals any shire in england for fertility of ground : but rather let them thank god , who hath cast their lot into so pleasant a place , giving them a goodly heritage . shrop-shire hath cheshire on the north , staffordshire on the east ; worcester , hereford and radnorshires on the south : montgomery and denbighshires on the west . the length thereof from north to south is miles , and the generall breadth thereof about miles . i behold it really ( though not so reputed ) the biggest lund-lock-shire in england . for although ( according to mr. speeds mea-suring ) it gathereth but one hundred thirty four miles ( short of wiltshireby five ) in circumference ; yet though less in compasse , it may be more in content , as lesse angular in my eye , and more approaching to a circle , the form of greatest capacity . a large and lovely county generally fair and fruitful , affording grasse , grain , and all things necessary for mans sustenance , but chiefly abounding with naturall commodities . iron . it is the most impure of all metals hardly meltable ( but with additaments ) yea malleable and ductible with difficulty . not like that at damascus , which they refine in such sort , that it will melt at a * lamp , and yet so tough that it will hardly break . some impute the grossenesse of our english iron to our water , not so proper for that purpose , as in spain , and other parts , and the poet telleth us of turnus his sword. * ensem quem dauno igni potens deus ipse parenti fecerat , & stygia candentem extinxerat unda . sword which god vulcan did for daunus fixe , and quenched it when firy hot in stix . however many vtensils are made of the iron of this county , to the great profit of the owners , and no losse ( i hope ) of the common-wealth . coale . one may observe a threefold difference in our english-coale . sea-coale , brought from newcastle . land-coale , at mendip , bedworth , &c. and carted into other counties . what one may call river or fresh-water-coale , digged out in this county , at such a distance from severne , that they are easily ported by boat into other shires . o ifthis coale could be so charcked as to make iron melt out of the stone , as it maketh it in smiths forges to be wrought in the bars . but rome was not built all in one day , and a new world of experiments is left to the discovery of posterity . manufactures . this county can boast of no one , her original , but may be glad of one to her derivative : viz. the vvelsh-freeses brought to oswastre , the staple of that commodity , as * hereafter ●…hall be observed . the buildings . no county in england hath such a heap of castles together , insomuch that shropshire may seeme on the vvest , divided from vvales with a vvall of continued castles . it is much that mr. speed which alloweth but one hundred * eighty six in all england , accounteth two and thirty in this * county . but as great guns so usefull in the side of a ship , are uselesse in the middle thereof , so these castles formerly serviceable , whilst shropshire was the verge of english dominions , are now neglected , this shire being almost in the middest of england , since vvales was peaceably annexed thereunto . as for the houses of the gentry of this county , as many of them are fair and handsome , so none amount to an extraordinary eminence . medicinall waters . there is a spring at pitch-ford , in this shire , which hath an oily unctuous matter swimming upon the water thereof . indeed it is not in such plenty as in a river neer to * solos in cilicia , so full of that liquid substance , that such as wash therein , seem anointed with oile : nor so abundant , as in the springs neer the cape of s. helen , wherewith ( as josephus acosta reports ) men use to pitch their ropes and tackling . i know not whether the sanative virtue thereof hath been experimented , but am sure , that if it be bitumen , it is good to comfort the nerves , supple the joynts , drye up rheumes , cure palsies and contractions . i have nothing more to say of bitumen , but that great the affinity thereof is with sulphur , save that sulphur hath ingression into mettal , and bitumen none at all . here i purposely passe by * okenyate in this county , where are allum springs , whereof the dyers of shrewsbury make use instead of allum . proverbs . he that fetcheth a vvife from shrewsbury , must cary her into staffordshire , or else shall live in cumberland . the staple-wit of this vulgar proverb consisting solely in similitude of sound , is scarce worth the inserting . know then that ( notwithstanding the literall allusion ) shrewsbury affordeth as many meeke wives , as any place of the same proportion : besides , a profitable shrew well may content a reasonable man , the poets faining juno , chas●…e and thrifty , qualities which commonly attenda shrewd nature . one being demanded ; how much shrewishnesse may be allowed in a vvife ? even so much ( sayed he ) as of hops in ale , whereof a small quantity maketh it both last the longer in it selfe , and taste the better to the owner thereof . the case is altered quoth plowden . ] this proverb referreth its originall to edmund plowden , an eminent native and great lawyer of this county , though very various the relations of the occasion thereof . some relate it to plowden his faint pleading at the first for his client , till spurred on with a better fee : which some will say , beareth no proportion with the ensuing character of his integrity . others refer it to his altering of his judgement upon the emergencie of new matter formerly undiscovered : it being not constancie but obstinacie to persist in an old error , when convinced to the contrary by cleer and new information . some tell it thus , that , plowden being of the romish perswasion , some setters trapanned him ( pardon the prolepsis ) to hear masse : but afterwards plowden understanding , that the pretender to officiate was no priest , but a meer lay-man ( on designe to make a discovering ) oh! the case is altered quoth plowden : no priest , no masse . as for other meaner origination of this proverb , i have neither list nor leasure to attend unto them . princes . richard plantagenet , second son to edward the fourth , and elizabeth his queen , was born at * shrewsbury . he was created by his father duke of york , and affianced to anne , daughter and heir to john mowbray duke of norfolk . but before the nuptials were solemniz'd , his cruel ●…ncle , the duke of glocester , maried him to a grave in the towre of london . the obscurity of his burial gave the advantage to the report , that he lived in perkin warbeck , one of the idols which put politick king henry the seventh to some danger , and more trouble , before he could finally suppresse him . george plantagenet , youngest son to edward the fourth , and elizabeth his queen , was born at † shrewsbury . he was like plautus his solsticial flower , qui repentinò ortus , repentinò occidit , dying in the infancie of his infancie . some vainly conceive ( such conjectures may be safely shot , when no body can see , whether they hit or misse the mark ) that , had this george surviv'd , he would have secured the lives of his two elder brethren , whose ●…ncle duke richard durst not cut thorow the three-fold cable of royal issue . a vain surmise , seeing when tyrants hands are once wash'd in blood , two or three are all one with their cruelty . saints . milburgh daughter to meroaldus prince of mercia , had the fair mannor of wenlock in this county , given to her by her father for her portion . she , quitting all wordly wealth , bestowed her inheritance on the poor , and answered her name of milburgh , which ( as an † antiquary interpreteth ) is good , or gracious to town and city . living a virgin , she built a monastery , in the same place , and departed this life about the year . four hundred years after , in the reign of william the conquerour , her corps ( discovered by miracles wrought thereby ) were taken up sound and uncorrupted , to the admiration of the beholders , ( saith my * authour ) and surely had i seen the same , i would have contributed my share of wondring thereunto . this i am sure of , that as good a saint , lazarus by name , by the confession of his own sister did † stink when but four dayes buried . her relicts inshrined at wenlock , remained their in great state , till routed in the reign of king henry the eighth . oswald was king of northumberland , who , after many fortunate battels fought , was vanquished and slain at last by penda , the pagan king of the mercians , at a place in this county called after his name oswaldstre ( now a famous market-town in the marches ) thereby procuring to his memory the reputation of saint and martyr . be pleased , reader , to take notice , that all battels of this nature , though they were quarrels or armed-suits , commenced on a civil or temporal account for the extending or defending their dominions ; yet were they conceived ( in that age especially ) to have a mixture of much piety and church-concernment therein , because fought against infidels , and so conducing consequentially to the propagation of the faith ; the reason that all kings kill'd in such service , atchieved to themselves the veneration of saints and martyrs . say not that king * saul might be sainted on the same account , mortally wounded in a pitcht field fought against the vncircumcised philistins ; both because in fine he slew himself , and his former life was known to be notoriously wicked . whereas our oswald was alwayes pious , and exceedingly charitable to the poor . his arm cut off , it seems , from the rest of his body , remained , said bede , whole and incorrupt , kept in a silver case in s. peters church at bamborough , whilest his corps was first buried at peterborough , and afterwards ( in the danish persecution ) translated to * bergen in flanders , where it still remaineth . the fifth of august was in our kalendar consecrated to his memory , save that the thanks-giving for the defeating of gowries-conspiracy , made bold to justle him out , all the reign of king james . his death hapned anno domini . confessors . this county afforded none , as the word is reconfined in our preface . but if it be a little enlarged , it bringeth within the compasse thereof , thamas gataker * younger son of william gataker , was a branch of an ancient family , so firmely planted by divine providence at gatacre-hall in this county , that they have flourished the owners thereof , by an noninterrupted succcession , from the time of king edward the confessor . this thomas being designed a student for the law , was brought up in the temple , where in the raign of queen mary he was often present at the examination of persecuted people . their hard usage made him pity their persons , and admirable patience to approve their opinions . this was no sooner perceived by his parents ( being of the old perswasion ) but instantly they sent him over to lovain in the low-countries , to win him to a compliance to the popish religion , and for his better encouragement setled on him an estate of one hundred pound per annum , old rent . all would not do . whereupon his father recalled him home , and revoked his own grant ; to which his son did submit , as unwilling to oppose the pleasure of his parents , though no such revocation could take effect without his free consent . he afterwards diverted his mind from the most profitable , to the most necessary study ; from law , to divinity : and finding friends to breed him in oxford , he became the profitable pastor of s. edmonds in lumbard-street , london , where he died anno leaving thomas gatakèr his learned son , ( * of whom formerly ) heir to his paynes and piety . prelates . robert of shrewsbury was in the reign of king john ( but i dare not say by him ) preferred bishop of bangor . afterwards the king , waging war with leoline prince of wales , took this bishop prisoner in his own cathedral church , and enjoyned him to pay * three hundred hawkes for his ransome . say not that it was improper that a man of peace should be ransomed with birds of prey , seeing the bishop had learnt the rule , redime te captum quam queas minimo . besides hawkes will not seem so inconsiderable a matter , to him that hath read , how in the reign of king charles an english noble man ( taken prisoner at the i le * ree ) was ransomed for a brace of grey-hounds . such who admire where the bishop on a sudden should furnish himself with a stock of such fowl , will abate of their wonder , when they remember that about this time the men of norway ( whence we have the best hawkes ) under magnus their general , had possessed themselves of the neighbouring iland of † anglesea . besides he might stock himself out of the aryes of pembrook-shire , where † perigrines did plentifully breed . how ever , this bishop appeareth something humerous by one passage in his will , wherein he gave order that his body should be buried in the middle of the market place † of shrewsbury . impute it not to his profaness and contempt of consecrated ground , but either to his humility accounting himself unworthy thereof , or to his prudential fore-sight , that the fury of souldiers ( during the intestine war betwixt the english and welsh ) would fall fiercest on churches , as the fairest market , and men , preferring their profit before their piety , would preserve their market-places , though their churches were destroyed . he died anno . robert burnel , was son to robert , and brother to hugh lord burnel , whose prime seat was at acton-burnel-castle in this county . he was by king edwàrd the first preferred bishop of bath and vvell●…s , and first treasurer , then chancelor of england . he was well vers'd in the welsh affairs , and much us'd in managing them ; and that he might the more effectually attend such employment , caused the * court of chancery to be kept at bristol . he got great wealth wherewith he enriched his kindred , and is supposed to have rebuilt the decayed castle of acton-burnel on his own expence . and to decline envy for his secular structures left to his heirs , he built for his successors the beautiful hall at vvells , the biggest room of any bishops palace in england , pluck'd down by sir john gabos ( afterwards executed for treason ) in the reign of king edward the sixth . english and welsh affaires being setled to the kings contentment , he employed bishop burnel in some businesse about scotland , in the marches whereof he died , anno domini . and his body , solemnly brought many miles , was buried in his own cathedral . walter de wenlock abbot of westminster , was , no doubt , so named from his nativity in a market town in this county . i admire much that matthew of vvestminster writeth him vvilliam de vvenlock , and that a monk of vvestminster should ( though not miscall ) mis-name the abbot thereof . he was treasurer * of england to king edward the first betwixt the twelfth and fourteenth year of his reign , and enjoyed his abbots office six and twenty years lacking six dayes . he died on christmasse day at his mannor of periford in glocester-shire , and was buried in his church at vvestminster , besides the high-altar before the presbutery , without the south dore of king edward's shrine , where abbas vvalterus non fuit aus●…erus is part of his epitaph . ralph of shrewsbury , born therein , was in the third of king edward the third preferred bishop of bath & vvells . being consecrated without the popes privity ( a daring adventure in those dayes ) he paid a large sum to expiate his presumption therein . he was a good benefactor to his cathedral , and bestowed on them a chest port-cullis-like , barred with iron , able to hold out a siege in the view of such as beheld it . but , what is of proof against sacriledge ? some thieves ( with what engines , unknown ) in the reign of queen elizabeth , * forced it open . but this bishop is most memorable for erecting and endowing a spacious structure for the vicars-choral of his cathedral to inhabit together , which in an old picture is thus presented . the vicars humble petition on their knees . per vicos positi villae , pater alme , rogamus , ut simul uniti , te dante domos , maneamus . to us dispers'd i th' streets , good father , give , a place where we together all my live . the gracious answer of the bishop , sitting . vestra petunt merita quod sint concessa petita , ut maneatis ita , loca fecimus haec stabilita . your merits crave that what you crave , be yeilded , that so you may remain , this place we 've builded . having now made such a palace ( as i may term it ) for his vicars , he was ( in observation of a proportionable distance ) necessitated in some sort to enlarge the bishops seat , which he beautified and fortified castle-wise , with great expence . he much ingratiated himself with the country people by disforasting mendip , beef better pleasing the husbandmans palate than venison . he sate bishop thirty four years , and dying august . . lieth buried in his cathedral , where his statue is done to the life , vivos viventes vultus vividissimè exprimens , saith my authour . robert mascal , was bred ( saith bale in ) and born ( saith * pitz positively ) at ludlow in this county , where he became a carmelite . afterwards he studied in oxford , and became so famous for his learning and piety , that he was made confessor to henry the fourth , and counsellor to henry the fifth , promoted by the former bishop of hereford . he was one of the three english prelates which went to ( and one of the two which returned alive from ) the council of constance . he died being buried in the * church of white-friers in london , to which he had been an eminent benefactor . richard talbote was born of honourable parentage in this county , as * brother unto john talbote , the first earl of shrewsbury . being bred in learning , he was consecrated arch-bishop of dublin in ireland . he sate two and thirty years in that see ( being all that time a privy counsellor to king henry the fifth and sixth ) twice chief justice , and once chancelor of ireland . he deserved well of his church ( founding six petty canons , and as many choristers therein ) yea , generally of all ireland , writing * a book against james earl of ormond , wherein he detected his abuses during his lieutenancy in ireland . he died august the . . and lieth buried in saint patricks in dublin under a marble stone , whereon an e●…itaph is written not worthy the inserting . the said richard was unanimously chosen arch-bishop of armagh , a higher place , but refused to remove , wisely preferring safety , above either honor or profit . george day was born in this * county , and successively scholer , fellow and provost of kings colledge in cambridge . which he reteined with the bishoprick of chichester , to which he was consecrated . a most pertinacious papist , who though he had made some kind of recantation in a sermon ( as i find it entred in king edward the sixth his own diary ) yet either the same was not satisfactory ; or else he relapsed into his errours again , for which he was deprived under the said king , and restored again by queen mary . he died anno dom. . prelats since the reformation . william day was brother to the aforesaid george day . i find no great difference betwixt their age , seeing * george day was admitted in kings colledge , anno . vvilliam day was admitted in the same colledge anno . yet was there more than forty years betwixt the dates of their deaths . george day died very young bishop of chichester , anno dom. . vvilliam day died very old bishop of vvinchester , anno . but not so great was the difference betwixt their vivacity , as distance betwixt their opinions : the former being a rigid papist , the later a zealous protestant . who requesting of his brother some money to buy books therewith , and other necessaries , was returned with this denial * that he thought it not fit to spend the goods of the church on him who was an enemy of the church . however , this william found the words of solomon true , * and there is a friend who is nearer than a brother ; not wanting those who supplyed his necessities : he was proctor of cambridge , , and afterwards was made by queen elizabeth ( who highly esteemed him for his learning and religion ) provost of eton and dean of windsor , two fair preferments ( parted with thames , but ) united in his person ; the bishoprick of winchester he enjoyed scarcely a whole year , and dyed as aforesaid , . statesmen . sir thomas bromley , was borne at bromley in this county , of a right ancient family , i assure you ; bred in the inner temple , and generall solicitor to queen elizabeth . he afterwards succeeded sir nicholas bacon , in the dignity of lord chancellor , aprill . . now although it was difficult to come after sir nicholas bacon , and not to come after him : yet such was sir thomas his learning and integrity ( being charactred by my * authors , virjuris prudentia insignis : ) that court was not sensible of any considerable alteration . he possessed his place about nine years , dying anno , not being years * old . hereby the pregnancie of his parts do appear , seeing by proportion of time he was made the queens solicitor before he was , and lord chancellor before he was years old . learning in law may seem to run in the veins of that name , which since had a baron of the exchequer of his alliance . sir clement edmonds was born at * shrawardine in this county , and bred fellow in all-souls colledge in oxford , being generally skilled in all arts and sciences . witness his faithfull translations of , and learned illustrations on , caesars commentaries . say not that comment on commentary was false heraldry , seeing it is so worthy a work , that the authour thereof may pass for an eminent instance to what perfection of theorie they may attain in matter of war , who were not acquainted with the practick part thereof , being only once employed by queen elizabeth , with a dispatch to sir francis vere which occasioned his presence at the battail at newport : for he doth so smartly discusse pro and con , and seriously decide many martiall controversies , that his judgement therein is praised by the best military masters . king iames taking notice of his abilities , made him clerke of the council , and knighted him : and he was at last preferred secretary of state , in the vacancy of that place , but , prevented by death , acted not therein . he died anno . . and lies buried at preston in northamptonshire , where he purchased a fair estate , which his grandchilde doth possess at this day . capitall judges and writers on the law. edmund plowden , was borne at plowden in this county , one who excellently deserved of our municipall law , in his learned writings thereon : but consult his ensuing epitaph , which will give a more perfect account of him . conditur in hoc tumulo corpus edmundi plowden armigeri . claris ortus parentibus , apud plowden in comitatu salop. natus est ; à pueritia in literarum studio liberaliter est educatus , in provectiore vero aetate legibus , & juris prudentiae operam dedit . senex jam factus , & annum aetatis suae agens . mundo valedicens , in christo jesu sanctè obdormivit , die sexto mensis februar . anno domini , . i have rather inserted this epitaph inscribed on his monument on the north side of the east end of the quire of temple church in london , because it hath escaped ( but by what casualty i cannot conjecture ) master stow in his survey of london . we must add a few words out of the character mr. * camden gives of him . vitae integritate inter homines suae professionis nulli secundus . and how excellent a medly is made , when honesty and ability meet in a man of his profession ! nor must we forget how he was treasurer for the honourable society of the middle-temple , anno . when their magnificent hall was builded : he being a great advancer thereof . sir john walter , son to edmund walter , chief justice of south-wales , was born at ludlow in this county , and bred a student of our common-laws , wherein he atteined to great learning , so that he became , when a pleader , eminent ; when a judge , more eminent ; when no judge , most eminent . pleader . ] the character that learned james thuanus , * gives of christopher thuanus his father , being an advocate of the civil law , and afterwards a senator of paris , is exactly agreeable to this worthy knight ; ut bonos a calumniatoribus , tenuiores a potentioribus , doctos ab ignorantibus opprimi non pateretur . that he fuffered not good men to be born down by slanderers , poor men by more potent , learned men by the ignorant . judge . ] who ( as when ascending the bench , entering into a new temper ) was most passionate as sir john , most patient as judge walter ; and great his gravity in that place . when judge denham , his most upright and worthy associate in the western circuit once said unto him , my lord , you are not merry ; merry enough ( return'd the other ) for a judge . no judge . ] being outed of his place , when chief baron of the exchequer , about the illegality of the loan , as i take it . he was a grand benefactor ( though i know not the just proportion ) to jesus colledge in oxford , and died anno † . in the parish of the savoy , bequeathing l. to the poor thereof . edward litleton born at * mounslow in this county , was the eldest son to sir edward littleton , one of the justices of the marches , and chief justice of north-wales . he was bred in christ-church in oxford , where he proceeded batchelor of arts , and afterward one of the justices of north-wales , recorder of london , and sollicitor to king charles . from these places he was preferred to be chief justice of the common-pleas , when he was made privy counsellor ; thence advanced to be lord keeper and baron of mounslow , the place of his nativity . he died in oxford and was buried in christ church , anno . souldiers . sir john talbot was born ( as all concurring indications do avouch ) at black-mere in this county , the then flourishing ( now ruined ) house , devolved to his family by marying the heir of the lord strange of black-mere . many honourable titles deservedly met in him , who was , lord talbot , and strange , by his paternal extraction . lord furnival and verdon , by maryage with joan , the daughter of thomas de nevil . earl of shrewsbury in england , and weisford in ireland , by creation of king henry the sixth . this is that terrible talbot , so famous for his sword , or rather whose sword was so famous for his arm that used it . a sword with bad † latin upon it , but good steel within it , which constantly conquered where it came , insomuch that the bare fame of his approach , frighted the french from the siege of burdeaux . being victorious for twenty four years together , successe failed him at last , charging the enemy neer castilion on unequal termes , where he with his son the lord lisle were slain with a shot july . . hence forward we may say , good night to the english in france , whose victories were buried with the body of this earl , and his body enterred at white-church in this county . sir john talbot , son to sir john talbot aforesaid , and vicount lisle in right of his mother . though he was slain with his father , yet their ashes must not be so hudled together , but that he must have a distinct commemoration of his valour . the rather , because a noble † pen hath hinted a parallel , betwixt him and paulus aemilius the roman general , which others may improve . aemilius was overpowred by the forces of hannibal and asdrubal to the loss of the day . corn. lentulus intreated aemilius ( sitting all bloodied upon a stone ) to rise and save himself , offering him his horse and other assistance . aemilius refused the proffer , adding withall , that he would not again come under the judgment of the people of rome . the same sad success attended the two talbots , in fight against the french. the father advised the son , by escape to reserve himself for future fortune . his son crav'd to be excused , and would not on any termes be perswaded to forsake his father . in two considerables talbot far surpass'd aemilius , for aemilius was old , grievously , if not mortally wounded : our lord in the flower of his youth , unhurt , easily able to escape . aemilius accountable for the over-throw received , the other no wayes answerable for that daye 's mis-fortune , being ( as we have said ) the of july . learned writers . robert of shrewsbury . take , reader a tast of the different spirits of writers concerning his character . leland's text. eadem opera , & religionem celebrabat , & literas . with the same endeavour he plied both religion and learning . * bale his comment . per religionem fortassis monachatum intelligit , per literas sophistica praestigia . it may be he meaneth monkery by religion and by learning sophistical fallacies . i confess he might have imployed his pains better . but bale proceeds , de consultis ruthenis , consulting ( not the russians , as the word sounds to all criticks ) but the men of ruthin in wales . he wrote the life and miracles of s. winfride , flourished anno . david of chirbury , a carmelite , was so named from his native place in the west of this county , bordering on mountgomery-shire . a small village i confesse , yet which formerly denominated a whole hundred , and at this day is the barony of the lord herbert . he was , saith leland , ( whom i take at the second hand on the trust of john * pits ) theologiae cognitione clarus . and going over into ireland , was there made episcopus dormorensis , bishop of drummore , as i take it , he is said * to have wrote some books , though not mentioned in bale , and ( which is to me a wonder ) no notice taken of him by that judicious knight sr. james * ware. so that it seems his writings were either few , or obscure . returning into england he died , and was buried in his native county at ludlow , in the convent of the carmelites , anno dom. . since the reformation . robert langeland , forgive me , reader , though placing him ( who lived one hundred & fifty years before ) since the reformation : for i conceive that the morning-star belongs rather to the day , then to the night . on which account this robert ( regulated in our book not according to the age he was in , but judgement he was of , ) may by prolepsis be termed a protestant . he was born at † mortimers-clibery in this county eight miles from malvern-hills : was bred a priest , and one of the first followers of j. wickliffe , wanting neither wit , nor learning , as appears by his book called , the vision of pierce plowgh-man , and hear what character a most learned * antiquary giveth thereof . it is written in a kind of english meeter , which for discovery of the infecting corruptions of those times , i preferre before many of the more seemingly serious invectives , as well for invention as judgement . there is a book first set forth by tindal , since , exemplied by mr. † fox , called the prayer and complaint of the plowghman , which though differing in title and written in prose , yet be of the same subject at the same time , in the same language , i must referre it to the same authour : and let us observe a few of his strange words with their significations . behotef promiseth binemen take away blive quickly fulleden for baptized feile times oft times forward . covenant . heryeth worshipeth homelich household lesew pasture leude-men lay-men nele will not nemeth for taketh seggen do say swevens dreams syth afterwards . thralles bond-men . it 's observeable that pitzaeus ( generally a perfect plagiary out of bale ) passeth this langland over in silence : and why ? because he wrote in oppositum to the papal interest : thus the most light finger'd thieves will let that alone , which is too hot for them . he flourished under king edward the third , anno dom. . thomas churchyard was born in the town of shr●…wesbury , as himself doth affirm in his book made in verse of the worthines of vvales , taking shropshire within the compass , making ( to use his own expression ) wales the park , and the marches to be the pale thereof . though some conceive him to be as much beneath a poet , as above a rbimer , in my opinion his verses may go abreast with any of that age , writing in the beginning of queen elizabeth . it seems by this his epitaph in mr. camdens remains , that he died not guilty of much wealth . come alecto lend me thy torch , to find a church-yard in a church-porch : poverty and poetry his tomb doth enclose , wherefore good nighbours be merry in prose . his death , according to the most probable conjecture , may be presumed about the eleventh year of the queens reign anno dom. . thomas holland d. d. was born in this * county , in finibus & limitibus cambriae , in the confines and marches of wales , bred in exeter colledge in oxford , and at last became rector thereof . he did not with some only sip of learning , or at the best but drink thereof : but was mersus in libris , drowned in his books , so that the scholar in him almost devoured all other relations . he was , saith the authour , of his funeral sermon so familiar with the fathers , as if he himselfe had been a father . this quality commended him to succeed dr. lawrence humphrid , in the place of regius professor , which place he discharged with good credit for twenty years together . when he went forth of his colledge on any journey for any long continuance , he alwayes took this solemn valediction of the fellowes . * i commend you to the love of god , and to the hatred of popery and superstition . his extemporaries were often better than his praemeditations , so that he might have been said to have been out , if he had not been out . he died in march anno dom. . and was buried in oxford with great solemnity and lamentation . abraham whelock was born in white-church parish in this county , bred fellow of clare-hall , library-keeper , arabick professor , and minister of st. sepulchers in cambridge . admirable his industry , & no lesse his knowledg in the oriental tongues , so that he might serve for an interpreter to the queen of sheba coming to salomon , and the wise men of the east who came to herod , such his skill in the arabi●… and persian language . amongst the western tongues he was well vers'd in the saxon , witness his fair and true edition of bede . he translated the new testament into persian , and printed it , hoping in time it might tend to the conversion of that country to christianity . such as laugh at his design as ridiculous , might well forbear their mirth , and seeing they expended neither penny of cost nor hour of pains therein , might let another enjoy his own inclination . true it is he that sets an acorn , sees it not a timber-oak , which others may behold , and if such testaments be conveyed into persia , another age may admire what this doth deride . he died , as i take it , anno dom. . benefactors to the publick . sir roger achley born at * stanwardine in this county . he beheld the whole city of london as one family , and himself the major ( for the time being ) the master thereof . he observed that poor people , who never have more than they need , will sometimes need more than they have . this joseph collected from the present plenty , that a future famine would follow , as in this kind , a lank constantly attendeth a bank. wherefore he prepared leaden-hall , ( therefore called the common garner ) and stored up much corn therein , for which he deserved the praise of the rich , and the blessing of the poor . since the reformation . sir rowland hill , son of richard hill , was born at * hodnet in this county , bred a mercer in london , whereof he was lord major . being sensible that god had given him a great estate , he expressed his gratitude unto him in giving maintenance to a fair ▪ school at drayton in this county , which he built and endowed , besides six hundred pounds to christ-church-hospital , and other benefactions . in * forgiving at his death all his tenants in his mannors of aldersy and sponely , a years rent . also enjoyning his heirs , to make them new leases of one and twenty years , for two years rent . as for the cause-wayes he caused to be made , and bridges built ( two of stone conteining * eighteen arches in them both ) seeing hitherto it hath not been my hap to go over them , i leave his piety to be praised by such passengers , who have received safety , ease , and cleaness , by such conveniences . he died anno dom. . . ¶ a note to the reader . i have heard the natives of this county confess and complain of a comparative dearth ( in proportion to other shires ) of benefactors to the publick . but sure , shropshire is like to the mulberry , which putteth forth his leaves last of all trees , but then maketh such speed , ( as sensible of his slowness with an ingenious shame ) that it overtaketh those trees in fruit , which in leaves started long before it . as this shire of late hath done affording two of the same surname still surviving , who have dipp'd their hands so deep in charitable morter . sir * thomas adams , kt. was born at wem in this county , bred a draper in london , where god so blessed his honest industry , that he became lord major thereof . . a man , who hath drunk of the bitter waters of meribah without making a bad face thereat , cheerfully submitting himself to gods pleasure in all conditions . he gave the house of his nativity , to be a free school ( that others might have their breeding , where he had his birth ) and hath liberally endowed it . he liveth in due honor and esteem and , i hope , will live to see many years , seeing there is no better collurium or eye-salve to quicken and continue ones sight , than in his life time to behold a building erected for the publick profit . william adams esq. was born at newport in this county , bred by trade a haberdasher in london , where god so blessed his endeavours , that he fined for alderman in that city . god had given him an heart and hand proportionable to his estate , having founded in the town of his nativity a school-house in the form following . the building is of brick , with windowes of free stone , wherein the school is threescore and ten in length , and two and twenty foot in breadth and height . over it a fair library furnished with plenty and choise books . at the south end , the lodgings of the schoolmaster , whose salary is sixty ; on the north the ushers , whose stipend is thirty pounds per annum . before the front of the school a stately crupto-porticus , or fair walk all the length of the school , with pillars erected , and on the top thereof a leaden tarras , with railes , and barristers . two alms-houses for poor people , at convenient distance from the school , with competent maintenance . two gardens a piece , for school-master and usher , with well nigh two acres of ground for a place for the scholars to play in . the rent for the maintenance thereof deposed in the hands of trustees , a year before , that in case of casualty there may be no complaint . more intended for the settlement of exhibitions to scholars chosen hence to the university , as god hereafter shall direct the founder . but who for the present can hold from praising so pious a performance . come momus , who delight do'st take , where none are found , there faults to make : and count'st that cost , and care , and pain , not spent on thee , all spent in vain . see this bright structure , till that smart blind thy blear-eyes , and grieve thy heart . some cottage-schools are built so low , the muses there must groveling go . here , whilst apollo's sharp doth sound , the sisters nine may dance around ; and architects may take from hence the pattern of magnificence . then grieve not , adams , in thy mind , 'cause you have left no child behind : unbred ! unborn , is better rather if so , you are a second father to all bred in this school so fair , and each of them thy son and heir . long may this worthy person live to see his intentions finished and compleated , to his own contentment . memorable persons . thomas parre , son of john parre , born at alberbury in the parish of winnington in this county , lived to be above one hundred and fifty years of age , verifying his anagram thomas parre . most rare hap . he was born in the reign of king edward the fourth , one thousand four hundred eighty three , and two moneths before his death was brought up by thomas earle of arundel ( a great lover of antiquities in all kinds ) to westminster . he slept away most of his time , and is thus charactered by an eye witness of him from head to heel his body had all over , a quick-set , thick-set nat'ral hairy cover . change of air and diet ( better in it self , but worse for him ) with the trouble of many visitants or spectators rather are conceived to have accelerated his death , which happened westminster , november the , , and was buried in the abbey-church , all present at his burial , doing homage to this our aged thomas de temporibus . lords majors . name father place company . time roger acheley thomas acheley stanwardine draper rowland hill thomas hill hodnet mercer thomas lee roger lee wellington mercer thomas lodge william lodge cresset grocer rowland heyward george heyward bridg north clothworker robert lee humphry lee bridg north merchant tailor john swinnerton tho. swinnerton oswestry merchant tailor francis jones john jones glaverley haberdasher peter probey not recorded white-church grocer allen cotton ralph cotton white-church draper george whitmore will. whitmore charley haberdasher thomas adams thomas adams wem draper . see we here a jury of lords majors born in this ( which i believe will hardly be paallel'd in a greater ) county . all [ no doubt ] honestmen , and true . the names of the gentry of this county , returned by the commissioners in the twelfth year of henry the sixth . a ] vvilliam , bishop of coven . & leichf . commissioners to take the oaths . b ] john de talbot , knight . c ] richard laken , knights for the shire . vvilliam boerley . willielmi malory , militis johannis fitz-piers willielmi lodelowe thomae hopton , de hopton richardi archer johannis wynnesbury thomae corbet , de ley thomae corbet , de morton johannis bruyn , senioris thomae charleton richardi peshale thomae newport georgii hankeston johannis brugge thomae banastre hugonis harnage leonardi stepulton hugonis cresset johannis skryven willielmi poynour richardi neuport richardi horde nicholai sandford griffin kynaston johanuis bruyn , junioris hugonis stepulton simonis hadington alani wetenhull richardi sonford johannis otley edwardi leighton , de mershe edmundi plowden thomae mardford rogeri bromley richardi lee humfridi cotes vvillielmi leighton richardi horton willielmi welascote richardi husee johannis wenlok willielmi mersheton walteri codour ricdardi gerii vvillielmi bourden . a ] this vvilliam was vvilliam hieworth , bishop of coventry and leichfield , of whom * here after . b ] sir john talbot , ( though here only additioned knight ) was the lord talbot , and eight years after created earl of shrewsbury , of whom * before . c ] richard laken , the same family with lacon , whose seat was at vvillily in this county , augmented both in bloud and estate by the matches with the heirs of * harley . peshal . passilew . blunt of kinlet . my hopes are according to my desires that this ancient family is still extant in this county , though i suspect shrewdly shattered in estate . the commissioners of this shire were neither altogether idle , nor very industrious : having made but a short and slender return , only of principal persons therein . sheriffes of shropshire . hen. ii. anno anno will. filius alani , for years together . anno guido extraneus , for years together . anno gaufrid . de ver , for years together . anno gaufrid . de ver , & will. clericus . anno guido extraneus , for years together . anno hugo pantulfe , for years together . rich. i. anno will. filius alani , & reginal . de hesden . anno idem . anno will. filius alani , & will. de hadlega . anno will. filius alani , for years together . anno will. filius alani , & reginald . de hedinge . anno will. filius alani , & wido . filius roberti . anno will. filius alani masculum . johannes . anno will. filius alani , & vvarrus de vvililegh . anno idem . anno vvill. filius alani , & reiner de lea. anno g. filius petri , & richardus , de ambresleg . anno idem . anno thomas de erolitto & robertus de alta ripa . anno idem . anno thomas de erdington , for years together . hen. iii. anno anno ranul . com. cestriae , & hen. de aldetheleg . anno idem . anno idem . anno ranul . com. cestriae , & philippus kinton . anno idem . anno idem . anno ranul . com. cestriae . anno johannes bovet . anno idem . anno hen. de aldithle . anno idem . anno idem . anno hen. de aldithle , & vvill. de bromley . anno idem . anno idem . anno petr. rival . & rob. de haye , for years together . anno johannes extraneus , & robertus de acton . anno johannes extraneus , for years together . anno thomas corbet anno idem . anno robertus de grendon , for years together . anno hugo acover anno idem . anno vvillielmus bagod anno idem . anno idem . anno jacobus de audeley , for years together . anno vvalterus de hopton anno idem . edw. i. anno roger. de mortuo mari. anno idem anno idem anno bago de knovile anno idem anno idem . anno rogerus sprengehuse , for years together . anno dominus de ramesley anno idem . anno robertus corbet anno vvill. de tickley , ( ●…ive tittle ) for years together . anno radulphus de schirle . anno idem anno idem . anno tho. corbet anno idem . anno richardus de harleigh . anno idem anno vvalter de beysin anno idem anno johannes de acton anno johannes de dene anno idem edw. ii. anno rogerus trumvine anno johannes extraneus , & hugo de crofts . hugo de crofts anno idem anno hugo de audeley anno idem anno idem anno vvill. de mere. anno rogerus de cheyney anno rogerus trumwine anno idem . anno robertus de grendon anno nul . tit. vicom . in hoc rot. anno nec in hoc . anno johannes de swinerton anno idem . anno hen. de bishburne anno idem anno idem edw. iii. anno joh. de hinckley , & hen. de bishburn anno idem anno johannes hinckley anno idem anno henricus de bishburn anno idem anno richardus de peshal anno idem anno johannes de hinckley anno simon de ruggeley anno richardus de peshal anno idem anno simon de ruggeley anno idem anno adam de ●…eshal anno thomas de swinerton anno idem anno johannes de aston anno richardus com. arundel , for years together . anno richardus peshall anno petrus de careswel . name . place armes . rich. ii.     anno     brian . de cornwel burford ar. a lion ramp . gu. crowned or , a border sa. beazante . johannes ludlow hodnet argent , a lion rampant , sable . joh. de drayton drayton   rogerus hord   ar. on a chief or , a raven proper . iohannes shery     edw. de acton aldenham gu. lions passant arg , betwixt croslets , or. ioh. de stepulton   argent , a lion rampant , sable . edw. ac acton ut prius   nich. de sandford sandford parteper cheveron , sable and er. boarsheads coupee in chief , or. robert. de lee lee-hall gu. a fess componee , or , & az. betwixt billets argent . ioh. * mowetho   alias * mowellio , quaere . rob. de ludlow ut prius   edw. de acton ut prius   ioh. de stepulton ut prius   will. huggeford     hen. de winesbury   az. on a bend , betwixt cotises , or , lions gules . ioh. de eyton eyton or , a fret , azure . thomas de lee ut prius   vvill. vvorthie     vvill. huggeford     adamus de peshal   argent , a cross formee , fleury , sable , on a canton , gules , a wolfs-head erased of the field . idem . ut prius   hen. iv.     anno     io. cornwal , mil. ut prius   vvill. huggeford , & iohan. daras     vvill. banaster vvem argent , a cross patee sable . tho. newport arcol argent , a cheveron , gules , betwixt leopards heads sable . idem . ut prius   ioh. cornwail , mil. ut prius   tho. de vvitton vvitton or , on a cheveron , sable , plates . vvill. brounshul     ioh. boreley broms-croft ca●…tle arg. a fesse checque or , and az. upon a lions ramp . sable , armed gnles . rog. acton ut prius   edw. sprengeaux     robertus tiptot   argent , a saltire ingrailed , gules . hen. v     anno     rob. corbet , mil. morton or , a raven proper . rob. corbet , mil. ut prius   rich. laken , mil.   quarterly per fesse indented , ermin and azure . geor. hankeston     vvill. ludelowe ut prius   adam peshal , mil. ut prîus   rob. corbet ut prius   iohannes bruyn   azure , a crosse molin , or. idem . ut prius   hen. vi.     anno     iohannes bruyn ut prius   hugo harnage cund argent , torteauxes . tho. le s●…ange   gules , lions passant , argent . vvill. bo●…y ut prius   tho. corbet ut p●…ius   vvill. li●…chfeld     ioh. winnesbury ut prius   hugo bu●…gh , & thomas ●…opton   az. a cheveron betwixt flower de luces , ermin .   hopton gu. seme de cross croslets a lion ramp . or. rich. a●…chet     iohannes bruyn ut prius   iohannes ludlow ut prius   〈◊〉 . corbet , de ley ut prius   hugo cr●…sset upton cresset azure , a cross within a border ingrailed , or. rob. inglefeld berk-sh . barry of gules and a●…gent , on a chief , or , a lion passant azure . vvill. ludlow ut prius   vvill. liechfield     hum. low     nicholaus eyton ut prius   idem ut prius   iohannes burgh ut prius   vvill. ludlow ut prius   thomas corbet ut prius   nichol●…us eyton ut prius   hugo cresset ut prius   fulcho sprencheaux     vvill. ludlow ut prius   io●… . burgh , mil. ut prius   rogerus ey●…on ut prius   thomas herbert chirbury per pa●…e azure & gules , lions ramp●… , argent . vvill. laken ut prius   ioh. burgh , mil. ut prius   robertus corbet ut prius   n●…cholaus eyton ut prius   vvill. mitton   per pale gules ●…nd azure , au●… eagle 〈◊〉 with he●… , or. tho. hord , arm. ut prius   fulco sprencheaux     tho. cornwail , ar . ut prius   rob. co●…ber , mil. ut prius   edvv. iv.     anno     hum. blou●…t , ar. kin●… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 six . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sable . rog. kin●…ston , ar . hor●…ey see ou●…es in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ▪ idem ut prius   ioh. burgh , mil. ut prius   rich. lee armig. ut prius   rob. ey●…on , ar . ut prius   hum. blount , ar . ut prius   ioh. leighton , ar . watlesbury quarterly per 〈◊〉 indented or , and gules . rob. cresset , ar. ut prius   rog. k●…naston , ar . ut prius   rog. k●…aston , mi. ut prius   rob. charleton , ar   or , a lion rampant , gules . vvill. newport ut prius   iohan. leighton ut prius   hum. blount , mil. ut prius   iohannes h●…i     rich. laken , ar. ut prius   rich. ludlow , mil. ut prius   richardus lee ut prius   th. blount , arm. ut prius   ioh. harley , mil.   or , a ●…end cotised , sable . ioh. leighton , ar . ut prius   rich. iii.     anno     thomas mitton ut prius   thomas hord. ut prius   rob. cresser , & gilber . talbot , mil. ut prius gules , a lion rampant , and a border ingrai●…ed , or ▪ hen. vii .     anno     ioh. talbot , mil. ut prius   rich. laken , mil. ut prius   thomas hord. ut prius   edward ▪ blount ut prius   rich. ludlow , mil. ut prius   iohan. newport ut prius   vvill. young , mil. kenton or , roses , gules . edw ▪ blount , ar . ut prius   tho. blount , mil. ut prius   th. leighton , mil. & rich. lee , armig . ut prius     ut prius   rich. lee , armig . ut prîus   tho. screvin , arm . fradgly argent , guttee gules , a lion rampant , sable . rich. laken , mil. ut prius   rich. harley , mil ▪ ut prius   vvil. otteley , ar . pichford argent , on a bend azure , three garbes , or ▪ ioh. newport , ar. ut prius   tho. blount , mil. ut prius   pet. newton , ar . heytley argent , a cross sable , fleury , or ▪ idem . ut prius   geo. manwayring , arm . chesh argent , two barres , gules . th. cornwail , mil. ut prius   rob. corbet , mil. ut prius   th ▪ kinaston , mil. ut prius   hen. viii .     〈◊〉     th. laken , arm . ut prius   ioh. newport , ar . ut prius   th. scriven , arm . ut prius   pe●… . newton , ar . ut prius   ●…ill . otteley , ar . ut prius   tho. laken , arm . ut prius   th. cornwall , mil. ut prius   rob. pigot , armig . chetwin er●…in , fusiles in fesse , sable ▪ ●… pet. ●…ewton , arm . ut prius   tho. blount , mil. ut prius   th. cornwall , mil. ut prius   ioh. salter , armig . oswa●…rey gules , billets or , , , , & ●… geo. bromley , ar . bromley quarterly per fesse indented , arg. and or. pet. n●…wton , arm . ut prius   thomas vernon hodn●…t argent , frettee , sable , a canton , gules . ●… th. cornwall , mil. ut prius   〈◊〉 . corbet de ley , ar .     tho. screvin , arm . ut prius   ioh. talbot , mil. alb●…ighton   rob. nedeham , ar . shenton argent , a bend ingrailed , azure , betwi●…t b●…cks-heads , sable ▪ rog. corbet , arm . ut prius   th. cornwal , mi●… . ut prius   th. manwayring ut prius   th ▪ laken , miles . ut prius   th. talbot , miles ut prius   tho. vernon , arm . ut prius   rob. nedeham , m. ut prius   ioh. corbet , arm . ut prius   ioh ▪ talbot , miles . ut prius   rich ▪ manwayring ut prius   rich. laken , arm . ut prius   rob. nedeham , mi. ut prius   ioh. talbot , mil. ut prius   th. newport , mil. ut prius   rich. mitton , ar . ut prius   rich ▪ manwayring ut prius   th. vernon , arm . ut prius   th. l●…e , armig . ut prius   edw. vi.     anno     vvill. young , ar . ut prius   rich. cornwal , ar . ut prius   ●… tho. newport , ar . ut prius   andr. corbet , mil. ut prius   rich. newpo●…t , ar . ut prius   ric. manwayring ( mil ▪ ut prius   phil ▪ rex , & mar. reg.     anno     adam milton , m●… .     nic. cornwal , ar . ut prius   andr. corbet , mil. ut prius   rich. leveson , mil. lilleshall az. laurel-leaves slipped , or. rich. newport , ar . ut prius   th. farmour , arm .   argent , a fesse sable , between lions-heads erased , gules . eliz. reg.     anno     rich. mitton , ar. ut prius   rich. corbet , arm . ut prius   rich. cornwal , ar . ut prius   arth. manwayring ut prius   geor. blount , mil. ut prius   rob. nedeham , ar . ut prius   hum. o●…slow , ar . onslow argent , a fesse gules , betwixt merlins sable , beaked and legged , or. th. charlton , arm . & th. eaton , armig . ut prius   edw. leighton , ar . ut prius   rich. newport , mi. ut prius   and. corbet , mil. ut prius   rol. laken , arm . ut prius   will. gratewood , a.     th. powel , armig . worthen arg. ●…ars-heads coupee , sable . roub . pigot , arm . ut prius   ioh. hopton , arm . ut prius   walt , leveso●… , ar . ut prius   art. maynwa●…ing , m. ut prius   f●…anc . lawley , ar . spoon-hill argent , a cross fo●…mee throughout , or and sable . vvill. young. arm . ut prius   edw. cornwal , ar . ut prius   vvil. gratewood , a.     th. vvilliams , ar . willaston sa. nags-heads erased , ermin . carolus fox , arm . chain ham ar. a cheveron betwixt foxes beads erased , gules . rich. cresset , arm . ut prius   roul . barker , a●…m . haghmond gules , a fess checky or and az. betwixt annulets of the second . fran●… . newp●…rt , ar . ut prius   rob. nedeham . ut prius   edw. leighton , ar . ut prius   th. cornwall , ar . ut prius   andr. charleton , ●… . ut prius   vvill. hopton , ar . ut prius   rob. eyton , armig . ut prius   rich. corbet , arm . ut prius   rob. powel , armig . ut prius   frances albany , ar . fern-hill arg. on ●… fess betwixe cinquefoiles gules , a gray-●…ond currant , or. rob. nedeham , ar . ut prius   edw. scriven , arm . ut prius   carolus fox , arm . ut prius   edw. kinaston , mi ut prius   hum. lee , armiger . ut prius   franc. newport , a●… . ut prius   franc. newton , ar . ut prius   rog. ki●…aston , ar . ut prius   rog. owen , mil. condover arge●…t , a lion rampant sable , a canton of the field . jacob . rex     anno     rog. owen ▪ mil. ut prius   hum. briggs , arm . haughton gu. bars gemels , or , on a canton , sa. a cressent of the first . he●… . walop , mil. red-castle argent , a bend wavy , sable . rob. nedeham , m. ut prius   ed●… . fox , miles . ut prius   rob. purslow , mil. sidbury ar. a cross ingrailed fleury sa. a border of the same forme gu. ●…ezance . rich. mitton , arm . holston per pale gu. and az. an eagle displayed with heads , arg. bonham . norton , a●… . stretton or , bars gules , on a chief , azure , an ineschoucheon ermin . fran. laken , mil. kinlet quarterly per fess indented , ermin and azure . tho. gervis , mil.     ioh. cotes , armig . woodcoat quarterly ermin , and paly of six , or and gules . tho. piggot , ar . ut prius   th. cornwal , mil. ut prius   rolan . cotton , mi. b●…lla-porte az●…a a cheveron betwixt cottonskeans arg. rob. owen , arm. ut prius   tho. harris , arm. boreatton or , vrchins azure , will. vvhitmore , ar appley vert , fret●…y , or. vvalter barker , ar . ut prius   ●…h . edwa●…ds , arm. creete gules , a cheveron , engrailed between boars heads erased , or. vvill. owen , mil. ut prius   vvalt . piggot , ar. chetwin ermin , fusils in f●…sse , sable . tho. jones , arm .     car. rex .     anno     fran. charleton , ar . appley   ric. newport , mil. high ar●…ol ar. a cheveron gules , betwixt leopards heads , sable . rich. prince , arm . shr●…wsbury gu. a saltir or , over all a cross ingrailed , ermin . ioh. corbet , barr. stoake or , ravens in pale proper , a border ingrailed , gules . vvalt . acton , ar ▪ aldenh●…m gu. lions passant arg. between crosses croslets , fitched , or. hum. vvalcot , ar . vvalcot ar. a chever . inter chess-rooks , er. tho. i●…eland , arm . abrington gul. fleur de luces , argent . phil. eyton ▪ mil. eyton or , a fret , azure . tho. thynne , mil. caus castle barry of or and sable . ioh. newton , arm . heytleigh ut prius arg. a cross sable fleury , or. rob. co●…bet , arm .     paulus harris , mil. ut prius   vvil. pierpoint , ar . tong-castl●… arg. a lion ramp . sab. in an orbe of cinquefoiles , gules .   rich. lee ▪   gules , a fess co●…ponee , or and az. betwixt billels , argen . rog. kinnaston , ar ut prius   th. nicholas , arm . shrewsbury   ioh. vvelde , ar vvillye   bellum nobis     hoc fecit     inane .         rob. powel , ar . t●… park arg. boars-heads co●…pee , sable ▪ richard the second . . nicholas de sandford . ] this ancient name is still extant , at the same place in this county in a worshipful equipage ; wellfare a dear token thereof . for in the list of such as compounded for their reputed delinquency in our late civil vvars , i find francis sandford , of sandford esq. paying four hundred fifty nine pounds for his composition . yet i believe the gentleman begrudged not his mony in preservation of his own integrity , acting according to the information of his conscience , and the practice of all his ancestors . i understand that the said francis sandford was very well skill'd in making vvarlike fortifications . henry the iv. john cornwall , miles . ] a person remarkable on several accounts . for his high extraction , descended from richard earl of cornwall , and king of the almains , as his arms do evidence . prosperous valour under king henry the fifth in france , there gaining so great treasure , as that therewith he * built his fair house at amp-hi●… in bedfordshire , great honour , being created by king henry the sixth baron fanhop , and knight of the garter . constant loyalty , sticking faster to king henry the sixth , than his own crown did , faithfully following after the other forsook him . vigorous vivacity , continuing till the reign of king edward the fourth , who dispossessed him of his lands in bedford-shire . chearful disposition , pleasantly saying : that not he , but his fine house at amp-hill , was * guilty of high treason : happy ! that he could make mirth at his misery , and smile at the loosing of that , which all his frowns could keep no longer . know reader that if this j. cornwal , shall ( which i suspect not ) prove a distinct person , from this his kinsman and namesake , none will blame me for taking here a just occasion of speaking of so eminent a man , who elsewhere came not so conveniently under my pen. edward the fourth . roger kinaston , ar. ] i cannot satisfie my self in the certain arms of this ancient family ( much augmented by match with hord ) finding them giving sundry [ all good and rich ] coats in several ages , but conceive they now fix on , ar. a lion ramp . sa. richard the third . thomas mitton . ] he , in obedience to king richard's commands , apprehended the duke of buckingham ( the grand engener to promote that usurper ) in the house of humphry banaster , who for the avaricious desire of a thousand pounds betrayed the duke unto the sherif . gilbert talbot mil. ] he was son to john talbot , second earl of shrewsbury , of that name . in the time of his sherivalty , henry earl of richmond ( afterwards king henry the seventh ) marching with his men to bid battle to king richard the third , was met at shrewsbury by the same sir gilbert , with two thousand men well appointed ( most of them tenants and retainers to his nephew george fourth earl of shrewsbury , then in minority ) whence forward and not before , his forces deserved the name of an army . for this and his other good service in bosworth-field king henry rewarded him with fair lands at grafton , in vvorcester-shire , made him governour of calis in france , and knight of the garter , and from him the present earl of shrewsbury is descended . i conceive it was rather his son than himself , to whom king henry the eight ( fearing a sudden surprise from the french ) wrote briefly and peremptorily that he should instantly fortifie the castle of calis . to whom governour talbot unprovided of necessaries as briefly as bluntly replyed , that he could neither fortifie nor fiftifie without money . queen elizabeth . roger owen , miles . ] he was the son of sir thomas owen , the learned and religious justice of the common pleas , who lieth buried on the south side of the quire of westminster abbey . this sir roger , most eminent in his generation , deserved the character given him by mr. * camden . multiplici doctrinâ tanto patre dignissimus . he was a member of parliament , vndecimo jacobi , ( as i take it ) when a great man therein ( who shall be nameless ) cast a grieveous , and general aspersion on the english * clergy . this sir roger appeared a zelot in their defence , and not only removed the bastard [ calumny ] from their doores , at which it was laid , but also carried the falshood home to the true father thereof , and urged it shrewdly against the person , who in that place , first revived the aspersion●… . king james . rowland cotton , miles . ] incredible are the most true relations , which many eye-witnesses , still alive , do make of the valour and activity of this most accomplished knight . so strong , as if he had been nothing but bones : so nimble , as if he had been nothing but sinewes . charles the first . richard newport , miles . ] signal his fidelity to the king , even in his lowest condition , by whom he was deservedly rewarded with the title of baron of high-arcol in this county , being created at oxford the of october , . his sonne francis lord newport at this day honoureth his honour with his learning and other natural accomplishments . farewell . may this shire , by divine providence , be secured from the return of the sweating sicknesse , which first began and twice raged in the town of shrewsbury . the cure was discovered , too late to save many , yet soon enough to preserve more thousands of men viz. by keeping the patient in the same posture wherein he was seized , without food or physick , and such who so weathered out the disease , for twenty four hours , did certainly escape . somerset-shire hath the severn-sea on the north , glocestershire on the north-east , wilts-shire on the east , dorcet-shire on the south , and devonshire on the west . some will have it so called from the summerlinesse , or temperate pleasantnesse thereof . with whom we concurre , whilst they confine their etimologies to the air ; dissent , if they extend it to the earth , which in winter is as winterly , deep and dirty , as any in england . the truth is , it is so named from sommerton , the most ancient town in the county . it stretcheth from east to west miles , and from north to south miles . no shire can shew finer ware which hath so large measure , being generally fruitful though little moistry be used thereon . the inhabitants will tell you that there be several single acres in this shire ( believe them of the larger sise and sesqui-jugera if measured ) which may serve a good round family with bread for a year , as affording a bushel of wheat for every week therein , a proportion not easily to be parallel'd in other places . naturall commodities . lead . plenty of the best ( for the kind thereof ) is digged out of myndip-hills . indeed it is not so soft , pliant and equally fusile , as that in derby-shire , not so proper for sheeting , because when melted it runs into knots , & therefore little known to , and less used by our londonplumbers . for being of a harder nature it is generally transported beyond the seas , and imploy'd to make bullets and shot , for which purpose't is excellent . may forreigners enjoy wild lead to kill men , whilst we make use of tame lead to cover houses , and keep people warm and dry therein . 't is almost incredible what great summes were advanced to the bishops of bath and welles by the benefit of lead , since the later end of queen elizabeth , bishop still is said to have had the harvest , bishop montague the cleanings , bishop lake the stubble thereof , and yet considerable was the profit of lead to him and his successors . lapis calaminaris . plenty hereof is also found in myndip-hills , and it is much used in physick ( being very good as artificially ordered for the clearing of the sight ) and more by mettalists . for brass , no original , but a compound mettal is made of this stone and copper , and becometh more hard than copper alone , and therefore the more serviceable for many other purposes . and now the ridle in nature which so long hath posed me , is at last explained , viz. how it can come to pass that brass , being made of the best copper with much art and industry , is notwithstanding afforded some pence in the pound cheaper , than copper itself . this cometh to pass because the calaminary-stone being of it self not worth above six pence in the pound , doth in the composition metalescere , turn metal , in the mixture thereof , whereby the mass and bulk of brass is much advanced . i have no more to observe of this stone , save that it was first discovered in this county in that juncture of time when the copper mines were newly r●…-discovered in cumberland , god doubling his gift by the seasonable giving thereof . cheefe . the best and biggest in england are made at chedder , in this county . they may be called corporation cheeses , made by the join-daryes of the whole parish , putting their milk together , and each one , poor and rich , receive their share according to their proportion . so that some may think , that the unity and amity of those female neighbours , living so lovingly together , giveth the better runnet and relish to their handiwork . if any aske , why as good cheese may not be made in the vicenage , where the soil is as rich , and the same houswifry ? it will be demanded of them , why ( nailes must be driven out with nailes ) the like cheese in colour , tast and tenderness may not be made at cremona , as at parma , both lying in lombardy , near together , and sharing equally in all visible advantages of fatness and fruitfulness . the worst fault of chedder cheese is , they are so few and dear , hardly to be met with , save at some great mans table . woad . in latine glastum , or glaustum , was much used by the ancient brittains , for the painting of their faces : for i believe it will hardly be proved , that they dye their whole bodies . say not , painted terriblenesse , is no terriblenesse , rather ridiculous than formidable , seeing vizards are more frightful than mens own faces . this woad gave the brittains a deep black tincture , as if they would blow up their enemies with their sulphureous countenances . our dyers make much use thereof , being color ad colorem , the stock ( as i may say ) whereon other colours are gra●…ted . yea , it giveth them truth and fruithfulnesse , who without it prove fading and hypocritical . this herb doth greatly impair the ground it groweth on ; profitable to such to set , who have land to let without impeachment of waste , it being long before it will recover good grass therein . i have placed woad ( which groweth in all rich places ) in this county , because ( as i am informed ) it groweth naturally therein ( hardly to be destroyed ) especially about glassenbury . insomuch that a learned † critick , and my worthy good friend had almost perswaded me , that from this glastum , that town taketh its denomination . mastiffes . smile not , reader , to see me return to course creatures amongst the commodities of this county . know , they are not ( like apes ) the fooles and jesters , but the useful servants in a family , viz. the porters thereof . pliny observes , that brittain breed's cowardy lions , and couragious mastiffes , which to me seems no wonder , the former being whelp'd in prison , the later at liberty . an english mastiffe anno did in effect worst a lion , on the same token , that prince henry allow'd a kind of pension for his maintenance , and gave strict * order that he that had fought with the king of beasts should never after encounter any inferiour creatures . our english mastiffes are in high reputation beyond the seas , and the story is well known , that when an hundred molossi were sent hence a present to the pope ; a lack-latin cardinal , standing by , when the letter was read , mistooke molossos for so many mules . surely had brittain been then known to the ancient romans , when first ( instead of manning , ) they dogged , their capitol , they would have furnished themselves with mastiffes fetched hence for that purpose , being as vigilant as , more valiant then , any of their kind . for the city of st. malow in france is garrisoned with a regiment of doggs , wherein many ranks are of english extraction . hence it is that an † authour tells me , that it passeth for the blazon of this county , set the band-dog on the bull. it seems that both the gentry and country-folk in this shire , are much affected with that pastime , though some scruple the lawfulness thereof . man must not be a barrater , to set the creatures at variance . he can take no true delight in their antipathie , which was the effect of his sin . mans charter of dominion empowers him to be a prince , but no tyrant over the creatures . though brute beasts are made to be * destroyed , they are not made to be tormented . others rejoyn , that god gave us the creatures as well for our pleasure as necessity : that some nice consciences , that scruple the baiting of bulls , will worry men with their vexatious cruelties . all that i dare interpose is this , that the tough flesh of bulls is not onely made more tender by baiting , but also thereby it is discoloured from ox-beef , that the buyer be not deceived . manufactures . taunton serges are eminent in their kind , being a fashionable wearing , as lighter than cloath , yet thicker than many other stuffs . when dionysius sacrilegiously plundred jove his statue of his golden coat ( pretending it too cold for winter , and too hot for summer ) he bestowed such a vestimēt upō him to fit both seasons . they were much sent into spain , before our late war therewith , wherein trading ( long since complained of to be dead ) is now lamented generally as buried , though hereafter it may have a resurrection . the buildings . of these the churches of bath and wells are most eminent . twins are said to make but one man , as these two churches constitute one bishops see. yet as a twin oft-times proves as proper a person as those of single births . so these severally equal most , and exceed many cathedrals in england . we begin with bath considerable in its several conditions , viz. the beginning , obstructing , decaying , repairing , and finishing thereof . it was begun by oliver king bishop of this diocess in the reign of henry the seventh and the west end most curiously cut and carved with angels climbing up a ladder to heaven . but this bishop died before the finishing thereof . his death obstructed this structure so that it stood a long time neglected , which gave occasion for one to write on the church-wall with a char-coal . o church i wail thy woeful plight , whom king , nor card'nal , clark , or knight have yet restor'd to ancient right . alluding herein to bishop king who begun it , and his four successors in thirty five years , viz. cardinal adrian , cardinal wolsey , bishop clark , and bishop knight , contributing nothing to the effectual finishing thereof . the decay and almost ruin thereof followed when it felt in part the hammers which knocked down all abbyes . true it is the commissioners profered to sell the church to the towns-men under marks . but the towns-men fearing if they bought it so cheape to be thought to cozin the king : so that the purchase might come under the compasse of concealed lands , refused the profer . hereupon the glass , iron , bells , and lead ( which last alone amounted to tun ) provided for the finishing thereof were sold and sent over beyond the seas , if a ship-wrack ( as some report ) met them not by the way . for the repairing thereof , collections were made all over the land in the reign of queen elizabeth , though inconsiderable , either in themselves , or through the corruption of others . onely honest mr. billet ( whom i take to be the same with him , who was designed executor , to the will of william cecil lord burghley ) disbursed good sums to the repairing thereof , and a stranger under a fained name took the confidence thus to play the poet and prophet on this structure . be blithe fair kirck , when hempe is past , thine olive , that ill winds did blast , shall flourish green for age to last . subscribed cassadore . by hempe understand henry the eight , edward the sixth , queen mary , king philip , and queen elizabeth . the author i suspect had a tang of the cask , and being parcel-popish expected the finishing of this church at the return of their religion , but his prediction was verified in a better sense , when his church was finished by james montague bishop of this see , disbursing vast sums in the same , though the better enabled thereunto by his mines at mynedep , so that he did but remove the lead from the bowels of the earth to the roof of the church , wherein he lies enterred under a fair monument . this church is both spacious and specious , the most lightsome as ever i beheld , proceeding from the greatness of the windows , and whiteness of the glass therein . all i have more to add is only this , that the parable of jotham [ judg. . . ] is on this church most curiously wrought ( in allusion to the christian sirname of the first founder thereof , ) how the trees going to choose them a king , profered the place to the olive . now when lately one oliver was for a time commander in chief in this land , some ( from whom more gravity might have been expected ) beheld this picture as a prophetical prediction , so apt are english fancies to take fire at every spark of conceit . but seeing since that olive hath been blasted bottom , his root and branches , this pretended prophecy with that observation the reason is withered away . as for the cathedral of wells it is a greater so darker than that of bath , so that bath may seem to draw devotion with the pleasantnesse , wells to drive it with the solemnity thereof , and ill tempered their minds who will be moved with neither . the west front of wells is a master-piece of art indeed , made of imagiry in just proportion , so that we may call them vera & spirantia signa . england affordeth not the like . for the west end of excester beginneth accordingly , it doth not like wells persevere to the end thereof . as for the civil habitations in this county ( not to speak of dunstar castle , having an high ascent , and the effect thereof , a large prospect by sea and land ) mountague built by sir edward philips , master of the roles , is a most magnificent fabrick . nor must hinton st. george , the house of the lord poulet be forgotten having every stone in the front shaped doule-wayes , or in the form of a cart-nail . this i may call a charitable curiosity , if true what is traditioned . that about the reign of king henry the seventh , the owner thereof built it in a dear year , on purpose to imploy the more poor people thereupon . the wonders . vvockey hole in mendip-hills some two miles from vvells . this is an undergroundconcavity , admirable for its spacious vaults , stony walls , creeping labyrinths , the cause being un-imaginable , how and why the earth was put in such a posture , save that the god of nature is pleased to descant on a plain hollowness , with such wonderful contrivances . i have been at , but never in this hole , and therefore must make use of the description of a learned eye * witness . entring and passing through a good part of it with many lights . among other many strange rarities , well worth the observing ; vve found that water which incessantly dropped down from the vault of the rock , though thereby it made some little dint in the rock , yet was it turned into the rock it self , as manifestly appeared even to the judgment of sense , by the shape , and colour , and hardnesse ; it being at first of a more clear and glassie substance then the more ancient part of the rock , to which no doubt but in time , it hath been and will be assimulated : and this we found not in small pieces , but in a very great quantity , and that in sundry places enough to load many carts ; from whence i inferre that as in this cave , so no doubt in many other , ( where they searched ) the rocks would be found to have increased immediately by the dropping of the water , besides that increase they have from the earth in the bowels thereof , which still continuing as it doth , there can be no fear of their utter failing . medicinal waters . bath is well known all england and europe over , far more useful and wholesome though not so stately as dioclesian his bath in rome , ( the fairest amongst in that city , made onely for pleasure and delicacy ) beautified with an infinite of marble pillars , ( not for support but ostentation , ) so that salmuth saith , fourteen thousand men were imployed for some years in building thereof . our baths-waters consist of bitumen , ( which hath the predominancy , ) sovereign to discuss , glutinate , dissolve , open obstructions , &c. niter , which dilateth the bitumen , making the solution the better , and water the clearer . it clenseth and purgeth both by stool and ●…rine , cutteth and dissolveth gross humours . sulphur , in regard whereof , they dry , resolve , mollifie , attract , and are good for uterine effects , proceeding from cold and windy humours . but how thes●… waters come by their great heat , is rather controverted than concluded amongst the learned . some impute it to wind or airy exhalations , included in the bowels of the earth , which by their agitation and attrition ( upon rocks and narrow passages ) gather heat , and impart it to the waters . others ascribe it to the heat of the sun , whose beams piercing through the pores of the earth , warm the waters , and therefore anciently were called aquae solis , both because dedicated to , and made by the sun. others attribute it to quick-lime , which we see doth readily heat any water cast upon it , and kindleth any combustible substance put therein . others referre it to a subterranean fire kindled in the bowels of the earth , and actually burning upon sulpher and bitumen . others impute the heat ( which is not destructive but generative joyned with moisture ) to the fermentation of several minerals . it is the safer to relate all , than reject any of these opinions , each having both their opposers and defenders . they are used also inwardly , in broths , beere , juleps , &c. with good effect . and although some mislike it because they will not mixe medicaments with aliments , yet such practice beginneth to prevail . the worst i wish these waters is , that they were handsomly roofed over ( as the most eminent bathes in christendome are , ) which , ( besides that it would procure great benefit to weak persons , ) would gain more respect hither in winter time or more early in the spring ; or more late in the fall. the right honourable james earle of marleborough , undertook to cover the crosse-bath at his own charge , and may others follow his resolution , it being but fit , that where god hath freely given the jewel , men bestow a case upon it . proverbs . vvhere should i be bore else th●…n in tonton deane ? this is a parcel of ground , round about tonton , very pleasant and populous , ( as conteining many parishes ) and so fruitful , to use their phrase with the zun and zoil alone , that it needs no manuring at all . the peasantry therein are as rude as rich , and so highly conceited of their good country ( god make them worthy thereof ) that they conceive it a disparagement to be born in any other place : as if it were eminently all england . the beggars of bath . many in that place , some natives there , others repairing thither from all parts of the land , the poor for alms , the pained for ease . whither should fowl flock in an hard frost , but to the barn-door ? here all the two seasons the general confluence of gentry . indeed laws are daily made to restrain beggars , and daily broke by the connivence of those who make them : it being impossible , when the hungry belly barks , and bowels sound , to keep the tongue silent . and although oil of whip be the proper plaister for the cramp of lazinesse , yet some pity is due to impotent persons . in a word , seeing there is the lazars-bath in this city , i doubt not but many a good lazarus , the true object of charity may beg therein . saints . dunstan was born in the town * of glassenbury in this county . he afterwards was abbot thereof , bishop of london & vvorcester , archbishop of canterbury , and at last for his promoting of monkery , reputed a saint . i can add nothing to , but must subtract something from , what i have written of him in my church history . true it is he was the first abbot of england , not in time but in honour , glassenbury being the proto-abbaty then and many years after , till pope adrian advanced st. albans above it . but , whereas it followeth in my * book , that the title of abbot till his time was unknown in england , i admire by what casualty it crept in , confess it a foul mistake , and desire the reader with his pen to delete it . more i have not to say of dunstan , save that he died , anno dom. . and his skill in smithery was so great , that the gold-smiths in london are incorporated by the name of the company of st. dunstans . martyrs . jonh hooper was born in this * county , bred first in oxford , then beyond the seas . a great scholar and linguist , but suffering under the notion of a proud man , onely in their judgments , who were un-acquainted with him . returning in the reign of king edward the sixth , he was elected bishop of glocester , but for a time scrupuled the acceptance thereof , on a double account . first , because he refused to take an oath tendered unto him . this oath i * conceived to have been the oath of canonical obedience : but since , ( owing my information to my worthy friend , the learned dr. john hacket , ) i confess it the oath of supremacy , which hooper refused , not out of lack of loyalty but store of conscience . for , the oath of supremacy as then modelled , was more than the oath of supremacy , injoyning the receivers thereof conformity to the kings commands in what alterations soever he should afterwards make in religion . which implicite and unlimited obedience , learned casuists allow onely due to god himself . besides , the oath concluded with so help me god and all his angels and saints . so that hooper had just cause to scruple the oath , and was the occasion of the future reforming , whilst the king dispensed with his present taking thereof . the second thing he boggled at , was the wearing of some episcopal habiliments , but at last it seemeth , consented thereunto , and was consecrated bishop of glocester . his adversaries will say , that the refusing of one is the way to get two bishopricks , seeing afterward he held worcester in commendam therewith . but , be it known that as our hooper had double dignity , he had treble diligence , painfully preaching gods word , piously living as he preach'd , and patiently dying as he liv'd , being martyred at glocester anno - . he was the onely native of this shire suffering for the testimony of the truth , and on this account we may honour the memory of gilbert bourn bishop of bath and wells in the reign of queen mary , who persecuted no protestants in his diocese to death , seeing it cannot be proved that one lush was ever burnt though by him condemned . i mention bishop bourn here the more willingly , because i can no where recover the certainty of his nativity . prelates . joceline of * wells . bishop godwin was convinced by such evidences , as he had seen , that he was both born and bred in welles , becomming afterwards the bishop thereof . now whereas his predecessors stiled themselves bishops of glaston , ( especially for some few years after their first consecration ) he first fixed on the title of bath and wells , and transmitted it to all his successors . in his time the monks of glassenbury , being very desirous to be only subjected to their own abbot , purchased their exemption , by parting with four fair mannors to the see of wells . this joceline , after his return from his five years exile in france , ( banished with archbishop langton on the same account of obstinacy against king john ) layed out himself wholely on the beautifying and enriching of his cathedral . he erected some new prebends , and to the use of the chapter , appropiated many churches , increasing the revenues of the dignities , ( so fitter called than profits so mean then their maintenance ) and to the episcopal see , he gave three mannors of great value . he with hugo bishop of lincoln was the joynt founder of the hospital of st. johns in wells , and on his own sole cost , built two very fair chappels , one at vvokey , the other at vvells . but the church of vvells was the master-piece of his works , not so much repaired , as rebuilt by him , and well might he therein have been afforded a quiet repose . and yet some have plundered his tomb of his effigies in brasse , being so rudely rent off , it hath not only defaced his monument , but even hazarded the ruin thereof . he sat bishop ( which was very remarkable ) more than thirty seven years , ( god to square his great undertakings giving him a long life to his large heart ) and died . fulke of samford was born in this county , but in which of the samfords ( there being four of that name therein & none elsewhere in england ) is hard ( and not necessary ) to decide . he was first preferred treasurer of st. pauls in london , and then by papal bull declared archbishop of dublin , * . mr. paris calleth him fulk basset by mistake . he died in his mannor of finglas , and was buried in the church of st. patrick , in the chappel of st. maries which likely was erected by him . john of samford . it is pity to part brethren . he was first dean of st. patrick in dublin , ( preferred probably by his brother ) and for a time eschaetor * of all ireland . indeed the office doth male audire , sound ill to ignorant eares , partly because the vicinity thereof to a worse † word ( esquire and squire , are known to be the same ) partly because some by abusing that office , have rendred it odious to people , which in it self was necessary and honourable . for the name eschaetor cometh from the french word escheoir , which signifieth to happen or fall out , and he by his place is to search into any profit accrewing to the crown by casualty , by the condemnation of malefactors , persons dying without an heir , or leaving him in minority , &c. and whereas every county in england hath an eschaetor ; this john of samford being eschaetor general of ireland , his place must be presumed of great trust from the king , and profit to himself . he was canonically chosen and by king edward the first confirmed archbishop of dublin , mediately succeeding ( john de derlington interposed ) his brothet fulke therein , and i cannot readily remember the like instance in any other see. for a time he was chief justice of ireland , and thence was sent ( with anth●… bishop of durham ) embas●…adour to the emperour : whence returning he died at london . and had his body carried over into ireland ( an argument that he was well respected ) and buried in the tomb of his brother in the church of st. patricks . thomas beckinton was born at * beckinton in this county , bred in new-colledge doctor in the laws , and dean of the arches , till by king henry the sixth he was advanced bishop of bath and vvelles . a * good states-man ; having written a judicious book to prove the kings of england to the crown of france , notwithstanding the pretenced salique-law . church-man ; ( in the then notion of the word ) professing in his will , that he had spent six thousand marks in the repairing and adorning of his palaces . towns-man ; besides a legacy given , to the town where he was born , he built at vvells , where he lived , a fair conduit in the market-place . subject ; alwayes loyal to king henry the sixth , even in the lowest condition . kinsman ; plentifully providing for his alliance with leases , without the least prejudice to the church . master ; bequeathing five pounds a piece to his chief , five marks a piece to his meaner servants , and fourty shillings a piece to his boys . man ; he gave for his rebus ( in allusion to his name ) a burning beacon , to which he answered in his nature , being a burning and a shining light . witnesse his many benefactions to vvells church , and the vicars therein ; vvinchester , new , merton , but chiefly lincoln-colledg in oxford , being little lesse than a second founder thereof . a beacon ( we know ) is so called from beckoning , that is , making signs , or giving notice to the next beacon . this bright beacon doth nod and give hints of bounty to future ages , but it is to befeared , it will be long before his signs will be observed , understood , imitated . nor was it the least part of his prudence , that ( being obnoxious to king edward the fourth ) in his life time he procured the confirmation of his will under the broad seal of england , and died january the , . richard fitz-james doctor at law , was born at redlinch in this county , of right ancient and worshipful extraction , bred at merton colledge in oxford , whereof he became warden : much meriting of that place , wherein he built most beautiful lodgings , expending also much on the repair of st. maries in oxford . he was preferred bishop first of rochester , next of chichester , last of london . he was esteemed an excellent scholar , and wrote some * books , which if they ever appeared in publick , never descended to posterity . he cannot be excused for being over busie with fire and faggot in persecuting the poor servants of god in his diocess . he deceased anno . lyeth buried in his cathedral ( having contributed much to the adorning thereof ) in a chappel-like tomb , built ( it seems ) of * timber , which was burnt down when the steeple of st. pauls was set on fire , anno . this bishop was brother to judg fitz-james , lord chief justice , who with their mutual support much strengthned one another in church and state. to the reader . i cannot recover any native of this county , who was a bishop since the reformation , save only john hooper , of whom formerly in the catalogue of martyrs . states-men . sir amias poulet , son to sir hugh , grand-child to sir amias poulet , ( who put * cardinal wolsey , then but a schoolmaster , in the stockes ) was born at hinton saint george in this county . he was chancelor of the garter , governour of the isles of jersey and gernsey , and privy counsellor to queen elizabeth , who chiefly committed the keeping of mary queen of scots to his fidelity , who faithfully discharged his trust therein . i know the romanists rail on him , as over-strickt in his charge ; but indeed without cause , for he is no unjust steward , who to those under him alloweth all his masters allowance , though the same be ●…ut of the scantest proportion . besides it is no news for prisoners ( especially if accounting their restraint unjust ) to find fault with their keepers meerely for keeping them . and such who complain of him , if in his place , ought to have done the same themselves . when secretary walsingham moved this knight to suffer one of his servants to be bribed by the agents of the queen of scots , so to compasse the better intelligence , he would in no terms yield thereunto . such conniving at , was consenting to ; and such consenting to , in effect was commanding of such falshood . whereupon the secretary was fain to go further about , and make use of an instrument at a greater distance , who was no menial servant to sir amias . he died anno dom. . . and was buried in london , in st. martins in the fields , where his epitaph is all an allusion to the three swords in his arms , and three words in his motto , gardez la foy , keep the faith. which harping on that one string of his fidelity , ( though perchance harsh musick to the ears of others ) was harmonio●…s to queen elizabeth . capital judges . john fitz-james knight , was born at redlinch in this county , of right ancient and worthy parentage , bred in the study of our municipal laws , wherein he proved so great a proficient , that by king henry the eighth , he was advanced chief justice of the kings bench. there needs no more be said of his merit , save that king henry the eighth preferred him , who never used either dunce or d●…one in church or state , but men of ability and activity . he sate above thirteen years in his place , demeaning himself so , that he lived and died in the kings favour . he sate one of the assistants when sir thomas more was arraigned for refusing the oath of supremacy , and was shrewdly put to it to save his own conscience , and not incurre the kings displeasure . for chancellor audley supream judge in that place , ( being loath that the whole burthen of mores condemnation should lye on his shoulders alone ) openly in court asked the advice of the lord chief justice fitz-james , whether the indictment were sufficient or no ? to whom our judge warily returned . my lords all , by st. gillian ( which was ever his oath ) i must * needs confesse , that , if the act of parliament be not unlawful , then the indictment is not in my conscience insufficient . he died in the thirtyeth year of king henry the eighth , and although now there be none left at redlinch of his name and family , they flourish still at lewson in dorsetshire , descended from alured fitz-james ( brother to this judge , and to richard bishop of london ) whose heir in a direct line sir john fitz-james knight i must acknowledge a strong encourager of my weak endeavours . john portman , knight , was born of wealthy and worshipful extraction at portm●…ns orchard in this county , a fair mannor ; which descended to him by inheritance , the heir of the orchards being matcht into his family . he was bred in the study of the common law , attaining to such eminency therein , that june , the second of queen mary he was made chief justice of the kings bench continuing two years in the place , and dying therein for ought i find to the contrary , and a baronet of his name and linage flourisheth at this day with a great and plentiful estate . david brooke , knight , born at glassenbury , son to john brook , esq. who ( as i read in * claréntiaux ) was serjeant at law to king henry the eighth . our david was also bred in the study of our laws , and in the first of queen mary was made chief baron of the exchequer , but whether dying in , or quitting the place in the first of queen elizabe●…h i am not informed . he married katharine daugher of john lord shandois , but died without issue . james dier , knight , younger son to richard dier esq. was born at roundhill in this county , as may appear to any by the heralds visitation thereof , and doth also to me by particular information from his relations . he was bred in the study of our municipal law , and was made lord chief justice of the 〈◊〉 pleas , primo eliz. continuing therein * years , longer ( if my eye or arithmetick fa●…l me not ) than any in that place before or after him . when thomas duke of northfolk was anno arraigned for treason , this judge was present thereat on the same token , that , when the duke desired council to be assigned him pleading that it was granted to humphry stafford in the reign of king henry the seventh , our judge returned unto him , that stafford had it allowed him * only as to point of law , then in dispute , viz. whether he was legally taken out of the sanctuary , but as for matter of fact , neither he , nor any ever had , or could have any councel allowed him , a course observed in such cases , unto this day . but let his own works praise him in the * ga●…es , ( is known for the place of publick justice amongst the jews ) let his learned writings , called his commentaries or reports evidence his abilities in his profession . he died in eliz. ( though married ) without any issue ; and there is a house of a baronet of his name ( descended from an elder son of richard father to our judge ) at great stoughton in huntington-shire , well improved i believe with the addition of the judges estate . sr. john popham of most ancient descent was born at huntworth * in this county . in his youthful dayes he was as stout and skilful a man at sword and buckler , as any in that age , and wild enough in his recreations . but oh! if quick-silver could be really fixed , to what a treasure would it amount ? such is wild youth seriously reduced to gravity , as by this young man did appear . he applied himself to a more profitable fencing , the study of the laws , therein atteining to such eminency , that he became the queens attourny , and afterwards lord chief justice of england . being sent anno , by the queen with some others to the earl of essex , to know the cause of the confluence of so many military men unto his house , the souldiers therein detained him for a time , which some did make to tantamount to an imprisonment . this his violent detention sir john deposed upon his oath at the † earls trial ; which i note the rather for the rarity thereof , that a lord chief justice should be produced as witness in open court. in the beginning of the reign of king james his justice was exemplary on theeves and robbers . the land then swarmed with people which had been souldiers , who had never gotten , ( or else quite forgotten ) any other vocation . hard it was for peace to feed all the idle mouthes which a former war did breed , being too proud to begge , too lazy to labour . those infected the highwayes with their felonies , some presuming on their multitudes , as the robbers on the northern rode , whose knot ( otherwise not to be untyed ) sr. john cut asunder with the sword of justice . he possessed king james how the frequent granting of pardons was prejudicial to justice , rendring the judges to the contempt of insolent malesactors ; which made his majesty more sparing afterward in that kind . in a word , the deserved death of some scores , preserved the lives and livelyhoods of more thousands : travellers owing their safety to this judges severity many years after his death , which happened anno dom. . souldiers . john † courcy , baron of stoke-courcy in this county , was the first englishman who invaded and subdued ulster in ireland , therefore deservedly created earl thereof . he was afterward surprised by hugh lacy ( corrival for his title ) sent over into england , and imprisoned by king john in the tower of london . a french-castle , being in controverfie , was to have the title thereof , tried by combate , the kings of england and france beholding it . courcy being a lean lank body , with staring eyes , ( prisoners with the wildnesse of their looks , revenge the closenesse of their bodies ) is sent for out of the tower to undertake the frenchman , and because enfcebled with long durance , a large bill of fare was allowed him to recruit his strength . the monsieur , hearing how much he had eat and drank , and guessing his courage by his stomack o●… rather stomack by his appetite , took him for a canibal who would devoure him at the last course , and so he declined the combate . afterwards the two kings , desirous to see some proof of courcy's strength , caused a steel helmet to be laid on a block before him . ●…ourcy looking about him 〈◊〉 grimme countenance ( as if he intended to cut with his eyes as well as with his arms ) sundered the helmet at one blow into two pieces , striking the sword so deep into the wood , that none but himself could pull it out again . being demanded the cause why he looked so sternly , had i ( said he ) failed of my design , i would have killed the kings and all in the place ; words well-spoken because well taken , all persons present being then highly in good humour . hence it is , that the lord courcy , baron of ringrom , second baron in ireland , claim a priviledge ( whether by patent or prescription , charter or custome i know not ) after their first obeisance , to be covered in the kings presence , if processe of time had not antiquated the practice . his devotion was equal to his valour , being a great founder and endower of religious houses . in one thing he fouly failed , turning the church of the holy trinity in down , into the church of st. patrick , for which ( as the story saith ) he was condemned , never to return into ireland , though attempting it fifteen several times , but repell'd with foul weather . he afterwards went over and died in france , about the year . matthew gournay was born at stoke-under-hamden in this county , where his family had long flourished since the conquest , and there built both a castle and a colledge . but our matthew was the honour of the house , renowned under the reign of king edward the third , having fought in * seven several signal set battails , viz. at the siege of d'algizer , against the sarazens . at the battail of benemazin , against the same . sluce , a sea-fight against the french. cressy , a land-fight-against the same . ingen , pitch'd fights against the french poictiers , pitch'd fights against the french nazaran , under the black prince , in spain . his armour was beheld by martial men with much civil veneration , with whom his faithful buckler was a relique of esteem . but it added to the wonder , that our matthew , who did lie and watch so long on the bed of honour , should die in the bed of peace , aged † ninety and six years , about the beginning of king richard the second . he lieth buried under a fair monument in the church of stoke aforesaid , whose epitaph legible in the last age , is since ( i suspect ) defaced . sea-men . sir amias preston knight , was descended of an ancient family , who have an habitationat cricket , nigh creukern in this county . he was a valiant souldier , and active sea-man , witnesse in . when he * seized on the admiral of the galiasses , wherein hugh de moncada the governour making resistance , with most of his men , were burnt , or killed , and mr. preston ( as yet not knighted ) shared in a vast treasure of gold taken therein . afterwards anno , he performed a victorious * voyage to the west-indies , wherin he took by assault the i le of puerto santo , invaded the i le of coche , surprised the fort and town of coro , sacked the stately city of st. jago , put the town of cumana to ransome , entred jamaica with little loss , some profit , and more honour , safely returned , within the space of six months to milford haven in wales . i have been informed from excellent hands , that on some dis-tast he sent a challenge to sr. walter raleigh , which sr. walter declined without any abatement to his valour ( wherein he had abundantly satisfied all possibility of suspicion ) and great advancement of his judgement . for having a fair and fixed estate , with wife and children , being a privy counsellor , and lord warden of the stannereys , he thought it an uneven l●…y to stake himself against sr. amias , a private , and ( as i take it ) a single person , though of good birth and courage , yet of no considerable estate . this also is consonant to what he hath written so judiciously about duels , condemning those for ill honours , where the hangman * gives the garland . however these two knights were afterwards reconciled , and sr. amias ( as i collect ) died about the beginning of the reign of king james . learned writers . gildas , sirnamed the wise was born * in the city of bath , and therefore it is that he is called badonicus . he was eight years junior to another gildas called albanius , whose nativity i cannot clear to belong to our brittain . he was also otherwise sur-stiled , querulus , because the little we have of his writing is only a complaint . yet was he none of those whom the * apostle condemneth . these are murmur●…s , complainers , &c. ( taxing only such who either were impious against god , or uncharitable against men , complaining of them either without cause or without measure , ) whilst our gildas only inveigheth against the sins , and bemoaneth the sufferings of that wicked and woful age wherein he lived , calling the clergy montes malitiae , the brittons generally , atramentum seculi . he wrote many books , though we have none of them extant at this day ( some few fragments excepted , inserted amongst the manuscript canons ) but his aforesaid history . this makes me more to wonder that so learned a critick as dr. * gerrard 〈◊〉 should attribute the comedy of aulularia in plautus to this our gildas , meerely because that comedy is otherwise commonly called querulus . whereas indeed their language is different , that in aulularia tolerably pure ( though perchance courser than the rest in plautus ) whilst the style of gildas is hardly with sense to be climbed over , it is so harsh and barbarous . besides i do not believe that gildas had a drop of comical bloud in his ve●…nes , or any inclination to mirth and festivity , and if he had prepared any thing scenical to be acted on the theater , certainly it would have been a tragedy relating to the ruin and destruction of his nation . some variety there is about the date of his death , which most probably is assigned , anno . maurice somerset carried this county of his nativity about with him in his name , and was bred first a cistercian monk in ford-abbey , then studied in oxford , and became a good writer both in prose and verse . his deserts preferred him abbot of wells , which in his old age he resigned , loving ease above honour . some books he dedicated to his diocesan , reginald bishop of bath , and † flourished anno . alexander of essebie is ( saith my * authour ) by some accounted a somerset , by others a staffordshire man ; and therefore by our fundamental laws , ( laid down in our preface , to decide differences about nativities ) falls to the share of this county . he was the prince of english poets in his age , and in imitation of ovid de fastis , put our christian festivals into verse , setting a copy therein to baptista mantuanus . then leaving ovid he aspired to virgil , and wrote the history of the bible ( with the lives of some saints ) in an heroical poem ; and though falling far short of virgil , went beyond himself therein . he afterward became prior of † esseby-abbey , belonging to the augustins and flourished under king henry the third , anno dom. . adamus de marisco , or adam of marsh was born in this * county , where there be plenty of marshes in the fenny part thereof . but i take brent-marsh as the principal , the most probable place for his nativity . it seemeth that a foggie air is no hinderance to a refined wit , whose infancy and youth in this place was so full of pregnancy . he afterwards went to oxford , and there became d. d. it is argument enough to perswade any indifferent man into a belief of his abilities , because that robert groshead that learned and pious bishop of lincoln , made use of his paines , that they might jointly peruse , and aompare the scripture . he became afterwards a franciscan frier in worc●…ster , and furnished the library thereof with most excellent manuscripts , for then began the e●…ulation in england betwixt monasteries , which should outvie other for most and best books . he flourished anno dom. . i cannot grieve heartily for this adam his losse of the bishoprik of ely , because hugo de balsham his corrival got it from him , the founder of peter house in cambridge . since the reformation . henry cuff●… was born at st. george hinton in this county , as the late lord powlet , baron thereof , did inform me , though none of that name left there at this day . he was afterwards fellow of merton colledge in oxford , and secretary to robert earl of essex , with whom he ingaged in his rising , anno . being arraigned at westminster for his life . sir edward cook ( then but the queens attourney ) disputed syllogistically against him , whom cuffe an admirable logician could caeteris paribus well have encountred . but power will easily make a solecisme to be a silogisme . the most pregnant proof brought against him was a verse out of lucan alledged by him . for when the earl sitting in consultation with his complices demanded their advice , whether he should proceed in their design , or desist , mr. cu●…e returned viribus utendum est quas ●…ecimus , arma ferenti * omnia dat , qui justa negat . this i may say proved his neck ▪ verse being attested against him , for which he suffered . he wrote an excellent book of the difference of the ages of man , a rare piece indeed , though not altogether so hard to be procured as worthy to be perused . sr. john harrington knight , where born i know not , sure i am he had a fair estate at kelston neer bath in this county , and is emiment for his confessor extraction . * his father only for carrying a letter to the lady ( afterwards queen ) elizabeth , by bishop gardiner kept twelve monthes in the tower , and made to spend pounds ere he could get free of that trouble . his mother servant to the lady elizabeth , was by gardiners command sequestred from her , as an heretick , and her husband enjoyned , not to keep company with her . queen elizabeth was godmother to this sir john , and he was bred in cambridge , where doctor still was his tutor , but whether whilst he was fellow of christs , or master of st. johns , is to me unknown . he afterward proved one of the most ingenious poets of our english nation , witnsse his translation of orlando furioso out of the italian , dedicated to the lady elizabeth , since queen of bohemia , and the several pieces of his own invention . it happened that while the said sir john repaired often to an ordinary in bath , a female attendress at the table , neglecting other gentlemen which sat higher , and were of greater estates , applyed her self wholly to him , accommodating him with all necessaries , and prebenting his asking any thing with her officiousnesse . she being demanded by him , the reason of her so careful waiting on him ? i understand , said she , you are a very witty man , and if i should displease you in any thing , i fear you would make an epigram of me . a posthume book of his is come forth , as an addition to bishop godwins catalogue of bishops ; wherein ( beside mistakes ) some tart reflections in uxoratos episcopos , might well have been spared . in a word , he was a poet in all things save in his wealth , leaving a fair estate to a learned and religious son , and died about the middle of the reign of king james . samuel daniel was born not far from * taunton in this county , whose faculty was a master of musick : and his harmonious mind , made an impression on his sons genius , who proved an exquisite poet. he carried in his christian and surname two holy prophets , his monitors so to qualifie his raptures , that he abhorred all prophaness . he was also a judicious historian , witness his lives of our english kings since the conquest , until king edward the third , wherein he hath the happiness to reconcile brevity with clearnesse , qualities of great distance in other authours . a work since commendably continued , ( but not with equal quicknesse and judgment ) by mr. trusal . he was a servant in ordinary to queen anne , who allowed him a fair salary . as the tortoise burieth himself all the winter in the ground , so mr. daniel would lye hid at his garden-house in oldstreet , nigh london , for some months together , ( the more retiredly to enjoy the company of the muses , ) and then would appear in publick , to converse with his friends , whereof dr. cowel , and mr. camden were principal . some tax him to smack of the old cask , as resenting of the romish religion , but they have a quicker palat●…than than i , who can make any such discovery . in his old age he turn'd husbandman , and rented a farm in wiltshire nigh the devises . i can give no account how he thrived thereupon . for though he was well vers'd in virgil , his fellow husbandman-poet , yet there is more required to make a rich farmer , than only to say his georgicks by heart , and i question whether his ita●…ian will fit our english husbandry . besides , i suspect that mr. daniel his fancy was too fine and sublimated to be wrought down to his private profit . however he had neither a bank of wealth or lank of want , living in a competent condition . by justina his wife he had no child , and i am unsatisfied both in the place and time of death , but collect the latter , to be about the end of the reign of king james . humphry sidenham was born at dalverton in this county , of a most ancient and worshipful family , bred fellow of wadham colledge , so eloquent a preacher that he was commonly called silver-tongued sidenham . but let his own printed sermons , ( and especially that , called the athenian babler ) set forth his deserved praise , who died since our civil distempers , about the year . romish-exile writers . john gibbon was undoubtedly born in this county , though herein pitts presents us with an untoward and left-handed direction , * patrica somersetensis diocesis wintoniensis . now either w●…nchester is imprinted for wells , or he was born in this county in some peculiar belonging to winchester , which see hath large revenues about taunton . leaving the land for his religion , pope gregory xiii . collated on him a canons place in the church of bonn. this he soon quitted , and became rector of the jesuits colledge in triers , he wrote a book against g. schon professor at heydelberge in vindication that the pope was not antichrist . being indisposed in health , his hearing of the defeat of the spanish armado , was no cordial unto him , and died anno . robert person was born in this † county , bred in baliol-colledge in oxford , till for his viciousness he was expelled thence with disgrace . running to rome , and there finishing the course of his studies , he with campian were the first brace of english jesuits , who returned hither to preserve this nation . two years after he escaped hence , and got beyond the seas . one of a troublesome spirit , wherewith some moderate romanists were so ▪ offended , that ( during his abode here ) they once resolved to * resign him up to the queens officers . he had an ill natured wit , biassed to satyricalnesse . a great states-man , and it was not the least part of his policy to provide for his own safety ; who would look on , direct , give ground , abet on other mens hands , but never plaid so , as to adventure himself into england . he wrote a shrewd book of the succession to the english-crown , setting it forth under the false name of * dolman ( a dulsecular priest , guilty of little learning , and less policy ) dedicating the same to the earl of essex . he had an authoritative influence on all english catholicks , nothing of importance being agitated by them , but person had a finger , hand , arm therein . he was for years rector of the colledge at rome , where he died anno dom. . john fen was born at * montacute in this county , bred in new-colledge in oxford , where he proceeded bachelour in laws , continuing there , till ( anno dom. ) for his popish activity , he was ejected by the queens commissioners . then for a time he lived schoolmaster at st. edmunds-bury , till outed there on the same account . hence he fled over into fl●…nders , thence into italy , whence returning , at last he was fixed at lovain . he wrote many , and translated more books , living to finish his jubile , or fiftieth year o●… exile beyond the seas , where he died about the years of our lord . let me add that this john fen , mindeth me of another of the same surname and as violent on con●…rary principles , viz. humphrey fen , a non-conformist minister , living about coventry , who in the preface to his last will , made such a protestation against the hierarchy and ceremonies , that when his will was brought to be proved , the † preface would not be suffered to be put amongst the records of the court , as which indeed was no limb , but a wen of his testament . john collington was born in this * county , bred in lincoln-colledge in oxford . going beyond the seas and there made priest , he returned into england , and with campian was taken , cast into the tower of london , and condemned , but afterwards reprieved , enlarged and sent beyond the seas . hence he returned , and for years together zelously advanced his own religion , being assistant to the two arch-priests , and he himself supplied the place in the vacancy betwixt them . he could not but be a very aged man ; who ▪ though in restraint , was alive . benefactors to the publik . the lady mohun . reader , know , i can surround the christian names of her ne●…rest relations . her husband was john , the last lord mohun , of dunstor . her eldest daughter philip , married to edward duke of york , her second elizabeth , to william montacute earl of salisbury , her youngest maud , matcht to the lord strange of knockyn , bu●… her own christian name i cannot recover . however , she hath left a worthy memory behind her , chiefly on this account , that she obteined from her husband , so much good ground for the commons of the town of dunstor as she could in one * day , ( believe it a summer one for her ease and advantage ) compasse about , going on her naked feet . surely no ingenious scholar beheld her in that her charitable perambulation , but in effect vented his wishes in the * poets expression , ah! tibi nè teneras tellus secet aspera plantas . the certain date of her death is unknown , which by proportion is conjectured in the reign of king henry the fifth . since the reformation . nicholas wadham of merrifield in this county esq. had great length in his extraction , breadth in his estate , and depth in his liberality . his hospital house was an inn at all times , a court at cristmas . he married dorothy , daughter to the secretary , sister to the first lord peters . absolom , having no children , reared up for himself a * pillar to perpetuate his name . this worthy pair , being issueless , erected that , which hath , doth , and will afford many pillars to church and state , the uniform and regular ( nothing defective or superfluous therein ) colledge of wadham in oxford . had this worthy esquire ( being a great patron of church-livings ) annexed some benefices thereunto ( which may be presumed , rather forgotten than neglected by him ) it had for compleatenesse of fabrick and endowment equalled any english foundation . if he was ( which some suggest ) a romanist in his judgement , his charity is the more commendable , to build a place for persons of a different perswasion . whilst we leave the invisible root to the searcher of hearts , let us thankfully gather the good fruit , which grew from it . he died before his colledge was finished , his estate by co-heirs descending to strangwayes , windham , white , &c. and he lyeth buried with his wife under a stately monument in the fair church of illminster . philip biss was extracted from a worshipful family in this county , who have had their habitation in spargrave for some descents . being bred fellow , and doctor in divinity in magdalen-colledge in oxford , he was afterwards preferred arch-deacon of taunton . a learned man and great lover of learning . now though it be most true what reverend bishop hall was wont to say , of friends and books good and f●…w are best . yet this doctor had good and many of both kinds . and at his death bequeathed his library ( consisting of so many folio's as were valued at one thousand pounds ) to wadham colledge , then newly founded . this epitaph was made upon him , wherein nothing of wit , save the verbal-allusion , which made itself without any pains of the author thereof . * bis fuit hic natus , puer & bis , bis juvenisque . bis vir , bisque senex , bis doctor , bisque sacerdos . i collect by probable proportion that his death happened about the year . memorable persons . sir john champneis son of robert champneis , was born at chew in this county , but bred a skinner in london , and lord major thereof . memorable he is on this account , that , whereas before his time there were no turrets in london ( save what in churches and publick structures ) he was the first private man , who in his house , next cloth-workers hall , built * one to oversee his neighbours in the city , which delight of his eye was punished with blindness some years before his death . but seeing , prying into gods secrets is a worse sin than over-looking mens houses ; i dare not concurre with so censorious an * author , because every consequent of a fact is not the punishment of a fault therein . thomas coriat , though some will censure him as a person rather ridiculous , than remarkable , he must not be omitted . for first , few would be found to call him fool , might none do it save such , who had as much learning as himself . secondly , if others have more wisdom than he , thankfulnesse and humility is the way to preserve and increase it . he was born at odcombe nigh evil in this county , bred at oxford , where he attained to admirable fluency in the greek tongue . he carried folly ( which the charitable called merriment ) in his very face . the shape of his head had no promising form , being like a sugar-loaf inverted , with the little end before , as composed of fancy and memory , without any common-sense . such as conceived him fool ad duo and something else ad decem , were utterly mistaken . for he drave on no design , carrying for coin and counters alike : so contented with what was present , that he accounted those men guilty of superfluity , who had more suits and shirts than bodies , seldom putting off either , till they were ready to go away from him . prince henry allowed him a pension and kept him for his servant . sweet-meats and coriat made up the last course at all court-entertainments . indeed he was the courtiers anvil to trie their witts upon , and sometimes this anvil returned the hammers as hard knocks as it received , his bluntnesse repaying their abusinesse . his book known by the name of coriat's crudities , nauceous to nice readers , for the rawnesse thereof , is not altogether useless though the porch be more worth than the palace , i mean the preface of other mens mock-commending verses thereon . at last he undertook to travail unto the east-indies by land , mounted on an horse with ten toes , being excellently qualified for such a journey . for rare his dexterity ( so properly as consisting most in manual signs ) in interpreting and answering the dumb tokens of nations , whose language he did not understand . besides , such his patience in all distresses , that in some sort he might seem , cool'd with heat , fed with fasting , and refresh'd vvith weariness . all expecting his return with more knowledge ( though not more wisdom ) he ended his earthly pilgrimage in the midst of his indian travail , about ( as i collect ) the year of our lord . lord majors . name father place . company time john champneis robert champneis chew skinner george bond robert bond trul haberdasher know reader , this is one of the ten pretermitted counties , the names of whose gentry were not by the commissioners returned into the tower in the of k. henry the sixth . sheriffes . this county had the same with dorsetshire until the ninth year of queen elizabeth , since which time these following have born the office in this county alone . name place armes eliz. reg.   crosses formee , argent . maur. berkley , mil. bruiton gules , a cheveron between geo. norton , mil.     hen. portman , ar . orchard or , a flower de luce azure . th●… lutterel , ar . dunst. ca. or , a bend betwixt martlets , s. geo. rogers , arm . cann●…gton arg. a cheveron betwixt bucks currant sa. attired or. joh. horner , arm . melles sable , talbots passant arg. io. sydenham , arm . bro●…pton argent , rams sable . ioh. stowel , miles . stawel gules , a cross lozengee argent christop . kenne , ar . con●…swick ermin , half moons , gules . tho. mallet , arm . enmore azure , escallops or. geo ▪ sydenham , ar . ut prius   joh. colles , arm .     ioh. brett .     maur. rodney , ar . rodney s●…ke or , e●…glets displayed , purpure . hen. newton , arm .   arg. on a cheveron az garbs , or. ioh. buller , arm .   sa. on ●… plain cross arg. quarter pierced , eaglets of the field . ar. hopton , arm . vvitham argent , barrs sable , each with mullets of six points , or. ga●…r . hawley ar . †     nic. sidenham , ar . ut prius † vert , a saltir ingrailed or. ioh. clifton , miles , b●…rringtō sable , semee of cinquefoils , a lion rampant , arg. hen. berkley , mil. ut prius   edw. sainthorp , ar .     sam. norton , arm .     hugo 〈◊〉 , ar . ut prius   ioh. harington , ar .   sable , a fr●…t , argent . geo. speke , a●…g . 〈◊〉 argent , barrs azure , over all an eagle displayed , gules ▪ geo. l●…erel , arm . ut prius   hen. walrond .   amp. ioh. francis , arm . combe flouree argent , a cheveron betwixt mullets gules , pierced . ioh. stowel , mil. ut prius   ioh. colles , arm .     ioh. gennings , ar . ●…urron azure , a ch●…veron or , betwixt b●…zants on a chief e●…min , cinquesoils , gules . g●…o . rodney , arm . ut prius   hugo portman , mil. ut prius   ioh. mallet , a●…mig . ut prius   joh. may , a●…mig . charterhouse h●…yden , sable , a c●…everon or , betwixt roses arg●… , a chief of the second . edw. r●…gers , 〈◊〉 ut prius   iac . rex .     anno     edw. rogers , arm . ut prius   ioh. windham , mil. orchard azure , a cheveron betwixt lions ●…ds erased , or. tho. horner , arm . ut prius   ioh. por●…man , arm . ut prius   edw. hext , miles . ham or , a castle betwixt pole-axes sable . edw. gorges , mil. wraxal masculy , or and azure . geo. lutterel , arm . ut prius   francis baber , arm . chew mag. arg. on a fess gules , falcons heads erased , of the first . io. rodney , mil. & hugo smith , miles ut pr●…s     as●…ton gules , on a cheveron betwixt cinquefoil●…s or , pierced , as many leopa●…ds heads , sable . rob. hendley , ar . leigh az●…a , lion ramp . arg. crowned or , within a border of the second , entoy●…e of torteauxes . nat. still , arm .     ioh. horner , mil. ut prius   barth . michel , m. & ioh. colls , ar   partee per fess g. & s. a c●…v ar. betwixt swans proper . ioh. paulet , arm . hinton s. geor. soble , swords in py●… a●…gent . rob. hopton , arm . ut prius   theod newton , m. ut prius   io. trevilian , arm . ne●…combe gu●…s , a demi-ho●…se , arg●…nt , ill●…ing out of the ●…aves of the sea. hen. hendley , ar . ut prius   marmad . gēnings , a ut prius   edw. popham , ar .   argent , on a chief gul●…s , bu●…ks heads , or. vvill. ●…ancis , ar . ut prius   th. vvindham , ar . ut prius   car. rex .     anno     rob. philip●… , mil. montacute arg. a ch●…veron btween 〈◊〉 g●…s , ioh. symmes , arm . pounsford azure , scallops in base , or. ioh. latch , a●…m . langford ●…r . on a fess wavy 〈◊〉 . or , between as many 〈◊〉 g. ioh. stowel , miles ut prius   tho. thynne , mil. wilt-sh . barree , of , or and s●…ble . fr. dodington , m. loxton sable , hunters horns , arg●… . th. lutter●…l , arm . ut prius   vvill. vvalrond , ar ut prius   ioh. carew , miles   or , lions passant , sable , ar-med and lang●… , gul. hen. hodges , arm . hasilbe●…e or , cressants and in a canton ioh. baster , arm . amp. sa. a d●…cal crown of the first .         vvill. evvens , ar .   sable , a fess between flower de luces , or.         bellum nobis     haec otia     fecit .             rich. cole , arm . nailsle partee per pale ar. & g ▪ a bull pass . countrechanged . king james . john paulet , armiger . ] he was son to sr. anthony paulet ( governour of jersey ) by the sole daughter of henry lord norrice , being the sole sister to the brood of many martial brethren . a very accomplisht gentleman of quick and clear parts , a bountiful housekeeper , so that king charles consigned monsieur soubize unto him , who gave him and his retinue many months liberal entertainment . the said king afterwards created him baron paulet of hinton st. george , in this county , descended to him from the denbaudes , the ancient owners thereof . he married elizabeth the daughter and sole heir of christopher ken of ken-castle in the same shire esquire , whose right honourable son and heir john lord paulet now succeedeth in that barony . modern battles . none have been fought in this county , which come properly under this notion : indeed the skirmish at martials elm ( something military and ominous in the name thereof ) fought made much noise in mens eares , ( a musket gave then a greater report , than a canon since . ) and is remembred the more , because conceived first to break the peace of this nation , long restive and rusty in ease and quiet . as for the encounter at lang-port , where the kings forces under the lord goring were defeated by the parliaments , july , ; it was rather a flight than a fight , like the battle of spurres ( fought many years since ) the horse by their speed well saving themselves , whilst the poor foot ( pawned in the place ) paid dearly for it . and hence forward the sun of the kings cause declined , verging more & more westward , till at last it set in cornwal , and since ( after a long and dark night ) rose again by gods goodness in the east , when our gracious sovereign arrived at dover . the farewel . may he , who bindeth the sea in a girdle of sand , confine it within the proper limits thereof , that somerset-shire may never see that sad accident return , which hap'ned here . when by the irruption of the severn-sea , much mischief was , more had been done , if the west-wind had continued longer with the like violence . the country was overflown , almost mil. in length , and in breadth , and yet but persons drowned therein . it was then observeable , that creatures of contrary natures ; dogs , hares ; foxes , conies ; cats , mice ; getting up to the tops of some hills , dispensed at that time with their antipathies , remaining peaceably together , without sign of fear or violence one towards another : to lesson men in publick dangers , to depose private differences , and prefer their safety , before their revenge . bristol , more truly bright-stow , that is illustrious or bright dwelling , answers its name in many respects . bright in the situation thereof , conspicuous on the rising of a hill ; bright in the buildings , fair and firm ; bright in the streets , so cleanly kept , as if scoured ( where no carts , but sledges are used ) but chiefly bright , for the inhabitants thereof , having bred so many eminent persons . it standeth both in somerset and glocest●…-shires ( and yet in neither , it being a liberty of it self ) divided into two parts , by the river avon , conjoyned with a bridge , which being built on both sides , counterfeiteth a continued street , for which strangers at the first sight do mistake it . the houses of the merchants herein are generally very fair , and their entries , though little and narrow , l●…ad into high and spatious halls which form may mind the inhabitants thereof of their passage to a better place . naturall commodities . diamonds . these are the stars of the earth , though such but dimme ones , which st. vincents rock near to this city doth produce . their price is abated by their paleness and softnesse , to which we may add their number and nearness ; for , were they but few and far fetched , their value would be advanced ; they are not those unions , pearles so called , because thrifty nature only affordeth them by * one and one ; seeing that not only twins but bunches and clusters of these are found together . were this rock of raw diamonds removed into the east-indies , and placed where the beams of the sun might sufficiently concoct them , probably in some hundreds of years they would be ripened into an orient perfection . all i will add is this ; a lady in the reign of queen elizabeth would have as patiently digested the lye , as the wearing of false stones or pendants of counterfeit pearl , so common in our age ; and i could wish it were the worst piece of hypocrisy in fashion . manufactures . gray-sope . i behold bristol as the staple-place thereof , where alone it was anciently made . for though there be a place in london nigh cheapside called sopers-lane , it was never so named from that commodity made therein ( as some have supposed ) but from alen le soper , the long since owner thereof . yea , it is not above an hundred and fifty years , by the confession of the * chronicler of that city , since the first sope was boyled in london . before which time the land was generally supplyed with castile from spain , and graysope from bristol . yea , after that london medled with the making thereof , bristol-sope ( notwithstanding the portage ) was found much the * cheaper . great is the necessity thereof , seeing without sope , our bodies would be no better than dirt , before they are turned into dust , men whilst living , becoming noisome to themselves and others . nor lesse its antiquity ; for although our modern sope made of pot-ashes and other ingredients , was unknown to the ancient , yet had they 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , something which effectually supplied the place thereof , making their woollen clear , their linnen-cloth cleanly . christ is compared by the * prophet to fullers sope , in hebrew borith , which word arias montanus in his interlineary bible reteineth untranslated , but in his comment ( following the example of st. hierom ) on the place , rendreth it herba fullonum , expounding it to be saponaria , in english sopeworth . indeed , both dodoneus and gerardus writeth thereof , this plant hath no use in physick . yet , seeing nature made nothing in vain , sopeworth cannot justly be charged as useless , because purging ( though not the body ) the clothes of a man , and conducing much to the neatnesse thereof . the buildings . ratcliffe church in this city clearly carrieth away the credit from all parish-churches in england . it was founded by cannings ( first a merchant who afterwards b●…ame a priest , and most stately the ascent thereunto by many stairs , which at last plentifully recompenceth their pains who climb them up with the magnificent structure both without and within . if any demand the cause why this church was not rather made the see of a bishop then st. augustins in this city much inferiour thereunto , such may receive this reason thereof ; that this ( though an intire stately structure ) was not conveniently accomodated like st. augustins ( formerly a great monastery ) with publick buildings about it for the palace of a bishop , and the reception of the dean and chapter . however as the town of hague in holland would never be walled about as accounting it more credit to be the biggest of villages in europe , than but a lesser city , so ratcliffe-church esteemeth it a greater grace to lead the van of all * parochial , than to follow in the rear after many cathedral churches in england . medicinal waters . st. vincents well lying west of the city , under st. vincents rock , and hard by the river , is sovereign , for sores and sicknesses , to be washt in , or drunk of , to be either outwardly or inwardly applyed . undoubtedly the water thereof runneth through some mineral of iron●… , as appeareth by the rusty ferruginous taste thereof , which it retaineth , though boiled never so much . experience proveth that beer brewed thereof is wholesome against the spleen ; and dr. samuel vvard afflicted with that malady , and living in sidney-colledge was prescribed the constant drinking thereof , though it was costly to bring it thorough the severn , and narrow seas to lin , and thence by the river to cambridge . but men in pain must not grudge to send far to purchase their ease , and thank god if they can so procure it . proverbs . bristol milk. ] though as many elephants are fed as cows grased within the walls of this city , yet great plenty of this metaphorical milk , whereby xeres or sherry-sack is intended . some will have it called milk , because ( whereas nurses give new-born babes in some places pap , in other water and sugar ) such wine is the first moisture , given infants in this city . it is also the entertainment of course , which the courteous bristolians present to all strangers , when first visiting their city . martyrs . the moderation of john holyman , bipshop of this city is much to be commended who in the reign of queen mary , did not persecute any in his diocess . and yet we find rich. sharpe , tho. benion , and tho. hale , martyred in this city , whose bloud , the inquisitor thereof will visit on the account of † dalbye the cruel chancellour of this dio cess . prelates . ralph of bristol born in this city , was bred ( as i have cause to conceive ) in the neighbouring covent of glassenbury . going over into ireland , first he became treasurer of st. patricks in dublin , then episcopus darensis , bishop of kildare . he wrote the life of lawrence arch-bishop of dublin , and granted ( saith my * author ) certain indulgences to the abbey of glassenbury in england , probably in testimony of his gratitude for his education therein . he died , anno dom. . since the reformation . tobias matthew , d. d. was born in this * city , bred first in st. johns , then in christ-church in oxford , and by many mediate preferments became bishop of durham , and at last york . but it will be safest for my pen now to fast ( for fear for a surfeit ) which formerly † feasted so freely on the character of this worthy prelate , who died . sea-men . no city in england ( london alone excepted ) hath , in so short a time bred more brave and bold sea-men , advantaged for western voyages by its situation . they have not only been merchants , but adventurers , possessed with a publick spirit , for the general good. aiming not so much to return wealthier , as wiser , not alwayes to en-rich themselves , as inform posterity by their discoveries . of these , some have been but meerly casual , when going to fish for cod , they have found a country , or some eminent bay , river , or hauen of importance unknown before . others were intentional , wherein they have sown experiments , with great pains , cost , and danger , that ensuing ages may freely reap benefit thereof . amongst these sea-men we must not forget hugh * eliot a merchant of this city , who was in his age the prime pilot of our nation . he first ( with the assistance of mr. thorn his fellow-citizen ) found out new-found-land , anno . this may be called old-found-land , as senior in the cognizance of the english , to virginia and all our other plantations . had this discovery been as fortunate in publick encouragement , as private industry , probably before this time , we had enjoyed the kernel of those countries whose shell only we now possess . it 's to me unknown when eliot deceased . writers . thomas norton was born in this city , and if any doubt thereof , let them but consult the initial syllables in the six first , and the first line in the seventh chapter of his ordinal , which put together compose , thomas norton of briseto a parfet master you may him trow . thus his modesty embraced a middle way betwixt concealing and revealing his name , proper for so great a professor in chymistry as he was , that his very name must from his book be mysteriously extracted . he was scarce twenty eight * years of age , when in fourty dayes ( believe him for he saith so * of himself ) he learn'd the perfection of chymistry , taught , as it seems , by mr. george ripley . but , what saith the poet ? non minor est virtus , quàm quaerere , parta tueri . the spight is , he complaineth , that a merchants wife of bristol stole from him the elixir * of life . some suspect her to have been the wife of william cannings ( of whom before ) contemporary with norton , who started up to so great and sudden wealth , the clearest evidence of their * conjecture . the admirers of this art are justly impatient , to hear this their great patron traduced by the pen of † j. pits and others , by whom he is termed nugarum opifex in frivola scientia , and that he undid himself , and all his friends who trusted him with their money , living and dying very poor about the year . john spine . i had concluded him born at spine in bark-shire nigh newbury but for these diswasives . . he lived lately under richard the third , when the clergy began to leave off their local surnames , and in conformity to the laity , to be called from their fathers . my * author , peremptorily saith he was born in this city . i suspect the name to be latinized spineus by pits , and that in plain english he was called thorn , an ancient name i assure you in this city . however he was a carmelite , and a doctor of divinity in oxford , leaving some books of his making to posterity . he died and was buried in oxford , anno dom. . john of milverton . having lost the fore , i must play an after-game rather than wholely omit such a man of remark . the matter is not much , if he , be who was lost in somerset-shire , ( where indeed he was born at milverton ) be found in * bristol , where he first fixed himself a frier carmelite . hence he went to oxford , paris , and at last had his abode in london . he was provincial general of his order thorough england , scotland and ireland , so that his jurisdiction was larger than king edward the fourth's , under whom he flourished . he was a great anti-wi●…liffist , and champion of his order both by his writing , and preaching . he laboured to make all believe , that christ himself was a carmelite ( professor of wilful poverty ) and his high commending of the poverty of friers , tacitly condemned the pomp of the prelates . hereupon the bishop of london , ( being his diocesan ) ca●…t him into the jaile from whom he appealed to paul the ii. and coming to rome , he was for three years ●…ept close in the prison of st. angelo . it made his durance the more easie , having the * company of platina the famous papal biographist , the neb of whose pen , had been too long in writing dangerous truth . at last he procured his cause to be referred to seven cardinals , who ordered his enlargement . returning home into england , he lived in london in good repute . i find him nominated bishop of * st. davids , but how he came to miss it , is to me unknown . perchance he would not bite at the bait , but whether because , too fat to cloy the stomack of his mortified soul , or too lean to please the appetite of his concealed covetousness , no man can decide . he died and was buried in london . william grocine was born in this city † and bred in winchester-school , where he , when a youth , became a most excellent poet. take one instance of many . a pleasant maid ( probably his mistris , however she must be so understood ) in a lovefrolick pelted him with a snow-ball , whereon he extempore * made this latin tetrastick , me † nive candenti petiit mea julia : rebar igne carere nivem , nix tamen ignis erat . sola potes nostras extinguere julia flammas , non nive , non glacie , sed potes ignes pari . a snow-ball white at me did julia throw , who would suppose it ? fire was in that snow julia alone can quench my hot desire , but not with snow , or ice but equal fire . he afterwards went over into italy , where he had demetrius calchondiles and politian for his masters . and returning into england was publick professor of the greek tongue in oxford . there needs no more to be added to his honour , save that erasmus in his epistles often owns him pro patrono suo , & praeceptore . he died anno . romish exile writers . john fowler was born in bristol * bred a printer by his occupation , but so learned a man , that ( if the character given him by one of his own * perswasion be true ) he may pass for our english robert , or henry stephens , being skilful in latin and greek , and a good poet , oratour , and divine . he wrote an abridgment of thomas his summes , the translation of osorius into english , &c. being a zealous papist he could not comport with the reformation , but conveyed himself and his presse over to antwerp , where he was signally serviceable to the catholick cause , in printing their pamphlets , which were sent over , and sold in england . he died at namurch . and lies there buried in the church of st. john the evangelist . benefactors to the publick . robert thorn was born in this city , as his ensuing epitaph doth evidence . i see it matters not what the name be , so the nature be good . i confesse thorns came in by † mans curse , and our saviour saith , * do men gather grapes of thorns . but this our thorn , ( god send us many copices of them ) was a blessing to our nation , and wine and oil may be said freely to flow from him , being bred a merchant-tailor in london , he gave more than * four thousand four hundred fourty five pounds to pious uses . a sum sufficient , therewith to build and endow a colledge , the time being well considered , being towards the beginning of the reign of king henry the eighth . i have observed some at the church-dore cast in six pence with such ostentation , that it rebounded from the bottom , and rung against both the sides of the bason ( so that the same piece of silver was the alms and the givers trumpet , ) whilst others have dropt down silent shillings without any noise . our thorn was of the second sort , doing his charity effectually , but with a possible privacy . nor was this good christian abroad , worse ( in the apostle-phrase ) than an i●…del at home in not providing for his family , who gave to his poor kindred , ( besides debt forgiven unto them ) the sum of five thousand one hundred * fourty two pounds . grudge not reader to peruse his epitaph , which though not so good as he deserved , is better than most in that age. robertus * cubat hic thornus , mercator honestus , qui sibi legitimas arte paravit opes . huic vitam dederat parvo bristolia quondam , londinum hoc tumulo clauserat ante diem . ornavit studiis patriam , virtutibus auxit , gymnasium erexit sumptibus ipse suis. lector , quisquis ades , requiem cineri , precor , ora supplex , & precibus numina flecte tuis . he died a batchelour , in the fourtieth year of his age , anno domini , and lieth buried in saint christophers , london . since the reformation . mary dale , better known by the name of mary ramsey , daughter of william dale merchant , was born in this city . * she became afterward second wife to sir thomas ramsey grocer and lord major of london , anno , and surviving him was thereby possessed of a great estate , and made good use thereof . she founded two fellowships and scholarships in peter-house in cambridge , and profered much more , if on her terms it might have been accepted . for most certain it is that she would have setled on that house lands to the value of five hundred pounds per annum and upwards , on condition that it should be called the colledge of peter and mary . this doctor * soams , then master of the house , refused , affirming that peter , who so long lived single , was now too old to have a feminine partner . a dear jest to loose so good a benefactres . this not succeeding the stream of her charity was not peevishly dried up ( with those who in matters of this nature will do nothing , when they cannot do what they would do ) but found other * channels there in to derive it self . she died anno dom. , and lieth buried in christs-church in london . thomas white d. d. was born in this city and bred in oxford . he was afterwards related to sir henry sidney lord deputy of ireland , whose funeral sermon he made , being accounted a good preacher in the reign of queen elizabeth indeed he was accused for being a great pluralist , though i cannot learn , that at once he had more than one cure of soules , the rest being dignities . as false is the aspersion of his being a great vsurer ; but one bond being found by his executors amongst his writings of one thousand pounds , which he lent gratis for many years to the company of merchant-tailors , whereof he was free , the rest of his estate being in land and ready money . besides other benefactions to christ-church , and a lecture in st. pauls , london , he left three thousand pounds for the building of sion colledge to be a ramah for the sons of the prophets in london . he built there also a fair alms-house for twenty poor folk , allowing them yearly six pounds a piece . and another at bristol , which as i am informed , is better endowed . now as camillus was counted a second romulus , for enlarging and beautifying the city of rome , so mr. john simpson minister of st. olaves , hart-street london , may be said a second white , for perfecting the aforesaid colledge of sion , building the gate-house with a fair case for the library , and endowing it with threescore pounds per annum . dr. thomas white died anno dom. . lord majors . name father company time john aderley john aderly ironmonger thomas canning john canning grocer john young thomas young grocer the farewel . i am credibly informed that one mr. richard grigson cittizen hath expendeth a great sum of money in new casting of the bells of christ-church , adding tunable chymes unto them . surely he is the same person , whom i find in the printed list of compounders to have paid one hundred and sive pounds for his repuetd delinquency in our civil wars , and am glad to see one of his perswasion ( so lately purified in goldsmiths-hall ) able to go to the cost of so chargeable a work. i wish bristol may have many more to follow his example , though perchance in this our suspicious age it will be conceived a more discreet and seasonable desire not to wish the increase , but the continuance of our bells , and that ( though not taught the descant of chymes ) they may retein their plain song for that publick use to which they were piously intended . stafford-shire hath cheshire on the north-west ; darby-shire on the east and north-east ; warwick , and worcester-shires on the south ; and shrop-shire on the west . it lieth from north to south in form of a lozenge , bearing fourty in the length from the points thereof , whilst the breadth in the middle exceeds not twenty six miles . a most pleasant county : for , though there be a place therein still called sinai-park ( about a mile from burton ) at first so * named by the abbot of burton , because a vast , rough , hillie ground , like the wilderness of sinai in arabia , yet this , as a small mole , serves for a soil to set off the fair face of the county the better . yea , this county hath much beauty in the very solitude thereof , witness beau-desert , or the fair wildernesse , being the beautiful barony of the lord paget . and if their deserts have so rare devises ; pray then , how pleasant are their paradises . indeed most fruitful are the parts of this shire above the banks of dove , butchers being necessitated presently to kill , the cattle fatted thereupon , as certainly knowing that they will fall in their flesh , if removed to any other pasture , because they cannot but change to their loss . natural commodities . the best alabaster in england ( know reader , i have consulted with curious artists in this kind ) is found about castle-hay in this county . it is but one degree beneath white marble only more soft and brittle : however , if it lye dry fenced from weather , and may be let alone , long the during thereof . witness the late statue of john of gaunt in pauls , and many monuments made thereof in westminster remaining without breck or blemish to this day . i confess italy affords finer alabaster , ( whereof those imagilets wrought at ligorn are made ) which indeed apes ivory in the whiteness and smoothness thereof . but such alabaster is found in small bunches and little proportions , it riseth not ( to use the language of work-men ) in great blocks , as our english doth . what use there is of alabaster calcined in physick , belongs not to me to dispute . only i will observe , that it is very cool , the main reason why * mary put her ointment so precious into an alabaster box , because it preserved the same from being dried up , to which such liquors in hot countries were very subject . manufactures . nailes . these are the accommodators general to unite solid bodies , and to make them to be continuous : yea coin of gold and silver may be better spared in a common-wealth than nailes . for , commerce may be managed without mony by exchance of commodities , whereas hard bodies cannot be joyned together so fast , and fast so soon and soundly without the mediation of nailes . such their service for firmness and expedition , that iron nailes will fasten more in an hour than wooden pins in a day , because the latter must have their way made , whilst the former make way for themselves . indeed there is a fair house on london bridge commonly called none-such , which is reported to be made without either nailes or pins with crooked tennons fastened with wedges and other ( as i may term them ) circumferential devices . this , though it was no labour in vain ▪ because at last attaining the intended end , yet was it no better than a vain labour according to the rule in logick frustra fit per plura quod fieri potest per pauciora . but seeing the owner of that house had his harmless humour therein , and paid dear , no doubt , to his workmen for the same ; there is no cause that i or any other should find fault therewith . the buildings . i have presented the portraicture of the church of lichfield in my church-history , with the due praise of the neatness thereof . but now , alas ! the body thereof is become a very carcase ruined in our late civil wars . the like fate is likely to fall on the rest of our cathedrals , if care be not taken for their reparations . i have read of duke d'alva , that he promised life to some prisoners , but when they petitioned him for food , he returned he would grant them life but no meat , by which criticism of courteous cruelty the poor people were starved . if our * cathedrals have only a bare being , and be not supplied with seasonable repairs , ( the daily ●…ood of a fabrick ) soon will they be famished to nothing . as for the close at lichfield , i have been credibly informed , that the plague ( which long had raged therein ) at the first shooting of canon at the siege thereof did abate , imputed by naturalists to the violent purging of the air by the bullets , but by divines to gods goodness , who graciously would not have two miseries of war and plague afflict one small place at the same time. pass we now to civil buildings in this shire . tutbury castle is a stately place , and i dare take it on the credit of an excellent * witness , that it hath a brave and large prospect ( to it , in it , and from it ) northward it looks on pleasant pastures ; eastward on sweet rivers and rich meadowes ; southward on a goodly ▪ forest , and many parks ( lately no fewer than twelve ) belonging thereto or holden thereof . it was formerly the seat of the lord ferrars earl of derby , and how it was forfeited to the crown is worth our observing . robert de * ferrars earl of derby siding with simon mumford against king henry the third , was fined at fifty thousand pounds to be paid , pridie johan . baptist. next following . i know not whether more to admire at the suddeness of payment , or vastness of the sum : seeing an hundred thousand pounds was the randsom set by the emperour on our king richard the first , and it shaked all the co●…ers of england in that age , ( without the help of church-plate to make it up . ) well , these lords following were the security bound for the earls true payment at the time appointed . henry son to rich. king of the romans will. valence earl of pembroke . john de warren earl of surrey ▪ will. beauchampe earl of warwick . sir roger de summary . sir thomas de clare . sir robert wa●…ond . sir roger clifford . sir hamond le strange . sir bartholomew de sudeley . sir robert bruse , all being then barons of the land. but earl robert unable to advance the money at the time appointed , and unwilling to leave the lords , his bail , under the kings lash , surrendred his lands ( and tutbury castle amongst the rest ) to the clear yearly value of three thousand pounds into the kings hands ; redeemable , when he or his heirs should pay down on one day fifty thousand pounds , which was never performed . the english clergie much pittied john the son of this earl robert , who presented a petition to the pope , informing his holiness , that the english clergie were willing to give him money by way of contribution to redeem his estate , but durst not , because commanded to the contrary under the pain of the popes curse . and therefore he craved his apostolical indulgence therein . something i find was restored unto him , but tutbury was too sweet a morsel to return , being annexed to the dutchy of lancaster . john of gaunt built a fair castle there , walled on three sides by art , and the fourth by its natural steepness . dudley castle must not be forgotten , highly and pleasantly seated , and in the reign of king edward the sixth well built , and adorned by john dudley duke of northumberland , whereon a story worth the reporting doth depend . the afore-said duke * deriving himself ( who truly not yet decided ) from a younger branch of the lord dudley thirsted after this castle in regard of the name and the honourableness of the house , some having avouched that the barony is annexed to the lawful possession thereof , whether by purchase or descent . now finding john sutton the lord dudley ( grand-father to the last baron ) a weak man exposed to some wants and intangled with many debts , he by the help of those money-merchants wrought him out of his castle . so that the poor lord turned out of doores and left to the charity of his friends for subsistance was commonly called the lord quondam . but after the execution of that duke queen mary sympathizing with edward the son of this poor lord ( which edward had married katharine bruges her maid of honour and sister to the lord shandois ) restored him to the lands and honour which justly belonged to his father . proverbs . in april * doves flood , is worth a kings good . dove a river parting this and derby-shire , when it overfloweth its banks in april is the nilus of staffordshire much battling the meadowes thereof . but this river of dove as overflowing in april feeds the meadowes with fruitfulness , so in may and june choakes the sand grain'd with grit and gravel to the great detriment of the owners thereof . wotton † under wea●…er , where god came never . it is time that this old prophane proverb should die in mens mouths for ever . i confess in common discourse god is said to come to what he doth approve , to send to what he only permits , and neither to go nor send to what he doth dislike and forbid . but this distinction , if granted , will help nothing to the defending of this prophane proverb , which it seems took it's wicked original from the situation of wotton , so covered with hills from the light of the sun a dismal place , as report representeth it . but were there a place indeed , where god came never , how many years purchase would guilty consciences give for a small abode therein , thereby to escape divine justice for their offences . saints . authors do as generally agree about a grand massacre committed by the pagans under dioclesian on the brittish christians in the place where litchfield now standeth , i say , they as generally agree in the fact , as they disagree in the number : some making them two hundred , others five , others seven . and one author ( certainly he was no millenary in his judgement ) mounts them to just . indeed many were martyred in those dayes both in brittain , and elsewhere , whose names and numbers are utterly unknown , so true is the expression of * gregory the great ; ipse sancti martyres deo numerabiles , nobis arenam multiplicati sunt , quia quot sint , a nobis comprehendi non possunt , novit enim eos tantum ille , qui ( ut habet tsalmus . ) numerat multitudinem stellarum , & omnibus eis nomina vocat . st. bertelin was a britton of a noble birth and lead an eremitical life in the * woods near stafford , anciently called bethiney , ( contracted it seems for bertiliney ) something of solitariness still remaining in his memory as being so alone , it hath no memorable particulars of his accounts to accompany it . wolfadus . ruffinus it was pitty to part them seeing they were loving in their lives , and in their death they were not divided . they were sons to wol●…erus , the pagan king of mercia and a tyrant to boot , who hating christianity and finding these times to profess privately to practice it , was so enraged that nothing but their bloud would quench his anger . wolfadus was taken and martyred at stone in this county : whilst his younger ( if not twin brother ) ruffinus came little more behind him at his death , then he started before him at his birth , seeking to hid himself in a woody place ( where since the chappel of * burnweston hath been built ) was there by his herod-father found out and murthered . they were by succeding ages rewarded with reputation of saint●…ip . this massacre happened anno domini .... cardinals . reginald pole was born at * stoverton castle in this county anno . he was second son unto sr. richard pole , knight of the garter , and frater * consobrinus ( a relation which i cannot make out in reference to him ) to henry the seventh . his mother margaret countess of salisbury , was neice to king edward the fourth , and daughter to geo●…ge duke of clarence . this reginald was bred in corpus-christi-colledge in oxford , preferred afterward dean of exeter ▪ king henry the eighth highly favoured and sent him beyond the seas , allowing him a large pension , to live in an equipage suitable to his birth and alliance . he studied at padua , conversing there so much with the patricians of venice , that at last he degenerated into a perfect italian ; so that neither love to his country , nor gratitude to the king , nor sharp letters of his friends , nor fear to lose his present , nor hopes to get future preferments , could perswade him to return into england , but that his pensions were withdrawn from him . this made him apply his studies the more privately in a venetian-monastery , where he attained great credit for his eloquence , learning , and good life . such esteem forreign grandees had of his great judgment , that cardinal sadolet having written a large book in the praise of philosophy , submitted it wholy to his censure . pole as highly commended the work , as he much admired , that a cardinal of the church of rome , would conclude his old age with writing on such a subject * applying unto him the verses of virgil , est in conspectu tenedos notissima fama insula dives opum , priami dum regna manebant , nunc tantum sinus & statio male fidacarinis . from troy may th'ile of tenedos bespide much fam'd when priams kingdom was in pride , now but a bay where ships in danger ride . these far fetch'd lines he thus brought home to the cardinal , that though philosophy had been in high esteem , whilst paganisme was in the prime thereof , yet was it but a bad harbour for an aged christian , to cast his anchor therein . it was not long before he was made deacon-cardinal , by the title of st. mary in cosmedin , by pope paul the third , who sent him on many fruitless and dangerous embassies to the emperour and the french king , to incite them to war , against king henry the eighth . afterwards he retired himself to viterbo in italy , where his house was observed the sanctuary of lutherans , and he himself became a racking , but no thorough-paced protestant . in so much , that being appointed one of three presidents of the council of trent , he endeavoured ( but in vain ) to have justification determined by faith alone . during his living at viterbo , he carried not himself so cautiously , but that he was taxed for begetting a base child , which pasquil * published in latine and italian verses , affixed in the season of liberty on his lawless pillar . this pasquil is an authour , eminent on many accounts . first , for his self-concealement , being noscens omnia , & notus nemini . secondly , for his intelligence , who can display the deeds of midnight at high noon , as if he hid himself in the holes of their bedstaves , knowing who were cardinals children , better than they knew their fathers . thirdly , for his unpartial boldness . he was made all of tongue and teeth , biting what e're he touch'd , and it bled what e're he bit ; yea , as if a general council and pasquil were only above the pope , he would not stick to tell where he trod his holy sandals awry . fourthly , for his longevity , having lived ( or rather lasted ) in rome some hundreds of years , whereby he appears no particular person , but a successive corporation of satyrists . lastly , for his impunity , escaping the inquifition whereof some assign this reason , because hereby the court of rome comes to know her faults , or rather to know that their faults are known ; which makes pasquils converts ( if not more honest ) more wary in their behaviour . this defamation made not such an impression on poles credit , but that after the death of paul the third , he was at midnight in the conclave chosen to succeed him . pole refused it , because he would not have his choice a deed of darkness , appearing therein not perfectly italianated in not taking preferment , when tendred , and the cardinals beheld his refusal as a deed of dulness . next day expecting a re-election , he found new morning new minds , and pole being reprobated , julius the third , his professed enemy , was chosen in his place . yet afterwards he became alterius orbis papa , when made arch-bishop of canterbury by queen mary . he was a person free from passion , whom none could anger out of his ordinary temper . his youthful books were full of the flowers of rhetorick , whilst the withered stalkes are only found in the writings of his old age , so dry their style , and dull their conceit . he died few hours after queen mary , november the , anno . prelates . edmund stafford was * brother to ralph , first earl of stafford , and consequentially must be son to edmund baron stafford . his nativity is rationally with most probability placed in this county , wherein his father , ( though landed every where ) had his prime seat , and largest revenues . he was by king richard the second preferred bishop of exeter , and under king henry the fourth , for a time , was chancellour of england . i meet with an * authour who doth make him bishop first of rochester , then of ex●…ter , and lastly of york . but of the first and last altum silentium in bishop godwin , whom i rather believe . he was a benefactor to stapeltons-inn in oxford , on a three-fold account , viz. of credit , first calling it exeter colledge , whereby he put an obligation on the bishop of that see , favourably to reflect thereon . profit , adding two fellowships unto it , and setling lands to maintain them . safety , which consisteth in good statutes , which here he wisely altered and amended . he sat in his see years , and dying was buried under an alabaster tomb in his own cathedral . william dudley son of john dudley , the * eighth baron dudley , of dudley-castle in this county , was by his parents designed for a scholar , and bred in university colledge in oxford , whence he was preferred to be dean of windsor and afterwards was for six years bishop of durham . he died anno at london , and lies buried in westminster on the south side of st. nicholas chappel . edmund audley son to the lord audley of heyley in this county , whose sirname was touchet . i am informed by my worthy friend that skilful antiquary m ● . tho. barlow of oxford , that this edmund in one and the same instrument writeth himself both audley and touchet . he was bred in the university of oxford , and in processe of time he built the quire of saint maries therein a new on his own charge , adorning it organ●… 〈◊〉 , which i think imports no more than a musical organ . he was preferred bishop first of rochester , then of hereford , and at last of * salisbury . he died at ramsbury , august , , and is buried in his own cathedral on the south side of the altar in a chappel of excellent artifice of his own erection . not meeting with any bishops born in this county since the reformation , let us proceed . lawyers . sr. thomas littleton , knight . reader , i have seriously and often perused his life , as written by sr. edward coke , yet not being satisfied of the certainty of his nativity , am resolved to divide his character betwixt this county and worcester-shire . he was son to thomas westcote , esq. and elizabeth littleton his wife , whose mother being daughter and heir of † thomas littleton , esq. and bringing to her husband a great inheritance , indented with him before marriage , that her virgin-sirname should be assumed and continued in his posterity . he was bred student of the laws in the inward temple , and became afterwards serjant , and steward of the court of the marshal-sea of the kings houshold , to henry the sixth . by king edward the fourth in the sixth of his reign , he was made one of the judges of the common pleas ; and in the fifteenth of his reign by him created knight of the bath he is said by our learned * antiquary to have deserved as well of our common , as justinian of the civil-law ; whose book of tenures ( dedicated by him to richard his second son , who also studied the laws ) is counted oraculous in that kind , which since hath been commented on by the learned endeavours of sr. edward coke . he married johan one of the daughters and co-heirs of william boerley , of bromsecraft castle in salop , by whom he had three sons , founders of three fair families still flourishing . william . richard. thomas . fixed at frankley , in this county , where his posterity is eminently extant . whose issue by alice daughter & heir of will. winsbury , remain at pillerton-hall , in shropshire . who by anne daughter and heir of john botreaux hath his lineage still continuing in worcesier-shire . this reverend judge died the of august , in the one and twentieth of king edward the fourth , and lieth buried under a very fair monument in the cathedral of worcester . edmund dudley esq. was son to john dudley esq. second son to john sutton , first baron of dudley as a learned antiquary hath beheld his pedegree derived . but his descent is controverted by many , condemned by some , who have raised a report that john father to this edmund was but a * carpenter born in dudley town , ( and therefore called john dudley ) who travailing southward to find work for his trade lived at lewis in sussex , where they will have this edmund born , and for the pregnancy of his parts brought up by the abbot of lewis in learning . but probably some who afterwards were pinched in their purses by this edmund did in revenge give him this bite in his reputation , inventing this tale to his disparagement . i must believe him of noble extraction , because qualified to marry the daughter and heir of the viscount lisle , and that before this edmund grew so great with king henry the seventh , as by the age of john his son ( afterwards duke of northumberland ) may probably be collected . he was bred in the study of the laws , wherein he profited so well , that he was made one of the puis-née judges , and wrote an excellent book compounded of law and policy ( which hitherto i have not seen ) intituled the * tree of the common-wealth . but what saith columella ? agricolam arbor ad fructum perducta delectat . a husbandman is delighted with the tree of his own planting when brought to bear fruit . judge dudley knew well how to turn a land into the greatest profit of his prince , which made him implyed by king henry the seventh to put his penal statutes in execution , which he did , with severity , cruelty , and extortion , so that with sr. richard empson viis & modis ( vitiis & modis rather ) they advanced a mighty mass of money to the king , and no mean one to themselves . king henry the eighth coming to his crown , could not pass in his progress for complaints of people in all places , against these two wicked instruments , who with the two † daughters of the horse leach were alwayes crying , give , give , and therefore he resolved to discharge their protection and to resign them to justice , so that they were made a peace-offering to popular anger , and were executed at tower-hill . sir , thomas bromley , knight . reader , i request thee that this short note may keep possession for his name and memory , until he may be fixed elsewhere with more assurance . he was in the first of queen mary , octob. . made lord chief justice of the * kings bench , holding his place hardly a year ; but , whether quitting his office or dying therein is to me unknown . souldiers . john bromley , esq. branched from the bromleys in shrop-shire , but born and * living in this county at bromley , followed the fortunate arms of king henry the fifth in france . it happened , that in a battle near corby the french ( according to their fashion ▪ furious at first ) fell so fiercely on the english , that they got away the kings standard of guien to the great dismay of our army . but bromley's heart had no room for fear or grief , anger had so wholely possessed it : insomuch , that valiantly he recovered the captive standard , and by his exemplary prowess largely contributed to that dayes victory . hereupon hugh stafford lord bourchier conferred on him a yearly pension of * fourty pounds during his life . afterwards in the sixth of king henry the fifth anno he was not only knighted by the king for his venturous activity , but also made captain of dampfront , and great constable of bossevile le ross in france : yea , and rewarded by the king with fourty pounds in land a year to him and his heirs the patent whereof is extant in the tower , and exemplified in my * author . he appears to me no more than a plain knight , or a knight batchelour : but were it in the power of my pen to create a banneret , he should , for the reason premised , have that honour affixed to his memory , who , as we conjecture , died about the middle of the reign of king henry the sixth . john dudley duke of northumberland ( where born uncertain ) was son to edward dudley , esq. ( of whom * hereafter ) and would willingly be reputed of this county , a descendent from the lord dudley therein , whose memory we will gratifie so far as to believe it . he lived long under king henry the eighth who much favoured him , and the servant much resembled his master , in the equal contemperament of vertue and vices , so evenly matched , that it is hard to say , which got the mastery in either of them . this john was proper in person , comely in carriage , wise in advising , valiant in adventuring , and generally ( till his last project ) prosperous in success . but he was also notoriously wanton , intollerably ambitious , a constant dissembler , prodigeously profuse , so that he had sunk his estate , had it not met with a seasonable support of abbey land , he being one of those who well warmed himself with the chipps , which fell from the felling of monasteri●…s . king henry the th . first knighted , then created him vicount lisle , earle of warwick , and duke of nor●…humberland . and under queen mary he made himself almost king of england , though not in title , in power , by contriving the settling of the crown on queen jane his daugh●…er in law , till successe failed him therein . and no wonder if that design missed the mark , which besides many rubbs it met with at hand , was thrown against the general bias of english affection . for this his treasonable practises he was executed in the first of queen mary , much bemoaned by some martial men , whom he had formerly indeared in his good service in the french and scotish wars . he left two sons who survived to great honour . ambrose earl of warwick heir to all that was good , and robert earl of leicester heir to all that was great in their father . the bagnols . something must be premised of their name and extraction . the bagenhalts ( commonly called bagnols ) were formerly a family of such remark in this county , that before the reign of king henry the eighth , there scarce passed an ancient piece of evidence which is not attested by * one of that name . but ( see the uncertainty of all humane things ) it afterwards sunck down ( to use my authours language ) into a * plebean condition . but the sparks of their gentle bloud ( though covered for a time under a mean estate ) have since blazed again with their own worth and valour when ralph and nicholas sons to john bagnol of newcastle in this county were both knighted for their good service , the one in mustle-borough fight , the otherin ireland . yea , as if their courage had been hereditary . their sons samuel and henry were for their martial merit advanced to the same degree . sea-men . william minors . reader , i remember how , in the case of the ship-money , the judges delivered it for law , that , england being an island , the very middle-land-shires therein are all to be accounted as maritime . sure i am the genius even of land-lock-counties acteth the natives with a maritime dexterity ; the english generally may be resembled to ducklings , which , though hatched under a hen , yet naturally delight to dabble in the water . i mean , though born and bred in in-land places , ( where neither their infancy nor childhood ever beheld ship or boat ) yet have they a great inclinatio●… and aptnesse to sea-service ; and the present subject of our pen is a pregnant proof thereof . this william , son to richard minors , gent. of hallenbury-hall , was born at uttoxater in this county , who afterwads coming to london , became so prosperous a mariner , that he hath safely returned eleven times from the east-iudies : whereas in the dayes of our grandfathers , such as came thence twice , were beheld as rarities ; thrice , as wonders ; four times , as miracles . much herein ( under divine providence ) is to be attributed to the make of our english ships , now built more advantageous for sailing , than in former ages . besides , the oftner they go , the nearer they shape their course , use being the mother of perfectnesse . yet whilst others wonder at his happiness in returning so often , i as much commend his moderation in going no oftner to the east-indies . more men know , how to get enough than , when they have gotten enough , which causeth their coveteousness to increase with their wealth . mr. minors , having advanced a competent estate , quitted the water to live on the land , and now peaceably enjoyeth , what he painfully hath gotten , and is living in , or near , hartford at this present year . writers . john stafford , born in the shire-town of this county , was bred a franciscan . no contemptible philosopher and divine , but considerable historian , who wrote a latin history of englands affaires . authors are at an absolute loss , when he lived and are fain by degrees to screw themselves into a general notice thereof . he must be since the year , when the franciscans first fixed themselves in our land. he must be before john ross , who flourished anno , under edward the fourth , and maketh honourable mention of him . therefore with proportion and probability he is collected to have written about . william de * lichfield , so termed from the place of his nativity , applied himself to a study of divinity , whereof he became doctor , and afterwards rector of all-hallowes the great in thames-street , london . he was generally beloved for his great learning , and godly li●…e . he wrote many books both moral and divine , in prose and verse , one intituled the complaint of god unto sinful men. there were found in his study after his death * three thousand four score and three sermons of his own writing . he died anno dom. . being buried under a defaced monument in the quire of his own church . robert whittington born at * lichfield , was no mean grammarian : indeed , he might have been greater , if he would have been less , pride prompting him to cope with his conquerors , whom he mistook for his match . the first of these was will. lillie , though there was as great difference betwixt these two grammarians , as betwixta verb defective , and one perfect in all the requisites thereof . the two other were william horman , and alderedge , both eminent in the latin tongue : but some will carp at the best , who cannot mend the worst line in a picture , the humour of our whittington , who flourished . since the reformation . henry stafford , baron of stafford in this county , was son unto edward duke of buckingham attainted and beheaded under king henry the eighth . this our henry , though loosing his top and top-gallant ( his earledom and dukedome ) in the tempest of the kings displeasure , yet still he kept his keel , his barony of stafford . the less he possessed of his fathers lands , the more he enjoyed of himself . it was not sullenesse or revenge , but free choice , which made him betake himself to his studies , wherein he became eminent . i place him confidently not a trans , but cis-reformation-man for translating the book of dr. fox bishop of hereford ( a favourer of luther ) into english , of the difference of the power ecclesiastical and secular . a subject profitable in all ; seasonable ( not to say necessary ) in our times : for as the water and earth making but one globe take their mutual advantages to enlarge themselves , so these two powers united under one king in our land , wait their opportunities to advance their respective jurisdictions , the right stating whereof would conduce much to the publick peace . this lord * died ( i dare not say the more the pitty ) some moneths before the beginning of queen elizabeth , anno . sampson erderswik , esq. was born at sandon near stafford in this county , of a right worshipful and ancient extraction . he was a gentleman accomplished with all noble qualities , affability , devotion , and learning . 't is hard to say whether his judgement or industry was more in matters of antiquity . bearing a tender respect to his native country and desiring the honour thereof : he began a description ( ●…ntituled a view of stafford-shire , ) anno domini , conteining the same till the day of his death . a short , clear , true , impartial work , taken out of ancient evidences and records , the copies whereof in manuscripts are deservedly valued for great rarities . this is he , who , when i often groped in the dark , yea feared to fall in matters concerning this county , took me by the hand ( oh! for the like conductors in other counties ) and hath led me safe by his direction . he was much delighted with decency of gods house , which made him on his own cost to repaire & new glaze the church of sandon , wherein ( to prevent neglect of executors ) he erected for himself a goodly monument of free-stone with his proportion cut out to the life , and now lieth therein interred . he died april the , , and let his elogie of mr. * camden serve for his epitaph ; venerandae antiquitatis fuit cultor maximus . thomas allen was born in this county , deriving his original from allanus de * buckenhole , lord of buckenhole , in the reign of king edward the d . he was bred in glocester-hall in oxford a most excellent mathematician , where he succeeded to the skill and scandal of frier bacon , ( taken at both , but given i beleeve by neither ) accounted a conjurer . indeed vulgar eyes , ignorant in opticks , conceit that raised which is but reflected , fancy every shadow a spirit , every spirit a divel . and when once the repute of a conjurer is raised in vulgar esteem , it is not in the power of the greatest innocence and learning to allay it . he was much in favour with robert earl of leicester , and his admirable writings of mathematicks are l●…tent with some private possessors , which envy the publick profit thereof . he died a very aged man towards the end of the reign of king james . henry and robert burton brethren , and eminent authors in their several kinds , were , as some say , born at fald in this county . but leicester-shire pretending some probability to their nativities , hath by the alphabetical advantage prevented this shire , and carried away their * characters therein . besides these deceased writers , reader , i have three in my eye , who are ( and long may they be ) alive , as different , as eminent in their liberal inclinations . edward leigh , of rushwel-hall esq. whose critica sacra with many other worthy works will make his judicious industry known to posterity . elias ashmole , esq. born in litchfield , critically skilled in ancient coins , chymistry , heraldry , mathematicks , what not ? john lightfood , d. d. who for his exact insight in hebrew , and rabbinical learning hath deserved well of the church of england . but forgive me , reader , i have forgot myself and trespassed on my fundamental rules . romish exile writers . william gifford . though this ancient and worshipful name be diffused in several counties ; i have satisfied my self in fixing him here , as an extract of the family of chillington . he was a man of much motion , and my pen is resolved to follow him , as able to travel with more speed , less pain , and cost , from his fathers house he went to , and lived four years in oxford . thence ( with his school-master ) he went over to lovain , where he got * lauream doctoralem in artibus , was made master of arts. then , studying divinity there under bellarmin , was made batchelour in that profession . frighted hence with war went to paris . removed to rheams , where he eleven years professed divinity . doctorated at pont-muss in lorain . highly prized by henry duke of guise and cardinal lewis his brother , who gave him a pension of two hundred crowns a year . after their death he went to rome , where he became dean of st. peters in the isle for ten years . returning to rheams he was made rector of the vniversity therein . at fifty years of age bidding farewel to the world , he became a benedictine at delaware in lorain . thus far pitseus : ( acquainting us , that he was alive ) on whose stock give me leave to graft , what followeth ; this dr. gifford was afterwards advanced arch-bishop of rheams by the favour of the duke of guise , who is shrewdly suspected to have quartered to heavily on the profit of that place . however our gifford gained so much , as therewith to found not only a covent for english monks at st. mallowes in france , but also at paris for those of the same profession . remarkable charity , that an exile ( who properly had no home of his own ) should erect houses for others . benefactors to the publick . this county , i confess , is exceeded by her neigbours in this particular ; and i meet with few either ancient or eminent benefactions therein . yet besides a ●…air school at wolver-hampton built by sr. stephen jennings lord major of london , and another erected by mr. thomas allen at ●…tceter , i am credibly informed , that marten noel , esq. born in the coun●…y-town of stafford , bred s●…rivener in london , hath fairly built and largely endowed an hospital in stafford aforesaid ▪ the crown mu●…al amongst the roman●… wa●… no●… given to every souldier , who scaled the walls , but onely to him , who footed them first : on which account a garland of glory is due to this gentleman , whose foundation ( as i am certified ) is the first [ considerable ] fabrick of that kind in this county . i●… is to be hoped , that as the zeal of * achaia provoked many , ●…o this good leader will invite ma●…y followers to succeed him , living in london this present . memorable persons . thomas tarlton . my intelligence of the certainty of his birth-place , coming too late , ( confessed by the * marginal mark ) i fix him here , who indeed was born at condover in the neighbouring county of shrap-shire , where still some of his name and relations remain . here he was in the field keeping his fathers swine , when a servant of robert earl of leicester ( passing this way to his lords lands in his barony of denbighe ) was so highly pleased with his happy unhappy answers , that he brought him to court , where he became the most famous jester to queen elizabeth . many condemn his ( vocation i cannot term it , for it is a coming without a calling ) imployment as unwarrantable . such maintain , that it is better to be a fool of gods making , born so into the world , or a fool of mans making jeered into it by general dirision , than a fool of one 's own making , by his voluntary affecting thereof . such say also , he had better continued in his trade of swine-keeping , which ( though more painful , and less profitable ) his conscience changed to loss , for a jesters place in the court , who , of all men have the hardest account to make for every idle word that they abundantly utter . others alledge in excuse of their practises ; that princes in all ages were allowed their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whose virtue consisted in speaking any thing without control : that jesters often heal what flatterers hurt , so that princes , by them arive at the notice of their errors , seeing jesters carry about with them an act of indemnity for whatsoever they say or do : that princes over-burdered with states-business must have their diversions , and that those words , are not censurable for absolutely idle , which lead to lawful delight . our tarlton was master of his faculty . when queen elizabeth was serious ( i dare not say sullen ) and out of good humour , he could un-dumpish her at his pleasure . her highest favorites , would in some cases , go to tarleton , before they would go to the queen , and he was their vsher to prepare their advantagious access unto her. in a word he told the queen more of her faults , than most of her chaplains , and cured her melancholy better than all of her physicians . much of his merriment lay in his very looks and actions , according to the epitaph written upon him hic ●…itus est cujus poterat vox , actio , vultus , ex heraclito reddere democritum . indeed the self same words , spoken by another , would hardly move a merry man to smile , which uttered by him , would force a sad soul to laughter . this is to be reported to his praise , that his jests never were prophane , scurrilous , nor satyrical , neither trespassing on piety , modesty , or charity , as in which plurimum inerat salis , mu●…tum aceti , aliquid sinapis , nihil veneni . his death may proportionably be assigned , about the end of queen elizabeth . james sands , of * horborn , ( nigh bremingham but ) in this county , is most remarkable for his vivacity , for he lived and his wife years . he out lived five leases of twenty one years a piece , which were made unto him after his marriage . thus is not the age of man so vniversally contracted , but that divine providence sometimes draweth it out to an extraordinary length , as for other reasons so to render the longevity of the primitive patriarchs more credible . he died about the year . walter parsons born in this county was first apprentice to a smith , when he grew so tall in stature , that a hole was made for him in the ground to stand therein up to the knees , so to make him adequate with his fellow work-men . he afterwards was porter to king james ; seeing as gates generally are higher than the rest of the building , so it was sightly that the port●… should be taller than other persons . he was proportionable in all parts , and had strength equal to height , valour to his strength , temper to his valour , so that he disdained to do an injury to any single person . he would make nothing to take two of the tallest yeomen of the guard ( like the gizard and liver ) under his arms at once and order them as he pleased . yet were his parents ( for ought i do understand to the contrary ) but of an ordinary stature , whereat none will wonder who have read what * st. augustine reports of a woman which came to rome ( a little before the sacking thereof by the goths ) of so giantlike a height that she was far above all who saw her , though infinite troopes came to behold the spectacle . and yet he addeth et hoc erat maximae admirationis , quod ambo parentes ejus , &c. this made men most admire , that both her parents were but of ordinary stature . this parsons is produced for proof , that all ages affords some of extraordinary height , and that there is no general decay of mankind in their dimentions , which if there were , we had ere this time shrunk to be lower than pigmyes not to instance in a lesse proportion . this parsons died anno dom. . ▪ lord majors . name . father . place . company . time william taylor . john taylor . ecclestone . grocer . stephen jennings . will. jennings . wolverhampton . merchant-tailor . richard pipe. richard pipe. wolverhampton . draper . james harvey . will. harvey . cottwalton . iron-monger . stephen slany . john slany . mitton . skinner . william rider . thom●…s rider . muclestone . haberdasher . hugh hamersley hugh hamersley . stafford . haberdasher . the names of the gentry of this county , returned by the commissioners in the year of k. henry the sixth . anno dom. . commissioners to take the oathes . william bishop of covent . and liech . humphry earl of stafford . knights for the shire hugh ardeswyk . thomas arblastier . johannis sutton , chiv . johannis bagot , chiv . rogeri aston , chival . johannis gruffith , chi . johannis gresley , chiv . thomae stanley , arm . radulphi egerton , ar . radulphi basset , arm . roberti harecourt , ar . philippi chetwynd , ar . richardi bagot , arm . roberti whitgrave , ar . thomae barbour , arm . willielmi grevel , arm . thomae detheck , arm . thomae goyne , armig . johannis miners , ar . tho. oker , arm . senioris . tho. oker , arm . junioris . johannis minerel , arm . richardi peshale , armi . hugonis wrotesley , arm . riehardi hareconrt , ar . sampsonis ardiswick , ar . johannis winesbury , ar . thomae swinerton , arm . willielmi newport , arm . johannis hampton , arm . humphry low , armiger richardi lone , armig . willieimi lee , armiger . willielmi everdon , ar . willielmi leveson , arm . nicolai warings , arm . jacobi leveson , arm . rogeri wirley , armig . cornelii vvirly , armig . johannis whatecroft , ar . gerardi de ringeley , ar . richardi pety , armig . vvillielmi hexstall , ar . edwardi doyle , arm . richardi selman , arm . david . cawardyn , arm . thome swynfen , arm . richardi rugeley , ar . johannis broghton , arm . johannis atwell ; arm . thomae cotton , armig . johannis cotton , arm . aymeri cotton , armig . thomae vvolseley , ar . johannis colwich , ar . roberti swinerton , ar rogeri swineshede , ar th. vvhitington , ar . joh. more , armiger thome more , arm . joh. askeby , arm . joh. mollesley , arm . joh. horewold , ar . vvill. saltford , ar . vvil. leventhorp , ar . vvill. corbyn , gent. joh. corbyn , gent. thomae vvalton , ar . reg. bro de oake , ar . johannis sheldon , ar . radulphi frebody , arm . vvill. bradshaw , arm . joh. bonghay , gent. joh. burton , gent. roberti stokes , armig . joh. cumberford , armig . nicolai thiknes , armig . aegidii , swinerton , arm . thomae vvolaston , gent. hugonis holyns , gent. thomae lokewood , gent. thomae stafford , gent. nicolai norman , gent. richardi snede , gent. vvillielmi orme , gent. hugonis greneway , gent. humfridi clerkeson , rogeri bealchier . vvillielmi sondbache . johannis brennere . richardi vicarus . johannis vvylot . thomae bowyer . johannis ruggeley . petri goldsone . nicholai flaxale . thomae brette . thomae neweno . richardi banastre . vvillielmi fouke . rogeri milnes . richardi bisheton . roberti onowyne . roberti berdusmore . humfridi vvalker , of kestren . vvillielmi bowdel , of the mere vvillielmi sherred . vvillielmi broke henrici monyfold . stephani bagonnal . thomae glyfe . hug●…nis bertam . sheriffs . hen. ii. anno milo de gloucest . anno robertus de stafford , for years together . anno alex. clericus , for years together . anno thomas noel , for years together . rich. i. anno thomas noel anno tho. de cressewel anno hugo coventriensis episc. & robertus filius walleram anno hugo coventr . episcopus & rober. de humant , frater ejus . anno hugo episcop . coventr . & richardus maresse . anno hugo bardulfe anno idem . anno hugo de caucombe , for years together . joh . regis . anno galfr. filius petri & tho. de erdington , for years together . anno tho. erdington , & robertus de alta ripa . anno idem . anno tho. de erdington , for years together . hen. iii. anno ranul . com. cestr. & hen. de aldicheleia , for years together . anno ranul . comes cest. & phil. de kinton , for years together . anno ranul . com. cestr. anno joh. bonet , for years together . anno hen. de aldich & robertus de leia . anno hen. de aldich & will. de bromley . for years together . anno robertus de haga , for years together . anno joh. extraneus , & robertus de acton . anno joh. extraneus , for years together . anno thomas corbet . anno idem . anno rober. grendon , for years together . anno hugo de acovere . anno hugo de acovere . anno will. bagod , for years together . anno will. de covereswel , & jac. de aldahell . anno jaco . de aldahell , for years together . edw. i. anno radul . de mortuo mari , for years together . anno bogo de knovil , for years together . anno rogerus springhuse , for years together . anno rogerus springhuse , & lionine ramesley , for years together . anno robertus corbet . anno will. tictely , for years together . anno radul . de schirle , for years together . anno thomas corbet . anno idem anno richardus de harleigh anno idem . anno walter de beysin . anno idem . anno johannes de acton anno johannes de dene . anno idem . edw. ii. anno rogerus trumwinne anno johannes extraneus . anno hugo de crofts . anno idem . anno hugo de andecle , for years together . anno will. de mere. anno rogerus de cheyne . anno rogeri trumwinne . anno idem . anno robertus de grendon , for years together . anno johannes de swinerton . anno idem . anno henricus de bishburn , for years together . edw. iii. anno johannes de hinkele & henricus de bishburn anno idem . anno johannes de hinkele anno idem . anno henricus de bishburn anno idem . anno richardus de peshal anno idem . anno johannes de hinkeley anno simon de ruggeley . anno richardus de peshal , & simon de ruggeley , for years together . anno adam de peshal anno thomas de swinerton anno idem anno johannes de aston anno henr. com. derby , for years together anno johannes de swinerton anno robertus de grendon anno johannes de perton anno philippus de lutteley , for years together anno henricus pius anno johannes de perton anno idem anno johannes de gresley anno nicholaus de stafford anno johannes de verdon anno johannes bassey anno nicholaus de stafford anno petrus de careswel anno walterus de hopton anno willielmus de canereswel . henry the third . ranul . com. cestr. & henr. de aldicheleia ] this henricus of aldicheleia was the first lord audley in this county , and founder of that noble family so long famous for martial atchievements . i meet with a * record extant in the tower , too long to transcribe , wherein king henry the third confirmed unto him not only many lands of his own donation , but what other persons of quality in this county had bestowed on him . nich. de verdun gave him aldithlege . hugh de lacy gave him coulton . eutropius hastang gave him cold norton . will. de betleigh gave him betleigh . harvey de stafford gave him heleigh . egidius erdington gave him shagbourn . herbert rusbin gave him stanweare . eugenulphus greasly gave him tunstal . chaderley . alice his wife gave him chell . normancot . margaret strange gave him nerle . brudnap . alice hartoate gave him weston . joan noel gave him weston . peter morton gave him hauksley , bagley , and morton . all , or most of these were great mannors cum pertinentiis . what man of men was this henry that so many of both sexes should center in their bounty upon him , was it for fear , or love , or a mixture of both . but i have no calling to inquire into the cause thereof , and if they were pleased to give , none will blame him for receiving them . heleigh , the fifth mannor here mentioned was afterwards the prime seat of the lord audley , who also had great lands in devon-shire , where formerly we have spoken of him . their heir-males failing about the reign of king henry the sixth , joan one of their heirs was married to sir john tutchet , whose son sir john assumed the title of baron audley and was ancestor to the present lord audley earl of castle-haven in ireland . edward the third . john de aston . ] i have not met with a more noble family , measuring on the level of flat and un-advantaged antiquity . they have euer borne a good respect to the church and learned men , and not without just reason , seeing roger de molend bishop of litchfield in the reign of king henry the third gave haywood in this county rogero de aston * valecto suo , to roger de aston his servant . this roger was son to ralph aston , and father unto sir john aston , whose succession is thus ordered , sir john aston , afore-named . sir thomas aston , his son . sir roger aston , his son . sir robert aston , his son . john aston , his son esq. sir john aston , his son knight banneret . sir edward aston , his son . sir walter aston , his son . sir edward aston , his son . sir walter aston , his son . this last sir walter was employed by king james embassador unto spain . he married gertrude sole daughter of sir thomas sadler of standon in hartford-shire . nor must it be forgotten , that that pious poet mr. * michael drayton confesseth , that his muse oft found safe and sweet retreat , at tixhall , the habitation of this family , and thus windeth up his well-wishing for them ; whose bounty still my muse so freely shall confesse , that when she lacketh words , then signs shall it expresse . sheriffs . place . armes . rich. ii.     anno     brian . cornwall shrops . arg. a lion ram●…ant gules , armed az. in a border sab. bezant●… . will. calleson     ioh. de verdon   or , a fret gules . rog. de wirley hampshed ar. a cheve . ingrail . betw . bugle horns , sa. will. wa shall   arg. a fox passant , sable . idem ut prius   humf. de stafford   or , a cheveron gules , a quarter ermin . will. de walshal ut prius   rog. manneyson     adomar . de lichfeld     will. chetwin ingestree . azure , a cheveron betwixt mullets , or. humf. de stafford ut prius   will. vvalshall ut prius   ioh. delves apedale . ar. a cheveron gu. fretty , or , betwixt delfs sable . ioh. swinerton   argent , a cross formet flurt , sa. will. de 〈◊〉     adam . de lichfield     rob. frances   argent , a cheveron betwixt spread eagles , gules . rob. mannesin     vvill. vvalshall ut prius   idem ut prius   idem . ut prius   hen. iv.     anno     vvill. sharshal , mi.     rob. mannesin , mil. & wil. newport , m.   arg. a cheveron gules , betwixt leopards heads , sable . rob. frances ut prius   humf. stafford ut prius   idem ut prius   vvill. newport ut prius   vvill. vvalshal ut prius   will. newport , mil. ut prius   rob. frances , mil. ut prius   tho. aston , mil. haywood argent , a fesse , and lozenges in chief , sable . ioh. delves ut prius   tho. giffard . chillington . azure , ●…irrups leathered , or. hen. v.     anno     ioh. basset , mil. drayton . or , piles gules , a canton erm rob. babthorpe     ioh. delves ut prius   rich. vernon   argent , frettee sa. a canton , gu. ioh. meverel throwley arg. a griffin segreant , sable . vvill. trussel   or , a cross formee fleury , gules . humf. haighton     ioh. delves ut prius   idem . ut prius   hen. vi.     anno     tho. gresley , mil.   varry , ermin and gules . hug. erdeswick , ar . sandon . or , on a c●…veron gu. bezants . ni. montgomery , m.   or , an eagle displayed , azu . iohan. bagor , mil. blithfield . argent , a cheveron gules betwixt martlets , sable . roger. eston     ric. vernon , mil. ut prius   phil. chetwin ut prius   tho. griffith   gules , a cheveron betwixt helmets , argent . ni. montgomery , m. ut prius   rog. aston , mil. ut prius   radul . egerton   argent , a lion rampant gules between pheons , sable . thom. stanley   ar. on a bend az stags-heads , o. rob. st●…elley , mil. notin . paly of six argent and azure . rich. peshale horsley . argent , a cross formee floyre , sa. on a canton gules , a wolfs head erazed , of the first . phil. chetwin , mil. ut prius   radul . basset ut prius   thomas s●…anley ut prius   thomas gresley ut prius   humf. lowe     radulpus aucher     vvillielmus mitton   per pale az. and gules , an eagle with heads dispayed , or. nic. mountgomery ut prius   thomas blount   barry nebule of o●… and sable . ioh. griffith , mil. ut prius   humf. blount ▪ ut prius   tho. ferrers , arm . tāworth . varry , or and gules . idem . ut prius   humf. swinerton ut prius   ioh. stanley , arm . ut prius   tho. astley patshall amp. robertus aston ut prius   rich. bagot , arm ut prius   th. cotton , ar . sive lotton   let the name first be agreed on . ioh. delves , armig . ut prius   ioh. coles , arm .   quarterley erm. and paly of six , or and gules . vvill. mitton , arm ut prius   hug egerton , arm . ut prius   ioh. stanley , mil. ut prius   edw. iv.     walt. wrotesl●…y wrotsley , or , piles ▪ sable a canton erm. ioh. harecourt , ar .   or , two barrs gules . idem . ut prius   humf. peshal ut prius   ioh. stanley , mil. ut prius   tho. basset , arm . ut prius   ioh. harecourt , ar . ut prius   iohan. acton , arm .   gules , lions passant argent betwixt croslets , or. ioh. stanley , mil. ut prius   ran. brereton , mil.   argent , barrs , sable . hen. beaumont , mi.   azure , semee de flowers de lis , a lion rampant , or. walt. griffith , mil. ut prius   will. bass●… . ut prius   geo. stanley ut prius   ioh. stanley , mil. ut prius   ioh. ashton ut prius   hug. egerton , ar . ut prius   rich. bagot ut prius   nic. mountgomery ut prius   ioh. aston ut prius   will. basse●… , mil. ut prius   humf. stanley , mi. ut prius   rich. iii.     anno     ni. montgomery , ar . ut prius   th. worlseley , mil.     marm. constable , m. & hum. stafford , m. yorksh . ut prius quarterly gules and vary , a bend , or. hen. vii .     anno     humf. stanley ut prius   hen. willoughby   a m p. will. harper   argent , a lion rampant in a bordure engrailed , sable . hug. peshal ut prius   th. gresley , mil. ut prius   ranul . oker   〈◊〉 , if not the same with oke over ▪ rog. draycot , ar .   or , fretty gules on a canton , ar. a cross patee , azure . ric. wrotesl●…y , ar . ut prius   humf. stanley , mil. ut prius   ric. harecourt , mil. ut prius   ioh. mitton , arm . ut prius   ioh. draycot , arm . ut prius   tho. gresley , arm . ut prius   will , harper , arm . ut prius   ioh. ferrers , mil. ut prius   iohan. aston , arm . ut prius   ric. wrotesley , ar . ut prius   will. harper , arm . ut prius   ioh. draycot . mil. ut prius   will. smith , arm .     idem ut prius   ludovic . bagot , mi. ut prius   ioh. mitton , arm . ut prius   ioh. aston , mil. ut prius   hen. viii .     anno     ioh. g●…ard , arm . ut prius   th. nevil , arm . chenston-park gules , on a saltire argent , an annulet , sable . ioh. egerton , arm . ut prius   ioh. mitton , arm . ut prius   ioh. aston , mil. ut prius   will. chetwin , ar . ut prius   th. nevil ▪ arm . ut prius   ric. wrotesley , ar ut prius   ioh. giffard , mil. ut prius   rad. egerton , m. ut prius   edward grey , mi.   barry of six argent , and azure , torteauxes in chief , a label of points o●… the fi●…st . lodo. bagot , mil. ut prius   ioh. giffard , mil. ut prius   will. smith , mil. ut prius   ed. littleton ; mil. ple●…hall argent , a cheveron between escallops shels , sable . edward grey , mil. ut prius   ioh. giffard , mil. ut prius   ioh. blount , ar .   barry nebule of or , and sab. ioh. vernon , ar . ut prius   edw. ashton , arm .   argent , a fess and lozenges in chief , sable . th. giffard , arm . ut prius   ioh. giffard , arm . ut prins   wil. wrotesley , ●…r . ut prius   ioh. vernon , arm . ut prius   phi. draycot , mil. ut prius   edw. ashton , mil. ut prius   will. chetwin , ar . ut prius   ioh. dudley , mil.   or , a lion rampant tail forked , vert. geo. gresley , mil. ut prius   ioh. vern●…n , arm . ut prius   edw. littleton , ar . ut prius   edw. ashton , mil. ut prius   ioh. giffard , mil. ut prius   will. basset , mil. ut prius   th. fitzherbert , ar .   argent , a chief varry or and gules , a bend ingrailed sable . geo. gresley , mil. ut prius   ioh. harecourt , m. ut prius   iac. leveson , & walt. wrotesley , ar . ut prius quarterly gules and azure sinister hands couped , arg. edvv. vi.     anno     fran. meverel , ar . ut prius   io. fleetwood , ar . cakewish . partee per pale nebule az. & o. martlets in pale counterch . vvill. snead , mil. bradwel . argent , a sithe & flowre de luce in the middle of the shield , ●…able . ed. littleton , ar . ut prius   vvil. basset , mil. ut prius   g●…o . blount , mil. ut prius   phil. reg. & mar. reginae .     anno     th. giffard , mil. ut prius   . t. fitzherbert , m ut prius   . pe. 〈◊〉 , mil. ut prius   . edw. ashton , mil. ut prius   . io. harecourt , m. ut prius   . vvill. snead . mil. ut prius .   eliz. reg.     anno     hum. vvells , ar .     rad. bagnol , mil.   ermin , barrs or , over all a lion rampant azure . ioh. leveston , ar . ut prius   vvill. 〈◊〉 , ar . ut prius   ed. litt●…eton , mil. ut prius   rad. oker , arm .     io. vvrotesley , a●… . ut prius   sim. harecourt , a●… . ut prius   io. skrimshere , ar .   gules , a lion rampant or , within a border , varry . io. fleetwood . ar . u●… p●…ius   ric. bagot , 〈◊〉 . ut p●…ius   vvalt . ashton , ar . ut prius   th. ●…rentham , ar   argent , griffns-heads sable , langued gules . geor. blount , mil. ut prius   ioh. giffard , arm ut prius   th. horwood , ar . compton argent , a cheveron , betwixt bucks-heads caboshed , sable . rad. add●…ley , ar . 〈◊〉 . argent , on a cheveron sable , mullets of the f●…st . rad. snead , arm . ut prius   ric. bagot , arm . ut prius   io. chetwyn , arm . ut prius   th. trentham , ar . ut prius   vvalt . ashto●… , m. ut prius   edw. littleton , ar . ut prius   iohannes grey , ar . ut prius   th. gr●…ey , ar . ut prius   edw. leigh , a●…m .   gules , a cross ingrailed argent , in the first quarter a lozenge . rad. okever , ar .   ermin on a chief 〈◊〉 , bezants . vvalt . leveson , 〈◊〉 ut prius   vvill. basset , arm . ut prius   ioh. bows , mil. elford ermin , bowes , sable . rob. stanford , ar .   argent , barres azure , on a canton gules , a hand holding a broken fauchion , or. edw. eston , mil.     tho. leveson , ar . ut prius   〈◊〉 . trentham , mi. ut prius   ed. littleton , mil. ut prius   hen. griffith , ar . ut prius   rad. sneade , arm . ut prius   th. horwood , ar . ut prius   will. cromp●…on . ar stone argent on a chief ver●… , pheons or. wal. wrotesley , a. ut prius   walt. bagot , a m. ut prius   will. chetwyn , ar . ut prius   will. skevingtō , a.   argent , bulls-heads erazed , sable . edw. leigh , arm . ut prius   walt. bagot , ar . ut prius   jac. reg.     anno     walt. bagot , ar . & ut prius   edw. leigh . ut prius   wil. horwood , mil. ut prius   gilb wake●…ing , m.     ed. brabazon , mil.   gules , on a bend argent , mar●…ets of the first . walt. chetwyn , m ut prius   ia. skrimshere , a. ut prius   walter . heveningham , arm . a●…on quarterley or and gules , a border sable , with scallop shels , argent . simon vveston , m     fr. trentham , arm . ut prius   th. meverel , arm .   argent , griffin segreant , sable . th. littleton , mil. ut prius   rich. fleetwood , barr. ut prius   . ioh. peshal , mil. & barr. ut prius   ioh. offley , mil.   argent , on a cross azure formee flure a lion passant or , between cornish choughs , sable . hug. vvrotesley , ut prius   th. skrimshere , a. ut prius   hen. leigh , arm . ut prius   ed. vvinso●… . arm .     . rad. snede , arm . ut prius   will. cumberford , a     will. skeffington , arm . ut prius   ed. stanford , ar . ut prius   car. i.     anno     th. pa●…kes , arm .     herveus bago●… , baronet . ut prius   will. bowyer , mil. knipe●…ley argent , a lion rampant betwixt crosse croslets 〈◊〉 , ●…ul . ioh. bowes , arm . ut prius   ioh. cotes , arm . ut prius   will. wollaston , ar .   sable , pierced mullets argent . th. broughton , ar langdon argent , bars gules , on a canton of the second , a cross of the first . th. horwood , mil. ut prius   hen griffith , bar. ut prius   humf. wyrley , ar . hampsted argent , bugle-horns sable , stringed vert. ric. pyot , & humf. wyrley , ar . ut prius   ed. littleton , bar. ut prius   ioh. skevington , a. ut prius   io. skrimshere , ar . ut prius   ioh. bellot , arm .     ioh. agard , arm .     ed. mosely , bar.   sable , on a cheveron betwixt mallets argent , as many mullets , gules .     simon* rudgeley ,       * argent , on a chev●… sable , mullets of the first .     th. kynnersley , armiger .   azure , 〈◊〉 de crosses croslet , a lion rampant , argent . richard the second . brian cornwal . ] he 〈◊〉 also this year sheriff of shrop-shire so that the two adjacent counties were under his inspection . roger de wirley ] when i observe how this gentleman is fixed in his generation , i cannot satisfie my self , whether he lived nearer unto his ancestor rober●… de wirley , who flourished in this county under king henry the d . ( if not before ) or whether he approached nearer unto his descendent s●… john wirley that learned knight now living at hampsteade . in my arithmetick he is equally distanced from them both . henry the sixth . thomas stanley . ] his true name was audley . for , after that adam , youngest brother to james lord 〈◊〉 , had married the daughter and heir of henry de stanley , william their son assumed the sir-name of * stanley , & transmitted it to his posterity . as for this thomas stanley , till i be clearly convinced to the contrary , he shall pass with me for the same person , whom king henry the sixth made lord stanley , knight of the garter , lord deputy of ireland , and lord chamberlain of his household ; and father unto thomas stanley , whom king henry the seventh created the first earle of derby . john delves , esq. ] he is the last of that ancient family appearing in this catalogue , who were fixed in this county in the reign of king edward the third . this sir john delves ( for he was afterwards knighted ) left one daughter and sole heir called * helene , married unto sir robert sheffield knight and recorder of london , ancestor unto the present earl of moulgrave . edward the fourth . walter wrotesley . ] he was lineally descended from s●… hugh * wrotesley , one of the first founder of the most noble order of the garter . henry the eighth . john dudley . ] i had thought his ambition had been too high to come under the roof of such an office , and discharge the place of a sheriff . but know , that as yet sir john dudley , was but sir john dudley , a plain , but powerful knight , who not long afterwards , viz. the th . of king henry the eighth was created viscount lisley , and then earl of warwick , in the first of king edward the sixth , † and in the fifth of the said king , duke of northumberland . however now he waited at assizes , on the itinerant judges who afterwards made all the judges of the land ( justice hales alone excepted ) attend on him , and dance after the pipe of his pleasure , when the instrument was drawn up ( testament i can hardly term it ) whereby the two sisters of king edward the sixth , were dis-inherited . king charles . william bowyer knight . ] thomas bowyer his ancestor , from whom he is lineally descended , did in the reign of king richard the second marry * katharine daughter and heir of robert knipersley , of knipersley in this county , with whom he had a fair inheritance . the bowyers of sussex ( invited thither some years since by an earl of northumberland ) are a younger branch from these in stafford-shire . battles . at hopton heath in this county in march , a fierce fight happened betwixt the kings and parliaments forces , on a ground full of cony-borroughs , therefore affording ill footing for the horse . but an equal disadvantage on both sides is no disadvantage on either . the royalists may be said to have got the day , and lost the sun which made it , i mean the truly loyal and valiant spencer earl of northampton , though still surviving as in his grateful memory , so in his noble and numerous issue , no less deservedly honoured by others then mutually loving amongst themselves . the farewel . to take our vale of stafford-shire . i wish that the pit-coal ( wherewith it aboundeth ) may seasonably and safely be burnt in their chimnies , and not have their burning antedated , before they be digg'd out the bowels of the earth . the rather , because i have * read , how in the year there was found a coal-mine actually on fire , between willingsworth and weddesbury in this county . i find not by what casualty this english aetna was kindled , nor how long it did continue . and although such combustions be not so terrible here , as in the south of italy , where the sulphureous matter more inrageth the fury of the fire , yet it could not but cause much fright and fear to the people thereabouts . suffolk hath norfolk on the north , divided with the rivers of little ouse and waveny , cambridge-shire on the west , the german ocean on the east , and essex parted with the river stoure on the south thereof . from east to west it stretcheth fourty five miles , though the general breadth be but twenty , saving by the sea-side , where it runneth out more by the advantage of a corner . the air thereof generally is sweet and by the best * physicians esteemed the best in england often prescribing the receit thereof to the consumptionish-patients . i say generally sweet , there being a smal parcel nigh the sea-side not so excellent , which may seem left there by nature , on purpose to advance the purity of the rest . naturall commodities . cheese . most excellent are made herein , whereof the finest are very thin , as intended not for food but digestion . i remember when living in cambridge , the cheese of this county was preferred as the best . if any say that scholars palates are incompetent judges , whose hungry appetites make course diet seem delicates unto them , let them know , that pantaleon the learned dutch physician * counted them , equal at least , with them of parma in italy . butter . for quantity and quality this county doth excel , and venteth it at london , and elsewhere . the child , not yet come to , and the old man , who is past the use of teeth eateth no softer , the poor man no cheaper , ( in this shire ) the rich no wholesomer food , i mean in the morning . it was half of our saviours bill of fare , in his infancy butter * and hony shall he eat . it is of a cordial , or if i may say , antidotal nature . the story is well known of a wife which desiring to be a widow incorporated poison in the butter , whereon her husband had his principal repast . the poor man finding himself strangely affected , repaired to a physician , who by some symptomes suspecting poison , demanded of his patient which was his chiefest diet. the sick man told him , that he fed most constantly on butter . eat butter still ( return'd the physician ) which hitherto hath saved your life , for it corrected the poison , that neither the malignity thereof , nor the malice of the wife , could have their full operation . manufactures . cloathing . here it will not be amiss to insert a passage which i meet with in an industrious antiquary * as relating to the present subject . the manufacture of cloathing in this county hath been much greater , and those of that trade far richer , i perswade my self , heretofore than in these times , or else the heirs and executors of the deceased were more careful that the testators dead corps should be interred in more decent manner , than they are now a-dayes ; otherwise i should not find so many marbles richly inlaid with brass , to the memory of cloathiers in fore-going ages , and not one in these later seasons . all the monuments in the church of neyland which bare any face of comliness , and antiquity are erected to the memory of cloathiers , and such as belong to that mystery . some perchance would assign another reason , viz. because monuments formerly were conceived to conduce much to the happiness of the deceased ( as bespeaking in their epitaphs the suffrages of the living in their behalf ) which errour is vanished away since the reformation ; all which being fully beleeved weakneth not the observation , but that suff●…lk clothiers were wealthier in former than in our age. buildings . this county hath no cathedral therein , and the parochial churches [ generally fair ] no one of transcendent eminency ; but formerly it had so magnificent an abbey-church in bury , the sun shined not on a fairer , with * three lesser churches waiting thereon in the same church-yard . of these but two are extant at this day , and those right stately structures ; and if the servants we so much commend , what was the mistriss whom they did attend ? here i meet with a passage affected me with wonder , though i know not how the reader will resent it : it is avouuched by all † authors ; that mary youngest sister to king henry the eighth , relict to lewis the twelfth king of france , afterwards married to charles brandon , duke of suffolk , died on mid-summer eve , and was buried in the abbey church in bury . but it seems her corps could not protect that church from demolishing , which in few years after was levelled to the ground . i read not that the body of this princess was removed to any other place , nor doth any monument here remain to her memory , though her king-brother and second husband survived the destruction of that church . a strange thing ! save that nothing was strange in those dayes of confusion . as for the town of bury it is sweetly seated and fairely built , especially since the year . about which time it was lamentably defaced with a casual fire , though since god hath given them beauty for * ashes . and may the following distich ( set up therein ) prove prophetical unto the place . burgus ut antiquus violento corruit igne , hic stet , dum flammis terra polusque flagrent . though furious fire the old town did consume , stand this , till all the world shall flaming fume . noris the school a small ornament to this town founded by king edward the sixth , being itself a corporation , now ( as well as ever ) flourishing under mr. stephens , the able master thereof . amongst the many fair houses of the gentry in this county long melford must not be forgotten , late the house of the countess rivers , and the first fruits of plundering in england ; and sommerley hall ( nigh yarmouth ) belonging to the lady wentworth , well answering the name thereof : for here sommer is to be seen in the depth of winter in the pleasant walks , beset on both sides with firr-trees green all the year long , besides other curiosities . as for merchants houses , ipswich town ( corrival with some cities for neatness and greatness ) affordeth many of equal handsomness . proverbs . suffolk milk. ] this was one of the staple-commodities of the land of canaan , and certainly most wholesome for mans body , because of gods own chosing for his own people . no county in england affords better and sweeter of this kind , lying opposite to holland in the netherlands , where is the best dairy in christendom , which mindeth me of a passage betwixt spinola and grave maurice . the spanish general being invited to an entertainment by the afore-said prince at breda ( as i take it ) when lemons and oranges were brought in for sauce at the first cour●…e , what a brave country is my masters ( quoth de don ) affording this fair fruit all the year long . but when cream was brought up to close the feast , grave maurice returned , what a brave country is ours that yeildeth this fruit twice every day ? suffolk fair maids . ] it seems the god of nature hath been bountiful in giving them beautiful complexions , which i am willing to believe so far forth as it fixeth not a comparative disparagement on the same sex in other counties . i hope they will labour to joyn gracious hearts to fair faces ; otherwise i am sure there is a divine proverb of infallible truth , * as a jewel of gold in a swines snout , so is a fair woman which is without discretion . suffolk s●…iles . ] it is a measuring cast , whether this proverb pertaineth to essex or this county , and i believe it belongeth to both , which being inclosed countries into petty quillets abound with high stiles troublesome to be clambred over . but the owners grudge not the pains in climbing them , sensible that such severals redound much to their own advantage . you are in the high way to needham . ] needham is a market-town in this county , well stokt ( if i mistake not ) with poor people , though i believe this in no degree did occasion the first denomination thereof . they are said to be in the high way to needham who do hasten to poverty . however these fall under a distinction , some go , others are sent thither : such as go embrace several wayes , some if poor , of idleness ; if rich , of carelesness , or else of prodigality . others are sent thither against their wills by the powerful oppression of such , who either detain or devour their estates . and it is possible some may be sent thither by no default of their own , or visible cause from others , but meerly from divine justice , insensibly dwingling their estates , chiefly for trial of their patience . wherefore , so many wayes leading to needham from divers quarters , i mean from different causes ; it is unjust to condemn all persons meeting there , under the censure of the same guiltness . princes . edmund mortimer , son to roger mortimer , earl of march , grand-child of edmund mortimer , earl of march , and of philippa sole daughter of lionel duke of clarence , may passe with the charitable reader for a prince , since he paid so dear for the same , as will appear . i confess it impossible to fix his nativity with assurance , ( having not hitherto read any record which reached it ) the rather because of the vastness of his patrimony ; and several habitations in england in the marches of vvales whence he had his honour . in ireland clare-cas●…le , with many other mannors in suffolk . vvigmore in hereford-shire . trim , conaught , with large lands in ulsier .   ludlow in shrop-shire .   but most probable it is that he was born where he was buried , at clare . after the death of king richard the second , he was the next heir to the crown . happy had he been , if either nearer to it , so as to enjoy the honour thereof ; or farther off , so as not to be envied and suspected for his title thereunto by king henry the fourth . now , all the harm , this earl had done king henry , was this , that king henry held from him his lawful inheritance . yea , this meek mortimer was content to wave the crown , so be it he might but enjoy his private patrimony , which he could not without many molestations from the king. for , this is the nature of some men to heap injuries on those they have wronged , as if the later injuries would give a countenance of justice to the former . he employed this edmund in a war against owen glendour , the welsh rebel , on the same design that * saul sent david to fight against , and fetch the fore-skins of the philistins . if he prov'd conquerour , then was king henry freed from a professed foe ; if conquered , then was he rid of a suspected subject . but mortimer went by the worst , and being taken prisoner , the king ( though often solicited ) never endeavoured his enlargement ; till at last he dearly ransomed himself . yet did he but exchange a welsh for an irish prison , kept years in r●…traint in his own castle of trim , in the end of the reign of cunning king henry the fourth , all the reign of couragious king henry the fifth , and the beginning of the reign of innocent king henry the sixth , their different tempers meeting in cruelty against this poor prisoner . he died anno domini . without issue , leaving anne his sister , his heir , and lieth buried in clare , as is aforesaid . saints . st. edmund king of the east-angles . hear what falshoods are hudled together in our english martyrology , written ( as he terms himself ) by a catholick priest , permi●… superiorum . . pag. on the of november . at hexam in northumberland the passion of st. edmund king and martyr , who being a saxon by bloud , born in the city of noremberg in that province , and nephew to offa king of the east-angles . first , hexam in northumberland , should be hoxton in this county , where st. edmund was martyred . secondly , there is no city noremberg in brittain , nor europe save that in germany . this is enough to make us distrust what he writeth afterwards , viz. that , when the said st. edmund was cruelly murdered by the danes , and when the christians , seeking his corps , were lost in a wood , did call one to another , where art ? where art ? where art ? the martyred head answered , here , here , here. however , god forbid , that this authors fauxities should make us undervalue this worthy king and martyr , cruelly tortured to death by the pagan danes , and by an old author thus not unhansomely express'd . * utque cruore suo gallos dionysius ornat : graecos demetrius : gloria quisque suis. sic nos edmundus nulli virtute secundus , lux patet , & patriae gloria magna suae . sceptra manum , diadema caput , sua purpura corpus ornat ei , sed plus vincula , mucro , cruor . as denis by his death adorneth france : demetrius greece : each credit to his place : so edmunds lustre doth our land advance , who with his vertues doth his country grace . scepter , crown , robe , his hand , head , corps renouns , more famous for his bonds , his bloud , his wounds . his death happened anno domini . whose body was placed in a goodly shrine , richly adorned with jewels , and precious stones at bury in this county . these all are vanish'd , whilst the name of st. edmund will ever remain in that towns denomination . robert grosthead . ●…ehosaphat seeing four hundred prophets of baal together , and suspecting they were too many to be good , cast in that shrewd question ; is there not here a * prophet of the lord besides ? and thereupon micaiah was mentioned unto him . possible the reader seeing such swarms of popish saints in england , will demand ; is there not ●…et a saint of the lord besi●…es ? and i conceive my self concerned to return a true answer , that there is robert grosthead by name , whom now we come to describe . he was born in this * county , bred in oxford , where he became most eminent for religion and learning in all kind of languages , arts and sciences , and at last was preferred bishop of lincoin , . he wrote no fewer than three hundred treatises , whereof most are extant in manuscript in westminster library , which dr. williams ( his successor in the see of lincoln ) intended † to have published in three fair folio volumes , had not the late troublesome times dis-heartned him . thus our civil warrs have not only filled us with legions of lying pamphlets , but also deprived us of such a treasure of truth , as this worthy mans works would have proved to all posterity . he was a stout opposer of popish-oppression in the land , and a sharp reprover of the corruptions of the court of rome , as we have largely declared in our ecclesiastical history . such the piety of his life and death , that , though loaded with curses from the pope , he generally obtained the reputation of a saint . bellarmine starts a * question , whether one may pray lawfully to him & paint his picture in the church , who is not canonized by the pope ? and very gravely he determineth ( a short line will serve to fadom a shallow water ) that privately he may do it , and that a picture of such a man may be painted in the church , provided his head be not encompassed with a radiated circle as particular to canonized saints . thus our learned and pious robert must want that addition of a glory about his picture , and the matter is not much , seeing no doubt having turned many to righteousness , he doth shine in heaven as the brightness of * the firmament . whose death happened anno domini . martyrs . rowland taylor . where born unknown ( though some without any assurance have suggested his nativity in yorkshire ) was bred in cambridge , and became head of borden hostle nigh ( if not now partly in ) cajus colledge , where he commenced doctor of the laws . hence he was by archbishop cranmer presented to the rectory of hadley in this county . he was a great scholar , painful preacher , charitable to the poor , of a comly countenance , proper person , ( but inclining to corpulency ) and chearful behaviour . the same devotion had different looks in several martyrs , frowning in stern hooper , weeping in meek bradford , and smiling constantly in pleasant taylor . indeed some have censured his merry conceits as trespassing on the gravity of his calling , especially when just before his death . but surely such romanists , who admire the temper of sr. thomas more jesting with the axe of the executioner , will excuse our taylor for making himself merry with the stake . but though it be ill jesting with edged tooles ( whereof death is the sharpest , ) yet since our saviour hath blounted it , his servants may rather be delighted than dismayed with it . not long after doctor taylor set archbishop cranmer who was his patron , a copy of patients , who indeed wrote after it , but not with so steady a hand , and so even a character of constancy . taylor was martyred at hadley , february , . robert samuel was minister of barfold in this county , who by the cruelty of hopton bishop of norwich and downing his chancellour , was tortured in prison . not to preserve , but to reserve him for more pain . he was allowed every day but three mouthfuls of bread , and three spoonfuls of water . fain would he have drunk his own urin , but his thirst-parched body afforded none . i read how he saw a * vision of one all in white , comforting and telling him , that after that day he never should be hungry or thirsty ; which came to passe accordingly , being within few hours after martyred at ipswich , august , . some report that his body when burnt , did shine as bright * as burnish'd silver , sed parcius ista . such things must be sparingly written by those who would not only avoid untruths , but the appearance thereof . thus loath to lengthen mens tongues reporting what may seem improbable , and more loath to shorten gods hand in what might be miraculous , i leave the relation , as i found it . besides these two , i meet with more than twenty by name martyred ( confessors doubling that number ) whose ashes were scattered all over the county , at ipswich , bury , bekles , &c. it is vehemently suspected , that * three of them burnt at bekles had their death antedated before the writ , de haeretico comburendo , could possibly be brought down to the sheriff . and was not this ( to use tertullians latin in some different sense ) festinatio homicidii ? now though cha●…ity may borrow a point of law to save life , surely cruelty should not steal one to destroy it . cardinals . thomas wolsey , was born in the town of ipswich , where a butcher , a very honest man , was his father , though a poet be thus pleased to descant thereon , brave priest who ever was thy sire by kind , wolsey of ipswich ne're begat thy mind . one of so vast undertakings , that our whole book will not afford room enough for his character ; the writing whereof i commend to some eminent person of his foundation of christ-church in oxford . he was made cardinal of st. cecily and died heart-broken with grief at leicester . without any monument , which made a great * wit of his own colledge thus lately complain , and though from his own store wolsey might have a palace , or a colledge for his grave , yet here he lies interr'd , as if that all of him to be remembred were his fall . nothing but earth to earth , nor pompous weight upon him but a pebble or a quaite , if thou art thus neglected , what shall we hope after death , that are but shreds of thee ? this may truly be said of him , he was not guilty of mischievous pride , and was generally commended for doing justice , when chancellour of england . prelates . herbert losing was born in this county , as our * antiquary informeth us ; in pago oxunensi in sudovolgia anglorum comitatu natus : but , on the perusing of all the lists of towns in this county , no oxun appeareth therein , or name , neighbouring thereon in sound and syllables . this i conceive the cause why bishop godwin , so confidently makes this herbert born oxoniae , in oxford , in which county we have formerly placed his character . however , seeing bale was an excellent antiquary , and being himself a suffolk-man , must be presumed knowing in his own county ; and conceiving it possible that this oxun was either an obscure church-less-village , or else is this day disguized under another name , i conceive it just that as oxford-shire led the front , suffolk should bring up the reer of this herberts description . indeed he may well serve two counties , being so different from himself and two persons in effect . when young , loose and wild , deeply guilty of the sin of simony : when old , nothing of herbert was in herbert , using commonly the words of * st. hierome ; erravimus juvenes , emendemus senes , when young we went astray , when old we will amend ; now , though some controversie about the place of his birth , all agree in his death , july , ; and in his burial , in the cathedral church of norwich . richard angervile , son to s ● . richard angervile knight , was born at * bury in this county , and bred in oxford , where he attained to great eminency in learning . he was governour to king edward the third whilst prince , and afterwards advanced by him to be successively his cofferer , treasurer of his wardrobe , dean of wells , bishop of duresme , chancellour , and lastly treasurer of england . he bestowed on the poor every week eight quarters of * wheat baked in bread. when he removed from duresme to newcastle ( twelve short miles ) he used to give eight pounds sterling in alms to the poor , and so proportionably in other places betwixt his palaces . he was a great lover of books , confessing himself * exsiatico quodam librorum amore potenter abreptum , in so much that he alone had more books than all the bishops of england in that age put together , which stately library by his will he solemnly bequeathed to the university of oxford . the most eminent foreigners were his friends , and the most learned englishmen were his chaplains , untill his death which happened anno . john paschal , was born in this * county ( where his name still continueth ) of gentle parentage , bred a carthusian and d. d. in cambridge . a great scholar and popular preacher . bateman bishop of norwich , procured the pope to make him the umbratile bishop of scutari , whence he received as much profit , as one may get heat from a glow-worm . it was not long before , by the favour of king edward the third , he was removed from a very shadow to a slender substance , the bishoprick of landaffe ; wherein he died anno domini . simon sudbury , aliàs , tibald , was born at sudbury , as great as most , and ancient as any town in this county . after many mediate preferments ( let him thank the popes provisions ) at last he became arch-bishop of canterbury . he began two synods with latin sermons in his own person , as rare in that age as blazing stars , and as ominous ; for they portended ill successe to wickliffe and his followers . however this simon sudbury , overawed by the god of heaven , and john duke of lancaster , did not ( because he could not ) any harm unto him . he was killed in the rebellion of j. straw and wat. tyler , anno domini . and although his shadowey tomb ( being no more than an honourary cenotaph ) be shown at christ-church in canterbury ; yet , his substantial monument , wherein his bones are deposited , is to be seen in st. gregories in sudbury , under a marble stone sometimes inlayed all over with brass , some four yards long , and two broad , saith mine * eyewitnesse-authour ( though i confesse i never met with any of like dimension ) so that in some sense i may also call this a cenotaph , as not proportioned to the bulk of his body , but height of his honour and estate . thomas edwardston , so named from his birth-place edwarston in this county ( a village * formerly famous for the chief mansion of the ancient family of mounchensey ) bred first in oxford , then an augustinian eremite in clare . he was a great scholar , as his works evidence , and confessor to lionel duke of clarence , whom he attended into italy , when he married joland daughter to john galeaceus duke of milan . j. pits conceiveth him to have been an arch-bishop in ireland , which is utterly disowned by judicious sir † james vvare . and indeed if * bales words ( whence pits deriveth his intelligence ) be considered , it will appear , he never had title of an arch-bishop , sed cujusdam archi-episcopatus curam accepit , he undertook care of some arch-bishoprick , probably commended in the vacancy thereof to his inspection . and why might not this be some italian arch-bishoprick , during his attendance on his patron there , though afterwards ( preferring privacy before a pompous charge ) he returned into his native country , and died at clare . anno . thomas pev●…rel , was born of good parentage , in this * county , bred a carmelite , and d. d. in oxford . he was afterwards by king richard the second made bishop of ossory in ireland . i say by king richard the second , which minds me of a memorable passage , which i have read in an excellent author . it may justly seem strange , which is most true , that there are three bishopricks in ireland in the province of ulster , by name , derry , rapho , and clogher , which neither queen elizabeth , nor any of her progenitors did ever * bestow , though they were the undoubted patrons thereof . so that king james was the first king of england that did ever supply those sees with bishops , so that it seems , formerly the great irish lords in those parts preferred their own chaplains thereunto . however the bishopricks in the south of the land , were ever in the disposal of our kings , amongst which ossory was one , bestowed on our peverel . from ireland he was removed to landaffe in wales , then to vvorchester in england , being one much esteemed for learning , as his books do declare . he died , according to bishop godwins account , march the , , and lieth buried in his own cathedral . stephen gardiner , was born in * bury st. edmunds , one of the best aires in england , the sharpness whereof he retained in his wit and quick apprehension . some make him base-son to lionel vvoodvile , bishop of salisbury , which i can hardly beleeve , salisbury and st. edmunds-bury being six score miles asunder . besides , time herein is harder to be reconciled than place . for , it being granted an errour of youth in that bishop , and that bishop vanishing out of this world . gardiner in all probability must be allowed of greater age than he was at his death . it is confess'd by all , that he was a man of admirable natural parts , and memory especially , so conducible to learning , that one saith , tantum scimus quantum meminimus . he was b●…ed doctor of laws in trinity-hall in cambridge , and after many state-embassies and employments , he was by king henry the eighth made bishop of vvinchester . his malice was like what is commonly said of white powder , which surely discharged the bullet , yet made no report , being secrete in all his acts of cruelty . this made him often chide bonner , calling him * asse , though not so much for killing poor people , as not for doing it more cunningly . he was the chief contriver of what we may call gardiners-creed , though consisting but of six articles , which caused the death of many , and trouble of more protestants . he had almost cut off one who was , and prevented another for ever being a queen , i mean katharine par and the lady elizabeth , had not divine providence preserved them . he complied with king henry the eighth , and was what he would have him ; opposed king edward the sixth , by whom he was imprisoned and depriv'd ; acted all under queen mary , by whom he was restored , and made lord chancellour of england . he is reported to have died more than half a protestant , avouching that he believed himself and all others onely to be justified by the merits of christ ; which if so , then did he verifie the greek and latine proverb , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saepe olitor valde verba opportuna loqu●…tus . the gardiner oft times in due season speaks what is true , and solid reason . he died at vvhite-hall of the gout , november the th . . and is buried by his own appointment on the northside of the quire , over against bishop fox , in a very fair monument . he had done well , if he had parallell'd bishop fox ( founder of corpus christi colledge in oxford ) in erecting some publick work , the rather because he died so rich , being reported to have left fourty thousand † marks in ready money behind him . however on one account his memory must be commended for improving his power with queen mary to restore some noble families formerly depressed . my * author instanceth in some descendan●…e from the duke of norfolk , in the stanhops and the arundels of vvarder castle . to these give me leave to adde the right ancient family of the hungerfords , to whom he procured a great part of their patrimony , seased on by the crown , to be restored . since the reformation . john bale was born at * covie in this county , five miles from donwich , and was brought up in jesus-colledge in cambridge , being before , or after a carmelite in norwich . by the means of thomas lord wentworth , he was converted to be a protestant . this is that bale who wrote a book de scriptoribus britannicis , digested into nine centuries , not more beholding to leland , than i have been to bale in this work , and my church-history . anno , february the d . he was consecrated at dublin , bishop of ossory in ireland , whence on the death of king edward the sixth , he was forced to flie ( some of his servants being slain before his eyes ) and in his passage over the sea , was taken prisoner by pirates , sold , ransom'd , and after many dangers safely arrived in switzerland . after the death of queen mary , he returned into england , but never to his irish bishoprick , preferring rather a private life , being a prebendary of the church of canterbury . one may wonder , that being so learned a man , who had done and suffered so much for religion , higher promotion was not forced upon him , seeing about the beginning of queen elizabeth , bishopricks went about begging able men to receive them . but probably he was a person , more learned than discreet , fitter to write than to govern , as unable to command his own passion , and biliosus balaeus passeth for his true character . he died in the sixty eighth year of his age at * canterbury ( anno domini , in the moneth of november ) and was buried in the cathed●…al church therein . john may was born in this † county , bred in the ●…niversity of cambridge , whereof he became proctor , elected master of katharine-hall , vice-chancellour , and at last consecrated bishop of carlile , sept. , , continuing eleven years in that see , and died in april . john overal , d. d. born a●… hadley in this county , was bred in the free-school therein , till sent to st. johns , then to trinity colledge in cambridge whereof he was fellow , and there chosen regius profess●…r ; one of the most profound school-divines of the english nation . afterwards by the queens absolute mandate ( to end a contention betwixt two corrivals ) not much with his will he was made master of katharine-hall . for when archbishop whitgift joyed him of the place , he returned that it was terminus diminuens , taking no delight in his preferment . but his grace told him , that ( if the injuries , much more ) the less courtesies of princes must be thankfully taken , as the ushers to make way for greater , as indeed it came to passe . for , after the death of dr. nowel , he was ( by the especial recommendation of sr. fulke grevil ) made dean of st. pauls . being appointed to preach before the queen , he profess'd to my father ( most intimate with him ) that he had spoken latin so long it was troublesome to him to speak english in a continued oration . he frequently had those words of the psalmist in his mouth , * vvhen thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity , thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth , surely every man is vanity . i cite it the rather out of the new translation ( something different from the old ) because he was so eminent an instrument employed therein . king james made him bishop of norwich , where he was a discreet presser of conformity , on which score he got the ill will of many dis-affected thereunto , and died anno . leonard maw , was born at * rendlesham in this connty , a remarkable place iassure you , which , though now a country village , was anciently the residence of the kings of the east-angles . where king redwald , a mongrel christian , kept at the same time altare & * arulam , the communion table , and altars for idols . he was bred in cambridge , where he was proctor of the university , fellow , and master of peter-house , after of trinity colledge , whereof he deserved well , shewing what might be done in five years by good husbandry to dis-ingage that foundation from a great debt . he was chaplain to king charles whilst he was a prince , and waited on him in spain , by whom he was preferred bishop of bath and wells . he had the reputation of a good scholar , a grave preacher , a mild man , and one of gentil deportment . he died anno domini . . ralph brounrig , d. d. was born at ipswich of parents of merchantly condition . his father died in his infancy , and his mother did not carelesly cast away his youth ( as the first broachings of a vessel ) but improved it in his education at school , till he was sent to pembroke-hall in cambridge , and afterwards became scholar and fellow thereof . king james coming to cambridge , was ( amongst others ) entertained with a philosophy act , and mr. brounrig was appointed to perform the joco-serious part thereof , who did both to the wonder of the hearers . herein he was like himself , that he could on a sudden be so unlike himself and instantly vary his words and matter from mirth to solidity . no man had more ability , or less inclination to be satyrical , in which kind posse & nolle is a rarity indeed . he had wit at will , but so that he made it his page , not privy councellour , to obey , not direct his judgement . he carried learning enough in numerato about him in his pockets for any discourse , and had much more at home in his chests for any serious dispute . it is hard to say whether his loyal memory , quick fancy , solid judgement , or fluent utterance , were most to be admired , having not only flumen , but fulmen eloquentiae , being one who did teach with authority . when commencing bachelour in divinity , he chose for his text , vobis autem , &c. * it is given to you , not only to beleeve , but suffer in the behalf of christ. a text somewhat prophetical to him , who in the sequele of his life met with affronts to exercise his prudence and patience , being afterwards defied by some , who [ almost ] deified him before , in whose eyes he seemed the blacker , for wearing white sleeves , when made bishop of exeter . i was present at his consecration sermon , made by his good friend doctor younge , taking for his text , the waters are risen , o lord , the waters are risen , &c. wherein he very gravely complained of the many invasions which popular violence made on the priviledges of church and state. this bishop himself was soon sadly sensible of such inundations , and yet by the proc●…rity of his parts and piety , he not only safely waded thorough them himself , but also , ( when vice-chancellour of cambridge ) by his prudence raised such banks , that those overflowings were so not destructive , as otherwise they would have been to the university . he continued constant to the church of england , a champion of the needful use of the liturgie , and for the priviledges of ordination to belong to bishops alone . unmoveable he was in his principles of loyalty , witness this instance . o. p. with some shew of respect unto him , demanded the bishops judgement ( non plus't it seems himself ) in some business , to whom he returned , my lord , the best counsel i can give you , is , give unto caesar the things that are caesars , and unto god the things that are gods , with which free answer o. p. was rather silenced than satisfied . about a year before his death , he was invited by the society of both temples to be their preacher , admirably supplying that place , till strong fits of the stone , with hydropical inclinations , and other distempers incident to phletorick bodies , caused his death . i know all accidents are minuted and momented by divine providence , and yet i hope i may say without sin , his was an untimely death , not to himself ( prepared thereunto ) but as to his longer life vvhich the prayers of pious people requested , the need of the church required , the date of nature could have permitted , but the pleasure of god ( to which all must submit ) denied . otherwise he vvould have been most instrumental to the composure of church differences , the deserved opinion of whose goodness had peaceable possession in the hearts of the presbyterian party . i observed at his funeral that the prime persons of all perswasions were present , whose judgements going several wayes met all in a general grief for his decease . he was buried on the cost of both temples , to his great , but their greater honour . the reader is referred for the rest , to the memorials of his life , written by the learned doctor john gauden , who preached his funeral sermon , and since hath succeeded him , both in the temple and bishoprick of exeter . his dissolution happened in the th . year of his age , decemb. , , and was buried the week following in the temple church . states-men . s ● . nicholas bacon , knight , was born in this county , not far from the famous abbey of st. edmunds bury , and i have read that his father was an officer belonging thereunto . his name i assure you is of an ancient gentry in this shire as any whatsoever . he was bred in bennet colledge in cambridge , to which afterwards he proved a bountiful benefactor , building a beautiful chappel therein . he afterwards applied himself to the study of the common law : and was made attourney to the court of wards , whence he was preferred lord keeper of the great seal in the first of queen elizabeth , . he married anne , second daughter to s ● . anthony cook , of giddy-hall in essex , governour to king edward the sixth . and it is worthy of our observation , how the sates-men in that age were arched together in affinity , to no small support one to another . sir john cheek , secretary to k. edward the sixth , whose sister was first wife to sr william cecil secretary to the same king. sir will. cecil aforesaid for his second wife married the wives sister unto this sir nicholas bacon , lord keeper . sr. francis walsingham secretary to queen elizabeth had a sister married unto sir walter mildmay , chancellour of the exchequer . sir franc. walsingham was also brother in law unto sir tho. randolph , that grand states-man & ambassador . to return to sir nicholas bacon he was condemned by some who seemed wise , and commended by those that were so , for not causing that s●…atute to be repealed ( the queen relying on him as her oracle of law ) whereby the queen was made illegitimate in the dayes of her father . for this wise states-man would not open that * wound , which time had partly closed , and would not meddle with the variety , yea , contrariety of statutes in this kind , whereby people would rather be perplexed than satisfied ; but derived her right from another statute which allowed her succession , the rather , because lawyers maintain ; that a crown once worn cleareth all defects of the wearer thereof . he continued in his office about eighteen years , being a man of rare wit and deep experience , cui fuit ingenium subtile in corpore crasso . for he was loaden with a corpulent body , especially in his old age , so that he would be not only . out of breath , but also almost out of life , with going from westminster-hall to the star-chamber , in so much when sitting down in his place , it was some time before he could recover himself . and therefore it was usual in that court , that no lawyer should begin to speak till the lord keeper held up his staffe as a signal to him to begin . he gave for his motto , mediocria firma , and practised the former part thereof mediocria ; never attaining , because never affecting , any great estate . he was not for invidious structures ( as some of his contemporaries ) but delighted in domo domino pari . such as was his house at gorhambury in hartfordshire . and therefore when queen elizabeth coming thither in progresse , told him , my lord , your house is too little for you ; no madam ( returned he no less wittely than gratefully ) but it is your highness that hath made me too great for mine house . now as he was a just practiser of the first part of this motto mediocria , so no doubt , he will prove a true prophet in the second part thereof firma , having left an estate rather good than great to his posterity , whose eldest son sir edward bacon in this county was the first baronet of england . he died on the th . of february , , and iieth buried in the quire of st. pauls . in a word he was a goodman , a grave states-man , a father to his country , and father to sir francis bacon . sir william druery , was born in this county , where his worshipful family had long flourished at haulsted . his name in saxon soundeth a pearle , to which he answered in the pretiousness of his disposition , clear and hard , innocent and valiant , and therefore valued deservedly by his queen , and country . his youth he spent in the french wars , his middle in scotland , and his old age in ireland . he was knight marshal of barwick , at what time the french had possessed themselves of the castle of edenburgh , in the minority of king james . queen elizabeth employed this sir william with men to besiege the castle , which service he right worthily performed , reducing it within few dayes to the true owner thereof . anno he was appointed lord president of mounster , whether he went with competent forces , and executed impartial justice in despite of the opposers thereof . for as the sign of leo , immediately precedeth virgo and libra in the zodiack , so no hope that innocency will be protected , or justice administred in a barbarous country where power and strength do not first secure a passage unto them . but the earl of desmond opposed this good president , forbidding him to enter the county of kerry , as a palatinate , peculiarly appropriated unto himself . know by the way as there were but four palatinates in england , chester , lancasterdurham and ely , ( whereof the two former many years since were in effect invested in th●… crown ) there were no fewer than eight palatinates in ireland , possessed by their respective dynasts , claiming regal rites therein , to the great retarding of the absolute conquest of that kingdom . amongst these ( saith my author ) kerry became the sanctuary of sin , and refuge of rebels , as out-lawed from any english jurisdiction . sir william , no whit terrified with the earls threatning , entred kerry , with a competent train , and there dispenced justice to all persons , as occasion did require . thus with his seven-score men , he safely forced his return through seven hundred of the earls , who sought to surprise him . in the last year of his life , he was made lord deputy of ireland , and no doubt had performed much in his place , if not afflicted with constant sickness , the fore-runner of his death at * waterford , . sir robert naunton , was born in this county , of right ancient extraction , some avouching that his family were here before , others that they came in with the conqueror , who rewarded the chief of that name for his service with a great inheretrix given him in marriage . in so much that his lands were then estimated at ( a vast sum in my judgment ) seven * hundred pounds a year . for along time they were patrons of alderton in this county , where i conceive sir robert was born . he was first bred fellow commoner in trinity colledge , and then fellow of trinity-hall in cambridge . he was proctor of the university , anno domini / , which office according to the old circle returned not to that colledge but once in fourty four years . he addicted himself from his youth to such studies , as did tend to accomplish him for publick imployment . i conceive his most excellent piece called fragmenta regalia , set forth since his death , was a fruit of his younger years . he was afterwards sworn secretary of state to king james on thursday the eighth of january , . which place he discharged with great ability and dexterity . and i hope it will be no offence here to insert a pleasant passage . one mr. wiemark a wealthy man , great novilant , and constant pauls walker , hearing the news that day of the beheading of sir walter raleigh : his head ( said he ) would do very well on the shoulders of sir robert naunton , secretary of state. these words were complained of , and wiemark summoned to the privy councel , where he pleaded for himself , that he intended no dis-respect to mr. secretary , whose known worth was above all detraction ; only he spake in reference to an old proverb , two heads are better than one . and so for the present he was dismissed . not long after , when rich men were called on for a contribution to st. pauls , wiemark at the councel-table subscribed a hundred pounds , but mr. secretary told him two hundred were better than one , which betwixt fear and charity wiemark was fain to subscribe . he died anno domini . . leaving one daughter , who first was married to paul vicount banning , and after to the lord herbert , eldest son to philip earl of pembroke . capital judges . john de metingham was born in this county ( where metingham is a village in vvang ford hundred not far from bongey ) and was lord chief justice of the common pleas in the reign of king edward the third . it is * reported , to his eternal praise that when the rest of the judges ( edw. . ) were fined and outed for corruption , this metingham and elias de beckingham continued in their places , whose innocence was of proof against all accusations , and as * caleb and josh●…a amongst the jury of false spies , so these two amongst the twelve judges onely retained their integrity . king edward in the th of his reign directed a writ unto him about the stinting of the number of the apprentices and attourneys at law , well worth the inserting . d. * rex injunxit john de metingham & sociis suis , quod ipsi per discre●…ionem eorum provideant & ordinent numerum certum è quolibet comitatu de melioribus & legalioribus & libentius add scentibus , secundum quod intellexerint , quod curiae suae & populo de regno melius valere poterit , &c. et videtur regi & ejus consilio quod septies viginti sufficere poterint . apponant tamen praefati justiciarii plures , si viderint esse faciendum , vel numerum anticipent . the lord the king hath enjoyned john de metingham and his assistants , that they according to their discretion provide and ordain a certain number out of every county of such persons vvhich according to their understanding , shall appear unto them of the better sort and most legal and most vvillingly applying themselves to the learning of the lavv , vvhat may better avail for their court and the good of the people of the land , &c. and it seems likely to the king and his councel that sevenscore may suffice for that purpose . however the afore-said justices may add more if they see it ought to be done , or else they may lessen the number . some conceive this number of sevenscore confined only to the common pleas , whereof metingham was chief justice . but others behold it as extended to the whole land , this judge his known integrity being intrusted in their choice and number , which number is since much increased , and no wonder , our land being grown more populous , and the people in it more litigious . he died anno domini .... sir john cavendish knight , was born at cavendish in this county , ( where his name continued until the reign of king henry the eighth ) bred a student of the municipal-law , attaining to such learning therein , that he was made lord chief justice of the kings ( or upper ) bench , july , in the th . of king edward the third , discharging his place with due commendation , untill his violent death on the fifth of king richard the second on this occasion . john raw , a priest , contemporary with jack straw and wat tyler , advanced robert westbroome , a clown , to be king of the commons in this county , having no fewer than fifty thousand followers . these for eighth dayes together , in savage sport , caused the heads of great persons to be cut off , and set on poles to kisse and * whisper in one anothers ears . chief justice cavendish chanced then to be in the country , to whom they bare a double pique ; one , because he was honest , the other , learned . besides , they received fresh news from london , that one john cavendish his kinsman , had lately kill'd their idol wat tiler in smithfield . whereupon they dragg'd the reverend judge with sir john of cambridge , prior of bury , into the market-place there , and † beheaded them . whose innocent bloud remained not long unreveng'd , by spencer the warlike bishop of norwich , by whom this rascal rabble of rebels was routed and ruined . reader , be charitably pleased that this note may ( till better information ) preserve the right of this county unto sir robert broke , a great lawyer , and lord chief justice of the common pleas in the reign of queen mary . he wrote an abridgment of the whole law , a book of high account . it insinuateth to me a probability of his birth herein , because ( lawyers generally purchase near the place of their birth ) his posterity still flourish in a worshipful equipage at nacton nigh ipswich in this county . souldiers . sir thomas wentworth of nettlested in this county , of a younger family ( confessed by the crescent in his coat ) descended from the wentworths of wentworth-woodhouse in york-shire , was created baron vventworth by king henry the eighth . he was a stout and valiant gentleman , a cordial protestant , and his family a sanctuary of such professors , john * bale comparing him to the good centurion in the gospel , and gratefully acknowledging him the cause of his conversion from a carmelite . the memory of this good lord is much ( but unjustly ) blemished , because calis was lost the last of queen mary under his government . the manner hereof was huddled up in our chronicles ( least is best of a bad business ) whereof this the effect . the english being secure by reason of the late conquest at st. quintin , and the duke of guise having notice thereof , he sate down before the town at the time ( not when * kings go forth to , but return from battle ) of mid-winter , even on new-years-day . next day he took the two forts of rise-bank and newnam-bridge ( wherein the strength of the city consisted ) but whether they were undermined or undermonied it is not decided , and the last left most suspicious . within three dayes the castle of calis , which commanded the city and was under the command of sir ralph chamberlain , was taken , the french wading thorough the ditches ( made shallower by their artificial cut ) and then entering the town , were repulsed back by sir anthony ager , marshal of calis , the only man , saith * stow , who was kill'd in the fight ( understand him of note : ) † others , for the credit of the business , accounting four score lost in that service . the french re-entring the city the next being twelfth-day , the lord wentworth deputy thereof , made but vain resistance , which ( alas ) was like the wriggling of a wormstail after the head thereof is cut off , so that he was forced to take what terms he could get , viz. that the townsmen should depart ( though plundred to a groat ) with their lives ; and himself with fourty nine more ▪ such as the duke of guise should chose , should remain prisoners to be put to ransome . this was the best news brought to paris , and worst to london , for many years before . it not only abated the queens cheer , the remnant of christmas , but her mirth all the dayes of her life . yet , might she thank her self for loosing this key of france , because hanging it by her side with so slender a string , there being but five hundred souldiers effectually in the garrison , too few to manage such a piece of importance . the lord wentworth , the second of june following , was solemnly condemned for treason , though un-heard , as absent in france , which was not only against christian charity , but roman justice , festus confessing it was not fashionable amongst them , to deliver any man to die before he , which is * accused , have the accusers face to face , and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him . it was well for this lord that he was detained in france till his ransome was paid , and queen mary dead , who otherwise probably had lost his life , if he had had his liberty . but queen elizabeth coming to the crown , he found the favour , or rather had the justice to be tried again , and was * acquitted by his peers , finding it no treachery , cowardise or carelesness in him , but in sr. john harlston and sr. ralph chamberlain , the one governour of rise-bank , the other of calis-castle , for which they were both condemned to die , though their judgment was remitted . this lord was the only person i have read of , who thus in a manner played rubbers when his head lay at stake , and having lost the fore , recovered the after-game . he died a very aged man . sea-men . thomas cavendish , of * trimley in this county esq. in pursuance of his generous inclination to make foreign discoveries for the use and honour of his nation , on his own cost victualled and furnished three ships ( the least of fleets ) as followeth , tunn . the desire , admiral of the content , vice-admi●…al of the hugh-gallant , rere-admiral of all three managed by persons , with which he set sail from plymouth the th . of july , . so prosperous their winds , that by the of august they had gone nine hundred and thirty leagues to the south of africa . then bending their course south-west , january the th . they entred the mouth of the magellan-straits ; straits indeed , not only for the narrow passage , but many miseries of hunger and cold , which mariners must encounter therein . here mr. cavendish named a town port-famine , and may never distressed seaman be necessitated to land there . it seems the spanjards had a design , so to fortifie these straits in places of advantage , as to ingross the passage that none , save themselves , should enter the southern sea. but god the promoter of the publick good destroyed their intended monopoly , sending such a mortality amongst their men , that scarce five of five hundred did survive . on the of february they entred the south-sea , and frequently landed as they saw occasion . many their conflicts with the natives , more with the spanjards , coming off gainers in most , and savers in all encounters , that alone at quintero excepted , april , , when they lost twelve men of account , which was the cause that the june following they purposely sunk the rere-admiral , for want of men to manage her . amongst the many prizes he took in his passage , the st. anne was the most considerable , being the spanish admiral of the southern-sea , of seven hundred tuns . however our cavendish boarded her with his little ship ( a chicken of the game will adventure on a greater fowl , and leap where he cannot reach ) and mastered her though an hundred and ninety persons therein . there were in the ship an hundred and two and twenty thousand pezos * ( each worth eight shillings ) of gold , the rest of the lading being silks , sattins , musks and other rich commodities . mr. cavendish his mercy after , equaled his valour in the fight , landing the spaniards on the shore , and leaving them plentiful provisions . surrounding the east-indies , and returning for england , the ship called the content did not answer her name , whose men took all occasions to be mutinous , and stayed behind in a road with stephen hare their master , and mr. cavendish saw her not after . but he , who went forth with a fleet , came home with a ship , and safely landed in plymouth , sept. , . amongst his men three most remarkable , mr. john way their preacher ; mr. thomas fuller of ipswich their pilote ; and mr. francis pretty of eyke in this county , who wrote the whole history of their voyage . thus having circumnavigated the whole earth , let his ship no longer be termed the desire , but the performance ; he was the third man , and second english man , of such universal undertakings . not so successeful his next and last voyage , begun the th . of august , , when he set sail with a fleet from plymouth , and coming in the magellan-straits neer a place by him formerly named port-●…esire , he was the november following , casually severed from his company , not seen or heard of a●…tervvard . pity , so illustrious a life should have so obscure a death . but all things must be , as being it self vvill have them to be . physicians . william butler vvas born at * ipswich in this county , vvhere he had one only brother , who going beyond sea turned papist , for which cause this vvilliam was so offended with him , that he left him none of his estate . i observe this the rather , because this vvilliam butler was causlesly suspected for popish inclinations . he was bred fellow of clare-hall in cambridge , where he became the aesculapius of our age. he was the first english man who quick ' ned galenical physick with a touch of paracelsus , trading in chymical receits vvith great successe . his eye vvas excellent at the instant discovery of a cadaverous face , on which he vvould not lavish any art : this made him at the first sight of sick prince henry , to get himself out of sight . knowing himself to be the prince of physicians , he would be observ'd accordingly : complements would prevail nothing with him , intreaties but little , surly threatnings would do much , and a witty jeere 〈◊〉 any thing . he was better pleased with presents than money , loved what was pretty rather than what was costly , and preferred rarities before riches . neatness he neglected into slovinlyness ; and , accounting cuffs to be manacles , he may be said not to have made himself ready for some seven years together . he made his humoursomnesse to become him , wherein some of his profession have rather aped than imitated him , who had morositatem aequabilem , and kept the tenor of the same surliness to all persons . he was a good benefactor to clare-hall , and dying , he was buried in the chancel of st. maries in cambridge under a fair monument . mr. john crane , that expert apothecary and his executour , is since buried by him , and if some eminent surgeon was interred on his other side , i would say , that physick lay here in state with its two pages attending it . writers . humphrey necton , was born ( though necton be in northfolk ) in this * county , and quitting a fair fortune from his father , professed poverty and became a carmelite in norwich . two firstships met in this man , for he handselled the house-convent , which philip wat in of cowgate , a prime citizen , ( and almost i could beleeve him mayor of the city ) did after the death of his wife in a fit of sorrow give with his whole estate to the carmelites . secondly , he was the first carmelite , who in cambridge took the degree of doctor in divinity . ●…orsome boggled much thereat as false heraldry in devotion , to super-induce a doctoral hood over a friers coul , till our necton adventured on it . for though poverty might not affect pride , yet humility may admit of honour . he flourished under king henry the third , and edward the first , at norwich , and was buried with great solemnity by those of his order , anno dom. . john horminger was born of good parents in this * county , and became very accomplished in learning . it happened that travelling to rome he came into the company of italians ( the admirers only of themselves , and the slighters-general of all other nations , ) vilifying england , as an inconsiderable country ' , whose ground was as barren , as the people barbarous . our horminger , impatient to hear his mother ▪ land traduced , spake in her defence , and fluently epitomized the commodities thereof . returning home he wrote a book de divitiis & deliciis angliae , of the profit and pleasure of england ; which had it come to my hand , o how advantageous had it been to my present design ! he flourished . thomas of ely was born in this county . for though cambridge-shire boasteth of ely ( so famous for the cathedral ) yet is there monks-ely in suffolk , the native town of this thomas , who followed the foot-steps of his countryman necton , being a carmelit●… ( but in ipswich ) and afterwards doctor in the university of cambridge , aith my * author , of both divinities . but the same hand , which tieth , untieth this knot , giving us to understand that thereby are meant scholastical and interpretative divinity , seeming to import them in that age to have been distinct faculties , till afterwards united , as the civil and common law , in one profession . leaving his native land , he travelled over the seas with others of his order , to bruges in flanders , and there kept lectures and disputations , as one gobelike ( a formidable author ) informeth my † informer , till his death about . richard lanham was born at a market-town well known for cloathing in this county , and bred ( when young ) a carmelite in ipswich . he made it his only request to the trefect of his convent , to have leave to study in oxford , which was granted him , and deservedly , employing his time so well there , that he proceeded doctor with publick applause . lelands pencil paints him pious and learned , but bale cometh with his spunge , and in effect deletes both , because of his great antipathy to the vvicklevites . however his learning is beyond contradiction , attested by the books he left to posterity . much difference about the manner and place of his death , some making him to decease in his bed at * bristol , others to be beheaded in london with sudbury arch-bishop of canterbury , and hales master of st. 〈◊〉 of jerusalem ) by the rebellious crew of vvat tyler , who being a misogrammatist ( if a good greek word may be given to so barbarous a rebel ) hated every man that could write or read , and were the more incensed against lanham for his eminent literature . he died anno dom. . john kinyngham was born in this * county , bred a carmelite first in ipswich , then in oxford , being the th . prefect of his order , in england and ireland , confessor to john of gant and his lady . he was the first who encountred vvickliffe in the schools at oxford , disputing of philosophical subtilties , and that with so much ingenuity , that vvickliffe , much taken with the mans modesty , prayed * heartily for him that his judgement might be convinced . but whether with so good successe , wherewith peter martyr besought god on the same account for 〈◊〉 * gilpin , i know not . he died a very aged man anno , and was buried at york far , i confesse , from ipswich his first fixation . but it was usual for prefects of orders , to travel much in their visitations . john lydgate was born in this county at a * village so called , bred a benedictine monk in st. edmunds-bury . after some time spent in our english universities , he travelled over france and italy , improving his time to his great accomplishment . returning , he became tutor to many noble-mens sons , and both in prose and poetry was the best author of his age. if chaucers coin were of a greater weight for deeper learning , lydgates were of a more refined standard for purer language , so that one might mistake him for a modern writer . but because none can so well describe him as himself , take an essay of his * verses , excusing himself , for deviating in his writings from his vocation . i am a monk by my profession , in berry , call'd john lydgate by my name , and wear a habit of perfection ; ( although my life agrees not with the same ) that meddle should with things spiritual , as i must needs confess unto you all . but seeing that i did herein proceed , * at his command , whom i could not refuse , i humbly do beseech all those that read or leasure have this story to peruse , if any fault therein they find to be or error , that committed is by me ; that they will of their gentleness take pain , the rather to correct and mend the same than rashly to condemn it with disdain , for well i wot it is not without blame , because i know the verse therein is wrong , as being some too short and some too long . for chaucer that my master was , and knew what did belong to writing verse and prose , ne're stumbled at small faults , nor yet did view with scornful eye the works and books of those that in his time did write , nor yet would taunt at any man , to fear him or to daunt . he lived to be years of age , and died about the year , and was buried in his own convent with this epitaph , mortuus saeclo , superis superstes hic 〈◊〉 lydgate tumulatus urna , qui fuit quondam celebris britannae fama poesis . dead in this world , living above the skie . intomb'd within this urn doth lydgate lie in former time fam'd for his poetry all over england . as for the numerous and various books , which he wrote of several subjects , * bale presenteth us with their perfect catalogue . john barnyngham , born at a village so named in this † county , was bred a carmelite in ipswich , and afterwards proceeded doctor in oxford , thence going to serbon ( the cock-pit of controversies ) was there admitted to the same degree . trithemius takes notice of his parts and perfections , allowing him festivum ingenium & ad quodcunque deflexum , having a subtile and supple wit , so that he could be what he would be , a great master of defence in the schools , both to guard and hit . bale saith , he saw his works in cambridge fairly written in four great volumes . weary with his long race beyond the seas , he returned at last to the place whence he started , and retiring to his convent , whereof he was ruler at ipswich , died there january , . john of bury was an augustinian in clare , doctor of divinity in cambridge , provincial of his order thorough england and ireland , no mean scholar and a great opposer of reginald peakock and all other wicklevites . he flourished anno . thomas scroope was born at bradley in this * county , ( but extracted from the lord scroop in york-shire ) who rolled through many professions . he was a benedictine , but found that order too loose for his conscience . a carmelite of norwich as a stricter profession . an anchorite ( the dungeon of the prison of carmelitisme ) wherein he lived twenty years . dispensed with by the pope , he became bishop of drummore in ireland . qui●…ing his bishoprick , he returned to his solitary life , yet so , that once a week he used to walk on his bare ●…eet and preach the decalogue in the villages round about . he lived to be extreamly aged , for about the year cloathed in sack-cloath and girt with an iron chain , he used to cry out in the streets , that new jerusalem , the bride of the lamb , was shortly to come down from heaven ▪ prepared for her spouse ▪ revel . and that with great joy he saw the same in the spirit . thomas waldensis the great anti-wicklevite , was much offended thereat ; protesting , it was a scandal and disgrace to the church . however our scroope long out-lived him , and died aged well nigh years , non sine sanctitatis opinione , say both bale and 〈◊〉 ; and it is a wonder they meet in the same opinion . he was buried at 〈◊〉 in this county , anno . since the reformation . richard sirs was born in the edge of this county ( yet so , that essex seemeth to have no share in him ) nigh sudbury and was bred a fellow of st. johns colledge in cambridge . he proved afterwards a most profitable preacher to the honourable society of grais-inn , whence he was chosen master of st. katharine-hall in cambridge . he found the house in a mean condition , the wheel of st. katharine having stood still ( not to say gone backwards ) for some years together , he left it replenished with scholars , beautified with buildings , better endowed with revenues . he was most eminent for that grace , which is most worth , yet cost the least to keep it , ( viz. ) christian humility . of all points of divinity he most frequently pressed that of christs incarnation , and if the angels desired to pry into that mystery , no wonder if this angelical man had a longing to look therein . a learned divine imputed this good doctors great humility to his much meditating on that point of christs humiliation , when he took our flesh upon him . if it be true what some hold in physick , that omne par nutrit suum par , that the vitals of our body are most strengthned by feeding on such meat as are likest unto them , i see no absurdity to maintain , that mens souls improve most in those graces , whereon they have most constant meditation , whereof this worthy doctor was an eminent instance . he died in the th year of his age , anno domini . william alablaster was born at hadley in this county , and by marriage was nephew to doctor john still , bishop of bath and wells . he was bred fellow in trinity colledge in cambridge . a most rare poet as any our age or nation hath produced : witnesse his tragedy of roxama admirably acted in that colledge , and so pathetically ; that a gentle-woman present thereat ( reader i had it from an author whose credit it is sin with me to suspect ) at the hearing of the last words thereof , sequar , sequar so hideously pronounced , fell distracted and never after fully recovered her senses . he attended chaplain in calis-voyage on robert earl of essex , where he was so affected with the beauty of popish churches and the venerable respect the papists gave to their priests , that he staggered in his own religion . there wanted not those of the romish party to force his fall , whom they found reeling ; working on his ambition , who complained of the slownesse of preferment in england , which followed not so fast as in due time to overtake his deserts ; so that soon after he turned a papist . yet it was not long before he was out of love with that perswasion ; so that , whether because he could not comport with their discipline , who would have made him ( who conceived himself at the top ) begin again ( according to their course ) at the bottom of humane learning ; or , because ( which i rather charitably beleeve ) that upon second thoughts he seriously disgusted the romish superstition , he returned into his own country . it was not long before he was made prebendary of st. pauls , and rector of the rich parsonage of tharfield in hartford-shire . he was an excellent hebrician and well skilled in cabalistical learning , witnesse his clerum in cambridge when he commenced doctor in divinity , taking for his text the first words of the first book of chronicles adam , seth , enos . besides the literal sense , as they are proper names of the patriarchs , he mined for a mystical meaning , man is put or placed for pain and trouble . how well this agreeth with the original belongs not to me to enquire ; this i know , it had been hard ( if not impossible ) for him to hold on the same rate , and reduce the proper names in the genealogies following to such an appellativeness , as should compose a continued sense . he died anno domini . . samuel ward was born at haveril in this county , where his father had long been a painful minister of the place , and i remember i have read this epitaph written on his monument in the chancel there , which i will endeavour to translate ; quo si quis scivit scitiùs , aut si quis docuit doctiùs , at rarus vixit sanctiùs ; et nullus tonuit fortiùs . grant some of knowledge greater store , more learned some in teaching ; yet few in life did lighten more , none thundred more in preaching . he bred his son samuel in cambridge in sidney colledge , whereof he became fellow , being an excellent artist , linguist , divine and preacher . he had a sanctified fancy , dexterous in designing expressive pictures , representing much matter in a little model . from cambridge he was preferred minister in , or rather of ipswich , having a care over and a love from all the parishes in that populous place . indeed he had a magnifick vertue ( as if he had learned it from the load-stone , in whose qualities he was so knowing ) to attract peoples affections . yet found he foes as well as friends , who complained of him to the high commission , where he met with some molestation . he had three brethren ministers , on the same token that some have said , that these four put together , would not make up the abilities of their father . nor were they themselves offended with this hyperbole , to have the branches lessened , to greaten their root . one of them , lately dead , was benefic'd in essex , and following the counsel of the poet , ridentem dicere verum , quis vetat ? what doth forbid but one may smile , and also tell the truth the while ? hath in a jesting way in some of his books delivered much smart-truth of this present times . mr. samuel died . . john boise , born at elmeseth in this county , being son of the minister thereof . he was bred first in hadley-school , then in st. johns colledge in cambridge , and was deservedly chosen fellow thereof . here he ( as a volonteer ) read in his bed a greek lecture to such young * scholars , who preferred antelucana studia before their own ease and ●…est . he was afterwards of the quorum in the translating of the bible , and whilst st. chrysostome lives mr. boise shall not die , such his learned pains on him in the edition of sir henry savil. being parson of boxworth in cambridge-shire and prebendary of ely , he made a quiet end about the beginning of our warlike disturbances . romish exile writers . robert southwel was born in this county , as pitseus affirmeth , who although often mistaken in his locality , may be believed herein , as professing himself familiarly acquainted with him at rome . but the matter is not much , where he was born , seeing , though cried up by men of his own profession for his many books in verse and profe , he was reputed a dangerous enemy by the state , for which he was imprisoned and executed , march the , . benefactors to the publick . elizabeth , * third daughter of gilbert earl of clare and wife to john burgh earl of ulster in ireland , i dare not say was born at , but surely had her greatest honor from clare in this county . blame me not , reader , if i be covetous on any account to recover the mention of her memory , who anno founded clare-hall in cambridge , since augmented by many benefactors . sir simon eyre , son of john eyre , was born at brandon in this county , bred in london first an upholster , then a draper . in which profession he profited , that he was chosen lord mayor of the city . on his own cost he built leaden-hall ( for a common garner of corn to the city ) of squared * stone in form as it now sheweth , with a fair chappel in the east side of the quadrant . over the porch of which he caused to be written , dextra domini exaltavit me , the lords right hand hath exalted me . he is elsewhere stiled ho●…orandus & famosus mercator . he left five thousand marks , a prodigious sum in that age , to charitable uses , so that if my sight mistake not ( as i am confident it doth not ) his bounty like * saul stands higher than any others from the shoulders upwards . he departed this life the th . of september , anno domini . and is buried in the church of st. mary woolnoth in lumbard-street , london . thomas spring , commonly called the rich clothier , was i believe born , i am sure lived and waxed wealthy at laneham in this county . he built the carved * chappel of wainscot , in the north-side of the chancel , as also the chappel at the south-side of the church . this thomas spring , senior , died anno , and lieth buried under a monument in the chappel of his own erection . since the reformation . william coppinger born at bucks-hall in this county , where his family flourisheth at this day in a good esteem . he was bred a fish-monger in london , so prospering in his profession that he became lord mayor anno . he gave the * half of his estate ( which was very great ) to pious uses and relieving of the poor . his bounty mindeth me of the words of zacheus to our saviour ; * behold lord , the half of my goods i give to the poor , and if i have taken any thing from any man by false accusation , i restore him fourefold . demand not of me whether our coppinger made such plentiful restitution , being confident there was no cause thereof , seeing he never was one of the publicans , persons universally infamous for extortion ▪ otherwise i confess , that that charity , which is not bottom'd on justice , is but built on a foundred foundation . i am sorry to see this gentlemans ancient arms ( the epidemical disease of that age ) substracted ( in point of honour ) by the addition of a superfluous bordure . sir william cordal , knight . where ever he was born , he had a fair estate at long-melford in this county , and lieth buried in that fair church under a decent monument . we will translate his epitaph , which will perfectly acquaint us , with the great offices he had , and good offices he did to posterity : hic gulielmus habet requiē cordellus , avito stemmate qui clarus , clarior ingenio hic studiis primos consumpsit fortiter annos , mox & causarum strenuus actor er at . tanta illi doctrina inerat , facundia tanta , ut parlamenti publica lingua foret . postea factus eques , reginae arcana mariae consilia , & patriae grande subibat opus . factus & est custos rotulorum , urgente senecta in christo moriens cepit ad astra viam . pauperibus largus victum vestemque ministrans , insuper hospitii condidit ille domum . here william cordal doth in rest remain , great by his birth , but greater by his brain , plying his studies hard his youth throughout , of causes he became a pleader stout . his learning deep such cloquence did vent , he was chose speaker of the parliament . afterwards knight q. mary did him make , and counsellor , state-work to undertake ; and master of the rolls , well worn with age dying in christ heaven was his utmost stage diet and clothes to poor he gave at large , and a fair * almshouse founded on his charge . he was made master of the rolls november th . the fifth of queen mary , continuing therein till the day of his death the † th of queen elizabeth . sir robert hicham knight , and serjeant at law , was born ( if not at ) near nacton in this county , and was very skilful in our common-law . by 〈◊〉 practice he got a great estate , and purchased the fair mannor of framlingham of the earl of suffolk . herein he met with many difficulties ( knots which would have made another mans axe turn edge to hew them off ) so that , had he not been one of a sharp wit , strong brains , powerful friends , plentiful purse and indefatigable diligence , he had never cleared the title thereof to him and his heirs . i am willing to beleeve that gratitude to god ( who gave him to wade thorough so many incumbrances and land safely at last on the peaceable possession of his purchase ) was the main motive inclining him to leave a great part of his estate to pious uses , and principally to pembroke-hall in cambridge . he departed this life a little before the beginning of our civil wars . memorable persons . john cavendish esq. was born at cavendish in this county , bred at court , a servant in ordinary attendance on king richard the second , when wat tyler played rex in london . it happ'ned that wat was woundly angry with sir john newton knight , ( sword-bearer to the king then in presence ) for devouring his distance , and not making his approaches mannerly enough unto him ; oh the pride of a self-promoting pesant ! much bussling a rising thereabout , sir william walworth , lord mayor of london , arrested vvat and with his dagger wounded him ; and being well stricken in years , wanted not valour but vigour to dispatch him . he is seconded by john cavendish standing by , who twice or thrice wounded him mortally ; my * author complaining , that his death was too worthy , from the hands of honourable persons , for whom the axe of the hangman had been too good . i would have said , the h●…lter of the hangman . but it matters not , by whom a traitor be kill'd , so he be kill'd . hereupon the arms of london were augmented with a dagger , and , to divide the honour equally betwixt them , if the heaft belonged to walworth , the blade , or point thereof at least , may be adjudged to cavendish . let me add that king richard himself shewed much wisedome and courage in managing this matter , so that in our chronicles he appeareth wiser youth than man ; as if he had spent all the stock of his discretion in appeasing this tumult , which happened , anno dom. . sir thomas cook , knight . sir william capell , knight . i present these pair of knights in parallels , because i find many considerable occurrences betwixt them in the course of their lives ; both were natives of this county , born not far asunder . sir thomas at l●…venham , sir william at stoke-neyland . both were bred in london , free of the fame company of drapers , and were lord-mayors of the city . both by gods blessing on their industry attained great estates , and were royal-merchants indeed . the later is reported by tradition ( since by continuance consolidated into historical truth ) that , after a large entertainment made for king henry the seventh , he concluded all with a fire , wherein he burnt many bonds , in which the king ( a borrower in the beginning of his reign ) stood obliged unto him ; ( a sweet perfume ( no doubt ) to so thrifty a prince ) not to speak of his expensive frolick , when at another time he drank a dissolved pearl ( which cost him many hundreds ) in an health to the king. both met with many molestations , sir thomas being arraigned for lending money ( in the reign of king edward the fourth ) hardly escaped with his life ( thank a good god , a * just judge and a stout jury ) though griveously fined , and long imprisoned . as for sir william , empson and dudley fell with their bodies so heavy upon him , that they squeased many thousand pounds out of his , into the kings coffers . both died peaceably in age and honour , leaving great estates to their posterities . the cooks flourishing lately at giddy-hall in essex , in a worshipful , as the capels at hadham in hartford-shire now in an honourable condition . nor must it be forgotten , that elizabeth , daughter to sir william capel , was married to william powlet marquess of winchester , and mildred , descended from sir thomas cook to william cecil , lord burleigh , both their husbands being successively lord treasurers of england , for above fifty years . sir thomas cook lieth buried in the church of augustine●… ●… , london . sir william capel in the south-side of the parish church of st. bartholomews ( in a chappel of his own addition ) behind the exchange , though the certain date of their deaths do not appear . lord mayors . name father place company time john michel john michel ekelingham stock-fishmonger * . henry barton henry barton myldenhal skinner . roger oteley will. oteley vfford grocer . john paddesley simon paddesley bury st. edmunds gold-smith . simon eyre john eyre brandon draper . william gregory roger gregory myldenhal skinner . thomas cook robert cook lavenham draper . richard gardiner john gardiner exning mercer . william capel john capel stoke-neyland draper . william coppinger walter coppinger buckshal fish-monger . john milborn john milbourn long-melford draper . roger martin lawrence martin long-melford mercer . john spencer richard spencer walding-field cloath-worker . stephen some thomas some bradley grocer . reader , this is one of the twelve pretermitted shires , the names of whose gentry were not returned into the tower in the reign of king henry the sixth . sheriffs . know that this county and n●…hfolk had both one sheriff until the seventeenth year of the reign of queen elizabeth , a list of whose names we formerly have presented in the description of northfolk . 〈◊〉 place armes . reg. eliz     anno     rob. ashfield , ar . netherhall sable , 〈◊〉 fesse ●…ngrailed betwixt flower de luces , arg. ioh. 〈◊〉 , arm .   sable , a fesse checkee or and azure betwixt naggs heads erazed , argent . will. spring , mil. lanham argent , on a cheveron between martlets gules , as many cinquefoiles of the field . rob. jermin , mil. rushbrook sable , a cressant betwixt 〈◊〉 mullets , argent . philip. parker , mil. arwerton argent , a lion passant gules betwixt barrs setheron bez●…nts , in chief as many bucks heads ●…abosed of the third . th. bernardiston , m. kedington azure , a fesse dauncette ermin , betwixt crosle●…s , argent . nich. bacon , mil. culfurth gules , on a chief 〈◊〉 mullets , sable . will. drury , mil. halsted argent , on a chief vert , the letter tau betwixt mullets pierced or. carol. framling ▪ ham , miles .     ioh. gurdon , arm . assington s. leopards heads jessant flowers de luce , or. will. clopton , a●… .   sable , a bend argent betwixt cotises dauncette , or. geo ▪ clopton , ar . ut prius   franc. jermy , arm .   arg. a lion ramp . gardant gules . phil. tilney , arm . shelleigh argent , a cheveron betwixt griffins-heads erazed , gules . will. walgrave , m. 〈◊〉 party per pale argent , and gu. tho. rowse , arm .   sable , barrs engrailed argent . ●…c . garnish , arm .   ar. a chev . engr . az. bet . scallops sab. lionel talmarsh , 〈◊〉 . helminghā argent , fretty sable . rob. forth , arm .   † or , buls-heads coupee sable . tho. † cro●… , arm . saxmundhā * ar. on a fess gu. . garbs or , between cheverons az. charged with escallops , arg. will. spring , mil. ut prius   tho. * eden , arm .     antho. wingfield , letheringham argent , a bend gules cotised able , wings of the first . hen. warner , ar .     antho. felton , ar . playford gules , lions passant e●…in , crowned or. edw. bacon , arm . ut prius   edwin . withipol . christ church in ipswich . party per pale or and gules , lions p●…ssant regardant , armed sable , langued argent , a bordure interchanged . tho. stutvile , 〈◊〉 . dallam 〈◊〉 , argent and gules , a lion rampant sable . nicol. bacon , miles ut prius   reg. jaco .     anno     〈◊〉 . bacon , miles . ut prius   edm. bokemham , armiger ,     〈◊〉 tho. playters , arm . 〈◊〉 bendy wavy of six argent and azure . antho. penning , ar .     i●…oho . wentworth , armiger .   sable , a cheveron between leopa●…ds heads , or. lionel talmarsh , ar ut prius   geo. le hunt , miles .     thom. tilney , arm . ut prius   calthorp parker , mil. ut prius   martin stutevil . ut prius   rob. brook , miles .   amp. rob. barker , mil.   perfess embatt'led or and azure martlets counterchanged . tho. clench , arm .     lio. ialmarsh , m. b. ut prius azure , a cheveron argent . edw. lewkenor , m.     io. wentworth , m. ut prius   hen. north , miles .   azure , a lion passant or , between flower de 〈◊〉 , ar. will. spring , miles . ut prius   will. wetle , arm .     rob. brook , arm .     n●… . bernardiston , m ut prius   galf. pittman , arm .     reg. carol .     sam. aylemer , arm . cleydon argent , a cross sable betwixt cornish 〈◊〉 proper . joha . prescot , mil.   s. a chev. betwixt 〈◊〉 , ar. maur. barrowe , ar .   s. swords in saltire ar. 〈◊〉 betw . flowers de luce or , within a bordure compone of the second and 〈◊〉 brampt . gourden , a. ut prius   hen , hookenham , a.     iohan , acton , arm .     rob. crane , miles . chyston ar. a fess betw . cross 〈◊〉 fitchee gu. will. * some , miles .     edw. bacon , miles . ut prius gules , a cheveron betwixt mallets , or. ioha . barker , arm . ut prius   ioha . rouse , miles . ut prius   phil. parker , mil. ut prius   ed. duke , armiger . brampton az a cheveron betwixt 〈◊〉 argent membred gules . ioh. clench , arm .     sim. dewes , miles . stow-hall or , quatersoil●…s , gules ▪ vvill. spring , arm . ut prius   will. 〈◊〉 , a●…     maur. barrowe , ar●… ut prius       ioha . cotton , arm         tho. blosse , arm .     queen elizabeth . john higham arm. ] i find this passage in the ingenious michael lord montaigne in france , in his essay * of glory , i have no name which is sufficiently mine . of two i have the one common to all my race , yea and also to others . there is a family at paris , and another at montpellier , called montaigne , another in brittanny , and one in zantoigne , surnamed de la montaigne . the removing of one only syllable , may so confound our web , as i shall have a share in their glory , and they perhaps a part of my shame . and my ancestors have heretofore been surnamed heigham , or hiquem a surname which also belongs to an house well known in england . indeed the highams ( so * named from a village in this county ) were , ( for i suspect them extinct ) a right ancient family , and sr clement heigham , ( ancestor to this john our sheriff , ) who was a potent knight in his generation , lies buried under a fair tomb in thorning-church in northfolk . robert jermin , miles ] he was a person of singular piety , a bountiful benefactor to emanuel-colledge , and a man of great command in this county . he was father to sir tho. jermin ( privy concellour and vice-chamberlain to king charles the first ) grandfather to thomas and henry jermin esquires . the younger of these being lord chamberlain to our present queen mary , and sharing in her majesties sufferings during her long exile in france , was by king charles the second deservedly advanced baron , and earl of st. albans . nicholas bacon miles . ] he was son to sir nicholas and elder brother to sir francis bacon , both lord chancellors of england , and afterward by king james in the ninth of his reign on the of may created the first baronet of england . thomas crofts , armiger . ] he was a man of remark in his generation ; father to sir john crofts , grand-father to .... crofts , who for his fidelity to his sovereign during his suffering condition , and for several embassies , worthily performed to the king of poland and other princes , was created baron crofts by king charles the second . charles the first . simonds dewes miles . ] this sir simonds was grand-child unto adrian d●…wes descended of the ancient stem of des ewes dynasts or lords of the dition of kessel in the dutchy of gelderland : who came first thence , when that province was wasted with civil war in the beginning of king henry the eighth . he was bred in cambridge as appeared by his printed speech ( made in the long parliament ) wherein he indeavoured to prove it more ancient than oxford . his genious addicted him to the study of antiquity . preferring rust before brightness , and more conforming his mind to the garbe of the former than mode of the moderne times . he was studious in roman coin to discriminate true ones from such as were cast and counterfeit . he passed not for price to procure a choice piece , and was no less careful in conserving than curious in culling many rare records . he had plenty of pretious medals , out of which a methodical architect might contrive a fair fabrick for the benefit of posterity . his treasury afforded things as well new as old , on the token that he much admired that the ordinances and orders of the late long parliament did in bulks and number exceed all the statutes made since the conquest . he was loving to learned men to whom he desired to do all good offices , and died about the year of our lord . the fare-wel . to conclude our description of suffolk , i wish that therein grain of all kinds may be had at so reasonable rates , that rich and poor may be contented therewith . but if a famine should happen here , let the poor not distrust divine providence , whereof their grand-fathers had so admirable a testimony . . when in a general dearth all over england , plenty of pease did grow on the sea-shore near dunwi●…h ( never set or sown by humane industry ) which being gathered in full ripeness , much abated the high prices in the markets , and preserved many hundreds of hungry families from famishing . surrey hath middlesex ( divided by the thames ) on the north , kent on the east , sussex on the south , ●…ant & bark-shires on the west . it may be allowed to be a square ( besides its angular expatiation in the south-west ) of two and twenty miles , and is not unproperly compared to a cynamon-tree whose bark is far better than the body thereof . for the skirts and borders bounding this shire are rich and fruitful , whilst the ground in the inward parts thereof is very hungry and barren , though by reason of the clear air and clean wayes full of many gentile habitations . naturall commodities . fullers-earth . the most and best of this kind in england ( not to say europe ) is digged up nigh rygate in this county . it is worth d. a bushel at the pit ; d. at the wharfe in london , s. at newbury , and westward twice as dear . double the use thereof in making cloath , to scoure out stains , and to thicken it , or ( to use the trades-mans term ) to bring it to proof . though the transporting thereof be by law forbidden , yet private profit so prepondereth the publick , that ships ballasted therewith are sent over into holland , where they have such magazins of this earth , that they are ready ( on their own rates ) to furnish us therewith , if there should be any occasion ▪ . and now we are mentioning of earth , near non-such is a vein of potters-earth , much commended in its kind , of which crusibles are made for the melting of gold , and many other necessary utensils . wall-nuts . as in this county , and in cash-haulton especially , there be excellent trouts : so are there plenty of the best wall-nuts in the same place , as if nature had observed the rule of physick , post pisces nuces . some difficulty there is in cracking the name thereof , why wall-nuts ; having no affinity with a vvall , whose substantial trees need to borrow nothing thence for their support . nor are they so called , because walled with shels , which is common to all other nuts . the truth is , gual or vvall to the old dutch signifieth strange or exotick , ( whence vvelsh , that is foreigners ) these nuts being no natives of england or europe , and probably first fetch'd from persia , because called nux persique in the french tongue . surely , some precious worth is in the kernels thereof ( though charged to be somewhat obstructive and stopping of the stomack ) because provident nature hath wrapped them in so many coverts ; a thick green one ( ●…alling off when ripe ) an hard yellowish , and a bitter blackish one . as for the timber of the vvall-nut-tree , it may be termed an english shittim-wood for the fineness , smoothness , and durableness thereof , whereof the best tables , with stocks of guns and other manufactures are made . box. the best , which england affords , groweth about darking in this county , yet short in goodness of what is imported out of turky . though the smel and shade thereof be accounted unwholesome ; not only pretty toys for children , but useful tooles for men , and especially mathematical instruments are made thereof . but it is generally used for combes , as also by such as grave pictures & arms in wood , as better because harder than pear-tree , for that purpose . for mine own part , let me speak it with thankfulness to two good lords and patrons , it hath not cost me so much in wood and timber of all kinds , for the last ten years , as for box for one twelve-moneth . manufactures . gardening . i mean not such which is only for pleasure ( whereof surrey hath more than a share with other shires ) to feast the sight and smell with flowers and walks , whilst the rest of the body is famished , but such as is for profit , which some seventy years since was first brought into this county , before which time great deficiency thereof in england . for we fetcht most of our ch●…ries from flanders , apples from france , and hardly had a messe of rath-ripe pease but from holland , which were dainties for ladies , they came so far and cost so dear . since gardening hath crept out of holland to sandwich in kent and thence into this county , where though they have given six pounds an aker and upward , they have made their rent , lived comfortably and set many people on work . oh , the incredible profit by digging of ground ! for though it is confess'd that the plough beats the spade out of distance for speed ( almost as much as the press beats the pen ) yet what the spade wants in the quantity of the ground , it manureth , it recompenceth with the plenty of the fruit it yeildeth ; that , which is set , multiplying a hundred fold more than what is sown . 't is incredible how many poor people in london live thereon , so t●…at in some seasons , gardens feed more poor people than the field . it may be hoped that in process of time anis-seeds , cumin-seeds , caraway-seeds , ( yea rice it self ) with other garden vvare now brought from beyond the seas , may hereafter grow in our land , enough for it's use , especially if some ingenious gentlemen would encourage the industrious gardiners by letting ground on reasonable rates unto them ▪ . tapestry . pass we from gardening a kind of tapestry in earth , to tapestry , a kind of gardening in cloath . the making hereof was either unknown , or un-used in england , till about the end of the reign of king james , when he gave two thousand pounds to sir francis crane , to build therewith an house at morecleark for that purpose . here they only imitated old patterns , until they had procured one francis klein a german to be their designer . this f. klein was born at rostock , but bred in the court of the king of denmark at coppenhagen . to improve his skill he travelled into italy , and lived at venice , and became first known unto sir henry vvootton , who was the english lieger there . indeed there is a stiff contest betwixt the dutch and italians which should exceed in this mystery , and therefore klein endeavoured to unite their perfections . after his return to denmark he was invited thence into england by prince charles , a virtuoso , judicious , in all liberalmechanical arts , which proceeded on due proportion . and though klein chanced to come over in his absence , ( being then in spain ) yet king james gave order for his entertainment allowing him liberal accommodations , and sent him back to the king of denmark with a letter , which for the form thereof , i conceive not unworthy to be inserted , trans-scribing it with my own hand , as followeth , out of a copy compared with the original , jacobus dei gratia magnae britanniae , franciae & hiberniae rex , fidei defensor , serenissimo principi ac domino , domino christiano quarto eadem gratia daniae , norvegiae , vandalorum & gothorum regi , duci slesuici , holsatiae , stormariae , & ditmarsiae , comiti in oldenburg & delmenhorsh , fratri , compatri , consanguineo , & affini nostro charissimo salutem & felicitatem serenissimus princeps frater , compater , consanguineus & affinis charissimus . cum franciscus klein pictor , qui litteras nostras fert , in animo habere indicasset , ( si vestra modo serenitate volente id fieret ) filio nostro principi walliae operam suam locare , accepimus benevolè id a vestra serenitate fuisse concessum , data non solum illi quamprimum videretur discedendi venia , verùm etiam sumptibus erogatis ad iter , quo nomine est quod vestrae serenitati gratias agamus . et nos quidem certiores facti , de illius in britanniam jam adventu , quanquam absente filio nostro , satis illi interim de rebus omnibus prospeximus . nunc vero negotiorum causâ in daniam reversurus , tenetur ex pacto quam primum id commode poterit ad nos revenire ; quod ut ei per vestram serenitatem facere liceat peramanter rogamus . vestra interea omnia , fortunas , valetudinem , imperium deo commendantes optimo maximo . datum è regia nostra albaula die julii anno . serenitatis vestrae frater amantissimus jacobus rex . i perceive that princes , when writing to princes subscribe their names , and generally superscribe them to subjects . but the k. of denmark detained him all that summer , ( none willingly part with a jewel , ) to perfect a piece which he had begun for him before . this ended , then over he comes , and settled with his family in london , where he received a gratuity of an hundred pounds per annum , well paid him , until the beginning of our civil wars . and now fervet opus of tapestry at more-clark , his designing being the soul , as the working is the body of that mystery . buildings . there are two most beautiful palaces in this county , both built by kings . first richmond by king henry the seventh , most pleasantly seated on the thames . a building much beholding to mr. speed , representing it in his map of this county . otherwise ( being now plucked down ) the form and fashion thereof had for the future been forgotten . none-such the other , built by king henry the eighth , whereof our english * antiquary hath given such large commendations . indeed what sebastianus cerlius , most skilful in building , spake of the pantheon at rome , may be applyed to this pile , that it is ultimum ex●…mplar consummatae architecturae . but grant it a non-such for building ( on which account this and windsor castle are onely taken notice of in the description of sebastian braune ) yet in point of clean and neat situation , it hath some-such , not to say some above-such . witness wimbleton in this county , a daring structure , built by sir thomas cecil , in eighty eight , when the spanjards invaded , and ( blessed be god ) were conquered by our nation . medicinal waters . ebsham . they were found on this occasion some two and fourty years since ( which falleth out to be . ) one henry wicker in a dry summer and great want of water for cattle , discovered in the concave of a horse or neats-footing , some water standing . his suspicion that it was the stale of some beast , was quickly confuted by the clearness thereof . with his pad-staffe he did dig a square hole about it , and so departed . returning the next day , with some difficulty he recovered the same place , ( as not sufficiently particularized to his memory in so wide a common ) and found the hole , he had made , filled and running over with most clear water . yet cattle ( though tempted with thirst ) would not drink thereof , as having a mineral tast therein . it is resolved that it runneth through some veins of alume , and at first was only used outwardly for the healing of sores . indeed simple wounds have been soundly and suddenly cured therewith , which is imputed to the abstersiveness of this water , keeping a wound clean , till the balsome of nature doth recover it . since it hath been inwardly taken , and ( if the inhabitants may be believed ) diseases have here met with their cure , though they came from contrary causes . their convenient distance from london addeth to the reputation of these waters , and no wonder if citizens comming thither , from the worst of smoakes into the best of airs , find in th●…selves a perfective alteration . the wonders . there is a river in this county which at a place called the swallow , sinketh unto the earth and surgeth again some two miles off nigh letherhead , so that it runneth ( not in an intire stream but ) as it can find and force its own passage the interjacent distance under the earth . i listen not to the country people telling it was experimented by a goose which was put in , and came out again with life ( though without feathers ; ) but hearken seriously to those who judiciously impute the sudden sub●…dency of the earth in the interstice aforesaid to some underground hollowness made by that water in the passage thereof . this river is more properly termed mole , then that in spain is on the like occasion called anas , that is , a ducke or drake . for moles ( as our surrey-riv ▪ er ) work under ground , whilst ducks ( which anas doth not ) dive under water . so that the river alpheus may more properly be intituled anas , if it be true what is * reported thereof ; that , springing in peloponesus , it runneth under the sea and riseth up again in sicily . nor may we forget a vault ( wherein the finest sand i ever saw ) nigh rygate , capable conveniently to receive five hundred men , which subterranean-castle in ancient time was the receptacle of some great person , having several rooms therein . if it be meerly natural i●… doth curiously imitate art ▪ if purely artificial , it doth most lively simulate nature . proverbs . the vale of holms-dale , never won , ne ever shall . this proverbial ryme hath one part of history , the other , of prophecy therein ; and if on examination , we find the first to be true , we may believe the other the better . holms-dale lieth partly in this shire , and partly in kent . and indeed hath been happy in this respect , that several battles being fought therein and thereabouts , betwixt our saxon kings ( the true owners of the land ) and the danes , the former proved victorious . thus was not holms-dale won pro una & altera & tertia vice . but i. hope i may humbly mind the men of holms-dale that when king william the conqueror had vanquished king harold at battail in sussex , he marched with his army directly to london through the very middle and bowels of holms-dale , ▪ and was it not won at that time ? however , if this vale hath not been won hitherto , i wish and hope it never may be hereafter , by a forreign-nation invading it . princes . henry eldest son of k. henry the eighth and queen kathari●…e dowager , was born at * richmond in this county , anno domini . on the first of january . as his parents were right glad for this newyears-gift of heavens sending , so the greater their grief when within two moneths he was taken away again . the untimely death of this prince , as also of another son by the same queen ( which lived not to be christ'ned ) was alleaged by king henry the eighth in the publick court held in black-friars , london , about his divorce ; as a punishment of god upon him , for begetting them on the body of his brothers wife . this short-liv'd prince henry was buried in westminster the twenty-third of february . henry of oatlands , ( so i have heard him called in his cradle ) fourth and youngest son of king charles the first and queen mary , was born at oatlands in this county anno . this i thought fit to observe both because i find st. james's by some mistaken for the place of his birth , and because that house wherein he was born is buried in effect , i mean taken down to the ground . he was commonly called duke of glocester by a court prolepsis ( from the king , manifesting his intentions in due time to make him so ) before any solemn creation . greatness being his only guilt , that he was the son of a good king ( which many men would wish , and no child could help . ) the then present power , more of coveteousness than kindness ( unwilling to maintain him either like or unlike the son of his father ) permitted him to depart the land , with scarce tolerable accommodations and the promise of a [ never-performed ] pension ; for his future support . a passage , i meet with in my worthy * friend concerning this duke , deserveth to be written in letters of gold. in the year , almost as soon as his two elder brethren had removed themselves into flanders , he found a strong practise in some of the queens court to seduce him to the church of rome , whose temptations he resisted beyond his years , and thereupon was sent for by them into flanders . he had a great appetite to learning and a quick digestion , able to take as much as his tutors could teach him . he fluently could speak many , understood more modern tongues . he was able to express himself in matters of importance presently , properly , solidly , to the admiration of such who trebled his age. judicious his curiosity to inquire into navigation , and other mathematical mysteries . his courtesie set a lustre on all , and commanded mens affections to love him . his life may be said to have been all in the night of affliction , rising by his birth a little before the setting of his fathers , and setting by his death a little after the rising of his brothers peaceable reign . it seems providence , to prevent excess , thought fit to temper the general mirth of england with some mourning . with his name-sake prince henry he compleated not twenty years , and what was said of the * unkle , was as true of the nephew : fatuos a morte defendit ipsa insulsitas ; si cui plus caeteris aliquantulum salis insit ( quod miremini ) statim putrescit . he deceased at whitehall on thursday the th . of september , and was buried ( though privately ) solemnly , veris & spirantibus lacrymis , in the chappel of king henry the seventh . martyrs . i meet with few ( if any ) in this county , being part of the diocess of politick gardiner . the fable is well known of an ape , which having a mind to a chest-nut lying in the fire , made the foot of a spannel to be his tongs , by the proxy whereof he got out the nut for himself . such the subtlety of gardiner , who minding to murther any poor protestant , and willing to save himself from the scorching of general hatred , would put such a person into the fire by the hand of bonner , by whom he was sent for up to london and there destroyed . confessors . eleanor cobham daughter to the lord cobham of sterborough-castle in this county , was afterwards married unto humphrey plantaginet , duke of glocester . this is she who , when alive , was so persecuted for being a wickliffi●…e and for many hainous crimes charged upon her . and since her memory hangs still on the file betwixt confessor and malefactor . but i believe that the voluminous paines of mr. fox in vindicating her innocency against the cavils of alane cope and others , have so satisfied all indifferent people that they will not grudg her position under this title . her troubles happened under king henry the sixth , anno domini ... prelates . nicholas of fernham , or , de fileceto , was born at fernham in this county , and bred a physician in oxford . now our nation esteemeth physicians , little physick , little worth , except far fetcht from foreign parts . wherefore this nicholas to acquire more skill and repute to himself , travelled beyond the seas . first he fixed at paris , and there gained great esteem ▪ * accounted famosus anglicus . here he continued until that ●…niversity was in effect dissolved , thorough the discords betwixt the clergy and the citizens . hence he removed , and for some years lived in bononia . returning home his fame was so great , that he became * physician to king henry the third . the vivacity and health of this patient ( who reigned longer than most men live ) was an effect of his care . great were the gi●…ts the king conferred upon him , and at last made him bishop of chester . wonder not , that a physician should prove a prelate , seeing this fernham was a general scholar . besides , since the reformation , in the reign of queen elizabeth , we had j. coldwel , doctor of physick , a bishop of sarum . after the resignation of chester he accepted of the bishoprick of durham . this also he surrendred , ( after he had sitten nine years in that see ) reserving only three * mannors for his maintenance . he wrote many books , much esteemed in that age , of the practice in * thysick and use of herbs , and died in a private life . walter de merton was born at merton in this county , and in the reign of king henry the third , when chancellors were chequered in and out , three times he discharged that office. anno placed in by the king , displac'd by the barons , to make room for nicholas of ely. anno . when the king ( counting it no equity or conscience , that his lords should obtrude a chancellor on him ) restored him to his place , continuing therein some three years . anno . when he was replaced in that office for a short time . he was also preferred bishop of rochester , that a rich prelate might maintain a poor bishoprick . he founded merton-colledge in oxford , which hath produced more famous school-men , than all england ( i had almost said europe ) besides . he died in the year , in the fifth of king edward the first . thomas cranley was in all probability born at , and named from cranley ( in blackheath hundred ) in this county . it confirmeth the conjecture , because i can not find any other village so named in all england . bred he was in oxford , and became the first warden of new * colledge , thence preferred arch-bishop of dublin in ireland . thither he went over , accompanying thomas holland duke of surrey and lieutenant of ireland , and in that kingdom our cranley was made by king henry the fourth chancellour and by king henry the fifth chief justice thereof . it seems , he finding the irish possessed with a rebellious humour , bemoaned himself to the king in a terse poem of verses , which leland perused with much pleasure and delight . were he but half so good , as some make him , he was to be admired . such a case , and such a jewel , such a presence and a prelate clear in complexion , proper in stature , bountiful in house-keeping and house-repairing , a great clerk , deep divine , and excellent preacher . thus far we have gone along very willingly with our * author , but now leave him to go alone by himself , unwilling to follow him any farther for fear of a tang of blasphemy , when bespeaking him , thou art fairer than the children of men , full of grace are thy lips , &c. anno he returned into england being fourscore years old , sickned and died at faringdon , and lieth buried in new-colledge chappel , and not in dublin , as * some have related . nicholas west was born at * putney in this county , bred first at eaton , then at kings-colledge in cambridge , where ( when a youth ) he was a rakel in grain . for , something crossing him in the colledge , he could find no other way to work his revenge than by secret setting on fire the masters lodgings , part whereof he burnt to the ground . immediately after this incendiary ( and was it not high time for him ? ) left the colledge , and this little heros●…ratus lived for a time in the country , debauched enough for his conversation . but they go far who turn not again . and in him the proverb was verified , naughty boyes sometimes make good men , he seasonably retrenched his wildness , turn'd hard student , became an eminent scholar and most able states-man , and after smaller promotions was at last made bishop of ely , and often employed in forreign embassies . and now , hath it been possible , he would have quenched the fire he kindled in the colledge with his own tears , and in expression of his penitence became a worthy benefactor to the house , and re-built the masters lodgings firm and fair from the ground . no bishop of england was better attended with menial servants , or kept a more bountiful house , which made his death so much lamented , anno dom. . since the reformation . john park●…urst was born at * gilford in this county , bred first in magdalen then in merton-colledge in oxford . here it was no small part of praise , that he was tutor , yea mecenas , to john jewel . after his discontinuance returning to oxford , it was no small comfort unto him to hear his pupil read his learned humanity-lectures to the somato christians , ( reader i coyn not the word my self , but have took it in payment from a good * hand ) that is , to those of corpus chris●…i colledge , to which house then j●…wel was removed . hereupon mr. parkhurst made this distich ; olim discipulus mihi chare juelle , fuisti nunc ero discipulus te renuente tuus . dear jewel , scholar once thou wast to me , now gainst thy will i scholar turn to thee . indeed he was as good a poet as any in that age , and delighted to be an antiepigrammatist to john * vvhite bishop of vvinchester , whom in my opinion he far surpassed both in phrase and fancy . mr. parkhurst , when leaving oxford , was presented parson , shall i say , or bishop of cleve in glocester-shire ; as which may seem rather a diocess than a parish for the rich revenue thereof . but let none envy beneficium opimum beneficiario optimo , a good living to an incumbent who will do good therewith . he laid himself out in works of charity and hospitality . he used to examine the * pockets of such oxford scholars as repaired unto him , and alwayes recruited them with necessaries , so that such who came to him with heavy hearts and light purses , departed from him with light hearts and heavy purses . but see a sudden alteration . king edward the sixth dies , and then he , who formerly entertained others , had not a house to hide himself in . parkhurst is forced to post speedily and secretly beyond the seas , where he remained all the reign of queen mary , and providing for his return in the first of queen elizabeth , was robbed of that little he had , by some searchers appointed for that purpose . were not these thieves themselves robbed , i mean of their expectation , who hoped to enrich themselves by pillaging an exile and a poet ? it grieved him most of all that he lost the fair * copy of his epigrams , though afterwards with much ado he recovered them from his foul papers . these at last he put in print et juvenilem 〈◊〉 senex edidit , without any trespass on his gravity , such his poems being so witty that a young man , so harmless that an old man need not be of them ashamed . being returned into england he was by queen elizabeth preferred to the bishoprick of norwich , and was consecrated * sept. the , . years he sate in that see , and died . thomas ravis was born of worthy parentage at † maulden in this county , bred in christ-church in oxford , whereof he was dean , and of which university he was twice vice-chancellor . afterwards , when many suitors greedily sought the bishoprick of glocester then vacant , the lords of the councel * requested doct. ravis to accept thereof . as he was not very willing to go ●…hither , so ( after his three years abode there ) those of glocester were unwilling he should go thence , who in so short a time had gained the good liking of all sorts , that some who could scant brook the name of bishop were * content to give ( or rather to pay ) him a good report . anno he was removed to london , and there * died on the th . of december . and lieth buried under a fair tomb in the wall at the upper end of the north-part of his cathedral . robert abbot d. d. was born at guilford in this county , bred in 〈◊〉 colledge in oxford , whereof he became principal , and kings professor of divinity in that university . what is said of the french , so graceful is their garbe , that they make any kind of cloathes become themselves , so general was his learning , he made any liberal imployment beseem him , reading , vvriting , preaching , opposing , answering , and moderating , who could dis-intangle truth though complicated with errours on all sides . he so routed the reasons of bellarmin , the romish champion , that he never could rally them again . yet preferment ( which is ordered in heaven ) came down very slowly on this doctor , whereof several reasons are assigned , his humility affected no high promotion . his foes traduced him for a puritan , who indeed was a right godly man and cordiat to the discipline , as doctrine of the church of england . his friends were loath to adorn the church with the spoil of the university and marre a professor to make a bishop . however preferment at last found him out , when he was consecrated b. of salisbury , decemb. . . herein he equaled the felicity of suffridus b. of chichester , that being himself a bishop he saw his brother george at the same time archbishop of canterbury . of these two , george was the more plausible preacher , robert the greater scholar ; george the abler states-man ; robert the deeper divine ; gravity did frown in george and smile in robert. but alas ! he was hardly warm in his s●…e , before cold in his coffin , being one of the ●…ive bishops , which salisbury saw in six years . his death happened anno . george abbot was born at guilford in this county , being one of that happy ternion of brothers , whereof two eminent prelats , the third , lord mayor of london . he was bred in oxford , wherein he became head of university-colledge ; a pious man , and most excellent preacher as his lectures on jonah do declare . he did first creep , then run , then fly into preferment , or rather preferment did fly upon him without his expectation . he was never incumbent on any living with cure of soules , but was mounted from a lecturer to a dignitary , so that he knew well what belong'd to the stipend and benevolence of the one , and the dividend of the other , but was utterly unacquainted with the taking of tithes , with the many troubles attending it , together with the causeless molestations which persons presented meet with in their respective parishes . and because it is hard for one to have a fellow-suffering of that , whereof he never had a suffering , this ( say some ) was the cause that he was so harsh to ministers when brought before him . being chaplain to the earl of dunbar then omni-prevalent with king james , he was unexpectedly preferred archbishop of canterbury , being of a more fatherly presence than those who might almost have been his fathers for age in the church of england . i find two things much charg'd on his memory : first , that in his house he respected his secretary above his chaplains , and out of it alwayes honoured cloaks above cassocks , lay above clergie-men . secondly , that he connived at the spreading of non-conformity , in so much that i read in a modern author , had bishop * laud succeeded bancroft and the project of conformity been followed without interruption , there is little question to be made , but that our jerusalem ( by this time ) might have been a city at unity in it self . yet are there some of archbishop abbot his relations , who ( as i am informed ) will undertake to defend him , that he was in no degree guilty of these crimes laid to his charge . this archbishop was much humbled with a casual homicide of a keeper of the lord zouch's in bramzel-park , though soon after he was solemnly quitted from any irregularity thereby . in the reign of king charles he was sequestred from his jurisdiction ; say some , on the old account of that homicide , though others say , for refusing to licence a sermon of dr. sibthorps . yet there is not an express of either in the instrument of sequestration , the commission only saying in the general , that the said archbishop could not at that present in his own person , attend those services , which were otherwise proper for his cognizance and jurisdiction . for my own part i have cause to believe that as vulnus semel sanatum novo vulnere recrudescit , so his former obnoxiousness for that casualty was renewed on the occasion of his refusal to licence that sermon with some other of his court-un-compliances . this archbishop died anno dom. . having erected a large hospital with liberal maintenance at guildford the place of his nativity . richard corbet d. d. was born at ewel in this county , and from a student in , became dean of , christ-church , then bishop of oxford . an high vvit , and most excellent poet , of a courteous carriage and no destructive nature to any who offended him , counting himself plentifully repaired with a jest upon him . he afterwards was advanced bishop of norwich , where he died anno dom. . states-men . thomas cromwel was born at putney in this county , of whom i have given measure pressed down and running over in my church-history . william howard , son to thomas howard , second of that surname , duke of nor●…hfolk , was by queen mary created baron of effingham in this county , and by her made lord admiral of england , which place he discharged with credit . i find , he was one of the first * favourers and furtherers with his purse and countenance of the strange and wonderful discovery of russia . he died anno domini . . . charles howard , son to the lord william aforesaid , succeeded him ( though not immediately ) in the admiralty . an hearty gentleman , and cordial to his sovereign , of a most proper person , one reason why queen elizabeth ( who though she did not value a jewel by , valued it the more for , a fair case ) reflected so much upon him . the first evidence he gave of his prowes was , † when the emperors sister the spouse of spain with a fleer of sailes , stoutly and proudly passed the narrow seas , his lordship accompanied with ten ships onely of her majesties navy royal environed their fleet in a most strange and warlike sort , enforced them to stoop gallant , and to vail their bonnets for the queen of england . his service in the eighty eighth is notoriously known , when at the first news of the spaniards approach , he towed at a cable with his * own hands to draw out the harbourbound-ships into the sea. i dare boldly say , he drew more though not by his person by his presence and example , than any ten in the place . true it is , he was no deep sea-man ( not to be expected from one of his extraction ) but had skill enough to know those who had more skill than himself , and to follow their instructions , and would not sterve the queens service by feeding his own sturdy wilfulness , but was ruled by the experienced in sea-matters , the queen having a navy of oak , and an admiral of osier . his last eminent service was , when he was commander of the sea - ( as essex of the land - ) forces at the taking of cadiz , for which he was made earl of nottingham the last of the queens creation . his place was of great profit ( prizes being so frequent in that age ) though great his necessary , and vast his voluntary expences , keeping ( as i have read ) seven standing houses at the same time , at london , rigate , effingham , blechenley , &c. so that the wonder is not great if he died not very wealthy . he lived to be very aged , who wrote man ( if not married ) in the first of q. elizabeth , being an invited guest at the solemn consecration of matthew parker at lambeth , and many years after by his testimony * confuted those lewd and loud lies , which the papists tell of the naggs-head in cheap-side . he resigned his admiralty in the reign of king james , to the duke of buckingham , and died towards the later end of the reign of the king afore-said . sea-men . sir robert dudley knight , son to robert dudley earl of leicester by douglas shefeld ( whether his mistris or wife , god knoweth , many men being inclinable charitably to believe the later ) was born at * shene in this county , and bred by his mother ( out of his fathers reach ) at offington in sussex . he afterwards became a most compleat gentleman in all suteable accomplishments , endeavoring in the reign of king james to prove his legitimacy , and meeting with much opposition from the court in distast he left his land , and went over into italy . but worth is ever at home and carrieth its own welcome along with it . he became a favorite to the duke of florence , who highly reflected on his abilities , and used his directions in all his buildings . at this time ligorn from a child started a man without ever being a youth , and of a small town grew a great city on a sudden , and is much beholding to this sir robert for its fairness and firmness as chief contriver of both . but by this time his adversaries in england had procured him to be call'd home by a special privy seal which he refused to obey , and thereupon all his lands in england was seised on by the king , by the statute of fugitives . these his losses doubled the love of the duke of florence unto him . and indeed sir robert was a much meriting person on many accounts , being an excellent mathematician , especially for the practical part thereof in architecture . phisician , his catholicon at this day finding good esteem amongst those of that faculty . navigator , especially in the western seas . indeed long before his leaving of england whilst as yet he was rectus in curia , well esteemed in queen elizabeths court , he sailed with three small ships to the isle of trinedad , in which voyage he sunk and took * nine spanish ships , whereof one an armada of tunn . it must not be forgotten how he was so acceptable to ferdinand the second emperor of germany , that by his letters patents bearing date at vienna , march the , , he conferred on him and his heirs the title of a duke of the sacred empire . understand it a title at large ( as that of count arundels ) without the assignation of any proper place unto him . how long he survived this honour it is to me unknown . writers . nicholas ockham was bred a franciscan in oxford , and became the eighteen●…h publick lecturer of his convent in that university . he is highly praised by the writers of his own order for his learning , whom i do believe , notwithstanding bale * writeth so b●…tterly against him . he flourished anno . william ockham was born in this * county , in a village so called of oakes ; and indeed our william was all heart of oake , as soon will appear . he was first bred under john scotus , and afterwards served him as aristotle did his master plato , disproving his principles , and first setting on foot a new sort of sophistry . then it was hard to hear any thing in the schooles for the high railing betwixt the reals , headed by john duns scotus . nominals fighting under their general ockham . neither of them conducing much to the advance of religion . our ockham flushed with success against john scotus , undertook another john of higher power and place , even pope john the three-and-twentieth , and gave a mortal wound to his temporal power over princes . he got a good gardian , viz. lewis of bavaria the emperor , whose court was his sanctuary , so that we may call him a school-man-courtier . but he was excommunicated by the pope , and the masters of paris condemned him for a heretick , and burnt his books . this i conceive was the cause , why luther was so vers'd in his works , which he had at his fingers ends , being the sole schoolman in his library , whom he esteemed . however , at last the pope took wit in his anger finding it no policy to enrage so sharp a pen , and though i find no recantation or publick submission of ockam , yet he was restored to his state , and the repute of an acute school-man . now because he is generally complained of , for his soul of opposition , ( gain-saying what ever scotus said ) it will serve to close his epitaph , what was made on a great paradox-monger , possessed with the like contradicting spirit . sed jam est mortuus , ut apparet , quod si viveret id negaret . but now he 's dead , as plainly doth appear , yet would denie it , were he living here . he flourished under king edward the third , and dying was buried at * monchen in bavaria . john holbrook was ( as leland relates ) a profound philosopher and mathematician much esteemed with the english nobility , for his rare accomplishments , and yet is his short character blemished in * bale with a double ut fertur one relating to the place of his birth , yet so , as surrey is assigned most probable . the other to the time wherein he flourished . the last is a wonder to me , that so exact a critick , who had with great pains reduced the tables of alphonsus most artificially to months , * dayes , and hours , should have his own memory left at such a loss , as to the timeing thereof ; that authors , ( hopeless to hit the mark of the year ) aim only at the butt of the age , and conjecture him to have been eminent in the fourteenth century . george riply was born , saith my * author , at riply in this county . but on the serious debate thereof , he clearly appeareth a native of york-shire , and therefore we remit the reader to that county , where he shall find his large character . since the reformation . henry hammond d. d. was born at chertsey in this county , his father being doctor of physick , and physician to king james . he was bred in eaton-school , where 〈◊〉 mr. bust ( so skilful in reading other boyes ) could not spell his nature , but being posed with the riddle of his portentous wit at last even left him to himself , which proved the best . hence he became fellow of magdalen-colledge in oxford till preferred canon of christ-church and oratour of the ●…niversity . he may be called an angelical doctor , as justly as he , who is generally so stiled . first , for his countenance and complexion , white and ruddy ; resembling the common portraictures of cherubins . secondly , his sanctity , spending his life in devotion . his eating and drinking were next to nothing , so exemplary his abstinence ; and he alwayes embraced a single life . thirdly , meekness . michael * durst not ( the valour of an arch-angel is frighted at a sin ) bring a railing accusation against saton : herein only our doctor was a coward ; he feared to revile any of an opposite judgement . fourthly , his charity ; he was the tutelar angel to keep many a poor royalist from famishing , it being verily beleeved , that he yearly gave away more than two hundred pounds . lastly , for his knowledge ; such the latitude of his learning and languages . as distillers extract aqua vitae , or living water , from the dregs of dead beer : so he from the rotten writings of the rabbins drew many observations to the advance of christianity . he could turn his plow-shares and pruning-hooks into swords and spears in his controversial treatises , and could again at pleasure convert his swords and spears into plow-share●… and pruning-hooks in his comments and practical cathechisme . he was well vers'd in all modern pamphlets touching church-discipline . when some of the royal disputants ( in the treaty at uxbridge ) in some sort did over-shoot their adversaries , this doctor could lay his arguments level against them , and discourse with the parliament-divines in their own dialect . but alas ! he was an angelical man , no angel ; witness his death of the students disease , the stone . he died at westwood in worcester-shire at the house of the lady packington ; his pella , where he peaceably reposed himself whilst all our english jerusalem was in combustion . one thousand pounds well nigh were due unto him at his death , yet there appeared neither specialty , nor any mans h●…nd amongst his writings ; so confident he was that his consciencious debtors would faithfully pay , what was freely lent them . by his will he impowered dr. humphre●… henchman ( since bishop of sarum ) his sole executor to expend according to his discretion in the relief of poor people , not exceeding two hundred pounds . let this his short character be pitch'd up like a tent for a time , to be taken down when a firmer fabrick ( which , as i am informed , a more able pen is about ) shall be erected to his memory . he died anno domini . romish exile writers . nicholas sanders was born at * charlewood in this county ( where his family still continueth worshipful ) bred bachelour of the laws in new-colledge . going over beyond the seas , he was made d. d. at rome , and afterwards kings-professor thereof at lovain . pity it was , he had not more honesty or less learning , being master of art in malice , not hoping the whole body of his lies should be believed , but , being confident the least finger thereof finding credit could prove heavy enough to crush any innocence with posterity ; presuming the rather to write passages without truth , because on a subject beyond memory . he thought it would much advantage his cause , to call the church of england schismatick first in that his libellous treatise . but what said st. augustine in a dispute with one of the † donatists ? u●…rum schismatici nos simus an vos , non ego nec tu , sed christus interrogelur ut judicet ecclesiam suam . indeed the controversie consisting much in matter of fact , let records and histories be perused , and it will appear that our english kings , after many intolerable provocations , and intrenchments on their crown from the church of rome , at last ( without the least invading of others ) conserv'd their own right . partly , as supreme princes calling together their clergy , by their advice to reform the errours therein ; partly to protect their subjects from being ruined , by the canons and constitutions of a foreign power . but this subject hath lately been so handled by that learned baronet sir roger twysden , that , as he hath exceeded former , he hath saved all future pains therein . to return to sanders , it is observeable , that he who ●…urfeited with falshoods , was famished for lack of food in ireland . we must be sensible , but may not be censorious on such actions ; such deserving to forfeit the eyes of their souls , who will not mark so remarkable a judgement , which happened anno domini . benefactors to the publick . i mee●… with none besides bishop mer●…on ( of whom i have spoken ) eminent before the reformation . since it we find henry smith , who was born at * wandsworth in this county . now , reader , before i go any further , give me leave to premise and apply a passage in my apprehension not improper in this place . luther commenting on those words gen. . . and god created great whales , rendereth this reason why the creation of whale●… is specified by name ; ne territi magnitudine cre●… ea spectra esse , lest affrighted with their greatness we should believe them to be ●…nly visions or fancies . indeed many simple people who lived ( where luther did ) in an in-land country three hundred miles from the sea , might suspect that whales ( as reported with such vast dimentions ) were rather 〈◊〉 than realities . in like manner being now to relate the bounty of this worthy person , i am affraied that our in●…idel age will not give credit thereunto , as conceiving it rather a romanza or fiction than a thing really performed , because of the prodigious greatness thereof . the best is , there are thousands in this county can attest the truth herein . and such good deeds publickly done are a pregnant proof to convince all denyers and doubters thereof . this henry smith esq. and alderman of london gave to buy lands for a perpetuity for the relief and setting the poor to work . croidon one thousand pounds . in kingston one thousand pounds . guilford one thousand pounds . darking one thousand pounds in farnham one thousand pounds rigate one thousand pounds in wandsworth to the poor five hundred . besides many other great and liberal legacies bequeathed to pious uses , which i hope by his executors are as conscionably imployed , as by him they were charitably intended . he departed this life the th . of january . in the seventy-ninth year of his age , and lieth buried in the chancel to wandsworth . memorable persons . elizabeth weston . we must gain by degrees what knowledge we can get of this eminent woman who no doubt was of gentile extraction because her parents bestowed on her so liberal and costly education . a virgin , because she wrote a book of poetry called parth●…nicon . a great scholar , because commended by two grand criticks . she must flourish by proportion of time about . hear what janus dousa saith of her , angla vel angelica es , vel prorsus es angelus 〈◊〉 si sexus vetat hoc ▪ angelus est animus . joseph scaliger praiseth her no less in prose , parthenicon elizabethae westoniae , virginis nobilissimae , poetriae florentissimae , linguarum plurimarum peritissimae . and again speaking to her , penè priùs mihi contigit admirari ingenium tuum quàm nosse . it seems her fame was more known in foreign parts than at home . and i am 〈◊〉 that for the honour of her sex and our nation i can give no better account of her . however , that her memory may not be harbourless , i have lodged her in this county ( where i find an ancient and worshipful family of the westons flourishing at sutton ) ready to remove her at the first information of the certain place of her nativity . here we may see how capable the weaker sex is of learning if instructed therein . indeed when a learned maid was presented to king james for an english rarity , because she could speak and write pure latine , greek and hebrew , the king returned , but can she spin ? however in persons of birth and quality , learning hath ever been beheld as a rare and commendable accomplishment . the names of the gentry of this county , returned by the commissioners in the year of king henry the sixth , anno dom. . commissioners to take the oaths . h. bishop of winchester cardinal of england . robert de ponyges chivaler . joh. fereby , one of the knights of the shire . regin . cobham , de lingfeld , mil. joh. kigele de walketon , mil. hen. norbury de stokedeberō , m. joh. leboys de farnham , mil. joh. weston de papeworth , arm . th. winter shul de wintershul , ar . tho. husele de southwark , arm . johan . corue de mercham rob. skirnde kingeston rob. fitz-robert de bernas joh. gainsford de crowherst , ar . will. uvedale de tichsay arm . nich. carewe de bedington . joh. ardern de lye , armigeri . rog. elingbrig de croydon , ar . th. codeington de codington , a. joh. yerd de chayham , arm . will. kyg●…le de waweton , arm . joh. burg de waleton , armiger . joh. merston de cobbesham , arm . will. otteworth de parochia scemortle , armiger . arth. ormesby de southwark , ar . will. weston de okeham , arm . thomae stoughton ade lene lord de southwark , ar . will. godyng de eadem armig . nich. hogh , de eadem . joh. malton , de eadem . joh. godrick de bermondsey , ar . tho. kenle de southwark , arm . rob. stricklond de walworth . rich. tyler de southwark . joh. hanksmode , de eadem . joh. newedgate , de eadem , ar . will sidney de cranle . will. newgate de eadem , arm . hen. snokeshul de eadem , ar . joh. burcest●…e de southwark , ar . joh. burdeux de west-benchworth , armiger . david . swan de dorking , arm . wil. ashurst de east-benchworth tho. ashurst de dorking rob. atte sonde de dorking . joh. walleys , de eadem . joh. fontaines de clopham , ar . joh. bitterlé de wandesworth , ar . radul . wymbledon de asshestede ric. parker de byflete , armigeri . tho. neweton de crockfeld , arm . will. norman de lambehithe , ar . joh henham de southwark , ar . will. arberton de chamberwel . nich. randolf de leddrede , ar . tho. grosham , de eadem . joh. exham de ewel . petri swiftede lambhith , gent. joh. thorp de thorp , armiger . joh. milton de egham . joh. bowet de bokham magna , ar . laurent . donne de effingham . tho. slifeld de bokham magna , a. tho. donne de coneham . joh. donne de eadem . will. craulede duntesfeld . rob. marche de eadem . joh. atte lee de adington . johannis leicestre de kersalton . johannis drux de ditton . roberti mildnale de kingeston . johannis chinnore , de eadem tho. overton de merton , arm . will. lovelase , de eadem . tho. hereward de morwe . walteri broke , de eadem . thomae palshud , de eadem . richardi combe , de eadem . richardi eton , de eadem . huzonis ashbury , de eadem . nich. fitz-john , de eadem , ar . thomae bule de wonersham , ar . roberti n●…timber de vvatton rob. bronnesbury de bermondesey roberti charingworth de lamhi●…he thomae hering de croydon . richardi ludlow de hendle in leheth . henr. coleman , de farnham . vvillielmi hayward , de eadem . johannis lilborn , de eadem . johannis redingher she de craule vvillielmi brigges de sanderstede richardi lynde , de eadem . thomae best de caterham . thomae basset de cullesdon . roberti rokenham , de eadem . richardi colcoh , de eadem . richardi herteswode , de ly●… . vvillielmi rode de guldeford . richardi atte lee de godeston . roberti dogge de croyden . jacobi janyn , de eadem . rich. laurence de chiding fold . willielmi hichecock de alfold . johannis raynold de dontesfold , johannis wadebroke de wybryg . richardi tymme de coneham . vvalteri atte denne de sutton . johannis charlewode . henrici aleyn de merscham . johannis campton de chayham . johannis asher de godaming . vvill. inningfeld de lingefeld . thomae sandre de cherlewode . richardi baker de pekeham . richardi ode de camerwel . johannis skinner de reygate . richardi knight , de eadem . stephani balhorn de dorking . johannis vincent de maldon . thomae vincent de coneham . johannis lake de kingston . thomae broker de eadem . vvillielmi stoley , de eadem . johannis lake , de eadem . vvalteri vvoderove , de eadem . thomae settonde ewel . thomae chetema●… de ebbesham . johannis kigh●…le de vvaweton , junior . rogeri longland de croyden . richardi hayward de foting . thomae ingram de shire . johannis frolbury , de eadem . r●…berti tome de vvalton . richardi osteler de coneham . sheriffs of surrey . of both . of sussex . henri . ii.     anno     robertus belet   hugo wareluilla paganus   magerus maleuvenant paganus       radulphus picot paganus   radulphus picot   paganus   episc. chichester . hilarius paganus   hilarius episc. chichester . paganus   hen. archi-diaconus gervasius cornhil     rogerus hai   rogerus hai gervasius de cornhil   rogerus hai   roger. hay   gervasius de cornhil   rogerus hai hugoni de dour   idem gerva . de cornhil , for years .   idem     reginaldus de warrenn , for years . idem &     hen. de cornhil , filius ejus   rogerus filius renfridi , for years . henr. de cornhil , for years .       richard . i.     anno   henricus de cornhil   philippus ruffus idem   philippus de tresgar idem   idem radul . de cornhil   johannes marescal idem   idem will. de st. mar. ecclesia .   willielmus mareshal idem   willielmus marescal willielmus panus     galfre . peverel   stephanus de pountfold robertus de turnham   willielmus marescal alanus de withton   stephanus de poudfold robertus   willielmus alanus   stephanus willielmus marescal   mich. de apletricham .   johan . rex .     anno   robertus de turnham   willielm . marescal alanus de wichenton   mich. de appeltricham johannes chaper   robertus de turnham   johannes chaper     williel . marescal   robertus turnham   mich. de apletricham     johannes ferles .   willielmus de chaignes     richardus de maisi     willielmus de st. laudo     idem     willielmus de cahaignes .   anno anno anno   idem   robertus de beregefeld   johannes filius hugonis robertus de milborn   willielm . briewre robertus de beregefeld   johannis filius hugonis johanna filius hugonis   matth. filius herbert robertus beregefeld   gilbertus de barier gilbert . de barrier   matth. filius herbert johannes filius hugonis   matth. filius herbert robertus de beregefeld   gilbert . le barrier gilbert . de baryer   matth. filius herbert     matth. filius herbert reginald . de cornhil   gilbert . barrier   henr . iii.     anno     gilbertus barrarius   matth. filius herberti wil. de warren c. surr.   gilbertus barrarius willielmus de mara     wil. de warrena c. sur.   matth. filius herberti willielmus de maram , for years .   gilbertus barrarius , for years .   matth. filius herberti   herbert filius walteri for years . johannes oracesdon     johannes de gatesden , for years .       robertus de laudelawe   henricus de wintershul williemus brunus   idem idem   petrus de rival     id. & hen. de cancel   simon de echingham     joelus de germano     simon de echingham     henry de bada     johannes de gatesden     joel de sancto german   johannis de gatesdon   johann . de gatesdon joel de sancto germano   philip. de crofts johannes de gatesden   idem nicholaus de wancy     johannes de gatesden johannes de gatesden   johannes de gatesden nicholaus de wancy   philippus de crofts gregorius de arsted   idem   philippus de crofts   radul . de kaymes for ye .     rob. de savage . for years .     nic. de wancy , for years         will. & mich. de vere         galfr. de grues     idem     gerard. de cuncton     david . de jarpennil   anno anno anno   johannes de wanton     idem   rogerus de vvikes , for years vvillielmus de lazouch , for years . robertus agwilon for years .   rogerus de loges , for years .   matth. de hasting   bartholomeus de hasting idem   idem   edw. i.     anno     matth. de hastings     idem     vvillielmus de herne     johannes vvanton , for years .     emerindus de cancellis     idem     nicholaus de gras , for years .     richardus de pevensey     idem     vvill. de pageham , for years .   rogerus de lukenor , for years .       robertus de gla morgan for years .     joh. albel , for years .     vvalter de gedding     idem     robertus de le knole ' for years .   sheriffs of surrey , and sussex . edw. ii. anno walter de gedding anno vvillielmus de henle & robertus de stangrave anno vvillielmus de henle , & robertus de stangrave anno idem anno vvillielmus de henle anno vvillielmus de henle & vvillielmus de mere anno petrus de vienne anno idem anno vvillielmus merre anno vvalterus le gras anno vvalterus le gras , & petrus de vvorldham anno petrus de vvorldham , & henricus husey anno idem anno henricus husey anno nicholaus gentil anno anno petrus de vvorldham , & andream medested , for years . edw. iii. anno nicholaus gentil anno nicholaus gentil , & robertus de stangrave , for years . anno johannes dabnam anno vvillielmus vaughan anno idem anno willielmus vaughan , & & joh. dabnam , for years . anno vvillielmus vaughan anno idem anno godfridus de hunston anno wilielmus de northo , & godfridus de henston anno hugo . de bowcy , & willielmus de northo anno andreas peverel , & hugo . de bowcy anno idem anno vvilliemus de northo anno regind . de forester for years . anno rogerus daber anno tho. hoo , for years anno richardus de st. oweyn anno idem anno simon de codington anno rogerus de lukenor anno vvill. northo anno tho. de hoo , for years . anno richardus de hurst , for years . simon de codington ranul . thurnburn . johannes wateys johannes weyvile andreas sackvile ●…dem ranul . thurnburn idem vvillielmus neidegate roger. dalingrugg nicholaus wilcomb robertus de loxele robertus atte hele johannes st. clere johannes de melburn . the sheriffs of these two counties , before king edward the second are in the records so involved , complicated , perplexed , that it is a hard taske to untangle them , and assign , with the sheriffs did severally , which joyntly belong unto them . had the like difficulty presented it self in other united shires , i suspect it would have deterred me from ever meddling with their catalogue . nor will we warrant , that we have done all right in so dare a subject , but submit our best endeavours to the censure and correction of the more judicious . henry the ii. sussex , hilarius episcopus chichester . ] the king had just cause to confide in his loyalty and commit the shire to his care . for , although i behold him as a french-man by birth ▪ yet great alwayes was his loyalty to the king , whereof afterwards he gave a signal testimony . for , whereas all other bishops assembled at the council of clarendon , only assented to the kings propositions with this limitation , salvo ordine suo , this hilarie absolutely and simply subscribed the same . the time of his consecration , as also of his death is very uncertain . edward the third . andreas sackvil . ] the family of the sackvils is as ancient as any in england , taking their name from sackvil ( some will have it sicca villa ) a town , and their possession in normandy . before this time , we meet with many eminent persons of their name and ancestry . sir robert sackvil knight , younger son of * herbrann de sackvil , was fixed in england , and gave the mannor of wickham in suffolk , to the abbey of st. john de baptist in colchester , about the reign of william rufus sir john de sackvil his son , is by matthew * paris , ranked amongst those persons of prime quality , who in the reign of king john , were assistants to the five and twenty peers , appointed to see the liberties of charta magna performed . richard de sackvil , ( as i have cause to beleive his son ) was one of such quality , that i find hubertus de anesty to hold two fields in anesty , and little * hormeed of the honor of richard sackvil . now the word honor , ( since appropriated to princes palaces ) was in that age attributed to none but * the patrimony of principal barons . sir jordan sackvil , grand-child to the former , was taken prisoner at the battle of emesham , in the age of king henry the third , for siding with the barons against him . andrew , his son and heir , being under age , at his fathers death , and the kings ward , was imprisoned in the castle of dover , anno the third of edward the first , and afterwards , by the special command of the said king , did marry ermyntude an ( i conceive a spanish ) honourable lady of the houshold of queen elianor , whereby he gained the kings favour , and the greater part of his ( formerly forfeited ) inheritance . i behold this andrew sackvil the sheriff , as his son , ancestor to the truly honourable richard now earl of dorset . sheriffs . name place armes . rich. ii.     anno     will. percy   or , a lion rampant , azure . edw. fitz-herbert   gules , lions rampant , or. ioh. de hadresham     nich. sleyfeld     will. percy ut prius   will. weston   ermin , on a chief azu . bezants ▪ will. waleys     robertus nutborne     richardus hurst     thomae hardin     idem     edw. de ●…t . johan .   argent , on a chief gules , mullets , or. rob. atte-mulle     rob. de echingham     nicholaus carew beddingt●… surrey . or , lions passant-gardant sable armed and langued , gules . thomae jardin     nicholaus slyfeld     edw. st. john ut prius   ioh. ashburnham ashburnham . suss. gules , a fess betw . mullets , ar. willielmus fienes   azure , lions rampant , or. iohannes s●…lerne     willielmus fienes ut prius   hen. iv.     anno     radu . codington     nicholaus carew & ut prius   iohannes pelham laughton . azure , pelicans , argent . ioh. ashburnham ut prius   robert. atte-mulle     idem     phil. st. ole●…e   quarterly or and gules , a bene vayree . thomae sackvile     thomae clipsham     vvillielmus verd     tho ▪ ashburnham ut prius   ioh. warne campie     ioh. vvaterton     hen. v.     anno     iohan. haysham     ioh. wintershul     ioh. clipsham     ioh. uvedale     iohannes weston ut prius   iames knotesford   arg. fusile in fesse sable . iohannes clipsham     iohannes hace     ioh. bolvey , & iames knotesford ut prius   hen. vi.     anno     rog. fiennes , miles ut prius   ioh. wintershul     io●…an . clipsham     thomae lewkenor   azure , cheverons , argent . iohan. ferriby     will. warbleton     ioh. wintershul     willielmus uvedale ut prius   willielmus finch   argent , a cheveron between griffins passant , sable . th. lewkenor , m. ut prius   iohan. and●…rne     richardus walle●…   〈◊〉 , walnut-leaves or , betwixt bendlets , argent . rog fiennes , mil. ut prius   rich. dalingrugg     iohan. fereby     ●…homae uvedal ut prius   iames fiennes ut prius   rog. lewkenor ut prius   nicholaus carew ut prius   vvalt . strickland     ioh. stanley   arg. on a bend az. bucksheads cabossed , or. ioh. baskett , arm .   azure , a cheveron erm. betwixt leopards-heads , or. nich. carew ut prius   nich. husey     vvill. belkn●…pe     robertus radmill     nich. carew ut prius   ioh. pennycoke     johan . lewkenor ut prius   thomae yard     rich. fienes , mil. ut prius       ioh. knotesford ut prius   tho cobham , mil.   gules , on a cheveron or , estoiles , sable . nicholaus husee ut prius   tho. basset     thomae tresham   per saltire sable and or , trefoiles of the last . rob. fienes , arm ▪ ut prius   edvv. iv.     anno     nich. gainsford crohurst arg. a chever . g. betwixt greyhounds currant , sable . vvalt . denis     idem     tho. goring , arm   argent , a cheveron between annulets , gules . tho ▪ vvedale , m. ut prius   vvill. cheney , ar .     tho. vaugham     rog. lewkenor , m. ut prius   nich. gainsford , a. ut prius   rich. lewkenor , a. ut prius   th. t. leger , arm . kent azure , fretty arg. a chief , or , ioh. gainsford . ut prius   nich. gainsford ut prius   ●…ho . lewkenor , ar . ut prius   tho. echingham     ●… ioh. wode . ser , ar     henr. roos , mil.     vvill. vveston ut priús   tho. combs , arm .     ioh. elringhton     tho. fienes ut prius   ioh. apseley , ar ,   barry of arg. and gules , a canton , ermin . rich. iii.     anno     hen. roos , miles     ioh. dudley     ioh ▪ norbury , mil.     nich. gainsford . ut prius   hen. vii :     anno     nich. gainsford ut priur   tho. combes , arm .     vvill. merston     rob. morley   sable , leopa●…ds or , flowry , ar. ioh. apseley , a●…m ut prius   rich. lewkenor , ar . ut prius   edw. dawtree , arm   az. fusiles in fesse , arg. ioh. leigh , arm . stockwel . g. a crosse engrailed within a border , arg. ioh. coke , armig .     ioh. apseley , arm . ut prius   ric. lewkenor , a. ut prius sable , lions passant gardant inter bends geweros , arg. matth. brown , ar . beachworth   rich. sackvile , a●… . ut prius   ioh. coke , arm .     tho. ashburnhan ut prius   ioh. gainsford , ar . ut prius       ioh. apseley , arm ut prius   rad. shirley , ar .   paly of or & az a canton erm. rich. sackvile , a●… ▪ ut prius † g. a lion ramp . queve for●…hee , godr . † oxenbrig , ●…   arg. within a border v. charged an entoire of escalops or. will. ashburnham ut prius   tho. morton , ar .   quarterly , gules and erm. in the first and fourth , a goats-head erased , arg. tho. ficnis . mil. ut prius   hen. viii .     anno     ioh. leigh , armig . ut prius   edw. lewknor , ar . ut prius   rog. lewknor . mil. ut prius   god. oxenbr●…igg , mi. ut prius   rich. shirley , ar . ut prius   roger. copley , ar .     ioh. leigh , mil. ut prius   vvill. ashbu●…ham ut prius   ioh. gainsford , m. ut pri●…s   rich. carewe , ar . ut prius   god. oxenbrigg , m. ut prius   ioh. scott , armig .   arg. katharine wheels s. with in a border engrailed , gules . edw. bray . miles .   ●…rg . a cheveron between eagles legs erazed , sable . rich. covert , ar . slaugham suff. gules , a fesse erm. betwixt . leopards , or. will. ashburnham ut prius   tho. vvest , mil.   arg. a fesse dancette , sable . rich. shirley , ar . ut prius   ioh. dawtree , mil. ut prius   ioh. sackvill , ar . ut prius   rich. belingham .   arg ▪ munters-horns st●…inged , sable . rog. copley , mil.     vvill. goring , mil. ut prius   rog. lewkenor , m. ut prius   christop . moore , 〈◊〉 looseley az on a cross arg. martlets , s. ioh. palmer , arm . angma●…in . or , barrs gules , on each trefoils ar. in chief a grey-hound currant sable , collared of the first . rich. belengham . ut prius   vvill. goring , m. ut prius   rich. page , miles .     nich. gainsford . a. ut prius   edw. bray , miles . ut prius   christop . moor , m. ut prius   ioh. sackvile , arm . ut prius   tho. darell , arm .   az. a lion ra●…p . or , crowned argent . rich. belingham , a ut prius   ioh. palmer , arm , ut prius   ioh. thetcher , arm .     ioh. dawtree , mil. ut prius   ioh. sackvile , arm ut prius   edvv. vi.     anno     thom carden , mil.     ioh. scott , armig . ut prius   nich. pelham , mil. ut prius   vvill. goring , m. ut prius   rob. oxenbrigg , ●… . ut prius   anthon. brown , m. ut prius   rex phil. & mar. reg     anno     tho. saunders , mil. chartwood sable , a cheveron between bulls heads , a●…g . ioh. covert , arm . ut prius   vvill. saunders , ar . ut prius   edw. gage , mil.   gyronne of four , az. and arg a saltire , gules . ioh. ashburnham . ut prius   vvill. moore , arm . ut prius   regin . eliz.     anno     tho. palmer , mil. ut prius   ioh. colepeper , ar .   ●…rg . a bend engrail●…d , gules . joh. stidolf , arm .   arg. or a chief sable , wolves heads erased , or. hen. goring , arm . ut prius   will. gresham .     rich. covert , arm . ut prius   antho. pelham , ar ▪ ut prius   will. dawtree , arm . ut prius   this year the counties were divided . sheriffs of surrey . alone . name place amre●… . franc. carew , ar . ut prius   hen. we●…on , mil. ut prius   thom. lifeld , ar . ut prius   tho. brown , arm . ut prius   this year the two counties were again united under one sheriff . name place amre●… . ioh. pelham , arm . ut prius   tho ▪ palmer , mil. ut prius   fran. shirley , arm . ut prius   ioh. rede , arm . & rich. polsted .     hen ▪ pelham . arm . ut prius   will. gresham , ar . ut prius   tho. shirley , mil ▪ ut prius   georg. goring , ar . ut prius   will. moore , mil. ut prius   will. morley , arm . ut prius   edw. slifeld , arm .     tho. brown , mil. ut prius   walt. covert , arm . ut prius   tho. bishop , arm . parham argent , on a bend cottised gules ( bezauts . rich. bostock , ar .   sable a fesse humet a●…g . nich. parker , ar .     rich. brown , arm . ut prius   ioh. carrell , arm . harting argent , bars and as many martlets in chief , sable . thom. pelham , a. ut prius   hen. pelham , arm . ut prius   rob●… . linsey , arm .   or , an eagle displayed sable beaked and membred az. a chief varry . walt. covert , mil. ut prius   nich. parker , mil.     will. gardeux , a.     rich. leech , arm .     edm. culpeper , a. ut prius   georg. moore , arm . ut prius   jam. colebrand , a. botham az. levels with plummets , o. tho. eversfeld , a. den erm. on a bend s. mullets , o. edm. boier , arm . camberwel . sur. o. a bend varry betwixt cottises gules - thom. bishop , arm . ut prius   ioh. ashburnham . ut prius   rob. lynsey . ut prius   jac. rex .     anno     rob. linsey , arm . ut prius   hen. goring , mil. ut prius   edw. culpeper , mil ut prius   tho. hoskings , mil.     hen. morley , arm . ut prius   georg. gunter , mil.   sable , gantlets , within a border , or. thom. hunt , miles     ioh. lountesford   az. a cheveron betwixt boares or , coupe gules . edw. bellingham 〈◊〉 prins   wil. wignall a ▪ tandrigde sur. azure , on a cheveron or , betwixt ostriges mullets , gules . edw. goring , arm . ut prius   ioh. willdigos , m.     rola . tropps , mor & ioh. morgan , m.     ioh. shirley , mile ▪ ut prius   ioh. middleton , a.     ioh. howland , mil. shatham arg. bars and lions ramp . in chief , sable . nich. eversfeld , a. ut prius   rich. michelborne     franc. leigh , mil. ut prius   tho. springet , m.     ben. pelham , mil. ut prius   amb. browne , arm . ut prius   carolus rex .     anno     edr. alford , arm .   g. pears , , & , & a chief , o. tho. bowyer , arm . leghthorn suss. or , a bend vary betw . cotises , g edw. jourden , arm . gatwik s. an eagle displaied betw . bendlets ar. a canton , si●…ster or. steph. boord , mil.     anth. may , arm●…ger .   g. a fesse between billets , or. will. walter , mil. wimbl●… az. a fesse indented or , between eagles , argent .     ioh●… ▪ chapman , m.     rich. evelyn , arm . wotton az. a g●…yphon passant & chief , o. will ▪ culpeper , ar . ut prius   will. morley , mil. ut prius   when i look upon these two counties , it puts me in mind of the epigram in the poet. nec cum te possum vivere , nec sine te . neither with thee can i well , nor without thee can i dwell . for these two shires of surrey and sussex generally had distinct sheriffs until the reign of king edward the second , when they were united under one. then again divided in the ninth of queen elizabeth ; united in the thirteenth , divided again in the twelfth of king charles , and so remain at this day , but how long this condition will continue is to me unknown , seeing neither conjunctim , nor divisim , they seem very well satisfied . sheriffs of this connty alone . name place amre●… . king charles     anno     antho. vincent , mil. stock'd azure , quarterfoils , argent . abernn   iohan gresham , mil     ioh. howland , mil. ut prius   tho. smith , armig .     georg. price , arm .         edru . jorden , arm . ut prius   mathe. brand , mi ▪         will. vvymondsal , mil. putnie .   richard the second . john ashburnham . ] my poor and plain pen is willing , though unable , to add any lustre to this family of stupendious antiquity . the chief of this name was high sheriffe of sussex and surrey , anno . when william duke of normandy invaded england , to whom king harauld wrote , to assemble the posse comitatunm , to make effectuall resistance against that foreigner . the original hereof , an honourable heir-loome ( worth as much as the owners thereof would value it at ) was lately in the possession of this family . a family wherein the eminency hath equalled the antiquity thereof , having been barons of england in the reign of king henry the third . the last , sr. john ashburnham , of ashburnham , married elizabeth beaumont , daughter of sr. tho. beaumont ( afterwards by especiall grace created viscountess crawmount in scotland ) and bare unto him two sons , john of the bed-chamber to king charles the first and second , and william cofferer to his majestie , who will build their name a story higher to posterity . henry the sixth . . john lewkenor . ] he was afterwards knighted by this king , and was a cordial zealote for the lancastrian title , at last paying dear for his affections thereunto . for in the raign of king edward the fourth , anno . he , with three thousand others was slain in the battle at teuksbury , valiantly fighting under prince edward , son to king henry the sixth . henry the seventh . matthew brown , armiger . ] i would be highly thankfull to him ( gratitude is the gold wherewith schollars honestly discharge their debts in this kinde ) who would inform me how sr. anthony brown ( a younger branch of this family ) stood related to this sheriffe . i mean , that sr. anthony , standard-bearer of england , second husband to lucy , fourth daughter to john nevell , marquess montacute , and grandfather to sr. anthony brown , whom queen mary created viscount montacute . he was a zealous romanist , for which queen mary loved him much the more , and queen elizabeth no whit the less , trusting and employing him in embassies of high consequence , as knowing , he embraced his religion , not out of politick designe , but pure devotion . he was direct ancestour to the right honourable the present viscount mountacute . this viscount , is eminently but not formally a baron of the land , having a place and vote in parliament , by an express clause in his patent , but otherwise no particular title of a baron : this i observe , for the unparallel'd rarity thereof , and also to confute the peremptory position of such , who maintain , that only actual barons sit as peers in parliament . henry the eighth . nicholas carew , miles . ] he was a jolly gentleman , fit for the favour of king henry the eighth , who loved active spirits , as could keep pace with him in all atchievements , and made him knight of the garter , and master of his horse . this sr. nicholas built the fair house ( or pala●…e rather ) at beddington in this county , which , by the advantage of the water , is a paradice of pleasure . tradition in this family reporteth , how king henry , then at bowles , gave this knight opprobrious language , betwixt jest and earnest , to which the other returned an answer rather true than discreet , as more consulting therein his own animosity than allegiance . the king , who in this kind would give and not take , being no good fellow in tart repartees , was so highly offended thereat , that sr. nicholas fell from the top of his favour , to the bottome of his displeasure , and was bruised to death thereby . this was the true cause of his execution , though in our chronicles all is scored on his complying in a plot with henry , marquess of exeter , and henry lord mountague . we must not forget , how in the memory of our fathers , the last of this surname adopted his near kinsman a throck-morton to be his heir , on condition to assume the name and armes of c●…rew . from him is lineally descended sr. nicholas carew , knight . who , i confidently hope , will continue and encrease the honour of his ancient family . edward the sixth . thomas carden , miles ] some five years before , this knight was improbable to be sheriffe of this or any other county , when cunning gardiner got him into his clutches within the compass of the six articles , being with a lady ( and some others of the kings privy chamber ) indited for heresie , and for aiding and abetting anthony persons , burnt at winsor , as is above * mentioned . but king henry coming to the notice hereof , of his special goodness , without the * suit of any man , defeated their foes , preserved their lives , and confirmed their pardon . elizabetha regina . george goring . ] he would do me an high favour , who would satisfie me how sr. george goring , knight ( bred in sydney colledge in cambridge , to which he was a benefactor ) referred in kindred to this present sheriffe . this our sr. george was by king charles the first created baron of hurst per-point in sussex , and ( after the death of his mothers brother , edward lord denny ) earle of norwich . he is a phaenix , sole and single by himself , [ vestigia sola retrorsum ] the onely instance in a person of honour , who found pardon for no offence , his loyalty to his soveraign . afterwards going beyond the seas , he was happily instrumental in advancing the peace betwixt spain and holland . i remember how the nobility of bohemia , who fided with frederick , prince palatine , gave for their motto , compassi conregna●…imus , meaning , that such who had suffered with him in his adversity , should share with him in his prosperity , when settled in his kingdome . but alas ▪ their hopes failed them . but blessed be god , this worthy lord , as he patiently bare his part in his majesties afflictions , so he now partaketh in his restitution , being captain of his guard. to the reader . may ●…e be pleased to behold this my b●…ief description of 〈◊〉 , as a running collation to stay his stomack , no set meal to sati●…fie his hunger . but to tell him good news , i hear , that a plentifull feast in this kinde is providing for his entertainment , by edward * bish , esq. a native of svrrey , intending a particular survey thereof . now , as when the sun a●…iseth the moon 〈◊〉 down obscurely , without any observation : so when the pains of this worthy gentleman shall be publick , i am not only contented , but desirous that my weak endeavours ( without further noise or notice ) should sink in silence . the farewell . i have been credibly 〈◊〉 , that one mr. clarke , some seven score years since built at his charges the market-house of fa●…nham in this county . once rep●…oving his workmen for going on so slowly , they excused themselves , that they were hindred with much people pressing upon them , some liking , some disliking the model of the fabri●…k . hereupon mr. clarke caused this distich ( hardly extant at this day ) to be written in that house . you who do like me give 〈◊〉 to end me . you who dislike me give mony to mend me . i wish this advice practised all over this county , by those , who vent their various verdicts in praising or reproving 〈◊〉 erected gratis , for the general good. sussex . sussex hath surrey on the north , kent on the east , the sea on the south , and hant-shire on the west . it is extended along the sea-side threescore miles in length , but is contented with a third of those miles in the breadth thereof . a fruitfull county , though very durty for the travellers therein , so that it may be better measured to its advantage , by days-journeys then by miles . hence it is , that in the late order for regulating the wages of coach-men , at such a price a day and distance from london , sussex alone was excepted , as wherein shorter way or better pay was allowed . yet , the gentry of this county well content themselves 〈◊〉 the very badness of passage therein , as which secureth their provisions at 〈◊〉 prices ; which , if mended , higglers would mount , as * bajulating them to london . it is peculiar to this county , that all the rivers , ( and those i assure you are very many , ) have their fountains and falls in this shire , ( though one may seem somewhat suspicious ) as being bred , living , ( though not to their full strength and stature of being navigable , ) and dying therein , swallowed up by the sea . it is sufficient evidence of the plenty of this county , that the tolle of the wheat , corn and malt , growing or made about , and sold in the city of chichester , doth amount yearly at a half penny a quarter , to sixty * pounds and upwards , ( as the gatherers thereof will attest ) and the numbers of the bushels we leave to be audited by better arithmeticians . it hath been said that the first * baron , viscount , and earl in england , all three have , and have had , for some term of time their chief residence in this county ; and it is more civility to believe all then to deny any part of the repo●…t , though , sure i am , this observation was discomposed at the death of the earl of essex , since which time viscount hereford is the first person in england of that dignity . naturall commodities . iron . great the necessity hereof , some nations having lived in the ignorance of gold and silver , scarce any without the use of iron . indeed we read not of it in making the tabernacle ( though from no mention no use thereof , therein cannot infallibly be inferred ) which being but a slight and portable building , brass might supply the want thereof ▪ but in the temple which was a firmer fabrick * we find iron for the things of iron , and a hundred * thousand talents of that metal imployed therein . great the quantity of iron made in this county , whereof much used therein , and more exported thence into other parts of the land , and beyond the seas . but whether or no the private profit thereby will at long-running countervail the publick loss in the destruction of wood●… , i am as unwilling to discuss as unable to decide . onely let me adde the ensuing complaint , wherein the timber-trees of this county deplore their condition , in my opinion richly worth the readers perusall ; joves oake , the warlike ash , veyn'd elm , the softer beech , short hazell , maple plain , light aspe , the bending wych , tough holly , and soomth birch , must altogether burn : what should the builders serve , supplies the forgers turn ; when under publick good , base private gain takes hold , and we poor wofull woods , to ruin lastly sold. but it is to be hoped , that a way may be found out , to ●…harke seacole in such manner , as to render it usefull for the making of iron . all things are not found out in one age , as reserved for future discovery , and that perchance may be easy for the next which seems impossible to this generation . talk. talk ( in latine talchum ) is a cheap kind of mineral , which this county plentifully affords , though not so fine as what is fetch'd from venice . it is white and transparent like chrystall , full of strekes or veins , which prettily scatter themselves . being calcined and variously prepared , it maketh a curious white wash , which some justi●…y lawfull , because clea●…ing not changing complexion . it is a great astringent , yet used but little in physick . surely , nature would not have made it such an hypocrit to hang out so fair a sign , except some guest of quality were lodged therein , i mean , it would not appear so beautifull to the eye except some con●…ealed worth were couched therein ; inclining me to believe that the vertue 〈◊〉 is not yet fully discovered . wheat ears . wheat-ears is a bird peculiar to this county , hardly found out of it . it is so called , because fattest when wheat is r●…pe , whereon it feeds ; being no bigger then a lark , which it equalleth in the fineness of the flesh ▪ far exceedeth in the fatness thereof . the worst is , that being onely seasonable in the heat of summer , and naturally larded with lumps of fat , it is soon subject to corrupt , so that ( though abounding within fourty miles ) london-poulterers have no mind to meddle with them , which no care in carriage can keep from putrefaction . that palate-men shall pass in silence , who being seriously demanded his judgment concerning the abilities of a great lord , concluded him a man of very weak parts , because once he saw him at a great feast feed on chickens when there were wheat-ears on the table . i will adde no more in praise of this bird for fear some female reader may fall in longing for it , and unhappily be disappointed of her desire . carpes . it is a stately fish but not long * naturalized in england , and of all fresh-water fishes ( the ele only excepted ) lives longest out of his proper element . they breed ( which most other fishes doe not ) severall months in one year , though in cold ponds they take no comfort to increase . a learned † writer observeth they live but ten years , though others assign them a far longer life . they are the better for their age and bigness , ( a rule which holds not in other fishes ) and their tongues by ancient roman ▪ palate-men were counted most delicious meat ▪ though to speak properly , they have either no tongues in their mouths , or all their mouths are tongues , as filled with a carneous substance , whilst their teeth are found in their throats . there is a kind of frog which is a profest foe unto them , insomuch that of a hundred carpes put into a pond , not five of them have been found therein a year after ▪ and though some may say perchance , two-leged frogs stole them away , yet the strict care of their owners in watching them , disproved all suspition thereof . now as this county is eminent for both sea and river - 〈◊〉 , namely an arundel mullet , a chichester lobster , a 〈◊〉 cockle , and an ame●…ly trout . so sussex * aboundeth with more carpes then any other of this nation . and though not so great as jovius reporteth to be found in the lurian lake in italy , weighing more then fifty pounds , yet those generally of great and goodly ▪ proportion . i need not adde , that physicians account the galls of carp●…s , as also a stone in their heads to be 〈◊〉 , only i will observe that because jews will not eat caviare made of 〈◊〉 , ( because coming from a fish wanting scals , and therefore forbidden in the levitical * law. ) therefore the italians make greater profit of the spaun of carps , whereof they make a red caviare well pleasing the jews both in palate and conscience . all i will adde of carps is this , that ramu●… himself doth not so much redound in dichotomies as they do . seeing no one bone is to be found in their body which is not forked or divided into two parts at the end thereof . manufactures . great guns . it is almost incredible , how many are made of the iron in this county . count gondomer well knew their goodness , when of k. james he so often begg'd the boon to transport them . a monke of mentz ( some three hundred years since ) is generally reputed the first founder of them . surely ingenuity may seem transposed , and to have cross'd her hands , when about the same time a s●…uldier found out printing ; and it is questionable , which of the two inventions hath done more good , or more harm . as for guns , it cannot be denied , that though most behold them as instruments of cruelty ; partly , because subjecting valour to chance ; partly , because guns give no quarter ; ( which the sword sometimes doth , ) yet it will appear , that since their invention , victory hath not stood so long a neuter , and hath been determined with the loss of fewer lives . yet do i not believe what souldiers commonly say , that he was curs'd in his mothers belly , who is kill'd with a cannon , seeing many prime persons have been slain thereby . such as desire to know the pedigree , and progress of great guns in england , may be pleas'd to take notice , . anno . john oaven was the first * english-man , who in england cast brass ordnance , cannons , culverings , &c. . peter * baud a french-man , in the first of king edward the sixth , was the first who in england cast iron-ordnance , falcons , falconers , minions , &c. . thomas johnson covenant-servant to peter aforesaid , succeeded and exceeded his master , casting them clearer and better . he died about . some observe , that god hath so equally divided the advantage of weapons , between us and spain , that their steel makes the best swords , our iron the most usefull ordnance . glass . plenty hereof is made in this county , though not so fine as what tyre afforded , fetch'd from the river belus , and the cendevian lake ; nor so pure as is wrought at chiosa nigh venice , whereof the most refined falls but one degree short of chrystall , but the course glasses here serve well enough for the common sort , for vessels to drink in . the work-men in this mystery are much encreased since . as may appear by what i read in an * author writing that very year . as for glass-makers they be scant in this land , yet one there is as i doe understand , and in sussex is now his habitation , at chiddingsfold●…e ●…e works of his occupation . these brittle commodities are subject to breaking upon any casualty , and hereupon i must transmit a passage to posterity , which i received from an author beyond exceptions . a noble man , who shall be nameless , living not many miles from cambridge , ( and highly in favour with the earl of leicester , ) begg'd of queen elizabeth all the plate of that university , as useless for scholars , and more for state then service , for superfluity then necessity . the queen granted his suit , upon condition to find glasses for the scholars . the lord considering this might amount to more then his baronry , would maintain ( except he could compass the venetian artist , who , as they say , could make vitra sine vitio fragilitatis pellucida ; yea , could consolidate glass to make it malleable , ) let his petition , which was as charitable as discreet , sink in silence . by the way be it observed , that though course ▪ glass-making was in this county of great antiquity , yet , the first * making of venice-glasses in england , began at the crochet friers in london , about the beginning of the reign of queen elizabeth , by ●…ne jacob venaline , an italian . the buildings . chichester cathedral is a fine fabrick , built ( after it had been twice consumed with fire ) by bishop 〈◊〉 ( the second of the name ) about the year . country folk are confident in their tradition , that the master-workman built sarisbury , and his man the church of chichester , and if so , s●…quitur dominum non passibus aequis . but p●…oportion of time , — confuteth the conceit , seeing s●…ffride flourished under king john , — and bishop poor ( the founder of sarisbury ) lived much later unde●… king hen●…y the third . now though 〈◊〉 bestowed the cloth and making on the church , bishop sherborn gave the trimming and best lace thereto , in the reign of king henry the seventh . i am sorry i can follow the allegory so far , being 〈◊〉 that now it is not only seam ript , but torn in the whole-cloth , having lately a great part thereof fallen down to the ground . arundel castle is of great esteem , the rather because a local-earldome is cemented to the wall●… thereof . some will have it so n●…med from arundel the horse of beavoice the great champion . i confess it is not withont precedence in antiquity , for places to take names from horses , meeting with the promentory * bucephalus in peleponesus , where some report the horse of al●…xander buried , and b●…llonius will have it for the same cause called cavalla at this day . but this castle was so called long before that imaginary horse was foled , who cannot be fancied elder then his master beavoice , flourishing after the conquest , long before which arundel was so called from the river arund●…unning ●…unning hard by it . ●…etworth , the house of the earls of northumberland is most famous for a stately stable , the best of any subjects in christendome . comparisons must move in ther own ●…pheres , and princes only are meet to measure with princes : tell me n●…t ●…herefore of the duke of saxony his stable at dresden , wherein are ●…n 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and eight horses of service , ( with a magazene out of which he can arme thirty thousand horse and foot at a days warning , ) that elector being the most potent prince in the empire . but is not the proportion fair , that ●…etworth stable affordeth standing in state for threescore horse , with all necessary accommodations ? wonders . expect not here , i should insert , what william of newbury writeth , ( to be recounted rather amongst the untru●…hs then wonders ) viz. that in this county not far from b●…ttail-abby , in the place where so great a slaughter of the english-men was made , after any shower , presently sweateth forth very fr●…sh blood out of the earth , as if the evidence thereof did plainly declare the voice of bloud there shed , and crieth still from the earth unto the lord. this is as true , as that in white chalky countries ( about baldock in hartford shire ) after rain run rivolets of milk ; neither being any thing else then the water discoloured , according to the complexion of the earth thereabouts . proverbs . he is none of the hastings ] this proverb though extended all over england , is properly reduceable to this county as originated there , for there is a haven town named hastings therein , which some erroneously conceive so called from hast or speed , because william the [ afterwards ] conqueror landing there , did as mathew paris saith with hast or speedily erect some small fortification . but sure it is that there is a noble and antient family of the hastings in this land , ( i will not say first taking their name from this town ) who formerly were earls of pembroke , and still are of huntington . now men commonly say they are none of the hastings , who being slow and slack go about business with no agility . such they also call [ dull dromedaries ] by a foul mistake , meerly because of the affinity of that name to our english word dreaming , applied to such who go slowly and sleepily about their employment . whereas indeed d●…omedaries are creatures of a constant and continuing swiftness , so called from the greek word dremo to run , and are the 〈◊〉 for travell for the eastern country . martyrs . grievous the persecution in this county , under john christopherson the bishop thereof . such his havock in burning poor procestants in one year , that had he sat long in that see , and continued after that rate , there needed no iron-mills to rarify the woods of this county , which this bonner junior would have done of himself . i confess the papists admire him as a most able and profound divine , which mindeth me of an epigran made by one , who , being a suitor to a surly and scorn●…ull . mistris , after he had largely praised her rare parts and divine perfections , concluded , she hath too much divinity for me ; oh! that she had some more humanity ! the same may this diocess say of christopherson , who , though carrying much of christ in his surname , did bear nothing of him in his nature , no meekness , mildness or mercy , being addicted wholly to cruelty and destruction , burning no fewer then ten in one fire in lewes , and seventeen others at several times in sundry places . cardinals . herbert de bosham was born at * bosham a goodly mannor in this county , ( which earl godwin craftily * kissed out of the arch-bishop of canterbary , ) and being a good scholar he was a manubus ( i mean to write , not to fight for him ) unto thomas becket arch-bishop of canterbury . he was present at his murder-martyring , and h●…d the discretion to make no resistance , lest he had been sent the same way with his master . however amongst many other books , he wrote the story of his m●…sters death . going over into italy he was by pope alexander the third m●…de arch bishop of beneventum , and in the month of december . created cardinal , but by what title , it is unknown , as also is the exact date of his death . prelates . john peckham born of obscure * parents in this county , bred when a boy in lewes , when a youth , a franciscan in oxford , when a young man , in paris , when a man , he lived in lyons , ( where he became canon ) when a grave-man in rome , there made auditor of causes in that court , when an old man in canterbury , preferred against his will ( except out of cunning he would seem courted into what he coveted ) by the popes plenary power , to be arch bishop thereof . peckham believed the pope invited him freely to that place , when soon after he was called upon to pay a sad reckoning , no less then four thousand marks . a worthy man he was in his place , who neither feared the laytie nor flattered the clergy , unpartially imposing on both ( if appearing pecant ) most severe penance : he was a great punisher of pluralists , and injoyner of residence . his canons place at lyons , he not only kept during his life , but left it to his successours , who held it in commendam some hundred years afterwards . loth they were to part with it as a safe retreating place , in case our english kings should banish them the realme . besides it was a convenient inn for them to lodge at , as almost in the mid-way of their journey betwixt canterbury and rome . he sate arch-bishop almost fourteen years , built and endowed a colledge at wing ham , yet left a great estate to his kindred . i believe his wealth well gotten , because the land purchased therewith hath lasted so long in the linage of his allies , in this and the next county , even to our age , he died anno dom. . robert winchelsey . although bishop godwin * saith , ubi natus traditur , opinor , à nemine , yet considering the custome of the clergy in that age , none can doubt his birth in this county , except any should deny winchelsey to be therein . he was bred in the neighbouring shire of kent , where he was such a proficient in grammer learning , all did foretell , that he , [ then the arch-scholar in the school ] in due time would be arch-bishop of the see of canterbury . he was afterwards admitted in merton-colledge in oxford , went thence to paris , where he took the degree of master of arts , and became rector ( perchance no more then a regent amongst us , ) of that university ; returning to oxford he there proceeded doctor of divinity , and became chancellour thereof , successively canon of pauls , arch-deacon of essex and arch bishop of canterbury . he went to rome , to procure his pall of pope celestine . this is that celestine , formerly an eremite , whom a cardinal ( afterward his successor by the name of boniface the eighth ) perswaded , by a voice through a hollow-trunk to resign his popedome , and return into the wilderness , which he did accordingly . herein his holiness did trust the spirit before he did * try it , contrary to the counsel of the apostle . but this pope appearing fallible in his chamber , if in his chair and consul●…ing his conclave of cardinalls , no doubt would not have been deceived . he easily obtained his pall , and refused a cardinals cap offer'd unto him , returning to canterbury , he was there solemnly inthroned , and on the same day consecrated one bishop , bestowed . rich benefices on . doctors , and . meaner livings on as many bachelors in divinity . confiding in the canon of the councel of lions , which forbad the clergy to pay any taxes to princes , without the consent of the pope , he created much molestation to himself , king edward the first useing him very harshly , till at last he overcame all with his patience . for the main he was a worthy prelate , excellent preacher , being learned himself , he loved and preferred learned men . prodigious his hospitality , * being reported that sundays and fridays he fed no fewer , then four thousand men when corn was cheap , and five thousand when it was dear , and because it shall not be said , but my belief can be as large as his bounty , i give credit thereunto . otherwise it seemeth suspicious , as a mock-imitation of those self same numbers of persons , which christ at * two * severall times miraculously fed with loafes and fishes . his charity went home to them , which could not come to it , sending to such , who were absented by their impotencies . after his death , happening anno domini . he was accounted ( though not the popes ) the poor-mans saint , ( bountifull men will always be canonized in the calender of beggers , ) poor-people repairing in flocks , to the place of his buriall , and superstitiously praying unto him , and they could best tell , whether they found as much benefit from his tomb when dead , as at his table when living . thomas * bradwardine was descended of an ancient family at bradwardine in hereford-shire , who removing thence , had setled themselves for three generations in this county , where this thomas was born , in or near the city of chichester . he was bred fellow of merton-colledge in oxford , where he became a most exquisite mathematician , and deep divine , being commonly called doctor profundus . he was confessor to king edward the third , and some impute our great conquest in france , not so much to the prowesse of that king as to the prayers of this his chaplain . he constantly preach'd in the camp , industry to officers , obedience to common-souldiers , humility to all in good , patience in bad success . he exhorted them to be pious to god , dutifull to their king , pi●…full to all captives , to be carefull in making , faithfull in keeping articles with their enemies . after the death of strafford , he was made arch-bishop of canterbury , and at avenion ( where the pope then resided ) received his consecration . here he was accounted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , somewhat clownish by the romish court , partly , because he could not mode it with the italians , but chiefly , because money being the generall turn-key to preferment in that place , he was mee●…ly advanced for his merit . but that which most recommended his memory to posterity , is that worthy book he made de causâ dei , wherein speaking of pelagius , he complaineth in his second book , that , totus paenè mundus , ut timeo & doleo , post hunc abiit , & erroribus ejus fave●… . i fear and lament that almost the whole world runs after him , and favours his errors . bradwardine therefore undertook to be champion for grace and gods cause , against such who were not defensores , sed deceptores , sed inflatores , sed praecipitatores liberi arbitr●… , as * augustine calleth them , and as the same father saith of cicero * dum liberos homines esse volunt , faciunt sacrilegos . he died at lamb●…th in october anno dom. . thomas arundell was the fourth arch-bishop of canterbury who was born in this county , son he was to robert , brother to richard fitz-alen both earls of arund●…ll . herein he standeth alone by himself , that the name arundell speaks him both nobleman and clergy-man , the title of his fathers honor , and place of his own birth , meeting both in the castle of ar●…ell . it was ●…ither his nobility , or ability , or both , which in him did supplere aetatem , qualifying him to be bishop of ely at * twenty two years of age . he was afterwards archbishop of york , and at last of canterbury . and three severall times lord chancellor of england , viz. in the tenth of richard the second , . in the fifteenth of richard the second , . the eleventh of henry the fourth , . by king richard the second , when his brother the earl of arundell was beheaded , this thomas was banished the land . let him thank his orders for saving his life , the tonsure of his hair for the keeping of his head , who otherwise had been sent the same path a●… pase with his brother . returning in the first of k. henry the fourth , he was restored to his arch-bishoprick . such who commend his courage for being the churches champion , when a powerfull party in parliament pushed at the revenues thereof , condemn his cruelty to the wicklevites , being the first , who persecuted them with fire and fagot . as for the manner of his death , we will neither carelesly wink at it , nor curiously stare on it ; but may with a serious look solemnly behold it . he who had stop'd the mouths of so many servants of god from preaching his word , was himself famished to death by a swelling in his throat . but seeing we bear in our bodies the seeds of all sicknesses , ( as of all sins in our souls ) it is not good to be over-bold and buisie in our censures on such casualties . he died february . . and lieth buried in his cathedral at canterbury . henry burwash so named saith my * author ( which is enough for my discharge ) from burwash a town in this county . he was one of noble alliance . and when this is said , all is said to his commendation , being otherwise neither good for church nor state , soveraign nor subjects , covetous , ambitious , rebellious , injurious . say not , what makes he here then amongst the worthies ; for though neither ethically nor theologically , yet historically he was remarkable , affording something for our information , though not imitation . he was recommended by his kinsman b●…rtholomew de badilismer ( baron of leeds in kent ) to k. edward the second , who preferred him bishop of lincoln . it was not long be fore falling into the kings displeasure his temporalities were seized on , and afterwards on his submission restored . here , in stead of new gratitude , retayning his old grudge , he was most forward to assist the queen in the deposing * of her husband . he was twice l. treasurer , once ch●…ncellor , and once sent over ambassador to the duke † of bavaria . he died anno domini . such as mind to be merry may read the pleasant story of his apparition , being condemned after death to be viridis * viridarius , a green ●…rester , because in his life time he had violently inclosed other mens grounds into his park . surely such fictions keep up the best park of popery , [ purgatory ] whereby ▪ their fairest game and greatest gaine is preserved . since the reformation . william barlow d. d. my industry hath not been wanting in qaest of the place of his nativity ; but all in vain . seeing therefore i cannot fix his character on his cradle , i am resolved ( rather then omit him ) to fasten it on his coffin , this county where in he had his last preferment . a man he was of much motion and promotion ; first , i find him canon regular of s●… . 〈◊〉 in essex , and then prior of bisham in barkshire . then preferred by k. henry the eighth bishop of st. asaph , and consecrated febr. . . translated thence the april following to st. davids remaining . years in that see. in the third of king edward the sixth , he was removed to the bishoprick of bath and wells . flying the land in the reign of queen mary , he became superintendent of the english congregation at embden . coming back into england , by q. elizabeth he was advanced bishop of chichester . it is a riddle , why he chose rather to enter into new first-fruits , and begin at chichester , then return to bath a better bishoprick . some suggest , that he was loth to go back to bath , having formerly consented to the expilation of that bishoprick , whilst others make his consent to signify nothing , seeing impowred sacriledge is not so mannerly as to ask any , by your leave . he had a numerous and prosperous female-issue , as appeareth by the epitaph on his wifes monument in a church in hant-shire , though one shall get no credit in translating them . hic agathae tumulus barloi , praesulis inde , exulis inde , iterum praesulis , uxor erat . prole beata fuit , plena annis , quinque suarum , praesulibus vidit , praesulis ipsa , datas . barlows wife agathe doth here remain , bishop , then exile , bishop then again ▪ so long she lived , so well his children sped , she saw five bishops her five daughters wed . having sate about ten years in his see , he peaceably ended his life , dec. . . william juxton was born at chichester in this county , bred fellow in saint johns-colledge in oxford , where he proceeded bachelour of law ; very young , but very able for that degree , and afterwards became doctor in the same faculty , and president of the colledge . one in whom nature hath not omitted , but grace hath ordered , the tetrarch humour of choler , being admirably master of his pen and his passion , for his abilities he was successively preferred by king charles the first bishop of hereford and london , and for some years lord treasurer of england . a troublesome place in those times , it being expected that he should make much brick , ( though not altogether without , yet ) with very little straw allowed unto him . large then the expences , low the revenues of the exchequer . yet those coffers which he found empty , he left filling , and had left full , had peace been preserved in the land , and he continued in his place . such the mildness of his temper , that petitioners for money , ( when it was not to be had ) departed well pleased with his denialls , they were so civilly languaged . it may justly seem a wonder , that , whereas few spake well of bishops at that time , and lord treasurers at all times are liable to the complaints of discontented people , though both offices met in this man , yet with * demetrius , he was well reported of all men , and of the truth it self . he lived to see much shame and contempt undeservedly poured on his function , and all the while possessed his own soul in patience . he beheld those of his order to lose their votes in parliament , and their insulting enemies hence concluded , ( loss of speech being a sad symptom of approching death , ) that their final extirpation would follow , whose own experience at this day giveth the lie to their malicious collection . nor was it the least part of this prelates honour , that amongst the many worthy bishops of our land , king charles the first , selected him for his confessor at his martyrdome . he formerly had had experience [ in the case of the earl of strafford ] that this bishops conscience was bottom'd on piety not policy , the reason that from him he received the sacrament , good comfort and counsell , just before he was murdered . i say just before that royal martyr was murdered ; a fact so foul , that it alone may confute the errour of the pelagians , maintaining , that all sin cometh by imita●…ion , the universe not formerly affording such a precedent , as if those regicides had purposely designed to disprove the observation of solomon , that there is no new thing under the sun. king charles the second , anno domini . preferred him arch-bishop of canterbury , which place he worthily graceth at the writing hereof , feb. . . acceptus fruin d. d. was born at — in this county , bred fellow of magdalen-colledge in oxford , and afterwards became president thereof , and after some mediate preferments , was by king charles the first , advanced bishop of coventry and lichfield , and since by king charles the second , made arch-bishop of york . but the matter whereof porcellane or china dishes are made , must be ripened many years in the earth , before it comes to full perfection . the living are not the proper objects of the historians pen , who may be misinterpreted to flatter , even when he falls short of their due commendation , the reason why i adde no more in the praise of this worthy prelate . as to the nativities of arch-bishops , one may say of this county , many shires have done worthily , but sussex surmounteth them all , having bred five archbishops of canterbury , and at this instant , claiming for her natives the two metropolitans of our nation . states-men . thomas sackvill , son and heir to sir richard sackvill ( chancellour , and sub-treasurer of the exchequer , and privy-counsellour to queen elizabeth ) by winifred his wife , daughter to sir john bruges , was bred in the university of oxford , where he became an excellent * poet , leaving both latine and english poems of his composing to posterity . then studied he law in the temple , and took the degree of * barrister ; afterward he travelled into forraign parts , detained for a time a prisoner in rome , whence his liberty was procured for his return into england , to possess the vast inheritance left him by his father , whereof in short time by his magnificent prodigality , he spent the greatest part , till he seasonably began to spare , growing neer to the bottom of his estate . the story goes , that this young gentleman coming to an alderman of london , who had gained great pennyworths by his former purchases of him , was made ( being now in the wane of his wealth , ) to wait the coming down of the alderman so long , that his generous humour being sensible of the incivility of such attendance , resolved to be no more beholding to wealthy pride , and presently turned a thrifty improver of the remainder of his estate . if this be true , i could wish that all aldermen would state it on the like occasion , on condition their noble debtors would but make so good use thereof . but others make him the convert of queen elizabeth , ( his cosin german once removed ) who by her frequent admonitions , diverted the torrent of his profusion . indeed she would not know him , till he began to know himself , and then heaped places of honour and trust upon him , creating him . baron of buckhurst in this county , ( the reason why we have placed him therein , ) anno dom. . . sending him ambassadour into france , anno . into the low-countries ; anno . . making him knight of the order of the garter , anno . . appointing him treasurer of england , . he was chancellour of the university of oxford , where he entertained * q. elizabeth with a most sumptuous feast . his elocution was good , but inditing better , and therefore no wonder if his * secretaries could not please him , being a person of so quick dispatch , ( faculties , which yet run in the bloud . ) he took a roll of the names of all suitors , with the date of their first addresses , and these in order had their hearing , so that a fresh-man could not leap over the head of his senior , except in urgent affairs of state. thus having made amends to his house for his mis-spent time , both in increase of estate and honour , being created earl of dorset by king james , he died on the . of april , . capitall judges . sir john jeffry knight , was born in this county , as i have been informed . it confirmeth me herein , because , he left a fair estate in this shire ; ( judges , genebuilding their nest , neer the place where they were hatched , ) which descended to his daughter . he so profited in the study of our municipall-law , that he was preferred secondary judge of the common-pleas , and thence advanced by queen elizabeth , in michaelmas terme , the nineteenth of her reign , to be lord chief baron of the exchequer , which place he discharged for the terme of two years , to his great commendation . he left one only daughter and heir , married to sir edward mountague , ( since baron of boughton ) by whom he had but one daughter , elizabeth , married to robert barty , earl of linsey , mother to the truly honorable mountague , earl of linsey and lord great chamberlain of england . this worthy judge died in the . of queen elizab●…h . souldiers . the abbot of battle . he is a pregnant proof , that one may leave no name , and yet a good memory behind him . his christian or surname cannot be recovered out of our * chronicles , which hitherto i have seen ; but take his worth as followeth : king richard the second in the beginning of his reign was in nonage , and his council , some will say , in dotage , leaving the land and sea to defend themselves , whilst they indulged thir private factions . this invited the french to invade this county , where they did much mischief , plundering ( the thing was known in england before the name ) the people thereof , and carrying away captive the prior of lewes ; and no wonder , if our abbot was startled therewith , seeing it may pass for a proverb in these parts . ware the abbot of battle , when the prior of lewes is taken prisoner . wherefore ( though no sheriff ) he got together ( as well as he might ) the posse comitatus , and puting it in as good a posture of defence as the time would permit , marched to winchelsey and fortified it . some condemned him herein , it being incongruous for a clergy-man to turn souldier . they objected also , that he ought to have expected orders from above , doing rectum but not rectè , for want of a commission . others commended him , to save and preserve , being the most proper performance of a spirituall person . that , in hostes publicos omnis homo miles . that though it be high treason for any to fight a foe in a set field without command from the supreme power , yet one may ( if he can ) repell a rout of armed thieves invading a land , the first being the fittest time for such a purpose , the occasion it self giving ( though no express ) an implicite commission for the same . this abbot used rather the shield then the sword , being only on the defensive side . well , the french followed the abbot , and besieged him in the town of winchelsey . in bravado they dared him to send out one , two , three , four or more , to try the mastery in fight , to be encountred with an equal number ; but the abbot refused to retail his men out in such parcels , alledging , that he was a spiritual person , not to challenge but only defend . then the french let fly their great guns , and i take it to be the first and last time , they were ever planted by a forreign enemy on the english continent , and then roared so ●…ud , that they lost their voice , and have been ( blessed be god ) silent ever since . the enemy perceiving that the country came in fast upon them , and suspecting they should be surrounded on all sides , were fain to make for france as fast as they could , leaving the town of winchelsey behind them , in the same form and fashion wherein they found it . i behold this abbot as the saver not onely of suffex , but england . for as dogs , who have once gotten an haunt to worry sheep , do not leave it off till they meet with their reward : so , had not these french felt the smart as well as the sweet of the english plunder , our land , ( and this county especially , ) had never been free from their incursions . all this happened in the raign of king richard the second , anno domini ... sir willam pelham knight , was a native of this county , whose ancient and wealthy family hath long flourished at laughton therein . his prudence in peace , and valour in war , caused queen elizabeth to imploy him in ireland , where he was by the privy council , appointed lord chief justice to govern that land , in the interim betwixt the death of sir william drury , and the coming in of arthur gray lord lieutenant of ireland . say not that he did but stop a gap for a twelve-month at the most ; seeing it was such a gap , destruction had entred in thereat to the final ruine of that kingdome , had not his providence prevented it . for in this juncture of time , desmund began his rebellion . inviting sir william to * side with him , who wisely gave him the hearing with a smile into the bargain . and although our knight ( for want of force ) could not cure the wound , yet he may be said to have washed and kept it clean , resigning it in a recovering condition to the lord gray , who succeeded him . afterwards he was sent over into the low-countries ▪ being commander of the english horse therein : and my * author saith of him , brabantiam persultabat , he leaped-through brabant ; importing celerity and success , yea as much conquest , as so sudden an expedition was capable of . i suspect he survived not long after , meeting no more mention of his martial activity . the shirleys . their ancient extraction in this county is sufficiently * known . the last age saw a leash of brethren of this family , severally eminent . this mindeth me of the roman horatii , though these expressed themselves in a different kind for the honour of their country , pardon me if reckoning them up not according to their age . sir anthony shirley second son to sir thomas , set forth from * plimouth may the . . in a ship called the bevis of southampton , attended with six lesser vessels . his designe for saint thome , was violently diverted by the contagion they found on the south coast of africa , where the rain did stink as it fell down from the heavens , and within six hours did turn into magots . this made him turn his course to america , where he took and kept the city of saint jago two days and nights , with two hundred and eighty men , ( whereof eighty were wounded in the service ) against three thousand portugalls . hence he made for the isle of fuego , in the midst whereof a mountaine aetna-like always burning , and the wind did drive such a shower of ashes upon them , that one might have wrote his name with his finger on the upper deck . however in this fiery island , they furnished themselves with good water , which they much wanted . hence he sailed to the island of margarita , which to him did not answer its name , not finding here the perl-dredgers which he expected . nor was his gaine considerable in taking the town of saint martha , the isle and chief town of jamaica , whence he sailed more then thirty leagues up the river rio-dolci , where he met with great extremity . at last , being diseased in person , distressed for victuals , and deserted by all his other ships , he made by new-found-land to england , where he arrived june . . now although some behold his voyage , begun with more courage then counsel , carried on with more valour then advice , and coming off with more honour then profit , to himself or the nation , ( the spaniard being rather frighted then harmed , rather braved then frighted therewith , ) yet unpartial judgments , who measure not worth by success , justly allow it a prime place amongst the probable ( though not prosperous ) english adventures . sir robert shirley youngest son to sir thomas , was by his brother anthony entred in the persian court. here he performed great service against the turkes , and shewed the difference betwixt persian and english valour , the latter having therein as much courage , and more mercy , giving quarter to captives who craved it , and performing life to those to whom he promised it . these his actions drew the envie of the persian lords , and love of the ladies , amongst whom one ( reputed a kins-man to the great sophy ) after some opposition , was married unto him . she had more of eb●…ny , then ivory , in her complexion , yet amiable enough , and very valiant , a quality considerable in that sex , in those countries . with her he came over into england , and lived many years therein . he much affected to appear in forreign vestes , and as if his clothes were his limbes , accounted himself never ready till he had something of the persian habit about him . at last a contest happening betwixt him and the persian ambassadour , ( to whom some reported sir robert gave a box on the ear , ) the king sent them both into persia , there mutually to impeach one another , and joyned doctor go●…gh , ( a senior fellow of trinity-colledge in cambridge , ) in commission with sir robert. in this ●…oyage , ( as i am informed ) both died on the seas , before the controverted difference was ever heard in the court of persia , about the beginning of the reign of k. charles . sir thomas shirley . i name him the last , ( though the eldest son of his father ) because last appearing in the world , mens activity not always observing the method of their register . as the trophies of miltiades would not suffer * themistocles to sleep , so the atchivements of his two younger brethren , gave an ala●…m unto his spirit . he was ashamed to see them worne , like flowers in the breasts and bosomes of forreign princes , whilst he himself withered upon the stalk he grew on . this made him leave his aged father and fair inheritance in this county , and to undertake sea voyages into forreign parts , to the great honour of his nation , but small inriching of himself , so that he might say to his son as aeneas to aescanius , disce puer virtutē ex me verumque laborem , fortunam ex aliis . virtue and labour , learn from me thy father , as for success , child learn from others rather . as to the generall performances of these three brethren , i know the affidavit of a poet , carieth but a small cre●…it in the court of history , and the comedy made of them , is but a friendly foe to their memory , as suspected more accommodated to please the present spectators , then inform posterity . however as the belief of miti●… ( when an inventory of his adopted sons misde●…nours , was brought unto him ) embraced a middle and moderate way , nec omnia credere nec nihil , neither to believe all things nor nothing , of what was told him : so in the list of their atchivements we may safely pitch on the same proportion , and when abatement is made for poeticall embelishments , the remainder will speak them worthies in their generations . the certain dates of their respective deaths i cannot attain . physicians . nicholas hostresham . know , reader , i have placed him in this county , only on presumption , that horsham in this shire ( no such place otherwise in england , ) is contracted for hostresham . he was a learned man , a most famous physician , and esteemed highly of all the nobility of the land , who coveted his company on any conditions . it seemeth that he was none of those so pleasing and conformable to the humor of their patients , as that they press not the true cure of the disease , and yet none of those , who are so regular in proceeding according to art for the disease , as that they respect not sufficiently the condition of their patients , but that he was of a middle temper , and so in effect was two physicians in one man. many were the books he wrote , reckoned upby * bale and * pitz , amongst which i take especial notice of one , contra dolorem renum , thus beginning , lapis quandoque generatur in renibus . i observe this the rather , because his practise was wholly at home , ( it not appearing that he ever went beyond the sea , ) and this is contrary unto the confidence of such , who have vehemently affirmed , that the stone was never heard of in england , untill hopps and beer made therewith , ( about the year . ) began to be commonly used . he flourished , anno domini . writers . laurence somercote was born saith * bale in the south-part of the kingdome . but had , i am sure his best english preferment in sussex , being canon of chichester . after his breeding here under his carefull parents , and skilfull masters , who taught him logick and rhetorick , he applied himself to the study of the law , and attained to great learning therein . then leaving the land , he went to rome , and repaited to ( his brother or kinsman ) robert somercote cardinall , who it seems procured him to be sub-deacon under the pop●… . he wrote some books both in latine and french , and flourished in the year of our lord . john driton so is his surname englished by bale , — and why not as well john driby , ( a v●…llage in lincoln-shire ) seeing no driton in all england . the truth is this , in latine he wrote himself , de arida vill●… , equivalent with sicoa villa or sack-wil , a surname most renowned in this county : and because it is added to his character , ex illustri quadam angliae familia procre●…s , it suiteth well with our conjecturing him this country-man . he was bred according to the mode of that age in france , and there became at paris , summus gymnasii moderator , which ( howsoever rendred in english ) soundeth a high place conferred on a forreigner . in his time was much busling in the university , about an apocrypha book , ( patched together out of the dreams of joachime and cyril two monkes , ) which was publickly read and commented on by many admirers thereof , by the name of the eternall gospell . the pope , who often curseth where god blesseth , here blessed where god cursed , and notwithstanding the solemn commination against such additions to scripture , favoured them , and ( what a charitable christian can scarcely believe , ) damned their opposers for hereticks , this our sackwill bestirred himself , and with william de sancto amore and other pious men , opposed this piece of imposture . pitz , in the character of this our de arida villa , treads like a foundred horse on stones , mentioning only that he met with much disturbance — without any particulars thereof . at last this eternall gospell had a temporal end , and ( with the serpents of the aegyptian inchanters which vanished away , ) this pretended quint essence gospell sunk with shame into silence , whilst the other four gospells ( with the serpent of moses ) doe last and continue . this our writer flourished . john winchelsey was bred in oxford , and became a great scholar therein . i am not bound to believe bale in full latitude , that he made a * centaur-divinity out of poets and philosophers ; but this i believe , that in his old age he turned a franciscan , and when gray , became a green novice of the order at sarisbury . many condemned him , that he would enter into such a life when ready to goe out of the world , and others of his own covent commended him , who being old , was concerned to find out the most compendious way to heaven . the year of his probation was not ended , when he died and was buried in that covent anno . since the reformation . william pemble was born in this county , where his parents had no plentifull estate , but their wants were supplied ( as to this their sons education in learning , ) by the bounty of john barker of mayfield in this shire , esq. as by the following passage may appear , written by mr. capel his worthy tutor . * you are the man , who supported the vine , that bore this and many other excellent grapes . his studies had shrunk and withered , even then , when they were about to knit , had it not been for you and your exhibitions ; who have raised up an able scholar , a learned divine , a well studied artist , a skilfull linguist , and ( which is the soul of all ) a very godly minister . so then , if i have miss'd master pembles native county , yet i shall be excused by the known proverb , non ubi nascor , sed ubi pascor , sussex affording him his most effectu●…l maintenance . he was bred in , ( or if you will , he bred ) magdalen-hall in oxford , that house owing its late lustre to his learned lectures , the gravest in the university not disdaining their presence thereat . he was an excellent orator indeed , as who spake nonex ore sed ex pectore , many excellencies being in him ; but above all , this was his crown , that he unfainedly sought gods glory , and the good of mens souls . he died in the flower of his age , as he was making his lectures on the prophesie of zachary , ( finishing but nine chapters of fourteen ) anno dom. — of a burning feaver . thomas chune esquire , living at alfriston in this county , set forth a small manuall , intituled collectiones theologicarum conclusionum . indeed many have much opposed it ( as what book meeteth not with opposition ? ) though such as dislike , must commend the brevity and clearness of his positions . for mine own part , i am glad to see a lay-gentleman so able and industrious . his book was set forth . thomas may was born in this county , of a worshipfull but decayed family , bred fellow-commoner in cambridge in sidney colledge , where he seriously applyed himself to his studies . he afterwards lived in westminster , & about the court. he was an elegant poet , and translated lucan into english. now though scaliger be pleased to say hypocritically of lucan , non canit sed latrat , yet others ( under the rose ) as judicious , allow him an excellent poet , and loseing no lustre by mr. mays translation . some disgust at court was given to , or taken by him , ( as some will have it ) because his bays were not gilded richly enough , and his verses rewarded by king charles according to his expectation . he afterwards wrote an history of this state , in the beginning of our civill wars , and being my self ( for my many writings ) one under the authority of the tongues and pens of others , it ill becometh me to pass any censure on his performance therein . sure i am , if he were a biassed and partiall writer , he lieth buried near a good and true historian indeed , ( i mean mr. camden ) in the west-side of the north isle of westminster abby , dying suddenly in the night anno dom. . in the . year of his age. john selden , son of thomas selden , was born at salvington within the parish of east terring in this county , and the ensuing inscriptions being built three stories high , will acquaint us with his age and parentage . the lowest is written on the top stone of his sepulcher , being five foot deep in the ground . hic inhumatur corpus johannis seldeni . the second is inscribed on a blew marble stone , lying flat on the 〈◊〉 in the temple church . j. seldenus , j. c. hic situs est . the third is graven on the wall , in a monument of white and black marble . johannis seldenus heic juxta situs , natus est decimo sexto decembris mdlxxxiv . salvintoniae qui viculus est terring occidentalis in sussexiae maritimis , parentibus honestis , joannae seldeno thomae filio , è quinis secundo , anno mdxli . nato . et margareta filia & haerede unica thomae bakeri de rushington , ex equestri bakerorum in cantîo familia , filius 〈◊〉 cunis superstitum unicus , aetatis fere lxx . annorum . denatus est ultimo die novembris , anno salutis reparatae mdcliv . per quam expectat heic resurrectionem faelicem . he was first bred in * hart-hall in oxford , then in the inner temple in london , where he attained great skill in the law , and all antiquity . his learning did not live in a lan●… , but traced all the latitude of arts and languages , as appears by the many and various works he hath written , which people affect , as they stand affected either by their fancy or function . lay-gentlemen , preser his titles of honour , lawyers , his mare clausum , antiquaries his spicelegium ad edmearum , clergy-men like best his book de dis syris , and worst his history of tythes . indeed the body of that history did not more offend them in point of profit , then the preface thereof in matter of credit . such his insolent reflections therein . nor will it be impertinent here to insert a passage of consequence which i find in a modern author of good intelligence . master * selden was no friend to bishops , as constituted and established in the church of england . for , being called before the high commission , and forced to make a publique acknowledgment of his error and offence gived unto the church , in publishing a book entituled , the history of tithes , it sunk so deep into his stomack , that he did never after affected the men , or cordially approved the calling , though many ways were tryed to gain him to the churches interest . to this his publique acknowledgment i can say nothing , this i know , that a * friend of mine imployed on a fair and honest account , to peruse the library of arch-bishop laud , found therein a large letter written to him , and subscribed with master seldens own hand , wherein he used many expressions of his contrition , much condemning himself for setting forth a book of that nature ; which letter my aforesaid friend gave back again to master selden , to whom ( i assure you ) it was no unacceptable present . but that which afterwards entituled him to a generall popularity , was his pleading with master noy for a habeas corpus of such gentlemen , which were imprisoned for the refusall of the loane . hence was it that most men beheld master selden as their common councell , and them selves as his clients , conceiving that the liberty of all english subjects was concerned in that suit. he had very many ancient coynes of the roman emperours , and more modern ones of our english kings ; dying exceeding wealthy . insomuch , that naked charity , both wish'd and hoped for a good new coat at his hands , but mist of its expectation . the arch-bishop of armagh ( to whom he was always most civill and respectfull , ) preached his funerall sermon . the large library which he left is a jewell indeed , and this jewell long looked to be put into a new cabinet , when one of the inns of court ( on which it was bestowed ) should be pleased to provide a fair and firm fabrick to receive it , but now is reposited ( bodly within a 〈◊〉 ) in the matchless library of oxford . romish exil'd writers . gregory martine was born at macfield in this county , bred ( contemporary with campian , ) fellow of saint johns-colledge in oxford . he was chosen by thomas duke of northfolk , to be tutor to his son philip earl of arundell , and well discharged his trust therein . going afterwards beyond the seas , and living some time in doway and rome , he fixed at last in the english-colledge at rhemes , where he was professor of divinity . as he was papall both in his christian and surname , so was he deeply dyed with that religion , writing many books in the defence thereof , and one most remarkable , intituled , a detection of the corruptions in the english bible . athaliah * did craftily to cry out first , treason , treason , when she was the greatest traitor her self ; and this martine , conscious of the many and foul corruptions in his own rhemish translation , politickly complained of the faults in our english bible . he d●…ed the . of october . and lyeth buried in the parish church of st. stephens in rhemes . thomas stapleton was born at henfield in this county , as pitts * his familiar friend doth informe us . object not that it is written on his tomb at saint peters at lovaine . thomas stapletonus qui cicestriae in anglia nobili loco natus . chichester there not being taken restrictively for the city , but extensively for the diocess . his bare sirname is sufficient proof of his gentile birth . those of his own perswasion please themselves much to observe , that this thomas was born in the same year and month , wherein sir thomas moor was beheaded , as if divinè providence had purposely dropped from heaven , an acorn in place of the oake that was ●…ell'd . he was bred in new colledge in oxford , and then by the bishop ( christopherson as i take it ) made cannon of chichester , which he quickly quitted in the first of queen elizabeth . flying beyond the seas , he first fixed at doway , and there commendably performed the office of * catechist , which he discharged to his commendation . reader , pardon an excursion caused by just grief and anger . many counting themselfs protestants in england , do slight and neglect that ordinance of god , by which their religion was set up , and gave credit to it in the first reformation , i mean catechising . did not nor saviour say even to saint peter himself ? feed my lambs , feed my heep ; and why lambs first ? . because they were lambs before they were sheep ; . because , if they be not fed whilst lambs , they could never be sheep ; . because she●…p can in some sort feed themselves , but lambs ( such their tenderness ) must either be fed , or famished . our stapleton was excellent at this lamb-feeding , from which office he was afterwards preferred kings professor of divinity in lovain , and was for fourty years together , dominus ad oppositum , the undertaker-general against all protestants . dr. whitacre professor in cambridge , experimentally profest , that bellarmine was the fairer , and stapleton the shrewder adversary . his preferment ( in mine eye ) was not proportionable to his merit , being no more then cannon and master of a colledge in lovain . many more admired that stapleton mist , then that allen got a cardinals cap , equalling him in strictness of life , exceeding him in gentility of birth and painfulness of writing for the romish cause . such consider not that stapletons ability was drowned with allens activity , and one grain of the statesman is too heavy for a pound of the student ; practical policy in all ages , beating pen-pains out of distance in the race of preferment . stapleton died , and was buried in st. peters in lovain , anno . benefactors to the publick . reader , let not the want of intelligence in me , be mis-interpreted want of munificence in the natives of this county , finding but one most eminent , and him since the reformation . richard sackvill eldest son of thomas earl of dorcet , by cecilly his wife , had his barony ( if not his birth ) at buckhurst in this county . a gentleman of singular learning in many sciences and languages ; so that the greek and latine , were as * familiar unto him , as his own native tongue . succeeding his father in that earldom , he enjoyed his dignity not a full year , as lacking seven weeks thereof . yet is there no fear that the shortness of his earlship will make his name forgotten , having erected a monument which will perpetuate his memory to all posterity , viz. a colledge at east-greensted in this county , for one and thirty poor people to serve almighty god therein . endowing the same with three hundred and thirty pounds a year out of all his land in england . by margaret sole daughter to thomas duke of norfolk , he left two surviving sons , richard and edward , both persons of admirable parts , ( successively earls after him , ) and dying . was buried at withiham in this county . memorable persons . john palmer , henry palmer , thomas palmer , sons unto edward palmer , esq. of angmarine in this county . a town so called as i am informed from aqua marina , or the water of the sea , being within two miles thereof , and probably in former ages neerer thereunto . their mother was daughter to one clement of wales , who for his effectuall assisting of king henry the seventh , from his landing at milford-haven , untill the battle of bosworth , was brought by him into england , and rewarded with good lands , in this and the next county . it happened that their mother being a full fortnight inclusively in labour , was on whitsunday delivered of john her eldest son , on the sunday following of henry her second son , and the sunday next after of thomas her third son . this is that which is commonly called superfoetation , ( usuall in other creatures , but rare in women , ) the cause whereof we leave to the disquisition of 〈◊〉 . these three were knighted 〈◊〉 their 〈◊〉 by king 〈◊〉 the eighth , ( who never laid his sword on his shoulders who was not a man ) so that they appear as remarkable in their suc●…esse as their nativities . the truth hereof needeth no other atrestation then the generall and uncontrolled tradition of their no lesse worshipfull then numerous posterity in sussex and kent . amongst whom i instance in sir roger palmer aged . years , lately deceased and 〈◊〉 to our late king , averring to me the faith hereof on his reputation . the exact date of these knights deaths i cannot attain . leonard 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 in this county , being much delighted in gardening , mans original vocation , was the 〈◊〉 who brought over into england from beyond the seas carps and pippins , the one well cook'd delicious , the other cordial and restorative . for the proof hereof , we have his own * word and witness , and did it , it seems , about the fifth year of the reign of king henry the eighth , anno dom. . the time of his death is to me unknown . william withers born at walsham in this county , being a child of eleven years old , did anno . lye in a trance ten days without any sustenance , and at last coming to himself , uttered to the standers by , many strange speeches , inveighing against pride , 〈◊〉 , and other outragious sins . but let the credit thereof be charged on my * authors account . the names of the gentry of this county returned by the commissioners in the twelsth year of king henry the sixth . commissioners . s. bishop of chichester , john earl of huntington . knights for the shire . william st. john , william sidney . abbatis de bello tho. de echingham , mil. hugon . halsham , mil. rog. ferrys , mil. tho. leukenore , mil. 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 , mil. hen. husee , mil. rich. dalyngrigge , ar . edw. sakevyle , ar . will. ryman , ar . rog. gunter , ar . rob. lyle iohan. bartelet will. ernele walt. urry iohan. lylye ioh. knottesford , ar . rich. profyt iohan. bolne walt. fust. iohan. wilteshire ade iwode will. halle de or●… ioh. 〈◊〉 tho. 〈◊〉 rob. arnold 〈◊〉 . peres rich. danmere tho. stanton tho. cotes ioh. wyghtrynge will. hore iohan. sherar iohan. hilly will. warnecamp will. merwe toh . grantford rad. vest 〈◊〉 . vest iohan. hammes de padyngho iohan. parker de lewes iacob . hon●…wode prior de lewes abbatis de ponte rober●… rober. abbatis de begeham prioris de mechilham prioris de hasting rich. waller , ar . iohan. ledes , ar . iohan. bramshel , ar . rich. cook , ar . rich. farnfold ioh. burdevyle , ar . rad. rademeld , ar . iohan. apsle rich. grene tho. grene will. blast rober. tank iohan. bradebrugge will. delve will. shreswell iohan. luniford iohan. penhurst iohan. goringe sim. cheyne tho. ashburnham rich. clothule rob. hyberden iohan. dragon tho. surflet henrici exton io●… . symond will. scardevyle will. yevan ioh. rombrigg hen. wendon rich. danel rich. roper tho. fustyngden rad. shreswell sheriffs . this county had the same sheriffs with surry , till the twelfth year of queen elizabeth , and then for the four years following , had these sheriffs peculiar to it self . name place armes reg. eliza .     〈◊〉     ed. bellinghā , ar .   arg. . hunters-horns stringed s. ioh. apseley , ar .   barry of . ar. & g. a cant. er. hen. goring , ar .   arg. a chev. twixt 〈◊〉 g edw. carrell , ar . harting arg. . bars , & as many mar●…lets in chief s. then were the two counties re-united under one sheriff , untill the twelfth year of k. charles , when , being divided , these following were proper to sussex alone . sheriffs . name place armes rex . garo .     anno     edw. bishop , mi. parham ar. on a bend coticed g. 〈◊〉 . anth. fowlc , ar . 〈◊〉 gu. a lion pass . gard betwixt roses or. anth. forster , ar . tronton s. on a cheveron a●… scallop-shels of the field betwixt as many pheons or. edw. apsley , ar . ut prius   geo. churchar , ar .     egid. garton ▪ ar .         ioh. baker , ar .     edw. payne , ar ▪   ar. on a fess engrailed g. roses erm.     tho. eversfield , ar .   erm. on a bend s. 〈◊〉 or. betwixt as many 〈◊〉 s. the farewell . for my vale to this county , i desire to be their remembrancer of the counsell which their country-man , william earl of arundle , gave to his son henry fitzallen , last earl of that surname , viz. never to trust their * neighbours the french. indeed for the present they are at amity with us , but forreign friendship is ticklish , temporary , and lasteth no longer then it is advantaged with mutuall interest . may never french land on this shore , to the losse of the english. but if so sad an accident should happen , send then our suss●…xians no worse success , then their ancesters of rye and winchelsey had . in the reign * of richard the second , when they embarked for normandy . for in the night they entred a town , called peters port , took all such prisoners who were able to pay ransome , and safely returned home without loss , and with much rich spoil , and amongst the rest they took down out of the steeple the bells , and brought them into england . bells , which the french had taken forme●…ly from these towns , and which did afterwards ring the more merrily , restored to their proper place , with addition of much wealth to pay ●…or the cost of their recovery . vvarwick-shire . warwick-shire hath leicester and northampton-shires on the east , oxford , & gloucester-shires on the south , worcester on the west , and stafford-shire on the north thereof . in forme at the first view in a map it doth pretend to some circularness , but attaineth no exactness therein , as extending thirty three miles , from north to south , though from east to west not distanced above twenty six . one said no less truly then merrily , it is the heart but not the core of england , having nothing course or choaky therein . the wood-land part thereof may want what the fieldon affords . so that warwick-shire is defective in neither . as for the pleasure thereof , an * author is bold to say , that from edg-hill one may behold it another eden , as * lot did the plain of jordan , but he might have put in , it is not altogether so well watered . naturall commodities . sheep . most large for bone , flesh and wooll in this county , especially about worm-leighton . in this shire the complaint of j. rous continueth and increaseth , that sheep turn canibals , eating up men , houses , and towns , their pastures make such depopulation . but on the other side , it is pleaded for these inclosures , that they make houses the fewer in this county , and the more in the kingdome . how come buildings in great towns every day to encrease ? ( so that commonly tenants are in before tenements are ended , ) but that the poor are generally maintain'd by clothing , the staple-trade of the nation . indeed corn doth visibly employ the poor in the place where it groweth , by ploughing , sowing , mowing , inning , threshing : but wooll invisibly maintaineth people at many miles distance , by carding , spinning , weaving , dressing , dying it . however an expedient might be so used betwixt tillage and pastureage , that abel should not kill cain , the shepherd undoe the husbandman , but both subsist comfortably together . ash. it is the prince ( oke being allowed the king ) of eglish timber , growing plentifully in the wood-land part of this county . i confess it far short in sovereigness against serpents of the italian ash , if true what pliny reporteth , ( making affidavit thereof on his own experience , * experti prodimus ) that a serpent incircled with fire and boughes of ash , will in this dilemma , put himself rather on the hazard of fire , then adventure on the fence of ashen boughes . it is also far infe●…iour in toughness to the spanish ash , and yet a stand of pikes made of english ash , and managed with english-mens arms , will doe very well . but to wave the warlike , and praise the peaceable use of the ash , it is excellent for plow-timber , besides many utensils within a family . being cut down green it burneth ( a peculiar priviledge of this wood ) clear and bright , as if the sappe thereof , had a fire-feeding unctiousness therein . the fruit thereof is good in physick , whose keys are opening of obstructions arising from the spleen . cole . much hereof is digged up at bedworth , which ( in my measuring ) of all cole-mines , north of thames , is the most southward , adding much to their price , and owners profit . the making such mines destroyeth much , but when made preserveth more tim●…er . i am sorry to hear , that those black indies , both in quantity and quality , fall short of their former fruitfulness , and i wish they may recover their lost credit , being confident , the earth there will bleed profit as plentifully as any , had the miners but the good hap , to hit the right vein thereof . as for manufactures in this county , some broad cloths are made in coventry , and ten might be made for one , if the mistery thereof were vigorously pursued . the buildings . coventry much beholding to the lady godiva , ( who took order that her charity should not prejudice her modesty , when she purchased the priviledges of this place ) sheweth two fair churches close together : how clearly would they have shined , if set at competent distance ? whereas now , such their vicinity , that the arch-angel eclypseth the trinity . saint ma●…ies in warwick a beautifull structure , owes its life to the monuments of the dead therein , most being earls of warwick . of these , that in the body of the church is the oldest , that in the chancell is the largest , that in the chapell ( of guilt brass ) the richest , that in the chapter-house ( of fulke lord brook ) the latest . greatness may seem in some fort to be buried in the tomb of the earl of leicester , and goodness in that of the earl of warwick . women are most delighted with the statue of the infant baron of denby , and scholars most affected with the learned epitaph of sir thomas puckering . in a word , so numerous is the church with its appendences , as i am enformed by my worthy friend , the * minister , that he can accommodate one clergy-man , of all dignities and degrees , to repose them , in severall chapells or ve●…ries by themselves . kenelworth , alias kenilworth . it had the strength of a castle , and beauty of a princes court ; though most fair the porch , no danger of the castles running out thereat , ( like that of mindus at the gate ) as most proportionable to the rest of the fabrick . i confess handsome is an unproper epithete of a gyant , yet neatness agreeth with the vastness of this structure . some castles have been demolished for security , which i behold destroyed , se defendendo , without offence . others demolished in the heat of the wars , which i look upon as castle-slaughter . but i cannot excuse the destruction of this ca●…tle , from wilfull-murder , being done in cold blood , since the end of the wars . i am not stock'd enough with charity to pitty the ruiners thereof , if the materialls of this castle answered not their expectation , who destroyed it . pass we now from the preterperfect to the present tense , i mean from what was once , to what now is most magnificent , the castle of warwick . it over-looketh the town which is washed and swept by nature , so sweet on a rising hill , is the situation thereof . the prospect of this castle is pleasant in its self , and far more to the present owner thereof , the right honourable robert lord brooke , seeing the windows look into lands mostly of his possession . we will conclude the buildings of this county , with the beautifull cross of coventry . a reformed cross , ( or standard rather ) without any cross thereon , being a master-piece , all for ornament , nothing for superstition , so that the most curious , hath just cause to commend , the most conscientious to allow , none to condemn it . it was begun . the . and finished . the . of king henry the eighth , at the sole cost of sir william hollis lord mayor of london , great-grand-father to the right honorable the earl of clare . the wonders . at lemington , within two miles of warwick , there issue out ( within a stride ) of the womb of the earth , two twin-springs , as different in tast and operation , as esa●… and jacob in disposition , the one salt , the other fresh . thus the meanest country-man doth plainly see the effects , whilst it would pose a consulta●…ion of philosophers to assign the true cause thereof . to this permanent let me joyne a trans●…ent wonder which some was fifty years since . the situation of coventry is well known , on a rising hill , having no river near it , save a small brook , over which generally one may make a bridge with a stride . now here happened such an inundation , on friday april the seventeenth . ( attested under the seal of the city , in the majoralty of henry s●…wel ) as was equally admirable ; in . coming about eight a clock in the morning , no considerable rain preceding , which might suggest the least suspicion thereof . in . continuance , for the space of three hours , wherein it overflowed more then two hundred and fifty dwelling houses , to the great damage of the inhabitants . in . departure , or vanishing rather , sinking as suddenly as it did rise . thus what the scripture saith of * wind , was then true of the water , one cannot tell , whence it came , nor whither it went. leaving others to enquire into the second and subordinate , i will content my self with admiring the supreme cause , observed by the * psalmist , he turneth a wilderness into a standing water , and dry-ground into water-springs . medicinal waters . at newenham regis there is a spring , the water whereof drunk with salt loosneth , with sugar bindeth the body . it is also very sovereigne against ulcers , impostumes , & the stone . this last i commend to the readers choise observation , the same * author affirming that it turneth sticks into stone , and that he himself was an eye-witness thereof . now , how it should dissolve the stone in the body of a man , and yet turn wood into stone , i leave to such who are naturae à sanctioribus consiliis , at their next meeting at their counsel-table , to discuss and decide . proverbs . he is the black bear of arden . ] arden , is a forrest , anciently occupying all the wood-land part of this county . by the black bear , is meant guy beauchamp earl of warwick , who ( besides the allusion to his crest ) was grim of person and surly of resolution , for when this bear had gotten pierce gavistone , ( that munkey and minion of king edward the second ) into his chambers , he caused his death at a hill within two miles of warwick , notwithstanding all opposition to the contrary . the proverb is appliable to those who are not terricula menta , bnt terrores , no fancy-formed bug-bears , but such as carry fear and fright to others about them . as bold as beauchamp . ] some will say the concurrence of these two b. b. did much help the proverbe , and i think ( as in others of the same kind ) they did nothing hinder it . however this quality could not be fixed on any name with more truth . if it be demanded , what beauchamp is chiefly meant , amongst the many of that surname , earls of warwick ? the answer of mutinous people is true in this case , one and all . . william . . guy . . thomas . . thomas . . richard. . henry . such a series there was of successive undauntedness in that noble family . but , if a better may be allowed amongst the best , and a bolder amongst the boldest ; i conceive that thomas the first of that name , gave the chief occasion to this proverbe , of whom we read it thus reported in our * chronicles : at hogges in normandy , in the year of our lord . being there in safety arrived with edward the third , this thomas leaping over ship-board , was the first man who went on land , seconded by one esquire , and six archers , being mounted on a silly palfray , which the suddain accident of the business first offered to hand ; with this company , he did fight against one hundred armed men , and in hostile manner overthrew every one which withstood him : and so at one shock , with his seven assistants , he slew sixty normans , removed all resistance , and gave means to the whole fleet to land the army in safety . the heirs-male off this name , are long since extinct , though some deriving themselves from the heirs-generall , are extant at this day . the bear wants a tail , and cannot be a lion. ] nature hath cut off the tail of the bear close at the rump , which is very strong , and long in a lion ; for a great part of the lions strength consists in his tail , wherewith ( when angry ) he useth to flap and beat himself , to raise his rage therewith to the height , so to render himself more fierce and furious . if any ask why this proverbe is placed in warwick-shire ? let them take the ensuing story for their satisfaction . robert dudley earl of leice●…er , derived his pedegree from the ancient earls of warwick , on which title he gave their crest , the bear and ragged staffe , and when he was governour of the low countries , with the high title of his excellency , disusing his own coat of the green-lion with two tails , he signed all instruments with the crest of the bear and ragged staffe . he was then suspected by many of his jealous adversaries , to hatch an ambitious design to make himself absolute commander ( as the lion is king of beasts ) over the low-countries . whereupon some ( foes to his faction , and friends to the dutch-freedome ) wrote unde●… his crest , set up in publick places , ursa caret cauda , non queat esse leo. the bear he never can prevail to lion it , for lack of tail. nor is u●…sa in the feminine meerly placed to make the verse ; but because naturalists observe in bears , that the female is always the strongest . this proverb is applyed to such who not content with their condition , aspire to what is above their worth to deserve , or power to atchive . he is true coventry-blew . ] it seems the best blews , so well fixed as not to fade , are died in coventry . it is applied to such an one who is fidus achates , a fast and faithfull friend to those that employ him . opposite hereunto is the greek proverb , * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ignavi vertitur color , a coward will change colour , either for fear or falsehood , when deserting those who placed confidence in him . as for those who apply this proverb to persons so habited in wickedness , as past hope of amendment , under favour i conceive it a secondary , and but abusive sense thereof . princes . anne nevill daughter and co ▪ heir to richard nevill earl of warwick , was most prob●…bly born in warwick-castle . she was afterward married with a great portion and inheritance , to edward prince of wales , sole son to king henry the sixth . a prince , neither dying of disease , nor slain in battle , nor executed by justice , but barbarously butchered by richard duke of gloucester . was it not then a daring piece of court-ship in him , who had murthered her husband , to make love unto her in way of marriage ; and was not his success strange in obtaining her , having no 〈◊〉 to commend his person to her affection ? o the impotency of the weaker sex , to resist the battery of a princely suitor , who afterward became king by his own ambition ! however her life with him proved neither long nor fortunate . it happened that there was the muttering of a marriage between henry earl of richmond , and elizabeth eldest daughter to edward the fourth , so to unite the houses of lancaster and york . to prevent this , king richard the third intended to marry the lady himself , so methodicall he was in breaking the commandements of the second table . first honour thy father and mother , when he procured his mother to be proclaimed a harlot , by a preacher at pauls cross. secondly , thou shalt not kill , when he murthered his nephews . thirdly , thou shalt not commit adultery , being now in pursuit of an incestuous copulation . say not that this match would nothing confirme his title , seeing formerly he had pronunced all the issue of king edward the fourth as illegitimate ; for first , that designe was rather indevoured then effected , most men remaining ( notwithstanding this bastardizing attempt ) well satisfied in the rightfulness of their extraction . secondly , they should or should not be bastards , as it made for his present advantage . tyrants always driving that nail which will goe , though it go cross to those which they have driven before . lastly , if it did not help him , it would hinder the earl of richmond , which made that usurper half wild till he was wedded . but one thing withstood his desires , this anne his queen was still alive , though daily quarrelled at , and complained of ( her son being lately dead ) for barren , and o what a loss would it be to nature it self , should her husband dye without an heir unto his vertues ! well , this lady understanding that she was a burthen to her husband , for grief soon became a burthen to herself , and wasted away on a suddain . some think she went her own pace to the grave , while others suspect a grain was given her to quicken her in her journy to her long home . which happened anno dom. . edward plantag●…net son to george duke of clarence , may passe for a prince , because the last male-heir of that royal family . yea , some of his foes feared , and more of his friends desired , that he might be king of england . his mother was isabel , eldest daughter to richard ▪ nevill earl of warwick . and he was born in * warwick-castle . as his age increased , so the jealousie of the kings of england on him did increase , being kept close prisoner by king edward the fourth , closer by king richard the third , and closest by king henry the seventh . this last , being of a new linage and sirname , knew full well how this nation hankered after the name of plantagenet , which as it did out-syllable tuthar in the mouths , so did it out-vie it in the affections of the english . hence was it , that the earl was kept in so strict restraint , which made him very weak in his intellectuals , and no wonder , being so sequestred from human converse . it happened , a marriage was now in debate , betwixt prince arthur , and katherine daughter to ferdinand king of spain , and the latter would not consent thereunto , untill to clear all titles , this edward plantagenet were taken out of the way . thereupon he was charged for intending an escape out of the tower , ( was he not a very fool indeed , if not desiring his own liberty ? ) which far fetch'd deduction was 〈◊〉 into high treason . the simple earl was perswaded by his friend pretending foes , to confess the fact as the only way to find favour , and so freely acknowledging more against himself , then others could prove , yea , or himself did intend , soon after found the proverb true , confess and be beheaded . however the bloud of this innocent ( so may he truely be termed take the word in what sence you please ) did not pass unpunished , and the lady katherine dowager was wont to acknowledge the death of her two sons an ill success of her match , as heavens judgement on her family , for the murdering of this earl , which happened anno domini . saints . saint wolstan . there is some difference , but what is easily reconcileable , about the place of his nativity , j. pitz , de illust . angliae script . aetate undecima num . . sanctus wolstanus natione anglus wigorniensis . hierom. porter , in the flowers of the lives of english saints , p. . saint wolstan was born in warwick-shire , of worthy and religious parents . the accommodation is easy , seeing a warwick-shire man by his county , may be a worcester-man by his diocess , to which see the western moity of that county doth belong . since i have learned from my worthy * friend , that long irtington in this shire , may boast of the birth of saint wolstan . he afterwards began bishop of worcester , and for his piety and holiness was generally reverenced . indeed he was like jacob , a plain man , with nathaniel an israelite without guile , welt or gard . he could not mode it , or comport , either with french ficleness , or italian pride , which rendred him at once hated by two grandees , k. wil. the conqueror , and lankfank the lordly lombard arch-bishop of canterbury . these resolved on his removall , quarrelling with him that he could not speake french , ( a quality which much commended the clergy in that age to preferment , ) and command him to give up his episcopal staffe and ring into the hands of the king. but old wolstan trudged to the tomb of king edward the confessor in westminster , who had been his patron , and there offered up his episcopal habilliments , these ( said he ) from you i received , and to you i resign them . this his plain dealing so wrought on his adversaries , ( honesty at long running is the best policy , ) that he was not only continued , but countenanced in his bishoprick , yea , acquired the reputation of a saint . the greatest fault which i find charged on his memory , is his activity in making w. rufus king to the apparent injury of ro●…ert his elder brother . but it is no wonder , if clergy men betray their weakness , who being bred in a covent , quit church business , to intermedle with secular matters . he died january . . martyrs . name place vocation martyred time laurence sanders   priest coventry feb. . . robert glover mancetor gentleman coventry sept. . . cornelius bongey coventry capper coventry sept. . . john careles coventry wever kings-bench , london   to these let me add julius palmer a hopefull scholar , bred in magdalen-colledge in oxford , aud though burnt in newbury , born at coventry . ralph bains bishop of this diocess , was the cause of much persecution therein . confessors . john glover . david saith , he shall deliver th●…e from the snare of the hunter . now hunters often change their hare , losing that which they first followed , and starting another which they hunt and take : so it happened here . for this john was the person by his persecutors designed to death , who ( after many temporall and spirituall troubles ) miraculously escaped those nimrods . whilst robert glover his younger brother ( of whom before ) without their intention , fell into their hands , and lost his life . yet was there no mistake in divine providence , making the swervings and aberrations of men , tend in a straight line , to the accomplishing of his hidden will and pleasure . cardinals . william maklesfield was born saith my * author ( but with an abatement of a hic fertur ) in the city of coventry . he was made batchelour of divinity at paris , doctor at oxford and being a dominican was made generall of their order . pope b●…nedict the eleventh , ( who was of the same fraternity , ) formerly his familiar acquaintance , made him cardinal , with the title of saint sabine . but such his misfortune , that he was dead and buried at london , before his cardinals cap was brought to him . what said david , he shall carry nothing away with him when he dyes , neither shall his pomp follow him . yet this mans state endeavoured to follow him as far as it could . for his cardinals cap being sent to london with great solemnity , was with much magnificence set on the * monument where he was buried . and perchance this cap did him as much good when he was dead , as it would have done , if he had been living . sure i am , that f●…ithfull linnen did him far more service , which adventured to go down with him into the grave , for the winding of his body therein . * peter petow by master camden called william petow , ( and had i been at his christening , i could have decided ●…he controversy , ) was * descended from an ancient family , which for a long time have flourished at chesterton in this county . being by order a franciscan , he was by pope paulus the third created cardinal , ( his title unknown ) june . . the same pope also made him legat à latere , and bishop of salisbury , to the apparent wronging of john capon bishop thereof , then alive , and no more obnoxious then others of his order . but i forget what the cannon-law saith , none may say to the pope , why dost thou so ? as if what were unjust in it self , were made just by his doing it . p●…tow thus armed , with a legatine power advances towards england , with full intent and resolution , either to force his admittance into the english court , or else to depart as he came . but queen mary though drenched , not drown'd in popish principles , would not unprince herself to obey his holiness , and understanding it a splenatick design against cardinal poole , whom she intirely affected , ( wonder not at such differences betwixt anti-cardinals , whereas worse between anti-popes , ) prohibited his enterance into the realme , which petow took so tenderly , that the april after he dyed in france . prelates . john stratford son of robert and isabell stratford , is notoriously known to be born at stratford , an eminent market in this county . this makes me much admire , and almost suspect my own eyes , in what i read , both in arch-bishop parker , and bishop godwin , * de cujus gente atque patria nihil accepimus . * de cujus viri natalibus traditum non reperi quicquam . being by papall provisions preferred bishop of winchester , without the royall consent , he fell into the dis-favour of king edward the second , regaining his good will , ( by the intercession of arch-bishop mepham ) and being a subject , not to the prosperity , but person of his prince , he forsooke him not in his greatest extremity . this cost him the displeasure of the queen mother , and king edward the third , till at last converted by his constancy , they turned their frowns into smiles upon him . when arch-bishop of canterbury , he perswaded king edward the third to invade france , promising to supply him with competent provisions for the purpose . a promise not so proportionable to his archiepiscopal capacity , as to him , as he had been twice treasurer of england , and skilfull in the collecting and advancing of money , so that he furnished the king with great sums , at his first setting forth for france . these being spent before the year ended , the king sends over for a supply . stratford instead of coin , returns counsell , advising him to alter his officers , otherwise , if so much was spent at a breakfast , the whole wealth of the land , would not suffice him for dinner . over comes the angry king , from whose fury stratford was forc'd to conceal himself , untill publickly passing his purgation in parliament , he was restored to the reputation of his innocence , and rectified in the kings esteem . he built , and bountifully endowed , a beautifull colledge , in the town of his nativity , and having set archbishop fifteen years , dyed anno . leaving a perfumed memory behind him , for his bounty to his servants , charity to the poor , meekness and moderation to all persons . ralph stratford ( kinsman to the foresaid arch-bishop , ) was born * in the town of stratford on avon , where he built a chappel to the honour of saint thomas . he was first cannon of saint pauls , and afterwards may . . was consecrated at canterbury bishop of london . during his sitting in that see , there happened so grievous a pestilence in london , that hardly the tenth person in some places did escape . then each church-yard was indeed a polyandrum , so that the dead might seem to justle one another for room therein . yea , the dead did kill the living , so shallowly were their heaped corps interred . whereupon this bishop charitably bought a piece of ground nigh smithfield . it was called no ▪ mans-land , not à parte ante , as formerly without an owner , ( seeing it had a proprictary of whom it was legally purchased , ) but de futuro , none having a particular interest therein , though indeed it was all-mens-land , as designed and consecrated for the generall sepulture of the deceased . this bishop having continued about . years in his see , he died at stepney . robert stratford ( brother to the arch-bishop aforesaid ) was in the reign of king edward the third made bishop of chichester . he was at the same time chancellour of oxford , ( wherein he was bred ) and of all england . honorable offices , which sometimes have met in the same person , though never more deservedly then in the present enjoyer of them both . in his time there was a tough contest betwixt the south and northern-men in that university . they fell from their pens to their hands , using the contracted fist of mar●…ial , logick , bloody blows passing betwixt them . th s bishop did * wisely and fortunately bestirre himself an arbitrator in this controversy , being a proper person for such a performance , born in this county , ( in the very navil of england ) so that his nativity was a naturall expedient betwixt them , and his judgement was unpartiall in compremising the difference . he was accused to the king for favouring the french , with his brother archbishop , contented patiently to attend till pregnant time was delivered of truth her daughter , and then this brace of prelates appeared brethren in integrity . he died at allingbourn april . . john vesty alias harman , doctor of law , was born at sutton colefield in this county , bred in oxford ; a most vivacious person , if the date of these remarks be seriously considered . . in the twentieth year of king henry the sixth , he was appointed to celebrate the divine-service in the free-chappell of saint blase of sutton aforesaid . . in the twentie third year of henry the seventh , he was made vicar of saint michaells church in coventry . . under k. henry the eighth , he was made dean of the chappell royall , tutor to the lady mary , and president of wales . . in the eleventh of k. henry the eighth , . he was advanced to be bishop of exeter . which bishoprick he destroyed , not onely shaving the hairs , ( with long leases ) but cutting away the limbs with sales outright , in so much that bishop hall his successor in that see , complaineth in print , that the following bishops were barons , but bare-ones indeed . some have confidently affirmed , in my hearing , that the word to veize ( that is in the west , to drive away with a witness ) had its originall from his profligating of the lands of his bishoprick , but i yet demurre to the truth thereof . he robbed his own cathedrall to pay a parish church , sutton in this county , where he was born , wheron he bestowed many benefactions , and built fifty one houses . to inrich this his native town , he brought out of devonshire many clothiers , with desire and hope to fix the manufacture of cloathing there . all in vaine , for as bishop godwin observeth , non omnis fert omnia tellus . which though true conjunctively , that all countrys put together bring forth all things , to be mutually bartered by a reciprocation of trade , is false disjunctively , no one place affording all commodities , so that the cloath-workers here , had their pains for their labour , and sold for their lost . it seems though he brought out of devon-shire the fiddle and fiddlestick , he brought not the rosen , therewith to make good musick , and every country is innated with a peculiar genius , and is left handed to those trades , which are against their inclinations . he quitted his bishoprick ( not worth keeping ) in the reign of king edward the sixth , and no wonder he resumed it not in the reign of queen mary , the bone not being worth the taking , the marrow being knocked out before . he died ( being . years old , ) in the reign of q. mary , and was buried in his native town , with his statue mitred and vested . since the reformation . john bird was born in the city of * coventry , bred a carmelite at oxford , and became afterwards the . ( the head-game ) and last provinciall of his order . he preached some smart sermons before king henry the eighth , against the primacy of the pope , for which he was preferred ( saith bishop godwin ) to be successively bishop of ossery in ireland , bangor in wales , and chester in england . to the two last we concur , but dissent to the former , because john bale contemporary with this john bird , and also bishop of ossery , ( who therefore must be presumed skilfull in his predecessors in that see ) nameth him not bishop of ossery , but episcopum pennecensem in hiberniâ , the same bale saith of him , audivi eum ad papismi vomitum reversum . i have heard that ( in the reign of queen m●…ry ) he returned to the vomit of popery : which my charity will not believe . indeed in the first of queen mary he was outed of his bishoprick for being married , and all that we can recover of his carriage a●…terwards , is this passage at the examination of master thomas hauke , martyr . when john bird ( then very old ) brought boner a bottle of wine , and a dish of apples , probably a present unto him for a ne noceat , and therefore not enough to speak him a papist in his perswasion . bishop boner desired him to take haukes into his chamber , and to try if he could convert him , whereupon after boners departure out of the room , the quondam bishop accosted haukes as followeth , * i would to god i could do you some good , you are a young man , and i would not wish you to go to far , but learn of the elders to bear somewhat . he enforced him no further , but being a thorough old man even fell fast asleep . all this in my computation amounts but to a passive compliance , and is not evidence enough to make him a thorough paced papist , the rather because john pitts omitteth him in the catalogue of english-writers , which no doubt he would not have done , had he any assurance , that he had been a radicated romanist . nothing else have i to observe of him , but onely that he was a little man , and had a pearl in his eyes , and dying . was buried in chester . states men . sir nicholas throckmorton knight , fourth son of sir george throckmorton of coughton in this county , was bred beyond the seas , where he attained to great experience . under queen mary he was in guild-hall arraigned for treason ( compliance with wyat ) and by his own warie pleading , and the jurie's upright verdict hardly escaped . queen elizabeth employed him her leiger a long time , first in france , then in scotland , finding him a most able minister of state , yet got he no great wealth , and no wonder , being ever of the opposite party to * burleigh lord treasurer ; chamberlain of the exchequer , and chief butler of england , were his highest preferments . i say chief butler , which office like an empty covered cup , pretendeth to some state , but affordeth no considerable profit . he died at supper with eating of salates , not without suspicion of poison , the rather because hapning in the house of one no mean artist in that faculty , r. earl of leicester . his death as it was sudden , was seasonable for him and his , whose active ( others will call it turbulent ) spirit had brought him into such trouble as might have cost him , at least , the loss of his * personal estate . he died in the fifty seventh year of his age , february the . . and lyeth * buryed in the south-side of the chancel of st. katharine cree-church london . edward conway knight , son to sir john conway knight , lord and owner of ragleigh in this county . this sir john being a person of great skill in military affaires , was made by robert earl of leicester ( generall of the english auxiliaries in the united provinces ) governour of ostend . his son sir edward succeeded to his fathers martial skill and valour , and twisted therewith peaceable policy in state-affaires ▪ so that the gown and the sword met in him in most eminent proportion , and thereupon king james made him one of the principal secretaries of state. for these his good services , he was by him created lord conway of ragleigh in this county , and afterwards by king charles , viscount killultagh in the county of antrim . and lastly in the third of king charles , viscount conway of conway in carnarvanshire , england , ireland and wales , mutually embracing themselves in his honours . he dyed january the third , anno . john digby baron of sherborn , and earl of bristol , was born in this county , a younger son of an ancient family , long flourish●…ng at coleshull therein . to pass by his infancy , ( all children being alike in their long coats ) his youth gave pregnant hopes of that eminency , which his mature age did produce . he didken the emhassador-craft , as well as any in his age , employed by king james , in several services to frreign princes , recited in his patent ( which i have perused ) as the main motives of the honors conferr'd upon him . but his managing the matchless match with spain , was his master-piece , wherein a good ( i mean a great ) number of state-traverses were used on both sides . his contest with the duke of buckingham , is fresh in many mens memories , charges of high treason mutually flying about . but this lord fearing the dukes power ( as the duke this lor●…s policy ) it at last became a drawn battail betwixt them ; yet so , that this earl lost the love of king charles , living many years in his dis-favour : but such as are in a court-cloud , have commonly the countries sun-shine , and this peer during his eclyps was very popular with most of the nation . it is seldom seen , that a favorite once broken at court , sets up again for himself , the hap ( rather then happiness ) of this lord , the king graciously reflecting on him , at the beginning of the long-parliament , as one best able to give him the safest counsell in those dangerous times . but how he incensed the parliament so far as to be excepted pardon , i neither do know nor dare enquire . sure i am after the surrender of exeter , he went over into france , where he met with that due respect in forraign , which he missed in his native country . the worst i wish such , who causelesly suspect him of popish inclinations , is , that i may hear from them but half so many strong arguments for the protestant religion , as i have heard from him , who was to his commendation a cordial champion for the church of england . he dyed in france about the year . writers . walter of coventrie was born * and bred a benedictine therein . bale saith he was , immortali vir dignus memoria , and much commended by leland ( though not of set purpose , but ) sparsim as occasion is offered . he excelled in the two essential qualities of an historian , faith and method , writing truly and orderly , onely guilty of coursness of style . this may better be dispenced with in him , because historia est res veritatis non eloquentiae , because bad latin was a catching disease in that age . from the beginning of the britons he wrote a chronicle ( extant in bennet colledge library ) to his own time . he flourished anno . vincent of coventrie was born in the chief city in this shire , and bred a * franciscan ( though learned leland mistakes him a carmelite ) in the university of cambridg . his order at their first entrance into england , looked upon learning as a thing beneath them ; so totally were they taken up with their devotion . this vincent was the first who brake the ice ( and then others of his order drank of the same water ) first applyed himself to academicall studies , and became a publick * professor in cambridge , he set a coppy for the carmelites therein to imitate , who not long after began their publick lectures in the same place , he left some books to posterity , and flourished anno dom. . john of killingworth born in that castelled-village in this county , bred in oxford , an excellent philosopher , astronomer and physitian . he studyed the stars so long , that at last he became a star himself in his own sphere , and out-shined all others of that faculty . he was father and founder to all the astronomers in that age. i never did spring such a covye of mathematicians all at once , as i met with at this time , cervinus or hart , cure , john stacy and blach , * all bred in merton colledge . which society in the former century applyed themselves to school-divinity , in this to mathematicks , and attained to eminency in both , so good a genius acted within the walls of that worthy foundation . he flourished about the year . william of coventry was born and bred a carmelite in that city . he in his youth was afflicted with an unhealable sprain in his hip , and was commonly called claudus conversus , which i adventure to english , the lame converted . conversus * properly is one , who for lack of learning or deformity of body , is condemned to the servile work in the monastery , under a despair ever to be made priest , termed it seems conversus , because not of voluntary choice , turning , to that course of life , but turned ( as passively necessitated ) thereunto . but hear how j. pits clincheth in his praise . claudicavit corporis gressu , non virtutis progressu , vitiatus corpore non viciosus animo , being in his writings full of s●…ntences . amongst which bale takes especial notice of his prodesset hierosolymam petere & alia invisere loca sacra , sed multum praestaret eo precio pauperes alere domi , wherein though i perceive no more sententiousness then common sense , yet because it containeth a bold truth in those blind dayes , it may be mentioned . he never set his name to his books , but it may ( according to the frierly-fancy ) be collected out of the capital letters of his severall works . who flourished anno . john rouse son of jeffery rouse , was born at warwick , but descended from the rouses of brinkloe in this county , he was bred in oxford , where he attained to great eminencie of learning , he afterwards retired himself to guis●…cliffe within a mile of warwick . a most delicious place , so that a man in many miles riding cannot meet so much variety , as there one forlong doth afford . a steep rock full of caves in the bowels thereof , wash'd at the bottome with a christall river , besides many clear springs on the side thereof , all overshadowed with a stately grove , so that an ordinary fancy may here find to it self helicon , parnassus , and what not ? many hermites ( and guy earl of warwick himself ) being sequestred from the world , retreated hither . some will say it is too gaudy a place for that purpose , as having more of a paradice then wilderness therein , so that mens thoughts would rather be scattered then collected with such various objects . but seeing hermits deny themselves the company of men , let them be allowed to converse with the rarities of nature , and such are the fittest texts for a solitary devotion to comment upon . to this place came our john rouse , and by leave obtained from king edward the fourth , immured himself therein , that he might apply his studies without distraction . here he wrote of the antiquities of warwick , with a catalogue of the earls thereof , a chronicle of our english kings , and a history of our universities . he was as good with the pensill as the pen , and could draw persons as well as describe them , as appears by lively pictures limmed with his own hand . he died a very aged man , anno domini . since the reformation . william perkins was born at marston in this county , bred fellow of christ-colledge , and then became preacher of saint andrews in cambridge . the athenians did nothing else but * tell or hear some new thing . why tell before hear ? because probably , they themselves were the first finders , founders , and fathers of many reports . i should turn such an athenian to fain and invent , should i adde any thing concerning this worthy person , whose life i have formerly written at large in my holy-state . he died anno dom. . thomas drax d. d. was born at stonely in this county , his father being a younger brother of a worshipfull family , which for many years had lived at wood-hall in york-shire , he was bred in christs-colledge in cambridge . he was a pious man , and an excellent preacher , as by some of his printed sermons doth appear . he translated all the works of master perkin●… his countryman and collegiat ) into latine , which were printed at geneva . doctor king bishop of london , removed him from his native country , and bestowed a benefice on him nigh harwich in essex , where the change of the aire was conceived to hasten his great change , which happened about the year . i cannot forget how this worthy name of drax may be resembled to the river anas in spain , which having run many miles under ground , surgeth a greater channell then before . they have flourished at wood hall a●…oresaid , in the parish of darfield , ever since a co-heir of the noble family of fitz-williams brought that good mannour , ( with the alternate gift of the mediety of the rich parsonage therein , ) in marriage into this family , as since by an heir-general it hath been alienated . but after many various changes , this name hath recovered and encreased its lustre in sir james drax , a direct descendant from the heirs-male , who by gods blessing on his industry and ingenuity , hath merited much of the english nation , in bringing the sugars and other commodities of the barbadoes to their present perfection . william shakespeare was born at stratford on avon in this county , in whom three eminent poets may seem in some sort to be compounded , . martial in the warlike sound of his sur-name , ( whence some may conjecture him of a military extraction , ) hasti-vibrans or shake-speare . . ovid , the most naturall and witty of all poets , and hence it was that queen elizabeth coming into a grammar-school made this extemporary verse , persius a crab-staffe , bawdy martial , ovid a fine wag. . plautus , who was an exact comaedian , yet never any scholar , as our shake-speare ( if alive ) would confess himself . adde to all these , that though his genius generally was jocular , and inclining him to fe●…ivity , yet he could ( when so disposed ) be solemn and serious , as appears by his tragedies , so that heraclitus himself ( i mean if secret and unseen ) might afford to smile at his comedies , they were so merry , and democritus scarce for●…ear to sigh at his tragedies they were so mournfull . he was an eminent instance of the truth of that rule , poeta non fit , sed nascitur , one is not made but born a poet. indeed his learning was very little , so that as cornish diamonds are not polished by any lapidary , but are pointed and smoothed even as they are taken out of the earth , so nature it self was all the art which was used upon him . many were the wit combates betwixt him and ben johnson , which two i behold like a spanish great gallion , and an english man of war ; master johnson ( like the former ) was built far higher in learning ; solid , but slow in his performances . shake-spear with the english-man of war , lesser in bulk , but lighter in sailing , could turn with all tides , tack about and take advantage of all winds , by the quickness of his wit and invention . he died anno domini ... and was buried at stratford upon avon , the town of his nativity . michael drayton born in this county at athelston , as appeareth in his poeticall address thereunto . my * native country , if there be vertue yet remaining in thy earth , or any good of thine thou breath'st into my birth , accept it as thine own whilst now i sing of thee ; of all thy later brood th' unworthiest though i be . he was a pious poet , his conscience having always the command of his fancy , very temperate in his life , slow of speech , and inoffensive in company . he changed his laurel for a crown of glory , anno . and is buried in westminster-abby near the south-door with this epitaph , doe pious marble , let thy readers know , what they , and what their children owe to draitons name , whose sacred dust we recommend unto thy trust . protect his memory , and preserve his story , remain a lasting monument of his glory : and when thy ruins shall d●…aime to be the treasurer of his name : his name that cannot fade , shall be an everlasting monument to thee . he was born within few miles of william shake-speare , his countryman and fellow-poet , and buried within fewer paces of jeffry chaucer , and edmund spencer . sir fulke grevil knight , son to sir fulke grevil the elder , of becham-court in this county , he was bred first in the university of cambridge . he came to the court , back'd with a full and fair estate ; and queen elizabeth loved such substantiall courtiers , as could plentifully subsist of themselves . he was a good scholar , loving much to employ ( and sometimes to advance ) learned men , to wh●…m worthy bishop overal chiefly owed his preferment , and mr. cambden ( by his own confession , ) * tasted largely of his liberality . his studies were most in poetry and history , as his works doe witness . his stile conceived by some to be swelling , is allowed for lofty and full by others , king james created him baron brook of beachamp-court , as descended from the sole daughter and heir of edward willowby the last lord brook , in the reign of king henry the seventh . his sad death or murther rather , happened on this occasion . his discontented servant conceiving his deserts not soon or well enough rewarded , wounded him mortally , and then ( to save the law the labour ) killed himself , verifying the observation that he may when he pleaseth be master of an other mans life , who contemneth his own . he lieth buried in warwick church under a monument of black and white marble , whereon he is styled servant to q. elizabeth , counsellor to k. james , and friend to sir phillip sidney . dying anno ... without issue , and unmarried , his barony by vertue of entail in the patent descended on his kinsman robert grevill lord brook , father to the right honorable robert lord brook. nicholas byfield was born in this county , ( as his son * hath informed me , ) bred ( as i remember , ) in queens-colledge in oxford . after he had entred into the ministry , he was invited into ireland , to a place of good profit and eminency , in p●…ssage whereunto , staying wind-bound at chester , his inn proved his home for a long time unto him , preaching a sermon there with such approbation , that he was chosed minister in the city . not without an especiall providence , seeing the place promised in ireland , would have failed him , & his going over had been a labour in vain . the cestrians can give the best account of his profitable preaching and pious life , most strict in keeping the lords day , on which occasion pens were brandished betwixt him and mr. breerwood . in his declining age he was presented to the benefice of isleworth in middlesex , where for fifteen years together he preached twice every lords-day , and expounded scripture every wednesday and friday , till five weeks before his death , notwithstanding there was mors in oll●… , a stone in his bladder , which being taken out , weighed , and measured after his death , was found of these prodigious proportions . in . * weight , thirty three ounces and more . in . measure about the edge , fifteen inches , and an half . in . measure about the length , thirteen inches and above . in . measure about the breadth , almost thirteen inches . it was of a solid substance to look upon , like a flint . lo , here is the patience of the saints . all i will adde is this , the pharisee said proudly , i thank thee lord , i am not as this publican . let writer and reader say humbly , and thankfully to god , we are not as this truly painfull preacher , and let us labour , that as our bodies are more healthfull , our souls may be as holy as his , who died and was buried at i●…leworth . philemon holland , where born , is to me unknown , was bred in trinity-colledge in cambridge , a doctor in physick , and fixed himself in coventry . he was the translator generall in his age , so that those books alone of his turning into english , will make a country gentleman a competent library for historians , in so much that one saith , holland with his translations doth so fill us , he will not let suetonius be tranquillus . indeed some decry all translators as interlopers , spoiling the trade of learning , which should be driven amongst scholars alone . such also alledge , that the best translations are works , rather of industry then judgement , and ( in easy authors ) of faithfulness , rather then industry ; that many be but bunglers , forcing the meaning of the authors , they translate , picking the lock , when they cannot open it . but their opinion resents too much of envy , that such gentlemen , who cannot repair to the fountain , should be ●…ebard access to the streame . besides , it is unjust to charge all , with the faults of some , and a distinction must be made amongst translators , betwixt coblers and workmen , and our holland had the true knack of translating . many of these his books he wrote with one pen , whereon he himself thus pleasantly versified . with one sole pen i writ this book , made of a grey goose quill . a pen it was , when it i took , and a pen i leave it still . this monumental pen , he solemnly kept and showed to my reverend tutor doctor samuel ●…ard . it seems he leaned very lightly on the neb thereof , though weightily enough , in an other sense , performing not slightly , but solidly , what he undertook . but what commendeth him most to the praise of posterity , is his translating camdens britannia , a translation more then a translation , with many excellent additions , not found in the latine , done fifty years since in master camdens life time , not onely with his knowledge and consent , but also , no doubt , by his desire and help . yet such additions ( discoverable in the former part with asterisks in the margent ) with some antiquaries obtain not equal authenticalness with the rest . this eminent translator was translated to a better life , anno dom. ... francis holyoake ( latining himself de sacra qu●…rcu ) and minister of southam , born at witacre in this county . he set forth that staple book which school-boys called riders dictionary . this rider did borrow ( to say no worse ) both his s●…ddle and bridle from thomas thomatius , who being bred fellow of kings-colledge in cambridge , set forth that dictionary known by his name , then which , men , have not a better and truer ; children , no plainer and briefer . but rider after thomas his death , set forth his dictio●…ary , the same in effect , under his own name , the property thereof , being but little disguised with any additions . such plageary ship ill becometh authors or printers , and the dove being the crest of the stationers armes , should mind them , not like rooks , to filch copies one from an other . the executors of thomas thoma●…us entring an action against rider , occasioned him in his own defence to make those numerous additions , to his dictionary , that it seems to differ rather in kind then degree , from his first edition . i am forced to place this child , ●…ather with his guardian then father , i mean , to mention this dictionary rather under the name of master holyoake then rider , both because the residence of the latter is wholly unknown unto me , and because mr. holyoak●… added many ( as his learned son hath since more ) wonders thereunto . this master holyoake died anno dom. ... james cranford was born at coventry in this county , ( where his father was a divine and school-master of great note ) bred in oxford , beneficed in northampton shire , and afterwards removed to london , to saint ch●…istophers . a painfull preacher , an exact linguist , subtill disputant , orthodox in his judgement , sound against sectaries , well acquainted with the fathers , not unknown to the school-men , and familiar with the modern divines . much his humility , being james the less in his own esteeme , and therefore ought to be the greater in ours . he had as i may say , a broad-chested soul , favourable to such who differed from him . his moderation increased with his age , charity with his moderation , and had a kindness for all such who had any goodness in themselves . he had many choise books , and ( not like to those , who may lose themselves in their own libraries , being owners , not masters of their books therein , ) had his books at such command , as the captain has his souldiers , so that he could make them at pleasure goe or come , and do what he desired . this lame and loyall mephibosheth , ( as i may terme him ) sadly sympathizing with the sufferings of church and state. he died rather infirme then old , anno . romish exile w●…iters . william bishop was born in this county , saith my * auther , ex nobili familia . enquiring after his surname in this shire , i find one john bishop , gentleman , patron of brails in this county , who died anno . aged . † being a protestant , as appeareth by his epitaph , who according to proportion of time , might in all probability be his father , the rather , because he is said parentes & ampli patrimonii spem reliquisse , to have left his parents , and the hope of a fair inheritance . reader , a word by the way of the word nobilis , which soundeth high in english ears , where barons youngest children are the lowest step of nobility , whilst nobilis from the pen of a * foraigner , generally importeth no more then an ordinary gentleman . it is not long since my weakness was imployed to draw up in latin a testimoniall for a high german , who indeed was of honourable extraction , and according to direction , i was advised to style him generosissimum ac nobilissimum . for generosus ( which runneth so low in england ) in saxony doth carry it clear as the more honourable epithet . thus words like counters stand for more or less according to custome . yea , latine words are bowed in their modern senses , according to the acception of severall places . this bishop leaving the land , went first to rhemes , then to rome , where he was made priest , and being sent back into england , met with variety of success , . being seized on , he was brought before secretary walsingham , and by him committed to the marshalsey . . after three years , being b●…nished the realm , he became a doctor of sorb●… . . he returned into england , and for nine years laboured in the popish harvest . . by their clergy , he was imployed a messenger to rome , about some affairs of importance . . his business dispatch'd , he returned the third time into england , and after eight years industry therein to advance his own cause , was caught and cast into prison at london , where he remained about the year . . soon after he procured his enlargement , and anno . lived at paris in collegio atrebatensi . men of his perswasion , cry him up for a most glorious confessor of the●… popish faith , who , ( if any goodness in him ) should also be a thankfull confessor of the protestant charity , permitting him twice to depart prison , ( on hope of his amendment , ) though so active an instrument against our religion . no such courtesy of papists to protestants , vestigia nulla retrorsum . no return ( especially the second time ) out of durance . the first disease being dangerous , but deadly their relaps into a prison , but perchance this william bishop found the more favour , because our church ▪ men accounting it to●… much severity , to take away both his credit and his life , both to conquer and kill him , seeing this priest , whilst in prison , was often worsted , ( though his party bragged of victory , ) both by tongues and pens , in disputings , and writings , of severall protestants , amongst whom robert abbot ( afterwards bishop of salisbury ) gave him the most fatall defeat . the certain date of his death is to me unknown . benefactors to the publick . hugh clopton was born at stratford , a fair market town in this county ▪ bred a mercer in london , and at last lord mayor thereof , anno . remem●…g 〈◊〉 his native town stood on avon ( a river in summer , and little sea in winter , ) ●…oublesome for travellers to pass over , he in liew of the former inconventent 〈◊〉 , built a stately and long stone-bridge , of many arches , over the channel and overflowings thereof . i behold this bridge , more usefull , though less costly , then what caligula made , termed by * suetonius novum & inauditum spectaculi genus , reaching from putzol to bauly , three miles and a quarter . this was only a pageant-bridge for pompe , set up , to be soon taken down , whereof lipsius said well , laudem immenso operi vanitas detra●…it . but our cloptons bridge remaineth at this day , even when the colledge in the same town built by arch-bishop stratford , is ( as to the intended use thereof ) quite vanished away . indeed bridges are the most lasting benefactions , all men being concerned in their continuance , lest by dest●…oying of them , they destroy themselves , not knowing how soon , for their own safety they may have need to make use thereof . many other charities he bestowed , and deceased anno . since the reformation . ............. hales esquire , he purchased a prime part of the priory of coventry . now , either out of his own inclination , or as a condition of his composition with king henry the eighth , or a mixture of both ; he founded and endowed a fair grammer-school ▪ in coventry . herein i have seen more ▪ ( abate the three english ▪ schools of the first magnitude ) and as well learned scholars , ( be it spoken that the master , us●…er , and scholars , may according to their proportions divide the praise betwixt them ) as in any school in england . here is also an infant , which may be an adult library , when it meeteth with more benefactors . john lord harrington son to james lord harrington , was born at combe abby in this county , ( accruing unto him by his mother heiress of ●…elway , ) as by a property of that family , lately ( or still ) surviving , i have on very strict enquiry been certainly enformed . he did not count himself priviledged from being good , by being great , and his timely piety rising early , did not soon after go to bed , ( as some young saints , beheld under an other notion ) but contiuned watchfull , during his life . he was one of the first , who began the pious fashion ( since followed by few of his quality , ) of a diary , wherein he registred , not the injuries of others done unto him , ( a work of revenge not devotion , ) but of his fa●…lings and infirmities toward his master . thus making even with the god of heaven , by repentance in christ at the end of every day , he had ( to use the expression and counsell of the reverend arch-bishop of armagh ) but one day to repent of before his death . he lived out all 〈◊〉 days in the appointment of divine providence , not half of them according to the course and possibility of nature , not half a quarter of them according to the hopes and desires of the lovers and honourers of virtue in this nation , especially of the society in sidney-colledge in cambridge , whereto he was a most 〈◊〉 bénefactour . he was the last male of that honourable family , as one justly complains . johanes dominus harringtonius . * anagramma insignis erat ( ah ) unus honor domi . the reader is referred for the rest , unto his funerall sermon , preached by master stock of london , who though he would not ( to use his own phrase ) gild a po●…sheard , understand him , flatter unworthyness ; yet giveth him his large and due commendation . he died unmarried anno . . leaving his two sisters his heirs , lucy married to edward earl of bedford , and anne , who by sir robert chichester had a daughter anne , married to thomas earl of elgin , and mother to robert l. bruce , who is at this day , heir apparent to no small part of the lands , but actually possessed of a larger of the vertues of his honourable great-uncle . memorable persons . thomas underhill esquire , was born at neaher-eatendon in this county . it is pity to part him from elizabeth his wife , seeing the poetical fiction of philemon and baucis , found in them an historical performance with improvement . * sed pia baucis anus parilique aetate philemon illâ sunt annis juncti juvenilibus , illâ consenuere casâ : paupertatémque ferendo effecere levem , nec iniqua mente ferendam . but good old baucis with philemon matchd , in ▪ youthfull years , now struck with equal age , made poorness pleasant in their cottage thatch'd , and weight of want with patience di●… aswage . whereas this our warwick-shire-pair , living in a worshipfull equipage , and exemplary for their hospitality , did teach others , not how poverty might be born , but wealth well used ( by their example ) for the owners and others good . the ovidian-couple appear issueless , whereas twenty children , viz. t●…teen sons and seven daughters were begotten and born , by this thomas and elizabeth , living sixty five years together in marriage . indeed the poeticall-pair , somewhat outstrip'd them in the happiness of their death , their request being granted them , — et quoniam concordes egimus annos , auferàthora duos eadem : nec conjugis unquam busta meae videam : nec sim tumulandus ab illa . because we liv'd and lov'd so long together , let 's not behold the funeralls of either ; may one hour end us both : may i not see this my wife buried , nor wife bury me . however these * underhills deceased in one year , she in july , he in october following . lord mayors . name father place company time john * coventry william coventry coventry mercer john olney john olney coventry mercer robert tate thomas tate coventry mercer hugh clopton john clopton stratford upon avon mercer john tate thomas tate coventry — william cockain william cockain baddesley skinner john warner john warner rowington grocer   the names of the gentry of this county returned by the commissioners in the 〈◊〉 year of king henry the sixth . . william bishop of lincoln , commissioners to take the oaths . richard earl of warwick . john cotes , knights for the shire . nicholas metley . knights for the shire . radul . nevill , mil. ioh. colepeper , mil. will. mounford , mil. edw. oddingsselles , m. tho. b●…rdet , mil. rich. otherston abbatis de camba will. pole abbatis de alyncestre joh. buggeley abbatis de miravalle edw. bron●…ete de farnburgh , ar . bald. mountford de hampton , ar . r●…d . brasebrugg de kinnesbury , ar . will. lucy de charlecote , ar . tho. hugford de emescote , ar . tho. erdington de erdington , ar . rob. arden de bromwich , ar . will. pucfrey de shiford , ar . rog. harewell de morehall , ar . rich. hyband de ippesley , armig . will. botoner de wythybroke ioh. midlemore de eggebaston , ar . thome porter de escote , ar . tho. 〈◊〉 de tonworth , ar . tho. waryng de eadem , ar . rich. verney , ar . de wolverton tho. g●…ene de solyhull , ar . joh. chelwyn de alspath , ar . ioh. waldiene de eadem , ar . nich. ruggeley de donton , ar . will. holt de aston , ar . rich. merbroke de codbarow , ar . galf. allefley d eparva lalleford tho. greswold de solyhull tho. haynton de napton will. parker de tonworth edm. starkey de stretton ranul . starky de eadem will. derset de thurlaston rich. hall de stretford ioh. mayell de eadem simon . forster de althercton clemen . draper de ●…adem iohan. darant de berston rog. mullward de nuneton iohan. omfrey de eadem iohan. waryn de eadem hum. iacob de tamworth tho. neuton de eadem math. smalwode de sutton rich. dalby de brokhampton rich. eton de warwick hum. corbet iohan. aleyn de berford tho. iakes de woner rog. clerk de tatchbrook rich. briches de longedon will. reynold de attilburgh ioh. michell majoris civitatis coventrae will. donington unius ballivorum civitatis predictae . rob. southam alterius ballivorum civitatis predicte . egidii alles sley magistri gildae sanctae trinitatis de coventrae . lauren. cook de coventrae merchant rich. sharp de eadem merchant rich. boton de eadem fishmonger ioh. lychefeld de eadem grasier ioh. walle de eadem fishmonger ioh. leder de coventrae merchant tho. estop magi●…ri gildae sanctae trinitatis warwick nich. r●…dy de eadem ioh. mayell de eadem sentor will. hopkyns de eadem ioh. broune de eadem junior . iohan. stokes de henlen in ardeon gildae villae magistri predictae iohan. thorp de kolle . sheriffs . this shire was in conjunction , under the same sheriffs with leicester-shire , untill the year of q. elizabeth . since which time warwick-shire hath these appropriat to it self . n●…me pl●…ce armes ●…eg . eliza .     anno     rob. midlemore egbaston par chev. arg. & s. in chief martlets of the second . bas. feelding , ar . ne●…liā pa. ar●…on a f●…ss az fusils or. 〈◊〉 sim. ardern , ar .   gul. cross c●…osselets fitiche a chi●…f o●… . fr. willoughby , a. midleton o●… , on bars gul waterbudgets arg. he. cump●…ō , m. du. cumpton cumpton sab. a lyon passant or , inter helmets arg. ful. grevile , mil. beuchampcourt . sa. a bor●…r & c●…oss engrailed or , thereon pellets . sam. marow , ar . berkswell az. a fess engrailed betwixt womens-heads cooped or. edw. ardon , ar .     wil. boughton , ●… . lauford s. crescents , or. hum. ferrers , ar .   a m p. will. catesby , m.   ar. lions ●…ass . s. ●… tho. lucy , mil. charlcott gal. crusulee or , picks [ 〈◊〉 lucies ] h●…uriant ar. ●… ed. boughton , ar ▪ ut pri●…s   geo. digby , ar . coleshull az. a flower delu●…e ar. ●… tho. leigh , ar . stonleigh g. a cross engrailed arg. on the first quarter , a i●…zen of the second . io. harington , m. comb. abbey s. a fret ar. edw. holt , ar . aston ar. flower deluces az. ful. grevill , mil. ut prius   ●… an. shuckburgh , a. shugbury s. a chev. betwixt mullets ar. ●… th. daubrigcourt soli●…ul ermin , b●…rs humet g. ●… hum. ferrers , ar . ut priu●…   will. feelding , ar . ut prius   will. boughton , a. ut prius   rich. verney , ar . compton az. on a cross arg. mullets g ▪ will. leigh , mil. murdak .   rad. hubaud , ar .     ge. devereux , ar . cost . ●…wich a ▪ g. a fess g●…n chiefe torteauxes . ●… edw. grevill , ar . ut prius   tho. le●…gh , mil. ut prius   rob. burgoyn , ar .   on chief embatteled , ar. as many martlets s. cle. fisher , ar . pack●…ng ar. a chev. varry between lions rampent g. sam. marowe , ar . ut prius   tho. hoult , ar . ut prius   tho. lucy , mil. ut pri●…s   rob. burde●…t bramcot az. barrs or. on each martlets g. will. peyto , ar . chesterton barry of peeces arg. & g , per ●…ale ind●…nted & coun●… chang'd . barth . hales   g. arrows or , fea●…red and headed a●… . reg. iac .     anno     barth . hale●… , ●…r . ut prius   rich. verney , mi. ut prius   tho. beaufoe , mil. guise clif. erm. ●…n a 〈◊〉 cin●…ue foiles or. ed. boughton , ar . ut prius   will. combe , ar .     and , arch●… a●… ▪ tanwo●…th azure●… a●…rows or. wil. somervile , m.   ar. on a sess bet●…een a●…nuleis g. as many l●…opard-heeds of the firs●… . ●…as . feelding , ar . ut prius   tho. luc●… ▪ mil. ut priu●…   c●…e . th●…ogmortō hasley g●… o●… a ch●… aug. 〈◊〉 gemelles s. ioh. reppingtō , a.     ioh. fert●…s , mil.     will. combe , ar . ut pr●…us   wal. devereux , m. ut prius   io. sh●…ckburgh , a. ut pri●…s   fran. leigh , mil. 〈◊〉 ▪ ut prius , w●… du●… difference . rob. lee , mil. regis ▪   ●…h . temple , m. & b. dasset arg. on ba●… s. martle●…s or. will. noell , ar .   or , fret●… g. ●… can●…n ermine . ioh. h●…ebaud , ar .     tho. puckering , m. warwick ▪ s. a b●…nd fus●…lly c●…ised ar. her. unde●…hill , m. eatendon arg. a cheveron g. between tre●…s ver●… . car. reg.     anno     ioh. newdigate , a. erdbury g. lions gambes [ or pawes ] erazed a●…g . s●…m . archer , mil. ut prius   rob. fisher , mil. ut pr●…us   geo. dever●…x , a. ut prius   rog ▪ burgo●…n , ar . ut prius   will. purefoy , ar .   s. pair of cantlets arming [ or clipping ] arg. wil. boughton , ar . ut prius   tho. lucy , mil. ut prius erect proper . sim. clerke , mil. s●…lford g. sword●… in fess , the points rich , murdon , ar . morton e●…m . on a c●…if s. a talbot pass argent . gre. verney , mil. ut prius   tho. leigh , mil. ut prius   ed. underhill , mi. ut prius   ioh. lisle , ar .     geo. warner , ar . wolston arg. a cheveron ●…w x●… boars●…eads s. cooped g. edw. ferrars badesly g. ma●…klees conjunct . viz. spatta   and or , a canton erm. haecmihi     bella     dede -     runt .     rich. lucy , at . ut prius   queen elizabeth . an. shugburg , ar. ] though the records belonging to this family have been embezeled , so that the links of their successions cannot be chained in a continued pedegree from their original , yet is their surname right ancient in the place of their name and habitation , giving for their armes the stones astroites [ in heraldry reduced to mullets , which they most resemble ) found within their mannor . king james . richard verney mil. ] in his sheriffalty the powder-traitors met at dunchurch , at their appointed hunting-match ; when suspecting their plot discovered , they entred on such designs as despair dictated unto them , scattering of scandals , breaking of houses , stealing of horses , &c ▪ but such the care of this sir richard to keep the peace of this county , that he hunted the hunters out of this into the next shire of worcester . francis leigh , mil. ] he was c●…eated baron of dunsmore , and afterwards earl of chichester by k. gharles the first . his eldest daughter and heir , was married to thomas earl of southampton , his younger to george villiers viscount grandison . king charles . simon archfr , mil. ] this worthy knight is a lover of antiquity , and of the lovers thereof . i should be much dishear●…ed at his great age , which promiseth to us no hope of his long continuance here , were i ●…ot comfort●…d with the consideration of his worthy son , the heir as well of his s●…udiousness , as estate . thomas ●…igh , mil ▪ ] king charles the first , at oxford created him for his fidelity in dangerous times baron of stoneleigh in this county , and he is happy in his son sir thomas leigh , who undoutedly will dignify the honour which descendeth unto him . the battle on october . . as for the fatall fight at edge-hill , ( called keinton-field from the next market-town thereunto ) the actings therein are variously related , and ●… confess my self not to have received any particular intelligence thereof , i will therefore crave leave to transcribe what followeth out of a short , but * worthy work , of my honoured friend , confident of the authenticall truth thereof . the fight was very terrible for the time , no fewer then five thousand men slain upon the place ▪ the prologue to a greater slaughter , if the dark night had not put an end unto that dispute . each part pretended to the victory , but it went clearly on the kings side , who though ●…e lost his generall , yet he kept the field , and possessed himself of the dead bodies ; and not so o●…ely , but he made his way open unto london , and in his way forced banbury castle , in the very sight as it were of the earl of essex , who with his flying army made all the hast he could towards the city , ( that he might be there before the king ) to secure the parliament . more certain signs there could not be of an abs●…lute victory . in the battel of taro , between the confederates of italy , and charles the eight of france , it happened so that the confederates kept the field , possest themselves of the camp , baggage and artillery , which the french in their breaking through had left behind them . hereupon a dispute was raised , to whom the honour of that day did of right belong ; which all knowing an●… impartiall men gave unto the french ▪ for though they lost the field , their camp , artillery and baggage , yet they obtained what they fought for , which was the opening of their way to france , and which the confederates did intend to deprive them of . which resolution in that case may be a ruling case to this ; the king having not onely kept the field , possest himself of the dead bodies , pillaged the carriages of the enemy , but forcibly opened his way towards london , which the enemy endeavoured to hinder , and finally entred triumphantly into oxford , with no fewer then an hundred and twenty co●…ours taken in the fight . thus far my friend . let me adde , that what salust observeth of the conspirators with cateline , that where they stood in the fight , whilst living , they covered the same place with their corpes when dead , was as true of the loyal gentry of lincoln-shire with the earl of linsey , their country ▪ man. know also that the over-soon , and over-far pursuit of a flying party with pillaging of the carriages , ( by some who prefer the snatching of wealth , before the securing of victory , ) hath often been the cause why the conquest hath slipped out of their fingers , who had it in their hands , and had not some such miscarriage happened here , the royalists had totally ( in all probability ) routed their enemies . the farewell . i cannot but congratulate the happiness of this county , in having master william dugdale [ now norrey ] my wrothy friend , a native thereof . whose illustrations are so great a work no young man could be so bold to begin , or old man hope to finish it , whilst one of middle-age fitted the performance . a well chosen county for such a subject , because lying in the center of the land , whose lustre diffuseth the light , and darteth beames to the circumference of the kingdome . it were a wild wish ▪ that all the shires in england where described to an equall degree of per●…ection , as which will be accomplished , when each star is as big and bright as the sun. however one may desire them done , quoad speciem , though not quoad gradum , in imitation of warwickshire . yet is this hopeless to come to pass , till mens pains may meet with proportionable incouragement , and then the poets prediction will be true , sint maecenates non desint flacce marones , virgiliumque tibi vel tua rura dabunt . let not maece●…asses be scant , and maroes we shall newer wan●… ▪ for. flaccus then thy country-field , shall unto thee a virgil yield ▪ and then would our little [ divided world ] be better described , then the great world , by all the geographers , who have written thereof . vvestmerland . westmerland hath cumberland on the west and north , lancashire on the south , bishoprick and yorkshire on the east thereof . from north to south it extendeth thirty miles in length , but is contented in the breadth with twenty four . as for the soil thereof , to prevent exceptions , take its description from the pen of a credible * author . it is not commended either for plenty of corn or cattle , being neither stored with arable grounds to bring forth the one , nor pasturage to breed up the other ; the principal profit that the people of this province raise unto themselves , is by clothing . here is cold comfort from nature , but somewhat of warmth from industry ; that the land is barren is gods pleasure , the people painfull their praise ; that thereby they grow wealthy , shews gods goodn●…ss , and calls for their gratefulness . however , though this county be sterile by general rule , it is fruitfull by some few exceptions , having some pleasant vales , though such ware be too fine , to have much measure thereof . in so much , that some back-friends to this county , will say , that though westmerland hath much of eden , ( running clean through it ) yet hath little of delight therein . i behold the barrenness of this county as the cause why so few frieries and convents therein , master speed ( so curious in his catalogue in this kind ) mentioning but one religious house therein . such lazy-folk did hate labour as a house of correction , and knew there was nothing to be had here , but what art with industry wrested from nature . the reader perchance will smile at my curiosity , in observing , that this small county , having but four market towns , three of them are , kirkby-stephens , kirkby-lonsdale , kirkby-kendale , so that so much of kirk or church , argueth not a little devotion of the ancestors in these parts , judiciously expressing it self , not in building convents for the ease of monks , but churches for the worship of god. the manufacture . kendall cottons are famous all over england , and master camden termeth that town lanificii gloria , & industria praecellens . i hope the town●…men thereof ( a word is enough to the wise ) will make their commodities so substantiall , that no southern town shall take an advantage , to gain that trading away from them : i speak not this out of the least distrust of their honesty , but the great desire of their happiness , who being a cambridge-man out of sympathy wish well to the clothiers of kendall ▪ as the first founder of our sturbridge-fair . proverbs . let uter-pendragon do what he can , ] the river eden will run as it ran . ] tradition reporteth , that this uter-pendragon had a design , to fortifie the castle of pen-dragon in this county . in order whereunto , with much art and industry , he invited and tempted the river of eden , to forsake his old chanell , and all to no purpose . the proverb is appliable to such , who offer a rape to nature , indeavouring what is cross and contrary thereunto . naturam expellas furcâ licet , usque recurret . beat nature back , 't is all in vain , with tines of fork , 't will come again . however , christians have not onely some hope , but comfortable assurance , that they may conquer the corruptions of their nature . if f●…rca ( in no unusuall sence ) be taken for the cross , by the vertue of christs sufferings thereon , a man may so repell nature , that it shall not recoile to his destruction . princes . katharine par daughter of sir thomas par , was born at kendall-castle in this county , then the prime seat of that ( though no parliamentary ) barony , devolved to her father by inheritance from the bruses and rosses of werk . she was first married unto john nevile lord latimer , and afterwards to k. henry the eighth . this king first married half a maid , ( no less can be allowed to the lady katharine , the relict of prince arthur , ) and then he married four maids successively ; of the two last he complained , charging the one with impotency , the other with inconstancy , and being a free man again , resolved to wed a widow , who had given testimony of her fidelity to a former husband . this lady was a great favourer of the gospell , and would earnestly argue for it , sometimes speaking more then her husband would willingly hear of : once politick gardiner ( who spar'd all the weeds , spoil'd the good flowers and herbs ) had almost got her into his clutches , had not divine providence delivered her . yet a jesuite tells us that the king intended , if longer surviving , to behead her for an heretick ; to whom all that i will return is this , that he was neither confessour , nor privy-coun●…ellour to king henry the eighth . this queen was afterward married to thomas seymer , baron of sudeley and lord admiral , and died in child-bed of a daughter anno domini . her second husband surviving * her . this makes me the more admire at the great mistake of * thomas mills ( otherwise most industrious and judicious in genealogies ) making this lady married the third time , unto edward burgh eldest son unto thomas lord burgh , without any shew of probability . cardinals . christopher bambridge born near * apleby in this county , was bred doctor of law in queens-colledge in oxford . he was afterwards dean of york , bishop of durham , and at last arch-bishop of york . being imployed an embasadour to rome ; he was an active instrument to procure our king henry the eight , to take part with the pope against lewis king of france , for which good service he was created cardinal of saint praxis . a title some say he long desired , let me adde , and little injoyed . for falling out with his steward rivaldus de modena an italian , and fustigating him for his faults , the angry italian * poysoned him . herein something may be pleaded for this cardinal out of the old , sure i am more must be pleaded against him out of the new testament , if the places be parallell'd . proverbs . . timothy . . a servant will not be corrected by words , &c. a bishop must be no striker , &c. but grant him greatly faulty , it were uncharitable in us , to beat his memory with more stripes , who did then suffer so much for his own indiscretion ; his death happened july . ▪ and was buried at rome ( not in the church of saint praxis , which entitled him , but ) in the hospitall of the english. prelats . thomas vipont was descended of those ancient barons , who were hereditary lords of this county . surely either his merit was very great , or might very prevalent , ( advantaged by his near and potent relations . ) that the canons of carlile stuck so stiffly to their electing their bishop , when king henry the third , with so much importunity commended john prior of newbury unto them . this thomas injoyed his place but one year , the onely reason as i conceive that no more is reported of him . he died anno dom. . john de kirkby born at one of the two kirkbies ( landsdale or stephens ) in this county , was first canon , and afterwards bishop of carlile anno . this is that stout prelate who when the scots invaded . england anno . with an army of thirty thousand , under the conduct of william douglas , and had taken and burnt carlile with the country thereabouts , i say this john kirkby was he who with the assistance of thomas lucy , robert ogle , ( persons of prime power in those parts ) fighting in an advantagious place , utterly routed and ruined them . such as behold this act with envious eyes , cavelling that he was non-resident from his calling , when he turned his miter into an helmet , crosier-staffe into a sword , consider not that true maxim , in ▪ publicos hostes omnis home miles , and the most consciencious casuists , who forbid clergy-men to be military plaintiffs , allow them to be defendants . he died anno dom. . thomas de appleby born in that eminent town in this county , where the assises commonly are kept , was legally chosen bishop of carlile by all that had right in that election . yet he was either so timerous , or the pope so tyrannicall , or both , that he durst not own the choice with his publique consent , untill he had first obtained his confirmation from the court of rome . he was consecrated anno dom. . and having set . years in that see , deceased decemb ▪ . . roger de appleby went over into ireland , and there became prior of saint peters near trimme ( formerly founded by simon de rupe forti bishop of meath ) hence by the pope he was preferred bishop of ossory in the same kingdome . he died anno dom. . william of strickland descended of a right worshishful family in this county , anno . by joynt consent of the cannons chosen bishop of carlile . however by the concurrence of the pope and k. richard the second , one robert read was preferred to the place , which injury and affront , strickland bare with much moderation . now it happened that read was removed to chichester , and thomas m●…x his successor translated to a grecian bishoprick , that strickland was elected * again , ( patience gains the goal with long-running , ) and consecrated bishop of carlile anno . for the town of perith in cumberland , he cut a p●…ssage with great art , industry , and * expence , from the town into the river petterill for the conveiance of boatage into the irish sea . he sate bishop . years , and died anno dom. . nicholas close was born at bibreke in this county , & was one of the six original fellows whom k. henry the sixth placed in his new erected colledge of kings-colledge in cambridge . yea he made him in a manner master of the fabrick , committing the building of that house to his fidelity , who right honestly discharged his trust therein . he was first bishop of carlile , then of leichfield , where he died within a year after his consecration , viz. anno dom. . since the reformation . hugh coren or curwen was born in this * county , and made by queen mary archbishop of dublin . brown his immediate predecessor being deprived , for that he was married . here it is worthy of our observation , that though many of the protestant clergy in that land were imprisoned , and otherwise much molested , yet no one person , of what quality soever , in all ireland did suffer martyrdome , and hereon a remarkable story doth depend . a story which hath been solemnly avouched , by the late reverend archbishop of armagh , in the presence of several persons , and amongst others unto sir james ware knight , ( that most excellent antiquary , ) and divers in the university of oxford , who wrot it from his mouth , as he received the same from ancient persons of unquestionable credit . about the third of the raign of queen mary , a pursevant was sent with a commission into ireland , to impower some eminent persons , to proceed with fire and fagot against poor protestants . it happened by divine providence , this pursevant at chester lodged in the house of a protestant inn-keeper , who having gotten some inkling of the matter , secretly stole his commission out of his cloke-bag , and put the knave of clubs in the room thereof . some weeks after he appeared before the lords of the privy-councel at dublin , ( of whom bishop coren a principall ) and produced a card for his pretended commission . they caused him to be committed to prison for such an affront , as done on designe to deride them . here he lay for some months , till with much adoe at last he got his enlargement . then over he returned for england , and quickly getting his commission renewed , makes with all speed for ireland again . but before his arrival there , he was prevented with the news of queen maries death , and so the lives of many , and the liberties of more , poor servants of god were preserved . to return to our coren , though a moderate papist in queen maries days , yet he conformed with the first to the reformation of queen elizabeth , being ever sound in his heart . he was for some short time cheif justice and chancellor of ireland , till he quitted all his dignities in exchange for the bishoprick of oxford . it may seem a wonder , that he should leave one of the best arch-bishopricks in ireland , for one of the worst bishopricks in england . but oh , no preferment to quiet , and this politick prelate very decrepit , broken with old age , and many state-affairs , desired a private repose in his native land , before his death , which happened anno dom. . barnaby potter was born in this county . within the barony of * kendall , in which town he was brought up untill he was sent to queens-colledge in oxford , becoming successively scholar , fellow , and provost thereof . he was chosen the last with the unanimous consent of the fellows , when being at great distance , he never dreamed thereof . then resigning his provosts place , he betook himself to his pastorall charge in the country . he was chaplain in ordinary to prince charles , being accounted at court the penitentiall preacher , and by king charles was preferred bishop of carlile , when others sued for the place , and he little thought thereof . he was commonly called the puritanicall bishop , and they would say of him in the time of king james , that organs would blow him out of the church , which i do not believe , the rather because he was loving of , and skilfull in vocall musick , and could bear his own part therein . he was a constant preacher and performer of family-duties , of a weak constitution , melancholy , lean , and an hard student . he dyed in honour , being the last bishop that dyed a member of parliament , in the year of our lord . states-men . sir edward bellingham knight , was born of an ancient and warlike family , in this * county , servant of the privy-chamber to king edward the sixth , who sent him over anno . to be lord deputy of ireland , whose learning , wisdome , and valour , made him fit to discharge that place . hitherto the english-pale had been hide-bound in the growth thereof , having not gained one foot of ground in more then two hundred years , since the time of king edward the third . this sir edward first * extended it , proceeding against the irishry in a martial course , by beating and breaking the moors and connors , two rebellious septs . and , because the poet saith true , it proves a man as brave and wise to keep , as for to get the prize . he built the forts of leix and offaly , to secure his new acquisition . surely , had he not been suddenly revok ▪ d into england , he would have perfected the project in the same sort , as it was performed by his successour the earl of sussex , by setling english plantations therein . such his secresie ( the soul of great designs ) that his souldiers never knew whither they went , till they were come whither they should go . thus he surprised the earl of desmond , being rude and unnurtured , brought him up to dublin , where he informed and reformed him in manners and civility , sometimes making * him to kneel on his knees an hour together , before he knew dis duty ) till he became a new man in his behaviour . this earl all his life after highly honoured him ▪ and at every dinner , and * supper would pray to god for good sir edward bellingham , who had so much improved him . this deputy had no fault , in his deputiship but one , that it was so short , he being called home before two years were expired . surely , this hath much retarded the reducing of the irishry , the often shifting of their deputies , ( too often change of the kinds of plaisters , hinders the healing of the sore , ) so that as soon as they had learn'd their trade , they must resigne their shop to another , which made king james continue the lord chichester so long in the place , for the more effectual performance therein . coming into england he was accused of many faults , but cleared himself as fast as his adversaries charged him , recovering the kings favour in so high a degree , that he had been sent over deputy again , save that he excused himself by indisposition of body , and died not long after . writers . richard kendal . i place him here with confidence , because no * kendal in england , save what is the chief town of this county . he was an excellent grammarian , and the greatest instructer ( shreud and sharp enough ) of youth in his age . he had a vast collection of all latine grammars , and thence extracted a quintessence , whereof he was so highly conceited , that he * publickly boasted , that latine onely to be elegant , which was made according to his rules , and all other to be base and barbarous ; which , reader , i conceive , ( being out of his , though ) under thy correction , a proud and pedantick expression . he flourished in the raign of k. henry the sixth . since the reformation . bernard son of edwin gilpin esquire , was born at kentmire in this county , anno . at sixteen years old , ( very young in that age from those parts , ) his parents sent him to queens-colledge in oxford ; whence his merit advanced him one of the first students in the new foundation of christs church . hitherto the heat of gilpin was more then his light , and he hated vice more then error , which made him so heartily dispute against master hooper , ( who afterwards was martyred ) when indeed he did follow his argument with his affections . how afterwards he became a zealous protestant , i referre the reader to his life , written at large by bishop carlton , he was rector of houghton in the north , consisting of fourteen villages . in his own house he boarded and kept full four and twenty scholars . the greater number of his boarders were ▪ poor mens sons , upon whom he bestowed meat , drink , and cloth , and education in learning . he was wont to entertain his parishioners and strangers at his table , not onely at the christmas time , as the custome is , but because he had a large and wide parish , a great multitude of people , he kept a table for them every sunday from mich●…elmas to easter . he had the gentlemen , the husbandmen , and the poorer sort set every degree by themselves , and as it were ordered in ranks . he was wont to commend the married estate in the clergy , howbeit himself lived and dyed a single man. he bestowed in the building , ordering and establishing of his school , and in providing yearly stipends for a school-master and an usher , the full summe of five hundred pounds : out of which school he supplied the church of england with great store of learned men . he was carefull to avoid not only all evil doing , but even the lightest suspicions thereof . and he was accounted a saint in the judgements of his very enemies , if he had any such . being full of faith unfained , and of good works , he was at the last put into his grave as a heap of wheat in due time swept into the garner . he dyed the . of march . and in the . year of his age . richard mulcaster was born of an ancient extract in the north , but whether in this county or cumberland , i find not decided . from eaton-school he went to cambridge , where he was admitted into * kings-colledge . but before he was graduated , removed to oxford . here such his proficiency in learning , that by general consent he was chosen the first master of merchant-tailors-school in london , which prospered well under his care , as by the flourishing of saint johns in oxford doth plainly appear . the merchant-tailors finding his scholars so to profit , intended to fix mr. mulcaster , as his desk to their school , till death should remove him . this he perceiv'd , and therefore gave for his motto , fidelis servus , perpetuus asinus . but after twenty five years he procured his freedome , or rather exchanged his service , being made master of pauls-school . his method in teaching was this . in a morning he would exactly and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and 〈◊〉 the lessons to his scholars , which done he slept his hour ( custome made him critical to proportion it ) in his desk in the school ▪ but wo be to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 slept the while . awaking he heard them 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be 〈◊〉 to pity , as soon as he to pardon , where he found just fault . the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 mothers prevailed with him as much as the requests of indulgent fathers , rather increasing then mitigating his severity on their offending child . in a word , he was plagosus orbilius , though it may be truly said ( and safely for one out of his school ) that others have taught as much learning with fewer lashes . yet his sharpness was the better endured , because unpartiall , and many excellent scholars were bred under him , whereof bishop andrews was most remarkable . then quitting that place , he was presented to the rich parso●…ge of stanfórd-rivers in essex . i have heard from those , who have heard him preach , that his sermons were not excellent , which to me seems no wonder ; partly , because there is a different discipline in teaching children and men ; partly , because such who make divinity ( not the choice of their youth , but ) the refuge of their age , seldome attain to eminency therein . he died 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of the reign of queen elizabeth . christopher potter d. d. kinsman to bishop potter , ( of ▪ whom before ) was born in this county , 〈◊〉 fellow of queens-colledge in oxford , and at last was chosen provost thereof , chap●…in in ordinary to king charles , and dean of 〈◊〉 . one of a sweet nature , ●…mely pre●…ence , courteous carriage , devout life , and deep learning ; he wrot an excellent book entituled charity mistaken , containing impregnable truth , so that malice may s●…arl at , but not bite it , without breaking its own teeth . yet a railing jesuit wrote a pretended 〈◊〉 thereof , to which the doctor m●…de no return ; partly , because the industrious bee would not meddle with a 〈◊〉 or hornet rather , partly , because mr. chillingworth a great master of defence in school-divinity , took up the cudgells against him . this worthy doctor died in the beginning of our civill distempers . benefactors to the publique . robert langton doctors of law. miles spencer doctors of law. * it is pity to part them , being natives of this county , ( as i am credibly informed ) doctors in the same facul●…y , and co-partners in the same charity , the building of a fair school at appleby , the pregnant mother of so many eminent scholars . as for robert langton he was bred in , and a benefactor to queens-●…edge in oxford , owing the glaseing of many windows therein to his beneficence . witness his conceit to communicate his name to posterity , viz. a ton ( the 〈◊〉 or fancy generall , for all sirnames in that termination ) extended very long beyond an ordinary proportion , [ lang the northern man pronounceth it ] whereby he conceived his surname completed . i shall be thankfull to him , who shall enform me of the dates of their severall deaths . anne clyfford , sole daughter & heir to george earl of cumberland , wife first to richard earl of dorset , then to phillip earl of pembrok●… and montgomery , ( though born and nursed in hartfordshire , yet ) because having her greatest residence and estate in the north , is properly referrable to this county . the proverb is , homo non est ubi animat , sed amat , one is not to be reputed there where he lives , but where he loves , on which account this lady is placed , not where she first took life , but where she hath left a most lasting monument of her love to the publique . this is that most beautifull hospital , stately built , and richly endowed , at her sole cost , at appleby in this county . it was conceived ( a bold and daring part of thomas cecill ( son to treasurer burghleigh ) to enjoyn his masons and carpenters , not to omit a days work , at the building of wimbleton house in surr●…y , though the spanish armado , anno . all that while shot off their guns , whereof some might be heard to the place . but christianly valiant is the charity of this lady , who in this age , wherein there is an earthquake of antient hospitals , and as for new ones , they are hardly to be seen for new lights , ( i say ) couragious this worthy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , who dare found in this confounding age , wherein so much was demolished and a●…ened , which was given to god and his church . long may she live in wealth and 〈◊〉 , exactly to compleat , what●…oever her 〈◊〉 intentions have 〈◊〉 . m●…morable persons . richard gilpin , a valiant man in this county , was 〈◊〉 offed in the raign of k. john about the year . in the lordship of kent-mire-●…all by the baron of kendal , 〈◊〉 his singular deserts ●…oth in peace and war. this * was that richard 〈◊〉 , who s●…w the wild bore , that raging in the mountains 〈◊〉 ( as sometimes that of erimanthus ) much indamaged the country people ▪ whence it is , that the gilpins in their coat - armes give the bore . i confess the story of this westmerland-hercules soundeth something romanza like . however , i believe it , partly , because so reverend a pen hath recorded it , and because the people in these parts need not feigne foes in the fancy , bears , bores and wild beasts , who in that age had real enemies , the neighbouring scots to encounter . lord mayors . name father place company time cuthbert buckle christopher buckle bourgh vintner sheriffs . i find two or three links , but no continued chain os sheriffs in this county , untill the . of k. john , who bestowed the baily-week and revenues of this county , upon robert lord vipont . robert de vipont the last of that family , about the raign of k. edward the first left two daughters . . sibel married to roger lord clifford . . * idonea ( the first and last i meet with of that christian-name , though proper enough for women , who are to be * meet helps to their husbands , ) married to roger de leburn . now because honor nescit dividi , honour cannot be divided betwixt co-heirs , and because in such cases it is in the power and pleasure of the king , to assign it entire to which he pleased , the king conferred the hereditary sheriffalty of this county , on the lord clifford , who had married the eldest sister . i●… hath ever since continued in that honorable family . i find elizabeth the widdow of thomas lord clifford , ( probably in the minority of her son ) sheriffess , ( as i may say ) in the sixteenth of richard the second , till the last of k. henry the fourth . yet was it fashionable for these lords to depute and present the most principal gentry of this shire , their sub-vicecomites , under-sheriffs , in their right to order the affairs of that county . i find sir thomas parr , sir william parr , ( ancestors to q. katherin parr , ) as also knights of the families of the bellingams , musgraves , &c. discharging that office , so high ran the credit and reputation thereof . henry lord clifford was by k. henry the eight anno . created earl of cumberland , and when henry the fift earl of that family , died lately without issue male , the honour of this hereditary sheriffalty , with large revenues , reverted unto anne the sole daughter of george clifford third earl of cumberland , the relict of richard earl of dorset , ( and since of phillip earl of pembroke and mountgomery , ) by whom she had two daughters the elder married to the earl of thanet , and the younger married to james earl of northampton . the farewell . reader , i must confess my self sorry and ashamed , that i cannot do more right to the natives of this county , so far distanced north , that i never had yet the opportunity to behold it . o that i had but received some intelligence from my worthy friend doctor thomas barlow provost of queens-colledge in oxford ! who for his religion and learning , is an especiall ornament of westmerland . but time , tide , and a printerspress , are three unmannerly things , that will stay for no man , and therefore i request , that my defective indeavours may be well accepted . i learn out of master camden , that in the river cann in this county , there be two catadupae or waterfalls , whereof , the northern sounding clear and loud , foretokeneth fair weather , the southern on the same terms presageth rain ▪ now i wish that the former of thesemay be vocall in hay-time and harvest , the latter after great drought , that so both of them may make welcome musick to the inhabitants . vvilt-shire . wilt-shire hath gloucester-shire on the north , berk-shire and hampshire on the east , dorset-shire on the south , and summerset-shire on the west . from north to south it extendeth . miles , but abateth ten of that number in the breadth thereof . a pleasant county and of great variety . i have heard a wise man say , that an oxe left to himself would of all england , choose to live in the north , a sheep in the south part hereof , and a man in the middle betwixt both , as partaking of the pleasure of the plain , and the wealth of the deep country . nor is it unworthy the observing that of all inland shires , ( no ways bordered on salt-water ) this * gathereth the most in the circumference thereof , ( as may appear by comparing them , ) being in compass one hundred thirty and nine miles . it is plentifull in all english , especially in the ensuing commodities . naturall commodities . wooll . the often repetition hereof ( though i confess against our rules premised ) may justly be excused . well might the french embassadour return , france , france , france , reiterated to every petty title of the king of spain . and our english wooll , wooll , &c. may counterpoize the numerous but inconsiderable commodities of other countries . i confess a lock thereof is most contemptible . non flocci te facio , passing for an expression of the highest neglect , but a quantity thereof quickly amounteth to a good valuation . the manufactures . clothing . this mystery is vigorously pursued in this county , and i am informed that as medleys are most made in other shires , as good whites as any are woven in this county . this mentioning of whites to be vended beyond the seas , minds me of a memorable contest in the raign of king james , betwixt the merchants of london , and sir william cockain , once lord mayor of that city , and as prudent a person as any in that corporation . he ably moved , and vigorously prosecuted the design , that all the cloth which was made might be died in england , alledging , that the wealth of a country consisteth in driving on the naturall commodities thereof , through all manufactures , to the utmost , as far as it can go , or will be drawn . and by the dying of all english cloth in england , thousands of poor people would be imployed , and thereby get a comfortable subsistence . the merchants returned , that such home-dying of our cloth , would prove prejudiciall to the sale thereof , forreigners being more expert then we are in the mysterie of fixing of colours . besides , they can afford them far cheaper then we can , much of dyingstuff growing in their countries , and forraigners bear a great aff●…ction to white or virgin cloth , unwilling to have their fancies prevented by the dying thereof , insomuch that they would like it better , ( though done worse ) if done by themselves . that sir william cockain had got a vast deal of dying-stuff into his own possession , and did drive on his own interest , under the pretence of the publick good . these their arguments were seconded , with good store of good gold , on both sides , till the merchants prevailed at last , ( a shole of herrings is able to beat the whale it self , ) and clothing left in the same condition it was before . tobacco pipes . the best for shape and colour ( as curiously sized ) are made at amesbury in this county . they may be called chimneys portable in pockets , the one end being the harth , the other the tunnell thereof . indeed at the first bringing over of tobacco , pipes were made of silver and other metalls ; which , though free from breaking , were found inconvenient , as soon fouled , and hardly clensed . these clay-pipes are burnt in a furnace , for some fifteen hours , on the self-same token , that if taken out half an hour before that time , they are found little altered from the condition wherein they were when first put in . it seems all that time the fire is a working it self to the height , and doth its work very soon , when attain'd to perfection . gauntlet-pipes , which have that mark on their heel , are the best ; and hereon a story doth depend . one of that trade observing such pipes most salable , set the gauntlet on those of his own making , though inferior in goodness to the other . now the workman , who first gave the gauntlet , sued the other upon the statute , which makes it penal for any to set anothers mark on any merchantable commodities . the defendant being likely to be cast , ( as whose counsell could plead little in his behalf , ) craved leave to speak a word for himself , which was granted . he denied that he ever set another man's mark : for the thumb of his gauntlet stands one way , mine another , and the same hand given dexter or sinister in heraldry , is a sufficient difference . hereby he escaped , though surely such , who bought his pipes , never took notice of that criticisme , or consulted which way the thumb of his gauntlet respected . the buildings . the cathedrall of salisbury ( dedicated to the blessed virgin ) is paramount in this kind , wherein the doors and chappell 's equall the months , the windows the days , the pillars and pillarets of fusill marble ( an ancient art now shrewdly suspected to be lost ) the hours of the year , so that all europe affords not such an almanack of architecture . once walking in this church , ( whereof then i was prebendary ) i met a country-man wondring at the structure thereof . i once ( said he to me ) admired that there could be a church that should have so mamy pillars , as there be hours in the year ; and now , i admire more , that there should be so many hours in the yèar , as i see pillars in this church . the cross isle of this church is the most beautifull and lightsome of any i have yet beheld . the spire steeple ( not founded on the ground , but for the main supported by four pillars , ) is of great heighth and greater workman-ship . i have been credibly informed that some forraign artists beholding this building , brake forth into tears , which some imputed to their admiration , ( though i see not how wondring can cause weeping , ) others to their envy , grieving that they had not the like in their own land. nor can the most curious ( not to fay cavilling ) eye , desire any thing which is wanting in this edifice , except possibly an ascent , seeing such who address themselves hither for their devotions , can hardly say with david , i will go up into the house of the lord. amongst the many monuments therein , that of edward earl of hartford , is most magnificent , that of helen sua●…enburgh a swede , ( the relict of william marquess of northampton , and afterwards married to sir thomas gorges , ) is most commended for its artificiall plainness . but the curiosity of criticks is best entertained with the tomb , in the north of the nave of the church , where lieth a monument in stone , of a little boy habited all in episcopal robes , a miter upon his ●…ead , a crosier in his hand , and the rest accordingly . at the discovery thereof ( formerly covered over with pews ) many justly admired , that either a bishop could be so small in person , or a child so great in clothes ; though since all is unriddled . for it was * fashionable in that church ( a thing rather deserving to be remembred , then fit to be done , ) in the depth of popery , that the choristers chose a boy of their society , to be a bishop among them , from saint nicholas till innocents day at night , who did officiate in all things bishop-like , saying of mass alone excepted , and held the state of a bishop , answerably habited , amongst his fellows the counterfeit prebends : one of these , chancing to die in the time of his mock-episcopacy , was buried with crosier and miter as is aforesaid . thus superstition can dispence with that , which religion cannot , making piety pageantry , and subjecting what is sacred , to lusory representations . as for civil-buildings in this county , none are such giants as to exceed the standard of structures in other counties . long-leat the house of sir james thynne was the biggest , and wilton is the stateliest and pleasantest for gardens , fountains , and other accommodations . nor must the industry of the citizens of salisbury be forgotten , who have derived the river into every street therein , so that salisbury is a heap of islets thrown together . this mindeth me of an epitaph made on mr. francis hide a native of this city , who dyed secretary unto the english leiger in venice , born in the english venice , thou didst die dear friend in the italian salisbury . the truth is that the strength of this city consisted in the weakness thereof , uncapable of being garrison'd , which made it in our modern wars to scape better then many other places of the same proportion . the vvonders . stone-henge . after so many wild and wide conjectures of the cause , time , and authors hereof , why , when and by whom this monument was erected , a posthume-book comes lagging at last , called * stone-henge restored , and yet goeth before all the rest . it is questionable , whether it more modestly propoundeth , or more substantially proveth this to be a roman work , or temple dedicated to coelus or coelum , ( son to aether and dies ) who was senior to all the gods of the heathen . that it is a roman design he proveth by the order , as also by the scheame thereof , consisting of four equilateral triangles , inscribed within the circumference of a circle , an * architectonicall scheam used by the romans ; besides the portico or entrance thereof , is made double , as in the roman ancient structures of great magnificence . not to say , that the architraves therein are all set without morter , according to the roman architecture , wherein it was ordinary to have saxa nullo fulta glutino . no less perswasive are his arguments to prove a temple dedicated to coelum ; first , from the s●…ituation thereof , standing in a plain , in a free and open ayre , remote from any village , without woods about it ▪ secondly , from it's aspect , being sub dio , and built without a roof ; thirdly , from the circular form thereof , being the proper figure of the temple of coelus ; not to mention his other arguments , in which the reader may better satisfy himself from the originall author , then my second-hand relation thereof . knot grasse . this is called in latine gramen caninum supinum longissimum , and groweth nine miles from salisbury , at master tuckers at maddington . it is a peculiar kind , and of the ninety species of grasses in england is the most marvellous . it groweth ordinarily fifteen foot in length , yea , i read of one four and twenty foot long , which may be true , because , as there are giants amongst men , so there are giants amongst giants , which even exceed them in proportion . the place whereon it groweth is low , ( lying some winters under water ) having hills round about it , and a spacious sheep common adjoyning . the soyl whereof , by every hasty showre is brought down into this little medow , which makes it so incredibly fruitfull . this grasse being built so many stories high , from knot to knot , lyeth matted on the ground , whence it is cut up with sickles , and bound into sheaves : it is both hay and provender , the joint-like knots whereof will fat swine . some conceive that the seed thereof transplanted , would prosper plentifully ( though not to the same degree of length ) in other places , from whose judgement other husband-men dissent , conceiving it so peculiar to this place , that ground and grass must be removed both together . or else it mrst be set in a parellel'd position , for all the particuler advantages aforesaid , which england will hardly afford . so that nature may seem mutually to have made this plant and this place one for another . proverbs . it is done secundum usum sarum . ] this proverb coming out of the church , hath since inlarged it self into a civil use . it began on this occasion ; many offices or forms of service were used in severall churches in england , as the office of york , hereford , bangor , &c. which caused a deal of confusion in gods worship , untill osmond bishop of sarum , about the year of our lord . made that ordinall or office which was generally received all over england , so that churches thence forward easily understood one another , all speaking the same words in their liturgy . it is now applyed to those persons which do , and actions which are formally and solemnly done , in so regular a way by authentick precedents , and paterns of unquestionable authority , that no just exception can be taken thereat . princes . margaret plantagenet daughter to george duke of clarence , and isabel nevile eldest daughter and co-heir of richard nevile earl of warwick , was born august . . * at farrley-castle in this county . reader , i pray thee , let her pass for a princesse , because daughter to a duke , neece to two kings , ( edward the fourth , and richard the third , ) mother to cardinal reginale poole . but chiefly , because she was the last liver of all that royall race , which from their birth wore the names of plantagenets . by sir richard poole a knight of wales , and cozen-jerman to king henry the seventh , she had divers children , whereof henry lord mountague was the eldest , he was accused of treason , and this lady his mother charged to be privy thereunto , by king henry the eighth , who ( as his father was something too slow ) was somewhat too quick in discovering treasons , as soon as ( if not before ) they were . on the scaffold as she stood , she would not gratify the executioner with a prostrate posture of her body . some beheld this her action as an argument of an erected soul , disdaining pulingly to submit to an infamous death , showing her mind free , though her body might be forc'd , and that also it was a demonstration of her innocence . but others condemn'd it as a needless and unseasonable animosity in her , who , though suppos'd innocent before man for this fact , must grant her self guilty before god , whose justice was the supreme judge condemning her . besides it was indiscreet to contend , where it was impossible to prevail , there being no guard against the edge of such an axe , but patience ; and it is ill for a soul to goe recking with anger out of this world . here happened an unequall contest betwixt weakness and strength , age and youth , nakedness and weapons , nobility and baseness , a princess and an executioner , who at last draging her by the hair ( gray with age ) may truly be said to have took off her head , seeing she would neither give it him , nor forgive him the doing thereof . thus dyed this lady margaret , heir to the name and stout nature of margaret dutchess of burgundy , her aunt and god-mother , whose spirits were better proportioned to her extraction then estate , for though by special patent she was created countess of sarisbury , she was restored but to a small part of the inheritance she was born unto . she suffered in . year of the raign of k. henry the eighth . jane seymore , daughter to sir john seymoure knight , ( honourably descended from the lords beauchamps ) was ( as by all concurring probabilities is collected ) born at wulfall in this county , and after was married to king henry the eight . it is currantly traditioned , that at her first coming to court , queen anne bollen espying a jewell pendant about her neck , snatched thereat , ( desirous to see the other unwilling to show it , ) and causually hurt her hand with her own violence ; but it greived her heart more , when she perceived it the kings picture by himself bestowed upon her , who from this day forward dated her own declining and the others ascending in her husbands affection . it appeareth plainly by a passage in the act of parliament , that the king was not onely invited to his marriage , by his own affections , but by the humble petition and intercession of most of the nobles of his realme , moved thereunto , as well by the conveniency of her years , as in respect that by her excellent beauty and pureness of flesh and bloud , ( i speak the very words of the act it self , ) she was apt ( god willing ) to conceive issue . and so it proved accordingly . this queen dyed some days after the birth of prince edward her son , on whom this epitaph . phoenix jana jacet , nato phoenice dolendum , saecula phoenices nulla tulisse duas . soon as her phoenix bud was blown , root-phoenix jane did wither . sad , that no age a brace had shown of phoenixes together . of all the wives of king henry she only had the happiness to dye in his full favour , the . of octob. . and is buried in the quire of windsor chappel , the king continuing in real mourning for her even all the festival of christmas . saints . adelme son to * kenred , nephew to ina king of the west-saxons , was bred in forraign parts , and returning home was abbot of malmesbury thirty years , a person memorable on severall accounts . . he was the first * englishman who ever wrote in latine . . he was the first that ever brought poetry into england . . the first bishop of the see of sherburn . bede giveth him a large commendation for his learning , the rather , because he wrot a book for the reducing the britons to observe easter according to the church of rome . impudent monkes have much abused his memory with shameless lyes , and amongst the rest with a wooden miracle , that a * carpenter having cut a beam for his church too short , he by his prayers stretched it out to the full proportion . to this , i may add another lye as clear as the sun it self , on whose * rayes ( they report ) he hung his ve●…ment , which miraculously supported it to the great admiration of the beholders . coming to rome to be consecrated bishop of sherburn , he reproved pope sergius his fatherhood , for being a father indeed to a base child , then newly born . and returning home he lived in great esteem untill the day of his death , which happened anno dom. . his corps being brought to malmesbury , were there inshrined , and had in great veneration , who having his longest abode whilst living , and last when dead in this county , is probably presumed a native thereof . edith naturall daughter of king edger , by the lady wolfhild , was abbess of wilton , wherein she demeaned her self with such devotion , that her memory obtained the reputation of saint-ship . and yet an * author telleth us , that being more curious in her attire , then beseemed her profession , bishop ethelwold sharply reproved her , who answered him roundly , that god regarded the heart more then the garment , and that sins might be covered as well under rags as robes . one * reporteth that after the slaughter of her brother edward , holy dunstan had a design to make her queen of england , ( the vail of her head it seems would not hinder the crown , ) so to defeat ethelred the lawfull heir , had she not declined the proffer , partly , on pious , partly , politick diswasions . she died anno dom. . and is buried in the church of dioness at wilton of her own building , she is commonly called saint edith the younger , to distinguish her from saint edith her aunt , of whom before . martyrs . it plainly appeareth that about the year of our lord . there was a persecution of protestants ( give me leave so to antedate their name ) in this county , under edmund audley , bishop of salisbury , as by computation of time will appear . yet i find but one man , richard smart by name , ( the more remarkable , because but once , and that scentingly * mentioned by mr. fox ) burnt at salisbury , for reading a book called wicliffs wicket , to one thomas stillman , afterwards burnt in smithfield . but under cruel bishop capon wiltshire afforded these marian martyrs . name vocation residence martyred in anno john * spicer free-mason       william coberly taylor kevel salisbury apr. john maundrell husbandman       confessors . name vocation residence persecuted in anno john * hunt husbandman marleborough salisbury richard white husbandman       these both being condemned to die , were little less then miraculously preserved , as will * appear hereafter . alice coberly must not be omitted , wife to william coberly forenamed , ( charitably presuming on her repentance , ) though she failed in her constancy on this occasion . the jaylors wife of salisbury , heating a key * fire hot , and laying it in the grasse , spake to this alice to bring it in to her , in doing whereof , she pitiously burnt her hand , and cryed out thereat . o ( said the other ) if thou canst not abide the burning of a key , how wilt thou indure thy whole body to be burnt at the stake . whereat the said alice revoked her opinion . i can neither excuse the cruelty of the one ( though surely doing it not out of a persecuting , but carnall preserving intention ) nor the cowardliness of the other . for she might have hoped that her whole body encountering the flame with a christian resolution , and confidence of divine support in the testimony of the truth , would have found lesse pain , then her hand felt from the suddain surprize of the fire , wherein the unexpectedness added ( if not to the pain , ) to the fright thereof . this sure i am , that some condemn her shrinking for a burnt hand , who would have done so themselves for a scratched finger . cardinals . walter winterburn was born at * sarisbury in this county , and bred a dominican-fryer . he was an excellent scholar in all studies suitable to his † age , when a youth , a good poet and orator , when a man , an acute philosopher , ( aristotelicarum doctrinarum heluo , saith he * who otherwise scarce giveth him a good word , ) when an old-man , a deep controvertial divine , and skilfull casuist , a quality which commended him to be confessor to king edward the first . now news being brought to pope benedict the eleventh , that william maklesfield provincial of the dominicans , and designed cardinall of saint sabin , was dead and buried at london , before his cap could be brought to him , he appointed this walter to be heir to his honour . the worst is , as medlers are never ripe till they are rotten , so few are thought fit to be cardinals , but such as are extreamly in years . maklesfield had all his body buried , and our winterburn had one foot in the grave , being seventy nine years of age , before he was summoned to that dignity . however , over he went with all hast into italy , and though coming thither too late , to have a sight of pope benedict the eleventh , came soon enough to give a suffrage at the choice of clement the fift . this walter his cardinals cap was never a whit the worse for wearing , enjoying it but a year . in his return home he died , and was buried at genua , but afterwards his corps were brought over , and re-interred most solemnly in london anno . robert halam . was , saith my * author , regio sanguine angliae natus , born of the bloud royal of england , though how , or which way , he doth not acquaint us . but we envy not his high extraction , whilst it seems accompanied with other eminences . he was bred in oxford , and afterwards became chancelour thereof . from being arch-deacon of canterbury , he was preferred bishop of salisbury . on the sixt of june . he was made cardinal , though his particular title is not expressed . it argueth his abilities , that he was one of them , who was sent to represent the english clergy , both in the council of pisa and constance , in which last service he dyed , anno dom. . in gotleby castle . prelates . joannes sarisburiensis was born at , and so named from , old sarum in this county , though i have heard of some of the salisburies in denby shire , who essay to assert him to their family , as who would not recover so eminent a person ? leland saith , that he seeth in him omnem 〈◊〉 orbem , all the world ( or if you will the whole circle ) of learning . * bale saith , that he was one of the first , who since theodorus arch-bishop of canterbury , living five hundred years before him , ( oh the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of barbarisme in england ! ) indeavoured to restore the learned languages to their originall purity , being a good latinist , grecian , musician , mathematician , philosopher , divine , and what not ? what learning he could not find at home , he did fetch from abroad , travelling into france and italy , companion to t. becket in his exile , but no partner in his protervity against his prince , for which he sharply reproved him . he was highly in favour with pope eugenius the third , and adrian the fourth , and yet no author in that age hath so pungent passages against the pride and covetousness of the court of rome . take a tast of them . joannes sarisburiensis in polycratico . sedent in ecclesia romana scribae & pharisaei , ponentes onera importabilia in humeros hominum . ita debacchantur ejus legati , ac si ad ecclesiam flagellandam egressus sit satan a facie domini . peccata populi comedunt , eis vestiuntur , & in iis multipliciter luxuriantur , dum veri adoratores in spiritu adorant patre●… . qui ab eorum dissentit doctrina , aut haereticus judicatur , aut 〈◊〉 . manifestet ergo seipsum christus , & palàm faciat viam , quá nobis est incedendum . scribes and pharisees sit in the church of rome , putting unbearable burthens on mens backs . his legates do so swagger , as if satan were gone forth from the face of the lord to scourge the church . they eat the sins of the people , with them they are clothed , and many ways riot therein , whilst the true worshipers worship the father in spirit , who so dissent from their doctrine , are condemned for hereticks , or schismaticks . christ therefore will manifest himself , and make the way plain , wherein we must walk . how doth our author luther it ( before luther ) against their errors and vices ? the more secure for the generall opinion men had of his person , all holding our john to be , though no prophet , a pious man , king henry the second made him bishop of chartres in france , where he died . richard poor dean of sarisbury , was first bishop of chichester , then of sarisbury , or old sarum rather . he found his cathedrall most inconveniently seated for want of water , and other necessaries , and therefore removed it a mile off , to a place called merry-field , ( for the pleasant situation thereof , ) since sarisbury . where he laid the foundation of that stately structure , which he lived not here to finish . now , as the place whence he came was so dry , that as malmsbury saith , miserabili commercio , ibi aqua vaeneat , by sad chaffer , they were fain to give money for water , so he removed to one , so low and moist , men sometimes , ( upon my own knowledge ) would give money to be rid of the water . i observe this for no other end , but to show , that all humane happiness , notwithstanding often exchange of places , will still be an heteroclite , and either have too much or too little for our contentment . this poor was afterwards removed to the bishoprick of durham , and lived there in great esteem , mat. paris characterizing him , eximiae sanctitatis , & profundae scientiae virum . his dissolution in a most pious and peaceable manner happened , april . anno domini . his corps by his will were brought and buried at tarrent in dorsetshire , in a nunnery of his own founding , and some of his name [ and probably alliance ] are still extant in this county . william edendon was born at edendon in this county , bred in oxford , and advanced by king edward the third , to be bishop of winchester and lord treasurer of england . during his managing of that office , he caused new coines ( unknown before ) to be made , groats and half-groats , both readier for change and fitter for charity . but the worst was * imminuto nonnihil pondere , the weight was somewhat abated . if any say , this was an un-episcopal act ; know , he did it not as bishop , but as lord treasurer , the king , his master , having all the profit thereby . yea , succeeding princes , following this patern , have sub-diminished their coin ever since . hence is it , that our nobility , cannot maintain the port of their ancestors , with the same revenues ; because so many pounds are not so many pounds , though the same in noise and number , not the same in intrinsecal valuation . he was afterward made lord chancellor , and erected a stately convent for bonhomes at edendon in this county , the place of his nativity , valued at the dissolution per annum at five hundred twenty one pounds , twelve shillings , five pence , half penny . some condemn him for robbing saint peter ( to whom with saint swithin , winchester-church was dedicated ) to pay all saints collectively , to whom edendon-covent was * consecrated , suffering his episcopal palaces to decay and drop down , whilst he raised up his new foundation . this he dearly payed for after his death , when his executors were sued for dilapidations , by his successour william wickham , ( an excellent architect , and therefore well knowing how to proportion his charges for reparations , ) who recovered of them * one thousand six hundred sixty two pounds ten shillings , a vast sum in that age , though paid in the lighter groats and half-groats . besides this , his executors were forced to make good the standing-stock of the bishoprick , which in his time was empaired , viz. oxen . weathers . ewes . lambes . swine . this edendon sat in his bishoprick twenty one years , and dying . lyeth buried on the south-side , in the passage to the quire , having a fair monument of alabaster , but an epitaph of course stone , i mean so barbarous , that it is not worth the inserting . richard mayo alias mayhowe was born nigh hungerford in this county , of good parentage , whose sur-name and kindred was extinct in the last generation , when the heirs-general thereof , were married into the families of montpesson and grove . he was first admitted in * new-colledge , and thence removed to magdalens in oxford , where he became president thereof . years . it argueth his abilities to any indifferent apprehension , that so knowing a prince as henry the seventh , amongst such plenty of eminent persons , elected and sent him into * spain , anno . to bring over the lady katharine to be married to prince arthur , which he performed with all fidelity , though the heavens might rather seem to laugh at , then smile on that unfortunate marrying . after his return he was rewarded with the bishoprick of hereford , and having sat . years therein dyed and lyeth buried in his church on the south-side of the high altar , under a magnificent monument . since the reformation . john thorneborough b. d. was born ( as i am credibly informed ) in the city of salisbury , bred in magdalen-colledge in oxford . he did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and his goodly presence made him more acceptable to queen elizabeth , preferring him dean of york , and bishop of lymbrick in ireland , where he received a most remarkable deliverance , in manner as follweth . lying in an old * castle in ireland , in a large room , partitioned but with sheets or curtaines , his wife , children and servants , in effect an whole family ; in the dead time of the night , the floor over head being earth and plaister , as in many places is used , over-charged with weight , fell wholly down together , and crushing all to pieces that was above two foot high , as cupboards , tables , formes , stools , rested at last on certain chests , as god would have it , and hurt no living creature . in the first of king james . he was consecrated bishop of bristoll , and held his deanery an irish bishoprick in commendam with it , and from thence was translated to worchester . i have heard his skill in chimistry much commended , and he presented a precious extraction to king james , reputed a great preserver of health , and prolonger of life . he is conceived by such helps to have added to his vigorous vivacity , though i think a merry heart ( whereof he had a great measure ) was his best elixar to that purpose . he died exceeding aged , anno dom. . john buckridge was * born at dracot nigh marleborough in this county , and bred under master mullcaster in merchant-taylors school , from whence he was sent to saint johns-colledge in oxford , where from a fellow , he became doctor of divinity , and president thereof . he afterwards succeeded doctor lancelot andrews in the vicaridge of saint giles criplegate , in which cure they lived one and twenty years a piece , and indeed great was the intimacy betwixt these two learned prelates . on the ninth of june . he was consecrated bishop of rochester , and afterwards set forth a learned book in opposition of john fisher , de potestate papae in temporalibus , of which my * author doth affirm johannem itaque roffensem habemus , quem johanni roffensi opponamus , fishero buckerigium , cujus argumentis ( si quid ego video ) ne à mille quidem fisheris unquam respondebitur . he was afterwards preferred bishop of ely , and having preached the funerall sermon of bishop andrews , ( extant in print at the end of his works ) survived him not a full year , dying anno dom. . he was decently interred by his own appointment in the parish-church of bromly in kent , the manner thereof belonged to the bishoprick of rotchester . states-men edward seimor and thomas seimor , both sons of sir john seimor of wolfull knight in this county . i joyn them together , because whilst they were united in affection they were invinsible , but when devided , easily overthrown by their enemies . edward seimor duke of sommerset , lord protector and treasurer of england , being the elder brother , succeeded to a fair paternal inheritance . he was a valiant souldier for land-service , fortunate , and generally beloved by martiall men . he was of an open nature , free from jealousie and dissembling , affable to all people . he married anne daughter of sir edward stanhop knight , a lady of a high mind and haughty undaunted spirit . thomas seimor the younger brother , was made barron of sudley , by offices and the favours of his nephew , k. edward the sixth , obtained a great estate . he was well experienced in sea affairs , and made lord admirall of england . he lay at a close posture , being of a reserved nature , and was more cunning in his carriage . he married queen katharine parr , the widdow of king henry the eighth . very great the animosities betwixt their wives , the dutchess refusing to bear the queens train , and in effect justled with her for precedence , so that what betwixt the train of the queen , and long gown of the dutchess , they raised so much dust at the court , as at last , put out the eyes of both their husbands , and occasioned their executions , as we have largely declared in our ecclesiasticall history . the lord thomas anno . . the lord edward anno . thus the two best bullworks of the safety of king edward the sixth , being demolished to the ground , duke dudley had the advantage the nearer to approach and assault the kings person , and to practice his destruction as is vehemently suspected . sir oliver saint john knight , lord grandison , &c. was born of an ancient and honourable family , whose prime seat was at lediard-tregoze in this county . he was bred in the warrs from his youth , and at last by king james was appointed lord deputy of ireland , and vigorously pursued the principles of his predecessours , for the civilizing thereof . indeed the lord mountjoy reduced that country to obedience , the lord chichester to some civility , and this lord grandison first advanced it to considerable profit to his master . i confess * t. walsingham writeth , that ireland afforded unto edward the third , thirty thousand pound a year paid into his exchequer , but it appears by the * irish-records ( which are rather to be believed ) that it was rather a burden , and the constant revenue thereof beneath the third part of that proportion . but now , the kingdome being peaceably settled , the income thereof turned to good account , so that ireland ( called by my author the land of ire , for the constant broiles therein for . years , ) was now become the land of concord . being re-called into england , he lived many years in great repute , and dying without issue , left his honour to his sisters son by sir edward villiers , but the main of his estate to his brothers son sir john saint john knight and baronet . sir james ley knight and baronet , son of henry ley esquire , ( one of great ancestry , who on his own cost with his men , valiantly served king henry the eighth , at the siedge of bullen ) was born at tafant in this county . being his fathers sixth son , ( and so in probability barred of his inheritance ) he indeavoured to make himself an heir , by his education , applying his book in brasen-nose-colledge , and afterwards studying the laws of the land in lincolns-inn , wherein such his proficiency , king james made him lord chief justice in ireland . here he practised the charge king james gave him at his going over , ( yea , what his own tender conscience gave himself , ) namely , not to build his estate on the ruines of a miserable nation , but aiming by the unpartial execution of justice , not to enrich himself , but civilize the people , he made a good progress therein . but the king would no longer lose him out of his own land , and therefore recalled him home about the time when his fathers inheritance , by the death of his five elder brethren descended upon him . it was not long before offices and honour flowed in fast upon him , being made by king james . king charles . . aturney of the court of wards . . chief justice of the upper bench . of his raign jan. . . lord treasurer of england in the . of his raign decemb. . . baron ley of ley in * devonshire the last of the same month. . earl of marleburg in this county , immediately after the kings coronation . . lord president of the councell , in which place he died anno domini . he was a person of great gravity , ability and integrity , and as the caspian sea is observed neither to ebb nor flow , so his mind did not rise or fall , but continued the same constancy in all conditions . sir francis cottington knight , was born nigh meer in this county , and bred , when a youth , under sir ........ stafford . he lived so long in spain , till he made the garbe and gravity of that nation become his , and become him . he raised himself by his naturall strength , without any artificial advantage ; having his parts above his learning , his experience above his parts , his industry above his experience , and ( some will say ) his success above all ; so that at the last he became chancellour of the exchequer , baron of hanworth in middlesex , and ( upon the resignation of doctor juxon ) lord treasurer of england , gaining also a very great estate . but , what he got in few years , he lost in fewer days , since our civil warrs , when the parliament was pleased ( for reasons onely known to themselves ) to make him one of the examples of their severity , excluding him pardon , but permitting his departure beyond the seas , where he dyed about the year . capitall judges . sir nicholas hyde knight , was born at warder in this county , where his father in right of his wife , had a long lease of that castle , from the family of the arundels . his father , i say , ( descended from an antient family in cheshire , ) a fortunate gentleman in all his children , ( and more in his grand-children ) some of his under-boughs out-growing the top-branch , and younger children ( amongst whom sir nicholas ) in wealth and honour exceeding the heir of the family . he was bred in the middle-temple , and was made sergeant at law the first of february . and on the eighth day following was sworn lord chief justice of the kings-bench , succeeding in that office , next save one unto his countryman sir james ley , ( then alive , and preferred lord treasurer , born within two miles one of another ) and next of all unto sir randal crew lately displaced . now , though he entered on his place with some disadvantage ( sir randal being generally popular ) and though in those days , it was hard for the same person , to please court and country , yet he discharged his office with laudable integrity , and died . souldiers ▪ first , for this county in general , hear what an antient author , who wrot about the time of king henry the second , reporteth of it , whose words are worthy of our translation and exposition . johannes sarisburiensis de nugis curialium . cap. . provincia severiana , quae moderno usu ac nomine ab incolis wiltesira vocatur , eodem jure sibi vendicat cohortem subsidiariam , adjecta sibi devonia & cornubia . the severian province , which by moderne use & name is by the inhabitants called wiltshire , by the same right chalengeth to it self to have the rere , devonshire and cornwall being joyned unto it . the severian province . ] we thank our author for expounding it wiltshire , otherwise we should have sought for it in the north , near the wall of severus . by the same right ] viz. by which kent claimeth to lead the vanguard , whereof * formerly . to have the rere ] so translated by mr. † selden ( from whom it is a sin to dissent in a criticisme of antiquity ) otherwise some would cavill it to be the reserve . indeed the rere is the basis and foundation of an army , and it is one of the chief of divine promises , * the glory of the lord shall be thy rereward . we read how the romans placed their triarii , ( which were veteran souldiers ) behind , and the service was very sharp indeed cum res rediit ad triarios . we may say that these three counties , wiltshire , devonshire and cornwall , are the triarii of england , yet so that in our author wiltshire appears as principal , the others being added for its assistance . here i dare interpose nothing , why the two interjected counties betwixt wilts and devon , viz. dorset and summerset are not mentioned , which giveth me cause to conjecture them included in devonia , in the large acception thereof . now amongst the many worthy souldiers which this county hath produced , give me leave to take speciall notice of henry d'anvers . his ensuing epitaph on his monument in the church of dantsey in this shire , will better acquaint the reader with his deserts , then any character which my pen can give of him . h●…re lyeth the body of henry danvers second son to sir john danvers knight , and dame elizabeth daughter and co-heir to nevill lord latimer . he was born at dantsey in the county of wilts , jan. anno dom. . being bred up partly in the low-country-wars under maurice earl of nassaw , afterward prince of orenge ; and in many other military actions of those times , both by sea and by land. he was made a captain in the wars of france , and there knighted for his good service under henry the fourth the then french king. he was imployed as leiutenant of the horse , and serjeant major of the whole army in ireland , under robert earl of essex , and charles baron of mountjoy , in the raign of queen elizabeth . by king james the first , he was made baron of dansey , and peer of this realm , as also lord president of munster , and governour of guernsey . by king charles the first , he was created earl of danby , made of his privy councell , and knight of the most noble order of the garter . in his latter time by reason of imperfect health considerately declining more active imployments , full of honours , wounds and days , he died anno domini . laus deo. for many years before st. george had not been more magnificently mounted i mean the solemnity of his feast more sumptuously observed , ) then when this earl with the earl of morton were installed knights of the garter . one might have there beheld the abridgment of english and scotish in their attendance . the scotish earl ( like zeuxis his picture ) adorned with all art and costliness , whilst our english earl ( like the plain sheet of apelles ) by the gravity of his habit , got the advantage of the gallantry of his corrival with judicious beholders . he died without issue in the beginning of our civil wars , and by his will made . setled his large estate on his hopefull nephew henry d'anvers , snatch'd away ( before fully of age ) to the great grief of all good men . writers . oliver of malmesbury was ( saith my * author ) i●… ipsius monasterii terratorio natus , so that there being but few paces betwixt his cradle , and that convent , he quickly came thither , and became a benedictine therein . he was much addicted to mathematicks , and to judicial astrology . a great comet happened in his age , which he entertained with these expressions ; venisti ? venisti ? multis matribus lugendum malum ? dudum te vidi , sed multò jam terribilius , angliae minans prorsus excidium . art thou come ? art thou come ? thou evil to be lamented by many mothers ? i saw thee long since , but now thou art much more terrible , threatning the english with utter destruction . nor did he much miss his mark herein , for soon after , the coming in of the norman conqueror deprived many english of their lives , more of their laws and liberties , till after many years by gods goodness they were restored . this oliver having a mind to try the truth of poeticall reports , an facta vel ficta , is said to have tied wings to his hands and feet , and taking his rise from a tower in malmesbury , flew as they say * a ●…rlong , till something failing him , down he fell , and brake both his thighs . pity is it but that icarus-like he had not fallen into the water , and then oliver ol'varis nomina fecit aquis . i find the like recorded in the * ecclesiastical history of simon magus , flying from the capitol in rome high in the ayre , till at last ( by the prayers of saint peter , ) he fell down and bruised himself to death . but that simon did it by the black , our oliver by the white art , he being supported by ill spirits , this by meer ingenuity , which made him the more to be pitied . he wrot some books of astrology , and died anno dom. . * five years before the norman invasion , and so saw not his own prediction ( prevented by death ) performed . it being the fate of such folk , ut sint oculati foras & caecutiant domi. that when they are quick sighted to know what shall betide to others , they are blind to behold what will befall to themselves . william quitting his own name of summerset , assumed that of malmesbury , because there he had ( if not born ) his best preferment . indeed he was a duallist in that convent , ( and if a pluralist no ingenious person would have envied him , ) being canter of that church , and library-keeper therein . let me adde and librarymaker too , for so may we call his history of the saxon kings and bishops , before the conquest and after it untill his own time . an history to be honoured , both for the truth and method thereof , if any fustiness be found in his writings , it comes not from the grape , but from the cask , the smack of superstition in his books , is not to be imputed to his person , but to the age wherein he lived and dyed , viz. anno dom. . and was buried in malmesbury . robert canutus . his surname might justly perswade us to suspect him a dane , but that * bale doth assure him born at cricklade in this county , and further proceedeth thus in the desciption of the place . leland in the life of great king alfred informs us , that during the flourishing of the glory of the britains , before the university of oxford was founded , two scholars were famous both for eloquence and learning , the one called greeklade , where the greek , the other latinlade , where the latine tongue was professed , since corruptly colled cricklade and lechlade , at this day . having so good security , i presumed to print the same in my church-history , and am not as yet ashamed thereof . but since my worthy friend doctor heylyn , ( whose relations living thereabouts , gave him the opportunity of more exactness , ) thus reporteth it , that cricklade was the place for the profession of greek , lechlade , for physick and latine , a small village , ( small indeed , for i never saw it in any map ) hard by the place where latin was professed . but to proceed , our canute went hence to oxford , and there became chief of the canons of saint fridswith . he gathered the best flowers out of plinie his naturall history , and composing it into a garland , ( as he calleth it ) dedicated the book to king henry the second . he wrot ●…so his comments on the greater part of the old and new testament , and flourished anno . richard of the divises . a word of the place of his nativity . the vies or devises , is the best and biggest town for trading ( salisbury being a city ) in this shire , so called , because antiently divided betwixt the king and the bishop of salisbury , as mine-thine ( corruptly called minden ) a city in westphalia had its name from such a partition . now because the devises carrieth much of strange conceipts in the common sound thereof , and because stone-henge is generally reputed a wonder , country-people who live far off in our land misapprehend them ( distanced more then . miles ) to be near together . our richard born in this town , was bred a benedictine in winchster , where his learning and industry rendred him to the respect of all in that age. he wrot a history of the raign of king richard the first , under whom he flourished , and an epitome of the * british affaires , dedicating them both to robert prior of winchester . his history 〈◊〉 could never see but at the second hand , as cited by others , the rarity thereof making it no piece for the shop of a stationer , but a property for a publick library . his death was about the year . godwin of salisbury chanter of that church , and ( what ever was his skill in musick ) following the precepts of saint paul , he made * melody in his heart , having his mind given much to meditation , which is the chewing of the cud of the food of the soul , turning it into clean and wholsome nourishment . he wrot ( beside other works ) a book of meditations , dedicating the same to one ramulia , or rather ranilda , an anchoress and most * incomparable woman , ( saith my author ) the more remarkable to me , because this is the first and last mention i find of her memory . this godwin flourished about the year of our lord , . john of wilton senior , was bred an augustinian friar , and after he had stored himself with home-bred learning , went over into france , and studied at paris . here he became a subtile disputant , insomuch that john baconthorp ( that staple school-man ) not onely highly praiseth him , but also useth his authority in his john of wilton junior , was bred a benedictine monke in westminster . he was elegant in the latine tongue * praeter ejus aetatis sortem . he wrot metricall meditations , in imitation of saint bernard , and one book highly prized by many , intituled horologium sapientiae , english it as you please , the clock or diall of wisdome . arguments . i meet not with any man in that age better stock'd with sermons on all occasions , having written his summer , * his winter , his lent , his holy-day sermons . he flourished under king edward the second , anno . he was a great allegory-monke , and great his dexterity in such figurative conceits . he flourished some fifty years after his namesake under king edward the third . reader , i confess there be * eleven wiltons in england , and therefore will not absolutely avouch the nativities of these two johns in this county . however because wilton which denominateth this shire , is the best and biggest amongst the towns so called , i presume them placed here with the most probability . johm chylmark was born at that village , well know in daworth hundred , and bred fellow of merton-colledge in oxford . he was a diligent searcher into the mysteries of nature , an acute phylosopher and disputant , but most remarkable was his skill in mathematicks , being accounted the archemedes of that age , having written many * tractates in that faculty , which carry with them a very good regard at this day . he flourished under king richard the second , anno . thomas of wilton d. d. was for his learning and abilities made first chancellour , and then dean of saint pauls in london , in his time ( in the raign of king edward the fourth , ) happened a tough contest betwixt the prelats and the friars ; the latter pretending to poverty , and taxing the bishops for their pompe and plenty . our wilton politickly opposed the friars . now as the onely way for to withdraw hanniball from his invasive war in italy , was by recalling him to defend his own country near carthage , so wilton wisely wrought a diversion , putting the friars from accusing the bishops , to excuse themselves . for although an old gown , a tattered cowle , a shirt of hair , a girdle of hempe , a pair of beads , a plain crucifix , and picture of some saint , passed for all the wealth and wardrobe of a friar , yet by hearing feminine confessions , ( wherewith wilton twitteth them ) and abusing the key of absolution , they opened the coffers of all the treasure in the land. he wrot also a smart book on this subject , * an validi mendicantes sint in 〈◊〉 perfectionis ? whether friars in health and begging , be in the state of perfection ? the anti-friarists maintaining , that such were rogues by the laws of god and man , and fitter for the house of correction , then state of perfection . this dean wilton flourished anno dom. . since the reformation . william horeman was ( saith my * author ) patria sarisburiensis , which in the strictest sence , may be rendred born in the city , in the largest born in the diocess of salisbury , and in the middle-sence , ( which i most embrace ) born in wiltshire , the county wherein salisbury is situated . he was bred ( saith bale ) first in eaton , then in kings-colledge in cambridge , both which i doe not deny , though propably , not of the foundation , his name not appearing in the exact * catalogue thereof . returning to eaton , he was made vice-provost thereof , where he spent the remainder of his 〈◊〉 . he was one of the most generall scholars of his age , as may appear by the diffusiveness of his learning and books written in all faculties . grammar .   of orthography . poetry .   of the quantities of penultime syllables . history .   a chronicle , with a comment on some , & index of most chronicles . controversial divinity . a comment on gabriel biel. case   on the divorce of king henry the eighth . hnsbandry .   a comment on cato , varro , columella , palladius , de re rusticâ . other books he left unfinished , for which bale sends forth a sorrowfull sigh , with a proh dolor : which his passion , is proof enough for me to place this horeman on this side of the line of reformation . he dyed april . . and lieth buried in the chappel of eaton . masters of musick . willam lawes son of thomas lawes a vi●…ar choral of the church of salisbury , was bred in the close of that city , being from his childhood inclined to musick . edward earl of hertford obtained him from his father , and bred him of his own cost in that faculty , under his master giovanni coperario an italian , and most exquisite musician . yet may it be said that the schollar in time did equal , yea exceed his master . he afterwards was of the private musick to king charles , and was respected and beloved of all such persons , who cast any looks towards vertue and honour . besides his fancies of the three , four , five and six parts to vyol and organ , he made above thirty severall sorts of musick , for voyces and instruments , neither was there any instrument then in use , but he composed to it so aptly , as if he had only studied that . in these distracted times his loyalty ingaged him in the war for his lord and master , and though he was by generall gerrard made a commissary on designe to secure him ( such officers being commonly shot-free by their place , as not exposed to danger , ) yet such the activity of his spirit , he disclaimed the covert of his office , and betrayed thereunto by his own adventurousness was casually shot at the siege of chester , the same time when the lord bernard stuart lost his life . nor was the kings soul so ingrossed with gr●…ef for the death of so near a kinsman , and noble a lord , but that hearing of the death of his dear servant william laws , he had a particular mourning for him when dead , whom he loved when living , and commonly called the father of musick . i leave the rest of his worth to be expressed by his own works of composures of psalms done joyntly by him and his brother master henry laws , betwixt which two no difference , either in eminency , affection , or otherwise considerable , save that the one is deceased , and the other still surviving . master william laws dyed in september . . benefactours to the publique . * t. stumps of the town of malmesbury in this county , was in his age one of the most eminent clothiers in england , of whom there passeth a story told with some variation of circumstances , but generally to this purpose . king henry the eighth , hunting near malmesbury in bredon forrest , came with all his court train unexpected , to dine with this clothier . but great house-keepers are as seldome surprised with guests as vigilant captains with enemies . stumps commands his little army of workmen which he fed daily in his house , to fast one meal untill night , ( which they might easily doe without indangering their health , ) and with the same provision gave the king , and his court-train ( though not so delicious and various ) most wholesome and plentifull entertainment . but more authentick is what i read in the great * antiquary , speaking of the plucking down of malmesbury monastery . the very minster it self , should have sped no better then the rest , but being demolished , had not t. stumps a wealthy clothier , by much suit but with a greater summe of money , redeemed and bought it for the iowns-men his neighbours , by whom it was converted to a parish-church , and for a great part is yet standing at this day . i find one william stumps gentleman , who in the one and thirtieth * year of king henry the eight , bought of him the demeans of malmesbury abby , for fifteen hundred pound two shillings and a half penny . now how he was related to this t. stumps , whether son or father is to me unknown . it will not be a sin for me to wish more branches from such stumps , who by their bounty may preserve the monuments of antiquity from destruction . memorable persons . — sutton of 〈◊〉 . tradition and an old pamphlet ( newly vamped with additions ) make him a great clothier , entertaining king henry the first , and bequeathing at his death one hundred pounds to the weavers of salisbury , with many other benefactions . i dare not utterly deny such a person , and his bountifull gifts , but am ●…ured that he is notoriously mis-timed , seeing salisbury had scarce a stone laid therein , one hundred years after king henry the first ; and as for old sarum , that age knew nothing of clothing , as we have proved before . thus these mungrell pamphlets ( part true , part false , ) doe most mischief . snakes are less dangerous then lampries , seeing none will feed on what is known to be poison . but these books are most pernicious where truth and falshoods are blended together , and such a medly cloth , is the tale-story of this clothier . michel born at ........... in this county , was under-sheriffe to sir anthony hungarford , ( a worthy knight ) anno . in the last year of queen mary . of this master michel i find this character , a right and a perfect * godly man. under sheriffs generally are complained of as over-crafty , ( to say no worse of them , ) but it seems hereby the place doth not spoil the person , but the person the place . when the writ de comburendis haereticis , for the execution of richard white and john hunt ( of whom formerly ) was brought to mr. michel , instead of burning them . he burnt the writ , and before the same could be renewed , doctor geffray ( the bloody chancellour of salisbury who procured it ) and queen mary , were both dead , to the miraculous preservation of gods poor servants . sir james — vicar choral ( as i conceive ) of the church of sarisbury , in the raign of king edward the sixth , was wholy addicted to the study of chemistry . now as socrates himself wrot nothing , whilst plato his scholar praised him to purpose , so whilst the pen of sir james was silent of his own worth , thomas charnock his scholar ( whom he made inheritour of his art ) thus chants in his commendation . i * could find never man but one , which could teach me , the secrets of our stone . and that was a priest in the close of salisbury , god rest his soul in heaven full merry . this sir james pretented that he had all his skill not by learning , but inspiration , which i list not to disprove . he was alive anno . but died about the beginning of queen elizabeth . lord mayor . name father place company time sir nicholas lambert edward lambert wilton grocer the names of the gentry of this county returned by the commissioners , in the twelsth year of king henry the sixth . r. bishop of salisbury , commissioners to receive the oaths . walt. hungarford , knight . robert andrew , knights for the shire . robert long. knights for the shire . rob. hungarford , mil. edm. hungarford , m. ioh. stourton , mil. will. becham , mil. ioh. beynton , mil. will. westbery justiciarii . ioh. seymour will. darell rich. milbourn edm. dantesey ioh. westbery , sen. david . cerington randul . thorp lau. gowayn rog. peryton will. gore , sen. roh . ernly rob. blake tho. drewe will. daungers rob. paniffote ioh. westbery , junior . will. rouse tho. boneham iohan. rous will. besyle rob. baynard rog. trewbody will. caynelt . will. botreauxe will. widecombe ioh. atte berwe ioh. northfolk ioh. sturmy tho. cryklade rob. bodenham iohan. bride rob. beast cob. colyngborn hen. chancy ioh. combe ioh. west rob. onewyn tho. ierderd ioh. whitehorn ioh. gergrave nich. wotton tho. hall ioh. hall rich. hall will. ●…ore , 〈◊〉 . rob. crikkelade ioh. lambard tho. beweshyn rich. mayn ioh. mayn ioh. benger rob. mayhow hen. bardley rob. confold ioh. mumfort tho. hancock ioh. osburn ioh. gillberd ioh. attuene ioh. escote gul. orum rich. so●…wel reg. croke ingel . walrond ioh. waldrine rich. warrin will. stanter rob. solman tho. temse will. temse tho. ryngwode will. watkins rob. backeham walt. backeham will. dantesey rich. caynell rich. hardone ioh. tudworth ioh. coventre tho. gore nuper de lynshyll rob. wayte will. coventre ioh. ingeham ioh. martyn walt. evererd will. polelchirch ioh. iustice walt. stodel●…y will. wychamton rob. eyre ioh. voxanger sim. eyre ioh. ford will. russell ioh. scot tho. vellard pet. duke ioh. quinton tho. quinton ioh. bourne rich. warneford ioh. stere tho. hasard rob. lyvenden will. lyng ioh. davy rob. davy rob. floure will. leder ioh. edward ioh. cutting tho. blanchard will. moun edm. penston rich. lye ioh. bellingdon ioh. pope ioh. lye ioh. spender walt. clerk ioh. quarly will. bacon ioh. everard nich. spondell will. walrond tho. stake rich. cordra rich. de bowys . will renger thom. bower de devise . r. is here robert nevil then bishop of salisbury . walter hungerford was the lord hungerford treasurer of england . will. westbry justiciarii . ] surely this justice must be more then an ordinary one of the peace and quorum , because preposed to john seimour a signall esquire , late high-sheriffe of the shire . yet was he none of the two chief-justices of westminster , as not mentioned in their catalogue . probably he was one of the puny judges in those courts , but because no certainty thereof , we leave him as we found him . david cerington . ] the self same name with sherington for all the literall variation , and they , i assure you , were men of great anchestry and estate in this county . sir henry sherington was the last heir-male of this family , dwelling at lacock in this county , a right godly knight , and great friend to bishop jewell , who died in his house at lacock . he disswaded the bishop from preaching that lords-day , by reason of his great weakness , affirming it better for a private congregation to want a sermon one day , then for the church of * england to lose such a light for ever . but he could not prevail , the bishop being resolved to expire in his calling . this sir henry left two daughters which had issue , one married into the honourable family of talbot , the other unto sir anthony mildmay , who enriched their husbands with great estates . sheriffs of wilt-shire . hen. ii. anno will. qui fuit vic. anno com. patricius anno idem . anno anno idem . anno anno rich. clericus anno idem . anno mil. de dantesaia anno rich. de wilton anno rich. de wilteser anno rich. de wilton for years . anno mich. belet , rob. malde anno mich. belet & rob. malde rog. filius reuf . anno rob. malduit anno idem . anno idem . anno rob. malduit . anno idem . rich. i. anno hug. bardulfe anno will. comes saresb. anno rob. de tresgoze anno will. comes saresb. anno will. comes saresb. & tho. filius will. for years . anno steph. de turnham & alex. de ros anno idem . johan . rex . anno steph. de turnham & wand . filius corcelles anno comes will. de saresb. & hen. de bermere anno ●…dem . anno idem . anno comes will. de saresb. & iohan. bonet for years . anno will. briewere & rob. filius anno idem . anno nich. briewere de vetri ponte & will. de chanto anno idem . anno idem . anno will comes saresb. & hen. filius alchi anno idem . hen. iii. anno anno will. comes saresb. & rob. de crevequeor for years . anno will. comes saresb. adam de alta ripa anno idem . anno idem . anno sim. de halei anno eliz. comit. saresb. & ioh. dacus anno ioh. de monemue & walt. de bumesey anno ioh. de monemue anno idem . anno eliz. com. saresb. & ioh. dacus for years . anno eliz. comit. sarum & rob. de hugen . anno eliz. comit. sarum anno rob. de hogesham anno idem . anno idem . anno nich. de haversham for years . anno nich de lusceshall anno idem . anno idem . anno will. de tynehiden for years . anno will. de tenhide io. de tenhide fil . & here 's anno idem . anno ioh. de verurd anno idem . anno idem . anno ioh. de verund & galf. de scudemor anno idem . anno ioh. de verund anno rad. cussell anno idem . anno idem . anno rad. de aungers , ioh. de aungers anno rad. de aungers anno will. de duy & steph. de edwarth for years . steph. de edwarth & walt. de strichesley edw. i. anno walt. de strichesle anno idem . anno idem . anno hildebrandus de london for years . anno ioh. de wotton for years . anno rich. de combe anno idem . anno tho. de s to omero for years . anno walt. de pevely anno idem . anno idem . anno ioh. de novo burgo anno idem . anno ioh. de hertingerr anno idem . anno idem . anno hen. de cobham anno ioh. de gerberge anno idem . edw. ii. anno andreas de grimsted anno alex. cheverell & ioh. de s to laudo anno idem . anno will. de hardene anno adam . walrand anno adam . walrand & iohan. kingston anno idem . anno iohan de holt & phus. de la beach anno phus. de la beach anno idem . anno walt. de risum anno idem . anno idem . anno ioh. de tichbourn & adam . walrand . anno idem . anno anno adam , walrand anno idem . anno idem . edw. iii. anno adam . walrand anno phus. la beach anno ioh. manduit anno idem . anno idem . anno anno ioh. manduit & will. randolph anno iohan. tichbourn & iohan. manduit anno gilb. de berewice & reg. de pauley anno idem . anno petr. doygnel & gil. de berewice anno iohan. manduit anno idem . anno idem . anno tho. de s to . mauro & rob. lokes . anno iohan. manduit anno idem . anno idem . anno iohan. roches anno idem . anno ioh. de roches & tho. semor anno rob. russell anno idem . anno idem . anno nullus titulus in hoc rotulo anno tho. de la river anno idem . anno idem . anno ioh. everard anno tho. de hungerford for years . anno hen. sturmy for years . anno walt. de haywood for years . anno will. de worston anno hen. sturmy anno ioh. dauntesey , mil. anno ioh. de la mare , mil. anno hugo cheyne anno idem . edward iii. henry sturmy . ] they were lords of woolfhall in this county , and from the time of king henry the second , were by right of inheritance , the bayliffs and guardians of the forrest of savernake , lying hard by , which is of great note for plenty of good game , and for a kind of ferne there , that yeildeth a most pleasant savour : in remembrance whereof , their hunters-horn , of a mighty bigness , and tipt with silver , is kept by the seymours dukes of somerset unto this day , as a monument of their descent , from such noble ancestors . sheriffs . name place armes rich. ii.     anno     pe. de cushaunce , m & will de worston .     rad. de norton   virt , a lion rampant or , alibi argent . idem .     lau. de sco. martino & hug. cheyne     nich. woodhull     bern. brokers , mil.     ioh. lancaster     idem .     ioh. salesbury     idem .     hug. cheyne     id●…m .     rich. mawardin     ioh. roches     rob. dyneley     ioh. goweyn     rich mawardin     ioh. moigne     ●… tho. bonham     rich. mawardin     ●… idem .     idem .     hen. iv.     anno     ioh. dau●…tesey dantesey az. a d●…agon & lyon rampant comhatant arg. will. worston & ioh. gawayne     will. cheyne     walt. beauchamp   varry . walt. beauchamp ut prius   wal. hungerford , m.   sable barrs arg. plates in chief . r●…d . grene     walt. beauchamp ut pri●…s   rob. corbet   or , a raven proper . will. cheyne , mil.     ioh. berkley , mil ,   gules a cheveron betwixt crosses formee arg. tho. bonham     hen. v.     anno     elias de la mare   gules , lions ●…assant gardant argent . hen. thorpe     tho. calsten     r●…b . andrewe     will findern     will. stur●…y , mil. woolf-h●…ll argent deme-lions gules . tho. ringwood     will. darell   az. a lion rampant o●… crowned argent . idem .     hen. vi.     anno     will. darell ut prius   rob shotesb●…ook , 〈◊〉 .     wil. findern     walt pauncefott   gules , lions rampant arg. ioh. stourton , ar . stourton sa. a bend or , betwixt fountains proper . will. darell , ar . ut prius   ioh. pawlett , ar .   sable swords in point argent ioh. bainton brumham sable , a bend lozenges argent . davi . sherrington     ioh. seymor woolf-hall gul. a●…gels-wings paleways , inverted or. walt. strickland     ioh. stourton , mil. ut prius   steph. popham , mil.   arg. on a cheif gul. bucks-heads caboshed or. edw. hungerford ut prius   wil. beauchamp , m. ut prius   ioh. stourton , mil. ut prius   ioh. lisle , mil.   or a fess betwixt chev. sa. ioh. saintlo , mil.     ioh. norris   quarterly az. and gul. a fret or , with fess az. rich. restwold   argent , bends ●…able . will. beauchamp ut prius   ioh. bainton ut prius   ioh. basket   az. a cheveron erm. betwixt leopards-heads or. rich. restwold ut prius   will. stafford   or a cheveron gul. on a canton ermine . will. beauchamp , m. ut prius   ioh. norris ut prius   phil. barnard     ioh. seymor , mil. ut prius   ioh. nanson     edw. stradling dantesey paly of arg. & az. on a bend g. cinquefoyls or. ioh. willoughby     geo. darell     reg. stourton , mil.     hen. long , ar .   sab. a lion ram●…nt betwixt crosses crossed arg. ioh. seymor , ar . ut prius   hug. pilkenham     ioh. feiris , ar .     edw. iv.     anno     geor. darell ut prius   reg. stourton , mil. ut prius   idem .     rog. tocotes , mil.     geor. darell , mil. ut prius   tho. de la mare ut prius   ch●…i . w●…ey     rich. d●…rell , mil. ut prius   geo. darell , mil. ut prius   lau. r●…ynford , mil.     rog. ●…es , mil.     maur. beikley , mil. ut prius   ●… ioh willoughby , m.   amp. will. collingborne     ●… hen. long , ar . ut prius   w●…lt . bonham , ar .     edw. hargill , ●…r .     ●… i●…h 〈◊〉   ar●… . a lion ramp . s. a martlet on his shoulder or. ●… walt. hungerford ut prius   c●… bulkley   s. a chev. twixt bulls-heads cabashed argent . ●… 〈◊〉 collingborn a     ioh. mompesson , ar . ut prius   rich iii.     anno     hen long , ar . ut prius   edw. hargill , ar . ut prius   ioh. musgrave & rog. tocotes , mil. westme . azure annulets or. hen. vii .     aano     rog tocotes , mil.     ioh. wroughton ut infra   ioh. turbervile   ermine , a lion rampant gules crowned or. tho. uniom     edw. darell , mil. ut prius   constan. darell ut prius   io. lye de flamston     ioh. york   arg on a salter az. an escallop or. edw. darell , mil. ut prius   ●… rich. puddesey , ar .     constan. darell ut prius   geo. chaderton     edw. darell , mil. ut prius   geo. seymor , mil. ut prius   ioh. hudleston , mil. cumber . gules , frettee argent . ●… tho. long , ar . ut prius   ioh york , ar . ut prins   wi l. caleway     ioh. danvers , mil. dauntesey g. a chev . inter mullets or ▪ ioh ernley , ar . wi●…ham bend●… ●… . eaglets displayed or. ●… ioh. g●…ayne , ar .     tho. long , mil. ut prius   i●…h . seymor , mil. ut prius   ioh. mompesson , ar . ut prius   hen. viii .     aano     edw. darell , mil. ut prius   w●… hungerford , m. ut prius   hen. long , a●… . ut prius   chr wrough●…on , 〈◊〉 ut prius   ioh danvers , mil. ut prius   w●…ll b●…ham , ar .     ioh. scr●…pe , mil. castle-com azu . a bend or , a mullet difference . nich. wadh●…m , mi     edw hu●…ord , m. ut prius   ●… ioh. seymo , mil. ut prius   edw. darell , mil. ut prius   ioh. skilling , ar .     edw. ●…on . on , mil u●… prius   ioh er●…ley , ar . ut prius   ●… th●… . york , ar . u●… prius   〈◊〉 ioh se●…mor , mil. ut prius   ●… h●… . ●…ong , mil. ut prius   ioh. 〈◊〉 , mil.   arg. a cross engrailed gul. betwixt wate●… bougets s. ant. hu●…g ford , m. ut prius   ioh. e●…ley , ar . ut ●…ius   ioh. h●…sey , ar . dorse . azu . horse-heads cooped or , bridled argent . ●… tho. york , ar . ut prius   tho. bonham , ar .     ioh. ernley , ar . ut prius   wal. hungerford , m. ut prius   rob. baynard , ar . leckham sab. a fess btwixt cheverons or. tho. york , ar . ut prius   hen. long , mil. ut prius   ioh. bruges , mil.   arg. on a cross sa. a leopards-head or. ant. hungerford , m. ut prius   ioh. ernely , ar . ut prius   edw. mompesson , ar . ut prius   hen. long , mil. ut prius   ioh. marvin , ar . funt-hill arg. a demi-lion ramp . cooped s. charged on the shoulder with a flower de luce . ioh. erneley , ar . ut prius   anth. hungerford ut prius   caro. bulkley , ar . ut prius   rich. scroope , ar . ut prius   edw. vi.     anno     silv. danvers , ar . ut prius   amb. dauntsey , ar . lavington g. a lion ramp . arg. chasing a wyvern vert , alias , azure a dragon proper and a lion arg. gombatant . ioh. bonh●…m , ar .     ioh. mervyn , ar . ut prius   iac. scumpe , mil.     w●…ll . sherington , m. & edw. baynard , ar . ut prius     ut prius   phil. & mar.     anno     ma. ioh. erneley , ar . ut prius   , hen. hungerford , a. ut prius   , ioh. st. iohn , ar . lediard argent on a chief , g. mullets pierced or. , ant hungerford , m. ut prius   , wa. hungerford , m. ut prius   , hen. brunker , ar . melsam argent ogresses , , . on a cheif imbattled sa. a loz●…ng of the first , thereon a crosspatee of the second . eliz. reg.     anno     ioh zouch , mil.   g. besants , , , and●… ●… . on a canton or a lozeng vert thereon a flower de luce arg. iac. stumpe , mil.     ioh. me●…vine , mil. ut prius   geo. penruddock , ar . cumpton gul , a limb of a tree raguled and trunked in bend arg. ioh. erneley , ar . ut prius   tho. button , ar . alcon ermine a fess gules . ioh. eyre , ar . ut infra reader , arriving somewhat too late at some of these armes i am fain to referre thee to what followeth . nich. snell , ar . ut infra   hen. sherington , a.     geo. ludlowe , ar . ut infra   tho. thynne , mil. longleate barry of ten pieces or and s. will. button , ar . ut prius   edr. baynton , ar . ut prius   ioh. st. iohn , ar . ut prius   wol. hungerford , m. ut prius   ioh. danvers , mil. ut prius   rob. long ▪ ar . ut prius   tho. wroughton , m. ut infra   ioh. hungerford , m. ut prius   hen. knivet , mil.   argent a bend within a border engrailed sable . n●…ch . st. iohn , ar . ut prius   mich. erneley , ar . ut prius   will. brounker , ar ▪ ut prius   wal. hungerford , a. ut prius   iasper . moore , a●… . ut infra   ioh. snell , ar . ut infra   ●… ioh. danvers , mil. ut prius   edm. ludlow , ar . ut infra   rich mody , ar . ut infra   wal. hunger●…ord , m. ut prius   ●… hen. willoughby , a. ut prius   ioh. wa●…nford , ar .   party per fess imbatteled arg. & sab. crosses patee counterchanged . will. eyre , ar . ut infra   ioh hungerford , m. ut prius   ioh. thynne , ar . ut prius   edw. hungerfo●…d , a. ut prius   hen. sadler , ar . everley or a lion ramp . parte per fess azure and gules ioh. dauntsey , ar . ut prius   iac. marvyn , mil. ut prius   edw. penruddock , a. ut prius   walt. vaughan   see the notes on this years . tho. snell , ar .   quarterly gul. and az. a cross flowry or. hen. baynton , mil. ut prius   walt. long , mil. ut prius   iasper . moore , mil. & prim . iacob .   between●… ●… mores-heads proper . swords argent . jac. rex .   a quarterly ar. & g. a cressant in the first quar . of the second . anno     iasper . moore , mil. ut prius b sabl . a cross between nails gules . alex. tutt , mil. a     ioh. hungerford , ar . ut prius c g a cheveron vairy , twixt crescants ermine . gabriel . pile , ar . b     tho. thynn , mil.   d arg. a chev. g. twixt bo rsheads cooped s. tusked or. rich. goddard , ar . c stondō hu.   ioh. ayliffe , ar .   e argent on a chief gu. buckheads or. eg. wroughton , m. d brodhenton   will. b●…on , mil. ut prius f a●… . a dimselyon ramp . cooped s. charged on the shouldiers with a flower de luce or. fran. popham , m. e litlecott   will. pawlet , mil. ut prius   hen. marvyn , ar . f pertwood g g a lyon passant er. wounded in the shoulder . tho. moore , ar . g ut prius   rich. grubham , mil.   h g. a fess ingrailed between harpies arg. crined or. ioh horton , mil.     hen. moody , mil. h garesdon i az. semee de fleur de lzes o●… , a lion rampant arg. hen. poole , mil. i   k arg. a bend gu. guttee d'eau twixt cornish choughs proper a cheif countercomponce or and sable . carol pleadall , m. k colshill   will. pawlet , ar . ut prins   ioh. lambe , mil. ut prius   gifford . long , ar . ut prius   edw. read , ar .   gules a saltire betwixt garbs or. car. reg.     anno     fran. seymour , mil. ut prius   egid. estcourt , mil. newton ermen on a cheif indented g. stars . walt. long , ar . ut p●…us   ioh. ducket , ar .   sa. a saltyr arg. a mullet difference . rob. baynard , mil. ut prius   ioh. topp , ar . sto●…on arg. a canton gu. a gantlet of mail clenched proper . edw. hungerford , m. balnei . ut prius   ioh. st. iohn , mil. ut prius   hen. ludlow , mil. hildenrel ar. a chev. twixt bears-heads erazed s. fran. goddard , ar . ut prius   geor. ayliffe , mil. ut prius   nevil . poole , mil. ut prius   edw. bayn●…on , mil. ut prius   ioh. grubb ▪ ar . pottern * per fess , arg. & az. chaplets counterchanged . ioh duke , ar . * lakes   egid. eyre , ar .   ar. on a chev. s. cater-foiles o. rob. chivers , ar .   arg. a cheveron engrailed g. ingratum     bello de -     bemus in -     ane .     ant. ashly cooper , bar.   g. a bend engrailed betwixt lions rampant . king henry vi. john basket , esq. ] high-sheriffe of this county in the twenty third of king henry the sixth . he is memorable on this account , that a solemn dispensation granted unto him from the court of rome , acquainteth us with the form of those instruments in that age , not unworthy our perusall . nicholaus miseratione divinâ , &c. sanctae crucis in jerusalem presbyter cardinalis ; dilectis in christo nobilibus johanni basket scutifero , & aliciae ejus uxori , sarisburiensis diocesis , salutem in domino . solet annuere sedes apostolica piis votis , & honestis petentium precibus , maximè ubi salus requiritur animarum , favorem benevolum impartiri . cum igitur ex parte vestra nobis fuerit humiliter supplicatum , ut in animarum vestrarum solatium , eligendi confessorem ideoneum vobis licentiam concedere dignaremur . nos vestris supplicationibus favorabiliter annuentes , authoritate domini papae , cujus * primariae curam gerimus , & de ejus speciali mandato super hoc vivae vocis oraculo nobis facto , devotioni vestrae concedimus quatenus liceat vobis idoneum & discretum presbyterum in confessorem eligere , qui super peccatis quae sibi confitebimini ( nisi talia sint propter quae sit dicta sedes consulenda ) authoritate praedicta vobis provideat de absolutionis debitae beneficio , & paeni●…tia salutari quamdiu vixeritis , quotiens fuerit opportunum . vota ver●… peregrinationis & abstinentiae si qua emisistis , quae commodè servare non potestis , ultra marina ( beatorum petri , & pauli , atque jacobi , apostolorum votis duntaxat exceptis ) commutet vobis idem confessor in alia opera pietatis . dat. florentiae , sub sigillo officii priariae , . non. aprilis pontificatus domini eugenii papae . anno decimo . nicholas by divine mercy , &c. priest cardinal of st. crosses in jerusalem ; to the beloved in christ the worshipfull john basket esq. and alice his wife , of the diocess of salisbury , greeting in the lord. the see apostolick useth to grant the pious desires , and honest requests of petitioners , chiefly where the health of souls requireth courteous favour to be bestowed upon them . seeing therefore on your behalf you have supplicated humbly unto us , that for the comfort of your souls we would vouchsafe to grant you license tochuse for your selves a confessor , we favourably yeilding to your request by the authority of our lord the pope , the charge of whose primary we bear , & from his special command in this case made unto us by the oracle of his mouth , doe grant to your devotion , so far forth as it may be lawfull for you , to chuse a fit & discreet priest for your confessor , who as touching the sins which ye shall confess unto him ( except they be such for which the said see is to be consulted with ) may by authority aforesaid provide for you concerning the benefit of due absolution , & wholesome penance , so long as ye live , so often as there shall be occasion . but if ye have made any forraign vows of pilgrimage and fasting , which ye cannot conveniently keep ( vows to blessed peter , paul , and james , apostles onely excepted , ) the same confessor may commute them for you into other works of piety . given at florence , under the seal of the office of the primary , . non. of april the . year of the popedome of pope eugenius the fourth . the tenth of pope eugenius falleth on the twentieth of king henry the sixth , anno domini . why it should be higher and harder to dispence with vows made to saint james , then to saint john , ( his brother , and christs beloved disciple , ) some courtier of rome must render the reason . the posterity of this master basket in the next generation remov'd in dorset-shire , where they continue at this day in a worshipfull condition , at divenish . queen elizabeth . thomas thin , mil. ] the great and suddain wealth of this knight , being envied by a great earl , and privy-councellour neighbouring on his estate , caused his summons before the counsel table , to answer how in so short a time he had gotten so large possessions , some suggested as if he had met with treasure trove , or used some indirect means to inrich himself . the knight calmly gave in the unquestionable particulars of the bottom he began on , the accrewment by his marriage , and with what was advanced by his industry and frugality , so bringing all up within the view ( though not the touch ) of his present estate . for the rest , my lords ( said he ) you have a good mistris our gracious queen , and i had a good master the duke of sommerset , which being freely spoken , and fairly taken , he was dismissed without further trouble . nor were his means too big for his birth , if descended ( as camden saith ) from the antient family of the bottevils . walter vaugham , ar. ] his armes ( too large to be inserted in that short space ) were , sable , a chever●…n betwixt three childrens-heads cooped at the shoulders argent , their peruques or , inwrapped about their necks , with as many snakes proper , whereof this ( they say ) the occasion , because one of the ancestors * of this family , was born with a snake about his neck . such a neck-lace , as nature , i believe never saw . but grant it . how came the peruques , about the infants heads ? so that fancy , surely , was the sole mother and midwife of this device . the lands of this walter vaugham , ( afterwards knighted ) descended to his son sir george , a worthy gentleman , and after his issueless decease to a brother of his , who was born blind , bred in oxford , brought up in orders , and prebendary of sarum . king charles . francis seymour , mil. this wise and religious knight , ( grand-child to edward earl of hartford , and brother to william duke of sommerset , ) was by king charles the first created baron of troubridge in this county , since for his loyalty , made privy-councellour to k. charles the second , and chancellour of the dutchy of lancaster . battles . lansdoune fight . this was fought in the confines of this county and somerset the . of july . it was disputed by parcells and peece-meals , as the place and narrow passages would give leave ; and it seemed not so much one intire battle , as a heap of skirmishes hudled together . it may be said in some sort of both ●…des , victus uterque fuit , victor uterque fuit . for the parliament forces five times ( by the confession of the royalists ) beat them back with much disorder , sir bevill greenfield being slain in the head of his pikes , ( major lowre in the head of his party of horse . ) yet the kings forces alleadge demonstration of conquest , that prince maurice and sir ralph hopton , remained in the heads of their troops all night , and next morning found themselves possessed of the field and of the dead , as also of three hundred armes , and nine 〈◊〉 of powder , the enemy had left behind them . round way fight . five days after prince maurice with the earl of carnarvan returning , and the lord wilmot coming from oxford , with a gallant supply of select horse , charged the parliament forces under the conduct of sir william waller . with him were the horse of sir arthur haslerigg so well armed , that ( if of proof as well within as without ) each souldier seemed an impregnable fortification . but these were so smartly charged by the prince , that they fairly forfook the field , leaving their foot ( which in english battles bear the heat of the day ) to shift for themselves . in the mean time sir ralph hopton hurt lately ( with the blowing up of powder ) lay sick and sore in the town of the devizes . his men wanted match , whom sir ralph directed to beat and to boyl their bed-cords , ( necessity is the best mother of ingenuity , ) which so ordered did them good service ; when marching forth into the field , they effectually contributed to the totall routing and ruining of the parliament ●…oot which remained . the farewell . this county consisting so much of sheep , must honour the memory of king edgar , who first free'd the land from all wolves therein . for the future i wish their flocks secured from . two-legg'd wolves , very destructive unto them . . spanish ewes , whereof one being brought over into england , anno .......... brought with it the first generall contagion of sheep . . hunger-rot , the effect of an over-dry summer . i desire also , that seeing these seem to be of the same breed with * laban●… and † jethros sheep , which had their solemn times and places of drinking , ( which in other shires i have not observed ) that they may never have any want of wholesome water . worcester-shire hath stafford-shire on the north , warwickshire on the east , gloucester-shire on the south , hereford and shorp-shires on the west . it is of a triangular , but not equilaterall form , in proportion stretching from north to south twenty two miles . south to north-west , twenty eight miles . thence to her north-east point , twenty eight miles . be this understood of the continued part of this shire , which otherwise hath snips and shreds cut off from the whole cloth , and surrounded with the circumjacent countries , even some in oxford-shire distanced , by gloucester-shire interposed . what may be the cause hereof , it were presumption for me to guess after the conjectures of so many learned men . * some conceive that such who had the command of this county , ( probably before the conquest , ) and had parcells of their own land scattered in the vicinage , desired to unite them to this county , so to make their own authority the more entire . or else as a * worthy writer will have it ( rendering a reason why part of devon-shire straggleth into cornwall , ) it was done that there might rest some cause of intercourse , betwixt this and the neighbouring counties , adding moreover , that a late great man ensued and expressed the like consideration , in the division of his lands betwixt two of his sons . all i will say is this , that god in the partage of palestine ( reader if you forget , i must remember my own profession ) betwixt the twelve tribes , on the same account , ( as the learned conceive ) made some tribes to have in-lots within another , and manasseh had in issachar , * and in asher , bethshean and her towns , and ibleam and her towns , &c. this county hath a childs portion ( and that i assure you a large one ) in all english , and especially in these naturall commodities . lampreys . in latine lampetrae , à lambendo petras , from licking the rocks , are plentifull in this and the neighbouring counties in the river of severn . a deformed fish , which for the many holes therein , one would conceive , nature intended it rather for an instrument of musick , then for mans food . the best manner of dressing whereof , says my * author , is , to kill it in malmesey , close the mouth thereof with a nutmegg , the holes with so many cloves , and when it is rolled up round , putting in thereto filbard-nut-kernells stamped , crums of bread , oyle , spices , &c. others , ( but those m●…so-lampreys ) doe adde , that after all this cost , even cast them away , seeing money is better lost then health ; and the meat will rather be delicious then wholesome , the eating whereof cost king * henry the first his life . but , by their favour , that king did not dye of lampreys , but of excess in eating them ; and i am confident the jews might surfet of manna it self , if eating thereof above due proportion . perry . this is a drink or a counterfeit wine , made of pears , whereof plenty in this county ; though such which are least delicious for tast , are most proper for this purpose . such the providence of nature to design all things for mans service . peter martyr when professor in oxford , and sick of a feaver , would drink no other * liquor , though it be generally believed both cold and windy , except , corrected with spice , or some other addition . salt. i have * twice formerly insisted hereon , and doe confess this repetition to be flatly against my own rules , laid down for the regulating of this work , save that the necessity of this commodity , will excuse it from any offence . i beheld england as a long well-furnish'd table , and account three principal salt-cellars set at distance thereon . worcester shire , i fancy the trencher salt , both because it is not so much in quantity , ( though very considerable , ) and because it is whiter , finer and heavier , then any other . ch●…shire , i conceive deserveth to be reputed the grand-salt-cellar , placed somewhat benea●…h the middle , whilst the third is the salt of new-castle , set far north , at the lower end of the table , for the use of those , who otherwise cannot conveniently reach to the former . the usefulness of this not-duely-valued-blessing , may be concluded from the latine word salarium , so usuall in antient and modern authors , which importeth the entertainment or wages of souldiers , antiently paid chiefly ( if not only ) in victuals , and taketh its name by a synecdoche , fr om sal or salt , as of all things most absolutely needfull , without which condiment , nothing can be wholesome nutriment . i read in a modern author , describing his own county of che-shire , and measuring all things to the advantage thereof , that , * there is no shire in england , or in any other country beyond the seas , where they have more then one salt-well therein , neither at droitwich in worcester-shire is there more then one , whereas in che-shire there be four , all within ten wiles together . here let me enter this caveat in preservation of the right of worcester-shire , that * many salt-fountains are found therein , but stopped up again for the preservation of woods , so that the making of salt at one place alone , proceeds not from any natural , but a politick restriction . nor must i forget , how our german-ancestors ( as tacitus reports ) conceited such places where salt was found , to be nearest to the heavens , and to ingratiate mens p●…ayers to the gods ; i will not say , founding their superstition on the mis-apprehension of the jewish-worship , * every sacrifice shall be salted with salt . the buildings . i am sorry i have never seen the cathedrall of worcester , so that i cannot knowingly give it a due commendation , and more sorry to hear that our late civil wars , have made so sad an impression thereon . the market-towns are generally handsomely built , and no shire in england can shew a brace of them , so neat and near together , as beaudley and kiddermister in this county , being scarcely two miles asunder . saints . saint richard born at wich , [ alias droitwich ] from which he took his name , was bred in oxford , afterwards at paris , & lastly at bononia in italy , where for seven years together he heard and read the canon-law . having thus , first plentifully laid in , he then began to lay out , in his lectures in that university , and returning home , became chancellor of oxford , then of canterbury , till at last chosen bishop of chichester . he was a great becketist , viz. a stout opposer of regal power over spiritual persons , on which , and other accounts , he wrot a book to pope innocent the fourth , against king henry the third . these his qualities with the reputation of his holy life , so commended his memory to the notice of pope urban the fourth , that seven years after his death , viz. anno he canonized him for a saint . it seems men then arrived sooner at the maturity o●… [ popish ] saintship then now a days , more distance being now required betwixt their death and canonization . as for their report , that the wiches or salt-pits in this county were miraculously procured by his prayers , their unsavory lye hath not a graine of probability to season it , it appearing by antient * authors , that salt-w●…ter flowed there time out of mind , be●…ore any sweet-milk was given by mother or nurse to this saint richard. this county affording no martyrs ( such the moderation of bshop pates ) let us proceed to cardinals john comin , or cumin . it must cost us some pains ( but the merit of the man will quit cost ) to clear him to be of english extraction . for the proof whereof we produce the testimony of giraldus cambrensis , his contemporary and acquaintance , who saith , * he was vi●… anglicus natione . hereby the impudent falsehood of john demster the scotish historian , doth plainly appear , thus expressing himself . johannes cuminus ex nobilissimo comitum buchaniae stemmate ortus , banfiae natus , falsissimè inter anglos reponitur , cum ipse viderim quaedam ipsius nuper parisiis scripta , quibus suorum popularium causam , pontifici lucio commendavit in bibliotheca pauli petavii , senatoris parisiensis . john cumin descended from the most noble stock of the earls of buchan , born at banfe , is most falsely set down amongst the english , seeing i my self lately saw some of his writings at paris , in the library of paulus petavius , senator of paris , in which he recommended the cause of his countrimen to pope lucius . in plain english , this scotish demster is an arrant rook , depluming england , ireland and wales , of famous writers , meerly to feather his own country therewith ; so that should he , according to the jewish law , be forced to make four-fold restitution for his felony , he would be left poor enough indeed . besides alexander comin was created first earl of buchan , by king * alexander the second , who began to raign anno dom. . whereas comin ( by the testimony of demster himself ) died . and therefore could not properly descend of their stock , who were not then in being . i cannot certainly avouch him a worcester-shire man , but know that he was bred a monke at * evesham therein ; whence he was chosen ( the king procuring it ) à clero dublinensi consonè satis & concorditer , arch-bishop of dublin . he endowed trinity-church in dublin with two and twenty prebends , and was made by pope lucius cardinal of saint vellit in italy . hugh of evesham so called from the place of his nativity in this county , applyed himself to the study of physick , with so good success that he is called the * phoenix in that faculty ; great also was his skill in the mathematicks , and especially in astrology . some questions arising at rome about physick ( which consequencially were of church government ) pope martin the fourth sent for our hugh , to consult with him , who gave such satisfaction to his demands , that in requitall , he created him cardinal of saint laurence , . but so great the envy of his adversaries at his preferment , that seven years after he was put to death by * poyson , and let none say , he might have foreseen his fate in the stars , seeing hell , and not the heavens brooded that design . neither say physician cure thy self , seeing english antidotes are too weak for italian poysons . but cicaonius to palliate the business , saith he died of the plague , and thus i believe him of the plague of hatred in the hearts of such who contrived his death . which happened anno domini , . prelates . wulstan of braundsfoed was born at brandsford in this county , and afterwards became prior ( equivalent to dean in other foundations ) of worcester . he deserved well of his covent , building a most beautifull hall therein . hence was he preferred bishop of worcester . the first and last prelate who was born in that county , and dyed in that see. he was verus pontifex in the gramaticall notation thereof , building a fair bridge at braundsford ( within three miles of worcester ) over the river teme , on the same token , that it is misprinted tweed in bishop * godwin , which made me in vain to look for braundsford in northumberland . he dyed august . . john lowe was born in this * county , bred an augustinian frier at wich therein ; afterwards he went to the universities , and then setled himself in london . hence he was preferred by king henry the sixth to saint asaph , and thence was removed ( desiring his own quietness ) from one of the best bishopricks in wales , to rochester the meanest in england . he was a great book-monger , and on that score , bale ( no friend to friers ) giveth him a large testimonial , that bishop * godwin borroweth from him ( the first and last in that kind ) the whole character of his commendation , and this amongst the rest ; opuscula quaedam scripsit purgatis auribus digna . he deserved well of posterity in preserving many excellent manuscripts , and bestowing them on the magnificent library , which he furnished at saint augustines in london . but alas ! that library at the dissolution vanished away with the * fine spire-steeple of the same church , ( oh , the wide swallow of sacriledge ! ) one person , who shall be nameless , imbezelling both books and buildings to his private profit . he dyed anno dom. . and lieth buried in his own cathedral ( over against bishop merton ) under a marble monument . edmund bonner alias savage . he had to his father john savage a priest , richly beneficed and landed in cheshire , son to sir john savage , knight of the garter and privy councellor to king henry the seventh . his mother concubine to this priest , ( a dainty dame in her youth , & a jolly woman in her age , ) was sent out of cheshire to cover her shame , and lay down her burthen at elmeley in this county , where this bouncing babe bonner was * born . the history of his life may be methodized according to the five princes under whom he lived . he was born under king henry the seventh , and bred a batchelor in the laws in broadgates-hall in oxford . under king henry the eight , he was made doctor of laws , arch-deacon of leicester , master of the faculties under arch-bishop cranmer , and employed in severall embassies beyond seas . all this time bonner was not bonner , being as yet meek , mercifull , and a great cromwellite , as appeared by some tart printed repartees betwixt him and bishop gardiner . indeed he had sesqui corpus , a body and halfe , ( but i hope that corpulency without cruelty is no sin ) & towards his old age he was over-grown with fat , as master fox ( who is charged to have persecuted persecutors with ugly pictures , ) doth represent him . not long after he was consecrated bishop of london . under king edward the sixth , being deputed to preach publickly concerning the reformation , his faint and frigid expressions thereof , manifested his mind rather to betray then defend it , which cost him a deprivation and imprisonment . then it was when one jeeringly saluted him , good morrow bishop quondam , to whom bonner as tartly returned , good morrow knave semper . being restored under queen mary to his bishoprick , he caused the death of twice as many martyrs as all the bishops in england besides , justly occasioning the verses made upon him . si fas caedendo caelestia scandere cuiquam , bonnero coeli maxima porta patet . nemo ad bonnerum . omnes episcopum esse te dicunt malum , ego tamen bonnere te dico bonum . if one by shedding blood , for bliss may hope , heavens widest gate for bonner doth stand op'e . no body speaking to bonner . all call thee cruell and the spunge of blood , but bonner , i say , thou art mild and good . under queen elizabeth he was deprived and secured in his castle , i mean the marshallsea in southwark , for as that prison kept him from doing hurt to others , it kept others from doing hurt to him , being so universally odious he had been stoned in the streets if at liberty . one great good he did , though not intentionally , accidentally to the protestant bishops of england . for lying in the marshalsea , and refusing to take the oath of supremacy tendred to him by horn , then bishop of winchester ; he pleaded for himself , that horn was no lawfull bishop , which occasioned the ensuing parliament to confirme him and the rest of his order to all purposes and intents . after ten years soft durance in all plenty , ( his face would be deposed for his whole body that he was not famished ) , enjoying a great temporall estate left him by his father . he dyed . and was buried saith bishop godwin in barking church-yard , amongst the theeves and murderers , being surely a mistake in the printer , allhallows barking being on the other side the thames , nothing relating to the marshalsea . and i have been credibly informed that he was buried in the church-yard of s. georges in southwark . but so long as bonner is dead let him chuse his own grave where he will be buried . but enough , if not too much of this herostratus , who burnt so many living temples of the holy ghost , and who , had he not been remembred by other writers , had found no place in my history . since the reformation . john watson was born at * bengeworth in this county , where some of his name and relations remain at this day , bred ( i believe ) in oxford , and afterwards became prebendary , then dean of winchester . hence he was advanced bishop of that see , and the ensuing passage ( which , i expect , will meet with many infidels , though to me credibly attested ) will acquaint us with the occasion thereof , and suspecting the bishoprick of winchester when vacant would be offered unto him . dean watson aged sixty years , and desirous to lead a private life , in the sickness of bishop horn , privately promised the earl of leicester ( in that age the dominus fac multum ( if not totum ) in the disposall of church dignities , ) two hundred pounds that he might not be made bishop of winchester , but remain in his present condition . the bishoprick falling void , and the queen expressing her intention to confer it on watson , the foresaid earl requested the contrary , acquainting the queen with the passage betwixt them , how otherwise it would be two hundred pounds out of his way . nay then ( said the queen ) watson shall have it , he being more worthy thereof who will give two hundred to decline , then he who will give two thousand pounds to attain it . i confess , such who have read so much of the corruption of the earl of leicester , and heard so little of the integrity of watson , will hardly credit this story , which i am ready to believe , and the rather , because of this his epitaph written on his marble monument in the church of saint mary overies . d. johannes watson , hujus ecclesi●… winton . praebendarius , decanus , 〈◊〉 deinde episcopus , prudentissimus pater , vir optimus , praecipuè erga inopes misericors , obiit in domino january . anno ●…tatis . episcopatus quarto , . nothing else have i to observe , save that there were three watsons bishops in the raign of queen elizabeth , thomas of lincoln , our john of winchester , and anthony of chichester , though i believe little allied together . states-men . sir thomas coventry knight , was born at croone in this county , eldest son to sir thomas coventry knight , one of the justices of the common pleas. he was bred in the inner temple a student of the laws , and in the year . was treasurer of the said temple , and atturney generall to king james . he was afterwards made lord keeper of the great seal of england , the first day of november , in the first year of king charles . he was by the same king , created in the fourth of his raign april . baron coventry of alesborough in this county . an ingenious * gentleman in his history giveth him this character , in relation to his keeper-ship , that he injoyed that dignity fifteen years , if it was not more proper to say , that dignity enjoyed him . this latter age affording none better qualified for the place . adding , that he knew enough , and acted conformable to his knowledge , so that captious mali●…e ●…nds mute to blemish his fame . to which we will only adde some few operative words taken out of his patent when he was created baron . nos igitur in personâ pr●…dilecti , & per quam fidelis 〈◊〉 ●…stri thomae coventry militis , custodis magni sigilli nostri angliae , gratissima & dignissima serviti●… , quae idem consiliarius noster tam pr●…charissimo patri 〈◊〉 jacobo regi 〈◊〉 memoriae per multos an●…s , quam nobis ab ipsis r●…gni nostri primis auspiciis fidelissimè & prudentissimè praestitit & impendit , indiesque impendere non desistit ; nec non 〈◊〉 , prudentiam , strenuitatem , dexteritatem , integri●…tem , industriam , 〈◊〉 nos & nostram coronam animo benigno & regali intime recolentes constantiam & fidelitatem ipsi●… thomae coventry militis , &c. in cujus rei , &c. t. r. apud westm. decimo di●… aprilis anno regni regis caroli . he died about the beginning of january . before our civill distempers began , so that it is hard to say whether his honourable life , or seasonable death , was the greater favour which god bestow'd upon him . i must not forget , that it hath been observed , that never lord keeper made fewer orders , which afterwards were reversed , then this lord coventry , which some ascribe to his discretion , grounding most of his orders on the consent , and comprimise of the parties themselves interested therein , whose hands so tyed up by their own act , were the more willing to be quiet for the future . writers on the law. sir thomas litleton , knight . reader , the nimiety of my cautiousness ( loath to prejudice the seeming right of any ) made me to bestow part of his . character on staffordshire , who since am convinced , that he wholly and solely belongeth to this shire , as born at frankley therein , and i request the reader to rectify some mistakes i formerly * wrot by that which followeth . he was a man remarkable in many respects . first , for his extraction , he was son to thomas wescot , esquire , and elizabeth litleton his wife , who being a double inheritrix , by her father to the litletons , mother to the quatremains , indented with husband , that her heritable issue , should assume her surname . say not her husband might say , accepi dotem , cognomen perdidi , seeing it was done before his marriage by his free consent . besides we find even in scripture it self , joab being constantly named the son of his mother * zeruiah . secondly for his happiness , that two great kings had a great sympathy to him , who had an antipathy each to other , henry the sixth , whose serjeant he was , and rod judge of the northern circuit , and edward the fourth , who made him a judge , and in his raign he rod the northamptonshire circuit . thirdly , for his exquisite skill in the laws , witness his book of tenures , which though writ about two hundred years since , yet at this day , retaineth an authentical reputation . insomuch that when in the raign of king james , it came in question upon a demu●…rer in law , whether the release to one trespasser , should be available or no to his companion , sir henry hubbard , and judges warberton , winch , and nicols his companions , gave judgement according to the opinion of our litleton , and openly said , that they would not have his case disputed or questioned . lastly , for his happy posterity , having left three families , signally fixed and flourishing in this and the neighboring counties of stafford and salop. and * one saith very truely , that these quarter the armes of many matches , after the best manner of quartering them , ( other are scarce half-half-quartering them ) viz. they possess at this day , good land on the same account . indeed the lord * coke observeth that our lawyers seldome dye either without wills or heirs . for the first i believe it , for our common lawyers will not have their estates come under the arbitrary dispose of a civilian judge of the prerogative , and therefore wisely prevent it . for the second , the observation as qualified which seldome may pass , otherwise our grand-fathers can remember sir james dier lord chief justice , and periam lord chief baron , both dying without issue . his book of tenures hath since been commented on by sir edward coke , his most judicious pen. dic mihi , num textus vel commentatio prestat ? dicam ego , tam textus , quam commentatio prestat . he died in the . year of king edward the fourth , and lyeth buried in the cathedrall of worcester , having formerly constituted doctor alcock his faithfull friend , ( and then bishop of worcestor , ) supervisor of his will , who saw it performed to all criticall particulars . souldiers . richard beauchamp earl of warwick , was born at the ma●…or-house of * salwape in this county , january the . . king richard the second , and richard scroope then bishop of coventry , ( afterwards arch-bishop of york , ) were his godfathers . a person so redoubted for marshall atchievements , that the poeticall fictions of hercules his labours found in him a reall performance . . being hardly . years old in the fift of king henry the fourth , at the queens coronation he justed and challenged all commers . . he bid battle to owen glendour the welch rebell , put him to flight and took his bannor with his own hands . . he fought a pitch'd field , against the two piercies at shrewsbury , and overcame them . . in his passage to the holy land ( whither he went on pilgrimage ) he was challenged at verona by an italian sir pandulph malacet , to fight with him at three weapons , viz. with axes , arming swords , and sharp daggers , whom he had slain at the second weapon , had not some seasonably interceded . . fighting at justs in france with sir collard fines , at every stroke he bare him back-ward to his horse , and when the french suspected that he was tyed to his saddle , to confute their jealousies , our earl lighted , and presently remounted . . he was eminently active in the kings victorious battles in france , and might truely say , quorum pars ego magna fui . . he was one of those whom king henry the fifth sent to the counsell of constance , whose whole retinue amounted unto eight hundred horse . . here he killed a dutch duke who challenged him , sigismond the emperour and his empress beholding it . . the empresse affected with his valour , took the badge from one of the earls men , ( being a plain bear of silver ) an●… wore it on her shoulder . but the next day our earl presented her with a bear ( which was his crest ) made of pearls and precious stones . . being sent by king henry the fifth , with a thousand men in armes to fetch q. katherine , sole daughter to the king of france , he fought with the earls of vendosm and linosin , killed one of them with his own hand , routed the forces of five thousand men , and brought the lady , whom he saw safely married to the king. . he was by the said kings will , appointed governour to his son in his m●…no rity , and made lieutenant o●… a●…l france . . during his life our ●…uccess in france was progressive , and retrograde a●…ter his death . it must not be forgotten , how sigismond the emperour coming into england , told king henry the fifth , that no christian king had such another knight , fo●… 〈◊〉 , nurture , and manhood . he obtained leave of the king , ( because in his dominions ) that he might by imperial authority fix a title of honour upon him , and caused him to be named the father of courtesie , as indeed true courage and courtesie , are undividuall companions . the last time he went over into normandy , he was tossed with a hideous tempest , so that despairing of life , he caused himself to be bound ( for who could bind him against his will ? ) with his lady and infant son , to the main mast , on this design , that having his armour and coat of armes upon him , he might thereby be known , that such who should light on his corps , if either noble or charitable , might afford him a christian buriall . yet he escaping the tempest , and landing safely in france , dyed in his bed ( no usuall repose for so restless and active a spirit , ) at roan of a lingring disease april . . and lieth buried in a most stately tombe , in a chappel of the collegiat church of warwick , where his epitaph graven in brasse is pointed with bears , serving for commas , colons , periods , and all distinctions thereof . his * deeds of charity ( according to the devotion of those days ) were little inferior to the atchievements of his valour . physitians and chemists . sir edward kelley [ alias talbot , ] was born at worcester , ( as i have it from the scheame of his nativity , graved from the original calculation of doctor dee ) anno domini . august the first , at four a clock in the afternoon , the pole being there elevated , gr . . . . thus reader , i hope , that my exactness herein , will make some reparation for my uncertainties , and looser intelligence in the births of oth●…r persons . he was well studied in the mysteries of nature , being intima●…e wi●…h doctor dee , who was beneath him in chemistry , but above him in mathematicks . these two are said to have found a very large quantity of elixir , in the ruins of glass●…nbury - abby . indeed i have read , how william bird , the prior of the bath , left and lost the elixir in the walls of his priory ; and , it may seem strange , that what was lost at bath , was found at glassenbury , in the same county indeed , but sixteen miles asunder . but so long as kelley had this treasure , none need trouble themselves how or where he came by it . afterwards ( being here in some trouble ) he went over beyond the seas , with albertus alasco a polonian baron , who gave for his * armes the hull of a ship , having onely a main-mast and a top , without any tackling , and gave for his motto , deus dabit vela , god will send sails . but it seems , this lord had formeny carried too high a sail , of whom a good * author reporteth , that aere alieno oppressu●… clam recessit ▪ and now , it seems , sought to repair his fortunes , by associating himself with these two arch-chemists of england . how long they continued together , is to me unknown . sir edward ( though i know not how he came by his knight-hood ) with the doctor , fixed at trebona in bohemia , where he is said to have transmuted a brass * warming-pan ( without touching or melting , onely warming it by the fire , and putting the elixir thereon , ) into pure silver , a piece whereof was sent to queen elizabeth . he had great converse with rodulphus the second emperour . i have seen a voluminous manuscript , in sir thomas cotton his library , of the particulars of their mysterious proceedings ; where amongst many strange passages , i find this ensuing monstrosity . they kept constant intelligence with a messenger or spirit , giving them advice how to proceed in their mysticall discoveries , and injoyning them , that by way of preparatory qualification for the same , they should enjoy their wives in common . though boggling hereat at first , they resolved to submit thereunto , because the law-giver might dispence with his laws , in matters of so high a nature . hereby may the reader guess the rest of their proceedings . this probably might be the cause , why doctor d ee left kelley , and return'd into england . kelley continuing still in germany , ranted it in his expences ( say the brethren of his own art ) above the sobriety befitting so mysterious a philosopher . he gave away in gold-wyer-rings , at the marriage of one of his maid-servants , to the value of four thousand pounds . as for the high conceit he had of his own skill in chemistry , it appeareth sufficiently in the beginning of his own works , though i confess my self not to understand the geberish of his language . all you that fain philosophers would be , and night and day in geber's kitchin broyle , wasting the chips of ancient hermes tree ; weening to turn them to a precious oyle , the more you work , the more you loose and spoil . to you i say , how learn'd so e're you be , go burn your books , and come and learn of me . come we now to his sad catastrophe . indeed the curious had observed , that in the scheme of his nativity , not onely the dragons-tail was ready to promote abusive aspersions against him , ( to which living and dead he hath been subject , ) but also something malignant appears posited in aquarius , which hath influence on the leggs , which accordingly came to pass . for being twice imprisoned ( for what misdemeanor i know not ) by radulphus the emperor , he endeavoured his escape out of an high window , and tying his sheets together to let him down , fell ( being a weighty man ) and brake his legg , whereof he died . i believe him neither so bad as * some , nor so good as others do character him , all know , how separation is of great use amongst men of his profession ; and indeed , if his pride and prodigality were severed from him , he would remain a person , on other accounts , for his industry and experience in practical philosophy , worthy recommendation to posterity . writers . florence of worcester was probably born near , certainly bred in that city , one eminent in learning as any of his age , and no less industrious . many books are extant of his making , and one most usefull , beginning at the creation , and continued till his death . this he calleth chronicum chronicorum , which some esteem an arrogant title , and an insolent defiance of all authors before and after him , as if ( as the rose is flos florum , so ) his were the superlative chronicle of all that are extant . but others meet with much modesty in the title chronicum chronic●…rum , as none of his own making , but onely gathered both for matter and language out of others , he being rather the collector then the originall composer thereof . he died anno domini . john wallis or welsh , is confessed natione * anglus , which i observe , to secure his nativity against welch-claimes thereunto , onely grounded on his sur-name . yet i confess , he might be mediatly of welch-extraction , but born in this county , ( where the family of the walshes are extant at this day in a worshipfull equipage , ) where he became a franciscan in worcester . leaving oxford he lived in paris , where he was common ly called , arbor vitae , the tree of life , non absque insigni servatoris blasphemia , with no small blasphemy to our saviour , saith our * author . but , to qualifie the matter , we take the expression in the same sense , wherein * solomon calls a wholesome tongue a tree of life . yet might he better be termed , the tree of knowledge of good and evil , whose books ( amounting to no fewer then twenty volumes , ) are not so practicall for their use , as curious in their speculations . in the ancient libraries of bali●…l and oriel-colledge , most of his manuscripts are reported extant at this day . he died and was buried at paris , anno dom. . elias de * evesham was born in this county , of good parentage , from whom ( as it seemeth by j. bale ) he had expectancy of a fair estate . this did not hinder him , from being a benedictine in the abby of evesham , where he became a great scholar , and wrote an excellent chronicle . bale knoweth not , where to place him with any certainty . but pitz not more knowing , but more daring , assigneth him to have flourished in the year . william packington . i confess two villages ( the less and greater ) of this name in warwick-shire , and yet place this packington here , with no discredit to my self , and greater grace to him . for , first i behold him as no clergy-man , ( commonly called from their native places ) but have reasons to believe him rather a layman , and find an antient family of his name ( not to say alliance ) still flourishing in this county . he was secretary and treasurer to edward the black prince , and his long living in france , had made the language of his nurse more naturall to him , then the tongue of his mother . hence it was that he wrot in french the story of five english kings , [ king john , henry the third , edwards first , second and third , ] and a book of the atchievements of the black prince . he flourished anno dom. . since the reformation . sir edwin sandys , son to edwin sandys , d. d. was ( in all probability ) born in this county , whilst his father was bishop of worcester . he was bred in cambridge , and attained to be a most accomplished person . i have known some pitifull in affection , but poor in condition , willing but unable to relieve one in greater want then themselves , who have only gotten an empty purse , and given it to others to put their charity therein for the purpose aforesaid . such my case , i can only present the reader with a place in this my book for the character of this worthy knight , but can not contribute any coine of memoires or remarkables to the furnishing thereof . only let me adde , he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , right-handed to any great imployment ; and was as constant in all parliaments , as the speaker himself , being beheld by all as an excellent patriot ( faithfull to his country , without being false to his king , ) in all transactions . he was the treasurer to the undertakers for the western plantations , which he effectually advanced , the bermudaes ( the firmest ( though not the fairest ) footing the english have in the west-indies , ) owing their happiness to his care , and sandys tribe is no contemptible proportion therein . he had a commanding pen , witness his work of the religion of the western world , ( many in one book , ) so much matter is stowed therein . i have been informed , that he bequeathed by his will , a considerable summe to the building of a colledge in cambridge , but debts not coming in according to expectation , his good intention failed in the performance thereof . he died much lamented of all good men , about the year , . romish exile writers . richard smith d. d. was born in this * county , bred in the university of oxford , where he became kings professor and was fit for that place in all things , if ( as one of his own perswasion avoweth ) non obstitisset laterum debilitas , & vocis exilitas , the weaknes of his sides , and lowness of his voice had no hindred him . king edward the sixth , afterwards sent for peter martyr over to be his professor in this university , betwixt whom and doctor smith , so great the contest , that waving all ingagements it is best to state it to the eye of the reader , as it is represented by authors of both sides . pitz. de script . in anno . petrum martyrem apostatam monachum , & haeresis zuvinglicanae sectatorem , a rege edwardo sexto oxonii in cathedram theologicam intrusum , in publicis disputationibus haeresis convicit , & cathedr●…m suam victor repetiit , sed rege obstante non impetravit . in publick disputations he convicted peter martyr the apostate monke , and a follower of the zwinglian heresie , thrust in by king edward the sixth , into the divinity chair in oxford , and being conquerer did require his own chair to be restored him ; which he obtained not , because the king did withstand him . l. humphredus in vita juelli pag. . sed animosus iste achilles , die ad disputandum constituto , cum non compa●…eret , sed ad divum andream in scotiam profugeret , ratus eum qui in hoc articulo bene lateret , bene vivere . but this valiant achilles , when he did not appear on the day appointed for him to dispute , fled to saint andrews in scotland , conceiving it that in a case of this kind , he lived best who lay hid the closest . from st. andrews he afterwards conveyed himself over into the low-countries . but this smith returned afterwards in the raign of queen mary , when peter martyr was glad to get leave to fly from that university . thus we see ( as to speak unbiassed without reflexion on the cause ) that in such controversies it mattereth little who are the disputants on either side , whilst the prevalent power is the moderator . doctor smith flying again over into the low-countries , was made dean of saint peters in dorway , and the first professor in the university founded therein . he died anno domini . john marshall was born at dalisford in this county , as * new-colledge register doth attest , which is to be credited before j. pits making him to be born in * dorsetshire . he was bred at new-colledge in oxford , where he proceeded batchelor of laws , and for his gravity and learning was chosen second master of winchester school . but in the first of queen elizabeth he left the land with thomas hide , chief school-master thereof ; so that now their scholars had a fat otium , and in both their absence might play with security , till a ●…uccessor received their scepter . he became afterwards canon of lisle in flanders , though a long time disturbed in his quiet possession thereof . he wrot a book much prised by men of his perswasions , against john cal●…ld an english protestant . at his death he bequeathed a ring with a rich stone to adorne a piece of the crosse in his cathedrall ( which by doctor gifford was solemnly applied thereunto ) and died anno domini . robert bristow was born in this * connty , bred first in oxford in exeter-colledge , whence he conveyed himself over beyond the seas , living first at lovaine , then in the english colledge at doway . he was the first of that foundation that was made priest , being the right-hand of cardinall allen , who departing to rhemes , left bristow prefect of doway-colledge . afterwards he was sent for to rhemes , where he wrot his book * say the papists , contra futilem fulkum , against foolish * fulk , ( railing is easier then reasoning with such mouthes ) who indeed was a grave and godly divine . being very sickly , he was advised for his health to return into his native country , where having the good hap to miss that which cureth all diseases , he dièd in his bed near london . henry holland born in this * county , was bred fellow of saint johns-colledge in oxford . leaving the land he fled over to doway , where he took the degree of bachelour in divinity , and order of priest-hood . hence he removed to rhemes , where , saith my * author , traductioni bibliorum ●…crorum astitit , he assisted ( i might say truly to the traducing , but let it be ) the translating of the bible . returning to doway , he read divinity in a monastery hard by , wherein he was living . masters of musick . walter of evesham was born thereabouts , and bred therein a benedictine-monke . his harmonious mind expressed it self in its love of musick , wherein he attained to great eminency , and wrote a learned book in that faculty . but here bilious * bale le ts fly without fear , ( though not without some wit , ) inveighing against all musick in churches , pretending to produce a pair-royal of fathers for his own opinion , viz. saint jerome calling such chanting , theatrales modulos , gregory terming it consuetudinem reprehensibilem , and athanatius flatly forbidding it the church , for the vanity thereof . but by bales leave , such speak not against the decent ornaments of wives , who reprove the * garish attire of harlots , the abuse , not use of musick , being taxed by the fathers aforesaid . our walter flourished under king henry the third , anno . benefactors to the publick . reader , it may be disputed in me , whether i am more ashamed of or grieved for my mean intelligence of benefactions in this county , before and since the reformation . but i comfort my self , that the dugdales in this county , i mean the worthy future illustrators thereof , will supply my defect . onely i will adde richard dugard b. d. was born at grafton-fliford in this county , bred under master henry bright in the kings-school at worcester . i name him the rather , because never did master calvin mention his master corderius with more honor , then master dugard gratefully remembred master bright . he was chosen fellow of sidney-colledge , where in my time ( for i had the honor of his intimate acquaintance ) he had a moiety of the most considerable pupills , whom he bred in learning and piety , in the golden mean betwixt superstition and faction . he held a gentle-strict-hand over them , so that none presumed on his lenity to offend , or were discouraged by his severity to amend . he was an excellent grecian , and generall scholar ; old , when young , such his gravity in behaviour ; and young , when old , such the quickness of his endowments . he bestowed on the colledge an hundred and twenty pounds for some perpetuall use for the master and fellows : and ten pounds for books for the library . at last he was surprised with a presentation of the rectory of fulleby in lincoln-shire , where by his constant preaching and pious living , he procured his own security ; a rare happiness in those troublesome times . he died january . anno dom. . and lies buried under a marble-stone in his chancell . m●…morable persons . john feckenham was born of * poor parents in feckenham forest in this shire . he was the last clergy man i find ( and therefore memorable ) who locally was surnamed , and was bred a benedictine in evosham , and at the dissolution thereof ●…eceived an annual pension of an hundred florens , which ( in my accounting , ) make up some twenty pounds . this maintained him when afterwards he went and studied in oxford , attaining to eminent learning therein . in the raign of king edward the sixth , he was imprisoned in the tower , untill sir phillip hobby , ( to use feckenhams own words ) quasi mutuatum accepit , borrowed him of the tower. being at liberty , he had frequent disputations in the earnest , yet modest defence of his religion . by queen mary he was made abbot of westminster , being the last mitred abbot ( and therefore more memorable ) who sat in parliament . he was very gracious with the queen , and effectually laid out all his interest with her , ( sometime even to offend , but never ●…o injure her , ) to procure pardon of the faults , or mitigation of the punishments , for poor protestants . by queen elizabeth , he was highly honour●…d , and profered ( as is currantly traditioned ) the see of canterbury which he refused , and was kept in easy restraint . for although he found not the same favour with joseph , to whom the gaoler committed the care of all his family , making him super-intendent of all other prisoners , yet had he always respective usage , and oftimes liberty on his parol . by his bounty to the poor , he gained the good-will ( saith master camden ) of all persons , whilst i behold his bounty to others as the queens bounty to him , enabling ( because not disenabling ) him for the same , and permitting him peaceably to possess his estate . he died a very aged man in wisbich-castle , ( as i collect ) anno . and the character which pitzeus giveth him , may suffice for his epitaph . * erat in eo insignis pietas in deum , mira charitas in proximos , singularis observantia in majores , mitis affabilitas in inferiores , dulcis humanitas in omnes , mul●…plex doctrina , redundans facundia , incredibilis religionis catholicae zelus . henry bright was born in the city of worcester . no good man will grudge him under this title , who shall seriously peruse this his epitaph , composed by doctor joseph hall then dean in the cathedrall in worcester . mane hospes & lege , magister henricus bright , celeberrimus gymnasiarcha , qui scholae regiae istic fundatae , per totos quadraginta annos summa cum laude praefuit . quononalter magis sedulus fuit scitusve aut dexter in latinis , graecis , hebraius literis feliciter edocendis : teste utraque academia , quam instruxit affatim numerosa pube literaria . sed & totidem annis eoque amplius theologiam professus , & hujus 〈◊〉 per septennium canonicus major , saepissime hic & alibi sacrum dei praeconem magno cum zelo & fructu egit : vir pius , doctus , integer , frugi , de republica , deque ecclesia optime meritus , a laboribus perdiu , per noctuque ab anno . ad . strenue usque extant latis to . martii suaviter requievit in domino . for my own part , i behold this master bright , placed by divine providence in this city , in the marches , that he might equally communicate the lustre of grammerlearning , to youth both of england and wales . lord mayors . name father place company time richard lee simon lee worcester grocer richard a lee john a lee worcester — alexander avenon robert avenon kings norton iron-monger this is one of the twelve pretermitted counties , the names of whose gentry were not returned into the tower , by the commissioners , in the raign of king henry the sixth . sheriffs . hen. ii. anno anno will. de bello campo , for years . anno will. de bello campo & hugo de puckier anno ranul . de launch , for years . anno rob. de lucy anno mich. belet , for years . anno rad. de glanvill anno mich. belet anno rob. marivion for years . rich. i. anno rob. marmion anno will. de bello campo anno will. de bello campo , & rich. de piplinton anno idem . anno will. de bello campo anno idem . anno hen. de longo campo , for years . anno rad. de grafton joh . rex . anno rad. de grafton anno idem . anno will. de cantela & adam . de worcester , for years . anno rob. de cantelu , anno idem . anno will. de cantelu , & adam . clicus anno will. de cantelu , & walt. le puchier , for years . anno will. de cantelupo , & adam . ruffus anno will. de cantelupo , & adam . delwich anno idem . anno will. de cantelupo , & phus. kutton , for years . hen. iii. anno anno walt. de bello campo , & hen. lunett , for years . anno walt. de bello campo , for years . anno walt. de bello campo , & hug. le pohier anno walt. de bello campo , & tho. wigorne for years . anno walt. de bello campo , for years . anno walt. de bello campo , & hug. le poer ▪ anno walt. de bello campo , & will. de malvern , for years . anno walt. de bello campo , & hug. le pohier anno idem ( sive will. ) anno will. de bello campo , & will. de blandhall anno idem . anno will. de bello campo , & laur. de wandlesworth , for years . anno will de bello campo , & simon de london anno will. de bello campo , for years . anno will. de bello campo , & ioh. de hull anno idem . anno will. de bello campo , for years . edw. i. anno will. de bello campo comes warwic . for years . anno guido . de bello campo , for years . edw. ii. anno guido . de bello campo comes . warr , & rob. de berkenhall anno guido . de bello campo comes warr , & walt. de perthrope , for years . anno guido . de bello campo , & rob. de warwick anno idem . anno guido . de bello campo anno iohan. de he●…ingwoll anno walt. de bello campo anno idem . anno will. stracy anno idem . anno idem . anno will. de bello campo anno anno nich. russell anno idem . anno walt. de kokesey edw. iii. anno walt. de kokesey anno idem . anno rich ▪ de h●…deslowe , for years . anno tho. de bello campo comes warr , for years . rich. ii. anno tho. de bello campo comes warr , for years . anno tho. de bello campo , for years . anno tho. de bello campo anno idem . anno ioh. washburne anno hen. haggeley anno rob. russell hen. iv. anno tho. de bello campo anno tho. de bello campo , & will. beaucham anno tho. hodington anno rich. de bello campo comes warr , f●…r years . hen. v. anno rich. de bello campo , for years . hen. vi. anno rich. de bello campo , for years . anno norm . washburne subvic . in the . year of king henry the sixth , this worthy richard beauchamp deceased . and here the records are at a loss , ( such as ever since came to my hand ) presenting no sheriff for years , till the end of the raign of king henry the sixth . and yet i am confident that henry beauchamp son and heir to richard aforesaid , earl of warwick and albemarle ( for duke of albemarle i meet with none , before that illustrious person who now deservedly possesseth that honour , ) injoyed the shrevalty of this county . edw. iv. anno walt. scull subvic . for years . here we have an under-sheriff , but no high sheriff could my industry hitherto recover , though my confidence is grounded on good cause , that richard nevill ( the make-king ) duke of warwick , was honorary sheriff , though too great to officiate in his person . anno●… ●… iacob . radcliffe , mil. for years . rich. iii. anno iacob . radcliffe , miles anno will. houghton , miles anno hum. stafford & rich. nanfan . hen. vii . anno rich. nanfan anno idem . anno ioh. savage , mil. for years . anno ioh. savage , arm . for years . anno ioh. savage , mil. for years . hen. viii . anno ioh. savage , mil. for years . anno will. compton , mil. for years . henry vii . . johannes savace , mil. ] i behold him ( and am sure my eyes are not deceived ) as the same with that person , who was made knight of the garter , and privy-councellour to this king. yet will i not be positive , whether 't was he , or his son , who removing into cheshire , and marrying the heir-generall of the antient family of bostocks , attained thereby a great inheritance , and was ancestor to the present earl of rivers . henry viii . . will. compton , mil. ] he was highly and deservedly a favorite to this king , so that , in the court , no lay man abating onely charles brandon ( in whom affection and affinity met , ) was equall unto him . he might have been , for wealth or honour , what he pleas●…d , but contented himself with what he was . his son peter married into the right honorable family of shrewsbury , and his grand son sir henry compton , was one of the three , h. c ▪ [ henry cary , henry compton , and henry cheny , ] who were made barons by queen elizabeth , ancester to james earl of northampton . for the happiness of whom , and his , when i cannot orally pray , i will make signes of my affection to heaven . sheriffs . nam●…s place armes hen. viii .     a●…no     walt. walsh . ar .   a●…a fess betwixt martlets s. idem ut prius   ioh. russell , jun. strenshā argent , a cheveron betwixt crosses cros●…ets fitche s. rob. acton , ar . sutton gul. a fess within a border engrailed erm. gilbt . talbott , mil. grafcon g. a lion rampant and a border engrailed or. ioh. pakington , ar .   per ch●…veron s. and ar. in chief ioh. russell , mil. ut prius mullets or. in base as many go. th●…gmortō , * m. throgmortō g●…bes gules . tho. hunkes , † ar . radbroke * g. on a cheveron arg. barrs ioh. talb●…tt , mil. ut pri●… gemelle sable . rob. act●…n , mil. ut prius † ar mullets s. within a border platee . ioh. russell , mil. ut prius   edw. vi.     anno     will. sheldon , mil. beely s. a fess arg. betwixt swans proper . rich. ligon , mil.   argen●… , lions passant gules . will. gower , arm .   azure a cheveron between will. ligon , a●…m . ut prius ●…olves-heads erased or. tho. russell , mil. ut prius   ioh. talbott , mil. ut prius   phil & mar.     anno     hen. dingley , ar . charlton arg. a fess s. a 〈◊〉 ●…etwixt ioh. talbott , ar . ut prius ogresses in chief . tho. baskervile , m.   arg. a cheveron gul. betwixt will. sheldon , ar . ut prius hurts proper . ioh. littleton , ar . frankley arg. a cheveron between escalops shels s. ioh. knottesford , a. *         * arg. fucils in fess sable . eliz. reg.     anno     tho. russell , ar . ut prius   will. ligon , ar . ut prius   tho. packington , m. ut prius   galfr. markham , ar :   azu . in chief or , a lion issuant g. and ●…order arg. tho. baskervile , mil. ut prius   will. iefferyes , & will. hunkes , ar . holm . ●…af . sable a lion rampant betwixt   ut prius scaling ladders or. anth. daston , ar .     ioh. littledon , mil. ut prius   will. sheldon , ar . ut prius   hen. dingley , ar . ut prius   tho. russell , mil. ut prius   fran. walsh , arm . ut p●…ius   ioh. rowse , ar . rouslench sable , barrs engrailed arg. ioh. littleton , mil. ut prius   rich. ligon , ar . ut prius   edw. colles , ar .     edw. harewell , ar . bifford argent on a fess nebule sab. rad. sheldon , ar . ut prius hares-●…eads cooped of the first . ioh. russell , ar . ●…t prius   hen. berkley , ar .   g. a` cheveron txixt crosses argent . wal●… . blunt , ar . kid●…mister barry nebnle of or and fran. walsh , ar . ut prius sable . tho. folliat , ar . purton arg. a lion ramp . queve forchee ioh. walshburne , ar . ut infra purple , armed g. crowned or. rich. ligon . ar . ut prius   gilb. littleton , ar . ut prius   tho. lucy mil. warwi . gules , crusuly or , lucies or pikes , hauriant arg. will. child , ar . northwick gul. a cheveron erm. betwixt eagles closs , or. egid. read , ar .     geor. winter huddington sable , a fess ermine . will. savage , ar .   argent , lions rampant sable . edw. colles , ar . ut prius   hen. bromeley , mil.   quarterly per fess indented g. will. ligon , ar . ut prius and or. tho. biggs , ar . lenchwick arg. on a fess be●…wixt revens ioh. pakington , mil. ut prius proper , as many annulets of tho. folliat , ar . ut prius the field . edw. harewell , ar . ut prius   fran. dingley , ar . ut prius   will. walsh , ar . ut prius   will. child , ar . ut prius   ioh. washborn , ar .   arg. on a fess betwixt martlets gules cater-foiles of the first . will. savage , ar . ut prius   geor. blunt , ar . ut prius   th. russel , m. & ia. ut prius   jac. rex .     anno     tho. russell , mil. ut prius   rich. walsh , ar . ut prius   will. barnaby , ar . acton arg. a lion pass . gard. betwi●… walt snage , ar .   escalops s. ioh. pakington , mil. ut prius   arno. ligon , mil. ut prius   rich. greves , mil.     ioh. rowse , mil. ut prius   edr. pitt , mil. churwiard   ioh. savage , ar . ut prius azu . bars , and as many stars in chief or. rob. berkeley , ar . ut prius   sher. talbott , ar . ut prius   fran. moore , ar .     will. iefferies , ar . ut prius   will. berkeley , ar . ut prius   sam. sandys , mil.   or , a fess indented be●…wixt walt. blunt , ar . ut prius crosses croslets fitchee g. will. kite , ar .     edr. seabright , ar . besford argent , cinque foyles sable . ioh. woodward , m.     ioh. culpepper , ar . kent argent , a bend engrailed gules . egid. savage , mil. ut prius   car. rex .     anno     walt devereux , m.   argent , a fess gules , in cheif edw. cookes , ar .   tort●…uxs . rich. skynner , ar .     hen. bromley , ar . ut prius   will. ieffreys , ar . ut prius   arth. smithes , mil.     iacob . pitt , mil. ut prius   tho. good , ar .     ioh. keyt , ar .     ioh. savage , ar . ut prius   will. russell , bar . ut prius   ioh. rows , mil : ut prius   edw. dingley , ar . ut prius   tho. greaves , ar .     ioh. winford , ar .                                 queen elizabeth . . john russell , ar. ] the same gentleman ( no doubt ) who was afterwards knighted , and betwixt whom and sir henry berkeley , was so deadly a quarrell , as that great blood-shed was likely to have ensued , at the sessions in worcester , by reason of their many friends and followers ingaged therein . but doctor whitgift , then bishop of worcester , and vice-president of wales , ( in the absence of sir henry sidney , then in ireland , ) wisely prevented it , by providing a strong watch at the gates , and about the city ; and requiring them to bring both parties , with their attendance well guarded , to his palace . here he caused them all ( to the number of four * or five hundred ) to deliver their weapons into his own servants custody , and after two hours pains taken , sometimes in perswading , and otherwhiles in threatning them , he made them so good friends , that they both attended him hand in hand to the town-hall , where in amitie and love , they performed the service of their country . . john packington , mil. ] it is now good manners for me to hold my peace , and listen to a * privy-councellor , thus describing his character , he was a gentleman of no mean family , of form and feature no ways disabled a very fine courtier , and for the time which he stayed there ( which was not lasting ) very high in the queens grace . but he came in and went out , and though disassiduity , drew the curtain between himself and the light of her favour , and then death overwhelmed the remnant and utterly deprived him of recovery . and they say of him , that had he brought less to the court then he did , he might have carried away more then he brought , for he had a time of it , but was no good husband of opportunity . king james . . richard walsh , ar. ] i find him called in our chronicles , ( perchance by a prolepsis ) sir richard walsh . yea , i find him stiled so , by him who best might , because he * made him so , knighting him for his good service . in his sheriffalty , the powder-traitors , sereted out of warwick-shire by sir richard verney , were as fiercely followed by sir richard walsh , out of the bounds of this county , till they took covert in the house of stephen littleton , at hallbach in * stafford-shire . this discreet sheriff , not standing on the punctilio of exceeding his commission , in a case wherein the peace of the kingdome was so highly concern'd , prosecuted his advantage , and beset the house round about , till both the wrights were kill'd in the place , catesby and percy slain with one bullet , rookwood and winter wounded , all the rest apprehended . the battles . worcester fight . many smart skirmishes have happened in this county , and near this city . we onely insist on that fatall fight , september the third , . know then ( as introductory thereunto ) that his majesty on the first of august foregoing , began his march from edenbrough into england , not meeting with any considerable opposition , ( those at warrington being soon put to flight by his presence , ) untill he came to worcester : his army consisted of twelve thousand effectuall fighting men , ( whereof two thousand english , the rest of the scottish nation ) but neither excellently armed , nor plentifully stored with ammunition , whilst the parliament forces under cromwell , more then doubled that number , wanting nothing [ but a good cause ] that an army could wish or desire . the royalists cheifest strength consisted in two passes they possessed over the river of severn , which proved not advantagious according to expectation : for the enemy found the river fordable elsewhere ; and the bridge and pass at uptrn , though valiantly defended by major generall massey , ( who received a shot in his hand ) was forced by lambert powring in unequall numbers on the kings forces . besides cromwell finished a bridge of boards and plancks over the main river , with more celerity and less resistance , then could have been expected in a matter of such importance . then began the battle , wherein his majesty to remember his subjects good , forgot his own safety , and gave an incomparable example of valour to the rest , by charging in his own person . this was followed by few to the same degree of danger , but imitated in the greatest measure by the highlanders , fighting with the but-ends of their muskets , when their ammunition was spent . but new supplies constantly charging them , and the main body of the scotch horse not coming up in due time from the city to his majesties relief , his army was forced to retreat in at sudbury-gate , in much disorder . if there were ( which some more then whisper ) false and foul play in some persons of principall trust ; as they have had a great space seasonably , god grant them his grace sincerely to repent , for their treacherous retarding the happiness , prolonging and increasing the miseries of a gracious king and three great nations . sure it is , here were slain the flower of the scottish loyal gentry , with the most illustrious , william ( formerly earl of lanerick ) duke of hamilton . as for common souldiers , some few who escaped had a longer life , to have a sadder death , wandring in the country till other mens charity and their own strength failed them . since , how god hath conducted his majesty miraculously through laberynths of many difficulties , to the peaceable possession of his throne , is notoriously known to the wonder of the world . here my muse heartily craveth leave to make an humble address to his majesty , depositing at his feet the ensuing ▪ panegyrick . . at wor'ster great gods goodness to our nation , it was a conquest your bare preservation . when ' midst your fiercest foes on every side for your escape god did a lane provide ; they saw you gonc , but whether could not tell , star-staring , though they ask'd both heaven and hell. . of forraign states you since have studied store , and read whole libraries of princes o're . to you all forts , towns , towers and ships are known , ( but none like those which now become your own . ) and though your eyes were with all objects fill'd , onely the good into your heart distill'd . . garbling mens manners you did well divide , to take the spaniards wisdome , not their pride . with french activity you stor'd your mind , leaving to them their ficklenesse behind ; and soon did learn , your temperance was such , a sober industry even from the dutch. . but tell us , gracious soveraign from whence took you the pattern of your patience ? learn't in afflictions school , under the rod , which was both us'd and sanctifi'd by god ; from him alone that lesson did proceed , best tutor with best pupil best agreed . . we , your dull subjects , must confess our crime , who learnt so little in as long a time , and the same school . thus dunces poring looks men●… not themselves , but onely marre their bnoks . how vast the difference 'twixt wise and fool ? the master makes the scholar , not the school . . with rich conditions rome did you invite , to purchase you their royall proselyte , ( an emptysoul's soon tempted with full coffers ) whilst you with sacred scorn refus'd their proffers . and for the faith did earnestly contend abroad , which now you do at home defend . . amidst all storms , calm to your self the while , saddest afflictions you did teach to smile . some faces best become a mourning dress , and such your patience , which did grace distress , whose soul despising want of worldly pelf , at lowest ebbe went not beneath it self . . gods justice now no longer could dispence with the abusing of his providence , to hear successe his approbation styl'd , and see the bastard brought against the child . [ scripture ] by such , who in their own excuse their actings 'gainst his writings did produce . . the pillar , which gods people did attend , to them in night a constant light did lend , though dark unto th' egyptians behind ; such was brave monck in his reserved mind , a riddle to his foes ●…e did appear , but to you and himselfe , sense plain and clear . . by means unlikely god atchives his end , and crooked ways straight to his honour tend ; the great and antient gates of london town , ( no gates , no city ) now are voted down , and down were cast , o happy day ! for all do date our hopefull rising from their fall . . mens loyal thoughts conceiv'd their time was good , but gods was best ; without one drop of bloud , by a dry conquest , without forraign hand , ( self-hurt , and now ) self-healed , is our land. this silent turn did make no noise , o strange ! few saw the changing , all behold the change. . so solomon most wisely did conceive , his temple should be stil born though alive . that stately structure started from the ground unto the roof , not guilty of the sound of iron tool , all noise therein debarr'd ; this virgin-temple thus was s●…en , not heard . . th' impatient land did for your presence long , england in swarms did into holland throng , to bring your highness home , by th' parliament lords , commons , citizens , divines were ●…ent : such honour subjects never had before , such honour subjects never shall have more . . th' officious wind to serve you did not fail , but scour'd from west to east to fill your sail , and fearing that his breath might be too rough , prov'd over-civil , and was scarce enough ; almost you were becalm'd amidst the main , prognostick of your perfect peacefull raign . . your narrow seas , for forraigners do wrong to claim them , ( surely doth the ditch belong not to the common continent , but isle inclosed ) did on you their owner smile , not the least loss , onely the naseby mar'ls to see her-self now drowned in the charles . . you land at dover , shoals of people come , and kent alone now ●…eems all christen dom. the cornish rebels ( eight score summers since ) at black-heath fought against their lawful prince which dolefull place with hatefull treason stain'd its credit now by loyalty regain'd . . great london the last station you did make , you took not it , but london you did take : and now no wonder men did silence break , when conduits did both french and spanish speak . now at white-hall the guard , which you attends , keeps out your foes , god keep you from your friends . . the bells aloud did ring , for joy they felt hereafter sacriledge shall not them melt . and round about the streets the bonfires blaz'd , with which new lights fanatiques were amaz'd . the brandisht swords this boon begg'd before death , once to be 〈◊〉 , then buried in the sheath . . the spaniard looking with a serious eye , was forc'd to trespass on his gravity , close to conceal his wondring he desir'd , but all in vain , who openly admir'd . the french , who thought the english mad in mind , now fear too soon they may them sober find . . the germans seeing this your sudden power , freely confess'd another emperour . the joyful dane to heav'ns cast up his eyes , presuming suffering kings will ●…ympathize . the hollanders ( first in a sad suspence ) hop'd , that your merty was their innocence . . long live our gracious charles , second to none in honour , who ere sate upon the throne : be you above your ancestors renown'd , whose goodness wisely doth your greatness bound ; and knowing that you may be what you would , are pleased to be onely what you should . . europ's great arbitrator , in your choice is plac'd of christendom the casting voice ; hold you the scales in your judicious hand , and when the equal beam shall doubtfull stand , as you are pleased to dispose one grain , so falls or riseth either france or spain . . as sheba's queen defective fame acc●…s'd , whose niggardly relations had abus'd th' abundant worth of solomon , and told not half of what she after did behold : the same your case , fame hath not done you right , our ears are far out-acted by our sight . . your self 's the ship return'd from forreign trading , england's your port , experience the lading , god is the ` pilot ; and now richly fraught , unto the port the ship is safely brought : what 's dear to you , is to your subjects cheap , you sow'd with pain , what we with pleasure reap . . the good-made laws by you are now made good , the prince and peoples right both understood , both being bank'd in their respective station , no fear hereafter of an inundation . oppression , the kings-evil , long indur'd , by others caus'd , by you alone is cur'd . and here my muse craves her own nunc dimittis , never to make verses more ; and because she cannot write on a better , will not write on another occasion , but heartily pray in prose , for the happiness of her lord and master . and now having taken our vale of verses , let us therewith take also our farewell of worcester-shire . the farewell . i read in a good * author , how the state of lunenburg in germany , ( whose chief revenues arise from the sale of salt , ) prohibited poor people the benefit thereof . whereupon divine providence ( offended , that a monopoly was made of his mercy ) stopped the flowing of those salt-springs . for a time , till the poor were restored to their paxtage therein . i am not particularly instructed , what share the poor have in the salt of this shire , not knowing how their interest is stated therein : but i presume the concernments of the poor are well cared for , and all things equally ordered betwixt them and rich-people , grounding my confidence on the long and large continuance of the salt-pits amongst them . all i will adde , is this ; i shall pray that they may indeavour for spirituall-soul-savoriness , that their speech may be always with grace seasoned . as for the loyal city of worcester , ( which deserves a particular farewell by it self : ) i heartily desire , that god would be pleased to restore unto it the years , which the locust , caterpillar , and palmer-worm have devoured . and how quickly can he doe it ( as by infinite other ways , so ) by blessing the clothing , the staple commodity in this county ? not ●…ormerly omitted by me , but pretermited till this occasion . sure it is , that the finest ( though this may seem a word of challenge ) cloth of england , is made at worcester , and such i believe , was that which * erasmus , that great critick ( who knew fine cloth as well as pure latine ) is calleth pannus britannicus ; lempster wool ( in the neighboring county of hereford ) being here made into ( pardon the prolepsis till it be died ) the purest scarlet . york-shire . york-shire hath the bishoprick of durham and westmer land on the north ; lancashire and a snip of cheshire on the west ; derby , notingham and lincolnshire , ( divided by humber ) on the south ; and the german ocean on the east thereof . it extendeth ( without any angular advantages ) unto a square of fourscore and ten miles , adequate in all dimensions unto the dukedome of wirtenberg in germany . yea , on due consideration , i am confident , that all the seven united provinces , cannot present such a square of solid continent , without any sea interposed . one may call and justify this to be the best shire of england , and that not by the help of the generall katachresis of good for great , ( a good blow , good piece , &c. ) but in the proper acception thereof . if in tullies orations , ( all being excellent ) that is adjudged optima quae longissima , the best which is the longest , then by the same proportion , this shire ( partaking in goodness alike with others ) must be allowed the best . seeing devonshire it self the next in largeness , wisely sensible of the visible inequality betwixt them , quits all claimes of corrivality , ( as a case desperate ) and acknowledgeth this as paramont in greatness . indeed , though other counties have more of the warm sun , this hath as much as any of god's [ temporall ] blessings . so that let a survayer set his center at pon●…fract or thereabouts , and take thence the circumference of twenty miles , he there will meet with a tract of ground not exceeded for any , nor equalled for the goodness and plenty of some commodities . i would term it the garden of england , save , because it is so far from the mansion house , i mean , the city of london . insomuch that such sullen dispositions , who do not desire to go thither , only because of the great distance , the same if settled there , would not desire to come thence , such the delight and pleasure therein . most true it is , that when king henry the eight , anno . made his progress to york , doctor tonstall bishop of durham , then attending on him , shewed the king a valley , ( being then some few miles north of doncaster , ) which the bishop * avowed to be the richest that ever he found in all his travails thorough europe . for within . miles of hasselwood the seat of the vavasors there were , . mannor houses of lords , knights and gentlemen of the best quality . . severall woods , whereof some of them contain five hundred acres . . parks and two chases of dear . . rivers and brooks , whereof five be navigable , well stored with salmon and other fish. . water-mills , for the grinding of corn on the aforesaid rivers . . cole-mines , which yield abundance of fuell for the whole county . . forges for the making of iron , and stone enough for the same . and within the same limits as much sport and pleasure for hunting , hawking , fishing and fowling , as in any place of england besides . naturall commodities . geat . a word of the name , colour , vertues and usefulness thereof . in latine it is called gagates , ( as different in nature , as alike in name to the precious stone called gagites , onely found in an eagles nest ) whence our english word geat is deduced . but be it remembred , that the agate , vastly distinct from geat , is also named gagates . it is found in this county towards the sea side , in the * clefts of the rocks , whose gaping chaps are filled up therewith . it is naturally of a reddish and rusty colour , till it becomes black and bright by polishing . indeed the lustre consists in the blackness thereof , ( negroes have their beauties as well as fair folk , ) and vulgar eyes confound the inlayings made of black marble ( polished to the height ) with touch , geat and ebony , though the three former be stones , the last a kind of wood . the vertues of geat are hitherto conceal'd . it is the lightest of all solid ( not porous ) stones , and may pass for the embleme of our memories , attracting trifles thereto , and letting slip matters of more moment . rings are made thereof , ( fine foyles to fair fingers ; ) and bracelets with beads , here used for ornament , beyond sea for devotion ; also small utensills as salt-cellars , and the like . but hear how a * poet describes it . nascitur in lycia lapis , a prope gemma gagates , sed ge●…us eximium faecunda britania mittit , lucidus & niger est , levis & laevicssimusi idem : vicinas paleas trahit attritu calefactus , ardet aquâ lotus , restinguitur unctus olivo . geat a stone , and kind of gemm , in lycia grows , but best of them most fruitfull britain sends , 't is bright and black , and smooth and very light ▪ if rubb'd to heat , it easily draws , unto it self both chaffe and straws . water makes it fiercely flame , oyle doth quickly quench the same . the two last qualities , some conceive , to agree better to our sea-coal , then geat , whence it is , that some stiffly maintain , that those are the brittish gagates meant by forraign authors ; and indeed , if preciousness of stones be measured , not from their price and rarity , but usefulness , they may be accounted precious . but hereof formerly in the bishoprick of durham . alume . this was first found out nigh ge●…burgh in this county , some sixty years since , by that worthy and learned knight sir thomas chaloner ( tutor to prince henry ) on this occasion . he observed the leaves of trees there abouts more deeply green then elsewhere , the oakes broad-spreading , but not deep-rooted ; with much strength , but little sap ; the earth clayish , variously coloured , here white , there yellowish , there blew , and the ways therein in a clear night glistering like glass ; symptoms which first suggested unto him the presumption of minerals , and of alum most properly . yet some years interceded betwixt the discovery and perfecting thereof ; some of the gentry of the vicinage , burying their estates here under earth , before the alum could be brought to its true consistency . yea , all things could not fadge with them , untill they had brought ( not to say stolń ) over three prime workmen in hogsheads from rochel in france ; whereof one , lambert russell by name , and a walloon by birth , not long since deceased . but when the work was ended , it was adjudged a mine royal , and came at last to be rented by sir paul pindar , who paid yearly , to the king . the earl of moulgrave . . sir william penniman . besides large salaries to numerous clarks , and daily wages to rubbish-men , rockmen , pit-men , and house-men or fire-men ; so that at one time ( when the mines were in their majesty ) i am credibly informed he had in pay no fewer then eight hundred , by sea and land . yet did not the knight complain of his bargain , who having the sole sale of the commodity to himself , kept up the reputation thereof , and the price of alum at six and twenty pound the tun. this he did the easier , because no better , and scarce other ( save what from rome and rochel ) alum in all europe . but the late long-lasting-parliament , voted it a monopoly , and restored the benefit thereof to the former proprietaries , who now pursue the work at five severall places . . sands-end , belonging to the e. of moulgrave . . ash-holme , belonging to the e. of moulgrave . . slapy-wath , sir william ( formerly penniman's ) darcey's . . dunsley , mr. tho. fairfax's . whitbay sir hugh cholmley's . such now the emulation betwixt these owners , to under-sell one another , that the commodity is fallen to thirteen pound the tun. great the use hereof in physick and surgery , as a grand astringent ; besides , much thereof is daily employed by clothiers , glovers , dyers , &c. so that some will maintain , that another thing in england as white and far sweeter then alum , may of the two be better spared , with less loss to the common-wealth . lime . i am credibly informed that within few miles of pontfract , no less then twenty thousand pounds worth of this coarse commodity is yearly made , and vended in the vicinage . it is a great fertilizer of ground if judiciously disposed of . indeed the laying of lime on light and sandy ground ( like the giving hot cordials to persons in high feavours , enough to drive them into a frenzy , ) will soon burn out the heart thereof , which bestowed on cold and chill ground , brings it to a fruitfull consistency , and prudently ordered , it will for a long time retain the same . horses . these are mens wings , where with they make such speed . a generous creature an horse is , sensible in some sort of honour , made most handsome , by ( that , which deformes man most , ) pride . the kings of israel , were not forbidden ( as some may mistake ) the having , but the * multiplying of them ; cheifly , because they were a forraign , yea , an egyptian commodity , and god would cut off from his children all occasion of commerce with that country , which was the staple-place of idolatry . our english horses have a mediocrity of all necessary good properties in them , as neither so slight as the barbe , nor so slovenly as the flemish , nor so fiery as the hungarian , nor so aery as the spanish gennets , ( especially if , as reported , they be conceived of the wind , ) nor so earthly as those in the low-countries , and generally all the german horse . for stature and strength , they are of a middle size , and are both seemly and serviceable in a good proportion . and whilst the seller praiseth them too much , the buyer too little , the indifferent stander by , will give them this due commendation . it is confessed , that our english horse , never performed any eminent and signall service beyond the seas , in comparison of the atchivements of their infantry . partly , because our horses sent over many together in ships , beat and heat themselves , and are not for suddain use in the field , after their transportation , so that some time of rest must be allowed them , for their recovery . partly , because the genius of the english hath always more inclined them to foot-service , as pure and proper man-hood indeed without any mixture , whilst in a victory on horse-back , the credit thereof , ought in equity to be divided betwixt the man and his horse . yorkshire doth breed the best race of english horses , whose keeping commonly in steep and stony ground , bringeth them to firmness of footing and hardness of hoof . whereas a stud of horses bred in foggy fenny ground , and soft rotten morasses ( delicacy marrs both man and beast , ) have often a fen in their feet , being soft and soon subject to be foundred . well may philip be so common a name amongst the gentry of this county , who are generally so delighted in horsemanship . i have done with this subject , when i have mentioned the monition of david , an horse is * but a vain thing to save a man , though it is no vain thing , to slay a man , by many casualties , such need we have whether waking or sleeping , whether walking or riding , to put our selves by prayer into divine protection . manufactures , as for cloathing , so vigorously followed in this county , we refer it to our farwell in this our description , and here insist on , knives . these are the teeth of old men , and usefull to those of all ages . for , though some think themselves scarce gentlemen with knives , as good as they , conceive themselves scarce men without them , so necessary they are on all occasions . the most of these for common use of country-people , are made in this county ; whereof the bluntest , with a sharp stomack , will serve to cut meat , if before them . sheffeild , a remarkable market , is the staple town for this commodity , and so hath been these three hundred years , witness chaucer speaking of the accoutrements of the * miller . a sheffeld whitel bare he in his hose . one may justly wonder how a knife may be sold for one penny , three trades anciently distinct concurring thereunto , bladers , haft-makers , and sheath-makers , all since united into the corporation of cutlers . nor must we forget , that though plain-knife-makeing was very antient in this county , yet * thomas mathews on fleet-bridge london , was the first englishman , who quinto elizabethae made fine knives , and procured a prohibition , that no more ships-lading of hafts should be brought from beyond the seas . pins . a pin passeth for that which is next nothing , or ( if you will ) is the terminus a quo , from which something doth begin , and proceed from a pin to a pound , &c. however it is considerable both as hurtfull and usefull ; hurtfull , if advantagiously placed it may prove as mortall , as a poneyard ; the life of the greatest man lying at the mercy of the meanest thing ; usefull , not onely to fasten our ornaments , but fill up the c●…ks betwixt our cloathes , lest wind and weather should shoot thorough them . many and very good of these are made in this county , a commodity not to be slighted , since the very dust that falls from them is found profitable . we commonly say that it is not beneath a proper person to stoop to take up a pin , untill he be worth ten thousand pounds , according to the thrifty rule in latine : qui negligit minima nunquam ditescet . such who admire , that so many millions of pins , made , sold , used , and lost in england , should vanish away invisible , may rather wonder how so many that wear them , ( being no more then pins in the hand of their maker , ) doe decay , die , and slip-down in the dust , in silence and obscurity . i will adde , that the world is well altered with england , as to this commodity , now exporting so much of them into forraign parts , whereas formerly * strangers have sould pins in this land to the value of threescore thousand pound a year . medicinall waters . about a mile and a half from knares-borough westward , in a morish boggy ground ariseth a spring of a vitrioline tast and odour . it was discovered by one master slingsby , about the year . and is conceived to run paralell with the spaw waters in germany . not far off , is a sulphur-well , which hath also the qualities of saltness and bitterness ; the stench whereof though offensive , ( patients may hold their nose and take wholesome physick ) is recompenced by the vertues thereof . insomuch , ( as my * author saith ) it heateth and quickneth the stomack , bowels , liver , spleen , blood , veynes , nerves , and indeed the whole body , insomuch that it consumes crudities , rectifieth all cold distempers in all parts of the body , causeth a good digestion , cureth the dropsy , spleen , scurvy , green-sickness , gout . and here it is high time to hold still , for if this last be true , let that disease which formerly was called dedecus medicinae , be hereafter termed decus fontis knaresburgensis . in the same parish over against the castle ( the river nid running betwixt ) ariseth a spring which runneth a little way in an entire streame , till dammed at the brow of the discent with ragged rocks , it is divided into severall trickling branches , whereof some drop , some streame down , partly over , partly through a jetting rock , this is called the petrifying well , ( how grammatically i will not engage ) because it converteth spungy substances into * stone , or crusteth them over round about . we must not forget saint mungus his well which some have slighted as an ineffectuall superstitious relique of popery , whilst others maintain it hath regained its reputation , and is of soveraign vertue . some will have the name thereof mistaken , for saint magnus , which in my opinion was rather so called from saint mungo ( kentigernus in latine ) a scotish saint , and much honoured in these northern parts . i believe no place in england can shew four springs so near in scituation , so distant in operation . such as desire to know more of the nature and use of these springs , of the time , manner and quantity , wherein the waters are to be taken , and how the patient is to be dieted for his greater advantage , may inform themselves by perusing two small treatise , one set forth , anno . by edmund dean doctor of physick , living in york , called spadsacrena anglica . the other written some six years since by john french doctor of physick , and is very satisfactory on that subject . the buildings . the church of beverly is much commended for a fine fabrick , and i shall have a more proper occasion to speak hereafter of the collegiate church in rippon , but amongst antient civil structures we mu●… not forget , wrese●… castle . it is sealed in the confluence of derwent and owse . in what plight it is now i know not , but hear how leland commendeth it in his itinerary through this county . it is built of square stone , which some say was brought out of france , it hath four fair towers , one at each corner , and a gatehouse ( wherein are chambers five stories high , ) which maketh the fifth . in lelands time it looked as new built , though then . years old , as being erected by the lord percy earl of winchester , in the raign of king richard the second . without the walls ( but within the mote , ) gardens done opere topiario . in a word , he termeth it one of the properest buildings north of trent . but that which most affected him , was a study , in an eight square tower , called paradise , furnished with curious and convenient deskes , loaden with variety of choice books ; but as noahs floud is generally believed of learned men , to have discomposed the paradise in eden , so i shrewdly suspect that the deluge of time hath much impaired , if not wholly defaced , so beautifull a building , then belonging to the earl of northumberland . amongst many fine and fair houses now extant in this county , we hear the highest commendation of maulton late the house of the lord euers . proverbs . from hell , hull , and halifax , — deliver us . ] this is part of the beggars and vagrants letany . of these three frightfull things unto them , it is to be feared , that they least fear the first , conceiting it the furthest from them . * hull , is terrible unto them , as a town of good government , where vagrants meet with punitive charity , and 't is to be feared are oftner corrected then amended . halifax , is formidable unto them for the law thereof , whereby theeves taken 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the very act of stealing of cloath , are instantly beheaded with an engine , without any further legal proceedings . a scarborough warning . ] that is none at all , but a s●…dain surprize , when a mischief is felt before it be suspected . this proverbe is but of . years standing , taking its originall from * thomas stafford , who in the raign of queen mary , anno . with a small company seized on scarborough-castle , ( utterly distitute of provision for resistance ) before the towns-men had the least notice of his approach . however , within six days , by the industry of the earl of westmerland , he was taken ▪ brought to london , and beheaded . so that since the proverb accepteth a secondary ( but no genuine ) sense ; and a scarborough-warning may be a caveat to any , how he undertaketh a treacherous design . but if any conceive this proverbe of more antient original , fetching it from the custome of scarborough-castle in former times , with which , it was not a word and a blow , but a blow before and without a word ; as using to shoot ships which passed by and strook not sail , and so warning and harming them both together ; i can retain mine own , without opposing their opinion . as true steel as rippon rowels . ] it is said of trusty persons , men of metall , faithfull in their imployments . spurs are a principal part of knightly hatchments , yea , a * poet observes , the lands that over ouze to barwick forth doe bear , have for their blazon had the snaffle , spur , and spear . indeed , the best spurs of england , are made at rippon a famous town in this county , whose rowels may be inforced to strike through a shilling , and will break sooner then bow . however the horses in this county are generally so good , they prevent the spurs , or answer unto them , a good sign of thrifty metall for continuance . an yorkshire * way-bit . ] that is an over-plus not accounted in the reckoning , which sometime , proveth as much as all the rest . ask a country-man here on the high-way , how far it is to such a town , and they commonly return , so many miles and a way-bit , which way-bit , is enough to make the wearied travailer surfet of the length thereof . if such over-measure be allowed to all yards , bushels , &c. in 〈◊〉 shire , the poor therein have no cause to complain of their penny-worths , in buying any commodities . but hitherto we have run along with common report , and false spelling , ( the way not to win the race ) and now return to the starting place again . it is not way-bit , though generally so pronounced , but wee-bit a pure yorkshirisme , which is a small bit in the northern language . merry wakefield . ] what peculiar cause of mirth this town hath above others , i doe not know , and dare not too curiously inquire , left i turn their mirth among themselves , into anger against me . sure it is seated in a fruitful soyl , and cheap country , and where good chear and company are the premisses , mirth ( in common consequence ) will be the conclusion . which , if it doth not trespass in time , cause and measure , heraclitus the sad philosopher , may perchance condemn , but saint hilary , the good father will surely allow . princes . henry , youngest son to william duke of normandy , but eldest to king william the conquerour , ( by whom he was begotten after he was crowned king , ) on which politick 〈◊〉 , he claim'd and gain'd the crown , from duke robert his eldest brother , was anno dom. . born at selbey in this county . if any ask , what made his mother travail so far north from london ? know it was to enjoy her husbands company ; who , to prevent insurrections , and settle peace , resided many months in these parts ; besides , his peculiar affection to selby , where after he founded a mitredabby . this henry was bred ( say some ) in paris , say * others in cambridge , and i may safely say in both , wherein he so profited , that he attained the surname of beauclerke . his learning may be presumed a great advantage to his long and prosperous raign for thirty five years and upwards , wherein he remitted the norman rigour , and restored to his subjects a great part of the english laws and liberties . indeed his princely vertues , being profitable to all , did with their lustre so dazle the eyes of his subjects , that they did not see his personall vices , as chiefly prejudicial to himself . for , he was very wanton , as appeareth by his numerous natural issue , no fewer then * fourteen , all by him publickly owned ; the males highly advanced , the females richly married , which is justly reported to his praise , it being lust to beget , but love to bestow them . his sobriery otherwise was admirable , whose temperance was of proof against any meat objected to his appetite , lampreys alone excepted , on a surfeit whereof he died , anno domini . he had onely two children , william dying before , and maud surviving him ; both born in normandy , and therefore omitted in our catalogue . thomas fifth son of king edward the first , and the first that he had by margaret his second wife , was born at ( and surnamed from ) brotherton , a small village in this county , june . anno dom. . he was created earl of norfolke , and earl marshall of england . he left no male-issue , but from his females , the mowbrays dukes of norfolke , and from them the earls of arundel and lords berkeley are descended . richard plantagenet duke of york , commonly is called richard of conisborrow , from the * castle in this shire of his nativity . the reader will not grudge him a place amongst our princes , if considering him fixed in his generation betwixt an antiperistasis of royal extraction , being , son , to a son of a king. father , to the father of a king. edmund of langley , duke of york . richard duke of york . fifth son to k. edward . father to king edward . besides he had married anne , daughter and sole heir to edward mortimer , the true inheritrix of the crown . but tampering too soon and too openly , to derive the crown in his wives right to himself , by practising the death of the present king , he was taken and beheaded for treason , in the raign of k. henry the fifth . edward sole son to king richard the third , and anne his queen , was * born in the castle of midleham , near richmond in this county ; and was by his father created prince of wales . a prince , who himself was a child of as much hopes , as his father a man of hatred . but he consumed away of a suddain , dying within a month of his mother ; king richard little lamenting the loss of either , and presently projecting to repair himself by a new marriage . the untimely death of this prince , ( in respect of the terme to which by naturall possibility he might have attained ) in his innocent age , is generally beheld as a punishment on him , for the faults of his father . the tongue foreswears , the ears are cut off ; the hand steals , the feet are stocked , and that justly , because both consisting of the same body . and because proles est pars parentis it is agreeable with divine justice to inflict on children temporal judgements for defaults of their parents . yet this judgment was a mercy to this prince , that he might not behold the miserable end of his father . let me adde , and a mercy also to all england . for had he survived to a mans estate , he might possibly have proved a wall of partition , to hinder the happy union of the two houses of york and lancaster . saints . hilda was daughter unto prince hererick , nephew to edwin king of northumberland , and may justly be counted our english huldah , not so much for sameness of sex , and name-sounding similitude , as more concerning conformities . huldah lived in a * colledge , hilda in a convent at strenshalt in this county ; huldah was the oracle of those times , as hilda of her age , being a kind of a * moderatresse in a saxon synod , ( or conference rather ) called to compromise the controversie about the celebration of easter . i behold her as the most learned english female before the conquest , and may call her the she-gamaliel , at whose feet many learned men had their education . she ended her holy life with an happy death , about the year of our lord . benedict biscop was born saith pitz amongst the east saxons ; saith * hierome porter in yorkshire , whom i rather believe . first , because writing his life ex professo , he was more concerned to be curious therein . secondly , because this benedict had much familiarity with , and favour from oswy king of northumberland , in whose dominions he fixed himself , building two monasteries , the one at the influx of the river were , the other at the river tine into the sea , and stocking them in his life time with benedictine moncks . he made five voyages to rome , and always returned full fraught with reliques , pictures and ceremonies . in the former is driven on as great a trade of cheating , as in any earthly commodity , in so much that i admire to meet with this passage in a jesuite , and admire more that he met not with the inquisition for writing it . addam , * nonnunquam in tem plis , reliquias dubias , profana corpora pro sanctorum , ( qui cum christo in coelo regnant ) exuviis sacris fuisse proposita . he left religion in england , braver , but not better then he found it . indeed , what tully said of the roman lady , that she danced better then became a modest woman , was true of gods service as by him adorned , the gaudiness prejudicing the gravity thereof . he made all things according ( not to the patern in the mount with mose's , but ) the precedent of rome ; and his convent , being but the romish transcript , became the english original , to which all monasteries in the land were suddenly conformed . in a word , i reverence his memory , not so much for his first bringing over painted glass into england , as for his bringing up pious bead in his monastery . being struck beneath the girdle with the dead palsey , his soul retired into the upper rooms of his clay cottage , much employed in meditation , untill the day of his death , which happened anno . saint john of beverley , may be challenged by this county , on a threefold title , because therein he had his . birth , at harpham in this county , in the east-riding . . life , being three and thirty years and upwards , archbishop of york . . death , at beverley in this county , in a colledge of his own foundation . i remember his picture in a window in the library at salisbury , with an inscription under it ( whose character may challenge to it self three hundred years antiquity ) affirming him the first master of arts in oxford , and alfredus beverlacensis reporteth as much . arts indeed were , and oxford was ( though hardly an university ) in that age ; but seeing the solemnity of graduating was then unknown , a judicious * oxonian rejecteth it as a fiction . more true it is , that he was bred at strenshalt under hilda aforesaid , which soundeth something to her honour , and nothing to his disgrace , seeing eloquent apollos himself learned the primer of his christianity , partly , from † priscilla . he was afterwards educated under theodorus the grecian and arch-bishop of canterbury . yet was he not so famous for his teacher , as for his scholar , venerable bede , who wrote this johns * life , which he hath so spiced with miracles , that it is of the hottest for a discreet man to digest into his belief . being very aged , he resigned his arch-bishoprick , that he might the more effectually apply his private devotions in his colledge at beverley , for which he procured the freedstool from king athelston . yet such sanctuaries ( though carrying something of holiness in their name ) had a profane abuse for their very use , making malefactours with their promise of impunity , and then protecting them from justice . saint john died may . . and was buried in the porch of his collegiate church . a synod held at london . assigned the day of his death an anniversary solemnity to his memory . thomas plantagenet . before i proceed , i must confess my self formerly at a great loss , to understand a passage in an honourable author , speaking of the counterfeit reliques detected and destroyed at the reformation . lord herbert in the life of king henry the eighth , pag. . the bell of saint guthlac , and the felt of saint thomas of lancaster , both remedies for the head ach . but i could recover no saint thomas ( saving him of canterbury ) in any english martyrology , till since on inquiry i find him to be this thomas plantagenet . he was earl of derby , lancaster , leicester , and ( in the right of alice his wife ) of lincoln . a popular person , and great enemy to the two spencers , minions to king edward the second , who being hated as devils for their pride , no wonder if this thomas was honoured , as a saint and martyr , by the * common sort . indeed he must be a good chymist , who can extract martyr out of malefactour , and our chronicles generally behold him put to death for treason against k. edward the d. but let him pass for a saint in this shire , though never solemnly canonized ; it being true of such locall saints , what servius honoratus observeth of topicall gods , ad alias regiones nunquam transibant , they travailed not so far as to be honoured in other countries . his beheading , alias his martyr●…ome , happened at pontfret , anno dom. . richard * role alias hampole had his first name from his father , the other from the place ( three miles from doncaster ) where living he was honoured , and dead was buried , and sainted . he was a heremite , led a strict life , and wrot many books of piety , which i prefer before his propheticall predictions , as but a degree above almanack prognostications . he threatned the sins of the nation , with suture famine , plague , inundations , war , and such generall calamities , from which , no land is long free , but subject to them in some proportion . besides his predictions if hitting , were heeded ; if missing , not marked . however , because it becomes me not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , let him pass for a saint . i will adde , that our saviours * dilemma to the jews , may partly be pressed on the papists his contemporaries . if hampoles doctrine was of men , why was he generally reputed a saint ; if from god , why did they not obey him , seeing he spake much against the vitiousness and covetousness of the clergy of that age ? he died anno domini . john of birlington or bridlingtom was born hard by that town , bred two years in oxford , where he profited in piety and learning above his age and equals . returning home , for a short time he was teacher to a gentlemans sons , untill the twentieth year of his age he entred himself a canon-regular in the covent of bridlington , where he grew eminent for his exemplary holiness . it was his happiness that such offices always fell to his share , as did not retard but quicken his devotion , as chaunter , almoner , &c. at last he was cho●…en prior , but refus'd the place , alledging his own unworthiness , professing he had rather be beaten in pieces with blows , then accept thereof , so that another was put into the place . this new elect dying soon after , our john was chosen again in the vacancy , and then took it , fearing there might be as much peevishness in rejecting , as pride in effecting it , and hoping that providence which fairly called him to , would freely fit him for the discharge of that office . he used to treat strangers at his table with good chear , and seemingly kept pace with them in eating , morsell for morsell , whilst he had a secret contrivance , wherein he conveyed his exceedings above his monasticall pittance . being demanded of one why he did not enter into more strict and austere order , surely , said he , a man may lead a sincere and acceptable life in any order , and it were arrogancy in me to pretend to a severer discipline , when i cannot observe as i ought , this easier course of life . my * author saith , that martha and mary were both compounded in him , being as pious , so provident to husband the revenues of their house to their best advantage . going to view their lands in richmond-shire , he gave a visit to a woman lately turn'd an ancorist , and renowned for her holiness ; she told him , that now her vision was out , who the night before dreamed , that an eagle flew about her house with a label in his bill , wherein was written jesus is my love , and you , saith she , are the person who so honour him in your heart , that no earthly thing can distract you . to whom our john returned , i came hither to hear from you some saving and savoury discourse , but seeing you begin with such idle talk , farewell ; and so waved any farther converse . however , i must not dissemble , that the prophesies fathered on this our john are as fabulous and frivolous as her dreams , witness that deadly passage in an excellent * author , in johannis de bridlington vatis monastici vaticinales rythmos omnino ridiculos incidimus : yet no doubt he was a holy man , and could one light on his life unleavened , before heaved up with the ferment of monkish fiction , it would afford many remarkables . he died in the sixtieth year of his age , . and was reputed ( though i believe not solemnly canonized ) a saint , amongst his own countrimen . william sleightholme . it is pity to part him from his last named dear friend , such the sympathy of amity and sanctity betwixt them . once this william demanded of his friend john , what might be the reason , that the devil in their days afrighted few , if any , with his terrible appearance , who in former ages was very frequent with formidable apparitions ? reflecting in this his question , perchance on saint pauls messenger of satan sent to * buffet him , but chiefly on those usuall [ reported ] personall combates of the devil with saint dunstan , guthlake , &c. to whom his friend return'd , we are grown so remiss in goodness , that the devil needs not put himself to such pains , seeing less and lighter temptations will doe the deed . it is recorded * of this william , that he was one of singular piety , and after his death wrought many miracles at his tombe in the monastery of bridlington , where he was buried about the year . i will adde no more , but that i have a learned friend william sleight holme doctor of physick living at buntingford in hartfordshire , but born in this county , whom i believe remotely related to this saint . expect not here , that i should adde to this catalogue that maiden , who to secure her virginity from his unchast embraces that assaulted it , was by him barbarously murdered , whereby she got the reputation of a saint , and the place , the scene of his cruelty , ( formerly called horton ) the name of hali-fax or holy-hair . for the credulous people conceited that the veins which in form of little threds spred themselves between the bark and body of that * yew-tree , ( whereon the head of this maid was hung up ) were the very hairs indeed of this virgin head , to whom they flock in pilgrimage . oh! how sharp sighted , and yet how blind is superstition ? yet these country-folks fancies had the advantage of * daphnes being turned into a laurell-tree . in frondem cri●…es , in ramos brachia crescunt . into a bough her hair did spred , and from her armes two branches bred . but here she is wholly omitted , not so much because her name and time are unknown , but because the judicious behold the whole contrivance devoid of historicall truth . martyrs . the county ( and generally the province of york ) escaped very well from popish persecution , which , under gods goodness , may be justly imputed to the tempers of their four succeeding arch-bishops . . thomas wolsey , whom all behold as a person more proud , then cruell ; not so busying himself to maintain popery , as to gain the popedome . . edward lee , more furious then the former , persecuting many to imprisonment , none to death , save two , of whom * hereafter . . robert hollgate , who was , as they say , a parcell-protestant , imprisoned and deprived for being married . . nicholas heath , a meek and moderate man , carrying a court of conscience in his bosome , long before queen mary made him chancellor of england . hereupon it came to pass , that the diocess of york was dry with gedeon's fliece , whilst others lying near unto it , were wet in their own tears and blood . confessors . where no fish , there no fry , and seeing here no martyrs , which are confessors full blown , no wonder if here no confessors , which are martyrs in the bud . cardinalls . john fisher was born in the town of beverly in this county , his father robert fisher was by condition a merchant , and lived in good reputation . he was afterwards bred in michaell-house in cambridge , whereof he was the first chancellor pro termino vitae , and bishop of rochester . how this fisher was caught afterwards in the net of elizabeth barton , ( commonly called the holy maid of kent , ) thereby made accessary to her dissembling ; how stiffe he was against king henrys divorce and title of supream head of the church ; how the pope sent him a cardinalls cap , and the king cut off his head , hath been so largely related in my ecclesiastical history ; and being i hope pardoned by the reader for my former tediousness , i will not now contract a new guilt by offending in prolixity on the same person . the rather because his manuscript life written . years since by richard hall of christs-colledge in cambridge , is lately set forth in print under the name of thomas b●…ily d. d. in which book as i doe not repine at any passages , ( though hyperbolicall ) to the praise of this prelate ; so i cannot but be both angry and grieved at the many false and scandalous reflections therein , on the worthy instruments of our reformation . this learned bishop was beheaded in the year . the threescore and seventeenth year of his age . let me adde he was tryed by an ordinary jury , and not by his peers , whereof severall reasons are rendred . some thought he forgot to demand his priviledge herein , ( disturb'd with grief and fear ) as edward duke of somerset forgot to crave the ben●…fit of the clergy , or , that he neglected it as surfetting of long life , and 〈◊〉 of his dissolution . others , because he preferred death in a direct line before a circumferential passage thereunto , ( as certain though not so compendious ) being assured that the lords durst not displease the king in acquitting him . but most imput●… it to his suspicion that if desiring to be tryed by his peers , it would have been denyed him , as not due to a bishop . and yet that worthy lawyer , judge stamford in his pleas of the crown * leaveth it doubtfull , and seemeth inclined to the affirmative . besides sir robert brook in his novell cases * affirmeth in express terms , that a bishop is peer of the realm , and ought to be tryed by his peers . the best is , our charity may be confident , that our bishops will so inoffensively behave themselves , and god we hope so secure their innocence , that there will not hereafter be need to decide this question . prelates . eustathius de fauconbridge was born in this county , where his surname appeareth among the antient sheriffs thereof . he was chosen bishop of london , in the sixth of king henry the third , anno . carrying it clearly from a company of able competitors , occasioning this distick , ▪ * omnes his digni , tu dignior omnibus , omnes hic plene sapiunt , plenius ipse sapis . all here are worthy , thou the worth : est , all fully wise , thou wiser then the rest . * others played on his name eustatius [ one that stood well ] both in respect of his spirituall estate ( yet let him that standeth take heed lest he fall ) and temporall condition , well fixed in the favour of prince and people , being chief justice , then chancellour of the chequer , and afterwards treasurer of england , and twice embassadour to the king of france . he deserved right well of his own cathedrall , and dying october . . was buried under a marble tombe , on the south-side of the presbytery . william de melton , was born in this county , ( wherein are * four villages so named ) and preferred therein provost of beverly , and canon , then arch-bishop of york . he went to avinion , there to procure his consecration . i say to avinion , whither then the court was removed from rome , and continued about threescore and ten years , on the same token , that those remaining at rome ( almost starved for want of employment ) called this the seventy years captivity of babilon . consecrated after two years tedious attendance , he returned into england , and fell to finish the fair fabrick of his cathedrall , which john roman had began , expending seven hundred marks * therein . his life was free from scandall , signall for his chastity , charity , fasting and praying . he strained up his tenants so as to make good musick therewith , but not break the string , and surely church-lands were intended , ( though not equally , yet ) mutually for the comfortable support both of landlord and tenants . being unwilling that the infamy of infidell should be fixed upon him , ( according to the apostles doctrine ) for not providing for his family , he * bought three mannors in this county , from the arch-bishop of roan , with the popes confirmation , and setled them on his brothers son , whose descendant william melton , * was high-sheriff of this county , in the fiftieth of king edward the third . there is a place in york as well as in london called the old-baly , herein more remarkable then that in london , that arch-bishop melton compassed it about with a * great wall. he bestowed also much cost in adorning feretrum [ english it the bear or the coffin ) of saint william , a person purposely omitted by my pen , because no assurance of his english extraction . arch-bishop melton dyed , ( after he had sate two and twenty years in his see ) anno domini . entombed in the body of his church nigh the font , whereby i collect him buried below in the bottom of the church , that instrument of christian initiation , antiently advancing but a little above the entrance into the church . henry wakefeild is here placed with assurance , there being three towns of that name in ( and none out of ) this county . indeed his is an episcopall name , which might mind him of his office , the diocess of worcester , ( to which he was preferred anno . by king edward the third , ) being his field , and he by his place to wake or watch over it : nor hear i of any complaints to the contrary , but that he was very vigilant in his place . he was also for one year lord treasurer of england . dying march . . he lyeth covered in his own church , * ingenti marmore , and let none grudge him the greatness of his grave-stone , if two foot larger then ordinary , who made the body of this his church , two arches longer westward then he found it , besides a fair porch added thereunto . richard scroope son to the lord scroope of bolton in this county , brother to william earl of wilt-shire , was bred a doctor of divinity in cambridge , attaining to be a man of great learning and unblamable life . nor was it so much his high extraction as his own abilities causing him to be preferred bishop first of coventry and lichfield , then arch-bishop of york . being netled with the news of his earl-brothers beheading , he conjoyned with the earl of northumberland , the earl marshall , lord bardolph and others , against king henry the fourth as an usurper , and invader of the liberties of church and state. the earl of westmerland , in outward deportment complied with him , and seemed to approve a writing wherein his main intentions were comprised , so to trepan him into his destruction : toling him on , till it was too late for him either to advance or retreat , the king with his army being at pontfract . bishop godwin saith , it doth not appear that he desired to be tried by his peers , and i believe it will appear , that nothing was then calmly or judiciously transacted , but all being done in an hurry of heat , and by martiall authority . the executioner had five strokes at his neck , before he could sunder it from his body , imputable not to his cruelty but ignorance , it not being to be expected , that one nigh york , should be so dextrous in that trade as those at london . his beheading happened anno . stephen patrington was born in the village so called in the east-riding of this county . he was bred a carmelite and doctor of divinity in oxford , and the three and twentieth provinciall of his order through out england * for fifteen years . it is incredible ( saith leland ) what multitudes of people crowded to his sermons , till his fame preferred him chaplain and confessour to king henry the fifth . he was deputed of the king , commissioner at oxford , to enquire after and make process against the poor wicklevites , and as he was busyed in that employment , he was advanced to the bishoprick of saint davids . hence he was sent over to the councill of constance , and therein ( saith walsingham ) gave great testimony of his ability . returning into england , he was made bishop of chichester , but dying before his translation was finished . was buried in white-fryars in fleetstreet . william peircy was son to henry peircy ( second earl of northumberland of that name ) and eleanour nevill his wife . indeed the son of a publique woman , conversing with many men , cannot have his father certainly assigned , and therefore is commonly called filius populi . as a base child , in the point of his father is subject to a sham●…full , so is the nativity of this prelate as to the place thereof , attended with an honorable uncertainty , whose noble father had so many houses in the northern parts , that his son may be termed a native of north-england ▪ but placed in this county because topliffe is the principall , and most antient seat of this family . he was bred a doctor of divinity in cambridge , whereof he was chancellour , and had a younger brother george peircy a clerk also , though attaining no higher preferment then a prebend in beverly . our william was made bishop of carlile , . master mills * erroneously maketh him afterwards bishop of wells , and it is enough to detect the mistake without disgracing the mistaker . he died in his see of carlile . cuthbert tonstall was born at hatchforth in richmond-shire in this county , of a most worshipfull family , ( whose chief seat at tonstall thurland not far off , ) and bred in the university of cambridge , to which he was in books a great benefactor . he was afterwards bishop of london , and at last of durham . a great grecian , orator , mathematician , civilian , divine , ( and to wrap up all in a word ) a fast friend to erasmus . in the raign of king henry the eight , he publiquely confuted the papall supremacy in a learned sermon , with various and solid arguments , preached on palmes-sunday before his majesty anno domini . and yet ( man is but man ) he returned to his errour in the raign of king edward the sixth , continuing therein in the first of queen elizabeth , for which he was deprived of his bishoprick . he shewed mercy when in power , and found it in his adversity , having nothing but the name of a prisoner , in which condition he died , and was buried at lambeth . ralph baines was born in this * county , bred fellow of saint johns-colledge in cambridge . an excellent linguist in latine , greek and hebrew , i say hebrew then in its nonage , whereof baines was a good guardian , first in learning , then in teaching the rules thereof . hence he went over into france , and became hebrew professor at paris . he wrot a comment on the proverbs in three volumes , and dedicated it to king franc is the first of france , that grand patron of good men and great scholars . pitz telleth us , * ferunt , it is reported , that the ministers of geneva , have much depraved many of his writings in severall places , which i doe not believe . such passages ( doubtlesly according to the authors own writing ) being reducible to two heads . first , his fair mentioning of some learned linguists though protestants , with whom he kept an epistolary correspondency . secondly , some expressions in preferring the original of scripture , to the diminution of the vulgar translation . returning into england , he was by queen mary , made bishop of coventry and litchfield . hitherto no ill could be spoken of his intellectualls , and hereafter no good of his moralls in point of his cruelty , he caused such persecution in his diocess . his greatest commendation is , that though as bad a bishop as christopher son , he was better then bonner . in the first of queen elizabeth he was deprived of his bishoprick , and dying not long after of the stone , was buried in saint dunstans . since the reformation . thomas bentham was born in this * county , bred fellow of magdalen-colledge in oxford . under king henry the eight , he was a complier with , no promoter of popery . in the first of queen mary , repenting of his former , he resolved not to accumulate sin , refusing not onely to say mass , but also to correct a scholar in the colledge ( though urged thereto by * sir robert reed the prime visitor , ) for his absence from popish prayers , conceiving it injurious to punish in another , that omission for a fault , which was also according to his own conscience . he also then assisted henry bull ( one of the same foundation ) to wrest out , and throw down out of the hands of the choristers the censer , when about to offer their superstitious incense . no wonder then if he was fain to fly into forraign parts , and glad to get over into germany , where he lived at basil , preacher to the english exiles , to whom he expounded the intire book of the acts of the apostles . now seeing the apostles suffering was above all their doing , it was a proper portion of scripture , for him hence , to press patience to his banished country-men . towards the end of queen mary , he was secretly sent for over , to be superintendent of the london conventicle , ( the onely true church in time of persecution , ) where with all his care and caution , he hardly escaped . in the second of queen elizabeth , he was consecrated bishop of coventry and lichfield , succeeding ralph baines therein , ( one of the same county with him , but a different judgement , ) and died on the . of february . edmund guest was born at * afferton in this county ; bred fellow of kings-colledge in cambridge , where he proceeded doctor of divinity . he was afterwards almoner to queen elizabeth , and he must be both a wise and a good man whom she would trust with her purse . she preferred him bishop first of rochester , then of salisbury , john bale ( saith my * author ) reckoneth up many books made by him of considerable value . he died february . . the same year and month with his country-man thomas bentham aforesaid . miles coverdale was born in this * county , bred in the university of cambridge , and afterwards became an augustine frier , till his eyes being opened he quitted that superstitious profession . going into germany , he laboured greatly in translating of the bible , and in writing many books reckoned up by john bale . he was made doctor of divinity in the university of tubing , and returning into england , being incorporated in cambridge , was soon after made bishop of exeter , by king edward the sixth . but alas , he was not comfortably warme in his place , before his place by persecution grew too hot for him , and in the first of queen mary he was cast into prison , a certain forerunner of his martyrdome , had not frederick king of denmark seasonably interposed . this good king with great importunity hardly obtained this small courtesie , viz. that coverdale should be enlarged , though on this condition , to be banished out of h●…s country . in obedience whereunto , he went over into germany . in the first of q●…een elizabeth he returned to england , but not to exeter ; never resuming that , or accepting any other bishoprick . severall men assigned severall causes hereof , but coverdale onely knew the true reason himself . some will say , that for the books he made , he had better been placed under the title of learned writers , or for the exile and imprisonment he suffered ranked under confessors , then under the title of prelats , manifesting an aversness of his own judgement thereunto , by not returning to his bishoprick . but be it known that coverdale in his judgement approved thereof ; being one of those bishops , who solemnly consecrated mathew parker arch-bishop of canterbury at lambeth . now , quod efficit tale , magis est tale , i understand it thus , he that makes another arch-bishop , is abundantly satisfyed in his judgement and conscience of the lawfullness thereof , otherwise such dissembling had been inconsistent with the sincerity of so grave and godly a person . he died anno dom. . and lyes buried in saint bartholomews behind the exchange , under a fair stone in the chancell . adam loftus was born in this * county , and bred in trinity-colledge in cambridge , where he commenced doctor of divinity the same year with john whitgift afterwards arch-bishop of canterbury . he was chaplain to robert earl of sussex , deputy of ireland , and was first made arch-bishop of armagh , anno . and afterwards arch-bishop of dublin , anno . wonder not that he should desire his own degradation , to be removed from armagh ( then primate of ireland ) to dublin a subordinate arch bishoprick , seeing herein he consulted his safety ( and perchance his profit ) more then his honour , armagh being then infested with rebells , whilst dublin was a secure city . after the death of sir william gerrard , he was made chancellour of ireland , which place he discharged with singular ability and integrity , untill the day of his death . and that which in my judgement commendeth him most to the notice of posterity , and most ingageth posterity in thankfullness to his memory , is , that he was a profitable agent in , yea , a principall procurer of the foundation of the university and colledge of dublin , ( where dermitius son of mercard king of lemster had formerly found a convent for canons regular , ) and the first honorary master thereof , being then arch-bishop ( if not chancellour of ireland , ) to give the more credit and countenance to tha●… foundation . he died aprill . anno . and was buried in the church of saint patrick , having been arch-bishop from his consecration eight months above two and forty years . reader , i must confess , i admired hereat , untill i read that miller magragh ( who dyed anno domini . ) was arch-bishop of cassell in ireland ten months above * one and fifty years . george mountaine was born in this county , at ......... and bred in quéenscolledge in cambridge , where he became fellow and proctor of the university . he was chaplain to the earl of essex , whom he attended in his voyage to cales , being indeed one of such personall valour , that out of his gown , he would turn his back to no man ; he was afterwards made dean of westminster , then successively bishop of lincoln , and london : whilst residing in the latter , he would often pleasantly say , that of him the proverb would be verified , lincoln was , and london is , and york shall be , which came to pass accordingly , when he was removed to the arch-bishoprick of york , wherein he died ; thorough which sees , never any prelate so methodically passed but himself alone . he was a good benefactour to the colledge wherein he was bred , whereon he bestowed a fair piece of plate , ( called poculum charitatis , with this inscrip tion incipio , i begin to thee , ) and founded two scollerships therein . capitall judges . sir william gascoinge was born at * gauthorp in harwood parish , ( in the mid-way betwixt leeds and knaresburgh , ) and afterwards was student of the law in the inner temple in london . wherein he so profited , that being knighted , the sixth of king henry the fourth , he was made chief justice of the kings-bench , november . and therein demeaned himself with much integrity , but most eminent for the following passage . it happened that a * servant of prince henry ( afterwards the fifth english king of that christian name ) was arraigned before this judge for fellony , whom the prince then present endeavoured to take away , coming up in such fury , that the beholders believed he would have stricken the judge . but he sitting withou●… moving , according to the majesty he represented , committed the prince prisoner to the kings-bench , there to remain untill the pleasure of the king his father were farther known . who , when he heard thereof by some pickthank courtier , ( who probably expected a contrary return ) gave god thanks for his infinite goodness , who at the same instant had given him a judge who could minister , and a son who could obey justice . i meet in j. * stow with this marginall note , william gascoinge was chief justice of the kings-bench , from the sixth of henry the fourth , till the third of henry the fifth : and another * historian maketh king henry the fifth , in the first of his raign , thus expressing himself in relation to that lord chief justice , for which act of justice i shall ever hold him worthy of the place , and my favour , and wish all my judges to have the like undaunted courage , to punish offenders of what rank soever . hence our * comedian ( fancy will quickly blow up a drop in history into a bubble in poetry , ) hath founded a long scene on the same subject . give me leave for my love to truth to rectifie these mistakes out of authentick records . first , gascoinge was made judge not in the sixth , but first of king henry the fourth , * on the first of november . secondly , he died december . in the fourteenth of king henry the fourth , so that in a manner , his sitting on the bench ran parallel to the kings sitting on the throne ; this date of his death is fairly written in his stately monument in harwood church . gu●…do de fairfax . a word of his surname and family . fax and vex are the same , signifying hair. hence mathew * westminster calleth a comet ( which is stella ●…rinita ) a vexed star , and this family had their name from beautifull bushy hair. i confess i find in * florilegus , writing of the holy war , primum bellum christianorum fuit apud pontem pharfax fluminis , the first battle of the christians was at the bridge of the river pharfax , but cannot concur with them who hence derive the name of this family . but where ever it began it hath continued at walton in this county , more then four hundred and fifty years , for * nineteen generations , charles a viscount now living being the twentieth . but to return to sir guiao fairfax knight , he was bred in the study of the common law , made serjeant thereof , and ever highly favoured the house of york in those civil distempers . hence it was that he assumed a white-rose , bearing it in his coat of armes on the shoulder of his black lyon , ( no difference as some may suppose , but ) an evidence of his affection to that family . yet was he by king henry the seventh advanced lord chief justice of the kings-bench , supplying the * intervall betwixt sir william hussey and sir john fineaux . the certain date of his death is to me unknown . roger cholmley knight . he is placed in this county with moderate assurance . for his father ( as i am instructed by those of his family ) lived in this county , though branched from cheshire , and much conversant in london , being lieutenant of the tower under king henry the seventh . by his will he bequeathed a legacy to roger his naturall son , then student of the laws , the self same with our roger , as proportion of time doth evince . he applyed his studies so effectually , that in the . of king henry the eight in michaelmas terme , he was made chief * baron of the exchequer , and in the sixth of edward the sixth chief justice of the kings-bench . in the first of queen mary july . he , with sir edward mountague , lord chief justice of the common pleas , was committed to the * tower , for drawing up the testament of king edward the sixth , wherein his sisters were dis-inherited . yet sir rogers activity amounted no higher then to a complyance and a subscription of the same . he afterwards was enlarged but lost his judges place , living some years in a private condition . when william flower was burnt in westminster , sir hugh being present , ( though called by * master fox but plaine master cholmley , ) willed him to recant his heresy , which i impute rather to his carnall pity , then great affection to popery . he built a free-school of brick at high-gate * about the year . the pension of the master being uncertain , and the school in the disposition of six governours , and i believe he survived not long after , and have some ground for my suspicion that he dyed without issue . sir cristopher wray knight , was born in the spatious parish of bedall , the main motive which made his daughter frances countess of warwick , scatter her benesactions the thicker in that place . but i have been informed , that his ancestor by some accident , came out of cornwell where his name is right antient. he was bred in the study of our municipall law , and such his proficiency therein , that in the sixteenth of queen elizabeth in michaelmas term , he was made lord chief justice of the kings-bench . he was not like that judge who feared neither god nor man , but onely one widow ( lest her importunity should weary him , ) but he heartily feared god in his religious conversation . each man he respected in his due distance off of the bench , and no man on it to biass his judgement . he was pro tempore , lord privy seal , and sate chief in the court , when secretary davison was sentenced in the star chamber . sir christopher collecting the censures of all the commissioners , concurred to fine him , but with this comfortable conclusion , that , as it was in the queens power to have him punished ; so , her highness might be prevailed with for mitigating , or remitting of the fine , and this our judge may be presumed no ill instrument in the procuring thereof . he bountifully reflected on magdalen-colledge in cambridge , which infant foundation had otherwise been starved at nurse for want of maintenance . we know who saith , * the righteous man leaveth an inheritance to his childrens children , and the well thriving of his third generation , may be an evidence of his well-gotten goods . this worthy judge died may the eighth , in the thirty fourth of queen elizabeth . states ▪ men. pardon reader my post poning , this topick of states-men , being necessitated to stay a while for further information . sir john puckering , kt. was born at flamborough head in this county , as i have learned out of the * notes of that industrious and judicious antiquary mr. dod●…worth . he was second son to his father , a gentleman who left him neither plentiful nor penurious estate : his breeding was more beneficial to him than his portion , gaining thereby such skill in the common law , that he became queens-serjeant , speaker in the house of commons , and at last lord chancellor of england . how he stood in his judgement in the point of church-discipline , plainly appeareth by his following speech , delivered in the house of lords , . the original whereof was courteously communicated unto me . and especially you are commanded by her majesty to take heed , that no eare be given , nor time ▪ afforded to the wearisome solicitations of those , that commonly be called puritans , wherewithal the late parliaments have been exceedingly importuned ; which sort of men , whilest that ( in the giddiness of their spirits ) they labour and strive to advance a new eldership , they do nothing else but disturb the good repose of the church and commonwealth : which is as well grounded for the body of religion it self , and as well guided for the discipline , as any realm that prosesseth the truth : and the same thing is already made good to the world , by many the writings of godly and learned men , neither answered nor answerable by any of these new fangled refiners . and , as the present case standeth , it may be doubted , whether they , or the jesuits do offer more danger , or be more speedily to be repressed . for , albeit the jesuites do empoison the hearts of her majesties subjects , under a pretext of conscience , to withdraw them from their obedience due to her majesty : yet , do they the same , but closely , and only in privy corners : but these men , do both teach and publish in their printed books , ●…nd teach in all their conventicles , sundry opinions , not only dangerous to the well-setled estate and policy of the realm , by putting a pique between the clergy and the la●…ty ; but also much derogatory to her sa●…red majesty , and her crown , as well by the diminution of her ancient and lawfull revenues , and by denying her highness prerogative and supremacy , as by off●…ng peril to her majesties safety in her own kingdom . in all which things ( however in other points they pretend to be at war with the popish jesuites ) yet by this separation of themselves from the unity of their fellow-subjects , and by abasing the sacred authority and majesty of their prince , they do both joyn and concur with the jesuites , in opening the door , and preparing the way to the spanish invasion , that is threatned against the realm . and thus having according to the weaknesse of my best understanding , delivered her majesties royal pleasure and wise direction , i rest there , with humble suit for her majesties most gracious pardon in supply of my defects , and recommend you to the author of all good counsel . he died anno domini . caractered by * mr. cambden , vir integer . his estate is since descended , ( according to the solemn settlement thereof ) the male-issue failing , on sir henry newton , who according to the condition , hath assumed the sur●…name of puckering , and i can never be sufficiently thankful to him and his relations . sir george calvert , kt. was born at kiplin near richmond in this county , had his education first in trinity colledge in oxford ; then beyond the seas . his abilities commended him first to be secretary to robert cecil , earl of sarisbury , lord treasurer of england . afterwards he was made clerk of the councel , and at last principal secretary of state to king james , succeeding sir thomas lakes in that office , anno . conceiving the duke of buckingham highly instrumental in his preferment , he presented him with a jewel of great value , which the duke returned him again , not owning any activity in his advancement ; whom king james , ex mero motu , reflecting on his ability designed for the place . this place he discharged above five years , until he willingly resigned the same . on this occasion ; he freely confessed himself to the king , that he was then become a roman catholick , so that he must either be wanting to his trust , on violate his consolence in discharging his office . this his ingenuity so highly affected king james , that he continued him privy councellor all his raign ( as appeareth in the councel-book ) and soon after created him lord baltemore of baltemore in ireland . during his being secretary , he had a patent to him and his heirs to be absolutus dominus , & proprietarius , with the royalties of a count palatine of the province of avalon in new-found-land . a place so named by him in imitation of old avalon in somerset shire , wherein glassenbury stands ; the first fruits of christianity in britain , as the other was in that part of america . here he built a fair house in ferry land , and spent five and twenty thousand pounds in advancing the plantation thereof . indeed his publick spirit consulted not his private profit , but the enlargement of christianity and the kings dominions . after the death of king james he went twice in person to new found-land . here when mounsier de l'arade with three men of war sent from the king of france , had reduced our english fishermen to great extremity ; this lord with two ships manned at his own charge , chased away the french-man , relieved the english , and took six●…y of the french prisoners . he removed afterwards to virginia , to view those parts , and afterwards came into england , and obtained from king charles ( who had as great an esteem of , and affection for him , as king james ) a patent to him and his heirs for mary-land on the north of virginia , with the same title and royalties conferred on him , as in avalon aforesaid , now a hopeful plantation peopled with eight thousand english souls , which in processe of time may prove more advantagious to our nation . being returned into england , he died in london , april . . in the . year of his age , lying buried in the chancel of s. dunstans in the west , leaving his son the right honourable cecil calvert , now lord baltemore , heir to his honour , estate , and noble disposition . thomas wentworth , earl of strafford , deputy , though son to william wentworth of wentworth-woodhouse in this county , esq ( at his sons birth ) afterward baronet ) yet because born in chancery-lane , and christned april . anno . in saint dunstans in the west , hath his character in london . seamen . armigell waad , born of an ancient family in york-shire , as i am informed from his epitaph on his monument at hampstead in midlesex : wherein he is termed hen. . & edw. . regum secretiori consilio ab epistolis , which i took the boldnesse to interpret ( not secretary , but ) clerk of the councel . take the rest as it followeth in his funeral inscription . qui in maximarum artium disciplinis prudentiaque civili instructissimus , plurimarum linguarum callentissimus , legationibus honoratissimis perfunctus , & inter britannos indicarum americarum explorator primus . indeed he was the first englishman that discovered america , and his several voyages are largely described in mr. hackluite his travels . this english columbus had by two wives twenty children , whereof sir william waad was the eldest , a very able gentleman , and clerk of the councel to queen elizabeth . this armigel died june . . and was buried as is aforesaid . martin frobisher , kt. was born nigh * doncaster in this county . i note this the rather , because learned mr. carpenter in his geography recounts him amongst the famous men of devonshire , ( but why should devon-shire , which hath a flock of worthies of her own , take a lamb from another county ? ) because much conversing therein . he was from his youth bred up in navigation , and was the first englishman that discovered the north way to china and cathai , whence he brought great store of black soft stone , supposing it silver or gold ore , but which , upon trial with great expence , prov'd uselesse ; yet will no wise man laugh at his mistake , because in such experiments , they shall never hit the mark , who are not content to 〈◊〉 it . he was very valiant , but withal harsh and violent ( faults which may be dispensed with in one of his profèssion ) and our chronicles loudly resou●…d his signal service in eighty eight , for which he was knighted . his last service was the defending of brest-haven in britain , with ten ships , against a far greater power of spaniards . here he was shot into the side , the wound not being mortal in it self ; but swords and gu●…s have not made more mortal wounds , than probes in the hands of carelesse and skillesse chirurgeons , as here it came to passe : the chirurgeon took out only the bullet , and left the bumbast about it behind , wherewith the sore festered , and the worthy knight died at plimo●…th , anno . george clifford , lord clifford , vescye , &c. earl of cumberland , was son to henry second earl of that family , by his second lady , a person wholly composed of true honour and valour , whereof he gave the world a clear and large demonstration . it was resolved by the judicious in that age , the way to humble the spanish greatnesse , was not by pinching and pricking him in the low-countries , which only emptied his veins of such blood as was quickly re-filled : but the way to make it a cripple for ever , was by cutting off the spanish sinews of war , his money from the west indies . in order whereunto , this earl set forth a small fleet at his own cost , and adventured his own person therein , being the best born englishman that ever hazarded himselfe in that kind . his fleet may be said to be bound for no other harbour but the port of honour though touching at the port of profit in passage thereunto ; i say , touching ; whose design was not to enrich himself , but impoverish the enemy . he was as merciful as valiant , ( the best metal bows best ) and left impressions of both in all places where he came . queen elizabeth anno . honoured him with the dignity of the garter . when king james came first out of scotland to york , he attended him with such an equipage of followers , for number and habit , that he seemed rather a king than earl of cumberland . here happened a * contest between the earl and the lord president of the north , about carrying the sword before the king in york ; which office , upon due search and enquiry , was adjudged to the earl , as belonging unto him : and whilest cliffords tower is standing in york , that family will never be therein forgotten . his anagram was as really as litterally true . georgius cliffordius cumberlandius . doridis regno clarus cum vi f●…lgebis . he died . leaving one daughter and heir , the lady anne , married to the earl of dorset , of whom * hereafter . physicians . sir george ripley , ( whether knight or priest , not so soon decided ) was undoubtedly born at ripley in this county , though some have wrongfully entituled surry to his na●…vity . that york-shire was the place of his birth , will be evidenced by his relation of kindred , reckoned up by * himself , viz. . 〈◊〉 . . riple●… . . madlay . . vvilloughby . . burham . . vvaterton . . flemming . . talboyes , families found in york-shire and lincoln-shire ; but , if sought for in surrey , to be met with at nonesuch . secondly , it appeareth by his preferment , being canon of bridlington in this county ; and to clear all , * in patria eboracensi , saith my author . but philemon holland hath not only erroniously misplaced , but ( which is worse ) opprobriously miscalled him , in his description of surrey ; in the next village of ripley was born g. de ripley , a ringleader of our alchimists , and a mystical impostor ; words not appearing in the latine britannia , and therefore holland herein no translator of cambden , but traducer of ripley . leaving this land , he went over into italy , and there studied twenty years together in pursuance of the philosophers stone , and ●…ound it in the year . as some collect from those his words then written in his book ; juveni quem diligit anima mea , ( spoken by the spouse . cant. . . ) so bold is he with scripture in that kind . an english gentleman of good credit reported , that in his travels abroad , he saw a record in the isle of malta , which declares , that sir george ripley gave yearly to those knights of rhodes ▪ * one hundred thousand pounds , towards maintaining the war ( then on foot ) against the turks . this vast donation makes some suspect this sir george for a knight ( who by this might have been eques auratus ) though indeed never more than sir priest ▪ and canon of bridlington . returning into his native country , and desiring to repose his old age ( no philosophers stone to quiet retirement ) he was dispensed with by the pope to leave his canons place , ( as too full of employment ) and became a carmelite-anchorite at boston in lincolnshire , where he wrote no fewer than . books , though his compound of alchimy carrieth away the credit of all the rest . it presenteth the reader with the twelve gates , leading to the making of the philosophers stone , which are thus reckoned up in order , . calcination . . solution . . separation . . conjunction . . putrefaction . . congelation . . ●…ibation . . sublimation . . fermentation . . exaltation . . multiplication . . projection . oh for a key ( saith the common reader ) to open these gates , and expound the meaning of these words , which are familiar to the knowing in this mystery . but such who are disaffected thereunto , ( what art hath not enemies ? ) demand whether these gates be to let in , or let out the philosophers stone , seeing projection the last of all , proves but a project , producing nothing in effect . we must not forget , how the said sir george beseecheth all men , wheresoever they shall meet with any of his experiments written by him , or that go under his name ( from the year . to the year . ) either to burn them , or afford them no credit , being written according to his esteem not proofe ; and which ( upon trial ) he afterwards found false and vaine . for mine own part , i believe his philosophy truer than his chimical divinity ; for so may i call his work , wherein he endeavours to equal in merit for mankind , the compassion of the virgin mary , with the passion of christ. he died about the year of our lord . and some of his works are since exactly set forth , by my worthy and accomplished friend elias ashmole , esqire , in his theatrum chimicum britannicum . thomas johnson was born in this county , not far from * hull , bred an apothecary in london , where he attained to be the best herbalist of his age in england , making additions to the edition of gerard. a man of such modesty , that knowing so much , he would own the knowledge of nothing . the university of oxford bestowed on him the honourary degree of doctor in physick ; and his loyalty engaged him on the kings side , in our late civil warre . when in basing house a dangerous piece of service was to be done , this doctor ( who publickly pretended not to valour ) undertook and performed it . yet afterwards he lost his life in the siege of the same house , and was ( to my knowledge ) generally lamented of those , who were of an opposite judgement . but let us bestow this epitaph upon him , hic johnsone jaces , sed si mors cederet herbis arte fugata tua , cederet illa tuis . here iohnson lies : could physick fence deaths dart , sure death had bin declined by his art . his death happened anno dom. . w●…iters . alphred of beverley , born therein ( a town termed urbs or city by * bale ) or thereabouts , and bred in the university of cambridge . hence he returned to his native place , where he was made treasurer of the convent , ●…ence ( as some will have it ) commonly called alphredus thesaurarius : others concei●…g this his topical relation too narrow to give him so general a name , will have him s●… stiled from being so carefull a storer up ( god send more to succeed him in that office ) of memorable antiquities . indeed , with the good housholder , he brought out of his treasury things new and old , writing a chronicle from brutus to the time of his own death , which happened anno . gulielmus rehievailensis , or william of rievaulx was so named from the place of his nativity in this county , being otherwise a monk of rushford . his learning was great according to that age , and his genius enclined him most to history ; whereof he wrote a fair * volumne of the things done in his own age , himself being an eye witnesse of a great part thereof . for though generally monks were confined to their cloisters , more liberty was allowed to such persons whose pens were publickly employed . and when monks could not go out to the news , news came home to them : such was their intelligence from clergy men , who then alone were employed in state offices . it was no wonder , that the writings of this william did , but had been a miracle if they did not savour of the superstition of the times . he dedicated his book to ealread abbot of rievaulx , and died anno dom. . ealread abbot of rievaulx lately named , was one eminent in his generation for piety and learning . he was most intimate with david king of scotland , and had the rare felicity to adventure on desperate * differences betwixt great persons ; and yet above humane hope to compleat their agreement . he had saint augustines confessions both by heart , and in his heart ; yet generally he is accounted the english saint bernard , and wrote very many books , whereof one , de virginitate mariae , and another , de abusionibus claustri , shewing twelve abuses generally committed in that kind of life . yet as saint * paul honoured widows , that were widows indeed ; he had a high esteem for monks , who were monks indeed ; so addicted to a solitary life , that he refused all honours and several bishopricks proffered unto him . he died in the . year of his age , . and after his death attained with many the reputation of a saint . walter daniel was deacon to ealread aforesaid , and it is pity to part them . leland saith , that he followed his abbot sanctâ invidiâ , give me leave to english it , with holy emulation , and they who run in that race of vertue , neither supplant such who are before them , nor justle those that are even with them , nor hinder those who come behind them . he trod in his masters foot ▪ steps ; yet so , that my author saith , non modo aequavit sed superavit , writing a book on the same subject , de virginitate mariae . he flourished anno . under king henry the second , and was buried in his own abby . robert the scribe ( but no pharisee , such his humility ; not hypocrite , such his sincerity , ) was the fourth prefect of canon regulars at bridlington in this county . he had his surname from his dexterity in writing , not a little beneficial in that age ; * erasmus ingeniously confessing , that his father gerard got a handsome livelihood thereby . but our robert in fair and fast writing did reach a note above others , it being true of him what was said , nondum lingua suum dextra peregit opus . the tongue her task hath not yet done , when that the hand her race hath run . and he may be said to have had the long hand of short hand ( such the swiftness of his pen ) though i confesse brachyography was not then , nor many years after invented . but he , though a quick scribe , is but a dull one ; who is good only at fac simile , to transcribe out of an original , whereas our robert left many books of his own making to posterity . he flourished anno dom. . and lleth buried before the doors of the cloyster of his convent . peter of rippon , was canon of that colledge , built antiently therein by saint wilfred , purposely omitted by us in our catalogue of saints , to expiate our former tediousnesse concerning him in our church history . jeoffry archbishop of york , not only delighted in , but doted on our peter . he wrote a book of the life and miracles of saint wilfred . how many suspected persons did prick their credits , who could not thread his needle . this was a narrow place in his church , and kind of purgatory ( save that no fire therein ) through which chaste persons might easily passe , whilest the incontinent did stick therein , beheld generally as a piece of monkish legerdemain . i am sorry to hear , that this collegiate church ( one of the most ancient and famous churches in the north of england ) hath the means and allowance appointed for the repair thereof deteined , and more ●…orry that on the eighth of december , . a violent wind blew down the great steeple thereof , which with its fall , bea●… down the chancel ( the onely place where the people could assemble for divine worship ) and much shattered and weakened the rest of the fabrick , and i hope , that his majesties letters patents will meet with such bountiful contributions , as will make convenient reparation . our peter flourished anno . under king richard the first . william of newborough , was born at * bridlington in this county , but named of newborough , not far off , in which monastery he became a canon regular . he also was called petit or little , from his low stature ; in him the observation was verified , that little men ( in whom their heat is most contracted ) are soon angry , flying so fiercely on the memory of geffrey of monmouth , taxing his british chronicle , as a continu●…d fiction , translated by him indeed ; but whence ? from his own brain , to his own pen , by his own invention . yea , he denieth that there was ever a king arthur , and in effect overthroweth all the welsh history . but learned leland conceives this william little greatly guilty in his ill language , which to any author was uncivil , to a bishop unreverent , to a dead bishop uncharitable . some resolve all his passion on a point of meer revenge , heartily offended , because david prince of wales * denied him to succeed g. monmouth in the see of st. asaph , and therefore fell he so soul on the whose welsh nation . sure i am , that this angry william so censorious of g. monmouth his falsehoods , hath most foul slips of his own pen , as when he affirmeth , that in the place of the slaughter of the english , nigh battaile in sussex , if peradventure it be wet with any small showre , presently the ground thereabouts sweateth forth * very blood , though indeed it be no more , than what is daily seen in rutland after any sudden rain , where the ground floweth with a reddish moisture . he flourished anno . under king john. roger hoveden was born in this county , of the illustrious family of the hovedens , saith my * author , bred first in the study of the civil , then of the canon-law , and at last , being servant to king henry the second , he became a most accomplished courtier . he is the chiefest ( if not sole ) lay-historian of his age , who being neither priest nor monk wrote a chronicle of england , beginning where bede ended , and continuing the same until the fourth of king john. when king edward the first layed claim to the crown of scotland , he caused the chronicles of th●…s roger to be diligently searched , and carefully kept , many authentical passages therein tending to his present advantage . this roger flourished in the year of our lord , . john of halifax commonly called de sacro bosco , was born in that town so famous for cloathing , bred first in oxford , then in paris , being the prime mathematician of his age . all students of astronomy enter into that art through the door of his book , de ●…phaerâ . he lived much beloved , died more lamented , and was buried with a solemn funeral , on the publick * cost of the university of paris , anno . robertus perscrutator , or robert the searcher , was born * in this county , bred a dominican , great mathematician and philosopher . he got the sirname of searcher , because he was in the constant quest and pursuit of the mysteries of nature . a thing very commendable , if the matters we seek for , and means we seek with be warrantable . yea solomon himself on the same account might be entituled searcher , who by his own confession , * applyed his heart to know , and to search , and to seek out wisdome , and the reason of things . but curiosity is a kernel of the forbidden fruit , which still sticketh in the throat of a natural man , sometimes to the danger of his choaking : it is heavily laid to the charge of our robert , that he did light his candle from the devils torch to seek after such secrets as he did desire , witnesse his work of ceremonial magick , which a conscientious christian would send the same way with the ephesian conjuring books , and make them fuel for the fire . however in that age he obtained the reputation of a great scholar , flourishing under king edward the second , . thomas castleford , born in this * county , was bred a benedictine in p●…mfraict , whereof he wrote a history , from ask a saxon first owner thereof , to the lacies from whom that large lordship descended to the earls of lancaster . i could wish some able pen in pomfraict would continue this chronicle to our time , and give us the particulars of the late memorable siege , that though the castle be demolished , the fame thereof may remain . leland freely confesseth that he learnt more then he looked for by reading castlefords history , promising to give a larger account thereof , in a book he intended to write of civil history , and which i suspect he never set forth , prevented by death . our castleford flourished about the year of our lord , . john gower was born ( saith * leland ) at stitenham ( in the north riding in bulmore ▪ wapentake ) of a knightly family . he was bred in london a student of the laws , till prizing his pleasure above his profit , he quitted pleading to follow poetry . he was the first refiner of our english tongue , effecting much , but endeavouring more therein . thus he who sees the whelp of a bear but half lickt , will commend it for a comely creature , in comparison of what it was when first brought forth . indeed gower left our english tongue very bad , but ●…ound it very very bad . bale makes him equitem aurat●…m & poetam laureatum , proving both from his ornaments on his monumental statue in saint mary overies , southwark . yet he appeareth there neither laureated nor hederated poet ( except the leaves of the bayes and ●…y be withered to nothing , since the erection of the tomb ) but only rosated , having a chaplet of four roses about his head . another * author unknighteth him , allowing him only a plain esquire , though in my apprehension the colar of s.s.s. about his neck speak him to be more . besides ( with submission to better judgements ) that colar hath rather a civil than military relation , proper to persons in places of judicature , which makes me guess this gower some judge in his old age , well consisting with his original education . he was before chaucer , as born and flourishing before him ( yea by some accounted his master ; ) yet was he after chaucer , as surviving him two years , living to be stark blind , and so more properly termed our english homer . many the books he wrote , whereof three most remarkable , viz. speculum meditantis , in french , confessio amantis , in english , vox clamantis , in latine . his death happened , . john marre , ( by bale called marrey , and by trithemius marro ) was born at * marre , a village in this county , three miles west from doncaster , where he was brought up in learning . hence he went to oxford , where ( saith leland ) the university bestowed much honour upon him for his excellent learning . he was by order a carmelite , and in one respect it was well for his memory that he was so , which maketh * john bal●… ( who generally falleth foul on all fryers ) to have some civility for him , as being once himself of the same order , allowing him subtilly learned in all secular philosophy . but what do i instance in home-bred testimonies ? know reader , that in the character of our own country writers , i prize an inch of forraign above an ell of english commendation , and outlandish writers , trithemius , sixtus senensis , petrus lucius , &c. give great encomiums of his ability ; though i confesse it is chiefly on this account , because he wrote against the opinions of j. wickliffe . he died on the eighteenth of màrch . . and was buried in the convent of carmelites in doncaster . thomas gascoigne eldest son to richard ( the younger brother unto sir william gascoigne lord chief justice ) was born at huntfleet in this county , bred in baliol colledge in oxford , where he proceeded doctor in divinity , and was * commissioner of that university anno dom. . he was well acquainted with the maids of honour , i mean humane arts and sciences , which conducted him first to the presence , then to the favour of divinity , the queen . he was a great hieronymist , perfectly acquainted with all the writings of that learned father , and in expression of his gratitude for the good he had gotten by reading his wo●…ks , he collected out of many authors , and wrote the life of saint hierom. he made also a book called dictionarium theologicum , very useful to , and therefore much esteemed by the divines in that age . he was seven and fifty years old * anno . and how long he survived afterwards is unknown . john harding was born ( saith my * author ) in the northern parts , and i have some cause to believe him this countrey-man . he was an esquire of ancient parentage , and bred from his youth in military employment . first under robert umfrevil , governour of roxborough castle , and did good service against the scots . then he followed the standard of king edward the fourth , adhering faithfully unto him in his deepest distresse . but the master-piece of his service was his adventuring into scotland , not without the manifest hazard of his life ; where he so cunningly demeaned himselfe , that he found there , and fetched thence out of their records , many original letters , which he presented to king edward the fourth . out of these he collected an history of the several solemn submissions publickly made , and sacred oaths of fealty , openly taken from the time of king athelstane , by the kings of scotland , to the kings of england for the crown of scotland , although the scotch historians stickle with might and maine , that such homage was performed onely for the county of cumberland , and some parcels of land their kings had in england south of tweed . he wrote also a chronicle of our english kings , from brutus to king edward the fourth , and that in english verse ; and in my judgement he had drank as hearty a draught of helicon as any in his age . he was living . then very aged , and i believe died soon after . henry parker was bred from his infancy in the carmelite convent at doncaster , afterwards doctor of divinity in * cambridge . thence he returned to doncaster , and well it had been with him , if he had staid there still , and not gone up to london to preach at pauls-crosse , where the subject of his sermon was to prove , that christs poverty was the pattern of humane perfection ; and that men professing eminent sanctity , should conform to his precedent , going on foot , feeding on barley-bread , wearing seamless-woven-coats , having no houses of their own , &c. he drove this nail so far , that he touched the quick , and the wealthy clergy winched thereat . his sermon offended much as preached , more as published , granting the copy thereof to any that would transcribe it . for this the bishop of london put him in prison , which parker patiently endured ( in hope , perchance , of a rescue from his order ) till being informed , that the pope effectually appeared on the party of the prelates , to procure his liberty , he was content at pauls-cross to * recant . not as some have took the word , to say over the same again ( in which sense the cuckow , of all birds , is properly called the recanter ) but he unsaid , with ( at least seeming ) sorrow , what he had said before . however f●…om this time we may date the decay of the carmelites credit in england : who discountenanced by the pope , never afterwards recruited themselves to their former number and honour , but moulted their feathers till king henry the eight cut off their very wings , and body too , at the dissolution . this parker flourished under king edward the fourth , anno . since the reformation . sir francis bigot knight , was born aud well landed in this * county . bale giveth him this testimony , that he was evangelicae veritatis amator . otherwise i must confess my self posed with his intricate disposition . for he wrote a book against the clergy of impropriations had it been against the clergy of appropriations , i could have guessed it to have proved tithes due to the pastors of their respective parishes . whereas now having not seen ( nor seen any that have seen ) his book , i cannot conjecture his judgment . as his book , so the manner of his death seems a riddle unto me , being ( though a protestant ) slain amongst the northern rebells , . but here bale helpeth us not a little , affirming him found amongst them against his will. and indeed those rebells , to countenancé their treason , violently detained some loyall persons in their camp ; and the blind sword , having aciem not oculum , kill'd friend and foe in fury without distinction . wilfrid holme was born in this county , of gentile parentage , * veritati dei tunc revelatae auscultans , and pitz taxeth him , that his pen was too compliant to pleasure k. henry the eight . the truth is this , he lived in these parts in that juncture of time when the two northern rebellions happened , the one in lincoln , the other in yorkshire ; and when the popish party gave it out , that the reformation would ruine church and state , levell all dignities and degrees ; wilfrid to confute the priests truthless reports , and the peoples causless jealousies , stated the controversie , truely , clearly and wittily , in the manner of a dialogue . he survived not many months after the setting forth of this book anno . thomas roberson was born in this * county , and being doctor of divinity in oxford was one of the best grammarians for greek and latine in that age . he had an admirable faculty in teaching of youth ; for every boy can teach a man , whereas he must be a man who can teach a boy . it is easie to inform them who are able to understand , but it must be a master piece of industry and discretion , to descend to the capacity of children . he wrote notes upon the grammar of lilly , and besides others , one book , de nominibus * hetoroclitis , and another de verbis defectivis , so that by his pains the hardest parts of grammar are made the easiest , and the most anomalous , reduced to the greatest regularity by his endeavours . what robert robinson , ( under whose name quae genus in the grammar is printed ) was to this thomas roberson , i have no leisure to enquire , and leave it to those to whom it is more proper , suspecting they may be the same person ; and th●…t pitzaeus our author , living mostly beyond the seas , might be mistaken in the name : however , he flourished anno domini . william hugh was * born in this county , and bred in corpus christi colledge in oxford , where he attained to great eminency in learning . in his time the consciences of many tender parents were troubled about the finall estate of infants dying unbaptized , as posting from the wombe to the winding sheet , in such speed , that the sacrament could not be fastened upon them . to pacify persons herein concerned , this william wrote and dedicated a book to q. katherine parr , entituled , the troubled mans medicine . he died of the breaking of a vain , anno dom. . roger ascham was born at kirby-weik in this county , and bred in saint johns-colledge in cambridge , under doctor medcalfe , that good governour , who whet-stonelike , though dull in himself , by his encouragement , set an edge on most excellent wits in that foundation . indeed ascham came to cambridge just at the dawning of learning , and staid therein till the bright-day thereof , his own endeavours contributing much light thereunto . he was oratour and greek-professour in the university , ( places of some sympathy , which have often met in the same person , ) and in the beginning of the raign of queen mary , within three days , wrote letters to * fourty seven severall princes , whereof the meanest was a cardinal . he travailed into germany , and there contracted familiarity with john sturmius and other learned men , and after his return was a kind of teacher to the lady elizabeth , to whom ( after she was queen ) he became her secretary for her latine letters . in a word , he was an honest man and a good shooter ; archery ( whereof he wrote a book called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) being his onely exercise in his youth , which in his old age he ex changed for a worse pastime , neither so healthfull for his body , nor profitable for his purse , i mean cock-fighting , and thereby ( being neither greedy to get , nor carefull to keep money ) he much * impaired his estate . he had a facile and fluent latine-style , ( not like those , who , counting obscurity to be elegancy , weed out all the hard words they meet in authors , ) witness his epistles , which some say are the only latine-ones extant of any english-man , and if so , the more the pity . what loads have we of letters from forraign pens , as if no author were compleat without those necessary appurtenances ? whilst surely our english-men write , ( though not so many , ) as good as any other nation . in a word , his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is accounted a good book for young-men , his school-master for old-men , his epistles for all men , set out after his death , which happened anno dom. . december . in the . year of his age , and he was buried in saint sepulchers in london . sir henry savill knight , was born at bradley , in the parish of hallifax in this county , of antient and worshipfull extraction . he was bred in oxford , and at last became warden of merton-colledge and also provost of eaton . thus this skilfull gardiner had at the same time a nurcery of young plants , and an orchard of grown trees , both flourishing under his carefull inspection . this worthy knight carefully collected the best copies of saint chrysostome , and imployed learned men to transcribe and make annotations on them , which done , he fairly set it forth , on his own cost , in a most beautifull edition ; a burden which he underwent without stooping under it , though the weight thereof would have broken the back of an ordinary person . but the papists at paris had their emissaries in england , who surreptitiously procured this knights learned labours , and sent them over weekly by the post into france , schedatim sheet by sheet , as here they passed the press . then fronto duceus ( a french cardinall as i take it ) caused them to be printed there with implicite faith and blind obedience , letter for letter as he received them out of england , onely joyning thereunto a latine translation and some other inconsiderable additions . thus two editions of saint chrysostome did together run a race in the world , which should get the speed of the other in publique sale and acceptance . sir henry his edition started first by the advantage of some months . but the parisian edition came up close to it , and advantaged with the latine translation ( though dearer of p●…ice ) out-stript it in quickness of sale , but of late the savilian chrysostome hath much mended its pace , so that very few are left of the whole impression . sir henry left one onely daughter richly married to sir william sidley of kent baronet . he dyed at eaton , where he lyeth buried under a monument with this inscription hic jacent ossa & cineres henrici savill sub spe certa resurrectionis , natus apud bradley juxta halifax in comitatu ebor , anno domini . ultimo die mensis novembris , obiit in collegio etonensi anno domini . xix die mensis februarii . it must not be forgotten , that he was a most excellent mathematician , witness his learned lectures on euclid . yet once casually happening into the company of master briggs of cambridge , upon a learned encounter betwixt them , master briggs demonstrated a truth , besides ( if not against ) the judgment of sir henry , wherewith that worthy knight was so highly affected , that he chose him one of his mathematick professors in oxford , wherein he founded two , allowing a liberall salary unto them . thomas taylor was born at richmond in this county , where his father ( a bountifull entertainer of people in distress ) was recorder of the town . he was afterwards bred in christs-colledge in cambridge , and chose a fellow thereof . this timothy , grave when green , entred very young but not raw , into the ministry at . years of age , and continued in the same at reading and london for the space of thirty five years . his sermons were generally well studied , and he was wont to say , that oftimes he satisfied himself the least , when he best pleased his people , not taking such pains in his preaching . his flock was firmly founded and well bottomed on catechistacall divinity . it being observed that his auditors stuck close to their principles in this age ▪ wherein so many have reeled into damnable errors . he was a great giver of alms , but without a trumpet , and most strict in his conversation . zeal for the house of god may be said in some sort to have consumed him ; dying in the fifty six year of his age , anno domini . comfortably avowing at his death that we serve such a master , who covereth many imperf●…ctions , and giveth much wages for a little work . nathaniell shute was born at * gigleswick in this county , christopher shute his father being the painfull vicar thereof . he was bred in christs-colledge in cambridge . a most excellent schollar and solid preacher : though , nothing of his is extant in print , save a sermon call'd carona charitatis , preached at the funerall of master f●…shbourn . but the goodness of the land of canaan may as well be guessed from one great bunch of grapes , as if the spies had brought whole vineyards along with them . indeed he was a profou●…d and profitable preacher for many years together at st. mildred poultrey in london . one in the university being demanded his judgement of an excellent sermon in saint maries , returned , that it was an uncomfortable sermon , leaving no hope of imitation for such as should succeed him . in this sense alone , i must allow master nathaniel shute an uncomfortable preacher ( though otherwise a true barnabas and son of consolation ) possessing such as shall follow him in time , with a dispair to equall him in eminency . he died anno domini . when our english sk●…e was clouded all over , and set to rain , but before any drops of war fell down amongst us . doctor holdesworth , most excellently preached his funerall sermon , taking for his text , we have this our treasure in earthly vessels . josiah shute brother to nathaniel aforesaid , was bred in trinity colledge in cambridge , and became afterwards minister of saint mary woolno●…h in london , and was , ( reader i doe say and will maintain it , ) the most pretious jewell that was ever shewn or seen in lumbardstreet ; all ministers are gods husband m●…n , but some of them can onely plough in soft ground , whose shares and coultures will turn edge in a hard point of divinity . no ground came amiss to master shute , whether his text did lead him to controversiall or positive divinity ; having a strain , without straining for it , of native eloquence : he spake that which others studied for . he was for many years , and that most justly , highly , esteem'd of his parish ; till the beginning of our late civil warrs som●… began to neglect him , distasting wholesome meat well dressed by him merely because their mouths were out of tast , by that generall distemper , which in his time was but an ague , afterwards turn'd to a feaver , and since is turn'd to a frensy in our nation . i insist hereon the rather for the comfort of such godly ministers , who now suffer in the same nature wherein mr. shute did before ; indeed , no servant of god can simply and directly comfort himself in the sufferings of others , ( as which hath something of envy therein , ) yet may he do it consequentially in this respect , because , thereby he apprehends his own condition herein consistent with gods love and his own salvation , seeing other precious saints tast with him of the same affliction , as many godly ministers doe now a days , whose sickles are now hung up as useless , and neglected , though before these civil warrs they reaped the most in gods harvest . master shute dyed anno domini . and was buried with great solemnity in his own church , master udall preaching his funerall sermon : since his death his excellent sermons are set forth on some part of genesis , and pity it is there is no more extant of his worthy indeavours . it must not be forgotten , how retiring a little before his death into the country , some of his parishioners came to visit him , whom he chearfully entertained with this expression . i have taught you , my dear flock , for above thirty years , how to live , and now i will shew you in a very short time how to dye . he was as good as his word herein , for within an hour he in the presence of some of them was peaceably dissolved . be it also known , that besides these two brothers nathaniel and josiah , fixed in the city of london , there were three more , bred and brought up in the ministry , viz. robert preacher at lyn , thomas minister for a good time in chester , and timothy lately ( if not still alive ) a preacher in exeter . all great ( though not equall ) lights , are set up in fair candlesticks , i mean , places of eminency , and conveniently distanced one from another , for the better dispersing of their light ; and good housewives tell me , old candles are the best for spending . happy their father who had his quiver full with five such sons , he need not be ashamed to see his enemies in the gate . it is hard to say , whether he was more happy in his sons , or they in so good a father , and a wary man will crave time to decide the doubt , untill the like instance doth return in england . george sandys youngest son of edwin sandys arch-bishop of york , was born at bishops-thorp in this county , he proved a most accomplished gentleman , and an observant travailer , who went as far as the sepulchre at jerusalem , and hath spared other mens pains in going thither , by bringing the holy land home to them ; so lively is his description thereof , with his passage thither , and return thence . he most elegantly translated ovid his metamorphosis into english verse , so that as the soul of aristotle was said to have transmigrated into thomas aquinas , ( because rendring his sence so naturally , ) ovid's genius may seem to have passed into master sandys . he was a servant , but no slave to his subject , well knowing that a translatour is a person in free custody ; custody , being bound to give the true sense of the author he translated ; free , left at liberty to cloath it in his own expression . nor can that in any degree be applyed to master sandys , which one rather bitterly then falsly chargeth on an author , whose name i leave to the readers conjecture . we know thou dost well as a translatour , but where things require , a genius and a fire , not kindled before by others pains , as often thou hast wanted brains . indeed some men are better nurses , then mothers of a poem , good onely to feed and foster the fancies of others , whereas master sandys was altogether as dexterous at inventing as translating , and his own poems as spritefull , vigorous , and masculine . he lived to be a very aged man , whom i saw in the savoy anno . having a youthfull soul in a decayed body , and i believe he dyed soon after . john saltmarsh was extracted from a right antient ( but decayed ) family in this county , and i am informed that sir thomas metham his kinsman , bountifully contributed to his education , he was bred in magdalen-colledge in cambridge . returning into this his native country , was very great with sir john hotham the elder . he was one of a fine and active fancy , no contemptible poet , and a good preacher , as by some of his profitable printed sermons doth appear . be it charitably imputed to the information of his judgment and conscience , that of a zealous observer he became a violent oppresser of bishops and ceremonies . he wrote a book against my sermon of reformation , taxing me for many points of popery therein . i defended my self in a book called truth maintained , and challenged him to an answer , who appeared in the field no more , rendring * this reason thereof , that he would not shoot his arrows against a dead mark , being informed that i was dead at exeter . i have no cause to be angry with fame ( but rather to thank her ) for so good a lye. may i make this true use of that false report , to dye daily . see how providence hath crossed it , the dead [ reported ] man is * still living , the then living man dead ; and seeing i survive to goe over his grave , i will tread the more gently on the mold thereof , using that civility on him which i received from him . he died in or about windsor ( as he was riding to and fro in the parliament army ) of a burning feaver , venting on his death-bed strange expressions , apprehended ( by some of his party ) as extaticall , yea , propheticall raptures , whilst others accounted them ( no wonder if outrages in the city , when the enemy hath possessed the castle commanding it ) to the acuteness of his disease which had seized his intellectualls . his death happened about the year . jeremiah whitacre was born at wakefield in this county , bred master of arts in sidney-colledge , and after became school-master of okeham , then minister of stretton in r●…and . he was chosen to be one of the members of the late assembly , wherein he behaved himself with great moderation ; at last he was preacher at st. mary magdalens bermonsey , well discharging his duty , being a solid divine , and a man made up of piety to god , pity to poor men , and patience in himself . he had much use of the last , being visited with many , and most acute diseases . i see gods love or hatred cannot be conjectured , much less concluded , from outward accidents , this mercifull man meeting with merciless afflictions . i have sometimes wondered with my self , why satan the magazeen of malice , ( who needeth no man to teach him mischief , ) having job in his power , did not put him on the rack of the stone , gout , collick or strangury , as in the height , most exquisite torments , but onely be-ulcered him on his skin , and outside of his body . and ( under correction to better judgments , ) i conceive this might be some cause thereof . being to spare his life , the devill durst not inflict on him these mortall maladyes , for fear to exceed his commission , who possibly , for all his cunning , might mistake in the exact proportioning of the pain to jobs ability to bear it , and therefore was forced to confine his malice to externall pain , dolefull but not deadly in its own nature . sure i am , this good jeremiah was tormented with gout , stone , and one ulcer in his bladder , another in his kidneys , all which he endured with admirable and exemplary patience , though god of his goodness grant that ( if it may stand with his will ) no cause be given that so sad a copy be transcribed . thus god , for reasons best known unto himself , sent many and the most cruell bayliffes to arrest him to pay his debt to nature , though he always was ready willingly to tender the same , at their single summons . his liberality knew no bottome but an empty purse , so bountifull he was to all in want . he was buried on the . of june , anno . in his own parish in southwarke , much lamented : master simon ash preaching his funerall sermon , to which the reader is referred for his further satisfaction . i understand some sermons are extant of his preaching , let me but adde this distick and i have done . whites ambo , whitehead , whitgift , whitakerus uterque vulnera romano quanta dedere papae ? romish exile writers . john young was born in this county . his life appeareth to me , patched up of unsuiting peices , as delivered by severall authors . a judicious * antiquary , seldome mistaken , will have him a monke of ramsey , therein confounding him with his name-sake many years more antient . * an other will have him bred doctor of divinity in trinity-colledge in cambridge , though that foundation ( suppose him admitted the first day thereof , ) affordeth not seniority enough to write doctor , before the raign of queen mary , except we understand him bred in some of the hostles , afterwards united thereunto . so that i rather concurre herein with the forenamed antiquary , that he was fellow of saint johns-colledge in that university . it is agreed , that at the first , he was at the least a parcell-protestant , translating into english the book of arch bishop cranmer , of the sacrament . but afterwards , he came off with a witness , being a zealous papist , and great antagonist of mart. bucer , and indeed as able a disputant as any of his party . he was vice-chancellour of cambridge , anno . master of pembroke hall , kings-professor of divinity , and rector of land-beach nigh cambridge , but lost all his preferment in the first of queen elizabeth . surely more then ordinary obstinacy appeared in him , because not onely deprived but imprisoned . and in my judgment , more probably surprised before he went , then after his return from forraign parts . he died under restraint in england , . john mush was born in this * county , bred first in the english-colledge at doway , and then ran his course of philosophy in their colledge at rome . afterwards being made priest , he was sent over into england , to gaine people to his own perswasion , which he did without and within the prison for . years together , but at last he got his liberty . in his time the romish ship in england did spring a dangerous leak , almost to the sinking thereof , in the schisme betwixt the priests and the jesuits . mush appeared very active and happy in the stopping thereof , and was by the english popish clergy sent to rome to compose the controversie , behaving himself very wisely in that service . returning into his own country he was for fourteen years together assistant to the english arch ▪ priest , demeaning himself commendably therein ; he wrote many books , and one whose title made me the more to mind it , vitam & martyrium d. margaretae clithoroae . now whether this d. be for domina or diva , for lady or saint , or both , i know not . i take her for some gentlewoman in the north , which for some practises in the maintenance of her own religion , was obnoxious to , and felt the severity of our laws . this mush was living in these parts , anno . benefactors to the publick . thomas scot was born at ro●…heram , no obscure market in this county ; waving his paternall name , he took that of ro●…heram , from the place of his nativity . this i observe the rather , because he was ( according to my exactest enquiry ) the last clergy-man of note with such an assumed surname , which custome began now to grow out of fashion , and clergy-men ( like other men ) to be called by the name of their fathers . he was first fellow of kings-colledge , afterwards master of pembroke-hall in cambridge , and chancellour of that university ; here he built on his proper cost ( saving something help'd by the scholars ) the fair gate of the school , with fair walks on each side , and a library on the east thereof . many have mistaken this , for the performance of king richard the third , meerly , because his crest the boar is set up therein . whereas the truth is that rotheram having felt the sharp tuskes of that boar , ( when imprisoned by the aforesaid king , for resigning the great seal of england to queen elizabeth , the relict of king edward the fourth , ) advanced his armes thereon , meerly to engratiate himself . he went thorough many church preferments , being successively provost of beverly , bishop of rochester , lincoln , and lastly arch-bishop of york ; nor less was was his share in civil honour , first , keeper of the privy seal , and last , lord chancellour of england . many were his benefactions to the publique , of which none more remarkable then his founding five fellowships in lincoln colledge in oxford . he deceased in the . year of his age at cawood of the plague anno domini . john alcocke was born at beverly in this county , where he built a chappell , and founded a chantry for his parents . he was bred a doctor of divinity in cambridge , and at last became bishop of ely , his prudence appeared in that he was preferred lord chancellour of england by king henry the seventh , a prince of an excellent palate to tast mens abilities , and a dunce was no dish for his diet . his piety is praised by the pen of j. bale , which ( though generally bitter ) drops nothing but honey on alcocks memory , commending him for a most mortified man ; given to learning and piety from his child-hood , growing from grace to grace , so that in his age none in england was higher for holiness . he turned the old nunnery of saint radigund , into a new colledge called jesus in cambridge : surely had malcolm king of scots , first founder of that nunnery , survived to see this alteration , it would have rejoyced his heart to behold leudness and laziness turned out , for industry and piety to be put in their place . this alcock died october . . and had saintship gone as much by merit as favour , he deserved one as well as his name-sake saint john his predecessor in that see. since the reformation . the extent of this large province and the distance of my habitation from it have disabled me to express my desires suitable to the merit thereof in this topick of modern benefactors , which i must leave to the topographers thereof hereafter to uspply my defaults with their diligence . but let me forget my self when i doe not remember the worthy & charitable master ....... harrison inhabitant of the populous town of leeds , so famous for the cloath made therein . methinks , i hear that great town accosting him in the language of the children of the prophets to * elisha , behold now , the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us . the church could scarce hold half the inhabitants , till this worthy gentleman provided them another . so that now the men of leeds may say with * isaack , rehoboth , god hath made room for us . he accepted of no assistance in the building of that fair fabrick , but what he fully paid for , so that he may be owned the sole founder thereof . but all his charity could not secure him from sequestration in our troublesome times . all i will adde is this , as he hath built a house for god , may ( god in scripture * phrase ) build a house for him , i mean , make him fruitfull and fortunate in his posterity . memorable persons . paulinus de leeds born in this county where there be three towns of that name in one wapentake . it is uncertain in which of these he was born , and the matter is of no great concernment . one so free from simony and far from buying a bishoprick that when a bishoprick bought him , he refused to accept it . for when king henry the second chose him bishop of carlisle and promised to increase the revenue of that church with three hundred mark yearly rent , besides the grant * of two church livings and two mannors near to carlisle , on the condition that this paulinus would accept the place , all this would not work him to imbrace so wealthy an offer . the reasons of his refusall are rendred by no author , but must be presumed very weighty to overpoise such rich proffers , on which account let none envy his name a room in this my catalogue . he flourished about the year of our lord . william de la pole born at ravensrode in this county , was for wealth and skill in merchandize inferiour to none in england , he made his abode at kingston * upon hull , and was the first mayor of that town . when k. edward the third was at antw●…rp , and much necessitated for money ( no shame for a prince always in war , to be sometimes in want ) this william lent him many thousand pounds of gold . in recompence whereof the king made him his valect ( equivalent to what afterward was called gentleman of the bed-chamber , ) and lord * chief-baron of his exchequer , with many other honours . amongst which this was one , that he should be reputed a banneret , not that he was really made one , seeing the flourishing of a banner over his head , in the field , before or after a fight , was a ceremony essentiall thereunto ; but he had the same precedency conferred upon him . i find not the exact date of his death , but conjecture it to be about the year . lord mayor . name father place company time william eastfield william eastfield tickell mercer john ward richard ward howdon grocer william white william white tickhill draper john rudstone robert rudstone hatton draper ralph dodmer henry dodmer pickering leigh mercer william roch john roch wixley draper richard dobbes robert dobbes baitby skinner william hewet edmund hewet wales cloth-worker john hart ralph hart sproston court grocer richard saltonstall gilbert saltonstall hallyfax skinner william cravon william cravon apletreewick merchant-tayler the names of the gentry of this county returned by the commissioners , in the twelfth year of king henry the sixth . john arch-bishop of york , commissioners . richard earl of salisbury .   edmund darel , knight , knights for the shire . robert hopton , knight . knights for the shire . tho. sayvell , chiv . rob. umbtred , chiv . hen. bonnflete , chiv . radul . graystock , chi . edm. hastings , chiv . radul . bulmer , chiv . will. plumton , chiv . ioh. sempest , chiv . ioh. melton , chiv . edm. talbot , chiv . ioh. saltvain , chiv . will. gascoigne , chiv . ant. de sancto quintino , arm . ioh. constable de halsham , arm . will. inhidby de riplay hen. vavasor de hesiwood , arm . tho. metham de grymston , arm . ioh. perchay de ritton , arm . radul . pudsay de craven arm . tho. saltmarsh de saltmarsh tho. nuthill de riston , ar . tho. constable de cotfosse , ar . tho. darcy de newsted ar . nich. ashton de heton , ar . alex. lonnde de southcave , ar . will. ardern de belthorp , ar . rich. redmain de harwod , ar . will. moncheux de barnstone , ar . ioh. routh de routh , arm . tho. gray de barton , arm . radul . stanfeld , ar . rog. tempest de broughton , ar . tho. clarell de steton senioris , ar . will. birton de snapethorp , ar . ioh. manston de manston , ar . tho. trollop de carethorp , ar . will. hastings de roncheby , ar . ioh. conyers de cleveland , ar . rob. lambton de nunthorp , ar . ioh. banaster de wakefeld , ar . rob. pylkinton de ayrenden , ar . ioh. midleton de lonesdale , ar . tho. radecliffe de bradley , ar . tho. redneyne de lonesdale , ar . will. thorton de lonesdale , ar . tho. manncell de burford , ar . iac. metcalfe de worsleydale , ar . rob. hynkersell de parochia de roderham gent. ioh. hutton de thrysk , yeom . will. de stokdale de richmondshire , yeo. rob. saty●… de rich. mondshire , yeom . bayn . tennand de craven , yeom . tho. goll . de grysthewayt , yeom . rog. tenand . de longstrath , yeom . tho. swelting d●… newhall in parochia de spoford , yeom . * here is a very slender return of gentry , ( hardly worth the inserting and ) bearing no proportion to the extent and populousness of the province . the reader may remember , how the main design driven on in this enquiry , was , ( whatever was pretended ) to detect such as favoured the title of the house of york . now the gentry of this county were generally addicted to that party , which made them so remiss in this matter , slightly slubbering it over , doing something for shew , and nothing to purpose . and this being the last catalogue which occurreth in this kind , we will here take our farewell of the english gentry . the worst i wish our english gentry is , that by gods blessing on their thrift they may seasonably out-grow the sad impressions which our civil wars have left in their estates , in some to the shaking of their contenument . i could wish also that for the future , they would be more carefull in the education of their children , to bring them up in learning and religion ; for i suspect , that the observation of forraigners , hath some smart truth therein , that english-men , by making their children gentlemen , before they are men , cause they are so seldome wise-men . indeed learning ( whatever is fondly fancied to the contrary ) is no more a burden to the bearer thereof , then it is cumbersome for one to carry his head on his own shoulders . and seeing gentry alone is no patrimony ( which as the plain proverb saith , sent to market will not buy a bushell of wheat , ) it is good even for those of the best birth to acquire some liberall quality , which in case of casualty , may serve them for a safe second , and besteed them toward the attaining of a livelyhood . i could name the scotch nobleman , who having lost his land and honour , through the default of his father , in the raign of king james , maintained himself compleatly by the practice of physick and chimistry , much in my mind to his commendation . and it is reported to the praise of the scotch nobility , that antiently they all were very dextrous at surgery , and particularly it is recorded of * james the fourth king of scotland , quod vulnera scientissimè tractavit , that he was most skilfull in handling of wounds . it is good also for those of great descent to acquaint themselves with labour , not knowing what evil may be on the earth , and the romans ( all know ) did chuse their wise men , not by their white but hard hands , whence the name of callidi took it's denomination . but above all religion is the greatest ornament , without which all emblemes of ancestry are but putamina nobilitatis , the husks and empty shells of nobility . yea , when a fair coat of armes belong to one of foul manners , it is so far from being a credit unto him , that such armes give the lye to the bearer thereof , as tacitly upbraiding him for being unworthy of his own extraction . sheriffs . hen. ii. anno bartraneus de bullemer for years . anno recorda manca to the end of this kings raign . rich. i. anno randul . de glanvil anno osbert . de longo campo , & ioh. marest anno osbert . de longo campo anno hugo . burdulf , & hugo de bobi anno idem . anno idem . anno galfr. episc. ebor. & roger. de batwent , for years . joh . rex . anno galfr. filius petri & ia. de petem anno idem . anno will. de stutevill , & will. breto anno idem . anno galfr. filius will. de percy & rad. de normanvite anno rob. de lasei constabular . cestr. & rob. walusis , for years . anno gilb. filius remfr . & hen. de rademan ( sive radanor ) for years . anno rob. de percy & hen. de middleton anno petr. filius herberti & rich. de hussebene hen. iii. anno anno galfr. de heonel , & simon . de hales anno idem . anno galf. de nevill anno idem . anno galfr. de nevill , & simon . de hall anno idem . anno simon . de hall anno eustacius de ludham anno ●…dem . anno rob. de rokefeld anno idem . anno ●…dem . anno will. de stutevill , & phil. de assell anno idem . anno idem . anno petr. de rixall anno brianus de insula anno ioh. filius galfridi anno idem . anno brianus filius alani , & roger. de stapleton anno idem . anno briand . filius alani , & nich. de molis , & will. de middleton anno nich. de molis anno i●…em . anno idem . anno hen. de bada , for years . anno hen. batthen anno idem . anno will. daker anno rob. de creping anno idem . anno will. daker anno rob. de creping anno will. de horsenden anno will. de latyme●… anno will. de latymer , for years . anno will. de latymer , & ioh. de oketon anno idem . anno pet. de percy anno idem . anno idem . anno will. de baszall anno idem . anno idem . anno will. de latymer anno idem . anno idem . anno rog. estanneus , & hen. de kirby anno idem . edw. i. anno rog. estraneus anno idem . anno alex. de kirkton , for years . anno ranul . de dacre anno idem & iohan ▪ de la degirmes anno ioh. de lichgremes , for years . anno ●…ervasius de clifton , for years . anno iohan. de meates anno iohan. byrun for years . anno rob. ougle anno simon . de kimne , for years . anno will. de honks anno idem . anno idem . edw. ii. anno ioh. de crepping anno idem . anno iohan. de gaas & iohan. de eure anno gerar. salvein & iohan. eure anno idem . anno gera●… . salvein anno idem . anno ioh. malebis & nich. de meyrill anno simon . ward anno nich. grey & simon . ward anno idem . anno idem . anno nullus titulus comit. in hoc rotulo anno anno simon . ward anno anno roger. de somervile anno idem . edw. iii. anno roger. de somervile anno iohan. darcy anno hen. fawcomberge anno idem . anno rad. de bulmer anno anno pet. de salso maresco anno pet. de middleton anno idem . anno petr. de salso maresco anno rad. de hastingly & tho. de rokeby anno rad. de hastinges anno idem . anno idem . anno ioh. de elauds anno ioh. fawcombergh anno tho. de rokeby , for . years . anno gerar. salvaine anno will. de plumpton anno pet. de nuttelle anno milo. de stapleton anno pet. nuttelle anno milo. stapleton , for years . anno tho. de musgrave anno marmad . constable anno idem . anno tho. de musgrave anno idem . anno idem . anno marmad constable anno idem . anno iohan. chamon & will. acton anno idem . anno idem . anno ioh. bigod anno rob. de roos anno will. acton anno ioh. bygod anno will. percehay anno will. de melton anno rad. de hastinges edward ii. . simon ward . ] the male-line of his antient family expired in sir christopher ward , standard-bearer to k. henry the eighth , at bolloign . he lived at grindal , ( though mulwish he lived at ) leaving three daughters , married into the respected families of strickland , musgrave , and osborn . edward iii. thomas de rokeby . ] nothing can be written too much , in the praise of this worthy knight , who was twice . and . lord justice of ireland . he came over thether , when the damnable custome ( so is it called in the old * statutes of ireland ) of coigne and livory , was publiquely practised . this was a custome begun in the time of king edward the second , by maurice fitz-thomas earl of desmond , whereby the commander in chief ( and others pretending his power ) extorted from people , horse-meat , mans-meat , and money at pleasure , without any ticket , or other satisfaction . a thing so destructive to that country , that it is thus described in an antient discourse of the decay of ireland , ( the authors zeal against it transporting him into the marches of prophaneness , ) that it was * invented in hell , where if it had been used and practised , it had long since destroyed the kingdome of beel-zebub , as tending to the making of division . sir thomas endeavoured to the utmost of his power to extirpate this practice , and effected it in some measure , famous for this saying , which he left in ireland behind him , † that he would eat in wooden dishes , but would pay for his meat gold and silver . sheriffs . names place armes rich. ii.     anno     io. constable de huilsham   quarterly , gules , and vairee a b●…nd or. rob. de nevill de horby   gules , a saltire argent . ioh. savill   arg. on a bend sab. owles of the first . rad. hastings , mil.   argent , a maunch sable . will. de erghom     ioh. savill ut prius   gerard. ●…fleet     rob. constable ut prius   idem . ut prius   rob. de hilton   arg. b●…rs azure , over all a flowre de luce or. io savill ut prius   ioh. goddard     ia. pickerings   ermin , a lion rampant azure , crowned or. will. melton   az●…a cross pattonce voided ar. rad. de eure   quarterly , or and g. on a bend sab. escalops arg. ioh. upeden , mil.   ermin , on a cheif azure , lions or. ia. de pi●…kering , m. ut prius   rob. constable ut prius   rad de eure ut prius   rob. de nevill ut prius   lac . pickering ut prius   ioh. upeden ut prius   hen. iv.     anno     ioh. constable , mil. ut prius   tho. bromflet , mil. will. dronsfield , m.   sab. a bend issuant flowre de luces , viz. on each side or. ioh. savill ut prius   rich. redman   gul. cussions erm. buttoned and tasselled or. idem . ut prius   will. dronsfield , m.     ioh. ebton , mil.     tho. rokeby , mil.   arg. a chever . tw'xt rooks s. [ bea k't & legd az. wil. de harringtō m.   argent , a fret sable . edw. hastinges , m. ut prius   edw. sandesord , m.   per chev. sab. and ermine , boars-heads in cheif cooped or. tho. rokeby , mil. ut prius   hen. v.     anno     will. harrington , m. ut prius   tho. bromsset , mil. ut prius   rich. redman , mil. ut prius   edw. hastinges , mil. ut prius   rob. hilton , mil. ut prius   ioh. bigod , mil.     tho , bromflet , mil. ut prius   halv . maulever , m. allerton sable , hounds cursant in pale a●…g . will. harrington , m. ut prius   hen. vi.     anno     will. harrington , m. ut prius   rob. hilton , mil. ut prius   ioh. langton , mil.     ri●…h . hastinges , m. ut prius   will , ryther , mil.   azure , cressents or. rob. hilton , mil. ut prius   will. harrington , m. ut prius   ioh. clorevaux , m.     will. rither , m. ut prius   rich. pickering , m. ut prius   hen. bromfleet , mil. ut prius   rich hastinges , m. ut prius   will. ryther , mil. ut prius   will. tyriwhit , mil.   gules , pewets or. ioh. constable , mi. ut prius   rob. constable , m. ut prius   will. ryther , mil. ut prius   ioh. tempest , mil.   arg. a bend betwixt martlets sable . rob. wate●…ton , mil   barrie of ermine and gul. cressents sable . will gascoign , mil. gauthorp arg. on a pale s. a lucies-head erected or. tho. metham , mil.   quarterly , az. and arg. on the first a flower de luce or. ●… edw , talbott , mil. bashall argent , lions rampant purpure or. will. eure , mil. ut prius   ia. strangways , mil. ormsby sab. lions passant arg. paly , gules . rob. oughtrede , m.   or , on a crosse flurt g. martlets of the field . will. plumpton , m. plumpton azure , on fufils in fess or , 〈◊〉 many scallops g io. conyers , mil. *     iac. pickering , mil. ut prius * azure a maunch or. ●… rob. oughtrede , m. ut prius   rad. bygod , mil. ut prius   iac. strangways , m. ut prius   ioh. milton , jun. m. ut prius   ioh. savill , mil. ut prius   tho. harrington , m. ut prius   ioh. hotham , mil.   or , on a bend sable , mu●…ets argent . rad. bygod , mil. ut prius   ioh. tempest , mil. ut prius   tho. metham , mil. ut prius   edw. iv.     anno     ioh. savill , mil. ut prius   rob. constable , m. ut prius   idem . ut prius   ioh. constable , mi. ut prius   edw. hastings , mil. ut prius   ric. fitzwilliams , m.   〈◊〉 a●…gent and gules . iac. harrington , m. ut prius   ioh. conyers , mil. ut prius   iac. strangways , m. ut prius   hen. vaulvasor , mil.   o●… , a fess dancettee sable . edw. hastinges , m. ut prius   rad. ashton , mil.     id●…m . ut prius   walt. gr●…ffith , mil.     ioh conyers , mil. ut prius   ia. harrington , mil. ut prius   edw. hastinges , m. ut prius   will. ryther , mil. ut prius   rob. constable , m. ut prius   hugo . hastinges , m ut prius   marm. constable , m. ut prius   rad. bygod , mil. ut prius   rich. iii.     anno     will. eure , mil. ut prius   edw. hastinges , m. ut prius   tho. markindale     hen. vii .     anno     ioh. savyll , mil. ut prius   rob. ryther , mil. ut prius   ioh. nevill , mill . ut prius   marm. constable , m. ut prius   hen. wentworth , m woodhouse 〈◊〉 . a 〈◊〉 . twixt leopards-heads or. tho. wortley , mil.   argent , a bend with bazants betwixt martlets gules . hen. wentworth , m. ut prius   ia. strangways , mil. ut prius   marm. constable , m. ut prius   ioh. n●…vil , mil. ut prius   ●… will. g●…scoign , mil. ut prius   ioh. 〈◊〉 , mil. ut prius   will. conyers , mil. ut prius   ioh. hotham , mil. ut prius   idem . ut prius   walt. griffith , mil. ut prius   tho. worthley ut prius   will. conyers , mil. ut prius   rad. ryther , mil. ut prius   io cutts , m. ( sive carr )   let the name first be agreed on . rad. eure , mil. ut prius   io norton , mil. ut prius   idem . ut prius   io. strangwaies , mi. ut prius   hen. viii .     anno     mar. constable , m. ut prius   rad. evers , m●…l . ut prius   io. constable , mil. ut prius   io. everingham , m. wadsley g. a lion ramp . varry , a label with points or. will. percy , mil.     io. norton , mil. ut prius see our notes . io. carre , mil.   gules , on a cheveron argent , mullets l. rich. tempest . mil. ut prius   will. bulmer , mil.   g. a lion ramp . or , billittee s io. nevill , mil. ut prius   pe●… . vavasor , mil. ut prius   th. 〈◊〉 , m. ut prius   will. maleverer , m. ut prius   hen. clifford , mil.   checky or , and az. a fess g. io. nevill , mil. ut prius   io. constable de holdernes , mil. ut prius   iac. 〈◊〉 , ar .   argent . calves sable . will. middleton , m.     io. nevill , mil. ut prius   io. constable , mil. ut prius   rad. ellerker , sen. m. elleker or a fess betwixt three waterbougets or. io. strangwaies , m. ut prius   nich. fairfax , mil.   arg. bars gemelles g. over all a lion ramp . s. mar. constable , m. ut prius   io. constable , mil. ut prius   ●… will. fairfax , mil. ut prius   geo. darcy , mil.   azu . cinque-fo●…les betwixt 〈◊〉 croslets arg. ●… br. hastings , mil. ut prius   hen. savill , mil. ut prius   ia. strangwaies , m. ut prius   ●… will. fairfax , mil. ut prius   rob. nevill , mil. ut prius   hen. savill , mil , ut prius   tho. tempest , mil. ut prius   ioh. dawney , mil. cowicke arg. on a bend couised sab. annulets of the first . n ch . fairfax , mil. ut prius   chri. danby , mil.   arg. cheverons bracy s. on a cheif of the second , mullets of the first . io. tempest , mil. ut prius   edw. vi.     a●…no     ri●…h . cholmeley , m. whitby gul. helmets in chief arg. in base a garbe or. will. vavasor , mil. ut prius   will. calverley , m. calverley   leon. 〈◊〉 , m. aketon   tho. 〈◊〉 , mil.     th. 〈◊〉 , m. ut prius   phil. & mar.     a●…no     m. tho. waterton , m. ut prius   , ing●… clifford , mil. ut prius   , chri. metcalf , mil. ●…t prius   , rich. cholmlev , m. ut prius   , rob. constable , m. ut prius   , rad. ellerker , mil. ut prius   eliz. reg.     anno     ioh. vaughan , ar . sutton az. on a mullet arg. a cressent sable . ioh. nevill , mil. ut prius   nich. fairfax , mil. ut prius   geo. bowes , mil. stretham erm. bows bent g. will. vavasor , mil ut prius   will. ingleby , mil. ripley sable , an estoile argent . tho. gargrave , mil. nosthall lozengie arg. and sable , on a bend of the first , cressents of the second . ioh. constable , mil. ut prius   hen. savyll , ar . ut prius   rich. norton , ar . ut prius   tho. gargrave , mil. ut prius   chri. hilliard , ar .   az. a cheveron betwixt mullets or. tho. fairfax , ar . ut prius   ioh. dawney , ar . ut prius   marm. constable , m. ut prius   will. bellasis , mil. newborogh arg. a cheveron gu. betwixt flower de luces az. tho. danby , mil. ut prius   tho. boynton , ar . barmstone or. a fess between cressents gules . will. fairfax , ar . ut prius   cl. wondsworth , ar . kirklington   rich. goodrich , ar . ribton arg. on a fess g. twixt lions pas . gard. s. a flour de luce of the first , between cressents o. arg. a lion rampant sable . rad. burcher , ar .     rob. stapleton , mi.     tho. wentworth , m. ut prius   got. gargrave , mil. ut prius   ioh. hotham , mil. ut prius   bri. stapleton , ar . ut prius   hen. constable , m. ut prius   rob. aske   or , barralets azure . rich. maleverer ut prius   io. dawney , mil. ut prius   phil. constable , ar . ut prius   rich. goodrick , ar . ut prius   will. mallery ripley or , a lion ramp . queve forchee g. collard ar. rad. eure , ar . primogen . domini eure ut prius   fran. vaughan , ar . ut prius   chri. hilliard , ar . ut prius   fran. boynton , ar . ut prius   tho. lassells , ar .   sable , a cross flurt or. marm. g●…imston , ar .   arg. on a fess sable , mullets of points or. rob. swift , ar . * doncaster   fran. clifford , ar . ut prius * or , a cheveron varry twixt roebucks coursant proper . will wentworth , ar . ut prius   tho. strickland , ar .     hen. bellasis , mil. ut pri●…   jac. rex .     anno     hen. bellasis , mil. ut prius   rich. gargrave , m. ut prius   will banburgh , m ▪ howson arg. a pheon , on a cheife sab. a lion passant of the first . hen. griffeth , mil. ut prius   tim. hutton , mil. mask   hug. bethell , mil. alne ar. a cheveron between boars-heads 〈◊〉 s. fran. hildsley , mil.     tho. dawney , mil. ut prius   hen. sling●…by , mil.   see our notes . chri. hilliard , mil. ut prius   geo. savill , m. & bar . ut prius   io. armitage , ar . kerkles az. a lions-head erased between croslets or. edw. stanhop , mil.   quarterly ermine and gules . mith. warton , m. beverly or , on a cheveron az●… a ma●…let betwixt pheons of the first . rob. swift , m. ut prius   will. alford , mil. bilton gules , pears and a cheif or. arth. ingram , m.   erm. on a fess gu. escallops or. tho. odwer , m. & b.     rich. tempest , mil. ut prius   guid. palmes , mil. lindley g. flour de luces arg. a cheif varry . hen. ienkins , mil.     rich. cholmeley , m. ut prius   car. rex .     anno     tho. wentworth , 〈◊〉 & 〈◊〉 . ut prius   tho. norcliff , mil. manythorp azure mascles in cross or , a cheif erm. tho. fairfax , mil. ut prius   math. boynton , mil. & bar . ut prius   art. ingram , jun. m. ut prius   io. gibson , mil.     tho. laton , mil. lat n a●… . a cheveron betwixt cross. crosle●…s fetchee sable . arth. robinson , m. newby   mar. wyvell , mil. & bar . custable burton g cheverons braced , varry a cheif or. ioh hotham , m & b. ut prius   will. pennyman , b. maske g. a ▪ cheveron ermin●… bewixt spear-heads a●…g . ioh. ramsden , mil byram ar. on a cheu . betwixt flower de luces s. asmany rames ▪ heads cooped of the first . henry iv. thomas rokeby , mil. ] i may call him sir thomas junior , in distinction from an elder ( probably his ancestor ) of his name , of whom in the . of king edward the third . this sir thomas in this year of his sherivalty , acquitted himself loyall and valiant , against henry percy earl of northumberland , and the lord bardolfe , who returning out of scotland with considerable forces , began a war against the king , both which , sir thomas at bareham-more in this county overcame and took prisoners . a service the more remarkable , because performed by the sole assistance of this shire , and quenching the fire in the first spark , he presented the king with a cheap , suddain , and seasonable victory . henry v. halvatheus maulever , mil. ] or mal levorer , in latine malus leporarius , or the bad hare-●…unter . a gentleman of this county , being to let slip a brace of grey-hounds , to run for a great wager , ( tradition is the author ) so held them in the swinge , that they were more likely to strangle themselves then kill the hare ; whereupon this surname was fixed on his family . i doubt not but many of this extraction are since as dexterous in the criticismes of hunting as any n●…mrod whatsoever . henry vi. henry bromfleet , miles . ] in the next year , he was sent with other embassadors both of the clergy and layety , to the councill of basill , and after his return , was by the king created lord vescy in the right of his mother anastatia , daughter and heir to william atton lord vescy . mr. * camden observeth . this passage inserted in his pattent , unusual in that age . volumus & vos , & haer●…des vestros masculos , de corpore vestro legitimè exeuntes , barones de vescy 〈◊〉 . now though hereby the barony of vescy was intailed onely on his heirs male , yet was the kings favour more extensive then his patent in this particular . for this henry leaving no male-iss●… , but margaret his sole daughter and heir , married to john lord clifford , ( father to henry first earl of cumberland of that sur-name ; ) she notwithstanding the premises , derived the barony of vescy into that family , which at this day they enjoy . edmond talbot , mil. ] this family of talbots is ( though unrelated to the house of shrew●…bury , ) of right antient extraction , seated in this country ever since the time of king henry the second . as for this edmond talbot our present sheriff , ( who dyed in the first of 〈◊〉 . edward the fourth , ) he was father to sir thomas talbot , one very zealous for the house of york , and a servant to king richard the third , who bestowed an ańnuity of ▪ pounds by the year , on him and his heirs for his good service , as by the following patent will appear . richardus dei gratia rex angliae & franciae & dom. hiberniae . omnibus ad quos praesentes literae pervenerint salutem : sciatis quod de gratia nostra speciali ac pro bono & gratuito servitio quod dilectus serviens noster thomas talbot miles in ●…aptur a magni adversarii nostri henrici nuper ( de facto sed non de jure ) regis angliae nobis ac bon●… memoriae regi edwardi quarto ( fratri nostro ) defuncto impendit , & in futurum fideliter impendet ; dedimus & concedimus eidem thomae , & heredibus suis masculis quandam annuitatem , sive annualem reditum quadraginta libraram , habendum , & percipiendum annuatim eidem thomae & heredibus suis de-exitibus perficuis & reventionibus comitatus palatini nostri lancastriae in com. lanc. per manus receptoris ibidem pro tempore existente ad festum sancti michaelis arch-angeli , aliquo statuto actu sive ordinatione in contrarium editis sive provisis in aliquo non obstante . in cujus rei testimonium has literas fieri fecimus patentes dat. apud ebor. do . aug. anno regni do . a branch of these talbots are removed into lancashire , and from those in yorkshire colonel thomas talbot is descended . edward iv. hen. vavasor , mil. ] it is observed of this family , that they never married an heir , or buried their wives . the place of their habitation is called hassell-wood , from wood , which there is not wanting , though stone be far more plentifull , there being a quarry within that mannor , out of which the stones were taken which built the cathedrall and saint maries abby in york , the monasteries of holden-selby and beverly , with thornton-colledge in lincolnshire , and many others . so pleasant also the prospect of the said hassel-wood , that the cathedralls of york and lincoln , being more then . miles asunder may thence be discovered . h●…nry viii . radulphus eure , alias evers , mil. ] he was afterwards by the above named king , created a baron and lord warden of the marshes towards scotland . he gave frequent demonstration ( as our chronicles do testify ) both of his fidelity and valour , in receiving many smart incursions from , and returning as many deep impressions on the scots . there is a lord evers at this day , doubtless a remoter descendant from him , but in what distance and degree it is to me unknown . william percy , mil. ] i recommend the following passage to the readers choicest observation , which i find in camdens brit. in yorkshire , more beneath , hard by the river [ rhidals ] side standeth riton , an antient possession of the antient family of the percy-hays , commonly called percys . i will not be over confident , but have just cause to believe this our sheriffe was of that family . and if so , he gave for his armes , partie per fess , argent and gules , a lion rampant , having will. percy-hay ( sheriff in the last of edw. the third ) for his ancestor . nicholas fairfax , mil. ] they took their name of fairfax , à pulchro capillitio , from the fair hair , either bright in colour or comely for the plenty thereof , their motto in alusion to their name is fare , fac , say doe , such the sympathy ( it seems ) betwixt their tongues and hearts . this sir nicholas fairfax mindeth me of his name-sake and kins-man sir nicholas fairfax of bullingbrooke knight of the rhodes , in the raign of edward the fourth . jacomo bosio in his * italian history of saint john of jerusalem , saith , that sir nicholas fairfax was sent out of rhodes , when it was in great distress , to candia , for relief of men and provisions , which he did so well perform , as the town held out for some time longer , and he gives him this character in his own language , cavilero nicholo fairfax inglich homo multo spiritoso è prudento . queen mary . christopher metcalfe , mil. ] he attended on the judges at york , attended on with three hundred horsemen , all of his own name and kindred , well mounted and suitably attired . the roman fabii , the most populous tribe in that city , could hardly have made so fair an appearance , in so much that master camden gives the metcalfes this character , * quae numerosissima totius angliae familia his temporibus censetur . which at this time , viz. anno . is counted the most numerous family of england . here i forbear the mentioning of another , which perchance might vie numbers with them , lest casually i minister matter of contest . but this sir christopher is also memorable for stocking the river yower in this county , hard by his house , with * crevishes , ( which he brought out of the south ) where they thrive both in plenty and bigness . for although omnia non omnis terra , nec unda feret . all lands doe not bring , nor all waters every thing . yet most places are like trees which bear no fruit , not because they are barren , but are not grafted , so that dumbe nature seemeth in some sort to make signes to art for her assistance . if some gentleman in our parts , will by way of ingenuous retaliation , make proof to plant a colonie of such northern fishes , as we want in our southern rivers , no doubt he would meet with suitable success . queen elizabeth . george bowes , mil. ] he had a great estate in this county , and greater in the bishoprick of durham . a man of metall , indeed , and it had been never a whit the worse , if the quickness thereof , had been a little more allayed in him . this was he who some seven years after , viz. anno . was besieged by the northern rebells in bernards castle , and streightned for provision , * yielded the same on condition they might depart with their armour . after the suppression of the rebells , their execution was committed to his care , wherein he was severe unto cruelty . for many well-meaning people were ingaged ( and others drawn in ) into that rising , who may truely be termed loyall traytors , with those two hundred * men , who went after absolon in their simplicity , and knew not any thing , solicited for the queens service . these sir george hung up by scoars , ( by the office of his marshallship , ) and had hung more , if mr. bernard gilpin , had not begged their lives by his importunate intercession . robert stapleton , mil. ] he was descended from sir miles stapleton , one of the first founders of the garter , and sheri●… in the . of edward the third . he met the judges with sevenscore men in suitable liveries , and was ( saith my * author ) in those days for a man well spoken , properly seen in languages , a comely and goodly personage , had scant an equall , ( except sir philip sidney ) no superior in england . he married one of the co - heirs of sir henry sherington , by whom he had a numerous posterity . francis clifford , ar. ] he afterwards succeeded his brother george in his honours and earldome of cumberland , a worthy gentleman , made up of all honorable accomplishments . he was father to henry the fifth and last earl of that family , whose sole daughter and heir was married to the right honourable , and well worthy of his honour , the then lord dungarvon , since earl of cork . henry bellasis , mil. ] he was afterwards by king charles created baron fauconbridge of yarum , as since his grandchild by his eldest son is made vicount fauconbridge . john bellasis esquire , his second son , who in the garrison of newarke and elsewhere , hath given ample testimony of his valour , and all noble qualities accomplishing a person of honour , since is advanced to the dignity of a baron . king james . henry slingsby , mil. ] the armes of this antient and numerous family ( to large too be inserted in our list ) are as followeth ; quarterly the first and fourth gules , a cheveron between two leopards-heads , and a hutchet or bugle argent . the second and third argent , a griffon surgeant sable , supprest by a fess gules . george savill , mil. & bar. ] this is the last mention of this numerous , wealthy , and antient family , which i find in this catalogue ; and here , reader , to confess my self unto thee , my expectation is defeated , hoping to find that vigorous knight sir john savill in this catalogue of sheriffs . but it seems , that his constant court-attendance , ( being privy-councellour to king charles ) priviledged him from that imployment , untill , by the same king he was created baron savill of pomfraict , as his son since was made earl of sussex . i hear so high commendation of his house at houley , that it disdaineth to yield precedency to any in this shire . king charles . john ramsden , mil. ] the reader will pardon my untimely and abrupt breaking of this catalogue , for a reason formerly rendred . onely let me adde that the renowned knight sir marmaduke langdale was sheriff , . he without the least self-attribution may say , as to the kings side of northern actions , pars ego magna fui . but as for his raising the siege of pomfraict , ( felt before seen by the enemy ) it will sound romanza-like to posterity , with whom it will find plus famae quam fidei . no wonder therefore if k. charles the second created him a baron , the temple of honour being of due open to him , who hath passed through the temple of vertue . the battles . many ingagements ( as much above skirmshes as beneath battles ) happened in this shire . but that at marston-moor , july . . was our english pharsalian fight , or rather the fatall battle of cannae to the loyal cavaliers . indeed it is difficult and dangerous to present the particulars thereof . for one may easier doe right to the memories of the dead , then save the credits of some living . however things past may better be found fault with , then amended ; and when god will have an army defeated , mistakes tending thereto will be multiplied in despite of the greatest care and diligence . know then that prince rupert having fortunately raised the siege at york , drew out his men into the moor , with full intention to fight the enemy . discreet persons , beholding the countenance of the present affairs with an unpartiall eye , found out many disswasives for the prince to hazard a battle . . he had done his work by relieving york , let him digest the honour thereof , and grasp at no more . . his wearied souldiers wanted refreshing . . considerable recruits were daily expected out of the north , under colonel clavering . adde to all these , that such were the present animosities in the parliament army , and so great their mutuall disatisfactions when they drew off from york , that ( as a prime person since freely confest , ) if let alone , they would have fallen foul amongst themselves , had not the prince preparing to fight them , cemented their differences to agree against a generall enemy . but a blot ; is no blot if not hit ; and an advantage , no advantage , if unknown : though this was true , the prince was not informed of the differences aforesaid . however he did not so much run out of his own ambition of honour , as answer the spur of the kings command , from whom he had lately received a letter , ( still safe in his custody ) speedily to fight the enemy if he had any advantage , that so he might spare and send back some supplies to his majesties perplexed occasions at oxford . besides the prince had received certain intelligence , that the enemy had the day before , sent away seven thousand men , now so far distanced , that they were past possibility of returning that day . the former part hereof was true , the latter false , confuted by the great shout given this day in the parliaments army , at the return of such forces unto them . but now it was too late to draw off , the parliament forces necessitating them to fight . a summers evening is a winters day , and about . a clock the battle began . some causelesly complain on the marquess of new-castle , that he drew not his men soon enough ( according to his orders ) out of york , to the prince his seasonable succour . such consider not that souldiers newly relieved from a nine weeks siege , will a little indulge themselves . nor is it in the power of a general , to make them at such times to march at a minutes warning , but that such a minute will be more then an hour in the length thereof . the lord generall gor●…ng so valiantly charged the left wing of the enemy , that they fairly forsooke the field . generall l●…slie with his scottish ran away more then an york-shire mile , and a wee-bit . fame with her trumpet sounded their flight as far as oxford , the royalists rejoycing with bonfires for the victory . but within few days , their bays by a mournfull metamorphosis were turned into willow , and they sunk the lower in true sorrow , for being mounted so high in causeless gladness . for cromwell with his curassires did the work of that day . some suspected colonel hurry ( lately converted to the kings party ) for foul play herein , for he divided the kings old horse ( so valiant and victorious in former fights ) into small bodies , alledging this was the best way to break the scottish lanciers . but those horse , always used to charge together in whole regiments or greater bodies , were much discomposed with this new mode , so that they could not find themselves in themselves . besides a right valiant lord , severed ( and in some sort secured ) with a ditch from the enemy , did not attend till the foe forced their way unto him , but gave his men the trouble to pass over that ditch : the occasion of much disorder . the van of the kings foot being led up by the truely honorable colonel john russell , impressed with unequall numbers , and distanced from seasonable succour , became a prey to their enemy . the marquess of new-castles white-coats ( who were said to bring their winding sheet about them into the field ) after thrice firing , ●…ell to it with the but ends of their muskets , and were invincible ; till mowed down by cromwells carassires , with jobs servants , they were all almost slain , few escaping to bring the tidings of their overthrow . great was the execution on that day , cromwell commanding his men to give no quarter . various the numbering of the slain of both sides , yet i meet with none mounting them above six , or sinking them beneath three thousand . i remember no person of honour slain on the kings side , save the hopefull lord cary , eldest son to the e. of monmouth . but on the parliaments side , the lord didup [ a lately created baron ] was slain , on the same token , that when king charles said , that he hardly remembred , that he had such a lord in scotland ; one returned , that the lord had wholly forgotten that he had such a king in england . soon after more then . royalists of prime quality removed themselves beyond the seas , so that hencefor ward the kings affairs in the north , were in a languishing condition . the farewell . as i am glad to hear the plenty of a courser kind of cloth is made in this county , at halifax , leeds , and elsewhere , whereby the meaner sort are much imployed , and the middle sort inriched ; so i am sorry for the generall complaints made thereof . insomuch that it is become a generall by word , to shrink as northern cloth , ( a giant to the eye , and dwarf in the use thereof , ) to signify such , who fail their friends in deepest distress , depending on their assistance . sad that the sheep the embleme of innocence , should unwillingly cover so much craft under the woo●… thereof ; and sadder , that fullers commended in * scripture for making cloth white , should justly be condemned for making their own consciences black , by such fraudulent practices . i hope this fault for the future , will be amended in this county and elsewhere . for sure it is , that the transporting of wooll and fullers-earth ( both against law ) beyond the seas , are not more prejudiciall to our english cloathing abroad , then the deceit in making cloth at home , debasing the forraign estimation of our cloth to the unvaluable damage of our nation . york is an antient city built on both sides of the river ouse , conjoyned with a bridge , wherein there is one arch , the highest and largest in england . here the roman emperors had their residence , ( severus and valerius constantius their death ) preferring this place before london , as more approaching the center of this island : and he who will hold the ox-hide from rising up on either side , must fix his foot in the middle thereof . what it lacketh of london in bigness and beauty of buildings , it hath in cheapness and plenty of provisions . the ordinary in york will make a feast in london , and such persons who in their eating consult both their purse and palate , would chuse this city as the staple place of good chear . manufactures . it challengeth none peculiar to it self , and the forraign trade is like their river , ( compared with the thames ) low and little . yet send they course cloth to ha●…orough , and have iron , flax and other dutch commodities in return . but the trade which indeed is but driven on at york , runneth of it self at hull , which of a fishers town , is become a cities fellow , within three hundred years , being the key of the north. i presume this key ( though not new made ) is well mended , and the wards of the lock much altered , since it shut out our soveraign from entering therein . the buildings . the cathedrall in this city answereth the character which a forraign * author giveth it , templum opere & magnitudine toto orbe memorandum , the work of john romaine , willam melton , and john thoresbury . successive arch-bishops thereof . the family of the percyes contributing timber , of the valvasors , stone thereunto . appending to this cathedrall is the chapter-house , such a master piece of art that this golden verse ( understand it written in golden letters ) is ingraved therein . ut rosa flos florum sic est domus ista domorū . of flowers that grow the flower 's the rose , all houses so this house out-goes . now as it follows not that the usurping tulip is better then the rose , because preferred by some forraign fancies before it ; so is it as inconsequent that mod●…h italian churches are better then this reverent magnificent structure , because some humorous travailors are so pleased to esteem them . one may justly wonder , how this church , whose edifice woods ( designed by the devotion of former ages , for the repair thereof ) were lately sold , should consist in so good a condition . but as we read , * that , god made all those to pity his children , who carried them captive ; so i am informed , that some who had this cath●…drall in their command , favourably reflected hereon , and not onely permitted but procured the repair thereof ; and no doubt he doth sleep the more comfortably , and will die the more quietly for the same . proverbs . lincoln was , london is , and york shall be , ] though this be rather a prophesie then a proverb , yet because something proverbiall therein , it must not be omitted . it might as well be placed in lincoln shire , or middlesex , yet ( if there be any truth therein ) because men generally worship the rising sun , blame me not if here i onely take notice thereof , that lincoln * was , namely a far fairer , greater , richer city , then now it is , doth plainly appear by the ruins thereof , being without controversie the greatest city in the kingdome of mercia . that london is , we know ; that york shall be , god knows . if no more be meant , but that york hereafter shall be in a better condition then now it is , some may believe , and m●…re doe d●…sire it . indeed this place was in a fair way of preferment , ( because of the convenient scituation thereof , ) when england and scotland were first united into greatb●…itain ▪ but as for those who hope it shall be the english metropolis , they must wait untill the river of thames run under the great arch of ouse-bridge . however york shall be , that is , shall be york still , as it was before . saints . flaccus albinus more commonly called alcuinus , was born , say some , nigh london ; say others , in york , * the later being more probable , because befriended with his northern education , under venerable bede , and his advancement in york . here he so pl●…d the well furnished library therein , ( much * praised by him ) that he distilled it into himself , so great and generall his knowledge . bale ranketh him the third englishman for learning , placing bede and adelme before him ; and our alcuinus his humilt●…y is contented with the place , though he be called up higher by the judgements of others . hence he travailed beyond the seas , and what aristotle was to alexander , he was to charles the first emperour . yea , charles owed unto him the best part of his title the great , being made great , in arts and learning by his instructions . this alcuinus was the founder of the university in paris , so that whatsoever the french brag to the contrary , and slight our nation , their learning was lumen de lumine nostro , and a tapor lighted at our torch . when i seriously peruse the orthography of his name , i call to mind an anagram which the papists made of reverend calvin , bragging like boys for finding of a bees , when it proves but a hornets nest ; i mean triumphing in the sweetness of their conceit , though there be nothing but a malitious sting therein . calvinus lucianus and now they think they have nicked the good man to purpose , because , lucianus w●…s notoriously known for an atheist , and grand scoffer at the christian religion . a silly and spirefull fancy , seeing there were many lucians worthy persons in the primitive ●…imes , amongst whom the chief , one presbyter of antioch and * martyr under dio●…sian , so famous to posterity for his translation of the bible . besides the same literall allusion is found in the name of alcuinus lucianus thus these nominall curiosities , whether they hit or miss the mark , equally import nothing to judicious beholders . he was made first abbot of saint augustines in canterbury , and afterward of saint martins in the city of towers in france , and dying anno , he was buried in a small convent appendant to his monastery . he is here entred under the topick of saints , because though never solemnly canonized , he well deserved the honor : his subjects said to david , thou art worth ten thousand of us ; and though i will not ▪ ascend to so high a proportion , many of the modern saints in the church of rome must modestly confess , that on a due and true estimate our alcuinus was worth many scores of them at least ; so great his learning and holy his conversation . sewall had his nativity probably in these parts . but he was bred in oxford , and was a scholar to st. edmund , who was wont to say to him , sewald , sewald , thou wilt have many afflictions , and dye a martyr . nor did he miss much of his mark therein , though he met with peace and plenty at first , when arch-bishop of york . the occasion of his trouble was , when the pope plenitudine potestatis , intruded one jordan an italian to be dean of york , whose * surprised installing sewald stoutly opposed . yea at this time there were in england , no fewer then three hundred benefices possessed by italians , where the people might say to them , as the eunuch to philip , how can we understand without an ●…nterpreter ? yea which was far worse , they did not onely not teach in the church , but mis-teach by their lascivious and debauched behaviour . asfor our sewald mathew paris saith plainly , that he would not bow his knee to baal , so that for this his contempt , he was excommunicated and cursed by bell , book , and candle , though it was not the bell of aarons garment , nor book of scripture , nor the candle of an unpartiall judgement . this brak his heart , and his memory lyeth in an intricate posture , ( peculiar almost to himself ) betwixt martyr and no martyr , a saint and no saint . sure it is , ●…ewall though dying excommunicated in the romish , is reputed saint in vulgar estimation , and some will maintain that the popes solemn canonization is no more requisite to the making of a saint , then the opening of a man●… windows is necessary to the lustre of the sun. sewald died anno dom. . * bale , who assumeth liberty to himself to surname old-writers at his pleasure , is pleased to addition this worthy man , sewaldus magnanimus . martyrs . valentine freese and his wife were both of them born in this city , and both gave their lives therein at one * stake , for the testimony of jesus christ , anno domini . probably by order from edward lee the cruell arch-bishop . i cannot readily call to mind a man and his wife thus marryed together in martyrdome : and begin to grow confident that this couple was the first and la●… in this kind . confessors . edward freese brother to the aforesaid valentine , was born in * york , and there a prentice to a painter . he was afterwards a novice-monke , and leaving his convent , came to colchester in essex . here his hereticall inclination ( as then accounted ) discovered it self in some sentences of scripture , which he painted in the borders of cloths , for which , he was brought before john stoaksley bishop of london , from whom he found such cruell usage as is above belief . master * fox saith , that he was fed with manchet made of saw-dust , or at the least a great part thereof , and kept so long in prison , manicled by the wrests , till the flesh had overgrown his irons ; and he not able to kembe his own head became so distracted , that being brought before the bishop , he could say nothing , but my lord is a good man. a sad sight to his friends , and a sinfull one to his foes , who first made him mad , and then made mirth at his madness . i confess distraction is not mentioned in that list of losses , reckoned up by our * saviour , he that left his house , or brethren , or sisters , or father , or mother , or wife , or children , or lands , for my sake , &c. but seeing his wits is nearer and dearer to any man then his wealth , and seeing what is so lost may be said to be left ; no doubt this poor mans distraction was by god gratiously accepted , on his enemies severely punished , and to him mercifully rewarded . we must not forget how the wife of this edward freese , being big with child , and pressing in to see her husband , the porter at fulham gave her such a kick on the belly , that the child was destroyed with that stroke immediately , and she died afterwards of the same . prelates . john roman so called because his * father was born in rome , though living a long time in this city , being treasurer of the cathedrall therein , and i conjecture this john his son born in york , because so indulgent thereunto . for generally pure pute italians preferred in england , transmitted the gain they got by bills of exchange or otherwise into their own country , and those outlandis●… mules though lying down in english pasture , left no hairs behind them : whereas this roman had such affection for york , that being advanced arch-bishop , he began to build the body of the church , and finished the north part of the cross-isle therein . polydore virgil praised him , ( no wonder that an italia●… commended a roman ) for a man of great learning and sincerity . he fell into the disfavour of king edward the first , for excommunicating anthony beck bishop of durham , and it cost him four thousand marks to regain his princes good will. he died anno domini . and let none grudge his buria●… in the best place of the church , who was so bountifull a builder thereof . robert walbey born in this city , * was therein bred an aug●…stinian friar , he afterwards went over into france , where he so applied his studies , that at last he was chosen divinity professor in the city of tholouse : he was chaplain to the black prince , & after his death to his father k. edward the third . now as his mr. injoyed three crowns , so under him in his three kingdoms this his chaplain did partake successively of three miters , being first a bishop in gascoine , then arch-bishop of dublin in ireland , & afterwards bishop of chichester in england , not grudging to be degraded in dignity , to be preferred in profit . at last he was consecrated arch-bishop of york , and was the first and last native which that city saw the least of infants , and ( in his time ) when man , the greatest therein . yet he enjoyed his place but a short time , dying may . anno domini , . since the reformation . thomas morton was born anno . in the city of york , whose father richard morton , ( allyed to cardinall morton arch ▪ bishop of canterbury , ) was a mercer ( i have been informed the first of that calling in that city sure , ) of such repute , that no mercers for many years by past , were of any eminency , but either immediately or mediately were apprentices unto him . he was bred in york school , where he was school-fellow with guy faux , which i note , partly , to shew that loyalty and treason , may be educated under the same roof , partly , to give a check to the received opinion , that faux was a fleming , no native english-man . he was bred in saint johns-colledge in cambridge , and chosen fellow thereof to a fellowship to which he had no more propriety , then his own merit , before eight comp●…titors for the place , equally capable with himself , and better befriended . commencing doctor in divinity , he made his position , ( which though unusuall was arbitrary and in his own power , ) on his second question , which much defeated the expectatio●… of doctor playfere , replying upon him with some passion , commos●…i mihi stomachum . to whom morton return'd , gratulor tibi reverende professor de bono tuo stomacho caenabis apud me hac nocte . he was successively preferr'd dean of gloucester , winchester , bishop of chester , coventry and lichfield and durham . the foundation which he laid of forraign corre spondency with eminent persons of different perswasions , when he attended as chaplain to the lord evers , ( sent by king james embassadour to the king of denmark and many princes of germany , ) he built upon unto the day of his death . in the late long parliament , the displeasure of the house of commons fell heavy upon him , partly , for subscribing the bishops protestation for their votes in parliament ; partly , for refusing to resign the seal of his bishoprick , and baptizing a daughter of john earl of rutland with the sign of the cross ; two faults , which compounded together in the judgement of honest and wise-men amounted to a high innocence . yet the parliament allowed him eight hundred pounds a year ( a proportion above any of his brethren ) for his maintenance . but alass the trumpet of their charity gave an uncertain sound , not assigning by whom or whence this summe should be paid . indeed the severe votes of the parliament ever took full effect , according to his observation , who did anagram it voted outed but their mercifull votes found not so free performance . however this good bishop got a thousand pounds out of goldsmiths-hall , which afforded him his support in his old age. the neb of his pen was unpartially divided into two equall moyeties , the one writing against faction , in defence of three innocent ceremonies ; the other against superstition , witness the grand impostor , and other worthy works . he solemnly proffered unto me ( pardon me reader , if i desire politiquely to twist my own with his memory ; that they may both survive together , ) in these sad times to maintain me to live with him ; which courteous offer as i could not conveniently accept , i did thankfully 〈◊〉 . many of the nobility deservedly honoured him , though none more then john earl of rutland , to whose kinsman roger earl of rutland he formerly 〈◊〉 been chaplain . but let not two worthy baronets be forgotten , sir george savill , who so civilly paid him his purchased annuity of two hundred pounds , withall proffered advantages ; and sir henry yelve●…ton , at whose house he dyed , aged . at easton-manduit in northampton shire , . for the rest the reader is remitted to his life , written largely and learnedly , by doctor john barwick dean of durham . states-men . sir robert car was born in this city on this occasion , thomas car his father laird of furnihurst , a man of great lands and power in the south of scotland , was very active for mary queen of scots ; and on that accompt forced to fly his land , came to york . now although he had been a great inroder of england , yet for some secret reason of state , here he was permitted safe shelter , du●…ing which time robert his son was born ; this was the reason why the said robert refused to be naturalized by act of our parliament , as needless for him born in the english dominions . i have read how his first making at court was by breaking of his leg at a tilting in london whereby he came first to the cognizance of king james ; thus a fair starting with advantage in the notice of a prince , is more then half the way in the race to his favour : king james reflected on him whose father was a kind of conf●…ssor for the cause of the queen his mother ; besides the young gentleman had a handsome person and a conveniency of desert ; honors were crowded upon him , made baron , viscount , earl of sommerset , knight of the garter , warden of the cinque-ports , &c. he was a well natured man , not mischievous with his might , doing himself more hurt then any man else . for abate one foul fact with the appendance and consequences thereof notoriously known , and he will appear deserving no foul character to posterity ; but for the same he was banished the court , lived and dyed very privately , about the year of our lord , . writers . john walbye was born in this city , of honest parentage . he was bred an augustinian ( provinciall of his order , ) and doctor of divinity in oxford . a placentious person , gaining the good-will of all , with whom he conversed , being also ingenious , industrious , learned , eloquent , pious , and prudent . * pitz writeth , that ( after alexander nevell ) he was chosen but never confirmed , arch bishop of york , ( an honour reserved for robert his younger brother , of whom † before . ) but bishop godwin maketh no mention hereof , which rendreth it suspicious . the said pitz maketh him actuall arch-bishop of dublin , whilst bale ( who being an irish bishop , had the advantage of exacter intelligence , ) hath no such thing , whence we may conclude it a mistake . the rather because this john is allowed by all to have died in this place of his nativity , . also i will adde this , that though sharp at first against the wickliffites , he soon abated his own edge ; and though present at a council kept at stanford , by the king against them , was not well pleased with all things transacted therein . john erghom was born in this * city , an augustinian by his profession . leaving york he went to oxford , where passing thorough the arts , he fixed at last in divinity , proving an admirable preacher . my * author tells me , that sometimes he would utter nova & inaudita , whereat one may well wonder , seeing solomon hath said , there is no n●…w thing under the sun. the truth is , he renewed the custome of expounding scripture in a typicall way , which crouded his church with auditors , seeing such 〈◊〉 preaching break 's no bones , much pleased their fancy , and little cross'd or curb'd their corruptions . indeed some ( but not all ) scripture is capable of such comments , and because metalls are found in mountains , it is madness to mine for them in every rich meadow . but in expounding of scripture , when mens inventions out-run the spirits intentions , their swiftness is not to be praised , but sawcyness to be punished . this erghom wrote many books , and dedicated them to the earl of hereford , ( the * same with edward duke of buckingham , ) and flourished under k. henry the seventh , anno . since the reformation . richard stock was born in this city , bred scholar of the house in saint johns-colledge in cambridge , and designed fellow of sidney , though not accepting thereof . he was afterwards minister of all hallows bredstreet in london , by the space of thirty two years , till the day of his death . where ( if in health ) he omitted not to preach twice every lords day , with the approbation of all that were judicious and religious . no minister in england had his pulpit supplyed by fewer strangers . doctor davenant afterwards bishop of sarum , ( whose father was his parishioner ) was his constant auditor , while lying in london . his preaching was most profitable , converting many , and confirming more in religion , so that appearing with comfort at the day of judgement , he might say , behold i and the children that god hath given me . he was zealous in his life , a great reformer of prophanations on the sabbath , prevailing with some companies to put off their wonted festivalls from mundays to tuesdays , that the lords-day might not be abused by the preparation for such entertainments . though he preached oft in neighbouring churches , he never neglected his own , being wont to protest , that it was more comfortable to him to win one of his own parish then twenty others . preaching at saint pauls cross when young , it was ill taken at his mouth , that he reproved the inequality of rates in the city , ( burdening the poor to ease the rich , ) and he was called a green head for his pains . but being put up in his latter days to preach on the lord mayors election , and falling on the same subject , he told them , that a gray head spake now what a green-head had said before . he dyed aprill . anno domini . with a great lamentation of all , but especially of his parishioners . memorable persons . john lepton of york esquire , servant to king james , undertook for a wager to ride six days together betwixt york and london , being sevenscore and ten miles , stylo vetere , as i may say , and performed it accordingly , to the greater praise of his strength in acting , then his discretion in undertaking it . he first set forth from aldersgate may . being munday , anno domini . * and accomplished his journey every day before it was dark . a thing rather memorable then commendable , many maintaining , that able and active bodies , are not to vent themselves in such vain ( though gainfull ) ostentation ; and that it is no better then tempting divine providence , to lavish their strength , and venture their lives , except solemnly summoned thereunto by just necessity . lord mayors . expect not reader , that under this title i should present thee with a list of the lord mayors of this city born therein . onely to make this part conformable to the rest of my book , know , that i find one native of this city lord mayor of london , viz. name father place company time martin bowes thomas bowes york goldsmith the farewell . to take our leaveof this loyall city : i desire that some lucrative trade may be set up therein , to repair her former losses with advantage . mean time i rejoyce , that the archiepiscopat see is restored thereunto , not despairing , but that in due time , ( if the supream authority adjudge it fit ) the court of the presidency of the north , may be re-erected therein , presuming the country will be eased , and city inriched thereby , as the loadstone which will atract much company , and by consequence commodity thereunto . let me adde , i am informed , that sir thomas widdrington , a person accomplished in all arts , ( as well as in his own profession of the laws , ) hath made great progress in his exact description of this city . nor doe i more congratulate the happiness of york coming under so able a pen , then condole my own infelicity , whose unsuccessfull attendance hitherto could not compass speech with this worthy knight . sure i am when this his work is set forth , then indeed york shall be , what ? a city most compleatly illustrated in all the antiquities and remarkables thereof . finis . the principality of wales . psal. . , . in his hand are the deep places of the earth : the strength of the hills is his also . the sea is his , and he made it . prov . . , . the herbs of the mountains are gathered . the lambs are for thy clothing , and the goats are the price of thy fields . a necessary preface to the reader . it bare a debate in my serious consideration , whether a totall omission or defective description of this principality were to be preferred , finding my self as unable to do it exactly , as unwilling to pretermit it . for first , i never was in vvales , and all know how necessary 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is to accurateness herein . secondly , i understand not their language , and cannot go to the cost , nor dare take the state of having an interpreter . king james was wont pleasantly to say , that he cared not though he was poor himself , so long as his subjects were rich , as confident he could command their wealth , on good conditions and a just occasion . but indeed it matters not how meanly skil'd a writer is , so long as he hath knowing and communicative friends ; my happiness in england , who here am quite destitute of such assistance . however on the other side , a totall omission seemed very unhandsome , to make a cypher of this large principality . besides , england cannot be well described without vvales , such the intimacy of relation betwixt them , three of our english kings * being born , and many of our prime atchievments being acted in vvales . wherefore , i resolved to endeavour my utmost in the description thereof , though sadly sensible in my self , that my desires were as high as a mountain , but my performances would fall as low , ( would they were half so fruitfull ) as the vallies . and here i humbly desire , that the many faults by me committed , may be like a ball cast down and deaded on a soft floor , even to be buried in my own weakness to my own shame , without the least ripling or rebounding to the disgrace of the vvelsh country or nation . and my hope and desire is that these my weak pains will provoke others of more ability , to substitute a more exact description in the room thereof . i had rather the reader should take the name of that worthy knight from master * camden , then from me , who designing to build according to the italian mode of architecture , plucked down a good and convenient english-house , preposterously destroying the one , and never finished the other : i hope the reader , will not be so uncharitable , ( i will not say undiscreet ) but will allow our grains a subsistence , till they will willingly vanish at the substitution of another . in doubtfull nativities of worthy persons betwixt england and wales , i have not call'd for a sword to divide the controverted child betwixt the two mothers , but have wholy resigned it to vvales , partly , out of desire of quietness , ( not engage in a contest , ) partly , because i conceived england might better spare then vvales want them . to conclude some will wonder , how perfect [ coming from perficere , to do throughly , ] and perfunctorie [ derived from perfungi , throughly to discharge , ] should have so opposite senses . my motto in the description of this principality is betwixt them both , nec perfectè , nec perfunctorie . for as i will not pretend to the credit of the former , so may i defend my self from the shame of the latter , having done the utmost , which the strength of my weakness could perform . wales . this principality hath the severn sea on the south , irish-ocean on the west and north , england on the east , antiently divided from it by the river severn , since by a ditch drawn with much art and industry , from the mouth of dee to the mouth of wie . from east to west , [ wie to saint davids ] is an hundred , from north to south , [ car●…ion to hollihead ] is an hundred and twenty miles . the ditch or trench lately mentioned , is called clauhd-offa , because made by king offa ; who cruelly enacted , that what welch-man soever was found on the east-side of this ditch should forfeit his right-hand . a law long since cancelled , and for many ages past , the welch have come peaceably over that place , and good reason , bringing with them both their right-hands and right-hearts ; no less loyally then valiantly to defend england against al●… enemies , being themselves under the same soveraign united thereunto . it consisteth of three parts , the partition being made by ●…oderick the great , about the year . dividing it betwixt his three sons . . north-wales , whose princes chiefly resided at . aberfrow , . mathravall , . dynefar . . powis , . south-wales . this division in fine proved the confusion of wales , whose princes were always at war , not onely against the english , their common foe , but mutually with themselves to enlarge or defend their dominions . of these three north-wales was the chief , as doth plainly appear , first , because roderick left it mervin his eldest son. secondly , because the princes thereof were by way of eminency stiled the princes of wales , and sometimes kings of aberfrow . thirdly , because as the king of aberfrow paid to the king of london , yearly threescore * and three pounds by way of tribute , so the same summe was paid to him by the princes of powis and south-wales . however south-wales was of the three the larger , richer , fruitfuller , therefore called by the welsh deheubarth , that is , the right-side , because nearer the sun. but that country being constantly infested with the invasions of the english and flemings , had north-wales preferred before it , as more intire and better secured from such annoyances . hence it was , that whilst the welsh-tongue in the south is so much mingled and corrupted , in north-wales it still retaineth the purity thereof . the soil . it is not so champion and levell , and by consequence not so fruitfull as england , mostly rising up into hills and mountains of a lean and hungry nature , yet so that the ill quality of the ground is recompenced by the good quantity thereof . a right worshipfull knight in wales , who had a fair estate therein , his rents resulting from much barren-ground , heard an english gentleman ( perchance out of intended opposition ) to brag , that he had in england , so much ground worth forty shillings an acre ; you ( said he ) have ten yards of velvet , and i have te●… score of frize , i will not exchange with you . this is generally true of all wales , that much ground doth make up the rent , and yet in proportion they may lose nothing thereby , compared to estates in other countries . however there are in wales most pleasant meadows along the sides of rivers , and as the sweetest flesh is said to be nearest the bones , so most delicious vallies a●…e interposed betwixt these mountains . but now how much these very mountains advantage the natives thereof , in their health , strength , swiftness , wit , and other naturall perfections , give me leave to stand by silent ▪ whilst a great master of language and reason entertaineth the reader with this most excellent and pertinent discourse , carpenters geography second book , chap. . pag. . this conceit of mounsieur bodin , i admit without any great contradiction , were he not over-peremptory in over-much censuring all mountainous people of blockishness and barbarisme , against the opinion of averroes a great writer ; who finding these people nearer heaven , suspected in them a more heavenly nature . neither want there many reasons drawn from nature and experiment to prove mountainous people more pregnant in wit , and gifts of understanding then others inhabiting in low and plain countries . for however wit and valour are many times divided , as we have shewn in the northern and southern people , yet were they never so much at variance , but they would sometimes meet . first therefore , what can speak more for the witty temper of the mountain people , then their clear and subtile aire , being far more purged and rarified , then that in lower countries . for holding the vital spirits to be the chiefest instruments in the souls operation , no man can deny but that they sympathize with the aire , especially their chiefest foment . every man may by experience , find his intellectuall operations more vigorous in a clear day , and on the contrary most dull and heavy , when the aire is any way affected with foggy vapours . what we find in our selves in the same place at divers seasons , may we much more expect of places diversly affected in constitution . a second reason , for the proof of our assertion , may be drawn from the thin and spare diet , in respect of those others . for people living of plains have commonly all commodities in such plenty , that they are subject to surfeiting and luxury , the greatest enemy and underminer of all intellectuall operations . for a fat belly commonly begets a gross head , and a lean brain : but want and scarcity the mother of frugality invites the mountain-dwellers to a more sparing and wholesome diet. neither grows this conveniency only out of the scarcity of viands ; but also out of the dyet . birds , fowls , beasts , which are bred upon higher places are esteemed of a more cleanly and wholsome feeding , then others living in fens and foggy places . and how far the quality of our dyet prevails in the alteration of our organs and dispositions , every naturalist will easily resolve us . a third reason may be drawn from the cold aire of these mountainous regions , which by an antiperistasis keeps in and strengthens the internall heat , the chief instrument in natural and vital operations . for who perceives not his vital and by consequence his intellectuall parts , in cold frosty weather to be more strong , and vigorous , then in hot and soultry seasons , wherein the spirits be d●…faced and weakned ? this disparity in the same region , at divers times , in regard of the disposition of the aire , may easily declare the disparity of divers regions , being in this sort diversly affected . a fourth reason , may be taken from the custome and hardness , whereunto such people inure themselves from their infancy ; which ( as huartus proves ) begets a better temper of the brain , in regard of the wit and understanding ; which we happen to find clean otherwise with them , who have accustomed themselves to deliciousness . these reasons perhaps would seem onely probable , and of no great moment , were they not strengthened with forraign and domestick observations . thus much i thought fit to transcribe out of our author , un paralleld in his kind , confident that our ensuing work will be a comment on his text , or rather , will , by the induction of severall instances , natives of wales , be the proof of the truth of this his most judicious assertion . naturall commodities , silver . tully ( a better orator then historian , yet better historian then metallist , affirmeth that britain affordeth , ne micam auri vel argen●…i , not a grain of gold or silver : understand him what in his age was discovered . otherwise wales , and especially cardiganshire yields royal mines , where the silver holds standard , and pays with profit for the separation from lead , and the refining thereof , as by the ensuing particulars will appear . . six mountains there are in cardigan shire , ( pardon british reader , if i spell them rather after our english pronunciation , then the welch orthography , ) viz. comsomelock , tallabant , gadarren , bromefloid , geginnon and cummerrum . . the romans first began to mine here , ( as appears by their coines found therein , ) working in trenches , not above twenty or four and twenty fathom deep , and found plenty of lead . . the danes and saxons wrought by sheafts , so they call what is long and narrow ; whether mounting into the aire , ( as spires of steeples , ) or sinking into the earth , as their pits here , an hund●…ed fathom deep . they found great plenty of lead , but at last deserted their works , either because the vein of metall failed , or they drowned with the irruption of water . . customer smith , about the latter end of the raign of queen elizabeth , discovered silver in comsomelock , and sent it up to the tower of london with great expence , to be coined . . after his death , the design was prosecuted , and more perfected by sir hugh middleton knight , coining the silver to his great charge , as his predecessour , at the tower. . after the death of sir hugh , sir francis godolphin of cornwall knight , and thomas bushell esquire , undertook the work . . king charles , for their greater encouragement , and sparing their expence , granted them power of coinage at aberrusky in that county . . thomas bushell ( sir francis dying soon after , and comsom●…lock being deserted ) adventured on the other five mountains . . not disheartned , that the first year and half afforded no effectuall discovery , at last these mines yielded one hundred pounds a week , ( besides lead amounting to half as much ) coined at aberrusky aforesaid . . the pence , groats , shillings , half-crowns , &c. of this silver , had the ostrich feathers ( the armes of wales ) for distinction stamped on them . then came our civil wars , and discomposed all the work , when mattocks must be turned into spear●… , and shovells into shields , or else probably before this time the project had arrived at a greater perfection . here by the way , it is richly worth the observing , how the modern manner of mining exceedeth what was formerly used . for thirty years since they began at the top of a mountain , digging directly downwards with their shafts , which was subject to a double mischief , of damps , and drowning . besides , vast was the expense before they could come to the bowels of the mountain , wherein the oar ( if any ) was most probably expected . since they have gone a more compendious way by adyts , making their entrance ( some five foot and a half high , and perchance as broad , ) into the mountain , at the lowest levell therereof , so that all the water they meet with , conveyeth it self away as in a channel , by the declivity of the place . and thus they penetrate the most expeditious way athwart the middle thereof , which bringeth them to the speediest discovery of the metal therein . but the rarest invention is the supplying of the miners with fresh aire , which is performed by two mens blowing wind by a pair of bellows on the outside of the adit , into a pipe of lead , daily lengthened as the mine is made longer , whereby the candle in the mine is daily kept burning , and the diggers recruted constantly with a sufficiency of breath . this invention was the master-piece of sir franci●… ▪ bacon , lord ver●…lam , and not onely so acknowledged by thomas bushell his gratefull servant , but also effectually prosecuted by him ; a person innated with a publike spirit , if he migh●… meet with proportionable encouragement . and here methinks it were ●…tting ( pardon , ( reader ) a short digression ) that rewards should be given to such undertakers , who are the discoverers of profitable projects ; and not onely to such who exactly hit the mark , but even to those who ingeniously miss it , because their aberrations may be directions to others . and though many tympanies and false conceptions would happen , yet amongst many miscarriages some pregnant ▪ wits would happily be delivered of rare inventions ▪ especially if the state would be pleased to be their mid-wife favourably to encourage them . lead . this is found in many places in wales , but in carnarvan-shire the best , in many respects . first , because so near the sea , so that they may cast the oare into the ship. metalls elsewhere are digged as out of the bowells of the earth , so out of the bowells of the land , i mean , so far from any conveyance by water , that the expence of the portage swallows much of the profits thereof : which charge is here avoyded . secondly , for the plenty . lastly , for the purity thereof . insomuch that there was great probability for a long time that it would have proved a mine royal. which hope was frustrated at last to the great gain of the owners thereof . for a leaden mine is a silver-mine to such subjects as possess it , whilst a silver-mine is but a leaden one unto them , from whom the property is taken , as then accrewing to the crown or state , by vertue of its prerogative . goats . in latine capri , à carpendo , from cropping , ( therefore forbidden to be kept in some places , because destructive to young woods , ) are when young , most nimble and frisking , ( whence our english to caper , ) but afterwards put on so great gravity , that an he-goat is recounted by wise * agur , amongst the four creatures which are comely in going . yea , if that ornamentall excrement which groweth beneath the chin , be the standard of wisdome , they carry it from aristotle himself . they are strong above their proportion , and an he-goat will beat a ram of equall bigness . hence it is that in * daniel , the persian monarchy is compared to a ram , and the macedonian , which subdued the persian , resembled to a goat . they can clamber the highest hills , without help of a ladder , delighting in steep and craggy places , seeming rather to * hang then stand , as they are feeding . their flesh , disguised with good cookery , may deceive a judicious palate , as it did † isaac's , for venison . of their skins excellent gloves are made , which may be called our english-cordovant , soft , supple and stretching , whence the expression of cheverelconsciences , which will stretch any way for advantage . course coverings are made of their shag , god himself not despising the present of * goats-hair , which made the outward case of the * tabernacle . their milk is accounted cordiall against consumptions ; yea , their very stench is used for a perfume in arabia the happy , where they might surfeit of the sweetness of spices , if not hereby allayed . in a word , goats are be●… for food , where sheep cannot be had . plenty of these are bred in wales , especially in montgomery-shire , which mindeth me of a pleasant passage , during the restraint of the lady elizabeth . when she was so strictly watched by sir henry benefield , that none were admitted access unto her , a goat was espied by a merry fellow , ( one of the warders ) walking along with her . whereupon , taking the goat on his shoulders , he in all hast hurried him to sir henry , i pray sir ( said he ) * examine this fellow , whom i found walking with her grace , but what talk they had i know not , not understanding his language . he seems to me a stranger , and i believe a welsh-man by his frieze coat . to return to our subject , i am not so knowing in goats , as either to confirme or confute what plinie * reports , that adhuc lactantes generant ; they 〈◊〉 young ones , whilst they themselves as yet suck their dams . he addeth , that they are great enemies to the olive-trees , ( which they embarren with licking it ) and therefore are never sacrificed to minerva . sure i am a true deity accepted them for his service ; as many kids well nigh , as lambs , being offered in the old testament . the manufactures . the brittish generally bearing themselves high on the account of their gentile extraction , have spiri●… which can better comport with designes of suddain danger then long difficulty , and are better pleased in the imploying of their valour then their labour . indeed some souls are over-lovers of liberty , so that they mistake all industry to be degrees of slavery . i doubt not but posterity may see the welsh commodities improved by art far more then the present age doth behold , the english as yet as far excelling the welsh , as the dutch exceed the english in manufactures . but let us instance in such as this country doth afford , frieze . this is a course kind of cloath , then which none warmer to be worn in winter , and the finest sort thereof very fashionable and gentile . prince henry had a frieze sute , by which he was known many weeks together , and when a bold courtier checkt him for appearing so often in one suit , would ( said he ) that the cloath of my country ( being prince of wales ) would last always . indeed it will daily grow more into use , especially since the gentry of the land being generally much impoverisht , abate much of their gallantry , and lately resigned rich cloaths to be worn by those ( not whose persons may best become them , but ) whose purses can best pay for the price thereof . cheese . this is milk by art so consolidated , that it will keep uncorrupted for some years . it was antiently ( and is still ) the staple food for armies in their marching , witness when david was sent with * ten cheeses to recruit the provisions of his brethren , and when * barzillai with cheeses ( amongst other food ) victualled the army of k. david . such as are made in this country are very tender and palatable , and once one merrily ( without offence i hope ) thus derived the pedigree thereof ; adams nawn cusson , was her by her birth , ap curds , ap milk , ap cow , ap grasse , ap earth . foxes are said to be the best tasters of the fineness of flesh , flies of the sweetest grapes , and mice of the tenderest cheese , and the last , ( when they could compass 〈◊〉 in that kind ) have given their verdict for the goodness of the welch . what should be the reason , that so many people should have such an antipathie ▪ against cheese ( more then any one manner of meat ) i leave to the skilfull in the mysteries of nature to decide . metheglen . some will have this word of greek extraction , from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , contracted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . but the british will not so let go their none countriman mathew glin , but will have it purum potum cambricum , wholly of welsh originall : whencesoever the word is made , the liquor is compounded of water , honey , and other ingredients , being most wholesome for mans body . pollio romulus , who was an hundred years old , being asked of augustus cesar , by what means especially he had so long preserved his vigour both of mind and body ; made answer , * intus mulso , foris oleo , by taking metheglen inward , and oyle outward . it differeth from mede , ut vinum à † lora , as wine from that weak stuffe which is the last running from the grapes pressed before . it is a most generous liquor , as it is made in this country , in so much that had * mercator , who so highly praised the mede of egra , for the best in the world ; i say , had he tasted of this welch hydromel , he would have confined his commendation to germany alone , and allowed ours the precedency . queen elizabeth , who by the tudors was of welch-descent , much loved this her native liquor , recruiting an annual stock thereof for her own use , and here take if you please , the receit thereof , first gather a bushell of sweet-briar leaves , and a bushell of time , half a bushell of rosemary , and a peck of bay-leaves . seeth all these ( being well washed ) in a furnace of fair water , let them boil the space of half an hour , or better , and then pour out all the water and herbs into a vat , and let it stand till it be but milk-warme , then strain the water from the herbs , and take to every six gallons of water one gallon of the finest honey , and put it into the * boorn , and labour it together half an hour , then let it stand two days , stirring it well twice or thrice each day . then take the liquor , and boil it anew , and when it doth seeth , skim it as long as there remaineth any dross . when it is clear , put it into the vat as before , and there let it be cooled . you must then have in readiness a kind of new ale or beer , which , as soon as you have emptied , suddenly whelme it upside down , and set it up again , and presently put in the metheglen , and let it stand three days a working . and then tun it up in barrells , tying at every tap-hole , ( by a pack-thred ) a little bag of beaten cloves and mace , to the value of an ounce . it must stand half a year before it be drunk . the buildings . the holy * spirit complaineth , that great men build desolate places for themselves ; therein taxing their avarice , ambition , or both . avarice , they joyn house to * house , [ by match , purchase , or oppression , ] that they may be alone in the land , that their covetousness may have elbow-room to lye down at full length , and wallow it self round about . these love not , because they need not neighbours , whose numerous families can subsist of themselves . or else their ambition is therein reproved , singling out desolate places for themselves , because scorning to take that fruitfulness which nature doth tender , and desireing as it were to be petty-creators , enforcing artificiall fertility on a place where they found none before . i* well knew , that wealthy man , who being a great improves of ground , was wont to say , that he would never come into that place which might not be made better : on the same token , that one tartly returned , that then he would never go to heaven , for that place was at the best . but the truth is , fertilizing of barren ground may be termed a charitable curiosity , employing many poor people therein . it is confessed that wales affordeth plenty of barren places , ( yielding the benefit of the best aire , ) but the italian humor of building hath not affected ( not to say infected ) the british nation . i say the italian-humor , who have a merry proverb , let him that would be happy for a day , go to the barber ; for a week , marry a wife ; for a month , buy him a new-horse ; for a year , build him a new-house ; for all his life-time , be an honest-man . but it seems that the welsh are not tempted to enjoy such short happiness for a years continuance . for their buildings , generally they are like those of the old britains , neither big nor beautifull , but such as their ancestors in this isle formerly lived in , for when cataracus that valiant british generall , ( who for nine years resisted here the * romans puissance ) after his captivity and imprisonment , was inlarged , and carried about to see the magnificence of rome , * why do you ( said he ) fo greedily desire our poor cottages , whereas you have such stately and magnificent palaces of your own ? the simplicity of their common building for private persons may be conjectured by the palaces of their princes . for hoelldha prince of wales , about the year . built a house for his own residence of white-hurdells or watling , therefore called ty gwin , that is , the white-house or whitehall if you please . however there are brave buildings in wales , though not welsh buildings , many stately castles , which the english erected therein . and though such of them as survive at this day , may now be beheld as beauties , they were first intended as bridles to their country . otherwise their private houses , are very mean indeed . probably they have read what master camden writes , that the building of great houses was the bane of good house-keeping in england , and therefore they are contented with the worse habitations , as loath to lose their beloved hospitality . the rather , because it hath been observed that such welsh buildings as conforme to the english mode , have their chimneys though more convenient , less charitable , seeing as fewer eyes are offended , fewer bellies are fed , with the smoaking thereof . but though the lone-houses in wales , be worse then those in england ; their market-towns generally are built better then ours , the gentry ( it seems ) having many of their habitations therein . the proverbs . these are twofold . . such as the english pass on the welsh . . such as the welsh make on the english. the latter come not under my cognizance , as being in the british tongue , to me altogether unknown besides my friend master james howel in a treatise on that subject , hath so feasted his reader , that he hath starved such as shall come after him , for want of new provisions . as for the former sort of proverbs , we insist on one or two of them . his welsh blood is up . ] a double reason may be rendred , why the welsh are subject to anger . . moral ; give losers leave to speak , and that passionately too . they have lost their land , and we englishmen have driven their ancestors out of a fruitfull country , and pend them up in barren mountains . . naturall ; choler having a predominancy in their constitution , which soundeth nothing to their disgrace . impiger * iracundus , is the beginning of the character of achilles himself . yea , valour would want an edge , if anger were not a whetstone unto it . and as it is an increaser of courage , it is an attendant●…n ●…n wit , ingeniosi sunt cholerici . the best is , the anger of the welsh doth soon arise , and soon abate , as if it were an embleme of their country , up & down , chequered with elevations and depressions . as long as a welsh pedigree . ] men ( who are made heralds in other countries ) are born heralds in wales , so naturally are all there inclined to know and keep their descents , which they derive from great antiquity : so , that any welsh-gentleman ( if this be not a tautology ) can presently clime up , by the stairs of his pedigree , into princely extraction . i confess some english-men make a mock of their long pedigree , ( whose own perchance are short enough if well examined , ) i cannot but commend their care in preserving the memory of their ancestors , conformable herein to the custome of the hebrews . the worst i wish their long pedigree , is broad possessions , that so there may be the better symmetry betwixt their extractions and estates . give your horse a welch-bait . ] it seems it is the custome of the welsh travailers , when they have climed up a hill ( whereof plenty in these parts ) to rain their horses backward , and stand still a while , taking a prospect ( or respect rather ) of the country they have passed . this they call a bait , and ( though a peck of oates would doe the palfrey more good ) such a stop doth ( though not feed ) refresh . others call this a scotish-bait , and i believe the horses of both mountainous countries , eat the same provender , out of the same manger , on the same occasion . proceed we now to our description , and must make use in the first place of a generall catalogue , of such who were undoubtedly welsh yet we cannot with any certainty refer them to their respective counties , and no wonder , . because they carry not in their sur names any directions to their nativities , as the antient english generally ( and especially the clergy ) did , till lately , when conquered by the english , some conformed themselves to the english custome . . because wales was antiently divided but into three great provinces northwales , powis , and south-wales , and was not modelled into shires , according to the modern division , till the raign of k. henry the eighth . of such therefore who succeed herein , though no county of wales ( perchance ) can say this man is mine , wales may avouch all these are ours . yet i doe not despair , but that in due time this my common may god willing be inclosed , ( and fair inclosures i assure you is an inriching to a country , ) i mean , that having gained better intelligence from some welsh antiquaries ( whereof that principality affordeth many ) these persons may be un-general'd , and impaled in their particular counties . princes . i confess there were many in this principality , but i crave leave to be excused from giving a list of their nativities . they are so antient , i know not where to begin , and so many , i know not where to end . besides , having in the fundamentalls of this book confined princes to the children of soveraigns , it is safest for me , not to sally forth , but to intrench my self within the aforesaid restrictions . onely i cannot but insert the following note found in so authentick an author , for the rarity thereof in my apprehension , camdens remains , pag. . as for the britains or welsh , whatsoever jura majestatis their princes had , i cannot understand that they ever had any coin of their own , for no learned of that nation have at any time seen any found in wales or elsewhere . strange that having so much silver digged out , they should have none coined in their country , so that trading was driven on either by the bartery or change of wares and commodities , or else by money imported out of england and other countries . confessors . walter brute was born in wales , and if any doubt thereof , let them peruse the ensuing protestation , drawn up with his own hand , * i walter brute , sinner , layman , husbandman , and a christian , ( having mine of-spring of the britains , both by fathers and mothers side , ) have been accused to the bishop of hereford , that i did err in many matters concerning the catholick christian faith : by whom i am required , that i should write an answer in latine to all those matters , whose desire i will satisfie to my power , &c. observe herein a double instance of his humility , that being a welch-man , ( with which gentleman is reciprocall ) and a scholar * graduated in oxford , contented himself with the plain addition of husbandman . he was often examined by the aforesaid bishop , by whom he was much molested and imprisoned , the particulars whereof are in master fox most largely related . at last he escaped , not creeping out of the window by any cowardly compliance , but going forth at the door fairly set open for him by divine providence . for , he onely made such a generall subscription , which no christian man need to decline , in form following : * i walter brute , submit my self principally to the evangely of jesus christ , and to the determination of holy kirk , and to the general councels of holy kirk . and to the sentence and determination of the four doctors of holy writ , that is , austin , ambrose , jerome , and gregory . and i meekly submit me to your correction , as a subject ought to his bishop . it seems the popish prelates were not as yet perfect in their art of persecution , ( brute being one of the first who was vexed for wickliffisme ) so that as yet , they were loose and favourable in their language of subscription . but soon after they grew so punctuall in their expressions , and so particular in penning abjurations and recantations ; that the persons to whom they were tendered , must either strangle their consciences with acceptance , or lose their lives for refusall thereof . nicholas hereford . i have presumptions to perswade my self ( though possibly not to prevail with the reader ) to believe him of british extraction . he was bred doctor of divinity in oxford , and a secular priest , betwixt whose profession and fryery , there was an ancient antipathy . but our hereford went higher , to defie most popish principles , and maintain that . in the eucharist , after the consecration of the elements , bread and wine still remained . . that bishops and all clergy-men , ought to be subject to their respective princes . . that monks and fryers , ought to maintain themselves by their own labour . . all ought to regle their lives , not by the popes decrees , but word of god. from these his four cardinall positions , many hereticall opinions were by his adversaries deduced , ( or rather detracted , ) and no wonder they did wrack his words , who did desire to torture his person . from oxford he was brought to london , and there with philip repington was made to * recant his opinions publiquely at saint pauls cross , . see their severall success ; repinton like a violent renegado proved a persecutor of his party , for which he was rewarded , first with the bishoprick of lincoln , then with a cardinals cap. hereford did too much to displease his conscience , and yet not enough to please his enemies . for the jealousie of archbishop arundel persecuted and continued him always a prisoner . the same with the later was the success of john purvey his partner in opinions , whom t. walden termeth the lollards library . but they lock'd up this library , that none might have access unto it , keeping him and hereford in constant durance . i will say nothing in excuse of their recantation , nor will i revile them for the same : knowing there is more requisite to make one valiant under a temptation , then only to call him coward who is foiled therewith . yet i must observe , that such as consult carnall councills , to avoid afflictions ( getting out by the window of their own plotting , not the door of divine providence ) seldome injoy their own deliverance . in such cases our saviours words are always ( without the parties repentance ) spiritually and often literally true , * he that findeth his life shall lose it . and although we read not that this hereford was put to death , he lost the life of his life , his liberty and lustre , dwindling away in obscurity as to the time and place of his death . reginald peacock was born in wales , * bred in kings ( commonly saith bale called orial ) colle●…ge in oxford , where for his learning and eloquence , he proceeded doctor in divinity ; bishop first of saint asaph , then of chichester . for twenty years together he favoured ●…he opinions of wicliffe , and wrot many books in defence thereof , untill in a synod held at lambeth by t. bourcher arch-bishop of canterbury . he was made to recant at pauls cross ( his books being burnt before his eyes ) confuted with seven solid arguments , thus * reckoned up , authoritate , vi , arte , fraude , metu , terrore & tyrannide . charitable men behold this his recantation as his suffering , and the act of his enemies : some account it rather a slip then a fall , others a fall , whence afterwards he did arise . it seems , his recanting was little satisfactory to his adversaries , being never restored to his bishoprick , but confin●…d to a poor pension in a mean monastery , where he died obscurely , though others say , * he was privily made away in prison . he is omitted by pitzeus in his catalogue of writers , a presumption , that he apprehended him finally dissenting from the popish perswasion . popes . i find none bred in this principality , and the wonder is not great ; for before the time of austin the monk his coming over into england , wales acknowledged no pope , but depended meerly on their own arch-bishop of carlyon . yea , afterwards it was some hundreds of years , before they yielded the pope free and full obedience ; besides , the inhabitants of wales being depressed in their condition , had small accommodations for their travels to rome , and those at rome had lesse list to chuse persons of so great distance into the papasie . cardinals . sertor of wales was so called from his native country . by some he is named fontanerius valassus , but why , saith bishop * godwin , rationem non capio , and i will not hope to understand what he could not . he was bred a franciscan , and was chosen ( very young for that place ) their general the nineteenth in succession , anno domini . afterwards he was made bishop of massile , then arch-bishop of ravenna , next patriarch of grado , and by pope innocent the sixth , was made cardinal , anno domini . but being extremely aged , he was so unhappy , that before the cardinals cap could come to him , he was gone out of this world . many books he wrote of his lectures , quodlibets , but chiefly , he is eminent for his comment on saint austin , de civitate dei. he died at padua in italy , and was therein * buried in the church of saint anthony . prelates . marbod evanx ( i had almost read him evans a noted name in wales , ) was born in this country , and bred in the study of all liberal sciences . in his time the danes wofully harassed the land , which caused him to ship himfelf over into little britain in france ; the inhabitants whereof may be termed cosin-germans to the welch , as sons to their younger brethren , much symbolizing with them in manners and language . here marbod , though abroad , was at home , ( worth is the worlds countriman ) and his deserts preferred him to be episcopus redonensis , bishop of renes , praelatus non elatus , such his humility in his advancement . we may conclude him a general scholar by the variety of his works , writing of gems and precious stones , and compounding profit and pleasure together in his book called carmina sententiosa , much commended ( italian praise of british poetry is a black swan ) by lilius * giraldus an italian in his life 's of poets . we will conclude all with the character given unto him by † giraldus cambrensis , marbodus bonarum literarum magister eruditus colores rhetoricos , & tam verborum quam sententiarum exornationes versibus egregiis declaravit . he flourished . walter de constantiis . who would not conclude him from his surname born at constance on the boden zee in switserland ? but we have a constat for his * british nativity . he was preferred first arch-deacon of oxford , then bishop of lincoln , then arch-bishop of rohan , by king richard the first . a man of much merit , besides his fidelity to his soveraign , whom he attended to palestine , through many perils by sea and by land. 〈◊〉 somuch , that there want not those , who will have him named , de constantiis , from the expressive plural , relating to his constancy to his master in all conditions . no doubt he had waited on him in his return through austria , and shared with him in the miseries of his captivity , if not formerly remanded into england , to retrench the tyranny of william longcampt bishop of ely , which he effectually performed . he had afterwards a double honour , first to interr king richard at font-everard , then to invest k. john with the principality of normandy , as being the prime prelate therein . his death may be collected about the year . caducanus a welsh-man by birth , was a very skilful divine , and bishop of bangor . leaving his bishoprick he became a cistercian monk in monasterio durensi sive dorensi , ( which for the present i am unwilling to english. ) here i find two learned antiquaries , the one the lender , the other the debtor , ( i had almost said the one owner the other stealer , ) much divided in their judgements , about this his retrograde motion , from a bishop to a monke , the one commending , the other condemning him herein ; j. leland cited by bale . j. * bale . rarum hoc equidem exemplum est , ut quis optimas fortunas macra commutet tenuitate . this indeed was a rare example , that one should willingly exchange the best fortunes for a lean meannesse . qui episcopatū appetit ( ait paulus ) perfectum opus desiderat . non sic de monachatu otioso , quum sit plantatio , quam non consolidavit pater coelestis . whoso desireth a bishoprick desireth a good thing , saith * st. paul. it cannot be said so of monkery , which is a plant , wh●…h the heavenly father hath not planted . it is past my power to comprimise a difference betwixt two so great persons in so great a difference , at so great a distance ; onely to hold the ballance even betwixt them , give me leave to whisper a word or two , first for leland , whereas he calleth the bishoprick of bangor , optimas fortunas , it was never very rich , and at the present very troublesome ; ( by reason of the civill wars ) so that caducanus turning monk , in most mens apprehension , did but leave what was little for what was less . as for john bale , he himself under king edward the sixth , was bishop of ossory in ireland , and flying thence in the days of queen mary , did not return in the raign of queen elizabeth to his see , but contented himself rather with a * canons place in the church of canterbury ; so that by his own practise , a bishops place may on some considerations be left , and a private ( though not superstitious ) life lawfully embraced . the best is , even bale himself doth consess of this caducanus , that after ●…e turned monk , studiorum ejus interea non elanguit successus , he was no less happy , then industrious in his endeavours , writing a book of sermons , and another called speculum christiano●…um . he dyed under the raign of king henry the third , anno domini . since the reformation . hugh johnes born in wales , was bred batchelour of the laws in the university of oxford , and made bishop of landaff ( which see it seems for the poorness thereof , lay bishopless for three years after the death of bishop kitchin , ) may . . memorable no doubt on other accounts , as well as for this , that though this 〈◊〉 be in wales , he was the * first welch-man , who for the last three hundred years ( viz. since john of monmouth elected . ) was the bishop thereof . he was buried at matherne , november . . doctor ......... philips was a native of * wales , had his education in oxford , and was afterward preferred to be episcopus sodorensis , or bishop of man. out of his zeal for propagating the gospell , he attained the manks tongue , and usually preached therein . know by the way , reader , that the king of spain himself ( notwithstanding the vastness of his dominions , ) had not in europe more distinct languages spoken under his command , then had lately the king of great britain , seven tongues being used in his territories , viz. . english , in england . . french , in gersey & guernzey . . cornish , in cornwall . . welch , in wales . . scotch , in scotland . . irish , in ireland . . manks , in the isle of man. this doctor philips undertook the translating of the bible into the manks tongue , taking some of the islanders to his assistance , and namely sir hugh cavoll , minister of the gospell , and lately ( if not still ) 〈◊〉 of kir-michael . he perfected the same work in the space of * twenty nine years , but prevented by his death , it was never put to press . i know not whether the doing hereof soundeth more to the honour of the dead , or the not printing thereof since his death , to the shame of the living , seeing surely money might be procured for so general and beneficiall a design . which makes some the less to pity the great pains of the ministers of the isle of man , who by double labour read the scriptures to the peoplé out of the english in the manks-tongue . this singularly learned , hospitable , painfull and pious prelate died anno dom. ... physicians . robert recorde was born in this * country , ex claris parentibus , bred in oxford , where he proceeded doctor of physick . his soul did not live in the lane of a single science , but traversed the latitude of learning , witness his works in arithmetick , not so absolute in all numbers , before his time , but that by him it was set forth more compleat . astrology , he practicall part whereof hath so great an influence upon physick . geometry , whereof the wrot a book , called the path of geometry , and that easier and nearer then any before . physick , of the judgements of urines : and though it be commonly said urina meretrix , yet his judicious rules have reduced that harlot to honesty , and in a great measure fixed the uncertainty thereof . metals , his sight may seem to have accompanied the sun-beams into the bowells of the earth , piercing into those penetralls in his discoveries of , and discourses on gold and silver , ( wherewith i believe him well stored , ) brass , tin , lead , and what not ? what shall i speak of his skill in anatomy , cosmography , mu●…ick , whereof he read publique lectures in oxford ? as for his religion ( say not this is of no concernment in a physician ) i conjecture him to be a protestant . first , because he wrot of auricular confession , and de negotio eucharistiae , each whereof is a noli me tangere , for a romish lay-man to meddle with , according to popish principles . secondly , because so largely commended by bale . but i dare conclude nothing herein , having not hitherto seen his treatises in divinity . he flourished under k. edward the sixth about the year , . thomas phaier was born in * wales , and bred ( i believe ) first in oxford , then in london , a generall scholar , and well versed in the common law , wherein he wrot a book de natura brevium , of the nature of writs . strange that he would come after justice fitz-herbert , who formerly had written on the same subject . but probably phaiers book ( having never seen any who have seen it ) treateth of writs in the court of marches , ( whereto wales was then subjected , and ) where the legal proceedings may be somewhat different from ours in england . but the study of the law did not fadge well with him , which caused him to change his copy , and proceed doctor in physick . now ( though he made none ) he , out of french did translate many usefull books . . of the pestilence , and the cure thereof . . of the grief of children . . of the nature of simples . . the regiment of nuturall life . he had also his diversion , some excursion into poetry , and translated virgil his eneads , magna gravitate ( saith my * author ) which our modern wits , will render , with great dulness , and avouch , that he instead of a latine virgill , hath presented us with an english ennius , such the rudeness of his verse . but who knoweth not , that english poetry is improved fifty in the hundred , in this last century of years ? he died , and was buried in london about the year of our lord . albane hill was * britannus by birth . i confess britannus doth not clearly carry his nativity for wales , except it were additioned cambro-britannus . but according to our peaceable promise * premised , let him pass for this country-man . the rather , because so many hills ( and mountains too ) therein . he was bred a doctor of physick , professing and practising most beyond the seas , more famous in forraign parts , then in his native country . i find two eminent outlandishmen , viz. josias simler , an helvetian of zurich ; and bassianus landus , an italian of placentia , charactering him to be , medicus nobilissimus ac optimus , & in omni disciplinarum genere optime versatus , and that he wrot much upon galen , and the anatomicall part of physick , so that we may say with the * poet , ut littus hilum , hilum omne sonarct . the shoar resounded still , nothing but hill and hill. i find no time affixed wherein he flourished , but according to the received rule , noscitur è socio , he may from his contemporaries be collected in full lustre , anno . and it is remarkable that wales had three eminent physicians writers all in the same age. writers . be it premised , that as i should be loth by my lasiness to conceal , so with all my industry i conceive it impossible to compleat their characters . for as the venetian courtezan , after she had put off her lofty attire , and high chippines , almost pares away her self into nothing ; such the slender account given us of these writers , that after some set forms and commendations of course common to all persons , be first defalked , the remainder will be next to nothing . but it is no fault of me the cistern if i be empty , whilst my fountain is dry , seeing i spill nothing by the leakage of my neglect , but faithfully deliver all the intelligence i find , as followeth : petrok was a welch-irish-cornish-man . he had his birth in * wales , but breeding in ireland , according to the mode of that age , wherein all british sailed over into ireland , ( as the english in after ages did into france , ) there to have their education in all learned sciences . who would have thought to have found helicon amongst the bogs , as indeed it was at that time ? petrok after twenty years reading good authours there , came over into cornwall , and fixed himself nigh the severn sea , in a small oratory called petrok-stowe , ( the station or abiding place of petrok ) now corruptly pad-stowe , where many eminent scholars were brought up under him . he wrot a book of solitary life , whereto he was much addicted . i confess petrok is somewhat degraded , as entred under the topick of writers , who is reputed a saint , and i remember a handsome church in exeter dedicated to his memory , who flourished anno . gildas the fourth , for there were three before him , viz. gildas albanius , gildas surnam'd sapiens , ( of whom * before ) gildas cambrius , and this our gildas , who laggeth last in the teame of his name-sakes . but the second of these is worth all the rest , ( were there four hundred of them ) whom i behold as a sun indeed , shining with the lustre of his own desert , whilst two of the others are but so many meteors about him , some suspecting them , no realities in nature , but meerly created by mens sight-deception , and the reflection of the memory of the true gildas . this our fourth gildas is made a welch-scotch-irish-man , wales sharing in him two parts of three , viz. his birth and death , the largest part of his life belonging to ireland , where he studied . many the books imputed to him of the wonders and first inhabitants of britain , of king arthur and his * unknown sepulehre , so that now we can teach gildas what he knew not , namely , that king arthur was certainly buried at † glassenbury . he wrot also of percevall and lancelot , who●… i behold as two knights combatants , and presume the former most victorious , from the notation of his name , per sevalens , prevailing by himself . our author is charged to be full of fables , which i can easily believe , for in ancient history if we will have any thing of truth , we must have something of falsehood , and ( abating onely holy-writ ) it is as impossible to find antiquity without fables , as an old face without wrinckles . he flourished anno dom. . blegabride langauride . philip comineus observeth , that to have a short name is a great advantage to a favorite , because a king may readily remember , and quickly call . him . if so , the writer aforesaid is ill qualified for a favorite . but let him then pronounce his own name , for others will not trouble themselves therewith . he attained to be a great scholar , doctor of both laws , and arch-deacon of the church of landaft . he to the honour of his country , and use of posterity , translated the laws of howell the most modest king of wales , and flourished * . salephilax the barde . this mungrell name seemeth to have in it an eye or cast of greek and latine , but we are assured of his welch extraction . in inquiring after his works , my success hath been the same with the painfull thresher of mill-dew'd wheat , gaining little more then straw and chaffe . all the grain i can get is this , * that he set forth a genealogy of the britains , and flourished about the year . gwalterus calenius ( may we not english him walter of calen ? ) was a cambrian by his * nativity , though preferred to be arch-deacon of oxford . he is highly prized for his great learning , by lealand and others . this was he who took the pains to go over into britain in france , and thence retrived an ancient manuscript of the british princes , from brutus to cadwalader . nor was his labour more in recovering , then his courtesie in communicating this rarity to jeffrey of munmouth , to translate the same into latine . nor was this walter himself idle , continuing the same chronicle for four hundred years together , untill his own time . he flourished anno dom. . under king henry the first . gualo brytannus born in wales , was from his infancy a servant to the muses , and lover of poetry . that he might injoy himself the better herein , he retired into a private * place , from the noise of all people , and became an anchorite for his fancy not devotion , according to the poet , carmina secessum scribentis & otia quaerunt . verses justly do request their writers privacy and rest . here his pen fell foul on the monks , whose covetousness in that age was so great , that of that subject difficile est satyram non scribere . 't was hard for any then to write , and not a satyre to indite . he wrot also invectives against their wantonness and impostures , and yet it seems did it with that cautiousness , that he incurred no danger . indeed he is commended by john of sarisbury and others , quod esset prudens & doctus . he flourished anno domini . under king henry the second . william breton was born ( saith bale and pitz. the later alledging one willot for his author ) in wales , bred a franciscan at grimsby in lincoln-shire . i will not quarrell his cambrian extraction , but may safely mind the reader , that there was an ancient family of the bretons at ketton in rutland next lincoln-shire , where this william had his education . but , let this breton be brito , ( believing the allusion in sound not the worst evidence for his welch originall ) sure it is , he was a great scholar , and deep divine ; the writer of many books both in verse and prose ; and of all , his master-pi●…ce was , an exposition of all the hard words in the bible , which thus begins , difficiles studeo partes , quas * biblia gestat , pandere ; sed nequeo , latebras nisi qui ma ●…festat auxiliante deo , qui c●… vult singula praestat , dante juvamen eo , nihil insuperabile restat , &c. hard places which the bible doth contain , i study to expound ; but all in vain , without gods help , who darkness doth explain , and with his help nothing doth hard remain , &c. such the reputation of his book , that in the controversie betwixt standish bishop of saint a●…aph and erasmus , [ unequal contest ] the former appeals to * br●…tons book , about the interpretation of a place of scripture . this william died at grimsby , anno domini . utred bolton was born saith lealand , ex transabrinâ gente . now though parts of salop , worcester and gloucester-shire , with all hereford shire be beyond severn , yet in such doubtfull nativities england giveth up the cast , rather then to make a contest to measure it . troublesome times made him leave his country and travail to durham , where he became a benedictine . he had a rare naturall happiness , that the promptness and pleasantness of his parts , * commended all things that he did or said . this so far ingratiated him with the abbot of his convent , that he obtained leave to go to oxford , to file his nature the brighter by learning . hither he came in the heat of the difference , betwixt wickliffe and his adversaries . bolton sided with both and with neither , consenting in some things with wickliffe , dissenting in others , as his conscience directed him . william jordan , a dominican ( and northern man , ) was so madded hereat , that he he fell foul on bolton , both with his writing and preaching . bolton angry hereat , expressed himself more openly for wickliffe , especially in that his smart book , pro veris monachis , for true monkes , or monkes indeed , ( parallel with saint pauls widdows indeed , * which were to be honoured ) showing what sanctity and industry was required of them . hereat the anger of jordan did overflow , endeavouring ( and almost effecting ) to get bolton excommunicated for an heretick . this learned man flourished under king richard the second . john gwent was born in * wales , bred a franciscan in oxford , till he became provinciall of his order throughout all britain . he wrot a learned comment on lombard his common places , and is charactered a person , qui in penitiore recognitae prudentiae cognitione se vel admirabilem ostenderet . here endeth lealand his writing of him , and beginneth bale his railing on him , pretending himself to the truest touchstone of spirits , and trying men thereby . yet doth he not charge our gwent , with any thing peculiar to him alone , but common to the rest of his order , telling us ( what we knew before ) that all mendicants were acted with an ill genius , being sophisters . cavilers , &c. this bee being no more , guilty then the whole hive therein . he dyed at hereford in the verge of his native country . john ede was ( saith * bale , ) genere wallus , by extraction a welch man , immediately adding patria herefordensis , by his country a hereford-shire man. we now for quietness sake , resign him up wholly to the former . yet was he a person worth contending for , lealand saith much in little of him , when praising him to be , vir illustris famâ , eraditione & religione . he wrot severall comments on aristotle , peter lumbard , and the revelalion . he was chief of the franciscans convent in hereford , where he was buried in the raign of king henry the fourth . david boys . let not kent pretend unto him , wherein his surname is so ancient and numerous , our author assuring us of his * british extraction . he studied in oxford ( saith lealand ) no less to his own honour , then the profit of others , reaping much benefit by his books . having his breeding at oxford , he had a bounty for cambridge , and compassing the writings of john barningham his fellow-carmelite , he got them fairly transcribed in four volumes , and bestowed them on the library in cambridge , where bale beheld them in his time. he was very familiar ( understand it in a good way ) with eleanor cobham dutchess of gloucester , whence we collect him at least a parcell-wickliffite . of the many books he wrot , fain would i see that intituled of double immortality , whether intending thereby the immortality of soul and body , or of the memory here and soul hereafter . i would likewise satisfie my self in his book about the madness of the hagarens , whether the mahometans be not ment thereby , pretending themselves descended from sarah , when indeed they are the issue of the bond-woman . he was prefect of the carmelites in gloucester , where he dyed . let me adde , that his surname is latined boethius , and so wales hath her david boethius , whom in some respects she may vie with hector boethius of scotland . since the reformation . sir john rhese alias ap ryse knight , was born in wales , noble by his linage , but more by his learning . he was well vers'd in the british antiquities , and would not leave a hoof of his countries honour behind , which could be brought up , to go along with him . now so it was , that polydore virgil that proud italian , bare a pique to the british , for their ancient independency from the pope . besides , he could not so easily compass the welch records into his clutches , that so he might send them the same way with many english manuscripts , which he had burnt to ashes . this made him slight the credit of welch authors , whom o●… sir john was a zelot to assert , being also a champion to vindicate the story of king arthur . besides , he wrot a treatise of the eucharist , and by the good words * bale bestoweth on him , we believe him a favorour of the reformation , flourishing under king edward the sixth . john griffin was born in * wales , first bred a cistercian friar in hales-abbey in gloucester-shire . after the dissolution of his convent he became a painfull and profitable preacher . he suited the pulpit with sermons for all seasons , having his conciones aestivales & brumales , which he preached in english , and wrot in latine ; flourishing under king edward the sixth , anno domini . hugh broughton was born in wales , but very nigh unto shrop-shire . he used to speak much of his gentility , and of his armes , which were the owles , presaging , as he said his addiction to the study of greek , because those were the birds of minerva , and the embl●…me of athens . i dare not deny his gentile extraction , but it was probable , that his parents were fallen to great decay , as by the ensuing story will appear . when mr. barnard gilpin that apostolike man was going his annual journey to oxford , from his living at houghton in the north , he spied by the way-side a youth , one while walking , another while running ; of whom mr. gilpin demanded whence he came , he answered out of * wales , and that he was a going to oxford with intent to be a scholar . mr. gilpin perceiving him pregnant in the latine , and having some smattering in the greek tongue , carried him home to houghton , where being much improved in the languages , he sent him to christs-colledge in cambridge . it was not long before his worth preferred him fellow of the house . this was that broughton so famous for his skill in the hebew , a great ornament of ▪ that university , and who had been a greater , had the heat of his brain , and peremptoriness of his judgement been tempered with more moderation ; being ready to quarrell with any who did not presently and perfectly imbrace his opinions . he wrote many books , whereof one called the consent of times , carrieth the generall commendation . as his industry was very commendable , so his ingratitude must be condemned , if it be true what i read ; that when master gilpin his mecaenas ( by whose care , and on whose cost he was bred , till he was able to breed himself , ) grew old , he procured him to be troubled and * molested , by doctor barnes bishop of durham , in expectation of his parsonage , as some shrewdly suspect . at last he was fixed in the city of london , where he taught many citizens , and their apprentices the hebrew tongue . he was much flocked after for his preaching , though his sermons were generally on subjects , rather for curiosity then edification . i conjecture his death to be about the year of our lord . hugh holland was born in wales , and bred first a scholar in we●…minster , then fellow in trinity-colledge in cambridge . no bad english , but a most excellent latine poet. indeed , he was addicted to the new-old religion ; new , in comparison of truth it self ; yet old , because confessed of long continuance . he travailed beyond the seas , and in italy ( conceiving himself without ear-reach of the english , ) let flie freely against the credit of queen elizabeth . hence he went to jerusalem , though there he was not made , or he would not own himself knight of the 〈◊〉 . in his return he touched at constantinople , where sir thomas glover embassador for king james , called him to an account for his scandalum reginae at rome , and the former over freedome of his tongue , cost him the confinement for a time in prison . enlarged at last , returning into england , with his good parts bettered by learning , and great learning increased with experience in travail ; he expected presently to be chosen clerk of the councell at least , but preferment not answering his expectation , he grumbled out the rest of his life in visible discontentment . he made verses in description of the chief cities in europe , wrot the chronicle of queen elizabeths raign , ( believe him older and wiser , not railing as formerly , ) and a book of the life of master camden , all lying hid in private hands , none publikely printed . this i observe , the rather , to prevent plagearies , that others may not impe their credit with stollen feathers , and wrongfully with ease pretend to his painfull endeavours . he had a competent estate in good candle-rents in london , and died about ' the beginning of the raign of king charles . the farewell . to take my vale of the worthies of wales general , i refer the reader for the rest to a catalogue of their names , set forth at the end of the welch dictionary : which catalogue , i was once resolved to print as an appendix to this work ; till disswaded on this consideration : it being printed in welch , in the re-printing whereof , our best english correctors would be but bad welch corrupters , and make a mungrel language , more than departed from babel , or ever since was any where used . and now we proceed to the particular shires of wales ▪ anglesey . anglesey . let us in the first place congratulate the restitution of this island to its ancient latine appellation , ●…eeing it was in a fair way to forget its own name of mona , which some filched from this , and fixed on the isle of man , pretending , . the allusion in sound , betwixt man and mona . . the description thereof in cesar , placing it in the middle betwixt ireland and britain , which position better agreeth to man than anglesey . . the authorities of many [ later ] historians , amongst whom polydor virgil , and hector booetius . but dr. humphrey lluyd , in his learned letter to ortelius , most clearly demonstrateth this to be the true mona ; and the reason of reasons doth evince the truth thereof taken from tacitus , reporting the roman foot ( under paulinus ) to have swum over from the continent of britain , to the isle of mona . now such swimming over ( with the oars only of arms and legs ) ( ten leagues at least ) to man is utterly impossible , which from britain to anglesey ( being hardly an italian mile ) may , ( though with much difficulty and danger ) half be performed . anglesey , that is , the english island ( so called , since conquered by our countrymen ) is surrounded on all sides with the irish sea save on the south ; where a small fret ( known by the peculiar name of menai ) sundreth it from the welsh continent , having twenty miles in the length , and seventeen in the breadth thereof . may the inhabitants be like the land they live in ; which appears worse than it is , seemingly barren and really * fruitful , affording plenty of good wheat , and to grind it , mill-stones . these in the greek * gospel are termed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , that is , asses mill-stones ; either because asses ( as saint hillary will have it ) used to draw them about ( before men taught the wind and water to do that work for them ) or because the lower mill-stone was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , an * asse , from the sluggishnesse thereof as always lying still . observe an opposition betwixt artificial and natural mills , i mean our mouths : in the former the lower mill-stone lieth always immoveable , whilst in our mouths the upper jaw alwayes standeth still , and the n●…ther applyeth it self in constant motion thereunto . excellent mill-stones are made in this island . when in motion , in default of grist to grinde , they will fire one another ; so necessary is forraign imployment for active spirits , to divert them from home-bred combustions . the wonders . before we begin on this plentiful topick , be it premised , that i conceive the author of that dystick was too strait laced in his belief , thus expressing himself , mira canā , non̄ visa mihi sed cognita multis , sed nisi visa mihi non habitura fidem . wonders here by me are told , to many men well known ; but till my eyes shall them behold their truth i ▪ le never own . for mine own part i conceive , he that will not believe is unworthy to be believed , and that it is an injury to deny credit to credible persons , attesting as followeth . there are divers trees * dayly digged out of moist and marish places which are firm and fir for timber . they are as black within as ebony , and are used by the carvers of that country to inlay cupboards and other wooden utensils . these trees are branched into a double difficulty ; first , how they came hither ; secondly , how preserved here so long from putrefaction . some make the pedegree of these trees very ancient , fetching them from noahs flood ▪ then overturned with the force thereof . others conceive them out down by the romans when conquering this island , and shaving away their woods , the covert of rebellion . others apprehend them felled ( or rather falling ) of themselves , their weight meeting with the waterish and failing foundation ; and it is more easie for one to confute the conjecture of others , than to substitute a more rational in the room thereof . but grant this first knot in these trees smoothed , how they came hither : a worse knob remains to be plained ; how they are preserved sound so many ages , seeing moisture is the mother of corruption , and such the ground wherein they are found : except any will say , there is clammy bituminous substance about them ( like those in * lancashire ) which fenceth them from being corrupted . i could adde to the wonder ; how haste nuts are found under ground with sound kernels in them ; save it is fitter , that the former difficulties be first conjured down , before any new ones be raised up . proverbs . * mon mam cymbry . ] that is , anglesey is the mother of wales . not because bigger than wales ( as mothers alwayes are , whilest their children are infants ) being scarce one twentieth part thereof : nor because ( as parents alwayes ) ancienter than wales , which being an island may be presumed junior to the continent , as probably made by the interruption of the sea ; but because when other counties faile , she plentifully feedeth them with provision , and is said to afford corn enough to sustain all wales . nor is she lesse happy in cattel than corn , so that this mother of wales is in some sort a nurse to england . i have seen yearly great droves of fair beasts , brought thence and sold in essex it self ; so that he who considers how much meat anglesey spends , will wonder that it spares any ; how much it spares that it spends any . crogging , crogging . ] this historical by-word ( for proverb properly it is none ) we will consider ; first , in the original : secondly , in the use : thirdly , in the abuse thereof . originall . in the reign of king henry the second , in his many expeditions against wales , one proved very unsuccessful , wherein divers of his camp were sent to essay a passage over offas ditch at croggen-castle . these being prevented by the british , were most of them slain , and their graves hard by are to be discovered at this day . use. the english afterwards when having the welsh at advantage , used to say to them , crogging , crogging , as a provokative to revenge , and disswasive to give them quarter : as if the romans on the like occasion should cry to the carthaginians , cannae , cannae . abuse . continuance of time , which assumeth to it self a liberty to pervert words from their primitive sense , in ignorant mouths hath made it a disgraceful attribute , when the english are pleased to revile the welsh ; though to speak plainly , i conceive not how that word can import a foul disgracing of them , first occasioned by their valiant defeating of us . this by-word ( though croggen-castle is in denbigh-shire ) being generally used all over wales , is therefore placed in this , because the first county thereof . prelates . guido de mona , was so sir-named from his birth-place in anglesey . some suspect that filius insulae may be as bad as filius populi , no place being particularized for his birth : whiles others conceive this sounding to his greater dignity , to be denominated from a whole island ; the village of his nativity being probably obscure , long and hard to be pronounced . he was afterwards bishop of saint davids , and lord treasurer of england under king henry the fourth , who highly hono●…ed him ; for when the parliament moved that no welsh-man should be a state officer in england , the king excepted the bishops , as confident of their faithful service . indeed t. wallingham makes this gui the author of much trouble , but is the lesse to be believed therein , because of the known antipathy betwixt fryers and secular 〈◊〉 ; the former being as faulty in their lafie speculation , as the other often offending in the practical over-activity . this bishop died ●…nno . arthur bulkley , bishop of bangor , was born either in cheshire , or more probably in this county : but it matters not much had he never been born , who being bred doctor of the laws , had either never read , or wholly forgotten , or wilfully would not remember the chapter , de sacrilegio ; for he spoyled the bishoprick , and sold the five bells : being so over-officious , that he would go down to the sea to see them shipped , which , in my mind , amounted to a second selling of them . we have an english proverb of him who maketh a detrimental bargain to himself , that he may put all the gains gotten thereby into his eye , and see nothing the worse . but bishop bulkley saw much more the worse by what he had gotten , being himself * suddenly deprived of his sight ; who had deprived the tower of bangor of the tongue thereof . thus having ended his credit before his days , and his days before his life , and having sate in that see fourteen years , he died . william glyn ▪ d. d. was bo●…n at 〈◊〉 . in this county , bred in queens colledge in cambridge whereof he was master , until in the second of queen mary he was preferred bishop of bangor . an excellent scholar , and i have been assured by judicious persons , who have seriously perused the solemn disputations ( printed in master fox ) betwixt the papists and protestants ; that of the former none pressed his arguments with more strength and lesse passion than doctor glyn : though const●…t to his own , he was not cruel to opposite judgements , as appeareth by the appearing of no persecution in his diocesse , and his mild nature must be allowed at least causa socia , or the fellow-cause thereof . he died in the first of queen elizabeth , and i have been informed that jeoffry glyn his brother , doctor of laws , built and endowed a free-schoole at bangor . since the reformation . rouland merrick , doctor of laws , was born at boding án in this county , bred in oxford , where he became principal of new inne-hall , and afterwards a dignitary in the church of saint davids . here he with others in the reign of king edward the sixth , violently prosecuted robert farrar his diocesan , with intention ( as they made their boast ) * to pull him from his bishoprick , and bring him into a premunire , and prevailed so far , that he was impris●…ned . this bishop farrar was afterwards martyred in the raign of queen mary . i find not the least appearance , that his former adversaries violented any thing against him under that queen . but it is suspicious that advantage against him ( i say not with their will ) was grafted on the stock of his former accusation . however it is my judgement that they ought to have been , & i can be so charitable to believe that dr. merrick was penitent for his causelesse vexing so good a * person . otherwise many more besides my self will proclaim him unworthy to be ( who had been a persecutor of ) a bishop . he was consecrated bishop of bangor december . in the second of q●…een elizabeth , . and sate six years in his see. i have nothing to adde , save that he was father to sir gilly merrick , knight , who lost his life for engaging with the earl of essex , . lancelot bulkley was born in this * county , of a then right worshipful ( since honourable ) family , who have a fair habitation ( besides others ) near beumaris . he was bred in brasen nose colledg in oxford , and afterwards became , first arch-deacon , then archbishop in dublin . he was consecrated the third of october , . by christopher archbishop of armagh . soon after he was made by king james one of his privy councel in ireland , where he lived in good reputation , till the day of his death , which happened some ten years since . seamen . madoc , son to owen gwineth ap gruffyth ap conan , and brother to david ap owen gwineth , prince of north wales , was born probably at aberfraw in this county ( now a mean town ) then the principal * palace of their royal residence . he made a sea-voyage westward , and by all probability , those names of cape de breton in noruinberg , & pengwin in part of the northern america , for a white rock and a white headed bird , according to the british , were reliques of this discovery . if so ; then let the genoveses and spaniards demean themselves as younger brethren , and get their portions in pensions in those parts paid as well as they may , owning us britons ▪ ( so may the welsh and english as an united nation style themselves ) for the heirs , to whom the solid inheritance of america doth belong , for the first discovery thereof . the truth is , a good navy with a strong land-army therein , will make these probabilities of madoc , evident demonstrations , and without these , in cases of this kind , the strongest arguments are of no validity . this sea voyage was undertaken by madoc , about the year . the sheriffs . expect not my description should conform this principality to england , in presenting the respective sheriffs with their arms. for as to heraldry , i confesse my self luscum in anglia , caecum in walliâ . besides , i question , whether out rules in blazonry , calculated for the east , will serve on the west of severne ? and suspect that my venial mistakes may meet with mortal anger . i am also sensible of the prodigious antiquity of welsh pedegrees , so that what zalmana said of the israelites slain by him at tabor , each of them resembleth the children of a * king ; all the gentry here derive themselves from a prince at least . i quit therefore the catalogue os sheriffs to abler pens , and proceed to . the farewell . i understand there is in this island a kind of allumenous earth , out of which some ( fifty years since ) began to make allum and copperess , until they ( to use my * authors phrase ) like unflesht souldiers gave over their enterprise , without further hope , because at first they saw it not answer their over-hasty expectations . if this project was sirst founded on rational probability ( which i have cause to believe ) i desire the seasonable resumption thereof , by undertakers of as able brains and purses , but more patience than the former , as a hopeful fore-runner of better successe . brecknock-shire . brecknock-shire hath radnor shire on the north , cardigan and carmarthen-shires on the west , 〈◊〉 - shire on the south , hereford and monmouth-shires on the east the length thereof being adjudged twenty eight , the 〈◊〉 thereof twenty miles . my * author saith that this county is not greatly to be praised , or disliked of , with which his character , the natives thereof have no cause to be well pleased , or much offended . the plain truth is , the fruitfulnesse of the vallies therein maketh plentiful amends for the barrennesse of the mountains , and it is high time to give a check to the vulgar errour , which falsely reporteth this county the worst in wiles ; let it 〈◊〉 for me to say , this is not it , and which is it , let others determine . nor doth it sound a little to the credit of this county , that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the chiefe town thereof , doth at this present afford the title of an eartl to james duke of ormond , the first that ever received that digniry . above four hundred years since , a daughter of gilbert and maud becket , ( and sister to tho. becket ) was by king henry the second , bestowed in marriage on one butler an english gentleman . him king henry sent over into ireland , and ( endeavouring to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 blood ) rewarded him w●…th large lands , so that his posterity were created earls of ormond . now therefore we have cause to congratulate the return of this noble family i●…to their native country of england , and wish unto them the encrease of all 〈◊〉 therein . natural commoditi●…s otters . plenty of these ( lutrae in latine ) in brecknock-meer . a creature that can dig and dive , resident in the two clements of earth and water . the 〈◊〉 where hee bites , maketh his teeth to m●…et , and the otter leaves little distance betwixt them ▪ he is as destructive to fish , as the vvoolf to sheep . see we here , more is required to make fine flesh than to have fine feeding , the flesh of the otter ( from his innate rankness ) being nought , though his diet be dainty . i have seen a reclaimed otter , who in a quarter of an houre would present his master with a brace of carps . otter-vvooll is much used in the making of beavers . as physicians have their succedanea , or seconds , which well supply the place of such simples , which the patient cannot procure , so the otter is often in stead of the bever , since the beavertrade is much wasted in the west indies , their remnant retiring high into the country , and being harder to be taken . yea otter-wooll is likely dayly to grow dearer , if prime persons of the weaker sex ( which is probable ) resume the wearing of hais . brecknock-shire equalling her neighbours in all general commodities , exceedeth them in wonders , in the air. he that relateth wonders walketh on the edge of an house , if he be not careful of his footing , down falls his credite : this shall make me exact in using my authors words , informed by credible persons who had experimented it ; that their cloaks , hats , and staves cast down from the top of an hill ( called mounch-denny , or cadier arthur ) and the north-east rock thereof , would never fall , but were with the air and wind still returned back , and blown up again ; nor would any thing descend save a stone , or some metalline substance . no wonder that these should descend , because ( besides the magnetical quality of the earth ) their forcing of their way down is to be imputed to their united and intended gravity . now though a large cloak is much heavier than a little stone ; yet the weight thereof is diffused in several parts , and fluttering above , all of them are supported by the clouds , which are seen to rack much lower than the top of the hill. but now , if in the like trial , the like repercussion be not found from the toppes of other mountains in wales of equal or greater height , we confesse our selves at an absolute losse , and leave it to others to beat about to find a satisfactory answer . let me adde that waters in scripture are divided into waters above , and waters under the firmament : by the former , men generally understand ( since the interpretation thereof relating to coelum aqueum , is exploded by the judicious ) the water ingendred in the clouds . if so , time was , when the waters beneath were higher than the waters above ; namely , in noahs flood , when the waters prevailed fifteen cubits above the tops of the mountains . in the water . when the meer llynsavathan ( lying within two miles of brecknock ) hath her frozen ice first broken , it maketh a monstrous noise , to the astonishment of the hearers , not unlike to thunder . but till we can give a good cause of the old thunder , [ and * the power of his thunder who can understand ? ] we will not adventure on the disquisition of this new one . in the earth . reader , pardon me a word of earthquakes in general . seneca beholds them most terrible , because most * unavoidable of all earthly dangers . in other frights [ tempest , lightning , thunder , &c. ] we shelter our selves in the bowels of the earth , which here from our safest refuge , become our greatest danger . i have learned from an able * pen , that the frequency and fearfulnesse of earthquakes , gave the first occasion to that passage in the letany , from sudden death good lord deliver us . now to vvales . the inhabitants of this county have a constant tradition , that where now the meer llynsavathan spreadeth its waters , stood a fair city , till swallowed up by an earthquake , which is not improbable . first , because all the high-ways of this county do lead thither ; and it is not likely that the loadstone of a bare lake should attract so much confluence . secondly , ptolomy placeth in this tract the city loventrium , which all the care of master * cambden could not recover by any ruines or report thereof , and therefore likely to be drowned in this poole . the rather because levenny is the name of the river r●…nning through it . saints . saint keyne . canoch . cadock . the first of these was a woman ( here put highest by the curtesie of england ; ) the two later , men , all three saints , and children to braghan , king , builder and namer of brecknock . this king had four and twenty daughters , a jolly number ; and all of them * saints : a greater happinesse , though of them all , the name onely of * saint keyne surviveth to posterity . whether the said king was so fruitful in sons , and they as happy in saintship , i do not know , onely meeting with these two , saint canoch and saint cadock , ( whereof the later is reported a martyr ) all flourishing about the year of our lord . and had in high veneration amongst the people of south-vvales . i know not whether it be worth the reporting , that there is in cornwall , near the parish of st. neots , a well arched over with the robes of four kinds of trees , vvithy , oak , elm , and ash , dedicated to saint keyne aforesaid . the reported vertue of the water is this , that whether * husband or vvife come first to drink thereof , they get the mastery thereby . st. clintanke was king of brecknock , a small kingdom for an obscure king , though eminent with some for his sanctity . now it happened , that a noble virgin gave it out , that she would never * marry any man except the said king , who was so zealous a christian. such as commend her good choice , dislike her publick profession thereof , which with more maiden-like modesty , might have been concealed . but , see the sad successe thereof . a pagan souldier purposely to defeat her desire , kild this king as he was one day a hunting ; who , though he lost his life , got the reputation of a * saint , and so we leave him . the rather , because we find no date fixed unto him ; so that the reader may believe him to have lived , even when he thinks best himself . prelates . giles de bruse , born at brecknock , was son to william de bruse baron of brecknock , and a prime peer in his generation . this giles became afterwards bishop of hereford , and in the civil wars sided with the nobility against king john ; on which account he was banished , but at length returned , and recovered the kings favour . his paternal inheritance ( by death it seems of his elder brother ) * was devolved unto him ( being together bishop and baron by descent ) and from him after his death , transmitted to his brother reginald , who married the daughter of leoline prince of wales . if all this will not recover this prelate , into our catalogue of worthies , then know , that his effigies on his tomb in hereford church , holdeth a steeple in his hand , whence it is concluded , that he built the belfree of that cathedral , as well he might , having so vast an estate . his death happened anno . since the reformation . thomas howel was born at * nangamarch in this county , within few miles of brecknock , bred fellow of jesus colledge in oxford , and became afterwards a meek man , and most excellent preacher . his sermons , like the waters of siloah , did run softly , gliding on with a smooth stream : so that his matter by a lawful and laudable felony , did st●…al secretly into the hearts of his hearers . king charls made him the last bishop of bristol , being consecrated at oxford . he died anno dom. . leaving many orphan children behind him . i have been told , that the honourable city of bristol hath taken care for their comfortable education , and am loath to pry too much into the truth thereof , lest so good a report should be confuted . states-men . henry stafford , duke of buckingham . though humphrey his father had a fair castle at , and large lands about stafford ( whereof he was earl ) yet his nativity is most probably placed in this county , where he had brecknock-castle , and a principality about it . this was he , who with both his hands set up richard the third on the throne , endeavouring afterwards with his hands and teeth too , to take him down , but in vain . he was an excellent spoaks-man , though i cannot believe that his long oration ( to perswade the londoners to side with the usurper ) was ever uttered by him in terminis , as it lieth in sir thomas mores history . thus the roman generals provided themselves of valour , and livy ( as he represented them ) stocked them with eloquence . yet we may be well assured that this our duke either did or would have said the same , and he is the orator who effects that he aimeth at ; this duke being unhappily happy therein . soon after not remorse for what he had done , but revenge for what king richard would not do ( denying his desire ) put him on the project of unravelling what he had woven before . but his fingers were entangled in the threads of his former web ; the king compassing him into his clutches , betrayed by humphrey banister his servant . the sheriff seised this duke in shropshire , where he was digging a * ditch in a disguise ; how well he managed the mattock and spade , i know not , this i know , that in a higher sense , he had made a * pit , [ to disinherit his soveraign ] and digged it , and is fallen into the ditch which he had made , being beheaded at sarisbury without any legal tryal , anno . memorable persons . nesta . hunger maketh men eat what otherwise they would let alone , not to say , cast away : the cause i confesse ( wanting matter to furnish out our description ) inviting me to meddle with this memorable ( not commendable ) person . . she was daughter to gr●…ffin prince of wales . . vvife to bernard de neumarch , a noble norman , and lord by conquest of this county . . mother to mahel , an hopeful gentleman , and sibyl his sister . . harlot to a young man , whose name i neither do , nor desire to know . it happened , mahel having got this stallion into his power , used him very hardly , yet not worse than he deserved . nesta madded hereat , came in open court , and on her oath , before king henry the second , publickly protested , ( no manna like revenge to malicious minds , not caring to wound their foes , though through themselves ) that mahel was ●…e of neumarch his son , but begotten on her in adultery . this , if true , spake her dishonesty ; if false , her perjury ; true or false , her peerless impudency . hereby she disinherited her son , and setled a vast territory on sibyl her sole daughter , married afterwards to milo earl of hereford . the farewell . when mr. speed in pursuance of his description of england , passed this county , no fewer than eight , who had been bayliffs of brecknock , gave him courteous entertainment . this doth confirm the character i have so often heard of the welsh hospitality . thus giving them their due praise on just occasion , i hope , that the british reader will the better digest it , if he find some passages altogether as true as this , though nothing so pleasing to him , in our following farewells . cardigan-shire . cardigan-shire is washed on the west with the irish sea , and parted from the neighbouring shires by rivers , and the reader will be careful that the similitude of their sounds betray him not to a mistake herein . . dovi severing it on the north from merioneth-shire . . tovy on the east from brecknock-shire . . tyvy on the south from carmarthen and pembroke-shlre . my * author saith the form thereof is horn-like ( wider towards the north ) and i may say it hath a corn●…-copia therein of all things for mans sustenance , especially if industry be used . this county , though remotest from england , was soonest reduced to the english dominion , whilest the countries interposed maintained their liberty . the reason whereof was this ; the english being far more potent in shipping than the welsh , found it more facile to saile over the mountains of water ( so the surges of the sea are termed by the * poet ) than march over the mountains of earth ; and by their fleet invaded and conquered this county in the reign of rufus ; and henry the first bestowed the same entirely upon gilbert de clare . natural commodities . bevers . plenty of these formerly did breed in the river tyvy , which ( saith giraldus cambrensis ) was the only place afforded them in all britain . a cunning creature , yet reported by some men more crafty than he is ; who relate , that , being hunted , and in danger to be taken , he biteth off his stones , as useful in physick ( for which only his life was then sought ) and so escapeth . hence some will have him called castro , à castrando seipsum : and others adde , that having formerly bitten off his stones , he standeth upright , and sheweth the hunters that he hath none , that so they may surcease their pursuit of an unprofitable qu●…re . hence it was , that amongst the egyptians , the bever passeth for an hieroglyphick of him who hurteth himself , though by alciate the great emblematist , he is turned to another purpose , to teach men rather to part with their purses , than their lives , and by their wealth to redeem themselves out of danger . the plain truth is , all those reports of ●…he bever , are no better than vulgar errours , and are disproved both by sense and experience ; for his stones are so placed in his body , as those of the boar , that it is impossible for himself with his teeth to touch them . and some maintain they cleave so fast to his back , they cannot be taken away without loss of his life . however , grant the story true , the gelding of himself would not serve his turn , or excuse the bever from hunters now adays , except he could also flea off his skin , the wooll whereof is so commonly used for the making of hats . all that i will add , is this , that what plenty soever there was of bevers in this county , in the days of giraldus , the breed of them now is quite destroyed , and neither fore-foot of a bever ( which is like a dogs ) nor hind-foot ( which is like a goose ) to be seen therein . proverbs . being well at leisure in this little county , we will observe ( what indeed is generall to all wales ) something proverbial , and conducing to our necessary information . talaeth , talaeth . ] in effect the same in english with fin●… , fine ; when mothers and nurses are disposed to please their little ones in dressing them : take the original thereof : when roderick the great divided wales betwixt his three sons , into three dominions ; [ north wales , south vvales , and powis . ] he ordered , that each of them should wear upon his bonnet or helmet a coronet of gold , being a broad lace or head-band indented upwards , set and wrought with precious stones called in the british talaeth , and they from thence * ytri twysoc talaethioc , that is , the three crowned princes . but now either the number of princes is well multiplied in wales , or , which is truer , the honour of talaeth is much diminished ; that being so called , wherewith a childs head is bound uppermost upon some other linnen cloaths . thus the english have that , which they call the crown of a cap. bu arthur ond tra fu . ] that is , arthur was not , but whilest he was . it is sad to say , nos fuimus trojes , the greatest eminency when not extant is extinct . the fryer never loved what was good . ne thorres arthur nawdd gwraig . ] that is , king arthur did never violate the refuge of a woman . arthur is notoriously known for the mirrour of manhood . by the womans refuge , many understand her tongue , and no valiant man will revenge her words with his blows . nullum memorabile nomen , — f●…minii in paena . caleny sais wrah gymro . ] that is , the heart of a englishman ( whom they call saxons ) towards a welsh-man . it is either applied to such who are possessed with prejudice , or only carry an outward compliance without cordial affection . we must remember this proverb was origined , whilest england and wales were at deadly feude , there being better love betwixt them since the union of the nations . ni ch●…itw cymbro oni gollo . ] that is , the welshman keeps nothing until he hath lost it . the historical truth thereof is plain in the british chronicles , that when the british recovered the lost castles from the english , they doubled their diligence and valour , keeping them more tenaciously than before , a fo pen , bid bont . ] that is , he that will be a head , let him be a bridge . it is founded on a fictitious tradition thus commonly told . benigridran a britain is said to have carried an army over into ireland ; his men came to a river over which neither was bridg nor ferrey , hereupon he was fain to carry all his men over the river on his own back . to lesson men not to affect the empty title of a general , except they can supply their souldiers with all necessaries , be their wardrobe in want of cloaths , kitching in want of meat , &c. thus honour hath ever a great burden attending it . we will conclude these general proverbs of wales with a custom which was ancient in this nation , they had a kind of play * wherein the stronger who prevailed , put the the weaker into a sack ; and hence we have borrowed our english by-word to express such betwixt whom there is apparent odds of strength , he is able to put him up in a bagge . the farewell . it is observable what a credible * author reporteth , that there was in this county a city ( once an episcopal see ) called llan-badern-vaure , that is , llan-baderne the great . which city is now dwindled to nothing . reader , by the way , i observe that cities surnamed the great , come to little at last , as if god were offended with so ambitious an epithete ; sidon the * great , ninive the † great , babylon the * great , it is fallen , &c. but the cause of the ruine of this city was for their cruel killing of their bishop , which provoked divine justice against them . i hope the welsh warned herewith , will for the future demean themselves with due respect to such persons , and am confirmed in my confidence from their commendable proverb , na difanco y beriglawr , vilifie not thy parish-priest , and then much more ought the bishop to be respected . carmarthen-shire . carmarthen-shire hath pembroke shire on the w●…st , the severn-sea on the south , cardigan-shire on the north , brecknock and glamorgan-shires on the east . the mountains therein are neither so many nor high as in the neighbouring counties , affording plenty of grass , grain , wood , fish , and what not ? besides , nature here giveth the inhabitants both meat and stomach ; the sharpness of the air breeding an appetite in them . there is a place in this county called golden-grove , which i confess is no ophir or land of havilah , yielding gold in specie , but plentifully affording those rich commodities , which quickly may be converted thereunto ; and the pleasure is no less than the profit thereof . it is the possession of the right honourable richard vaughan baron of emelor in england , and earl of carbery in ireland . he well deserveth to be owner of golden-grove , who so often hath used a golden hand , in plentiful relieving many eminent d●…vines during the late sequestration . this county affording no peculiar commodities , let us proceed to wonders . giraldus cambrensis reporteth a fountain to be in this county ( let he himself find it out and justifie it ) which conformable to the sea , ebbe●…h and floweth twice in four and twenty hours . but seeing this is a maritime shire , possibly there may be a more then ordinary communication betwixt it and the ocean , and then the wonder is not so great . more credibly it is related , that there are in this shire , strange subterranean vaults , conceived the castles of routed people in the civil wars . and no wonder , seeing david first set up in a defensive posture for himself in the cave of adullam , so that having no place where he could safely set the sole of his foot above ground , all his present help was under the earth , and future hope was above the heavens . martyrs . robert farrar an english man by bi●…th , but where born unknown , was a prime martyr of this county . a man not unlearned , but somewhat indiscreet , or rather uncomplying , which procured him much trouble : so that he may be said with saint laurence to be broyled on both sides , being persecuted both by protestants and papists . he was preferred to be bishop of saint davids , by the duke of sommerset , then lord protector , who was put to death not long after . some conceive , that the patrons fall was the chaplains greatest guilt , and encouraged his enemies against him . of these , two were afterwards bishops in the reign of queen elizabeth , viz. thomas young arch. bishop of york , and rowland merrick bishop of bangor . souldiers . sir rice ap thomas was never more than a knight , yet little less than a prince in this his native county . if the author of praelia anglornm may not be believed , — ricius thomas flos cambro-britannum . king henry the seventh will himself witness his worth . to him lately landed at milford haven with contemptible forces ; this sir rice repaired with a considerable accession of choice souldiers , marching with them to bosworth field , where he right valiantly behaved himself . that thrifty king according to his cheap course of remuneration ( rewarding gown-men in orders ( by him most employed ) with church livings , and sword-men with honour ) afterwards made sir rice knight of the order , and well might he give him a garter , by whose effectual help he had recovered a crown . elmelin in this county was one of his principal seats , whose name and ●…ture he altered , building and calling it * new-castle , and i believe it one of the latest castles in wales , seeing since that time it hath been fashionable to demolish , not to erect fortified houses . as he appeared early , so he continued long in military action , for i find him in the fourth year of king henry the eighth , conductor of five hundred light horse , at the pompous and expensive fiege of therouene , where i meet his last mention in our english chronicles . walter de devereux son of — devere●…x and cicely his wife ( sole sister to thomas bourchier last earl of ess●…x ) was born in the town of * carmarthen , and by queen elizabeth in his maternall right created earl of essex . one martially minded , and naturally hating idlenesse , the rust of the soul. though time hath silenced the factions , and only sounded the facts of queen elizabeths court , no place had more heart-burnings therein , and it was a great part of gods goodness and her prudence that no more hurt was done thereby . many maligned our earl — tantae ne animis aularibus irae ? desirous to thrust him on dangerous designs . nor need we consult the oracle of apollo to discover his chief adversary , being he was a prime favourite , who loved the earls nearest relation better than he loved the earl himself , whom he put on the project of ireland . yet was not our walter surprised into that service , seeing injuria non fit volenti , and being sensible that his roome was more welcome to some than his company at court , he willingly embraced the employment . articles ( the first and last i believe in that kind ) are drawn up betwixt the queen and him , who was to maintain such a * proportion of souldiers on his own cost , and to have part of the fair territory of — clandeboy in ulster for the conquering thereof . so much for the bears skin , now all the craft will be to catch , kill , and fley the bear himself . well , to maintain an army ( though a very little one ) is a soveraigns and no subjects work , too heavy for the support of any private mans estate , which cost this earl first the mortgaging , then the selling out-right his fair inheritance in essex . over he goeth into ireland with a noble company of kindred and friends , supernumerary volunteers above the proportion of souldiers agreed upon . sir william fitz-vvilliams lord deputy of ireland hearing of his coming , and suspecting ( court jealousie riseth very early , or goeth not to bed at all ) to be ecclipsed by this great earl , sollicits the queen to maintain him in the full power of his place , without any diminution ; alledging this , much to conduce to the honour of her majesty whom he represented . hereupon it was ordered , that the earl should take his commission from this lord deputy , which with much importunity and long attendance , he hardly obtained , and that with no higher title than governour of ulster . after many impressions ( not over successfully ) made in ulster , he was by the deputy remanded into the south of ireland , where he spent much time ( take much in little in my authors words as to his general performance ) nullius bono sed magno suo damno . his friends in the english court grow few and cold , his foes many and active ; affronts were plentifully powred upon him , on purpose either to drown him in grief , or burn him in his own anger . from munster he was sent back into ulster , where he was forbidden to follow his blow , and use a victory he had gotten : yea , on a sudden * stript out of his commission , and reduced to be a governour of three hundred men : yet his stout stomach ( as true tempered steele ) bowed without breaking , in all these afflictions embracing all changes with the same tenour of const●…cy . p●…y days in ireland came very thick , moneys out of england very slow ; his noble associates began to withdraw , common men to mutiny , so that the earl himself was at the last recalled home . not long after he was sent over the second time into ireland with a loftier title , ( the length of the feather makes not the head the higher ) of earl marshall of ireland , where he fell into a strange looseness ( not without suspicion of poyson ) and he died , anno . his soul he piously resigned to god , his lands ( much impaired ) descended to his son robert , but ten years of age . his body was brought over and buried in carmarthen the place of his nativity , and his widow lady ( to say no more ) was soon re-married to robert earl of leicester . let me adde , that he died in the * ▪ year of his age , fatal to his family , his father and grand-father dying in the same , which year robert earl of essex his son never attained to , and whether it had not been as honourable for his grand-child robert earl of essex to have died in the same year of his age , or to have lived longer , let others decide . writers . ambrose merlin was born at carmarthen , a city so denominated from his nativity therein . this i write in conformity to common tradition ( and he who will not errare cum vulgo , must pugnare cum vulgo ) my own judgement remonstrating against the same , finding the city called mariadunum in ptolomy , before merlins cradle was ever made , if merlins cradle was ever made . his extraction is very incredible , reported to have an incubus to his father , pretending to a pedigree older than adam , even from the serpent himself . but a * learned pen demonstrateth the impossibility of such conjunctions . and let us not load satan with groundless sins , whom i believe the * father of lyes , but [ in a litteral sense ] no father of bastards . many are the pretended prophesies of merlin , whereof the british have a very high esteem , and i dare say nothing against them ; only i humbly tender to this nations consideration a modest proverb of their own country , namyn dduw nid oes dewin ; that besides god there is no diviner . yet i deny not but the devil can give a shrewd conjecture ; but often the deceiver is deceived . sure i am merlins prophesies have done much mischief , seeing such who pretended skill therein , that they could unfold his meaning ( though for my part i believe they must have the devils key who open the devils lock ) put * owen glendower on his rebellion against king henry the fourth , perswading him the time was come wherein he should recover the welsh principality , which caused the making of those cruel laws , with draco's , written in blood against the welsh , which no tender englishman can read without regret . there want not those who maintain merlin to be a great chymist , and those we know have a language peculiar to themselves , so that his seeming prophesies are not to be expounded historically but naturally , disguising the mysteries of that faculty from vulgar intelligence . the best prophesie i meet with in merlin which hit the mark indeed , is what i find cited out of him by * giraldus cambrensis . sextus maenia hiberniae subvertent , & regiones in regnum redigentur . the sixth shall overturn the walls of ireland , and reduce their countries into a kingdom . this was accomplished under king james the sixth , when their fastnesses ( irish walls ) were dismantled , and courts of civil justice set up in all the land. but enough of merlin , who is reported to have died anno — the farewell . how this county ( with the rest of wales ) hath preserved its woods in our unhappy civil wars is to me unknown ; yet if they have been much wasted ( which i suspect ) i wish that the pit-coal , which in some measure it affordeth , may daily be increased for the supply of their fewell . carnarvon . this county hath the irish sea on the west , anglesea ( divided by menaifre●… ) on the north , denby shire on the east , and merionith shire on the south . this i have observed peculiar to this county , that all the market are sea towns ( being five in number , as noted in the maps ) which no other county in england or wales doth afford . the natives hereof count it no small credit unto them , that they made the longest resistance against , and last submitted unto the english : and indeed for natural strength , it exceedeth any part of this principality ; so that the english were never more distressed , than in the invasion thereof . i am much affected with the ingenuity of an english nobleman , who following the camp of king henry the third , in these parts , wrote home to his friends about the end of september . the naked truth indeed as followeth ; * we lie in our tents watching , fasting , praying , and freezing : we watch for fear of the welsh-men , who are wont to invade us in the night ; we fast for want of meat , for the half peny loaf is worth five pence ; we pray to god to send us home again speedily ; we freeze for want of winter garments , having nothing but thin linnen betwixt us and the wind . yet is this county in it self sufficiently plentiful ( though the welsh had the wit to keep ●…ood from the english ) and snow-don-hills therein are commended by my * author for fertility of wood , cattel , fish , and fowl . smile not reader , to hear of fish in so high mountains which have plenty of pools interposed . wonders . giraldus cambrensis telleth us how there is a lake in snowden hills in this county , which hath a floating island therein . but it seemeth that it either always swimmeth away from such who endeavour to discover it , or else that this vagrant wearied with long wandring hath at last fixed it self to the continent . he telleth us also of monoculous fishes , though not fully acquainting us how their one eye is disposed . whether polyphemus-like in the midst of their head , or only on one side . the truth is , these one-eyed fishes , are too nimble for any men with two eyes to behold them . proverbs . craig eriry or snow don will yield * sufficient pasture for all the cattell of vvales put together . ] some will say this cannot be literally true , except the cattel of vvales be few , beneath , and snow-don-hills fruitful above all belief . the best is , the time is not expressed how long these hills will suffice for their pasture . but let us not be so morose , but to understand the meaning of this expression , importing by help of an hyperbole , the extraordinary fruitfulness of this place . diange ar gluyd , a boddi ar gonway . ] that is , to scape clude and be drown'd in conway : parallel to the latine , incidit in scyllam qui vult vitare charibdin . however , that pilot is to be pitied , who to shun scylla doth run on charibdis , because those rocks were neer and a narrow passage betwixt them ; whereas the two rivers of clude and conway are twenty miles a sunder , affording men scope enough to escape them ; but little or much in such cases are the same with indiscreet persons . princes . edward the fourth ( but first surviving ) son of king edward the first and queen eleanor , was born at carnarvon in this county , april . . no prince ever ascended the english throne with greater , or used it with less advantage to himself . first , though his father had in a manner surprised the w●…lsh to accept him for their prince , ( pleading his royal extraction , birth in vvales , in ability to speak a word of english , and innocence that none could tax him with actual sin . ) yet i find them not for his fathers fallacy to think the worse of his son , sic juvat esse deceptos , and generally they accepted him , as preferring that a prince should be put with wit , rather than with violence upon them . in england he succeeded to a wise and victorious father who happily had hit the expedient to be both beloved and feared by his subjects , leaving the land in so good a posture for government , that touch the wheele and it would turn in the right tract of its self . but this edward first estranged himself from his subjects , and [ in effect ] subjected himself to a stranger pierse gaveston his french minion , and after his execution to the two spencers , who though native english-men , were equally odious to the english for their insolence . hence it was that he first lost the love of his subjects , then of his queen ( the vacuity of whose bed was quickly filled up ) then his crown , then his life . never any english kings case was so pitiful , and his person less pitied , all counting it good reason that he should give entertainment to that woe , which his wilfulness had invited home to himself . his violent death happened at berkley castle , septemb. . . saints . there is an island called berdsey justly reduceable to this county ( lying within a mile of the south-west promontory thereof ) wherein the corps of no fewer than * twenty thousand saints are said to be interred . estote vos omnes sancti ; proud * benhadad boasted that the dust of samaria did not suffice for handfuls for all the people that followed him . but where would so many thousand bodies find graves in so petty an islet ? but i retrench my self , confessing it more facile to find graves in berdsey for so many saints , than saints for so many graves . states = men. john williams was born at aber-conwy in this county , bred fellow of saint johns colledge in cambridge , proctor of the university , dean of westminster , bishop of lincoln , lord keeper of the great seal of england , and lastly arch-bishop of york . in my church history i have offended his friends , because i wrote so little in his praise , and distasted his foes because i said so much in his defence . but i had rather to live under the indignation of others , for relating what may offend , than die under the accusation of my own conscience , for reporting what is untrue . he died on the . day of march , . prelates since the reformation . richard vaughan , born at nuffrin ( or else at etern ) in this county , was bred fellow in saint johns colledge in cambridge , and was afterwards successively bishop of bangor , chester , and lastly of london ; a very corpulent man , but spiritually minded ; an excellent preacher , and pious liver , on whom i * find this epigram , which i will endeavour to english. praesul es ( ô britonum decus immortale tuorum ) tu londinensi primus in urbe brito . hi mihi doctores semper placuere , docenda qui faciunt , plus quam qui faciendae docent . pastor es anglorum doctissimus , optimus ergo , nam facienda doces ipse , docenda facis . prelate of london ( o immortal grace of thine own britons ) first who had that place . he 's good , who what men ought to do , doth teach he 's better , who doth do , wh●…t men shold preach . you best of all , preaching what men should do , and what men ought to preach that doing too . here to justifie the observation , praesul must be taken for a plain bishop , and primus accounted but from the conversions of the saxons to christianity . for , orherwise we find no fewer than * sixteen arch bishops of london , before that time , and all of the british nation . he was a most pleasant man in discourse , especially at his table , maintaining that truth , at meals be glad , for sin be sad , as indeed he was a mortified man. let me add , nothing could tempt him to betray the rights of the church to sacrilegious hands , not sparing sharply to reprove some of his own order on that account . he died march . . being very much lamented . henry roulands born in this county , bred in the university of oxford , was consecrated bishop of bangor , novemb. . . we have formerly told how bishop bulkley plundered the tower of saint asaph of five fair bells ; now the bounty of this bishop bought four new ones for the same ( the second edition in cases of this kind is seldom as large as the first ) whereof the biggest cost an * hundred pounds . he also gave to jesus colledge in oxford , means for the maintenance of two fellows . he died anno dom. . the farewell . the map of this county ( as also of denby and flint-shire ) in mr. speed is not divided ( as other shires in england and wales ) with pricks into their several hundreds , which would have much conduced to the compleating thereof , whereof he rendreth this reason , that he could not procure the same ( though promised him ) out of the sheriffs books ; fearing lest the riches of their shire should be further sought into by revealing such particulars . he addeth moreover , this i have observed in all my survey , that where least is to be had the greatest fears are possessed . i would advise these counties hereafter to deny no small civility to a painful author , holding a pen in his hand , for fear a drop of his ink fall upon them ; for though juyce of lemmon will fetch such spots out of linnen , when once printed in a book they are not so easily got out , but remain to posterity . denbigh-shire . denbigh-shire hath flint-shire , cheshire , and shrop-shire on the east , montgomery and merionith-shires on the south , carnarvonshire ( divided by the river conwey on the west ) being from east to west thirty one , from north to south twenty miles . the east part of this county ( towards the river dee ) is fruitful , but in the west the industrious husbandman may be said to fetch his bread out of the fire , paring off their upper turfs with a spade , piling them up in heaps , burning them to ashes , and then throwing them on their barren ground , which is much fertilized thereby . natural commodities . amelcorne . this english word ( which i find in the english * cambden ) is welsh to me . let us therefore repair to his latine original , where he informeth us , that this county produceth plenty of arinca . here the difficulty is a little changed , not wholly cleared . in our dictionaries arinca is englished . rice ; but this ( though a frequent name of many in this country ) is a grain too choice to grow in wales , or any part of england . . amelcorn ; and now having run round , we have not stirred a step , as to more information of what we desired a kind of . at last with long beating about , we find it to be rye , in latine more generally called serale . * plinles pen casts three dashes on this grain , being ( it seems ) no friend to it , or it to him . . est tantum ad arcendam famem utile , good only to drive away famin , as not pleasant at all . . est , ( licet farre mixtum ) ventri ingratissimum , as griping the guts . . ●…ascitur quocunqne solo , any base ground being good enough to bear it . however , ( whatever his forraign rye was ) that which groweth incredibly plentiful in this county ; is very wholsome , and generally in england , rye maketh moistest bread in the dryest summer , for which cause some prefer it before wheat it self . buildings . the church of wrexham is commended for a fair and spacious building , and it is questionable , whether it claimeth more praise for the artificial tower thereof , or for the organs . these were formerly most * famous ( the more because placed in a parochial , no cathedral church ) for beauty , bigness and tunableness : though far short of those in worth which michael emperor of constantinople caused to be made of pure * gold , and beneath those in bigness which george the salamitan abbot , made to be set up in the church of his convent , whose biggest pipe was * eight and twenty foot long , and four spans in compass . the first organ which was ever seen in the west of europe , was , what was * sent anno . from constantine the grecian emperor , to pipin king of france . and their general use in churches began about the year . i read that the form of this instrument was much improved by one bernard a venetian ( who was absolutely the best * musician in the world ) with addition of many pipes thereunto . what is become of wrexham-organs , i know not , and could heartily wish , they had been removed into some gentlemans house , seeing such as accuse them for superstitious in churches must allow them lawful in private places . otherwise such moroso's deserve not to be owners of an articulate voice sounding thorough the organ of a throat . but , to return to the buildings in this county , holt castle must not be forgotten ; how well ●…t is now faced and repaired without , i know not ; i know when it was better lined within , than any subjects castle ( i believe ) in europe at that time , viz. when in the possession of william lord stanley . when the ready mony and plate therein ( besides jewels and rich houshold-stuff ) amounted unto * forty thousand marks , got by the plunder of bosworth field . but as the river dee , running by this castle , is soon after swallowed up in the irish ocean ; so it was not long before this vast treasure , upon the owners attainder , was confiscated into the coffers of king henry the seventh . prelates . leoline being born in the marches , he had a double name , to notifie him to posterity . one , after the welsh-mode à patre , * leoline ap llewelin ap yuyr , the other according to the custom of the english clergy , à patria , leoline de bromfield , a most * fruitful tract of ground in this county . under king edward the first , anno . he was consecrated bishop of saint asaph , and deserved right well of that see , by his manifold benefactions , appropriating some churches to his chapter . as for a portion of tithes in the parish of corwen , appropriated to the fabrick of the church , * he reduced it to its former estate . the first and last instance ( for precedent i dare not call it ) which i have met with , of a church legally appropriated , which reverted to its presentative propriety . had king henry the eighth , at the dissolution of abbies , followed this example , the church had been richer by many pounds ; the exchequer not poorer by a penny . i find also , that he asked * leave of king edward the first to make a will , which may seem very strange , whether it was a court-complement , or ex gratia cautela , or because welsh bishops in that age might not testamentize without royal assent . by his will he bequeathed much of plate , rich vests and books to the canons of that church and his chaplains , dying anno dom. . since the reformation . godfrey goodman was born of wealthy parentage in this county , bred under his * uncle ( of whom hereafter ) in westminster school , then in trinity colledge in cambridge , where he commenced doctor of divinity , successively preferred p●…ebendary of windsor , dean of rochester , and bishop or 〈◊〉 . he is 〈◊〉 joyned to the prelates before ( though he lived long 〈◊〉 ) the reforma●…on , because he agreed with them in judgement , dying a professed romanist , as appeareth by his will yet the adversaries of our hierarchy have no cause to triumph thereat , who 〈◊〉 charge popish compliance on all his order , being able to produce of two hundred bishops since queen elizabeth but this only instance , and him a person of no great eminency ; not only disavowed by his fellow prelates , but imprisoned in the late convocation for his erronious opinions . indeed in this discourse he would be constantly complaining of our first reformers ; and i heard him once say in some passion , that bishop ridley was a very odde man ; to whom one presently returned , he was an odde man indeed my lord , for all the popish party in england could not match him with his equal in learning and religion . to give goodman his due , he was a harmless man , hurtfull to none but himsel●… , pitiful to the poor , hospitable to his neighbours , against the ruining of any of an opposite judgement , and gave the most he left to pious uses . he was no contemptible historian , but i confesse an under-match to doctor hackwell . but i remember the ring bequeathed to me in his will with the posie thereof , requiem defunctis ; and therefore i will no longer be troublesome to his memory , who was made bishop . and some seven years since deceased in westminster almost . years of age . writers since the reformation . vvilliam salesbury was born in this county , where his family flourisheth at this day . this gentleman out of a love to his native language , amor patriae ratione valentior omni , composed a short english and welsh , dictionary , first privately presented to , and approved by king henry the eighth , ( being a tuthar , by his fathers side of welsh extraction ) and then publickly printed , anno dom. . some captious spirits will quarrel the usefulness thereof , seeing the welsh did not want , and the english did not wish a book of that natnre . but , let them know that it is useful for both nations ; to the english for attaining , to the vvelsh for retaining that language . attaining . for being an original tongue , an antiquary is lame without it , ( which i find by my own defect ) to understand the ( few of many ) remaining monuments of that nation . retaining . that tongue as well as others by disuse being subject not only to corrup●…ion , but oblivion , by the confession of the natives of that countrey . indeed all dictionaries of languages are very useful , vvords bringing matter to the tongue , and as * plato well observed , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . a name or word is an instrument of instruction , and ushere●…h knowledge into our understanding . however , seeing nothing can be begun and finisht at once , salesbury his book , ( as the first in this kind ) did rather essay , than effect the work , and since hath been completed by others . he died about the year , . benefactors to the publick since the reformation . sir thomas son of richard exmew , was born at rythin in this county . being bred in london a goldsmith , he thrived therein so well , that anno . he was lord mayor thereof , besides other benefactions in his own country : and to saint mary magdalen in milk-street , london , ( where he lies buried . ) he made the * water conduit by london-wall at more-gate . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ( so pindar begins his poems ) water is a creature of absolute and common concernment , without which we should be burnt with the thirst , and buried with the filth of our own bodies . gabriel goodman , son of edward goodman , esq was born at rythin in th●…s county , afterwards doctor of divinity in saint johns colledge in cambridge , and dean of vvestminster , where he was fixed for full forty years ; though by his own parts and his friends power , he might have been what he would have been in the church of england . abigail said of her husband , nabal is his name , and folly is with him . but it may be said of this worthy dean , goodman was his name , and goodness was in his nature , as by the ensuing testimonies will appear . . the bible was translated into vvelsh on his cost , as by a note in the preface thereof doth appear . . he founded a schoole-house , with a competent salary in the town of his nativity ; as also , erected and endowed an almes-house therein for twelve poore people . . he repaired the house for the minister ( there called the warden ) of rythin , furnishing it with plate and other utensils , which were to descend to his successors . . he purchased a fair house with land thereunto at chiswick in middlesex , where with his own hands he set a fair row of elmes , now grown up to great beauty and height , for a retiring place for the masters and scholars at westminster in the heat of summer , or any time of infection . if these lands at this day be not so profitably employed , as they were by the donor piously intended , it is safer to bemoan the sad effect , than accuse the causers thereof . there needs no other testimony of his honesty and ability , than that our english nestor , the lord treasurer cecil , made him one of the executors of his will , to dispose of great sums to charitable uses ; which trust he most faithfully discharged . he died in the year . and is buried in the collegiate church of westminster , whereof he so well deserved , as of all england , mr. cambden performing his perambulation about it on his expences . sir hugh middleton , son of richard middleton was born at denbigh in this county , and bred in london . this is that worthy knight , who hath deserved well of london , and in it of all england . if those be recounted amongst davids worthies , who breaking through the army of the * philistines , fetcht water from the well of bethlehem , to satisfie the longing of david ( founded more on fancy than necessity , ) how meritorious a work did this worthy man perform , who to quench the thirst of thousands in the populous city of london , fetcht water on his own cost , more than . miles , encountering all the way with an army of oppositions , grapling with hills , strugling with rocks , fighting with forrests , till in defiance of difficulties he had brought his project to perfection ? but , oh wha●… an injury was it unto him , that a potent person , and idle spectator should strike in ; ( reader i could heartily wish , it were a falsho●…d what i report ) and by his greatness possess a moity of the profit , which the unwearied endeavours of the foresaid knight had purchased to himself ! the farewell . i heartily wish this county may find many like robert eari of leicester ( by his bounty much advancing the building of a new church in denbigh ) who may willingly contribute their charity for the repairing of all decayed churches therein . yea , may it be happy in faithful and able ministers , that by their pains they may be built up in the faith of the lord. flint-shire . flint-shire . it taketh the name from flint , formerly an eminent place therein . but why flint was so named will deservedly bear an enquiry , the rather because i am informed there is scarce a flint stone to be found in the whole shire . an eminent * antiquary well known in these parts ( reader i must carry my author at my back , when i write that which otherwise will not be believed ) hath informed me , it was first called flit-town , because the people flitted or removed their habitations from a smal village hard by , to and under a castle built there by king edward the first . afterwards it was called flint town , or flint to make it more sollid in the prononciation . now although sometimes liquids are melted out of a word to supple it to turn the better on the tongues end ; it will hardly be presidented that ever the sturdy letter n. was on that or any account interjected into the middle of an original word . but it is infidelity not to believe what is thus traditioned unto us . it hath the sea on the north , shropshire on the south , cheshire on the east , and denbigh-shire on the west thereof , the smallest county in wales , whereof the natives render this reason , that it was not handsomly in the power of king edward the first ( who made it a shire ) to enlarge the limits thereof ; for the english shires , shropshire and cheshire he would not discompose , and on the welsh side he could not well extend it without prejudice to the lord marchers , who had potestatem vitae & necis in the adjacent territories , the king being unwilling to resume , and they more unwilling to resign , their respective territories . if any ask why so small a parcel of ground was made a shire , let them know that every foot therein in content was ten in concernment , because it was the passage into north wales . indeed it may seem strange that flint , the shire town , is no market town , no nor saint asaph ( a city , qua sedes episcopi ) till made so very late . but this is the reason , partly the vicinity of chester , the market genera●… of these parts ; partly that every village hath a market in it self , as affording all necessary commodities . nor must we forget that this county was parcel of the pallatinate of chester , paying two thousand marks ( called a mize ) at the change of every earl of chester , until the year of our lord , . for then upon the occasion of one thomas radford committed to prison by the chamberlain of chester , flint-shire ( saith my * author , revolted , i dare say ) disjoyned it self from that county pallatine , and united it self to the principalities of wales , as conceiving the same the more advantagious . proverbs . mwy nag ●…n bwa yro ynghaer . ] that is , more then one yugh-bow in chester . modern use applieth this proverb to such , who seize on other folks goods ( not with intent to steal but ) mistaken with the similitude thereof to their own goods . but give me leave to conjecture the original hereof , seeing cheshire-men have been so famous for archery . princes . elizabeth the seventh daughter of king edward the first , and queen elenor , was born at ruthland castle in this county ; a place which some unwarily confound with rythin town in denbigh shire . this castle was anciently of such receipt , that the king and his court were lodged therein ; yea , a parliament , or something equivalent , was kept here , or hereabouts ; seeing we have the statutes of ruthland ( on the same token the year erroneously printed in the statutes of ruthland ) made in the — year of king edward the first . this lady elizabeth at fourteen years of age was married to john , the first of that name , earl of holland , zealand , &c. and after his death , remarried to humfre●… bohune earle of hereford and essex , high constable of england , by whom he had a numerous issue . she died anno dom. * . and was buried in the abby-church of saffron walden in essex . saints . congellus or comgallus . i perceive a storm a coming , and must provide a shelter against it . the omitting this writer will make wales angry , and the inserting him will make ireland offended with me , whom a * good antiquary makes the first abb●…t of banchor in this county , and a * better ( though living later ) first abbot of bangor nigh nockfergus in ireland . what is to be done herein ? when the controversie was started , whether the isle of man belonged to england or ireland , it was adjudged to the later , because no venomous creature will live therein . but this controverted nativity is not capable of that discrimination . indeed if the difference was betwixt wales and england my native country , concerning congellus , we would ( according to our premised principles ) freely resign him , not daring to be so bold with an outlandish interest : let him stand here so long till better evidence be brought to remove him . for if those be beheld as the worst of felons , who steal stragling children in london streets from their parents , and spirit them over unto forraign plantations ; high also is their robbery , who deprive countries of their true natives ( as to their memories after their deaths ) and dispose them elsewhere at their pleasures . as for congellus , it is agreed on all hands , that he was one of a pious life , who wrote learned epistles , and being aged eighty five years , died anno dom. . st. beno was instructer to saint wenefride , committed by her father to his careful education ; now it happened when the head of the said wenefride was cut off by cradocus son to alane king of north wales ( for not yielding to his unlawful lust ) this beno miraculously set it on * again , she living fifteen years after . but if the tip of his tongue who first told , and the top of his fingers who first wrote this damnable lye , had been cut off , and had they both been sent to attend their cure at the shrine of saint beno , certainly they would have been more wary afterwards , how they reported or recorded such improbable untruths . asaph was born in these parts , of right honourable parentage , and bred at llan-elvy in this county , under kentigernus ( or mongo ) the scotch bishop in that place . here the said kentiger●…us had a convent consisting of . monks , whereof * . being unlearned ( in the nature of lay-brethren ) were employed abroad in husbandry , as many busied about work at home , the rest attended divine service in the convent , so divided , that some were always officiating therein . amongst these asaph was eminently conspicuous , for piety and learning , in so much , that kentigernus ( being called into his own country ) resigned both his convent and cathedral unto him . here this bishop demeaned himself with such sanctity , that llan-elvy lost its name , and after his death was called from him , st. asaph . he was an assiduous preacher , having this speech in his mouth , such who are against the preaching of gods word , envy mans salvation . bishop godwin confesseth himself ignorant of the certain time of his death , though * another ( not more knowing , but more confident ) assigneth the first of may ( but with this abatement ) about . i say not out possibly , a randome date may hap to hit the mark . here i would be thankful to them , who should expound unto me , that passage in j. bale , concluding the life of this saint , with these words , * primus hic erat , qui d romano pontifice unctionem accepit . he was the first , who received unction from the pope of rome . this neither pits owneth ( ready enough to steal out of bale , especially to improve what might sound to papal advantage ) nor any other romanist writing his life , whom i have seen , so that it seems to me a note 〈◊〉 scattered . after the death of saint asaph , his see stood void above . years , until jeffery of monmouth was placed therein . prelates since the reformation . richard parry d. d. was born at ruthin in this county ; bred in christ church in oxford ▪ whence he was preferred dean of bangor , and at last bishop of saint asaph , consecrated decemb. . . bishop godwin passeth on him this complement ( take it in the best derivation of the word from completio mentis ) that he desireth being so near unto him in time and his studies , to be his equal in other episcopal qualities . i crave the readers leave to forbear any further character of him . pictures present buildings , presumed at great distance , very small , whilest such things which are ▪ supposed near the eye , are made in a greater proportion . clean contrary i may sasely write largely on mens lives at far distance , whilest ( as i may say ) i must make landskips of those near hand , and touch little on them , who lived in later times . bishop parry died anno dom. . ... souldiers . owen glendower-wye was born in his ancient patrimony of glendower-wye in this county , then bred in london a student in the common law , till he became a courtier , and servant to king richard the second . after whose death , this owen being then on the wrong side of preferment , retired to this his native county , where there arose a difference betwixt him and his neighbour the lord gre of ruthen about a piece of common , which owen by force recovered , and killed the lord gre. there wanted not many to spur his posting ambition , by telling him , that he was the true heir to all north wales , and now or never the time to regain it . that the injuries he had already offered the english were above pardon , and no way left to secure himself , but by committing greater . there needeth no torch to light tinder , where a spark will do the deed , and hereupon owen brake out into open rebellion . the worst was , being angry with the king , his revenge fell upon god , burning down the fair cathedrals of bangor and saint asaph . his destructive nature delighted in doing mischief to others , though no good to himself . king henry the fourth found it more facile by far , to depose king richard , than subdue this owen , who had taken roger mortimer earl of march ( and next heir to the crown ) prisoner . writers . elvodugus , surnamed probus ( and no doubt it was true of him , what was said of probus the emperor , he was vir sui nominis ) was a cambrian by birth , and this country-man by habitation ; for he lived most of his days at bangor * monachorum , in that age the cambridge and oxford of all britain . he wrote many books ( and particularly a chronicle of his nation ) which the envy of time hath denied to posterity . he had many eminent men for his scholars , amongst whom was learned nenniu●… , commonly called nennius elvodugi , assuming his masters name for his surname , on which account some mistake him for his father . this elvoduge flourished anno . since the reformation . meridith hanmer , d. d. was born in this county , where a respective family of his name and alliance flourish at han-meer at this day ; was treasurer of trinity church in dublin . he translated the ecclesiasticall histories of eusebius , socrates euagrius , &c. into english , wrote an ephemeris of the irish saints , and a chronicle of that country . he died at * dublin of the plague , anno . benefactors to the publick since the reformation . richard clough was born at denbigh in this county , whence he went to be a chorister in the city of chester . some were so affected with his singing therein , that they were loath he should lose himself in empty air ( church-musick beginning then to be discountenanced ) and perswaded , yea , procured his removal to london , where he became an apprentice to , and afterwards partner with sir thomas gresham . he lived some years at antwerp , and afterwards travelled as far as jerusalem , where he was made a knight of the sepulchre , though not owning it after his return under queen elizabeth ( who disdained her subjects should accept of such foraign honour ) he afterwards by gods blessing grew very rich ; and there want not those , who will avouch that some thousands of pounds were disbursed by him for the building of the burse or royal exchange . such maintain that it was agreed betwixt him and sir thomas gresham , that the survivor should be chief heir to both ; on which account they say that the knight carried away the main of the estate . how much the new church in denbigh was beholding to his bounty , i am not as yet certainly in●…ormed . this is true , that he gave the impropriation of killken in flint-shire , worth an hundred pounds per annum to the free schoole in denbigh ; and if the same at this day be aliened , i question whether repentance without restitution will secure such who are the causers thereof . he died anno dom , — memorable persons . thomas ap william , ap thomas , ap richard , ap howel , ap evan va●…ghan , &c. esquire , was born of ancient and worshipful parentage at moston in this county . this gentleman being called at the pannel of a jury by the aforesaid names , and many more , was advised by the * judge in the reign of king henry the eight , for brevity sake to contract his name , who thereupon denominated himself moston , from the place of his nativity and ancient inheritance . this leading case was precedential to the practice of other gentry in wales , who ( leaving their pedigrees at home ) carry one sirname only abroad with them , whereby much time ( especially in winter when the days are short ) is gained for other employment . the farewell . i understand that superstitious pilgrimages do still continue of fond people in this county to the well of st. winifred , and will only presume to mind them of a savoury proverb of their own nation , goreu pererindod cyrchu offeren sull , that is , it is the best pilgrimage to frequent the divine duties of the sabboth . a pilgrimage it may well be called in wales , where some parishes are so large , people go ten miles to church , and whose pains are employed more acceptable to god , than in longer peregrinations to less porpose . glamorgan-shire . glamorgan-shire hath the severn sea on t●…e south , carmarthen on the west , brecknock on the north , monmouth-shire ( severed by the river remney falling from the mountains , which in the brit●…sh tongue signifieth , to drive ) on the east thereof . the north of this county is so full of mountains , that almost nothing is to be had , the south is so fruitful a valley , nothing at all is wanting therein . indeed it is the garden of wales , and i am informed , that at saint donats in this shire ( an ancient house of the right worshipful family of the stradlings ) groweth as good fruit , and as soon ripe as in any part of england . mr. cambden will have it so called ( though others affirm one morgan a prince thereof gave his name thereunto ) from mor the british word for the sea , as agreeing 〈◊〉 its scituation . wonders . giraldus cambrensis reports that in the island barrey ( termed so from baruch an holy man that was there buried ) three miles from the mouth of taff , there appeareth a chink in a rock or cliff , to which if you lay your ear , you may easily discover a noise , not altogether unlike to smiths at work , one while blowing of the bellows , another while striking of the hammer , the grinding of iron tools , the hissing of steel gads , yea the puffing noise of fire in a furnace . i must confess my self at a loss for the reason thereof ; for it cannot proceed from the close stealing in of the sea water ( as some have supposed ) seeing the same noise continueth even at a low ebb , when the sea is departed . there is also at newton on the bank of ogmore west-ward , a well , the water whereof is so low at the flowing of the sea in summer , you can scarce get up a dish full of the same ; whereas at the ebb thereof you may easily recover a pail or bucket full . * mr. cambden doubting of the truth , made his own eyes witnesses herein , finding it true according to the common relation , adding withall that it is the same ( thoughnot so discernable by reason of the accession of much rain water ) in winter . civilians . sir edward carne is here placed with confidence , because assured to be a * welsh-man , and i find his family flourishing at † wenny in this county . he was bred ( i believe in oxford ) doctor of the civil law , and was * knighted by charles the fifth , emperor . the first publick service he eminently appeared in was , when king henry the eight having intelligence of the popes intention , shortly to cite him to appear at rome , either in person or proxie , d●…spatched him thither for his * excusator , to remonstrate that his grace was not bound by law so to appear . this he effectually performed , pleading , that the emperor was so powerful at rome , that he could not expect justice ; declaring , that unless they desisted , he must appeal thence to the able men in some indifferent universities ; and if this were refused , he protested a nullity in all that they did . a behaviour which spake him of no less valour than ability . queen mary highly prized him , and no whit the less , for his cordial appearing for king henry in the matter of her mothers divorce , imputing it to the discharge of his c●…edit and calling , in him who otherwise was a thorow paced romanist , and whom she employed her embassador to the pope . after her death he still resided at rome , and by command from queen elizabeth , repaired to pope paul the fourth , to give him an account , that his mistress was called to the crown of england . to whom the * pope returned , that england was a fee of the church of rome , and that she could not succeed as illegitimate . a str●…nge reply ●…o a civil message , and fitting his mouth with whom it was a usual saying , * that he would have no prince in his compagnion , but all subject under his foot. besides , he commanded sir edward carne , to lay down the office of an embassador , and under the pain of the greater * excommunication , and confiscation of all his goods , not to go out of the city , but to take on him the regiment of the english hospital therein . so that i see not how queen elizabeth can be taxed by the papists for a schismatick , and wilful breach from the church of rome , being thrust away thence by the pope himself , so barbarously treating her embassador ( whilest as yet she had made no alteration in religion ) against the law of nations ; though i confess , some conceive , that the crafty old knight was ( such his addiction to popery ) well contented with his restraint , wherein he died , . the farewell . i heartily congratulate the return of the name ( and with it of the see ) to landaff in this county . sure i am , our civil wars had deprived it of the better moity of its appellation land , leaving bare aff , thereunto . i am not ignorant that landaff , in british , is the church by taff , though that church i fear will not stand long that hath lost its ground . happy therefore is it , that now landaff may be truly termed landaff , having through gods goodness , ( and long may it possess them ) regained its ancient lands and revenues . merionith-shire . merionith-shire , ( in latine mervinia ) hath the sea on the west side , on the south ( for certain miles together ) cardiganshire , severed by the river dony , and on the north bounded upon carnarvon and denbigh-shire . it is extream mountainous , yea ( if true what giraldus cambrensis reporteth thereof ) so high the hills therein , that men may discourse one with the other on the tops thereof , and yet hardly meet ( beneath in the valley ) in a days time . yet are not the mountains altogether useless , feeding great numbers of sheep thereon . mr. cambden takes especial notice of the beauty and comliness of the inhabitants of this shire . nor must it be forgot that there is a place at this day called le herbert upon this account ; when the unhappy difference raged betwixt the houses of york and lancaster , david ap jenkin ap enion , a stout and resolute gentleman ( who took part with the house of lancaster ) valiantly defended the castle arleck against king edward the fourth , until sir william herbert ( afterwards earl of pembroke ) with great difficulty made his passage unto it , and so furiously stormed it , that immediately it was surrendred . wonders . there is a lake in this county called in british lhin-tegid , in english pimble-mear , which may be termed our leman lake , having the same work of wonder therein , though set forth by nature in a less letter . for as rhodanus running through that french lake , preserveth his stream by it self ( discernable by the discolouration thereof ) with the fishes peculiar thereunto . the same is here * observed betwixt the river dee , and the water of the lake ; so that here is ( what some cavil at in the grammar ) a conjunction disjunctive . let philosophers dispute , what invisible partition incloseth the one severally from the other . i have heard some , by way of similitude , apply it to such , who being casually cast into bad company , lie at such a cautious posture of defence , that they keep their own innocency entire , not maculated with the mixture of their bad manners , as rather being in , than of , their society . we must not forget another strange quality of pimble-mear , viz. it swelleth not with all the waters , and those very many , which fall therein by the bordering mountains , whereas * a blast of wind will quickly make it mount above the bounds and banks thereof . like some strange dispositions , not so much incensed with blows , as provoked by words ( accounted but wind ) into passion . i know not whether it be worth the relating , what is known for a truth of a market town called dogelthy in this shire , that . the walls there of are . miles high . . the mountains which surround it . . men come into it over the water , but . on a fair bridge . . go out of it under the water . . falling from a rock , and conveyed in a wooden trough ( under which travellers must make shift to pass ) to drive an over-shot mill. . the steeple thereof doth grow therein . the bells ( if plural ) hang in an yeugh tree . . there are more ale-houses than houses . . tenements are divided into two or more tipling-houses , and chimnyless barns used to that purpose . this last i had [ mediately ] from the mouth of a judge in his charge condemning the same . saints . saint thelian was of british extraction , and placed here until with certainty he c●…n be removed to another county . he was bred under dubritius bishop of landaff , by whose holy care he attained to a competent learning , and exemplary sanctity . great his acquaintance and intimacy with saint david bishop of menevia . in his days the picts harrassed his country , he was much envied for his holiness , by one of their chief commanders , * who sent two lewd strumpets , supposing by their tempting tricks to entrap this holy man. these women counterfeiting madness ( whereby they might assume the more liberty to themselves of filthy discourse ) returned distracted * indeed , not having understanding enough to relate the cause of their sad misfortune , which wrought so much upon the first design of their practises , that he received the faith and was baptized , and ever after had a great veneration and esteem for this our saint . he accompanied saint david to jerusalem , and returning into his own country , by his fervent prayers freed the same from the plague , wherewith it was then much infested . his death happened february the ninth , about the year of our lord , . the farewell . this county ( the inhabitants whereof generally betake themselves to the feeding of sheep ) was much beholding to ludwall their prince , who ( king edgar imposing on him as a yearly tribute , the presenting him with three hundred wolves ) did in a manner free it from wolves . it is my desire , that seeing that ill natured creature is at this day totally removed out of it , that the people wholly lay aside all strife and animosities , and give no longer occasion to the proverb , homo homini lupus . montgomery-shire montgomery-shire is bounded on the south side with cardigan and radnor-shire , on the east with shrop-shire , on the north with denbighshire , and on the west thereof with merionith-shire . nature cannot be accused for being a step-mother unto this county ; for although she hath mounted many an high hill ( which may probably be presumed not over fruitful ) yet hath she also sunck many a delightful valley therein , ( humility is the common attendant of greatness , accompanied with true worth ) which plentifully yield all necessaries for mans comfortable subsistance . the chief town therein stands , and bestoweth its . name upon the whole county . it never dignified any with the title of earl thereof , until the raign of king james , who created philip herbert , second son to henry earl of pembroke , baron herbert of shurland , and earl of montgomery . natural commodities . horses . how good and swift are bred in this county , i may well spare my commendation , and remit the reader to the character i find given of them in a good * author ; — from the gomerian fields , then which in all our wales there is no country yields an excellenter horse , so full of natural fire , as one of phoebus steeds had been that stallions sire which first their race begun , or of th' asturian kind , which some have held to be begotten by the wind . now after proportionable abatement for his poetical hyperbole , the remainder is enough to inform us of the good strain this shire doth afford . proverbs . y tair chiwiorydd . ] in english the three sisters , being a common by-word to express the three rivers of 〈◊〉 , severn , rhiddiall , arising all three in this county , out of the south-west side of plynnillimmon hill , within few paces one of another , but falling into the sea more miles asunder ; severn into the severn sea , wye into the severn , rhiddiall into the irish sea. the tradition is , that these three sisters were to run a race , which should be first married to the ocean , severn and wye having a great journey to go , chose their way through soft medows , and kept on a travellers pace ; whilest rhiddiall ( presuming on her short journey ) staid before she went out , and then to recover her lost time , runs furiously in a distracted manner , with her mad stream , over all opposition . the proverb is applyable to children of the same parents , issuing out of the same womb , but of different dispositions , and embracing several courses of lives in this world , so that their cradles were not so near , but their coffins are as farre asunder . pywys paradwys cymry . ] that is , powis is the paradise of wales . this proverb referreth to teliessen the author thereof , at what time powis had far larger bounds than at this day , as containing all the land inter-jacent betwixt wye and severn ; of the pleasantness whereof we have spoken * before . gwan dy bawlyn hafren , hafren fyàd hifcl cynt . ] that is , fixt thy pale [ with intent to sence out his water ] in severn , severn will be as before . appliable to such who undertake projects above their power to perform , or grapple in vain against nature , which soon returns to its former condition . writers . george herbert was born at montgomery-castle , younger brother to edward lord herbert ( of whom immediately ) bred fellow of trinity colledge in cambridge , and orator of the university , where he made a speech no less learned than the occasion was welcome , of the return of prince charles out of spain . he was none of the nobles of t●…koa , who at the building of jerusalem * put not their necks to the work of the lord ; but waving worldly preferment , chose serving at gods altar before state-employment . so pious his life , that as he was a copy of primitive , he might be a pattern of sanctity to posterity , to testifie his independency on all others , he never mentioned the name of jesus christ , but with this addition , my master . next god the word , he loved the word of god , being heard often to protest , that he would not part with one leaf thereof for the whole world . remarkable his conformity to church-discipline , whereby he drew the greater part of his parishioners to accompany him daily in the publick celebration of divine service . yet had he ( because not desiring ) no higher preferment than the benefice of bemmerton nigh salisbury ( where he built a fair house for his successor ) and the prebend of leighton ( founded in the cathedral of lincoln ) where he built a fair church , with the assistance of some few friends free offerings . when a friend on his death bed went about to comfort him with the remembrance thereof , as an especial good work , he returned , it is a good work if sprinkled with the blood of christ. but his church ( that unimitable piece of poetry ) may out-last this in structure . his death hapned anno dom. — edward herbert , son of richard herbert , esquire , and susan newport his wife , was born at montgomery * castle in this county , knighted by king james , who sent him over embassador into france . afrerwards king charls the first created him baron of castle island in ireland , and some years after baron of cheirbury in this coun●…y ; he was a most excellent artist and rare linguist , studied both in books and men , and himself the author of two works most remarkable , viz. a treatise of 〈◊〉 , written in french , so highly prized beyond the seas , that ( as i am told ) it is extant at this day with great honour in the popes vatican . he married the daughter and sole heir of sir vvilliam herbert of saint julians in monmouth-shire , with whom he had a large inheritance both in england and ireland . he died in august , anno domini . and was buried in saint giles in the fields , london , having designed a fair monument of his own invention to be set up for him in the church of montgomery , according to the * model following ; upon the ground a hath pace of fourteen foot square , on the midst of which is placed a dorrick columne , with its rights of pedestal basis , and capital fifteen foot in height ; on the capital of the columne is mounted an urn with an heart flamboul supported by two angels . the foot of this columne is attended with four angels placed on pedestals at each corner of the said hath pace , two having torches reverst , extinguishing the motto of mortality ; the other two holding up palmes , the emblems of victory . this monument hath not hitherto , ( by what obstruction i list not to enquire ) and i fear will not be finished , which hath invited me the rather to this description , that it might be erected in paper when it was intended in marble . memorable persons . hawis gadarn . she was a lady of remark , sole daughter and heir to owen ap graffyth , prince of that part of powis called powis wenwinwin , which taketh up this whole county . she was justly ( as will appear ) surnamed gadarn , that is , the hardy . i confess hardy sounds better when applyed to men ( as philip the hardy , a prince in france ) meek and mild , being a more proper epethite for a woman . yet some competent hardiness ( to comport with troubles ) mis-becometh not the weaker sex ; and indeed if she had not been hawis the hardy , she had been hawis the beggerly . she had four uncles , her fathers brethren , lhewelyn , iohn , griffith vachan , and david , which uncles became her cosens , detaining all her inheritance from her . give ( said they ) a girle a little gold and marry her , god and nature made land for men to manage . hereupon hawis comes to court , complains to king edward the second . the mention of her minds me of the daughter of zelophehad , who pleaded so pathetically for her patrimony before moses and joshua . the king commiserating her case , consigned his servant john charleton ( born at apple in shropshire ) a vigorous knight to marry her , creating him in her right b●…ron of powis . thus was he possessed of his lady , but get her land as he can , it was bootless to implead her uncles in a civil court , action was the only action he could have against them , and he so bestirred himself with the assistance of the kings forces , that in short time he possessed himself of three of her uncles prisoners , and forced the fourth to a composition . yea , he not only recovered every foot of his wives land , but also got all the l●…nds of her uncles , in default of their issue male to be settled upon her . i wish that all ladies injured by their potent relations , may have such husbands to marry them , and match their adversaries . these things hapned about the yeare of our lord , . know reader , there were four john charletons successively lords of powis , which i observe rather , because their homonymy may not occasion confusion . julines herring was born at flambere-mayre in this county . his father returned hence to coventry , to which he was highly related . coventry , whose ancestors ( for the space of almost two hundred years ) had been in their course chiefe officers of that city . perceiving a pregnancy in their son , his parents bred him in sidney colledge in cambridge , he becamê afterwards a profitable and painful preacher at calk in derby-shire , in the town of shrewsbury ▪ and at rendbury in cheshire , being one of a pious life , but in his judgement disaffected to the english church-discipline . i could do no less than place him amongst the memorable persons , otherwise coming under no topick of mine ( as writing no books to my knowledge ) 〈◊〉 hi●… life written at large by mr. samuel clark. i say mr. clark whose books of our modern divines i have perused , as travellers by the levitical law were permitted to pass thorow other mens vinyards . for they must eat their fill on conditions they put no grapes up in their * vessels . i have been satisfied with reading his works , and informed my self in places and dates of some mens births and deaths . but never did nor will ( whatever hath been said of me , or done by others ) incorporate any considerable quantity of his works in my own , detesting such felony , god having given me ( be it spoken with thanks to him , and humility to man ) plenty of my own , without being plagiary to any author whatsoever . to return to julines herring , whose christian name is very usual in the country amongst people of quality , in memory of julius palmer ( in the marian days martyred , and ) a native of that city ; he being prohibited his preaching here , for his non-conformity , was called over to amsterdam , where he continued preacher to the english congregation , some years well respected in his place , and died in the year of our lord , . the farewell . and now being to take our leave of this county , the worst i wish the inhabi●…ants thereof , is , that their horses ( excellent in their kind , whereof before ) may ( to use ●…he coun●…-mans expression ) stand well , being secured from all infectious and pe●…lential dise●…ses . ●…he rather because when god is pleased to strike this creature ( not unfitly termed mans wings , whereby he so swi●…tly flyeth from one place to another , for dispatch of his occasions ) it is a sad presage , that he is angry with the riders , and will ( without their seasonable repentance ) punish their sins with some exemplary judgment . monmouth-shire . monmouth-shire . i may fi●…ly call this an english-welsh county , for though it lie west of severn , yea of 〈◊〉 it self ; and though the welsh be the common language thereof , yet it doth wear a double badge of english relation . first , whereas formerly all welsh counties sent but one knight to the parliament , this had the priviledge of two , conformable to the shires of england . secondly , it is not subject to the vvelsh jurisdiction , but such itinerant judges as go oxford circuit have this county within the compass of their commission . manufactures . caps . these were the most ancient , general , warm , and profitable coverings of mens heads in this island . it is worth our pains to observe the tenderness of our kings to preserve the trade of cap-making , and what long and strong strugling our state had to keep up the using thereof , so many * thousands of people being maintained thereby in the land , especially before the invention of fulling-mills , all caps before that time being wrought , beaten , and thickned by the hands and feet of men , till those mills as they eased many of their labour , outed more of their livelihood . thus ingenious inventions conducing to the compendious making of commodities , though profitable to private persons , may not always be gainful to the publick , to which what employes most , is most advantageous , as capping anciently set fi●…teen distinct callings on work , as they are reckoned up in the * statute , . carders . . spinners . . knitters . . parters of wooll . . forsers . . thickers . . dressers . . walkers . . dy●…rs . . battellers . . shearers . . pr●…ers . . edgers . . liners . . band-makers . and other exercises . no wonder then if so many statutes were enacted in parliaments , to encourage this handicraft , as by the ensuing catàlogue will appear . . anno . of edward the fourth cap. . that none thicken any cap or bonnet in any fulling-mill , upon pain to forfeit forty shillings . . anno . of henry the eighth , cap. . that no caps or hats ready wrought should be brought from beyond the seas , upon the forfeiture of fourty shillings . yet because notwithstanding this statute , some still presumed to import forraign wares , it was enacted , . anno . of henry the eighth , cap. . that such outlandish hats should be sold at such low prices as are specified in the statute , meerly to deter the merchant from importing them , because such their cheapness that they would turn to no accompt . . anno . of edward the sixth , cap. . fulling-mills beginning now to take footing in england , the statute made the of edward the fourth was revived , to stand and remain in full force , strength and effect . . anno . of queen elizabeth , cap. . fulling-mills still finding many to favour them , the pains and profit of cap-making was equally divided betwixt the mills and the cap-makers , it being enacted , that no cap should be thicked or fulled in any mill , untill the same had first been well scoured and closed upon the bank , and half footed at least upon the foot-stock . . lastly , to keep up the usage of caps , it was enacted the . of queen eliz. cap. . that they should be worn by all persons ( some of worship and quality excepted ) on sabboth and holy-days , on the pain of forfeiting ten groats for omission thereof . but it seems nothing but hats would fit the heads ( or humors rather ) of the english , as fancied by them fitter to fence their fair faces , from the injury of wind and weather , so that the of queen elizabeth this statute was repealed . yea , the cap accounted by the romans an emblem of liberty , is esteemed by the english ( except faulconers and hunters ) a badge of servitude , though very useful in themselves , and the ensign of constancy , because not discomposed , but retaining their fashion , in what form soever they be crouded . the best caps were formerly made at monmouth , where the cappers chappel doth still remain , being better carved and gilded than any other part of the church . but on the occasion of a great plague hapning in this town , the trade was some years since removed hence to beaudly in worcester-shire , yet so that they are called monmouth caps unto this day . thus this town retains , though not the profit , the credit of capping , and seeing the child still keeps the mothers name , there is some hope in due time she may return unto her . all i will adde is this , if at this day the phrase of wearing a monmouth cap be taken in a bad acception , i hope the inhabitants of that town will endeavour to disprove the occasion thereof . saints . saint amphibalus a citizen of carlion . see the saints in hereford shire . saint aaron was a wealthy citizen of carlion in this county , who for the testimony of the christian faith , was martyred under the tyrant emperor dioclesian . by the way we may observe the names of the three first british martyrs as to their language . . alban of latine originall . . amphibalus   greek   . aaron .   hebrew   it seems that the christian britons at the font quitted their native names as barbarous , and imposed on their children those of the learned languages . this aaron was martyred , anno dom. . saint julius . it is pity to part so fast friends , both being citizens of carlion . yea , they were lovely in their lives , and in their deaths they were not divided , both suffering martyrdom together , and therefore like philip and jacob one day is assigned to their memories in the kalendar . nor must i forget how carlion the place of their aboad , though now a small town , was once a great city stretching so far o●… both sides of the river , that * saint julians ( a house of late of sir william herberts ) was sometimes within the city , though now about a mile south-west thereof , being a church dedicated anciently to the memory of this saint julius . cardinals . geffery of monmouth is by * some very firmly avouched to have been created a cardinal , but by what pope , and with what title uncertain ; but my worthy * author justly suspecteth the truth hereof ; alledging that popes in that age advanced few forraigners at so great a distance to that title , except their merits to the see of rome ( which appears not to this jeffery ) were very great . let me adde , that it is improbable so much honour should be done unto him whilest living , who was so solemnly disgraced after his death ; whose books ( extant in his life ) were afterwards by the court of rome publickly prohibited . see him therefore in this shire under the title of writers . john of monmouth , so called from the place of his nativity , d. d. and canon of lincoln , was chosen anno . bishop of landaff . the manner whereof was remarkable , for when robert kilwarby complained to pope celestine , how that cathedral had been for seven years without a bishop ; ( caused either by the troublesomness of those times , or the exility of revenue thereof ) his holiness remitted his election wholly to the discretion of this arch-bishop , to conferre that vacant see on whomsoever he pleased . the arch-bishop knowing all eyes intent on his integrity herein , resolved on a welsh-man by his birth ( as most proper for , and acceptable in the place ) and on one of merit for the function . both qualifications met in this john of monmouth , as british by his birth and alliance , and charactered to be doctus & pius theologus . one of his * successors in that bishoprick acknowledgeth that he was multimodis sedi suae benefactor , and more particularly , that he procured the rectory of newland in the forrest of dean to be appropriated thereunto . but one bishop [ anthony kitchin by name ] more unlanded landaff in one , than all his predecessors endowed it in four hundred years . this john dying april . . was buried in saint maries chappel , whose epitaph in french is hardly legible at this day on his marble monument . walter cantilupe was son to william [ the elder ] lord cantilupe , whose prime residence was at abergavennie in this county . one of high birth , higher preferment ( made by king henry the third , bishop of worcester ) and highest spirit . in his time the popes legate came into england , and complained of m●…ny clergy-men , keeping their livings against the canons , intending either to force such irregular incumbents into avoydance , ( so to make room for the popes favourites ) or else to compound for their continuance at his arbitrary price . but our walter would not yield to such extortion . indeed he was one of a keene nature , and his two-edged spirit did cut on both sides , against the pope . the king. telling rusland his legate , coming hither . that he would preferre to be hang'd on the * gallows , rather than ever consent to such expilation of the church . siding with the barons , he encouraged them in their civil warres , promising heaven for their reward , though this doctrine cost him an excommunication from the pope . lying on his death-bed he was touched with true * remorse for his disloyalty , and upon his desire obtained absolution . he died february the fifth , . whom i behold as uncle unto thomas cantilupe the sainted bishop of hereford . souldiers . richard de clare was born ( as from all concentred probabilities may be conjectured ) at strigule-castle in this county , and had the title of earl of strigule and pembroke . he was otherwise surnamed strongbow , from drawing so strong a bow , and had brachia projectissima , saith my * author ; though i can hardly believe that reacher , which another writeth of him , that † with the palms of his hands he could touch his knees , though he stood up right . more appliable to him is the expression of * tully , nihil egit levi brachio , being a person of effectual performance . it hapned that mac murugh lord of leinster , in the year of our lord . being expelled his territory for several tyrannies , by the lords of meth and conaght , repaired to our king henry the second , and invited him to invade ireland . but that politick king , fearing , if failing in success , to forfeit the reputation of his discretion , would not engage in the design , but permitted such subjects of his , who had a mind militare propriis stipendiis , to adventure themselves therein . amongst these richard strongbow was the principal , going over into ireland with twelve hundred men , too great for an earls train , yet too little for a generals army , to make a national invasion ; yet so great his success , that in a short time he prossessed himself of the ports of leinster and mounster , with large lands belonging thereunto ; insomuch that king henry grew jealous of his greatness , remanded him home , and commanded him to surrender his acquests into his hands , which done , he received them again by re-grant from the king , save that henry reserved the city of dublin for himself . this strongbow is he who is commonly called domitor hiberniae , the tamer of ireland ; though the natives thereof then , and many hundred years after , paid rather ●…erbal submission , than real obedience to our english kings . yea , some of their great lords had both the power and title of kings in their respective territories , witness the preface in the commission , whereby king henry the second made william fitz. adelme his lieutenant of ireland ; archiepiscopis , episcopis , regibus , comitibus , baronibus , & omnibus fidelibus suis in hibernia , salutem . where kings are postposed to bishops , which speaketh them royolets by their own ambition , and by no solemn inauguration . this earl richard died at dublin . and lieth buried in trinity church therein . sir roger williams born of an ancient family at penrosse in this county , was first a souldier of fortune under duke d'alva , and afterwards successfully served queen elizabeth , having no fault , save somewhat over-free and forward to fight . when a spanish captain challenged sir john norris to fight a single combat ( which was beneath him to accept , because a general ) this roger undertook the don. and after they had fought some time ( both * armies beholding them ) without any hurt , they pledged each other a deep ●…raught of wine , and so friendly departed . another time at midnight he assaulted the camp of the prince of parma , nigh venloe , slew some of the enemies , and * pierced to the tent of the general , as highly blamed by some for rashness , as commended by others for his valour . he bravely defended slufe , whilest any hope of help . william herbert , earl of pembroke , with sir richard herbert his brother , were both undoubtedly born in this county ; but whether or no at ragland castle , is uncertain . both valiant men , and as fast friends to king edward the fourth , as professed foes to richard nevil earl of warwick . they gave the last and clearest evidence hereof in the battel of banbury , where we find it reported , that these two leading the army of the welsh , with their poll-axes , twice made way through the battel o●… the northern men ( which sided with king henry the sixth ) without any mortal wound . there passeth a tradition in the noble family of the herberts of chierbury , that this sir richard their ancestor slew that day one hundred and forty men with his own hands , which if done in charging , some censure as an act of impossibility ; if after a rout in an execution , as a deed of cruelty . but others defend both truth and courage therein , as done in passing and repassing through the army . indeed guns were and were not in fashion in that age , used sometimes in sieges , but never in field service ; and next the gun , the poll-ax was the mortal weapon , especially in such a dead han●… as this knight had , with which quot icti , tot occisi . he is reported also to be of a giants stature , the peg being extant in mountgomery castle , whereon he used to hang his hat at dinner , which no man of an ordinary height can reach with his hand at this day . however both these brave brethren , circumvented with the subtilty of their foes ( odds at any time may be bet on the side of treachery against valour ) were brought to banbury , beheaded and buried , the earl at tinterne and sir richard at abergaveny in this county . writers . jeffrey of monmouth was born in , and named from , monmouth . he was also called ap arthur , from his father , ( as i suppose ) though others * say , because he wrote so much of king arthur ; but by the same propor●…ion homer may be termed achillides , and virgil the son of aeneas . yea , this jeffrey , by an ancienter title might be sirnamed ap bruit , whose story he asserteth . he translated and compiled the various british authors into one volume . i am not so much moved at william newbourough , calling this his book ridicula sigmenta , as that giraldus cambrensis his countryman , and ( as i may say ) con-sub-temporary , should term it fabulosam historiam . indeed he hath many things from the british . bards , which though improbable , are not ipso facto untrue . we know herodotus , nick-named by some pater fabularum , is by others acknowledged to be pater historiarum . the truth is , that both novelants and antiquaries must be content with many falshoods , the one taking reports at the first rebound , before come to ; the other raking them out of the dust , when past their perfection . others object , that he is too hyperbolical in praising his own countrey : a catching disease , seeing livy mounts italy to the skyes , and all other authors respectively ; and why should that be mortal in our monmouth , what is but venial in others ? and if he be guilty in mis-timing of actions , he is not the onely historian without company in that particular . however on the occasion of the premisses , his book is prohibited by his holiness , whilst the lying legend is permitted to be read without controul : thus rome loves questuosa , non inutilia figmenta , falshoods whereby she may gain . some conceive it to be his greatest fault , that he so praiseth the ancient church in britain , making it independent from the see of rome , before austin the monk came hither . one maketh him a cardinal , which is improbable , whilest it is more certain that he was bishop of st. asaph , and flourished anno . thomas of * monmouth was probably born , certainly bred and brought up in the chief town of this county . nor doth it move me to the contrary , because pits calls him an englishman , monmouth in that age being a frontier garrison , peopled with english inhabitants . it happened at this time many jews lived in norwich , where their habitation was called * abrahams hall , though therein not practising the piety of that worthy patriarch . he , out of conformity to gods command , sacrificed his one and onely son ; they , contrary to his will in his word ; crucified the child of another , william by name . his sepulchre was afterwards famed for many miracles , whereof this thomas wrote an history , and dedicated it to william de turbes , bishop of norwich , though he lived above six score miles from the place of those strange performances : but probably the farther the better , major è longinquo reverencia , and miracles are safest reported , and soonest believed at some competent distance . he flourished anno . under king henry the second . benefactors to the publick . henry plantagenet , first duke of lancaster , was born in monmouth castle , the chief seat of his barony . he is commonly sirnamed * de torto collo , or the wry-neck , and by others the * good duke of lancaster , by which name we entitle him , it being fitter to call men from what was to be praised , than what to be p●…tied in them ; not from their natural defects , but moral perfections . his bounty commends him to our mention in this place , being head of the guild of corpus-christi in cambridge , and the first founder of a college so called in that universi●…y . indeed the land was but little he conferred thereon , but great the countenance of so eminent a person in procuring and setling their mortmaine . he dyed in the year of our lord , . and was buried in the collegiate church at leicester , which he founded . blanch his onely daughter which had issue , was married to john of gaunt duke of lancaster . since the reformation . william johnes was a native of the town of monmouth , a person whose estate was very considerable in several respects , viz. in . his emptiness , being forced out of monmouth , for not being able to pay ten groats : as the late * recorder of that corporation hath informed me . how had he been undone , if he had not been undone ? . his filling , flying to london , he became first a porter , and then ( his brains being better than his back ) a factour , and going over to hamborough , by his industry and ingenuity made such a vent for welsh cottons , that what he found drugs at home , he left dainties beyond sea. . his refunding , founding a fair school-house in the place of his nativity , allowing fifty pounds yearly for the master , thirty for the usher , with one hundred marks salary to a lecturer . besides , a stately almes-house for twenty poor folk , each of them having two rooms and a garden , with half a crown a week , besides other conveniences . all which his * benefactions , and many more , he by will submitted to the over-sight of the honourable company of haberdashers in london , who at this day right worthily discharge their trust herein . he dyed anno dom. — . memorable persons . william evans was born in this county , and may justly be accounted the giant of our age for his stature , being full two yards and an half in height : he was porter to king charles the first , succeeding walter persons in his place , and exceeding him two inches in height , but far beneath him in an equal proportion of body ; for he was not onely what the latines call compernis , knocking his knees together , and going out squalling with his feet , but also haulted a little ; yet made he a shift to dance in an antimask at court , where he drew little jeffrey the dwarf out of his pocket , first to the wonder , then to the laughter , of the beholders . he dyed anno dom. . . sheriffs . this was made a shire by act of parliament in the . year of king henry the eight , but it seems not solemnly setled till five years after . name . place . armes . hen. viii .     anno.     car. herbert , ar .   per pale , azure and gules , lions rampant . arg. walt. herbert ar . ut prius   walt. ap robert , ar     hen. lewis , ar .     re. ap howel , ar .   gules , a lion rampant gardant , arg. io. hen. lewis , ar .     anth. welsh , ar .   azure , six mullets , , , . or. edw. vi.     anno     tho. ap morgan , ar lanterrā or , a griffin segreant , sab. car. herbert , mil. ut prius   will. morgan , mil. ut prius   will. herbert , ar . ut prius   walt. herbert , ar . ut prius   will. herbert , ar . ut prius   mar. reg.     anno     anth. welsh , ar . ut prius   walt. ap robert     will. joh. thomas     roul . morgan , ar . ut prius   hen. lewis , ar .     tho. morgan , mil. ut prius   eliz. reg.     anno     tho. herbert , ar . ut prius   geo. ia●…es , ar .     rog. williams     will. herbert . colebrok   will. herbert st. julian   will. morgan , ar . tredeger ut prius . ioh. henry kemis   vert , on a cheveron , or , pheons , sable . wil. ioh. ap roger. ut prius   will. morgan , ar .     christ. welsh , ar . ut prius   row. morgan , ar . ut prius   will. herbert ut prius   tho. herbert ut prius   will. morgan , ar . ut prius   milo morgan ut prius   row. kemis , ar . ut prius   christ. welsh , ar . ut prius   rich. morgan ut prius   wil. ioh. ap roger   per pale , azure and gules . lions rampant , arg. will. lewes , ar .     will. herbert , mil. utprius   tho. morgan , ar . ut prius   edw. morgan , ar . ut prius   edw. morgan , ar . ut prius   mat. herbert , ar . ut prius   will. lewes , ar . ut prius   rich. morgan , ar . ut prius   io. iones , ar .   sab. a stag standing at gaze , arg. attired and unguled , or. hen. morgan ut prius   hen. herbert , ar . ut prius   nich. herbert , ar . ut prius   edw. lewis , ar , ut prius   wal●… . vaughan , ar     row. morgan , ●…r . ut prius   vvalt . iones , ar . ut prius   math. herbert , ar . ut prius   mat. prichard , ar .   sable , a lyon rampant , arg. andr. morgan , ar . ut prius   hen. herbert , ar . ut prius   vvill. morgan , ar ut prius   hen. billing 〈◊〉     rich. kemis , ar . ut prius   edw. kemis , ar . ut prius   edw. morgan , ar . ut prius   hen. morgan , ar . ut prius   ioh. gainsford , ar .     jacob .     anno     ioh. gainsford , ar .     row. vvilliams , ar     valen. prichard , ar ut prius   vvill. price , ar .     vvalt . mountague   argent , three fusils in fess , gules , a border , sable . car. iones , ar . ut prius   hen. lewis , ar .     vvill. ramlyns , ar     vvil. morgan . mil. ut prius   rog. batherne , ar .     egid. morgan , ar . ut prius   vvill. iones , ar . ut prius   tho. vanne . ar .     tho. morgan , ar . ut prius   geo. milbouru , ar .   gules , a cheveron betwixt three escalops , arg. vvill. hughes , ar .     tho. ●…ocks , ar .     vvalt . aldey , ar .     rob. iones , ar . ut prius   vvill. vvalter , ar .     david lewis , ar .     ed. morgan , ar . ut prius   caro . i.     anno     car. somerset , ar .     car. vvilliams , m.     vvill. keymis , ar . ut prius   vvill. thomas , ar .     ioh. vvalter , ar .     vvill. baker , ar .     nich. keymeis , ar . ut prius   nich. arnold , ar .     lodo. vanne , ar .     geo. milborne , ar . ut prius   hen. probert , ar .     tho. morgan , ar . ut prius   vvill. herbert , ar . ut prius   nich. moor , ar .     the farewell . i understand that in * january . part of this county which they call the moore , sustained a great loss by the breaking in of the severn sea , caused by a violent south-west wind , continuing for three dayes together : i heartily desire the inhabitants thereof may for the future be secured from all such dangerous inundations ▪ ( water being a good servant but bad master ) by his providence , who bindeth the sea in a girdle of sands , and saith to the waves thereof , thus far shall ye go and no further . pembroke-shire is surrounded on all sides with the sea , save on the north-east , where it boundeth on cardigan , and east where it butteth on carmarthen-shire . a county abounding with all things necessary for mans livelihood ; and the east part thereof is the pleasantest place in all vvales , which i durst not have said for fear of offence , had not * giraldus their own country-man affirmed it . nor is it less happy in sea than in land , affording plenty of fish , especially about tenby , therefore commonly called tenby-y-piscoid ; which i rather observe for the vicinity of the british piscoid , with the latine piscosus , for fishfull , though never any pretended an affinity between the two languages . a part of this country is peopled by flemmings , placed there by king henry the first , who was no less politick than charitable therein . for , such flemmings being driven out of their own country , by an irruption of the ocean , were fixed here to defend the land given them against the welsh , and their country is called little england beyond wales . this mindeth me of a passage betwixt a welsh and english man , the former boasting wales in all respects beyond england ; to whom the other returned , he had heard of an england beyond wales , but never of a wales beyond england . natural commodities . faulcons . very good are bred in this county of that kind , they call peregrines , which very name speaks them to be no indeginae , but forraigners , at first lighting here by some casualty : king henry the second passing hence into ireland , cast off a norway goshawk at one of these : but the gos-hawk taken at the source by the faulcon , soon fell down at the kings foot ; which performance in this ramage , * made him yearly afterward , send hither for eyesses . these hawkes aeries ( not so called from building in the air , but from the french word aire an egge ) are many in the rocks in this shire . buildings . for a sacred structure , the cathedral of saint david is most eminent , began by bishop peter in the raign of king john , and finished by his successors ; though , having never seen it , i can say little thereof . but in one respect , the roof thereof is higher than any in england , and as high as any in europe , if the ancient absolute & independent jurisdiction thereof be considered , thus stated by an authentick * author , episcopi walliae à menevensi antistite sunt consecrati , & ipse similiter ab aliis tanquam suffraganeis est consecratus , nulla penitus alii ecclesiae facta professione vel subjectione . the generality of which words must be construed to have reference , as well to rome as to canterbury ; saint davids acknowledging subjection to neither , till the reign of king henry the first . princes . henry tuthar , son to edmund earl of richmond , and margaret his lady , was born at * pembroke in this county , anno dom. — in the reign of king henry the sixth , he was bred a child at court , when a young man , he lived an exile in france , where he so learned to live of a little , that he contracted a habit of frugality , which he did not depose till the day of his death . having vanquished king richard the third , in the battel of bosorsth , and married elizabeth eldest daughter to king edward the fourth , he reigned king of england by the name of henry the seventh . he is generally esteemed the wisest of our english kings , and yet many conceive , that the lord bacon writing his life , made him much wiser than he was , picking more prudence out of his actions , than the king himself was privy to therein , and not content to allow him politick , endeavoured to make him policy it self . yet many thi●…k h●…s judgemen●… 〈◊〉 him , when refusing the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of columbus , for the discovery of america , who might therein have made a secret adven●…e , without any prejudice to the r●…putation of his wisdom . but such his wa●…ss , he would not tamper with costly cont●…s , though never ●…o probable to be gainful ; nor would he hazard a hook of silver to catch a fish of gold. he was the first king , who secretly sought to aba●…e the formidable greatness ( the parent of many former rebellions ) in the english ●…earage , lessening their dependencies , countena●…cing the commons , and encouraging the yeomandry , with provisions against depopulations . however ●…ereby he did not free his successors from fear , but only exchanged their care , making the commons ( who because more numerous , less manageble ) more absolute and able in time to con●…est with soveraignty . he survived his queen , by whom he had the true title to the crown , about five years . some will say , that all that time he was king only by the courtesie of england , which i am sure he was loth to acknowledge . others say he held the crown by conquest , which his subjects were as unwilling to confess . but let none dispute how h●… h●…ld , seeing he held it , having pope , parliament , power , purse , success , and some shadow of succession on his side . his greatest fault was , grinding his subjects with grievous exactions , he was most magnificent in those structures he hath left to posterity . amongst w●…ich , his ●…evotion to god is most seen in two chappels , the one at cambridge , the other at westminster ; his charity to the poor in the hospital of the savoy ; his magnificence to himself in his own monument of guilded copper ; and his vanity to the world in building a ship called the great harry , of equal cost , saith some , with his chappel , which asterwards * sunk into the sea , and vanished away in a moment . he much imployed bishops in his service , finding them honest and able . and here i request the judicious and learned reader to help me at a dead li●… , being posed with this passage written in his life , by the lord verulam . he did use to raise bishops by steps , that he might not lose the profits of the first fruits , which by that course of gradation was multiplied . now , i humbly conceive , that the first fruits ( in the common acception of the word ) were in that age paid to the pope , and would fain be informed , what by-firstfruits these were , the emolument whereof accrued to the crown . this politick king at his palace of richmond , april . . ended his life , and was buried in the magnificent chappel aforesaid . on the same token that he ordered by his last * will and testament , that none save such of the blood royal ( who should descend from his loyns ) should be buried in that place , straitly forbidding any other of what degree or quality soever , to be interred therein . but only the will of the king of heaven doth stand inviolable , whilest those of the most potent earthly princes are subject to be infringed . saints . justinian was a noble briton by birth , who with his own inheritance built a monastery in the island of ramsey in this county , where many monks lived happily under his discipline , until three of them , by the devils instigation , * slew this justinian , in ha●…red of his sanctity , about the year of christ , . his body was brought with great veneration to menevia , and there interred by saint david himself , and since much famed with [ supposed ] miracles . writers . giraldus cambrensis , whose sir-name , say some , was * fitz-girald , say others was † barry , and i believe the latter , because he saith so himself in his book , * de vita sua , and was born at tenby in this county . his father . his mother . william de barry an englishman . anga●…eth , the daughter of nesta , daughter of rhese prince of south-wales . he was nephew to david the second bishop of st. davids , by whom he was made arch-deacon of brecknock . he was wont to complain , that the english did not love him because his mother was a welsh-woman ; and the welsh did hate him because his father was an english-man ; though by his excellent writings he deserved of england well , of wales better , and of ireland best of all ; making a topographical description of all three : but acting in the last as a secretary under king * john , with great industry and expence . yea , he was a great traveller , as far as jerusalem it self , and wrote de mirabilibus terrae sanctae , so that he might be styled geraldus anglicus , hibernicus , hierosolymitanus , though it was his mind and modesty only to be cambrensis . one may justly wonder that having all dimensions requisite to preferment , his birth , broad acquaintance , deep learning , long life , ( living above seventy years ) he never attained to any considerable dignity . hear how betwixt grief and anger he expresseth him self concerning his ill success at court ; irreparabili damno duo ferè lustra consumens , nihil ab illis * preter inanes vexationes & 〈◊〉 veris promissa suscepi . indeed for a long timè no preferment was proffered him , above a beggerly bishoprick in ireland , and at last the see of s. davids was the highest place he attained . whilest some impute this to his planet : the malignant influence whereof hath blasted men of the most merit . pride : some men counting it their due for preferment to court them ; and that it is enough for them to recive , too much to reach after it . profitableness to be employed in meaner places . some having gotten an useful servant , love to wear him out in working , and ( as gardiners keep their hedges close cut , that they may spread the broader ) maintain them mean , that they may be the more industrious . giraldus himself tells us the true reason that he was ever beheld oculo novercali , because being a welsh-man by the surer side , and then such the antipathy of the english , they thought no good could come out of wales . sad , that so worthy a man should poenas dare patriae & matris suae . being at last ( as we have said ) made bishop of saint davids , he went to rome , and there stickled for an exemption of that his see from * canterbury , whereby he highly offended hubert archbishop of canterbury . but giraldus after long debates , being rather over-born with bribes , than over-come in cause , returned re infecta , died and was buried in his own cathedral , about the year . the farewell . i know not what better to wish this county , than that the marle ( a great fertilizer of barren ground ) which it affordeth , be daily encreased , ( especially since corn is in all probability likely to grow scarcer and scarcer ; ) that their land through gods blessing being put in heart therewith , may plentifully answer the desires of the husbandman , and hereafter repair the penury of this , with the abundance for many succeeding years . radnor-shire . radnor-shire , ( in british sire maiseveth ) in form three square , is bounded on the north-west with hereford-shire , and on the south side ( separated by the river wye ) with breckneck-shire , and on the north part thereof with montgomery-shire . nature may seem to have chequered this county , the east and south parts being fruitful , whilest the north and west thereof ( lying rough and uneven with mountains ) can hardly be bettered by the greatest pains and industry of the husband man. yet is it indifferently well stored with woods , and conveniently watered with running rivers , and in some places with standing meers . * mr. cambden telleth us , that there is a place therein termed melienith , ( from the mountains thereof being of a yellowish colour ) which stretcheth from offa dike unto the river wye , which cutteth overthwart the west corner of this shire , where meeting with some stones which impede its motion on a sudden , for want of ground to glide on , hath a violent downfall , which place is termed raihader gowy , that is , the fall or flood-gates of wye . * hereupon he supposeth it not improbable , that the english men forged that word for the name of this shire , terming it radnor-shire . princes . henry of monmouth , ( so called from that well known town wherein he was born ) hath his character fixed here , because formerly passed over in its proper place , through the posting speed of the press . he was son to king henry the fourth , ( by mary one of the daughters and heirs of humfrey de bohun earl of herefo●…d , and ) whom he succeeded on the throne ( being the fifth of that name ) and began his raign march . anno . he cannot be excused from extravagancies in his youth , seeing the king his father expelled him his council , ( substituting his younger brother the duke of clarence president in his steed ) for the same . yet as those bodies prove most healthful , which break out in their youth , so was his soul the sounder for venting it self in its younger days : for , no sooner was his father dead , but he reclaimed himself , and became a glory to his country , and a constant terror to his enemies . yea , he banished all his idle companions from court , allowing them a competency for their subsistence . when the lord chiefe justice ( who had secured him when prince , for striking him for the commitment of some of his lewd companions ) begg'd his pardon for the same , he not only forgave him , but rewarded his justice , for distributing it without fear or partiality . in his raign a supplication was preferred , that the temporal lands given to pious uses , but abusively spent , might have been seized to the king. this was wisely awarded by chichley arch-bishop of canterbury , by putting the king on the design of recovering france . yea , this king by his valour reduced charles the sixth king of france , to such a condition , that he in a manner resigned his kingdom into his hand . and here the french men found him as good ( or rather worse ) as his promise , which he made to the dolphin ( who sent him a barrel of paris tennis-balls ) sending such english balls , that they proved to their great loss . he died at boys s. vincent in france , the last day of august , anno . and was brought over with great solemnity , and interred in westminster abby . prelates . elias de radnor . guilielmus de radnor . ijoyn them together for three reasons ; first , because natives of the same town , understand it old radnor , the new town of that name being built probably since their decease . secondly , because bishops of the same see , landaff . thirdly , because eminent , being eminent for nothing , the names and dates of their deaths ( the one may . . the other june the . . ) being all that learned antiquary and their successour , * bishop godwin , could recover of their memories , which dishear●…eth me from ●…arther enquiry after them . for , let them never look for a crop , who sow that ground , which so skilful an husband-man thought fit to lie fallow . the farewell . it much affected me ( and i believe all others whose hearts are of flesh and blood ) what i read in an * author concerning the rigorous laws imposed on the observation of the welsh . for when owen glyndower-dwy ( inveigled by some well-skilled in merlins prophesies , that the time was come , wherein the britains through his assistance should recover their ancient freedom and liberty ) raised a rebellion , making war upon the earl of march ( the heir apparent both to the crown of england and principality of wales ) king henry the fourth ( inraged at his proceedings ) enacted these ensuing laws . first , that no welshman should purchase lands , or be chosen citizen or burgess of any city , borough , or market town , nor be received into any office of mayor , bayliff , chamberlaine , &c. or to be of the councel of any town , or to bear armour within any city . besides that , if any welsh-man should impeach , or sue an englishman , it was ordained , he should not be convicted , unless by the judgment of english justices , verdict of english burgesses , or by the inquest of the english boroughs where the suits lay : yea , that all english burgesses who married welsh women should be disfranchised of their liberties . no congregation or council was permitted to the welsh-men , but by licence of the chief officers of the same seig●…ory , and in the presence of the same officers . that no victuals should be brought into walls , unless by the especial licence of the king and his council . that no welshmen shou●…d have any castle , fortress , or house of defence of his own , or any other m●…ns to keep . that no welsh-man should be made justice , chamberla●… , chancellor &c. of a castle , receivor , eschetor , &c. nor other officer or keeper o●…w records , & ●… nor of the council of any english lord. that no english man that in time to come should marry a welsh-woman be put in any office in wales , or in the marches o●… the same . now as i am heartily sorry that ever the welsh were bound to the observance of so rigorous laws , so am i truly glad , that at this day they are ( to the happiness both of england and wales ) freed from the same : yea , i shall constantly pray , that god would be pleased to grant us of the loins of our soveraign , one who may be born prince of the one , and ( after the [ though late ] decease of his majesty ) king of the other . finis . an alphabetical index to fuller's worthies of england . a. names . shire . page . st . aaron monm . robert abbot surr. george abbot surr. sir roger achley shrop. john acton middl. ralph acton ib. sir thomas adams shrop. william adams ib. william adams kent adam de marisco somer . st. adelme wilt. pope adrian iv. hertf. — agelnoth kent william alabaster suff. ●… alan de morton berk. albericus de veer bedf. b alan of lynne norf. flaccus albinus , alias alcuinus york . king alfred berk. alphred of beverly york . henry de aldecheleia staff. john alcock york . albricius of lond. robert aldricke bucks william alley ib. william aldersea ches . st. alride cumb. st. alkmund derb. james altham essex william alton hant. st. alban hertf. st. alnulphus bedf. c william alan lanc. edward allin lond. rose allin essex bertram fitz-allin linc. thomas allin staff. john amersham buck. st. amphibalus monm . — anderton lanc. sir edmund anderson linc. — anderson northumb. lancelot andrewes lond. thomas andrewes northamp . richardus anglicus lond. laurentius anglicus ib. anne , d. to king charles westm. richard angervile suff. henry d'anvers wilt. sir edmund appleby leicest . thomas de appleby westmorl . roger de appleby ibid.   sir simon archer warw. william armyne linc. david archidiaconus bedf. king arthur cornw. prince arthue hant. john arundle cornw.     , thomas arundell suss. st. asaph flint . roger ascham york . john ashburnham surrey thomas askine berk. william ascough linc. anne askewe ib. thomas ashbourne derby sir thomas de ashton lanc. john de aston staff. sir walter aston ib. — atwell cornw. edmund audley staff. sir thomas audley essex james lord audley devon. john aylmer norf. b. names . shire . page . richard badew essex john badby lond. sir francis bacon westmin . robert bacon oxf. sir nicholas bacon suff. , ralph baines york . john baconthorpe norf. william baitman norw . sir richard baker oxf. john bale suff. thomas bagnols staff. christopher bambridge westmorl . bankinus londin . lond. sir john banks cumb. john ball oxf. john bancroft ib. richard bancroft lanc. ralph baldock her●…f . sir paul bannyng essex hugo de balsham camb. amias bamfeild devon. richard barnes lanc. william barry kent thomas barrington essex john barnston chesh. john barkham devon. juliana barnes lond. richard de barking essex adam of barking ib. thomas barret ib. a john barret norf. john barnet hertf. edward bash ib. richard de baskervill heref. sir james baskervill ib. john barningham suff. herbert de basham sussex william barlow ib. salephilax the bard wales john of basingsloke hant. b valentine barret kent john basket berk. thomas basket dorces . ●… john basket wilt. abbot of battle sussex walter de baud simon & alii essex james baynam glocest. richard basset bedf. john basset cornw. thomas beckington somers . thomas becket lond. — bede durham sir thomas beigney devon. philip de la beach berk. margaret beaufort bedf. anne beauchamp ox●… . richard beauchamp berk.   & worc. sir edward bellingham westmorl . thomas bell glocest. — beavois hant. sir robert bellknap leicest . richard belgrave ib. sir henry bellasis york john bellasis ibid.   st. beno flint . thomas benion somers . thomas bendish essex thomas bentham york robert bennet berk. thomas berkley gloc. gilbert berkeley norf. dame katherine berkeley gloc. bertram fitz-allen linc. st. bertelin staff. peregrin berty linc. sir richard de la bere heref. alphred of beverly york st. john of beverly ib. william bischop warw. benedict . biscop york . thomas bickely buck. sir richard bingham dors. john bird warw. thomas bilson hant. sir francis bigot york . john of birlington , alias bridlington ib. sir thomas de billing northamp . philip biss som. john bloxham linc. michael blaunpayn corn. peter blundell dev. cornelius bongy warw. utred bolton wales robert bolton lanc. john boise suff. david boyse wales dr. john bois kent sir william boleyn ib. queen anne bollen lond. sir godfrey bollen norf edward bonner , alias savage worc. william bowyer staff. william booth chesh. laurence booth ibid.   john booth ib. edward bone cornw. wenfr . boniface devon. sir george bowes york . henry bourchier essex john bourchier hertf. thomas bourchier essex william of bottlesham cambr. andrew borde lond. philip bottiller essex — boso hertf. john bray cornw. sir john bramston essex robert braybrook northamp ▪ henry de braybrook bedf. robert de braybrook ibid.   henry bradshaw ches . sir henry bradshaw ib. robert brassy ib. john de bradfeild berk. john of bridlington , alias birlington — york . a william breton wales walter brute ib. sir henry bromfleet york . gualo britannus wales hugh broughton ib. richard broughton hunt. b john briton , alias breton heref. nicholas breakspear hertf. william de brito kent sir richard brakenburgh ib. maurice bryyn essex giles de bruce breckn . john bradford lanc. sir thomas bromley staff. john bromley ibid.   sir thomas brumley shrop. william briewere berk. sir john brewerton chesh. edward brerewood ib. william brewer devon. , fulco de breantee berk. walter bronscombe dev. ralph browning suff. sir robert brooke ib. sir david brooke somers . walter browne lond. william browne rutl. christopher browne ib. john browne ib. stephen browne northumb. matthew browne surr. thomas bradwardine suss. wulstan of braundsford worc. robert bristow ib. ralph of bristol somers . henry bright worc. william brightman nottingh . fulk de brent middl. edmund brudenell northamp . henry bullock berk. john buckingham buck. edward bulstrod ib. william burgoin devon. hubert de burgo kent thomas lord burgh , or borough linc. arthur bulkly anglesey ●… lancelot bulkly ib. sir ralph butler gloc. charles butler hant. sir thomas burge linc. henry burton staff. robert burton     william butler suff. william burton leic. robert burton ibid.   sir thomas burdet leic. john of bury suff. boston of bury linc. robert burnel shrop. henry burwash suss. john buckeridge wilt. nicholas byfeild warw. hub. de burozo kent c. names . shire . page . sir peter carew devon. nicholas carew surr. richard carew cornw. sir john cary devon. james cary ibid.   valentine cary northum . henry cary hertf. sir henry cary ibid.   john careless warw. robert can●…tus wilt. sir george calvert york . sir robert calvert ib. thomas castleford ib. caducanus wales gualt calenius ib. st. canock breckn . st. cadock ibid.   sir edward carne glamor . wal●…er cantilupe monm . giraldus cambrensis pemb●… . vinarius cap●…llanus norf. sir john cavendish suff. thomas cavendish ib. john cavendish ib. william caxton camb. sir hugh calvely chesh. john canon cumb. robert. epis. carliol . ib. edmund campian lond. sir robert catelin leic. john caius norf. sir philip calthrope ib. sir william capell suff. richard capell gloc. arthur capell hertf. nathaniel carpenter devon. john carpenter gloc. sir william catesby northamp . george garleton northumb. thomas cantilupe heref. osburn of canterbury kent thomas car●…wright hertf. thomas carden surr. william cecill linc. jane cecill ib. david cecill northamp . sir thomas cecill ib. david cerington wilt. cecily daugh. to edw. iv. westmin . sir julius cesar middl. king charles i. kent king charles ii. westmin . witt. chappel notting . humphry chetham lanc. sir thomas chaleton middl. maurice chamner lond. henry chichely northamp . , & richard chichester devon. sir arthur chichester ibid. robert chichester ibid. roger of chester chesh. richard chamond cornw. william chadderton chesh. sir hugh cholml●…y ibid. lawrence chaderton lane. john de chesill essex john christopherson lanc. thomas cheyney kent will●…am cheyney ibid. sir fr●…ncis ch●…ney buck. sir john che●…ke camb. thomas chase bedf. peter chapman berk. thomas chaucer ibid. jeffrey chaucer oxf. william chillingworth ibid. — child devon. john christmas ess●…x john chedworth gloc. thomas charnock kent david of chirbury shrop. thomas church-yard ibid. sir john champneys som. thomas chune suss. john chylmarke w●…lt . sir roger cholmley york . sir william chauncey northamp sir dudley charlton oxf. roger the cistercian devon. francis clearke bedf. william clarke oxf. george clearke ●…anc . sir john clarke northamp . richard de clare monm . richard clough flint . st. clintanke breck . francis cl●…fford york . george clifford ibid. anne clifford wesimor . richard clarke dors. osbern claudian gloc. katherine clyvedon ibid. sir jervase clifton camb. richard clifford kent john cleaveland leic. hugh clopton warw. elizabeth clare suff. nicholas close westmorl . alice coberly wilt. sir francis cottington ibid. hugh coren , alias curwen westmor . john comin , alias cumin worcest . sir thomas coventry ibid. walter of coventry warw. vincent of coventry ibid.   william of coventry     roger ep. covent . & litch . berk. walt. de constantiis wales st. congellus ; alias comgallus flint . constantine g. essex william coberly wilt. sir edward conway warw. miles coverdale york . sir william compton worc. — cocke devon. henry cocke hertf. sir edward coke norf.   & buck. sir john cooke derb. george cooke ibid. sir thomas cooke suff. sir anthony cooke essex john cowell devon. roger comes ibid. dr. john cosen durh. dr. richard cosen ibid. thomas cole berk. sir john cokeyn bedf. richard cox bucks . samuel collins ibid. ralph of cogshall essex henry cotton hants . sir robert cotton hunting . sir rowland cotton shrop. william cotton lond. t●…omas cotton camb. william collet ibid. john of cornwa●… cornw. godfrey of cornwall ibid.   sir john cornwall shr●…p . brian cornwall staff. richard conwail heref. thomas conisby hertf●… sir thomas conisby heref. john courcy somers . john collington ibid. thomas coriat somers . william coppinger suff. sir william co d●…ll ibid. ●… eleanor cobham surr. richard corbet ibid. john col●…on norf john coupeland northumb. richard courtney devon. william courtney ibid. peter courtney ibid. richard crackanthorp cumb. sir randall crew chesh. randall crew ibid. william crew ibid. ibid thomas crofts suff. james cranford warw. lyonel c●…anfeild lond. sir james crofts heref. thomas cranley surr. thomas cranmer nott. robert crowley northamp . roger of crowland linc. thomas cromwell surr. sir oliver cromwell hunt. thomas cromwell cambr. sir henry cromwell ibid. sir george crooke buck. john croke ibid. john crane camb. william crowmer kent ralph cudworth lanc. henry cuffe somers . bartholomew culie leic. thomas curson lond. john curd northamp . sir john cuts cambr. roger curson derb. john cut-cliffe devon. hugh curwen , alias coren westmor . john cumin , alias comin worc. d. names . shire . page . michael dalton camb. sir robert dallington northamp . sir thomas dacres hertf. henry danvers wilt. mary dale somers . samuel daniel ibid. walter daniel york . george day shrop. william day     sir john darell berk. james davenant lond. sir humphrey davenport chesh. john damerell devon. john of darlington durh. robert darcy essex john davies heref. sir robert dennis devon. baldwin devonius ibid. sir edward denny hertf. robert devereux heref. walter devereux ibid.   & caermar . john dee lanc. john delves staff. simon dewes suff. david archidiaconus bedf. francis dillingham ibid. sir james dier somers . john digby warw. richard of devises wilt. john diggons hant. leonard digges kent . daniel dike hertf. jeremiah dike ibid.   nicholas dixon ibid. sir wolstan dixie hunting . sir robert dimock line . sir william doddington hants . robert dodford northamp . sir william dormer bedf. robert dormer bucks . thomas dorman ibid. john dod chesh. thomas dove lond. john doreward essex sir john doderidge devon. george downham chesh. john downham ibid. john donne lond. john douland westminst . edmund doubleday ibid. sir robert doyle oxf. sir william druery suff. drugo drury norf. thomas drax warw. michael drayton ibid. john driton sussex john drusius hants . sir francis drake devon. st. dunstan somers . william dudley staff. edmund dudley ibid. john dudley ibid. ▪ sir robert dudley surr. augustin dudley northamp . john of dunstable bedf. arthur ducke devon. brian duppa kent james duport leic. richard dugard worc. e. names . shire . page . robert eaglesfield cumberl . adam de easton heref. st. ealphage kent john easday ibid. ealread of rievaulx york . st. ebba northumb. thomas ecklestone chesh. king edward iii. berk. edward son to king edgar dorset . king edward i. westmin . king edward iv. caernar . st. edward the confessor oxf. king edward v. westmin . king edward vi. middl. edward son to edward iii. oxf. edward son to king richard iii. york . edward son to king henry vi. westmin . st. edmund berk.   & suff. edmund , son to king henry vii . kent edmund , son to king edward iii. hertf. edmund , son to king edward i. oxf. edmund of hadham hertf. thomas edwardston suff. sir clement edmunds shrop. sr. edwold oxf. st. edburgh hant.   & buck. thomas eden essex richard edgcomb devon. sir peter edgeombe cornw. st. edith wilt. william edendon ibid. john ede wales st. edilburge essex william egremont cumb. sir thomas egerton chesh. eleanor , daughter to king edward i. berk.   & hants . queen elisabeth kent elisabeth , daughter to king edward iv. westmin . elisabeth , daughter to king charles i. ibid. elisabeth , daughter to earl of clare suff. elisabeth , daughter to king edward i. flint . thomas of ely suff. hugh elio : somers . sir thomas eliot camb. nicholas of ely camb. humphry ely heref. st. elfred hunting . john of eltham kent bridget of eltham ibid.   john elryngton middl. elvodugus probus flint . sir richard empson northamp . wi●…liam englebert dorces . samson erderswick staff. john erghom york . william essex berk. henry de essex bedf. alexander of esseby somers . nicholas estwick northamp . ethelbert heref. st. ethelburgh essex sylvester de everton bedf. john eve●…sden cambr. hugh of evesham worc. elias of evesham   walter of evesham   walter eustathius york . marbod evan wales william evans monm . sir ralph evars , alias eure york . sir thomas exmew denb . william of exeter 〈◊〉 . sir simon eyre suff. f. names . shire . page . peter fabell middl. anthony faunt 〈◊〉 . robert fabian lond. john fastolfe norf. eustathius de fauconbridge york . guido de fairfax ibid. sir nicholas fairfax ibid. robert farrar caermar . sir jeffrey fenton notting . edward fenton ibid. roger fenton lanc. john fen somers . sir richard fenys oxf. daniel featly ibid. nichol●…s of fernham surr. john feckenham worc. haimo of feversham kent besil feriplace berk. ●… henry filmer ibid. sir anthony fitz-herbert derb. richard fishacre , alias 〈◊〉 devon. richard fishbourn hunt. simon fish kent john fisher leic.   & york . edward fines linc. sir moile finch kent sir henry finch ibid. sir john fineux ibid. ibid. bertram fitz-allin linc. robert floyd , alias fludd kent . richard fletcher kent giles fletcher ibid.   & lond. john 〈◊〉 northamp . fleta , or fleet lond. florence of worcester worc. william flowre camb. humphry foster berk. humphry forster ibid. humphry foster cumb. john de ford devon. john fowler somers . gilbert fo●…ot devon. robert foliot ibid. iaeid . sir henry fortescue ibid. sir john fortescue     sir adrian fortescue     edward fox gloc. richard fox linc. john fox ibid. martin fotherby ibid. william de folvil leic. john freeman northamp . ralph fresbourn northumb. st. frideswide oxf. valentine 〈◊〉 york . edward freese ibid. ibid. sir martin frobisher ibid. acceptus fruin suss. sir thomas frowicke 〈◊〉 . thomas frowicke ibid. william fulke lond. fu co de brean●…ee berk. stephen de fulbu●…ne camb. nicholas fuller hants . g. names . shire . page . william gascoigne bedf. thomas gascoigne york . sir william gascoigne ibid. sir john gates essex john de gatesden hertf. 〈◊〉 of gainsbo ough linc. simon of gaunt lond. henry of gaunt linc. harvis gadarn montg . thomas 〈◊〉 shrop.   stephen ga diner suff. christopher st. german lond. richard george essex sir humphrey gilbert ibid. william gilbert ibid. ibid. 〈◊〉 gilbert 〈◊〉 . gil●…ert of westminst . john gibbon som. g●…bert of sempringham linc. thomas gibson northumb. william gisford staff. gildas the wise somers . gildas the th wales bernard gilpin westmor . richard gilpin ibid. john giles 〈◊〉 . anthony gilby linc. giles de bruse breckn . giraldus cambrensis pembr . robert glover kent   & warw. john glover ibid. ibid. bartholomew glanvile norf. william glyn anglesey owen glendowerwye flint . robert of glocester gloc. richard duke of glocester cumb. edmund gourney norf. john goslin ibid. matthew gournay somers . francis godwin northam . thomas godwin berk. gabriel goodman denb . godfrey goodman ibid. katherine gowches hants . roger goad buck. thomas goad cambr. godfrey goldsborough ibid. sir francis godolphin cornw. 〈◊〉 john godard essex . nicholas gorrham hertf. james goldwell kent thomas goldwell     thomas goodrich linc. william gouge middl. george goring surr. john gower york .   & berk. william goldingham essex sir thomas gresham norf. henry greene northamp . anne greene oxf. ●… wil●…m grocirie somers . robert grosthead suff. sir f●…lke grevill warw. william de grenvil cornw. thomas granvil ibid. sir richard greenvil 〈◊〉 . henry grey be●…f . lord a●…thur grey buck. william g●…ey derby lord anthony grey durh. jane grey leicest . katharine grey     mary grey     john griffin wales john gregory euck. arthur gregory doro. edmund grindall cumb. john grandesson heref. richard of gravesend kent john gwent wales edmund guest york . john gwin berk. john gwillim heref. gualo britannus wales guido de mona anglesey h. names . shire . page . sir james hales kent thomas hale somers . — hales warw. alexander of hales gloe . thomas of hales ibid. richard hale hertf. edward hall lond. joseph hall leic. robert halam wilt. john of halifax , alias sacro bosco york . henry hammond surr. john hanvile oxf. james harrington rutl. sir john harrington somers . lord john harrington warw. sir robert harecourt berk. sir william harper bedf. walter haddon buck. john harman , alias vesty warw. john harley buck. richard hampole , alias role york . john harding ibid. richard hackluit heref. haimo of hithe kent haimo of feversham ibid. edward halsall lanc. william harvey kent . jeffery de harby leic. robert de harby ibid. meredith hanmer flint . william hastings leic. sir edward hastings     francis hastings ibid. sir edward harwood linc. job hartop ibid. thomas haslewood kent sir christopher hatton northamp . hugh hatton chesh. rawe hayes cornw. andrew de harcla cumb. elisabeth hardwicke derb. sir william hankford devon. edmund of haddam hertf. sir william hampton gloc. thomas hawkes essex sir john hawkewood ibid. samuel harsnet ibid. king henry i. york . king henry iii. hants . king henry iv. linc. king henry v. radn . king henry vi. berk. king henry vii . pembr . king henry viii . kent henry , son to king henry viii . suff. henry , son to king charles i. ibid. ibid. henry fitz-roy , son to k. henry viii . essex . henry bishop of winch. and card. angl. hunt. , . henrietta , daughter to king charles i. devon. charles herle cornw. st. herebert cumberl . sir william herle devon. george herbert montgom . edward herbert ibid. ibid. william herbert monm . sir anthony fitz herbert derb.   & gloc. st. helen essex roger of hereford heref. nicholas hereford wales martin heton lanc. john herdwick leic.   & york . nicholas heath lond. john heiwood ibid. sir john hewet northam . thomas hereningham essex julines herring montg . thomas hides berk. john of hide hants . , sir nicholas hide wilt. sir rowland hill shrop. haimo of hithe kent . ralph de hingham norf. sir oliver hingham ibid. john higham suff. sir robert hicham ibid. hilarius bishop of chichester surr. st. hilda york . alban hill wales sr. hildetha essex arthur hildersham cambr. sir john howard berk. thomas howard essex william howard surr. charles howard     henry howard norf. queen katharine howard lond. robert holcot northam . gilbert of holland linc. thomas holland shrop. philem. holland warw. henry holland worc. hugh holland wales john holyman buck.   & somers . francis holyoake warw. wilfr . holme york . robert holgate ibid. lawrence holebeck linc. thomas hoo bedf.   & hertf. sir william hollis notting . james hobart norf. richard holsworth northumb. john hooper somers . sir william horne cambr. robert horne durh. richard hooker devon. richard howland essex george horsey hertf. thomas howel breck . john hornby linc. robert hownslow middl. john howson lond. robert hoode notting . john horminger suff. john holbrook surr. nicholas hortresham suss. william horeman wilt. roger hoveden york . william hugh ibid. st. hugh linc. hugh of reading berk. lawrence humphred buck. john hunt wilt. gregory of huntington hunt. henry of huntington ibid. matthew hutton lanc. sir richard hutton cumb. roger hutchison hertf. randal hugden chesh. richard huloet camb. sir john huddlestone camb. hucarius levita cornw. sir william huser linc. john huser ibid. i. names . shire . page . william james chesh. thomas james hants . richard fitz-james somers . john fitz-james ibid. james , son to king charles i. westmin . thomas jackson durh. robert jermin suff. john jewell devon. john jegon essex — jeffery rutl. sir john jefferey sussex thomas ilam lond. john incent hertf. sir francis inglesfeild berk. john , son to king edward i. ibid. sir oliver st. john wilt. sir john st. john bedf. oliver st. john ibid. ibid hugh johnes wales william johnes monm . thomas jones lanc. benjamin johnson westmin . thomas johnson york . robert johnson linc. joan , daughter to king edward ii. lond. thomas joyce oxf. george joy bedf. sir ralph josceline hertf. joceline of wells somers . josephus iscanus devon. barthol . iscanus ibid. ibid. roger of st. ives hunting . sir anthony jud kent robert ivory lond. st. justinian pembr . william juxton sussex k. names . shire . page . katharine , daughter to king henry iii. lond. katharine , daughter to king henry vii . ibid. katharine , daughter to king charles i. westmin . john kendricke berk. st. kenelme gloc. john kemp kent thomas kempe ibid. john of kent ibid. henry keble lond. matthew kellison northamp . richard kendall westminst . sir edward kelley , alias talbot worc. st. keyne breckn . st. kiby cornw. — kiltor ibid. john king buck. henry king ibid. ibid. sir william kingston gloc. sir anthony kingston     robert kinaston shrop. john kinyngham suff. — kidstone lanc. john kite lond. hugh kirkstead linc. john of killingworth warw. john de kirkby westmor . william knight lond. henry de knighton leicest . sir robert knowles chesh. sir francis knowles oxford & sir henry knowles     sir william knowles     sir robert knowles     sir thomas knowles     lettice knowles     sir thomas kneisworth cumb. l. names . shire . page . nicholas latham northamp . william lawd berk. roger layburn cumb. gerh. langbane ibid. henry langley essex edmund of langley hertf. robert langland shrop. richard laken ibid. richard lanham suff. robert langton westmor . stephen langton kent simon langton ibid. walter de langton leic. thomas langton ibid. john laurence essex arthur lakes hants . sir thomas lakes ibid. lamfrid ibid. william lambe kent hugh latimer leic. william laxton northamp . william lawes wilt. blegabride langauride wales laurentius anglicus lond. thomas legge norf. john lewkenor surr. francis leigh warw. thomas leigh     sir james ley wilt edward lee york . paulin de leeds ibid. john lepton ibid. — leoline denb . john leventhorpe essex hucarius the levite cornw. hugh legat hertf. thomas leaver lanc. william lempster heref. sir anthony st. leger kent william de leicester leic. robert de leicester ibid.   thomas linacer derb. august . linsell essex thomas de la lynd dorc. simon lynch essex   & kent william lyford berk. william lynwood linc. william lilly hants william lidlington linc. nicholas lyra lond. nicholas of lynne norf. alan of lynne ibid. thomas lydyate oxf. edward littleton staff. sir thomas littleton ibid. ibid.   & worc. william de lichfield staff. john lydgate suff. herbert losing oxf.   & suff. adam loftus york . william longchamp essex john lowe worc. sir richard lovelace berk. henry longuile buck. maud lucy cumb. john lucas essex egid. lucas ibid. william de lubbenham lei●… . thomas lupsett lond. m. names . shire . page . john marbeck berk. john mason ibid. thomas magnus notting . sir henry martin lond. gregory martin suss. richard martin devon. william martin     alan de marton berk. 〈◊〉 , daughter to king edward i. berk. philip ma●…pas lond. queen mary kent mary , daughter to king charles i. westminst . mary . daughter to king edward i. berk. mary . daughter to king henry viii . kent mary , daughter to king james ibid. lady margaret , countess of richmond berk. maud , countess of northumberland cumb. simon firz-mary lond. walter male-clerk cumb. john marre , alias marrey york . george marsh lanc.   & chesh. john marshal worc. stephen marshal hunt. adam of marsh somers . matthew of we●…minst . tobias matthew somers . john may suff. thomas may suff. john matthew buck. andrew marvail cambr. roger de martivall leic. hugh of manchester lanc. sir john markham notting . william mansfield ibid. john maundrell wilt. sir halvatheus maulever , alias mallevorer york .   & warw. william makilsfeild chesh. thomas maldon essex henry marny ibid. sir henry maynard ibid. perotine massey hant. john mandevile hertf. ralph of maidenstan kent . sir roger manwood ibid. robert mascall shrop.   & sussex leonard maw suff. richard mayo , alias mayhow wilt. richard mayhowe ibid. ibid. oliver of malmesbury ibid. william of malmesbury walter de merton surr. john de metingham suff. st. meliorus cornw. joseph mede essex simon mepham kent . william de melton york . sir christopher metcalfe ibid. rowland merrick angles . ambrose merlin carmar . — michell wilt. sir hugh middleton denb . david middleton chesh. sir henry middleton walter mildmey essex thomas milles kent anthony milemay northamp . st. milburgh shrop. thomas mitton ibid. john of milverton somers . william minors staff. sir thomas more lond.   & dorset . margaret more lond. peter morwing linc. george monox lond. sir william mounson linc. john mordant bedf. thomas morton york . john morton dorset . robert morton richard montague buck. james montague northamp . edward montague ibid. & sir henry montague ibid. guido de mona anglesey george mountaine york . fines morison linc. sir richard morisin essex sir john mortimer heref. edmund mortimer suff. lady mohun somers . william mohun cornw. john molle devon. george moncke ibid. thomas de la more gloc. s●…r william molineux lanc. john mountgomery essex je●…y of monmouth monm . , john of ibid. thomas of ibid. henry of monmouth radnor . john mush york . richard mulcaster westmor . n. names . shire . page . sir robert naunton suff. thomas of newmarket cambr. john newburgh doro. william of newborough york . cicely nevil●… durh. bishop ralph nevill bishop alexander nevill ibid. bishop robert nevill bishop george nevill hugo de nevill essex john de nevill thomas nevile kent anne nevill warw. st. neots essex hugh of st. neots hant. humphrey necton suff. thomas neale gloc. richard neile westminst . — nesta breck . sir richard newport shrop. alexander nequam hertf. sir francis nethersole kent sir aug. nicholls northamp . ambrose nicholas hunt. alexander nowell lanc. henry noel leic. martin noell staff. edward norgate cambr. henry norrice berk. sir edward north cambr. thomas norton somers . sir john norton kent lord henry norris sir thomas norris sir john norris sir henry norris oxf. & sir edward norris maximilian norris william norris william nottingham notting . william noy cornw. john de northwood kent richard northall middl. — nothelmus lond. richard of northamp . adam of john of northamp . o. names . shire . page . henry of oatlands surrey nicholas ockham ibid. william ockham owen oglethorpe oxf. sir thomas offley chesh. sir john oldcastle heref. hugh oldham lanc. adam de orlton heref. st. osith essex st. oswald shrop. john overall suff. william oughtred buck. sir thomas overbury gloc. john owen northamp . sir roger owen shrop. john of oxford oxf. robert of oxford p. names . shire . page . william pagett lond. george palin chesh. edward palmer gloc. james palmer westminst . julius palmer warw. john palmer henry palmer sussex thomas palmer eusebius pagett northamp . sir john packington worc. william packington ibid. katherine parr northamp .   & westmorl . sir thomas parr northamp . sir william parr bis   thomas parr shrop. richard parr lanc. richard parry flint . stephen patrington york . henry parker ibid. richard park●…r camb. matthew paris ibid. william paston   sir clement paston norf. sir william paston   peter patesh●…l northamp . martin de pateshall ibid. john paulet somers . walter parsons staff. john paschall suff. john parkhurst surrey william perkins warw. william pemble sussex john peckham ibid. sir william pelham ibid. peter petow warw. thomas peverell suff. robert person somers . anthony persons berk. robert perpoint notting . dorothy petre essex john peach kent thomas penketh lanc. andrew perne norf. william piercy york . sir william piercy ibid. regina●…d peacock wales petrok ibid. robertus perscrutator , alias the searcher york . john plough notting . edmund plowden shrop. george plantagenet ibid. edward plantagenet warw. marg. plantagenet wilt. richard plantagenet york . thomas plantagenet ibid. henry plantagenet monm . richard plantagenet northamp .   & shrop. thomas phaier wales dr. — phillips ibid. john philpot hants .   & kent sir john philpot ibid. john phreas lond. john pitts hants . agnes pirest , or prest devon. hugh pirry gloc. john pilkinton lanc. peter of rippon york . william platt lond. thomas playfere kent thomas playford ibid. robert plympton devon. sir thomas pope lond. barnaby potter westmor . christopher potter ibid. george porter cumber . sir lewis pollard devon. henry de la pomeroy ibid. john points gloc. john poynet kent . sir edward poynings ibid. richard poor wilt. william de la pole york . reginald pole staff. sir john popham somers . sir john portman ibid. sir amyas powlet ibid. ibid. william powlet hants . sir john poulney leic. john poultney ibid. william prude kent john prideaux devon. roger de prideaux cornw. john preston northamp . sir amias preston somers . elvodugus probas flint . sir john puckering york . sir william purchas cambr. george purient hert. robert pullen oxf. q. names . shire . page . francis quarles essex r. names . shire . page . ralph radcliffe chesh. thomas ratcliffe essex   & leic. william ratcliffe linc. el●…as de radnor radn . gulielmus de radnor thomas ramme berk. william ramsey hunt. sir john ramsden york . ranulphus , or randall of chester chesh. thomas randolph northamp . william de raleigh devon. sir walter rawleigh ibid. william rastall lond. john rastall ibid. richard rawson ibid. thomas ravis surr. william of reivaulx york . ealred of reivaulx philip repington wales robert record ibid. william of reading berk. philip de repingdon derb. hugh of reading berk. john reinolds devon. michael reneger hants . william read kent . peter read norf. margaret rich berk. alice rich robert rich ibid. richard rich hants .   & lond. sir rice ap-thomas caerm . king richard i. oxf. king richard iii. cumb.   & cornw. richardus comes devon. richardus anglicus lond. sir richard of wich worc. sir thomas richardson norf. john richardson cambr.   & chesh. st. richard of wich worc. sir john rhese , alias ap-rice wales sir george ripley york . george ripley surrey sir thomas ridley cambr. sir thomas ryves dorc. edward rishton lanc. peter of rippon york . sir richard roberts cornw. thomas roberson york . robert the scribe ibid. henry robinson cumb. john rogers lanc. robert rogers dorset . roger of chester chesh. roger bishop of coventry and litchfield berk. john rochford linc. sir john rochford ibid. roger the cistertian devon. thomas rokeby york . , sir thomas roper lond. john rouse warw. richard role , alias hampole york . john roman cornw.   & york . henry roulands caernar . anthony rouse cornw. john roper kent dennis rolls devon. rosamund heref. richard rothwell lanc. sir ralph rowlet essex henry fitz-roy ibid. sir francis russel bedf.   & northumb. john russel hants .   & dorces . john russel worc. thomas rudborne hertf. john ruthall gloc. s●… . rumald buck. helias rubeus cambr. st. ruffinus staff. s. names . shire . page . thomas sackvill sussex richard sackvill   arnold savage kent . thomas savage chesh. john savage   edmund savage , alias bonner worc. sir john savace ibid. andrew sackvill surrey richard sackvill     sir robert sackvill     sir john sackvill     sir jordan sackvill     johan . de sacro bosco york . salkeld cumb. sir henry savill york . sir george savill ibid. goodwin of salisbury wilt. johannes sarisburiensis ibid. sutton of salisbury ibid. john saltmarsh york . salephilax the bard wales sir ralph sadlier middl. henry saltrey hunt. william salisbury denb . fulke of samford somers . john of samford     nicholas de sandford shrop. sir edwyn sandys worc. george sandys york . edwyn sandys lanc. james sands staff. nicholas sanders surr. laurence sanders warw. henry of sandwich kent robert samuel suff. william sauter lond. gilbert segrave leic. thomas scroope suff. richard scroope york . sir jervas scroop linc. robert the scribe york . thomas scott ibid. john scott kent william scott ibid. john scotus northumb. gilbert de sempringham linc. william sengham lond. john selden suss. 〈◊〉 sclater bedf. john scrivener buck. richard senhouse cumber . william sevenoake kent john seintleger ibid. st. sewall york . thomas seymore wilt. edward seymore     jane seymore ibid. sir francis seymore ibid. robert the searcher , alias perscrutator york . sertor of wales wales w●…les william shakespeare warw. edmund sheffield linc john shorditch middl. — shamborn norf. robert of shrew●…bury shrop. ralph of shrewsbury shrop. robert of shrewsbury   sir anthony shirly sussex sir robert shirly     sir thomas shirly   william shirwood durh. robert sherbo●…n hants . john of shepey kent anthony shugburgh warw. nathaniel shute york . jo●…ah shute     richard sharpe somers . william siveyer durh. edward simonds her●…f . sir henry sidney kent sir philip sidney   francis sidney   humphrey sidenham somers . richard sibbs su●… . robert skinner northamp . john skelton cumb.   & norf. sir william de skipwith , bis linc. william skipwith leic. john skuish cornw. sir james skudamore heref. william sleightholm york . sir henry sl●…gsby ibid. henry smith surrey sir thomas smith berk.   & essex john smith chesh. william smith   miles smith , d. d. heref. richard smith worc. william smith lanc. john smith   henry smith leic. robert smith   robert southwell suff. laurence sommercote suss. sophia , daughter to king james kent robert sommercoat linc. william of somerset wi●…t . maurice sommerset somers . john spicer wilt. john spine somers . thomas spring suff. john speed chesh. john sprint gloc. miles spencer ●…estmor . edmund spencer lond. william spencer northamp . robert spencer   thomas sparkes linc. charles stuart , son to james d. of york ●…stminst . john still linc. nicholas stanford ibid. sir william stamford 〈◊〉 . sir simon steward cambr. henry stafford breck .   & staff , edmund stafford staff. john stafford     john stafford dorc. humphrey stafford leic. henry standish lanc. john standish   thomas stanley staff. james stanley lanc. john stratford warw. ralph stratford     robert stratford     william fitz-stephens lond. john stow ibid. alexander strange ibid. egid. strangwayes dorces . sir humphrey starkey chesh. john stathom derb. john stanbery devon. thomas stapleton suss. sir robert stapleton york . william of strickland westmor . richard stocke york . simon stocke kent matthew stoakes buck. thomas stuckely devon. walter de stuchesly gloc. thomas sternhold hants . — stumps wilt. henry sturmy ibid. sir richard sutton chesh. richard sutton linc. sir george summers dorc. simon sudbury , alias tibald suff. richard sulcard westmin . t. names . shire . page . sir john talbot shrop. , richard talbot ibid. sir gilbert talbot   sir edmund talbot york . sir edward talbot , alias kelley worc. thomas tarlton staff. william tavernour oxf. rowland tailour suff. thomas tailour york . robert testwood berk. hester temple buck. john terer chesh. alan of tewksbury gloc. thomas thirlby cambr. robert thorne somers . sir nicholas throckmorton warw. sir arthur throgmorton northam . john thornborogh wilt. sir john thin ibid. francis thin kent . st. theliah merion . sir rice ap-thomas carmar . thomas of woodstock , son to king ▪ edward iii. oxf. thomas , son to edward i. york . thomas ap-william , &c. flint . st. theorithoid essex ●… john thorpe norf. simon thurway cornw. john tiptoft cambr. sir james tirrel cornw. john tyrril essex gervase of tilbury ibid. sir frederick tilney linc. dr. tighe ibid. christopher tye westmin . thomas tisdall oxf. st. tibba rutl. simon tibald , alias sudbury suff. cuthbert tonstall york . robert tomson hants . john towers norf. robert townson cambr. sir roger townsend norf. john towers ibid. michael tregury cornw. john tregonwell ibid. john trevisa cornw. bartholomew traheron ibid. ibid. nicholas tremaine devon. andrew tremaine     edward trotman gloc. sir william tracy ibid. ibid. richard tracy gloc. sir edmund de trafford lanc. elias de trekingham linc. george trigg ibid. — trestram middl. sir thomas tressam northamp . thomas tressam     william turner northumb. william tucker devon. john tuckvile ibid. james turbervil dorc. richard turpin leic. thomas tusser essex sir brian tuke ibid. roger twiford middl. william twisse berk. v. names . shire . page . robertus de vaus cumber . sir nicholas vaux northamp . walter vaghan wilt. richard vaughan carnar . henry vavasor york . albericus de veir bedf. veal cor●…w . john vernon derb. sir francis vere essex sir horace vere     henry vere     aubrey de vere ibid. henry veer northamp . sir robert venile norf. john vesty , alias harman warw. richard verney ibid. george villiers leic. richard vines ibid. machell vivan northumb. thomas vipont westmor . robert de vipont ibid. vinarius capellanus norf. richard ulverston lanc. sir henry umpton berk. sir edward umnpton ibid. john underhill oxf. thomas underhill warw. nicholas upton devon. st. ursula cornw. w. names . shire . page . john watson worc. robert watson norw . john warner westmin . john walch linc. sertor of wales wales richard walsh worc. john wallis , or welsh ibid. henry wakefield york . armigell waad ibid. robert walby york . john walby   simon ward ibid. samuel ward suff.   & durh. john walter heref. walter bishop of carlisle cumb. robert fi●…z-walter essex matilda fitz-walter ibid. sir john walter shrop. richard of wallingford berk. george walker lanc. john of waltham essex roger of waltham ibid. sir isaac wake northamp . nicholas wadham somers . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e * john . . * gen. . . * acts . . * gen. . . * psal. . . * isay . . * deut. . . * h. huntington . * sir john sidney , samuel beauland on ne●…eius . * psal. . . * acts . . * reader in our following book we have inverted the method , and more properly placed buildings next to 〈◊〉 . * king. . . * luke . . * cor. . . * salmatius è levino vvarnero . * proverbs . * luke . . * pet. . . * ezek. . ●… . * kings . . * sam. . . * job . . * psal. . . * cor. . . * chron. . . * king. . . * tim. . . * acts . . * de trad. discrip . l. . * lib. . c. . * origen lib. . commen●… in job albinus 〈◊〉 . de divin . offic. cap. de sexta feria pag. . * nichol. papa in epist. ad consulta bulgarorum cap. . in fine . * rom. . . * gen. . . * sam. . . * psal. . . * psal. . . * king. . . * godwin in catal. cardinal ▪ p. . * sam. . . * he taketh in all the netherlands . * vitruvius , lib. . c. . * sometimes there were ▪ several english cardinals successively of the same title whose names and numbers will be exhibited in their respective counties . * bish. godwin in his catalogue of cardinals , p. . * platina in ejus vita . * kings . . * dan. . . * in his book called nugae 〈◊〉 , or polyeraticon . * amos . . * eccles. . . * see master philpots catalogue of english chancellors , p. . , . * history of e●…ly . * ezra . . ●… neh. . . * acts . . king. . . * johannis claus ▪ membrani * hen ▪ . chart. m. . * in his glossary verb , justiciarius . * hoc certum est , omnibus bodie gentibus navigandi industria , & peritia , superiores esse anglos , & post anglos hollandos . * purchase , his pilgrims , lib. . page . * kings , . . * acts . . * tit. . . * colos. . . * cor. . , and . * chron. . . * luke . . * see their several characters under their names in our ensuing book . * john . . * psal. . . * luke . . * buchanan rerum scoticarum lib. . sol . . pag. . * rom. . . * in his book of the coming of saint james the apostle into spain , ch . . * vita petrac . * holdastus lib. tom . p. . * the conceipt is mr. walle●…s , whose book is nor by me at the present to transcribe the very words . * gen. . . * in 〈◊〉 insulâ . s●… syl. burgius latines it . * by master stephens , a learned servant to the bishop . * hookers eccle. pol. pag. . sect. . * in prefat , in tertiam seriem quarti tomi hierom. p. . * isaiah . . * stows survey of london , pag. . * idem p. . * gen. . . * isaiah . . * judges . . * sam. . * anglia , mons , pons , &c. * isaiah . . * cambd. brit. in essex . * john. . . * prov. . . * acts . . * cor. . . * isaiah . . * cor. . . * matth. . . mat. . . * king. . . * jer. . . * kin . * neh. . . * gen. . . * acts . . * acts . . * acts . . reader , this passage being written some . years since , i could not command my own right hand to cross it out , but it must stand as it did . sam. . * habemus vigilem consulem qui in consulatu suo nunqu●…m dormivit . * john : * eccles. . 〈◊〉 . * mr. knot the jesuite . * sam. . . * see the life of mr. william lambert in kent . * sam. . . * sam. . * exod. . . * e●…ra . . . * ezra . . * nehem. . * gen. . , , . * gen. . . * edward . lincoln . . ed. . , . ed. . . * hen. . . * in relation to the present mode , otherwise they also were gown-men anciently nahum . . * numb . . . * cant. . . * cor. . . * mr. camd●…n . * camdens re●…ains in the ●…itle of armory . * villare cant , pag. . * rob. de gloucester , & codex , wigornienfis . * camdens brit. * psal. . * john . . * luke . . * num. . . * burton in his description of leicester-sh . * godwins in his c●…tal . of the bishops in winchester . * deut. . . * heb. . . * collected out of the useful book of villare anglicanum . * sam. . . * sam. . . * joh. . * levit. . . * sam. . . * gen. . . * gen. . . * acts . . * ●… sam. . . * pro cec. . a. * psal. . * caius de ant. cantab. pag. . * nicholaus vernias theatinus in praefatione in burleum super physici●… aristotelis . * ioh. . . * rom. . . * ioh. . . * gen. . . * ioh. . . * king. . . * judg. . . * vestegan of decayed intelligence pag. . * see camdensbrit . in devonshire . * of decayed intelligence . * camdens brit. in somersetshire . * sir edw. coke . * exod. . . * see benefactours to the publique in lincolnshire . * heb. . * math. . . * sam. . . * reader , this being written in the midnight of our 〈◊〉 , i could not command my hand to expunge it . * acts . . * ranulph ce●… . in ejus vita math. west . anno . florent . wigor . an. . * i. . epig. . * k●…ng . . . * kin. . . * tully in verrem . orat. * the truly noble robert lord bruce . * pag. . * phil. . . notes for div a -e * num. . . * exod. . . * camd. brit. in this county . * the lord bacon in his essaies . pag. . * j. speed in his history of great brit. in the year . * godwin in his bishops of bangor . * an old interjection of lamentation . * camd. brit. in nottingh . * prov. . . * in his prologue of the prioresse . * fox , stow , speed , all our english historians in the first year of k. ed. . * j. speed hist. pag. . * idem p. . * speeds chron. p. . * idem ibidem . camd. rem . under the title of moneyr . * manuscript in 〈◊〉 . cotton . * speeds hist. pag. . * the english martyrology in the . and . of aug. * ma●…h . paris in hist. majori . ad an . d. . and deincep●… . * antiq. brit. pag. . * veritus , ne min●…s i●…sius 〈◊〉 romanam sedem ob tot acceptas injurias vindicarent . m. parker antiq. brit. pag. . * fox , acts and mon. pag. . * rom. . . * fox , acts and mon. pag. . &c. * under the ensuing title of confessors . * fox , acts and mon. pag. . * fox , acts and mon. pag. . * m●…tth . west . in flor . hist. amp * bishop godwin in his bishops of rochester . * in his brit. in this county . * francis godwin his son in his catalogue of bishops of bath & wells . * sir john harington in his aditional supply to bp. godwin . pag. . * sir jam●…s warede praesulibus lageniae pag. . * sir jo. hay●… ward in his edw. the . pag. . * stows annals edw. . pag. . * cam. eliz. anno . sub fin m. * these words are absurdly rendred by a●… 〈◊〉 darcy ( who understood not l●…tin , and translated camden aut of the f●…nch trans●…ation ) he was diligent and careful to th●… preservation of benefits . * exemplifyed in mills his catalogue of honour in the edition of royal paper in the list of the ●…arls of warwick . * fnn ▪ by lee cl●…rentiaux . markt fol. . s. n. * de scrip. brit. cent. . num . . * i vehemently suspect this man , meerly made by the mistake of pitseus [ anno . ] for r●…ger wendover . * b●…le de scrip. brit. ce●…t . . num . . amp. * ba●…e de scrip 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 . . num. . * camd●…ns brit. in bark-shire . † lib. . 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . * register of new 〈◊〉 . anno . * pits . d●… scrip. brit. anno . * camb. brit. in bark-shire . * mr. 〈◊〉 in his notes on 〈◊〉 , pag. . * stows sur. of lond. p. . * mat. . . * ▪ sam. . . * stows survey of lon. . s. n. * camdens brit. in this county . * ca●…dens brit. in sommerset . * in the title souldiers . * godw●…n in the bishops of coventry and lich. * ●…igies justo majores impositae , camd. brit. ●…n b●…rkshire . * bishop godwin in bishops of winchester . * sir isaac wake in his musae regnant●…s . * harpfield eccle . hist. pag. . * e arundle notingham suffolk barksh . b moubray estrick . * verstegan of decaied intelligence , pag. 〈◊〉 . * weav●…rs fun. mon. pag. * jean leferon eale chapter d. 〈◊〉 mar●…schaviz , de france , sol . . prov. . . * 〈◊〉 . acts & mon. p. . * idem p. * cam. brit. in 〈◊〉 . * see the picture of bishop ridley his burning in mr. fox . * i 〈◊〉 description of oxfordshire , title souldiers . * rot. pat. quarto edwardi sexti . john . ●… * lib. . c. . * lib. . & . * harp●…ield hist. of wik . pag. . and holinshed pag. . * see more hereof in surrey , ti le , nat. commod . * hypodagma pag. . * draitons poly-olbion the . song . * see their number in her funeral sermon preached by bishop fish●…r . * luk. . . * fox acts & monu . pag. . * whence bishop godwin transcribed his catalogue of bishops . * john philipot , in his chanelors of england pag. . * 〈◊〉 paris anno . * extant in 〈◊〉 fun. mon. pag. . * bale . de scrip. brit. cent. . * fox . acts & monu . pag. . * so was i informed by his son , doctor 〈◊〉 late minister of peters 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : * sto. survey of london pag. . * camb. eliz. ●… anno . * idem in his brit. in kent . * hackwil's apolog●… pag. . * huartes in the trial of wits . * com●…e camdens brit. in essex , w●…th h●…m i●… flintsh●…re . * brit. 〈◊〉 . * cam : brit. in bark-shire . * cam. eliz. 〈◊〉 . * uxore frustra 〈◊〉 i●…tente idem , anno . * stow in survey of london pag. writing of the river thames . * plin , lib. d. cimo s●…xto pag. ●… . cap. . vers . . * plin. lib. nig●…s . quar . pag. . cap. . vers . . * sta●… . . of hen. the eight cap. . * stat. primo eliza. cap. . * sam. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pag. . * mich. dra●…ton in his p ly olbion . * idem ibidem . * cam. brit. in buckinghamsh . * the english martyrology on the . of august . * cam ▪ brit. in buckinghamsh . * 〈◊〉 legend●… anglica in the life of saint rumwald . * 〈◊〉 i●… his perambulation of kent pag. . * id●…m ibidem : * fox acts and mon pag. ▪ * see fox his acts and mon. in that ye●…r . * godwin in the bishops of ro●… . * idem ibidem . * chr. . * j. bile & j. pits de script . b●…t . * ●…ill . sommers in his antiquities of cant. pag. . * new ▪ col . regi . anno . * j. philpot in his catalogue of the masters of the rowles . * new-colledge register anno dom. . * mr. martin beneficed neer northampton . * laurence humphred in the latine life of bishop jewe●…l . * gen. . . * bp. godwin in his 〈◊〉 . of the bishops of hereford . * mr. hatchers in his manuscript cat. of the fellows of kings-colledge . * godwin in his catal. of 〈◊〉 . * mr. hatcher ut prius . * idem ibidem . * godwin in catal. of 〈◊〉 . of chichester . * dr. humfred in his latine life of bishop jewel pag. . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , non nim●… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pit . godwin ut p●…s . * resurgam . * so am i informed by his son-in-law doctor david s●…okes . * ezek. . * psal. . * in his life prefixed to his reports . * . edw. . claus . pers . ▪ m. . & . * the same also in effect i●… found in 〈◊〉 in rich. ●…he second . * camdens eliz. anno notato . * camdens eliz. anno : * camdens eliz. anno . * ponticus viru●…ius cited by j. b●…le de script . brit. cent ▪ . num . . * see dr. watts his prefatory notes to math : paris . * bale de script . brit. & pits . aetat . . num ▪ . * hatchets m. s. . of the fellows of kings-colledge . * b●…le de script . brit. ceat. nono . num. . * humfredus patrīa buchingam s. baleus de script . brit. cent. . num . . * camdens elizabeth in anno . * cen. . . * mr. hatcher in his m. s. catalog . of the fellows of kings-col . * 〈◊〉 his life 〈◊〉 to his boo●… . * hence he stileth himself in his books aetonensis . * fox his acts and mon. pag. . * pagin●… . * stow surv●…y of london pag. . * this mayor was the second batchlor saith how , continuing slow in his survay of london pag. . sed quaere . * lib. . cap. . * in comment upon the . c. os lib. . de civit. dei. * ausonius epitap . heroum num . . * pref. to crok's reports . * in the wri●… of law in this county . * see memorable persons in bark-shire . * sir henry 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 verbo lollard . * viz. in the . year of q. elizabeth . * doctor smith in the lise of his father-in-law doctor ●…illet . * in his comitiat oration de duobus testibus pag. . * psalm . . * ●…ob . . * isaiah . . * psal●… . . * p. virg. de 〈◊〉 inventionibus lib. . cap. . * cor. . . * in my history of that university . * phil. . . * in vitâ solo●…is . * 〈◊〉 pares 〈◊〉 ministri . virg. ae●… . lib. . juxta finem . * 〈◊〉 in helvidium . * camden in cambridgeshire . * 〈◊〉 . twin . ant. acad. ox. pag. . * gulielmus zoon . * so mr. fox spells it , in his acts and mon. pag. . called s●…il well at this day . * gen. . . * there were but . more maryred in this county , whereof john hullier fellow of kings-col . was most remarkable . * sir james ware in the arch-bishops of tuam . * ireland properly was no kingdome till the time of k. henry the eighth . * sir james ut prius . * john philipot in his catal. of chancellors pag. . * idem in his catalogue of treasurers pag. . * bishop godwin in the bishops of winchester . a godwin in the catal. of landaffe and rochester . b idem in the biposhs of r●…chester . c bale pag. . and pits . pag. . * bale de script . ang. cent. . num. . * idem i bidem . * bale maketh him to flourish under k. henry the fourth . * see his speech in parliament speed pag. * godwin in the bishop of carlile . * mr. martin beneficed neer northampton . * the particulars of this were procured for me by my worthy friend mathew gilly esquire , from elizabeth the bishops sole surviving daughter . * mills cat. of hon. pag. . * bale de script . brit. cent. . num . . * milles ut supra . * chronicon . ●…o . bromton pag. . amp. * camdens bri●… . in cambridgeshire . * pits . de it . aug. d●…script . pag. ●… . * b●…le d●…pt . brit. cent. . num. . * bale descript . brit. cent. . num. . s. n. * bale descript. brit. cent. . num. . * cent. octa . num. . * polychron . lib. ult . cap. . * bal●… d●…ript . b●… . c●…w . . num. . * so his son-in-law informed me . * with mrs. skinner ( daughter to sir ed. coke ) a very religious gentlewoman . * henry of huntington . * stows survay of london pag. . * this story is o●… his own relation . * bale descript . b●…t . cent. oct . num. . * idem ibidem . * misprinted sir robert●…n ●…n my ecclesiasticall history . * lord herbert in the life of k. henry the pag. . amos . . * vate royall of eng. pag. . * camdens brit. in ch●…shire . * william smith in his vale royal pag. . * in the wonders of angle sea . * 〈◊〉 . smith in his vale-royal of england pag. . * once anno . and again anno . * see our pro verbs in kent . * holinshead chron. pag. . * stows survey of london pag. . * draytons po ▪ lyalbion , song 〈◊〉 . * ●… kings . . * in his brit. in ireland . * pitz de 〈◊〉 - script pag. . † in his 〈◊〉 of cardinals . * in his cata - of bishops of exeter . * bishop god●… in the arch bishop 〈◊〉 york . † 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . * idem 〈◊〉 . † in his comment on the . 〈◊〉 . * r. parker in scel . cant , in the masters of queens-colledge . * in his cata. of the bishops of lincola printed . * in 〈◊〉 cestriensi natus bishop godwin in the bishops of durham . * sir j. harrington pag. . * luk. . . * joh. . . * in his elizabe●…h anno . * bishop williams . * alled●…'d by sir f●…a . b●…con in his censure on the earl of som rset . amp. * sir hen. sp. g●…oss . verbo justiciarius , seems to assign him , edw. . rich. . hen. . * in sir henry spelm. ut prius . john . * acts . * 〈◊〉 brit. in cheshire . * camden ibidem . * weavers fun mon. pag. * sir wal. r●…leigh hist. of the world lib . pag. . * lamberts●…er ●…er amb . of kent . * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in this county . * so is it writ in the table over 〈◊〉 tomb . * william smith vale-royal pag. . * pitz ▪ de scrip●… . brit. anno . * bale script . brit. cent. . num. . * ang. script . num. . * mrs. blackmore a stationers wife in pauls-church-yard . * in his description of warwick-shire . * gen. . . * see arch-bishop ushers cron. * so my good friend dr. tates principal of brasen-nose hath informed me . * mr. hatcher in his manuscript catalogue of the fellows of kings-colledge . * fox , acts & mon. pag. . * mr. ha●…cher ut prius . * acts . . * isaith . . * will. smith in his v●…le pag. . * the vale-royal of england , pag. . idem pag. . * vale - royal of england , written by witt. webb , p. . * christs-coll . register . * master john spencer library keeper of zion-colledge . * pu●…chas his pi●…grims , . part , pag. . & s●…q . * mat. . ●… . * purchas his pilgrims lib. . pag. . * bale de script . brit. gent. . nu●… . ●… . * pits de ang. script . pag. . * script . brit. ceut . . num. . * pro. . . * gal. . . * mat. . . * in the church behind the exchange . * stows su●…vey of london pag. . * d●… . willet in his catalogue of good works since the reformation pag. . * stows survey of london pag. . * stow his survey of london pag. . † vale royal of england pa. . * ibidem . * carews survey of cornwall pag. . * num. . . * camdens brit. in cornwall . * polydore virgil , de invent. rerum in lib : . cap. . pag. . * virg. 〈◊〉 . . * lib. . epig. ●… . * c●…rew in his sur. of corn. pag. . * cam , english brit. in cornwall . * c●…ews sur ▪ 〈◊〉 c●…wall fol. . * id●…m fol. . * 〈◊〉 lib. . cap. . † 〈◊〉 . * 〈◊〉 . lib. . cap. . mela lib. . cap. . * 〈◊〉 sur. of cornwall fol. . * ca●…ew 〈◊〉 of cornwall fol. . * see master 〈◊〉 notes on polyolbion pag. . * rich. white of basing-stoke in hist. brit. mart. and english martyr . on octob. . * 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 in cata. sanct. brit. anno d●…m . : * carew survey of corn. fol. . * godwin in the arch-bish . of york . * b●…le de scrip. brit. cent. oct. num. . * sir james w●…re , de scrip . hib. lib. . pag. ●… . * idem de arch epis . dublin . pag. . * garews s●…r . corn. fol. . & bishop godwin in the bishops of exeter . bishop godwin ut prius . * stows survey . * carew survey of cornwall fol. . * these cannot now be pretended an hinderance , being put down by the long-lasting parliament . * hamond l'estrange esq his life of king charles . reader , in the last page i affirmed , that mr. noy was no writer . but since i am informed , that there is a posthume book of his . * alomena wife to amphitruo , and igern wife to g●…loise pr. of cornwall . * draytons polyolbion pag. . * michael cornubiensis . * joan. sarishu . de nugu curial . . cap. . * l ▪ verulam , in king henry the seventh pag. . * carew's survey of cornwall . * carew in his survey of cornwall sol . . speed chron. pag. . * prima parte rot . ●… . in the remembrancers ( formerly called osbornos ) office . * carew in his survey of cornwall fol. . * carew in his survey of cornwall fol. . * bale de script . brit. cent. . num. . & pits . an . . * sam. . . * b●…le de script . a●…g . cent. . num. . * anno . * bale de script . br●…t . cent . num. . * rom. . . † lib. angl. h●…st * bale ut prius . * bale de script . brit. cent. ●… . num. . * hence ●… gammon . 〈◊〉 . . . * 〈◊〉 de 〈◊〉 . brit. 〈◊〉 . . num. . * 〈◊〉 . . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . * . * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 . pag. . * camdens brit. in cornwall . * in his dedicatory epistle . * a mistake in my church history . * gen. . , . * by mr. john 〈◊〉 . * carew in his survey of cornwall fol. . * idem fol. ●… . * idem fol. . * idem fol. * cic. de o●…at . * carew in his survey of cornw●…ll , pag. ●… . * c●…rews survey of co●…n . pag. . * 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 , fol. . * carew in his survey of cornwall pag. . * ut prius pag. . * pag . * reader being 〈◊〉 to this worthy lord , i c●…uld doe no less , then ( in g atitude to his 〈◊〉 ) make this exemplification . * bishop carletons thankfull remem cap. . pag. . * prov. . . * in the law of k. edw. an out-law'd person is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lambert fol. . b. num. . * cambd. brit. in cumberland . * cambd. brit. ibidem . * combd . brit. in lancash●…re . * lib. 〈◊〉 cap. . 〈◊〉 . ang. * idem 〈◊〉 * vide 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 . * fox . acts & mon. pa. . * centuria sexta nam . . * godwin in the bishops of carlile . * sir. g. paul in 〈◊〉 li●…e pag. . * so mr. robinson stationer and his countrym●…n informed me . * sir j. harington in his view of the church of england , p. . * o. oglethorp . * it is pity his manuscripts on the law should be smothered in private hands , which i hope will hereafter become publici ●…uris . * mr : john 〈◊〉 minister at 〈◊〉 . * cod. theod. lib. . 〈◊〉 . . * cent. . num . . * ●…e ●…cript . brit. 〈◊〉 . . num. . * de ang. scrip . . * catalog . of honour pag. . * mat. . . * in his eliz. anno . * in hi●… history anno . * ibid m anno . * godwin in the bishops of carlile . * & . phil. & mar. act ▪ . * edw. . act. . * edw. . c. . * composed by edward manlove , esq heretosore steward of the barge-●…court , for the lead mines ▪ within the said vvapentake . * mr. hobbs de mirabilibus p●…cci . * mr. hobbs de mirabilibus pecci . * idem ibidem . * the translator durst not be so bold as the author . * ioh. . . * john bale de script . brit. * mat. paris in anno . * mark . . * fox . act. & mon. pag. . * godwin in the bishops of eely out of bale and pits . * pitscus in appen . viror . illustrum . * see sir hen. spelmans catalogue in his gloss. and jo. philpots , pag. . * stathom tit. toll . last case of the title ▪ * it is the gospel appointed for the day . * it is the gospel appointed for the day . * camb. brit. in derby-shire . * exemplified in hackluits voyages , vol. . pag. . * hackluit ut 〈◊〉 , pag. * weavers fun. mon. pag. . * bale de scrip . brit. cent. . num. . & j. pits in anno . * idem ut prius * johan . check . de pronunciatione gr●…ca . * thomas walsingham & ex illo bale gent. . num. . * in my computation of time , this is more proportionable that some ascribe this passage to girt●…ude the fi●…st wife of george earl of shrewsbury . * stows survey of london ▪ pag. . * edward manlow , esq in his customs of the barge-moot-court . * extant in the tower , in the years here noted . * isaiah . . † . . † doctor iordan in his history of baths . page . * manuscript of baronet northcolt . † virg. eclog. . * a busnel is two strikes in this county . * manuscript of baronet northcott . * from the same authour ▪ * mr. joseph maynard . † in his talmudical rabinical dictionary , verbo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * see camdens brit. in pem. broke-shire . * de script . brit. cent. . num. . † revel . . † bale de sc●…ipt . brit. cent. . num. . * mr. vowell in hollinshed . pag. . * idem , ibidem . * fox acts and monum . pag. . * idem , pag. . * the ensuing relation i had from his son , mr. henry molle , late orator of cambridge . * godwin in the arch-bishops of canterbury . † godwin in the bishops of exeter . * manuscript of baronet northcott . † jo. sarisbu●… in policratic . cap. . * godwin in the bishops of london . † the goddesse of the zidonians . * bale de scrip ▪ brit. cent . num. . † godwin in the bishops of hereford . * see our catalogue of sheriffes in henry the second . † godwin in the bishops of exeter . * the effect of what followeth is taken o●…t of bishop godwin , in his bishops of winchester . † matth. . * bishop godwin in the bishops of norwich . * compa e bishop godwin pag. . with pag. . † de sc ip . brit. cent . . num. . * mannse ipt of baronet 〈◊〉 . † sam. . . * gowin in the bishop●… of winch●…er . † in his apologia , adversus 〈◊〉 . * mr. jos●…ph maynard fellow of exeter colledg . * sir john davis in his discourse of ireland . pag. . † idem , pag. ●… . * of edw. . pat. . parl. . memb. . † sir hen. spelmans gloss. tit . justic. pag. . * gen. . amp. * cam. eliz. boc ann. † meteran in historia belgica . * h. holland ▪ herologia anglia pag. . * gen. . ●… . * the house its name was called hayes . * 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 . * at 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 middlesex . * in anno domini . pag . † de scrip. brit 〈◊〉 . . num . . * in the writers of oxford shire . * manuscript of baronet northcott . † manuscript of 〈◊〉 northcott . * manusc●…ipt of 〈◊〉 onet 〈◊〉 . * st. augustine . † from the mouth of his sister lat●…ly livn●…g at hogsden nigh london . * carews survey of cornwal , pag. . * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : † 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . * cam. brit. in somers●…t . † an ●…ld english word . * gwillim his display of heraldry , pag. . † stows chro. pag . ●… the crest of the marquess of hertford . * carew survey of cornw. fol. . 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 in devonshire . goodwin , in his catalogue of bishop . hooker , alias 〈◊〉 , in 〈◊〉 catalogue of the bishops of exeter . * see writers in lecestershire . * bale , de scrip . brit. cent . . p. . & pi●…z . anno . * n. colledge register . in an . . * camd. brit. in c●…nsh . † idem ibidem . * camb. brit. in this county . * mr. walton his complete angler , pag. . * camb. brit. in midlesex . * parkingson , pag. . * rab. glouc. cited by mr. selden in his notes upon polyolbion in his notes upon the . song . * malmes . lib. de pnotific . . * g●…dwin in his catal. of arch-bishops of canterbury . * god. in the bishops of 〈◊〉 . * at bere . gam●… 〈◊〉 . in 〈◊〉 . * bishop hall in his ass●…rting episcopacy . * driven amay , in the dialect of the west . * the inheritance whereof is still possessed by his family . * pro 〈◊〉 indignante hanc gloriam sibi areptam . ●…amb . eliz. anno . * camb. eliz. anno . * hic 〈◊〉 english voyages , vol. . pag. . * idem . pag. . * psal. . * the register of new colledge . * stow in his survey of london ( continued by how ) pag. . * idem . pag. . * so was i informed by mr. william swettenham ( being himself●… born in 〈◊〉 ) eminently known an under-teller in the exchequer , who for many years paid this pension . * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . in 〈◊〉 . * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gen●… , pag. 〈◊〉 , ▪ * camb. brit. in this bisho●… . phil. . . * camb. brit. in this bishoprick . * bale de scrip . brit. cent. . num. . * master fox would not put out the feast of the circumcision . * all the remarkable passages of these four lives are taken out of bishop god●… in his respective catalogue of bishops . * tim. . . * bale de scrip . a g. cent. . num. . * in his eliz. 〈◊〉 . * bishop godwin in the bishops of vvinchester . 〈◊〉 . in au●…ria . * j. pits de a●…g . scrip . in anno . * joh. rouse of vvarwick . * ad annum . * s●…r 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in his arch-bishops of dublin . * reckoned up b●… ●… . 〈◊〉 and j. pits . * bishop godwin in his catalogue of bishops . * dr. thomas goad in h●…s ●…dnsing his sermon called gratia dis●… . * out of his p●…vate pedigr●… communicated unto me . * acts . . * num. . . * king. . . * johannes bauhinus h●…st . plant . univers . tom. . lib. cap. . * johannes bodeus in theophrastum . * see the statute . jacobi cap. . * so am i informed by capt. farmer of newgate-market , copy-holder of the island . * pro. . . * camdens brit. in ess●… . * it is generally conceived the body of king harold . * festus lib. . see mercators atlas p. . * weavers fun. mon. p. . * alias cogshall . * in his catal. of religious houses in essex . * now in the possession of the earl of warwick . * j 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 . * 〈◊〉 . * kilianus . * camden in ess●…x . * ric. v●…tus basing . ad lib. . 〈◊〉 . b●…t . 〈◊〉 . . * see nizolius in obs. on tully , on the word abuti . † thus saint ●…erome , apostolicis stolic●… testimoniis abu●… quae jam 〈◊〉 ia g●…ntibusdivulgata . * englishmartyrolog . on octob. . pag. . * de script . brit. cent. . num. . † de ang. script . in anno . * these as the following observables are taken out of mr. foxes acts and mon. in their respective martyrdomes . * f●…x acts & mon. p. 〈◊〉 * fox acts and mon. p. . * camdens brit. in essex . * godwin in his catal. of bishops . * idem in the arch-bishops of canterbury . * vit●… abb. west . m. s. * j. philipot cat. of treasurers pag. . * godwin in the bishops of london . * j. phili●…ot car. of treasurers pag. . * godwin in the arch-bishops of cant. in the life of courtney . * tho. walsingham in anno . * 〈◊〉 s●…elt . 〈◊〉 . m. s●… in the m●…sters of st. johns . * godwin in the bishops of peterborogh . * parker ut prius . * proved june . . s n. * sto●…s survey of london , p. . a m p. * bale ( cript . b●…t . cent. oct . num. * sir r. baker in his chronicl●… , pag. . saith he was born ●…n oxford-shire . * id●… ibidem . * camdens eliz. anno . * camdens eliz. anno . * in my history of cambridge . s n. a m p. * benefactors to the publick in cheshlre . * stows annals in the raign of k. john. * of standedmont-fitchet in this county . * stow ut prius . * stow ut pr●…us . † camd. brit. in essex . * stow ut prius . * weavers fun. mon. p. . * in bib. cot. & in arch tarris lond. pars pat. an. . h. . m. . * i received the ensuing intelligence from his near kinsman mr. william gilbert of brental-ely ▪ in suffolk . * bale de script . brit. cent. . pag. . & pitz. de ill●…str . ang. aetat . . pag. . * pitz. de script . angl. anno . * de script . brit. cent. . p. . * bale de script . brit. cent. . num. . compared with pitts in anno . s. n. * bale num. . & pitz. . * sir john sucling his verses on the right honorable and learned earl of monmouth . * mills his cat. of honour p. . * j. bale j. pitz. * bale de script : brit. cent. . num. . * in lib●… de sacramentis , cap. . * de ang. script . in anno ▪ * in his hist. at the end of his boo●… of husbandry . * mark . . * r. parker in sceletos cantabrigiensis in manuscript . * see suffolk in the title of benefactours . * kings . . * in the title of souldiers . * abstract of the chron ▪ of dunm . in biblioth . cottón . * goodwin in his catalogue of bishops . * exemplefied in weavers funerall monuments pa. . * godwin in ep elien . anglicanae linguae omninoignarus . * mat. paris anno 〈◊〉 . * ad annum . * verst●…gan in names of contemp . * weavers fun mon. pag. . * stows survey of london in faringdonward . † acts . . * camdens brit. in middlesex . * acts . . * stows survey of london pag . * idem ibidem . * in his book intitled , scriptores nostri tempores . * camdens eliz. in anno . * stow. chro●… anno citat . * sam . . * from whom mr. c●…mbden in his brit. doth dissent . * gen. . . * ma h. . . * hartlibs legacy , pag. . * columella in bortulo . * j. minshew in his dictionary in the word . * sir francis bacon in his natural hist. cent. . numb . . * cor. . . * mich. drayton in his po●… . * horatius . * carews survey of cornwall , fol. . * william of malm●…sbury in his book of bishops . * titu●… . . 〈◊〉 . * act●… 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 * in the 〈◊〉 of prelates . * plautus in 〈◊〉 . * eccles. . * engl. mar y●… . in the of july . * fox act. and mon. pag. * heb. . . * cor. . * pag. . * sand. de schism . a●…g . in his diary , anno . month of march. * luke . . * godwin in the b●…shops of lincoln . * hatche●…s m. s. in anno . * goodwyn in the bishops of worcest●…r . * idem . ibid. * godwyn in his catalogue of the bishops of dur●…m . * dr. hatch●…r his manuscript catalogue of the masters and fellows of k. colle●… ▪ * godwin in his catalogu●… of the bishops of her●…ford ▪ * prov. . * david powel in his history of wales . * camb. brit. in derby-shire . * camb. brit. in gloucestershire . * register of the burial in the temple . * see camb. eliz in these respective years . * sir george summers , of whom in dorset-shire . * b●…le descrip . brit. cent. . num. . & pits in anno . * in his book declaris oratoribus , otherwise called brutus , toward , the later end . * cells or portions . † ruler or governor , sed quaere . * bale de scrip . brit. cent. . num. . & pits in an. . * pits de illust. ang. script . anno . * new coll. reg. anno . * pitseus de angl. script . pag. . * mason de m●…nst . ang. * bale de scrip . b●…t . cent. . num. . * tho r●…ndolph . * page . * cent. octav. nu●… . . * patent . . rich. . part . memb. . * in his description of gloucestershire . * job . . * stows annals , pag. . * cambden in 〈◊〉 set-shire . * burton in description of leicester-shire , pag. . * lord howard in his defensative against prophesies , fol . * lord herbert ut prius . * in his life of k. edw. . † in his survey of cornwall . * holingshed in the fourth of q mary . pag. . * matth. . . * camden's brit. in somersetshire . * idem in hant-shire . * sir ro. cotton ( under the name of mr. speed in huntingtonshire . ) * p. jovius de legatione muscovitarum , & 〈◊〉 de 〈◊〉 . * nat. hist. lib. . cap. . * naturae liquor iste novae cui summa natat faex . auson . * prov. . . * olim communis pecori cibus atque homini glans . auson . * bishop godwin in the bishops of winc hester . * cam. brit. in the isle of wight . * speeds cat●… of religious houses . * speeds chro. page . * lord verulam in his hen. the . * speeds chro. page . * hen. higgd . & polick . lib. . cap. . * flowers of the english saints , page . june the . * idem ibidem . * the english martyrologie in the . of june . * j. bale descript . brit. cent. . num . . * king. . . * numb . . . * godwin in the bishops of winchest . * those dates are exactly transcribed out of the records of new-colledge . * register of new-colledge , in anno . * godwin in catalogue of bishops of lincolne . * j. philpot in catalogue of chancellors , page . * harps field , hist. eccl. ang. d●…cimo quinto saeculo . c. . * idem ibid. * new-colledge register in the year . * godwin in the arch-bishops of canterbury . * ●…ew coll. register in the year . * cambdens brit. in sussex . * godwin in his bishops of chichester . * godwin in his bishops of chichester . * sir j. harrington in the bishops of winchester . * made by christopher johnson afterwards schoolmaster of winchester . * pi●…s de ill . ang. script . page . * n●…w colledge register , anno . * john . . * see the life of dr. smith prefixed to his sermon . * new-colledge register , anno . wherein he was admitted . * 〈◊〉 description of leicester-shire , page . * j. philpot in his car●… . of chancellors , page . s. n. * sir robert 〈◊〉 in his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . * sam. . . * king. . . * king ▪ . . * ibidem . * holinshead , stow , ed. herbert . in this year . * gwillim , his display of heraldry . pag. . * hatkluit , his voyages , volume . pag. . * idem , pag. . * idem , pag. . * pitz. , aetate decima , num. . * libro secundo , de gestis reg. angliae . * pitz. aetat . undecima , num. . * descrip. brit. cent. quarta . pag. . * de scrip . brit. * idem * idem . * in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ▪ * 〈◊〉 . * bale de script . britt . cent. . numb . . * stowes survey of london , page . * bale de script . brit. cent. . num. . * bale de script . britt . cent. . num. . * idem ibidem . * psal. . . * rinerius in histor. benedictinor . † holling sheads cron. p. . * heroologia angliae , p. . * idem aut. ibid. * lord verulam , in his apoph●…gms . * new colledge register , anno . * britt . in monmouthshire . s. n. * in the verses ad authorem . * he writeth himself in his book of basing-stoak . * pitts de ill. ang. scrip. pag. ●… . † pits in the life of william aulton in anno . * idem in his own life , pag. . * micah . . . s. n. brittania baconica in hantshire , pag. . * chron. . . * 〈◊〉 ▪ 〈◊〉 . in this county . * s●…ed in his map of this county . * in his description of hartford-shire , page the d . * eccles. . . * tunbridge , epsham , barnet * on charles blunt , son to the earle of newport in st. martins in the fields . * as appeareth in villare anglicanum . * speed in the description of pembrokeshire . * lord herbert in the life of king henry the eighth . * in the earle of richmond . * acts . . * cent. . pag. , &c. * norden in his description of this county , pag. . * camd. brit. in middlesex . * bale de scrip. brit. cent. secund . numero . . & pi●…seus in anno . * rem . * bale de scrip. brit. * godwin in cat. of cardin. pag. . * on his tomb yet well to be seen in westminster abbey on the north-side of the tomb of amer de valens earl of pembroke . * j. philipot , in his treasurers of england collected ann. d●…m . . p. . * godwin in his bishops of london . * camd. britt . in middlesex . * bish. godw. in bishops of ely. * godwin in cat. of bishops of st. davids . * bale de scrip. brit. cent. n. . & pits . an. . s. n. * sir r. nanton in his fragment regal . * bale & 〈◊〉 . de scrip. angl. * in an. . * symphorianus champerius in his fift tract . de medi art. script . * mathaeus silvaticus in lexico . * bale de scrip . brit. cent. . n. . & pits . in an . . * bish. godw. in cat. of the bish. of lincoln * bale & pits . de script . angl. * weavers fun. mon. in hartford-shire . * in suo heptu●…lo . * bale de scrip . brit. cent . . p. . & pits . p. . * weavers fun. mon. in this county . * bale de scrip . brit. * pit. de illust. ang. scrlp. an . . * see writers in middlesex . * w●…aver fun. monum . p. manusc . sir r. cottons library . amp. * mills in hls catal. of honour pag. . * cambd. brit. in hartford sh. bale de script . brit. cent. . n. . & pits . in anno . * mills catal. pag. . * bale de scrip . brit. cent. . n. . * sam. clerk in his lives of english divines . p. . * sam. cleark pag. . * in his comment on prov. . * sam. cleark pag. . * ▪ sr. g. paul in his life of 〈◊〉 p. . * vvere not that o. thography , pseudography , which altereth the original copy . i had writ ●…edat with an s for so it ought to be written . * s●…owes survey of london , page . * idem , ibid. * weavers fun. mon. p. . * 〈◊〉 brit. in hartford shire . * ruth . . * probatum fuit hoc testamentum cor . vvilliam cooke leg. doct. in cur . prerog . . july . * s●…ow cronicle , p. . * stow cron. in . jaco . * in the commodities of glocester-shire * revel . . . * cited by h. stevens in his de of herodotus . * psal. . . moscovy , poland , norway . * var : de re 〈◊〉 . cap. . columell . l. . c. . * camden brit. in herefordshire . * quoted by speed in his maps of england , in hereford-shire . * this kind of earthquake is called brasmatias . camdens eliz. an. . * psal. . . * camd. b rit . in hereford-sh . * deut. . . * ezek. . . * camd. brit. in middlesex . * english mar. october . * kin. . . * eng. martyr . ut prius . * brit. in hereford-shire . * acts . . * three eatons there are in this county . * bish. godwin in his catal. of cardinals , p. . out of whom this is collected . * s. n. † in his catalogue of the bishops of hereford . * godwin in his catalogue of bishops . * godwin in his catalogue of the bishops of ex●…ter . * so master stephens his secretary informed me . * see their names in our church-hist . * see the preface of his works written by mr. stephens . * thomas mils in his catal. of honours , page . * bale de scri . brit. cent. . numb . . anno . * in appendice ang. script . * see j. davis of hereford , challenging him for his countryman . his verses on his display of heraldry . * sir w. segar in his verse before his book . * so informed by master cox draper in london his executor . * pits●…tate numero . * mr. richard henchman of s. mary 〈◊〉 * above ten thousand pounds . * luke . . * ver●…egan decayed intellig. pag. . * matth. paris , anno dom. . * monast. anglicanum pag. . * idem . p. . * stows chro pag. . * selden in his titles of hon. pag. . ex manuscripto . * lord herbert in the life of king henry the eighth , pag. . camdens eliz . in apparatu . * idem anno . * in the beginning of the long parliament . tim. . . * gamden's brit. in dorsetshire . * james . . * i. speed , ( or sir robert cotton rather ) in the description of huntingtonshire . * camdens brit. in hunting tonshire . * speeds catalogue of relig●…ous houses ▪ folio . * proverbs . . * r. buckland in vitis sanctarum mulier . anglic. page . m. s●… . sc●… . cant. in the masters ●…f peter h. * antiquit. brit. pag. . * john . . * by master holmes his secretary , being himself deceived without intent to deceive . * mr. white , druggist in lumbard-street . * j. bale and j. pitz. de script . brit. * pitz. de script . brit. cent. num. . * vide infra jo. yong in the writers since the reformation . † pitz. de ang. scrip . in anno . * bale de script . brit. cent . num. . * bale cent. . numb . . * pittz . de script . britt . anno . * i. bale de scrip . britt . cent. . num. . & pitz. in anno , * anno . amp. * de script . britt , cent. . num. . * so i am informed by his son mr. white a druggist , living in ●…bard-street . * weavers funeral monuments in the preface . * rom. . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * in the preface of his church history . * pits de script . aug. pag. . * deut. . . * reckoned by mr. stow in his survey of london . * camdens brit. in cambridge-shire , * judges . . * hartlibs leg. pag. . * in his chron. pag. . parag . . * hartlibs legacy pag. . * in bark-shire . * by sir george hastings , mr. waltham in his compleat angler pag. . * prov. . . * gen. . . * hartlib in his legacy , page . * camden brit. in kent . * villare cantianum , page . sam. . . * verstegan in his restoring of decayed intelligence . * fitz. herbert . in title of villanage . * thus cited , for hitherto i have not read the original by mr. selden in his notes on poliolbion , page . * hierome●… porter in the flowers of the lives of the saints , p. . * w. lambert his perambulation of kent . page . and . g. sandys on on his notes of the . of ovids metamorph . p. . * vincent in his discovery of brook his errors , p. . * stow his chronicle , pag. . * stow in his survey of london , ( continued by how ) p. . * godwin in his catalogue of archbishops of ca●…terbury . * weaver fun. sermon . p. . * cowel's interp . in the word dean . * vveaver ut prius . * chr. . . * bale de script . brit. pag. . * idem ibidem . * luk. . . * matt. . . * fox acts and monuments . * j. bale in his book titled scriptores nostri temporis , pag. . * acts and monuments . p. . * made by thomas kemp his kins-man bishop of london . * villare gant. p. . * all collected out of godwin his bishops of london . * lord be thou my strong rock . ps. . . a tho. wike in his chron . of osney . b godwin in the bishops of hereford . * godwin in the bishop of london . c godwin in the bishops of vvinchester . * so was also his countrey-man benedict of gravesend bishop of lincoln , otherwise not to be remembred . † godwin in his catalogue of the bishops of london . * w. lambert in his perambulation of kent . * godwin in his bishops of rochester . * villare cantianum p. * godwin in the bishops of chichester . * baleus . * godwin in his bishops of london . * weavers fun. mo●… . p. . * villare cantianum , p. . * bishop god win in his bishops of vvinchester . ●… j. bale de script . brit. cent . . numb . . * bishop godwin , ut prius . * so his near relation informed me . * gamdens eliz. anno . * idem im anno . * bishop godwyn in his catalogue of the arch-●… . of cant. and the life of j. pe●…kham . * sir richard baker in his ch●…on . * cambdens eliz. in anno . * in the councel book of ireland , in the of king hen. . * sir john davis in his discovery of ireland . pag. . * j. wareus de script . hibern . pag. . * camb. eliz anno . * psal. . . * doctor powel in his hist. of 〈◊〉 . epist . to the reader . * fragment . regal . in his charact. * camb. brit. in norfolk . * in his remains , pag. . * in his glossary ve●…bo justiciarius . * will. somner in his antiq. of cant. * lambert in his perambulation of kent , pag. . * sir hen. spelman in gloss. verbo justiciarius . * camb. brit. in kent . * michael cornubiensis , see cornwall , title souldiers . * camb. brit. in herefordshire . * joan. sarisb . de nugis curial . . cap. . * purchase his pilgrims . * hollinsheads chron. pag. . * from the mou●…h of mr. r●…msey , minister of rougham in norfolk , who m●…rried the widow of mr. giles fletcher son to this doctor . * in his volumne of engl sh navigation , pag. . * camb. in his eliz. anno . when he was agent in muscovy , as afterward embassador . * j. pits in ang. scrip. . * pitz. in ang. script anno . * bale de scrip . cent. num. . * bale de s●…rip . brit. cent. . num. . & 〈◊〉 . in anno . * luk. . . † bale ib. amp. * de script . brit. cent. num. . * funeral monvments , pag. . * in our description of oxsordshire , in in this princes life . * in brit. in kent . * in suis noe-uiis . * wevers fun. mon. pag. . * in his breviary , pag. * theatrum chymicum , brit. pag , . * in his breviary of philosophy , cap. . * out of his epitaph on his monument . * weavers fun. mon. * ralph brook , york ; augustine vincent , windsor herald . * brit. in his description of 〈◊〉 . * villare cantianum , pag. ●… . * stows chro. pag. . * stows survey of london . * idem pag. . * dr. willet in his catalogue of good wor●…s since the reformation . * 〈◊〉 survey of london , pag. . * on her monument in westminster abb●… . * cambden in his anno●… ●… . mills in his catalogue of honour , pag. . * see memo●…able persons ●…n buckinghamshire . * sands in his nores on the eighth book of ovids metamorph . pag. . * hartib . his legacy , pag. . * burozo is but our english burrou●…h , barbarously latinized , and the same with burgo . * in the fifth of king henry t●…e eight . villare ●…anum , pag. * stows chro. page . * inter bundel . ind●…nt . de guerra a ud pelles w. st . * stows ann tis , pag . * mary beaumont , or villers , extraordinarily created countess of buckingham . * camb. brit. de cant. * by mr. somner in his description of canterbury , pag. . * lambert in his perambulation of kent ; pag. . s. n. * bale de scrip . brit. cent. . num. . & math. panker in the life of langton . * in glossario v●…rbo heptateuchus . * gen. . . s. n. * somner in his catalogue of the arch-deacons of cant. * somner in his survey of cant. pag. . * sir george paul in the life of arch-bishop whitgift . * cambd. brit. in rutland . * idem in lancashire . speed ( i think mistaken ) says but . * stapleton in his life . * sam. . . * cambd. brit. in lancashire . * stows survey of london , pag. . * chaucer in his prologue . * in his ilinerary . * camdens br. in lanc●…shire . a gen. . . b gen. . . c gen. . . d sam. . . e sam. . . f king. . . g ester . . h luke . . i luke . . k mat. . . l john . . m acts . . * cam. brit. in lancashire . * acts . . * acts . . * j. bale , descrip . brit. cent . . n. . & fox , act. & monum . * j. bale . ut pri . * see my church history , th book , th cen●… . page . * fox , acts and mon. j. bale , descr. brit. cent . . numb . . * in his exam. of j. fox his mareyrs . * fox , acts and monum . page . * idem , ibid. * in his exam. of ●…oxes mart. * pitz. p. . * godwin , in his bishops of ely , and cambdens br. in the description of huntington . * king. . . * bale , de script . brit. cent . . num . . * bale , pitz. and bish. godwin , in the bishops of chichester . see martyrs in suffex . * parkers scel . cant. m. s. in the masters of s. johns . * others make this of far later date . * bale , de script . brit. pagina penult . * cam. eliz. in anno . * cam. brit. in bi. of durham . * ou●… of a manuscript of the great antiquary , mr. dodesworth . * bishop carleton in the life of mr. gilp●… . * item ibidem . * godwin in his catalogue of the bishops of exeter . * so i find in the manuscript of mr. dodsworth and so mr. richard line ( this arch-bishops servant lately deceased ) did inform me . * psal. . . * sir james vvare de pr●…sulibus lageniae . pag. . * the other viscount ely son to archbishop lo●…ius . * mr. james chaloner in his 〈◊〉 of the isle of man. pag. . * weavers funeral monuments , page . * paulus jovius * soows chro. page . * pitz , de scrip . in anno . * bale , de scri . brit. cen●… . . num. . * bale , de scrip . brit. . * leland . * bale , de scrip . brit. cent . . numb . . * ambrosius 〈◊〉 and jocobus bergomensis . speeds chron. pag. . * bale . de scri . brit. cent. . num . . * idem , ut prius . * parker , in his skellet . 〈◊〉 . m.s. in the masters of s●… . john. * in my holy-state , and church history * see the latine life of his nephew dr. whitaker , near the beginning . * in his epitaph , on his mon. in pauls . * luke . ●… ▪ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . * acts . ●… ▪ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . s. n. * in his advancement of learning . * theatrum chemicum pag. . * see sir edw. kellys life in worcester-shire . * in his brit. in lancashire , * psal. . . * gen. . . * see the particulars justified in his life at large , written by my worthy friend edw. bagshaw . esq. * job . . . pitz. de ang. scrip. pag. . pitz. de ang. scrip . etate . pag. . * see his one foot out of the snare . * in the life of mr. bolton . bish. godwin in the bishops of lincoln . * both these notes were taken out of a manuscript of mr. roger d●…worth . * john huntley & h. wrigley esquires . * pat. . of heb. . me mb . . * mr. clark in his lives of modern divines p. . mr. stanly gower minist . of dorchester , who penned his life full of many observables . * idem ibidem . * by ●…ollonel waite . * vide supra pag. . titulo writers . * bale de scrip . brit. cent . . n. . & pitz. de ang. script . anno . burton in his description of leicester-shire . pag. . * phil. comincus lib. . cap. . . sam. . & ezek. . * in the proverb , of bean-belly leicestershire . * austin de civitate lib. . c. . * judg. . . * jo. bodin method . hist. cap. . * mr. ios. mede . * 〈◊〉 apud a. gellium lib. . cap. . * burtons description of leicester - 〈◊〉 . pa●… . . * her life is wri●…ten at large in my holy state. fox acts and monuments . * pag. . * bishop godw. in vita t. corbridge . * 〈◊〉 description of this county . pag. . * godwin in the bishops of 〈◊〉 and wells * t. walsingham * bishop godwin writeth h●…m mortivall . * 〈◊〉 in the description of this county . pag. . * b●…rton in his description of leicesler shire . pag. . ▪ * go●…win in the bishops of salisbury . 〈◊〉 ut prius . * sir h. wotton in his letter to dr. collins . * 〈◊〉 r. richard. a m p. * anno . r. . cap. . * cambd. brit. in sussex . * so i have learned by his relations . * l. catel na . * camd. eliz. anno . * idem in his remains pag. . * pitz. de aug. script . p. . * idem ibidem . * de script . brit. in a. * in hisdescription of leicest . pag. . * understand it after the death of ●… . of leicester . * pitz. de ang. script . hoc an. * 〈◊〉 cent. . num . . * burton in his description of 〈◊〉 - shire . pag. . * in appendice . * leland de script . . * de scrip. brit. cent . num . . * bale de scrip. brit. pag. . * burton in his description of leicestershire . pag. . * de scrip . brit. cent. . num . . * libro de sacrament . c. . * burton in his description of this shire . pag. . * pitz. de ang. script . a. . * burton in his description of leicestershire . ●… . . * weavers fun. men. pag. . * mark . . * description o●… leicester-sh . pag. . * idem p. . * thuanus de obit . virorum illustrium anno . * mr. edward martin of london . * 〈◊〉 description of leicester-shire , pag. . * stow survey of london , pag. . * mr. rawlins one of the l. maiors court. * they had an. . * 〈◊〉 leicester-shire . 〈◊〉 . . * burton in leicester-shire . pag. . * burton in loicester-shire . pag. . * he was privy councelour to k. h. . & k. e. burton in descrip . of this county pag. . * burton in the description of leicester-sh . pag. . * mr. dugdale in the description of warw. pag. . * in his eliz. anno . * burton in 〈◊〉 . p. . * idem p , . cor. . . * in his history of life and death . * mr. walton in his compleat angler , p. . * idem p. . * polyolbiondon part. . * in his chronicle , p. . * bish. godwin in his catal. of the bishops of york . * reader , pardon this true but ( abortive ) notation casually come in before the due time thereof . * here i mention not sir tho. heneage at the same time a grand favorite , and privy councellor to queen elizabeth . * ely , peterborough , and oxford . * burton in his doscription of leicester-shire . * camd , brit , in this county . * mr. john cleveland . * r. butcher in his survey of stamfora . p. . * see the proverbs in oxsordshire . * matth. . . * heywood in his epigrams cent . . num . . * though this proverb be frequent in this shire , marham is in norfolk . * eglogue . the first . * bale de scrip . 〈◊〉 . cent . . n. . and camd. brit. in lincolnshire . * jo. capg . in ss . ang. matth. west . & paris . ann . . amp. * de scrip. brit. cent . . num . . * in an . . pag. . * idem in an . . p. . & . * king. . * fashioned in form of a wedge . * harpsfield in his history . * sir john heywood the life of king edw. the sixth . * peruse sir henry spelmans glossary , in verbo chancellariorum . * camdens remains , p. . * sir john harrington in his continuation of bishop godwins ca●… . of bishops . * sir john heyward in the reign of k. edward the sixth . pag. . * idem . p. . * bale de scrip. brit. cent. . * stows survey of london , in tower-street ward . * camd. brit. in this county . * in his eliz. anno . . * georgic . l. . * in my holy-state . rem . * sr. hen. spelmans glos. tit . justitiarius . * bishop godwin in the bishops of winchester . amp. * see sr. robert belknap . title lawyers . in leicestershire . sr. hen. spel. in glos. verbo justitiarius . amp. * spelmans glossarie , pag. . * lord verulam in the lise of king henry the th . pag. . * spelmans glossarie ut prius . cambden eliz. anno. . * idem anno. . * hacluit in his first vollum 〈◊〉 sea voyages . * weaver in his funeral mon. in norfolk . pag. . s. n. * in his travells inserted in hackluits voyages , last part . pag. . * idem ibid. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . * pag. . * bale de scrip. brit. cent . . num . . * pitz. de scrip. angl. pag. . anno . * bale de scrip. brit. cent . . num . . * bale de scrip . brit. cent. . n. . * bale de scrip . brit. cent . . p. . * pitz. de ang. script . num . . * bale de scrip . brit. cent. . n. . & pits . in anno . * bale de scrip. brit. cent. . * in his dialogue . per religi . er. * bale de scrip. briti cent. . num. . * pitz de an. script . anno . * stow's survey of london pag. . * bale de scriptor . sui temporis . * de angl. script . pag. . * p. morvinus , voluntarium in germaniâ exilium , turpi in 〈◊〉 remansioni , praetulit . dr. humfred in vitâ juelli . pag. . * i. bale . * invita aesopi . * in our description of bark-shire , under the title of confessors . * so am i informed by his grandchild and heire . * living at tenterbury in kent . * r. butcher in his survey of stamford . pag. . * camdens eliz. in anno . * job . . . * richard butcher in his survey of stamford , pag. . amp. * idem , page . & . * camd. brit. in rutland e stipe collaticia . * camd. brit. in essex . * de scrip . brit. cent. . n. . * camd. brit. in surry . * in this shire title statesmen . * prov. . . * john norden speculum brit. pag. . * camdens brit. in middlesex . * norden in his spec . brit. pag. . * in the farwell to this county . * see , sir henry spelmans glossary . * john h●…iwood in his th epigram upon proverbs . * cap. . * fox acts , & mon. p. . * plin. nat. hist. * bale de scrip . brit. c. . n. . * as pretor , quaestor , cen. sor , tribunus , &c. * j. vvaraeus descrip . hibern . pag. . * dr. hatchers manuscript of the fellows of kings co●…ledge in cambridge . * g●…dwin in his catalogue of the bishops of vvinchester . * norden in his descript. of middlesex . * mat. vvestm . * mat. paris in anno . * bale descrip . brit. c. . n. . * bale de scrip . brit. c. . n. . * idem ibidem . amp. * bale de scrip . brit. c. . n. . * bale de scrip. brit. & pitzeus * these memoires are extracted out of the sermon preached at his funeral . * norden in his sec. brit. p. . * stows survey of london . * j. norden in description of middlesex . * stow his annals . * norden in hertfordshire . * camd. brit. in hertfordshire . * so blazoned by peacham in his practice of blazonry pag. . * at the funeral of king james . * from his own letter printed in dt. hakewill his apology , pag. . * in his 〈◊〉 brit. pag. . * ex bundello inquisitionum anno . regis hen. . num . . in turre lond. * idem pag. . * kings . . * in his adage rh●…dii sacrificium . * gen. . . * fit-stevens in his description of london . * dr. hac will in his apology pag. 〈◊〉 . * it now hangeth in the painted chamber . * lord verulam in his 〈◊〉 . * num. . . * job . . . * psal. . . * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 reem . * 〈◊〉 . . . * tho. browne dr. of physick in his enquiries into vulgar errors b. . cap. . * hollingshead chron . p. . * idem p. . * stows chron . pag. . who saith , they were fined . l. a peice * camd. brit. in suffolk . * minshews diction . in the word cockney . * proverb by david ferauson minist●…r at 〈◊〉 . * stows survey p. . * psal. . . * stows survey of london , pag. . * stows survey of london . pag. . * stows survey of london . pag. . * idem p. . * deut. . . kings . . jer. . . * juven . sat. * stows survey of london , pag. . * continuer of stows annals pag. . * camd. eliz. in anno. . * joh. . . * fox acts and monuments , pag. . * stows chron. in an. notato . * idem in anno notato . * j. heywood in his epigrams num . . * stows survey of london , pag. . * stows survey of london . pag. . * arist. moral . l. . * tit. . . * stows survey of london . pag. . * acts . . * mr. richard smith still living , quondam seneschallus curiae sancti-motus antedi●… . * speeds chronicle , pag. . * speeds chro. pag. . * others apply it to joan daughter to k. john , wife to alexander the . king of scotland . * luke the . . * camdens remains . a m p. a m p. * hierom porter , lives of the saints , pag. . * hierom ●…ter , in his flowers of the lives of engl. saints . janury . * augustine epist. . * epist. . & retract . lib. . cap. . * de 〈◊〉 . cap. . & tit . cod . cap. . in sexto . * socrates de chrysostomo , lib. . cap. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . lat . . * hypodigma neustriae anno . pa. . * rot. parl h. . num . . * fox acts and monuments , pag. . * tom. . anno . num . . * fox acts and monuments , pag. ●… . gen. . . * . bale , . pitz. and bish. godwin in the bishops of salisbnry . * godwin in the bishops of carlisle . * register of that colledge in anno . * lord herbert in the life of hen. . p. . * stows survey of london . * idem ibidem . * rich. hall in the life of bishop fisher. * so am i informed by sir john young his grandchild * edward cotton d. d. his son . * mr. thursby . * see more of h●…m in my church . history . * so am i informed by his own daughter the widow of famous master farnaby , since remarried to mr. cole in suf●…olk . * h. holland in his printed additions to bishop godw. * m. john ●…ore ( aft●…rwards kn●…ghted ) of gilesden in hertfordshire . * gen. . . * amos . . * psal. . . * acts . . * the summe hereof is taken out of his printed life ( rare to be had ) written by a nephew of his , more fairly and unpartially then any would expect from so near a relation . * mr. more in the lif●… of his grandfather . * pag. . * idem p. . * this is acknowledged by j. costerus , and pamelion on that place . * the house of his nativity is called gartercourt . ●… pag. . * out of the heraulds visitation of stafford-sh . * see edmund dudley in our discription of stafford-sh . * ●…md . eliz. anno . * register of st. dunstans . * acts . . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 med. . pag. . * register of the parish of st. michael bassinghall . * lib ▪ . cap. * sratutes . edw. . cap. . * cowels interp. de verbo fleta . * bale de scrip . brit. c. . n. . * dugdale in his 〈◊〉 of warwickshire illust ated , p. . rem . * in tractatu q uinto de ejus artis scriptoribus . * bale de script . brit. cent. . num. . & pits . in anno . * 〈◊〉 de script . brit. cent. . num. . * idem ibidem . * king. . . * prov. . . * bale de script . brit. cent. . num. . rem . * de script . brit. cent. . num. . rem . * bale de script . brit. cent. . num. . * see more hereof in the life of john driton in sussex . * pro. . . * bale de script . brit. cent. . num. . * in his comment on the . and again on the . chap. of gen. * bale de script . brit. cent. . num. . rem . * bale cent. . num . * de arte 〈◊〉 liber hype●…criticus , capite sexto . * bale cent. . num. . & j. 〈◊〉 . anno . * sir john suckling . * exemplified in stow's surv. pag. . * bale ut prius . * bal●… & pits . * bale de script . brit. cent. . num. . * base ut prius . * in this city , ti●…le , writers on the law. * stow his survay pag. . * ha●…chers m. s. of k. col. * bale de script . brit. cent. . * stows survay p. . * parker in his scheliton cant. * camb. eliz. in anno . * camd. el●…z . in anno . * obi●… virourm doct . an. . * in his own survey of london ( continued after his death ) pag. . * so was i informed by mr. jo. rainsey who married his relict . * pi●…z de ang. script . anno . * in his hun . of epig. num . . * pitz. in anno . * pitz. de script . ang. in anno . * idem ibidem . * in the princes report of the first days conference fol. . * camb. in his eliz. an. . john cheston george carter * so was i inform●…d by his car●…ful ex●…cutors . * so read i in his epitaph in the chappel . * mat. . . * stow's survey of london pag. . * idem p. . * idem ibidem . * stow's surv. of london p. . * idem ibidem . * first book in the chap. of churches . * stow's surv. of london p. . * bella in his ruins of rome translated by spencer . * bale de script . brit. cent. . p. . in vita gilberti westmonasteriensis . * or copper rather . * godwin in his . annals of k. henry . anno . * s●…eeds chronicle p. . * in title of princes . * speeds cron. p. . * idem . a m p. a speeds chro. in the end of the reign of k. edward the fourth . b some say his name was kyme . * master booth of c. c. c ▪ * bambridge & gassendus . * hamond l'estrange in the raign of king charles the first p. . * see battles in worcestershire . * doctor heylin in his life of k. charles p. . * now cle●…k of stationers-hall , then an attendant of the lady . * mistris conant a rocker to whom she spake it . psal. . . * see our list of sheriffs in that county . * math. ●…est ad an. dom. . * vide martyrs in hantshire . amos . . * so informed from his own mouth . * w. somner in the antiquity of cant. p. . * idem ibidem . * see his life written by dr. rawleigh * lord burgh of ireland , and lord henry jermyn . * bale de scripti brit. cent. . num. . * epigram . * epigram . s. n. * by ralph sadler esq of standon in hartfordshire who was with him at copenhaguen . s. n. * amos . . * hartlibs legacy p. . * camd. brit. in this county . * statutes . edward . c. . * st●…w's chro. p. . * cam. brit. in norfolk . * num. . . ephes. . . josh. . . * godwin in his catalogue of the bishops of norwich . * sir h. spelman in the gossary pag. . * viz. anno regis . & . * tho. walsingham an. . * . sept. . ed. . inter pa●…t . par. . memb. . * anno domini . * out of the book of will. botyner , fol. . sometimes herauld to sir john falstofe , written in the reign of king henry . and containeth all the ancient gentry of this county . * isa. . . * sir rich. baker chron. . ed. . p , . * holinshead & stow. * veavers fnu. mon. p. . * hackluit in his english voyages , vol. . p. . &c. * camd. brit. in norfolk . * bale de scrip . brit. cent. . num. . * idem ibidem . * in the . of his aeneid . * dr. john dee . * nol. p. . * see it dicuss'd at large in camd. eliz. * bale script . brit. cent. . num. . * parker in his skeletos cantabrigiensis . * so sairh pitz. but mistaken , for it was k. richard the second p. . * j. wareus de script . hib. p. . * bale de script . brit. cent. . num. . * de script . brit. p. . * de ang. script . p. . * bale de script . brit. cent. . num. . a m p. * pitz. de ang. script . in anno . * j. bale in his book intituled script . nostri temporis . * fox acts and mon. in the life of archbishop cranmer . * stow's surv. p. . * fragmenta regalia . a viz. the donation of sir simon eyre . b stow's surv. p. . * camd. brit. in norfolk . * parker in his sceletos cantab ▪ in manuscript . * some have questioned whither the m. s. were of his gift . * the continuer of stows annals pag. . * cowels epist. ded. to his institutions . * stow's chro. p. . * sir john hayward in the life of edw. . p. . * camdens eliz. anno . * camd. eliz. anno . * mr. bolton in his funeral notes on judge nichols . * mar. . . * gen. . . * deur . . . * camdens eliz. anno . * parker sceletos cantabr . manusc . * king. . . * gen. . 〈◊〉 * bale de scrip . brit. cent. . num. . * 〈◊〉 . catalogue of the bishops of norwich . * idem ibidem . * ex annalibus coll. gonv. & caii . * in scelet c●…nt . he is accounted but the . * other men have discovered two and thirty . * phytologia b●…itannica p. . * dr. jorden of mineral-baths c. . * sam. hartlib . of husband . his legacy p. . * the 〈◊〉 had formerly for four generations lived at grafton , as appears by the l●…gerbook of pipwell-abbey . * george buck. esquire . * camd●…ns brit. in this county . * the english martyrology . in the third day of feb. * idem ibidem . * r. verstegan p. . * cujus miracula in sugandis hinc anseribus , scriptores creduli decantarunt . * camd. brit. in northampt. * apud pausioniam in eliacis . * fox acts and monn . anno . * sir james ware de praesulibus lagentiae pag. . * idem p. . * dr. richard zouch professor of law in oxsord . * witness himself in his cat. of landas . * anthony kitchin who mard this see with selling and letting long leases . * fragmenta regalia in his character . * guil. fitz-williams jam quintùm hiberni●… prorex . camd. eliz. an. . † idem anno . * sir joh●… davis in his discove●…es of ireland , pag. . * camden anno . * so am i informed from mr. george wake late fellow of magdalen-colledge in oxford , and his near kinsman . amp. * camd. brit. in northamptonshire . * sir hen. soelmans gloss. verbo justitiarius . * florilegus in an. . being the . of hen. . * sir hen. spelman ut prius . * camd. b●…it . in northamptonshire . * stows surv. of london pag. . * sir t. more printing the continuation of j. 〈◊〉 chron fol. . * ratli●…fe . * catesby . * k. rich. the third who gave a boar for his crest . * camdens remains . * dr. gray . * ovid metam . lib. . * cen. . num. . * vestegan of decayed intelligence , p. . * camden . brit. in no●…thamptonshire . * bale de script . brit. cent. . num. . * de script . eccles . sol . . * stows ann. p. . * idem ibidem . * bale de script . brit. cent. . num. . * idem cent. . num. . * idem cent. . num. . * de ang. script . . * stows su●…v . of london p. . * as his said son related to me . * pitz. p. . * so saith the inscription on his monument . * sam. . . * psal. . . * in the of k. henry * in . of henry . * stows chro. p. . * mills in cat. of honour p. . * pag. . * gwil . d●…spla . herald pag. edition . 〈◊〉 . * camd. in rem . * r. butcher in s●…rvey of s●…amsord p. . * camd. el●…z . in anno . * brit in northhamptonshire . * camd. eliz. anno . * camdens b●…it . in northamp . * guill . displ●…y of heraldry . pag. . fi●…st edit . * wilson in th e life of king james . * stows chron. pag. . * the . of edw. . lincoln . edw. , , . edw. , . * isai. . . * stows chro. p●…g . . * bishop carleton in thankful rem . c. . * scotish prov. by david fergusson minister at dunfermline . litera l ▪ * idem lit. h. * prov. in glocest●…rshire , you are a man of duresly . * dr. henry hammond . * camd. brit. pag. . * camd. brit. in northumberl . pag. . * parker in his sceletos cantab. m. s. * survey of london p. . * isai. . , . * psal. . . * in his defence of poesie . * bale de script . brit. cent. . num. . * idem ut priw . * bale de script . brit. cent. . num. . * idem ibidem . * master will. spring . * bale de script . brit. cent. . ●… num. . & pitz. in anno . * bale ●…t prius . * isai. . . * the lord v●…ssey was so great a benefactour to this covent , that by some he is reputed the founder thereof . * fastorum lib. . * camdens brit. in northumb. * gen. . . * luke . . * camdens brit. in northum●… . * pitz de illust. ang. script . pag , . * stows surv. of london pag. . * lib. ●…ono 〈◊〉 . . * john scot in his tables of cambridge . * consult . speeds alphabetical tables , & villare anglicanum . * josh. . . * psam . . . * king. . . * vox piscis printed anno . pag. . * eccles. . . * rerum scoticarum lib. . fol. . pag. . * anno . & edwardi . cap. . * in caral . of honou . p. . * stows chro. pag. . * draytons poly-olbion , song . p. 〈◊〉 ▪ * martial . l. . * id●…m l. . * a l●…g . beotium ●…genium . * butters of bees , p. . * fox his acts and monuments , p. * bishop godwin in his catalogue of the archbishops of 〈◊〉 , p. . * chron. . . * thuanus obit . doct . vir . anno ●… . * fabian p. & ho●…inshed p. & stow in the . of edward the . * title of writers . * in quarto libro suorum praedicatorum . * script . brit. cent . . num . . * script . brit. cent . . num . . * script . bri●… . cent . . num . * j. waraeus de script . hib. p. . * bale in his book termed scriptor●…s nostri temporis , p. . * prov. ●… . . . * mr. cartwright upon the place . * kings . . † his words are taken out of iohn major . see his brit. in north-riding in york-shire . † draytons poly-olbion , song . p. . † ovid. met. * cambdens remains , p. . * com●… . brit. in nottingham-sh . * john norden in his description of hart-ford-shire , voce benington . * camb. brit. in oxford-shire . * idem ibid. * in epistola ad rusticum monachum . * butler of bees , p. . * i●… c●…stigationem chrysost. conciuncularum defato . * stow in his survey of london . * brit. in oxford-shire , pa●… . * mr. william whaley , of whom hereaster in this county . * v●…d . su●…rain lincoln shire . * j. heywood in his five hundred epigrams , num . * idem . num . * heywood in his five hundred epigrams , num. . * mr. dugdale in his illustration of warwick-shire , pag . * pol. v●… . l. . hist. breviar . sec. usum sarum . m. s. rob. buck. * sam. . * sand●…rs de sòl. angl. l. . p. . * gul. malm●… . j. de pont. angl. hac d●…e . m●…rbert in fest . s.s. * speed ▪ chro. in the life of this king. * bishop godwin in h●… catalogue of cardina's . s. n. * j bale & j. pits de script . b●…it . * ci●…ed by mr. 〈◊〉 in oxsord-shire . * 〈◊〉 . script . 〈◊〉 . cent . . num . . & pits in anno . s. n. * idem ut prius . * acts . . * godwins 〈◊〉 of the bishops of norwich , pag. ●… . * bishop godwin in his bishops of carlile . a m p. * sir john harrington in his addition to bishop godwin . * 〈◊〉 of new-college , anno . * sir john harrington in the bishops of oxsord . * cambdens e●…z . in anno . * fragmenta r●…galia in knowlls . a m p. * bale de script . brit. cent . . nu●… . . * idem ibid. * in the preface of his history to james king of scotland . † bale de script . bri●… . cent . . num . * bishop godwin in th●… bi shop●… o●… norwich . † b●…le de scrip . brit. cent . . num . . & p●…ts in anno s. n. * m. paris an . p. . † anno ●… . p . * bale de script . brit. cent . . * in his brit. in berk-shire . * in his elizabeth , an. . † in his brit. in oxford-shire † d●… ang. script . anno . * bale d●… 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 . num . . * new-college reg. in anno . * eccle●… . . . * the substance of his character is taken out of his life written by mr. samuel clarke . * where his father held a lease from new-college . * eccles. . * some intentions there were to have made it an addition to baliol colledge . * stows survey of london , p. * draytons poly-olbion . * camb. brit. in rutlandshire , p. . * though it be diva in his first and quarto edi●…ion , yet it is sancta in his last , i mean in the text whereon i rely , though diva again in the margin . † caesar. baron . not. in martyriolog . rom. fran. ha●…aeus de vitis sanct. ●…rent . sur. carthusian . pel. de 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ▪ catal . sanct. &c. * printed at madrid by lewes sanchez a●…no . † m. s. de vitis sanct . mul●…er . angl. p. . * mr. richard butcher in his survey of stamford , p. . * lib. . cap. * john armstrong of ches●…bunt . * lib. . fab . . * bellovius . * virg. aeneid . . * see the majors of london in this county . * see his map general of england . * see his description of shropshire . * agricola de natura , &c. lib. . cap. . * d. jorden of mineral bathes ' pag. . * stows chro. pag. . † idem ibid. † verstegan pag. . * the english martyrology , on the day of february . † john . . * sam. . . * english martyrology . pag. . * narrative of the life o●… th. gataker junior , after the sermon preached at his funeral . * vide learned writers in london . * b. godwin , in his bishops of bangor . * h. le strange in the history of k. charles . † camdens brit. anglesea . † idem in pembrook-shire . † b. godwin in bishops of bangor . * camdens brit. in salop. * register of westminster abbey . * godwin in the bishops of of bath and welles . godwin , ibid. * de illust. ang. script . pag. . * godwin in bishops . * iacob●…s wareus , de praesulibus lageniae . pag : . * idem de script . hibernia . pag. . * parker in his skellitos cantabrigiensis , in the provosts of kings colledg . * mr. hatcher in his manuscript . catalogue , of fellows of kings colledge . * b. godwin in the catal. of the bishops of winchester . * prov. . . * camden in his eliz. anno . * idem ibid. * so his neer kinsman informed me . * his elizabeth . an. . * obiit doct. vir. in anno . in vita joan. 〈◊〉 . † stow surv. of lon. in the rem . pag. . * so am i informed by his two su●…viving brothers , the one a serjeant at law , the other a dr. in divinity . † sum talboti pro vincere inimicos meos . † sir walter r●…leigh in histor. of the world. lib. . pag. . * script . brit. cent. . num . * in appendice ilus ang. scrip . pag. . * idem ibid. * in his book , de scriptoribus hibernicis . † bale de script . brit. cent . . num . . * mr. selden in his notes on poliolbion . pag. . † acts and monuments . pag. . * herologia anglica , pag. . * idem ibid. * survey of london , p. . * stows survey of london , p. . * d. vvillet , in his ca●…al . of protestant char. * stows survey of london , pag. . * dub'd by k. charles the ii at the hague , when sent thithera commissioner for the city of london . * vvilts prela : * vide souldiers in this county . * camb. brit. in salop. * camd. brit ▪ in bedfordshire . * camd. ut prius . * in shropshire . * quo genere hominum nihil est putidius . † m. 〈◊〉 . langl●…y late schoolmaster of pauls . * stows annuals , pag. . † drayton in his polyolbion . * pet. ▪ . * dr. hakewil in his apolog. lib. . pa. , . * lives of the saints . * century ! pag. . * terrae somersetensis alumnus bale , de script . brit. cent . . num . . * in my eccles. history . * taken generally out of bp. godwin . * sir james ware , in the archbishops of dublin . * ●…r james ware , ut sup . † viz. cheater . * new coll. reg. in anno . * all extracted & contracted out of bishop godwin his bishops of bath & wells . * pitzeus , in appendice . * bp. godwins words are ●… materie . * godwin in the life of k. henry the . * mr. more in the printed life of his grand-father sr. tho. more , pag. . * in the original of his last visitation of some●…setsh . * sir h. sp●…lmans gloss. * camdens eliz . an. . * prov. . . * so it appears to me on my best examination . † camdens eliz . an. . † the effect of what followes is taken out of the irish annals at the end of camd britt . * camdens brit. in this coun●… . † camden , ut prius . * camdens eliz. in . * 〈◊〉 travels part , pag. . * hist. of the world , lib. . pag. . * usher , de ▪ brit. eccl. primord . in his chronologies . * 〈◊〉 . * in his second book de hist. lat ▪ in the end of the 〈◊〉 . † pitzeus , aetat . nu . . * bale de script . brit. cent. . nu . ●… . † qu●…re , where this is . * bale , de script . brit. cent . . nu . et pitz. in a●…no . * the words the poet are somewhat different . s. n. * in his continuance of bishop godwin in his bishops of winchester . * so am i certified by some of his [ late surviving ] acquaintance . * pits de ang. scrip. pa. . † pits de ang. scrip . an ▪ † camdens eliz . . * idem ibid. * idem , anno . * new-coll . regist. anno . † see master clark , in the life of juliane harring. pag. . * pits angl. script . pag. . * camdens brit. in this county . * virg. eclog. decimâ . * sam. . * camdens remains , pag. * s●…ows survey of london pag. . * idem ibidem . * uniones quia nu●…i duo simul reperientur . plin. nat. hist. lib. . cap. . * stows survey pag. . * idem in his first table , verbo sope. * mal. . . * yet some have informed me that it only is a chappel of ease to the mother church of bedmister . † f●…x . martirolog . pag. . * sir i. ware , in episcopis darensibus . * sir iohn harrington in his continuation of bishop godwi●… . † in my church hist. book . pag. . * hacluit's engl. voyages the d. volum . pag. ▪ * in his ordinal pag. . * ibid. pag. . * ibid. pag. . linea . * theatrum chimicum made by elias ashmole , esq. pag. . † de angl. scrip . pag. . * j. pits . de scrip . ang. pag. . * pits . 〈◊〉 . . num. . * bale cent . . num . . * bale & pits ut prius . † new col. register , anno . * bale de scrip . brit. cent . . num . . & pits in anno . † these ve●…ses are printed among petronius his fragments , b●…g a farrago of many verses later , than that ancient author . * pits de ang. scrip . anno ●… . * idem ibid. † gen. . ●… . * matt. . * stows survey of lond. pag. . * idem ibid. * idem pag. * stows survey of london pag. . * so was i informed by dr. seaman , lat●… master of that colledge . * idem in his description o●… christ church * burtons descript . of leicest . pag. . * matt. . . mar. . . luke . . * this note written in bad times seven years since , i thought not sit to put out . * samps . erderswick in his manuscript survey of this shire . * idem ibid. * mr. dugdale in his illustration of warwick-shire in the catalogue of the earls of warwick . * c●…s brit. in this county . † 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . * in his th homil. in evan . * c●…wden●…nd ●…nd sp●…ed their descriptions of this c●…unty . * s. er. ms : * camd●…s brit. in e●…glish in staffordshire . * 〈◊〉 q●…it . b●…van in ●…ita pol●… . pag. . * idem pag. . * idem pag. . * bishop godwin in the bishops of exeter . * mr. philpot in his caralogue of lord chancellors , pag. . * godwi●… in the bishops of durham . * bishop godwin in the bishops of sarum . † lord coke , in his preface to littletons tenures . * camd. brit. in staffordshire . * s. e. ms. * j. bale , & j. stow. † prov. . * spelman's glossary verbo justiciarius . * holinsh●…d pag. ●… . * idem ibid. * holinshed pag. . * in the lawyers of this coun●…y . * s.e.ms. * idem in his description of the town of bagenhale . * pits . de ang. script . in appendice , pag. . * stows survey of london pag. . * bale cent . ▪ numb . . & pits . aetat . . numb . . * pits . anno . * britt . in this coun●…y . * samps . erdeswick manuscrip . * see in leicester-shire writers since the reformation . * pits . de illust . angl. scrip . pag . * cor. . . * rem . * doctor hacwill in his apology , pag. . * de civitate dei lib. . cap. . * s. e. ms. * s. e. ms. * in his polyolbion the . song . * camd. rem . pag. . * s. e. ms. * ca●…dens brit. in this county . † reader by this be pleased to rectifie , what before [ not so ●…xactly ] was written of his honour , in his character under the title of souldiers . * s. e. ms. * burton in his description of leicest . pag. . * speed in his description of suffolk . * camd. brit. in suffolk . * esaiah . * weavers funeral monuments , pag. . * leland in his description of bury . † stow ▪ speed , mills , vincent , weaver , &c. * isaiah . . * prov. ●… . . a m p. * sam. . . * ex lib. abb. de rufford in bib. cott. * king. . . * bale de scrip . brit. cent●… . ▪ num . . † so mr. goland the learned library keeper ( lately deceased ) informed me . * de sanct. beatit . cap. . * dan. . . * fox acts ●…d m●…num . pag. ●… . * idem ibidem . * fox ma●…tyrol . pag. . * dr. c●…bet in his iter boreale . bale cent . . pag. . * will. malm●…sbury . * hence commonly called richardus de ●…urgo . * godwin in his bishops of durham , pag. . * in his book called philobiblos . * bale de scrip . brit , centur . . num . . * weavers fun. m●…n . pag. . * camd. brit. in suffolk . † de script . hib. lib. ●… . pag. . * de script . brit. cent . . num . . * bale de scrip . brit. cent . . num . . * sir john davis in his treatise of ir●…land , pag. . * bale , pi●…s . g●…dwin , &c ▪ * sir john harrington in the bishop ▪ of winchester . † bale de scrip . brit. cent . . num . . * sir john harrington , ut prius . * in vita sua cen . . nu . ●… . * jac. waraeus de scrip . hib. lib. . pag. . † scellet . cant. of parker manuscript . * psal. ▪ ? scellet . cant. of mr. parker manusc . * bed●… ▪ * philip. . * camden in the first of q. eliz ▪ * camdens eliz. hoc anno . * weaver his fun. monum . pag. . * spelman's gloss. verbo iusticia●…ius . * num. . , ●… . * edward . rot. . in dorso de apprenticiis & attorna●…is . * speed's chro. in rich. the second , pag. . † lib. eliers . m. s. in bil. cotton . * de scripts brit. cent . . num . ●… . * sam. . . * chr●…n . 〈◊〉 g. . † speed's hist. pag. . * acts . . * camden's eliz. anno . * the substance of what followeth is taken out of mr. hackl●…its voyages , the last part , pag. . * in english money ●… pounds . * so am i informed by mrs crane in cambridg ; to whose husband he left his estate . * ba●…e cent . ▪ ●…um . . * bale de scrip . brit. & pits aetat . num . . * bale cent . . num . . † bale ut prius . * polidor . virgil. * bale cent . . num . . * idem ibidem . * see the life of bernard gilpin . * camd. brit. in suffolk . * history of the life and death of hector , pag. . and . * king hen. . * de script . brit. centur . . num . . † 〈◊〉 cent . . num ▪ . * bale de scrip . brit. cent . 〈◊〉 . num . . j. pitz. de 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 pag. . anno . * thomas 〈◊〉 one of them ; see the narrative at the end of his funeral sermon . * vincent in his corrections of brooks his errors . * stow's su●…vey of london pag. . * sa●… . . ●… * ●…eavers 〈◊〉 . mon. pag. ●… * stow's survey of london anno . * luke . . s. n. * at melford afore-said . † j. philpot in his catal. of the masters of the rolls . * speed in his chron. pag. . * see judge markham his life in nottingham-shire . * he was mayor again lib. 〈◊〉 . cap. . 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 . [ in english ] in suffolk * camden in the description of surrey . * virgil. ●… . . * speeds chro. pag. . * dr. hylyn in his life and reign of king 〈◊〉 pag. ●… . * sir francis nethersole in his fu●… , orat. on prince henry , pag. . * ●… . paris in anno . . * bale de script . b●…it . pag. . * isackson's chron. * bale ut sup . * new-coll . register anno . * ●… . marleburgensis of the w●…iters of i●…eland . * i. bale & j. pit●… . * mr. hatchers manuscript of the fellows of kings c●…ll . * bale de scr●… . brit. and ●…dwin in the bi●…hops 〈◊〉 no. wich . * d●… . 〈◊〉 in the 〈◊〉 li●…e of jewe●… pa. . * see fox his acts and mon. pag. . * dr. humphry in the latin life of jewel pag. . * idem pag. . * b. godwin in his bishops of norwich . † so expressed in his epitaph on his monument in st. pauls . * sir j. harrington in his additional supply to b. godwins catalogue of bishop●… pa. . * b. godwin in his bishops of london . * the observator rescued , pag. . * hackluyt in his sea-voyages , in his epistle dedicatory . † id●…m ut prius . * camd. eliz. in . * mason de minist●…rio anglicano . * mr ▪ dugdale in his illustrations of warwick-shire , title kenelworth-castle ▪ * hack●…yl's voyages , second part , pag. . * de sc●…ipt . brit. ce●…ur . . num . . * camd. brit. in this county . * bale de scrip . brit. centur . . num . ▪ * de script . brit. cent . . num . . * idem ibid. * camd. brit. in this county . * iude . * register of new-colledge , anno . † co●…tra literas 〈◊〉 , lib. . cap. tom . ●… . * so testifieth his monument in the upper end of the chancel of 〈◊〉 . r e m. * o●…de●…us vitalis in his norman stor . * page . anno . * both in hartfordsh . * sr. h. spelmans glossa verbo honor. * berksh . title martyr . * fox mar●…yr . pag. . * see more of him in the life of nich. upton , in devon-shire . * hence bagers . * so was i informed by m●… . peckham the recorder of 〈◊〉 . * lord abergavenny , viscount 〈◊〉 , and ●…he earl of 〈◊〉 . * cron. 〈◊〉 . . * cron. . ●… * see memor●…ble persons in this county . † sir francis bacon in his history of life and death . * 〈◊〉 and janus d●…branius . * mr. isack 〈◊〉 in his compleat angler pag. 〈◊〉 . * levit. . . * stows annals pag. . * idem pag. . * tho. charnock in his breviary of philos●…phy , cap. . * stows 〈◊〉 p●…g . . * mela , ●…nias , 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 . * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in his 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 . pag. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . in 〈◊〉 . * the substance of his life is taken out of bishop 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 catalogue of arch-b●…shops of 〈◊〉 . * out of whom the 〈◊〉 is 〈◊〉 of what followeth . * joh. . . * godwin in car : of bishops of canter , pag. . * ma●… . . * mat. . . * i bale , mr. parker in ant. brit. i pits , bishop godwin , and sir henry savile in his life prefac'd to his book de causá d●…i . * august , de grat. & lib. a bit . cap. . * idem de civ . d i lib. . cap. * godwin in the arch. bishops of c●…t . * reader , for the greater credi●… of this cou●…y , i put there four arch-bish●…p ●…ogether , otherwife bishop burwos●… ( ●…olloing hereafter ) in time preceded the two latter . * weavers fun . monument pag. . * godwin on the bishops of l●…ncoln . † ●… . philipot in his catalogue of chancello●…rs . * godwin ut prius . * joh. . * mills his catalogue of honour pag. . * idem ibidem . * camdens ' elizabeth in pag. . * see fragmenta regalia , in his character written by sir robert naunton . * holi●…shed , stow , speed , &c. * camdens eliz. anno citato . * idem anno . * c●…mdens brit. in sussex . * h●…luits voyages part . pag . * plutarch in his life . rem . * de script . brit. cent. , num. ▪ * in anno . * de script . brit. cent. . num. . s. n. * de script . brit. c●…nt . . num. . amp. * in the epist. dedicatory before his lectures on the sacram●…nt . * mr. leigh of religious and learned men pag. . * extraneus vapulans made by an alter idem to doctor heylin pag. . * mr. spencer keeper of the library at jesus-colledge . pits de ang. script . anno . * kings . . * pag. . * see his epitaph in 〈◊〉 . * mills in catalogue of hon . pag. . * in his book of fishing , 〈◊〉 and planting . * holinshed in 〈◊〉 chronicle pag. 〈◊〉 . * camde●…s eliz. anno . * stow his cronicle in this year . * 〈◊〉 speed in his descript . of warwick-shire . * gen. . . * nat. hist. 〈◊〉 . . cap. . * mr. venour . * john . . * psalm . . . * sp●…d in his description of warwick-shire . * out of which it is observed by mr. m lls in his catal. of honour pag. . and mr. dug●…ale in his earls of warwick . * 〈◊〉 in probl. cur polypus mutat co●…pus . * mr. dugdale in his illustrations of warwick 〈◊〉 , in the catalogue of the 〈◊〉 thereof . * m●… . dugdale in 〈◊〉 illustrations of this county . psalm . . . * bishop godwi●… in hi●… catal . of cardin. p●…g . . psalm . . . * bishop g●…dwin ut supra . * bishop go●…win in his ca●…al of cardin. * cam●…ens bri●… . 〈◊〉 warwick-sh . * in 〈◊〉 life of stratford . * idem ibid●…m . * godwin●…n ●…n the bi●…hops of london . * brian twin . * b●…le de script . brit. * fox acts and monum . pag. . & anno . * camdens eliz. anno ●… . * idem anno . * stows survay of london p. . * 〈◊〉 cent . . num . . * thomas eccl stone in chroni●…le of franciscans . * bale de script . cent . . num . . * bale de scrip. brit. cent. . num . . * pits de scrip 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . * acts . . * song . p. ●… . * in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . in war●…-shire . * mr. adoni●…m 〈◊〉 , who 〈◊〉 to leave larger inst●…uctions of his 〈◊〉 life , but i received them no●… . * dr. go●…ge p●…eface to posthume works of mr. byfi●…ls . s.n. * pits de 〈◊〉 . ang. script . 〈◊〉 anno . † mr dugdale in his illust. of warwick-shire pag . . * our country-man pits did foranize with long living beyond the seas . * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . . * h. holland . herologia . * see their monument in the church of n●…ther-eatendon . * i suspect this catalogue ( though taken out of mr. stow ) imperfect , and that sir william hollis lord mayor ( and builder of 〈◊〉 ) was this coun●…y-man ▪ * dr. heylyn i●…●…he hist. and raign of k , charles . * j. speed in the description of this county . * godwins an●…ls of k. edward the sixth in 〈◊〉 anno . * in his catal. of honour pag. . * godwin ▪ in his arch-bishop of york . * idem ibidem . * bishop godwin in the 〈◊〉 . of the bishops of carlile . * cam ●…ens brit. in cumberland . * ●…anuscript additions to sir james ware. * mr. s. clarke in his live of mode●…ne divin . ●… . * though sussex ( where his sirname is of good esteem ) may pretend unto him . i am confident of his right location . * sir jo davis in discourse of ireland , pag. . * r. holinshed irish c●…ron . pag. . * idem ibidem . * see v●…llare anglica . * bale & pitz de script . brit. a. m. p. * m.s. hatcher of the scholars there●… . * though disputable , i conceive them rightly placed since the reformation . * life of bernard 〈◊〉 wrote by bishop 〈◊〉 pag. . * camdens 〈◊〉 . in 〈◊〉 . * gen. . . * compare the tables of mr. speed. * mr. gregori's opera posthum●… , pag. . &c. * written by inigo jones , esq. * vitru lib. . * mr. dugdale in hi●… allustration of warwickshire pag. . * bale de script . brit. 〈◊〉 . . num. . * cambd. brit. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . * flowers of english saints pag. . * idem p. . * polyc. lib. . cap. . * john capgrove in vit●… 〈◊〉 edith●… . * acts & mon. pag. . * fox act. and mon. p. . * fox act. and mon. p. . * see 〈◊〉 in mem. per. in this shire . * fox act. and mon. p. 〈◊〉 . * bishop godwin in his 〈◊〉 . of cardin. p. . † pitz de ang. script . in anno . * bale de script . brit. cent. . 〈◊〉 . * pitz de script . brit. anno . s. n. * centuria . num. . s. n. * godwin in the bishops of winchester . * speed in h●…s catal. of religious houses in will-shire . * bishop godwin in his bishops of winchester . * new-colledge register in anno . * godwin in the bishops of hereford . * sir john harrington in his additionall supply to bishop godwin pag. . * so am i am informed by mr. anthony holmes his secretary still alive . † bishop godwin in his 〈◊〉 . of the bishops of rochester . * idem ibidem . * in the life of richard the second . * sir john davis in disc. o ireland pag. . &c. * j. philipot in his 〈◊〉 . of lord treasurers pag. . * see kent in title 〈◊〉 . † in his notes on 〈◊〉 pag. . * isa. . . * pits de illus . . angl. scrip●… . anno . * idem ibidem . * abdia●… 〈◊〉 . apost . hist. lib. . egesip . 〈◊〉 . . cap. . epiph. lib. tom. . haeres . . anto●… . chro . part . . tit . . cap. . * bale de script . b●…it . cent. . num. . * in vit●… roberti canuti cent. . num. . * bale de script . brit. c●…nt . . num. . * ephes. . . * bale de script . cent. . num. . * 〈◊〉 cent. . num. . * 〈◊〉 de script . brit. cent. . num. . * see villare anglicanum . * 〈◊〉 de script . brit. cent. . num. . * idem cent. . num. . * idem cent. . num. . * collected in 〈◊〉 by mr. hatcher . * i durst venture no farther , finding no more of his name in mr. cambden . * camdens brit : in 〈◊〉 . * i perused the original in the remembrancers ( or sir thomas 〈◊〉 ) office , c. . 〈◊〉 rot . . * fox h●…s acts and mon. pag. . * in his ●…ma 〈◊〉 . * see ●…he life of bishop jewell p●…efixed to his apology . * thus it is written in the original which we have englished , & request the learned readers bette●… 〈◊〉 struction . * guillam's display of heraldry pag. . * gen. . . † exod. . . * cambdens brit. in worcester-shire . * carew in his survey of cornwall fol. . * josh. . . * cambdens brit. in worcester-shire . * stows chron. ●…ag . * dr. humphred in the large latine life of bishop jewel pag. . * in cheshire and northumberland . * william smith in the vale-royal pag. . * camdens brit. in ●…shire . * lev●…t . . * camden in 〈◊〉 - shire plainly proves it out of ●…vase of 〈◊〉 . * l●…b . . 〈◊〉 . hiber . cap. . * camdens brit. in scotia pag. , . * giraldus cambr. lib. expugn . hiber . cap. . * ba●…e de script . brit. cent. . num. . * idem ibidem . * his catalogue of the bishops of worcester set forth . * godwin in the bishops of rochester . * ut prius . * stows survey of london●…n ●…n broadstreetward . * manuscript collections of the industrious antiquary mr. dodsworth extant in the library of the lord fairfax . * bishop godwin his catalogue of the bishops of london . * so was i informed by mr. venners , the minister of st. maries in w●…wick , whose father . was nephew and steward to this bishop . * h. l. esq. pag. . * in staffordshire . * sam. . . * lord coke in his preface to li●…letons tenures . * idem ibidem . * mr. william d●…gdale in his survey of warwick-shire 〈◊〉 the earls of warwick . * mr dugdale in his survey of warwickshire , in the earls of warwick where the preceding particulars are proved out of authentick records . * guillam's dis play of heraldry pag. . * c●…mdens eliz. anno . * theatrum chemicum p. . * w●…dvers fun ▪ ●…on pag. . * pitz. de illus . a●…g . scrip. pa. . * bale de script . brit. cent. . pag. . * prov. . . * j. bale de ●…crip . brit. cent. . num. . * j. pi●… . de script . ang. pa. . anno . amp. * pitz. de ang scrip. in anno . * pitz. de script . a●…g . pag. . * idem ibidem . * that worthy confuter of the rhemish testament . * idem pa. . * idem ibidem . * cent. . num. . * prov. . . * 〈◊〉 de 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 . in 〈◊〉 . tract . . 〈◊〉 . . pag. . * pitz. de script . ang. pag. . * sir geo. paul in the life of arch-bishop whitgist pa. . * sir rob nauton in fragm . r●…gal . * k. james in discourse of powder-treason pag. . * stows chron. pag. . and speeds pa. . * fines moriso●…n his travails pag. . coll. . . * in his collo●…uy intituled uxor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . * out of a manuscript of willam vavasor of hassellwood etquire . * camdens brit. in this county . * marbodaeus in suo de gemmis libell●… . * deu●… . . . * psal. . . * folio . * stow ▪ chro. pag. . * idem ibide●… . * jo. french doctor of physick in his yorkshire spaw pag. . * vide what i have form●…ly write of wonders in northamptonshire . * others conceive it onely to relate to the dangerous haven thereof . * godwin in his annals of q mary . * mr. d●…aiton in his poly-ol●… , song . pag. . * tho ▪ rudburn leland , fabian , ba●…e , and pitz. pag. . * speeds chro. pag. . * near to rotheram . * speeds cronpag . . * chron. . 〈◊〉 . * sir henry spelmans councils . * in his flowers of the lives of the saints pa , . * bishop godwin in the arch-bishops of york . † acts . . * hist. eccles. lib. . cap. , . &c. * in sanctorum numerum retulit vulgus . cam. brit. in yorkshire . * bale de script . brit. cent. . num. . * mat. . . * harpfields eccl. hist. p. . out of whom his life is extracted . * camden●… 〈◊〉 in york shire . * cor. . . * harpfield eccl. hist. p. . * camdens brit. in york-shire . * ovid metam . lib. 〈◊〉 . fol. . * see martyrs in the city of york . * ●…ibro tertio fol. . * . m. . p. . * godwin in the bishops of london . * idem ibidem . * see villare anglicanum . * godwin in the arch bishops of york . * godwin in his arch bishops of york . * see our catalogue of sheriffs in this county . * godwin ut prius . * godwin in his bishops of worcester . * pitz. de script . ang. num. . * catal. of honour p. . * ba●…e . pitz. bishop godwin . * de ang. script . anno . * bale de script . sui temporis p. . * doctor humphred in the life of bishop jewell pag. . and . * mr. 〈◊〉 in h●…s manuscript catal. of the fellows of kings-colledge . * bishop go●…win in ●…be bishops of sarum . * bale de script . brit. cent. . num. . * sir jam●…s ware de praesulibus lageme pag. . * sir james ware de archepis . cassell p. . * so am i inform'd by mr. richard gass●…oinge one descended from him , an accomplished antiquary in record-heraldrie . * tho eliot in his chron. out of whom our modern historians have transcribed it . * stows annals pag. . * j. trussell in the continuation of daniel pag , . * w. sh●…kespear in his second part of the life of king henry the fourth . * original de ipso anno bundello . rot . . * flores historiarum anno gratiae . * flo●…es histo●…rum a●…no g●…atiae . * faithfully collected out of ev●…dences , by that industrious antiquary ro●…ert dodsworth . * spelmans glossary verbo justitiarius . * id●…m ib●…dem . * stows cron. pag. . * acts & mon. p. . * nordens speculum brit. pag. . * extant in york-house in the library of the lord fai●…fax . * in his elizabeth , anno . see the register of that st. dunstan . * stows chron. pag. . * stow●… chronicle ja●… . * in the benefactors to the publick in 〈◊〉 . * in his medulla , towards the end thereof , to g. nevil archbishop of york . * bale de script . brit. cent. . 〈◊〉 . . * theatrum chem. brit. pag. . so his near kinsman and apothecary living on snow-hill informed me . * de script . brit. sect . . pag. . * bale de scrip●…t b●…it . cent. . num . ●… . * bale de script . brit. cent. . num. . * tim . . * in his life written by himself . * bale de script . brit. cent. . num●…ro . * godwin in the bishops of st. asaph . * cited and confuted by cambden in sussex . * bale de script . brit. cent. . num. . * bale out of leland . cent. . num. . * pits de ang. script . pag. . * eccles. . . * bale de script . brit. cent. . num. . * bale de script . brit. cent. . num. . * stow in his survey of london in bride vvard without . * pits de ang. script in an. . * de script . brit. cent. . num. ▪ * b●…ian twin●… an●…iq . oxon. in hoc anno. * b●…le de script . brit. cent. . num. . * bile de script . b●…it . cent. . num. . * pits de script . aug. anno. . * b●…le de script . brit. cent. . num. . * bale in his book called scriptores nostri temporis . * bale de script . brit. cent. . num. ●… . * pitz. de ang. script . in anno . * idem ibidem . * bale de script . b it . cent. . num. . * edw. grant in the life of ascham . * camdens eliz. anno . * so i am informed by mr. christopher shute , minister of saint ve●… in london , heir to his fathers vertu●… . * in the beginning of his book against mr. gattacre . * may . . at the writing hereof . * par. her. skelet . cap. . lib. m &c. * j. pi●… de ang. script . pag. . * ut prius pag. . * king. . ▪ * gen. . . * exod. . . * godwin in his catalogue of bishops out of r. ho●…e len . * cam. brit. in yorkshire . * sed quaere , because he appears not in sir h. spelmans catalogue . * see the worthyes general of england cap. . * buchanan rerum scotiarum lib. . sol . . * statut. . hen. . cap. . * the words are cited by sir john davis in his discovery of ireland , pag. . † annales hibern . at the end of camdens brit. anno . * brit. 〈◊〉 t●…rksh re . * fol. . * camdens brit. in yorkshire . * idem ibidem . * camdens eliz anno . * sam. . . * sir jo. harrington in the arch-bishops of york . * mark . . * the writer of the life of aeneas syl●…ius or pope pius secundus . * psal. . . * see the life of arch-bishop mountain in the b●…efactors of this county . * b. de scrip●… . brit. num. . cent. . * in 〈◊〉 suâ ad carolum mag●…um . * eusebius . lib. cap. . * a sam. . ●… . s. n. * godwin in the arch bishops o●… york . * script . brit. cen●… . . num. . * fox acts and mon. p. ●… . * idem ibidem pag. . * idem ibidem . * mark. . . * godwin in the catalogue of the archbishops of york . * godwin in his catalogue of bishops . * . † in the pre●… 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 city . * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 script . 〈◊〉 num. . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . * idem . 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 * see camdens brit. in hereford-shire . * mr. sanderson his history of king james hoc anno . notes for div a -e * edward . h●…nry . henry . * in his brit. in shropshire . notes for div a -e * t. mills in his catal. of hon. pag. . * prov. . . * dan. . , . * dum●…sa pendere procul de rupe capellae . egl. . † gen. . . * exod. . . * exod. . . * fox acts and mon. pa. . * nat. hist. lib. . cap. . * sam. . . * s●… . . . * plin. nat. hist. lib. 〈◊〉 . cap. . † va●…ro de lingua lat. * atlas 〈◊〉 bohemia . * that is the wort or boiled liquor . * job . . * esai . . . * tacitus * zonaras and out of h●…m camden in his remains pag. . * horace de arte poetica . * fox acts and mon. pag. . * idem p. . * idem p. ●… . a m p. * see the story at large in mr. foxes acts and mon. * mar ▪ . . * relicta cambria sold natali . bale cent. . num. . * b●…le ut prius . * fox acts & mon. pag. . * in cat. card. pag. . * pitz. de ang. script . p. . bale de script . brit. cent. . num. . † speculum sal. lib. . cap. . * bale de script . brit. cent. . num. . * de script . brit. cent. . num. . * tim. . . * see his life in suffolk . * bishop godwin in his car. of b●…shops of l●…ndaffe . * mr. james chaloner in his descr. of the is●… of man pag. . * idem pag. ●… . * bale de script . brit. cent. . num. . * pitz. aetat . decima sexta anno . * idem ibidem . * bale de script . brit. cent. . num. . * in our preface to the reader . * virgil ecloga sixta . * bale de script . brit. cent . num. . * in the writers of somerset-shire . * bale de script . brit. cent. . num . † camdens b●…it . in somersetsh●…e . * bale de script . b●…it . cen●… . ●… . num. . * bale de script . brit cent. . num. . * bale de script . b●…it . cent. . num. . * bale de script . b●…t . cent. . num. . * a nominative case singular , according to the barbarisme of that age . * bale de script . brit. cent. . nam . . * bale de script . b●…it . cent. . num. . * timo. . . * bale de script . brit. cent. . num. . * c●…nt . . num. . * bale de script . brit. cent. : num. . * script . brit. cent. . num. . * pitz. de angscript . ae●…at . . an . . * bishop carleton in the life of mr. gilpin . * idem ibidem . in hoc medio cursu [ inter iberniam & britanniam ] est insula quae appellatur mona . caesar de bello gallico . lib. . * see speed his description thereof . * mat. . . luk. . . * see erasmus in his chil. in prov. antionius asinus . humphrey llyid in his learned letters to ortelius . * camb. brit. in that county . * camb. brit. in anglesey . * godwin in the bishops of bangor . * fox his act●… and mon. a●… . . pag. ●… . * see more in the martyrs of carmarthenshire . * sir james ware de praesulibus 〈◊〉 . * camb. 〈◊〉 . in angle●…y . * judg. . . * speed in the decription of anglesey . * speed in his description of this county . 〈◊〉 ut prius . gen. . . gen. . . * job ●… : . * natural quest . cap. . dr. hackwill in his apology , lib. . sect . . * as he confesseth in the description of this shire . * see cambdens brit. in b●…nockshire . * rob. buckley m. s. in vilis ss . mulierum angliae in vita sanctae keyn●… . fol. . * carew his survey of cornwal . pag. . * jo. capgrave in cabal . s. s. brit. * engl. martyr . on the . august . * godwin in the bishops of hereford . pag. . * so was i told by his brother mr. james howel . * speeds chronicle in the raign of king rich. the third * psal. . ●… . * speed in the description of this coun●…y . * qu●…ti ●…mtes volv●… aquarum . ovidius . * dr p●…well in his histo●…y of wales pag. . * dr. davis in his proverbs litera ch. * roger houeden , and out of him mr. cam●…d , in this county . * josh. . . † jonah . . * revel . . . * camb. 〈◊〉 in this county . * mills in his catalogue of honour in the earls of essex . * . horse and . foot . * camb. eliz. anno . * camb. eliz. anno . * camb. eliz. anno . * dr. brown in his vulgar errors , book . ch. . * ioh. . . * dr. powell in his history of wales , pag. . * in his history of ireland . * 〈◊〉 paris anno notato , pag. . * camb. brit. in ●…shire . * cambd brit. in insulis brita●… . * kin. . . * cited in h. holl●…nd , but made ( as i have been told ) by j. owex . * reckoned up by bishop go●…dwin in his catalog●…e . * godwin in the bishops of bangor . * in his brit. in the description of this county . * nat. hist. lib. . cap. . * comb. b●…it . in d●…nbigshire * zonaras tom. . * b●…schius de monast. germ. fol. . * marian. scot. in chron. sub an. . * sab●…llicus enne . . lib. . * lo●…d b●…coas henry 〈◊〉 ●…venth , pag. . * b●…shop good●… in the bishops of saint asaph . * camb. brit. in de●…b . 〈◊〉 . * bis●…op godwin ut prius . * idem . ibid. * g●…briel 〈◊〉 . * in cratylo . * stows survey of london . pag. . * sam. . * mr. john jones . * w. smith in his vale royal of englant , pag. . * speeds chron. pag. . * 〈◊〉 de scrip . 〈◊〉 . cent. . 〈◊〉 ●… . * arch-●…shop 〈◊〉 de 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 . primor . * acta s. 〈◊〉 apud sur. tom. . . novemb . & breviar . sec. 〈◊〉 sarum in l●…ct . s. 〈◊〉 . & r.b. in her manuscript life in the english colledg in st. omers . * camb. brit. 〈◊〉 flint-shire . * hierom. porter 〈◊〉 sanctorum , may . * bale de scrip . brit. cent. . num. . * bale & pits de scrip . 〈◊〉 . * j. 〈◊〉 de scrip . hib. pag. . * 〈◊〉 . r●…m . pag . * in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in this county . * camb. 〈◊〉 . anno . † gwillims 〈◊〉 . * camb. eliz. anno . * lord herbert in the life of k. hen. . * hist. council of trent . lib. . . * ibid. paulo ante eod . * c●…mb . e●…iz . a●…no . * camb. b●…it . in merionithshire . * idem . ibidem . a m p. * in the ●…ers of english saint●… , pag. . * idem ibidem . * draiton in i●…'s poly●…bion , pag. . * in the proverbs in hereford-shiré . * nehem. . . so was i informed b●… si●… 〈◊〉 . herbert his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , late m●…ster of the revels . * courteously c●…mmunicated unto me by mr. stone the stone - 〈◊〉 at his house in long acre . * deut. . . * 〈◊〉 . in londo●… , stat. . of q. eliz. cap. . and probably twice as many in the land beside . * . of q. eliz. cap. . * camb. brit. in monmouthshire . * cicaonius * bishop godwin in the catalogue o●… the bishops of s. asaph . * harpf. hist. eccl. ang. pag. . * godw. in his catalogue of bishops in landaff . * antiq. brit. anno praedicto . * godwin in the bishops of worcester . * camb. brit. in this county . † mills in his catalogue of hon. pag. * epist. ad a●…ticum , lib. . * camb. e●…z . in anno . * idem . . * ●…ale de scrip . b●…t . c●…nt . . 〈◊〉 . * bale de script . brit. cent . . num . . * id. ibid. amp. * speeds chro. in the foundation of bennet college . * mills catal. of honour in the dukes of 〈◊〉 . * 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 , esq. * reckoned up in stow his survey of london , pag. . * ca●…b . brit. in this county . * i●… agro ●…otius vvaliiae amoe●…ssimo , giral . cambren . * giral . cambr. * giral . itin. cambr. lib. . cap. . * sir baco●… ●… in the conclusion of his character in his life . * in the beginning of the raign of queen mary , s●…ow . pag. . * vvevers fun. mon. pag. . * j. capgrave in catal. s. s. b●…it . * godwin in the bishops of st. davids . † j. vvareus de scrip . hib. pag. . * lib. ●… . cap. . extant in sir r. cottons library . * in the life time of king he●… . his father . * k. 〈◊〉 . . and his sons . * and to make it an absolute metropolitan . * in his b●…it . in this shire . * ibid ibidem . * in his ca●… of the bish●…ps of l●…ndaff . * d●… . powel in his ▪ history of vv●…les . pag. . * ibid. ibidem . the cause and cure of a vvounded conscience by tho. fuller ... fuller, thomas, - . this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text r in the english short title catalog (wing f ). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a wing f estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) the cause and cure of a vvounded conscience by tho. fuller ... fuller, thomas, - . [ ], p. printed for john williams ..., london : . reproduction of original in cambridge university library. table of contents: p. [ ]-[ ] eng conscience. christian ethics. a r (wing f ). civilwar no the cause and cure of a vvounded conscience. by tho: fuller, b.d. fuller, thomas d the rate of defects per , words puts this text in the d category of texts with between and defects per , words. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - judith siefring sampled and proofread - judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the cause and cure of a vvovnded conscience . by tho: fuller , b. d. prov. . . but a wounded conscience who can beare ? london , printed for john williams , at the crowne in s. pauls churchyard . m d c xlvii . to the right honourable , and vertuous lady , frances mannours , countesse of rutland . madam , by the judicial law of the jewes , if a servant had children by a wife which was given him by his master , though he himselfe went forth free in the seventh yeere , yet his children did remain with his master , as the proper goods of his possession . i ever have been , and shall be a servant to that noble family , whence your honour is extracted . and of late in that house i have been wedded to the pleasant embraces of a private life , the fittest wife , and meetest helper that can be provided for a student in troublesome times : and the same hath been bestowed upon me by the bounty of your noble brother , edw : lord montague : wherefore what issue soever shall result from my mind , by his meanes most happily marryed to a retired life , must of due redound to his honour , as the sole proprietarie of my paines during my present condition . now this booke is my eldest off-spring , which had it beene a sonne , ( i mean , had it been a worke of masculine beauty and bignesse ) it should have waited as a page in dedication to his honour . but finding it to be of the weaker sexe , little in strength , and low in stature , may it be admitted ( madam ) to attend on your ladiship , his honours sister . i need not mind your ladiship how god hath measured outward happinesse unto you by the cubit of the sanctuarie , of the largest size , so that one would be posed to wish more then what your ladiship doth enjoy . my prayer to god shall be , that shining as a pearle of grace here , you may shine as a starre in glory hereafter . so resteth your honours in all christian offices , tho : fuller . boughton , ian. . . to the christian reader . as one was not anciently to want a wedding garment at a marriage feast ; so now adayes , wilfully to weare gaudy cloathes at a funerall , is justly censurable as unsuiting with the occasion . wherefore in this sad subject , i have endeavoured to decline all light and luxurious expressions : and if i be found faulty therein , i cry and crave god and the reader pardon . thus desiring that my pains may prove to the glory of god , thine , and my owne edification , i rest , thine in christ jesus , thomas fuller . the contents of the severall dialogues . . dialogue . what a wounded conscience is , wherewith the godly and reprobate may be tortured . page . . dial. what use they are to make thereof , who neither hitherto were ( nor haply hereafter shall be ) visited with a wounded conscience . p. . . dial. three solemne seasons when men are surprised with wounded consciences . p. . . dial. the great torment of a wounded conscience , proved by reasons and examples . p. dial. soveraign uses to be made of the torment of a wounded conscience . page . . dial. that in some cases more repentance must be preached to a wounded conscience . p. . . dial. onely christ is to be applyed to soules truly contrite . p. . . dial. answers to the objections of a wounded conscience , drawne from the grievousnesse of his sins . p. . . dial. answers to the objections of a wounded conscience drawn from the slightnesse of his repentance . p. . dial. answers to the objections of a wounded conscience , drawn from the feeblenesse of his faith . p. . . dial. god alone can satisfie all objections of a wounded conscience . p. . . dial. means to be used by wounded consciences , for the recovering of comfort . p. . . dial. foure wholsome counsels for a wounded conscience to practice . p. . . dial. comfortable meditations for wounded consciences to muse upon . p. . dial. that is not alwayes the greatest sin whereof a man is guilty , wherewith his conscience is most pained for the present . p. . . dial. obstructions hindring the speedy flowing of comfort into a troubled soule . p. . . dial. what is to be conceived of their finall estate who die in a wounded conscience without any visible comf●…rt ; p. . dial. of the different time and manner of the comming of comfort to such who are healed of a wounded conscience . p. . . dial. how such who are compleatly cured of a wounded conscience , are to demeane themselves . p. . dial. whether one cured of a wounded con●…cience , be subject to a relapse . p. . . dial. whether it be lawfull to pray for , or to pray against , or to praise god for a wounded conscience . p. . the cause & cure of a wounded conscience . i. dialogue . what a wounded conscience is , wherewith the godly and reprobate may be tortured . timotheus . seeing the best way never to know a wounded conscience , by wofull experience , is speedily to know it by a sanctified consideration thereof : give me ( i pray you ) the description of a wounded conscience , in the highest degree thereof . philologus . it is a conscience frighted at the sight of * sin , and weight of gods wrath , even unto the despaire of all pardon , during the present agony . tim. is there any difference betwixt a broken * spirit , and a wounded conscience , in this your acception ? phil. exceeding much : for a broken spirit is to be prayed and laboured for , as the most healthfull and happy temper of the soule , letting in as much comfort , as it leakes out sorrow for sinne : whereas a wounded conscience is a miserable maladie of the mind , filling it for the present with despaire . tim. in this your sense , is not the conscience wounded every time that the soule is smitten with guiltinesse for any sinne committed ? phil. god forbid : otherwise his servants would be in a sad condition , as in the case of david * smitten by his owne heart , for being ( as he thought ) over-bold with gods anointed , in cutting off the skirt of sauls garment ; such hurts are presently heal'd by a plaister of christs blood , applyed by faith , and never come to that height to be counted and called wounded c●…nsciences . tim. are the godly , a●… well as the wicked , subject to this malady ? phil. yes verily : vessels of honour as well as vessels of wrath in this world , are subject to the knocks and br●…ises of a wounded conscience . a patient job , p●…ous david , faithfull paul may be vexed therewith no lesse then a cursed cain , perfidious achit●…phil , or treacherous judas . tim. what is the difference betwixt a wounded conscience in the godly , and in the reprobate ? phil. none at all ; oft times in the parties apprenensions , both ( for the time being ) conceiving their estates equally desperate ; little , if any , in the widenesse and anguish of the wound it selfe , which ( for the time ) may be as tedious and torturing in the godly , as in the wicked . tim. how then doe they differ ? phil. exceeding much in gods intention , gashing the wicked , as malefactors , out of justice , but lancing the godly , out of love , as a surgeon his patients . likewise they differ in the issue and event of the wound , which ends in the eternall confusion of the one , but in the correction & amendment of the other . tim. some have said , that in the midst of their pain , by this mark they may be distinguished , because the godly , when wounded , complain most of their sinnes , and the wicked of their sufferings . phil. i have heard as much ; but dare not lay too much stresse on this slender signe , ( to make it generally true ) for feare of failing . for sorrow for sin , and sorrow for suffering , are oft times so twisted and interwoven in the same person , yea in the same sigh and groane , that sometimes it is impossible for the partie himself so to separate and divide them in his owne sense and feeling , as to know which proceedeth from the one and which from the other . onely the all-seeing eye of an infinite god is able to discerne and distinguish them . tim. informe me concerning the nature of wounded consciences in the wicked . phil. excuse he herein : i remember a passage in s. * augustine , who enquired what might be the cause that the fall of the angells is not plainly set down in the old testam. with the manner and circumstances thereof , resolveth it thus : god , like a wise surgeon , would not open that wound which he never intended to cure : of whose words thus farre i make use , that as it was not according to gods pleasure to restore the devils , so it being above mans power to cure a wounded conscience in the wicked , i will not meddle with that which i cannot mend : onely will insist on a wounded conscience i●… gods children , where , by gods blessing , one may be the instrument , to give some ease , and remedy unto their disease . ii. dialogue . what use they are to make thereof , who neither hitherto were ( nor haply hereafter spall be ) visited with a wounded conscience . tim. are all gods children , either in their life or at their death , visited with a wounded conscience ? phil. o no : god inviteth many , with his golden scepter , whom he never bruiseth with his r●…d of iron . many , neither in their conversion , nor in the sequell of their lives , have ever felt that paine in such a manner and measure , as amounteth to a wounded conscience . tim. must not the pangs in their travell of the new-birth be painfull unto them ? phil. painfull , but in different degrees . the blessed virgin mary ( most hold ) was deliver'd without any paine ; `as well may that child be borne without sorrow , which is conceived without sin . the women of israel were sprightfull and lively , unlike the egyptians . * the former favour none can have , in their spirituall travell ; the latter some receive , who though other whiles tasting of legall frights and fears , yet god so * preventeth them with his blessings of goodnesse , that they smart not so deeply therein as other men . tim. who are those which commo●…ly have such gentle usage in their conversion ? phil. generally such , who never were notoriously profane , and have had the benefit of godly education from pious parents . in some corporations , the sons of free-men , bred under their fathers in their profession , may set up and exercise their fathers trade , without ever being bound apprentices thereunto . such children whose parents have been citizens of new * jerusalem , and have been bred in the mysterie of godlinesse , oftentimes are entred into religion without any spirit of bondage seizing upon them , a great benefit and rare blessing , where god in his goodnesse is pleased to bestow it . tim. what may be the reason of gods so different dealing with his owne servants , that some of them are so deeply , and others not at all afflicted with a wounded conscience ? phil. even so father , because it pleaseth thee . yet in humility these reasons may be assigned , . to shew himselfe a free agent , not confined to follow the same precedent , and to deal with all as he doth with some . . to render the prospect of his proceedings the more pleasant to their fight , who judiciously survey it , when they meet with so much diversity and variety therein . . that men being both ingorant when , and uncertaine whether or not , god will vi●…it them with wounded conciences , may wait on him with humble hearts , in the worke of their salvation , looking as the eyes of the * servants to receive orders from the hand of their master , but what , when , and how they know not , which quickens their daily expectations , and diligent dependance on his pleasure . tim. i am one of those , whom god hitherto hath humbled with a wounded conscience : give me some instruction for my behaviour . phil. first be heartily thankfull to gods infinite goodnesse , who hath not dealt thus with every one . now because repentance hath two parts , mourning , and mending , or humiliation , and reformation , the more god hath abated thee , in the former , out of his gentlenesse , the more must thou increase in the latter , out of thy gratitude . what thy humiliation hath wanted of other men , in the depth thereof , let thy reformation make up in the bredth thereof , spreading into an universall obedience unto all gods commandements . well may he expect more work to be done by thy hands , who hath laid lesse weight to be borne on thy shoulders . tim. what other use must i make of gods kindnesse unto me ? phil. you are bound the more patiently to beare all gods rods , poverty , sicknesse , disgrace , captivity , &c. seeing god hath freed thee from the stinging scorpion of a wounded conscience . tim. how shall i demeane my selfe for the time to come ? phil. be not high minded , but feare ; for thou canst not infallibly inferre , that because thou hast not hitherto , hereafter thou shalt not taste of a wounded conscience . tim. i will therefore for the future with continuall feare , wait for the comming thereof . phil. wait not for it with servile feare , but watch against it with constant carefulnes . there is a slavish feare to be visited with a wounded conscience , which feare is to be avoided , for it is opposite to the free spirit of grace , derogatory to the goodnesse of god in his gospel , destructive to spiritull joy , which we ought alwayes to have , and dangerous to the soule wrecking it with anxieties , and unworthy suspitions . thus to feare a wounded conscience , is in part to feele it , antidating ones misery , and tormenting himselfe before the time , seeking for that he would be loth to finde : like the wicked in the * gospel , of whom it is said , mens hearts failing them for feare , and looking for those things which are comming . far be such a feare from thee , and all good christians . tim. what feare then is it , that you so lately recommended unto me ? phil. one consisting in the cautions avoiding of all causes and occasions of a wounded conscience , conjoyned with a confidence in gods goodnesse , that he will either preserve us from , or protect us in the torture thereof ; and if he ever sends it , will sanctifie it in us , to his glory , and our good . may i , you , and all gods servants , ever have this noble feare ( as i may terme it ) in our hearts . iii. dialogue . three solemne seasons when men are surprized with wounded consciences . tim. what are those times , wherein men most commonly are assaulted with wounded consciences ? phil. so bad a guest may visit a man at any houre of his life : for no season is unseasonable for god to be just , satan to be mischievous , and sinfull man to be miserable ; yet it happeneth especially at three principall times . tim. of these , which is the first ? phil. in the twilight of a mans conversion , in the very conflict and combat betwixt nature and innitiall grace . for then he that formerly slept in carnall security , is awakened with his fearfull condition : god , as he saith , psal. . . setteth his sins in order before his eyes . inprimis , the sin of his conception . item , the sinnes of his childhood . item , of his youth . item , of his mans estate , &c. or , inprimis , sinnes against the first table . item , sins against the second ; so many of ignorance , so many of knowledge , so many of presumption severally sorted by themselves . hee committed sinnes confusedly , hudling them up in heaps , but god sets them in order , and methodizeth them to his hand . tim. sins thus set in order must needs be a terrible sight . phil. yes surely , the rather because the metaphor may seem taken from setting an army in battell array . at this conflict in his first conversion , behold a troup of sinnes commeth , and when god himself shal marshall them in rank and file , what guilty conscience is able to endure the furious charge of so great and well order'd an army ? tim. suppose the party dies before he be compleatly converted in this twilight condition , as you term it , what then becomes of his soule , which may seeme too good to dwell in outer darknesse with devils , and too bad to goe to the god of light ? phil. your supposition is impossible . remember our discourse onely concerneth the godly . now god never is father to abortive children , but to such who according to his appointment shall come to perfection . tim. can they not therefore die in this interim , before the work of grace be wrought in them ? phil. no verily : christs bones were in themselves breakable , but could not actually be broken by all the violence in the world , because god hath fore-decreed , a bone of him shall not be broken . so we confesse gods children mortall , but all the power of devill or man may not , must not , shall not , cannot kill them before their conversion , according to gods election of them to life , wth must be fully accomplished . ti : what is the . solemn time , wherin wounded cōsciēces assault men ? phil. after their conve●…sion cōpleated , and this either upon the committing of a conscience-wasting sin , such as tertullian calleth peccatum devoratorium salutis , or upon the undergoing of some heavy affliction of a bigger standard and proportion , blacker hu●… and complexion then what befalleth ordinary men , as in the case of job . tim. which is the third , and last time , when wounded consci●…nces commonly walke abroad ? phil. when men lie on their death-beds , sathan must now roare , or else for ever hold his peace : roare he may afterwards with very anger to vex himselfe , not with any hope to hurt us . there is mention in scripture of an evill day ; which is most applyable to the time of our death . we read also of an houre of * temptation ; and the * prophet tells us there is a moment , wherein god may seeme to for sake us . now sathan being no lesse cunning to finde out , then carefull to make use of his time of advantage , in that moment of that houre of that day , will put hard for our soules , and we must expect a shrewd parting blow from him . tim. your dolefull prediction disheartens me , for feare i be foild in my last encounter . phil. be of good comfort : through christ we shall be victorious , both in dying and in death it selfe . remember gods former favours bestowed upon thee . indeed wicked men , from premisses of gods power collect a conclusion of his weaknesse , psal. . . behold be smot the rock , that the waters 〈◊〉 out , and the streames over-flowed : can he give bread also ? can ●…e provide flesh for his people ? but gods children * by better logick , ●…rom the prepositions of gods former preservations , inferre his power and pleasure to protect them for the future . be assured , that god which hath beene the god of the mountaines , and made our mountaines strong in time of our prosperity , will also be the god of the valleys , and lead us safe * through the valley of the shadow of death . iv. dialogue . the great torment of a wounded conscience , proved by reasons and examples . tim. is the paine of a wounded conscience so great as is pretended ? phil. god * saith it , we have seene it , and others have felt it : whose complaints , ●…avour as little of dissimulation , as their cries in a fit of the cholique , doth of counterfeiting . tim. whence comes this wound to be so great and grievous ? phil. six reasons may be assigned thereof . the first drawn from the heavinesse of the hand which makes the wound ; namely , god himslfe , conceived under the notion of an infinite angry judge . in all other afflictions , man encountreth only with man , and in the worst temptations , only with sathan , but in a wounded conscience , he enters the lists immediately with god himselfe . tim. whence is the second reason fetcht ? phil. from the * sharpnesse of the sword , wherewith the wound is made , being the word of god , and the keen threatnings of the law therein contained . there is mention gen. . . of a sword turning every way : parallel whereto is the word of god in a wounded conscience . mans heart is full of windings , turnings and doublings , to shift and shunne the stroke thereof if possible , but this sword meets them wheresoever they move , it fetcheth and finds them out , it hants and hunts them , forbidding them during their agony , any entrance into the paradise of one comfortable thought . tim. whence is the third reason derived ? phil. from the tendernesse of the part it selfe which is wounded ; the conscience being one of the eyes of the soule , sensible of the smallest hurt . and when that callum , schirrus or inerustation drawn over it by nature , and hardned by custome in sinne , is once 〈◊〉 off , the conscience becomes so pliant and supple , that ●…he least imaginable touch is painf●…ll 〈◊〉 it . tim. what is the fourth reason ? phil. the folly of the patient : who being stung , hath not the wisedome to looke up to christ , the brazen serpent but tormenteth himselfe with his owne activity . it was threatned to * pashur , i will make thee a terrour to thy selfe : so fareth it with gods best saint during the fit of his perplexed conscience ; heareth he his owne voice , he thinketh , this is that which so often hath sworne , lyed , talked vainly , wanton , wickedly ; his voice is a terrour to himselfe . seeth he his own eyes in a glasse , he presently apprehends , these are those which shot forth so many envious , covetous , amorous glances , his eyes are a terrour to himselfe . sheep are observed to flye without cause , scared , ( as some say ) with the sound of their own feet : their feet knack , because they flye , and they fly , because their feet knack , an emblem of gods children in a wounded conscience , selfe-fearing , selfe ▪ frighted . tim. what is the fift reason which makes the paine so great ? phil. because sathan rak●…s his clawes in the reeking blood of a wounded conscience . belzebub the devils name fignifieth in hebrew the lord of flyes ; which excellently intimates his nature and employment : flyes take their selicity about sores and galled backs , to infest and inflame them . so sathan no sooner discovereth ( and that bird of prey hath quick sight ) a soule terrour-struck , but thither he hasts , and is busie to keepe the wound raw , there he is in his throne to doe mischiefe . tim. what is the sixt and last reason why a wounded conscience is so great a torment ? phil. because of the impotency and invaliditie of all earthly receipts to give ease thereunto . for there is such a gulfe of disproportion betwixt a mind-malady and bodymedicines , that no carnall , corporall comforts can effectually work thereupon . tim. yet wine in this case is prescribed in scripture , * give wine to the heavy hearted , that they may remember their misery no more . phil. indeed if the wound be in the spirits , ( those cursiters betwixt soule and body ) to recover their decay or consumption , wine may usefully be applyed : but if the wound be in the spirit in scripture phrase , all carnall , corporall comforts are utterly in vaine . tim. me thinks merry company should doe much to refresh him . phil. alas , a man shall no longer be welcome in merry company , then he is able to sing his part in their joviall consort . when a hunted deere runs for safeguard amongst the rest of the herd , they will not admit him into their company , but beat him off with their hornes , out of principles of selfe-preservation , for feare the hounds , in pursuit of him , fall on them also . so hard it is for man or beast in misery to find a faithfull friend . in like manner , when a knot of bad-good-fellowes perceive one of their society dogg'd with gods terrours at his heeles , they will be shut of him as soone as they can , preferring his roome , and declining his company , lest his sadnesse prove infectious to others . and now if all six reasons be put together , so heavy a hand , smiting with so sharp a sword on so tender a part of so foolish a patient , whilst sathan seeks to widen , and no worldly plaister can cure the wound , it sufficiently proves a wounded conscience to be an exquisite torture . tim. give me i pray an example hereof . phil. when adam had eaten the forbidden fruit , he tarryed a time in paradise , but tooke no contentment therein . the sunne did shine as bright , the rivers ran as cleare as ever before , birds sang as sweetly , beasts played as pleasantly , flowers smelt as fragrant , herbs grew as fresh , fruits flourisht as faire , no puntilio of pleasure was either altered or abated . the objects were the same , but adams eyes were otherwise , his nakednesse stood in his light ; a thorne of guiltinesse grew in his heart , before any thistles sprang out of the ground ; which made him not to seeke for the fairest fruits to fill his hunger , but the biggest leaves to cover his nakednesse . thus a wounded conscience is able to unparadise paradise it selfe . tim. give me another instance . phil. christ jesvs our saviour , he was blinded , buffeted , scourged , scoffed at , had his hands and feet nailed on the crosse , and all this while said nothing . but no sooner apprehended he his father deserting him , groaning under the burthen of the sins of mankind imputed unto him , but presently the lambe , ( who hitherto dumb before his shearer opened not his mouth ) for paine began to bleat , my god , my god , why hast thou forsaken me ? tim. why is a wounded conscience by david resembled to arrowes , * thine arrowes stick fast in me ? phil. because an arrow ( especially if barbed ) rakes & rends the flesh the more , the more mettall the wounded partie hath to strive and struggle with it : and a guilty conscience pierceth the deeper , whilst a stout stomach with might and main seeketh to out-wrastle it . tim. may not a wounded conscience also work on the body , to hasten and heighten the sicknesse thereof ? phil. yes verily , so that there may be employment for * luke , the beloved physitian , ( if the same person with the evangelist ) to exercise both his professions : but we meddle onely with the malady of the mind , abstracted from any bodily indisposition . v. dialogue . soveraign uses to be made of the torment of a wounded conscience . tim. seeing the torture of a wounded conscience is so great , what use is to be made thereof ? phil. very much . and first , it may make men sensible of the intollerable paine in hell fire . if the mouth of the fiery fornace into which the children were cast , was so hot , that it burnt those which approached it , how hot was the fornace it selfe ? if a wounded conscience , the suburbs of hell , be so painfull , oh how extreame is that place , where the worme never dyeth , and the fire is never quenched ? tim. did our roaring boyes ( as they call them ) but seriously consider this , they would not wish god damne them , and god confound them so frequently as they doe . phil. no verily : i read in theodoret of the ancient donatists , that they were so ambitious of martyrdome , ( as they accounted it ) that many of them meeting with a young gentleman requested of him , that he would be pleased to kill them . he , to confute their folly , condescended to their desire , on condition , that first they would be contented , to be all fast bound : which being done , accordingly he took order that they were all soundly whipt , but saved their lives . in application : when i heare such riotous youths wish that god would damne or confound them , i hope god will be more mercifull , then to take them at their words , and to grant them their wish ; only i heartily desire that he would be pleased , sharply to scourge them , and soundly to lash them with the frights & terrours of a wounded conscience . and i doubt not , but that they would so ill like the paine thereof , that they would revoke their wishes , as having little list , and lesse delight to taste of hell hereafter . tim. what other use is to be made of the paine of a wounded conscience ? phil. to teach us seasonably to prevent , what we cannot possibly endure . let us shunne the smallest sinne , lest if we slight and neglect it , it by degrees fester and gangrene into a wounded conscience . one of the bravest * spirits that ever england bred , or ireland buried , lost his life by a light hurt neglected ; as if it had beene beneath his high minde to stoop to the dressing thereof , till it was too late . let us take heed the stoutest of us be not so served in our soules . if we repent not presently of our sinnes committed , but carelesly contemne them , a scratch may quickly prove an ulcer ; the rather , because the flesh of our minde , if i may so use the metaphor , is hard to heale full of cholerick & corrupt humors , and very ready to rancle . tim. what else may we gather for our instruction from the torture of a troubled mind ? phil. to confute their cruelty , who out of sport or spight , willingly and wittingly wound weak consciences ; like those uncharitable * corinthians , who so far improve their liberty in things indifferent , as thereby to wound the consciences of their weake brethren . tim. are not those ministers too blame , who , mistaking their message , instead of bringing the gospell of peace , fright people with legall terrours into despaire ? phil. i cannot commend their discretion , yet will not condemn their intention herein . no doubt their d●…sire and designe is pious , though they erre in the pursuite and prosecution thereof , casting down them whom they cannot raise , and conjuring up the spirit of bondage which they cannot allay againe : wherefore it is our wisest way , to interweave promises with threatnings , and not to leave open a pit of despaire , but to cover it again with comfort . tim. remaineth there not as yet , another use of this poi●…t ? phil. y●…s , to teach us to pitty and pray for those that have afflicted consciences , not like the wicked , * who persecute those whom god hath smitten , and talke to the griefe of such whom he hath wounded . tim. yet eli was a good man , who notwithstanding censured * hannah , a woman of a sorrowfull spirit , to be drunke with wine . phil. imitate not eli in committing , but amending his fault . indeed his dimme eyes could see drunkennes in hannah where it was not , & could not see sacriledge & adultery in his own sonnes , where they were . thus those who are most indulgent to their owne , are most censorious of others . but eli afterwards perceiving his errour , turned tho condemning of ha●…nah into praying for her . in like manner , if in our passion we have prejudiced , or injur'd any wounded consciences , in cold blood let us make them the best amends and reparation . vi . dialogue . that in some cases more repentance must be preached to a wounded conscience . tim. so much for the maladie , now for the remedy . suppos●… you come to a wounded conscience , what counsell will you prescribe him ? phil. if after hearty prayer to god for his direction , he appeareth unto me , as yet , not truely penitent , in the first place i will presse a deeper degree of repentance upon him . tim o miserable comforter ! more sorrow still ! take heed your eyes be not put out with that smoking flax , you seeke to quench , and your fingers wounded with the splinters of that bruised reed you goe about to breake . phil. understand me sir . better were my tongue spit out of my mouth , then to utter a word of griefe to drive them to despaire , who are truly contrite . but on the other side , i shall betray my trust , and be found an unfaithfull dispencer of divine mysteries , to apply comfort to him who is not ripe and ready for it . tim. what harme wol●…d it doe ? phil. raise him for the present , and ruine him , without gods greater mercy for the future . for comfort dawbed on , on a foule soule , will not stick long upon it : and instead of pouring in , i shall spill the precious oyle of gods mercy . yea i may justly bring a wounded conscience upon my selfe , for dealing deceitfully in my stewardship . tim. is it possible one may not be ●…oundly humbled , and yet have a wounde●… conscience ? phil. most possible : for a wounded conscience is often inflicted as a punishment for lacke of true repentance : great is the difference betwixt a mans being frighted at , and humbled for his sinnes . one may passively be cast downe by gods terrours , and yet not willingly throw himselfe downe , as he ought , at gods foot-stoole . tim. seeing his pain is so pittifull as you have formerly proved ; why would you adde more griefe unto him ? phil. i would not adde griefe to him , but alter griefe in him ; making his ●…orrow , not greater , but better . i would endeavour to change his dismall , dolefull dejection , his hid●…s , and horrible heavines , his bitter exclamations , which seeme to me much mixed in him , with pride , impatience , and impen●…tence , into a willing submission to gods pleasure , and into a kindly , gentle , tender gospell-repentance , for his sinnes . tim. but there are some now adayes who maintaine that a child of god after his first conversion , needeth not any new repentance for sinne all the dayes of his life . phil. they derend a grievous and dangerous errour . consider what two petitions christ coupleth together in his prayer : when my body which every day is hungry , can live without gods giving it daily bread , then and no sooner shall i believe , that my soule , which daily sinneth , can spiritually live , without gods forgiving it its trespasses . tim. but such alledge , in proof of their opinion , that a man hath his person justified before god , not by pieces and parcels , but at once and for ever in his conversion . phil. this being granted doth not favour their errour . we confesse god finished the creation of the world , and all therein in six dayes , and then rested from that worke , yet so , that his daily preserving of all things by his providence , may ●…till be accounted a constant and continued creation . we acknowlege in like manner , a child of god justified at once in his conversion , when he is fully and freely estated in gods favour . and yet seeing every daily sinne by him committed , is an aversion from god , and his daily repentance a conversion to god , his justification in this respect , may be conceived intrirely continued all the dayes of his life . tim. what is the difference betwixt the first repentance , and this renewed repentance ? phil. the former is as it were the putting of life into a dead man , the latter the recovering of a sicke man from a dangerous swound ; by the former , sight to the blind is simply restored , and eyes given him ; in the latter , only a filme is removed , drawn over their eyes , and hindering their actuall sight . by the first we have a right title to the kingdome of heaven : by our second repentance , we have a new claime to heaven , by vertue of our old title . thus these two kinds of repentance may be differenced and distinguished , though otherwise they meet and agree in generall qualities : both having sinne for their cause , sorrow for their companion , and pardon for their consequent and effect . tim. but are not gods children after committing of grievous sinnes , and before their renewing their repentance remaine still heires of heav●… , married to christ , and citizens of the new hierusalem ? phil. heires of heaven , they are , but disinheritable for their m●…demeanour . married still to christ , but deserving to be divorced for their adulteri●… . citizens of heaven , but yet outlawed , so that they can recover no right , and receive no benefit , till their out-lawry be reversed . tim. where doth god in scripture injoyne this second repentance on his owne children ? phil. in severall places . he threatneth the * church of ephesus ( the best of the seaven ) wich removing the candlesticke from them , except they repent : and christ telleth his own disciples , true converts before , but then guilty of ambitious thoughts , that * except yee be converted yee shall not enter into the kingdome of heaven . here is conversion after conversion , being a solemne turning from some particular sinne ; in relation to which it is not absurd to say , that there is justification after justification ; the latter as following in time , so flowing from the former . vii . dialogue . onely christ is to be applyed to soules truly contrite . tim. but suppose the person in the ministers apprehension heartily humbled for sinne , what then is to be done ? phil. no corrosives , all cordialls ; no vineger , all oyle ; no law , all gospell must be presented unto him . here blessed the lippes , yea beautifull the feet of him that bringeth the tidings of peace . as * elisha , when reviving the sonne of the shunamite laid his mou●…h to the mouth of the child . so the gaping orifice of christs wounds must spiritually by preaching , be put close to the mouth of the wounds of a conscience : happy that skilfull architect , that can shew the sick man , that the * head stone of his sprituall building , must be laid with shouts , crying grace , grace . tim. which doe you count the head-stone of the building , that which is first or last laid ? phil. the foundation is the head-stone in honour , the top-stone is the head-stone in height . the former the head-stone in strength , the latter in stature . it seemeth that gods spirit , of set purpose ▪ made use of a doubtfull word , to shew that the whole fabricke of our salvation , whether as founded , or as finished , is the only worke of gods grace alone . christ is the alpha and omega thereof , not excluding all the letters in the alphabet interposed . tim. how must the minister preach christ to an afflicted conscience ? phil. he must crucifie him before his eyes , lively setting him forth , naked , to cloath him ; wounded , to cure him ; dying , to save him . he is to expound and explaine unto him , the dignity of his person , pretiousnesse of his blood , plenteousnesse of his mercy , in all those loving relations , wherein the scripture presents him : a kind father to a prodicall child , a carefull hen to a scatter'd chicken , a good shepherd that bringeth his lost sheep back on his shoulders . tim. spare me one question , why doth he not drive the sheepe before him , especially seeing it was lively enough to lose it selfe ? phil. first , because though it had wildnesse too much to goe astray , it had not wisedome enough to goe right . secondly , because probably the ●…lly sheep , had tired it selfe with wandring ; habbabuk . . the people shall wearie themselves for very vanity , and therefore the kind shepheard brings it home on his owne shoulders . tim. pardon my interruption , and proceed , how christ is to be held forth . phil. the latitude and extent of his love , his invitation without exception , are powerfully to be prest ; every one that thi●…teth , all ye that are heavy laden , whosoever beleeveth , and the many promises of mercy are effectually to be tendered unto him . tim. where are those promises in scripture ? phil. or rather , where are they not ? for they are harder to be mist , then to bee met with . open the bible ( as he * drew his bow in battle ) at adventur●…s ▪ if thou lightest on an historicall place , behold precedents ; if on a doctrinall , promises of comfort . for the larter , observe these particulars , gen. . . exo. . . isa. . . isa. . . mat. . . mat. . . cor. . . heb. ▪ . &c. tim. are these more principall places of consolation , then any other in the bible ? phil. i know there is no choosing , where all things are choicest : whosoever shall select some pearles out of such a heap , shall leave behind as precious as any he takes , both in his owne and others judgement ; yea which is more , the same man at severall times may in his apprehension preferre severall promises as best , formerly most affected with one place , for the present more delighted with another ; and afterwards conceiving comfort therein not so cleare , choose other places as more pregnant , and pertinent to his purpose . thus god orders it , that divers men ( and perchance the same man at different times ) make use of all his promises , gleaning and gathering comfort , not only in one furrow , land , or furlong ▪ but as it s scattered clean through the whole field of the scripture . tim. must ministers have varie●…y of severall comfortable promises ? phil. yes surely : such masters of the assembly being to enter and fasten consolation in an afflicted soule , need have many nailes provided aforehand , that if some for the present , chance to drive untowardly , as splitting , going awrie , turning crooked or blunt , they may have others in the roome thereof . tim. but grant , christ held out never so plainly , prest never so powerfully , yet all is in vaine , except god inwardly with his spirit perswade the wounded conscience to beleeve the truth of what he saith . phil. this is an undoubted truth , for one may lay the bread of life on their trencher , and cannot force them to feede on it . one may bring them downe to the spring of life , but cannot make them drinke of the waters thereof ; and therefore in the cure of a wounded conscience , god is all in all , only the touch of his hand , can * heal this kings evill , i kill and make alive , i wound and i heale , neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand . viii . dialogue . answers to the objections of a wounded conscience drawne from the grievousnesse of his sinnes . tim. give me leave now sir to personate & represent a wounded conscience , and to alledge and inforce such principall objections wherewith generally they are grieved . phil. with all my heart , and god blesse my endeavours in answering them . tim. but first i would be satisfied how it comes to passe , that men in a wounded conscience have their parts so presently improved . the jewes did question concerning our saviour , * how knoweth this man letters being never learned ? but here the doubt , and difficulty is greater ; how come simple people so subtile on a sudden to oppose with that advantage , and vehemency , that it would puzzle a good and grave divine to answer them ? phil. two reasons may be rendred thereof . . because a man in a diste●…per , is stronger then when he is in his perfect health . what sampsons are some in the fit of a feaver ? then their spirits , being intended by the violence of their disease , push with all their power . so is it in the agony of a distressed soule , every string thereof is strained to the height , and a man becomes more then himselfe to object against himselfe in a fit of despaire . tim. what is the other reason ? phil. sathan himselfe , that subtile sophister assisteth them . he formes their arguments , frames their objections , fits their distinctions , shapes their evasions ; and this discomforter ( aping gods spirit the comforter , john . . ) bringeth all things to their remembrance , which they have heard or read to dishearten them . need therefore have ministers , when they meddle with afflicted men , to call to heaven afore-hand to assist them , being sure , they shall have hell it selfe to oppose them . tim. to come now to the objections , which afflicted consciences commonly make : they may be reduced to three principall heads . either drawne from the greatnesse and grievousnesse of their sinnes , or from the slightnesse and lightnesse of their repentance , or from th●… faintnesse & feeblenesse of their faith . i begin with the objections of the first forme . phil. i approve your method i p●…ay proceed . tim. first sir , even since my conversion , i have beene guilty of many grievous sinnes , and ( which is worse ) of the same sinne many times committed . happy * judah , who though once committing incest with thamar , yet the text saith , that afterward he knew her again no more . but i vile wretch have often re-fallen into the same offence . phil. all this is answered in gods promise in the * prophet , though your sins be as scarlet , i will make them as snow . consider how the tyrian scarlet was dyed , not overly dipt , but throughly drencht in the liquor , that coloured it , as thy soul in custome of sinning . then was it taken out for a time , and dryed , put in againe , soakt , and sodden the second time in the fatt ; called therefore {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , twice dyed ; as thou complainest thou hast been by relapsing into the same sin . yea the colour so incorporated into the cloath not drawne over , but diving into the very heart of the wool , that rub a scarlet rag on what is white , and it will bestow a redish tincture upon it : as perchance thy sinfull practice , and president , have also infected those which were formerly good , by thy badnesse . yet such scarlet sins so solemnly and substantially coloured , are easily washt white in the blood of our saviour . tim. but , sir , i have sinned against most serious resolutions , yea against most solemne vowes which i have made to the contrary . phil. vow-breaking , though a grievous sinne , is pardonable on unfaigned repentance . if thou hast broken a vow , t●…e a knot on it , to make it hold together againe . it is spirituall thrift , and no mis-becomming basenesse , to piece and joynt thy neglected promises with fresh ones . so shall thy vow in effect be not broken , when new mended : and remain the same , though not by one intire continuation , yet by a constant successive renovation thereof . thus * jacob renewed his neglected vow of going to bethel ; and this must thou doe , re-inforce thy broken vowes , if of moment , and materiall . tim. what mean you by the addition of that clause , if of moment and materiall ? phil. to deale plainly . i dislike many vowes men make , as of reading just so much , and praying so often every day , of confining themselves to such a strict proportion of meate , drinke , sleepe , recreation , &c. many things may be well done , which are ill vowed . such particular vowes men must be very sparing how they make . first , because they savour somewhat of will-worship . secondly , small glory accrews to god thereby . thirdly , the dignitie of vowes are disgraced by descending to too triviall particulars . fourthly , sathan hath ground given him to throw at us , with a more steady aime . lastly , such vowes , instead of being cords to tie us faster to god , prove knots to intangle our consciences : hard to be kept , but oh ! how heavy when broken ? wherefore setting such vowes aside , let us be carefull with david , to keep that grand and generall vow , * i have sworne , and i will performe it , that i will keep thy righteous judgements . tim. but sir i have committed the sinne against the holy ghost , which the saviour of mankind pronounceth unpardonable , and therefore all your counsells and comforts unto me are in vaine . phil. the devill , the father of lyes , hath added this lye to those , which he hath told before , in perswading thee , thou hast comitted the sinne against the holy ghost . for that sinne is ever attended with these two symptomes . first , the party guilty thereof never grieves for it , nor conceives the least sorrow in his heart , for the sinne he hath committed . the second ( which followeth on the former ) he never wisheth or desireth any pardon , but is delighted , and pleased with his present condition . now if thou canst truely say , that thy sinnes are a burden unto thee , that thou dost desire forgivenesse , and wouldest give any thing , to compasse and obtaine it ; be of good comfort , thou hast not as yet , and by gods grace , never shalt , commit that unpardonable offence . i will not define how neere thou hast beene unto it . as david said to jonathan , there is not a haires breadth betwixt death and me : so it may be thou hast m●…st it very narrowly , but assure thy selfe , thou art not as yet guilty thereof . ix . dialogue . answers to the objections of a wounded conscience drawne from the slightnesse of his repentance . tim. i beleeve my sinnes are pardonable in themselves , but alas my stony heart is such , that it cannot relent and repent , and therefore no hope of my salvation . phil. wouldest thou sincerely repent ? thou dost repent . the women that came to embalme * christ , did carefully forecast with themselves , who shall role away the stone from the doore of the sepulcher ? alas their fraile , faint , feeble arms were unable to remove such a weight . but what followeth ? and when they looked , they saw that the stone was rolled away , for it was very great . in like manner , when a soule is truly troubled about the massie mighty burden of his stony heart interposed , hindring him from comming to christ ; i say when he is seriously and sincerely solicitous about that impediment , such desiring is a doing , such wishing is a working . doe thou but take care it may be removed , and god will take order it shall be removed . tim. but sir i cannot weep for my sinnes ; my eyes are like the pit wherein joseph was put , there is no water in them , i cannot squeeze one teare out of them . phil. before i come to answer your objection , i must premise a profitable observation . i have taken notice of a strange opposition betwixt the tongues and eyes of such as have troubled consciences . their tongues some have known ( and i have heard ) complaine that they cannot weepe for their sinnes , when at that instant their eyes have plentifully shed store of teares : not that they speake out of dissimulation , but distraction . so somtimes have i smiled at the simplicity of a child , who being amased , and demanded whether or no he could speake ? hath answered , no . if in like manner at the sight of such a contradiction betwixt the words and deeds of one in the agony of a wounded conscience , we should chance to smile , knew us not to jeere , but joy , perceiving the party in a better condition , then he conceiveth himselfe . tim. this your observation may be comfortable to others , but is impertinent to me . for as i told you i i have by nature such dry eyes that they will afford no moisture to bemoan my sinnes . phil. then it is a naturall defect , and no morall default , so by consequence a suffering and no sinne , which god will punish . god doth not expect the cock should runne water , where he put none into the cisterne . know also , their hearts may be fountaines whose eyes are flints , and may inwardly bleed , who doe not outwardly weep . besides * christ was sent to preach comfort , not to such only as weep , but mourne in zion . yea if thou canst squeeze out no liquor , offer to god the empty bottles ; instead of tears , tender and present thy eyes unto him . and though thou beest water-bound , be not wind-bound also , sigh , where thou canst not sob , and let thy lungs doe what thy eyes cannot performe . tim. you say something , though i cannot weep , in case i could soundly sorrow for my sinnes . but alas , for temporall losses and crosses , i am like r●…chell , ●…amenting for her children , and would not be comforted . but my sorrow for my sins is so small , that it appeares none at all in proportion . phil. in the best saints of god , their sorrow for their sinnes being measured with the sorrow for their sufferings , in one respect , will fall short of it , in another must equall it , and in a third respect doth exceed and goe beyond it . sorrow for sins falleth short of sorrow for sufferings , in loud lamenting or violent uttering it selfe in outward expressions thereof ; as in roaring , wringing the hands , rending their haire , and the like . secondly , both sorrowes are equall in their truth and sincerity , both farre from hypocrisie , free from dissimulation , reall , hearty , cordiall , uncounterfeited . lastly , sorrow for sinne exceeds sorrow for suffering , in the continuance and durablenesse thereof : the other like a land-flood , quickly come , quickly gone ; this is a continuall dropping or running river , keeping a constant stream . my sins , saith david , are ever before me ; so also is the sorrow for sinne in the soule of a child of god , morning , evening , day , night , when sicke , when sound , feasting , fasting , at home , abroad , ever within him : this griefe beginneth at his conversion , continueth all his life , endeth only at his death . tim. proceed i pray in this comfortable point . phil. it may still be made plainer by comparing two diseases together , the tooth-ache and consumption . such as are troubled with the former , shreek and cry out , troublesome to themselves , and others , in the same and next roofe ; and no wonder , the mouth it selfe being plaintiffe , if setting forth its owne grievances to the full . yet the tooth-ache is knowne to be no mortall maladie , having kept some from their beds , seldome sent them to their graves ; hindred the sleep of many , hastned the death of few . on the other side , he that hath an incurable consumption saith little , cryes lesse , but grieves most of all . alas , he must be a good husband of the little breath left in his broken lungs , not to spend it in fighing , but in living , he makes no noise , is quiet , and silent ; yea none will say , but that his inward griefe is greater then the former . tim. how apply you this comparison to my objection ? phil. in corporall calamities , thou complainest more , like him in the tooch-ache , but thy sorrow for thy sinne , like a consumption , which lyes at thy heart , hath more solid heavinesse therein . thou dost take in more griefe for thy sinnes , though thou mayest take on more grievously for thy sufferings . tim. this were something if my sorrow for sinne were sincere , but alas , i am but a hypocri●…e . there is * mention in the proph●…t of gods besome of destruction ; now the trust of a hypocrite , job . . is called a spiders web , here is my case , when gods besome meets with the cobwebs of my hypocri●…e , i shall be swept into hel-fire . phil. i answer , first in generall : i am glad to heare this objection come from thee , for selfe-suspition of hypocrisie , is a hopefull symptome of sincerity . it is a david that cryes out , as for me i am poore and needy ; but luke-warme laodicea that braggeth , i am rich and want nothing . tim. answer i pray the objection in particular . phil. presently , when i have premised the great difference , betwixt a mans being a hypocrite , and having some hypocrisie in him . wicked men are like the apples of * sodome , seemingly faire , but nothing but ashes within , the best of gods servants , like sound apples , lying in a dusty loft , ( living in a wicked world ) gathering much dust about them , so that they must be rubb'd or pared , before they can be eaten . such notwithstanding are sincere , and by the following marks may examine themselves . tim. but some now adayes are utter enemies to all markes of sincerity , counting it needlesse for preachers to propound , or people to apply them . phil. i know as much ; but it is the worst signe , when men in this nature hate all signes : but no wonder if the foundred horse , cannot abide the smiths pincers . tim. proceed i pray in your signes of sincerity . phil. art thou carefull to order thy very thoughts , because the infinite searcher of the heart doth behold them ? dost thou freely and fully confesse thy sinnes to god , spreading them open in his presence , without any desire or endeavour to deny , dissemble , defend , excuse , or extenuate them ? dost thou delight in an universall obedience to all gods lawes , not thinking with the superstitious jewes , by over-keeping the fourth commandement , to make reparation to god for breaking all the rest ? dost thou love their persons and preaching best , who most clearly discover thine owne faults and corruptions unto thee ? dost thou strive against thy vindicative nature , not only to forgive those who have offended thee , but also to wait an occasion with humility to fasten a fitting favour upon them ? dost thou love grace and goodnesse even in those , who differ from thee in point of opinion , and civil controversies ? canst thou be sorrowfull for the sinnes of others , no whit relating unto thee , meerly because the glory of a good god , suffers by their profanenesse ? tim. why doe you make these to be the signes of sincerity ? phil. because there are but two principles , which act in mens hearts , namely , nature and grace ; or , as christ distinguisheth them , flesh , and bloud , and our father which is heaven . now seeing these actions , by us propounded , are either against or above nature , it doth necessarily follow , that where they are found , they flow from saving grace . for what is higher then the roofe , and very pinnacle , as i may say , of nature , cannot belower then the bottome and beginning of grace . tim. per●…hance on serious search , i may make hard shift , to finde some one or two of these signes , but not all of them in my heart . phil. as i will not bow to flatter any , so i will fall down as farre as truth will give me leave , to reach comfort to the humble , to whom it is due . know to thy further consolation , that where some of these signes truly are , there are more , yea all of them , though not so visible and conspicuous , but in a dimmer and darker degree . when we behold violets , and prim-roses , fairely to flourish , we conclude the dead of the winter is past , though , as yet , no roses , or july-flowers appeare , which , long after , lye hid in their leaves , or lurke in their rootes ; but in due time will discover themselves . if some of these signes be above ground in thy sight , others are under ground in thy heart , and though the former started first , the other will follow in order : it being plaine that thou art passed from death unto life , by this hopefull and happy spring of some signes in thy heart . x. dialogue . answers to the objection of a wounded conscience , drawne from the feeblenesse of his faith . tim. but faith is that which must apply christ unto us , whilest ( alas ! ) the hand of my faith hath not only the shaking , but the dead palsy ; it can neither hold nor feele any thing . phil. if thou canst not hold god , doe but touch him and he shall hold thee , and put feeling into thee . saint paul saith , * if that i may apprehend that , for which also i am apprehended of christ jesus . it is not pauls apprehending of christ , but christ apprehending of paul , doth the deed . tim. but i am sure my faith is not sound , because it is not attended with assurance of salvation . for i doubt ( not to say despaire ) thereof . whereas divines hold , that the essence of saving faith consists in a certainty to be saved . phil. such deliver both a false , and dangerous doctrine ; as the carelesse mother * killed her little infant , for she over-laid it : so this opinion would presse many weak faiths to death , by laying a greater weight upon them then they can bear , or god doth impose ; whereas to be assured of salvation , is not a part of every true faith , but onely an effect of some strong faiths , and that also not alwayes , but at some times . tim. is not certainty of salvation a part of every true faith ? phil. no verily , much lesse is it the life and formality of faith , which consisteth onely in a recumbency on god in christ , with jobs resolution , * though he slay me , yet will i trust in him . such an adherence , without an assurance , is sufficient by gods mercy to save thy soule . those that say that none have a sincere faith without a certainty of salvation , may with as much truth maintaine , that none are the kings loyall subjects , but such as are his favourites . tim. is then assurance of salvation a peculiar personall favour , indulged by god , onely to some particular persons ? phil. yes verily : though the salvation of all gods servants be sure in it selfe , yet is onely assured to the apprehensions of some select people , and that at some times : for it is too fine fare for the best man to feed on every day . tim. may they that have this assurance , afterwards lose it ? phil. undoubtedly they may : god first is gracious to give it them , they for a time carefull to keep it , then negligently lose it , then sorrowfully seeke it . god again is bountifull to restore it , they happy to recover it , for a while diligent to retaine it , then againe foolish to forfeit it , and so the same changes in ones life time often , over , and over againe . tim. but some will say , if i may be infallibly saved without this assurance , i will never endeavour to attaine it . phil. i would have covered my flowers , if i had suspected such spiders would have suckt them . one may goe to heaven without this assurance , as certainly , but not so cheerfully , and therefore prudence to obtaine our owne comfort , & piety to obey gods command , obligeth us all to give diligence to make our calling and election sure , both in it selfe , and in our apprehension . xi . dialogue . god alone can satisfie all objections of a wounded conscience . tim. but , sir , these your answers are no whit satisfactorie unto me . phil. an answer may be satisfactorie to the objection , both in it selfe , and in the judgement of all unprejudiced hearers , and yet not satisfactorie to the objecter , and that in two cases : first , when he is poss●…ssed with the spirit of peevishnesse and perversnesse . it is lost labour to seeke to feed and fill those , who have a greedy horseleach of cavilling in their heart , crying give , give . tim. what is the second case ? phil. when the bitternesse of his soule is so great and grievous , that he is like the * israelites in egypt , which hearkned not to moses , for anguish of spirit , and for cruel bondage . now as those who have meat before them , and will not eate , deserve to starve without pitty : so such are much to be bemoaned , who through some impediment in their mouth , throat , or stomach , cannot chaw , swallow or digest comfort presented unto them . tim. such is my condition , what then is to be done unto me ? phil. i must change my precepts to thee into prayers for thee , that ●…od would * satisfie thee early with his mercy , that thou mayest rejoyce . ministers may endeavour it in vaine , whilest they quell one scruple , they start another , whilst they fill one corner of a wounded conscience with comfort , another is emptie . only god can so satisfie the soule , that each chink and cranny therein , shall be filled with spirituall joy . tim. what is the difference betwixt gods , and mans speaking peace to a troubled spirit ? phil. man can neither make him to whom he speakes , to heare what he saith , or beleeve what he heares . god speakes with authority , and doth both . his words give hearing to the deafe , and faith to the infidell . when , not the mother of christ , but christ himselfe , shall salute a sicke soule with peace be unto thee , it will leap for joy , as john the babe sprang , though imprisoned in the darke womb of his mother . thus the offender is not comforted , though many of the spectatours , and under-officers tell him he shall be pardoned , untill he heares the same from the mouth of the judge himselfe who hath power and place to forgive him ; and then his heart reviveth with comfort . tim. god send me such comfort : meane time , i am thankfull unto you for the answers you have given me . phil. all that i wil adde is this . the lacedemonians had a law , that if a bad man , or one disesteemed of the people , chanced to give good counsell , he was to stand by , and another , against whose person the people had no prejudice , was to speake over the same words , which the former had uttered . i am most sensible to my selfe of my owne badnesse , and how justly i am subject to exception . only my prayer shall be , that whilst i stand by , and am ●…ilent , gods spirit which is free from any fault , and full of all perfection , would be pleased to repeat in thy heart , the selfe-same answers i have given to your objections : and then what was weak , shallow and unsatisfying , as it came from my mouth , shall and will be full , powerfull , and satisfactorie , as re-inforced in thee , by gods spirit . xii . dialogue . meanes to be used by wounded consciences , for the recovering of comfort . tim. are there any usefull meanes to be prescribed , whereby wounded consciences may recover comfort the sooner ? phil. yes , there are . tim. but now adayes some condemne all using of meanes , let grace alone ( say they ) fully and freely to do its own worke : and thereby mans mind will in due time return to a good temper of its ow●… accord : this is the most spirituall serving of god , whilst using of meanes , makes but dunces , and trewants in christs schoole . phil. what they pretend spirituall , wil prove ai●…ry and empty , making lewd and lazie christians : meanes may and must be used with these cautions . . that they be of gods appointment in his word , and not of mans meere invention . . that we stil remember they are but means , and not the main . for to account of helps more then helpes , is the high-way to make them hindrances . lastly , that none rely barely on the deed done , which conceit will undoe him that did it , especially if any opinion of merit be fixed therein . tim. what is the first meanes i must use , for i re-assume to personate a wounded conscience ? phil. constantly pray to god , that in his due time he would speake peace unto thee . tim. my prayers are better omitted then performed : they are so weak they will but bring the greater punishment upon me , and involve me within the * prophets curse , to those that doe the worke of the lord negligently . phil. prayers negligently performed , draw a curse , but not prayers weakly performed . the former is when one can do better , and will not ; the latter , is , when one would do better , but alas , he cannot : and such failings as they are his sinnes , so they are his sorrows also : pray therefore faintly , that thou maist pray fervently ; pray weakly , that thou mayest pray strongly . tim. but in the law they were forbidden to offer to god any lame * sacrifice , and such are my prayers . phil. . observe a great difference , betwixt the materiall sacrifice under the law , and spiritual sacrifices ( the calves of the lips ) under the gospell . the former were to be free from all blemish , because they did typifie and resemble christ himselfe : the latter ( not figuratively representing christ , but heartily presented unto him ) must be as good as may be gotten , though many imperfections will cleave to our best performances , which by gods mercy are forgiven . . know that that in scripture is accounted lame , which is counterfeit , and dissembling , ( in which sense * hypocrites are properly called halters ) and therefore if thy prayer though never so weake , be sound , and sincere , it is acceptable with god . tim. what other counsell do you prescribe me ? phil. be diligent in reading the word of god , wherein all comfort is conteined ; say not that thou art dumpish and undisposed to read , but remember how travellers must eat against their stomach ; their journey will digest it : and though their palate find no pleasure for the present , their whole body will feele strength for the future . thou hast a great journey to go , a wounded conscience is farre to travell to find comfort , ( and though weary , shall be welcome at his journeys end ) and therefore must feed on gods word , even against his own dull disposition , and shall afterwards reap benefit thereby . tim. proceed in your appointing of wholsome dyet for my wounded conscience to observe . phil. avoid solitarinesse , land associate thy selfe with pious and godly company : o the blessed fruits thereof ! such as want skill or boldnesse to begin or set a psalme , may competently follow tune in consort with others : many houses in london have so weak walls , and are of so slight and sl●…nder building , that were they set alone in the fields , probably they would not stand an houre ; which now ranged in streets receive support in them selves , and mutually returne it to others : so mayst thou in good society , not only be reserved from much mischiefe , but also be strengthened and confirmed in many godly exercises , which solely thou couldest not perform . tim. what else must i do ? phil. be industrious in thy calling ; i presse this the more , because some erroneously conceive that a wounded conscience cancels all indentures of service , and gives them ( during their affliction ) a dispensation to be idle . the inhabitants of the bishoprick of * durham pleaded a priviledge , that king edward the first had no power , although on necessary occasion , to presse them to go out of the country , because ▪ forsooth , they termed themselves haly-worke-folke , only to be used in defending the holy shrine of s. cuthbert . let none in like manner pretend , that ( during the agony of a wounded conscience ) they are to have no other imployment , then to sit moping to brood their melancholly , or else only to attend their devotions ; whereas a good way to divert or asswage their pain within , is to take paines without in their vocation . i am confident , that happy minute which shall put a period to thy misery , shall not find thee idle , but employed , as ever some secret good is accrewing to such , who are diligent in their calling . tim. but though wounded consciences are not to be freed from all worke , are they not to be favoured in their worke ? phil. yes verily . here let me be the advocate to such parents and masters , who have sonnes , servants , or others under their authority afflicted with wounded consciences , o , doe not with the egyptian task-masters , exact of them the full tale of their bricke , o spare a little till they have recovered some strength . unreasonabl●… that maimed men , should passe on equall duty with such souldiers as are sound . tim. how must i dispose my selfe on the lords day ? phil. avoid all servile work , and expend it only in such actions , as tend to the sanctifying thereof . god the great landlord of all time hath let out six da●…s in the weeke to man to farme them ; the seaventh day he reserveth as demeanes in his owne hand : if therefore we would have quiet possession , & comfortable use of what god hath leased out to us , let us not incroach on his demeanes . some popish * people make a superstitious almanacke of the sunday , by the fairenesse or foulenesse thereof , guessing of the weather all the weeke after . but i dare boldly say , that from our well or ill spending of the lords day , a probable conjecture may be made , how the following weeke will be imployed . yea i conceive , we are bound ( as matters now stand in england ) to a stricter observation of the lords day , then ever before . that a time was due to gods service , no christian in our kingdome ever did deny : that the same was weekly dispersed in the lords day , holy dayes , wednesdayes , fridayes , saturdayes , some have earnestly maintained : seeing therefore , all the last are generally neglected , the former must be more strictly observed ; it being otherwise impious , that our devotion having a narrower channell , should also carry a shallower streame . tim. what other means must i use for expedition of comfort to my wounded conscience ? phil. confesse * that sinne or sinnes , which most perplexes thee , to some godly minister , who by absolution may pronounce , and apply pardon unto thee . tim. this confession is but a device of divines , thereby to skrne themselves into other mens secrets , so to mold , and manage them with more ease to their owne profit . phil. god forbid they should have any other designe , but your safety , and therefore choose your confessour , where you please to your owne contentment ; so that you may finde ease , fetch it where you may , it is not our credit , but your cure we stand upon . tim. but such confession hath beene counted rather arack for sound , then a remedy for wounded consciences . phil. it proveth so , as abused in the romish church , requiring an enumeration of all mortall sinnes , therein supposing an error , that some sinnes are not mortall , and imposing an impossibility , that all can be reckoned up . thus the conscience is tortured , because it can never tread firmly , feeling no bottome , being still uncertain of confession , ( and so of absolution ) whether or no he hath acknowledged all his sinnes . but where this ordinance is commended as convenient , not commanded as necessary , left free , not forced , in cases of extremity , soveraigne use may be made , and hath been found thereof , neither m●…gistrate nor minister carrying the sword or the keyes in vaine . tim. but , sir , i expected some rare inventions from you , for curing wounded consciences : whereas 〈◊〉 your receipts hitherto are old , stale , usuall , common , and ordinary ; there is nothing new in any of them . phil. i answer , first , if a wounded conscience had been a 〈◊〉 disease , never heard of in gods word before this time , 〈◊〉 perchance we must have been forced to find out new remedies . but it is an old malady , and therefore old physick is best applyed unto it . secondly , the receipts indeed are old , because prescribed by him , who is the * ancient of dayes . but the older the better , because warranted by experience to be effectuall . gods ordinances are like the cloathes * of the children of israel , during our wandring in the wildernesse of this world , they never wax old , so as to have their vertue in operation abated or decayed . thirdly , whereas you call them common , would to god they were so , and as generally practiced , as they are usually prescribed . lastly , know we meddle not with curious heads , which are pleased with new-fangled rarities , but with wounded consciences , who love solid comfort . suppose our receipts ordinary and obvious ; if * naaman counts the cure too cheap and easie , none will pitty him if still he be pained with his leprosie . tim. but your receipts are too loose and large , not fitted and appropriated to my malady alone . for all these , pray , reade , keep good company , be diligent in thy calling , observe the sabbath , confesse thy sinnes , &c. ) may as well be prescribed to one guilty of presumption , as to me ready to despaire . phil. it doth not follow that our physick is not proper for one , because it may be profitable for both . tim. but despaire and presumption being contrary diseases flowing from contrary causes , must have contrary cures . phil. though they flow immediately from contrary caufes , yet originally from the common fountaine of naturall corruption : and therefore such meanes as i have propounded , tending towards the mortifying of our corrupt nature , may generally , though not equally be usefull to humble the presuming , and comfort the despairing ; but to cut off cavills in the next dialogue , wee 'l come closely to peculiar counsells unto thee . xiii . dialogue . foure wholsome counsells , for a wounded conscience to practice . tim. performe your promise , which is the first counsell you commend unto me ? phil. take heed of ever renounceing thy filiall interest in god , though thy sinnes deserve that he should disclaime his paternall relation to thee . the prodigall * returning to his father did not say , i am not thy sonne , but , i am no more worthy to be called thy sonne . beware of bastardizing thy selfe , being as much as satan desires , and more then he hopes to obtaine . otherwise thy folly would give him more then his fury could get . tim. i conceive this a need full c●…tion . phil. it will appeare so if we consider , what the * apostle saith , that we wrestle with principalities and powers . now wrestlers in the olympian games were naked , and anointed with oile to make them slick , and glibbery , so to afford no hold-fast to such as strove with them . let us not gratifie the devill with this advantage against our selves , at any time to disclaime our sonne-ship in god : if the devill catcheth us at this lock , he will throw us flat , and hazard the breaking of our necks with finall despair . oh no! still keep this point ; a prodigal sonne i am , but a sonne , no bastard : a lost sheepe , but a sheepe , no goate : an unprofitable servant , but gods servant , and not absolute slave to sathan . tim. proceed to your second counsell . phil. give credit to what grave and godly persons conceive of thy condition , rather then what thy own fear , ( an incompetent judge ) may suggest unto thee . a seared conscience thinks better of it selfe , a wounded worse , then it ought : the former may account all sinne a sport , the latter all sport a sin : melancholy men , when sick , are ready to conceit any cold to be the cough of the lungs , and an ordinary pustle , no lesse then the plague sore . so wounded consciences conceive sinnes of infirmity to be of presumption , sins of ignorance to be of knowledge , apprehending their case more dangerous then it is indeed . tim. but it seemeth unreasonable that i should rather trust anothers saying , then my own sense of my selfe . phil. every man is best judge of his own selfe , if he be his own selfe , but during the swound of a wounded conscience , i deny thee to be come to thy own selfe : whilst thine eyes are blubbering , and a teare hangs before thy sight , thou canst not see things clearely and truly , because looking through a double medium of aire and water ; so whilst this cloud of pensivenes is pendent before the eyes of thy soule , thy estate is erroneously represented unto thee . tim. what is your third counsell ? phil. in thy agony of a troubled conscience alwayes look upwards unto a gracious god to keep thy soule steady , for looking downward on thy selfe , thou shalt find nothing but what will encrease thy feare , infinite sinnes , good deeds few , and imperfect : it is not thy faith , but gods faithfulnesse thou must relie upon ; casting thine eyes downwards on thy selfe to behold the great distance betwixt what thou deservest , and what thou desirest , is enough to make thee giddy , stagger and reel into despaire : ever therefore lift up thine eyes unto the * hils , from whence commeth thy helpe , never viewing the deepe dale of thy own unworthines , but to abate thy pride when tempted to presumption . tim. sir , your fourth and last counsell . phil. be not disheartned as if comfort would not come at all , because it comes not all at once , but patiently attend gods leisure : they are not styled the swift , but the * sure mercies of david : and the same prophet saith , * the glory of the lord shall be thy rereward , this we know comes up last to secure and make good all the rest : be assured , where grace patiently leads the front , glory at last will be in the reare . remember the prodigious patience of eliahs servant . tim. wherein was it remarkeable ? phil. in obedience to his master : he went severall times to the sea ; it is tedious for me to tell what was not troublesome for him to doe , , , , , , , . times sent down steepe carmel , with danger , and up it again with difficulty , and all to bring newes of nothing , till his last journey , which made recompence for all the rest , with the tydings of a cloud arising . so thy thirsty soule , long parched with drowth for want of cōfort , though late , at last , shall be plentifully refreshed with the dew of consolation . tim. i shall be happy if i find it so . phil. consider the causes why a broken leg is incureable in a horse , and easily cureable in a man : the horse is incapable of counsell to submit himselfe to the farrier , & therefore in case his leg be set , he flings , flounces , and flies out , unjoynting it again by his mis-imployed mettle , counting all binding to be shackles & fetters unto him ; whereas a man willingly resigneth himselfe to be ordered by the chyrurgeon , preferring rather to be a prisoner for some dayes , then a cripple all his life . be not like a * horse or mule , which have no understanding ; but let patience have its perfect worke . in thee ▪ when god goeth about to bind up the * broken hearted , tarry his time , though ease come not at an instant , yea though it be painfull for the present , in due time thou shalt certainly receive comfort . xiv . dialogue . comfortable meditations for wounded consciences to muse upon . tim. furnish me i pray with some comfortable meditations ; whereon i may busie and imploy my soule when alone . phil. first consider that our saviour had not only a notionall , but an experimentall and meritorious knowledge of the paines of a wounded conscience , when hanging on the crosse : if pau●… conce●…ved himselfe happy being to answer for himself , before king agrippa , especially because he knew him to be expert in all the customes and questions of the jewes ; how much more just cause hath thy wounded conscience of comfort and joy , being in thy prayers to plead before christ himself , who hath felt thy pain , and deserved that in due time by his stripes thou shouldst be healed ? tim. proceed i pray in this comfortable subject . phil. secondly , consider that herein , like eliah , thou needest not complaine that thou art left alone , seeing the best of gods saints in all ages have smarted in the same kind ; instance in david : indeed sometimes he boasteth how he lay in green * pastures , and was led by still waters ; but after he bemoaneth that he sinks in * deepe mire , where there was no standing . what is become of those greene pastures ? parched up with the drowth . where are those still waters ? troubled with the tempest of affliction . the same david compareth himselfe to an * owle , and in the next psalme resembleth himselfe to an eagle . doe two fowles flie of more different kind ? the one the scorne , the other the soveraigne ; the one the slowest , the other the swiftest ; the one the most sharp sighted , the other the most dimme-eyed of all birds . wonder not then , to find in thy selfe sudden , and strange alterations . it fared thus with all gods servants , in their agonies of temptation , and be confident thereof , though now run aground , with griefe , in due time thou shalt be all afloate with comfort . tim. i am loath to interrupt you in so welcome a discourse . phil. thirdly , consider , that thou hast had , though not grace enough to cure thee , yet enough to keep thee , and conclude that he , whose goodnesse hath so long held thy head above water from drowning , will at last bring thy whole body safely to the shoare . the wife of manoah , had more faith then her husband , and thus she reasoned ; * if the lord were pleased to kill us he would not have received a burnt and a meat offering at our hands . thou mayst argue in like manner : if god had intended finally to forsake me , he would never so often have heard and accepted my prayers , in such a measure as to vouchsafe unto me , though not full deliverance from , free preservation in my affliction . know god hath done great things for thee already , and thou mayst conclude from his grace of supportation hitherto , grace of ease , and relaxation hereafter . tim. it is pitty to disturb you , proceed . phil. fourthly , consider , that besides the private stock of thy owne , thou tradest on the publick store of all good mens prayers , put up to heaven for thee . what a mixture of languages met in hierusalem at pentecost , * parthians , medes , and elamites , &c. but conceive to thy comfort , what a medley of prayers , in severall tongues daily , center themselves in gods eares in thy behalfe , english , scotch , irish , french , dutch , &c. insomuch , that perchance thou dost not understand one syllable of their prayers , by whom thou mayst reap benefit . tim. is it not requisite to intitle me to the profit of other mens prayers , that i particularly know their persons which pray for me ? phil. not at all , no more then it is needfull that the eye or face must see the backward parts , which is difficult , or the inward parts of the body , which is impossible ; without which sight , by sympathie they serve one another . and such is the correspondency by prayers , betwixt the mysticall members of christs body , corporally unseen one by another . tim. proceed to a fift meditation . phil. consider , there be five kinds of consciences on foot in the world : first , an ignorant conscience , which neither sees nor saith any thing , neither beholds the sinnes in a soule , nor reproves them . secondly , the flattering conscience , whose speech is worse then silence it selfe , which though seeing sin , sooths men in the committing thereof . thirdly , the seared conscience , which hath neither sight , speech , nor sense , in men that ar●… * past feeling . fourthly , a wounded conscience , frighted with sinne . the last , and best , is a quiet , and cleare conscience , pacified in christ jesus . of these the fourth is thy case , incomparably better then the three former , so that a wise man would not take a world to change with them . yea a wounded conscience is rather painfull then sinfull , an affliction , no offence , and is in the ready way , at the next remove , to be turned into a quiet conscience . tim. i hearken unto you with attention and comfort . phil. lastly , consider the good effects of a wounded conscience , privative for the present , and positive for the future . first , primative , this heavinesse of thy heart ( for the time being ) is a bridle to thy soule , keeping it from many sinnes it would otherwise commit . thou that now sittest sad in thy shop , or walkest p●…sive in thy parlour , or standest sighing in thy chamber , or lyest sobbing on thy bed , mightest perchance at the same time be drunke , or wanton , or worse , if not restrained by this affliction . god saith in his prophet to judah , * i will ●…edge thy way with thornes , namely , to keep judah from committing spirituall fornication . it is confest that a wounded conscience , for the time , is a hedge of thornes , ( as the messenger of satan , sent to buffet s. paul , is termed a * thorne in the flesh . ) but this thornie fence keeps our wild spirits in the true way , which otherwise would be stragling : and it is better to be held in the right road with bryars and brambles , then to wander on beds of roses , in a wrong path , which leadeth to destruction . tim. what are the positive benefits of a wounded conscience ? phil. thereby the graces in thy soule will be proved , approved , improved . oh how cleare will thy sun-shine be , when this cloud is blowne over ? and here i can hardly hold from envying thy happinesse hereafter . o that i might have thy future crowne , without thy present crosse ; thy triumphs , without thy tryall ; thy conquest , without thy combat ! but i recall my wish , as impossible , seeing what god hath joyned together , no man can put asunder . these things are so twisted together , i must have both or neither . xv . dialogue . that is not alwayes the greatest sinne whereof a man is guilty , wherewith his conscience is most pained for the present . tim. is that the greatest sin in a mans soule , wherewith his wounded conscience , in the agony thereof , is most perplexed ? phil. it is so commonly , but not constantly . commonly indeed , that sin most paineth and pincheth him , which commands as principall in his soule . tim. have all mens hearts some one paramount sinne , which rules as soveraigne over all the rest ? phil. most have . yet as all countries are not monarchies , governed by kings , but some by free-states , where many together have equall power ; so it is possible ( though rare ) that one man may have two , three , or more sinnes , which joyntly domineer in his heart , without any discernable superiority betwixt them . tim. which are the sinnes that most generally wound and afflict a man , when his conscience is terrified ? phil. no generall rule can exactly be given herein . sometimes that sin , in acting whereof , he took most delight , it being just , that the sweetnesse of his corporall pleasure , should be sauced with more spirituall sadnesse . sometimes that sinne , which ( though not the foulest ) is the frequentest in him . thus his idle words may perplex him more , then his oathes or perjury it selfe . sometimes that sin ( not which is most odious before god , but ) most scandalous before men , doth most afflict him , because drawing greatest disgrace upon his person and profession . sometimes that sin which he last committed , because all the circumstances therof are still firme and fresh in his memory . sometimes that sin , which ( though long since by him committed ) he hath heard very lately powerfully reproved ; and no wonder , if an old gall new rubbed over , smart the most . sometimes that sinne which formerly he most slighted and neglected , as so inconsiderably small , that it was unworthy of any sorrow for it , and yet now it may prove the sharpest sting in his conscience . tim. may not one who is guilty of very great sinnes , sometimes have his conscience much troubled onely for a small one ? phil. yes verily : country patients often complaine , not of the disease which is most dangerous , but most conspicuous . yea sometimes they are more troubled with the symptome of a disease ( suppose an ill colour , bad breath , weak stomach ) then with the disease it selfe . so in the soule , the conscience oft-times is most wounded , not with that offence which is , but appeares most , and a sinne incomparably small to others , whereof the party is guilty , may most molest for the present , and that for three reasons . tim. reckon them in order . phil. first , that god may shew in him , that as sinnes are like the sands in number , so they are farre above them in heavinesse , whereof the least crum taken asunder , and laid on the conscience , by gods hand , in full weight thereof , is enough to drive it to despaire . tim. what is the second reason ? phil. to manifest gods justice , that those should be choaked with a gnat-sinne , who have swallowed many camel-sinnes , without the least regreat . thus some may be terrified for not fasting on friday , because indeed they have been drunk on sunday : they may be perplexed for their wanton dreames , when sleeping , because they were never truly humbled for their wicked deeds , when waking . yea those who never feared babylon the great , may be frighted with little zoar ; i meane , such as have been faulty in flat superstition , may be tortured for committing , or omitting a thing , in its owne nature , indifferent . tim. what is the third reason ? phil. that this paine for a lesser sinne may occasion his serious scrutiny , into greater offences . any paltry curre may serve to start and put up the game out of the bushes , whilst fiercer , and fleeter hounds are behind to course and catch it . god doth make use of a smaller sinne , to raise and rouze the conscience out of security , and to put it up , as we say , to be chased , by the reserve of far greater offences , lurking behind in the soule , unseene , and unsorrowed for . tim. may not the conscience be troubled at that , which in very deed is no sinne at all , nor hath truly so much , as but the appearance of evill in it ? phil. it may . through the error of the understanding such a mistake may follow in the conscience . tim. what is to be done in such a case ? phil. the parties judgement must be rectified , before his conscience can be pacified . then is it the wisest way to perswade him to lay the axe of repentance , to the root of corruption in his heart . when reall sinnes in his soule are felled by unfained sorrow , causelesse scruples will fall of themselves . till that root be cut downe , not onely the least bough , and branch of that tree , but the smallest sprig , twig , and leafe thereof , yea the very empty ●…hadow of a leafe ( mistaken for a sinne , and created a fault by the jealousie of a misinformed judgement ) is sufficient intollerably to torture a wounded conscience . xvi . dialogue . obstructions hindring the speedy flowing of comfort into a troubled soule . tim. how commeth it to passe , that comfort is so long a comming to some wounded consciences ? phil. it proceeds from several causes , either from god , not yet pleased to give it ; or the patient , not yet prepared to receive it ; or the minister , not well fitted to deliver it . tim. how from god not yet pleased to give it ? phil. his time to bestow consolation is not yet come : now no plummets of the heaviest humane importunity can so weigh downe gods clock of time , as to make it strike one minute before his houre be come . till then his mother her selfe could not prevaile with * christ to worke a miracle , and turn water into wine : and till that minute appointed approach , god will not , in a wounded conscience , convert the water of affliction , into that wine of comfort , which maketh glad the heart of the soule . tim. how may the hindrance be in the patient himselfe ? phil. he may as yet not be sufficiently humbled , or else god perchance in his providence fore-seeth , that as the prodigall child , when he had received his portion , riotously mis-spent it ; so this sick soule , if comfort were imparted unto him , would prove an unthrift and ill husband upon it , would lose and lavish it . god therefore conceiveth it most for his glory , and the others good , to keep the comfort still in his owne hand , till the wounded conscience get more wisdome to manage and employ it . tim. may not the sick mans too meane opinion of the minister , be a cause why he reaps no more comfort by his counsell ? phil. it may . perchance , the sicke man hath formerly slightand neglected that minister , and god will not now make him the instrument for his comfort , who before had beene the object of his contempt . but on the other side , we must also know that perchance the parties over-high opinion of the ministers parts , piety , and corporall presence , ( as if he cured where he came , and carryed ease with him ) may hinder the operation of his advice . for god growes jealous of so suspicious an instrument who probably may be mistaken for the principall . whereas a meaner man , of whose spiritualnesse the patient hath not so high carnall conceipts , may prove more effectuall in comforting , because not within the compasse of suspition to eclipse god of his glory . tim. how may the obstructions be in the minister himselfe ? phil. if he comes unprepared by prayer , or possessed with pride , or uns●…ilfull in what he undertakes ; wherefore in such cases a minister may doe well to reflect on himselfe , ( as the * disciples did when they could not cast out the devill ) and to call his heart to account , what may be the cause thereof ; particularly whether some unrepented-for sinne in himselfe , hath not hindred the effects of his councells in others . tim. however you would not have him wholly disheartned , with his ill successe . phil. o no ; but let him comfort himselfe with these considerations . first , that though the patient gets no benefit by him , he may gain experience by the patient , thereby being enabled more effectually to proceede , with some other in the same disease . . though the sickman refuseth comfort for the present , yet what doth not sink on a sudden , may soake in by degrees , and may prove profitable afterwards . thirdly , his unsucceeding paines may notwithstanding facilitate comfort for another to worke in the same body , as solomon built a temple with most materialls formerly provided , and brought thither by david . lastly , grant his paines altogether lost on the wounded conscience , yet his * labour is not in vaine in the lord , who without respect to the event will reward his endeavours . tim. but what if this minister hath beene the means to cast this sick man downe , and now cannot comfort him againe ? phil. in such a case , he must make this sad accident the more matter for his humiliation , but not for his dejection . besides , he is bound , both in honour and honesty , civility and christianity , to procure what he cannot performe , calling in the advice of o●…hers more able to assist him , not conceiving out of pride or envie , that the discreet craving of the helpe of others , is a disgracefull confessing of his owne weaknesse ; like those malitious midwives , who had rather that the woman in travaile should miscarry , then be safely delivered by the hand of another , more skilfull then themselves . xvii . dialogue . what is to be conceived of their finall estate who die in a wounded conscience without any visible comfort . tim. what thinke you of such , who yeeld up their ghost in the agony of an afflicted spirit , without receiving the least sensible degree of comfort ? phil. let me be your remembrancer to call or keep in your mind , what i said before , that our discourse onely concerneth the children of god : this notion renued i answer . it is possible that the sick soule may receive secret solace , though the standers by doe not perceive it . we know how insensibly satan may spirt and inject despaire into a heart , and shall we not allow the lord of heaven to be more dextrous and active with his antidotes , then the devil is with his poysons ? tim. surely if he had any such comfort , he would shew it by words , signes , or some way , were it onely but to comfort his sad kindred , and content such sorrowfull friends which survive him ; were there any hidden fire of consolation kindled in his heart , it would sparkle in his looks and gestures , especially seeing no obligation of secrecie is imposed on him , as on the * blind man , when healed , to tell none thereof . phil. it may be he cannot discover the comfort he hath received , and that for two reasons : first , because it comes so late , when he lyeth in the merches of life and death , being so weak , that he can neither speak , nor make signes with zechariah , being at that very instant ▪ when the silver cord is ready to be loosed , and the golden bowle to be broken , and the pitcher to be broken at the fountaine , and the wheele to be broken at the cisterne . tim. what may be the other reason ? phil. because the comfort it selfe may be incommunicable in its owne nature , which the party can take , and not tell ; enjoy , and not expresse ; receive , and not impart : as by the assistance of gods spirit , he sent up * groanes which cannot be uttered : so the same may from god be returned with comfort , which cannot be uttered ; and as hee had many invisible and privy pangs , concealed from the cognizance of others , so may god give him secret comfort , known unto himself alone , without any other mens sharing in the notice thereof . * the heart knoweth his owne bitternesse , and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy . so that his comfort may be compared to the new name given to gods servants , * which no man knoweth , save he that receiveth it . tim. all this proceeds on what is possible or probable , but amounts to no certainty . phil. well then , suppose the worst , this is most sure , though he die without tasting of any comfort here , he may instantly partake of everlasting joyes hereafter . surely many a despairing soule , groaning out his last breath , with feare and thought to sinke downe to hell , hath presently beene countermanded by gods goodnesse to eternall happinesse . tim. what you say herein , no man alive can confirme or confute , as being knowne to god alone , and the soule of the party . only i must confesse , that you have charity on your side . phil. i have more then charity , namely , gods plain & positive promise , * blessed are such as mourne , for they shall be comforted . now though the particular time , when , be not expressed , yet the latest date that can be allowed , must be in the world to come , where such mourners , who have not felt god in his comfort here , shall see him in his glory in heaven . tim. but some who have led pious and godly lives , have departed , pronouncing the sentence of condemnation upon themselves , having one foot already in hell by their owne confession . phil. such confessions are of no validity , wherein their feare bears false witnesse against their faith . the finenesse of the whole cloath of their life , must not be thought the worse of , for a little course list at the last . and also their finall estate is not to be construed by what was dark , doubtfull , and desperate at their deaths , but must be expounded , by what was plaine , cleare , and comfortable , in their lives . tim. you then are confident , that a holy life , must have a happy death . phil. most confident . the logicians hold , that , although from false premises a true conclusion may somtimes follow ; yet from true propositions , nothing but a * truth can be thence inferred , so though sometimes a bad life may be attended with a good death , ( namely , by reason of repentance , though slow , sincere , though late , yet unfaigned , being seasonably interposed ) but where a godly and gracious life hath gone before , there a good death must of necessity follow ; which , though sometimes dolefull ( for want of apparent comfort ) to their surviving friends , can never be dangerous to the party deceased . remember what s. paul saith , * our life is hid with christ in god . tim. what makes that place to your purpose ? phil. exceeding much . five cordiall observations are couched therein . first , that god sets a high price , and valuation on the soules of his servants , in that he is pleased to hide them : none will hide toyes , and trifles , but what is counted a treasure . secondly , the word hide , as a relative importeth , that some seeke after our soules , being none other then sathan himself , that roaring lyon , who goes about * seeking , whom he may devour . but the best is , let him seeke , and seeke , and seeke , till his malice be wearie , ( if that be possible ) we cannot be hurt by him , whilst we are hid in god . thirdly , grant satan find us there , he cannot fetch us thence : our soules are bound in the bundle of life , with the lord our god . so that , be it spoken with reverence , god first must be stormed with force or 〈◊〉 , before the soule of a saint-sinner , hid in him , can be surprized . fourthly , we see the reason , why so many are at a losse , in the agony of a wounded conscience , concerning their spirituall estate . for they looke for their life in a wrong place , namely to finde it in their owne piety , purity , and inherent righteousnesse . but though they seeke , and search , and dig , and dive never so deep , all in vaine . for though adams life was hid in himselfe , and he intrusted with the keeping his owne integrity , yet , since christs coming , all the originall evidences of our salvation are kept in a higher office , namely , hidden in god himselfe . lastly , as our english proverb saith , he that hath hid can finde ; so god ( to whom belongs the * issues from death ) can infallibly finde out that soule that is hidden in him , though it may seeme , when dying , even to labour to lose it self in a fit of despaire . tim. it is pitty , but that so comfortable a doctrine should be true . phil. it is most true : surely as * joseph and mary conceived , that they had lost christ in a crowd , and sought him three dayes sorrowing , till at last they found him beyond their expectation , safe and sound , sitting in the temple : so many pensive parents solicitous for the soules of their children , have even given them for gone , and lamented them lost ( because dying without visible comfort ) and yet , in due time , shall finde them to their joy and comfort , safely possessed of honour and happinesse , in the midst of the heavenly temple , and church triumphant in glory . xviii . dialogue . of the different time and manner of the comming of comfort to such who are healed of a wounded conscience . tim. how long may a servant of god lye under the burden of a wounded conscience ? phil. * it is not for us to know the times and the seasons , which the father hath put in his owne power . god alone knows whether their griefe shall be measured unto them , by houres , or dayes , or weeks , or moneths , or many yeeres . tim. how then is it that sain●… paul saith , that god will give us the * issue with the temptation , if one may long be visited with this malady ? phil. the apostle is not so to be understood , as if the temptation and issue were twins , both borne at the same instant ; for then no affliction could last long , but must be ended as soone as it is begun ; whereas we * read how aeneas truly pious , was bed-rid of the palsie . yeeres ; the woman diseased with a * bloody issue . yeeres ; another woman bowed by infirmity * . yeers ; and the man * lame . yeeres at the poole of bethesda . tim. what then is the meaning of the apostle ? phil. god will give the issue with the temptation , that is , the temptation and the issue bear both the same date in gods decreeing them , though not in his applying them : at the same time , wherein he resolved his servants shall be tempted , he also concluded of the means and manner , how the same persons should infallibly be delivered . or thus : god will give the issue with the temptation ; that is , as certainly , though not as suddenly . though they goe not abreast , yet they are joyned successively , like two links in a chaine , where one endeth , the other doth begin . besides , there is a two-fold issue ; one , through a temptation ; another , out of a temptation . the former is but mediate , not finall ; an issue , to an issue , onely supporting the person , tempted for the present , and preserving him for a future full deliverance . understand the apostle thus , and the issue is alwayes both given and applyed to gods children , with the temptation , though the temptation may last long after , before fully removed . tim. i perceive then , that in some , awounded conscience may continue many yeeres . phil. so it may . i read of a poore widdow , in the land of * limburgh , who had nine children , and for . yeares together , was miserably afflicted in mind , only because she had attended the dressing and feeding of her little ones , before going to masse . at last it pleased god , to sanctifie the endeavours of franciscus junius , that learned godly divine , that upon true information of her judgement , she was presently and perfectly comforted . tim. doth god give ease to all in such manner , on a sudden ? phil. o no : some receive comfort all in a lump , and in an instant they passe from midnight , to bright day , without any dawning betwixt . others receive consolation by degrees , which is not poured , but dropt into them by little and little . tim. strange , that gods dealing herein should be so different with his servants . phil. it is to shew , that as in his proceedings there is no * variablenesse , such as may import him mutable or impotent , so in the same there is very much variety , to prove the fulnesse of his power , and freedome of his pleasure . tim. why doth not god give them consolation all at once ? phil. the more to employ their prayers , and exercise their patience . one may admire why * boaz did not give to ruth a quantity of corn more or lesse , so sending her home to her mother , but that rather he kept her still to gleane ; but this was the reason , because that is the best charity , which so relieves anothers poverty , as still continues their industry ▪ god in like manner , will not give some consolation all at once , he will not spoil their ( painful but ) pious profession of gleaning ; still they must pray , and gather , and pray and gleane , here an eare , there a handfull of comfort , which god scatters in favour unto them . tim. what must the party doe when he perceives god and his comfort beginning to draw nigh unto him ? phil. as * martha , when she heard that christ was a comming staid not a minute at home , but went out of her house to meet him : so must a sick soule , when consolation is a comming , haste out of himselfe , and hie to entertain god with his thankefullnes . the best way to make a homer of comfort encrease to an ephah , ( which is * ten times as much ) is to be heartily gratefull for what one hath already , that his store may be multiplyed : he shall never want more , who is thankefull for , and thrifty with a little : whereas ingratitude doth not only stop the flowing of more mercy , but even spils what was formerly received . xix . dialogue . how such who are compleatly cured of a wounded conscience , are to demeane themselves . tim. give me leave now to take upon me the person of one recovered out of a wounded conscience . phil. in the first place , i must heartily congratulate thy happy condition , and must rejoyce at thy upsitting , whom god hath raised from the bed of despaire : welcome david out of the deepe , daniel out of the lions den , jonah , from the whales belly : welcome job from the dunghill , restored to health and wealth againe . tim. yea , but when jobs bretheren came to visit him after his recovery , every one gave him a piece of * money , and an eare-ring of gold : but the present i expect from you , let it be i pray some of your good counsell , for my future deportment . phil. i have need to come to thee , and commest thou to me ? faine would i be a paul , sitting at the feet of such a gamaliel , who hath been cured of a wounded conscience , in the height thereof : i would turn my tongue into eares , and listen attentively to what tidings he bringeth from hell it selfe . yea , i should be worse then the brethren of dives , if i should not believe one risen from the dead , for such in effect i conceive to be his condition . tim. but waving these digressions , i pray proceed to give me good advice . phil. first , thankfully owne god , thy principall restorer , & comforter paramount . remember that of * ten lepers , one onely returned to give thanks ; which sheweth , that by nature , without grace over-swaying us , it is ten to one if we be thankful . omit not also thy thankfulnesse to good men , not onely to such , who have been the architects of thy comfort , but even to those , who though they have built nothing , have borne burthens towards thy recovery . tim. goe on i pray in your good counsell . phil. associate thy self with men of afflicted minds , with whom thou mayst expend thy time , to thine and their best advantage . o how excellently did paul comply with aquila and priscilla ! as their hearts agreed in the generall profession of piety , so their hands met in the trade of * tent-makers , they abode and wrought together , being of the same occupation . thus i count all wounded consciences of the same company , and may mutually reap comfort one by another . onely here is the difference : they ( poore soules ) are still bound to their hard task and trade , whilst thou ( happy man ) hast thy indentures cancelled , and being free of that profession , art able to instruct others therein . tim. what instructions must i commend unto them ? phil. even the same comfort , wherewith thou thy selfe was * comforted of god : with david tell them what god hath done for thy soule ; and with peter , being strong * strengthen thy brethren : conceive thy 〈◊〉 like joseph , therefore sent before , and sold into the egypt of a wounded conscience , ( where thy feet were hurt in the stocks , the irons entered into thy soule ) that thou mightest provide food for the famine of others , and especially be a purveyor of comfort for those thy bretheren , which afterwards shall follow thee down into the same dolefull condition . tim. what else must i doe for my afflicted bretheren ? phil. pray heartily to god in their behalfe : when david had prayed , psal. . . o my god i trust in thee , let me not be ashamed ; in the next verse ( as if conscious to himself , that his prayers were too restrictive , narrow , and nigardly ) he enlargeth the bounds thereof , and builds them on a broader bottome ; yea , let none that wait on thee be ashamed : let charity in thy devotions have rechoboth , roome enough : beware of pent petitions confined to thy private good , but extend them to all gods servants , but especially all wounded consciences . tim. must i not also pray for those servants of god , which hitherto have not been wounded in conence ? phil. yes verily , that god would keepe them from , or cure them in the exquisite torment thereof : beggars when they crave an almes , constantly use one main motive , that the person of whom they beg may be preserved from that misery , whereof they themselves have had wofull experience : if they be blind , they cry , master god blesse your eye sight ; if lame , god blesse your limbs ; if undone by casuall burning , god blesse you and yours from fire . christ , though his person be now glorifyed in heaven , yet he is still subject by sympathy of his saints on earth , to hunger , nakednes , imprisonment , and a wounded conscience , and so may stand in need of feeding , cloathing , visiting , comforting , and curing : now when thou prayest to christ , for any favour , it is a good plea to urge , edge , and enforce thy request withall , lord grant me such or such a grace , and never mayst thou lord , in thy mysticall members , never be tortured and tormented with the agony of a wounded conscience , in the deepest distresse thereof . tim. how must i behave my self for the time to come ? phil. walke humbly before god , and carefully avoid the smallest sinne , alwaies remembring * christs caution ; behold thou art made whole , ●…inne no more , lest a worse thing come unto thee . xx . dialogue . whether one cured of a wounded conscience , be subject to a relapse . tim. may a man , once perfectly healed of a wounded con●…cience , and for some yeares in peaceable possession of comfort , afterwards fall back into his former disease ? phil. nothing appeares in scripture or reason to the contrary , though examples of reall relapses are very rare , because gods servants are carefull to avoid sinne , the cause thereof , and being once burnt therewith , ever after dread the fire of a wounded conscience . tim. why call you it a relapse ? phil. to distinguish it from those relapses more usuall and obvious , whereby such , who have snatcht comfort , before god gave it them , on serious consideration , that they had usurped that , to which they had no right , fall back again into the former pit of despaire : this is improperly termed a relapse , as not being a renewing , but a continuing of their former malady , from which , though seemingly , they w●…re never soundly recovered . tim. is there any intimation in scripture of the possibility of such a reall relapse in gods servants ? phil. there is , when david saith , psal. . . i will heare what god the lord will speake , for he will speake peace unto his people , and to his sain●…s , but let them not turn again to folly : this importeth , that if his saints turn again to folly , which by wofull experience , we find too frequently done , god may change his voice , and turn his peace , formerly spoken , into a warlike defiance to their importeth . tim. but this me thinkes is a diminution to the majesty of god , that a man , once compleatly cured of a wounded conscience , should again be pained therewith : let ●…ountebanks palliat cures break out aga●…n , being never soundly , but superficially healed : he that is all ●…n all , never doth his worke by halves , so that it shall be undone afterward . phil. it is not the same individuall wound in number , but the same in kind , and perchance a deeper in degree : nor is it any ignorance , or falshood in the surgeon , but folly , and fury in the patient , who by committing fresh sins , causeth a new pain in the old place . tim. in such relapses men are only troubled for such sins , which they have run on score since their last recovery from a wounded conscience . phil. not those alone , but all the sinnes which they have committed , both before , and since their conversion , may be started up afresh in their minds and memories , and anguish and perplex them , with the guiltinesse thereof . tim. but those sinnes were formerly fully forgiven , and the pardon thereof solemnly sealed , and assured unto them , and can the guilt of the same recoile again upon their consciences ? phil. i will not dispute what god may do in the strictnes of his justice : such seales , though still standing firm & fast in themselves , may notwithstanding breake off , and fly open in the feeling of the sick soule : he will be ready to conceive with himselfe , that as * shimei , though once forgiven his railing on david , was afterwards executed for the same offence , though upon his committing of a new transgression , following his servants to gath , against the flat command of the king : so god , upon his committing of new trespasses , may justly take occasion to punish all former offences ; yea in his apprehension , the very foundation of his faith may be shaken , all his former title to heaven brought into question , and he tormented with the consideration that he was never a true child of god . tim. what remedies doe you commend to such soules in relapses ? phil. even the selfe-same receipts which i first prescribed to wounded consciences , the very same promises , precepts , comforts , counsels , cautions . onely as jacob the second time that his sonnes went downe into * egypt , commanded them to carry double money in their hands ; so i would advise such to apply the former remedies with double diligence , double watchfulnes , double industrie , because the malignity of a disease is riveted firmer and deeper in a relapse . xxi . dialogue . whether it be lawfull to pray for , or to pray against , or to praise god for a wounded conscience . tim. is it lawfull for a man to pray to god to visit him with a wounded conscience ? phil. he may and must pray to have his high and hard heart , truly humbled , and bruised with the fight and sense of his sinnes , and with unfained sorrow for the same : but may not explicitely , and directly pray for a wounded conscience , in the highest degree , and extremity thereof . tim. why interpose you those termes explicitely and directly ? phil. because implicitly , and by consequence , one may pray for a wounded conscience : namely , when he submits himselfe to be disposed by gods pleasure , referring the particulars thereof , wholly to his infinite wisedome , tendring , as i may say , a blank paper to god in his prayers , and requesting him to write therein what particulars hee pleases ; therein generally , and by consequence he may pray for a wounded conscience , in case , god sees the same , for his owne glory , and the parties good ; otherwise , directly he may not pray for it . tim. how prove you the same ? phil. first , because a wounded conscience is a judgement , and one of the sorest , as the resemblance of the torments of hell . now it is not congruous to nature , or grace , for a man to be a free , and active instrument , purposely to pull downe upon himselfe , the greatest evill that can befal him in this worl●… . secondly , we have neither direction , nor president of any saint , recorded in gods word to justifie and warrant such prayers . lastly , though praying for a wounded conscience may seemingly scent of pretended humility , it doth really and rankly savour of pride , limiting the holy one of israel . it ill becoming the patient to prescribe to his heavenly physitian , what kind of physicke he shall minister unto him . tim. but we may pray for all meanes to increase grace in us , and therefore may pray for a wounded conscience , seeing thereby , at last , piety is improved in gods servants . phil. we may pray for and make use of all means , whereby grace is increased : namely , such means , as by god are appointed for that purpose ; and therefore , by virtue of gods institution , have both a proportionablenesse , and attendency , in order thereunto . but properly those things are not means , or ordained by god , for the increase of piety , which are only accidentally over-ruled to that end , by gods power , against the intention and inclination of the things themselves . such is a wounded conscience , being alwayes actually an evill of punishment , and too often occasionally an evill of sinne : the byas whereof doth bend and bow to badnesse ; though over-ruled by the aim of gods eye , and strength of his arme , it may bring men to the marke of more grace , and goodnesse . god can , and will extract light out of darknesse , good out of evill , order out of confusion , and comfort out of a wounded conscience : and yet darknesse , evill , f●…sion , &c. are not to be prayed for . tim. but a wounded conscience , in gods children , infallibly ends in comfort here , or glory hereafter , and therefore is to be desired . phil. though the ultimate end of a wounded conscience winds off in comfort , yet it brings with it many intermediate mischiefs and maladies , especially as managed by humane corruption : namely , dulnesse in divine service , impatience , taking gods name in vaine , despaire for the time , blasphemy ; which a saint should decline , not desire ; shun , not seek ; not pursue , but avoid , with his utmost endeavours . tim. is it lawfull positively to pray against a wounded conscience ? phil. it is , as appeares from an argument taken from the lesser to the greater . if a man may pray against pinching poverty , as wise * agur did ; then may he much more against a wounded conscience , as a far heavier judgement . secondly , if gods servants may pray for ease under their burthens , whereof we see divers particulars in that * worthy prayer of solomon ; i say , if we pray to god to remove a lesser judgement by way of subvention , questionlesse we may beseech him to deliver us from the great evill of a wounded conscience , by way of prevention . tim. may one lawfully praise god , for visiting him with a wounded conscience ? phil. yes verily . first , because it is agreeable to the * will of god , in every thing to be thankfull ; here is a generall rule , without limitation . secondly , because the end , why god makes any work , is his owne glory ; and a wounded conscience being a work of god , he must be glorified in it , especially seeing god shews much mercy therein , as being a punishment on this side of hell fire , and lesse then our deserts . as also , because he hath gracious intentions towards the sick soule for the present , and when the maladie is over , the patient shall freely confesse , that it is good for him that he was so afflicted . happy then that soule , 〈◊〉 in the lucid intervals of a wounded conscience can praise god for the same . musick is sweetest neere , or over rivers , where the eccho thereof is best rebounded by the water . praise for pensivenesse , thanks for teares , and blessing god over the flouds of affliction , makes the most melodious musick in the care of heaven . the conclusion of the author to the reader . and now god knows how soon it may be said unto me , physitian heale thy selfe , and how quickly i shall stand in need of these counsels , which i have prescribed to others . herein i say with eli to * * sam. . samuel , it is the lord , let him do what seemeth him good : with * * sam. . david to zadock , behold here i am , let him do to me as s●…emeth good unto him . with the * * acts. . . disciples to paul , the will of the lord be done : but oh how ea●…ie it is for the mouth to pronounce , or the hand to subscribe these words ! but how hard , yea without gods garce , how impossible , for the heart to submit thereunto ! only hereof i am confident , that the making of this treatise , shall no wayes cause or hasten a wounded conscience in me , but rather on the contrary ( especially if as it is written by me , it were written in me ) either prevent it , that it come not at all , or deferre it that it come not so soon , or lighten it , that it fall not so heavy , or shorten it that it last not so long . and if god shall be pleased hereafter to write * * job . . bitter things against me , who have here written the sweetest comforts i could for others , let none insult on my sorrowes : but whilst my wounded conscience shall lye like the * * acts . . criple , at the porch of the temple , may such as passe by be pléased to pit●…y me , & permit this booke to beg in my behal●…e , the charitable prayers of well disposed people ; till divine providence , shall send some peter , some pious minister , perfectly to restore my maimed soule to her former soundnes . amen . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a e- exod. . . notes for div a e- * psa. . * psal. . . * ▪ sam. . . * angelicū vulnus ver●… medicus qualiter factū sit indicare noluit , dum illud postea curare non destinavit . de mirab. . scrip●… . lib. . c. . * exod. . . * psal. . . * gal. . . eph. . . heb. . ▪ * psa. . ▪ * luke . . * revel. . . * isa. . . * sam. . . cor. . * psa. . * prov. . . * heb. . * jer. . . * prov. . . * psa. . * col. . . * sir tho. norris , president of munster , ex levi vul●…ere neglecto sublatus . cambdens elizab. an. . * cor. . . * ●…sa ' . . . * sam. . . . * rev. . . * mat. . * kings . . * zacha. . . * king : . * deut. . . * john . . * g●… . . . * isaiah . . * compare gen. . . with gen. . * psal. . * mark . . * isa. . : * isa. . * solinus polyhistor in judea . * phil. . ●… * kings . * jo●… . * exo. . . * psal. . . * jer. . * deut. . . * kings . . * cambd. brit. in durham . * ifitrains on sunday before messe , it will raine all weeke more or lesse . a popish old ●…ime . * sam. . . mat. . . * dan. . . * deu. . . * kings . * luk. . * ephes . . * psal. . * isa. . . & . . * kings . . * psal. . . * james . . isa. . . * acts . * psa. . * psa. . . * compare p●…al . . with psa. . . * judg. . . * acts . * ephes. . . * hos. . . * cor. . * john . . * mat. . . * cor. . * mar. . . * rom. . . * prov. . . * rev. . * mat. . . * ex veris possunt , nil nisi ve●…a sequi . * col. . . * pet. . * psal. . . * luk. . * act. . . * ●… cor. . . * act. . * mat. . . * luk. . . * joh. . . * melchior adamus in vita theologorum 〈◊〉 pag. . * jam. . * ruth . * joh. . * exo. . . * job . * luk. . . * act ▪ . * cor. ●… . . * luk. . . * joh. . . * . kin ▪ . . * gen. . . * pro. . * kings . . * thes. . . ephes. . . psal. . . & . . triana, or, a threefold romanza of mariana. paduana. sabina fuller, thomas, - . this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text r in the english short title catalog (wing f a). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a wing f a estc r this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) triana, or, a threefold romanza of mariana. paduana. sabina fuller, thomas, - . [ ], , [ ] p. printed for john stafford, and are to be sold at his house, at the george at fleet-bridge, london : . by thomas fuller. reproduction of the original in the bodleian library. eng a r (wing f a). civilwar no triana, or, a threefold romanza of mariana. paduana. sabina. fuller, thomas c the rate of defects per , words puts this text in the c category of texts with between and defects per , words. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - jonathan blaney sampled and proofread - jonathan blaney text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion triana , or a threefold romanza of mariana . of paduana . of sabina . omne tulit punctum qui miscuit vtile dulci . london , printed for john stafford , and are to be sold at his house , at the george at fleet-bridge . . to the reader . it is hard to say whether it is worst , to be idle or ill imploy'd ; whilst i have eschewed the former , i have fallen on the latter ; and shall by the severer sort be censured for mispending my time . let such i pray heare my plea , and i dare make my accusers my judges herein , that is not lost time which aimes at a good end ; sauce is as lawfull as meat , recreation as labour , it hath pleased me in composing it , i hope it may delight others in perusing it . i present not a translation out of the spanish , or from the italian originall ; this is the common pander to mens fancy , hoping to vent them under that title with the more applause . these my play-labours never appeared before , and is an essay of what hereafter may be a greater volume . things herein are composed in a generall proportion to truth , and we may justly affirme , vera si non scribimus , scribimus veri similia , i will not be deposed for the exact variety of the gravest passages : in the greatest historian a liberty hath ever been allowed to fancies of this nature , alwaies provided , that they confine themselves within the bounds of probability . thus wishing every faithfull lover feliciano's happinesse , every good wife facundo's love ; every true servant , servant , gervia's fortune , every maiden-lady , fidelio's constant affection , every faithfull friend vejetto's successe , every clownish foole , insuls his mishap , and every cruell wanton , nicholayo's deserved punishment : i leave thee to the perusall hereof , censure not so rigidly , lest you blast a budding writer in the blossoming of his endeavours . triana mariana . in the city of valentia , metropolis of the kingdome so named , which with many other dominions are the tributary ●●ooks discharging themselves into ●e ocean of the spanish monarchy , ●welt one don durio a merchant of ●●eat repute . for as yet the envious ●●nds had not ( as at this day ) ob●●ructed the haven in the valentia , but ●●at it was the principall port in ●●ose parts . this don durio had advanced an ●tate much by parcimony , more by ●apine , being halfe a jew by his extraction ; and more then three quarters thereof by his conditions , being a notorious oppressor . but growne very aged , and carrying his eyes in his pockett , teeth in his sheath , and feete in his hands , he began with remorse to reflect on the former part of his life with some thoughts of restitution , to such whom he had most injured . this his intention he communicated to one francisco a frier , and his confessor : francisco was glad to see such a qualme of religion come over his heart , and resolved to improve it to the uttermost . hee perswades him that restitution was a thing difficult and almost impossible for one in his condition , so many were the particular persons by him wronged ; the shortest and sures● way was for him to consigne his only daughter mariana to be a nun in the priory of st. brigett , and to endow that covent with all hi● lands : which exemplary piece o● his liberality , would not only wit● the lustre thereof out-shine all his former faults : but also be a direction to posterity how to regulate their estates on the like occasion . don durio , though flinty of himself , yet lately softned with age and sicknesse , entertaines the motion , not onely with contentment , but with delight , and will not be a day older before the same be effected . but there was a materiall person , whose consent herein must be cōsulted with , even mariana his daughter , who had not one ounce of nuns flesh about her , as whom nature had intended not as a dead stake in a hedge to stand singly in the place ▪ but as a plant to fructifie for posterity . besides , she had assured her self to one fidelio , a gentlemā of such merit , that though his vertues started with great disadvantage , clogg'd with the waite of a necessitous fortune : yet such the strength and swiftnes thereof , that he very speedily came ( not being above the years of two and twenty ) to the marke of a publique reputation ; but these things were carried so closely between them , and all leakes of superstition were so cunningly made up , that neither friend nor foe , had gained the least glimps of their intentions . don durio , francisco being in his presencc , importunes his daughter ( a hard taske ) to bury her beauty under a vaile , and become a frigittine . what he propounded with a fatherly bluntnesse , francisco sharpens with the edge of his wit , heightning the happinesse of a recluded life to the skie , and above it ; a discourse very unwelcome to marianaes eares , racketted between two dangers on either side if she surrender her selfe herein to her fathers will , she is undone , and wha● she values above herselfe , fidelio i● ruined : if she deny , she exposeth he● selfe to the just censure of disobedience : yea it puts a light into the hand of her suspitious fathers therby to discover her intentions , that her affections being preingaged , obstructed the acceptance of this motion . no time is allowed her to advise , in a moment ( almost ) she must consult and conclude , and resolved at last to comply with her fathers desires for the present , not despairing , but that courteous time , in the processe thereof , would tender unto her some advantage , whereby hereafter she might make a faire evasion . but her father hurries her in her present attire , ( as good enough for a mortified mind , without allowing her respit of of exchanging ) unto the covent . francisco leades the way , don durio followes , and mariana comes last ; her countenance was neither so sad , as to betray any discontent , nor so blith and cheerefull as to proclaime any likenesse therein : but so reduced , and moderately composed , as of one that well understood both what she was leaving off , and what she was entring into . and if the falling of a few teares moistened her cheekes , it was excusable in one now taking her farewell of her former friends : and her father beheld the same as the argument of good nature in her . ringing the bell at the covent gate , the watchfull porter takes the alarum and presently opens : for though it was something difficult for strangers to have excesse into the covent , yet the presence of frier francisco , was as strong as any petar , to make the sturdiest gate in the covent pliable to his admission . out comes the lady abbesse , who had now passed sixty winters , and carried the repute of a grave and sanctimonious matron : a strict discipliner she was of the least wantonnesse of any committed to her charge , reputed by most to her virtuous dispositiō , but ascribed by others to her envy , driving away those delights from others which formerly had flowne away from her selfe . francisco with a short speech acquaints her with the cause of their comming ▪ surrenders mariana to be a probationer in their house ; whom the abbesse welcommeth with the largest expressions of love to her , and thankefulnesse to her father , highly commending don durio his devotion , that whereas many parents blessed with a numerous issue grudge to bestow the tythe thereof on a monasticall life : such is his forward zeale as to part with all his stock , and store , not repining to conferre his sole daughter and heire to a religious retirement ; then taking their leaves each of other , they depart , leaving mariana with the abbesse . millescent a nun of good esteeme and great credit , is assigned by the abbesse to goe along with mariana , and shew her all the roomes , walkes and rich untensills of the house ; especially she is very carefull to reade unto her a large inventory of all the reliques therein , with their severall miraculous operations . the points of st. rumballs breeches ( among other things ) were there showen , the touching whereof would make barren women fruitfull : and many other seeming toyes of soveraigne influence . passing through by the southeast corner of the cloyster mariana cast her eye on an arched vault , enquiring the use thereof , and whether the same did conduct ; millescent answered , that in due time her curiosity therein should be satisfied to her owne contentment , but as yet she was not capable of any intelligence therein , which was one of the mysteries of the house not communicated to novices at their first admission , but reserved for such , who after some convenient time of abode there , had given undoubted testimony of their fidelity to that order . and here we leave mariana having more musick and lesse mirth then she had at home . the newes hereof was no sooner brought to fidelio , but it moved a strange impression upon him . were i assured that the reader hereof was ever sound in love , and that his brest was ever through warned with chast fires of a constāt mistress , it would spare me some pains to character fidelio his sad condition . for then my worke is easily done , onely by appealing to the readers experience , who out of sympathy is able to make more then a conjecture of fidelio's sad estate , daily languishing for the losse of his love , as dead ( whilst living ) unto him . his pensive postures , sad looks , silent sighs , affected solitariness , sequestring himself from his most familiar friends , was observed by ardalio , by whom he was intirelv beloved , ardadalio using the boldnesse becomming a friend , examines fidelio of the cause of his suddaine change . fidelio for a time fences himselfe with his owne retirednesse , and fortifies his soule with resolutions of secrecy . the other plants the artillery of his importunity against him , by the force thereof fidelio is beaten out of his hold , & won at last to unbosome his grievance to ardalio , who had promised , that midnight sooner should be found a tel-tale , & trust it selfe become a traytor , rather then he would discover any thing prejudiciall unto him . imboldned wherewith , fidelio confesseth that marianas restraint in a nunnery into which she was lately thrust , by her parents power ( as he verily beleeved ) against her own will , and without his knowledge . had shee been taken prisoner by the turke , some hope would have been to procure her liberty by ransome , had pirates surprised her , mony might have purchased her freedome , whereas now no hope of enlargement , it being no lesse then sacriledge accounted by force or fraud to practice her delivery from that religious slavery . be content ( saith ardalio ) and i will make you master of a project , which without any danger shall bring your mistresse into your possession ; turne therfore all your soule into eares & listen to my discourse , wch though seemingly tedious in the relating , the same will make your attention , not only a saver , but a gainer by the rich conclusion thereof . some twelve yeares since , when a frier was buried in the benedictine covent all the schoole-boyes in valentia ( among whom i assure you i was none of the meanest ) invited themselves to bee present at the solemnity , now whilst others were crowded into the chappell to see the performance of the obsequies , i know not what conceit made me a separatist from the rest of my companions . and as i was walking in a corner between the conduit and the hall , i happened into an old roome which led me into a vault lighted onely with one squint-eyed window , going somewhat further therein , my heart began to faile me with the fresh remembrance of those tales of bug-bears wherewith my nurse had affrighted my infancy from ponds and places of danger ; however taking heart i resolved to discover the issue of that winding vault . and here you must forgive me , if i have forgotten some circumstances herein , my memory which never was very loyall may be pardoned for betraying some passages after twelve yeares past : let it suffice that i remember so much as will make you happy it wisely prosecuted , this was the result of my adventure , that as our river anas is reported to run some miles under ground , and afterwards spring up againe . so i drowned under dry earth , ( if you will allow the expression ) was boyled up againe in the nunnery of the bridgitines , you will hardly beleeve with what amazement the nunns beheld me , who had entred their cloyster that unusuall way never as yet ( as it seemes ) traced with boyes feet , but by those of more maturity , whose company might bee more acceptable unto them : they loaded me with kisses and sweet meates , for beleeve mee ( fidelio ) how meane opinion soever you may now have of my handsomnesse , if my picture then taken , and the report of my mother may be beleeved , i was not unhandsome . in fine , they flattered and threatned me not to discover which way i came thither , which if once i made knowne , thousand of devills would torment . from which day to this it never came into my head ; my memory having now made some amends for its former forgetfulnesse by this seasonable suggestion thereof unto mee , when it may befriend your occasions . if therefore you can convey your selfe by this passage into the nunnery , i leave the rest to bee stewarded by your owne ingenuity . but which way said ( fidelio ) shall i contrive my undiscovered comming thither , shew me but a way presenting but halfe the face , yea but a quarter face of probability , and i shall kisse that , and thanke you for the same . i will furnish you with all requisites for the adventure : i have an uncle living at lisborne provinciall of the benedictines in spain ; his hand when a boy i have often ceunterfeited for harmlesse cheats levell with my age , so livelily , that i have perswaded him to confess it his own , and great the familiarity between my vncle and francisco , who here is the benedictine abbot . i will provide all things for you , and fit you with the habit of their order , leaving the rest still to be improved by your own art and industry . for where a friend tenders one hand to draw you out of the mire , if you assist not to make up the rest by your own endeavours , even lie there still to your own shame and with no pity of mine . they depart , resolving next morrow to meet , when all necessaries should be provided . in the meane time , fidelio goes to the covent of the bridgittines , and walkes under a window thereof , the which ( as he was informed and his intelligence therein not untrue ) belonged to the chamber of mariana . she discovers him there , and presently rends out of her legend the first white leafe which had not blushed ( as the rest ) for the lies and impudencies which were written therein ; which paper she imployes for a let●er , and looking out of the window , casts the letter down unto him who stood ready beneath to receive the same , and surely had the letter been but ballanc'd , with any competent waight put therein , it had not missed his hands for whom it was intended . what a pity was it , that aeolus was never in love , or that the winds are too boisterous , or to cold to be melted affection . except any will say that a gale of wind ambition , to kiss the letter of so fair a hand , and overacted its part therein . sure it is that a small blast thereof blew this letter over into the garden of albesse , where shee was viewing of her bees . her ladyship betakes her selfe to her glasseyes , and peruseth the following contents thereof . fidelio , help me with thy imaginations , and know me here more miserable then i can express , here is nothing lesse then that which is pretended , a chast mistriss which in due time may be a chast wife , may stock a hundred nuns with virginity ; work my deliverance if thy affections be unfeigned ; or i am undone mariana . short and sweet said the abbesse , the least toades have the greatest poison , and then up she flies winged with anger , ( which otherwise could scarce crawle ) to marianaes chamber where she so railes on her , that a purgatory hereafter might have been spared for having one here . and because she had defamed the whole covent , the heaviest pēnance must be enjoyed unto her , to be stript naked to the middle in the hall at dinner time , where she was onely to be feasted with lashes , each nun inflicting one upon her , and then the abbesse to conclude sans number : as many as her own discretion was pleased to lay on her . but mariana partly with grief , and partly with fear , fell so terrible sick that night that her life came into despair , the onely reason ( as i take it ) why her pennance was put off to another time : till she might be the more able object of their cruelty . for the abbesse resolved , that what was deferred should not be taken away , being so far from abating the principall , she intended mariana should pay it with interest , and give satisfaction for the forbearance of this discipline , when in any tolerable strength to undergo it . by this time ardalio had compleated fidelio with all necessaries in the habit of a frier , who thus accoutred , advanceth in his formality to the covent , where he is presently brought to francisco , to whom hee delivered this ensuing letter . dear brother , i send you here my selfe in my friend , who was he as well known to you as to me , his vertues would command your affections , if not admiration ; our covent hath this last hundred years , ( since the first foundation therof ) been essaying and endeavouring to make up a compleat man , which now in some measure it had effected in the bearer hereof ; when behold envious death repining at our happinesse , had laboured to frustrate the same ; so that this pearlesse peece of devotion , was scarce bestowed on us , when almost taken away from us by a violent sicknesse , whose abated fury terminated at last , in a long and languishing quartain ague , which his hollow eyes and thin cheekes do too plainly expresse ; exchange of aire is commended unto us , for the best if not onely physick : let him want nothing i pray your house can afford , and burthen him with as few questions as may be , it being tedious to him to talk , and his infirmity hath much disinabled his intellectualls , and know that your meritorious kindnesse therein , shall not onely oblige me to a requitall , but an engagement on all lovers of vertue , to whom this our brother festucaes worth is or hereafter may be known . your loving friend pedro di ronca . francisco embraceth him with all dearnesse , the viands of the house are set before him , whereof fidelio took a moderate repast ; all the monks of the house severally salute him , and demanded of him severall particulars of their covent at lisborn , as of the scituation , indowment , number , names , and punctuall observances therein . to all these fidelio returned generall answers , under the coverts whereof he might the easier conceal his own ignorance ; as for the indowment of the house , hee professed himself a meere stranger thereunto , and that hee affected ignorance therein , as conceiving it resented too much of worldly imployment , wheras his desire was , that better things should engrosse his soule . this excuse was heard with admiration , increasing the opinion they had preconceived of his holinesse : when they ask him such questions , to which he could returne no answer at all , he would fall into a seeming trance , darting his eyes , and moving his lips , as in pious ejaculations , as not listning to what was said unto him , whilst the others out of manerly devotion , let fall their questions , and would presse them no farther , as loath to interrupt his soule in more serious and sacred employment ; besids francisco gave a strict command that none should disturb him with needlesse questions , but leave him to the full imployment of his own meditations . some six daies after , fidelio observing the directions of ardalio his friend , finds out the foresaid vault , and accordingly went forward therein , till at last he came to a great iron gate , which was shut and obstructed the way : this gate was either not set up , or not shut up , when ardalio made his passage this way . fidelio falls a musing , finds all his hopes prove abortive , with no possibility of further proceeding , when looking seriously on the gate , which was enlightned through a small hole , presenting but twilight at noon day , he discovered an inscription thereon , which he read to himself , with a voice one degree above whispering . fair portresse of this privy gate , if any sister want a mate , lift up the barre and let me in , it shall be but a veniall sin . instantly the gate flew open , and fidelio is left to wonder , what secret spell , and hidden magick , were contained in those verses , that so immediatly they should procure his admittance . but presently the riddle is unfolded , finding a nun behind the dore , where she kept her constant attendance , and to whom these verses were the wonted watch-word to open the gate : recollecting his spirit , he accosted the sister , desiring to be conducted to mariana , whom he understood ( for the fame thereof had gotten out of the covent ) was very sick , and he sent from father francisco to provide some ghostly counsell for her , and what els her present condition should require . he is carried unto her chamber , who being at the present asleep , hee entertained himself in the next room by looking on a picture . herein saint dennis was set forth , beheaded by pagan tyrants , and afterwards carrying his head under his arm seven miles from paris to saint dennis . fidelio smiling thereat to himself , thought that saint dennis in that posture had an excellent opportunity to pick his teeth . mariana is awaked , fidelio called in , who claiming the priviledge of privacy , as proper for a confessor , all avoid the room , then putting off his disguise , he briefly telleth her what dangers hee had undergone for her deliverance , informeth her that next morning hee would be ready with horses and servants , at such a corner of the garden , where without any danger , they had contrived a way for her escape . fidelio's presence is better then any cordiall , mariana recovereth her spirits , is apprehensive of the motion , promiseth to observe time and place , they are thrifty in their language , speak much in little lavish , no minuts in complements : but are perfectly instructed in each others designes . presently in comes the abbesse : fidelio ( having first recovered his coole ) proceeds in a set discourse of the praise of patience , commending it to mariana as the most necessary vertue in her condition ; and after some generall salutes to the abbesse , recommendeth his patient to her care , and takes his own opportunity to depart , returning to the covent of the benedictines as undiscovered as he came thence . that night , befriended with the dark , under the mantle thereof , fidelio gets out of the covent , repairs to his friend ardalio , reports all the particulars of his successe , triumphs in the hopes of his approaching happinesse , counts the time which we generally complain doth fly , a cripple , that crawles , so long each minuit seems unto him , untill ten of the clock next morning should be accomplished . next day mariana riseth from her bed , craves leave of the abbesse to go into the garden , which is granted her ; so that millescent a prime nun were to attend her . millescent adviseth her to wrap her selfe warm for fear of a relapse , for the air ( saith she ) is piercing , and your body weak . indeed ( quoth mariana ) i am sensible of much strength in a short time , and believe my selfe able , to run a race with you , who shall first come to yonder corner ; done said millescent , and let the lagg that comes last to the place , say over her beades for us both . they start together . have you ever heard the poets fiction of atlanta's running , when only her covetousnesse to get the golden ball made her lose the race . alas her swiftnesse was nothing in comparison of marianaes ; it seems that cupid , who had shot the piles of his arrowes into her heart , had tied the feathers or wings thereof unto her feet . the wall of the nunnery was on the one side filled up with earth , on the out-side there was a descent of some four yards ; fidelio stood ready to entertain her . what will not fright and love do ? mariana consults not any danger , nor did she carry a scale in her eye to measure the depth of the wall : but crossing the proverb , she leapes before she looks , fidelio saveth her almost halfe the way of her journey by catching of her in his armes , and before the succeeding minut had supplanted its predecessor , she is mounted by his servant behind fidelio , and all speed they make to a chappell , wch might serve for an hospitall , for it was blind , and the priest dumb , yet had tongue enough to tie that knot which none of them was able to undoe . but tired millescent with much panting had recovered the corner , & seeing marianaes escape , cryed out , she is gone , she is gone ; this gave an alarum to the abbess , who instantly conceived her in a sound ; it is , said she , the just reward of her adventure , that contrary to my counsell went abroad . out comes the whole regiment of nunnes with hot waters and cordialls , to tempt her soul , if not too far departed , to return to her body , they are soon sensible of their mistake , and behold her almost got out of sight , so that the longer they looked , the less they saw her , till distance at last made her vanish away . many a nun a spectator hereof , wisht themselves an actor upon the same termes , commending her adventure in their hearts , who condemned her most in their discourse . fidelio with mariana his wife returned to a private house in lisborn prepared for this purpose ; but oh the quick intelligence that friers have , sure their soules all scent , all eyes and ears , that discover things so soon , so far off . they were just ready to sit down at supper , onely expecting the comming of his dear friend ardalio , when in comes a man or a tiger ( shall i say ) nature might seeme to intend him for the latter , such his fierce aspect and hairy face , the terriblenesse whereof was increased with his affected antique attire , by his place he was the jaylor of the house of inquisition , and presently he shewed a cast of his office , by seizing them both his prisoners . yet might they have had the happinesse to have been sent to the same prison , it would have afforded some mitigation of their misery ; this would not be granted , though mariana with importunate tears requested it ; but they were disposed into severall jayles , where neither of them was sensible of their own condition , being totally taken up with the mutuall bemoaning the one of the other this is one commendable quality in the spaniards , prisoners are not long delayed to rot in the jayle , where is life worse then death it self , but are brought to a speedy tryall , either to be condemned or acquitted . next day they both are brought before the judges , and condemned ot die ; he for sacriledge , for soliciting a votary out of the house , she for carrying away a golden medall wherein was the picture of saint bridget , which she casually borrowed , having no felonious intention , as meaning to restore it , but surprised on a suddain , had no leisure to make restitution . all conceived that the rigor of rigors was extended unto them , & by francisco the fryer , though not visibly appearing . don durio hearing that his daughter was to be executed , his paternal affections retreated to his heart , and there made a stand , projecting with himselfe how to prevent this mischief . and here i must trouble the reader , to go back in reporting an acccident that happened twenty years agoe . it chanced that philip the second ( alwaies wealthie and alwaies wanting ) was forced on a suddaine to send forth a great fleet against the turk , he borrowed a considerable sum of money of don durio , for the payment whereof don durio was a daily suppliant to the court , as constant at the gate as the porter , plying the king with importunate petitions , all which ended in delaies , which don durio rightly expounded to be denialls . once the treasurer told him , that it was honor enough for the greatest monarch in christendom to borrow money of him , though he never receive it again . don durio to make a vertue of necessity turned his despair into a frollick , and being admitted by friends into the kings presence in a winter morning , cast into the fire his obligations which were parcelled up in a pretty bundle , desiring the king to heat his hands thereat . his majesty was highly pleased with the conceit , and the rather because it was more then a conceit , saying , it was the best faggot he ever saw , and wished the state of senua would make him the like bonefire , swearing by saint james ( his usuall oath ) that if ever don durio had need of a court-favour at a dead lift , he should not faile in his expectation . the dead lift , or at least the dying lift was now come , don durio posts to the madrid , where the spanish court was kept , and findeth the king hunting of a stag the old man attends the sport for a time . the stag wearied with long hunting took soyl , and ran into a great pond or dwarff-lake , hee recruited his strength as old aeson did in the bath of medea , and come forth as fair and as fresh as when roused in the morning , then setting his haunces against the parke pale , ( reader if a forrester pardon my language if improper ) hee dared the doggs to set upon him whilst the hounds stood disputing with themselves ( for the kings doggs we know can make syllogisms ) whether the honor or the danger were the greater to adventure on their foe , & whilst they stood declining the hazard one to the other , out steps a cowardly keeper , & with a brace of bullets killeth the stag dead in the place : who could he have borrowed a tongue from the standers by , first he would have cursed that frier of mentz for first finding out the hellish invention of gunpowder , and then hee would have bequeathed himselfe to have been coffined in paste , whilst the king and his courtiers should be merry the solemnizing of his funerall . the sport being ended , the king returned and retired to his chamber ; don durio makes his addresse to his majesty , who at the first had forgotten him , till his memory was quickned with the effectuall token of the bonds he burnt ; welcome woodmonger said the king , thy suite is granted in the asking of it , and presently a large pardon was signed and sealed , which with all possible speed , he carried along with him to lisborn . but so short the day , so long the way , so bad the weather , that he could not make such speed as he desired , and his friends expected . the day of execution being come , fidelio is brought to act his part on deaths the aier . mariana , though disjoyned from him in prison to her great grief , 〈◊〉 now to her greater grief conjoyned with him at the scaffold . fidelio begins with a long speech , which seems no whit tedious to the auditors , because done out of a design to gain time , in expectation of a pardon , which all understood was procured , all lovers there present could have wished each vowell long in his speech , the effect whereof was to advise young persons to confine their affections within some probable compass of their deserts , not to wander with their extravagant love above the proportion of their merits : he bemoaneth himself much , mariana more , taking on himself the guilt of the whole action , and protested that she died loves true martyr . mariana seconded him in this sad discourse , the purport whereof was , to teach obedience to children , that they should take heed how they concealed their love from their parents , in whose meer disposall they were , and not to conceive that age superannuated them , or gave them an acquittance from that debt to which nature engaged them . a post winds his horn , all hear it and welcome , conceiving what indeed it was , the preface to a pardon . don durio followes the post all in a sweat , it being almost a wonder that his dried corpes could contribute so much moisture . the pardon is presented to the supream officer , with much joy and acclamation of the beholders . who would think that heraclitus could be so soon turned into democritus ? who could suppose that so great an army of people could in an instant , faces about , it was hard before to find one merry , now impossible to find one sad , as if by sympathy they had been , condemned with fidelio , and accordingly pardoned with him . the pardon is read , it was large parchment , in character , but apprehended too narrow in expression , as only for the life of mariana , whose father , don durio , neither desired nor endeavoured the life of the other whom he perfectly hated , as conceiving his love a disparagement . writers were in a sad condition , if sometimes they might not take upon trust from their readers more then they are able to pay themselves ; how short would he fall ; who would undertake in language to expresse the generall sadnesse of the company , but especially of mariana for this unexpected accident . the executioner proceeds to his work , a handkercher being tyed about fidelio's face , as one better prepared to feel then see death , he is readily provided for the fatall stroke . in vain did mariana with much rhetorick ( grief making her eloquent ) plead , that the pardons of princes are not to be taken in restrictive sences , that in all things which are doubtfull , men are rather to enlarge it with favour then contract it with cruelty , that though her pardon alone was exprest doubtlesse both were intended , that man and wife were but one , the guilt but one committed by both , and appeales to the judges present , if any spark of mercy were alive in their breasts ( judges alway for the greater solemnity being present at executions ) to improve the same on so just , so conscientious , so honorable an occasion , but as soon might a child have perswaded the tide at full sea to retreat , when inraged also with the wind , as her request find any entertainment . ardalio was present thereat , standing close to father francisco the great actor herein , who spurr'd on the judges ( whom charity otherwise believed inclined to mercy , to the greatest & speediest extremity ) and he desired a private work with francisco what was whispered between them , was unknown , and mens fancies variously commented on their discourse , but the truth was he spake to this effect . sir , you have been the grand ingeneir of this mans death , whose blood you have sought , being your self guilty of greater offences . a word from your mouth may respit the execution , and reprieve the prisoner ; i protest reveng of my friends blood , if you do not quickly improve your utmost , three minutes is all the time i allow you to thinke or do after i have ended my speech ; know you sir a vault and a door between your covent and the nuns , contrary to canons and laws ecclesiasticall and civill ? these things shal be heightned against you with as much earnestnesse as my wit and wealth can improve it , intending to bury my estate in the prosecution of the death of my friend . these things he uttered with that seriousnes which protosted no passion but a calme soul , and such people are truest to their resolutions . francisco went to the prime officer , and requested him ( fryers requests in such cases being commands ) to put off the execution for one month , untill his majesties pleasure therein was more perfectly known ; for ardalio had given him private information , that the intention of the king was larger then his expression in the pardon , and the officer complyeth with him in his desire , and all the company were dissolved , none being sad at so strange but unexpected an alteration . all matters were husht and stopped ; ardalio imbraced and feasted by francisco , who bribed his tongue to silence , which the other as ingenuously professed & faithfully performed . the reprieve of fidelio ended in a full pardon , & old don durio seeing it to be in vain to forbid that match which providence had made , was contented that his daughter was injointred in a true affection , consented unto their marriage . both which lived long , and were blessed with an happy posterity . finis . triana and padvana . in the city of venice , there flourished a marchant as large in estate , as narrow in heart , mellito bondi by name , of a family more ancient then numerous , and yet more numerous then rich ; untill mellito gave the luster thereunto with the vastnesse of his estate . one daughter alone he had ; paduana ( from the neighbouring place of her birth and breeding ) courted by all the illustrissimo's and clarissimo's of that state , as well she might , having the portion of a princesse in expectation . yet her wealth was the meanest thing about her , whose vertues and beauty was such , that fame commonly a lier in the excesse , was here a lier in the defect , her large report falling short of the ladies due deserts . paduana solicited to marriage denied all suiters , charging all upon the account of her stedfast resolutions on virginity ; whereas this was but a blind , more covertly to conceal her affections , and that exchange of hearts which had passed between her and feliciano , a sojourner in the house of her father . this feliciano was a proper gentleman , compleatly educated , whose enemies allowed this to be his worst fault , that he had a prodigall to his father , who had wasted the large estate of his ancestors : yet let not old andrea ( for so was his father termed ) be wholy condemned for an unthrift ( the partiall cause of his ruine ) seeing losses at sea , and ill debters at land contributed to his speedier undoing ; besides our foresaid bondi if strictly examined , could not denie his concurrence thereunto , who by usurious contracts , and sinister advantages spurred him on to destruction , who was running too fast of himselfe ; hereupon in some commiseration he kept feliciano his sonne , as a gentle-alms-man , exhibiting dyet and some slender accommodations unto him . the best was , the scant measure of bondi his allowance , was inlarged by his daughters bounty , maintaining him in a fashionable equipage : thus for a time we leave them to their embraces , so much the sweeter because the secreter , waiting the leasure of every opportunity , and warily stealing the same . it happened about this time , that the president of dalmatia , languished on a desperate sicknesse , his death being daily expected : this was an office of great honour and expence , which could not be discharged creditably without the annuall expending of so many duckets , which amounts to three thousand pounds sterling of our english money : for though the foresaid president had a pension from the state , and a certain intrado from the gallyes and garrisons , with some considerable revenues from the demeanes annexed to the place , yet all his perquisits and emoluments audited , the foresaid summe was requisite to carry it forth with any reputation , except some sordid soule was carelesse of his credit , and would sacrifice the same to publique obloquy . m●l●ito bondi was designed by the duke and senate of venice successor in this presidentship of dalmatia : indeed in seniority it belonged unto him , and as it was accounted an injury to baulk so good ground , and passe over a man of merit , should the state decline his election ; so on the other side it would have left an indeleble shame to melli●o , if shee should have waved the acceptance thereof . mellito quakes for feare to be advanced downward to so chargeable a preferment , his covetousnesse is above his ambition , and he almost dies for feare to heare that the president of dalmatia is dying . the newes of the arriving of a wealthy ship from caro , or constantinople , would be farre more acceptable unto him , then such burthensome honour . now hee had a confident , part friend , part servant , gervatio by name , whose secresie hee had balkt , and whose tongue he had lockt up with many favours bestowed upon him . to him he presumes to impart his grievance in manner following . gervatio , i ranck my servants in a threefold order , of slaves ; servants and friends ; of the former i have many fit for servile labour , no ingenious imployment : of the middle sort , i want none , but these love mine rather then me : of friends servants thou art the chiefe , i make thy owne ingenuity my judge , whether my carriage unto thee hath not rather spoke mee a father to a child , rather then a master to servant . thankefull natures ( among whom i shall account you till discerning the contrary ) will study to deserve favours bestowed upon them , which begetteth in me a confidence that i may not ōly safely trust the with an important secret , but also crave thy advice therein for my further direction . gervatio made a short , but serious protest of his fidelity herein , professing himselfe highly advanced in this trust committed unto him , withall much commending bondies ability to advise himselfe , bemoaning withall his owne insufficiency , who could not harbour so presumptuous a thought , as if the scant measure of his weake judgement could supply any thing wanting in the rich treasure of his masters experience : how ever he promised that his heart should make recompence for his head , and the sincerity of his endeavours make some amends for his other failings and infirmities . from complements , i fall to the matter in hand , bon●i tells him his great desire to decline the costly presidentship of dalmatia , which by succession when vacant , was certain to descend upon him , he voweth that he accompted it ill husbandry to sell rich lands therewith to buy empty ayre & honorable titles which vanish with the wearer thereof ; whilst his lasting wealth might probably descend to his posterity , & desireth gervatio to mind him of some faire contrivance which might not leave the blur of any suspition behind it , ( much lesse come within the reach of probable detection ) whereby he might wave that expensive place , though but for a time , untill some other should bee setled in the same . presently gervatio his better genius prompted him , that if any person how rich soever , if totally deprived of any of his senses , was by the fundamentall lawes of that state rendered uncapable of the foresaid presidentship . on this undoubted foundation , being a most certaine and well known truth , he bottomed his designe , perswading bondi to counterfeit himselfe stark blind , that this infirmity cunningly dissembled and generally beleeved , would secure him out of the distance of the danger he feared , being not eligible to the place , while visited with so great a defect . the plot takes with bondi , who puts it in present execution . on the morrow an entertainment is made , some friends invited to celebrate the anniversary of his birth-day , and bondi proves himselfe a perfect miser , by his ouer plentifull cheer : in the midst of their mirth , he complains the roome is dark , commands the windowes to be opened , which was done accordingly . bondi perseveres in his complaint , that he sees no more then hee did before . ( which in some sence was not untrue ) at last all meanes used to recover light unto him prove in vaine , so that justice is not phancied more blind by the philosophers , nor cupid feined more eyelesse by the poets then bondi was then believed to be . this accident produced different effects as men stood variously affected unto him , narrow the number of such who truly loved him , and those few did really pitty and bemone him ; more his foes who rejoyced thereat , and made uncharitable cōstructiōs thereof , as if some secret wanton intemperance had deprived him of his sight , none suspected any fraud or collusion therein . and to make all the surer bondi confessed that this was a just punishment inflicted upon him for his pride and ambition , because he so greedily had desired the presidentship of dalmatia . he acknowledged that he had been no better then a murtherer in his own heart , having often killed the old president of dalmatia in his wishes and desire , the sooner to pave the way to his owne preferment , and enoble his posterity with addition of so honorable imployment . hitherto , feliciano and paduana , had managed their affections with all secresy suffering none to be privy thereunto ; but henceforward being ignorant of her fathers dissimulation , they abstaine not in his presence to passe kisses and courtesies as confident that hee perceived nothing . whereat the other was enraged above measure : should his daughter being a fit match for a prince , for parts , portion and pedegree , be cast away on the sonne of a bankrupt , all whose maintenance proceeded out of his owne purse ? hee resolv'd rather to disinherit paduana , then endure this affront , though for the present in silence he digested the same . the long languishing president of dalmatia puts an end of peoples expectations by his death , and made roome for one to exceed him in his office . the election leaves over bondi by his blindnesse unqualified for that place , the concernement wherof required one who should bee an argos both for body and minde , such is the neede of his constant warinesse and circumspection . martino cárnatio is by generall suffrages reputed for the place , legally chosen and solemnely setled therein ; and conducted to spolato by the gallies of the state , where he began his residence , and we meet with no further mention of him . soone after the duke of venice comes to give bondi a visit , bringing along with him a chirurgion , whose skill as it was diffused over all sores , so his master-piece was in being an expert oculist . indeed the eye is a small volume , but many the leaves ( i meane the tunicles ) thereof , and much written therein , the eye alone being subject to more distempers and diseases , then any other part of the body , so many and so small the contrivances therein , and no wonder if little watches be quickly out of order . this oculist ( being indeed one of more fame then skill , of more skill then honesty ) at the dukes desire made an accurate inspection on bondi's eyes , and pretended that he discovered in both of them a little speck hindering the sight thereof ▪ which with a small instrument , might easily be cut out , with very little pain : and here he scattered a multitude of hard and long latin words , which would serve for the titles of the gally-pots of an apothecaries shop , which much amused his hearers therewith : i spare the pains to relate them , because questioning the readers skill in understanding thereof , the rather because i question the oculist whether he understood himself in them . bondi was now put to it , fearing some violence should be offered to his eyes , where a touch is a wound , such the tendernesse thereof , he thanks the chirurgeon much , and the d●ke more , for their care and kindnesse unto him , but is resolved patiently to bear the affliction laid upon him , which he confesses himself did justly deserve for his pride and ambition , he hoped his soul should be the better for the blindnesse of his body , and in no case would consent that any experiment should be tryed on him for his recovery . here the duke interposed his power and flat command , signior bondi said he , you are not so in your owne full and free dispose , but you may and must be over-ruled by others for your owne good ; we take notice of that worth in you which your modesty will not owne in your selfe , and therefore will not lose the benefit of so usefull a patriot ; you are a selfe murtherer , if refusing those lawfull means whereby art may befriend nature , against your infirmity : as your friend therefore i desire you , as your prince i command you , as both i enjoyne you without further dispute , to submit your selfe to this artist , not doubting but that his learned endeavours , will be crowned with welcome successe . wit works in extremity , now or never bondi play thy prizes , with a composed countenance he returns . my lord , i am ready with all thankfulnesse to embrace your counsell , and much admire the extensivenesse of your goodnesse , and largnesse of your spirit , that amidst the multiplicity of your state-imployments , your ability is such , and your goodnesse so great , as you will reflect on so inconsiderable a thing as my selfe : but give me leave to acquaint your grace , i have lately made a vow to my perticular saint , whose aid i have implored ( and whose name for some reasons i crave leave as yet to conceal ) and have received some assurance from him in a dream , that shortly i shall be bettered by his goodnesse . i call it a dream , but surely it was not such , wherein fancy commands in the absence of reason ; but certainly my lord , such was the impression thereof in my soule , that it carrieth with it the presage of somewhat more then ordinary ; favour me then only to expect the issue thereof , and if my dream be but a dream , i shall yield my selfe wholly up to be ordered by your graces pleasure , and thankfully accept what course soever shall be prescribed unto me . hereat the duke was contented , & aftar the exchange of some complements , the company departed . next day bondi calls feliciano , and sends him to the shrine of saint silvester in anchona , desring that such as attended thereon , would intrust him with any parcell of that saints reliques , ( and if beggers might be permitted to be chusers ) with his hair-girdle which he did wear next his skin , giving commission to feliciano to be bound to what proportion should be required , or to procure security in the city for the restitution of the said reliques in ten daies , and to send along with it some priest eminent for his devotion , upon assured confidence , that the vertue of the relique meeting with his prayer , should produce some strange effects toward his recovery . feliciano is proud of the imployment , hoping hereby to ingratiate himselfe , he makes all possible speed he can to his journey , but first a saint of his must be saluted , and the fair hand of paduana kist , which done , he sets forth with such alacrity , as resolved , that expedition and faithfulnesse should contend in him , which of them two should share the greatest part , in performance of bondi's commands . the day after his departure , mounsier insuls a french-man arrives at venice , sonne and heir to mounsier opulent , the rich merchant of marsel●es , he had purchased three french counts out of their lands , besides a vast bank of money in venice , and els-where : the old men some months since , by letters had concluded the match , between the two sole children and heires . insuls then comes now , not so much to woe as to wed , portion and dowry are both agreed on , and nothing wanting ( save that without which all was nothing ) the affections of paduana . this insuls was a poeticall fool , an admirer of his owne rhimes , rather then verses , being but one degree above ballads . yet to give him his due , sometimes he would stumble upon expressions which might have become a wiser and learneder man . and although herein he was generally condemned for a theefe , that he had stolen them from others , ( his memory being better , then his fancy ) and than confidently vented them for for his owne ; yet others were so charitable , that he wore not the perriwigg of other mens witts , but was the true author of his verses , for he that shoots often at random , may sometimes unawares hitt the marke , and it is impossible that in a million of blanks , one prize should not happen at last . besides who knowes not , that the veriest of fooles have not their wise intervalls ; sometimes hee would utter himselfe in convenient language , and quick conceit . to be briefe , it was a great question whether paduana more perfectly hated him , or more entirely loved feliciano ; but her tyrannicall father driving that affection which he should draw , and forcing what he should perswade , vowed by saint silvester his usuall oath , that he would disinherit her of all his estate , and leave the same to georgio bondi his nephew , in case she made the least refusall herein . in this distresse paduana makes her addresses to gervatio in this manner . gervatio , you cannot but be sensible of reciprocall love , between me and feliciano , for though my father be blind , you enjoy the benefit of your eyes , nor can we pretend to so much secresy , but that one as your selfe constantly with us , will observe smoak in a sigh , and sparkles in an eye which have passed between us ; my humble request to you is ( and do not mistresses command when they request ) that you would invent some way to free me from the torture of this clowne , foole insuls , and promote my affections where they are bestowed and deserved . who would worship the setting sunne , when the rising sunne doth court him ? my fathers decaying age carries in it a despair of long life , whilst my tender years promise a longer continuance ; build not therefore but on that foundation which in probability appears the firmest ; however i would not disoblige thee from my father , make your own ends upon him , gain of him what you can , & i will confirm it : and over and above i will assure thee ( so farre as my condition is capable to give assurance ) to gratifie your endeavours to a higher proportion , then you can expect . is not the house , in the suburbs of padua , where i was born , a pretty pile of building ? do not forty acres of ground impartially embrace it on every side ? is not the oile in lombardy known to grow there ? know gervatio , that all these are thine to the reward of thy fidelity ; besides i conceal something to my selfe , intending to surprize thee with that , which in my judgment will be considerable in it self , and worthy of thy acceptance . gervatio hereby is made a perfect convert , he will hold with bondi , but run with paduana , he will look towards the father , but will row with the daughter , and profest his future fidelity unto her with such oaths and imprecations , as commanded her belief . it happened at this time , a sourrilous , scandalous libell , made in verse , was cast in the piazza in venice , other copies scattered in saint marks , and other publick places of the citty ; herein the duke and senate were basely abused , and some lines , some small witt shewed in the close thereof , ( as who cannot be ingenious to abuse ) spies are set to apprehend the person , with promises of two hundred ducketts for his service . gervatio , whose brains now beat about nothing but paduana's happinesse , accosteth mounsier insuls , who ever was inquisitive of newes , asking him what was the tydings of the day : strange news , saith gervatio , an admirable piece of poetry ( but a little salt and bitter ) is found scattered before the dukes palace , and strange it is , that he who had the witt to make it , had not the wisdome to affix his name to it . that is no strange thing ( saith insuls ) for generally the most witty are the most modest , how many hundred namelesse copies of mine fly about in france , and italy , and others perchance claime the credit thereof , it is a passage wherein i have taken speciall contentment , to see the impudency and ignorance of those , who will father the issues of another mans brain . gervatio returned , that some hundred duckets were promised to the author , and he believed that he should be poet laureat for the state of venice , and wishing that he any way might be instrumentall in discovering the composer thereof : and mounsier insuls give me leave to be plain with you , i have a great suspicion ( but to recall the word , for suspicion is only for things that are bad , and therefore improper at present ) i have a strong surmise that you are the author thereof . insuls laughed with an affected guiltinesse , and said nothing . and sir , ( returned the other , ) i know you , and none else could do the same : first , i compare the stile and language is like that wherein last night you courted my mistresse , alwaies full , but not swelling , sometimes humble , but not flat , the rhime good , but not affected , teaching it the true distance thereof , that it must be the vassall not the master of the poet , it is neither virgils strain , nor ovids , but both ; it comes off with a spring in the close , and commonly the two last verses of the stanza , containes the totall summe of the particulars going before ; certainly a vast summe of money would be bestowed on him who was the composer thereof . what talkest thou to me of money ( replyed insuls ) my father hath the three best seats in all provence , crassus and cressus were both of them beggers unto him , i only take up this vein of poetry for my recreation , and to confute the common observation , that all poets are beggers . i am a rich poet . after the exchange of some discourse , insuls shewed himselfe to brook his name , and barely confessed himself to be the author of the poem , adding withall , that he had made five hundred better in his daies : but seeing no one drinks alike of helicon at all times , a constant tenure cannot be expected in witts : i was saith he at the penning thereof , not ascending but declining parnassus , and good gervatio make not conjecture of my parts on such disadvantages , but that i am able to exceed it on the least occasion : i confesse , mustard is nothing worth unlesse it bite ; i put in little sharpenesse to give it a hogo to the pallate of the men of these times . out springs two invisible witnesse whom gervatio had planted within the reach of their words ) and presently seize insuls condemned by his own witnesse . these informers , the necessary evills in a state , were incouraged in venice by the greatest politicians , conforming themselves to all companies , having a patent to be knaves that they might discover f●oles ; seeing no wise men , though dissenting from the present power , will lie at so open a guard , as to carry their hearts in their tongues . insuls is presently hurried to prison ; and it is strange to see the suddaine alteration this accident made upon him : hee who at best was but halfe a man , was now less considerable then a beast , senceless & stupid , scarse able to write his condition to his father , so that had not some frenchmen by accident visited him , hee had certainly died in prison . mounsier opulent hearing of his sonnes restraint , posts from france to venice , the depth of whose judgement could onely fathom profit ; he was sapiens quoad hoc , wise onely in the point of wealth : so that by long living and great sparing hee had accumulated much wealth , but take him out of his own element of bargaining , he was so simple , that hee seemed the true originall of his son , as his son the true transcript of his father . to venice hee comes , and with large gifts buyes his sonnes inlargement : the truth was , his sonnes simplenes best befriended him , who upon examination appeared uncapable to be author of the libell , and in the judgement of all deserved rather to be whipt for a lier ( assuming to himselfe what was none of her owne ) then to have any severer punishment inflicted upon him . young insuls now at liberty backt with his fathers presence renewes his suite to paduana ; joynture , and a good estate are the invincible arguments which mellito bondi cannot resist ; he engageth so farre at the matter , that onely three dayes respit is allowed to his daugther , in which time she must be insuls his wife , or else no heire to her father . in this juncture of time home comes feliciano , bringing with him the girdle of st silvester , antick for the shape and fashion thereof , as having steele buckles , and a rowell at the end thereof ; it was generally beleeved that this was used by silvester in the way of disciplining himselfe , and father adrian exemplary in that covent for sanctity was sent along with same , seeing so rich a treasure was not to be trusted in any lay-hand a solemne entertainment is made in mellito's house , and most of the magnificoes of the state invited thereunto ; but this feast had beene ushered with three foregoing fasts kept in the family of bondi and his allies for the better successe , and more effectuall working of their intended designe . after dinner father adrian mumbles many prayers ( it being well if hee understood them himselfe , as confident that none else did in the roome ) and then ceremoniously the girdle is applied to mellito , but especially the rowell thereof ( wherein most sacrednesse was conceived to consist ) severall times rubbed upon his eyes to so good purpose , that within three howers he so recovered his sight , as to discerne and distinguish the faces of all present . some of the beholders began to suspect some fraud in the matter , only on this account , because the miracle was not instantly done , but successively and by degrees . let drugs , and herbs , and minerals , which have a naturall vertue placed in them , proceed softly and slowly to effect cures ; whereas miracles ride post , and the same moment which begins , doth perfect extraordinary operations : this i say put jealousie in the heads of some present , to doubt the reality of the cure , and suspect some deceit in the matter . but they being but few in themselves , were quickly overpowred by the number and gravity of those on the contrary opinion ; for some of them argued , that the rule is not universally true , that all miracles spring in a moment , seeing some of them have been of slower growth , and the same pace hath not alwaies been observed in miraculous motions ; and seeing the effects conduced much to the honour of saint silvester , every one was suspected for an infidell , that did not presently believe : yea to doubt the truth thereof , was to discover a little heretick in his bosome that owned the suspicion . presently bells and bonefires proclaime the cure all over the city ; persons flocking from all places to behold this girdle , the making and fashion whereof , being out of the rode of common girdles , catcht and kept the fancies of fond people , some admiring at the matter of it , being they said of a seal-skine ; others at the forme , as at the weight & greatness thereof , being almost as big as one could well lift ; hence some inferred saint silvester to be of a giant-like proportion , above the standard of other men ; others collected the generall greatnesse of men in former ages , complaining of the decay of nature , and diminution of men in these daies ; but the more wiser sort resolved it upon a point of religion , that the foresaid girdle was worn by way of pennance , not so much to strengthen and adorne , as to lead and mortifie the wearer thereof . as for bondi in a large oration , he expressed his thankfulnesse before the company to his titular st. whose speech is here too large to insert , only this by the way , to elaborate , not flowing from him freely on the present emergency , but wrought , studied , and premeditated , which again brought new fewell to their jealousie , which suspected some fraud , as if this had been composed of purpose , and conned by heart before hand , and so the scene of the designe solemnly laid ; however their budding suspicion was quickly blasted , and beaten down with the generall congratulation of all people , so that now his recovery was universally believed , so that this miracle gave a super-sedeas to all other discourses in italy for a month , and commonly was the third course at all great tables , whereon the persons present took their repast . next day was the nuptials of insuls and paduana to be solemnized , had not the seasonable enterposing of gervatio prevented the matter presently , by his appointment , in comes two confidents of feliciano's , ( both disguised in the habits of friers ) and boldly presse into the parlour , and chambers of bondi , looking so scornfully on all accosting them ▪ as if they carried written in their faces a patent for their own presumption , and knew themselvs to be impowred with an authority above controule . bondi no sooner recovered himselfe out of his amazement which seized him at first , but that he resolutely demanded of them the cause of their comming , and intrusion at so unseasonable an houre ( it being late at night ) they seemed carelesse to satisfie his demands , as a thing beneath them , being imploid in matters of higher concernment ; and proceed without any interruption , to draw up an inventory of the severall goods and utensills in his house . imprimis , in double guilt plate . ounces . item , in white plate . ounces . item . in &c. then command they him without delay , to surrender the keyes of his chests and coffers , which the other refused to doe , summoning gervatio , feliciano , and all his servants to his assistance , which presently repaired unto him ; and though the two former were privy to the plot , yet they so cunningly concealed it in their carriage , that no tel-tale smile , or blab-lock of mirth , betrayed the least suspicion of their privity thereunto , but composed their faces , with reduced countenances , speaking much anxiety and suspence , to attend the issue and event of so strange an accident . then the elder frier began , dismiss your servants presenty , and let them attend in an outward room , it is a favour we have afforded out of the respect to your place , though not deserved by your person , that hitherto we have been tender of your reputation ( so farre as a crime of this nature was capable thereof ) and would not willingly have you sacrifice the small remaines of your credit to ignominie and disgrace ; we honour the silver crowne of age on your head , though it deserved to be placed on better temples . bondi is surprised with horrour and palsie-strook with fear , being guilty to himselfe of deceit , causeth the room to be voided of all company , and meekly and calmly requesteth them to impart unto him his offence , and their commission . the other proceedeth . crimes though the same in themselves , are not the same when committed by severall oftendors , but they commence , and take degrees of hainousnesse from the circumstances of time , place , and person ; a concurrence of all these have conspired to aggravate and inflame your guilt ; you have a large and plentifull estate , and cannot pretend poverty to your selfe ( that engine which forceth ingenious natures to disingenious actions ) prompted you to so unworthy a practice : the duke and state have reflected on you in a great proportion , so that no neglect or discontent received from them could sparre you forward to so dishonest a designe ; charity it selfe must turn just against you , and the best rhetorick so farre from defending , that it cannot excuse your offence . what , to counterfeit your selfe blind , and at the same time to give a lye both to heaven , and earth , abusing both in one act by an offence , that as former ages will not find an example , so future will scarce afford belief thereof . but how hard is it to commit one fault , and but one fault , as vertues are not single stars , but constellations , so vices straggle not alone , but go in companies , and grow in clusters : this ground-platform of your dissembling , must have outward out-works , sconces , and redoubts , to flank , fortifie and defend the same : this mother lye how fruitfull hath it been in a numerous issue of oaths , and perjuries , as if you intended to scale the throne of justice , with a series of sin , and draw down revenge on your selfe : at last to close and conclude your villany , you have father'd the same on miraculuos recovery , and have abused your titulary saint , by pretending his reliques the immediate cause of your restored sight : but that saint being rich enough in himselfe in reall miracles , disdaineth the addition of your sophisticated actions , and will not be dishonoured with false honour , which you hypocritically have fastned upon him ; yet in detestation of your dissimulation , and to manifest how zealously he disavowethth all falshood , and forgery , he hath been heard at severall times in the night in his shrine with a shrill voice to make discovery of your falshood ; and now we expect to obtain from his holinesse , and this state , a confiscation of your goods , in order whereunto we are employed by our superiours to take an exact list and account of your estate , both in lands and moveables , till we shall be further informed how the same shall be disposed of . bondi looked as pale as ashes , having scarse life enough left to act his limbs with motion , his guilty conscience was not at leisure to enquire into the particulars , but took all for granted , and now expected nothing lesse but losse of goods , and perpetuall imprisonment : for that night the friers are contented to repose themselves , and deferre the rest of their work till the next morning . mean time bondi and gervatio passed a sleeplesse night , and it would swell a volume , to inventory the particulars of their discourse . bondi sometimes is silent , and his tears drown his tongue , gervatio desires to make his countenance to attend his masters in all motions , first readeth and writeth in his face sorrow and silence alternatly , as directed by his patern : at last bondi breaketh forth into the following expressions . listen faithfull gervatio to the testament of thy dying master , for i am resolved not to outlive the funerall of my owne credit , and estate ; i behold my selfe only as a shaddow , stript out of all estate , whereof already i have made the forfeiture , yet it grieveth me not for my selfe , whose decayed age hath rendred me uncapable of much worldly pleasure ; it is not considerable with a solvable man who hath it by him to pay a due debt , which will be required a month or two before the exact date wherein it is due : i behold long life as the playing out of a desperate game at tables lost , at the sirsi remove only , it grieveth me for my daughter paduana , whose youth might intitle her to much happinesse , and her vertues deserve no lesse , poor heart , she must now become the scorn and shame of the citty , and as an over-grown flower , wither on the stalk whereon she grew , for want of a hand to gather a husband to marry her . g●rvatio rejoyned , i am utterly unable to give physick to your other maladies , but possibly may apply a remedy to this , if servants may take the boldnesse to teach their masters , and to reprove them too , wherein they conceive them faulty : refuse not an humble reprehension from him , whose good intention and heart may make out what is wanting in his tongue and expression ; i concieve all this misfortune justly befallen you , for undervaluing the merits of feliciano , and crossing the affections of your duaghter ; true it is , his wealth is not considerable , but his extraction , education , abilities , and accomplishment , doth recompence all his other defects , besides , what loving parent would stop the affections of his daughter in the full speed and carreere thereof ; except she had be stowed them so unworthily , as to intaile shame and disgrace on his family : now sir make a vertue of necessity , and before the matter be publickly known of the confiscation of your fortunes ; comply with her affections , and please him in seeing the marriage between them consummated : you may also by my hands derive unto your daughter so much of your invisible estate , as is contrivable in a small room , and may escape the hands of these harpies : it will be safe in all tempests to have a secure place for anchorage , nor can you have any assurance of a better , then with your dear and dutifull daughter . for suppose ( and would it were but a suppsition , for the case is too plain and pittifull ) that all your estate become a prey to their hands , who never let go what once they lay hold upon : yet i presume your wealth will be a ransome for your life and liberty , and that you may be permitted freely to breath the venetian aire , the short remainder of your daies . bondi consented to all , as no wonder , for grief had so mollified his heart , it was capable of any impression which bare with it the least probability of comfort , and as a sinking man , made an oke of an osier , catcht at any thing to support him from present sinking : the priest was sent for that night , and though the hower was uncanonicall for marriage ( long after sun-set ) yet the sun of golden chicqueenes will make the other sun rise at pleasure ; and feliciano with a largesse to the priest , bought off all irregularity . then gervatio took the boldnesse to make another motion . sir , i humbly conceive that as yet you are not legally convicted , and that there is still inherent in you a power to make over your estate , for the world as yet takes notice of these clandestine transactions , you are innocent till such time as you are made to be otherwise by publick conviction ; i confesse my selfe as un-skild in any science as ignorant in law ; but law being founded upon reason , me thinks i speak proportionable thereunto besid● , my former master was a chief advcoate , and if my memory , or misapplication thereof faile not , such fragments of his co●nsell still remain in my braines , which he often gave to guilty persons in this case , before their publick condemnation . gervatio's counsell passed for oracles with bondi , who in this extasie of feare suspected all his owne actions , & relied on any mās advice , who would favour him so farre as to bestow it on one so despicable and forlorne as he conceived himself to be ; a notary is sent for to make a deed of gift of his estate as fast and firme as his skill would give him leave , and now the same is setled on feliciano . feliciano next morning repaires to the two pretended friers , bringing bondi along with him , and desires to know , whether or no it were possible to sopite and suppresse the infamy of this action , and to buy off the slander with a round summe of money instantly deposited . the friers confessed the fault great ; but because their covent had been formerly beholding to the bounty of bondi , and because they beheld the fact as of humane frailty and infirmity , to which all men are subject , it was hitherto their desire and designe to conceale the same , so that their prior and subprior excepted , none beside themselves were privy thereunto , who gave their attendance when the foresaid voice made the discovery : they would , therefore endeavour their utmost , and nothing should be wanting in them to stop the further proceedings thereof , and doubted not but their paines would take the desired effect , which accordingly in few daies was performed . a banquet is made , to which many of the venetian magnificoes were invited , but mounsier opulent and mounsier insuls his sonne , because strangers , were by the courtesie of italy preferred to have a prime place among them . there leave we them feasting themselves with such variety of dainties , that the appetite of many stood long time neuter , not knowing where to fix it selfe , courted with equality of variety . as for paduana , it is pitty to disturbe her any more with our tedious discourse , leaving her in the imbraces of her deare and vertuous feliciano , whose name as it hath in it some tincture of happinesse , so took it not its true effect till this time , who now was possessed of a large and rich estate . and bondi , who formerly starved in wealth through the narrownesse of his heart , fed better a boarder then a houskeeper , having a son and daughter to provide plentifully for him , what his covetousnesse denied to himselfe , who formerly possest , but now began to enjoy his estate . let insuls then returne into france and court the madams there , whilst paduana rejoyceth in her choyce , and is so farre from measuring her promises to gervatio with a restrictive hand , that she out-did his expectations . finis . triana and sabina . in the city of barcellona in spaine , lived a civill lawyer of great repute , with a name , fitting his profession , don facundo osorio , whose office was paralell to a city recorder in england . he had a wife whom he highly affected , and well might she have merited the same , had the jewell answered the casket , and her conditions bore proportion to the rest of her corporall perfections ; but there being some disparity in their ages , ( earth rather then heaven making the marriage between them for wordly respects ) her gree● youth answered not his gray haires with a suitable return of affection . the truth was , she was rather cunning then chast , and the same was discovered by the friends of her husband , whereof some took the boldnesse to advertise him , that hereafter he might order her with a stricter hand . but i know not by what fate it commeth to passe , that oftentimes their eares and eyes who have least cause are open to jealousie , whilst those are shut thereunto who have just cause to enter came it : his friends reap nothing but frowns for their faithfull counsell , facundo will not believe his wife was otherwise then she should be , measuring her honesty by his owne ; yet some score this his good opinion rather on his policy then charity , knowing what he would not acknowledg , left it should be a disparagement to his reputation ; he saw , but was pleased to winke at his wifes miscarriages ; and because he made the match against the advice of his friends , of his owne wilfull inclination , he would maintain the ground work , and owne no error therein , left thereby he should bring his own discretion into question . one principall friend vejeto , had his house looking into the garden of don nicholayo , a great lord of that city , who bare unto him no good-will , because his window hindred his privacy , and was able to tell tales of such passages which he would have transacted in darknesse , without any witnesse . he informes facundo that he had seen some gestures more bold then civill between the lord and his wife , but facundo still persists in his infidelity , and either believes his wife to be honest , or els acteth the belief thereof so lively , that none could perceive in him , the least suspicion of her loyalty . sabina , facundo's wife , falls now seemingly sick , and personateth a dying woman to the life ; her old nurse who conveyed intelligence between her and the lord , had instructed her for her behaviour in a design ; strange it is how she dissembled herein : so that had esculapius himselfe beheld her ( provided he neither felt her pulse , nor consulted with her urine ) he might have mistook this his patient to be sick ; indeed her husband plies her with physitians and physick , all to no purpose , her malady rather increasing , and the fire of her distemper growing the hotter for those cooling jewlips which were tendred unto her . don nicholayo repaires unto her to give her a visit , many good counsels he lavisheth upon her in a long and tedious discourse , and the more tedious , because her husband was in the presence , and they two not alone by themselves ; but at last he recommendeth unto her a noted mountebank , who had commenced doctor in the mouthes of the vulgar , and had gained to himselfe much esteem , for severall palliated cures performed by him ; avowing , that if she ever expected health , that , must be the happy hand to reach it unto her . this quacksalver had reaped the credit of many learned mens labours , and leapt into esteem by the advantage of their endeavours ; for when by their learned receipts , some able physicians in barcelona had brought their patients to the point of amendement , and reduced their diseases to tearms of easie composition , this fellow would interpose , and insinuating himselfe into the sick mens acquaintance , would prescribe unto them some of his owne medicines , more remarkable for their hard and strange names , then any other vertue therein : thus carried he away the credit of many cures , and was cried up by the credulous people for eminency in his art ; and although the spaniards generally are admirers of themselves , and sleighters of strangers , yet this mountebank being an italian by nation , had gained among them a great reputation , beholding therein , not so much to his owne learning , as the others ignorance . seignior giovanni was his name , who is presently sent for , he comes , views his patient , and after some short discourse , affirmes her disease mortall , except one herb could be procured for her , which grew but in one place of italy , and must be ceremoniously gathered by his & her hand , which bare the truest or deepest affection to the sick body . don facundo her husband desires the mountebank to enlarge himselfe , concerning the name and nature of the foresaid herb , protesting he would expend the halfe of his estate for his wifes whole recovery . the other putting on the vizard of a starcht countenance by pretended gravity , to procure the greater respect to himselfe , and credit to his words , proceedeth as followeth . many men are infected with this singular error , that they will believe no vertue in drugs , further then they themselves are able to render the reason thereof : whereas nature is rich in many secret qualities , which produce occult effects , the herb lunaria may be an instance , which is the greatest pick-lock in the world , for let it be gathered on midsummer eve , just at one of the clock , by one looking south-eastward , and some other essentiall circumstances lockt up in the breasts of artists , it will make any iron bolt to fly open . the herb stellaria commeth not short thereof in vertue , as usefull for those diseases which proceed from hott and dry causes ; this groweth but in one part of italy , some leagues from lucca , and i can give infallible directions for the finding thereof : if therefore the gentlewoman ( feigning himselfe ignorant that she had a husband ) had any confiding friend , which will follow my signature , in finding and gathering the same ( right just at this instant of the year ) this , and this alone will restore her to her former health , and i will pawne my credit on the same . know by the way , that this mountebank was secretly bribed by don nicolayo , by this design to put her husband to run on one of these two rocks , either to be censured for want of true affection to his wife , if denying to doe any thing in order to her recovery , or els with great hazard to undertake a long and tedious voyage by sea and land , to seek for a new nothing , whilst his wife all the while intended to prostitute her selfe to the amorous imbraces of this lord , who had made a mine in her heart , and had supplanted her husband in her affections . facundo , that he might be exemplary to all husbands , and that her kindred who were many and rich , might the more favourably reflect upon him , from whom he had a fair expectancy of a further fortune , willingly undertakes the voyage , desiring to be furnished with perfect instructions from giovanni , for the finding of the herb , who delivers him a parchment becharactered with barbarous figures ( nets first to raise , and then to catch the fancy of fooles ) and some other informations , which should be as so many signs and tokens , whereby he should make the hue and cry to attach and apprehend that guilty herb , which having so much worth and vertue in it selfe , would rather peevishly wither in a private cave , then spend it selfe for the publick good . facundo was some miles forward on his journey , when vejeto his former friend privately posted after him , and perswaded him to return , for he had urged such unanswerable arguments , and infallible demonstrations drawn from what he himselfe had seen out of his own window , that at last he prevailed on the belief of facundo , that all was not faire between his wife and nicolayo ; indeed when many scattered circumstances were carefully put together , and seriously perused , there needed no oedipus to read this riddle , which did interpret it selfe ; that facundo must be sent a pilgrimage into italy , to the shrine of an unknown herb ( the man in the moon having eaten stella●ia long before ) that so in the vacancy of his bed , the other might be made the incumbent thereof . at last vej●to adviseth facundo to returne home in a disguise , and pretend himselfe to be a brother of his , long since employed in the low-country warres , and now at last loaden with wounds and wants , returned to bequeath his aged body to his native country . facundo consents , hoping by the well management of this project , either to prevent , or els to discover his wifes unfaithfulnesse . now whilst vejeto is accommodating his friend facundo , with all necessaries ( the badges of an old souldier ) all essentialls thereunto could not be so conveniently procured , but that infido , vejeto's servant was employed in compleating his provisions : a crafty fellow , who could steal light from a smal cranny , and light a candle at a little spark , knowing how thriftily to improve a small discovery to the grea●est advantage . don nicholayo paid a yearly pension to this infido , to furnish him with intelligence against his master , who now revealed all the design unto him , for which he received a considerable reward , and sabina is throughly instructed to behave her selfe in the prosecution of the matter . facundo comes to his owne house , metamorphosed to a reformac●o , his clothes having so māy rents in them , as presumed to cover more wounds under them ; a sword by his side which had contracted rust , since the last truce ; knocking at the door , his wife sends forth a lamentable shreek , to evidence the continuance of her sicknesse not dissembled , and facundo ( a man of more eloquence then valour ) begins to quake , and condemns his own return ; but now he was engaged so farre , past hope of retreating , that he must either march forward with confidence , or return with shame : being entered into the house , where he acquaints the servant that he was strenuo the brother of facundo , and is conducted by his wifes command to her bed-side . i understand ( said she ) by my maid , that you are my brother strenuo , whom fame long since had reported dead , but we will pardon her that good lie which is better then a truth : i am hartily sorry at your brothers absence , and more , that my indisposition is the cause thereof ; never was poor woman more rich in the affections of a loving husband , though hitherto i have lived his wife , i shall hereafter demean my selfe as his servant , to deserve some part of his pains in my behalfe : no dangers at land , no tempests at sea , have deterred him from undertaking a long journey into italy , thence to fetch necessaries for my recovery ; but assure your selfe and here she gave so great a groan , as brake off the intirenesse of her discourse , till after the taking of a cordiall , shee began again . pardon good brother my unmannerlinesse in my abrupt discourse , sicknesse carrieth with it its owne dispensatory for such incivilities , i have almost forgotten what i said last , but shall never forget the lasting love of my husband unto me , nor have i any better way to expresse my affection in his absence , then by using you with all the respect my present condition can afford : you are too noble to measure your welcome by your entertainment , and know full well servants will not be found , where the mistresse is sick ; if they faile of my desire , their duty , or your deserts , in their attendance on you , it is in your power either to pardon or punish them , to whose sole disposall i commit the family and command the keyes of all the roomes to be tendred unto you ; and now indeed sir , the more i look on you , the more i like you , the more i love you : your mother never wronged your father i dare boldly affirm , so like you are in stature and complexion unto my husband , that were it not for the difference of your hablt , i should believe you to be the same . alas sister ( said he ) i am two years older then your husband by age , ten years by infirmity : read the difference between a gown-man and a sword-man , your husband sat wrapt in his furrs in his study , i exposed to wind and weather in the field , he hath heard the braules at the barre , i have born the brunts in the fight ; how often lay i perdue in the three yeares siege of ostend ? how many ounces of blood lost i at the fight at newport ? on my faith i am not able to count them : no wonder then if my face be pinkt , where my brothers is plain , and if mine be furrowed with age , where his lyeth smooth and whole : howsoever i confess there were formerly great resemblances in our features , the ruins whereof are not so wholly defaced , but that some still remain . night came on , his entertainment was harty , his chamber fully furnished with nightly accommodations , and nothing out of order therein save himselfe desperately pensive at his returne , accurses vejeto with causelesse suspicion , and condemnes his owne credulity , he railes in his thoughts at the colour of yellow , which never was admitted into the rain-bow , as too earthly and base a dye , and verily believes , men create causlesse fears to themselves , undeserved by their wives ; nor can he sleep being troubled with his own unworthinesse , to wrong so chast , s ; o spotlesse so vertuous a wife , with his undeserved suspicion . next day don nicholayo , comes on a civill visit to sabina , brings with him a spanish colonell , who had long been an officer in the low-countrey wars , and sometimes under-governour of dunkirk therein ; he hearing of don strenuo's coming out of the country , desires to converse with him , requesting him to give the character of the present state of the infanta's court at bruxels : i desire also saith the collonell , to rub over and renew my old dutch language , whereof i have made no use these last seven years , and am afraid i have partly forgotten it , and thereupon he enters upon a large dutch discourse , though facundo was so farre from answering , that he understood not one word thereof . facundo answered in his own tongue . don olanzo ( for that i understand is your name ) you must excuse me for making any return in the dutch tongue , whereof i will give you this particular account : when first i entered into those warrs , i made a solemn vow with my selfe never to learn or speak a word of that language , for i conceive it a degrading of my tongue to bow to their low expressions , and i admire that any spaniard will offer to dishonour himself by condescending thereunto ; conquerors ought to impose a language on a countrey and not to receive it thence : the valiant romans never learnt the gaules tongue , or the punick language , this consideration hardned me in my resolution , that my tongue should be dumb in dutch , a tongue wherein there is such confluence of consonants , so long , so hard , and so harsh , that it seenreth to me rather made for conjuring then converse , and fitter for devills then men to discourse therein . don olanzo civilly declined more dutch , and proceeded in his owne tongue to sift facundo , desiring him to proceed in the present character of the country . for ostend saith facundo , the only matter of moment , the siege still continueth , we have built three halfe moons , and a redoubt , between the windmill and the key , but the trench from saint dominicks to the counter gate is not yet perfected ; the english out of the town exerciseth us with daily sallies , and behave themselves very valiantly , the worst can be said of them they are our enemies : meat beginneth to faile them much , and munition , as we are credibly informed by the fugitives which daily repair to us out of the town ; the count of aremberg is daily expected with a recruit of two thousand foot , the pioneeres out of luckland are daily expected , and then have at a new mine for the castle , when all our forces are compleated , we shall put it to a desperate assault . don olanzo not contented with these general heads , wherewith a mā might furnish himselfe out of the weekly news-bookes , began to press him to the particular description of some places in brabent , and flanders . now though facundo was well book-learned , so farre as mapps could instruct him , yet was it impossible that they could inform him in all particulars of places and buildings : facundo begins to faulter , the other prosecuted him with the cruelty of a prevailing coward , and at length breaking into some choller and passion , caught hold of his beard , which having no better title to his face then glue could afford it , presently fell off , and discovered him to be what he was . sabina all this while lay in her bed listening to their discourse , which sometimes she disturbs with her groans and sighs , but now her husbands deceit being laid open , facundo loaden with grief and guiltinesse , falleth down on his knees , & craves pardon of his wife . strange it is to see how poor spirits descend beneath themselves ? but upon his submission and acknowledgment of his fault , a pardon is signed and sealed unto him , upon condition he should reassume his journey , which next day with all possible speed he undertook , and we leave him making what speed he might to the place for which he was bound . the next day sabina falleth truly and really sick , it is ill jesting with edg-tooles , that which we play with in sport , may wound us in earnest : don nicholayo repaires unto her , with full intent to enjoy his pleasure , and that nothing but his owne moderation should set bounds thereunto , when he meets with an unexpected repulse , sabina complaining of the intolerable torture , which disposed her rather for a coffin then amarous embraces . i confesse , saith don nicholayo , were i not privy unto this dissembling , yea the prime procurer and contriver thereof , i should my selfe verily beleeve thee really sick : o how farre your sex transcend ours in dissimulation ? we do it so dully , so improperly , that we are lyable to discovery , you exceed your selves in what you please . but sir , returnes sabina , mistake me not ( i cannot say by the faith of a loyall wife , having to my shame and grief , forfeited that title ) but by whatever can be true and dear unto me , i vow and protest my selfe so sick , that nature scarce affordeth me ability to expresse my owne sicknesse . you will alwaies be a woman , saith nicholayo , who generally over do or under-do what they undertake , hardly hitting on a mean , whose soules are either empty or over-flow ; it is high time now to put off your vizard , and be what you are : and with that he offered a familiar violence unto her , as supposing she expected some acceptable force , to bee seemingly pressed to what she desired . content your selfe said sabina , or my shreeches shall given an alarum to the family : know sir , i never loved you so much , as now i loath your looks , and detest the sight of you , too much to my shame and grief hath formerly passed between us , but now i am resolved not to proceed in that vitious course , but asmuch as penitency can make a harlot honest , to unstaine my soul from my former offences ; my time is short , depart the room , and prevent my sending you away . don nicholayo standeth amazed , who could expect that the wind could blow at such a point of the compasse ? a cold wind indeed to nip the heat of his lust ; yet he seeth no remedie but to comply with the present occasion , & goes home with a soule divided between griefe , anger and wonder , though the latter may seeme to claime the greatest share in him at so strange and unexpected an accident . sabina presently dispatcheth a servant to overtake her husband , requesting him by all loves to returne with all possible speede , for she had some important secrets to unbosome to him , nor could quietly depart this world before the imparting thereof unto him . facundo feares some fraud in the matter , refuseth to returne : indeed the servant accosted him with his message in that very minut wherein he was taking ship ; the wind serving faire , and most of his goods shipt already . at last the servant gave such assurance of his mistresses sicknesse , and so impotunately pressed him with those arguments borrowed from her , that facundo returnes that night home ; the roome is voided , when sabina begins with tears in her eyes , moistening her words as she uttered them . what tearm shall i call you by ? husband i am ashamed to stile you , the mention whereof woundeth my own heart with the memory of my unworthinesse ; friend is too familiar a title ; lord and master too terrible to me , a false deceitfull servant ; stile your selfe sir what you please , i am your wretched vassal , and want words to expresse the foulnesse of my offence against you : i am ashamed to speak what i blushed not to do , who have lived in a course of inconstancy for many years with don nicholayo : and with my dissembling have put you to much trouble and paines pardon is too great for me to ask , but not for you to give . i confesse they that once have bankrupt their owne credit , can give no security for the future , that they will be responsible to such as trust them ; however sir know , i place more hope of speeding in in my request , in your goodnesse then the equity of my petition . if life be lent me , which in my owne apprehension ( and every one is best sensible of their own condition ) is utterly unlikely , i shall utterly deserve some part of your kindnesse ; sir , can you not see through the chinkes of my broken body , my very heart inditing my words assure your self — and there she fainted . servants were called in , and much adoe with aqua vitae they courted and wooed her soul not to depart her body , which was so sullen that it would hardly be perswaded to stay , though at last prevailed upon although the passages betweene facundo and sabina , were transacted with all possible secrecy ; yet could they not be so privately carried , but that some in the house overhearing it , it crept through the family , and went thorough the city of barcellona , and at last through the whole province of catalonia . and now vejeto is found a true friend , and begins to flourish , being formerly so deprest by the greatnesse of nicholayo , that he took no comfort in himself , and had abandoned his city house , and retired into the country ; but now he returnes to b●rcellona again , falls a building and repairing his house , to outface his neighbour nicholayo , making the same both larger beneath with vaults , and higher above with magnificent superstructures . don nicholayo inraged in his mind with the discovery which sabina had made , and seeing himselfe slighted in his reputation : and fearing lest the king of spain ( the court having gotten intelligence thereof ) should disseize him of his governors place of barcellona , which his ancestors had for three descents possessed , almost to make the honour hereditary ) resolves on a designe , which present passion prompted unto him , and thus he effected it . facundo was late at night , drawing up some conveyances for land ( which the city exchanged with the crown in the town house ) and the imployment was certain to ingrosse him untill the next morning , which was the last day of the terme , assigned for the compleating thereof ; all sabinas servants were by her nurse ( that pandoras to her former wantonnesse , and still an active instrument for don nicholayo ) sent upon severall errands to places of some distance , and she alone left to attend her mistress . in springs nicholayo with two robustuous servants , and with violence carries away sabina muffled in carpets ( threatning her with present death , at the least resistance or noise ) to the house of nicholayo : yet had he now no design of lust upon her , whose revenge had banished his wantonness ; and bringing her into his hall about midnight , a stone there is taken up and she tumbled down into a vault which i know not whether to call a dungeon or a charnell-house ( many innocents having formerly been dispatched in the same place ) nicholayo conceiving that either she would be killed with the fall , or else starved to death in the place . now there was in barcellona an abbot of a church , jago domingo preferred to that place by nicholayo ; rather by the others favour then his deserts ; for guilt had made patron and chaplain mutually great together ; they being both often complicated in the same act of basenesse , wherein they served each the turn of the other ; they were nailed together with necessary secresie : so that what friendship did act in others , fear acted in them , to contribute their reciprocall assistance in all designes , seeing the lender to day was the borrower to morrow ; these two plot together , and lay the scene of the ensuing project . at matten-service when their covent was singing together in the abbots church , suddenly their harmony was disturbed by an obstreperous voice which seemed to proceed from a wall above the quire : the voice spake horror and griefe , and pain , shreeking out shrill , and then the noise of ratling of chaines and the chinking of irons were alternately heard . which indeed was nothing else but an instructed novice placed there by the abbot in a concealed concavity to play his part , according to his received directions . the fryers for fear shorten their service and betake themselves to their cells in amazement , as utterly ignorant of the fraud ; the abbot his novice and don nicholayo being onely privy thereunto . next day , the fryers meeting at mattens , the same noise was heard again , but lowder then before , with a clashing and gnashing , speaking a mixture of pain and indignation ; the fryers hardly held out their service , wherein wonder so spoil'd their devotion , that as at other times the lay people knew not what they said ; so now for fear they scarce , understood themselves . the next day was a publique festivall , wherein all the gentry of barcellona met there ( save facundo who went not out of his house , being transported with griefe , and amazement ; what should be become of his invisible wife , ) the spirit proceeding as formerly in shriekes ; an exorcist was provided , who by the vertue of holy water and other trinkets took upon him to catechise and examine the spirit what he was , conjuring it by the power of his spells to answer the truth , and all the truth at its own perill , if concealing any part thereof . i am sorry ( said the voice in the wall ) the soule of sabina , justly tormented in purgatory , as for my many faults , so chiefly for raising a damnable and notorious lye on don nicholayo , as if he had conversed dishonestly with me . i had been burried to a worse place , as having nothing to plead in my mine own behalfe ; but that i alledged that this scandall was never raised by my own invention , but put into my mouth by vejetto , and he the parent , shee onely the nurse thereof . and here i am condemned to intollerable torment without al possibility of release , untill first some signall punishment be laid on vejetto ; it being the method of this court , that the accessary cannot be released , until the principall first be punished . i am also enjoined to make publique confession of my fault , and to request don nicholayo freely to forgive me , without which my enlargement cannot be procured . and therefore i humbly request this covent for sanctity most highly prized , to join with me in my petition ; that that honorable and worthy lord would be pleased freely to remit my fault herein ; i am also to desire you to intreat my husband facundo that he would be pleased to confer on this covent his vineyard , lying on the east side of the city between the gate and the river riodulce , that so by the dayly intercession of their suffrages , i may be freed from my torture . the exorcist prest this shee spirit to more particulars , as to know whether her husband facundo did not concurre with vejetto to advance the defamation . the spirit answered , that never woman was happier in a better husband , and that she would not adde to her fault and paines to belie him , he was utterly ignorant thereof , and had ever retained a true opinion of her faithfulnesse , had not vejettoes malice rooted it out , with constant and causeless suggestions . the exorcist proceeded to demand what was become of her body , seeing the report had filled the city that it was no where to be found , and a suspition was raised , that her husband or her servants were guilty of conveying it away , after they had offer'd some violence to her person . let me not ( said she ) wilfully heap punishments on my self , i must acquit my husband as altogether innocent , nor can i charge my servants ( all whose prayers i humbly desire for the assoiling of my soul ) for the least wrong offered unto me , the truth is , an evill spirit violently tooke me away , both soul and body , thou my punishment might be exemplary and unusuall , as my fault was above the proportion of common offenders . the exorcist demanded of her , whether any other besides vejetto had with him joined in that bad advise ? to which she returned that the time allotted for her imprisoned liberty was now expired , being assigned but three hours for the begging of the votes of three severall daies of mankind to help her in her extremity ; that now she must return as prisoner , carrying fetters about her to the place of her restraint ; never more to appear or be heard more in this world ▪ and with that giving a hideous screek , and ratling her fetters , she took a sad farewell of the place , leaving all that heard it to admiration . it is strange to conceive how the female sex of barcellona were affected hereat ; all conclude that facundo was bound in honour and conscience , to satisfie her request . and some of her kindred brought abbot jago domingo unto his house , to move him in conformity to his wives desire , to settle the vineyard on their covent as a reward of their meritorious prayers for his wives enlargement . long had the abbot cast a covetous eye upon this vineyard as a little paradice ; for the pleasure and scituation thereof ; it might for the distance from barcellona be termed the city in the country , or the country in the city . it lay on the side of a hill which new it own distance to ascend above the levell , yet was not overproud to aspire to a barren heighth . it beheld the rising sun which is apprehended the most cordiall , when the virgin beams thereof , uninfected with the vapours of the earth , first enters on our hemispheare . a wood was in the middle thereof , whereon facundo had bestowed much cost , making may labyrinths and artificiall mazes : an aviary also hee made therein stocking it with birds from all countries , so that some thought ( abating onely the phoenix ) that the whole kind of birds , if decayed , might have been recruited hence . a rivolet , called riodulca , slided through the midst thereof , and seemed to pleased with the same , that loath to depart from so delicious a place , it purposely lengthned its own journey , by fetching ●any needlesse 〈◊〉 , bendings , and windings therein , as if it intended to show that water could be more wanton then the wood under which it was puffed ; a banqueting house also was made in the middle thereof , with a fountain and statues of marble ; where stones were taught to speak by water works brought by a device into them . true it is , many questioned the discretion of fac●ndo in expending so much cost on that which severer folke accounted but a chargeable toy , paying many pieces of eight for every pint of wine that grew therein ; others excused him , that being childlesse , and having a plentifull estate , this was not onely harmlesse , but a usefull evacuation of his wealth ; many poor people being used in the making , as also in the keeping of this vineyard . but that which most pleaded for his expensivenesse herein and justly indeered him to the place , and the place to him , was , that it had been in the name of the osorio's three hundred years and upwards ; and he had an evidence in his house not exceeding a span of parchment in length , and three inches in breadth ( so concise was antiquity in conveying of lands ) wherein john king of castile bestowed this land on andrea osorio for defending the high tower in barcellona once against the french , and twice against the moores . pardon facundo therefore if hee loved this place , or was found thereon , seeing doting on it , ( the premises considered ) was excusable ; desiring to trasmit this land to his brothers son whom he intended his heir . oh what a brave sweet place would this make for abot jago , his covent did ever micebite bad cheese , or were ever fryers such fools as to affect base or barren ground : they will be assured of profit or pleasure , or both , wheresoever they fix themselves . the abbot is earnestly set on this place , and will either be possessed thereof , or els the soul of facundo's wife should be left tormented in the place where it was . her kindred assault facundo with much importunity to estate this land on the covent , which he utterly refused to do ; not denying to disburse a competent sum of money : but pardon him if he will not part with his inheritance ; but this or nothing else will please iago , so that they parted in some discontent ; yet sabinaes friends despair not , but in processe of time to mould him to the abbots desire . meane time it would make any honest heart to grieve , though nothing related unto him , either in kindred or country , to see the harsh usage of vejeto how hee was hurried to the jaile in most ignominious manner : scarce any in the city so young or so old , but would adventure to behold so vitious , so wicked a slanderer ( for so he was believed to be ) brought to punishment , though his imprisonment was conceived but a preface and preamble to a greater penalty ( if escaping with death ) which would be imposed upon him ; vejeto made all the beholders to wonder , who did read in his face so much spirit and livelinesse , as if he triumphed in his sufferings , and rather pittied others then himself in this his condition , yea , his eyes and cheeks had as well mocks as smiles in them ; which made the beholders to conceive , that besides his own innocence he had some further security , not onely to acquit himself , but that his enemies should come off with shame & disgrace wch made the jaylor to demean himself unto him with the better respect . within three daies the visitor generall of the order was to come to the covent , and there in all pomp and solemnity to hear the whole narration of the matter . now let us look a little backward , to acquaint you with the true cause of vejeto his mirth in these troubles , who indeed had sufficient ground therof . we formerly told how vejeto after his return out of the country , began to beautifie and enlarge his his house ; in sinking a cellar , he stood by the workmen , partly to encourage them with his presence , partly to behold the effects of their discovery , the place being concavous , the ruines of some great structure , formerly levell with the ground , though now sunk some yards beneath the same . but the generall report was that it had been a castle in the time of julius caesar , when barcellona was a roman colonie , and priviledged with municipall immunities . vejeto had a great fancy in roman coines , and would give any thing to such as could produce him any variety herein ; yet his fancy was not above his judgement , but hee was very criticall therein , and had an exact and true eye to discover between true and counterfeits , casts , and originalls ; but oh for a galba , whose short raigne made his coines the greatest rarity ; and vejeto had a set of coines with a continuall succession of all the roman emperors , galba onely excepted . the workmen find two or thre coines of antoninus , the forerunners as vejeto hoped and expected of more to ensue ; but these poor soules beheld them as aesops cock did the pearl , not knowing how to valew them ; when vejeto conceiving these the vancurriers of an army , and the earnest of a greater payment ; though truly not so much out of covetousnesse as curiosity , dismissed them that night , the night indeed dismissing them ( it being late enough to leave work ) and enjoining them to return next morning . all his servants being asleep , he alone with his eldest son speano , turn pioneers to dig somewhat deep , and to sift the rubbish therein . it happens that pierced a hollow place ( & hollewnesse being a great friend to the conveying of a sound ) they hear a strang noise , too big for a child , too small for a man ; this noise was seconded with some light , but so doubtfull and glimmering , that it conquered darknesse but one degree , vejeto with his son enter the vault , ( what should innocence be afraid of ? the father was ashamed to betray fear in the presence of his son , as having more experience , the sonne scorned to bewray fear in the presence of his father , having his youthfull blood and spirit to support him ; together they both so order the matter , that they went into the vault , putting out their candle which led them , and resolved in darknesse and silence to expect the event of the matter . down somthing tumbled , and presently all light vanished , and they for a time , set still to concoct with themselves , the rawnesse of so strange an accident . presently they hear a groan , such as speak the soul , neither friend nor foe to the body , but such a distance between both , as if willing to depart . vejeto enjoines his son as younger and abler to adventure to bring forth whatever it was , and up it is carried ( not knowing as yet how to stile it , him , or her. ) on the lighting of a candle this bulk appears a woman , but much maimed , her right arme and left legge being broken . what difference is there between the same body in health , and in sicknesse , between the same cloathed and naked , when ornaments of art are used unto it , or when it is left to the dressing of nature ? vejeto knowes no more hereof then woman , and never remembers that hee had seen the face before ; yet they omit not what art could do , to restore her to life , which succeeded according to their desire , she is conveyed to a bed , and no accommodations are wanting which might tend to the speeding of her recovery . at last he knoweth her for sabina , before shee knew her selfe ; wonder not at her ignorance , who had pass'd through so many worlds , it being a greater wonder that she was alive , then that she did not know where she was or what was become of her selfe , no physick nor surgery is wanting to restore her to her former health . true it is , vejeto would not make use of any out of his own dores , for the better concealing of the matter , but his own wife oliva , being excellent above her sex at such perforformances , indeed shee had never read hippocrates , or galen , in greek ; yet was she one who by kitchen physick did many and cheap cures to poor people , taking onely their thanks , ( and that onely if they were willingly pleased to give it for the reward ) from physick shee proceeded to surgery , & was no lesse successeful therein , this made many to hate her , who were of that profession ; whilst she cared the lesse for their hatred , as over-ballanced with the love and respect with others , but the poor especially did bear unto her . sabina is privately concealed here for some daies , whilst vejeto as we have formerly mentioned was carried to prison , where oliva daily visited him , and it was the generall expectation of the people , that forfeiture of his estate was all the mercy justice could afford him . and now abbot iago is busie in preparing entertainment for padre antonio , bishop of lerma , and visitor generall of his order , but especially of this covent , in barcellona , which three hundred years since was founded by a bishop of lerma , leaving to his successors the hereditary power of inspection over the same ; to adde , alter , translate orders and persons therein , as advised by their own discretion . padre antonio was generally hated by the friers for his severity and austerity of life , being over rigorous in the observation of the conformity thereof , hee would not abate them any point , but confined them to the height of observances : onely this preserved his reputation with religious men , that he used others no worse then himself , practizing in his own person what he prescribed in others , leaving an example of abstinence to all the country . no wonder if the trewants shake when the schoolmaster cometh among them ; abbot iago is jealous that some flaw will be found in him , to out him of his place , being conscious to himself of many enormities : for though he walked by that rule , if not chastly , yet cautiously , he managed his matters with all possible privacie ; yet hee suspected that gold smiths would not receive that false coine wherewith common people are deluded , and the sharpe judgement of antonio quickly discover that which was invisible to common eyes ; wherefore to mollifie him in his visitation , by two fryers he sent him a present of rich plate to the value of five hundred crusadoes . antonio refuseth the acceptance , charging the friers to return it , adding withall that it iago had observed the vow of poverty , according to his order , hee could not have atchieved so great an estate . three daies after the visitor comes to barc●llona on foot , unattended save with one servant alone ; forth rode the abbot to meet him on his mule , and most of their covent in like maner together with the officers of their house , and all dependents of the same , to the number of sixty persons ; these expected to have met the visitor in so solemn an equipage , as had been observed by his predecessors , and finding their expectation confused , iago was much discomposed thereat , and so disturbed in his mind , that he forgot that premeditated oration which he had artificially pen'd for the visitors entertainment . here iago profered the visitor the conveniencie of his mule , which he refused , adding with a sterne countenance , that so much pomp and state became not men of his profession ; conducted hee was into the covent , where such a supper was provided for him , as had made provisions dear in the town ; the visitor commanded the poor people to be called thither , on whom he bestowed all the cheer , betaking himself to some mean viands which hee brought with him , and thereon took a sparing refection . next day the court was kept , and severall misdemeanors were presented unto him . don nicholayo complained to the visitor of the high offence of vejeto . for although the power of the visitor extended only to the covent , yet lately he was impoured with a commission from the conclave , to take into consideration all businesse in the city , which any way related to the late wonder of the spirit in the wall , and to proceed against all persons concerned therein , as he should see cause for the same . vejeto is sent for out of prison , and his fault iuflamed to the height by the rhetorick of a young advocate , retained by don nicholayo , to set forth the hainousnesse of the offence ; being demanded what hee could say for himself , he requested that one witnesse might be produced , and her testimony solemnly taken , which seemed so equall a motion , that it could not any waies be denyed . presently he bringeth forth sabina by the hand ( who stood by but disguised and concealed ) tendring her there to the visitor , to make a narration of the whole story . the visitor is for a while so taken up with wonder , that his soul was at leisure to do nothing else but admire , to see one reported dead and carried away soul and body , alive and in good health ; facundo standing by , requested the visitor to favour him , if hee transgressed the gravity of that court , by bestowing a salutation on his dear wife ; being confident that the strangeness of the accident would sufficiently plead for his presumption therein . next day the visitor proceeds to censure . first abbot iago was expell'd his covent , and condemned to perpetuall imprisonment : it is thought it had cost him his life , had not some reverence and respect to his order mitigated the censure . the novice in the wall as yet was but a probationer , & not entred in the orders ; was condemned to be publiquely whipt in the market place of barcellona , being all the blood that was shed in this comicall story . the exorcist pleaded his own innocence , as not privy to the cheat , and that he onely proceeded according to the rules of his owne art , whose plea was accepted . don nicholayo , because a person of great honor , highly descended and allied , was remitted by the visitor to the kings disposall , and sent prisoner to madrid , where he was ordered to lose his office , and fined ten thousand crusa●oes to the king , and five thousand crusadoes to facundo ; vej●to was deputed to succeed nicholayo in the governors place of ba●cellona ; facundo something to compensate her patience , was promoted to be advocate generall of catalonia . the nurse of sabina privy to the plot pleaded the age of seventy , and under the protection thereof , at sabina's humble in treaty was pardoned ; infido a cheating servant of vejeto , who had oftentimes betrayed his master secrets , wsa branded in the face with f. s. false servant . facundo and sabina lived many years together in love and credit , and whereas formerly she was issuelesse , made her husband afterward happy with a numerous posterity . finis . i s andronicus, or, the vnfortunate politician shewing sin stoutly punished, right surely rescued / by tho. fuller ... fuller, thomas, - . this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text r in the english short title catalog (wing f ). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a wing f estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) andronicus, or, the vnfortunate politician shewing sin stoutly punished, right surely rescued / by tho. fuller ... fuller, thomas, - . [ ] p. printed by w. wilson for john williams ..., london : . reproduction of original in bodleian library. includes index. eng andronicus -- i comnenus, -- emperor of the east, d. . byzantine empire -- history -- comneni dynasty, - . a r (wing f ). civilwar no andronicus, or, the vnfortunate politician. shewing, sin stoutly punished. right surely rescued. by tho. fuller. b.d. fuller, thomas b the rate of defects per , words puts this text in the b category of texts with fewer than defects per , words. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - rina kor sampled and proofread - rina kor text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion andronicvs , or , the vnfortunate politician . shewing , sin stoutly punished . shewing , right surely rescued . eccles. . . because sentence against a dull worke is not executed speedily , therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to doe evill . by tho. fuller . b. d. london , printed by w. wilson , for john williams , at the crowne in st. pauls church-yard . . to the reader . we read of king * ahashuerosh , that having hishead troubled with much businesse , and finding himselfe so indisposed , that hee could not sleep , hee caused the records to be called for , & read unto him ; hoping thereby to deceive the tediousnesse of the time , ( an honest fraud ) and that the pleasant passages in the chronicles would either invite slumber unto him , or enable him to endure waking with lesse molestation . we live in a troublesome and tumultuous age ; and hee needs to have a very soft bed , who can sleep soundly now a-dayes , amidst so much loud noise , and many impetuous rumors . wherfore it seemeth to mee , both a safe and cheap receipt , to procure quiet and repose to the mind which complains for want of rest , to prescribe unto it the reading of history . great is the pleasure and profit thereof . * zaccheus , wee know , was low and little in stature , but when hee had borrowed some height from the fig-tree , into which he climbed , the dwarfe was made a gyant on a suddain ; last minute beneath the armes , but now grown above the heads of other men . thus our experimentall knowledge is , in it selfe , both short and narrow , as which cannot exceed the spanne of our owne life . but when wee are mounted on the advantage of history , we can , not onely reach the yeere of christs incarnation , but , even touch the top of the worlds beginning , and at one view over-see all remarkable accidents of former ages . wherefore , untill such time , as i shall by gods providence , and the authority of my superiors , bee restored to the open exercise of my profession , on termes consisting with my conscience , ( which welcome minute , i doe heartily wish , and humbly wait for ; and will greedily listen to the least whisper sounding thereunto ) it is my intent ( god willing ) to spend the remnant of my dayes in reading and writing such stories as my weak judgement shall commend unto me for most beneficiall . our english writers tell us of david king of the scots , that whilst he was prisoner in a cave in nottingham castle , he , with his nailes , shall i say carved , ( or ) scratched out the whole history of our saviours passion , in the wall . and although the figures be rough and rude , yet in one respect they are to bee compared unto , yea , preferred before the choysest pieces , and most exact platformes of all engravers , being done at such disadvantages ; cut out of a maine rock , without any light to direct him , or instruments to help him , besides his bare hands . the application of the story serves mee for manifold uses . first , here i learn , if that princes , then meaner persons , are bound to finde themselves some honest employment . secondly , that in a sad and solitary condition , a calling is a comfortable companion . thirdly , where men want necessaries , fit tooles and materialls , the worke that they doe , ( if it be any degree passable , ) deserves , if not to bee praised , to bee pardoned . which encourageth me to expect of the charitable reader , favour for the faults in this tract committed , when hee considers the author in effect banished , & booklesse , and wanting severall accommodations requisite to the compleating an history . noah , to make an essay * , whether the waters were abated from the face of the earth , before hee would adventure to expose the whole fraught of his arke to danger , dispatch'd a dove to make discovery , and report unto him the condition of the world , intending to order himselfe accordingly . a deep deluge hath lately over-flowed the whole kingdome , to the drowning of many , and dangering of all . i send forth this small treatise , to try whether the swelling surges , and boyling billowes in mens breasts , ( flowing from the distance in their judgments , and difference in their affection ) begin now to asswage , and whether there be a dry place for this my innocent dove , safely to settle her selfe . if shee finde any tollerable entertainment , or indifferent approbation abroad , it will give mee encouragement to adventure a volumne of a more usefull subject , and greater concernment in the view of the world . thine in all christian offices , tho. fuller . the index . a book ▪ parag. alexius comnenus most debauched , foolishly rejoyceth at the death of andronicus . wanted rather breeding than parts . stoutly refuseth to signe the warrant for his mothers death . yeelded at the last , conquered with importunity . hunted after himselfe , when sent a hunting the cruell manner of his death anna , widdow to alexius , wooed by andronicus , married unto him some weeks after her husbands death . . compared to anne , wife to our king richard the third . bemoaneth her miserable success . dispossest by an harlot of her husbands affections . b bo. pa. basilius , a bishop , his character . his speech to andronicus , desiring him to be emperour . his rejoynder to andronicus upon his refusall . made patriark of constantinople . reproved for his over-melding in temporall matters . proudly pleads in his owne defence . crowneth isaacius emperour . maketh a sermon-like oration unto him , touching the duty of princes . continueth in safety and honour , contrary to all expectation . dyeth in his bed . conjectures concerning gods proceedings towards him . begger , vnjustly accused for a conjurer . delivered to the fury of the people . by them miserably massacred bow-string , mockingly call'd by andronicus , the medicine for all maladies . c bo. p. caesar , an italian lord , poysoned . combination , of severall great lords to fetch in andronicus . a catalogue of their hard names . finde themselves too late deceived in andronicus . by whom they are slighted and neglected . the vitiousnesse thereof described . constantinople conquered , as soon as entred by andronicus . preserved by him from the rapine of his army , how , and why . the walls thereof repaired by andronicus . adorned by him with severall stately structures . ibid. conto-stephanus , admirall of the gallies . betrayed the fleet to andronicus . by whose cruelty his eyes were afterward bored out . coronations of usurpers , why more pompousin state , then those ▪ of lawfull princes . d. devil , why he coucheth his answers in obscurity . his alphabet to be read backward . such as have his text , still need his comment . drexelius , his charitable opinion of andronicus . ducas-alexius , in vain praiseth himselfe as fit for the empire . e franks , many dwelling in the city of constantinople . ingrosse all the trade from the natives . ibid. cruelty exposed to bee spoyled and killed by the paphlagonian armie . g georgius dysipatus . intended to be roasted by andronicus .. grecians , no skilfull mariners . h bo. p. hermite , his oration against clergie mensmedling in civil affaires . husbandry much advanced by andronicus . i jester , at the court neglected by andronicus , as beneath his anger . jests of andronicus on dying men . isaacius , commended by mamalus to be made emperour . in vaine opposed by ducas . reasons rendred of his miraculous preservation . flyeth into the great church . by his eloquence perswadeth the people to save him . ibid. he is solemnly crowned emperour . l lapardus , his speech to the lords of the combination . his character . favoureth andronicus too long , and yet deserteth him too soone . bo. p. his speech on the scaffold , when his eyes were bored out . library , of andronicus , full of rarities , plundered by the soldiers . m mamalus , with a milde answer pacifieth the passion of caesarissa . his speech to the lords in the behalfe of isaacius . brought naked to the stake . there cruelly burnt . whilst andronicus barbarously insulteth over him . manuel , the late deceased emperor , hath his ashes derided by andronicus . manuel son to andronicus . refuseth to execute xene the empresse ibid. modestely answereth his fathers arguments . opposeth the bloudy edict . his eyes bored out by isaacius . maraptica , an impudent harlot , her cunning carriage , & great wealth . maria caesarissa , her embassy to andronicus . bo. p. excessive passion . her cholerick speech to the lords of the combination mutability of peoples affection . n newters : their base temper . p. palace of andronicus spoiled patience of andronicus . popular tumults most dangerous . presages of andronicus his death , contemned by him . protosebastus alexius , makes preparation against andronicus . overcome , and despightfully used . s seth , a famous conjurer . scripture wrested by andronicus to countenance his cruelty . sea , why offended at andronicus . ship-wrackt goods preserved by andronicus , for the owners . stephanus hagiocristophorita , bo. p. stifleth xene the empresse . out of malice contriveth the ruine of trypsycus . t theodorus , the patriarke . confounded with the complements of andronicus . retiroth to the island of teribynthus . severall reasons why hee left the court . his quiet death , & decent buriall . tortures , used by andronicus . as extreame used upon him . . traitors , caught in their own subtlety . tyrant , his true description . v vertues of andronicus . x xene , the mother empresse her voluptuousnesse . even when nearest to greatest danger accused of high treason , that shee would betray belgrade to the king of hungarie . stifled between two pillowes . andronicus or the vnfortunate polititian . the first booke . . alexius comnenus , only son of manuel comnenus , succeeded his father in the empire of constantinople . a child hee was in age & judgment : of wit , too short to measure an honorable sport , but lost himselfe in low delights . hee hated a booke , more then a monster did a looking-glasse , and when his tutor indeavored to play him into schollership , by presenting pleasant authors unto him , hee returned , that learning was beneath the greatnesse of a prince , who , if wanting it , might borrow it from his subjects , being better stor'd ; for ( saith hee ) if they will not lend mee their braines , i le take away their heads . yea he allowed no other librarie , then a full stor'd cellar , resembling the butts to folioes . barrells to quartoes , smaller runlets , to lesser volumns , and studied away his time , with base company , in such debauchednesse . . leave wee alexius drowning his care , or rather carelesnesse in wine , to behold zene his mother the regent empresse . surfeting also in pleasure with her husband proto-sebastus , who had married her , since the decease of manuel her late husband . this proto-sebastus a better stallion , then warre-horse , was a perfect epicure , ( so that apitius , in comparison of him , was a churle to starve himselfe , ) better at his palat , then his tōgue , yet better at his tongue , then his armes , being a notorious coward . he , with the empresse , conspired to the dissolute education of young alexius , keeping him in constant ignorance of himself , their strength consisting in his weakenesse , who had he been bred to understand his owne power , might probably have curb'd their exorbitances . . the bodie of the grecian state , at this time , must needs be strāgely distempered , under such heads . preferment was only scattered amongst parasites , for them to scramble for it . the court had as many factions , as lords , save that all their divisions united themselves in a generall vitiousnesse ; and that theodorus the patriarh , was scoffed at by all as an antick for using goodneesse , when it was out of fashion and was adjudged impudent , for presuming to be pious alone by himselfe . . as for the city of constantinople , the chief seate of the grecian empire ; she had enjoyed happinesse so long , that now she pleaded prescription for prosperity . because living in peace time out of mind , she conceived it , rather a wrong , to have constant quiet denied , than a favour , from heaven , to have it continued vnto her . indeed , shee was grown sicke , of a surfet of health , and afterwards was broken , with having too much riches . for instead of honest industrie , & painfull thrift , which first caused the greatnes of this city : now flowing with wealth , there was nothing therein , but the swelling of pride , the boiling of lust , the fretting of envie , and the squeezing of oppression . so that should their dead auncestours arise , they would be puzzl'd to see constantinople for it felfe , except they were directed there unto , by the ruines of st. sophies temple . true it was , some years since , upon agreat famine , some hopes were given of a generall amendment . during which time , riot began to grow thrifty , pride to goe plaine , gluttons to fast , and wantons were starv'd into temperance . but forced reformation will last no longer , then the violent cause thereof doth continue . for soon after , when plenty was again restord , they relapsed to their former badnesse ; yea afterwards became fouler for the purge , and more wanton for the rod , when it was removed . . now there was an antifashion in the grecian empire , maintained by some lords of antient extraction , who were highly offended at the great power whch proto-sebastus , and l. xene the empresse usurped to themselves ; and meeting privatly together , andronicus lapardas , as prolocutor for the rest , vented his discontentment . complaining , it was more then high time , that they now awake out of the lethargie of security , into which , by fooles lullabyes , they had cousened themselves . that they in the empire , which have most at the stake , are made only lookers on ; sometimes admitted to the counsell , out of complement , and for countenance barely to concurre ; but for the maine kept in ignorance of most materiall passages . that their names are all branded for death , and that no love to their persons , but fear what might follow , had hitherto secured their lives . in a word ; that they must speedily resolve on some projects for their protection , or else they should approve themselves heirs to epimetheus , who is not found to have left any land unto his sonnes , but only to have bequeathed an uselesse sorrow unto them , for their portion . hereupon they entred into a strict combination with themselves secretly , vowing that they would improve their utmost might to bring in andronicus comnenus , a prince of the bloud , one of great parts and abilities , ( but lately banished out of the empire ) to counterpoise the power of proto-sebastus , and to free young alexius from the wardship of such as abused him . we wil present the reader with a list of their titles and offices , who were ingaged in this designe ; intreating him not to be offended with us , because of the hardnesse and length of their names ; but rather with their god-fathers who christened them . we have an english proverbe that bones bring meat to town , and those who are desirous to feast themselves on the pleasant & profitable passages of historie , must bee content some time to stoope their stomacks to feed on hard words , which bring matter along with them . . first , maria prophyrogenita caesarissa daughter to manuel the late emperour , by a former wife , halfe sister to alexius the young emperour . . caesar her husband , an italian lord , who was so overtopt with the high birth , and spirit of his wife , that in this historie we find him not grown much above the bare mention of his name . . conto-stephanus , the great duke , admirall of the galleys . . camaterus basilius president of the city . . hagiochristophorites stephanus , captaine of the guard . . disypatus georgius lecturer in the great church , ( an higher office , then the moderne acceptation of the word doth imply . ) . tripsycus constantinus one of the most noble extractions . . macroducas constantinus , no whit inferiour to him in pedegree , or power . . andronicus lapardas , formerly mentioned , together with the aforesaid . theodorus , the patriark , last named , because least interessed . for in matters of piety , hee was governed by his conscience , but in matters of policy , by good company ▪ being therein himselfe utterly unskilled : and strangers in unknowne waies commonly follow the most beaten tract of others before them . all these joyn'd in a league to bring andronicus home to constantinople , who , what he was , and how qualified , we will not forestall the reader , conceiving it , though something painefull , yet more healthfull for him to gaine his character by degrees in the sequell of his actions , wherein he will sufficiently discover himselfe , without our description of him . . now maria caesarissa was imployed unto andronicus ( having ability in her selfe , and advantage by her sex for the cunning carriage of the matter ) to acquaint him with their designes . she comming to oenaeum , where he liv'd in banishment , informed him of the generall discontent in the grecian empire : and how those which basely served xene , did only command in the state . that , besides those great persons , ( whose names she presented in writing ) many others ( as yet scrupulous newters ) would have their doubtes fully satisfied , and declare on his side when they saw him appeare with a powerfull army . that it would be a meritorious worke to enfranchise his kinsman alexius from their slavery , where-under he , and the grecian empire did grone . . welcom was this invitation to andronicus , to be requested to doe , what of himselfe he desired . how willingly doth the fire fly upwards , especially when employed to fill up a vacuity ; because then doing . good offices , with one motion ; namely , expressing its dutifulnesse to the dictates of dame nature ; and contributing in case of necessity , to the preservation of the universe ; and pleasing its owne peculiar tendency , which delights in ascending : such now the condition of andronicus , who in this undertaking , would show courteous in granting the request of his friends , appeare pious in promoting the generall good , and withall satisfie the appetite of his owne ambition and revenge . wherefore with treasure , whereof he had plenty , he provided men and armes , and prepared with all speed for the expedition . . but he could not be more busie about his war , then xene was imployed about her wantōnesse , counting in life all spilt , that was not sport , who to revenge herselfe on envious death , meant in mirth to make herselfe reparation , for the shortnesse of her life . that time , which flieth of it selfe , she sought to drive a way , with unlawful recreations . and though musicke did jarre , and mirth was prophanesse , at this present time , wherein all did feele what was bad , and feare what was worse , yet shee by wāton songes ( panders to lust ) and other provocatives , did awake the sleeping sparks of her corruption , into a flame of open wickednesse . . but it was a great and sudden abatement to her jollity to heare , that andronicus , with a puissant armie , was approaching the city . alexius protosebastus , her minion , did woe al people to make resistance . but he found abundance of neuters , ( of that luke-warme temper ) which heaven and hell doth hate , ) who would not out of their houses , but stay at * home and side with neither party , these did maintaine that the publicke good was nothing but the result of many mens particular good , and therefore held ; that in saving their own they advanced the generall . indeed they hop'd , though the great vessell of the state was wrackt , in a private fly-boat of neutrality , to waft their own adventure safe to the shore . but who ever saw dauncers on rops , so equally to poise themselves , but at last they fell downe and brake their necks ? and we will take the boldnesse to point at these hereafter , and to show what was their successe . . the best thing wch befrended protosebastus ( next to his owne money ) was the obliging disposition of xene . she had as many nets as gestures to catch affections in , and with her smiles , did not onely presse , but pay all carpet knights , and amorous persons to be of her partie . the city of constantinople was thrice walled , with wood , stones , and bones , plenty of shipping , artificiall fortifications , and multitudes of men . the worst was , their arsenall was a goodly stable of gallant wooden horses , but they wanted riders to manage them , the grecians ( at this time ) being very simple seamen , though nature may seeme both to woe and teach them to be skilfull mariners , by affording them plenty of safe harbours . however the grecians conceiving navigation beneath their honour ( which indeed was above their industrie , ) resigned the benefit of trading in their owne seas to the italians of pisa , genoa , florence , and venice . protosebastus hired mercenary mariners of these , and with them man'd his ships , stopping the passages of propontis , by which andronicus coming from paphlagonia , out of the lesser asia , was to passe . but now an admirall was to be provided for his navie : conto-stephanus the great duke , formerly mentioned , challenged the place as proper to himselfe , scorning to be made a stale to weare the style in peace , and not to execute the office in warr , when occasion was offered to shew his valour , and serve his countrie . what should protosebastus do ? it is equally dangerous to offend , or imploy him . yet he resolves on the latter , not willing to teach him , to be dishonest by suspecting him , and conceiving it to be an engagement , on a noble nature to be trusty , because he was trusted . but he no sooner received the charge , but betrayed all the galleyes to andronicus , whereby in an instant he was made master of all those seas . the news whereof being brought to the city ; oh what riding , what runing , what packing , what posting ! happy he that could trip up his neighbours heeles , to get first into the favour of andronicus . many that stak't their wives and children at home in the city , had laid good betts abroad on the opposite party . . andronicus being easily wafted over , comes to the gates of constantinople . here to oppose him , there was rather a skirmish then a fight , or rather a flourish then a skirmish , the land forces consisting of two sorts . first old souldiers , who formerly having been notorious plunderers , had their armes so pressed downe , with the weight of the peoples just curses , that they could not lift up their swords to any purpose , but having formerly preyed on their friends , were made a prey to there foes : secondly citizens ; vsed onely to traverse their shops , and unacquainted with military performances . the city once entred , was instantly conquered , ( whose strength was much overfam'd ) such populous places , like unweildy bodies , sink with their owne weight . . protosebastus was taken prisoner , and was kept some dayes and nights waking , being pinch'd , when once offering to shut his eyes . a torment which we meet not with to be used to so high a person , though ( they say ) of late in fashion , for the discovery of witches . but to put him out of his paine , andronicus is conceived by some , mercifull unto him , in causing his eyes to be bored out , seeing it was lesse torture not to see , then not to sleepe ; so much for this great coward , though this his character , cannot be guessed from his demeanour herein , seeing a better souldier might have been worsted in this expedition againg force , of open foes , and fraud of seeming freinds , it being impossible to make them fight , who are resolved to flye . . the army thus entring the city , some outrages , they must of course commit , but those , neither for number or nature , such as might have been expected : for when a place is taken by assault , the most strict commanders are not able to keep the mouthes of their souldiers swords fasting , but may be commended for moderate , if they feed not to a surfet . besides , such was the infinite wealth of constantinople , her treasures would tempt the fingers of saints , much more of souldiers ; the paphlagonians , ( whereof the army consisted , ) vowed , that seeing their swords had done so good service , they would make hilts of gold , for their blades of steele . . there was then inhabiting in the city of constantinople , multitudes of frankes ( understand french , germanes , and principally italians , ) so that well might this city be called new rome , from the aboundance of latins that lived therein , these first by manufactures , and then by merchandice , got great wealth , ( their diligence being more , and luxurie lesse then the greekes , ) insomuch that they ingrossed all trading to themselves . this attracted the envie of the natives , that strangers should suck the marrow of the state , alledging , that in processe of time , the ivie would grow to be an oake , & those prove absolute in their owne power , which , at first , were dependent for their protection . andronicus with some-thing more than a bare connivance , though lesse then a full command , freely consigned these frankes over to the rapine of his army . . such of them as related , by former freindship or alliance to the grecians , fled to them for shelter , who , instead of preserving , persecuted them , their company being conceived infectious , lest it should bring the plague of the souldiers fury along with it . and who findes a faithfull friend in miserie ? all their goods were spoild , and most of there lives spill'd , save such as formerly had escaped by flight to their ships . thus andronicus found a cheap way , both to pay his souldiers , and please the people , who counted him an excellent phisitian of the state , and this a great cure done by him , in purging the superfluous , yea noxius aliens out of the city . indeed carefull he was to preserve the city it selfe from spoiling , as having then a squint eye at the empire ; and knowing constantinople , to be the seat thereof , he would not deface that faire chaire into which , in due time , he hop'd himselfe to sit downe . the second booke . . andronicus being thus peaceably possess'd of constantinople , first made his humble addresse to the yong emperour alexius , and ceremoniously kissed his feet . the spectatours variously commented on his prodigious humility therein , some conceiving , he mean't to build high , because he began so low ; others thinking that their toes had need beware the cramp , whose feet he kissed . . the next stage , whereon his hypocrisie acted , was the great church it selfe , where , meeting theodorus the patriarke at the doore , he incountred him with transcendent courtship , protesting , that in him , he beheld the pattern of of chrysostome , his famous predecessour , it being questionable , whether that worthy father , did more truly survive , in the learned books , he left to posterity , or in the lookes and life of theodorus . and whil'st the patriark was meditating a modest replie , andronicus did powr complements , so full and fast upon him , that stifel'd therewith , he could breath no answer in returne , but only fell into a swound of amazement . . hence , he advanced into the quire , unto the monument of manuel his kinsman , and late emperour . at sight whereof , the teares trickled downe his reverent cheekes , as if they had run a race , which of them , should be the foremost : some interpreted this , the love which andronicus bare to the memorie of the dead emperour , and others feared , that as the moist dropping of stones is the foure-runner of foule weather ; so this relenting of his hard heart , presaged some storme to follow after , in the state . then coming to manuels tombe , ordering his voice so low , as seeming he might not bee , and yet so loud , as certaine hee was heard , what he spake , he expressed himselfe to this effect . . deare manuel , my loyaltie stiles thee soveraign , but my bloud calls thee cosin . i will not say it was thy fault , but my fate , not to have my love to thee understood , according to the integrity of my intentions . my innocence , by thee , was banished into a farre countrie . the burthen did not greive mee , but the hand that laid it on ; not somuch to be an exile , as an exile made by thee . however , all my revenge vnto thee , shall be in advancing the honour and safety of thy sonne alexius , to free whose innocence , from the abuse of his friend-pretended-enemies , i have embarked my selfe , in a dangerous and desperate designe : yea my manifold infirmities ( of which i am most conscious ) grieve mee not so much , in my owne behalfe , as because thereby i am rendred dis-able , from being serviceable to your sonne , in so high a degree , as i desire . . then sinking his voyce , past possibility of being overheard , he continued . base bloudy hound , which chasest me from place to place . i here arrest thy drowsie ashes , it being now past thy power to breake this marble chest . i scorne to ungrave thy dust , ( wishing that all my enemies were as sumptuously entombed , ) but thy sonne , wife , daughter , favourites , friends , name , memory , i will utterly destroy . the poets phansie begat three furies in hell , and i will be the fourth on earth . . some will demand , how we came to the knowledge of this speech , being so secretly delivered ? it is answered , it is possible some invisible eare might lie in ambush within the earereach of his words . besides , let not me be challenged for a libell , who can produce the party from whom i received it ; and amongst others , discharge my selfe on one principall * author of excellent credit . though i believe that this speech was never taken from the originall of andronicus his mouth , but was translated from the black coppie of his wicked actions , which afterward he committed . . his devotions ended , hee retired to his owne house , and there lived very privately , as renouncing all worldly pompe and pleasure , whilst his engineeres , under-hand , were very active to procure the empire for him , which was thus contrived : a petition was drawne , in the name of all the people , requesting andronicus , that hee would bee pleased , for the good of the state , to be chosen joynt emperour with alexius . this was subscribed by the principall men in everie place ; and then herds of silly soules did the like . they never consulted with the contents of the paper , whether it was bond , bill , libell , or petition . but thought it a sinne , not to score their marks , where they were told , their betters had gone before them . at first they wanted names for their parchmēt , but afterward , parchment for their names . here it would bee tedious to recount , what slights and forgeries were used herein . if any delayed to subscribe , they were presently urged with great mens presidents ; that it was superstition , to bee more holy than the bishops : rigour , to bee more just then the judges : malapartnesse , to pretend to more wisdome than so many states-men , who had already signed it . and thus , many fearefull souls were compell'd to consent , by the tyranny of others examples . indeed some few there were , which durst be honest , whose soules did stand on a basis of their own judgements , without leaning , with implicite faith , on others . these disavowed this state-bigamie , protesting against the co-empireship of andronicus , and boldly affirming , that crownes take a master if they accept a mate . but then all their names , were returned unto andronicus , who registred them in his black kallender , who , for the present , did remember , and for the future would requite them . the principall agent , that openly promoted this businesse was basilius , a bishop , one that professed heaven , and practised earth , much medling in temporall matters , being both lewd and lazie in his owne profession : onely herein he had the character of a good church-man , that by his preaching and living he set forth his office accordingly . . and now the scene being covertly laid , in a solemne assembly , on a high festivall , this bishop , as the mouth of the rest , ( whose names hee held in a parchment roll ) represented to andronicus the sincere intentions , and earnest wishes of the state . most humbly requesting him , that he would be pleased so farre to ease the tender yeares of his dear kinsman , young alexius , as to beare halfe the burthen of the crowne , and to accept to bee joynt-emperour with him : presuming , that such was the goodnesse and humility of andronicus , that he would not disdaine a part , though hee did deserve the whole . and after a long oration concluded . thus anciently the roman senate coupled old delaying fabius , with over-hasty marcellus , blending youth with age , the swift with slow : wholsome mixture , when the one brought eyes , the other hands ; the one was for advice , the other for action . and thus alone it is possible that the distempered state of the grecian empire at this present , can be cured with this cordiall , and sacred composition , of the gravity of your highnesse , to temper the green yeares of alexius . . hereat andronicus discovered a strangenesse in his looks , as if he had needed an interpreter to understand the language which was spoken unto him ; and after some pause proceeded . let me not be censured for unmannerly in not returning my thanks , having my soule for the present possest with an higher employment of admiration , that so many aged states-men , as rich in wisedome , as yeares , should bee so much mistaken in mine abilities , as to conceive me in any degree fit for the moity of a crowne . goe chuse some gallant , whose very flesh is steele , can march all day , and watch all night , whose vast atchievements may adde honour unto your empire . alas ! my pale face , leane cheeks , dimnte eyes , faint heart , weak legges , speake me fit for no crowne , but a coffin , no royall robes , bvt a winding-sheet . nor am i ashamed to confesse , that my youth hath been exceeding vitious , wherein i spared the devill the paines of courting me , by preferring my selfe to his service : and now it is my onely joy , with griefe to recollect my former wickednesse . o flate i have found out a small private place , ( call it , as you please , least of cells , or greatest of graves , ) wherein i intend wholly to devote the remnant of my life to meditation of mortality . for seeing naturally our soules are too deeply rooted in earthlinesse , it is good to loosen them a little before , that so by death , they may be pluckt up with the more easinesse : not that wilfully , either out of lazinesse , or sullenesse , i decline to serve my country , which claimes a share in mee . but though i know i am not to live for my selfe , i am to dye to my selfe , and may now at this age , iustly challenge to my selfe a writt of ease , from all wordly employment . . but basilius perceiving that he did but complement a denyall , pressed him with the greater importunity : confessing it would torment the modesty of his highnesse to be told how high the audit of his vertues did amount , knowing that he desired rather to deserve then hear his own commēdations . but withall instantly intreated him to remember ( what he full well understood ) that the intreaties of a whole state , had the power of commands ; and that heaven it selfe was not so impregnable , but that it might be battered open , by the importunitie of poore petitioners , that from his acceptance of this their humble proffer , they should hereafter date the begining of their happinesse . that this day should stand in the front of their almanackes , and in scarlet text , as a leader , command over the rest , which followed it , as the new birth-day of the grecian empire . . how ever at that present nothing more was effected , & because it was late , the assembly was dismissed , only some principall persons were appointed with their private perswasions , to mollifie the stiffenesse of andronicus , who prevailed so farre , that meeting next morning in the full concourse of all sorts of people , andronicus , first loosned the vizard of his dissimulation for a time , letting it fairly hang by , at last it fell off of it's owne accord , and thankfully accepted their shouts , and exclamations , with god save alexius and andronicus joint emperours of greece . . then mounted on a high tribunall , he made an eloquent oration , as indeed he was not only sweet , but lushious in his language , and with the circles of fine phrases , could charme any stranger , both into love , and admiration of his person ; smiling , with a pleasant countenance , he told them , that he conceived his owne condition was represented in the eagle , displayed in the imperiall standard : for as naturalists report . that soveraigne of birds , renewes his age ; so hee seemed to himselfe growne young again : as if the heavens had bestowne upon him , new shoulders for new burdens . and seeing it was their pleasure , to elect him to the place , he promised to rescue right out of the paws of oppression , to be the only master of requests : so that all complaints , should have free accesse to him , and , if just , redresse from him . but especially he would be carefull of his owne conversation , intending , ( grace assisting him , ) to have a law in his owne example . in a word , his speech was all excellent good in it selfe , save for this only fault , that not one syllable thereof , was either truly intended or really performed . . the solemnites of his coronation were performed in great state , with much pompe and expence ; and wee may observe , that the coronations of usurpers , are generally more gorgious in their celebrations , than those of lawfull princes . for usurpers , out of excessive joy of what they have undeservedly gotten , care not what cost they lavish . besides , ceremonies are more substantiall to them , to tell the world what they are , who otherwise would take lesse notice of them , as not intituled by any right to the place they possess . wheras kings , on whose heads crownes are dropt from heaven , by lineall descent , often save superfluous charges , at their coronation , as being but a bare ceremony , deriving or adding no right unto them , but only clearing and declaring the same to others . the noise of the peoples shouts , did allarm young alexius , which hitherto was fast sleeping in some obscure corner , and little dream't , that meane while , an empire was stollen away from him . but now coming to andronicus , he publickly congratulated his happinesse , & with a smiling countenance , embraced him , as hartily glad , that he had gotten so good a companion in so great an employment . wee read , that in the country of lituania , there is a peculiar custome that married men have adjutores tori , helpers of the marriage bed , which , by their consent , lye with their wives ; and these husbands are so farre from conceiving either hatred or jealousie against them , that they esteeme them their principall friends . surely the beds in that country are bigger than in other places : seeing amongst all other nations , a wife is a vessell , wherein the cape-merchant will not admit any adventurers to share with him . it seemes , alexius was one of this lituanian temper , that could accept a partner in his empire , tickled with joy at the shewes and solemnities of his coronation , ( and well might hee laugh till his heart did ake , ) though some did verily thinke , that amongst all the pageants there presented , he himself was the strangest , and most ridiculous spectacle . as for xene the empresse , shee appeared not at all in publike , being pensive at home , having almost wept out her owne eyes , because protosebastus had his bored out . . next very day , in all pattents and publick receipts , their names were transposed . first , andronicus , and then alexius , this reason being rendred , that it was unfitting that a youth should be preferred before so grave , and reverent an old man . or rather , because , as in numeration , the figure is to be put before the cypher . here some of the friends of alexius propounded , to stop the ambition of andronicus , before the gangrene thereof spread further ; seeing what he received , did not satisfie , but enlarge his proud breast , prompting new thoughts unto him , and widening his heart for higher desires . the motion found many to praise , but not to practice it ; none would doe , what all desired were done . the younger sort conceived , that this office , because dangerous , was most proper for old men to undertake , who need not to bee thrifty of their lives , seeing it was too late to spare at the bottome . old men were of the opinion , it best beseemed the boldnesse & activity of youth : and such as were of middle age , did partake of the excuses of both . thus in a project that is apparently desperate , even those who are proudest on their termes of honour will bee so humble , as in modesty to let meaner men goe before them . . as for the lords of the combination , ( who first procured andronicus his comming to constantinople , ) they found themselves , that they now had farre over-shot the marke they aimed at . for they intended onely to use him for the present , to humble and abate the pride and power of protesebastus . which done , they meant , either wholly to remove , or warily to confine him . but now what they chose for physick must be given them for daily food : and wofull is the condition of that man , who , in case of necessity , taking hot water to prevent swooning , must ever after drinke it for beverage , even to the burning out of his bowells . for andronicus , thouhg he came in as a tenant at will , would hold his place in fee to himselfe and his heires . and whereas the aforesaid lords promised themselves , if not advancement to new assurance to their old offices ; they found themselves preferr'd to nothing but neglect and contempt : neither intrusted in the advice , nor imployed in the execution of any matters of moment . . indeed andronicus did loath the sight of those lords , as debters doe of bailiffes , as if their very looks did arrest him to pay for those grand favours which he had formerly received from them , brought by their helpe from banishment , to power and wealth in the city . nor would he make use of them , as too sturdy to bee pliable to his projects ; standing on their former deserts and present dignities ; but employed those osiers of his owne planting , which might be easily wreathed to all purposes , being base up-starts , depending on his absolute pleasure . and as he used these alone , so these onely in matter of execution : who taking himself , ( and therein not mistaken ) to be sole friend to himselfe , would not impart his counsells to any one , being wont to say , that ships sinke as deep with one , as with onehundred leaks . . wee will conclude this book with an independent story , hoping the reader will take it as wee finde it . there was a noted begger in constantinople , well known to the people thereabouts , ( as who had almost worne the thresholds of noble mens doores , as bare as his owne cloathes ) an exceeding tall , raw-bon'd body , with a meagre , and lanke belly , so that hee might have passed for famine it selfe . this man was found begging about the lodgings of andronicus , very late at night , at an unseasonable houre , except one would say , that men of his profession , as they are never out of their way , so they are never out of their time , but may seasonably beg at any houre , when they are hungry . being apprehended at the guard , and accused for a conjurer , ( his ugly face being all the evidence against him , ) andronicus delivered him over to the indiscreet discretion of the people , to doe with him as they pleased . these wilde justicers , without legall proofe , or further proceeding , for almes , bestowed on him a pile of wood , and a great fire , where they burnt him to ashes , whose fact might justly have intitled him to a whipping post , but not to a stake . . say not that this is beneath our history , to insert the death of a begger in the life of an emperour . for all innocents are equall in the court of heaven ; and this poore man , who , whilst alive , was so loud at great mens doores , for meat to preserve his life , his bloud may be presumed to bee as crying and clamorous at the gates of heaven to revenge his death . for herein andronicus taught the people to bee tyrannicall , a needlesse lesson to such apt schollers , who afterwards proved proficients herein , to the cost of their teacher , as , god willing , shall be shewed hereafter . the third book . . the newes of andronicus his being chosen joynt-emperour , no sooner arrived at the eares of maria caesarissa , but shee was drowned in a deluge of griefe : being beholden to nature that she could vent her selfe in teares ; seeing that sorrow , which cannot bleed in the eyes , doth commonly fester in the heart . and when her nurse lovingly chid her , for excessive sadnesse , she pleaded her sex , which can scarce doe any thing without over-doing ; so that feminine passions , must either not be full , or over-flow . . but anger , soon after having got the conquest of her owne grief , with furious speed she repaired to the place , where the lords of the combination were assembled , & ther she abruptly vented her self in these expressions . . greece is growne barbarous , and quite bereft of its former worth ; not so much as the ruines of valor left in you , to reach forth unto posterity , any signes that you were extracted from brave ancestors . time was when the grecian youth , adventured for the golden-fleece , you may now adventure for the asses skin , the dull embleme of your owne conditions : the merry greek , hath now drowned the proverbe of the valiant greek . tame traytors all ! that could behold an usurper , mate and check your lawfull emperour , and neither wag hand or tongue in opposition . did my father manuel for this , impaire his owne , to raise your estates ? he made you honourable and great : oh that hee could have made you gratefull ! the best is , your very sin will be your punishment . and though your practice hath beene so base , your judgement cannot be so blinde as to believe , that your channells of nobility can have a stream , when the fountaine of honour is dammed up , by your unworthinesse . . the lords , though by their silence they seemed first to swallow her words , yet the expression of tame traitors would not goe downe their throats ; the largest soules being narrowest in point of credit , and soonest choakt with a disgrace . mamalus therefore in the behalfe of the rest ; madam ( said he ) sufficeth it now for us , barely to deny your speech . had you been a man , we should have proceeded to defie the speaker . what your passion , now condemnes in us for base ; your judgement will not onely acquit , for right , and approve , for safe : but even commend for honourable , and advantageous for our master alexius . our lives and lands , are at the sole dispose , and the cruell mercy of our enemies . we are instantly undone , if we whisper the least and lowest syllable of loyalty , and utterly disabled from any future service to alexius . we conceive it therefore better , for a time , to bow to our foes , rather than to bee broken by them : to spare in words , and spend what wee please , in thoughts . we want not a will , but wait a time , to expresse our reallity to the emperour , with most safety to our selves , and effect for him , in a season , least subject to suspition . . pacified with these words , she was contented to attend the performance of the promise , in time convenient ; though never living so long , as to behold it , being prevented by violent death . for now andronicus began freely to rage in innocent bloud , cutting off such nobles as hee thought would oppose him . something like truth was alledged against them , to stop the clamours of the multitude . and power never wants pretences , & those legall , to compasse what it doth desire . they were indicted of conspiracy against andronicus ; and knights of the post , ( of the devils owne dubbing ) did depose it against them . yea , silence was not enough to preserve mens innocence : some being accused that their noses did wrinkle , or their eyes winke , or their fore-heads frowne , or their fingers snap treason against andronicus . . in this his epidemical cruelty , it was much , that a famous iester of the court escaped his furie . of this fellow , his body downwards was a foole , his head a knave , who did carefully note , and cunningly vent , by the priveledges of his coate , many state-passages , uttering thē in a warie twilight , betwixt sport & earnest . but belike , andronicus would not break himselfe by stooping to so low revenge , and made conscience in breaking the antient charter of iesters , though wronging the liberty of others , of greater concernment . . of such as were brought to publicke execution , it was strange to behold , the difference of their demeanour . some , who were able to be miserable , with an undaunted minde , did become their afflictions , and by their patience made their miseries to smile , not bowing their soules beneath themselves , only appealing for iustice in another world . others did foolishly rage , and ramp , mustring whole legions of curces , as if therewith to make the axe turne edge . and then seeing no remedie but death , their soules did not bow by degrees , but fell flat in an instant ; of lions , turning calves , halfe dead with feare , received the fatall stroake of the executioner . so many were confusedly hudled to death , it is hard to ranke them in order , only wee will insist on some principall persons , . first , maria caesarissa , and her husband ( whether it was conscience or manners , not to part man and wife : ) and because andronicus durst not , for feare of the people , bringe them to publick death , their physitian was brib'd with gold , which he conceived cordiall for himselfe ; and thereupon he did quickly purge out both theire soules by poyson , ( an unsuspected way , ) which robs men of their lives , and yet never bids them to stand . . next followed xene the mother empresse being accused of high treason for attempting to be tray the city of belgrade , to bela king of hungarie . a pack't councell condemn'd her to death , which though otherwise vitious , was generally bemoaned ; as most innocent in this particular . but , andronicus the emperour , cunningly derived the whole hatred hereof , on yong alexius ( whose power he never used , or owned , but onely to make him the cloak-father for odious acts ) vrging him to signe the warrant , for her execution . in the stout refusall whereof , alexius shew'd more constancy then was expected to come from him , clearely answering all arguments , herein shewing himselfe a childe in affection , and more then a childe in judgement . whereupon some ground their presumptions , that his soule deserved better breeding , and that hee was not to bee censured for weaknesse of capacity ; but rather his friends to bee condemned , for want of care , and himselfe to bee bemoaned , for lack of education . hee flatly told andronicus , that nero was recorded monster to all ages , for killing his mother : and that hee would never consent to her death , that gave him life . . but he proceeded to aggravate the crime of xene , belgrade being such a piece of strength , that it was a whole province in effect . and though but a towne in bulke , was a kingdome in benefit . all greece awfully attending the fortune thereof . hee minded alexius , that fathers of countries , should know no mothers ; but that soveraignes affections are onely of kin to the good and safety of their subjects . besides , ( saith he ) you need not scruple so much at her death , who is dead whilst living , and hath been many yeares drowned in luxurie . so that what was cruelty in nero , will be exemplary justice in you . . alexius rejoyned , that if his mother xene was so drowned in luxurie , the more need she had to drowne her sins in penitent teares , except it were conceiv'd charity to kill both her soule and body . that princes were not to owne private affections , where they were destructive to the common good , but might and must , where they consisted with the publike safety . or else to become a prince , would be all one , as to leave off to be a man . grant belgrade a strong place ▪ it was still in their owne possession , and her intended treason succeeded not . and therefore he conceiv'd it a middle and indifferent way , that she should be depriv'd of liberty for plotting of treason , and yet be permitted to live because the plot took no effect : a cloister should be provided , whereto she should bee close confin'd , therein to doe pennance for her former enormities . and in this sentence , he conceived that hee impartially divided himselfe betwixt the affection of a childe , and severity of a judge . . but andronicus who was resolved to have no denyall , highly commended him for his filiall care of his mothers soule : yet , said he , for the benefit thereof , fifty friers at my own proper charges , shall bee appointed , which after her death , night and day , shall dauly pay their prayers in her behalfe , whose suffrages are as well knowne above , as her prayers are strangers there : it being to bee presumed , that whilst shee is living , the heavens will be deafe to her , which so long have beene dumbe to them . speake not of her project that it tooke no effect ; for had it succeeded , none would have called it treason , but have beheld it under a more favourable notion . he minded alexius that hee had sufficient power of himselfe , being joynt-emperour to put her to death , but that he would in no case deprive him of this peerelesse opportunity of eternizing his memory to posterity , and securing the state by his necessary severity . for all hereafter would be deterred from attempting of treason , as despairing of pardon , when they beheld the exemplary justice on his own mother . . alexius still persisting in his denyall , andronicus at last fell to flat menacing , yet so cunningly carryed it , that his threats did not seeme to proceed from any anger , but from love to the person , and griefe for the perversenesse of alexius . hee protested he would no more break his sleep , he would steere the state no longer ; let even the windes and the waves hereafter bee the pilots to that crazie vessell . he call'd the heavens to witnesse , ( before whom hee entred a caveat to preserve his owne innocence , ) how he had tendred happinesse to alexius , but could not force it upon him , who wilfully refused it . in a word , so passionate he was , and so violent was the streame of his importunity , that the young emperour , either out of weaknesse , or wearinesse to swimme against it , was at last carryed away with the current thereof , and subscribed the warrant . . to divert whose minde from musing upon it , a solemne hunting in the countrey was contrived , that there he might take his pleasure . in a forrest not farre off a stately stagge was lodged , ambitious ( as they told him ) to fall by the hand of an emperour , or else to bee dubbed an hart imperiall , if chancing to escape . all things being ready , alexius is carried thither ; but withall , those are sent along with him , which hunted this hunter , markt all his motions , learnt the language of his looks , and hands , with the different dialects of his severall fingers , so that hee could not speake a word , or make signe to any of his faithfull servants , but presently it was observed , and if materiall , reported to andronicus . none of his friends durst shew any discontent . if any was seen sadly to wag his head , it was a certaine signe that that head stood but loose on his shoulders , and by the next returne , the newes would bee , ' that 't was fallen off : so miserable was the condition of this prince , and of all his followers . but andronicus had a hinde to hunt at home , and must provide for the execution of xene . and now to enter the tender yeares of his sonne manuel , for great actions , he thought first to bloud him with an empresse , in private delivering the warrant unto him . behold here an unexpected accident ! this good childe of a bad father , ( grace can cut off the oldest , and strongest entaile of wickednesse ) refused the employment , alledging , there was no such dearth of hangmen , that a prince need take their office ; and that it was against his conscience , her crime being rather pack't than prov'd , seeing shee was never brought to answer for her selfe : here-at his father mad with rage , rated and reviled him . bastard , thou wert never true eagles bird , whose eyes are dazled at the sunne of womans beautie . what ? doth thy cowardice take sanctuary at conscience ? he never climbes a throne that stands on such poore pretences . what if she never appeared to answer ? where the fact it selfe doth cry , it is needlesse for the offendor to speake : narrow-hearted foole ! a cottage is fitter for thee than an empire . have i pawned mine owne soule , to found thy greatnesse , and am i thus requited ? and so abruptly brake off into weeping . . manuel modestly returned : i am sorry sir , you should pawne your soule for my sake , but however i am resolved not to loose mine owne . whosoever climbes a throne without conscience , never sits sure upon it . i had rather succeed to your private paternall possession , then to an ill-gotten empire . nor am i daz'led at the lustre of her beauty , but at the clearenesse of her innocence ; all men being generally compurgators for her integrity herein . employ me , and trie my valour in any other service . command , and i will fetch the lions onely heire out of his den , both insight and spight of sire and dam ; onely herein i desire to be excused , and i hope deserve not to be accounted a coward for fearing to commit a sinne . how much andronicus was bemadded here-at , may easier be conceived , than exprest , to receive a finall repulse from his owne sonne , insomuch as at the last he was faine to make use of hagio christophorites stephanus , captaine of the guard ( who alone of all the lords of the combination , stuck to him , and was respected of him ) and hee verie fairely tooke order to dispatch her , stifling her ( as some say ) betwixt two pillowes . . the next newes which tooke possession of the tongues and eares of people , was the cruell and barbarous death of young alexius : whilst , the vulgar did wonder that he dyed so soone , and the wise did more admire that he lived so long ; and the difference was not great betwixt him that was now but a ghost , and whilst living , but a shadow * basilius went too far to fetch a fit paralell out of the roman historie , to compare an-dronicus and alexius with old fabius and sprightfull marcellus ; who might have met in the same story farre nearer , ( because later by yeares ) a more lively resemblance in the consulship of julius caesar and bibulus , whereof the one did all , the other drankeall . . the manner of alexius his death was , that hee had his neck broken with a bow-string ; the punishment in that place , ( as still amongst the turkes ) much used : and in this tyrants reigne , the string did cruelly strangle more at home , than the bow did valiantly kill abroad . this bow-string ( to make a short digression ) was an instrument whereon andronicus used to play , and sportingly to make much mirth and musick thereon to himselfe , calling it his medicine for all malladies . for whereas ( said he ) purges were base , vomits worse , cupping painfull , glisters immodest , bloud-letting cruell ; this bow-string had all the opposite good qualities unto them . and the same did quench the heat of feavers , draine the moisture of dropsies , cure plurisies without piercing a veine , stay the vertigo , heale the strangurie , by opening the urine , and onely stopping the breath . this being one base humour of andronicus , ( unworthy civility and christianity ) to breake iests on men in miserie , just as they were to dye . as for the corps of alexius ( on whom he had practised with his foresaid medicine , ) they were most unworthily handled , and dead bodies , though they cannot bee hurt , may bee wrong'd , especially of such eminent persons . . now to refresh the reader a-mid'st so many murders , and massacres ; it will not be amisse , to insert an unexpected marriage . alexius left anna an empresse dowager . and some days after her husbands death , he addressed himself a sutor unto her , being to encounter with invincible disadvantages . first he came reaking with the bloud of slaine alexius . and what hope could hee have that shee would embrace that viper , that had stung her other-selfe to death ! secondly the disproportion of his age , being past . and what motly colour'd marriage , would it make to joyne his gray to greene ! his cold november being enough to kill her flourie may . notwithstanding all this , he had formerly been so flesh't with fortune , he conceived he could never bee leane afterwards ; and knew that in matters of this nature , confidence in attempting , is more than halfe the way to successe . . first , he possess'd himselfe of her judgement , and made her beleeve , that all his former undertakeings , were in service to her , grieving that alexius did not valewe the pearle he wore . he protested there was nothing about him , but his haires , which were dyed white , not by his age , but by his carefulnesse for her preservation . then , he assaulted her affection , principally pressing that argument , which was never propounded to a meere woman , & returned with a deniall , namely , assuring her of power & greatnes , promising she should be the conduit , through which al his favours should passe , and all his people under his command , should be blest or blasted by her influence , neither were gifts wanting , & those of the largest size , bestowed on her servāts , ( who promoted his cause ) and the dullest bodies worke on the most subtile soules , by the mediation of such spirits . . now , whether it was out of childishnesse , not being full fourteene , or out of feare , being farre from her friends , and her person in his power ; or out of pride , loath to abate of her former state ; she assented to his desire . but to speake plainely , he sheweth him selfe to have store of leisure , and want of worke , who is imployed to finde a root in reason , for all the fruit that growes from francie : sufficeth it , she loved him , affirming it , it was no wonder , that he should take a poore ladies affections captive , whose valour in the field , had subdued the most manly of his enemies . . to make this story passe for probable , we may fellow it , with the like in our english chronicles . richard the , third , though not so old , more ugly , then andronicus , obtained the love , and was matried to the countesse of warwicke , the relictt of prince edward ( sonne to king henry the sixt ) whom the same richard had slaine at teuxbury , she knowing so much , and he not denying it , they were namesakes , both ann's , and when they had cast up their audit , both , i beleeve , might equally boast of their bargains . . but andronicus who was never unseasonably amorous ( but had his lust subordinate to his ambition and cruelty , when they gave him leave , and leasure to prosecute his pleasure ) was not softned by the dalliance of marriage , to remit any thing of his former tyranny . he protested that he counted the day lost , wherein he had not kill'd or tortur'd some eminent person : or else , so planett-struck him with his frownes , that he enjoyed not himselfe after . he never put two men together to death after the same way ; as not consisting with his state to weare one torture threed-bare , but ever appeared in exchange , & variety of new māner of punishments . and if any wonder , that there was not a generall insurrection made against this monster of mankind , to rend him from the earth ; know that he had one humour , that did much helpe him , in being sterne and cruell to noble men ; but affable and courteous to poore people , and so still kept in with the vulgar . besides , many stately structures he erected , and sweetned his cruelties with some good acts for the publick . now , that we might not seem to have weeded the life of andronicus , or to be a kin to those flyes , which travelling by many fragrant flowers , onely make their residence , on some sore , or dunghill , wee will recount some of his good deeds , and pitty it was , that they had not proceeded from a better author . . hee surveyed the walls of constantinople , and mended them , wheresoever the chinkes thereof did call for reparation . hee pluckt downe all the buildings without ( yet so , that the owners sustained no losse thereby ) for feare in case of an enemies invasion , those houses might serve them for ladders to scale the city with more ease . thus all constantinople was brought within the compasse of her walls , ( as she remaines at this day ) not like many ill proportioned cities in europe , which groane under over-great suburbs ( so that the children over-top the mother ) and branch themselves forth into out-streets , to the impairing of the root , both weakning and impoverishing the city it selfe . hee bestowed great cost in adorning the porphyrie throne , which an usurper did provide and beautifie , for a lawfull prince to sit upon it . hee brought fresh water , ( a treasure in that place ) through a magnificent aqueduct , into the heart of the city , which after his death , was spoyled out of spight ( as private revenge in a furious fit , oft impaires the publike good ) people disdaining to drink of his water , who had made the streets runne with bloud . his benefaction to the church of forty martyrs amounted almost to a new founding thereof , intending his tombe in that place , though it was arrant presumption in him , who had denyed the right of sepulture to others , to promise the solemnity thereof unto himselfe . . but that which gained him the greatest reputation far and neare , even amongst those that never saw his face , was , an edict for the saving of ship-wrackt goods . there was amongst the greeks a constant practice , founded in crueltie , and strengthned by custome ; that if a vessell was discovered in danger of drowning , those on the shore , like so many ravenous vultures , flockt about that carkasse , to pick out the eyes thereof , the wealth therein . these made all their hay in foul weather , which caused them not onely duely to wait , but heartily to wish for a tempest : and as the wicked tenants in the gospel concluded to kill the heire that so the inheritance might bee their owne , these remorselesse men , to prevent future cavills and clamours about the goods ; dispatcht the mariners , alwayes by wilfull neglecting their preservation , & too often by downe-right contriving their destruction . more cruell then the verie stocks and stumps of trees , which growing by rivers sides ; commonly hang over the water , as if out of pity , tendring their service to such as are in danger of drowning , & stooping downe to reach their hands to help them to the shore . now , andronicus taking this barbarous custome into consideration , forbad it , for the time to come , on most terrible penalties , ( and this lion , if enraged , would by his loudnesse , roare hearing into the deafe ) and enjoyned all to improve their utmost endeavours , for the preservation of their persons . hence followed such an alteration , that shipwrack't goods , if floating to land , safely kept themselves without any to guard them . men would rather blow their fingers , than heat their hands with a rotten planke ▪ rather goe naked , than cover themselves with a rag of shipwrackt canvas : it was ominous to steale the least inch of of a cable , lest it lengthned it selfe into an halter to him that tooke it . all things were preserved equally safe , of what value soever , and untold pearle , might lye on the shore untoucht , like so many oyster-shells . this dispersed the fame of his justice and mercy into forraigne parts : and as sounds which are carried a-long by the rivers side , having the advantage of hollow banks , and the water to convey them , are heard sooner and quicker , then sounds of the same lowdnesse , over the land ; so the maritim actions of princes , concerning trading , wherein strangers , as wel as their owne native subjects are interessed , report them to the world in a higher tone , and by a quicker passage , than any land-lockt action of theirs , which hath no further influence , but onely terminates in their owne kingdome . yea this one ingratiating decree of andronicus , did set him up with so full stock with reputation , that upon the bare credit thereof , might now runne on skore , the committing of many murthers , and never have his name once called to accompt for any injustice therein . . and as the sea-men by water , so the husband-men by land ( and those wee know have strong lungs , and stout sides ) cryed up the fame of andronicus , because he was a great preserver of tillage , and corne was never at more reasonable rates than in his reigne . hee cast a strict eye on all customers and tax-gatherers , and ( as evill spirits are observed to walk much about silver mines ) so andronicus did incessantly haunt all publique receivers of money ; and if finding them faulty ; oh excellent sport for the people to see how those sponges were squeezed ! he allowed large and liberal maintenance to all in places of judicature , that want might not tempt them to corruption . thus , even the worst of tyrants light sometimes on good actions , either stumbling on them by chance , or out of love ( not of vertue , but ) of their owne security . they are wicked by the generall rule of their lives , and pious by some exceptions , just , by fits , that they may be more safely unjust when they please . and hereby andronicus advanced himselfe to bee tollerable amongst man-kinde . . wee could willingly afford to dwell longer under the temperate climate of his vertues ; but travellers must on their journey . comming now to the torrid zone of his fury , which indeed was not habitable : his foes hee executed , because they were his foes ; and his friends , because they were his friends . for they that let out a courtesie at interest to a tyrant , commonly lose the principall : witnesse conto-stephanus , the great duke , admirall of the galleyes , who by betraying his trust , brought andronicus to constantinople , and now fairely had his eyes put out . as for georgius-dissipatus , andronicus intended to roast him , being a corpulent man , upon a spit , affirming that such fat venison wanted no larding , but would baste it selfe , and meant to serve him up as a dainty dish in a charger or tray , to his widdow , had not some intervening accident diverted it . he made a bloudy decree , which had a traine of indefinite , and unlimited extent , and would reach as farre as the desire of the measurer : namely , that all such of the nobility which were , now , or should , hereafter , be cast into prison ; should bee executed without any legall triall , with their children and kindred . prince manuel , ( whose worst fault was , that andronicus begat him ) in vaine opposed this decree , alleaging this to be the ready way for his father to un-emperour himselfe , by destroying that relative title , and leaving himselfe no subjects . . but andronicus had found scripture , whereby to justifie his act , and brought st. * paul for his patron , whose practise and confession hee cited . for the good that i would , i doe not ; but the evill which i would not , that i doe . now if i doe that i would not , it is no more i that doe it , but sinne that dwelleth in me . god keep us from apocrypha-comments on canonicall scripture : send us his pure text without the glosse of andronicus , who , belike , conceiv'd hee could not bee a perfect tyrant , by onely torturing of men , except also he did rack gods word , rending text from con-text , and both , from their true intent . . this decree startles such lords of the combination as were left alive , together with mamalus , principall secretary to the late emperour , and alexius ducas , the most active , but not nearest , prince of the bloud . these , meeting together , much bemoaned themselves , till mamalus counting such puling passion beneath masculine spirits , thus uttered himselfe . . you late adorers of andronicus , who did conceive it would pose the power of heavē to cure the state , save oncly by his hand , bee your owne judges , whether it be not just that they should dye of the physicke who made a god of the physitian . diseases doe but their kind , if they kill , and , an evill expected , is the lesse evill : but no such torment as to die of the remedie : onely one helpe is left us , if secretly and speedily pursued . we know , isaacius angelus by birth and merit is intitled to the crowne . true , hee lives privately in a covent , but worth cannot bee hid , it shines in the darke ; and greatnesse doth best become them to weare it , by whom it is found , before it is sought for , as more deserved then desired by them : say not that he is of too milde a disposition ; for , his soft temper will make the beter pultis for our sore necks , long gauled with the yoke of tyranny . and seeing we have thus long been unhappy under the extremities , the childe-hood of alexius , and old yeares of andronicus , let us try our fortunes under the middle age of isaacius : and no doubt we shall light on the blessed meane and happy temper of moderation . . the motion found entertainment beyond beliefe . and yet alexius ducas offer'd it to their consideration ; that so meek a dove would never make good eagle : giving a character , how a prince should be accomplished with valour and experience , by insinuation designing himself . it is pleasant to heare a proud man speaking modestly in his owne praise , whilst the auditors affect a wilfull deafenesse , and will not heare his whispering , and slenting expressions , till at last hee is faine to hollow downe-right selfe-flattery into their eares . here it fared thus with ducas , who thereby only , exposed himselfe to contempt : and perceiving no successe , zealously concurr'd with the rest for advancing of isaacius . all necessary particulars were politiquely contrived , each one had his taske appointed him : some , to seize on the ships , others , to secure the pallace , make good the great church : and the whole modell was exactly methodized , considering the vast volumne thereof , which consisted of many persons of qualitie therein ingaged . the fourth booke . . but , great designes , like wounds , if they take arie , corrupt . this project , against andronicus , could not be covertly carried , because consisting of a medly of persons , of different tempers , and un-suiting soules , having private intents , to themselves , not cordiall , uniting their affections , but only freinds , for the time being , against the common foe : so that , through the riftes , and chinks of their severall aimes and ends , which could not be joynted close together , the vigilancie of andronicus did steale a glymps of their designe , apprehensive enough to light a candell for himselfe form the sparke of the smallest discoverie . . and now , let him alone to prevent their proceedings , by cutting both them and theirs off ( that no mindfull heire might succeed to their spite ) and that with all posible speed ; for hee steer'd his actions , by the compas of that character , which one made of him , as followeth . i love at leasure , favours to bestow : and tickle men by dropping kindnesse slow , but my revenge , i in one instant spend , that moment which begings it , doth it end . halfe doing undoe's many , 't is a sinne not to be soundly sinfull ; to begin , and tire ; i 'le do the work . they strike in vain , who strike so , that the stricken might complain . . mamalus was the first who was brought to execution , on this manner . a mighty fire was made , and to provoke the tyrannie thereof ( as if that pure element of it selfe had been too fine and slender , effectually to torment him ) they made the flame more stiffe , and stuffie , by the mixture of pitch and brimstone . then mamalus was brought forth starke naked , insomuch that all ingenuous beholders , out of a modest sympathy , conceived , that they saw themselves naked , in seeing him : and therefore , ( as much as lay in their power ) they covered him , by shutting their eyes . when the souldiers with pikes , were provided to thrust mamalus into the fire , whil'st many spectatours durst not expresse their pittie to him , out of pittie to themselves ; lest commiserating of him , should be understood complying with him ; but were cautious to confine their compassion , within the compasse of their brest , that it should not sallie forth , into their eyes , and outward gestures . . betwixt this dilemma of deaths , the sharpe pikes of the soldiers on the one side , & furie of the fire , on the other ; he preferred the former , not as most honourable , and best complying with a militarie soule ; ( not being at leasure alasle , in time of torment , to stand on termes of credit , ) but as least painfull . but the soldiers denied him this choyce , and forc'd him into the fire ; and then hearing his shreekes , even those who refus'd , out of favour , to give any pitie to his person , could not , out of justice , denie the payment of some compassion , ( bound there-unto , by the specialtie of humanitie ) unto his miserable condition . . meane time , andronicus was a spectatour , tickling himselfe with delight , only offended , that the sport was so short , and mamalus dead too soone . the stench of whose burning flesh ( offensive to others ) was a perfume to him , who had the roman-nose of caligula , nero , domitian , and such monsters of crueltie . and , as he pleased his owne smell , with the odour of revenge ; his sight , with beholding the execution ; his eare with the musicke of his enemies dying groanes : so , there wanted not those that wish't , that his other senses , were also imployed , according to his deserts , his touch , and tast , that they migh feelingly partake of the torture of the fire . thus died mamalus , scarce twenty four yeares of age , before the bud of his youth had opened into a flower ; having in his parts , not only promises , but some assurance , that the hopes of his future worth , should be plentifully performed , had not this untimely accident prevented it . . lapardas acted next on the scaffold , though not condemned todeath , but to have his eyes bored out : his extraction was noble , state greate , pride greater ; to maintain which , he contrived the advancing of andronicus to the throne : the under ground foundation of whose greatnes , was closely laid , by lapardas , whil'st he left the vilible structure thereon , to others . like a mole he conveyed his train , closly spurring on basilius ( who posted of himself , ) to act in odious projects , whil'st himselfe sculk't unseen ; hoping , if matters held , to be rewarded by andronicus , for his secret service ; if they miscaried , to provide for his own safety ; seeing none could challenge him , of any appearing open ill action , wherein he was engaged . . but quickly he fell off of his speed in serving andronicus , whether , because he conceived his deserts found not a proportionable reward : or , because he bare a love to the person of alexius : or , because he was not perfectly bad , and fainting in the way of wickednesse , could not keep pace therein , with the fast and wide strides of andronicus : or , which is most probable , he slowly perceived his errour , that tyrants plucke downe those staires , whereby they ascend to their greatnesse : and then , too late , began to unravell , what he weaved beforer . true it was , he had assisted andronicus , so long , that he had offended all the side of isaacius , and had deserted him so soone , that he dis-ingaged all the partie of andronicus , and so was unhappy , not to have the cordiall affections of either . . on the scaffold hee spake little , expecting that the paine would kill him , confessing he ow'd a death , to nature , and a violent death , to justice , and forgave all the world , save his owne selfe . beholding the sunne ; farewell ( said hee ) life of my life , my night must bee at my noone ; and then laying his hands on his eyes : must i loose you thus ? was it because i shot forth wanton glances ? or , beheld rivalls , with envious lookes ? or , adored the shine of gold ; that i must thus lose you ? or , was it , because i acted in a darke way , to advance the crueltie of a tyrant ; that now all my endeavours are seene by the world , and i must be blinde ? however , gods justice appeares clearest to mee , in the losse of my eyes . thus was lapardas tortured : and though some may think that andronicus swerved from his principle , taking away onely light , not life , from him , and thereby rather more en raging him for , than wholly disabling him from , revenge ; yet wee may bee assured , that tyrant did never so doe his workes by the halfe , but that hee strook out their teeth , whose eyes hee bored out , so securing their persons , that he put them past power of doing him mischiefe . . during this raging cruelty of andronicus ; wee may commend , in theodorus the patriark , rather his successe , than policie , ( his simple goodnesse being incapable of the later ) who seasonably withdrew himselfe from constantinople , to a private place he had provided in the isle of terebynthus : here hee had built him an handsome house , equally distant from envy and contempt , bravery and basenesse , so that if securitie and sweetnesse had had a mind to dwell together , they could not have found a fitter place for that purpose . severall reasons moved him to his speedy removall , besides the avoiding the fury of andronicus . first , because basilius undermined him at the court in his patriarkship , theodosius being absent thence , when present there ; bearing onely the name and blame , when the other had the power and profit thereof . . secondly , to avoid the sight of people , conceiving every eye which did behold , did accuse him , as a principall cause of their miseries , for helping andronicus to the empire . in whom theodorus had been strangely mistook , as the best men are soonest deceived with the painted piety , and pensive looks of hypocrites , counting all gold that shines , all sooth , that is said ; betraid by their owne charitie into a good opinion of others . lastly , it grieved him to see ignorance and impiety so rampant , base hands committing dayly rapes on the virgin muses ; so that they might now even ring out the bell , for dying learning , and sadly toll the knell for gaping religion . wherefore , as divines solemnly observe , to goe off of the bench , just before the sentence of condemnation is pronounced upon the malefactor ; so this patriark , perceiving the city of constantinople , cast , by her owne guiltinesse , and by the confession of her crying sinnes against her self ; thought it not fit for him to stay there , till divine justice should passe a finall fatall doome upon the place , ( which he every minute expected ) but embraced this private opportvnity of departure . . soon after his retiring , he ended his life : we not enquire into his decease , if wee consider his age , accounting now fourescore and foure winters . and well might his yeares bee reckoned by winters , as wanting both springs , and summers of prosperity , living in constant affliction . and yet the last foure yeares , made more wounds in his heart , than all the former , plow'd wrinkles in his face . he dyed not guilty of any wealth , who long before , had made the poore , his heires , and his owne hands , his executors . after hearty prayers , that religion might shine when he was set , falling into a pious meditation ; hee went out as a lampe , for lack of oyle : no warning groane was sighed forth to take his last farewell , but even he smiled himselfe into a corps ; enough to confute those , that they bely death , who call her grim and grizely ; which in him seemed lovely and of a good complexion . the few servants hee left , proportioned the funerall , rather to their masters estate , than deserts , supplying in their sorrow , the want of spices and balme , which surely must bee so much the more pretious , as the teares of men are to bee preferr'd before gums , which are but the weeping of trees . . the patriarks place was quickly supplyed by basilus the bishop , so often mentioned , preferred to the place by the emperour . a patron and chaplaine excellently met ; for what one made law , by his list ; the other endeavoured to make gospel , by his learning . in stating of any controversie , basilius first studied to find out , what andronicus intended or desired to doe therein : and then , let him alone to draw that scripture , which would not come of it selfe , to prove the lawfulnesse of what the other would practice . thus , in favour of him , he pronounced the legality of two most incestuous matches ; and this grecian pope , gave him a dispensation to free him from all oathes of allegiance , which hee had formerly sworn to manuel or alexius : for this was the humour of andronicus , to have religion along with him , so farre as it lay in his way , courting the company of pious pretence , ( if possibly they might be procured ) to countenance his designes : but in case they were so foule , that no glosse of justice could be put upon them ; hee disdained that pietie which would not befriend him , and impudently acted his pleasure in open opposition of all religion . . but whilst this basilius was thus hot about his secular affaires ; there wanted not an aged hermite , who took him to taske , and soundly told him his owne , though it made but small impression in him . meeting him at advantage ; hermites , you know , saith he , hate both luxury & complement . in plain truth , i must chide you , that seeing , earth is but your inne , and heaven your home ; you mistake the first , for the latter . mans soule is so intent on its present object , that it is impossible , it should attend two callings at the same time , but must needs make default in the pursuance of one of them . your temporall intermedling drawes the envy of the laity , for whose love you should rather labour . nor are you stor'd with forraign observations , really to enable you for such undertakings . say not that you may meddle with temporall state-affaires , and yet not entangle your selfe with them , seeing the world is such a witch , it is impossible to doe the one without the other . observe those clergy-sticklers on the civill stage , and you shall seldome finde them crowned with a quiet death . remember your predecessour chrysostome , who did onely pray , and preach , and read , and write , thereby made happy in the despight of his enemies : for though twice expell'd his patriarkship , hee was twice restor'd with greater honour : so that it was not want of policy , which lost , but store of piety , which caused him to recover his place againe . i speake not this , out of any repining at the lustre of your preferment , who envy outward honour no more than the shining of a glo-worme , but meerely out of love to your person , and desire of your happinesse . . but basilius , in some passion returned , i perceive you are lately broken loose out of your cell , which makes you more fierce and keen , like hawkes when they are first un-hooded , and newly restored to the light . know , sir , one may well attend two callings , if they bee sub-ordinate , as the meanes and the end . all my secular businesse is in order to the good of the church . the love of the laity unto us , without some awe mingled with it , can neither be long-lasting , or much serviceable . my education hath admitted me into generall learning , and made mee capable of any imployment . i deny not the world to be a witch , but i know how to arme my soule with holy spells against all her inchantments . whereas you say , one cannot meddle with worldly matters , but must intangle himselfe therewith , it is all one , as if you should affirme , that a temperate man cannot eate meate but he must surfet . proofes from the event , argue not the justice or injustice of the act ; and nothing can be inferred from the ill successe of our medling in secular affaires . to your instance of chrysostome , i oppose the example of augustine bishop of hippo , who set in full brightnes , and yet kept a court in his owne house , where he umpir'd and decided all temporall controversies . you trample on that which you call pride in me , with that which is so in your selfe . and all this proceeds out of spight , because you cannot turne your cowle into a mitre . . but basilius was deafe to all these perswasions , and joyning with hagio-christophorites stephanus , ( chiefe enginier for andronicus ) advanced all cruell designes . and now mamalus and lapardus being executed , all others were possest with a panick feare : and no wonder when the string is broken , if the beads be scattered . it being feared , that the plot miscarryed , they strove to make themselves innocent , by first making others guilty . and yet it was vaine to take the pains who should start quickest , when they all met even at the post : for andronicus took order that they were all alike executed . . there were two of his creatures , trypsycus , and hagio-christophorites stephanus , who onely fell out , who should bee most officious to him : each had the other in jealousie , fearing his rivall would engrosse the emperour unto him . especially , stephanus , was fearefull of trypsycus ; understanding that andronicus wrote private letters unto him , stiling him , his beloved friend , with other expressions , which spake more intimacy than stephanus was willing to heare . this trypsycus had been a dangerous promoter in all company , representing to andronicus every syllable spoken against him , to the disadvantage of the speaker : and as one saith , ( i conceive rather in the language of the times , than his owne ) every man then was to give an account of every idle word . it happened therefore that one was procured , who accused trypsycus for jeering of john the emperours eldest sonne for deformed , and that he scattered some loose expressions ▪ bewailing the miserie of the times . now , though the great service which trypsycus had done , might deserve to over-weigh so light an offence ; it cost him his life , confiscation of his goods and ruine of his posterity . . now hath stephanus roome to domineere alone in the favour of andronicus , sending him to seize on isaacius , who for the present was got out of his covent . it was past the skill of the spannel to catch him , who dived for the instant , but we shall find him in due time above water , and that to purpose . the fift book . . security is the mother of danger , & the grandmother of destruction . let andronicus bee a proofe hereof , who now , nearest to his ruine , grew most confident , as conceiving he had stopp't every cranny , where danger might creep in , and therefore in a bravery , he sent a defiance to fortune her selfe , which notwithstanding , was returned with his owne speedy overthrow . . yet could hee not justly complaine , that he was suddenly surprised , seeing nature might seeme to have gone out of her way , to give him warning , and nemesis did not hunt him so fast , but that she allow'd him faire law to provide for himselfe , by several prodigies which hapned at that time . but andronicus , not onely against the full intent , but almost visible meaning , of the same accidents , did make a jesting construction of them , and and was deafe to the loud language of all ominous passages , as not relating unto him . . being told of the apparition of a comet , ( no leiger-starre of heaven , but an extraordiany embassadour ) portending his death , as some expounded it ; he skoffingly replyed , that hee was glad to see the heavens so merry , to make bone-fires , for his triumphs : and what was a comet , but the kitchin-stuffe of the aire , which blazing for a while , would goe out in a snuffe : adding , that that starre might presage the fall of some prince , that wore long haire , whereas , his was short enough . when another told him of an earth-quake , which had lately happened ; i am glad , saith he , that the mother-earth , sicke of of the collick , had so good a vent for a winde : being informed that the statue of saint paul , ( his titulary saint ) was seene to weep ; he evaded the sad presage thereof , by distinguishing on teares , therebeing an harmony in their language , as bearing not onely different , but contrary sences , proceeding either from mirth or mourning ; and therefore , that weeping might probably fore-shew good successe . in a word ; all serious and solemne omens , he tuned to a jesting meaning , keeping himselfe constant to his first principle ; that , fortune ; when fear'd , is a tyrant ; when , scorn'd , is a coward . but , though hee unjustly perverted the sense of these prodigies ; the event did truely interpret them in his destruction . . for isaacius angelus persecuted by the executioner , fled into the great church , ( in those dayes , the sanctuary at large for innocents ) where , making an oration to the people , he exceeded expectation , and himself ; as if hitherto he had thriftily reserved his worth ( a serious , others say , simple man ) to spend it more freely when occasion required it . he spake not like those mercenary people , which make their tongue , their ware , and eloquence , their trade ; but , he uttered himselfe so pathetically , that he did not court attention , but command it . hee made both his innocence , and the cruelty of andronicus , to appeare so plaine , that the people not onely afforded him , protection for the present ; but also , bestowed on him soveraignty for the future , and instantly elected , and proclaimed him , emperour of greece . . stand wee here still , and wonder what should be the reason , that andronicus should suffer this isaacius , next prince of the bloud , so long safely to survive , who had cut off other persons of lesse danger , & lower degree . wee cannot ascribe it to his incogitancy , as inconsistent with his vast memorie , to forget a matter of such importance ; lesse can we impute it to his pitty , as if sparing him out of compassion : seeing that a thred might sooner hope to be prolonged under the knife of of atropos , than any to finde favour under his impartiall crueltie . was it not then because he had him in his power ? and counting himselfe sure to seize on him at pleasure ; reserved him , as sweet-meat , to close his stomack , when first hee had fed on severall dishes of courser diet : or , because hee slighted him , as a narrow-hearted man , religiously bred in a covent , unfit for a campe , the object rather of his contempt , than feare ; for that his hands might seeme tied with his beads , from being dangerously active , in the state . but , let us remove our wondring at this neglect of andronicus , to make roome for our admiration of divine providence , who confounded this politician in his owne cunning . thus the most expert gamsters may sometimes over-see ; and , traitors , though they be carefull to cut downe all trees , which hinder their ambitious prospect ; wil unawares leave one still standing , whereof their owne gallowes may be made . . immediately all the prisons in the city were set open , and those petty sinks of dissolute people emptied themselves into a common sewer , and became into a tumultuous torrent . headlong they haste to the pallace of andronicus , where , not finding him at home , they wreckt their spight upon that beautifull building , and sumptuous furniture therein . should i insist upon particulars , all sorts of readers would be sadded therewith . ladies would lament the losse of so many pearles and precious stones , whose very cases were jewells . souldiers bemoane the spoyling of so magnificent an armorie . but schollers would be most passionate , to bewaile the want of that librarie so full fraught with rarities , that nothing abated the pretiousnesse , but the plenty of them . many records , ( the staires whereby antiquaries climbe up into the knowledge of former times ) were torne in pieces , though wee need not believe them so old , as that some of them had escaped noah's floud , and were now drowned in a popular deluge . . nothing was preserved whole and entire . whether , because they pretended some religion in revenge , as not aiming , out of covetousnesse , to enrich themselves , but , out of justice , to punish the tyrant ; or because they thought the very goods of andronicus , were become evill , guilty of their owners faults ; and therefore were all to be abolished as execrable : yea , as if the very chappel it self , which hee had built , had been un-hallowed , by the prophanenesse of the founder ; with all the utensils thereof , it was defaced . a stately structure it was , andronicus not being of their opinion , who conceiving an holy horrour to live in darke and humble cells ; fancie not triumphant churches , for feare that their hearts bee there lost in their eyes . but he professed his devotion to rise with the roofe of the church ; so that his soule seemed to anticipate heaven , by beholding the earnest thereof in a beautifull temple . however , now his chappell was layd flat to the ground ; and , amongst other things therein , of inestimable value , the letter , which , by tradition , was reported to bee written by christs owne hands , to abgarus king of edessa , then was embezeled . so irresistable is the tyrany of a tumult ; and therefore , it may be all good mens prayers , that the people may either never understand their own power , or alwayes use it a-right . . andronicus , as we said before , had secretly conveyed himselfe away . who would not have thought , but that this great fencer should have been provided of variety of guards , against all the crosseblows of fortune ; at least , to have had some impregnable place , neare hand , to retire unto ? whereas hee had no other policy to escape , than that poor shift , which the silly simple hare useth against the hounds , by flying before them . indeed , had the conspiracy against andronicus , been but locall , or partiall , so that hee had had any sound part to begin on , he would probably have made resistance , ( as physitians must have some strength of nature in their patient , to practice on ; ) but the defection from him was so generall and universall , hee found not any effectuall friend left him . onely hee had scrap't together a masse of coyne , more trusting in money , than men hoping , in forraigne parts , to buy some friends therewith ; knowing that gold , if weight , is currant in all countries . then taking anna his empresse , and maraptica his whore , with some few servants , he durst confide in , and the treasure hee had formerly provided ; he made speede , in a pinnace , through the black sea , to the tauro-scythians , out of the bounds of his empire , hoping there to liue in quiet . and because we have mentioned anna the empresse , wee cannot passe her by in silence . for if one would draw a map of miserie , to paire like yeares , with like mis-hap , 't is hard to finde a fitter patterne . . daughter shee was to the king of france , being married a childe ( having little list to love , and lesse , to aspire ) to the yong emperour elexius , whilst both their yeares , put together , could not spell thirty . after this , shee had time too much , to bemoane , but , none at al , to amend , her condition , being slighted and neglected by her husband . oft-times , being alone ( as sorrow loves no witnesse ) having roome , and leisure to bewaile her selfe , shee would relate the chronicle of her unhappinesse , to the walls , as hoping to finde pitie , from stones , when men prov'd unkind unto her . much did shee envie the felicity of those milk-maids , which each morning passe over the virgin-dew , and pearledgrasse , sweetly singing by day , and soundly sleeping at night , who had the priviledge freely to bestow their affections , and wed them , which were high in love , though low in condition : whereas , royall birth had denyed her that happinesse , having neither liberty to chuse , nor leave to refuse ; being compell'd to love , and sacrificed to the politique ends of her potent parents . . but anna , unhappy at her first voyage , hoped to better her condition by a second adventure ; yet made more haste than good speed , marrying andronicus some weeks after the death of alexius . surely there is an annus luctus , a yeare of mourning , which the modestie of widdowes may doe well to observe , lest neglecting it in their widdowhood , it be required of them afterwards , with interest , in the ill successe of their second marriage . for , maraptica , a proud harlot , but excellent musician , justled with anna in the emperours affection : ( and halfe an old husband was too much for a young lady to spare ) and in processe of time , prevailed to obtaine violent possession . the empresse , knowing her selfe honest , and amiable , stood on her deserts ; not descending to beg that love , which shee conceived due unto her , but daring him to detaine it at his owne perill , seeing hee wronged himselfe in wronging of her , forfeiting his troth , which he had publikely pledged unto her . but , the curtizan , knowing that that love needs buttresses in cunning , which hath no foundation in conscience ; applyed her self in all particulars to bee complizant to the desires of andronicus . this maraptica , though shee had faire fine finges to play on the lute , had otherwise foule great clutches , to snatch , graspe , and hold , whatsoever shee could comeby . and knowing that shee had but a short terme in the tenement of her greatnesse , ( subject both to the mortality and mutabilitie of andronicus ) and withall , that shee was not bound to reparations , therefore cared not what waste shee made ; but , by wrong and rapine , scraped together a masse of money . meane time , anna was kept poore enough ; who , whilst maid , widdow , and wife , ( twice a bride , before once a woman ) scarce saw a joyfull day ; though borne of a king , and wedded to two emperours . . but to returne to andronicus , who pursued after by his guiltie conscience , found no rest in himselfe ; so that for nights , sleep was a stranger him . hee that had put out other mens eyes , could not close his owne ; and when nature in him starv'd , for want of rest , did at last hungerly snatch at short slumbers : dreams did more terrifie , than sleep refresh him . his active fancy in the night did descant on what hee had done before . sometimes , the pale ghost of alexius seemed with glowing pincers to torment him ; otherwhile , maria caesarissa stitcht hot burning needles through his side ; and , not long after , two streames of reeking bloud seemed to flow out of the eyes of lapardas , wherein andronicus for a while seemed to swimme , till , beginning to sinke , to save himselfe , he caught hold on his pillow , and so did awake . . when awaked , his minde was musing upon a prophesie , which some dayes since was delivered unto him : for hee had employed an agent , unto one seth , an old conjurer , to know of him what should be the name of his next successour in the empire . now , first a great s. was presented in a bason of water ; and next that , an i. but , both so doubtfully delineated , that they were hardly legible : done on purpose for severall reasons . because , it stood not with the state of the prince of darknesse , to bee over-cleare in his acts ; and those that vent bad wares love to keep blind shops : besides , obscurity added veneration to his oracles , and active superstitious fancies , whet with the difficulty of them , would be sharpe-sighted to read more than was written . but the maine was to save his owne credit , taking covert of mysticall expressions , that in case satan should faile in his answers , hee might lay the blame on mens understanding him . . put then these two letters together , s. i. and read them backwards i. s. by an hysterosis , & take a part of the whole by a synecdoche ; ( all favourable figures must bee used , to piece out the devills short skill in future contingents ) and then andronicus was told by the conjurer , hee had the name of his successor . aske mee not why hells alphabet must be read backward , let satan give an account of his owne couz'nage ; whether out of an apish imitation of the hebrew , which is read retrograde ; or , because that ugly filthy serpent , 〈◊〉 crawls cancer-like , or to make his answers the more aenigmaticall , for the reasons afore-said . andronicus by this i. s. understood i saurus comnenus , who lately , by usurpation , had set up a kingdom in the isle of cyprus , and therefore alwayes observed him with a jealous eye , and now too late perceives his errour , and findes the prophesie performed in isaacius angelus . . thus , those that are correspondents with the devill , for such intelligence , have need when they have receiv'd the text of his answers , to borrow his comment too , lest otherwise they mistake his meaning . and , men may justly take heed of curiosity , to know things to-come ; which is one of the kernells of the forbidden fruit , and even in our age sticks still in the throats of too many , even to the danger of choaking them , if it bee not warily prevented . . hitherto , what disasters had happened to andronicus , might partly be imputed to men , and second causes : whereas now , divine justice , to have its power praised in its punishmens , seemed visibly to put out a hand from heaven ; and he wants eyes , that cannot , or shuts them , that will not , behold it . see now the gally , wherein he sayled , having having all the canvas thereof , imployed with a prosperous winde , when suddenly it was checkt in the full speed , and beaten back with fowle weather into a small harbour , called chele . soon after , the windes serving againe , hee set forth the second time , and had not made many leagues , when neptune with his trident thrust him back againe ; such was the violence of the seas against him . a third time he set forth with a faire gale , when instantly , the wind changing , forced him to returne . here , what tugging , what towing , what rowing ! nothing was omitted , which art , or industrie , skill , or will , could performe : andronicus dropping a shower of gold to the saylers , to reward the sweat that fell from them . all in vaine ; for as , indeed , hee had offended the fire , with the innocents hee burnt therein : angred the aire , with hundreds of carkasses , which therein hee had caused to bee hanged : provoked the earth , by burying men alive , in her bosome ; so , most of all hee had enraged the water against him , ( now mindfull of his injuries ) by him made a charnell-house , and generall grave , into which , the body of the young emperour alexius was cast , with thousands of his subjects . god , herein to prevent all mis-constructions of casuality ( which otherwise men might fasten upon it , ) and knowing that men are slow in their apprehensions , and dull in their memory to learne the lessons of his justice , he re-iterated and repeated it three severall times , that the most blockish scholler , might learne it perfectly by heart : this is the worke of the lord , and it may justly seeme marvellous in our eyes . thus andronicus was , the third time , sent backe to the place from whence hee came , and so to the place of execution . for hee was no sooner come to the shore , but servants , imployed by isaacius , ( who had way-laid all the ports on the blacke sea ) stood ready to arrest him . the sixt book . . andronicus hahaving now left him neither army to fight , or legges to flye ; ( being in the possession of his enemies ) betook himselfe to his tongue , bemoaning his case , and with teares begging their favour . but those eyes , which , weeping in jest , had mock'd others so often , could not now bee trusted , that they were in earnest . the storme at land was more implacable than the tempest at sea . two heavy iron chaines were put about his neck , ( in mettle and weight , different from them he wore before ) and loaden with fetters and insolencies from the souldiers ; ( who , in such ware , seldome give scant measure ) hee was brought into the presence of isaacius . here the most mercifull and moderate contented themselves with tongue-revenge , calling him dogge of uncleannesse , goat of lust , tygre of cruelty , religions ape , and envies basilisk . but , others pull'd him by the beard , twitch't the haire left by age on his head , and proceeding from depriving him of ornamentall execrements , dasht out his teeth , put out one of his eyes , cut off his right hand ; and thus maimed , without surgeon to dresse him , man to serve him , or meat to feed him , he was sent to the publike prison amongst theeves and robbers . . all these were but the beginning of evill unto him . some dayes after , with a shaved head crowned with garliek , he was set on a scab'd cammell , with his face backwards , holding the taile thereof for a bridle , and was led cleane through the city . all the cruelties which he in two yeares and upwards , had committed upon severall persons , were now abbreviated and epitomised on him , in as large a character , as the shortnesse of the time would give leave , & the subject it selfe was capable of : they burnt him with torches and fire-brands , tortur'd him with pincers , threw abundance of dirt upon him ; and withall , such filthinesse , that the reader would stop his nose , if i should tell him the composition thereof ; it is enough to say , that the worst thing that comes from man , was the best in the mixture thereof . . such as consult with their credit will bee cautious how they report improbable truthes , fearing they will not be received for . truths , but rejected for improbable . efpecially in this age , wherein men resume their libertie , conceiving it against the priviledge of their judgements , to have their beliefe , ( which should be a voluntary ) prest by the authority of others , to give credit to what beares not proportion with likely-hood . could an old man ( such as andronicus was ) passe the age of man , three-score and ten , who now onely lived by the curtesie of death to spare him , endure such paine , three miles , through so populous a city ? the poets onely feigned atlas to be weary of carrying of heaven ; but , must not our andronicus be either stifled for want of breath , or back-broken with store of weight , under so much earth throwne upon him ? and was it possible , that hee , who , before these times , had one foot in the grave , should have the other not follow after , when driven with such crueltie ? . to render this likely , we may consider ; first , that it was the intent of the people , not to kill , but to torment him . secondly , when one dish is to go clean through a table of guests , men are mannerly ; all , take some , though none , enough . besides , he was one of a strong constitution , whose brawny flesh nature had knit together with horny nerves . and yet , had hee been a weak man ; a candle with glimmering light will burne long in a socket , being thrifty of it selfe . life was sweet to andronicus , under all those noisome smells ; and he would not part with it , whilst hee could keep it . but what was the maine , it was possible god might support his life , either out of justice , or mercie . ( and , wee read in * scripture , of men , that they shall desire to dye , and death shall flee from them . ) i say not of justice , visibly to acquit himselfe , in the eyes of the world , by making such a monster , the open marke for mans revenge ; or out of mercy , giving him a long and large time of repentance , if hee had the happinesse to make use thereof . behold here a strange conflict , betwixt the crueltie of the people on the one side , & the patience of andronicus on the other ; and yet an indifferent umpire would adjudge the victory to the latter : no raging , no raving , no muttering , no repining ; but swallowed all in silence : onely he cryed out , lord have mercy upon me : and , why breake yee a bruised reed ! and sensible of his owne guiltinesse , hee seemed contented to passe his purgatory here , that so hee might escape hell hereafter . . after multitudes of other cruelties , tedious to us to rehearse , ( and how painfull then to him to endure ! ) hee was hanged by the heeles betwixt two pillars : in this posture ; hee put the stump of his right arme , whose wound bleeded afresh , to his mouth , so to quench ( as some suppose ) the extremity of his thirst , with his owne bloud , having no other moysture allowed him . when one ranne a sword thorough his back and belly , so that his very entralls were seen , and seemed to call ( though in vaine ) on the bowells of the spectators , to have some compassion upon him . at last , with much a-doe , his soul ( which had so many doores opened for it ) found a passage , out of his body , into another world . . heare , how one of great * learning , is charitably opinioned of his finall estate , making this apostrophe to his ghost : oh , andronicus ! oh thou emperour of the east ! how much wast thou bound unto god , whose will it was , that for a few dayes thou shouldst suffer such things , that thou mightest not perish for ever ! thou wast miserable for a short time , that thou mightest not bee miserable for all eternity . i make no doubt , but thou hadst the yeares of eternity in minde , seeing that thou didst suffer such things so constantly , and couragiously . . but doth not so strong charity argue a weak judgement ? despaire it selfe may presume of salvation , if such an-one was saved . how improperly did he usurp that expression , comparing himselfe to a * bruised reed , when , another scriptureresemblance was more applyable unto him , of a * bul-rush bowing downe his head ; onely top-heavy for the present , with sense of suffering , not inwardly contrited in heart , for the sinnes hee had committed . must not true repentance have a longer season to ripen it , and by workes ensuing , to avouch to the world the sincerity thereof ? insomuch that , of late , some affirme that the good theefe on the crosse did not then first begin , but first renew his repentance , lately interrupted by a fellonious act. allow andronious for a saint ; and we shall people heaven with a new plantation of whores and theeves . ( how volumnious will the booke of martyrs be , if paine alone does make them ! ) . on the other side , we must be wary , how , in our censures , wee shut heaven-doore against any penitents . farre bee it from us to distrust the power of gods mercy , or to deny the efficacie of true ( though late ) repentance : the last groan which divorces the soule from the body , may unite it to god : though the arme of his body was cut off , the hand of his faith might hold . all that i will adde is this , if andronicus his soule went to heaven , it is pitty that any should know of it , lest they bee encouraged to imitate the wicked premises of his life , hoping by his example to obtaine the same happy conclusion after death . . after his execution , the tide of the peoples fury did turne , who began to love his memory , and lament his losse : such as before were blinded with prejudice against him , could now clearely see many good deeds he had done for the publique , and began to recount with themselves , many sovereigne lawes , which hee had enacted : some bemoaned the misery which he had endured , as if his punishment was over-proportion'd to his deserts . whether this pitie proceeded out of that generall humour of men , never to value things till they are lost ; or , because their revenge had formerly surfeted upon him , & now began to disgorge it selfe againe ; or , which is most probable , this compassion arose from the mutability and inconstancy of humane nature , which hates alwaies to be imprisoned in one and the same minde ; but being in constant motion through the zodiac of all passions , will not stay long in the same signe ; and sometimes goes from one extremity to another . . by this time isaacius was brought by basilius the patriarch unto the throne , and placed thereon with all solemnity : then the crowne was put upon his head , on the top whereof was a diamond-crosse , ( greatnesse and care are twins ) which isaacius kissed : i welcome thee , said he , though not as a stranger , who have been acquainted with crosses from my cradle : thou art both my sword and my shield ; for hitherto i have conquered with suffering . then weighing the crowne in his hand ; it is ( faith he ) a beautifull burthen , which loads , more than it adornes . . here basilius the patriark made a sermon-like oration unto him , which , as it was uttered with much gravity , so it was heard with no lesse attention , and embraced by the emperour , with great thankfulnes . not presuming , sir , to teach you what you doe not know , i am incited by my calling , and encouraged by your clemency , to put you in minde , of what otherwise you may forget . this crowne and sceptre were sent you from heaven ; onely we have done our duty in delivering them unto you . and now me thinks , that divine majesty perfectly shines in you his image . these our eyes upheld , & folded hands , and bared heads , and bended knees are due from us to god , and wee pay them to him , by paying them to you his receiver . and wee doubt not , but you will improve the power and honour bestowed on you , for the protection of the people committed unto you . . in a mans body , whilst naturall heat and radicall moisture , observe their limits ; all is preserved in health : if either exceedes their bounds , the body either drownes , or burnes . it fareth thus in the constitution of the state , betwixt your power , and our prosperity ; whilst both agree , they support one another : but , if they fall out , about masterie , even that which over-comes , will be destroyed in a generall confusion . and , if you should betray your trust , though we bow , and beare , and sigh , and sob , armed with prayers and teares ; yet know , that our sad mournings will mount into that court , where lye the appeales of subjects , and the censures of soveraignes , which will heavily bee inflicted by him , whom you represent . speake i not this , out of any distrust of your justice , but out of earnest desire of your happinesse , wishing , that the greatnesse of constantine , founder of this place , the goodnesse of jovian , the successe of honorius , the long life of valens , the quiet death of manuel , the immortall fame of justinian , and what soever good was singl'd on them , may joyntly be heaped upon you , and your posterity . . hereupon followed such a shout of the people , as the oldest man present had not heard the like ; and all interpreted it as a token presaging the future felicity of the new emperour . and thus we have presented the reader , with the remarkable intricacie and perplexity of successe ( as if fortune were like to lose her selfe in a labyrinth of her owne making , ) winding backward and forward , within the compasse of five yeares , with more strange varieties then can easily bee paralell'd in so short a continuance of time . . first , alexius ; no andronicus . . then , alexius ; and andronicus . . then , andronicus ; and alexius . . then , andronicus ; no alexius . . then , isaacius ; no andronicus . thus , few strings curiously plaid upon by the cunning fingers of a skilfull artist may make much musick : and divine providence made here a miraculous harmony by these odd expected transpositions , tuneing all to his owne glory . . here i intended to end our history , save that i cannot discharge my trust , and bee faithfull to the truth , without taking some speciall observation of basilius . wee cannot forget how active an instrument hee had been to serve the cruelty of andronicus : and when first i looked wishly upon his hands ( so busied in wicked employments ) i presently read his fortune , that hee should come to a violent death . the old * hermite seemed to mee a prophet , to confirme me in my opinion , ( when reproving him for stickling in temporall matters ) and my conjectures grew confident , that this patriarke in processe of time , would either shake his mitre from his head , or his head from his shoulders . and , perchance , if the ingenuous reader would be pleased freely to confesse his thoghts therein , hee was possest with the same expectation . . how wide were we from the marke ? how blinde is man in future contingents ? how wise is god , in crossing our conceits , leaving the world amused with his wayes ; that men finding themselves at a losse , may learne more to adore , what they cannot understand ! see basilius , as brave , and as bright as ever ; and whilst all his fellow-servants had their wages paid them by andronicus , ( some made longer in their necks , others shorter by their heads ) he alone survives in health and honour : which made most to admire , what peculiar antidote of soveraigne vertue hee had gotten , to preserve himselfe from the infectious fury of that tyrant . . but that which advanceth this wonder into the marks of a miracle , is , that this cunning pilot , should so quickly tacke about , when the winde changed , and ingratiate himselfe with isaacius . when times suddenly turned from extreames ; those persons which formerly were first in favour , are cast farthest behinde , and they must bee very active and industrious to recover themselves . but basilius by a strange dexterity , was instantly in the front of favourites , and , without any abatement , carryed it in as high a straine as ever before ; and , although ( being weary already ) i am loath to travell further into the reigne of this new emperour , to see in the sequell thereof what became of basilius at last ; yet , so farre as i can from the best chosen advantage discerne and discover his successe ; no signall punishment , aboue the ordinary standard of casualities , did befall him ; and , for ought appears to the contrary , hee dyed in his bed . . of such as seriously consider this accident , some perchance may bee so well stockt with charity , as to conceive , that hee repented of his former impiety ; and , thereupon , was pardoned by heaven , and came to a peaceable end . others may conceive , that as , when a whole forrest of trees is felled , some aged , eminent , oake , by the high-wayes side , may bee suffered to survive , as uselesse for timber , because decayed ; yet , usefull for a land-marke , for the direction of travellers ; for basilius being now aged , and past dangerous activity , was preserved for the information of posterity , and ( when all others were cut downe by cruell deaths , ) he left alone to instruct the insuing age of the tragicall passage which had happened in his remembrance . but the most solid , and judicious will expresse themselves in the language of the * apostle , some mens sinnes are open before-hand , going before to judgement , and some mens follow after . all notorious offenders are not publickly branded in the world with an infamous character of shame or paine : but some carrie their sinnes concealed , and receive the reward for them in another world . . it onely remaineth , that wee now give the personall dedescription of andronicus , so farre forth as it may be collected from the few extant authors which have written thereof . i. his stature . hee was higher then the ordinary sort of men . he was seven full feet in length ( if there be no mistake in the difference of the measure . ) and whereas , often the cock-loft is empty , in those which nature hath built many stories high ; his head was sufficiently stored with all abilities . ii. his temper . of a most healthfull constitution , of a lively colour , and vigorous limbes , so that he was used to say , that he could endure the violence of any disease for a twelve-month together by his sole naturall strength , without being beholding to art , or any assistance of physic . iii. his learning . hee had a quicke apprehension , and solid judgement , and was able on any emergent occasion , to speake rationally on any controversie in divinity . hee would not abide to heare any fundamentall point of religion brought into question ; insomuch , that when once two bishops began to contend about the meaning of that noted place , my father is greater than i am ; andronicus suspecting that they would fall foule upon the arrian heresie , vowed to throw them both into the river , except they would bee quiet , a way to quench the hottest disputation , by an in-artificiall answer , drawne from such authoritie . iiii. his wives . first , theodora commenia , daughter of isaacius sebabasto crator , his nearest kinswoman ; so that the marriage was most incestuous . the second , anna , daughter to the king of france : of whom , largely before . v. his lawfull issue , both by his first wife . iohn comnenius his eldest sonne . it seemes hee was much deformed , and his soule , as cruell , as his body , ugly . he assisted hagio christophorita-stephanus in the stifling of xene . manuel , his second sonne , of a most vertuous disposition . let those , that undertake the ensuing history , shew how both had their eyes bored out by isaacius . vi . his naturall issue . i meet with none of their names , and though hee lived wantonly with many harlots , and concubines : yet ( what a father observeth ) {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , many wives make few children . and it may be imputed to the providence of nature , that monsters ( such as andronicus ) in this particular , are happy that they are barren . vii . his buriall . by publike edict it was prohibited that any should bury his body ; however , some were found , who bestowed , though not a solemne grave , yet an obscure hole upon him , not out of pitty to him , but out of love to themselves ; except any will say , that his corps , by extraordinary stinch , provided its owne buriall , to avoyd a generall annoyance . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a e- * hest. . . * lul. . * gen. . . notes for div a e- an. dom. . an. dom. an. dom. an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . * {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. an. dom. an. dom. . an. dom. . n. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . * nicetas coniates in vita alexij numero . . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dow . . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lib. parag. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . * rom. . , . an. dom. . an dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . * revel. . verse . an. dom. . an. dom. . a drexeli us upon eternity , . consideration . p. an. dom. . * matt. . v. . * isai. . v. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . th . book . paragr. an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. . an. dom. * tim. . . an. dom. . a sermon of assurance foureteene yeares agoe preached in cambridge, since in other places. now by the importunity of friends exposed to publike view. by thomas fuller b.d. late lecturer in lombard street. fuller, thomas, - . this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text r in the english short title catalog (wing f ). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a wing f estc r this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a sermon of assurance foureteene yeares agoe preached in cambridge, since in other places. now by the importunity of friends exposed to publike view. by thomas fuller b.d. late lecturer in lombard street. fuller, thomas, - . [ ], , [ ] p. printed by j.d. for john williams at the signe of the crowne in pauls church-yard, london : . reproduction of the original in the bodleian library. eng assurance (theology) -- early works to . sermons, english -- th century. a r (wing f ). civilwar no a sermon of assurance. foureteene yeares agoe preached in cambridge, since in other places. now by the importunity of friends exposed to pub fuller, thomas f the rate of defects per , words puts this text in the f category of texts with or more defects per , words. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread - emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a sermon of assvrance . foureteene yeares agoe preached in cambridge , since in other places . now by the importunity of friends exposed to publike view . by thomas fuller b. d. late lecturer in lombard street . london , printed by j. d. for john williams at the signe of the crowne in pauls church-yard . . to the honovrable , and nobly accomplished knight , sir iohn danvers , all the blessings of this , and a better life . sir , wee read how zachariah being struck dumbe , called for table-bookes thereon to write his minde , making his hands to supply the defect of his mouth : it hath been the pleasure of the present authority ( to whose commands i humbly submit ) to make me mute , forbidding mee till further order the exercise of my publicke preaching , wherefore i am faine to imploy my fingers in writing , to make the best signes i can , thereby to expresse , as my desire to the generall good , so my particular gratitude to your honour . may this treatise but finde the same favour from your eie , as once it did from your eare , and be aswell accepted when read , as formerly when heard . and let this humble dedication be interpreted a weake acknowledgement of those strong obligations your bounty hath laid upon me . well may you taste the fruits of that tree , whose root your liberality hath preserved from whithering ▪ sir , these hard times have taught mee the art of frugality , to improve every thing to the best advantage ; by the same rules of thrift , this my dedication as returning thanks for your former favours , so begs the continuance of the same . and to end , as i began , with the example of zachariah , as his dumbnesse was but temporary ; so i hope by gods goodnesse , and the savour of my friends , amongst whom your honour stands in the highest ranke , the miracle may be wrought , that the dumbe may speake again , and as well by words publikely professe , as now by his hand , he subscribes himselfe , your servant in all christian office . thomas fuller . to the christian reader . i shall be short in my addresses unto thee ; not onely , because i know not thy disposition , being a stranger unto thee ; but chiefly , because i am ignorant of my owne present condition , remaining as yet , a stranger to my selfe were i restored to the free use of my function , i would then request , the concurrence of thy thankes with mine , to ●… gracious god the giver ▪ and honourable persons the dealers of this great favour unto me . were i finally interdicted my 〈◊〉 , without hope of recoverie , i would bespeake thy pitty to bemoane my estate . but lying as yet in the marshes betweene hope and feare , i am no fit subject to be condoled for , or congratulated with . yet it is , i trust ▪ no piece of popery to maintaine ; that the prayers of others may be beneficiall , and available for a person in my purgatorie condition . which moves me to cravethy christian suffrages , that i may be ridde out of my present torment , on such tearmes as may most tend to gods glory , mine owne good , and the edification of others . however matters shall succeede , it is no small comfort to my conscience , that in respect of my ministeriall function , i doe not die felo de se ; not stabbing my profession by mine own lazinesse , who hither to have , and hereafter shall improve my utmost endeavours , by any lawfull meanes to procure my restitution . when the priests would have carried the arke after david , david forbad them to goe further , if ( said hee ▪ i shall finde favour in the eyes of the lord , hee will bring mee againe , and sh●…w mee both it , and his habitation . but if he thus say , i have no delight in thee : behold here am i , let him doe to me , as seemeth good unto him ▪ some perchance would perswade me , to have the pulpit carried after me , along with me to my private lodgings , but hitherto i have refrained from such exercises , as subject to offence , hoping in due time to bee b●…ught backe to the pulpit , and endeavouring to compose my selfe to davids resolution . and if i should bee totally forbidden my function , this is my confidence , that , that great pasture of gods providence , whereon so many of my profession doe dayly feede , is not yet made so bare by their biting , but that , besides them and millions more , it may still comfortably maintaine , thy friend and servant in christ jesus . thomas fuller . a sermon of assvrance . peter . . give rather diligence to make your calling and election sure . mans life may not unfitly be compared to a candle . cu●…iosity may well be resembled to the thiefe in the candle , which makes men to spend much pretious ti●…e in needlesse disputes , the conclusions whereof are both uncertaine and unprofitable . the schoolemens bookes are stuffed with such questions , about the distances and dignities of angels , as if men were to marshall them in ranke and file , how that heavenly hoste doe march in glory one before another . when men heare improbable matters from farre countries related unto them , it is their usuall returne , it is better to beleeve them , then goe thither to confute them . but let us not credit many unlikely-hoods concerning angels , which the boldnesse of schoolmen have obtruded upon us , but rather labour in gods due time , to goe to heaven , there with our owne happy e●…perience to confute them . well it is said of socrates , that he was the first of the grecians , which humbled speculative into morall philosophy . how well would the paines of that minister be imployed , who should endeavour to bring downe and ab●…te many superfluous contemplative queries into practicall divinity . it were liberty enough if the sermons of all preachers were bound to keepe residence onely on such subjects , which all christians are bound to beleeve , and practice for their soules health ; amongst which the doctrine in my text , may justly challenge a principall part . when 〈◊〉 hea●…d but the mention of the name of boaz , the man , said * shee , is neere unto us , and of our affinity ; so no sooner doe you heare this text read unto you , give rather diligence to make your calling and election sure ; but every well affected heart is ready to claime blood and challenge right therein . questions about angels are neither kiffe nor kinne to my soule ; but this a precept of that consequence , of that concernment , we all ought to share a part and interest in the speedy and reall practice thereof . some difference there is betwixt us , and the romanists , in reading the text who following the vulgar latine , adde per bona opera ; make your calling and election sure by good workes . a clause altogether omitted in our english translations , because in the greeke nothing appeares answerable thereunto . good reason therefore , that we should correct the transcript by the originall , and purifie the streame to the clearenesse of the fountaine . god grant , that though on these just grounds we exclude good works , out of the text , wee may admit , embrace , and practice them in our lives and conversations . my text may not unfitly bee compared to ehuds dagger , short , but sharpe . and although now it be falne into a lame hand , ( the unworthynesse of the preacher in this place ) to manage it , yet inforced with the assistance of gods arme , it may prove able to give the deadly blow , to foure eglo●… sinnes , tyrannizing in too many mens hearts . . supine negligence in matters of salvation . . busie medling in other mens matters . . preposterous curiosity in unsearchable mysteries . . continuall wavering , or scepticalness concerning our calling and election . supine negligence is dispa●…ched in that word , give diligence . this grace of assurance is unattainabl●… by ease and idlenesse . busie medling in other mens matters is destroyed in the particl●…your e●…ch one ought principally to intend his owne assurance . prepost●…rous curiosity is stab●…ed with the order of the words , calling and election , not election and calling . men must fi●…t begin to assure their calling , and then 〈◊〉 , argue and inferre the assurance of th●…ir election . continuall wavering is wounded under the fifth ribbe , in the conclusion of my text , sure . wee will but touch at three first , and land at the last , as the chiefe subject of our ensuing discourse . this grace of assurance is not attainable with ease and idlenesse . christianity is a laborious profession . observe gods servants cleane through the scripture , resembled to men of painefull vocations : to racers , who must stretch every sinew to get first to the goale : to wrestlers , a troublesome emploiment ; so that i am unresolved whether to recount it amongst toiles , or exercises , ( at the best it is but a toilesome exercise . ) to souldiers , who are in constant service and dayly duty , alwaies on the guard against their enemies . besides , we ministers are compared to shepherds , a painefull and dangerous profession amongst the jewes ; to watchmen , which continually wake for the good of o●…hers : so that besides the difficulties of our christian calling , we are incumbred with others , which attend our ministeriall function . let none therefore conceit , that salvation with the graces accompaning it ( whereof this assurance we treat of is a principall ) is to be compassed with facility , without constant care and endeavour to obtaine it . how easily was the man in the gospell let downe to our saviour in the house , whilst foure men for him uncovering the roofe thereof , let him downe with cords lying quietly on his couch ? some may suppose that with as little hardship they may bee lifted up to heaven , and that whilest they lazily lye snorting on their beds of security , ( never mortifying their lusts , never striving for grace , never strugling against their corruptions ) they shall bee drawne up to happinesse , or it let down to them , merely by the cords of gods mercy , and christs merits . such men without amendment will one day finde themselves dangerously deceived , and that it is a laborious taske , to gaine either the surenesse , or assurance of salvation , wherein , according to the apostles prescription , wee must give diligence . to make your [ each christian is principally to endeavour the assurance of his owne calling and election . ] indeed it were to be wished , that parents , besides themselves , were assured of the true sanctity ( so by consequence of their calling and election ) of themselves multiplied , the children god hath given them , of the second part of their selves lying in their bosome , their wives , of t●…ue grace in their friends and family . how comfortable were it , if ministers were ascertained of true grace and pietie in the breasts and bosomes of the people committed to their charge . but the best way to passe a rationall verdict , on the sincerity of sanctity in another , is first to finde an experimentall evidence thereof in ones own heart . a phylosopher complained , that it was an exceeding hard thing to finde a wise man ; true , said another , for he must bee a wise man that seekes him , and knowes when he hath found him ; and hence ariseth the difficulty , because two wise men in effect must meet together , the seeker , and the finder . it is a hard thing in like manner to bee assured of unfained faith , and undissembled devotion in another mans heart . because first , that party must have a feeling of the operation of grace in his owne soule ( otherwise blinde men are incompetent judges of colours ) before he can make his presumptions of holinesse in another , from those sacred symptomes and fruits of piety , which he findes in his owne conscience . let it therefore be every mans maine worke , first to make a scrutiny in his owne soule , to make his own calling and election sure . how contrary is this to the common practice of most in the world ? it is a tale of the wandring jew , but it is too much truth of too many wandring christians : whose home is alwaies to bee abroad , professours in spirituall palmestry , who will undertake to read the life-line , the line of eternall life in the hands of mens soules , though for all their ●…kill , they often mistake the hands of esau for the hands of jacob , approving many hypocrites for their holinesse and condemning sincere soules for counterfeits and dissemblers . calling and election [ men are not to lanch into the depths of predestination at the first dash , but first soberly to begin with their calling or vocation . ] surely the very angells which climbed up the ladder in jacobs * dreame did first begin at the last and lowest round . first looke to finde thy justification , and sanctification , then thy adoption and vocation , lastly thy election and predestination . but alasse , as the hebrews read their letters backward : so it is to be feared that too many preposterously invert the order of my text , and instead of calling and election , read election and calling , first grasping at those mysteries ( both in their practise and discourse ) which are above their reach , as if their soules feared to be ●…unne a-ground , if sailing in the shallows of faith and good workes , they never count themselves safe , but when adventuring in those secrets wherein they can finde no bottome . we are now come to the youngest part in the text , to which we intend a benjamin's portion . b●…ing to discourse of the certainty of calling and election , not in respect of gods predestination , it being from all eternity sure in him , * from the beginning of the world god knoweth all his workes , but in reference to man's apprehension , concerning the assurance thereof . and now least our discourse like * jordan in the first moneth should over-flow , wee will raise these bankes to bridle it , and consider ; . that assurance of calling and election is feasible in this life-to be attain'd . . what this assur●…nce is . . how a christian buckleth and applieth it to his soule ? . wee will satisfie some doubts and difficulties in this behalfe . . wee will conclude with comfortatable uses to all sorts of christians . of the first . that assurance of ones calling and election may , without any miraculous revelation , be in this life acquired , appeareth plaine in the text ; because the apostle in the simplicity of the dove-like spirit exhort's us to the attaining thereof . now surely it had been no better than holy fraud , ( which heaven hath a pillorie to punish ) to put men upon a labour in vaine , to seeke that which is not to be found . thinke not therefore that the assurance of calling and election is like the philosophers stone , which so many have searched for , yet all have lost their estates , before they could find it out ; but no doubt by god's blessing it is in this world attainable . and yet the papists maintaine , that whilest wee live in this world , and saile in our desires and affections to the rich indies of heaven and happinesse , no further land is discoverable beyond the cape of good hope , and that it is arrogancy and presumption ( without an immediate expresse by revelation from heaven ) for any to conceive himself assured of his salvation . for the second , this assurance of ones calling and election is a [ sepa●…able ] fruit or effect , not of every true , but only of some strong paiths , whereby the party is perswaded , of the certainty of his calling and election . i say separable , to manifest my dissenting from such worthy divines , who make this assurance to bee the very being , essence , life , soule , and formality of faith itself . whence these two opinions as false , as dangerous , must of necessity bee inferred . first , that every one who hath true faith , and are eternally to bee saved , have alwaies some measure of this assurance : secondly , that such , who are devoid of this assurance , are likewise deprived of all sincere faith for the present . but god forbid any preacher should deliver doctrines so destructive to christian comfort on the one side , and advantagious to spirituall pride on the other . such will prove carnificinae , the ra●…ks and tortures of tender consciences . and as the * carelesse mother kill'd her little childe , for she overlaid it ; so the weight of this heavie doct●…in , would presse many poore , but pious soul●…s ; many faint , but feeble infant-faiths to the pit of despaire , exacting and extorting from them more than god requires , that every faith should have assurance with it , or else be uneffectuall to salvation . no , the formality of faith , consists in mans renouncing and disclaiming all sufficiencie in himselfe , casting , rolling , and relying his soule totally and entirely on the mercies of god , and merits of christ , though not assured sometimes of the certainty of his salvation . like a man in a tempest cast out of the ship , and lying on a planke or board , placeth-all his humane hopes on that planke or board , thereby to escape drowning , though he have no certainty , that the same shall bring him safe to the shore . as for those reverend divines who have written and maintained the contrary , that assurance is the very soule of faith , and faith dead and uselesse without it ; far be it from me , because dissenting from thei●… opinions , to raile on their persons , and wound the memories of those which are dead with opprobrious termes ▪ rather let us thank god for their learned and religious writings left behinde them , knowing , that the head of the knowledge of this age , stands on the shoulders of the former , and their very errors have advantaged us into a clearer discovery of the truth in this particular . in the next place ; a christian thus collecteth this assurance of his calling and election , by composing this practicall ●…yllogisme in his soule . the major . he that truely repenteth himselfe of his sinnes , and relyeth with a true faith on god in christ , is surely called , and by consequence elected before all eternity to be a vessell of honour . the minor . but i truely repent my selfe of my sinnes , and rely with a true faith on god in christ . the conclusion . therefore i am truly called and elected , &c. the major is the sense of the scripture in severall places , the very effect of gods promises , and the generall scope of the gospell : so that if satan should be so impudent , as to deny the truth of this proposition , he may be beaten with that weapon , whereat once he challenged our saviour , it is written . all the difficulty is in the minor . happy that man , blessed that woman , who without self-delusion , without flattering their owne soules , can seriously make this assumption , but i , &c. for such i dare be bold to make the conclusion , yea it makes it selfe for them , without my assistance . but alasse ! many out of fearefulnesse dare not make this minor , concerning this assumption to bee presumption in them . and although , they might truely doe it ( being in a better condition then they conceive themselves ) yet overwhelmed with the sense of their sinnes and gods severity , they assume the contrary , and poore soules , often apprehend and conclude their owne damnation in their wounded consciences : whereas others with a more dangerous mistake of common illuminations , for discrim●…nating grace , falsely make the minor and causelesly inferre , their blessed condition , without just ground for the same . such few as goe rightly to worke doe produce these three witnesses , to assert the truth of this minor proposition . first , the testimony of their conscience , that atturney generall to the king of heaven , whose yea or nay , ought to bee more with us then all the oa●…hes in the world beside . one knoweth whom it is that he loveth , and whom he loveth not , whom it is he trusteth , and whom he trusteth not , and in like manner his conscience tells him , whether he doth , or doth not truely repent , whether seemingly , or sincerely he casteth himselfe on god in christ . secondly , the witnesse of the holy spirit in their hearts , * which beareth witnesse with their spirit , that they are the children of god . now wee must with sorrow confesse , that this doctrine of the spirit dwelling in the heart of gods servants is much discountenanced of late , and the devill thereupon hath improved his owne interest . to speake plainely , it is not the fiercenesse of the lion , nor the fraud of the fox , but the mimicalnesse of the ape , which in our age hath discredited the undoubted truth . but what if the apes in india finding a glow-worme , mistooke it to be true fire , and heaping much combustible matter about it , hoped by their blowing of it , thence to kindle a flame ; i say , what if that animal {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} that mirth ▪ making creature , deceived it ●…elfe , doth it thence follow ●…hat there is no true fire at all ? and what if some phanaticall anabaptists , by u●…urpation have intitled their braine-sicke fanc●…es , to be so many illuminations of the spiri●… , must we presently turne * sadduces in this point , and deny that there is any spirit at all ? god forbid . we confesse the apostles in the primitive church were our elder bretheren , and wi●…h isaac carri●…d away the inheritance of the spirit in so great a proportion , as to be enabled thereby to miraculous operations ; yet so , that wee , ( though the yonger bretheren ) the sonnes of keturah , have rich and precious gifts of the spirit bestowed upon us , which at sometime or other , in a higher or lower degree sweetly move the soule of all gods servants , and in many of them , testifie the truth of that minor proposition , namely the sincerity of their faith and repentance . the third and last witnesse we will insist on , is that comfort and contentment , the conscience of the party tak●…s in doing good works , and bringing forth the fruits of new obedience . that though hee knowes his best good works are stained with corruptio●…s and many imperfections , yet because they are the end of his vocation , and the justifiers of his faith ; because thereby the gos●…ell is graced , wicked men amazed , some of them converted , the rest confounded , weake christians confirmed , the poore relieved , devils r●…pining at them , angels rejoycing for them , god himselfe glorified by them , i say , ▪ because of these and other reasons , he doth good deeds with h●…mility and cheerefulnesse , and findeth a singular joy in his soule resulting from the doing thereof . this joy is an excellent witnesse to depose the truth of his faith and repentance , and to confirme the minor in the former syllogisme . see here though good works on just ground were excluded our text , yet in due time and their proper places wee have entertained them in our sermon . if good workes offer to crowd into our justification , let us be so bold as to shut the doore against them . but if wee have any to come i●…to our sanctification , thereby also to ave●…re and attest the truth of our faith and repentance ; let us say to them as laban to jacob , why stand yee without come in yee blessed of the lord . and this joy conceived from the good workes men doe , is the more pure the more private , the more sincere , the more secretly it is carried . i shall ever commend the modesty of elisabeth : who a●…ter long barrennesse finding her self with child did not publish her happinesse to the veiw of the world , but hid her self three ●…oneths . if after too long sterility in goodnesse , thou perceivest thy self at last by god's grace pregnant in pious workes , vent not thy good successe in the market-place , doe not boast and bragge thereof in discourse to others , but bee contented to enjoy the solid comfort thereof betwixt god and thy owne conscience . so●… much for the th●…ee witnesses to confirme the truth of the minor . all that i shall adde is this ; let us who are or should bee schollars take heed , whom our parents or friends have bred at the fountaines of learning and religion , till our portions are almost shrunke into our education . let us take heed , least silly simple p●…ople , who never read aristotle's organon , never knew how to mould argument in mood and figure , make this syllogisme true in their hearts , by their supernaturall logicke ; whilest we , with all our wit and 〈◊〉 learning , make at the best but a soloecisme , a●…d thereby put a dangerous fallacy upon our owne soules . but heere wee must propound and answer some objections , the resolution whereof may tend both to our instruction and comfort ; the first is this , whether all the servants of god now living , and in the state of grace , are for the present assured of their calling and election ; so that if instantly arrested to pay their debt to nature , they are as confident of their souls mounting up to heaven and happinesse , as of their bodies falling downe to dust and corruption . wee divide the congregation of god's servants now surviving into rankes ; first * mnasons old disciples , seniour pro●…essors of 〈◊〉 . * hannah's which have lived many yeares in the temple , serving god with ●…asting and prayers night and day . these by frequent acts , have contracted a habit of piety , g●…ace by custome is made another nature unto them , especially towards the latter end of their liues ; partly because their soules do steale a glymps , glance , or pisgah-sight of heaven , through the clefts and chinkes of their age , or sicknesse-broken-bodies ; and partly because , as all motion is swiftest the neerest it comes to the center : so they , the neerer they draw by dea●…h to heaven , god's spir●…t and all goodnesse groweth more quick and active in them . of t●…ese wee say that it is often observed , god deales so graciously with th●…m , as to crowne their endeavors with an assurance of salvation . to such i may adde those whom i may call young-old-christians , whose profession of christ , though short , hath beene thick ; though young in yeares , yet they have not onely done , but suffered for christ . religion hath cost them deare , they have not only been summered but wintered in piety , have not onely passed prosperity , but have been acquainted with adversity therein . great travelors in christianity , which have cut the line , and have passed the torrid zone of persecution , and which is more , of a wounded conscience . these also god may admit into the former forme , and out of his undeserved mercy reward them with the assurance of their salvation . but all starres which sh●…ne in heaven are not of the first greatnesse , neither are all of david's worthies to bee equalled with the first three . other christians there are ( who in god's due time may mate the former both in grace and glory ) punies in piety , novices in religion : of such , i say , not one of a hundred ( whatsoever they may erroneously pretend to the contrary ) are assured of their calling and ele●…tion . if further it be demanded , whether every saint of god belonging to election , hath not at one time or other in his life or at his death , this assurance conveyed into his soule , i must confesse that he●…rein , the streames of learned mens judgements , runn●… not onely in different , but contra●…y channells . some are of opinion that god is so gracious , and magnifies his mercy so much in his proceedings towards his ●…ervants , that the very meanest in the family of faith , have some proportion of this assurance , conferred upon them during their abode in this life . other divines , no 〈◊〉 inferiour to the former in number , learning , religion , and christian experience , main●…aine the opposite opinion : that god sometimes is so pleased , to try the patience , and humble the hearts of some of his servants , that a continuall feare , is a constant covering of their eyes , they goe heavily all the day long , never daring for feare of presumption , to owne and acknowledge any grace in their hearts , alwai ●…jealous of their owne condition , and sadly suspitious of themselves , least all their 〈◊〉 prove hypoc●…isie , and their piety be more in pro●…ession then 〈◊〉 . those may be 〈◊〉 ●…nto children in their mothers belly , which have true life in them , and yet themselves doe not know that they live . for my owne part , i conceive this controversie can onely bee decided betwixt god , and a mans owne conscience : no third person can be privie to the secret transactions betwixt them . the last of these two opinions ( so farre as one may conjecture ) hath most of charity , and not the least of truth in it . i am perswaded that many a pious soule dying in the fit of a t●…mptation , hath instantly expected to sinke from his death-bed into hell-fire , when the same by gods goodnesse hath beene countermanded a contrary way , and sent to blisse and happinesse ; yea , it is more then probable , that many sad and affli●…ted spirits , have beene possessed of glory in heaven , before they durst ever owne that themselves had any true grace on earth . the next question which comes to be resolved , is , whether this assurance once possessed , may not afterwards be forfeited . here the controversie is not , whether once the childe of god , may relapse into the state of damnation , totally and finally losing all saving grace in his heart , ( which desperate position cuts asunder the sinewes of all gospelcomfort ) but it is onely enquired into , whether the apprehension or assurance of his calling may not in some cases be lost . wherein our answer is affirmative , and this usually comes to passe on these two sad occasions . first , when the party commits some conscience-wasting sinne , such as tertullian tearmes , peccatum devoratorium salutis ; and continu●…s in the same some season without repentance . indeed every surreptitious sinne , or sinne of infirmity , and especially a complication of many of them together , have a good minde to destroy this assurance ; but it is seldome seene , that their strength is so great , ( though they frequently fret and dayly nibble at the cordes of our assurance ) as to share or grind them asunder , a thing usually done by the committing of high and heinous offences . there is a whirlewinde in the west-indies , called a herricane , which comes but seldome , and yet too often . for then rasor-like it shaves downe all levell and flat before it , trees , and townes , and towres , in a word , it is as wild and savage as the natives of the countrey . no lesse the impetuous violence and cruelty of a conscience-wasting-sinne : such as lots●…ncest , davids adultery , peters deni●…ll , when they come , they make a depopulation of all graces formerly planted in the soule ; maiming the hand of faith , breaking the anchor of hope , quenching the heate of charity ▪ darkning the light of knowledge , and totally taking away for a time , the comfortable apprehension of gods love to them , and their calling to god . this made david petition to god , restore to me the joy of thy salvation , wherein three things are implied . first , that once he did possesse that joy , restore it . secondly , that now hee had lost it , restore it ; lastly , that the losse thereof was not so desperate , but with hope by true sorrow , to recover this joy . restore to me the joy of thy salvation . the second way to lose this assurance , is by suffering some great affliction , above the standard and proportion of ordinary crosses ; seemingly of a sadder hue , and blacker complexion then what usually b●…fall other christians . in such a case a sorrowfull soule , is ready thus to reason with it selfe . once i conceived my sel●…e in a happy condition , thinking my selfe estated in the favour of god , truely called , and by consequence truely elected to grace here , and glory hereafter . but now alasse , i pe●…ceive my selfe utterly mistaken . i built my hopes on a false bottome ; i am but a meere formalist , a pretender to piety , yea a reprobate and cast-away , otherwise god would never afflict me in this fashion , with such hideous and horrible crosses , dolefull tribulations , dismall temptations , so that the brimstone of hell-fire may plainely bee sented therein . thus holy job , when god discharged whole volleys of chaine-shot of afflictions against him , one drew on another , we find him sometimes venting expression , rankly savouring of despaire , and no wonder if hee began to stagger who had drunke so deepely of the bitter cuppes . and now conceiving our selves in some measure to haue satisfied the most important practicall queries wherewith this doctrine of assurance is incumbred , we come to make some profitable application . the gr●…cians had a threefold song , the old men sung , we have beene , the middle aged men we are , the young men , we shall be . this song will serve to divide my auditors at this time . some sing we have beene . there was a happy time wherein wee were ascertained of our c●…lling and election ; but now , alasse poore soules i have lost it . others sing wee are for the present in the peacible poss●…ssi●…n of such assurance . others ●…g wee shall bee in god's due time , when his goodnesse and wisedome seeth fit , such an happinesse shall bee bestowed upon us . wee begin with the first that sing , wee have beene ▪ o that it were in my power as well to help as to pitty you , to amend as to bemoane your condition ! it is the greatest misery , that one hath once beene happy . all your song is a burthen . the best advice i can prescribe unto you is this ; seriously consider with your selves which way you lost this assurance of your salvation was it by committing a conscience-wasting-sinne ? no divine can commend unto you better or other physick , than onely * remember from whence thou art fallen , and repent and doe thy first workes . and although it may please god in his mercy to forgive thy dayly-imperfections and manifold infirmities , on thy generall repentance and quotidian p●…ayer , and forgive us our trespasses , yet the most comfortable course and surest way to obtaine peace of conscience after the committing of an hainous offence , is by particular humiliation for it , without which serious sorrow , solide comfort is either never given , or not long enjoyed . but if thou hast forfeited thy former assurance , thorough the pressure of some heavy affliction , learne and labour to rectifie thy erronious judgement , who from the premises haply of god's love , at the worst of his anger , hath falsely inferred a conclusion of his hatred against thee . ●…nsider how god corrects those whom hee loves most , to the intent that all grace may bee encreased and improved in them . passing by on a night in the streets , i met a youth h●…ving a lighted linke in his hands , who was offended thereat , because it burnt so da●…k and dimme , and therefore the better to improve the light thereof , he beat , bruised , and battered it against the wall , that the wicke therein might be sp●…ead out , and the pitch with other comb●…stible matter , ( which before stifled the light with its overstiffnesse ) might be loosened , which presently caused the linke to blaze forth into a lighter flame . god in like manner deales with thy soul ; that thou mayest shine the brighter before men , hee doth buffet and afflict thee with severall temptations , which give thee occasio●…s to exercise thy graces which lay hid in prosperity . such corrections will in conclusion , greatly adde to thy spirituall light and lustre . apply these and the like consolations to thy soule , and remember what david saith , heavinesse may endure for a night , but joy cometh in the morning . yea but you will say , my night of sorrow , is like the nights in greene-land , which last full four moneths together . a long night i must confesse , but day will dawne at the last , and last the longer for it . come we now to those that sing wee are , who doe not boast ( that is a bad signe ) but rejoyce , that for the present they are possessed of this assurance . and is it so indeed ? and doest thou not deceive thy selfe , beholding thy condition through a fl●…ttering glasse or false spectacles ? well if thou affirmest it , i dare not deny it . it were no manners nor charity in mee to give thy beliefe the lie ; and therefore what you say of your selves , i give credite thereunto . onely let me stay a little and congratulate your happy estate . good successe have you with your honour . god hath not dealt thus with every one , neither have all his servants so large a proportion of his favour . and now i will take the boldnesse to commend some counsell unto you . in the first place be thankefull to god f●…r this great courtesie conferred upon thee , and know , that all heavenly gifts as they are got by prayer , are kept , confirmed , and increased by praises . secondly , take heed of insulting over such as want this assurance : upbraid not them with their sad condition . say not unto them , i am certaine of my calling and election , ergo , i am a saint , a chosen vessell , eternally to bee sav●…d ; th●…u lackest this certainty , therefore art a reprobate , a cast away , a fire-brand of hell , eternally to bee damned . is this the expression of thy gratitude to god , proudly to trample on his servants , and thy brethren ? it is hard to say , whether that thy inference hath more of profanenesse , or falsehood in it . if a favou●…ite to a great emperour should say , [ all that are not in as high esteeme and credit with the emperour as my selfe , are so many traitours . ] would not this be accounted not only , a vaine-glorious expression , but injurious , both to his soveraigne and fellow-subjects ? how many thousands of them , would be willing , yea desirous to adventure their lives , in a lawfull cause for their emperours honour , who not withstanding never had the favour , to bee personably known unto him , much lesse to be 〈◊〉 by him to places of eminent trust and command . and may not many be presumed on , as cordially affected to gods glory , which from their hearts love and ●…onour both him and his , compleatly loyall to his heavenly majesty , who have not as yet been advanced so high , and ingratiated so farre with him , as to receive the assurance of their calling and election ? thirdly , walke humbly before god , and know that this assurance hath a narrow throate , and may be choaked with a small sinne , if god leave thee to thy selfe . there be two kindes of poyson , the one hot , the other cold . hot poyson makes speedy dispatch , it sends men post to their graves ; cold poyson is not so active and operative , it kills but at distance , and if in any reasonable time it meets with a seasonable antidote , the malignity thereof may be prevented , yea perchance without an antidote , if falling upon a strong and sturdy constitution , may be mastered by natures own cordiall ; not finally to destroy , but onely to stupifie and benumme . presumption is hot poyson , it kills its thousands , makes quick riddance of mens soules to 〈◊〉 . despaire , wee confesse , is poyson , and hath kill'd its thousands , but the venome there of is more curable , as more colde and faint in the operation thereof . take heede therefore of presumption , lest the confidence of the assurance of thy calling betray thee to spirituall pride , that to security , that to destruction . her●… take notice that ●…he soule of a saint consists o●… sacred riddles , and holy contradictions : rejoyce ( saith * david ) before him with trembling ▪ if rejoying how can hee tremble , if trembling how can hee rejoyce ? oh that is an unhappy soule which cannot find an expedient betwixt these 〈◊〉 ! that cannot accommodate these seeming contrarieties : rejoycing , when he lookes on a gracious god , trembling , when he beholds a sinfull selfe : rejoycing , when looking upward on gods 〈◊〉 , trembling , when looking downwards on his deserts . ever triumphing , that hee shall be saved , and evertrembling lest he should be damned ; ever certaine that he shall stand , and ever c●…refull least he should fall . tantus est gradus certitudinis , ( suith saint augustine ) quantus est gradus sollicitudinis . he that hath much seare to of●…end god , hath much certainty to continue in his favour : he that feares little , hath little certainty ; and h●… that is altogether fearelesse , whatsoever he proudly 〈◊〉 to the contrary , hath no assurance at all to persevere in gods favour . wee may observe that such as have the shaking palsie in their heads , live to be very aged men : sure i am , that such as have a fil●…all feare to incurre their heavenly fathers displeasure , hold out to the last , even to that life which hath no end . the heavens themselves are said to have m●…tum trepidationis , and the best and most spirituall servants of god , constantly feele such trembling fits in their owne souls . in a word , assurance to persevere is a sparkle of heavenly fire , fed with the dayly tinder of feare to offend god . nor let any confidently presume on the mysterie of predestination , ( which like the lawes of the medes and persians cannot be repealed ) thereon to sinne with indempnity , because once and ever gods servant , and no feare finally to fall from him . for , besides other answers to quell●… their pride , let such seriously consider but this particular instance . god granted hezekiah a lease●… of his life for fifteen yeares longer , and it was impossible for him to dye till that tearme was expired ; so that had hezekiah fed on toades and vipers , on the most noxious food for mans nature , he was notwithstanding immortall during the time prefixt ; because truth it selfe had promised it . however if hezekiah proved carelesse in his diet , though certaine of his life , he had no assurance of his health for that season . his intemperance might draw sicknesse on him , so that hee might lose the li●…e of his life , his liberty of walking abroad , comfort in conversing with company , pleasure in tasting his meate and drinke , to be kept constant prisoner on his bed , a languishing as bad as death it selfe . grant in like manner , that predestination priviledgeth thee from finall apostacie , yet if carelesse to keepe gods commandements , thou maist forfeit all thy spirituall comfort , the joy of thy salvation , have a hell on earth in thy conscience , having in thy apprehension all the beames of gods favour ecclipsed , one glimps thereof a servant of god prizeth above millions of worlds . we come now to these that sing , we shall be . it is ( say they ) not onely vaine but wicked to seeke to bett●…r our conditions by telling a lie . wee should wrong god and our owne consciences to affirme that for the present this assurance is conferred upon us ; but are not in despaire in due time from god's mercy to receive it . some counsels i have to recommend unto them . first doe not envie and repine at their happines , to whom this favour is already confirmed , but because god hath lov'd and honour'd them so much , doe thou love and honour them the more , and doe desire and endeavour to bee added to their society . secondly know to thy comfort that were it not more for god's glory , and thy good , this assurance had long since been bestowed upon thee . and for severall reasons it is hitherto detained . . perchance because as yet th●…u hast not fervently sued to god for it . thy affections are gold weights , not zealously engaged in the desire thereof . thou seemest indifferent and unconcern'd , whether thou receivest this assurance or no . now god sets such an estimate and valuation on this assurance , as a grand gift , and favour of the first magnitude , that he will have it sought , and searched , and sued , and prayed ; and pressed for , with holy constancy , and restlesse importunity before hee will grant it . hannah called her sonne , * samuel , for ( said shee ) i have asked him of the lord . every good thing , temporall , spirituall , inward , outward , every particular grace must be a samuel , craved , and requested of god before the fruition thereof can be sweet to our soules , or comfortable to our consciences ▪ to have a favour , before we have requested it , is the ready way to lose it , before wee know the true worth and value thereof . . perchance god as , yet with-holds this assurance from thee , with intent to render it more acceptable when it is bestowed . never had isaac beene so welcome to sarah , but because long barrennesse , and expectation , had set so sharpe an edge on her affection . . it may be god in his providence foresees , should this assurance be bestowed upon thee , thou would'st play the unthrift and ill husband therewith : and therefore god still keeps it in his own hand , untill thou beest more wise and better able to manage and imploy it . the * prodigall sonne having received his portion from his father , riotously spe●…t it amongst harlots ; the same may be suspe●…d by thee , and therefore as carefull parents , jealous of their sonnes thriftinesse , will not deliver unto them all their meanes at once , but rather confine them for some yeares to a small pension and moderate annuitie , intending to open their hands , and enlarge their bounty , when they see cause ; god in like manner will not intrust thee with the grosse summe of thy assurance to be paid thee all at once , ●…ut r●…taile it out unto thee , by degrees more or lesse ; now a scruple , now a dramme thereof . and when thou shalt give good evidence of thy christian prudence to husband and imp●…ove it , the remnant of this assurance shall wholly be made over unto thee . thirdly , wait and attend the time of god . o tarry the lords leasi●…e ( when he will be , he can bee at leasure ) who in the most fittest minute and moment will confi●…me this long expected assurance unto thee . know this that all the weights and and plu●…mets of humane importunity , cannot make the clock of gods time st●…ike a minute sooner then he hath set it . no doubt the virgi●…mary shared the greatest interest in our saviour according to the flesh , to obtaine a reasonable request of him , and yet could not prevaile for the working of a miracle before his * ho●…re was fully come . wherefore be thou not like to hophni and phi●…eas the priests , who contrary to gods institution , when any man offered a sacrifice , used to send a servant whilest the flesh was ●…ing , with a * flesh ▪ hooke of three te●…eh in his hand , who thrusting it into the kettle , tooke or his masters part , whatsoever the flesh-hooke brought up ; and if any advised him to stay till the fat was bu●…nt , according to the custome un der the law , hee presently proved impatient , would have no sodden flesh but raw , which if not instantly given him , he would take it by force . now such are the ravenous appetites , and voracious stomacks of many men , that when they propound any thing to their desires , they will not stay till god hath fitted it for them ; but by hooke or by crooke , by any sinister or indirect meanes they will compasse their ends . such will feed on raw meat ( as if the heat of their ardent desires would rost it enough for themselves ) morsels which perchance sometimes would be pleasant for the palate to taste , but never wholesome for the stomacke to digest . these are not pleased , though having what they please , if not also when they please : be not thou of their diet ; know such raw meat will occasion crudities in thy stomacke . quietly attend till god hath cooked thy meat for thee : thinke not in vaine to antidate , his time is the best time . know that generally the watches of our desores goe too fast ; and therefore to set them right , they must be set backe according to the sunne-dyall of gods pleasure . wherefo●…e without any murmuring or repining , doe thou willingly and cheerefully waite the happy time , when god shall bee pleased to bestow this assurance upon thee . to conclude with the time ; the schoolemen have a distinction of a two-fold certainety of salvation ; the one evidentiae , the other adhaerentiae : the former is when one evidently and clearely apprehends gods favour seal'd unto him by his spirit . this hitherto thou lackest , but dost diligently labour , dayly pray , and duely waite to receive it . the latter of adherence or recumbencie , all true christians ought ever to bee possessed off , which hope for any happynesse . namely when a man casteth himselfe wholly upon christ , clinging about him with jobs resolution , though thou killest mee , yet will i put my trust in thee . till we gaine the latter , let us make much of the former , having as much safety , though not so much solace in it ; and which will with as much certainety , though not so much comfort , through gods mercy , bring our soules to heaven and happinesse . amen . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a e- * ruth . . . * gen. . . * ac●… . . * chro : . . * king. . * rom. . . * acts . . object . * acts . answ. * luke . ●… . * revel. . . 〈◊〉 * psal. . . * sam. , . * l●…e ●… . * john . . * ●… sam. . a pisgah-sight of palestine and the confines thereof with the history of the old and new testament acted thereon / by thomas fuller ... fuller, thomas, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing f estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a pisgah-sight of palestine and the confines thereof with the history of the old and new testament acted thereon / by thomas fuller ... fuller, thomas, - . [ ], [i.e. ], [ ], , [ ] p. : maps, plans. printed by j. f. for john williams ..., london : . added t.p., engraved. reproduction of original in huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng temple of jerusalem (jerusalem) bible -- geography. bible -- history of biblical events. jews -- history. palestine -- historical geography. jerusalem -- description and travel. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - judith siefring sampled and proofread - judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion lector , scias faetum hunc nostrum in ipso partu prie dolore nimio ( sumptum putà immodicum ) expiraturū fuisse , si maecenalū aliquot inanus benevolae com̄ode conatibus nostris non obstetricas-sent a pisgah-sight of palestine and the confines thereof , with the historie of the old and new testament acted thereon . by thomas fuller b. d. gen. . . take of ye. best fruits in the land in your vessels , and carry downe the man a present , a little balm , and a little honey , spices and myrrhe , nuts and almonds . ierem. . . yea , the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times , and the turtle , and the crane , and the swallow observe the time of their coming , but my people know not the iudgment of the lord. votum authoris terrestres solymas mihi quiscrípsisse de disti , coelestes tandem d●s habitare , devs . printed by m. f for williams at the crowne in● st paules churchyard a pisgah-sight of palestine and the confines thereof , with the history of the old and new testament acted thereon . by thomas fvller b. d. gen. . . take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels , and carry down the man a present , a little balm , and a little honey , spices and myrrhe , nuts and almonds . jer . . . yea , the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times , and the turtle , and the crane , and the swallow observe the time of their coming ; but my people know not the judgment of the lord. london , printed by i. f. for iohn williams at the signe of the crown in pauls church-yard . mdcl . to the right honourable esme stuart , earl of march , and darneley , lord leighton &c. son and heir to the illustrious james duke of richmond and lennox . my lord , consulting with my self about a patron for this book , i concluded to make choice of such a person as should be both of most noble extraction , and of spotless innocency : so that in this captious age , none should presume to charge him with the least offence in thought , word , or deed . for justly fearing too many faults might be found in the book it self , i desired to make some amends by dedicating it to one free from all exception . your honour is the first in our nobility , whom i finde qualified according to my desire ; descended from the best houses in england , scotland , and france . and as it happeneth in a constellation , that the lustre thereof , amounting from many stars together , darkeneth the light of those particulars , which produced it : so in your honours pedegree , the collective splendour obscureth the distinct brightness of those severall families whence the same resulteth . now that your honour cannot be taxed with any actuall offence , your tender moneths not as yet compleating a year ; do sufficiently evidence . whose innocence is the most entire relique of our primitive integrity ; and most perfect pattern of our future felicity . yea some admiring what motives to mirth infants meet with in their silent and solitary smiles , have resolved ( how truely i know not ) that then they converse with angels , as indeed such cannot amongst mortals finde any fitter companions . one , or more of these three main ends are aimed at by authors in all ingenuous dedications ; hope to receive protection ; desire to derive instruction ; and zeal to express affection . for the first , though you cannot by your power , yet you may by your innocence be an excellent patron to protect our ensuing work. in these civill wars , some have saved themselves from the sword , with no other shield then bearing a babe in their armes , which rebated their enemies fury into compassion . so , when some shall be ready to wound our book with their censuring darts , they will be mollified into mercy finding your innocent name prefixed in the front thereof . as for deriving instruction , i confess your honour as yet incapable thereof . but seeing infants clothes are providently made with the biggest , to which they will grow up in process of time ; why may not books ( the clothes of the minde ) be proportioned above their present capacity , in hope they will seasonably shoot up to the understanding thereof ? and untill such time as your lordships judgment can reap profit from our descriptions herein , may your eyes but take pleasure in the maps which here are presented unto you . but the last , not least consideration in my choice of your honour , is my ambition to tender my humble service thereunto ; the rather because esme * your auspicious name promiseth , in my apprehension , some good success , now at the third return , as long since at the first imposing thereof on your ancestour . for esme lord aulbigney ( a place of great priviledges in the province of berry , first by the king of france bestowed on [ and still possessed by ] your family , in reward of their signal service to that crown ) about two hundred years since proved the happy reviver of your family almost extinguished for want of a heir , and by his virtuous demeanour added much honour thereunto . the same name now returns on your lordship , who found your fathers house in point of posterity in as low a condition . indeed your grandfather left a numerous off-spring , whom i may fitly compare to the many strings of some musicall instrument . but amongst his male-issue ( for the rest i pass by as silent strings , sending no sounds to posterity , but losing their own surnames in their matches ) one was soon fretted in pieces with sickness ; three more , cut off in these wars ; one absent beyond the seas , and not easily to be tuned to a married estate ; and the other single string remaining [ his grace your father ] left altogether issueless untill your lordships welcome nativity . but o! what melody can heavens hand make on a monochord ? which since hath sent your lordship on a good message i hope , to the honest house of lennox . but i grow tedious in a long letter to a little lord , and therefore turn my pen into prayers , that christ would be pleased to take you up into his armes , ( whose embraces are the best swadling-clothes , as to streighten , so to strengthen you in the growth of grace ) to lay * his hands upon you and bless you , that you may grow in stature and favour with god and with man ; the daily desire of your lordships humble oratour tho. fuller . waltham abbey iuly . . to the reader . when iacob had served laban full seven years for his daughter rachel , and now promised himself the possession of what he had long looked and much laboured for ; his hopes were frustrated by the a substituting of leah in the room of her sister . and although it may be pleaded that leah was not well qualified and highly meriting in her self , yet still leah was not rachel , and iacob remained both deceived and injured thereby . many have long patiently waited , that i should now according to my promise set forth an ecclesiasticall history ; who now may justly complain that their expectation is abused , finding a changeling in the place thereof , a book of a far different nature tendered in stead thereof . and should i plead with laban the custome of the countrey , that it is not fashionable to * give the younger before the first-born ; should i alledge for my self that this book , containing matter of more ancient date , ought to precede the other , yet this , like labans answer , will be taken rather as a 〈…〉 , then solid satisfaction . but , reader , let me plead in my just defence , that if you be pleased to peruse my b promise , you will finde the same conditionall , and not obligatory , except ( besides other requisites there expressed ) peace be first setled amongst us . and indeed the subject challengeth the same , seeing truth cannot be matched to safety in such relations , till peace shall first contract them . now herein i make my severest creditour my sole iudge , appealing to him whether the premises be performed . true it is we have no wars at this instant , yet we have rumours of wars ; and though the former onely doth destroy , the latter also doth distract . are these gloomy dayes already disclouded ? ( to use my own expression in my c promise ) or rather is it not true in the scripture phrase , that the d clouds return after rain ? indeed i am sorry that i can say so much in my own defence , and should account my self happy , if all other breaches were made up , and i onely to be punished for my breach of promise . which , notwithstanding all the difficulties of the subject , and distractions of our days , i hope in god , in competent time to effect , might but my endevours meet with a quiet residence , and proportionable incouragement for such undertakings . mean time accept of these my labours , which by gods blessing , and the bounty of my friends are brought into the light : usefull i hope for the understanding of the scriptures . what i have herein performed , i had rather the reader should tell me at the end , then i tell him at the beginning of the book . for the manifold faults herein , i doubt not but the ingenuous reader ( finding in palestinee six cities of refuge , by gods own appointment , for the safeguard of such as slew one unawares without malice prepense ) will of his bounty build a seventh in his own bosome for my protection , when guilty of unvoluntary mistakes in so great a work . if thou reapest any profit thereby , give god the glory ; to whose providence thou art committed by f thine in christ iesus tho. fuller . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . joh . ridley . the generall description of judea . chap. . the designe asserted from causlesse cavils . § ● . being now by gods assistance to undertake the description of iudea , my condition appeares not unlike to the israelites at a kadesh-barnea , who were much pleased with the report that the spies brought of the fruitfulnesse of the countrey , untill they told them of ahiman , sheshai and talmai , the three sonnes of anak : which quite appaled their courage and deaded their desire thereof . in the like manner whilest i am invited with severall pleasing considerations , and delightfull motives , to adventure on this work , three giantlike objections , which must be encountred , do in a manner dishearten me from further proceeding . for some will lay to my charge , that the description of this countrey hath formerly been done by many . cannot perfectly be done by any . if exactly done , is altogether uselesse , and may be somewhat superstitious . § . yet we fear not , by gods blessing , and the readers favour , severally to enter the lists against them all . for the first : whereas it is objected , that many formerly have performed the same ; this cavill is not planted particularly against my inde●vours , but is levelled against the industry of all posterity , in any future designe . b solomon saith , there is no new thing under the sunne . except therefore men were gods to create new subjects to write upon , groundlesse is the first exception against us . it never disheartened s. luke to write his gospell , for as much as many had taken in hand to set it forth before . yea the former endevours of many in the same matter , argue the merit of the work to be great . for sure there is some extraordinary worth in that face , which hath had so many suitors . wherefore although we cannot with columbus , finde out another world , and bring the first tydings of an unknown continent or island , by us discovered , yet our labours ought not to be condemned as unprofitable , if setting forth an old subject in a new edition enlarged and amended . this i dare say , though many have written discourses without mappes , and more mappes without discourses , and c some both , ( yet so that three tribes are joined in one mappe ) none have formerly in any tongue ( much lesse in english ) presented us with distinct mappes and descriptions together . § . but in the second place it is objected , that certainty in this subject is unattainable ; so that the most studious therein , after they have travelled the whole day , through many tedious difficultie● , must bee fain to take their hard lodging at night on a bare uncertainty . the bowels of the best mappes are puffed up with the humours of fancy , and a scepticall windinesse , so that a conjecturall earthquake shakes the foundations of the strongest mountains , in the point of their exact situation . such are the irreconcileable differences betwixt geographers in their descriptions . § . for answer : i could wish that this objection also , lay onely against the work in hand , and might not [ almost ] equally be enforced against other liberall undertakings : for he that holds a reed in one hand to mete the topography , and an houre-glasse in the other to measure the chronology of the scripture , shall meet with as many , if not more uncertainties , in the latter as the former . and yet the learned pains of such-as labour therein , justly merit commendation . if all conjecturall results should be cast out for weeds , few hearbs would be left in the gardens of most arts and sciences . saint paul d hath a passage , we know in part , and prophecy in part ; which is a good curb for our curiosity : and the same apostle hath a precept , e prove all things , hold fast that which is good ; which is as good a spurre for our diligence . as for the differences betwixt geographers , they ought not to make us carelesse to follow any , but carefull to choose the best ; except with the fluggards drowzie fancy , we tune the alarums to our industry , to be lullabies to our lazinesse . § . in the last place it is objected , that the designe , if exactly finished , amounts but to a difficult trifle , hard to doe , uselesse when done . and who will pity the aking of his teeth , who hath wilfully hurt them , with cracking that shell , wherein he knew was no kernell ? it matters not to any mans salvation , to know the accurate distance betwixt iericho and ierusalem ; and he that hath climbed to the top of mount libanus , is not in respect of his soul , a haires breadth nearer to heaven . besides , some conceive they heare palestine saying unto them , as samuel to saul endevouring to raise him from his grave , f why hast thou disquieted me to bring me up ? describing this countrey is but disturbing it , it being better to let it sleep quietly , intombed in its owne ashes . the rather , because the g new ierusalem is now daily expected to come down , and these corporall ( not to say carnall ) studies of this terrestriall canaan , begin to grow out of fashion , with the more knowing sort of christians . § . it is answered , though these studies are not essentiall to sal●ation , yet they are ornamentall , to accomplish men with knowledge , contributing much to the true understanding of the history of the bible . remarkable is that passage of the apostle , acts . . and hath made of one bloud all nations of men , for to dwell on all the face of the earth , and hath determined the times before appointed , and the bounds of their habitation : wherein we may see divinity the queen waited on by three of her principall ladies of honour , namely , skill in genealogies , concerning the persons of men and their pedegrees , of one bloud all nations . chronology , in the exact computation of the times afore appointed . geography , measuring out the limits of severall nations , and the bounds of their habitations . our work in hand is a parcell of geography touching a particular description of iudea ; without some competent skill wherein , as the blind syrians h intending to goe to dothan , went to samaria ; so ignorant persons discoursing of the scripture , must needs make many absurd , and dangerous mistakes . nor can knowledge herein , be more speedily and truly attained , then by particular description of the tribes , where the eye will learn more in an hour from a mappe , then the eare can learn in a day from discourse . § . but this last objection being forked , hath the sharper point thereof still behinde , challenging this our subject to be guilty of superstition . a sinne always detestable to god , but now adayes grown odious to man. and well it were if the edge of their zeal were equally whetted against profanenesse . sure if this our work were faulty in this kind , i my self would send it the same way with the ephesian l conjuring bookes . not all the water of kishon , of iordan , of the red , of the dead , of the middle-land sea , described in these maps , should serve to quench the fire , but all should be burnt to ashes . but no such haste i hope , to condemn this innocent book , wherein studiously we have abstained from all such pictures as come within the bounds of danger , yea borders of offence , and have onely made choice of those , which the most precise approve usefull for the illustration of scripture . chap. . the different names and bounds of judea . § . this country which we now come to describe , was successively called by severall names . the land of canaan , from the sons of canaan that first possessed it . the land of promise , which name after four hundred and odde years honourably ended , and was swallowed up in performance . the land of iudah and israel , consisting of these two kingdomes . iudea , so called of iudah the most puissant tribe of the twelve . palestine ( from the philistines . ) l herodotus being the first author , which i find so tearming it , and all greeks and latins after him . the holy land , because our saviours passion was acted thereon . but fear makes me refrain from using this word , lest whilest i call the land holy , this age count me superstitious . § . in bounding this land , a necessary distinction must be premised , the neglecting ( or at least not observing ) whereof hath engaged many in inextricable difficulties . cannan was twofold , . the larger . . the lesser . the larger is described deut. . . every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread , shall be yours : from the wildernesse , and lebanon , from the m river , the river euphrates , even unto the uttermost sea , shall your coast be . this land in full latitude was never peaceably possessed by the iews as proper owners thereof any considerable time . say not , god fell short of his promise . oh no : the iews fell short of his precepts , who being narrow hearted in piety , and straitned in their own bowels , contracted their soil by their sinnes ; and obstructed the bounty of god intended unto them , by their ingratitude . for the promise ran onely conditionally , if ye shall hearken diligently to my n commandements . and had not gods mercy to them been more then their obedience to him , their country had been narrowed to nothing , and shrunk to an indivisible punctum : or at the best and biggest had been but a prison , fit for the punishment of so rebellious a people . § . and yet in somemanner in a qualifyed sense , we may observe the iews did stretch their dominion to the bounds aforesaid in a double consideration . by victorious salleys and incursions . thus the children of reuben having o conquered the hagarites , inhabited east-ward unto the entring in of the wildernesse , from the river p euphrates . per gentes in amicitiam receptas . by the nations which by amicable compliance ( though having absolute command in themselves ) accepted of the jewish king to be honourary feodaries unto him . thus where q david took some kings by conquest , as his vassals , more took him by composition as their protectour . and it is plainly said of r solomon that he had dominion over all the region on this side the river from tip●sa● even to azzah , over all the kings on this side the river : and ●e had peace 〈◊〉 all sides round about . see we here an essay of gods goodnesse made to the israelites . that froward people worshipped him by fits and girds , starting aside like a broken bow : and therefore god to admonish them of the unconstancy of their service , vouchsafed onely to the 〈◊〉 a cursory and unsetled tent●dwelling to euphrates . whereas , had that people solidly and seriously set themselves constantly to serve god ; no doubt , their incursions had been turned into fixed habitations , and the whole nation ( not onely by the synecdoche of this one tribe ) had pea●●ably possessed the large limits allotted unto them . and whereas now onely david and solomon ( whom i may more fitly style emperours then kings of this larger canaan ) rather commanded then possessed to eupbrates , god , no doubt , had extended their full dominions to the same dimensions . § . but the lesser canaan was contented with na●rower bounds , containing onely those nations which god had designed for utter destruction , and is described , gen. . . 〈…〉 , and admah , and zebojim , even unto 〈◊〉 . and whereas in the larger canaan , when the israelites besieged any city , god s commanded them to pro●fer peace , before they proclaimed war against it , in this lesser canaan , they were finally to root t them out . and where god commands men to destroy people , ( but first let us be sure that god commands us to destroy them ) the foulest quarter is too fair for them , and those have not lesse pity , but more piety , which 〈◊〉 their ●tter destruction : as the iews were to serve the inhabita●●s of this lesser cana●n , without any ceremony of peace once tendred unto them . § . this lesser canaan extended from the wildernesse in the south to mount lebanon in the north , and from iordan on the east , to the midland sea on the west . the length thereof sixteen hundred furlongs ( so far the bloud ran out of the wine-presse , revel . . . ) which , allowing ten furlongs to the mile , according to the eastern account , ( whereof largely hereafter ) amounts to an hundred and threescore miles . the breadth thereof generally fifty ; to which if the kingdome of sihon and og be added on the other side iordan ( parcels of canaan the larger , and possessed by re●ben , gad and half manasses ) it will make up the breadth to eighty miles . § . having thus a●●igned the small bounds of canaan , some perchance will place their scorn , where they ought to plant their wonder ; and will beginne to contemn , what they should justly admire : because all canaan seems but one u zoar ; is it not a little one ? yea , some proud geographer will scarce stoop to take up so small a ragge of land into his consideration . but let such know , that extracted spirits , and elixars are small in bulk in comparison of great and grosse bodies ; and the land may passe for the quintessence of fruitfulnesse it self . so that what it lacked in length and breadth , it had in depth , as if nature had heaped one acre upon another in the matchlesse * fertility thereof . our age barren in beliefe , affords not faith so easily to the story , as this land afforded food to * thirteen hundred thousand men , besides women , children , impotent persons , and all the * levites and benjamites left unnumbred . in generall , it is charactered to be a countrey flowing with milk and honey , that is , having plenty of all things both for necessity and delight . § . more particularly it is described by y moses , a good land , a land of brookes of water , of fountaines and depths that spring out of vallies and hills , a land of wheat and barly , and vines and figtrees , and pomegranates : a land of oile-olive and honey ; a land wherein thou shalt eate bread without scarceness , thou shalt not lacke any thing in it : a land whose stones are iron , and out of whose hills thou maist digge brasse . for the further clearing of which description , we will exactly observe the severall commodities of canaan , which nature bountifully bestowed upon it . onely the land seems unhappy herein , that the fruitfulnesse thereof must come under our barren style to describe it . and yet on second thoughts i perceive , lean pens are fittest to describe fat count●●es . the soile of the county of armagh in ireland is so rank of it selfe , that if any compost or artificiall improvement be added unto it , it turns barren out of sullennesse , and z indignation , that men should suspect the native fruitfulnesse thereof : and fat upon fat is false heraldry in husbandry . lest in like manner we should offend this country of cannan with additionall ornaments of rhetorique , and lest all ●lourishes of eloquence be misinterpreted distrusts of the reall worth of this country , a plain style and simple relation best becomes our present subject . chap. . of the underground wealth of canaan . § . ships when sailing are generally conceived to have one moity of them invisible under water , and some countries in like manner are counted to have their wealth equally within the earth as upon it . but the proportion holds not exactly in canaan ; whose visible wealth farre transcended her concealed substance , and yet we finde some minerals therein of considerable value . § . first , salt , so necessary in it self , that without it neither sustenance is ●avoury to man , nor a sacrifice acceptable to god. yet had not the iews more use , then plenty thereof . it seems it was a very cheap commodity , when abimelech ( not hoping to reap any harvest thereby ) sowed the city of sech●m with b falt . this was of two sorts in iudea ▪ sal fossilis , which was digged out of the earth , whereof great store about the dead , otherwise called the salt sea , and sal coctilis , which was boiled out of water , at c mizrepoth-maiim neare zidon . § . secondly , materials of glasse , whereof the best in the world , almost to the purity of crystall , is found in the d cendevian lake , and river belus , whereof largely hereafter in the tribe of asher . and yet we read not in scripture that the iews ever used glasse for drinking vessels , either because the invention of them was not so ancient , or because of the plenty of cups they had of purer metall . we in england know that glasses are but the seconds , which succeed on the cupboard , when plate the principall is otherwise disposed of . § . brimsto●e . how usefull this is in physique and fire-works i need not relate . it is one of the parents of most metals and inclined the waters of iudea to be soveraign bathes , and have other medicinall qualities . marble also was digged up in great plenty in mount e lebanon , conducing much to the adorning of gods temple and many princely palaces in ierusalem . precious stones they had none , except lapis iudaicus be counted for one , commended by galen , and is prescribed as excellent to cure the stone . where by the way it will not be amisse to observe , that amongst the many maladies to which the iews bodies were subject , i finde not the stone mentioned in scripture , though i dare not ascribe it to the plenty of this stone , as a preservative against it . § . brasse and f iron abounded in this country . g moses blesseth asher , thy shooes shall be iron and brasse , prognosticating the plenty of those metals in that tribe . if any except , that brasse is no originall , but a compound metall of copper and other ingredients ; the answer is easie , by a frequent and familiar metonymie , it being put for the materials whereof it was composed . § . as for the two principall metals , iudea may say of them as saint h peter to the cripple , gold and silver have i none . and it will be no lesse pleasant , then profitable to recount the reasons thereof . these metals are generally granted by nature in compensation to barren countries . now whereas iudea had plenty of other commodities , it was too much that leahs fruitfulnesse should shine with rahels fairenesse , and glister with the lustre of gold and silver . god would have his people i look to the hills , from whence their help cometh : k to lay up their treasure in heaven , where rust and moth doe not corrupt : sursum corda , sursum oculos , and not that their eyes by a retrograde motion should be peeping and poring on the earth , where the treasures concealed , are by poets consigned to pluto king of hell : and modern authors avouch , that malignant spirits haunt the places , where these metals are found . as if the devill did there sit abrood to hatch them , cunningly pretending an unwillingnesse to part with them ; whereas indeed he gains more by one mine minted out into money , then by a thousand concealed in the earth . because it stands not with the state of a prince to be his own purse-bearer . god would not have this lordly land of canaan to be incumbred with carrying such a burden . let ophir , and tarshish , and havilah have the place of iudas , to beare the bagge for iudea . because there might be left unto the gentiles an opportunity to gratifie the iews , and to testifie their duty and service to god and his temple . l the kings of tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents , the kings of sheba and seba shall bring gifts . now these natitions would have been wholly disheartened if they could have brought iudea no novelty , and onely presented her with such things , whereof she had plenty before . and yet whosoever shall observe the m abundance of gold and silver in solomons time in the city of ierusalem , will conclude this country not to be the cistern , but fountain of those metals . as if divine providence had so divided it , that other lands should be at the care & cost to bear , dig out and refine , and iudea have the honour and credit , to use , expend , yea neglect , such glittering need-nots to humane happinesse . more minerals no doubt were in the land of iudea , and let not either our ignorance , or the iews idlenesse be interpreted the lands barrennesse , the upper fruitfulnesse of whose soil made them the more negligent in digging into the bowels thereof as those need not to play beneath board , who have all the visible game in their own hands ? chap. . of the wealth accruing to judea from the vegetables therein . § . amongst the native and proper commodities of iudea , balm , or balsam most justly challengeth the principall place . for when iacob advised his sonnes to provide a present for ioseph , take ( saith he ) of the best fruits of the land in your vessels , a little a balme , and a little honey , spices &c. b hereby appears the improbable error of such as report how amongst other rich presents the queen of sheba brought to solomon , the first plants of balsam , which afterwards grew in iudea . whereas indeed her bringing of those into that countrey , had been no better then carring of water to the fountain . § . heare the judgment of pagan writers altogether unconcerned in this businesse . c pliny saith , balsamum uni terrarum iudaeae concessum , understanding that iudea alone was the primitive place where it grew , though afterwards colonies thereof were transplanted into egypt and other countries . with him agreeth theophrastus , dioscorides and d galen , who professeth that he went on purpose to iudea , to observe the distilling thereof , and carried a small portion of balm about him , by comparing thereof to discover and confute the frequent impostures of such as counterfeit the same . this balsame was principally twofold . xulo-balsamum , being the parent , namely the shrub , ( or in complement call it the tree ) out of which it proceeded . opo-balsamum , being the daughter , which trickled like teares from the former , usefull for men sound , making a most odoriferous and pleasant perfume ; sick , being a soveraign salve for their wounds ; dead , being an admirable preservative against corruption . so that their embalmed bodies seem'd in some sort to typifie the eternity of their soule . § . but this balm was not so fixed to gilead or any other part of iudea , but that it was moveable thence upon the sinnes of the people . for after some flittings of this plant to iericho ( whereof afterwards ) it was first by pompey , and finally by vespasian carried captive to rome . where it thrived so well that it was never ( saith c pliny ) fairer or fruitfuller . which passage may serve as a parable , whereof our saviour himself is the sense . who being formerly confined to palestine alone , did afterwards effectually extend himself for the good of all nations . but enough hereof , if not too much . yet seeing the reader , if being to fill his viall with this precious liquor , would not complain of overmuch measure , i trust he will not be displeased with our larger description thereof . § . f oil-olive , so called to difference it both from seed , and train-oile . hereof three kindes , or rather degrees . the coursest imploied for lamps ; a finer sort used for meat , and the most refined of all compounded with various spices ; whereof ointment was made , wherewith great persons on solemn festivals used to anoint themselves , and upon other occasions , many others . § . honey . g this was the sugar , as salt was the pepper of the ancients . and although sugar canes grew in iudea ( whereof some considerable store at this day ) yet the use thereof was either unknown to , or neglected by the iews in scripture , preferring honey in their daily diet . and it may seem strange , that honey being so delici●us in taste , and a staple commodity in canaan , was h forbidden to be used in any sacrifice . learned men trouble themselves about the reason of this prohibition . some conceive voluptuousnesse thereby is forbidden ; others , lip-lusciousnesse and hypocrisie in divine service ; others , pride and ambition ; ( because honey turnes into choler ) i others , that it is forbidden in opposition to the persian sacrifices , wherein honey was principally offered . and whereas the varieties of fancies herein are infinite , some soberly rest themselves on no other reason ; but divine pleasure . as for wax , the cask of honey , it was used the lesse for lights , because lamps were so much in fashion . § . wheat . they are called the k kidneys of wheat , because the grains therein were so plump and swelling , as if all out of pharaohs seven full eares . yea our modern merchants will tell you ( provided they be first out of the turkish dominions ; otherwise it is death to be caught in the manner ) that even at this day they carry much wheat out of palestine into italy it self . say not , wheat was not so plentifull in this countrey , because our saviours constant fare was on barly loaves : this argues the humility of christ , not the barrenness of the countrey ; otherwise by the same consequence it might be inferred , that there were no houses in iudea , because he wanted where to lay his head . these four aforesaid were the elementall commodities of canaan , whereof that countrey had not onely a self-sufficiency , but also sent plenty thereof to l tyre , thence to the whole world . iudah and the land of israel they were thy merchants , they traded in the market wheat of minnith , and pannag , and honey , and oil , and balm . § . wine may follow in the next place , whereof such plenty , that iacob m prophecyed of iudah , that he should binde his foal unto the vine , and his asses colt unto the choice vine &c. that is , having occasion to dismount his asse , and tye him for a time , vines should offer themselves as most obvious to fasten him unto ; and those so great ( adjectives in other countreys , but substantives here ) that he might safely tye his beast to them , which with us are tyed to other trees for their support . nor were their grapes less good then great , as a n poet ( the most competent judg of the matter in hand ) doth bear witness , vina mihi non sunt gazetica , chia , falerna , quaeque sareptano palmite missa bibas . i have no gaza , chios , falern wine , nor any flowing from sarepta's vine . thus making a quadripartite division of good wine , two members thereof , that of gaza and sarepta , the one falls in the tribe of simeon , the other of asher , both in the countrey of palestine . § . o flax. hereof great plenty . and pity it was so good a commodity should be prostituted to idolatry , which caused god to threaten that he would rescue and recover his p flax againe . the jewish women were excellent q houswives , and hereof made great profit , venting it into forein parts . § . wood of all sorts ; so that palestine was a continued grove of trees , covered over with streight cedars , strong oakes , shady palmes , sweet firres &c. if the body of hercules may be guessed from his foot , take the mustard , the little toe of trees , into consideration , and thence collect the vast proportion of great woods . some perchance may count it a rabbinicall vaunt what r one writes : a certain man of sichem had bequeathed by his father three boughs of mustard , one of which was broken off from the rest , and it yeelded nine kabs of seed , and the wood thereof was sufficient to cover over the potters house . one may also suspect an hyperbole in what s another saith , i had a stemme of mustard in my garden , into which i could climbe as into a figtree . however , our t saviours words of the extraordinary growth of this plant must needs be true ; and by the same proportion ( surely the iews had not more sawce then meat ) other trees must be allowed to be of unusuall greatness . § . here i omit to speak of the dates , almonds , nuts , ( at this day called pistachioes , and most cordiall in physick ) figs , pomegranates and other severall fruits , whose particular description i passe by on purpose , lest our book should light on some hungry man or longing woman to read , whose appetites i may unhappily raise , but cannot satisfie again . and to leave a good sent behind at the close of the chapter , we must not forget the great store of frankincense , myrrh , and other u spices which were plentifully afforded in palestine . chap. . of the store of beasts for food , service , and pleasure in palestine . § . we step now a stair higher from vegetable to sensible creatures : wherein this countrey was no lesse happy , such was the variety it afforded therein . which will appear , first , if we furnish forth a feast of the flesh , fish , and fowl in palestine ; these particulars being premised . first , that no exception be taken at our false ranking of dishes . the apostles said , it was not their office to a serve tables , and such mistakes are none at all in divines secondly , we name onely solid and substantiall meat , whereon a cunning cook ( besides sawces and sallets ) may with compounded and forced dishes descant to indefinitenesse . lastly , know the law forbad the iews the feeding on severall meats , so that their life was a lent , to abstain from such food , to which christianity allows us a licence : b hogges-flesh , conies , hares , swans , herons , lapwings , all fishes in armour , fenced with shels , recounted amongst the dainties of our diet , were prohibited unto them . which very prohibition speakes their plenty in that country , otherwise the law had been needless to forbid such things which the land did not afford . § . fetching salt , bread and wine from the former chapter , ( all of the quorum to every feast ) first veale is brought in , ( food for angels when c sarah dressed it ) beef of the bulls of basan , or if that be too course , of the stalled d oxen ; lamb , mutton and kid , savoury meat , if e rebecca have the cooking thereof ; venison both red and fallow , for so we find in solomons bill of fare , f harts , bucks and bugles . § . fowl of all sorts follow , hennes , and g chickens . capons i dare promise none , as uncertain whether mutilating of birds was then in fashion , to make them barren , that mans luxury might fructifie the more upon them . next plenty of h pigeons , the poor mans lambs ; for such as could not goe to the cost of the one , was to provide the other for a sacrifice . i quails in abundance ; for though their plenty in the wildernesse was miraculous , when a cloud of them tendred themselves to be taken by the hands of the israelites , yet ordinarily there was store of them in palestine . let locusts for their wings sake be ranked amongst the fowl , onely to fill up an empty place of the table , for otherwise none but the stomach of the mortified k baptist would feed on so course a fare . § . fishes come in the next place , whose severall sorts in sea , rivers , and lakes were so many , that onely adam , whose memory was the nomenclator of the names of all creatures by him imposed , can summon them by their proper denominations . of these all that had l finnes and scales were permitted the iews to eat . butter the sawce-generall to fish , must not be forgotten . a staple dish of our saviours whilest an infant , o butter and honey shall he eat . cheese concludes all ; such as n david brought to his brethren , such as o barzillai provided for david . let not any dainty dairy women object , that jewish cheese must needs be course , where milke of p sheep and q goats was so much in use : for a mixture of such milk is in parmizan it self , so delicious to the palat . and now for grace before and after meat , might not palestine thankfully say with r david , thou dost prepare a table before me in the sight of mine adversaries , thou dost anoint mine head with oil , and my cup runneth over ? yea , what is said of the earth in generall , is most properly applyable to this country , o lord how s manifold are thy works ! in wisdome hast thou made them all , the earth is full of thy riches . § . besides cattell for food , there were others for labour , asses , mules , camels , dromedaries , whereof in due place . birds also and beasts of prey , eagles , hawkes , lions , beares , boares &c. some will say this was a mischief in palestine , whose inhabitants might be said to dwell daily like daniel in the lions den , such the store of ravenous beasts freely roaving up and down the countrey . but let such know , that by these beasts continued of purpose , god kept his people in an awfull dependence upon him ; whilest they feared god , these beasts t dreaded them ; and mans piety muzled up the mouth of these ravenous creatures . otherwise when these iews rebelled against their master , the beasts ( one of gods u four sore judgments ) were let loose , and became the just executioners of divine vengeance on a wicked nation . to conclude , such the variety of cattell herein , that from hence noah might have fraught his ark with a couple of most creatures , some few onely excepted ( useless for mankind , save for rarity and fancy ) as apes and peacocks , ( perchance rather parrats ) which solomons navie w fetched in , and supplied from tarshish . chap. . objections against the fruitfulnesse of judea answered . but seeing we live in so unbeleeving an age , that some have brought the happiness even of heaven it self into question , no wonder if such as doubt of the truth deny the type , and ( though scripture be positive in the point ) flatly argue against the fruitfulness of iudea . the first sort of their objections are taken from some passages scattered from pagan pennes , sleighting iudea as an unconsiderable countrey . thus a strabo speaking of moses , winning it from the first inhabitants , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , easily ( saith he ) he obtained it , being a land of which none need be ambitious , and for which none would studiously engage themselv●● to fight : for it was a stony countrey . to which we answer first in generall . heathen writers knew little , and spake less good of the iews , because of the grand distance of religions betwixt them . my people ( saith god ) are like a b speckled bird ; and therefore being of a different feather from other fowl in point of divine worship , no wonder if their neighbours flocked about them , to flout at them , hooting at their strange devotion : though such mocked at by men for owles , may be made of by god as nightingales . excellently iosephus in his book against apion the grammarian doth prove that no credit is to be given to pagan reports against the iews . and as they loved not that people , so they liked not their place , causlesly raising slanders upon it . more particularly strabo , in his rash censure counting iudea not a prize worth the contending for , is confuted by the course of history . let the romans ( too cunning merchants to venture on worthless ware ) tell how much the city of ierusalem cost them , paying an ounce of bloud for every inch of ground therein . object . it is said in the scripture it self , numb . . . that it was a land which eateth up the inhabitants thereof . it seems it was a very lean , hungry , and barren land , which in stead of feeding the dwellers therein , fed upon them . answ. it is said so indeed , but by whom ? the false spies whose tongues were no slander . now ( whatsoever they meant by this their expression ) certainly their words intend not any barrennesse in that countrey , having formerly ( vers . . ) confessed the transcendent fertility thereof . except any will say , that these spies did now revoke their former witness ; and if so , we look no longer on the land of canaan as devouring her inhabitants , but on these unconstant liers as eating their own words . however their first testimony ( when , untampered with by the people , they spake their own sense , and gave in their true verdict , of the land ) is to be beleeved , before their second character of this countrey , when infected with popular discontentments , they studied cavills against the same . besides , if the meaning of their words , [ a land eating up the inhabitants thereof ] be , as it is generally c interpreted , a land whose inhabitants by civill warres mutually destroy one another , it tends more to the credit , then disgrace of the countrey . it is no fault in that rich pasture , if the grasse thereof , be provender in goodnesse , so that the horses fed therein , wax so wanton as to fight one with another . object . water is a staple commodity for mans support , whose life , lame in it self , soon falls to the ground , if not held up by the staffe of bread in one hand and water in the other . now iudea had great want of this element , a well being counted such a treasure amongst them , that great d strivings have happened about it . answ. iudea wanted no water , though dry in comparison of england . we northern nations are ready to suspect the southern parts as afire with a feaver ; whilest southern countreys may fear lest our lands be drowned with a dropsie ; such the superfluity of rain and rivers amongst us . let iudea be compared with her neighbours in the same climate , and she would be found not onely to equall , but to exceed them in conveniency of water . the scripture e describes it a land of brooks of water , of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills &c. and because many now adays will beleeve the maids word before the mistresses , i mean , humane before divine testimony , hear how f strabo speaks to this point , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . the countrey it selfe indeed was well watered , but the coasts about were base and ill watered . besides rivers iudea had constantly ( save when the windowes of heaven were miraculously shut up ) the former and the later rain , which like trade winds on some seas , came at set seasons , at seed-time and before harvest . so that heaven may be said to have kept an ordinary for iudea , and to have fed it at eating hours with set meales of water , whereas other countreys have no such standing table kept for them , being left at large to the uncertainty of weather , and not always drinking when they were athirst , but when they could get moisture . object . ammianus g marcellinus reports , that therein were no navigable ●ivers , which must needs be a great hindrance of commerce in the countrey . answ. the term navigable must be distinguished on . confesse we that iudea had no vast streames in it , like nilus or the dan●w , whose chanels are capable of boats , ships f●llows ; yet wanted it not rivers to carry vessells of considerable burthens . every tribe therein did border on the mid-land sea , or on the river of iordan , up which river , even against the streame , they used to sail , in vessells bearing burdens ( not unlike our western barges ) by the confession of other h authors . . object . it was full of mountains , which gener●lly are conceived destructive to the fruitfulness of a countrey . answ. such dwarf-mountains or giant-hills made the land insensibly larger in exten● , no whit lesser in increase . was ever a great belly brought for an argument of barreness ▪ especially seeing these mountains in iudea did not swell with a mock-mother tympany , but were pregnant with speciall commodities . some cattell , as go●tes ; and plants ▪ as vines are never more triumphant on their throne , then when advantaged on the sides of such hills . the i geographer speaking of trachonitis , the coursest list , and most craggy ground about the countrey of iudea , acknowledgeth there were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , grassie and fair fruitfull hills ; which as they afforded a delightfull prospect , so they conduced much to make the cities impregnable which were built amongst them . . object . mention there is in scripture of many deserts in iudea , as if the countrey were nothing else but a heap of wildernesses hudled up together . answ. indeed the word desert sounds hideously to english eares : it frights our fancies with the apparitions of a place full of dismall shades , salvage beasts , and dolefull desolation , whereas in hebrew it imports no more then a woody retirednesse from publick habitation ; most of them in extent not exceeding our greater parks in england , and more alluring with the pleasure of privacy , then affrighting with the sadnesse of solitariness . . object . frequent famins are mentioned in this land , and some most prodigious . in the siege of k samaria a woman eat her own child , unexampled almost in other histories , and all things were sold at excessive rates . answ. the instances alledged argue not the barrenness of the countrey , being extraordinary punishments inflicted immediately by divine justice . this we confesse , that as merry men , when sad , are very sad ; so this pleasant land , when god frowned upon it , was extremely dejected , and the famins therein were famins with a witness . . object . saint l hierome , who lived himself long in palestine , and must be acknowledged so skilfull in this matter , that others could not deceive him , & so honest , that he would not deceive others , speaketh very meanly thereof . it is ragged with craggy mountaines , and suffereth the penury of thirst , so that it preserveth rain water , and supplieth the scarcity of wells by building of cisterns . answ. saint hierome in the same place ( and none fitter or abler to do it ) answers himself , neque hoc dico in suggillationem terrae sanctae , sed ut decutiam supercilium iudaeorum . &c. i say not this to disgrace the land of iudea , ( as the hereticall sycophant doth belie● me ) or to take away the truth of the history , which is the foundation of spirituall understanding , but to beat down the pride of the iews , which enlarge the straits of the synagogue , further then the breadth of the church . this father did de●ry the literall , to raise the mysticall canaan ; and they that know saint hierome , know that when he intends to praise or dispraise , he will doe it to the purpose . object . modern travellers which have lately surveyed the countrey , report it to be a bare surface of sand at this day . answ. who can guesse what naomi was by what m marah is ? the stump indeed stands still , but the branches are withered ; the skeleton remains , but the favour and flesh thereof is consumed . iudea is , and is not , what it was before ; the same in bulk , not blessing ; for fashion , not fruitfulness ; the old instrument is the same , but it is neither strung with stock , nor plaid upon with the hand of skilfull husbandry . the n rose of sharon is faded , her ●eaves lost , and now nothing but the prickles thereof to be seen . see what sinne can doe , or undoe rather , and the guilt of our saviours bloud : a fruitfull land maketh he barren , for the wickednesse of them that dwell therein . as therefore the cleare and lovely complexions , the handsome and proper persons , the bold and valiant spirits , the comely and courtly behaviour of the ancient iews , are not to be measured by the suspicious and louring looks , the low and crooked statures , the slavish and servil conditions , the base and sordid demeanour of the iews now adays ; no more are our judgments to contract the former fruitfulness of their soil to the present sterility thereof . and yet as the sheep which fell to o iacobs share , had strakes or speckles scattered here and there in their skins : so , granting the generality of iudea barren , yet by the confession of p travellers some spots and parcels of ground transcendently fruitfull , are every where to be found , retaining and transmitting to posterity the memory of the universall fruitfulness of iudea , before god had justly cursed it for the sinnes of the people . chap. . of the ancient division of the land betwixt the seven canaanitish nations . having done with the description of the commodities of this countrey , we come now to the serverall divisions thereof ; which thing seriously considered conduceth much to the right understanding of the scripture . in severall ages the land fell under different divisions . in abrahams time it was parted betwixt the seven nations of canaan . afterwards the same was subdivided into one and thirty petty kingdomes . by ioshua it was parcelled into twelve portions , betwixt so many tribes . in rehoboams reigne it was rent into two kingdomes , iudah and israel . after the captivity it was divided into three provinces , iudea , samaria , and galile . in christs and his apostles time it was carved into four tetrarchies , and some other appendent dominions . we will first survey it in the originall condition thereof , as it consisted of a heptarchy , or seven ruling nations of canaan , whose number , names , extraction , and severall habitations require much care and diligence to rank and order them aright . the first difficulty we meet with , is in the number of these nations , so variously reckoned up . they are counted up thus : two , gen. . . three , exod. . . five , exod. . . sixe , exod. . . . seven , iosh. . . ten , gen. . . eleven , gen. . . & chron. . . and seventeen , if a collective number of them all be cast up . now how come they to be so differently computed where one and the same spirit is the auditour to state their account ? it is answered , that seven was the compleat and solemne number , whereon god himself emphatically insists when repeating his favours to the iews , a seven nations greater and mighter then thou . and perchance the beast in the revelation b with seven heads , beareth some allusion thereunto . wherefore when these seven nations are summed up defectively , under that number , we must conceive such of them as are omitted to be implyed under the genericall name of canaanites . but on the other side , when above seven are brought , then the inhabitants of the larger canaan , are cast into the account : whose countrey was promised too , but never peaceably possessed by the israelites , as we observed before . we finde three severall editions ( as i may call them ) of the nations of canaan , whereof the most authentick and common is deut. . . which we will principally peruse , as followeth . hittites . these come forth first as if it were to usher and make room for the rest ; as well they may , being giants of such strength and stature , the anakims being descended from them : so formidable to their foes , that c some conceive them named from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hittah , which signifies to scare and frighten : such the terrible impression of them on their enemies . as stout their men , so their women were notable domineering dames , witness rebecca's complaint , that she was weary of her life for the d daughters of heth which esau had maried . they lived about hebron and beersheba , and their countrey was afterwards possessed by iudah and simeon . girgashites . it is hard to determin their exact habitation . wise agur confesseth that he knew not the way of a e serpent upon a stone , so invisibly he slides away on a smooth place . such the clear conveyances of the girgashites going into africa , as the iews f will have it , after ioshua's , time ▪ that they cannot be traced by any memory left behind : except some reliques of them remain in the countrey of the gergesens ( whose swine the devills g drawned by christs permission : ) whence h authors collect them to have lived on the east of iordan near the sea of cinnereth , afterwards in the juncture of the tribes of gad and manasseh . amorites . these sometimes are taken by a synecdoche of eminency for all the seven nations : the sins of the i amorites are not yet full . here we behold them as a particular people , so called , as k some conceive , from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 amar , to speak , as confident talkers , such as the l psalmist describes , we ought to speak , who is lord over us ? yea some carnall cause they had to boast , being compared by the m prophet to cedars for their height , and oakes for their strength . their originall habitation was in the mountainous countrey , which fell afterwards to the lot of n dan , and the west part of the possession of o ephraim . hence they made a ●ally over iordan , and setled themselves under sihon their king eastward in the countreys which they had gained from moab and ammon , afterwards possessed by reuben and gad. canaanites . these also generally taken include all the seven nations , growing from the root of canaan . consider we them here as one branch of that tree . now though the false report of the spies was in some respect but a libell of this land , yet they may be beleeved for the situation of the people therein , that the canaanites dwelt by the p sea , and the coast of iordan , that is , all the breadth of the countrey northward , which came afterwards to be possessed by asher , nephthali , zebulun , and issachar . perizzites . by interpretation villagers , as dwelling in dorps and hamlets , not walled towns . which as it abated their civility , so it advanced their manhood . their habitation not far from q bethel , where the children of ioseph afterwards received their portion ; whose land by r ioshua was bestowed upon them , in case the country allotted proved too little for them . * some of them also were dispersed in the northern part of the tribe of iudah . hivites . their name in hebrew signifieth serpents . so called , as the learned conceive , from their delight to live under-ground in caves , whereof plenty in the sides of mountains . i find two colonies or plantations of the hivites . one in the center of the land , where afterwards the tribes of benjamin , and ioseph met together . for the gibeonites ( who put a new cheat on the israelites , with their old clothes ) were s hivites , as also the inhabitants of sichem were of the same t nation . their other plantation was under mount u hermon , or in mount lebanon , as w severall scriptures doe place them . now rather then any difference should arise herein , hermon will humbly confess it self parcell of lebanon , and so the seeming contradiction is reconciled . iebusites . their abode is notoriously known to have been in , and about x iebus or ierusalem , where they defied all davids power to dispossess them , and yet at last by ioabs valour were ejected . so much of the heathen heptarchy in canaan . come we now to consider a second edition of these nations , as god gave in a list of their names to y abraham , promising withall to give his posterity their countrey in possession . here we find them tenne in number , the hivites being omitted , and four more added , namely , . kenites . of these no mention ever after in scripture . for the kenites descended from iethro ( part whereof z flitted from the south of iudah to the north of nephthali ) were a different nation from these kenites the subject of our enquiry : we conceive therefore one of these two things most probable . either after abrahams and before ioshua's time , by famine , sword , and pestilence they were utterly deleted , and their land shared betwixt the former seven nations of the canaanites . or within the term aforesaid , being perchance too few and feeble alone to maintain the dignity of a distinct nation , they lost their names by listing themselves under some other people . . kenizites . as deep silence of these in holy writ as of the former ; as if they had lived in a the land where allthings are forgotten . and probable it is , that betwixt abrahams and ioshua's time ( if a day may bring b forth much , what alterations may four hundred years produce ? ) they were extinguished . all flesh is grasse , and not onely particular men , like single blades , may be mowed down by death , but even whole nations plucked up by the roots , never to grow again , being buried without other monument over or epitaph upon them , then that of the psalmist , c their memoriall is perished with them . . kadmonites . that is , by the notation of the word , men of the east , or easterlings if you please . these a learned d man with great likelyhood conceives to be the hivites ; both because ( as aforesaid ) the hivites are omitted in this catalogue , and because they lived in the eastern part of canaan , under mount hermon . as for the opinion , that cadmus the phenician with hermione his wife were hivites ( serpents their name sounds in hebrew , as we observed before ) and therefore fabled by the e poet , to be turned into dragons ; such as exclude it their judgment , because no solid truth , may admit it into their fancy as a pleasing conceit . . rephaims . their position is undoubtedly known , living about ashtaroth f carnaim in the half tribe of manasseh beyond iordan . but though here was their principall nest , we find some of their feathers scattered in other places , in a g valley near ierusalem of that name , and another in the tribe h of ioseph , whither perchance they fled , when smitten at home by i chedorlaomer . but the last and largest volume of these nations of canaan , is gen. . . where sixe more are added , dwelling in those parts of canaan which the israelites never fully possessed . the former nations were as i may say under the first qualification k to dye without mercy , but these had more favour afforded them , according to the honour of martiall proceeding . these latter were never servants in ordinary to the israelites , never wholly subdued by them , but were onely retainers at large , doing them homage at great solemnities , and high festivalls : understand thereby all the victorious reignes of david and solomon . we take them in order . . zidonians . eminently known by their famous city , whereof largely hereafter . . archites . these dwelt at arca , or arce , a city in libanus over against tripoly , whereof mention in ptolomeus . . sinites . in searching after their proper place , we are at a losse , like ioseph when sent to seek his brethren ; onely he , when wandring , l met with a man to direct him , we with many to distract us . some place them near the mountain of sinai . but that barren desert affords no more livelyhood , then the law there delivered could give life unto men . others seat them neare sin ( by ptolomy simyra ) in the northern bound of the land . and a third m sort , whom we will follow , in the very south point thereof , at the entrance of egypt , near pelusium , called sin in the n scriptures , whence the desert of sin hath its name o . . arvadites . these lived north of the zidonians , whereof largely in the description of mount libanus . . zemarites . more uncertain for situation then the former , because no more mention of them . had the land whereon they lived , like the floor of bels p temple , been strowed with ashes , some print of their footsteps would have remained , whereas now no marks , to discover them . learned men thus groping in the dark , some seek ( for lack of other light ) to light a candle from a glow-worm ; their conceit being no better , who from the vicinity of the sound , make these zemarites inhabit mount shemir ( afterwards , samaria ) which is confuted by the hebrew orthography . more probably they may be placed at q zemaraim , a city afterwards of benjamin . . hamathites . as formerly we had too little , here we have too much direction , finding two eminent places equ●lly probable for their habitation ▪ hamath on the north of nepthali , and another many miles off , called hamah the great , and afterwards antiochia . and perchance they might remove from the one to the other . so much of the nations descended from canaan , amongst whom the philistims are not reckoned , ( whose five satrapies possessed the south-west part of the land ) because they came not from canaan , but from mizraim his elder brother , of whom god willing largely hereafter in the descriptions of the tribes of dan , and simeon . to conclude ▪ let the reader beware lest deceived with the similitude of sounds , he condemne the generation of the righteous , and mistake true israelites by birth , to be canaanites by descent ; as namely , caleh the r kenite , undoubtedly of the tribe of s iudah , onely his grandfathers name was kenaz . vriah the hittite ornan the iebusite so loyal so liberal to david : the first might be a proselyte hittite , but more likely an israelite whose father was called heth ; and the latter of the tribe of t iudah or u benjamin , who lived promiscuously with the iebusites in the city of iebus or ierusalem . hushi the archite , who out-achitophelled achitophell in his policy , was probably an ephraimite of the w borders of archi , otherwise unlikely that david would have chosen a stranger to have been his cabinet counsellour . simon the x cananite , christs disciple , certainly a iew , ( otherwise our saviour would not have entertained him in so near a relation ) born it seems in y cana of galile . so much for caution , lest demetrius who was well z reported of all men , suffer for demetrius , diana's silver-smith ; and these reall iews be misrepresented under the notion of heathen extraction . chap. . the second solemn division of the land of canaan into thirty one kingdomes . § . next to the distinguishing of this land into seven nations , we must observe the division thereof amongst a one and thirty kings . strange , that their scepters ( except very short ) did not justle one another , in so narrow a countrey . but , we must know , that the genius of that age , delighted not so much , in scraping much together , as in having absolute authority in that little , which was their own . pride is commonly the sinne of young men , covetousness of old folk . the world in the youth thereof , more affected honour , then wealth , high titles , then large treasure . and these royolets contented themselves , that their crowns ( though not so big ) were as bright , their scepters ( though not so great ) were as glistering , as those of the mightiest monarchs , being as absolute soveraignes in their own small territories . § . let us consider , how these one and thirty kingdomes were afterwards disposed of , and how they were shared amongst the severall tribes . in reckoning up their names , we observe the method in b ioshua , as he marshalls them upon order following ; kingdomes of . iericho . . ali. . ierusalem . . heb●o● . . iarmuth . . la●hish . . eglon. . gezer . . d●ber . . g●der . . hormah . . arad . . libnath . adulla●● . . makkeda● . . bethel . . tappuah . . hepher . . aphek . . lasharon . . mad●n . . ha●or . . shimr●n-m●ron . . achshaph . . ta●●a●h . . megiddo . . kedesh . . i●●●eam of ca●mel . . dor in the coasts of dor. . the nations of gilgal . . tirza . allotted to . benjamin . . benjamin . . ben●amin . iudah . . iuda● . . iudah . . iudah . . iudah . . ●phraim . . iudah . . iudah . sim●on . . simeon . . iudah . . iudah . . iudah . . be●jamin . . benjamin . . manasseh cis i●r . . m●nas●cis i●r . . as●er . . zebulon . . neph●hali . . nephthali . . zebulon . . asher . . manas. cis i●r . . 〈◊〉 cis●or . . nephthali . . zebulon . . manasseb . issachar . . b●nja●in . ephraim . by the king of the nations of gilgal , understand a soveraign over a miscellaneous company of people , the master-bee of a swarm not yet fixed in an hive , having a sufficient territory for his men , but no considerable metropolis of his kingdome . in this catalogue , sihon and og are not reckoned , whose dominions lay ●ast of iordan , and they make up thirty three kings in all . so much of these cities for the present ; whereof largely hereafter in those respective tribes to which they belong . § . amongst these kings one may visibly discover two distinct combinations . in the southern circuit of canaan , adoni-bezek king of ierusalem seems to be chief of this knot , at whose c sending the kings of hebron , iarmuth , lachish , eglon &c. assembled themselves against ioshua , and were destroyed by him . in the northern association . there d i●bin the king had the precedency , with whom the kings of madon , shimron , and achshaph &c. confederated themselves against ioshua with the same success . had all at once ingaged against ioshua , the task had been hard ; had he fought them all severally , the work had been long to subdue them . for , these thirty and one kings , who made up a full moneth in their number , how many years would they have made up in their resistance ? whereas now divine providence fitting the strength of ioshua's arm , parcelled his foes into two bundles , that he might the more easily at two blows , strike through both of them . § . and here we present the reader with a draught of the land , as it was in the days of abraham , and continued till the time of ioshua ; not well satisfied , whether more properly to term it old , or new canaan . if we count from the beginning of the world downwards , it was young or new canaan , because nearest the creation ; if we reckon backwards from our time , the old canaan . if the reader discover any difference betwixt this , and the next map of the same land , as it was constituted after the days of ioshua , let him consider , how the same face is disguised by different dressing . palestine afterwards ( when divided betwixt the twelve tribes ) being tricked and trimmed with many new cities , had the favour thereof quite altered . how the pictures drawn by the same exact artist , of the same person , first when a youth , afterwards when an old man , must have much difference betwixt them ; and the distance of some hundreds of years , causeth a necessary variation in the descriptions of the same countreys . it will be objected , that though age and accidents may alter the old , and induce new lineaments in mens faces , yet the simile holds not in the description of countreys , where the same chanels of sea , courses of rivers , falls of vales , flats of plains , ridges of hills , must remain . as for mountains , time , for want of carriage , must be forced to leave such luggage behind her ; and therefore that such land , and water-marks , must always continue , without any considerable alteration . but it is answered , that even these seeming standards of nature , are moveable with time and casualty , inundations , tempests , and earthquakes ; in the last ( being the earths violent cough ) sometimes she spits up her own lungs , casting up great hills where never were any before . what the apostle speaks in an higher sense , is true of the materiall world , and the severall countreys therein , c the fashion of this world passeth away ; so that to the very view of the eye , the shape , form , and garb thereof is metamorphosed . besides , other anagrams hapning in the land of canaan , lands afterwards transposed for water , and water for land ; one is most remarkable , namely , when the pleasant vale of f siddim nigh the banks of iordan , was turned into the salt-sea , or noisome asphaltite-lake . this was the work of the lord , and it may justly seem marvellous in our eyes . but of the cause , time , and manner of this alteration , largely god willing hereafter . here the map of old canaan it to be inserted . chap. . the third division of the land into twelve tribes , some of all which tribes remained untill , at , and after the time of our saviour . § . the third solemn division of palestine , was made by ioshua into twelve tribes , of whose severall bounds largely in our ensuing discourse . this partition remained untill shalmaneser a carried ten tribes away captive , and in exchange , brought in his own colonies to possess their conquered countrey . however , although the main body of the ten tribes were thus transplanted , without any hope to return to their native soil , yet some competent representation of every tribe , remained behind in their own countrey , even untill , at , and after the time of christ , and his apostles . § . alledge not to the contrary , that it is said , after shalmaneser's carrying them away captive , b there was none left but the tribe of iudah onely . understand it , that iudah onely remained in the flourishing condition of a kingdome . that onely was the visible standing-corn , amongst which , others of israel , like loose eares were scattered . but to the point , that some gleanings of these ten tribes , remained in their countrey , after the assyrian captivity , may be proved ; from the very nature of a generall calamity , which lighting on a populous nation , cannot so particularly apply it self to every individuall person , but that some will escape . the c hired rasor made not such clean work , as to shave every hair , but that some small down might creep under the edge thereof . that d besome of destruction swept not so clean , but that some dust may be presumed left behind in the small crevices of the countrey . some ( no doubt ) by timely flight , casuall absence , especiall favour , secret concealment , might escape ; and others , through age and sickness unable to travell , might be permitted to remain behind . mention is made of a e remnant which escaped out of the hands of the king of assyria . and when ●iezekiah kept his solemn passover , he sent f messengers to ephraim , manasseh , issachar , zebulun , asher , some of whom made a mock at his courtesie , and others thankfully embraced his gracious invitation . iosiah in his passover ( celebrated in the eighteenth year of his reign , ninety and odde years after the banishment of the twelve tribes ) assembled there g all iudah and israel that were present , or found . § . such remnants of the ten tribes , being afterwards carried captive with iudah to babylon , returned thence with the rest of their brethren ; as probably is insinuated , by the sacrifice at the dedication of the second temple , h a sin offering for all israel , twelve hee-goats according to the number of the tribes of israel . in expression ( no doubt ) of gladness , of some of every tribe present thereat . by the number of such as returned , amounting to i forty two thousand three hundred and threescore . now , whosoever shall be pleased , to cast up the particular sums , of the severall families of iudah and benjamin set down there , will find them fall short twelve thousand of the foresaid number . where therefore shall we supply the account ? hear how the great jewish-chronicle ( set forth not long after our saviours time ) resolves this question ; k surely , they were made up of those who came up from babylon to ierusalem , of other tribes . the l scripture saith , after the captivity of babylon that there dwelt in ierusalem ( besides those of iudah and benjamin ) of the children of ephraim and manasseh . nor is the testimony of iosephus to be slighted herein , though ios. m scaliger causlesly condemns it , affirming that the king of egypt employed seventy two iews to translate the bible into greek , taking six out of every tribe , which compleat that number . § . that such fragments of the ten tribes returning from babylon , were reestated in their ancient possessions , i dare not affirm , but rather believe the contrary . for there was no inducting them into their former inheritances , because no vacancy or avoidance therein ; terra plena , the land was still full with the plantation of medes and others brought in by shalmaneser . so that this remnant of the ten tribes , were ( for the main ) fain promiscuously to make their habitations where they might , whilst iudah and benjamin were restored to their ancient , intire , and distinct possessions . yet there is some probability , that some of zebulun and nephthali in our saviours time had recovered part of their ancient patrimony . otherwise the force of isaiahs prophecy , and matthews application is much impaired : n the land of zebulun and the land of nephthali &c. the people that sate in darkness saw great light . that is in a genuine and unstrained sense , their posterity had the day of deliverance first dawning unto them , whose ancestors were first overtaken with the night of affliction . § . that in the time of christ , and his apostles , some pious people of all tribes , were extant in iudea , plainly appears , by o anna the prophetess , which was of the tribe of asher . by saint pauls expression , p unto which promise , our twelve tribes instantly serving god day and night , hope to come . this cannot be meant of those departed this life , before saint pauls time , ( which were past hope and in possession of the promise ) but of such as served god then , when this speech was uttered . by the superscription of s. iames his epistle , q to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad , greeting . being christian iews probably , r dispersed from ierusalem , after the martyrdome of saint stephen . § . to conclude , what in the law god prescribed concerning the fields , he was pleased graciously to practise upon the persons of the israelites . s thou shalt not glean thy vineyard , neither shalt thou gather every grape in thy vineyard . he suffered a small racemation to remain , still preserving t 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and not wholly discomposing the solemn jury of the twelve tribes , which untill christs time were made the thinner , but not the fewer , by all their calamities . for , although thorough continuance of time , suddain and great changes in their condition , laziness and neglect , casuall losing , and spightfull embezeling of their records , mixt mariages with heathens , and many other accidents the intireness of their pedegrees was much perplext and interrupted ; yet by tradition from their parents , they knew in generall their extraction from those tribes , though unable particularly , to clear the immediate series of their descents . chap. . of palestine rent into two kingdomes , under rehoboam ; and their severall strengths balanced . § . the next solemn division , the land of canaan fell under , was , when it was cloven by the ten tribes a defection , into the kingdomes of iudah , and israel . § . the kingdome of iudah consisted chiefly of the tribe of iudah , which alone was so powerfull , and populous , that the men thereof , in the muster made by king b david , amounted in number to moe , then the half of all the other tribes there expressed . besides the body of this tribe , very considerable were the appurtenances thereof , namely , some of simeon , c whose inheritance was in the midst of the inheritance of the tribe of iudah . dan , part of whose possession was taken out of what originally was assigned to iudah . these must be presumed , to beare a state-sympathy to the kingdome of iudah , ingaged thereunto by the position of their countrey . yea , we finde it expressed in scripture , that d beersheba a city of simeon ; and e gath , f zorah , and g ajalon , cities of dan , did belong to , and were fortified by the kings of iudah . § . besides these , two thirds of the tribe of benjamin , pertained to the same kingdome ; as also all the levites h which left their cities in israel , and clave to the house of david . these , though properly the eyes of the land , had hands also , and contributed to the strength of the kingdome . adde hereunto all the well-affected , which out of all the tribes of i israel resorted to ierusalem . for , the by-ditches of dan and bethel , did not so drain the peoples devotion , but that much thereof ran in the right chanel to the temple ; and no doubt , many violently kept at home , had their hearts at ierusalem , and their bodies in israel , to which kingdome all the rest of the tribes did belong . § . here it will be richly worth our pains , to enter on a comparative estimate of these two kingdomes , which of them exceeded in puissance : herein we shall carry an impartiall hand ; and indeed , though the controversie be betwixt two kings , there is nothing to be got by flattering of either . § . we will compare them first in that , wherein solomon placeth the honour of a king , k the multitude of their subjects . and here any clear judgment will find for the kings of israel . § . secondly , if the extent of their dominions be surveyed , and our eye in the map made umpirer therein , the case is clear in view without measuring , that israel was the greatest . § . thirdly , if their cities be numbred , the result will be this , iudah had the sun , ierusalem ; israel had the moon , samaria , and most starres of the first magnitude , ieri●ho , iezreel , mahanaim &c. § . fourthly , if their ports , and naval power be considered , neither will be found very active that way , contentedly yeelding their sea-trading to the phenicians . yet israel had the advantage of havens , and marine accommodations , bordering most on the mediterranean ; iudah also ( to hold the scales even ) had ezion-gaber , a considerable port on the red-sea , as may appear by ahaziahs request to iehosaphat , l let my servants goe with thy servants in the ships ; plainly importing , that the men of iudah were the cape-merchants and prime mariners in those seas , by whose courtesie the subjects of the kings of israel , were admitted to trafique there . however , ezion-gaber on the red-sea was but a key to the back-door ( little of the east-indies being then known , and less traded to ) whereas the havens on the midland-sea opened the broad gates of commerce to the most and best frequented parts of the world . § . fifthly , if the absoluteness of their kings power be stated in their respective dominions , here in the opinions of some the upper hand must be adjudged to iudah . the kings whereof in administration of justice ( or rather revenge ) often exercised arbitrary power , making use of their prerogative above law . as appears by solomons proceedings against the lives of shimei , ioab , and adoniah ; and more plainly in iehoram's m executing his own brethren , by his peremptory pleasure , without legall conviction of them . whereas no monument is extant , of such arbitrary proceedings in the kings of israel , more confining themselves to legall courses . yea , the very murder of naboth carried the face of a judiciall process , wherein legall n formalities of witnesses , though suborned , were observed in a solemn session . the reason why the kings of iudah were more unlimited in their power , was , say they , because they derived their title immediately from the god of heaven , confirmed in davids familie by severall descents . but the kings of israel , being creatures of their own subjects , made by popular election , on condition to remit their taxes and burdens , ( and seldome above three of the same stock in a direct succession ) were fain to ingratiate themselves , with remitting much of that royall rigour used by the kings of iudah . and this is assigned by a judicious o author as a principall cause why israel never returned to their former subjection to davids family , because the scepter of iudah was too heavy for them , and they lived under more liberty in their own kingdome . § . sixtly , if their forain impressions , made by them on neighbouring princes be considered , the balance is so even , it is hard to say , on which side the beam breaketh . for , as memorable were the victories of the kings of israel against the syrians , so no lesse fortunate the fights of some kings p of iudah against the ethiopians , and other enemies . and as the kingdome of moab , till the death of ahab , was q tributary to israel : so edom , untill the end of the reign r of iehosaphat , was in subjection to the crown of iudah . § . seventhly , if their home-achievements each against other , be recounted , ( the truest touch-stone of their severall strengths ) god often made them alternately hold up one another , whilst he whipt them both for their sinnes . but although abijah once got a remarkable s conquest of ieroboam , yet generally israel worsted iudah , overpowering them with multitude of men . thus baasha t cooped up asa in his own land ; ioash u overcame amaziah , and took ierusalem ; and pekah almost utterly w consumed ahaz , and his kingdome . § . to conclude , if their lasting and continuance be measured , herein iudah clearly carrieth away the preheminence . grant , israel beat iudah at hand , yet iudah beat israel at length , even out of distance . for , whilst the babylonish captivity did onely snuffe iudah , for seventy years , ( blazing the brighter when they returned from banishment ) the assyrian conquest utterly extinguished israel , from ever appearing again , in a formed common-wealth , in their own countrey . chap. . of the partition of the land into the provinces of galilea , samaria , and judea . § . when these two kingdomes had determined , & the division of the twelve tribes was out of date , palestine began to be distinguished into three provinces , whose number and posture we find in the evangelists , being traced in order by the feet of our saviour , a . he left iudea . . and departed again into galilee . . and he must needs goe through samaria . it being denied to our saviour himself , to travail per saltum , à termino ad terminum sine medio , so that he could not ordinarily pass from iudah in the south , to galilee in the north , without traversing samaria , which lay in the midst betwixt both . § . to begin with iudea , or iury ; it is not taken here in that large acception , wherein it contained the whole countrey , and entire subject of this our book ( in which sense herod the great is styled b king of iudea ) but is taken , as c elsewhere it is termed , the province of iudea , for a third part of the whole land , consisting of the ground formerly belonging to iudah , benjamin , simeon , dan , and reuben . for , that this province reached eastward , beyond the river , plainly appears in the d evangelists , affirming , that christ came from galilee into the coasts of iudea beyond iordan . a spacious countrey it was , and in our saviours time , the proper habitation of the principall iews . nor is it amiss to observe , that a portion of land ( with the governments of lidda and ramah ) lying in the juncture of benjamin and ephraim , was in the time of the maccabees , taken from samaria , by king demetrius , and by him e assigned to iudea , in reward of the friendship , and faithfulness of the iews in his service ; which gore , or gusset of ground , was called apherema , that is , a thing taken away , because parted from samaria , and pieced to iudea . § . samaria succeeds , whereby we understand not , the city of that name , for a long time , metropolis of the kingdome of israel ; but a countrey ( formerly pertaining to ephraim , and manasseh , and f gad ) peopled after the assyrian captivity , with colonies brought thither from g babylon , and the neighbouring dominions . at first this land did not fadge well with these new inhabitants , lions sent by god disturbing their quiet possession ; untill a priest of the israelites was remanded , to teach them h the manner of the god of the land . but , what betwixt an ignorant master , and indocible scholars , nothing was learnt to purpose . he taught them no true worship , but onely ieroboams divinity ( as appears by their i appointing out priests of themselves for their high-places ) and they jumbled together their own numerous idols , with the service of god. in so much , as they are said to k fear the lord , and in the next verse , not to fear the lord : not that there is any contradiction in the text , but an open opposition , betwixt their pretence , and practise ; seeing such as fear god otherwise , then his will in his word prescribes , fear him not in effect . § . however , afterwards the samaritans quitted their multitude of idols , and patched up a religion amongst themselves , wherein , they adored one deity , but him so erroneously , that christ flatly told them , l yee worship that which you know not . they acknowledged onely the five books of moses for canonicall . they had a temple on mount gerizim , stickling for the honour and holiness thereof to equall , yea exceed that at ierusalem they expected a saviour , beleeving him as able , so willing to resolve all important difficulties ; m when messiah is come , he will tell us all things . they falsly accounted themselves extracted from the ancient hebrew patriarchs . thus the samaritan woman had it rise in her mouth , n our father iacob , though in very deed , he was no more her father , then the man she kept company with , was her husband , being neither lineally descended from the one , nor lawfully maried to the other . hear what iosephus hath to this purpose ; the samaritans , says he , o are of this nature , that when the iews are high in fortune and success , presently they embrace society with them , and deduce the series of their own descent from the patriarch ioseph , and his sonnes ephraim and manasseb : but when the iews are depressed and low in estate , then they disclaim all kindred , defie all affinity with them , professing themselves ( as indeed they are ) to be originally medes and persians . § . generally great was the antipathy betwixt the samaritans and iews . the former persecuting every face that did but look towards ierusalem ; on which bare account they churlishly denied our saviour entertainment in their town , because p his behaviour was as though he would goe to ierusalem . nor came the iews behind them in hatred , so far from familiar q conversing with them , that a iew would rather contentedly endure thirst , then , to quench it , crave drink of a samaritan , lest such hands should defile the water , with the very drawing of it . yea when the malice of the iews meant mortally to wound our saviours reputation , they said , he was a r samaritan and had a devill . however , the deluge of sin did not so generally drown all the samaritans , but that some dry islands , some good men were found amongst them . one eminent for his gratitude to god , being the tithe of the lepers cleansed by christ , who s alone returned to give him thanks ; & another no less commendable for his charity to t man , being physitian , surgeon , host , and in a word , neighbour to the unknown traveller wounded by theeves in his journey to iericho . § . galilee remaines , so called ( as u melanchthon will have it ) because in hebrew signifying a bound or limit , lying in the northern marches of the land . it was twofold , the upper formerly belonging to the tribes of asher , nephthali , and manasseh beyond iordan . the lower , formerly belonging to the tribes of zebulun , and issachar . the upper galilee is also called w galilee of the gentiles , or , galilaea gojim , whereof many reaasons are rendred by learned men . these two most considerable , either that it was so called , because very populous , in which consideration it is termed by x iosephus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; affirming , that the least 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 village therein had fifteen thousand inhabitants . so that , galilea gojim , or of the gentiles , is the same with populous galilee . ( if any except that gojim in scripture is onely taken for heathen , never for the people of the iews , may he be remitted to learned y rivet , by instances to the contrary to have his judgment rectified herein ) or else , it was called galilee of the gentiles , because it bordered on them , and lay in the passage through which travellers journied to the gentiles . thus the gate of z ephraim in ierusalem got the name thereof , not that it stood in , but led toward the tribe of ephraim . § . the galileans were high spirited people , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , fighters from their infancy , impatient of wrong , lovers of liberty , and prone to revenge . much of their nature may be read in their countrey-man saint peter , forward ( not to say furious ) in hot bloud , to draw his b sword though at great disadvantage , and after , at leasure to repent it . apt they were to raise tumults against the romans , but always with ill success . witness especially , when they pretended sacrifice to cloak their rebellion , but pilat was too quick and cunning for them , who subduing them , c mingled their bloud with their sacrifices . they were distinguishable by their dialect from other iews , speaking a broader , or ( as i may say ) a dorick syriack , whereof the maid minded saint peter , thou d art a galilean , and thy speech agreeth thereunto . they were accounted courser , and less refined iews , as appears by the expression of the evangelist , e the galileans received him , having seen all the things that he did at ierusalem at the feast , for they also went up vnto the feast . where those words , for they also , though they admit the galileans to the communion of the same religion with the iews , yet set them at a second table , as inferiour to the other . yea , the iews called our saviour in disgrace , at least wise in diminution , a galilean . might i presume to interpose my opinion , i should conceive these galileans were chiefly extracted from the remainder of the ten tribes , left behind in the land , after the assyrian captivity , as we have shewed before . § . if these three provinces be in severall respects , compared together , they behave themselves as followeth , for antiquity ; galilee the first , ( mentioned s in ioshua ) iudea the next , samaria the youngest . extent ; iudea the greatest , galilee the next , samaria the smallest . honour ; iudea the highest , ( because ierusalem therein ) samaria the next , galilee the meanest . safety ; samaria the first ( best secured in the middle ) iudea next , galilee last , and most exposed to enemies . fruitfulness ; galilee the first , samaria second , iudea mountainous , and less fruitfull , by the testimony of saint hierom. this distinction of these three provinces lasted till the destruction of the second temple , but abated in the solemnity thereof , by the ensuing partition into tetrarchies . chap. . of the division of this land into four tetrarchies , and some other small territories . § . much about the time of our saviours birth , this land was divided into four tetrarchies . a tetrarchy is conceived by a some to be a dominion , wherein are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : i.e. four squadrons and sixty four men . others , with pliny , take it to be a countrey , with four cities therein . but learned c salmasius , to whom we refer the reader , confutes these for erroneous , where he proveth a tetrarchy to be a fourth part of a kingdome ; be the men , or cities therein more or less . these tetrarchies in iudea , took their originall from the testament of herod the great , who leaving severall sons , bequeathed unto them parcells of his kingdome . § . afterwards , with some alteration of their limits , these tetrarchies in iudea were continued by the romans ( as also elsewhere in the countrey of galatia ) on very politick considerations ; . hereby they had the advantage four to one , to gratifie and ingage more friends , with princely honour ; seeing one kingdome thus thriftily managed , afforded four tetrarchies ; as he may be charitable to moe , who changeth his pence into farthings . as they gratified moe ; so they trusted less , it being no wisdome to venture too much power , in one and the same person . the restless nature of the iews required many overseers ; and a small territory amongst them , would yeeld the governour thereof plentifull employment . in d saint luke , we find the number and order of these tetrarchies , namely , when iohn baptist began to preach , pilate was governour of iudea . herod was tetrarch of galilee . philip was tetrarch of iturea , and trach●nitis . lysanias was tetrarch of abilen● . pilate is styled governour , having precedency of the rest , as residing in ierusalem the principall city , and ( perchance ) had a superintendency over the other tetrarchs , by vertue whereof he suppressed the rebel●lious e galileans , which were otherwise of herods dominion . howsoever they observed their distinct jurisdictions ; for , pilat hearing that christ was of galilee , f sent him to herod , to be tried before him : either out of civility , because he would not incroach on anothers jurisdiction ; or out of policy , to decline so distastfull , and dangerous employment ; at leastwise to divide the odium betwixt them , that herod should have his share , if not his half thereof . § . concerning the bounds of iudea and galilee ( samaria being so swallowed up betwixt them , that the southern part thereof belonged to iudea , the northern to galilee ) largely in the last chapter . of iturea hereafter more fully in the description of nephthali . as for abilene , we are less solicitous in assigning the accurate bounds thereof , because it lay wholly out of the land of canaan , the proper subject of our discourse . abilene , called by ptolemy abilene lysaniae , being a fair city in coelosyria , where the dominions thereof ranged far on the north of libanus . if any demand , why the tetrarchy of abilene is mentioned by saint luke , seeing it was an exotick , and forain territory , out of the pale of palestine ; let them know , it was done out of the over aboundant exactness of the evangelist , for these reasons : the more exquisitely to notifie the particular time of his history , not onely by the date of the governours of iudea , but also of contemporary neighbouring princes . and the harmony in chronology is the sweeter , the more are brought into the consort . because many dispersed iews , equally concerned in christ , and the benefit of the gospell , lived scattered in abilene . because having formerly mentioned three tetrarchs , the number had not been perfect , and entire , without adding the fourth . thus some english coines being quarter-pieces , cannot be put away in payment without loss , except four of them be joined together . because , though abilene was not within the compass of the lesser canaan , possessed by the iews ; yet it was within the bounds of the larger canaan , that countrey once belonging to the archites , and arvadites the sons of canaan . § . now whosoever shall with a compasse in his hand , survey the extent of these tetrarchies , will finde them to fall out very uneven in their dimensions , some much larger then others . indeed they were measured with no other scale , then the favour and friendship of the emperour , so that the best befriended at rome , got most dominion in palestine . yet were these tetrarchies as justly divided , as our english hundreds , ( and those perchance equall in their primitive institution , for number of men ) seeing we count threescore and eight hundreds in g kent , and but six in lancashire , accounted little less in the compass thereof . nor was the revenues of these tetrarchies , less unequall then their extent , the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or yearly income of trachonitis , with the appurtenances belonging to philip , amounting , h as iosephus computeth it , but to an hundred talents ; whilest galilee , with its appendents , returned two hundred ; and iudea , advantaged with the friendly city of ierusalem , yeelded four hundred talents yearly to the governour . § . indeed exactness in observing the bounds of these tetrarchies , is not to be expected ; which , in process of time , passed under all parts of numeration ; multiplied , subtracted , added to , new divided , made moe , made fewer , made other then in their primitive establishment . let not therefore the reader be moved , if sometimes he find moe tetrarchies , sometimes fewer then four , mentioned by good authours in palestine , seeing as i salmasius informs us , the word tetrarchy in after-ages was negligently taken , for a part or parcell of dominion , without relating to the exact proportion of a fourth part . thus it is usuall for barbarous tongues , to seduce words ( as i may say ) from their native purity , custome corrupting them to signifie things contrary to their genuine , and grammaticall notation . who knows not , but that the word moity , both in k law , and true language ▪ importeth the just midst , and true half of a thing ? though small moity in ordinary discourse is taken for any canton , or small portion . and in a more proper instance , though the cinque ports are notoriously known to be five , as the name signifieth ; yet reckoned up with their members they make seven , as i doubt not , but six , yea moe tetrarchies , may sometimes be told in palestine . § . and now to take our farewell , of the severall divisions of this land , mentioned in scripture , ( for on such onely we insist ) it will not be amiss to minde the reader , that besides the foresaid partitions , we finde some other territories in iudea , having proper names and bounds to themselves , but the latter so excentricall , that they fall out neither even with any one tribe , nor adequate to any of the provinces , or territories formerly described . such are , idumea , sometimes taken more strictly , for the south part l of iudea ; sometimes more largely ( as always in the old m testament ) for the land of edom , and the adjacent dominion . perea , ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to cross the water is frequent in the travels of our saviour ) being a countrey containing all the land once belonging to reuben , gad , and manasseh on the east of iordan . decapolis , that is , a land with ten cities therein ; the just proportion of command given to the good servant , who improved his five to ten pounds , take thou authority n over ten cities . however , such is the variety even betwixt good authors , that amongst them the ten cities of decapolis , are almost ten severall ways reckoned up . we will onely set down two , the most authentick computations of them . pliny his o account . damascus . opoton . philadelphia , once rabba . raphana . seythopolis , once bethsan . gaddara . hippon . pella . galasa , for gerasa . canatha . brochard his p account . tiberias . sephet . kedesh-nepthali . hazor . capernaum . caesarea philippi . iotopata . bethsaida . chorazin . scythopolis . the reason of their great difference may be this , that in continuance of time , some of these ancient cities fell into decay , or disfavour to forfeit their franchises , whilst later places might succeed to their lost immunities . § . here we pass over in silence , the division of iudea into the q hill-countrey , and the r low-countrey ; because this distinction is not appropriate to palestine , but usuall , and obvious in all other kingdomes . i remember whilest i lived in the west of england and confines of summerset-shire , hearing a labourer speak much of his long living in the low-countreys , i demanded of him , whether he had ever been at amsterdam ? he answered , that he had never been there , but often at taunton . whereby i plainly perceived , what low-countreys he meant , namely the flat and levell of summerset-shire , under quantock-hills , according to the language of the people in those parts . thus when the tribe of iudah is said to conquer the can●anites in the s low-countrey , we understand the champion and plain-field in iudea , which lay at the foot of the mountains . § . we meet in scripture with many other petite tracts of ground , honoured with names of lands ; as , the land of t hepher , the land of u dor , the land of w zuph , the land of x shual &c. and in the new testament the land of y gennesareth , with many other . these may be compared to our gilsland in cumberland , cleveland in york-shire , marishland in norfolk , lovingland in suffolk , portland in dorset-shire : places which sound so big , that if measured by the ear , and length of syllables , they would be accounted kingdomes , or counties at least , whereas surveyed by the sight , and scale of miles , they appeare like the aforesaid lands in palestine , very small , and little parcells of ground , whereof largely as we light on them hereafter in our severall descriptions . chap. . how the hebrews measured places . of their cubits , furlongs , miles and sabbath-days-journeys . § . the hebrews distanced their places by severall measures , some arbitrary , casuall , and uncertain ; others certain , as reduced to a constant standard . of the former was their measuring of land by paces , for we a read , when david solemnly brought the ark into ierusalem , when he had gone six paces he offered oxen and fallings . but here we are left at a loss in point of certainty , taking it rather for an ambulatory , then a geometricall pace , and then how vast the difference herein ? for saul being higher from the shoulders b upward , then the rest of israel , by the symmetry of parts , his pace must be presumed proportionably longer then other men . nor more certain was the hebrews measuring their land by a bow-shoot , as hagar is said , to set her son i●hmael a good way off , as it were c a bow-shoot ; which if at rovers , or randome , admits of variation , according to the strength of the bow , might or sleight of the archer , weight or fashion of the arrow . § . as little certainty is also to be had , by measuring of ground by days-journeys . moses in the name of his countrey-men requested pharaoh , that they might goe d three days journey into the wildernesse , and sacrifice unto the lord their god. and i have seen some dutch-maps , in their scale , in stead of miles , measured by days-journeys . a computation most uncertain , especially when it is not agreed , whether the day be in summer , or winter ; the traveller on horse-back , or on foot : not to speak of the goodness , or plainness of the way , ( by which advantage , e ahimaaz beat cushi ) the speed and diligence of the traveller . for instance ; iacob being in the prime of his youth , sole and single with god , and his staffe , travelled in a day from beer-sheba to f bethel , no less then sixty english miles ; a tough journey , and yet the wonder is lessened , if we observe , no doubt , he set forth early ( probably in the dark to prevent discovery ) and travelled till after the sun g was set . he fled from his brother esau ; and fear makes good foot-men . he went to fetch a wife ; and so welcome an imployment made him mend his pace . thus early up , and active in himself , and assisted by god , and driven with fear , and drawn with love , and freed from any luggage ; no wonder , if he went fast and far in a day . but the same iacob , when he returned from padan-aram , bringing with him flocks , children , and the impediments of a family , found h fifteen miles from mahanaim to peniel ( if he went so far in one day ) to be a sufficient journey . however , i deny not , but perchance anciently , the foresaid paces , bow-shoots , and days-journeys were reduced to a certain proportion , though now to us unknown . and yet hence no imperfection in scripture-history is justly inferred , because the point is of no such concernment , and the holy spirit intended not exactness therein , as not important to the truth of the story . § . come we now to their certain measures of ground : amongst which the cubit challengeth the preheminence , as most common and current in all iudea , yea and in other eastern countreys . for we finde even in persia , that the gallowes provided by haman for mordecai ( but hanselled by himself ) was fifty i cubits high . except any will say , this was extraordinary , that in the greater scorn and derision , that the gallows might the better fit a iews body , it was framed and fashioned according to a jewish dimension . by cubits they were commanded , to measure the suburbs and lands of the levites , which were to reach from the k wall of the city , and outwards , a thousand cubits round about . say not this was a long and tedious work , to mete by so small a measure , god hereby shewing , that the least parcell of so fruitfull a land , was of conside●able valuation . thus precious drugs are not weighed out by hundreds , or pounds ; but by drams , scruples , and graines ; so soveraign is the smallest particle thereof . § . a cubit ( in the hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , amah ) is so called from cubitus the elbow ( as that from cubo to lean , or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to bow ) because properly the space betwixt the elbow , and tip of the middle finger . it was two-fold , the great , and the lesse , which may be cleared out of scripture , against such as levell all cubits alike , and conceive this distinction lyeth not in the thing it self , but mens bare opinion . for , chron. . . we finde cubits according to the first measure , and the prophet a expresly mentioneth a full reed of six great cubits . the lesser cubit generally is adequate to our foot and half , or half yard , the great double as much , commensurate to our full yard or three foot . but rabbi cam●i in his comment on b ezekiel assignes the great cubit a larger proportion , so that a thousand emoth , or cubits make a mile , whom we have followed in laying out the bounds of the levites suburbs . § . forbear we here to speak of fathoms , but once mentioned in scripture c ( and then in the adriatick sea ) because onely used to sound the depth of water , nor measure the length of land . a furlong comes next to be considered , so called quasi furrowlong , being so much as a teme in england plougheth going forward , before they return back again . i say in england , otherwise in the east parts of poland , where lords have large lands in a continued champion-countrey , uninterrupted with inclosu●es , they make but two ●urlongs ( and those some miles in length ) in a whole day , the one going forth , the other coming back , so to save time and toil of often turning . we finde no mention of furlongs in the old testament , and indeed the grecian sheers first cut the land of canaan into the fashion of furlongs , after alexander and the asian kings became masters thereof . hereupon we first meet with them in d macca●ees , which afterwards in the new testament , became the constant computation of distances , both by sea and land . now although some difference be in the dimension of severall ●urlongs , the italian is concluded to contain an hundred and five and twenty paces , and to be the eight part of a mile . § . a mile consists of a thousand paces , whence in latine it takes its denomination , and is a measure of pure roman extraction . however some learned men conceive , that the hebrew berah , answereth to the proportion of the roman mile , and so ( saith e montanus ) is always rendered by the rabbins ; namely , when iacob is f twice said , to want but a berah to come to ephrath ; and when naaman is said , to have departed g a berah from the prophet elisha . in all which places tremelius hath it exiguum terrae spatium , whom our translation following , readeth it , a little way . a mile is said to contain eight furlongs , though others in these eastern parts , will have ten to concurre to the compleating thereof . § . but , be a mile more , or less ; longer , or shorter ; the sense , rather then the sound , is to be heeded in our saviours precept , h and whosoever shall compell thee to goe a mile , goe with him twain . not that hereby he meant to make christians the lackeys to every mans insolence , but onely to beat down in them vindicative dispositions , to gain on their oppressours , by submission , not violence , seeing resistance would invite ruine upon them , during their present condition . indeed , clothes are straitest when first put on , which afterwards widen with wearing ; and so some think the strictness of this precept , was onely at the first giving thereof . yea , they compare this , and the like prudentiall counsells , rather then positive commands , to the shells of birds , which when they are hatched fall off of their own accord , conceiving onely infant christianity obliged to the keeping thereof . whereas an eternall tye is therein contained ; but , with what circumstances it is to be observed , comes not within the scale of miles in our maps to determine . § . the sabbath-days journey remaines , and great difference there is amongst good authors about the proportion thereof . some count it so much as was betwixt each mans proper habitation , and the next synagogue , or place of publick worship , to which he was to repair ; others , that distance , which one might goe after the morning , and return before the evening sacrifice was offered . but let us attend to the text which directs us to some certainty therein ; i then returned they to ierusalem from the mount called olivet , which is from ierusalem a sabbath-days journey . by the mount here we understand not the verge , or bottome ; but the summity , top , or ridge thereof , whence our saviour made his ascension . secondly , both going thither , and returning thence are computed in the compass of the journey . now , bethany which was on mount olivet , is elsewhere said to be nigh to ierusalem k about fifteen furlongs , two miles on the matter ; all which put together , the result is , that four miles , or there-abouts , make up a sabbath-days journey . provided , it was leasurely , and moderately paced , coming under the notion rather of recreation , then toil ; a walk , then a work , both to man and beast ; otherwise the day might be broken as well in going too fast , as too far . § . it will here be demanded , seeing this was flatly against the letter of the law , ( if not onely meant for the gathering of manna ) positive , and negative ; l abide yee every man in his place , let no man goe out of his place on the seventh day : whence then did this indulgence , or dispensation arise ? some ground it on ioshua's * ordering , that the ark should in its removall be distanced from the people about two thousand cubits by measure ; which space is presumed , might be gone forward and backward by any on the sabbath-day without offence . but others conceive this equity included in the very words of the ordinance . for , surely god intended not , that the sabbath should nail the iews as fast to their houses as the darkness did the egyptians m when none arose from their place ; seeing such a sedentary stupidity had been a rack , not a rest ; and a poor refreshing to the jewish servants , that those who had been labourers six days , should be prisoners the seventh . some necessary motion therefore must be allowed . and when the disciples walked th●ough the corn on the * sabbath-day , the pharisees found fault , not with their feet , but their hands , not with their going , but gathering ears of corn as they went. as for the pars quota , how far people might goe on that day , custome and tradition had decided it , about the days of our saviour . § . for in the age of elisha the nice restriction of a sabbath-days journey was unknown . for when the shunamite requested of her husband , a to send her one of the young men , and one of the asses , that she may run to the man of god , and come again , he rejoyned , wherefore wilt thou goe to him to day ? it is neither new moon , nor ▪ sabbath . intimating , that had it been sabbath either weekly or annuall , it was her duty , and had been her custome to repair to the place where the prophet lived ; though carmel , where elisha resided , was from shunem at least fifteen miles . as for the iews in our saviours time , they persisted in the rigorous observation of the sabbath , even till , and after the destruction of the temple , insinuated in our saviours counsell , o pray that your flight be not in winter , nor on the sabbath-day . christ in the latter pitying that conflict , which would happen in the scrupulous conscience of ceremonious iews , betwixt their love of saving their lives , and keeping the law ; lest that , while the one spurred them to fly , and the other bridled them to stay , they would be at such a stand , that their enemies might easily knock them down in that stound of amazement , and their life be determined in this world , before the question decided in their conscience . § . as for latitudes and longitudes , the light and life of all great maps , we have onely observed them in our generall descriptions of palestine and egypt , omitting them in the draughts of particular tribes , whose smalness render them incapable thereof , without very much pains , and with very small profit . in the latitudes we may attain a tolerable certainty , but so different are good authors in assigning the longitudes , that they accord no better in their testimonies , then the witnesses brought against christ , p not any two of them agreeing together . nor doth this discord onely arise from the different meridians , whence the ancients and moderns doe start their computations , because this being easily arbitrated according to just proportion , the difference almost remains as much as ever before . however , we have followed authors of the best authority , as q hereafter god willing we shall give the reader a particular account thereof . chap. . directions for the use of the scale of miles in our maps . § . without a scale of miles , ( or degrees equivalent ) the livelyest draught of a countrey is no regulated map , but a paper full of names of places . however , vast is the difference betwixt the miles in severall countreys . an italian mile containeth seven , an english eight furlongs . a french is equall to two , a vulgar dutch to three english miles , the large dutch to four , the miles in swizerland to five , not to say six of our english computation : so that , in that mountainous countrey , travellers have a double disheartning , the worst of ways , and longest of miles . yea upon the alpes in the juncture of germany and italy , in the self same mountain , on the north side the miles are the longest , on the south side the shortest in christendome . § . come over into england , and what difference is there betwixt a middlesex and a yorkshire mile ? the former the shortest , because ( as some will have it ) every london-lady when weary with walking , concludes the space though never so short to be a mile : whilest the well mounted rank-riders in the northern countrey , insensible of the length of the way , because of the swiftness of their horses , make miles of the largest proportion . our scale of miles presented in all these maps , is according to the english mile containing eight furlongs ; to which we have reduced ( a task rather troublesome then difficult ) the measures of other authours , giving allowance according to the standards of the severall countreys whereof they were . § . here ( if my complaint might finde any pity , and that pity give me any ease ) i would complain of the irreconcileable difference betwixt authors ( proceeding on one and the same scale of miles ) in making their distances betwixt their severall places . we read of saul that he so scattered the army of the ammonites so that a two of them were not lest together ▪ such a dispersion we finde in the judgment of learned men , not two of them generally concurring in the measuring of miles betwixt eminent places . § . now as jurie-men , when severall witnesses swear point-blank one against another , make bold to beleeve his testimony who appears most credible unto them , such power we have assumed to our selves in these differences , to follow those , who we conceive have the best authority . herein having a speciall regard to those that lived upon the place , and preferring their judgments above others , though otherwise of greater learning , because in matters of fact done in his presence , the eyes of a child are to be beleeved before the eares of a man. § . where both authours appear of equall authority in themselves , and number of followers , we have umpired the difference by pitching on a middle number betwixt both . for instance , b seiglerus makes it fourteen thousand paces or fourteen miles betwixt zidon and tyre ( eminent marts , and therefore the distance betwixt them might be notoriously known ) whilst c vadianus makes it two hundred furlongs , or twenty miles . here to part the difference equall , we have insisted on miles . § . however when this , and much more caution is used by us , our scale of miles is so farre from pretending to the exactness of those left-handed gibeonites d to hit the mark at an haires-breadth and not misse , that a large and charitable latitude must still be allowed us in a subject so hard and full of uncertainty . yea the holy spirit it self speaks not positively of distances of places , but with words of qualification . e about threescore furlongs from ierusalem to emmaus ; f about five and twenty or thirty furlongs they had rowed on the sea ; as if five in thirty made no considerable difference . if the same favour may be but allowed our scale of miles , i doubt not but it will acquit it self against all just exception . § . now for the further managing of our scale of miles we request the reader not to extend it , therewith to measure all the properties , or history-pictures in our map ( for then some men would appear giants , yea monsters , many miles long ) expecting him rather to carry a scale in his own eyes , for surveying such portraitures . yea in generall i undertake nothing in defence or excuse of those pictures , to be done according to the rule of art , as none of my work , ornamentall , not essentiall to the maps : onely this i will say , that eminency in english gravers , is not to be expected till their art be more countenanced and encouraged . nor would i have the scale applied to cities drawn in prospective , as to rabbah in the tribe of gad &c. which then will fall out bigger then indeed they were ; desiring the reader onely to understand them to be fair and populous cities , and therefore made more large and conspicuous then the rest . § . such towns as stand ( as one may say ) on tiptoes , on the very umstroke , or on any part of the utmost line of any map ( unresolved in a manner to stay out or come in ) are not to be presum'd placed according to exactness , but onely signifie them there , or thereabouts . nor is this without precedents in the best geographers , so in their maps to make the generall continuation of neighbouring countreys clearer thereby . § . if any difference , on accurate comparing , arise in the distances betwixt the same places presented in severall maps , ( some such will escape in defiance of all diligence ) we hope the same will appear inconsiderable , & such moats ( not being before the sight , but in the corner of the eye ) will little , if at all , hinder the light of a geographical truth . surely as in the strictest laws of horse-racers , some wast of weight is allowed to the riders : so me thinks some favour ought to be afforded an author , in measuring and making many maps , were it but for the shaking of his weary hand in so tedious a work . but if such differences appear somewhat great , let those be relied on as the truest , where such places are set down datâ operâ , of set purpose ; so that it is the very work of that map to describe them : let those i say be credited before the distances in other maps , where such places come in onely of complement , or are brought in by the by , to fashion and fill up the ( otherwise empty ) borders thereof . chap. . how the different qualities of places in our maps , are distinguished by their severall characters . § . may the reader be pleased to learn the language of the severall characters of the places used in our map , which speak much in little , and are very usefull for the clearing of the history . all cities markt with coronets were anciently the royall seats of the thirty one kings of canaan , at and before the time of ioshua all cities surrounded with double circles ( the reason whereof hereafter ) belong to the tribe of levi. all cities having banners or flags placed upon them , shew the conjecturall position thereof , when we have no assurance of their exact situation . one side of which flags humbly confesseth our want of certainty , the other as earnestly craveth better information . when places are noted with asterisks it imports difference of divines , some making them proper names , others meerly appellative . places which have both flags and asterisks upon them , are as i may say doublehatcht with uncertainty , not onely their position being doubtfull , but it is questionable whether they be proper names or no. places mentioned onely in the apocrypha are signed with a crescent or half-moon inverted , in some allusion to the difference of armes of younger brethren , such books being accounted of the fathers but of a second rank , and reputed but deutero-canonicall by learned romanists . say not that a barre of bastardy better befitted them being taken out of apocrypha writings . for what though those writings were never penned by prophets ( of whom none betwixt malachi and iohn the baptist ) never written in hebrew , never owned by the iews , gods people , for canonicall , to whom the oracles of god g were committed , ( and , which is mainly materiall , christ reproved them not for this neglect ) never prophesied of christ to h whom all the prophets beare witness , never solemnly quoted by christ and his apostles ; yet because ancient , and because it may be said of them as of abijah the sonne of ieroboam , i in them there is found sone good thing toward the lord , they deserve from unprejudic'd judgments a reverent respect . places noted with ● cross in a circle , are such whereof no mention in scripture , but onely in humane writers , iosephus , pliny , and the like . such as have on them an half-moon with the points upward are modern places in the possession of the turk . of these very few , and those either of high note in themselves , or because seated on high rodes . we confess these no essentiall part , but conceive them a fit copartment for our subject in hand . and thus among the flock of cities in our map , by looking on their brand , their owner and nature are quickly known . § . some will conceive these had better been thrown together without any distinction , seeing the learned doe not need , and the unlearned will not heed the differences aforesaid . however we had rather offend on the right hand , and be censured for overmuch caution . others will adjudge it fitter , that the severall towns had been set forth in sundry maps , not putting the new piece to the old so to make the rent the worse , not mingling modern with ancient places , but presenting them apart in entire descriptions . but this being a matter of great expence , we leave such mens judgments to be rectified by their purses , when they seriously consider the price thereof . § . and now what remaineth , but that we humbly beg a measuring reed out of the sanctuary to be lent us , that so by heavens assistance we may be enabled to perform this survey of the land of canaan ? this in the first place implored , we proceed to our task . it was saint pauls advice to the corinthians , k be yee followers of me , as i am of christ : my humble request to the reader is , that while i goe before him in this my description , he would follow me in his own pace , at his own pleasure , so fast , and so far as i follow the truth , at least the most probability grounded on scripture , ancient authors , and modern travellers who have been eye-witnesses of the countrey . finis libri primi . to the right honourable henry lord beavchampe , son to the right honourable william marques of hartford . my lord , amongst many other meditations , my serious thoughts have made enquiry , concerning government and nobility , whence each of them derived their originall . for the first , i finde it as ancient as man , and extracted from god himself . who because he was a spirit , ( and therefore invisible ) the better to try what tribute of obedience , men out of conscience would pay unto him , stamped a character of dominion , as his own visible image ( in the infancy of mankind ) on the father of the family , that so honour and duty might be given to god in yeelding subjection to him who represented him . these first governours were termed patriarches , that is , father-princes , their compounded name , speaking their mixt authority . and a josephus writing of the death of methuselah , saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , he left , or passed over his principality to lamech his son ; and this prince-ship continued in the primogeniture for many ages , till the method thereof was discomposed , partly by the numerosity of mankinde , partly by their far dispersed habitations . thus was government the mistresse , first born in the world , whilest nobility her maide came in not long after to attend her . for such persons , whose vertuous dispositions commended them to the speciall favour of princes in power , had in reward of their worth ; markes of honour fixed upon them : which afterward by succession descended unto their posterity . of these , some imitating their ancestours goodness , continued in the splendor of their nobility , whilest others degenerating by their vicious courses , invited neglect and contempt upon themselves . insomuch that in some the valour and spirit of their progenitors ( which advanced them by the sword in time of war ) evaporated all into empty aire ; turning into a wild and riotous animosity ; and in others , the gravity and wisdome of their grandfathers ( which promoted them by the gown in the days of peace ) settleth into feculent earth , leaving nothing but a tame and unactive stupidity behinde it . herethe nobility of such had expired , save that some of them seasonably perceiving the desperate consumption thereof did follow the prescription of physick , and returned into the native aire which first gave honour her birth and being ; and did so repair their lost reputation by practising the primitive vertues of piety , courtesie , hospitality ; valour , wisdome , and learning ; thus going home to the climate wherein nobility was first conceived . but thanks be to god , your lordship is none of those personally guilty of any decay of dignity ; whose vertues preserve your honour in the perfect health and strength thereof , which hath been the main motive to make me so desirous to present my book to your honour , as a proper patron , even to the height , for all purposes and intents . whose iudgment can examine the whole , clemency pardon what is amiss , and greatness protect the rest in defiance of opposition . indeed sir , besides desire to shelter my self under your patronage , gratitude obligeth me to tender my service to your honour . for all my books , being my nether and upper milstone , ( and such by the leviticall law , might not be taken to pledge , because a mans b life ) without which i had been rendered unable to grinde any grist for the good of my self or others , had been taken from me in these civill wars , had not a letter from your lady-mother preserved the greatest part thereof . good reason therefore that the first handfull of my finest meale should be presented in thankfulness to your family . and now my lord , bethinking my self of a blessing for your self and worthy lady , that she-pattern of meekness , modesty piety , and patience ; no fitter can be found then what the psalmist pronounceth , that you may see your childrens children , and c peace upon israel . here is the finest of wares , and withall the largest of measures , length of days , to enjoy them . well may this prayer be read at marriages , there being a marriage in the prayer , wherein long-life coupleth posterity and peace together . otherwise it is wofull to multiply for war to subtract ; and onely to be fruitfull for the sword or famine . may this benediction of the psalmist light on you and yours in the highest performance thereof : which is the desire of your lordships most humble servant tho. fuller . here followeth the map of reuben . the tribe of revben . the second book . § . reuben eldest son of iacob by leah , forfeited his birthright by a defiling his fathers bed . for which fact he was cursed , b that he should not excell . whereupon came such a dearth of eminent persons of this tribe , that neither king , judge , priest , nor prophet descended thereof . yea , few men of fame , onely two notoriously infamous , c dathan and abiram , generalls of the mutineers against moses : haply in hope , because of their extraction , to recover the lost birthright unto their tribe . yet these reubenites , though not springing high , spread broad ; little puissant , very populous , counting no fewer then forty six d thousand five hundred at the generall muster in mount sinai : all which dying in the wilderness for their infidelity , their children descended * from them , being forty three thousand , seven hundred and thirty , possessed this land , east of iordan . § . a land , that five times exchanged her owners in the old testament . first , her originall inhabitants were the e emims , a younger house of the anakims : accounted giants , being great in stature and many in number . secondly , moabites , who , though less and lower , yet advantaged by divine f assistance , did overtop and overcome these voluminous emims , and possessed themselves of their land . thirdly , amorites , under sihon their king who ( somewhat before moses conducted the israelites hither ) acquired the soveraignty of this countrey , g beating out the moabites , and banishing them south of arnon . fourthly , reubenites : on whom moses bestowed it , after sihon was conquered and killed . fifthly , moabites again . for it seems after the captivity of the reubenites by tilgath pilneser chron. . . they made a re-entry on their old possessions : seeing those cities ( formerly inhabited by the reubenites ) are prophecied against by h isaiah and ieremiah , under the notion of places belonging to the people of moab , to be destroied by shalmaneser , and nabuchadnezzar . § . this countrey had iordan on the west , ( dividing it from ephraim and benjamin ) the river arnon on the east and south ( parting it from the kingdome of moab ) and on the north confined on the tribe of gad. the extent thereof from east to west may be allowed forty two miles , not exceeding thirty five from north to south . a countrey excellent for grazing , not as if defective in corn and wine , wherein it shared with the rest of the tribes , ( besides the benefits of some mineralls , and medicinall waters , whereof in due place ) but because exceeding in conveniencies for cattell : i pastures to feed , woods to shade , and rivers to wate● them . therefore was it bestowed upon the tribes of reuben , gad , and half manasseh , which much abounded in cattell . in which three we may observe some shadowes of primogeniture , ( which might imbolden them to petition to be first served ) reuben the eldest of iacob by his wife ; gad eldest by zilpah his concubine , and manasseh first born of ioseph . but these tribes as first planted were first plucked up . god carved unto them the first cut of the land , and after called for the voider to take it first from them . for they falling from the house of david , and following ieroboam through rebellion to idolatry , and not being warned with the terrible blow k hazael gave them , shroudly shrubbing their branches , god rent them up by the roots in the days of * pekah , by the hand of l tilgath-pilneser king of assyria ; some twenty years before the generall captivity of their brethren , at the end of the reign of hosheah , kings . . § leaving the people , come we to survey the places , and memorable actions in this tribe . in the north●east corner thereof , near the banks of arnon , we finde the tract or territory of aroer . for though aroer the city was undoubtedly entire in the tribe of gad ; yet it m plainly appears , that at least a moity of the countrey adjacent ( so called from the city ) was possessed by the reubenites . a populous place it was , the n prophet mentioning the cities of aroer , though their names or number is not expressed . probably arnon one of the principall , tell yee it in arnon ( o says ieremy : ) surely not to the fishes in the river , but to a city seated on the brink thereof , and thence denominated : as hull in york-shire , so commonly called from the rivolet running by it . § . going south-west , having the stream of arnon for our guide , we leave kedemoth , not far from the north bank thereof . the septuagin● read kedson for kedemoth , and the vulgar , without any warrant , read iethson for kedson : so procreative is one errour of another . this kedemoth was * one of the four peculiars of the levites , wherein they were accommodated with safety , pleasure , and profit . safety , in the city it self , within whose walls they dwelt in secure habitations : pleasure in their suburbs , reaching a p thousand cubits from the wall round about , ( little less then an english mile ) where they had houses of retirement , with stalls and stables for their cattell : profit in their glebe land , extending two thousand cubits from their suburbs on every side , improved for pasture , tillage and vineyards . for thus the survey of the levites lands , numb . . , . ( though the difficult place is capable of severall senses ) is expounded by learned rabbi maimonie , and we in our maps have described them accordingly . now though herein we have given the levites lands the largest and most favourable bounds ( seeing i am unable to endow them , they shall lose nothing by my restrictive measuring thereof ) yet know that narrower limits are assigned them by tremellius , as shall hereafter be presented in * diagram we have prepared for that purpose . § . behold here levi's curse turned into a blessing , q divide them in iacob , and scatter them in israel . now the dividing of them proved the disposing of them , for their own and others advantage . their scattering was their ranking for the best behoof of the people , for whose instruction they were intended . they were the salt of the earth , and therefore god sprinkled them here and there , the more conveniently to season the whole nation . insomuch that some english parishes are more remote from their mother-church , then most places in canaan were distant from the cities of the levites . we must not forget that in ieroboams apostasie , the religious levites forsook their cities and r fled to ierusalem , preferring voluntary exile before wealthy homes , on the condition of an idolatrous compliance . it appears not in scripture , how these cities and lands thus left were disposed of . whether ieroboam himself seised on them , converting them into demeans of his crown , or whether he suffered them to revert to those respective tribes , from whom they were taken : so fastning his subjects affections unto him with nailes of gold of their own profit . either course may be conceived a cause to hasten the captivity of the people ; it being just that those , who swallow gods morsels , should be spewed out of their own possessions . § . round about this city , is the wilderness of kedemoth , not wholly abandoned to solitariness , but as the rest of this kinde , more thinly inhabited . it abounded with wild beasts , lions , bears , bores , wolves , foxes , where the pleasure in hunting the game , did not recompense the pains and dangers of the shepheards lying constant perdues in defence of their flocks . from this wilderness , moses sent messengers to s sihon king of the amorites , for peaceable passage through his countrey . but sihon ( path-wise and land-foolish ) by denying a civility , drew destruction on himself and subjects . for seeking in fight to traverse it , for their pedibus ambulando , he was by a firme ejection outed of his whole kingdome . § . to return to arnon . hereabouts the children of israel passed over it , miraculously with dry feet , saith t adricomius . but the miracle seems rather of his , then gods making , the scripture being silent therein , and the river not of that depth or breadth , but that it was fordable , especially with the help of camels , mules , and asses . many miles hence this river solitarily runs on as sensible of its sad fate suddenly to fall into the dead-sea , at ashdoth-pisgah . where all his comfort is , to have the company of two other brooks : whereof the eastermost runs near to u betzar or bozra : a city of refuge belonging to the levites merarites , whereof there were six in the whole countrey of canaan , with a x provision that they should adde three more ( mans mercy must increase proportionably with his means ) if god enlarged their coast ; though we read of no such addition , either in davids or solomons time . the cities were so conveniently distanced by gods appointment , that in half a day ( men for their lives will take wide and thick strides ) some one of them might be recovered from the remotest corner of the land . let historians relate the laws of such sanctuaries , whereof these most fundamentall . t. y strangers and sojourners in israel were capable of the priviledge thereof , as well as native iews . ly . any murderer that could , might fly thither without any hindrance or interruption ; z thou shalt prepare thee a way : otherwise such obstructions would have frustrated , and defeated the main intent of such priviledged places . ly . if the murderer could but reach the a border of such cities of refuge ( the very hemme of christs garment had soveraign vertue in it ) distant as is aforesaid from the city it self , it was a sufficient protection for him till his cause was examined before the judges . ly . upon examination , those were denied the benefit of refuge , and b delivered up to justice , who had committed murder out of malice prepense , or had killed one ( as we may say ) with a malicious weapon : namely , if the bigness or sharpness thereof , be it c iron , wood or stone , was mortall in view , carried death in the sight thereof , as probable , enforced with ones hand , to kill a man. ly . others , who casually had killed their neighbour , might live safely in the city , till the death of the high-priest : typifying the suffering of our saviour , whose execution is our gaol-delivery . ly . if the murderer d wandring out of the suburbs , was found by the avenger of bloud , he forfeited his protection , and might be killed with indemnity . ly . after the high-priests death ( say the e rabbines without express from scripture ) the party was remitted to his innocence , not honour ; restored to his liberty , not lustre ; clouded the remnant of his life , because of the scandall that came by his hand . forget we not here , that besides these six cities , the f altar in the tabernacle or temple , was reputed the seventh and paramount place of murderers protection . § . the brook from the west , begins at machaerus : one of the strongest inland forts in the world , nature having prevented art therein , so impregnable is the city and castle upon the top of a steep g hill , with a deep valley round about . hither h iosephus saith , herod the tetrarch sent iohn the baptist to be beheaded . for which fact , his great army was af●terwards overthrown by aretas king of arabia . hereabout , i two springs arise of contrary natures . one hot and sweet , the other cold and bitter . both which meeting together make a most excellent bath , cordiall for severall diseases . as if nature thereby would lesson us , that moderation , wherein extremities agree , is the best cure for all distempers . these waters are approved excellent for the contraction of the nerves , either inwardly taken , or outwarldly applied . herod the king being sick , ( newly come out of a bath of bloud , of the innocent bethlehem-babes ) was hither directed in vain by his physitians , the water refusing to be guilty of such a tyrants recovery . on this stream stood k lasha mentioned genesis . . afterwards called callirrhoe or the fair stream . and now what pity is it that such percious water should presently be spilt into the the dead sea ! but what remedy ? fair and foul faces must meet together in the grave . § . as for the dead sea , which onely peeps into a corner of this tribe , but stedfastly faceth a whole side of iudah more properly thereof hereafter . and as for iosephus his valley of l baaras , with the strange growing , gathering , & working of the famous root therein , we mention it , not to seem wholly ignorant thereof ; and but mention it , not to seem over credulous therein . hereabouts is plenty of alum and brimstone , the latter probably some stragling drops of that direfull shower , which was rained on sodome , and gomorrah , leaving some tincture in the adjacent countrey as a remembrancer of so great a judgment . § . it is now high time that we survey the west of this tribe , which iordan ( as we have said ) divideth from ephraim , and benjamin . this is the true meaning of deborah's complaint , uttered and repeated , for * the divisions of reuben were great thoughts of heart , namely because that tribe separated by iordan from the western continent of canaan , could not come seasonably to the succour of barak , and subduing of sisera . this river used to overflow all his banks in the first moneth . chron. . . ( parallel to the end of our march , and beginning of aprill ) or , as it is said iosh. . . at the time of harvest . which vast distance in our english climate ( as much as betwixt spring and autumn ) is easily reconciled and made to meet in iudea ; where the harvest ●t large is dated from the first fruits , and those ripe in aprill in that hot countrey . let naturalists discuss the cause , whence this inundation of iordan proceeds ; whether from the violence of winds , then blowing on its stream , and angring it beyond his banks ; or from the influence of the moon , commandress over moist bodies , and their motions ; or from the confluence of snow dissolved from the mountains . but my discourse like iordan overflowes , it shall return within its banks . § . in the northwest corner of this tribe , iordan first entring into it , is fordeable at bethbara or bethabara , that is , the house of passage . for gideon having the midianites in chace , sent messengers to all in mount ephraim , ( a service most proper for them , cause in their confines ) to m take before them the water unto bethbara and iordan , which there with good guides and high camels might be waded over ; but more southward the river is fenced by its own breadth and depth against all passengers . and here afterward did n iohn baptize our saviour . as for o aphek hard by , we place it here rather in conformity to p others , then convinced in our own judgment of the true situation thereof . § . the altar ed , or witnesse , was hereabouts erected by the reubenites , gadites , and half tribe of manasseh , returning from the conquest of canaan . this altar was a bridge in effect , to conjoin these divided tribes with the rest ; severed by water , the same in worship ; on the other side iordan in position , on the same side with the other tribes in religion . but though there was a noon-day of innocence in their intentions , yet because ( though not a night of guiltiness ) a twilight of suspicion obscured their actions , it occasioned jealousies in their brethren , as if they had hatched some idolatrous designe . but when the matter came to be disputed in a military way , the controversie was ended by the right stating of the question , and a seasonable distinction well applied , that it was an altar onely of memoriall , and q not for any burnt meat or peace-offering . o that all differences between brethren might winde off , in so welcome a conclusion ! § . and now he that shall cast his eye over the plain on the east of iordan , shall finde it well stockt with multitudes of goodly sheep , which caused deborah's r expostulation , why abodest thou reuben amongst the sheepfolds , to heare the bleating of the flockes ? and yet no wonder if he preferred such musick , before the clashing of swords , and sounding of trumpets in the battail against the canaanites : seeing naturally men chuse profitable ease , before honourable danger . the tails of those sheep , both for fat and wooll , were incredibly great , some of them a s cubit long . so that nature who hath tyed the tails to other creatures , may seem to have tyed the syrian sheep to their tails , which with great difficulty they drag after them . this is the reason , why it is expresly commanded in the law , that when a sheep is sacrificed for a peace-offering , the fat thereof and the whole t tail ( not observed in kine , or goats ) taken off hard by the backbone was to be offered : that part being for bulk and value considerable in their sheep , which is contemptible in other creatures . § . to goe back to the river , having left that place behind us , where the u ferry-boat passed over to carry david and his houshold , after his conquest of absalom . we are now arrived at that memorable place , where god magnified ioshua , heartened his own people , and shrivelled up the hearts of their enemies , by drying up the waters of iordan , whilest the israelites passed over in this admirable equipage . the priests went into the river bearing the ark ; in homage whereunto iordan reverently retreated ; ( very farre from the river adam , which is besides zaretan ) and they stood on firm ground in the w midst thereof , till all the israelites were passed over . reuben , gad , and half manasseh led the van , about x forty thousand men of armes , the residue of them ( in all about y an hundred thousand ) remaining at home to husband their ground , guard their houses , govern their families . after them the other tribes followed : and it is observed that they z hasted , not with a distrustfull haste ( as suspicious that the returning waters might drown the hindmost of them ) but an industrious speed , and mannerly quickness , as not willing to make god wait upon them in continuing a miracle longer then necessity did require . when all were over , the priests with the ark , who first entred , last left the water , ( all dangerous designes are begun and finished by gods assistance ) and then iordan , whose streams hitherto suspended , returned into his channell . a duplicate or double monument was erected to perpetuate the memory hereof , being a grand iury of great stones . of these , twelve were solemnely set up on the land in the tribe of benjamin at gilgal , and the other twelve ( the counterpart of this deed ) were left in the midst of the river . some perchance may admire that ioshua should set this latter invisible monument , in a place where it is drowned both in water and obscurity . but this river-mark was such , as possibly the tops of the stones might appear at low water ; or if wholly hidden , and dangerous for boats to approach , the ●ailers constant care to avoid them in their passage , called the occasion of placing them there to their daily remembrance . § . we must not dissemble the difference betwixt authors , about the situation of the aforesaid city of adam , but once mentioned in scripture , and therefore ( as the hebrews have a proverb of words but once named , that they have no kindred and alliance ) more difficult to know the true posture thereof . the best is , this adam , though having no kindred hath some company to notifie it ; adam besides zaretan : and one zaretan is sufficiently known to have been in the half tribe of manasseh west of iordan , not far from the sea of galilee . hence learned a masius concludes , that the waters of iordan were cut off , full seventy miles together , north of the peoples passage over it . to which opinion , under favour , we can in no wise consent . conceiving rather that just against iericho , the river was dried up , for whereas the station of iordan was most wonderfull , the israelites had lost all the sight of this wonder on their right side , if done out of distance so many miles from their view . place we therefore on these reasons ( and the b example of others ) both adam and zaretan in the tribe of reuben . § . some difference also there is betwixt divines concerning the latitude of their passage over the river : some conceiving it onely to amount to the proportion of a fair alley , lane , or path of such receit alone as admitted the israelites in a full and free march a competent number a brest , and that the waters , as in the red sea , standing still on both sides , * were a wall to them on the right hand and on the left , as the graver in our map hath designed it . others doe not onely make a gap , through iordan , but pluck down the whole hedge thereof , maintaining that all the water of that river on the left hand , ( betwixt their passage over , and the dead sea ) failed and were cut off , or dried up . which latter opinion is most agreeable to * scripture , and reason : for seeing the stream of iordan south of their going over , was not supplied with any reciprocall or refluous tide out of the dead sea , the stopping of the waters above must necessarily command their defection beneath , and that the channell by consequence for the time being was dried up . § . iordan , having now closed his streams together , runs by livias , a city which herod c built , and so named , in honour of livia the mother of tiberius caesar. for to enfavour themselves with the emperour , the jewish kings called many cities by their names ( augusta , tiberias , two cesarea's , iulias , livias ) as if palestine had been a register book of the imperiall roman family . § . let us now take an account of the inland parts of this tribe , and return to the place where the israelites passed over arnon . betwixt egypt and arnon they had forty severall stations , and then entred into the promised land . in comemoration whereof , probably god did order , that an offender should receive but forty stripes ( what judge soever counts them too few , would think thirty too many , if he felt them himself ) and then be freed from further punishment . coming into canaan , their one and forty and first fixing there was at the foot of mount abarim , and edge of the wilderness of ked●moth . hence they removed to abelshittim , where deuteronomie was made , the second edition of the law revised , and enlarged by god , the author thereof . here the people of israel were numbred the second time . and although some particular tribes were encreased , amongst whom those three that pitched on the east side of the tabernacle , iudah , issachar , and zebulun , ( god and the rising sun make any thing fruitfull ) yet in the whole , they were diminished d one thousand eight hundred and twenty . let such , as admire hereat , that people being in slavery should multiply more then when they were at liberty , consider , some plants , ( palme trees and camomile ) the more deprest , the further they expand themselves . infant nations , like infants , grow more discernibly at the first , then when they approach their full stature . god purposely to defeat the designe of pharaoh , to destroy the israelites , blessed them with transcendent fruitfulness . the breeders in the wilderness , were visited with many casualties , bringing them to untimely ends ; whereas all those in egypt , though painfull in their livings , were healthfull in their lives . but the most memorable accident in this place , was the idolatry of the israelites to baal-peor an idoll , conceived by most learned men to be priapus . and who could worship him with piety , whom none with modesty can describe ? it seems that moab and midian ( perceiving s●hon king of the amorites overthrown in battell ) counterfeited amity with them , and pretending to shew them ( being strangers ) the courtesie of the countrey , made them an entertainment , which could not be courtlike and compleat without the company of their women . the israelites beholding the midianitish women , first liking their faces , then tasting their feasts , stepped from their boards to their beds , thence to their altars , adding spirituall to corporall fornication . this was done by the e advice of balaam , whose counsell did more hurt then his curse . all his charmes could have done them no harm , had he not raised these female spirits to improve them , which cost the lives of twenty four thousand israelites , dying of the plague ; till the javelin of f phinehas executing of judgment , stopped gods fiery sword amongst them . § . let us now request the reader , to climbe up the hills of abarim , nebo , and pisgah . these are a ledge of mountains rising by degrees from east to west . so that some have compared abarim to the chancell , nebo to the church , and pisgah to the steeple . in mount nebo the authour of the g maccabees , speaks of a cave , wherein ieremy laid the tabernacle , and the arke , and the altar of incense , and so stopped the door . but the same authour in the conclusion of his book confesseth , that his work is like h wine tempered with water : and we take this story to be no genuine juice of the grape , and value it accordingly . on pisgah , moses surveyed the whole land of canaan , and although he was advantaged by the height of the place , and clearness of his eyes ( no whit abated in their sight at an i hundred and twenty years of age ) yet much of miracle must needs be admitted , in so plain and far discovery . here moses was buried , being priviledged above other servants of god ( whose souls angels convey to heaven ) that an angel was his sexton , to cover his body in earth . here he concealed moses his grave , lest the israelites should goe a whoring after it . destroying idolatry is a pious , but preventing it a more provident act , crushing it in the occasions thereof . let none condemn this for a needless caution , as if no fear that they who sometimes would stone moses while living , should adore him when dead . for the crooked nature of the iews was bowed to extremes , and had no mean betwixt hating , and adoring . besides , when the memories of eminent men , hated or envied when living , have passed the purgation of death , it is usuall for their former enemies to fall in love with them . § . may the reader now conceive himself standing on the top of mount pisgah . where ( though content with a narrower compass , then what moses discerned ) he descrieth a fair prospect round about him . not to repeat the places of the west , because mentioned before , looking south ward behold the city of nebo , at the foot of its namesake mountain : and both of them so called from nebo and idoll god , hereabouts worshipped . we read indeed how k reuben changed the names of the cities of nebo , and baalmeon ( because their old names taken from false gods resented of idolatry . ) but so hard it is to unhabit mens mouths from old ill customes , that it seems their ancient names still prevailed in common discourse . l criticks start many controversies concerning this idoll of nebo ; as : first , whether not originally m a babylonish deity . secondly , whether under it the moon ( as the sun under bell ) was not mystically adored . thirdly , whether the same with chemosh and baal-peor ( which is the opinion of saint ierome ) and if not , wherein lay the difference ? but it shall never trouble me , whether the fictitious serpents of iannes and iambres the egyptian enchanters , were made alike , or did differ in some particulars , seeing the reall serpents of moses n devoured them all up . and seeing long since the service of the true god hath confuted and confounded all worship of false idols , i list not to trade in the curiosities of distinctions betwixt them . § . eastward behold kiriathaim , or the two-towns ( like bridge-north in shropshire ) two lesser cities being modelled into one . here lived the emims , shrowdly smote by o chederlaomer , which probably did facilitate the moabites in their victory over them . iahaza , a city of the levites , where the israelites in battell vanquished p sibon king of the amorites . a little further see the city of medeba , before the walls whereof a q double battell was fought and won at once , by ioab against the aramites , and abishai against the ammonites . and it seems that the latter of these had at this time the city in their possession , whither they retreated after their overthrow . for what else doe those words import ; the children of ammon likewise fled before abishai his brother , r [ and entred into the city , ] except any ( conceiving it inconsistent with the present potency of david , to have any of his enemies nestled in his dominion ) will by the city understand rabbah the metropolis of ammon , next year besieged and sacked by ioab . as for medeba , there needs no other evidence to speak her ancient greatness , then that ptolemy by name takes notice thereof ( though placing it in arabia ) which name it retained in the days of saint ierome . § . but northward is the most pleasant prospect over the fair and fruitfull plains of moab . nor need any wonder why the plain is so called , seeing moab had nothing on the north of arnon ( after the time of moses ) when they recollect , how lately all this land was possessed by the moabites , before sihon s forcibly expulsed them . now to prove that places sometimes are termed by their ancient inhabitants , though some hundred years after : we that live in london , need not goe no further then the old iury ; so called from the iews once dwelling there , now banished thence three hundred years agoe . but we keep the reader too long upon the top of this bleak and cold mountain . 't is time to come down , when we have told him , that though pisgah here be taken for a proper name , yet it is often used as an appellative , for any eminent ridge of a hill , which aspires above his fellowes . know also that all the countrey hereabouts was called t pisgah in the days of saint ierome . § . having now for a while reposed our selves in the pleasant plains of moab , let us not tire when our task in this tribe grows so near to an end . going a little northward we cannot misse the three stations whither balak brought balaam to curse the israelites . for having first freely feasted balaam at kiriath-huzzoth , his chief city in the land of moab , he brought him over arnon , onely to see the utmost skirts of the people , hoping if he could but kindle his curse in any corner , it would quickly burn all the house of israel . but thrice he struck fire to no purpose . t. in bamoth u baal or the high places of baal . ly . in the field of w zophim at the top of the hill . ly . in the top of peor , which looks towards x ieshimon : building in each place seven altars , and sacrificing a bullock , and ram on every of them . what was the designe of the sorcerer ? conceived he that heaven was covetous like himself , and might be bribed with sacrifices ? surely the stench of his hypocrisie out-sented all the smell of his burnt offerings . or thought he by often changing the scene to act the more upon god ? he that is the same yesterday and to day , and for ever , receives no more impression from the shifting of place , then from the changing of time . or did he hope with the mystery of his numbers , thrice seven altars ; to flatter heaven into a consent ? all numbers are but bare cyphers to him , that is infinite . o how he sweats for the wages of iniquity ? how is his tongue distracted between the spirit of god and the spirit of gold . all in vain ; the further he goes , the worser he speeds : but the better he speaks , falling at last from ●lenting , to down right blessing of israel . however , though he did not his work , he received his wages . and if balak at that time did not pay him with gold ; yet afterwards the israelites did with steel , justly slaying him with the y sword . § . pass we now , still more northward , by the place , where elias ascending to heaven in a chariot of fire , left his mantle and a double portion of his spirit to z elisha his servant and successour : and by mephaah a city of the levites , to sibmah , so famous for her fruitfull vinyards . going through which , the reader may eat grapes to the full at his own a pleasure : a liberty lawfully allowed him , but beware putting up any into his vessell , lest he be apprehended for a trespasser . for the same law which provides for his necessity , punisheth his covetousness . and what is this whole world with the wealth thereof , but a vinyard , wherein happy he , who hath enough to serve his turn , seeing when he dieth , he shall b carry nothing away with him . it seems in sibmah there was some one signall vine eminent for greatness above the rest , or else that all her vines grew so close and uniform , that they resembled one entire and continued tree : the c prophets always addressing themselves unto it in the singular number , o vine of sibmah , i will weep for thee , &c. § . our work is ended , when we have viewed the north part of this tribe , where it confineth on gad. where we onely meet with one place of note heshbon , anciently the royall palace of sihon king of the amorites , & afterwards a city of the levites . which the scripture placeth sometimes in d reuben , and sometimes in e gad. to accommodate this difference without making of two cities of the same name ( such multiplication unwarrantable , save where absolute necessity enforceth it ) i finde no fitter expedient , then by setting heshbon so equally between these two tribes , as partially in both , and totally in neither . thus bristoll is situated betwixt glocester and somerset shires ; and yet challengeth to be an absolute liberty of it self ; as this heshbon also was an entire demeans of the levites . one fair gate it had , called beth rabbim gate , nigh to which were most clear and pleasant fishponds , to which the f eyes of the spouse are compared by solomon . not that she was troubled with watery eyes like leah , ( the resemblance being recounted amongst her perfections , not defects ) or that her eyes ( as some may fancy ) are compared to pools , moistened with teares for her sins , but because of her clear and perspicuous vision and apprehension of heavenly mysteries . § . as for the mountains of emek , which mr. more in his map , without alledging any warrant from scripture , ( otherwise his constant custome ) makes the bounds betwixt reuben and gad ; i have placed them accordingly , yet so that the reader ( without a miraculous faith ) may remove these mountains to some other place , when he finds just cause for the same . at which time also , when proceeding on more infallible principles for their situation , let him take down our conjecturall flags from the tops of mephaah , g zerethshahar , &c. now placed but by guesse , and let him dispose of them , if he can , in a more exact position . § . so much for reuben , not forgetting how in the days of solomon when the land was divided into purveyer-ships to make monthly provisions for his courts * gebar the son of uri had al the country once of si●on king of the amorites ( but then possest by reuben ) in his circuit whence no doubt plenty of good fare out of this pasture-countrey so abounding in cattell , was brought to ierusalem . now we have placed the name of amorites on the sinister front of this our description , because they were the old inhabitants of this countrey : our constant custome through this book in the adverse page opposite to the tribes name to insert one of the seven nations of canaan , ( former owners of that land ) conceiving it to conduce much to the illustration of scripture . § . modern heralds , by commission authorized from the jewish rabbines , assign to reuben for armes , argent , three bars waveè azure , in allusion to iacobs legacy , h unstable as water , thou shalt not excell . for as water cannot hold it self , but as it is held in a vessell , so reuben could not contain himself within the bounds of chastity , till shame and sorrow did reclaim him . besides , as water once shed , is never to be gathered up again ; so reuben could never after recollect his lost credit , to recover the full favour of his father . though once he endevoured to gather up some spilt drops of his reputation by projecting the deliverance of i ioseph from his brethren : but his design miscarried . § . for mine own part , i cannot concur with the common opinion , that these three bars waveè were the armes of reuben ; principally because armes are honorary ensignes , assign'd , or assum'd for the greater grace of the bearer ▪ improbable therefore , that this tribe to perpetuate the infamy of their ancestour would always have water running in their shield , as if reubens crime were the reubenites credit ; like such whom the k apostle reproves , that glory in their shame . rather let us hearken to aben ezra , who allots to the banner of reuben a man or male child ( others a mandrake , others put mandrakes in his hand ) relating to leahs words at his birth , calling him reuben , that is , l see a son , causing her to forget her pain , for joy that a man child was borne into the world . § . the proper place for the standard of this tribe was to be the m first of the three tribes which pitched on the south of the tabernacle . thus though reuben lost the primacy of power over all , he still kept the precedency of place before one quarter of his brethren . whence parents may be taught , that though on just ground they disinherit , yet not so wholly to dishearten their eldest sons , but still suffer some remembrances of a birthright ever to remain unto them . finis . here the map of gad is to be inserted . the third book . the tribe of gad . § . gad eldest son of iacob by zilpah , so increased in egypt , that * forty five thousand six hundred and fifty males of twenty years old and upward of this tribe were numbred at mount sinai : all which falling in the wilderness for their tempting of god with this disobedience , a new generation of forty thousand * and five hundred entred the land of canaan . this tribe affordeth very martiall men . for such of them as repaired to david in ziglag are described , a men of war , fit for the battell , that could handle shield and buckler , whose faces were like to the faces of lyons , and were as swift as the roes upon the mountaines . yet i meet not with any publick magistrate extracted from gad , though the b genealogists rank iehu with four of his posterity successive kings of israel amongst the gadites ; but on no other ground , then because at the first time he is found mentioned in scripture he was c imployed a commander at the siege of ramoth gilead a city * in this tribe . it seems that as the english-law makes a charitable provision for children left by their parents , that the parish wherein they are first taken up , must maintain them : so genealogists , the better to methodize the pedegrees of the iews in scripture , reduce persons of unknown parentage , to those respective tribes , in whose grounds they first light on the mention of them . but let iehu pass for a gadite : the rather because so puisant a prince , will prove a credit , rather then a charge to that tribe to which he is related . § . the land of this tribe was of a double nature . for what lay north of the river iabbok was anciently the possession of og king of basan . but what lay south of the river , had its property more intricate and incumbred with often exchange of her owners , and on the right understanding thereof depends no less , then the asserting of the innocence of the israelites , the confuting of the cavill of the ammonites , and the reconciling of a seeming contradiction in scripture ; take it thus briefly . t. it was the land of certain giants called d zamzummims . ly . it was possessed by the e ammonites , who destroied those giants , and this countrey was accounted a moity or one half of their dominion . ly . it was subdued by f sihon king of the amorites , who cast out the ammonites ( when also he destroied the moabites ) such as were south of iabbok , and dwelt in their stead . lastly , after the overthrow of sihon , moses gave it to the tribe of gad , for their inheritance . thus god by ringing the changes of successive lords in this land made musick to his own glory . behold we here what the psalmist g saith , thou hast brought a vine out of egypt , thou preparest room before it ; the method and manner of which preparation is most remarkable . first , god in his providence foresaw that the countrey of the canaanites was without other addition too narrow , to receive the numerous people of israel . secondly , god in his goodness resolved out of love to righteous lot , that his posterity should not totally lose their possession , nor would he suffer the israelites their kinsmen to deprive them of any parcell thereof ; giving them a flat command to the contrary . h lastly , god in his justice permitted sihon king of the amorites should win part of the countrey from moab and ammon ; and suddenly sends the israelites to conquer the conquerour ; and now lawfully to inherit , what the other had wrongfully taken away : and thus he prepared room for his vine . § . by this time we plainly perceive , that in the ammonites demand to iephtha , there was some truth blinded with more falshood , that the countenance of the former might pass the latter unsuspected . i israel took away ( saith the king ) my land when they came out of egypt from arnon even unto iabbok , and unto iordan ; now therefore restore these lands again peaceably . true it was , that this land was once theirs ( and so it is plainly called ioshua . . ) but most false , that ever the israelites took inch of ground from them , save onely mediately and at the second hand , taking it from sihon , who took it from the ammonites . we report the rest to iephtha's answer ( who first with a fair ambassie , and then with a famous victory confuted the ammonites antiquated title to this territory ) pleading that the israelites had three k hundred years peaceably possessed the same . now , if upon a strict account , some years fall short of that sum , the matter is not much , because souldiers love to fill their mouths with a round number , and too hundred fifty and odde with a good sword may well be counted three hundred years currant , though not compleate . § . the tribe of gad had the kingdome of ammon on the east , the half tribe of manasseh on the north , reuben on the south , and the river iordan on the west . the length thereof from aroer to iordan may be computed thirty five miles : and the breadth thereof from mahanaim to dibon , falls out a little less . a tribe inferiour to none for fair rivers , fruitfull pastures , shady woods : superiour to most for populous cities , and memorable actions atchieved therein . as for balme or balsame , it was a peculiar commodity of this countrey . thus the prophet betwixt grief , anger , and pity demands , is l there no balme in gilead ? and again , goe up into gilead , and take m balm o virgin . in describing this countrey we will follow the streams of arnon , iabbok , and iordan , which ( with some little help lent us besides ) will afford us the conveniency to behold all remarkable mounts in this countrey . § . in the eastern part of this tribe the rivers of arnon and iabbok ( though running contrary ways ) arise not far asunder : according to the exact observation of n iosephus , who saith that the land of sihon king of the amorites , lay in nature and fashion like an island , betwixt the three rivers of iordan , arnon , and iabbok , so near are the fountains of the latter together . the heads of their springs are found in a mountainous and rocky soil , affording great plenty of iackalls ; mungrell creatures of equivocall extraction , deriving cruelty from the wolves their sires and craft from the foxes their dams . these iackalls are meant by our translatours psalm . . let them fall by the edge of the sword , that they may be a portion for foxes : not for ordinary foxes , which indeed are so dainty mouthed , that they will not feed on any carkasse , but what they kill themselves : but for these iackalls ( which may pass for foxes , because so by the surer side ) so ravenous , that they will not onely feed on carion above ground , but even dig holes into the earth , fetch forth , and feed on dead bodies of men , if not deeply interred . § . the river arnon running full south passeth by * aroer , a fair city whereof frequent mention in scripture , but in no other notion , but onely as the eastern boundary of canaan . here arnon entertaineth a river from the west , called the river of o gad , because rising , running , and falling within the compass of this tribe . § . this river of gad had formerly received into it another stream called the waters of nimrim , threatned by the p prophets to be dried up : on the banks whereof bethnimrah a city was seated . at the conflux of these two , the sea of iazer is found , being no other then a lake ( about our whittlesey meer in hungtingtonshire , for greatness ) as the iews call the meetings of all waters , whether fresh , or salt , seas . nor let their language herein be challenged for impropriety , having a warrant from god himself , q who at the creation , called the dry land earth , and the gathering together of the waters called he seas . conformable hereunto is the expression of the modern dutch ; for in helvetia a province of germany , yea in argow ( as i may say ) a county of r helvetia , i have told above sixteen seas , zugersee , thuner-see , ober-see , rot-see , &c. though the biggest of them but lakes in effect . yea the iews did so far extend , or rather , so straitly contract the word sea , that , that capable vessell of brass , used as a lavatory for the sacrifices in the temple , was tearmed the s molten sea. iazer , which gave name to this sea , was a t city of the levites hard by , whereat some sad accident had happened , though the particulars thereof are not discovered in scripture , for the u weeping of iazer passeth in the prophet as the expression of great lamentation . § . hence the river of gad passeth by civitas interammis , or the city in the midst of the river , wherewith on all sides it is environed , never mentioned in scripture but with the company of w aroer : a clear evidence both of their distinction and vicinity . hereabouts ioab x pitched his tent , when sent to number the people . wonder not that having the convenience of three cities so near to receive him , he preferred rather to reside in a tent during that imployment . for ( besides that such movable habitations comply best with military men ) it was fittest for the work in hand ; where the people to be reckoned might have full and free accesse in open aire ; both wholsomer for the persons , and speedyer in dispatch , then when pent within the streets and walls of a city . nothing else memorable remains in the southeast corner of this tribe , save dibon , a city sometimes assigned to y reuben , and sometimes to z gad. to reconcile this , some make them different and distant cities ; which in my apprehension is rather to set up two marks then to hit the right one . for seeing these two tribes confine together , and both lay claim to dibon ( like the two mothers challenging the living childe ) we have onely , in stead of a sword , made use of pricks , setting it equally in the bounds of both . here we advise the reader ( not out of distrust of his skill , but desire of his good ) to beware , neither to confound this dibon in gad , with a dibon-gad , the thirty ninth station of the israelites as they came out of egypt ; nor with another b dibon , which seems to be in iudah , wherein the iews dwelt after their captivity . § . the river of iabbok arising out of the aforesaid stony countrey , first runs directly northward , and strengthened with an acce●●ion of waters from the kingdome of ammon , turns his stream full west . in which course ere long he cometh to the ford which iacob with his family passed over : and where we crave the readers leave for a while to discontinue our discourse of this river , and to attend that worthy patriarch in his travels through this tribe , which in form of a belt crossed gad athwart from northeast to southwest . iacob first entring into this tribe came to nahanaim , that is , the two campes , because there the c angels digested into two armies ( probably behind and before him ) appeared to iacob . now as d adams naming the creatures argued his dominion over them ; so the patriarchs naming of places in canaan , was an earnest that their posterity should possesse them . who no doubt , as curious to enquire , so were carefull to continue those names which their ancestors had given them . mahanaim was afterwards a e city of the levites , and in the reign of f ishbosheth the son of saul , it was made the chief city of his kingdome . but with his g life within three years expired the metropolisship of mahanaim , which afterwards afforded refuge and residence to h david , when flying from ierusalem for fear of absolom . hither the news of absoloms death was brought to king david ( joyfull to the king , but dolefull to david ) which caused his patheticall i lamentation over the gate , till the heat of k ioabs anger dryed up davids teares ; perswading him with cheerfull looks to countenance the conquerours . § . from mahanaim , let us goe fairly , and softly on with an easie pace in the company of iacob ( not overdriving his children and cattell to the above named l fords of iabbok ) and thence to peni●l , where iacob ( the youngest warriour m fighting before he was born , and the strongest conquerour ) prevailed with god appearing like an angell . who in admonition to iacob , that he overcame not with his own striving , but his opposites yeelding , gave him a gentle touch , being pleased , where he could have broken the bone , onely to shrink the sinew , whereupon iacob carried an upright heart , and lame leg to his grave . indeed learned n rivet is of opinion , that god presently healed his halting , chiefly grounding it , because esau at his meeting took no notice of his lameness : but doth not the negative follow with more probability , because the scripture takes no notice of his curing ? besides , had the cure come so quick , the hurt had never left so deep and long lasting impression in the practise of the israelites , abstaining , for that cause , from eating the o sinew in the thigh . yea modern iews ( oh that they were as observant of the substantiall as ceremoniall parts of the old testament ! ) not certain which sinew it was ( so many meeting in the thigh ) refrain from feeding on p all nerves in the hinder parts of a beast . § . from peniel going southwest iacob being to meet esau his brother , thus marshalled his company . in the forefront his concubines with their children , next leah with hers , rachel and ioseph , first in his love and last in place , because furthest from danger ; before all , like a valiant commander taking the worst service on himself , marched iacob in person , having sent before him his presents to esau , and dispatched before them his prayers to god. see what gifts & good words , a fair tongue and full hand can doe . esau in stead of killing falls a q kissing him . behold how they hug ! being now more twins , then in their mothers womb : for there they strove , but here they embraced . from peniel iacob travelled to r succoth , in english boothes , because there he erected tents for himself and his cattell : and so he went over iordan , into the tribe of ephraim to the city of sichem ; whither ( god willing ) hereafter we will follow him . and now seeing the way which we have come is both plain and pleasant , let me request the reader not to begrutch his pains to goe some part of it back again , onely exchanging the company of plain dealing iacob , for valiant gideon : who in his march traversed this tribe from the west to the east thereof . § . gideon pursuing the flying midianites with his souldiers , as faint as few for want of victualls , coming to succoth , desired food from the inhabitants thereof . the succothites were so far from granting him provision , they would not give him good words , not more niggardly of their victualls then prodigall of their s taunts unto him . wherefore gideon in his return ( not then at leasure , that his wrath should hinder his work ) with briars and thorns of the wood hard by , tare their flesh in pieces . the originall saith , he taught them with thorns , or made them to know , namely their own folly and his power . dull scholars must have sharp ●eachers : or rather like unto like , churlish crabbed dispositions , and prickly crooked thorns well agree together . hence gideon marched to peniel , whose citizens ( neighbours to succoth both in place and peevishness ) churlishly entertained him ; which cost them at his return the breaking down of their t tower , which was afterwards u reedified by king ieroboam . from peniel gideon went forward , by the way of them that dwelt in w tents , on the east of nobah and iogbehah against the midianites , unto karkor , which being out of the tribe of gad , we shall hear more of it in our description of midian . § . the mention of those that dwell in tents , puts me in mind , that it is as much my duty here to tender my conjecture to the reader , as it is his liberty to receive or reject it . there was a countrey , undoubtedly in this tribe , called the x land of tahtim-hodshi , that is , newly inhabited , where ioab made his second station , when sent to number the people . now may not this in probability be the very place , where the israelites formerly dwelled in tents , and in davids victorious reign were reduced to more stability , and incouraged to turn their tents into houses , more certain and solid habitations ? § . to return now to the river iabbok , half impatient for our long deserting it , save that running westward , it glides cooly and calmly under the shade of the forest of ephraim , so called , as learned men conjecture , ( for otherwise ephraim possessed not any thing on this side iordan ) because there y iephtha defeated the ephraimites for their insolent mutiny against him . but afterwards a greater slaughter happened in the same place , when ioab , abishai , and ittai generalls for david , routed absaloms army , and z when the wood devoured more then the sword . wonder not that sticks had a mouth more voracious then steel , understand it that some were devoured by beasts , others famished as lost in the labyrinths of the forest , and some staked on sharp piles in the fierceness of their flight . well might such sad fate befall the common souldiers , which happened to absalom himself . this was he that boasted how upright he would be when made a a judge , whereas now , if the length of his hair conduced any thing to his execution , it was the best , yea onely piece of justice performed by him . yet more probable it is , that running in hast ( not so minding which way to goe , as to be gone ) he was snatched up by the neck in a forked b bough : how did the officious oake act three parts , being the gallows , halter , and hangman for a traitour ? but this accident rather occasioned then caused his death : the oake was rather his gaolor then his executioner . it was ioab that dispatched him with three darts through his c heart . wherein through a treble orifice were discovered disobedience to his parent , treason to his prince , and hypocrisie to his god , pretending a d sacrifice and intending rebellion . § . hard by was absoloms tombe , consisting of a great e pit to hold , and a great heap of stones to hide a great traitour under it . may they there lie hard and heavy on his corpes , and withall ( if possible ) sink down his rebellious example for ever having a resurrection . no methodicall monument but this hurdle of stones was fittest for such a causer of confusion . indeed in his life time he had erected a stately f pillar near ierusalem , intending it no doubt for the place of his buriall . but just it was that his dead carkass should be deprived of his own grave , who endevoured to dispossess his living father of his kingdome . § . and now a little to acquaint the reader with the adjacent countrey , two severall ways led hence to the city of mahanaim . the one through the mountains , shorter but harder , which cushi chose : the other g by the way of the plain , which the furthest about was the nearest way home . ahimaaz took this as the most ready road , who being a messenger volunteer , would confess to david no more news then what he knew would be welcome , whilest cushi a prest post must relate the full of his message . and now the river iabbok , who hitherto may seem to run slowly , as attending in suspence the issue of the battell , certified of the success thereof hastens with all possible speed to fall into the river iordan . § . iordan had now some distance of miles escaped out of the sea of kinneroth or sea of galilee : the edge whereof iosh. . . is assigned for the utmost border of this tribe . through this lake ( as tacitus observeth ) this river kept his ready course , preserving his stream intire from incorporating with the waters of the lake . a thing no whit incredible to those welshmen in merioneth-shire , who have beheld how the river dee running through h pimble-meer continueth his channell without mixing with the meer . on the east side of this sea stood the city of gadara ; ( the first syllable whereof is argument enough to place it in this tribe ) where the legion of devills cast out of the man entred into the herd of swine : where a threefold difficulty appeareth in the relation of the story . whilest other i gospells mention but one , saint k matthew makes two men possest with a devill . the same tearmeth them gergasens whom other gospells name gadarens . seeing swine till killed , return their owners no profit , and then their flesh was forbidden to the iews to eate , how came the gadarens , being undoubtedly iews ( otherwise christ would not have conversed with them ) to keep such a company of useless cattell ? but these difficulties accept of their severall solutions . though two were possest , one of them being paramount in torture and unruliness eclipsed the mention of the other , the second not being named in the presence of the principall . gadara and gerazen , though distinct , were neighbouring cities , and so might have joint commonage of cattell betwixt them . they kept swine to truck and barter with other nations . though their flesh was unclean in the mouths , yet their money was clean in the purses of the iews . but if any conceive they kept swine not onely ad usum but ad esum , such must acknowledge the drowning of them to be the owners just punishment for their breaking gods commandements . but when those hogs were sunk in the sea , a greater herd of them remained in the city : swinish people , who preferred to wallow on the dunghill of their own wealth , rather then to possess the pearl of christs presence , whom they requested to depart out of their coasts . so much of the gadarens , and their neighbours the gergasens , onely let me adde , that from the affinity of sound some have collected , the girgashites anciently to have inhabited this countrey , ( as we have formerly observed ) and therefore in the title of every leafe we have divided this tribe betwixt them and the amorites , as the old possessors thereof . § . strabo * reports how there is a little lake near to the city of gadara infected with such malignant and pestiferous qualities , that it scaldeth off the skin of whatsoever is cast into it . this may seem an effect of the devills in the hogs , ( satan when he departs useth to leave such perfumes behind him ) and semblably the possessed man stripped himself of all his clothes and went naked . but seeing the scriptures say expresly that the hogs ran into the sea , and not into this petty lake , i dare not assign this as the cause of those mischievous waters . § . iordan having got out of the aforesaid sea of galilee is presently crossed over with a stately bridge . i conceive it of no great antiquity ( no stone thereof appearing in the scripture ) but mercators maps take notice thereof . and a moderate iesuite tells us ( observe it reader against the time thou travellest into those parts ) that the way over this bridge , though somewhat further about and less frequented , is an easier and safer rode from damascus to ierusalem , then what is commonly gone over iacobs bridge in the tribe of naphtali , whereof god willing hereafter . § . and now iordan being enriched with the tributary waters of iabbok g●ows fair and large , yet not so deep but that it is fordable , especially at that place so fatall to the l ephraimites , where fourty two thousand of them were by iephthah put to the sword . four-sold was the offence of these ephraimites . they neglected on seasonable m summons to assist iephthah against the ammonites . they falsly retorted the fault on iephthah , and being wilfully deaf at his call accused him for dumbe not calling them . they gave the gileadites reproachfull language , calling them n runnagates . they menaced to burn iephthah and his house with fire . hereupon iephthah defended himself , and defeated them in a memorable overthrow . the ephraimites being routed fled to these fords of iordan , so hoping to recover their own countrey on the other side . but all in vain . iordan indeed might here be waded over ; but no passage over the swelling surges of their enemies anger ▪ how willingly would those who called others runnagates have been now runnaways themselves ; but could not be permitted ? the gileadites pursued , yea prevented them , and arraigned them all for their lives . shiboleth is their neck-word ( and as ratling in the throat is generally to sick men ) so lisping of their tongues was a certain symptome of their death . § . some will accuse iep●thah of cruelty , that not contented with the honour of the conquest he followed the chace so furiously , as to suffer his sword not onely to drink to mirth , but to swill to drunkenness in the bloud of his brethren . but haply this execution without order from him might be done by the gileadites in heat of anger : souldiers in the precipice of their passion being sensible of no other stop but the bottome . if done by iepthah's command , surely his own security enforced this severity , as a dolefull , but needfull , a sad , but safe way to prevent the growth of another war , the seeds whereof iephthah foresaw in the revengefull disposition of the ephraimites . however some actions in the old testament as they may not be imitated , so they must not be condemned , whose actors might have immediate commission of divine inspiration . § . from hence iordan casteth a glancing eye at the fair city of iabesh-gilead , sweetly seated at the bottome of balm-bearing mountains . the inhabitants hereof ingaged not with the rest of israel against the benjamites , for which offence they were all slain save four hundred young o virgins , which were given to the benjamites to wife . thus the benjamites being gileadites by the mother side , it was not onely protection to his subjects , but also love to his kindred which invited saul to succour this city , when naash the ammonite besieged it . painfull and shamefull were the conditions of peace which naash offered them , namely p if he might thrust out their right eyes , which was to render their souldiers stark blind in effect . for whereas the iews were wont to wear in war broad shields on their left arme , which as it sheltered their body , so it hindred their sight on that side ) when their right eye was put out by their enemies sword , and the left blinded by their own shield , they were , during the fight , deprived of the best fence of their body . but q saul saved all this harm by a speedy march , suddenly surprizing the ammonites , and delivering the city of iabesh-gilead . § . gratitude to saul for so great a benefit probably did afterwards put the people of this city on that honourable , but dangerous designe to rescue saul and his sons bodies from the wall of bethshan , where the r philistines had hanged them up . it was no pleasant prospect to these men of iabesh , bethshan being opposite on the other side of iordan over against them , some eight miles off . ( loialty hath a quick sight and a tender heart , at a distance to behold and bemoan affronts to her soveraign ) did saul preserve their right eyes to this end , contentedly to behold his body abused ? out march all the valiant men in the city in the night over iordan : sauls and his sons corps they took down from bethshan , bring them home , burn the flesh , and bury the bones thereof under a s tree neare the city . the iews generally interring their dead under some oak , pleased perchance with the parallel , that as those plants seemingly dead in winter , have every spring an annuall resurrection : so mens dry bones shall have new sap put into them at the day of judgment . t david afterwards removed the bones of saul and ionathan , & buried them in the sepulchre of kish their father in zelab in the countrey of * benjamin . § . from the fords of ephraim , iordan taketh his course by the cities of u ataroth and w debir , of which we can say neither more nor less , but that they are called ataroth and debir . for these places ( let x ataroth-shophan , y beth-haran &c. march in the same rank ) are so short-lived in scripture , that they live onely to be named , and presently vanish away , without any more mention of them . not long after iordan leaving this tribe runneth into reuben . § . more inland in gad lay the large and fruitfull countrey of gilead , whereof more fitly and fully in the next tribe . for though this tribe of gad had south-gilead in her borders ; yet under favour i conceive that north-gilead ( which belonged to manasseh ) was the firstand best countrey of that name . now whereas we read in z scripture , that gad had all the cities of gilead , and few verses after , that manasseh had half a gilead ; know that gilead is taken restrictively in the former , and generally in the latter acception . § . ramoth-gilead ( called also b ramo●h-mizpeh ) was metropolis of gad-gilead . it belonged to the levites , and was also a city of c refuge , afterwards won by the king of d aram. then , ( alas ) that city , which so often had saved others from the pursuit of their enemies , could not preserve it self from the sword of the syrians . here it was verified , quod non capit christus , e rapit fiscus . for upon ieroboams introducing of idolatry , the pious levites were outed of their possessions , and now the pagan syrians , revenging their quarrell , ejected israel out of this city , wrongfully wrested from the levites . § . however not long after ahab and iehoshaphat with joint forces besieged it , when the army of the syrians bad them both battell . iehoshaphat at ahabs f perswasion ( pretending his honour , but intending therein his own safety ) appeared in his princely equipage , whilest the other disguised himself in the army . now the syrians having received speciall orders , g to fight neither against small nor great , save onely with the king of israel , mistake iehoshaphat for the king of israel , directed in their conjectures unto him by the lustre of his royall robes . bravery betrays men to danger , and not onely sets up a fair mark , but giveth malice the right ground to throw at it . and was it not just with god , that iehoshaphat , who in complement had profest to ahab , i am h as thou art , should in realty be taken to be the same indeed ? but upon his crying out the syrians apprehend their errour , and desist from further pursuing him . § . but divine justice continues the chace of ahab . guilt cannot hide it self in a croud , and there is no way for a notorious sinner , to disguise himself from gods eye , but by his sincere repentance . a man draws a bow at i adventures , and all-seeing providence guiding blind chance to the joints of ahabs armour , mortally wounds him . it seems not onely the corselet , but also the putting on thereof must be of proof to fence death out , which otherwise will creep in at a small cranny . yet ahab was staid up in his chariot til even , & then the sun & his life set together . some years after king iehoram ahabs son at the same place received k wounds of more honour and less danger , when forcibly he recovered this ramoth-gilead from the kings of syria . but of all iehorams hurts here received , none went so near his heart , as that in this l city , a son of the prophets sent by elisha , did anoint iehu , a captain of the hoste , to be his successour and king of israel . § . we had wholly forgotten ( no shame to confess and amend our faults ) the small countrey of sharon in the north-east part m of this tribe . it seems it was parcell of the demeans of the crown in the days of king david , where his heards n were fed under the care and charge of shetrai the sharonite . david we see was not onely a good man , and good king , but also a good husband , stocking this his land to his best profit , knowing full well , soon would the state of his court-hall be abated , if the thrift in his countrey kitchin were not preserved . nor was sharon a place less pleasant then profitable , where plenty of fragrant roses grew , to which christ ( the churches spouse ) is pleased to o resemble himself ; not for any fading condition , but fair sight , sweet smell , and cordiall vertues wherein he excelled . § . here some will inquire , in what capacity did david hold his land in sharon ( and elsewhere ) where his cattell was grased , * seeing being iesse's youngest son , little land was left him from his father , and none at all in the tribe of gad. the difficulty is increased , because in so pent and populous a countrey , scarce a foot thereof , but related to some owner not having power to alienate it from his heires , to whom at the farthest it was to revert at the year of iubilee when all dead possessions had a resurrection to their proper owners . we conceive david held this land by one of the following titles . by the fundamentall establishment of the crown . for sure when that kings were made , publick provision was made for their princely support , who ( as lords of manors have commonage sance number amongst their tenants ) might feed their cattell any where in their own dominions . by improvement of wast grounds , which fell to the king as lord of the soile . yea seeing god made provisionary laws for the kings behaviour , ( * four hundred years before any king was in israel ) why might not a reserve of land be also left , at the partition of the countrey by lot , for their kings future maintenance ? by mutuall compact : some subjects on valuable consideration , ( as perchance the relaxing the tribute due from every person to his prince ) * might part ( not with the propriety , but ) present profit of their land for the kings conveniency . by attainder of traitours : whose lands it seems were ( at least for some term of time ) at the kings disposall ; witness davids granting all * mephibosheth had unto ziba . by conquest , as most probable it is this sharon was won from the ammonites , when * rabba was taken from them . however we may prefume that davids title ( though unknown to us ) was undoubted in it self , free from the least suspicion of injustice , according to his own counsell : * trust not in oppression , become not vain in robbery . otherwise his tender conscience would as wel have smote him for cutting off a lap of his subjects ground , as of his * soveraigns garment . § . we have finished the description of this tribe and all places therein mentioned in cononicall scripture , onely there remains behind some cities which we finde in the apocrypha , in one p chapter whereof we may spring a whole covey of cities , namely these following : dathema , a fortress . bosora . bosor . alema . chasphor . mached . carnaim . ephron . the generall character given of these places consisteth principally in these particulars . q all these were cities strong and great . situated al in the r land of gilead , yea in this tribe of gad , carnaim onely excepted , whereof more properly in our next description . inhabited by iews , and threatned by the pagan hoste under timotheus , that they would take and destroy them all in s one day . from which last clause we collect that these cities must be placed somewhat near together , otherwise , how could an army probably propound to dispatch them all in one day ? and though the pagans might mingle much pride with their malice in projecting things high and hard to effect , yet surely they mixed some policy with their pride , not to propound to themselves meer impossibilities . but the seasonable coming of iudas maccabeus with his host frustrated all the pagans designes . § . but the city of ephron deserves serious consideration , for the singular situation thereof . for in maccabeus his return from carnaim this strong city stood so in his way , that he could not turn from it either to the right hand or to the left , t but must needs pass through the midst of it . a place in so tyrannicall a position may seem an affront to mans naturall liberty . yet such was the situation thereof near the u confluence of iabbok and iordan ( where perchance the way railed with morasses on either side ) and being a pass of importance , maccabeus was onely free to go this or no way . the ephronites sen●ible of their advantage undiscreetly deny him passage . surely if a flying enemy deserve a bridge of gold to be given him , a potent foe seriously proffering peaceably to depart , may merit a bridg of silver to be lent him . but maccabeus being denyed forced his way through the city w over them that were slain . § . in the partition of the land of canaan into severall moneths for solomons provisions the tribe of gad fell under three purveyer-ships . of gebar the son of uri , who ranged over most of that land , once the kingdome * of sihon . of the son of geber , to whose jurisdiction * ramoth-gilead did belong . of abinadab the son of iddo , * to whom mahanaim did pertain . by mahanaim here i understand not onely the levites city so named , ( poor purveying for victualls within the walls of that alone ) but a large territory of the same name round about it . and although to us it is unknown how far the bounds thereof extended , yet they must be concluded either very large or extraordinary fruitfull , acquitting it self as a twelfth part of the kingdome , and affording court fare for one moneth of the year . in the passage to this mahanaim on the south ( to retreive a place which otherwise had escaped us ) lay bithron , a petty countrey it seems , through which abner passed * when by night he fled from ioab . § . it will here be demanded , that seeing the land was by gods own appointment formerly divided into twelve parts , ( the twelve tribes ) adequate to the twelve moneths of the year , why did not solomon rather make use of this partition , which was jure divino , then make a new modell out of his own fancy . it is answered , this later division of the land , was found most convenient for house-keeping , and so more subservient to this particular end for which it was ordained . if that any urge me to give a reason why in this division into purveyer-ships ramoth-gilead distanced some miles off , was added to the jurisdiction of the son of geber , who was overseer in manasseh , thereby mangling and mutilating the intireness of the countrey ; let such first satisfie me , why so many shreds and parcells of land ( especially in worcester * & hereford shires ) are cut off from those countreys in situation , ( yea are surrounded with other shires ) yet belong unto them in jurisdiction as accounted members thereof . in all these querees an ordinary eye might at the first institution discover an apparent reason of such fractions , though now , because long since time out of minde , the quickest sight cannot perceive the cause thereof . § . the armes usually assigned to gad are gules on a banner erected argent a lion rampant sable : grounding their fancy ( i can afford it no better term ) on moses his blessing ; x blessed be he that enlargeth gad , he dwelleth as a lion &c. bu● how to accommodate the prophecy of iacob to this tribe of gad , y a troop shall overcome him , but he shall overcome at last , much imployeth the industry of divines . most apply it to the situation of this tribe , much exposed to the incursion of the ammonites their vexatious neighbours , till at last under z iephthah , a saul , and chiefly b david freed from forein foes , they possessed their countrey in peace . others in a mysticall meaning make gad the embleme of gods children , who after many intermediate frights , fights and failings , come off with the conquest at last ; i say at last , a word which fully recompenseth its long delays in coming , when come with eternity of continuance . here followes the map of the half tribe of manasseh beyond jorda● . manasseh beyond iordan . chap. . § . manasseh eldest son of ioseph by asernath daughter of potipherah prince-priest of on , was by his propheticall grandfather a iacob placed behind ephraim his younger brother . not that reuben-like he was disinherited for any misdemeanour , but onely so it pleased al-disposing providence to transpose him . however ( though inferiour to ephraim in power ) he grew so great that thirty b two thousand two hundred of his body from twenty years old & upward as able men to goe forth to war came forth of egypt , all which digging their graves in the wildernes by their own infidelity c fifty two thousand seven hundred entred the land of canaan . many worthies were extracted from this tribe ( for this countrey was d conferred upon them in intuition to their valour ) as gideon , and iephthah the warlike , iair the younger , the peaceable judge of israel , eliah the prophet ; nor must the five e daughters , and coheires of zelophehad , be forgotten , who argued their case so strongly about their inheritance . bashfulness it self will be bold rather then lose a rightfull possession , and a good cause when plainly told , is learnedly pleaded , especially if a meek moses or just ioshua be the judge thereof . § . we are now onely to describe that part of manasseh which was east of iordan . some will say , was it not pity the possessions of this tribe should be thus dismembred ? was it not enough that ioseph was f separated from his brethren , but manasseh his son must also be parted from himself ? how came that wisdome who pronounceth it g good and pleasant for brethren to live together in unity , to cleave this tribe asunder ? but let such know , that unity in affection may consist with locall separation . besides , divine providence might seem to have a designe herein , that this tribe of manasseh having a joint interest on both sides of iordan , might claspe these countries together : and the manassites being ( as i may say ) amphibii , on both sides of the river , might by visits amongst their kindred , continue a correspondency and civill communion one with another . § . manasseh had mount hermon and gilead on the east , parting it from the ammonites , and ismaelites , iordan on the west , gad on the south , syria , and particularly the kingdomes of geshur and maachah on the north . in which compass of ground , h threescore cities with high walls , gates and bars , besides unwalled towns , were contained . many will be amazed at this number , & the wonder will seem the greater when they shall reckon but i two and twenty cities in asher , nineteen in naphtali , seventeen in simeon , sixteen in issachar , & but twelve in zebulun : unproportionable that half a tribe should have treble the number of cities to those that were bigger . all we can say herein is this , that being a frontier countrey , and being exposed on the north and east to heathen enemies , it must have more fenced cities , then the tribes on the other side iordan , which were better secured by their situation . thus the hem is turned in , and sowed double , to prevent the ravelling out thereof . and if i reck on right , there be more castles in our marches betwixt scotland and wales , then in all england besides . however , our eye shall not be evill at manasseh because gods was good unto it , who are so far from repining at , that we rejoyce for the plenty of strong places therein ; onely grieving that we cannot give the reader an exact account of their names , though we will endevour our best in the following description . § . mount hermon is the north-east bound of this tribe , called by the sidonians k syrion , by the amorites shenir , by humane l writers hippus , and trachones , being a branch of lebanon bended south-ward . a stately strong mountain fixed on firm foundations , and yet the voice of the lord ( understand the thunder with an earthquake ) maketh m syrion to skip as an unicorne ; and well may mountains dance when god himself shall pipe unto them . the n dew of hermon is highly commended by david , and brotherly love is compared thereunto , because ( whilest heat of hatred like a drought parcheth all to nothing ) fraternall kindness dew-like gives refreshment and increase . but how this dew of hermon fell upon the hill of sion ( mountains an hundred miles asunder ) so troubled saint augustine , that at last leaving the literall sense , he is fain to fly to a mysticall meaning . others interpret that the dew of hermon fell upon the hill of sion , because the fruitfull flocks fatted on that mountain came afterwards to be sacrificed at ierusalem ; which is but a harsh construction ; as if one should say , the fruitfulness of linconcolne-shire which falls on london , because the fatted cattel thereof are sold and eaten in the city . but whilest sundry interpreters have severall wit-engines to draw these two mountains together , our last translation saves their needless paines , rendring it , as the dew of hermon , & as as the dew that descended upon the mountains of zion . indeed it is the same specificall , though not individuall dew which lighteth on both mountains , flowing from heaven the same fountain , though falling on earth in severall channels . § . now as hermon is a chain of continued hills , so a principall link thereof is the mountain amana . christ courting his spouse inviteth her to look from the top of o amana . p some conceive thereby amanus a mountain in cilicia is meant ; but seeing solomon clean through that poem , maketh use of onely native similitudes ( whereof a self-sufficiency in his own land ) it is improbable that herein he did borrow a forein and exotick expression . know also , that the region hereabouts is called trachonitis or sharp●land in english , from the steepness of many pointed hills ( in shape not unlike the rocks called needles near the isle of wight ) wherewith this countrey abounded ; and it was a moity of the q tetrarch-ship of philip the brother of herod . § . south of hermon lay mount gilead , famous for the interview of laban and iacob : the former keen with anger ( save that god in a r vision took off his edge ) overtaking iacob charged him with a double action of felony , for stealing himself , and his gods away without his privity . the first , iacob confessed , yet pleaded not guilty to the second , but traversed his innocency . hue and cry is made in vain after the thief and felons goods , ( or gods if you please ) for she , whose conscience would permit her to carry away , cunning did perswade her to conceal them . iacob thus cleared ( as it were by proclamation ) of defendant turns plaintiffe , accusing the accuser for his false accusation . at last all winds off in a good agreement , and an instrument is drawn up betwixt them , not in paper but in stone , interchangeably sealed with solemn oaths . the condition whereof , was to this effect ; that if either of them should passe that place to doe any act of hostility to other , he should forfeit his fidelity , and be liable to divine justice for his perjury . § . this pillar and heap of stones had a threefold name imposed on it , called by laban , s iegar sahadutha , that is in the aramite tongue , a heap of witnesse . by iacob , t galeed , the same in effect in hebrew . by both mizpah ; that is , a watch-tower , iacob giving the name , and laban the occasion thereof by that his expression , the lord u watch betwixt thee and me . here was abundant caution , three names and two languages , and yet nothing too much . for iacob having formerly been sensible of labans notorious shuffling with him , knew the best way to finde sure was to binde sure ; and laban being guilty , and therefore jealous , thought no security sufficient . and therefore in their mutuall suspicions a triplicate was used in naming the places , that a threefold cable might not be broken . § . gilead was at first onely appropriated to that heap and pillar , whence the name may seem to be translated to the adjacent mountains , and thence transmitted to the valley in the east of those mountains , and thence imparted to some eminent persons born in that valley . for as w gilead son of machir , grand-child of manasseh , being born in egypt , so called by a propheticall prolepsis , foretelling that his posterity should possess the countrey of gilead ; so x gilead the father of iephthah , gilead of gilead , seems to take his denomination from the countrey possessed . thus as the y psalmist observes some called their lands after their own names , and some it seems were called after the name of their lands . § . a fruitfull countrey gilead was , till the people thereof were infected with idolatry , growen so frequent therein , that the prophet complains , their z altars were as heaps in the furrows of the field . thus falling into gods displeasure they quickly fell under their enemies disposall . the syrians of damascus threshing them with a instruments of iron , and the b ammonites ripping up their women with child that they might enlarge their border . this latter cruelty seems done in revenge of davids usage of the ammonites in taking of rabbah , c putting them under saws and harrows &c. and although some hundreds of years were betwixt that action of david and this of the ammonites , yet we know malice hath a strong memory , long to retain and at last to return injuries offered unto it . § . under the hills of gilead ( famous for flocks of goats , to which for thickness and whiteness the hair of the spouse is d compared ) lay rogelim a manor of barzillai the gileadite . this was he who so bountifully victualled david at mahanaim , so civilly waited on him to iordan , so equally requested , and so easily obtained a writ of ease from court attendance , being now e fourscore years of age : having first bequeathed his court-pleasures to chimham his son ( neither covetous to keep them himself , nor envious that another should enjoy them ) because such excusable vanities might become his green youth , which would be burdensome to the withered winter of his father . pella seems to be hereabouts , whither many christians warned by many prodigies fled for shelter from ierusalem , before the romans besieged it . as we congratulate their thus preventing persecution according to christs f precept , so we cannot but condole , that the same g persons were afterwards poisoned with hereticall opinions , contrary to the express word of god , and became apostate nazarites . somewhat more north is h lodebar the possession of machir , a bountifull benefactor to david during his distress , and guardian to * mephibosheth in his minority ; and thisbe the birth-place of eliah the prophet , the iohn baptist of the old testament . great was the resemblance betwixt their persons and preaching ( all similitudes run like pharaoh's charets in the red-sea , i wanting some wheeles ) especially because both were born in bad times , when the world was generally infected with wickedness , both contented with plain clothes , and course fare , undaunted in reproving the faults of princes , and implacably persecuted for the same . § . but the principall city in gilead was mizpah the place of iephthah's k habitation . this is he whom his brethren banished for a l bastard ; but the elders of gilead oppressed by the ammonites , brought back for their m generall . when they felt their own woe , they began to see iephthah's worth , formerly exiled for his fathers fault , but now restored for his own abilities . vertue once in an age will work her own advancement , and when such as hate it shall chance to need it , they will be forced to prefer it . to mizpah iephthah returned , though a conquerour , yet a captive and a prisoner to his own rash vow , to sacrifice whatsoever came first forth of the doors of his house ; it so happening that his onely daughter met him with a virgin-quire and musick , which was sad in the close . here divines both for number and learning are almost equally divided , n some avouching her really sacrificed according to the letter of the text , whereof some footsteps in the fable of agamemnon sacrificing iphigenia ( haply corrupted for iephthagenia or iephtha's daughter : ) others o maintaining that she was onely sequestred to perpetuall virginity . if any demand my judgment in this difference , i seasonably remember how one being asked in the massacre of paris , whether he was a catholick or an hugonite , answered he was a physician . my return must be in this work , i am onely a chorographer , and the controversie in hand concerns matter of fact , not of place , proper onely to us for this present . § . east of mizpah lay the plain of mizpah . ioshua having conquered the kings of canaan ( at the waters of merom in the next tribe ) pursued them hither on the east and to p mizrepoth●maim near sidon westward . a chace with a vengeance all the latitude of the land , the canaanites flying as far as sea or mountains would give them leave : so that their flight may pass for a scale of miles for the breadth of this countrey , so smitten untill they left them none q remaining , understand it , not in a considerable body to make any resistance . § . so much of gilead . we come now to bashan : for these two provinces did the tribe of manasseh r contain , though it is impossible accurately to distinguish their bounds . bashan was a grazing countrey ( as indeed all canaan east of iordan was fitter for abel then cain , for pasturage then tillage ) antiently called the land s of giants ; which though now extirpated , og being the last of that race , yet retained some footsteps thereof in the strength and greatness of her oakes , whereof t oares were made for the gallies of tyre . rams , u of the breed of bashan , being the fattest and fairest of their kinde . bulls , so often mentioned in scripture . but by w davids metaphoricall bulls of bashan , strong , sturdy , curst , cruell men are understood . this province was subdivided into severall petty lands : as , first , the la●d x of argob on the north next syria . secondly , * bashan-avoth-iair : where taking the first word for the genus and the two latter for the difference , we have the exact definition of the countrey . § . iair was a fortunate name in the family of manasseh , and we must be carefull not to confound two eminent men of that name . iair the elder , contemporary with moses , who , when the field-forces of og were utterly destroied , smote the y small towns thereof ( being threescore in number , as ioshua counted them ) and called them bashan-avoth-iair , that is , the cities of iair in bashan . iair the younger , a peaceable judge in israel immediately before iephthah , who as he came many years in age short of the former , so the number of his cities were but half so many , viz. z thirty , which he left to his thirty sons , calling them also avoth-iair . it is further recorded of his thirty sons that they rode on thirty a asse-colts , i. e. they were itinerant b judges , say some , in their respective places , it being improper that they in their severall circuits should goe on foot . authority would be contemned if not somewhat heightned above the comon people . or ride on prancing steeds . marshall law may be so mounted , where the heels of the horses are as terrible to poor people , as the face of the rider . or ride on swift coursers ; seeing no such hast to execute suspected innocence . or be housed in covered chariots ; which is a kinde of engrossing of justice , shutting that up , to which all ought to have open access . but ride on asses : partly that petitioners , though lame and weak , might keep pace with them on the way when relating their grievances ; and partly by that patient creature to shew the slow but sure proceeding of justice ; and indeed the judges foot-pace to the sentence is the accused parties post-speed to his grave . we finde among these thirty cities , but one of them named , which is c camon , wherein the body of iair was buried . and it is probable , that ira the d iairite so high in favour about king david , was an inhabitant of this countrey . § . more south lay ashteroth-karnaim , or in english , the two horned ashteroth , either so named from some forked building , or street therein ; ( horn-church in essex , and horn-castle in lincolne-shire so called on the like occasion ) or because the idol ashteroth , that is , the moon horned in her waxing or waning , was worshipped therein ; or lastly because a fair and gallant city , and all strength , mirth , and jollity are called horns in the hebrew . yet may we say to the men of ashteroth in the words of the e psalmist , set not up your horns so high , neither speak presumptuous words . horns , which first were well blunted by chedorlaomer , when he f smote the rephaims or giants in ashteroth-karnaim , and afterwards were broken quite off , when g og king of bashan who reigned in this city was overthrown . for hard by is edrei another city wherein og resided , and neer which he bid battell to the children of israel when he with all his giant-like race , which peopled this place , was extinguished . for though the countrey of pigmies be a poets-tale , this h land of giants is a scripture-truth . however , no eye can now distinguish betwixt the ashes of giants , and dust of dwarfs , death having long since levelled all alike in the grave . § . such remarkable places as remain in this tribe , will easily be found out , if we follow the stream of iordan , and such rivolets as pay tribute thereunto . iordan having newly recovered himself out of the waters of merom into a competent channell , receiveth from the east i hermon a small brook running by golan , a k levites city of refuge , ( whence the neighbouring countrey in iosephus called gaulonitis ) and after iordan falleth betwixt capernaum and chorazin into the sea of galilee . this chorazin was the place where christs miracles and preaching were sowen so thick ; and where the peoples thankfulness for the one , and practise of the other , came up so thin , that it caused that curse , l woe be to thee chorazin &c. a woe , which at this day hath wasted it from a populous city to a ruinous village . as for their conceit , that antichrist m should be born in chorazin , i take it to be a meer monkish device , to divert mens eyes , from seeking him in the right place where he is to be found . § . more south-ward the brook cherith ( having viewed at some distance n beeshterah , afterwards called bosrah , a city of the levites ; called also * ashtaroth ; and it is questionable , whether this , or ashtaroth-carnaim ( whereof formerly ) were the metropolis of og king of bashan ) runneth into the sea of galilee . by the banks hereof the ravens brought eliah o bread and flesh in the morning and evening , and he drank of the river . it seems dinners are but innovations ; whilest break-fasts , and suppers are mens most ancient and naturall meales . here eliah having the sub●●ance of sustenance , cared not for the ceremony of a table , or complement of a carpet . how little will preserve life , but how much must maintain luxury ! after a while this river dried up . collect not thence that the brook was inconsiderably little , but that the drought had been extraordinarily long . p § . as for the cities of hippus , iulias , and gamala , whereof as deep silence in scripture , as frequent mention in iosephus , it is enough to name them . in the last of these q iosephus reports iudas of galilee to be born , that grand impostor , who r in the days of the taxing pretended himself the champion of popular liberty , to protect them from such unreasonable payments . multitudes of men flocked after him ; for , spare their purses , and win the hearts of the vulgar . but iudas having go●ten power , fell a pillaging all people , taking from them the whole griest of their estate , so to save the owners from paying toll unto cesar. how smooth and tender are the gums of infant-treason , but oh how sharp are the teeth thereof when once grown to full greatness ! however , he and his followers came afterward unto confusion , and is the second instance alleadged by gamaliel to prove , that s councells which are not of god will come to nought . * the son of geber was solomons purveyer in this half tribe of manasseh . § . the armes assigned to ioseph are , a tree proper growing by a well , founded on the words of iacob gen. . . david may seem hence to have borrowed his simile of a blessed man , t he shall be like a tree planted by the waters side . but ioseph had more , not onely a well before to refresh , but a wall behind to support him , and his boughs ( may heralds word it in their own language ) grew over the wall . partly foretelling the fruitfulness of iosephs posterity , and partly pointing at the particular posision of his inheritance . for , as some think , iordan was the wall on the east of the land of canaan properly so called ; and the children of ioseph having their root planted , and main body growing on the other side of the river , spread their branches over this wall , half manasseh having his portion on the east side of iordan . to conclude , though those armes did generally belong to the whole house of ioseph , yet custome hath appropriated them to manasseh alone : other ensigns being assigned to ephraim , whereof god willing hereafter . here the map of naphtali is to be inserted . the tribe of naphtali . chap. . § . naphtali son of iacob by bildah his concubine was multiplied during the aboad of his posterity in egypt , to fifty and three thousand * four hundred . all which dying in the desert , their sons being fourty five thousand foure * hundred entred the land of canaan . a tribe acquitting it self considerable in relation to the rest , though we meet but with two , or rather but with one and a half glories thereof . the former * barak the son of abinoham , who ( acted by deborah ) did act so valiantly against sisera . the half-one hiram ( a a naphtalite though his * father was a man of tyre ) that curious artificer in solomons temple . other eminent persons ( though unknown ) doubtless were of this tribe , for in their martiall addresses to david in hebron , none appeared in more excellent equipage for number and warlike accoutrements : b and of naphtali a thousand captains , and with them with shield and speare , thirty and seven thousand . § . this tribe bordered ( plainly intimated though not expressed in the bounding thereof ) on mount libanus on the north , c and reacheth ( as is plainly expressed ) to zebulun on the south-side , and to asher on the west-side , and to iudah upon iordan toward the sun-rising . true this must needs be , for truth hath said it ; the last words present us with a seeming impossibility . for how long an arme must naphtali make to reach to iudah , over the tribes of zebulun , issachar , manasses , ephraim , and benjamin interposed , naphtali being distanced about an hundred miles from iudah ? here some commentators being not able to quell , never raise this objection : a commendable discretion in them , if unconcerned to meddle therewith ; but seeing they professe their calling to be a satisfaction of difficulties , it is in them an unexcusable lazinesse . but let us hear what the learned resolve in this case . d some fancy a small lace of land ( or rather a thread for the narrowness thereof ) whereby ( though invisible in maps ) naphtali is tyed unto iudah . e others , that naphtali reacheth to iudah upon iordan , not immediately in confines , but mediately by commerce ; because the river iordan runneth thence unto iudah , and so they had the conveniency of traffique into that tribe . others more likely , that naphtali reached to f iudah on iordan ; because iudah as a tribe in chief had the royalty of the river iordan , as fishing , fowling , and perchance the impost on all vessells , sailing from the fountain to the fall thereof . let me cast my mite into this treasury . what if this iudah was but the name of a town or village , and therefore that addition , iudah upon iordan , given for distinction sake ? however masius no less learned , then modest , pleaseth me with this resolution . in rebus tantâ vetustate obliteratis , & quae exploratè percipi nullâ jam ratione possunt , satius est non multa dicere , quàm incertissima pro veris absque ullâ dubitatione afferre . such difficulties were not casually scattered , but purposely placed to improve our industry , and teach us humility . for the best answer mans wit can produce , is no salve to the text , which of it self is whole and entire , but a plaister onely to our own craized understandings . § . for the fruitfulnesse of this countrey , hear what moses prophecyeth . g o naphtali satisfied with favour , and full with the blessing of the lord. see also what was performed . for the land about laish , which was in the confines of this tribe is thus charactered , h a place where there is no want of any thing that is in the earth . i iosephus being almost this country-man , saith , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : one may call this countrey the ambition of nature . strabo k a pagan giveth it the epithets of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a well natured land and bearing all commodities . but the best fruit it bare was our saviour himself : by his corporall presence much conversant here ; this tribe being the theatre whereon his most remarkeable miracles were acted . § . from the foot of libanus to the sea of galilee may be allowed thirty five miles . equall whereunto , by the favour of iordan running crooked , ( though northernly more narrow ) is the breadth thereof , from east to west . in the time of our saviour this tribe was parcell of two tetrarchies . the north-east part thereof , belonged to iturea . the l poet takes notice of the plenty of yew in this province . — itureos taxi torquentur in arcus . yew which in iturea growes is neately bended into bowes . hence their inhabitants became excellent archers : and pity it was , rhat their arrows were so often shot at a wrong mark , to kill and rob passengers in their journey . strabo calls the itureans generally 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and their countrey in some sort may seem accessary to their felonies ( the receiver is bad as a thief ) which , as the foresaid author observes , in her caves , woods , and inaccessible mountains protected those robbers from justice proceeding against them . insomuch that the romans were fain to keep souldiers in garison against them ( but who kept any against the souldiers ? ) so that betwixt both , iturea at that time may be conceived sufficiently miserable . § . the south-west of naphtali was accounted part of galilee the upper , otherwise called galilee of the gentiles , because , as some conceive , the people therein were commixed with heathens , and ( being far from ierusalem ) were more drossie iews then the rest . which is a most erroneous opinion . for how improbable is it , that our saviour , who sending his disciples to preach gave them instructions , m goe not into the way of the gentiles , and into any city of the samaritans enter yee not , and himself never stayed in samaria , save as he took it in his necessary passage in or from n iudea ; should choose galilee , if so debased with the mixture of gentiles , for the place of his principall and constant residence ? far more true is it that it was called galilaea gentium , that is , galilee the populous , because of the multitudes of people , especially near the sea , wherein was decapolis ( a member of galilee . ) and there one city , for want of room , may seem to tread on another . § . before we come to the particular description of this tribe , we will first dispatch out of the way , nine limitary towns ( which accordingly are figured in the map ) and this will much facilitate our proceeding in the rest . heleph , * in the northern bounds of this tribe , from which the eastern coasts thereof southwardly are described . allon , that is in english , oake ( as oakeham in rutland ) so named from plenty of those trees growing therein . zaanaim . note that tremellius maketh these two latter , but one entire place , reading it the oake-wood of zaanaim . adami . which as ruthland in flint-shire , probably was so named from the redness of the earth . nekeb : this is a ditch , where we may conceive iordan was let out for the more convenient watering of other ground . and have we not more then twenty dittons or ditch-tons on the same occasion in england ? iabneel : different from one of the same name in the tribe of dan. lakum . aznoth-tabor . hukkok . we are not bound to beleeve all these nine to have been cities of considerable strength , or greatness , as not so note-worthy in themselves as in their situation . because ( though perchance otherwise poor villages ) they stood in the borders of this tribe . thus low shrubs growing on high hills , or crooked thorn-trees set by the high-way side , are more conspicuous in the eye , and frequent in the mouths of travellers , then streighter and fairer trees which are obscure in the midst of the wood . § . to come to the particular description thereof ; amongst the mountains of libanus , we meet with one of eminent note , not onely having a name peculiar to it self , but which from it hath also denominated the adjacent countrey . this is mount paneas , wherein there is a deep hole or cave . and though places of this kind commonly have more horrour then pleasure in them , this , besides its naturall beauty , was adorned with artificiall structures in , and about it . herein also was an unsoundable spring of water , conceived by some to be the primitive fountain of iordan . yet o iosephus tells us of phiala , a spring above two hundred furlongs off ( and therefore out of the bounds of this tribe ) into which philip the tetrarch cast cha●●e to try the experiment , and it was rendred up again in the streame of iordan . whence he concluded , that this river entertained an underground intelligence with that fountain . but we are not to take notice where rivers are secretly conceived , but where they are visibly born : and therefore date the originall thereof from the apparent heads of ior and dan : which keeping themselves sole and single for a short time , are soon wedded together . and from the confluence of their names and streams , iordan is begotten . § . to pass by scripture commendations , it is called by p ●olinus , eximiae suavitatis amnis , a river of excellent sweetness . but as if rivers , as well as men , were too prone to be proud of their good properties , it is very subject to * overswell the banks ; in which notion perhaps , it is also called by the aforesaid solinus , ambitiosus amnis , an haughty and ambitious river . but what saith the q prophet ? the pride of iordan is spoiled : namely , in some extraordinary drought ( and thence dearth ) which he there foretelleth . to keep the golden mean ; as iordan sometimes must be acknowledged to mount too high , so naaman depressed it too low in his valuation : whose ignorance and passion preferred r abana and pharphar , the rivers of damascus , before it . § . at the aforesaid confluence stands the famous city of laish , which at first it seems was a free state , living in subjection to none , and yet in slavery to their own intemperance . they were s far from the zidonians , that is , as t one measureth it , about thirty miles : half that distance being too much to receive thence seasonable succour in their suddain surprize by the danites . in taking which town , the u prophecy of moses was fulfilled , dan is a lions whelp he shall leape from bashan . it seems that the danites came on the east-side of the city , and might for a time secretly repose themselves in bashan . whence , on a suddain , lion-like ( saliant in his posture , when he seizeth on his prey ) they leaped on the city , and were felt being on them before seen coming towards them . the city was afterwards called dan , and the danites possessed a tract or territory of ground , which otherwise seems to lie within the tribe of naphtali , but was not possessed by them . § . but as we must praise the prowesse and policy , so we detest the idolatry of these danites , who hither brought , and here erected , the graven image stoln from w micah , worshiping it untill the day of the captivity of the land : that is , as x tremellius well expoundeth it , till the ark was taken captive and restored , when there followed a generall reformation in the days of samuel . this place y then purged , was not long after defiled again with the same sin . for here ieroboam set up one of his golden calves , z making priests of the meanest of the people . and although where a calfe is the god , a wispe of hay is good enough to be the priest , yet hainous was the offence , because done by ieroboam in the disgrace of religion . the erection of these calves was pretended for the ease of the people of israel , to spare their tedious travell thrice a year to ierusalem ; but in effect occasioned that they were sent a longer journey on a worse errant , even into irrecoverable captivity . thus to spare a step in the path of piety , is to spend many in the ready road to misery . § . in the time of our saviour , this dan was called cesarea-philippi , built in honour of tiberius cesar by philip the tetrarch . who in so nameing it , as wise to remember himself , was also mannerly to prefer the emperour . this philip being tetrarch of a iturea , and trachonitis , made this cesarea ( as conveniently seated betwixt both ) the place of his principall residence . neare this b place , peter gave christ that excellent testimony , of his being the son of god. as for the two statues of melted brasse which here are said to be set up by that woman , whose fluxe of bloud christ cured , the one resembling our saviour , the other her self , in humble posture touching the hem of his garment , i had rather the reader receive it from the c authours themselves , then my relation . chiefly because it seems improbable , that she , who so lately had d sepent all her substance upon physicians , should so quickly recrute her self , as to be able to goe to the cost of such a monument . § . leaving now the territory of dan , we enter on naphtali ; and iordan running hence , after some miles expatiateth it self into the waters of merom or the samoc●onite-lake . this was a sea in winter , and in sommer a thicket of reeds , affording shelter to lions , and wolves , and ( which now a days are more dangerous to travellers , then either ) wild arabians . behold ( saith the e prophet ) he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of iordan , that is , most fierce and furious ; who having lodged there quietly all sommer in the shade , is vexed to be rouzed by the rising of the waters in winter : and , therefore is ready to revenge this wrong on the next object he meets . near these waters , ioshua gave that famous overthrow to f iabin senior king of the canaanites pursuing the chace as far as zidon . on the west of this lake , where daphnis a rivolet falleth into it , they place riblah , accounted a terrestriall paradise , for the sweet situation thereof . but grant it pleasant in it self , it was a sad place to king g zed●kiah , who having first beheld the slaughter of his sons , had here his own eyes bored out . thus mans tyranny accomplisheth gods justice , whilest zedekiah had now leasure enough to bethink himself how he deserved this punishment , who indevored to put out the eyes of israel , by persecuting the prophets , and h imprisoning the seers thereof . afterwards , iordan recovering it self out of the lake , and contented with a competent stream , is passable at the ford of iacob , so called because tradition reports that patriarch there to have i gone over this river with the company of god and his staffe . at this day there is a * beautifull bridge built over , retaining the name of iacobs bridge , kept in excellent repaire ( as being the high-way betwixt damascus and ierusalem . ) and well may t●e turkes afford it , seeing the unconscionable toll , which they extort of christian passengers for caphar or custome , will serve almost to build all the arches thereof with silver . § . here let us hold a while , and desiring to please all palats , let us temper the harshness of old matters , with the mixture of a modern passage . if the reader should ever travell this way from damascus to ierusalem and so into egypt , he may repose himself for a night in the cave east of this bridge , on the other side iordan . a cave is a publick building erected by some devout turk in nature of an inne , for the benefit of travellers , of more or less receipt & conveniency according to the bounty or fancy of the founder . but here the guest must be his own host to entertain himself , seeing generally nothing but a bare lodging and water , is provided for him . and though we pity the readers bad lodging this night , where ( if not bringing better accommodations with him ) he and his camell must be bedfellowes in straw ; yet we promise him next day a pleasant way and handsome entertainment . for about seven miles off he shall pass by cave ioseph , where a well will be shewed him full of k water , and adorned with marble pillars , which common tradition avoucheth to be the pit wherein ioseph was put , and a learned l frier very zealously stickleth for the truth thereof , though indeed the story is confuted both by the distance and nature of the place . for it is sixty miles from dothan near m sechem , where iosephs brethren kept their sheep . besides , that pit had no moisture in it ( save what fell from the eyes of ioseph ) whereas this is full of water , so that iosephs dreams ▪ had been but dreams if put therein . but it is as good as a bait to tired travellers ( whose credulity is swifter then the camels they ride on ) to be refreshed in the way with such relations . some twelve miles off , the reader may lodge in a convenient cave called minium by the moors , but by the turkes n missia : and if early up next morning , may , going south-westward , before noon enter the tribe of zebulun . where we may in due time overtake him , and hereafter give him larger direction for his travell . § . from iacobs bridge the river iordan sees nothing memorable besides rich meddows and pleasant pastures , untill he falleth into the sea of cinnereth , so called ( say some ) because in form not unlike a o harp : as indeed an active fancy in point of resemblance will fashion any thing to any thing . how well the similitude suits , the reader will best judge when hereafter he shall behold the entire proportion of this sea in the tribe of zebul●● , where he may feed his fill on the dimensions and severall names thereof ; till which time to stay his stomach , we here present him with such a parcell of this sea-lake , as falls to the share of naphtali . at the influxe of iordan into this sea , stood the once famous city of capernaum , called christs p own city . note by the way , christ had three cities which may be called his own ( if seven contended for homer , well may three be allowed to christ ) bethlehem where he was born , nazareth where conceived and bred , and capernaum where q he dwelt , more then probably in the house of simon peter though born in bethlehem . § . this capernaum was the magazine of christs miracles . here was healed the servant of that good r centurion : who though a gentile outfaithed israel it self , concluding from his own authority over his souldiers , that christ by a more absolute power , as lord high marshall of all maladies , without his personall presence , could by his bare word of command , order any disease to march or retreat at his pleasure . here simon peters wives mother was cured of a s fever , and t here such as brought the man sick of the palsie , not finding a door on the floor , made one on the roof ( love will creep , but faith will climb where it cannot goe ) let him down with cords , his bed bringing him in , which presently he carried out being perfectly cured . u here also christ restored the daughter of iairus to life , and in the way as he went ( each parenthesis of our saviours motion is full of heavenly matter , and his obiter more to the purpose , then our iter ) he cured the woman of her fluxe of bloud , with the touch of his garment . but amongst all these and more wonders , the greatest was the ingratitude of the people of capernaum , justly occasioning our saviours sad prediction , and w thou capernaum which art exalted to heaven shalt be brought down to hell ; for if the mighty works which have been done in thee , had been done in tyre and s●don , they would have repented long ●goe in sackecloth and ashes . o sad strapado of the soul , to be hoised up so high , and then cast down suddenly so low , enough to disjoint all the powers thereof in peeces ! * capernaum at this day is a poor village scarce consisting of seven fishermens cottages . § . some furlongs west-ward from this city stood the receipt of custome , whence matthew was * called from a publican to be an apostle . in capernaum afterwards the y toll-gatherers did civilly demand of peter , doth not your master pay tribute ? it being questionable in point of law , whether christ were legally liable to such payments . and l●t us inquire whence the doubt did arise . was it because he being a physician , ( such persons of publick imployment for generall good were often exempted from taxes ) who gave his paines gratis to others , it was but equall he should be priviledged from such pecuniary burdens ? being poor , was under value in the excise-book ? and where nothing is to be had the emperour must lose his right . yea generally almes folk who live on the charity of others ( such the condition of our z saviour ) are not to be rated . being an inmate or under-tenant in the house of peter , the question was , whether peter or christ was to pay the taxation ? this last is most probable . for our saviour taking order for the discharging of the debt , give the money ( saith he to st. peter ) unto them a for me and thee . as rates in london are divided betwixt land-lord and tenant . hence peter was sent to sea , where a fish , which probably had plundered a peece of money out of the pocket of some shipwracked fisherman , lost his life for the fact , and the felons goods found in him were justly forfeited to christ , lord paramount both of sea and soil . § . going forward along the shoare , some will be so positive as to point at the place where after his resurrection , christ took his repast with his disciples on bread and broiled fish ; yet we finde no express mention of his drinking after he rose from the grave ; and that , as some will have it , either in reference to his promise to his disciples , * i will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine untill that day , when i drink it new with you in my fathers kingdome . or because ( though accepting of meat out of voluntary conformity ) yet he refrained from moisture , to manifest himself , though no less then a true , yet much more then a meer man : but this we leave with the authors . § . some miles hence towards the north is a mountain of a moderate ascent and pleasant prospect , generally known by the name of christs mountain . here our saviour made that excellent sermon in the mount , which was the key of the old law. and here he chose his twelve disciples , frequently repairing hither , when he affected retiredness . here also b learned men on good likelyhood ( scripture being silent of the particular place ) conceive the miracle of loaves multiplied wrought by our saviour . and to avoid confusion , we must carefully observe that this was twice wrought . place . guests . meate . fragments : gospels . a desert nigh tiberias men . loaves , two fishes baskets ful mat. . mar. . . lu. . . . . christs mountai●● men loaves a few litle fishes baskets ful . mat. . . mark . . behold in the latter though the meat was the more , & the mouths fewer , yet fewer fragments did remain . and good reason that our saviour in working of miracles , should observe no other proportion then his own pleasure . § . following still the sea shore and going westward , we light on the city c cinnereth , which some conceive gave the name to the lake adjoining , and also to the land thereabouts . for when benhadad in favour to king asa , to remove baasha from besieging ramah , inroded israel , he smote d all cinneroth , with all the land of naphtali . some five miles westward we meet with bethsaida of galilee , in english a * hunting house . nor is it unlikely , that at first it was a mansion meerly made for recreation , the neighbouring desert ( frequently visited by our saviour when desiring privacy ) affording the pleasure of the game . from a house it grew to be a village , so called by saint marke , and thence proceeded to be a city so graced in other e gospells . nor need learned men so trouble themselves about the difference , seeing in a short time ( hague in holland may be an instance ) a great town with addition of walls , may at pleasure commence a small city . it was the f native place of peter , andrew & philip , and another staple city of christs miracles , whose ingratitude forced our saviours expression , woe unto thee chorazin , woe unto thee g bethsaida &c. § . in the confines of bethsaida christ by the hand led forth a blind man out of the town , spat on his eyes , so restoring him to a confused and imperfect sight to see men walking as h trees , ( well might his spittle give half sight , whose i breath gave man whole life at the creation ) and then putting his hands upon his eyes compleatly cured him . but how came it to pass that he , who other whiles healed at distance by the proxie of his word , subveniens priùs quàm veniens , curing before coming to his patients , should here be so long , not to say tedious , in working a miracle ? even so saviour , because it pleased thee . let us not raise cavills where we should rather return thanks , seeing christ , that our dull meditations might keep pace with his actions , did not onely goe slowly on set purpose , but even stayed in the mid way of a miracle , doing it first by halves , that our conceptions might the better overtake him . § . to clear this corner before we goe hence : north-east of bethsaida , on a tridented mountain standeth saphetta , two parts whereof are inhabited by the turks , and one by the iews , and is at this day a very considerable place . here the iews live in the greatest liberty ( or rather in the least slavery ) of any place under heaven : having some tolerable priviledges allowed them by the turk . so that they who get wealth enough elsewhere , here seem to have some shew of a common-wealth . yea here there is a k university of iews . and though commonly that nation count their children to have learning enough , if able to cheat christians in their bargains , here they give them studious education : and the pure hebrew tongue ( as also at thessalonica , now salonichi in greece ) is here usually spoken , but industriously acquired , the iews being neithe● born to foot of land nor word of language then what they purchase by their paines . what shall we say if this little place be left still to keep possession , as an earnest that god in due time upon their conversion may possibly restore the whole countrey unto them ? § . three cities follow southwest , naphtali , a city properly so called ; thisbe different from the native place of eliah ; and naasson ; all their credits depending on the two first verses of the book of tobit . now as comoedians , though often they adorn their interludes with fancies and fictions ; yet are very carefull always to lay their scene right , in a true place , which is eminently and notoriously known : so grant the book of tobit guilty of improbabilities and untruths , surely the author thereof would be punctuall in describing the place , past possibility of confutation . yet since the same book presents us with the pedegree of the angell raphael , with l ananias the great his father , and m sammajas his grandfather , contrary to our saviours character , that they neither n marry , nor are given in marriage , and so by consequence can neither get , nor can be begotten ; we may as justly suspect his geography , as genealogy , and conceive him false in the position of towns , who is fabulous in the extraction of angels . and if naphtali and thisbe pass for reall places , yet not onely doubtfull , but desperate is the case of the city naasson , not being founded on the rock of the greek text , where no such town appears , but on the quick-sand of the erroneous vulgar latine translation . § . having thus surveyed the east and south parts of this tribe , lest the other coasts thereof should justly complain of neglect , we return to mount libanus to give an account of the remainder . in this map , though not in this tribe ( no trespass i hope to look over the hedge ) behold heliopolis , in english , the city of the sun. but how well it brooks the name , they can best tell , o who of certain report , that the height of the mountains adjoining shadow it from the sun the better half of the day . was it therefore by the same figure , that the mountains are so called from moving , that heliopolis got this name ? or because the sun ( as all other blessings are valued ) is most worshipped , where it is most wanted . not far hence , the river p fons hortorum libani , or the fountain of the gardens of libanus , ( with which the banks thereof on either side are enamelled ) fetcheth his originall ; running thence by hamah , afterwards called epiphania , often mentioned in scripture . thus far came the twelve q spies , sent to search the land ; and this place passeth in r scripture from the entring of hamah for the northern boundary of the land of israel , not onely before the expression of dan came into request , but also long after the s mention thereof in holy writ was disused . we shall in due place speake , as of hamah the great , so named by the t prophet , ( since called antiochia in coelosyria , and by vulgar unskilfulness often confounded with this hamah in naphtali ) so also of u ashimah , the topicall or peculiar idoll of this place . § . hence that river runneth by hazor , anciently the w metropolis of the canaanites , where very many of their kings met together against ioshua , to his great advantage . had he sought them in their severall cities , to what expence of time and paines would it have amounted ? whereas now their malice did his work , all of them meeting together , having but one neck in effect , which here they tendred to the axe of divine justice . hazor by ioshua was burnt , and more then an hundred years after was probably reedified by iabin the second , into whose hand god is said to have sold his people . not far off this river of gardens leaveth naphtali , and vis●teth the tribe of asher . § . but before we leave the river , let this memorandum be entred , that z some hold this is the same with the sabbatariam river mentioned in a pliny ; which is said to run six days , and lie still the seventh , whence it gained the name . were this true ; as solomon sent the sluggard to the b pismire to learn industry , well might profane persons be remitted to this river , thereby to be instructed in the sabbaths due observation . but most listen to it , as to a fable , and the hurlers in cornwall ( men c metamorphosed into stones , as tradition reports , for playing on the lords day ) may fitly serve to build a bridge over this river . it much shakes the credit of this report , because d iosephus relates it clean contrary , namely that this river lies still sixe days , and onely runs the seventh : adding how titus the emperour going from iury to antioch took a journey by the way to behold the same . but indeed learned e casaubon not onely observeth herein the copies of iosephus to be corrupted , but also giveth his advice for the amendment of the same . so that by right pointing his words , and some other small alteration , iosephus and pliny , may be made to agree . however modern travellers bring us no intelligence of such alternation or intermitting course of any river hereabouts , and some perchance will be ready to say , that since the jewish sabbath hath been swallowed up in the christians lords day , this river hath discontinued his former custome , lest what anciently was ceremonious , be now adays censured for superstitious . § . let us now traverse this tribe southeast : where we c●not miss abel a city , sometimes single , sometimes double represented unto us , namely t. f abel of bethmaacah ; as if the former were but parcell of the latter . ly . g abel and bethmaacah ; as if different , but bordering cities . ly . h abel-bethmaacah ; as if both made up one and the same place . in this city , sheba the rebell , pursued by ioab and his own guiltiness , took covert , so that the storme of a furious assault was ready to fall upon it , when the breath of a wise woman blew it cleare away , who so ordered it , that i sheba's head was cast over the wall see how his head , which thought to turn all israel upside down , when whirled in the aire , was tossed and tumbled about . and pity it is any bullets should be shot into that city , which would cast such fireballs out of it . we know the wicked mans , not the wise womans name , and yet when his vertueless name shall rot , her nameless vertue shall remain . but abel wanted such another wise woman to protect it , when furiously k taken by be●●hadad , and at last finally destroied by l tiglath-pilesar . § . but in the very midst of this tribe the * oake-trees of zahanaim fair and far spread themselves : for tremellius reads it quercetum zahanaim , the oake-tree place of zahanaim , where our translations render it the plain of zahanaim . a difference not so great but that our age can accommodate , which being wastfull in woods hath expounded into plains , many places which formerly were dark with the thickest oake-trees . here iael the wife of heber the kenite dwelt in her tent , whither sisera ( who went forth with nine hundred charets , but was glad to come home on two legs ) fled for security , having quitted his chariot . not that he thought himself swifter , but safer without it ; seeing his chariot which in fight was the strength to cover , in flight was the mark to discover him . and here iael w th a hammer & nail dispatched him , for which she was blessed by deborah . § . the mention of her blessing minds us of the curse of meroz , and consequently to inquire , where the same was seated . well may we look for it in any tribe , which we finde in no tribe . yea learned men doe so differ in their verdict , that some will have meroz to be , the devill himself , as m nicholas lyra , whose opinion is rejected and refuted by all that mention it . a potent n person in these parts having many tenants and reteiners . a countrey full of populous inhabitants . a o city near the place where the battell against sisera was fought grant the last as most probable , new quaere's are ingendred ; whether a city of caananites or israelites ; and where to be placed . for the exact position whereof we refer the reader to those our learned divines , which in these unhappy dissensions have made that p text so often the subject of their sermons . we have placed it in this tribe not far from kedesh , whence barak first went forth with his men , in the place where mercators maps have a city called meroth ( a rush-candle is better then no light ) our onely motive for the situation thereof . mean time consider , that as the disciples observed that the figtree cursed by our q saviour , was in their return withered away ; so this city after deborah's execration so dwindled by degrees , that nothing is left of meroz , but meroz , nothing surviving of the thing but the name . which name , let the reader behold in our map as the mast of that ship , whose keel is swallowed up in the quicksands . a sea-mark to all posterity to beware , and not to be negligent when they are called to be auxiliaries to gods cause in distress . § . and now our hand is in about conjecturall places , we must not forget madon once a roiall city , * certainly hereabouts , because , * iobab the king thereof , was conquered by ioshua at the waters of merom , though all our industry cannot discover the particular position thereof . happy our condition that in things concerning salvation we have christs gracious promise , * seek and ye shall finde , though in these meaner maters our search often wanteth success . we are bold to place it near dan one of the fountains of iordan , the rather because * brocard findes a place thereabouts called medan by the turks at this day . where i pray let it stand till better information , for rather then with adrichomius we should leave it out of our maps , it is better to put it under any penthouse , then quite shut it out of doors . let dan-javan , * the third station where ioab pitched his tent when he numbred the people , be joined unto it . § . to return to the place where meroz is set , with far more certainty we place * harrosheth of the gentiles , the native city of sisera . but if the reader should chance to overlook the low situation thereof , he cannot oversee kedesh naphtali the habitation of r barak , and a city of refuge belonging to the levites ; for observable it is that all the cities of refuge on this side iordan were advantaged on very high foundations . and they s appointed k●desh in galilee in mount naphtali , and sechem in mount ephraim , and kirjath-arba ( which is hebron ) in the mountain of iudah . whether because those towns were to typifie christ himself , who like the brazen serpent was to be listed up , or to comfort the flying and fainting offender , whose eyes were at his journeys end long before his feet , which could not but much revive his spirits . say not , that it damped them again when his tyred legs after a long and tedious journey must at last ●limb up a steep mountain to the city of refuge : for ( as hath been observed t before ) if the offender got but within the verge of the suburbs on either side of the city , he was secured from the avenger of bloud . § . kedesh was attended on each side with two smaller cities , bethshemesh on the west , beth-anath on the southeast , both assigned to , yet neither possessed by the naphtalites , because the u canaanites though tributaries dwelt therein . much is pretended in the excuse of the israelites why generally they drove not these heathens out of their countrey . none can act above their strength , and they were not able to drive out the canaanites . had they strength , it had been cruelty , not valour , in cold bloud to kill quiet enemies . god gave them a kind of toleration being only to drive them out by degrees . much good accrued by this remnant of canaanites being touchstones to prove the iews faith to their god. but these and many more palliations notwithstanding , unexcusable was the iews connivence at them contrary to gods flat command , and the foresaid pleas of no validity . for the weakness of the iews chiefly consisted in their want of industry , and uniting themselves against those heathen their common enemy . it is onely cruelty to a mans own soul to disobey gods positive command . what 's to be done by degrees , is to be done . whereas the iews not only reprieved these canaanites for a time according to gods permissiō , but finally pardoned their lives contrary to his injunction . the good accidentally accruing from the remains of the canaanites , argues not the innocence of the israelites , but the exceeding goodness of god , ordering their negligence to his own honour . yea the sad success shewed gods displeasure with his people herein ; these canaanites eftsoons rouzing themselves from being couchant under tribute to be rampant in tyranny , and the mixture of their persons infected the israelites with their idolatrous practises . nor know i any thing else considerable in this tribe except w karthan or x kiriathaim , a city of the levites gershonites , of whose posture we are not so wel assured as we could desire . § . ahimaaz * was solomons purveyer in naphtali , and had basmah his daughter to wife . say not it was poor preferment for the daughter of so mighty a monarch to marry her fathers subject . for gods law forbad , heathen matches , and hereby she might keep a clear conscience and lead a comfortable life . kings children too often wed where they neither affect nor are affected , to forain princes ( strangers as well in their lands as loves unto them ) whilst here solomons daughter , might have a softer pillow , though not so sumptuous curtains in her home-marriage . by the way observe , we finde an army of solomons wives and concubines , and but three scattered scouts of his children , * a son and two daughters . multiplying wives in mans sin , children , gods blessing , and solomon laid too many foundations at once , to build much posterity upon them . § . the usuall armes of naphtali are vert a hinde trippant proper according to y iacobs prediction : naphtali is a hinde let loose ; he giveth goodly words . but how this character conformes to the tribe , learned men much disagree ; z luther findes the analogy in deborah , where in deed both her feminine sex is proper , as also because she was an excellent a spokeswoman ; all the error is , she was rather extracted from b ephraim then naphtali . § . others reade the resemblance in barak , because hindelike he was so fearful to come out to war. but surely these blessings were givē by prophetical iacob to his children as future badges of their honour , not brands of their infamy , and therefore the similitude is to be sought not in the disgracefull but commendable qualities of a hinde , and more probably to be fetch'd not from their fear but fleetness in severall performances . besides some conceive it too restrictive an interpretation of iacobs blessing to confine it to any particular ( though eminent ) person , which speakes rather the generall disposition of the whole tribe , and may thus more largely be expounded naphtali is a hinde . no ravenous or beast of prey ( cruell like the benjamites , churlish like the ephraimites ) but a quiet creature : intimating the naphtalites nature disposed to peacefulness . let loose . not pent within the pales of a park , but having room enough to range in : implying the large and spacious possessions of this tribe . he giveth goodly words . they were men of fair speech and loving discourse , not querulous , nor captious , but preferring friendly compliance before brawles & contentions . the standard of naphtali in the israelites pitching about the tabernacle , was the last in the reare on the northside thereof . here the map of asher is to be inserted . the tribe of asher . chap. . § . asher youngest son of iacob by zilpah his concubine , carrieth blessedness in his name , and was so prospered in his posterity , that a forty one thousand and five hundred were reckoned of this tribe in the generall rendezvous at mount sinah . all which punished in the wilderness with death , for provoking god with their disobedience , their sons being b fifty three thousand four hundred entred the land of promise . many no doubt were the eminent grandees extracted from asher , though we mee● with none of them in scripture , save one , and that a woman in the new testament , c anna the prophetess , that property of the temple , as constant therein as the pillars thereof , she departed not thence but served god with fasting and prayer night and day . § . asher had mount libanus on the north , naphtali on the east , zebulun on the south and southeast , the sea on the west containing welnigh forty miles in length , the breadth not exceeding sixteen . a fruitfull countrey , d ashers bread shall be fat ( so hearty as if it were bread and flesh too ) and he shall yeeld royall dainties . moses foretold that he should be wetshooed in oile , he should dip his e foot therein . adding moreover that his shooes should be iron and brasse . not that the ground in this tribe parched by drought proved impenetrable , and rebellious to the commands of the plough , ( as elsewhere god threatens the disobedient iews , f the earth that is under thee shall be iron ) but that this land should afford plenty of those metalls , according to the testimony of eumaeus in g homer , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in sidon i ●oast to be born where's brasse in aboundance . besides the great commodities of the sea , with the convenient havens thereof , debora complains that when zebulun and naphtali ( most concerned as nearest danger ) ingaged themselves against sisera , h asher continued on the seashore , and abode in his breaches . and no wonder if being merchants they preferred profit before perill , especially being in a safe place where the iron chariots of iabin king of canaan could not approach them . § . the worst mischief in this tribe was , that after the death of ioshua , the canaanites quartered so hard on the men of asher , that they detained no fewer then seven i great cities from them . yea perchance something may be pickt out of the expression of the holy spirit , for whereas the canaanites are said to dwell amongst those of k zebulun , the asherites ( the phrase being altered ) in the following verse are said to dwell among the canaanites , as if those pagans were the principall land-lords ( ingrossing all memorable places in this tribe to themselves ) whilest the asherites lived amongst them as tenants at will by the others leave . nor was this fully remedied untill the victorious reigns of david and solomon . § . in the north-west part of this tribe neer the sea side , we first meet with l misrepothmaim , that is , the boyling of waters , though uncertain whether done artificially by fire , or naturally by the sun. here great plenty of salt was made in brine-pits , a necessary , and gainfull commoditie . however , tremellius rendreth misrepothmaim fornaces vitrarias , glass-furnaces ; and we know , store of the m best sort of that brickle ware was made hereabouts . ioshua having foiled the kings of canaan at the waters of merom , pursued them thus far to the shore of the mediterranean , where his foes had the free choise , whether they would be killed with the sword , or drowned in the sea . hard by is mearah , which signifieth a cave , ( and so some translations render it , though others retain the hebrew word ) being the n northern boundary of the land of canaan , and an impregnable underground fortification of the zidonians . yea many hundred years after in the holy war , when the christians possessed palestine , they manfully defended it untill the garison therein o corrupted with money , basely betrayed it unto the saracens . § . observe by the way , that the hills in palestine generally had in their sides plenty of caves , and those of such laxity and receit , that ours in england are but conny-boroughs if compared to the palaces which those hollow places afforded . neither wonder that the cave of makkedah could contain five p kings together , or that obadiah could hide an hundred prophets by fifty & fifty in a q cave , or that about four hundred men abode with david in the cave of r adullam , or that six hundred benjamites lurk't , for four moneths , in the rock of s rimmon , when t strabo hath reported , that towards iturea , ( which beginneth not far off ) there be sharp mountains , having deep de●s in them , whereof one is able to receive four thousand men. these caves ( being only a cellar by nature ) were by art contrived into severall rooms , and by industry fortified even unto admiration . so well man'd , they could not be stormed , well victualled , they could not be starved , and ( not having any combustible matter about them ) fire-free they could not be burned , so thick , they could not be battered , so high , they could not be scaled , and so low , they could not be undermined . but these inns gave entertainment to any guests , and as sometimes they gave shelter to pious people in persecution , so often they afforded harbour to theeves and vagabonds . the psalmist glanceth on such places , in that his expression , thou art of more honour and u might then the hills of the robbers ; and our saviour directly pointeth at them , when he complaineth , that they had turned the house of god into a w den of theeves . § . to proceed , hereabouts we can quickly discover an ancient city , wrongfully placed by the presumption of authors , namely enoch , built by cain in the land of nod , which x one tells us was at the foot of mount libanus , and that vast foundations thereof are at this day to be seen . surely cains wandring humour ( bloudy hands are always attended with roving feet ) seems to have possessed these authors brains , stragling in the position of this place so far from the truth , and the text , which describeth it east of y eden . but we may seek the city enoch with more probability to finde it amongst the henochii , a people seated by z pliny neer the bactrians in the east country . § . but before we goe farther , we will alter our former method , ( hoping such variety will prove the more pleasant ) and because most memorable places in asher , are mentioned in ioshua , where the possessions of this tribe were first allotted him ; we will briefly comment on those verses , wherein the bounds of his inheritance are described . ioshua . . and the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of asher according to their families . to prevent all quarrels , the land on this side iordan was divided by lot , betwixt the nine tribes and an half , much of providence being couched under the seeming casualty thereof ; for although their portions fell not to them in such seniority as they sate down at pharaoh's a table , the first-born according to his birth-right , and the youngest according to his youth , yet an excellent method was observed therein : for , the first b lot fell to iudah the tribe royall , of whom the c chief rulers and christ himself was to descend . the d second , to the sons of ioseph , ephraim and manasses , to whom ( on reubens forfeiting thereof ) the birth-right belonged . e the third to f benjamin , iacobs youngest , but next best beloved son , by rachel his dearest wife . the fourth , fifth and sixth for simeon g zebulun and issachar , his sons by leah , so that all iacobs children by his wives were provided for first , before those he had by his concubines received any possessions . the seventh for asher h iacobs son by i zilpah handmaid to leah his first wife , and therefore her child in seniority preferred , gad his elder brother being already provided for on the other side iordan . the eight and ninth for naphtali and k dan born of bilhah handmaid to rachel , the younger sister , and iacobs second wife . we know who said in another case , l i sleep , but my heart awaketh . so see here , though drowzie chance in the lot is commonly challenged to have slept out her eyes , and to become stark blind , yet is there a concealed vigilancy therein , ordered by divine providence . verse . and their border was helkah , and hali , and beten , and achshaph . in expounding these words for the maine we follow learned masius , though loth to erre with any , willing to venture sooner on his then any other authors judgement herein . may the reader find out helkah in our mappe ( in the south-east part thereof , not farre from the sea ) thence let his eies start , and with good successe ( following the names in the text , and the pricks in our mappe for his direction ) surround the borders of this tribe . helkah was afterwards given to the levites gershonites , to be one of their m foure cities in this tribe , had achshaph and formerly been a royall city of the canaanites whose king had been conquered by ioshua n . verse . and alamelech , and amad , and mishael , and reacheth to carmel westward , and shihor libnah . mishael or o mashal was another city of the levites . by this the border of asher ran southwestward to carmell ; understand thereby not the mountain so called ( lying more south in zebulun ) but the plain lying under the same , more towards the north. shihor libnah , that is , the white * river . now for streames to take their names from their colours , is no news to them that have heard of albis in germany , melas in thracia , and two rivers called blackwater , the one in the south , the other in the north of ireland . but whether this river in asher took the whitenesse from the foaming water therein , or chalk-banks ( like our albion ) on both sides , or from the materials of glasse or crystall growing there , let others dispute , whilst we onely observe that album promontorium or the white promontory , is by p pliny placed hereabouts . verse . and turneth toward the sun rising to beth dagon , and reacheth to zebulun , and to the valley of iiphthabel toward the northside of bethemek , and neiel , and goeth out to cabul on the left hand . the map will make all these flexures plain . beth dagon , that is , the temple of dagon ; but how came this q idol of the philistims to travell thus farre almost to phoenicia ? surely it never came hither on its own legges , as the r psalmist observes , feet have they , but they walk not , but was brought by the superstition of the canaanites , which borrowed this idol from their neighbours . concerning cabul , quaere whether it were the name of a particular place , or the same with the land of cabul , which i conceive lay more northward , which s solomon afterward bestowed on hiram king of tyre . verse . and hebron , and rehob , and hammon , and kanah , even unto great zidon . hebron differing from a greater city of the same name in the tribe of iudah . rehob , that is , large or spacious , this name speaking it a city of great receipt . unto this t place came the twelve spies sent to discover the land , and this city was afterwards bestowed upon the u levites . this kanah the great is conceived by some the birth place of simon the w canaanite , the disciple of christ. great zidon was given to , never gained by this tribe , whose borders reached to zidon exclusively , so that ashers lips might touch the cup , but not taste the liquor of so sweet a city . verse . and then the coast turneth to ramah , and to the strong city tyre , aud the coast turneth to hosah , and the outgoings thereof are at the sea from the coast to achzib . turneth , namely towards the south ; rama● , that is , an high place , as the name importeth , therefore seated by us on a mountain ; such maps as place ramah in a valley are guilty of as great a solecisme in geography , as he in gesture , who speaking , o heavens , pointed to the earth . wonder not that in palestine we meet with so many ramahs ( towns seated on a rising or advantage of ground ) seeing it was so mountainous a countrey : equivalent whereunto we have the frequent name of upton in england , whereof i have told , ( smile good reader , but doe not jeer at my curiosity herein ) no fewer then three and thirty in the alphabeticall names of speeds descriptions . tyre like zidon was never possest by the asherites , neither was achzib neer to helkah where we first began our preambulation about this tribe , and now redit labor actus in orbem , we have walked the round , and encompassed the bounds thereof . verse . ummah also and aphek , and rehob , twenty and two cities with their villages . this is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of asher , according to their families , these cities with their villages . all the former were limitary places in the tribe of asher , these three last were more inland cities in the heart of the countrey . to avoid tautology , ●ehob here , must be allowed a distinct city from that mentioned before . § . but of all these cities , aphek was most remarkable , whose king x was killed by ioshua , and neer whereunto benhadad ( lately beaten by ahab on the mountains of samaria ) with his new model'd army in a new place hoped for new successe . for in stead of the thirty two y kings , of more pomp then puissance to his army , he placed so many captaines , seeing it is not the shining of the hilt , but the sharpnesse of the edge of the sword must do the the deed . and resolved to fight in the plain , conceiving the gods of the israelites ( though by benhadads swelling words & lofty z language one might rather have collected the syrian gods to have been ) the gods of the moūtains . then appeared he with a mighty host , against whom the israelites marched forth like two little flocks of a kids . behold here a wonder , the kids kill the wolves , and a hundred thousand syrian footmen were kill'd in one day . from the field they flie into the city of aphek . what , was it to try whether the god of israel ( concluded now god of the countrey , be it hilly or plain ) were god of the city also ? they found it so by sad experience , when the wall of the city fell on twenty and seven b thousand of them that were left , which wall if cruell to kill , was charitable to bury them . § . yet ahab afterwards lost the advantage of this victory , when contrary to gods flat command , on benhadads feigned submission he indulged life unto him , which caused his own death * and destruction not long after . thus foolish pity , in stead of breaking , whets the knife for it's own throat : and they who onely take out the teeth and sting of such serpents which they should kill outright , shall finde the very stumps and tail remaining enough to bite and sting them to death . § . baanah the sonne of hushai was solomons purveyor in asher and in c aloth ; what this aloth should be , a deep silence is in all comments . i conceive it a hilly countrey , appendent to asher , ascending with mountains , according to the notation of the hebrew word . herein our guesse is seconded by plenty of d gradati montes , staired mountains , which goe up by degrees , found in these parts , and one most eminent , whereof e iosephus takes especiall notice , being an hundred furlongs north of ptolemais , called scala tyriorum , or the tyrians ladder . how neer our conjecture is bowled to the mark i know not , but hope the reader before he knocks this away will lay a better in the room thereof . so much of asher , whose countrey was much straitned by the phoenicians , their mortall enemies ( lying within his bounds , though never subdued ) which we now come to describe . § . phoenicia is often mentioned * in scripture , and is so called as some will have it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , from plenty of palm trees growing therein ; as others 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the many slaughters formerly made in that warlike nation . to omit other antiquated deductions thereof , prettiest ( because newest ) is that of a modern a author from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bhene-anak , pheanak , phoenik , the sons of anak , as the fathers and founders of the people of this country . a long slender country it is , having the bounds thereof by severall authors variously assigned ; but generally extended from the sea to mount libanus in breadth , and in length from carmel to the river canis in the north ; a tract of an hundred miles and upwards . § . the inhabitants hereof were transcendently ingenious ; whose wits ( like the gold wire they so much dealt with ) were ductile and pliable to all inventions . from a pin to a pillar , nothing was so small but their skill could work , nothing so great but their industry could atchieve . whatsoever was pretty for children to play with , or neat for women to weare , or necessary for man to use , in any one of these the phoenicians were so expert , nature might seem to design them for that alone , and so dextrous in all of them , it were hard to say wherein they excelled . they could weave clothes with the smallest thred , dresse them with the finest work , dye them with the freshest colours , embroider them with the richest cost , and then either sell them to others to their great profit , or weare them with as much pride themselves . they were excellent architects ; solomon himself ( who well knew the most cunning workmen in every craft ) confessing to hiram , b there is not amongst us any that can skill to he● timber like the sidonians . they are also conceived the first founders of letters , arithmetick , astronomy , with the working in glasse , and severall other rare devices . § . tyre was the chiefest city in phoenicia , c situate at the entrance of the sea. elegantly the d prophet termeth the harvest of the river her revenue : an harvest lasting all the yeare long , every day sowing at the setting forth , and reaping at the return of her ships . tyre said of her self , e i am of perfect beauty , which coming out of her own mouth was rather proudly then falsly spoken . if it be accounted one of the stateliest sights in the world , to see a stout ship under saile , how beautifull was it to behold the tyrian gallies with all their accoutrements ; planks of s the fir-trees of senir , masts of the cedars of lebanon , oares of the oaks of bashan , hatches of the ivory of chittim , sailes with broidered work ( oh vanity top and top gallant ! ) out of egypt , blue and purple carpets for covering from the iles of elisha , with giblites for calkers , arvadites for mariners , persians &c. for souldiers , and tyrians , her own townsmen for pilots , so keeping the honour , and haply seeking to preserve the mysteries of their harbour to themselves ? § . passe we from their ships to their shops , which we finde fraught with commodities of all kindes . whose g merchants are princes , saith the prophet ; and it seems that tyramus a good word for a good king ( till customary using thereof in the worst sense infected it ) had its originall from the pride and magnificence of the tyrian merchants . this city is termed h a mart of nations , both because all nations were there to sell , and there to be sold : i they traded the persons of men , and not onely armes but armies , were here to be bought , and k horsemen as well as horses were chaffered in their markets . § . now as tyre was dispersed all over the world in the severall colonies planted by her in forein parts ; so the world was contracted into tyre , whither merchants from all countries did repair . compare ezek. . with gen. . and it will appear , that most of those nations which departed from babel in a confusion , met in tyre in such a method as now inabled through industry , observation , and entercourse , they could understand the languages and traffique one with another . we intend a little to insist both upon the commodities and countries of such as hither resorted . for though i dare not goe out of the bounds of canaan to give these nations a visit at their own homes , yet finding them here within my precincts , it were incivility in me not to take some acquaintance of them . in setting down of their severall places , i have wholly followed ( let my candle goe out in a stink , when i refuse to confess from whom i have lighted it ) bochartus in his holy geography . their severall trades we rank according to the twelve great companies in london . let not the comparison as ominous offend any , tyre since being reduced to a ruinous heap ; seeing the parallel is onely intended to shew the like latitude of commerce betwixt them . however , it is neither unseasonable on this occasion , nor improper for my profession ( every minister in this respect being the cities remembrancer ) to minde london l not to trust in uncertain riches ; seeing pride and unthankfulness may quickly levell the highest bank of wealth , yea strongest mountain of outward greatness . merchant-mercers . such as traded in silkes ( byssus in latine , though rendred fine-linnen in our translation ) blue and purple , being m egyptians , n syrians , and from the isles o of elisha . by elisha p understand peloponnesus , wherein an ancient & ample countrey called elis , and part thereof termed alisium by homer , where the adjacent islands co , carpathus , cythera , rhodes , gyarus &c. are eminent for plenty of purple . here some wil object it was a real tautology to bring purples to tyre , seeing by generall confession the best of the world were made in that place . in answer whereunto , know that these elishian purples being of a different die and dress from those of tyre , were a distinct commodity . it is so far from being needless pains , that it may bring considerable profit , to carry char-coals to new-castle . and these courser purples , though not for the tyrians own wearing , might be for their barter with other nations . not to say , but that the peevish principle might possess the people of tyre , to slight homebred , and prize forein wares , so that the tyrians ladies might prefer those purples best for their own use , which were fetched the farthest off . merchant-grocers . such as traffiqued q with the chief of all spices being those of sheba , and raamah , both being places in arabia the happy . great no doubt was the fragrancy of these spices brought over land to tyre , whereas such as are conveyed into england by ship from india , have the less vigour of that land where they grow , and the more moisture of the sea through which they are brought . the men also of dan and iavan ( of whom hereafter ) furnished tyre with r cassia and calamus , drugges of high worth and value . merchant-drapers . such as brought s precious clothes for ( or with ) chariots being the men of dedan , which is an eminent countrey in idumea . merchant-fishmongers . many of these must be presumed in tyre , where fish was a staple commodity , which they transported into other countreys , and vented for their own gain without any other respect of time or place . this caused nehemiah's complaint that in ierusalem there dwelt men of tyre which brought t fish and all manner of ware , and sold them on the sabbath . merchant-gold-smiths . such as occupied in her fairs u with all precious stones out of the countrey of sheba and raamah aforesaid . besides w emeralds , corals and agate brought out of syria , silver from tarshish . i. e. spaine ( as our x authour irrefragably proves plenty of that metall therein ) and y gold from arabia . yea , as some observe that though the body of the sun ariseth in the east , yet his shining by reflexion is first discovered in the z west , so granting gold originally to grow in lands east from tyre , yet in this city most gorgeous and glittering was the lustre thereof , beaten and drawn out in most artificiall embroideries and embosments . merchant-skinners . although no mention of their trade in this city , where the heat of the climate made furs not onely useless but burdensome , yet we may be confident there wanted not those therein which traded in such skins which were in valuation in these parts . merchant-taylours . such as dealt in a all sorts of things , in blew clothes and broidered work , and in chests of rich apparell bound with cords and made of cedar . those that traffiqued in these commodities were b of haran and canneh and eden and sheba , ashur and chilmad , all near one another ( as appeares by their bundling up together ) about the confluence of tygris and euphrates . merchant-haberdashers . great their number who by whole●sale sold ●he fine manufactures wrought here , of gold , silver , c ivory and ebony , brought from dedan ( different from the former countrey of the same name in idumea ) at this day called daden , situate on the persian gulf . but oh the infinite varieties of precious toyes made thereof ! well did d homer give the sidonians the epithet of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or very much ingenious . their fingers might seem all of bone , so strong and hardy to endure any labour ; and yet all of flesh , so flexible and limber to any imployment . those mysteries in manufactures which english men in our age gaze on as rare discoveries , the phenicians of tyre would but smile at as rude recoveries of what by them was most perfectly performed . merchant-salters . store of these may be concluded therein , not onely because salt is so needfull a commodity , but also because at c misrepothmaim or the boyling of waters , hard by sidon , great store of salt was made . merchant-iron-mongers . such as bartered f in iron , tin , or lead brought from spaine or tarshish , as also in g vessels of brass from iavan , tuball and mesech , that is , ionia , pontus and moscovia , as our h authour will have it , though we are not at leasure severally to examine his judgment therein . merchant-vintners . such as traded in i wine of helbon ( no doubt most delicious to the palate ) brought hither by the merchants of damascus . helbon we conceive the same with calybon a city in syria whereof mention in ptolemy , and from which the countrey about it is denominated calybonidis . merchant-clothworkers . such as from the whitewooll brought from damascus transmitted the same from the spinsters wheel , to the weavers loom , to the fullers sheares , to the dyers vat , and so to be worn by the greatest princes in the world , who were beholding to tyre the center of rich clothing , for all their holy-day apparell . thus was their city fraught with commodities of all kinds , to say nothing of their smithfield full of k horses , horsemen and mules from togarma , or cappadocia ; their east-cheap full of the flesh of l rams , lambs , goats , &c. from arabia : their leaden-hall where a market was kept with the wheat of m minnith , and pannag out of iudea , so that all things save piety , humility , and thankfulness to god , were to be had in this city . § . thus sate tyre on her throne in a princely posture , no less envious then proud : witness her rejoycing at the destruction of ierusalem ( the breaking of one merchant is the making of another ) when she said to her self , a ierusalem is turned unto me , i shall be replenished now she is made waste ; meaning that all trading divided before , should now be engrossed to her self alone . but god marred her markets , threatning by isaiah to b stain the pride of her glory , alluding to tyres master-piece which was to fixe faire and fresh colours , which god would soil and blur , notwithstanding all her curiosity in that kinde . ezekiel useth two maritime expressions as most proper for a port ; first that her enemies should come up against her as the sea causeth his c waves to come up , and then that an east winde should break her , meaning nebuchadnezzar ( living north-east from this place ) who afterwards besieged and sacked the city . § . it seems the taking thereof , called elswhere the strong city tyre * did not quit cost for the taking thereof , the profit received by it not countervailing the pains expended upon it ; god himself confesseth that nebuchadnezzar served a great service against tyre and yet had d no wages . e one tells us that the tyrians after thirteen years siege , despoiled of all hope of relief , abandoned their city , and in their ships transported their wives , children , and portable wealth to carthage , cyprus , and other colonies , leaving nebuchadnezzar their empty nest , when all the birds worth pluming , were flown away . however god afterwards gave him the spoile of the f land of egypt for wages for his army . thus , not onely those who doe gods will in a direct line , but also such , who collaterally ( not to say casually ) work his pleasure shall finde a reward , seeing in sacking of tyre , nebuchadnezzar went in the path and pace of his own pride and covetousness , though haply in his own way he met with gods will , not onely besides his intention , but without the knowledge thereof . § . as the ruines , so the g restauration of tyre was foretold by the prophet ; not the same numericall tyre in place and position ( for paletyrus or old tyre ever after remained desolate according to the prediction , h thou shalt be built no more ) but the same in name , countrey , convenience of site , wealth , and wickedness . yea , she exchanged and improved her place for commodity and strength , removing from the entrance to the midst of the sea , from the continent to almost an island . here to use the prophets expression , i after seventy years ( the end of the babylonish kingdome ) tyre began to sing as an harlot ; siren songs to allure merchants to be her lovers , as before ; counting trade and profit t● be her richest pleasure . and so she did flourish againe as much or more then ever , during the persian monarchy , about two hundred six years ; till alexander the great made her change her tune , alter her notes , and turn her merry love songs into mournfull elegies on her selfe . for being denied by the tyrians in their city to sacrifice to hercules the tutelar god of that place , alexander not so superstitious as ambitious , with vast pains and expence ( as one whom no perill could affright , nor labour weary ) sacked the city , putting such to the sword as resisted , and causing two thousand moe to be hung up in rank on the sea shore . at which time he built a castle of his own name ( now corruptly called sandalium ) two miles south of the city . § . yet tyre afterwards recovered it self to considerable greatness , like a cunning broaker , though often proving quite bankrupt , she set up again , though having nothing to give her credit but the conveniency of her situation : as indeed an harlot needs no other wares then her self to set up her trading . insomuch that the poets fiction of the phoenix springing again out of his own ashes , being disclaimed by naturall history for a falshood , may mythologically finde a truth in , and probably fetch its ground from this phoenix or phoenician city of tyre , always arising fresh and fair out of his own ruines . in our saviours time it was a stately place , and yet though with dives it was k clothed in purple ; tyre could not with him fare deliciously every day , unless beholding to herods land of galilee to afford it constant provision , because its countrey was l nourished by the kings countrey . sensible hereof when herod was highly displeased with these of tyre and sidon , they politickly compounded the breach ( knowing that to fight with him who fed them , was the ready way to be famished ) and opening the breast of blastus the kings chamberlain with a golden key , through that passage they made their access to pacifie king herod . § . m tyre at this day is reduced almost to nothing . here it is seasonably remembred that ethbaal father of iezebel was the king , as tyre was the chief city of the sidonians , and i finde a great conformity betwixt the fortunes of his daughter and this place : in their outward happiness . she a crowned queen , and tyre a n crowning city , whose merchants were princes . inward wickedness ; both of them styled o harlots in scripture . finall wofulness ; she eaten up by the dogs to the short reversion of her p skull , feet and palmes ; and tyre q so consumed by all-devouring time , that now no other then an heap of ruines , yet have they a reverent respect , and doe instruct the pensive beholders with their exemplary frailty . enough of tyre , if not too much : fearing that long since the reader hath sadly sympathized with the sufferings of nebuchadnezzar and alexander , guessing their pains to be great in the long siege of this place by the proportion of their own patience in reading our tedious description thereof . all i will adde is this , that though tyre was a sink of sin , yet is this r recorded in excuse of her profaneness , and mitigation of her punishment , that if the miracles done in chorazin and bethsaida had been done in tyre and sidon , they would have long since repented in sackcloth and ashes . § . two bowes shoot from the east gate of tyre the place is showen , where the woman made that spirituall-carnall exclamation , s blessed is the wombe that bare thee , and the paps that gave thee suck ; when christ not disproving her words diverted his auditours from this , and directed them to a more necessary trut● , yea rather blessed are they that hear the word of god and keep it . a little mile south of old tyre are t four fair pits , the least twenty five cubits square , commonly called solomons cisterns . surely the water of them is more clear then is the place alledged out of the u canticles , to prove solomon the authour thereof , where but obscure and oblite mention is made of those water-works . more probable some king of tyre made these and the neighbouring aqueducts , for the use of the city . § . seventeen miles north of tyre lay the city of sidon , so named from the eldest w son of canaan . a city of great antiquity , seeing tyre is termed by the x prophet , the daughter of sidon . sure here the hebrew proverb held true , y as is the mother , so is the daughter , both of these cities being of great wealth and wickedness . insomuch that to live carelesse , quiet , and secure , is in scripture phrase z to live after the manner of the zidonians . § . it was also a place of very great extent , therefore termed in a holy writ , zidon rabbah , or great zidon . not that there was ever a lesser zidon , ( though there be one grand cairo , it followeth not there is also a pety cairo ) but it is emphatically so named in comparison of other cities . yea b diodorus siculus and c pomponius mela make sidon the greatest city of all phenicia ; understand then anciently , whilest as yet she suckled tyre , her little infant , which afterwards outgrew her mother in greatness . this haply is the reason why homer so often making honorable mention of sidon , is so silent of tyre , because reputing this latter a parcell of the former . § . many and great were the fortifications of sidon : but in vain was the arme of flesh with it , when god himself saith , d behold i am against thee o zidon ; whereupon in generall it felt the same destruction with tyre , which here we forbear to repeate . onely we will adde , that as bad a place as sidon was ; after christs resurection a church was quickly converted therein ; and saint paul sailing to rome touched here , and was courteously refreshed by his e friends . § . near the east-gate of sidon they shew the place , where the syrophenician woman begged so importunately for the cure of her daughter , not disheartned though likened to a f dog , by our saviour . in deed she shewed one of the best qualities of a dog in keeping her hold where once she had well fastened , not giving over or letting goe , untill she had gotten what she desired . § . so much for the city of sidon . the countrey of sidon was larger , adequate almost to phenicia , and full of many fair harbours . amongst these * zarephah or zarepta , styled both in the g old and h new testament , a city of sidon . the land round about it was fruitfull of the best wine , as we have i formerly observed . during the three years drought in israel here dwelt that widow , whose thrift had so evenly ordered her bread and oile , that a little of both were left , till she got a spring in her cruse by entertaining the prophet elijah . as for her son k restored to life by elijah , that he was ionah that eminent prophet , it may be ranked with the making of dinah iacobs daughter to be iobs wife , and with ruth her being daughter to eglon king of moab ; all which three traditions are equally improbable in themselves , altogether ungrounded on scripture , and yet peremptorily affirmed of the jewish doctors . nor have i ought else to observe of this city , save that the hebrew name of zarephah , signifieth a conflatory or melting place , where metals , ( whereof plenty in this province ) were made fu●il by the fire in their furnaces . § . l accho remains to be observed in the south part of this tribe , and confines of zebulun . a learned m writer conceiveth it called ace by grecians from affording medicine ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in greek ) to hercules , when hurt in his conflict with the lernaean serpent . whereas indeed ace is plainly derived from accho the scriputre name of this city . thus those who take aime from the greek tongue to shoot at the etymologies of hebrew places , come wide of the mark . this city was afterwards called ptolemais from one of the kings of egypt . here i forbear to recite how ionathan , through the perfidiousness of tryphon and his own over credulity , was n trained into this city , taken and murdered . saint paul sailing from tyre touched here , * saluted the brethren , and abode with them one day . as for achzib a city of asher whence they could not expell the canaanites , it was seated nine miles north of ptolemais , being a tolerable harbour , and called ecdippa afterwards . § . many were the rivolets in this tribe , but those no sooner delivered out of the wombe of their fountains , but devoured in the grave of the ocean ; onely belus hath got a name ( though not in scripture ) running through the cendevian lake , famous for its o inexhausted sands , turning all things it toucheth into glass . as for the sepulcher of memnon , whom the poets feign the son of the morning , and p iosephus erects his monument near the river belus ; we take no notice thereof , being hereafter to finde his tombe , q the dew of whose birth is as the wombe of the morning , in a far distant place . § . the armes usually assigned to asher are azure , a standing cup covered or , relating to iacobs blessing , r he shall yeeld royall dainties . a cup being taken here by a synedochicall metonymie for all plentifull provisions , asher otherwise affording dishes as well as cups , and esculents as well as variety of beverage . but should the shield of this tribe be as full of charge as the land thereof was fruitfull of commodities , what was the credit of the countrey would be the disgrace of the coate of asher . here the map of zebulun is to be inserted . the tribe of zebvlvn . chap. . § . zebulun tenth son of iacob by leah his wise had his posterity so increased in egypt , that a fifty seven thousand four hundred were extracted from him . all which dying in the wilderness for their manifold disobedience , their next generation being b sixty thousand five hundred possessed the land of canaan . honourable mention on all occasions is made of this tribe in scripture . how forw●rd were they in their expedition against sisera , in so much as c out of zebulun they came down that handled the pen of the writer ; gown-men turned sword-men , clerks became captains , changing their penknives into swords . thus the peaceableness of their profession can bail none to stay at home , when eminent danger arrests all at the suite of the commonwealth to serve in person abroad . david calls them the princes d of zebulun &c. and well might he afford them that style of dignity , who attended him at hebron with an army so absolutely accomplished for number , e fifty thousand . skill , expert in war , which could keep ranke . weapons , with all instruments of war. loyalty , they were not of double hearts . yet in all ages , of all the numerous tribe of zebulun , we finde but two grandees expressed by name , f elon a peaceable judge , and ionah an eminent prophet . but what shall we say ? a greater then ionah was here , even christ himself , the honour and dishonour ( though not of the tribe ) of the land of zebulun : honor , because here miraculously conceived , poorly & painfully bread & brought up , here frequent in preaching & working of miracles : dishonour , because carelesly neglected and scornfully contemned , yea dispightfully persecuted of his own countreymen . § . zebulun had asher on the north-west , naphtali on the north-east , issachar on the south , the mediterranean on the west , and galilean sea on the east thereof . this maritime position of this tribe iacob foresaw in his prophecy , g zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea , and he shall be for an haven of ships , and his border shall be unto zidon . which charter of sea conveniencies is renewed , and enlarged by moses in his blessing , rejoyce h zebulun in thy going out , and issachar in thy tents . they shall call the people unto the mountains , and there shall they offer sacrifices of righteousness , for they shall suck of the abundance of the seas , and treasures hid in the sand . where though these two tribes be made partners , and joint sharers in marine interests , and are promised equall profit thereby , yet issachar it seems loved land and an home life best , imploying his canvase rather for tents , then sails , whilest the sea and going out in long voiages was rather zebuluns delight . so have i seen chickens and ducklings hatched under the same hen , no sooner unhoused out of their shels , but presently the one falls a pecking on the ground , the other a padling in the water . § . nor let any be staggered at the close of iacobs prophecy , wherein he foretelleth , zebuluns border shall be unto i sidon , finding this tribe to fall many miles short and south of that place . for sidon is not there to be taken for the city but countrey k so named . and the land of the sidonians or phenicians , extended to accho or ptolemais a city thereof , on which the north bound of zebulun did confine . greater will be the difficulty to assigne a cleare reason , why in the first book of chronicles , where the pedegrees of all the other tribes are reckoned up ; zebulun and dan ( as considerable and deserving as the rest ) is omitted . the best is , places not persons concern our present subject , and i hope i shall not betray such indiscretion to leave the plain and ready rode of my work in hand , to enter into the wood ( not to say the bog ) of an impertinent question . § . we begin with the sea of galilee the eastern boundary of this tribe , called always a sea by three of the evangelists , but generally a lake by saint luke . indeed amongst lakes it may be accounted for a sea , such the greatness ; amongst seas reputed for a lake , such the sweetness and freshness of the water therein . the extent thereof is most variously reported amongst authors . l iosephus makes it an hundred furlongs long , and sixe broad . m pliny measures it to be sixteen miles long , and six broad . n munster assignes it to be twenty german miles ( eighty english ) in compass . o bunting contracts it to twelve in length , four miles and somewhat more in breadth . p biddulph a late english divine , and eye-witness thereof computes it eight leagues in length and five in breadth ( three miles to all leagues ) whom for the main we have followed . others assigne it other dimensions , all agree it is not very great . but what it wants in bigness , it hath in variety of names , called the sea of cinnereth onely in the old q testament from a city of that name in the tribe naphtali . others conceive it so named from kinnor , an harp in hebrew , which it is said in shape to resemble : sure the high winds , sometimes make but bad musick ( to the eares of mariners ) when playing thereupon . r gennesareth s tiberias . cities of note in our saviours time flourishing thereon . t galilee , the countrey which almost on all sides surrounded it . small vessels sometimes termed u 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ships , sometimes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , w boates or barges , went to and again in this sea , gally-like x sailing or y rowing ( or perchance both ) as they saw their advantage . they were little of strength , ( because no pirates to molest them ) and not great of burthen , not comparable to the ship wherein saint paul sailed on the mediterranean sea , carrying two z hundred threescore and sixteen souls , which for the greatness thereof might be admirall of all the navy in the new testament . the river of iordan runneth through the midst of this sea , and mingleth not therewith , but preserveth his own stream intire : which some impute to the swiftness , yea rapidness of his course , not at leasure to take notice of ( much less to unite with ) any water he meets in the way , before he come to his journeys end at the dead sea. § . this was the onely and all the seas , that ever our saviour sailed upon . it is reported of wise cato , that he repented he ever went thither by sea , whither he might have gone by land . but see here wisdome it self ( who by going about might have passed to any place on the other side of the sea ) preferred the use of a ship , not to spare his own pains , ( whereof none more liberall ) but to shew natures intent of the sea , made as well to be sailed , as the ground to be gone upon . take occasion to manifest his deity in working of miracles thereon . comfort seafaring-men in their distresses , praying to such a saviour as had an exprerimentall knowledge of the danger on both elements . and here , amongst the many voyages of our saviour ( who often crossed the length and breadth of this sea-lake ) let us take account of some most remarkable . and first in generall we may observe , that after the working of some extraordinary miracle , ( which might have great influence on peoples affections ) as the feeding of so many thousands , christ presently put to sea ( clouding himself in obscurity ) and shunning popularity so far , that it should venture a drowning , if offering to follow after him . § . the first voyage we will insist on , was when our saviour sailed in simons a ship , who formerly had fished all night , getting nothing save a drowzie head and empty hands , untill casting his net at christs command , he caught such store of fish , both his and his partners ship began to sink . o when will any earthly thing fall out even to our desires ! we always finde fish , either none at all , or too many ; and a surfeit of wealth is as dangerous as a famine thereof . the fish were now ready to return into the water from whence they came , and not by their wit , but weight had caught their fishermen , had not christ by miracle brought all safe to shore . § . a second when the disciples put to sea at the command , but without the person of their master . tossed they were on the waves , rowing with great pains to little purpose , for the wind was contrary , till looking at last b they see iesus walking on the water ; then were the words of the psalmist literally true , c thy way is in the sea , and thy path in the great waters , and thy footsteps are not known . the disciples unable to conceive such a mystery conclude it was a ghost . it is not worth our enquiry , what ghost , or whence , good or evill , of man or devill , this wild guess being the effect of their fright , then which no more professed foe to a cleare judgment . christ quickly discovering himself , peter requests a commission to meet him : which granted , he walks for a while on the water , till his faith first , then feet failing him , he began to answer the name of cephas , proving himself a stone , not by the stability , but the heaviness thereof , and began to sink , till christ saved him . nor was christ sooner in the ship , but the ship was d at the land . thus those many strokes at the oares which the disciples had taken before , were not meerly lost , but onely laid up , and now restored them in their speedy arrivall . yea the sails of the ship were not now on the mast , but in the keel thereof , christs person did the deed . thus projects driven on without gods gracious presence are but driven on , whilest such designes fly to their wished end , which take god along with them . § . the third and last voyage we will insist on , was when the ship was not upon but under the sea , e covered with the waves . yea , it was now full of f water , and the disciples of fear , whilest christ him self was fast asleep , having a pillow under his head , and a softer under his heart , a clear conscience . see we here our saviour a perfect , because an imperfect man , his infirmities speake the reality of his humanity . working had made him weary , weariness had caused him to sleep much out of a desire to be refreshed , more out of a designe to be awaked . here all cry out , master save us , we perish . danger will make the profane to pray , the wilfull-dumbe to speak , who will finde a tongue , rather then lose a life . no doubt iudas himselfe , who afterwards sold him , was now as clamorous as any to be saved by him . christ awakes , and rebukes first the disciples g for being too fearfull , and despairing , then the winds and waves , for being too bold and presumptuous . both obey , owning their creatours voice ; as well may his words , who made them at first , make them now to be quiet . § . many more were the voiages our saviour made on the sea , as when after the feeding of so many thousands , they had but one h loafe in the ship , and on our saviours caveat of the leaven of the pharisees , their jealousies grew solicitous for food . had they not besides that one loafe in their cup-board , twelve moe in their memory ( five at one batch , and seven at another ) on the recollection whereof their mindes might feed , to depend on providence , especially whilest the founder of the feast was in their company . but we who condemne them , are too likely to commit the like distrust , if left to our selves , upon less occasion . to return to our saviour , it is observable that after his resurrection , we read not that he sailed any more upon the seas . for such a fluctuating and turbulent condition , which necessarily attends sea-voyages , was utterly inconsistent with the constancy , stability , and perpetuity of christs estate when risen from the grave . the firme land therefore better agreeing with his fixed and immoveable happiness , thereon he stood , and onely gave the word of command to his disciples at sea , on which side they should cast forth their net , when they caught so i many fishes . and so much for the sea of tiberias , hoping that if the weakly reader be sea-sick by staying so long on the water , he will instantly be well upon our arrivall on the main land , to which now we proceed . § . as this tribe did overflow in sea conveniences ; so it fell not short in the commodities of the land . the countrey thereof was enamelled with pleasant rivers , whose bankes were adorned with fair cities . we will follow the chanells of those rivers , which will direct us to the most considerable places in zebulun ; beginning with little iordan . indeed so little , that there is no mention thereof at all in scripture , and little in other authors , k mercator being one of the first in my observation that takes notice thereof . it ariseth in the south part of the vale of iephtael , and running full east is augmented from the south with the tribute of another brook , fetching his course by nazareth an eminent place , and famous in the new testament . § . nazareth l was seated on the brow of an hill , in the very center of this tribe : so called ( as saint m hierom will have it ) from a flower which it signifieth in hebrew , because christ , that prime n rose and lily , had here his conception . for though he saw his first light at bethlehem , he sucked his first breath in nazareth , where his mother lived till very near the time of her delivery . also here he afterwards had his poor and painfull education , working on his fathers trade ( as it is probable from the words of the evangelist , * is not this the carpenter ? ) though who would not have rather looked for a scepter , then an axe in his hand , who was born king of the iews ? § . his short and secret abode at bethlehem , long and publique living at nazareth , gave the ground to the then vulgar errour , that he was born in this place . to foment this popular mistake , and disguise the truth of christs nativity ( so to leave the iews at the greater loss concerning their messiah ) the devills ( who knew full well that he was iesus of bethlehem by birth ) publiquely called him iesus o of nazareth , the reputation of that place running so low in common account , that p no good could thence be expected . this nickname of nazareth , first publickly fastened ( as some conceive ) by satan on our saviour , stuck by him all his life , yea at his death , ( fixed by pilate in his title on q the cross ) yea after his ascension , so that such as believed on him , and embraced his doctrine , were opprobriously termed , the sect of the r nazarens . § . here also some ( otherwise good and learned ) men , are guilty of another mistake , in making christ one of the legall nazarites ( whence groweth the length of his hair in most pictures ) who by vertue of their s vow were tied to many ceremonious observances . whereas our saviour frequently t drank wine , familiarly touched the dead & took u them by their hands , ( and probably therefore a rasor touched his head ) both the former being expresly forbidden the mosaicall nazarites , during the days of their separation . yet how our saviour is tearmed a nazaren x in reference , it may seem , amongst others , to that prophecy , * and there shall come out a rod out of the stem of iesse , and a branch [ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ] shall grow out of his roots , we leave to the learned commentators on that text. § . during our saviours living at nazareth after he entered into the ministery , he bestowed a sermon on this place of his education , and having found out his text y , isa. . . he closed his book . not in any vaine ostentation of his memory ; but because either his auditours were so well versed in the letter of the scripture , that they could tell by heart any quotation he should cite therein : or rather , because out of his fulness of divine knowledge and wisedome , himself had no more need of it ; and he would thereby fasten the more their eares , and his tongue to that one text which was of so maine concernment and importance unto them . and he gave it againe to the minister . of him he received , to him he restored it , and coming in reader by his leave , he would not undermine the incumbent , of the place , but honoured him in the presence of his people . hereby also he might haply shew that ministers are to keep gods word , not as hucksters in gross , but as stewards to dispense it . and sat down . professor-like , to shew his authority , and the steadiness of his doctrine . in england the pastour onely stands , whilest the people sit ; yet we envy not their ease , nor begrudge our own paines ; any posture shall please us , which may profit them . and the eyes of all were fastened on him , ( advantaged likely thereunto by the round and pillar-less structure of their synagogue ) not sleeping there , nor gazing about , nor reading , an action ( like achitophel his z counsell ) good , but not at that time : but thus fixing their eyes to help their attention , and express their longing desire to know how he would interpret that famous place of scripture ; as also for the fame that they had heard of him , who without study and ordinary meanes became so incomparable a teacher * . and yet curiosity as much as true devotion may seem to cause this their attention ; seeing they who out of novelty were ready to eate his words , soon after out of cruelty were more ready to devoure the speaker , contemning him for the poverty of his parentage , person and kindred , and hating him for the truth he delivered , that a prophet is not without honour but in his own countrey . § . how this comes to pass , let others largely dispute . we may in briefe conclude , it is partly because their cradles can be remembred , and those swadling-cloathes , once used about them , to strengthen them whilest infants , are afterwards abused against them , to disgrace them when men , and all the passages of their childhood repeated to their disparagement . partly because all the faults of their family ( which must be many in a numerous alliance ) are charged on the prophets account . wherefore that prophet who comes at the first in full growth from a far forein place ( not improving himselfe amongst them from a small spark , to a fire , to a flame ; but sunlike arising in perfect lustre ) gaines the greatest reputation amongst people : because in some respect he is like melchisedek , a without father , without mother , without descent , whilst the admiring vulgar , transported with his preaching , and ignorant of his extraction on earth , will charitably presume his pedegree from heaven , and his breeding , as calling , to be divine . § . the cruell nazarites brought christ to the brow of the hill , with full intent to cast him down headlong . all in vaine . for christs death was to come a clean contrary way , not by throwing him down , but by b lifting him up . and he passing thorow the midst of them went his way . not that ( as the * rhemists interpret it , to make way for their transubstantiation ) he penetrated contrary to the nature of a body , thorow the very breasts of the people , but that either he smote them with blindness , that they did not see , or else struck them with fear , that they dared not to stay him , the power of his person wedge-like cleaving its way , and forcing a lane for his passage in the midst of the people . § . expect not here ●hat i should write any thing of the opinions of the hereticall nazarenes , taking their name from this city of nazareth , and are commonly ( but corruptly ) called nostranes at this day . much less will i trouble my self and the reader , with the severall stages of the chappel of the angelical-salutation . a chappell which well may pity the pains and perils of such pilgrims as repair thereunto , having it self had an experimentall knowledge how tedious travail is in its own often removealls : flitting first from * nazareth to flumen a city in illyrium , thence for the unworthiness of the inhabitants translated to a wood in the picene field , and thence again ( because the wood was infected with theeves ) carried by angels into the ground of two brethren , who falling out about parting the profit thereof , was the fourth and last time conveyed into the high way , where ever since ( not because weary but welcome ) it is pleased to make its abode . but i remember the precept of the apostle , c nor give heed to fables ; and therefore proceed to more profitable matter . § . to returne to nazareth , the nameless rivolet arising near thereunto , runneth north betwixt dothan on the east , and sephoris on the west . at the former ioseph was conspired against by his brethren . the cause of their hating of him ( besides his fathers loving him ) was the reporting what he saw in his sleep , ( dreames of his future preferment ) and what he saw waking , ( no dreames of his brethrens present d debauchedness ) who resolved to murther him . o how they e saw the anguish of his soul , made visible in his bended knees , held up hands , weeping eyes , wailing words , and all to no purpose ! into the pit he is put , whilst his brethren f fall a feasting : oh with what heart could they say grace , either before , or after meat , whilst it was so sad with ioseph ! stars they say are seen the clearest ( even in day time ) by those that are in deep pits . surely divine providence appeared brightest to ioseph in that condition . indeed * reuben endevoured his restitution to his father ; * iudah his preservation from death ; but neither being privy to others designe , unwittingly countermined one another , had not god wrought all for the best . ishmaelitish merchants , and midianites in their company , pass by , bearing spices , and balm , and myrrh to carry down into g egypt . to them ioseph is sold , of whom we take our leave for the present ; not doubting in due time and place to meet him again . mean time may those merchants be carefull to carry him safe ; for among all the spices they were laden with , none more fragrant and precious , then the perfume of this captives innocence . so much for dothan , onely i will adde that i have placed it here , out of a peaceable compliance with the judgements of learned men , otherwise i shall not spare to manifest my private opinion h on just occasion . § . on the west of this rivolet , was sephoris , afterwards called dio-caesarea ; not to be omitted ( though not mentioned in scripture ) because accounted by i iosephus , the greatest city in galilee , where the jewish sanhedrin for some time had its residence . let the same authour inform you , how this city was burned by varus , how molested by the seditious , how basely it deserted iosephus , was bravely recovered by him , plundred by his souldiers , and the spoile thereof restored again , with severall passages of high concernment in the jewish history . a little more northward , this brook falls into iordan the less , which afterwards payes its tribute to the sea of galilee . § . which sea runneth southward by k gittah-hepher , or gath-hepher as most place it , the birth-place of l ionah the prophet . his name in hebrew a dove , to which he answered rather in his speedy m flight from gods service , then in any want of gall , whereof he manifested too much in his n anger without cause or measure . iona● therefore being born here in the heart of neather galilee , no less untrue , then uncharitable was that assertion of the high priests and pharisees ; o search and look , for out of galilee cometh no prophet . except their words herein referred to the future , not to what was passed , and that also onely in relation to the prophet paramount , the messiah of israel . more south , the sea ran by magdala a turreted town ( as the name thereof imports : ) and common tradition is all the argument we have , that mary surnamed magdalen that eminent penitent , was so called from this place , because living ( others say richly landed ) therein . into the coasts p of magdala christ came from sea , when the pharisees tempted him to shew them a signe from heaven . in the parallel place in the gospell of saint mark the same countrey is called dalmanutha ; q different names ( it seems ) for the same territory . § . going forward on the sea side , still southward , we meet with the influx of a riyolet thereunto , fetching his fountain from the heart of the countrey , near the city of bethulia , nigh unto which was acted the atchievments of iudith against holofernes . § . form bethulia the rivolet running full east , is swallowed up in the galilean sea , beholding the high seated city of iotopata , some two miles distant from the inlet thereof . the stout defending of this place against the romans , with no less wisdome , then valour , was the master-piece of flavius iosephus , in the behalfe of his countrey-men . and now having made necessary mention of his name , pardon a digression in giving a free character of his writings , whereof , next holy writ , we have made most use in this book . § . it must be confessed that he was guilty of some unexcusable faults : namely of boasting immoderately of his own birth , valour , learning , piety . levity , inserting frivolous fables of the root boras &c. and yet we will not confine natures power to our beliefe , concluding that impossible which we conceive improbable . flattery of the roman emperours vespasian and titus , ( a catching disease , wherewith the soundest authours in that age were infected ) and that so gross , that it seems not limn'd with a pencill , but dawb'd with a trowell . but all these may be winked at , with a charitable eye , were he not also guilty of falsity : appearing first in his faults of u omission , not mentioning the jewish idolatry , in making the calfe , nor the disobedience of moses their ministerial legislator in smiting the rock , which moses himself , writing of himself , thought fitting to relate . secondly , of cōmission , stuffing his history with improbable tales of moses loving the lady tarbith &c. and some mistakes contradictory to holy writ . when we meet with any such in him relating to this present work , we have made bold ( the sun is not to be set by dials , but dials by the sun ) to alter and rectifie his extravagancies according to scripture . notwithstanding all these faults , the main bulk of his book deserves commendation , if not admiration ; no doubt at the first compiled , and since preserved by the speciall providence of god , to reflect much light and lustre upon the scriptures . his last book de bello iudaico is the best comment on that part of the twenty fourth chapter of saint matthew , which concerns the destruction of the city and temple . as for the censure of baronius , it is too harsh and uncharitable , charging him with w absurda & portentosa mendacia , seeing that it cannot appear , that iosephus willingly and wittingly made those mistakes . wherefore such chance-medly amounts not to manslaughter , much less to wilfull murther ; not to say , that the charitable reader ought to be a city of refuge to such authors , who rather unhappy , then unfaithfull , fall into unvoluntary errours . in a word , historians , who have no fault are onely fit to write the actions of those princes and people , who have no miscariages , and onely an angels pen taken from his own wing is proper to describe the story of the church triumphant . § . we still follow the sea shore southward , and light on the place where our saviour standing in a ship taught the people on the land in his x sermon full of parables . a sermon not unlike the pillar of cloud and fire , which gave light to the israelites at the red sea , y but was a cloud of darkness to the egyptians : because his preaching then obscure and parabolicall to the common people , was privately expounded , and made plain unto his disciples . § . at last we are come to the city of tiberias , so named by herod the tetrarch in honour of tiberius the roman emperour . a populous city , and which gave the name to the neighbouring sea , thence termed z the sea of tiberias . near to this place a christ fed five thousand men with five loaves and two fishes . afterwards he went over the sea , but how and which way , grudge not reader to peruse this following account given us b● a b learned man , an eye-witness of the place . § . it is said iohn . . that iesus went over the sea of galilee : and in another place that he went beyond the lake : and luke . . it is said that he went into a solitary place near unto a city called bethsaida ; which place of iohn i learned to understand better by seeing it , then ever i could before by reading it . for seeing that tiberias and bethsaida , were both cities on the same side of the sea , and christ went from tiberias to or near unto bethsaida : i gather thereby that our saviour christ went not over the length or breadth of that sea , but over some arme , bosome , or reach thereof , viz. so far as tiberias was distant from bethsaida , which is also confirmed in that it is said elsewhere , * a great multitude followed him on foot thither ; which they could not have done , if he had gone quite over the sea , to the other side among the gergesens . so far our author , with whose judgement i am moved to concurre . § . more southward , the sea of tiberias leaveth the tribe of zebulun , and entereth into issachar . come we therefore now to describe the remaining places of note in this tribe , most of them being seated on , or near the river of kishon , whose course we will observe . it is called by c deborah , the ancient river the river kishon . and why ancient ? are not all rivers of equall antiquity , and the same seniority , seeing gen. . ( the register book of the age of all creatures ) they were made in the third day , when this lower globe was distinguished into earth and water d ? no surely , though this be true of originall and primitive rivers , many since have been of a second edition , occasioned by noahs flood , earthquakes , eruptions of waters after long raine ; not to speake of many o●thers derived by art and industry . thus we discourse with our selves whilest e tremellius takes away the subject of the question rendering 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or the ancient river , torrens occursuum , or the river of meetings . not that many tributary rivolets met therein ( a probable sense on the first sound ) but ( as he f expounds himself ) because the armie of israel there against sisera appeared in their generall rendezvous . § . however , kishon was a fair river , and surely the same which is termed by ptolemy choriaeus . entering with a full and large streame ( next to iordan in breadth , depth , and swiftnesse ) into the land of zebulun , it divideth it self according to the observation of our g author ( if not hypercriticall herein ) into two channels , the one , and that the lesser , running east ( commonly called kadumim ) and falleth into the sea of galilee , the other rushing northwestward , and emptieth it self into the mediterranean . nigh the banks of the former stands the famous mountain of tabor , generally conceived to have been the place of christs transfiguration , where h moses and elias were seen talking with him . origen ( according to his allegorising of the text ) saith that thereby was signified , the harmony betwixt the law , the prophets , and the gospell , all agreeing together . but here i cannot but smile at what i breidenbachius reports ( who travelled up this mountain ) ibi etiam hodie ostenduntur ruinae trium tabernaculorum secundum desiderium petri constructorum , there ( saith he ) even at this day , are shewed the ruines of those three tabernacles built according to peters desire . in very good time no doubt . i confess one scripture saith , aske and yee shall have k , but another text answereth it , yee aske and l because yee aske amiss ; and improbable it is , that god would grant the desire ( or rather distempter ) of peter ; and that his wish should come to him , who was not come to himself , by reason of his great fear , amazement , and extasie of joy . besides , tabernacles or tents , being light , slight occasionall structures , make small visible impressions in the earth , when set up ; and leave no durable footsteps to be seen so many hundred years after . so that herein , breiden●ach seemeth to speak ( as s. peter did in the same place ) not m knowing what he said . more likely it is , that there may at this day remain some ruines of oratories erected many years since , seeing there was there a monastery inhabited by friers , untill they being molested by the arabians ( to use my n authors expression ) took their holinesse away with them , and left the mountain behind them . § . the greatest stream of kishon runneth northward thorow the midst of this tribe , not far from the city of naim , where christ meeting the widowes onely child , carried forth to be buried , miraculously restored him to o life . hereabouts also was the city aijalon , where p elon judge of israel was buried , of whom nothing else is recorded save his name , time of his rule , ten years , and place of his interment . slight him not because so little is reported of him , it tending much to the praise of his policy in preventing forein invasions , and domestick commotions , so that the land enjoyed peace ; as far better then victory , as health is to be preferred before a recovery from sickness . yea times of much doing , are times of much suffering , and many martiall a●chievements are rather for the princes honour , then the peoples ease . § . from naim the river kishon glides by the northern skirts of mount carmel , beholding the place where eliah did execution on baals priests , on this occasion . all israel met on mount carmel , concluding him the true god , who answered by fire unto their sacrifices . baals priests being vainly clamorous in invoking their idol , whose petitions finde no answer from heaven , except the echo in the aire descanting in derision on their importunate bawlings ; discontented hereat they q cut themselves with knives and lancers , the ready way to make bloud , but not fire to come . then enters eliah on his work , and to prevent all suspicion of fraud , he three times caused four barrels of water to be powred on the altar . if any here demand how they came by such plenty of water , a precious commodity after three years and six months drought , when springs , wells , and brooks were r dried up : it is answered , it was fetched from the sea hard by , whose brackish water , though useless to quench the thirsts of men and beasts , was proper enough therewithall to trie the present experiment . hereupon at eliahs prayers , fire from heaven licked up the water , and consumed the sacrifice . the prophet taking advantage of this juncture of time , whilest the people of israel were possessed with an high opinion of his power and person , king ahab stood admiring at the miracle , baals priests stood dispirited with guiltiness and wonder , and iazebel their active patroness absent at great distance , being a single man , slew four hundred and fifty of them without any resistance . formerly their flattering hands rather acting and doing , did theatrically in superstitious formalities let out some drops of wild bloud in the surface of their flesh , whereas now eliah in true earnest , with an unpartial arme , gave vent to their heart bloud by the brook kishon , which presently carrieth both their gore , and its own water into the mediterranean sea. § . however though satan then was silent , ( when in credit most concerned to speak in answer to baals priests ) it seems he found his tongue afterwards , and here pretended to informe people of their fortune . suetonius tells us * that vespasian in iudea took counsell from the oracle of the god carmelus , which foretold his good success in whatsoever he should undertake , which god we conceive was some spirit of delusion , ( thogh then speaking truly ) having his residence in or nigh this mountain of carmel . § . as for carmel in generall , it was so delicious a place ▪ that more pleasure was hardly to be fancied , then here to be found . it consisted of high hills , ( where the wicked thought in vain by a hiding themselves in the height thereof , to be secured from divine justice ) a fruitfull vale , pleasant river of kishom , and a goodly forrest , so that the feet of sennacherib did itch to b enter it , as his fingers did long to fell the fair cedars in lebanon . from this carmel , the platform of pleasure , other delightfull places are so named ( as copies and transcripts of this the originall ) yea the name is sometimes c rendered appellatively for any fruitfull field . § . from the top hereof we may easily discover two neighbouring townes cain and * caiaphas , the one named from the murderer of d abel ; the other from the e active contriver of his death , f whose bloud speaketh better things then that of abel . but neither appearing in scripture , it is enough to name them . more northerly we behold the valley of iiphthah-el , or river thereof , the same * word in hebrew expressing both , as indeed it is hard to finde a vale , especially in winter , without a rivolet therein . and if i mistake not , the bourne in wilt-shire , and the west , signifieth both the river and the dale down which it runneth . in the vale nigh the river of iiphthah-el stood the city zebulun , so beautifully built , saith g iosephus , ( let him forfeit his fingers when he measures any thing to loss which concerns his own countrey ) that cestius the roman governour who burnt it , admired the houses therein as corrivalls with those of tyre , zidon , and berytus in magnificence . more southward is cana called commonly the lesse , though greatened with christs first miracle wrought there at a mariage , turning h water into wine . how many matches have been made , to which christ was never invited guest ; yea the riot and revels thereat , would fright his gracious presence from the place . hence the rivolet * runneth to iokneam , surnamed i of carmel from the vicinity thereof ; the king whereof was destroyed by ioshua , and the city afterwards bestowed upon the k levites . § . having mentioned the levite-cities , an importunate difficulty ( whilest i hoped silently to slip by it ) plucketh me back in my passage : it resulteth from the ensuing parallel . joshua . , . and unto the families of the children of m●r●ri , the rest of the levites , out of the tribe of zebulun , jokneam with her suburbs , and kartah with her suburbs , dimnah with her suburbs , nahalol with her suburbs : four cities . chron. . . vnto the rest of the children of merari , was given out of the tribe of zebulun , rimmon with her suburbs , tabor with her suburbs . the difficulty is double : first four cities are mentioned in ioshua , and but two in chronicles . secondly , those two fall out by their different names , nothing like the four formerly assigned them . § . in solution hereof , some will say that the levites might have six cities in zebulun . but why should this tribe being not the biggest be most bountifull unto them ? was it because zebuluns lot advantaged by the sea-situation thereof , was larger in worth then in view ; and so the merchant adventurers of this tribe , making gainfull voyages and profitable returnes , were obliged in conscience to be more liberall to the maintenance of gods ministers ? or are two of the levites cities left out in chronicles ( omission in such cases for reasons to us unknown is no contradiction ) and the other l two the same ( though unlike in sound ) with the two last mentioned in ioshua . indeed i deny not , but the towns at the same time may have two names nothing alike , ( medena , aliàs newport , in the isle of wight may be an instance thereof . ) but for all i can finde , still i languish in expectation of a better solution . yet let not his good will be slighted , who though unable to cure the wound ; ( whilest commentatours on the place suffer it to lie festering in silence ) desires to wash it and keep it clean , till a more skilfull hand apply an effectuall plaister thereunto . § . in solomons division of the land into twelve purveyour-ships , zebulun had no distinct officer over him , but belonged to the territory of baanah the son of ahilud ; who , besides many places he had in manasseh , extended his jurisdiction m even beyond iokneam . the armes of zebulun , confirmed unto him by custome , and rabbinicall tradition , were argent , a ship with maste and tackling sable . an honourable bearing , the same with the coate armour of albertus free baron of alasco in poland , ●ave that his ship is without sailes , ( with this motto , deus dabit vela , god will send sailes ) and zebuluns accomplished with all the accoutrements thereof . here the map of issachar is to be inserted . the tribe of issachar . chap. . § . issachar , the fift a son which iacob begat on leah his wife , had his posterity so increased in egypt , that from thence came forth of this tribe fifty b four thousand and four hundred . all which falling in the wilderness , for their frequent tempting of god , their sons grew ( iudah and dan excepted ) more numerous then any other tribe , insomuch that sixty four c thousand and three hundred , of twenty years old and upward , appeared at their second solemn muster in the plaines of moab . tolah the judge was of this tribe ; baasha and elah kings of israel * fair abishag the shunamite , wife ( or d rather bed-fellow ) to aged david ; with another lady ( if in beauty , not in goodness her inferiour ) of the same city , who so kindly entertained the prophet elisha . § . issachar had the sea e on the west , iordan on the f east ; zebulun on the north , manasseh on the south . a fair fruitfull countrey ; for , as all canaan is called the pleasant g land : so it is particularly observed of issachars portion , he saw the land h that it was pleasant , and bowed his shoulder to bear , and became a servant unto tribute . this tribe better acquitted it self in the subsidie , then in the muster-book , they were the best yeomantry of israel , towards the advancing of ra●es and taxes . they loved rest , and a sedentary life . blame them not , if sensible of the goodness of their soile , they were loath to leave home , because certain to remove to their loss , and are compared to an i asse couching between two burthens . § . yet were not the men of issachar of such servile natures , but that they could be valiant , when just occasion was offered them . they were as willing , and resolute as any other , in k helping barak in the battell against sisera . yet even then we may observe , they marched not far from their own habitations , the field being fought in the bowells of their countrey . and well might his asse , finde both heels and teeth , to kick and bite such , as offer to take his hay from his rack and provender a way from his manger . § . nor let the resembling of issachar to an asse ; depress this tribe too low in our estimation . the strength of his back , not stupidity of his head , gave the occasion thereunto 〈◊〉 in one point of excellent skill , this tribe surpassed all others , being men that had understanding of the times , l to know what israel ought to doe . now seeing time ianus-like hath two faces , one looking backward [ chronology ] the other forward [ prognostication ] the question will be , in which of these lay the learning of the issacharites ? a learned man m conceives them onely like husbandmen , weather-wise by their own rurall observations . sure more is imported in that expression , and not onely almanack , but chronicle-skill contained therein ; so that from deductions from former , they could make directions for the future times . oh for a little of issachars art in our age , to make us understand these intricate and perplexed times , and to teach us to know what we ought to doe , to be safe with a good conscience . so much of the persons in this tribe ; come we now to survay the eminent places contained therein . § . in the south confines thereof stood the regal city of n iezreel . for though the valley of iezreel belonged to o manasseh , the city it self must pertain to issachar , otherwise the sixteen cities assigned him iosh. . will fall short of that number . in iezreel ahab had a princely palace ( haply the joynter-house of iezebel ) besides a p garden-house adjoining ; and here in the city lived naboth , as hard by lay his vineyard , which ahab could not obtain from him , either by purchase or q exchange . § . some will finde more equity in ahabs offers , then discretion in naboths refusall . but , blame him not , if loth to offend his god , to accommodate his king. being ( no doubt ) in his conscience perswaded that his earthly possession , was the earnest of his heavenly inheritance , and that his parting with the former , voided his title to the latter . besides , his vineyard ( six hundred years since the partition of the land by lot ) had pertained to his ancestours ( probably ) moe ages , then ahabs new erected palace had belonged years to his family . § . on the denyall ahab falls sullen-sick . no meat will down with him for lack of a salad , because wanting naboths vineyard for a garden of herbes , till iezebel undertook the business . a letter is made up of her braines , her husbands hand and seal to the elders of iezreel , enjoining them to set up two r men of belial , to accuse naboth of blasphemy against god , and the king. she took it for granted , plenty of such persons were to be found in so populous , and vicious a place . oh the ancient order of knight of the poste , for money to depose any falshood . hereupon naboth is stoned to death , and his s sons also , flatly contrary to gods command , which in this case had provided , the t children shall not be put to death for their fathers , but every man shall be put to death for his own sin . but this was don● , to clear all claimes , and prevent all pretenders of ti●les unto the inheritance . § . thu● naboths vineyard was for ahabs use turned into a garden of ●erbes . surely the bitter wormwood of divine revenge grew plenti●●lly there●n . fo● in the same place his son ioram , and gran-child ahaz●ah had a martiall interview with iehu , and were both worsted by him . here iehu with a shot out of a bow ( archery fatall both to u ahab and his son ) wounded iehoram to the w heart , and by speciall order to bidkar● captain , commanded that his corps should be cast into the field of naboth the iezr●●lite . oh the exact topography observed in divine justice ! so accurate is god , not onely in the time , but place of his punishment . § . greater is the difficulty about the death of king ahaziah slain about the same time . for , whereas it is x appointed for all men once , he seemed twice to die , and that in far distant places . kings . . but when ahaziah the king of iudah saw this , he fled by the way of the garden-house , and iehu followed after him , and said , smite him also in the charet [ and they did so ] at the going up to gur , which is by ibleam : and he fled to megiddo , and died there . chron. . . and iehu sought ahaziah , and they caught him ( for hee was hid in samaria ) and brought him to iehu , and when they had slain him , they buried him : because said they , he is the sonne of iehosaphat , who sought the lord with all his heart . but all is reconciled , if we take samaria , not for the city so named , but for the whole kingdome of israel , in which notion ahab is styled king of y samaria , that is , the ten tribes , whereof samaria was the metropolis . in this acception , megiddo , and all the passage thereunto was in samaria , where ahaziah hoped in vaine , by his flight to hide , and conceale himself . § . all thus agreed concerning the dea●h , i hope no difference will arise about the buriall of ahaziah . though in one tex● his z ow● servants , in another iehu a his men are said to bu●y him . the one might doe it by the leave and licence of the other , and iehu his souldiers did deliver ahaziah's de●d corps to his own servants , to interre it in ierusalem . § . iezebel survived not long after . as iehu was entering iezreel , she ( newly painted ) entertains him with a taunt out of the window , to try whether her tongue , or his sword were the sharper . we meet but with three principall speeches of her in scripture ; the first an idolatrous oath and curse , the b gods doe so to me , and more also : the next , a mortall threat , and lowd lye , if i make not elijah's , like c one of their lives by to morrow this time : the last an impudent and unseasonable jeer , had zimri d peace that slew his master ? presently she is thrown down headlong , and the dogs eat her up to the ●eversion of her e skull , palmes of her hands , and feet . what , h●d the poison of her painting , 〈◊〉 deeply pierced into these the naked f parts of her body , that the dogs were afraid to feed o● them ? however it came to pass , iezebels skull may be worn as a deaths-head in the memories of all wicked persons , abusing their power , to minde them of their certain ruin , without serious repentance . the heads also of ahabs children kill'd in samaria , were laid in two heapes at the entrance of the gates of g iezreel . § . it may seem strange , that seeing iehu was warranted by commission from heaven , in the execution of ahabs family , and friends , that god should afterwards threaten by his prophet , i will h avenge the bloud of iezreel upon the house of iehu . but it seems , though herein iehu his chariot went in the path of gods command , yet he did drive it on furiously , the pace of his own cruelty , vainglory , and ambition . thus , that officer is a murderer , though acting the sentence of the judge , if withall he pleaseth his private malice , in executing persons condemned to die . the matter of iehu his act was rewarded , the manner revenged by god. § . the river kishon runneth through the midst of this tribe , which entring in at naboths vineyard , taketh his course north-ward with a winding channell , not far from shamir in mount ephraim , wherein tola the iudge , or rather , the iustice of peace in israel ( nothing of war being achieved in his government ) both dwelt , i and was buried . hence on his western bank , kishon beholds the place , where barak fought that famous battell against sisera . it is recorded to the commendation of such israelites , k as assisted him , that they took no gain of money . indeed they of zebulun were by their calling l such as handled the pen , though now turned sword-men , in case of necessity . and when men of peaceable professions , are , on a pinch of extremity for a short time , forced to fight , they ought not , like souldiers of fortune , to make a tradeto enrich themselves thereby , seeing defence of religion , life , and liberty , are the onely wages they seek for in their service . § . in this most eminent battell , the stars in their courses fought against sisera . what , are the numerous people of israel meant thereby , whom god m promised to multiply as the stars in heaven ? or , are onely the principall officers in their army intended therein ? sure , it is safest to embrace the literall sense , that those celestiall lights , frowning with their malignant aspects , caused frights and fears in the hearts of the canaanites . such , as utterly deny all influences of stars on mens mindes , shew therein , that the moon hath made too much impression on their crazy judgements , and lunatick opinions . § . but , the river of kishon was not onely a spectatour of this fight , but also an actour of a principall part therein : for , when the canaanites routed in the battell , essayed to wade this river , so to recover their countrey on the other side , the streame thereof , probably lately made more deep , and rapid with extraordinary raine ( the largess of some wa●ry planet which fought for israel ) n swept them away . so that what fragments of these canaanites , were left by the israelites swords glutted with slaughter , kishon was the voider to take them clean away . § . hence kishon runneth on by kishion ( the vicinity of the name is argument enough , to place it on the banks of this river ) elsewhere o called kedesh , being one of the four cities in this tribe , belonging to the levites p gershonites . more east whereof lay another of the same nature , engannim , called ienine at this day , being now a very pleasant q place , having fine gardens , orchards , and waters about it , as it hath its hebrew name from a fountain . and that we may know , that the countrey hereabouts , still retaineth more then the ruines of its former fertility , a judicious r modern traveller tells us , that in his whole journey from damascus to ierusalem , he saw not more fruitfull ground , and so much together , then he did in two and twenty miles riding , betwixt mount tabor and engannim . § . hence kishon continuing his course northward , leaveth the city s shunem at some distance from his western bank , the birth-place of abishag , wife-nurse to king david , to procure t heat to his decayed age . time was , when he boasted , that his youth was u renewed as the eagles , but eagles ( notwithstanding the often casting of their bills , and years therewith ) are at last seised on with age , and death , as it fared then with decrepit david . adonijah , david's son , afterwards lost his life , for petitioning to have this abishag w for his wife . what was his fault ? incest , or treason ? surely , neither effected , no , nor attempted in any clandestine way , without leave from the king. let it suffice , solomon saw more , then we , in this matter ; his eies also not wanting the magnifying-glass of state-jealousie , to improve his discoveries herein . but , this accident was onely the hilt or handle , for solomon to take hold on ; adonijah's former fault was the edge , to cut off his life . thus , let those , who once have been desperately sick of a princes displeasure , and recovered , know , that the least relapse will prove deadly unto them . § . in shunem dwelt that worthy woman , who prevailed with her husband , to harbour elisha in his passage this way . gods prophets are no lumber , but the most profitable stuffe wherewith an house can be furnished . landlords prove no losers by such tenants , ( though sitting rent-free ) whose dwelling with them , pays for their dwelling with them . at elisha's prayer god made this woman ( barren before ) the happy mother of an hopefull x son. somes years after , this child grown a stripling , and going into his fathers field to see his reapers , was there smitten with a deadly sickness . so that the corn on the land might pass for the emblem of this childs condition , save that that being ripe , and ready wooed the cycles to cut it , whilst this green grain was mow'n down in the blade thereof . at noon y the child dyed . had one the same morning beheld the sun arising out of the east , and this child coming forth of his fathers house in perfect health , he would not have suspected , that the noon of the one would prove the night to the other . but by the prayers of elisha he was restored again unto her . § . this shunamite was afterwards seven years absent , in the land of the philistines , during which time , the profits of her estate , as appears by the text , x were seised on by the kings officers . z custome ( it seems ) intitled the crown to their revenues , which resided not on their lands , especially ( if living as she did ) in the land of a forein foe . she addressed her self by petition to king ioram , for restitution of her meanes . formerly she had no use of the prophets profer , to a speake for her to the king , or to the captain of the host , who now was fain to prefer her suit in her own person . none know what hereafter may befall them . such , whose young feet were onely taught to traverse their own ground , may in their old age be learnt a harder lesson , to trudge abroad in attendance to others . gehazi happily there present , attests her the woman whose son was restored to life , and by the kings command , her lands and profits were restored to he . let her , under god , thank elisha for this favour ; for , that place in her house , where his b bed , table , stool , and candlestick stood , kept possession for her in her absence , of all the rest of her demesnes , and procured the speedy restitution thereof . § . to return to kishon , which somewhat more northward leaveth this tribe , and entereth into zebulun , having first divided it self into two streames , whereof the easternmost ( being the north-boundary of issachar ) runneth by c tabor , a city so called , from the vicinity of the mountain we formerly described . hereabouts zeba d and zalmunna , made a massacre of many princelike israelites , for which fact gideon ordered their execution . and here we take notice of two neighbouring mountains lovingly agreeing together . tabor on the north ( whereof formerly in zebulun ) of so eminent note , that it passed for a proverbiall expression , of any unquestioned certainty , as e sure as ▪ tabor is among the mountains . this place was in after ages much profaned with idolatry , as appears by the prophet f complaining of the priests , that they had been a net spred upon tabor . hermon , hard by on the south of this tribe ( the top-cliffe whereof is called hermonium g as a modern traveller doth describe . h david puts them both together , the north and the south thou hast ●reated them , tabor and hermon shall rejoyce in thy name . however others understand the psalmist of another hermon , that famous mountain formerly described in manasseh beyond iordan , being the east-border , as tabor was in the heart of the land of canaan ; meaning thereby , that , middle , and marches ; out-side , and in-side ; center , and circumference ; all the whole world must rejoyce in gods power which made ; and providence , which preserveth them . § . this east-stream of kishon , in modern maps called kedummim , runneth to daberah in the confines of i zebulun , but belongeth to this tribe , out of which k it was assigned a city for the levites . then falleth it into the sea of cinnereth , or tiberias , somewhat south of tarichea a famous city , whereof frequent mention in iosephus , but none in scripture , to which we chiefly confine our description . § . the east part of issachar is wholly taken up with the mountains of gilboa , where the armies of the isra●lites , and the philistines met , having formerly measured most part of this tribe , with their military motions . the philistines marching first from l shunem to m aphek ; thence to n iezreel , ( backward and forward to finde an advantageous place for fight ) thence to mount gilboa , where they encountred , and conquered the israelites in battell . saul being here grievously wounded , desired his armour-bearer to slay him , who refused it , as bearing his armes for the defence , not destruction of his master . hereupon saul slew himself , and his armour-bearer followed his example . both which , having since cast up their ▪ audit , can tell , what is gotten by the prodigall thrift of throwing away ones life , to prevent the losing thereof . then a fourfold division was made of what remained of saul . his o head sent into the land of the philistines ; body hung up upon the walls of bethshean ; armour offered in the temple of ashtaroth ; p crown , and bracelets brought by the amalekite to king david . for though his tongue spake lies , his hands told truth , presenting the very regalia of king saul . wonder not , that saul should weare these ornaments in battell , where an helmet had been more proper then a crown ; seeing we read in our english q chronicles , that in bosworth-fight king richards crown-ornamentall was found among the spoiles in the field , and then , and there set by the lord stanley on the head of king henry the seventh . § . david , on this dysaster of sauls death , cursed mount gilboa , r let there be no dew or rain upon you . but , s brochardus travelling over them anno dom. . found , and felt both , being well wetted in his journey . what! were davids words guilty of infidelity , seeing it is easier to withhold rain from a mountain , then to remove it from its foundation , and cast it into the sea ? and yet our saviour t assures us this shall be done , if in faith desired . but , be it known , david intended not his curse should take effect , but meerly to manifest his great grief , and to shew , how far he was from delighting at the death of his greatest enemy . better to fall under davids dirae , as he was a poet , then as he was a prophet , the latter lighting heavily indeed , as u iudas in w achitophel could witness the weight thereof . nor remaineth any thing more observable in this tribe , save in the east part thereof , on iordan they shew pilgrims the place where * naaman ( patient at last by his servants perswasion ) washed seven times , and was cleansed of his leprosie . § . thus all the remarkable places of issachar , but not all those in issachar , are already by us described . for , ( as the text x expresly saith ) the tribe of manasseh had in issachar , and in asher , even three countries ; that is , lying in issachar , and asher , but environed round with those tribes possessions , yet pertaining to the portion of manasseh . let none blame divine providence of ill architecture , for not well contriving the rooms in the house of israel ; the division of the land by lot , not being well designed , wherein issachars chamber [ his portion ] was made a thorough-fare , manasseh having three closets [ three small countreys ] within the same . so that neither tribe could enjoy his own with privacy , and intireness ; and manasseh ( if but stepping out of the high-way ) must in a manner trespass on issachar , or crave leave of him , to come , through his , to his own inheritance . but know , all was ordered by the y counsell of gods will , for reasons best known to himself ; who would not have his children churles , to ingross habitations by themselves ; but , by such mixture of their portions , invited , yea , ingaged their persons to mutuall intercourse , seeing the very lots of their tribes gave loving visits , and their countreys ( by gods own appointment ) came so curteously , and confidently , one within another . § . but very hard it is to conceive , how manasseh could have any land within asher , which tribe lay many miles more northward , and beyond the tribe of zebulun interposed . the jewish rabbins being much perplext at the pedegree of a●zel , why it is twice reckoned up in z chronicles , use to say , that they a need four hundred camels loaden with commentaries to give the true reason thereof . but their expression is more appliable to this present difficulty , how manasseh could have any ground in asher , except ( as we have presented it in our map ) some part of asher lay southward at distance , dis-jointed from the main body of that tribe , which we have formerly described . who knows not that pieces of parishes , parcells of manors , portions of counties , though far off dismembred , relate unto them , notwithstanding the intermediate distance betwixt them ? § . but let not issachar , or asher repine , that manasseh had so much land in their countreys , seeing though the right was assigned unto them , the canaanites for a long time ( till about davids reign ) kept all the same in their possession , as will appear by the ensuing parallel . joshua . . and manasseh had in issachar and asher , bethshean , and her towns , and ibleam , and her towns , and the inhabitants of dor , and her towns , and the inhabitants of endor , and her towns , and the inhabitants of taanch , and her towns , and the inhabitants , of meggido and her towns , even three countrys . judges . . neither did manasseh drive out the inhabitants of bethshean , and her towns , nor taanach , and her towns , nor the inhabitants of dor , and her towns , nor the inhabitants of ibleam , and her towns , nor the inhabitants of megiddo , and her towns : but the canaanites would dwell in that land . of bethshean more conveniently hereafter . by ibleam , b ahaziah was wounded , as was formerly observed . dor ( mentioned for a sea-town in ptolemy ) had the king thereof conquered c by ioshua . endor , whither sisera's souldiers defeated in fight , not far off at d taanach , ( which also●was a regall city in the days of e ioshua , and afterwards belonged to the levites ) fled , were pursued , f perished and became as the dung of the earth . hither saul repaired to a witch , to raise samuel , and received cold comfort from the dead , or devill rather , informing him of his future destruction : so that saul , formerly sick with fear of the worst , lived to hear satan toll his passing-bell in his sad predictions . § . but g megiddo was the most eminent city manasseh had in issachar . the king hereof was destroyed by ioshua , and many years after iosiah was slain in the vale of megiddo , bidding pharaoh necho battell , in his march against charchemish by euphrates . never prince shewed more devotion in his life , or less discretion in his death , courting that danger which declined him , seeing pharaoh desired h peaceably to depart . but haply iosiah conceived himself ingaged to fight him , in point of honour ; because without leave he had made his land an high way to pass through it . policy ; suspicious , though pharaoh went forth as a friend , he would returne as a foe , especially if puffed up with success in his expedition . but what shall we say ? it was the sin of his subjects would not suffer iosiah to keep quiet at home . their impieties made him to march , thrust him into the field , forced him into the fight , yea , shot the fatall arrow , which wounded him at the heart . § . now let none be troubled , because iosiah ( who rather deserved two lives ) seems to have two deaths , one text making him to die i at megiddo , another k at ierusalem . understand it , death arrested him with a mortall wound at megiddo , but did not imprison him till he came to ierusalem , where he expired . much less let any challenge god , as worse then his word with iosiah , having promised him by his prophet l to be gathered to his fathers in peace ; for besides that that promise principally related to the captivity of babylon ( from which iosiah was exempted ) even such may be said to die in peace , which swim to their graves in their own bloud , if withall imbarqued in a good conscience . § . all israel , and principally the prophet ieremy , dropped many a precious teare on his hearse , whose * lamentations are an elegy on iosiah's death ; yea , their grief was no land-flood of present passion , but a constant channell of continued sorrow , streaming from an annuall fountain , it being made an m ordinance in israel . the prophet speaking of a grand , and generall grieving for mens sins , n compareth it to the mourning of hadadrimmon ( conceived to be a place hard by ) in the valley of megiddon . § . iehosaphat the son of paruah was solomons purvey our in o issachar , but the dis-jointed piece of manasseh in this tribe pertained partly to baanah the son of ahilud ( to whom belongeth taanach ; megiddo , and all bethsh●an p ) and partly to aminada● husband to taphath solomons daughter , purveyour alone in the land of q dor. an argument of the great fertility of that little land , because the land of dor alone , was a signe for a whole moneth in the zodiack of solomons yearly provisions . an asse ( formerly observed ) argent , in a field vert , was issachar's arms , cou●hing between two r burdens . some by these understand zebulun , and manasseh , which bounded issachar on both sides . but , why was their neighbourhood more burdensome , then any other tribes ? such perchance , are nearer the truth , who expound the two burdens , tribute and tillage ; betwixt which , issachar , quietly cocuhed , never medling with wars , but when forced thereunto in his own defence . here the map of manasseh on this side jordan is to be inserted . the description of manasseh on this side iordan . chap. . § . manasseh his numbers and worthies have formerly been described on the east of iordan , as also such cities as being environed with issachar , yet belonged to this tribe . it remaineth that we survey that portion of manasseh west of iordan , lying entire in it self , and having issachar on the north , ephraim on the south , the mediterranean sea on the west , and iordan on the east thereof , a fruitfull countrey divided betwixt a six male-families of the manassites , and the five daughters of zelophehad . § . these were those virgins , who pleading before b moses , got a right to , before c ioshua got possession of their inheritance . silence was injoined their sex in the d church , not court , where they handled their own cause so well , it is pity any counsell should be retained for them . nor was it the worst part of their rhetorick , the good character they gave their dead father , which might serve for an epitaph to be inscribed on his monument . here lieth the man , who e was not in the company of them who gathered themselves together against the lord in the company of korah , but died in his own sin . meaning he died a naturall death for his personall offences , and was no sharer in the guilt of rebellion against god in moses . this instance of zelophehad his coheirs , let lawyers judge how justly it is alledged of some against their practise , who by entailes on the heire male , dam up inheritances from running in that generall channell into which god and nature hath derived them . § . in the west of this tribe on the sea , we meet with cesarea stratonis , built and beautified ( with a fair haven called drusus ) by herod the great in the honour of augustus cesar. amongst other edifices therein , f herods judgement hall by him built was a most remarkable structure . indeed all cesarea might be termed gods judgement hall , from an exemplary piece of justice here executed on herod antipas . who coming hither from ierusalem clad with gorgeous raiment , ( and the guilt of saint g iames his bloud ) made an eloquent oration , more gaudy then his apparell , unto the people , who cryed out in approbation thereof , the voice of a god , and not of a man : here herod in stead of rejoining the voice of lying flatterers , and not of sober men ; in stead of reclaiming what they exclaimed , imbraced and hug'd their praises as proper to himself , and thereupon an * angell and worms , the best and basest of creatures , met in his punishment , the one smiting , the other eating him up : and no wonder if worms quickly devoured him , whom those flesh-flies had blown up before . if any aske , seeing the people were equally guilty in that their sacrilegious expression , ( yea they were the theeves , herod but the receiver ) why fell not the pun●shment also on the whole multitude ? it is answered , first , because they were the whole multitude ; and god in such cases mercifully singles out some singall offenders for punishment to save but fright the rest . secondly , more discretion was expected from a prince , then from a rabble of people . lastly , what in them was but a blasphemous complement , was by herods acceptance thereof made in him a reality , usurped by him as due to his deserts . § . but leaving profane herod , many pious people lived in cesarea , as * cornelius the centurion , the first fruits of the gentiles ; * agabus the prophet , foretelling saint pauls bonds and martyrdome ; and philip the evangelist , famous for his four daughters * virgins-prophetesses . this i firmely beleeve , whilest my faith demurres at what i read of brechin a lord in * wales , who had four and twenty daughters all saints begotten of his own body . § . here saint paul eloquently defended his innocence , against the salable tongue of tertullus , and afterwards reasoned of righteousness , temperance h and judgement , before felix the corrupt , vicious and debauched deputy of iudea , till felix , ( his foundred feet feeling the pincers ) began to winch and to prefer saint pauls room before his company . in the same place the apostle pleaded for himself before festus , agrippa and bernice his * incestuous wife-sister , entering into the place of hearing , i 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , with much fancifulness , or great pompe . perchance this bernice ware then about her , that eminent gem , whereof the heathen poet k took especiall notice . — deinde adamas notissimus , & berenices in digito factus preciosior ; hunc dedit olim barbarus , incestae dedit hunc agrippa sorori . and l the fam'd diamond the richer show'd on berenices fingers , this bestow'd the barbarous agrippa , he to his incestuous sister once presented this . but be bernice never so brave , the m bonds of saint paul , ( worn by him then in cesarea ) were in the judgement of god , and all good men the most glorious ornament . § . south of cesarea stood antipatris , named in the honour of antipater father to herod the great . hi●her saint paul came guarded in state by night with more then n five hundred souldiers , and hence the footmen were sent back to ierusalem whilest the seventy horse advanced forward with him to cesarea . south of antipatris the river o kanah ( which divideth this tribe from ephraim ) runneth into the sea , so called from reeds kanah in hebrew , ( whence our english canes or walking-staves fetch in both the name and thing from the east countreys ) growing plentifully thereabouts , and many maps present us with a valley of reeds in this place . say not this debaseth the land , that so course a commodity should take up a whole valley therein , ( for besides as london water-men will tell you , an acre of reeds on the bank side is as beneficiall as one of wheat ) these canes were to make arrowes and staves , yea some to make sugars thereof : an p eye-witness affirming that plenty of sugar-canes grow in palestine at this day . surely formerly growing there , ( though little known to ▪ and less used by the ancients ) seeing that countrey hath gained no new plants , but rather lost much fertility it had before . § . sugar ( pardon a digression ) was anciently less used , either because their masculine palats were not so liquorish as ours now adays ; or because they preferred honey , plenty whereof was extracted and refined to their hand . yea our modern sugar , as it is boiled and baked , is not above two hundred years old ; and the art of refining it was found out long since by a q venetian , getting above an hundred thousand crowns thereby , leaving them to his son afterward made a knight , who wasted all to nothing . § . in the north of this tribe lies the vale of iesreel and well of herod , where gedeon conquered the midianites●ncamping ●ncamping by the hill of moreh . indeed the achievements of gedeon take up almost this whole half-tribe , and therefore we will attend on him from his call to be a judge unto his summons to his grave . § . sad in his time was the condition of the israelites , oppressed by the midianites , who swarmed * like grass-hoppers , for number and noisomeness , over the land of canaan : grass-hoppers were formerly a plague for egypt , but now for israel , these * midianites devouring all which the other had sowen . time was , when the israelites reaped the fields they did not sow , whereas now they sowed what they did not reap . see what wofull inversions sin can make . in this dolefull estate the angell found israel , when he sat under * an oake in ophrah in the east of this tribe neare iordan , and saluted gedeon threshing by the wine-press , the lord is with thee , thou valiant man. much concealed valour may lurk under a plain & painful outside , whcih a just occasion may produce into publick view . yet let none turn their flailes , aker-staves , sheep-hooks , shuttles , needles , into swords , till first with gedeon they have a warrant from god for the same . gedeon having thus a cal from god , and confirmed with many miracles , first by night cast down the altar ( erecting one to god in the same place ) and cut down the grove of baal , then gathered an army of thirty two thousand therewithall to fight the midianites . § . but his army must be garbled , as too great for god to give victory thereby : all the fearfull return home by r proclamation , leaving the perons , not the men in the army , fewer for their departure . the good liquor was no less for the loss of such froath , though two and twenty thousand then went away . yea the body of his men remaining , was still too big , and must pass another decoction . their valour , hardiness and industry must be tried by a purgatory of water , and those onely were admitted to march on , ( proving but three hundred ) who bowed not down on their knees , in a lazy posture , ( as if they meant to make a set meal● in drinking ) but loath to lose so much time , s doglike lapped water out of their hands , ( their dishes , as their tongues , were their spoons , ) manifesting thereby , ( quick at meat , quick at work ) the activity of their spirits , taking all refreshing , only in passage to their farther imployment . § . with these three hundred gedeon advanceth against the midianites , and ( as formerly by the deeds of his friends ) is now confirmed afresh with the dreams of his foes , and their own t interpretation thereof . strange that god should condescend so much , and so often for gedeons satisfaction , working miracles backward and forward for his sake : fleece only wet , and ground dry , u fleece onely dry , and ground wet . heavens reall miracles , will endure turning , being lining , and facing , inside and outside both alike . yea after these and other confirmations , god the night before the battell gave gedeon a new sign out of his enemies own mouth . he that spurneth at the presumptuous , how low will he stoop to take up a weake but true faith ! thus the wise mother beateth the sound and froward , but bemoaneth and cherisheth her sick and froward child . § . the midianites lay secure in their tents when the word was given , the sword of god and gedeon . excellent mixture , both joined together ; admirable method god put in the first place ; where divine blessing leads up the van , and mans valour brings up the battell , must not victory needs follow in the rear ? gedeons men by order from him brake their lamp-lined pitchers , whereby night is turned into light , silence becomes a loud sound in an instant . we have this treasure in earthen vessels , and what miracles may the light of gods word in the pitchers of poor preachers bring to pass ? § . the sodain shining and sounding fills the eyes and eares of the midianites with amazement . whence came these spirits walking in the dark , dropt from heaven , or raised from the earth ? the text was terrible , but oh what dis●all descants did their affrighted fancies make thereon ? every mans fear , single in it selfe , was doubled by reflexion from his next neighbour . for , hearing so many trumpets , together , if so many trumpeters , then how many souldiers in proportion unto them ? hereupon the host ran , w and cryed , and fled to bethshittah in zererah , and to the borders of abel-meholah , unto tabbath . thus , great armies , once struck with amazement , are like wounded whales , give them but line enough , and the fishes will be the fishermen to catch themselves , and beat themselves ●ame by their own violence . § . hereafter let none term gideon ( as ulysses x is disgracefully called ) nocturne miles , the night knight , because he conversed with the angel , cast down baals altar , conquered the midianites , all by night ; seeing now in open light he pursued his conquest , chasing zebah and zalmunna with the rest of their army , home to their own countrey , where he overtook and destroied them . mean time the ephraimites were active in stopping the passages on iordan , and slew oreb and zeeb , the one at a rock , the other at a y wine-press , first coloured with their bloud , then called after their names to all posterity . § . what remains of gideon , i would willingly conceal , that his sun might not set in a cloud . but , man must not smother , what god will have seen , especially because tending to his honour , our instruction , though gideons disgrace . who , refusing a crown , accepted the ear-rings of the people , and thereof made an z ephod : surely onely as a civill memoriall of his valour , and their thankfulness . but , what had gideon a manassite , to doe with an ephod , a leviticall vestment ? such a monument was neither of divine institution , or benediction , and therefore through mans corruption , easily subject to be abused to superstition . if gideon walks but on the brink , the next generation will fall to the bottome of idolatry , as here it came to pass . posterity went a a whoring after this ephod , which caused the massacre in , and destruction of the f●mily of gideon , whom we leave buried in ophrah in the b grave of his father ioash , and so proceed . § . and now his history finished , we shall soon dispatch the remainder of this half tribe . first we resume abel-meholah ( lately mentioned ) which was the habitation in after ages of elisha . here he was plowing with twelve c yoke of oxen before him , and he with the twelfth . what in severall teames , or all in the same , to draw one plough ? the latter is most likely , whilest our english husbandmen will not wonder at such an herd of oxen , ( twenty four ) haling at one plough , when they shall read , that the vale of iordan ( wherein lay abel-meholah ) is noted for d clay ground , and therefore such stiffe land , ( especially at the first tilth thereof ) must needs require a great strength thereunto . but had his oxen been as many more elisha would willingly have left them , when eliah his man●le was once cast upon him . mo●●le , which could , stop rivers in the full speed of their e course , and therefore might stay a man in the height of his calling . hereby we perceive that the words of our saviour , no f ●an having put his hand to the plough , and looking back , is fit for the kingdome of god , are not literally , but spiritu●lly , to be expounded , of such as having well begun , apostate from their religious resolutions . § . in the aforesaid vale of iordan lay zarthan , betwixt which and s●ccoth ( on the other side of iordan in the tribe of gad ) the two brazen pillars , ( iachin , and boaz ) with all the vessels of the temple , were made by hiram , of bright brass , in the clay g ground , which probable served him for moldes to run the melted metall therein . and somewhat more towards the north , lay aenon near to salim , where iohn was baptizing , because there was much h water there . here his disciples complained to iohn , concerning jesus eclipsing him with his lustre . iohn truly stated the controversie , and modestly determined it against himself , how he must decrease , whilest christ must increase . § . as these places lay on the east of this tribe , in the vale of iordan . so in the western part thereof in the vale of iezreel , lay i gath-rimmon ( in chronicles called k bileam ) the sole city which the levites had in this entire part of the tribe of manasseh ; seeing taanach ( called anar in chronicles ) lay ( as is aforesaid ) in that part of manasseh which was surrounded with issachar . the land of tappuah belonged also to this half tribe , though tappuah the city pertained to ephraim . thus the town , and late castle of belvoir stands in lincolne-shire , though the vale thence denominated lies in three shires round about it . § . amongst the mountains in manasseh , we take especiall notice of gilead ( so called from gilead the grand son of manasseh ) l whence gideon's cowards departed ; the hill moreh , m nigh which the midtanitish army was incamped ; and above all the mountain of obadiah , so called because therein in two caves he hid an n hundred prophets , so close , that neither foes nor friends knew thereof , neither iezebel nor elijah getting intelligence of their being there , the latter erroneously conceiving himself alone left of all the prophets in the land . their bill of fare was bread and water , pretious liquour when it had not rained in israel for three years and an half ; hereto our saviour reflected , that none should lose his reward that gave his little ones a cup of cold water , yea , that such who received a prophet , should receive a prophets o reward , as here it came to pass . for the sparkes of his guests spirit catched hold on obadiah their host , so far inflaming his breast with inspiration that the short prophecy bearing his name , is by learned men referred to him , as the author thereof . saint p hierome tells us , that the lady paula ( as weak as she was ) climbed up this mountain , to behold those monimental caves therein . § . in this land we also meet with the woody hils of the perizzites , and of the rephaims , or giants , mingled amongst them , much affright●ng the manassites with their iron chariots . not as if all made of massie iron ▪ ( such would have been slugs in fight , and so heavy , that they needed horses of steel for strength to draw them ) but that they were plated and armed with iron hooks , mischievous instruments of execution , especially in the pursuit of a broken army , men being as grass whereof whole swathes were mowed down with these crooked sithes in chasing a routed enemy . enough almost to make one suspect our ancient britones akin to these canaanites , seeing such chariots were so fashionable in their q fights ; were it not that we finde the like r 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , frequently used in all eastern countries . however ioshua gave the manassites both a promise and prophecy , that ( notwithstanding those ironmoving forts of the canaanites ) they should in process of time certainly overcome them . § . we must not forget beths●n belonging to m●nasseh ( but s seated and invironed with issach●r ) whence for a long time they could not expell the canaanites , therefore called it bethsan , that is , the house of an enemy . here the bodies of saul and ionathan were hung up by the t philistines bethsan was afterwards called nysa by u humane writers ( and at last scythopolis ) from nysa bacchus his nurse , whom he is said there solemnly to have buried . a jolly dame no doubt , as appears by the well battling of the plump boy her nursery . but seeing wine was bacchus his milk when a child , meat when a man , food when well , physick when sick , we may justly conceive the history mythologically true , the burying of bacchus his nurse in this place plainly importing plenty of the best wines in the countrey hereabouts . § . as for bezek i name it last of all ▪ because ambiguously placed in the confines of manasseh , and ephraim , different from a city of the same name , nearer w ierusalem , where the tyrant adonibezek lived . in this bezek x saul numbred the israelites ( being three hundred and thirty thousand ) and thence marched to the relieving of l●besh-gilead from the ammonites . the armes of manasseh have been formerly blazoned , and expounded in our description of the half tribe beyond iordan , and in the solomons purveyourships this land , with some of zebulun , fell under the care of baanah the son of ahilud . here the map of the land of ephraim is to be inserted . the tribe of ephraim . chap. . § . ephraim the younger son of ios●ph was blest by his grandfather iacob , laying * his right hand on his head ( the print of whose fingers remained visible in the happiness of ephraims posterity ) that behinde manasseh in age , he should prove before him in honour ; which came to pass accordingly . such was his increase in egypt that they amounted to forty ‡ thousand five hundred men , all whose carkasses fell in the wilderness , and a new generation of thirty two * thousand five hundred entred the land of promise . § . . a princely and puissant tribe . ephraim ( saith david ) is the strength of ‡ my head , and is often put by a honorable synecdoche for all the ten tribes or whole a kingdome of israel . the people thereof were active , valiant , ambitious of honour , but withall hasty , humorous , hard to be pleased , forward enough to fight with their foes , and too forward to fall out with their friends , counting other mens honour to be their injury , except they might be admitted joint purchasers with them in all gallant undertakings . this caused their contest , first with * gideon , who pacified them with his compliance , & afterwards with iephthah , where their braul was hightned into a battell , ( how quickly doe hot spirits hatch words into blowes ! ) of which we have ‡ spoked before . § . this tribe was subject to a naturall imperfection of lisping , the cause whereof we leave to others to dispute , whether got by imitation , or some heredit●●y defect in their tongue , or proceeding from some secret quality in their soil , as it is observed in a village at charleton in b leicestershire , that the people therein are troubled with wharling in their utterance . the best is , men must answer to god for their vitious habits , not naturall impediments , and better it is to lispe the language of canaan ; then plainly to pronounce the speech of ashdod . § . sure i am , no tribe , iudah excepted , can vie eminent persons with ephraim , as deborah and abdon , both judges of israel , the one by he● c habitation whilest living , the other by his d sepulcher when dead , truly collected to be of this tribe , as also c ieroboam and all the kings of israel 〈…〉 § . 〈…〉 dan on the south , 〈…〉 but as for the particular 〈◊〉 and flexures 〈…〉 borders of this tribe , they are so many , and so small , they will be scattered out of our memories , except bound together as , we finde them in the text . § . condemn not this our diligence for needless curiosity , but know , that every meer-stone that standeth for a land-mark , though in substance but a hard flint , or plain pibble , is a precious stone in virtue , and is cordiall against dangerous controversies between party and party , and therefore it is of great consequence to be well skilled in the out-limits and boundaries of this , or any other considerable 〈◊〉 . § . the particular bounds therefore of this tribe 〈◊〉 exactly as followeth . south . west . north. east . from iordan by 〈◊〉 to the 〈…〉 thence to the wilderness that goeth up from 〈◊〉 , throughout moun● 〈◊〉 . thence to 〈◊〉 , thence to be bord●●s f 〈…〉 ataroth . thence westward to the coasts of iapble●i . thence to the coasts of beth-horon 〈…〉 . then●e 〈◊〉 gezer , thence to the sea . the medditerranean sea. northwest . from the sea to 〈…〉 k●na . thence to 〈◊〉 ▪ northeast . thence to beth-hor●n the upper , thence to michm●●ha thence went about unto 〈…〉 eastward . and passed on the east to 〈◊〉 . thence to at●roth . thence to 〈◊〉 , and so to 〈◊〉 . the river 〈◊〉 . we reserve the satisfying of such difficulties as in●umber these borders , to our fifth ●nd last book , intending it shall serve our four former in the same office wherein the spleen attendeth on the liver . for , as that is the drain or sewer of the feculent and melancholy bloud : so we design our last book of objections for the repository of all hard doubts and difficulties , that the rest of our work may be more cheerfull and pleasant in the reading thereof . § . amongst these limitary towns , besides the b●th-horons , both of them with uzzen-sherah , g founded by sherah the daughter of ephraim the younger ( the greatest buildress in the whole bible ) gezer is most remarkable . the king 〈◊〉 was 〈◊〉 by ioshu● , h and the city was given to the levites , but kept by the canaanites in defiance of all the powers of i ephraim , untill pharaoh taking it , burning it , and killing the canaanites therein gave it for a k present to his daughter solomons wife . behold here two titles on foot at once , and the question is which should take effect . whether the title of the levites deriving it from gods l grant , though ( a main matter ) they never had the possession of gezer given them , or that of pharaohs daughter claiming it as a donative from her father . the best is , the cause was to be tried before the wisdome and integrity of solomon , who no doubt , being so bountifull to the temple , would not be injurious to the ministers thereof , but that as he gave the child to the true mother , he would ad●udge the city to the originall owners thereof , though making his queen some reparation otherwise . proceed we now to the description of this tribe , and will begin with two eminent cities in the south part thereof . § . rama , otherwise a ramathaim-zophim ( because consisting of two towns , and seated in the land of b zuph ) was the place , where samuel was c born wonderfully , of a long barren mother , d lived unblamably , ( as appears by the e nationall testimony of his integrity ) died peaceably , and was f buried honorably . naioth nere rama was the name of his house , where david sometime conversed with samuel , two eminent prophets then living together under the same roof . § . yea , the very aire of this place seems propheticall , seeing saul coming hither to attach david , was by the great well that is in s●chu ( the helicon of heavenly raptures ) strangely inspired , and stripping himself , fell a g prophecying a day and a night together . § . this saul continued constantly a carnall man , though we meet with many spirits , which successively possessed , and deserted him , . the spirit of prophecy , which h twice ravished , then finally forsook him . . the spirit of the lord , fitting him for government , which i departed from him after david was anointed . . an k evill spirit which troubled him , partly allayed by davids musick . . his vitall and animall spirits , which partially forsook him at the witches sad news , when he fell all along on the earth , and there was no l strength in him . . his spirit , or soul , finally forced from him by his own sword on mount gilboa . what need then have men to try the m spirits before they trust them , seeing so many of them may be in one and the same person ? § . in the new testament this rama is called arimathe● , whereof was n ioseph that honourable counseller , who so freely resigned his own sepulcher to the body of our saviour , and with nicodemus provided for the decent interring thereof . § . shiloh succeeds ( in a narrow southern spong of this tribe ) where after the conquering of canaan , the tabernacle was solemnly set up , and remained there almost four hundred years . this place was for that purpose preferred before others , partly because almost the center of the land , and partly in honourable respect to o ioshua , extracted from , and living in this tribe of ephraim ; and pity it was that god and the prince should be parted . perchance the allusion of shiloh with p shiloah , or q siloam , ( which is by interpretation sent , clearly pointing at our saviour ) might promote this place for the erection of the tabernacle therein . § . at shiloh there was an anniversary dancing of the daughters thereof ( probably collected out of all israel coming then to the tabernacle ) where the benjamites as yet unprovided for wives , lying in ambush in the vineyards , violently r seised some of those maides for their brides , ( happy man be his dole ) making strange matches , if each interest concerned therein be seriously considered . § . first for the fathers of these virgins . did this equivocating expedient satisfie their consciences , who had formerly s sworn not to give their daughters to the benjamites to wife , and yet now by laying the design t themselves did in effect give these women in marriage to these men ? § . secondly , for the young men . what assurance had they , they could love , not choosing the fittest whom they liked of , but catching the first they lighted on ? or that they could be beloved , storming their wives with violence , in stead of taking their affections by mutual composition ? § . as for these brides of fortune , may we not presume that many of them which danced this day , wept on the morrow ? yet one thing might comfort them , they were all richly married to mighty matches of landed men , seeing the fair and fruitfull tribe of benjamin , with all the cities therein was to be shared amongst their six hundred husbands alone , as the sole survivers and absolute heires of the whole countrey . § . in shiloh eli lived priest , and judge of israel , whither elkanah and hannah , samuels parents , repaired to gods publick worship . this hannah though silent u when twi●ted by peninnah for barrenness , found her tongue when here w taxed by eli of drunkenness : because a meer sufferer in the former , but in the latter a sinner , had the accusation been true . samuel ( here prayed for ) afterward here served god in a linen ephod , and though generally there was a x dearth of visions in this age , here he had many revealed unto him . but eli's dim eies connived here at his sons impieties . whose servant with his y trident ( an innovation , no doubt , and none of the utensils made by moses according to the pattern of the mount ) would have raw flesh for his master ; so that , what between the raw flesh here sacrilegiously stolne , and the strange flesh wherewith those priests z abused themselves at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation , any pious eares would now a tingle to hear their faults , as hereafter at their punishment . § . for soon after happned the destruction of hophni and phinehas , ( slain in battell ) the arkes captivity , eli's heart-breaking with the news , neck-breaking with his fall , the death of phinehas his wife newly delivered , whose son got the sad name ( not of benoni , a name calculated for private pangs , but ) of b ichabod from this sorrowfull accident , because born in this grand eclipse when the glory was departed from israel . § . yea the very city of shiloh it self , may seem in some sort to expire on the same occasion , which , as it owed its life and lustre to the tabernacles residence therein , so sinks down in silence at the captivity thereof . for we finde no after mention of any eminent act therein , onely that ahijah the prophet long after lived c there . he was the jewish tiresias , though blinde , a seer , who discerning ieroboams wife through her disguise , foretold the death of her sick son abijah . so much of shiloh ; proceed we now to the more northern and mountainous part of this tribe . § . amongst the remarkable places in mount ephraim , we find timnath serah , or timnath * here 's ( by inversion of the letters ) on the northside of the hill gaash , where a when they had made an end of dividing the land , the children of israel gave an inheritance to ioshua . see here his publick spirit , not improving his power , though comānder in chief , to pickout the fattest pastures , fairest meadows , fertilest fields for himselfe , but ( as if he counted it possession enough for him to have gained possessions for others ) when the meanest man was first served , he was contented to stand to the peoples courtesie , what they would bestow upon him . if it sound to the praise of a generalls valour , to come last out of the field when it is won , no less is the commendation of his temperance to come last into it when it is divided . in timnath serah , asked and built by him , ioshua afterwards was b buried ; and as saint hierome reports that in his time the sun was depicted on his monument . this i dare boldly say , that whereas modern heralds blazon armes by the specious titles of planets , their fancy is with most truth appliable to ioshua's shield , bearing sol and luna indeed , having made both sun and moon stand still by his pr●yers . also eleazar the high priest was * buried in mount ephraim , in an hill which pertained to phinehas his son . § . tirzah was another city near mount eph●aim , whose king was conquered by c ioshua . in the days of solomon it was a place of great repute , thou art beautifull , ô my love , as d tirzah ; comely as ierusalem , terrible as an army with banners . ieroboam chose it to be his e royall-seat ( perchance because near f zereda his native place ) where he and his successours lived for welnigh sixty years . indeed baasha had a project to make ramah the place of his residence , as nearer to ierusalem , and therefore more convenient to mark the motions of the kings of iudah ; but frustrated of his designe he was fain to g return to tirzah , h reigned and was buried here . elah , baasha's son , was here drinking in the house of azzah his steward , when a dear reckoning was brought in , and no less then his life extorted from him by zimri his successour . afterwards , when tirzah was taken , zimri either out of envy that the royall palace should survive him , or desire to prevent a more shamefull death , burnt himself , and the kings house together . we read of king asa , that after his death , his subjects made a very great i burning for him ; but zimri exceeded , making a bone-fire for and of himself when alive ; herein standing alone , except seconded by k sardanapalus , who in like manner destroyed himself on the same occasion . thus dyed zimri , a king onely for a week , whose reign like a winters day was short and dirty ; yet long enough to leave this taunt for iezebels mouth , l and proverb to posterity , had zimri peace , that slew his master ? hard by is * tiphsaph , where king menahem barbarously ripped up the women with child , because the city opened not to receive him . § . besides cities , many private dwellings were sprinkled on mount ephraim ; as the house of that m levite , whose concubine the men of gibeah abused to death : the house of micah , well stored with idols , where first the five spies , then the sixe hundred men of dan , took up their lodgings , when marching to laish : ungratefull guests ! who in stead of discharging their quarters , plundered their n land-lord , taking his images and priest away with them . thirdly , the house of deborah under a o palme-tree betwixt ramah and bethel , where she judged israel . a tree then the westminster hall of the whole land , made the seat of justice in an open place , partly that all people might have free access with their petitions thereunto , without doors or porters to exclude any ; partly that so publick a place might minde judges , parties , and witnesses of fair and clear proceeding without secret or sinister reservations , having heaven gods throne in view , and before their eyes . this palme was preferred for this purpose before other trees , because far and fair spreading , it afforded much people a shady conveniency under the branches thereof ; not to insist on ( a text rather for fancy to descant , then judgement to comment on ) the resemblances betwixt the growth of palmes and judiciall proceedings . which , as that plant improves it self by pressures , ought in fine to flourish in defiance of all opposition . § . but the most * observable place in the north of this tribe is the city of samaria , built by omri , ( because the royall palace was burnt at tirzah , as is aforesaid ) on an hill bought by him for two talents of silver , and called by him samaria , from p shemer the former owner of that place . strange , it should take the denomination rather from him that sold it , then him that bought it : except this was part of the bargain , which appears not in scripture . sure we are , though the name of omri was not preserved in the place , the statutes of omri were observed by the people , according to the q prophets complaint , and his impious injunctions obliged men to the practise thereof . samaria proved afterwards a beautifull city , & was the principal place of the residence & burial of the kings of israel . § . stately was the kings palace therein . hence king ahaziah ahabs son had a mortall fall through a lattice in his upper r chamber : possible this mischance had been prevented , had the house or chamber been built according to gods direction , s with batlements , that men might not fall from thence . but likely it is , the fabrick thereof was fashioned according to the mode of the sidonian architecture . hard by ahab built an t ivory-house . conceive it chequered , inlaid , and adorned therewith ; otherwise all the elephants in india and affrick would not afford materialls for such a structure : not to say , the crookedness and smalness of their teeth , made them useless for beames in that building . a frequent synecdoche , to denominate the house from the principall materialls therein , like leaden-hall in london ; not because wholly built , but onely covered with that metall . but alass , what good would an ivory-house do ahab , whilest he had an ebony soul in the midst thereof , blacked over with impieties . baals temple u built by ahab , and turned by w iehu into a iakes , was a structure of great state , into which baals priests were trained by a device , and slain . the greatest place of receipt in samaria ( which might serve them for a market-stead , or rather for a seat of justice ) was that voide x place at the entring of the gate ; of such a latitude , that it was able to receive at once the kings of israel and iudah , with their royall retinue . § . but amongst all the structures in samaria , none more eminent then the streets built therein by the king of syria . a thing scarce to be paralleled , that a forein king should be permitted to erect streets in the metropolitan city of another kingdome . if any alledge that peter earl of savoy built his palace in the strand ( known by the name of savoy at this day ) and that there is a street betwixt aldersgate and smithfield called britons street , from the ancient lodgings of the duke of britain therein ; neither of the instances amount to the matter in hand . the former palace being erected , as i take it , for the earles abode here when in banishment . and as for the latter , it appears not that the dukes of britain were at any cost in building it : whereas the kings of syria founded the fabrickes of those streets in the city of samaria , and never inhabited therein . it seems when omri began the new building of samaria , either he requested the assistance of the king of syria ( as a neighbouring prince in amity with him ) to help him in the work ; ( no shame to beg the first clouts of friends , for an infant-city ) or else the syrian kings civilly tendered their service , to give it as good handsell to so good a work , or as a royall largess amongst the inferiour builders thereof . for mine own part i conceive that the kings of damascus , got some conquest of samaria not mentioned in scripture , and then built these streets , as a monument of their victory and bridle to over-awe the city . the rather because benhadad being afterwards overcome by ahab profered the like favour and freedome unto him , if it pleased him to accept thereof , y and thou shalt make streets for thee in damascus , as my father made in samaria . § . we meet in scripture with three famous sieges of samaria . once when benhadad not content with ahabs submission , ( profering to hold all he had by homage from him ) would have all the wealth of the city in specie surrendered unto him , vainly vaunting that z the dust of samaria could not suffice for handfulls for all the people that followed him . surely the scavengers were very diligent in sweeping so populous a place , or else it was a most hyperbolicall expression . but grant samaria could not yeeld dust enough to fill the hands , the mountains near unto it could afford dirt enough to stop the mouths of most of his army , who few days after were thereon miraculously a defeated . § . a second siege was in the reign of king ioram , when the famine was so great , that an asses head , and a cab of dung was sold at unconscionable rates : the former for food , the latter most probably for fewell , and surely not to drain peter to make powder thence , an invention unknown in that age . nor was the sudden plenty , occasioned by the syrians flight , less admirable , all provision being brought down in an instant to a very unexpected low price . so that he that here knew beforehand what would be cheap or dear , needed but a few minutes to make him a rich merchant . but this showre of plenty caused a floud of people to flock to the gates of samaria , where that infidell prince , who despaired of gods power and elisha's prophecy , was b overwhelmed in the multitude ; living so long to have his eyes confute his tongue , but not to have his taste confirme his eyes ; beholding , but not partaking of the plenty . § . the third and last siege when the city was taken and destroyed by salmaneser king of assyria , in the reign of hosea king of israel , a king who was the best , or rather the least bad of all that sate on that throne . of whom it is said , he was evill in the sight of the lord , but e not as the kings of israel , that were before him . it may therefore seem wonderfull that the ruin of the kingdome should happen in his reign : but what shall we say ? when a vessell is already brimfull , the addition of the least drop more , will make it run over . § . afterwards samaria was peopled with colonies of the assyrians ; great back friends to the rebuilding of ierusalem , as the books of ezra and nehemiah doe sufficiently declare . our saviour therefore gave in charge to the disciples , when sent to preach , into f any city of the samaritans enter yee not . but this was but a temporary prohibition , for after christs ascension and the persecution about steven , samaria quickly received the gospell by the preaching of g philip the evangelist . here afterwards happened the great contest betwixt the two simons , peter and magus . the latter h profering money to buy the gift of bestowing the holy ghost . but leaving them we may observe gods gradation in giving his holy spirit . first , to those that were purely iews in i ierusalem ; then to such as were partly iews in samaria ; lastly , to such as were purely gentiles k in cesarea , where cornelius was baptized . § . near samaria was a fountain to wash , and house to sheare the sheep . nigh to which in the rode to iezreel , iehu met two l and fourty men comming on a visite of respect , to salute the late slain sons of the king of israel . wherefore because the persons they came to waite on were not in this world , iehu took order to send them all to the grave , that they might be more perfectly informed how it fared with those , whom they came to salute . hard by is the lazar-house , wherein lived those m lepers , who being bandied betwixt two deaths of the famine and the sword , preferred to put themselves on sudden and doubtfull , rather then on slow but certain destruction ; and first brought to samaria the tydings of the syrians tents left empty of men , and full of provision . § . we must not forget the people near samaria , wherein ahabs chariot was washed , though some difference appears betwixt the prediction and performance thereof . prediction . king. . . thus saith the lord , in the place where the dogs licked the bloud of naboth , shall dogs lick thy bloud , even thine . performance . king. . . and one washed the chariot in the pool of samaria , and the dogs licked up his bloud , and they washed his armour according to the word of the lord , which he spak . the difficulty is this ; the dogs licked the bloud of ahab at samaria whereas naboth was stoned at n iezreel , twenty miles and more northward . to reconcile which difference , rabbi salomon conceives that though ahabs chariot was washed at samaria , his armour was washed at iezreel , where ( saith he ) the royall armory was kept . others fancy an out-let of the poole of samaria in the river kison , which many miles off glided by the vineyard of naboth , so that his bloud might be carried thither down the stream . lastly , it is generally answered , that those words , in the place , are not to be taken restrictively for the same numericall spot of ground , but extensively for the same land , countrey , and kingdome , which then was fulfilled according to the prophets prediction . not to say , that some understand , in the place where the dogs licked , that is , pro eo quod , in stead , in lieu , or in requitall of thy cruelty , dogs shall lick thy bloud , &c. nor have i ought else to observe of samaria , save that herod called the name thereof sebaste from a fair temple erected here , in the honour of augustus cesar. § . hard by , are ebal and gerizim , twin-mountains of equall height , on which , in the days of a ioshua , after the conquest of the land , the people of israel , according to gods b command , assembled themselves , with their c women , little ones , and strangers , in manner and method following , on mount gerizim to bless . d simeon . levi. iudah . issachar . ioseph . benjamin . on mount ebal to curse . reuben . gad. asher . zebulun . dan. naphtali . see we here , both the royall and sacerdotall tribes ( iudah and levi ) on the blessing side ; all cursings and imprecations ( save when of absolute necessity ) ill becoming the mouths of magistrates and ministers . in this action , the levites appeared in a double capacity ; as publick officers , so they spake to the men of israel with a loud e voice ; and as private persons , so they contributed their amen , with the rest of the people . § . here it will be demanded , seeing the sides of this quire were so far asunder , how could the levites voices be distinctly heard from one mountain to another , especially if the whole city of sechem ( as the f rabbin will have it ) lay interposed betwixt them : and may not divine service as well be warranted in a language unknown , as unheard ; both being equally understood ? for answer whereunto , we must know , that the very make , and fashion of these mountains ( pick'd out by gods providence for that purpose ) might advantage much the articulate audibility of the levites voices , especially if ( as some fancy them ) they bended tops , hanged over and leaned inwards , so , as it were with mutuall consent , more conveniently to reach the sound from the one to the other . we know what g some have written of the mountains in merionith-shire , so even in height that the shepheards may talke together on the tops of them , yet so , that if haply they appoint to meet together , they can hardly doe it from morning to night . besides , the people knew before hand , the very numericall words , both of the blessings , and cursings , which the levites were to pronounce , and this rendred their voice intelligible at the greater distance . for , our eares and eyes quickly own those objects far off , with which formerly they have been familiarly acquainted . lastly , the levites uttered no long continued orations , but short speeches severally distinguished , with the full periods of the peoples amen , which gave fair notice to their neighbours on the next mountain , when to begin , and end their attention ; and sentences so plainly pointed , are more easily understood at greater distance . § . on mount ebal , where the curses were pronounced , a solemn altar was , according to h gods command , set up by ioshua ; and burnt , and i peace offerings , were sacrificed thereon . no more then needed , for otherwise , the maledictions had no sooner been uttered , but condemnation , and execution had instantly ensued , if these sacrifices , with the merits of christ typified therein , had not seasonably interceded . this altar was made of whole stones , without iron lift upon it , and was plaistered over , serving also for a table-book ( the stones being the leaves , and in the plaistering were the letters thereof ) wherein , by gods command , all the k words of the law were written very plainly : not that all deuteronomy , much less all the pentateuch was registred thereon ( where should they finde , and how should they fetch stones in folio for so voluminous a work ? ) but , either the thirteen cursings ( with their opposite blessings ) mentioned there ; or else the ten commandements , the breviate , and abstract of the whole law . § . but mount gerizim was the holy of holies to the samaritans , in after ages commonly calling it the blessed mountain , and confining their publick service , and sacrifices , to that place . here , to avoid confusion , we must take notice of two distinct sorts , or sects of samaritans , differing much amongst themselves , in . antiquity . extraction . religion . place of their worship . one from hez●kiahs time . heathens by descent . heret●call . any where in the province of samaria . another from 〈◊〉 ti●e . mongrel - iews . idolatrous . in mount gerizim alone . we begin with the former , being colonies of assyrians , planted by salmaneser in the place of the ten tribes , which he had carried away into finall captivity . these at first were devoured with lions , saith the l scripture , though m iosephus affirmeth , that the plague ; the samaritan chronicle , that the famine destroyed them . presumption in them to deviate from gods word ; for though both plague and famine may in some sense be allowed to be lions , that is , devourers ; yet such as confound them , destroy gods solemn quadripartite of his punishments ; making three members , of his four sore judgements mentioned in the n prophet , coincidere , to interfeer , yea run all into one . afterward , a jewish priest was at their request sent out of assyria , to teach these samaritans the o manner of the god of the land . he is called ezdras by p epiphanius , by others q lun , and by some zacharias ; but seeing god hath concealed his name , it is no whit materiall to know it , especially , except he had taught them better divinity . for he instructed them not to serve god as they ought , in his temple then extant at ierusalem , but in their own countrey , according to the direction of ieroboam ; and then , no wonder , if the samaritans were guilty of abominable impieties . for , as water neither will , nor can naturally ascend higher , then just levell to the spring , or fountain , whence it is derived : so these people were capable of no purer service of god , then as they were principled by this superstitious priest , who either did not know , or would not teach them the true religion . yea , their practise fell short of his precepts , not worshipping one god alone , but every city had also a severall r idoll to themselves , according to the nations , whence they were descended . these were the ancient idolatrous samaritans , which , as chrysostome saith , did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , mingle what was not to be conjoined , and which in process of time were well wasted , and few ( if any of them ) extant in the days of our saviour . § . these were succeeded with a second sort of hereticall samaritans , beginning in the government of nehemiah , who s reporteth , that one of the sons of iojada , the son of eliashib the high-priest , was son-in-law to sanballat the horonite , and therefore i chased him from me . this priest is by iosephus t called manasse ; who thus driven away from ierusalem , went with other iews , guilty of the like mongrell-matches , to the samaritans their wives kindred , and there ( as the jewish u writers relate ) built an anti-temple on mount gerizim , where a medly nation devised a miscellaneons worship of god , rejecting all the scriptures , save the five books of moses , and maintaining many abominable superstitions . and yet they were not so bad , as epiphanius w makes them , charging them by a far-fetch'd consequence , to worship heathen gods , because placing sanctity in that mountain , wherein iacob buried his idols , x whilst some tax them to adore a dove , the armes of the kings of babylon , and others unjustly accuse them , utterly to deny the resurrection ; we remit the reader to our learned y authour , who cleareth them from these false aspersions ; and , though we our selves will not take the pains to plead their cause , let us have the patience , to hear others speak for the worst of men , when unjustly traduced . § . but the main difference in matter of religion , betwixt the samaritans , and iews , is no less briefly , then cleerly , and truly stated in those words of the woman to our saviour , z our fathers [ samaritans ] worshipped in this mountain [ gerizim , ] and yee [ iews ] say , that in ierusalem is the place where men ought to worship . the contest grew high betwixt them , each zealous to assert the transcendent holiness of their temple ; insomuch , that the samaritans made the text false , to make their title true , wilfully depraving the originall . for , whereas we read in the hebrew , both that a moses directed , and ioshua b erected an altar on mount ebal , the c samaritan pentateuch make the same built on mount gerizim , in the very place where afterwards their mock-temple was set up , so to gain thereunto the greater reputation of holiness . this false foundation laid , they proceeded thereon , to vaunt of the excellency of their divine service , exceeding the iews in antiquity , it bearing date from this solemn altar , four hundred and odde years before the structure of the temple by solomon . and , if the iews once offered to plead the originall of their temple from abraham sacrificing his son isaac on mount moriah , then the samaritans to outvy them , derived the seniority and sanctity of their mountain , from the first apparition god made to d abraham , and first altar abraham made to god in the land of canaan , both in this , before isaac was ever promised . constant continuance , pretending an uninterrupted succession of divine service in this place , whilest they objected the long intermission of gods worship in ierusalem , lying wast during the seventy years of the captivity in babylon . but , oh how light and slight , how few and feeble are the samaritan arguments for the place of their worship , if compared to the numerous , ponderous , pregnant proofes iews can produce , for gods presence fixed in ierusalem ! the samaritans therefore were wise in their generation , to admit alone of the five books of moses for canonicall ( wherein all their supposed evidences , for the matter in controversie , are contained ) seeing otherwise , had they accepted of the rest of the prophets in the old testament , their witness had utterly overthrown the fundamentals of their religion , which so frequently make ierusalem the proper center of all pious mens devotion . one instance for many ; e moreover he refused the tabernacle of ioseph , and chose not the tribe of ephraim ; but chose the tribe of iudah , the mount sion which he loved . and he built his sanctuary like-high palaces , like the earth which he hath established for ever . here ephraim is singled out by himself , as of all the tribes , most probable in after-ages to justle with iudah , for the place of gods publick service ( in whose portion was mount gerizim , besides f shiloh where the tabernacle so long resided ) and yet he is cleerly cast , and the cause adjudged against him , by the immediate determination of god himself . § . we have no more to say of the samaritan temple on mount gerizim , save onely that g antiochus afterward turned it for a time into the temple of iupiter that keepeth hospitality . sure i am , the samaritans practised small hospitality in the countrey hereabouts ; denying to give our saviour entertainment in their towns h because he was going to ierusalem . the truth is , this temple was destroyed , somewhat before the time of our saviour , by iohn i hyrcanus , after it had flourished above two hundred years : but , when the temple was taken away , the mountain remained , in which the samaritans continued their adoration . we conclude all with the words of the son of k sirach , there be two manner of nations which my heart abhorreth , and the third is no nation : they that sit upon the mountains of samaria , and they that dwell amongst the philistines , and that foolish people that dwell in sichem . meaning by the first , the idolatrous , by the last , the hereticall samaritans , who indeed were no distinct nation ( as leopards , and mules , are properly no creatures ) but a mixture of iews , and heathen , blended together . § . expect not here from me ( as alien from our work in hand ) any arguments , against their presumption , who have dared to compare , yea prefer the samaritan pentateuch , for authenticalness , before the hebrew originall . for three things ( saith l solomon ) the earth is disquieted , and the fourth it can not bear , namely , an handmaid that is heire to her mistress . how much more intolerable then is it , when a translation , which is , or ought to be , the dutifull servant to the originall , shall presume , ( her mistress being extant , and in presence , ) to take the place and precedency of her ? as here , apographum doth of the autographum , when the samaritan transcript is by some m advanced above the canonicall copy in the hebrew . all i will adde is this , that to the iews 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , were n committed the oracles of god : and , to give them their due , they were carefull preservers thereof , being never reproved by our saviour , ( though often for false-glosses thereon ) of any forgery in corrupting , depraving , or altering the letter of the text : whereas no such trust appears , delivered to the charge of the sama●itans . in a word , such as defend , that the pentateuch coming from the hereticall ( not to say apostate samaritans ) is purer then that in hebrew , transmitted to us from the iews , in that age the onely o true church of god in the world , may with as much truth maintain , that breath proceeding from putrefied and corrupted lungs , is more healthfull and wholesome , then what cometh from vitals sound and entire . § . shechem , which we lately mentioned , lay betwixt the aforesaid mountains ; a place stained with many treacherous practises , which were acted therein . here dinah went out to see the daughters of the land , so to please her fancy with gazing on forein fashions . o where was the tent , wherein her great-grand-mother p sarah lived , that now she had left it ? where was the q vaile , wherewith her grand-mother rebekah covered her face , that now she had lost it ? her own mother l●ahs r eyes , which were weak and tender , ( those worse ) were better then dinahs , which were wanton , and wandring . she sees , and is seen , and is lik'd , ●nd lusted after , and ( whether by force , or fraud ) defiled , and still passionately affected ; contrary to what commonly happens , that the snuffe of lust goes out in the stink s of loathing . yea shechem was so honest in his dishonesty , that he desired to make dinah the best amends he could give , or she receive , and on any rate went about to purchase the vine to himself , so to colour a title to those unripe grapes , which he had snatched from it . the agreement is made , on condition all the shechemites should be circumcised ; which done , on the t third day ( when commonly wounds are more painfull , then when first given ) simeon and levi kill all the males of the city , and the rest of their brethren fall on the spoile thereof . § . long after , abimelech , the base-born and bloody-minded son of good gedeon , was by the shechemites ( his towns-men by his mothers side ) here at the u stone in the plain , made king of i●rael ; whilest iotham ( which of his seventy brethren had onely escap'd his cruelty ) from the top of mount w gerizim , uttered his parable of the bramble , kinging it over the trees of the wood . bramble ; which he applied so home to the men of shechem , that for the present , he left the pricks thereof in the ears of his auditours ; the pain whereof they found and felt afterwards in their hearts , when god put a spirit of discord betwixt them , and abimelech . § . we finde not the particular cause , but the effects of the discord betwixt them . insomuch that abimelech sacked the city of shechem , and a sowed it with salt . a formality usuall in that age in execration of peoples perfidiousness : but whence fetching its originall , it is hard to decide . i dare not say , in imitation of god himself , who when he destroyed the wicked cities of sodome and gomorrah , turned the fruitfull vales wherein they stood , into the b salt-sea , in token of their perpetuall desolation . sure i am , the custome hath been imitated in these western parts . for frederick barbarossa , for some affronts offered to his empress by those of millan , razed the city , and sowed it with c salt . § . the shechemites retreated into the house of baal-berith their god , hoping in vain to make it good for their defence . for abimelech fetching fuell from the neighbouring mountain of zalmon d ( whence the psalmist fetched his expression of spotless purity , white as snow in e zalmon , which commonly candied the top of this mountain , being the jewish albion ) and firing the tower of the temple , slew therein a thousand men and women . then no doubt the f house of millo was destroyed : which i take not for any building in the city of shechem ( though there was a fair street of that g name in ierusalem ) but for a potent and puissant family therein , ( as the house of the fuggers in auspurge ) who first advanced abimelech , and sought , when too late , to suppress . but the weaker sexe revenged on abimelech his cruelty to them , when besieging the tower of thebez , which we conceive hard by shechem , ( having no other indication , but this single mention for the posture thereof ) a woman broke his brain-pan with a piece of a h milstone . § . though not the salt which was sown , yet the city of shechem , grew up again to its former greatness . hither repaired rehoboam for the people to make him king. one may haply sent ieroboams policy & his hand in appointing the place , in his own tribe of ephraim , where his party was most puissant : who intending to run a race with rehoboam for a crown , chose out the ground most advantageous for himself . here the people presented rehoboam with a petition for the mitigation of the intolerable burdens , whether personall , or pecuniary , which solomon imposed upon them . how came he to be behind hand who was the most wealthy prince in the world ? surely not the building of gods , but his idols temples impaired his treasure ; and women impoverished both his wealth and his wisdome . seven hundred i queens , and not unlikely so many courts ; and three hundred concubines , which though lesser then the former in honour , might be greater in expence ( as the thiefe in the candle wasteth more then the burning of the wiek ) were able to bankrupt the land of ophir , with tarshish given in to boot ▪ rehoboam requires three k days respite for his answer : the onely act almost wherein he shewed himself wise solomons son ; seeing in matters of such consequence , extemporary returns give men leasure afterwards to meditate their repentance . § . the old men advise rehoboam for remission and mitigation of taxes . what harm was it if he being now to be married to a crown should waite on his bride the wedding-day , that she might obey him all her life after ? especially they counselled him to l speake good words to the people , though his good deeds might follow at a distance . and truely fair speeches cost the giver nothing , and doe ease , though not cure the discontented receiver . but rehoboam followed the advice of the young men ( hot heads , enough to set a kingdome on fire ) not to satisfie , but suppress the peoples desires , threatning to make his little finger heavier then his fathers loines ; ( more happy if he had made his head but half as wise ) so that the people deserting the house of david , clave to ieroboam for their king. § . during this distemper , rehoboam sent adoram , who was over the tribute , unto the people . no doubt in hope that they would reverence his gray-haires , not abating much of an hundred years in age , ( having enjoyed that office above threescore years , from the midst of the reign of king m david ; ) or else to give them some orall satisfaction , how all sums had formerly been expended for the publick good . but his sight was offensive to the people , whose very looks seemed to demand a taxe , and his eyes to exact tribute of them : insomuch that the * people stoned him to death . to lesson all money-officers from publick appearance in popular tumults , being persons most obnoxious to the spight and spleen of the vulgar . thus in iack st●awes rebellion , their fury fell first and fiercest on sir robert hales lord of saint iohns , and then lord treasurer , whom they drew out of the chappell in the tower ; and without any reverence of his estate or degree , with fell noise and huge cryes struck off his head on n tower-hill . nor did sir ●ames fines , lord saie , and treasurer of england , fare better in ●he rebellion of iack cade , whom without any judiciall proceedings , before his confession was ended , they o executed at the standard in cheapside . and now it was high time for rehoboam to call for his chariot , and hast to ierusalem . § . near to shechem was the parcell of ground which iacob bought of the children of hamor for an hundred pieces of money , whereon he spread his tent , and erected an altar called god the p god of israel . afterwards iacob gave it as a portion to his son ioseph , whose bones brought out of egypt were q buried therein . but how iacob , when he bequeathed this land to ioseph , could properly call it , a portion . r which he took out of the hands of the amorites with his sword and by his bow , is a difficulty much perplexing divines in the solution thereof , meeting onely with iacobs staffe ( though esau had a bow ) in the tenour of scripture : we will present the reader with their best answers , leaving him to chuse which he conceives most probable . some conceive that iacob being a peaceable and plain dealing man , in reproof of such as delight in force and violence , called his money his sword and his bow . and indeed in all ages money is the sharpest sword , and bow that best hits the mark yea * answereth all things . that thereby he meant his prayers ( the armes of the patriarchs and primitive christians ) whereby he obtained of god , that his posterity being now in his loins , in due time should by their martiall atchievments conquer the countrey ; and speakes of the conquest as already made , because of the undoubted assurance of it upon gods promise . that his sword and his bow import no more then his industry and endevours . thus the latine phrase , fecit proprio marte , carrieth a warlike sound , but a peaceable sense , when one acquires a thing , though in a legall way with his own might , without the assistance of others , as iacob purchased the foresaid heritage . that his sword related not to his purchase , but to the city of s shechem , which simeon and levi won by their sword , and the sons conquest is reputed to their father . now let none be troubled because iacob is said to purchase this land of the amorites , hamor of whom he bought it being an t hivite : amorite being there taken in a genericall sense , as all the inhabitants of the eight united provinces , are comonly called hollanders . § . near to this parcell of ground which iacob gave to ioseph , stood the city of sychar ; wherein was the well , at which that excellent discourse passed betwixt our saviour and the u samaritan woman , who came thither to draw water . some also place hereabouts the city shalem founding it on the words of the text , and iacob came to w shalem a city of shechem . which the chaldee and other translations read , and iacob came safe or sound and entire to a city of shechem . not that here he was healed of his halting ( as some will have it ) but rather that hitherto no notorious or eminent dysaster befell his family , which afterwards fell thick and threefold upon it . as the defiling of dinah ; simeon and levi slaughtering the shechemites ; reubens incest ; rachels death ; er and onan slain by god ; iudah's incest with tamar ; ioseph sold by his brethren . § . and now to take our farewell of the countrey about shechem , anciently called the x plain of moreh : two eminent oakes grew therein . one , under which iacob buried his heathen gods , with the superstitious y ear-rings of his family , wherein no doubt , idols were ingraven . another , under which was a great stone solemnly set up by ioshua with the words of the law z written thereon , to be a witness against the israelites , in case afterwards they should deny that god , whom then they generally resolved to serve but the question will be how this latter oake was termed to be a by the sanctuary of the lord ; seeing the tabernacle , and the sanctuary lieger therein resided at b shiloh in those days . if any say that every place where men seriously set their souls to serve god is his sanctuary ; they speake rather an evangelicall truth , then a proper answer to the present question . this inclines me to conceive , either that by sanctuary is meant that place of the altar , which iacob long before thereabouts erected ; or that the tabernacle not far off , was brought hither for the instant occasion , and afterwards returned back unto shiloh . § . dothan lay east of shechem , wherein the prophet elisha for some time made his abode . here he was complained of to the king of syria , for being the pick-lock of his cabinet-councels : and therefore an army was ordered to apprehend him . but why so many to attach a single person and his servant ? indeed no more then needed . for elisha alone was an army in himself c being the horsemen of israel and chariots thereof ▪ his servant seeing themselves surrounded cryes out , till having his eyes opened , he discovereth themselves guarded with a fiery army on the tops of the mountains . thus angels are good mens janizaries to protect them , and those natives of heaven grudge not to guard those , who are onely free denizens thereof . the syrians are b smitten with blindness ; and they that came for the destruction , are glad to follow the direction of elisha . indeed to whom should blind men goe , but to the prophet , the seer , to guide them ? he leads them , for the present , the wrong way to their intents and desires , but in fine the right way to gods glory , and their safety ; in stead of dothan , bringing them to samaria . how easily are those misled who lack the use of eyes ? and ( alass ! ) whither will implicire faith , and blind obedience steer the followers thereof ? yet here all came off in a peaceable close ; so that their lives being saved , sight restored , bodies feasted , and mindes better informed , they returned to damascus . if i must be a captive , may i be a prisoner to a pious prophet , so shall i be best used , and my ransome easiliest procured . § . this dothan i take to be the very place , where ioseph found his brethren , and there was put into the pit , and sold to the merchants . for being sent by his father to c shechem , he was by a man directed to dothan , whither his brethren had removed their flocks , and which probably was not far off , but some few miles from the former place . wherefore , when formerly in the description of zebulun , we placed dothan in the northern parts of that tribe , threescore miles from shechem , therein we were carried away with the common current of other mens judgements , and now have watched our advantage to swim back again , and shew our private opinion in the position thereof . and besides the aforesaid text , setling dothan near shechem in this tribe of ephraim , it is proportionable to divine providence , that the place whereon ioseph was betrayed , and pit wherein he was put , should in after ages fall to the possession of the sons of ephraim descended from him . § . but here a materiall question will be started , how ioseph could properly say , that he was stolen away out of the f land of the hebrews ; when the hebrews at that time , had none inheritance in it , no not so g much as to set their foot on ? say not that ioseph being a child when taken away might be allowed to speak incongruously ; for we behold his words as uttered by him when a man. and surely he , who then could expound dreames , could express himself in proper language . some conceive it was termed the land of the hebrews , from those few hebrews , the family of iacob , living there , though not as inhabitants , but onely as sojourners therein . it was the land of the hebrews by promise , and in due time should be theirs by possession . the land of the hebrews , though not in linage , in language ; the canaanites speaking the same tongue with iacobs family . some conceive this land anciently belonged to heber , ( as all asia to the sons of shem , ) and that the canaanites had before abrahams time encroached on that countrey . to strengthen this last conjecture , we must remember that melchisedech king of salem , who generally is conceived to be shem , the ancestour of the hebrews , still retained his * kingdome in the land of canaan . and it might be that the other hebrews were ejected by the canaanites . if so , the israelites afterwards got the land under ioshua by a double right , of conquest , and recovery . § . in this tribe no doubt was the city ephraim , in a h countrey near to the wilderness : where our saviour that sun of righteousness clouded himself for a time when the iews took counsell to kill him . wonder not , that we cannot find the exact situation of this place . for christ chose it on purpose for the privacy and obscurity thereof . thus though willing i to lay down , he was not willing to cast away his life : unfit to be a saviour of mankind , if a destroyer of himself . and though he knew well , that all the weights of mans craft and cruelty , could not make the clock of his time strike one minute before his k hour was come ; yet he counted it his duty , by prudentiall means to endevour self-preservation . § . two eminent places remain , which we have reserv'd for the last , because of the uncertainty of their particular situation , though both of them certainly in this tribe . one , the hill of phinehas , which was given him in mount l ephraim . let no sacrilegious hands hasten hither with their spades , and mattocks , to pare and abate this hill as too large a possession for the high priest , seeing a greater had been too small for his deserts , who m stood up , and executed judgement , and so the plague ceased . this hill of phinehas certainly was with in the circumference of some leviticall city in this tribe , and we conjecturally have placed it within the circuit of beth-horon the upper . here , religious eleazar the son of aaron was n buried , in this hill belonging to his son phinehas . § . the other the mount of amaleck o in the land of ephraim . but how came the amalekites , to have any thing in the heart of ephraim , whose own countrey lay two hundred miles more south-ward near the red-sea ? and yet it is no wonder to finde theeves , and robbers ( such were the p amalekites ) in any place , who like the devill their father , q goe to and fro in the earth , walking up and down therein . but we are confident , this mountain was so called from some eminent thing , here done , or suffered by the amalekites . for we finde them joined with the midianites in the days of r gedeon , to destroy israel , and finde afterwards this tribe of ephraim very succesfull in doing execution on the remains of the midianitish army when defeated . why then might not this mountain of amalek be so named from some amalekites then slain in this place ? as danes-end , in the west-side of hartford-shire , took its name from a t battell thereby , wherein the danes were overthrown . in pirathon , a town on mount amalek , abdon one of the peaceable judges in israel , was interred . § . i conceived all memorable places described in this tribe , but on review do discover a guilty town lurking besides u ephraim as if conscious of the treachery committed therein , it endevoured to escape our observation , namely baal-hazor , where absolom sheared his sheep . if any demand , how he came by any land in this tribe to feed cattell therein ; no doubt he held it by gift or grant from david his father ; and how david when king , became possessed of demesnes in all tribes , hath w formerly been largely resolved . nor was it any disgrace to a kings son to be master of sheep , seeing the x king himself is maintained by husbandry . as commendable the thrift : so damnable the cruelty of absolom in this place , causing the murder of his brother amnon just y when his heart was merry with wine , as if his wild revenge would imitate divine justice , to kill both z body and soul together . this amnon was he that a feigned himself sick when he was well , and now dyed before he was sick . § . let archelais not be forgotten , half ashamed to bear the name of wicked archelaus the builder b thereof , son and successour of herod in iudea , whose cruelty c frighted ioseph from returning to beth-lehem , and diverted him to nazareth . as archelais took its name from a wicked man : so iscariot ( a village not far from it ) gave name to a worse ; that traitour of his master being born in this place , as adrichomius out of saint hierome will have it . but other reasons are rendered of iudas his syrname , and the place of his exemplary d death is more certainly known , then that of his obscure nativity . as for apollonia by the sea side , e addida over against the plain , with some other petite places in ephraim , they are well known by their severall markes , not to be mentioned in canonicall scripture . § . the son of hur was solomons monethly purveyour in mount f ephraim . the standard of ephraim was pitched first on the g west side of the tabernacle : armes anciently depicted thereon , an oxe sable passant , in a field argent , founded on h moses his words , his beauty shall be like the firstling of a bullock , to which we may ad the prophecy of hosea , i ephraim is as an heifer that is taught , and loveth to tread out the corn. which perchance gave occasion to the postnate armes usually assigned to this tribe , though later by twelve hundred years then their ancient standard erected in the wilderness . here the map of dan is to be inserted . the tribe of dan . chap. . § . dan was eldest son of iacob by * bilhah rahels maide and his concubine . of his body but one , [ hushim ] went down into egypt , yet of his posterity came forth thence no fewer then ‡ threescore and two thousand and seven hundred males of twenty years old and upwards : all which falling in the wilderness , for their faithlesness in gods promises , * threescore and four thousand and four hundred entered the land of canaan . § . there passeth a generall tradition taken up by some fathers , ‡ continued by some middle , to modern popish writers , that the antichrist should descend of the tribe of dan. and why conceive ( or conceit they rather ) so uncharitably of this tribe ? confess we , that dan hears ill , on severall occasions in the scripture . dan , father of this tribe , had a foul mouth , which made a ioseph bring in a complaint thereof to * iacob . the first personall blasphemy recorded amongst the israelites was committed by a mongrell b danite , being the son of shelomith , for which he was stoned . the first tribuall defection to idolatry dan was guilty of , publickly c setting up * and worshipping a graven image . a moity of the nationall apostasie of the idolatrous iews was solemnely acted on the theatre of this tribe , one of d ieroboams golden calves being set up at dan. when twelve thousand of gods sealed ones are reckoned up out of every tribe * , dan is omitted , as consigned to malediction , say some : as formerly in the first of chronicles , no mention of dan , * where the genealogies of all other tribes are recounted . the reader may judge whether these roots be deep enough to bring and beare the branches of so far spread report , that therefore the man of sin must derive his pedegree from this tribe . little probability of antichrist coming from dan literall ( long since carried captive with the rest of his brethren into africa ) but as for dan mysticall many have sought , and many conceive they have found him in another and nearer place . but leaving the uncertainties of antichrist , most sure it is , that samson , one of the liveliest types of christ , was descended of dan. and so was e aholiab that excellent artist : who was joint master of the fabrick of the tabernacle : as hiram also in the work of the temple , was a danite on the mothers side . § . the land allotted to dan , seems , for the most part , first to fall to the share of iudah at the partition of the countrey . and because the bounds of iudah were too great , the surplusage thereof by a new grant was made over to the danites . some will wonder , that god , who divided manna so equally , a homer for every man , should part the land so unevenly , that one tribe should leave and another lack : so that the thirst of simeon and dan was quenched with those few drops , which overflowed out of the cup of iudah . may such remember , iudah was the princely tribe , out of which messiah was to arise , and his portion cut out in state ; leaving the superfluous reversions thereof to others ; may typifie christ himself , who is f anointed with oile of gladness above his fellows : of whose fulness ( not onely of sufficiency and abundance , but even of redundance ) we have all received , grace for grace . nor will the reader be moved when he finds some cities ensuing , sometimes mentioned as belonging to iudah , other whiles to dan : because to the former by originall assignation , and to the latter by actuall possession . § . this countrey was bounded with ephraim on the north , iudah on the east , simeon on the south , and the mid-land-sea on the west . from above lydda to the brook soreck , some thirty miles ; and litle less east and west , from the sea to the edge of iudah . a land at the best , but half iudah's leavings , and that not entirely possessed of the danites . for herein the amorites did both cut and chuse for themselves , reserving the fat and flesh thereof , ( all the fruitfull g valley ) for their own use , whilest the danites were glad to pick the bones , crowded up into the mountains . besides , three of the satrapies of the philistines , are found in this tribe ; a puissant nation , and at deadly fewd with the people of israel . this put the danites on the necessity ( men over-pent will some way vent themselves ) of seeking new quarters , in that their memorable expedition , whereof formerly in nephthali . if any aske , why they did not endevour the enlargement of their bounds at home against the amorites and philistines , before a far adventure , an hundred miles off . let such know , the designe was conceived easier , suddenly to surprize the secure leshemites , pursie with long peace , then to undertake those two warlike nations , well breathed daily in military discipline : and * sudden surprisals were foretold in this tribe . § . but grant the measure in this tribe but short , the ware thereof was very fine , the countrey being passing fruitfull in commodities . herein grew that bunch of grapes of prodigious greatness , in gathering whereof , by the hand of the spies sent to search the land , the israelites took livery and seisin of the fruits of the countrey . besides , this tribe did drive some sea-trade ( deborah complains , why did dan h remain in ships ? ) though the iews generally were mean mariners and merchants . partly because the fatness of their soile so stuck by their sides , it unactived them for forein adventures : and natures bounty unto them gave their industry a writ of ease to sit at home . and partly because , being divided ( as an island from the continent of the world ) in religion from other countries , it cut off their comfortable commerce with other nations : though since their wofull posterity have proved the capemerchants of the world . § . first to survey the west side on the sea , therein we are accosted with ioppa , a strong city , seated on an high rock , so that strabo reports , that ierusalem may thence be discovered : which a modern i traveller concludes impossible . at the bottome thereof a haven [ formerly ] most convenient . so ancient a place , that some make it first founded , and so named from iapheth before the k floud . but it is utterly improbable that noah being himself busied about building an arke , which threatned the worlds destruction , would suffer his son to erect a city , as promising a fixt habitation . hither all the timber of the temple , cut down and carved in mount lebanon , was brought by the tyrians in l floates , and hence by carts conveyed to ierusalem . hither ionah fled , and took shipping for tarshish m , conceived by some to be the countrey of cilicia ; by others the city tarsus therein . but be it sea or land , countrey or city , sure it was not niniveh , whither god had sent him . here charitable n dorcas which made coates and garments for the poor widows whilest she was with them , ( the lanthorn of mens good deeds cast the best light , when carried before them , and done in their life time ) lived , dyed , and was revived by saint peter . here he lodged in the house of simon a tanner by the sea-side , o water we know is very necessary in that occupation ( though salt water onely usefull to wash raw hides ) and therein beheld that vision , wherein the epitome of all creatures were in a sheet represented unto him . of this great city , at this day onely two old towers doe survive , it being questionable , whether the place be more ruinous , or the poor moors more ragged , that dwell therein . a bad haven , much obstructed with sands , and exposed to the fury of the north wind . the best commendation of this harbour is , that iury had no better , scarce another , as if god condemned the seacoasts thereof to danger , as the continent to barrenness . § . p near unto ioppa is lydda ( some six miles north-west ) where peter cured en●as ( truly pious ) of the palsie , which eight years had afflicted him . here saint george is q reported to have been beheaded , and his tombe is shewed in this place . all i will adde is ( i hope without offence ) this ensuing parallel , in ioppa . in lydda . the valour of r perseus is celebrated for freeing andromeda daughter to king cepheus , tyed with chaines to the rockes , from the fury of a sea monster to which she was exposed . the puissance of saint george is remembred for delivering the nameless and s onely daughter of a certain king of libya , from a fiery dragon , to whom she was tendered by lot , to be devoured . it is pity these two stories should be parted asunder , which will both in full latitude be believed together . hard to say , whether nearer , the two places , or two reports . he that considers the resemblance of their complexions , will conclude , fancy the father , credulity the mother of both ; though we need not presently reject all the story of saint george for fictitious for some improbable circumstances appendent thereunto . nor have i ought else to observe of lydda , save that in saint hieroms time it was called diospolis . § . to return to ioppa , the port of ierusalem . and let us a little way accompany the pilgrims in the road thitherwards . take the character of the countrey on the credit of a late t eye-witness : a most pleasant plain yeelding tyme and hyssope , and other fragrant herbs without tillage or planting , growing so high , that they came to the knees of our asses . nor need any wonder at the stature of this ground hyssope in iury ( different from wall-hyssope or mosse rather , the last and lowest step of natures storehouse , and u solomons study ) seeing good * authors have affirmed , that haec planta in iudaeâ arborescit , hyssope doth tree it in iudea . and what is called by w matthew and mark calamus , a reed , cane , or speare , is rendred an hyssope-stalke by x saint iohn . because as a learned man concludes , hyssope here sprouted so high , that thereof an instrument might be made to lift up the sponge to our saviours mouth hanging on the cross. and thus we see that as always one of iob's messengers escaped , to bring the sad tydings of their fellows destruction ; so even at this day , some stragling vallies in palestine , have made hard shift by their own fruitfulness still continuing ) to informe the world , how plentifull this countrey was , before barrenness by gods appointment , seised on the generality thereof . § . to proceed in the road to ierusalem ( as the best guide to direct us in the survey of the north of this tribe ) it passeth not far from shaal●im a city of z dan , but in the confines of ephraim . where though the amorites dwelt in despight of the danites , yet the tribe of ephraim a made them tributaries . a little further , this high-way takes its farewell of the tribe of dan , but with full intent shortly to visite it again . for having passed over a corner of ephraim , which baggeth into the south , it returns into dan , and goes forward by modin , the city of mattathias and his sons , where the seven b sepulchers of the maccabees ( each a high pyramid on a square basis , and all mounted on a steep hill ) are a conspicuous sea-mark to the mariners many miles distant . charitable monuments , which being erected for the honour of the dead , are imployed for the safety of the living ! few miles hence this high-way finally leaves this tribe . and therefore we leave it , onely wishing the passengers therein a prosperous journey to ierusalem . that such as goe thither about business may dispatch the same to their own contentment ; such as travell out of curiosity may have their expectation so satisfied , as to countervaile all their paines and charges : and such as goe thither out of superstitious opinion to merit , may have their erroneous judgements better rectified and informed . § . nor doth ought else observable offer it self in this corner of the tribe , save * aijalon , ( where ioshua's * prayer arrested the moon to stand still ) assigned by god to the levites . but the amorites took the boldness to keep possession thereof . hear the words of the c scripture , and the amorites forced the children of dan into the mountaines : for they would not suffer them to come down into the valley , but the amorites would dwell in mount herez , in aijalon , and in shaalbim . the genuine sense is , that though the amorites generally pent the danites up in the mountains ; yet in these three places ( though mountainous in their situation ) they crossed their common custome ; not out of necessity , but designe , as sensible of their own profit that these transcended the vallies in fertility , and therefore placed themselves therein . let others dispute , how it came to pass , that the priests , whom god intended men of peace , by their profession , had a controversiall city appointed them , incumbred with enemies so that they must win it before they could wear it . as also how the levites could live , when the land allotted them , was sequestred in the hand of a forein foe . it will be for enough us to observe , that in all ages the church being imbarked in the same bottome with the state ran an equall hazard therein , according to her proportion . and when the whole tribe of dan , like the parish in generall , was straitned in its processions , well might the priests maintenance be abated accordingly . § . we goe back now to ioppa , where standing on the rocks , an indifferent fight may easily discern those ships , into which the heathen people of ioppa , with much courtesie , but more craft , invited the iews with their wives and their children to goe aboard : for they made them pay their lives the fraight for their voyage , wilfully drowning two hundred of them . whose bloud maccabeus revenged with a contrary , but as cruell an d element , burning all their ships in their harbour , with such as were found therein . hard by is iamnia , a little haven ( which may be rendred seaton in english ) whose mischievous intention against the iews , maccabeus punished by e burning their towne by night . which bone-fire was beheld , two hundred and fourty furlongs off , as far as ierusalem . a thing not incredible , that fire it self should be seen so far , by the light whereof other things in darkness are discovered , especially when mounted high on its throne , with the advantage of pitch , cordage , and other navall and combustible matter . f some doe conceive that this iamnia is the same with iabneh , the wall whereof was broken down by g uzziah the puissant king of iudah . § . hence the sea running southward provides it self to entertain a nameless brook : which mercator cals naphtoah , and h others ( making signes , as unable to speak the true name thereof ) the brook of the land of the philistines , because otherwhiles the northern boundary of their dominion . we had rather give it no name , then a nick-name . and because the course thereof affords us conveniency to visite the middle parts of this tribe , we will accept of his courtesie , and follow the guidance thereof . § . this brook hath its birth and infancy in the tribe of iudah , whence flowing into dan , he runneth through the desert of modin , which is full of rocks , and those of holes , and those [ once ] of men , flying out of the neighbouring cities from the persecution of the pagans . herein a thousand of them were slain by the fury of their enemies , or rather by the fondness of their own superstition , i refusing to make resistance on the sabbath day . a sad accident . but the parent of a good event , because putting the surviving iews in a posture of defence , and teaching them more wise and valiant resolutions . yea not long after , hereabouts they obtained a victory over the numerous army of * cendebaeus . nor will any slight this brook as inconsiderable , when they read how it ran in the midst betwixt the armies of the iews and pagans , and was so deep , that the hardiest of the former durst not adventure to wade it , before first incouraged by the example of their k generall . except any will say , they did not so much fear the depth of the river , as the height of the banks of the other side , to wit , the puissant army of their enemies . § . going further on the river , we come into the countrey of makats , that is ( as learned l tremelius well observeth ) the border or boundary ( if you please , the marches ) betwixt this tribe and their professed enemies the philistines . it is impossible to define the limits thereof , seeing the countrey was the constant cock-pit of war : and the ground thereof , sometimes marched forward , sometimes retreated backward , according to the variety of martiall success . great is the difference betwixt the same sea , at high and low water mark : and so this countrey must needs be much disproportioned to it self , when extended in a full tyde , and when contracted in a low ebbe of success . § . in this countrey of makats bethshemesh was a principall city , belonging to the levites , and reputed part of iudah , but ( except some labell of land tacked to iudah ) surrounded about with the tribe of dan. a case obvious in the dividing of countreys . who knows not how worcester-shire hath speckled all the adjacent counties with snips and shreds belonging unto it , though environed with other shires , and that at considerable distance ? hither the kine drawing the cart , and lowing as they went to their calves at home , ( nature in them was not rooted out , but overruled ) brought the arke , and rested it near a great stone in the field of m ioshua a bethshemite . at what ▪ time the bethshemites were reaping their harvest in the valley . instantly at so good news , their sicles lost their edges , and could cut no more corn that day . the arke-home is to be preferred before harvest-home . but oh ! how hard is it to keep hungry eyes from feeding on forbidden objects ! all the bethshemites were levites , but not priests , much less high-priests : to whom alone ( and that onely anniversary ) the survey of those mysteries did belong . besides at this time bethshemesh from a city , was enlarged to be a countrey : ( such the confluence of israelites from all places ) otherwise no back of one city might seem broad enough for so great a rode , * whereby fifty thousand and threescore and ten men were destroyed by the plague , for their curiosity , in prying into the arke . § . gibbethon is another prime place in makats : allotted by god to the n levites of kohath , and no doubt by them peaceably possessed for many years , seeing nothing to the contrary doth appear . but after the days of ieroboam it is said to o belong to the philistines . probably , when the levites loyall both to god and their king , upon the idolatrous defection of israel , willingly p deserted their own cities , the philistines taking advantage thereof ( when much good bloud is let out , bad humours are nimble to supply the place ) seised on this city . to recover the same , nadab the son of ieroboam besieged it : but was so far from taking the city , that before it he lost his own life , by the trechery of baasha conspiring against him . this siege continued more then twenty years , ( no doubt with intervalls of cessation ) for q here om●i a great commander was in service , when by the souldiery voted king of israel . after which election he had not so much minde to take the city , as a crown , vigorously to prosecute his new title , and to suppress tib●● his corrivall . so much of the siege , but nothing of the taking of gibbethon , so that it was still violently possessed by the philistines . § . the south-east part of this tribe is still to survey . where the brook zorek creeps faintly out of the tribe of iudah . not far from whose banks we light on zorah and eshtaol : two twin-cities , the one seldome mentioned in scripture without the other . except one will call them man and wife : because machaneh-dan ( betwixt zorah and eshtaol ) was joint issue of them both . for when six hundred men out of these two cities marched towards the taking of leshem , here they r met ( probably by mutuall agreement the most convenient place betwixt them ) behind ( that is , west ) of kiriath-jearim . these did call this the first place of their station machaneh-dan ; and the last dan ( both from dan their ancestour ) without naming any intermediate places . as in all undertaking , the first motion which founds and the last which finisheth it , are most memorable . it seems that afterwards , a town was built in that place , where their tents were pitched , as a fortunate ground handselled with good success , where f samson seems to have had his education . § . but his birth at zorah . where he was the son of a long barren mother ( a regiment in scripture of such eminent persons , isaac , iacob , samuel , samson , iohn baptist &c. ) as if ( besides higher causes ) nature had long thriftily reserved her utmost strength , to expend it at last with more credit . here an angel appearing to manoahs wife , both t told her that she should be a mother , and taught her how she should be a nurse ; with the ceremonious breeding of her son . no wine must come in , no rasor on him . hercules the pagan-samson in some sort may seem , by the luxury of poets wits , to ape this iewish hercules . neither of them otherwise mounted , then on their legs : otherwise defensively armed , then with their skin and clothes . a ●aw-bone a sword to the one , a club , to the other . both of them very like for their valour , and too like for their wantonness , women being the destruction of them both . § . but as samsons lustre did rise , so it did set in this tribe . hereabouts born and u buried in the grave of his father manoah , betwixt zorah and eshtaol . reader , let me invite thee with me solemnly to behold his sepulchre , that therein both of us may bury all our vain thoughts of eternity here . he that hereafter shall presume on his own might as immortall , hath not stronge● brains , but a weak●● back then samson . § . to goe back to 〈◊〉 , * which now grows confident and bold with the accession of the brook 〈◊〉 , so named ( as the vine in hampshire ) from bunches of grapes there growing , whereof one was the load for two men . surely bac●hus●id ●id not so drown ceres in this countrey , nor did god the wise master of the feast , entertain the iews his daily guests , with suc● liquid diet , but that we may justly presume the land afforded bread and meat in a plentifull proportion to their wine . but when the spies brought this home to the camp of the israelites at kadesh-barnea , they like● the wine , but not the reckoning which was to be paid for it ▪ not so pleased with the bigness of the grapes , as frighted at the bulkes of the giants . § . nor is there any other considerable city remaining in this tribe , save tim●ah , where iudah sheared his sheep , and at pethah-enaim ( or the opening of the ways ) committed incest with thamar his unknown daughter-in-law , whom after wards he commanded to be brought forth and w burnt . thus easier i●●s for one to cause another to be consumed to ashes , then to quench the least spark of lust in our own soul. afterwards samson going with his parents to wooe his wife , killed a young lion in the vineyards of timnah , and the x text saith , he told not his father or ●other what he had done . herein his silence no less commendable then his valour . but indeed true prowess pleaseth it self more in doing then reporting its own atchievements . not long after the bees made a hive of the lions body . and did not this land flow with honey , when it was powred into a carkass for want of other vessells to receive it ? honey which in fine proved gall to the philistines . for though they read his riddle by plowing with his heifer , he payed his forfeit by killing their countrey men . hence afterwards samson , to revenge the injuries offered unto him , sent forth his foxes , which proved incendiaries of the corn and grain of the philistines . § . so much for the places of this tribe , of whose situation we have any certainty from gods word , or good authors . on the rest we hang out our conjecturall flag . which whilest some censure for the ensignes of our ignorance ; others i hope will approve as the colours of our modesty . especially having done our best endevour in ranking them ; and in default of demonstrations , the most probability hath ever been accounted the next heir apparent to truth . the best is , such places are onely of name , not of note ; but once mentioned in y ioshua , without any memorable actions done in them , and so any mistake in the false posture will prove less dangerous . mountains of eminency this tribe affords none , save z mount seir ( puny hills far different from those in edom ) and mount a baalah . both parcels of the south-west bounds of iudah , as originally they were assigned . but seeing those limits were afterward discomposed by a new division and re-assignment of them to this tribe ( the out-list of iudah fell into the midst of dans whole cloth ) those antiquated borders are 〈◊〉 the less remarkable . and as for other mountains , although this whole was mountainous , yet there was a parity in her hills , none exceeding high ▪ one●● such advantages of ground swelling above the plain , seemed to be the full breasts and fair nipples of that land , which flowed with milke and honey . § . a fair reserve of land in , not of , the tribe , is still behind , long expecting our company to come and describe it ; namely ; philistia , or a part of the land of the philistines . these were a warlike people ; none of the seven nations of the canaanites , which god drave out before israel , but descended from b mi●zraim , the son of cham. in the race of military atchievements , they started with the first , ran with the swiftest , and held out with the longest . having a● king in the days of abraham , and continuing themselves in a considerable condition till after the captivity . returning almost as many forcible impressions , as they received from the israelites . what though d sh●●gar smote , samson 〈◊〉 , and e samuel humbled them ? yet they grew so great in the reigne of saul , that they left all the israelites f swordles● : though afterwards there was one sword too many in saul● hand , wherewith he slew himself when overcome by the philistines . indeed * david brought them , and solomon kept them under . but in the days of ioram they so recovered themselves , that they plundered iudah , rifled the kings palace , g killed and carried captive the seed royall . uzziah after ordered them into obedience h . but under ahaz they regnined their lost cities , and wan more unto them . in a word ; of the heathen people left for i thornes in the sides of the iewes , none had sharper prickles * or pierced nearer to their hearts then the philistines . yea such their puissance , that from them the greeks and latinos called all this land palestina● because the philistines lived on the sea-coast most obvious to the notice of foreiners . as in deed a small port makes a greater report in the eares of strangers far off , then a land-locked place though far greater in proportion . § . the bounds of philistia are not precisely to be set down . for whilest tame cattell are kept in pastures , beasts of prey ( such this warlike people ) are onely bounded by their own ravenous appetite . the best way to measure the borders of the philistines is to behold the sins of the israelites . for when they were encreased , then the countrey of the philistines . was accordingly enlarged . thus in the days of king saul they roved , and k ranged as far as dor and bethshean in the half tribe of manasseh , and had garisons in the heart of most tribes of israel . but their constant habitation ( their den , as i may terme it ) was atract of ground from gath in the north to gaza in the south . some fifty miles in length and about halfe as broad , in the lands allotted to iudah , dan , and simeon . their government was a mixture of monarchy , and aristocracy . for as their chiefe cities had kings over them , which seem absolute in their own dominions ; so these kingdomes were but cantons in relation to the whole , as members making up one entire common-wealth . § . there need no other evidence be produced to prove the fruitfulness of their countrey , then the vastness of their bodies , whereof the rankness of their ground must be allowed a partiall cause . our english proverb saith , shew me not the meate , but shew me the man. the well batling of the giants bred in philistia ( chiefly in gath their seminary ) being heteroclites , redundants from the rules of nature , sufficiently attests the fertility of their soil . some of these giants had their hands branching out into m six fingers , though they who had one fewer had enough to kill them . let naturalists curiously inquire , whether or no this stock of giants be wholly spent in our age . and if so , what the true causes thereof . whether intemperance of diet , or over early marriage ; seeing every one that is raw to work , count themselves ripe to wed . let them consult whether nature hath not some other way recompensed in our age that want of strength , by giving them quicker wits ; wheras in voluminous men commonly there is much empty margent . however mens lesser strength and stature amounts not to a proof of an universall decay in nature , * as a most learned pen hath unanswerably demonstrated . § . one thing more we must observe of the philistines , that they are also called cherethims or cherethites in n scripture . know also that the o cherethites were a kind of lifegard to king david . now because it is improbable that so wise a prince would intrust his person in the protection of the philistines his conquered enemies : therefore learned p tremellius by cherethites understands such israelites as afterwards possessed the countrey of the philistines expulsed by david . which seems to some but a forced interpretation . for what unlikelyhood was it , that david might entertain proselyte philistines , converts to the iewish religion , if there were such , to be attendants about his body ? not to instance in the french kings double gard of scots , and switzars , as improper to this purpose ; ( because though forein , yet free and friendly nations ; ) david out of policy might retain such to wait upon him , both for their present encouragement , and future engagements of the fidelity of the philistines . whose service might not onely be free from danger , but full of advantage , especially when they were under the conduct of so wise and valiant an israelite as q benajah the son of iehojada placed governour over them . to render this still more probable : consider how ittai the gittite , with six hundred men of gath , was no native of israel , as appears by davids words , r thou art a stranger and an exile ; and yet was intrusted with the command of a s terce of the army , in the battell against absolom . wherein he excellently acquitted himself according to his loyall resolution to attend the kings fortunes whether in life or death . § . come we now to describe the countrey philistia , where in the north part thereof , we finde gath a regall city : * before achish the son of maoch the king whereof , david to save his life counterfeited himself mad . but whether guilty or no in so doing , divines have not yet determined . it would incline me to the more charitable side , that he had good warrant for what he did , because at the same time ( understand it immediately before or after ) he composed t two psalmes . which shew his soul not out of tune solemnly to serve god. but david went to achish a second time , with sixe hundred men ; ( it seems upon better assurance before-hand , then formerly ) and was with great kindness entertained by him , dwelt with him in gath , and after obtained ziklag from him ; and by achish his minde should have been the * keeper of his head . achish the son of maachah ( tributary no doubt to solomon ) was king of gath. for shimei confined to hierusalem by solomons command , and his own consent , did fetch from u him his fugitive servants . time was when shimei's w tongue ran too fast in railing on david his master , and now his feet moved too far in running after his servants , so that breaking the tedder of his commission , of the pieces thereof a halter was justly made for his execution . this city of * gath was afterwards fortified by rehoboam , and many years after taken x by hazael king of syria , and in the next age had the wall thereof broken down by uzziah king of y israel . § . betwixt gath and ekron ( lying thence south west ) we are as certain there were cities as ignorant how to call them . for the present let them pass by the name of samuels cities : because by his devotion , the cities , which the philistines had taken from israel , were restored to israel from z ekron even unto gath. see the difference betwixt priest and priest , both in service and success . vicious hophni * brings forth the arke into the field , fights , falls , loseth his own life , and part of israels land to the philistines . pious samuel stays and prays at home ; the arke is brought back to him : he both saves himself , and as a bountifull benefactor regaineth the former loss of his countrey . § . ekron was a stately city ; and commendable was the discretion of her inhabitants , who learning wit from their neighbours woe , would not keep the a arke and gods anger therein , but with the speediest conveniency returned it home to bethshemes . of these ekronites , david afterward killed two hundred , and tendered their foreskins a dowry for michal sauls daughter . for , though by the condition of his espousals he contracted but for an b hundred foreskins , yet such was the supererogation of his valour ( love and loyalty never give scant measure ) that he c doubled the number . and what injustice was it that he that paid her dowry double should enjoy her but halfe ? seeing saul afterwards took her away , and gave her to d another . beelzebub was the grand idoll of e ekron , whose name importeth a lord of flies . scaliger conceiving it to be a nick-name which the iews gave it in derision , so that the terming it a god of flies , was in effect to say , a flie for your god. in the new testament beelzebub passeth for the f prince of the devills . it seems that hell it self , that place of confusion , would wholly be confounded , if some superiority were not therein observed . § . more south we again come to the river sorek , on whose banks grew grapes of goodly greatness ; yea the hebrews report them to have been without any g kernels . but that hereabouts lust did not grow without shame and sorrow to attend it , samson will sadly witness . for in the house of dalilah by the brook of h sorek , he betrayed his strength to her , she his person to the philistines . thus those that sleep on a harlots lap for their pillow , are overtaken with destruction before they dream thereof . hence they carried samson to i gaza , which is welnigh fourty miles off . and why so far ? partly to render their triumph more glorious , baiting him with all eyes gazing on him , and partly the more safely to secure him , bringing him far from his friends , and beyond the reach of any rescue . § . but as here was the place where samsons purity was polluted , so hard by was the the fountain or water wherein the ethiopians pollution was purified . this was he , who being treasurer to candace queen of ethiopia , rode in his chariot and read isaias , when , ( always some unexpected good surprizeth such as are studious in the scripture ) k philip was sent to expound it unto him . can a l blackamore change his skin , saith the prophet ? but see here the virtue of baptismall water , washing away the black hue , and vicious habits of his naturall corruption , and making him a true christian convert . § . but philip was found at azotus : and azotus or ashd●d hardby is easily found , ( for a city seated on a hill cannot be hid . ) this was the third satrapie of the philistines , in our definition , but first in honour , as famous for dagon an idol there adored : who yet had the manners in homage to the arke to put off his head and hands , and fall flat on the ground ; and hither first they brought the arke of god * . this was allotted to the tribe of iudah † ; but left unconquered by ioshua . king uzziah brake down the wall of it : and built cities in the coast of it * . and soon after tartan sent by sargon king of assyria , took it † . the maccabees had divers battells near azotus . here iudas overthrows gorgias * , and spoiles azotus † ; and again pursues bacchides . but himself is slain * . here ionathan overcomes demetrius the younger , and burns azotus ; and the temple of dagon † ; and hereabouts iudas and iohn prevaile against * cendebeus . as for dagon here adored , some make him patron of grain , ( and he is translated 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by philo biblius ) others the president of the sea ; and we may safely beleeve his power as much over the one as the other . his shape ( save that it was masculine for sexe ) resembled the antick laughed at by the poet. desinit in piscem , mulier formosa supernè . upwards man-like he ascended , downwards like a fish he ended . and yet this fish had also m feet under the taile thereof , which feet of a fish seem not to stand with any proportion . but what shall we say ? the uglier his shape , the handsomer for an idol ; and to keep a decorum , it was fit that he should be as mishapen in his form , as monstrous in his worship . far handsomer no doubt were the women of ashdod , or else the israelites would never have been so enamoured with them , as after their return from the captivity , by marrying with them to beget a mongrell off-spring , whose tongues ( as if divided parte per pale ) spake half n ashdod and half hebrew . but surely god was afterwards better pleased with the iews solemn submission , and fair putting away of their wives , then with the cruelty of the britons ( if true what o reported ) which marrying french women in armorica ( now called little britain ) out of a zeale to preserve their native language , they cut out their wives tongues for fear they should infect their children with a mixture of french. as for p metheg-ammah in philistia , because the learned are not resolved whether thereby a place be designed ; and if so , many take it for gath ; or else that thereby is signified , that david took the bridle of power , from the hand of the philistines ; see it signed with an asteriske , enough to tell the reader , that we doe not shew , but seek a certainty therein . § . so much for the land in this tribe . if we look on the sea , bounding it on the west , see ionah in his ship , flying as fast as he could , q from the presence of the lord , that is , from the performance of his propheticall function in niniveh . otherwise he was better principled then to conceive it probable , in any place to avoid gods presence ; and ( if so erroneously opinioned ) made the worst of choices , r to goe down into the sea , where divine power most effectually appears . many carnall reasons might cause his flight ; as , fear to he murthered for delivering so unwelcome a message to that s bloody city ; suspicion , that his preaching little regarded in israel , would be less in niniveh ; zeal to his countrey , as perceiving the conversion of the gentiles , would prove the rejection of the iews ; and a iealousie ( as himself t confesseth ) his prophesie should be disproved on the peoples repentance . a terrible tempest persuing the ship , works wonders in the mariners : out of the bold came fear ; they were u afraid . out of the profane came piety ; cryed every man to his god. out of the covetous prodigality ; cast their ware into the sea . mean time ionah was fast asleep in the botome of the ship . it is hard to make sense of his actions , his flight spake fear , his sleeping shewed security ; formidat & audet . how doth sin distract men , making them as contrary to themselves , as to gods commandements ! § . at last , the master of the ship ( now vassall to the winds ) awakes him ; and ionah detected by lot , and his guilty ▪ conscience , is cast as a peace offering into the sea , where a whale is provided , after three days to bring him safe to the shore ; who amongst many land-types , was the onely sea-type ( as the w serpent the aire-type ) of our x saviour . § . the son of dekar was solomons y purveyour in machats , and in shaalbim , and bethshemesh , and elon-bethanan , all places in or near this tribe . the armes vulgarly assigned to dan , are vert a snake or adder argent nowed , b●ting , as some adde , ( let heralds translate it into the proper terms of blazonry ) the heels of an horse , whereby the cavalier mounted on him falls down backwards . all grounded on the z blessing of iacob ; intimating the slie and subtile disposition of the danites , whose sleight was above their might , policy more then their power , verified in their sodain and unexpected surprisall of the city of laish . nor know i how herein to reconcile the particular fancy of aben ezra to this received opinion , who allots an eagle for the armes of dan : a creature of most contrary posture and practise to a snake : ( nothing creeps lower then the one , or soares higher then the other ) except agreeing in the generall qualities of quick-sight and subtilty . here if some say that the eagle might have been the crest of dan , they will quickly retract their opinion , considering crests a modern device , and could not be born in that age , which was scarce conceived three hundred years since . the standard of dan a was erected formost of the three on the north side of the tabernacle . here the map of simeon is to be inserted . the tribe of simeon . chap. . § . simeon second son of iacob by leah his wife probably was active in the persecution of his brother ioseph ; ( therefore singled out in a egypt to be a prisoner ) certainly imbrued his hands with levi in the bloud of the b shechemites : whereupon iacob jointly cursed them , c i will divide them in iacob , and scatter them in israel . which prediction took a threefold effect in this tribe , namely in their paucity . scarce any tribe came * more out of egypt , not any by much entred fewer into canaan . so sensible was their diminution , that of fifty●nine thousand , but twenty two thousand two hundred possessed their inheritance . it seemeth that the many mortalities in the wilderness did light heavy on the simeonites . yea after they were setled in their possessions , the text saith , they had d not many children , neither did all their family multiply , like to the children of iudah . and although e immediately after it is recorded , that the house of their fathers increased greatly ; yet the proportion is to be measured , not in relation of this to other tribes , but in the reference of these families to others in the same tribe of simeon . obscurity . neither judge nor prophet extracted from this tribe : save that in this dearth of eminent persons ( famine will make those crums to be taken up , which otherwise would be cast away ) we must take in f iudith , with her apocrypha atchievements . but most sure it is that one notoriously infamous , namely g zimri , the son of salu , who defied justice , and boldly avouched his adultery with a woman of midian , was son to a prince of simeon . dispersedness . their countrey was but a jagged remnant originally belonging to , and still surrounded with h iudah on all sides , save on the sea , amongst whom their townes were scattered . § . yet in process of time , as the dispersion of the levites was turned totally , so the scattering of the simeonites was changed partially into a blessing . their locall mixture with iudah begate a politicall confederacy with them , t come up with me into my lot , and likewise i will goe with thee into thy lot . whence a double benefit accrued to the simeonites . spirituall : they were hedged in by their habitation , in the right way of gods worship : so that , when the ten tribes made their idolatrous defection under ieroboam , many of the simeonites persevered in gods true service : and they fell to king asa in k abundance . temporall . when the rest of their brethren were finally carried away captive under hoshed in the sixth year of the reign of king hezekiah , ● l probable it is that a considerable number of the simeonites remained , as hath been proved before , by their habitation within the lot of iudah . § . the lot of simeon was transcendently fruitfull ▪ having a most temperate aire , insomuch that saint hierome 〈◊〉 , in his time it was termed regio salutaris , the healthy countrey . no marvell then if the patriarchs abraham and isaac having their choice of the whole countrey , preferred to live so long in these parts . and the latter of them sowing grain near gerar reaped m an hundred fold , which was the greatest increase which that corn returned , which fell into good ground , in the n gospell . § . in the north-east corner of this tribe we find● that mountain before hebron , to the o top whereof , full twenty miles from the city , samson carried the gates of azzah . there he laid them down , not in a plain but steep place , partly in the gallantry of his strength , that not faintness , but his free pleasure made him lay them down , and partly , that in so conspicuous a place the gazites might easier finde their gates there , then fetch them thence . a little more westward , not far from the banks of the river sorek , stood the city ziglag , which p a●hish king of gath , bestowed on david during his abode there . if any demand why david , when king of israel , did not restore ziglag to achish again ; let such know , that ( besides that cities once passed into a potent hand , are too precious things to be parted with ) david being crowned king of israel had an undoubted right derived unto him by gods grant , not onely to this city , but to the whole kingdome of gath , and land of the philistines , which god had given to iudah , though hitherto they were not able to recover it . § . afterwards , whilest david was marching ( at least wise in presence ) with achish against saul , the amalekites in his absence burnt ziglag , carrying away all the people therein captive . griefe hereat so prevailed in davids men at their return , that in anguish of their hearts , they were ready to q stone him . could better be expected from them ? behold their originall , they were at first , r men in debt and distress , whose severall discontents made them generally contented to join together ; so that not david , but his necessities chose them to attend him , who now in adversity discovered their impious dispositions . but david to avoid this showre of stones ready to rain upon him , run for shelter to god his rock , in whom he comforted himself . thus , as it is always darkest just before the day dawneth , so god useth to visite his servants with greatest afflictions , when he intendeth their speedy advancement . for immediately after , david not onely recovered his loss with advantage , but also was proclaimed king of israel : though some war arose for a time between him and ishbosheth . § . but the most memorable places of this tribe are seated on or near the brook of bezor , which arising in iudah takes his course southwest , not far from s ethar or t etan in the north-east corner of this tribe . in the rock of u etan near the city of that name samson reposed himself , whence the men of iudah brought him down , bound with two cords , and delivered him to the philistines : but he presently found his spirits , and in that place the jaw-bone of an asse . bad weapons are better then none ; and it matters not what they be , so that they be weilded by samsons arme , that , guided by gods hand . this jaw-bone which used to feed on grass , here eat up a w thousand men . hereupon the place was called rama-lehi , the lifting up of a jawbone . § . thus samsons thirst of revenge was allayed with the bloud of the philistines , but the quenching of one thirst was the kindling of another . how quickly can god tame fury into faintness with want of water ! in this straight he hath his recourse by prayer to god , who x cleaves a hollow place in the jaw . heaven can make dry bones y live , yea give life to others , as here to samson , water presently flowing out thereof . let poets fondly brag of hippocrene , a fountain from a horses hoof ; most true it is that a spring did flow from the jawbone of an asse . except any be pleased ( which indeed is most probable ) not to take lehi in hebrew for the materiall jaw-bone , but for the countrey thereabouts , so newly named by samson , out of a hollow place of the earth whereof , god produced this fountain . § . hence bezor runneth by ain , the onely city belonging to the * levites , in this tribe . indeed both z simeon and levi were cursed to be scattered in israel , and this city of the levites scattered in simeon , may seem to be dispersed in a dispersion . one city it seems was proportionable to this small and mangled tribe . thus even the poorest must have some preachers to instruct them , and afford those preachers maintenance for their instruction . at gerar , the brook bezor receives from the south a tributary rivolet , fetching its fountain out of the wilderness of kadesh , a place full of strong and stately trees . but what saith the a psalmist ? the voice of the lord shaketh the wilderness , yea the lord shaketh the wilderness of kadesh . as if this of all other was most sturdy and stubborn to withstand the summons of gods voice : but all in vain , the least whisper of his mouth sending a palsey into the foundations thereof . § . in the confines of this wilderness stood three remarkable cities , which ( lest the reader should mistake ) we have marked with circles on the tops of them . not that any evill spirits moved therein , seeing these were the places where david haunted , whilest saul persecuted him , and to whose inhabitants he sent part of his spoile taken from the amalekites for a present . an act no less politick then just , with the same both discharging the shot of his former entertainment , and for the future obliging them by his bounty to be really sensible of his right of succession to the crown . the first of these b corashan ( c elsewhere onely called ashan . ) the second d south-ramoth , and e hormah the last and most observable , because of three eminent places of that name in or near the land of canaan , f where the disobedient israelites were destroyed by the canaanites . where the canaanites were destroyed by the penitent g israelites . where the tribes of h iudah and simeon associating together destroyed the canaanites , being properly in this tribe . we see that destruction ( so hormah soundeth in hebrew ) gives the name to them all . and wonder not then , that in a countrey the seat of war , there were so many towns of this sad denomination , but pray rather that god would seasonably settle a peace in england , lest therein be found more hormahs then were in israel . § . as for gerar the city above mentioned , it was anciently a kingdome of the philistines , whose kings seem all to be called abimelech's . to one of these abraham falsely affirmed that sarah his wife was his i sister : and afterwards isaac ( see the powerfull influence of parents faults on their childrens practise ! ) to another of the same name offended in the like falshood . this latter abimelech looking out of his window , beheld isaac k sporting with rebekah , ( gestures not unlawfull as done , but as seen ) and from this familiarity ( greater his charity then isaacs caution therein ) interpreted her to be not his harlot , but his wife . § . afterwards isaac outed of the city dwelt in the neighbouring valley of gerar , and whithersoever he removed , gods blessing , and the philistines envy followed him . he grew fat in estate , his enemies lean at the fight thereof , which made them spitefully stop the l wells which his father had digged . happy that they could neither dam up nor drain dry the dew of divine blessing , from falling upon him , which , if possible to effect , their malice would have attempted . but isaac afterwards sunk these wells the second time , and he m called their names after the names by which his father had called them . see his humility herein , not varying from his fathers will in an indifferent matter , whereas many now adays count it the greatest honour of this age , in all things to diffent from the former . besides these renewed wells , isaac had new ones of his own making , as namely n esech : that is stri●e , so called because his heardmen , and the gerarites strove about it . o sitnah , that is hatred , so named on the like occassion . p rekoboth , that is enlargement , which he peaceably possessed ; god making room for him . the two former pass for the emblems of our militant condition in this life , the last typyifieth our happy estate in a better , and more roomthy place ; in my fathers house there be many q mansions . § . this vale of gerar was the granary of canaan , whither the patriarchs retired in time of famine ; for plenty dwelt there , when penury was elsewhere . nor will it be amiss to insert the testimony of a r modern traveller , to shew how the countrey hereabouts , even at this day , retains an indeleble character of its former fruitfulness . we passed this day through the most pregnant and pleasant valley , that ever eye beheld . on the right hand a ridge of high mountains ( whereon stands hebron ) on the left hand the mediterranean sea bordered with continued hills , beset with variety of fruits . the champion between about twenty miles over , full of flowry hills ascending leasurely , and not much surmounting their ranker vallies , with groves of olives and other fruits dispersedly adorned . yet is this wealthy bottome ( as are all the rest ) for the most part uninhabited . § . from the vale of gerar the brook berzor runneth by the grove near beersheba , s planted by abraham for the more convenient performance of his devotion . collect we hence that abraham resided some considerable time in these parts , seeing trees grow not up as ionas his gourd in a night , but must have some competent season to come to maturity . but what was piety in abraham in planting this grove , was profaneness in his posterity to imitate . for after that god had made choice of a fixed place ( tabernacle , or temple ) to put his name there , such as elsewhere sacrificed unto him were not onely guilty of schisme ( separating themselves from the publick worship ) but flat idolatry , serving the true god in a false manner , namely , in a place prohibited . and now it is seasonably remembred , that many ages after , beersheba was an eminent place of idolatry . the t prophet threatneth finall confusion to such that say , in nature of an oath , the manner of beersheba liveth . it being probable that as the u brazen serpent set up by moses , was afterwards abused to idolatry , so this grove of abrahams planting near beersheba was by his posterity perverted to some solemn superstition , the manner or way whereof , secundum usum beershebae , was a precedent , or leading pattern for other places to imitate : as act. . . & . . & . . § . but the city of beersheba it self stood hard by on the brook bezor . the name imports , the well of an oath . first so called from w abrahams , then from x isaac's ceremonious swearing and covenanting with abimelech in that place . now if scarlet keep colour because twice died , and therefore called dibaphon , well might beersheba retain her name , twice on the same occasion imposed upon it . y here god comforted iacob in his journey down into egypt , promising him safety and sight of his son ioseph . many hundred years after , samuel at z beersheba set up his sons for judges , who degenerated from their fathers integrity . in the division of the land into two kingdomes , beersheba belonged to iudah , where a iehoshaphat set up judges , and whither b eliah persecuted by iezebel fled for succour . hence he fled into the wilderness , leaving his servant at beersheba . not that he carelesly cast him off , but as the case stood with eliah , life was to be preferred before attendance , and one alone might shift with more secrecy then two together . besides , by the avoidance of this servant ( probably no person of extraordinary performance ) divine providence made a way for elisha ( one of more desert ) in this vacancy to be inducted into eliah's service . § . coming still west-ward on the bank of bezor , we finde the place where two hundred of davids foot being faint stayed with the c baggage , whilest the rest of their brethren pursued and conquered the amalekites . but these at their return denyed the two hundred staying by the brook , any part of their spoile , till david ordered it as a leading case , that these which attended the baggage should be equall sharers with such who fought in the battell . and very good reason : it was not laziness , but weariness kept them behinde . a stout heart sometimes cannot help a fainting body . wherefore to punish sickness in them for a sin , had been height of tyranny . grant their tired bodies could not keep pace with their souls , yet no doubt in desire they marched along with their brethren , and perchance by their prayers facilitated their victory . during their staying behind , their imployment was as necessary , though not so honourable . the stuffe could not secure it self , and the keeping of it in the others absence was a good piece of defensive service . now from hence it appears , that in cases not provided for in the judiciall law , the princes of israel were intrusted with power to enact statutes , in a prudentiall proportion to gods word , binding all in their dominions to the observation of them . this ordinance of david may from the place be termed the statute of bezor . nor is it any news for laws to be made in open fields by rivers sides , our english laws having had their birth in so plain a place in ronny-mede near the river of thames , where king iohn and his barons first drew them up together . yea , no fitter place for such solmn acts then a rivers side , where the sight thereof may be the remembrancer , that d iudgement may run down as waters , and righteousness as a mighty stream . hence bezor glideth into the land of the philistines , whither in due time we will follow it . § . south of this brook lay the wilderness of beersheba , often mentioned in scripture . herein hagar and e ishmael wandred when the bottle of water was spent , the last legacy which abraham bequeathed him . oh how she weeps , as if intending to refill the same from her eyes ! but alass , that moisture so brackish would rather increase then allay any thirst . and now what should she do ? it was death to her to see her son die , and yet that pity which would not suffer her to tarry by him , would not permit her to depart from him . in this dilemma of affection she resolves on the distance of a bow-shoot , r as a competent mean betwixt presence and absence , and disposeth her self under one shrub , her son under another . here ishmael cryes and god heareth . the very worst in extreme want are the object of pity , and though ishmael had mockes for isaac , heaven had mercy for ishmael . an angel sent shews haga● a fountain , not now newly created , but newly discovered to her sight . the object was there before , but the organ not rightly disposed to behold it . how near may men be to their own happiness and miss it ; touching it , yet not seeing it , till god open their eyes ! more south in this wilderness was the iuniper-tree under which g elisha sate so highly discontented . coales of juniper we know are extremely hot , but is there any secret quality in the shade of that tree , to put eliah , sitting under , into such passions , as that nothing but death would please him for the present ? sorrow bought him asleep , and afterwards awaking , being refreshed with a cake of bread , cruse of water , and comfort of an angel he undertook his journey to horeb. § . not far off betwixt kadesh and bered is beer-laha-roi , that is , the well of him that liveth and seeth : so h named by hagar , because there an angel catechised , comforted , and counselled her to return and humble herself to sarah her mistress . by this well isaac was walking and meditating , i when rebekah brought from her fathers house first met him , in her most modest behaviour . for at the sight of him , though at some distance , she k lighted from her camel , counting it ill manners to ride , when her husband and master went a foot : as also to give an earnest of her future good housewifery , that she would prefer industry before ease , honest pain before pleasure . the she l vailed her self , partly to shew that the beams of her beauty were hereafter to be appropriated to isaac alone , & partly in confession of subjection , being now under covert-baron , the command and protection of a husband . well , i dare compare , yea prefer this vailed wives chastity , before the virginity of many vailed votaries . § . more south is the river of egypt the utmost limit , not onely of this tribe , but of all israel . indeed by the river of egypt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ( often mentioned in exodus ) onely nilus is intended . but this stream ( which some conceive is particularly called shichos ) is termed the river of egypt , not because it is in , but is in the high way to egypt . otherwise , the traveller who sits down on the banks thereof , shall never come thither . in the septuagint , rhinocolura is put for this river of egypt , being a long named city of short note , seated on the influxe thereof into the sea . only this rhinocolura is famous in heathen history , because hither ( as into an hospitall ) all those malefactors were sent , whose noses were cut off for their offences : a punishment inflicted on the egyptians by an ethiopian king who conquered them hence had it the name of * rhinocolura , or the place of nose-maimed people . but ô how great must that city be which in our age should contain all those , whose faces are nose-less , not by others cruelty , but their own luxury ! § . as for other cities in this tribe of simeon they were many , but obscure . it is observable that most of them are written with an aliàs first , as they are named iosh. . secondly , as they are called chron. . none need to wonder at their different denominations . here i interpose nothing of the severall writing of the same places according to exact criticks in spelling them . according to vulgar tongues in pronouncing them . onely we commend to the readers notice , that the book of chronicles was written after the return from m captivity ; and about eighteen generations after the days of ioshua . and therefore some difference of letters after so large a time is no strange thing . for seeing here we have no continuing n city , it cannot be expected that any city should have a continuing name . and yet great places longest retain their names unaltered , ( as london from taeitus to our times ) whereas small cities like these in simeon are as often alterable , as passed into the possession of severall owners . yea seeing it was the custome of the iews , to o call their lands after their own names , this haply might change p beth-lebaoth in this tribe , into q beth-birei , when it came into the possession of a new landlord . § . so much of this small tribe , whose portion was too little for his people , and therefore they made two happy expeditions to enlarge their quarters : one in the reign of r hezekiah to the entrance of gedor , even unto the east side of the valley , a place of good and fat pasture ; for they of ham ( canaanites ) had dwelt there of old . mice sometimes may be mens tasters , to teach them which is best for their palate : and those heathen were wise enough to settle themselves in the richest soile , whence now the simeonites expelled them . this gedor was in the division of the land allotted to the tribe of s iudah . now if any demand by what right the simeonites might invade this which was assigned to iudah , they may know that in case a strong hold could not be reduced into subjection by that tribe to which it belonged , it was not an act of injustice , but valour , for the next tribe to t undertake the conquest thereof : as by their judiciall law if one dyed not having issue by his wife , the next of kin might 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and was heire ( as i may say ) to marry his u brothers wife ; so when iudah through some defect or debility was unable to improve his patrimony in gedor to profit , by casting out the heathen who violently detained it , simeon ( his next neighbour in situation ) suecceding to the right of his brother , attempted and effected the conquest thereof : herein onely it holds not proportion , because the seed so raised up was accounted to his dead brother , whereas here simeon made bold himself quietly to possess what victoriously he had acquired . wonder not that this petty tribe in overcoming gedor did more then puissant iudah could performe ; for always the battell is not to the w strong , and weaker means watching advantages may perfect what more powerfull have left uneffected . this gedor ( grudge not reader to sally with thine eye a little out of this tribe , being still in this map ) lay on the north of the river sorek , and was one x of the . regall cities of the canaanites . as for the simeonites second voiage against the y amalekites in mount seir , more proper thereof hereafter in the description of edom. § . now that which straightned the portion of simeon , was the multitude of philistines inhabiting the sea coasts , allotted to , but never possessed by this tribe . askelon was a prime city in those parts , once won by z iudah assisting simeon , but after recovered by the philistines . samson , being cast to give his companions thirty change of raiment , went neither to the merchant for the stuffe , nor taylor for making of them , but ( knowing the philistines garments would best fit philistines bodies ) he marched directly to a askelon , where finding thirty philistines , he bestowed their corps on the earth , and their cases on their fellow-countrey men . this caused that active antipathy betwixt askelon and israel , tell it not in gath , nor publish it in b askelon . near to this city there was a c lake , by which semiramis is said to be born , there fed and relieved by doves . hence the poet tibullus . alba palaestino sancta columba syro . the milke-white dove esteem'd divine , by syrians of palestine . but because no mention of this in scriptures , we forbear further prosecution thereof . § . going along south by the sea side ( here styled the sea of the philistines ) we come at last to azzah , d or gaza the fifth satrapy of the philistines , once e conquered by iudah , but soon after returning to the former owners samson , who carried the gates thereof away , could not bring himself hither again , without the guidance of another . pain here was added to his blindness , when set to grinde in a mill ; scorn to his pain , when sent for , at a solemn feast to be the musician to make sport , or rather the instrument ready tuned for every wanton eye , tongue , and hand to play upon . but such as mock at other mens miseries , sometimes laugh so long till their own hearts ake . for samson applied himself to the two pillars most fundamentall to the roof of dagons temple , and by the strength of his armes and f prayers , pulling them down , killed and died together . strange that his enemies knowing his strength resided in his haire , prevented not the second growth thereof . but god first stupefies whom he intends for destruction : samson had lost his sight , the philistines their foresight at the same time . § . many ages after gaza was smote by g pharaoh king of egypt , and not warned thereby to repent , utter desolation was denounced against it . there needeth no clearer comment on the prophets prediction , h gaza shall be forsaken , then that passage in the acts of the apostles , the way unto gaza which is i wast . this vastation was caused by alexander the great , when he utterly razed the city , fulfilling what k ieremy had foretold , baldness is come upon gaza , whereby not onely the hair , but skin and flesh of this proud place fell away , scarce any signes of a city remaining . out of the ruines hereof , some two miles westward ( where bezor falleth into the sea ) majuma or sea-gaza once a proper port-town took its rise and increase , called afterward constantia by constantine the great , and gatzra at this day , where simple roofs supported with carved columns , and broken pieces of parian l marble , serving for thresholds , jambes of doors , and sides of windows almost to every beggerly cottage , testifie its former better condition . so much for these philistines , who are taxed for their soothsaying by m isaiah , accused of spightfulness and old hatred by n ezekiel , challenged for cruelty by o amos , arraigned for pride by p zachary , condemned by all to unavoidable destruction . think not that these philistines , fox-like , fared the better for being cursed , surely though slow , sure vengeance overtook them ; and we undoubtedly beleeve the same , although it be hard in history to shew when , where , and how their particular extirpation was accomplished . § . simeon hath usually assigned him for his armes , gules , a sword in pale , with the point thereof erected argent ; alluding to iacobs words , instruments of cruelty are in his habitations , because of their perfidious massacring of the shechemites . none of solomons purveyours in the tribe of simeon , the reason whereof shall be rendered in our description of iudah . if any demand , why simeon alone is omitted in moses his solemn q blessing of the other tribes , let them remember how iacob coupled simeon r and levi in a curse ; since which time the levites had unstrained their credit by their exemplary s zeale against the idolaters , but the simeonites had not recovered their reputation by any eminent act by them atchieved . moses therefore having no commission to recall iacobs curse , and loth to repeat it , ( lest the double-cursed simeonites should be utterly disheartned ) thought it in pious policy best to pass them over in silence . of such persons , of whom we would willingly say no bad , and cannot truly say any good , it is the wise●t way to say nothing . as for their tradition that the simeonites were imployed to be scribes and notaries to the tribe of iudah , it is enough to mention it , knowing no sound authority , whereon the same is grounded . here the map of benjamin is to be inserted . the description of the tribe of beniamin . chap. . § . benjamin youngest son of iacob by rachel , was by his mother dying of him in child-birth named ben-oni , that is , the son of sorrow , but by his father called benjamin , that is , the son a of the right hand . say not iacob did ill in altering the will of his wife , and revoking the name , the last legacy she bequeathed to her child , seeing the alteration was perfective , and for the advantage of the legatee ; not to say that rachels pangs imposed that name , and might be presumed scarce compos mentis in what she did . but the main reason of the alteration was , because iacob could not call his son , but must recall his lost wife to his mind , so that his very name constantly carried a coffin in the mention thereof . highly he was beloved of his father ; and good reason ; first , because begot in his old age . secondly , because the youngest : and affection , which always descends , when it can goe no lower , settles it self . thirdly , because he was motherless . lastly , because brotherless , ioseph being conceived dead , and so the portion of affection due to him , fell to benjamin as the right heir thereof . § . of this tribe came out of egypt b thirty five thousand four hundred , all which dying in the wilderness , fourty c five thousand and six hundred of their children entred the land of canaan . afterwards an heavy dysaster befell this tribe ( of the cause and manner whereof hereafter ) insomuch that no. d women and onely six hundred men were left of bemjamin . yea none of benjamin were left above ground , being destroyed from being visible on the face of the earth , and the six hundred remaining all e hid in the rock of rimmon . thus benjamin was cut off from the body of israel , and onely hung dangling by one small sinew , which by the carefull chirurgery of their brethren , and gods blessing upon it , in short time recovered it self to be very considerable in israel . § . herein the words of the psalmist deserve to be observed , there is little f benjamin with their ruler . little benjamin : it was therefore no court-complement , or modest excuse , but a downright truth . saul said unto samuel , g am i not a benjami● of the smallest of the tribes of ●srael ? it is added , with their ruler : no tribe ( iudah excepted ) more trading in commanders then benjamin did . hereof were saul and ishbosheth both crowned kings , ionathan the eldest son ; h mordecai the favorite , esther the wife of a king ; i ehud the judge , and abner the generall of israel , with divers others . and among ecclesiasticall rulers , let not him be forgot , who had the care of all the k churches , even l saint paul the apostle . but beside these rulers , benjamin bred some enemies to authority , ziba that false cheater , shimei that foul railer , baanah and m rechab privy traitours , sheba a professed rebell ; so impossible it is , all should be good herbs which grow in great gardens . § . the lot of benjamin came forth n betwixt the children of iudah and the children of ioseph . if o a sparrow falls not on the ground , surely ground falls not to any owner without gods immediate providence . benjamin joined with ioseph to day the possession of rachels children entire together ; and joyned to iudah , that vicinity of habitation might invite them to unity of religion . and indeed commendable was the constancy of the benjamites both to god and their king , following the house of david at the disloyall defection of the rest of the tribes . say not that little benjamin was thus placed in the middle to be ground betwixt the mill stones of two potent tribes ; for it matters not who lies on our sides , so be it god dwells on our shoulders . remember we the blessing moses bequeathed to this tribe , p the beloved of the lord shall dwell in safety by him , and the lord shall cover him all the day long , and he shall dwell between his shoulders ; particularly pointing at his habitation in ierusalem built in the borders of benjamin . § . now though benjamins mess , when he sate at iosephs table , was q five times as much as any of his brethren , yet here it happened his portion was less then all the rest : except any will say , that onely benjamins dish was less and meat more , because , though small the compass of ground allotted to him , yet fair and fruitfull the soile , many and memorable the cities contained therein , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , the lot of this tribe was straightned ( saith r fosephus ) because of the virtue of the soile thereof . yet as little as the land of benjamin was , it was big enough to be divided betwixt two kingdomes , the south-west part thereof belonging to the kingdome of iudah , the north-east to israel , with the cities of gilgal , iericho , and bethel , as shall be made plain in the respective description of those places . § . iordan is the eastern boundary of this tribe * : david returning victoriously from mahanaim , having s ferried over this water , partly brought thither , partly met here , a miscellaneous multitude , barzillai and shimei , mephibosheth and ziba , that is , loyalty and treachery , faith and falshood mingled together in the same countrey . here ( once railing ) now begging shimei obtained pardon from him ; because bringing along with him ( the best argument in his excuse ) a t thousand men of benjamin . some will say , david shewed shimei too much mercy , and did mephibosheth too litle justice , not righting him against the false accusations of ziba , who better deserved a whole halter , then half of the lands of mephibosheth . such doe not seriously consider the present condition of david ; who , had his hand struck with the sword of justice , before his feet ( in his renewed kingdome ) were firmely fastned on the throne of authority , it had been the ready way to have overturned him and his posterity . here u sheba a benjamite taking the advantage of the unseasonable contest betwixt iudah and israel , which should have most interest in david , with his trumpet blew rebellion into the eares and hearts of the people ; had not the dangerous consequence thereof been seasonably prevented by the vigilancy and valour of david , and his servants . § . more south on the banks of the river the children of the prophets straightned for dwellings , went about to enlarge their habitations , but meanly provided for that purpose , if we consider the architect , a son of the prophets , little skild ( no doubt ) in such employment . timber , green wood , and growing on the banks of iordan . tools ; a borrowed hatchet , the iron whereof fell into the river . alass , how comes it to pass , that when houses of the prophets are to be built , the iron forsakes the handle , which sticks too stedfastly thereunto , when they break them down w with axes and hammers ! but x elisha made all things whole , the hatchet came unto the helve swimming above the water . § the alter ed succeeds next , more south-ward on the river . formerly we have placed it in the tribe of reuben on the east of iordan , but others 〈◊〉 it west of that river in this tribe . hear the arguments for both . for benjamin . it * was set up in the borders of iordan which are in the land of canaan , which land strictly and properly taken was on the west of iordan . it was erected to shew the contesseration of their religions . and therefore most probable and proper on the west side of iordan , in the main continent of the land , to claim right , or rather continue a title of those separatist-tribes , reuben , gad , and manasseh in point of gods worship with other tribes . † saint hi●rome , and since him learned * tostatus ( to whose arguments in this controversie we refer the reader ) with many other commentators , are very positive in placing this altar west of iordan in the tribe of benjamin . for reuben . it was set up y over against the land of canaan . which in proper construction imports it to be on the other side opposite thereunto . it had been a meer trespass , for the two tribes and an halfe in aliena republica , to build an altar on the ground of other tribes : and therefore no doubt , they did it on their own ground east of iordan . iosephus z saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . therefore the tribe of reuben and gad going over the river &c. another a ioseph ( though a modern , yet a learned writer ) beleeveth , that in those elder times , that countrey or territory was counted unhallowed , or unclean which had not a place set apart for gods worship , and proveth from the words of phinebas , that the altar was set up on their side , lest otherwise having no place consecrated , they might be concluded to live in an unhallowed habitation . thus as this altar caused a difference betwixt brethren , about the cause why it was erected : so hath occsioned a dissension amongst learned men , concerning the place , where the same was set up . the best is , the controversie is not of such moment , as to concern salvation . let us take heed , we be not of that generation b which set not their hearts aright , and then the danger is not great , though we set this altar on the wrong side of the river . however , as the devout iews in the primitive times , when the sabbath was newly changed into the lords-day , kept both saturday and sunday holy , observing both ex nimia cautela , to be sure to keep the right day of divine worship : so for more certainty we have erected two altars , one one each side of the river , leaving it to the discretion of the judicious reader , to accept or refuse which of them he pleaseth . § . come we in the next place to the c twelve great stones set up by ioshua in memoriall that there they passed over the river iordan on foot tremellius conceives probably , that these were the quarries in gilgal mentioned iudg. . . whence ehud returned back , when he went to kill eglon king of moab . others likewise conceive , that iohn baptizing hereabouts , did particularly point at these stones , in that his expression to the pharisees , d god is able of these stones to raise up children unto abraham . they were set up in the countrey gilgal , the city so called lying some five miles west of the river . § . gilgal ( rolling in hebrew ) was so called by ioshua , because the reproach of egypt was there rolled away from the israelites , and circumcision suspended during their travell , being e here administred , and the passeover solemnly observed ; here also manna ceased , the countrey affording plentifull provisions . miracles and meanes never shine together in the same horizon , but the former setteth , when the later ariseth . it will perchance be demanded , why manna rained so long , seeing the israelites long agoe were come into the plentifull countrey of canaan , all the while they had remained in the land of reuben , ever since they came over the river of arnon . it is answered , god hitherto continued his largess of manna , because formerly they were only come into the skirts of the countrey , ( unsufficient to maintain so numerous an army ) whereas now they were entred into the very heart and middle of the land . the land of reuben though very fruitfull , f was a place for cattell , fit for grazing , and better for beasts , then men to feed upon . god to manifest his liberality , would not onely have his provisions to meet even , but to lap over , continuing manna till his people were otherwise plentifully provided for , both with new corn on the ground ( coming hither in g the beginning of harvest ) and h old in their granary . thus the iews did not begin house-keeping on ●are walls , but were set up with full stock afore-hand : victualled in a manner , with two years provision , that with the good house-keeper i they might bring forth out of their treasure things new and old . § . in the days of samuel and saul , this was a place of principall credit , where saul was solemnly invested with a crown , come , let us goe up unto k gilgal , and renew the kingdome there . yet here at the same time to shew gods displeasure with the people for their tumultuous desiring of a king , * thunder in harvest ( in iudea sommers thunder old mens wonder ) exceedingly afrighted the hearers thereof . afterwards saul stained this place with a double deed of disobedience , when in samuels absence he presumed to offer l sacrifice . once the proverb was , is saul also amongst the prophets ? now it may be , is saul also amongst the priests , invading the sacerdotall function ? when contrary to gods command , he spared and brought hither the best of spoile of amalek , so that samuel was fain to supply what justice was wanting in saul , who hewed agag in pieces before the lord in m gilgal . in after ages here was an academy or seminary of the sons of the prophets , brought up here in learning preparatory to their profession . acquired , are so far from hindering infused abilities , that the stock prepared by industry , is fittest to be graffed on by inspiration . eliah and elisha were successively the presidents , or rather the visitors of this colledge , the latter being both food , and physick for the students therein : food , when with twenty small n barly loaves he fed an hundred of the children of the prophets . physick , when his meal was o antidote against the malignity of the wild gourd in their pottage . it seems the sons of the prophets were no expert herbalists , whose learning moved in an higher and holier sphere , and they more skilfull to discern betwixt true doctrine and heresie , then betwixt pot-herbs and poison . § . gilgal was afterwards a sinke of idolatry , and belonged to the kings of israel , as appears by the prophets counsell , though thou israel play the harlot , yet let not iudah offend , and come yee not into p gilgal &c. at gilgal men multiplied q transgression , whereupon destruction was denounced against this place , and gilgal was afterwards rolled up in her own ruines . to return to the river iordan , which a little south-ward falls into the r salt-sea , the south boundary of this tribe . the epithet salt is not here superfluous , but emphaticall , partly to distinguish it from the sea of cinneroth or galilee , which was a fresh-water-sea ; and partly because the water hereof was salt with a witness , fire-salt , as i may say . let philosophers demonstrate the cause of the brackishness of the ocean , though it is to be feared , they wil be posed nearer home , how rivolets of teares which flow from their own eyes , come to be so salt . but a peculiar reason may be certainly assigned , why the water in this sea was transcendently salt above all others , whereof largely hereafter in the description of iudah . § . having done with the channell of iordan , the certain and unmoveable bound of benjamin on the east , come we now in our perambulation to surround the other three sides of this tribe , and at first will onely take notice of the limitary places , and so proceed from the rine to the core , from the marches to the middle of this countrey . the south of benjamin ranged from kiriath-jearim by the well s of the waters of nephtoah , to the valley of hinnon , and so on the south of ierusalem descended to enrogell . all which places shall hereafter be presented in a peculiar map , and therefore no more for the present . § . hence it went forth to enshemesh , i. e. the fountain of the sun. either so called from the clearness of the waters thereof , or because in idolatrous days , when the hoste of heaven was t worshipped ( whereof the sun the generall ) it was dedicated thereunto , or because the suns extraordinary influence thereon endued it with soveraign virtue . and now it is well remembred , that bath in england is called by u antoninus aque solis or the waters of the sun. hence the bounds of benjamin stretched to geliloth near w gilgal ( over against the going up to adummim ) and thence descended to the stone of bohan the son x of reuben , so called no doubt from some memorable act by him there atcheived , for otherwise the reubenites had no part of possession on the west side of iordan . hence this tribe extended through arabah to beth-hoglah , i. e. as y saint hierome interprets it , locus gyri , or the place of a circle , because ( as he will have it ) in this place ioseph with his brethren set in a round ( the forme of mourners ) bewailed the corps of iacob brought hither out of egypt . § . but leaving this as a conjecture , most sure it is , that hereabouts was the floor of atad , where so solemn a lamentation was made for iacobs death , that the place long after did weare mourning in the name thereof , therefore called z abel-mizraim , i. e. the sorrowing of the egyptians . strange , that strangers , being a the elders of pharaohs court and kingdome , should so affectionately bemoan the death of a man no whit related unto them . surely the egyptians did not weep-irish with faigned and mercenary teares , much less was their passion onely state-sympathy and politick compliance , sighing and smiling with the sighs and smilings of ioseph . rather it was because the endearing disposition , and obliging goodness of old iacob , living fifteen years with them in egypt , had gained the generall love of the land . besides , they lamented his loss as the death of their own grand-father , because he was father to ioseph , the father , founder and preserver of them and theirs in the time of famin . if any demand why the egyptians mourned for iacob b threescore and ten days , whilst ioseph made a mourning for him but for c seven days ? i can tell the common answer , that the former ignorant of heavenly happiness lamented him totally lost , whilst ioseph not d mourning without hope was more moderate in his lamentation . but whether this solution be sound in it self , or the question exactly conformable to the text , we remit it to the examination of others . i would rather know the reason why this solemnity of sorrow , was performed in this place , rather then at the cave of machpelah forty miles hence , where the corps were interred ; surely the master of the ceremonies in those days could give an account thereof . § . but here it will be objected , that ioseph coming out of egypt , had a nearer way by many miles to carry iacobs corps to hebron , then by going over iordan . it is confessed , but this fetching a compass was conceived more for the state of the funerall . unfitting it was , that the body of that worthy patriarch ( to whom all the land belonged by promise ) should steale into that countrey in a clandestine way , and privately enter in at the postern door , rather let it solemnly surround the countrey , and be brought in at the broad gates . thus the corps of men of quality , though the chancell-door be nearer , are borne through the porch and middle-alley to the place of their interment . § . so much for the south-marches of benjamin , we come now to visite the north-limits thereof . those began from iordan ( saith our english translation . ) in divertigio iardenis quo magis adhuc ad orientem divertit ( saith tremellius in his note on the place ) i. e. in the winding of iordan as it turns still more to the east ; and we could wish , that this eastern flexure of that river , had been made a little more visible in our maps . hence they went up to the side e of iericho , understand thereby the confluence of the waters afterwards running to iericho ( as appears by paralleling iosh. . . with iosh. . . ) and so through the mountains westward , f the goings out thereof are at the wilderness of beth-aven . whence it turneth towards luz which is bethel , south-ward , which now i come to describe . § . beth-el , that is , gods house , was so named by iacob ( for formerly it was called luz ) who here lying on a stone ( it matters not how hard our bed , if so heavenly our dreams ) saw a g ladder with god on the top thereof , and angels ascending and descending thereon . going down to attend on gods children according to their commission , and up to give an account of their attendance , and receive farther instructions . here iacob by vow indented with god solemnly to make this place his house , and to give to him at his safe return h with bread and water , the tenth of all his substance . but though god over performed his counterpart herein , iacob neglected his promise , and when his staffe was swelled into i two bands , set down his staffe at shechem , and turned there a purchaser of a parcell of ground , till god minded him of his former obligation , arise k , goe up to bethel , and dwell there &c. § . most happy that man who runs the way of gods commandements , and next him he is the best , who answers the spur , and with iacob goeth , when almost driven . hither he comes ( having first reformed his family of l idolatry ) and here built an altar called el-beth-el . during his abode here died deborah rebekahs nurse , venerable for her old age , having seen her nurse-childs childrens children , to the fourth generation . surely she was well loved whilest living , because so much lamented when dead , buried under m allon bachuth , or the oake of mourning . as if iacobs children desired , that their eyes should return that moisture to her in teares , which her breasts had bestowed in milke on their grandmother . thus , though the hebrews did not so doate on their nurses , as the wild-irish ( who love them better then their own n mothers ) yet they had them in an high estimation . § . in the division of the land , beth-el fell to the lot of o benjamin . yet we finde that the house of ioseph ( understand the tribe of ephraim ) wan p and possessed it . it seems the city was divided into two parts , the northern pertaining to ephraim , the southern to benjamin . in the days of samuel we finde , how q he went from year to year in circuit to beth-el , and gilgal , and mizpeh , and judged israel in all these places ; which were all three in this tribe , and in the heart of the countrey , conveniently seated for termers to resort hither from all parts thereof . § . here ieroboam set up one of his golden calves : and how busie was he about sacrificing unto it , when a prophet sent from god denounced the destruction of his altar , which presently clave asunder , according to his prediction ? an altar , which ( were it of brass or stone ) was softer then the miracle-proof heart of ieroboam , which neither was broken , nor bruised thereat ; as also he was no whit moved to repent , with the drying up , and r restoring of his hand , which happened thereupon . indeed he conceived , that his kingdome must have idolatry for the pillars , which had rebellion for the foundation thereof : and though baalisme began and ended with the family of ahab , calfe-worship was rivetted into the crown of israel . as for the prophet that foretold the future ruine of this place , a lion s slew him in his return , because he credited a pretended revelation parole unto another man , before a commission from god to the contrary , solemnly signed and delivered unto himself . see gods finger in the lions paw , how rationally did the brute-beast work his masters will , being sent not to prey , but to punish ? he killed the prophet , filled not himself , but with the t asse ; stood by the corps , if not as mourners for , as waiters about it . behold his life spilled , whilest wicked u balaams was spared in journey , so uncertain it is for any to conclude gods love w or hatred from outward events . § . eliah and elisha often visited this city of beth-el ; the latter going up hither was mockt by the children thereof , for lacking the comely excrement of haire on his head , whereupon came two beares out of the wood , and tare two and forty of them . some will say , elisha had better have called for two rods , then two beares out of the wood , therewith to drive out that folly which was bound up in the heart of these children . but his severity will appeare needfull herein , if all circumstances be considered , probably ( though termed children ) they were striplings of some bigness , who durst adventure out of the city by the wood-side . no doubt the chickens crowed as the cocks had learned them , and followed the precedents of their idolatrous parents . the gemination of their offence , goe x up thou bald-head , goe up thou bald-head . they mocked him as he was going up the way , and it is said , the prophet turned back , so they continued their taunts whilest he came to them , yea till he was at them , yea when he was past them . he looked on them , so that had any ingenuity or remorse been legible in their countenances , no doubt he would have suspended his sentence . he cursed in the name of the lord , not out of spight , but with gods spirit , and the judgement followed accordingly . probably some of them escaped to the city , and there might instruct their mothers and nurses , never more to fright children with fond tales of bug-bears , but seriously to informe them of the truth of this sorrowfull accident . § . in this city beth-el there was also a nursery of the sons y of the prophets . alas , what heart had they to live here ! could the stall of the golden calfe be a convenient place for them to study in ? the frequent and abominable impieties here committed , they could neither behold with silence , nor reprove with safety . however , it seems , they were especially desirous of , and delighted in this place , where god had immediately manifested his gracious presence to iacob : and we may charitably beleeve , by the privateness of their lives secured themselves both from pollution and persecution . but for the main , beth-el was changed into beth-aven , scala coeli into gradus inferni , the devills then dancing for joy , where once angels ( those holy agitators ) went up and down betwixt heaven and earth . yea in after-ages it was penal for any pious prophet to approach this place , such the strictness of the prohibition herein , z prophecy no more at beth-el , for it is the kings chappell , and it is the kings court. as if it were against the law of the verge for one to draw a sword ( though of gods word ) within the bounds and precincts of the palace of the idolatrous kings of israel . § . the last memorable mention that we finde of beth-el , was when iosiah burnt the bones of the idolatrous people on the a altar there . some will say , he shewed little wisdome , and less valour therein , to encounter dead corps . yea the living found more offence by the stinking , then the dead felt pain by the burning of these bones . nor was the alteration thereby produced of so great moment , seeing otherwise it would have been dust to dust , and now was ashes to ashes . but we must know that iosiah herein was not acted with principles of cruelty , but moved in obedience to gods command , to fulfill that prophecy some hundred years before foretold b of him . whilest here they were ransacking the sepulchers , behold one solemn grave ( the house of the dead ) with a stone thereupon , ( the door of that house ) with an epitaph on that stone , ( the porter of that door ) wherein , on enquiry appeared , that prophet lay interred , who long since forespake these passages now come to pass . his corps were c spared by special command , and with him quietly rested the old prophet ▪ so good is it , ( as we have d elsewhere observed ) to keep good company both in life , and after death . so much of beth-el , whence the border of benjamin e descended from ataroth-adar near the hill which lyeth on the south side of the nether bethoron . § . in assigning the west border of this tribe , we meet with a churlish difficulty in the text , drawing the bounds thereof so , as to f compass the corner of the sea southward . here the quere ariseth , how any part of benjamin could approach the sea , the tribe of dan being interposed betwixt it and the mediterranean . rabbi solomon seeking to salve it , by sea understands some great water in the west of this tribe : and what he affirmeth , is proportionable enough to the hebrew language , terming all watry confluences a sea , as we have formerly g observed . and indeed what is our english word mere used in the samesense more or less then mare , or a sea ? i should be inclined to the opinion , that the h pool of gibeon so eminent in scripture , and styled by ieremiah , the i great waters which are in gibeon , should be the sea herein intended . or if the words of the text calling it the sea , without any other addition , must be understood of the best and biggest in that kinde , ( and then can be no other then the mediterranean sea ) then i shall embrace the judgement of learned k macius , interpreting ● jam , not the sea , but the west onely ; which the propriety of the tongue will well endure . § . from this western compass ( aliàs sea in other translations ) the limits of benjamin range to kiriath-jearim , in the confines of this tribe , where the arke was leiger for twenty years , and whence david in a new cart intended to convey it to ierusalem . this kinde of carriage was but l philistine divinity , and a pagan precedent ; not so ordered by moses in the mount . when the arke was removed from shilo , it was m set on the levites shoulders ; and i see no reason , why they now should be too good to beare it . uzzah and ahio drive the cart . the former with his hand held it from shaking , such his store of good intention , and shaked it with his holding , such his want of due qualification . god striketh him n with death , and david is startled thereat . is this the arke placed so near the mercy-seat ? oh how terrible then is the throne of divine justice ! for a time therefore the arke is set to sojourne in the house of obed-edom , where the land-lord was blessed for go good a guest . diuine ordinances , according as their subject receiveth them , are either cordials or poysons , and the arke brought ●ither a curse or a blessing , whithersoever it came . § . the place where the former dysast●r happened was called by david perez-uzzah , nigh * nachons threshing-floor . we meet with many such places in the bible , distant from cities , where husbandmen housed , and beat out their grain , with severall inventions : namely , with the feet of o oxen treading out the corn . by the p wheel running over them . make them o lord like &c. with flailes , which having wooden handles , had their ends q armed with iron . but amongst all their devices , the lazy ●rick of the r wild irish , never entred into their braines , who to save pains , burn the straw , so to part the grain from it . § . so much for the borders of benjamin . come we now into the middle thereof , and first we finde the waters of iericho arising in the confines of ephraim . the naughtiness of this water was m●raculously healed by elisha putting salt into the s fountain thereof . i say miraculously , otherwise that ingredient would rather have made it more brackish , then less bitter . hence those waters run south-ward to the city of iericho ; whose name ( as munster interprets ) signifies having a good savour . indeed so delicious the situation thereof ( after the cure aforesaid wrought by elisha ) that , had profit and pleasure been disposed to solace themselves together , no fitter place could be found for that purpose . fragrant the flowers , sweet the herbs hereabout ; especially the garden of balsame , which in the days of the romans , occasioned a quarrell betwixt them and the iews , who manfully defended it . happy had the latter been , if as zealous for the substance , as for the shadow , losing their own lives to maintain the type , and taking away his life , who was the truth thereof . then balsame intended by nature for the curing , was the causing of many wounds , such deadly blows passed betwixt them . § . ioshua took this city with the sound of rams horns , whereat the wall fell down to the ground . it troubleth me not to conceive , how the rest of the wall falling flat , rahabs house built thereon should stand upright : seeing divine power , which miraculously gave the rule , might accordingly make the exception . a solemn t curse was by ioshua imposed on those who should rebuild the walls of iericho , so to obliterate the monument of divine power and justice . § . but iericho thus dismantled , maintained the reputation of a city , and though not walled with stone for defence , was shaded with trees for pleasure . it is called the u city of palmes ( where w ehud killed eglon the corpulent king of moab ) growing so plentifully round about it . these palmes , or date-trees had scaly barks , and the boughs were generally used , in all combates of manhood , to crown the conquerour . for , as x erasmus observeth , though severall countries , on sundry occasions , had distinct garlands of victory , made of laurell , olive , myrtle , oake &c. yet the palme-tree carried away the palme from them all , and was universally entertained as the embleme of triumph . the worst i wish these trees is , that they may never want store of weight , seeing naturalists observe , the more they are depressed , the more they flourish . § . but to return to iericho ; it is ill hollowing in the eares of a sleeping lion , and worse awaking that dust , which god would have dormant in eternall obscurity . see this in the walls of iericho , which hiel the bethelite affronting heaven built again : and according to ioshua's execration , y laid the foundation thereof in abiram his first borne , and set up the gates thereof in segub his youngest son ; that is , both the one and the other were then destroied by untimely deaths . strange that seeing his first son drop away , he desisted not from that design ; but such the precipice of bad projects , once step in , and seldome stop in the way of wickedness . nor can hiels presumption herein be excused , whatsoever is pretended in his behalf , being led to this act of contempt , by one of these considerations : h● mistook ioshua's curse rather for a patheticall expression , then propheticall prediction . he conceived the virtue thereof worn out and antiquated , after five hundred years continuance . he chose rather to bottome his memory on so famous a structure , then to build it on his posterity , as sooner likely to decay . however hiel got a curse , and iericho walls thereby , which afterwards grew to be a potent , and populous city . § . when the twelve tribes were divided into two kingdomes , iericho probably pertained to israel , as may app●ar , by the frequent conversing of eliah and elisha in this city , sufficiently known to have been subjects of the crown of israel . because hiel the bethelite ( beth-el belonging to israel ) built the walls thereof . because that building bears date in the z days of ahab , and is not accounted according to the reign of iehoshaphat , the contemporary king of iudah . afterwards it was in the possession of the kings of iudah , because in the reign of ahaz , the captives of iudah are said to be brought back to iericho unto their a brethren . when carried into babylon , no more then three b hundred fourty five of this city returned home , whose zeale c was very forward in repairing the walls of ierusalem . § . here christ cured blind bartimeus ; and zacheus the publican ( one of more state then stature ) dwelt in this city . long had he wished for a sight of christ : and curiosity in this kinde may sometimes open the door for devotion to enter in . but alass , he was so low , more likely in the crowd to loss himself , then finde his saviour , till on a suddain he grows a proper man , by getting up into a d sycamore tree . who dares say sycamores are always barren ? see one here loaden with good fruit . christ seeing him invites himself to his house , and down he comes ( with more speed no doubt then he gat up ) to welcome his guest with good cheer , though the last-course he brought in , was the best ; protesting a fourfold restitution of what he had wrongfully gotten , and giving the half of his remaining estate unto the poor . § . iericho was surrounded with plains on every side . hither king e zedekiah fled , and here was taken by the forces of babylon . the high-way betwixt iericho and ierusalem is infamous for theeving , because of the covert the neighbouring wilderness affords ; and great roads are the best rivers for robbers to fish in . wonder not , that so short a way betwixt two such eminent cities , was no better secured , seeing some hundred years since , little safer was the road betwixt london and saint albans : till an abbot of that place , cut down the woods , that afforded them shelter . reader , if thy occasion should call thee to goe from iericho to ierusalem , i wish thee well guarded ; but if it be thy hard hap , with the man in the gospell ( be it history or parable ) to be robbed and wounded with theeves , mayst thou meet with some good g samaritan , to convey thee to the inne , and provide necessaries for thee . § . west of the waters of iericho stood ai , a small city , but great enough to give a check to the full speed of israels victories . their losse here was inconsiderable h in it self ( no more then thirty six men ) but dangerous in the consequence thereof . such a flaw in their orient success , made them cheap in the worlds valuation ; and the canaanites ( who hitherto had charactred them invincible in their apprehension ) began hence to collect , and conclude a possibility of conquering them . yet not valour too little , in such as fought , but sin too much in some who staid at home , caused this defeat . achan was the man , who in fine proved no whit richer for the gold , or warmer for the garment he had stolen . detected by lot , accused by his conscience , convicted by his own confession , condemned by ioshua he ( with his i children and cattle ) is stoned by the israelites . the place of his execution was called , the vale of achor , or the vale of trouble , both because achan actively had troubled israel with his sin , and because here he was justly troubled by them in his punishment . as for the promise of the prophet in after ages , that the k vale of achor should be a door of hope , understand it mystically , that the most deplorable , and seemingly desperate estate of the church , is capable of comfort , and may in gods due time be changed into a prosperous condition . achan thus punished , how active are the armes of the israelites , when freed from the fetters of sacriledge ! ai is quickly conquered , the inhabitants thereof being trained by a dissembled flight of their foes , into their own destruction . now although such ambushes are now adays unambushed , by the generall suspicion all have of them , yet in the infancy of the world , when battells were meerly managed by main might , and downright blowes ▪ ( men bringing all their forces above board ) such lying in wait was an unusuall stratagem , and perchance may justly be referred to ioshua , as the first inventor thereof . § . west of ai , betwixt bethel and ai , was the l mountain , where abraham and lot long lived lovingly together , until the contest betwixt their m heardsmen , when the land was grown too little for their substance . poverty preserveth amity , when riches oft-times make rents among friends . hard by was the city and wilderness of beth-aven , which signifies the house of vanity . strange , that any should impose on a place ( except in derision ) so ill , and unlucky a name . yet , hath not solomon in effect set the same on the whole world ? n vanity of vanities , all is vanity . but beth-aven seems emphatically so called , for some eminent idolatry committed therein . neer this place o was the wood , wherein when it rained honey from heaven , the israelites being in pursuit of the philistines , wanted hands to receive it , having them bound up by sauls adjuration , not to eat before night . i see neither piety , nor policy , but humour and headiness in sauls resolution , the way to encrease their stomach , and not their valour . might not a cursory meal been allowed them , in a running march , a snatch and away ? here ionathans eyes were opened with tasting a little honey , and presently his eyes were opened again in a sadder sense , seeing himself liable to death for breaking his fathers command . nor was it his own innocence , and invincible ignorance of the law , but the peoples p interposing , which preserved him alive . yet will not this one good act of popular violence , make amends for those many mischiefs , which their impetuous exorbitances in other cases have produced . § . still westward of beth-aven stood gibeon , termed a q royall city in scripture , that is , a fair and princely place ; otherwise , in all the transactions , betwixt this city and the israelites , we meet with no king thereof , which may almost perswade us to believe it a popular state. the inhabitants thereof with clouted old shooes , mouldy bread , and a lie farther fetched then their journey , ( pretending their dwellings at great distance ) deceived the congregation of israel , then camped at gilgal . for the smoke of those ovens , wherein their bread was baked , might almost be perceived from gibeon to gilgal , which space ioshua marched over with his foot-army in one r night . however , hereby they saved their lives , onely for their cheat were condemned to be nethinims or deodands , that is , people given to god , to hew wood , draw water , and doe the drudgery of the tab●rnacle and s temple , a condition which they gladly accepted of ; so sweet is life in it self , though sawced with servitude . § . afterwards ioshua with a miraculous victory here conquered the five kings of canaan , which assembled themselves to besiege gibeon , in revenge of their defection to the israelites . never had battell more of god therein ; for , he himself brought up , or rather let down the train of artillery , killing the canaanites with hail-stones from heaven , as they t fled in the going down to bethoron unto azekah . here ioshua by his faithfull prayer stopt a giant in his full career , as he was running his race , staying the sun in u gibeon , to attend his execution on his enemies . this was ( as i may say ) the barnady day of the whole world , the very longest , which that climate ever did , or shal behold , when time was delivered of twins , two days joined together without any night interposed . how the heavens ( this extraordinary accident notwithstanding ) were afterwards reconciled to their regular motions , and how the expence of so much delay , was repaired by future thrift , ( i mean this staying of the sun made up in the years account , by his swifter moving afterwards ) i leave to be audited , and cast up even by astronomers . mean time , the foresaid five kings , were first hid , then stopt in the cave of w makk●dah , till ioshua commanded them to be brought forth , and his souldiers to set their feet on their necks ; and david in his expression many years after , reflecteth hereon , thou x hast given me the necks of mine enemies &c. then were those five kings hanged by makkedah a regall city of the canaanites , which at that time was taken , and the y king thereof destroyed by ioshua . § . to return to gibeon ▪ it was afterwards one of the four cities in this tribe , which were allotted to the z levites , and yet we finde it the theater chiefly of martial atchievements ; for , by the great pool in gibeon , in helkath-hazzurim , or , th● field of strong men , was abner with the host of israel worsted by ioab generall for david ; when asahel like a wild roe ( wild for his rashness , roe for his swiftness ) would not be perswaded from pursuing of abner , untill nigh the hill amnah which a lieth before giah , he taught asahel the great difference between a nimble leg , a and vigorous arme , smiting him with his spear under the fifth rib . § . under the same rib , at the great stone b which is in gibeon , ioab jealous of amasa his cousin-german ( ambition owns no alliance , and is onely of kin to it self ) bas●ly murdered him in this manner . ioab had a sword hanging on his loines , and as he went it used to c fall out , as if it sought for another sheath , b●sides what it had already . surely he had put his sword in this careless posture , thus to play at in and out , to cover his intended murder , under some pretence of casualty , as if in his embraces his weapon had hurt amasa by unhappy accident . vain excuse , for certainly his sword could not of its own accord have gone so quickly , and so deeply to amasa's fifth rib , had not ioab's steddy aime , both dispatched it on that errand , and directed it to that place . amasa thus slain , all the people passing by make an halt at his corps , and every d one that came by him stood still , untill his body was removed . where amongst so many gazing on his corps , it is hard , if the active thoughts of some did not light on this observation of divine justice , that he now was treacherously slain , who e so lately had been the generall to a traitor . § . in the beginning of the reign of king solomon , gibeon was a publick place of divine worship , where part of the tabernacle resided . here two things are carefully to be observed : the arke it self . this being taken out of the tabernacle at shiloh , by f hophni and phinehas , never returned thither again . but from the land of the philistines was brought back , first to g bethshemesh , thence to h kiriath-jearim , thence to the house of i obed-edom , and at last fixed and setled by david in zion under the cover of a tent k which he had pitched for that purpose . the tabernacle of the congregation , made by moses in the wilderness , wherein the priests attended about their publick sacrifices . this about solomons time was translated from shiloh to gibeon l as a place of more eminency , and conveniency for divine service , because a city of the levites . herein on the high place in gibeon , solomon offered to god a thousand burnt offerings , and ( which was most acceptable ) a zealous prayer requesting wisdome of god , who bestowed both it , and wealth , and honour upon him . thus those who chiefly desire grace , receive it , the jewell , and at least a competency of outward provisions , for a cabinet to keep it in . some hundred years after , by the great waters which are in gibeon , iohanan the son of karcah , recovered the remnant of the poor israelites ( left in the land after the captivity of babylon ) from ismael a prince of the bloud royall , who had a design to carry them away captive unto the ammonites . § . next gibeon , we take the city of gibeah into our serious consideration , not as nearest in situation , but in sound of like name , insomuch that some have unwarily confounded them , as the same place . gibeah lay in the south-west part of this tribe , whose inhabitants were bad men , but good m markes-men , right shooters ( at an haires breadth and faile not ) but unrighteous livers . a levite coming with his concubine , and servant from bethlehem , declined to lie at n ierusalem , because then an heathen city , and ( though late ) recovered this gibeah for his lodging place . alas , what was this , but from the fire into the furnace ? so excessive hot was the lust of the people of this city . but charity therein was as cold , none inviting this levite to his house , untill an old man ( and he also no inhabitant , but a stranger of mount ephraim ) coming from his work o out of the field at even , ( industry is the fewel of hospitality ) kindely entertained him in his house . in fine , the levites concubine was by violence , and variety of lust of the men of this city abused to death . oh the justice of divine proceedings ! she had formerly been p false to her husband . culpa libido fuit , poena libido fuit . by lust she sinned , and 't was just she should be punished by lust . this villany being declared to all israel , a consultation thereon , and first in a fair way the offenders are demanded to justice , which denied and all the tribe of benjamin engaging themselves to defend the damnable deed of those of gibeah , all israel resolves in a nationall war , to revenge so foul a murder . § . here let us stand still and wonder , that an army united amongst thems●lves as one man , most in number , best in cause , wisest in counsell ( as who had asked , and obtained the advice of god himself , to goe on in this war ) should once , and q again be defeated , by those who were weaker , and wickeder then themselves . i cannot challenge the army of israel , for any eminent sin at this time , yet it is very suspicious , they were carnally confident of the conquest , as accounting the victory eleven to one on their side . however the next battel made amends for all , wherein all the raveno●s wolves of benjamin , with their dams and whelps at home , were utterly destroyed , except six r hundred , and those cooped up in a grate , and hid in the rock of rimmon . thus , what once was sadly said of ioseph , was now more true of benjamin , s one is not . and the whole tribe had finally been extinguished , had not provision been made to supply them with wives , as formerly hath been t observed . § . afterwards this gibeah got the surname of u saul , because he was born , lived , and buried here . in this gibeah w of saul , five of his sons ( amongst whom a mephibosheth , but not the mephibosheth ) were in davids reign hanged up on the hill before the lord , to expiate sauls murdering of the gibeonites . how strangely was his zeale transposed , turning the back of his sword towards the x amalekites , whom god commanded him to destroy , and using the edge thereof against the gibeonites , whom by oath he was bound to preserve ? here rizpah sauls concubine , covered the corps of such as were executed , with sackcloth , to keep birds and beasts , from feeding upon them . § . her kindness to the dead is y told to king david , who not onely gave the hearing , but the practising of so good an example , and thereby is put in minde , to shew mercy to the bones of saul , and ionathan , which he fetched from iabesh-gilead , and buried hard by in zelah , in the sepulcher of kish his father . shewing thereby , that his former severity to sauls sons , proceeded from a publick desire of his subjects good , no private design of revenge upon saul , whose corps he so solemnly interred . corpses , which were but wanderers , whilest hung up by the philistines in their city of z bethshan ; were but sojourners , when buried by the gileadites in the land of gad ; but now became house-keepers , when brought home to the proper place of the sepulcher of their fathers . § . hard by gibeah was migron , a small city , where saul for some time abode with his men under a a pomegranate-tree . say not , that such a tree was a simple palace for a prince , for in those hot countreys , pleasant was the residence for some short time , under the shadow thereof . yea , our countrey-man b bede can tell you , how in our cold climate anno domini . augustine the monke held a synode under an oake ( called augustines ake in old english ) which tree our learned c antiquary placeth in the confines of worcester-shire . nor far from migron is ramah a city , built by baasha ( jealous that israel would revolt to iudah , d on asa's reformation of religion ) to stop all intercourse betwixt the two kingdomes . not that the armes of so small a city , could reach seventy miles from the sea to iordan , but because ramah was greater in command , then compass , as advantageously seated on some roade , or pass of importance . but baasha diverted by the invasion of benhadad king of assyria , desisted from his building ; for which he had made so large preparation , that asa afterwards repaired the neighbouring cities of geba and e mizpah , with the stones provided for the fortifying of ramah . § . mizpah now mentioned lay some eight miles hence , full north . when in the days of samuel , the seat of justice was annuall for the time , and tripartite for the place , mizpah had a fair share thereof , f samuel went from year to year , in circuit to bethel , and gilgal , and mizpah , lying in a kinde of triangle , and judged israel in all those places , and his return was to ramah , for there was his house . state-affairs made not the good man to forget his family , spending three terms abroad on the publick , and the vacation at home , on his private occasions . at mizpah was a generall reformation of the people , when conscious of their sins , and sensible of gods anger , they drew * water , that is , plentifully powred forth tears before the lord. say not , that their weeping was a labour in vain , and such drawing of water ( like the bottomless buckets of the belides never to be filled ) ineffectuall for the expiation of sin , because no sorrow for the same is sufficient , seeing , not the intrinsecall worth of their tears , but gods gracious appretiation of the sincerity thereof , gave the value to their weeping . afterwards at g mizpah , saul out of modesty , or policy , was hid among the stuffe ; when found there , fetched thence , and presented to the people for their king , appearing so proper a person , that nature might seem to design him for supremacy , and mark him out to be the h overseer of israel , who was higher then any of the people , from the shoulders , and i upwards . § . in the days of king baasa , asa king of iudah frighted with fear , made a l pit in mizpah for his retreating place . no doubt though the entrance , and orifice thereof , did promise no more then a plain pit , yet it was m contrived into rooms , and fortified with substructions therein , fit for the receipt of a prince . wonder not , that he would prefer to trust his person here , rather then within the walls of his royall city ierusalem ; for surely this was not provided for a place of long residence , but for present privacy , and sudden safety , if extremity required it . after the babylonish captivity , when gedaliah was made governour of those poor iews , which were left to till the land , he made n mizpah the seat of his short government . thus have i often seen fishermen , when they have caught store of fish , cast the young fry ( worth neither the keeping , nor killing ) into the river again , to be breeders , in which consideration the king of babylon preserved these poor iews from destruction . slight not gedaliahs place , as disgracefull to be prince of beggers , for they were in a thriving way , and probable to improve themselves to a considerable condition , had not ismael ( an unhappy name to persecute gods children ) a prince of the bloud , killed him , with his followers , casting them into the midst o of the pit that asa made , now employed to bury the dead , but first intended to preserve the living . in the days of the maccabees , whilest ierusalem was possessed , and profaned by the heathens , they repaired to p mizpah , as a place formerly fortunate for that purpose , to fast , pray , and beg gods blessing on their undertakings against their enemies . § . south of mizpah lay the place called eben-ezer , that is , the stone of help , so named , by way of prolepsis in scripture , sam. . . for otherwise for the present , this place was no help , but an hindrance to the israelites , who here were twice beaten in battell by the philistines . at the second time they brought their reserve , i mean the q ark , into the field , & carnally conceited , that victory would fly along with them , on the wings of the cherubims over the mercy●seat . but the sanctity of the ark did not so much invite , as the profaneness of the managers ( hophni and phinehas ) did repell gods gracious presence , from going along therewith ; insomuch as the ark it self was taken captive , and carried into the land of the philistines . some years after the philistines again charge the israelites in the same place , presuming on their former victories , that in so fortunate a place they might prescribe for conquest , but god turned the tide of their success . at the importunate suit of samuel ( whose prayers were more potent , then formerly the presence of the ark , to obtain victory ) the philistines were routed , and smitten untill they came under r bethcar . whereupon samuel set up a stone , between mizpah and shen , and called it eben-ezer , the stone of help , to perpetuate so memorable a conquest . § . hard by is beeroth , once a city of the s gibeonites ( with chephirah not far off ) afterwards the t birth-place of baanah and rechab , the murderers of ishbosheth . gittaim , whither those of beeroth u fled for fear of the philistines ( saith tremellius when saul was slain ) and west thereof bozer and w seneh two famous rocks ; which ionathan , and his armour-bearer clambred up upon their hands and x feet . they found it more hard to come at , then to conquer their enemies , & yet whē on the top of the rock , they were but at the bottome , and beginning of their work . they lay about them , and kill many in a little space : so that they climbed not up the hill so slowly , but their enemies more swiftly ran down the same . yet such as will justifie ionathans act herein , for pious and prudent , must retrait to divine inspiration , and plead , that his undertaking , as his success , was extraordinary ; otherwise , his tempting of god , had been higher then the rock he climbed up , to adventure himself on such visible disadvantages . § . anathoth remains , lying hence south-east ; a city of the levites , yea of the priests , yea of the high-priests , as a country-house , or retiring place for them out of the populous city of ierusalem . abiathar being deprived of the priest-hood , for practising with ioab , without the privity of david , to promote adonijah to the crown , was sent hither by solomon , and confined to live y privately on his own lands . hence plainly appears the power of the kings of israel over the priests ; which on their misdemeanour in civill matters were subject to secular punishment . but ieremy the prophet was the honour of anathoth , that man of mourning , famous for his book de tristibus , or most poeticall lamentations , ( though therein not bemoaning his own , but the publick calamities ) born z in this city . as here he drew his first ; so he was likely to have drawn his last breath , by the a conspiracy of the people against him , had not god frustrated their wicked designe . herein the observation of our saviour was verified , b a prophet is not without honour , save in his own countrey , and his own house . afterwards , ieremy at anathoth , bought the ground of his uncl● hanameel , with all the formalities of bargain and sale , most c sol●mnly passed betwixt them . is a prophet amongst the purchasers ? commonly they are as clear from money , as the apostles d were : but this was r●ally , yet mystically done , to fore●ell the future felicity of israel , after the captivity of babylon , that men should have setled estates , with good title to , and t●nure of their land therein . § . michmash is still behinde , which we name last , because not entirely in this tribe , but in the confines of benjamin and ephraim . it lay e cast from beth-aven , often mentioned in scripture as the rendesvouz , sometimes of the israelites in the reign of saul , and sometimes of the philistines . the latter marched hence three severall ways , on design to extirpate all the smiths in israel ▪ mark their motions , one party went the f way that leadeth to ophrah , to the land of shual , that is , north-east . another turned the way to bethoron , that is , full west . the third to the border that looketh to the valley of zeboim , that is , south-east . thus dividing themselves they compass their ends , and destroyed that necessary profession in all the land . for the musick of the harp may better be spared in a common-wealth , then the noise of an hammer . indeed , i have heard , that ther● is an house on london-bridge , built entirely of wood , without any mixture of iron-nailes therein , therefore commonly called none-such , for the rarity of the structure thereof : but if any could shew a civilized state extant on earth , without the use of smiths therein , it deserveth the name of n●ne●such indeed . yea , the very philistines themselves , ( though they suppressed the military use of smiths , for matter of armes ) permitted by way of lone their use to sharpen instruments of g husbandry . this not their bounty , but policy suffered , as being confident , when the israelites had ploughed , harrowed , & sown their ground , reaped , housed , and threshed their grain , then they at pleasure could come up , to take bake , and eate it themselves . § . so much for the cities in benjamin , of whose situation we have any certainty . a second sort succeeds , known by their conjecturall flags to be of doubtfull position . amongst these nob justly claimeth the precedency ( made by us within the compass of anathoth ) a city of the priests , where ahimelech victualled david , and his men , with h shew-bread , and armed him with the sword of i goliah , there kept for a monument . let others enquire , why davids sling was not rather preserved for that purpose , seeing it overcame the other . a false brother was present , by name , doeg ; nation , an edomite ; office , master of the kings heardsmen ; who told al , and more then all to saul , adding of his own head , that ahimelech k enquired counsell of the lord for him . sure i am , doeg enquired not of the lord , when he told so damnable an untruth . hereupon , saul condemned the priest to death , and others declining so savage a service , doeg undertook it , killing fourscore and five persons , which wore a linen ephod , besides women , children , sucklings , and cattel : so voracious was the appetite of his sword , and so active his cruelty , when in commission , and armed with authority . § . the readers eye may easily discover such places of uncertain position , as remain ; and amongst them zemaraim , so named in hebrew , for plenty of wooll thereabouts , as woollwich in kent , and woollton in dorset-shire are so called , upon the same occasion . we set zemaraim next bethel because named l next unto it , where some place the m zemarites ancient inhabitants of canaan , as we have formerly n observed . nigh this city was an hil o of the same name , whereon king abijah stood , & made his excellent oration ( wanting nothing but a better man to utter it ) immediately before his miraculous victory , over the army of ieroboam . the valley of craftsmen , which though it sounds like a countrey , yet , because going in p equipage with other cities , may be concluded a city it self . and what are valladolit , or vallis olitana in spaine , and vale-royall in cheshire , but the former a fair city & the latter ( lately an abby ) now a village ? i am almost of opinion , that this valley of craftsmen , took its denomination from solomons work-men , of whom we q read , that in the plain of iordan in the clay ground , they cast all the brasen vessels of the temple , did not the position of that place , ( whereof before ) lie a little more north-ward . we conclude with zeboim , not the same with that city , first r burnt , then drowned in the daed-sea , but another probably built not far thence , near the influx of iordan into the dead-sea . § . s s●imei the son of elah was solomons purveyor in benjamin : the armes of benjamin were gules , a wolfe salient argent , in allusion to iacobs words , he shall t ravin as a wolfe , in the morning he shall devoure the prey , and at night he shall divide the spoil . surely the conformity hereof was not found in the person of benjamin , who appears rather lamb-like , then wolvish , in that little left of him in scripture . some conceive , they have found the resemblance in the two sauls of this tribe , the one persecuting david , the other the son of david ( christ in his members ) with raging cruelty . but to wave the various rabbinicall conceits hereof , certainly , this ( as al other similitudes of this nature ) is not to be sought , in the disgraceful , but commendable qualities of a wolf. thus , when god saith of himself , u behold i come as a thief , it is not meant , injuriously , fraudulently , mischievously ; but secretly , suddenly , irresistibly . this premised , though wolves and foxes generally hear ill in scripture , yet the former excell in sight , descrying things at great distance ; in sleight , of excessive agility of body ; & in might , very strong , in proportion to the bulk thereof . all which properties discover themselves in the benjamites , quick sighted , steady w handed ( witness their good mark-men ) and stout-hearted ; in a word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , so that both their valour and success are foretold , in this blessing bestowed upon them . here the map of judah is to be inserted . the tribe of ivdah . chap. . § . iudah , fo●rth son of iacob by leab his wife , was generally a well-natured man , a endevouring preservation of his brother ioseph , and an excelle●t speaker , being the b mouth for the rest of his brethren , in his eloquent oration to ios●●h . not that these his good qualities ( which otherwhiles were allayed with lust c and cruelty ) were the causes , bu● rather the effects of gods preferring him above the rest of his brethren . of this tribe , threescore d and fourteen thousand and six hundred canne out of egypt ; all which deservedly dying in the wilderness for their disobedience , the next generation descended from them , being threescore and sixteen thousand and five hundred , possessed the land of canaan . § . iudah ( saith the e scripture ) prevailed above his brethren , and of him came the chiefe rulers , so that he may be traced all along by the footsteps of his soveraignty . whilest they were in th● wilderness , god ordered , that the standard of iudah should pitch first o● the f east side of the tabernacle towards the rising of the sun. perchance , to denote that the g sun of righteousness arising with healing in his wings , should be extracted from that tribe . when ioshua was dead , and the childre● of israel asked of the lord , who shall goe up first for us to fight against the candanites ? it was answered , h iudah shall goe up . othniel the first judge was hence descended , and david , in whose royall line the crown lasted for above four hundred years : and after the return from captivi●y , zorobabel of the tribe of iudah is honoured with the style of i governour , which office for some time continued in his family . in a word ( besides princes ) so puissant was the tribe in generalls , ioab , abishdi , amasa &c. statesmen , caleb , ahitophel ; and prophets , nat●an , amos , micah ; that in dignity , as in strength and number it surmounted all the rest . yea , napthali's fearfull hinde durst not bellow ; nor issachars patient . ass bray ; nor ephraims strong oxe low ; nor benjamins cruell wolfe howle ; nor dans cunning serpent hiss , if iudah's princely lion was pleased to roare , as commander of all the beasts of the field and forest . § . however , i dare not ( with some ) interpret iacobs solemn prophecy , the scepter k shall not depart from iudah , nor the law-giver from between his feet , untill shiloh come , of a constant soveraignty immoveably fixed in this tribe till the birth of our saviour : a tenet unteinable with truth , seeing of the many judges in israel , but two of this tribe ; saul , the first king , of benjamin , and the maccabees of the tribe of levi , who after the captivity attained to kingly honour amongst the iews . rather we understand iacobs words of the whole nation , ( whom he in the spirit foresaw , should in process of time be called iews , as the land iudea , from iudah ) and expound them to be a prediction , that the iews should never totally , and finally lose the visible being of a kingdome , or common-wealth , with a form of government amongst themselves , ( though often changed and altered in the manner , obscured and eclipsed in the lustre , confined and emparied in the power thereof ) untill messiah should be manifested in the flesh . which came to pass accordingly , when the iews at our saviours birth ( and more completely at , and after his death ) had lost all shadows of a free state , totally inslaved to the romane emperour . to whom alone b●longed , the militia with the castle , giving martial-law to the temple it self . coine , stamped with the image and superscription of l cesar. customes , collected , yea extorted by his publicanes . power in causes capitall , by the priests own confession , m it is not lawfull for us to put any man to death . and the prophecy of iacob thus expounded , is both clear in it self , and according to the interpretatio● of the n ancients . § . this tribe had dan and simeon on the west , benjamin on the north , the wilderness of paran o● the south , and the dead-sea on the east . extending east and west , welnigh fourty miles ; but from cadesh-barnea to ierusalem was about sixty six . where in this countrey was conteined a mountainous land , but fruitfull with all commodities for pleasure and profit . we begin with the dead-sea , iudah's eastern boundary , and so shall proceed to ●●rround it in our description . § . this was o once a fruit●ull countrey , called the vale of siddim , even p as the garden of the lord , paradi se it self . too like indeed thereto , both for the pleasure thereof , and se●pent therein , the spreading wickedness of the vicious sodomites . lot chose to live here , not because the people were well nurtured , but the place well ●vatered ; though better watered ( no doubt ) during his living there , with his teares , from a soul q vexed with their filthy conversation . he lost by his dwelling among them , for whose sins he was carried r captive by chedorlaomer ; they gained by their dwelling so near him , for whose sake they were rescued by his uncle abraham . yea , afterwards abraham endevoured to save the whole city of sodome , beating down the price of gods justice as low , as possibly it might consist with his honour , to s ten righteous men : and yet that too high a rate for the piety of sodome to reach , so general was the wickedness therein . hereupon , sodome , with three neighbouring cities , t gomorrah , admah , and zeboim , was destroyed with fire and brimstone from heaven , and thereby the whole countrey turned into a standing stinking lake . § . some will say , it was strange , that fire should beget water , a combustion produce an inundation . more proper it had been , that such an inflammation should have left and aetna , hecla or vesuvius behinde it , fuming , if not burning always . the rather , because next morning this place presented it self to the eyes of abraham , as the smoke of a u furnace . but such must know , that when the fire was once out : the countrey by nature was low and levell , being a depressed plain , and so more subject to drowning . iordan ( running through this vale , and there sinking into the ground ) had a quality in the first moneth to w overflow his banks , and so prone to occasion a deluge . probably , the river was formerly bridled with artificiall banks , which either were then broken down with that tempest , or afterwards decayed by degrees , when the people were destroyed . iordan , in the vacancy of the inhabitants , having got violent possession , fenced and fortified himself in the slime-pits , ( as in so many castles ) whereof great x plenty in that place , and could not afterwards be ejected . thus his title to this plain , though at first an unjust usurpation and incroachment , is made lawfull by the prescription of three thousand years possession . § . this sea is known by severall names . . the dead-sea , either because the charnel-house of so many dead carcasses then destroyed therein ; or , because it kills all creatures coming into it ; or lastly , because dull and dead , not enlivened with a tide , or quickned with any visible motion , one main cause of the offensive savour thereof , laziness disposing men to lewdness , and waters to putrefaction . . the y salt-sea salt indeed , from the sulphurous combustions first occasioning it . . by greek writers it is termed the asphaltite-lake from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or bitumen , growing plentifully thereabouts . this bitumen ( we are fain to retain the latine word , our land neither affording the thing , nor our language the name to signifie it ) is a clammy , glutinous substance , usefull in physick to astringe , in surgery to consolidate . used by the rich as morter to build , ( as in the tower of z babel ) by the poor as oile to burn , therfore called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in hebrew ; quickly kindled , hardly quenched , flaming far and long , as partaking much of pitch , and more of brimstone in the nature thereof . and such as could not goe to the cost of richer spices , used it for imbalming their dead , being a great drier , and so preserver from corruption . § . this salt-sea was sullen and churlish , differing from all other in the conditions thereof . david speaking of other seas , saith , there goe the ships , a and there is that leviathan which thou hast made to play therein : so instancing in the double use of the sea , for ships to saile , and fishes to swim in . but this is serviceable for neither of these intents , no vessels sailing thereon , the clammy water being a reall remora to obstruct their passage ; and the most sportfull fishes dare not jest with the edged-tools of this dead-sea ; which if unwillingly hurried thereinto by the force of the stream of iordan , they presently expire . yea , it would kill that apocrypha-dragon , which daniel is said to have choaked with lumps of b pitch , fat , and hair , if he should be so adventurous to drink of the waters thereof ; so stifling and suffocating is the nature of it . in a word , this sea hath but one good quality , namely , that it entertains intercourse with no other seas ; which may be imputed to the providence of nature , debarring it from communion with the ocean , lest otherwise it should infect other waters with its malignity . nor doeth any healthfull thing grow thereon , save onely this wholesome counsell , which may be collected from this pestiferous lake , for men to beware how they provoke divine justice , by their lustfull and unnaturall enormities . § . heathen writers , tacitus and pliny , take notice of this lake , with the qualities thereof , but especially solinus , whose testimony ( but with some variations from scripture ) we thought fit to insert , and translate , though the latter will scarcely be done , without some abatement of the native elegancy , and expressiveness thereof . longo c ab hierosolymis recessu tristis sinus panditur , quem de coelo tactum testatur humus nigra , & in cinerem soluta . duo ibi oppida , sodomum nominatum alterum , alterum gomorrhum . apud quae pomum gignitur , quod habeat speciem licèt maturitatis , mandi tamen non potest . nam fuliginem intrinsecus favillaceam ambitio tantùm extimae cutis cohibet : quae vel levi tactu pressa fumum exhalat , & fatiscit in vagum pulverem . a good way side of ierusalem lies ope a melancholy bay , which the black soil being also turned into ashes ▪ witnesseth to have been blasted from heaven . in it are two towns , the one called sodome , the other gomorrah . wherein grows an apple , which though it seem fair and ripe , yet cannot be eaten . for , the compass of the outward rinde onely , holds within it an ember-like soot : which being but lightly pressed , evaporates into smoke and becomes flittering dust . § . but lot was preserved , and god is said therein to have d remembred abraham , though he might have seemed to have forgotten him , in refusing to grant to spare sodome at his request . thus , though divine providence may denie good mens prayers in the full latitude of their desires , he always grants them such a competent proportion thereof , as is most for his glory , and their good . lot with his wife are enjoined onely not to look back , wherein she disobeyed the commandement , either out of high contempt : yet seeing for the main she had been a good woman , accompanying her husband many miles from his native to a strange countrey , meerly depending on gods providence , our charity believes her fact proceeding rather from carelesness , or incogitancy , having for that instant forgotten the command ; or curiosity , to behold the manner of so strange , and suddain a destruction ; or infidelity , not conceiving it possible , so great a city could be so soon overthrown ; or covetousness , when she thought on the wealth she had left behinde her ; or compassion , hearing the whining of swine , braying of asses , bleating of sheep , lowing of kine , crying of children , shrieking of women , roaring of men , and some of them of her own flesh and bloud . were they any , or all of these , back she looked , and was turned into a c pillar of salt , which , saint hierome saith , was extant in his age-mean time , how sad a case was lot in , bearing about him life and death ? one halfe of him quick , lively , and active ; the other halfe , ( his wife , both making but one flesh ) so strangely , and suddainly , sensless , dead , and immoveable . § . not far off is the city of zoar ( littleton in english ) so named by lot , whereas formerly it was called belah . i say by lot , who was the best benefactor to this place , which otherwise had been sent the same way of destruction , with the other four cities , had not his importunity f prevailed with god , for the sparing thereof . yet i finde not any monument of gratitude made by the men of zoar , to the memory of lot their preserver ; yea , they would not afford him a quiet and comfortable being amongst them , insomuch that he g feared to dwell in zoar. either suspecting that they would offer violence to his person , or infect his soul with their bad example , or that he might be involved in their suddain destruction , as a wicked place spared , not pardoned by god , and allowed to himself for his present refuge , not constant habitation . their ill usage of so good a man , mindes me of solomons observation , h there was a little city and few men within it , and there came a great king against it , and besieged it , and built great bulwarks against it . now there was found in it a poor wise man , and ●e by his wisedome delivered the city , yet no man remembred the same poor man. no more then lot was remembred in zoar , though the tutelar saint thereof . but his clear conscience , in free doing this courtesie , rewarded it self in doing it ; whilest mercenary souls , working onely for the wages of thanks , often lose their labour , especially in this ungratefull age . § . from zoar , lot removed to a neighbouring i mountain , and dwelt in a cave therein , which is shown to travellers at this day . now , an hole in an hil could hold him , and all his family , whose substance formerly was so great , the whole countrey could not afford room for his flocks and heard-men , without k striving with those of his uncle abraham . here made drunken by his daughters practise upon him ▪ with them he committed incest . it is grace , not the place , can secure mens souls from sin , seeing lot fasting from lust in wanton and populous sodome , ●urfeited thereof in a solitary cave ; and whilest he carefully fenced the castle of chastity , even to make it impregnable against the battery of forein force , he never suspected to be surprised by the treachery of his own family . § . so much for pentepolis , once a countrey of five cities , now all turned into one lake . come we now to survey the particular limits of this tribe . that maxime , qui bene distinguit , bene docet , holds most true herein : the well distinguishing of bounds , conduceth much to the true knowledge of this countrey ; especially , seeing the holy spirit hath been so exact in assigning them . where god is pleased to point , for man not to vouchsafe a look , sheweth , that proud earth valueth his eyes , as more worth then the hand of heaven . § . the borders of iudah with all their particular flexure are thus described in l ioshua . east . south . north. west . the salt-sea . from the south-side of the salt-sea , to the going up of acrabbin . thence to the wilderness of zin . thence to the south-side unto kadesh-barnea . thence to hezron . thence it went up to adar . thence fetched a compass to karkaa . thence it passed to azmon . thence unto the river of egypt . thence went out at the sea. observe we , that these south bounds of iudah , are for the main the same with the south limits of the whole land , assigned numbers . from the end of iordan at the salt-sea to beth-hoglah thence by the north of beth-araba . thence it went up to the stone of bohan the son of reuben . thence towards debir from the valley of achor . so northwards looking to gilgal , before the going up to adummin , on the south side of the river . thence towards the water of enshemesh . thence to enrogel . thence by the vally of benhinnom unto the south of ierusalē . thence to the top of the mountain at the end of the vally of rephaim . thence to the fountain of nephtoah . thence to the cities of mount ephron . thence to kiriath-jearim . from kiriath-jearim westward it compasseth unto mount seir. thence it passeth along to the side of mount iearim , or chesalon . thence went down to bethshemesh . thence passed on to timnah . thence unto the side of ekron northward . thence was drawn to shichron . thence passed along to mount baalah . thence went out unto iabneel . thence the west border ended at the great sea. these west bounds of iudah , were afterwards altered , falling into the middest of the tribe of dan. now , as in the body of a man , if an inspection might be made into it whilest he is alive , every nerve , and artery therein ( then flushed up with the spirits ) is easily to be discerned , which after death shrink almost invisible , past discovering : so each small angle , and turning of iudah's bounds in ioshua's time , was then plainly to be perceived , which now adays ( the land long since , being in a manner dead , and desolate ) are not at all conspicuous , nor fall they under any accurate observation . § . amongst all these limitary places , kadesh-barnea is onely of eminency , whither the children of israel m came , and where they stayed some time , after their coming out of egypt , in the very edge and entrance of the land of canaan . thus that land was like a rich robe , whose utmost hem the iews were permitted to touch ( onely that their fingers might feel the fineness thereof ) but were denied to wear it , and remanded to wander another way many years , for the punishment of their infidelity . and thus many come to the kadesh-barnea of common illumination , who never attain to the true canaan of holiness here , or happiness hereafter . § . in describing this spacious tribe , we will begin with the eleven royall cities therein , whose kings were destroyed by n ioshua . these according to their dignities may thus be reckoned up : ierusalem , whereof largely hereafter . hebron . debir . libnah . lachish . adullam . geder . iarmuth . eglon. arad . hepher . these royall cities , though scattered here and there in this tribe , need no other herauld in our map , to proclaime them to the readers notice , being quickly found out by their coronets graven upon them . from these we shall proceed to other towns of eminency , reserving the rivolets , and wildernesses , to close this our description . § . hebron was the principall royall city belonging to iudah , seven years o senior in its building to zoan a city in egypt ; more anciently it was called kiriath-arba , that is ( say p some ) the city of four men , because of four patriarchs ( as they reckon them up ) adam , abraham , isaac , and iacob buried therein . but , i wonder any should delight in their own wild conjectures , when the text tendereth us a certainty herein , assuring us that this arba ( from whom kiriath-arba , or hebron was named ) was q a great man among the anakims . this city stood in the vale of mamre , so called from r mamre a person of quality in this place , who with aner and eshcol were abrahams loving associates , and valiant assistants , in conquering cheder-laomer , and rescuing the captive sodomites . abraham , isaac , and iacob lived here successively , and from the vale of hebron , ioseph was s sent on a loving visit to his brethren , when for his good will they sold him to the ishmaelites . § . hereabouts was that great entertainment made , wherein the covert of a t tree was the dining-room , the ground ( probably ) the board , abraham the caterer , sarah the cook , veal and welcome their cheer , angels in the shape of men , christ in the notion of an angel , the guests , and the last promise of u isaac the free-offering they gave for their entertainment . yea , in hebron isaac was born , suckled , weaned , persecuted by ishmael , till at last he mocked both himself , and his mother ha●gar quite out of his fathers family . § . near hebron was the cave of machpelah , purchased by abraham of ephron the hittite ( with the field about it , and all the trees therein ) at the price of four w hundred shekells of silver , for the burying of sarah , himself , and his family . for , here , isaac x ishmael though formerly the one perscuted the other lovingly agreed to bury abraham their father . iacob y esau though formerly the one designed the others death lovingly agreed to bury isaac their father . ioseph z and his brethren , though formerly they envied and sold him , lovingly agreed to bury iacob their father . and thus , though branglings , and brawlings may happen betwixt brethren when young ; all animosities ought to be buried in the grave of their fathers . § . in the time of ioshua a hebron had a king , whom he conquered , and subdued ; and afterwards this place was made a city b of refuge , and assigned ( with twelve moe in this tribe , and benjamin ) unto the c priests , the sons of aaron , who were above common levites , as employed in ordinary attendance about the tabernacle . herein god provided not onely for their conveniency , accommodating them with habitations near ierusalem ( as the place hereafter intended for his publick service ) but chiefly for their conscience , placing them in these two tribes , whom he foresaw would alone persevere in , when the others would apostate from the true religion . yea the priests had the best and biggest places in iudah , as hebron , debir , libnah , formerly royall , afterwards sacerdotall cities : god allowing his ministers large maintenance ; and indeed a beggerly clergy , is the forerunner of a bankrupt religion . § . but although the city of hebron pertained to the priests , the suburbs thereof by gods appointment belonged to d caleb and his posterity . this caleb was that young-old man , whose strength contradicted his years , so able and active at e fourscore and five , either for advice , or execution . but here he eate not the bread of idleness , being first to clear and conquer hebron ( before he could possess it ) from the giant-amorite-anakims dwelling therein . these amorites , s though ( as the prophet describes them ) high as the cedars , and strong as the oakes , had notwithstanding ( to follow this metaphor ) much wastfull sap in their mighty big bodies : whilst caleb ( all heart , as his name imports ) though less and lower , by gods assistance easily overcame them . if any demand , how came anakims hither , seeing hebron so lately was smitten by ioshua ? a learned g author answers , that it is probable , whilest ioshua afterwards was employed in the north in conquering the h canaanites , some remnant of the anakims which escaped his hand , did in his absence return , possess hebron , and put caleb to a new task of a second subduing them . § . david afterwards made hebron the metropolis of this kingdome ( as being the most eminent city of his own tribe of iudah ) and reigned almost seven years therein . in the third year of his reign abner repaired hither , with full intent to reduce all israel to his obedience , had not ioabs sudden murdering him frustrated his design . probably some mixture of jealousie might put ioab on this foul action , fearing to be outed of his office , that if abner made david king , david would make abner generall over all israel . certainly , revenge of his brother asahels bloud prompted him thereunto . ioab sending messengers to fetch abner back from the well of siriah , slew him treacherously as he was entering the i gates of hebron . § . forget we not that hebron , in the gate whereof ioab so basely and barbarously murdered him , was a city of refuge , * appointed by god for the saving of such , as had killed one unawares . did not ioab therefore , in such a place acting wilfull murder , in an high hand relie on his own greatness to beare him out in so bloudy a deed , as if he neither feared the justice of man , nor needed the mercy of god ? no wonder then , if many years after he k flying to the horns of the altar , was denyed the protection of that place , who formerly so cruelly , despightfully , and presumptuously had defiled the city of refuge with innocent bloud . § . thus died abner , very loyall to saul , whilest saul was living , and too loving to his l concubine , when he was dead . never man was killed more cowardly , or buried more honourably : david himself m following the b●ere , weeping as chiefe mourner at his funerall . in the same sepulcher the n head of ishbosheth was afterwards interred . though some jars were betwixt them whilest living , their dust well agreed in the same grave . nor durst the ashes of ishbosheth cross the others , who when alive ( though checked , and chidden by him ) o could not answer abner a word again , because he feared him . as for the bodies of baanah and rechab the murderers of ishbosheth , they had , by order from david , their hands and feet cut off , and they hanged up over the p pool in hebron . § . after the death of ishbosheth , all israel repaired to hebron to make david their king , whose severall numbers deserve our observation . out of q iudah six thousand , and eight hundred . simeon , seven thousand & one hundred . levi , eight thousand & three hundred twenty two . benjamin , three thousand . ephraim , twenty thousand and eight hundred . half tribe of manasseh on this side iordan , eighteen thousand . issachar , two hundred officers , and all their brethren at ther cōmandment . zebulun , fifty thousand . naphtali , thirty seven ●housand , besides a thousand captains . dan , twenty eight thousand and six hundred . 〈◊〉 , fourty thousand . reuben , g●d , and manass●h beyond iordan , an hundred and twenty thousand . behold here those tribes which lived farthest from hebron , appearing in the highest equipage ; as if they endevouring to be revenged on the distance of their habitation , purposely advanced with the greatest number . here it will be enquired , why iudah largest in dominion , next in position , nearest in relation , ( as davids native tribe ) made here the slenderest appearance of all the rest , benjamin alone excepted ; the thinness of whose numbers are excused in the text , because r hitherto the greatest part of them kept the ward of the house of saul . what! doth it fare with princes , as with prophets , that they are not s without honour save in their own countrey , and in their own house , that david found fewest attendants from his own tribe ? oh no , he was abundantly loved , and honoured therein . but , tostatus answers davids daily attendance ( both civill in his court , and military in his camp , and garrison ) hitherto chiefly consisted of the tribe of iudah . the rest of iudah remained at home , to make t provision , and give entertainment to this confluence of people from all parts . adde hereunto six thousand eight hundred were a sufficient representation of iudah , and moe not onely needless , but burdensome for the present , to pester hebron too populous already . the rest keeping home , and living hard by , were ready ( no doubt ) on competent warning , to come quickly , if need required , or david commanded their attendance . iudahs main work was done two years before , when david was solemnly made their king. and they now , rather spectators , then actors at his second coronation over all israel . now no less politick then thrifty were the other tribes in bringing their u victualls along with them , lest otherwise they should be held as occasioners of scarcity in iudah , and enhauncers of the prices of provisions . § . afterwards absalom , when he intended a rebellion against his father , chose hebron as the fittest city , from whence he meant to mount into the throne . hither he came under pretence to doe sacrifice , w with his chariots , and horses , and fifty men running before him : but , which was most to be pitied , he brought with him from ierusalem x two hundred men , which were ( as one may say ) loyall traitors , coming in the simplicity of their hearts , and meerly drawn-in to treasonable practises . but hebron proved not a place so succesfull to absalom the son , as formerly fortunate to david his father . this traitours soveraignty soon expired , when forsaken of god , man , and beast ( his own mule going away from him ) he was slain of ioab , as y formerly related . § . some ten miles south of hebron lay debir , anciently called kiriah-sepher z , the city of a book , conceived a canaanitish university . and although the giant anakims dwelling hereabouts , may be presumed but little bookish , yet civilized countreys , in all ages , have allowed such places for the education of youth , who are better unborn , then unbred . caleb proffered a acsah his daughter in marriage to any one that should conquer this city , which was accordingly performed by othniel his younger brothers son , and first judge of israel . what , were not the glory of god , and good of his countrey , enough to set an edge on his valour , but the promise of a wife needed also to whet his resolution ? no doubt the scales of his resolution went down formerly on the right side , before this match was cast in as overweight . it is no unlawfull bigamy of the soul , when wedded to gods glory in the first place , to embrace also therewith the b recompense of reward : and grand is the difference betwixt an c hireling whose minde is meerly mercenary , and him that works for his hire ; with othniel taking it ( not as the main motive , much less as the end , but ) onely as a welcome encouragement of his undertakings . § . thus all parties were pleased ; israel recovered debir , othniel got acsah to wife , she gained a blessing from her father , that blessing brought the possession of the upper , and nether springs along with it . know also , in after ages the south part of iudah was called caleb , probably from the large inheritance , caleb obtained in these parts , and puissance of his posterity therein . thus the egyptian giving an account of the passages of the army of the amalekites , confesseth they had been roving upon the coast that belonged to iudah , and upon the south of d caleb . § . libnah is the third in honour , of the nine royall cities in the days of ioshua , assigned afterwards for the priests habitation . long it continued loyall to the crown of iudah , untill in the days of iehoram ( that ungodly , unmercifull , unsuccesfull , unbeloved , unlamented king ) edom revolted from under the hand of iudah , unto this day , then libnah l revolted at the same time . was it casualty , or confederacy ( by mutuall intelligence ) that both thir defections bare the same date ? surely , breach of faith is a catching disease , yea infectious from one to another . but , how could the inhabitants of libnah , being priests , ( whose best livelyhood depended on their personall officiating in the temple at ierusalem ) subsist , being cut off from their service , and the salary thereof ? yea , did they not thereby necessarily apostate from their religion to god , desert his temple and their own profession ? except any will say ( easier spoken , then proved ) that at this present , not the priests , but some other persons were possessours of libnah . we finde not this city afterwards reduced to the kings of iudah , whereupon some m conceive , that henceforward it stood on its own bottome , as an absolute common-wealth . § . if any object it impossible , that libnah so small a city , should subsist here as a free state against all the powers of the kings of iudah ; let such look on little lucca , in italy , and less geneva , in france , defended by their foes from their foes ; environed with enemies on all sides , yet so , that rather then any one shall subdue them , all the rest will assist them . such probably , was the position , and politick state-poizing of libnah , seated in the vicinity of the kings of iudah , israel , and the philistines , ( not to say , egypt , though far off , might come in as a protectour thereof ) that it might make a cordiall of a self-subsistance , from the antidotes of its enemies . afterwards we finde n sennacherib fighting against libnah ( whence he sent a railing message to hezekiah ) but read nothing of the taking thereof ; yea , probably here the * angel by night did that memorable excution , slaying an hundred fourscore and five thousand of his numerous army . § . lachish must not be forgotten , whose o king was destroyed by ioshua . king amaziah conspired against by his subjects in ierusalem , fled hither in vain ; for , they sent after him to lachish , and slew him p there . it was a leading city in idolatry , infected from israel , and infecting of iudah . q micah prophesied in particular against this city , warning it to prepare for speedy captivity from its enemies . r o thou inhabitant of lachish , binde the charet to the swift beast ; she is the beginning of the sin to the daughter of zion : for the transgressions of israel were found in thee . and although we finde not lachish taken by sennacherib who s warred against it , yet it escaped not the fury of nebuchadnezzar , though one of the t last cities by him subdued . § . but ad●llam , another regall city in iudah , was more ancient ; where u hirah , iudah's fast friend , dwelt , though employed by him but as a pandar post factum , to carry tamar the hire of her whoredome . in a cave hereabouts repaired to w david , every one that was in distress , and every one that was in debt , and every one that was discontented , and he became a captain over them . was this well done of him to be protector generall of out-laws , thereby defying justice , defrauding creditours , defeating gods command , which provided , that the deb●er , if not solveable , should be x sold for satisfaction ? alas , his need is all that can be alleadged in his excuse . sure i am david y promised ( when in power to make his own choice ) that his houshold , or court , should consist of persons better qualified . however these men freely resorting to him , were better then those hired by abimelech , z vain and light persons , and as far to be preferred before them as want is more excusable then wickedness . yea , we may charitably believe davids consorts impoverisht not by their own carelesness , but their creditors cruelty . § . as for gedar it hath formerly been described in simeon , onely we will adde , that a baal-hanan the gederite was of this place , davids overseer over the olive trees , and sycamore trees in the low plain . this name of baal-hanan inverted is the same with hannibal that great generall of the carthaginians . see here the affinity of the hebrew , with the phoenician , or carthaginian tongue . wonder not that baal-hanan , or hannibal was a fashionable name for potent persons in these parts , ( we finde also a king of edom b so called ) seeing it signifieth a lord in grace , or , favour ; and our saviour hath told us , such as exercise authority over others are called c gracious lords . as for i●rmuth , eglon , and arad , we read nothing of them remarkable , since their severall kings were destroied by ioshua . of hepher we shall speak more properly in the close of this description . § and now , what a fall must our description have , from the cities of kings , to the manor of a clown ; the fruitfull carmell not far from the dead-sea ? here folly , and wisdome dwelt under the same roof , sate at the same table , slept in the same bed , nabal and abigail . are matches made in heaven , and was abigail so ill beloved there , to be condemned to such a choice ? surely , god saw it most for his own glory and her good , for the emprovement of her patience . this nabal proved himself a perfect miser , both by his niggardliness to david , and prodigality of the d king-like dinner he made to his shepheards . but both he and his family had been utterly destroyed by david , had not the discreet mediation of abigail been seasonably interposed . § . after his gluttonous supper abigail next morning serves nabal with a thrifty breakfast , telling him of the great danger he so narrowly had escaped . hereupon e his heart dyed within him . thus some drunkards have been said to have swooned when sober , at the serious review of such perils they so neerly escaped in the fits of their distemper . probably feare encreased his sadness , suspecting to fall into a relapse of davids disfavour , and that his anger might revert to give him another visite hereafter . thus the wrath f of a king ( though but in reversion ) is as the roaring of a lion. yea , nabal became as a stone , and no wonder , being little better then a stock before , such his senseless stupidity . but , though he was a churl in his miserable living , he was bountifull in his seasonable dying , freeing abigail from an unequall yoke , and fitting her with an husband better suiting with her deserts , even david himself . § . but , carmel had not such a fool , but that g giloh hard by had as wise a man for the owner thereof , even oraculous ahithophel . this was he that gave the wholesomest , but hushai the toothsomest counsell to absalom , best pleasing the palate of a vainglorious traitour . ahithophel advised as a cruel hunter , that david should presently be h pursued , not giving him any breath , but either running him down outright , or killing him in the form , where they should finde him : hushai i counselled to prolong the sport for their greater pleasure ; and , seeing all the game was surely in their own hand , to give david the larger law , to shift away a while for himself , that so he might be put to death in the greater state , and with more ceremonious magnificence . ahithophel seeing his counsell neglected at court , and foreseeing ( in the causes ) absaloms ruin , and davids return , to prevent farther shame , and save the executioner the paines , fairly went home , set his house in order , and k hanged himself . § . tekoah is not far off , where a wise woman once lived ( the subtilest subtilest l manager of ioabs design to david , for the bringing back of absalom ) and a wiser man m amos , called from an heardsman , and a gatherer of wild figs to be a prophet . near tekoah iehosaphat obtained a memorable victory against the children of ammon , moab , and mount seir , though at the first hearing of their coming , iehosaphat is said to have been n affraid . did he not discover much cowardice herein , considering what multitudes of men iehosaphat at that time did command ? namely , under o adnah the chief of iudah three hundred thousand mighty men of valour . next to him p iehohanan captain over two hundred and fourscore thousand . next him q amaziah with two hundred thousand mighty men of valour . and of benjamin r eliada with two hundred thousand armed with bow and shield . next him s iehoshabad with an hundred and fourscore thousand ready prepared for the war. what need then iehosaphat fear ( except as in gideons case suspecting he had too t many for god to give victory by ) having an army ( if well disciplined with advantage of time and place ) able to to encounter all mankind , especially on the defensive side , to make good their own countrey against any invasion ? § . it is answered , the suddenness of the news might adde much to his fright , that an enemy was come into the bowels of his countrey u [ behold they be in hazeron-tamar , which is engedi ] before the first intelligence was brought thereof . secondly , iehosaphat feared not so much his foes , as his faults , guilty to himself of great offences , ( good men the less sinfull ; the more sensible thereof ) and chiefly of his matching at home , and marching abroad with the idolatrous family of ahab . lastly , those vast numbers of his souldiers lately specified , were not all at any w one time , but severally , and successively , during the five and twenty years of iehosaphat his reign . wherefore those words in the list of iehosaphat's generalls thrice repeated , next him , next him , next him , imply not a gradation in honour , as if all of them , though subordinately , were extant together , but import a succession of time , the latter entering with his men on the office of a generall , after the displacing , or death of the former . § . however , iehosaphat puts his people into a penitent posture , falling to fasting and prayer , and obtains a memorable conquest , which was purely heavens donative , sine cura , without mans care , cost , or charge to atchieve it . prince and people stand still , look on , believe god , sing psalmes , accounting their conquest gotten , because promised by the prophet . mean time , their enemies amazed with x ambushments of gods setting , fall foul one on another , till moab , and ammon had destroyed , first the edomites , then themselves . three days are the men of iudah employed in gathering the spoile , and so return to ierusalem with wealth in their hands , joy in their hearts , musick in their mouths , having left behind them the name of y berachah , or blessing , imposed on the place , where this celestiall victory was bestowed upon them . § . but now it is high time that we enter on the severall stages and removalls of david in or near this tribe , after that he ( having formerly suffered much from saul as a private person ) began to prince it , and to stand on his guard . the text saith he and his men went a wheresoever they could go . david herein being like the son and lord of david , who b had not where to lay his head . indeed david confesseth that god made the stony rocks for the c conies , but yet he himself was glad to be their in-mate , and share with them in their d habitations ; and yet his soul was never so discomposed in any hole or cave , but that in the darkest of them he could see to make psalmes , and praise his maker . no place came amiss to his pious soul , above or under ground , all alike to him to serve his god therein . now seeing it is davids expression of himself , that he was hunted as a e partridge on the mountains : partridge , a bird innocent whose fine flesh is its greatest guilt , and importent , ( not armed with beak or talons ) whose chiefe might consisteth in the flight thereof : now whilest saul followed him , we will follow davids metaphore in our ensuing description . but be it premised , that saul was no fair faulconer , who more desiring the prey then the sport , came with his nets and setting dogs , with full intent to kill david wherever he might catch him . § . we begin at the cave of adullam ( which we may call his nest ) wherein he composed the fifty seventh , and the hundreth fourty second psalme . hence he made wing , taking a long and strong flight to mizpah in the land of moab . here the partridge shewed much of the stork in him , feeding his parents , and taking order with the king of moab for the maintenance of his f father and mother . § . hence ( by the advice of the prophet g gad , not to trust himself again in the cave of adullam ) by the forest of h hareth to the city of keilah . the inhabitants whereof david had lately obliged to himself , by saving them from the philistines , notwithstanding which favour , god assured him of their intentions to i betray him to saul . if a skilfull gardiner can in the depth of winter , by beholding the bare root , and knowing the kind thereof , foretell when and what flowers the same will bring forth many moneths after , well may the god of heaven , the searcher of hearts , know mens k thoughts afar off , and infallibly conclude what they will be , before they have any being . base keilites , who had rather pick thanks with saul , then pay thanks to david to whom they were due ! thus deliver an ungratefull man from a danger , and he will be the first to bring you into the same condition . this sad occasion did spring the partridge hence . § . to hachilah hill in a wood in the wilderness of ziph , south of iesimon . l here ionathan came and renewed his amity with david . behold how they two is embracing one another , ( reader my phrase trespasseth on the rules of grammar , no● of friendship ) and made a covenant before the lord nor was it a small comfort to david , ( though saul , and doeg , and keilites , and ziphites were against him ) that , besides his own innocence , he had the prince , the priest , and the prophet , ionathan , abiathar , and gad , good mens prayers , and gods providence on his side . here the ziphites , sauls setters , having winded david ; saul ; to catch him , comes with his net , but either made too much noise , or too little speed , for before he came thither the partridge was flown . § . to the wilderness of maon . here onely a mountain was betwixt david and saul , and that not long likely to keep them asunder , seeing sauls men , being many in number , began to compass david round about . but seasonable ill news was brought that the m philistines had invaded the land , which made saul turn his forces another way against a forein foe . commendable his ingenuity , that he preferred rather to oppose an enemy of another religion , then to dispatch a domestick adversary , whom he now had at advantage . however judicious eyes behold not this as an act of sauls pity , but gods providence : hereupon david called the place sela-hammahlekoth , or the rock of division . § . hence he fled to the holds at engedi : here he had saul in a cave , and was seemingly courted by heaven , certainly urged by n men to destroy him , and yet he refused . o why is a golden opportunity put into a leaden hand , which wants activity to make use of it ? what hard heart could have thrust away so fair an advantage ? but oh , ( though all things else were here ) one thing was wanting , a lawfull command . a crown is over bought which costs a sin . david durst not kill him , onely he cut off the skirt of his garment , and withall felt a greater gash in his o conscience , then he made in sauls clothes , for being too bold with gods anointed . this courtesie of david in sparing his life , made saul half a convert , drawing p tears from his eyes , fair words from his mouth , but what intentions from his heart , he onely knows , that knew the secrets thereof . it is suspicious that sauls truth therein was not much , because davids trust therein was none at all ; who ( notwithstanding the court-holy-water of sauls tears ) gat him and his men again up into the q hold . § . hence david took a voluntary flight unto carmel . here the partridge was like to turn hauke , and become a bird of prey , to kill all the the innocent family of r nabal , ( as we have already observed ) had not that god who formerly protected him from sauls , here preserved him from his own sword , and from s avenging himself with his own hand . § . hence he fled back again to hachilah hill , which is before iesimon . here the ziphites bring saul second tidings of his being there . so boundless was the stock of their malice , no danger of breaking , who though they failed at their first return , would adventure again . onely thei● malice did this good , that it gave david the occasion to make the fifty fourth psalme . here he had saul at a second advantage , finding him with abner and his men round about him fast t asleep , even as still as the spear and cruse of water that stood at his head . these david took away , but with intent truly to restore them after he had kept them a while 〈◊〉 monuments of his own integrity . hereupon saul ▪ a second convert , clears david , chargeth himself , prayeth for pardon , and promiseth amendment , whilest david having had experience of his former falshood , gives him the hearing , not the beleeving . for § . hence he flew to gath in the land of the philistines , and u saul sought no more again for him , leaving off his pursuit now the partridge had took covert in an enemies countrey ; whence he removed to ziglag , and thence made many incursions against the w geshurites , gezrites , and amalekites ▪ but withall telling king achish that he matched the clean contrary way against iudah and the friends thereof . here the partridge had in him too much of the lapwing , which by its hypocriticall fluttering pretends its nest far distant from the true place thereof . such dissimulation in david cannot be excused , must not be imitated . from ziglag he marched along with achish king of gath to aphek in the tribe of issachar , where he was dismissed and x cashiered by the philistines from any further service . returning home he found ziglag his nest spoiled , yea all his covie therein ( wives and children ) catched in a snare , as hath formerly been described in the tribe of simeon . after the recovery of his losses , from ziglag § . he flew to hebron ▪ here the partridge turned eagle , being solemnly made soveraign first of iudah , then of all israel . and now being quietly setled in his throne , he may joyfully sing , many are the afflictions of the y righteous , but the lord delivereth him out of them all . § . but besides these eminent and noted gests of david he had many more which were obscure and intermediate , as appears by the list of the places z where he haunted , and to whom he sent part of his spoils taken from the amalekites , viz. bethel in benjamin . south ramoth in simeon . iattir in iudah a levites city . aroer in the tribe of gad. * siphmoth . eshtemoa a levites city in iudah . rachal . cities of the ierahmeelites , ( descended from iarahmeel an a eminent man in iudah . ) cities of the kenites . hormah in simeon . chorashan in simeon . in iudah . athach . hebron , eminent in iudah . as for siphmoth , rachal , and athach , because they appear not again in scripture , their position is unknown , but may be presumed in or near the tribe of iudah . the best is , though our tracing of davids travels may be imperfect , and we fail in the reckoning thereof , yet gods arithmetick is exact , and what is defective in our's , is supplied in his observations : b thou tellest my wanderings , put my tears in thy bottle , are they not written in thy book ? § . now besides the cities mentioned in our description ▪ many more remain which were obscure , without any memorable act atchieved in them : and are thus reckoned up in ioshua . towards the coast of edom south-ward , c twenty nine . in the vale , d fourteen in the first ▪ e sixteen in the second , f nine in the third , catalogue . on the sea two , g ekron and ashdod . in the mountains , h eleven in the first , i nine in the second , k ten in the third , l six in the fourth , catalogue . two by themselves , kiriath-baal and rabbah . in the wilderness , six . in all an hundred and fourteen . so that the tribe of iudah alone had more cities then all the island of crete , which had but just an hundred , and therefore called hecatompolis . but many of these cities were small , and a good share of them was given to the tribes of dan and simeon , as formerly hath been observed . but amongst such as remained to iudah let not * maresha be forgotten , ( in the north-west part of this tribe ) both because thereby , in the valley of zephathah , asa conquered † zerah the ethiopian , whose army consisted of more then a million of men , and because the prophet * micah was born therein . § . in saint hieromes time somewhere in iudah flourished a fair city called eleutheropolis : from which that m father measureth the distance of most southern places in palestine ; as he computeth the northern from legion a city in galilee . but ( the more the pity ) that father hath not acquainted us with the exact location of either of these two places . whilest adrichomius and others condemn saint hieromes carelesness herein , it better befits us to condole our own unhappiness , who cannot read the accurate distance of places in his book of that subject , because though he have lent us his characters , he hath not left us the true key thereof . § . the tribe of iudah had no great river therein , saving a little piece of gasping iordan now ready to expire in the dead-sea ; but with rivolets it was sufficiently stored , lending the brooks of sorek and bez●r to dan and simeon ; borrowing kedron from benjamin , whence it fetcheth its fountain ▪ and keeping the brook before the wilderness of n ieruel wholly for its own use , as rising , running , and falling entirely in this tribe . nor must that brook be forgotten , which i may call the brook of david , because being to encounter goliah , he took thence o five smooth stones ( store is no sore , especially not being sure , but his first might faile ) and furnished his scrip therewith . § . this was that goliah whose strength was equall to his stature , his armes sutable to his strength , but his pride above all . betwixt him and david first passed a tongue-combate . the one discharging ostentation , and presumption , which the other as quickly returned with faith and confidence in gods promises . come they then to encounter : see the lower man had the longer arme , who with his sling could reach death at distance to his adversary . the beaver of goliahs helmet was open : not that he thought his brazen brow sufficiently armed with its own impudence , but either that he might see , breath , and boast the more freely , or because he disdained to buckle himself against so unequall a match : the stone from davids sling flies directly to his forehead , whereby the giant is mortally wounded , and notwithstanding his speare was as great as a p weavers beame , his life was swifter then a q weavers shuttle ; so soon passed it away and he was gone , david cutting off his head with his own sword . § . many were the wildernesses in this tribe , as those of r zin , s ziph , t maon , u engedi , w ieruel , x tekoa , and y iudah lying south of arad . now as once it was the question of the disciples to our saviour , from z whence can a man satisfie these men with bread here in the wilderness ? so here it may materially be demanded , where did the men of iudah finde food to sustain themselves , whose countrey seems a heap of wildernesses cast together ? here we must know that the whole land of palestine was drest and kept like a garden plot , and inclosed into olive-yards , vine-yards , and arable fields , save some extravagant places which lay common , where wild beasts did harbour in the woods , commonly called wildernesses . such notwithstanding were full of fruitfull a pastures , and had fair b towns , though more thinly inhabited then other parts of the countrey ; so that this tribe was more frighted then hurt with the multitude of wildernesses therein . § . paramount over them all was the wilderness , having six cities therein , and was part of the c wilderness of iudea , ( extending also into benjamin ) wherein iohn the baptist preached : feeding here on locusts ( flying insects , d whereof four kindes were clean , and permitted the iews to eate ) and wilde honey . either such as fell down in e dews from heaven , or was made by wild bees , not civilized in hives , but nesting on the ground or in hollow trees . in a word , he was content with such course fare as the countrey afforded , his rough clothes being suited to his homely diet , and both to his hard doctrine of repentance . hereupon scandalous tongues condemned him for having a * devill , as afterwards they belyed our saviour ( using a more liberal diet ) to be a winebibber , so impossible it is to please affected frowardness either full or fasting . § . some make iohn baptist the first founder of eremites . but how little his precedent befriendeth their practise , who , not out of any impulsion , but meer election , delight to dwell in deserts , will appear by the ensuing parallel . hee , by immediate command from god to fulfill the prophecy of f isaiah . went into a wilderness ; a place more thinly peopled then the rest of the land . where he daily busied himself with preaching to multitudes of people repairing unto him . and at last did end his life in a place of greater concourse , even the g court of king herod himself . they , by dictates of their own fancy , following the principles of will-worship . goe into a wilderness indeed , conversing with solitariness , and shunning all society . where they bury themselves alive in laziness with the talents god hath bestowed on them . and binde themselves with a vow to live and dye in that solitary condition . behold here the large difference betwixt him and monking eremites . who , if men of parts , ought to help others with their society ; if of no parts , need to be helped by the society of others . yea whatsoever their endowments were , this running into the wilderness was but a bank-rupt trick , to defraud the church and common-wealth their creditours , to both which they stood bound by specialty of gods command to discharge all civill and christian relations to the utmost proportions of their abilities . in a word , though we stedfastly beleeve , that iabal was the father of all such as dwell in tents , because the scripture h affirmeth the same , yet for the reasons aforesaid , we utterly deny iohn baptist the founder and author of all those which live wilfully in hills and holes an eremiticall life . § . the son of hese● was solomons purveyor in * aruboth , to him belonged sochoth , and all the land of hepher . a land which lay , as we gather by other proportions , in the north-west part of this tribe . and indeed we finde a king of hepher amongst those which ioshua i destroyed , but dare not confidently averre him to have been of the tribe of k iudah . however , it appears that for the main , the whole body of the tribe of iudah ( with simeon lying therein ) fell not under any of solomons purveyour-ships . the reason whereof , if inquired into , may perchance be reduced into some of these considerations . it was referred to defray extraordinaries , on casuall entertainments , and occasionall solemnities ; or it was kept for the expences of the thirteenth , or intercalary moneth ( the product of the eleven supernumerary days ) which commonly was every third year inserted into the hebrew l kalendar . iudah might by speciall indulgence be exempted from such taxations ; either because ierusalem , the royall city , was principally seated therein ; and therefore to prevent scarcity of victualls in so populous a place , the court-purveyours went further off , that the city might be better provided ; or , because solomon did ease , and favour that tribe , whence he himself was extracted . this very probably was some cause , why , when the other ten tribes , grinded with grievous oppressions , deserted the house of david , iudah alone , as having formerly tasted of his fathers favour , entirely clave to rehoboam . § . the armes of iudah are gules , a lion couchant or , according to iacobs prediction , iudah he stooped down , he couched as a m lion , and as an old lion , who shall rouze him up ? this is a posture which that princely beast is pleased to accept for his own ease : otherwise no chastisement shall impose it on him , no force but his own free pleasure can make him to crouch . the analogy is obvious to every eye , the lion being the n strongest amongst beasts , which turneth not away for any . as iudah was the chief of tribes for number , strength and largeness of possessions , and the tribe of chiefes , so many kings , yea christ himself according to the flesh deriving his extraction from the same . here the map of the land of moriah is to be inserted . the land of moriah . chap. . § . because the countrey about ierusalem is very fruitfull of observable places , it is therefore here presented in an intire map. nor do we meet with a fitter , and more adequate name to express the same , then to style it the land of moriah , as it is named in scripture : a herein we shall onely insist on signall places of certain truth ; otherwise the work would be almost infinite : for what is said of the people of israel , b there shall not one be barren amongst them , is true of every petty place near ierusalem , not a hill , hole , stick , stone , cave , grave , but is pregnant with some history , and vulgar beliefe is the midwife to deliver it ; we will therefore confine our selves to scripture alone in our following description . § . we begin with the brook of kidron : which we may call the brook of reformation ; for often the current thereof carried away the reliques of idolatry ; once when the idol of his grandmother maachah was by king asa c burnt by the banks thereof ; again , when d in hezekiahs time the people ( no doubt by his command ) threw the idolatrous altars therein . thirdly , when the dust of the altars erected by king manasses , was by iosiah , cast into the channel of e kidron . i dare boldly say that the water of this brook , was no whit the less the sweet in taste , or clear in colour for washing away these monuments of superstition . however this kidron may be ranked amongst those rivolets whereof f iob speaks , my brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook and as a stream of brooks which passeth away ; not that the water onely slideth away , other succeeding in the room thereof ( which is common to the greatest channels ) but this very brook it self slides away in the summer and is dryed up , as having no fountain to feed it , but the waters running down from mount olivet ; thus kidron is the too lively emblem of our ●ouls , which having no naturall spring of goodness in themselves , flow no longer then they are watered from above , with the infusion of celestiall grace . § . this brook runs through the valley of iehosaphat , being a hollow dale interposed betwixt ierusalem and mount olivet , but why so named i finde no satisfactory reason alledged ; for i cannot agree to what generally is reported , that in this place iehosaphat got his miraculous victory over the g edomites , moabites and ammonites : because on serious perusall of the text , that battell appears fought far off in the wilderness of tekoah . many are of opinion , that as mount olivet shall be the tribunall , erected for the judge ; so this vale of iehosaphat shall be the gaol and bar where all offenders at the last day shall be arraigned , founding their conceit partly on the words of the prophet h ioel , i will also gather all nations , and bring them down into the valley of iehosaphat , and will plead with them there for my people ; partly on the expression of the angels to the disciples after christs ascension , i that in the same manner he should return again . but these are too low , carnall , and restrictive conceits of gods glorious judiciall proceedings ▪ it being improbable he would appoint the certain particular place , who in his wisdome hath caused the time to be concealed ; yea if one day be as a thousand years with god , why may not , according to the same proportion , the whole earth be meant by the valley of iehosaphat ? wherefore waving curious inquiries about the circumstances belonging onely to the judge to assigne , let us carefully provide our selves for those assises , the proper work for us to performe ▪ § . in this vale of iehosaphat , on the other side of kidron stood the village of gethsemane , so called in hebrew for the plenty of oile , that there was pressed out : but a far more precious liquor was once afforded in this place , which in the garden hard by , fell from our saviours face in his agony , k clods of sweat like bloud : surely the hea● of the weather had no influence on this his distemper : being the open aire , in so cold a night , that the stout servants of the high priest , though housed in a hall , found need of a fire to warm themselves thereat . l it was not then without cause that the paschall lambe was commanded to be eaten , neither raw nor sodden with water , but rosted with fire , as christ , the tr●th● of this type , was at this time bathed in his own sweat . here christ thrice conditionally begged , that his ●up might pass away , preferring three severall short prayers , before one entire continued petition ; partly that in a tripled suit his importunity might be more conspicuous : partly , to get breath , and gain strength in the intervalls : and partly , in the same time to visit his disciples , being never so busie about himself , but he was still at leasure to look how it fared with them . § . hither into this garden repaired iudas in the night time m with lanthornes and torches , ( no more light then needed in such a deed of darkness , otherwise it had been superfluous to seek the sun it self with a lanthorn ) to betray our saviour ; bringing with him a band of souldiers ( too many to attach christ as meer man , too few to encounter him as god ) from the high priest , gown-men , sword-men , young , old , iew , gentile , all contriving his death , as all sorts and conditions of people were afterward to reap benefit thereby : at the first all n fell flat down at the sound of his voice , demanding of them , whom seek yee ? if the report of a bare question gave such a blow , ô had his mouth been charged with a curse against them , what execution would it have done ! here peters wild love almost had done our saviour that harm , which the malice of his enemies might despaire to effect , by making him guilty not onely o● the breach of peace , but of a plain riot , by that dangerous wound he gave unto malchus ▪ whereby no doubt he had invited many swords about his own ears , had not the miracle of christs o quick cure restrained them ▪ this was that peter now so forward to draw his weapon , from whom afterward a word could not be drawn in acknowledgement of his master ; so unequally bea●s the pulse of blind zeal , either too fast , or not at all . § . from this garden kidron runs south-ward , and seems loth to behold on his western bank the hill before ierusalem whereon solomon befooled in his old age with his wives , built high places for chemosh and molech , the idols of moab p and ammon ; could not idolatry be content to whisper in a hole , but she must hollow on a hill , and with a brazen brow out face the temple , yea in a manner challenge , and defie it , to try which of them had the truest worship therein ? q thou shalt have no other gods before me , or , in my sight , is the first commandment . now , though all places are in the sight of an omniscient deity , yet this idolatry was done in the presence , of the presence of god , who more immediately and particularly is said to dwell in his temple : alass ! what an eye-fore were these high places to all the godly in ierusalem ? it spoiled the east and best prospect of all the windowes in the city , for none could see the rising of the sun , but withall must behold the rising of idolatry . adrichomius tells us that the hill whereupon these idols stood , was commonly called the r rock of offence , which name the scripture gives to our saviour himself , but in different consideration : christ was a rock of gods laying ; this of mans making : he a rock of offence unjustly taken at him by the wicked ; this too justly given by it to the godly . § . kidron continueth his course south-ward by the vale of saveh , or king vale : haply so called from two s kings meeting of abraham in this place , namely melchisedec , and the king of sodome ; the former with a blessing , the latter with a request in his mouth : yea let abraham at this royall enterview pass for the third king , seeing it is more honourable to make , then to be a king , who so freely here restored the subjects to the king of sodome . many hundred years after in this vale absalom then issueless ( as being before their birth , or rather after the untimely death of . his children ) erected a t pillar to perpetuate his memory . pilgrims at this very day passing by the place use every man to cast a stone upon it : and my request to the reader is , if he should ever goe thither , that when he hath first served himself , and satisfied his own revenge ▪ he would then be pleased to cast one stone more upon that heap , in my name , to express my detestation of so damnable a rebellion . § . hence the river kidron turneth his channell full east to finde out his way to the dead sea , and leaveth at some distance on his northern side the stone u zoheleth , whereon adonijah , who advanced himself to the kingdome , offered sacrifices , while the people cryed out , god save king adonijah ; but this echo was quickly checkt and countermanded with a lowder and greater , show●ed fourth from mount gihon , god save king solomon . wonder not that this latter noise was heard hither , at six miles distance , much befriended in the far and speedy conveyance thereof with a hollow vale of iehosaphat , reverberated with mount olivet , and improved in the sound thereof by the advantage of the waters of kidron ; besides it was mainly lowd in it self , so that ( though much of hyperbole must be allowed in the expression ) the earth w rent with the sound of it ; worse was adonijahs heart rent at the hearing thereof , who now exchangeth his hopes of a crown , for desire of life , which he requested and obtained by his submission to solomon . so ended the short government of adonijah never sleeping in his reign , which began after the rising , and ended before the setting of the sun. § . thus taking our farewell of kidron in this map , we pass over the current thereof to mount olivet , on the eastern side , so famous in scripture , consisting of three eminent tops . the most northern , hereon the cell of saint pelagia was built , leading there a solitary life some hundred years after christ : no doubt a devout woman , especially if her heart was as holy as her house was high . the middlemost , from which christ made his ascension to heaven , and after ages erected a fair chappell in memoriall thereof . the most southern , whereon the villages of bethany and bethphage , the house of simon the leper , the grave of beloved lazarus , with the barren figtree which christ cursed . all three over-spread with olive trees , ( whence it hath its name ) and plenty of palmes , of so quick growth , that those who cut down their x branches , when our saviour on an asses colt ( which with her colt was tyed hard by in the meeting of two ways ) rode to ierusalem , did no considerable trespass to the owners of those trees , so speedily they sprouted again . § . over the southern part of mount olivet david fled from absalom , for perceiving that his son by state-felony had stolne away his peoples hearts , he politickly resolved not to be pent in ierusalem ( where the land-flood of a popular mutiny , might presently drown him ) but to retire to the uttermost bounds of his kingdome , mean time giving his subjects leasure and liberty to review what they had done , dislike what they reviewed , revoke what they disliked ; that so on second debates they might seriously undoe , what on first thoughts they had furiously attempted : knowing full well that rebellion though running so at hand is quickly tyred , as having rotten lungs , whilest well breathed loyalty is best at a long course . as david was flying this way , the priests proffered their service to carry the y arke along with them ; indeed how could it well stay behinde , and what should the arke and absalom , religion and rebellion do together ? was it not fit , that as once it was joifully brought into ierusalem with davids z dancing : so now it should dolefully depart hence with davids weeping ? howsoever he accepted their good will , and on better a reason declined their attendance . coming b a little past the top of the hill , ziba meets him with a couple of asses , loaden with bread , raisons , summer fruits and wine for the refection of david and his company . but , ô the bran in that bread , rottenness in those raisons , dregs in that wine he brought , joining with them a false accusation of his master mephibosheth to be a traitour ; whilest , alass ! all the disloyalty that good man was guilty of , was onely his lame legs , his lying servant ; and his over credulous soveraign david did rashly believe this information . § . a little farther east-ward was bahurim , where shimei ( lord of that place ) cursed david , casting stones and dust at him . what meant the mad man thus to raile being within the reach of davids armies , except he intended to vent out his venome , and life together ? but causeless curses rebound on their authors , and ziba's gifts did david more harm then shimei's curses ; for those betrayed him to an c act of injustice , whilest these improved his patience . indeed his railing gave an alarum to the martiall spirit of abishai , who d desired a commission to take off the head of this dead dog ( blood so let out in the neck vein is the soonest and speediest cure of such a traiterous phrensie . ) but david who desired not that shimei should be killed for his words , but rather that his own heart should be mortified by them , by heavenly logick à majore ad minus , argued his own soul into e humility ; that seeing his son had conspired against him , the ill words of an open enemy ought patiently to be indured . well! let shimei know though he pass unpaid for the present , yet either david himself , or his executors , administrators or assignes , shall one day see this debt duly discharged . § . to this place of bahurim phaltiel the son of laish followed michal , his ( or rather davids ) wife , f weeping , when david demanded the restitution of her , as unjustly detained from him . wherefore all phaltie●● tears move no pity of mine ; caveat raptor , let him beware , who violently takes another mans wife ; seeing shame and sorrow are the issue of such ungodly marriages . here in a mans g court at bahurim , ionathan and ahimaaz davids intelligencers were concealed in this manner ; an equivocating covering was spread on the ground , pretending nothing but ground corn laid upon it , but having under it the reservation of a dry wel , into which the messengers were put , and by it a woman to manage the fallacy with the less suspicion : she tells the pursuers after them h that they were gone over the river , which nigh enrogell falls into kidron ; ô that i could in the same instant commend her loyalty , and condemn her lying ; which being impossible , we must be contented , successively first to praise her charity , and then to protest against her falshood . § . come we now to survey the south parts of the land of moriah , where we meet some seven miles from ierusalem with the famous city of bethlehem-ephrath : the first mention of this place we finde , was when iacob near to it buried his beloved wife i rachel , dying in child-bed . this was that rachel who said in her k fury , give me children or else i dye ( as if she would have had them begotten , conceived , bred , and born all in an instant ) and now she had not onely her fill , but a surfet of her own wish , had children and dyed . it seems , dying in child-bed her corps required speedy interment : otherwise ( no doubt ) iacob would have conveyed them to the cave of macpelah the solemn sepulcher of his family . she was buried by the high way , the ancient custome both of iews , and heathen , partly to minde passengers of their mortality , and partly to preserve the memory of the dead the longer , by so making their monument the more publick and visible . heathen used in like manner to interre their dead in high-ways : yea their sepulchers served to measure the distances of places . l hinc adeò media est nobis via : namque sepulchrum incipit apparere bianoris . — hence ev'n mid way it is for us : for near bianors tomb beginneth to appear . nor is it amiss to observe that the self same place where benjamin was born , and his mother buried , fell afterwards to the lot of the m benjamites , as if rachels body all the while had but kept possession for her posterity . § . bethlehem in hebrew is the house of bread ; principally so called in reference to christ , the bread of life , who in fulness of time was here to be born : otherwise time was , when in this house of bread , little bread was to be had , namely when god brake the staffe thereof in israel , by a n ten years famine . this caused elimelech with his wife naomi and her sons to remove into moab , whence after ten years stay she returned home to bethlehem with ruth her daughter-in-law , who here became an extraordinary o gleaner on the field of boaz. here harvest being ended , ruth by the advice of naomi , went afterwards to glean a husband for her self , and came in the night to the p threshing floor of boaz , to challenge in him the right of the next kinsman ; some herein will censure her carriage , to come at so unseasonable a time , to surprize a man for her husband : so that , se defendendo , to vindicate his credit , he must be forced to marry her . but let these dainty dames , which condemn ruth herein , first follow her faithfulness in attending , then imitate her industry in maintaining her mother-in-law , and this done , they will have less wanton thoughts in themselves , and more charitable opinions of ruth . besides , in the innocence and simplicity of those days , some passages might be harmelesly performed , which in our age ( grown ripe in wit , and ri●e in wickedness ) carry with them more then the appearances of evill . she brought forth here obed , the father of iesse , and grandfather of david . § . david afterwards was born , and keept sheep in bethlehem ( therefore called the city of david ) here he made an experimentall syllogisme , and from most practicall propositions ( major a lion , minor a q beare ) inferred the direct conclusion , that god would give him victory over goliah . hence he was fetched from following the ewes big with young , to goe before the people of israel ; and god intending to raise david high in honourable old age , that the building might be the firmer , laid the foundation thereof very low in his laborious and religious education . being then better imployed , when thirsting after gods honour , then afterwards , when not far from this place , he fondly longed for the r water of the well of bethlehem , which is by the gate , the philistines army then encamping about it . but it shall not be said , that david desired , what davids subjects durst not perform ; three of his worthies boldly marched through the midst of their enemies , quickly draw , safely beare back , humbly present to their soveraign this aqua vitae , the procuring whereof cost them the hazard of their lives . but though davids fancy was above his judgement in desiring , his conscience was above his fancy in refusing to drink of that water , s but powred it out unto the lord. § . but that that gave the greatest lustre to bethlehm , was that iesus christ t the prince of peace , was born herein of the blessed virgin mary in a time of peace , to procure and establish a peace betwixt god and man , man and angels , man and man , man and his own conscience , man and other creatures . publick the place of his birth , an u inne , ( every mans house for his money ) and poor the manner thereof , so defeating the iews towring fancies of a ●emporall king , who long looking to see their messiah sitting on a throne , would rather stumble at him , then stoop to behold him lying in a manger . the first tydings of the lambe of god , by intelligence of angels , is told to poor w shepheards watching their flocks by night , whilest the priests the pretended shepheards of israel , were snorting on their beds of security . the place of this apparition not being far from the tower of eder ( or , the tower of ●locks ) where x iacob sometime pitched his tent , and kept cattell , and where reuben defiled his fathers concubine . § . and now the wise men of the east make speed to their saviour , directed unto him by a star , in its progressive motion probably pointing at iudea , as if it had been but the bare reflexion of a brighter star which was there to be seen . these wise men , well read in the volume of heaven , perceiving this to be no hypocrite star , or blazing comet , ( usually portending not the cradle but coffin of some prince ) yea , no light constantly leiger in the skies , conclude it an extraordinary embassadour sent upon some peculiar service , and advantaged with the prophecy of z baalam , current among the children of the east , haste to ierusalem , and put it to the question , a where the king of the iews was to be born . here gentile and iew confer their notes , and compare their intelligence together concerning christs birth ; the former collecting the time from the star ; the latter concluding bethlehem the place from the b scripture . how much knowledge might men attain , if mutually they would lend their light one to another ! to bethlehem herod sends the wise men to seek this new king , promising to come himself , and worship him , but secretly similing at their diligent devotion , whilest god in heaven laughed at his dissimulation . § . to bethlehem they come to make enquiry after christ , whom none never sincerely sought , but they found him . the star by moving ( probably in the low region of the aire ) shews them their way ; by standing still , the end of their journey : coming into the house they finde the royall babe , and present him with gifts ; then warned by god in a dream , they return into their own countrey another way . say not that they were more wise then honest , in not making good their promise to goe back to herod , seeing no such promise made by them appears in scripture , who being certainly foreiners , and probably free princes , owed no obedience to herods injunction . had such promise been made by them , yet being done in consideration of another from herod , to come and and worship christ , they were now remitted to their former liberty , his fraudulent intent being revealed unto them by divine information . suppose their promise to return bound with an oath , yet herein the breach thereof made no forfeiture , because their recognisance was taken in gods name , who freely delivered up the band unto them again . homewards they goe , whilest herod wonders at their long delay , yet comforts himself , that the slowness of their searching , will at last be recompensed with their sureness of finding what he desired . § . weary at last he is with waiting , seeing no king of the iews was found , and they lost , which were sent to seek him : but this old fox had two holes : fraud failing him , he betakes himself to force , and sends executioners to kill all the children of two years old and under c in bethlehem , and all the coasts thereof ; herods cruelty , being of greater compass , then the city of bethlehem , took in that circuit which the walls there of left out , so cunning he was to overdoe , rather then leave any thing undone . here no pen can express the mothers sorrows for their children , whilest one stood amazed , as if she had lost her son and senses together : another bleeds out sorrow in her eyes , to prevent festering in her heart : a third vents her passions in exclamations , and it gives her some ease , though she could not recall her dead child , to call him tyrant that murdered it ; all their mourning going severall ways , meet in one common misery , whilest the soules of these children are charitably conceived by the primitive church all marched to heaven , as the infantry of the noble army of martyrs . herod , the while , huggs himself , that he had fitted their new king with a short reign , being confident , that burning the hive , he had killed the master-bee , though christ was all the while safe in egypt , where his policy could not finde , whence his power could not fetch him . § . bethlehem is on all sides compassed with places of eminent note . on the north stood ramah , nigh which was the execution of those infants . in ramah was a voice heard , lamentation , and weeping , and great mourning , d rachel weeping for her children &c. some will say leah had more cause of sorrow ( to make her eyes watry e by nature , worse with her tears ) bethlehem belonging to the tribe of iudah ▪ but let such know , that the cruelty of herod extended to all the coasts of bethlehem , and so also reached to benjamin , in whose confines bethlehem was situated . besides it is the opinion of some learned men , that the land about bethlehem was called rachel , from her sepulcher so eminent in these parts . zelzah is hard by ( in hebrew a place shadowed , and therefore we have presumed to cover it with trees ) where saul f according to samuels prediction first heard tydings , that his father had found his asses , and feared the loss of his son , who had found a kingdome . § . south-ward we finde asahels sepulcher g buried in the grave of his father : and south-west-ward in the way to hebron , geruth-chimham , the manor or mansion of chimham , son of ba●●illa● , no doubt bestowed on him by david according to his princely promise , h to give him whatsoever he should choose or require . many years after , iohanan the son of kareah with the remnant of the poor iews , which had escaped the baby●lonish captivity , dwelt at geruth-chimham i untill contrary to gods express command , hence they departed into egypt . almost full west lay bezek , whose king adonibezek was punished according to his own cruelty , who having cut off the thumbs and toes of threescore k and ten kings , caused them to gather their meat under l his table . now if isaac's question to iacob concerning his kid , was of consequence , how he came so quickly by it ? the quere here is more considerable , how came adonibezek by so many kings , to have them all at one time ? with what royall drag-net did he fish to catch so many together ? where got he these kings ? and where got they their kingdomes ? canaan being so small a countrey . in answer hereunto , in the acception of the word king , we must grind the honour thereof the smaller , to make the number thereof the greater , communicating it to the sons and nephews of toparchicall princes , as honours in germany equally descended to all in the family , and so the number is quickly made up . § . north of bethlehem lay the vale of ephraim , or vale of giants , men of vast proportions , which the ancient ages plentifully afforded . yea , our english antiquary m tells us , that risingham a village in northumberland in old saxon , is nothing else then the dwelling place of giants . in this vale of rephaim , the philistines ( little less then giants ) were twice subdued ; once at n baal-perazim , where god by the hand of david brake forth upon them as the breach of waters : and again , where god not onely gave the success , but laid the design how the battell should be managed , namely as soon as he himself had sounded a charge out of the o mulberry trees , david was to fetch a compass , and fiercely to fall on his enemies . well is god styled a man of war , who here ordered the battell himself , and well did david confess thou teachest my hands to war , and fingers to fight , who here received from god particular instructions , how to regulate his army . § . mulberry trees ( pardon a digression ) were plentifull in palestine ; a tree which may pass for the emblem of prudence , slow in consultation , swift in execution ; for it putteth forth its leaves the last of all trees , but then ( as it is said ) all in one night , as if sensible of , and ashamed for its former neglect , she endevours to overtake other trees with her double diligence . men feed on the fruit , silkworms on the leaves thereof : creatures contemptible in themselves , admirable in their qualities , appearing proteus-like in sundry shapes in the same year , eggs , wormes , flies , finishing for the most part yearly their life and work together . but we leave these mysteries to be discussed by naturalists , and will onely adde , that if the originall of silke were well considered , gallants had small cause to be proud of gay clothes , for from wormes it came , and to wormes shall the wearers therof return . § . store of the best silks were made and used in palestine ; amongst other favours bestowed by god on the ungratefull iews , this was one . i have girded thee about with fine linen , and covered thee with p silk . king saul was the first , who made bravery frequent , and fashionable in israel ( little state and gallantry being used under the iudges ) when the court and costly clothes began together , according to our saviours q saying , they that weare soft clothing are in kings houses : i say in the reign of king saul , rich rayment began generally to be worn by the iews : r yee daughters of israel weep over saul , who clothed you in scarlet and other delights : yea by the confession of the heathen writers , best silks both for fineness and colour were in palestine . s pausani●s writes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . the silk ( saith he ) of elis in greece gives not place in point of fineness to silk of the hebrews , but is not like it in yellowness : whereby it appears , that the hebrew silk-wormes were as good spinsters , and better dyers then those in greece , setting a better gloss and lustre on their work . so much for the silk in iudea called shesh in hebrew , whence haply , that fine linen or silk is called shashes worn at this day about the heads of eastern people . § . but to return to our description , north-west from the vale of giants lay the city of emaus , afterwards called nicopolis . hither the two disciples were a travelling , being about sixty furlongs from ierusalem , whē christ after his resurrection unknown joined himself to their cōpany . they tax him for not knowing the news in ier●salem , he reproves them for being ignorant of the sense of the scriptures , which he began to declare unto them . o excellent expositor ! christ commenting on his own prophecies , all which he first inspired , afterwards fulfilled , and now interpreted . as he put light into their heads ; so also heat into their hearts , which t burned all the while he communed with them : onely their eyes were held that they knew him not . day , and their journey drew both to an end , when christ makes as if he would goe u farther ; truth cannot lye , but did simulate , onely to try how welcome his company was to them . they constrain him to stay , ( such civill violences prevaile on heaven it self ) and in breaking w of bread , he brake himself unto them : their eyes being opened , he left them full of joy and amazement . nor have i ought else to observe of emaus but that many years before , iudas macca●eus in that place got an eminent conquest , and defeated the voluminous army x of lysias . § . hard by emaus even at this day are showen the ruines of zachariah his house , where iohn the baptist was born , being the voice of a y cryer , begot of a dumb father . this was that zachariah who would not beleeve god without giving him a sign , and was punished that men could not understand him , without making of signes . to this place ( then in a city in the hill-country of iudea ) the blessed virgin mary came with hast to congratulate the pregnancy of elizabeth her cousen ; at the musick of whose salutation , the babe danced for ●oy , and leaped in z the womb of elizabeth . § . hard by is the city gebah belonging to the a priests ; afterwards made a b garrison of the philistines , who therein were smote by ionathan . king asa afterwards built , that is , repaired and enlarged this city , as also mizpah , with the remainder of those materials , which king baasha had provided for the fortifying of ramah : cities so neer in situation , that after the captivity , their inhabitants are counted together in one c sum , the men of ramah and gebah six hundred twenty and one , which returned from babylon . § . we have hardly recovered into this map , the house of obed-edom , whence david in a most solemn procession brought the ark to ierusalem , dancing himself before it in a linen ephod , which was not so white , but that michal found spots therein , or rather cast dirt thereon , censuring david d a fool for his indiscretion . but , when holy zeal is arraigned at the bar of profaneness , and condemned either for folly , or e madness , it may appeal from that sentence , and challenge its right to be tried by its peers ; carnall eyes being incompetent judges of spirituall actions . yea , god himself here took the matter in hand , so ordering it , that for the future , michal's daughter should never mock her husband on the like occasion , punishing her with perpetuall barrenness . § . look on the prospect of this map , especially the eastern parts thereof , and behold it overspread with trees of all sorts , olive , pine , mulberry , firre &c. of the last saith the psalmist , f and the fir-trees are a refuge for the storkes , breeding here in the greater abundance , because forbidden by the g leviticall law to be fed upon . a speckled bird ( therefore 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in greek from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 niger , & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 albus , black and white ) and is remarkable for their love to their parents , feeding them in their old age . hence called chesida in hebrew , that is , the mercifull bird ; and in dutch oudevaer , that is , the carrier of the old one , because every stork is an aeneas bearing his anchises on his back , carrying his parent , when for age it cannot fly of it self . some have confidently reported , that storks will not live , save in a republick ; who may with as much truth affirm , that an eagle , the soveraign of birds , will not breed in a common-wealth . not to say , that storks were named in the monarchy of adam , preserved in the arke in the monarchy of noah . ieremy , who lived in the kingdome of iudah , upbraided the ignorance of the people therein , yea the h stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times . which birds had they known their times , and the iews not known the birds , as frequent , and familiar with them , both the prophets illustration had beed obscure , and exprobration improper for his present purpose . finis libri secundi . to the right honourable john lord rosse , son to the right honourable john earl of rvtland . my lord , it hath been charged by foreiners on our english gentry , that many of them very knowing beyond the seas , have been strangers in their native countrey ; as able to give a better account of the spaw , then our own bath ; the diving of the spanish anas under ground , then of our own rivers ( diverill in wiltshire , and mole in surrey ) wherein the same wonders of nature are set forth in a lesser edition . how just this accusation is , for the present i have no leasure to enquire , but am afraid , that too many of our nation are guilty of a greater ignorance ; that being quic● sighted in other kingdomes , and countreys , they are altogether blinde as touching judea , and the land of palestine ; the home for their meditations , who are conversant in all the historicall passages of scripture . yet i would not have any wilfully to expose themselves ( as saint paul was against his will ) to a perils of waters , perils of robbers , perils by the heathen , &c. personally to pace and trace the land of canaan : who rather conceive that precept to abraham ▪ b arise , walk through the land in the breadth thereof , and in the length thereof , may be performed by us , even whilest we also follow the counsell of joash to amaziah , abide c now at home . this may be done by daily and diligent perusing of the scriptures ; and comparing the same with it self ; ( diamonds onely cut diamonds ) as also by consulting with such as have written the description of that countrey . amongst whom give me leave ( though the unworthiest of thousands ) to tender these my endevours , to your honours serious perusall , and patronage , hoping my pains herein may conduce to the better understanding of the history of the bible . i confess the doctrinall part of the scripture is in it self most instructive to salvation . but as the rare relation of the woman of samaria , * first drew her neighbours to the sight of our saviour , which afterwards believed on him , not for her words , but his own worth ; so the delightfull stories in the bible have allured many ( youth especially ) to the reading thereof , the light ( the historicall part ) first inviting their eyes , whose hearts were afterwards inflamed with the heat , the holy fire in the doctrine of gods word . give me leave therefore my lord , humbly to commend to your honour , the constant reading of that , which eminently is termed the scripture and the bible or book , all other being but scribling and pamphlets in comparison thereof . they contain what will make you wise unto salvation ; and the study thereof will render your lordship more truely honourable then your outward extraction . great indeed was the priviledge of ruth , for whom purposely some handfuls were d let fall , for her to gather up . but greater the honour done to your ancestors by our english kings , above an hundred years since , who scattered some flowers ( and other ornaments ) out of their own armes , therewith to deck and adorn those of your family . yet know my lord that the bereans are e pronounced more noble then those of thessalonica , in that they received the word with all readiness of minde , searching the scriptures daily , whether those things were so : and by the same proportion your exact skill industriously attained in gods word , shall make your soul increase with the increase * of god ; far more honourable then that augmentation in heraldry , which was conferred on your ancestours . remember i pray what david writes , i e have seen an end of all perfection , but thy commandement is exceeding broad . oh imperfect perfection which hath an end ! and indeed david lived in an age , wherein he saw goliah f the strongest overcome , asahel the g swiftest overtaken , achitophel h the wisest befooled , and absalom the i fairest deformed with a violent death . yet still the immortall word out-lived all casualties , and triumphed in defiance of opposition . wherefore as the jews were to provide a chest by the side of the ark wherein the law k was to be placed and kept , so i wish your honour a large heart to be a repository for this broad commandement of god , that therein you may carefully lay up and treasure the same , which when all earthly perfections prove false and fading , will furnish your soul with holiness here and happiness hereafter : which is the daily prayer of your honours most humble servant tho. fuller . here followeth the description of jerusalem . the description of the city of iervsalem . the third book . chap. i. of the severall names and generall situation of jerusalem . § when a woman often altereth her surname , it is a signe she hath been many times married ; denominating of his wife from him , being parcell of the a maritall priviledge . but when a city in diverse ages hath different names , this speaks her successive subjection to severall lords , new owners imposing on her new appellations , as in our present subject plainly appears . for the city which we are to describe was called b salem , in the days of abraham , when melchisedec was king , and probably first founder thereof . then it was but a small place , ( the greatest giant had once the cradle of his infancy ) when mount moriah ( afterwards in the midst of the city , and a forest of houses ) was as yet but a thicket of c thornes , wherein the ram , the exchange for isaac , was caught by the hornes . iebus . a name either of the whole or principall part thereof ; so we read of the levite * that he came over against iebus , which is ierusalem . ierusalem * ; so called , as the fathers generally affirme , as the product of the union of iebus and salem , b , for sounds sake being changed into r , which notwithstanding the propriety of the hebrew tongue will not permit . for though chopping of letters be her cōmon practise , yet , the iews ( as they always married within their own tribe , so they ) exchanged letters of the same linage , ( same instrument ) labials for labials , gutturals for gutturals , whereas betwixt beth , & resh in hebrew no such affinity . besides the turning of a tender melting b. into a surly rigid r. is not to levigate or mollifie , but to make the name the harder in pronunciation . this drives others to seek out the etymology thereof , as signifying in hebrew , the vision of peace . but seeing abraham d called an eminent place whereon it stood , iehovah-iireh , the lord will be seen ; perchance from the echo of the name iireh added to salem , ( that is , peace shall be seen or provided ) the city might be called ierusalem , where having the essentiall consonant● , the most various point-vowels are not so considerable . forget we not that even in davids time , when the name of ierusalem was in fashion , the city was sometimes still called salem : for in e salem is his tabernacle , and his dwelling in sion . thus it is usuall in england in common discourse to cut off the former part of long-named cities , wes●chester , southhampton , kingstone on hull , whilest the remnant chester , hampton , hull sufficiently express them to ordinary capacities . hierosolyma , which indeed is no new name , but the old name in a new language , translated into greek . some f fathers will have it compounded from the greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a temple and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 solomon , that is , solomons temple , as if the mixing of these languages did promise , if not prophesie , in after ages a joint interest of iew and gentile in the mysteries of religion . but saint g hierome is zealous against this fancy , impatient that in the name of the principall city of the iews a greek word should not onely be mingled with , but preferred before the hebrew . it is safer therefore to say , that hierosolyma is nothing else but ierusalem grecized , or made greek , and the conceit of the temple of solomon rather a witty allusion thereto , then a solid deduction thereof . solyma , being onely the half of the former . for whereas hierosolyma being a confluence of six short syllables was unmanagable in ordinary verse , poets served this name ( as the ammonites the cloaths of davids h ambassadours ) cut it off in the middle . an i solymum cinerem palmetaque capta subibis ? wilt thou go under salems dust forsaken , vnder the palme-trees lately captive taken ? i conceive the name of solyma not used by authors till after our saviours suffering , though iosephus ( and probably out of him tacitus ) writes that homer makes mention thereof , as indeed we finde it k twice in his poems , never for this city in iudea , but for a place and people in lycia . i will not say that the curtling of ierusalem into solyma after our saviours time , was a sad prognostick that this spacious city should suddenly in the fire of civill war be boiled away to the half , yea afterwards shrink to so unconsiderable a smalness that a monosyllable , yea a bare letter were too long a name for it . aelia , so named from aelius h●drianus the emperour , who built some part of it again , and made it a garrison . ierusalem , recovering the ancient name again , whilest for some hundred of years it was in the possession of the christians . l cuds , so called at this day by the mahometans , who are the present owners thereof , which signifies holy in their language . here we omit those many appellations given ierusalem in scripture : the m faithfull city , the city of the great n king , the o holy city , because these are not proper names , but glorious epithets thereof . § . concerning the generall situation of ierusalem , three things herein are remarkable : first it was placed , as p iosephus reports , in the very middle of iudea . but herein criticall exactness is not to be observed , ( the heart it self is not so unpartially in the midst of the body , but that if not in position , yet in motion it propends to the left side ) for ierusalem inclines more to the south of the countrey . as ierusalem was the navell of iudea , so the fathers make iudea the middest of the world , whereunto they bring ( not to say , bow ) those places of scripture , thou hast wrought salvation in the midst of the earth . indeed seeing the whole world is a round table , and the gospell the food for mens souls , it was fitting that this great dish should be set in the midst of the board that all the guests round about might equally reach unto it ; and ierusalem was the center whence the lines of salvation went out into all lands . yea ptolemy dividing the ( then-known ) world into seven climats , placed ierusalem as the sun , in the fourth climat , proportionably to what is said in the q prophe● , i have set it in the midst of the nations , and the countreys that are round about her . § . secondly , it had high r mountains under it , and lower about it , which as dutifull servants at distance seemed to attend it . ierusalem had a mountain for her footstool , and her floor was higher then the roof of other cities : no doubt the emblem of the strength , stateliness , and stability of gods church in glory . high and hard climbing thither , but plain and pleasant dwelling there . § . lastly , it was distanced from the sea welnigh forty miles , having no navigable river near unto it . for god intended not ierusalem for a staple of trade , but for a royall exchange of religion , chiefly holding correspondency with heaven it self , daily receiving blessings thence , duly returning praises thither . besides , god would not have his virgin people the iews , wooed with , much less wedded to outlandish fashions . and if s eusebius may be credited , for the self same reason , plato in imitation of ierusalem , would have that city , wherein the modell of his imaginary common-wealth should be set up , to be seated some miles from the sea , lest forein merchandize should by degrees bring in forein manners into it . chap. ii. the particular situation , circuit ; populousness , beauty and strength thereof . § it will be pain-worthy to enquire into the exact situation of ierusalem in what tribe it was placed , the rather because severall testimonies of scripture entitle both iudah and benjamin unto the possession thereof . for iudah . josh. . . and for the iebusites , the inhabitants of ierusalem , the children of iudah could not drive them out , but the iebusites dwell with the children of iudah at ierusalem unto this day . judg. . . now the children of iudah had fought against ierusalem , and had taken it , and smitten it with the edge of the sword , and set the city on fire . for beniamin . josh. . . and zelah , eleph , and iebus , ( which is ierusalem ) gibeah and kiriath . this is the inheritance of the children of benjamin according to their families . judg. . . and the children of benjamin did not drive out the iebusites that inhabited ierusalem , but the iebusites dwell with the children of benjamin in ierusalem unto this day . for both : nehem. . . and at ierusalem dwelt certain of the children of iudah , and of the children of benjamin . this fifth and last place is a good comment on the four former , namely , that this city ( though the iebusites long disturbed their quiet possession ) jointly belonged to both tribes , neither claiming it totally as his , both truly as theirs ; nor a was this any confused mixture of their inhetances ( flatly forbidden in the law ) but methodicall ( if not mysticall ) meeting thereof , so that iudah and benjamin ( which alone persisted loyall to god and their king ) had their possessions lovingly shaking hands in ierusalem , the solemn place appointed for gods publick service . § . ierusalem was fifty b furlongs in circuit , which reduced to our english account amounts to six miles and a quarter . in which compass multitudes of people did inhabit , and three different degrees of the populousness of this place are very remarkable . ordinary , even in vacation-time , when there was no spring-tyde , or usuall confluence of people more then the proper citizens thereof , and those no fewer then one hundred and fifty c thousand . extraordinary , at the three annuall termes , ( as i may call them ) i mean the three feasts general of the iews , passeover , pentecost , the feast of tabernacles , when all the able males d of israel appeared with an offering before god. superextraordinary , when this city was sacked by the romans , and when all sorts , and sexes ( some drawn with devotion , more driven for protection ) flocked thither , insomuch that by fire , famine , sword , civill discord , and forein force , eleven hundred e thousand are said to be slain therein . incredible it seems that so many should be pent in this place , except the people therein ( as when they crouded about christ , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) did throng and press one on another . but we must consider that flying thither for shelter , they had room enough , if they had but room enough , not aiming at any convenient , ( much less delightfull habitations , ) but onely a bare lodging in ierusalem , where for the time being , every single chamber was made a severall family , and every story multiplyed into a street whilest the fiege continued . § . and therefore it is most justly recounted asone of the ten wonders ( whereof the rabbins take especiall notice amongst the iews ) that ●●ver * any man did say to his fellow , i have not found a bed in ierusalem to lye in ; nor did ev●r any ma● say to his fellow , my lodging is too strait for me in ierusalem . as if ●he place were of a cheverell nature , to extend to the proportion of the people therein . indeed it was part of gods goodness when he brought his vine out of egypt , then also to prepare * room for it , which he performed here accordingly , even to admiration . § . now amongst the nativ●s of ierusalem , many no doubt were the eminent persons born therein , especially , if the rabbinicall tradition be true , that wheresoever the particular place of any prophets birth is not set down , there it is to be presumed that he was of ierusalem . by this observation , nathan , gad , isaiah , daniel , hosea , ioel , habakkuk , &c. should be town-born children of ierusalem . but we leave it uncertain whether this place gave the cradles to these , being too sure that it gave the coffins to too many worthy messengers of god , o ierusalem , g ierusalem , thou that killest the prophets , and stonest them that are sent unto thee . § . the structure of this city was beautifull and high , of hewed free-stone , very uniform , whether in respect of the houses , or streets , one toanother : h ierusalem 〈◊〉 builded as a city which is at unity in it self . their roofs were flat ●nd fenced with battlements , by speciall i command from god ▪ to prev●nt casualties of people falling thence . these roofs were the iews watch●owers for prospect , galleries for pleasure and ( which was the worst ) their ●igh places for idolatry . which causeth the prophets complaint more then k once , that thereon they burnt incense unto all the host of heaven . surely the weight of this wickedness did break the strongest beams , and stiffest rafters in the palaces of ierusalem . for , though idols be lighter then vanity it self , in point of power , and efficacy ; they are heavier then lead to press the place down with divine vengeance . § . as for the strength of ierusalem , we must in the first place listen to iu●ah his song , l we have a strong city , salvation will god appoint for walls and bulwarks . the spaniards come off poorly with their brag , that they have madrid a city in castile walled with m fire ; which at last proves nothing else but that there be many quarries of flint found round about it . but , most true it is that god promised ierusalem , n he would be unto her a wall of fire round about : which promise he for his part , would most surely have kept , and performed , had not the sins of the iews forced him to break it , in vindication of his own justice . § . as for the outward fortifications thereof , it was incompassed with a o treble wall , save where it was begirt with unpassable vallies , and there one wall did suffice . this wall was fenced with a ditch , cut out of a rock , saith p iosephus , and q strabo , sixty foot deep , and two hundred and fifty foot broad ; the former not acquainting us with the authour thereof , so prodigious a work may well be conceived , a performance of many successive princes therein . it seems , it was made the deeper because it was dry : r 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , well watered within , and dry without , is the character our author gives of the city . this i dare say , the breadth of this ditch exceeds the proportion of al modern regular fortifications , for in breda it self ( the platform wherein , may be the platform for other places ) the ditch is no broader then the rampire at the bottome thereof . and now , what s david principally intended mystically , comes to our place literally to endevour , walke about sion , and goe round about her : tell the towers thereof . mark yee well her bulworks , consider her palaces , that yee may tell it to the generation following . and to follow the motion of the sun , we will begin at the east , and so forward . chap. iii. of the gates thereof . § . be it premised , that many difficulties in this subject have been caused by mens unwary confounding of the severall natures of the gates in ierusalem , which for the clearing of the truth , must carefully be distinguished into four sorts , in sundry places serving for different employments . gates in the out-wall , giving ing●ess and egress to passengers , the sole subject of our present discourse . in the in-walls , ( like temple-bar opening out of fleet-street into the strand ) being partitions within ierusalem . such the iron-gate through which a saint peter went out of prison , to the house of mary the mother of iohn mark. leading to the courts of the temple : ( as saint austins-gate into saint pauls church-yard ) such the b beautifull gate &c. of the kings palace : ( like bulwark - gate , and iron-gate leading to london tower ) as the gate c whereby the horses came into the kings house . now such as promiscuously make all these to be out-gates of ierusalem ingage themselves in difficulties , and deceiv● others thereby . for prevention whereof we will onely insist on the gates of the first qualification . § . begin we with the sheep-gate on the east of ierusalem , in d nehemiahs time owing the reparation thereof to eli●shib the high priest , and his brethren . through this gate the sheep were driven in , and all other cattell designed for sacrifice , as the nearest way to the temple . § . next followeth the golden-gate ( not mentioned in scripture , but mee●ly depending on e humane authority , ) so called because gilt all over , vulgar beholders ( who carry no touchstones in their eyes ) accounting all massie gold which is richly gilded . popish f authours adde that when our saviour in an humble but solemn equipage rode on an asse colt to the temple , this gate opened unto him of its own accord : a prety proportionable fiction . for , if the g iron-gate opened to peter a disciple , no less then a golden-gate could offer entrance to christ his master . onely here 's the difference , we receive the one as recorded in scripture , and re●u●e the other as not reported therein , especially our saviour having ●o fair an occasion to make mention thereof . for when the pharisees questioned him for not silencing the childrens hosa●a●s , and when he returned , th●t if they h should hold their peace , the stones would immediately ●ry out , how easie had it been for him to adde , that the very walls of the city had already opened their mouthes ( their gates ) to receiv● him ? § . thirdly , the horse-gate by the kings palace , through which the grooms brought the kings hor●●s , to water them in the brook of kidron , yet some erroneously make this the same with the water-gate . the prophet points at the exact position thereof towards b the east , and we finde the mention , but not the reedifying of this gate in i nehemiah ; a presump●ion , that it was not so ruinous as the rest , and not needing much reparation . as for 〈◊〉 , who cryed treason , treason , ( the fox the finder ) when she was the greatest traitour herself : on the k comparing of scripture it will appear that the horse-gate whereat she was killed , was not this city gate , but another so named leading from the temple to the the kings palace ▪ § . fourthly , the water-gate , in a fall , or declivity of ground , l full east . so called , because thereat ▪ all the ●ewers , channels , and water-courses of the city , flowed out , and ran into the brook cedron ▪ no mention in nehemiah of the repairing hereof , for the reason aforesaid . indeed , if in his time the iews had de no vo , from the very ground begun the building of the walls , and gates thereof , it had been impossible , they could have finished that work m in two and fifty days . whereby it appears , they onely mended those places , which were most in dilapidation . this was the east-gate , emphatically so called n by the prophet , and opened into the valley of the children of hinnom . § . thus far the gates on the east of ierusalem . on the south thereof ▪ where sion ( or the city of david ) lay , we meet with no gates at all , the precipice of the rock affording no passable ascent on that side , so that men must goe first through ierusalem , and then into sion . i dare not say that herein ierusalem was a type of the militant , as sion ( more mounted ) of the triumphant church , although there be no access for those which are without into the happiness of the latter , but by taking the holiness of the former in their passage thereunto . § . come we now to the west , in the southermost part whereof , we light on the fountain-gate , near the pool of shiloah whence it took its o name , nigh to which on the inside , were those p stately staires , whereby men went up to the city of david . this gate was in nehemiahs time repaired by q shallum the son of col-hozeh . § . next to this the dung-gate . a gate in greatness , though but a postern for the private use thereof , through which the offall , and excrements of the city were conveyed . appliable to this place , is that which the r apostle speaketh , of some parts of the body ▪ nay , much more thos● members of the body , which seem to be feeble , are necessary . this gate , though of small honour , was of great use , and all ierusalem had been a dung-city ▪ but for the dung-gate . yea , the noisomer soile carried out hereat , and conveyed hence into the gardens thereabouts , was by natures chymistry converted into wholesome herbs , and fragrant flowers growing there . the dung-gate in the days of nehemiah , was set up , with the doors , locks , and bars thereof , by s malchiah the son of rechab . § . next follows the valley-gate , commonly but wrongfully placed on the east side of the city ; chiefly on this account , because the valley of kidron lyeth on that side thereof . as if this valley alone was near ierusa●lem , which by the psalmist is described t with the mountains round about it , and so by necessary consequence must be surrounded with vallies interposed betwixt it and those mountains ▪ this gate stood in the north-west ▪ opening into the valley of carcases , lying betwixt it , and mount calvary . here nehemiah began , u and ended his surveying the ruins of the walls ▪ going by night , because loth to be seen , and loth to see so sad a sight . this valley-gate was in his time repaired by w hanun and the inhabitants of zanoah . § . having thus surveyed the east , south and west , come we now to the northern part of the city . where , first , we finde the corner-gate , whose angular position speaks it to participate of two points , being seated in the very flexure of the wall from the east to the north . it was distanced from the gate of ephraim just four hundred cubits , all which space of the wall was broken down by ioash a king of israel when he conquered amaziah , that his army might march in triumphantly with the greater state . pride we see hath not onely an high neck , but also a broad breast ( especially when setting her armes by her side ) so large a passage must be cleared for her entrance . afterwards king uzziah rebuided this gate , and adorned it with towers , yea fortified all the b turning of the wall . for , as the elbows of garments ought to be made the strongest , as most subject to wearing out : so ( walls being the cloaths of cities , without which they are naked ) wise uzziah adjudged it necessary , that this corner-gate , and wall bending thereabout , should have most cost and care expended in the fortification thereof , § . no mention of the repairing of this gate in nehemiah , which prompteth us with these conjectures : either that it was then dammed up . ierusalem after the captivity being large in extent , and thin in people , ( many uninhabited places being left therein ) probably in policy they contracted the number of their gates , the multiplying whereof did require more money and men to guard them . or c rather , being so lately built by uzziah , it might notneed much mending , as left standing , and undemolished by the babylonians . for , in the sacking of a city it often fareth with the gates as with the men thereof , it is hard if some doe not escape , and survive the destruction . yea , sometimes conquerours are pleased to spare some parcell of walls , out of pity ( not to the place but ) to themselves , finding the structure thereof of so firme constitution , that it requires more pains then it will return profit in the levelling thereof . § . next comes the gate of ephraim . so called , not because standing in , but opening towards the tribe of ephraim . i deny not , but that some ephraimites , after their return from captivity , dwelt in d ierusalem , from whose habitations hard by , this gate might , in probability , borrow his name ; but prefer the former notation as most naturall . for usuall it is , both for streets and gates , to take their denomination from such places ( though at great distance ) to which they lead . witness kentish-street in e south-wark , for that it is the way ( saith my authour ) leading into that county , the street it self otherwise being in surrey : and witness winchester-gate in sarisbury , so named , because through it travellers pass to winchester , a city twenty miles off : and ( an instance best known to scholars ) trumpington-street in cambridge , so called from a village some two miles thence . this gate was probably destroyed , when ioash king of israel entring ierusalem , brake down four hundred cubits of the wall , from the gate of ephraim , to the co●●er-gate , where i conceive , the particle from is to be taken inclusively ( so that both the gates were cast into that account ) the rather , because pride , and cruelty , always , when they make measure , give in the advantage . § . next the old-gate : so called ( as bonsrerius will have it ) because extant here , ever since melchisedec was the founder thereof . if so , it was an old-old-gate indeed . but , as men having out lived all registers , account themselves ; so gates having outlasted all memories , are accounted by others , more ancient then truely they are . however , no wonder , if in nehemiahs time the decays of so old a fabrick , called to the charity of * iehoiada the son of paseah , and meshullam the son of besodajah jointly to repair them . § . next the fish-gate . by mistake generally placed in the west wal , meerly because ioppa on the mediterranean sea , whence they fancy all fish ( as if no moe ways to the water , then one ) must come to ierusalem , lay on the west thereof . whereas in scripture we finde no express of fish for mans eating ( but one which eat a man , ionab his whale ) mentioned from thatplace , whilst whole sholes were caught in the sea of galilee , or lake of tiberias , lying north of ierusalem ▪ indeed tyre , lying almost full north from this city , was the staple place , which furnished it with fish ( as appears in f nehemiah ) which through this gate was brought to ierusalem . surely , the provisions of any populous place in long time will tire , if onely going on feet , or flying on wings , and not also swimming with fins , having fish as well as flesh and fowl for their repast , as here in ierusalem . and although no sacrifices of fish were by god appointed to be offered unto him , yet hence the less wholesomeness , or cleanness of them cannot justly be inferred ; because they were improper for offerings , living in an element wherein men had no conversation . this gate was g repaired by the sons of hassenaah . § . the gate of benjamin doth onely remain , he the least in his fathers family , this the last amongst the gates of ierusalem , standing in the north . east part thereof . indeed we finde two gates of benjamin in ierusalem ( two of the same name , in one city , no wonder , the double new-gate in london , the later new made postern into moor-fields may be an instance thereof ) one called the high-gate of benjamin , where pashur put the h prophet ieremy in the stocks , which was by the house of the lord , and therefore probably a gate of the temple . the other was an out-gate of the city leading into the land of benjamin , whither ieremy was going to separate himself , when the captain of the i guard in this gate , seised him in his passage , falsly accused him , and occasioned his imprisonment . § . here i cannot but wonder at many * learned men , who make this gate of benjamin , to be the same with the corner-gate . i deny not but that in many cities it is usuall , for one and the same gate to have severall names , as i have learnt from my industrious , and judicious k friend in his description of canterbury , how burgate , and saint michaels-gate are the same ▪ and so newin-gate , and saint georges-gate in that ancient city ▪ but the fancy of the foresaid authors , is directly oppossite to the words of the l prophet , foretelling that ierusalem should be inhabited from benjamin gate , unto the place of the first gate , unto the corner-gate , &c. where we may behold these two gates , benjamin , and the corner-gate , set at terms at great distance , and a considerable space interposed . this gate was not repaired in nehemiahs time for the reasons formerly alledged . § . these are all the gates of ierusalem , whereof express mention in scripture . some fancy another , called the needles-eye , so low , and little onely men might enter thereat . these conceive our saviours expression , m it is easier for a camel to goe through the eye of a needle , then for a rich man [ n trusting in his riches ] to enter into the kingdome of god , intended this small postern ; where , the bunch on the camels back , was the porter to shut it against him , for entering in thereat . but , we listen hereunto , as to a fable , and account the threading of o saint wilfrides needle , as a conceit ( though much later and of a different nature ) to have as much gravity , and truth therein . chap. iv. of the towers on or about ierusalem . § . besides these gates , ierusalem was beautified ▪ and fortified with many towers proportionably interplaced , though we finde but few of them recorded by name . amongst these we meet with the tower of t meah , that is , the hundred tower , so called either because so many cubits high , or so many distanced from some other tower , or because a just century of towers was at it begun or finished . it was built after the captivity by eliashib u and his brethren the priests . § . the tower of furnaces , standing in the west , north of the valley gate , jointly repaired by w malchiah , and hashub . so called ( thinks adrichomius ) from fire kept there as a signall to seafaring men ; but oh woefull those mariners , who in a dark night had no better direction then what they received thence , above forty miles from the sea , and many mountains interposed ! rather it might serve for some beacon , or land-mark , or might take its name from some fire in the corpse du gard constantly preserved therein . § . the tower of hananeel in the east part . so called , no doubt , from the first builder thereof . it was in nehemiahs time repaired by eliashib the d high priest , and his brethren . § . the tower e that lyeth out from the kings high house , nigh unto which palal the son of uzai , repaired in nehemiahs time . not that the prominency of this extravagant tower , hindred the uniformity of the walls , but the fencing of the city , required such situation thereof . § . the great f tower that lyeth out , different from the former , else the builders of the wall in nehemiahs time , made no progress in the work ; in the east of the city , over against which the tekoites did repair . § . the tower of g david , furnished with an armory , at the southwest turning of the wall , over against which ezer the son of ioshua repaired . christ compareth the neck of his h spouse to this tower for the whiteness and proportionable length thereof . § . but among all these , most remarkable was the tower of siloe ( near unto the water of siloe whence it fetcht its name ) on the west side of the city , which killed * eighteen men with the fall thereof . yet , the stones of this tower fell not more heavy on their bodies , then the censure of uncharitable iews did on their memories , condemning them for the greatest sinners in all ierusalem , as whose offences were mounted so high , that nothing less or lower then the fall of a tower , could depress their persons , and impieties to the pit of perdition . false position to maintain , that those have wrought the most sin , who are brought to most shame , and confuted by our saviour , assuring the iews , if they did not repent , they should likewise perish : likewise ; certitudine , non similitudine poenae . yea , in a mysticall meaning , those incredulous iews who rejected our saviour , did not onely fall on a stone , and so were broken , but also the stone fell on them , by reason of their infidelity , and h ground them to powder . § . we will conclude with the tower of ophel , so named from darkness , as some would have it , because always cloudy and misty at the high top thereof : but though the etymology of ophel be obscure , the situation and use thereof is clear in scripture , over against the i water-gate , where the nethinims had their habitation . understand not all of them at once , but so many of their society , as for the time being , were in ordinary attendance about the temple , whilest the rest lived in other k cities assigned unto them . § . these nethinims were descended from those gibeonites , who for their fallacy put on ioshua , and the people of israel , were condemned to the drudgery of gods service . l thus the fathers lying tongues , cost their children many aking armes , and weary backs , with hewing of wood , and drawing of water . saul was a great m persecutour , david a grand preserver of them , who first made them a corporation : n he and his princes appointing them for the service of the levites , when first we finde them called nethinims , ( to bury the odious name of gibeonites ) that is , persons given to to pious uses . these for many generations approving their industry in gods service , washed out the staines of their fathers falshood , with the sweat of their fidelity : and in proces of time , ( though hivites by extraction ) attained to some honour above the natives of israel . for whereas the sons of barzillai were put by their places in the o priesthood , because they could not clear their pedegree ; the nethinims continued in their place whose p genealogies were exactly , derived ▪ yea , whereas other israelites were subject to heavy taxes , after their captivity , the nethinims were exempted from all tribute ( pity their purses and persons should both bear burdens ) by the bounty of the kings of persia. whose liberality , though a pagan , to gods worship ( like the precious ointment on q a●rons head which ran down to his beard , even to the skirts of his garment ) flowed from the priests and levites , by the singers , and porters , to the net●inims ( the very verge , and utmost hem of temple officers ) by his especiall grace taking r order , that it should not be lawfull to impose toll , tribute , or custome upon them . § . many moe towers not mentioned in scripture , were about ierusalem , as the m tower of women , remarkabl● in iosephus . but , why i● was so called ( what have women to doe with war ? ) i will give him a satisfactory answer , who first resolves me , why the roman fortification of twelve acres of ground n neer dorchester , is called maidens-castle . but , we refer all the towers of iosephus his reporting ( not appearing in scripture ) to our particular map of ierusalem , as by him described . come we now to make some observations on such as were the builders of the city walls , in the days of nehemiah , because it was built on the same area or floor with that in solomons time , and we meet with many remarkables in the history thereof . chap. v. observations on the repairers of the walls of jerusalem , in the days of nehemiah . § . ministers ought to leade the van , and be the first , and forwardest in all pious projects . behold here eliashib the high priest , with the priests his brethren , begin the work , and built the sheep-gate . a gate ministeriall unto the temple , ( through which the sheep were brought intended for sacrifices ) and therefore , as it was fit it should have the preheminence to be first repaired : so the priests were the most proper persons to be imployed therein . of this gate it is solely , and singularly said , that they a sanctified it , which dedication speaks it set apart to holy service as introductory of the offerings into the house of god. § . great is the influence of the pastours example , on the peoples practise . many hands make light work , behold a troop of builders cometh , of all professions , private persons , publick officers , whole families of all jointly , levites , merchants , gold-smiths , apothecaries &c. of all places , from iericho , tekoa , gibeon , mizpah , zanoah &c. sexes , both men and women . next repaired shallion the son of halloesh , the ruler of the half of ierusalem , he , d and his daughters . what , had their tender hands any skill to carve stones , or weak shoulders any strength to carry morter ? or , was it sutable with the modesty of their sex , to clime ladders , clamber scaffolds , seeing there is no acting for any builders , but upon such stages ? surely they refused no pains proportionable with decency to their power ; and what was wanting in their persons , supplied with their purse , expending it ( perchanc● ) out of their own portions . and , if orphans money put into the chamber of london , be accounted so sure ; god ( no doubt ) did repay , what they laid out on the walls of ierusalem . § . now whereas shallum their father is styled ruler of the half part of ierusalem , rather subtile then solid is the note of tremellius e thereupon . for , saith he , ierusalem being in two tribes ( iudah and benjamin ) had therefore two rulers thereof . not considering , how in the same chapter , other smaller cities , and those undoubtedly whole and entire in one tribe , had notwithstanding two governours over them , and those benefactours to the building of ierusalem ; as malchiah the son of rechab , the ruler of f part of beth-haccarem . shallum the son of col-hozeh , the ruler of part of mizpah . nehemiah the son of azbuk , the ruler of the h half part of beth-zur . hashabiah , the ruler of the half i part of keilah . banai the son of henadad , the ruler of the k half part of keilah . now the dividing of the command of the city betwixt two governours , so usuall at this very time , and no● notably extant in scripture , before , or after the days of neh●miah , leads us to this probable opinion , that immediately upon the iews return from babylon , the persian emperour ( from whom all commissions were derived ) would not entrust any iew with the sole rule of a strong city , but for the better security , parted it betwixt two , who had joint , but distinct dominion therein : that whilst they with mutuall jealousie observed the actions each of other , both might preserve the interest of their master . § . in building the old gate two co-founders were joined together , namely , iehoiada the son of l paseah . meshullam the son of besodaiah . i will not say that as york minster was built by percy m and vavasour , the one giving stone , the other timber to that structure : so the building of this gate was in like manner advanced betwixt them ; but hence observe , that it is no shame for one to admit a partner in that weighty work , which he caunot weild by himself . blame worthy their pride , or peevishness , who will not have that good design done at all , which can not all be done by themselves . § . whereas malchiah the son of rechah is recorded builder of the dung-gate ( no needless port in that city , seeing in populous places , perfumers may be spared with less loss to the publick , then scavangers ) some n conceive this malchiah to have been a rechabite by descent , and a ceremonious observer of their ancestours instructions , not to drink o wine , nor build house , but to live in tents , with other canonicall obediences . nor was this building of the wall of ierusalem any breach of their vow ; partly ; because a publick , no private edifice ; and partly , because those their ceremonious observances , probably terminated at the babylonish captivity . this malchiah they make heir of the family of the rech●bites , according to the propheticall promise , that one of that house p should not fail to stand before god for ever . but , whether herein interpreters doe not take more then the text tenders unto them , be it reported to others . § . it is signally observed , that hanun the q sixth son of zalaph , repaired a piece of the wall . but , where were his five elder brethren ? were they dead , or absent , or idle , or impotent ? the scripture giveth no account of them , onely the sixth son is recorded for his forwardness herein . in matters of piety , there is no standing on useless ( yea on dangerous ) modesty . no breach of good manners , to goe before our betters in goodness , or for the younger brother in nature , to gain the birth-right in grace . § . it is said of baruch the son of zabbai verse . ( and of him alone it is said ) that he earnestly r repaired the other piece . what , did the others work but in jest , because this accent earnestly , is onely put over the piece he repaired ? is not this mark of honour on him , a brand of infamy on the rest ? no surely , though probably his zeal was paramount in the employment ; and what if the word earnestly ▪ ( set there almost in the very midst , amongst all the builders ) be to be taken 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , relating to all the rest , before , and behind it ? § . it is observed , that many men repaired onely against their own s houses . this , though at the first sight it may seem the fruit but of a narrow soul , and private spirit , yet effectually advanced the work . yea , it is particularly recorded of meshullam the son of berechiah , who likely was but a lodger , and no house-keeper , that he repaired over t against his chamber . oh , if order were observed for every one to mend his own heart , or house , how would personall amendment by degrees quickly produce family-city-countrey-kingdome-reformation ? how soon are those streets made clean , where every one sweeps against his own door ? § . some doubled their files , as merimoth the son of urijah the son of coz , who having formerly been a repairer ( verse . ) comes again the second time to build ( verse . ) out of doubt the same person , as having the same name , father , and grand-father . let him have double praise , for his double pains ; who not being weary of well doing , dealt with the wall of ierusalem , as the philippians with saint paul , u once and again relieving the necessity thereof . § . the nobles of tekoah are taxed for not putting their necks to the work w of their lord. strange that now they should discover such unseasonable pride . had they not lately returned from babylon ? could not seventy years banishment from their own , and captivity in a forein land , humble them to purpose ? me thinks , so long suffering should have broken ( though not their hearts ) their stomacks . but , oh the difference betwixt being low , and being lowly ! no affictions , except seasoned , and sanctified , are sufficient to bring down mens naturall corruption . this negligence of the tekoite nobility in gods cause was so much the more conspicuous , because of the double diligence of the tekoite commoners therein ; for , they had two shares in this adventure , building , nehem. . v. . and again they had verse . another bout in the same service . except any will say , that by the tekoites in the second mention of them , their nobility are intended ; who , sensible of their own dishonour , for their former backwardness , played an after-game , to repair their credit ; which is affirmed without any proof , and with little probability . § . some here will demand , what did nehemiah himselfe all the while ? did he onely look on , work with his eyes , and command others to labour ? or was he like the scribes x and pharisees , who bind heavy burthens , and grievous to be born , and lay them on mens shoulders , but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers ? § . it is answered , his zeal was active , and exemplary in gods work , and therein expressed it self , privatively , in forbearing the salary of the governour , which his predecessours did , and he might justly receive . in this respect , one may truly say , that each gate , tower , and piece of wall in ierusalem , was in part repaired with nehemiah's money , because the builders thereof were the better enabled for that work , by his remitting unto them , the taxe due to him as governour . positively , not onely forbearing his own right , but also bearing a large proportion in the work . he kept a daily ordinary ( thanks being the onely shot his guests were to pay ) for an hundred and fifty iews , and rulers , besides strangers of the heathen . how many attendants then dined on the reversion , at the waiters table ? and how many poor feasted on the fragments , at the porters lodge ? it may be presumed many laborers at the wall had gone supperless to bed , had they not repaired to nehemiah's house for their refection . as for the opinion of tremellius , that nehemiah built the kings palace at his own charge , grounding the same on his own translation of the text , because i finde no other authours to follow him therein , it is enough barely to mention his opinion . § . at the sheep-gate they began to repaire , and thereat also they ended . the gold-smiths and merchants brought up the rere of the work , y betwixt the going up of the corner unto the sheep-gate . § . within the circumference of the walls , lay much ground uninhabited , people being loth to live therein , except z by lot compelled thereunto , and all a blessed such as willingly offered themselves to dwell therein . strange , that the chiefe city should run so low in generall reputation , the gallants of our age being otherwise minded , all posting unto the principall place of the kingdome , as the fountain of fashions , and all delights . i read indeed of histria a province under the venetian common-wealth , that they are fain to b hire people to inhabit there . but the reason thereof is visible , because of the unwholsomeness of the aire , whereas no such pretence for any to decline the city of ierusalem , whose elevated situation , conduced much to the purity , and wholsomeness thereof . § . but mens unwillingness to dwell therein , took the rise from other reasons ▪ as namely , the common enemy beheld it with most envious eyes , as the proper object of his malice . the vast circuit of the city , put them to hard duty to guard it . trading was dead therein , and little wealth to be gotten at the new erection thereof . all coveted the countrey , for the privacy , pleasure , and profit thereof . however in after ages , ierusalem grew exceeding populous , and had all the vacuities thereof filled , yea crowded with inhabitants . thus , as it is most easie and thrifty , to make childrens garments too big for their bodies , because they will quickly grow up to their clothes : so providence advised nehemiah , to make the circumference of infant - ierusalem the larger , as which , in process of time , would soon spread it self , to the replenishing thereof . chap. vi. of the waters in and about the city . § . pass we now from the walls , to the water of ierusalem , a most necessary commodity for the well being of mankind . true it is , ierusalem was so far from boasting of any navigable river , that it had no stream , near , or about it , to drive any water-mils . if it be demanded , how without such mils so populous a place could subsist , and not be famished for want of grinders ? ( as a chap-fallen man for lack of use of his teeth ) know this was principally supplyed by hand-mils , here ordinarily used , where multitudes of slaves were in every family . as for other waters , both for necessity , and pleasure , ie●●salem had , ( though no super●tuity ) a self suffi●i●ncy thereof . § . the waters , in and about ierusalem , are reducible unto three several kinds . partly artificiall , as pools and conduits . partly naturall , as the brook kidron ( whereof a formerly ) and the fountain of si●●am . partly supernaturall , as the miracle-working pool of bethesda . of the former sort were the kings fishponds , b on the south-west , not far from the fountain ga●● , and near thereunto the pool c which was made , ( no doubt with gre●● care and cost ) betwixt the sepulchers of david and house of the mighty men . also the conduit of the d upper or old pool , in the path ●o the fullers field , and probably another of the lower pool , all referred by learned m●n e to solomon , as principall author thereof . § . for in the inventory of his vanities he confesseth of himself ; i made me pools of water to ●a●●r th●re●ith the wood that bringeth forth f trees . thus he sought for felicity in the aire , climbing up with his lofty buildings ; in the earth , di●ing low in his deep minigs ; in the water , wading therein through costly aquaducts ; but found at last that happiness w●s super-elementall , and not to be found but in heaven . § . some may conceive that king uzziah had a hand in promoting the water-fabricks near ierusalem , finding him a very active engineer , and of whom it is expresly recorded that he digged g many well● ▪ but what followeth ? for he had much cattell both in the low countrey , and in the plain . the scene therefore of his watry discoveries , was laid at greater distance , where his cattell were kept , and where he was more commendably imployed in his husbandry , then afterwards in gods house , any instrument better befitting his hand , then a h censer . § . not long after , probably in the reign of king ahaz , ( as may partly be collected from the time of isaiah's prophecy , and pla●ing of this passage therein ) when the siege of ierusalem was suspected from rezin king of syria i and pekah king of israel , the iews fell to the fortifying of their city , both with wall and water-works . hereupon the k prophet when the new line about ierusalem was finished , complaineth thereof as followeth . yee have seen also the breaches of the city of david , that they are many , and yee have gathered together the waters of the lower pool : and yee have numbered the houses in ierusalem , and the houses yee have broken down to fortifie the wall . yee made also a ditch betwixt the two walls for the water of the old pool , but yee have not looked unto the maker thereof , n●ither had respect unto him that fashioned it long agoe . and in that day did the lord god of hosts call to weeping and mourning &c. § . not that the prophet herein reproved the people , for provident preventing of danger , or politick endevou●ing of safety , or moderate delighting in pleasure , but justly taxed them , for too much confidence in the arme of flesh . unseasonable rejoycing in carnall comforts , when drains and for ditches down their own cheeks , had been more proper water-works for the present sad occasion . admiring their own handy-works , ( without thankful relating for to god the principall ) as if they had created those pools and springs of their own industry and ingenuity . whereas all grottoe● , conduits , and aquaducts , though allowed the lawfull issue of art , and off-spring of humane invention , are but sti●born babes at the best , except god quicken and enliven them , mediately or immedately , with moisture from above . he onely is the father l of the rain , and is by consequ●nce the gra●d-father of all pools and conduits whatsoever . justly therefore were the iews reproved , for having their steg●atick souls , dabling too much in water , without once looking up to god , according to davids div●●●ty , freely confessing , m all my fresh springs are even in thee . § . but how well soever , the ponds , pools and conduits were perfected at this time , soon after all their curiosities were discomposed , when se●●●●heri● sent the railing message and letter , ( though words whether spoken , or written , storme no cities ) to king h●zekiah in ierusalem . who fearing a siege , by the assistance of his princes and people in a short time stopt all the n fountains and the brook which ran through the midst of the land , saying , why should the kings of assyria come and finde much water ? hezekiah knew that s●nnacheribs blasphemous tongue would be sooner silenced , and his roaring throat easier stopt , with thirst then with any other answer . and although sennacherib , out of the plentifull magazeen of his malice , shot his arrows , even bitter o ●ords , ●gainst hezekiah , yet according to gods promise he came not into i●●usalem , nor did p he sho●t an arrow there , having all his army soon after confounded from heaven , and he himself , ( reprieved from the angels ) was executed by his own sons sword , in his own countrey . § . here if any demand , what is meant by stopping the brook which ran through the midst of the land ; we understand not cedron thereby , which to save them the pains in summer stops it self , ( as onely the cistern to receive the land-flouds from mount olivet ) but rather , conceive the constant waters of gihon , or siloam , therein intended , running through the midst of the land of q moriah , wherein ierusalem is seated . § . after sennacheribs departure , hezekiah fell a fresh on opening those springs hee had formerly obstructed , yea to make them reparation , he improved them to an higher perfection then at first he found in them : for , he made a pool r and a conduit . he stopped up the upper s water-course of gihon , and brought it straight to the west side of the city of david . he brought water in to the city t of ierusalem . hereby no doubt hezekiah got many a blessing and hearty prayer from the poor servants in the city , whose weary shoulders had formerly fetched their water so far off for the use of their masters family . § . here some will object , that such an altering of the course of this river , from the ancient channel thereof , and the enticing of it by art into a new passage , was a violence , and a trespass offered to nature . yea did not man herein pretend to more wisdome then his maker , as if by such variation , he could direct the veines in the body of the earth , to a fitter posture , then that wherein god himself had disposed them ▪ but let such know , that when god gave the earth [ with the water therein , as making up one globe ] to the sons of men , in the same charter he derived a right unto them , to mold it as might be most convenient and advantageous for their habitation . and although it belongs to god alone , to put a sandy girdle about the loins of the ocean , ( because otherwise a giant too great for men to manage ) hither shalt thou come , and no farther , yet lesser brooks fall under the jurisdiction of humane industry , to order them for mans most commodity . § . others will admire , that this new river was brought no sooner to ierusalem , and that a project , so honourable , profitable , necessary , and feasable lay so long unperformed . how came this design to escape the searching eyes of solomon , especially , seeing ( as he confesseth himself ) he dealt much in that moist b element ? see we here , solomon himself saw not all things , and hezekiah coming many years after him , might supply his omissions . and to speak plainly , many of solomons projects , were but voluptuous essays for his own personall ( not to say carnall ) contentment , whereas holy hezekiah in his undertakings might have a more publick spirit for the generall good of his kingdome . § . the well or fountain of the dragon c near the valley gate might be made at the same time , probably taking its denomination from some artificiall resemblance of a dragon about it . a conduit in a dragon-fashion , ( though such anticks are more commonly presented spitting of fire then venting of water ) is made here by adrichomius . tremellius conceiveth it called dragon , or serpent well , because the waters thereof ( which contrary to other authors he maketh the same with siloam ) glide , snake-like , soft and gentle , yea crooked and winding with many intricate flexures thereof . but it is impossible to assign the certain cause of such names as are meerly ad placitum , finding a well and gate in the cose of the city of d sarisbury of the same name , yet hitherto could never hear any probable reason thereof . § . amongst the waters meerly naturall , the fountain or pool of l siloah , with the stream flowing thence into the brook of kidron , justly claimeth the preheminence . fountain which both in the name and nature thereof , was the lively embleme , if not the reeall type of our saviour . name which is by interpretation , m sent ; and we know , when n the fulness of time was come , god sent forth his son , made of a woman , made under the law . nature ; for the waters thereof , as the o prophet observed , ran softly to the eye ▪ sine impetu , moving slowly , and not rushing with a rapid stream like an impetuous torrent . to the eare , sine strepitu , stil & quiet , not offensive to the neighbours with the noise threof . so christ was leasurable and treatable in his going ( on foot , but if mounted , onely on a slow paced ass ) and doing , not rashly precipitate in his proceedings . not querulous or clamorous in his discourse ; he shall not strive nor cry p neither shall any hear his voice in the streets ; but meek and quiet . now as god was eminently in the still q voice , so also was he effectually once in this still water , when our saviour sent the blind-born man hither r to wash , and thereby he recovered his sight . § . this was he , who afterwards proved so constant a confessor of christ , avouching him a prophet , and his cure by him really effected notwithstanding the pharisees menacing to the contray ; hoping in vain , though christ had opened his eyes , that they could stop his mouth , from the acknowledging thereof . his constancy herein cost him an excommunication and a casting s out of the synagogue . the best was , the power of the keys when abused , doth not shut the door of heaven , but in such cases onely shoot the bolt besides the lock , not debarring the innocent person entrance thereat . § . the supernaturall pool of bethesda by the t sheep-market remains , whose waters , when at a certain season moved by an angel , were medicinall to cure the first commer thereinto , whatso●ver disease he had . a learned * man conceiveth , that when eliashib the high priest , ( after their return from babylon ) with his brethren , first began hereabouts to build the sheep-gate , and sanctifie it to divine service , ( as leading to the temple ) god then and there in approbation of his act , indued the pool hard by , with this soveraign sanative quality : but this we leave with the author . § . by this pool an infirmary was built , for maimed folk to lodge in , and attend the troubling of the waters . how well was gods bounty and mans charity here met together ? commendable it was that rich men did not engross this spaw to themselves , but permitted poor people not able to use physick and surgery the benefit thereof . this hospitall for building consisted of five u porches ; not that the defective in the five senses , lame , blinde , deaf , &c. were here severally disposed of by themselves , but no doubt all promiscuously put together . in this colledge of cripples , he for his seniority might have been the master thereof , who had been longer lame , then most men live , and now past the fift climactericall of his disease , where with he had been afflicted full thirty eight years . indeed so impossible was the conditions of his recovery , that being lame , he must run , before he could goe , for seeing the first commer was only served , he must hast with speed into the pool after the moving thereof : whilst he , alas , wanted strength to help himself , wanted money to hire others , and others wanted mercy freely to give him their assistance . but because he could not goe to health , health was graciously pleased to come to him , and he was cured miraculously by our w saviour . § . and thus much of the walls , gates , towers , and waters about ierusalem : come we now into the city it self , which anciently consisted of two principall parts ( therefore dual in the hebrew ) sion on the southwest , and ierusalem ( properly so called ) on the north thereof , which we proceed in order to describe , with the places of principall note therein contained . chap. vii . of davids palace , the high-priests houses , the coenaculum , and other memorable places in mount sion . § . we begin with mount sion , making that first which god most favoured , a who loved the gates of sion , more then all the tabernacles of iacob . here first our eyes are entertained with the stately palace of david , b hiram king of tyre sending him timber and workmen for the building thereof . flat was the roof of this palace , whereon david sate , and from whence he beheld bathsheba ( hard by is her house ) bathing her self . i cannot excuse her action herein . if policy be jealous , that hedges may have eares , modesty may suspect lest the motes in the aire have eyes . but see here divine justice . as this roof was the place whereon davids lust did burn first ; so thereon absaloms incest did blaze farthest , lying here with his fathers concubines . this he easily did at the perswasion of achitophel ; those spurres needing no rowels , which are to prick forward graceless youth into wantonness . but that hellish politician did this to set such a distance betwixt sire and son , that the affection of the one might never meet with the submission of the other , the breach hereafter being made so deep and wide , that no bridge of reconciliation might be built betwixt them . § . under the romans this palace was turned into a c castle , where a garrison was kept to over-awe the city . once the honour , now the terrour ; once the beauty , now the bridle of ierusalem . upon d the fair stairs leading thereto , stood saint paul when he made his speech to the people , hearing him with great silence , because he spake in e the hebrew tongue ; untill he came to that passage of preaching to the gentiles ( which though spoken in hebrew was no good hebrew to his auditours , but false construction , & breach of jewish priviledg ) when they turned their attentive eares into railing tongues , away with such a fellow from off the earth . § . and now to shew the frailty of humane happiness , pass we from the palace of these kings to their burying place , seeing sion in a double respect may be called the westminster of ierusalem ; because the kings thereof resided there while living , and rested when dead . the reader shall pay nothing but his pains in following me , whilest i shew him these royall remains . we may observe four gradations of honour in these interments . wicked f amon was buried in his own house , ( not under the roof , but within the verge of the wall thereof ) and so was g manasseh , * whose true but late repentance was effectuall to save his soul , but not his kingdome from destruction . cruell ioram , who had no compassion whilest living , & therefore no h bowels whē dying , was buried by himself in the i city of david , & neither fire nor water , neither burning nor mourning made for him . godly , but leprous uzziah , being ceremoniously unclean , was interred in the k field of the buriall which belonged to the kings ; understand it , within the suburbs , but without the walls of their solemn sepultures . all the rest were intombed in a stately place set apart for that purpose ; namely , david the holy , the man after gods own heart ; solomon the wise , when old , befooled by his wives : rehoboam the simple , whose rigour rent ten tribes from his kingdome : abiah the wicked , but l valiant and fortunate in fight ; asa the upright , whose m heart was perfect all his days : iehosaphat the just , whose n heart was lift up in the ways of the lord : ahaziah the idolater , whose onely cōmendation was that he raigned but * one year . ioash the backslider , the lease of whose goodness determined with his o uncles life : amaziah the rash , worsted in a needless war against the king of p israel : iotham the peaceable , who built the q highest gate to the house of the lord : ahaz the profane , r who in the time of his distress , yet trespassed more against the lord : hezekiah the pious , who destroied the high places : iosiah the tender-hearted , who s melted at gods threatnings , denounced against the people of the iews . § . amongst these still i miss iehojakim , and long seeking for his tombe light at last on the prophets threatning , t he shall be buried with the buriall of an asse , drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of ierusalem . § . now as it were in exchange of iehojakim excluded , we finde ie●ojada admitted among the royall interments . count it not presumption for a priests body to intrude amongst princes bones , seeing not his pride but the peoples gratitude preferred him to the place , because u he had done good in israel towards god and his house . ( oh if monuments were marshalled according to mens merits , what change would it cause in our churches ! ) see we here the care the iews had of decent burying th●ir dead . true it is , bodies flung in a bog , will not stick there at the day of judgement ; cast into a wood , will finde out the way ; thrown into a dungeon , will have free egress ; left on the highway , are still in the ready road to the resurrection . yet seeing they are the tabernacles of the soul , yea the temples of the holy ghost , the iews justly began , and christians commendably continue the custome of their solemn interment . § . farther off from the palace , we finde the house of the mighty ; where davids worthies lived in a colledge under ioab their president , next the kings w wine-press and his x fish-ponds . think not that the kings of iudah had onely crowns , thrones , and scepters , the ensignes of soveraignty , for besides these to maintain their state , they had places of profit , so thrifty as to make their own wine at the best hand . § . next we take notice of the houses of annas and caiaphas both alive y at once , and termed the high-priests at the same time ; one by courtesie , because lately he had been : the other by right , because at present possessed of the high-priesthood . thus that function , which ought to have been during life by gods institution , was made alternately annuall by mans innovation . was not the shining of two suns together in the jewish church sadly ominous ? and was it not high time for god to take away the office , when men began wantonly to play at in and out , with that holy profession ? but besides these two high-priests , there was a third that had more right then either to the place , our saviour himself , at the present brought a prisoner before them . in the house of annas an officer wrongfully z struck him with the palme of his hand , and in the house of caiaphas he was thrice denyed by a peter , adjured by the high-priest , adjudged to death , spit upon , blinded , buffeted , with other insolencies offered unto him . the houses of the high-priests were far asunder , all which distance christ traced on foot ; and it is observable , that being posted backwards , and forwards , from annas to caiaphas , from caiaphas to pilate , from pilate to herod , from herod to pilate , from gabbatha to golgotha , he traversed all the length and breadth , and most of the considerable places in the city : partly to render his passion more publick , being made a spectacle to men and angels , partly that his beautifull feet might bring the gospell of peace into every principall street in ierusalem . § . next followeth the coenaculum , or b large upper-room where christ ended the passover , began the lords supper , and probably afterwards in the same place appeared to his disciples , where after his ascension , the holy spirit c in fiery cloven tongues fell upon them , enabling them to speak all languages , for which some senslesly slandered them to be d full of new wine . for the excess thereof may give men more tongue , not moe tongues ; and is so far from making them speak other , that it hinders the pronouncing of their own language . as for the house of the virgin mary , which some make very fair in moūt sion ; i say a better was beneath her desert , but a worse was above her estate . sure it is , that after hersons sufferings , she privately lived in the house of iohn the apostle , & iohn formerly lay in the bo●om of christ , & christ once lodged in the womb of mary , and mary was for ever hid e with christ in god. o holy chain , ô happy complication ! § . in the last place we come to the prisons ( those necessary evills in a populous city ) whereof we finde three severall degrees , the dungeon of f malchiah , a most nasty place , the mud and mire whereof shall not be stirred by my pen , lest the ill savour offend the reader . yet good ieremiah was forced to lie , and g like to die therein , had not ebed-melech the blackmore procured his writ of removall . the house of ionathan the scribe , made a prison extraordinary of a private h dwelling . this little better then the former , so that ieremy counted it a favour at his importunate i request to be preferred thence , into — — the court of the prison , the best of all bads ; which was part of the kings palace , where ieremy remained many days , fed with a piece of bread out of the bakers-street k ( a place hard by ) till nebuchadnezzar at last gave him a l gaol-delivery . § . so much of sion , forbearing to enlarge my self in the praises thereof frequent in holy writ . as for that expression , m gods dwelling is in sion , it seems particularly to relate to that time , when the arke resided there , brought in by n david , and placed by him in the midst of a tabernacle which he had o pitched for it . indeed he designed to make a better casket for that jewell , had not god retrenched his resolution by speciall p order , intending solomon for that purpose , who many years after removed this ark into the temple he erected . chap. viii . of millo . as it is a great grace in a rhetorician , not to have bald and flat but clear and fair transitions ; so it is no less beautifull in buildings to have spacious and handsome passages therein . for this cause the kings of israel counted no cost too much to be bestowed upon this millo , as being the common pass between sion and ierusalem . it was called millo , that is , a filling , as some would have it , because being naturally a gulfe or concavity , it was by great expence levelled to be built upon . a others conceive it so named , because filled with the confluxe and confluence of people , being indeed the largest street in the whole city . b david began , c solomon finished the building thereof . but as once wickam bishop of winchester wrote in a wall of windsor , this made wickam ; in the same sense it may be said of millo , this made ieroboam . for solomon taking notice of his activity ( merit commended men , and beauty women to his favour ) made him surveyour of the works when he built d millo , which brought him from a private person into publick notice ( the first admission is half a degree to honour ) and gave the occasion of his future greatness . in this e millo , at the going down to sillah , or to the f bulwark , king ioash was cruelly killed by two of his servants . chap. ix . of the princely palaces in this city . § . proceed we now to the princely palaces in ierusalem ; and first we light on the a house of the forest of lebanon , built by solomon : so called , because an abridgement of that great forest , wherein ( i mean in the groves and gardens about it ) wild beasts of all kinds ( if humane authors may be beleeved ) had their habitation . here the bellowing harts are said to harbour , the throating bucks to lodge , the belling roes to bed , the beating hares to forme , the tapping conies to sit , and the barking foxes to kennell . strange musick to be heard in the midst of a populous place ; and very pleasant , that such a woody retiredness should be afforded in the heart of a city . yet solomons minde , when mounted on these seeming felicities , was as far from reaching true contentment , as the tired traveller , when on the top of the next hill , will be from touching the skies , which whilest he was in the valley seemed contiguous thereunto . § . the length of this house was an hundred , breadth fifty , height thirty cubits , whereby it appears both longer and broader then the temple it self . and no wonder , for who will deny that white-hall stands on more ground then westminster-abby-church ? besides , in measuring the temple , onely the covered part thereof is reckoned on , without the courts ( wherein the greatest capacity thereof did consist : ) whereas no doubt , courts and all are taken in to make up the aforesaid dimensions in solomons house . but grant the kings palace outspread the temple in greatness , the temple out-topped it in height ; whose towred porches ascended b an hundred and twenty cubites . in this house solomons golden shields and targets wer c kept , till d carried away by shishak king of egypt . § . besides this solomon had another house in ierusalem which was e thirteen years in building ; and a f third which he made for his wife the daughter of pharaoh . say not , they needed two houses , which had two religions , for we finde not that she ever seduced solomon to idolatry : nor are the egyptian idols reckoned up among those severall g superstitions , which his second brood of wives brought into ierusalem . enough to perswade some that this match was made by dispensation , if not direction of god himself , ( typifying the calling of the gentiles ) and that pharaohs daughter afterwards became a convert , following the psalmists counsell , forget h also thine own people , and thy fathers house . hereabouts also was the golden throne of solomon , to which those golden lions gave a stately ascent . it was the prayer of loyall i benaiah , make the throne of solomon greater then the throne of my lord king david , which accordingly came to pass , whether taken for this his materiall throne , or for the largeness and fulness of his royall authority . § . pass we by the castle of antiochus , k built by him as a bridle to the city ; as also the palace of the maccabees , wherein for many yea●s they made their residence , first built by l simon west of the temple . in christs time herod the great had in ierusalem a most magnificent house , wherein his grandchild herod antipas tetrarch of galilee kept his passeover , when pilate sent christ unto him to be examined by him . right glad was herod of this occasion , because though formerly much conversing with iohn the baptist , yet iohn did no m miracle , which he now in vain hoped to behold from our saviour . for he that would not work a miracle at his mothers n motion , would not doe it for his persecutors pleasure . let herod take this for a sign that christ was the son of god , because he would shew no sign for the will of man. however the silent shew of our saviour wrought a reconciliation betwixt him and pilate , which before were at o enmity betwixt themselves . but alass the innocent lambe is not long liv'd , when thus both wolfe and fox are agreed against him . § . appendant to this palace was the prison wherein peter was put , and being to dye the next day , was found in a dead p sleep the night before . i question whether herod who condemned him , slept half so soundly . he must be smote before he could be waked , and his shackles fell off easier then his sleep . the rhemish note tells us , that the chains wherewith he was bound are still preserved at rome in the church of petri ad vincula . but if those there be the true chains , i dare boldly say , that others of richer metall , and finer making , more worth , and less weight , are daily worn by peters pretended successour . § . pilates palace must not be forgotten , wherein our saviour was accused by the iews : near whereunto was the judgement-hall , called q gabbatha , or the pavement . but how even , or smooth soever the stones were laid in the floor thereof ; most rough , harsh , and unequall justice was administred in this place , when our saviour therein was condemned . this was the place , into which the high-priests prepared for the passeover would not r enter for fear of pollution . o my soul enter not into their secrets , whose fe●● are swift to shed bloud , but legs lame to lift themselves over the threshold of a judgement-hall , for fear of defilement . now all these princely palaces were not extant in this city at the same time , but successively : and therefore as poets , when they present persons , who lived in severall ages , on the same stage , lay their scene in the elysian fields ; so to put these palaces together , the reader must suppose their dust and ruines did all meet on the floor of this city , though made in our map in a flourishing estate , the better to adorn our description of ierusalem . chap. x. of the colledges in jerusalem . § . pass we now from the court , to the innes-of-court , namely such places , wherein youth had liberall education . the a iews tell us of four hundred and fourscore synagogues at ierusalem for this purpose . we will insist onely on such as we finde named in scripture , and begin with huldah's b colledge , wherein that prophetess lived in the days of iosiah . perchance a female foundation of women alone , and she the presidentress thereof ; though surely not bound with any monasticall vow of virginity , because there also styled the wife of shallum . § . next , in the days of the maccabees , we take notice of the grecian colledge or gymnasium , erected by iason the high priest , wherein the jewish youth were taught to wrestle , c ride horses , and other grecian accomplishments . indeed archery was an ancient jewish exercise , ( david taught the children of israel the use of the d how , as it is written in the book of iasher ) but these were pure heathenish imployments . here also they were taught to wear a garment called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , which some translate hats , others buskins , e ( though head and feet are far asunder ) which whether it were the generall garbe of the grecians , or onely an academicall habit to distinguish the students from common citizens , let others enquire . but the worst of all was , here they were taught , not onely uncircumcision of omission , ( neglecting the observing thereof on infants ) but also the uncircumcision of commission , practising to f make themselves uncircumcised , studiously deleting the character of that sacrament out of their bodies . § . after christs ascension we finde five colledges or synagogues mentioned in one g verse , all disputing against saint steven , out of asia those of cilicia , and proper asia . out of africa , those of the cyrenians and alexandrians in egypt . out of europe , those of the libertines of rome . behold here an admirable act hept , wherein saint steven was the answerer , against whom opponents were fetched from all the parts of the then known world ; and all too few to resist the wisedome and spirit by which he spake . what this synagogue of libertines was , is much controverted by learned men . surely libertines here are not taken in the modern notion of the word , for such as used their liberty for an occasion h to the flesh , or i a cloak of maliciousness , though we confess in after ages such grew into a numerous society , whereof satans subtilty , and mans corruption the founders , the negligence and conivence of magistrates the daily benefactours : a colledge , whose gates ( like those of hell ) stand always open , having no other statutes then the students pleasure : where the diet is so dear , that their commons cost the souls of such as feed on them , without their finall repentance . most probable it is , that by libertines were intended such romans as were manumised , or made free by their masters ; whereof tacitus counts no fewer then four thousand in the city of rome , which professed the jewish religion ; some whereof with most likelyhood had their synagogues in ierusal●m , wherein they were more perfectly instructed in matters both of doctrine and discipline . the gazith or common-councell must not be omitted , coming near to the nature of a colledge , wherein the sanhedrin or seventy elders had their judicatory , before whom the disciples were summoned , and k straitly threatned not to preach , and afterwards , for disobeying their order , were put into the l common prison . in the same m place saint steven was accused and passed his purgation , in that excellent speech , that he was no enemy to the law of moses , if rightly understood . chap. xi . the remainder of private houses and streets in jerusalem . § . amongst the private , dwelling in this city , we take speciall notice of the house of mary , the mother of iohn-mark , wherein the saints were assembled to pray for peters enlargement . hither he came and knocked at the door , when rhoda portress thereof , a opened not the gate for gladness ; whether because loth to lose so much time , as the opening thereof did necessarily require , ( conceiving that peter might better stand without the door , then the people stay without the news ) or because her soul , surprized with suddain joy , was not at leasure to actuate her hands to open the door : yet it informed her feet , to run into the house , because that motion ( was not , as the other , against the stream , but ) went along with the tyde of her affection , so desirous to tell the news unto others . sure i am , peter got less harm by this maidens keeping him out for a time , out of this godly house , then he did by another damosels b letting him into the high-priests palace . § . adde to this the house of ananias the high-priest , which stood not far off . if therein there was any rotten wall c well whit●d over , it may pass for an embleme of him the hypocriticall owner thereof . as this was the house of a false man , so we take veronica's to be a false house , yea meer fiction , shewn to pilgrimes at this day , in the corner of a street . here she is said , that meeting our saviour when carrying his cross , she t●ndred unto him her vai●● therewith wiping off his sweat , which vail thereby presently received the lively impression and portraicture of his face and complexion : with more probability they might affirme , that the picture of his see● remained in the d haire of mary magdalen . § . so much for particular houses . now that ierusalem was digested and methodized into severall streets is most certain , whereof such frequent mention c in scripture : as sure it is also , that many fair market places were found therein , where children f played with their mates , merchants met with their chapmen , labourers g waited for masters to hire them , and pharisees bartered their outside sanctity for the h greetings and salutations of the people . but the order and fashion of their severall streets are to us unknown , scripture affording no certainty therein . and though adrichomius seem so accurate in this point , that no london-beadle can be better acquainted with the lanes , allies , courts , corners , of the precinct belonging unto him , yet herein he proceeds on his own fancy , and meer conjecture . onely we meet with the names of two streets , water-gate-street , and ephraim-gate-street , which may justly be concluded more spacious , and roomthy then the rest , because preferred before all other places in the city to build booths therein at that solemn festivall , in the days of i nehemiah . in the former of these , ezra assembled the people , and read the law before the k congregation . § . give me leave to supply out of iosephus three eminent places , though not mentioned in scripture . first , the l amphitheatre , erected by herod , so capable that it could contain fourscore thousand people , if the readers beliefe be so large as to give credit thereunto . here herod , after the fashion of the romans , exposed condemned persons to encounter with lions , bears , boars &c. but whether saint paul , when after the manner of men he fought with beasts at m ephesus , intended such combates with cattell , or onely his contesting with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 evill beasts , such as the cretians are n described to be , is not decided by divines . secondly , castle antony , built by the same herod in the honour of antonius , to be the keeper , yea the gaoler of the temple , ( to which he had an underground passage , which would hold six hundred men ) wherein he observed the motions of the iews , lest they should hatch mutinies under the covert of religion . time was when god himself watched over the temple to protect it , till for the sins of the people , he gave it over to be guarded by the jealous eyes of their inveterate enemies . lastly , the hippodrome , or place for horse-races , where the chivalry of the city met on severall occasions . sick herod the great perceiving his end to approach , and knowing the same would bring a great joy to the iews , ( a tyrants death-day is a solemn festivall in the calendar of nature it self ) in this hippodrome imprisoned a principall person of every city of iudea , enjoining salome his sister to kill them at the instant of his expiring , that so there might be a generall grief , though not for , yet at his death , whilest no place could laugh heartily being pinched with their particular loss . however after his death she discharged those prisoners , and we may easily beleeve that these legatees were not offended with her ( the executrix of herods will ) for not disposing the legacies bequeathed to them , according to the minde of the testator . chap. xii . the mysteries of mount calvary . § . suburbs in cities are like suckers in trees , which make them bigger , but not better ; so that much of the strength of the city leaks out in such excresences . ierusalem therefore had no suburbs at all , but many pleasant mountains and gardens about it . we will begin with mount calvary , and the passage thereunto , commonly called the dolorous way , ( though thence came all our comfort ) traced with the blessed feet of our saviour , who suffered without the gate . this we are now to describe , and ô that our patience and practise might goe along with our pen ! to observe our saviours motion , according to the counsell of the apostle , a let us goe forth therefore unto him without the camp , bearing his reproach . § . this dolorous way began at gabbatha or the pavement : wherein we may take notice of a wild piece of justice in pilate , first scourging , then crucifying christ. if his offence was but criminall to deserve scourging , why was he crucified ? if so capitall as to deserve crucifying , why scourged ? perhaps pilate hoped by his scourging to satisfie the malice of the iews , but in vain . for it was not the back-bloud , but the heart-bloud of christ must satisfie their thirst . so that what might be pity in the intent of pilate , proved cruelty in the event to christ ; whose bitter cup hereby was twice filled . thus we commit double-folded , twisted , and complicated sins , which our saviour expiated with duplicated suffering , first scourged , then crucified . § . hence being condemned he b bare his own cross part of the way , towards the place of execution , according to the custome of malefactours ( and we know what furcifer inports in the naturall signification thereof ) untill , it seems , at last he fainted under the burden thereof ; whereof severall reasons are assigned . probably the iews malice provided him a cross of extraordinary greatness , proportionable to the reputed offendour paramount . he was much debilitated with his long watching and sweating the night before . the edges of the cross grating his late whip-furrowed back , might occasion the new bleeding of his wounds , and his weakning thereby . he bare withall the invisible weight of the sins of mankind , and gods anger for the same . hereupon a substitute or surrogate was provided for him to bear his cross , not out of any mercy , but the deeper malice of his enemies ; partly thereby to reprieve him to a more publick death ; not willing he should die under , to cover him from shame , but upon the cross , to expose him to the greater ignominy : partly , because they were loath he should goe away so easily as in a fainting fit , and therefore their cruell kindness reserved him for a more painfull death . § . simon of cyrene is the person by them compelled to bear his cross. had it been foretold that one simon should have carried christs cross , and had one heard simon peter so lately , so solemnly promising , c though i should die with thee , yet will i not deny thee , he would hence have certainly concluded him the party for that service . but it fell out far otherwise ; whilest that simon had forsaken his master ( and now was bewailing his fault ) another of that name is found out , coming out of the field , to carry the cross before him . let heraulds then boast of mens bearing , and their blazing of armes , ( empty huskes where the kernell of vertue is wanting ) behold here a rich bearing indeed ; a cross proper carried by simon for our saviour . we must buckle our selves in like manner for the same burden , patiently to undergoe afflictions . the best is , our crosses are made hollow , being greater in bulk then in burden ; seeing the cross of our crosses , eternall damnation , is taken off by the suffering of our saviour . § . and now christ comes to the place of execution , called golgotha or mount calvary , that is , a place of a skull . either from the fashion thereof , because that hill was rounded up in the form of a mans head , or because mens bones were scattered thereabouts . tremellius with great probability conceives this calvary called the hill d gareb in ieremy , being described to lie near the valley of the dead bodies . here our blessed saviour in a publick place , with infamous company , ( who lived amongst publicanes , and dyed betwixt theeves ) after a cruell manner was despightfully crucified . in whose sufferings we may observe § . the length thereof , lasting six tedious houres , exposed all that time both to hunger and cold . indeed the theeves were longer in suffering , both being still e alive when christ expired : but they endured but personall pain , whilest he underwent miseries for all mankind ; so that what his passion lacked in the length , it had in § . the breadth thereof : extended over all the parts and powers of his soul and body . no part free from pain , save his tongue , left at liberty to pray for his enemies . his senses all suffered , namely seeing , tormented with the scornfull gestures , and reproachfull postures of such as passed by f wagging the head , to expiate the lascivious , envious , covetous glances of our eyes . hearing , grieved with the taunts , jeers , and wilfull g mistakes of the priests and people : so to satisfie for the pleasures our eares have taken in lustfull sonnets , wanton jests , and other vain and wicked delights . smelling , offended with such savours as may well be presumed to be none of the best , in the place of a skull , to make amends for our luxurie in sents and perfumes . tasting . for when he cried out , i thirst , ( and sorrowes we say are dry ) they provided him a potion of h gall and vineger ; so to repair gods justice offended with our gluttony and drunkenness . touching , his hands and feet being pierced with the nailes , to expiate the rapin and violence of our hands , the swiftness of our feet in the way of wickedness , with the manifold sins , which that sense in us committeth . what shall i speak of his head pierced with thornes , so to make satisfaction for the profane plots and projects , the wicked machinations of our brains ? and it is worth our observing , that though the scarlet robe ( put on him to act in that princely pageant ) was taken from him , ( as of some value , no pain , and too good to be spoiled ) yet the crown of thornes , painfull to him , and profitable to no other , was , ( for ought we finde ) continued on his head , all the time of his passion . in a word , it is hard to say , whether his pain was more shamefull , or his shame more painfull unto him : the exquisiteness of his bodily temper , increasing the exquisiteness of his torment , and the ingenuity of his soul , adding to his sensibleness of the indignities , and affronts offered unto him . § . thirdly , depth . his passion was as deep as hell it self , induring tortures in his wounded conscience to the apprehension of a desertion ; witness his exclamation , my god , my god , why hast thou forsaken me ! not that really he was forsaken , or totally conceived so , shewing his faith in the deepest of his distress . for as when twins in the womb of tamar strove which should come first into the world , the * mid-wise adjudged the primogeniture unto him that first put forth his hand , as a champion chall●nging his birth-right : so in this expression of our saviours , wherin faith and fear did contest for the priority , faith must be esteemed the heir and eldest , first putting forth his hand , my god ; yea both his hands , my god , my god , claiming by that gemination a double interest in gods fatherly affection . § . lastly , the height : as high as heaven , because the person induring it was both innocent and infinite . innocent ; such he must be to effect our redemption , i without blemish and without spot , otherwise had blurred fingers come to rub off , or wipe out the blot in mans nature , thereby it had been made the bigger : infinite , being no less then the son of god , which gave infinite worth and valuation to his sufferings . o then that we might be able to comprehend with all saints , what is the k breadth , and length , and depth , and height , and might know the love of christ that passeth knowledge , so infinite every way were the dimensions thereof . § . and now he had left all he had to be severally disposed of to persons most proper to receive them , as namely his purse ( and his own price therein ) to iudas , who bare the l bag . peace unto his disciples , and the godly their successours : my m peace i leave unto you . prayers to his enemies for their pardon : father forgive n them , they know not what they doe . wardrobe to the souldiers , who parted his raiment amongst them , and on his vesture did cast lots . mother to iohn the beloved disciple : o woman behold thy son. body to joseph of arimathea , who afterwards p begged , and ( with nicodemus ) embalmed and buried it . soul to god : q father into thy hands i commend my spirit . these things thus disposed of , he bowed his head , partly in submission to death the messenger , but more in homage to god the sender , and not by violent compulsion , but voluntary susception of death , gave up the ghost . so ended our saviours satis●●ing sufferings , as redeemer of mankind ; though his sympathizing sufferings , as mysticall head of the church , are still behind , r and are daily filled up with the afflictions of his servants . i say his compassion daily remains and increaseth , though his passion was then , and there ended , according to his own expression , s it is finished . § . say not that the arrears thereof , and another reckoning remained , because presently after , one pierced his side , out of which came water and bloud . for this added to their malice , not his misery : according to that expression , t be not afraid of those that kill the body , and after that have no more that they can doe ; all cruelties to breathless corps amount to just nothing , and injuries to the dead though figures on the account of the offerers , yet are but cyphers on the score of the sufferers . § . near mount calvary was a garden , and in that garden a rock , and in that rock a grave , which ioseph of arimathea had provided for himself . this was fashionable in that age to make their monuments in their gardens , so to retrench their wanton thoughts with meditations of mortality . thus pleasure , poison in it self , is made wholsome , when well corrected with thoughts of our latter end ; yea graves and green herbs make a good medly , seeing n all flesh is grass , and the glory of man as the flower thereof , which withereth and falleth away . here our saviour was intombed , in a w sepulchre bewen in stone , wherein never man before was laid ; it being fit , that as he was born of a virgin-wombe , he should be buried in a virgin-tombe . it was also iosephs x own tombe , intended for his proper interment . such our saviours poverty , that as he lived in lended houses , so he was buried in a borrowed sepulchre , being rather a tenant , then owner thereof . to make sure work , the grave was shut with a great stone , the stone fastned with a solemn seal , the seal guarded with a watch of souldiers ; though all in vain . for all their solicitous care to suppress his resurrection , did but render it more conspicuous , and free it from all suspicion of forgery . § . sure they did binde , but loose they did finde . for on the third day an angell came down from heaven , causing a great earth-quake ; as if the earth , like a guilty malefactor , trembled with feare , for its former boldness , that being made gods footstool , it presumed to be his prison . this earth-quake begat a second in the heart of the souldiers ▪ who frighted with fear ran all away , our saviour being formerly risen out of his sepulchre . for the stone was not y rolled away by the angell to give his body passage out , but to give the disciples eyes passage into the grave , to behold the reality of his resurrection : otherwise he , who came in when the z door , could come out when the grave was shut . a●t●rwards he attested his rising from the dead , by his manifold appari●ions in sundry places to severall persons , as is largely recorded in the gospell . § . however the priests to palliate the matter , possess the people , and prevent the propagation of the repo●t , endeavoured by thei● money ( their coin being better then their cause ) whereby they had compassed the death , thereby also to hinder the beliefe of his resurrection . though their seal on his grave was broken , they hoped to s●t a firmer on the lips of the souldiers , bribing them for the silence of the truth , and dispersing an improbable lye , that the disciples came by night whilest they slept , and stole him away . it is admirable that such a falshood confuting it self ( for if they were asleep , how could they discover them ? if awake , why did they not resist them ? ) should by gods permission make it passage so fast , so far , and so firme in the beliefe of the iews . here taking the devill ( the a father of all lies ) to be father thereof , it is worth our observing in the very words of the b evangelist the mother of the lie , the brains of the pharisees : they taught . the nurse thereof , the tongues of the souldiers : they did as they were taught . the wages of the nurse , ready paiment : so they took the money . the well-batling of the babe , it grew very great : for it is commonly reported amongst the iews . the long life thereof , lasting longer then sixteen hundred years , unto this day . and it is to be feared it will live next day , next moneth , next year , many years , if god be not more mercifull in convincing their erroneous judgements . thus it is just in heavens proceedings to suffer the posterity to be poisoned , for the wilfull default of the parents . chap. xiii . of the potters-field , aceldama , fullers-field &c. § . pass we from the north-west , to the south-east part of the city , where , without the walls , we light on the potters-field , where men of that trade made brittle plate in abundance . for , although in solomons time , such earthen ware was worthless in this city , when silver it self was a nothing accounted of , and made to be b as stones in ierusalem ; yet , poor people in after ages , found such cheap furniture usefull for their estates . here one might have seen those potters absolutely lording it over their clay ( purely passive to receive any impression from them ) and , according to their own power and pleasure , making of the same lump one c vessell unto honour , and another unto dishonour . others conceive , this potters-field was onely an inconsiderable wast place , where sherds and pieces of broken pots were cast out in a by-corner . § . surely it was neither great in extent or value , seeing thirty pieces of silver ( the restored reward of iudas his treason ) could purchase the fee-simple thereof ; except any will say , it came at a cheaper rate , because intended for a publick and pious use , the buriall d of strangers . here their dead corps had an hospitall , wherein their lodging and cloathing was freely bestowed upon them : and thus our saviour , though himself a stranger in a borrowed e grave , by the price of his bloud conferred graves on many strangers . as for the confident report , that the earth in this field will in forty f eight houres , consume the flesh that is laid therein , yea retaining that quality though transported into forein countreys , ( the grave which every where hath a voracious appetite , having here as quick a digestion ) my faith is neither all wax , nor all iron herein . to speak plainly , after long fighting against an army of authors affirming the same , my beliefe at last is taken captive by their gravity , and number , to give credit thereunto . § . it was afterwards called aceldama , or the field g of bloud , because purchased with the price of christs bloud , and not ( as some may erroneously conceive ) because handselled with the bloud of iudas therein , when his bowells gushed out . the place of whose self-execution is shewen to pilgrimes , some distance hence , on the south-west of the city , where he , who had lived a h thiefe to his master , dyed a felon of himself , hanged , say some , on an elder ; say others , i on a sycomore tree ; a matter of no concernment . § . more are we troubled , not for iudas his sake ( for whom two deaths were not too many ) but in behalf of the truth ( which can be but one ) to reconcile a seeming difference betwixt two places of scripture about the manner of his death . matth . . . and he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple , and departed , and went , and hanged himself . acts . . and falling headlong , he burst asunder in the midst , and all his bowells gushed out . we understand it thus , not that the rope breaking , iudas falling down thence some steep place , was paunched on some sharp pile ; but , that the very weight of his body , and violence of his headlong motion ( having no hopes upward in heaven , and therefore hasting downward to the center of despair ) brake his belly in so precipitate a fall . thus as traitors , when hanged , are by our law to have their bowells drawn out by the executioner : so iudas served himself so , ●o spare others the pains to punish him . § . fullers-field must not be forgotten , where they stretched , and dryed their clothes which they they had washed in the brook of cedron . but all the sope used here by men of that trade , could not scoure the indelible stain of impiety out of the credit and conscience of king ahaz , who in the high-way of k the fullers-field , peevishly refused a sign , which god graciously proffered unto him . and mens severall behaviours in matters of this nature deserved to be marked . for , it was commendable in l gideon and m hezekiah , humbly requesting a sign for farther strengthening of their weak faith. pardonable in n zacharias , craving one out of a mixture of infidelity , therefore granted him in loving anger ; his dumbeness serving as well to correct , as confirm him . damnable in the iews , who out of pride and presumption , in a daring way o demanded ; and in herod , who out of curiosity p expected a signe from christ , and therefore denyed them . but most of all in ahaz , in whose nostrills the very perfumes of heaven sented ill , because proffered unto him , refusing to accept a sign so freely tendered unto him . § . east of aceldama , in the valley of the sons of hinnon , lay tophet ( that is , breadth ) as saint hierome q expoundeth it , because there the citizens of ierusalem , pent within the walls of their city , used to dilate , expatiate , and recreate their spirits in the walks thereof . pity it was that so pleasant a place should afterwards be poisoned with idolatry , where children were offered to moloch , searing them to death with his burning imbracements ; of the manner whereof largely herefter . for the present let it suffice us to observe , that iosiah is said to r defile this place : what ! was it capable of more pollution then what it had before ? understand it , by burning of dead bones therein , he made it as offensive to the nostrils of men , as formerly it had been odious in the eyes of god. now as the stinking lake of avernus in italy , passeth in pagan poets for hell it self : so this valley of ben-hinnon ( gehenna in greek ) is used in the same sense by our f saviour : either because of the abominable impieties here committed by the parents ; or exquisite torments here endured by the children . § . we conclude with the place wherein saint steven was stoned , being on the east of the city , some distance from what at this day is termed saint stevens-gate : nigh which they shew the place where saul sate , when he kept the clothes of those that stoned him . now , seeing by davids law , t made by the brook besor , he that tarrieth by the stuffe is to be equall sharer in the spoile with those that goe forth to the battell ; the equity of this ordinance arraigneth saul guilty alike of the bloud of saint steven , with those whose wardrobe he kept during the time of the execution . but , whatsoever sauls share was in the murther , great was his part in the prayer of saint steven , whose u petition ( lord lay it not to their charge ) is justly accounted by divines , a promoting means of his speedier conversion . her● the draught of solomons temple is to be inserted . the description of solomons temple . chap. i. davids threefold preparation for the temple . § . it will not i hope be censured superstition , if at the threshold of this temple , we fall flat in veneration of the god thereof , to guide us in the ensuing discourse . the subject whereon we enter is holy ground , may both writer and reader put off their shoos , and devesting themselves , as much as may be , of carnall corruption , come with simplicity , and sincerity to the matter now undertaken . § . as some previous dispositions , and antecedaneous acts are required of a christian , before he be perfectly converted , and become the temple of the holy ghost ; so some preparatory provisions were necessary to be made before the building of the temple was taken in hand . holy a samuel was the first we finde , who stored up any wealth to this purpose ; and saul ( probably invited with his example ) dedicated things to the same intent . yea b abner and ioab ( though at deadly feud each against other ) agreed both in consecrating spoiles won in battells t● maintain the house of the lord. but david exceeded all other , before-hand providing the materialls wherewith , prescribing the pattern whereby , and purchasing the ground whereon the temple should be erected . § . first , for materialls . lest he or his son should be recounted amongst those c foolish builders , which began and were not able to finish , vast were his preparations for this purpose , in those his two large showres of his liberality , which we may call the former and latter raine of his bounty on the temple . the former chr. . . an hundred thousand talents of gold , and 〈◊〉 thousand thousand talents of silver , and of brass and iron without weight . the latter chr. . . three thousand talents of gold of ophir , and seven thousand talents of refined silver , given by david of his own proper goods . besides given by the princes of the people , of gold fiv● thousand talents , and ten thousand drams , and of silver ten thousand talents , and of brass eighteen thousand talents , and an hundred thousand talents of iron . in the first oblation was given what they had suddainly gotten by their valour , in the latter , what they had leasurely advanced by their diligence . in the first their own , but taken from their enemies ; in the latter their own , but saved from themselves : in both d gods own , as david confesseth , who first bestowed it on them , and they now restored it to his service . § . come we now to examine how much a talent , in hebrew chichar , did contain . whereof in scripture we finde these generalls . one man could not conveniently carry two talents , and therefore e naaman bound two talents of silver in two bags , and laid them upon two of his servants . one man might easily beare one talent , not onely on his back , but on his head , and that not as a burden , but ponderous ornament . thus the crown of the king of ammon , afterwards worn by david , f weighed a talent , besides precious stones . except any will say , that the heaviness thereof rested more on the subjects hands , then on the soveraigns head , who by grandsergeantry ma● be presumed to support the same . probably 〈◊〉 ●ontained more then ten thousand adarconim , ( or drams , as ●●r translations render it ) because in the g aforesaid text , after entire talents were reckoned up , these drams follow as a fraction or broken sum , not amounting to a whole talent . the particular value thereof may be collected out of h exodus , that every talent contained three thousand shekels , or fifteen hundred ounces , which in gold according to three pound the ounce , amounteth to four thousand five hundred pound of english money . according to this standard the hundred thousand talents of gold given by david in the first oblation , make up four hundred and fifty millions , as an excellent i critick hath accounted it . § . here as that infidell prince conceived , if k windows were made in heaven , such plenty of food could not follow in samaria as the prophet foretold ; so more will be of the minde , that if pluto should let open all his trap-doors , melt all his mines into money , so great a sum could not suddainly be advanced . this hath given the ground to their probable opinion , who conceive that talent in the first oblation of david is there taken onely for a plain or flat plate of gold of small value , ( as anciently in l homer it passeth in the same acception ) whilest in the second offe●ing talent is used in the exact and strict notion , according to the full value aforesaid , whose judgement is strengthened by the following arguments . surely solomon was the m richest of all the kings of israel before or after him , bu● verily i say unto you , that solomon in all his wealth and trienniall returns from tarshish , was far inferiour to david , if the talents there mentioned were full and entire according to the first computation . what is said of our saviours deeds by way of hyperbole , that if they n were all written , the world it self could not contain the books that should be written , may be literally affirmed of davids treasure in the first oblation . for as the silver there mentioned was tenfold more then the gold ; so if it be allowed ( what in moderate propor●ion cannot be denied ) that the unweighed brass was tenfold to the silver , and the iron to the brass , the whole content of the o temple was not sufficient to comprehend so mighty a mass . though the second offering of david was far short of the first in number of talents , yet it is beheld in scripture as most solemn and of highest importance . at the presenting whereof greatest gratitude to god , and mutuall exultation amongst men was p expressed . this insinuates that at this rere-account , the talents were talents indeed , and though in number fewer , in worth more considerable then the former . wherefore though we conceive not the long life of the patriarchs a sufficient cause ( as some doe ) to expound their age of lunary years , yet the strength of these reasons carry our beliefe along with them to contract the accep●ion of talents in the first account , as is above stated . § . but to close up all concerning talents : it was so great a sum , that though now so many thousands of them abounded in ierusalem , yet after wards in the reign of iehojakim , one talent of gold and an hundred talents of silver , was found and felt an heavy annuall taxation for the whole city of ierusalem and kingdome of iudah to pay . insomuch , that he q exacted it of every one in the land , to make up that sum for the king of egypt so great is the difference betwixt the same place , when flowing with wealth , and when exhausted with war. § . after all these preparations made , let not davids expression be condemned of complement , now behold , in my r poverty i have provided for the house of the lord &c. as if he were like those fond ente●tainers , who having forraged the elements of aire , earth and water for provision for their guests , still excuse their cheer for being no better . his words were indited from an humble heart , finding his deeds so far short of his desires , of gods deserts . thus those who have given a little to god , think they have given much , whilest such as have given much , know they have given but a little . § . here it will be demanded , that seeing at the building of the tabernacle , peoples bounty was refrained with a flat s prohibition to bring in no more , why no such restraint appears at the building of the temple , where far greater masses of metall were presented for the erection thereof . but it is answered , that moderate or competent state best became the tabernacle , resembling the kingdome of grace ; whilest the temple was not capable of excess in magnificence , representing the kingdome of glory . no hands could contribute too much to the type , where no heart can conceive enough of the truth , the things which god hath prepared t for them that love him , not entering into humane imagination . § . besides these materialls , david prescribed the modell , which he gave to solomon his son , the pattern of the porch and of the houses thereof , and of the treasures thereof , and of the upper chambers thereof , and of the inner parlours thereof , and of the palace of the mercy-seat , and the pattern of all that he had by the u spirit . and it followeth not far after , all this ( said david ) the lord made mee to understand in writing , by his hand upon me , even all the works of this pattern . here david for the more certainty , had a double direction , one by the spirit , the other by writing , to stand on record in perpetuam rei memoriam . these two did not contradict , but confirm each other , because he , who hath learned his lesson most perfectly by heart , may notwithstanding sometimes have need to have recourse unto , and make use of his notes . § . however herein the note of the geneva translation is very considerable , thus glossing on the text . for all this was left in writing in the book of the law , exod. . . which book the king was bound to put in execution . deut. . . thus making david not by propheticall revelation , but prudentiall collection , to arrive at the knowledge of the prototype of the temple , by a writing , being ( no new or immediate manuscript from heaven , but ) the ancient scripture , delivering the modell , and dimensions of the tabernacle to moses . yet so , that the dead letter in the word , was quickened and enlivened in davids heart by gods spirit , teaching him to observe a generall conformity betwixt the tabernacle and temple , yet with those due and necessary alterations , as were requisite betwixt the one a small and moveable fabrick , and the other a large and standing structure . an interpretation easier cavilled at , then confuted , because such the analogy betwixt these two edifices . — facies non una duabus , nec diversa tamen , qualis decet esse sororum . their faces neither diverse , nor the same , but such as sisters very well became . the latter being none other , then the imitation of the former with proportionable addition : as indeed what is the tabernacle of grace , but the temple of glory contracted ; or the temple of glory , but the tabernacle of grace dilated ? § . this * pattern was imparted to david , ( who had the holier , though solomon the larger heart ) and no doubt his son exactly observed the same . yet can i not beleeve that solomon was altogether so pattern-bound , as moses , who was so confined to his w instruction , that his hand might not write a letter , yea not make a flourish , more then was in his copy : and a knop or flower in the candlestick under or over , was a mortall transgression . more probable it is , that hirams fancy , ( solomons architect ) was not pressed in all particulars , but was left a volunteire for some descants of art , whilest for the main , he kept himself to the ground-work prescribed unto him . § . besides materialls , and modell , david purchased the floor whereon the temple was erected ; a floor paved with mysteries . here on mount moriah , an angell x stayed the stretched-out hand of abraham from killing isaac , and in the same place , god stayed the y sword of the destroying angell , from slaying the israelites with the pestilence . no place therefore more precious , more cordiall , or soveraign to build a temple in , then this , which was twice confirmed with probatum est , stamped with a double impression of gods favour upon it . this floor david bought of araunah the iebusite , from whom he would not take it of gift , that hereafter it might not be said , that the temple had no better title to the ground whereon it was built , then the meer gratuity of such a man , whom most conceive to be but a pagan . indeed a main matter to make a structure stand firme , is to found it on ground lawfully purchased , and honestly payed for , otherwise that floor , which for substance is a rock , will in point of right be found but a sandy foundation . § . on this place david built an altar , giving it this large character , this z is the house of the lord god , and this is the altar of the burnt-offering for israel . now as the heart is the primum vivens in a creature ; so this altar was the first thing erected in the temple , though for the present made of such mean matter as that hasty occasion would give leave . here it stood many years after , even untill the brazen altar of a firmer fabrick was substituted in the room thereof . either to this did ioab fly , and caught hold in vain of the horns thereof , ( three years before the temple was built ) or else to some other altar near the tabernacle in sion for seeing those passages betwixt him and solomon were transacted in the city of ierusalem , certain it is , he fled not to the altar as yet at a gibeon , distanced some miles from this place . § . if it be demanded why david thus diligent to provide for the temple , was forbidden to build it ; a double reason is rendered thereof . first , because he had been a b man of war ; and his martiall reign incumbred with constant battells , afforded not a peaceable conveniency sutable to such a design . secondly , because he had shed much bloud upon the earth in gods sight , which principally related to his killing of uriah . say not that solomon also was a man of bloud , having ordered the executions of c ioab , shimei , and adoniah , doing it in a judiciall way , not violent and murdering manner , as david had done . and although his serious repentance had cured the wound in his conscience , yet god suffered the scare in his credit so far to remain , as to render him uncanonicall , or irregular for such an imployment . however , in some sense david may be said to have built the temple : namely , in gods gracious d acception of the readiness of his will for the performance thereof . chap. ii. an army of workmen imployed by solomon in the building of the temple . § . now solomon his son being a peaceable prince , as his name imports , in his quiet reign began the building of the temple . thus as cryers make an oyes to silence all noise , that men may the better attend to the judge when beginning his charge ; so by a generall peace , the rage of all people was stilled , before god in the oracle did begin his familiar discourse with the israelites , or the foundation of the temple taken in hand . then solomon enters on the work , employing in mount lebanon , a vast army of workmen , in their severall distances to advance this fabrick . § . namely , for servile work , an a hundred and fifty thousand bearers of burdens , and hewers of stone and wood . all these were strangers , solomon reserving his native subjects for their purses to pay taxes , not persons to bear burdens . secondly , for plain work ; in which thirty thousand israelites were imployed , yet with such b alternation , that , divided in three parts , they stayed one moneth in mount lebanon , and the other two at home . thirdly , for carved-works ; herein the sidonians onely were used , whose exact number is not specified : but they must needs be numerous , if we may guess the men by their mouthes , and their mouthes by the c proportion of victualls allowed them . lastly , above all for direction three thousand three hundred were appointed ( surely so many officers would suffer no drones to be in the whole hive ) to oversee the rest . § . such , who admire how so many could so long be busied in such a building , would haply have wondred more , how so few in so short a time could have finished the same , had they beheld the magnificence thereof . two great gulfes there were , which insensibly swallowed up the labours of many thousands of men . first , the want of horses in iudea ( plenty whereof were brought out of egypt towards the latter end of king solomons reign ) whereupon massie timber in those mountainous countreys , were managed by the main strength of men . the second was a religious criticisme peculiar to this structure , all things being beforehand so framed and fitted in mount lebanon , that not so much as the sound of an axe , or hammer was heard in ierusalem , when it came to be erected . which exactness must needs occasion many chargeable essayes and samples , before it could be attained . nor wanted there a mystery therein , because as the moving tabernacle typified the church militant ; so the temple resembled the triumphant , where those who shall be thought worthy to be admitted into glory , shall have nothing to doe , but to be admitted into glory . § . some will say with d nicodemus , how could these things be , that no noise should be made at the erecting thereof ? suppose but a bedstead having head , sides , feet , posts , tester , cords , and curtains fitted before , it cannot be set up without some necessary noise . yea grant their hammers or mallets cased with some soft matter , to bribe them to silence , yet they could not be made so mute , but that the very contusion and enforcement of the aire , would unavoidably advance some sound . nor were the beams of the temple so far in love with their mortises , as to run into them , or the mortises so fond of the beams , as to embrace them of their own accord . § . in answer hereto , some plead miracle , others exquisite art , and several kindes of cementing , souldering , rivetting , screwing , glewing , and other devices unknown to our age . as for the rabbinicall fancy , that solomon with the bloud of the worme thamyr * effected this matter , most will account it improbable in it self , and unproportionable to scripture . others distinguish on the degrees of the noise ; small in comparison of so great a work , and not obstreperous to a publick disturbance . but the best interpret it , that no laborious sound was heard from the hewing or squaring of timber , or stone , but onely a more cheerfull , yea melodious harmony , from the happy conjunction , and compacting of parts together , now easily matched , which had been contracted before . this i am sure , that what tongue-tied tools soever , were used at the erecting of the temple , too clamorous instruments were imployed at the destruction therof , when they brake down the e curved work thereof at once with axes and hammers . § . besides the two gulfes aforesaid , ( the quick-sands of many mens labours ) it is also to be considered , that though so wise a king as solomon ▪ would not burden himself with superfluous numbers , yet in this fabrick , wherein he did personate and represent the great god of heaven , he consulted more with his magnificence , then his frugality , not minding so much how many the building in bare necessity did require , but how many the builders with full authority could command . § . notwithstanding so many labourers entertained in the work , seven years was this temple in building . here some will behold the sanctity and perfection of the septenary number , f so often occuring in scripture , whilest we conceive this the best reason , why just seven years were spent in the building thereof , because it could not be ended in six , nor accomplished within a shorter compass of time . indeed almost twice as much time ( thirteen years ) did solomon spend in building his own house : whereof this fair and ingenuous reason is rendered by h iosephus ; because he was not so intent and earnest therein , as in the structure of the temple . it is in another case reported to the praise of boaz , i the man will not be at rest , untill he have finished the thing ; so solomon , during those seven years of the temples building , did not sleep in a cessation from , nor slumber in an interruption of that work , which was intended for the honour of god. though in erecting his own palace , as he made it for his pleasure , so he did it at his leasure ; as conveniencies would permit . chap. iii. of the generall dimensions of the temple . § . the length of this temple was a sixty cubites ( besides ten cubits for the porch , which compleat the whole length , seventy ) the breadth thereof twenty , the height thirty . here we may take notice of a manifest difference betwixt the scripture and the writer of the jewish antiquities ; both for the time , wherein the temple was built , and the dimensions thereof . scripture . king . . . four hundred and fourscore years after the children of israel came out of the land of egypt . king . . . the height thereof thirty cubits . iosephus ant. iud. li. . c. . five hundred ninety and two years after the departure of the israelites out of egypt . ibidem . the whole height of the temple was six score cubits . a difference which will make no impression on his faith , who hath read saint peters resolution , b we ought to obey god rather then man ; such passages not unusuall in iosephus ; witness when he saith of king iehojachin , c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , being just and mercifull , of whom the scripture d once and e again reporteth , and he did that which was evill in the sight of the lord. § . a cubit , say some , is the length from the elbow to the wrist ; say others , to the tip of the longest finger : some making it the fourth , others the sixth part of a man. some allowing it a foot , others a foot and half , with whom we concurre . but it is mainly materiall , that the cubits of the temple were f after the first measure ; that is , according to those whereby the ark was framed , before mens first strength and stature was abated . for as it is hard exactly to define how big men were in former ages : so it plainly appears , both by scripture and pagan testimonies , how much mens might is impaired , and falls short of the performances of the ancients . homer , iliad . e ▪ in the duell betwixt diomedes and aeneas . — 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . — virgil , aeneid . . in the fight betwixt , aeneas and turnus . vix saxum lecti bi● sex cervice subirent , qualia nūc hominū producit corpora tellus . a stone he snatch'd and threw , a stone indeed so huge ▪ so heavy , two men now had need to heave it up , such dwarfes our days doe breed . however we may safely with the most moderate , make the cubit of the first measure double to the former , and equall to our english yard . § . say not that this allowing of severall cubits amongst the iews was double dealing , and a flat breach of that commandement , g thou shalt ▪ not have in thy bag diverse weights , a great and a small . for that ordinance onely forbad the abuse of one measure , a great to buy , and a small to sell with , both being conceived of the same standard . but to have severall weights or measures , where the chapman is acquainted with the difference , and the prices rated accordingly , is neither fault nor fraud at all , no more then for a merchant to sell by two severall pound weights , the one troy , the other averdupois , where the differences of the ounces is notoriously known . § . but thus allowing the temple to be sixty great cubits , or as many yards , or ninescore feet , long ; twenty great cubits , or yards , or sixty foot , broad ; thirty great cubits , or yards , or ninety foot , high ; ( all clearly within the house , besides the breadth of the wal without ) yet some wil say it answered not expectation , and the stately character given therof in scripture . is this that fabrick which filled the whole world with the fame thereof , which was so small in it self considered ? nothing can be magnificum , which is not magnum , and it must first be great , before it can be glorious . he may be pretty , but not a proper person , who hath not bulk proportionable to his beauty . yea if solomons temple were compared to some structures and fanes of heathen gods ( as humane authors give in their dimensions ) it would appear as saint gregories to saint pauls , ( the babe by the mothers side ) or rather this davids modell would be like david himself standing by goliah , so gigantick were some pagan fabrickes in comparison thereof . indeed this temple is termed exceeding magnificall chron. . . but diana who is styled her magnificence , act. . . seems better to deserve the title , whose temple is h said to be four hundred and twenty feet in the length , two hundred and twenty in the breadth , and sixty in the height thereof . § . to which we answer . t. the state of solomons temple did principally consist not so much in the greatness , as exquisite symmetry thereof , and costly furniture therein . . it was abundantly big enough for the use for which it was intended , namely to contain the holy vessells ( with sufficient , yea with large space betwixt them ) and to receive such priests as did officiate therein . for the holy of holies was accessible to the high-priest alone , and that but once a year , and into the holy or inward house came not all the many thousands of levites , but onely such priests ( to light lampes , set shew-bread , offer incense ) as by lot and course were called thereunto , as appeareth by zacharies sole staying therein , whilest the whole i multitude of the people were praying without . indeed nothing of drudgery was done in the temple , or what must require many men to manage it , it being neither handsome nor healthfull to croud much company into a covered room in that hot countrey . lastly , the great latitude and capacity of the temple consisted in the outward courts , unseparable parts thereof of such receipt , as to entertain multitudes of men sub dio , in the open aire , as compleating a square of five hundred cubits , and in the amplitude , largeness and magnificence thereof , equalling , yea exceeding the greatest buildings in the world , if report be but reduced to the standard of truth , and travellers not permitted to slip their thumb in their measuring of yards , overlashing in their relations . § . to return to what properly is termed temple , the tectum , or covered part thereof . it was more then twice as great as the tabernacle made by moses , which ( as k ribera collects from the length of the curtains exod. . ) was but thirty cubits in length , ten in breadth , and as many in height . yea , well might the temple exceed the tabernacle in dimensions , if we consider ; first , the tabernacle was erected by exiles wandering in a barren wilderness ; the temple by a potent prince , and his populous subjects in their own peaceable countrey . secondly , the tabernacle was in a manner fitted for its foundation , to the backs and shoulders of the levites , which were to carry it , and therefore might not exceed a portable proportion . thirdly , the temple mystically typified the church triumphant , and therefore in strength , state , grace , and greatness was to surpass the tabernacle , the moveable emblem of the church militant . § . now how the structure of the temple stood in relation to the four quarters of the world , is not plainly expressed in scripture , but may partly be collected from the phrase used in the originall , where the porch is said to be set 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 before l the face of the house , where before is eastward in the propriety of the hebrew tongue . hence all expositors , jewish and christian , confidently place the ends or length of the temple east and west , the sides or breadth thereof north and south , making the porch or entrance on the east end , the inward house in the middle , and the holy of holies in the west end of the temple , which severall parts we come now orderly to describe . chap. iv. of the fair porch at the entrance of the temple . § . the porch , in latine porticus , & vestibulum , in hebrew ulam , ( which name the septuagint retain ) gave a stately entertainment to such as entered into the temple . in the book of a kings we meet with the length , and breadth thereof , but no height there mentioned : in b chronicles we finde the length and height of it , whilest there the breadth is omitted ; by putting both together we may spell the perfect dimensions thereof . thus , those who hope for exact intelligence from heaven , must peruse , and compare all expresses dispatched thence . yea , in the new testament , gods message is whole , but not wholly by one messenger , so that , what is wanting in one , is supplied in another evangelist . this porch was twenty cubits in * length ( according to the breadth of the house ) ten in breadth , and an hundred c & twenty in height , mounting tower-like above the rest , being four times as high , as the body of the temple . § . some will say with covetous iudas , to d what purpose was this wast ? seeing the inside thereof was but an useless vacuity , not having any bells therein ( trumpets being the onely bells of the hebrews to summon their assemblies ) and that otherwise it was for no service . but know , that is not empty , which is full of ornament ; nor idle , which stands both for strength , and state . if an elegant exordium be so usefull in an oration , to gain the ears of the auditors ; no less gracefull a fair front in a building , to win the eyes of the beholders . nor was solomon minded like many in after-ages , who cut down all top-masts from the ship of christs church ( politickly pretending a tempest , and that all is done for her safety ) and make her close notted to the very keel ; but , his large hart and hand , cared not what he expended on the magnificence of gods house . § . here i cannot but admire , to see legions c of learned men , extend and cary on the aforesaid height , of an hundred and twenty cubits ( appropriated in the text to the porch alone ) even to the whole fabrick of the temple , making the entire body thereof of an uniform height , equall with the porch . where , to excuse them from inconveniences , they make the lower temple to reach to the first loft , roof , or seeling of cedar , over which they fancy an upper house of equall proportion , the roof whereof ranged even with the porch in height ; so making a duplicate , or all the rooms of the temple to be double , one on the floor , the other in the upper story . indeed we read in solomons song of a sort of sheep f whereof every one bare twins , but that such gemination was here in the temple , is altogether improbable , scripture being silent of that second , or upper story , nor mentioning any use , for which it was intended , and confining the height of the temple to just thirty g cubits . well therefore may we suspect some flaw , or crack in those spectacles , which represent the temple thus double , against the simplicity of the text , to the unprejudiced readers thereof . § . to return to the porch ; fair ( no doubt ) was the door or gate leading thereinto , though very bold is the assertion of venerable bede , h affirming that it was so great , that , standing full east , the equinoctiall sun without any obstacle , did send his beams through the door of the temple , and oracle , into the very ark which was within the holy of holies . but , grant the gate very great in the porch , surely the sun-shine could not penetrate so far , being intercepted by the partition . it being improbable , that the door of the oracle was ever left open , that mysterious place being unenterable , as well for the eyes , as feet of any , save the high-priest alone . otherwise , needless was the renting of the vail at our saviours passion , if the passage into the holy of holies was pervious at all times , or if the gate thereof did usually stand open . § . this porch ( as the words lay plain in the text ) solomon k overlaid within with pure gold . however interpreters expound these words ( though next in position to the porch ) rather to reach over in their relation , to other more inward parts of the temple , conceiving it too vast and needless an expence , to overlay a tower six score cubits high within with gold . but , ill fare covetous commentatours on a liberall text . solomon will give them small thanks for their great thrift ; to spare his cost , and at once to spoile both the letter of the text , and the lustre of his temple . we conclude it overlaid with pure gold , that is , gilded all over , but being silver within ; so reconciling it to another place , where david is said to have provided l seven thousand talents of refined silver , to overlay the walls of the houses withall . thus it took the denomination of gold , from that metall which was most precious , and most visible on the surface thereof . § . let none here condemn me , for grudging the temple her glory , thus debasing the gold thereof into silver-gilt . for mine own part , as moses wished all gods people m prophets ; it would not offend me , if all gods house were pearles , mine eyes are not so bleared with envy , as to smart at the shining of solomons temple . but a due decorum must be observed in this edifice , and one place of scripture must not be advanced , to depress another . and , seeing there were degrees in holiness , why not also gradations in gallantry , between the severall rooms of the temple ? so that all three might be overlaid with pure gold ; the porch with leafe , the inward house with plate , the holy of holies with the most refined gold of parvaim . chap. v. of the holy , or outward temple . § . we advance now from the porch into the next room , called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hechal the temple , ( because the largest part thereof ) as also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the greater n house , by tremellius templum anterius , by others interior domus , the inward-house , ( namely in respect of the porch ) which had forty o cubits in the length , while the breadth and height thereof , was adequate to the generall dimensions of the temple . § . the foundation of this temple ( as of the whole structure ) consisted of great costly hewed stones , brought thither by the kings p command . here if the vulgar latine hath lapides pretiosos , we must not understand gems and jewels thereby ; for , the burying of such shining beauties under ground , what had it been else , but the putting of a candle under a bushell ? besides , such are by nature too small for that service , and it was the prerogative royall of the new ierusalem , which came down from heaven , to have the foundation of that city q garnished with all manner of pretious stones . conceive them here stones of price , on whose polishing much cost was expended to make them no less fair to ●ight , then firme for substance . for , solomon , who built not for ostentation , but true magnificence , did not worship god onely with eye-service ; but was carefull , that the under-ground work of the temple should be as well specious , as strong ; knowing , that the same god saw both the secret of his heart , and bottome of his house . to lesson us in our spirituall edifices , to lay up in store for our selves a good foundation against the time to come , that we may lay hold on eternall life . § . how thick the walls of the temple were , is not expressed in scripture . villalpandus out of ezekiel colle●teth the breadth of the wall to be six cubits , s but how truely , i will not determine ; whilest peter comestor , without giving any reason , makes the wa●●en cubits thick ; more , i beleeve , then an architect will allow proportionable ; not to say , how many quarries of stone so much solid wall would superfluously devou●e . we are well assured ( though insisting on no ●et measure ) it was built most substantiall of it self ( had not the sins of the people infeebled it ) with breadth suitable to such an height , to which it was to be raised , and such a burden , which it was to support . § . this wall had the out-side thereof made of stone , for strength ; the middle of cedar , for beauty ; the in-side of gold , for magnificence . the cedar was so curiously carved with imagery of flowers , t palmes , and cherubims , that the walls of this house seemed at the same time , a garden of flowers , a grove of trees , yea and a paradise of angels . nor was all this flowretry , and other celature on the cedar , lost labour , because concealed , when covered with gold . indeed , had such graving been either in-laid , or flat-work , the superinduction of the gold had hid it , from any to behold it ; but those figures being outwardly imbossed with visible prominencies , the plate of the purest and most flexible metall , applyed it self so close to each lineament in the sculpture , that it set off , and expressed the carved work with advantage , abating nothing of the cunning , and adding much to the cost thereof . § . but being here to enquire into the forms of these cherubims , i am utterly dishea●tened with that passage in iosephus u speaking of their shapes , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , none can conceive or express what kind of creatures they were . notwithstanding , many learned men are very peremptory in assigning their shapes , but no more agreeing in their severall opinions , then men , women , children , lions , eagles , oxen , are one like to another . in all which forms i finde cherubims represented by severall authours , grounding them on the vision in w ezekiel . haply they assumed severall shapes , not always fixt to one figure , but preferring that forme for the time being , which suited best with their present service . appearing , when sent to treat , men ; when to terrifie , lions ; when to show strength , oxen ; when to use swiftness , eagles . but for certainty herein , the surest way , to know the fashion of these celestiall creatures , is to live and dye in gods fear and favour ; and then , shall we not onely see , but in some sort be cherubims our selves , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fellow-commoners with angels ( as our x saviour saith ) and sharers with them in glorious immortality . § . of the same curiosity for y carving , were the two doors with folding leaves , but made of fir-tree , and overlaid with gold , which lead out of the porch into the temple . the workmanship of these doors , and of the wall being in all particulars so like , that when they were shut , no breach or interruption appeared in the graving , but a fair continuation thereof . posts of olive-tree z four-square were made for those doors to turn upon . § . the floor hereof was made of boards of fir ( onely as stifning in the middle ) and they were faced and lined with gold on both sides . so soundeth the text to the plain reader thereof , b and the floor of the house he overlaid with gold within and without . but tremellius c expoundeth this within and without , not , above and beneath the boards ( theseeming sense of the words ) but , tam in adyto quàm in templo , both within the oracle , as also without , in this temple or great house . § . some will say , this was not so proper , that the pavement of the house should be as rich as the roof thereof . but this must be imputed to the poverty of nature , not affording more precious metal , seeing worse the gold was too bad for the floor , and better could not be had for the roof . yet the foresaid pavement though of gold must be presumed plain , without any carving , otherwise the inequality of the sculpture had rendered it uneasie to be walked upon . here the priests feet were taught to trample on worldly wealth ; and surely , one meanes to move god to d tread satan under our feet , is to make a foot-stool of this temporall mammon , being one of his principall baites , and most pernicious temptations . § . windows were also made in the temple , but how many , is not exactly specified . the fewer would serve the turn , because of the abundance of artificiall lamps constantly burning therein . indeed , some competent darkness raiseth devotion ; for , though that e unapproachable light which no meer man hath or can see , doth heighten , and elevate the zeal of glorified saints admitted thereunto , yet too much outward light draweth out devotion too thin , and scatters it in the eyes , whilest a solemn darkness remands it to the heart with greater veneration . and a dark oratory ( being as it were a room hung with black against a funerall ) doth minde such as enter therein of mortification . § . these windows come under a threefold enquiry . . how fashioned . . whereof made . . where placed . for their fashion , the originall termeth them secuphim athumin , words so variously rendered by translatours , that the windows which should lighten the fabrick , are themselves the most dark and difficult to be understood . we stick to our last translation of narrow lights ; a form found advantageous , as most thrifty to collect ( tunnel-like ) most light from without , so most liberall to dispense it within with greatest conveniency . for their matter , rabbi iehuda an ancient writer ( whose judgement tremellius preferreth f above all others ) conceiveth them of glass , plenty whereof we have observed nigh sidon , in purity corrivall with crystall it self . but g saint hierome will have them lattised , lignis interrasilibus , & vermiculatis , with worming or winding splinters of shaved wood : in which notion the septuagint renders them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 windows of net work . if so , we will be bold to conceive such wooden lathes were overlaid with gold , otherwise it was unsuitable , that when no wood appeared on the walls , it should presume to peep out in the windows . sure i am , in the second temple ( inferiour to this in magnificence ) iosephus h reports , how a roman soldier set fire on a golden window . however , if one will maintain , that these windows , made as much to let in aire , as light , and ( perchance ) more to let out smoak then either ( caused by the constant lamps and perfumes ) were open without any shutting at all , i see no coercive argument , to enforce his beliefe to the contrary , can be taken out of scripture . now because the temple was compassed about with three stories of chambers , each of them , five , and all three , fifteen cubits high , these windows in the temple must be made above the roof of those chambers , where their high standing afforded a double benefit , both of clearer light , and greater privacy . § . the roof of the temple , finding no exception to the contrary , probably was flat , built like other houses in iudea , where men might walk upon them ; i preach you ( saith our saviour ) on the house tops . but , if any aske , with what metall it was covered ? i am not ashamed to profess my ignorance . a quere , which , by his own confession , k posed villalpandus , propounded unto him by isabella archduchess of austria , even after he had studied the subject many years , and accounted himself question-proof in all particulars . insomuch , that non-plussed hereat , he was fain afresh to betake himself to his book , and on second enquiries found out of eupolemus , and other authors ( scripture being silent therein ) that it was covered with tiles of brass ( no more contradiction , then l hornes of iron mentioned in scripture ) which , squammato opere , in scale-work , lay one over another . a thing not unlikely in it self , david having provided brass in such abundance , that it was m without weight . no wonder , when we read that in meldorpe a small city of dithmars in denmark the ordinary inhabitants therein cover their houses with n copper . this i dare negatively affirme , it was not covered with lead , being so drossie and impure a metall , that not one ounce thereof is mentioned to be used about all the temple . chap. vi. of the holy of holies . § . this is called the oracle , in hebrew debir , gods parliament-house , or , speaking place , also the holy of holies , or , the inner-house . it was in fashion four-square , the height , length , and breadth thereof equally extending to o twenty cubits . to shew the stability , and firmness of happiness : so that , place the roof where the floor was , exchange one side-wall for the other , cube-like it still continued the same firme proportion . nor is the allusion of saint gregory to be contemned , on the like occasion observing , that so much as the soul ascends in knowledge of god , so much it extends in love to his neighbour ; both which meeting together make a square-well-grown , and proportionable christian. of the same form , but far less , was the holy of holiest in the tabernacle , namely ten q cubits square verifying our observation , that the temple was the tabernacle printed in a greater character . § . some will demand of me , that seeing the temple was thirty cubits , and this holy of holies but twenty cubits high , what then became of the remaining ten cubits , reaching up to the roof of the temple ? i answer in the words of elisha in another case , r the lord hath hid it from me , and hath not told me . for the main we may be confident , that seeing christ commanded the fragments of the multiplyed loaves to be basketted up , that s nothing be lost , surely no rag of room , no snip , or shred of empty space cut off from the squareness of the oracle , was cast away as needless , but was used for some sacred service , though the particular employment thereof appears not in scripture . § . it is stifly can vassed by learned men , whether any windows were in this oracle ; and topicall arguments are produced on both sides . for the negative . windows t were useless therein , which was entered into but once a year . the cherubims overshadowed the mercy-seat , shewing thereby these mysteries were intended not for sight , but secrecy . this oracle was designed for a little heaven , wherein they need no * candle nor light of the sun , for the lord god giveth them light . it was exposed to the west , or setting sun , whose declining beams were improper for that place being the emblem of perfection . for the a●●irmative . a totall darkness had made it rather the truth of a dung●on , then type of heaven . the u text placeth these windows not in the hechal , but ha-baith or house , which properly compriseth all the structure of the temple . uniformity to the rest of the fabrick required , that the windows in the oracle should be correspondent to those in the outward house . s. x hierome is positive , that on three sides . south , north , and west , windows were made , only denieth any in the east , or porch of the temple , where the door supplied the want thereof . but leaving the reader to the liberty of his own opinion , i conceive them too cruell , who serve the oracle , as the philistims did y samson , putting out the eyes thereof , to which some necessary light in probability must be allowed , and that the high priest therein did not annually officiate with blinde obedience . § . but grant the windows doubtfull , certain it is , that a most magnificent door of olive-tree was made out of the greater house into the oracle , carved with cherubims , and overlaid with gold , the lintell and side-posts thereof being five square , of the same matter and metall . as for the cherubims of massie gold , with their severall dimensions , hereof more hereafter , in the description of the utensils of the temple . § . the floor was covered with boards of cedar , overlaid with gold . but whether or no , the precious stones , wherewith this house was z garnished , were disposed in the pavement , or elsewhere in the walls , or roof , we are as uncertain , as we are confident those precious stones were exposed to view , and not covered ( as the rest ) under the gold of a parvaim ; which some , from the affinity of the word , conceive peru , or peruana . but , we will not be over curious in seeking for the countrey , which should we discover , all the misers of our modern age , would presently flock thither , to fraught themselves with wealth . nor is it any absurdity , to conceive , parvaim might be a countrey now altogether unknown , where god broached a rich vein of gold for this par●icular purpose ; and , the structure of the temple once ended , stopped it up again , that no other should tast thereof ever after . § . the weight of the nailes used in this room was fifty b shekels of gold , which ribera understands not collectively of them all ( the most seeming sense of the text ) but , that each of them severally weighed so much . i dare not say , that solomon particularly reflected on them , in that his expression , the words of the wise are as goads , and as c nailes fastened by the masters of the assemblies . but here the quere will be , how could they be of pure gold , seeing nailes of such refined metall will not drive , but flat , because of the extraordinary softness , and pliableness thereof ? it is answered , either they were rivetted into holes fore-prepared of purpose , or else they were stifned with some mixture of silver , or copper , not for cheapness , but the greater usefulness thereof . be it here once for all observed , that , where the utensils of the temple , are termed of pure gold , understand it so pure , as the end , for which they were intended , would permit . otherwise some necessary allay of baser metall made them not onely serviceable for , but more durable in that purpose , for which they were imployed . § . a stately vaile was used as a traverse , cross the holy of holies , which solomon made d of blew , and purple , and crimson , and fine linnen , and wrought cherubims thereon . if any demand why solomon did not rather make use of that vaile of like e workmanship , which moses had made by gods direction , then put himself to the pain , and expence of a new one ? let them know , that the former vaile fitted for the sanctum sanctorum in the tabernacle , was too short and narrow , yea , half in half too little for this purpose . therefore , it not being princely to piece , patch , or eek the same , another was contrived , as indeed nothing at the second hand was suitable to so stately a fabrick , wherein ( as the apostle in another case ) f old things are passed away , behold all things are become new . but more hereof hereafter in the utensils of the temple . § . one difficulty remains , where this holy of holies was placed , because the text g saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he prepared it , in medio domus , in the midst of the house , which seems to import , that the house or temple did inviron , or encompass it , and that the oracle , like the center , was surrounded with the circumference of the temple : but on stricter enquiry , it will be found onely a pure hebraism , & that in the midst signifieth the same with within , as it is judiciously rendered in our translation . thus saith david , h he that worketh deceit shall not live in the midst of my house , that is , shall not dwell within my family . o lord , i saith the prophet , revive thy work in the midst of the years , in the midst of the years make known . not insisting therein on an exact middle , but desiring it might be done , onely within the time , and tearm appointed , and promised by the prophet . so also was the oracle prepared in the midst of the house , that is , within the same , as the chancell is said to be within the church , through which the high and usuall way leadeth into it . chap. vii . of the chambers about the temple . § . although it be repeated thrice in one k verse , that chambers were built round about , yet because in the same place , mention onely is made of the temple and oracle , we conceive with learned ribera , that the east end where the porch stood , was clear , and un-chambered , having no other buildings about it , to hinder the prospect thereof . nor , let any be moved , because that the chambers are said to be built 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 l upon the wall , as if they were founded on the wall of the temple , supra being there taken for juxta , or contra , upon ; or hard by , or over against , as our translation rendreth it . thus it is in the originall , m upon the waters of babylon we sat down and wept , that is , by the waters ; as these chambers were built hard by , or leaning to the wall of the temple . § . three rows there were of these chambers . in the lowest , each chamber n was five ; in the middle , six ; in the third , and highest story , seven cubits broad ; and each of them equally o five cubits in height , going up from the first to the middle , thence to the highest story with winding staires . the beams of these chambers did not lye in , but p rest on the wall of the temple , the reduction or abatement whereof , narrowing in , the higher it went , afforded fit stays for that purpose . it seems , the beams were not mortised into the walls of the temple , because the intireness of that building was not to be wounded with holes , and perforations , which in process of time might fret in , and indent into the structure it self . speciall care therefore was taken , to preserve the wholeness and prevent all fractions in this fabrick , in some relation to the temple of christs body , whereof a bone was not to be broken . § . it is not expressed in scripture , for what use these chambers were principally intended . some conceive them designed for galleries , or walking-places ; which to me seems too much presumption , for any to take their pleasure so near the holy place . others will have them used for dormitories , for such priests to lodge in , who were in ordinary attendance about the temple . for my own part , i conceive them imployed for repositories , wherein the holy vestments , and vessels were safely laid up , together with those of the tabernacle , which ( though not used ) were here carefully preserved . for , first , the vessels of moses his making were not aliened , or diverted to any profane service ; such sacriledge being unsupposable in that age . secondly , they were not altered , or melted by solomon ( of moe and lesser , so to make fewer , and greater utensils for the temple ) because , the making , as well as the matter ; the shape , as well as the substance of all the tabernacle-vessels were of livine institution . thirdly , they were not imployed in gods service , because ( some few excepted , whereof hereafter ) being calculated for the meridian of the tabernacle a less fabrick , thus fel out to be too short , and smal in proportion to the temple , as in the vail was formerly observed . seeing therfore they were neither aliened , altered , nor used , it remaineth they were carefully kept in these chambers , intimated in the text , q where after the finishing of the temple , the levites are said to bring up into it , all the vessels of the tabernacle . thus graces acquired or infused into a christian in this life , are not lost , forfeited , or cast away after death ; but , preserved ▪ perfected , and swallowed up in glory . § . as for the mysticall meaning of these chambers ; bede , r no doubt , thought he hit the very mark , when finding therein the three conditions of life all belonging to gods church . in the ground-chamber , such as live in mariage ; in the middle-chamber , such as contain ; but , in the excelsis or third-story , such as have attained to the sublimity of perpetuall virginity . rupertus , in the lowest chamber , lodgeth those of practicall lives with noah ; in the middle , those of mixt lives with iob ; and in the highest , such as spend their days with daniel in holy speculations . but is not this rather lusus , then allusio , sporting with , then expounding of scriptures ? thus when the gates of the oracle are made f five-square , ribera therein reads our conquest over the five senses ; and when those of the door of the temple are said to be four-square , therein saith he is denoted the quaternion of evangelists . after this rate , hiram ( though , no doubt , dexterous in his art ) could not so soon fit a pillar with a fashion , as a frier can fit that fashion with a mystery . if made three-square , then the trinity of persons ; four-square , the cardinall vertues ; five-square , the pentateuch of moses ; six-square , the petitions in the lords prayer ; seven-square , their sacraments ; eight-square , the beatitudes ; nine-square , the orders of angels ; ten-square , the commandements ; eleven-square the morall vertues ; twelve-square , the articles of the creed are therein contained . in a word , for matter of numbers , fancy is never at a loss , like a begger never out of his way , but hath some haunts where to repose it self . but , such as in expounding of scripture reap more then god did sow there , never eat what they reap thence , because such grainless huskes , when seriously threshed out , vanish all into chaffe . § . for the rest , we refer the reader unto our map , wherein he may observe a double alphabet for his direction . one of roman letters , presenting onely such things in the building of the temple , as are infallibly founded on the words of the text . the other of italian , relating to such additions , which , to compleat this fabrick , are taken out of traditions , rabbins , fathers , and learned mens conjectures . we thought it unfit , to confound these together in the same character , being so distanced in their own natures . the apostle saint paul varies his phrase , when delivering his prudentiall advises , from his style , when enjoyning , what he had from divine inspiration . in the former , to the rest t speak i , not the lord : in the latter , u i command , yet not i , but the lord. it had therefore been impudent presumption in us , not to have observed a difference in this our description , betwixt immediate divine dictates , and humane ( probable , but fallible ) collections . here the map of solomons courts is to be inserted . the courts and utensils of solomons temple . chap. i. of the court of the priests . § . so much for the diamond it self , the covered temple , come we now to the ring wherein it was set , the courts which encompassed it . herein we meet with much difficulty , arising partly from gods silence , ( speaking little in scripture of the present subject ) partly from mansloquacity , whose fancies without warrant from the word , are as copious as different in describing the courts of this temple . but , that which makes the matter in hand more intricate is , because learned men confound temples and times , ascribing those courts to solomons , which onely belonged to the second temple , at , and after the time of our saviour . thus , as countrey painters make the nine worthies ( not according to the garb of those ancient ages wherein they lived ) with bands and cuffs according to our modern fashion ; so some jewish writers ( iosephus himself being not wholly free from this fault ) shape the courts of solomons temple , not after their true form in the old testament ; but as the second temple adorned by herod , stood modelled in their own days . § . we read of iacob , that he set his own sheep three days a journey from the flocks of laban his father-in-law , so sufficiently to distinguish their severall stocks from making quarrels by meeting together . a greater distance divides the two temples , there being no less then seventy years , betwixt the destruction of the one , and erection of the other . enough in probability to prevent all mistakes , which might arise from ●udling them together . i wonder therefore the more at their marvellous agility , who so easily can leap over this great-gulfe of time , & who by confounding the two temples , and making many things common to both , of two perfect models , compose one no better then a monster . that we run not on the same rocks , we will carefully observe their severall properties , insisting onely on such things for the present , as were peculiar to solomons fabrick , confining our selves to scripture instructions : as knowing that the judicious palat will prefer a drop of the sincere milk of the word , before vessels full of traditionary pottage , resenting of the wild gourd of humane invention . § . a court , in latine atrium , greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 chatzer , according to architecture consisteth of two principall parts , an open space in the middle ( properly called cavedium , quasi cavum edium ) exposed to wind , and weather . a covert on the sides thereof ( termed porticus and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) whither in heat , or rain , men might retreat , for shade , or shelter , like the cloisters about the royal-exchange in london . this premised of the fashion of a court in generall , solomon made two of them on the east of the temple , one called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 chatzer happenimith , or , the inner b court ( in c chronicles , the court of the priests ) built with three rowes of hewen stone , and a row of d cedar beams . understand three rows , not collaterally in thickness , all abreast on the floor , and the cedar for ceiling within , ( as richardus will have it ) but three subordinately in height , one upon another , with cedar beams ( as lightest , and therefore uppermost ) for a tarras on the top thereof . this is all that scripture acquaints us with , concerning the fabrick of the inner court. for , that each row of stone therein , was of a different colour , as lyra e affirmes , is but a fancy of his own . such variation of colours i beleeve in iosephs f coat , and thamars g garment , because scripture hath affirmed it : not here , where no warrant out of the word for such an assertion . § . probably certain ascents led hither out of the outward court , and hence into the temple . for , besides the frequent phrase of going up into gods house : it was proper that the temple , as in holinesse , so in height should be distanced above her courts ( as they one above another , and both above common ground ) were it but to minde such as approached thither , with the mounting of their bodies to elevate their hearts in devotion . but , how many these stairs or steps were , is uncertain , though some will have them fifteen , according to the number of the psalmes of degrees , sung , as they affirm , by the priests in their ascent to the temple . § . this inner court , or court of the priests , was proper onely for the priests to enter into . yet probably the common people made a tumul●●ous incursion into it , when stoning zachariah at the command of king ioash in the court of the house of the lord , even betwixt the temple i and the altar . as if the antiperistasis of two eminent holy places on both sides of them , had intended and emboldned their cruelty , and profaneness . wherefore , his last words , the lord look upon it , k and require it , speake not not so much revenge of his own death , as zeal to gods honour , that he would vindicate the profanation of so holy a place . this i conceive one cause why the prophet pointeth the priests to this particular place , to l weep betwixt the porch and the altar , so by their sorrow to avert gods judgements from their nation , for this foul murder by their ancestours committed therein . chap. ii. of the great , or outward court. § . whereas solomon is said to have made the inner court of the house of the lord ; by the rule of relation , an outward court is thence next inferred . but to clear it more , express mention is made thereof chron. . . where , besides the court of priests , he is said to have made the great court , and doors for the court , and overlaid the doors of them with brass . this court in hebrew is called azarah * , rendered by montanus atrium auxilii , from azar to help , because god there answered his peoples prayer by his gracious assistance afforded unto them . § . well might this be termed the great court , seeing large ( though uncertain ) were the dimensions thereof , an hundred cubits square at the least . but what was this to contain all israel therein ? philip speaking of five thousand to be fed , two m hundred penny worth of bread ( saith he ) is not sufficient for them , that every one may take a little . but , grant this court two hundred cubits square ( more then the place will allow ) this would afford but few inches for a mans body to stand in , except the ground was here ( as the loaves ) miraculously multiplyed . we therefore conceive , that the people of the land were successively admitted to this place , otherwise impossible to contain them . ascents , or staires did also lead into this court , but how many is not known ; surely they were low and little , short and easie , to be climbed up , otherwise the cattell brought thither to be sacrificed , could not conveniently clamber over them . § . this court was by successive kings ( especially hezekiah , who n cased the pillars thereof with silver ) improved to more beauty , then it had in the days of solomon . some will say , this was a disparagement to the perfection of solomons work , as if he had left any defects , or defaults therein , to be amended by others . were not his structures , as his discoveries , compleat ? for , o who is he that will come after the king in things ? it is answered , the outward temple was , in the appendent courts thereof , capable of more cost and expence , to make them both bigger , and braver ; though the covered temple was semel & semper , at once and for ever perfected , afterwards admitting of no new addition , when solomon had finished it . surely god granted not such a monopoly to solomon alone to ingross all honour to himself , so that no reserve was left for posterity , no bottome for their bounty to build on , in after ages , to testifie their gratitude to gods goodness . some accessions therefore might be made ( though not to the vitall parts , as i may say ) to the out-lims of the temple . it is the priviledge not of the house of god , but of god himself , to be so perfect , as that nothing can be added unto him . § . but others will object , that this was a presumptuous innovation in hezekiah , seeing the courts of the temple , and all things therein were framed according to the divine p pattern david left to solomon , for him to overlay those pillars with silver , which solomons wisdome , following gods platform , was pleased to make plain . but , let such know , that he swerveth not at all from the proportion of the copy , who onely gilds , or colours the letters therein . hezekiah for the main kept himself to the former fabrick , not altering , but adorning the same . the worst was , that afterwards he q cut off the silver again to purchase the favour of sennacherib . better had those pillars been left naked , then thus to be clothed , and then to be stript of their costly coats . for , though ( as some scornfully may scoff ) there was no danger of their catching cold when thus disrobed ; yet the beauty of those pillars were thereby much impaired , looking ruggedly when again uncased , besides the inexcusable sacriledge therein committed , whereof hereafter . § . we must not forget the entry , leading from this court to the kings palace , through which the kings of iudah had at pleasure a private passage into the temple . this continuation of the kings to gods house , shewed the mutuall intercourse which ought to be betwixt policy , and piety ; as also that princes ( besides their set , solemn , and publick addresses to god by prayer ) must have their secret recourses unto him , in their occasionall devotions . it was first made by king solomon , and then so stately a structure , that amongst other things , the queen of sheba was ravished with admiration at the sight thereof , when she beheld r the ascent by which he went up into the house of the lord. and yet afterwards it was made more magnificent , when s terrased on both sides with t pillasters made of those almuggin trees which she presented to solomon ; which , if oderiferous , ( as some will have it ) made that passage as sweet to the smell , as specious to the sight . wicked ahaz u turned this entry from the house of the lord , for the king of assyria , that is , as w tremellius will have it , stopped up , or diverted that passage , fearing , lest through it the king of assyria should out of the temple suddenly surprise the kings palace . i conceive this done not for fear , but in favour of the assyrian king , ahaz hereby cutting off all connexion , and dependence of his palace to the temple , and utterly renouncing all relation to true religion , so the more to confirme this friendship with that heathen king , begun on a new account , and grounded on pure principles of idolatry . at the same time he turned out also the x covert of the sabbath which they had built in the house , by which our foresaid authour understands , a place erected for the shelter of such priests as officiated on the sabbath . § . as for their tradition , who report solomon to have written on the walls of the temple , soveraign receipts against all diseases , which hezekiah afterwards is said to rase out , because people placed too much confidence therein , to the prejudice of divine providence , i listen to both as rabbinicall fables . surely such medicines ( if any there prescribed ) proved uneffectuall to cure asa's gout , ioram's dysentery , uzziahs leprosie , as indeed no art can crave longer time , when death calls for the present payment of the debt to nature . chap. iii. of the gates and porters of the court. § . heaven hath onely one , and that a * narrow gate leading thereinto . but severall fair gates on all sides , gave entrance into the courts of solomons temple . some of them to us of certain , others but of conjecturall situation . of the former were , east-gate , where a shelemiah was porter . this gate was set in the front , leading directly to the temple , and therefore king iotham b rebuilt it , mounting monarch-like above the parity of other ports , that it became higher then all the rest , yet met with no zelot to humble it , for aspiring above its fellows . north-gate , where c zacharias his son was porter . south-gate , attended on by the sons of d obed-edom . the house of asuppim e ( rendred by hierome and pagnine a counsel-house , by tremellius aerarium , the treasury ) was for conveniency united to their charge . a place , probably of entrance , certainly of consequence , as needing a constant guard about it . west-gate , where shuppim f and hosah were porters . to them also belonged the gate shallecheth , by the causway of the going up , understand thereby that stately ascent made by solomon , out of his own palace into the temple . but besides these four , which respected the cardinall winds , we meet with other intermediate gates , whose accurate position is uncertain . never did the blinded g sodomites more groap for lots door in the dark , then learned men are puzled to finde the gate of h sur , ( elsewhere i called the foundation-gate ) where at the coronation of king ioash , a tierce of levites were awarded to waite , by order from iehojada . tremellius not improbably conceives it the same with the east-gate . as for the newgate k , wherein baruch publickly read the book of ieremy , i am confident it was one of the four principall gates , onely repaired , enlarged , or adorned with new buildings . l parbar seated on the west must not be forgotten ( whether porters-lodge , priests-vestry , or place wherein sacrificing instruments were laid up ) having something of the nature of a gate therein , because two porters daily attended it . say not , it was suspicious , that so small a court would run out at so many gates , which surely were no more , then just proportion , and uniformity did require . § . the principall office of porters was to secure the gates , providing for the peace and purity of the temple and service therein . these in all were m four thousand , thus daily disposed of ; eastward , six ; northward , four ; southward , four ; at asuppim-gate , two ; and two , westward ; at the causway , four ; at parbar-gate , two ; four and twenty in all . an eminent number in temple-service ( so many the singers n , and the severall o courses of the priests ) to which the four and twenty elders in the p revelation have some allusion . their service was , as well nocturnall , as by day : q which by night stand in the house of the lord. § . here let others dispute , whether the porters places were meerly ministeriall , ( or servile rather ) or also partly judiciall , with some admissive , and exclusive power to take cognizance of the cleanness of such persons as did approach to the temple . otherwise , they were easily qualified for their office , rather bigness then brains commending men generally to such imployments . secondly , if they were intrusted with any such authority , let others enquire , by what means they made discoveries of peoples uncleanness , finding no oath ex officio they tendred to any to betray themselves , though otherwise some secret pollution might be concealed , the parties themselves being onely privy thereunto . lastly , let them discuss , whether these porters were afterward advanced to higher places , or onely ( as the doors whereon they attended turned round on their hinges ) moved alternately in their own sphere , without possibility of any farther preferment . if the latter , it is strange that the worthy parts of zachariah his son porter northward , commended in scripture to be a r wise counsellour , should be imprisoned in so narrow a profession . and yet his employment ( though the meanest about the temple ) was honourable in it self , if well executed : witness holy david his choice , i had rather be s a door-keeper in the house of my god , then to dwell in the tabernacles of wickedness . § . now notwithstanding all the care of the porters to the contrary ; some ( not going through the gates , but over the walls ) made bold to lodge and live with their whole families within the verge of the temple . yea , the sparrow t hath found an house , and the swallow a nest for her self , where she may lay her young , even thine altars , o lord of hosts , my king , and my god. by altars understand the courts and buildings about it , otherwise the altar it self ( fitter for salamanders then sparrows ) was too hot a climate for their habitation . birds , we see , may prescribe an ancient title to build in our steeples , having time out of minde taken the same priviledge in the tabernacle , and temple . yea david in exile debarred access to gods publick service , doth pity his own , and prefer the condition of these fowls before him . and , although no devotion ( whereof they were uncapable ) but the bare delight in fair fabricks , brought them hither ; yet , we may presume ( according to their kind ) they served god better then many men in that place , chirping forth morning and even-praises to the honour of their maker . to take our farewell of these porters , wicked ahaz gave them a supersedeas . from their office , in that long vacation wherein he u shut up the doors of the house of the lord , so obstructing gods mercy against himself . chap. iv. of the chambers , and treasuries about the court. § . the porches , or cloisters beneath were built with rooms above ; if not round about the court , certainly over the intervalls of the gates . such places were employed , partly for chambers for priests to lodge in , partly for treasuries , wherein consecrated things were deposited . § . amongst the former , most remarkable was the chamber of gemariah the son of shaphan the secretary , wherein a baruch read the book of ieremy , which afterwards was burnt by iehojakim king of iudah . when though some ( dissenters and disswaders ) amongst all the courtiers no mourners appeared at the funeralls of this book , it being expected , they should have been as cruell to their clothes , to b rend them for sorrow , at the sight of that double martyrdome of that innocent volume , first cancelled with a pen-knife to pieces , then afterward burnt to ashes . but the flame , which did burn the book , did but burnish the truths written therein ; yea another phoenix arose out of the ashes thereof . baruch transcribing another roul c with the same and many like words added beside . thus wanton children by breaking their parents old rod , give them onely the occasion to make a better , and bigger in the room thereof . § . next we take notice of the chamber of nathan d melech at the entring of the house of the lord , by which stood those statues of horses dedicated to the sun by some idolatrous kings of iudah , which iosiah destroyed . what! was the sun , which e rejoyceth as a giant to run his course , ever so tyred , as to need hacknies to carry him to his journeys end ? oh no , but the iews plundred this piece of idolatry from the persians , who f offered horses unto the sun , and g ovid renders some reason thereof , placat ●quo persis radiis hyperiona cinctum , ne detur celeri victima tarda deo. horse to the beamed sun 's the persians gift , slow sacrifice ill fits a god so swift . now the iews counting it too gross idolatry to sacrifice naturall horses to the sun , erected artificiall ones in honour thereof . § . another eminent chamber , was that of the sons of hanan , h which was by the chamber of the princes , probably on the one hand , which was by the chamber of maaseiah the son of shallum the keeper of the door , on the other hand thereof . here ieremy in vain solicited the rechabites to drink wine , observing the instructions of their ancestours therein ; as also in their constant dwelling i in tents , so to entertain all turnings of the times , with less trouble to themselves . provident birds , onely to perch on the boughs , not build their nests on that tree , which they suspected would suddenly be cut down , foreseeing perchance the captivity of babylon . indeed , in all fickle times ( such as we live in ) it is folly to fix on any durable design , as inconsistent with the uncertainty of our age , and safest to pitch up tent-projects , whose alteration may with less loss , and a clear conscience comply with the change of the times . chap. v. that solomon made no moe then two courts on the east of the temple . § . although many learned authours make four , and some moe courts about solomons temple , yet the following reasons perswade me , that these two courts formerly described by us , were all which were of solomons originall foundation . because , mention is made of no moe in scripture , either in the book of kings , or chronicles , where his buildings are particularly described . manasseh is said to have built altars for the host of heaven in the two a courts of the house of the lord. probably , had there been any moe , his profaneness would have found them out , no place being priviledged from his idolatry . the narrowness of the place , as it was in solomons time , admitted of no moe courts , such was the precipice thereof on all sides . this last is confessed by b iosephus , whose words deserve our heeding to clear the matter in hand ; the temple was built upon an c hard mountain , and at the first , the plain on the top thereof was scarce sufficient to contain the temple , and the altar , the d circumference thereof being steep and shelving . but , when king solomon who built the temple , had compassed the east part thereof with a wall , he also placed a porch upon the rampire , and so , many ages after it lay e unfenced on the other parts , untill the people every day bringing earth thither , at last made it plain and large enough . insomuch that the temple extant in the days of iosephus ▪ had a threefold wall about it , and other courts built on that forced ground , which industry had added thereunto . see here the small compass of the temples floor at the first founding thereof . so that those who in solomons time make moe courts about it , must build them in the aire , seeing the earth ( such then the scantness and steepness thereof ) afforded no bottome for the building of such imaginary fabricks . § . but shrewd objections are brought to the contrary , by such who , in solomons time , make moe then two courts by us described . no doubt ( say they ) he observed davids instructions , who by the spirit gave him the pattern of f all the courts of the house of the lord , which he meant to make . these therefore at the least must needs be three , seeing all ( as g aristotle observes ) can not in proper language , be predicated of a lower number . § . answ. i confess the words so read in the vulgar latine , & omnium quae cogitaverat atriorum , though no such thing appears in our translation founded on the originall , where david is said to deliver to solomon the h pattern of all that he had by the spirit , of the house of the lord , of all the chambers round about &c. this third court therefore in solomons time , was but a groundless fancy . § . object . another court must of necessity be allowed on the west of the temple , or else ( which is altogether improbable ) the holy of holies lay open , unfenced , and common to the city . § . answ. the same was sufficiently fenced , and severed from the city with the precipice of the place , barring all access , and the temple on that side surrounded with ambient aire in the concavity of the vally . if besides this , any artificiall wall encompassed the temple on the west , the distance between it and the temple may be counted a passage , but amounted not to the spaciousness of a court. § . object . good authours , bede , cassidore , comestor , and tostatus confidently adde , atrium foeminarum , or , the womens court , where their sex severally by themselves attended their devotions . nor is it probable they were mingled with men , seeing the prophet speaking of a solemn humiliation , they shall waile ( saith he ) the family of the house of david apart , and their i wives apart , the family of the house of nathan apart , and their wives apart . § . answ. this place cited out of zachary was spoken after solomons temple was demolished , and zerubbabels erected . such separation of sexes in severall courts in the first temple hath no foundation in scripture , but rather thence the contrary may be collected , that all sexes and ages promiscuously met together ; for , iehosaphat is said , to have stood in the k house of the lord with their little ones , their l wives , and their children . however it may be that there was anciently a partition of the outward court per clathros & cancellos , with bar or lattise-work , into two parts , and so the women ( though in the same court ) might be severally by themselves . § . object . there were moe courts , three at least , in ezekiels temple ; which as villalpandus will have it , in all particulars was the same with solomons . § . answ. confessing some generall conformities , we deny , not onely the identity , but exact similitude betwixt them . it is against the nature of a prophecy to have a retrograde motion , to bring things backward , and raise the ghosts of buildings departed , which rather looks forward , presenting things to come . ezekiels temple had not the same body with solomons , but greater , and moe were the parts , and members thereof ; as in due time , god willing , we shall make it to appear . § . object . m iosephus a learned iew living in ierusalem seems to adde another , atrium gentium , the court of gentiles , or unclean persons . § . answ. the place quoted out of him to this purpose , will scarce bear the collection of a new court from it . however iosephus was none of those n aged men , who remembring the magnificence of solomons , wept when the foundation of the second temple was laid before their eyes . i mean he was no eye-witness of the first and old temple ( being born five hundred years and more , after the dissolution thereof ) and onely spake of it , either by tradition , or conjecture , and therefore his authority of no such strength , as to command our beliefe . besides , he seems to have forgotten what formerly we cited out of him , for the narrowness of the place , not admitting moe courts in solomons time . however , his eyes were so dazeled with long looking on the second temple extant in his age , that he conformeth thereto , and confoundeth therewith solomons temple , if making any moe courts then two therein . § . however , i dare not deny , but even this first temple , after the death of solomon , might by succeeding kings , have another court added thereunto ; namely , when by art , industry , and great expense they had raised up the valley , and gained more ground to the mountain of the house , which was so small at the first . hereof we finde a double insinuation in scripture : one , when iehosaphat is said to stand in the house of the lord before the new o court , which probably about his reign , was added to the ancient fabrick . another , when at the coronation of ioash iehoiada gave order that the priests p alone should come into the house of the lord ( meaning the inner-court thereby ) whilest the people should be in the courts q of the house of the lord , the plural number there importing two courts at the least , at that time belonging to the temple , into which the common people had free access . but herein nothing can be positively concluded . wherefore , as the sons of barzillai , though priests , yet because they found not their genealogy reckoned in the r register , were therefore removed from the priesthood , till one with urim and thummim , should arise to decide the controversie : so we suspend this third and new court , as doubtfull , in our descriptions , untill some infallible judge , on better evidence then we can produce , shall clear the title thereof . chap. vi. of the pillars in the porch of the temple . § . god at the first creation , having finished the elements , and essentiall parts of the world , did afterwards furnish them with creatures suitable thereunto , no vacuity being left : so that rather then any thing should be empty , any thing will fill it . solomon in like manner , having ended the main rooms of the temple , in the n●xt place made the furniture thereof , wherein every vessell was pregnant with heavenly mysteries ; so that what the apostle saith of the languages in the world a none of them are without signification , was true of the smallest uten●ill in the temple , speaking much holy matter , had we eares to hear , and hearts to understand it . § . we begin with the porch , where the two great brazen pillars were set up , each of them b twelve cubits in compass , ( bearing a little more then four cubits in diameter ) four c fingers thick of solid metall , and the rest hollow within , some difference appearing in the measure of their height , variously presented unto us ; king . . . and he cast two pillars of brass of eighteen cubits high a piece . chron. . . also he made before the house two pillars of thirty and five cubits high . to reconcile these , some have recourse to severall cubits , common , or great ; of the first measure conceiving the former mentioned in kings ; the latter ( which were twice as big ) intended in chronicles . others understand the bare shaft of the pillars to be eighteen cubits high , besides the chapiters above , and basis beneath them : the former being d five cubits , and the latter so many as made the totall number thirty and five . a third e sort most probably conjecture , that in chronicles the height of both pillars are counted together . where if any object , that eighteen and egihteen cubits make thirty six , one more then the number in chronicles ; ribera conceives that so much onely as appeared of these pillars are summed up , each of them having half a cub it of their shaft lost in their height , as running in , and hid in his chapiter grafted upon it . § . the chapiters of these pillars were curiously adorned with net-work , chain-work , and rowes of pomegranats . these were but apples of brass , whilest words spoken in due season are far more precious , being like those of gold in pictures f of silver . lillies g also were made on the top of these chapiters , wherein though hiram might imitate the fashion of those flowers , no art could counterfeit their colours , seeing he who set him on work , even h solomon himself in all his glory was not arayed like one of these . these pillars set in the porch did not like those two in dagons i temple support the main fabrick thereof , nor was any burden born by them , but were onely ( like brazen andirons in great mens chimnies ) for ornament . let none say unto them as the master to the men in the market place , k why stand yee here all the day idle ? seeing they were usefull in their kind , and contributed much to the beauty of the temple . § . others will say , these pillars were ill placed , because obscured in the porch , where few did behold them . his kindred said to our saviour l there is no man that doth any thing in secret , and he himself seek●th to be known openly . had solomon for his credit intended to make the temple appear glorious , he should not so privately have concealed these pillars in the porch . — occultae non gratia magna columnae . better had they been set like the colossus at rhodes , or the two columns before saint markes in venice , sub dio , in the open aire . but here we must know , first , that solomon intended his temple , not so much to be seen , as to be glorious . secondly , the door leading into the porch , being exceeding broad , and high , these pillars were not wholly concealed , but a great part , if not all of them , was exposed to publick view through the door of the porch . § . the pillar standing on the right hand in the m porch was called iachin , that is , he will stablish ; and the other on the left side boaz , that is , in him is strength . pity without power will be but lame to help us ; power without pity will be but deaf to hear us ; whilest both together make a comfortable composition . both these pillars we finde in a manner erected in the expression of the leper n to our saviour : iachin , but doubtfully and conditionally , lord if thou wilt . boaz , positively and absolutely , thou canst make me clean . both these pillars there set up , signified gods protection of the place , and the gates of hell could not prevail against that temple , which had these pillars in the porch thereof . § . besides this , in a secondary sense these two did resemble eminent saints , ministers especially ( such as iames , cephas , and iohn , o who seemed to be , yea , whom god made p pillars in his temple ) who by the word and sacraments direct , conduct , and admit men into the true church . pillars , bottomed on the basis of a firm faith , mounting up with a clear shaft of a shining life , having their persevering tops garlanded about according to gods q promise , be thou faithfull unto death , and i will give thee a crown of life . chap. vii . of the furniture of the sanctuary , or inner tample . § . amongst the utensils of the sanctuary , we first look on the candlestick , and the light therein enables us , the better to behold all the rest . the tabernacle had but a one , the temple ten b candlesticks of pure gold , ( this exceeding that ten to one in lustre ) five on the right side , and five on the left , each of them no doubt fashioned like that which moses made , seven fold with a great shaft for the body in the midst , and three stems on each side branching out thereof . in some resemblance of the seven planets , amongst which the sun , the stock of light , stands in the midst , and three other on each side , above , and beneath it . here we cannot but minde the reader of a foul mistake in c iosephus , who beholding these candlesticks through a multiplying glass , in stead of ten reads ten thousand that solomon made in his temple . yet we deny not , that besides these ten standing candlesticks of gold , there were many moe ●oveable ones , but all those made of d silver , which the priests in the night might carry about with them . by these candlesticks also , having lights always in them , gods ministers in generall were represented . for , to say , that by these seven lamps in the ten candlesticks ( threescore and ten in all ) the e seventy disciples were designed , would savour of too much curiosity . § . next we take notice of the table of f shew-bread , which solomon made of that gold , which his father david had peculiarly prepared for that g purpose . the particular dimensions , and fashion thereof , is not mentioned in scripture . probably of the , like form with that which moses made in the tabernacle , though of a far greater proportion . on this loaves were daily presented to god ; who , not out of any necessity ( if i be hungry , i will not tell thee , for the h world is mine , and the fulness thereof ) but free will , was pleased to accept thereof : otherwise no more needing this bread to feed , then the light of the lampes to guide him . the bread on this table was tendered to god , partly as a quit-rent , in confession that the iews held all their food from his providence ; and partly as a type of christ , the i bread which came down from heaven . and , as serving-men feed on the reversions which their masters leave , so the priests ( when new was substituted in the room of the formet ) eate those loaves which were taken away . not pretending with k bels priests , that their god eat up , what they secretly devoured themselves ; but by license from him , they openly avouched their lawfull repast thereupon . § . but the most eminent utensill in the holy , was the altar of incense , made by moses in the tabernacle , two l cubits high , and four square : namely , with a cubit in the length , and another in the breadth thereof . proportionable enough for that purpose , no sacrifices of bulk being to be offered thereon , but onely sweet odours ( much whereof might lie in little space ) and spirituall spices ( as i may term them ) which took up but smal room therein . davids express care provided m refined gold for this altar of incense . and no doubt , solomon , the executour of his will , performed it accordingly . for , when it is said , that he n covered the altar with cedar , and that hee o overlaid the whole altar ( elsewhere p made the altar ) which was by the oracle with gold ; it can refer to none other , but this altar of incense ; seeing , that for burnt sacrifices , was made q of brass . it seems that , when solomon made the holy in the temple , far larger then that in the tabernacle , and when every implement therein ( to make the furniture proportionable to the room ) commenced and took an higher degree of glory and greatness ; then he cased the old altar of incense with cedar , and overlaid the same with gold , to be but the basis and pedestall of a greater altar , which for the same purpose he advanced thereupon . § . as for the position of this altar , that it was not set in the oracle or most holy place , but onely in the holy , or inward temple , may by the ensuing arguments be demonstrated . the text saith expresly , moses put it in the tent of the r congregation before the vaile . the incense thereon was to be perpetuall , renewed every s morning , and therefore it could not be in sancto sanctorum , which was penetrable but once a year for the high priest. zacharias an inferiour priest ( as of the eight t order , or course of abiah ) incapable to enter the holy of holies , officiated on this altar of incense . greater therefore is the difficulty , that , notwithstanding the premises so plain to the contrary , the authour to the hebrews , placeth it in the holy of holies , u and after the second vaile , the tabernacle , which is called the holiest of all , which had the golden censer , and the ark of the covenant &c. § . all that our best endevours can perform herein , is onely to present the severall solutions , learned men produce to the present difficulty . iunius w placeth this altar within the vail , and without the sanctuary , in so strange a posture , that scarcely either jewish or christian tacticks of temple-implements , will admit thereof . others x by the golden censer [ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ] understand not this altar of incense , but that eminent y censer of aaron used by him in his contest with korah , which they conceive ( though omitted by moses ) preserved with his budding rod , as a memoriall in the holy of holies . others understand that z censer which the high priest once a year carried thereinto full of incense , and which for the time being was in the holy of holies , namely during the high priest his remaining therein . ribera , a expounding it properly of the altar of incense , avoucheth , that the holy of holies had the golden censer , not , quoad situm , but , quoad usum ; not within the compass , but command thereof , as more immediately subservient thereunto . indeed this altar of incense peculiarly belonged to the anniversary solemnity of the holy of holies , upon the hornes whereof b once a year , the high priest with the bloud of the sin offering ( sacrificed no doubt on the brazen altar without , but ) sprinkled here , made an atonement for the people . § . so much for the utensils of the holy , onely we will adde , that whereas the table of shew-bread , and altar of incense were made by moses with c staves and rings , to make them more portable on the priests shoulders ; probably solomon omitted the same as superfluous , when now setled in a fixed residence . except any will say , that as the israelites ( when peaceably possessed of their countrey ) were still enjoined to eat the passover with d staves in their hands , to preserve the memory of their e journey at the first institution thereof : so these utensils , even in the temple , continued their staves about them , in memoriall of their long pilgrimage , and late coming home to their constant habitation . chap. viii . of the vessels in the holy of holies . § . pass we now into the holy of holies , into which the high priest onely entered once a year ; finding three gradations in their religious service , which waited on the temple ; hourely attendance in the outward courts : where many ( porters especially ) watched all houres of day , and night . daily in the holy : where lighting lampes , and burning incense were quotidian duties . weekly in the same place , where new shew-bread was substituted every a sabbath day . yearly in the holy of holies ; open onely to the anniversary entring of the high priest. this was a little , house well filled with mysterious vessels . and for the main , we may observe , that , although solomon altered , and enlarged the utensils in the holy and outward courts , yet in the holy of holies , he made use of those numericall vessels of moses his making , without any addition , or alteration : as at the first formed so exactly , and fitted so suitably to the privacy of the place , that it had been presumption to new modell them , whose perfection was uncapeable of any higher improvement . § . yet solomon for the more magnificence , added two cherubims , for the matter , dimensions , position , and use thereof , distinguished from those of moses his making . moses made his of pure gold b of beaten work , whilest solomon , were of c olive-tree within , but overlaid with gold . both the former had but two cubits and an half in length ( as onely adequate to the d length of the mercy-seat ) whereas each of solomons cherubims was ten e cubits in height , the greatest gallantry of the whole temple . moses his cherubims lay on the mercy-seat , both whose wings turned inward , met together , whilest solomons were set on the floor , whose four wings stretched outwards to the full length , extended to the whole breadth of the holy of holies . moses his cherubims with their wings shadowed the mercy-seat ; solomons , like a golden arch , overshadowed those cherubims ; so that in the holy of holies there was a little hierarchy , angels above angels therein . wonder not that whilest moses his cherubims were of massie gold ( bearing best proportion to the purity , and incorporeity of the angelicall nature ) that solomons should be but overlaid with gold , having olive-tree within them . for so vast were their dimensions [ ten cubits or thirty foot high ] that if of solid gold , a little land of ophir might have lain within that compass . and being to be made hollow , perchance it was necessary that some wood for stiffenting should be put within them . these cherubims were the most gorgeous and costly ornaments in all the temple , and probably were embezeled by the covetous babylonians at the captivity , and never brought back again , because onely essentiall f vessels , and not all the ornaments of state , were restored , and placed in the second temple . to return to the mercy-seat , under it : the ark of the covenant was placed , and the tables written with gods own finger , were put therein . § . but here appeareth some contradiction , betwixt the furniture of the ark of the covenant , as described in the old and new testament . king. . . & chron : . . there was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone , which moses put there at horeb. hebrews . . and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about w th gold , wherein was the golden pot that had manna & aarons rod that budded , & the tables of the covenāt . behold here the ark filled ( not to say crowded ) by the apostle with other implements ; which the old testament onely a repositary for the tables of the covenant . § . amongst the many answers tendered by learned men , in solution to this difficulty , none in my opinion so satisfactory , as what f ribera first bringeth , and g iunius ( otherwise in judgement much different from him ) approveth , and enlargeth . namely , that those words of saint paul , wherein was the golden pot &c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , relates not to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the ark ( though last named ) but to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the tabernacle , called , the holiest of all in the precedent verse : it being confessed of all hands , that the foresaid pot of manna , and aarons rod ( though not within the concavity of the ark ) were within the compass of the oracle , or , most holy place . now , that the propriety of the tongue will bear it out , that the relative sometime refers not to the next immediatly , but more remote antecedent , many instances are alledged for the proof thereof . chap. ix . of the vessels in the priests court. § . so much for the utensils in the covered temple . proceed we now into the priests court , and there first finde the brazen altar , having twenty a cubits in length , as much in breadth , and ten in the height thereof . now , although solomon made ten candlesticks , ten lavers , ten &c. yet he confined himself to one altar of incense , one altar of sacrifice , ( multiplying of altars hearing ill in scripture , as suspicious of idolatry ) but whether therein pointing at christ our onely mediatour , or at the unity of the church , let others dispute . § . now seriously considering this altar , we meet with many wonders therein . first , that being set sub dio , in the open aire , it is strange that rain ( presumed sometimes to fall in great plenty , with great violence ) did not extinguish the fire thereof . secondly , seeing continuall fire was kept there , it is wonder , that the whole court ( as the chimney-generall thereof ) was not turned tawny-more , if not black-more with the constant soot , smuttiness , and smoking thereof . thirdly , it is strange , that in so short time , so many sacrifices could be consumed , within the compass of so small a place ; especially at the dedication of the temple , when , b sacrificing sheep and oxen that could not be told , nor numbred for multitude . lastly , it is admirable , that in a climate so hot , and place so populous , no putrefaction did arise from the bloud , fat , offall , and ordure of so many beasts slain there , to the infecting of the priests , and people thereabouts . we know how noisome , and offensive slaughter-houses in sommer , are in great cities ; insomuch that tertio richardi secundi a motion was made , c that no butcher should kill any flesh within london , but at knights-bridge , or some such distant place from the walls of the city . § . but under favour i conceive , the true satisfying of these difficulties depends on the right understanding of the nature , or rather the supernaturall qualities of the fire on the altar . it was not common , or culinary fire , but such as d came down from heaven : which ( amongst other peculiar properties where with it was endowed ) was so far from being quenched by rain , or water , that it would quickly lick it up , though e a trench , containing twelve barrels , were filled therewith : as in the sacrifice of elijah ( fetching fire from the same originall ) it came to pass . secondly , such celestiall flame , being of a more clarified , and refined substance ▪ left not any suffocating smoke , or sooty feculency behind it . thirdly , being sent from heaven not to dally , but dispatch the work ( god employs no slugs on his errands ) it made speedy riddance of the matter in hand , and consumed the sacrifice of a sudden . we know how quickly lightning ( though not the ●ame , much of kin to the fi●● on the altar ) will turn any thing that resists it , into ashes . hereupon , some conceive , that by ariel , that is , gods lion , in the f prophet , the altar in the temple is meant . a voracious lion indeed , which with pharaoh's lean kine , devoured many thousands of cattell , and was no whit the fatter for the same . lastly , such heavenly fire was a great preservative against infection , and the purgative nature thereof , swept away much putrefaction , which otherwise would have proved very noisome . § . pass we now from the fire , to the water : from the altar , to the molten sea . a worthy vessell this was , of solid brass ; five cubits high , and ten over from side to side , being g round all about , and thirty cubits in compass , containing two thousand baths : * namely , as they filled it , but two parts of three for ordinary use , leaving a third part for empty margin in the top . otherwise were it filled brimfull , it would in all receive three † thousand baths , where the totall capacity thereof is computed . therefore called a sea from the large containt thereof ( and not much unlike the caspian sea , for the circular form , and entireness thereof ) having its brim wrought about with lily-work , and it stood upon twelve oxen , which by four severall threes respected the quarters of the world . § . but now the question will be , how this vast vessell was furnished with water ? solomon , speaking of the ocean , h all the rivers ( saith he ) run into the sea ; but , how this artificiall sea , was supplied with any water by peoples industry , is a considerable question ; the temple of ierusalem being so highly situated on a mountain . here the rabbins tell us of a well i etam , some distance hence ▪ whence the water was conveyed in pipes , so that the temple had it always in great abundance . we confess , there was a k city , and l rock of etam in the tribe of simeon : near to which a miraculous fountain issued in the days of samson , to quench his thirst , out of the jawbone of an ass. and it seems , the ghost of this fountain did walk in the brains of the rabbins , when first they invented this tradition . but , this etam , being full forty miles from ierusalem , was likely to afford them little water , for the replenishing of this molten sea . rather we beleeve , that the gibeonites , or nethinims , whose office it was to be m drawers of water for the congregation , out of the fountain of siloam , or pool of bethesda hard by , filled this sea , and furnished all other lavatories , and offices about the temple , with that necessary element . yea , probably there were some wells within the verge of the temple , seeing ierusalem is charactred by strabo , an heathen writer , to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , well watered within it self , though without the walls it wanted the conveniency thereof . and , which is the main , in ezekiels description of the temple , which one may term a visionarie varnish on an historicall ground-work , being a literall truth mystically much improved , we finde , the waters n issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward , which swelled to a miraculous proportion . now , though the increase , and overflowing of such streams , was extraordinary , and propheticall ; yet surely the fountain thereof was reall , and naturall , importing some springs in the temple , whence the nethinims did fill this molten sea , and all other vessels with water , designed for the priests to o wash themselves therein . § . having thus dispatched the molten sea , the ten p lavers ( being as it were but so many little lakes ) will quickly be described . in the tabernacle none of these were extant , as appointed for the washing of sacrifices : ( for , that single laver made by moses for the priests service , answered onely to the molten sea ) whereby it appears , that solomon , not onely made in his temple , vessels moe in number , and bigger in degree , but also other in kind , then were in the tabernacle , to fill and furnish the magnificence thereof . these lavers of brass contained forty baths apiece , each set on his basis with wheels , for their more convenient removall , though generally their station was five on the one side , and five on the other in the court of the priests , and east of the covered temple . § . in the outward court , or court of israel many ( no doubt ) were the utensils thereof . as that brazen q scaffold made by solomon for the king to stand , and pray upon , the same ( as tremellius conceives ) with the kings r pillar : with the pulpits and deskes , wherein the priests expounded the law to the people . but as for the remainder of the vessels of the temple , with the manyfold traditions concerning them , the reader is referred to the learned paines of my industrious friend mr. iohn lightfoot : who , as i understand , intends an entire treatise thereof . far be it from me , that our pens should fall out , like the heardsmen s of lot , and abraham , the land being not able to bear them both , that they might dwell together . no such want of room in this subject , being of such latitude , and receipt , that both we , and hundreds moe , busied together therein , may severally lose our selves in a subject of such capacity . the rather because we embrace severall courses in this our description , it being my desire , and delight , to stick onely to the written word of god , whilest my worthy friend takes in the choicest rabbinicall , and talmudicall relations , being so well seen in those studies , that it is questionable , whether his skill , or my ignorance , be the greater therein . chap. x. of things deposited in the chambers , and outward courts of the temple . § . proceed we now to the outward courts of the temple , whose chambers were severally imployed for sundry uses : as for the laying up of tithes , first-fruits , wood , salt , and other requisites for the sacrifices . of this last a mass was spent in the temple , seeing no offering was a acceptable without it . the best was , iudea could well afford to spare plenty thereof for gods service , who had bestowed such store thereof upon it , that there was a place called the b city of salt in the tribe of iudah . § . other rooms were employed , to contain the many instruments used in the temple . some of whose names we finde mentioned in the titles of severall psalmes , solemnly set to be sung upon them , though so many authours so many mindes in expounding their names and qualities , we will onely insist on what we conceive most probable . c aijeleth * shahar : or , the hinde of the morning . probably some early instrument ( as the going about of the waites in some places ) bringing tydings of the morning , and giving men notice to rise . d alamoth ; which literally may be rendered e virginales , or maiden-instruments , with high and shrill notes ; acuta symphonia , saith tromellius . f gittith ; a personall instrument , appropriated to the posterity of g obed-edom the gittite , an excellent h master of musick , thence taking its denomination . i ionath elem , rechokim . by some rendered appellatively , the dumbe dove in far places . by others conceived an instrument of sad , and dolefull musick ; i did mourn as a dove ▪ saith dying k hezekiah . l mahalath ; which ainsworth interpreteth , sickness , or infirmity , and conceiveth it a kind of wind-instrument . m mahalah-leannoth . the same with the former , but with this addition , to n sing by turnes , which is , when alternately one part answereth another in singing . o mutb-labben . the chaldee interpreteth it , for the death of the son ( as if it were some cheerfull instrument made by david to comfort himself after the death of his p child ) whilest others conceive it a kind of tune , like to that which we call the countertenour . q neginah . a manuall instrument , r nagan being properly to play with the hand . s neginoth , a consort of the former . t nehiloth : being wind-instruments , ( chalil being used for a u pipe ) as flutes , cornets , and trumpets . w sheminitb ; an harp , or instrument of eight strings : conceived ( no doubt ) very complete in its kind , untill ( as there is daily accession and improvement in artificiall inventions ) an instrument of ten x strings got the credit from it , as of more absolute perfection . y shoshannim . which amongst flowers is the lily with six leaves , but amongst instruments , an harp with so many strings . z shushan-eduth . the same with the former , with the addition of the testimony , as used at the witnessing of some great solemnity . expect not here from me a panegyrick in praise of musick ( either in it self , or reference to gods service ) though in scripture appearing instrumentall to qualifie a evill , and invite b good spirits ; heighten devotion both in men and angels : seeing charity , and melody , loving , and singing is almost all we finde expressed of celestiall happiness . nor can any truly taxe musick , as the children their mates in the market place , c we have piped , and yee have not danced ; we have mourned , and yee have not lamented : seeing such the sociableness of musick , it conformes it selfe to all companies , both in mirth , and mourning , complying to improve that passion , with which it findes the auditours most affected . in a word , it is an invention which might have beseemed a son of seth , to have been the father thereof : though better it was , that d cains great-grandchild should have the credit first to finde it , then the world the unhappiness longer to have wanted it . § . in other chambers the standards of all measures were carefully kept . thus we finde the inferiour levites , whose office was to waite on the sons of aaron , in severall services ; and amongst other of their employments , they had a superintendency over c all manner of measures and sizes . let none conceive this beneath the calling of the levites , to be so meanly busied ; seeing in all ages something of sacredness hath been conceived in weights , god himself ( who hath ordered all things in f measure , and number , and weight ) being justly reputed the supreme clarke of the market ; for , all the g weights of the bag are his work . and , as god is accounted the first founder , the levites were esteemed the fitrest keepers of measures , presumed men of much integrity , which willingly would not falsifie , and deprave the same . besides , an essentiall part of the sacrifices consisted in the pars quota , in the exact quantity of the meale , oyle &c. in their offerings , and therefore the levites were highly concerned to be skilfull in measures , as constantly converstant in the criticalness thereof . § . their measures were of a double nature , either of application , or of capacity . of the former these the principall . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : a fingers h breadth , which in round reckoning . ( though not exactly ) passed for an inch . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , palmus , a i span . whereof the lesser contained three inches ; the bigger was the distan●e betwixt the thumbe , and little finger extended ▪ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a cubit ; of the severall kindes whereof largely before . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 k a reed ; used to measure buildings , containing six cubits , and an hand-breadth in the length thereof . here of purpose ( because ignorant of the exact proportion thereof ) we pass by the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 chebel ( whence our english cable ) being a rope , or line to measure ground therewith : so that by a metonymie , sometimes it is taken for the inheritance it self , the l lines are fallen to me in pleasant places . § . measures of capacity follow , being either to mete things dry , liquid , or both . dry things were measured by the kab m , answering unto ( in default of accurate correspondencies , we must pitch on the english measure next thereunto ) our quart , the fourth part whereof [ our double gill ] of doves dung , was at the siege of samaria sold for five n pieces of silver . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , omer . it was the daily o ordinary of manna for a man , and contained well-nigh a pottle , or two quarts . ephah . the just quantity that ruth p gleaned in a day concerning this measure let these following scriptures be observed , lest similitude of sound betray us to a great mistake : . an omer is the tenth part of an ephah . exod. . . the ephah is the tenth part of an homer . ezek. . . it was in fashion shallow , and broad , ( so that a q woman might sit in the compass thereof ) and contained halfe a bushell , and a pottle ; wherefore boaz r his bounty concurred with ruth her diligence in making so good a days-work . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , homer ; that is , the lading of asse , being five bushels , and five gallons . god threatneth in his prophet , that , the seed of an s homer should yeeld but an ephah , that is , their grain should so decrease , they should onely reap the tithe of what they had sown . the half of an homer was called a t lethec . here we wittingly omit the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seah , because unsatisfied in the content thereof ; though surely it must be much more , then what a learned u man makes it , stinting it to a gallon , and an half : for , by that proportion no incredible plenty , or cheapness was prophecied in samaria , when w a seah of fine flour should be sold for a shekel ( or an english half-crown ) which is according to the rate of a mark the bushell ; dear enough of all conscience for poor people to purchase . § . as for measures for liquids , we first pitch on an hin , whereof frequent mention in scripture ( as also of the x half , y third , z fourth , and a sixt part thereof ) and contained three english quarts . next it we take notice of the bath , being just of the same capacity with the ephah , and the tenth part of an homer , as the prophet b himself hath computed it , that is , four gallons and an half . by which account the molten sea , which held three * thousand baths , contained thirteen thousand five hundred gallons . § . amongst mixt measures the cor deserveth especiall notice ; used both for liquid . * the cor of oyle . arid . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , † cors of wheat . the cor was ( as may be collected from the c prophet ) just the same quantity with the homer ( as in the best english , bushell , and strike are severall names for the same measure ) save that the cor was common to both , the homer appropriated to liquid commodities . § . to measures might be added the gage of d barrels , and e firkins ; as also all weights and coines , as gerahs , half shekels , shekels of the f sanctuary , ( so called , as some will have it , because the standart thereof was kept in the sanctuary , whilest others make it double to the common shekel ) drams , pounds , talents , whereof largely g heretofore . all which we leave in the levites safe custody , being confident , that they will very carefully keep them , from ever coming into the fingers of such covetous wretches , who would willingly make the ephah small , and the h shekel great , and falsifie the ballances by deceit ; especially , if the originals of both were but once in their absolute disposall thereof . § . there were also books kept in the temple , of which the autograph of the law was most remarkable , by command from moses to be placed in the i side of the ark of the covenant , that is , k by the side ( as some expound it ) in a coffer by it self made for that purpose . but others conceive the performance hereof neglected after moses his decease ( before which time it could not conveniently be done , deuteronomy not being fully finished till after his death ) and this book deposited , not in the holy of holies but in some outward place amongst the treasures of the temple : alledging in confirmation hereof , how hilkiah the high priest , sent to seek out and sum l up the silver for repairing of gods house , found ( what in davids and all good mens valuation is dearer then m gold and silver ) the n book of the law , hid in some treasury within the verge of the temple . but probably this book was originally placed in the holy of holies , which afterwards , when the temple-service in the idolatrous days of a●az , and manasseh was turned upside down , might fall out of the proper position thereof , into another place . § . other books ( no doubt ) were kept by the priests ( scribes , wherof many amongst them , and books being relatives ) though their libraries could not be so numerous in volumes , the art of printing not being then invented . wherefore , when we read in iob , a most ancient authour , o oh that they were printed in a book ! the mystery of the press is not meant thereby , but letters written in deep and large characters . and amongst all other books most likely it is , that , that book of the p description of the land into seven parts by lot , as of publick concernment , daily use , and divine institution , was preferred in the temple ; like our domes-day book in england , which some criticks will have so called ( not because all lands are arraigned to appear therein as at a general iudgment , but ) quasi domus dei , or gods-house book , where the originall thereof , was anciently intrusted . § . the refectories must not be forgotten , being roomes , wherein the priests had their repast on hallowed food . amongst all whose fare , we most admire at the shew-bread ; that , being shifted but q once a week by gods command , it did not contract corruption , grow hard , and dry , good onely for the gibeonites to cheat the israelites , with the r mouldiness thereof . this the rabbins ascribe to miracle , the same command , which enjoined it to be set there , preserving it from putrefaction ; that nothing might lose ought of its goodness , which is exactly ordered according to gods direction . thus , as man liveth not by bread alone : so bread lasteth not onely by naturall causes , but s by every word which proceedeth out of the mouth of god. § . and now ( to conclude all fast and firme ) there was also an armory in the temple , well provided with weapons , to guard the treasure therein . for , seeing it is the priviledge of heaven alone , that there t theeves cannot break through , and steal ; the provident princes of the iewes thought not fit to entrust so much wealth without ammunition to defend it , seeing no place so sacred as to secure it self from sac●iledge . david provided u speares , and bucklers , and shields for that purpose , as if foreseeing in his propheticall spirit , that in after ages , a distressed prince [ ioash ] extracted from his loines , should , by gods blessing , and the assistance of those w weapons , recover his rightfull throne from the unjust usurpation of [ athaliah ] an idolatrous intrudress thereinto . chap. xi . the additionall utensils of the temple after the days of solomon . § . many other instruments were added to the temple , after solomons death , by succeeding kings , as occasion did require . amongst which , we must take especiall notice of that chest , which in the reign of king iehoash , was made by iehoiada the high-priest , to receive the peoples free-offerings for the repair of the temple . § . it may seem strange , that the temple built so substantially at the first , of the most solid materialls , should in so short a time of an hundred and fifty years , run so far to ruine , as to need so costly reparation . but , we must know , it stood without shelter , high on a mount , exposed to tempests , and in the last seven years of wicked athaliahs reign ( gray hairs are multiplyed on men , more by afflictions , then old age ) besides neglect of reparation , did a meet with despightfull defacing thereof . iehoash therefore resolves to amend the decays therein , as indeed he stood obliged , both in credit , and conscience ; for , seeing the temple had formely been the nursing-mother to iehoash , well might iehoash be the nursing-father to the temple ; who now did onely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , pay for his feeding and breeding , who six years b had his preservation , and his education therein . § . the care of the work , was at first committed to the charge of the levites in generall , though it thrived not under their managing therof , so that in the twenty third year of the reign of king iehoash , they had not repaired the c breaches of the house . we can not be so uncharitable , as to conceive , they embez'led the monies appointed for that purpose , but rather impute their slow proceedings herein , either to the unhappiness usually attending great undertakings , few effectually advancing that work , wherein all are equally intrusted . or else , being every one to receive money of their own d acquaintance , some carnall indulgence might be used therein to retard the business . receiving small sums of severall persons , they were insensible in the taking , and inconsiderable in their laying out . repairing was out of the levites element , having no dexterity therein ; and we know , that ministers , and church-wardens are two distinct employments . hereupon the levites by king iehoash are called , checked , commanded to forbear farther collection of money , and some other particular persons deputed for that purpose , who had more care , skill , and success to order the matter . § . to this end a chest was devised , with an hole c bored in the lid thereof , and appointed to receive the free-gifts of those who would contribute to so pious a work . it was placed very handy , and convenient for such as went up to sacrifice , to cast in their b●nevolence , being set f beside the altar on the right side in the outward-court as one came into the house of the lord. perchance our saviour reflected on the position of this chest so fit for dexterous benefactours , when advising in giving of almes , let g not thy left hand know what thy right doth . in this chest were mens charities cast , and kept till amounting to a great sum , ( and then the breaches of the temple were perfectly repaired therewith ) and in after-ages , it was called corban , which name sometimes signifieth the h gift it self , sometimes the vessell receiving it , which was the pattern ( not to say parent ) of the poor-mens-boxes in our modern parish-churches . § . here we must not forget that diall of ahaz ( in those days , no doubt , a master-piece of art ) whereon the sun miraculously went back ten k degrees , in token that hezekiahs life should goe forward fifteen degrees . some conceive this dial , not drawn on the outside of any wall , or house , but contrived within a winding stair-case , so that every step thereof bare proportion to the distance of an houre : but whether this fancy may be reconciled to art , be it referred to the judicious in dialling . however it was made , we shall scarce meet with a dial more ancient in any authour , which many years after retained the name of ahaz the erectour thereof . but for all this dial , ahaz was one of those who could not discern l the signes of the times , nor perceive the day of his visitation ; how his kingdome , being past the flourishing meridian thereof , did draw near to the night of finall ruin , and destruction . § . adrichomius placeth this dial on the house of the lord , and therefore we mention it here amongst the ornaments of the temple . though , to speak my opinion , on perusall of the text , it appears rather set up in some open place in the kings palace , so that sick hezekiah , for the farther confirmation of his faith , lying on his bed , might look on the retrograde motion of the sun thereon : though i deny not , but he might receive information thereof from relation of others . but would m adrichomius had acquainted us , whence he received his intelligence , for what he reports , that ahaz made this dial of the brazen n altar of whole-burnt sacrifices . indeed o scripture tells us , that he took down the twelve brazen oxen from under the great sea , and it was poor reparation for his sacriledge , if in lieu thereof he set up a dial , with figures for twelve houres , or perchance the twelve signes of the zodiack thereupon . but carnall men conceive , they may safely steale gods dove , and stick down a feather in the room thereof . § . now besides the originall utensils of the temple , of the same foundation with the temple it self , there were severall recruits ( not of different , but the same fashion with the former ) which succeeding kings made in stead of those instruments , which constant use and age had empaired . for , we must not think , that the ash-pans , fire-pans , snuffers , caldrons , and flesh-hooks of the temple , were like the bush appearing to p moses , always burning , yet never consumed : or , that the knives used about the sacrifices , were like the q clothes of the children of israel in the wilderness , never a whit the worse for wearing , but they did daily decay , and were duly repaired , especially in the reign of king r iehoash . thus when the soul of a christian is by faith made the temple of the holy ghost , and fitted with severall graces , the furniture thereof ; the same notwithstanding , because of continuall sinning , must be constantly repaired by renuing repentance . § . so much of the right and lawfull issue of holy vessels in the temple . as for that spurious , and bastard brood of idolatrous altars , and other utensils principally introduced by king s ahaz and t manasseh , contrary to gods express command , and placed in the house of god , we will not doe them so much honour as once to mention them in this discourse . chap. xii . the temple often spoiled of her treasure and ornaments . § . the first temple of god at ierusalem , often had the same hard hap with him that journied thence to iericho , even to fall u amongst theeves , or rather for theeves to fall into it . twice was it pillaged by forein foes , and four times by her own friends before the finall destruction thereof . first , when shishak king of egypt in the reign of rehoboam , took w away the treasures of the house of the lord , this wound , whence so much precious wealth did bleed forth , first shewed , the temple with the riches therein to be mortall . shishak did then but brush the house of god , whilest he swept the house of the king , whence he even took away x all . afterwards ioash king of israel in the reign of king amaziah , having stormed ierusalem , took y all the gold and silver , and the vessels that were found in the house of god with obed-edom , and returned to samaria . that were found , for , such no doubt was the providence of the priests to conceal some wealth from his sight . a thing not impossible for them to doe , having formerly hid a young king , and his nurse six z years invisible , from the jealous eyes of athaliah . and now , seeing idolatrous ioash carried away this holy treasure to samaria , let none hereafter conclude the best cause from the best success , finding the cherubims of solomons setting up , worsted by the golden calves of ieroboams erection . § . by the way , it is very remarkable , that the tabernacle , which lasted four hundred and thirty years before the temple was begun , was never plundered , or robbed , or spoiled of its goods . yet the iews in that age were as sinfull , and their enemies as spightfull , moabites , midianites , ammonites , &c. who in the interim betwixt the judges , oppressed the people of israel , though we finde none of them offering any affront , or violence to the utensils of the tabernacle . as for the philistims , though they took the ark by conquest in the field , we know they were forced with a witness to bring it back again . whereas the temple within less space was by forein princes often pilled and polled of the ornaments belonging thereunto . enquiring into the reason hereof , we meet with none more probable , then because divine providence delighteth in protecting what is weakest in it self . and seeing the tabernacle was altogether undefensible , and able to make no resistance , consisting onely of thin boards , slight skins , & slender curtains , god more immediately walled it about with an awefull respect , which the very enemies thereof bare unto it . whereas the temple , being a strong structure of stone , in a stronger city , with walls , gates , and bars , visibly intitled it self to fortification , and therefore god left it to the arme of flesh to defend it , which frequently failed therein , as nothing can be safe , which hath onely ●infull men to secure it . § . but the temple suffered oftner from her friends , then her foes , frequently spoiling the wealth thereof , insomuch , that in all desperate consumptions of the state , no gold was found so cordiall to cure it , as what was taken out of the treasury of the temple . asa brought out silver and a gold , out of the treasuries of the house of the lord , and bestowed them on benhadad king of syria , to purchase his assistance against baasha king of israel . iehoash to appease the anger of hazael king of syria , marching furiously against him , took b all the hallowed things , which his fathers , and himself had dedicated , and sent them as a gift to hazael , to stop his coming up against ierusalem . ahaz took the silver and gold c which was found in the house of the lord , and conferred it on tiglath-pileser , to hire his help against the kings of syria and israel . hezekiah cut off d the gold wherewith he himself had overlaid the doors , and pillars of the temple , and gave it to pacifie sennacherib coming against him . not to mention the waste , and havock , wicked c athaliah , and manasseh made , in their idolatrous reigns , of the vessels of the temple . § . there want not those , who dare to defend the foresaid spoiling of gods house to be lawfull , chiefly alleadging absolute necessity ( that bawd● generall of all illegitimate actions ) that , otherwise , in such extremities , the kingdome of iudah could not be preserved , from forein invasion . in vain doth what may be dispute , when what must be sits doctour of the chaire . it is not onely lawfull , but needfull , to shave the haire , thereby to save the head . the parting with the fruit , kept the tree alive ; otherwise , if not pacified with such a present , the idolatrous enemies would undoubtedly have demolished the temple , and totally rooted out gods service therein . § . but what ever politick palliations may be pleaded for the contrary , such sacriledge was unavouchable in it self , and those pretended extremities to justifie it , were onely created ; either by mens infidelity , not beleeving gods power ; or their impatience , not attending gods pleasure , to defend his own glory , in his own due time , by his own means . yea , heaven by the finall success protested against such proceedings , and the treasure taken out of the temple , and given to pagans , rather presently declined , then finally diverted the imminent danger . thus ahaz f took away a portion out of the house of the lord , and gave it to the king of assyria , but he helped him not . likewise when g hezekiah presented sennacherib with the wealth of the temple to buy his favour , his bribes proved ineffectull , who having received the present , was not pleased to understand the language thereof , but nevertheless in the next h verse invaded iudah . as for the instance of asa , god directly by the mouth of his prophet reproved him for his fact , in relying rather on the king of syria , then divine assistance . in a word , though some were good men that did it , they were no whit the better for the doing it . for , though it be christian policy , and christs i precept , that men make to themselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness ; yet , goods rightly consecrated to the righteous god , come not under that appellation : and such holy things are unjustly degraded , which having once been advanced to the dignity of a free-will-offering to god , are afterward set back , to become a peace-offering to man. § . indeed some hold , that under the gospell the sin of sacriledge cannot be committed . if so , it is either because nothing under the gospell hath been given to gods service ; or , because god hath solemnly disclaimed the acceptance of any such donations ; which , when and where it was done , will be hardly produced . if this their position be true , we have cause , first , to rejoyce in regard that god and his members are now adays growen so rich , that they need not addition of humane gratuities to be bestowed upon them . secondly , we may congratulate the felicity of ours above former ages , being not in a capacity of committing the sin of sacriledge , to which those were subject , who lived before the time of our saviour . lastly , we may silently smile , to see how satan is defeated , having quite lost one of his an●ient baites , and old temptations ; men now adays being secured from this sin , and put past a possibility to be guilty thereof . but , before we goe thus far , let us first be sure , we goe on a good ground , otherwise it is the highest sacriledge , to steal away sacriledge it self , and to deny that ( which formerly was a grievous ) in our days to be any transgression . § . to come now to the finall , and fatall dissolution of this temple , with the dissipation , at least wise transportation of all the utensils thereof . three gradations herein may be observed . nebuchadnezzar in the year of iehojakim in the month of iehojackin in the year of zedekiah caried of the k vessels of the house of the lord the goodly l vessels of the house of the lord all the vessels m of the house of the lord great and small . to babylon . here we will not observe the eleventh year of wicked kings , climactericall to their kingdomes , seeing any year is equally fatall to a nation , when the measure of their sins is made up . rather we will take notice , how god , twice as it were in mercy , clipt the treasures of the temple with the cisers , and ( neither working repentance ) the third time in justice shaved all away , with the hired n razor of babylon . and it is my opinion , that though the outward courts , and chambers of the temple had formerly been frequently plundred , yet the holy , and holy of holies remained entire , and untouched , till all was destroyed at the captivity of babylon . here the map of zorobabels temple is to be inserted . the temple as it was in christe time . iohn goddard sculpsit . zorobabels temple , rebuilt by herod . chap. i. the mean preparations for building this temple . § . the seventy years of the babylonish captivity expired , god moved the spirit of cyrus ( whose name the prophet a mentioneth two hundred years before his birth ) not onely by his b proclamation to permit gods people , to return to their native countrey , and thereby to encourage others to contribute necessaries unto them ; but also restored the vessels of solomons making , and furnished them with provisions out of his own exchequer , for the erection of a second temple , which came after the former , not moe years in time , then degrees in magnificence . a thing no whit strange , if the disparity betwixt the builders be seriously considered . § . first , solomon was an absolute prince , full of wealth and power , in his peaceable countrey , where no dog durst bark against him ( save two c or three whapping curs toward the end of his reign ) whilest the builders of this second temple were but raw captives , newly returned to their native land , where they met with much disturbance , and constant opposition from their enemies . wherefore , no such ( almost miraculous ) silence observed at the second temple , like that in the first , wherein d no tool of iron was heard , it being probable , here was knocking of hammers , and ( certain ) here was clashing of malicious foes agains● the faithfull israelites . § . secondly , solomon ( though alternately ) employed seven score e and ten thousand hewers and burden-bearers , besides three thousand three hundred overseers at the building of his temple ; whereas the totall sum , and whole company of this remnant , or rather , reversion of the iews , with their servants f and maids , exceeded not fifty thousand , not amounting to a full third of the former number . as few the men : so were they ill furnished with all kinde of cattell . and whereas camels had been necessary creatures to be used by them , for bearing of burdens at this structure , so meanly were they provided therewith , that g iob a private man , had six times ( and after his restoration twelve times ) more camels , then all the whole nation of the iews had in their possession , when returning from captivity . § . thirdly , solomon had ( besides other vast in-comes , and a bank provided by david his father ) the gold of ophir swimming unto him in the ships h of tarshish , making their trienniall returns . whereas no such golden fleet arrived to the building of this second temple . as for silver , in solomons time it was i in ierusalem as stones in abundance ; but , in zorobabels time , silver was as silver in scarcity , and esteem , and the exchange of all coin ran very high in valuation . and , whereas the cost expended by solomon on his temple amounted to many thousands of k talents , unto which are added ten l thousand drams of gold ( onely as a supernumerary fraction , or odde sum above the entire talents ) the free-will-offering to the second temple is not at all computed by talents , which would have disgraced their poor provisions , but ( to stick to our new translation ) is onely summed up by m drams ( as the silver not by talents , but pounds ) for the greater grace and credit of their contribution , so small in it self , but large ( no doubt ) in proportion unto their poor estates . § . lastly , here was not ( as in the making of the tabernacle ) any bezaleel , or aholiab , filled with the n spirit of god in all manner of workmanship ; no hiram ( as at the building of the temple ) o filled with wisedome , and understanding , and cunning to work all works in brass ; no extraordinary artificer specified by name , employed therein . yet , probably , they entertained the best workmen that age did afford , their purses or credit could procure , to polish , and adorn the building . and therefore the ingenuous p romanists acknowledge a gross errour in their vulgar latine , where they read q ordines de lapidibus impolitis tres , three rows of unpolished stone , which should be polished stone . for , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 eben gelal in the originall , is a stone turned , rolled , and tossed about , to smooth , and levigate every side thereof , and by r iosephus is rendred 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , of shaved , hewed or carved stone . however , our last translation ( following tremellius therein ) reades it great stones , as if the state consisted , rather in their bigness , then beauty ; amplitude , then art bestowed upon them . § . timber they fetched from t mount libanus ( the magazeen of cedars ) brought thence in ships to ioppa , and thence conveyed by land-carriages to ierusalem . but , we may be assured , that solomon long agoe had flitted the cream of the choicest trees in that mountain , this second generation being lesser , lower , and fewer , then those before them . yea , in process of time , cedars were so rarified in libanus , that u modern travellers saw but four and twenty in their passage over this mountain , and heard but of a few moe ( and they all in one place ) extant there at this day . § . some will object , all these defects were eminently supplyed by the favour of cyrus , who in his charta magna for the building of the temple , had privided , that the expences be w given out of the kings house ; and water may sooner be wanting at the well-head , then they lack accommodations , who commanded the coffers of so mighty a monarch . but , such must take notice of the great space of ground , betwixt ierusalem and babylon ; and the bounty of kings ( especially at so great a distance ) maketh more noise in the mouths of the reporters , then it brings profit into the hands of the receivers . so that all things considered , whilest solomons temple , like the eldest son , and heir , went away with the solid inheritance of a world of wealth ; this latter , like the younger brother , was contented with a poor pension of the peoples bounty allotted unto it , especially at the inconsiderable beginning thereof . § . wherefore at the foundation of this temple , the old men x wept at the laying thereof , who could call to minde the greatness , and gallantry of the former . how great was the griefe of our first parents after their expulsion ou● of paradise , when comparing their present with their primitive condition , and what was lost , with what was left unto them ? enough to drown them in despair , if not supported with certain expectation of the promised seed . § . but the youngsters , being moe in number , and greater in strength , shouted for joy , conceiving the foundations newly laid a matchless fabrick for magnificence , having never seen better , nor other in that place . thus , such as have been bred in the dark , when first brought into the twilight , admire at the incomparable lustre thereof . but , what saith our proverbe ? better children weep , then old folk : and it had been happy , if here ( by a transposition of their passions ) whilest the young folk sorrowed , the old men had rejoyced : the former thinking themselves to have just occasion of mirth , the latter knowing they had too much reason for mourning . § . but , what saith the prophet , in reference to this mean fabrick ? who hath despised the day of small things ? y god , who is all in all , delights to improve such things , as are next to nothing . he that loved the iews best , who were z the fewest of all people ; who made gedeon a judge , who was the a least in his fathers house ; saul a king , whose family was the b least of all in his tribe ▪ paul a preacher , the c least of the apostles ; who delighted in d little benjamin their ruler , the little hill of hermon , the e lowliness of his handmaiden ; who multiplyeth mustard-seed the f least of all grains into a tree , did cherish and hatch this weak building under the wings of his protection , bringing it from feeble beginnings ; by faint proceedings , to full perfection . chap. ii. the dimensions of the temple , and the foundations thereof laid . § . be it premised for an undeniable truth , that this temple fell short of solomons in the dimensions thereof . which plainly appears , first , by the question the prophet propoundeth ; a who is le●t among you , that saw this house in her first glory ? and how doe you see it now ? is it not in your eies , in comparison of it , as nothing ? secondly , by the tears the old men b shed , when the c foundation thereof was laid , whilest they beheld the meanness of the one with their eyes , and recollected the magnificence of the other in their memories . § . but here we meet with ( almost ) an inextricable difficulty . for , notwithstanding the premises so plain to the contrary , the dimensions of cyrus his temple appear larger then those of solomons , if the ensuing parable be seriously perused . king. . . and the house which king solomon built for the lord , the length thereof was threescore cubits , and the breadth thereof twenty cubits , and the height thereof thirty cubits . ezra . . let the foundations thereof be strongly laid , the height thereof threescore cubits , and the breadth thereof threescore cubits . behold here , how cyrus his temple was thirty cubits higher ( just as high again ) and forty cubits broader ( thrice as broad ) as solomons . and , although the length of this second temple is not expressed , yet an ordinary judgement will infer by the symmetrie of building , that the length thereof must needs be much greater , to manage such a breadth in any due proportion of architecture . this so strong an evidence to the contrary , would almost have perswaded one to beleeve , that their old men were either deceived with their dim eyes , or mistaken in their fraile memories , and that this temple was greater then the former , did not the infallible testimonies of the d prophets so peremptorily avouch the comparative smalness thereof , in respect of solomons . § . many are the solutions , which the learned produce in satisfaction of this difficulty . but , first , as for their conjecture , that zorobabel , at the building of this temple , purposely abated of those dimensions assigned by cyrus ( as too great for him to compass ) contenting himself with a less scantling , but more proportionable to the weak power of his people : i can in no wise concur with them therein . for , in such de●alcation of measures by cyrus allotted , he shewed little courtship to his master the emperour , ( in distrusting the performance of his promises ) and less religion to the lord his god , in not beleeving , that he , who miraculously had stirred up the spirit of cyrus to appoint , would also vigorously inable him ( or his successours ) to effect the aforesaid assignment , in building of his temple . § . some suspect a mistake of numbers in cyrus his grant , which notwithstanding will very hardly be admitted . for , seeing the laws of the medes and persians could e never be altered , they were highly concerned to be accurate , and exact , in their entering , and inrolling all deeds on record . o●hers justly make a difference in the measures , and whilest solomons were sufficiently known to have been of the f first measure , g they conceive cyrus his cubits to be common ones , but half as large as the former . and thus this second temple , though sixty cubits high , was for the main body thereof , but just even with solomons temple . mean time it came far short of solomons in this respect , because solomons had amost beautifull porch , in nature of a tower-steeple , h one hundred and twenty cubits high ( that was double the body of the temple ) whilest no such aspiring building graced the second temple , being all of one uniforme height . § . this difficulty in the height thus satisfied , by the difference of cubits , let none be troubled at the breadth of this second temple , tripling that of solomons , seeing here breadth is taken ( as elsewhere in scripture ) for the full extent of a thing on every side . thus in the i revelation , saint iohn speaking of the numberless army of gog and magog , describes them to goe upon the breadth of the earth , that is , on the whole space of the surface thereof . nor is the hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rekbo ( which properly signifieth his breadth , and is used . king. . . ) used in ezra , but the chaldee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which ( as k ribera observeth ) importeth the expansion , or spreading of a thing , quaquaversum , on every side . on which consideration , it is judiciously rendered by tremellius , not latitudine , but amplitudine ejus , not the breadth , but the largeness thereof . so that cyrus gave order , that the bigness of this temple ( length and breadth put together ) should not exceed threescore cubits ( perchance forty in length , and twenty in breadth ) and so , both when first founded , and when fully finished , it came far short of the dimensions of solomons . chap. iii. after many obstructions , finished at last . § . now went the building hopefully on , probable in some competent time to come to perfection ; when the samaritans ( the envious enemies of israel ) first by fraud , then force , endevour to obstruct their proceedings . first , they tender a their service to be fellow-builders with the iews , ( claiming a joynt-interest in their temple , as serving the same god ) which by zorobabel , and the elders of israel was wisely refused , as knowing , such seeming helpers would prove reall hinderers . thus , when b satan transformes himself into an angel of light , as pretending to sing gloria in excelsis , with the rest of those heavenly spirits , it is onely out of design to disturbe their harmony , and ( if possible ) to put that celestiall quire out of ●une . § . their first project failing , the samaritanes accuse the city of ierusalem in the court of artaxerxes king of persia , to have been formerly a c rebellious city , referring themselves to the court-rolls for the proof thereof . see what it is to be a rebell on record , their posterity may fare the worse for it , many years after . indeed , it cannot be denied , but that zedekiah king in ierusalem , though sworn by god to the contrary , d rebelled against king nebuchadnezzar , so that this suggestion of the samaritans , had too much of truth , though more of malice therein . for , hence they inferred , were the place rebuilt , the people would return to their former stubbornness , whereby , in process of time , the persian monarchy would be deprived of all command , and e revenue on this side the river of iordan . § . power , and profit are the two apples of princes eyes , woundable with the least touch thereof . no wonder therefore if upon the premises , a prohibition was presently from artaxerxes sent , and served upon the iews , commanding them to desist from building till farther order should be f given them . thus the work ceased till the second of darius . mean time private palaces in ierusalem were finished , and garnished with g ceiled work , whilest gods temple lay waste . did not those priva●e houses blush at their own bravery , as serving-men may be justly ashamed , to see themselves finer then their masters ? § . then arose haggai , and zachary , and h encouraged the people to build again . what , must the pulpit be obeyed before the throne ? i in the word of a king there is power , but is there more in the mouth of a prophet ? oh! a greater then artaxerxes was here , these prophets being warranted by divine inspiration . on goes the temple afresh , whilest the enemies of israel seek in vain to hinder it the second time . for , upon search , the originall grant of cyrus is produced from amongst the records of the k medes , in pursuance whereof , darius did not onely give leave , and liberty to the iews to build their temple , with a penalty on such as refused it , but also enjoyned tatnai , l shethar-boznai , and others beyond the river ( which sided with the samaritans ) to contribute all necessaries towards the finishing , and furnishing thereof . no doubt the iews ( formerly refusing their persons ) accepted their purses to build with , as knowing , though the men were false , their money might be made faithfull towards the farthering of the work . § . as for the many chronologicall differences , wherewith the building of this temple is encumbred , we utterly decline them as alien from our subject . he that medleth ( saith m solomon ) with strife belonging not to him , is like one that taketh a dog by the eares . chronology ( all know ) is a surly , churlish cur , and hath bit many a mans fingers , who have causelesly medled therewith . blame me not therefore , if willing to keep mine own hands whole . onely i will adde , that such are much troubled , who apply to this temple those words of the iews to our saviour , n forty and six years was this temple in building , and wilt thou rear it up in three days ? so that all their endevours can not conform those numbers to zorobabels temple , which had not so many years spent in the erection thereof . wherefore for the main they plead , that malice hath a wide mouth , and loves to outlash in her relations . so that the iews stood not exactly on the particulars of years , whilest the totall sum of their intent was to cast a greater odium on christ , by widening the disproportion between so many years , and so few days . yea , seeing at the same time they wilfully mistook the meaning of our saviours words , no wonder if withall they corrupted the computation of the building of the temple , adding moe years thereunto , then were in the true account thereof . § . but be the years moe or less , at last after many stops , stays ; demurs , delays ; suspensions , relaxations ; desertions , resumptions thereof , the building was compleated , and a solemn sacrifice at the dedication thereof , but far inferiour to solomons , on the same occasion . king. . . and solomon offered a sacrifice of peace-offerings , which he offered unto the lord , two and twenty thousand oxen , and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep . ezra . . and they offered at the dedication of this house of god , an hundred bullocks , two hundred rams , four hundred lambes ; and for a sin-offering for all israel twelve hee-goats , according to the number of the tribes of israel . see here a great fall , but the second sacrifice was suitable to their small substance : of a little they gave a little to that god , who , where there is o first a willing minde , accepteth it according to that a man hath , and not according to that a man hath not . however , we must congratulate the hopefull mention of the twelve tribes of israel . welcome happy name , and number , well met in holy writ , seeing so long since last we parted from you , some hundred years agoe , when elias offered his sacrifice on mount p carmell . a strong presumption , that some of each tribe were now present , at the finishing of this temple , whereof largely before . § . this temple was afterwards miserably defaced , and profaned by wicked antiochus , untill some years after , iudas maccabeus cleansed the sanctuary , repaired the breaches of the temple , renewed the gates and chambers about it , and deckt the q forefront thereof with crowns of gold . he ordained also in the moneth casleu an r annuall festivall by the space of eight days to be kept with mirth and gladness . some will say , this was but a ceremonious supererogation of maccabeus , in making such an ordinance ; seeing , neither hezekiah , when purging the temple from the profanation of ahaz ; nor iosiah , cleansing it from the idolatrous pollutions of manasses and ammon , instituted any such yearly solemnity in memoriall thereof . but , let such know , that under antiochus there was not onely a suspension , and interdiction of the temple from pious uses , but a totall alienation thereof from piety , and diversion to profaneness : and by maccabeus the old altar was not ( as by hezekiah , and iosiah ) reconciled to gods service , but a s new one erected ( hence perchance the feast was called encaenia , or the renewing ) in the place thereof ▪ and what , if in this particular point maccabeus was more pious then either hezekiah , or iosiah , let not his memory fare the worse , for endevouring the better to preserve gods favours in the memories of others . § . just ( no doubt ) were the considerations moving maccabeus to make this annuall festivall , seeing our saviour in the gospell t graced this feast of the dedication with his presence . although it appears not in scripture , that christ went up purposely to ierusalem for the observation thereof ( as he did to the passeover , which was of divine appointment ) but there might be a casuall coincidence of this feast , and his presence at ierusaem . however , seeing christ with his company adorned a u marriage-feast at cana in galilee , being a meeting of meer civil concernment , founded on no divine command , but onely the commendable custome of the countrey , no wonder if he honoured the feast of dedication with his person , wherein the temple was at first in some sort remarried to the proper use thereof , from which by the profaneness of persecutours it had formerly been divorced . § . here i must not omit the rhemists note , w christ ( say they ) vouchsafed to honour , and keep that feast instituted by iudas maccabeus , lib. cap. . and now hereticks vouchsafe not to pray , and sacrifice for the dead , x used and approved by him . but , christ his presence at this feast of maccabeus his institution , doth no more oblige us to an universall observation of all the actions of maccabeus , without farther examination of them , how well they agree with gods word ; then his eating of bread in the house , and at the invitation of simon the y pharisee , engageth us to avouch all the opinions , or practise all the traditions , which the said simon might erroniously maintain . chap. iv. of the utensils in solomons , wanting in this temple . § . as for bulk of fabrick , and beauty of frame : so also for variety , and richness of furniture , this temple fell short of solomons . indeed , great was divine providence in preserving the utensils of the temple , during the captivity in babylon . though belshazzar a drank in the holy vessels , yet his sacrilegious swallow was not so wide , as to devoure the metall thereof . these remained in the treasury , and were afterwards restored to the iews at their return , even vessels of gold and silver , to the full number of b five thousand and four hundred . and yet notwithstanding the restitution of them , this widow-temple , as i may ●erm it , fell in beauty short of the virgin-temple , wanting many eminent ornaments which were found in solomons . § . first , it is probable , that the stately c scaffold of brass , with the kings d pillar ( which some conceive set thereupon ) in nature of a royall throne , was not in the second temple ; so glorious a sphere being needless , when there was no sun to shine therein . certainly this wanted the two fair pillars of iachin and boaz ▪ e broken in pieces by nebuchadnezzar , to make them the more portable to babylon , otherwise such mountains of massie brass , were unmanageable , till par●elled into many fragments , past possibility of being rejointed together , whilest all the lesser vessels were preserved whole and entire . thus , greatness oft-times exposeth eminent persons to their own destruction , whilest poverty carrieth its own protection , and inferiour people are preserved by their meanness . the great f molten sea , which being guilty of the same crime ( its own overgreatness ) suffered the same execution with the brasen pillars . the fire from heaven , which , as in the g tabernacle , so in solomons temple h came down from heaven , and consumed the burnt-offerings , and the sacrifices , and the glory of the lord filled the house . no spark of this fire appeared in the second temple . the pot of i manna , spilt , broken , or lost by some accident unexpressed in scripture . the k rod of aaron which budded , but now was withered away ( by some casualty unrecorded ) during the cap●ivity of babylon . the ar●e of the covenant . not , that we give any heed to ieremy his apocryphall l hiding thereof in mount n●●o ; but , wheresover it was , it was not in the second temple . the t●o tables of the m law written by gods own finger , and put formerly into the arke of the covenant . here for the main we may observe , that the holy of ●olies in this second temple , was left altogether empty , and unfurnished . such avoidance of the utensils thereof being purposely made to make room for the coming of our saviour the true high-priest , who with his gracious presence n filleth all in all . § . as for the oracle , if it were present in this temple in substance , it was absent in effect , because dumbe , and speechless , as o iosephus both ingenuously 〈◊〉 , and conscienciously rendereth a reason thereof ; affirming that the stones therein ceased to send forth their wonted splendour ( by which formerly answers were returned ) two hundred years befo●e he wrote his book , god being angry ●ith his people for their pre●ari●ation from his law . and thus this second temple was , ●s in her struc●ure , so in her ornaments much 〈◊〉 to that first of solomo● 〈◊〉 . § . all these defects notwithstanding , in one eminent respect this temple equalled , yea excelled solomons ; according to the p prophets prediction , the glory of this latter house shall be greater then of the former , saith the lord of hosts : and in this place will i give peace , ●aith the lord of hosts ; so that in a mysticall respect , the pavement of this , was higher then the roof of the other . for , hereon our saviour , when a child , was presented to the priests ; when a youth , disputed with the doctours ; when a man , wrought many miracles , preached many sermons ; teaching within , and tempted without the temple , on a pinnacle thereof . in a word , solomons temple , like mans originall creation in purity , and perfection , was most glorious in it self : this latter , like our state of regeneration , which , though full of faults , failings , wants , weaknesses , in comparison of the former , yet outstrips it in gods gra●ious acceptance thereof , crowning it with perseverance here , and happiness hereafter . § . so much for the temple it self , which also was guarded with courts attending the same . witness nehemiah reporting , how , at the feast of tabernacles , the people , to testifie their joy , made themselves booths , or arbours , in the q courts of the house of god. but , whereas ez●a mentioneth the r street of the house of god , ( whither all the people repaired , being about to reforme their strange marriages ) i take this to be no part , or parcell of the structure of the temple , but some fair street in ierusalem , leading thereunto : as temple-gate , and street in bristol , so termed , because in passage to the fair church called the temple therein . § . let not the reader here expect from me , a draught of zorobabels temple . for , besides that already i have dipped my fingers deep enough in holy mortar , ( when describing solomons temple ) we have nothing out of scripture , for the particular fashion thereof . to frame it therefore according to conjecturall fancies , would be as much offensive to any consciencious writer , as little satisfactory to the judicious reader thereof . onely in lieu of zorobabels we present here the herodian temple , and all the courts thereof ( the same in all essentials with zorobabels ) as herod rebuilt it , although the story thereof be incumbred with many improbabilities , which we come now to relate . chap. v. herod ( saith josephus ) plucked down , and 〈◊〉 built zorobabels temple . § . it is strange , how the worst of tyrants sometimes stumble on eminent actions , doing such works as might beseem be●ter men to be the authours thereof . either , out of the love of variety , that being long wearied with a constant course of wickedness , they adventure on some commendable deeds , meerly for recreation . or else , onely se defendendo , for their own security , to fence themselves against the too just assault of peoples tongues , hoping in vain , by one good , to make amends for many evill deeds they have committed . some such consideration put herod the king upon the building of the temple , who ( as a iosephus reports ) plucked down zorobabels temple to the ground , and erected a new one in the room thereof , of greater art , and larger dimensions . § . but some b authors of very good account , are very loth to give credence hereunto , utterly denying herod to have built , and lanched a new vessell of a temple , although allowing him , to have carined , new rigged , and repaired the old , and especially the south-porch thereof . they conceive this third temple meerly modelled , and made by the fancy of iosephus , as which never had other then paper-wals , inke-mortar , and quil-timber in his book-description thereof . yea are bold to call it commentum , figmentum ; fabulam , and in downright terms mendacium , the flat lie of iosephus . § . for mine own part , after very much reluctancy , i am at last contented to credit iosephus herein , though willingly i could have wished , that some other ancient authour of his own age had avouched the same , that so in the mouth of two witnesses this c truth might have been established . for , this is that same iosephus whom the great d scaliger charactereth diligentissimum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 omnium scriptorum , cujus fides & eruditio in omnibus elucet . and , although we come not just up to this so high a commendation of him , yet we will not suspect him of falshood in such passages , wherein he dissenteth not from scripture . § . for , first herein he himself could not be deceived in a matter notoriously known , some being alive who could remember herods building thereof . and iosephus himself had often personally officiated in this temple , in his priestly function . nor , would he deceive others by such a report ; for , cui bono , what could he gain thereby ? nothing could be gotten by flattering the dust , or ghost of herod ; especially none of his linage ( when iosephus wrote ) being in power , or place to reward him . how can we then in charity conceive , that he did transgress without a cause ? seeing there were so many of his own countreymen , living in all lands , ready to confute so lowd a lie , if avouched by him . § . secondly , the words of the disciples to our saviour , e master , see what stones , and what buildings are here , must in probability relate to some new , sp●cious , eye-pleasing fabrick . and , if any should say , that the disciples , being poor fisher-men , and untravelled into forein parts , might be priviledged to wonder at a fabrick , not so admirable in it self ; let such know , we collect the magnificence of this temple , not so much from their admiration , as from christ his concession ; who ( though reproving the apostles carnall affections ) alloweth the stateliness thereof in that sharp return , f seest thou 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 these great buildings ? now , this could not well agree with zorobabels temple , being little curious when new , & almost contemptible when old ( if standing in christs time , weather-beaten after four hundred years continuance ) and therefore undoubtedly relates to the herodian temple , as then in the prime , and perfection thereof . § . adde hereunto , that herod his wholly taking down , and rebuilding this temple , is embraced , and beleeved , by most ancient , and learned writers , g hegesippus , h saint hierome , i rupertus , and many other christian authours . * and that some talmudists acknowledge herods temple , a learned critick hath sufficiently cleared the same . yea , which is much materiall ( even by the confession of such k as lately have opposed it ) mille quingentis annis nemo vocavit in dubium , nemo non credidit ; for fifteen hundred years ( since iosephus wrote it ) none ever doubted , or questioned the truth thereof . chap. vi. objections to the contrary answered . § . having thus brought our beliefe ( not over forward in it self ) to answer the spur , in what iosephus reports , we confess notwithstanding , many shrewd objections may be alleadged to the contrary , which we shall endevour to satisfie in order , as followeth . § . ob. it is utterly improbable , that god who refused davids tender to build him a temple , meerly because he was a man a of bloud , would accept of such a tyrant as herod was , for the same purpose . who had murthered hircanus his patron , ioseph his own uncle , aristobulus his brother-in-law , mariamme his wife , aristobulus the younger , alexander , and antipater his sons . in a word , unlikely it is , his service should be employed in building the temple of god , who endevoured to destroy the b god of that temple . § . ans. gods ways are in the deep , past mans finding , or fathoming out : who , to shew the fulness of his power , and freedome of his pleasure , useth variety in his own working . that shall be sometimes a bar to one , which otherwhiles shall be no hinderance to another . who knowes not , but cyrus was a cruell man , the manager of mighty wars , who came to a wofull and violent death ? witness , when c tomyris the scythian queen , having cut off his head , and put it into a vessell of bloud , satia te ( saith she ) sanguine quem semper sitisti , cloy thy self with bloud which thou hast always thirsted after . and yet god accepted of the service of cyrus , not onely to be a benefactour unto , but founder of his temple , the d expences thereof being given out of his own house . why then might not the same god make use of herod , for the rebuilding of his temple , when in continuance of time , much run into dilapidations ? § . ob. the temple extant in our saviours time , was forty six years in building , as the e iews did avouch ; now , this cannot be applied to herods temple , who reigned in all but thirty seven years ; it must therefore belong to zorobabels , the building whereof was so long suspended , through the frequent opposition of their enemies . § . ans. it cannot well be applyed to zorobabels , but exactly fits herods temple ; for zorobabels it falls out too large , which makes expositours take refuge at severall shifts , as we have formerly f observed . it is adequate unto herods temple , the greek being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , the first aorist passive , that is , it hath been in building . for , from the time that the first foundation was laid by herod , untill the present instant of the iews their speech , the sum of forty six years was exactly compleated , all which time ( though the main of the fabrick was finished in the first eight years , and an half ) workmen were constantly employed in trimming , polishing , and perfecting the out-buildings thereof . § . ob. the prophet g haggai foretold , that the glory of the second temple should be greater then the first , which was accordingly accomplished in the coming of our saviour , gracing it with his h presence , and preaching therein . now , if the temple extant in our saviours time , were not the same numericall , individuall temple , which zorobabel built , but another new one of herod his erection , the prophesie of haggai took no effect , and missed of the due performance thereof . § . ans. haggai his prophesie found the full accomplishment thereof , in our saviours preaching in herods temple , which was no distinct , but in all essentialls the self same with zorobabels . the holy riddle in the revelation is very hard to be understood , how the beast i was the eight , and yet one of the seven . but here it is obvious to any apprehension , that this was the third , and yet the second temple , set up in the same place of the former . § . ob. zorobabels , or the second temple may as properly be termed the first , and avouched the same with solomons , as this third of herods building may be called the second temple , and maintained the same with zorobabels . for , it was erected on the same area , or floor , and had , though less limbs ( smaller dimensions ) the self same vitals , all the essentiall utensils of the first temple , restored unto it . § . ans. not so , for , not a foot of stone , or inch of timber used in solomons , was found in zorobabels , which being all utterly destroyed , new materials were fetched from mount k lebanon . whereas no doubt herod made use of whatsoever was firm , sound , and undecayed in zorobabels temple . besides , there was an interstitium , or distance of seventy years , between the destruction of solomons , and erection of zorobabels temple ; whereas here no vacancy at all , the service , and sacrifices to god being continued without any interruption . as therefore that man , who , out of a desperate consumption , by gods blessing , physick , and good diet , recovers new flesh , remains still the same man : so zorobabels temple , acquiring by herods bounty more beauty , and bigness , continued the same temple , gods unintermitted service ( the life and soul thereof ) preserving the individuity , or oneness of this temple with the former . § . iosephus himself elsewhere confesseth ( as learned i grotius doth observe ) that the temple was never but twice demolished , first by nebuchadnezzar , and finally by the romans . § . understand him ( to reconcile him to himself ) never but twice demolished in anger from enemies , whereas herod destruebat animo restruendi , destroyed it with intent to rebuild it . as the chirurgion , who , not out of cruelty , but pity , breaks an ill set bone , with full intent to set it better . hence it was , that this third temple , in some sense , is always accounted , reputed , and esteemed by the jewish rabbins , the same with the second . chap. vii . generall observables in herods building . § . thus satisfied for the main , that herod rebuilt zorobabels temple , come we to some memorable observables therein , gathered out of iosephus , whose single band if the reader shall refuse to accept , we can tender him no better , yea , no other securirity . it is not therefore expected , that all which iosephus relates , should be credited in the full latitude thereof , it is enough if the judicious reader ( with a saint paul in another case concerning the reports of the corinthians ) doth partly beleeve it . § . first , to satisfie , and content the iews ( half suspecting his power , or pleasure to rebuild the temple ) he plucked not down the old temple , till all necessaries for the new one were perfectly provided , and brought in place , ready to be set up , lest otherwise between two temples , none at all should be left . such as take down one church , before fully furnished for the setting up of a new , make a dangerous breach for profaneness , and atheisme to enter in thereat . no such regnum for satan , as in the interregnum between two religions . § . as for the dimensions of herods temple in relation to solomons , the ensuing parallel thus presents them unto us , king. . . and the house which king solomon built for the lord , the length thereof was threescore cubits , and the breadth thereof twenty cubits , and the height thereof thirty cubits — [ after the first b measure ] the porch therein was an c hundred and twenty cubits high . iosephus anti. iud. lib. . cap. . her●d removed the old foundations , and laying new ones , built the temple an hundred cubits long , so many and twenty more , in height ; as for the breadth ( omitted by flavi●●● ios●phus ) ben-gori●n addeth , it was an hundred cubits . not that the whole body of herods temple was an hundred and twe●ty cubits high , but onely the middle thereof , as iosephus confesse●h , the sides round about being lower . thus whilest solomons temple was builded long ways , with the porch , or to wer at the east end , herods appears more round , with a tower in the middle thereof . § . now , though the length , and breadth of herods temple exceeds solomons , ( as they make it ) yet certainly , no● cubits of the first measure , but common ones are meant by iosephus , as may appear by the vast proportion of firme stones employed in this building , being twenty five cubits long , eight high , and twelve broad . oh! with what art , or engines were they brought hither ? if the stones on sarisbury plain , in a levell and flat countrey , and not above twenty miles from the sea , are recounted amongst the wonders of england , for their conveyance thither ( though the biggest of them called corse stones are far d less ) i say , if they be beheld with such admiration , that judicious men resolve them not reall , but factitious stones , of grit cemented with some unctuous matter , how can we conceive that these solid stones ( four of them being the ful length of the temple ) were managed hither , farther off from the sea , over a mountainous countrey ? however , that great , and goodly stones were here , the e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the disciples observation , f doth sufficiently prove . § . the holy of holies had the inside thereof made onely by the priests ( others not presuming to come on the ground ) whereof a thousand were found very cunning in building . now , although saint paul was a pharisee , and a g tent-maker ( the principles of that sect annexing some trade to their profession ) it is strange , so many priests , though skilfull in the mathematicall , should be so dexterous in the manual part thereof . the pinnacles of the temple ( saith iosephus ) were made so sharp , that a bird could not sit on them , to prevent the defiling thereof . wherefore when the devill set our saviour on h a pinnacle of the temple , ( where no doubt his feet stood fast without any miracle , which the devill could not , and christ would not causlesly work , as presumption against the will of his father ) we understand thereby , not such a sharp pinnacle , but some bartlement , wing , or brink , of building , higher then the rest of the fabrick . § . it was finished ( of all the days of the year ) on herods birth-day , and therefore ( saith iosephus ) the joy was the greater , two such eminent causes thereof meeting together . in very good time no doubt . indeed the memories of philip and iacob ; or , of simon & iude , have been anciently celebrated on the same day , being paires of pious persons well agreeing amongst themselves . but , i what communion hath light with darkness ? heaven , with hell ; god with herod , that they should be coupled together , in the same solemnity ? however , the finishing of the temple on herods birth-day , was a better deed then what his grand-child herod 〈◊〉 did many years after , on his * birth-day , beheading iohn the b●ptist . the same authour reports they had it by tradition , that it never rained on the day-time , but onely by night , during the building of the temple , that so the labour of the workmen might not be interrupted . § . but a more improbable passage falls from the pen of iosephus , when he reports , that the temple when finished , sunk down twenty cubits in the foundation , which the skilfull in architecture will hiss at as an untruth . for , strange that all parts thereof ( as if by mutuall consent ) should at once equally sink directly down , such an even , and eminent proportion ; the same weight above meeting with just the same weakness beneath , and no more in one place , then another . and grant , the walls all agreed to sink together , it is much , the beams were not broken with the sudden subsidency of the building . such a sinking fabrick would have frighted the priests from officiating therein , and death hanging over their heads disturbed their devotion . the same authour reports , that the holy of holies in herods temple was just twenty cubits high . if so , then by the sinking of this fabrick , it was wholly swallowed in the earth , turned into a cellar , so that the high-priest , in scripture phrase , must not go up , but go down unto it . the disciples , when gazing on the l greatness of the stones , might better have bestowed their wonder , that so firm a fabrick should stand on so fleeting a foundation . wherefore with the sinking of his temple , iosephus his cred it sinkes twenty cubits in my estimation , enough almost to make one un-believe whatsoever he hath formerly reported therein . § . but admit it done , not suddenly , but leasurely , and by insensible degrees , sinking some cubits more or less , was not the hand of god more immediately therein ? partly to punish herods pride ; shewing , he rather permitted , then approved , such a wretched tyrant should build his temple . partly , to prognosticate the future ruine of this fabrick , not standing full fourscore years , before it was destroyed . however , in a spirituall sense , the true zion , and church of god hath the m foundations thereof in the holy mountains — the highest himself shall establish her , god is in the n midst of her , she shall not be moved . chap. viii . herods temple many degrees short of solomons . § . but here we must have an abominable falshood of ioseph ben-gorion , posted , and pillored , impudently affirming , that the herodian a temple was a more gorgeous structure , then that of solomons ; flatly against the scripture it self , which presenteth solomons as a none-such , or peerless structure , ( admitting no equall , much less a superiour ) exceeding b magnificall , of fame , and of glory throughout all countreys . but let us put the builders , and their buildings into the ballance , whilest the reader is requested to hold the beam with an unpartiall hand . solomon was a mighty monarch , subordinate to god alone , having many tributary kings homagers c unto him . he had wealth at will , god promising there should not d be any amongst the kings like unto him all his days ; and had his ships from tarshish , and ophir , bringing him abundance of treasure . he employed e an hundred forty three thousand three hundred for seven years in the building of the temple . herod was a king by the courtesie of rome , and accountable unto augustus the emperour . herod ( whilest solomon was a merchant royall ) was so poor a pedler , that he turned the basest of theeves , and ( as iosephus reporteth ) robbed the sepulchre of david f●r treasure hid therein . herod used eleven thousand men , and a thousand carts , eight years and an half , in the erection of his building . whosoever seriously considers the premisses , and remembers the words of f zalmunna to gideon , for as the man is , so is his strength , ( actions bear proportion to the power of their actours ) will conclude ; herod , though ●urnamed the great , was too little to match , and far less to surpass solomon in such undertakings . § . as for ioseph ben-gorion extolling the herodian , above solomons temple for sumptuousness , his judgement is lighter then vanity it self . in al controversies gods law provided , that the g cause of both parties should come before the iudges . but , ioseph ben-gorion ( no news for them who know least to censure most ) never saw either temple , and yet is bold to pass censure on both . indeed the aged fathers that h wept , saw two temples , solomons before the destruction , and zorobabels at the foundation thereof . flavius iosephus the iew saw one ( zorobabels rebuilt by herod ) in his time rased by the romans ; ben-gorion beheld no pinnacle of either being a late authour , living some hundreds of years since our saviour . yea ( what the maid said to saint peter ) i his speech agreeth thereunto , discovering himself a more modern writer , by mentioning the name , and nation of the * franks , a word not appearing in the world till some hundreds of years after our saviour . besides , the book of ben-gorion like geryon ( the famous monster amongst the poets ) consisteth of three bodies confounded into one ; pieces of hegisippus , parcels of russinus , and patches of his own fancying , so jumbled together , that little truth , and less certainty can be extracted from it . § . here we must know , that such as advance herods above solomons temple , for the beauty thereof , drive on a dangerous iewish design . late● anguis in herba , there is a pad in the straw , and invisible mischief lurking therein . hoping hereby literally to verifie the prophesie of haggai , of the glory of the second temple , in that carnall , materiall bravery , which heroa bestowed upon it , so to frustrate , and defeat the spirituall sense of those predictions , mystically accomplished in the coming of christ. wherefore , all christians are highly concerned to be zealous , to detect and detest an opinion , so destructive to the truth of scripture , and derogatory to the glory of god. § . however , we deny not , but that this herodian temple in it self considered , without relation to solomons , was a magnificent structure , ( as k tacitus , an heathen , and no friend to the jewish nation , doth confess ; ) and i beleeve that the courts on all sides thereof took up a greater compass and circuit of gronnd , then those of solomons , the mount of the house ( narrow in his days ) being afterwards much enlarged . therein we take principall notice of two eminent braveries . first , the golden vine ornamentall thereunto , which had clusters thereon as big as the stature of a man , as if corrivals in greatness to those bunches of l grapes , the spies anciently brought as a sample of the fruitfulness of the land of canaan : this vine ben-gorion makes of massie gold , whilest a learned m authour , out of flavius iosephus , proves it to have been onely woven of gold threed , which much abateth the price thereof . but , whilest iews gaze with admiration on the cost , and curiosity of this golden vine , christian eyes may better behold another , of more grace , and glory , often to be seen in the same temple , even him that said , n i am the true vine , and my father is the husbandman . § . the other was that golden o eagle , set over the entrance of the temple , which afterwards proved a bird of prey to the poor iews , occasioning a grievous slaughter amongst them . who conceiving their temple profaned by this image , brake forth into a mutiny thereupon , wherein they were slain in great numbers . threefold was the offence , the iews took at the making thereof , because scandalous , to set up any image in the temple , as introductory to idolatry . unbeseeming the state of gods house , like an inne to have a sign hung out of it . the eagle being the roman armes minded them of their subjection . an ungratefull spectacle to the jewish nation ( so constant a pretender to freedome ) to be daily upbraided with their loss of liberty . § . to conclude , and give herod his due , this third-second temple ( as i may term it ) though far short of solomons , may be believed more magnificent then zorobabels . so that , what hezekiah ingenuously confessed of the kings of assyria , may as justly be affirmed of herod , of a truth he hath done great matters . though , who had not rather have one line of iosiahs epitaph , written truly on his tombe , p the rest of his acts , and his goodness , then all the popular applause herod received , for erecting this magnificent structure . chap. ix . the actions of christ in the temple . § . we have tendered to the view of the reader , in our lastmap , the draught of zorobabels temple as repaired & enlarged by herod , so as the learned , and pious ludovicus * capellus hath presented it , who exactly took his instructions therein , from the pen of iosephus , an eye-witness hereof . wherefore i justly disingage my self from all objections against this map , which are properly chargeable upon capellus his account . i confess , herein i proceed not with that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , with that boldness and assurance , which i could desire ; because the divisions and dimensions of the courts , and chambers , as exhibited in this temple , rely not ( as solomons ) on gods word , but onely on humane fallible testimony . oh it is excellent , when , with theophilus , we may know the a certainty of those things wherein we are instructed out of scripture it self . § . come we now to the actions of our saviour in the temple ; having first premised this usefull , yea necessary distinction . what our english tongue , for want of another proper word , promiscuously calleth the temple , the originall carefully expresseth by two names , adequate to two severall parts thereof , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . this properly was the covered part of the temple ( from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to inhabite , god peculiarly dwelling there ) consisting of the p●rch , holy , and holy of holies , with the chambers about them . into this christ never came , ( though zachariah in his course did , to ●ffer c incense ) nor by the law ( under which he was made , as not coming to destroy , but d fulfill it ) might he enter thereinto ; proper onely for the priests to officiate therein . yet though not his person whilest living , his power when dying , penetrated this temple , namely , when he rent the g vaile , thereby mystically opening an entrance into heaven by the merit of his passion . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . containing all the verge and compass of the courts about the temple , and within the outward sept thereof . christ constantly came hither , i ever taught ( saith he ) in b the temple : understand him , that he never wilfully affected conventicles , as ashamed of his doctrine , or willingly declined the temple , when afforded convenient entrance thereinto . otherwise , he taught also on the e mount , in the f ship , in synag●gues , in private houses ; but never so properly in his center , as when in the temple . this distinction of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 holds current , clean through the new testament ; save that once 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is taken for the whole circumference of the temple , when iudas cast down the pieces of silver h therein : though he stayed not long there , as out of his own element , but desperately made haste , that he might i goe unto his own place . § . this distinction premised , we will waite on the reader into the temple . first requesting him to carry competent money , and a charitable minde along with him . for as we shall enter in at the eastern gate , ( commonly called beautifull ) we shall be sure there to meet with many creeples , and beggers of all sorts , as proper objects of his liberality . here daily lay that k lame man , on whom saint peter , though moneyless , bestowed the bestalmes he could give , or the other receive , even the use of his limbs . § . but now we come to the memorable passages concerning our saviour in the temple . these were either done on him , when an infant ; or by him , when arrived to mans estate . of the former was his presentation by his parents to the priest , and when an l oblation for his mother was made , a paire of turtle-doves , and two young pigeons . § . hereat in-springs old si●●eon into the temple . god always performes his promises with advantage . he had a revelation that he should not die before he saw christ , who here both saw and felt him . oh how he hugges him ( though faster by his faith , then ) with his weake armes , which seem the stronger for the burden , as his dim eyes the clearer for this sight ! yea , he petitions heaven for a gaole-delivery , m lord let thy servant depart in peace . longer life would be but longer loss , and therefore fain would he flye from christ in his armes , to the armes of christ , before his refined joy were allayed with any worldly woe . then he addresseth himself , with bitter-sweets , to christs parents , neither frighting nor flattering , but plainly foretelling them , their child should be for the fall and rise of many in israel . particularly , he tells mary , that a n sword should pierce through her , and christ ( though borne ) should not die without the pain of his mother . as if the throws , suffered by other women at the birth , were reserved for her to endure at the death of her son. § . simeon is seconded by anna , a prophetess of an hundred years old , ( temperance is the best prolonger of the candle of life ) and herein she exceeded simeon . he came but o into the temple , she p departed not from the temple , but served god therein with fasting and prayer . she also spake of christ to all that looked for redemption . and thus christ was proclaimed in the temple by two heralds of different sexes , whilest his parents carefully kept the copies of their severall proclamations , as trusting them in no other cabinet then their own hearts . § . now seeing it is said of anna ( pardon a short digression ) that she departed not from the temple , it will be enquired whether any women were constantly leigers to live therein . were any of the weaker sex ( being prohibited to speak in the church ) permitted to live in the temple ? for , as for the nurse of king ioash , hid with him in the q house of god , the case was extraordinary , and her clandestine condition nothing pertinent to the present question . in answer whereunto : by never departing thence , we understand her daily repairing thither . it was davids wish , that he might r dwell in the house of the lord all the days of his life , i. e. that he might have free access thither upon any occasion . thus the sacrifice , though onely morning , and ing , is called a ●continuall burnt-offe●ing . and thus anna daily frequenting the temple , was continually there , as formerly those persons , who every day might be found in saint . pauls church at walking-houres ▪ might in some sort be said never to depart thence . § . to return to our sa●iour , who hitherto appeared onely passive in the temple , but afterwards acted miraculously therein first , when found sitting in the middest of the doctours , both t bearing them , and asking them questions . he , who himself was the u word , would notwithstanding hear , before he did speak● and attentively listned to the positions of those doctours , before he began his opposition against them . § . arrived at mans estate , we first fix our eyes on his w purging of the temple , from dove-mongers , mony-changers , and such as ●old sheep and oxen therein ▪ had such merchants , kept themselves in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or ▪ x sheep-market , christ had never distu●bed them , who now , with a scourge of small cords , drave them out of the temple . say not it was as lawfull to sell as sacrifice cattell therein : the one being the main use thereof , according to gods command , the oth●r a notorious abu●● of the temple , turning it by fraudulent bargains into a den of the 〈◊〉 § . saint hierome reports , that certain fiery * rayes , or beams , darting from christ● eyes , drove out these merchants from this place . a c●ncei● , which we dare not presently avouch for fear those 〈◊〉 of christs scourge flie also in our faces thereupon . for if he whipped out those merchants , for setting up their ware-houses in the temple , surely he will lend a lash to such as adde traditions to the text. this sure we are ( because recorded in scripture ) that christ so earnestly pursued this reformation , that the y zeal of his fathers house did eate him up . understand it , that our saviour being truly carneus though not carnalis , of a fleshy , though no fleshly constitution , had his body wearied out with faintness , not able in its performances , to keep pace with the desires of his mind . § . after this time , many were those hea●enly sermons ; christ made in the temple : which here we forbear to relate onely we take notice of that he preached in solomons porch z ( which afterwards deserved rather the name of christs-porch , seeing a greater then solomon 〈◊〉 here ) when the people ( mysteries are blasphemies to 〈…〉 ) took up a stones to stone him . some will a●ke , whence had they those stones ? it being unlikely that any were let to lie loose in so holy a place . but we may be confident , if there were any to be had above ground ▪ their malice would finde them out ▪ and probably they pl●cked them off from the pavement : their furious zeal counting it a meritorious act , rathe● to ●end the● out of the ground , then suffer a supposed blasphemer to escape ▪ surely such stones would rather have b spoken in his praise , then done any thing to his prejudice , especially before his ●oure was come . § . and as he spake woll , so he did as well therein . c the blind and the lame came to him in the temple , and he healed them . see here , those with 〈◊〉 might come to him in the temple , not those with insections : the lame , but not the leprous might enter therein . thus whilest sufferings and afflictions do not hinder us , sinfull pollutions do debar our access to gods gracious presence . § . we must not forget , that a little before his passion , christ the second time purged the temple three d years since he cast all merchants and their appurtenances out of gods house , which now notwithstanding that ejection , had again gotten unlawful possession therein . devils he cast out of men so finally , that they entred no more into them ; but wicked men , once thrown out of the temple , recovered their stations therein again . abuses in the church depart not till they are driven , and then go away unwillingly , animo revertendi , with full intent to embrace the next opportunity to return . what need hath reformation it self to be frequently reformed , seeing corruptions will so quickly creep thereinto ? christ , the second time , cast those vermine out of the temple . § . now , just before he took his farewell of his fathers house , he beheld the pharisees casting their money into the treasury . so that the g widowes mites , was the last object ( no small credit unto her ) which in the temple entertained our saviours eyes on earth , and no doubt long since hath been rewarded by him in heaven . for presently he departed to mount olivet , and there foretold , yea thence denounced the destruction of the temple , which followed not many years after . chap. x. the acts of the apostles in the temple . § . christ , after his ascension , resigned the temple to his apostles , to supply his absence by their preaching to the people . here on the day of pentecost saint peter made that memorable sermon , wherein he vindicated both himself and company from the aspersion of drunkenness , avouched the truth of christs resurrection , & charged the iews so home , for shedding his innocent bloud , that by the sharpness of his reproof ( a the words of the wise are as goads , and as nails fastned by the masters of the assemblies ) such as heard him were pricked in their b heart ; crying out to peter , and to the rest of the apostles ; men and brethren , what shall we doe ? § . here , by the peoples equall applications , and addresses to the rest of the apostles , it appeareth , that they were all fellow helpers , and joint commissioners with saint peter , ( all in the iury besides the foreman are not cyphers ) though he for order sake , and regularity , to avoid confusion , was made the mouth for the rest . yea , such their sobriety and discretion , though at that instant inabled with the gift of tongues , that they onely made use of seasonable silence ( such as best know how to speake , know best when to hold their peace ) with their tacite suffrages concurring to the truth of what saint peter delivered : who further gave his auditory counsell c to repent . § . but was this well done of him to adde grief to grief ? what , more repentance still ? why further pain , to such as were pricked to their hearts ? was this any valour , to beat them with more blows , who already cryed out for fair quarter , what shall we doe ? but know , peter herein advised them to join to their former legall sorrow , an evangelicall repentance ; such as is attended with desire , hope , & some assurance of pardon . he prescribes them the same receipt , he lately took himself ; having found the good fruit thereof , when , on his hearty d sorrow , he obtained pardon for denying his master . no sermons so soveraign , as those which proceed from the ministers e comfortable experience . nor did he barely advise them to repent , but also to f be baptized every one of thē , in the name of iesus christ &c. § . see the success of his counsell , g about three thousand were added to the church that same day . o high holy-day in heaven ! this many-saints-day was a festivall of great solemnity therein , where there is h joy over one sinner that repenteth , singing on their golden viols , peter and the apostles have saved their three thousand . his sermon ( as set down ) contained not so many words , as it converted souls . though surely , what we read in saint luke was onely the breviate , sum , and abridgement of his sermon , seeing , with many * other words did he tes●ifie and exhort . § . many advantages concurred to render his sermon the more effectuall . first , the suffering of our saviour was so near in place , and late in time , that his wounds were ( as i may say ) still fresh bleeding in the guilty memories of the people assembled . secondly , the present miracle of tongues bestowed on peter and his ●●mpanions , did wonderfully make way for the word he delivered . thirdly , such to whom he spake , were i devout men , blindly pious ( like saint paul before his conversion ) but desirous of information ; zeal not being to be wrought , but regulated , not to be new gotten , but right guided in them . lastly , and chiefly , the spirit of god invisibly wrought on their souls . thus when the k door of utterance , or the l opened mouth of the minister meets with the m door of faith or entrance , in the n opened hearts of the people , the word makes miraculous improvement . § . and now our saviour had plentifully performed his promise : he that beleeveth on me , the works that i doe , shall he doe also , and greater o works then these shall be doe , for i goe to my father ; as then put into a capacity more effectually to assist them , ( as formerly but with his prayers ) then authoritatively with his power . the disciple , ( by his masters permission , yea procurement ) proved above his master in success . christ , all his life long , was angling for a few fishes , but a p hundred and twenty , whilest peter comes with his drag-net , and catcheth about three thousand in one day . amongst the reasons whereof , consider christ was properly , not to be the builder , but the foundation it self : and therefore others were more happy in edification . he was to be humbled ( as with hunger , thirst , weariness , shame , and pain , so ) with the heavy afflictions of long unprofitable preaching , because of peoples q unbeliefe . during his life , the kingdome of heaven was but r at hand , which after his death , and ascension was in hand . the broad gates of grace being then opened for multitudes to enter , where few by especiall favour got in before by the wicket . we have insisted the longer on saint peters sermon , because it is the beginning of ecclesiasticall history after christs ascension , which , in gods due time , we are in some hope to finish by his assistance . and that the foresaid sermon was made in the temple , appears by the passage of their s continuing daily with one accord in the temple . intimating that they were formerly assembled in the same place . § . pass we by the other acts of the apostles in the temple , onely we must not omit t solomons porch where they made their aboad . and it is worth our inquiry where the same was placed . § . first , negatively , it was not that porch of solomons ( nor any other afterwards built of the same dimensions on the same floor ) mentioned in the a old testament ; because that was a part ( being the entrance ) of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or covered temple : into which , the disciples ( being no priests ) might not enter . that porch had but b twenty cubits in length , and ten in breadth , being so small , that it could not contain the disciples , and their company , being above three thousand persons . that by the septuagint , is called uiam ( retaining always the hebrew word ) not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , as this porch is called in the greek tongue . rather therefore , by this porch , we understand , one side , square , or cloister of the great court about the temple . § . now seeing the same was surrounded with courts on all sides , the question is , on which side thereof solomons porch was placed . here we had been utterly at a loss , but for the seasonable help of c iosephus ; the people ( saith he ) perswaded the king [ agrippa the younger ] to repair the east porch or cloister : now this cloister was of the outward temple , standing over an exceeding deep valley , raised upon a wall of four hundred cubits , which was made of square white stones of twenty cubits long , and six cubits high a piece , the work of king solomon , who first built the temple . whereby it appears , that this porch respected the east , and was on each side of the entrance into the temple . § . but the greatest difficulty remains . how came it to be called solomons porch ? did not he equally build all the first temple ? why therefore did this porch ( as his darling ) beare his name above all the rest ? and ( which increaseth the difficulty ) seeing all that temple was razed by the babylonians ( following no doubt the cruell counsell of the edomites , d down with it , down with it , even to the ground ) how came this cloister , of the second temple in christs time , to retain the name of solomons ? § . some conceive this part stood undemolished by the babylonians : seeing that curse , there shall not be left e here one stone upon another , that shall not be thrown down , was denounced against the second temple , not against solomons , some parcell whereof might be left standing . but under favour , i conceive , it was particularly called solomons-porch , . because the very bottome , or floor thereof ( being forced ground ) was by much expence made by solomon , and gained with great art and industry , from the f valley beneath ; so that ( even when the superstructure thereon was by the babylonians levelled to the earth ) the admirable foundation , that master-piece of art , still remained , preserved the memory , and imparted the name of solomon , the founder thereof , to that cloister , which in the second temple , was erected upon the same . § . if any demand why the disciples made choice of this porch , above any other , to make their residence therein ; severall considerations might move them thereunto : because formerly handselled with our saviours heavenly sermon therein . because of great capacity , conveniently to receive them , without prejudice to other peoples passage into the temple . because it was the first place that offered it self unto them , at their entrance into the temple . herein they observed some analogy of christs counsell , in g what place soever yee enter into a house , there abide untill yee depart from that place . thus solomons-porch , being ( as i may say ) the first house in the house of god , into which the disciples entered ; there they fixed themselves , as no starters and fugitives , but such as would stand to the doctrine they delivered . § . so much of solomons-porch ; onely let me adde ; that capellus ( herein contrary to other h learned men ) placeth solomons-porch on the south side of the temple ; mistaking it , as we believe , with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the cloister royall : which out of iosephus i indeed appears , to have been largely built and beautified on the south-side of the temple . however we would not innovate or alter any thing in our map from the minde of capellus , though here , in our description , we presume to ●nter our dissenting from his opinion . § . pass we by many other intermediate acts of the apostles and disciples in the temple . amongst all which none might lawfully avouch his entrance so far therein , as ●arnabas , being a levite by his extraction , and k therefore legally priviledged in his approaches to the altar it self . come we now to the last passage of saint paul in the temple . last indeed it was likely to prove unto him , and he lose his life therein , on this occasion . § . at the instance of some godly people , he was perswaded to purifie himself : thereby , partly to gain on the affections of the beleeving iews , as yet zealous for the law ; partly to confute their falshood , who traduced him for an antinomian , against all ceremonious observances . hereupon he came into l the temple to signifie the accomplishment of the days of purification , untill that an offering should be offered for him and his companions . if any grudge that after the coming of the gospel , so much cost should be bestowed on the law , and sullenly say , with iudas iscariot , to what purpose is this m wast ? might not the law truly answer with our saviour , in the same case , n he did it for my buriall , and for the more solemn interment thereof . § . but saint pauls devotion in performing these obsequies was interrupted by the people , who accused him for defiling the temple , having o seen trophimus , and ephesian , with him in the city , whom they supposed he had brought into the temple . malicious jealousie never makes good logician , so strange are the inferences thereof . in vain might saint paul deny the consequence of their syllogisme , whilest they were ready to prove it by an inartificiall argument , from the authority , or prevalency rather of a popular uproare , p some cryed one thing , some another , and those , no doubt , that knew least railed loudest , and no certainty could be known for the tumult , the many-headed multitude speaking a language , whereof none can be an interpreter , to understand them , which understand not themselves . § . suppositive was the offence of saint paul , ( onely on their bare surmise ) but positive must be his punishment , drawing him out of the temple , whom certainly they had killed , had not the seasonable interposing of the captain , rescued him from them . who hence conveyed him safe into the q castle , no doubt , of antonia hard by , and not the castle on mount sion , built out of the ruines of the palace of david , though formerly ( following the authority of others ) we made that place the theater of saint pauls future actions on this occasion . chap. xi . of the vast wealth of the second temple . § . we have cause to conceive , that the corban or treasury of the second temple was about our saviours time , welnigh as well lined with wealth , as in the reign of solomon , flowing from three principall springs , meer gentiles . proselytes . native iews . the first of these were very bountifull to the temple , and constantly § . native iews were the last , and best benefactours to the temple , especially if all contributed thereunto in proportion to the poor widow who cast in two z mites being all her substance . now , had one been present when the scribes and pharisees cast in their offerings into the treasury , it had been pleasant to behold the conflict , betwixt their covetousness , and vainglory , and how the latter prevailed in them . for , though they were a covetous , yet when people beheld them , they were content to part with their money , or rather to let it out for the interest of popular applause ▪ but , besides free-will-offerings at any time , that gods service might not be lest arbitrary , the iews were injoyned thrice a year b at the solemn festivalls with their men children ( when able , saith the rabbih , led in their fathers hands , to climbe up the mountain whereon the temple was built ) to appear before god ; where none , who hoped to return with their hearts ful of joy , came with their hands empty of money for seeing the iews held their estates of no mean lord , but all by tenure in capi●e from the god of heaven , these were the three solemn payments of their head rent to their high land lord . besides these in the days of our saviour , vast were the sums which were advanced to the treasury , by that gainfull divinity current amongst the people , though stamped onely with pharisaicall traditions , of which , this one that followeth , was the most remarkable . § . it plainly appears , that all children , if of ability , should maintain their parents , if by age or accident grown weak and impotent to subsist c of themselves , according to gods command , honour d thy father and mother qamp ; c. notwithstanding which obligation , the scribes and pharisees did preach , & teach , that in case any children were pleased to compound with e corban , &c to pay a round sum proportionable to their estates , unto pious uses , thereby they were disingaged in conscie●de , from making any farther provision for their poor parents ▪ going on this ground , that one debt was to be but once satisfied , and if they paid it in to the service of god the grand-father to all mankinde , thereby they were discharged from duty to their immediate , and subordinate parents . § . this commutation-money ( as i may term it ) amounted to a nem●scit of revenue , but withall made a dearth of dutifull children in the land , who counted it the more frugall way , once for all to fine to the temple , then to pay the constant rent of daily relief to their parents . but can an acquittance of humane , ●●adition , be valid , against a debt of specialty ▪ by gods command ? oh! had the hole in the cover of corban been a mouth to speak , as well as to take in , how zealously would it have protested against such proceedings ? and we may conceive this one cause of hastening the wofull ruine of the temples wealth , such ill gotten money poisoning the corban , making it suddenly swell , and then break in pieces , when swept away by the romans , which we come now to relate . chap. xii . the finall abolition of the utensils of the second temple . § . great houses commonly crack before they fall , to give the dwellers therein notice to depart . thus before the temple was finally ruined , and her vessels taken away , two grand warnings were given the iews , seasonably to amend , and prevent farther mischief . the first in that famous year wherein tully and mark antony were consuls , some sixty years before our saviours birth , when s pompey the great , having taken the city and temple , entred the holy of holies with some of his souldiers , the floor whereof had formerly felt no other feet , but those of the high priests , and those but once a year . here he saw mysterious ornaments , understanding ( not the meaning but ) the matter thereof to be pure gold ; a shroud bait to tempt his hungry souldiers to sacriledge , besides two thousand talents of silver in the treasury of the temple . on all which he onely feasted his , and his officers eies , whilest their hands did fast , not diminishing the least mite thereof , in veneration of that deity to whom they did belong ; onely he took on him to restore hircanus to be high priest , a presage that the jewish priesthood would shortly fall down , which already did so shake , that the high priest needed to take a presentation , ad corroborandum , from the hands of pompey a pagan patron . § . secondly , when crassus that rich churl , and roman generall marching with his army into syria , and through ierusalem , flayed , what pompey did not fleece , spoiling the temple to the value of eight thousand talents . indeed , g eleazar keeper of the holy treasures , gave , or rather payed to crassus a wedge of gold weighing three hundred pounds , to ransome the rest from his rapine . but the golden wedge did but widen the covet ousness of crassus , and like a break-fast did inable him to encounter a dinner with a greater appetite ; so that , notwithstanding his oath to the contrary , he added sacriledge to his perjury . but seeing theeves give whatever they take not away , we have rather cause to comend his bounty , that the golden table , candlesticks , and other ornaments escaped his fingers ; except , they were either hid from him by the carefull providence of others , or left by him out of his own politick covetousnes , like nest-egs to encourage others again to lay up more wealth in the same place . and no doubt he hoped , though now he had mowed down the temples treasure to the bare roots , shortly , when grown up again , to return to the after-share thereof ; but all in vain , for , marching with his army into parthia , there his money perished with him , losing the principle of his stoln wealth , and paying his own life for interest . thus , those who on a sudden grow rather foggy , then fat , by feeding on sacrilegious morsels , do pin● away by degrees , and die at last of incurable consumptions . § . here we cannot but take notice , how profoundly shallow the scribes and pharisees were , in that their superstitious criticisme , and leaden distinction , how he that swore by the temple , was left at liberty , whilest he that swore by the h gold of the temple , was bound up and concluded in conscience to the performance of his oath . whereas our saviour demonstrateth , that the temple was greater then the gold , as the sanctifier thereof . besides , in common sense , he should seem faster tyed , whose faith by oath was staked down to the temple , as to a fixt , firme , stable structure , then he whose truth was tyed onely to the gold thereof , a more fading , flitting , moveable matter , as appears by crassus and others carying so much of it away with him into forein countreys . but indeed ( as our saviour teacheth ) the main obliging power of those oaths , consisted in the presence of god , before whom they were made , who alone is immoveable and immutable , whereas in process of time , the temple it self , as well as the gold thereof , came to destruction . § . for , vespasian and titus his son , roman emperours , anno dom. . razed the temple , and utterly confounded all the utensils thereof . indeed they were first carried in triumph to rome , but what afterward became of them is altogether unknown . it is no sin to conceive that their property was altered ; and they either converted to coin , or turned to plate for the use of the emperour , or his favorites . sure none are known to remain in specie at this day : and one may wonder , that no impudent relickmonger hath produced a golden feather of a cherubims wing , or a knop , flower , bowle , or almond of the seven-branched candle-stick , having pretended since christs time , to improbabilities of as high a nature . strange that no pope hath gotten a piece of aarons mitre , or breast-plate , to grace his wardrobe , or a parcell of the manuscript-commandements written by gods finger , to adorn his vatican . but divine providence hath utterly razed all foundation for superstition to build upon , in the totall abolition of these holy ornaments . and if those reasonable witnesses of gods truth , were by his permission overcome , and killed by the beast , when they had finished their i testimony , no wonder if these sensless and inanimate types , having served their generation , the truth being come , were finally extinguished ▪ nor have i ought else to observe of those holy utensils , save that all were made of pure gold , and yet the apostle is bold to tearm them , and all other legall ceremonies k beggerly elements , so debasing them in comparison of christ , the authour of grace , and giver of eternall life . finis libri tertii . to the right honourable francis lord rvssell , son to the right honourable william earl of bedford . my lord , perusing this passage in the beginning of saint lukes gospell , — to a write unto thee in order , most excellent theophilus , that thou mightest know the certainty of those things , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , wherein thou hast been catechised , or , instructed : it furnished me with some observables , very conducible to my present purpose ; though god b alone be good , yet man in some sense may be most excellent . even in that age , wherein they had c all things common , nobility remained severall , as appropriated to some principall persons . no diminution to the dignity of a noble man , to be cat●chised , 〈…〉 , in the principles of religion . dedicating of books of noble persons is an ancient practise , 〈…〉 scripture precedents . 〈…〉 not patronage for his book ( the word of god being the d sword of the 〈…〉 to defend it ) but intended the instruction of theophilus therein . the 〈…〉 the tex● , encourg●d me , ●●ing to put forth a treatise to publick view , to make choice of an honourable patron , and hope i have found a theophilus in your lordship , whom i see to be young , know to be noble , and beleeve to ●e relig●ous . the composure therefore of this ensuing bo●● ( the issue by gods ●blessing of 〈◊〉 own industry ) this alone i humbly 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 honour to protect the same . as for the matter thereof , being wholly scripture , i heartily dedicate your honour thereto , to be instructed therewith . and now , my lord , may i request you to t●ke a serious survey of your own extraction , to be unto you a forcible motive unto vertue . to instance onely in your deceased ancestors ( as cut of the reach of flattery ) john your atavus by his wisedome , and valour ( the fortunate generall against the rebels in the west ) founded under god the nobility of your family . francis your abavus ( whose hall seemed a court , closet , a chappell , and gate-house , an hospitall ) shined as a light with his piety in those darker days . william your proavus , to whom agreed the character of sergius paulus , e a prudent man , and deputy of the countrey , and that an island too ( though not cyprus , yet ) ireland ; of whose abilities queen elizabeth was well assured , when choosing him pilot of that leaking land ; then toffed with the violent tempest of rebellion . francis your 〈◊〉 , whose death i would epithete untimely ( not onely for the behoof of his own family , but benefit of the whole nation ) did not the same authority , which reproved saint peter for calling that common f , which he had cleansed , forbid me to term any thing untimely which his providence hath appointed . now , my lord , upon a review of this your pedegree , i will not be so pedantick to minde you of a grammar-instance , to make it true construction in your honours practise , magnorum haudquaquam indignus avorum ; but in scripture-phrase i request you to g look to the rock whence you are hewn , and the hole of the pit whence you are digged ; and doe nothing unworthy of that honourable parentage , whence you are derived . far be it from your honour to be listed among those noble men , of whom it may be said in a sad sense , that they are very highly descended , as being come down many degrees from the worth , and virtues of their noble progenitors . to conclude then with theophilus , with whom i began . it is observable of him , that though styled most excellent by saint luke in his gospell , yet in the book of the acts ( which was written many years after ) he calls him onely h theophilus , without any honourable addition . what ? had saint luke in process of time less civility , or theophilus ( with more age ) less nobility ? surely neither , but saint luke may be presumed , purposely to wave his titles , out of compliance to the temper of theophilus , who in his reduced age grew weary of worldly pompe , more pleased to have the truth of honour fixed within him , then hear the titles thereof fastned upon him : according to the analogie of the apostles pre●ept , let him that hath honour , be as if he had it not . thus , the longer your lordship shall live , the less you will delight in outward state , and daily discover the vanity thereof ; especially in your old age , your soul will grow sensible , that nothing can satisfie it , which is less then grace , or glory , or god himself . to whose protection you are committed , by the daily prayer of him , who is your honours most humble servant tho. fuller . waltham abbey , iuly . . here followeth the map of mount libanus . the description of movnt libanvs and the adjacent countreys . the fourth book . chap. i. § . so much for the iewel , palestine it self . now for the case thereof , namely the neighbouring countreys which surrounded it . onely herein the simile holds not , because cases serve , as to compass , so to preserve and defend the jewell ; whereas these bordering nations were sworn enemies to oppose and destroy the land and people of palestine . the most quiet neighbour iudea had , was the midland sea on the west side thereof , which though sometimes ( as the psalmist observes ) it would rage horribly , yet generally it was more peaceable and serviceable then the pagans , which bounded them on all other quarters : as namely , in syria , on the north , giblites , arvadites , aramites , &c. in arabia , on the east , and south-east ammonites , moabites , ismaelites , midianites . in egypt , and the wilderness of the south , edomites , amalekites , egyptians , &c. so that the iews , to finde faithfull friends must not look about them , but above them , even to heaven whence all their safety was derived . § . for the present we are to describe mount libanus or lebanon with the parts of syria confining thereunto . a mountain which some will have so named from frankincense , ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in greek ) whereof great plenty groweth there . yet seeing it is usuall for parents to give names to their children , not children to their parents , more probable it is that frankincense is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from this mountain , breeding store thereof , then that the mountain should be named libanus from frankincense growing therein . § . but whilst humane writers are best pleased with this greek extraction of libanus , more conformable to scripture is the hebrew etymology thereof from whiteness : a because the faithfull snow forsakes not the top of this mountain ( no not when persecuted by the sun in the dog-days ) but remains there all the year long . a pleasant sight , at the same time to have winter on the top , and sommer at the bottome of one and the same mountain . excellent the use of this snow in these hot climats the prophet b mentioning it , as most welcome and precious , will a man leave the snow in lebanon , wherewith the tyrians and neighbouring nations used to allay and mixe their wines : so making the torrid and frozen zone to meet in the temperate , more healthfull for their constitutions . § . lebanon was a place so pleasant , that an epicure therein might feed all his senses to a surfeit . sight . the ●pouse saith of c christ , his countenance is as lebanon , where most delightfull is the prospect , with high hills , humble dales , sweet rivers , shady groves . no wonder then if ptolemy placeth paradise a city hereabouts , where what poets can fancy , nature hath performed . smell . such the fragrancy of flowers , gummes , and spices thereon , perfuming the aire round about . d his smell is as the smell of lebanon . hearing . for besides the melody wrabled forth by the sweet choristers of the wood , pleasant it was to listen to the complaints which the rivers murmuring made against the rocks , for wronging them in obstructing their channels : whose complaints therein , were so far from finding pity in mens hearts , that they onely lulled their heads the sooner and faster as●eep . taste , & touch. such the most delicious fruits and liquors this mountain affords . vinum c.o.s. the sent thereof shall be as the e wine of lebanon . galen also reporteth that yearly in mount libanus husbandmen used to sing , god raineth hony , at which time they spread hides on the ground , f and from the boughs of trees shook into them the hony dropt from heaven ( called therefore mel roscidum & aereum ) filling pots and pitchers with the same . no wonder then that moses made it his earnest request to take this place in his way , to heaven : i g pray thee let me goe over and see the good land , which is beyond iordan , that goodly mountain and lebanon . as if his soul more conveniently might take his rise from the top thereof to eternall blisse , and be the better provided to entertain endless happiness , when first he had sipt some drops of the same in delightfull lebanon , the temporall type thereof . § . it will perchance be objected against the fertility of this place , that the prophet h foretelleth , is it not yet a very little while , and lebanon shall be turned into a fruitfull field ? where its future conversion into fruitfulness seemingly implies the present barrenness thereof . but here we must distinguish betwixt field and forest fruitfulness . the former is composed of the concurrence of art and industry with nature ; the latter onely takes what nature tenders , without any toile to improve the same , wherein libanus already did exceed . but now the prophet foretells ( besides this wild and native ) an elaborate and artificiall fertility likely to befall this mountain , namely in the speedy and universall alteration of things in israel , when champian fields for fear should be forsaken , and husbandmen for their security retire with their tillage to mount lebanon . thus much for this fair and fruitfull place full of goodly trees , wild and tame beasts in abundance ; and yet when measured by an infinite majesty , i lebanon is not sufficient for him to burn , nor all the beasts thereof of sufficient for a burnt offering . § . having largely praised this place ( enough to set all the neighbouring princes at variance about the propriety thereof ) it is now high time to inquire to whom the right thereof did belong . here we finde an undoubted evidence , that the same by a double title perteined to the land and people of israel . as a fence to the vineyard . as a common to a city . as a fence to a vineyard . so the prophet in his parable k and be fenced it , and gathered out the stones thereof . now although this fencing principally refers to gods protection over the iews , yet is it not unappliable to the naturall posture of their countrey , hem'd in with mount libanus on the north . secondly , if we conceive all iudea under the notion of a great city , lebanon was a common l assigned thereunto , and all lebanon towards the sunrising . and though probably the neighbouring tribes asher , naphtali , and dan did reap the most benefit thereby , yet all the rest are presumed to have a right both in the herbage for their profit , and wild beasts for their pleasure . however , either with or without the leave of israel , the hivites ( and * archites , whose city archa is by ptolemy placed hereabouts ) made bold to share with them in the commodities of this mountain . here grew the goodly cedars , of whose severall kindes , ( some bearing fruit without flowers , others bringing flowers without fruit ) manner of growing , having streight and clean bodies to the top , and there a tuft of boughs and leaves , ( where should the haire be but on the head ? ) naturall qualities or supernaturall rather , ( because said to be free from corruption , and therefore used to make the statues of the gods ) the philosopher m will give the best account , to whose reports we remit the reader . § . forget we not that humane writers make a division of the mountain , calling the northern ledge thereof libanus , the southern anti-libanus whereas the scriptures taking no notice of this distinction , express both under the generall name of libanus . § . and now to climbe this mountain , behold it every where scattered with solomons workmen , some bearing of burdens , ( better to carry the meanest materiall to the temple of god , then carve the most curious pieces for the tower of babel ) some hewing of stones , all busied , either with their hands as labourers , or eyes as overseers . no hole left for idleness to peep in at , but presently she was perceived and punished . i hope without offence , one may wish them god speed , the rather because n he that hewed timber afore out of the thick trees , was known to bring it to an excellent work , but now they break down all the work thereof with axes and hammers . § . it is now high time that leaving the generall description of libanus we come to survay the severall places on , or near thereunto . in the southwest side thereof near zidon , and the sea , lay the land of cabul , which solomon gave to hiram king of tyre for the cost and charge he was at in building the temple . hereby it appears that this territory ( though lying in o galilee was no part of the land of canaan , it being above the power of the kings of israel , to alienate any parcell thereof . but though it was unlawfull to take the childrens bread , and cast it unto dogs , yet the crust and parings thereof might be given them : to which this land of cabul may well be compared , being so course and base a countrey , that it little contented king hiram , who therefore called it p cabul , that is dirty , or displeasing . it may seem strange that solomon , who in other things consulted with his honour and magnificence and to whom god gave a large heart , should herein have so narrow a hand , as not to give hiram a friend and forein prince full consideration , who so freely had furnished him with all necessaries for his building . but haply solomon beheld hiram as a homager unto him , holding the kingdome of tyre from the crown of israel . and if so , then all he did was but his duty , and fully rewarded in solomons favourable acceptance thereof . solomon might conceive hirams expences sufficiently satisfied in allowing his men such a vast q proportion of yearly provision : so these cities were given him not in compensation of the charge , but as an overplus and meer gratuity . for which hiram ought to be thankfull because so good , not displeased because no better . most probable it is , that absolute need , and no other reason , made solomon fall short , in satisfying hirams expectation . his treasure being much exhausted ( excess will begger wealth it self ) by his sumptuous structures . the same necessitous principles , which caused his intolerable taxes on his own people , might also make him ( against his own will , and generous disposition ) faile in rewarding the full deserts of hiram . it is some contentment unto us , that though we know not the severall names , yet the r scripture acquaints us with the exact number of the cities in cabul-land : being twenty in all , as in our map , we have reckoned them accordingly . § . but here some will be very much startled , that this land of cabul should so lately receive this denomination from hirams displeasure , whereas we finde it so called four hundred years before in the book of ioshua , where the borders of the tribe of asher , are thus assigned : they goe out to s cabul on the left hand . to satisfie which seeming difficulty , we must know , that though the book of ioshua contains matter of far more ancient date , t yet it was written by holy-men of god after the days of david , and probably in the reign of solomon . this appears because in ioshua mention is made of the book of iasher , wherein the standing still of the sun and moon was recorded , and that book of iasher was penned after davids reign , because therein davids u acts were also chronicled . § . mount libanus is overspread with the a buildings of solomon , whereof some may be conceived the fragments made out of the remnants and reversions of the stone and timber left of what was provided for the temple . yea probably some were platformes and modells to heighten and improve the skill and knowledge of his builders . true it is , in the making of the tabernacle , every tenon , board , hook and socket were iure divino , both by precept and precedent , according to the b pattern in the mount : but it was not so in the building of the temple . therein , god gave solomon a large heart , and furnished him with hiram a skilfull workman : but as for all particular proportions , they were left at large for their wisdomes to contrive . it may therefore with much likelyhood be conceived , that to better their knowledge in architecture for the temple some slight buildings in libanon were erected , which afterwards might serve solomon for privacy , and pleasure , retirement , and recreation . and seeing solomon took his naturall history from the cedar that growes in lebanon , to the moss on the wall , haply he might study in some of these buildings , where cedars , and other simples were presented unto him , being best able to comment on natures works when he saw the text before his eyes . of these buildings in libanus that tower which c looks towards damascus was the principal , to which the nose of the spouse in the canticles is compared , for the whiteness , uniformity , and proportionable largeness thereof , whereby the generousness and animosity of the church is intimated . the d philosopher telleth us that a tower-fashioned nose ( round and blunt at the top ) is a signe of magnanimity . § . from this tower we may take the prospect of all the adjacent countrey : wherein we take no notice of the division of syria according to humane writers , but confine our selves to scripture expressions . rehob . aram or maachah . syria of damascus . zobah . the land of hamah . syrophoenicia . coelosyria . phoenicia . aram e rehob , or beth-rehoh , so called from a principall city therein , lay south east of mount libanus . herein was f dan the place where abraham overtook the four kings , who after many victories had took lot and his wife captives . by dan we understand not the city of dan ( formerly laish ) which some hundreds of years after was so named ( though g levi is said [ vertually ] to pay tithes in the loines of abraham , dan cannot be conceived [ formally ] to name cities , being as yet in the body of his great grandfather ) but the eastermost fountain of iordan , anciently called dan. and surely springs the issue of nature , are seniours to all cities the result of art. here abraham overtook them , and with three hnndred and odde men conqueredand pursued them ( being numerous and flushed with former victorys ) to h hobah which is on the left side of damascus . thus that army which is but a handfull of men , managed by gods hand , will work wonders . hereby lot recovered his liberty , the king of sodome his subjects , they their goods ; the auxiliaries of i aner , k eshcol and mamre , received their pay out of the spoile , melchisedec had the tithes , abraham the honour , and god the glory of the victory . § . aram-maachah , lay southeast of aram-beth-rehoh , the l king thereof appeared very active ( though bringing into the field but a thousand m men ) in the battell against king david . it seems ioab the politick generall reputed these syrians valiant , who took the n choicest men of israel under his own conduct to oppose them , consigning the refuse under abishai against the n ammnoites , presuming they would fly of course , if the other were worsted : as indeed it came to pass . appendants to this aram-maachah were geshur : o hereof talmai the king ; and maachah his daughter was maried to david , and mother to absalom . no wonder then if the child proved a cross to his father , begotten on a heathen woman contrary to gods command . and here absalom ( changing his climate , not conditions ) staid p three years , clouded with his fathers displeasure for murdering his brother amnon . ishtoh , which contributed twelve q thousand men in the generall engagement of the syrians against king david . the land of tob : that is , the good-land ( or * goth-land if you please ) so called from the goodness thereof . though all the good we know of it is this , that it afforded a safe refuge to r iephthah , when persecuted by his brethren , who hence was solemnely fetched to be judge of israel . adrichomius , and other authours here make the land of s uz where iob dwelt . i cannot blame any place to be desirous of so pious a man to be an inhabitant therein . but both iobs friends and foes forbid the situation of the land of uz here abouts . his foes the sabeans , his friends eliphaz the temanite &c. who are known to live far south of this place , of whom properly in the description of edom. . aram of damascus succeeds lying northeast of aram-maachah , t watered with the rivers of abanah and pharphar . this abanah in humane writers is called chrysoroas or golden-streame from the yellowness of his banks and water . otherwise , as little gold is to be found in his chanell , as at the golden grove in caermarthen-shire , or at the golden-vale in herefordshire . however abanah and pharphar were highly beholden to u naaman , who preferred them before all the waters of israel ; as possibly they might equall , yea exceed them in some outward respects . but what if the water in the cistern chance to be clearer then that in the font ? know it is divine institution , which puts the difference betwixt them , leaving the one a plain element , and making the other a soveraigne sacrament . this river chrysoroas running northward is afterwards swallowed up in the sandy ground , and there is the visible end thereof . so that solomons rule , all rivers run into the w sea , must admit of an exception or exposition , namely either openly or secretly , as no doubt this river hath an underground recourse to the ocean . § . coming near to damascus we finde the place where saint paul was cast down to the ground , as he went with a commission from the high priest to persecute the saints of damascus . now seeing damascus was not in iudea , if any demand why paul should straggle so far from his own countrey , hear his own answer , being exceedingly x mad against them , i persecuted them even unto strange cities : and it is reason enough for the actions of blind zeale , that they are the actions of blind zeale . besides , it seems the high priests at ierusalem had a kind of ecclesiasticall jurisdiction over the iews in all places . some seeming contradiction , but on serious thoughts easily reconciled , appears in the history of saint pauls travells . acts . . the men also which journeyed with him stood amazed , hearing a voice , but seeing no man. acts . . moreover they that were with me saw indeed a light , and were afraid , but heard not the voice of him that spak● unto me . for , two things considerable in this vi●ion . the generals thereof communicated to his fellow-travellers , that they might attest the truth of this miraculous accident . no seeming fancy but really acted . hereupon they heard confusedly that there was a sound , but heard not distinctly what that sound was , and were admitted to see a light , but did not discover the person of iesus appearing . the particulars thereof imparted to paul alone ( as calculated onely for his conversion ) whose eares and eyes plainly heard and saw the voice and apparition . hence saint paul was conducted to the city of damascus , whither we follow after him . § . damascus is by some conceived to have been founded by eliezer abrahams steward , onely because he is styled y eliezer of damascus : but if so , then signall was the piety of eliezer who preferred rather to live a servant in abrahams good family , then to rule as a lord in a great city of his own building . various was the success and fortune of damascus under severall lords , and we will onely instance in such as are mentioned in scripture . it was inhabited by the syrians , and accounted the metropolis of the countrey . it was probably conquered by david , when he put z garisons into aram of damascus . in the days of solomon it was possessed by rezin a fugitive syrian , who being made a king thereof , was a professed enemy to israel . it was won by ieroboam the second , king of israel , who is said to have restored b damascus . it was recovered again by the syrians , and rezin in the days of ahaz was c king thereof . it was taken by tiglath-peleser king of assyria , d who carried all the inhabitants thereof away captive . in the new testament we finde it in subjection to the roman emperour , under whom e aretas was king , a persecuter of saint paul. § . wonder not that the roman emperours ruling over the world , should suffer some kings to reign under them : which was their constant practise , and whereby they received no small benefit . for first , hereby they kept their people in more willing obedience , when they saw their former government not wholly altered , but some shadow thereof still remaining in their kings continued amongst them . secondly , when any distastfull project was set on foot , the emperours used these kings to promote it : so casting the odium upon them , which themselves declined , while such f kings ( usually by their immediate dependence ) durst not displease , but doe whatsoever the emperours enjoined them . thirdly , it conduced to the state of their empire to have kings homagers thereunto . it is but a farme ( though of never so great revenues ) and not reputed a manor , which hath not some free-holders holding of it , and owing suit and service unto it . semblably it was part of the imperiall glory amongst the romans to have even kings to hold their scepters and crowns , by deputation under it , as herod in iudea , deiotarus in galatia , our lucius in britain , and this aretas king of damascus . § . under him saint paul had a miraculous deliverance , though both prince and people plotted his destruction , and g watched the gates day and night that they might kill him . but what saith the psalmist ? except h the lord keep the city , the watchman waketh but in vain , either to keep out those whom he will have in , or to keep in those whom he will have out . all the wall shall be one open gate to those , whom divine providence will have to escape , as here to saint paul , being let down over the wall by a rope in a basket . § . amongst the publick buildings of damascus , the house of rimmon was most remarkable ; it troubled the tender conscience of converted naaman , i when his master went up to worship there , that he had so often bowed to that idoll : so an excellent k critick proves the words to be read , relating not to his future but former actions . wherefore the prophets answer , goe in peace , is not a toleration of his idolatry for the time to come , but an absolution from his former faults , upon naamans free confession and serious sorrow for the same . they shew also in this city the house or rather hole wherein l ananias ( saint pauls ghostly - father ) dwelt or lurked , being a cellar under ground , to which pilgrimes descend by many staires , who have so filled the walls thereof by m writing their names therein , that reader there is no room left to register thy name if going thither . § . modern damascus is a beautifull city . the first , damask-rose had its root here , and name hence . so all damask silk , linen , poulder and plumbes called damascens . n two things at this day are most remarkeable amongst the inhabitants : there are no lawyers amongst them , no advocates or sollicitors of causes , no compacts being made for future performance , but weigh and pay , all bargains being driven with ready money . secondly , physicians here are paid no fee , except the patient recover his health . and now i perceive that mahomet was a politick man , who entered but once into damascus , and perceiving the pleasures thereof , would never return again , for fear ( forsooth ) lest he should be bewitched with the delightfulness thereof , and hindred from the great work he had in hand . i indeed perceive that so pleasant a subject hath too long retarded my pen , almost forgetfull to goe forward in our description , we therefore leave it and proceed . § . aram-zobah lay north-east of aram-damascus . hadadezar or hadarezar was king thereof , so glorious a prince , that his servants wore shields of gold in war , as if they intended to dazle their enemies eyes with the splendor of their armes ; but all in vain . for the best swords of steel will command the bravest shield of gold : and david at elam , got an absolute conquest of him , killing o shobach his captain , as formerly he had p defeated him and stript him of much rich spoile . as for those golden shields , they fell not to the shares of any private persons , but were treasured up by david for the building of the temple , where this glorious plate shined in its proper sphear ; and where riot , and luxury abused by man , was converted into well grounded bounty , as bestowed on gods service . here david houghed the horses of hadadezar , and onely reserved an hundred q chariots of them as a trophee of triumph to be used for state at publick solemnities . § . some will censure this as an improvident and unpolitick act , and character david as more happy to get , then able to use a victory ; not casually letting slip , but wilfully casting such a power of horse out of his hand , which managed with a proportionable infantry , might have given law to all the east countrey . surely it was not done out of a cowardly suspicion , lest the syrians should recover those horses again ; much less out of consciousness of want of horsemanship in the 〈◊〉 to set riders upon them : rather it was , that david being privy to the deceitfulness of mans heart ( how hard it was to have much humane strength , and not to have confidence in it ) did it to wean his subjects from the arme of flesh , that they might more rely on divine protection . and he did it , to encourage in them , what properly is called manhood : that they might not expect victories of equivocall generation begotten betwixt men and horses , but such atchieved onely by mans prowess , instrumentall to get , and gods providence , the principall to give them . yea david might seem to have houghed all the horses in the world , with that his short , but sharp sentence , a r horse is but a vaine thing to save a man. § . it will further be objected , that grant these horses not to be used in the wars of israel , yet what needs this wast to spoile gods good creatures ? might they not have been sold for many talents and given to the poor ? it is answered , that david did it in an holy brave , to shew that the pagans pride , was israels scorn , and that he as much disdained to gain wealth by the sale , as to get strength by the service of those horses . besides , david herein did follow the precept given to , and pressed and practised by s ioshua in the like case . and indeed multiplying of horses was t forbidden the kings of israel . but after davids days the militia was much altered and managed by horse ; by the way , absalom was the first israelite , whom we finde riding in a chariot , and how he was blest is not unknown : afterwards solomon brought many horses out of egypt , and an egyptian wife on the back of them , who certainly hindred more , then the other helped him ; and generally the israelites were more prosperous before their use of horses , then ever after ; their success was mounted when they fought on foot , but scarce went on foot when their armies were mounted on horseback . § . but to return to aram-zobath : two prime cities thereof with four names are mentioned in scripture , u beta , and berothat , w elsewhere called tibhah and chun . here ( not to say that beta and tibhah by metathesis are the same ) it is no newes for cities standing in the confines of severall kingdomes , and the juncture of severall languages to have double names . what the english-man calls glocester and worcester , the welsh-men tearm x caer loyw and caer-frangon . and probably one of the names of these cities was hebrew and the other aramite . both of them afforded much brass y to king david ( gods receiver generall for that purpose ) for the building of the temple . but zobah which gave the name to this countrey is generally conceived at this day to be called aleppo , ( though some iews inhabiting therein count it anciently the city of sepharvaim ) from alep which signifies z milke in the turkish language ; whereof such plenty here , that if via lactea be to be found on earth , it is in this place . it is so seated on a navigable stream which runs into euphrates , that here the commodities of the east and west doe meet . the former from babylon by water , the latter by land-caravans from scanderoon , and this city is the golden clasp to couple both sides of the world together , and we remit the reader to modern merchants for further information thereof . § . and here standing on the utmost verge of our map we could wish it of such extent as might represent to the reader aram-naharam or mesopotamia ( otherwise padan-aram ) where bethuel and laban dwelt ; charran , whither abraham first removed ; caldea and ur , a city where he formerly dwelt ; babylon and nineveh , the two emperesses of the world , with the rivers which watered and bounded paradise it self . but alass , as prodigalls who have spent their possessions take little delight to see a survey of the lands they have sold , ( the sad remembrancer of their former riot and present wretchedness ) so small comfort can accrew unto us by the curious enquiry into the ancient place of paradise , having long since in our first parents forfeited all our right and title thereunto . but the main matter forbidding our pens progress any further , is because , as shimei confined by solomon to ierusalem suffered justly as an offender for gadding to a gath : so palestine with the neighbouring countreys being the proper subject of our discourse , we shall be taken trespassers , if found wandering beyond the bounds thereof . however i hope without offence my hand may point further then my feet may follow , and tell the reader that the fore-named places lie northeast of the city of aleppo . § . the land of hamah lay west of aram-zobah , anciently inhabited by the hamathites , descended from the eleventh and youngest son of canaan b the son of cham , of whom largely before . in the days of david toi was king of this countrey , who being at war with hadadezar , and hearing how the israelites had defeated him , sent c ioram his son to king david with presents in his hand and complements in his mouth , to congratulate his victory . long after salmaneser subdued this countrey and extinguished the royall race ; witness that brag : where is the king of hamath d and of arpad ? though that proud question admits of an answer ; namely , they were even there , where their sins set them : seeing it was not so much the assyrian valour , as the syrian wickedness which cast these kings out of their countrey . riblah was a prime city in this land , where nebuchadnezzar caused the eyes of * zedekiah to be bored out . some conceive this done in the land of nephtali , others with more likelihood in this place , and we ( see reader our carefulness to please all if possible in this captious age ) mention it in both . yet because this riblah was many miles nearer to babylon , and further from ierusalem , it is more probable to be the place , as more for nebuchadnezzars ease and zedekiahs anguish : it adding to the conquerours state to fetch the captive furthest from his own countrey . § . hamah the city which gave the name to this countrey , was afterwards called antiochia . seven and twenty cities are said to be of the same name . for severall antiochuses being successively kings of syria , stocked their dominions with many cities after their names , as being either built , beautified , strengthened or enlarged by them , or their favorites . but it matters not how many younger brethren there be of the same family , as long as our antioch is the heire , and though not in age , in honour to be preferred before all the rest . here the professor of the gospell formerly termed beleevers for their faith , sometimes brethren for their love , saints for their holinesse , disciples for their knowledg , were for all these first called e christians . probably when many of all nations beleeved , the name christian was given them , to bury the difference betwixt iews and gentiles ( thus england and scotland happily joined in great britain ) which two names though remaining afterwards , were used as terms of civill difference , not odious distinction . had this happened at rome , how would the tide of tiber have swoln above all his bounds and banks at the conceit that in her city religion it self was christened ? but this antioch hath still more to brag of : the chair of saint peter , wherein he sate patriarch many years before his removeall to rome : and therefore no wonder if antioch grudge to give rome the superiority . why should not that place be the prime , which was the first ? besides , saint peter was honoured at antioch , murdered at rome . and why should that city receive most credit by him , which used most cruelty unto him ? but let ecclesiasticall heralds deduce the pedegree , and martiall the precedency of these churches , we will onely adde , that this pharisaicall taking of the upper-hand , hath in all ages hindered the giving of the right hand of christian fellowship . § . now surely no malignant quality in this place , but a principle of perversness in mens hearts was the cause , that so many famous contentions happened in this city of antioch . here it was , that some comming down from iudea , maintained the necessity of f circumcision , and the legall ceremonies , endevouring to set up a religion ( like those monsters in africa , begotten betwixt severall kindes , partaking of both , perfect in neither , but defective in their very redundancy ) a ●edley mongrel betwixt judaisme and christianity . this occasioned the calling of the first great councell in ierusalem , which in fine concluded that this legall yoke was not to be laid on the neck of christians . here peter being guilty ( it is the expression of g erasmus ) of superstitious dissimulation , with his example ( oh the impulsive power of great mens precedents ! ) brought h barnabas into the same fault : for which saint paul presently and publickly reproved him . but we will not widen the wounds in good mens memories , rather commending to posterity , the holy zeale of saint paul in seasonable giving , the humble piety of saint peter in patient taking so sharp a reproof . § . but the greatest contention happening here , was that paroxysme betwixt paul and barnabas , the one as earnestly refusing , as the other desiring the company of iohn mark to goe along with them . in which contest , paul is generally conceived to have most reason , ba●nabas most passion on his side , because he saw clearly without carnall relation , whilest barnabas beheld mark his i sisters son through the spectacles of naturall affection . a reason is rendred by paul why markes company should be declined , namely , because he k departed from them at pamphilia and deserted the work , none alledged by barnabas why the same should be accepted . paul immediately departing after this contention is said to l be recommended by the brethren to the grace of god , which seems to amount to a generall approbation of his carriage herein . no such passage appears of barnabas . after this time saint paul and his acts are celebrated in every chapter , whereas barnabas sinks here in silence , and his name mentioned no more in the history of the scripture . but we must admire gods wisdome in mans weakness , sanctifying this discord to his glory . for whilest paul and barnabas were newly converted , and their company needfull for mutuall assistance each to other , their persons and affections were united together : but now grown strong in grace , and able singly to subsist , god suffered this unhappy difference to sever them . whereby the gospell encreased , the one sailing to cyprus , the other staying in syria . so whereas formerly one place at the same time did jointly enjoy them ; now there became two flockes , two shepheards , two vines , two vinedressers , and the division of preachers proved the multiplication of preaching . § . we must not forget how one nicolas a proselyte of this city of m antioch , was the last of the seven deacons , and the first founder of an heresie ( which god professeth himself to n hate ) from him called the nicolaitans . for this * nicolas is reported to have had a beautifull woman to his wife , and being taxed for being causlesly jealous of her , to vindicate his innocence , he prostituted her to the embraces of any that would lie with her ; with some other strange opinions he maintained . those therefore who so undiscreetly express their detestation of one sin , that they fall foul on the committing of the contrary , may by a spirituall proportion be accounted mysticall nicolaitans . § . there was also belonging to antioch ( pardon a little digression ) a delicious suburb called daphne , where apollo daphneus was adored . now ( some three hundred sixty years after christ ) iulian the apostate , the professed enemy to piety , sacrificed hereto this devill-god , who used to be very talkative in giving of oracles , but lately was grown very mute . and being demanded the reason of his suddain silence answered ( forsooth ) it was because the body of babylas ( martyred under decius the emperour ) was buried near his temple , the vertue whereof stopped his wind-pipe . hereupon a conceit was taken that other martyrs bones might be found upon triall as terrible to the devill , which gave the o first occasion to the enshrining , worshipping , and circumgestation of the reliques of saints . see how satan ( much delighted in his apish parallels of divine service ) was ambitious , that a dominative point of antichristianisme should have its originall in the same place where the name of christianity first began . but long since antioch hath smarted for this superstition and her other sins ; reduced at this day to a petty village , ( standing in the rode betwixt scanderoon and aleppo ) and orontes the river thereof once navigable , ( saint paul is said to have p sailed to antioch ) much obstructed with sand , and more profitable for good eeles there taken , then any other commodity , and the few buildings remaining miserably ruinous . but seeing silkes , though ragged , may be worn with the less discredit ; the torn and tattered edifices in antioch seem no disgrace , because most of them are made of rich stuffe , even costly marble curiously polished . § . leaving antioch we come to seleucia seated on the sea side , a port once graced with saint q pauls presence : whence they sailed into cyprus lying over against it . this island is so called from cypress trees growing there in abundance , which a great r critick conceives to be that gopher s wood , whereof the arke of noah was made , and boldly affirmes that setting aside the adventitious termination , cupar and gopher are effectually the same in hebrew . frequent the use of cypress-boughs in funeralls , whereof the t reason is rendred , because that tree cut down sprouts no more , as no naturall hope of a dead corps reviving . u coffins also were generally made of cypress even amongst the heathen , in memoriall , as w one will have it , of the deluge , and mankinde buried quick many moneths in the cypress ark . the distance of cyprus from the continent cannot be great , if it be true what x pliny reports , that whole heards of deer used to swim over thither ( senting , though not seeing land ) the formost like an adventurous captain valiantly conducting them ; and then in order one so lying on another , that the leaders hanch was the followers pillow to rest his head upon . most fruitfull was this island , affording all things both for pleasure and luxury , and therefore venus worshipped for chief deity therein . the women of this countrey anciently were very wanton , or as they counted it , very religious , for having a whore for their goddess , no wonder if adultery was their devotion . § . amongst the eminent persons bred in cyprus , whilest statesmen take speciall notice of solon the lawgiver , philosophers of zeno the stoick , poets of as●tepiades first authour of those verses from him so called , it will be fittest for us to observe y mnason an old disciple ; hoste to saint paul , sergius z paulus deputy of this island , a prudent man , saint pauls convert ; and barnabas here born a iew-levit-cypriot ( the first by nation , the next by family , the last by place of his nativity ) and had therein possessions of considerable value . if any say it was covetousness , and distrust of divine providence in barnabas to be a landed a levite , because that tribe had no inheritance given them ; the lord of israel was their b inheritance : let such know , that constitution was onely temporary and locall , to last no longer , then whilest the iews continued at home in a settled commonwealth , after whose banishment abroad , happy that le●ite , who ( when charity of others waxed cold ) could warm himself with his own well gotten goods . but afterwards barnabas that son of consolation ( comforting the bowels of the saints as well by his works as words , deeds as doctrine ) sold c his possessions ; and tendered the price thereof at the feet of the apostles . such practises were sincerely performed in the primitivetimes , superstitiously imitated with opinion of merit in after ages , and scornfully derided by too many in our days , so far from parting with the propriety , that they will not appropriate a part of their goods to good uses . we finde saint paul , preaching in two cities in cyprus ; d salamis , where there was a synagogue of the iews , and paphos ( where venus was worshipped , thence surnamed paphia , and ) where elymas , the sorcerer was struck blind , for opposing saint paul. we cannot recover paphos proportionably into this map , behold it therefore peeping in , but excommuned the lines thereof . § . but to return to the continent , where we fall on syrophoenicia , whose mixt name speakes its middle situation betwixt syria and phenice , so that if those two countrys should fall out , no fitter umpire to arbitrate their difference then syrophoeni●ia , participating of , and therefore presumed impartiall to both . of this e countrey was that bold begger , who would have no saying nay , but importunate in the behalf of her daughter , no whit discouraged with the disadvantage of her person , disaffection of the disciples , ( miserable mediatours interceding for her repulse ) deep silence and afterwards disdainful denial of christ himself , would not desist ( as if her zeal was heated with the antiperistasis of the cold comfort she received ) till the violence of her faith had wrested a grant from our saviour . the bounds of syrophoenicia are variously assigned , the principall cities whereof are laodicea , different from that , to which saint iohn wrote , and whose l lukewarm temper made health it self sick thereof . § . next we finde on the sea the city of gebal● ( in ptolemy and strabo gabala ) and the inhabitants therein and thereabouts , termed giblites in m scripture . these led the van in the grand conspiracy against israel , n gebal and ammon and amalek , the philistims with the inhabitants of tyre , asher also &c. but solomon taught their hands another lesson , not to fight against gods people , but to help to finish his o temple . at the coronation of tyre the queen-mart of the world , ( so largely described by ezekiel , where all neighbouring cities as in grand-sergeantry , held their places , by some speciall attendance about her ) the ancients of gebal , and the wisemen thereof were her p calkers , to stop the leakes and chinks in her ships , so cunning were the giblites in that imployment . yet all their curiosity in this kind , could not keep out the deluge of divine anger , from entring their own city , which at this day hath drowned gebal in utter destruction . § . more south the river eleutherus arising out of libanus , shaped his course to the sea , so being the northern boundary of phoenicia . in this river , saith reverend q beza , was the eunuch baptized by philip , therein making an unexcusable mistake . for except the eunuch in his travell went ( like the sun on r abaz his dial ) backwards , it was impossible for him going to gaza , and so into aethiopia his own countrey , once to come near this river , lying far north quite the contrary way . had beza ( in stead of the eunuch baptized ) placed the emperour barbarossa drowned here , it had born better proportion to truth . however from this learned mans mistake , i collect comfortable confidence of pardon for my faults committed in this our description . for seeing so strong legs are prone to stumble , surely the falls of my feeble feet will be freely forgiven me by the charitable reader . § . near the running of eleutherus into the midland sea stood antaradus , so called because opposite to aradus ( arvad in scripture ) a city of remarkable antiquity , situation , and subsistence . well doth strabo call this an ancient place , seeing it retained its name , more then two thousand years , from s arvad the ninth son of canaan , even till after the time of our saviour . the city is seated in an island seven furlongs in compass , and twenty distant from the continent , being all a main t rock ( industry and ingenuity will make wealth grow on a bare stone ) watered in peace from the main land , in war with an engine ( consult with our u author for the forme thereof ) which limbeck-like extracted sweet water out of the brackish ocean . the citizens of this place served tyre in a double office ; by land as souldiers , the men of w arvad with thine army were upon the walls round about ; by water , as failers ▪ the inhabitants of arvad were thy mariners : which sufficiently speaks their dexterity in either element . § . next the men of arvad the prophet mentioneth the x gammadims ( the joint naming them probably insinuates the vicinity of their habitation ) which were in the tower of tyre as a garison to defend them . by gammadims some understand pygmies of a cubit-high ( equall to the standard of ehuds y dagger ) because , gamad signifies a cubit in the hebrew tongue . but how ill doth this measure agree with martiall men ? except any will say , that as the iebusites , in a proud confidence of the naturall strength of mount sion , placed the z lame and blind to man the same : so the tyrians presumed that dwarfes were tall enough to make good their giant fortifications . more likely is the conjecture of a tremellius , that the gammadims were a people in phoenicia inhabiting a part thereof , which ran out bowed and bended into the sea . and we know that ancona in italy , and b elbow-lane in london receive names from the same fashion . and seeing cornish-men are so called from the forme of their countrey , dwelling in a land which by degrees is contracted or narrowed into the likeness of an horn ; why not gammadims cubit-men from the similitude of their countrey in the situation thereof ? here to fortifie his conjecture tremellius produceth a place in c pliny of gamala a city in phoenicia , since swallowed up , where he conceiveth the l. to be changed into the d. that the gammadims were inhabitants thereof . however for quietness sake , may the reader be contented , to suffer them to remain there in our map , if not as dwellers , onely as sojourners , untill such time as learned men shall provide a more proper place for them . § . and now on a suddain we are fallen unawares against our propounded order , on phoenicia , of the name and nature of which countrey formerly in the tribe of asher . the chief havens therein were tripolis ; so called , say d some , because it hath been thrice build ; by others , because e three cities ( tyre , sidon , and aradus ) concurred to the building thereof . next is the promontory called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or gods face , which no whit afrighted the pirates , and sea-robbers ( who had a castle hard by , called f castellum praedonum ) from their mischievous cruelty . botrus succeeds , whose name signifieth a bunch of grapes , either from plenty of wine growing there , or because the houses in this compacted city were built in a cluster , though now become so thin scarce any two of them stand together . byblus the birth-place of philo commonly surnamed byblius , barutis , anciently a good haven , now decayed . adonius , so called from the minion of venus worshipped hereabouts , and licus are the chief rivers in this countrey : ( having many other smaller brooks ) and climax the mountain of most note , whose figure like that figure in rhetorick ascends like a staire-case by degrees . § . coelosyria is onely behind , or hollow syria , so called because lying in a concavity betwixt the mountains of libanus and antilibanus . though ptolemy and others stretch the name thereof in a large acception , even as far as arabia . full it was of fair cities , but none we meet with named in scripture , and therefore forbear the further prosecution thereof . onely to cover the nakedness of our map , we mention four modern villages under the command of the turkes , where , and where g alone the syriack tongue is spoken at this day , namely , hatcheeth , sharri , blouza , and eden . the last the seat of a bishop of the maronites ( who have a poor patriarch residing at tripoli ) and the people here against all sense conceive this eden to be the place of paradise . worse errours they maintain in point of doctrine , concurring with the greek church ; but in discipline late reconciled to rome , where the pope on his own cost gives some of their children education . honest harmeless people these maronites are , happy in the ignorance of luxury , and so hospitable that in stead of receiving , they return thanks to any western christians which will accept of their entertainment . § ▪ there remains nothing more in the map for me to acquaint the reader with , save onely that we have set the modern stages or innes ( we must have all wares in our pack , not knowing what kind of chapmen we shall light on ) betwixt aleppo and damascus , and so forwards to ierusalem . amongst these canes or turkish innes , marra and cotefey are most beautifull ; the latter , little inferiour to the old exchange in london ; built by a bashaw ( ô let not christians confound , whilest turkes found places , for publick use ) for the benefit of travellers , being both a castell for their protection , and a colledge for their provision : where on the founders cost sufficient food is afforded both them and their cattell . as for some christian travellers who h scorned to feed thereon , it seems that either they were not soundly hungry , or were not of the solid judgment of eliah , who surely would have taken meate from the hands of turkes , who refused not flesh from the beakes of i ravens . here the map of midian , moab , ammon , edom , is to be inserted . the description of midian , moab , ammon , edom . chap. . § . before we come to the particular description of the countreys , something for satisfaction ; why midian first , and why midian and moab together . in giving midian the precedency , we observe seniority , he being extracted from abraham the uncle , by keturah his wife , whilest moab came from lot the nephew , by his own daughter . as for putting them together , we are loath to confess our poverty , that lack of larger instructions to furnish forth severall maps , was any cause of our conjoining them together . the main motive is not onely the vicinity of their habitation , but also correspondency of severall atchievements betwixt them , which makes them often coupled together in scripture . thus a hadad king of edom smote midian in the field of moab . the elders of moab and b the elders of midian were jointly imployed to fetch balaam . the c daughters of moab and the daughters of midian enticed the israelites to whoredome and idolatry . § . midian consisted of two families : one seated southward near the red-sea , serving the true god , ( not so purely but with the mixture of superstitions ) where iethro moses his father-in●law lived , of whom ( god willing ) hereafter . the other idolaters , planted more eastward ; the subject of our present discourse . this distance of place and difference of religions gave probability to their opinions , who fancy them two distinct nations , which is seemingly confirmed , because the former is called madian in the d new testament . but though in some cases we confess that the difference of a letter , may make more then a literall difference , yet here it is not enough to make a reall distinction : seeing hebrew words made greek often suffer greatermutations then of a vowell , midian into madian . others are startled , because the midianites are e sometimes termed ishmaelites , whereas the latter come from hagar , the former from keturah . but it is probable ( surely such as reject our conjecture will substitute a better in the room thereof ) that because ishmael was the eldest son of abraham , chief of the house , all those eastern people descended from abraham were denominated by the genericall name of ishmaelites . § . it is as difficult precisely to define the bounds , as impossible compleatly to describe the countrey of midian . for besides the mixture and conjunction ( not to say confusion ) of these eastern people , interfering amongst themselves in their habitations , the midianites especially led erraticall lives , and therefore had uncertain limits . they dwelt most in tents , which we may call moving towns , and extempore cities , set up in a few houres , and in fewer taken down and dissolved . next morning oft times found them many miles off , from the place where last night left them . and if we wonder at the wildness of their wandring , and rudeness of their roving abroad , they will admire as much at the stilness of our station , and dulness of our constant dwelling in one place . and no doubt they observed a method in their removalls , as there is a regularity as well in the motion of the planets , as of the fixed stars . § . for the generall we dare avouch they had reuben and gad on the west , moab on the south , ammon on the north , the ishmaelites or hagarens on the east . f some place them more south , hard by the dead-sea , but therein surely mistake . for when g gideon had the midianites in chace out of the land of canaan , they betook not themselves southward ( and surely such foxes when hunted would hast home to their own kennels ) but ran through the tribe of gad full east , to their proper habitations . but now what a slender account shall we make of the towns and places in midian ? but i conceive it better to present the reader with a map without cities , or those cities without names , then those names without truth , or at least wise that truth without certainty , and a fair blank is to be preferred before a full paper blurred over with falshoods . § . but first we doe behold those castles ; and cities of midian all on a bright fire , h burnt by eleazer and the twelve thousand israelites ( whereof no i one man slain in the action ) wherein they killed all the males of that countrey and females which had known man. what time also they did execution on five kings of midian , and balaam the false prophet their chaplain , who fell by the sword of k man , though he had escaped that of the l angell . some may think strange , that the israelites having conquered this countrey possessed not themselves and their heirs thereof . let such know , first , that this sandy land was barren it self , whose best fruitfulness consisted onely in the largeness thereof : secondly , god intended an entire territory to his own people , whereas this stragling countrey was hardly kept , though easily conquered : thirdly , the midianites were of the halfe bloud with the israelites , descended from abraham , and therefore god would not have them disinherit their kinsmen of their possessions . § . if we goe out of their cities to take free aire in their countrey , see how thick their tents are spread over the face of the earth . whereof , though their coverings might seem course , their courtains ( mentioned by the prophet m ) being both the side walls , and roof of their inward rooms , were most costly and curious . as the midianites were called the children of the east , so none more orient in their apparell , and gorgeous accoutrements . for if their camels wore n collers of gold about their necks , how rich may their riders be presumed to be in pearles , and precious stone ? § . another great part of their wealth consisted in their cattell , amongst which we must take speciall notice of their o dromedaries , seeing the most or best of this kind were bredhereabouts . a dromedary is a dwarfcamell , nature recompensing his smalness in his swiftness , so that he will travellan hundred miles a day , and continue at that rate with sparing diet a week together . he hath but one bunch on his back ( the camell having more ) the naturall saddle for his rider to mount upon , generally more used for travell then bearing of burdens , and of as much more refined service above camells , as hacknies are above packhorses . in a word , as in one respect this beast is the commendable character of perseverance , not fleet by fits , at the first ; but holding out a constant and equall tenour in travelling : so in another regard , it may pass for the emblem of hypocrisie , pretending to both symptomes of a clean beast , really chewing the cud , and seemingly cleaving the hoof , but onely on the out side , whereas p within it is wholly fleshly , and entirely round like a platter . § . yet all their speed could not save their masters from the pursuit of gideon , when such a fatall blow was given to the midianites , that the text q saith , they lift up their heads no more . yea , which is memorable scarce , any part of their body appears afterwards in scripture , or any mention of r midianites ( save with relation to the former defeate ) which leads us to this conjecture , that the remains of that nation , which escaped that dismall overthrow , shrowded themselves under the names of some neighbouring people , probably of the ishmaelites , of whom but a word or two , and so to moab . § . nor need the reader be afraid to adventure amongst them , suspecting the ishmaelites , like ishmael their father , to be s wild men , whose hands were against every man , and every mans hand against them ; seeing their fierceness and fury had been well tamed by the reubenites , gadites , and half tribe of manasseh in that memorable victory , wherein no fewer then an t hundred thousand of them were taken captives , and those tribes dwelt in their tents even unto the river u euphrates . conceive it in a cursory condition , onely grazing their cattell during the season , which amounted not to a constant and settled habitation . § . the ishmaelites were descended from ishmael , otherwhiles called hagarens , wherein the difference not great ; their former name being fetched from their father , the latter ( but one degree further ) from hagar , their grandmother . of this ishmael it was foretold , first that he should dwell w ( as also he did x die ) in the presence of all his brethren , that is , he should not hide his head in holes , or creep into corners , as afraid of the force of his neighbours , but should justifie and avouch his right in open habitations , daring and defying all pretenders to his possessions . secondly , it is said he should be y onager homo or a wild-ass-man ; in which similitude ( the holy spirit not using casuall but choice comparisons ) surely very much is folded up of the physiognomy both of him and his posterity . wild asses are said to carry a bow in their heels , and to finde arrows in the sandy ground where they goe , wherein if hunted they doe bestirre themselves with flinging the gravell behind them , that therewith they pierce the breasts , yea sometimes z split the heads of such as pursue them : as the ishmaelites excellent archers laid about them with their arrows to kill and slay such as opposed them . § . large were the bounds alotted to ishmael , and divine providence which staked them down within certain limits , allowed them a very long teddar , they a dwelt from havilah unto shur , that is from before egypt till as thou goest towards assyria : a spong of ground somewhat nigh a thousand miles , ( perchance not so entire but interrupted with other nations ) and not bearing a proportionable breadth , consisting generally of the sandy and stony arabia , so that a span of isaacs was worth a stride of ishmaels possession . however , in relation to ishmaels posterity that prophecy , he shall dwell in the presence of his brethren , admits also of this interpretation , that the land alotted him ranged out so far , that the bounds and borders thereof abutted on all his kindred , edomites and israelites his nephews or brothers sons , moabites and ammonites his cousins once removed , midianites descended of his half brother by keturah , and egyptians his near kinsmen both by his wife and mother . § . in this large countrey did dwell the twelve b sons of ishmael , which i may call the twelve tribes of the ishmaelites . nebaioth . kedar . adbeel . mibsam . mishma . duma . massa. hadar . temah . ietur . naphish . kedemah . a learned c man from the allusion of letters and similtude of sounds hath found out in stony , desert , and happy arabia some places symbolizing with these names ; and i commend his industry , not daring altogether to concur with his judgment ; conceiving the subject in hand to want a bottome for any to build with certainty thereupon . sooner shall chymists fixe quick-silver , then geographers place these people in a setled habitation . indeed mention is made of some d townes and castles ( no cities ) they had , ( perchance some strength to retire to ) but generally e saint hierome tells us , they had neither doors nor bolts , but lived in tents in desert places . wherefore , as foreiners , for matter of clothes , paint an englishman with a pair of sheares in his hand , taxing therein his levity in following fashions , continuing constant to no kind of apparell ; so we may present the ishmaelites ( besides a bow at their backs ) with a staffe in their hands , to intimate their ambulatory and ever-moving condition . here we may remember how hagar being with child with ishmael , was f found by the angell wandering in the wilderness , and as if the pregnant mothers condition had made an impression on her child and his posterity , we find their home to be in a constant roving and wandering in a desert countrey . leave we these ishmaelites , and come to men of a milder temper , and more fixed habitations , i mean the moabites . § . moab son and gran-child of lot , was incestuously begotten on his edest daughter , in his a drunkenness ; after which act , no more mention of lot or what befel him in the history of the bible : ( drunkenness makes men to forget and to be forgotten , drowning their memories in neglect and obscurity ) : onely after this , the new testament epithets him b righteous lot. that spirit of meekness naming good men , not from the obliquity of some acts , but habituall integrity of their hearts . yea , for love to lot god granted many great favours to the moabites , assisting them to conquer the giants c emims , and peaceably possessing them of their countrey , with speciall d command to the israelites not to disturb or molest them in this enjoiment thereof . § . yet the moabites ill requited israels kindness unto them . that falling out which was first begun betwixt the servants , and e heardsmen , was afterwards continued and increased betwixt the sons and posterity of lot and abraham . yea upon all occasions the moabites were backfriends to israel ; witness balak , who barked at , and eglon who bit them , whom israel served f eighteen years . note by the way , that under the judges all the heathen which bordered on israel ( edom almost onely excepted , the cause whereof hereafter ) g aramites , h ammonites , i midianites , k philistines &c. did all successively ●yrannize over israel . no shrub growing about on the banks of canaan was so little , but it was big enough for god thence to gather a rod to whip his wanton children . now if it be any ease to the sick●man , to have his bed , not disease often altered , israel had the favour of exchange of tyrants and variety of oppressors ; amongst whom i dare say the moabites were none of the mildest . more might be said of their malice to the iews , but i spare them for good ruth , their countreywomans sake ; who , when all her sister orpha's complementall religion came off with a kiss , l persevered to wait on marah her mother-in-law ( for m so she desired to be called ) into the land of canaan . § . but because the moabites could not be perswaded to love , david was the first who forced them to fear the kings of israel ; n moab is my washpot , that is , one condemned to servile imployments : yea such was davids absolute command over this countrey , that he o measured the moabites with a line , casting them down to the ground , even with two lines measured he to put to death , and with one full line to keep alive . at the first sight he may seem to have killed two , and saved one : a merciless proportion . but on better consideration it may possibly be , that the preservative might equal both the destructivelines , though not in number , in measure ; as one overflowing cup may contain as much as two sparingly filled . what caused this severity in david against the moabites the scripture is silent , and i had rather be so too then affirm with the presumptuous rabbins without warrant , that it was because the king of moab had slain davids father and mother , p whom he had left there for protection whilst saul persecuted him . § . if any object , this act of david was a breach of gods q command , distresse not the moabites , neither contend with them in battell , it is answered , this prohibition was temporary to moses conducting the israelites , that they should not molest moab in their passage by his countrey out of egypt . israel might not begin with offensive war to provoke them ; but being stricken might strike again , and follow their blow as david did . moab might be distressed to subjection , not to ejection ; might be brought into obedience , not dispossessed of their countrey . after the defection of the ten tribes from the house of david , moab remained tributary to the kings of israel till the death of wicked but valiant ahab . after which time , moab r rebelled , and though s attempted was never reduced into obedience by the kings of israel . § . moab had the river arnon on the north , the dead-sea on the west , edom on the south , and arabia on the east . it contained about a square of an hundred miles , fit for grazing ; and the peoples industry following natures guidance to their own profit , principally imployed it to that use . yea mesha their king is tearmed a t sheep-master . husbandry doth no more eclipse the resplendent beams of majesty , then the oile in the lamp hindreth the bright shining thereof . guess the greatness of the grist by the toll , the multitude of moabs flocks from the tribute he rendered to the kings of israel , a u hundred thousand lambs , and a hundred thousand rams with the wooll . § . to come now to the particulardescription of moab , let it not be censured for a needless tautology in this map , that therein all the cities of reuben are again represented , being done deliberately on a double consideration . formerly that land belonged to moab before sihon king of the amorites had forcibly wrested it away from them . after the reubenites were carried away captive by tiglath-pileser , the moabites reassumed their ancient possessions , as appears by the w prophets . as for the particular description of those cities , we remit the reader to what formerly hath been written in the tribe of reuben . § . in the north-east bound of moab towards midian in the border of arnon , x which is in the utmost coasts , stood a nameless city , where balak met balaam , standing as it were on his tiptoes on the very last labell of his land , to reach forth welcome to that false prophet , who hither rode in state with his y two men to attend him , whilst many ministers of the truth are forced to be slaves to others , and servants to themselves . but that these two men of balaam were iannes and iambres the ●gyptian enchanters , the chaldee paraphrase shall never perswade me , whilst the distance of time and place ; protest against the possibility thereof . not to say that it is likely that the sorcerers , so frequent in the presence of pharaoh , had long before waited on their master through the red sea to another world . hence balak conducted balaam to z kiriath-huzoth or the city of streets , which at that time seems to be the metropolis of moab . § . mizpah of moab followeth , where the father and mother of david reposed themselves whilst their son was persecuted by saul . ar of moab , and rabbah of moab were also places of great note in this land , and besides these , many other cities of inferiour note . but as many mean men living obscurely , so that the world takes no notice of them , if surprized by some unusuall and strange mortality , become remarkable for their deaths , who were never memorable for their lives : so some cities of moab , whereof no mention in scripture for any action done in , or by them , are onely famous in holy writ , for their strange ruine and destruction , by the prophet sadly foretold , and therefore certainly accomplished . such are b misgab , horonaim , luhith , baith , eglaim , ber-elim , holon , kirioth , kirherez and c madmen . the last as i conceive is note-worthy , not for its own merit , but others mistake . for in the bibles , and those numerous , printed anno dom. . the verse in ieremy is thus rendered , o maiden the sword shall pursue thee ; where the corrector of the press conceiving it incongruous to join thee a singular pronoune , with madmen ( which he mistook for an appellative , no proper name ) ran himself upon that dangerous errour . § . but kirharasheth seems the metropolis of moab . near to this three kings , iehoram of iudah , iehosaphat of israel , and the nameless kingdeputy of edom , marched on a designe to chastise mesha the rebellious king of moab into subjection . but wandring in the wilderness of edom they encountred a worse enemy , thirst it self , wherewith all of them were ready to saint . but happily it happened that elisha , d who powred water on the hands of eliah , by the same element seasonably refreshed the hearts of the distressed armies , respecting iehosaphat for his own goodness , the other two kings for his company . how many generall benefits doe the very tares enjoy , because inseparably mingled with the wheat in the field of this world ? yea , elisha was an instrument to give them , not onely water , but victory ( heavens favours goe commonly by couples ) after this miraculous manner . § . the moabites beholding water miraculously brought in that place , where never any was seen or known before , and the same at distance appearing e red unto them , ( guilded with the beames of the sun ) concluded it to be bloud , and that that paroyall of armies had smitten one another . wonder not that their conjecture was so wide and wild , for well might the comment be out of the way of truth , when the text was out of the rode of nature , and the moabites on the suddain not capable to suspect a miracle . hereupon the word is given , f moab to the spo●le , which in some sense was true , that is , not to take but become the spoile of others . for the tents they assaulted , being lined with armed men , quickly overcame them . and it is worth our observing , that this victory was bestowed on iehosaphat ( my eyes are onely on him , on whom alone the g looks of elisha reflected ) just in the morning when the h meat-offering was offered , as procured by the propitiatory virtue thereof ; all favours being conferred in and for the merits of christ the truth of all sacrifices . § . god gave , man used this conquest . improving their success , they i beat down the cities , and on every good piece of land , cast every man his stone , and filled it , and stopped all the wells of water , and felled all the good trees . this was contrary to gods express k command ; but none could better dispense with the law , then the lawgiver , who in detestation of the rebellion of moab against israel l enjoined this severity . onely the city of kirharasheth was left , and that they besieged , untill the king of moab therein took and sacrificed his eldest son , * who was to succeed him : either out of a bad imitation of iephthah ; ( and their idols we know were adored with sacrifices of men ) or to give assurance to the besiegers , that they were men resolved to endure all extremities , so that they might presume he that would sacrifice his son would not spare to spend his souldiers on any desperate adventure . hereupon the foresaid three kings surceased their siege : either out of policy , perceiving the same desperate , and unlikely to prevaile ; or out of a royall sympathy , that it was revenge enough to distress , though not destroy a king or ( which is most probable ) out of a religious horrour ( the trembling whereat made their swords fall out of their hands ) as unwilling to provoke the besieged any further to such impious , and unhumane performances ; lest heaven should arraign them as accessary thereunto , by giving the occasion thereof : whatsoever was the cause , home they returned , content with the spoiling , without the finall conquering of the countrey . § . many are the invectives of the prophets against moab for their sins . the people thereof are charged to have been at ease from their youth , and setled on their m less , because not emptied from vessell to vessell , neither carried into captivity ( whilest poor israel was posted from canaan to egypt , from egypt to canaan , from canaan to babylon , from babylon to canaan , backward , and forward ) god therefore threatneth , because they had not been emptied from their vessell , to n break them in their vessell , and foretelleth that moab should be made o drunk ( haply alluding to his geniture seeing he was begotten in a fit of drunkenness ) and wallow in his vomit ; and come to utter destruction . thus never to be acquainted with any affliction in youth , is a certain prognostick of finall confusion in old age . so much for moab , leaving it to learned men to dispute , what is intended by the p restauration of moab foretold in the latter days ; as also let them enquire whether that passage in q daniel , that after a generall overthrow , edom , moab &c. should escape , must not mystically be meant of the enemies of the church , in which sense we may be sure , the devill will have a moab , as long as god hath any israel in the world . § . ammon another base son of lot , had midian on the east , moab on the south , gad on the west , and syria on the north : a circular countrey extending about sixty miles every way . the ancient inhabitants hereof were the giants r zamz●mmims . these were conquered and cast out by the ammonites , who afterwards dwelt in their countrey , being a fruitfull land , and too good for these ammonites that bare an inveterate malice to the people of israel , manifested in many particulars . in their oppressing them s eighteen years till iephthah gave them deliverance . in their cruell conditions ( such ravens and birds of prey first peck out the eyes ) tendered to the men of t iabesh-gilead . in their barbarous abusing davids u ambassadours . in ripping * up the bellies of the women with child in gilead . in their clapping w their hands , stamping with their feet , and rejoycing in their heart at the sacking of ierusalem by the king of babylon . in their contriving the destruction of x gedaliah , and the poor remnant of the iews left behind in the land by the babylonians . in y retarding the building of the temple after the iews return from captivity . and although david and some other kings , amongst whom uzziah most remarkeable , forced the ammonites to give them z gifts ; yet we may justly beleeve the same were presented rather with their hands then their hearts , bearing a cordiall grudge against israel . § . rabbah was the metropolis of ammon , called in scripture the tity of waters , a because low and plashy in its situation , conducing much to the strength thereof , rendering all undermining of it uneffectuall . but perchance it is so termed from the extraordinary populousness thereof , waters being often used for people in scripture phrase , both being at all times unstable and unconstant , and when they get a head implacable , neither speaking nor hearing reason ; both usefull servants , but intolerable masters . here the iron-bed of og was preserved for a relick , being b nine cubits high and four broad . now though alexanders souldiers are said to have left shields in india , far greater then those which they did or could weare in war , onely to possess posterity with a false opinion that his men were mightier then they were , yet we may presume this bed of og was not unproportionably greater then he necessarily used for his ordinary repose . no doubt og confident of his own strength certainly concluded , that as he did often lie in health upon that bed , so he should quietly die on the same , whereas contrary to his expectation he was slain in the field , and now his bed served him for a cenotaph or empty monument . § . this rabbah was besieged by ioab , to revenge hanun king of the ammonites his despitefull usage of davids ambassadours . here uriah engaged in battell was killed , though not conquered , by the treacherous retreat of * his own countreymen . what a deal of doe was here to bring one innocent man to his grave ? davids wicked designe , ioabs unworthy compliance , ammons open force , israels secret fraud , and yet all too little , had not uriah's own credulous simplicity , unspotted loyalty , undaunted courage rather to die then to fly , concurred to hasten his own destruction . afterwards ioab having brought the city to terms of yeelding , politickly sends for david solemnly to take his place , to decline all envy from himself , and invest all honour on his soveraign . here the glorious crown of this kingdome was taken , and set on davids c head : and i dare boldly say it became david better , then him from whom● it was taken . but ( oh ! ) what a bridewell or house of correction was provided for the people of this place ! they were d put under saws , and under harrows of iron , and under axes of iron , and made to passe through the brick kilne . see here davids patience provoked into fury . and was it not just that they who would not civilly , like men , use davids * ambassadours , should by davids men be barbarously used , like beasts , in slavish imployments ? § . the most populous part of the kingdome of ammon lay betwixt aroer and minnith , containing no fewer then twenty cities , ( so many represented in our map ) and had i found their names in scripture , i had imparted them to the reader . all these e cities were smote by iephthah that most valiant judge of israel . for he passed over to the enemy to fight with them , other judges onely expelling them out of israel , and pursuing them to their own countrey . an action of very much prowess in iephthah to rowze those wild beasts in their own den , and no less policy , preventing the spoiling of his native soil , and translating the seat of the war into the land of a forein so . here if any demand how the wheat of minnith comes to be reckoned by the f prophet , amongst the staple commodities of the land of iudah , wherewith she bartered with tyre , when minnith was g undoubtedly a city of the ammonites ; it is answered . this fine wheat might first be denominated from minnith as originally growing there , though afterwards as good and more of that kind grew generally in iudea . thus some flowers , and fruits , province-roses , burgamo peares &c. are as full and fair in other countreys as in that place whence they take their name . by minnith-wheat may be meant , wheat winnowed , cleansed , and dressed after the fine and curious fashion of minnith . thus they are called hungar-dollars , which are refined to the standard of hungarian gold , in what place or by what prince soever in germany they be coined . § . we must not forget that after the tribe of gad was carried away captive by tiglath-pileser , the ammonites seised on and dwelt in the cities of that tribe . for which reason so many of them are set down in this our map. this caused the complaint of the h prophet ; hath israel no sons ? hath he no heire ? why then doth their king inherit gad , and his people dwell in his cities ? sure i am that ammon double barred with bastardy and incest , though somewhat allied , could never legally succeed to the possessions of israel . but in such cases , the keenest sword is next to the kin . not to say that ammon had a title to that kingdome , before that sihon king of the amorites took that land away from them , whereof largely before in the description of gad. if any aske me what became of the ammonites in after ages ; i answer with david , he i passed away , and loe he was not , yea i * sought him , but he could not be found . yea the less there appears of ammon , the more there appears of gods justice , and divine truth , foretold by the mouth of k ezekiel , i will cut thee off from the people , and will cause thee to perish out of the countreys . § . esau eldest son of isaac was red and hairy at his birth ; the one shewing his irefull nature , the other his hardy constitution . he was highly beloved of his father ( whilest iacob was gods and his mothers darling ) chiefly for providing him l venison : a consideration beneath so good a man , and for which isaac smarted afterwards , sawcing each morsell of his sons venison in his own teares , caused by esaus unhappy m matches , and undutifull demeanour . this esau is as generally known in scripture , by the name of edom given him on this occasion . coming one day hungry from hunting he sold his birthright to his brother iacob for n red pottage , red being edom in hebrew . i confess many flaws may be found in this bargain and sale , as namely , it was no faire but fraudulent dealing for iacob to surprize his brother , taking advantage of his hunger . the contract was not made on a valuable compensation ; not to say it was simoniacall to sell or buy such heavenly priviledges . the heires of esau , ( as yet in his loines ) concerned therein , but not consenting thereto , might justly question their fathers grant in passing away what by nature was intailed upon them . wherefore it is safest to turn all our excusing of iacob into our admiring of gods wisdome , who makes mens crooked actions to tend in a streight line to his own glory . and yet we must not forget , that even after esau had satisfied himself with food , the text saith , thus o esau despised his birthright . it seems thereby , that what his hast and hunger had conveyed his profaneness did deliberately confirme , and by that his neglect and contempt , he acknowledged a fine , cutting off his heires from any recovery thereof . indeed afterwards esau made it a main matter of p quarrell with his brother , but never a matter of conscience in himself . but enough hereof : onely i will adde the crossing of the common rule , caveat venditor , let here the seller beware , for god took esau at his word , and accordingly deprived him of his birthright . § . but esau set a greater valuation on his blessing , wherein being prevented by iacob , he sought it with teares , though they were not a kindely showre of repentance , but onely some heate drops of anger and indignation , not so much grieved that he had lost , as vexed that iacob had gotten the blessing . at last his importunity got from his father a blessing though not the blessing , the severall clauses whereof we are seriously to consider , because thereon dependeth the right understanding of the conditions of the people and countrey of edom , which we are now to describe . behold q thy dwelling shall be the fatnesse of the earth , and of the dew of heaven from above . earth is by isaac first mentioned because by esau most minded . but oh the difference betwixt the dew of heaven in s iacobs and esau's blessing ! in the former it signified gods favour with an undoubted right unto , and sanctified use of divine promises , service and sacraments : whereas in this blessing of esau , heavenly dew , was in effect , but earthly dew , temporall terrestriall fertility allowed to this mountainous land of edom , whose lean hils were larded with many fruitfull vallies interposed . heathen authors confesse no less ; dulce nemus florentis t idumes . the fair grove of flourishing idumea . quicquid nobile ponticis nucetis foecundis cadit aut jugis u idumes . what ever noble worth destils on pontus nut-trees , or what fils the fruitfull idumean hils . however , divine providence seems to have suited the countreys to the conditions of isaacs children , giving plain-dealing iacob a more low and levell land , and fitting the haughty minde of aspiring esau with high-swelling and ambitious mountains , though he who was nearest to heaven , was farthest from god. and by thy sword shalt thou live , and shalt be thy brothers servant . it is observable , that though god in the time of the judges , made use of almost all other heathen nations , bordering on the iewes , successively to oppress that his own people ( midianites , ammonites , moabites , philistines &c. ) yet he never permitted the edomites at any time to lord it over israel , because ( according to isaacs blessing ) subjection to iacob , not soveraignty over him belonged to esau , and his posterity . this prophecy of esau's serving iacob was fully accomplished in the days of david , when he put a w garison in edom , throughout all edom put he souldiers , and all they of edom became davids servants ; and so remained tributaries to the kings of iudah and governed by their deputies for one hundred and fifty years and upwards . but it shall come to passe , when thou shalt get the mastery , that thou shalt breake his yoke from thy neck . this was fulfilled when the edomites rebelling against king x iehoram , finally recovered their liberty , whilest he ( more cruell to kill his brethren at home , then valiant to conquer his enemies abroad ) could never after reduce them into subjection , nor his successors after him . § . the horims first inhabited this countrey of mount seir ; whose dukes are reckoned up by y moses , of whom duke anah is most remarkable for his first finding out of mules , z as he fed his father zibions asses : a creature ( or rather a living beast ) which may be called a reall fallacy in nature , whose extraction is a conclusion unduely inferred from the premises of an hee-asse and a mare joined together . yet this is commendable in mules ; they imitate rather the virtues then vices of their sire , and dam , having in them , the dulness of the asse , quickened with the metall of the mare , and the mares stubbornness corrected with the asses patience . barren they are ( as to whom god never granted the charter of increase ) and yet a pliny reports ( but it is pliny who reports it ) that in rome mules are often recorded to beare young ones , but then always accounted ominous . let others dispute whether anah was the inventour , or onely the repertour of mules , the industrious founder , or the casuall finder of them : let them also discuss whether such copulations be lawfull , for men of set purpose to joine together severall kinds , which god hath parted asunder ; yea they may seem to amount to a tacite upbraiding of gods want of wisdome or goodness , in not providing sufficient creatures for mans service , without such monstrous additionals in nature . if they be concluded unlawfull , let them argue whether the constant use of mules , be not continuing in a known sin ; and yet some good men in scripture , rather then they would goe on foot , used to ride on them , though our saviour * himself accepted of a plaine asse for his own saddle . § . these b horims were at last conquered and ex●irpated by the edomites , who succeeded them , and dwelt in their stead . the civill government of the land of edom was sometimes ducall , sometimes regall . moses reckoning up c eleven edomite dukes , leaveth it doubtfull , whether they were successively one after another , or went all a brest , as living at the same time , ( which is most probable ) and so the land divided into eleven dukedomes . this is most certain that eight severall kings reigned in edom one after another , and all d before there reigned any king over the children of israel . thus the wicked as they have their portion in this world ; so they quickly come to full age to possess the same , whilest gods children are long children , long kept in nonage , and brought up in the school of affliction . now it is recorded in e scripture that every edomite king had successively a severall city of his royall residence , namely kings parentage royall-city . bela the son of ●eor dimhabah . iobab the son of zerah bozrah . husham of the land of temani teman . hadad the son of bedad avith . samla●   masr●kah . shaut   r●hoboth by the river . baal-banan the son of achbor   hada●   pan. it is plain those kings were not by succession , and probably they were not by election , but onely by strength and power as they could make their parties , according to isaacs prediction , f by thy sword shalt thou live . now this their frequent removall of their royal city was politickly done . to declare the fulnes and freedome of their power and pleasure , that they were not confined to follow the footsteps of their predecessours . to disperse and communicate civility and courtship into all the parts of their kingdome . to honour and adorne the place of their birth , for probably their native , was their royall city . to cut off from one place the occasion of suspicious greatness ; politicians having found in their theory , and princes perchance felt in their practise the danger thereof . § . and now we come to the particular description of the land of edom called also mount-seir , dumah , and idumea in the scripture . mount seir is as much as mons hispidus , or hirsutus , a rough and rugged mountain . so called some conceive from esau , who satyr-like had a quickset of hair on his body , though it seems the place was so g named long before he came to possesse it as brisling with bushes and overgrown with wood , in the famous wilderness thereof , namely of teman . the inhabitants hereof were , or were accounted ( of themselves or others ) very wise . is h wisdome no more in teman ? yet all their carnall policy could not preserve them from utter destruction there threatned unto them . eliphaz one of i iobs friends was of this countrey . dedan . such as dwelt therein were merchants , k and did drive a land trade with tyrus , bringing thither precious clothes , for chariots ; or , in chariots . edom , l 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . herein the three kings wandered and were distressed for want of water , till elisha relieved them . as for the other two names of this countrey dumah and id●mea , formerly largely thereof . § . edom had the dead-sea and moab on the north-east , arabia deserta on the east , the wilderness of paran on the north-west , and the red-sea on the south-west . a sea not so called from the redness of the water thereof , ( yet i know not how it may appear , when beheld with bloud-shot eyes ) nor from a king eruthraeus , ( for what makes a greek name so long since in these eastern parts ? ) but from m edom , or rufus the red son of iacob , commanding in this countrey , so that red sea is all one with the edomite or idumean sea. in hebrew it is termed iam suph or the flaggy sea , because of the plenty of flags , reeds and weeds found therein , though of the last never so many , as when the wicked egyptians were drowned therein . ezion-gaber is a fair haven of great commerce on this sea . here solomon n had his navy royall , which jointly with the ships of hiram , brought four hundred and twenty talents of gold from ophir . this it seems was the sum paid de claro into the kings exchequer , otherwise thirty talents more are mentioned , * probably expended in defraying the cost of the voyage . long after iehosaphat joining with ahaziah , hence set forth ships for the same purpose , to the same place , but they o went not , for they were broken . why the seas which smiled on solomon , should frown on godly iehosaphat , i durst not conjecture ( lest my adventuring in guessing , prove as unsuccessefull as his in sailing ) had not p scripture plainly told me , that the winds and the waves forbad the banes of matching gods children with idolaters in the same designe . yea the breath of eliezer the prophet , may be said to have sunk those ships , threatening their destruction . thus those shall never reap good harvest , who plow with an oxe and an asse , contrary to gods flat q command . afterwards , wicked king ahaziah requested again of iehosaphat , r let my servants goe with thy servants in the ships , but the other refused , having foundas bad success with the son at sea , as lately he had had on land with ahab his father . besides , iehosaphat being sensible how his infant-designe was strangled in the wombe , and his ships broken at ezion gaber in the very haven , would not renew his voyage , it being a bold defying of divine power , to water that project from earth , which one plainly sees blasted from heaven . § . other remarkable places in edom were , first mount hor ( haply so called from the horims ancient inhabitants thereof ) where aaron put off his clothes the covering of his body , and his s body the clothes of his soul , and eleazar his son both buried and succeeded him . thus though for his disobedience forbidden the entrance of the land of canaan , yet he came to the selvedge or out-skirt thereof , for hard by , the tribe of iudah with a narrow spong confined on the kingdome of edom. ly the valley of salt , at the south end of the dead sea , where god twice seasoned the edomites , with two sharp and smart overthrows , when abishai t killed eighteen thousand , and afterwards when u amaziah killed ten thousand of them in the same place . ly w zair is not far off ; where king ioram of iudah gave the edomites a great blow , though he could not bring them again into a full subjection . ly more south , bozrah the metropolis of edom. the name thereof signifieth a muniment or fortification , ( hence so many of them in these parts ) and it was a place of great strength and renown . the prophet speaking of christ returning in triumph from overcoming his enemies : who is this ( saith x he ) that cometh from edom , with red garments from bozrah ? but oh the difference ( though the colour be the same ) betwixt the manner of the die , when christ came red a sufferer , and red a conquerour , the latter from bozrah , but the former from ierusalem ! § . yet bozrah carrieth it not so clear to be chiefe in this countrey , but that sclah is a stiffe corrivall with it for the same honour . this hebrew name signifies a rock , in which sense it is called petra in greek and latine , ( i say not that arabia is thence denominated petraea ) standing on a steep hill , from the precipice whereof , amaziah threw ten thousand edomites , and they y all burst to pieces ; whereof before ; a cruell act , yet admitting of a better excuse , then another he committed in this kingdome in adoring the captive idols z of edom , and setting them up to be worshipped in iudah : did he think that as some trees gain more strength by being transplanted ; so these gods would get new vigour by being removed into another countrey ? petra was by amaziah named ioktheel , and is called crach at this day , having lately been used for a place , therein to secure the treasure of the sultan . § . so much of edom : whose ancient antipathy against israel continued and increased to the last . witness , their standing in the cross ways to a cut off them of iudah which should escape , and shut up the remnant in the day of affliction . god in conclusion was even with them : for as they had cast b lots upon ierusalem , so at last they drew such a blank for themselves , that notwithstanding their c eagles-nests and starry-dwellings ( wherein they placed their confidence ) they were brought to destruction , their high habitations being so far from saving them , that they onely contributed to make their fall more visible to others , and dangerous to themselves . § . east of edom lay the land of uz , where iob dwelt , so renowned for his patience , when the devill heaped afflictions upon him , allowing him no lucid intervalls . onely the more deliberately to torment him , measured unto him , so much space betwixt his severall stripes , that iob might be distinctly sensible of the smart thereof . yea this father of confusion observed a methodicall gradation in doing mischief , that still the hindmost was the heaviest affliction . the d sabeans , a people of arabia the happy , took away his oxen when plowing , and asses when feeding besides them . fire of hell falling from heaven ( of satans sending , and gods suffering ) e consumed his sheep and servants . the chaldeans coming in three bands fell on his camels , and carried f them away . if any object that chaldea was many miles hence ; it is answered that roving crafty theeves have long strides , and commonly fox-like , prey farthest from their den . besides , probably the chaldeans driving a land-trade from arabia to babylon with spices , being merchant-pirates , did light on this prize in their passage . a winde smote the four g corners of the house wherein his seven sons were feasting with their three sisters : nor will any wonder at this wild hericano blowing at once from all points of the compass , when he remembers that satan is styled the h prince of the power of the aire . his body became an hospitall of diseases , equally painfull , shamefull , loathsome . how quickly is dives turned into lazarus ? as if his heards of cattell were turned into i boiles , and flocks of sheep into so many scabs on his body . his wife persecuted him with her bad k counsell . when the physick which should help , traiterously sides with the disease ; oh the dolefull condition of the patient ! lastly , his friends proved his greatest enemies . others onely despoiled him of his goods , they sought to deprive him of his goodness . and whereas iob was onely passive in his other losses , ( plundered of all his wealth against his will ) they endevoured to perswade him voluntarily to resigne and surrender his innocence and integrity , and to confess himself an hypocrite ; for to this purpose tended their large discourses containing true doctrines , but false uses , as applied in relation to iob. all these crosses iob bare with invincible patience . insomuch that some moderns accounting such patience impossible , have turned it all into a parable , denying the historicall , and onely making an allegoricall truth of all his sufferings ; dealing worse with iob , then the devilidid , whose commission extended not to take away his l life ; whereas these men utterly destroy his beeing , denying such an one ever to have been in rerum natura . see the baseness of our degenerate days , being so far from following the worthy example of former heroes , that mens laziness takes a more compendious way , in stead of imitating their virtues , practise to abolish their persons . and yet what clearer demonstration can there be of the historicall truth of iob , then that his own name , the name of the place of his dwelling are set down , with the names of his foes , friends , and daughters ; and the whole history as largely recorded in the old , as briefly repeated in the new m testament ? on the other side we listen as little to those who lessen iobs sufferings , because he lost nothing with in doors , his coin , jewels , plate , and houshold-stuffe ( presumed in a considerable equipage to the rest of his substance ) remained entire for any thing we finde to the contrary . but the wealth of that age chiefly consisted in their stock , so that one may call their cattell their coin , ( grammarians derive pecunia à pecudibus ) bargains in those days not being driven with money in specie , but by bartering of commodities . § . but comicall was the end of iob , and all things restored double to him : n so that it had been better for him to have lost more ; for then he should have had twice as much restored : onely the same number of children were given him , seven sons and three daughters , because his former children , non amissi , sed praemissi , were not foregone , but gone before . parents may account on their pious children departed , and reckon , not that once they had , but still have them ; though not here , in heaven . yea in some sort iobs children were doubled also , because he lived to see his sons sons to the fourth o generation . as for the friends of iob : eliphaz the temanite ( of whom formerly ) lived in edom : bildad the shubite dwelt hereabouts , as descended from p shuah one of abrahams sons by keturah : zophar the naamathite from naamah a city after allotted to iudah , on the south of iudea bordering in edom q . § . here i omit the countrey of temah with some other petty territories , all parcels of arabia deserta . yea the reader may stand on the edge of this map , and there smell the fragrancies of arabia the happy , so called on good reason . misers measure paradise by their profit , epicures by their pleasure : both met here . and it is hard to say whether the spices or the gold of the countrey are more renowned . but if heaven should commence an action against arabia the happy for usurping his priviledge , arabia would non-sute it self , and confess her unhappiness in the midst of all her felicity . for in default of other fuell they are fain to burn and dress their meat with aromaticall wood , which so stupefieth the senses of the people , that they are forced with r bitumen and the sent of goates ( where perfumes are too frequent , a stink is a perfume ) to qualifie their suffocating sweetness . thus no heaven out of heaven , and no earthly felicity will fall out even measure to content us , but either too much or too little . § . it remaineth now that we observe the severall stations of the children of israel coming out of egypt , which cross this map in fashion of a belt. we begin at mount hor their thirty fourth stage in the edge of the land of edom. hence moses sent messengers to request a peaceable passage through the kingdome of edom , but could not obtain it . no doubt they were jealous of israels greatness , and being carnally suspicious of them ( because power generally performeth promises , no further then it complies with its profit ) conceived it easier to keep , then cast them out of their countrey . if a iacob was frighted with esau's coming to meet him with four hundred men , esau was now no less afraid of iacob accosting him with six hundred thousand men . § . however , god commanded his people not to force this , but finde another passage . it was well more ways then one led to canaan , else israel had been at a losse . but wicked men may for a time retard , not finally obstruct our access to happiness . it is but fetching a compass , making two steps for one ; a little more pains and patience will doe the deed . israel surrounds the land of edom , and next sets down at zalmona . § . here they want water , and fall a muttering , and god sends them more fire in lieu thereof , b fiery serpents to destroy them . humble praying is the onely means to remove ; peevish muttering , the ready way to double our distress . yet afterwards by the setting up of the brazen serpent , their malady was remedied . suddain wound , to be hurt with a touch ; and as quick a cure , to be healed with a look ! oh lively type of our saviours death ! here is both christ and his cross ; both his person , and the manner of his passion , he must be lifted up . zalmona in hebrew signifieth the shadowing of a portraicture ; probably so named from the effigies of the serpent set up in this place . as for the five following , c phunon , oboth , iie-abarim , dibon-gad , and almon-diblathaim , we finde no memorable accident happening at them . § . these solemn gests were , as i may say , the full points , which distinguished the severall sentences of the jewish peregrination . but besides these there were certain comma's or colons , i mean intermediate subordinate stages , where they did baite , not lodge ; or perchance lodge for a night , not live any time . thus after iie-abarim , their th . stage , they pitched successively in the valley of d zared . by the stream of arnon . at beer . mattanah . nahaleel . bamoth . betwixt kadesh-barnea and the valley of zared the space of time was e thirty and eight years , and at beer was that famous well , which the princes digged with their staves ( ensignes of authority are not degraded , f if sometimes used as instruments of industry ) except any will say , that with their staves they onely pointed out the place , and gave direction to others . as for the reasons why the israelites were a long time in going so little way , insomuch that that beast in brasile , which in fourteen g days goes no further then a man may throw a stone ( therefore called by the spaniards pigritia ) might overtake them ; the reasons hereof in the following map shall be presented us . here the map of the wilderness of paran is to be inserted . the wilderness of paran . chap. . § . the wilderness of a paran ( wherein a principal place called phara in the days of b ptolemy ) is part of c arabia the stony , hath iudea and the mediterranean-sea , on the north ; egypt , on the west ; the red-sea , on the south-west and full south ; arabia the desert , and therein the kingdome of edom , on the east . an ocean as ( i may say ) of sand , whereof it hath inconstant tides , removed in drifts , by the violence of the winds , to the great danger of travellers ; without water , or wood , save a few anchoritepalme-trees scattered here and there , whereof a whole convent seventy in number , was found at elim , therefore signally noted in d scripture , as a remarkable rarity ; other wood hath it none , saith the e geographer , save thorn and tamerisk , and of the former sort ( i conceive ) that f bush was , nigh horeb , which burnt , and never consumed . § . here was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 g 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , plenty of serpents hidden in the sands , whereof the israelites had sad experience , when h stung of them in their passage . solinus calls them pennatos serpentes , winged serpents , affirming their poison so active , ut morsum antè mors quàm dolor insequatur , that death ensues their biting , before any pain felt thereby . say not , that a flying-serpent is a contradiction , scarce reconcileable with gods curse on that creature , i upon the belly shalt thou goe , seeing in the leviticall law we finde the iews forbidden to eate k all flying-creeping things . and though such serpents might for a spurt , in a frisk or frolick , make use of their wings , yet creeping was their certain aud constant travelling , which they trusted unto . § . one may admire , to what purpose , nature making nothing in vaine , intended this wild desert , the ground whereof for the generality , is like salt when it hath lost its savour , l which thenceforth is good for nothing . except any will say , it was meerly made to be a foile to the transcendent fruitfulness of iudea , and egypt on both sides thereof . but , we must know , that though barren for the main , and distempered with sterility , yet it had some fertile intervalls , especially in the skirts , and purlews thereof , as about mount horeb , where some tolerable herbage , whereon m moses pastured his flock . yea , some nations , amalekites , midianites , gessurites ( whose hardy bodies , and fierce souls were fitted for so hungry and course a countrey ) had their habitation in the confines of this wilderness . but , the main end for which this desert may seem ordained , was , that therein god and the israelites might for forty years mutually prove one another . and upon triall , they appeared a peevish , froward , stubborn people ; he , for a long time , patient , long-suffering , slow to wrath ; but at last , sure , and severe in punishing such , as had provoked his patience , into unquenchable anger . § . here some will demand , how was it possible , that the israelites should busie themselves fourty years in passing this wilderness ? had the patriarchs , when twice sent to fetch food out of egypt into canaan , staid a quarter so long , in crossing this desert , certainly ( without other help ) their father iacob , and his family had been famished . an english gentleman , some forty years since , departed from cairo in the heart of egypt n march the fourth , mounted on a camell in the company of the carvan , refreshed himself with o two days rest in his journey , and came safely to gaza on the entrance of the land of canaan , by p seven a clock on the seventeenth day of the same moneth . § . it is answered ; first , the israelites went not the q nearest way through the land of the philistines , over the narrow neck of the desert , but more southward , over the belly or gulfe thereof , where it was of greatest extent . secondly , their removealls and stations were not arbitrary , at their own disposall , when , how far , and whither they pleased ; but were ordered by gods appointment , and the pillar ushering them ; probably , staying many moneths ( not to say years ) in the same place . thirdly , they removed not foreright , but with many flexures and indentings , that their tedious travell , in the indirect motions thereof , might minde them of their sins , which caused their sufferings . § . they were a crooked r generation , lost in the laborious labyrinths of their own fancies , who made not their paths straight in gods service , but bent to s backsliding they did t erre in their hearts , contrary to god , all u men , and themselves . they would , and would not , and would again ; now sick to stay , now wild to goe on , now mad to return . god therefore fitted their perverse wills with winding ways , so that no hare , when hardly put to it by the hounds , and running foile , makes moe doublings and redoublings , then they fetcht compass , circuits , turns , and returns in this their intricate peregrination . § . the turkes ( who themselves use to sit still on the ground ) wondred at our english men , to see them walk up and down , some few turns in a cloister . if your way ( said they ) w lieth to the upper end , why come yee downwards ? if at the nether end , why goe yee back again ? but with how , much admiration would they have beheld the israelites , passing from egypt to canaan ? now going full forward , then moving retrograde ; now advancing in a streight line , then retraiting in the same . yea surely , any man would have concluded them not well in their wits , untill satisfied in the true cause thereof ; namely , that god in this their fourty years wandring , meant to weare out the whole stock of that faithless generation , caleb and ioshua onely excepted . § . see what fourty years can doe , lay six hundred x thousand men in their graves , and substitute a new generation in their room . it is observed of lightning , that sometimes it melteth the sword , and yet bruiseth not the scabbard : and the reason commonly rendered , is , because the steel maketh opposition against it . thus god miraculously preserved their clothes , and consumed their flesh ; their shooes y waxed not old , but their feet did ; their cases were spared , and persons spilled , because god therein met with so much resistance against his commands . thus the stock of that generation being wholly wasted , no decrepit , or decaied ; no impotent , or infirme person entered the promised land , but all able and active , in the prime of their strength , fit to fight , to the greater terrour of their enemies . and in a mysticall sense this was to shew , that not the old man born in the house of bondage , but onely the new regenerate creature shall enter the heavenly canaan . § . come we now to describe the israelites through this wilderness ; and first of their passage over the red-sea , when pursued by the egyptians . then were they reduced to great extremity . fight they durst not , being a multitude of undisciplin'd people , of all ages and sexes , against a regulated army of their enemies ; fly they could not , having the sea before , the egyptians behinde , steep z and unpassable hills on either side of them . it was well there was nothing above , betwixt them and heaven , to hinder the access of moses his prayers to god in their behalf . however , for the present , god so ordered it , that the egyptians overtook not the camp of israel , being parted with the pillar of the cloud , the first and perfect pattern of a dark-lantern ; dark a indeed to the egyptians , but a lantern to the israelites . then moses , by order from heaven , gave the signall with his rod , a strong b east-winde blew , and the sea miraculously retraited , standing on heaps on each side of the israelites , whilest they passed through it . thus , out of danger came safety , the sea flanking the israelites on both sides , whose rere was secured by the pillar , and front advanced far off out of danger . § . here the importunate cavill of borphyrius presseth for admission , alledging , that moses taking advantage of a low water , unknown to the egyptians , passed the people over thereat . utterly unlikely , that he , being a stranger , should be better acquainted with the secret ebbings of the red-sea , then the egyptian-natives , whose countrey bordered on the shores thereof , beside many other c improbabilities . but , malice must carp at the clearest truth , and had rather lose her small credit in saying non-sense , then great revenge in bringing nothing against it . § . true it is , they went over at the wrist of the sleeve of the sea , and crossed it in the shortest place , god making use , not out of any need , but his own meer pleasure , of the narrowest cut of the sea , for their more compendious passage . thus christ went into heaven from d mount olivet , taking the advantage of the rising ground for his ascent , not out of necessity , but state , the lord of nature therein graciously accepting of that service , which she dutifully tendred unto him . and though small and short the red-sea in this place , it was big and broad enough to doe the deed , and drown the egyptians . oh! if the least joint of the little finger of the sea , be so heavy , how weighty are the loines of the ocean if let loose ! able in an instant to press all mankind to the pit of destruction . § . the egyptians follow the chace of the israelites . strange , that they left not off their pursuit , at so miraculous an accident ! such a road in the sea , out of the road of nature , seemed not to be gone in , but gazed at with amazement . but they thought ; good for one , good for another ; and all objections to the contrary , are answered in three words , e god hardened them . yea , such , whom he designeth for destruction , shall mistake their funeralls for their nuptialls , and dance as merrily to their graves as if they went to their wedding . god first sent distraction amongst them , their cripple chariots turned into carts ( when their fore-wheels were taken away ) halt on very heavily . in vain did the wiser egyptians perswade a retrait , whilest the returning waters swallow all up in a moment . mean time the israelites march fair on , and recover the other side , and then in a double quire of men f and women , sing praises unto god for their miraculous deliverance . § . but this musick was too good to hold long . we meet with a new ditty , and worse notes soon after . three days they wander without water ; probably sustained for food , with that unleavened bread , and other provision they brought with them out of egypt . see here sudden vicissitudes : water they want . oh great grief ! water appears plenty at marah . oh great joy ! this water proves no water , so bitter it could not be drunk . grief again , and murmuring . the water is cured . great joy again . this cure moses effected , casting , by gods direction , a g tree into it . thus the infusion of the least piece of christs cross ( i mean a true interest in his passion ) will turn our bitterest afflictions in this world , to become sweet , and pleasant unto us . from this marah , they remove to their next station at elim , famous for h twelve wells of water , and seventy palme-trees : as if nature had purposely produced , a well for every tribe to drink of , a palme-tree for every eminent elder in israel to lodge under . § . from elim they removed , and incamped by the i red-sea . what meant their going back again ? was it because in their k hearts they turned back again into egypt . and therefore god in his justice , would vex their wearied bodies , to fetch a flexure thitherwards ? or rather , was it because god would have them take a second view of that sea , that so their deliverance thereat , might take the firmer , and deeper impression in their memories ? thus scholars who have once con'd their lesson by heart , are set again at the weeks end to get it for their part . whatsoever was the cause , sure i am , they were now no nearer to the end of their race , then at the first starting , and these their last three removealls were but ciphers towards the account of their journey . wonder i no longer at saint paul , and his companions in their sea-voyage , when they had sailed l slowly many days , the winde not suffering them , finding these israelites in their land-travell after so long time , moved , not promoted , yea , going backward ; and the slowest snaile makes more speed forth-right , then the swiftest retrograde cancer . § . from the red-sea they advanced to the wilderness m of sin. for although the wilderness of paran passeth for the genericall name of this whole desert , yet it was subdivided into many petite wildernesses , namely those of shur , eham , sin , kadesh , &c. § . in the wilderness of sin , the israelites fell a murmuring for food . here over night god gave them n quailes , ( light supper-meat , and easie of digestion ) being onely exceedings , or a feast for a meale ; and next morning , their ordinary , or constant fare was delivered out unto them , manna rained from heaven . some conceive it so called from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in chaldee what ? ( or rather , o who ? ) from the question made by them at the first sight thereof . but , how came the israelites , newly come out of egypt , to speake the chaldee language ? egypt and babylon ( the one the house of bondage , the other the land of captivity ) though meeting in mischief against the children of god , being in time and place far asunder ? rather in hebrew it signifieth a portion , being their daily allowance , or else p food made ready , prepared for them without their labour or industry . it was no fragments of frankincense , called manna by dioscorides and galen , no 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or honey-dew , nor any such mimicall drug ( being not food , but physick ) called manna at this day by the apothecaries ; but a substance so solid , that it would endure grinding , and pounding , in mill and mortar ; yet so friable , that it melted at the rising of the sun. it fell six days , and not on the q seventh ; observed , and inforced by some , for the antiquity , and morality of the sabbath , this happening before the giving of the fourth commandement on mount sinai . § . dim are their eyes who see not christ typified therein . given freely of gods goodness , without any work or merit of man ; in a miraculous manner , at first unknown what it was , or r whence it came , for , who s shall declare his generation ? equally belonging to all , rich and poor , sufficient for all : t white in colour , so clear his innocence : pleasant like honey , so sweet are his benefits , u o taste and see that the lord is good : beaten , and broken , before eaten ; [ christ on the cross : ] given onely in the wilderness , ceasing as soon as they came into the land of promise ; as sacraments shall expire when we enjoy the substance in heaven . § . hence they removed to * rephidim , and there fall a murmuring for water . moses at gods commandement smites the rock , and water w gushed forth . saint paul addeth , and the x rock followed them ; that is , by a metonymie , the water issuing thence trailed after them , in all their removealls . in what state did the israelites march , having a pillar of fire before to usher , and a stream of water their train-bearer , behind them ? both bad masters , but then their good servants . this latter ( though little observed ) was one cause of the long lingering of the israelites in the wilderness : the pillar conducting them such by-ways , in levels or declivity of vales in that mountainous countrey , where the water had a conveniency to be derived after them . how many miles doth the artificiall new river make , betwixt ware and london , finding out flats to expedite the passage thereof ? indeed , god could as easily have made this rock-water climbe , and clamber mountains , as lacquey at the heels of the israelites ; ( though the one was but beside , the other quite against nature ) but he would not causelesly multiply miracle on miracle . how the water of this rock was afterwards suspended , and another at cadesh made successour in the room thereof , shall in due time , god willing , be observed . rephidim by this ill accident of the peoples murmuring , got ( no good , but ) two new names , massah and meribah , temptation and chiding . § . here the children of israel were in war incountred by the amalekites , whose countrey lay hereabouts . a base barren land , yet too good for the owners thereof , living not so much on their own , as on incursions into their neighbouring countries . descended from y timnah , concubine to eliphaz , esau's eldest son : the dregs of whose malice against iacob , and his posterity , were setled in this nation . whilest ioshua in the valley undertook them in a pitched field , moses in the mount of horeb assaulted , and battered the gates of heaven with his importunate prayers . with the rising or falling of whose hands , rose or fell the courage , and success of the z israelites ; till at last supported by aaron and hur they procure a finall conquest . this amalek a was the first of the nations that opposed israel , and therefore just it was , that on him ( first opening the matrix of malice ) as on the eldest son of satan , a curse should be entailed , and his heires for ever ; god enjoining his people a truceless war , to the utter b extirpation of the amalekites . § . hence forward we never meet an amalekite in scripture , but ever doing mischief . either stealing ; ( as when they plundered c ziglag , carrying away the women and children thereof captive ) or lying , as the d messenger that told the tidings of the manner of saul's death ; or craftily plotting murder , as e haman designing the destruction of the jewish nation ; or cruelly performing it , as f agag , the barbarous , and bloudy king of the amalekites . now these amalekites , after this their first defeat by ioshua , were never after able alone to wage war with israel , but listed themselves as auxiliaries , with others . thus under king g eglon , they joined with moab , and ammon ; united themselves to h sisera against barak ; confederated with i midian , against gideon ; and after the death of tola , combined with the sidonians against israel : these adjectives onely appearing in conjunction , and composition with the enemies of gods people . yea , it is observable , that the israelites never ingaged against amalek in set-fight , but constantly came off conquerours , as if the vigour and virtue of moses his upheld hands , and the rod therein , had continued to all posterity . thus , besides the victories gotten by ehud , barak , and gideon ; saul smote amalek , ( when contrary to gods command , he k spared the king , and choicest spoile thereof ; ) david l surprised them and regained his captives ; and the tribe of simeon m made a succesfull expedition against them , to mount seir , in the days of hezekiah . § . we must not forget ●hat mount horeb , whereon moses did pray , was the place , nigh which formerly , he fed the flocks of iethro his father-in-law . it is called in scripture , the n mountain of god , either because exceeding high , and by an hebraisme , all things eminent in their kind , are given to god , ( as the cedars of god , that is , very tall and lofty cedars ) or , because god there miraculously manifested himself in the o bush that burned , and consumed not . some hundred years after , elijah living in a cave of this mountain , heard the lord passing by , neither in fire , earth-quake , or wind , but in a p still small voice . § . whilest the israelites abode about rephidim , iethro moses his father-in-law , prince of midian , a countrey lying south-ward from hence towards the red-sea , repaired hither to give his son a visit , and congratulate his good success . during his abode there , he observed how moses wearied himself with working , and the people with waiting , whilest all causes arising betwixt q six hundred thousand men , besides women , ( too frequently fruitfull in contentions ) were brought before him to be decided . he that measureth these peoples litigiousness amongst themselves , by their frowardness to god , will less admire , that samsons back was , then that moses his brains were not broken , with so great a burden . surely his prudence was not so much tryed with the difficulty , as his patience with the easiness of many triviall matters brought before him . iethro fairly chideth him for over-burdening himself . send us such cordiall woundings of a faithfull friend , and keep us from the wounding cordials of flattering foes . § . his chiding is seconded with counselling him . thunder doth more harm then good , if not bringing some soft rain along with it . he adviseth moses to substitute under-governers ( reserving an appeale in grand causes to himself ) charactered with these cardinall vertues , r men of courage , such as fear god , men of truth , hating covetousnesse . moses followed his advice , new modelling the people , appointing officers over thousands , and hundreds , and fifties , and tens . parallel to the last was the originall institution of our english s tything-men ( a word still in use in the west-countrey ) being a superiour appointed to oversee ten men , with their families belonging unto them . § . from rephidim ( alias massah , or meribah ) israel advanced to mount sinai ; where , after much preparatory state ( on purpose to make terrible impressions on the people ) of thunder , smoke , and lightning , the law at last was delivered . small hope , that this law would give life , which at the giving thereof , almost proved mortall to the beholders . if the judge be thus terrible , when he but beginneth his charge , what will he be , when proceeding to pronounce the sentence of condemnation on malefactors ? the mountain was railed about with a noli me tangere , the people being commanded to observe a reverentiall distance . § . hard it is to understand , who of the people , when , and how far , were permitted , or prohibited their approach to this mountain . i conceive the following modell clearest in it self , and most consonant to the text ; moses , by divine command , t set bounds round about the borders of mount sinai ; either drawing a line , or casting up a bank of sand , or cancelling , and railing it with posts : though the last least probable , trees being so scarce , nothing but hunger and horrour growing hereabouts . when god came down on mount sinai , it was death for man or beast to approach those bounds ( as made on the skirt of the mount , which they might not touch ) untill solemn leave was given unto them . when the u trumpet sounded long ( as a signall , or watch-word for that purpose ) the people might come up to the mount ( namely up the skirts , and lowest verge thereof , so far as the foresaid bounds gave them leave ) and w hither they advanced under the conduct of moses . here the people kept their station , during the promulgation of the law : attentive eares being permitted , but prying eyes forbidden them . yea , on pain of death they were to proceed x no farther . aaron by a call of grace ( as high priest in reversion ) came up higher haply to the midst of the mountain . whilest thus the people stood at the bottome of the mount , in the chamber of presence ; aaron in the midst thereof , as in the privy chamber ; moses on the mount-top ( as in the bed chamber , wherein gods glory rested ) conversed with the divine majesty . forget we not , how ioshua was disposed , in some unknown distance in this mount , where he remained with moses y fourty days . as formerly barons eldest sons were admitted into the house of lords , not to vote , but view the passages therein : so ioshua moses his heire apparant , and successour designed in divine intention , had a peculiar favour , more neerly to behold the transactions on mount sinai . § . no doubt the israelites , at the giving of the law , made large promises to observe it , but very ill performed by them . for , during moses his absence fourty days in the mount , they solicited aaron to make them gods. he to decline the imployment , requires the z ear-rings ( not out of the cabinets , but ) from the eares of their wives , sons , and daughters . hoping , this his motion would make such a generall mutiny in all their families , it would finally dash the designe . especially , seeing golden ornaments were accounted essentiall in those eastern parts , and their heads , and hands being without ear-rings , and bracelets , were esteemed more naked , then ours without hats , and gloves . but aaron herein missed his marke , finding the iews superstition above their pride , or covetousness , who violently brake a off their ear-rings , even such as were riveted in their skin with long wearing , so that rather they would fetch away some flesh , then leave any gold behinde them . of these jewells delivered unto him , aaron made a molten b calfe for them to worship . § . and why a calfe ? could they finde no fitter resemblance of god , amongst all the creatures ? why not rather the lordly lion , to shew the soveraignty ; vast elephant ; the immensity ; subtile serpent , the wisdome ; long-lived hart , the eternity ; swift eagle , the ubiquity of god , rather then the silly senseless calfe , that eateth hay ? but , the shape mattered not much , for if god be made like any thing he may be made like any thing . it being as unlawfull to fashion him an angel , as a worm , seeing the commandement c forbids as well the likeness of things in heaven above , as in earth beneath . but , probably a calfe was preferred before other formes , because they had learned it from the egyptians worshipping their oxe apis. thus the israelites * borrowed , not all gold , and silver , but some dross from the egyptians , whence they fetcht the idolatrous formes of their worship . § . moses descends in haste from the mount , and beholding their impiety , in holy zeale brake the two tables , wherein the commandements were written . then , boldly he seiseth on their idol , being but one against many thousands . oh! what an army , innocence and authority carrieth , in a sole person ! none durst rescue their calfe , and it could not rescue it self ; yea , could not so much as low , being now led to be slaughtered . he stamps it to powder , and being now pulverized , and strawed on the water , he d made the israelites to drink thereof . say not , this was uncivill , to force men to drink against their will , and the persians in their feasts had more goodness , where e none did compell . for , as a physitian , he made the people his patients , take this potion for their own good . aurum potabile ( they say ) is cordiall , and this draught would be soveraign for the israelites , to teach them , how hereafter they worshipped that , which went into the draught . for , now , their gods made to goe before , are gone behinde them ; and , if so minded , they might meet them next morning in their excrements . § . the idol thus abolished , the idolatry was not thereby instantly expiated . the levites , at gods summons , and command , with drawn f swords , went in and out from gate to gate , through the camp , and unpartially slay every one they meet . wherein observe , they had no commission to kill children , whose judgment was not out of nonage to discern idolatry . besides , god was very tender in preserving the next generation . nor women : seeing men alone are mentioned to be slain . and although levi is commended for saying to his mother , g i have not seen her ; this relates not to their killing of women , but that they were inexorable , to spare any at their intreaties . nor men in their tents ; how good is it ( especially in sad times ) to keep home , and not to be gadding abroad , without great occasion ! but onely such , as they met stragling , and strutting in the streets , whilest the rest within doors , may charitably be conceived , sorrowing for the sin they had committed . say not with david , h the sword-devoureth one as well as another . for , surely divine providence brought herein the most active offenders to execution . and god was so well pleased with this sacrifice of levi's offering , that hereafter none other tribe should offer sacrifice unto him . § . the number of the slain were about i three thousand men . a great sum in it self , yet divided amongst six hundred k thousand , it amounteth but just to the twentieth part of decimation , taking but one out of two hundred , and five out of a thousand . and this was the first mortall judgement inflicted on the israelites , since their coming out of egypt ; for , although formerly they had many times muttered , yet god onely chid , not kil'd any of them . but , ever after this time , they never murmured , but it cost some their lives for the same . thus divine justice is long plucking his arme out of his bosome ; but , having once found the use thereof , never striketh in vain . yea , ever after god improved himself to greater numbers , observing generally a gradation in his judgments , and the price of the market rose higher to the latter end thereof . but three thousand slain at this time ; afterwards fourteen l thousand and seven hundred upon the rebellion of korah ; and m twenty four thousand destroyed by the plague , about the business of baal-peor . § . the modern iews are of opinion , that all the afflictions which ever since have , do , or shal befal their nation , are still the just punishments on them , for this their first act of idolatry . and the rabbins have n a saying , that god never inflicts any judgment upon them , but therein is an ounce of his anger on them for their ancestors making the golden o calfe . a reverend friend of mine , conversing at amsterdam with a iewish youth ( very capable and ingenious for one of that nation ) endevoured to make him sensible of gods anger upon them , for rejecting and crucifying of christ ; for which foul fact , he shewed , how the iews have lived many hundred years in miserable banishment . but , the youth would in no wise acknowledge their sufferings , any effect , or punishment of their murdering of christ , but taking his bible , turned to gods threatning immediately after their making of the calfe , exod. . . nevertheless in the day when i visit , i will visit their sin upon them ; so interpreting , and applying all the numerous calamities , which since have befallen them , to relate to no other cause , then that their first idolatry . whereas indeed , the arrears of their idolatry long agoe were satisfied , and this is a new debt of later date , contracted on themselves by their infidelity . § . many moe matters of moment happened during the israelites abode at mount sinai ; as instructions delivered to moses , for the building of the ark , by him performed accordingly , ( wherof in the next chapter ) the first numbring of the people since their coming out of egypt , with the giving of the ceremoniall , and judiciall law . from mount sinai they marched by p taberah , that is , a burning , ( because there , the fire of god , till quenched by moses his prayer , consumed the hindmost in the camp , for their murmuring ) on to kibroth-hattaavah . § . here the people fell a longingfor meat , and loathing q of manna , though man could eat no cheaper , angels no better food . but , oh ! thought they , no manna to variety . always the same in substance , though disguised in dressing , proved offensive unto them . this makes me suspect the truth , of what saint augustine out of the rabbins reports , that manna relished in every mans mouth , as their fancy affected , so that all flesh , fish , and fowle were virtually epitomized therein . if so , the iews had no * pretence to distaste , what tasted as themselves did desire . except any will say , they desired to feast their eye , as well as their palat , and severall meats , not diversified in sight , were nauseous unto them . had not the fever of their lust put their mouths quite out of taste , to prefer an egyptian r cucumber before such heavenly repast ? § . here god gave them flesh with a vengeance , sending quailes now the second time unto them , after a different manner , then what formerly he had given them at the wilderness of sin. then , they s murmured out of hunger and necessity , having nothing to eat . those quales lasted but one t meal . . they were safely eaten , and well digested . now , they murmured out of humour , and curiosity , because they had nothing but manna . these quailes continued a whole u moneth . many israelites were slain , whilest the meat was in their mouths . the psalmist addeth , that god slew the w wealthiest , or fattest of them : the judgement fell heaviest on men of the primest quality . which mindeth me ( though barring all uncharitable application ) of a strange mortality in england anno . at the death of queen mary , when a dainty mouthed disease did rage , which ( passing by poor people ) fed generally on x principall persons , of greatest wealth , and estate . the place where this execution was done , was called kibroth-hat-taavah , or , the grave of lusters . § . * hence they removed to y hazeroth , where happned the contest of z miriam and aaron against moses , because of the ethiopian [ or cushite woman ] whom he had married . understand we zipporah hereby ( moses having wife enough of her alone , as appears by her shrewish a returns ) being an ethiopian at large , midian being part of the asi●tick cush , as learned men have cleared beyond opposition . wherefore we look on the lady tarbith , as no bride of moses , but brat of iosephus , begotten of his luxurious fancy . true it is , many years since moses was married to zipporah , and yet no wonder , that now they made it new matter for fresh falling out . for , anger can keep an accusation long dormant in the deck , and awaken it at last , when conceiving it most for its advantage . § . that miriam was most active in this brawle , is not onely probable from the female subject thereof , but may certainly be collected from the first naming of her , [ b and miriam and aaron spake against moses ] and the punishment lighting heaviest upon her . for , god making himself umpire , ended the brawle , cleared moses , checked aaron , and punished miriam with seven days leprosie . during which time the congregation of israel c not removing out of regard to her ( leprous miriam is miriam still , a good woman for the main ; and such , when smarting for their faults , are not to be cast away , but comforted ) respectfully attended her recovery . § . hence they removed to the wilderness of paran , whence spies were sent to search the land , and whither after forty days they returned , with medly tydings in their mouths , feeding such as sent them with a bit and a knock ; great d grapes , figs , and pomegranates , but withall telling them , that the rest ( whereof these were a sample ) must cost bloudy blows , before they could quietly be gathered . here we will not defend their falshoods by a figure pleading a miosis , when they in respect of the anakims , e were in their own sight as grashoppers , whilest the cities of the cana●nites ( liers relations like the sea , what they lose in one place , gain in another ) were ( by an hyperbole bringing both stone and mortar ) f walled up to heaven ; seeing , in down right terms , they with their carnall fear , flatly belyed both the place , and people therein . yea , what if their wals had reached up to heaven ? did not israels help come down from thence ? so that the bottome of their comfort , was higher then the battlements of their enemies buildings . hereat the people fall a muttering and whilest caleb and ioshua , the onely two tell-troths , endevoured to undeceive , and incourage the people , instead of stilling them , they had been stoned themselves , if the glorious appearance of god out of the tabernacle had not seasonably g interposed betwixt their innocence , and the fury of the multitude . § . god ( as justly he might ) took this their affront in high indignity , especially seeing since their coming out of egypt , they had tempted him now these h ten times , and this decumana tentatio as yet the last and greatest . ten commandements he gave them to observe , and ten temptations they already returned him in lieu thereof . surely god is a just accountant , not charging moe faults on their score , then they were guilty of , but let us reckon up as many murmurings of them as appear in scripture . not to speake of the personall faults of nadab and abihu offering with i strange fire , ( conceived drunk at the same time , because immediately after , wine and strong drink are forbidden the priests when they officiate ) one that k blasphemed , another gathering l sticks on the sabbath ; we insist on more generall and solemn rebellions , out of the stock of the publick infidelity . before their coming over the red-sea . exod. . . at marah for want of water . exod. . . in sin wilderness for lack of food . exod. . . at the same place , some keeping manna till it st●nk . ver . . contrary to gods comand . others going out to gather it on the sabbath . ver . . contrary to gods comand . at rephidim , for want of water . exod. . . for the absence of moses , when they made the calfe exod. . . at taberah , when fire consumed them . numb . . . at kibroth-hattaavah longing for food . numb . . . at this time after the return of the spies . yet not to stand strictly on ten , perchance , a certain is put for an uncertain number ( thou hast changed my wages m ten times , that is , very often . ) not that the iews tempted god under , but rather over that number , their severall impieties not being all expressed , as appears by the charge of the prophet amos , in the n wilderness forty years , ô house of israel , you have born the tabernacle of moloch , and chiun your images &c. being guilty of more idolatry , then is particularly mentioned by moses . § . the place whence the spies were sent , and whither they returned is called in scripture by three severall names ; o rithmah , as may be collected from the order of their severall stations . this we conceive the center of the camp , and punctuall place ( otherwise but obscure in it self ) where the tabernacle was pitched . p kadesh-barnea , whither the out skirts of that numerous camp , distant some space , might extend . the wilderness of q paran , which though the genericall name to the whole desert , is here appropriated to a particular part therof . thus in asia a fourth part of the world , there is the lesser asia ( now natolia ) a large countrey , and therein r proper asia a little province ( which i may call the asia of asia in asia ) as here , this proper paran in the midst of the great wilderness of the same name . § . god on their disobedience condemned this whole generation ( caleb and ioshua excepted ) to death in the wilderness , forbidding them farther approach to the land of canaan , and enjoining their tedious return toward the red-sea . notwithstanding whose prohibition , some outlaw'd of his protection , armed onely with their own stubborness ( as if with their gold and silver , they had borrowed also part of pharaohs hardened heart ) without pillar to guide , or arke to accompany them , advanced forward , and became a s prey to the canaanites , and amalekites . and no wonder , if such who in their march set their faces against gods command , be found in their retrait ( or flight rather ) turning their backs towards their enemies . the rest were remanded by gods order towards the south , who from rithmah their fifteenth , to kadesh their thirty third station , spent well-nigh thirty eight years , and were spent by the same , wherein all that generation was consumed . § . which term of time we may fitly call the gulfe of silence , nothing remarkable being stored thereof in scripture , save onely the rebellion of t korah , dathan , and abiram , and that also without any notation of the particular place whereon it was acted . yet u learned men with some probability conceive , that w makheloth the two and twentieth stage of the israelites , was the theater of so sad a tragedy , because interpreted assemblies in the hebrew tongue , the same word which in the originall is used , when those mutineers are said to x gather themselves together against moses . § . come we now to kadesh in the wilderness of zin their thirty third resting place , where one may rationally hope to finde much reformation amongst the people , if all things be seriously considered . for , such as survived of the old generation , seeing their equalls in age extinguished before their eyes , and this the last year ( in their lease of forty ) begun , should probably prove older and wiser , learning wit from others woe not to provoke god. and the succeeding generation were concerned to carry themselves accordingly , being probationers upon their good behaviour , to be admitted into canaan , coming now to the confines thereof . 〈…〉 § . it is observable , that since the israelites making of the calfe , all their mutterings were mortall , and cost many their lives : yet onely here at kadesh none were slain for their disobedience , save moses and aaron ( eminently worth thousands of others ) who here had the sentence of death pronounced against them ( though reprieved for a time ) and rendered uncapable of their entering into canaan , as if the rest had fared the better for their punishment , god not willing that the chief magistrate , chief minister and all the people should smart at the same time , for the same offence . § . here we take our farewell of the israelites , much admiring at their constant disobedience , notwithstanding their manifold deliverances , so that miracles grown customary with them , were ( like manna ) contemned for their commonness , and the pillar of f fire going before them ( what is ever seen , is never seen ) made no more impression on theirs , then the rising and setting of the glorious sun , doth on our thankfulness . yea , still they persisted to rebell against god , and ( which is remarkable ) lust was their last tempting of him , committing carnall and spirituall g whoredome with the daughters of moa● , whereof formerly in the des●●iption h of reuben . now the old generation began to run drogs , ( very few of them being left alive , and therefore strange it is , that any of them should be wanton in their old age ( how ill doth green thoughts sui● with gray heads ? ) though probably some of them having one foot in the grave , had an arme in those amorous embraces . § . but whilest we condemn the iews , we see not the stubbornness in our own hearts . a brain-sick opinion hath possessed many english now adays , that they are descended from iewish extraction , and some pretend to derive their pedegree ( but out of what heral●s office i know not ) from iewish parentage . here a mysticall truth may be wrapped up in a literall lye : ( old-iury is a street of large extent ) and too much of iewish bloud , spirits , marrow ; fill , move , fraught ; our veins , nerves , bones ; i pressing god under the weight of our sins , who daily k loadeth us with his benefits ; who , besides other favours , in the day-time of posperity is a pillar of a cloud to cool , check , and counsell ; in the night of adversity a pillar of fire to cheer , comfort , and conduct us , and yet neither effectually works our serious amendment . thus leaving the tedious travels of the iews , we come to the ready road betwixt egypt and can●an , which may be gone over in far fewer days , then they spent years in their passage . § . some will say , if so short a cut betwixt egypt and canaan , how can ioseph be excused for lack of filiall affection , in not sending so long time to his father , to rectifie his mistake , and to untorture him from the apprehension of his sons supposed death ? especially , seeing his fathers numerous family on small enquiry might easily be found out , even by the signe of his different religion from the rest of the countrey . all that can be answered is , ioseph had some immediate security , and assurance from god , that his dreams in due time should take full effect , and therefore attended whilst providence seasonably ripened the same by his own means : his obedience to god ( whose ways he waited on ) stopping his expression of his love to his parent , which flowed forth at last the more plentifully , for being so long dammed up before . § . this compendious passage betwixt egypt and canaan , leaveth the mediterranean sea on the left hand , as also the syrbon-lake , formerly much larger , now daily decreasing , since the inlet thereof into the sea , hath been choaked up with the sand . more eastward it passeth by the mount casius , famous for the buriall of the unfortunate pompey the great therein , by a poor souldier , untill adrian the emperour afterwards bestowed a fair monument upon him . but neither this mountain , nor any other place on this road is mentioned in scripture , save two innes thereon of eminent note . § . of these that the ancientest wherein the ten sons of their father iacob lodged in their going down to egypt . i say the ten sons of one father . and therefore the same is pertinently alledged by them in their purgation that they were no spies , l because all one mans children , ( which some resemblance in their countenances [ probably ] might partly evidence ) it being utterly unlikely , that persons sent on so dangerous discoveries should all be taken out of one family , ( to the finall extirpation thereof , if miscarrying in the designe ) whereas generally spies , ( like a party commanded out of severall troops , when sent on desperate service ) are chosen out of divers housholds , ( with those which moses sent to search the land , one out of m every tribe ) that if cut off in the action , the loss may be the lighter when divided amongst many families . here those brethren were , in their return , troubled with too much money , ( wealth hath her distractions as well as want ) the silver in their n sacks , which they beheld as a bait laid there to ens●are them , though all came off joyfully at the last . § . the other inne ( on or near this road ) was that wherein moses ( coming out of midian and compassing the red-sea ) lodged with his wife and children . an inne which was likely to have proved his o long-home , and moses his embassie to pharaoh , was almost turned there into an errand unto his own grave , yea the messenger welnigh dispatched before the message , god seeking to p kill him , for neglecting the circumcising of his sons . whether because his forty years living in midian , had made him more remiss in his religion , or out of a peaceable compliance to purchase the quiet of his wise , whose aversness herein appears by her words and gesture , at the same time here casting her sons foreskin at his feet , yet hitting him in the teeth q there with , surely a bloudy husband art thou to me . § . now to take our farewell of this wilderness , as barren as it was , some people , ( besides the amalekites formerly spoken of ) made a shift to live therein . ( no place so dry with sand , or hard with rockes , but , if well cooked with industry , it will make mans-meat , especially for hungry-stomachs . ) as the madianites , where iethro was prince in the south-west , on the red-sea , the r geshurites , and gezrites in the north-east , betwixt egypt and shur , and above all , the kenites , who at first lived mixed with the amalekites . § . by kenites we understand not that antiquated nation , whose lands god promised to s abraham , but a people descended from hobab t or iethro the father-in-law to moses , some whereof removed out of this wilderness , and planted themselves near the tribe u of napthali , others continued here , and both colonies of them alwaies kept good corresponcie with the israelites . saul , when sent against the amalekites , was very civill to these southern kenites , both warning and wishing them seasonably to w depart at which time i conceive they hitched their habitations ; a little more northward , and nearer to iuduh . these kenites , ( though gentiles and strangers ) were kinder to david , then the keilites , ( iews , of his own tribe ) who though engaged to david for delivering them from their enemies , yet ungratefully x intended to betray him to saul . whereas the kenites , though bound to saul for a late favour received from him , yet protected davids innocence from sauls persecution , their cities being one of davids topicks , y or place where he haunted , and whither he sent part of the spoile he had taken from the amalekites . § . here let balaams prophecy be well heeded , when looking on the kenites , strong ( saith he ) is thy dwelling place , z and thou puttest thy nest in a rock , nevertheless the kenites shall be wasted , untill [ or rather a whilst ] ashur shall carry thee away captive . by rock , ( besides the locall position of their dwelling ) we understand , their confederacy and association with the iews in the true religion , ( being accounted proselytes ) and sharing with them in the same success , as carried away by the assyrian to babylon , and returning again when the rest of the iews were restored , seeing we finde some kenites b mentioned after the captivity , and are ( as the text intimates ) conceived to be the same with abstemious familie of the rechabites . here the draught of the tabernacle is to be inserted . icon tabernacvli ex aria montano desumpta generall observations on the tabernacle . chap. iv. § . in all peaceable times , even from the infancy of mankinde , certain places were set apart for gods publick service . thus the ancient a patriarchs , no sooner pitched down their tents , but they reared up an altar for divine worship . indeed this laudable custome had been intermitted , discontinued and suspended during the israelites affliction in egypt , making hard shift to serve god with safety , and secrecy in their own houses , when publick places of adoration were prohibited : as always in time of persecution , any place which hath the properties of capacity and privacy , ( to hold and hide the people assembled therein ) may serve for that purpose . but no sooner were the israelites restored to their liberty ( though as yet but in a barren wilderness ) but that god issued out order for the erection of his tabernacle to place his name , and fix his peoples devotion therein . § . the materials of this tabernacle were taken from the egyptians , when the israelites , at their departure , b borrowed of them jewels of silver , and jewels of gold . the text saith ( according to the old translation ) that they c robbed the egyptians : as indeed to borrow , with an intent never to pay , is no better then flat felony . but , although this act of the israelites was robbery , quoad effectum , leaving the egyptians spoiled and naked ; yet it was none , quoad reatum , having not onely a commission , but d command from god for the same . and albeit the egyptians are in some sense , then said , to e lend to the israelites , yet in very deed they did but pay back their due unto them . § . see what it is to detain the wages of the hireling . many a year had these israelites , and their fathers toiled , and moiled in egypt , and had nothing for their pains but their labour . but now , both the principall , and consideration for their forbearance thereof , was laid them down in a lump all together ▪ indeed they are said to have builded treasure f cities for pharaoh ; whereas in fine pharaoh proved but the treasurer and storer for them , carefully keeping their money for them , till it amounted to a mass , for their greater benefit ; which , if formerly payed them by inconsiderable parcels , might possibly have been spent , as fast as received . § . amongst the materials offered for the building of the tahernacle , all persons presented things proportionable to their own professions and conditions . the princes brought g precious stones , rich people gold and silver , the middle sort fine linneu and brass ( not an ounce of iron being used in all the fabrick ) and the meanest goates haire and badgers skins . and as men sent their purses , so the women lent their pains , the wise hearted amongst them , h spinning with their hands , blue , soarlet , and fine linnen for the tabernacle . § . behold here , how all advanced gods work , yet every one continued in his own vocation . blame worthy their pride , who will be nothing , if they may not all be bezaleels at the building of the tabernacle . i how shall they preach except they be sent ? de jure : how can they preach lawfully and comfortably ? though de facto , they presume to doe it although but to the small profit of others , and great danger of themselves . § . but that which most commended the offering of the isr●elites in the sight of god , was their readiness and willingness therein . none were rated , or taxed to this work , but all flowed freely from them . this purified poor peoples brass into refined gold , and changed their goats-hair into silk , in gods acceptance thereof . otherwise , many may be the item's in mens account , and yet all of them amount to just nothing in divine acceptation , onely for the want of a good imprimis . for if there be first a k willing minde , it is accepted according to that a man hath , and not that he hath not . § . one main motive which made them more bountifull , was to expiate the late guilt that they had contracted by making the calfe ; when off went the l ear-rings of the women and their children , to that idolatrous use . they were therefore engaged to drown that stain with a more plentifull stream of gifts to gods service . thus , the consideration how prodigall we have formerly been to sin and satan , ought to make us hereafter more liberall in the performance of divine duties : m for as yee have yeelded your members servants to uncleanness , and to iniquity , unto iniquity : even so now yeeld your members servants to righteousness , unto holiness . § . yea , such was the spring-tyde of the israelites bounty herein , that to prevent the danger of a deluge , bounds were set thereunto , hither shalt thou come and no further : they brought n much more then enough , for the s●rvice of the work which the lord had commanded to make . insomuch that moses issued out a o proclamation of restraint , that no more should be brought to that purpose . oh the shame ! that peoples liberality under the law should need a bridle , which needs a spur under the gospell ! § . here we may take notice of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and contented minde of moses . had he been posses●ed with the humour of the p horse-leach , give , give ; yea , had he been but pleased to have been the cistern whilest the children of israel were glad to be the fountain , what a mass of money might he have advanced for himselfe , and yet have unsuspectedly charged all on the account of the tabernacle ? how might he have feasted his family and friends with the full baskets of the fragments left of their liberality ? but moses was of the same minde , with his great-great-grand-father abraham , who would not take even from a q thred to a shoe-latchet , of what was not his own , that none but god might make him rich . and thus honest hearts will rather cut off their hands , then licke their own fingers , for their private profit , when intrusted onely as stewards for the publick good . § . it may seem strange , that these iews , who now were so forward to serve god , should soon after prove so backward in his worship , and provoke him so often by their manifold infidelities and rebellions against god. many of these bountifull contributors to the tabernacle , being devoid of true grace , and some of this people slain afterwards for their disobedience . but herein we may consider : that this building was but a worldly sanctuary , as the r apostle calleth it . and therefore no wonder , if men , otherwise given to s worldly lusts , were liberall thereunto . carnall men may take a natural delight in outward visible works , whilest a confluence of vain-glory and hypocrisie may make the torrent of their bounty the greater . such outward performances are easie in comparison of that difficult and spirituall master-piece , the mortifying of mens inward corruptions . hence came it to pass , that many that brought gold to the tabernacle , proved themselves but dross afterwards , and fell in the conspiracy of t korah and his company , and other their mutinies made against moses . § . the platform of this tabernacle was by god delivered to moses in the mount ; with a strict charge , to make all things conformable thereunto . and he herein so exactly observed his instructions , without the least deviation from them , that in the two last chapters of exodus , where the erecting of the tabernacle , with the utensils thereof , is described , these words are twelve severall times solemnly repeated , as the lord commanded moses . so dangerous it is to introduce any thing as essentiall to gods worship , which is not of divine institution . § . bazaleel is appointed master-workman , one of a prosperous name , whose parents may be presumed pious , comfortably calling their child ( though born in egypt under the parching heat of persecution ) in the shadow of the lord , as his name seems to import . this bazaleel was one of all crafts , skilfull to a work in gold , silver , brass , precious stones , and timber ( whereas amongst us , gravers in gold are utterly at a loss to work in wood ) gold-smith , lapidary , carver , carpenter , never apprentice to any , yet master in all handy-crafts to work , and head-crafts to contrive by divine inspiration . and there was b given with him aholiab of the tribe of dan ( as a secondary , inferiour to the former in skill , not to clash with , but submit to his judgement ) so that , as all the fine linnen used in the tabernacle , was for the more strength thereof c twined by divine command : so god also twisted two curious artizans together ( besides many other wise hearted men ) that the building might be the more substantially effected . § . the tabernacle taken in generall consisted of two principall parts : the court of the tabernacle , being an d hundred cubits long , and e fifty broad , made with hangings and pillars for side-walls , and without roof , open at top , parallel to the outward courts of solomons temple . the covered tabernacle ( consisting of the holy , and holy of holies ) answering to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or roofed temple , whose length may be collected to be thirty yards ( accounting a cubit a yard ) because composed of twenty f boards , standing g upwards , each a h cubit and an halfe in breadth ( so that the breadth of the boards joined together made the length of the tabernacle ) the height thereof being the length of the boards , that is ten cubits , and the breadth thereof of the same proportion . this latter alone is presented in our map , as the proper subject of our description . it was without windows , admitting no naturall light , ( save what entred in on the east at the door when opened ) the defect whereof was supplied with the constant light from the sevenfold golden candlestick . § . to resume the boards of the tabernacle ; we have ( as formerly ) their length , and breadth , but not thickness expressed in scripture . arias montanus conceives them almost a cubit thick , but if so , they had rather been trabes quàm asseres , beams then boards ; whilest iosephus more probably conjectures them four fingers thick , and we may conclude them so substantiall , as was consistent with their portableness . they were i overlaid with gold , understand it , they were gilt over , both because , if covered with gold-plate , the same was more subject to discomposure at the disjointing and removing thereof , and because it is impossible such a mass of the purest metall should be found with exiles in the wilderness . each board had two k tenons fastned in their silver sockets , which sockets some conceive made fitchy , or picked , to be put into the earth ; which we rather beleeve flat and firm , standing fast on the surface of the ground , otherwise no need of silver sockets if their bravery was all buried in the earth . these boards had bars also ( overlaid with gold ) in the midst of them , l ( understand it not perforating their thickness , but ) running along their breadth in an even proportion through golden rings ( as in our draught is described ) to make them the more portable . § . the inside of the tabernacle was covered with curious courtains embroidered with cherubims , and a threefold roof ( shewing the * plentifulness of divine protection over the church against all dangers ) covered the same . one of goats-hair , ( spun into cloth ) another of rams skins died red , and a third of badgers-skins ; the latter no doubt had the fur upon them , the lubricity of the haire thereof being excellent gutters and spouts to shoot down the rain thereby . § . but amongst all the materialls in the tabernacle none more frequently mentioned then shittim-wood , though learned men agree not , what it was , or where it grew . but , leaving them to abound in their own sense , we will content our selves with three principall properties of this wood . first , it was very durable , therefore usually translated in the greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , wood which never rotteth . secondly , it was portable , very light for carriage , else the israelites coming out of egypt , would never have cumbered themselves , to have brought heavy lumber along , seeing such shittim wood was not felled by them in the way , but m found with them , as the text doth observe . lastly , it was precious , used in the middest of the most utensils of the tabernacle : arke , and both the altars , typifying there in the humanity of christ ; in the brazen altar of burnt offering , resembling his satisfaction when redeemer ; and in the golden altar of incense , representing his intercession as mediator ; retaining still his [ glorified ] body about him in * heaven . § . many will wonder , that this n shittim-wood in the middest of the altar for sacrifices ( though plated over with brass on each side ) was never fired with the continuall flames thereupon . some know to their sorrow how soon such rafters or joices are set on fire , which by the ill contrivance of the carpenter run under those hearths where constant fires are kept . but we must know , that on the altar the fire came down from heaven , and onely minded the dispatch of that message on which it was sent ; and as gun-powder ( though ill comparing fire of heaven , and o fire of hell together ) burnes onely upwards : so this celestiall fire , as in motion , so in operation , had its activity upwards towards heaven , whence it derived the descent thereof . § . expect not here an enumeration ( much less an exposition ) of all the utensils of the tabernacle , most of them being formerly touched in solomons temple . onely here a word of the laver , and aarons solemn pontificalls , because of their rare composition . the former was made of the p looking-glasses of the women , many being much troubled herein , how so brickle matter when broken could be made usefull , and solidated for this service . indeed we have a tradition of one at venice , who made glass malleable , but was for his invention rewarded with death by the state ( who knew full well that they must break , if glasses were not broken ) though this is listned unto as a fable . but , to the difficulty in hand , it is meerly grounded on a mistake , that all specula must needs be vitrea , that what renders the reflexion of a face cannot be but of glasse . whereas many other resplendent , though not transparent bodies , doe the same , as polished touch , jet , steel , and brass , the purest of the last most probably being here intended . surely such looking-glasses , which severally were so clear , lost not their lustre by being many of them melted into the laver , but ( when polished again ) retained their returning of resemblances . but , whether the priests ( as some will have it ) made use thereof to discover all soiliness in them before they washed , as also after washing , whether the same were sufficiently cleansed , we dare not define . § . however , commendable was the devotion of these women in bringing their glasses ( dear ornaments in their account ) to gods service . oh that men would but part with their superfluous , yea noxious glasses ( such as might be spared , not onely without any hurt , but with much health to their souls , bodies , and estates ) to bestow them on pious uses ! what monuments to gods glory , and the good of others , might therewith be erected ? § . we must not forget the a eight ornaments of aaron thus reckoned up . . linnen breeches next his flesh . . a coat of fine linnen over them . . girded with an embroidered girdle . . over which coat and girdle a robe all of blew , with bells and pomegranates . . upon it the ephod , on the shoulders whereof two goodly berill stones graven with the names of the tribes of israel . . in the ephod the breast-plate , and therein the urim and thummim . . on his head a mitre . . in the forefront whereof a plate of pure gold two fingers broad , wherein was graven holiness to the lord. say not , that the high-priest was sweltred , being built so many stories high in his garments ; seeing , if pride be never a cold , when pleasing its own fancy ; piety can never be too hot , with what it weareth in obedience to gods commandement . the priests hands and feet , when entring into the holy of holies , were washed and bare , to show the purity , simplicity , and sincerity of his actions , and conversation , especially in the service of god. § . in the making of these vestments we frequently meet with four essentiall ingredients , b blew , purple , scarlet , and fine twined linnen . here c ribera findes the four elements ( though hardly put to it to make them all out ) fire in the colour of scarlet ; aire of blew ; earth in fine linnen , because it coming thence ; water in the colour of purple , because died with the liquour of a fish from the sea : as if the high-priest was thus presented as ●upreme chaplain to the lord of the universe . thus though taking in the whole world , in my minde he leaves out the most materiall mystery intended therein ; for , we may behold the high-priest , when entering the holy of holies , representing christ himself under such coloured clothes in a double capacity ; first , as he stood charged with the guilt of mankinde , when the lord d laid on him the iniquity of us all , having our e scarlet and crimson sins imputed unto him . secondly , as he made satisfaction for the same with his bloud , scarlet , blew , and purple being severall sanguine colours , differing onely in degrees , and the severall setlings thereof . § . what urim and thummim were ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the septuagint , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in aquila , doctrina & veritas in the vulgar , light and perfection , according to the interpretation of the hebrew ) neither iew nor christian can tell ; though the former ( the blinder the bolder ) are as various , as confident in their conjectures . some conceive it those very two words , others the name iehovah graven in the breast-plate , others nothing else but the twelve stones , resplendent with light and compleated to perfection with the tribes names therein , and other some mysterious matter , not of mans making but gods giving to moses . in a word , we shall never certainly know what urim , and thummim were , untill ( as in the case of f braz●lla●'s children ) there stand up a priest with urim and thummim to inform us thereof . § . nor less is the variance amongst authours , how answers thereby were returned to the priests that consulted it , in behalfe of others , whether such designes should be undertaken , or not . some conceive , that at such times , the fair , fresh , and orient lustre of the stones therein amoun●ed to the a●●irmative , whilest their dim , dull , and dead colour was interpreted negative . others conceive , that seeing the tribes names therein contained all the hebrew letters and vowels , such characters discovered themselves by their sparkling , which concurred to the spelling of a grant or deniall , as here ( imitating the hebrew in our english tongue ) is described . conceive such letters as we here make capita●● appearing extraordinarily radiant on the priests enquiry . and also to avoid confusion , that sparkling first in time , which was to be read first in place . sardius . reuben . dun. reuben . dan. lig●re . topaz . sin●con . n●phtali . sinne on. naph t●li . agate . carbuncle . levi. gad. levi . g●d . amethyst . on a           on a emraud . iudah . ash er. i●udah . asher . beryl . saphir . issachar . iseph . issachar . ●oseph . o●yx . diamond . zebulon . benjamin . zebulon . benjamin . iasper . goe up , goe not up . but leaving these difficult trifles ( beneath the state of the high-priest , good onely for acrostick-mongers , and anagrammatists to pore upon ) i conceive rather , that ( because sometimes the answer returned was prolix and encumbered with numerous and important g circumstances , troublesome to be represented in such literal curiosities ) it was neither audible to the ear , nor legible to the eye , but by h illuminating the understanding of the high-priest , inabling him to give a satisfactory answer in all particulars , to the question propounded , whilest consulting the urim and thummim as of divine institution , to invite the spirit of god upon him . § . there needs no other argument to be alledged for the freeness , and forwardness of the israelites in building the tabernacle , then that the same was fully finished in few moneths . for they came to the desert of sinai in the third m moneth after their coming out of egypt , and all was ended before the n twentieth day of the second moneth of the second year , when they removed from sinai to the wilderness of paran . so that not above eleven moneths were expended on the whole fabrick , whereas solomon in building the temple ( though confessed a far more stable , and stately structure ) spend full o seven years therein . see we here the levites of kohath , and the reubenites , near neighbours on the south of the tabernacle . n hereupon it came to pass , that korah the grandchild of kohath the levite , conspired against moses with dathan and abiram the sons of p reuben , the vicinity of their habitation affording them the conveniency of intercourse , and privacy together . and thus was the tabernacle first put in its posture , surrounded with the people on every side . happy method , when in matters of religion the church guides the state by her counsell , whilest the state guards the church with her company . § . this tabernacle when first brought into the land of canaan , was set up at gilgat , ( the ark being often parted from it on severall occasions ) thence removed to shiloh where it staid a long time , thence to q nob , thence to ●ib●on , and thence brought into ierusalem , and laid up with the vessels thereof in the r temple . the rabbins conceive that during the abode thereof at shiloh , the tabernacle began to templize , getting wals ( though without a roof ) round about it , chiefly because about that time it is s thrice termed a temple . but i rather conceive , that temple in those places is taken in a large acception , in which notion t iosephus termeth it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , an ambulatory , or portable temple . or else it is so styled by way of prolepsis , and well might david ( twice in the forementioned places ) call the tabernacle a temple , who endevored to make it so , both in his intention , and vast preparation for the same . but enough of this subject , for as moses by his u prohibition stopped the bounty of the people bringing too much to the making of the tabernacle : so must we here stint our discourse as swelling too large in the description thereof . onely i adde , that though at the first free will-offerings alone were used , at the making of the tabernacle , ( none being necessitated to contribute thereunto ) yet afterwards for the maintenance thereof , and the service therein , men were bound to a certain sum to be paid w thrice a year . god foreseeing that their first forwardness would not always continue , but cool by degrees , and need to be quickned by commands , as men now adays must be legally rated to repair those churches which at first so franckly were erected , and endowed by the liberality and devotion of our ancestors . here the map of egypt is to be inserted . the description of egypt . chap. v. § . egypt was by the hebrews called mizraim ( and by the arabians , mesre , at this day ) from a mizraim the second son of cham , first inhabitant thereof . it was anciently called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , by the most skilfull of the egyptian priests , as plutarch b observes , no doubt from cham the second son of noah : as also it was termed hammois ( a name also generall to libya , yea to all africk ) being in the same sound and sense styled the land c of ham by the psalmist . it had the mediterranean sea on the north , cyrene on the west , ethiopia ( the countrey of queen d candace ) on the south , the red-sea on the east , with a smal isthmus of land ( not past seventy miles over ) betwixt it and the mediterranean . many princes with as great expence as small success , have oft attempted with their pioneers to pierce through this slender neck of ground , so to join the two seas together , for the greater conveniency of traffick . it seems heaven blasted their designes , as an incroachment on the divine prerogative , it being onely placed in gods power to give the word of command to the ocean , hither shalt thou e come , but no farther . and if it be dishonesty to f remove land-markes of mens fixing , how high presumption is it to alter so ancient and solemn water-bounds of gods own appointing ? § . the egyptians are low in stature , of firme and well compacted bodies , swarthy and tawny complexions . hereupon abraham coming into egypt said to sarah his wife , behold now , i know that thou art g a fair woman to look upon . not that being so many years married , he had hitherto lived in ignorance of her beauty , and now took first notice thereof , but ( as stars shine brightest in the night ) so her fairness was now more conspicuous amongst the black faces of the egyptians . their wits anciently were very subtile and searching , esteemed the first inventers of arithmetick , musick , and by reason of the perpetuall serenity of the aire , they found out the course of the sun and stars , first dividing time into moneths , and years . the wisdome of the h egyptians , is eminent in scripture , much given to magick , and divination , yea i iannes and iambres the inchanters have even to this day some in egypt , heires to their mysterious impieties . as for the wandering gypsies , which now a days pretend to the telling of fortunes , their best cunning generally is the credulity of others , oft-times not seeing how near their own feet are to the stocks , and backs to the whipping-post . yea commonly they are counterfeites , coming no more from egypt , then the dissembling gibeonites did from a far k countrey , and perchance are next neighbours unto us . § . a most pleasant countrey egypt was , and is . for when the holy spirit intended to commend the sweet situation of the plain of iordan ( before it was turned for the sins of the people into a stinking lake ) he describeth it to be well watered every where , even as the garden of the lord , like the l land of egypt . nor was the profit less then the pleasure thereof , affording plenty of the best wheat , barly , rice , and all other grain ; insomuch that this land was generally horreum romani imperii , the barn or granary of the roman empire . indeed i finde the same title given also to the island of sicily . and no wonder ; for the roman empire being so vast and expensive an housekeeper , might wel make use of two barnes for her provision . however i dare boldly say , that though sicily was the nearer , egypt was the bigger and better barn , and yeelded greatest store of corn in time of scarcity . § . flax also was a stable commodity of egypt , much whereof at this day is imported and used in england . of this the finest linen in the world was woven . the harlot could tell the silly young man , she sought to inveigle , i have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry , with carved works , and fine m linen of egypt , as commonly the worst of women , get the best of wares , to please their luxury . as for the making of this linen cloth , it will hardly be beleeved , what pomponius mela hath reported , that the ancient egyptians used to have their men keep home and spin , while their women managed their greater businesses abroad . but surely where the man puts his hand to the spindle , and the woman to the plough , there the whole family will be ill clad , and worse fed . § . horses of the best kind were very plentifull in egypt . those were a prohibited commodity , forbidden by gods law to be brought by great numbers into israel , whose king was charged , n not to multiply horses to himself , nor to cause the people to return into egypt ; partly , lest whilest they went thither to course horses , they should change religions , and fall into love with egyptian idolatry ; partly , lest they should place too much confidence in the legs of horses ; or arme of flesh , whom god would have immediately to depend on his own protection . § . paper most usefull for intercourse , anciently grew in egypt alone , being a sedgy weed on the rivers side , which they divided into thin flakes , whereinto it naturally parteth , then laying them on a table and moistening them with the glutinous water of the river , they pressed them together , and so dried them in the sun. god foretelling his punishments on o egypt , threatneth that the paper reeds of the brooks , by the mouth of the brooks , and every thing sown by the brooks , shall wither , be driven away , and be no more . § . mummy must not be forgotten , being mans flesh , at the first embalmed for * forty days together , and afterward for many years buried , in that hot and sandy countrey . yet all art cannot finally avoid the curse pronounced on mankind , p dust thou art , and to dust thou must return , so that if left alone , these corpses of themselves moulder to ashes . o●herwise such cost and curiosity used for their longer preservation , accidentally occasioneth their speedier destruction ; such bodies being taken up out of their graves , bought and brought into forein countreys for medicinall uses . what , is there such a dearth of drugs ? such a famine of physick in nature , that ( as in the q siege of samaria ) one man must feed on another ? however , whilest some squeamish stomacks make faces to feed on the dead , perhaps their hard hearts at the same time , r eate up the living as if they were dead , either by fraudulent contracts or forcible oppressions . § . but these grand commodities of egypt , were also allaied with some great inconveniencies , many noxious and venimous creatures swarming therein . the prophet s called it , the land from whence come the young and old lion , the viper and the viper and the fiery-flying serpent . this , though mystically meant of the kings of egypt , their lion-like antipathy and cruelty to israel ( styled also serpents for their craft ; flying , for the swift marching of their armies , winged on horse-backs ; fiery , for the fierceness and heat of their fury ) yet was it also literally true , of plenty of such beasts in egypt , where that moist and hot countrey was both the pregnant mother to breed , and tender nurse to feed them in great abundance . especially in the western deserts , towards cyrene , an hideous , and dismall place : and therefore the t author of the book of tobit , fitted it with a meet inhabitant , banishing thither , and binding there , asmodeus the evill spirit , in the utmost parts of egypt . § . rain is very rare in this land ( and that onely in winter ) the windows of heaven here having no casements , and the egyptians supplying the want of rain , by making gutters out of the river of nilus into all their grounds and gardens . god therefore in this respect preferreth the land of canaan before this countrey , u for the land ( saith he ) whither thou goest to possess it , is not as the land of egypt , from whence ye came , where thou sowedst thy seed , and watered it with thy feet ; as a garden of herbs . but the land whither thou goest to possess it , is a land of mountains and valleys , and drinketh water of the rain of heaven . surely as it is more honour to receive a boon immediately from the hand of a prince , then in an indirect line , from him , by his servants ; so more peculiar was the favour of god to the iews , and the familiarity of the iews with god , having their land watered from heaven , whilest the egyptians looked not upward as men , but downwards as beasts , on that moisture which constantly procured the fruitfulness of their countrey . but this pleased them best : as carnall souls had rather be at a certainty of plenty from nature , then at an uncertainty thereof , even from the god of nature himself . however they are much mistaken , who have confidently reported that it never raineth in egypt ; seeing i have been informed the contrary , by a right worshipfull * person , and well accomplished traveller , a great patron and bountifull promoter of my present studies ; an eye-witness of much and violent rain at grand-cairo in egypt , but such as presaged a great mortality , which ensued not long after . § . the river of nile is the happy genius of the egyptian soil , called in scripture nachal mitzraim , or the river of egypt , as a most learned authour hath w observed . yea from this nachal he clearly derived the name of nilus with excellent proportion . for as from bahal bââl beel bel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is deduced . so   nachal nââl neel neil 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉   and to make the matter more plain , pomponius x mela reporteth , that the fountain of nilus is called nachul by the ethiopians . a river wherein nature hath observed an even tenour of admirableness , so that the birth , the life , and the death thereof , i mean the fountain , flowing , and fall of the river , are equally composed of a concatenation of wonders . fountain . the particular place thereof being never as yet known certainly . so that ( as the y tares in the gospell , were beheld , not when sown , but when grown ) nilus appears even at the first in a full stream and fair chanell . flowing : which constantly beginneth with the rising sun on the seventeenth of iune , swelling by degrees untill it mount sometimes twenty four cubits , and that the uttermost ( for anciently sixteen was the highest it attained unto : ) and answerable to the increase of this river is the plenty of scarcity of the following year . nor doth this overflowing of nile , give onely wealth , but also health to egypt . for if five hundred chance to dye in a day in cairo of the plague ( a z mortality not rare in so populous a place , where the sound keep company with the sick , holding death fatall , and to avoid it irreligion ) not one doth die the day following . fall. for at the influx thereof into the sea , the fresh water keeps together , and contrary to other rivers , changeth the colour of the salt ▪ far a farther into the sea then the shore from thence can be discerned . nor less wonderfull are the creatures in and about this river , the bird trochilus , the ichneumon , or rat of nilus ; the crocodiles and river-horses , ( though as big as a cow , and proportioned as a b swine ) for all which we send the reader for his better information to that modern learned philosopher , c who hath made a just tract thereof . onely we will adde , that not moe cures are prescribed for the tooth-ach , then causes by severall authors assigned for the flowing of nilus , nor are the one farther from giving the body ease , then the other the minde satisfaction . § . with the flowing of the river , rose also the pride of the egyptians , exceeding all bounds and banks of modesty and moderation , defying nature it self , because ( as isocrates saith ) they had both drought and moisture in their own dispositions . and such their land is described by the d poet : terra suis contenta bonis ; non indiga mercis , aut iovis , in solo tanta est fiducia nilo . a land content with home-bred ware , for forein wealth she doth not care , or whether heavens do frown or smile , her confidence is all in nile . yea so impudent is the egyptian arrogance herein , that whereas nilus makes egypt and god made both , they falsly boast c once and f again in the prophet , my river is mine own , and i have made it for my self ; whereupon god to clear his own property and right to the creature , threatneth to shew his judgements on that river , g from the tower of syen even unto the border of ethiopia . § . nilus venteth it self into the mediterranean sea , with seven mouths , nothing being more famous in humane poetry and prose then this septemfluous river . the holy spirit takes notice of the same number , threatning utterly to destroy the tongue of the ethiopian sea , when with his mighty wind he shall shake his hands over the river , and shall smite it in the seven streams , and make men go over dry-shod : h which words admit of severall interpretations . the strength of egypt is hereby mystically meant , whose kingdome was afterwards destroyed , and the countrey thereof conquered and subdued to the persian monarchy . it probably was literally performed , when nilus by ominous accident failed to overflow ( as in the tenth and eleventh year of cleopatra ) and his streams became low , and shallow thereupon . . the ancient and originall chanels thereof are now in time obstructed , new conveyances succeeding in their place . an alteration elsewhere obvious . in the isle of elie ( englands egypt for the flatness , moistness , and fruitfulness thereof ) how are the old , and once plentifull streams of i nyne and welland impoverished , by artificiall derivations thereof , into the leam , the old and new podick , and other by-ditches ; made , to drive mills , to drain meadows ; fence fields , bear boats , and other private conveniences ? rivers having as little certainty to possess their proper chanels , as men their houses , ancient families being daily outed by other of later extraction . § . however , though the seven streams of nilus pass current in most mouths , yet they are reckoned up , both over and under that number , by authours of excellent credit . ortelius and maginus , in their maps of egypt , make them eleven . hondius in his map of europe ( where nilus is brought in by the by ) ten . ptolemy this countreyman , in his description thereof , nine . the foresaid hondius , in his map of africa , eight . herodotus k ( with whom the l scripture agreeth ) seven . gulielmus tyrius , and bellonius , four . mr. m sandys , but two navigable branches extant in our age . this various reckoning , exceeding seven , ariseth , because anciently , some onely counted the grand and solemn ostiaries of nilus ( and these , which they be at this day , let such enquire which are of the commission of sewers amongst the egyptians ) whiles others cast all his chanelets ( rather cuts then courses ) into the number . since , they fall short , either choaked up , or commixed , yet still maintain in mens talk the reputation of seven . for , when a naturall , or noted number is once up in the market , small occasionall variations thereof , more or less , can never beat it down in common discourse . thus , thomas is termed one of the n twelve , when there were but eleven , after the self-execution of iudas , and before the election of matthias . in a word , the chanels of nilus , daily decreased in number , because ( as pinked or slashed clothes have the fewer holes the longer they are worn ) so his streams fret one into another ; especially , the ground being so soft and tender which lyeth betwixt them . § . to come now to the particular description of egypt ; nilus flowing out of ethiopia , compassed an island called the isle of * dogs ; but , why so named , i know as little , as why those rich meadows lying betwixt london and black-wall , are called after the same name , though better deserving to be termed the isle of oxen , from the fat cattell feeding therein . but , seeing no mention of this , or the next island ( which nilus makes ) in scripture , we pass them by , confining our ensuing discourse to gods word alone ; save onely , that we will take leave to survey the pyramides , because o iosephus ( though erroneously ) conceiveth them built by the israelites , when here living in bondage . § . they stand not far from the western bank of the river , and are the younger brethren of the tower of babel , built ( but with better success , because finished ) on the same consideration , by the egyptian kings , to p make them a name . yet , who erected them , greeks agree ill with themselves , and worse with the arabian authours , so that pliny q gravely observes it a just punishment on the vanity of these ●ounders , that they are forgotten . indeed , in the criticisme of credit , the artisans cunning might cry halfes in honour , with the kings cost in this structure ; but , both the one and the other , are equally buried in silence , so that the most skilfull egyptian antiquary cannot out of these hieroglyphicks of pompe and pride , read the name of either . whilest the poor midwives , who contrary to pharaohs command preserved the hebrews children , are to this day remembred by their names , shiphrah y and puah . thus memories founded on the rock of vertue , stand firme , and fast ; when they quickly fall , built on the foundered bottome of affected magnificence . indeed , these pyramides are of stupendious vastness , and may be termed arts mountains , though mole-hills , yea , but warts , if compared to those which nature hath produced . so ridiculous is the unequall contest in point of bulk , betwixt their severall workmanships , that natures pismires may be said to exceed arts elephants . § . some to excuse the pride of these builders , resolve their design on a point of policy , onely to busie their people , to prevent in them laziness and luxury , ( the mother of mutinies ) knowing , so rich a soile would invite them to riot , if out of employment . but ( whatever was their principall project ) their secundary end intended such structures for sepulchers , where the builders bodies lay , not interred , but immured , with all imaginable cost bestowed upon them . for , the egyptians fondly conceived ( reader , pity them , and praise god that thou are better informed ) that the soul even after death , like a gratefull guest , dwelt in the body so long , as the same was kept swept and garnished , but finally forsook it , and sought out a new body , if once the corpse were either carelesly neglected , or dispightfully abused ; and therefore to wooe the soul to constant residence in their bodies ( at least wise to give it no wilfull distaste , or cause of alienation ) they were so prodigiously expensive , both in imbalming their dead , and erecting stately places for their monuments . § . the long lasting of these pyramids , is not the least of admiration belonging unto them . they were born the first , and doe live the last , of all the seven wonders in the world . strange , that in three thousand years and upwards , no avaritious prince was found to destroy them , to make profit of their marble , and rich materials ; no humorous , or spightfull prince offered to overthrow them , meerly to get a greater name for his peevishness in confounding , then their pride in first founding them ; no zelote-reformer ( whilest egypt was christian ) demolished them under the notion of pagan monuments . but , surviving such casualties , strange , that after so long continuance , they have not fallen like copy-holds , into the hand of the grand signeur ( as lord of the manor ) for want of repairing . yea , at the present , they are rather ancient , then ruinous ; and , though weather-beaten in their tops , have lively looks under a gray head , likely to abide these many years in the same condition , as being too great for any throat to swallow whole , and too hard for any teeth to bite asunder . § . we have been the longer hereon , because iosephus , as is aforesaid , makes the israelites , when enslaved in egypt , against their wills , the builders of their pyramids ; others conceive them pharaohs magazines ; so called , not , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from fire , ascending in a narrowing shape , but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from wheat , as used for granaries , or store-houses , where corn was deposited : both alike improbable , for they afford no concavity of considerable receit for such purpose . their form ( of all least capable ) is useless for such intents , all the spire being to loss . the israelites built with s b●icks , whereas these are made of marble . but for farther satisfaction of the reader herein , i refer him to that learned t traveller , who hath made an excellent tract of his own observations herein . § . however , here we may take occasion , to mention the miserable condition of the israelites in egypt , during which time , woefull their slavery , if we consider , the long continuance thereof , two u hundred and odde years in the latitude , and fourscore ( from the birth of moses ) in the paroxysme of their bondage . deep misery , insomuch that their lives w were made bitter unto them . broad extent , none exempted , no , not moses and aaron ; get you unto your x burthens . say not , that the officers of israel , who onely oversaw the rest , had an easie place of it ; for , they y were beaten , because others under them did not their impossible taske : as if what was wanting in the tale of the peoples bricks , must be made up in blows on their backs , who were set to oversee them . onely , to give the egyptians their due , they gave the israelites their belly full , ( as of work , so ) of z food : which proceeded , not so much from their pity , as their policy ; ( cariers are so mercifull to their horses , meat them well , to prevent their trying ) and the plenty of the land , affording at cheap prices abundance of provisions . § . somewhat north of the aforesaid pyramids , on the same side of nilus , stood the great city of memphis , anciently the metropolis of egypt , where their kings kept their courts , and therefore it is probable here ioseph was bought , and beloved by potiphar , here afterwards accused and imprisoned unjustly , favoured by the jailer , advanced by pharaoh , whose dreams he expounded : in a word , likely it is , that all those eminent passages , betwixt him , and his brethren , were transacted in this city . some hundred years after , the frequent addresses of moses and aaron to another pharaoh , in the behalf of the israelites , were performed in the same place ; and here , or hereabouts the ten egyptian plagues were first inflicted , in manner and order ensuing . all the water ( formerly the merciless executioner of the jewish infants ) was for seven days turned into bloud , whereby the fish dyed , and the river stank , so that the a egyptians could not drink of the water thereof . water , which otherwise in it self , was most sweet and delicious , witness the answer of pescentius niger unto his murmuring souldiers , what ? crave you wine , and have nilus to drink of ? the transubstantiation of this element into bloud , extended over all the streams , rivers , ponds , and pooles in egypt , and the sea onely was excepted , from whence ( or from pits newly b digged in the ground ) the magicians might fetch their water , which in imitatition of moses , quoad similitudinem , if not veritatem , they also turned into bloud . frogs , so plentifull that they covered the land , and so presumptuous they came into pharaohs c bed-chamber , ( though never sworn his grooms in ordinary attendance ) yea , they crept into the very ovens ( as if salamanders rather then frogs ) and no private place was priviledged from their unwelcome company . but the magicians made the like in show , if not in substance , the devill much delighting in their monstrous shape , for we finde in d scripture , three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon . lice , insects , with so many lineaments in a little compass , that the eyes of the magicians could not see , much less imitate them , so that they were forced to confess it e the finger of god. but , whether thus beaten out of distance , they here left off their race of emulation with moses , or still continued it , it is hard to determine . flies , f properly waspes , or hornets , armed with stings , wherewith they tormented the people . surely , they were more then ordinary flies , because they brought pharaoh to proffer to moses , a partiall and conditionall departure of the people . a generall murrain , insomuch that g all the cattell of egypt dyed . some will object , if this was a totall destruction of all the beasts in the land , how came it to pass , that some afterward were killed by h the hail , and after that , in the tenth plague , the first-born i of beasts were destroyed by the angell ? but it is answered , all , here is taken communiter , non universaliter , for the greater , and most considerable number . or else , the egyptians in the interim ( some distance of time being betwixt the severall plagues , and a year from the first to the last ) furnished themselves afresh with new supply of cattell from forein countreys , which second stock was also afterwards destroyed . so vain is it , for men to outvie gods routings , with their recruitings ; his desolations , with their replantations ; and no new store , without a new heart , can hold out against his punishments . boils , and blains , so generall that they were on the k magicians themselves ( hell hath no guard against heavens blows ) who therefore could not stand before moses . let them now not try to make , but unmake such boils , if they can . but here it is remarkable , that as the wife l of potiphar , when she had tempted ioseph to uncleanness , cunningly changed her note , and complained on him for offering violence unto her : so in after-ages , the egyptian authors slanderously retorted these loathsome diseases on the israelites . from whose false reports , humane writers both greek and latine ( as m appion , diodorus siculus , trogus n pompeius and tacitus ) have fetcht their relations , how the iews being shamefully afflicted with scabs and ulcers , were therefore driven out of egypt ( for fear of infecting others ) by the inhabitants thereof . thunder , fire and hail , consuming all men and beasts abiding in the field , together with the flax which was bolled , and barly then in p ●are , whilest the wheat was yet under ground : a thing preposterous in our english , but methodicall in the egyptian harvest . grashoppers , or locusts , which devoured the reversion of grass and green herbes , till the verdant earth was sabled , and the surface of the land was q darkened with their multitudes . positive and palpable darkness for three days , not so much from the suspension of the sun-beams , or detention of the egyptians eyes , as condensation of the aire with thick clouds , probably also extinguishing all fire , and artificiall lights , as candles goe out in a damp . the authour of the book r of wisdome addeth , that the egyptians during that time , were frighted with terrible sounds , with sad shapes and apparitions , which is more then the scripture affirmeth , though we deny not , but that darkness is the pliable wax , whereof a guilty fancy may mould to it self any frightfull impressions . thus all the land of egypt was before-hand hung with mourning , against the death of her people , and all the egyptians were for three days imprisoned in their places , not moving thence , so great was the darkness . whilest the israelites , though in the same climate with them , were in effect their antipodes , it being day and summer with the one , when night and winter with the other . the first-born s of man and beast were slain by the destroying angell all over egypt . here if any object , that the plague could not be generall , because probably in so large a countrey some childless family could not afford a first-born : saint augustine answers , that god in his providence so ordered , that every house yeelded a fit object for his justice . and seeing pharaoh their soveraign was raised on set purpose for god to ruine , no absurdity to conceive , that his subjects were made fruitfull on design , that they might be deprived of their first-born . however , grant it onely in most families , never were more heires killed and made in one night . yet the younger brethren could not brag of the lands they got by this accident , fearing for the present , lest their own turn was next , and many of them ( no doubt ) found their deaths few days after in the red-sea . observe in all these the variety of gods judgements , no one twice used , always inflicting fresh punishments . god is said to be cloathed t with strength , and here like a prince of such power , he appeared ten severall times in new suits , so plentifull is his wardrobe , and such the diversity of his judgements . indeed , he could have made any one of these miracles , effectual for his peoples deliverance , but was pleased to make use of them all , so to prove his peoples patience , manifest his own power , render pharaoh the more inexcusable . § . a gradation also appears in his proceedings , so that his heaviest judgements were reserved to the last , shewing first harmeless miracles ( onely to raise wonder and seal his servants commission ) when moses his rod was turned into a serpent , and vice versa ; and afterwards sending punishments , noisome , frogs about lice upon men . painfull , flies bo●ls within their skins flesh . deadly , murrain , hail , grashoppers &c. to plants , destroying mans meat , in grain . drink , in u vines . clothing , in flax and ●emp . beasts , for burden , camels , asses . food , oxen , sheep . men some w refractary folk in the field . all the 〈◊〉 - born . in the eight first plagues , god by the mouth of moses , gave solemn notice to pharaoh , how , and when he would send them , but in the last two surprised him on a sudden . after warning often given , and neglected , expect no farther caution , but present confusion . § . to return to the city of memphis , by which name it is but once called in scripture , namely hosea . . being otherwise usually termed noph in holy writ . divers prophets have reproofs of , and comminations against this proud and profane city . isaiah . . the princes of noph are deceived . ieremy . . noph shall be wast , and desolate without an inhabitant . ezekiel . . noph shall have distresses daily . can the walls of that city stand long safe , against which so great bullets are discharged ? these threatnings took slow but sure effect , and at this day it is justly become a desolation . for , seeing all egypt bare an implacable antipathy to the people of israel , it may well be presumed , that memphis the metropolis of the kingdome , as in wealth , so in wickedness exceeded other cities . § . somewhat north of memphis nilus divideth it self into two main streams ( besides some smaller betwixt them ) thereby shaping a triangular countrey , not unlike a Δ delta in the forme thereof . of these the more western falleth into the mediterranean , at the ancient city of no , afterwards called alexandria . a place , which principally prided it self in its populousness ( the x multitude of no , often mentioned in scripture ) and in the advantageous situation thereof , both to get , and keep wealth , being invironed with water . but the greatness of this city onely made it the fairer mark for divine justice , which ( notwithstanding the watery station thereof ) needed neither bridge , ford , nor ●erry , at pleasure to waft it self over into it . how afterwards this city was humbled , take it from the pen of the prophet y , who speaking to niniveh ( though an exceeding great city z of three days journey ) seems to equalize , if not prefer no for bigness above it ; art thou better then populous no , that was situate among the rivers , that had the waters round about it , whose rampart was the sea , and her wall was from the sea , ethiopia and egypt was her strength , and it was infinite , put and lubim were thy helpers . yet was she carried away , she went into captivity , her young men also were dashed in pieces at the top of all the streets : and they cast lots for honorable men , and all her great men were bound in chains . it will hardly appear elsewhere in scripture , that infiniteness is attributed to any created greatness , and here we see what became of it , so that the ruines of no may have this epitaph written upon them , hîc jacet finis infiniti . § . the estern stream of nilus from the east receiveth the river trajanus , on the south side whereof stood the city on ( onii in ptolemaeus ) whereof potipherah was prince or priest , whose daughter asenath a ioseph took to wife . aven is hard by , a city , against which b ezekiel prophesied , and by some is made the same with heliopolis . this heliopolis , or bethshemesh , is generally conceived the place ( though not named in scripture ) where our saviour ( before he could go , forced to fly c from the fury of herod ) being a babe abode with his parents . what he did here ( besides sucking of his mothers breast ) is not recorded in the gospell ; though d one presumes to tell us , how the egyptian idols , at his entring into the land , felt a shaking ague , and fell down in homage to him , as once dagon to the ark. e another relates , how this infant sate under a great tree , which out of dutifulness bowed down to him , because his short armes could not reach the branches thereof . f a third reports of a fountain betwixt heliopolis and babylon , purified to a medicinall virtue , from the foulness of the babes clothes washed by his mother therein . all which non credimus , quia non legimus . thus authors conceiving it not to stand with the state of christ to live obscurely in egypt , furnish him with faigned miracles to make him more illustrious , and therein mark not the main intent of divine providence . for , in this clandestine flight of his son , god intended not to present him in a glorious appearance , but to lessen , humble , & empty him , so that his poverty in it self considered was a rich miracle , especially seeing we are stayed by his flight , and brought home by his banishment . besides , the g scripture expresly termeth his turning of water into wine at cana in galilee , the beginning of his miracles . § . the precise time of christs residence in egypt is not set down , but surely his stay here was not so long , as to tanne the virgin mary , and dye her complexion into a black-more , as she is presented in her chapell of lauretta . i deny not , but the purest beauties are soonest subject to sunburning , but such a face better became christs spouse , then his mother , h i am black , but comely , ô yee daughters of ierusalem . nor should i much wonder at the colour in her face , if onely the fancy of a libertine painter , had not so many learned men made her picture the object of their adoration . yet the darkness of her face here , is as avouchable , as the brightness of her clothes elsewhere , glistering with gold , and rich stuffe ( some pretended reliques whereof at paris , the finer they are , the falser they are ) better beseeming her ancient royall extraction , then her husbands present poor and painfull condition . yet such gorgeous apparell was not so much above her means , as such garish attire ( wherewith some painters doe dress her ) was against the modesty of that ever blessed virgin. but , pardon our digression , and we return to o●r matter . § . just at the confluence of trajanus and nilus , stood the once famous city of babylon , though in antiquity , greatness , and strength , far inferiour to a city of the same name in chaldea . it is not yet decided , which of these two saint peter intended ; when writing , the i church which is at babylon elected together with you saluteth you , and so doth marcus my son. protestant divines generally interpret this of the great chaldean babylon , where moe iews dwelt , then in any one place which was without the land of palestine , and therefore probable that saint peter , being the apostle k of the circumcision , might sometimes reside there , yet seeing marcus is mentioned in the same verse , who is notoriously known to have lived in this land ( and once to have been patriarch of alexandria ) why might not this our egyptian babylon , be here meant by the apostle ? but popish writers are so fond to have saint peter at rome , that here they will have rome mystically to be termed babylon . good luck have she with her honour ; always provided , that if rome will be babylon in this epistle , to gain peters presence ; she shall be babylon in the revelation , on whom those plagues and punishments are denounced . but , such as plead her heir-apparent to the former , endevour to cut off the entail , that the latter may not descend upon her . § . to return to the eastern stream of nilus , which runneth through the land of pathros . into which the remnant of the isra●lites , left by the king of babylon , returned under the conduct of iohanan the son of kareah , contrary to gods flat command by the mouth of ieremiah . they took also him , and m baruch the scribe ( pity to part them , but that the mouth and ●and should go together ) no doubt against their consents , and brought them down hither into the land of egypt , partly out of policy ( though they would cast away their counsell ) to weare their [ forced ] company to countenance their design ; and part out of despight , that if ( according to their prediction ) any evill betided them , they also might be joint-sufferers therein . both of them , ( nothing appearing to the contrary ) dyed here , not finding their corpes , like n iosephs , carried back in a coffin into their own countrey . it matters not though our bodies be bestowed in the earthly egypt , so our souls be translated to the heavenly canaan . § . many were the prophecies of ieremy during his abode in this land . amongst others , that , when he solemnly denounced the ruine of egypt . for he was commanded o to take stones , and hide them in the clay in the brick-kill , which is at the entry of pharaohs ●ouse in tahpanhes , ( understand it some competent distance thence , otherwise such a shop of smoak was but a bad preface to a kings palace ) and did foretell that nebuchadnezzar king of babylon , should in process of time , set his throne , and spread his royall pavillion on those very stones when he should conquer egypt , which no doubt came to pass accordingly . a little more northernly this western stream of nile parts it self into two chanels . one falling into the mediterranean at zoan , a city built * seven years after hebron in the land of canaan . anciently a chief city in egypt , the whole land , by synecdoche , being termed † the field of zoan , where many of moses his miracles were wrought . the princes of zoan , though pretending to much wisedome , are * twice pronounced fools by the prophet . the other stream of nile falleth into the sea at † sin , ( where hard-by anciently lived the * sinites , one of the eleven nations of the canaanites ) called also raamses , being one of the cities which the israelites built for pharaoh , ( as pithom was another ) afterwards called pelusium from the muddy situation thereof , and damiata at this day . § . but we hasten to the land of goshen , as the best ground in all egypt , lying in the east part thereof . the bounty of an ancient pharaoh gave this countrey to the israelites for the goodness thereof , and the policy of succeeding pharaohs continued it unto them for the situation thereof being surrounded with egypt on all sides save the sea on the east , so that the israelites were wedged in fast , not to depart without leave . herein they multiplyed miraculously , though the egyptians endevoured their destruction . § . shiphrah and puah are tampered with , of midwives to become murderers , that all the male children of israel might be still-born . the privacy of their place might have performed this with the less suspicion , by but lending a pinch to such tender plants , and then putting it on the account of casualty , or some sinister accident . but they the ministers of life , refused to be the messengers , yea the procurers of death : and god , in reward of their kindness to his people , p made them houses . not materiall houses ( as little comfortable in a land where they , and theirs were not long to live ) but understand it , god made their posterity ( the midwives ) themselves being presumed ancient before entring on that profession ) to multiply and increase . some will say , such houses could not stand firme , being built on the foundered foundation of their q lying . for this act of these midwives was with child with twins , r fides mentis , and fallacia mentientis , the faith of their love , and falseness of their lying , and the former onely was rewarded by god , without any approbation of the other . § . this taking no effect , came out that cruel edict , that all the males should be drowned , whilest the females were kept alive to be drudges . in which time s moses was born ; one of the best of men , in the worst of ages . he was a beautifull childe , t not onely in the eyes of his partiall parents ( every bird counting its own young-ones the fairest ) but really the marks of extraordinary comliness appeared in his face . yea , such was his persevering beauty , ( fair in the cradle and saddle too ) that it lasted unto his old-age ; his vigorous and sparkling eyes not being u dimmed after an hundred any twenty years . his parents hid him three moneths , and then not daring longer to keep him , for fear of the kings searchers for forbidden goods [ male-children ] expose him in a w bulrush ark unto the water . § . pharao●s daughter with her feminine train-guard comes down to wash her self , spies the ark , and commands one of her maidens to fetch it . at the opening thereof , to see with what wares it was fraught , they finde a child therein , and x behold the babe wept . it is common for children to cry ( few born without it ) whilest this infant did not cry out of curstness , nor sob out of sullenness , but wept out of sorrow , as silently sensible of more sadness then he durst express , lest he should give his enemies warning thereby to destroy him . how early did moses begin his meekness , and learned the lesson of patience betime ? the lady beholding him , had compassion on him , accounted it pity to drown him , who had almost drowned himself with his tears . she saves him alive , sends him to his mother-nurse , pays her wages for suckling him , takes him home when weaned , counts him her y son , and gives him breeding accordingly , they being but half-parents that bestow nutrition , not education , on their children . § . moses well becomes his breeding , and is z learned in all the wisdome of the egyptians . yet we finde not that the court made that impression on him as on ioseph , never swearing by the a life of pharaoh . however , when he was come to years , he b refused to be called the son of pharaohs daughter . probably in his minority he owned that royall relation . c when he was a child he did as a child . now come to the full use of his reason , he renounced all such false extraction . he was so far from writing or styling himself so , that he would not be called the son of pharaohs daughter . it is not enough for us not to tell lies , but we must not suffer them to be told , if it lie in our power to forbid it . moses is not ashamed of * amram and iochebed his poor but pious parents , and will not exchange them , to be supposed the son to pharaohs daughter : though that was not a bare title , but had both the d pleasures and e treasures of egypt attending it . an israelite in the kilne is better then an egyptian in the court. § . he chose rather the afflictions of his brethren , and goes out to see how it fared with them . finding an egyptian wronging an israelite he kils him : shewing therein some signes of that saviour-ship , which god intended him for , and he hoped his countreymen would have f understood . but alass , they were capable onely of burning brick , whose eyes had pored so long on the earth , at last they had almost lost looking up to heaven with any hope of deliverance . the egyptians body g is hid in the sand , but his killing was publick in the mouths and discourse of all the israelites . § . this his first essay succeeding so well , moses would adventure on a second design , to at one two israelites at variance . but he found it more facile to subdue a foe , then reconcile friends fallen out , and easier to be a conquerour , then peace-maker . he that did the wrong demands of him , who made him a judge , and whether he h intended to kill him , as he did the egyptian . i see it is no sufficient proof , because the party is plaintiffe that his cause is the best , seeing sometimes they that are most injurious , are the most querulous . herein god gave moses an handsell , or taste , of the froward nature of the iews , ( offended with such , as advised them for the best ) that he might know the better , how hereafter to demean himself towards such waiward dispositions . hereupon moses , by seasonable flight , provides for his own safety . § . shall such a man as moses fly ? had he not better have stood to it , and avouched his act ? sure the princess royall , his lady-mother could bear him out for innocent ; at the worst , by her court-interest could procure his pardon . but he knew it was ill trusting of doubtfull friends in dangerous cases ; especially that ladies affection no doubt abating unto him , since his refusall of her son-ship . into the land of madian he flies , continueth there forty years ; that term expired , returns into egypt , and wrought those great wonders in the court of pharaoh , whereof largely before . § . but of all the physick he gave pharaoh , none wrought so effectually upon him for the mollifying of his heart , as that last purge , when the eldest son was slain in all families ; whereupon the israelites are urged to depart : first borrowing all the i wealth from their neighbours , who would make their flying enemies a bridge of gold . nothing bounded the egyptians giving , but the israelites asking : had more been demanded , more had been delivered unto them . skin for skin , yea all that a man hath , k will he give for his life . yet i cannot properly call these , gifts ; but rather legacies of the egyptians , because bequeathed by them , when all conceived themselves in a dying condition . § . out marched six hundred thousand israelites , besides a mixt multitude ; full of wealth , wanting nothing , but l leaven in their bread , for lack of time ; from rameses in the land of goshen where they dwelled , to m succoth : thence forward to n ethaim in the edge of the wilderness ; and then faces-about , by gods command they were to turn and encamp before pihahiroth between migdoll and the sea , over against o baalzephon , where we leave them in a sad condition , pharaoh behind them , the sea before them , having their choice to be drowned or slain ; till god sent them a miraculous deliverance . here followes the map of jewish habits . of the clothes and ornaments of the iews . chap. vi. sect . . of iewish garments in generall , their matter , colours , and fashions . § . i conceived my taske finished in describing the land of palestine , when casually casting mine eye on speeds maps of england , and other countreys , i found their borders , or margins , garnished with the pictures of their inhabitants , garmented , and habited respectively according to their several fashions . wherefore , not to be defective in any necessary ornament , we have added this discourse of iewish vestments , confining our selves herein onely to scripture instructions , and the last translation , to avoid endless difficulties , arising from the various rendering of the names of iewish apparell . § . iewish garments were made of severall matters . first , of pelts , or raw hides , all the wardrobe of those pious persecuted people ( exiles are living martyrs ) who a wandred about in sheep-skins , and goat-skins . secondly , leather , as the girdle b of elijah . thirdly , hair-cloth , as the raiment of iohn c baptist. fourthly , course hemp , whereof sackcloth , the generall weeds of extraordinary d mourners . fiftly , fine linen very fashionable in those parts , silk , cloth , scarlet , e wrought gold , whereof severally in due place . in a word , according to the condition of the wearer , their clothes might be made of any thing , but not of two things together [ woollen and linen ] as flatly forbidden by the leviticall f law. because god would have his people sincere , without any mixture of hypocrisie ; g 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , all of one sort , linsie-woolsie being to the touch , what h lukewarmn●ss to the taste , offensive to him , who being simple and single in himself , loves integrity in others . § . of all colours they most delighted in white . let thy garments be always i white ; signifying the jollity and mirth of the wearer . a colour highly valued in scripture , he that overcometh , the same shall be clothed in k white raiment , as the embleme of victory , purity , cheerfulness , knowledge , and ( in a mysticall sense ) grace , and glory . which whiteness of their apparell , the iews daily preserved , with constant washing thereof . § . black is conceived by arias montanus to be the generall wearing of mourners , chiefly grounding it on davids words , l i bowed down heavily as one that mourneth for his mother ; the hebrew is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 incurvabam atratus , i bowed down in black . however , i conceive this blackness no superinduction of a dark die on davids clothes , but rather a dirty hue , or soil contracted on his white garments , from neglect of washing them ( vestes potiùs sordidae quàm ; nigrae , as we say mourning shirts ) it being customary for men in sadness , to spare the pains of their laundresses , with mephibosheth , who , when david was driven from ierusalem , during his absence , washed not his m clothes from the day the king departed , untill he came again in peace . § . other mention of black among the iews , i finde none at all , save onely , that there was a company called chemarims , or , black men , from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to black or burn , ( and black we generally complain is a burnt die ) accounted by some conjurers , as trading in the black art , & clothed accordingly whose name god n threatneth to cut off from ierus●lem . they were the idolatrous priests of baal , prophesied against by o ho●ea ; or some appendants to his service , who were p destroyed by king iosiah , and got their name of chemarim from black clothes , a peculiar habit ( no doubt ) to themselves , and which in opposition to them ( i conceive ) few other would wear . § . blew succeeds , a celestiall , or skie colour ; color caeruleus quasi coeluleus , highly priced by the iews , who anciently had ( as their rabbins report ) the exact skill of dying it to the height , which since they have lost . yet i finde no iewish apparell wholly made of this colour ; whereof i conceive this reason , that they abstained from it , as a colour sacred and mysterious , then which none more used about the tabernacle , and temple , in the curtains , vailes , and vestments thereof . onely we read , that ordinary iews , by gods command , were to make that lace , or ribband q of blew , wherewith their fringes were bound to their clothes . intimating , that heavenly meditations were the best ligament , to continue , and fasten gods commandements unto their souls . the babylonians much delighted in , yea , doted on this magisteriall r colour : and so also did the persians , as may appear by mordecai , who when advanced , was clothed in s blew , amongst many other royall accoutrements . § . a gradation in honour of three colours remain , usuall amongst the iews in robes of state for persons of highest qualities , on great solemnities . first , scarlet wherein t saul first clothed the daughters of israel , not dyed ( as our modern ) with madder , or with cochenil , or with the powder in grain [ otherwise alchermis ] all inventions of later date ; but with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a shrub , whose red berries , or grains , gave an orient tincture to cloth . second , crimson ( to which scarlet is brought by a mixture of alume ) which was used in solomons u temple , and in the garments of the principall w iews . third , purple , the richest of all earthly colours , having the gaudiness of red ( whereof it retains a cast ) abated with the gravity of blew , chiefly dyed at tyre , and taking the tincture thereof from the liquor of a shel-fish , formerly found plentifully in the sea thereabouts , but utterly lost and unknown at this day . and , although i no whit envy the good huswife described by bathsheba , clothed with so x rich a die , because earned with her industry ( and good reason , win purple and wear purple ) yet , i confess , i grudge at the rich glutton in the gospell , that he should be clothed with y purple and fine linen , and fare sumptuously every day . § . and now i have dipt my fingers so far in the die-fat , a word more to reconcile a seeming difference in the gospell . for , when our saviour had rich robes in derision put on him by the souldiers , what saint matthew calls a scarlet z robe , is termed by a saint mark , and b saint iohn a purple robe , and that without the least prejudice to the truth ; for possibly two severall garments were put on him , as our english iudges have distinct suits of robes , one of scarlet , the other of purple . the ancient roman robes of magistracy whatsoever , were called by the genericall name of c purple . the ground work was scarlet , which with a mixture of blew makes the richest purple ( as the most skilfull in that mystery have informed me ) so , being scarlet purpurized , it might be termed by either , and both appellations . so much for the colours of the iews clothes mentioned in the bible ; other colours , yellow , d green &c. not appearing therein ; though i dare not say , that ▪ because these colours not being dyed in grain , lose much of their lustre , and gloss in washing ( so frequently bestowed on their apparell ) they therefore abstained from the use thereof . § . as for the shape and making of the iewish garments , they were no affecters ( englishmen-like ) of various fashions ; but , according to the commendable gravity of the ancient germanes , kept the same form for many ages . indeed their clothes , being for the most part loose vestments , not exactly fitted to their bodies , but onely cast over , wrapped about , or girded unto them , the less curiosity was required in their making . hence it is , that we finde the philistines their e clothes fitting samsons friends , and ionathans f robe given to david , serving him without any considerable difference . and , because we meet not with the trade of a tailor , clean through the scripture ( though frequent mention of weavers , and full●rs therein ) it seems anciently no distinct occupation among the iews , being probable , the men , or their wives made their own clothes ; with dorcas , who g made coats and garments for the widows , whilest she was with them . thus the state , and gallantry of the iews , consisted not in their changeable fashions , but in their various changes , orient colours , costly matter , curious embroderies of their garments . however so much of the fashionablenesse of their clothes as is colligible from scripture , we come now to describe . sect . ii. the particular fashion of their apparell . § . next to their skins they ware linen cloth ( as most cleanly , soft , and wholesome for that use ) and at night lay in the same : thus the young man , late at night allarum'd out of his bed , with the noise made by iudas , and his rout , when christ was apprehended , is said , to have a a linen cloth cast about his naked body ( as his bed-livery left on him ) which he was fain to forsake , and so to make his escape . § . next this they put on their coat , which came down to their very feet , accounted modest , grave , yea , honourable amongst them . great therefore the indignity , offered by the king of ammon , to davids embassadors , b cutting off their garments in the middle , even to their buttocks ; it being a disgrace to the iews , which was all the fashion in the cloaks of the ancient gaules . dimidiásque nates gallica c palla tegit . and to prevent the dangling down , and dagling of so long garments , the iews used , when sent on d an errand , when taking a journey , when doing any e office in the house , and when f eating the passeover , to gird up their clothes about them . hence a girdle is taken in scripture for strength , readiness , and activity , whilest the want thereof denoteth weakness , looseness , and laziness . those girdles used generally to be but about their loins , stand therefore having your loins g girt . and therefore extraordinary was that golden girdle of christ in the vision , and singularly placed about h his paps , shewing it rather of ornament then use , not to get strength , but show the state of the wearer thereof . § . now , although free-born people , when about their business , girt up their coats not above their mid-leg ; slaves , for their greater shame , when carried captive , were forced to tuck their clothes up above their thighes . thus the prophet , foretelling the captivity of babylon , calls to the virgin of sion , make bare the leg , i uncover the thigh , pass over the rivers , as being to wade the nearest way over waters in their passage , whilest their conquerors would not be at the cost to ferry them over . § . to return to the iewish coats ; as they were tyed up with girdles in the midst : ( girdles serving the iews for purses wherein they carried their moneys — 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , k nor brass in your girdles ) so they were collared about the neck ; witness iob his expression , that his disease l bound him about as the collar of his coat . either , that his malady inseparably clinged unto him , ( in which sense we say , ●n ague sticks to ones back as close as his clothes ) or rather , because he was visited with a noisome disease and aggulatinatus sanie , was grown stiffe and hard with the purulent matter of his ulcers . as the iews coates were collared above ; so they were skirted , and fringed below , by gods especiall command . m speak unto the sons of israel , and say unto them , that they make unto them a fringe on the skirts of their clothes throughout their generations , and that they put upon the fringe of the skirt a ribband of blew . and it shall be unto you for a fringe , that yee may see it , and remember all the commandements of iehovah , and doe them . and n elsewhere they are enjoined to make fringes upon the four skirts of their garment . § . a fringe in hebrew zizith , or tsitsith , sometimes also gedilim , in greek o 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , represented the complication , or conjunction of gods commandements among themselves , with their inseparable connexion , as the threads in those thrummed fringes were woven together . the blew lace tying them to the four skirts , typified how closely gods law ought to be applied , and fastned to our hearts . by the rules of the rabbins , every free-born male-child amongst the iews , when knowing to cloth himself , was bound to wear these fringes . but women , servants , and infants were not bound ( say p they ) to weare them , though they might without committing any sin , provided that they used no ceremonious blessing ( like men ) at their putting them on . the same say , that blinde q men were also bound to wear fringes , for , though they saw them not themselves , others did behold them . gedilim ( they say ) was the thrums woven in the cloth , and zizith was an addition of threads tyed with knots thereunto , but the particular and numerous criticismes thereof we refer to such as delight in rabbinicall disquisitions . onely adding , that the modern iews have wholly left off the formall wearing of fringes , alledging this reason thereof , because they have utterly lost the mystery of making the blew ribband ( even by their own r confession ) an essentiall implement of the fringes , which should be dyed of a firmament , and unfading colour , in lieu whereof , some make shift with a white onely , whilest others ( it seems ) unable to compleat their fringes according to gods command , prefer the totall omission , before the imperfect observance thereof . § . hitherto of the lower coat of the iews , which they ware next their linen shirts . over this they had another called a mantle , or cloak cast over them , when they went abroad , separable from their garment beneath it . this cloak s iudah left with thamar , and t ioseph with his mistress , when the one lost and the other preserved his chastity thereby . such an upper garment was laid u aside by christ , when about to wash his disciples feet : and put w off by the iews , when intending to stone saint steven ; and was x left by saint paul at troas . yea , generally they ware it not when busie at their work in the field , and were counselled by christ at the invasion of iudea by the romans , forthwith to make their escape , and not to return back to take such clothes with them , as left at home behinde them . § . of these coats beneath , and cloaks above , we understand that expression in the description of a good y wife , she is not afraid of the snow for her houshold , for all her houshould are clothed with scarlet , or rather ( seeing no good huswifery to aray servants in so rich suits ) as the hebrew word importeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with double garments , that is , with coats and cloaks to make them winter-proof , and perchance with duplicates , or two of both kindes , though successively worne at severall times . so much of both their garments , not forgetting the counsell christ gave the iews concerning them ( but when and how far to be followed , let others dispute ) z if any will sue thee at law , and take away thy coat , let him take thy cloak also . § . at night they used to strip themselves of both when going to bed : a i have put off my coat , how shall i put it on ? except in some case of extremity , requiring their readiness every instant : nor the men of the guard which followed me , none of them put off their b clothes , saving that every one put them off for washing . § . the poorer sort were fain in the night , to make use of their cloak , or upper garment , for their blanket , or coverlet . and therefore god by speciall order provided , that though men might pawn their upper clothes ( as not absolute necessary for their wearing ) all the day time , yet at night such a pledge was not longer to be detained , but should be restored to him , c at the suns going down , for that is his covering onely , it is the raiment for his skin , wherein shall he d sleep ? say not , he was as much subject to catch cold in the day , as at night for want thereof ; for then being warmed with his work , and in constant motion during his day-labour , no danger of taking cold , though the same might surprize him lying still at night , when , how sharp the season happened sometimes , the high priests servants will testifie , needing in the spring time e a fire of coales to be made for them . sect . iii. vestments how varied , according to the age of the wearers . § . however , all iewish garments admitted of variations , according to the ages , professions , conditions , occasions , and sexes of the wearers . first for the ages , briefly to habit a iew , from the cradle to the coffin , we begin with the infant , who with iob , coming a naked out of his mothers wombe , findes some clouts provided by the care of his parents , or providence of his friends , to cover him . amongst these , most remarkable are his b swadling clothes , wherewith the iewish mothers c swathed their children . no doubt doing it with more discretion then many english mothers , and nurses , who ( as spigelius d observeth ) generally hurt their babes by binding them too hard about their breast , thereby causing consumptions , of which disease , he affirmeth , moe die in england , then in any other countrey . and so we leave this iewish infant sucking , or sleeping on the lap of his mother . § . afterward in due time he is coated , with little samuel , for whom his mother made a little e coat year by year . nor know i which more to commend , hanna's huswifery in annuall providing , or samuel's thrift in making his coat to serve him a whole year . we conceive childrens clothes differed from mens , not in fashion , but in degrees , which encreased with the stature of the wearer . leave we this childe in his calling , namely playing with his mates in the market f place , loth to spoil his sport ( it being as pleasant to see children play , as men to work : ) provided , they be seasonably set to school , for , g train up a child in the way he should goe , and when he is old he will not depart from it . § . from a child he starts up a youth , and becomes a stripling , then beginning to delight in brave clothes . if his fathers darling , then perchance he is clothed with a coat , rain-bow like , striped , and streaked , as iosephs garment , with divers h colours ; the sight whereof bred worse colours in the face of his brethren ( pale envie , red wrath , blew malice , black hatred ) finding him so far out strip them in their fathers affection . leave we this stripling , hunting , shooting , and offering at manlike exercises . § . few moe years shoot him up to be marriageable , and his parents provide a wife for him , as abraham for isaac , ( abraham , who followed gods i angel sent before him , whilest too many covetous fathers are onely g●ided by other angels in their choice ) and soon after he is prepared for marriage . on his wedding day , how glorious doth he appear coming out of his chamber as the k rising sun , when as a l bridegrom he decketh himself with ornaments ? we wait on him to his bride-chamber , wish him joy , and depart . § . within a year after his marriage ( for till that time he was priviledged by the law , m not to goe out to war , but to be free at home , and to cheer up his wife ) he goes forth to fight , souldiery not being so distinct a profession amongst the iews , but that every able man , upon just summons , was bound to bear armes . behold we him now in complete armour , according to his quality , made either of steel , n brass , or o gold ( i m●an for shields and targets ; for , otherwise all the art of man cannotmake an edged tool of gold , or silver ) defensive ; as habergeon , brigandine , coats of male , ( which we wish better put on , then ahabs was , that no chinkes may be left betwixt the p joints thereof ) offensive , & those either to use cominùs , at handpush ; or stroke , as sword , dagger , spear ; or eminùs , at distance , as bow , sling , dart , and other artificiall engines , ( whereof king q uzziah was the ingenious inventour ) or of a mixed nature , as a iavelin , which was a spear-dart , sometimes cast out of their hands , as saul at r david ; sometimes kept in , and thrust through their enemies , in which manner s phinehas did execution on zimri and cozbi . it is enough barely to name these weapons , as having no peculiar iudaisme in them , but common with other countreys . for , though god enjoyned the iews some ceremonious observances in their wearing-apparell , distinguishing them from other nations ; yet in the fashion of their armes , he suffered them to conform with the heathen , as might be most for their own safety , and advantage . § . but amongst all martiall accoutrements , we must not forget the souldiers girdle , the inseparable companion of military men . thus when ionathan stript himself , he gave david his garments even to his sword , and to his bow , and to his t girdle : understand his gift exclusively , these three things not comprehended therein , as being unsouldier-like to part with them . ioab promised to give him that could kill absalom ten shekels of silver , and a u girdle , as a proper military donative . and perchance , such a girdle , balteus militaris , bestowed by a generall in a field after the fight , amounted to the honour of our modern knighthood , not to say , banneretship . conquerors used to besmear their girdle with the bloud of those they overcame ( a bend or fess gules , we know , is an honorable bearing ) in avowance , and justification of what they had done . and therefore david taxeth ioab , that having killed abner , and amasa , not valiantly in the field , but treacherously by fraud , he shed the bloud of war in peace , and put the bloud of war upon his w girdle , that was about his loines , and in his shooes that were upon his feet . not that it casually spirted upon them , but that of set purpose he put it there , misapplying an hostile ceremony of lawfull conquest , to his act of perfidious , and cowardly murder . leave we now our souldier thus completely armed in all respects , going forth to fight , wishing him to be valiant for his people , and for the cities of his god , and [ for success ] the lord doe what seemeth x good in his eies . § . but if in stead of victory , he meeteth with overthrow , and destruction , so that , with iobs y messenger , he himself hardly escapes to bring the dolefull tidings of their defeat ; behold him in the following sorrowfull equipage of a mourner . with z baldness on his head ( not naturall , but ) occasioned by the shaving thereof , to make room for a sad peruke of a ashes , or b earth thereupon ; beard c shaved , or else , his upper lip d covered , clothes rent , yea , flesh it self cut ( not wounded by the enemies sword , but ) as a penance imposed upon e himself , feet f bare , and whole body next the skin clothed g in sackcloth , wherein he used to lie , and according to the occasion , more or less was his humiliation . may he meet with seasonable comfort , and good counsell , whilest we proceed . § . some few years after , 't is strange to see , how insensibly age hath surprised him , so that he beginneth now to become an elder . if you finde him not at home in his house , you shall certainly meet him amongst those of his own rank in the gate of the city ( where a consistory court was daily kept , and he a judge therein ) wrap'd with samuel warme in his h mantle , and having in his hand a staffe ; not of any infectious infirmity , being an heavy curse : let there not fail from the house of ioab , one that leaneth on a i staffe . much less of idolatry , an hainous sin : my people aske counsell at their stocks , and their k staff declareth unto them . . but a staffe of antiquity , accounted a great blessing : every man with a l staffe in his hand for very age . to which we wish him another staffe for his better support , even dutyfull children , and so leave him . § . at next return we finde him beddred , reduced to aged davids condition , though they cover him with clothes he getteth no m heat . we wish him ( in stead of a young abishag ) good kitchin-physick , carefull attendance , and serious meditation on his latter end . sect . iv. their habits how differenced , by their severall professions , and conditions . § . probable it is , that all vocations of people ( besides the priests and levites ) as husbandmen , tradesmen , citizens , merchants , doctors , judges &c. were distinguished by their severall apparell , though we can onely insist upon some few we finde in scripture . first , fishermen had their coates made with the best advantage , not to hinder the wearers swimming therein . thus , peter hearing that the lord stood on the land , a girt his fishers-coate about him ( for he was naked ) and did cast himself into the sea . oh that men would but use the wealth of this world , as saint peter his coate , onely for civility , as a covering in their passage through the waves of this life , without danger of being drowned in the deep , with the weight thereof ! § . shepheards succeed , sufficiently known by their bag , b and staffe , or c hook ; except any will adde thereunto the d dog of their flock , as so necessary an attendant , they seem naked without him . their clothes were made large and loose , easie to be put on , without any adoe , so that they might run , and ray themselves . hereupon it is prophesied of nebuchadnezzar , that he should array himselfe with the land of egypt , as a shepheard e putteth on his garment , that is , quietly , quickly , in an instant , the conquest thereof should cost him no trouble , as meeting with no considerable opposition . § . but my pen is soon weary of the worthless wardrobe of such poor , and painfull people , longing to come to court , the center of bravery , where those men of clothes , to whom gallantry is essentiall , have their continuall residence . such ( saith our saviour ) as weare f soft clothing , are in kings houses . insomuch that there was a law in the court of persia , that , none might enter into the kings gate clothed with g sackcloth , as a disparagement to the place . though the porters which shut out sackcloth , could not stop out sorrow from entering into the palace of the mightiest monarch . § . courtiers were apparelled often in fine h linen , which the chiefest of them need not blush to weare , finding angels themselves ( waiters on an higher king ) clothed in pure and i white linen . now , although iudea had store of home-growing k flax , yet she fetched far finer from egypt , whence in solomons time the kings merchants received linen l yarn at a price . kings merchants , being a guild or company of men with a badge royall upon them , probably priviledged with a preemption of all wares , and sole trade in some commodities , so that solomon ( like the great duke of tuscany ) counted traffick no abatement to his majesty . they brought it in linen-yarn , not linen-cloth , solomon so setting up napery , and the manufacture of weaving , to the much enriching of the land , and employing of the poor people thereof . thus , after his time the finest linen cloth , formerly a purely forein , became partly a native commodity of iudea ; as linen , egyptian ; as cloth , iewish ; spun abroad by the wheels of strangers , woven at home on the looms of his own subjects . i say not , that solomon took the first hint of this good husbandry , from the mouth of his mother bathsheba , charactering a good wife , m she maketh fine linen , and selleth it : though a family being a little kingdome ( as a kingdome a great family ) what is found beneficiall for the one , may by proportion be extended advantageous for the other . § . pass we by fine cloth to come the sooner to silk , the appa●ell also of our courtier . by silk we understand not sericum , coming from the east indies , where it groweth on trees : nor byssus , a soft silk grass ; but bomby●ina , made of silk-wormes , ( whereof largely n before ) and of it plenty in palestine . indeed we finde , that o heliogabalus first wore such silk clothes in rome ; and that in iustinians time ( some five hundred years after christ ) silke-wormes by some p monkes were first brought into europe ; as also that q cardinall woolsie was the first clergy-man that wore silk in england : but , when silk began first to be worn by the iews , we cannot exactly define . onely we finde amongst the many favours god bestowed on their countrey , this especially recounted , r i covered thee with silk . and thus we leave our courtier so gaily apparelled , that his clothes ( according to the apostles s complaint ) are not onely his usher to make room ; but also his herauld , to appoint a principall place for him to sit down , when coming into any assembly ; whilest others , of less gallantry , ( but perchance more goodness ) must either stand , or sit at his foot-stoole . § . come we from the stars to the sun ; from the courti●rs to the king himself . such were conspicuous , and distinguished from their subjects , by their crown , scepter , throne , and royall robes , which iehosaphat wore in war to his t cost , had not gods goodness ordered , that he was more scar'd then hurt thereby . white garments were worn even by the kings themselves . hereupon when our saviour as a mock-king was made a derision both to gentile and iew ▪ as the souldiers arraied him in u purple , robes of magistracy amongst the romans ; so herod , a iew ( conforming his scoffes to custome of his own countrey ) w 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , clothed him with a white garment . sometimes , kings did , out of speciall grace , communicate their robes to be worn by their favorites , as is x eminent in the case of mordecai . many and rich ( no doubt ) were the habilliments of the iewish kings , but when all was done , solomon , in all his glory , was not arrayed as a y lily in the field , more fine to the touch , fair to the eye , and , which is the main , the lilies beauty is his own , and in him ; solomons bravery but borrowed , and upon him . § . we had almost forgotten the pharisee , who will be offended ( as loving the z uppermost rooms at feasts , and chief seats in the synagogues ) if not having an high , and honourable mention in our discourse . these , generally , delighted in a phylacteries ( and fringes of the broadest size ) being schedules , or scrouls of parchment , tyed to their foreheads , or left hands ( by popular error accounted nearest the heart ) wherein the decalogue , and , some adde , four other sections of the law were written ; so carrying a library of gods word on their clothes , scarce a letter in their hearts . they wore course clothing , pretending much mortification , and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , when they exercised , ( that is , when these mountebanks theatrically acted their humiliation ) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , they had thornes for their bed to lay upon , and some of them wore a mortar on their heads , so ponderous , that they could look neither upward , nor on either side , but onely downward , and forthright . but , because the pharisees affected such clothes meerly to be seen of men ; out of set purpose , to cross their vainglorious humour , we will look no longer on their strange apparell , lest we increase their pride , by our studious gazing on their phantasticall habits . sect . v. a iewish man ornamented cap-a-pe . § . although it be probable , that the ancient iews generally went bare-headed ( making use with elijah of their mantles , or upper garments , in tempestuous weather , wrapping their heads , as he his a face therein ) yet we finde them in after ages wearing hats on their heads , with which the three children b were cast into the fiery furnace . not , that they were like those we wear now adays , ( a meer modern invention since round flat caps were disused ) but , are termed hats by analogy , though not of the same form , for the same service , the coverture of the head . § . but , some will say , if hats were formerly fashionable among the iews , how came that order of antiochus ( many years after ) to be beheld as an innovation , of so dangerous consequence in it selfe , and so distastfull to the iews , when he enjoyned them to wear an c hat ? it is answered ; such hats were offensive to the iews , not so much for themselves , but because , a forein power imposed them . an odious instrument ( iason the pseudo-priest ) pressed the wearing of them . they came in company with other heathenish d customes , for whose sake they fared the worse in the iews acceptance . such hats ( in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) were ( as i may say ) of another block from those , which the iews , most tenacious of their native habits , formerly had used . but , how the ancient hats of the iews were made , is impossible to define , though probably they were of the same matter with their upper garment . sure i am , the babylonians were more top-gallant then the iews , and quite put them down with bravery in that part , as , exceeding in died e attire upon their heads . all that we will adde of jewish head-attire , is this , that mourners amongst them used ( in expression of their shame , and sorrow ) to be bound about close , the plowmen were ashamed , they f covered their heads . wherefore , when the prophet foretold , g and your tires shall be upon your heads , and your shooes upon your feet : yee shall not mourn nor weep , but yee shall pine away for your iniquities , and mourn one towards another ; he pronou●ceth their sorrow so transcendent , as uncapable to be ordered by the usuall method of mourning , and onely to be managed with amazement . § . ear-rings were generally worn by jewish women , as also by their male children whilest as yet young , and under their mothers command ; h break off the golden ear-rings which are in the ears of your wives , your sons , and your daughters . where , by sons , we understand little boys ( therefore hemmed in the text with women on both sides ) having their sex as yet scarcely discriminated by their habits . but , whether men amongst them ware ear-rings , is doubtfull , and the negative most probable ; seeing the scripture , speaking of the eastern army conquered by gideon , for they had golden i ear-rings , because they were ishmaelites ; intimates thereby , that such were no masculine ornaments usuall amongst the people of the iews . except any make [ for ] there to relate , not to the ear-rings themselves , but to the extraordinary multitude , and massiness thereof . wherefore , if any be earnest on the contrary , i oppose not ; being contented the iews should have rings in their ears , so be it they had not idols in those rings , a k superstition of their ancestours , when first coming out of padan-aram . § . nothing save l chaines was worn about their necks ; no linen in lieu of our modern bands , which otherwise would have intercepted , and hindered the beautifull prospect of the spouse her neck , when compared to a tower of ivory . as for m bracelets about their wrists , n rings on their fingers , ( for gloves we finde none ) o signets in those rings , herein the iews nothing differed from other nations . § . their legs were generally bare : wherefore , when we finde the three children cast into the fiery furnace , in their coats , their * hosen and their hats ; by [ hosen ] we understand not stockins , but breeches ; which ( as the ie●ish priests † must wear of linen for modesty ) other persons might for their own conveniency , or warmth ; as probably these children did , as then living in babylon , being somewhat a more northern climate , and colder countrey then iudea . § . on their feet , when at home , and in summer time , they used to weare p sandales ; which had soles , but no upper-leathers , save the ligaments wherewith they were fastned over the instep and cross of the foot . hence came the frequent washing of their feet in the eastern parts ; not onely to cool them , but chiefly to clear them from the gravell , and cleanse them from the dirt , which those casements of their sandales had let in . in the winter time , and when they travelled abroad , they wore shooes ( which they used to put off when coming on q holy ground . ) and it seems that in fair weather , whilest the master , for more ease , might walke in his sandales , the servant used to carry his shooes after him ( as our serving-men their masters hoods on the same occasion ) in case that rain , or foul weather should happen in their journy . hence that humble expression , r whose shooes i am not worthy to bear , that is , unworthy to perform the meanest servile office unto him . their shooes were tyed with a small , and slender latchet , yet big and strong enough , to fasten two eminent proverbes on posterity . from a thread to a s shooe-latchet , that is , nothing at all . the t latchet of whose shooes i am not worthy to stoop down and unloose , that is ( as aforesaid ) unworthy to have the meanest employment about him . nothing else occurs of the iewish shooes , save that they were often made of u badgers skins , which ( otherwise seeming fitter for gloves then shooes ) served for the upper-leathers , which skins ( no doubt ) were of finer grain and dressing in those parts ( perchance worn with their fur ) then in our land where the leather thereof is of no considerable value . it is suspicious , that afterwards some extraordinary cost was luxuriously bestowed on their shooes , when the poor was sold for a w pair of them . or else their exchange ran at a strange rate , when a piece of a dead beasts skin was accounted a valuable compensation for the flesh , whole body , and life of a man. sect . vi. the habits of girles , virgins , brides , wives , and widows amongst the iews . § . so much of the iewish male-apparell , come we now to their feminine-attire ; sexes amongst them being solemnly distinguished by their clothes , according to gods express command therein , a the woman shall not weare that which pertaineth to the man , neither shall the man put on a womans garment , for all that doe so are abomination unto the lord thy god : as in all ages , epicoene apparell hath been the baud to much baseness . onely herein we are sorry we cannot satisfie our selves , much less the reader ; so little appears of their apparell in scripture , though we will diligently take whatsoever it tenders unto us . § . we begin with the girles ; when , first we finde b the city full of boys and girles playing in the streets thereof . let none condemn them for rigs , because thus hoiting with boys , seeing the simplicity of their age was a patent to priviledge any innocent pastime , and few moe years will make them blush themselves into better manners . § . for , being grown virgins of pretty stature , they were closely kept under covert-parent . whereupon a virgin in hebrew hath her name from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to hide , or keep secret , maidens not being permitted to gad abroad alone , but onely in companies on great solemnities , then exercising themselves with their own sex , in c dancing , singing , and playing on d timbrels , accounted maiden melody . hereupon it was , that amnon lusting after his sister thamar , thought it e hard for him to doe any thing to her . not , that he made it any difficulty , or scruple in conscience to commit folly with her ; but all the hardness was in compassing her company , that was kept so close ; and therefore , he was fain , with a fetch , to betray her into his chamber . we finde nothing particularly of the attire of ordinary virgins in scripture , but onely that the virgin-royall , or kings daughters , were apparelled with garments of divers f colours upon them : of the severall kindes and makings whereof , we shall treat * by and by . § . now , before the virgin we speake of , prove 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 g past the prime of her youth , her parents have provided an husband for her . indeed generally the iews married very young , as studiously advancing speedy propagation of posterity , especially before christs time , accounting virginity ( after ripe years ) a petty purgatory , and barrenness after marriage a little hell , so ambitious all were of children . § . on her wedding-day , how gallantly doth she come forth as a bride h adorned for her husband ? she needs not any art of memory to minde her to put on her ornaments , for , can a bride i forget her attire ? hers , to use , if not to own : it being a fashion amongst the iews ( even at this very day observed by them ) that , at a marriage , a bride ( though never so mean a person , or silly servant ) is decked and dressed in all gayitry lent unto her by her neighbours , so that , that day she appears a moving mine of gold , and precious stones . nor matters it , though the brides bravery be borrowed on her wedding-day , if so be that the comfort , and contentment in her match , remain her own all her life after ▪ and no wonder , if bride and bridgroom were both very gallant , when all their invited guests are highly concerned to be comely ; otherwise , if wanting a k wedding garment , they are accounted to ●ff●ont all the company , and the welcome occasion of their meeting together . § . next day we behold our bride a formall wife , and amongst all her clothes we take especiall notice of the l vaile on her head , in token of the subjection she gave to , and protection she took from her husband . vaile in hebrew called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 radid , derived from radad , to bear rule and authority , shewing now she had power m on her head , being under the command of an husband . her vaile was partable from the rest of her clothes ▪ witness the complaint of the spouse , that , the n watchmen ( shame on them for their pains ) and the keepers of the walls took away her vaile from her . this vaile ( as all the other garments of the wife ) were provided her all her life time , on her husbands charge , god taking peculiar order , that in case her husband should take another wife , yet ( amongst other provisions ) his first wives o raiment should not be diminished , though formerly she had been but a servant unto him . but wofull the condition of those seven women , who ( as the prophet foretells ) in a dearth of men , desiring nothing with an husband but an husband , would be contented , yea willing , and desirous to weaie their own p apparell , ( that is , to clothe themselves at their own charges ) so be it they might have but one man for their husband , to perform conjugall duties unto them . § . now , as the ordinary iewish wives wore clothes proportionable to their husbands estates : so the honourable women amongst them , queens especially , wore broidered garments , which were of two sorts , wrought with q needle work , brought from babylon , of which kinde ( for the art , though not the sex thereof ) i ●on●eive was that r babylonish garment which tempted ●he hands of achan to sacriledge . woven exactly in imitation of the former , and this properly called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , plurimis liciis texta , composed of various coloured threads , like branched work ; first found out at alexandria in egypt , whereof the s poet , haec tibi memphitis tellus dat munera : victa est pectine niliaco , jam babylonis acus . affirming that in his age the egyptian shuttle had got the victory of the babylonish needle . understand him , for the quickness , speciousness , cheapness , and novelty of the work ; not the state , riches , and curiosity thereof , seeing the wrought garments from babylon were like costly manuscripts , the woven stuffes from egypt like printed books , done with less charge , and greater expedition . § . but besides embroidered clothes , we finde the queen of iudea once arraied in t gold of ophir ( as if her garment were cut out of the same piece with her scepter and crown ) and made of massie plate . if so , such bravery was rather to be pitied , then envied , ( as all outward greatness is a penance rather then an ornament ) except the hands of her train-bearers did lighten the burden thereof . however , it rather appeareth ( as afterward it followeth ) of u wrought gold ; either onely studded or bossed therewith , or consisting of golden threads wrought thereinto . thus such gallantry was fashionable amongst the iews , long before any thereof was used in the western parts , or rome it self . where tarquinius priscus is by pliny affirmed the first who triumphed aureâ tunicâ , in a golden coat . and many hundred years after , the same author reports for a matter of greater rarity , that he with his own eyes beheld agrippina the wife of claudius wearing paludamentum auro textili ( or chlamydem auratam , as tacitus phraseth it ) a mantle of cloth of gold , as the first which began that fashion in rome , though customary with the iewish queens a thousand years before . § . but , if our foresaid wife , though a queen , chanceth to bury her husband , and so become a widow , presently on she puts her w widows-garments , and x anoints not her self with oyle , but weares mourning apparell ( or else , it would be accounted a great breach of modesty in her ) some competent time , though the exact limitation thereof be not specified in scripture . these widows-garments , of what mean and homely matter soever they were made , had this peculiar priviledge , that they might not be taken to pawn , or y pledge ; god the father of the fatherless , and the iudge of the z widows , being so carefull , that no injury should be offered unto them . sect . vii . of the riot and luxury of the iewish women before the captivity . § . so much for the attire of sober , and civill maidens ; the garments of grave and modest matrons . another generation succeeds , whose husbands might be the sons of abraham by their extraction , but these their wives were none of the daughters of sarah by their conditions . indeed a little before the captivity of babylon ( luxury is the forerunner of misery ) the iewish women were arrived at the greatest height of pride ; like those of whom moses foretold , a the tender and delicate woman among you , who would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground , for delicateness and tenderness . oh pride ! the earth , which is b gods footstool , is not good enough to be hers . though the same one day will be bold to tread on her face , who thought her foot too good to tread on it . § . the prophet c isaiah taketh especiall notice of a world of trinkets , which in his days concurred to dress them : tinkling ornaments . caules . round tires like the moon . chaines . bracelets . mufflers . bonnets . ornaments about the leg . head-bands . tablets . ear-rings . rings . nose-jewels . changeable suites . mantles . wimples . crisping-pins . glasses . fine-linen . hoods . vailes . but now , as once the eunuch said concerning a more mysterious passage in this prophet , d how can i understand without an interpreter ? so here without the same help , who can attain to the meaning thereof ? § . in the first place we may conceive many of these ornaments were onely temporary , as used by the fashionists of that age , which afterwards disused , both name and thing came to be abolished . which frequently comes to pass in all kinde of apparell , whose very names by degrees grow old , wax thread-bare , turne to rents , to rags , to nothing . for instance , it would pose a good antiquary , to describe the exact fashion of e herlots , paltocks , gits , haketons , tabards , court-pies , chevesailes , and gipsers : barbarous names , which may seem to carry a spell or conjuration in the mention of them . yet all these were kindes of garments , commonly used in england some four hundred years agoe . yea , pride playing in all ages upon conceited opinions of decency , hath infinitely varied the fashion of all apparell , customes of our ancestours appearing as antick to us , as our fashions ( perchance ) will seem incredible to posterity . who would beleeve , that ever our english , some four hundred years since , wore shooes s●outed and piked more then a finger long , crooking upwards ( called f crackowes ) resembling the devils claws , which were fastened to the knees with chains of gold , and silver ? or , that about the reign of king henry the fifth , men grew so excessive in that kind , that it was fain to be ordered by proclamation , that none should g weare their shooes broader at the toes then six inches ? § . secondly , of these ornaments , some were necessary , as fine-linen ; others modest , as vailes ; moe ( though costly ) comely , as ear-rings , and bracelets ; ( which h rebekah her self , and the best of women did weare ) most of them ( some few excepted ) though magnificent , lawfull , if not exceeding the wearers estate . some therefore will demand why the prophet reproved them , and why god was offended therewith ? but , we must know , the things were not so faulty in their own nature , as for the superfluous variety , fantasticall fashion , and over costly matter thereof . but , which is the main , the mindes of the wearers did the mischiefe , whose fingers ( as i may say ) infected their rings ; and mouthes marred their mufflers , being used with pride , and abused to wantonnefs . the text saith , the daughters of sion were haughty and walked with i stretched out necks ( and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to boast is by k criticks deduced from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the neck ; pride being most visible in the erected posture thereof ) and wanton eies , walking and mincing as they goe , and making a tinkling with their feet , carrying ( it seems ) bells at their heels , whose musick did jar with modesty , and gave the watchword to wantons , at what signe mercenary embraces were to be sold unto them . § . thirdly , of such as were meer superfluities , none appear more ridiculous and strange then the nose-jewels in hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 leaving us at a loss how they were fastned . surely , the iewish women were not ringed swine-like , nor had they , like the salvages in america , their noses bored through to hang jewels therein . for , although some may plead , pride never feels pain ; as also , that the absurdest fashions , when made common , seem comely ; yet such holes in their noses ( moe nostrils then ever nature made ) must of necessity hinder , both their speech , and plainer pronunciation : except , ( as some conceive ) they were fastned with gold , or silver-hoops about thier noses . for mine own part , i suppose these nose-jewels the same with frontlets , frequent among the iews , or else some pendants fastened thereunto : first , because frontlets ( otherwise ordinary ornaments ) are omitted in this catalogue . secondly , because frontlets were worn betwixt their l eies ( between which and the nose no great distance ) hanging down on a peak from their foreheads . however , 't is probable these nose-jewels were frontlets of a larger size , more prominent then ordinary , as pride in process of time improveth it self to a greater proportion . and most certain it is , god was highly displeased with this their luxury ; witness his heavy m commination , and it shall come to pass , that in stead of sweet smell there shall be stinke ; and in stead of a girdle , a rent ; and in stead of well-set haire , baldness ; and in stead of a stomacher , a girding of sackcloth ; and burning , in stead of beauty . which last curse is omitted by the septuagint . § . now , whereas baldness is threatned to the iewish women , i● prompts unto me a passage in hippocrates , who ( as n seneca cites him ) affirmes , that women in his time were neither bald , nor subject to the gout : and yet o seneca confesseth , that the weaker sex in his days , were subject to both these infirmities ; non qu●a mutata foeminarum natura , sed vita : nam cum virorum licentiam aequaverint , corporum quoque virilium vitia aequa● verunt . though a supernaturall cause must be allowed , immediately to inflict the same on the iewish women , about the time of the prophets prediction . § . whereas it is said , in stead of beauty burning , i question whether it relateth to the babylonians sacking of the city , when p they burnt the house of god , and brake down the wall of ierusalem , and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire , and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof . rather i beleeve it referred to some personall , and corporall malady , which afterwards god inflicted on the bodies of these lascivious women : as fevers , or the disease erysipelas , a swelling full of heat , and redness with pain about it , ( called by us saint anthonies fire ) or some other pestilent inflammation . except any will understand burning in the q apostles sense , for inward lust ; that these women , when ugly and deformed , should still ardently affect their lovers , by whom they were entertained with neglect , and contempt . § . the mention of turning a sweet smell into a stink , mindes me of a common tradition , that an offensive savour attends the bodies of modern iews , who ( notwithstanding their frequent washing ) may be sented in their company , from those which are christians . indeed the flout of a fleering pagan r poet herein , workes nothing on my beliefe , quod jejunia sabbatariorum , malles , quàm quod oles , olere , bassa . more am i moved with the testimony of many credible merchants in our age , adding hereunto , that the iewish mothers use to buy the bloud of christians , from barber-surgeons , ( who preserve it on purpose ) therein to bath the bodies of their new born babes , so to mitigate the rank smell of their children . however , we leave this as s doubtfull , having formerly found their report false , who ( literally interpreting that commination , t and ever bow down their backs ) affirme all iews to be crooked , or bunch-backed ; experience presenting many of that nation ( for their stature ) as proper persons , and as streight as any other people . § . i shall deceive their expectations , who conceive i will soile my book with presenting the exact habits of common harlots therein . onely in generall we learn from scripture , that with thamar the daughter-in-law of iudah , they used to sit u covered and wrapt in a vaile , in an open place , by the way . impudent modesty ! shameless shamefacedness● what a contradiction was there betwixt her gesture , and posture ? why w face covered , if intending to be dishonest ? why in the high-way , if disposed to be otherwise ? hereby she professed a private-publickness ( the x twilight is the harlots season ) as free to commit sin : so carefull not to be openly known her self , and ( by consequence ) not to reveal him who committed it with her . § . adde hereunto that painting was practised by y harlots , adulterated complexions well agreeing with adulterous conditions . especially , they used to z to paint their eyes , understand their eye-browes and eye-lids with stibium , to make them look black , conceited by them an extraordinary comeliness . hereupon was solomons caution , neither let her take thee with her a eye-lids , as one of her principall nets to catch wantons therewith . when aged , they used in vain to make themselves fair by b renting their faces with painting , though more cause to rent them with their nailes out of penitent indignation . thus painting , used to reconcile , in time widens the breaches in their faces ; and their flesh , tainted at last with the poison thereof , like rotten vessels , spring the moe leakes , the more they are repaired . § . as for the other garments of whores , it is probable , that the publick , and mercenary , were distinguished from honest women , by some habit peculiar to themselves ; solomon observing , that one came forth c with the attire of an harlot . sure i am , the same custome long since was observed in england , finding that adam francis mercer , and lord maior of london anno . procured an act of parliament , that no known whore should wear any hood , or attire on her head , except raied , d or striped cloth of diverse colours . but , enough , if not too much , of so bad a subject ; e who so pleaseth god , shall escape from her , but the ●inner shall be taken by her . sect . viii . of iewish grave-clothes , and burying ornaments . § . after some few years , all the persons formerly described , high and low , rich and poor , one with another , meet at the house of death , whither we will afford them our attendance , to behold their funerall wardrobe . indeed , by iobs confession , a naked shall i return thither again , all are resolved naked into the wombe-generall of their mother earth ; and b when he dieth he shall carry nothing away with him , ( that is , actively , which he himself can put on , or is sensible of ) though passively the dead may be c carried out with such clothing upon them , as decency , and modesty requires . § . first therefore , his eyes being closed by one nearest , or dearest unto him , d ioseph shall put his hands upon thine eyes ; the body was e washed , and then prepared for embalming . this embalming was twofold ; either by incorporation , substituting spices in the rooms of their brains and bowells taken out , so to preserve their corpses from corruption ; an egyptian custome , and so probably f iacob and ioseph were embalmed : or else onely by apposition , or putting of sweet odours to the dead body , ( called by the iews * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) after which sort our saviour was embalmed . of whom as a bone was not broken : so no part of his body was taken away , to hinder the entireness of his resurrection . § . the next work was , g 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , that is , to contrive the body , and winde it into a modest method . for , though the pale cheeks of the dead will take no other dye , yet the corpse may blush by proxy in the surviving kindred , if not put into a decent posture . afterwards , they were wrapped up in a sindon , i bound hand and foot with grave-clothes ( generally called k 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and more particularly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) having 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a napkin about their heads , single by it self , and not fastned to the rest of the grave-clothes , as appears by that napkin in about our saviours head , not lying with the clothes after his resurrection , but l wrapped together in a place by it self . this done , the body was put into a m coffin ; laid , and carried out on [ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ] a n biere , and then either , buried , the most o ancient and generall custome of the hebrews ; or , burnt p with fragrant spices , to qualifie all noisome smels ; or , both , as the bodies of q saul and his sons , whose flesh was burnt , and bones buried . as for asa his buriall , it was peculiar for the solemnity thereof , they r laid him in a bed which was filled with sweet odours , and diverse kindes of spices prepared by the apothecaries art ; and they made a very great burning for him . and the reason , that more state was used at his buriall , then others , was because he was a pious king , and so well deserved it ; as also ( which was the main ) because he had a godly son and successour iehoshaphat , not grudging what cost he bestowed on his fathers funerall . a feast called the bread s of men , and elsewhere a t cup of consolation , was made at these burials , probably at the cost of the friends of the party deceased , to comfort them at their grief , with moderate refection . § . we presume , the children and friends , of this person deceased , bemoaned him veirs & spirantibus lachrymis , with true and lively sorrow ; otherwise it was common amongst the iews , as amongst our modern irish , to send for mourning women , so u cunning in wailing , that they could make their eyes run down with tears , and their eye-lids gush out with waters , so to furnish forth the funerall . such mock-tears were in all ages : credidimus * lacrymis : an & hae simulare docentur ? hae quoque habent artes , quáque jubentur eunt . thy tears were trusted : do they falshood know ? yea , they have tricks , at will they come and go . but , as parents , when their children cry for nothing , use to beat them , that they may cry for something : so god threatned that he miseries of ierusalem should x afterwards turn their faigned , and strained wailings , into sound and sincere sorrow ; when those teares ( formerly but the adopted children ) should become the naturall issue of their heavy hearts . § . nothing more remains of the iewish burying clothes ; except any will adde , as part of their metaphoricall garments , the graves wherein they were interred . these were proportioned to the deserts of the party deceased , and love which the living bare unto him . in which respect hezekiah was buried in the chiefest ( or y highest ) of the sepulchers of the sons of david ; but whether highest in posture as nearest to david , or in structure , as built most eminent above ground , let others dispute . they used to white over their sepulchers to appear beautifull without , to which the hypocriticall pharisees are resembled by our a saviour . yea , the friends of the dead used to raise , repair , and rebuild such sepulchers many years after the party was deceased ( probably renewing the epitaphs upon them : ) b witness the contradiction in the iews actions , with one hand out of pretended courtesie , building and garnishing the tombes of the dead , whilest at the same time with the other hand , out of reall cruelty , they killed the living prophets among them . here the map of jewish gods is to be inserted . the idols of the iews . chap. vii . § . it is hard , exactly to define , when idolatry first began . it is generally thought about the days of enos , adams grandchild ; grounded upon gen. . . though little certainty can be collected from those words , so variously translated . we may safely conceive , it began very early , in the infancy of mankinde : it being true of the great world , what is said of man the microcosme , a the wicked are estranged from the wombe , they goe astray speaking lies , as soon as they be born . § . if we enquire into the causes of the variety of idols , and far spreading of superstition , these principally present themselves . first , the multiformity of error in its own nature . if truth be once casually lost , but especially if wilfully left , numberless are the by-paths of falshood . nothing under an infinite , can expleat , and satiate the immortall minde of man. who having once forsaken god , infinite in power , thought to fill it self with idols , infinite in number ; leaving still a blank , and reserving their souls for b unknown gods , when they should be added thereunto . § . secondly , the mistaking the attribute , of divine providence . men did conceive the whole world , and all therein , too large a compass for one god to actuate and inform . and therefore as pliny c observeth , that the old eagles determinant spatia , assign severall and certain circuits to their young ones to flye and feed in , without interfering each on others dominions ; so the heathen confined topicall gods to particular places . their gods ( say d the syrians of the israelites ) are gods of the hills ; ( perchance collecting the same from the iews usuall sacrificing in high places ) we will fight against them in the plain , and surely we shall be stronger then they . this mindes me of the speech of a e persian in england , attendant on the embassador anno . who perceiving wealthy people in london in the time of the plague tumultuously posting to their countrey houses ; what ( saith he ) have the englishmen two gods , the one for the city , and the other for the countrey ? a mistake in the heathen , which gave the occasion of multiplying of deities : some shadow of whose superstition , still remains in popish saint-worship . for whereas christ gave his disciples power to f heale all manner of sicknesses , and all manner of diseases ( not consigning the ague to peter , palsie to andrew &c. ) they appoint the severall maladies to the cure of severall saints , tooth-ach to apollonia , sore-eyes to saint blaze &c. § . thirdly , the improving of heroicall into divine worship . anciently every nation had men of renown , famous in their generations , meriting much of their countrey . whose memories after their death was honoured with monuments , statues , anniversaries of mourning , some foo●steps whereof are seen in the daughters of israel yearly lamenting the daughter g of iephthah . in process of time , popular indiscretion , hightened this civill , into divine honour , translating such famous heroes from the front of the mightiest men , into the rear of the meanest gods : as appears by the propensity of the people of israel to adore moses when dead , had not god h prevented it . § . fourthly , the assigning severall sexes to their gods , as i ashtaroth the goddess of the zidonians . hereupon the fancy of the poets were the spokesmen to make love betwixt them , the priests to marry , or rather the pandars to couple ; and upon the present impregnation of the female deities , the same luxurious fancies were the midwives to deliver them , the nurses to suckle their children . these , when brought up to maturity , were also disposed in matches , thus filling the world with families of full grown , and nurseries of infant deities . § . lastly , the suggestion of satan , who was the master of the ceremonies in all these superstitions : who as he is a generall gainer by all sins of men , so he did drive a secret trade , and particularly received unknown profit by idolatry ; seeing , as the k apostle observeth , what they saerificed , they sacrifittced to devills . § . in the progress of idolatry we may observe , first , they began to worship glorious creatures , the sun , with all the host of heaven , mentioned by holy l iob , an ancient writer . but all the stars in heaven were too few for them to adore . hence they proceed to worship usefull creatures , sheep , oxen &c. stepping thence to the adoration of things hurtfull , dragons , serpents , crocodiles ; probably in fear , for a ne noceant , that they should doe them no harm . lastly , they gave divine honour to all creatures in generall , m changing the glory of the incorruptible god , into an image made like to corruptible man , and to birds , and fourfooted beasts , and creeping things : their children not making more babies , then their parents did idols . but of all , the egyptian superstition , rather then it would sit out , plaid at the smallest game ; they worshipping besides oxen , and sheep , onions and leeks , in their gardens : so that one may justly admire that their superstition did not starve them . for this being granted , that they would not eat what they did adore , ( which is laid to the charge of the papists , how truly i have now no leasure to examine ) it is hard to conceive where they found food to satisfie their hunger , besides the objects of their idolatry . § . if now in the next place we descend to enquire , what should make men so much to dote on the visible representations of their deities , contrary to the nature of a spirit ; we shall finde it proceed from thier infidelity , not able to apprehend god under the notion of an incorporeal being . and therefore to contract the species of their devotion , they fixed it in a materiall object , lest otherwise with them their god should be out of sight , out of minde . saint lewes of france loved much to hear sermons , whilest our king henry the third his contemporary , was more for being at mass , saying he had rather see his god then hear another speake eloquently of him . this humour of seeing a deity ( though venting it self otherways ) possessed the hearts of people in all ages , who being unable to raise up their minds to conceive god every where , loved to look on him bodily represented in some materiall image . § . infidelity thus premised as the main cause , two other occasions , no ways given by god , but ignorantly taken by men , much advanced such visible representations : first , gods frequent appearing to the patriarchs in a bodily shape . which being but then assumed , voluntary , occasionall , and for the present purpose , was misinterpreted by men for naturall , necessary , constant , and an essentiall part of his being : and thence they concluded him a corporeall substance . § . secondly , image-making was much advantaged by some expressions in scripture , that god used after the manner of men , allaying the purity of his nature , with humane phrases , so to work himself the better down to our capacities . should god speake of himself as he is , his expressions would be as incomprehensible as his essence . hereupon , men , in stead of thinking higher of gods goodness , thought lower of his greatness , and not able to conceive his providence by his eye , cleare demonstration of his power by his arme , clearer by his hand , clearest by his finger , attention by his eares , gracious presence by his face &c. fell first in their brains to fancy , and then with their hands to form him a bodily image , or idol . idols , which though ( as the psalmist n observeth ) they have mouths and speake not , yet are termed by the prophet , o teachers of lies , misinforming men with most false apprehensions . § . but their impieties stopped not here , but proceeded from a corporall , to a vicious assimilation , and soon after inferred their gods conformity to man , as well in lewdness , as in limbes , badness , as bodily proportion . this they falsely collected from the impunity of many profane persons , interpreting gods silence , consent ; as approving , because not presently punishing their wicked practises . these things ●ast thou done , and i kept p silence , and thou thoughtest that i was altogether such a one as thy self . thus because many theeves have thrived by their felonious courses , drunkards in their distempers have strangely escaped dangers , and harlots have grown wealthy by their mercenary embraces ; the heathens have fancied mercury the god and patron of theft , bacchus of drunkenness , venus and ( as some will have it ) flora of whoredom , conceiving such gods guilty themselves of the same sins , and friends , favourers , yea protectors thereof in others . § . but to return to their worshipping of idols . true it is , the most knowing and rationall amongst the heathens , adored not the very materiall image , but in , under , through , and beyond the same worshipped the true god of heaven and earth . and in all ages some were found who flouted at such superstitions : amongst these the poet brings in an idol thus speaking . olim truncus eram ficulnus , inutile lignum , cum faber incertus scamnum facerétne , deúmve ; maluit esse deum . time out of minde a fig-tree stock i grew , an useless block , before the workman knew , benches , or gods to make me , ( smal the ods ) resolv'd at last of me to make his gods. semblable whereunto is the story of a countrey-man in spain , who coming to an image enshrined , the extraction and first making whereof he could well remember , and not finding from the same that respectfull usage which he expected , ( haply because he had not feed the friers to their contentment , who accordingly do sell such frowns and smiles ) you need not ( quoth he ) be so proud , for i have known you from a plum-tree . but although the wiser sort both of pagans and papists worshipped god under the image , so onely faulty in symbolicall idolatry , and breach of the second commandement , serving the true deity in a false and forbidden manner , yet the ignorant people amongst them both , were directly guilty of dull downright idolatry , breaking both first and second commandement , adoring a false god with a false service . and as iacob , though bound by his own vow to goe on to q bethel , yet either out of faintness or forgetfulness , set up his staffe short thereof at the city of r shechem , where he bought a dwelling ; so the devotion of ignorant people , though projecting perchance a longer journey to themselves to worship god in the image , tired in their travell , and taking up a nearer lodging , terminated their worship in that visible object presented unto them . thus gods spirit , though allowing liberty to the potter of the same clay to make one vessell to honour and another to dishonour , sharply reproveth the s carpenter , who makes a fire for his warming , and a god for his worshipping of the self same wood . § . but grant idols originally frequent amongst the heathen , a colony of them began to be planted amongst the israelites , much by their mixture with the men , more by their matches with the women of those nations of canaan ; notwithstanding god flat prohibition to the contrary : his t daughter shalt thou not take unto thy son , for they will turn away thy son from following me , that they may serve other gods. some will say , it was more probable the iewish husband should turn his heathen wife to true religion . for suppose her no fool ( such unconvertible in a u mortar ) but one of a tolerable capacity , bearing unfeigned affection to her husband ( obliged thereunto in gratitude for his marrying her , he might destroy ) he having the double advantage of authority and verity on his side , it seems more likely that he should make impression on he beliefe , then receive infection from her . but here we must know , that he husband by breaking gods command in his unlawfull match , forfeited the vigour and vertue of his arguments , intreaties , perswasions , and threatnings to work upon her . and as his sword justly wanted the edge of power , so his shield deservedly lost all strength of protection , being left liable and exposed to his wives solicitation , without any fence against her infection . yea , grant at first his constancy in the truth as hard as stone , yet in continuance of time it might be hollowed with that , which solomon calleth a continuall w dropping ; and restless importunity advantaged with bosome-opportunity , may atchieve a seeming impossibility . § . so much for the occasion of polytheisme , the originall of heathen idols , and naturalizing such strange gods amongst the israelites . come we now to the particular description of their idols . conceive we this no breach of gods * command , make no mention of the name of other gods , neither let them be heard out of thy mouth , understanding it , by way of praying to them , praising of them , pleading for them , swearing by them , but otherwise it is lawfull to mention them occasionally by way of discourse ; yea commendable to name them as detesting their impiety , deploring mens ignorance , desiring mens information , the right knowledge of many scripture-passages , depending on some insight into such superstitions . where , before we begin , be it observed , that though very many the idols mentioned in scripture , yet our mistake may make them more then they were ; if erroneously conceiving quot nomina , tot numina , that every severall idols name we meet with , was a different and distinct deity by them adored . o no! as our one and onely god is known to us by severall names , iah , iehovah , el , elohim , adonai &c. so in apish imitation thereof , some one heathen god took a principall pride , to have severall names imposd upon him , and pleased himself much in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , in multitude of titles . § . in setting forth these heathen gods , it matters not what method we use , and perchance none at all is most naturall for our subject . molten images are y confusion , saith the prophet ; and therefore , a rude heap fitter , ●hen an orderly pile , for their description . however , not for their honour but one ease , we will rank such idols as we finde in scripture worshipped by iews , or judaizing people , alphabetically ; as followeth . adramelech . § . that is , a magnificent king. surely , seeing such men as made , named also these idols , they had been highly to balme , if not fitting them with illustrious titles . this was not adored by the iews , but such samaritans as from sephervaim , came to people the countrey whence the ten tribes were carried captive . his image may probably be conceived , a crowned king sitting on a throne , and the manner of his worship is expressed in holy z writ , that they burnt their children in fire unto him . not that they burnt them to ashes , as they did to moloch , ( whose service was hell , whilest this of adramelech was purgatory ) but , by way of lustration , expiation , consecration , and mock-baptisme by fire , their chemerim , or priests led the unwilling children , and passed them through the fire on both sides , where their painfull scorching was rewarded , with the peoples acclamation , and their parents opinion of merit therein . anamalech . § . as some a deduce it from the arabian word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ani , rich , in effect a rich king , or ( if you will ) prince mammon . if so , he hath many adorers this day , by b covetousness which is idolatry . others deriving it from an hebrew root 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an answering god , which shows him more civill , friendly , and familiar then others of his rank , taking more state upon them in their sullen silene no doubt , the devils answers here were no plainer , then his riddling oracles elsewhere , which like changeable taffata ( wherein the woofe and warpe are of different colours ) seems of severall hues , as the looker on takes his station : so his doubling answers appeared such to every ones apprehension , as they stood affected in their desires . anamalech had the same superstitious worship c with the former , and was worshipped by the sephervaite samaritans . apis , or serapis . § . was a true living black bull , with a white list , or streak along the back , a white mark in fashion of an half moon on his right shoulder ; onely two hairs growing on his tail ( why just so many , and no moe , the devill knows with a fair square blaze in his forehead , and a great bunch called cantharus under his tongue . what art their priests did use , to keep up the breed , and preserve succession of cattell with such 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or privy marks , i list not to enquire . it was adored by the egyptians , ( though not mentioned by name in scripture ) and hence it was , that they fed by themselves , counting it an d abomination to eate with the hebrews . for , oh ! how would their hunger have been turned into fury , if tasting of an israelitish dish , they should chance to meet therein with parcell of that god whom they worshipped ? this also was the cause , why moses requested three days journy into the wilderness to sacrifice , refusing to doe it in the land of egypt , alledging fear to be stoned , if before their eyes they should offer the abomination e of the egyptians , namely , if he should offer a bull or cow , how mad would the other have been , at such an indignity , and affront to their deity . § . be●ides this naturall and living bull , kept in one place , they also worshipped 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a golden , or gilded oxe , the image or portraiture of the former . some conceive this apis to have been the symbol , and emblem of ioseph the patriarch , so called from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ab , a father , seeing he is said to be made by god f a father to pharaoh , that is , preserver of him and his countrey . and therefore the egyptians in after ages , gratified his memory with statues of an oxe , a creature so usefull in plowing , sowing , bringing home , and treading out of corn , to perpetuate that gift of grain he had conferred upon them . they strengthen their conjecture , because serapis ( which g one will have to be nothing else but apis with addition of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sar , that is , a prince , whence perchance our english sir ) was pictured with h a bushell over his head , and ioseph ( we know ) was corn-meater generall in egypt . though others on good ground conceive , oxe-worship in egypt of far greater antiquity . § . however , hence i aaron , and hence afterwards ieroboam ( who flying from solomon , lived some years with shishak king of k egypt ) had the pattern of their calves , which they made for the children of israel to worship . if any object , the egyptians idols were bulls , or oxen , the israelites but calves ; the difference is not considerable . for ( besides the objectour never lookt into the mouths of the latter to know their age ) gradus non variat speciem , a less character is not another letter . yea herodotus calls apis himself 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a calfe , and vitulus is of as large acception among the latines . such an old calfe the l poet describes , — ego hanc vitulam ( ne fortè recuses , bis venit ad mulctram , binos alit ubere foetus ) depno — my calfe i lay ( left you mislike't , both tides she comes to th'pale , and suckles twain besides . ) but to put all out of doubt , what in exodus is termed a calfe , the * psalmist calleth an oxe . some will have aaron to have branded on his calfe the privy tokens of apis , because it is said , after he had made it a molten calfe that he m fashioned it with a graving toole , this is , say some , imprinted it with the foresaid characters in the face , back , and shoulder thereof ; but this we leave as uncertain . ashima . § . all that we know of him , is , that he was the god of the men of hamath n , which were brought into samaria . the rabbins say , he was presented as an hee-goate . like enough , satan much delighted in that shape , where his staring , frizeled , shaggy hair was fit to affright folk . indeed , both devils and goats are said to goe out in a stinke , and so fare they well . ashtoreth , in the septuagint astarte . § . her hebrew name signifieth flocks , either because worshipped in the form of a sheep , as the iews will have it , or because ( as scaliger ) whole flocks were sacrificed to her . what if because supposed protector and preserver of flocks in those eastern countreys , as in the west , — pan curat oves , oviúmque magistros . pan he doth keep , both shepheard and sheep . ashtaroth , saith the scripture , was the goddess of the sidonians o . tully saith the same , p venus syria tyróque concepta quae astarte vocatur . but , though the sidonians did originally invent , they did not totally ingross her to themselves , the philistines having a share in her service , who hung up sauls armor in the q house of ashtaroth , as acknowledging their victory atchieved by her assistance . in the vacancy r of the judges , the worshipping of ashtaroth was first brought into israel ; which afterwards , by the advise of s samuel , was solemnly banished out of the land , untilll solomon in his old age , befooled by his wives , t introduced it again . her image was the statute of a woman , having on her own head the head u of a bull , where the hornes erected resembled the crescent moon , and his curled hair ( falling down on her forehead ) betokened ( forsooth ) the fiery beams therof . this goddess was very tender of her self , and carefull not to catch cold ; for , besides the grove over her image , she had also curtains over her grove , w which the women weaved for that purpose , till iosiah took order to destroy them . baal . § . that is , a lord , being the name generall for most idols . hereat haply the apostle x reflected , when acknowledging ( according to common language ) there be gods many , and lords many . but , we take this wherof we treat , to be chiefe of the baals , the most ancient , and eminent of his name . a great lord no doubt , who could qualifie four y hundred and fifty prophets for his chaplains . he was served with z bowing of the knee , and his priests , in a religious frenzie , a used to cut themselves with knives and lancers , till the bloud gushed out upon them . oh● how doe some go down hill with difficulty , and take pains to the place of eternal pain ? in the interim betwixt the b judges , baalisme was first brought into israel , which in the days of samuel was c publickly abandoned by the people . afterwards the worship of baal ebbed and flowed variously , as followeth : in israel . d iezebel daughter to eth-baal king of the zidonians wife to ahab , brought in baal ( as part of her portion ) into samaria . eliah gave his worship a mortall wound , when killing four hundred and fifty of his prophets at mount carmel . . iezebel before ahabs death , recruited the number of baals prophets , to about g four hundred , and set up his service again . ichoram her son ( best of all the bad kings ) put away the image i of baal , which ahab had made . iehu so totally and finally routed baal , and his priests , that they never after rallied up their forces in israeal . in iudah . athaliath iezebels daughter , publickly planted the service of baal in ierusalem , and bestowed e on him , all the dedicate things of the house of the lord. iehoiada rooted it out , when he slew mattan f baals priest , before the alter . ahaz set up bank-rupt baal , with a new stock , and made molten h images for his service . hezekiah is presumed to have destroyed baal , amongst the rest of the images , which he brake in pieces . manasseh reared up k altars for baal , and made a grove for him in imitation of ahab . iosiah made an l utter abolition of baal out of the land . then was fully acomplished , what god by his m prophet had foretold , i will take away the names of baalim out of her mouth , and they shall no more be remembred by their name . § . some will aske , that seeing baal is made a man by eliah , he is a god n pursuing his enemies ( which is no womans work ) how comes saint paul to make him female rom. . . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , where the feminine article speaks him , or her rather , of the weaker sex ? it is answered , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the image , or something equivalent , is understood . if this satisfie not , even , let , baal plead for himself , and make his own vindication for the monstrosity of an hermaphrodite . baal-berith , and baal-meon . § . i take these to be the same with baal , onely distinguished by the place wherein they were worshipped . thus the lady of lauretta hall , and walsingham , are not severall persons , but the same adored in sundry shrines . baal-berith ( perchance because first worshipped in berithus a city in phoenicia ) had a temple in , or near shechem , whence abimelech took seventy pieces of silver to raise his o army . baal-meon was placed in the tribe of reuben . baal-peor . § . taking his name from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to lay open , deus apertionis , an idol which shewed all that adam covered with fig-leaves . the p fathers make him to be the beastly god priapus . no wonder then if grave cato went off from the stage , at the plays presented to the honour of the god bacchus , accounting such scurrility inconsistent with his severity , seeing none could contentedly behold the image of baal-peor ( the idol of moab and midian ) but first must sacrifice all his modesty unto it . and we may be well assured , where the idol was naked , the idolaters were not covered , so that both sexes assumed much licentiousness in their feasts , and merry meetings , as appears by the impudency q of cozbi and zimri . § . one thing i much admire at , in the worship of baal-peor , that such as adored him ( as the psalmist observeth ) did eat the sacrifices r of the dead . me thinkes , each morsell they put into their mouths , should mar their mirth , and the very mention of the dead , make them all amort . their warm and wanton embraces of living bodies , ill agreed with their offerings diis manibius , to gashly ghosts . this inclines me to that learned s mans opinion that by sacrifices to the dead are intended no inferiae , or obsequies to the departed , but onely meer offerings to the idol , a liveless , dull , dead , and inanimate thing ; in opposition whereunto , god so t often in scripture is styled the living lord. bel. § . the same ( say some ) with baal , onely he was a phenician , this a u babylonish deity . this bel was the grand confounder of so many barnes , flocks , and vineyards , spending daily twelve w measures of fine flowre , forty sheep , and six great pots of wine . surely he deserved to forfeit his large fare , by the apostles x rule , he that will not work , let him not eat , finding no activity in this idol , proportionable to his voracious appetite . indeed his priests , and their famiy are said to make riddance of all those victuals ; and although the whole story may be challenged to be apocrypha , yet so much thereof as relateth to bels devouring belly ( so beleeved by a vulgar errour ) seems framed in some analogy to canonicall truth ; witness the threatning of god in the y prophet . and i will punish bel in bablyon , and i will bring forth out of his mouth , that which he hath swallowed up . baal-zebub . § . that is , the lord of flies ; but , whether so called , from bringing or banishing of flies ; from causing , or chasing them away , is not decided . indeed the iews account it one of their constant miracles in their temple , that whereas naturally ( as where the carcase is , thither will the eagles resort : so ) flies swarme where sacrifices are slain , yet not any of such troublesome insects infected their altar , whilest plenty thereof about the sacrifices of baal-zebub . of this idol formerly in a dan , here i onely enter my dissent from their opinion , who conceive baal-zebub a nick-name given in derision to the god of ekron . surely sick men speake seriously , and ahaziah his fall had not so far crazed his intellectuals ( calling him baal-zebub in his commission to his messengers ) as to send a mock by their mouth to that god from whom he begged a boon , b and hoped to have a favorable answer . at which time those messengers were remanded by elijah , and soon after the two captains with their fifties sent to attach him burnt with fire from heaven , whilest the third saved himself with c submissive language ; a petition working more then a mandamus on the spirit of the prophet . bel-zebub , or god of flies , passeth in the testament for the d prince of devils . indeed , as flies have their felicity in inflaming of raw sores : so the devill delights in heightning each pimple into a scab ; scab , into a boyle , boyle , into an ulcer ; ulcer , into a fistula ; endevouring to improve our smallest sins by his temptations into unpardonableness , if gods mercy prevent not his malice . chemosh . § . notoriously known to be the abomination of e moab ; yet so that this idol was held in coparcenary betwixt them , and the ammonites ; witness iephthah his question to the king of ammon , demanding restitution of the land of gilead from the israelites , f wilt not thou possess that which chemosh thy god giveth thee to possess ? thus as moab and ammon once parted the incestuous extraction from the same g grandfather : so now they met again at the idolatrous adoration of the same god. we finde nothing in scripture of the fashion , or worship of chemosh , onely we read in h benjamin an ancient learned iew , that at gebal in a temple was found the idol of the children of ammon ( certainly either chemosh , or moloch ) being an image of stone gilded over , sitting on a throne , betwixt two female images also sitting , having an altar before him whereon incense was offered , as we in our draught have designed it accordingly . dagon . § . neither good flesh nor fish , but a mixture of both , bearing fish in his name , and flesh in his head , and i hands . indeed the heathens observe the syrians generally to have adored fish : piscen syri venerantu● , k saith tully . yet dare i not impute gods not apointing any fish to be sacrificed unto him , to his detestation thereof on the foresaid account ; but rather , either because being ferae naturae they could not be constantly gotten for the continuall sacrifice ; or because it was hard to bring fish alive to ierusalem many miles by land , it being essentiall to the sacrifice to be presented quick at the altar when offered thereupon . but of dagon formerly in * dan. the ephod ▪ § . this by the primitive institution thereof , is sufficiently known for a priests l vestment . indeed , once we finde david , when dancing before the arke , wearing m an ephod , but in what capacity let others dispute : surely not with any ●●crilegious invading of the priest-like office . perchance , ( as formerly our english kings at their coronation wore a dalmatica with sleeves , a sacerdotall garment : so ) david , as custos utriusque tabulae , and being by his place to provide that the priests should perform their office , habited himself ( especially on that occasion ) in some generall conformity to their function . but leaving this to others , as god by a●rons chiefe n ephod informed such as inquired of him , so satan ( gods ape in his temples , priests , prophets , altars , sacrifices , oracles , and ephods ) counterfeited in his mock - ephods , to resolve such as asked counsell thereat . thus the danites before their expedition against laish , consulted the o ephod which micah had in his house , concerning their success . gideon also made an ephod of the spoiles of the midianites , which we charitably beleeve might be ( when first made ) a virgin ( as innocently intended by him , onely for a civill memoriall ) but in fine proved an harlot , when all israel went a p whoring after it . so that such an ephold may pass under the notion of a iewish idol . milcom . § . that is , their king. if any object , that the points therein answer not exactly to that sense ; know their gods were too great to be ranked under grammar rules : ( iupiter we know irregularly declined both in latine and greek ) and some grammaticall anomaly is conceived to conduce the more to their magnificence . it was the god of the q ammonites , and was the same with moloch , as may appear , because what r amos calleth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , saint luke s rendereth moloch ▪ according to the judicious observation of the most learned t father , concerning apostles , and apostolicall me● , citing places out of the old testament , illos non verba considerare , sed sensum , nec eadem sermonum calca●e vestigia , dummodo à sentent●is non recedant . moloch . § . a monstrous idol . nothing came amiss to him , having stowage enough to receive whatever was offered unto him . it was an hollow image of brass , having seven repositories therein ; one for meal , a second for turtles , a third for a sheep , a fourth for a ram , the fifth for a calfe , ( like to which was the head thereof ) the sixth for an oxe , the u seventh for a child , which it first embraced in its armes , and then ( hags hugs kill with kindness ) seared to death , having fire made under the concavity thereof . this murder of children was acted near ierusalem , in a place remarkable for its double name , the valley of the sons of w hinnom . so called from the skreeking of children ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nahem is to roar out ) when sacrificed there . x tophet . from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 toph a y drum , loud musick being used to intercept the childrens crying from their parents hearing it . but , had not such parents ears as well is their hearts , as on their heads , to sympathize with the suffering of their own flesh and bloud ? and seeing these tragedies were acted in their presence , why had not such parents , ( as musick to keep the sound from their eares , so ) maskes to hide the same from their sight ? but , what shall we say ? they may be ranked amongst those of whom the apostle speaks , whom z the god of this world hath blinded . superstition depriving men both of grace and nature together . nergal . § . he was adored by the a cuthites , by whom we understand such who ( before their transplanting into samaria ) dwelled at or nigh cuth , a river in persia. his name may be deduced from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * ner , light or fire , and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gal , rolled or wreathed : the raies of the one , and flakes of the other appearing waved or curled to the beholder . hence we conceive this nergal of the cuthites to be a constant fire which they adored as the symbole of the sun , notoriously known to be the grand deity of the persians . as indeed fire is the the terrestriall sun , whence the stars of our torches and tapers borrow their light . yea , such the purity , clarity , and activity thereof , that though it be not to be called a god , god is pleased to call himself a b consuming fire . nisroch . § . a god of the assyrians , in whose temple sennacherib was a worshipping , when c slain therein by adramelech , and sharezer his sons . this was he who so lately boasted , where is the king of hamath , of arphad , of sepharvaim , d of henah and ivah ? let now one more be added to that catalogue , and where is sennacherib the proud king of assyria ? many were gainers by his death ; god got the honour of the action , isaiah the performance of his prophecy , hezekiah riddance from his worst enemy , esarhaddon his son and successour got the kingdome of assyria , and his two sons who slew him , e got exile into the land of armenia , too fair a reward for so foul a patricide . now though we finde not this nisroch by name to be worshipped by the iews , yet because the f prophets complaint is generall , that they doted on the assyrians their neighbours , we may conclude them guilty of spirituall whoredome with nisroch as a principall idol of that countrey . nibhaz . § . this and tarkah were the idols of the g avites , of whom nothing save their names extant in scripture , ( though the rabbies fancy the one like a dog , the other an asse ) and it is a good hearing that we hear no more of them . some heathen accounted those men happiest that were never born , and those next that died the soonest : so we esteem those idols least bad which never appeared , and next them such as are most obscure , the manner of whose mischievous worship have left the least impressions to posterity . queen of heaven . § . god himself most justly is styled the king of heaven by h nebucchadnezza● ; but by queen of heaven in the i prophet , ( superstitiously worshipped by the iews ) we understand the moon made to rule the night . let her be deposed from her regency , if willingly accepting of this usurped title , and their unlawfull offerings : but seeing mans importunity forced them upon her against consent , the moon is as free from idolatry , as the virgin mary from superstition , on whom regina coeli is obtruded by the roman missals . the cakes offered unto her must needs be most compleate , seeing each one in the family had a finger in the making thereof . the k children gather the wood , and the fathers kindle the fire , and the women ●knead the dough to make cakes for the queen of heaven . their servants being conceived too mean to be used in so high an employment . remphan , or rephan . § . onely mentioned by saint steven in his purgation of himself , and that with such difference from the text in the old testament , that learned men have much adoe to reconcile it . amo● . . but yee have born the tabernacle of your moloch , and chiun , your images , the stars of your god which yee made to your selves . acts . . yea , yee took up the tabernacle of moloch , and the star of your god remphan , figures which yee made , to worship them . the main difficulty is this : how comes chiun in the hebrew to be rendered remphan in the greek ? not the same letter ( save the last ) being found in the one as in the other . the best solution we meet with is as followeth : by chium ( as aben-ezra will have it ) the planet saturn is meant . plautus in his penulus calls the same c●un , as a learned l critick hath observed , and the egyptian anubis called cyon in greek , m plutarch conceives to be the same with saturne . rephan in the coptick language , a tongue extant at this day ( partly consisting of greek , and partly of old egyptian ) is used for saturn , as an n author well skilled in that tongue hath informed us . . the septuagint we know was written in the land of egypt , at the instance of p●olemaeus philadelphus , where the translatours using rephan the noted name for saturn in stead of chiun , altered the word and retained the sense , a liberty lawfully assumed by the most faithfull interpreters . . probably saint steven spake to the iews in their own language , but saint l●ke writing in greek , alledgeth his words according to the septuagint translation . this i conceive to be most satisfactory amongst multiplicity of answers by severall authors applyed to the place . rimmon . § . an idol of syria whose principall temple was in o damascus . the name signifieth a pomegranate , p as one will have it ; who thereupon concludes it to be venus , because apples were dedicated unto her , and her image commonly made with such fruit , as a frolick , in h●r hand . more probable it is , that this god got his name from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rum , that is , high , or exalted , used so frequently in scripture of the true god , and of them abused to their idol . s●ccoth-benoth . § . this was made by the q men of babylon . the rabbines ( according to their assumed liberty , to fancy any thing without reason rendered thereof ) conceive this idol , a hen and her chickens . we stick to the originall notation of the word , the tents of the daughters , conceiving thereby meant some temple-like tents , by them made and erected in the honour of mylitta or venus urania r , known for an eminent deity in babylon : unto which tents their daughters were sent , there to doe their devotions . how honest they went in we know not , it is suspicious they came out none of the chastest , the bargain of their uncleanness being driven , though not performed in that place . that f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 binos , venos venus , is deduced from benoth in succoth-benoth , is learnedly observed for probable by t mr. selden in his excellent book de diis syris . from whom i have , with the u children of the prophets , not onely borrowed an axe , but most of the tools and timber , wherewith the structure of this our iewish pantheon is erected . teraphim . § . a word plurall in the sound and termination ( like penates in the latine ) yet single in the sense thereof . three sorts of teraphims appear in scripture , in the originall ; common , onely an ordinary carved image , such as w mic●ol is said to have laid in her bed , making a mock-david , or counterfeiting her sick husband therewith . religious , in which sense the prophet threatneth , that israel should x remain many days without king , prince , sacrifice , image , ephod and teraph●● , that is , a prophet to instruct them in future occurrence . superstitious ; such as y micah made , which foretold the dan●tes of their future good success . this we conceive some image acted and informed by the devill , according to his serpentine knowledge shrewdly guessing at all contingences . thamuz . § . that is , adonis , as saint hierom● conceives , whom most latines doe follow . adonis is known by all for a phenicia● deity , so called from 〈◊〉 , adone , a lord in hebrew . and the poets are almost hoarse with singin the sad el●gies , how venus bemoaned adonis killed by a boar. in mythologie this is true , when wan●on women bemoan their beautifull youth , slaughtered with old age , leaving the print and mark of his teeth and tuskes in the wrinkles furrowed in their faces . but seeing adonis is generally conceived to be the sun , venus her mourning at his death , rather represents the generall griefe of northern men , when the sun in iune ( called tham●z by the iews and their neighbours ) takes his leave of them in the tropick of cancer , and retreateth southward , making shorter days by d●gre●s . this phenician superstition infected the iews ; z then he brought me to the doo● of the gate of the lords house , which was towards the north , and behold there sat women weeping for tammuz : and why the gate towards the north ? because the body of the sun never appearing in that quarter of the heaven , it was the fittest place to bemoan the absence thereof . had not those womens tears been better expended on the death of iosiah , according to that a ordinance in israel ? but we may be well assured , such eyes as wept for tammuz , were dry for iosiah . conclusion . § . many other obscure deities were adored by the iews , which we purposely omit . for never was rebecca more b weary of conversing with the daughters of heth , then we of describing these heathen gods. enough therefore of c nothing , for so all idols are termed by the apostle . the rather because that as the psalmist observeth , d in the night all the beasts of the forest creep forth , the sun ariseth , they gather themselves together , and lay themselves down in their dens : so when the sun of the gospell displayed his light , all these herds of heathen gods hasted to their homes , their lurking in eternall obscurity . then was the e prophets prediction accomplished , that all idols should be cast to the moles and to the bats . excellent company , it is pity to part them : let the blind converse with the blind , it being true of these that they have eyes and see not . § . yet to give the iews their due , in the days of our saviour they were so free from idolatry , that the very name thereof , or the word idol , is not to be found in the four evangelists . for having smarted seventy years in babylon , and sensible that their idolatry principally caused their captivity , after their return that sin was de●ested by them , and shunning open profaneness , they reeled into spirituall pride , hypocrisie , superstitious observing the sabbath , equalling traditions with scripture &c. sins chiefly reproved in the sermons of our saviour . § . as for christians , their principles pres●rv● them from formall worshipping of idols , though too often guilty of what may be termed , tralatitious idolatry , when any thing ( good and lawfull in its own nature ) is loved , or honoured above , or even with god himself . thus money may and must be loved and used , as the centurion did his f servant , doe this , and he doth it , fetch me meat from the shambles , and money fetcheth it , bring me clothes from the shop , and money bringeth them : but , when the man shall turn master , and money command him , commit such a sin for my sake , and he obeyeth , such ba●e g covetousness is by the apostle termed idolatry . § . indeed idolatry is a subtill sin ; and seeing by nature we retain in our hearts the principles of all old errors , it is to be feared that this sin finding its usuall way obstructed , will watch its own advantage , to vent it self by some other conveyances : yea as pride may grow out of humility ; so idolatry may sprout out of the detestation thereof ; when men ( like iehu rooting out baal ▪ and erecting his own opinion of h merit therein ) shall detest , damn , and destroy all images , and worship their own imaginations . finish libri quarti . to the right honourable john lord bvrghley son to the right honourable john earl of exeter . my lord , it is confidently reported of the stork , ( plenty of which build in the low-countreys , being inmates in most chimneys ) that she usually thro●eth down one of her young ones out of the nest , as a rent to the land-lord of the house , for permitting th●re her quiet and unmolested habitation . now as our saviour sends us to such masters , [ behold the fowles of the a aire &c. ] of them all to learn the generall lesson of a contented dependence on divine providence , ( and particularly innocence from the b doves ) so may this practise of the stork instruct us to be gratefull to such as have bestowed courtesies upon us . now the first light which i saw in this world was in a benefice c conferred on my father by your most honourable great grand-father , and therefore i stand obliged in all thankfulness to your family . yea this my right hand which grasped the first free aire in a manor to which your lordship is heir apparent , hath since often been catching at a pen , to write something in expression of my thankfulness , and now at last dedicates this book to your infant honour . thus as my obligation bears date from my birth , my thankfulness makes speed to tender it self to your cradle . i know it will be objected , that your lordship is infraannuated to be the patron of a book in the strist acception thereof : for a patron properly is appealed to as judge of the merits of a treatise . yea authors anciently-craved their patrons consent ( as dutifull children their parents leave ) whether that he thought it fit their work should be matched to the publick view , or rather remain in the single estate of privacy . this censure some will cavill at me that your tender age is unable to pass , and therefore incapable of being a patron . in answer hereunto , first i am assured , none of those who please to call themselves roman catholicks , will lay this to my charge . if they doe , i return them with the story confessed by their champian , of a child not fully five years old consecrated archbishop of d rhemes , by pope john the tenth , sinc● which time some children of small age , ( but great birth ) have been made cardinalls , though long since their church of rome had been off the hooks , had it had no stronger hinges . but generally i plead in my own defence , that custome custome hath much mitigated the rigor of the word patron , which is not currant in common discourse , at so high a rate whereat first it was coined , insomuch that a negative vo●ce is denied to many patrons now adays , and they generally used not for censurers , but countenancers of books dedicated unto them , in which notion i humbly request your lordships patronage of our present endevour . our london gardiners doe not sow or set all their seeds ( though of the same kinde ) at the same time , but so that they may ripen successively , to last the longer in season . such is my design , planting a nursery of patrons , all noble , but of different years , a babe , a child , two youths of severall date , and a man , ( having as a scale of miles in my maps , a scale of ages in my honourable patrons ) hoping so always to have one or more in full power to protect my endevours . thus in process of time your lordship ( as yet but a patron in reversion ) will be possessed with power effectually to discharge that place . as for the present , let not your tender age be slighted by any , seeing such an one ( e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a little child ) was chosen by our saviour to be doctor of the chair to determine the controversie between the disciples ; which he truly decided , not by his speech , but humble silence . till such time as your honour shall be able to learn by my writing , may i learn from your honours living the necessary vertues of meekness , humility , quietness , contentedness . for the continuance of which in your honour , with the daily addition and increase of other graces proportionable to your growth , the hearty prayers shall never be wanting of your honours most bounden servant tho. fuller . objections answered concerning this description . the fifth book . chap. . the intention of the author in this treatise . plato being sick said to the physician being about to prescribe physick unto him , cure me not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as a countrey-oxe-driver , but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , as one well versed in philosophy ; and demanded of him the reason of his receipts , how the medicine was proper for his malady , why this , why thus , why now , why thus much , why no more was prescribed unto him . in like manner it seemeth unreasonable for map-makers , here to plant a wood , there mount a hill , here to sink a valley , there to run a river in their draughts ; and then magisterially obtrude all these on the beliefe of an ingenuous reader , without giving a particular account how the same are conformable to nature and true geography : especially seeing it is vehemently suspected , that many maps are full of affected extravagancies . and must their fancies draw up the forms for other mens judgments to subscribe ? but on the other side it seems not onely an ungentile harshness , but an unconscionable injustice , strictly to exact a reason for every puntillo in a map. gally-slaves would be in a more freer condition then geographers , if thus dealt with . as the poets feign atlas was wearied by bearing the weight of heaven , mercator would be more tired by bearing the burden of his own atlas , if questioned for the crookedness or straightness of every line in so vast a volume . a lawfull latitude herein hath been ever allowed . for instance , it is generally agreed that meander , a river in phrygia , runs wonderfully winding ; but it breaks not the head of truth in a map , if a curle of that river be made more or less , or be put out of its proper place . let the stewards of lords courts , or rather bailifes of gentlemens manors know each nook of a wood , corner of a field , reach of a river within so small a compass ; such as describe a countrey in generall , if truly presenting the most materiall things therein without visible disproportion , doe what their diligence can exactly perform , and what the readers discretion can rationally expect . desiring therefore to acquit my self in the best manner to all ingenious capacities , i have here exposed my self to the strongest objection● which without favour or flattery , i could make against the former description . and left scattering of them before in the respective tribes should have interrupted the entireness of our discourse ( what thred can run smooth if full of so many knots ? we have reserved them all for a small treatise by themselves in the conclusion of the work . solemnly promising that if any shall enfavour me so far as to convince me of any error therein , i shall in the second edition ( god lending me life to set it out ) return him both my thanks and amendment , or else let him conclude my face of the same metall with the plates of these maps . whatsoever can be objected against the generall description of iudea returns in the particular tribes , and therefore to avoid repetition we shall there more properly meet with it . this premised , without further delay ( by gods blessing ) we fall on the matter in hand . and can we begin higher then at adam it self ? chap. ii. objections concerning reuben answered . philogus . alethaeus . philol. i first take exceptions at your placing the city adam so near unto iordan . for where it is said , that the waters which came down from above , stood and rose up upon an heape , very a far from the city adam , which is besides zartan , you make adam not above three miles from that stoppage of waters , which is not very far . aleth . very far , is a relative terme , and accordingly admits of much alteration . three miles is little in respect of so many leagues , but very far in respect of so many furlongs . attend i pray you the main scope of the holy spirit , which was to notifie the place where these upper waters failed in view of the israelites . which must be acknowledged within the discovery of their sight ; otherwise the land-mark more obscure , then the staying of the waters that were dated from it . where therefore the distance is measured in a plain countrey by the eye , three miles may well pass for very far . philol. why make you so great a flexure in iordan just at his influx into the dead-sea , contrary to the nature and custome of great rivers ? indeed small brooks like little children goe wadling on one side , their streams are winding and crooked , because they must run where they may run , and finde soft ground to receive them . but great rivers which doe not finde but make their way , flow generally in a straight channell , and so it seems should iordan , sliding through a flat , low , and levell countrey , and not meeting with any effectuall opposition . aleth . i have sufficient warrant for this my description . pliny saith of iordan , invitus asphaltit●n lacum , natur●d dirum petit ; unwillingly he goes into that slimy lake , terrible by nature . you perchance will say , iordan needs not to follow the motion of plinies pen , as if because he makes a flourish with his phrase , the river must fetch a compass with his channell . but consider , i pray , how in the mixture of all liquours of contrary kinds , the best liquour ( which may be said to lose by the bargain ) incorporates always with a reluctancy , and the same antipathy causeth here this crookedness of iordan . this is precisely taken notice of by learned b s●lmasius , and is agreeable to the observations of modern travellers . philol. you place three severall stations of balak and balaam with seven altars a piece upon them in this tribe of reuben , whereas more probably all those passages were transacted south of arnon in the kingdome of moab . it is utterly unlikely that king balak would adventure his person out of his own dominions , into a strangers ( not to say an enemies ) countrey . aleth . in so short a journey the pains was little , the danger none at all . for ( although on balaks side there might be private ▪ heart-burnings ) there was no open hostility betwixt israel and moab . yea we know that then the israelites had familiarity , much with the men , too c much with the women of that countrey . i confess the places as described in scripture stand ( as i may say ) equivocally betwixt israel and moab . but herein i have followed the example of d adrichomius , and other good authors , not to say , that if balak had taken his view in the kingdome of moab of the people encamping then at abelshittim , he could not at that distance have taken a discovery of them . philol. mr. more in his maps bringeth down the waters of nim●im ( with a stream in breadth corrivall , if not bigger then arnon it self ) running through the very midst of this tribe into the dead-sea , whereof no appearance at all in your description . it was a very envious part of the philistines to c stop up the wells of isaac , ( so needfull a commodity in that countrey ) but how great a fault in you to deprive reuben of this river , except it was not your envy that stopped , but ignorance that omitted it ? aleth . i am sensible full well of such waters , but cannot be convinced that they took their course through this tribe into the dead-sea , but rather conceive they ran onely through the tribe of gad , and emptied themselves in aroer , whereof in due time we shall give our best account . philol. i wonder you make nophah so near to medeba contrary to f others descriptions , which set it thence twenty miles at least . aleth . i wonder they place it so far from medeba contrary to the words of the g scripture , and we have laid them wast unto n o p h a h which reacheth unto m e de b a : where the verb , though supplyed by the translatours , is implyed in the text. philol. why make you three fishponds in heshbon , to which the eyes of the h spouse are compared , which is in effect to make her a monster if the resemblance be applyed ? aleth . i set a certain for an uncertain number : in the originall it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 plurall , and therefore indefinite . in all these comparisons , the strength of the similitude lies in the nature , not the number of the things . they deserve not the name of a flock of sheep which are under an hundred , to which the teeth of the spouse are i compared , and nature commoly allowes not above thirty two . philol. the city of misor belonging to the levites , and recorded by adrichomius in this tribe , is omitted by your oversight . aleth . commendable is his charity to the levites . for whereas moses allotted them but four cities in reuben , namely k kedemoth , iahazah , mephaah , and bezar : his bounty bestoweth a fifth , this misor , upon them . but the poor priests might well be full lean , had they nothing to feed them , but this imaginary city , groundless in the hebrew , and onely founded on the erroneous vulgar . yea generally the descriptions of adrichomius are guilty herein , that ( more made ad splendorem , then ad veritatem ) to render them specious to the beholder ( because a lean bald map is not so amiable as one filled full ) he poulders them thick with places , rather scraped then gathered , thereby offending the judgments of the learned to please the eyes of the ignorant . but it is my business to excuse my self , not accuse him , and consciousness to my own many faults , commands me to be tender to the errors of others . chap. iii. objections concerning gad answered . philol. vvhy make you the city of iazer so in-land into this tribe , which adrichomius placeth on the river of arnon ? aleth . i can demonstrate , it could not stand on that river , and by consequence must be more within the tribe of gad. for , arnon , is notoriously known to be the eastern bound of canaan ▪ now attend what moses saith , and the suburbs of the cities , which yee shall give unto the levites , shall reach from the wall of the city , and outwards a thousand cubits round about : and yee shall measure from without the city on the east side , two thousand cubits , and on the south side two thousand cubits , and on the west side two thousand cubits , and on the north side two thousand cubits , and the city shall be in the middest , this shall be to them the suburbs of their cities . iazer therefore being a city of the b levites , could not stand upon arnon , because they could not measure three thousand cubits eastward , for then they should take so much out of an enemies countrey , which belonged not to israel . where we may also observe , that no sea-town was allotted the levites , because , for the reason aforesaid , it would have proved less unto them , hindering the circular dimensions of their possessions . philol. you are much mistaken in the placing of the city of aroer . the b scripture saith , that it is before rabba , or as tremellious rendreth it , ante conspectum rabbae , within the view , or sight of rabba . whereas your map presents it six and twenty miles off from that place . lynceus his eyes need a prospective-glass to discover rabba from aroer , at the distance in your description . aleth . judicious sir d walter raleigh answers in my behalf ; that rabba , near to which aroer was seated , was not ( as you erroneously conceive ) rabba of ammon , to which it was neither near , nor in sight , ( as he worthily observes ) but rabba a chief city of moab . which rabba bordered on aroer , as in our map of moab doth appear ; though , here straitned fro room , no mention is made thereof . philol. you ill observe scripture-instructions , in fixing the first tent of ioab , when sent to number the people . for the c text saith that the he pitched in aroer ( that is , in the countrey not city of aroer , wherein i concur with you ) on the right side of the city that lyeth in the midst of the river of gad , and toward iazer . be your own judge , whether or no , the tent be set on the right side of the city . aleth . the chief directory in placing this tent is the word right hand , and that relative term is varied , according as the face is setled . if ioabs face in his journy respected the north , then the east is the right hand of the city , and then the posture of the tent is rightly placed . however the best is , a tent is but a tent , no solid or substantiall structure , it will be no great work , or weight , on better grounds , to take it down and remove it . philol. in ia●obs travells you place soccoth fifteen miles from peniel , yet was it the very next f station , to which he removed . now i appeal to nurses and drovers ( the most competent judges in this controversie ) whether it be not too long a journy , for little children and e●s big with young ; except you conceive , miles are as easily gone on the grounds , as measured in a map with the compass . aleth . though in iacobs gests , succoth succeeds the next place to peniel , yet it follows not , that iacob with his train went so far in one day . probably , he might bait , yea lodge severall days betwixt them ; the scripture not mentioning every stage of his staying , but onely marking signall places , whereat some memorable accidents did happen , or wherein for some considerable time he made his abode . philol. sir walter raleigh ( whose judgment you deservedly honour ) makes the river of iabbok the northern bound on the matter of the tribe of gad , therein following the example of adrichomius . whereas you extend this tribe many miles beyond that river , even to the sea of cinneroth or galilee ; a great tract of ground , which you injuriously take from manasseh , and bestow on this tribe . aleth . i exactly follow scripture directions , in dividing this land betwixt them . g the text saith expresly , that the border of the inheritance of the gadites reached even to the edge of the sea of cinneroth , and therefore the land betwixt iabbok , and the edge of the sea , undoubtedly belongs to this tribe , which justly may have an action of trespass against the foresaid author , for depriving it of so considerable a part of its true possession . and yet ( under favour ) i conceive , mr. more in his maps doth much overdoe , stretching the inheritance of this tribe to the utmost , and most northern part of the sea of galilee . philol. i admire much at your inconstancy . in your map of palestine , some seven years since prefixed to your holy war , you set iabesh-gilead north of the river iabbok in the tribe of manasseh , which now you have translated many miles southward into this tribe . it seems , you need no other to confute you but your self . aleth . i have seen mine * error , and you see my retractation thereof . one day teacheth another . to live , and not to learn , is to loiter , and not to live . confessions of our former mistakes , are the honourable trophies of our conquest over our own ignorance . the main reason , why iabesh-gilead could not be so far north , is this , because saul marched from bezek in the tribe of ephraim , with an army of foot , in an afternoon and a night , over iordan , unto this city , and came hither in the h morning-watch . now though we allow , that zeal to their brethren in danger , spurred on the souldiers , and did horse those foot in point of speed , yet they almost needed wings , in so short a time to goe so long a journey ( fifty miles at least besides the crossing of two great rivers , iordan , and iabbok ) and to come thither so early . wherefore with master more we have placed iabesh-gilead south of iabbok , some thirty miles from bezek , having the concurrence of other authors for the position thereof . ●hilol . you have found a nest of cities in the i apocrypha , and place them all in this tribe . whereas two of them , namely , bozra and betzer , are by learned k tremellius found to be , the one in edom , the other in reuben , many miles from the tribe of gad. aleth . i deny not , but two cities of the foresaid names are presented in those countreys , but could not be the same , with these cities which maccabeus relieved . it is expresly recorded ( once l and again for the more certainty thereof ) that these places were in the land of gilead . and that any part of edom , or reuben , was ever reputed to belong to the land of gilead , is as i conceive an opinion unpresidented in any good author , and unavouchable by any strong argm●nts . chap. iv. objections concerning manasseh beyond jordan answered . philol. you have made the countrey of manasseh beyond iordan , too large in the dimensions thereof . for , it being the portion but of half a tribe , is , according to your scale of miles , little less in proportion , then the countrey which other entire tribes did possess . aleth . i confess the truth of what you alledge , which is no whit strange in it self . what more common then to call a twin , half a man ? yet i doubt not , but you have seen such half-men , as proper persons , as any single-born . and the moiety of this tribe , possessed as much ground , as most other whole tribes in israel . this may appear by the number of cities , no fewer then a threescore contained therein . yet under favour , i conceive , that the land east of iordan was not altogether so civilized , but more wilde , and warlike , then the countrey west thereof . especially this of manasseh , subject to hostile incursions from the north and east ; and therefore their portion was cut out in the largest size , that what they wanted in the quietness , they might have in the quan●ity of their possessions . philol. you make chorazin within two miles of capernaum , whereas mr. more in his maps , placeth it on the west side of the sea of galilee , hard by bethsaida ; in my minde with more probability of truth . for , our saviour saith , b woe be to thee chorazin , woe be unto thee bethsaida , coupling them together in his commination , who probably would have joined capernaum and chorazin together , for the vicinity both of their profaneness , and place , had they been seated so near together , as they are presented in your description . aleth . your argument concludes nothing at all . have you not often seen malefactours manacled together , whose places of birth and breeding were farthest asunder ? so might it be with chorazin , and bethsaida ; whilest capernaum is singled out , and set solely by it self , in our saviours threatning , as a signall offender , most eminent for its ingratitude . as for our placing of chorazin , we have therein observed the instructions of saint c hierome , and other good authours . philol. you make the brook cherith in this tribe , without rendering any reason , why you place it here ; which adrichomius ( no doubt on good ground ) appointeth to be on the west side of iordan , in the tribe of ephraim . aleth . the brook is but once mentioned in scripture , and therefore we want exact instructions for the position thereof . yea generally the maps of palestine take no notice of this brook . as if it had been so dried up , with the long drought in the days of eliah , that the channell thereof did not afterwards appear . but to the point ; two things are observable in scripture , concerning the post●re of this cherith ; first , that eliah after his message done to ahab in samaria , was commanded to turn himself d eastward : secondly , that the brook cherith , whither he was sent , is said to be before iordan ; the hebrew hath it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and tremellius rendereth it è regione iordanis ; all which put together , clearly speaketh it , to have been ●ast of samaria , and on the other side of iordan , where judicious mr. more in his map hath placed it , whom i conceive my self to follow on good reason . chap. v. objections concerning naphtali answered . philol. you make all the tribe of naphtali west , and on this side the river of iordan ; whereas that passage foretold by the a prophet , and applied by the b evangelist , describes it on the other side ; the land of zebulun , and the land of naphtali by the way of the sea beyond iordan , galilee of the gentiles . the particle beyond is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the greek , which makes it plain , that naphtali lay on the east side of iordan . aleth . the strength of your objection consists in the words beyond iordan , which are variously rendered by learned men . by tremellius in isaiah secundum iordanem , by the same author in matthew , transitus iordan ; by beza , secus iordanem . the dicision of the difficulty depends on the proper sense of the preposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●nebher , in hebrew ; which barely imports no more , then over ; but which way , whether cis , or trans ; whether on this side , or beyond , is to be expounded by the context . this flexible nature , and promiscuous sense of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gnebher , is observed by c tremellius , and others ; so that the text alledged by you , renders no more , then the land of naphtali over iordan , without specifying any side of the river . secondly , we answer , that those words beyond iordan , are so indifferently placed in the prophet , that they may equally be referred , to what followeth , galilee of the gentiles ; part of which galilee , we have d formerly described , to lie east of iordan , and therein the city chorazin , wherein our saviour so frequently conversed . philol. you make two fountains , the one ior , the other dan , as the father and mother of the river iordan : a fancy ( i fear ) rather pretty , them solid ; bearing too much affinity with the derivation of the river dourdan in france , from the confluence of the two streams , dour , and dan ; whilest such a composition hath more of latine , then hebrew therein . not to say , that iosephus is wholly silent hereof , i suspect it for a modern conceit , unavouchable by ancient authors ; and prefer his opinion e as most probable , who deduceth iordan from the hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 iarad , to descend , because it comes down with a powder , and at set times f overflowes , all his bankes . aleth . the negative argument from iosephus , is of small validity ; but to attest the antiquity of iordans descent , according to our description , grudge not to read the following testimony of philostorgius , both because he is an ancient author ( living in the fifth century after christ ) and his book at this day not extant , save that some parcells of his are recited by ioannes antiochenus , out of whose g manuscript , not yet printed , the following words are transcribed , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . in this countrey of paneas one of the fountains of iordan is begotten , there being two of them ; dan so called even to this day from the ancient name thereof . as for the other , which is named for , a certain hill of the same h mountain sendeth it forth , distant from the former about an hundred and sixty furlongs ; from either of which flows a rivolet , the one termed io●ates , the other , danites , which flowing by the mountains to the foot of the plain , thence forthwith compleate one great river iordan , in the same mingling both their names and streams . see here an excellent evidence of the extraction of iordan , which cannot be condemned for a modern invention . however if any will deduce iordans name from a third fountain , ( that hebrew word aforesaid ) let him herein contentedly embrace his own opinion . philol. if you stick so stedfastly to the authority of philosto●gius , why dissent you from him in the distance between those two fountains , which ●e makes an hundred and sixty furlongs , that is , twenty miles , ( if eight furlongs make a mile ) and the interstitium in your map amounts not fully to half so much ? aleth . some mistake may justly be suspected in philostorgius his number , because for exceeding the proportion in other authours . i i formerly acquainted you with that arbitrating power i have assumed ( i hope not unjustly ) to reconcile such differences in authors by pitching on a middle number betwixt their extremities , and here have made use of the same power accordingly . philol. what mean you by these eight nameless buildings surrounding the city of cesarea philippi ? aleth . they are set there to signifie the townes of cesarea philippi mentioned by the k evangelist , whereabouts saint peter gave that eminent testimony of the deity of our saviour . philol. at dan in this tribe ( aliàs leshem , and cesarea philippi ) you erect one of ieroboam his calves ; whereas l brocard , who exactly surveyed palestine , in his iournall gives us to understand , that half a league from bethel , where one of the calves were set up , stood a mountain called dan opposite thereunto , where the other calfe was erected . aleth . his authority cannot countervaile saint hieromes , benjamin in itinerario , and others , yea truth it self , which are on our side , and against his opinion . for , ieroboam was too good an husband to lavish both his calves in one place , which he rather would scatter in distant cities , the better to spread idolatry in his kingdome . besides , consider the end pretended at their erection , namely to spare the peoples pains , it is too m much for you to goe up to ierusalem , that these calves should be ( as it were ) chappels of ease , to save his subjects a tedious journey . now , if both his calves were penn'd up in a stall near bethel ( as brocard would have it ) little ease thereby was given to the northern tribes , and their journey not considerably shortned . therefore the other calfe was set up at dan in naphtali , as we have described it . philol. all that you have said , doth not satisfie me , that this dan was the place where the calfe was worshipped . for , soon after ieroboams death , in the reign of baasha , this dan you speak of was n smitten by benhadad king of syria . this , probably , would have extinguished calfe-worship , if set up in that place , which notwithstanding o continued many hundred years after in the kingdome of israel . aleth . you might argue on the same grounds , that the other calfe was not erected in bethel , seeing even in the life of ieroboam , abijah king of iudah took from him p bethel with the towns thereof . observable herein is divine justice , punishing both those idolatrous places by the sword of their enemies , so soon after the calves were set up in them . but , we may be confident , the kings of israel recovered both dan and bethel again , and restored them to their former impious uses . philol. in the worthies of naphtali you account on hiram solomons architect in building the temple , q as a naphtalite by the mothers side : and yet in the r description of dan you make him a danite by his female extraction . now , what saith nicodemus ? s can a man enter the second time into his mothers wombe ? yea , can he be born ( as you would have it ) twice , though not of the same , of severall women ? aleth . this your objection is not brought against my description , but against the very letter of the scripture that affirmeth the same . king . . . he was a widows son of the tribe of naphtali , and his father was a man of tyre . chron. . . the son of a woman of the daughters of dan , and his father was a man of tyre . now although i am not ingaged to meddle with the solution of this difficulty ; yet , under favour , i conceive the same properly to depend on an observation in chorography . may you be pleased to remember , that dan had a parcell of his portion acquired by conquest , near the fountains of iordan , where leshem , laish , or dan was placed , which small territory lay above an hundred miles from the main body of that tribe , surrounded about with the tribe of naphtali , as appeareth in our t description thereof . now i suppose hiram ( whose paternall extraction from tyre is confessed on all hands ) was descended a danite by his mother , and called a naphtalite also by his mothers side , because of her habitation ( though in dans small countrey aforesaid ) lying in the land allotted to naphtali . philol. you term it u a most erroneous opinion in such , who conceive the galileans more drossie iews then the rest , herein contradicting your self , having formerly w affirmed , that they were courser , and less refined iews . aleth . give me leave to distinguish , between iews courser in religion , and courser in extraction . the former we confess , that the galileans were less pure in gods service , as probably descended from the remnant of the ten tribes : yet were they most truly the lost sheep of israel , not debased by mixture of gentilisme in their bloud , like the samaritans , whom christ declined , whilest he constantly conversed with these galileans . philol. you say , that the city naasson depends meerly upon the credit of the vulgar translation tobit . whereas looking on the hebrew map , graven at amsterdam by abraham goos , but designed , and made by another abraham a great rabbin , skilled in the land , and language of his own nation , this naasson appears there in hebrew characters , the author ( no doubt ) having good assurance for the same . whose map ( i can tell you ) is much valued by many antiquaries , as appears by their difficult procuring , dear purchasing , and carefull preserving thereof . and you may finde it solemnly set up , at the upper end of sion colledge library . aleth . it ill becomes me to detract from the pains of any , being also my self , a man under authority of the pens , and tongues of others , and candidate for the readers good will in this my description . yet , give me leave , plainly to profess , that the map by you alleadged , answereth not the great price , and generall praise thereof , being nothing else but adrichomius his map translated into hebrew . what once sir iohn old castle , lord cobham , spoke jeastingly , that the priests made christ to be boots , and spurs , and all in the sacrament , may i serously say that adrichomius , with his faults , and failings , dross , dirt , and all together , without any correction , is cast into this abrahams overvalued description , so that the map you alledge is not gold , but mean metall gilded over , containing surreptitious names out of the vulgar latine therein hebraized , and presenting many spurious places utterly disclaimed in the originall . chap. vi. objections against asher answered . philol. i admire you have altogether omitted the river eleutherus in this tribe ( much mentioned in a maccabees , and which adrichomius makes to fall into the mediterranean in the mid-way betwixt zidon and tyre . yea , b m. george sandys in his travels , going from sarepta to tyre , crossed a little valley divided by the river eleutherus , called casmire at this day by the inhabitants thereabouts . aleth . by what name , or title soever , the water , he there went over , is known at this day , sure i am , it cannot be the ancient eleutherus , which by ptolemy , strabo , and generall consent of all authors , falls above sixty miles more northward , into the mediterranean . and therefore the error of adrichomius and others herein , is briefly taxed by judicious sir c walter ralegh . philol. you make asher to border on zidon , contrary to the description of d wolsegangus wiseburgius , and learned e tostatus , who set zebulun in the same place , as the most north-west of all the tribes , and alleadge f iacobs words to avouch the same , prophecying , that zebuluns borders shall be unto zidon . aleth . gods g word , the coast of the countrey , and all good authors justifie our description , those two onely excepted which you alleadge , being both deceived , by taking zidon restrictively in iacobs prophecy , for the city so called , whereas the whole countrey thereby is intended ( as sarepta is called a city h of zidon ) and the name of zidonians adequate to phenicians , in which sense zebulun confined on the countrey , though asher onely on the city of zidon . philol. you peremptorily place the defeat of ben●adad , and fall of apheks wall on his flying army , in this tribe , not remembring the while , that there is another i aphek in issachar , ( nearer to samaria ) which puts in with more probability to be the theater , whereon that tragical accident was acted . aleth . i confess aphek a place in issachar , but finde it not charactered to be a city , such an one as our k aphek in asher is described , and whose walls are therefore more probable to doe the foresaid execution . however , be it known unto you , whensoever two places are with equall likelihood corrivals for actions therein atchieved , we adjudge it to that place , that falls first under our description . thus , the start of half an hour , bestows on the elder twin , the whole inheritance . to avoid confusion , and prevent repetition , first come , first serv'd ; the place first occurring , carries away all history in our describing thereof . chap. vii . objections , against zebulun , answered . philol. you , very confidently , make iordan continue his un●ixit stream , clean through the galilean-sea ( a course somewhat irregular in nature ) without alleadging any authority for the proof of so improbable a passage . aleth . excellent authors avouch the same . a tacitus , amongst others , tells us of this river , unum , atque alterum lacum integer perfluit , tertio ●etinetur ; one , and another lake ( viz. the waters of merom , and galilean-sea ) it runneth through entire , but is stopped in the third ; namely , in asphaltite-lake , or dead-sea . more full is the testimony of philostorgius , and deserveth our serious perusall thereof . who speaking of this river , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , which ( saith he ) passeth through the lake of tiberias , cutting it in the middle , and flowing clean through it in its own proper channell . which cutting of the lake , implies the entire continuance of iordans water ; otherwise , that knife doth not cut the loaf , but is cut by the loaf , which is broken in the dividing thereof . philol. i wonder you pass over shimron-meron in such silence , which appears a place of great note , yea , a royall city in the days of ioshua , as the coronet thereupon doth inform us . aleth . i confess it signed with a coronet , and with something more , a flag of uncertainty , having nothing sure of the location thereof , the chiefest cause that i willingly declined the mention of it . however , we will scrue our selves into as much certainty of this place , as may be extracted out of scripture : and observe , the four first wreaths of my scrue are undoubtedly , the fifth and last more then probably true , as followeth . shimron-meron was one of the b royall cities , whose king ioshua destroyed . the same city is elsewhere called plainly c shimron , without any addition . it lay on the northern part of the land , because the king thereof associated in the northern , and second d combination of the canaanites against ioshua . a city named shimron , was alloted to the tribe of e zebulun . most probably this is the same shimron , whose king was destroyed by ioshua . this is all , which my best industry could collect out of scripture , or good authors , concerning the situation of this place . philol. what mean you by that third smooty circle , which ( as the meteor halo about the sun ) surroundeth the levites city of iockneam ? aleth . it signifieth nothing , being a meer aberration of the graver , which ( now but obscure ) will in process of printing , wholly disappear . and i could hartily wish , no other faults in our maps , would be of longer continuance . philol. you make the galilean-sea all along the east boundary of this tribe . whereas i am altogether of the minde of masius , that no part of zebulun touched on that sea ; with him principally grounding my opinion on the scriptures silence , which mentioneth not any conterminating of this tribe thereupon . which might soon have been spoken , yea surely would not have been omitted , had zebulun been so situated . aleth . that zebulun bordered on this sea , may cleerly be demonstrated ; first from iacobs prophecy , that he should dwell 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 f at the haven of the seas . seas in the plurall , pointing at his position betwixt the mediterranean , and galilean seas , the west and east bounds of his possession . now lest any should seek to wave these words by an enallage in number ( a figure , we confess , frequent in hebrew ) zebuluns bounding on the galilean-sea , is unfallibly collected out of the g gospell , where christ is said to dwell in capernaum which is upon the sea coast , in the borders of z●bulun , and naphtali . philol. christ his feeding of five thousand , with five loaves , and two fishes , is misplaced in your map , as which ought to be set on the east side of the sea of galilce . aleth . learned men are much perplexed about the position of this miracle . a miracle , so remarkable in it self , that of all the passages betwixt christs conception , and the introduction to his passion , this onely , and the descent of the dove at his baptisme are recorded in all four evangelists . yet some difficulty appears in the particular place thereof . h luke termeth it the desert of beth●aida ; but saint iohn i who wrote the last , ( therefore supplying the omissions , and explaining the doubts in other gospells ) assigneth the particular place to be near tiberias , both being cities on the west side of the sea , so that north of tiberias , betwixt it * and bethsaida , ( in a desert named from the latter , because leading to it ) this miracle is properly placed . philol. but immediately at the ending thereof , the disciples are said to sail 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , k unto the other side unto bethsaida , or as saint iohn says , towards l capernaum ( both these being cities not far asunder . ) wherefore , if they crossed over the sea to go to bethsaida , they were not already on the same side thereof when the miracle was wrought , and by consequence were then on the other [ the eastern ] side of the sea. aleth . by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , is meant the opposite shoar , on the same side of the sea , but so that it was over a reach , or bay which they crossed therein , sailing ( not athwart the breadth of the sea from west to east , but ) almost foreright the length of the lake , from a place near tiberias to the land of m gennesaret , on the north end of the lake , betwixt bethsaida and capernium . thus , such who on the severn sea sail from bristoll to barstable , may be said in some sense to cross the water , as well as those that saile from barstable to cardif●e . and thus , in placing this miracle we have not onely followed the judgment of n worthy calvin , but also the eyes of o biddulph a modern traveller , who beheld the place . chap. viii . objections against issachar answered . philol. what vast mountains have you made those of gilboa to be ? the highest of them four miles perpendicular : surely the battell betwixt saul , and the philistines could scarce be fought on such ascents . yea , david might well have spared his wish , a let there be no dew , neither let there be rain upon you , whose tops , ( as you have exalted them ) may be presumed higher then the clouds themselves . aleth . i confess them to be of the largest size , store of room and want of other matter to fill it , gave the occasion to their greater growth . which fault is amended in the following map of manasseh , where behold them reduced to a more moderate proportion , less then many of the mountains in wales . philol. how comes a parcell of mount ephraim to straggle into the map of issachar ? it being proper for those mountains to be confined to their own tribe of ephraim , whence they fetcht their denomination . aleth . i may say the tribe of ephraim had the preemption , but not the monopoly of them . i mean his turn was first served , and he had the best and most of those mountains in his possession , whence they deservedly took their name . yet so , that some part of mount ephraim ranged south ward into the tribe of benjamin , ( as mount b zemaraim ) and some branched northward into issachar , as shamir in mount c ephraim ; certainly in this tribe , d because tola a man of issachar was buried therein . philol. it followeth not , because he was extracted from this tribe , that therefore the place of his buriall was in the same , finding many mens interments in scripture , casuall , out of the tribes of their nativity . thus saul and ionathan being benjamites , were notwithstanding buried in the tribe of gad , at e iabesh gilead : as also ishbosheth and abner their countreymen got graves at f hebron in the tribe of iudah : so infirme is your inference , that shamir in mount ephraim was in issachar , because tola an issacharite was intombed therein . aleth . you instance onely in persons , some forcibly , others treacherously slain , which occasioned their hasty , tumultuary , and extravagant interment . remember also that saul and ionathan , ( though intermediately at iabesh gilead ) were finally intombed in the g sepulchres of their father , in the land of benjamin , as we may presume that tola his corps a peaceable judge ( no violent detention , or disturbance appearing to the contrary ) did rest in the possessions of that tribe ; the iews generally being as ceremonious to be buried in their own land , as to be married in their own linage . chap. ix . objections against manasseh on this ●ide jordan answered . philol. and why so much of the map of issachar presented again in manasseh ? what need this waste , and repetition of the same again ? aleth . the squaring of the map necessarily commanded the repetition thereof ; nor is it lost labour , because two scattered pieces in issachar belonged to manasseh . philol. but ô what a medley motley pieced map have you made of this half tribe of manasseth ! surely iosephs coate consisted not of more a colours then manasseh ( iosephs sons ) portion is made up of shreds and parcels as you have presented it , marring the in●ireness of this halfe tribe with your manifold divisions . aleth . and yet no more then what are warranted by gods word . let none part what he hath put together , nor put together what he hath parted . i delight not out of wantonness , to make smp● of manasseh's portion , but the tex● puts the shears into my hand , commanding me to cut it so : because manasseh had b three countreys in issachar and asher : that is , surrounded with them , which necessitates the cantoning of this halfe tribe into such dis-jointed parcels . philol. you make a piece of asher , parted from the main body thereof , to confine on manasseh , whilest bonfrerius finds a fitter expedient by cutting off the west ends of zebulun and issachar from the mediterranean , and continuing asher along the sea side to manasseh , so preserving asher intire thereby . aleth . his expedient raiseth more difficulties then it allaieth ; as directly opposite to scripture , reason , and the generall consent of writers , as formerly hath been largely proved in our objections against zebulun . better it is therefore to admit a parcell of asher separated from the main of the tribe ( instances in english counties being frequent in this case ) then by bonfrerius his shift , to allow truth parted from iacobs c prophecy , which inevitably followes , if zebulun be made land●locked , and cut off from bounding on the sea . philol. indeed you put manasseh's separate countreys within issachar , but not within asher , not invironed there with , but onely joining thereto , whereas the text saith equally , * and manasseh had in issachar and asher &c. aleth . the main body of issachar confining on manasseh afforded us conveniency to insert such countreys therein . but asher his part being in it self but a small dis-jointed portion , is not so capable of surrounding a countrey within it , seeing such a parcell within a parcell would appear so diminutive a subdivision as almost inconsiderable . besides , the preposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rendred in in the text , may sometimes be satisfied with signifying ad , or juxta , nigh , or by , that is , a bare proximity , apposition , and contiguousnes of a thing . in which sense manasseh had land bordering on this dis-jointed piece of asher . philol. in * ephraim you say that iezreel was more then twenty miles from samaria , which measured by the scale in your map are not above twelve miles asunder . aleth . let not the typographicall mistake of the printer be accounted the topographicall errour of the author ; that twelve should be twenty , and in the errata is mended accordingly . philol. you might almost as well inscribe this map the tribe of levi , as the half tribe of manasseh . it was the complaint in time of popery , that the church did eate up the commonwealth ; every third foot in the kingdome being church-land , before the dissolution of abbies . you endevour to reduce palestine to the same proportion . it was a pious wish of moses , c would god , that all the lords people were prophets : but a covetous desire in you to convert so much of the land into the levites portion , by extending the circular suburbs of their cities to six miles diameter ; whereas authours contract them , within less then halfe that compass , yet observing the true dimension of the cubit therein . aleth . for number such cities are no moe then the scripture assigneth , though here haply falling thicker then in other maps . as for the three thousand cubits of their extent on all sides , we have in the manner of the measuring thereof followed the direction of judicious f mr. ainsworth , ( as he the learned rabbi maimony ) preferring it amongst various expositions , as most naturall to the text. now let none wonder that we make a thousand cubits adequate to a thousand paces , or on english mile . for , although lesser cubits were used by the iews , about their vessels , and buildings ; yet their geometricall cubit ( generally employed for their better expedition , because largest , in their surveying of land ) contained six l common cubits ; and rabbi m kimhi expresly saith that a thousand emoth , or cubits make a mile . besides , consider i pray , these three thousand cubits were to be measured from the wall of the city , the flexures and bendings whereof , produced the parallel bendings in the bounds of the levites suburbes . but because we cannot be instructed in what from the line of their walls ranged about , we begin our measure from the midst of the city , and therefore 〈◊〉 bound to make their lands amends with the largeness of the c●ibts , because beginning our mensuration to their disadvantage , from the ●●n●er of the city , in s●ead of the [ unknown ] circumf●●●●ce thereof . philol. i am not satisfied in the situation of 〈◊〉 , that it was seated in this half tribe of manass●h . aleth . it is seated according to adrichomi●s , and the judgment of most other * authors . but if i might interpose mine own opinion , i conceive it many miles nearer unto ierusalem in the tribe of ephraim , rather nigh then on the sea , in the road betwixt ierusalem , and cesarea , some thirty miles from the former ; whither i shall remove the same , when my opinion herein shall be countenanced with the approbation of others . my reason that antipatris could not be so far northward , ( full sixty miles as they make it from ierusalem ) is , because the i ●ootmen sent to attend saint paul marched thither from ierusalem in one night . now , although their suspicion of the iews pursuing them to rescue saint paul , might quicken their pace , yet k foot-souldiers could not be foot-posts , it being impossible for spearmen to go so far , in so short a time , betwixt the third hour [ nine a clock at night ] and the next morning . chap. x. objections against ephraim answered . philol. you make a strange desultory description of the bounds of this tribe , va●lting over from length to breadth in such a fashion as is hard to be understood , and worse to be applied to the letter of the * text. al●th . wise agur confessed he knew not the † way of an eagle in the aire , whose flight therein 〈◊〉 not to be traced , leaving no visible perforation behinde it , partly through the swiftness of his motion , partly through the subtileness of the aire presently closing up the passage . so short and concise is the holy spirit in bounding the children of ioseph , and so long since hath time taken all impression of many limitary obscure places there mentioned , that exactness herein , by the confession of the * best authors , is not to be attained . but herein we have followed the direction of the learned bonfrerius , save that we have not contracted the east of ephrain to wards iordan into so narrow a point , but bounded it broader , to make it a degree the better with the descriptions of other authors . philol. you make sechem in this tribe , full seventy miles from hebron in the tribe of iudah . me thinks they should be much nearer seeing iacob sent ioseph from a hebr●n to sechem to give a visite to his brethren . now how could his tender love adventure his darling child alone so tedious and dangerous a journey ? surely the distance was far less then you make it . 〈◊〉 . philol. rama in this tribe , doubtlesly was a city of the levites as doth appear by elkanah and samuel their constant habitation there , both of then levites . why therefore is it not surrounded in your map with a double circle , like other cities of the saine qualification ? aleth . i acknowledge ra●a for the reasons by you alledged , probably pertaining to the levites , but have omitted the double incircling thereof , because i finde it not amongst the four cities given the levites in ep●raim , nor the forty c eight assigned to them in the whole kingdome . philol. was it not then usurpation in the levites to inhabite a city which by god was never granted unto them ? aleth . under favour i conceive , though the levites must have four , they might have moe cities in ephrain , or elsewhere , if the charity of well disposed people was pleased to bestow them . thus , beside the three cities for refuge west of iordan the israelites were bound , if god did inlarge their d coasts , to adde three more for the same service . by which analogy it may be collected , that the ephraimites in gratitude to god , who gave them more intire possession of their portion then any other tribe in ioshua's division ( nothing out ●ezer , a levites city being detained from them by the can●anites ) might give this ra●a as a gratuity to the levites . besides , the suburbs and lands of the levites reached from th● walls of the cities three thousand cubits round about , with in which space they might erect what buildings they please , being therein ( without incroaching on any other tribe ) resident on their proper inheritance . rama therefore might be built within that circumference , and by the proportion of miles we collect it to stand within the circuit of gezer , so that though they could not get gezer it self , they might gain and build rama within the compass thereof for their habita●ion . however , we define nothing positively , much less impose it on the beliefe of others . clipt money is worth as much as it weighs , though it will not pass for what it was coined ; and conjectures , though they will not goe for certain truths , deserve to finde as much acceptance , as they bring probability with them . philol. have you nothing more to observe concerning the blessings , and 〈◊〉 pronounced on mount ebal and gerizim aleth . i conceive on second thoughts , that the prie●ts with the a●ke stood in the valley betwixt the two hils ( whilest the whole body of the ordinary e levites were on the mount of gerizi● ) whose station in the half way betwixt both , when they pronounced the blessings and the cursings , facilitated the conveyance of the sound on both sides , as appeareth on the serious f comparing of the scripture . philol. tiphsah is made by you a city in this tribe . but , if it were situate herein , very short were the dominions of solomon even in the very height of his greatness , who then reigned on this side of the river from g t●phsah even to azza , or gaza , in the tribe of simeon , not fully an hundred miles , as appears by your scale in the generall description of the land . aleth . tiphsah there mentioned being the eastern boundary of solomons empire ( from our h tiphsah where cruell menahem began his reign ) was near a thousand miles north-east on the river euphrates , probably the same with the city tharsacus , whereof ptole●y , strabo , and stephanus take speciall notice . philol. have you any miraculous faith , who so easily have removed the mountain of phinehas ( wherein eleazar was buried ) from the north of this map , within the suburbs of bethhoron a levites city , to the south thereof near shiloh , where in your map generall the same is presented ? aleth . on better consideration i see no necessity , that his mountain should be brought within the bounds of any leviticall city . phinehas was an extraordinary person , and therefore his land might be extraordinary in the location thereof . this his portion was no part of the levites patrimony in their forty eight cities given them by god , but seems rather the s●perpondium of the peoples i bounty cast into the balance , as an honourable augmentation in reward of his k eminent desert . i conceive therefore it lay in mount ephraim , near shilob , where the tabernacle was set up , bestowed upon him thereabouts , for his more convenient attending of gods service therein . chap. xi . objections against dan answered . philol. you positively affirme that the land of dan belonged primitively to iudah , yet produce no scripture for the proof thereof . we beleeve the same of simeon , the a text affirming that their inheritance was within the inheritance of iudah , but no evidence appears of such derivation of dans possession originally from iudah . aleth . the same is infallibly collected from scripture , because the cities of eshtaol , b zoreah , c timnah , d ekron were first bestowed on iudah , and e afterwards we finde the same places , ( with the countrey thereabouts by necessary consequence ) conferred upon dan's posterity for their portion . philol. such an alteration seems utterly inconsistent with divine immutab●lity , with whom is no 〈◊〉 , nor shadow of f changing . to give a thing and take a thing is unproportionable with his proceedings , whose gifts are pronounced by the apostle to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , g without repentance . aleth . indeed such gifts as amount to the notion of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are uncapable of alteration , to which his other grants are subject . besides , god never so passed away that land but he still reserved it as his own demesnes . for the land ( saith he ) is mine ; not was , but is , even after the israelite , had long possessed the same . is it not lawfull for him to doe as he will with his own , i and to change at pleasure what tenants to rent , or rather what bailifes to occupy his own ground ? philol. the faces of the men which bear the great bunch of grapes , are set the wrong way . for being to goe south-east to kadesh-●arnea , they look full west to the mediterranean sea . aleth . you put me in minde of a man , who being sent for to pass his verdict on a picture , ( how like it was to the person whom it was to resemble ) fell a finding fault with the frame thereof ( not the limners but the ioiners work ) that the same was not handsomely fashioned . in stead of giving your judgment on the map , ( how truely it is drawn to represent the tribe ) you cavill at the history●properties therein , the act of the ●raver , not geographer . yet know sir when i checkt the * graver for the same , he answered me that it was proper for spies , ( like water-men and rope-makers ) for surety sake to look one way and work another . chap. xii . objections against simeon answered . philol. vvhy both an asteriske and flag of uncertainty over sheba ? for , though unassured of the exact position thereof , the text ascertaineth us , that it was a reall city in simeon , a beer-sheba , and sheba , and moladah &c. aleth . i am not satisfied that sheba was a distinct city by it self , but rather conceive it the same with beer-sheba . because , they are both accounted the same b when originally denominated . sheba is omitted in c chronicles where other simeonite cities are summ'd up ) as the same with beer sheba . simeon had but d thirteen cities , which make fourteen if sheba be accounted a distinct city by it self . the premisses considered , sheba appears the same with beer-sheba ( as e salem with ierusalem ) commonly so called for brevity sake . philol. but then how doe you answer the text , which expresly maketh sheba a distinct city , beer-sheba , and sheba , and moladah & c ? aleth . proteus appeared not in more shapes , then the particle● ( here rendred and ) hath severall significations , for though chiefly it is copulative , other whiles it is causall , collective , adversative , exegeticall , redditive , and disjunctive , as f bonfrerius readeth it here , beer-sheba , or sheba , and moladah &c. philol. you say that simeon was g surrounded on all sides with iudah , whereas in your map , the northern side thereof , is all along fairly flanked with the tribe of don. aleth . you may remember ( what we so lately proved ) that dan's portion primitively pertained to iudah , and was a canton cut out thereof . in which sense according to scripture , simeons inheritance was h within the children of iudah's , and originally encompassed therewith . philol. why call you this tribe i a jagged remnant , being as whole a cloth as the rest , and ( though not so great ) as entire as the other tribes ? i am not sensible by this your map of any notorious dispersedness of the simeonites habitations . aleth . undoubtedly iudah his portion made many incisures , and larcinations into the tribe of simeon hindering the entireness thereof . particularly askelon and k gaza first given to , once l possessed by iudah , ( though regained by the philistines ) were continued and tyed by some narrow labell of land to the main of iudah , at leastwise had a church-path ( as i may terme it ) a passage to the temple , without going through any part of simeon . but , wanting certain instructions , how to contrive , and carry on such indented conveyances , and not willing to confine the reader to our conjecturall fancies , we have left him to his liberty , presenting simeon * entire , wherein he may frame such incursions of iudah as comply best with his own opinion . philol. you make this tribe to range some miles south of beer-sheba , whereas that place passeth currant for the utmost border of the countrey . what more common in scripture , then l from . dan to beer-sheba , that is , from the north to the south of the land of canaan ? aleth . it was the utmost eminent city , but not absolutely the farthest place in palestine , as neither mentioned amongst the southern boundaries of the land in generall , numb . . nor with the utmost limits of the tribe of iudah , iosh. . in ordinary discourse we measure england east and west from dover to the mount , as the farthest western place of note , though cornwall stretches seven * miles beyond it unto the lands end . so beer-sheba was the remotest remarkable city of canaan , where the cloth , as i may say , ended , though the list thereof reached beyond it to the river of egypt . chap. xiii . objections against benjamin answered . philol. vvhy make you nob a levite city in benjamin , within the suburbs of anathoth ? seeing nob is neither named amongst the four cities bestowed on the levites in this tribe , iosh. . . nor is it any of the eight and forty belonging unto them throughout the whole countrey of canaan . aleth . that nob was in this tribe , appears by that ca●alogue of cities presented us in a nehemiah , which the benjamites repossessed after their return from babylon . that it was a levites , yea a priests city , appears ( too plainly ) by the b massacre therein on them committed . we confess it none of the eight and forty originally assigned to the levites . yet how they in after-ages , were capable of supernumerary cities more then in their first charter , and how the mort●main of the levites ( as i may term it ) was enlarged with new foundations , we have lately answered in the objections of ephraim * , whither we refer you for further satisfaction . philol. you make the sons of saul executed on an hill nigh gibeah of saul , which your judicious c friend will have hung up before the tabernacle in gibeon , observing therein an exemplary piece of divine justice , that , whereas saul had ruined the tabernacle at nob , his sons were hung up before the same in gibeon . aleth . not to be a plaintise against him , but a defendant of my self ▪ i conceive him mistaken in confounding gibeah of saul with gibeon , distinct cities , as may appear by their severall owners , and actions therein performed . gibeon . gibeah . an ancient city of the hivites , whose d inhabitants deceived the israelites , e given to the levites , in the tribe of benjamin , where the tabernacle was set up in the time of solomon . a city in benjamin , hard by i●rusalem , distinct from the f former , whose inhabitants were meer benjamites , and by their lust abused the g levites concubine to death , for which their tribe was almost extirpated : it was afterwards called gibeah of saul from his birth and frequent residence therein . now the text expresly saith , that the gibeonites did hang them up unto the lord in gibeah h of saul , that is , in sauls native place , and court , where he had issued out his cruell edicts for the slaughter of the gibeonites . philol. but that expression they hanged them in the hill i before the lord , imports the same performed in some religious place , probably in the prospect or view of the tabernacle . aleth . before the lord implies no more , then what in the foregoing verse was termed k unto the lord , that is , in a sacred manner , not out of private revenge , but in an holy zeal , tendering the parties executed an oblation to divine justice , and so is interpreted by the expositors thereon . philol. in your particular map of benjamin , iordan runs almost directly south , the whole course of whose channell visibly bendeth eastward in your map generall of palestine . aleth . that generall map , ( though first placed ) was last perfected , wherein we have amended three mistakes , as escaped in our particular descriptions . one that wherein you instance , another 〈◊〉 re●●en ( formerly forgott●n to be confessed ) making that tribe a little longer from north to south , then it is represented in our particular description thereof . my care shall be , god willing , in the second edition , to conforme those particular maps , according to these rectisi●ations in the generall description . chap. xiv . objections against judah answered . philol. would not it affright one to see a dead man walk ? and will not he in like manner be amazed to see the dead-sea moving ? why have you made the surface of the waters thereof waving , as if like other seas it were acted with any ty●e , which all authors avouch , and your self confesseth a to be a standing stinking lake ? think● not to plead , that such waving is the impression of the winde thereupon , seeing tacitus affirmes of this sea , neque b vento impellitur , it is such a drone , it will neither goe of it self , nor yet be driven of the winde . aleth . i will not score it on the account of the graver , that it is onely lascivia , or ludicrum coeli , the over-activity of his hand : and in such cases the flourishings of the scrivener are no essentiall part of the bond : but behold mercators , and other authors maps , and you shall finde more motion therein , then is here by us expressed . the most melancholy body of moisture , ( especially of so great extent ) is necessarily subject to such simpering in windy weather , as inseparable from the liquidity thereof . philol. why set you zeboim most northernly of all the five cities in the dead-sea , in the place where sodome is situated in all other descriptions ? aleth . the placing of them is not much materiall , whether longwise all in a file as mr. more sets them , or in two rankes , ( two and two ) as they are ordered by * mercator . skuls in a charnel-house never justle for the upper place ; and as sensless is the contention betwixt these dead cities , which shall stand first , whose foundations long since were doubly destroyed with fire and water . but the sole motive of my placing zeboim most northern of these four cities , is because i finde c the valley of zeboim in the tribe * of benjamin , which probably lay near the influx of iordan into the dead-sea , denominated from the vicinity of zeboim thereabouts . philol. the hebrew orthography confutes your conceit . for zeboim by you last alledged is spelled with different letters from the city which was burnt with fire from heaven . aleth . i confess a threefold variation in the writing of this name , though all the same in effect , gen. . . and so also deut. . . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sam. d . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hoseah . . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . i shall set thee at zeboim &c. here to mollifie the word , the gutturall is either altered , or wholly omitted ; neither amounting to make it a new word : how variously are the names of the same english towns spoken and spelled ; as lester , leicester , legeocester , legecester , yet the same word dressed in severall spellings and pronunciations ? philol. why make you heb●on being a noted city of the priests , and city of refuge , different from all the rest , onely with a single circle about it ? aleth . because the fields and villages thereof were none of the priests , f but were given to caleb the son of iephunneh for his possession . philol. if so , then hebron ought not to have had any circle at all about it , being a bare city of the priests without any suburbs belonging thereunto . aleth . the priests in hebron had , and had not , suburbs pertaining thereunto , according to the severall acception of suburbs . if by them you onely understand aedificia suburbana , buildings ( though without the city walls ) contiguous thereunto , these ( no doubt ) belonged to the priests , who had g hebron with her suburbs : otherwise if you extend them to ager suburbanus , the fields surrounding the city , these related to caleb as the proper owner thereof . philol. you might well have afforded conjecturall flags to most of the cities in iudah , going generally by guess in your placing of them , and differing from all other authors therein . aleth . the learned in anatomy have informed me , that veins are alike in their trunks , but not in their branches ; so that although the great channels of bloud run alike in all bodies , yet the smaller veines ( as is most visible in their diva●ication on the back of the hand ) disperse themselves diversly , in divers persons : the like is confessed in all maps of iudah , wherein the grand cities , hebron , debir , bethlehem &c. have their certain position agreed on by most authors , whilest their inferiour places ( and no tribe afforded more obscure cities but once named in scripture ) are subject to much variety , according to the fancies of authors . wherein we hope we have observed , as much as might be , these short , and small directions we finde in scripture . philol. but you are not constant to your self in the location of those lesser places , as appears by some diversity of their distances ( both amongst themselves and from ierusalem ) in the particular description of iudah , and in the generall map of palestine . aleth . i confess the same ; who having discovered some errors in the particular map , reformed the same in the map-generall . which may be beheld in this point , as a new edition of the former , corrected and amended . request i therefore the reader in such small differences , to rely rather on the credit of the map-generall . philol. you * once placed hepher a royall city in manasseh on this side iordan , which since you have removed into iudah , without giving any account of the alteration . aleth . some probability perswaded us to our former opinion . cheifly because hepher is mentioned in ioshua's a list , next to tapuah ; which is known to be in manasseh . but since finding also a tapuah b in iudah , and a land of c hepher near sochoh , a place also in d iudah , it hath staggered our judgment , and caused us to remove hepher into iudah with a flag of uncertaintie thereon ; all authors finding an ignoramus for the exact position thereof . philol. the land of goshen is sufficiently known to be in e egypt : and how stragleth of f countrey of goshen into this tribe ? aleth . you know that besides this england wherein we live , there is an anglia in denmark , whence our ancestors are said to have come ; and there is england beyond wales , whither some of our nation removed . some such occasion ( to us unknown ) might give the name of goshen to a petty tract of ground in iudah : or else it might be so called from some assimilation in the fruitfulness thereof . wonder not at a goshen in egypt , and another in iudah ; when we finde two g ziphs , two h zenoahs , two i socohs &c. ( as two kirbies market-townes in westmorland ) within the compass of this tribe . philol. conceive you that any wildernesses wherewith iudah abounded , were places of any pleasant habitation ? aleth . i am confident thereof . for instance , engedi though a k wilderness , was so delicious a place , l that the spouse is compared to a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of engedi . besides , it had the conveniency of palmtrees , therefore m in scripture called hazazon-tamar , which is engedi tamar , being in hebrew a palme . nor can i omit the testimony of n pliny as the best comment herein in gods word ; who speaking of people living on the west of the dead-sea ; amongst these ( saith he ) is the town engadda ; second to ierusalem in fruitfulness , and woods of palme-trees ; but now become another heap of ashes . philol. i finde indeed a city , and wilderness of maon in this tribe , but were the dwellers therein , those same maonites , which are said iudg. . . with the zidonians and amalekites to have oppressed israel ? aleth . o no. i take these tyrant maonites to have been a fierce and forein nation . saint hierom , de locis hebraicis , conceives maon to be the countrey of moab . the vulgar latine translates it canaanites , because maonites signifieth inhabitants , and the canaanites we know were the ancient and originall dwellers in the land ) whose relicks left in the land contrary to gods command , were constant thornes in the sides of the israelites . but i conceive rather with learned cajetan on this place , these maonites were a distinct neighbouring nation , whose certain habitation is to us unknown . philol. saul , when marching against the amalekites , is said to have numbred the people ( being two hundred and ten thousand , in * telaim : which by the coast of the countrey seems south in or near iudah . yet no such place appears in your map thereof . aleth . the hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is variously interpreted , the rabbins render it appellatively in lambes ; affirming the saul did not count them in specie , but for more safety or expedition , computed the people by their paschall lambes , proportioning such a number of men to a lambe . others read it , he numbred them as lambes , that is , now grown meek and quiet , ( whereas at the first there were some * animosities of the people against him : shall saul reign over us ? ) contentedly submitting themselves to his command . but i take telaim for a true city , and the same with telem iosh. . . which you may finde in our description . chap. xv. objections against the land of moriah answered . philol. i perceive the imperfection of your description by the omitting of a memorable valley therein , namely the vale of baca , mentioned by the psalmist pronouncing him blessed who passing through the vale of baca a maketh it a well . you in stead of passing through , pass by this vale unmentioned . aleth . i reserved my observations on this vale for this place . some render it appellatively , the vale of weeping : meaning thereby the militant condition of a christian in this life , incumbred with constant afflictions . if so , this vale of baca is too big to come under my description ; all the mountains in the world being but part of this valley , the extent whereof is adequate to the whole earth . but if you be pleased to take this vale for a proper place , i embrace the opinion of learned ainsworth on the text , that this vale of baca , or mulberry trees , ( for so also it signifieth ) was near to ierusalem ; out of the tops of which b trees , god sounded the alarum to david when he conquered the philistines . chap. xvi . objections against the city of jerusalem answered . philol. vvhat is charged unjustly on saint paul and his companions , that they had a turned the world upside down , may truly be laid to your charge , you have in your description of ierusalem tumbled all things topsie turvy , in the position of the gates thereof ; yea the foundations of the city , as presented by you , are out of course , and contrary to the rules of other writers . aleth . let god be true , and every man a liar . in this particular i profess my self a pure leveller , desiring that all humane conceits ( though built on most specious bottomes ) may be laid flat and prostrated , if opposing the written word . in conformity whereunto , we are bound to dissent from such authors ( otherwise honouring them for their severall deserts ) to accommodate the description of the gates and towers of ierusalem , according to a threefold eminent directory , which we finde in nehemiah . philol. give us i pray you an account of them in order . aleth . the first main scripture direction we are to observe is , the night survey which nehemiah took of the walls , ( or rather ruines ) of ierusalem , described in this manner : nehem . . , , . and i went out by night by the gate of the valley , even before the dragon well , to the dung port , and viewed the walls of ierusalem , which were broken down , and the gates thereof were consumed with fire . then went i out to the gate of the fountain and to the kings pool , but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass . then went i up in the night by the brook , and viewed the wall , and turned back and entred by the gate of the valley , and so returned . the second is the severall reparations ( where the same were required ) done on the gates and walls of the city by severall persons , in a circular form , from the sheep-gate b surrounding the whole city till they returned to the same place where they began ▪ whose names we have carefully inscribed on those portions of buildings , upon which their cost and pains were expended . the third , but most materiall , ( because most declaratory of the method of the gates ) is the solemn processions , which the people divided into two quires , made round about the walls : each of them measuring a semi-circle ; both of them incompassing the whole circumference of ierusalem , and at last joining together in the ( best meeting place ) the temple of god. first quire , nehem. . . one great company went on the right hand , upon the wall towards the dung-gate , consisting of half the princes of iudah : and ezra the scribe before them . and at the fountain-gate which is over against them , they went up by the staires of the city of david , at the going up of the wall above the house of david , even unto the water-gate eastward . second quire , nehem. . , . and the other company of them that gave thanks went over against them , a and i after them , and the half of the people upon the wall , from beyond the tower of the furnaces even unto the broad wall . and from above the gate of ephraim , and above the old-gate and above the fish-gate , and the tower of hananeel , and the tower of meah , even unto the sheep-gate ; and they stood still in the * prison-gate . so stood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the house of god. now i request the reader with his eye to examine , whether the walls of ierusalem , as designed in our draught , agree not with these directions of scripture . to purchase the favour whereof , i pass not for the frowns of any authors . omne excelsum cadet , down with whatever dare oppose our embracing of the text. this we hope for the main ▪ will satisfie any indifferent reader ; otherwise if being as impossible for me in this short discourse , to meet with the severall exceptions of private fancies ; as for a geographer in the map-generall of a countrey , to set down the house of every particular person . philol. you set sion south of ierusalem , clean contrary to the description of the psalmist b , beautifull for situation , the joy of the whole earth is mount sion , on the sides of the north the city of the great king. aleth . the place by you alleadged is difficult , much canvassed by comments , who fasten upon it two principall interpretations . sense . some make this verse a description of sion alone , the latter clause by apposition so referring unto it , that sion it self is solely charactered to be the city on the side of the north. sense . others make this verse the full description of all ierusalem , consisting of two principall parts , by the figure of asyndeton coupled together . . sion . beautiful for situation the ●oy of the whole earth is mount sion . . properly jerusalem . on the sides of the north the city of the great king. that the latter is the truer interpretation we send the reader to the voluminous labours of c villalpandus proving the same out of scripture , iosephus , and other authors . besides ( though time and casualty hath made many alterations on ierusalem , yet ) what peter in his time said of davids sepulcher , even in our age true of mount sion , d it is with us unto this day , standing still full south of ierusalem , as travellers doe affirme , no doubt in the ancient place and posture thereof . for , although ioseph could remove the egyptians from e one end of the borders of the land , unto the other end thereof ; yet mountains are too firmly fastned to be transplanted from their naturall location . philol. you doe commit what you condemn in adrichomius , taxing f him for fashioning the streets of ierusalem after his own fancy ; assuming the same liberty to your self in conjecturall ranging them without warrant from gods word . aleth . reason dictates what we have done herein . for gates being made for entrance , probably the streets from them stretched forth-right , as we have de●igned them . those insulae , or quadrants of buildings , are nothing else but the necessary product of the decussation and thwarting of such direct streets where they cross one another . it is impossible that in describing ierusalem we should doe what saul in another case desired of the ziphites , a see therefore and take notice of all the lurking places , and come yee again with the certainty ; onely such generalls in likelyhood may be presumed , and the rest is left to every mans free conception . philol. you have forgotten the porta fictilis or potters-gate , which b villalpandus solemnly sets up on the east of the city , building on a place alleadged out of the prophet ieremy . aleth . his porta fictilis , is rather fictitia and so brittle a gate that it is broken with perusing the text by him cited , for the proof thereof . c thus saith the lord , goe and get a potters earthen bottle , and take of the ancients of the people and of the ancients of the priests , and goe forth unto the valley of the son of hinnom , which is by the entry of the east gate , and proclaim there the words that i shall tell thee . see here ( whatever may be in the vulgar latine ) no sherd of a potters-gate , though we confess a potters d field nigh the city ; but , thence it cannot be collected that there was also a gate of that name , no more then if followes , because of smithfield , there must be smith-gate in london . philol. you affirm e that we meet with no gate at all in sion , flatly contrary to the words of david , f the lord loveth the gates of sion more then all the dwellings of icoab . aleth . i say again , that because of the precipice of the place , sion had no out-gates , but had those which led into ierusalem which might be meant by the psalmist . but to speake plainly , gates of sion are not there to be taken literally , being put for the assemblies of the people at gods publick worship ; especially , whilest the ark was in davids time fixed in zion . chap. xviii . objections against the courts of solomons temple answered . philol. in your description of the courts of solomons temple , i finde onely four gates to the cardinall windes , but neither parbar nor asuppim gate , though both of them eminently mentioned a in the bible . aleth . i must confess my self utterly unsatisfied in the position of these places , whether or no they were in the first two courts , as built by solomon , or added in after ages , when the new b or third court was added to solomons foundation : which latter i am most inclined to beleeve . for perusing the date of the first book of chronicles , i finde it written long after the iews return from the captivity of babylon , as appears by reckoning up the grand-children of c zorobabel , and therefore i suspend the describing of them till further information . philol. at the entrance of the house of the lord , you o make horses , but omit the chariots of the sun , both equally mentioned in p scripture , and destroyed by iosiah . besides , you make them artificiall statues , which ( no doubt ) were naturall horses , sent out with riders every morning in a superstitious frolick , to give a welcome , or visit to the dawning-day , and to salute the sun in the first arising thereof . aleth . chariots must be supposed there , though not expressed for lack of room . sure they were no reall horses , which the [ idolatrous ] kings of israel had given to the q sun. for ( except thereby be meant a successive breed , or race ) such horses must be extremely old at this reformation , after the r eighteenth year of iosia● , probably set up by ahaz sixty years since . besides , it is improbable , that living horses were kept so close to the temple , and that noisome stables should be so near gods house , generally set at some distance from mens dwellings . however , i had rather subscribe , then ingage in a controversie not worth the contending for . philol. you s mention onely one table of shew-bread , whereas david made preparation for the t tables thereof . and lest so plain a place of scripture should be avoided , by the frequent figure of enallage , solomon is expresly said to have made u ten tables and placed them in the temple , and it is added not long after , whereon the w shew-bread was set . aleth . i am confident , there was but one principall table for the presentation of shew-bread , whereon , by gods appointment , the twelve x cakes were set in two rowes , according to the number of the twelve tribes of israel . now , if there were ten tables provided for that purpose , the twelve cakes could not be equally set upon them without a fraction . i conceive therefore the other nine , onely as side-cupboards , or livery tables ministeriall to that principall one , as whereupon the shew-bread elect was set before the consecration thereof , and whereon the old shew-bread removed for some time , might be placed , when new was substituted in the room thereof . philol. to proceed to the altar . i approve your y answer taken from the celestiall fire thereupon , as satisfactory in relation to the tabernacle , and solomons temple , that so many sacrifices were so suddenly consumed without any noisomeness . but , the difficulty still remains as touching the second temple : where , by generall confession ( in default of heavenly ) the priests were fain to make use of common , and ordinary fire . aleth . although i beleeve not in full latitude , what the iewish rabbins doe affirme ; that the pillar of smoak which ascended from the sacrifice , curled onely upwards in direct wreaths to heaven , without any scattering , or shedding if self abroad ; yet for the main , we may be confident , it was no whit offensive to the priests , or people thereabouts . this we impute to the providence of god , passing an act of indemnity , that none should be impaired , either in health or wealth , by the performance of any service according to his appointment . and , as the land of the iews was secured from forein invasion z during the appearing of all the males thrice a year at ierusalem : so the same goodness of god ordered , that his people should sustain no damage or detriment , either in their purses , or persons , whilest busied in his worship : the main reason that no infection did arise , no smoak , nor ill savor sented from the fat , offall , and excrements of so many sacrifices offered in so short a time , and small a compass . philol. you say something for the avoiding of noisomeness , but nothing in answer , that that common fire should so quickly devour so many sacrifices , though , i confess the offerings in the second temple , nothing so numerous as those in solomons . aleth . we must totally ascribe this to the work of the lord , who though not granting this second temple the honour and use of celestiall fire ( allowed to the former ) yet , in approbation of his own ordinance , indued common fire with more then common activity . as , often in extremities , when miracles are denied , ordinary means are blessed with extraordinary efficacy in their operation . chap. xix . objections against zorobabels temple rebuilt by herod . philol. i forbear from objecting any thing against this map of the temple , seeing , by your confession , it is none of your own designing , but borrowed from ludovicus capellus . onely let me tell you , that i have seen a draught of the same temple , as in fashion much unlike it , so in exactness far above it . i mean the same which constantine l' empereur hath set forth out of middoth , or the rabbinicall book of solomons building . aleth . i confess my self to give little credit to rabbinicall relations therein , and think the worse of the writings of all rabbins , for their own thinking so well thereof , comparing them with , yea preferring them before scripture it self . such a passages ( which for me shall goe unenglished ) being found frequent therein . b in illis qui operam dant lectioni biblicae , virtus aliqua est , aut potiùs nulla ; at qui traditioni , virtus est , propter quam accipitur praemium . egredienti c è studio talmudico ad studium biblicum , non erit pax . d scito verba scribarum amabiliora esse verbis prophetarum . justly therefore did christ complain of thē , e making the word of god of none effect through your traditiōs which ye have delivered . and , although i am not of the mind of f villalpandus , who adviseth such as would read the rabbins without danger , first to fense themselves with the signe of the cross , and then whilest reading their books , often to repeat our saviours word , you are of your father the g devill ; yet i conceive epicharmus his counsell very usefull herein , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , remember thou not to beleeve , their books ( i mean in many passages therein ) being the leaven of the scribes and pharisees , whereof christ forewarneth us to beware . philol. grant them unsound in points of faith , they may be true in matters of fact . and though we must zealously reject their doctrinall positions , we may safely embrace their historicall relations ; especially concerning the contrivance of the second temple extant in their age . aleth . as touching this second temple , the works of the rabbins now extant can give us no true intelligence thereof . the iews once said to our saviour h , thou art not yet fifty years old , and hast thou seen abraham ? taxing him for pretending to more antiquity , then his age could extend unto . though this was but a cavill at christ , the same may justly be charged on the rabbins , that the oldest of them extant at this day , ( all of them writing since ann. dom. . in trajans time ) are too late and modern to give us any infallible information of the second temple , as which their eyes did never behold . whilest iosephus ( out of whose instructions capellus his description was lately taken ) was an eye-witness thereof . philol. allow their personall experience too short to reach the temple , their reports proceed on ancient records , declaring , as what was done in their days , so in the old time before them . aleth . so many and prodigious are the i monstrosities by them delivered , that it is hard to discern their lampreys from their snakes ; and the very truths among them are rendered suspicious , because mixed with so many falshoods : who , because they received not the truth [ christ himself ] for this cause god hath sent them strong k delusions that they should beleeve a lye . philol. grant the rabbins generally guilty hereof , yet rabbi iudah may be credited , living about trajans time , not much above thirty years after the destruction of the temple . one commonly styled the prince , and the holy , conceived by his countreymen next to moses in knowledge and piety . wherefore that new description of the temple i so lately commended , deserves beleefe , coming from the pen of this rabbi iudah , as far exceeding other rabbins , as the patriarch iudah excelled other tribes . aleth . your so much admired rabbi iudah was swolne with pharisaicall hypocrisie , as high as any other . witness his dying words , breathing out his soul with an expression to this effect , i lord of the world , it is manifest and known unto thee , that i have laboured in thy law with my ten fingers , and have not received any gain , no not with so much as the least finger . justly therefore may we be jealous of this water coming from such a fountain . philol. well , to wave the description of this rabbin , and to give you onely an occasion to enlarge your self , i desire farther information both in this draught of capellus , and also in your own written description of zorobabel-herods temple . for the first , i wonder you have omitted the bridge from mount olivet to the temple , mentioned in middoth . aleth . we finde indeed such a bridge ( others call it a caus-way ) in middoth built on purpose from mount olivet to the mountain of the house , whereon the temple was built . but oh ! how long must that bridge be ? above a mile in the direct extent thereof . how many , but especially how high must the arches therein be , to stride over so vast a concavity ? what need of so expensive a structure , seeing an ordinary plank would serve for a bridge over kedron ? which in sommer time was all bridge it selfe . how came iosephus ( one neither blinde to see , nor dumb to tell of beautifull buildings for the honour of his nation ) to take no notice hereof ? indeed the high priests amongst the romans , anciently had an inspection over the making and mending of bridges , thence called pontifices : but he deserved to be pontifex maximus amongst the iews , who erected this sumptuous bridge , on which may beliefe dare not walk with confidence , for fear of falling , and therefore i conclude it well omitted by capellus . philol. i am not satisfied in the reasons you give why solomons porch was so called . aleth . concerning the name whereof , let me adde this ( to what formerly we have w written on this subject ) that some conceive it so called , not because solomon ever built it , but because in after ages erected by herod , it did approximate , or come the nearest in state and magnificence to that of solomons first founding . thus manna is termed x angels food , not because they ever eat thereof , but had they any intention to feed thereon , better dainties could not be desired by them , or afforded to them : as this solomons porch ( at leastwise in the apprehension of the builders thereof , well conceited of their own workmanship ) was so called , because as brave , and beautifull , as if solomon himself with all his wealth , and glory , had been the erectour thereof ? philol. i conceive some carnall reason for the buyers and sellers of sheep and oxen in the temple , ( driven out by our saviour ) because men , to save the tedious driving of them up in kinde , brought flocks and heards up in their purses to ierusalem , ( money wherewith there they bought them ) but what use was there of money-changers in the temple ? aleth . besides their changing of strangers gold into silver , for less payments at their coming hither ; silver into gold for the lighter portage , at their departure hence ; under favour i conceive , they fitted people coming hither with shekels , for their religious service . true it is , the roman coins were onely currant in common and civill paiments ( as appears by christs question and the iews answer , whose image and superscription is this ? and they said , cesars ) but probably shekels were used in sacred paiments , the romans permitting the iews the free enjoyment of their religion , in things not destructive to their civill government . now , seeing the iews were enjoined by gods law , to tender unto him shekels of the sanctuary , not onely in valuation , but in specie ( especially in the case of y vowes , paying moe or few according to the age , or sex of the person ) it is likely that the money-changers here furnished the aforesaid votaries with shekels , and other pieces thereof , in exchange for their roman moneys . but herein such brokers so improved themselves on the present necessities of some , and ignorance of others , that they much defrauded people with their contracts , therefore termed by our saviour a z den of theeves . philol. why was the outward court in the temple called the court of women ? aleth . not , that they alone were permitted to be there ; but because they were not suffered , unless on speciall occasions , to goe any farther . thus * iosephus calls it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , the proper place for women to worship in ; but elsewhere expounds himself , † 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , farther then this the temple was unaccessible to women ; so that this court was proper for , but not peculiar unto the weaker sexe for their staying therein . philol. seeing that court was signally so called from women , doe you conceive as many women as men repaired to gods publick service in ierusalem ? aleth . o no! all males were enjoined to appear a thrice a year ( and that not empty handed ) before the lord in the temple ; whilest the same was not required of women . whose exemption proceeded partly from the infirmity of their sexe , not able to endure so long a journey ; partly to protect their chastity in such a concourse of people ; and partly that they might attend their young children , and family-affaires . for though god gave them b assurance , that during their husbands absence , no enemy should invade the land ; yet their tender * children were not exempted from inconveniencies which might arise if their mothers were away from them . philol. me thinkes the place in the temple , where the sacrifices were slain and fleaed , seems too small for such a purpose , if all the paschall lambes ( computed by iosephus to be thousands ) were as the rabbins will have it ) all killed by the priests in the temple , and that betwixt the two evenings , ( i. e. between three and six a clock in the afternoon ) no longer time being allotted thereunto ? i say , if so , a far greater square then what is presented in your map was requisite for that service . aleth . i am not bound to finde room for all their lambes . sufficeth it that i have exactly followed my pattern in the dimensions of the place . but to the point , may i be so bold as to whisper my opinion in your eare ; i conceive that , after the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ( or priests appointed to view the blemishes of lambes ) * had at more leasure approved those lambes legally perfect , a private person might sacrifice them in his own house ; and then the less room was required in the temple for such performances . and here i alledge the authority of philo , * affirming that ( as undoubtedly at the first institution of the passeover and before the erection of the tabernacle ) every one was a priest in his own family , even in his days , and sufficiently qualified for the offering of such sacrifices . philol. you make staires ascending to the altar , flatly against gods command ; c neither shalt thou goe up with steps unto my altar ; and the reason is rendered , that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon . aleth . to salve the matter , ( and to reconcile our , with the rabbins , description ) i conceive under the favour of capellus , that the going up to the altar was not divided into steps ( as he presenteth it ) but that it heightened it self by insensible degrees , being ( though a rise of many cubites ) an even ascent ( as i may term it ) equally elevated , so that the priests , not striding , but pacing up thereon , were not necessitated to any d divarication of their feet , which might occasion the discovery of any uncomeliness . philol. you make the holy immediately continued to the holy of holies , whereas there was a cubit distance betwixt them , and that covered with two vailes , which interstitium was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , by the rabbins . aleth . i have read as much in their writings , and that they were unresolved whether to refer this space to the holy or holy of holies ; ( like the condition of dying men in transitu , dubious whether to be accounted in this or another world ) and thence they say it was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , i. e. e perturbation or disturbance , because the priests were much disquieted thereat to which part of the temple to relate it . but what ●aith the psalmist ? man f disquieteth himself in vain , as here the rabbins do , causelesly troubling themselves about that which appears not in scripture . this we know , the temple ( besides the porch ) had two fair rooms , the holy and holiest ; but as for this partition-closet betwixt them , no foundation thereof in gods word . philol. you confidently deny that the ark was in the second temple , whereas , upon inspection of the triumphant marble of the vespasians in rome , the same appeareth pourtraicted thereupon . aleth . their eyes are much mistaken which finde the ark on that mon●ment , though something ark-like , ( but in very deed nothing else but the table of shew-bread ) be presented therein : as for further satisfaction we have caused g here to be exemplified . philol. you avouch an utter abolition of all temple-utensils , and no surviving reliques thereof at this day . i conceive the contrary may be made good out of history and daily experience . aleth . i confess the fingers of superstition have itched to be tampering with them . but finding the same not to fadge , at last she was fain hands-off to desist from such improbable designes . one h tells us of a cheater in france which many hundred years agoe pretended to moses his wonder-working rod ( though that of aaron , not moses , was preserved in the tabernacle ) and essayed to work miracles therewith , till at last he was beaten with his own rod , detected and punished for an impostor . i confess also that i comestor , and out of him k ribera in altari lateranensi infra quod dicitur esse arca , in the lateran altar , say they [ in rome ] beneath [ within ] which it is said the ark is ; but both of them speak so uncertainly , and put it on publick fame , that they teach us to deny the truth thereof . philol. you are very briefe in the destruction of the city and temple by the romans , whereas so memorable a subject deserved a fuller description . aleth . it is largely related by iosephus to whom the reader is referred ; onely i will adde a word of the remarkable time thereof . god graciously promised his people , neither shall l any man desire thy land , when thou shalt goe up to appear before the lord thy god thrice a year . obedience is better then an army to secure ones estate . as the meniall-servants of great persons are protected in some cases , from arrests , whilest they waite on their masters in publick imployment ; so gods people were priviledged from damage during their attendance on him thrice a year in his temple ; no invasion being found to befall them on that occasion clean through the scripture . but at last , in token that they , by their wickedness , had out-lawed themselves of his protection , and he withdrawn his defending of them , the romans besieged them in ierusalem , coming up thither on the solemn feast of the † passeover ; and soon after both temple and city was destroyed , by vespasian and titus his son , seventy two years after our saviours birth . not one stone of the temple left upon another ; though three towers of the city ( ma●iamne , phaselus , and hippicus ) were left standing ; not out of pity , but pride ; their devouring sword leaving this mannerly bit on purpose , that posterity might tast how strong the place was , to the greater credit of the conquerours . philol. to adde to the solemnity of the state , titus with his father vespasian made a solemn triumph in rome , wherein the golden table and candlestick , with other n sacred utensils of the temple , formerly reverenced , now derided , made once for gods service , now served to adorn the trophees of pagans . we read what befell o belshazzar when he quaffed in the vessels of the temple . some perchance might here expect that god , to punish the profana●ion of these holy instrument● , should then have shewed some signall judgment on the profaners . but the case was altered , because the date of ceremonies was then expired , the use of types ended , christ the truth being come : and the moon may set obscurely without any mans taking notice of her , when the sun is risen . aleth . the last and greatest trophee then carried in triumph was the p law of the iews : probably that very numericall book , the authenti●k or originall of the law , which by gods command was constantly to be kept in the * temple . and this perchance was permitted by divine providence , not without a peculiar mystery therein , to shew , that the law , which formerly bound men over to damnation , was now bound it self in captivity , outed of its former dominion , deposed from its condemning power , having now the gospell of grace succeeding in the place thereof . lastly , orders were issued out to the governour of syria to set the whole land of iudea to sale ; which was done accordingly . time was , when by the leviticall law , iewish land though ●old , yet at the year of iubile was to revert to the ancient * owners ; but now the king of heaven granted such a license of alienation , that it was fully and finally passed away from its ancient possessors . philol. to perpetuate th● memory of this roman conquest , besides many other monuments , coins were stamped both in gold and r silver , with the image of vespasian and titus , on the one side , and on the reverse a woman placed in a pensive posture under a palme-tree , which tree was the hieroglyphick of iudea , onely differing herein , that the palme-tree the more depressed , the more it flourisheth , whereas iudea sunke under the weight of her woes , and never again outgrew her miseries . and lest men should miss the fancy of the impress , they are guided thereunto by the motto subscribed , iudaea capta , iudea taken . aleth . what ●an on sight hereof would not call to minde the complaint of the prophet , s how doth the city sit solitary that was full of people ? how is she become as a widow ? she that was great among the nations , and princess among the provinces , how is she become tributary ? great , no doubt , was the grief of the iews hereat . but few drops seasonably showred , would preserve the green blade from withering , when much rain cannot revive the roots once withered . eyes dry for their sins , are vainly wet after their sufferings : and a drought in the spring is not to be repaired by a deluge in the autumn . chap. xx. objections , concerning the description of mount libanus , answered . philol. you make libanus to be the north-ridge of these hills , and anti-libanus to be the south part thereof , clean contrary unto learned a munster in his description of it . aleth . munster is singular therein , unseconded by any other authors . however , the controversie is not important as touching scripture , wherein this distinction appears not at all , both the north and south chains of those mountains being promiscuously called libanus in holy writ . some humane authors lay this distinction in point of east and west , so great is the difference among them . if i may freely profess my opinion herein , i conceive that the inhabitants of this mountain , termed the place of their own habitation , wheresoever they dwelt , libanus , and named the mountains of their overthwart neigh●bours anti-libanus : as commonly men account their own religion onely to be christianity , and all such opinions as are opposite to their own , antichristian phil●l . in your map generall of old canaan , the island of arvad ( or aradus ) is not above forty miles from zidon , which in this map of mount libanus are fourscore miles asunder . indeed i have read of a floating isle in scotland , moving from place to place with the winde and waves . but is this isle of aradus fixed to no firmer foundations , so that it hath swom forty miles more northward in this , then in your former draught thereof ? aleth . may you be pleased to remember , that in our instructions b premised to the reader , we gave notice that places standing on the um-stroke ▪ or utmost line of any map , denote not their accurate position , but situation thereabouts , to clear the continuation of the countrey . such the location of arvad in our former map , which in this of mount libanus is placed according to the true distance thereof . philol. you make the river aban● ( in heathen authors chrysorrho●s ) to sink into the ground , without communicating it self to the sea . this is out of the common road of nature , that this river should be free from paying tribute to the ocean , to which all smaller waters are indebted . yea and c adrichomius ( no doubt on good authority ) maketh it , when passing from dam●scus , to run through a plain called arch abod , and so into the syrian , or medite●ranean-sea . aleth . his error therein is confuted , both by ancient , and modern writers . strabo speaking thereof , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . which chrysorrho●s beginning from the city , and countrey of damascus , in a manner is wholly spent in drains thence derived ; for it watereth much ground , and that very deep . some thing more may be collected from ptolemies expression , not terming the fall of chrysorrhoas 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ( his ordinary word ) the out-lets , or ejections thereof into the sea , but onely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , the end , or determination thereof . where , by the degrees by him assigned , be●tius in his maps presenteth this river swallowed up wholly in the sands : and the same is confessed by bellonius an eye-witness thereof , and other modern d geographers , that it never cometh unto any sea . philol. you have omitted the vale of salt in your map ( near aram● zoba● ) neither mentioning in your description that most memorable defeat , which david gave the syrians therein . your modern merchants of aleppo will inform you thereof , who have been on the very place where the battell was fought , as tradition reporteth . aleth . i have heard so much from the mouths of my judicious e friends , which have lived in those parts : and have formerly read the same in effect ; how , within halfe a days-journey f of aleppo , there is a very great plain , without grass growing on it , the sand whereof is naturally good salt , and after rain being dried again with the sun , the people gather it . however , i cannot be perswaded , that this salt vale was the place , whereon david gave his enemies that notable overthrow , as on the perusall of the following scriptures will appear . sam. . and david gat him a name when he returned from smiting the syrians in the valley of salt being eighteen thousand men . and he put garrisons in edom , throughout all edom put he garrisons . chr. . . moreover abishai the sonne of zerviah slew of the edomites in the valley of salt , eighteen thousand . inscription of psal. . to the chief musician upon sushan-eduth ; michtam of david , to teach . when he strove with aram maharaim , and with aram zobah , when ioab returned and smote of edom in the valley of salt , twelve thousand . here under favour , i conceive , these severall scriptures intend one , and the same victory , because fought in the same place , the valley of salt , whilest the seeming contradictions , in the names of the conquerors , different numbers , and nations of the persons conquered , are easiely reconciled : . ioab ( as generall ) might give the command , and abishai ( lieutenant generall ) do the execution , whilest david ( as soveraign ) received the honour of the action . . twelve thousand might be slain on the place , and six more kild in the pursuit , so making up eighteen thousand in the totall number . . this slaughter fell on the edomites , who are called syrians , not by their countrey ( though syria taken in a large sense is comprehensive of many nations ) but cause , and confederacy , as ingaging themselves ( to their cost ) auxiliaries in the same quarrell of the syrians against king david . this battell thus stated ( with most probability in my opinion ) it seems fought rather in the land of edom , where there is another valley of salt eminent in g scripture , and not near aleppo , or aram zobah . however , because tradition is a tyrant on the contrary , i dare resolve nothing positively , but suspend my own , and attend the judgments of others herein . philol. you make marra the next modern stage south of aleppo : whereas there be many moe miles , and intermediate lodging-places ( namely cane-toman , and h saracoop ) betwixt them . aleth . i confess no less , but am sorry your memory is so short , that i must so often incultate the same rule unto you : that places situate on the um-stroke ( such the location of aleppo in our map ) are not in their exact position , whilest we onely make a long arme to reach them confusedly into our description , though otherwise they be at greater distance , then the scale of miles will admit . philol. i wonder you make the mediterranean from tripoli to antioch , to run with such a crooked flexure , in form of an hook , which certainly will not catch the beleefe of any judicious beholder thereof . the rather because no geographers take cognizance of it , and such a bending is disavowed by all modern maps . aleth . consult ptolemies maps ( as drawn by learned bertius ) and they present the fashion thereof accordingly : though such an elbow appears not in the late cardes of this countrey . no news now adays for sea to gain , land to lose , or ( reciprocally ) both to alter their ancient , and accept new forms : seeing our cornish-men will tell us , that a good piece of their horn is blunted , and broken off by the sea : whose land formerly stretched out more westward , and was i called ( as they say ) lioness , before the waters devoured both the paws , and whole body thereof . chap. xxi . objections answered against the eastern confines of palestine . philol. you have left the eastern part of this map altogether empty , which you ought to have furnished with moe towns , and cities therein . aleth . whose image and superscription doth this map bear ? is it not of arabia the desert , a wild barren countrey ? to make a desert full , is as absurd , as to paint a black-more faire . besides , whence should the geographer fetch the names of these cities , except from his own groundless fancy ? and then , as king edgar is said to have founded in england as many monasteries as there be weeks in the year , a map-maker might build moe cities then there be hours therein , whilest the reader must have as much simplicity , as the author dishonesty , that gives credit thereunto . philol. you have false pointed ( to use your own a expression ) the iewish peregrinations , seeing those four intermediate stages ( comma's , as you term them ) be ar , mattanah , nahaliel , and bamoth , being named after the stream of arnon , seem on the other side of the river , and therefore rather to be placed in the tribe of reuben . aleth . i have consulted the text , and best comments upon it , and cannot yet be convinced , but that the same is rightly situate . arnon i conceive divided into many streams , therefore plurally termed the brooks of b arnon , probably tributary brooks running into that main river : and though the places aforesaid lay north of these rivolets , they were south of the main arnon , and in the land of moab . however , because of their so ambiguous posture , being more willing to learn then to teach , i am ready to alter them on any better information . philol. you make iobs sons tent in your map blown down on his children therein , whereas c scripture calleth it expresly an house , and otherwise it is unlikely they should be slain , with such slight curtains falling upon them . aleth . i will not plead that a tent is also termed an house in scripture d phrase , that tent-dwelling was most fashionable in the eastern countries , especially in that ancient age , that statory , or long standing tents were quilted with timber , for their stronger support ; that iob● children might be ( though not killed with weight ) stifled with the closeness of the very linnen in the tent , when satan with such violence in a vengeance , drave it in upon them ; but fairly charge it on the account of the graver following his own fancy therein . philol. you have made the red-sea too near to the dead-sea , presenting not above sixty miles distance betwixt them , when there is much more in all authentick descriptions of them . see now what covetousness doeth , it makes men guilty of much falshood , as here your over-greediness to recover ezion gaber within this map , hath tempted you to trespass on due proportion . aleth . i confess the main channell of the red-sea runs many miles more south-west ; but this bay called sinus elaniticu● ; from 〈◊〉 ( e●ath in scripture , a fair city built by e uzziah , and restored to i●●●ah , f hard by ezion gaber ) buncheth out more to the north , and in mr. mores maps , and others of good credit , is advanced as near to the dead-sea , as in this our description . besides , i have good reason to conceive , that this reach of the red-sea , anciently stretched more north-ward , then now adays ; even to the city of elana , or elath , whence it takes its name ; because in ptolemies map , elana is set in the land , some miles distance from the sea ; whither , no doubt , it reached formerly , and made an haven for ezion gaber thereabouts . philol. but , how can ezion gaber stand on the red-sea , when we read of huram king of tyre ( an haven sufficiently known to be seated on the mediterranean ) that he sent g ships to solomon to ezion gaber ? surely , they sailed not round about africa , much less can you conceive them to goe over land , ( ships having fins , and not feet ) and a shole of fish may with as much probability be driven over the continent . aleth . here sir , i will not tell you of the prince of orange his constantly carrying boats to make bridges of ( though of no great burden ) in his wagons : much less will i instance in those seventy lesser ships , and galliots , brought by zoganes bassa anno . up a h great hill , and so by dry land with all their sails abroad ▪ out of the bosphorus , the space of eight miles , into the haven of constantinople , by an ingenious device , and a great strength of men to manage it , whereby the said city was soon after unexpectedly taken by the turke . an invention formerly found out , and practised by the venetians at the lake of bennacus . but , waving these things , take notice , i pray , of two memorable passages concerning the matter in hand . king. . . and king solomon made a navy of ships in ezion gaber . chron. . . and huram sent him [ to ezion gaber ] by the 〈◊〉 of his servants , ships , and servants that had knowledge of the sea . the result of both is this , solomons ships were built in the place at ezion gaber , where all their lumber , and ma●sie timber was provided , at the dock wherein they were made : whilest their tackling , and other essentiall implements thereof ( easily portable when taken in pieces ) might be sent from tyre by land-carriages . such far carting being part of the burdens solomon imposed on the people , whereof they afterwards so grievously i complained : or else by hurams sending ships , by a metonymie of the cause understand ship-rights , such as found materials there , and brought art and industry ( virtually with the former a whole navy ) thither with them . philol. seeing edom bounded north-ward on the dead , south-ward on the redsea ( whereon stood ezion gaber in the land of edom ) how can the children of israel be conceived ( when denyed passage through it ) to l compass the land of edom without coming into any part thereof , except they went into the water ? aleth . understand it , they went not the nearest way to canaan through the heart , and fruitfull middle of edom , but surrounded the same , going through the borders thereof ( leaving the red-sea on the right hand ) where their passage was no whit prejudiciall to the edomites , as being through a base countrey secured against the long stay of any passengers therein , by its own barrenness . besides , m some conceive the land of edom extended not anciently so far as the red sea , so that in moses his time ezion gaber belonged not thereunto , though in the days of solomon accounted parcell thereof . chap. xxii . objections against the wilderness of paran answered . philol. in your map of simeon and iudah , you make that the river of egypt , which runs nigh rinocolura into the mediterranean sea . and here you call both that brook that runs into the syrbon lake , as also the easternmost stream of nilus by the name of the river of egypt . how comes this triplication ? where the scripture presents but one , you multiply three rivers of egypt . aleth . you put me in minde of a passage bishop latimer confesseth of himself , whilest as yet a young priest , and zealous papist . he , being enjoined by the rubrick to mingle water with the wine in the ch●lice at mass , was so a scrupulous to doe it effectually , that he powred in water so much , and so often , that he almost diluted all into water . such is the 〈◊〉 of my caution herein , who have egypt-rivered this map to purpose , willing to please all without displeasing of the truth . you know who saith , b if it be possible , as much as in you lyeth have peace with all men , as herein i have endevoured . for , the rivolet south of simeon , by generall consent that running into the syrbon-lake , by mr. more the easternmost stream of nile , by bochartus is made the river of egypt . thus each opinion having learned men to patronize it , we equally tender them all to the readers discretion , to reject , or accept which of them he shall conclude most probable . philol. you make sinai ( where the law was given ) a different , and distinct mountain from mount horeb. whereas in scripture it plainly appears , that horeb was the same with sinai , two names for one and the same mount . for , that the law was given in sinai , all agree , and the same is attributed to horeb also . the lord our god made a covenant with us in c horeb. — the lord talked with you face to face in the mount , out of the midst the fire . aleth . some d conceive this mountain ( as moses is erroneously fancied with hornes ) to rise up parnassus-like , with a double top ; whereof the one is called horeb , the other sinai . or else the former , like the alpes , is a genericall name to many , whilest sinai , like mount senis amongst the alpes , is more eminent and conspicuous then the rest , for the height thereof . philol. seeing the spies were sent from a kadesh-barnea to discover the land , a city afterwards assigned to b iudah , how come you to make the israelites to incamp so many miles south of the same place ? aleth . none can be so wild as to conceive that the israelites during their journeying in the wilderness , ever came within the walls of any city , but always pitched in the open desert . this premised , when they are said to be c in kadesh-barnea , we understand thereby a countrey , not city , so named , which began southwardly about rithmah ( the fifteenth station of the israelities , whence they sent their spies ) and extended northwardly to kadesh-barnea properly so called , ( probably a city ) certainly a limitary place belonging afterwards to the tribe of iudah . philol. you term their provocation of god in this place d as yet the last and greatest temptation , which seems to me not of so hainous a nature . aleth . so many and great were their rebellions , it is hard to define which was their highest offence . their carriage for forty years is styled by god a e day of temptation , whose transgressions were so frequent and came so fast , that they all compleated but one intire , constant , and continued temptation . but to the point , that this their despising of the f pleasant land was a paramount impietie , appears not onely by the exclusion of that whole generation from entering the same , but by the confession of modern iews : manasseh ben israel ( the hebrew divine at this day in amsterdam ) observes the ninth day of the moneth ab , whereon saith he g exploratores flebant sinecau●a , the spies sent to discover the land [ and all the congregation occasioned by their false reports ] h wept without cause , hath ever since been unfortunate to their nation , their first , and second temple being burnt on the same day , and many dysasters have since befallen them thereon . thus the iews travell far off in their inquiries , fetching the cause of their misfortunes from their forefathers in the wilderness more then three thousand years agoe , which with more ease might take up their lodging nearer hand , and finde the same in their crucifying of christ , as their highest sin , and the cause of their deepest suffering . philol. think you that rithmah ( the fifteenth stage of the israelites ) was the particular place , whither the spies returned bringing the report of canaan ? aleth . though many conceive so , under favour i take it more probable , that the next mansion , rimmon-parez by name , was the proper scene of that action . for , it signifieth in hebrew the division of pomegranates , so called ( as i conceive ) not from any growing there ( too barren a place for such beautifull fruit ) but brought thither by the spies ( i pomegranates being specified amongst the fruits of the land ) which here were divided , and shared among the people of israel , to show them a sample of the fruitfullness of canaan . philol. what a blank and vacuity have you left betwixt ezion-gaber the thirty second , and kadesh-zin the thirty third station of the israelites ( sixty miles at least ) without any stage interposed ? it is not probable that they travelled so far , without resting themselves betwixt them . aleth . surely they had intermediate mansions where they took their nightly repose , though not named by moses , because not making any considerable abode therein . i conceive , that after their departure from ezion-gaber , god quickned the israelites ( who truanted before in their slow , and snail-like proceedings ) making them mend their pace , probably travelling every day will they came to kadesh , which their young men might the better endure , the old generation being almost worn out . philol. how comes aaron to be buried in mount k hor , whom elsewhere the scripture affirmeth to be interred in l mosera ? aleth . it is no news to have severall names for the same place . the forest of black-more , and the forest of m white-hart ( though black and white be contrary colours ) signifie the self same tract of ground in dorset-shire . hor was n the east part , and mosera the west part of this mountain . this mosera had formerly been the o twenty seventh mansion of the israelites in their passage to ezion-gaber , near which afterwards they made their thirty fourth station ( when aaron was buried there ) which sufficiently argues the crookedness of their journying , crossing those parts again where they had been before . philol. i commend your cunning that hath slipt over in silence , four of the hardest names contained all in one verse deut. . . these be the words which moses spake unto all israel , on this side iordan in the wilderness , in the plain over against the red-sea , between paran , and tophel , and luban , and hazer●th , and dizahab , direct us to the position of these places . aleth . some * conceive the p plains of moab ( wherein moses wrote the book of deuteronomy ) described thereby with the eminent bounds ( though at some distance ) round about it , in manner following . others refuse this interpretation , as an obscure , and far fetch'd bounding of those plains , preferring our english translation ( reading it red-sea , in stead of zuph , or sedgie-land ) and so making these severall places the signall stages of the children of israel in their passage out of egypt . whereof the red-sea , and paran are sufficiently known , laban the same with libna● their q seventeenth station ; r hazeroth the place where miriam was punished with leprosie ; dizahab , which the greek renders golden mines , and the chaldee refers to the place where the golden s calfe was made , and stamped to powder , whilest tophel ( not mentioned again in scripture ) is conceived some station in paran . thus deuteronomy is a repetition of the law , and of the memorable actions which occurred at these severall places . philol. i object nothing against the draught of the tabernacle , because the authority of arias montanus ( whence you confess it taken ) will pass it without exception . but i question the exactness of severall places in your map of egypt . aleth . you minde me of a gentlemans finding a picture in the shop of a country-painter , whom he mistook for the maker thereof , and thereupon fell a finding many faults therein . but being informed that the same was drawn by one of the rarest masters in italy , he instantly turned his cavilling at , into commending thereof . such a convent your judgment will quickly be when i shall tell you that the map of egypt is of ortelius his making , save onely that the southern part thereof ( uselesse for our history ) is cut off , and such places onely inserted herein as appears in scripture . the same i plead for the habits , and idols of the iews ; the former taken all out of scripture , the latter out of such authors as are severally cited in our description . onely i could wish , that in the picture of moloch out of benjamins itinerarie the three statues had been presented ●itting according to our t directions . and by the altar to the unknown god we mean not that erected in athens ( to a grecian , no iewish deity ) but onely we intend the same for a reserve for those many iewish idols , whose names , and severall worships are unknown unto us . but , it is time to break off , lest one grand objection be made against all our objections and answers , that they swell the volume into tediousness . ezekiel his visionary land of canaan . chap. i. ezekiels visionary land , city , and temple uncapable of a literall meaning . § . perusing the nine last chapters of ezekiels prophesie ( invited thereunto with the mention of many places in palestine ) whilest i hoped to find , and feel a solid body , i onely grasped the flitting aire , or rather a meer spirit ; i mean in stead of a literall sense i found the canaan by him described no geography , but ouranography , no earthly truth , but mysticall prediction . now , his description will appear irreconcileable with a literall interpretation ( no topicall , but a bare typicall relation ) if the particular location of the tribes therein be seriously considered . § . adde hereunto the miraculous fruit ( unfading and new every moneth ) which this land produced , one leafe whereof was more worth then all the great e grapes , pomegranates , and figs , the spies brought from canaan , as being unfading and f soveraign for medicines . now surely such as understand this literally have need of some of those leaves to cure their distempers therein . § . it will be objected , that this propheticall palestine makes frequent mention of seas , g great sea , and h east sea ; river , io●dan , mountain , gilead ; besides the land is bounded , north , south , and east with severall places of name , and note , as i hethlon , zedad , h●math &c. now , what saith our saviour ? k a spirit hath not flesh and bones , meer visions are of a more rarified , and attenuated nature , not consisting of such gross , and drossie parts , and therefore the prophet seems rather to be taken at his word , and his literall relation to be embraced , without farther search for a mysticall meaning therein . § . it is answered , omnis visio fundatur in historia ; the most refined vision hath some mixture of , and analogie with an historicall truth . as in a web , the stamen , or warp , it fast fixed , through which the woofe is cast , or woven ; ●o there re certain standards in all visions , being the materiall and corporall ground-work , for a spirituall flourish , or descant to improve it self thereupon . more particularly , because so many places of palestine are named in this vision ; yea , seeing the body thereof is confo●med to an unlike likeliness ( as i may terme it ) of the earthly canaan , it intima●es , that the iewish nation shall have more then a single share in the accomplishment of this prophesie , and have their happiness highly concerned in the performa●ce thereof . § . as the land , so the city described by the prophet , is not appliable to the earthly ierusalem . it is said of christ , thou art l fairer then the children of men ; sure i am , this city as presented by the prophet , was fairer , finer , slicker smoother , more exact , more uniforme then any fabrick the earth afforded . this triumphant ierusalem ( as i may term it ) was a compleate square of four m thousand five hundred reeds , with a just iury of n gates , three of each side , according to the names of the twelve tribes ) with most regular suburbs , reaching two hundred and fifty reeds every way , so terse , so trim , that not an house started out of its due proportion . whereas the literall ierusalem , built by parcels at severall times , on abrupt precipices , ranged about with the wals rather for strength , then beauty , being on the east and south suburbless , and without such correspondency , either in the number , or position of the gates thereof . in a word , that so exact structure in the prophet , never sprang by art out of earth , but was let down by a miracle from heaven ▪ to which saint iohn alludes in his celestiall o ierusalem . § . lastly , the temple , as framed by the prophet , is not suitable with solomons , and the very waters rising from under the threshold thereof , encreasing by degrees unto an unpassable p river , doe drown all possibility of a literall sense therein . expect not here , i should intermeddle with a particular description of the foresaid land , city , and temple ; both because they being meerly mysticall are alien from our subject , and because i am deterred from so difficult an undertaking by the ensuing computation . moses saith , the days of our * years are threescore years , and ten . the iews made an ordinance , that none should read this vision , till thirty years old . villalpandus confesseth , he studied this prophesie twenty three years , yet understood not the difficulties thereof . if life be so short , and we must begin so late , and study so long on this prophesie alone ( without attaining the full understanding thereof ) high time at the end of those studying years , to leave the measuring of this vision , and survey the dimensions of our own graves . § . to conclude , as once our saviour told pilate , p my kingdome is not of this world : so the sense of ezekiels land , city , and temple , is not carnall , and corporall , but mysticall , and spirituall . yea , god may seem of set purpose to have troubled , and perplexed the text , imbittering the nibbles thereof with inextricable difficulties , meerly to wean us from the milke of the letter , and make us with more appetite seek for stronger meat therein . for the main therefore , it is generally conceived , this vision imports the great inlargement , and dilatation of the church under the gospell , when the gentiles shall be called to the knowledge of christ , and the iews also ( as mainly concerned , though not solely intended in this vision ) brought home to their true messiah , not excluding even those of the ten tribes , from having each one his childs-portion in the performance of this prophesie . a word or two of whose condition , since their captivity . chap. ii. what became of the ten tribes since their captivity , and where probably extant at this day . § . politick was the practice of the kings of assyria , when conquering a countrey , neither to kill the natives thereof , nor to continue them any longer in their own land , but to transport them into a far distant countrey , and in exchange planting other colonies in their room . for , first to kill them ( besides the cruelty thereof in cold bloud ) had been an improvident act , men amongst them being precious to people their vast dominions , which otherwise , if empty , had been more exposed to the invasion of enemies . to continue them in their own land had not been safe ; who , best knowing the advantages thereof , would on all occasions practice the recovery of their lost liberty ; and therefore to prevent farther disputes , the subject of the question was taken away , and they advisedly disposed of in far distant places . lastly , the removing them into other parts , and substituting others in their land , taught both these plantations an immediate dependence on their prince , ( having no other plea but his bare pleasure for their present possessions ) which made them , ( like the turkish timario●s ) more dutifull at home , and daring abroad in their undertakings . § . these reasons moved the kings of assyria to transport the israelites from their native soil . indeed they , if any people , might term the land their own , having a threefold ti●●e thereunto ; by donation from god , the supreme proprietary ; by conquest of the canaanites , the ancient owners ; by prescription of more then seven hundred years peaceable possession thereof . but this threefold cable was broken with the weight of their sins , and so was israel carried away from their a own land to assyria unto this day . even lands as well as goods are moveables , though not from their center , from their owners , at leastwise the owners are moveable from their lands . § . yet god did not all at once begin , and end the captivity of the ten tribes , but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , at sundry times , and in diverse manners . for , b p●l king of assyria in the reign of c menahem carried the reubenites , gadites , and half tribe of manasseh away to the cities of the medes . tiglath-pi●●eser in the days of pekah , transported ( besides gilead , and the remains of the aforesaid tribes ) d galilee ; namely , so much thereof as was in the land of naphtali , unto assyria . shalmaneser cleared all the rest in the ninth year of hoshea , carrying them away to e halath , and habor , by the river gozan in the cities of the medes . probably the second , or middle captivity of the naphtalites , afterwards removed themselves into tartary , where ortelius findes their very name , and a city called tabor ( f asnoth-tabor we know was a place in the border of naphtali ) imposed ( no doubt ) to perpetuate the memory of their native countrey . § . scripture gives us no account what afterwards became of these ten tribes . onely in esdras ( ● book accounted by some as the ap●●rypha of the apocrypha , because never owned for canonicall , either by the iews , romish g church in generall , or protestant writers ) we finde them travelling over euphrates ( miraculously dried up in their passage ) towards arsareth [ or tartary ] a great way ; namely , a journey of a h year and an half . a long stride indeed , and yet might be but little , if mending their pace no more then their ancestors did in their passage between egypt , and canaan . but waving esdras his single testimony , these ten tribes appeare not since in any authenticall relation ; strange ! that the posterity of the two tribes ( iudah and benjamin ) should be found [ almost ] every where , whilest the off-spring of the ten tribes are found no where ! thu● god hath on them 〈◊〉 that curse which he formerly threatned , to scatter them into corners , and make the i remembrance of them to cease . not , that he hath utterly extinguished the being ( an opinion as unreasonable , as uncharitable ) but hath hitherto concealed the known b●ing of so numerous a nation , whom we may call the lost-lo●t sheep of israel ; both in respect of their spirituall condition , and corporall habitation . § . some k conceive the modern am●ricans of the jewish race , collecting the same from some resemblances in rites , community of customes , conformity of clothes , fragments of letters , foot-steps of knowledge , ruines of language , ( though by a casuall coincidence some straggling words of the athenians may meet in the mouths of the veriest barbarians ) and many other iudaismes amongst the indians . and lately , a l jewish rabbin of amsterdam tels us , that beyond the cordiller hills , and river maragnon , a fair people are found with long beards , and rich in clothes , living by themselves , different in religion from the rest of the indians , whom he will have to be the ten tribes there remaining in a body together . his arguments so prevaile on some , formerly contrarily minded , as to turn the tyde of their judgment to concur with his , with others they make it dead water , not to oppose his opinion , whilest a third sort listen to his relation , as onely priviledged from confutation by the remoteness thereof . § . for mine own part , i behold his report as the twilight , but whether it will prove the morning twilight , which will improve it self into full light ; or that of the evening , darkening by degrees into silence , and utter obscurity , time will discover . when the eleven tribes ( so virtually may i term them ) brought news that one lost tribe [ ioseph ] was found , iacobs heart o fainted , for he beleeved them not , till afterwards he was convinced on clearer evidence . how much more then may i be permitted to suspend my judgment , when one man brings tydings of ten lost tribes , all found in an instant , untill farther proof be made thereof ? surely we , who now secretly smile at some probable insinuations in his report , shall on better assurance have our mouthes filled with p laughter ( not q sarahs laughter of distrust , but r abrahams , of desire , delight , and beliefe ) when his relation shall be confirmed to us from other hands . and indeed , the messenger deserves to be well paid for his pains , who brings clear proof thereof , the discovery of the posterity of these ten tribes being an happy forerunner , and furtherer of their future conversion . chap. iii. of the jews their repossessing their native countrey . § . it is a conceit of the modern iews , that one day they shall return under the conduct of their messias to the countrey of canaan , and city of ierusalem , and be re-estated in the full possession thereof . if any object , that their land , now base , and barren , is not worth the regaining : they answer , when they shall recover their countrey , the countrey shall recover its former fruitfulness ; as if god would effect miracles , as fast as man can fancy them . with them concur some protestant divines , maintaining , that the iews shall be restored to a flourishing common-wealth , with the affluence of all outward pomp , and pleasure , so that they shall fight and conquer gog and magog [ the turke ] with many other miraculous achievements . one a author so enlargeth the future amplitude of the jewish state , that thereby he occasioned a confining to himself . his expressions ( indiscreetly uttered , or uncharitably construed ) importing , that all christian princes should surrender their power as homagers to the temporall supreme empire of the jewish nation . § . for the proof of this their position , never did the servants of benhadad more diligently observe , or more hastily catch any b thing [ of comfort ] coming from the mouth of ahab , then the iews search out , and snatch at every gracious promise made to them in the old testament . such principally as deut. . . then [ on their repentance ] the lord thy god will turn thy captivity , and have compassion upon thee , and will return , and gather thee from all nations , whiter the lord thy god hath scattered thee . isaiah . . and he shall set up an ensigne for the nations , and shall assemble the out-casts of israel , and gather together the dispersed of iudah from the four corners of the earth . levit. . . and yet for all that , when they be in the land of their enemies , i will not cast them away , neither will i abhor them , to destroy them utterly , and to break my covenant with them , for i am the lord their god. § . this last place the iews highly price , and such of them as live in germany , call it c simiam auream , or the golden ape . and why so ? because ( forsooth ) in the hebrew it begineth with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ve ape , and yet . a frivolous conceit on the similitude of sound of two words , of different sense , in the hebrew , and dutch tongues . indeed , all the loud threatnings in scripture , may more fitly be termed lions , all the meek promises therein , lambes ; amongst which , this cited out of leviticus is of especiall note , whilest it is to be feared , such iews ( as found hence their temporall kingdome ) will prove themselves apish in their ridiculous comment thereupon . § . but , most learned divines are of a contrary opinion , because totall and finall desolation is in scripture , so frequently denounced against their countrey , and cities therein . the virgin of israel is fallen , she shall d no more rise ; i will c no more pity the inhabitants of the land , and out of their enemies hand i will not deliver them : i will love them f no more : the land shall fall , and g not rise again : i will break this people and this city as a potters vessell , which can h not be made whole again . § . as for the scriptures alleadged by the iews for their temporall restauration to an illustrious condition in their own countrey , they have found their full accomplishment , in the return of that nation , to their own land , from the captivity in babylon ; and therefore farther performance of such promises , is not to be expected : and accordingly it is resolved in their own i best authors , possessionem primam , & secundam habituri erant , possessio autem tertia non erit illis . and if any more fulfilling of those promises remaineth behinde , it must be made up , in the sprirituall conversion of the iews , in gods due time , to the knowledge of christ , and embracing of the gospell . some of their own k writers affirming , that all things which relate to the office of their messiah ( whom they expect ) are heavenly , and not corporall . § . the farther prosecution hereof , we leave to those authors , who have written large discourses of this subject . onely we will observe a remarkable difference betwixt a place of scriputre , written in the old , alleadged , and applyed in the new testament . amos . , & . in that day will i raise up the tabernacle of david that is fallen , and close up the breaches thereof , and i will raise up his ruines , and i will build it as in the days of old : that they may possess the remnant of edom , and of all the heathen , which are called by my name , saith the lord that doth this . act. . , & . after this i will return , and i will build again the tabernacle of david , which is fallen down : and i will build again the ruines thereof , and i will set it up : that the residue of men might seek after the lord , and all the gentiles upon whom my name is called , saith the lord who doth all these things . here the apostle iames , more following the sense , then the words of the prophet , as an expositor , rather then translatour , renders the possessing of the remnant of edom , to be , by seeking after the lord ; by which analogy we collect , that those topicall promises to the iews , of their conquering and possessing such , and such places , in , and near their own countrey , import onely a spirituall propriety , and shall mystically , not carnally be accomplished , in their sincere conversion to christ. § . more probable therefore it is , that the iews shall not come back to their land , but their land shall come back to them ; i mean , those severall places , in europe , asia , and africa , wherein they reside , shall on their conversion , become as comfortable unto them , as ever the land of canaan was to their ancestors . forti quaevis terra patria ; and a contented minde in them , shall make any mountain , their olivet ; river , their iordan ; field , their carmel ; forest , their libanus ; fort , their zion ; and city , their ierusalem . but , as for their temporall regaining of their old countrey , in all outward pompe , and magnificence , even such as are no foes to the iews welfare , but so fa● friends to their own judgments , as not to believe , even what they desire , till convinced with scripture , or reason , account this fancy of the iews , one of the dreams proceeding from the l spirit of slumber , wherewith the apostle affirmeth them to be possessed . chap. iiii. of the generall calling of the jews . § . by iews , we understand , some left of every tribe ( as a formerly hath been proved ) being banished their own countrey , since the death of our saviour ; not extending it also ( as some doe with small probability ) to the ten tribes , carried captive by shalmane●er , and never since certainly known , where existent . by calling , we intend , their reall converting by the word , to the knowledge and love of god in christ. by generall , we mean not every individuall iew , whereof some refractary recusants will ever remain ( were it but to be foiles to gods favour in saving the rest ) but a considerable , yea conspicuous number of them . and it is a charitable opinion , ancient , and conformable to scriptures , that in this sense , the iews in gods due time , shall be generally called . § . come we now to the places of scripture alleadged for the proof of this opinion . now as mesha king of moab , when his countrey was invaded , stood not the choosing of select souldiers for fight , but b gathered all that were able to put on armour , and upwards : so authors muster up all places of scripture , which put on any probability to this purpose , and can carry any countenance thereunto , amongst many others , these ensuing ▪ num. . . isa. . . ezek. . . mat. . . deut. . . isa . . ezek. . . mat. . . psal. . . isa. . . &c. ioel . . luk. . . psal. . . . isa. . , . amos . . rom. . . psal. . , . isa. . , . obad. ver . . cor. . . cant. . . ier. . . micah . . thes. . . isa. . . ier. . . zeph. . . revel . . . isa. . , . ier. . . zech. . . &c. revel . . . should these quotations be severally examined , many would be found rather to perswade , then prove ; rather to intimate , then perswade the matter in hand : and that , onely to such free , and forward apprehensions , as are prepossessed with the truth thereof . but , amongst these , and many more numerous scriptures cited , that one place rom. . . principally deserveth our serious perusall thereof . § . the words of the apostle run thus , for i would not brethren that yee should be ignorant of this mystery ( le●t yee should be wise in your own conceits ) that blindness in part is hapned to israel , untill the fulness of the gentiles be come in , and so all israel shall be saved &c. this is conceived the strongest , and clearest charter for the iews generall conversion ▪ § . it will be objected , that by all israel the believing gentiles are meant ( for gods church , being a collective body , of some iews , and moe gentiles ) which in scripture are styled d the children of abraham , e the israel of god ; f iews inwardly , with circumcision of the heart , in the spirit , not the letter . yea , in the same verse , saint paul [ a iew ] called the romans being gentiles , brethren , the kindred coming in by their regeneration : and in the same sense , all converted gentiles may be called israel , whose praise is of god , and not of man. § . it is answered , allowing elsewhere in scripture believing gentiles to pass under the name of israelites , here literally the naturall iews by extraction must be intended , because clean through the chapter , the apostle opposeth the gentiles and israel , as contradistinct termes . he acquainteth the romans with a mystery , which was none in effect ( but stale news , and generally known ) if onely the saving of the gentiles were therein intended . it was his design , to comfort the iews , and curbe the gentiles , from over-insulting on their sad condition . and lest any should say slightingly to this opinion , as david once civilly to ittai , g thou camest but yesterday ; know , it descendeth unto us recommended from the primitive times . § . origen was the first that mentioned it , and h● ( otherwise the allegorizer generall ) interprets the apostle literally , in his exposition thereof . say not that being the first of the fathers who wrote a comment , no wonder if he wandred in his glosses ( he who first went from place to place , never found out the nearest way ) seeing better judgments afterwards built on the same bottome , hierom , ambrose , h chrysostome , and i saint augustine . in the school-men the opinion of the iews their conversion , is not dead , but sleepeth : parables , and prophesies , are no dishes for their diet . their heavy studies delighted not to tread the water ( at best the marishes ) of future contingencies , but on the terra firma of certainties , where arguments might be grounded . yet the most peaceable amongst them , ( more medling with comments , then controversies ) such is dionysius carthusianus , concur in their judgments therein . but , the silence of the schools is recompensed with the loudness of the pulpits in our later age of k romanists , lutherans , and calvinists , generally maintaining the certain expectation of the iews conversion . § . adde hereunto , that the iews ever since their exile from their own land , when the romans sold their countrey , ( and a learned l man observes , they set no land to sale save iudea alone ) have continued many hundred years a distinct nation . as if had learned from their river of iordan , running through the galilean sea , and not mingling therewith , daily to pass through an ocean of other nations , and remain an unmixt , and un-confounded people by themselves . a comfortable presumption ( when in company with other arguments ) that they , once gods m peculiar , are still preserved a peculiar people , for some token for good , in due time to be shewed upon them ; and that these materials are thus carefully kept entire by themselves , because intended by divine providence , for some beautifull building to be made of them hereafter . § . let it also be seriously considered , that in all ages god hath dropt some considerable convert - iews into the treasury of the christian church , as good-handsell , and earnest of a greater payment to ensue . amongst whom we meet with a mess of most eminent men . nicolaus lyra , that grand commentator on the bible ; hieronymus de sancta fide turned chistian about anno . ( physitian ( as i take it ) to benedick the thirteenth pope ) who wrote a book unto his countrey-men the iews , wherewith n five thousand of them were converted ; ludovicus carettus living o in paris anno . and the never sufficiently to be praised emmanuel tremellius . and besides the visible converts , falling uner the notice of man , we may charitably presume many concealed ones , especially on their death-beds known to god alone . yea , i conceive that learned p rabbin , more then agrippa q , almost a christian , who hath this amongst other pious expressions , i dread , and fear , o lord , that that iesus whom the christians worship , may be that righteous sold for silver , according to the prophet r amos. § . as for the time of the iews conversion , let us content our selves for the generall , it shall be after the fulness of s the gentiles shall come in . but , for the particular year , by some so peremptorily , and positively assigned , i cannot but admire at the confidence of men therein . especially , seeing some , which pretend such familiarity to future events , are not the best acquainted with passages in former ages ; and those , which seem to know all which is to come , know but little of what is past ; as if they were the better prophets , for being the worse historians . § . but well it were , if their confidence were confined to themselves alone , being onely content to abound in their own sense , without imposing it on others . but , besides their confidence , such is their cruelty , to exact , yea , extort the uttermost farthing of our beliefe , to be paid in ( even at the first sight ) to their conceits , or else we must into the prison , yea , deepest dungeon , and be condemned for being weak , or wilfull ; ignorant , or obstinate . whereas , in such peremptory particularizing of the very year , such as pretend to plough with the heifers of gods spirit , may be suspected to be drawn away with the wild buls of their own imaginations . § . the rather , because so great the difference betwixt the severall dates assigned by them . some making it ; others , ▪ some sooner , and before ; some later , and after the destruction of the romish antichrist . it is therefore the most safe , and sober way , in so much variety to leave a blanke in our judgments , for god to write the true time therein , when we , or after-ages shall behold the same brought to pass . one day teacheth t another ; and , to-day ( yesterdays school-master ) is scholar to to-morrow , at whose feet ( as paul at gamaliels ) it will at night ●it dutifully down for farther informaton . yea , by an inverted method , the daughter doth instruct the mother ; and , the day which in time cometh after , goeth before in knowledge . chap. v. of the present obstructions of the calling of the jews . § . many are the obstacles both externall , and internall , which for the present obstruct the conversion of the iews . first , our want of civill society with their nation . there must be first conversing with them , before there can be converting of them . the gospell doth not work ( as the weapon-salve ) at distance , but requires some competent familiarity with the persons of probationer-converts . whereas the iews , being banished out of england , france , and spaine , are out of the call of the gospell , and ken of the sacraments in those countreys . § . secondly , the cruel ussage of them in the papall , and imperiall dominions , where they swarm most , and where publick authority doth not endevour to drop , and distill piety into them ; but to squeese , and press profit out of them . especially , whilest that merciless law stands in force , that on their conversion , they must a renounce all their goods as ill gotten . if the resolutions of the promise-forward disciple quickly recoyled , at our saviours tentative command , to sell all , and give to the poor ; i say , if he h went away sorrowfull , for he had great possessions ; no wonder if the rich and covetous iews distast our religion , when before they can embrace it , they must take a finall farewell of their large estates . rather should those princes imitate the pious example of our henry the third , who , between the new , and old temple , erected an c house of converts ( afterwards appointed by edward the third for records to be kept therein , now called the rowles ) endowing it for the maintenance of poor iews converted to christianity , and baptized , allowing two pence * a day unto each of them during their lives . § . thirdly , the constant offence given them by the papists their worshipping of images , the present iews hating idolatry with a perfect hatred , whose knees may sooner be broken , then bended to such superstitious postures . and , to speak out the plain truth , the romanists are but back-friends to the iews conversion , chiefly on this account , because the rabbins generally interpret d dumah , or edom , to be rome , and edomites , romans , in their expositions on the old testament . and therefore , all those passages have ( by order no doubt from superiours ) been lately purged our , and expunged the veneti●n e edition of the rabbins . yea , there is a constant tradition , currant time out of minde , amongst the modern iews , that after the destruction of the city of rome , their nation shall be put into a glorious condition . no wonder then , if cold , and dull the endevours of the romanists , for the conversion of the iews , who leave that taske of be performed by moses , and elias , whom the papists fondly fancy , shall towards the end of the world personally appear , and by their powerfull preaching , perswade the jewish nation unto the christian religion . § . lastly , the difference in judgments , distance in affections , dissoluteness in lives among the christians themselves . in vain do we hollow to the iews to come over to us , whilest our voyces are hoarse with railing one at another ; and becken with our hands to them , to be on our side , whilest our hands are imbrued in the bloud of those of our own religion . § . but far greater then all these , is that internall obstacle , that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , that blindness which is happened unto them , inflicted on their ancestours , continued , and increasing on their posterity . how bedlam-like was their behaviour at saint pauls but mentioning of preaching to the gentiles , f they cryed out , and cast off their clothes , and threw dust into the aire , as endevouring to thicken , and condensate the same , that no audible sound might penetrate unto them . and , as then they threw the dust into the aire : god hath since thrown their land after it ; so that no iew can take up one crum of dust , from any intire countrey , upon the face of the earth , that he can call his own . great is gods providence in ordering it , that a fog , and a tempest never can be together at sea , the fog vanishing so soon as the tempest ariseth , otherwise smaller vessels would be cast away , which want the direction of the compass to guide them : but woefull is the present condition of the iews , having a fog of ignorance , and a tempest of violence , both together in them in the highest degree , most bold , when most blind ; stumbling at what should stay them ; slighting the chirurgeon , when sorest ; scorning the physician , when sickest ; miserable , if they knew their condition ; and more miserable , because ignorant thereof . § . but though these obstacles , and obstructions were moe , and mightier then they are , should god but give the word , they are instantly removed . long was the service of the true god disused in iudah ( during the idolatrous reign of ahaz ) so that great was the difficulty , to bring the whole nation to the solemn observation thereof . yet , hezekiah quickly effected it , because ( as the text observes ) g god had prepared the people , and the thing was done suddenly . so , when he shall be pleased to set his hand to the iews conversion , all impediments notwithstanding , in the twinckling of an eye , their eies shall be opened ; and their hearts turned , in the turning of an hand . chap. vi. how christians ought to behave themselves , in order to the jews conversion . § . mean time it is the bounden duty of christians , to their utmost to endevour , both by their pious examples , and faithfull prayers , the conversion of the iews , having many motives to invite them thereunto . first , because the more knowing , and pious in the iew●sh church , did anciently desire the vocation of the gentiles , witness the solicitous care she took , and the great cost she would expend for the wel●a●e thereof . a we have a little sister , and she hath no breasts , what shall we do for our sister , in the day when she shall be spoken for ? if she be a wall , we will build upon her a palace of silver &c. for , although the common i●●s accounted the calling of the gentiles , blasphemy against their own nation , ( having some carnall reason thereof , as not without cause suspicious , that the gentiles admission would prove their expulsion , as indeed it came to pass ) yet the intelligent prophets ( no doubt ) were earnest petitioners for the same . § . secondly , because such was the transcendent joy of the godly iews , managed with silence ( their hearts thereat being too big for their mouths ) at the conversion of cornelius , and his family ; b when they heard these things , they held their peace , and glorified god , saying , then hath god also to the gentiles granted repentance unto life . § . lastly , because so great glory shall , by the conversion of the iews , redound to god , and clearing to the scriptures . many places in the old testamen● ( the meaning whereof , the iews hitherto were too envious to teach us , or we too proud to learn of them ) will then most plainly be expounded . oh! what a feast of knowledge will it make , when both iew and gentile shall jointly bring in their dis●●es thereunto ! the former furnishing forth the first course with many hebrew criticismes , and rabbinicall traditions ( some of them gold amongst more dross ) on the old testament : the latter supplying the second course on the whole scripture , with solid ▪ interpretations , out of fathers , school●men , and modern divines . oh happy day for such as shall behold it , and we all ought to pray for the speedy dawning thereof ! § . it will be objected , many men cannot heartily pray for the future conversion of the iews ; being unsatisfied in their judgments , of the certainty thereof ▪ c for whatsoever is not of faith is sin ; and because they cannot aske according to the apostles precept d 〈…〉 prayers are better omitted , as which may prove prejudiciall to themselves , and nothing effectuall for others . § . it is safest for such to insert conditionall clauses in their prayers , if it may stand with gods good will and pleasure , used by the best men ( not to say the best e in bests ) in their petitions : f lord if thou wilt ▪ thou canst make me clean . such wary reservations will not be interpreted in the court of heaven , want of faith , but store of humility , in such particulars where such persons have no plenary assurance of gods pleasure . yea , grant the worst , that god never intended the future conversion of the iews , yet whilst he hath not revealed the contrary ( as in the case of samuels g mourning for saul ) all mens charitable desires herein , cannot but be acceptable to the god of heaven . o lord who art h righteous in all thy ways , and holy in all thy works , we acknowledge , and admire the justice of thy proceedings , in blinding , and hardening the jews ; as for their manifold impieties ; so especially for stoning thy prophets , despising thy word , and crucifying the lord of life . for which thou hast caused them , according to the prediction of thy i prophet , to abide many days without a king , and without a prince , and without a sacrifice , and without an image , and without an ephod , and without teraphim . but thou ô lord how k long ? how l ô lord holy and true ? how m long lord , with thou be angry for ever ? thine anger is said to endure but a n moment , but lord how many millions of millions of moments , are contained in sixteen hundred years , since thou hast first cast off thy first and ancient people the jews ? remember abraham , isaac , and jacob , not for any merit in their persons , which was none , but for the mercy in thy promises , which is infinite , so frequently made , and so solemnly confirmed unto them . but oh ! remember the oratour on thy right hand , christ jesus our lord , o which was made of the seed of david according to the flesh , and the oratour in thine own bosome , thine essentiall and innate clemency , and let these prevaile , if it may stand with thy good will , and pleasure , that thy people the jews may be received into the armes of thy mercy . as once by a wilfull , and wofull imprecation they drew the guilt of his bloud on p them and on their children : so by thy free imputation drop the merit of his bloud on them , and on their children . for the speedying of whose conversion , be pleased to compose the many different judgments of christians into one truth , to unite their disagreeing affections in one love , that our examples may no longer discourage , but invite them to the embracing of the true religion . oh mollifie the hearts , rectifie the wills , unvaile the eyes , unstop the ears of those thy people whom hitherto thou hast justly hardened . reveale to their understanding those q oracles which thou hast committed to their keeping . that so our saviour , who long since hath been a light to lighten the gentiles , may in thy time be the glory of thy people israel , that so there may be one s shepheard and one sheepfold . grant this ô lord for christ jesus his sake , to whom , with thee , and the holy spirit , be all honour and glory , now , and forever , amen . finis . here followes the draught of fragmenta sacra . necessary directions for the use of the index . an index is the bag and baggage of a book , of more use then honour , even such who seemingly slight it , secretly using it , if not for need , or speed of what they desire to finde . our table , for the better expedition , is contrived into severall columnes ; the first presenting the names of scripture places within the land of palestine . if any literall difference appear ( not onely such as betwixt zidon , kidron , in the old ; siden , and cedron , in the new testament , but ) concerning the same place diversly written , the discretion of the reader wil easily reconcile it . immediately after the name the addition of c. donoteth city , f. field , l. land , m. mountain , pl. plain , ri. river , ro. rock , s. stone , st. station of the iews in the wilderness , t. town , v. vaile , we. well , wi. wilderness . the second column interprets the hebrew names into english , though great the variety of authors in rendring their signification . this party proceeds from the laxity of hebrew words admitting sundry senses , partly from the vicinity of primitives , so that the same derivative may seem to spring from two roots , and be son ( as directly to his father , so ) collaterally to his vncle , i mean to words akin , and alluding , whence the same in probability may be deduced ; and this subjecteth it to much variety of interpretation . in this diversity we have wholly followed gregorius gregorii in his lexicon sacrum ( as a work meerly expository of proper nams ) though some perchance will say , that what is the credit of the good wife a she bringeth her food from far , is sometimes his discredit in his over strained , and far fet derivations . expect not here from me , after the meaning of the name , a reason of the meaning , how conformable to the nature of the place . many townes were called so , because they were called so , ad placitum of the first imposer . other places , when first denominated , had just reason of the same , but this kernell long since hath been eaten up by all-devouring time , leaving nothing thereof but the huske of the empty name to posterity . now to fix the hebrew names the better in our memory , we have here , and there ( as the propriety of our language , and commodities of our countrey will admit ) inserted some english townes , as synonyma's , and parallel to the hebrew in signification . the fourth column is reserved for those texts of scripture , wherein is made , either the first , or most important mention of those plces . as the fifth exhibits the map wherein the same are to be found . the sixth tenders to the reader the longitudes of most places , and the rest may be supplied by proportion . but oh , the difference of best authors herein ! as in populous cities an houre is lost in measuring of time , the lag clock about noon striking the most , when the forwardest strikes the fewest : so a whole degree of longitude is swallowed up betwixt the difference of geographers . yea , so great is the uncertainty therein , that in most maps lines of longitudes ( as onely for generall direction , ne toto coelo errent ) serve to lace their maps that they grow not without forme , or fashion ; but are not reducible to an exact agreement . more is the certainty of latitudes the work of the next column , as greater their concernment in our description , because effectuall in the length of the days , and heat of the climate in palestine . it is situated for the main betwixt thirty one and thirty four , the longest day being fourteen houres , and a quarter ; though the iews ( as if it were always equinoctiall with them ) divided both day and night evenly into twelve houres , so that the two overplus houres and the quarter , fell under the nocturnall computation . as for the climate of palestine , in summer time it must needs be hot , lying not above seven degrees from the tropick , especially when the b south winde blew ▪ but sometimes god cooled them , by drawing betwixt the sun and them a canopy , or c cloud of dew in the heat of harvest . their winter , though short , was sharp ; d who is able to abide his frosts ? now although such their vicinity to the sun ( lying at the same distance with some parts of barbary , where the people are tawny ) yet the e ( their women especially ) were of fair complexion . indeed , though the setting of the fa● be the same , all stuffes take not die alike . besides , that the ●able faces of black-mores come not from the sun , but some other secret cause , plainly appears , because ebony and ivory , i mean , black and fair faces are found in parallel climates . the last column containes the book , page , and paragraph ( save that the fifth book is divided onely into chapters ) where any memorable mention is made of such places in our description . places out of the apocrypha , and humane writers we have omitted , which by their own f markes will soon insinuate themselves into the readers acquaintance , without any farther indication . an index . a name . meaning . mentioned . map. longit. lat. lib pag. par abana . ri. stony . a king. . libanu● . . abarim . m passengers . num. . reuben . . abdon . c. servitude . iosh. . asher . .       abel s. grief , or a pla● . sam. . dan     abel-maim . c. plain of the waters . chr. . naphtali .           abel-meh●lah c. plain of the quire. iudg. . manas●●●s jo. . . abel-mizraim . grief of egyptians . gen. . benjamin . . ● pl.                 abel-shittim . t. plain of thornes . b num. . reuben           abel of the vines . pl. plain of the vines . c iudg. . ammon           abez . c. muddy or dirty . iosh. . issachar           abilene . l. from abilene the chief city . luke . libanus . wholly out of palest .     ac●ho . c.   iudg. . asher . . aceldama . f. field of bloud . acts . by jerusalē .     , achor . v. trou le . d iosh. . benjamin     achshaph . c. witchcraft or inchantment . iosh. . asher . . ● achzib c.   iosh. . asher . . adadah c.   iosh. . judah           adam c. red. e iosh. . reuben     adami t. iosh. . naphtali . .       admah c. gen. . judah ● . .       adar t.   iosh. . judah . .       adithaim c.   iosh. . judah           adullam c. testimony to them iosh. . judah . . adummim t. red * men , or earthly iosh. . benjamin . .       aenon t. a little fountain . ioh. . manas. cis jo. . . ahlab c. milky . f iudg. . asher . .       ai c. a confused heape . iosh. . benjamin . . ▪ a●ath c. i conjecture it the self same with ai. isa . ● benjamin           aija . c.   n●h . . . benjamin           aijalon . c. an oake's g iudg. . . zebul●● ● . . . ● aijalon . c. iosh. . dan . . ain . c. an eye or a fountain . num. . nephtali . .       ain . c. iosh. . . simeon . akrabhim . m. see maaleh-akrahim . num. . judah . .       alamelech . t.   iosh. . . asher compare ios. . . with         alemeth . c. the same with almō . chr. . . benjamin chro. . .         alexandria . c.   acts . egypt . . allon . c. an oake . iosh. . naphtali . . allon-bachuth . oake of weeping . gen. . benjamin     almon. c. hiding . h iosh. . benjamin . .       almon-diblathaim . st. hiding of clusters of figs. num. . moab           alush . st. meale mingling with water . num. . . paran           amad. t. a people of witness . iosh. . . asher     amam . c. mother of them . iosh. . . judah . .       amana . m.   cant. . . manas. tr . 〈◊〉     ● ammah . m. a cubit . sam. . benjamin     ● anab. c. a grape . iosh. . . judah . .       anaharath . c. grumbling , or murmuring . iosh. . judah . .       anathoth . c. an answer . iosh. . benjamin . anem c. the same with engannim ; compare ios. . . with chr. . . chr. . ●ssachar           anim c.   iosh. . judah . .       antioch c.   acts . libanus     antipatris c.   acts . mana. cis jor. . . aphek c. strength , or vigour . iosh. . asher .       aphek c.   sam. . issachar     c. . p. . apheka c.   iosh. . judah . .       ar c. watchfull . num : . maob           arab c. lying in waite . iosh. . judah . .       arabah t. see beth-arabah . iosh. . judah           arad c. a wilde asse . iosh. . judah . .       arba c. the same with hebron iosh. .             archi t.   iosh. . ephraim           argob l. & c. a clod of clay . deut. . mana. tr . jor. .       arimathea c. high a mat. . ephraim . . arki l. & people my sinewes gen. . libanus     arnon ri. & c.   num. . gad . . aroer c. & l.   num. . reuben . . arvad c. commanding or domineering . ezek. . libanus     aruboth l. lying in waite or treacheries . king. . judah     arumah c. lofty or exalted . b iudg. . ephraim . .       ashan c. see corashan . iosh. . simeon           ashdod c.   iosh. . dan . . ashdoth-pisgah t. the sheddings out of pisgah . deut. . reuben           ashnath c.   iosh. . judah           ashtaroth c. flockes deut. . manas. tr . jor. . .       ashtemoth c. see eshtemoa . iosh. . judah . .       askelon   iudg. . simeon . .       ataroth crowns . num. . gad . .       ataroth-adder crowns of the mighty iosh. . ephraim . .       ataroth t.   iosh. .   . .       athach t.   sam. . judah           aven c. iniquity , or vanity ezek. . egypt . .       avim c. unjust , or pervers men iosh. . benjamin           avith c. froward or perverse . gen. . edom           azekah t. a fenced city . iosh. . benjamin           azem   iosh. . simeon . .       azmon t. strength , or bone. num. . judah . .       aznoth-tabor   iosh. . naphtali . .       b baalah   iosh. .   . .       baalath   king. .             baalath-beer   iosh. .             baal-gad   iosh. .   . .       baal-hamon   cant. .             baal-hazor   sam. .   . .       baal-hermon   iudg. .   . .       baal-meon   num. .             baal-perazim pl. the plai● of breaches sam. . moriah     baal-shalisha . c. lord of shalisha . king. . ephraim           baal-tamar . t. lord of a palm . iudg. . benjamin           baal-zephon . st. the idol of zephon . exod. . egypt . . baca. v. mulberries or weeping psal. . moriah         bachuth . tree . weeping . gen. . benjamin     bahurim . c. choice or young men . sam. . benjamin . . baiith . t.   is. . moab           balah . c.   iosh . simeon . .       bamoth . st. high places or altars . num. . moab           bamoth-baal . c.   iosh. . reuben . .       bealoth . c.   iosh. . judah           beer-elim . c. fountain of rams . a isa. . moab           beer-la-hai-roi . w the well of the living and seeing . gen. . simeon     beeroth . c. wells . b iosh. . benjamin           beersheba . c. well of an oath . gen. . simeon . . beeshterah . c.   iosh. . manas. tr . jor.           bene-berak . c.   iosh. . dan . .       beon . t. in affliction . num. . reuben           berachah . v. blessing . chr. . judah         berothath . c.   ezek. . libanus     besor . ri. merry message . sam. . simeon           betah . c. confidence or security sam. . libanus     beten . t. a pelly . iosh. . asher . .       bethabara . t. house of passage . c ioh. . reuben           bethanah .   iosh. . naphtali . .       bethanoth . c. house of affliction . iosh. . judah .           bethany . t. house of the afflicted . mat. . moriah           betharabah . t. a crows nest . d iosh. . judah . .       betharam . c.   iosh. . gad           bethaven . c. house of vanity or iniquity , iosh. . benjamin . . bethazmaveth .   nehem. .             bethbirei c.   chr. . simeon           bethcar . t. house of the lambe . e sam. . benjamin           beth-dagon . c. house of fish. * iosh. . judah           beth-dagon . c. iosh. . asher . .       bethdiblathaim . c house of figs. f ier. . moab           bethel . c. house of god. g gen. . benjamin . . bethemek . c. house of deepness . h iosh. . zebulun . .       bether . m. division cant. . manas. tr . jor.           beth-gamul . c. house of retribution . ier. . moab           beth-haran . t.   num. . gad . .       beth-hoglah . t. house of a circle . iosh. . benjamin . . beth-iesimoth . c. house of desolations . num. . reuben           beth-lebaoth . c. house of lionesses . iosh. . simeon . .       bethlehem . c. house of bread . i gen. . judah . . bethlehem . c. iosh. . zebulun . .       beth-maachah . c. house of contrition . sam. . naphtali . . beth-marcaboth . c house of chariots . iosh. . simeon . .       beth-meon . c. house of habitation . ier. . moab           bethnimrah . c. see nimrim . num. . gad . .       bethoron . c. house of liberty . iosh. . ephraim . .       beth-palet . c. house of freeing . iosh. . judah           bethpazzez . c. house of breaking . iosh. . issachar . .       beth-peor . c. house of opening . deut. . reuben           bethphage . t. house in the mouth of the valley . mat. . moriah           bethphelet . t.   neh. . judah           bethrehob . c. a large or spacious house . iudg. . libanus     bethsaida . c. house of fishing or hunting . k mat. . naphtali . .       bethsh●n . c. house of enemy . sam. . manas. cis jor. . . beths●●mesh . c. house of the sun . l ●osh . . judah . . ● iudg. . naphtali . . ier. . egypt . . bethshittah . t. house of wandring . ●udg . . manas. cis jor. . .       beth-tappuah . c. house of an apple . m iosh. . judah           bethul . c marriageable maid . n iosh. . simeon . .       bethzur . c. house of a rock . a iosh. . judah           betonim . c. bellyes . iosh. . gad           bezek . c. lightning or shining . * iudg. . judah     bezer . c. a fortification or muniment . b deut. . reuben     bileam .   . chr. .             bithron . l. partition . sam. . gad           bizjothjah . c. in the olive of the lord ioshua . judah           bochim . t. weeping c iudg. . benjamin           bozer . ro.   sam. . benjamin .           bozkath . c.   iosh. . judah           bozrah . c. a muniment or fortification . gen. . edom     bozrah . c. the same with beshterah . iosh. . manas. tr . jor.           c cabbon . c. quenching . iosh. . judah           cabul . l. durty or barren . iosh. . libanus . . cain . c. a possession . iosh. . judah           caleb . l. all-heart . sam. . judah           caleb-ephrata . c.   chr. . judah           comon . c.   iudg. . manas. tr . jor. . .       cana. c.   ioh. . zebulun . .       capernaum . c. village of consolation mat. . naphtali . . carmel . val. a full , green , tender eare . iosh. . zebulun           iosh. . judah . . .       casiphia .   ezra .             cesarea . c. philippi . mat. . naphtali . . stratonis . acts . mana. cis jor. . . charasim . v. craftsmen . chr. . judah           chephar-haammonai . c.   iosh. . benjamin . .       chephirah . c.   iosh. . benjamin           cherith . ri.   king. . manas. tr . jor.     chesalon . m.   iosh. . dan           chesil . c.   iosh. . judah           chinnereth . sea. an harpe . d num. . zebulun     chisloth-tabor . t. rashnesses of choice . iosh. . zebulun . .       chorazin . c.   mat. . manas. tr . jor. . . chozeba . t.   chr. . judah .           chun . c.   chr. . libanus     cinnereth . c. see chinnereth . iosh. . naphtali . .       chorashan . c. a furnace of smoake . sam. . simeon           cyprus . isle .   acts . libanus     d dabareh . c. word or work . iosh. . issachar . . dabbasheth c. flowing with hony . e iosh. . zebulun . .       dalmanutha . l. the poors inheritance . mark . zebulun     damascus , or damasek . c. a sack of bloud . gen. . libanus     dan , fountain .   gen. . libanus . . dan-iaan .   sam. .             dannab . c. judgment . iosh. . jud●h . .       debir . an oratory . iosh. . judah . . decapolis . l. ten cities . mat. . naphtali     diblath . t. a cluster of figs. * ezek. . moab           dibon . c. an abounding son. num. . gad . .     neh. . . judah           dibon-gad . st. the abundance of an happy son. num. . moab           dibzahab . st. sufficiency of gold . deut. . paran         dileam . c. poor mans answer . iosh. . judah           dimnah . c. a dunghill . iosh. . . judah           dimon . ri. bloudy . isa. . moab           dinhabah . c.   gen. . e●om     dizahab . st. by the gold mines . a deut. . paran     c.   dophkah . st. compulsion . num. . paran           dor. c. a generation . iosh. . manas. cis jor. . . dothan . c. statute or decree gen. . ephraim . . dumah . c. likeness of silence . iosh. . judah . .       l.   isa. . edom     e ebal . mount. heap of a●tiquity . deut. . ephraim . . eben-ezer . s. the stone of help . b . sam. . benjamin     ebronah . st. passing by . num. . paran           ed. altar . a witness . iosh. . reuben     edar . c. hocks . gen. . moriah       eder . iosh. . judah           edrei . c. heape of strength . num. . manas. tr . jor. . . eglaim . t. calves , or heifers . c isa. . moab           eglon. c. a calf . d iosh. . judah           ekron . c. rooting up , or barrenness . iosh. . dan. . . el●h . v.   sam. . judah           elath . st. an oake . e deut. . paran       elealah . c. the ascent of god. num. . reuben           eleph . c.   iosh. . benjamin . .       elim . st. rams or harts . f exod. . paran     elon . c.   iosh. . dan . .       elon-bethanan . t.   king. . dan           elteketh . c.   iosh. . dan . .       eltolad . c. the generation of god. iosh. . simeon . .       emmaus . t. mother of strength . luke . . moriah . . enam . c.   iosh. . judah           endor . c. fountain of the generation . iosh. . manas. cis jor. . . eneglaim . t. fountain of heifers . ezek. .             engannim . c. fountain of gardens . iosh. . issachar . .       engannim . c. iosh. . judah           engedi . fountain of felicity . iosh. . judah . .       en-hakkore . fountain of him that cryed . iudg. . simeon           enhaddah . fountain of eye of mirth . iosh. . issachar . .       enhazor . c. fountain of the court iosh. . naphtali ● . .       en-rimnon . t. fountain of the pomegranates . neh. .             en-rogel . fountain of a spie . iosh. . moriah           en-shemesh .   iosh. .   . .       entappuah . fountain of the sun. iosh. . manas. cis jor. . .       ephes-damim . t.   sam. . judah           esek . we. contention gen. . simeon     ephraim .   sam. .   . .       ephratah .   gen. .             eshcol . v. & ri. a cluster of grapes . num. . dan     eshean .   iosh. . ●udah           eshtao● . c. asking or requesting . iosh. . dan     eshtemoa . c. womans wombe . iosh. . judah . .       etam . ro.   iudg. . simeon     etam . c.   chr. . simeon           etham . st. strength or vehemency . ex●d . . egypt . .       ezel . s.   sam. . benjamin .           ezem . t.   chr. . simeon .           ezion-gaber   num. . edom     g gaash . m. a tempest or commotion . iosh. . ephraim . .       gaash . r. sam. . ephraim           gaba . c. an hill. a iosh. . benjamin           gad. r. a troop or good fortune sam. . gad         galilee . l.   iosh. .       gadarens . compassed with a sence . mark . gad . . gallim .   sam. .   . .       gath. c. a presse .   dan . .       gathrimmon c. a presse of pomegranates . iosh. . dan           gathrimmon c. iosh. . man. cis jor.           gaza . c. sec azza . gen. . simeon . . geba . see gaba . iosh. . benjamin . .       gebal . a bound , or limit . b psal. . libanus     gebim .   isa. .             geder . c. a wall . c iosh. . simeon           gederah . c. a wall iosh. . judah           gederoth . c. walls . iosh. . judah           gederothaim . c. two walls . iosh. . judah           gedor . c.   iosh. . judah           geliloth . t. revolutions . iosh. . benjamin . .       gennesaret . l.   mat. . zebulun           gerar. c.   gen. . simeon . . gergesens .   mat. . gad           gerizim . m. sythes or mowers . deut. . ephraim . .       geshuri . l. and c. the vale of an oxe . d deut. . libanus     gethsemane . t. a presse of oile . mat. . moriah           g●zer . c. cutting off , ordivision iosh. . ephraim . . giah . c.   sam. . benjamin . .       gibbethon . c. high-backed or ridged e iosh. . dan . . gibbeah . c.   iosh. . judah           gibbeath . c. an hill , or hilly . iosh. . benjamin . . gibbeon . c. iosh. . benjamin . . gidom . t.   iudg. . benjamin           gihon . m. and ri. a belly . king. . moriah     gilboa . m. joy of searching out . sam. . issachar . . gilead . l. the heap of witness . gen. . gad     gilgal . c. rolling . f deut. . benjamin . . giloh . c.   ioshua . judah . . gimzo . c.   chr. . judah           gittah-hepher . c. a digging winepress . iosh. . zebulun . . gittaim . c. wine-presses . sam. . benjamin     ● goath .   ier. .             gob. a locust or a ditch . sam. .             golan . c. change or revolution deut. . manas. tr . jor. . . golgotha . m. a place of a scull . mat. . moriah           goshen . l.   gen. . egypt     goshen . l.   iosh. . judah . .       gudgodah . st. the same with horhagidgad . deut. . paran           gur. t. a whelp . g king. . issachar           gur-baal . a whelp of the lord. h chr. . arabia           h name . meaning . mentioned . map. longit. latit . lib pag. par hach●● 〈◊〉 . m. hope or hook in her . sam. . judah . .       hadadrimmon .   zech. . issachar . .       hadashah . c. new , or a moneth . iosh. . judah           hadattah . c. rejoicingor delighted . iosh. . judah           hadid . c.   neh. . benjamin . .       halac . m.   iosh. . edom           halhul . c. the beginning of grief iosh. . judah           hali. c.   iosh. . asher . . .       hamath . c. burning anger . chr. . libanus     hammath . c.   iosh. . naphtali . . hammon . c.   iosh. . asher . .       hamoth-dor heat of the generation iosh. . naphtali . .       hanes . c.   isa. . egypt . .       hannathon . t. graces or mercies . a iosh. . zebulun . .       hapharaim . c.   iosh. . issachar . .       haradah . st. trembling . num. . paran           hareth . forest.   sam. . judah           harod . we. fearfulness . iudg. . manas. cis jor.     harosheth . c. plowing , silence , or deafness . iudg. . naphtali . .       hashmonah . st.   num. . paran           havoth-iair . l. the livings or hamlets of iair . num. . manas. tr . jor . . hazar-addar . t.   num. . judah           hazar-enan . t. court of their fountain num. .             hazar-gaddah . court of a kid. b iosh. . judah . .       hazar-hatticon .   ezek. .             hazaroth . st. courts . deut. . paran     haza●-shual . c. fox-court . c iosh. . simeon . .       hazar-susah . c. court of the horsemen d iosh. . simeon . .       hazerim . t.   deut. .             hazeroth . st.   num. . paran           hazezon-tamar .   gen. .             hazor . c. a court . iosh. . naphtali . .       hebron . c. company or communion . gen. . judah . . hebron . c.   iosh. . asher . .       helam . c. their army or strength sam. . libanus     helbath . c. fatness . iudg. . asher . .       helbon . c. milke . e ezek. . syria     heleph . t. changing or boring through iosh. . naphtali . .       helkah . a field . iosh. . asher . . helkath . iosh. . asher           h●lkath-hazzurim . f. field of strong-men . sam. . benjamin           hemath , or hamath .   chr. .             hena .   king. .             hepher . c.   iosh. . judah           heres . m. the sun. f iudg. . dan           hermon . m. destruction . deut. . manas. tr . jor.     heshbon . c. thought , or reasoning . num. . r●uben . . heshmon . c.   iosh. . judah           hethlon . t.   ezek. .   . .       hezron . t.   ioshua . . judah           hilen .   chr. .       hinnom . v. roaring of shreiking . iosh. . judah     hoba . t.   gen. . libanus           holon . c.   iosh. . judah           hor. m. a mountain . num. . asher . .     hor. m. num. . edom           horeb. m. drinesse . a exod. . paran           horem . c.   iosh. . naphtali . .       horhagidgad . st. the hill of gidgad . num. . paran           hormah . c. destruction . num. . simeon . . horonaim . c. anger 's , or furies . isa. . moab           hosah . t.   iosh. . asher           hokk●k . t.   iosh. . naphtali . .       hukok . c. the same with helkah   chr. . asher           humtah . c. a snail b & a lizard . iosh. . judah           i jabbok . ri. striving . gen. . gad     iabesh-gileid . c drinesse or blushing . a sam. . gad . . iabez .   chr. .             iabneel . c. building of the lord. iosh. . judah . .       iabneel . c. iosh. . naphtali . .       iahneh . c. building . chr. . dan           iagur . c. a guest or strang●r . iosh. . judah           iahaz . c. chiding or brawling . b num. . reuben           iahazah .   iosh. .             ianoah . c.   king. . naphtali . .       ianohah . t. resting . c iosh. . ephraim . .       ianum . c.   iosh. . judah           iaphleti . c.   iosh. . ephraim . .       iapho . c. faireness or beauty . d iosh. . . dan . . iarmuth . c. projection of death . iosh. . judah . . .       iarmath .   iosh. . issachar . .       iashubi-lehem .   chr. .             iattir . c. excelling . iosh. . judah           iazar . c. an helper or coadjutor . sam. . gad . .     iazer . l. num. .             ibleam . c.   iosh. . manas. cis jor.           idalah . c.   iosh. . zebulun . .       iearim . m. woods . e iosh. . judah           iebus . c.   iudg. . jerusalem .           iehud . c. praising or confessing . iosh. . dan. . .       iekabzeel . c. see kabzeel . n●h . .             iericho . c. having a good savor . num. . benjamin . . ieruel . wi. fearing the lord. chr. . judah     ierusalem . c. vision of peace . iosh. . benjamin                 judah . .   ieshimon . c.   . sam . judah . .       ieshana .   chr .             iethlah . suspension . iosh. .   . .       iezreel . c. seed of the lord. iosh. . issachar . . iezreel .   iosh. . judah . .       ije-abarim . st. heaps of passengers . num. . moab           ijon . c.   king. . naphtali . . .       iiphta . c.   iosh. . judah           iipht●ahel c.   iosh. . zebulun . .       iegbohah . c. a sad wilderness . num. . . gad . .       iokdeam .   iosh. . judah . .       iokmeam .   chr. .             iokneam . c. possessing the people . iosh. . zebulun . . ioktheel . c.   iosh. . judah           ioppa . c. see iapho . chr. . dan . . .       iordan . ri. descending with a powder . gen. . naphtali     iotbathah . st. his goodness . num. . paran           irpeel . c.   iosh. . benjamin . .       ir-sh●mesh . c. a city of the sun. a iosh. . dan . .       ithnan . c. giving , or an hire . iosh. . judah . .       itta-kazin . c. now a prince . iosh. . zebulun . .       iuttah . c.   iosh. . judah . .       k kabze●l . c. congregatiō of god b iosh. . judah . .       kadesh . w. holiness . c gen. . simeon , paran     kadesh-barnea . c holiness of an unstable son. num. . judah . . kanah . ri. a cane or reed . iosh. . ephraim     kanah . c.   iosh. . asher . . karkaa . t. the pavement , or foundation . d iosh. . judah . .       karkor . t.   iudg. . gad . .       karnaim . c. hornes . e gen. . manas. tr . jor. . . kartah . c. calling or meeting . iosh. . zebulun . . kartan . c.   iosh. . naphtali . .       kattah . c. the same w th kartah . iosh. . zebulun           kedar . l. blackness or sadness . f ier. . edom     kedemoth . w. c. easternly . g deut. . reuben . . kedesh . c. holiness . * iosh. . nephtali . . kehelathah . st. church or congregation num. . paran           keilah . c.   iosh. . . judah     kenah . c. a possession num. . manas. tr . jor. . .       kerioth . c. cities . iosh. . judah           keziz . c.   iosh. . benjamin . . .       kibroth-hattaavah . st. graves of the lusters . num. . paran     kibzaim . c. congregations . iosh. . ephraim . .       kidron . ri. black. h sam. . moriah     kinah . c. a possession . iosh. . judah           kir . c. a city . king. . moab           kirharaseth .   king. . moab     kirheresh .   isa. . moab           kiriath .   iosh. . benjamin           kiriath-arba . c. the city of arba or four , the same with hebron . gen. .                 iosh. . judah . . kiriath-arim .   ezra .             kiriath-baal . c.   iosh. . judah           kirloth-huzoth . city of streets . i num. .             keriath-jearim . the city of woods . iosh. . judah           kiriath-sannah . c the same with debir . iosh. . judah           kiriath-sepher . c. a city of a book . iosh. . judah     kiriathaim . c. doubleton , or● two cities . gen. ● . . reuben     kirioth .   ier. .             kishion . c. hardness . k iosh. . issachar     kishon . ri.   iosh. . zebulun . .       kithlish . c. a wall. l iosh. . judah . .       kitron . c. spring or perfuming . iudg● . zebulun           l laban . st. white . m deut. . paran         lachish c. is walking . n iosh. . judah . lahai-r●i . well . that liveth and seeth me . gen. . simeon     lahman c. rapin or their bread . iosh. . judah . .       laish . c. an old lion. o iudg. . naphta li . . lakum . t. rising again or confirming iosh. . ● naphtali . .       lasha . t. fair to be seen . * gen. . reuben . . lasharon . c. a plain or field . iosh. . ephraim . .       lebanon . m. frankincense . deut. . libanus     lebaoth . c. lionesses . iosh. . simeon     lebnah . c. the moon . iosh. . judah . . lehem . t.   chr. .             lehi . l. jawbone . iudg. . simeon     leshem . c. the same with lais● , or dan. iosh. . naphtali     libnah . st.   num. . paran       lod. c.   chr. . benjamin . .       lodebar . c. word to him . sam. . manas. tr . jor. . . luhith . c.   isa. . moab           luz . c. an hasel-nut . a gen. . ephraim . .       lydda . c.   act. . dan . . m maac●athi . c. & l. the contrition of the belly . deut. . libanus     ● maaleh-acrabbim . t. the climing up of scorpions . iosh. . judah . .       maarah . c.   iosh. . judah           machpelah . cave .   gen. . judah     madm●nnah . the measure of reward . iosh. . judah           madmenah . isa . moab     madon . c. brawling or strife . iosh. . naphtali . . magdala . c. turretted . mat. . zebulun . . mahanaim . c. two armies . gen. . gad . . mahaneth-dan . t the tents of dan. iudg. . dan     makheloth . st. assemblies . num. . para●     makkedah . c. adoration . iosh. . benjamin     maktesh . c.   zeph. .             mamre . pl.   gen. . judah     maon . c. an habitation . iosh. . judah . . marah . st. bitter . b exod. . paran     maralah . c.   iosh. . zebulun . .       mareshah . c. from the head or the prince . iosh. . judah     maroth . t.   micah .             massah . st. temptation . exod. . paran     mattanah . st. a gift . num. . moab           mearah . t. a cave . c iosh. .   . .       madeba . c. waters of grief . num. . reuben           megiddo . c.   iosh. . manas. cis jor. . . mejarkon . c.   iosh. . dan . .       m●konah . t.   neh. . judah           meonenim . pl.   iudg. . ephraim           mephaath . c. the force or appearing of waters . d iosh. . reuben . .       merathaim . t.   ier. .             meribah . st. chiding . exod. . paran     merom . ri. heights or depths . iosh. . naphtali     meroz . c. l. or t. secret. iudg. . naphtali . . metheg-●mah . t. bridle of the people . e sam. . dan . . michmash . c. bringing up the poor . sam. . benjamin . . michmethah . t.   iosh. . . ephraim . .       middin . c.   iosh. . judah . .       migdal-el . c. tower of god. iosh. .   . .       migdal-gad . tower of good succes . iosh. .             migdol . t. a tower . exod. . egypt . .       migron . t.   sam. . benjamin           minnith . c. making ready . indg. . ammon     misgab . t.   ier. . moab           mishal . c. asking or requesting . iosh. .             misheal . c. iosh. .   . .       misrephothmaim . t. th● boiling of waters iosh. . asher . .       mithcah . st. sweet . num. . paran           mizpah . c. a watch-tow●r . a gen. . manas. tr . jor. . . mizpeh . c. iosh. . benjamin . . mizpah . c. sam. . moab     moladah . c.   iosh. . judah . .       moreh . pl.   gen. . ephraim           moriah . l. vision of the lord. gen. . moriah     mosera . st. band or bands . deut. .             moseroth . st. num. . paran           mozah . c.   iosh. . benjamin . .       n naamah . c. fair or pleasant . b iosh. . judah           naaran . t. see naarath . chr. . ephraim           naarath . t. a young maiden . c iosh. . ephraim . .       naballal . c. praised or bright . d iosh. . zebulun . .       naim . fair or beautifull . e luke . zebulun . .       naioth . t. an habitation . sam. . ephraim . .       napthali . c.   tobit . naphtali . .       nazareth . c.   mat. . zebulun . .       neah . t.   iosh. . zebulun . .       nebo . m. & c. speech or prophecy . num. . reuben           niel . c. the moving of god. iosh. . asher . .       nekeb . t. a ditch . f iosh. . naphtali . .       neptoah . we. open or opening . iosh. . judah           netophathi .   nehem. .             nezib . c. a standing or erection iosh. . judah           nibshan . c.   iosh. . judah . .       nimrah . c.   num. . gad           nimrim . ri. leopards or panthers . isa. . gad . .       nob. c. speech of prophecy . sam. . benjamin . .       nabah . barking . iudg. .   . .       nodab .   chr. .             noph . c.   isa. . egypt . nop●ah . c.   num. . reuben           o oboth . st. witches or botles . num. . moab           olivet . m.   sam. . moriah           on● . v. & c. his grief . chr. . benjamin           ophel . t. clowdy and obscure . chr. . jerusalem .           ophin . c.   iosh. . benjamin           ophrah . c. dusty or leaden . iosh. . manas. cis jor. . . p parah . c.   iosh. . benjamin           paran . w.   gen. .             pas-dammim . t.   chr. .             pau. c. hissing . gen. . edom           penuel . c. the face of god. gen. . gad . . peor . t. opening . num. . reuben           perazim . m. breaches . g isa . moriah .     perez-vzza . t. the breach of vzza . sam. . benjamin     pi-hahiroth . st. the mouth of hiroth . exod. . egypt . .       pirathon . t.   iudg. . ephraim . . pisgah . m. an hill . num. . reuben . . panon . st.   num. . moab           r rabbah . c. great or spacious . a   moab           rabbah . c. deut. . ammon           rabbith . c. multitude . iosh. . issachar . .       rachal . t.   sam. . judah           rakkath . c.   iosh. . judah . .       rakkon . c.   iosh. . dau . .       ramah . high or exalted . b iosh. . benjamin . .       iosh. . asher           iosh. . naphtali           mat. . moriah . .       ramath . c.   iosh. . simeon . .       ramathaim . c.   sam. . ephraim           ramath-lehi . t. the lifting up of a jawbone . iudg. . simeon           ramath-mizpeh . c the same with ramoth gilead . iosh. . gad           ramases . c.   gen. . egypt . .       ramoth-gilead . c.   deut. . gad . . rehob . c. large or broad . c num. . asher . .       rehoboth . we. room or enlargemēt d gen. . simeon           remeth . c. high. e iosh. . judah           remmon . c. a pomegranate . iosh. . simeon           remmon-methoar . t.   iosh. . zebulun           rephaim . v. giants . sam. . moriah     rep●idim . st.   exod. . paran           riblah . c.   num. . naphtali . .       rimmon . c.   iosh. . judah . .       rimmon-gath .   iosh. .   . .       rimmon-parez . st. the division of pomegranates . num. . paran           rissah . st.   num. . paran .           rithmah . st. juniper . num. . paran           rogelim . c.   sam. . manas. tr . jor. . . rumah . t.   king. .             s salcah .   iosh. . manas. tr . jor.           salchah .   deut. .             salem . c. peace . gen. . moriah . .       salim . t.   iohn . manas. cis jor.     samaria . c.   king. . ephraim . .       sansannah . c. thorn on thorn . iosh. . judah           saphir .   micah .             sarepta . c.   luke . asher . .       sarid . t.   iosh. . zebulun . .       saran . c.   acts . ephraim . .       secacah . c.   iosh. . judah . .       sechu . we.   sam. . ephraim     seirah . t.   iudg. . benjamin .           sela. c. a rock . e isa. . edom●     sela-hammah-lekoth . the rock of division . sam. . judah           seleucia . c.   acts . libanus           sench . ro. a thorn. f sam. . benjamin           senir .   chr. .             sephar .   gen. .             sepharad .   obad.             sepharvaim . c. books scribes or numbers . king. . libanus           shaalbim . c. the understanding of a fox . iudg. . dan           shaaraim . t.   sam. . dan           shahazimath . t. humbled with fasting . a iosh. . issachar           shalem . t. safe or intire . gen. . ephraim           shalim l. foxes . b sam. . ephraim           shalisha . l.   sam. . ephraim           shamir . c. briers or a thome . c iosh. . judah . .       shapher .   num. . paran           sharaim c. two gates . d iosh. . judah           sharon .   chr. .             sharuhen . c. a prince or song of grace . iosh. . simeon . .       shaveh . pl. a plain . gen. . reuben           shebam .   num. .             shechem . c. a shoulder . gen. . ephraim . .       shema . c. hearing or obeying . iosh. . judah . .       shen . t.   sam. . benjamin           shenir .   deut. .             shepham . t.   num. . naphtali . .       shibmah . c.   num. . reuben     shicron . t. hire or reward . iosh. . dan . .       shihor . ri.   chr. . simeon     shihor-libnah . ri.   iosh. . asher     shilhim . c.   iosh. . judah           shiloh . c. peaceable and happy . iosh. . ephraim . . shiloah . ri.   nehem. . jerusalem     shimron . c. the same with shimron-meron . iosh. . zebulun           shimron-meron . c   iosh. . zebulun . .   shinar .   gen. .             shion . c. noise or tumult . iosh. . issachar . .       shocho . c.   chr. . judah           shochoh .   sam. .             shophan . c. a rabbet . e num. . gad . .       shual . l.   sam. . ephraim           shunem . c.   iosh. . issachar . . shur . w.   gen. . simeon           sibmah . c. gray or hoary-hairs . f iosh. . reuben           sibraim .   ezek. .             sichem . c.   gen. . ephraim     siddim . v.   gen. . judah     sihor . r.   iosh. .             silla . t. the bulwark . king. . jerusalem     siloa . we.   neh. .             siloe . t.   luke . jerusalem     sinai . m.   exod. . paran     sinim .   isa. .             siphmoth . the same with sibmah . sam. . reuben           siriah . we.   sam. . judah     sitnah . we. hatred . gen. . simeon     sochols .   king. . judah           socoh . c. a thick bough . g iosh. . judah . .       sodom . c. chalke or ●ement . h gen. . judah     sorek . ri. a vineyard or vine . i iudg. . dan     south-rumoth .   sam. . simeon           succoth . c. boothes . k gen. . gad . . succoth . st. num. . egypt           sychar . c. mercenary . iohn . . ephraim . . syrion . m.   deut. . . manas. tr . jor.           t taanach . humbling thy self . iosh. . manas. cis jor. . . taanath-shiloh . t. barking or baring a figtree . iosh. . ephraim           tabbath . t. good or goodness . iudg. . manas. cis jor. . .       taberah . st. burning . num. . paran     tabor . c. and m. election or purity . iosh. . ● zebulun     tahat . st. underneath . num. . paran           tahtim-hodshi . l. newly inhabited . a sam. . gad     tappuah . l. & c. an apple . b iosh. . ephraim     tarah . st.   num. . paran           taralah . c.   iosh. . benjamin . .       tehaphnehes . c.   ezek. . . egypt . ●● . ●●       tekoah . c. sounding with a trumpet . c sam. . judah     telaim . c. probably both the same . lambs . d sam. . judah           telem . c. iosh. .             thebez . t.   iudg. . ephraim . .       thimnathath . c.   iosh. . dan           tiberias . c.   ioh. . zebulun . . timnah . c. an image or figure . iosh. . judah , or           timnath . c. gen. . dan           timnath-serah .   iosh. .   . .       timnathah .   iosh. .             tiphsah . c.   king. . ephraim . . tirzah . c. sweet or delightfull . e iosh. . ephraim . . toh . l. good. iudg. . libanus           tochen . c. the midle . f chr. . simeon           tolad . c. see eltolad . chr. . simeon . ● .       tophel . t.   deut. . paran           trachonitis . l. sharp-land . luke . manas. tr . jor.           tyre . c. a rock . g iosh. . asher . . .       u ummah . c.   iosh. . asher . .       vzz●n-sherah . c. an ear remaining . chr. . ephraim . .       vz. l. counsell . iob . edom     z zaanannim . p the bed of the sleeper . h iosh. . nephtali . . zaanan . t.   micah .             zair . t.   king. . edom     zalmon . m.   iudg. . ephraim     zalmon . st. the shadowing . num. . edom     zanoah . c. abomination or oblivion . iosh. . judah . .       zaphon . t.   iosh. . gad . .       zared . ri.   num. . moab           zarephath . c. a melting place . i king. . asher     zaretan . t.   iosh. . reuben . . zareth-shahar . c.   iosh. . reuben           zartanah . c.   king. .             zarthan . c.   king. . mans. cis jor.     zeboim . c. pleasant or a roe . gen. . judah . .       zedad . t.   num. .   . .       zelah . c.   iosh. . benjamin . .       zelzah . t. shadowed . k sam. . moriah     〈◊〉 c. wools. a iosh. . benjamin . . zenam . c.   iosh. . judah           zephath . c.   iudg. . . simeon           zephathah . v.   char. . judah           zer . c.   iosh. . naphtali . .       zered . ri. dispersed dominion . deut. . moab           zereda . t.   king. . ephraim . .       zeredathah .   chr. .             zererath t.   iudg. . manas. cis jor. . .       ziddim . c. huntings . b iosh. . naphtali . .       zidon . c.   gen. . asher . . ziglag . c. the streightning of a measure . iosh. . simeon . . zin . w.   num. . paran           zion . c.   sam. . jerusalem     zior . c.   iosh. . judah           ziph. c. that mouth . iosh. . judah           ziphron . t.   num. .             ziz. ro. a flower or a bud . c chr. . judah           zoan . c.   num. . egypt . .       zoar. c. small or little . d gen. . judah . .       zobah . l.   sam. . libanus           zoheleth . s.   kings . moriah           zophim . f.   num. . reuben           zoreah . c. leprosie . e iosh. . dan     zuph . l. swimming or fluctuating . sam. . ephraim     reader , be pleased to take notice , that limitary places , and all other mentioned in scripture , which we could not confidently refer to another letter , are by us ( though no townes ) consigned to t. which as an hospitall , of no less charity , then capacity , gives them all entertainment . and thus by gods assistance we have finished our table . miraculous almost was the execution done by david on the amalekites , who saved neither man a nor woman alive to bring tidings to gath. i cannot promise such exactness in our index , that no one name hath escaped our enquiry : some few , perchance , hardly slipping by , may tell tales against us . this i profess i have not ( in the language of some modern quarter-masters ) wilfully burnt any towns , and purposely omitted them ; and hope , that such as have escaped our discovery , will upon examination appear ; either , not generally agreed on by authors for proper names , or else , by proportion falling without the bounds of palestine . soli deo gloria . errata sic corrigas . lib. . page . line . for na●anaim , read ma●anaim . p. . l. . & , & , & . for cave read cane . pa. . l. . dele though born in bethl●hem . pag. . l. . for people read pool . ibid. l. . for twenty miles , read twelve miles . pag. . l. . for unstrained , read unstained . pag. . l. . for vale of ephraim , read vale of rephaim . pag. , l. . for they read day . pag. . l. . for beed , read been . lib. . pag. . l. . for from east to the north , read form west to the north. pag. . l. . for partly naturall read purely naturall . pag. . l. . for cose . read close . pag. . l. . for liquid , read dry . . l. . for dead , read bread . pag. . l. . for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pag. . l. . for infe●●ed , read infes●ed . lib. . pag. . l. . for less , read l●ss . pag. . l. . for that twelve should be twenty , read that twenty should be twelve . pag. . l. . for larcinations , read lancinations . pag. . l. . d●le philol. ibid. l. . dele al●th . pag. . l. . dele philol. ibid. l. . dele al●th . pag , . l. . not extending it , dele not . ibid. dele as some doe with small probability . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e * or amedcus the topl●●ll saint of aul●igney . * mark , . . notes for div a -e a gen. . . * gen. . . b in my epistle to the reader before the holy state. c ibidem . d eccles. . . f josh. . . notes for div a -e three grand objections against this subject . a numb . . , & . no disgrace to adventure on the same work after many others . b eccles. . . c adricom . puts zabulun issachar & manasses in one mappe , ephraim , dan & benjamin in another . . object . certainty herein not to be obtained . . answ. this should not quench but quicken our industry . d cor. . . e thes. . . . object . it is a difficult trifle . f sam. . . g revel . . . . answ. it is ornamentall to divinity . h king. . . no danger of superstition in this subject . l acts . . six generall names of iudea . gen. . . l in clio. cap. . & in thalia cap. . & . & polymnia cap. . the bounds of the larger canaan . m exod. . . n deut. . . & . in what sense the jews possessed it . o chro. . . p chron. . . q sam. . , &c. r kin. . . chron. . . the limits of the lesser canaan . s deut. . . t deut ▪ . . the length th●reof . furlongs . the matchlesse fertility of the land . u gen. . . * ezek. . . * sam. . . * chron. ● . , . see also chron. . . y deut. . , , . moses his caracter thereof . z camb. brit. in comitat armach . iudaea's invlsible treasure . sa●t . a mar. . . levit. . . b judg. . . c josh. . . & . . materials of glasse . d plin. nat . hist. brimstone and lapis iudaicus . e king. . , . f deut. . . brasse & iron . g deut. . . no gold in iudea , and why . h act. . . i psal. . . k mat. . . l psal. . . m king. . . balm a property of iudea . a gen. . . b ios. hist. antiq. lib. . cap. . commended by heathen writers . c pli● . nat . hist. lib. . cap. . d gal. de antid . li. . ca. ● . c a●lor 〈…〉 & procerior . plin. nat . hist. l. . c. . f deur . . . oil-olive . honey . g exod. . . & sam. . . h levit. . . i hugo gro●ius in locum praedictum . wheat . k deut. . . l ez●k . . . wine . m gen. . . numb . . . n sidonius . o josh. . . p hose . . . q prov. . . r rab. ioseph . in the babylonish talmud , ketab . fol. . . s jerusalem talmud . t mat. . , . u gen. . . a act. . . b levit. . . , . &c. c gen. . , . d prov. . . e gen. . . f king. . . g mat. . . & . . h levit. . . i numb . . , . k mat. . . l levit. . . o isa . . n sam. . . o sam. . . p deut. . . q prov. . . r psal. ● . . s ps●l . . . t gen. . ● . u ezek. . . w king. . . object . a lib. . fol. . answ. b ier. . . object . answ. c see the geneva note on the text . object . d gen. . . answ. e deut. . . f lib. . fol. . object . g lib. . ● . . ausw. h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . strab● , lib. . p. ● . object . answ. i stra●o , li. . p. . object . answ. object . k ● king. . . answ. object . l on isaiah cap. . v. . answ. object . answ. m ruth . . n cant. . . o gen. . . p brocard de terra sancta , & m. george sands . a deut. . . b revel . . . c sam. bochartus geog ▪ sacra . lib. . cap. . d gen. . . e prov. . . f talmud hie●os . tract . de ●uram . cap. . g ma● . . . h sir walter raleigh la ca. . pa. . i gen. . . k grego●iu● g●●gorii in verbo . l psal. ▪ . m amos . . n judg. . . o iudg. . . p numb . . . q gen. . . r iosh. . . * judg. . . s iosh. . . & . . t gen. . . u iosh. . . w iudg. . . iosh. . . x . sam. . . y gen. . . z iudg. . . a psal. . . b prov. . . c psal. . . d bochartus g●og . sac. l. . c. . p. . e ovid. met. lib. . f gen. . . g sam. . . h josh. . . i gen. . . k deut. . . l gen. . . m bochartus ut priùs . n ezek. . , . o exod. . . p histor. bel. ver . . q josh. . . r josh. . . s num. . . t iosh. . . u iudg. . . w josh. . . x mat. . . y john . . z iohn , . anciently an a●my of kings in canaan . a io●h . . . the kingdomes how dispensed to the severall tribes . b iosh , ibid. two distinct combinations of thes● kings . c iosh. . . d iosh ▪ ●● , , . necessary difference betwixt the two maps of canaan . c cor. . . f gen. ● . . a king. . . b king. . . c isai. . . d isai. . . e chr. . . f chron. . . . g chr. . . h ezra . . . i ezra . . k vbi ●rgo sunt ? in iis sanè qui ascenderunt dereliquis tribubus . seder olam rabba . cap. . l chron. . . m in animad ver . in euseb. numero . . n mat. . . &c. o luk● . . p acts . . q james . . r acts . . s levit. . . t acts . . a king. . . b sam. . . c josh. . . . d king. . . e chr. . . f chr. . . g ibidem . h chr. . i chr. . . k prov. . . l king. . . m king. . . o sir walter raleigh hist. world part . . cap. . sect. . p asa , chron. . . & ichosaphat , chron. . q king. . . r chr. . . s chr. . . t chron. . . u chr. . . w chr . . a john. . . iudea with the appurtenances thereof . b luke . . c ezra . . d mat. . . & mark . . e macc. . . samaria peopled with colonies of medes &c. f so d. heyly● . g king. . . h king . i king. . . k king. . . the articles of the samaritan creed . l john . . m john . . n john . . o ant. ind. lib. . sub sinem , pag. . & lib. . ca. . pag. . the antipathy betwixt the samaritans and iews . p luke . . q iohn . . r john . . s luke . . t luke . . u galilee twofold , why one of them surnamed of the gentiles . w isa. . . & mat. . . x bell. ind. li. . ca. . pag. . y ex●●cit . . 〈◊〉 . c. 〈◊〉 . z king. . . the character of the gali●eans a iosephus ut pri●s . b iohn . . c luke . . d mar. . . e iohn . . the three provinces how compared . s iosh. . the originall and nature of te●rarchies . a suidas & stephanus in thesa●ro . b 〈◊〉 co●ors , 〈…〉 . c plinian . exercit . ●ol . . why 〈◊〉 romans continued tetrarchies . d luke . . e luke . f luke . . why abilene mentioned by saint luke . the inequality of these tetrarchies in extent and revenue . g see ●peeds maps . h de b●ll . iud. lib. . cap. . the word tetrarchies variously taken . i salmasius ut prius . k little●on ●ol . . & cowels interpr . in litera c. idumea , per●a , & decapolis . l mark . . m isay . . & ezek. . . n luke . . o nat. histor. lib. . c. . p itin ▪ ab achone versus eurum . hil-countrey , and low-countrey in iudea . q luke . ● . r chr. . . s judg. . . petite lands in palestine . t king. . . u king. . . w sam. . . x sam. . . y mat. . . hebrews distanced places , by paces , & bow-shoots . a sam. . ▪ b sam. . . c gen. . . and by days-journeys . d exod. . . e sam. . . f gen. . . g gen. . . h see the map of g●d . cubits the current measure of the hebrews . i esther . . k numb . . . two kinds of c●bus . a 〈◊〉 . b cap. ▪ v. . cited by arias montanus de mensur . sac● . furlongs how long . c acts . . d m●c . . ● . a r●man m●le made the sam● wi●h ▪ 〈◊〉 h●brew b●rah . e in m●●suris sac●is . f gen . . & . . g king. . . h●w 〈◊〉 saviours precept ●s to b● understood . h mat. . . a sabbath-days journey how much . i acts . . k john . ● . whereon sabbath-days journeys were grounded . l exod. . . * josh . . m exod. . . * mat. . . unknown in the age of elisha . a king. . . o mat. . . difference in the longitudes and latitudes . p ma● . . . q in our answer to the objections of the map generall of pales●ine . the vast diff●rence between miles of severall countr●ys . and betwixt miles of the same countrey . a sam. . . b patest . seig. f. . c vadian . phax . f. . d jud. . . e luke . . f john . . townes on the upstroke how to be accounted . what maps most to be credited in matters of difference . how places are known by their s●verall characters . the b●dge of apocrypha cities . g rom. . . h acts . . i ●king . . . k cor. ● . . notes for div a -e a ant. iud. ●● . . cap. . b deut . . c psal. . . a gen. . . b gen. . . c numb . . . & . , , . d numb . . . * numb . . . e deut. ● . . f deut. . . g numb . . . h isa. . & . ●a . ler. . . i numb . . . k king. . . * king. . . l chr. . . . m chron. . . n isa. . . o icr. . . * josh. . . p numb . . . * in our answers to the objections on reuben . q gen. . r chr. . . s deut. . . t adri. in theat . ter . sanct . fol. . u josh. . . & . . & ● chron. . . ier. . . x deut. . , . y numb . . . z deut. . . a num. . . & rabbi maimo . lb. cap. . sec. . b deut. . . c numb . . , , . d numb . . , . e maimo . on numb . ca. . ver . ● . ca. . sect. . f exod. . . king. . . g iosep. . aati . iudae . cap. . h ios. . antiq. cap. . i idem bel . iud. lib. . cap. . k hier. quaest . hebr. in ge●e . l lib. . bell . iudae . cap. . * iudg. . , . m iudg. . . n ioh. . ● . o iosh. . . p adrich . theat . ter. sanc . pa. . q iosh. . ▪ . r iudg. . . s syriae cubitales ovium caudae , plurimúmque in ●a par●e lanicii . p●m nat. hist. lib. . cap. . t levit. . . u sam. . . w josh. . . x josh. . . y num. . . . . z iosh. . . a in iosh. pag. ● . b adric. de ter. sanct . pa. . * exod. . ● . * josh. . . c eus●b . in chron. hi●●o . in ioel & 〈◊〉 . d compare numb . . ● . with numb . . . e numb . . . f num. . , . g macc. . . h ●ac . . . i deut. . . k num. . . l voss. de origi . & progres . idol . lib. . pa. . m isa. ● . . n exod. . . o gen. . . p deut. . . q chr. . . r chr. . . s num. . . t hiero. de loc . hebr. u num. . . w num , . . x num. . y num. . . z king. . a deut. . . b ps●l . . c isa. . , . & ier. . . d num. . . e iosh. . . f cant. . . g ●osh . . . * king. . . h gen. . . i gen. . . k philip. . . l gen. . . m num. . . notes for div a -e * numb . . , . * num. . . a chr. . . b see speeds genealogy of gad extracted from m. broughtons . c king. . , . * josh. . . d deut. . . e seriously peruse iosh. ● . . f compare num. . . with iudg. . . g psal. . . h deut. . . . i iudg. . . k iudg. . . l ier. . . m ier. . . n 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . * num. . . o sam. . . p isa. . ier. . . q gen. . . r see mercators atlas in helvetia . s king. . . t jo●h . . . u jer. . . w deut. . . & josh. . . x sam. . . y iosh. . . z num. . . a num. . . b neh. . . c gen. . . d gen. . . e iosh. . . f sam. . . g sam. . . h sam. . . i sam. . . k sam. . . l gen. . . m gen. . . n in genesin ex●rcitatione . o gen. . . p rivet ut supr● ex rabbinis . q geu . . . r gen. . . s iudg. . . t iudg. . . u king. . . w iudg. . . x sam. ● . . y iudg. . . z sam. . . a sam. . . b sam. . . c sam. . . d sam. . . e sam. . . f sam. . . g sam. . . h camdens brit●n . in merioneth shire . i mar. . . & luke . . k mat. . . * g●og . lib. . col . . l iudg. . . m judg. . . n iudg. . . o iudg. . . p sam. . . q sam. . . r sam. . . s sam. . . t sam. . . * josh. . . u num. . . w josh. . . x num. . . y num. . . z josh. . . a josh. . . b iosh. . . vide tremellium in locum . c iosh. . . d king. . . e chr. . . f king. . . g king. . . h king. . . i king. . . k king. . , . l king. . . m chr. . . n chr . . o ● say . . cant. . ● . * . chron. . , . &c. * deut. . , . * sam. . . * sam. . . * sam. ● . . * psal. . . * sam. . . p maccab. . q mac. . . r mac. . . s mac. . . t mac. . . u vide tabulas adrichomii . w mac. . . * king. . . * king. . . * king. . . * sam. ● . . * see camdens & speeds maps . x deut. . . y gen. . . z judg. . . a sam. ● . . b sam. . . a gen. . . b numb . . . c num. . . d ●sh . . . e josh. . . f gen. . . g psal. . ▪ h deut. . , . & iosh. . . & king. . . i iosh. . k deut. . . l prolemee & strabo . m psal. . . n psal. . . o cant. . . p adricho . in thea●● . ter. san● . in manass●h . q luke . . . r gen. . . s gen. . . t ibid. u gen. . . w chr. . . x judg. . . y psal. . . z hos. . . a amos . . b amos . . c sam. . . d cant. . . e sam. . . f mat. . . g vid. epiphani um haeresi . h sam. . . * sam. . . i exod. . . k judg. . . l judg. . . m iudg. . . n ioseph . lib. . anti . iud. ca. . august . l. . quaest iud. quaest . . ambro. l. . de o●●iciis . cap. . chrys. hom . . ad popu a●ti . origen . fo . . in lo●n . pa. . peter martyr in locum . capellus in diatribe . forbes or perkins his case . brodman theog . syst. tom . . . &c. o nicolas lyra in locum , with most roman commentators since his time in hope to found nunnery thereupon . i●m . & tremel . in locum . m. perkins li. . cas . con . ca . scharpius . symph . p. . &c. p iosh. . . q ibid. r iosh. . . s deut. . . & . . t ● zek . . . u deut. . . w psal. ▪ . x deut. . . & king. . . * deut. . . y num. . . & iosh. . . z iudg. . . a ibid. b iudg. . . c iudg. . . d sam. . e psal. . . f gen. . . g deut. . . h deut. . . i vide tabulas mercatoris . k deut. . . & iosh. . l mat. . . m vide adrichomium in manasse tit . c. n iosh. . . * chr. . . o king. . . , . p king. . . q iud ant. lib. . cap. . r act. . . s act. . . * king. . . t psal. . . * numb . . . & . . * num. . . * iudg. . . a king. . . * see the description of da● . . part . b chr. . . c iosh. . . d tremel . in loca praedict . e mas●n iosh. . . nic. scra●● . in 〈◊〉 . quaest nona . f m. arthur iackson . in locū . g deut. . . h iudg. . . i ios. de bell . iuda . li. . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . k lib. . in syria . pa. . l virgill . m mat. . . n joh. . . * iosh. . , . o ios. de bell . iuda . li. . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . p s●lin . polyhist . cap. . * iosh. . . ier. . . & . . &c. q zach. . . r king. . . s iudg. . . t sir walter rawleigh hist. world. u deut. . . w iudg. . . x vid. ejus annot . in loc . praedict . y iudg. . . z king. . . & . . a luk. . . b mar. . . & ma● . . . c euseb. hist. eccles . lib. . cap. . & niceph. hist. eccles . lib. . cap. . d mar. . . & luke . . e ier. . . f iosh. . . , g king. . . h ier. . , . i gen. . . * biddulph's t●av . k biddulph's trav . p. . l 〈…〉 elucidat . te● . sanc . lib. . cap. . m gen. . . . n b●ddu●ph . ut p●tus . o hen. bunt●u . trav. of c●hrist . pa. . kinnor in hebrew a harp . p mat. . . compared with mar. . . q mat. . . r mat. . . s mat. . . t mark. . . u mat. . . & mark . . w mat. . . * ● . hieron . de loc . hebr. * mat. . . & mar. . . y mat. . . z luke . . a mat. . . * mat. . . b 〈◊〉 . ca. . concordance . c iosh. . . d kin. . . iohn . . * ●r sishing house rather , be●aus● on the lake ; this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 will bear both . e luke . . ioh. . . f iohn . . g mat. . . h mar. . . i gen. . . k biddulph trav . pa. . l tobit . . m tobit . . n mat. . . o sir walter rawleigh hist. world. lib. . part . pa. . p cant. . . q num. . . r num. . . & iosh. . . & iud. . . s ezek. . . t amos. . ● . u ki●g . . . w iost . . . z adricho . in theat . ter. sanc . in naphta . a nat. hist. lib. ●● . cap. . b prov. . . c camb. brit. in cornwall . d ios. de b●ll . iuda . ●● . . c. . in latine & ca. . in gre●k . e ex●r● . . diat● . . advers . baronium . f sam. . . g sam. . h king. . . i sam. . k king. . l king. . * judg. . . m in his not●s on iudg. . . n magell . in textum . o pet martyr . s●●rar . & major pars comment . p iudg. . . q mat. . . * iosh. . . * iosh. . . * mat. . . * i●●n . 〈◊〉 . . * sam. . . * iudg. . . r iudg. . . s iosh. . . t see the description of kedemoth in the tribe of reuben . u iudg. . . w iosh. . . x chr. . . * king. . . * rehoboam , basmah and tashah . king. . . y gen. . . z in his comments on the place . a iudg. . . b see our description of ephraim . paragraph the second . a numb . . . b num. . . c luke . . d gen. . . e deut. ● . . f deut. . . g odyss●o . . h iudg. . . i iudg. . . k iudg. . . salt and glasse made in asher . l iosh. . . m plin. 〈◊〉 . . nat. hist. ca. ● . n iosh. . . o tyr. li. bel. sacr. ca. . vast caves in the land of canaan . p iosh. . . q king. . . r sam. . . s iudg. . . t g●og li. ● . u psal. . . w mat. . . the city enoch wrong placed . x io. viterbien . apud naucler . vid. adricho . in asher . num . . y gen. . z nat. hist. li. . cap. . a gen. . . b iosh. . . c chron. . . d iosh. . . e chron. . . f iosh. . . g iosh. . . . & . h iosh. . . i gen. . . k iosh. . . . l cant. . . m iosh. . . & chr. . . where it is called hukok . n iosh. . . o chr. . . * or white nilus . p nat. hist. lib. . cap. . q sam. . . r psal. . . s king. . . t numb . . . u iosh. . . w mat. . . x iosh. . . y king. . . z king. . a king . b king. . * king. . . c king. . . d se● ni● ▪ full●r misce l. lib. . cap. . e bel. iud. lib. . cap. . * act. . . . . a boch● . geog. sanc. parte d● . lib. ● . cap. . pag. . b king. . . . c ezek. . . d isa. . . e ezek. ● . . s ezek. . . g isa. . . h isa. . . i ezek. . . ioel . . k ez●k . . . l tim . . m ezek. . . n ezek. . . o ezek. . . p gen. . . q ezek. . . gen. . . psal. . . r ezek. . . s ezek. . . t n●h . . . u ez●k . . . w ezek. . . x bochar . geog sanc. l●b . . c. . y ezek. . z iust. l. . p. . a ezek. . . b ezek. ut . pri . c ezek. . . d iliad . . . & . . odys . . . & . . c iosh. . . f ezek. . . g . h brochart . geog. sanc. i ezek. . . k ezek. . . l ezek. . . m ezek. . . a ezek. . . b isa. . . c ezek. . . * iosh. . . d ezek. . . e sir walter rawlegh . book . pag. . f ezek . . g esay . . h ezek. . . i esay . . k luke ● . . l acts . . m king. . . n esay . . o esay . . revel . . . p king. . . q sands trav. li. . p. . r mat. . . s luke . . , . t bradenback de te● . sanc. & sand. trav. pag. . u cant. . . w gen. . . x esay . . y ezek. . z iudg. . . a iosh. . . & . . b lib. . c lib. . ● . . d ezek. . . e act. . . f mat . . * obad. ver . . g king. . , h luke . . i lib. . cap. . k king. . l judg. . ● . m stephanus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . vid. nic. full. lib. . misce. cap. n mac. . . * act. . . o plin. l. . c. . p l. . bel. iud. cap. . q psal. . . the armes of asher . r gen. . . the populousness and puiss●nce of zebulun . a num. . . b num. . . c iudg. . . d psal. . . e chr. . . f iudg. . . the situation and sea conveniences thereof . g gen. . . h deut. . , . zebulun how bordering on sidon . i gen. . . k bochar . geog. sacr. par . pri . pag. . the severall measures and names of the galilean sea. l ios. l. . de bel . iud. ca. . m lib. . c. . nat. hist. n de ter. sa●c . o trav. of patriarchs . p. . p trav. p. . q iosh. . . & iosh. . . r luke . . s iohn . . t mat. . . u luke . . . w ma●ke . . x luke . . y mark . . z acts . . why our saviour traversed sea as well as land . christs first voyage . a luke . . the second voyage saves peter . b m●t. . . c psal. . . d iohn . . the third voyage when christ was fast a sleep . e mat. . . f mark. . . . g mar. . , . why christ never sailed after his resur●ection . h mar. . . i iohn . the method of the future description . k vid. tabulam ter. sanc. l luke . . the situation and denomination of nazareth . m tom. . epi. . ad marcellam . n cant. . . * mar. . . a vulgar error . o luke . . p iohn . . q iohn . . r act. . . christ no ceremonious nazarite . s numb . . t mat. . . u luke . . x mat. . . * isay . . the first fruits of christs preaching in nazareth . y luke . . z sam . . * john . . why prophets without honour in their own countrey . a heb. . . the murdering intents of the nazarites defeated . b iohn . . * see them on the place . the travels of the chappell of lauretto . * see t●re●llinus his historia la●rettana . c tim. . . ioseph sold by his brethren . d gen. . . e gen. . . f gen. . . * verse . * verse . g gen. . . h see description of ephraims tribe . sephoris the greatest city in galilee . i de bel . iud. lib. . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . k josh. . . l the birth plac● of ionah . king. . . m ionah . . n ionah . . . o iohn . . p mat. . . q mar. . . bethulia the stage of the tragedy of holofernes . the high seated city iot●pata . the character of flavius iosephus iew and priest , son of ma●tathias . u though in his proeme he promiseth , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , without adding or diminishing any thing . w in apparatu , numero . christs sermon on this sea . x mat. . . y exod. . , . tiberias , nigh to which christ multiplied the loaves . z iohn . . a ioh. . , . b m biddulph in his trav. p. . m. biddulphs eye-comment on our saviours sea-voiage . * m●● . . . the ancient river of k●shon . c judg. . . d gen. . . e vid. eum in locum . f ad quem utrique exc●●citus concur●entes manu conseruer unt : tr●m . ibid. the streams of kishon running into severall seas . g b●●eiden bachius in ter . sacr. h mat. . . mark . . luke . . i in his de●cription of palestin which is neither divided into l●aves , p●ges , columns , nor chapters . k m●t. . . l iam. . . m luke . . n biddulphs trav. p. . the city naim & judge elons sepulcher . o luke . . p judg. . . the place where baals pr●est● were slain by eliah . q king. . . r king. . . the god carmelus . * in v●sp●siano cap. . the pleasure of carmel . a amos . . b king. . c ibid in the marginall note . * v●de ●abulas adrichomii . cain , caiaphas , 〈◊〉 , &c. d gen. . . e joh. . . f heb. . . * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 g de bel . i●d . li● . , cap. . h iohn . . * iosh. . . i iosh. . . k iosh. . . a ch●rlish difficulty rather waved then s●tisfied . l tostatus , & trem●llius in locum chroni●o●um , who maketh dimnah the same with rimmon , tabo● with nahalol . the armes of z●bulun . m king. . . issachars numbers and em●nent persons . a gen. . . b numb . . . c num. . . * king. . d king. . . e deut. . , . f josh. . ● . his bounds & fruitfulnesse . g psal. . . h gen. . . i gen. . . not defective in valour . k judg. . . excelling in chronology . l chr. . . m riv●t exer● . in . gen●sios . n josh. . . iezreel a regall city . o josh. . . p king. . . q ● king. . . naboths refusall defended . iezebels murdering of naboth . r king. . s king. . . t deut. . . divine just●ce . u king. . . w king. . abaziahs double death reconciled . x heb. . . y king . . and his doubl●●●riall . z king. . . a chr. . ▪ the manner of lezebels death . b king. . ▪ c ibidem . d king. . . e ibid. vers . . f feet , in thos● parts , naked i●●andal● . g king. . . the bloud of iezebel why requ●red of iehu . h hose . . . the brave battell against 〈◊〉 . i iudg. . , . k iudg. . . l iudg. . . s●ars wa●●curs m gen. . . & . . kishon gods besome . n iudg. . . kishon and enga●●im . o chron. . p josh. . q biddulphs ●ravells . p. . r idem ibidem . sh●nem abishags birthplach . s iosh. . . t king. . . u psal. . . w king. . . elisha his honourable land●lady . x king. . . y king. . . restored to her lost possession● . z kin. . . &c. a king. . . b king. . . tabor a city . c iosh. . . d iudg. . . e ier. . . f hos. . . g brocardus in descrip. terrae sanc. itin. ab acone versu● eurum . h psal. . . da●arah and tarichea . i iosh. . . k iosh. . . l s●m . . . m sam. . . n sam. . . o sam. . , . p sam. . . q speed in the life of richard the third towards the end . rain on mount gilboa . r sam. . . s descrip. t●r. sanc. ab acone versus notum . t mat. . . u act. . . w psal. . . * king. . manass●h in issachar . x iosh. . . y ephes. . . and how in asher . z viz. chr. . . & chr. . . a opus est quadring●ntis camelis onustis commentariis , rationem reddere . mar. sutra cited by buxdors . in thesauro . sol . . b king. . . c iosh. . . d iudg. . . e ios● . . . f psal. . . g iosh. . . megiddo an eminent city . h chr. . . iosiah his death reco●ciled . i king. . . k chr. . . l king. . . generall grief thereat . * see the sep●u●gints preface on the lamentations . m chr. . . n zech , . . o king. . . the armes of issachar . p kin. . . q king. . . r gen. . . the remainder of manasseh . a josh. . . zeloph●h●ds daughters plea. b numb . . . & . . c josh. . . d tim. . ● . e numb . ● . cesarea built by herod . f act. . . g act. . . * act. . . inhabited by pious people . * act. . . * act. . . * act. . . * camdens brit. in brecknockshire . saint paul his behaviour in cesarea . h act. . . * ioseph . lib. . i act. . . k i●venal satyr . . l translated by sir rob. stapil●on . m act. . . the river kanah . n act. . . o josh. . . p m. sands in his travels pag s●gar a modeer invention . q panci●ollus de r●bus in●ent . lib. . ●it . . gedeon of a thresher made judge . israels sad cond●tion . * iudg. . ● . * iudg. . . * iudg . . gedeons army abridged . r iudg. . . s iudg. . . gods condescension to ged●on . t iudg. . . u iudg. . . the midianites assaulted . w judg. . . x sene● . in troad . improves his victory . y judg. . ● . gideon occasioneth idolatry . z judg. . . a ibidem . b ibid. v. . abel-meholah the place of elisha . c king. . . d king. . . e ● king. . . f luke . . the vale of iordan . g ki●g . . . h iohn . . gath. rimmon , and the land of tappuah . i iosh. . . k chr. . . the mountain of o●adiah . l iudg. . . m iudg. . . n kin. ● . . o m●t. . . p in epitaphio paulae & epist. ad ●●arcellum . the rephaims their iron chariots . q caesar de b●llo 〈◊〉 . r diod s●c l. pluta●chus in artax●●xi & ali . bethsan where bacchus hisn nur●e was b●i●d . s iosh. . . t sam. ● . . u plin. nat. hist. lib. . cap. . bezek . w see the des●ription of the land of moriah . x sam. . . ephraim why accounted the eldest . * gen. ● . . ‡ numb . . . * num. . . ‡ psal. . . a princely and puissant tribe . a isa. . . * judg. . . ‡ in gad § . the ephraimites had a naturall lisping . b camd. brit. in lecest. but were valiant and fortunate . c judg. . d judg. . . c kin. . . the bounds of ephraim . exactness why necessary herein . ephraims particular bounds . f hereof no doubt was hushai the archite . gezer given to the 〈◊〉 . g chr. . . h josh. . ● . i judg. . . k king. . . l josh. . . ramathaimzophine a sam. . . b sam. . . c s●m . . . d sam. . . e sam. . . f sam. . . saul prophectes . g sam. . . h sam. . . i sam. . . k ibidem . l sam. . . m john . . arimathea . n mat. . . shiloh why the f●rst place of the ark●s ●●sidence . o josh. . . p is● . . . q john . . here benjamites 〈◊〉 them wives . r judg. . . equivocation . s iudg. . . t judg. . . match-lottery . goldenchance . eli at shiloh connives at his wicked sons . u sam. . . w ibid. v. . x sam. . . y sam. . . z ibid. v. . a sam. . . afterwards sadly destroyed . b sam. . . shiloh sinkes in silence with the tabernacle . c king. . . the possession given to ioshua . * iudg. . . a iosh. . , . b iosh. . . * iosh. . . tirzah once metropolis of the kingdome of israel . c iosh. . . d cant. . . e kin. . . f king. . . g king. . . h king. . . i chr. . . k iustin. lib. . l king. . . * king. . . private houses on mount ephraim . m iudg. . . n iud. . . . o iud. . . * esay . . samaria built by omri . p king. . . q mic. . . the stately buildings in samaria . r king. . . s de●t . . . t king. . . u king . . w king. . . . x kin. . . the king of syria's streets in samaria . y kin. . . first siege of samaria . z king. . . a king. . . the second siege of samaria b king. . . the third and last siege of samaria . e king. . . a christian church in samaria . f mat. . . g act. . . . . & . . h act. . . i act. . . k act. . . memorable places near samaria . l king. . . m king. . . . levit. ● . . the pool of samaria . king. . . . n king. . . curs●g and blessing on ebal and gerizim . a josh. . . b deut. . . c iosh. . d deut. . . e deut. . . how they might be heard form one moūt to another f beniamin in 〈◊〉 . pa. . g giraldus cambrensis . see camdens brit●in merionith-shire . a solmn altar built on mount ebal . h deut. . . i josh. . . k deut. . . two sects of samaritans the first idolaters . l king. . . m antiq. lib. . cap. . n ezek. ● . . o king. . p contr. haeres . lib. . pag. . ●● q ●bn . patrik . in 〈◊〉 . arab. r king. . , , . the second sect hereticall . s nehe. . . t anti. iud. li. . cap. . . u zemach . david part . prim . pag. . ● . b. w haeres . . x gen. . . y hotting . exercit . anti-mor . samaritans for their own advantage falsifie the text . z iohn . . a deut. . . b iosh. . . c vid. sam. pent. deut. . . king. . . d gen. . , . e psal. . , , . f iosh . . iosh. . . the testimony of the son of sirach . g macc. . . h luk. . . i zemach . david parte ● . pag. . k eccles. . impudency to prefer the samaritan , before the hebrew pentateuch . l prov. . . . m vide exercit. hottinge●i contra mori●um . n rom. . . o amos . . dinah d●flowred in shechem . gen. . . p gen . . q gen. . r gen. . . s sam. . . t gen. . . abimelech made king by the shechemites u iudg. . . w iudg. . . shechem sacked by abimele●h . a iudg. . . b gen. . . c munsters cosm. in descr . italy . ab●melech slain at ●he tower of thebez . d iudg. . . e psal. . . f iudg. . . . g king. . h iudg. . . the people petition r●hoboam at shechem . king. . . . ●● . i king. . . k king. . . rehoboam followeth the young mens advice . l king. . . adoram stoned by the people . m sam. . . * king. . . n hollir shead . pag. . o ide● 〈◊〉 . iacobs purchase ●nd ios●phs portion . p gen. . . q iosh. . . r gen. . . * eccles. . . s 〈◊〉 in locum . t gen. . . 〈◊〉 and shalem c●ties nigh she●hem . u iohn . . w gen. . . two eminent oakes near shechem . x gen. . . y gen. . . z io●● . . . a iosh. . . b iosh. . . doth●● where the syrians were smitten with blindness . c kin. . . b king. . . dothan where ioseph was sold by his brethren c gen. . . how this countrey was called the land of the hebrews . f gen. . . g act. . . * gen. . . the city ephraim . h ioh. . . i ioh. . . k ioh. . . the mount of phinehas . l iosh. . . m psal. . . n iosh. . . o iudg. . . mou●● amalek p see our description of paran-parag . q iob. . . r iudg. . . iudg. . , . t see camd . map ▪ of hartfordshire . baal-hazor stained wi●h absoloms c●uelty . u sam. . . w in description of gad. pag. . x eccles. . . y sam. . . z mat. . . a sam. . . archelais and iscariot . b iosephus antiq. l● . . cap. . c mat. . . d act. . . e macc. . . f king. . . the armes of ephraim . g num. . . h deut. . . i hos. . . * gen. . . ‡ numb . . . * num. . . ‡ irenaeus lib. . ambros. de benedict . patriar . cap. . august . quaest . . in ioshu . prosper . de promis . dei par . . theodoret . quaest . . in gen. gregor . lib. . moralium &c. a gen. . . * so had all the sons of bilhah and zilpah . b l●vit . . . c iudg. . ● . * this was ieroboams not the t●●bes act . d kin. . . * rev. . * so also is zebulun , as simeon is omitted in moses his blessings , deut. . e exod. . . josh. . -- . f psal. . . g iudg . . iosh. . . * gen . . deut. . . h iud. . . io●● . . . i sand. his trav . pag. . k adricho . in theat . ter. sanc. pag. . l chro. . . m ion. . . n act. . . o act. . . & . . . p act. . . . , . q guilel . tyrius . r pliny nat. his . lib. cap. et pomp. mela. ovid. lib. . metam . s ioh. de vorag . in the golden legion . t morisons trav . part . c. p. . u king. : . * hugo groti . in ioha . . . w mat. . . mar. . . x ioh. . . z iosh. . . a iudg. . . b macc. . , , . * iosh. . . iosh. . . * iosh. . . iosh. . . c iud. . . d macc. . , , , . e mac. . , . f see moors mapof palestine g chr. . . h adricho . in theat . ter. sanc. pag. . num . i m●c . . . * macc. . . k macc . , l vid. ●jus 〈◊〉 . in king. . . m sam. . . * sam. . . n iosh. . . & . . o king. . & . . p chr. . . q king. . , , , . iud. . . r iudg. . . . . . f iud. . . t iud. . , . u iud. . . * num. . , . & cap. . deut. . . w gen. . . x iud. . , . verse . verse . iud. . . y iosh. . , . &c. z iosh. . . a iosh. . . b gen. . . d iud. . . e sam. . . f sam. . . * sam. . . & . . & . . &c. g chr. . . h chr. . . i iosh. . . * ezek. . . k sam. . . sam. . . m chr. . . * dr. hakwels apology for divine providence . n sam. . . & ezek. . & zeph. . . o sam. . . & king. . . p vid. ejus annota in locum pradicta . q sam. . . r sam. . , . s sam. . . * sam. . . t psal. . & * sam. . , , . & . . u king. . . w sam. . . * chr. . . x kin. . . y chr. . . z sam. . . * sam. . . a sam. . . b sam. . . c sam. . . d sam. . . e king. . . f mat. . . g hieron . in tom . cap. isa. h iudg. . . i iudg. . . k act. . . l ier. . . * sam. . . & . . † iosh. . . * chap. . . ● chr. . . † isa. . . * macc. . . † chap. . ● . * cha. . . . † mac. . . . * mac. . . m see the s●ptuagint . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . n nche . . . o nennius elvodug . p sam. . . ionah on the sea . q ionah . . r psal. . . s nahum . . t ionah . . ● wonder working tempest . u ionah . . w iohn . . x mat. . . y king. . . z gen. . . a numb . . . a gen. . . b gen. . . c gen. . . * numb . . . & . . d chr. . . e chr. . . f iudi. . . g num. . . h iosh. . . . t iudg. . . k chr. . . l king. . . m gen. . . n mark. . . o iudg. . . p sam. . . q sam. . . r sam. . . s iosh. . . t chr. . . u iudg. . . w iudg. . . x iudg. . . y ezek. . . * iosh. . . & . . z gen. . . a psal. . . b sam. . . c iosh. . . char. . . d iosh. . . sam. . . e sam. . . f num. . . g numb . . . h iudg. . . char. . . i gen. . . k gen. . . l gen. . . m gen. . . n gen. . . o gen. . . p gen. . . q ioh. . . r geor. sands . trav . . b. . p. s gen. . . t amos . . & . . u king. . . w gen. . . x gen. . . y gen. . . z sam. . . a chr. . . b king. . . c sam. . . d amos . . e gen. . . r gen. . . g king. . . h gen. . . i gen. . . k gen. . . l gen. . . * strabo geog. lib. . p. . m chr. . . n heb. . . o psal. . . p iosh. . . q chr. . . r chr. . . s iosh. . . t iud. . . . u mat. . . w eccles. . . x josh. . . y chr. . . z judg. . . a judg. . . b sam. . . c diod. siculus . libro . d ● exod. . . e judg. . . judg. . . . . f judg. . . g ier. . . h zeph. . . i act. . . k ier. . . l sand. trav . lib. . p. . m isa. . . n ezek. . . o amos . . p zach. . . q deut. . r gen. . , . s exod. . . ben-oni his name changed to benjamin a gen. . . b numb . . . the dysaster and recru●t of benjamin . c numb . . . d iudg. . . e iudg. . . the words of the psalmist well to be weighed ▪ f psal. . . g sam. . . h esther . . i iudg. . . k chr. . . l phil. . . m sam. . . n iosh. . . benjamin placed between ioseph & 〈◊〉 . o mat. . . p deut. . . the smal comp●ss of this tribe recompensed with the goodness of the ground . q gen. . . r anti i●d li. . cap. . * iosh. . . eminent act●ons on the banks of i●rdan . s sam. . ● . t sam. . . u sam. . . pitifull provisions for a colledge . w psal. . . x king. . . controversies concerning the position of the altar ed. * josh. . . † in lo●is heb. lit . e. * in locum . y iosh. . . z anti. iud. l. . cap. . p. . a m. ioseph m●de in his sermon of the reverence of gods house . b psal. . . the iewish stone henge . c iosh. . . d mat. . . remarkables happening at gilgal in the days of ioshua . e jo●h . . . f numb . . . g as may be collected by the overflowing of iordan , and by comparing iosh. . . with chr. . . h josh. . . i mat. . . gilgall a court or a colledge . k sam. . . * sam. . . l sam. . . m sam. . . king. . . n king. . . o king. . . gilgall a sink of idolatry . p hos. . . & . . q amos . . & . . r josh. . . the south-bound of benjamin . s see josh. . . &c. the fountain of the sun . t act. . . u camd. brit. in summersetshire p. . w compare josh. . . with josh. . . x iosh. . . y in locis heb. lit . b. the egyptians passionate bewail●ng of iacob . z gen. . . a gen. . . b gen. . . c gen. . . d thes. . . the north borders of benjamin . e josh. . . f josh. . . beth-el why so called . g gen. . . h gen. . . i gen. . . k gen. . . deborah buried near beth-el . l gen. . . m gen. . . n camd. brit. pag. . ●eth-el jointly belonging to ephraim and benjamin . o josh. . . p judg. . . q sam. . . ieroboams calfe , set up in beth-el . r king. . . s kin. . . t king. . . u num. . . w eccles. . . children of bethel why curled and killed by elisha . x king. . ▪ y king. . . a colledge of prophets at beth-el . z amos . . iosiah burns the dead bones at beth-el . a king. . . b king. . . c king. . d holy state cap. of company . e iosh. . . quere how benjamin westward could boder on th● sea. f iosh. . . g description of gad num . . h sam. . . i ier. . . k vid. macium in locum . vzzah slain for his presumption . sam. . . l sam. . . m sam. . . n sam. . . iewish severall inventions to thresh out their grain . * sam. . . o deut. . . p prov. . . q amos . . r camd. brit. p. ierich● a pleasant place . s king. . . king. . . miraculously taken . t iosh. . . iericho termed a city of palmes u deut . . w judg. . . x vid adagium , palmam ferre . the walls of ierich● unhappily built again . y kin. . . iericho first belonging to israel , afterwards to iudah . z ●in . . . a chr. . . b ezra . . c nehe. . . zac●eus converted at iericho . d luke . . . plaines of ieric●● . e king. . . g luke . . ai at last taken by ioshua . h iosh. . . i iosh. . . k hosea . . the melli●●uous wood near beth-aven . l gen. . . m gen. . . n eccles. . . o sam. . . p sam. . . gibeo●ites overreach the isr●●lites . q josh. . . r josh. . . s iosh. . . t iosh. . . u iosh. . . w josh. . . x psal. . . y josh. . . gibeon the cock-pit of war though a city belonging to the l●vites . z josh. ● . . a sam. . . amasa basely murdered by i●ab . b sam. . . c s●m . . . d sam. . . e sam. . . gibe●n a place of publick worship . f sam. . . g sam. . . h sam. . . i sam. . . k sam. . . l chr. . . gihea● distinct from gibeon , a wicked city . m judg. . . n judg. . . o judg. . . p judg. . . israel twice worsted by benjamin . q judg. . r judg. . . s gen. . . t description of ephraim . gibeah why surnamed of saul . u sam. . . w sam. . . x sam. . . y sam. . . saul buried by david in gibeah . z sam. . . migron and ramah . a sam. . . b lib. . cap. . c camd. b●it . fol. . d king. . e kin. . . mizpah for a long time the seat of ju●ice . f sam. . . * sam. . . g sam. . . h chr. . . i sam. . . asa his pit in mizpa● employed otherwise then it was intended . l ier. . . m see our description of asher . § . n ier. . . o ier. . . p macca . . different success of the israel●tes at eben-ezer . q sam. . . & cap. . ver . . r sam. . . ionath●ns scylla and charybdis . s iosh. . . t sam. . . u sam. . . w sam. . . x sam. . . anathoth the country-house of the high-priests . y king. . . z ier. . . a ier. . . b mat. . . c jer. . . d act. . the philistines design to destroy smiths in israel . e sam. . . f sa● . . . g sam. . . the massac●e of the priests at nob by d●●g . h sam. . . i sam. . . k sam. . . zemaraim , the vale of craftsmen , and zeboim . l iosh. . . m gen. . . n lib. . cap. o chr. . . p nehe. . . q king . . r de●● . . . s king. . . a wolfe benjamins armes . t gen. . . u revel . . . w iudg. . . iudah and his good qualities . a gen. . . b gen. . . c gen. . . & . d numb . . . e chron. . . the soveraignty of this tribe . f numb . . . g mal. . . h judg. . . i hagg. . . how the scepter departed not from iudah . k gen. . . l mat. . . m iohn . . n iustin martyr in dialog● cum triphone iudaeo . the limits of the land of iudea . o gen. . . the dead-sea once a fruitfull countrey . p gen. . . q pet. . . r gen. . . s gen. . . t deut. . . how fire le●t water behind it u gen. . . w iosh. . . &c chr. . & eccles. . x gen. . . severall names of this sea . y gen. . . z gen. . . neithe● ships nor fish in the salt-sea . a psal. . . b histor. of the dragon ver . solinus his testimony of the dead-sea . c solin . polybist . cap. . lots wi●e turned into a pillar of salt . d gen. . . c gen. . . zoar spared at lots request . f gen. . . g gen. . . h eccles. . . . lots incest with his daughters . i gen. . . k gen. . . the utility of crit●cisme in boundaries . the borders of iudah . l josh. . . &c. kadesh-barnea in the edge of canaan . m num. . . method propounded . n iosh . , &c. hebron anciently kiriath-arba . o num. . . p adricho . in de●●r . of iudah . num . . q iosh. . . r gen. ● . . s gen. . . entertainment of angels . t gen. . . u gen. . . the cave of machpelah . w gen. . , . x gen. . . y gen. . . z gen. . a josh. . . royall turned into sacerdotall cities . b josh. . . c josh. . . the suburbs of hebron g●ven to caleb . d josh. . . e josh. . . s amos. . . g bon●rerius in locum ioshu● . h josh. . . ioabs cruell killing of abner . i sam. . . aggravation of ioabs murder . * josh. . . k king. . . abner and ishbosheth buried to ● ether . l sam. . . m ibid. v. . n sam. . . o sam. . . p sam. . . numbers repairing to david in hebron . q chr. . . r ibid. v. . s mat. . . t so saith the text ( chr. . . ) for their brethren ( meaning iudah ) had prepared for them . u ibid. v. . absalom repaireth to hebron . w sam. . . x ibid. v. . y in our description of gad. debir a canaanitish university . z judg. . . a num. . . b heb. . . c john . . the south of iudah called caleb . d sam. . libnah a rebellious city . l king. . . m dr heylyn microc . in palest . p. . libnah how it might subsist a free state. n king. . * king. . . lachish an idolatrous one . o iosh. . . p kin. . . q micah . . r mic. . . s isa. . . t ier. . . adullam davids retra●●ing . u gen. . . w sam. . ● . x exod. y psal. . ad sinem . z iudg. . . baal-hanan inverted hannibal . a chr. . . b gen. . . c luk. . . carmel naboths manor . d sam. . . the death of nabal . e ibid. v. . f prov. . . giloh the po●●ession of ahithophel . g sam. . . h sam. . . i ibid. v. . k ibid. v. . tekoah the birth place of amos. l sam. . . m amos. ● . . n chr. . . o chr. . . p ibid. v. . q ibid. v. . r ibid. v. . s ibid. v. . t iudg. . . why iehosaphat might justly fear . u chr. . . w sir walter rayleigh li. . par●● . pa. . iehosaphats admirable victory . x chr. . . y ibid. v. . davids severall removals . a sam. . b luk. . . c psal. . . d sam. . . e sam. . . from adullam to mizpah . f sam. . . g sam. . . to keilah . h ibid. i sam. . . k psal. . . to hachilah hill . l sam. . . to the rock of division . m sam. . to the cave in engedi . n sam. . . o sam. . . p sam. . . q sam. . . to carmel . r sam. . . s sam. . . again to hachilah-hill . t sam. . . to ziglag . u sam. . . w sam. . . x sam. . . lastly to hebr●● . y psal. . . davids other haunting places . z sam . . * possibly the same with si●ma in the tribe of reuben . a chr. . . b psal. . . the totall sum of iudah's cities . c josh. ● . . d josh. . . e ibid. v. . f ibid. v. . g ibid. . h ibid. . i ibid. . k vers. . l vers. . * josh. . . † chr. . . * micah . . eleutheropolis uncertain in situation . m in his book de loci● h●braicis . rivolets in iudah . n chr. . . o sam. . ● . bit●ell betwixt david and goliah . p sam. . . q job . . . many wildernesses in iudah . r josh. . . s sam. . . t sam. . . u sam. . . w chr. . . x ibid. v. . y judg. . . z mark. . . a joel . . b iosh. . . iohn baptist preaching in the wilderness . c mark . . d levit. . . e sam. . . * mat. . . nothing befriendeth the eremites . f isa. , . g mark . . h gen. . . * king. . . iudah for the ma●n freed from solomons purveyours . i josh. . . k see more hereof in our objections against the tribe of iudah . l vide kalendarium hebrai cum munsteri . pag. . the armes of iudah . m gen. . . n prov. . . the adjacent parts to ierusalem . a gen. . . b exod. . the brook kidron . c king. . chr. . . d king. . . e king. . f job . . the valley of iehosaphat . g chr. . . h ioel . ▪ i act. . . k luke . . l joh. . . ch●ist betrayed in this garden . m ioh. . . n ioh. . . luk. . . o luk. . . the rock of offence . p kin. . . . q exod. . r rom. . ▪ absaloms pillar in the kings dale . s gen. . . t sam. . . the stone of zoheleth . u king. . . w king. . . three tops on mount olivet . x mat. . . david flying from absalom . y sam. . . z sam. . a sam. . . b sam. . & . ●● . bahurim where shimei rayled on david . c sam. . , d sam. . . e sam. . . sples at bahurim concealed ▪ f sam. . . g sam. . . h sam. . . rachel bur●ed nigh bethlehem . i gen. . . & . . k gen. . . l virgil. eclo . . m sam. . . ruths gleaning in bethlehem . n ruth . . . o ruth . . p ruth . . . davids birth and life in bethlehem . q sam. . . r sam. . . s sam. . . iesus born in bethlehem . t esay . . u luk. . . w luk. . . x gen. . , the wisemen directed by a star to bethlehem . z num. . . a mat. . . b mica . . . ioh. . . return to their countrey another way . the babes of bethlehem massacred . c mat. . . ramah nigh bethlehem . d mat. . . e gen. . . f sam. . . g sam. . . how so many kings in bezek . h sam. . . i jer. . . k iudg. . . l gen. . . the vale of rephaim . m c●md . brit. in northumberland . n sam. . . . o sam. . , , . mulberry trees and silke plentifull in palestine . saul first made bravery frequent in israel . p ezek. ● . . q mat. . . r sam. . . s in esiacis . lib. . ●maus where christ appeared to the two disciples . t luk. . . u luk. . . w vers. . x mac. . zachariah his house . y mat. . z luk. . . a iosh. . . gebah a city of the levites . b sam. . . c nehem. . . david dancing before the arke . d sam. . . e act. . . store of storks in palestin . f psal. . . g levit. . . h ier. . . notes for div a -e a cor. . . b gen. . . c chr. . . * john . . d ruth . . e acts . . * colos. . . e psal. . . f sam. ● . . g sam. . . h sam. . . i sam. . . k deut. . . a isa. . . b gen. . . c gen. ▪ . * judg. . . * it is of the dual number in hebrew , because first consisting of two principal parts ▪ zion and the lower city . d gen. . . e psal. . . f euseb. li. . pr●par . evange . ●●ge●ippus . l. . ca. . & niceph. calixt . l. . cap. . g absurdum esse peregrinae linguae mixtura demonstrat . hieronymus evagr● . h sam. . . i statius sylvar . li. . in protr●ptico ad crispinum . k 〈◊〉 . z●ta , & odyss . beta . l sands trav. li. . pag. . m isa. . . n mat. . . o mat. . . p de bell● iud. lib. . cap. . q ezek. . . r eusebius saith that ierusalem was called anciently , algariza , that is , the 〈◊〉 mountain . s in perap . evang lib. . cap. . a nu● ▪ . . b iosephus contra appi●n . lib ▪ prim● . c iosep. ibid. d exod. , . e i●sep . b●l. iuda . ca. gr . . lat . . f luk. . . * aboth . r. nat●●n per. * psal. . . g mat. . . h psal. . . i deut. . . k ier. . . & ier. . . l isa. . . m ioan. mena poeta mercat . pag. . in atlante . n zech. . . o ioseph . lib. . b●ll ▪ i●d . ●a . . p con. app. lib. . q geogr. li. . pag. . r idem ibid●● . s psal. . . four sort● of gates in ierusalem . a act. . . b act. . . c chr. . . the sheep-gate . d nehem. . . the golden-gate . e br●c . it● . . sal. 〈◊〉 . . c. . breid . . iul ▪ pasch. d. . f see adricho . theatrum terr . sanct . p● . ● . g act. . , . h luk. . . the horse-gate . b ier. . . i nhem . . . k compare ▪ king. . . with ● chr. . ● . the water-gate . l neh. . . m neh. . . n jer. . . why no gates on the south of ierusalem . the fountain-gate . o nehem . . p neh. . . q nehem. . . the dung-gate . r cor. . . s nehem. . . the valley-gate . t p●al . . . u neh. . . . w neh. . . the corner-gate . a chr. . . b chr. . . why not repaired in nehemiahs time . c for this gate is mentioned zech. . . the gate of ephraim . d chr. . . e stows survey of london . pag. . the old-gate . * nehem. . . the fish-gate . f nehe. . . g nehem. . . the gate of benjamin . h jer. . . i jer. . . * arias montanus , adricho●ius , & m. moor. a strange mistake in learned men . k m. william sommer in his antiquitles of canturbury pa. . & . l zech. . . the needles-eye . m mat. . . n mark. . . o camden . in york-shire pag. . the tower of m●●● . t nehem. . . & . . u nehem. . . the tower of furnaces . w neh. . ▪ the tower of hananeel . d nehem. . . e nehem. . . the tower that lyeth out . f nehem. . . the great tower that lyeth out . g nehem. . . the tower of david . h cant. . . the tower of siloe . * luk. . h mat. . . the tower of ophel where the nethinims dwelt . i nehem. . . k ezra . . their service , and priviledges l josh. . m sam. . . n ezra . . o ezra . . p ezra . . q psal ▪ . . r ezra . . the tower of women . m ioseph . bel. iud. li. . c. . . n ca●d . brit. in dorset . shire . and another so called in york●●ire . the high priest begins the building . a nehem. . . people of all sorts second them . d nehem. . . why after the captivity , two governours to one city . e vid● ejus annot. in nehem. . . f ibid. ver . . ibid. ver . . h ibid. ver . . i ibid. ver . . k ibid. ver . . the builders of one gate . l nehem. . ▪ m camd. b●it . in the descrip . of york-shire . the founder of the dung-gate conce●ved by so●e a r●chabite . n villalpandus in locum . o ier. . . p ibid. ver . . younger before the elder in goodness . q neh. . . baruch repaired earnestly . r neh. . . persons repa●ring against their own houses . s ibid. ver . . . &c. t ibid. ver . . doublers with credit in the work . u phil. . . w nehem. . . the degenerous nobles of tekoah . quaere concerning nehemiah . x mat. . . answer , with his privative and po●●tive bounty to this building . the conclusion of the work . y nehem. . ● . ierusalem emptied of inhabitants , when rebuilded by nehemiah . z neh. . . a ibid. ver . . b b●terus . why men loth to live in ierusalem . nogrea●●vers near i●rus●lem . three sorts of waters . a in the land of moriah . b ● neh. . . c nehem. . . d kin. . . e iosephus expr●sly called the first sole●●●s pool . f eccl●● . . . vzziah a dealer in water wo●ks . g chr. . . h chr. . . the iews busie about drains and trenches . i isa. . . k isa. ● . . three faults taxed herein . l iob . . m psal. . . hez●kiah stops out the water . n chr. . . o psal. . . p isa. . . gihon brook meant hereby . q gen. . . reopeneth and improveth it . r king. ● . . s chr. . . t king. . . such altering rivers not unlawfull . h●z●ki●● supplies solo●ons omission . b eccles. . . c nehem. . . the dragon fo●●tain . d dragon gate in sarisbury . pool of siloah a type of christ. l neh. . . m joh. . . n gal. . . o isa. . . p mat. . . q kin. . . r john . . the blind man cured therewith . s joh. . . & . t joh. . . the pool of bethesda . * tremellius on nchem. . . god and mans charity well met . u joh. . . w joh. . . two ancient parts of ierusalem . a psal. . . b sam. . . & chr. . . c act. . . d act. . . e act. . . f chr. . . g chr. . . * in the garden of vzzah . h chr. . ● . i chr. . . k chr. . . l chr. . . m chr. . . n chr. . . * chr. . . o chr. . . p chr. . . q kin. . . r chr. . . s chr. . . t ier. . . u chr. . . w zach. . . x neh. . . y joh. . . & . z joh. . . a joh. . . b luk. . . c act. . . d act. . . e col. . . f ier. . . g ier. . . h ier. . . i ier. . . k ier. . . l ier. . . m psal. . . n sam. . . o sam. . . p sam. . . a greg. greg. in lex . sanc . n●mero . b sam. . . c king. . . d kin. . . e kin. . . f vid. tremel . annot . in locum . the house of the forest of lebanon . a king. . ▪ the dimensions of this house . b chron. . . c kin. . . d king. . . solomons wives house . e king. . . f king. . . g kin. . . . h psal. . . i king. . . k mac. . the stately palace of herod l mac. . . m joh. . . n joh. . . o luke . . peters prison . p act. . . the palace of pilate . q joh. . . r joh. . . ierusalem an academy for education of youth . a vid. grotii annot . in act. apost . cap. . vers . . b kin. . . the grecian colledge . c mac. . . & mac. . . d sam. . . e see the gen●va note on mac. . . f mac. . . g act. . . five synagogues against saint steven . h gal. . . i pet. . . k act. . . l act. . . m act. . . the house of mary the mother of iohn-mark . a act. . . b ioh. . . the house of ananias and veronica . c act. . . d ioh. . . the accurate ranging of streets in ierusalem at the best but conjecturall . c ier. . . & . . & . . &c. f mat. . . g mat. . . h mat. . . i neh. . . k neh. . . the amphitheatre , castle antony , ●nd hippodrome . l iosep. ant . iud. li. . c. . m cor. . . n tit. . . the dolorous way . a heb. . . the wild justice of pilate . b ioh. . . reasons of christs fainting under the cross. simon of cyrene bearing christs cross. c mat. . . mount calvary why so called . d ier. . . the length of christs passion . e joh. . . the breadth thereof . f mat. . . g mat. . . h joh. . . the depth thereof . * gen. . . the height thereof . i pet. . . k ephes. . . the sevenfold division of christs goods . l ioh. . . m ioh. . . n luk. . . o ioh. . . p luk. . . q luk. . . r col. . . s io● . . dead corps may be wronged , but not hurt . t luk. . . christ buried in iosephs sepulchre . n pet. . . w luk. . . x mat. . . christs resurrection . y m●t. . . z ioh. . . endevoured in vain to be silenced . a ioh. . . b mat. . . the potters-field . a ● king. . . b ibld. ver . . c rom. . . bought for a burying place . d mat. . . e ibid. ver . . f sands his tr● . pag. . with legions of other authours . called acelda ma. g act. . . h joh. . . i adricho . in theatr. ●●●sanc . the manner of iudas his death . fullers-field . k isa. . . . l judg. . ● . m isa. . . n luk. . . o mat. . . p luk. . . tophet why so called . q in his comment on ier. . r king. . . f ma● . . . place of saint stevens martyrdome . t sam. . . u act. . . preface to the ensuing discourse . prepara●●ons made for the temple . a chr. . . b ibidem . davids double oblation . c luk. . . d chr. . . the value of a jewish talent . e king. . . f sam. . . g chr. . . h exod. . . demonstrated by brerewood d● num . iud. c. i idem ca. . talent sometimes taken for a smaller sum . k king. . . l iliad . lib. . m kin. . . n joh. . . o see ludovicus de aleaser de mensuris sacris . p chr. . . a talent afterwards a vast sum . q king. . . davids holy complement . r chr. . . why no restraint of p●oples bounty in building the temple . s exod. . . t cor. . . modell of the temple made iure divino . u chron. . , . . obs●rve the notes in the geneva transl●tion . solomon was not so pattern-bound as moses w exod. . . act. . . heb. . . the ●loor of the temple purchased by david . x gen. . & . y sam. . . an altar here first built by david . z chr. . . a chr. . . why david prohibited to build the temple . b chr. . . & chr. . . c king. . . d cor. . ▪ the halcyon days of solomon . the multitude of workmen . a kin. . . & chr. . . b king. . . c chr . . two invincible gulfes to swallow mens labours . d ioh. . . objection about the impossibility thereof . severall answers thereunto . * rather s●hamir . vid. text●● eber. lyran. ezech. . . e psal. . . solomon consulteth not with thri●t . seven years spent in building the temple . f king. . . king. . . h ant. iud. li. . cap. . i ruth . . . a king. . . the dimensions of the temple . b act. . . ant. iud. li. . cap. . d king. ● . . e chr. . . two sorts of cubits . f chr. . . this no breach of the law . g deut. . . objection ; temple a z●ar or little one . h plin. nat. hist. li. . ca. . answ. it was a vast edif●ce well considered with the appurtenances i luk. . . temple bigger then tabernacle , and why . k de templi fabrica . l. . c. . the temple stood east and west . l king . . the dimensions of the porch . a king. . . b chr. . . * the flying ●oll . zach. . . was just ad●quate to this porch , in length and breadth twenty cubits long and ten borad . c chron. . . such a tower not useless . d ma● . . . & ioh. . . the temple not so high as the porch . c reckoned up by ribera de templo . li . c. . with whom he seemethto concur . f cant. . . g king . . bede his conceit . h in lib. qu●st . in lib. regum quaest . . luk. . . the porch how overlaid with gold . k chr. . . l chr. . . m num. . . the names and dimensions thereof . n chr. . . o king. . . the foundation of the temple . p king. . . q revel . . . tim. . . the thickness of the walls . s in ezek. cap. . ver . . the threefold matter of the wall . t kings . . & . the severall shapes of cherubims . u ant. iud. lib. . cap. . w ezek. . . x luk. . . the door leading into the temple . y king. . . z ibid. ver . . the gorgeous floor thereof . king. . . b ibid. ver . . c vid. ejus annot . in locum . plain but of pure gold . d rom. . . windows in the temple . e tim. . . the● fashion , matter , and position . f vid. annot . in king . . g on ezek. . h de bello iud. lib. . cap. . the roof and covering thereof . i mat. . . k in ezek. tom . . par . . cap. . l king. . . m chr. . . n pet. hcylyn . micr . pa. . the dimension of the holy of holies . o king. . . homil. . in . ezek. q see ribera de templo . li. . cap. . p. . the vacuity above the oracle how imployed . r . king. . . s iohn . . wh●ther any windows in the o●acle . t villalp . in ezek cap. . tom . par . . cap. . * revel . . . u king . . x in ezek. cap. . y judg. . . the doors of the holy of holies . gold of parvaim . z chr. . . a ibidem . the nailes of the holy of holies . b chr. . . c ●ccles . . . the curious vaile . d chr. . . e exod. . . f cor. . . how the holy of holies was in the midst of the temple . g king. . . h psal. . . i hab. . . k king. . chambers how round about . l ibidem . m psal. . . their dimen●ions . n king. . . o lbid . ver . . p king. . . the vessels of the tabernacle kept in these chambers . q chr. . . fancy runs riot when spurred with superstition . r lib. ● . f king. . t cor. . . u ibid. ver . . the difficulty of the present subject , with the causesthereof . ill consequences of confounding the two temples . a gen. . . the fashion of a court. b king. . . c chr. . . d king. . . e vid. lyram in locum . f gen. . . g sam. . . d●grees in this court. people 〈◊〉 pressin into the 〈◊〉 court. chr. . . i mat. . . k chr. . . l ●oel . . the severall names of this court. * chr. . . certainly large , how large uncertain . m iohn . . this court bettered by succeeding kings . n king. . . o eccles. . . hez●kiah encused from innovation . p chr. . . . . q king. . . private passage from the kings house into the temple . r king. . . s chr. . . t king. . . u . king. . . w vide ejus annot . in locum . x kin. . . a rabbinicall tradition . four principall gates . * mat. . . a chr. . . b kin. . . & chr. . . vide tremel . in locos . c chr. . . d chr. . . e ibidem . f chr. . . g gen. . . h king. . . i chr. . . k ier. . . & . . l chr. . . the number and office of the porters . m chr. . . n chr. . . o chr. . . p revel . . . q psal. . . a treble quere concerning the porters places . r chr. . . s psal. . . intruders into the temple without the porters leave . t psal. . . u chr. . . chambers and treasuries over the porch . the chamber of gemariah wherein ieremiahs book was read . a ier. . . b vers. . c vers. . d king. . chamber of nathan melech . e psal. . . f xenophon li. . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . g fastor . . the chamber of the sons of hanan . h ier. . . i ier. . . no moe then two outward courts made by solomon . a king. . . b ioseph . de bel. iud. lib. . ca. . edit . lat . sed graec . cap. . c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . object . david at least prescribed three courts . f chr. . . g lib. . de caelo . cap. . h chr. . . court on the west . some make a womans court. i zec● . . . the womans court not grounded on scripture . k chr. . . ibid. ver . . ezekiels temple had moe courts . but was not the same with solomons . m ant. iud. l. . cap. . some collect another court out of iosephus . n ezra . . a third court might afterwards be added o chr. . . p chr. . . q ibid. ver . . r ezra . . the expressive utensils of the temple . a cor. . . the different dimensions of the pillars reconclled . b king. . . c ier. . . d king. . . e ribera de iis qua erant in temp. l. . ca. . their chapiters how adorned . f prov. . . g king. . . h luk. . . i iudg. . . k mat. . . l iohn . . the meaning of the pillars names . m kin. . . n mat. . z. what they myftically repr●sented . o gal. . . p revel . . . q revel . . . ten candl●sticks in the temple . a exod. . . b king. . . c anti. lib. . c. . d chr. . . e luk. . . f king. . . the table of shew-bread . g chr. . . h psal. . . i ioh. . . k hist. bel. v. . the altar of incense . l exod. . . m chr. . . n king. . . o ibid. ver . . p king. . . q chr. . . placed in the holy r exod. . . s exod. . . t chr. . . luk. . . luk. . . & . u heb. . . scripture to the contrary answered . w see and endevour to understand him , parall . lib. . pa . x di●dati in . locam . y num. . . & . z levit. . . a de iis quae erant in templo . lib. . cap. . b exod. . . no staves on the altar in the temple . c exod. . . & ● . ver . . d exod. . . e yet disused●in christs time . why solomon made no alteration in the utensils of the holy of holies . a levit. . . solomons additionall cherubims . b exod. . , . c kin. . . d eoxd . . . e king. . ▪ f e●ra . . aseeming contradiction started . and the same satisfied . f de iis quae erant in templo . lib. . cap. . g in his parallels on heb. . one onely altar . a chr. . . b king. . . c st●ws survey of london . p. . unwondred if the nature of the fire be considered . d chr. . . e king . . f isa. . . the brazen sea. g king. . . * king. . . † chr. . . how supplyed with water . h eccles. . . i maimony in biat● mikdash . per . & talm. i●rus . in ioura per. . sol . . k chr. . . l iudg. . . & . m icsh. . . n ezek. . . o chr. . . p ibidem . the ten lavers . utensils of the outward court . q chr. . . r chr. . . s gen. . . rooms for the keeping of salt. a mark . . b iosh. . . and for severall musicall instruments . c psal. . * others apply it to christ. d psal. . e ainsworth annot. ibidem . f psal. . . . g sam. . . h chr. . . i psal. . k isa. . . l psal. . m psal. . n ainsworth in locum . o psal. . p sam. . . q psal. . r sam. . s psal. . t psal. . u isa. . . w psal. . x isal. . . . . y psal. . z psal. . a sam. . . b king. . . c mat. . . d gen. . . c chr. . . f wisd. . . g prov. . . measures of application h ier. . . i exod. . . k ezek. . . l psal. . . of capacity for dry things . m king. . . n ibid. o exod. . . p ruth . . q zech. . . r ruth . . s isa. . . t hosea . . u godwin in moses & aaron . lib. . ca. . w king. . . for liquids . x numb . . . y ibid. ver . . z numb . . . a ezek. . . b ez●k . . . * . chr. . . * ez●k . . . † luk. . . c ez●k . . . d kin. . . barrels and coins . e iohn . . f exod. . . g in descrip. of solomons temple . h amos . . book of the law where kept . i deut. . . k ainsworth in locum . l king. . . m psal. . n king. . . other books in the temple . o iob. . . p iosh. . . refectories for the priests . q levit. . . r iosh. . . s mat. . . an armory in the temple . t mat. . . u chr. . . w ibidem . the chest which i●hoiada the priest●ade . how the temple so much ruined in so short a time . a chr. . . b chr. . . levites why backward in repairing the temple . c king. . . d king. . . the fashion and placing of c●rban . c king. . . f ibidem . g mat. . . h mar. . . ahaz his dial. k king. . . l mat. . . adrichomius his conceit concerning this dial. m in quar●a parte templi . n fecit ex altari holoca●stiaen●o o king. . . two eminent supplies of holy instruments . p exod. . . q deut. . . r chr. . . idolatrous utensils justly omitted . s king. . . t chr. . . the temple pillaged by shishak king of egypt , & io●sh king of israel . u luk. . . w kin. . . x ibidem . y chr. . . z chr. . . the tabernacle never plu●d●red , and why ? the temple spoyled by her own kings . a chr. . . b king. . . c king. . . d kin. . . c chr. . . reasons for the law fulness of such sacriledge such argumēts answered . f chr. . . g king. . , . h ibid. ver . . i luk. . . no sacriledge , say some , under the gospell . k chr. . . l ibid. ver . . m ibid. ver . . n isa. . . cyrus his proclamation . a isa. . . b ezra . . difference in power . c king. . . . d king . . in number . e king . . f ezra . . . g compare iob . . with ezra . . in wealth . h king. . . & . . i king. . . k chr. ● . . & chr. . . l chr. . . m ezra . . no eminent ar●izan . n exod. ▪ . o king. . . p ribera de temp. sabr . li. ● . cap. . q ezra . . r anti. iul. lib. cap. ●n . some copies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as ribera ci●es it . t ezra . . . cedars fetched from 〈◊〉 . u b●ddulphs travel● . pag . great promises ill performed . w ezra . . the old men weep . x ezra . . the youngmen shout for joy . god delighteth in minims . y zech . z d●ut . . . a iudg. . . b sam. . . c cor. . . d psal. . . e luk. . . f mat. . . this far less then solomons temple . a hagg. . . b ezra . . c ibidem . objection to the contrary . d ●●gga . . . zech ▪ . . a salv● rejected . others●end●●d . e dan. . . f chr. . ● . g tremellius in locum ezrae . h chr. . . breadth how ●aken in scripture . i revel . . . k de templi ●abrica . lib. . cap. . samaritanes the●r false friendship . a ezra . . . b chr. . . their open enmity . c ezra . . . d chr. . . e ezra . . . the i●ws forbidden to build the temple . f ezra . . g haggai . . fall a building it again encouraged by the prophets . h ezra . . i eccles. . . k ezra . . l ibid. ver . . chronologicall difficulties justly declined . m prov. . . n iohn . . sacrifice at the dedication . o cor. . . p king. . . repaired by maccabeus . q mac. . . r ibid. ver . . s ibid. ver . . christ at this feast of dedication . t ioh. . . u ioh. . . the rhemists their wilde note . w pag. ● . on iohn . . x mac. . y luk. . . most of the ●●ensils restored . a dan. . . b ezra . . but many wanting . c chr. , . d chr. . . e king. . . f ibidem . g levi● . . ● . h chr. . . i exod. . . k num. . ▪ l ma● . . . m exod. . . n ephes. . . the oracle speech●ess . o anti. iud. li. . ca. . pag. . wherein it excelled solomons . p hagg. . . the courts of the temple . q n●hem . . . r ezra . . why no draught of zorobabels temple . wicked men sometimes do good . a anti. iud. lib. cap. . 〈◊〉 of which all our ens●ing history is taken . some deny herods rebuilding of the temple . b ekius first , and after him villalpandus in ●zech tom . part . lib . d●●p . . cap. . & sequentibus . iosephus to be believed herein . c deut. . . d in proleg in librum de emend . it . temporum . could not be deceived , would not deceive . answers b●st to the disciples ▪ admiration . e m●●k . . f ibid. ver . ● . beleeved by many good authours . g lib. de . h in cap. . 〈◊〉 fere initio . i in cap. . haggai . * constantine l. empe. in praesatione in middoth . k villalpandus ut prius . much may be alledged against herods building . . objection . a chr. . . b mar. . . answer . c instine lib. . d ezra . . ●objection . e ioh. . . answer . f above cap. . § . objection . g haggai . h mat. . . answer . i revel . . . the same objection rein●orced . and answered . k ezra . . i vid. ejus annot . in mat. . . & iohn . . objection . answered . full credit not required to iosephus . a cor. . . b chr. . . c ibid. ver . . common cubits meant by iosephus , appearing by the bigness of the ●tones . d as but foot high , broad , and in compass , camdens brit. in 〈◊〉 . e mark. . . f luk , . . priests builders g act . . h mat. . . finished on herods birth-day . i cor. . . * mat. . . an incredible report . l mark . . what ●se may be made thereof , if true . m psal. . . n psal. . . an impudent lie of ben-g●rions . a in his book of the herodians pag. . b chr. . . c king. . . d king. . . e king. . , . f iudge . . . ben-gorion an incompetent iudge . g exod. . ● . h ezra . . i mark . . * lib. . cap. . sol . . editionis cracovi●nsis . a dangerous iewish design . the golden vine in the h●rodian temple . k historiaru● . lib. . l numb . . . m villalpandus . n iohn . . o iosep●us anti . iud. lib. . cap. . the golden bloudy eagle . p chr. ● . . the map taken out of capellus . * in his compendiu● historia iudaic● , lent m● by that learned and industrious gentleman m. edward l●igb esq. a luk. . . the difference betwixt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . c luke . . d mat. . . g mat. . . b ioh. . c . e mat. . . f mat. . . h mat. . . i act. . . beautifull gate full of begge●● . k act. . . christ presented in the temple . l luk. . . sim●o●s testimony of christ m luk. . . n luk. . . and is seconded by anna. o luk. . . p luk. . . how anna departed not out of the temple . q king. . . r psal. . . christs first act in the temple . t luk. . . u iohn . . he pu●geth it . w iohn . . x iohn . . sa●nt hieromes conceit . * igneum enim quidd●m & s●dc●eum ●adiabat y ioh. . . christs sermon in solomons porch . z ioh. . . a ioh. . . b luk. . . lame & b'ind cured in the temple . c mat. . . christs second purging of the temple . d ioh. . . his farewell to the temple . g mark . . & luk. . . saint peters remarkable sermon . a eccles. . . b act. . . the apostles joint-commissioners . c act. . . evangelicall r●pentance prescribed to the people . d mat. . . e cor. . . f act. . . g act. . . h luk. . . * act. . . four advantages of peters sermon . i act. . . k cor. . . & colos. . . l cor. . . m act. . . n act. . . christs promise plentifully performed . o ioh. . . p act. . . q mat. . . r mat. . . s act. . . what properly was solomons porch . t act. . . & . . not solomons porch properly so called . a king. . . & chr. . . b ibidem . seated on the east side . c lib. anti. . cap. . quest. why called solomons porch ? d psal. . . answer thereunto . e 〈…〉 f compare●osephus ●osephus as afore-cited , with himself , de bel. iud. li. . c. . why solomons porch chosen by the disciples . g mar. . . wherein we decline capellus his judgement . h constantine l. empereur in middoth . p. . & ludovic . de dicu in act. apost p. . 〈◊〉 i 〈…〉 the last passage of saint paul in the temple . k act. . . who almost lost his life therein . l act , . . m mat. . . n mat. . . a popular mutiny . o act. . . p act. . . saint paul rescued . q act. . . the wealth of the corbar ar●sing from pure pagans . native iews their liberality . z mark . . a luk. . . b exod. . . the gainfull doctrine of corban . c tim. . . d exod. . . e mar. . . & muk . . the ill in●luence of this doctrine . pompey his moderation in sparing the treasure of the temple . s iosephus ant. iud. ●● . . . . crassus his sacriledge . g ios●phus ant. iud. li. . c. . the fond criticisme of the scribes . h mat. . . the finall abolit●on of the utensils of the temple . i revel . . . k gal. . . notes for div a -e a luke . . . b luk. . . c act. . . d ephes. . ● . e act. . . f act. . . g isa. . . h acts . . a in hebrew white . b ier. . . c cant. . . d cant. . . hos. . . e hose . . . f de alimentis facult . lib. . cap. . g deut. . . h isa. . . i isa. . . k is● . . ● . l iosh. . . iudg. . . * gen. . . m ●lin . nat . history . n psal. . , . o king. . . p king. . . q king. . . chron. . . r king. . . s iosh. . . t josh. . . u sam. . . a king. . . & chr. . . b heb. . . c cant. . . d arist. in libro physiognomico . e sam. . . f gen. . . g heb. . . h gen. . . i gen. . . k gen. . . l chr. . , . m sam. . . n sam. . . n sam. . . o sam ▪ . . chr ▪ . . p sam. ● . . q sam. . . * so minister expounds the name thereof . r iudg. . . s iob. . . t sam. . . u king. . . w eccles. . . x act. . . y gen. . . z sam. . , . & chr. . . a kin. . , . b king. . . c king. . . d king. . . e cor. . . f vetus ac jam pridem recept a populi romani consuetudo , ut habcret instru●enta servit●tis & reges . tacit. in vita agricolae . g act. . . & cor. . . h psal. . . i king. . . k nic. fuller miscel. sacra . pag. l act. . . m biddulph in his travels . pa. n nullae ibi sunt ob fortunae bona lites , & nulli proinde advocati , procuratores , au●causarum sollicitor●s , quia debitores non sunt ulli , aut credi●●res . omnia piompta & paeata transiguntur pccunia . medicis omnino nibil ni●i restituta prius aegro sanitate ofsertur . g●org . bra● in civit : orbis terrarum . in des . damasc. o sam. . . p sam. . . q sam. . . r psal. . . s iosh. . . t deut. . . u sam. . . w chr. . . x hum●rey lhuyd in descrip . walliae . y sam. . . z biddulphs travels pa. . a king. . . b gen. . . c s●m . . . d esa. . . * kin. . , . e act. . . f act. . . g in his epistle to the cardinall of loraine prefixed before his translation of chrysostome on the galatians . h gal. . . i colos. . . k act. . . l act. . . m act. . . n rev. . . * bar●nius an. eccles. anno. . num. . o see m. meade in his apostasieof the latter times . pag. . p act. . . q act. . r nic. fuller , miscell . lib. . ca . pa. . s gen. . . t cupr●ssus incisa non renascitur , sicut ex mort●● nihil jam est sperandum . scal. casti . infestum . u 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 pag. . w nic : fuller ut prius . x nat. hist. li. . cap. . y act. . . z act. . . a act. . . b iosh. . . c act . . d act. . , . verse . e mark . . l rev. . . m josh. . . n psal. . . o kin. . . see the margin in our bibles . p ezek. . . q vide bczae annot at . inl●cum . act. . . r king. . . s gen. . . chr. . . t strabo li. . pag. . u strabo ut prius w ezek. . . & ezek. ●● . . x ezek. . . y iudg. . . z sam. . a vide tr●m●l . annot . in locum . b see s●ows survey of london . c nat bist . li. . cap. . d p. hylyn microsme . pa. . e strabo geog● . lib. . p. . f idem . p. . g biddulphs travels . p. . h biddulphs travels . pag. i king. . . a gen. . . b numb . . . c compare numb . . . with num. . . d act. . . e gen. . . , . . iudg. . . . . f adrichom . de te● . sanct. in tab . reub . g iug. . h num. . . i num. . . k num. . . l num. . . m habak . . . n iudg. . . o esa. . . p gesne● . de quadrup . in dromedar . q iudg . . r midian mentioned king. . relates not to these , but to the southern midianites , whereof hereafter . s gen. . . t chr. . ● . u chr. . . w gen. . . x gen. . . y gen. . . z ammian . marcellinus . a gen. . . b gen. . , , , . chron. . , , . c vid. tremel . in locum . d gen. . . e comment in isaiam li. . cap. . f gen. . . a gen. . . b pet. . . c deut. . . d deut. . . jud. . . , . e gen. . . f iudg. . . g iudg. . . h iudg. . . i iudg. . . k iud. . . &c. l ruth . . . m ruth . . . n psal. ●● . . o sam. . . chron. . . p sam. . . q deut. . . r king. . . s king. . . t king. . . u king. . . w esay . ler. . x num. . . y num. . . z num. . . b read isa. . & ier. . c ier. . . d king. . . e king. . . f king. . . g king. . . h king. . . i king. . . k deut. . . l king. . . * some conceive him ( being ambiguous in the text ) son to the king of ●d●m , grounding it on amos . . m ier. . . n ier. . . o ier. . . p ier , . . q dan. . . r deut. . . s iudg. . . t sam. . . u sam. . . * amo. . . w ez●k . . . x ier. . . y n●he . . , . z chr. . . a sam. . . b deut. . . * sam. . . c sam. . . d sam. . . * sam. . . e iudg. . . f ez●k . . . g iudg. . . h i●r . . . i psal. . ● . * no mention of edom , moa● or ammon , in the new testament k ez●k . . l gen. . . m gen. . . n gen. . . o gen. . . p gen. . . q gen. . . s gen. . . t statius sylv . lib. no. u idem lib. . in satu●● kal. decemb. celebrante . king. . . . w sa●● . . x king. . . chr. . . y gen. . . z gen. . . a nat. hist. li. . cap. . king. . . ezra . . * ma●th . . . b deut. . ● . c gen. . . d gen. . . e gen. . . chr. . . f gen. . . g gen. . . & . , . h ier. . . i iob . . k ier. . . & ez●k . . . l king. . . m nic. full●●● mis●el . n king . . chr. . . * chr. . o king. . . p chr. . . q deut. . . r king. . . s num. . . t chr. . . u king. . . w king. . , . chr. . x isa. . . y chr. . . z chr. . . king. . . a obad. . b obad . c obad. . d iob . . e iob . . f iob . . g iob . . h pho . . . i iob . . k iob . . l iob . . m iam. . . n iob . . o iob . . p gen. . . q iosh , . . r plim . lib. . cap. . a gen. . . b numb . . . c num. . . d num. . . e deut. . , . f num. . . g pet. heyl. microcos . a gen. . . b geog. l. . c. . c gal. . . the bounds and barrennesse of this wildern●sse . d ezod . . . e strabo . lib. . f exod. . . g strabo lib. . flying serpents . h numb . . . i gen. . . k levit. . . natures intent in this desert . l matth. . . m exod. . . object . how could they wander forty years in paran . n s●nds trav. pag. . o pag. . p pag. . answ. severall reasons thereof . q exod. . . r deut. . . s hos. . . t ps●l . ● . . u thes. . . chiefly to spend out that generation . w biddulphs trav. pag. . no old men came into canaan . x exod. . . y deut. . . the israelites extremity at the red-s●a . z 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . a exod. . . b exod. . . porphyrius his cavill . c see sir walter raleigh part . lib. . c. . sect . . passed over at the nartowest place . d acts . . the egyptians drowned . e exod. . . . . f exod. . . their murmu●ing at marah . g exod. . . h exod. . . their return to the red-sea . i num. . . k act. . . l act. . . m exod. . . they come into the wilderness of sin. quailes , and manna . n exod. . . o vide m. mede diatri . . part pag. . p id●m ibidem . q exod. . . christ typified in manna . r exod. . . s isa. . . t exod. . . u psal. . . * as for dophkah and al●sh two intermediate stations , ( mentioned numb . . . ) they are omitted in exod. because nothing memorable was performed in them . w exod. . . x cor. . . amali●k opposeth israel . y gen. . . z exod. . . a num. . . b exod. . . & . amal●kites mischievous in conjunction with others . c sam. . . d sam. . . . e esther . . f sam. . . g iudg. . . h iudg. . . i iudg. . . k sam. . . l sam. . . m chr. . . mount horeb go●●mountain n exod. . . & king. . . o exod. . . p king. . . iethro gives moses a visit . q exod. . . chides and counsells him . r exod. . . s see lambert of constables . terrible apparitions at the giving of the law on mount sinai . the equipage of the people on mount sinai t exod. . . u ibid. v. . w ibid. v. . x ibid. v. . y exod. . . the iews idolatty . z exod. . . a ibid. v. . b ibid. v. . why a calf . c exod. . . * exod . . the abolishing thereof . d exod. . . e esther . . ●xecution made by the levites . f exod. . . g deut. . . h sam. . . i exods. . . mercy in gods justice . k exod. . . l num. . . m num. . . the error of the modern iews . n moses ger●●densis . o vide p. fagium in caldaic . exod. paraphras . many remarkable at mount sinai . p num. . . mama loathed by the israelites . q num. . . * vide augustinum . tom . . pag. . & retract . lib. . cap. . r num. ● . . quailes sent them the second time . s exod. . . t exod. . . u num. . . w psal. . . x communis quaedam lues exardore febrium per universes angliae ordines permeabat , & in ill is maximè divites & honoratas personas depopulabatur . haddon cont . os●rium . fo . . * miriam and aaron brawle with moses . y num. . . z num. . . a exod. . . miriam most active . b num. . . c num. . . murmurings occasioned by the false report of spies . d num. . . e num . . f deut. ● . g num. . . this the tenth temp●a●ion . h num. . i levit. . k levit. . . l num. . . m gen. . . n amos . . three names to one place . o num. . . p deut. . . q num. . . & . . r pet. . . s num. . . the gulfe of silence . t num. . . u ainsworth on numb . . w num. . . x num. . . they come to kad●sh . moses punished for the people . a farewell to the israelites . f num. . . g num. . ●● h pag. . §. . admonition to the english. i amos . . k psal. . . ioseph defended for want of affection . sy●●on lake and casian mountain . the most anc●ent inne . l gen. . . m num. . . n gen. . . moses his inne . o eccles. . . p exod. . . q exod. . . people living in this wilderness . r sam. . . the kenites . s gen. . . see our fir●t book pag. . t judg . u ibidem . w sam. . . x sam. ● . . y sam. . . balaam his proph●cy of the kenites . z num. . . a see ainsworth in locum . b chr. . . always some publick places for gods service . a gen. . , . & gen. . . &c. egyptians justly spoiled . b exod. . . c exod. . . d exod. . . e exod. . . wages long detained paid with a witness . f exod. . . all persons promote gods tabernacle . g exod. . . h exod. . . but still keep their callings . i rom. . . k cor. . . a main motive of their bounty . l exod. . . m rom. . . their bounty restrained by proclama●ion . n exod. . . o ibid. ver . . moses his contented minde . p prov. . . q gen. . . why so bountifull to this building , and afterwards backward in goodness . r heb. . . s ti●us . . t num. . moses receives the pattern . b●zaleel and aholiab , artizans . a exod. . , . b exod. . . c fine twined linnen mentioned about sixteen times in making the tabernacle . two principall parts of the tabernacle . d exod. . . e ibid. ver . . f exod. . . g ibid. ver . . h ibid. ver . . the breadth , gilding , sockets and bars of the boards . i exod. . . k exod . . l ibid. ver . . the inside and roof thereof . * exod. . . three properties of shittim-wood . m exod. . . * act. . . shittim-wood within the altar , why never fi●ed . n exod. . . o ignis tartareus . the laver made of womens looking-glasses . p exod. . . female devotion . a largely reckoned up exod. . and methodically ranked levir . . , , . aavons●ight ●ight ornaments . four principall ingredients of sacerdotall ●●vestments . b exod. . . . . c devest . sac●r . lib. . ● . . d isa. . . e isa. . . vrim and thummim . f ezra . . g chr. . , . h rivet in exod. ca. . v. . the speedy finishing of the tabernacle . m exod. . . n num. . . o king. . . n see psa. . . p num. . . the tabernacle templizing . q sam. . r chr. . . s namely , sam. . . & sam. . . & psal. . . t anti. iud , lib. . cap. . u exod. . . w deut. . . the names and bounds of egypt . a gen. . . b lib. de i●ide & osyride . c psal. . . d act. . . e iob . . f pro. . . the complexions and conditions of the egyptians . g gen. . . h king. . . & act. . . i tim. . . k iosh. . . the pleasure and profit of egypt . l gen. . . egyptian flaxe . m prov. . . egyptian horses excellent . n deut. . . paper first grew in egypt . o isa. . mummy how made . * gen. . . p gen. . . q king ▪ . . r psal. . . the inconveniences of egypt . s isa. ● . . t tobit . . . rain rare in egypt . u deut. . . * sir william paston of oxbint in n●rfolk . w v●ssius de idololatria . lib . cap. . x lib. . c. . y mat. . . z g. sandys trav. p. . a idem . p. . b idem . pa. . c windeline de ad●ira . nili . the egyptians proud of nilus d lu●an . l. . c ezek. . . f ezek. . . g ezek. . . h isa. . ● . i vide camdens brit. in cambr. sh●re . various numbring of the streams of nilus . k in euterpe . l isa. ● . . m trav. pa. . n iohn . ▪ the isle of dogs . * see ortelius and mercators old maps . o anti. iud. li. k●● . ● . vanity in building the pyramids . p gen. . . q nat. hist. li. . cap. . y exod. . . intended for sepulchers . their long lasting . not built by the israelites . s exod. . . t m. iohn greaves in his pyramidographia . the miserable slavery of the hebrews in egypt . u four hundred and thirty years if accou●ted from isaac's birth exod. . . w exod. . . x exod. . . y exod. . . z exod. . . memphis the ancient metropolis of egypt . the ten plagues of egypt . a exod. . . b exod. . ● ▪ c exod. . . d revel . . . e exod. . . f exod. . . g exod. . . h exod. . . i exod. . . k exod. . . l gen. . . m see the books of iosephus against him . n instin . hist. lib. p exod. . . q exod. . . r wisd. . . s exod. . . t psal. ● . the gradation in go●s judgements . u psal. . . w exod. . . & . memphis , or noph threatened in scripture ▪ no , or alexandria . x ier. . . & ezek. . . y nahum . . z ionah . . beth-shem●sh where christ is said to have lived . a gen. . . b ezek. . . c mat. . . d athanasius lib. de incarn . verbi . e sozom. historia . lib. . ca. . f burchar . in descrip . ter. s●nc . par . . cap. . g ioh. . . the time of christs abode in egypt . h c●nt . . . babylon a city in egypt . i pet. . . k gal. . . ieremy forced into egypt . jer. . . m jer. . . n exod. . . prophecyeth pharaohs d●struction . o jer. . . * num. . . † psal. . . * isa. . . & † ezek. . , . * gen. . . bochart . in geogr . sac. exod. . . the land of goshen . the midwives honesty . p exod. . . q exod. . . r st. august . moses born . s act. . . t exod. . . u deut. . . w exod. . . taken up by pharaohs daughter . x exod. . . y exod. . . refuseth royall relation . z act. . . a gen . . b heb. . . c cor. . * exod. . . d heb. . . e heb. . . killeth an egyptian . f act. . . g exod. . . is upbraided with k. h exod. . . flyeth into the land of madian . returns and brings out the israelites . i exod. . . k iob ▪ . the march forward and backward in egypt . l exod. . . m exod. . . n exod. . . o exod. . . the occasion of this discourse . severall matter of jewish garments . a heb. . . b king. . . c mat. . . d king. . . e psal. . . f deut. . . g thes. . . & james . . h revel . . . white their principall colour . i eccles. . . k revel . . . black used by mourners . l psal. . . m sam. . . chemarims clad in black . n zeph. . o hosea . . p king. . . ●lew more valued then worn by the iews . q num. . . r ezek. . . s esther . ● . scarlet , crimson and purple . t sam. . . u chr. . . . & . & . w jer. . . x prov. . . y luke . . scarlet and purple how the same . z mat. . . a mark . . b john . . c if i rightly understand lazarus bay●●ùs de re vestiaria . pag. . d yet found in the rabbins . iews no fashion mongers . e judg. . . f sam. . . g act. . . linen next their b●re bodies . a mark . ● . next a coat coming down to their feet . b sam. . . c ma●●ialis . d king. . . e luk. . . f exod. . . g ephe. . . h revel . . . slaves tucked up their clothes above the thighs . i isa. . . jewish coats girdled , collar'd and fringed . k mat. . . l iob . . m num. . . . n deu● . . . the manner and mystery of their ●ringes . o mat. . . & mark . . p maimoni . tom. . in zizith cap. . sect. . q idem ibidem . r see ainsworth on num . . their cloak , or mantle . s gen. . . t gen. . . u iohn . . w act. . . x tim. . . what meant by double clothing . y prov. . . z mat. . . put off both at night . a ●ant . . . b nehem. . . cloaks poor mens coverlets . c exod. . . d ibid. ver . . e john . . infants swadling clothes . a job . . . b lam. . . & ez●k . . . c luke . . d in his anatom lib. ● c. . anglia regio perve●sam ●anc fasciandi rationem ut plurim ● sequitur , quo ●it ut maxima pars hominum ●abe & distillationibus ibi con●iciatur . afterwards yearly coated . e sam. . . f mat. ● . . g prov. . . then grown a stripling . h gen. . . becomes a gay bride-groom . i gen. . . k 〈◊〉 . . . l isa. . . after a year is a souldier . m deut. . . n king. . . o king. . . p kin. . . q chr. . . r sam. . . s num. . . t●e souldiers b●lt or girdle . t s●m . . u sam. . . w king. . . x sam. . . turnes mourner at ill success y iob . . z isa. ● . . a kin. . . b s m. . c lsa . . d mi●ah . . e ler. . . f s●m . . . g king . . quickly beco●es an ●●der h sam. . . i sam. . . k hos●a . . l zech. . . beddred without heat . m king. . . fishermens coates . a john . . shepheards garments . b sam. . ● . c psal. . . d job . . e jer. . . court the element of gallants . f mat. . . g esther . . h gen. . . courtiers clothed in white linen . i revel . . . k josh. . . l king. . . m prov. . . and in silk . n in the land of moriah . o lampridius in e●us vita . p procopius . q matth. parker in his life . r ezck. . . s james . . robes royall of kings . t king. . . u john . . w luke . . x esther . . y mat. . . pharisees their habit . z mat. . . a mat. . . b ●piy●anius adversus hareses li. . p. . hats on their heads . a king. . . b dan. . . antiochus his hats of a different fashion . c mac. . . d ibid. ver . . e ez●k . . . f jer. . . g ezek. . . ear-rings doubtfull whether worn by jewish men . h exod. . . i judg. . . k gen. . . l cant. . . onely chaines about their necks . m gen. . . n luk. . . o jer. . . their legs bare . * dan. . . † exod. . . sandales and shooes . p mark. . . & act. . . q exod. . . r mat. . . s gen. . . t mark . . u ex●k . . . w amos . . & amos . . sexes distinguished by their clothes . a deut. . . girles soon starting virgins . b zech. . . maidens kept secret ; their attire . c judg. . . d judg. . . e sam. . . f ibid. ver . . * parag. . iews marry young . g cor. . . the bravery of brides . h revel . . . i jer. . . k mat. . . wives wore vailes . l gen. . . m cor. . . n cant. . . o exod. . . p isa. . . ladies wore broidered clothes of two sorts . q psal. . . r josh. . . s martialis . and queens beaten or wrought gold . t psal. . . u ibid. 〈◊〉 . . the sad garments of widows . w gen. . . x sam. . . y deut. . . z psal. . . riot the forerunner of ruine a d●ut . . . b mat. . . c sa . . . &c. mundus , or a world of womens trinkets . d act. . . many of these ornaments temporary for that age . e camd. remains pag. . f mentloned in the history called eulogium . g camd. remains . pa. . pride the greatest offence in these ornaments . h gen. . . i isa. . . k vide stephanum . nose-jewels how fastened . l exod. . . & deut. . . m isa. . . women why subject to baldness . n foeminis nec capillos des●uere dixit , nec laborare . epist. . o ibidem . what meant by burning . p chr. . . q cor. . . iews generally ill sented . r martialis . li. . epigr. . s it is learnedly confuted by d. brown in vulgar errors . t psal. . . & rom. . . harlots their bashfull impudency . u gen. . . w ibid. 〈◊〉 . . x prov. . . harlots painted themselves . y king. . . & . z ezek. . . a prov. . . b jer. . . harlots had habits to themselves . c prov. . . d stows survey pag. . e eccles. . . the dead how ordered among the iews . a job . . b psal. . . c luk. . . eyes closed , washed and embalmed . d gen. . . e act. . . f gen. . . & . * john . . winded in linen . g act. . . h act. . . i john . . k john . l ibid. m gen . . n luke . . o gen. . . p jer. . q sam. . , . r chr. . . s ezek. . . t jer. . . mercenary weepers . u jer. . , . * ovid. e●pist . x jer. . ▪ sepulchers metaphoricall clothes . y chr. . . a mat. . . b mat. . . idolatry very ancient . a psal. . . first reason of many gods , multiformity of errour . b act. . . second misunderstanding of gods prov●dence . c nat. hist. d king. ● . . e i doe not say his name was coya shawsware of whom in stows survey . pag. . f mat. . . third , impreving heroicall into divine worship . g judg. . . h deut. . . fourth , assigning severall sexes to their gods. i king. . . & . last , suggestion of satan . k cor. . . f●ur steps of idolat●y . l job . . . m rom. . . infidelity the main cause of worshipp●ng god in a visible shape . two occasions thereof . second occasion of making images . n psal. . . o habak . . . a second assim●lation in badness . p psal. . . difference betwixt the learned and simple heathens idolatry . q gen. . . r gen. . . s isa. . , . how heathen idols were first brought in amongst the iews . t deut. . , . u prov. . . w pro. . . how it is lawfull to describe heathen idols . * exod. ● . . alphabeticall method in ranking them . y isa. . . z kin. . . a ger voss. de orig. idolat . lib. . cap. . b col. . . c king. . . d gen. . . e exod. . . f gen. . . g g. voss. de idol . li● . . c. . h ruffinus hist. eccles. lib. . ca. & suidas in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . i exod. . . k kin. . . l virg●l . ●log . . * psal. . . m exod. . . n king. . . o kin. . . p de na● . deo. ● lib. . q sam. . . r judg. . . & . . s sam. . , . t king. . . . u m. selden de diis syris ex philone byblio . w king. . . x cor. . . y king. . . z kin. . . a kin. . . b judg. . . c sam. . d kin. . . g king. . . i king. . . e chi. . . f kin. . . h chr. . . k king. . . l king. . . m hosea . . n king. . . o judg. . . p hieron . lib. . in hose . ca. & lib. . contra iovinianum isidorus de origin . lib. . c. . q numb . . . r psal. . . s vollu● de idolat . t above thirty times . see the concordance . u isa. . . w hist. bel. v. . x thes. . . y ier. . . mat. . . a § . b king. . . c king. . . d mat. . . e king. . & kin. . . & i●r . . . f iudg. . . g gen. . , h in 〈◊〉 . i sam. . . k de natura d●orum . . * § . l exo. . . &c. m sam. . . n sam. . . o judg. . . p judg. . . q king. . . & kin. . . r amos . . s act. . . t s hiero●e li. . in amos. u paulus f●gius in chaldaeam paraphrasi● levi●ici . w chr. . . x king. . . y see suprà , in the description of ierusalem pag. . § . z cor. . a kin. . . * properly a candle in hebrew . b heb. . . c king. . . d ibid. ver . . e ibid. ver . . f ez●k . . . g kin. . . h dan. . . i jer. . . & ●● . k ibid●m . l sam. p●tit . miscel. ●i . . c. . m plutar. in ●●ide n kircher . prod. pag. . c. . o king. . . p ni. 〈◊〉 . q kin. . . r herode . li. . & strabe . li. . f suidas 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . t syntag. . . . pag. . u a king. . . w sam , . . x hose . . . y judg. . . & . . z ●zek . . . a chr. . . b gen. . . c ● cor. . . d psal. . . e isa. . . f mat. . . g colos. . h kin. . . notes for div a -e a mat. . ● . b mat. . . c oldwin●le ( old shop saxon ) saint peters in north-hampton-shire d b●●onius an. er. ann . . e ma● . . . a josh. . . b in plinianis exercit . in ca●● iul●● solini polyhist . p. . c numb . . . d in theat . ter. sanc . in r●uben . c gen. . . f see m. mores map. g n●m . . . h cant. . . i cant. . . k josh. . . b josh. . . b josh. . . d history of the world ● . part . book . chap. ● . c sam. . . f gen. . . g josh. . . * i request this mine answer may be applyed to those many differences betwixt my former map , and this present description . h sam. ● . . i mac. . . k vid. t●●m i● locum praed . l mac. . . . a josh. . ● . b mat. . . c hie●on , in locis hebr. lit . c. & br●chardus itin●re . & . . d king. . . a isa. . . b mat. . . c on mat . . . instancing on j●r . . . d lib. . ca. . parag . e greg. gr●g . lex . sa●c●num . . f josh. . . g in part set down by sal●●sius in his notes on solinus cap. . h meaning libanus . i book . . ca. ● . k mark. . . l in descrip . ter. sanc . pag. . m kin. . . n kin. . . o kin. . . p chr. . . q description of naph . §. . r descrip. of dan. §. . s jo● . . . t see our map of dan , and description . §. . u in descrip . naph . §. . w book . . cap. . §. . a mac. . . & . . b lib. . p. . c hist. lib. . part . . pag. d see masius on the . of joshua . e in his comment on gen. ● . f gen. . . g josh. . ● . h luke . . . i men●ioned sam. . . k josh. . . a hist. lib. . pag. . b josh. . . c josh. . . d see book . . cap. . §. . e josh. . . f gen . . g mat. . . h l●k . . . i john . . * the reader is intreated with his eye to ●emove the p●cture of the peoples feeding , a little north of tiberia● . k m● k. . . l joh. . . m mat. . . n in his harmony on the text. o see our zebulun § . a sam. . . b compare josh. . . w th chr. . c jud. . . d judg. . . e sam. . ● . . f sam. . . g s●m . . . a gen. . . b josh. . . c gen. . . * josh. . . * parag. . c num. . . f vid. on num. . , . l m. godwin his moses and aaron lib. . pag. . m in ez●kielis ca. . . cited by arias montanus de mensuris sacris . * merca●or , g●il . tyrius & generally in most maps . i act. . , . k ibid. v. . . * josh. . † prev . . * masins in josh. . a gen. . . c see josh. . d d●ut . . , . e deut. . . f compare deut. . and cap. . with josh. cap. . g king. . . h kin. . . i josh. . . k num. . ● . a josh. . . b josh. . . c josh. . . d josh. . . e josh. . . . f james . . g rom. . . i mat. . . * ro. vaughan . a josh. . . b gen. . . c chr. . . d josh. . . e psal. . . f in locum iosh. g in the des●r . of iudah §. . h josh . . i in descript . of simeon § . k josh. . . l judg. . . * adrichomius hath done the same . l judg. . . & sam. . & sam. . . &c. * consult camdens and speeds maps . a neh. . . b sam. . . * concerning 〈◊〉 . c m. ●ight soot in th● t●mpl ▪ pag. . d josh. . . &c. e josh. . . f compare josh. . v. . with 〈◊〉 . . g judg . . h sam. . . i ibid. 〈◊〉 . . k ibid. v●● . . a in description of iudah §. . b ●is● . li. . p. * so set in our map of old canaan . c sam. . . * ne● . . . d so also nehem . . . f iosh. . . g ibid. v. . * lib. . p. . § . a josh. . b josh. . . c king. . . d josh. . . e gen. . . f josh. . . and . . g josh. . . and . h josh. . . and . i josh. . & . k sam. . . l cant. . m chr. . . n in●ra ●os engadda oppidum est , s●cundum ab hierso●ymis s●●ilitate , palmetorumque nemoribus , nunc alterum bus●um . * sam. . . * sam. . . & sam. . a psal. . . b sam. . . a act. . . b ne● . . . & . a not behind them in place , but somewhat later in time . * porta custodiae or the watch-gate being ( as vill●lp●●d●s excellently proveth ) the east-gate of the temple . b psal. . . c apparat. vrbis part . lib. . cap. . pa. . col . . & lib. . cap. . d act. . . e gen. . . f lib. . pa . par . . a sam. . . b apparat. vrbis pa●l . . lib. . c●p . . c ier. . , . d mat. . . e lib. . pa. . par . . f psal. . . objections against solomons temple are whollyomitted , because the draught thereof is intirely taken out of arias montanus , and chargeable on his account . a chr. . . b chr. . . c chr. . . o pag. . §. . p king. . . q ibidem . r compare the foresaid place with king. . . s pag. . §. . t chr. . . u chr. . . w ibid. ver . . x levit. . , . y pag. . §. . z exod. . . a as translated by buxtorse in his r●censio opcris talmudici . b in codice juris bava m●tria sol . . . c in codice juris chagiga . so . . . d iacob in libro caphtor . ●o . . e mark . . f tom. . par . . pag. . g john . . h john . . i see sixtus senensis on this subject . k thes. . . i constantine l' emper●ur in m●ddo●b . cap. ● . sect. ● . a bridge from mount olivet to the temple . solomons porch . w in description of zorobabels temple . x psal. . . money-changers their imployment . y levit. ● . . z mat. . . why called court of women . * de bello iud. lib. . cap. . † anti. ●● . . c. a deut. . . b exod. . . * sam. . . * for they were not confined to so few hours ●n their scrutiny . * libro tertio de vita mosis , and again in his book de decaloge . c exod. . . d see constantine l' empereur in middoth . p. . e see m light●oo● in his temple . f psal. . . g see the last draught or fragm●nt● sacra . h vill●lpand●s . i in lib. hist. exod. . ca. . k de iis quaee fu●runt in cap. . l exod. . . † iosep. bell. iud. li. . c. . n iosep. de bel. iud. li. . cap. . o dan. . . the law carried captive . p iosep. ut prius . * deut. . . & chr. . . * levit. . . coins made in memoriall of the rom●n conquest . r baronius annal . eccles. anno . . ex numis l●lii pasqualini romani . conclusion of the description . s lamen . . . a cosmog . lib. . pag. . b lib. ● . cap. . § . c in his desc●iption of manas. beyond iordan . lit. a. d v●d● ferrarii l●x con geographicum . e m. roger vivion and m. hump. brown. f riddul●hs travels pa. . g king. . . & chr. . h see biddulph● travels pa. . i camdens brit. in cornwall . a pag. ● . §. . b num. . . c job . . . d compare gen. . . with gen. . . e king. . . f deut. . . g chr. . , . h knowls t●●k . hist. pag. . i king. . . king. . . l num. . . m 〈…〉 . a see the preface of m. mason de ministeri● a●glic . b rom. . . c deut. . . & . d sir walter raleigh a num. . . & deut. . . b josh. . . c josh. . . d description of paran § . e psal. . . f psal. . . g in his book called spes isra●lis , sect. . pa. . h num. . . i num. . . k num. . , . l deut. . . m c●md . brit. in . dorset-shire . n sir walter ra●eigh book . part . pa. . o num. . . * vide tremel . in locum . p see our description of reuben . § . q num. . . see ainsworth thereon . r num. . . & . . s exod. . . t see our description of chemosh . no literall sense in ez●kiels land miraculous fruit . e num. . . f ez●k . . . objection . g ezek. . . h ibid. 〈◊〉 . . i ezek. ibid. k luke . . answer . the city not literally meant . l psal. . . m ezek. . . n ibid. ver . . o revel . . . p ezek. . . * psal. . . the mysticall meaning . p john . . policy in transplanting conquered people . a kin. . . their threefold captivity . b chr. . . c king. . . d king. . e king. . . f josh. . . since seemingly utterly lost . e●d● . . . g see b●ll●rmin●s argurmēts against it . h esdr. . . i deut. . . supposed by some in america . k see the book of my worthy f●iend m ▪ tho. th●●owgood on iews in america . l manasseh ben israel in his book called spes israelis . our private opinion . o gen. . . p psal. . . q gen. . . r gen. . . the iews fancy of a temporall kingdome . a m. finc● in his book of the calling of the iews ( published by will. gouge d. d. anno . ) for which he was imprisoned . scripture produced for the opinion . b king. . the iews their golden ap● . c see 〈◊〉 his common places , de extr●mo iudicio . pag. . arguments to the contrary . d amos ● . . c z●ch . . . f hosea . . . g 〈…〉 . . h jer. . ● . jewish reasons confuted . i seder olam & talmud . k in k●li iachan cited by ge●ard de extremo iudicio pag. . an eminent instance . the iews their land will come to them . l rom. . . the question stated . a lib. . severall scriptures to prove it . b king. . . the staple place for the calling of the iews . objection to the con●rary . d g●l . . . e g●l . . . f rom. . . answered . g sam. . . the opinion ●avoured by fathers , school men , and modern divines . h in their severall comments on rom. . . i lib. . quaest. evangel . quaest . k see gerardi loc. com. p. . counten●nced by their long continuing an unmixt ●●●tlon . l m. mede . m d●ut . . . and some iews converted in all ages . n in the preface of his book in biblioth . 〈◊〉 . o his epistle is at the end of b●●tor●s syn. iud. p rabbi s●m . marochianus de ad●entu messi● . cap. . q act. ● ▪ . r amos . time of their conversion . s rom. . . cruelty conjoyned with confidence . different dates thereof . t psal. . . civill distance in society . cruell usage in point of ●state . a d. heylin in micro . in palest . pag. . i think out of st. edwin sandys . h mat. . . c comd. brit. in middlesex pag. . * stowes survay . pag. . offence at image-worship d especially , on the burden of dum●●● isa. . . e set forth by daniel bomb●●gius . discords amongst christians . internall obstacle , blindnes . f act. . . obstacles easily banished by an infinite power . g chr. . . motives for our prayer for the iews conversion . a cant. . , . motive from the iews joy for us . b act. . . clearing of the sc●iptures . objection against praying for the ● iews conversion . c rom. . d james . . answer . e mat. . . f mar. . . g sam. . . h psal. . . a prayer . i hosea . . k ps●l . . . . l revel . . . m psal. . . n psal. . . o rom. . . p mat. . . q rom. . . luk. . . s john . . notes for div a -e a prov. . . b luke . . c isa. . . d psal. . ● . e sam. . . & sam. . . & sam. . . & king. . . f see our first book . chap. . notes for div a -e english resemblances ▪ a stony stratford buckingham sh●re . b thorny-a●by camb●●dg sh. c 〈…〉 d troublefield or 〈◊〉 in no●mandy . e from such colour rutland , red born in 〈…〉 in surry , &c. * redman ha●sh●● . f 〈…〉 . g okcham in rutland okeley northamp . h 〈…〉 a highworth , wil. sh. higham northamptonshire . b vppingham rutland sh. a rams●y , huntington shire . b wells in sommerset shire . c aust-pasage glost. shire . d pic-nest waltham abbey essex e lambeth surr●y . * fish house in the isle of weight . f fig●●ce court in the temple g godstow in oxfordshire . h deeping , linc. sh. i breadstreet . lond. k 〈◊〉 wilt. sh. l sunning in ba ksh . and sunbury middlesex . m applc shaw hamp . sh. n maidwe● northamp . a ro. kley in yo●ksh . * shine in surrey . b castleton in yorksh. c wepham sussex . d harpham & harpley . norfolk . e honiton devonsh . * fighildō wiltsh . a golden-grove in carmar sh b helpston northamp . shire . c kineton warwic . sh. d the calf in the isle of man. e oakehampton devon. oakchingham , barkshire . f ramton camb. sh. a hilton castle . b. of durham . b merch county in scotland . c walden essex . d oxney kent e totterridge midle sex . f rollewright oxford . sh. g dogdik●se●●y li●colshire . h whelpston yorkshire . a grace-dieu lecest. shire . b goatham nott sh. c foxton in camb sh. d hors●ley da●by sh. e milkstreet london . f sunburn ham●●sh a dri●ield in yo●kshire . b snailwell camb● . sh. liza●dspoint in cornwall . a dris●oke rutland . b wrangle 〈◊〉 . c reston lincol●shire . d 〈◊〉 worcestersh e wootton northāpsh . woodborrough nottinghamsh . a sundon 〈◊〉 b godston s●●●ey . c holy istād in no●thūberland . d the pavement in york . e hornchurch essex . f blackwal middlesex . saddington lecestosh . g eas●on northampt. shire . * holy head in angl●sey . h blackwater hamsh . i 〈◊〉 , str●etley k hardwick , 〈◊〉 shire . l wallington surry . m whiteby yorkshire . n walkha●stead , surry . walkhampton devon. o lion-key london . * fairfield gloc●stersh . a nutwell devon. nuthall notting . sh. b bitte●ing nor●olk . c stanford in the cave . northāpsh . d watecrton wal●sham . yorkshi●e . e bridlington yorksh. askeham yorkshire . a a watchingwy , isle of weight . b belvoire lincolnsh . c maidston kent . d brights●ow somersetsh . e beauli●● hamsh . f ditton camb. sh. botlesham cambr. sh. g greatbreach , kent a greatton no●thamp●shire . b vpton , vpham hamsh . vpburn busking sh. vphall hart●●s● hie-gate midlesex . c broadlands hamshire . d broadway somerset sh. e highley devonsh . e rockingham northamp . sh. f thorn●augh northamp . sh. a hungcr●ord barksh . b foxholes darbysh foxton b. of durham . c brierley he●●fordsh . d gatel●y norfolk . yatton somers●tsh . e co●iston in lancast sh. f grays oxford sh. g boughton northāpsh . h broadchalk wil●sh . i the vine hamsh . k boothby in lincol●sh . a newland essex . b appleford barksh . c 〈◊〉 d la●born ba●ksh . e beaufield kent . f midl●ton oxfordsh . g rochel in france . h bed●o●d . i melton l●c●stersh . k sl adwell nigh london . a woolto● do●se●sh . b huntington . c budleigh castle , devon . budwo●th ch●shire . d littleton staffordsh . little port camb sh. e burton lazers lecestersh . a sam. . . the historie of the holy vvarre; by thomas fuller, b.d. prebendarie of sarum, late of sidney colledge in cambridge fuller, thomas, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) the historie of the holy vvarre; by thomas fuller, b.d. prebendarie of sarum, late of sidney colledge in cambridge fuller, thomas, - . marshall, william, fl. - , engraver. [ ], , [ ] p., folded plate : map printed by thomas buck, one of the printers to the universitie of cambridge [, and sold by john williams, london], [cambridge] : . with an additional title page, engraved, with "sold by iohn williams at ye crane in st. p. church-yard" in imprint. the first leaf bears "a declaration of the frontispice" signed: j.c., i.e. john cleveland. the engraved title page and map are signed by william marshall. the last leaves contain a chronological table and an index. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng crusades -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread - emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a declaration of the frontispice . before you travel to the holy land , behold a page that in the front doth stand to give you aym and guidance i' the way . first europe bids your observation stay upon a purse of gold ( warres surest nerve ) whose every crosse is interess'd to serve ●'th ' holy warre . the gain ( alas ! ) no more then crosses gules in stead of crosses or. but see the troups , see how they march along : where severall ranks and orders make a throng promiscuously blended ; sex and age , nation and language jointly do engage their devout forces to redresse thy woes , ierusalem , ravisht by barbarous foes . peter the monk , leaving his sullen cell , his beads , and offices , and every spell of his mysterious zeal , breaks forth at last to kindle all the world with fat all blast . first kings proceed ; and captains follow them : the helmet waits upon the diadem . the next are prelates ; who stray farre from home to winne the glorious name of martyrdome . since all their mild perswasions could not work upon th' obdurate antichristian turk , they will at length ( if nought prevent their plot ) confute his alcoran with sword and shot . after those reverend men , whose cloven mitres speak them not warriours so much as writers , a bald-pate regiment of friars comes ; whose crowns might serve the army for their drums , and give as full a sound , if you 'l confesse the greatest noise t'arise from emptinesse . then moves the main battalia , straitly knit into a steadie phalanx , square , but fit to spread , or lengthen , or with art to pare the corners till the band grow circular t'environ th' enemy ; briefly , to reduce their various postures unto every use . these are the onely forces ; all the rest impediments but specious at the best . but oh amazement ! what is that we see ? a troup of ladies in the next degree . each one appears a pallas t' the field dropt newly from jove's brain with spear and shield : or m●rs so long his venus hath possest , courage is stol●n into her tender breast . march on , brave amazons : conquest and praise weave you a chaplet of immortall bayes ; which you , when autumn-age shall pluck your hair , in stead of costly perriwigs may wear . march on : for the shrill trumpet and the fife , your tongues may serve ; then to secure your life you need no weapons , every face and eye carrieth sufficient artillerie . a slender company doth next succeed : call it the infantrie ; 't is so indeed . as if the driving of the turks away from christian cities , were but childrens play . the last in this religious army crawls a band collected out of hospitals and spittles . one would think this piteous sight did rather come from warre then go to fight . their commendation 's this , how-e're the day shall chance to prove , they 'l hardly run away . this is the totall muster . let the book tell their atchievements : mean time as you look vpon this frontispice , you 'l plainly see their dismall end and sad catastrophe . th' incensed angel with his flaming blade great slaughter of perfidious souls hath made . to teach us truth and justice , see how god scourges their falshood with a fiery rod. then the grand signor his proud fauchion stretches with domineering hand over the wretches low prostrate at his foot . can christian eyes endure this figure ! let the captives rise , surly black saracen ; their bended knee has higher objects then to reverence thee : they serve a lord greater then mahomet . though now their sunne be darken'd and beset with clouds of disadvantage , time will be when such poore things shall triumph over thee ; and their old prophecie shall be made good , thy moon shall then be turned into bloud . the last of their destroyers that you see , is that same gastly thing th' anatomie doth represent ; a naked cage of bone , from whence the winged soul long since is flown : they call it death . he with his double band , sicknesse and casualty on either hand , met many stragglers , forcing them to yeeld : and where the turk be●ore him got the field , he took the gleanings . thus our souldiers f●ll by th'angel , turk , and death ; heaven , earth , & hell . those that escap'd , came home as full of grief as the poore purse is empty of relief . they 're turn'd , and so is it ; but nothing in 't , till new devotion shall repair the mint . mean while read o're the historie : your brain there you may fill , though not the purse again . j. c. the historie of the holy warre . by tho fuller , b.d. prebendarie of sarum , late of sidney-coll . in cambridge . iohn . . . the houre cometh when ye shall neither in this mountain nor yet al jerusalem worship the father . acts. . . if this counsel be of men it will come to nought . printed by thomas buck one of the printer● to the university of cambridge . & are sold by iohn williams at 〈…〉 in s. p. church-yard . the historie of the holy warre ; by thomas fvller , b. d. prebendarie of sarum , late of sidney colledge in cambridge . printed by thomas buck , one of the printers to the universitie of cambridge , . to the honourable edward montagu , sr john powlet , sonnes and heirs to the right honourable edward lord montagu of boughton . john lord powlet of hinton-st-george . when i observe the severall alterations in nobilitie , i find foure principall actours on the theatres of great families ; the beginner , advancer , continuer , and ruiner . the beginner is he who by his vertues refineth himself from the drosse of the vulgar , and layeth the foundation of his house : an excellent workman indeed , as who not onely bringeth his tools , but maketh his materialls . the advancer , who improveth the patrimonie of honour he receiveth ; and what his father found glasse and made crystall , he findeth crystall and maketh it pearl . the continuer , who keepeth his nobilitie alive , and passeth it along neither marring nor mending it ; but sendeth it to his sonne as he received it from his father . the ruiner , who basely degenerateth from his ancestours ; so that in him nobilitie hath runne so farre from its first starting , that it is tired : and whilest he liveth he is no better then his grandfathers tombe ; without , carved over with honourable titles ; within , full of emptinesse , or what is worse , corruption . now to apply . you cannot be beginners of your families ; that care was cared for before your nurses were chosen , or your cradles provided . your fathers , though of late yeares fixed in a higher sphear , were bright starres long before . none can go on in our english chronicles , but they must meet with a montagu and a powlet , either in peace in their gowns , or in warre in their armour . yea , when i go backward by the streams of your paternall nobilitie , ( not to speak of the tributarie brooks of their matches ) i can never find the first fountain ; and hope none shall ever find the last fall . for as for the ruiners of houses , i should rend that thought out with my heart , if it should conceive that of you . nay , let me tell you ; if you be but bare continuers of your honour , you deceive both the desires and hopes of your friends . good is not good when proceeding from them from whom farre better is expected . your youthfull vertues are so promising , that you cannot come off in your riper age with credit without performing what may redound to the advancing of the honour of your family , and without building your houses one storie higher in the english historie . now know , next religion , there is nothing accomplisheth a man more then learning . learning in a lord , is as a diamond in gold . and if you fear to hurt your tender hands with thornie school-questions , there is no danger in meddling with history , which is a velvet-study , & recreation-work . what a pitie is it to see a proper gentleman to have such a crick in his neck that he cannot look backward ! yet no better is he who cannot see behind him the actions which long since were performed . history maketh a young man to be old , without either wrinkles or gray hairs ; priviledging him with the experience of age , without either the infirmities or inconveniences thereof . yea , it not onely maketh things past , present ; but inableth one to make a rationall conjecture of things to come . for this world affordeth no new accidents , but in the same sense wherein we call it a new moon , which is the old one in another shape , and yet no other then what hath been formerly . old actions return again , furbished over with some new and different circumstances . now amongst all particular histories ( i may say ) none is more generall then this of the holy warre , which now i present to your honours . some will condemn me for an ill husband , in lavishing two noble patrones on one book , whereas one of them might have served to have patronized many volumes . but first , i did it in the weak expression of my thankfulnesse unto you , being deeply indebted to you both ; and i thought it dishonestie to pay all to one creditour and none to another ; and therefore conceived it best , to share my estate joyntly betwixt you , as farre forth as it would extend . secondly , considering the weaknesse of this work , now being to walk abroad in the world , i thought it must be led by both arms , and needed a double supporter . and now i am sure this holy warre , which was unhappie heretofore , when acted ; will be happie hereafter , now written and related , because dedicated to your honours . so resteth your honours in all service tho. fuller . broad-windsor , march . . to the reader . in this work i can challenge nothing to my self , but the composing of it . the materialls were found to my hand : which if any historian will make , let him not be commended for wit , but shamed for falshood . if every-where i have not charged the margin with the authours names , it is either because the storie is authour for it self ( i mean , generally received ) or to avoyd the often citing of the same place . where i could not go abroad my self , there i have taken aire at the window , and have cited authours on others citations ; yet so that the stream may direct to the fountain . if the reader may reap in few houres what cost me more moneths , just cause have i to rejoyce , and he ( i hope ) none to complain . thus may the faults of this book redound to my self , the profit to others , the glory to god. to his worthily deare friend , thomas fvller , b. d. upon his excellent work , the holy warre . peace is thy calling , friend ; thy title , warre : what , doth thy title with thy calling jarre ? the holy warre ! this makes the wonder cease : an holy warre becomes a man of peace . tasso , be silent ; my friend speaks : his storie hath robb'd thy poeme of its long-liv'd glorie . so rich his vein , his lines of so high state , thou canst not feigne so well as he relate . godfrey first entred on this warre , to free his saviours tombe from turks captivitie : and too-too meanly of himself he deems , if thus he his redeemer not redeems . a glorious end ! nor did he fear to erre , in losing life , to gain christs sepulchre . but i dare say , were godfrey now alive , ( godfrey , who by thy penne must needs survive ) he would again act o're his noble toil , doing such deeds as should the former foil ; if for no other reason , yet to be deliver'd unto time and fame by thee : nor would he fear in such exploits to bleed ; then to regain a tombe , now not to need . robert gomersall , vicar of thorncombe in devon. of this our authours book i 'le say but this , ( for that is praise ample enough ) 't is his : nor all the muses nor apollo's layes can sing his worth ; be his own lines his bayes . robert tyrling . on mr fullers historie of the holy warre . then , christians , rest secure : ye need not band henceforth in holy leagues for th' holy land , to conquer and recover 't from the turk : 't is done already : fvllers learned work and penne more honour to the cause doth bring , then did great godfrey or our lion-king . ierusalem with darknesse long beset , captiv'd to time more then to mahomet , inthrall'd to silence and oblivion ( a bondage worse then that of babylon ) is now redeem'd . lo , by this sacred story how she revives into her ancient glory ! look , how her bury'd pinnacles 'gin to peep out of their venerable dust and sleep ! see , how the temple and the sepulchre , wak'd with the trumpet of this holy warre from their own grave and ruines , do resent a resurrection by this monument ! stay , pilgrimes , stay ; wander not hence so farre ; set up your rest here in this holy warre . here you may visit and adore the shrine for which so many saints in arms combine . behold the zealous squadrons , how they stand arm'd with devotion for the holy land . they 'l take you , if not it : while ye admire their zeal , your love will kindle at this fire . thus learned fvller a full conquest makes , triumphs o're time , and mens affections , takes captive both it and them ; his historie me thinks is not a warre , but victorie : where every line does crown ( such strength it bears ) the authour laureate , and a trophey rears . james duport , b. d. t. c. to his worthy and learned friend mr tho. fuller , upon his excellently composed historie of the holy warre . captain of arts , in this thy holy warre my muse desires to be thy trumpeter , in thy just praise to spend a blast or two : for this is all that she ( poore thing ) can do . peter the hermite , like an angry owl , would needs go fight all armed in his cowl . what , had the holy man nought else to do , but thus to lose his bloud and credit too ? seeking to winne christs sepulchre , god wot , he found his own : this was the ground he got . except he got more ground , when he one day besieging antioch fiercely ran away . much wiser was the pope : at home he stay'd , and made the world beleeve he wept and pray'd . mean while ( behold the fruit of feigned tears ) he sets the world together by the cares . his head serves him , whil'st others use their hands : whil'st princes lose their lives , he gets their lands . to winne the holy land what need kings roam ? the pope can make an holy land at home by making it his own : then for a fashion , 't is said to come by constantines donation . for all this fox-craft , i have leave ( i hope ) to think my friend farre wiser then the pope and hermite both : he deals in holy warres not as a stickler in those fruitlesse jarres , but a composer rather . hence this book ; whereon whil'st i with greedie eyes do look , me thinks i travel through the holy land , viewing the sacred objects on each hand . here mounts ( me thinks ) like olivet , brave sense ; there flows a iordan of pure eloquence : a temple rich in ornament i find presented here to my admiring mind . strange force of art ! the ruin'd holy citie breeds admiration in me now , not pitie . to testifie her liking , here my muse makes solemn vows , as holy pilgrimes use . i vow , deare friend , the holy warre is here farre better writ then ever fought elsewhere . thousands have fought and died : but all this while , i vow , there nothing triumphs but thy style . thy wit hath vanquisht barbarisme more then ever godfrey's valour did before . might i but choose , i rather would be farre be authour of thy book then of that warre . let others fight ; i vow to reade thy works , prizing thy ink before the bloud of turks . j. booth , b. d. c. c. c. on the title of this book . how comes stern warre to be accounted holy , by nature fierce , complexion melancholy ? i le tell you how : sh 'as been at rome of late , and gain'd an indulgence to expiate her massacres ; and by the popes command sh 'as bin a pilgrime to the holy land , where freeing christians by a sacred plot , she for her pains this epithet hath got . hugo atkins . nor need ierusalem that holy mother envy old troy ; since she has found another to write her battels , and her warres rehearse in prose as elegant as homers verse . let sueton's name august as cesars be ; curtius more worlds then alexander see ; let joseph in his countreys siege survive , and phenix-like in his own ashes thrive : thy work , great fvller , will out-live their glory , and make thy memorie sacred as thy storie . thy style is clear and white : thy very name speaks purenesse , and addes lustre to the frame . all men could wish , nay long , the world would jarre , so thou 'dst be pleas'd to write , compose the warre . h. hutton , m. a. c. jes. to my friend mr thomas fuller , on his book the holy warre . while of thy book i speak , friend , i le t●ink on thy iordan for my purest helicon , and for bifork'd parnassus , i will set my phansie on the sacred olivet . 't is holy ground which now my measur'd feet must tread on ; then ( as in due right 't is meet ) let them be bare and plain : for qu●inter art may sacrifice to thee without a heart ; and while it praiseth this thy work , may preach his glory , rather then thy merits reach . here , reader , thou may'st judge and well compare who most in madnesse , iew or romane , share : this not so blind , yet in the clearest day does stumble still on stocks , on stones , on clay ; the other will in bright and highest noon choose still to walk by glimmering light o' th' moon . here thou may'st represented see the fight between our earthly flesh and heavenly sp'rit . lo , how the turk doth drive with flaming sword salvation from him and gods holy word , as once the angel did rebellious vice with adam force from blessed paradise . and this in style diamond-like doth shine , which firmest parts and clearest do combine , and o're the sad ground of the iewish storie as light embroidrie explayes its glorie . the temple ras'd and ruin'd seems more high in his strong phrase , then when it kiss'd the skie ; and as the viper by those pretious tears which phaeton bemon'd , of amber wears a rich ( though fatall ) coat ; so here inclos'd with words so rare , so splendent , so compos'd ev'n mahomet has found a tombe , which shall last when the fainting loadstone lets him fall . henry vintener . to his old friend mr fuller . i love no warres , i love no jarres , nor strifes fire : may discords cease ; let 's live in peace ; this i desire . if it must be warre we must see ( so fates conspire ) may we not feel the force of steel ; this i desire : but in thy book when i do look and it admire ; let warre be there , but peace elswhere ; this i desire . tho. jackson . to his worthy friend mr thomas fuller on his book , the holy warre . there 's not a storie , friend , in thy book told , but is a jewell ; each line a thred of gold : though warre sound harsh , and doth our minds affright , yet cloth'd in well-wrought language doth delight ; such is thy gilded phrase , i joy to reade in thee massacres , and to see men bleed . oft have i seen in hangings on a wall the ruines of great troy , and priams fall : a storie in it self so full of woe , t' would make the graecian weep that was the foe ; but being wrought in arras , and made gay with rich embroydery makes th'beholder say , i like it well ; this flame , that scarre is good ; and then commends this wound , that stream of blood . things in themselves distastfull are by art made pleasant , and do much delight the heart : such is thy book : though it of bloud relate , and horrid warre whose very name we hate , yet clad in arras-language ; and thy phrase doth not affright , but with delight amaze , and with such power upon our senses seise , that makes warre , dreadfull in it self , to please . william johnson , q. coll. to his deare friend mr fuller . we need not now those zealous vot'ries meet , or pilgrimes turn ; but on our verses feet . thy quill hath wing'd the earth ; the holy land doth visit us , commanded by thy hand . if envy make thy labours prove thy losse , no marvel , if a croisade wear the crosse. clement bretton , sidn . coll. errata . page sabell . aen. reade sabell . enn. sabell . aen. reade sabell . enn. for paulinus , reade pontius . for charatux , reade characux . for noradine , reade coradine . for nanse , reade nuise . for burbant , reade bourbon . for foure albergies , reade seven albergies . for necessarie security , reade necessarie severity . for offertures , reade offers . last page of the chronol . for peter belius , reade peter belvise . in the table for charatux , reade characux . the historie of the holy warre . book i. chap. . the destruction of the citie and temple of ierusalem by the romanes under the conduct of titus . when the jews had made the full measure of their sinnes runne over by putting to death the lord of life , gods judgements ( as they deserved , and our saviour foretold ) quickly overtook them : for a mighty army of the romanes besieged and sackt the citie of jerusalem , wherein by fire , famine , sword , civil discord , & forreigne force * eleven hundred thousand were put to death . an incredible number it seemeth : yet it cometh within the compasse of our belief , if we consider that the siege began at the time of the passeover , when in a manner all judea was inclosed in jerusalem , all private synagogues doing then their duties to the mother-temple ; so that the citie then had more guests then inhabitants . thus the passeover first * instituted by god in mercie to save the israelites from death , was now used by him in justice to hasten their destruction , and to gather the nation into a bundle to be cast into the fire of his anger . besides those who were slain , ninetie seven thousand were taken captives ; and they who had bought our saviour for thirty pence , * were themselves sold thirty for a penie . the generall of the romanes in this action was titus , sonne to vespasian the emperour . a prince so good , that he was styled the * darling of mankind for his sweet and loving nature ; ( and pitie it was so good a stock had not been better grafted ! ) so vertuously disposed , that he may justly be counted the glory of all pagans , and shame of most christians . he laboured what lay in his power to have saved the temple , and many therein ; but the jews by their obstinacie and desperatenesse made themselves uncapable of any mercy . then was the temple it self made a sacrifice , and burnt to ashes ; and of that stately structure which drew the apostles admiration , not a stone left upon a stone . the walls of the citie ( more shaken with the sinnes of the jews defending them , then with the battering rammes of the romanes assaulting them ) were levelled to the ground ; onely three towres left standing to witnesse the great strength of the place , and greater valour of the romanes who conquered it . but whilest this storm fell on the unbeleeving jews , it was calm amongst the christians ; who warned by christs predictions , and many other prodigies , fled betimes out of the citie to pella ( a private place beyond jordan ) which served them in stead of a little zoar to save them from the imminent destruction . chap. . how iudea was dispeopled of iews by adrian the emperour . threescore yeares after , adrian the emperour rebuilt the citie of jerusalem , changing the situation somewhat westward , and the name thereof to aelia . to despite the christians , he built a * temple over our saviours grave , with the images of jupiter and venus ; another at bethlehem , to adonis her minion : and to enrage the jews , did engrave swine over the gates of the citie : who storming at the profanation of their land , brake into open rebellion , but were subdued by julius severus the emperours lieutenant , an experienced captain , and many thousands slain , with bencochab their counterfeit messias ( for so he termed himself ) that is , the fonne of a starre , usurping that prophesie , * out of iacob shall a starre arise ; though he proved but a fading comet , whose blazing portended the ruine of that nation . the captives , by order from adrian , were transported into spain ; the countrey laid waste , which parted with her people and fruitfulnesse both together . indeed pilgrimes to this day here and there light on parcels of rich ground in palestine : which god may seem to have left , that men may tast the former sweetnesse of the land , before it was sowred for the peoples sinnes ; and that they may guesse the goodnesse of the cloth by the finenesse of the shreds . but it is barren for the generality : the streams of milk and hony wherewith once it flowed , are now drained dry ; and the * whole face of the land looketh sad , not so much for want of dressing , as because god hath frowned on it . yet great was the oversight of adrian , thus totally to unpeople a province , and to bequeath it to foxes and leopards . though his memory was excellent , yet here he forgot the old romanes rule , who to prevent desolations , where they rooted out the natives , planted in colonies of their own people . and surely the countrey recovered not a competencie of inhabitants for some hundred yeares after . for though many pilgrimes came thither in after-ages , yet they came rather to visit then to dwell : and such as remained there , most embracing single lives , were no breeders for posterity . if any say that adrian did wilfully neglect this land , and prostitute it to ruine for the rebellion of the people ; yet all account it small policie in him , in punishing the jews to hurt his own empire , and by this vastation to leave fair and clear footing for forrein enemies to fasten on this countrey , and from thence to invade the neighbouring dominions : as after the persians and saracens easily overran and dispeopled palestine ; and no wonder if a thin medow were quickly mown . but to return to the jews ; such stragglers of them , not considerable in number , as escaped this banishment into spain ( for few hands reap so clean as to leave no gleanings ) were forbidden to enter into jerusalem , or so much as to behold it from any rise or advantage of ground . * yet they obtained of the after-emperours , once a yeare ( namely , on the tenth of august , whereon their citie was taken ) to go in and bewail the destruction of their temple and people , bargaining with the souldiers who waited on them , to give so much for so long abiding there ; and if they exceeded the time they conditioned for , they must stretch their purses to a higher rate : so that ( as s. hierome noteth ) they who bought christs bloud , were then glad to buy their own tears . chap. . of the present wofull condition of the iews ; and of the small hope , and great hindrances of their conversion . thus the main bodie of the jews was brought into spain , and yet they stretched their out-limbes into every countrey : so that it was as hard to find a populous citie without a common sink , as without a company of jews . they grew fat on the barest pasture , by usurie and brokage ; though often squeezed by those christians amongst whom they lived , counting them dogs , and therefore easily finding a stick to beat them . and alwayes in any tumult , when the fense of order was broken , the jews lay next harms : as at the coronation of richard the first , when the english made great feasts , but the pillaged jews paid the shot . at last for their many villanies ( as falsifying of coin , poysoning of springs , crucifying of christian children ) they were slain in some places , and finally banished out of others : out of england anno by edward the first ; france , by philip the fair ; spain , by ferdinand ; portugall , by emmanuel . but had these two latter kings banished all jewish bloud out of their countreys , they must have emptied the veins of their best subjects , as descended from them . still they are found in great numbers in turkie ; chiefly in salonichi , where they enjoy the freest slavery : and they who in our saviours time so scorned publicanes , are now most imployed in that office , to be the turks toll-gatherers : likewise in the popish parts of germanie ; in poland , the pantheon of all religions : and amsterdam may be forfeited to the king of spain , when she cannot shew a pattern of this as of all other sects . lastly , they are thick in the popes dominions , where they are kept as a testimonie of the truth of the scriptures , and foyl to christianitie , but chiefly in pretense to convert them . but his holinesse his converting facultie worketh the strongest at the greatest distance : for the indians he turneth to his religion , and these jews he converteth to his profit . some are of opinion of the generall calling of the jews : and no doubt those who dissent from them in their judgements , concurre in their wishes and desires . yet are there three grand hindrances of their conversion : first , the offense taken and given by the papists amongst whom they live , by their worshipping of images , the jews being zelots in the second commandment : secondly , because on their conversion they must * renounce all their goods as ill gotten ; and they will scarce enter in at the doore of our church , when first they must climbe over so high a threshold : lastly , they are debarred from the use of the new testament , the means of their salvation . and thus we leave them in a state most pitifull , and little pitied . chap. . of the flourishing church in iudea under constantine : iulian his successe in building the temple . adrian his profanation of jerusalem lasted * yeares , as s. hierome counteth it : during which time , the christians under the ten persecutions had scarce a leap-yeare of peace and quiet , and yet bare all with invincible patience ; yea , some were too ambitious of martyrdome , and rather wooed then waited for their own deaths . at last , constantine ( a britan by birth , as all authours agree , save one or two late wrangling grecians , who deserve to be arraigned for felonie , for robbing our land of that due honour ) stanched the issue of bloud wherewith the church had long been troubled , and brought her into acquaintance with peace and prosperitie . then helen his mother ( no lesse famous amongst the christians for her pietie , then the ancient helen amongst pagans for her beauty ) travelled to jerusalem ; zeal made her scarce sensible of her age , being years old : and there she purged mount calvary and bethlehem of idolatry ; then built in the places of christs birth , and buriall , and elsewhere in palestine , many most stately and sumptuous churches . and because she visited the stable and manger of our saviours nativitie , jews and pagans slander her to have been * stabularia , an ostleresse or a she-stable-groom : the same nickname which since impudent papists ( not for the same reason , but with as little truth ) put on reverend * cranmer , archbishop of canterbury . but these dead flies were not able to corrupt the sweet ointment of her name , fragrant to posterity ; and as a * father writeth of her , bona stabularia , quae maluit aestimari stercoraria ut christum lucrifaceret . to her is ascribed the finding out of the crosse , the memory whereof is celebrated the third of may. and from that time the church flourished in palestine , being as well provided of able bishops , as they of liberall maintenance . afterwards julian going about to confute god , befooled himself , and many jews . this apostate studied to invent engines to beat down christianity : yet all the vapours of his brain could not cloud so bright a sunne . he gave the jews libertie ( not so much out of love to them , as hatred to christians ) with money and materials to build again their temple , hoping by raising it to ruine the truth of christs prophesie . * hither flocked the jews with spades and mattocks of silver to clear the foundation ; the women carried away the rubbish in their laps , and contributed all their jewels and ornaments to advance the work . but a sudden * tempest made them desist , which carried away their tools and materials , with balls of fire which scorched the most adventurous of the builders . thus they who sought to put out the truth of christs words , by snuffing it made it burn the brighter . but the wonder of this wonder was , that the hearts of the jews , and of him who set them on work , were hardened by obstinacie , to be so miracle-proof that all this made no impression in them . yet * afterwards , the christians in the place where solomons temple was , built a stately church : but not in opposition to god , or with intent to reestablish jewish rites , but in humilitie , and for the exercise of christian religion : which church was long after the seat of the patriarch . but for fear to exceed the commission of an historian ( who with the outward senses may onely bring in the species , and barely relate facts , not with the common sense passe verdict or censure on them ) i would say , they had better have built in some other place , ( especially having room enough besides ) and left this floore where the temple stood , alone to her desolations . yea , god seemeth not so well contented with this their act , the christians being often beaten out of that church ; and at this day * whosoever ( though casually ) entreth therein , must either forfeit his life , or renounce his religion . chap. . syria conquered by chosroes ; chosroes , by heraclius the grecian emperour . the next remarkable alteration happened under phocas the emperour , who ( saith * tyrius ) had a nature answering his name , which signifieth a seil , or sea-calf : for as that fish ( little better then a monster ) useth lazily to lie sleeping and sunning it self on the shore , so this carelesse usurper minded nothing but his own ease and pleasure , till at last he was slain by heraclius his successour : as seldome tyrants corpses have any other balm at their buriall , then their own bloud . phocas his negligence betrayed the empire to forrein foes , and invited chosroes the persian to invade it , who with a great army subdued syria and jerusalem . a conquest little honourable , as made against small resistance , and used with lesse moderation : for besides many other cruelties , he sold many thousands of christians to the jews their old enemies , who in revenge of their former grudge , put them not onely to drudgery , but to torture . chosroes to grace his triump carried the crosse away with him , forced all the christians in persia to turn * nestorians , and demanded of heraclius the grecian emperour , that he should renounce his religion , and worship the * sun. thus we see how light-headed this pagan did talk , being stark drunk with pride . but the christian emperour entring persia with great forces quelled at last this vaunting sennacherib : for to him might he well be compared , for pride , crueltie , blasphemous demands , and the manner of his death , being also slain by siroes one of his sonnes . heraclius returning took jerusalem in his way , and there restored * the crosse ( counted a precious jewel ) to the temple of the sepulchre , the cabinet whence it had been violently taken away ; and in memoriall thereof , instituted on the of september the feast of the exaltation of the crosse. yet * some make the celebration thereof of greater antiquitie : and the grecians write , that chrysostome ( an hundred yeares before ) died on the day called the exaltation of the crosse. this if it be true , and not antedated by a prolepsis , then heraclius gave the lustre ( not first originall ) to this festivall , and scoured bright an old holy-day with a new solemnitie . chap. . of the deluge of the saracens in syria , the causes of the farre spreading of mahometanisme . but the sinnes of the eastern countreys , and chiefly their damnable heresies , hastened gods judgements upon them . in these western parts , heresies like an angle caught single persons ; which in asia , like a drag-net , took whole provinces ▪ the stayed and settled wits of europe were not easily removed out of the old rode and tract of religion , whiles the active and nimble heads of the east were more desirous of novelties , more cunning to invent distinctions to cozen themselves with , more fluent in language to expresse their conceits , as alwayes errours grow the fastest in hot brains . hence it came to passe , that melchites , maronites , nestorians , eutycheans , jacobites , overspread these parts , maintaining their pestilent tenents with all obstinacy , which is that dead flesh which maketh the green wound of an errour fester by degrees into the old sore of an heresie . then was it just with god to suffer them who would not be convinced with christian councels , to be subdued by the pagans sword : for though chosroes had not long a settled government in palestine , but as a land-floud came and went away quickly ; yet the saracens who shortly followed , as standing water drowned all for a long continuance . * these under haumar prince of arabia , took jerusalem , conquered syria , and propagated the doctrine of mahomet round about . it may justly seem admirable how that senselesse religion should gain so much ground on christianitie ; especially having neither reall substance in her doctrine , nor winning behaviour in her ceremonies to allure professours . for what is it but the scumme of judaisme and paganisme sod together , and here and there strewed over with a spice of christianitie ? as mahomets tombe , so many sentences in his alcoran seem to hang by some secret loadstone , which draweth together their gaping independences with a mysticall coherence , or otherwise they are flat non-sense . yet this wonder of the spreading of this leprosie is lessened , if we consider that besides the generall causes of the growing of all errours ( namely the gangrene-like nature of evil , and the justice of god to deliver them over to beleeve lies who will not obey the truth ) mahometanisme hath raised it self to this height by some peculiar advantages : first , by permitting much carnall libertie to the professours ( as having many wives ) and no wonder if they get fish enough , that use that bait : secondly , by promising a paradise of sensuall pleasure hereafter , wherewith flesh and bloud is more affected ( as falling under her experience ) then with hope of any spirituall delights : thirdly , by prohibiting of disputes , and suppressing of all learning ; and thus mahomet made his shop dark on purpose , that he might vent any wares : lastly , this religion had never made her own passage so fast and so farre , if the sword had not cut the way before her , as commonly the conquered follow for the most part the religion of the conquerours . by this means that cursed doctrine hath so improved it self , that it may outvie with professours the church of rome , which boasteth so much of her latitude and extent ; though from thence to inferre that her faith is the best , is falsely to conclude the finenesse of the cloth from the largenesse of the measure . now the condition of the christians under these saracens was as uncertain as april-weather . sometimes they enjoyed the libertie and publick exercise of their religion : and to give the mahometans their due , they are generally good-fellows in this point , and christians amongst them may keep their consciences free , if their tongues be fettered not to oppose the doctrine of mahomet . sometimes they were under fierce and cruel affliction , their bishops and ministers forced to flie from their places were kept very poore , as alwayes the clergie under persecution count the god gives them living enough , when he gives them their lives . tyrius * mentioneth one memorable massacre , which they narrowly escaped . for a spitefull and malicious saracen had secretly defiled one of their mosques in jerusalem ; which deed being imputed to the poore christians , they were all presently dragged to the place of execution to be put to death , when behold a young man , a zealous christian , by an officious lie ( the most lawfull of all unlawfull things ) confessed himself alone to be guilty of the fact , and so being killed by exquisite torments , saved the lives of many innocents . in memorie of which act , the christians in jerusalem kept a constant solemnity , and once a yeare triumphantly marched with palms in their hands into the citie , to perpetuate the remembrance of this deliverance . the longest vacation from persecution they enjoyed , was when * charles was emperour of the west , surnamed the great : a surname which he did not steal , but justly win and deserve ; not like pompey , who got the title of the great , though as cesar observed he gained his chief fame for martiall feats , by conquering the weak and cowardly bithynians . but this charles , loved of his friends , feared of his foes , subdued the strong and lusty lombards : yet did he not christianitie more good by his warre , then by his peace concluded with aaron emperour of the saracens , under whom the christians in palestine obtained many priviledges and much prosperitie ; though this weather was too fair to last long . chap. . the originall and increase of the turks ; their conquering the saracens , and taking of ierusalem . but the christians in palestine afterward changed their masters , though not their condition , being subdued by the turks . it will be worth our and the readers pains to enquire into the originall of this nation , especially because ( as the river nilus ) they are famous and well known for their overflowing stream , though hidden and obscure for their fountain . whence they first came authours onely do agree in disagreeing : but most probable it is out scythia , * pomponius mela reckoning them among the inhabitants of that countrey nigh the river tanais . this scythia ( since called tartaria ) was virgin-countrey , never forced by forrein arms : for the monarchs who counted themselves conquerours of the world ( by a large synecdoche taking a sixth part for the whole ) never subdued it . alexander sent some troups to assault naura and gabaza , two out-counties thereof , as an earnest that the rest of his army should follow : but hearing how these were wellcomed , willingly lost his earnest , and disposed of his army otherwise . the romane eagles flew not thus farre , and though heard of , were never seen here . the reasons that made the turks leave their native soyl , was the barrennesse thereof ; and therefore the * poet maketh famine ( which sometimes travelleth abroad into other countreys ) here to have her constant habitation . and yet no doubt so vast a countrey would maintain her people , if the wildnesse thereof were tamed with husbandry : but the people ( scorning that their ground should be better civilized then themselves ) never manure it ; and had rather provide their bread with the sword then with the plough . other partiall causes might share in these turks removall , but the cause of causes was the justice of god , to suffer this unregarded people to grow into the terrour of the world for the punishment of christians : and we may justly hope , that when the correction is done the rod shall be burnt ; especially finding already their force to abate , being at this day stopt with the half-kingdome of hungarie , who formerly could not be stayed by the whole empire of greece . the first step these turks took out of their own countrey was into turcomania , a northern part of armenia , conquered and so called by them : where they lived like the scythian nomades , alwayes wandring yet alwayes in their way , none claiming a propriety in the land as his , all defending the common interest therein as theirs . the next step was into persia , whither they were called to assist mahomet the saracen sultan against his enemies ; where taking notice of their own strength , the saracens cowardize , and the pleasure of persia , they under tangrolipix their first king overcame that large dominion . then did the turks take upon them the mahometan religion , and having conquered the saracens by their valour , were themselves subdued by the saracen superstition . an accident more memorable because not easily to be paralleled ( excepting king * amaziah , who having taken edom was took with the idolatry thereof ) because conquerours commonly bring their religion into the places they subdue , and not take it thence . their third large stride was into babylon , the caliph whereof they overcame . and shortly after under cutlu-muses their second king , they wan mesopotamia , the greatest part of syria , and the citie of * jerusalem . mean time whilest these vultures ( turks and saracens ) pecked out each others eyes , the christians ( if they had husbanded this occasion ) might much have advantaged themselves , and might have recovered their health by these contrary poysons expelling each other . but the grecian emperours given over to pleasure and covetousnesse , regarded not their own good , till at last the turks devoured them ; as ( god willing ) shall be shewed hereafter . as for those christians who lived in palestine under the turks , they had no lease of their safetie , but were tenants at will for their lives and goods to these tyrants : though it rained not down-right , yet the storm of persecution hung over their heads ; their minds were ever in torture , being on the rack of continuall fear and suspense ; and simon himself was no better then an honourable slave , though patriarch of jerusalem , as appeareth by his * letters of complaint . chap. . the character of peter the hermite ; his soliciting the holy warre ; the councel at clermont , and the successe thereof . it happened there came a pilgrime to jerusalem called peter , an hermite , born at amiens in france ; one of a contemptible person : his silly looks carried in them a despair of any worth ; and yet ( as commonly the richest mines lie under the basest and barrenest surface of ground ) he had a quick apprehension , eloquent tongue , and what got him the greatest repute , was accounted very religious . with him simon the patriarch of jerusalem often treated , concerning the present miseries of the christians under the turks ; what hope of amendment ; and how the matter might secretly be contrived , that the princes in europe might assist and relieve them . peter moved with the patriarchs perswasions , the equitie and honourablenesse of the cause , and chiefly with a vision ( as they say ) from * heaven ( wherein our saviour himself appointed him his legate , with a commission to negotiate the christian cause ) took the whole businesse upon him , and travelled to rome to consult with pope urbane the second about the advancing of so pious a designe . now , though many cry up this hermite to have been so pretious a piece of holinesse , yet * some suspect him to be little better then a counterfeit , and a cloke-father for a plot of the popes begetting : because the pope alone was the gainer by this great adventure , and all other princes of europe , if they cast up their audit , shall find themselves losers : this with some is a presumption , that this cunning merchant first secretly imployed this hermite to be his factour , and to go to jerusalem to set on foot so beneficiall a trade for the romish church . as for the apparition of our saviour , one may wonder that the world should see most visions when it was most blind ; and that that age most barren in learning , should be most fruitfull in revelations . and surely had peter been truly inspired by god , and moved by his spirit to begin this warre , he would not have apostated from his purpose : so mortified a man would not have feared death in a good cause , as he did afterwards , and basely ran away at * antioch . for when the siege grew hot , his devotion grew cold ; he found a difference betwixt a voluntary fast in his cell , and a necessary and undispensable famine in a camp : so that being well hunger-pincht , this cunning companion who was the trumpet to sound a march to others , secretly sounded a retreat to himself , ran away from the rest of the christians , and was shamefully brought back again for a * fugitive . but to return to pope urbane , who was zealous in the cause to further it , and called a councel at clermont in france , where met many princes and prelates to whom he made a long oration ; * authours differ in the mould , but they agree in the metall , that it was to this effect : first , he bemoned the miseries of the christians in asia , and the vastation of those holy places . jerusalem , which was once the joy of the whole earth , was now become the grief of all good men : the chapell of christs conception , at nazareth ; birth , at bethlehem ; buriall , on mount calvarie ; ascension , on mount olivet , once the fountains of piety , were now become the sinks of all profanenesse . next , he encouraged the princes in the councel , to take arms against those infidels , and * to break their bonds in sunder , and to cast their cords farre from them , and ( as it is written ) to cast out the handmaid and her children . otherwise , if they would not help to quench their neighbours houses , they must expect the speedy burning of their own , and that these barbarous nations would quickly overrun all europe . now to set an edge on their courage , he promised to all that went this voyage , a full remission of their sinnes & penance here , and the enjoying heaven hereafter . lastly , thus concluded , * gird your swords to your thighs , o ye men of might . it is our parts to pray , yours to fight ; ours with moses to hold up unwearied hands to god , yours to stretch forth the sword against these children of amalek . amen . it is above belief with what cheerfulnesse this motion , meeting with an active and religious world , was generally entertained ; so that the whole assembly cried out , * god willeth it : a speech which was afterwards used as a fortunate watch-word in their most dangerous designes . then took many of them a crosse of red cloth on their right shoulder , as a badge of their devotion : and to gain the favourable assistance of the virgin mary to make this warre the more happy , her * office was instituted , containing certain prayers , which at canonicall houres were to be made unto her . if fame , which hath told many a lie of others , be not therein belyed her self , the things concluded in this councel , were the same night reported at impossible distance in the utmost parts of christendome . what spirituall intelligencers there should be , or what echoes in the hollow arch of this world should so quickly resound news from the one side thereof to the other , belongeth not to us to dispute . yet we find the * overthrow of perseus brought out of macedon to rome in foure dayes ; & fame ( mounted no doubt on some pegasus ) in domitians time , brought a report miles in one day . chap. . arguments for the lawfulnesse of the holy warre . it is stiffely canvased betwixt learned men , whether this warre was lawfull , or not . the reasons for the affirmative are fetcht either from piety or policie : and of the former sort are these . . all the earth is gods land let out to tenants ; but judea was properly his demesnes , which he kept long in his own hands for himself and his children . now though the infidels had since violently usurped it , yet no prescription of time could prejudice the title of the king of heaven , but that now the christians might be gods champions to recover his interest . . religion bindeth men to relieve their brethren in distresse , especially when they implore their help , as now the * christians in syria did ; whose intreaties in this case , sounded commands in the eares of such as were piously disposed . . the turks by their blasphemies and reproches against god and our saviour , had disinherited and devested themselves of all their right to their lands ; and the christians , as the next undoubted heirs , might seize on the forfeiture . . this warre would advance and increase the patrimony of religion , by propagating the gospel , and converting of infidels . if any object that religion is not to be beaten into men with the dint of sword ; yet it may be lawfull to open the way by force , for instruction , catechising , and such other gentle means to follow after . . the beholding of those sacred places in palestine would much heighten the adventurers devotion , and make the most frozen heart to melt into pious meditations . . * this enterprise was furthered by the perswasions of sundry godly men , s. bernard , and others . now though a lying spirit may delude the prophets of achab , yet none will be so uncharitable as to think god would suffer his own michaiah to be deceived . . * god set his hand to this warre , and approved it by many miracles which he wrought in this expedition , and which are so confidently and generally reported by credit-worthy writers , that he himself is a miracle that will not beleeve them . neither want there arguments derived from policie . . palestine was a parcell of the romane empire , though since won by the saracens : and though the emperour of constantinople could not recover his right , yet did he alwayes continue his claim , and now ( as * appeared by his letters read in the placentine councel ) alexius requested these princes of the west to assist him in the recovery thereof . . a preventive warre grounded on a just fear of an invasion is lawfull : but such was this holy warre . and because most stresse is laid on this argument , as the main supporter of the cause , we will examine and prove the parts thereof . though umbrages and light jealousies created by cowardly fansies be too narrow to build a fair quarrel on ; yet the lawfulnesse of a preventive warre founded on just fear , is warranted by reason and the practice of all wise nations . in such a case it is folly to do as countrey-fellows in a fense-school , never ward a blow till it be past : but it is best to be before-hand with the enemie , lest the medicine come too late for the maladie . in such dangers to play an after-game , is rather a shift then a policie : especially seeing warre is a tragedy which alwayes destroyeth the stage whereon it is acted ; it is the most advised way , not to wait for the enemie , but to seek him out in his own countrey . now that the mahometans ( under whom the turks and saracens are comprehended , differing in nation , agreeing in religion and spite against christians ) were now justly to be feared , cannot be denied . so vast was the appetite of their sword , that it had alreadie devoured asia , and now reserved grecia for the second course . the bosporus was too narrow a ditch , and the empire of grecia too low an hedge to fense the pagans out of west-christendome : yea , the saracens had lately wasted * italy , pillaged and burned many churches neare rome it self , conquered spain , inroded aquitain , and possessed some islands in the mid-land-sea . the cafe therefore standing thus , this holy warre was both lawfull and necessarie : which like unto a sharp pike in the bosse of a buckler , though it had a mixture of offending , yet it was chiefly of a defensive nature , to which all preventive warres are justly reduced . lastly , this warre would be the sewer of christendome , and drain all discords out of it . for active men like mill-stones in motion , if they have no other grist to grind , will set fire one on another . europe at this time surfeted with people , and many of them were of stirring natures , who counted themselves undone , when they were out of doing ; and therefore they employed themselves in mutuall jarres and contentions : but now this holy warre would make up all breaches , and unite all their forces against the common foe of christianitie . chap . reasons against the holy warre . yet all these reasons prevail not so forcibly , but that * many are of the contrary opinion , and count this warre both needlesse and unlawfull , induced thereunto with these or the like arguments . . when the jews were no longer gods people , judea was no longer gods land by any peculiar appropriation ; but on the other side , god stamped on that countrey an indelible character of desolation , and so scorched it with his anger , that it will never change colour , though christians should wash it with their bloud . it is labour in vain therefore for any to endeavour to reestablish a flourishing kingdome in a blasted countrey : and let none ever look to reap any harvest , who sow that land which god will have to lie fallow . . grant the turks were no better then dogs , yet were they to be let alone in their own kennel . they and the saracens their predecessours , had now enjoyed palestine foure hundred and sixty yeares : prescription long enough to sodder the most crackt title , and not onely to corroborate but to create a right . yea , god himself may seem herein to allow their title , by suffering them so long peaceably to enjoy it . . to visit those places in jerusalem ( the theatre of so many mysteries and miracles ) was a uselesse as difficult ; and might be superstitious if any went ( as it is to be feared too many did ) with placing transcendent holinesse in the place , and with a wooden devotion to the materiall crosse. the * angel sent the women away from looking into the sepulchre , with he is risen , he is not here ; and thereby did dehort them and us , from burying our affections in christs grave , but rather to seek him where he was to be found . at this day a gracious heart maketh every place a jerusalem , where god may as well and as acceptably be worshipped . s. hilarion * though he lived in palestine saw jerusalem but once , and then onely because he might not seem to neglect the holy places for their nearnesse and vicinitie . and s. hierome ( though himself lived at bethlehem ) disswaded paulinus from coming thither ; for the pains would be above the profit . . lastly , this warre was a quicksand to swallow treasure , and of a hot digestion to devoure valiant men : no good , much evil came thereby ; and the christians that went out to seek an enemie in asia , brought one thence , to the danger of all europe , and the losse of a fair part thereof . for though — careat successibus opto , quisquis ab eventu facta notanda putet : — may he never speed , who from the issue censures of the deed : and though an argument fetcht from the successe is but a cyphre in it self , yet it increaseth a number when joyned with others . these reasons have moved the most * moderate and refined papists , and all protestants generally in their judgements to fight against this holy warre . but as for the opinion of bibliander ( who therein stands without company ) if * bellarmine hath truly reported it , it is as farre from reason , as charity ; namely , that these christians that went to fight against the saracens , were the very army of gog and magog spoken of by the prophet * ezekiel . yet must we not here forget , that such as at this time went to jerusalem ( whether ridiculously , or blasphemously , or both , let others judge ) did carry a * goose before them , pretending it to be the holy ghost . chap. . the private ends and profits of the pope , which he is charged by authours to have had in this holy warre . it is enough with some to make it suspicious that there were some sinister ends in this warre , because gregory the seventh , otherwise called hildebrand ( and by luther , * larva diaboli ) the worst of all that sat in that chair , first began it : but death preventing him , urbane the second ( whom cardinall benno called * turbane for troubling the whole world ) effected it . and though the pretenses were pious and plausible , yet no doubt the thoughts of his holinesse began where other mens ended , and he had a privie project beyond the publick designe ; first , to reduce the * grecians into subjection to himself with their three patriarchs of jerusalem , antioch , and constantinople , and to make the eastern church a chapell of ease to the mother-church of rome . secondly , this warre was the popes house of correction , whither he sent his sturdie and stubborn enemies to be tamed . such high-spirited men whom he either feared or suspected , he condemned to this employment , as to an honourable banishment : and as saul being afraid of david sent him to fight against the philistines , that so he might fall by their sword ; so the pope had this cleanly and unsuspected conveyance to * rid away those he hated , by sending them against infidels . this appeared most plainly in the matter of the emperour himself , whom he sent from home , that so he might rob his house in his absence . at the beginning of this warre , the popes temporall power in italy was very slender , because the emperours dominions did gird him close and hard on all sides : but soon after he grew within short time without all measure , and did lurch a castle here , gain a citie there from the emperour , whiles he was imployed in palestine : so that by the time that the christians had lost all in syria , the emperour had lost all in italy ; his dominions there being either swallowed up by peters patrimony , or by private princes and upstart free-states , which as so many splinters flew out of the broken empire . thirdly , hereby the pope determined on his side the gainfullest controversie that ever was in christendome ▪ this was about the investiture of bishops , whether the right lay in the pope or in secular princes . now his holinesse diverted this question out of princes heads , by opening an issue an other way ; and gave vent to the activitie of their spirits in this martiall imployment , and in the mean time quietly went away without any corrivall , concluding the controversie for his own profit . lastly , he got a masse of money by it . he had the office to bear the bag , and what was put into it , as contributed to this action from pious people , and expended but some few drops of the showres he received . guesse the rest of his griping tricks from this one which * matth. paris reporteth . first , he prompted many people in england unfit for arms , to take upon them a vow to go to the holy warre , and this was done by the exhortation and preaching of the friars . this done , he compelled and forced those votaries ( whose purses were more usefull for this service then their persons ) to commute their journey into money , the payment whereof should be as meritorious as their pilgrimage . and thus scraped he a masse of coin from such silly people as thought themselves cleansed of their sinnes when they were wiped of their money , and who having made themselves slaves to the pope by their rash vow , were glad to buy their libertie at his price . as the pope , so most of the clergie improved their estates by this warre : for the secular princes who went this voyage , sold or morgaged most of their means ( selling for gold to purchase with steel and iron ) and the clergy were generally their chapmen . for they advised these undertakers , seeing this action was for christ and his church , rather to make over their estates to spirituall men , of whom they might again redeem the same , and from whom they should be sure to find the fairest dealing , then to lay-men . * godfrey duke of bouillon sold that dukedome to the bishop of liege ; and the castle of sartensy and monsa , to the bishop of verdune . baldwine his brother sold him the citie of verdune . yea , by these sales the * third part of the best feoffs in france came to be possessed by the clergie ; who made good bargains for themselves , and had the conscience to buy earth cheap , and to sell heaven deare . yea , this voyage laid the foundation of their temporall greatnesse , till at last the daughter devoured the mother , and wealth impaired religion . chap. . the qualitie and condition of those people who undertook the warre . it is not to be expected that all should be fish which is caught in a drag-net , neither that all should be good and religious people who were adventurers in an action of so large a capacitie as this warre was . we must in charitie allow , that many of them were truly zealous and went with pious intents . these were like to those of whom bellarmine speaketh , who had no fault praeter nimiam sanctitatem , too much sanctitie , which * a learned man interpreteth , too much superstition . but besides these well-meaning people , there went also a rabble-rout , rather for companie then conscience . * debters took this voyage on them as an acquittance from their debts , to the defrauding of their creditours : servants counted the conditions of their service cancelled by it , going away against their masters will : theeves and murderers took upon them the crosse , to escape the gallows : adulterers did penance in their armour . a lamentable case that the devils black guard should be gods souldiers . and no wonder if the successe was as bad as some of the adventurers , especially seeing they retained their old conditions under a new climate . and ( as if this voyage had been like to repentance , never too soon nor too late for any to begin ) not onely green striplings unripe for warre , but also decayed men to whom age had given a writ of ease , became souldiers ; and those who at home should have waited on their own graves , went farre to visit christs sepulchre . and which was more , women ( as if they would make the tale of the amazons truth ) went with weapons in mens clothes ▪ a behaviour at the best immodest , and modesty being the case of chastitie , it is to be feared that where the case is broken , the jewel is lost . this enterprise was also the mother of much non-residence , many prelates and friars ( fitter to handle a pen-knife then a sword ) left their covents and pastorall charges to follow this businesse . the totall summe of those pilgrime-souldiers amounted to three hundred thousand ; and * some writers do double that number . no doubt the christians army had been greater , if it had been lesse : for the belly was too big for the head ; and a medley of nations did rather burden then strengthen it . besides , the armie was like a cloth of many colours , and more seams ▪ which seams though they were curiously drawn up for the present , yet after long wearing began to be seen , and at last brake out into open rents . chap. . the adventurers sorted according to their severall nations . the french , dutch , italian , and english were the foure elementall nations whereof this army was compounded : of these the french were predominant ; they were the cape-merchants in this adventure . that nimble nation first apprehended the project , and eagerly prosecuted it . as their language wanteth one proper word to expresse stand , so their natures mislike a settled , fixed posture , and delight in motion and agitation of businesse : yea , france ( as being then best at leisure ) contributed more souldiers to this warre then all christendome besides . the signall men were , hugh surnamed le grand brother to the king of france , godfrey duke of bouillon , baldwine and eustace his younger brethren , stephen earl of bloys father to stephen afterwards king of england , reimund earl of tholouse , robert earl of flanders , hugh earl of saint-paul , baldwine de burge , with many more ; besides of the clergie , aimar bishop of puy and legate to the pope , and william bishop of orange . germanie is slandered to have sent none to this warre at this first voyage ; and that other pilgrimes passing through that countrey , were mocked by the dutch and called * fools for their pains . it is true , the germane adventurers in number answered not the largenesse and populousnesse of their countrey : for henry the emperour ( a prince whom the pope long hacked at , and hewed him off at last ) * being desirous to go this voyage , was tied up at home with civill discords . yet we find a competencie of souldiers of that nation , besides those under godescalcus a priest , emmicho the rhene-grave , and count herman their leaders . but though germanie was backward at the first , yet afterwards it proved the main atlas of the warre : that nation like a heavie bell was long a raising , but being got up made a loud sound . italy sent few out of her heart and middle provinces nigh rome . the pope was loth to adventure his darlings into danger : those white-boyes were to stay at home with his holinesse their tender father : wherefore * he dispensed with them for going , as knowing how to use their help nearer , and to greater profit . peters patrimonie must as well be looked to , as christs sepulchre . but though the pope would spend none of his own fewel , he burnt the best stakes of the emperours hedge , and furthered the imperiall partie to consume it self in this tedious warre . out of the furthermost parts of italie , boemund prince of tarentum , and tancred his nephew ( both of the normane seed , though growing on the apulian soyl ) led an army of twelve thousand men . and lombardy was also very liberall of her souldiers towards this expedition . england ( the popes pack-horse in that age , which seldome rested in the stable when there was any work to be done ) sent many brave men under robert duke of normandy , brother to william rufus ; as beauchamp , and others , whose names are lost . neither surely did the irish-mens feet stick in their bogs , though we find no particular mention of their atchievements . spain had other use for her swords against the saracens at home , and therefore sent none of her men abroad . as * one saith , the spaniards did follow their own holy warre ; a work more necessary , and no lesse honourable . thus they acted the same part , though not on the same stage with our pilgrimes , as being also imployed in fight against the infidels . poland had the same excuse for not much appearing clean through this warre ; because she lieth bordering on the tartars in her appendant countrey of lituania , and therefore was busied in making good her frontiers . besides , no wonder if prussia , lituania , and livonia were not up in this service ; for it was scarce break of day with them , and the sunne of the gospel was newly ( if at all ) risen in those parts . yea , poland was so farre from sending men hither , that she fetcht them from hence , * and afterwards implored the aid of the teutonick order , who came out of palestine to assist her against her enemies . hungary might bring filling-stones to this building , but few foundation or corner-stones , and at this time had no commander of note in this action . scotland also presenteth us not with any remarkable piece of service which her men performed in all this warre . it was not want of devotion , which was hot enough in that cold countrey : rather we may impute it to want of shipping , that countrey being little powerfull at sea : or ( which is most probable ) the actions of this nation are hidden , as wrapped up in the bundle with some others ; i should guesse under the french , but the intimacie of those two people is of a farre later date . denmark and norway neare-acquainted with the arctick pole , though they lagged the last , ( and may therein be excused because of the length of the way ) were sharers in the honour of this imployment , and performed good sea-service . sweden either acted not at all , or else had a very short part in this businesse . that countrey being a separatist because of her remote situation , had little communion with other parts of europe . and indeed histories are mute of sweden , but that of late gustavus his victorie hath put a tongue into them , and hath made that countrey famous to all posteritie . chap. . the sad beginning of the warre . their first setting forth was checked with bad successe . for walter sensaver a noble man ( but what countrey-man it is unknown ) * who had more of the sail of valour then balast of judgement , led forth an ill-grown and unproportioned armie , with many thousand foot , and * eight horsemen onely . but we must not think that this fowl should flie farre , whose wings were so short , and train so long . his men were routed and slain by the bulgarians , and he himself through many miseries scarce recovered constantinople . peter the hermite with his army went further to meet his own destruction . for after many difficulties having crossed the bosporus , they came into asia , and there found some cities forsaken by the turks their inhabitants . this they imputed to their enemies fear , which proceeded from their police : and therefore being more greedy to pillage , then carefull to fortifie the places they took , hunted after preys so long till they became one themselves . hugh brother to the king of france , with his surname of the great , had as little successe as the former ; his armie being quickly abridged by the furious bulgarians in their passage , and * he brought prisoner to constantinople . besides these , one gotescalcus a priest , a wolf in sheeps clothing , and emmicho a tyrant-prince neare the rhene , led forth a rout of wicked people , who carried the badge of the crosse , and served the devil under christs liverie , killing and pillaging the poore jews and other people in germanie as they went. this made coloman king of hungarie , not onely denie them passage through his countrey ( and no wonder if he was loth to lodge those guests who were likely to rob their host ) but also put most of them to the sword . some suspected these beginnings to be but the bad breakfast to a worse dinner ; and therefore abandoning their resolutions , returned home : others little moved hereat , conceived these first defeats to be but the clarifying of the christian army from the dregs of base and ruder people . chap. . the pilgrimes arrivall at constantinople , entertainment , and departure . but now ( to speak in my * authours phrase ) the chaff being winnowed with this fanne out of gods floore , the good grain began to appear . godfrey duke of bouillon set forth , and marched through hungary with an armie of civill and wel-conditioned souldiers ; so also did boemund , reimund , and robert the normane , whose setting forth bare diverse dates : and they embraced severall courses through sundry countreys ; but the first rendezvous where all met was at constantinople . this was no pleasant prospect to alexius the grecian emperour , to see the sea full of ships , the shore of souldiers . he had gotten the empire by bad practices ( by deposing and cloistering nicephorus his predecessour ) and an ill conscience needeth no enemie but it self : for now he affrighteth himself with the fansie , that these pilgrimes were so many pioners come to undermine him . yea , he seemeth to have entailed his jealousies on all his successours ; who never cordially affected this warre , but suspected that these western christians made but a false blow at jerusalem , and meant to hit constantinople . but though he had a storm in his heart , yet he made all fair weather in his face ; and finding these his guests so strong that they could command their own welcome , he entertained them rather for fear then love . at last it was * covenanted betwixt them , that what countreys or cities soever ( jerusalem alone excepted ) once belonging to this grecian empire , should be recovered by these latines , should all be restored to alexius ; in lieu whereof he was to furnish them with armour , shipping , and all other warlike necessaries . thus might that emperour have much improved his estate by these adventures ; but he ( like those who cannot see their own good for too stedfast looking on it ) by his over-carefulnesse and causelesse suspicion , deprived himself of this benefit , and implunged himself in much just hatred for his unjust just dealing and treachery . polybius ( though a grecian himself ) yet thus painteth out his countreymen amongst the greeks ; if one should lend a talent , though he should have for it ten bonds , ten seals , and twice as many witnesses , yet the borrower will not keep his credit . it seems alexius was one of this same faith , who though so solemnly engaged on his honour to perform this agreement so advantagious to himself , most un-princelike brake his word , and molested these pilgrimes afterwards . * some question the discretion of these princes in this agreement , to bargain to purchase alexius his profit with their bloud , and conceive that they much under-valued themselves in swearing homage unto him ; which onely * robert earl of flanders ( remembring that he was free-born and bred ) refused to do : yet they may herein be partly excused ; for they apprehended it of absolute necessitie to gain this emperours favour , on what price soever , because his countrey was the high-way through which they must passe . besides , their zeal to be at their journeys end made them insensible of any future disadvantages , so be it they might have but present expedition to the place they were bound for . and we may also think that alexius his liberall gifts had great efficacie in this matter , to win these princes to his own desires . chap. . the estate of asia ; siege , and taking of nice ; turks overthrown in battel . at our last mentioning of the turks and their victories , we left them possest of jerusalem , and the greater part of syria : but since they have thrived better , and won the lesser asia from the grecian emperour . indeed those emperours with their own hands lifted up the turks into their throne , and caused them thus speedily to conquer . for giving themselves over to pleasure , they gave little countenance , and lesse maintenance to men of service and action : whereby the martiall sparks in noble spirits were quenched ; and no wonder if vertue did wither where it was not watered with reward . secondly , out of covetousnesse the emperours unfurnished their frontiers of garrisons , and laid them open to invasions ; a notorious solecisme in policie : for if doores in private houses are to be locked , much more frontiers in kingdomes . neither did it a little advantage the turks proceedings , that the grecian empire fell to eudoxia a woman , and her children in minoritie , too weak pilots to steer so great a state in the tempest of warre . and though after other changes it fell to alexius , one whose personall abilities were not to be excepted against ; yet he being totally busied at home , to maintain his title against home-bred foes , had no leisure to make any effectuall resistance against forrein enemies . nor did the death of cutlen-muses their king any whit prejudice the turkish proceedings : for solyman his sonne succeeded him , a prince no lesse famous for his clemencie then his conquests ; as victory to generous minds is onely an inducement to moderation . in this case under the tyrannie of the turks stood asia the lesse ; and though there were many christians in every citie , yet these being disarmed , had no other weapons then those of the primitive church , tears and prayers . but now these western pilgrimes arriving there , besiege the citie of nice with an armie as glorious as ever the sunne beheld . this citie was equally beholden to nature and art for her strength ; and was formerly famous for the first generall councel , called there by constantine against arius , wherein were assembled bishops . the pilgrimes had a lombard for their engineer ; the neighbouring wood afforded them materials , whereof they made many warlike instruments , and hoped speedily to conquer the citie . but breathed deer are not so quickly caught . the turks within being experienced souldiers , defeated their enterprises . and here one might have seen art promising her self the victory , and suddenly meeting with counter-art which mastered her . the lake ascanius whereon the citie stood , having an out-let into the sea , much advantaged the besieged , whereby they fetcht victualls from the countrey , till at last that passage was locked up by the grecian fleet . soon after the citie was surrendred , on composition that the inhabitants lives and goods should be untouched ; whereat the souldiers who hitherto hoped for the spoyl , now seeing themselves spoyled of their hope , shewed no small discontentment . solymans wife and young children were taken prisoners , and the citie ( according to the agreement ) was delivered to tatinus the grecian admirall in behalf of alexius his master . from hence the christians set forward to the vale of dogorgan , when behold solyman with all his might fell upon them , and there followed a cruel battel , fought with much courage and varietie of successe . a cloud of arrows darkened the skie , which was quickly dissolved into a showre a bloud . the christians had many disadvantages : for their enemies were three to one ; and valour it self may be pressed to death under the weight of multitude . the season was unseasonable ; the scorching of the sunne much annoying these northern people , whilest the turks had bodies of proof against the heat . besides , the christians horses affrighted with the barbarous sounds of the turkish drummes , were altogether unserviceable . however , they bravely maintained their fight by the speciall valour and wisdome of their leaders ( amongst whom boemund , and hugh brother to the king of france , deserved high commendations ) till at last finding themselves overmatched , they began to guard their heads with their heels , and fairly ran away . when in came * robert the normane in the very opportunity of opportunitie . much he encouraged them with his words , more with his valour , slaying three principall turks with his own hands . this sight so inspirited the christians , that coming in on fresh , they obtained a most glorious victorie . two thousand on their side were slain , whereof william the brother of tancred , godfrey de mont , and robert of paris were of speciall note . but farre greater was the slaughter of their enemies , especially after that godfrey of bouillon , who had been absent all the battel , came in with his army : yet they wanted a hammer to drive the victory home to the head , having * no horses to make the pursuit . solyman flying away burned all as he went ; and to prop up his credit , gave it out that he had gotten the day , pleasing himself to be a conquerour in report . this great battel was fought july the first ; though some make it many dayes after : yea , so great is the varietie of historians in their dates , that every one may seem to have a severall clock of time , which they set faster or slower at their own pleasure : but as long as they agree in the main , we need not be much moved with their petty dissensions . chap. . the siege and taking of antiochia ; corboran overcome in fight ; of christs spear , and of holy fraud . from hence with invincible industry and patience , they bored a passage through valleys , up mountains , over rivers , taking as they went the famous cities , iconium , heraclea , tarsus , and conquering all the countrey of cilicia . this good successe much * puffed them up ; god therefore to cure them of the pleurisie of pride , did let them bloud with the long and costly siege of antiochia . this citie watered by the river orontes , and called reblath of the hebrews , was built by seleucus nicanor , and enlarged by antiochus . compassed it was with a double wall , one of square stone , the other of brick ; strengthened with towres , and had a castle on the east rather to be admired then assaulted . here the professours of our faith were first named * christians : and here s. peter first sat bishop , whose fair church was a patriarchall seat for many hundred yeares after . before this city the pilgrimes army incamped , and strongly besieged it : but the turks within manfully defending themselves under auxianus their captain , frustrated their hopes of taking it by force . the siege grew long , and victuals short in the christians camp : and now * peter the hermite being brought to the touch-stone , discovered what base metall he was of ; ran away with some other of good note , and were fetcht back again , and bound with a new oath to prosecute the warre . at last , one within the citie ( though authours agree neither of his name nor religion , some making him a turk , others a christian ; some calling him pyrrhus , some hemirpherrus , others emipher ) in the dead of the night betrayed the citie to boemund . the christians issuing in , and exasperated with the length of the siege , so remembred what they had suffered , that they forgot what they had to do , * killing promiscuously christian citizens with turks . thus passions , like heavie bodies down steep hills , once in motion move themselves , and know no ground but the bottom . antiochia thus taken , was offered to alexius the emperour ; but he refused it , suspecting some deceit in the tender ; as bad men measure other mens minds by the crooked rule of their own . hereupon it was bestowed on boemund ; though this place dearly purchased was not long quietly possessed : for corboran the turkish generall came with a vast armie of persian forces , and besieged the christians in the citie , so that they were brought into a great strait betwixt death and death , hunger within and their foes without . many secretly stole away , whereat the rest were no whit discomfited , counting the losse of cowards to be gain to an armie . at last , they generally resolved rather to lose their lives by whole-sale on the point of the sword , then to retail them out by famine , which is the worst of tyrants , and murdereth men in state , whilest they die in not dying . it did not a little encourage them , that they found in the church of s. peter that * lance wherewith our saviours bodie was pierced : they highly prized this militarie relique of christ , as if by wounding of him it had got vertue to wound his enemies , and counted it a pawn of certain victorie . whether this spear was truly found , or whether it was but invented to cozen men with , we will not dispute : however , it wrought much with these pilgrimes ; for conceit oftentimes doeth things above conceit , especially when the imagination apprehendeth something founded in religion . marching forth in severall armies they manfully fell upon their enemies , and being armed with despair to escape , they sought to sell their lives at the dearest rate . valour doth swell when it is crushed betwixt extremities ; and then oftentimes goeth beyond her self in her atchievements . this day by gods blessing on their courage they got a noble conquest . some saw * s. george in the aire with an armie of white horses fighting for them ; but these no doubt did look through the spectacles of fansie . and yet though we should reject this apparition , we need not play the origens with the story of s. george , and change all the literall sense into an allegorie of christ and his church : for it is improbable that our english nation , amongst so many saints that were , would choose one that was not , to be their patrone ; especially seeing the world in that age had rather a glut then famine of saints . and here let me advertise the reader once for all , not to expect that i should set down those many * miracles wherewith authours who write this warre so lard their stories , that it will choke the belief of any discreet man to swallow them . as the intent of these writers was pious , to gain credit and converts to the christian faith , so the prosecuting of their project must be condemned , in thinking to grace the gospel in reporting such absurd falsities . but let us know that heaven hath a pillorie , whereon fraus pia her self shall be punished : and rather let us leave religion to her native plainnesse , then hang her eares with counterfeit pearls . the pride of the turks being abated in this battel , and an of them being slain , the christians grew mightily insolent , and forgot to return to god the honour of the victorie . whereupon followed a great mortalitie , and died in few dayes ; whether this proceeded from the climate ( the bodies of europe not being friends with the aire of asia , til use by degrees reconcileth them ) or whether it was caused by their intemperance : for after long fasting they would not measure their stomacks by the standard of physick ▪ and dieting themselves till nature by degrees could digest the meat ; but by surfeting digged their graves with their own teeth . and now we are come to the skirts and borders of palestine . wherefore as heralds use to blazon the field before they meddle with the charge , so let us describe the land before we relate the actions done therein . if in bowling they must needs throw wide , which know not the green or alley whereon they play ; much more must they misse the truth in storie , who are unacquainted with that countrey whereon the discourse proceedeth . briefly therefore of the holy land ; as not intending to make a large and wide description of so short and narrow a countrey . chap. . a pisgah-sight , or short survey of palestine in generall ; and how it might maintain men . palestine is bounded on the north with mount libanus ; west , with the mid-land-sea ; south , with the wildernesse of paran , parting it from egypt ; and east , with the mountains of gilead , and the river of arnon . to give it the most favourable dimensions ; from the foot of libanus to beersheba , north and south , may be allowed miles : and from ramoth-gilead to endor , east and west , seventie ; which is the constant breadth of the countrey . in which compasse in davids time were maintained * thirteen hundred thousand men , besides women , children , and impotent persons : and yet the tribes of benjamin and levi were not reckoned . true this must needs be , for truth hath said it : yet is it wonderfull . for though the united provinces in the low-countreys maintain as many people in as little a plot of ground , yet they feed not on home-bred food ; but have poland for their granarie , the british ocean for their fish-pond , high-germanie for their wine-cellar ; and by the benefit of their harbours unlock the store-houses of all other countreys . it fared not thus with the jews , whose own countrey fed them all . and yet the seeming impossibilitie of so many kept in so small a land will be abated , if we consider these particulars ; . people in those hot countreys had not so hot appetites for the quantitie of the meat eaten , nor gluttonous palates for the varietie of it . . the countrey rising and falling into hills and vales , gained many acres of ground : whereof no notice is taken in a map ; for therein all things presented are conceived to be in plan● : and so the land was farre roomthier then the scale of miles doth make it . . they had pasturage to feed their cattel in , in out-countreys beyond palestine . thus the tribe of * reuben grased their cattel east-ward , even to the river euphrates . . lastly , the soyl was transcendently fruitfull , as appeareth by that great * bunch of grapes carried by two men : for though many a man hath not been able to bear wine , it is much that one should be loaden with one cluster of grapes . if any object against the fruitfulnesse of this countrey ; that there were many wildernesses therein , as those of maon , ziph , carmel , gibeon , judah , and these must needs cut large thongs out of so narrow a hide : it is answered , that these wildernesses took up no great space , as probably being no bigger then our least forrests in england . as for the greater deserts , we must not conceive them to lie wholly waste , but that they were but thinly inhabited : for we find * six cities with their villages in the wildernesse of judah . principall commodities of this countrey were , . balm , which * wholly failed not long after our saviours passion ; whether because the type was to cease when the truth was come , or because that land was unworthy to have so sovereigne bodily physick grow in her , where the physician of the soul was put to death . . hony , and that either distilled by bees those little chymists ( and the pasture they fed on was never a whit the barer for their biting ) or else rained down from heaven , as that which * jonathan tasted , when his sweet meat had like to have had sowre sauce , and to have cost him his life . besides these , milk , oyl , nuts , almonds , dates , figs , olives : so that we may boldly say , no countrey had better sauce and better meat , having fowl , fish , in sea , lakes , and rivers ; flesh of sheep , goats , bucks , and ki●e . mines of gold and silver● with pearls and precious stones , judea rather had not then wanted ; either because god would not have his people proud or covetous ; or because these are not essentiall to mans life ; or because nature bestoweth these commodities in recompense on barren countreys . horses they had none but what they bought out of egypt for service , using asses for burden , oxen for drawing , and mules for travel . and for many hundred yeares they used no horses in battel , till david took some from * hadadezer . the greatest inconvenience of the land was that it had wild beasts ; and their sheep were not securely folded like ours in england , which stand more in danger of men then wolves . the chief river of the countrey was jordan : over which the israelites passed on foot ; afterwards elijah made a bridge over it with his cloke : and our saviour washed the water hereof , by being baptized in it . this ariseth from the springs of jor and dan ; whence running south he enlargeth himself first into the waters of merom , then into the lake of genesareth or tiberias ; and hence recovering his stream , as if sensible of his sad fate , and desirous to deferre what he cannot avoid , he fetcheth many turnings and windings , but all will not excuse him from falling into the dead sea . authours are very fruitfull on the barrennesse of this sea ( where sodome once stood ) writing how on the banks thereof grow those hypocrite apples and well-complexioned dust ( the true emblemes of the false pleasures of this world ) which touched fall to ashes . chap. . galilee described . palestine contained foure provinces : galilee on the north , trachonitis beyond jordan on the east , judea on the south , and samaria in the middle . galilee was divided into the upper and lower . the upper ( called also galilee of the gentiles , because it bordered on them ) comprehended the tribes of asher and nephthali . asher entertaineth us with these observables : . * misrephothmajim , the nantwich of palestine , where salt was boyled . . sarepta , where elijah multiplied the widows oyl . . tyre , anciently the royall-exchange of the world ; but of this ( as of sidon and ptolemais ) largely hereafter . . aphek , whose walls falling down gave both the death and grave-stones to of benhadads souldiers . . cana the great , whereof was that woman whose daughter christ dispossessed of a devil . . belus , a rivulet famous for his glassie sand . . mount libanus , whether so called ( as our albion ) from his snowy top , or from frankincense growing thereon . nephthali , with these : . abel-beth-maacha : in this borough sheba that vermine earthed himself , till a womans wisdome threw his head over the wals : and pitie it was those wals should have stood , if they had been too high to throw a traytours head over them . . harosheth , the citie of sisera , who for all his commanding of iron-chariots , was slain with one iron-nail . . capernaum , where christ healed the centurions servant ; and not farre off fed an army of guests with five loaves and two fishes : so that if we consider what they ate , we may wonder that they left any thing ; if what they left , that they ate any thing . . kedesh , a citie of refuge , whither they were to flie that killed men unawares . as for those who formerly priviledged sanctuaries in england , where the worst traytours and wilfullest murderers were secure from punishment , they rather propounded romulus then moses for their president . . riblah , where king zedekiah ( more unhappy that he saw so long then that he was blind so soon ) had his eyes put out , after he had beheld the slaughter of his sonnes . . cesarea-philippi , the chief citie of decapolis ; which was a small territorie on both sides of jordan , so called of ten cities it contained ; though authours wonderfully differ in reckoning them up . . christs mount , so named because it was his pulpit , as the whole law was his text , when he made that famous sermon in the mount . this sunne of righteousnesse , which had all palestine for his zodiack , the twelve tribes for his signes , stayed longest here and in zabulon ; and as s. hierome * observeth , as these two tribes were first carried into captivitie , so redemption was first preached in these countreys . lower galilee consisted of zabulon and issachar . zabulon presenteth us with naim , where our saviour raised the widows sonne , so that she was twice a mother , yet had but one child . . cana the lesse , where he shewed the virginitie of his miracles at a marriage , turning water into wine . . bethulia , where judeth strook off holofernes his head ; though some since have strook off that story , not onely from canonicall scripture , but from truth . . bethsaida , upbraided by christ , famous for her great means , great ingratitude , great punishment . . nazareth , where our saviour had his conception and education . . tiberias , so called by herod the tetrarch in the honour of tiberius . . mount carmel , the jewish parnassus , where the prophets were so conversant . . tabor , where our saviour was transfigured , the earnest of his future glory . . the river kishon , gods besome to sweep away sisera's great armie . in issachar we find tarichea , taken with great difficultie by vespasian . . shunem , where elisha was so often entertained by an honourable woman . and as if this land had been thirsty of bloud , here in this tribe were fought the battels of gideon against the midianites , jehu against jehoram , saul against the philistines upon mount gilboa . david therefore cursed that mountain that neither dew nor rain should fall on it . but of late some english travellers climbing this mountain were well wetted , david not cursing it by a propheticall spirit , but in a poeticall rapture . chap. . the description of samaria . samaria contained half manasses on this side jordan , and the tribe of ephraim . in the former we meet with bethshean , on the walls whereof the philistines hanged sauls body . . tirzah , where zimri ( whose onely goodnesse was , that he reigned but seven dayes ) burned himself and the kings palace . . thebez , where abimelech , prodigall of his life , but niggardly of his reputation , not so pained with his death , as angry with his killer ( because a woman ) would needs be killed again by his armour-bearer . . megiddo , where josiah that bright sunne set in a cloud , engaging himself in a needlesse quarrel , wherein he was slain . . cesarea-stratonis , where herod was eaten up with worms . . jezreel , a royall citie of the kings of israel , nigh which lay the vineyard or rather bloud-yard of naboth . ephraim was adorned with samaria the chief citie of israel , which at this day sheweth more ruines then jerusalem . . shiloh , where the ark was long leiger ; and where eli heart-broken with bad news , brake his neck with a fall . . sichem , where dinah bought the satisfying of her curiositie with the losse of her chastitie . and as if the ground here were stained with perfidiousnesse , here simeon and levi killed the sichemites , joseph was sold by his brethren , abimelech usurped the government , the ten tribes revolted from rehoboam . . mount ephraim , a ridge of hills crossing this countrey . . gerizzim and ebal , two mountains : the blessings were pronounced on the one , and the curses on the other . chap. . iudea surveyed . judea comprised the tribes of benjamin , dan , simeon , and judah . benjamin flourished with gilgal , where joshua circumcised the israelites . they hitherto had been fellow-commoners with the angels , feeding on manna , which here ceased ; god withdrawing miracles where he afforded means . . gibeon , whose inhabitants cozened joshua with a passe of false-dated antiquitie : who would have thought that clouted shoes could have covered so much subtilty ? here joshua sent his mandate to the sunne to stand still , and to wait on him whilest he conquered his enemies . . nob , where doeg , more cruel then the kings cattel he kept , slew eighty five priests as innocent as their ephods were white . . jericho , whose walls were battered down with the sound of rammes horns . . bethel , where god appeared to jacob. . ai , where the israelites were slain for the sacriledge of achan . dan had these memorables . . joppa a safe harbour , where jonah fled from gods service . . ashdod or azotus , where dagon did twice homage to the ark , not onely falling bare , but putting off his head and hands . . gath , a seminary of giants , where goliath was born . . ekron , where beelzebub the god of flies had a nest or temple . . timnath , where judah committed incest with tamar , but betrayed himself by his own tokens , and beat himself with his own staff . hence samson fetcht his wife , whose epithalamium proved the dirge to so many philistines . . modin , where the maccabees were buried . . sorek , the chief if not onely rivulet of this tribe . entring on the south-coasts of simeon , we light on askelon , where herod was born . . gaza , chief of the five satrapies of the philistines , the gates whereof samson carried away ; and hither being sent for to make sport in the house of dagon , acted such a tragedie that plucked down the stage , slew himself and all the spectatours . . more inland ; ziklag , assigned by achish to david . . beersheba and gerar , where abraham and isaac lived most constantly , neare unto the brook of besor . the tribe of judah was the greatest of all , so that simeon and dan did feed on the reversion thereof , and received those cities which originally belonged to this royall tribe . memorable herein were . hebron , the land whereof was given to caleb , because he and joshua consented not to the false verdict which the jurie of spies brought in against the land of canaan . . nigh , in the cave of machpelah , the patriarchs were buried ; whose bodies took livery and seasin in behalf of their posteritie , which were to possesse the whole land . . kirjath-sepher or debir , an ancient universitie of the canaanites : for though parnassus was onely in greece , yet the muses were not confined to that countrey . . tekoa , where amos was born , fetcht from the herdsmen , to feed gods sheep ; and to dresse his vine , from gathering wild-figs . . zoar , lots refuge ; neare to which his wife for one farewell-glance at sodome , was turned into a pillar of salt , to season us to measure a sinne by the infinitenesse of god who forbiddeth it . adjoyning is lots cave ; where he affecting solitarinesse , had too much company of his own daughters . . carmel , where nabal lived as rich as foolish ; but those grains of wisdome which were wanting in him , were found over-weight in his wife . here uzziah pastured his cattel , a king , yet delighted in husbandry ; as thrift is the fewel of magnificence . . bethlehem , where our saviour was born . . jerusalem , whereof afterwards . chap. . of trachonitis . we want one adequate word of a countrey to expresse the tribes of reuben , gad , and half-manasses beyond jordan . trachonitis cometh the nearest , so called because it riseth up in sharp hills , which are known to ptolemie by the name of hippus ; to strabo , of trachones ; but in scripture , of mount hermon , or gilead . reuben , though disinherited of the birth-right , had this honour of an elder brother , that he was first provided for . his chief places , heshbon , and medeba , and macherus , the strongest in-land citie in that part of the world . mount abarim , a chain of hills , the highest whereof was nebo ; the top-cliff of nebo , pisgah ; whence moses viewed the land : hereabouts the angel buried him , and also buried his grave , lest it should occasion idolatry . the river arnon parteth this tribe from moab . in gad , we find peniel where jacob wrestled with god ; lost a sinew , but got a blessing : jabesh-gilead , where saul was buried : ramoth-gilead , where ahab was slain : rogelim , the mannour of barzillai , superannuated to be a courtier : mahanaim , where the angels appeared to jacob : the forrest of ephraim , where that execution was done by jephthah on the ephraimites , for not pronouncing that heavie aspiration in shibboleth : the river jabbok . in manasses , edrei the citie of og , on whose giant-like proportion the rabbines have more giant-like lies : gadara , whose inhabitants loved their swine better then their saviour . they that desire to be further informed of canaan , let them spare pains to strike fire , and light their candle at sir walter raleghs torch . chap. . the description of the citie of ierusalem ; the observables within , and about her . jerusalem by the often change of her fortunes , hath somewhat altered her situation , having hitched her self more north-west-ward . for the mountain of calvarie , which formerly she shut out of her gates , as the infamous place of execution , she now embraceth within her walls as her most venerable monument . on the south of jerusalem ( once part of her , now excluded ) lieth mount sion , famous anciently for the palace of david : on the east , mount olivet , parted with the vale of jehoshaphat ; which ( some will have ) shall be the hall for the great assizes of the world at the day of judgement , whilest others more modestly conceive that the place as well as the time is concealed . on the west , the hill of gihon : and on the north it is indifferent plain . the monuments which are still extant to be seen without or within the citie , are reduceable to one of these three ranks . . certainly true ; as the mountains compassing it , which are standards too great and too heavie for either time or warre to remove : and such also are some eminent particulars of some places , which constant tradition without rupture hath entailed on posteritie . . of a mixt nature ; where the text is true , but superstition and fansie have commented on it . . stark lies , without a rag of probabilitie to hide their shame ; where the beleever is as foolish as the inventer impudent . we will bundle them together , and let the reader sort them at his discretion : for it is as hard to fit the throats as to please the palates of men ; and that will choke one mans belief which another will swallow as easily credible . neither let any censure this discourse as a parenthesis to this history , seeing that to see these reliques was one principall motive with many to undertake this pilgrimage . to begin without the citie ; on the south there remain the ruines of davids palace , too neare to which was uriahs house ; and the * fountain is still shewed where bathsheba's washing of her bodie occasioned the fouling of her soul. next , davids tombe is to be seen wherein he was buried : his monument was inriched with a masse of treasure , saith josephus : out of which hircanus yeares after took three thousand talents . but surely david who despised riches in his life , was not covetous after his death : and i am sure they are his own words , that * man shall carry nothing away with him , neither shall his great pomp follow him . thirdly , aceldama that burying-place for strangers : and the grave that every where hath a good stomack , hath here a boulimia or greedy worm ; for it will devoure the flesh of a corpse in houres . fourthly , absaloms pillar , which he built to continue his memorie , though he might have saved that cost , having eternized his infamy by his unnaturall rebellion . fifthly , the houses of annas and caiaphas , to passe by others of inferiour note . on the east ; first , mount olivet , from whence our saviour took his rise into heaven . the chapell of ascension , of an eight-square round mounted on three degrees , still challengeth great reverence ; and there the footsteps of our saviour are still to be seen , which cannot be covered over . secondly , the fig-tree which christ cursed : for he who spake many , here wrought a parable ; this whole tree being but the bark , and christ under it cursing the fruitlesse profession of the jews . thirdly , the place where s. stephen was stoned ; and the stones thereabouts are over-grown with a red rust , which is ( forsooth ) the very bloud of that holy martyr . fourthly , the place where judas surprised our saviour , and he fell down on a stone , in which the print of his elbows and feet are still to be seen . fifthly , the sepulchre of the blessed virgin : whose body after it had been three dayes buried , was carried up by the angels into heaven ; and she let fall her * girdle to s. thomas , that his weak faith might be swaddled therewith : otherwise he who in the point of christs resurrection would have no creed , except he made his own articles , and put his finger into his side , would no doubt hardly have beleeved the virgins assumption . with this legend we may couple another , which though distant in place will be beleeved both together : they shew at * bethlehem a little hole over the place where our saviour was born , through which the starre which conducted the wise-men fell down to the ground . but who will not conclude but there was a vertigo in his head , who first made a starre subject to the falling-sicknesse ? sixthly , the vale of hinnom or tophet , in which wise solomon befooled by his wives , built a temple to moloch . seventhly , cedron , a brook so often mentioned in scripture . the west and north-sides of jerusalem were not so happily planted with sacred monuments ; and we find none thereon which grew to any eminencie . we will now lead the reader into jerusalem : where first on mount moriah ( the place where isaac was offered , though not sacrificed ) stood solomons temple , destroyed by the chaldeans , rebuilt by zorobabel : afterward herod reedified it so stately ( saith josephus ) that it exceeded solomons temple ; if his words exceed not the truth . but no wonder if he that never saw the sunne , dare say that the moon is the most glorious light in the heavens . secondly , solomons palace , which was * thirteen yeares in building , whereas the temple was finished in * seven : not that he bestowed more cost and pains ( because more time ) on his own then on gods house : but rather he * plied gods work more throughly , and entertained then more builders ; so that contrary to the proverb , church-work went on the most speedily . thirdly , the house of the forrest of lebanon , which was ( as appeareth by comparing the text ) fourtie cubits longer , and thirtie cubits broader then the temple it self . but no doubt the holy spirit speaking of holy buildings , meaneth the great cubit of the sanctuary ; but in other houses , the ordinary or common cubit . it was called the house lebanon , because hard by it solomon planted a * grove , the abridgement of the great forrest ; so that the pleasures of spacious lebanon were here written in a lesse character . fourthly , pilates palace , and the common hall , where the judge of the world was condemned to death . fifthly , the pool of bethesda , the waters whereof troubled by the angel were a panpharmacon to him that first got into them . here was a spittle built with five porches , the mercy of god being seconded by the charitie of man ; god gave the cure , men built the harbour for impotent persons . sixthly , the house of dives the rich glutton : and therefore ( saith * adricomius ) it was no parable : but may we not retort his words ? it was a parable ; and therefore this is none of dives his house . sure i am , theophylact is against the literall sense thereof , and saith , they think * foolishly that think otherwise . but my discourse hasteth to mount calvarie ; which at this day hath almost ingrossed all reverence to it self . it is called calvarie , golgotha , or the place of a scull , either because the hill is rolled and * rounded up in the fashion of a mans head , ( as * pen in the british tongue signifieth both an head , and a copped hill ) or because here the bodies of such as were executed were cast . as for the conceit , that adams scull should here be found , it is confuted by s. hierome , who will have him buried at hebron . neither is it likely , if the jews had a tradition that the father of mankind had here been interted , that they would have made his sepulchre their tiburn where malefactours were put to death , and the charnel-house where their bones were scattered . over our saviours grave stood a stately church , built say some by helen , say others by constantine : but we will not set mother and sonne at variance ; it might be she built it at his cost . in this church are many monuments : as the pillar whereunto christ was bound when scourged ; wherein red spots of dusky-veined marble * usurped the honour to be counted christs bloud . secondly , a great cleft in the rock which was rent in sunder at the passion , whereby the bad thief was divided from christ ( the signe of his spirituall separation ) and they say it reacheth to the centre of the earth : a thing hard to confute . thirdly , certain pillars which being in a dark place under ground , are said miraculously to weep for our saviours suffering . but i referre those who desire the criticismes of these places without going thither , to read our english travellers : for in this case as good wares and farre cheaper peny-worths are bought at the second hand . to conclude our description of palestine , let none conceive that god forgot the levites in division of the land , because they had no entire countrey allotted unto them . their portion was as large as any , though paid in severall summes : they had cities with their suburbs , tithes , first-fruits , free-offerings ; being better provided for then many english ministers , who may preach of hospitalitie to their people , but cannot go to the cost to practice their own doctrine . a table shewing the varietie of places names in palestine .   in the old testament . at christs time . in s. hieromes time . at this day . azzah . gaza . constantia . gazra . a japho . joppa .   jaffa . b ramah . arimathea .   ramma . c shechem . sychar . neapolis . pelosa . d   lydda . diospolis .   capharsalama antipatris .   assur . e zarephath . sarepta .   saphet . f   emmaus . nicopolis .   bethsan .   scythopolis .   tzor . tyrus .   sur. g laish .       dan. cesarea-philippi paneas . belina . h leshem .       jerusalem . hierosolyma . aelia . cuds . i samaria . samaria . sebaste .   cinnereth . k tiberias .   saffer . l accho . ptolemais .   acre . gath.   dio-cesarea ybilin . m dammesek . damascus .   sham. n arnon .   areopolis . petra . o rabbah . philadelphia .     waters of merom . semochonite lake .   houle . p chap. . the siege and taking of ierusalem . by this time cold weather ( the best besome to sweep the chambers of the aire ) had well cleared the christians camp from infection : and now their devotion moved the swifter , being come neare to the centre thereof , the citie of jerusalem . forward they set , and take the citie of marrha , and imploy themselves in securing the countrey about them , that so they might clear the way as they went. neither did the discords betwixt reimund and boemund much delay their proceedings , being in some measure seasonably compounded ; as was also the sea-battel betwixt the pisans and venetians . for the venetians seeing on the pisans the * cognisance of the crosse , the uncounterfeited pasport that they wear for the holy warre , suffered them safely to go on , though otherwise they were their deadly enemies , yea , and set five thousand of them at libertie , whom they had taken captive . the pilgrimes kept their easter at tripoli , whitsuntide by cesarea-stratonis , taking many places in their passage ; and at last came to jerusalem . discovering the citie afarre off , it was a prettie sight to behold the harmonie in the difference of expressing their joy ; how they clothed the same passion with diverse gestures : some prostrate , some kneeling , some weeping ▪ all had much ado to manage so great a gladnesse . then began they the siege of the citie on the north ( being scarce assaultable on any other side by reason of steep and broken rocks ) and continued it with great valour . on the fourth day after , they had taken it but for want of scaling-ladders . but a farre greater want was the defect of water , the springs being either stopped up or poysoned by the turks ; so that they fetcht water * five miles off . as for the brook cedron , it was dried up , as having no subsistence of it self , but merely depending on the benevolence of winter-waters , which mount olivet bestoweth upon it . admirall coligni was wont to say , he that will well paint the beast warre , must first begin to shape the belly ; meaning that a good generall must first provide victuals for an armie : yea , let him remember the bladder in the beasts belly as well as the guts , and take order for moisture more especially then for meat it self ; thirst in northern bodies being more unsupportable then famine : quickly will their courage be cooled , who have no moisture to cool their hearts . as for the christians want of ladders , that was quickly supplied : for the genoans arriving with a fleet in palestine , brought most curious engineers , who framed a wooden towre , and all other artificiall instruments . for we must not think , that the world was at a losse for warre-tools before the brood of guns was hatched : it had the * battering ramme , first found out by epeus at the taking of troy ; the balista to discharge great stones , invented by the phenicians ; the catapulta , being a sling of mighty strength , whereof the syrians were authours : and perchance king * uzziah first made it ; for we find him very dextrous and happy in devising such things . and although these bear-whelps were but rude and unshaped at the first , yet art did lick them afterwards , and they got more teeth and sharper nails by degrees ; so that every age set them forth in a new edition , corrected and amended . but these and many more voluminous engines ( for the ramme alone had an hundred men to manage it ) are now virtually epitomized in the cannon . and though some may say , that the finding of gunnes hath been the losing of many mens lives , yet it will appear that battels now are fought with more expedition , and victory standeth not so long a neuter , before she expresse her self on one side or other . but these gunnes have shot my discourse from the siege of jerusalem : to return thither again . by this time , in the space of a * moneth , the genoans had finished their engines which they built * seven miles off : for nearer there grew no stick of bignesse . i will not say , that since our saviour was hanged on a tree , the land about that city hath been cursed with a barrennes of wood . and now for a preparative , that their courage might work the better , they began with a fast , and a solemn procession about mount olivet . next day they gave a fierce assault ; yea , * women played the men , and fought most valiantly in armour . but they within being fourtie thousand strong , well victualled and appointed , made stout resistance , till the night ( accounted but a foe for her friendship ) umpired betwixt them , and abruptly put an end to their fight in the midst of their courage . when the first light brought news of a morning , they on afresh ; the rather , because they had * intercepted a letter tied to the legs of a dove ( it being the fashion of that countrey both to write and send their letters with the wings of a * fowl ) wherein the persian emperour promised present succours to the besieged . the turks cased the outside of their walls with bags of chaff , straw , and such like pliable matter , which conquered the engines of the christians by yeelding unto them . as for one sturdie engine whose force would not be tamed , they brought * two old witches on the walls to inchant it : but the spirit thereof was too strong for their spells , so that both of them were miserably slain in the place . the day following , duke * godfrey fired much combustible matter , the smoke whereof ( the light cause of an heavie effect ) driven with the wind , blinded the turks eyes ; and under the protection thereof the christians entred the citie : godfrey himself first footing the walls , and then his brother eustace . the turks retired to solomons temple ( so called because built in the same place ) there to take the farewell of their lives . in a desperate conflict there , the foremost of the christians were miserably slain , thrust upon the weapons of their enemies by their fellows that followed them . the pavement so swam , that none could go but either through a rivulet of bloud , or over a bridge of dead bodies . valour was not wanting in the turks , but superlatively abundant in the christians , till night made them leave off . next morning mercie was proclaimed to all those that would lay down their weapons : for though bloud be the best sauce for victorie , yet must it not be more then the meat . thus was jerusalem wonne by the christians , and * twentie thousand turks therein slain , on the fifteenth of july being friday , about three of the clock in the afternoon . * tyrius findeth a great mysterie in the time ; because adam was created on a friday , and on the same day and houre our saviour suffered . but these synchronismes , as when they are naturall they are pretty and pleasing ; so when violently wrested , nothing more poore and ridiculous . then many christians , who all this while had lived in jerusalem in most lamentable slaverie , being glad to lurk in secret ( as truth oftentimes seeketh corners as fearing her judge , though never as suspecting her cause ) came forth joyfully , wellcomed and embraced these the procurers of their liberty . three dayes after it was concluded , as a necessarie piece of * severitie for their defense , to put all the turks in jerusalem to death ; which was accordingly performed without favour to age or sex . the pretense was for fear of treason in them , if the emperour of persia should besiege the citie . and some slew them with the same zeal wherewith saul slew the gibeonites ; and thought it unfit that these goats should live in the sheeps pasture . but noble tancred was highly displeased hereat , because done in cold bloud , it being no slip of an extemporany passion , but a studied and premeditated act ; and that against pardon proclaimed , many of them having compounded and paid for their lives and libertie . besides , the execution was mercilesse , upon sucking children , whose not-speaking spake for them ; and on women , whose weaknesse is a shield to defend them against a valiant man. to conclude ; severitie hot in the fourth degree , is little better then poyson , and becometh crueltie it self : and this act seemeth to be of the same nature . the end of the first book . the historie of the holy warre . book ii. chap. . robert the normane refuseth the kingdome of ierusalem ; godfrey of bouillon chosen king ; his parentage , education , and vertues . fight dayes after jerusalem was wonne , they proceeded to the election of a king : but they had so much choice that they had no choice at all ; so many princes there were , and so equally eminent , that justice her self must suspend her verdict , not knowing which of them best deserved the crown . yet it was their pleasure to pitch on robert the normane as on the man of highest descent , being sonne to a king : for great hugh of france was already returned home , pretending the colick ; though some impute it to cowardlinesse , and make the disease not in his bowels but his heart . robert refused this honourable profer ; whether because he had an eye to the kingdome of england now void by the death of william rufus , or because he accounted jerusalem would be incumbred with continuall warre . but he who would not take the crown with the crosse , was fain to take the crosse without the crown , and never thrived afterwards in any thing he undertook . thus they who refuse what god fairly carveth for them , do never after cut well for themselves . he lived to see much misery , and felt more , having his eyes put out by king henry his brother ; and at last found rest ( when buried ) in the now cathedrall church of glocester under a * woodden monument , bearing better proportion to his low fortunes then high birth . and since , in the same quire he hath got the company of another prince as unfortunate as himself , king edward the second . they go on to a second choice ; and that they may know the natures of the princes the better , their servants were examined on oath to confesse their masters faults . the * servants of godfrey of bouillon protested their masters onely fault was this , that when mattens were done he would stay so long in the church to know of the priest the meaning of every image and picture , that dinner at home was spoiled by his long tarrying . all admired hereat , that this mans worst vice should be so great a vertue , and unanimously chose him their king. he accepted the place , but refused the solemnity thereof ; and would not wear a crown of gold there , where the saviour of mankind had worn a crown of thorns . he was sonne to bustace duke of bouillon , and ida his wife , daughter and heir to godfrey duke of lorein ; born , saith * tyrius , at bologne a town in champaigne on the english sea , which he mistaketh for bouillon up higher in the continent neare the county of lutzenburg . such slips are incident to the pennes of the best authours : yea , we may see canterbury mistaken for cambridge , not onely in * munster , but even in all our own printed statute-books in the . of richard the * second . he was brought up in that school of valour , the court of henry the . the emperour . whilest he lived there , there happened an intricate suit betwixt him and another prince about title of land ; and because judges could not untie the knot , it was concluded the two princes should cut it asunder with their sword in a combat . godfrey was very * unwilling to fight , not that he was the worse souldier , but the better christian : he made the demurre not in his courage , but in his conscience ; as conceiving any private title for land not ground enough for a duell : yea , we may observe generally , that they who long most to fight duells , are the first that surfet of them . notwithstanding , he yeelded to the tyranny of custome , and after the fashion of the countrey entred the lists : when at the first encounter his sword brake ; but he struck his adversary down with the hilt , yet so that he saved his life , and gained his own inheritance . another parallel act of his valour was when being standard-bearer to the emperour , he with the imperiall ensigne killed rodulphus the duke of saxony in single fight , and fed the eagle on the bowels of that arch-rebell . his soul was enriched with many vertues , but the most orient of all was his humility , which took all mens affections without resistance : and though one saith , take away ambition , and you take away the spurres of a souldier ; yet , godfrey without those spurres rode on most triumphantly . chap. . the establishing of ecclesiasticall affairs , and patriarchs in antioch and ierusalem ; the numerosity of palestine-bishops . but now let us leave the helmets , and look on the mitres , and consider the ordering of ecclesiasticall affairs . for the common-wealth is a ring , the church the diamond ; both well set together , receive , and return lustre each on other . as soon as antioch was taken , one bernard ( a reverend prelate ) was made patriarch there with generall consent . but more stirre was there about that place in jerusalem : for first arnulphus , a worthlesse and vitious man , was by * popular faction lifted up into the patriarchs chair ; but with much ado was avoided , and dabert , archbishop of pisa , substituted in his room : one very wise and politick , an excellent book-man in reading of men , and otherwise well studied , especially as that age went , wherein a mediocrity was an eminency in learning . but he was infected with the humour of the clergie of that age , who counted themselves to want room except they justled with princes . as for arnulphus , he never ceased to trouble and molest this dabert ; and as a firebrand smoketh most when out of the chimney , so he after his displacing was most turbulent and unquiet , ever sitting on his skirts that sat in the patriarchs chair , till after many changes he struggled himself again into the place . under these patriarchs many archbishops and bishops were appointed in the very places ( as neare as might be ) where they were before the saracens overrunning the countrey , and good maintenance assigned to most of them . but at this time bishops were set too thick for all to grow great ; and palestine fed too many cathedrall churches to have them generally fat . * lydda , jamnia , and joppa , three episcopall towns , were within foure miles one of another . yea , * tyrius makes bishops under the archbishop of tyre , under the archbishop of caesarea , under the archbishop of scythopolis , under the archbishop of rabbah , besides suffragan churches , which it seems were immediately depending on the patriarch of jerusalem , without subordination to any archbishop . surely , many of these bishops ( to use bishop * langhams expression ) had high racks but poore mangers . neither let it stagger the reader if in that catalogue of tyrius he light on many bishops seats which are not to be found in mercator , ortelius , or any other geographer ; for some of them were such poore places , that they were ashamed to appear in a map , and fall so much under a geographers notice , that they fall not under it . for in that age bishops had their sees at poore and contemptible villages ; ( as here in england before the conquest , who would suspect sunning in barkshire , or dorchester neare oxford to have had cathedrall churches ? ) till in the daies of * william the first , bishops removed their seats to the principall towns in the shire . chap. . the saracens conquered at askelon . mahomets tombe hung not so strong but now it began to shake , and was likely to fall . these victories of the christians gave a deadly wound to that religion . wherefore the saracens combined themselves with the turks to assist them , there being betwixt these two nations , i will not say an unity , but a conspiracy in the same superstition ; so that therein they were like a nest of hornets , stirre one and anger all . wherefore coming out of egypt under ammiravissus their generall , at askelon they gave the christians battel . but god sent such a qualm of cowardlinesse over the hearts of these infidels , that an hundred thousand of them were quickly slain ; so that it was rather an execution then a fight ; and their rich tents which seemed to be the * exchequer of the east-countrey , spoiled ; so that the pilgrimes knew not how to value the wealth they found in them . this victory obtained , such pilgrimes as were disposed to return , addressed themselves for their countrey ; and these merchants for honour went home , having made a gainfull adventure . those that remained were advanced to signories in the land ; as tancred was made governour of galilee . nor will it be amisse to insert this story : peter bishop of anagnia in italy was purposed here to lead his life without taking care for his charge ; when behold s. magnus * patrone of that church appeared to him in a vision , pretending himself to be a young man who had left his wife at home , and was come to live in jerusalem . fie , said peter to him , go home again to your wife : whom god hath joyned together let no man put asunder . why then , replied s. magnus , have you left your church a widow in italy , and live here so farre from her company ? this vision , though calculated for this one bishop , did generally serve for all the non-residents which posted hither , and who payed not the lawfull debt to their conscience , whilest by needlesse bonds they engaged themselves to their own will-worship . for though souls of men be light , because immateriall , yet they may prove an heavy burden to these carelesse pastours who were to answer for them . after the return of these pilgrimes , the heat of the christians victories in syria were somewhat allayed : for * boemund prince of antioch marching into mesopotamia , was taken prisoner ; and godfrey besieging the city of antipatris , then called assur , though hitherto he had been alwayes a conquerour , was fain to depart with disgrace . so small a remora may stay that ship which faileth with the fairest gale of successe . chap. . the originall and increase of the hospitallers ; their degenerating through wealth into luxury . * about this time under gerard their first master , began the order of knights-hospitallers . indeed more anciently there were hospitallers in jerusalem ▪ but these were no knights : they had a kind of order , but no honour annexed to it ; but were pure alms-men , whose house was founded and they maintained by the charity of the merchants of amalphia a citie in italy . but now they had more stately buildings assigned unto them , their house dedicated to s. john of jerusalem ; knights-hospitallers and those of s. john of jerusalem being both the same ; although learned * dr. ridley maketh them two distinct orders , for which our * great antiquary doth justly reprove him . but such an errour is veniall ; and it is a greater fault rigidly to censure , then to commit a small oversight . the one sheweth himself man , in mistaking ; the other no man , in not pardoning a light mistake . to make one capable of the highest order of this knighthood ( for their * servitours and priests might be of an inferiour rank ) the party must thus be qualified : eighteen yeares old at the least ; of an able body ; not descended of jewish or turkish parents ; no bastard , except bastard to a prince , there being honour in that dishonour , as there is light in the very spots of the moon . descended he must be of worshipfull parentage . they wore a red belt with a white crosse ; and on a black cloke the white crosse of jerusalem , which is a crosse crossed , or five crosses together , in memorie of our saviours five wounds . yet was there some difference betwixt their habit in peace and in warre . their profession was to fight against infidels , and to secure pilgrimes coming to the sepulchre ; and they vowed poverty , chastity , and obedience . reimundus de podio their second master made some additionalls to their profession : as , they must receive the sacrament thrice a yeare ; heare masse once a day if possible : they were to be no merchants , no usurers ; to fight no private duells ; to stand neuters and to take no side , if the princes in christendome should fall out . but it is given to most religious orders , to be clear in the spring and mirie in the stream . these hospitallers afterwards getting wealth , unlaced themselves from the strictnesse of their first institution , and grew loose into all licentiousnesse . what was their obedience to their master but rebellion against the patriarch their first patrone ? as shall be shewed hereafter . what was their poverty but a couzenage of the world ; whilest their order sued in formâ pauperis , and yet had * nineteen thousand mannours in christendome belonging unto them ? neither will it be scandalum magnatum to their lordships , to say what s. * bernard speaketh of their chastity , how they lived inter scorta & epulas , betwixt bawds and banquets . and no wonder if their forced virginity was the mother of much uncleannesse : for commonly those who vow not to go the high-way of gods ordinance , do haunt base and unwarrantable by-paths . i will not forestall the history , to shew how these hospitallers were afterwards knights of rhodes , and at this day of malta ; but will conclude with the ceremonies used at their creation , because much materiall stuff no doubt may be picked out of their formalities . there is delivered them , . a * sword , in token that they must be valiant , . with a crosse-hilt ; their valour must defend religion : . with this sword they are struck three times over the shoulders , to teach them patiently to suffer for christ : . they must wipe the sword ; their life must be undefiled . . gilt spurres are put on them , because they are to scorn wealth at their heels : . and then they take a taper in their hands , for they are to lighten others by their exemplary lives ; . and so go to heare masse : where we leave them . * at the same time knights of the sepulchre were also ordained , which for their originall and profession are like to these knights-hospitallers . the order continueth to this day . the padre guardian of jerusalem maketh them of such as have seen the sepulchre . they should be gentlemen by birth : but the padre carrieth a chancerie in his bosome to mitigate the rigour of this common law , and will admit of him that bringeth fat enough , though no bloud : as of late he made an apothecary of aleppo of that honour : so that there the sword of knighthood is denied to none who bring a good sheath with them , and have a purse to pay soundly for it . chap. . the scuffling betwixt the king and patriarch about the city of ierusalem ; the issue thereof . not long after , there was started a controversie of great consequence betwixt the king and patriarch : the patriarch claiming the cities of jerusalem and joppa , with the appertenances ; the king refusing to surrender them . the patriarch pleaded , that these places anciently belonged to his predecessours : he set before the king the hainousnesse of sacriledge ; how great a sinne it was when princes , who should be nursing-fathers and suckle the church , shall suck from it : and shewed how the common-wealth may grow fat , but never healthfull , by feeding on the churches goods . on the other side the king alledged , that the christian princes had now purchased jerusalem with their bloud , and bestowed it on him : that the patriarchs overgrown title was drowned in this late conquest ; from which , as from a new foundation , all must build their claims who challenge any right to any part in the city . secondly , he pleaded , it was unreasonable that the king of jerusalem should have nothing in jerusalem ( as at this day the romane emperour is a very ciphre , without power or profit in rome ) and should live rather as a sojourner then a prince in his royall citie , confined to an airy title , whilest the patriarch should have all the command . to this the patriarch answered , that the christians new conquest could not cancell his ancient right , which was enjoyed even under the saracens ; that this voyage was principally undertaken for advancing the church , and not to restore her onely to her liberty , and withhold from her her lands , so that in this respect she should find better usage from her foes then from her children . if we mistake not , the chief pinch of the cause lieth on the patriarchs proof , that the lands he demanded formerly belonged to his predecessours : and we find him to fail in the main issue of the matter . true it was , that for the last thirty yeares the patriarchs on condition they should repair and fortifie the walls of jerusalem , were possessed of a fourth part of the city , even by grant from bomensor the emperour of the saracens , in the yeare of our lord . but that ever he had the whole citie , either by this or by any previous grant , it appeareth not in tyrius ; who saith moreover , * we wonder for what reason the lord patriarch should raise this controversie against duke godfrey . let me adde , that this our authour is above exception : for being both a politick states-man and pious prelate , no doubt his penne strikes the true and even stroke betwixt king and patriarch . besides , he might well see the truth of this matter , writing in a well-proportioned distance of time from it . those who live too neare the stories they write , oftentimes willingly mistake through partiality ; and those who live too farre off , are mistaken by uncertainties , the footsteps of truth being almost worn out with time . but to return to godfrey , who though unwilling at first , yet afterwards not onely on candlemasse-day restored to the patriarch the fourth part of the citie , but also on the easter following , gave him all jerusalem , joppa , and whatsoever he demanded : conditionally that the king should hold it of the patriarch till such time as he could conquer babylon , or some other royall citie fit for him to keep his court in . if in the mean time godfrey died without issue , the patriarch was to have it presently delivered unto him . we will be more charitable then those that say that the patriarch herein did * bewitch and be mad godfrey to make this large donation to him , by torturing his conscience at the confession of his sinnes . onely we may question the discretion of this prince in giving a gift of so large a size : for charities eyes must be open as well as her hands ; though she giveth away her branches , not to part with the root . and let the reader observe , that godfrey at the time of this his bountifull grant lay on his death-bed , sick of that irrecoverable disease which ended him . how easily may importunity stamp any impression on those whom desperate sicknesse hath softened ! and if the sturdiest man nigh death may be affrighted into good works for fear of purgatory , no wonder if devout godfrey were pliable to any demand . * pierce plowman maketh a witty wonder , why friers should covet rather to confesse and bury , then to christen children ; intimating it proceeded from covetousnesse , there being gain to be gotten by the one , none by the other . and this was the age wherein the covents got their best living by the dying : which made them ( contrary to all other people ) most to worship the sunne setting . chap. . godfreys death and buriall . authours differ on the death of this noble king : some making him to die of that long-wasting sicknesse ; others , of the * plague : it may be the plague took him out of the hands of that lingring disease , and quickly cut off what that had been long in fretting . he died july . having reigned one yeare wanting five dayes . a prince valiant , pious , bountifull to the church : for besides what he gave to the patriarch , he founded canons in the temple of the sepulchre , and a monasterie in the vale of jehoshaphat . we would say his death was very unseasonable ( leaving the orphane state not onely in its minority , but its infancy ) but that that fruit which to mans apprehension is blown down green and untimely , is gathered full-ripe in gods providence . he was buried in the temple of the sepulchre , where his tombe is unviolated at this day ; whether out of a religion the turks bear to the place , or out of honour to his memory , or out of a valiant scorn to fight against dead bones ; or perchance the turks are minded as john king of england was , who being wished by a courtier to untombe the bones of one who whilest he was living had been his great enemy , oh no , said king john , would all mine enemies were as honourably buried . chap. . baldwine chosen king. he keepeth ierusalem in despite of the patriarch . godfrey being dead , the christians with a joint consent dispatched an embassie to baldwine his brother , count of edessa ( a city in * arabia , the lord whereof had adopted this baldwine to be his heir ) entreated him to accept of the kingdome : which honourable offer he courteously embraced . a prince whose body nature cut of the largest size , being like * saul , higher by the head then his subjects . and though the goths had a law , alwayes to choose a * short thick man for their king ; yet surely a goodly statu●e is most majesticall . his hair and beard brown , face fair , with an eagles nose ; which in the * persian kings was anciently observed as a mark of magnanimity . bred he was a scholar , entred into orders , and was prebendary in the * churches of rhems , liege , and cambray ; but afterwards turned secular prince , as our * athelwulphus , who exchanged the mitre of winchester for the crown of england . yet baldwine put not off his scholarship with his habit , but made good use thereof in his reigne . for though bookishnesse may unactive , yet learning doth accomplish a prince , and maketh him sway his sceptre the steadier . he was properly the first king of jerusalem ( his brother godfrey never accounted more then a duke ) and was crowned on christmasse-day . the reason that made him assume the name of a king , was thereby to strike the greater * terrour into the pagans . thus our kings of england from the dayes of king john were styled but lords of ireland , till henry the . first entitled himself king , because * lord was sleighted by the seditious rebells . as for that religious scruple which godfrey made , to wear a crown of gold where christ wore one of thorns , baldwine easily dispensed therewith . and surely in these things the mind is all : a crown might be refused with pride , and worn with humility . but before his coronation there was a tough bickering about the city of jerusalem . dabert the patriarch , on the death of godfrey , devoured jerusalem and the towre of david in his hope ; but coming to take possession , found the place too hot for him . for garnier earl of gretz , in the behalf of king baldwine ( who was not as yet returned from edessa ) manned it against him . but so it happened , that this valiant earl died three dayes after , which by * dabert was counted a just judgement of god upon him for his sacriledge . now though it be piety to impute all events to gods hand , yet to say that this mans death was for such a sinne , sheweth too much presumption towards god , and too little charity towards our neighbour . indeed if sudden death had singled out this earl alone , it had somewhat favoured their censure ; but there was then a generall mortality in the city which swept away * thousands : and , which is most materiall , what this patriarch interpreted sacriledge , others accounted loyalty to his sovereigne . as for that donation of the city of jerusalem and towre of david which godfrey gave to the patriarch , some thought that this gift overthrew it self with its own greatnesse , being so immoderately large : others supposed it was but a personall act of godfrey , and therefore died with the giver ; as conceiving his successours not obliged to perform it , because it was unreasonable that a prince should in such sort fetter and restrain those which should come after him . sure it is , that baldwine having both the stronger sword , and possession of the citie , kept it perforce , whilest the patriarch took that leave which is allowed to loosers , to talk , chafe , and complain ; sending his bemoning letters to * boemund prince of antioch , inviting him to take arms , and by violence to recover the churches right ; but from him received the uselesse assistance of his pity , and that was all . chap. . the church-story during this kings reigne . a chain of successive patriarchs ; dabert , ebremare , gibelline , and arnulphus : their severall characters . afterwards , this breach betwixt the king and patriarch was made up by the mediation of some friends : but the skinne onely was drawn over , not dead flesh drawn out of the wound ; and arnulphus ( whom we mentioned before ) discontented for his losse of the patriarchs place , still kept the sore raw betwixt them . at last dabertus the patriarch was fain to flee to antioch , where he had plentifull maintenance allowed him by bernard patriarch of that see. but he was too high in the instep to wear another mans shoes , and conceived himself to be but in a charitable prison whilest he lived on anothers benevolence . wherefore hence he hasted to * rome , complained to the pope , and received from his holinesse a command to king baldwine to be reestablished in the patriarchs place ; but returning home died by the way at messana in sicily , being accounted seven yeares patriarch , foure at home , and three in banishment . whilest dabert was thrust out , one ebremarus was made patriarch against his will by king baldwine . an holy and devout man ; but he had more of the dove then the serpent , and was none of the deepest reach . he hearing that he was complained of to the pope for his irregular election , posted to rome to excuse himself , shewing he was chosen against his will : and though preferment may not be snatched , it needs not be thrust away . but all would not do ; it was enough to put him out , because the king put him in . wherefore he was commanded to return home , and to wait the definitive sentence , which gibellinus archbishop of arles and the popes legate should pronounce in the matter . gibellinus coming to jerusalem , concluded the election of ebremarus to be illegall and void , and was himself chosen patriarch in his place ; and the other in reverence of his piety made archbishop of cesarea . and though arnulphus ( the firebrand of this church ) desired the patriarchs place for himself , yet was he better content with gibellinus his election , because he was a through-old man , and hoped that candle would quickly go out that was in the socket . * to this gibellinus king baldwine granted , that all places which he or his successours should winne , should be subject to his jurisdiction ; and this also was confirmed by pope paschall the . but bernard patriarch of antioch found himself much aggrieved hereat ; because many of these cities by the ancient canon of the councel of nice , were subject to his church . at last the pope took the matter into his hand , and stroked the angry patriarch of antioch into gentlenesse with good language . he shewed , how since the councel of nice the countrey had got a new face ; ancient mountains were buried , rivers drowned in oblivion , and they new-christened with other names : yea , the deluge of the saracens tyranny had washed away the bounds of the churches jurisdictions , that now they knew not their own severals , where mahometanisme so long had made all common and waste . he desired him therefore to be contented with this new division of their jurisdictions : especially because it was reasonable , that the king of jerusalem and his successours should dispose of those places which they should winne with their own swords . bernard perceiving hereby how his holinesse stood affected in the businesse , contented his conscience that he had set his title on foot , and then quietly let it fall to the ground , as counting it no policie to shew his teeth where he durst not bite . gibellinus never laid claim to the citie of jerusalem , whether it was because in thankfulnesse for this large ecclesiasticall power which king baldwine had bestowed upon him , or that his old age was too weak to strive with so strong an adversarie . he sat foure yeares in his chair , and arnulphus thinking he went too slow to the grave , is suspected to have given him something to have mended his pace , and was himself substituted in his room by the especiall favour of king baldwine . this arnulphus was called mala corona , as if all vices met in him to dance a round . and no wonder if the king being himself wantonly disposed , advanced such a man : for generally , loose patrones cannot abide to be pinched and pent with over-strict chaplains . besides , it was policie in him to choose such a patriarch as was liable to exceptions for his vitious life ; that so if he began to bark against the king , his mouth might be quickly stopped . arnulphus was as quiet as a lambe , and durst never challenge his interest in jerusalem from godfreys donation ; as fearing to wrestle with the king , who had him on the hip , and could out him at pleasure for his bad manners . amongst other vices he was a great church-robber , who to make emmelor his niece a princesse , and to marry eustace prince of sidon , gave her the citie of jericho for her dowrie , and lands belonging to his see worth five thousand crowns yearly . and though papists may pretend that marriage causeth covetousnesse in the clergie , yet we shall find when the prelacie were constrained to a single life , that their nephews ate more church-bread then now the children of married ministers . yea , some popes not onely fed their bastards with church-milk , but even cut off the churches breasts for their pompous and magnificent maintenance . and thus having dispatched the story of the church in this kings reigne , we come now to handle the businesse of the common-wealth entirely by it self . chap. . a mountain-like army of new adventurers after long and hard travail delivered of a mouse ; alexius his treachery . the fame of the good successe in palestine summoned a new supply of other pilgrimes out of christendome . germany , and other places which were sparing at the first voyage , made now amends with double liberality . the chief adventurers were , guelpho duke of bavaria , ( who formerly had been a great champion of the popes against henry the emperour ; and from him * they of the papall faction were denominated guelphes , in distinction from the imperiall party which were called gibellines . ) hugh brother to the king of france , and stephen earl of bloys , ( both which had much suffered in their reputation for deserting their fellows in the former expedition , and therefore they sought to unstain their credits by going again . ) stephen earl of burgundy , william duke of aquitain , frederick count of bogen , hugh brother to the earl of tholose : besides many great prelates ; diemo archbishop of saltzburg , the * bishops of millain and pavie , which led out of lombardy ; the totall summe amounting to . all stood on the tiptoes of expectation to see what so great an army would atchieve ; men commonly measuring victories by the multitudes of the souldiers . but they did nothing memorable , save onely that so many went so farre to do nothing . their sufferings are more famous then their deeds ; being so consumed with plague , famine , and the sword , that * conrade abbot of urspurg , who went and wrote this voyage , beleeveth that not a thousand of all these came into palestine , and those so poore that their bones would scarce hold together : so that they were fitter to be sent into an hospitall then to march into the field ; having nothing about them wherewith to affright their enemies , except it were the ghost-like ghastlinesse of their famished faces . the army that came out of lombardy were so eaten up by the swords of the turks , that no fragments of them were left , nor news to be heard what was become of them : and no wonder , being led by prelates unexperienced in martiall affairs ; which , though perchance great clerks , were now to turn over a new leaf , which they had no skill to reade . * luther was wont to say , that he would be unwilling to be a souldier in that army where priests were captains ; because the church and not the camp was their proper place ; whereas going to warre , they willingly outed themselves of gods protection , being out of their vocation . but the main matter which made this whole voyage miscarry in her travail , was the treachery of the midwife through whose hands it was to passe . for alexius the grecian emperour feared , lest betwixt the latines in the east in palestine , and west in europe , as betwixt two milstones , his empire lying in the midst should be ground to powder . whereupon , as these pilgrimes went through his countrey , he did them all possible mischief , still under the pretense of kindnesse , ( what hinderer to a false helper ? ) calling the chief captains of the army his sonnes ; but they found it true , the more courtesie , the more craft . yea , this deep dissembler would put off his visard in private , and professe to his friends that he delighted as much to see the turks and these christians in battel , as to see * mastiffdogs fight together ; and that * which side soever lost , yet he himself would be a gainer . but when they had passed grecia , and had crossed the bosporus ( otherwise called the arm of s. george ) entring into the dominion of the turks , they were for thirty dayes exposed a mark to their arrows . and though this great multitude was never stabbed with any mortall defeat in a set battel , yet they consumed away by degrees , the cowardly turks striking them when their hands were pinnioned up in the straits of unknown passages . the generalls bestrawed the countrey about with their corpses . great hugh of france was buried at tarsus in cilicia ; duke guelpho , at paphos in cyrpus ; * diemo the archbishop of saltzburg saw his own heart cut out , and was * martyred by the turks at chorazin : and god ( saith my authour ) manifested by the event , that the warre was not pleasing unto him . chap. . antipatris and cesarea wonne by the christians . the variety of king baldwines successe . mean time king baldwine was imployed with better successe in palestine : for hitherto joppa was the onely port the christians had ; but now by the assistance of the genoan fleet ( who for their pains were to have * a third part of the spoil , and a whole street to themselves of every city they took ) baldwine wonne most considerable havens along the mid-land-sea . he began with antipatris , to ransome the christian honour which was morgaged here , because godfrey was driven away from hence : and no wonder , having no * shipping ; whereas that army which takes a strong harbour , otter-like must swim at sea as well as go on ground . next he took cesarea-stratonis , built and so named in the honour of cesar augustus , by herod the great ; who so * politickly poised himself , that he sat upright whilest the wheel of fortune turned round under him . let antony winne , let augustus winne , all one to him ; by contrary winds he sailed to his own ends . cesarea taken , baldwine at rhamula put the turks to a great overthrow . but see the chance of warre ; few dayes after at the same place he received a great defeat by the infidels , wherein besides many others , the two stephens , earls of burgundy and bloys , were slain . this was the first great overthrow the christians suffered in palestine : and needs must blows be grievous to them who were not used to be beaten . the king was reported slain , but fame deserved to be pardoned for so good a lie ; which for the present much disheartened the christians , a great part of the souldiers courage being wrapped up in the life of the generall . baronius ( as bold as any * bethshemite to pry into the ark of gods secrets ) * saith , this was a just punishment on baldwine for detaining the churches goods . but to leave hidden things to god , the apparent cause of his overthrow was his own * rashnesse , being desirous to ingrosse all the credit alone , without sending for succours and supplies from his neighbours . he assaulted his numerous enemies with an handfull of men ; and so brake himself , with covetousnesse to purchase more honour then he could pay for . and herein he discovered his want of judgement , being indeed like an arrow well-feathered ▪ but with a blunt pile ; he flew swift , but did not sink deep . thus his credit lay bleeding , but he quickly stanched it . the pagans little suspecting to be re-incountred , gave themselves over to mirth and jollity ( as security oftentimes maketh the sword to fall out of their hands from whom no force could wrest it ) when baldwine coming on them with fresh souldiers , strook them with the back-blows of an unexpected enemy , which alwayes pierce the deepest , routed them and put them to the light . this his victory followed so suddenly after his overthrow , that some mention not the overthrow at all , but the victory onely ; as that good horseman is scarce perceived to be thrown , that quickly recovereth the saddle . chap. . the conquest of sundry fair havens by the christians ; ptolemais , &c. whilest the king was thus busied in battel , tancred prince of galilee was not idle , but enlarged the christian dominions with the taking of apamea and laodicea . these cities in celosyria were built by * antiochus : and they agreed so well together , that they were called sisters ; and as in concord , so in condition they went hand in hand , being now both conquered together . ptolemais next stooped to the christian yoke ; so named from ptolemeus philometor king of egypt ; a citie on the mediterranean , of a triangular form , having two sides washed with the sea , the third regarding the champian . the genoan galleys being in number , did the main service in conquering , and had granted them for their reward large profits from the harbour , a church to themselves , & jurisdiction over a fourth part of the citie . this ptolemais was afterwards the very seat of the holy warre . let me mind the reader of a latine proverb , * lis ptolemaica ; that is , a long and constant strife ; so called from ptolemais , a froward old woman who was never out of wrangling . but may not the proverb as well be verified of this citie , in which there was ninescore yeares fighting against the turks ? with * worse successe did baldwine count of edessa , and earl joceline besiege charran in mesopotamia : for when it was ready to be surrendred , the christian captains fell out amongst themselves , were defeated by the pagans , and the two forenamed earls taken prisoners . this charran is famous for * abrahams living , and his father terahs dying there : and in the same place rich * crassus the romane vomited up the sacrilegious goods he had devoured of the temple of jerusalem , and had his army overthrown . nor here may we overpasse , how boemund prince of antioch with a great navie spoiled the harbours of grecia , to be revenged of treacherous alexius the emperour . voluntaries for this service he had enough , all desiring to have a lash at the dog in the manger , and every mans hand itching to throw a cudgel at him ; who like a nut-tree must be manured by beating , or else would never bear fruit : yet on some conditions an agreement at last was made betwixt them . to return to palestine . the next citie that felt the victorious arms of the christians was byblus ; a good haven , and built by heveus the sixth sonne of canaan . here adonis was anciently worshipped , whose untimely death by a bore venus so much bemoned : and the fable is moralized , when lust lamenteth the losse of beauty consumed by age . nor did tripoli hold out long after ; so called , because jointly built by the tyrians , sidonians , and aradites . and berytus ( since barutus ) accompanied her neighbour , and both of them were yeelded unto the christians . the king created one bertram , a well-deserving noble-man , earl of tripoli ; who did homage to the king for his place , which was accounted a title of great honour , as being one of the foure tetrarchies of the kingdome of jerusalem . chap. . the description of sidon and tyre ; the one taken , the other besieged in vain by baldwine . sidon is the most ancient citie of phenicia . and though the proud grecians counted all barbarians besides themselves , yet phenicia was the schoolmistresse of grecia , and first taught her her alphabet . for cadmus a phenician born , first invented and brought letters to thebes . sidon had her name from the eldest sonne of * canaan , and was famous for the finest crystall-glasses , which here were made . the glassie sand was fetched miles off , from the river belus : but it could not be made * fusile till it was brought hither ; whether for want of tools , or from some secret sullen humour therein , we will not dispute . this citie anciently was of great renown : but her fortune being as brittle as her glasses , she was fain to find neck for every one of the monarchs yokes ; and now at last ( by the assistance of the * danish and norvegian fleet ) was subdued by the christians . fleshed with this conquest , they next besieged tyre . sea and land , nature and art consented together to make this city strong : for it was seated in an island , save that it was tacked to the continent with a small neck of land , which was fortified with many walls and towres . it is questionable whether the strength or wealth of this city was greater ; but out of question that the pride was greater then either . here the best purples were died , a colour even from the beginning destined to courts and magistracie ; and here the richest clothes were imbroidered and curiously wrought . and though generally those who are best with their fingers are worst with their arms , yet the tyrians were also stout men , able mariners , and the planters of the noblest colonies in the world . as their city was the daughter of zidon , so was it mother to romes rivall carthage , leptis , utica , cadiz , and nola. the most plentifull proof they gave of their valour , was , when for three yeares they defended themselves against nebuchadnezzar ; and afterwards stopped the full career of alexanders conquests ; so that his victorious army which did flie into other countreys , was glad to creep into this citie . yet after seven moneths siege ( such is the omnipotency of industry ) he forced it , and stripped this lady of the sea naked beyond modesty and mercy , putting all therein to the sword that resisted , and hanged up of the prime citizens in a rank along the sea-shore . yet afterwards tyre out-grew these her miseries , and attained , though not to her first giant-like , yet to a competent proportion of greatnesse . at this time wherein king baldwine besieged it , it was of great strength and importance , insomuch that finding it a weight too heavy for his shoulders , he was fain to break off his siege and depart . with worse successe he afterwards did rashly give battel to the vast army of the persian generall , wherein he lost many men , all his baggage , and escaped himself with great difficulty . chap. . the pleasurable voyages of king baldwine , and his death . after the tempest of a long warre a calm came at last , and king baldwine had a five yeares vacation of peace in his old age : in which time he disported himself with many voyages for pleasure : as , one to the red-sea , not so called from the rednesse of the water , or sand , as some without any colour have conceited ; but from the neighbouring edomites , whom the grecians called erythreans , or red men , truly translating the hebrew name of edomites : they had their name of rednesse from their father * edom. and here baldwine surveyed the countrey , with the nature and strength thereof . another journey he took afterwards into * egypt , as conceiving himself ingaged in honour to make one inrode into that countrey in part of paiment of those many excursions the egyptians had made into his kingdome . he took the city of * pharamia , anciently called rameses , and gave the spoil thereof to his souldiers . this work being done , he began his play , and entertained the time with viewing that riddle of nature , the river of nilus , whose stream is the confluence of so many wonders : first , for its undiscovered fountain ; though some late geographers , because they would be held more intelligent then others , have found the head of nilus in their own brains , and make it to flow from a fountain they fansie in the mountains of the moon , in the south of africa : then , for the strange creatures bred therein ; as river-bulls , horses , and crocodiles : but the chiefest wonder is the yearly increasing thereof from the * . of june to the midst of september , overflowing all egypt , and the banks of all humane judgement to give the true reason thereof . much time baldwine spent in beholding this river , wherein he took many fishes , and his death in eating them : for a new surfet revived the grief of an old wound , which he many yeares before received at the siege of ptolemais . his sicknesse put him in mind of his sinnes , conscience speaking loudest when men begin to grow speechlesse : and especially he grieved , that having another wife alive , he had married the countesse of sicilie , the relict of earl roger : but now heartily sorrowfull for his fault , he sent away this his last wife ; yet we reade not that he received his former again . other faults he would have amended , but was prevented by death . and no doubt where the deed could not be present , the desire was a sufficient proxy . he died at latis , a city in the road from egypt , and was brought to jerusalem , and buried on palm-sunday in the temple of the sepulchre , in the . yeare of his reigne . a prince superiour to his brother godfrey in learning , equall in valour , inferiour in judgement ; rash , precipitate , greedy of honour , but swallowing more then he could digest , and undertaking what he was not able to perform ; little-affected to the clergie , or rather to their temporall greatnesse , especially when it came in competition with his own ; much given to women , ( besides the three wives he had , first marrying gutrera an english-woman ; after her death , tafror an armenian lady ; and whilest she yet survived , the countesse of sicilie ) yet he had no child , god commonly punishing wantonnesse with barrennesse . for the rest , we referre the reader to the dull epitaph written on his tombe , which ( like the verses of that age ) runneth in a kind of rhythme , though it can scarce stand on true feet : rex baldwinus , iudas alter maccabaeus , spes patriae , vigor ecclesiae , virtus utriusque ; quem formidabant , cui dona tributa ferebant , * cedar , aegypti dan , ac homicida damascus ; proh dolor ! in modico clauditur hoc tumulo . baldwine another maccabee for might ; hope , help of state , of church , and boths delight ; cedar , with egypts dan of him afraid , bloudy damascus to him tribute paid : alas ! here in this tombe is laid . let him who pleaseth play the critick on the divers readings ; and whether by dan be meant the souldan , or whether it relateth to the conceit that antichrist shall come of the tribe of dan. but perchance the text is not worth a comment . chap. . baldwine the second chosen king ; prince eustace peaceably renounceth his right . it happened the same day king baldwine was buried , that baldwine de burgo his kinsman and count of edessa came casually into the city , intending onely there to keep his easter : when behold the christian princes met together for the election of a new king. the greater part did centre their suffrages on prince eustace , brother to the two former kings , but then absent in france . they alledged , that it was not safe to break the chain of succession , where the inversion of order bringeth all to confusion ; and , that it was high ingratitude to the memories of godfrey and baldwine , to exclude their brother from the crown ; especially he being fit in all points to be a king , wanting nothing but that he wanted to be there ; that in the mean time some might be deputed to lock up all things safe , and to keep the keyes of the state till he should arrive . on the other side , some objected the dangers of an interregnum , how when a state is headlesse , every malecontent would make head ; inconveniences in other countreys would be mischiefs here , where they lived in the mouth of their enemies : and therefore to stay for a king , was the way to lose the kingdome . then joceline prince of tiberias , a man of great authoritie , offered himself a moderatour in this difference , and counselled both sides to this effect : to proceed to a present election , and therein to be directed not confined by succession ; though they missed the next , let them take one of godfreys kindred : as the case now stood , he must be counted next in bloud that was next at hand ; and this was baldwine count of edessa , on whom he bestowed most superlative praises . all were much affected with these his commendations ; for they knew that joceline was his sworn adversary , and concluded that it must needs be a mighty weight of worth in baldwine , which pressed out praise from the mouth of his enemy : though indeed private ends prompted him to make this speech , who hoped himself to get the earldome of edessa when baldwine should be translated to jerusalem . however , his words took effect , and baldwine hereupon was chosen king , and * crowned on easter-day by arnulphus the patriarch . mean time some secretly were sent to prince eustace to come and challenge the crown . but he hearing that another was already in possession , though he was on his journey coming , quietly went back again . a large alms , to give away a kingdome out of his charity to the publick cause . baldwine was of a proper personage , and able body , born nigh rhems in france , sonne to hugh count of rorster and millisent his wife . he was exceedingly charitable to the poore , and pious towards god ; witnesse the brawn on his hands and knees made with continuall praying : valiant also , and excellently well seen in all martiall affairs . we had almost forgotten what happened in this yeare , the death of alexius the grecian emperour , that arch-hypocrite and grand enemy of this warre . on whom we may bestow this epitaph : if he of men the best doth know to live who best knows to dissemble , justly then to thee , alexius , we this praise must give , that thou to live didst know the best of men . and this was it at last did stop thy breath , thou knew'st not how to counterfeit with death . his sonne calo-johannes succeeded him in his empire , of whom we shall have much cause to speak hereafter . chap. . the ecclesiasticall affairs in this kings reigne . according to our wonted method , let us first rid out of the way church-matters in this kings reigne , that so we may have the more room to follow the affairs of the common-wealth . we left arnulphus the last patriarch of jerusalem ; since which time the bad savour of his life came to the popes nose , who sent a legate to depose him . but arnulphus hasted to rome with much * money , and there bought himself to be innocent , so that he enjoyed his place during his life . guarimund succeeded in his place , a very religious man , by whom god gave the christians many victories . he called a councel at neapolis or sichem , wherein many wholesome things were concluded for reformation of manners . betwixt him and william archbishop of tyre ( an english-man ) there arose a difference , because this archbishop would not receive his confirmation of him , ( from whom by ancient right he should take it ) but from the pope , counting it the most honour to hold of the highest landlord . and indeed the pope for gain confirmed him , though he should have sent him to the patriarch . but the court of rome careth not though men steal their corn , so be it they bring it to their mills to grind . after guarimunds death , stephen abbot of s. john de valia was chosen patriarch ; once a cavalleer , but afterward laying down the sword , he took up the word , and entred into orders . he awaked the patriarchs title to jerusalem , which had slept during his three predecessours , and challenged it very imperiously of the king ; for he was a man of spirit and metall . and indeed he had too much life to live long . for the king fearing what flame this spark might kindle , and finding him to be an active man , gave him ( as it is suspected ) a little more active poison , which cut him off in the midst of his age , and beginning of his projects . the king coming to him when he lay on his death-bed , asked him how he did : to whom he answered , my * lord , for the present i am as you would have me . a cruel murder , if true : but it is strange , that he whose hands ( as we have said ) were hardened with frequent prayer , should soften them again in innocent bloud . wherefore we will not condemn the memory of a king on doubtfull evidence . the patriarchs place was filled with william prior of the sepulchre , a fleming ; a man better beloved then learned . chap. . knights-templars , and teutonicks instituted . about this time the two great orders of templars and teutonicks appeared in the world . the former under hugh de paganis , and ganfred of s. omer their first founders . they agreed in profession with the hospitallers , and performed it alike , vowing poverty , chastity , and obedience , and to defend pilgrimes coming to the sepulchre . it is * falsely fathered on s. bernard , that he appointed them their rule ; who prescribeth not what they should do , but onely * describeth what they did : namely , how they were never idle , mending their old clothes when wanting other imployment ; never played at chesse or dice , never hawked nor hunted , beheld no stage-playes ; arming themselves with faith within , with steel without ; aiming more at strength then state ; to be feared , not admired ; to strike terrour with their valour , not stirre covetousnesse with their wealth in the heart of their enemies . other sweet praises of them let him who pleaseth fetch from the mouth of this mellifluous doctour . indeed at first they were very poore ; in token whereof they gave for their * seal , two men riding on one horse . and hence it was , that if the turks took any of them prisoners , their constant ransome was a * sword and a belt ; it being conceived that their poore state could stretch to no higher price . but after their order was confirmed by pope honorius ( by the intreatie of stephen the patriarch of jerusalem ) who appointed them to wear a white garment , to which eugenius the third added a red crosse on their breast ; they grew wonderfully rich by the bounty of severall patrones : yea , * the king and patriarch of jerusalem dandled this infant-order so long in their laps till it brake their knees , it grew so heavy at last ; and these ungratefull templars did pluck out the feathers of those wings which hatched and brooded them . from alms-men they turned lords ; and though very valiant at first ( for they were sworn rather to die then to flie ) afterwards lazinesse withered their arms , and swelled their bellies . they laughed at the rules of their first institution , as at the swaddling-clothes of their infancie ; neglecting the patriarch , and counting themselves too old to be whipped with the rod of his discipline ; till partly their vitiousnesse , and partly their wealth caused their finall extirpation , as ( god willing ) shall be shewed * hereafter . at the same time began the teutonick order , consisting onely of dutch-men well descended , living at jerusalem in an house which one of that nation bequeathed to his countreymen that came thither on pilgrimage . in the yeare their order was honoured with a great master , whereof the first was henry a-walpot ; and they had an habit assigned them to wear , black crosses on white robes : they were to fight in the defense of christianity against pagans . but we shall meet with them more largely in the following story . chap. . the christians variety of successe ; tyre taken by the assistance of the venetians . it is worth the readers marking , how this kings reigne was checquered with variety of fortune : for first , roger prince of antioch ( or rather guardian in the minoritie of young boemund ) went forth with greater courage then discretion ; whereunto his successe was answerable , being conquered and killed by the turks . but baldwine on the of august following , forced the turks to a restitution of their victorie , and with a small army gave them a great overthrow , in spite of gazi their boasting generall . to qualifie the christians joy for this good successe , joceline unadvisedly fighting with balak , a petty king of the turks , was conquered and taken prisoner : and king baldwine coming to deliver him , was also taken himself ; for which he might thank his own rashnesse : for it had been his best work to have done nothing for a while , till the venetian succours which were not farre off , had come to him ; and not presently to adventure all to the hazard of a battel . yet the christians hands were not bound in the kings captivity : for eustace grenier , chosen vice-roy whilest the king was in durance , stoutly defended the countrey : and count joceline , which had escaped out of prison , fighting again with balak at hircapolis , routed his army , and killed him with his own hands . but the main piece of service was the taking of tyre , which was done under the conduct of guarimund the patriarch of jerusalem ; but chiefly by the help of the venetian navy , which michael their duke brought , who for their pains were to have a third part of the city to themselves . tyre had in it store of men and munition ; but famine increasing ( against whose arrows there is no armour of proof ) it was yeelded on honourable terms . and though perhaps hunger shortly would have made the turks digest courser conditions , yet the christians were loth to anger their enemies valour into desperatenesse . next yeare the king returned home , having been eighteen moneths a prisoner , being to pay for his ransome an hundred thousand michaelets , and for security he left his daughter in pawn . but he payed the turks with their own money , or ( which was as good coin ) with the money of the saracens , vanquishing barsequen their captain at antiochia : and not long after , he conquered doldequin another great commander of them at damascus . to correct the ranknesse of the christians pride for this good successe , damascus was afterward by them unfortunately besieged : heaven discharged against them thunder-ordinance , arrows of lightning , small-shot of hail , whereby they being miserably wasted were forced to depart . and this affliction was increased when boemund the young prince of antioch , one of great hope and much lamented , was defeated and slain . authours impute these mishaps to the christians pride , and relying on their own strength , which never is more untrusty then when most trusted . true it was , god often gave them great victories , when they defended themselves in great straits : hereupon they turned their thankfulnesse into presumption , grew at last from defending themselves to dare their enemies on disadvantages to their often overthrow : for god will not unmake his miracles by making them common . and may not this also be counted some cause of their ill successe , that they alwayes imputed their victories to the materiall crosse which was carried before them ? so that christ his glory after his ascension suffered again on the crosse by their superstition . chap. . the death of baldwine the second . king baldwine a little before his death renounced the world , and took on him a religious habit . this was the fashion of many princes in that age ; though they did it for divers ends . some thought to make amends for their disordered lives by entring into some holy order at their deaths : others having surfeted of the worlds vanitie , fasted from it when they could eat no more because of the impotency of their bodies : others being crossed by the world by some misfortune , sought to crosse the world again in renouncing of it . these like furious gamesters threw up their cards , not out of dislike of gaming but of their game ; and they were rather discontented to live then contented to die . but we must beleeve that baldwine did it out of true devotion , to ripen himself for heaven , because he was piously affected from his youth ; so that all his life was religiously tuned , though it made the sweetest musick in the close . he died not long after , on the of august , in the yeare of his reigne ; and was buried with his predecessours in the temple of the sepulchre . by morphe a grecian lady his wife , he had foure daughters : whereof millesent was the eldest ; the second alice , married to young boemund prince of antioch ; the third hodiern , wife to reimund prince of tripoli ; and mete the youngest , abbesse of bethanie . chap. . of fulco , the fourth king of ierusalem . fulco earl of tours , mam , and anjou , coming some three yeares before on pilgrimage to jerusalem , there took in marriage millesent the kings daughter . he had assigned to him the city of tyre , and some other princely accommodations for his present maintenance , and the kingdome after the death of his father in law , which he received accordingly . he was welnigh yeares old : and by his first wife he had a sonne , geffrey plantagenet earl of anjou to whom he left his lands in france , and from whom our kings of england are descended . this fulco was a very valiant man , able both of body and mind . his greatest defect was a weak memory ( though not so bad as that of * messala corvinus , who forgot his own name ) insomuch that he knew not his own servants ; and those whom he even now preferred , were presently after strangers unto him . yet though he had a bad memory whilest he lived , he hath a good one now he is dead , and his vertues are famous to posteritie . chap. . the church-story during this kings reigne ; the remarkable ruine of rodolphus patriarch of antioch . the church of jerusalem yeelded no alterations in the reigne of fulco . but in antioch there was much stirre who should succeed bernard that peaceable long-lived man , who sat yeares , and survived eight patriarchs of jerusalem . now whilest the clergie were tedious in their choice , the laity was too nimble for them , and they ( thinking it equall to have an hand in making , who must have their arms in defending a patriarch ) clapped one * rodolphus of noble parentage into the chair . he presently took his pall off from the altar of s. peter , thereby sparing both his purse and pains to go to rome , and acknowledging no other superiour then that apostle for his patrone . this man was the darling of the gentry , ( and no wonder if they loved him who was of their cloth and making ) but hated of the clergie . wherefore knowing himself to need strong arms who was to swim against the stream , he wrought himself into the favour of the princesse of antioch , the widow of young boemund , so that he commanded all her command , and beat down his enemies with her strength . he promised to make a marriage betwixt her and reimund earl of poictou , ( a frenchman of great fame , who was coming into these parts ) but he deceived her , and caused the earl to marry constantia the daughter of this lady , by whom he had the principality of antioch . indeed this constantia was but a child for age ; but they never want yeares to marry , who have a kingdome for their portion . the patriarch to make firre work , bound prince reimund by an oath to be true to him : but friends unjustly gotten , are seldome comfortably enjoyed : of his sworn friend , he proved his sworn enemy , and forced him to go up to rome , there to answer many accusations laid to his charge ; wherein the ground-work perchance was true , though malice might set the varnish on it . the main matter was , that he made odious comparisons betwixt antioch and rome , and counted himself equall to his holinesse . rodolphus coming to rome found the popes doores shut against him , but he opened them with a golden key . money he sowed plentifully , and reaped it when he came to be tried ; for he found their hands very soft towards him whom formerly he had greased in the fist . he also resigned his old pall , and took a new one from the pope . as for his other crimes , it was concluded that albericus bishop of ostia should be sent into syria the popes legate , to examine matters , and to proceed accordingly with the patriarch as things there should be found alledged and proved : whereat his adversaries much stormed , who expected that he should instantly have been deposed . yet afterwards they prevailed mightily with albericus the legate , and bowed him on their side . he coming to antioch cited the patriarch to appear ; who being thrice called , came not . on his absence all were present with their conjectures what should cause it : some imputing it to his guiltinesse ; others to his contempt ; others to his fear of his enemies potencie , or judges partiality : for indeed the legate came not with a virgin-judgement , but ravished with prejudice ; being prepossessed with this intent to dispossesse him of his place . some thought he relied on his peace formerly made at rome , where the illegality of his election was rectified by his laying down his first pall , and assuming a new one from the pope . here was it worth the beholding in what severall * streams mens affections ran . all wished that the tree might be felled , who had hopes to gather chips by his fall ; and especially one arnulphus , and dean lambert , the promoters against the patriarch . others pitied him , and though perchance content that his roof might be taken down , were loth he should be razed to the ground . some reserved their affections till they were counselled by the event which side to favour ; and would not be engaged by any manifest declaration , but so that they might fairly retreat if need required . amongst other prelates which were present , serlo archbishop of apamea was one , who formerly had been a great enemy to the patriarch , but had lately taken himself off from that course . the legate demanded of him why he proceeded not to accuse the patriarch as he was wont : to whom he answered , * what formerly i did , was done out of unadvised heat against the health of my soul , discovering the nakednesse of my father , like to cursed cham ; and now god hath recalled me from mine errour : so that i will neither accuse , nor presumptuously judge him , but am ready to die for his safety . hereupon the legate immediately ( such was the martiall law in a church-man ) deposed him from his archbishoprick . little hope then had the patriarch , who saw himself condemned in his friend : and he himself followed not long after , being thrust out by violence , cast into prison , and there long kept in chains ; till at last he made an escape to rome , intending there to traver●e his cause again , had not death ( occasioned by poison , as is thought ) prevented him . chap. . calo-iohannes the grecian emperour demandeth antiochia ; reimund the prince thereof doeth homage to him for it . calo-johannes the grecian emperour came up with a * vast army of horse and foot , and demanded of reimund prince of antioch , to resigne unto him that whole signorie , according to the composition which the christian princes made with * alexius his father . hereat reimund and all the latines stormed out of measure : had they purchased the inheritance of the land with their own bloud , now to turn tenants at will to other ? some pleaded , that the ill usage of alexius * extorted from godfrey and the rest of the pilgrimes that agreement ; and an oath made by force , is of no force , but may freely be broken , because not freely made . others alledged , that when antiochia was first wonne , it was offered to alexius , and * he refused it : so fair a tender was a paiment . others argued , that that generation which made this contract was wholly dead , and that the debt descended not on them to make it good . but most insisted on this , that alexius kept not his covenants , and assisted them not according to the agreement . indeed he called these princes his sonnes ; but he disinherited them of their hopes , and all their portion was in promises never payed . no reason then , that the knot of the agreement should hold them fast , and let him loose . the worst of these answers had been good enough , if their swords had been as strong as the grecian emperours . but he coming with a numerous army , in few dayes overcame all cilicia ( which for fourty yeares had belonged to the prince of antioch ) and then besieged the city of antioch it self . force is the body , and resolution the soul of an action : both these were well tempered together in the emperours army ; and the city brought to great distresse . whereupon fulk king of jerusalem with some other princes , fearing what wofull conclusion would follow so violent premisses , made a composition between them . so that reimund did homage to the emperour , and held his principality as a vassall from him . and though foure yeares after the emperour came again into these parts , yet he did not much harm ; pillaging was all his conquest . some yeares after he died , being accidentally poisoned by one of his own arrows which he intended for the wild boar . a prince so much better to the latines then his father alexius , as an honourable foe is above a treacherous friend . his empire he disposed to emmanuel his sonne . chap. . the succession of the turkish kings , and the saracen caliphs : of the unlimited power of a souldan ; some resemblance thereof anciently in the kingdome of france . no great service of moment was performed in the reigne of king fulk , because he was molested with domesticall discords , and intestine warres against paulinus count of tripoli , and hugh earl of joppa : onely beersheba was fortified , and some forts built about askelon , as an introduction to besiege it . also skirmishes were now and then fought with variety of successe , against sanguin one of the turks great princes . and here let the reader take notice , that though we have mentioned many commanders , as auxianus , corboran , ammiravissus , tenduc , gazi , balak , dordequin , borscquin , sanguin , some turkish , some saracen , yet none of these were absolute kings ( though perchance in courtesie sometimes so styled by writers ) but were onely generals & lieutenants accountable to their superiours , the caliphs either of babylon or egypt : who what they were , we referre the reader to our chronologie . caliph was the pope ( as i may say ) of the saracens , a mixture of priest and prince . but we need not now trouble our selves with curiosity in their successions ; these caliphs being but obscure men , who confined themselves to pleasures , making play their work , and having their constant diet on the sawce of recreation . we are rather to take notice of their generals and captains , which were the men of action . for a souldan ( which was but a vice-roy ) with his borrowed light shineth brighter in history then the caliph himself . yet may we justly wonder , that these slothfull caliphs should do nothing themselves , and commit such unlimited power to their souldans ; especially seeing too much trust is a strong tentation to make ambitious flesh and bloud disloyall . yet something may be said for the caliph of egypt , besides that the pleasures of that countrey were sufficient to invite him to a voluptuous life : first , the awfull regard which the egyptians had of their princes , gave them security to trust their officers with ample commission . secondly , herein they followed an ancient custome practised by the pharaohs anciently ; who gave unto joseph so large authority , as we may read in genesis . some example also we have hereof in france about nine hundred yeares ago . childerick , theodorick , clovis , childebert , dagobert , &c. a chain of idle kings well linked together , gave themselves over to pleasures privately , never coming abroad ; but onely on may-day they shewed themselves to the people , riding in a chariot , adorned with flowers , and drawn with oxen , ( slow cattel , but good enough for so lazy luggage ) whilest charles martell and pipin , maiors of the palace , opened packets , gave audience to embassadours , made warre or peace , enacted and repealed laws at pleasure , till afterwards from controllers of the kings houshold they became controllers of the kings , and at last kings themselves . to return to egypt : let none be troubled ( pardon a charitable digression to satisfie some scrupulous in a point of chronologie ) if they find anciently more kings of the egyptians , and longer reigning then the consent of times will allow room for : for no doubt that which hath swelled the number , is the counting deputies for kings . yea , we find the holy spirit in the same breath , . reg. . . speak a vice-roy to be a king and no king ; there was no king in edom ; a deputy was king. chap. . the lamentable death of king fulk . when fulco had now eleven yeares with much industry and care ( though with little enlarging of his dominions ) governed the land , he was slain in earnest as following his sport in hunting , to the great grief of his subjects . and we may heare him thus speaking his epitaph : a hare i hunted , and death hunted me ; the more my speed was , was the worse my speed : for as well-mounted i away did flee , death caught and kill'd me , falling from my steed . yet this mishap an happy misse i count , that fell from horse that i to heaven might mount . a prince of a sweet nature ; and though one would have read him to be very furious by his high-coloured countenance , yet his face was a good hypocrite ; and ( contra leges istius coloris , saith * tyrius ) he was affable , courteous , and pitifull to all in distresse . he was buried with his predecessours in the temple of the sepulchre , leaving two sonnes , baldwine who was , and almerick yeares old . chap. . the disposition of baldwine the third ; the care of queen millesent in her sonnes minority . baldwine succeeded his father , who quickly grew up , as to age , so in all royall accomplishments , and became a most complete prince ; well learned , especially in historie ; liberall ; very witty , and very pleasant in discourse : he would often give a smart jest , which would make the place both blush and bleed where it lighted : yet this was the better taken at his hands , because he cherished not a cowardly wit in himself , to wound men behind their backs , but played on them freely to their faces ; yea , and never refused the coin he payed them in , but would be contented ( though a king ) to be the subject of a good jest : and * sometimes he was well-favouredly met with as the best fencer in wits school hath now and then an unhappy blow dealt him . some thought he descended beneath himself in too much familiarity to his subjects ; for he would commonly call and salute mean persons by their names : but the vulgar sort , in whose judgements the lowest starres are ever the greatest , conceived him to surpasse all his predecessours , because he was so fellow-like with them . but whilest yet he was in minority , his mother millesent made up his want of age with her abundant care , being governour of all : a woman in sex , but of a masculine spirit . she continued a widow : and as for childrens sake she married once ; so for her childrens sake she married no more . * s. bernard and she spake often together by letters : he extolled her single life , how it was more honour to live a widow , then to be a queen : * this she had by birth , that by gods bounty ; this she was happily begotten , that she had manfully gotten of her self . yet we find not that she made a vow never to marry again ; wherein she did the wiser : for the chastest minds cannot conclude from the present calm , that there will never after arise any lustfull storm in their souls . besides , a resolution is a free custody ; but a vow is a kind of prison , which restrained nature hath the more desire to break . chap. . of fulcher patriarch of ierusalem , and the insolencie of the hospitallers against him . william , who was last possessed of the patriarchs chair in jerusalem , was none of the greatest clerks . but whatsoever he was for edifying of the church , he was excellent at building of castles ( one at askelon , another at ramula , a third called blank-guard for the securing of pilgrimes ) till at last having sat in his place fifteen yeares , he was translated to heaven , and on earth fulcher archbishop of tyre succeeded him . an honest old man , whose weak age was much molested with the pride and rebellion of the hospitallers , who lately had procured from the pope a plenary exemption from the patriarch . this his holinesse did the more willingly grant , because hereby he made himself absolute master of all orders , pinning them on himself by an immediate dependance , and so bringing water to his mill by a straighter and nearer stream . but hereby the entirenesse of episcopall jurisdiction was much maimed and mangled , and every covent was a castle of rebells , armed with priviledges to fight against their lawfull diocesan . now as these hospitallers wronged the power of the bishops , so did they rob the profit of poore priests , refusing to pay any tithes of their mannours , which contained many parishes ( so that the pastours who fed the flocks , were starved themselves ; and having laboured all day in the vineyard , were at night sent supperlesse to bed ) the hospitallers pleading that the pope had freed them from these duties ; as if an acquittance under the hand of his holinesse was sufficient to discharge them from paying of tithes , a debt due to god. other foul crimes they also were guilty of : as , outbraving the temple of the sepulchre with their stately buildings ; giving the sacraments to , and receiving of excommunicate persons ; ringing their bells when their patriarch preached , that his voice might not be heard ; shooting * arrows into the church to disturb him and the people in divine service ; a bundle whereof were hung up as a monument of their impiety . fulcher the patriarch crawled to rome , being yeares old , to complain of these misdemeanours ; carrying with him the archbishop of tyre , and five other bishops . but he had sped better , if in stead of every one of them he had carried a bag of gold . for the hospitallers prevented him , and had formerly been effectually present with their large bribes ; so that the patriarchs suit was very cold : and no wonder , seeing he did afford no feuel to heat it . the cardinals eyes in the court of rome were old and dimme ; and therefore the glasse wherein they see any thing must be well-silvered . indeed two of them , octavian , and john of s. martin , favoured christs cause and his ministers ; but * all the rest followed gifts , and the way of balaam the sonne of bosor . but here * baronius , who hitherto had leaned on tyrius his authority , now starteth from it : and no wonder , for his penne will seldome cast ink , when he meeteth with the corruption of the romish court . but sure it was , that the good patriarch wearied with delayes , returned back with his grievances unredressed . whereupon the hospitallers grew more insolent ; and under pretense of being freed from fetters , would wear no girdle ; denying not onely subjection , but any filiall obedience to a superiour . chap. . of almericus patriarch of antioch his instituting of carmelites ; their differing from the pattern of elias . after the tragicall life and death of rodolphus patriarch of antioch , who was twelve yeares patriarch , counting his banishment , haymericus by the contrary faction and power of prince reimund succeeded him , with little quiet and comfort of his place . and here to our grief must we take our finall farewell of the distinct succession of the patriarchs of antioch , with the yeares that they sat ; such is the obscurity and confusion in it . yet no doubt this * haymericus was the same with almericus , who about the yeare first instituted the order of carmelites . indeed formerly they lived dispersed about the mountain of carmel : but he gathered them together into one house ; because solitarinesse is a trespasse against the nature of man , and god when he had made all things good , saw it was not good for man to be alone . surely from great antiquity in the primitive church , many retired themselves to solitary places ( where they were alwayes alone , and alwayes in the company of good thoughts ) chiefly to shade themselves from the heat of persecution . whose example was in after-ages imitated by others , when there was no such necessity : as here by these carmelites ▪ whose order was afterwards perfected in the yeare , by albert patriarch of jerusalem , with certain canonicall observations imposed upon them . and in this next age , these bees which first b●●d in the ground and hollow trees , got them hives in gardens ; and leaving the deserts , gained them princely houses in pleasant places . they pretended indeed that they followed the pattern of elias , though farre enough from his example : first , for their habit ; they wore * white coats guarded with red streaks : but they have no colour in the bible that elias ever wore such a livery ; it suits rather with joseph then with him . secondly , by their order they were to ride on he-asses ; whereas we reade that elias went on foot , and rode but once in a chariot of fire . thirdly , they by the constitution of pope nicolas the . had * sisters of their company living neare unto them ; we find elias to have no such feminine consorts . fourthly , they lived in all lust and lazinesse ; as * nicolas gallus their own generall did complain , that they were sodomites , and compareth them to the tail of the dragon : so that their luxury differed from elias his austerity , as much as velvet from sackcloth . wherefore that the carmelites came from mount carmel cannot be denied : but on that mountain i find that both elias and baals priests gathered together ; and let the indifferent reader judge which of them their lives do most resemble . afterwards pope honorius . counting the party-coloured coats these carmelites did wear to be too gaudy , caused them to wear onely white , the colour which nature doth die ▪ simple , and therefore fittest for religion . but melexala king of egypt , who formerly was very bountifull to the carmelites , knew not his alms-men in their new coats , but changed his love , as they their livery , and persecuted them out of all egypt . it seemeth afterwards , by the complaint of * mantuan , that they wore some black again over their white : for he playeth on them , as if their bad manners had blacked and altered their clothes . now though palestine was their mother , england was their best nurse . ralph fresburg , about the yeare , first brought them hither ; and they were first seated at newenden in * kent . an * hundred and fourty english writers have been of this order . and here they flourished in great pomp , till at last king henry the . as they came out of the wildernesse , so turned their houses into a wildernesse ; not onely breaking the necks of all abbeys in england , but also scattering abroad their very bones , past possibility of recouniting them . chap. . edessa lost ; the hopefull voyage of conrade the emperour and lewis king of france to the holy land , blasted by the perfidiousnesse of emmanuel the grecian emperour . empires have their set bounds , whither when they come , they stand still , go back , fall down : this we may see in the kingdome of jerusalem ; which under godfrey and the two first baldwines was a gainer , under fulk a saver , under the succeeding kings a constant loser till all was gone . for now sanguin prince of the turks ( as bloudy as his name ) wrested from the christians the countrey and city of edessa , one of the foure tetrarchies of the kingdome of jerusalem . and though sanguin shortly after was stabbed at a feast , yet noradine his sonne succeeded , and exceeded him in cruelty against the christians . the losse of edessa ( wherein * our religion had flourished ever since the apostles time ) moved conrade emperour of the west , and lewis the . surnamed the young king of france , to undertake a voyage to the holy land . pope eugenius the . bestirred himself in the matter , and made s. bernard his soliciter to advance the designe . for never could so much steel have been drawn into the east , had not this good mans perswasion been the loadstone . the emperours army contained two hundred thousand foot , besides fifty thousand horse : nor was the army of king lewis much inferiour in number . in france they sent a * distaff and a spindle to all those able men that went not with them , as upbraiding their effeminatenesse : and no wonder , when women themselves went in armour , ( having a brave lasse like another penthesilea for their leader , so befringed with gold , that they called her * golden-foot ) riding astride like men ; which i should count more strange , but that i find all women in england in the same posture on their horses , till * anna , wife to king richard the second , some yeares since , taught them a more modest behaviour . the turks did quake hearing of these preparations , which to them were reported farre greater then they were ; fame ( contrary to all other painters ) making those things the greatest which are presented the farthest off . conrade with his army took his way through grecia : where emmanuel the emperour , possessed with an hereditary fear of the latines , fortified his cities in the way , as knowing there needed strong banks where such a stream of people was to passe . and suspecting that if these pilgrimes often made his empire their high-way into palestine , little grasse would grow in so troden a path , and his countrey thereby be much endamaged ; he used them most treacherously , giving them bad welcome that he might no more have such guests . to increase their miseries , as the dutch encamped by the river * melas ( if that may be called a river which is all mud in summer , all sea in winter ) deserving his name from this black and dismall accident , it drowned many with its sudden overflowings ; as if it had conspired with the grecians , and learned treachery from them . they that survived this sudden mishap , were reserved for lingring misery . for the grecian emperour did them all possible mischief , by mingling lime with their meal , by killing of stragglers , by holding intelligence with the turks their enemies , by corrupting his coyn , making his silver as base as himself ( so that the dutch sold good wares for bad money , and bought bad wares with good money ) by giving them false conductours which trained them into danger ; so that there was more fear of the guides then of the way . all which his unfaithfull dealings are recorded by that faithfull historian * nicetas choniates ▪ who though a grecian born , affirmeth these things ; the truth of his love to his countrey-men no whit prejudicing his love to the truth . chap. . the turks conquered at meander ; the dutch and french arrive in palestine . scarce had the dutch escaped the treachery of the greeks , when they were encountred with the hostility of the turks , who waited for them on the other side of meander . the river was not foordable , ship or bridge the christians had none : when behold conrade the emperour adventured on an action , which because it was successefull , shall be accounted valiant ; otherwise we should term it desperate . after an * exhortation to his army , he commanded them all at once to flownce into the river . meander was plunged by their plunging into it : his water stood * amazed , as unresolved whether to retreat to the fountain , or proceed to the sea , and in this extasie afforded them a dry passage over the stream . an act , which like that of horatius cocles his leaping into tiber , * plus famae ad posteros habiturum quàm fidei , will find more admirers then beleevers with posterity . the affrighted turks on the other side , thinking there was no contending with them that did teach nature it self obedience , offered their throats to the christians swords , and were killed in such number , that whole piles of dead bones remain there for a monument : like those heaps of the cimbrians slain by marius neare marseils , where afterwards the inhabitants walled their vineyards with sculls , and guarded their * grapes with dead men . hence conrade made forward to iconium , now called cogni , which he besieged in vain , to the great losse of his army . the king of france followed after with great multitudes , and drank of the same cup at the grecians hands , though not so deeply : till at last , finding that those who marched through the continent met with an ocean of miserie , he thought better to trust the wind and sea then the greeks ; and taking shipping safely arrived in palestine , where he was highly welcomed by reimund prince of antioch . some weeks were spent in complying , entertainments , and visiting holy places ; till at last , elianor wife to the king of france , who accompanied her husband , made religion her pander , and played * bankrupt of her honour ; under pretense of pilgrimage , keeping company with a base saracen jester , whom she preferred before a king. thus love may blindfold the eyes , but lust boreth them out . yea , now she pleaded that she might be no longer wife to the king , because she was too neare unto him within the degrees forbidden . this new-started scruple never troubled her before : but some have sluces in their consciences , and can keep them open or shut them as occasion requireth . chap. . damascus besieged in vain ; the return of the emperour and king ; with the censure on this voyage . the late-come pilgrimes having sufficiently recreated themselves , the emperour and the king of france concluded to besiege damascus : for a small town was conceived too narrow an object of their valour , whilest so eminent an action was adequate to the undertakers . damascus is so pleasant a citie , that mahomet durst never enter into it , lest this deceiver should be deceived himself , and be so ravished with the pleasures of the place , that he should forget to go on in that great work he had in hand . some make eliezer abrahams steward builder of this citie , because he is called eliezer of damascus ; though that phrase speaketh him rather to have had his birth or dwelling there , then the citie her building from him . to passe this by , because as the foundations are hidden in the ground , so the founders of most ancient places are forgotten . it was for many yeares after the metropolis of syria , and was now straitly besieged by the christians with great hope of successe , had they not afterwards fallen out amongst themselves who should eat the chickens before they were hatched . conrade and king lewis destined the city to theodorick earl of flanders , lately arrived in those parts ; whilest other princes which had been long resident in palestine , and born the heat of the warre , grudged hereat : and their stomachs could not digest the cruditie of a raw upstart to be preferred before them . yea , some of the christians corrupted with turkish money ( though when they received it , it proved but * gilded brasse ; may all traitours be payed in such coin ) perswaded the king of france to remove his camp to a stronger part of the walls : which they long besieged in vain , and returned home at last , leaving the city and their honours behind them . the french proverb was verified of this voyage , much bruit and little fruit . they not onely did no good in the holy land ( * save that some think their coming advantaged king baldwine for the taking of the citie of askelon ) but also did much harm . for now the turks seeing one citie both bear the brunt and batter the strength of both armies , began to conceive that their own fear was their greatest enemy ; and those swords of these new pilgrimes which they dreaded in the sheath , they sleighted when they saw them drawn ; and shook off that aw which had formerly possessed them , of the strength of the western emperour . many thousand christians perished in this adventure , whose souls are pronounced by all the writers of this age to be carried up into heaven on the wings of the holy cause they died for : whose blessed estate i will not disprove ; nor will i listen to the unhappy dutch proverb , * he that bringeth himself into needlesse dangers , dieth the devils martyr . we must not forget how the french king coming homeward was taken prisoner by the fleet of the grecian emperour , and rescued again by gregory admirall to roger king of sicilie . when he was safely arrived in france , in open parliament his wife was divorced from him . her nearnesse in bloud was the onely cause specified ; and the king took no notice of her inconstancy , accounting those but foolish husbands who needlessely proclaim their wives dishonesty . he gave her back again all the lands in france which he had received with her in portion ; scorning her wealth which neglected his love . herein he did nobly , but not politickly , to part with the dukedomes of poictou and aquitain , which he enjoyed in her right : for he brake his own garland by giving her her flowers back again ; mangled and dismembred his own kingdome , and gave a * torch into henry king of england his hands ( who afterwards married her ) to set france on fire . chap. . an apologie for s. bernard , whom the vulgar sort condemned for the murderer of those that went this voyage . slander ( quicker then martiall law ) arraigneth , condemneth , and executeth all in an instant . this we may see in poore s. bernard , who was the mark for every mans tongue to shoot arrows against : and when this voyage had miscarried , many * condemned him , because his perswasion set this project not onely on foot but on wings ; as if he had thrust so many men , as one morsel , into the jaws of death . but much may be alledged truly to excuse this good man : first , he was but an instrument imployed by pope eugenius and a * provinciall councel of french bishops to forward the designe . rather then should they have blamed his holinesse who set him on work : but the saddle oftentimes is not set on the right horse , because his back is too high to be reached ; and we see commonly that the instruments are made skreens to save the face of the principall from scorching . secondly , the true cause of the ill successe was the vitiousnesse of the undertakers . for germany at this time surfeted of lewd people ; and those grew the fattest which lived on the high-wayes . but this voyage robbed the whole countrey of her * theeves ; and then no wonder if they found their death in asia , who deserved it in europe . heare what * otho frisingensis , who went this voyage , speaketh impartially in the matter : if we should say that bernard that holy abbot was inspired by gods spirit to incite us to this warre , but we through our pride and wantonnesse not observing his holy commands deservedly brought on our selves the losse of our goods and lives , we should say nothing but what is agreeable to reason , and to ancient examples . however , it was an heavy affliction to s. bernards aged back to bear the reproch of many people : it being a great grief for one to be generally condemned as guilty , for want of proof of his innocency . and though god set his hand to s. bernards testimoniall by the many * miracles which that father wrought , yet still some challenged him for a counterfeit . and surely this humiliation was both wholesome and necessary for him . for the people , who cannot love without doting , nor approve without admiring , were too much transported with an high opinion of this man and his directions ; as if that arrow could not misse the mark which came out of s. bernards bow . wherefore this miscarriage came very seasonably to abate their over-towring conceits of him ; and perchance his own of himself . and no doubt he made a good use of this bad accident . the lesse his fame blazed , the more his devotion burned ; and the cutting off of his top , made him take deep root , and to be made more truly humbled and sanctified . in his book of * consideration he maketh a modest defense of himself ; whither we referre the reader . to conclude ; the devotion of this man was out of question so neglecting this world , that he even did spit out that preferment which was dropped into his mouth : but as for his judgement , it was not alwayes the best ; which gave occasion to the proverb , bernardus non vidit omnia . chap. . vnseasonable discords betwixt king baldwine and his mother ; her strength in yeelding to her sonne . upon the departure of emperour conrade and king lewis , noradine the turk much prevailed in palestine . nor was he little advantaged by the discords betwixt millesent queen-mother and the nobility ; thus occasioned : there was a noble-man called manasses , whom the queen ( governing all in her sonnes minority ) made constable of the kingdome . this man unable to manage his own happinesse , grew so insolent that he could not go , but either spurning his equals , or trampling on his inferiours . no wonder then , if envy the shadow of greatnesse waited upon him . the * nobility highly distasted him : but in all oppositions the queens favour was his sanctuary ; who to shew her own absolutenesse , and that her affection should not be controlled , nor that thrown down which she set up , still preserved the creature she had made . his enemies perceiving him so fast rooted in her favour , and seeing they could not remove him from his foundation , sought to remove him with his foundation ; instigating young king baldwine against his mother , and especially against her favourite . they complained how the state groned under his insolency ; he was the bridge by which all offices must passe , and there pay toll ; he alone sifted all matters , and then no wonder if much bran passed ; he under pretense of opening the queens eyes did lead her by the nose , captivating her judgement in stead of directing it ; he like a by-gulf devoured her affection , which should flow to her children . they perswaded the king he was ripe for government , and needed none to hold his hand to hold the sceptre . let him therefore either untie or cut himself loose from this slavery , and not be in subjection to a subject . liberty needeth no hard pressing on youth , a touch on that stamp maketh an impression on that waxen age . young baldwine is apprehensive of this motion , and prosecuteth the matter so eagerly , that at length he coopeth up this manasses in a castle , and forceth him to abjure the kingdome . much stirre afterwards was betwixt him and his mother ; till at last to end divisions , the kingdome was divided betwixt them : she had the city of jerusalem , and the land-locked part ; he the maritime half of the land . but the widest throne is too narrow for two to sit on together . he not content with this partition , marcheth furiously to jerusalem , there to besiege his mother , and to take all from her . out of the citie cometh * fulcher the good patriarch , ( his age was a patent for his boldnesse ) and freely reproveth the king : why should he go on in such an action wherein every step he stirred , his legs must needs grate and crash both against nature and religion ? did he thus requite his mothers care in stewarding the state , thus to affright her age , to take arms against her ? was it not her goodnesse to be content with a moyety , when the whole kingdome in right belonged unto her ? but ambition had so inchanted baldwine , that he was penetrable with no reasons which crossed his designes : so that by the advice of her friends she was content to resigne up all , lest the christian cause should suffer in these dissensions . she retired her self to * sebaste , and abridged her train from state to necessity . and now the lesse room she had to build upon , the higher she raised her soul with heavenly meditations ; and lived as more private , so more pious till the day of her death . chap. . reimund prince of antioch overcome and killed ; askelon taken by the christians ; the death of king baldwine . these discords betwixt mother and sonne were harmonie in the eares of noradine the turk : who coming with a great army wasted all about antioch ; and prince reimund going out to bid him battel , was slain himself , and his army overthrown : nor long after joceline count of edessa was intercepted by the turks , and taken prisoner . as for constantia the relict of reimund prince of antioch , she lived a good while a widow , refusing the affections which many princely suiters proffered unto her , till at last she descended beneath her self to marry a plain man , reinold of castile . yet why should we say so , when as a castilian gentleman ( if that not a needlesse tautologie ( as he maketh the inventory of his own worth , prizeth himself any princes fellow : and the proverb is , each lay-man of castile may make a king , each clergie-man a pope ? yea , we had best take heed how we speak against this match : for almericus patriarch of antioch for inveighing against it , was by this prince reinold set in the heat of the sunne with his * bare head besmeared with hony ( a sweet-bitter torment ) that so bees might sting him to death . but king baldwine mediated for him , and obtained his liberty that he might come to jerusalem : where he lived many yeares in good esteem . and gods judgements are said to have overtaken the prince of antioch : for besides the famine which followed in his countrey , he himself afterwards fighting unfortunately with the turks , was taken prisoner . but let us step over to jerusalem ; where we shall find king baldwine making preparation for the siege of askelon : which citie after it had long been blocked up , had at last an assaultable breach made in the walls thereof . the templars ( to whom the king promised the spoil if they took it ) entred through this breach into the citie : and conceiving they had enow to wield the work and master the place , set a guard at the breach , that no more of their fellow-christians should come in to be sharers with them in the booty . but their * covetousnesse cost them their lives : for the turks contemning their few number put them every one to the sword . yet at last the citie was taken , though with much difficulty . other considerable victories baldwine got of the turks ; especially one at the river jordan , where he vanquished noradine : and twice he relieved cesarea-philippi , which the turks had straitly besieged . but death at last put a period to his earthly happinesse , being poisoned ( as it was supposed ) by a jewish physician ; for the rest of the potion killed a dog to whom it was given . this kings youth was stained with unnaturall discords with his mother , and other vices , which in his settled age he reformed . let the witnesse of noradine his enemy be beleeved ; who honourably refused to invade the kingdome whilest the funerall solemnities of baldwine were performing ; and professed the christians had a just cause of sorrow , * having lost such a king , whose equall for justice and valour the world did not afford . he died without issue , having reigned one and twenty yeares . so that sure it is the printers mistake in tyrius , where he hath foure and twenty yeares assigned him , more then the consent of time will allow . chap. . king almerick his disposition . almerick brother to king baldwine , earl of joppa and askelon , succeeded to the crown . but before his coronation he was enjoyned by the popes legate and by the patriarch of jerusalem , to dismisse agnes his wife , daughter to joceline the younger , count of edessa , because she was his cousin in the fourth degree ; with this reservation , that the two children he had by her , baldwine and sibyll , should be accounted legitimate , and capable of their fathers possessions . a prince of excellent parts ; of a most happy * memory , ( wherein also his brother baldwine was eminent , though fulk their father was wonderfully forgetfull ; so true is the maxime , purè personalia non propagantur , parents entail neither their personall defects nor perfections on their posterity ) solid judgement , quick apprehension ; but of a bad utterance , which made him use words onely as a shield when he was urged and pressed to speak , otherwise he preferred to be silent , and declined popularity more then his brother baldwine affected it . very thrifty he was ; and though * tully saith , dici hominem frugi non multum habet laudis in rege , yet moderate frugality is both laudable and necessary in a king. but our almerick went somewhat too farre , and was a little poore in admiring of riches , laying great taxations on the holy places to their utter impoverishing : yet was he not mastered by his purse , but made it his vassall , and spared no money on a just occasion . he never received accusation against any of his officers , and never reckoned with them ( count it as you please , carelesnesse or noble confidence ) because he would not teach them to be dishonest by suspecting them . nor is it the last and least part of his praise , that william archbishop of tyre ( so often mentioned ) wrote the holy warre at his instance . once he angred the good archbishop with this question , * how the resurrection of the body may be proved by reason ? hereat the good prelate was much displeased , as counting it a dangerous question wherewith one removeth a foundation-stone in divinity , though with intent to lay it in the place again . but the king presently protested , that he demanded it not out of any dissidence in himself about that article , but in case one should meet with a sturdy man , who ( as too many now-a-dayes ) would not trust faith on her single bond , except he have reason joyned for security with her . hereupon the archbishop alledged many strong arguments to prove it , and both rested well satisfied . chap. . ecclesiasticall businesse ; a sultan of iconium , and the master of the assasines desired to be christened ; the common-wealth of the assasines described . in the church of jerusalem we find amalrick still patriarch : a frenchman born , but little fit for the place to which he was preferred by the favour of sibyll , countesse of flanders , the kings sister . mean time the church needed a salick law , to forbid distaffs to meddle with mitres ; and neither to be , nor to make patriarchs . but the most remarkable church-matter in this kings reigne , was the clandestine christening of a sultan of iconium . and more of his courtiers might have followed him , but that his embassadours being at rome , were offended there with the vitiousnesse of christians lives ; which made them to exclaim , * how can fresh and salt water flow from the same fountain ? this hath made many pagans step back , which had one foot in our church , when they have seen christians beleeve so well , and live so ill ; breaking the commandments against the creed . not long after , the great master of the assasines was really disposed to receive our religion ; and to this end sent an embassadour to king almerick , which embassadour was treacherously slain by one of the templars . the * king demanded this murderer of the master of the templars , that justice might passe upon him . but the master proudly answered , that he had already enjoyned him penance , and had directed to send him to the pope , but stoutly refused to surrender him to the king. this cruel murder embittered the assasines more desperately against the christians . these assasines were a precise sect of mahometans , and had in them the very spirits of that poysonous superstition . they had some six cities , and were about fourty thousand in number , living neare antaradus in syria . over these was a chief master , ( hell it self cannot subsist without a beelzebub ; so much order there is in the place of confusion , ) whom they called * the old man of the mountains . at his command they would refuse no pain or peril , but stab any prince whom he appointed out to death ; scorning not to find hands for his tongue , to perform what he enjoyned . at this day there are none of them extant , ( except revived by the jesuites ; for sure ignatius loyola , the lame father of blind obedience fetched his platform hence ) being all , as it seems , slain by the * tartarians , anno . but no tears need be shed at their funeralls : yea , pity it is that any pity should be lavished upon them , whose whole government was an engine built against humane society , worthy to be fired by all men ; the body of their state being a very monstrosity , and a grievance of mankind . chap. . dargan and sanar two egyptian lords , contending about the sultanie , sanar calleth in the turks to help him . of the danger of mercenary souldiers ; yet how , well qualified , they may be serviceable . egypt was the stage whereon the most remarkable passages in the reigne of king almerick were acted . it will be necessary therefore to premise somewhat concerning the estate of that kingdome at this time . whilest the turks thus lorded it in syria and the lesser asia , the saracen caliph commanded in egypt ; under whom , two great lords , dargan and sanar , fell out about the sultanie or vice-royship of that land . but sanar fearing he should be worsted by dargan , sued to noradine king of the turks at damascus for aid : who sent him an army of turks , under the command of syracon an experienced captain , against sultan dargan . so dargan and sanar met and fought . the victory was dargans , but he enjoyed it not long , being shortly after slain by treachery ; whereby sanar recovered the sultans place . mean time how strange was the voluptuous lethargie of the caliph elhadach , to pursue his private pleasures , whilest his vice-royes thus fought under his nose , and imployed forrein succours , yet he never regarded it ; as if the tottering of his kingdome had rocked him fast asleep . nor was he moved with that which followed , and more nearly concerned him . for syracon the turkish captain , whom sanar had gotten to come into egypt , would not be intreated to go home again ; but seized on the city of belbis , fortified it , and there attended the arrivall of more turks from damascus , for the conquest of egypt . which afterwards they performed , the land being never completely cleared of them , till at last they conquered the whole kingdome , partly under this syracon , and wholly under saladine his nephew . and here my discourse ( by the leave of the reader ) must a little sally forth to treat of the danger of entertaining mercenary souldiers . they may perchance be called in with a whistle , but scarce cast out with a whip . if they be slugs , they indanger a state by their slothfulnesse ; if spirited men , by their activity . cesar borgia , machiavells idol , whose practice he maketh the pattern of policie , saith , * that he had rather be conquered with his own men , then be conquerour with an army of others ; because he counted that conquest to be none at all . yet good physick may be made of poyson well corrected : they may sometimes be necessary evils ; yea , good and serviceable to defend a land , if thus qualified : first , if they have no command of castles , or place neare about the princes person : for then they have a compendious way to treason , if they intend it . secondly , if they be not entertained in too great numbers , but in such refracted degrees , that the natives may still have the predominancie : for a surfeit of forrein supplies is a disease incurable . thirdly , if the prince who imployeth them , hath their wives , children , and estates in his own hands ; which will be both a caution and pawn for their fidelity , and will also interest their affections more cordially in the cause . lastly , if they be of the same religion with them , and fight against the enemy of the religion of both : for then they are not purely hirelings , but parties in part , and the cause doth at least mediately concern them . i beleeve that it will scarcely be shown , that the protestants have turned tails and betrayed them they came to assist . we may observe , the low-countreys have best thrived by setting this trade of journey-men-souldiers on work . let them thank god and the good english : for if francis duke of anjou with his frenchmen had well succeeded , no doubt he would have spread his bread with their butter . next them the venetians have sped best : for they have the trick , when they find it equally dangerous to casheer their mercenary generall or to entertain him any longer , fairly to kill him ; as they served * carmignola . england hath best thrived without them : under gods protection we stand on our own legs . the last i find are an handfull of almains used against * kett in norfolk in the dayes of king edward the sixth . and let it be our prayers , that as for those hirelings which are to be last tried and least trusted , we never have want of their help , and never have too much of it . chap. . sanar imploreth the aid of king almerick ; a solemn agreement made betwixt them , and ratified by the magnificent caliph . sultan sanar perceiving himself pressed and overlayed by these turks , who with syracon their captain refused to return , and of assistants turned invaders , borrowed the help of almerick king of jerusalem to avoid them out of egypt . whilest almerick marched thither , an unfortunate battel was fought betwixt boemund the third of that name prince of antioch , reimund count of tripoli , calaman grecian governour of cilicia , and joceline the third the titular count of edessa , on the one side ; and noradine king of the turks , on the other . the turks got the victory , and these foure christian princes were taken prisoners ; and their army lost so much good bloud that day , that cast it into an irrecoverable consumption , and hastened the ruine of this kingdome . noradine following his blow , wonne cesarea-philippi . neverthelesse almerick went on effectually in egypt , and for a time expulsed the turks out of this land . but syracon would not so quickly quit the countrey ; but goeth to the caliph of babylon ( who was opposite to him of egypt , each of them claiming as heir to mahomet that false prophet , the soveraignty over all that were of the saracen law ) & offereth him his means for the exstirpation of this schismaticall caliph , and the reduction of all egypt to the subjection of the babylonian . the motion was joyfully entertained , and syracon with a mighty power descendeth into egypt . sanar affrighted hereat maketh new and larger proffers to king almerick to stop this deluge of his enemies , and proffereth him a pension of fourty thousand ducats yearly for his behooffull assistance . but the king understanding that the sultan ( how much soever he took upon him ) was subject to a higher lord , would make no such bargain with him , but with the caliph himself ; and therefore sent his embassadours , * hugh earl of cesarea , and a knight-templar , along with the sultan to caliph elhadach then resident at cairo . arriving at his palace , they passed through dark passages well guarded with armed ethiopians . hence they were conducted into goodly open * courts of such beauty and riches , that they could not retain the gravity of embassadours , but were enforced to admire the rarities they beheld . the farther they went , the greater the state ; till at last they were brought to the caliphs own lodging . where entring the presence , the sultan thrice prostrated himself to the ground before the curtain behind which the caliph sat . presently the traverse wrought with pearls was opened , and the caliph himself discovered , sitting with great majesty on a throne of gold , having few of his most inward eunuchs about him . the sultan humbly kissed his masters feet , and briefly told him the cause of their coming , the danger wherein the land stood , the proffers he had made to king almerick , desiring him now to ratifie them , and in demonstration thereof to give his hand to the kings embassadours . the caliph demurred hereat , as counting such a gesture a diminution to his state ; and at no hand would give him his hand bare , but gave it in his glove . to whom the resolute earl of * cesarea ; sir , said he , truth seeketh no holes to hide it self . princes that will hold covenant , must deal openly and nakedly : give us therefore your bare hand ; we will make no bargain with your glove . he was loth to do it ; but necessity ( a more imperious caliph then himself at this time ) commanded it : and he did it at last , dismissing the christian embassadours with such gifts as testified his greatnesse . according to this agreement king almerick cordially prosecuted his businesse , improving his utmost might to expell syracon with his turks out of egypt ; whom he bade battel , and got the day though he lost all his baggage : so that the conquest in a manner was divided ; the turks gaining the wealth , the christians the honour of the victorie . following his blow , he pinned up the turks afterward in the city of alexandria , and forced them to receive of him conditions of peace , and then returned himself with honour to askelon . chap. . almerick against his promise invadeth egypt ; his perjury punished with the future ruine of the kingdome of ierusalem ; his death . when a crown is the prize of the game , we must never expect fair play of the gamesters . king almerick having looked on the beauty of the kingdome of egypt , he longed for it : and now no longer to drive out the relicks of the turks , but to get egypt to himself : and the next yeare , against the solemn league with the caliph , invaded it with a great army . he falsely pretended that the caliph would make a private peace with noradine king of the turks ; and hence created his quarrel . for he hath a barren brain , who cannot fit himself with an occasion if he hath a desire to fall out . but gilbert master of the hospitallers chiefly stirred up the king to this warre , upon promise that the city and countrey of pelusium , if conquered , should be given to his order . the templars were much against the designe ( one of their order was embassadour at the ratifying of the peace ) and with much zeal protested against it , as undertaken against oath and fidelity . an oath being the highest appeal , perjury must needs be an hainous sinne , whereby god is solemnly invited to be witnesse of his own dishonour . and as bad is a god-mocking equivocation : for he that surpriseth truth with an ambush , is as bad an enemy as he that fighteth against her with a flat lie in open field . i know what is pleaded for king almerick , namely , that christians are not bound to keep faith with idolaters , the worshippers of a false god , as the egyptian caliph was on the matter . but open so wide a window , and it will be in vain to shut any doores . all contracts with pagans may easily be voided , if this evasion be allowed . but what saith s. hierome , * it matters not to whom , but by whom we swear . and god to acquit himself , knowing the christians prosperity could not stand with his justice after their perjury , frowned upon them . and from hence authours date the constant ill successe of the holy warre . for though this expedition sped well at the first , and almerick wonne the citie of belbis or pelusium , yet see what a cloud of miseries ensued . first , noradine in his absence wasted and wonne places neare antiochia at pleasure . secondly , * meller prince of armenia , a christian , made a covenant with noradine , and kept it most constantly , to the inestimable disadvantage of the king of jerusalem . this act of meller must be condemned , but withall gods justice admired . christians break their covenant with saracens in egypt , whilest other christians , to punish them , make and keep covenant with turks in asia . thirdly , the saracens grew good souldiers on a sudden : who were naked at first , and onely had bows ; but now learned from the christians to use all offensive and defensive weapons . thus rude nations alwayes better themselves in fighting with a skilfull enemy . how good mark-men are the irish now-a-dayes , which some seventy yeares ago , at the beginning of their rebellions , had three men to discharge a * hand-gunne ! fourthly , almericks hopes of conquering egypt were frustrated ; for after some victories he was driven out , and that whole kingdome conquered by saladine ( nephew to syracon ) who killed the caliph with his horse-mace as he came to do him reverence , and made himself the absolutest turkish king of egypt . and presently after the death of noradine , the kingdome of the turks at damascus was by their consent bestowed upon him . indeed noradine left a sonne , melexala , who commanded in part of his fathers dominions ; but saladine after his death got all for himself . thus rising men shall still meet with more stairs to raise them ; as those of falling , with stumbling-blocks to ruine them . mean time jerusalem was a poore weather-beaten kingdome , bleak and open to the storm of enemies on all sides , having no covert or shelter of any good friend neare it , lying in the lions mouth betwixt his upper and nether jaw ; damascus on the north , and egypt on the south ; two potent turkish kingdomes , united under a puissant prince , saladine . this made almerick send for succours into europe : for now few voluntaries came to this service ; souldiers must be pressed with importunity . our western princes were prodigall of their pity , but niggardly of their help : the heat of the warre in palestine had cooled their desires to go thither : which made these embassadours to return without supplies , having gone farre to fetch home nothing but discomfort and despair . lastly , king almerick himself wearied with whole volleys of miseries , ended his life of a bloudy flux , having reigned eleven full yeares ; and was buried with his predecessours : leaving two children , baldwine and sibyll , by agnes his first wife : and by mary his second wife ( daughter to john proto-sebastus , a grecian prince ) one daughter , isabell ; married * afterwards to hemphred the third , prince of thorone . chap. . baldwine the fourth succeedeth ; his education under william the reverend archbishop of tyre . baldwine his sonne , the fourth of that name , succeeded his father : so like unto him , that we report the reader to the character of king almerick , and will spare the repeating his description . onely he differed in the temper of his bodie , being enclined to the leprosie called elephantiasis , noysome to the patient , but not infectious to the company : not like king uzziahs , but naamans leprosie ; which had it been contagious , no doubt the king of assyria , when he went into the house of rimmon , would have chosen another supporter . mean time the kingdome was as sick as the king ; he of a leprosie , that of an incurable consumption . this baldwine had the benefit of excellent education under william archbishop of tyre , a pious man and excellent scholar , skilled in all the learned orientall tongues , besides the dutch , and french his native language ; a moderate and faithfull writer : for in the latter part of his history of the holy warre , his eye guided his hand , till at last the taking of the city of jerusalem so shook his hand , that his penne fell out , and he wrote no more . treasurer he was of all the money contributed to the holy warre ; chancellour of this kingdome ; imployed in severall embassies in the west ; present at the lateran councel , the acts whereof he did record : * cardinall he might have been , but refused it : in a word , unhappy onely that he lived in that age , though that age was happy he lived in it . chap. . the vitiousnesse of heraclius the patriarch of ierusalem ; his embassie to henry the second , king of england , with the successe ; the maronites reconciled to the romane church . after the death of almerick patriarch of jerusalem , heraclius was by the queen-mother mary , second wife to king almerick , for his handsomenesse preferred to be patriarch . * william archbishop of tyre was violent against his election , because of a prophesie , that as heraclius king of persia wonne , so an heraclius should lose the crosse. but others excepted , that this exception was nothing worth : for let god give the man , and let the devil set the name . as for those blind prophesies , they misse the truth ofter then hit it ; so that no wise man will lean his belief on so slender a prop. but heraclius had a worse name then his name , the bad report of his vitious life ; keeping a vintners wife , whom he maintained in all state like an empresse , and owned the children he had by her : her name * pascha de rivera ; and she was generally saluted , the * patriarchesse . his example infected the inferiour clergie ; whose corruption was a sad presage of the ruine of the realm : for when prelates the seers , when once those eye-strings begin to break , the heart-strings hold not out long after . in his time the maronites were reconciled to the romane church . their main errour was the heresie of the monothelites , touching one onely will and action in christ. for after that the heresie of nestorius about two persons in our saviour was detested in the eastern churches , some thought not themselves safe enough from the heresie of two persons , till they were fallen with the opposite extremity of one nature in christ : violence making men reel from one extreme to another . the errour once broched , found many embracers : as no opinion so monstrous , but if it hath had a mother , it will get a nurse . but now these maronites renouncing their tenents , received the catholick faith ; though soon after , when saladine had conquered their countrey , they relapsed to their old errours : wherein they continued till the late times of pope gregory the thirteenth , and clement the eighth , when they again renewed their communion with the romane church . they live at this day on mount libanus , not exceeding twelve thousand households , and pay to the great turk for every one above twelve yeares old , * seventeen sultanines by the yeare ; and for every space of ground sixteen spanne square , one sultanine yearly ; to keep themselves free from the mixture of mahometanes . a * sultanine is about seven shillings six pence of our money . to return to heraclius ; soon after he was sent embassadour to henry the second , king of england , to crave his personall assistance in the holy warre , delivering unto him the royall standard , with the keyes of our saviours sepulchre , the towre of david , and the city of jerusalem , sent him by king baldwine . king henry was singled out for this service before other princes , because the world justly reported him valiant , wise , rich , powerfull , and fortunate : and ( which was the main ) hereby he might expiate his murder , and gather up again the innocent bloud which he had shed of thomas becket . besides , heraclius entituled our henry to the kingdome of jerusalem , because geoffrey plantagenet his father was sonne ( some say , brother ) to fulk the fourth , king of jerusalem . but king henry was too wise to bite at such a bait , wherein was onely the husk of title , without the kernel of profit . yet he pretended he would go into palestine ; and got hereby a masse of money towards his voyage : making every one , as well clerk as lay ( saving such as went ) to pay that yeare the tenth of all their revenues , moveables , and chattells , as well in gold as in silver . of every citie in england he chose the richest men ; as in london two hundred , in york an hundred , and so in proportion : and took the tenth of all their moveables , by the * estimation of credible men who knew their estates ; imprisoning those which refused to pay , sub eleemosynae titulo vitium rapacitatis includans , saith walsingham . but now when he had filled his purse , all expected he should fulfill his promise ; when all his voyage into palestine turned into a journey into france . heraclius , whilest he stayed in england , consecrated the temple-church in the suburbs of london , and the house adjoyning belonging to the templars ; since turned to a better use , for the students of our municipall law ; these new templars defending one christian from another , as the old ones christians from pagans . chap. . saladine fitteth himself with forrein forces . the originall and great power of the mammalukes , with their first service . in the minority of king baldwine , who was but thirteen yeares old , milo de plancia noble-man was protectour of the realm : whose pride and insolence could not be brooked ; and therefore he was stabbed at ptolemais , and reimund count of tripoli chosen to succeed him . now saladine seriously intendeth to set on the kingdome of jerusalem , and seeketh to furnish himself with souldiers for that service . but he perceived that the ancient nation of the egyptians had lasted so long , that now it ranne dregs ; their spirits being as low as the countrey they lived in , and they fitter to make merchants and mechanicks then military men : for they were bred in such soft imployments , that they were presently foundred with any hard labour . wherefore he sent to the circassians by the lake of meotis , neare taurica chersonesus , and thence bought many slaves of able and active bodies . for it was a people born in a hard countrey ( no fewel for pleasure grew there nor was brought thither ) and bred harder ; so that warre was almost their nature , with custome of continuall skirmishing with the neighbouring tartars . these slaves he trained up in military discipline , most of them being christians once baptized ; but afterwards untaught christ , they learned mahomet , and so became the worse foes to religion for once being her friends . these proved excellent souldiers and speciall horsemen , and are called mammalukes . and surely the greatnesse of saladine and his successours stood not so much on the legs of their native egyptians , as it leaned on the staff of these strangers . saladine , and especially the turkish kings after him , gave great power , and placed much trust in these * mammalukes : who lived a long time in ignorance of their own strength , till at last they took notice of it , and scorning any longer to be factours for another , they would set up for themselves , and got the sovereignty from the turkish kings . thus princes who make their subjects over-great , whet a knife for their own throats . and posterity may chance to see the insolent janizaries give the grand seignor such a trip on the heel as may tumble him on his back . but more largely of these mammalukes usurping the kingdome of egypt ( god willing ) in its proper place . thus saladine having furnished himself with new souldiers , went to handsel their valour upon the christians ; invaded the holy land , burning all the countrey before him , and raging in the bloud of poore christians , till he came and encamped about askelon . mean time whilest reimund count of tripoli , protectour of the kingdome , with philip earl of flanders , & the chief strength of the kingdome were absent in celosyria , wasting the countrey about emissa and cesarea , young king baldwine lay close in askelon , not daring to adventure on so strong an enemy . with whose fear saladine encouraged , dispersed his army , some one way , some another , to forrage the countrey . king baldwine courted with this opportunity , marched out privately , not having past foure hundred horse , with some few footmen , and assaulted his secure enemies , being six and twenty thousand . but victory standeth as little in the number of souldiers , as verity in the plurality of voices . the christians got the conquest , and in great triumph returned to jerusalem . this overthrow rather madded then daunted saladine : who therefore to recover his credit , some moneths after with his mammalukes fell like a mighty tempest upon the christians , as they were parting the spoil of a band of turks , whom they had vanquished ; put many to the sword , the rest to flight . otto grand master of the templars , and hugh sonne in law to the count of tripoli , were taken prisoners ; and the king himself had much ado to escape . and thus both sides being well wearied with warre , they were glad to refresh themselves with a short slumber of a truce solemnly concluded ; and their troubled estates breathed almost for the space of two yeares . which truce saladine the more willingly embraced , because of a famine in the kingdome of damascus , where it had scarce * rained for five yeares together . chap. . the fatall jealousies betwixt the king and reimund earl of tripoli . but this so welcome a calm was troubled with domesticall discords . for the kings mother ( a woman of a turbulent spirit ) and her brother his steward , accused reimund count of tripoli , governour of the realm in the kings minority , as if he affected the crown for himself : which accusation this earl could never wholly wipe off . for slender and lean slanders quickly consume themselves ; but he that is branded with an hainous crime ( though false ) when the wound is cured , his credit will be killed with the scarre . before we go further , let us view this earl reimunds disposition , and we shall find him marked to do mischief , and to ruine this realm . he was sonne to reimund , grandchild to pontius earl of tripoli , by cecilie the daughter of * philip king of france , great-grandchild to bertram first earl of tripoli , great-great-grandchild to reimund earl of tholose , one of speciall note amongst the primitive adventurers in the holy warre . his mother was hodiern , third daughter of baldwine the second , king of jerusalem . a man whose stomach was as high as his birth ; and very serviceable to this state , whilest the sharpnesse of his parts were used against the turks ; which at last turned edge against the christians : proud , not able to digest the least wrong ; and though long in captivity amongst the turks , yet a very treuant in the school of affliction , who never learned the lesson of patience : so revengefull , that he would strike his enemy , though it were through the sides of religion and the christian cause . for this present accusation of treason , good authours seem to be his compurgatours for this at this time , though afterwards he discovered his treacherous intents . and because he could not rise by his service , he made his service fall by him ; and undid what he had done for the publick good , because thereby he could not attain his private ends . he commanded over the earldome of tripoli , which was a territory of large extent , wherein he was absolute lord. and by the way we may take notice of this as one of the banes of the kingdome of jerusalem , that the principalities of antioch , tripoli , and edessa ( whilest it was christian ) were branches of this kingdome , but too big for the body : for the princes thereof on each petty distast would stand on their guard ; as if they had been subjects out of courtesie , not conscience : and though they confessed they owed the king allegeance , yet they would pay no more then they thought fitting themselves . to return to king baldwine ; this suspicion of earl reimund , though at first but a buzze , soon got a sting in the kings head , and he violently apprehended it . whereupon reimund coming to jerusalem , was by the way commanded to stay , to his great disgrace . but some of the nobility foreseeing what danger this discord might bring , reconciled them with much labour . however , baldwine ever after looked on this earl with a jealous eye . jealousie , if it be fire in private persons , is wild-fire in princes , who seldome rase out their names whom once they have written in their black bills . and as the italian proverb is , suspicion giveth a passe-port to faith to set it on packing ; so this earl finding himself suspected , was never after cordially loyall , smothering his treachery in this kings life , which afterwards broke forth into an open flame . chap. . saladine is conquered by king baldwine , and conquereth mesopotamia ; discords about the protectourship of ierusalem ; the death , and praise of baldwine the fourth . the kingdome of damascus being recovered of the famine , saladine having gotten his ends by the truce , would now have the truce to end ; and breaking it ( as not standing with his haughty designes ) marched with a great army out of egypt through palestine to damascus , much spoiling the countrey . and now having joyned the egyptian with the damascene forces , re-entred the holy land . but young king baldwine meeting him , though but with seven hundred to twenty thousand , at the village frobolet , overthrew him in a great battel ; and saladine himself was glad with speedy flight to escape the danger , and by long marches to get him again to damascus . afterward he besieged berytus both by sea & land : but the vigilancie and valour of king baldwine defeated his taking of it . saladine finding such tough resistance in the holy land , thought to make a better purchase by laying out his time in mesopotamia . wherefore passing euphrates , he wonne charran and divers other cities : and then returning , in syria besieged aleppo the strongest place the christians had in that countrey ; so fortified by nature , that he had little hope to force it . but treason will runne up the steepest ascent , where valour it self can scarce creep : and saladine with the battery of bribes made such a breach in the loyaltie of the governour , that he betrayed it unto him . thus he cometh again into the holy land more formidable then ever before , carrying an army of terrour in the mentioning of his name , which drove the poore christians all into their fenced cities . as for king baldwine , the leprosie had arrested him prisoner , and kept him at home . long had this kings spirit endured this infirmity , swallowing many a bitter pang with a smiling face , and going upright with patient shoulders under the weight of his disease . it made him put all his might to it , because when he yeelded to his sicknesse , he must leave off the managing of the state ; and he was loth to put off his royall robes before he went to bed , a crown being too good a companion for one to part with willingly . but at last he was made to stoop , and retired himself to a private life , appointing baldwine his nephew ( a child of five yeares old ) his successour ; and guy earl of joppa and askelon , this childs father in law , to be protectour of the realm in his minority . but soon after he revoked this latter act , and designed reimund earl of tripoli for the protectour . he displaced guy , because he found him of no over-weight worth , scarce passable without favourable allowance , little feared of his foes , and as little loved of his friends . the more martiall christians sleighted him as a slug , and neglected so lazy a leader that could not keep pace with those that were to follow him : yea , they refused ( whilest he was protectour ) at his command to fight with saladine ; and out of distast to their generall , suffered their enemie freely to forrage ; which was never done before : for the christians never met any turks wandring in the holy land , but on even terms they would examine their passe-port how sufficient it was , and bid them battel . guy stormed at his displacing , and though little valiant , yet very ●ullen , left the court in discontent , went home , and fortified his cities of joppa and askelon . what should king baldwine do in this case ? whom should he make protectour ? guy had too little , reimund too much spirit for the place . he feared guy's cowardlinesse , lest he should lose the kingdome to the turks ; and reimunds treachery , lest he should get it for himself . thus anguish of mind and weaknesse of bodie ( a doughtie conquest for their united strengths , which single might suffice ) ended this kings dayes , dying young at five and twenty yeares of age . but if by the morning we may guesse at the day , he would have been no whit inferiour to any of his predecessours ; especially if his body had been able : but ( alas ! ) it spoiled the musick of his soul , that the instrument was quite out of tune . he reigned twelve yeares , and was buried in the temple of the sepulchre : a king happie in this , that he died before the death of his kingdome . chap. . the short life , and wofull death of baldwine the fifth an infant . guy his father in law succeedeth him . it is a rare happinesse of the family of s. laurence , barons of hoath in ireland , that the heirs for yeares together alwayes have been of age before the death of their fathers : for minors have not onely baned families , but ruined realms . it is one of gods threatnings ; i will give children to be their princes , and babes shall rule over them . with this rod god strook the kingdome of jerusalem thrice in yeares ; baldwine the third , fourth , and fifth , being all under age ; and this last but five yeares old . he was the posthumus sonne of william marquesse of montferrat , by sibyll his wife , sister to baldwine the fourth , daughter to king almerick : she afterwards was married to guy earl of joppa and askelon . now reimund earl of tripoli challenged to be protectour of this young king , by the vertue of an act of the former king so assigning him . but sibyll mother to this infant , to defeat reimund , first murdered all naturall affection in her self , and then by poyson murdered her sonne ; that so the crown in her right might come to her husband guy . this baldwine reigned eight moneths , eight dayes ; saith mistaken munster : and some mistake more , who make him not to reigne at all ; cruel to wrong his memorie of his honour , whom his mother had robbed both of his life and kingdome . his death was concealed , till guy his father in law had obtained by large bribes to the templars and heraclius the patriarch , to be crowned king : one more ennobled with his descent from the ancient family of the lusignans in poictou , then for any * eminencie in himself : his gifts were better then his endowments . yet had he been more fortunate , he would have been accounted more vertuous ; men commonly censuring that the fault of the king , which is the fate of the kingdome . and now the christian affairs here posted to their wofull period , being spurred on by the discords of the princes . chap. . church-affairs : of haymericus patriarch of antioch ; of the grecian anti-patriarchs ; and of the learned theodorus balsamon . whilest heraclius did patriarch it in jerusalem , one haymericus had the same honour at antioch . he wrote to henry the second king of england , a bemoning letter of the christians in the east , and from him received another , fraught with never-performed fair promises . this man must needs be different from that haymericus who began his patriarchship in antioch anno , and sat but twelve yeares , say the * centuriatours : but * baronius , as different from them sometimes in chronologie as divinitie , maketh them the same . then must he be a through-old man , enjoying his place above fourtie yeares ; being probably before he wore the style of patriarch , well worn in yeares himself . i must confesse , it passeth my chymistrie to extract any agreement herein out of the contrariety of writers . we must also take notice , that besides the latine patriarchs in jerusalem and antioch , there were also grecian anti-patriarchs appointed by the emperour of constantinople : who having no temporall power nor profit by church-lands , had onely jurisdiction over those of the greek church . we find not the chain of their succession , but here and there light on a link ▪ and at this time in jerusalem on three successively : . athanasius ; whom though * one out of his abundant charitie is pleased to style a schismatick , yet was he both pious and learned , as appeareth by his epistles . . leontius , * commended likewise to posteritie for a good clerk and an honest man. . dositheus , * inferiour to the former in both respects : isaac the grecian emperour sent to make him patriarch of constantinople ▪ and dositheus catching at both , held neither , but betwixt two patriarchs chairs fell to the ground . antioch also had her greek patriarchs : as one sotericus , displaced for maintaining some unsound tenets about our saviour : after him theodorus balsamon , the oracle of the learned law in his age . he compiled and commented on the ancient canons ; and principally set forth the priviledges of constantinople ; listening , say the romanists , to the least noise that soundeth to the advancing of the eastern churches , and knocking down rome wheresoever it peepeth above constantinople . this maketh bellarmine except against him as a partiall writer ; because a true historian should be neither partie , advocate , nor judge , but a bare witnesse . by * isaac the grecian emperour this balsamon was also deceived : he pretended to remove him to constantinople , on condition he would prove the translation of the patriarch to be legall , which is forbidden by the canons . balsamon took upon him to prove it : and a lawyers brains will beat to purpose when his own preferment is the fee. but herein he did but crack the nut for another to eat the kernel : for the emperour mutable in his mind , changing his favourites as well as his clothes before they were old , when the legality of the translation was avowed , bestowed the patriarchship of constantinople on another ; and theodorus was still staked down at antioch in a true spirituall preferment , affording him little bodily maintenance . chap. . the revolt of the earl of tripoli ; the christians irrecoverably overthrown , and their king taken prisoner . there was at this time a truce betwixt the christians and saladine , broken on this occasion : saladines mother went from egypt to damascus , with much treasure and a little train , as sufficiently guarded with the truce yet in force : when reinold of castile surprised and robbed her . saladine glad of this occasion , gathereth all his strength together , and besiegeth ptolemais . now reimund earl of tripoli appeareth in his colours , vexed at the losse of the government . his great stomach hath no room for patience : and his passions boyled from a fever to a phrensie ; so that blinded with anger at king guy , he mistaketh his enemy , and will be revenged on god and religion ; revolting with his principalitie ( a third part of the kingdome of jerusalem ) to saladine ; and in his own person under a visard , assisted him in this siege . out of the citie marched the templars and hospitallers , and falling on the turks killed twentie thousand of them . yet they gave welnigh a valuable consideration for their victory , the master of the hospitallers being slain ; and a brave generall in battel never dieth unattended . saladine hereupon raiseth his siege ; and reimund earl of tripoli , whether out of fear the christians might prevail , or remorse of conscience , or discontent , not finding that respect he expected of saladine ( who had learned that politick maxime , to give some honour , no trust to a fugitive ) reconciled himself to king guy ; and sory for his former offense , returned to the christians . king guy hereupon gathering the whole strength of his weak kingdome to do their last devoir , determined to bid saladine battel ; though having but fifteen hundred horse and fifteen thousand foot , against an hundred and twenty thousand horse and an hundred and sixty thousand foot . nigh tiberias the battel was fought : they close in the afternoon ; but night moderating betwixt them , both sides drew their stakes till next morning : then on afresh . the christians valour poised the number of their enemies ; till at last the distemper of the weather turned the scales to the turks side . more christians ( thirsty within and scalded without ) were killed with the beams the sunne darted then with the arrows the enemies shot . reinold of castile was slain , with most of the templars and hospitallers . * gerard master of the templars , and boniface marquesse of montferrat were taken prisoners ; and also guy the king , who saw the rest of his servants slain before his eyes , onely obtaining of saladine the life of his schoolmaster . yea , in this battel the flower of the christian chevalrie was cut down : and what was most lamented , the crosse ( saith matthew paris ) which freed men from the captivity of their sinnes , was for mens sinnes taken captive . most impute this overthrow to the earl of tripoli , who that day commanded a great part of the christian army , and is said of some treacherously to have fled away . but when a great action miscarrieth , the blame must be laid on some ; and commonly it lighteth on them who formerly have been found false , be it right or wrong : so impossible is it for him who once hath broken his credit by treason , ever to have it perfectly joynted again . it increaseth the suspicion , because this earl , afterwards found dead in his bed ( as some say ) was circumcised . victorious saladine , as he had thrown a good cast , played it as well ; in a moneth conquering berytus , biblus , ptolemais , and all the havens ( tyre excepted ) from sidon to askelon . he used his conquest with much moderation , giving lives & goods to all , and forcing no christians to depart their cities , save onely the latines . this his gentlenesse proceeded from policy , well knowing that if the christians could not buy their lives cheap , they would sell them deare , and fight it out to the uttermost . askelon was stout , and would not surrender . wherefore saladine , loth with the hazard of so long a siege to check his fortune in the full speed , left it , and went to jerusalem , as to a place of lesse difficulty and more honour to conquer . chap. . ierusalem wonne by the turk , with wofull remarkables thereat . before the beginning of the siege , the sunne , as sympathizing with the christians woes , was eclipsed . a sad presage of the losse of jerusalem . for though those within the city valiantly defended it for a fortnight , yet they saw it was but the playing out of a desperate game which must be lost : their foes neare , their friends farre off ; and those willing to pity , unable to help . why then should they prolong languishing , where they could not preserve life ? concluding to lavish no more valour , they yeelded up the city , on condition all their lives might be redeemed , a man for ten , a woman for five , a child for * one besant : and fourteen thousand poore people not able to pay their ransome , were kept in perpetuall bondage . all latines were cast out of the citie ; but those of the greek religion were permitted to stay therein : onely saladine to two frenchmen gave liberty to abide there , and maintenance to live on , in reverence to their age : the one robert of corbie , a souldier to godfrey of bouillon when he wanne this citie ; the other fulk fiole , the first child born in the citie after the christians had conquered it . saladine possessed of jerusalem , turned the churches into stables , sparing onely that of the sepulchre for a great summe of money . solomons temple he converted to a mosque , sprinkling it all over with rose-water , as if he would wash it from profanenesse , whilest he profaned it with his washing . thus jerusalem after it had fourescore and eight yeares been enjoyed by the christians , by gods just judgement was taken again by the turks . what else could be expected ? sinne reigned in every corner ; there was scarce * one honest woman in the whole city of jerusalem . heraclius the patriarch , with the clergie , was desperately vitious : and no wonder if iron rust , when gold doth ; and if the laity followed their bad example . this dolefull news brought into europe , filled all with sighs and sorrows . pope urbane the third ( as another eli at the arks captivity ) died for grief : the cardinals lamented out of measure , vowing such reformation of manners ; never more to take bribes , never more to live so vitiously ; yea , never to ride on an * horse so long as the holy land was under the feet of the turks . but this their passion spent it self with its own violence ; and these mariners vows ended with the tempest . in this generall grief of christendome there was one woman found to rejoyce , and she a german prophetesse called s. christian , a virgin . who as she had foretold the day of the defeat , so on the same she professed that she saw in a vision christ and his angels rejoycing . for the losse of the earthly canaan was gain to the heavenly ; peopling it with many inhabitants , who were conquerours in their overthrow ; whilest they * requited christs passion , and died for him who suffered for them . but for the truth both of the doctrine and historie hereof , none need burden their beleef farther then they please . we will conclude all with roger hovedens witty descant on the time : * when jerusalem was wonne by the christians , and afterwards when it was lost , an urbane was pope of rome , a frederick emperour of germany , an heraclius patriarch of jerusalem . but by his leave , though the first of his observations be true , the second is a flat falsitie , the third a foul mistake , and may thus be mended : ( it is charity to lend a crutch to a lame conceit ) when the crosse was taken from the persians , heraclius was emperour ; and when it was taken from the turks , heraclius was patriarch . thus these curious observations ( like over-small watches ) not one of a hundred goeth true . though it cannot be denied , but the same name ( as henry of england , one the winne-all , another the lose-all in france ) hath often been happy and unhappy in founding and confounding of kingdomes . but such nominall toyes are rags not worth a wise mans stooping to take them up . the end of the second book . the historie of the holy warre . book iii. chap. . conrade of montferrat valiantly defendeth tyre , and is chosen king. in this wofull estate stood the christian affairs in the holy land , when conrade marquesse of montferrat arrived there . his worth commandeth my penne to wait on him from his own countrey till he came hither . sonne he was to boniface marquesse of montferrat , and had spent his youth in the service of isaacius angelus the grecian emperour . this isaacius , fitter for a priest then a prince , was alwayes bred in a private way ; and the confining of his body feemeth to have brought him to a pent and narrow soul. for he suffered rebells to affront him to his face , never fending any army against them , but commending all his cause to a company of bare-footed friars whom he kept in his court , desiring them to pray for him , and by their pious tears to quench the combustions in the empire . but our conrade plainly told him , he must use as well the weapons of the * left hand as of the right ; meaning the sword as well as prayers : and by the advice of this his generall , he quickly subdued all his enemies . which his great service found small reward : * onely he was graced to wear his shoes of the imperiall fashion ; a low matter , but there ( forsooth ) accounted an high honour . but soon after isaac was sick of this physician who had cured his empire . if private debters care not for the company of their creditours , much lesse do princes love to see them to whom they ow themselves and their kingdome : so unwelcome are courtesies to them when above their requitall . now it is an ancient policie , to rid away high spirits by sending them on some plausible errand into remote parts , there to seek for themselves an honourable grave . to this end isaacius by the perswasions of some spurred on conrade ( free enough of himself to any noble action ) to go into palestine , there to support the ruinous affairs of the christians . conrade was sensible of their plot , but suffered himself to be wrought on , being weary of the grecians basenesse ; and came into the holy land with a brave company of gentlemen furnished on their own cost . for a while we set him aside , and return to saladine : who by this time had taken askelon , on condition that king guy , and gerard master of the templars should be set at liberty . nor long after was the castle of antioch betrayed unto him by the * patriarch ; and the citie , scarce got with eleven moneths siege , was lost in an instant , with five and twenty strong towns more which attended the fortune of antioch : and many provinces thereto belonging came into the possession of the turks . must not the christians needs be bankrupts if they continue this trade , buying deare and selling cheap , gaining by inches and losing by ells ? with better successe those in tripoli ( which citie the wife of earl reimund after his death delivered to the christians ) defended themselves against saladine . for shame they would not forgo their shirts , though they had parted with their clothes . stark-naked from shelter had the christians been left , if stripped out of tripoli and tyre . manfully therefore they defended themselves ; and saladine having tasted of their valour in tripoli , had no mind to mend his draught , but marched away to tyre . but conrade of montferrat , who was in tyre with his army , so used the matter , that saladine was fain to flie , and leave his tents behind him , which were lined with much treasure : and the christians had that happinesse to squeeze that sponge which formerly was filled with their spoil . they in tyre in token of gratitude chose this conrade king of jerusalem ; swearing themselves his subjects who had kept them from being the turks slaves . to strengthen his title , he * married elisa or isabella ( authours christen her with either name ) formerly espoused to humfred of thoron , sister to baldwine the fourth , daughter to almerick king of jerusalem . by this time king guy was delivered out of prison , having sworn never more to bear arms against saladine : which oath by the clergie was adjudged void , because forced from him when he was detained in prison unjustly against promise . the worst was , now he had gained his liberty he could not get his kingdome . coming to tyre , they shut the gates against him , owning no king but conrade . thus to have two kings together , is the way to have neither king nor kingdome . but guy following the affront as well as he might , and piecing up a cloth of remnants with his broken army , besieged ptolemais . the pisanes , venetians , and florentines , with their sea-succours came to assist him . but this siege was church-work , and therefore went on slowly ; we may easier perceive it to have moved then to move , especially if we return hither a twelve-moneth hence . chap. . the church-story in the holy land to the end of the warre ; the use and abuse of titular bishops . we must now no longer look for a full face of a church in the holy land ; it is well if we find one cheek and an eye . though jerusalem and antioch were wonne by the turks , the pope ceased not to make patriarchs of both . we will content our selves with the names of those of jerusalem , finding little else of them remarkable . after heraclius , thomas agni was patriarch , * present in the laterane councel under innocent the third . geraldus succeeded him , who * sided with the pope against frederick the emperour . albertus , patriarch in jerusalem when the christians lost their land in syria . he prescribed some rules to the * carmelites . after him , antonie beak bishop of duresme , the most triumphant prelate of the english militant church except cardinall wolsey . he founded and endowed a colledge for prebends at * chester in the bishoprick of duresme : yet no doubt he had done a deed more acceptable to god , if in stead of sacrifice he had done justice , and not defrauded the lord vessie's heir , to whom he was guardian . let those who are delighted with sciographie , paint out ( if they please ) these shadow-patriarchs , as also those of antioch , and deduce their succession to this day : for this custome still continueth , and i find the suffraganes to severall archbishops and bishops in germany and france , style themselves bishops of palestine : for example ; the suffraganes of tornay , munster , mentz , utrecht , sens , triers , write themselves bishops of sarepta , ptolemais , sidon , hebron , cesarea , azotus . but well did one in the councel of trent give these titular bishops the title of figmenta humana , mans devices ; because they have as little ground in gods word and the ancient canons for their making , as ground in palestine for their maintenance : yea , a titular bishop soundeth a contradiction : for a bishop and a church or diocese , are relatives , as a husband and his wife . besides , these bishops by ascending to so high an honour , were fain to descend to many indecencies and indignities to support themselves , with many corruptions in selling of orders they conferred , the truest and basest simonie . however the pope still continueth in making of them : first , because it is conceived to conduce to the state and amplitude of the romane church to have so many bishops in it , as it is the credit of the apothecarie to have his shop full , though many outside-painted pots be emptie within . secondly , hereby his holinesse hath a facile and cheap way both to gratifie and engage ambitious spirits , and such chameleons as love to feed on aire . yea , the pope is not onely free of spirituall dignities , but also of temporall titular honours ; as when in the dayes of queen elisabeth he made thomas stukely ( a bankrupt in his loyaltie as well as in his estate ) marquesse of leinster , earl of weifford and caterlogh , vicount murrough , baron rosse and hydron in ireland : the best is , these honours were not heavie nor long worn , he being slain soon after in barbarie , else the number of them would have broken his back . lastly , there is a reall use made of these nominall bishops : for these ciphres joyned with figures will swell a number , and sway a side in a generall councel , as his holinesse pleaseth ; so that he shall truly cogere concilium , both gather and compell it . of the foure archbishops which were at the first session in the councel of trent two were merely titular , who never had their feet in those churches whence they took their honour . but enough hereof ; now to matters of the common-wealth . chap. . frederick barbarossa his setting forth to the holy land ; of the tyrannous grecian emperours . matter 's going thus wofully in palestine , the christians sighs there were alarms to stirre up their brethren in europe to go to help them , and chiefly frederick barbarossa the germane emperour . impute it not to the weaknesse of his judgement , but the strength of his devotion , that at seventy yeares of age , having one foot in his grave , he would set the other on pilgrimage . we must know that this emperour had been long tied to the stake , and baited with seven fresh successive popes ; till at last not conquered with the strength , but wearied with the continuance of their malice , he gave himself up to be ordered by them ; and pope clement the third sent him on this voyage into the holy land . marching through hungarie with a great armie of one hundred and fiftie thousand valiant souldiers , he was welcomed by king bela. but changing his host , his entertainment was changed ; being basely used when he entred into the grecian empire . of the emperours whereof we must speak somewhat . for though being to write the holy warre i will climbe no hedges , to trespasse on any other story ; yet will i take leave to go the high-way , and touch on the succession of those princes which lead to the present discourse . when conrade emperour of germanie last passed this way , emmanuel was emperour in greece : who having reigned thirtie eight yeares , left his place to alexius his sonne : a youth , the depth of whose capacitie onely reached to understand pleasure ; governed by the factious nobilitie , till in his third yeare he was strangled by andronicus his cousin . andronicus succeeded him ; a diligent reader and a great lover of * s. pauls epistles , but a bad practiser of them : who rather observing the devils rule , that it is the best way for those who have been bad , to be still worse , fensing his former villanies by committing new ones , held by tyrannie what he had gotten by usurpation ; till having lived in the bloud of others , he died in his own , tortured to death by the headlesse multitude ; from whom he received all the cruelties which might be expected from servile natures when they command . then isaacius angelus , of the emperiall bloud , was placed in his throne ; of whom partly * before . nero-like , he began mildly , but soon fell to the trade of tyrannie : no personall , but the hereditarie sinne of these emperours . he succeeded also to their suspicions against the latines , as if they came through his countrey for some sinister ends . this jealous emperour reigned when frederick with his armie passed this way ; and many bad offices were done bewixt these two emperours by unfaithfull * embassadours , as such false mediums have often deceived the best eyes . but frederick finding perfidious dealing in the greeks , was drawn to draw his sword ; taking as he went , * philippople , adrianople , and many other cities ; not so much to get their spoil , as his own securitie . isaac understanding hereof , and seeing these pilgrimes would either find or make their passage , left all terms of enmitie , and fell to a fair complying , accommodating them with all necessaries for their transportation over the bosporus , pretending to hasten them away because the christians exigencies in palestine admitted of no delay : doing it indeed for fear , the grecians loving the latines best when they are furthest from them . chap. . the great victories and wofull death of frederick the worthy emperour . frederick entring into the territories of the turkish sultan of iconium , found great resistance , but vanquished his enemies in foure severall set battels . iconium he took by force , giving the spoil thereof to his souldiers , in revenge of the injuries done to his uncle conrade the emperour by the sultan of that place . the citie of philomela he made to sing a dolefull tune , rasing it to the ground , and executing all the people therein as rebells against the law of nations , for killing his embassadours : and so came with much difficulty and honour into syria . saladine shook for fear , hearing of his coming ; and following the advice of * charatux his counseller ( counted one of the wisest men in the world , though his person was most contemptible ; so true it is , none can guesse the jewel by the casket ) dismantled all his cities in the holy land save some frontier-places , rasing their walls and forts , that they were not tenable with an army . for he feared if the dutch wonne these places , they would not easily be driven out : whereas now being naked from shelter , he would weary them with set battels , having men numberlesse , and those neare at hand ; and so he would tame the romane eagle by watching him , giving him no rest nor respite from continuall fighting . it is therefore no paradox to say , that in some case the strength of a kingdome doth consist in the weaknesse of it . and hence it is , that our english kings have suffered time , without disturbing her meals , to feed her belly full on their in-land castles and citie-walls ; which whilest they were standing in their strength , were but the nurseries of rebellion . and now , as * one observeth , because we have no strong cities , warre in england waxeth not old ( being quickly stabbed with set battels ) which in the low-countreys hath already outlived the grand climactericall of threescore and ten yeares . but frederick the emperour , being now entring into the holy land , was to the great grief of all christians suddenly taken away , being drowned in the river of saleph ; a river ( such is the envie of barbarisme obscuring all places ) which cannot accurately be known at this day , because this new name is a stranger to all ancient maps . if he went in to wash himself , as some write , he neither consulted with his health nor honour : some say , his horse foundred under him as he passed the water ; others , that he fell from him . but these severall relations , as varietie of instruments , make a dolefull consort in this , that there he lost his life : and no wonder , if the cold water quickly quenched those few sparks of naturall heat left in him at seventie yeares of age . * neubrigensis conceiveth that this his sudden death was therefore inflicted on him , because in his youth he fought against the popes and church of rome : but i wonder that he seeing an emperour drowned in a ditch , durst adventure into the bottomlesse depths of gods counsels . let it content us to know that oftentimes heaven blasteth those hopes which bud first and fairest ; and the feet of mightie monarchs do slip , when they want but one step to their enemies throne . after his death frederick duke of suevia , his second sonne , undertook the conduct of the armie . now the turks conceiving grief had steeped and moistened these pilgrimes hearts , gave them a sudden charge , in hope to have overthrown them . but the valiant dutch , who though they had scarce wiped their eyes had scoured their swords , quickly forced them to retire . then frederick took the citie of antioch , which was easily delivered unto him , and his hungrie souldiers well refreshed by the citizens , being as yet for the most part christians . marching from hence in set battel , he overthrew dodequin generall of saladines forces , slew foure thousand , and took a thousand prisoners with little losse of his own men : and so came to the citie of tyre , where he buried the corpse of his worthy father in the cathedrall church next the tombe of learned origen ; and gulielmus tyrius the worthy archbishop preached his funerall sermon . we may heare his sorrowfull army speaking this his epitaph unto him ; earth scarce did yeeld ground enough for thy sword to conquer , how then could a brook afford water to drown thee ? brook , which since doth fear ( o guiltie conscience ) in a map t' appear . yet blame we not the brook , but rather think the weight of our own sinnes did make thee sink . now sith 't is so , wee 'l fetch a brackish main out of our eyes , and drown thee once again . from hence by sea they were conveyed to the christian army before ptolemais , where young frederick died of the plague : and his great army which at first consisted of an hundred and fiftie thousand at their setting forth out of germanie , had now no more left then * eighteen hundred armed men . chap. . the continuation of the famous siege of ptolemais ; the dutch knights honoured with a grand master . we have now at our leisure overtaken the snail-like siege of ptolemais , still slowly creeping on . before it the christians had not onely a nationall but an oecumenicall army ; the abridgement of the christian world : scarce a state or populous citie in europe but had here some competent number to represent it . how many bloudie blows were here lent on both sides , and repayed with interest ? what sallies ? what assaults ? what encounters ? whilest the christians lay betwixt saladine with his great army behind them and the citie before them . one memorable battel we must not omit . it was agreed betwixt saladine and the christians to trie their fortunes in a pitched field : and now the christians were in fair hope of a conquest , when an * imaginarie causelesse fear put them to a reall flight ; so ticklish are the scales of victory , a very mote will turn them . thus confusedly they ran away , and boot would have been given to change a strong arm for a swift leg . but behold , geoffrey lusignan king guy's brother ( left for the guarding of the camp ) marching out with his men , confuted the christians in this their groundlesse mistake , and reinforced them to fight ; whereby they wonne the day , though with the losse of two thousand men and gerard master of the templars . it was vainly hoped , that after this victorie the citie would be surrendred : but the turks still bravely defended it , though most of their houses were burnt and beaten down , and the citie reduced to a bare sceleton of walls and towres . they fought as well with their wits as weapons , and both sides devised strange defensive and offensive engines : so that mars himself , had he been here present , might have learned to fight , and have taken notes from their practice . mean time famine raged amongst the christians ; and though some provision was now and then brought in from italy ( for so farre they fetched it ) yet these small showres after great droughts parched the more , and rather raised then abated their hunger . once more we will take our farewell of this siege for a twelve-moneth : but we must not forget that at this time , before the walls of ptolemais the teutonick order , or * dutch knights ( which since the dayes of baldwine the second lived like private pilgrimes ) had now their order honoured with henry of walpot their first grand master , and they were enriched by the bountie of many germane benefactours . these though slow , were sure ; they did hoc agere , ply their work ; more cordiall to the christian cause then the templars , who sometimes to save their own stakes would play bootie with the turks . much good service did the dutch knights in the holy warre ; till at last ( no wise doctour will lavish physick on him in whom he seeth faciem cadaverosam , so that death hath taken possession in the sick mans countenance ) finding this warre to be desperate and dedecus fortitudinis , they even fairly left the holy land , and came into europe , meaning to lay out their valour on some thing that would quit cost . but hereof hereafter . chap. . richard of england and philip of france set forward to the holy land ; the danger of the interveiws of princes . the miseries of the christians in syria being reported in europe , made richard the first , king of england , and philip the second surnamed augustus , king of france , to make up all private dissensions betwixt them , and to unite their forces against the turks . richard was well stored with men , the bones ; and quickly got money , the sinews of warre ; by a thousand princely skills gathering so much coin as if he meant not to return , because looking back would unbowe his resolution . to hugh bishop of duresme , for his life , he sold the county of northumberland ; * jesting he had made a new earl of an old bishop : he sold barwick and roxburgh to the scottish king for ten thousand pounds : yea , he protested he would sell his citie of * london ( if any were able to buy it ) rather then he would be burdensome to his subjects for money . but take this as he spake it , for a flourish : for pretending he had lost his old , he made a new seal , wherewith he squeezed his subjects , and left a deep impression in their purses ; forcing them to have all their * instruments new-sealed , which any wayes concerned the crown . having now provided for himself , he forgot not his younger brother john earl of morton , who was to stay behind him ; an active man , who if he misliked the maintenance was cut for him , would make bold to carve for himself : lest therefore straitned for means he should swell into discontent , king richard gave him many earldomes and honours , to the yearly value of foure thousand marks . thus he received the golden saddle , but none of the bridle of the common-wealth : honour & riches were heaped upon him , but no place of trust and command . for the king deputed william bishop of ely his viceroy ; choosing him for that place rather then any lay-earl , because a coronet perchance may swell into a crown , but never a mitre : for a clergie-mans calling made him uncapable of usurpation in his own person . thus having settled matters at home , he set forth with many of our nation ; which either ushered or followed him . of these the prime were , baldwine archbishop of canterbury , hubert bishop of salisburie , robert earl of leicester , ralph de glanvile late chief justice of england , richard de clare , walter de kime , &c. the bishops of duresme and norwich , though they had vowed this voyage , were dispensed with by the court of rome ( * quae nulli deest pecuniam largienti ) to stay at home . his navie he sent about by spain , and with a competent number took his own journey through france . at tours he took his pilgrimes scrip and staff from the archbishop . his staff at the same time * casually brake in pieces ; which some ( whose dexteritie lay in sinister interpreting all accidents ) construed a token of ill successe . likewise , when he and the french king with their trains passed over the bridge of lyons , * on the fall of the bridge this conceit was built , that there would be a falling out betwixt these two kings ; which accordingly came to passe , their intercourse and familiaritie breeding hatred and discontent betwixt them . yea , the interviews of equall princes have ever been observed dangerous . now princes measure their equalitie not by the extent of their dominions , but by the absolutenesse of their power ; so that he that is supreme and independent in his own countrey , counteth himself equall to any other prince how great soever . perchance some youthfull kings may disport and solace themselves one in anothers companie , whilest as yet pleasure is all the elevation of their souls : but when once they grow sensible of their own greatnesse , ( a lesson they will quickly learn , and shall never want teachers ) then emulation will be betwixt them : because at their meeting they cannot so go in equipage , but one will still be the foremost : either his person will be more proper , or carriage more court-like , or attendance more accomplished , or attire more fashionable , or some thing will either be or conceived to be more majesticall in one then the other : and corrivalls in honour count themselves eclipsed by every beam of state which shineth from their competitour . wherefore the best way to keep great princes together , is to keep them asunder , accommodating their businesse by embassadours , lest the meeting of their own persons part their affections . chap. . king richard conquereth sicilie and cyprus in his passage to the holy land . at lyons these two kings parted their trains , and went severall wayes into sicilie . king richard in his passage , though within fifteen miles of rome , wanting ( forsooth ) either devotion or manners , vouchsafed not to give his holinesse a visit : yea , plainly told * octavian bishop of ostia the popes confessour , that having better objects to bestow his eyes on , he would not stirre a step to see the pope : because lately without mercie he had simoniacally extorted a masse of money from the prelates of england . at messana in sicilie these two kings meet again : where to complete king richards joy , behold his navie there safely arriving , which with much difficultie and danger had fetched a compasse about spain . and now king richard by his own experience grew sensible of the miseries which merchants and mariners at sea underwent , being alwayes within few inches , often within an hairs breadth of death . wherefore now touched with remorse of their pitifull case , he resolved to revoke the law of wracks , as a law so just that it was even unjust . for formerly both in england and normandie , the * crown was intituled to shipwrackt goods , and the king jure gentium made heir unto them ; which otherwise jure naturali were conceived to be in bonis nullius , pertaining to no owner . but now our richard refused to make advantage of such pitifull accidents , and to strip poore mariners out of those rags of their estates which the mercie and modestie of the waves and winds had left them . and therefore on the moneth of october , at messana , in the presence of many archbishops and bishops , he for ever * quitted the claim to wracks : so that if any man out of the ship cometh alive to the shore , the propertie of the shipwrackt goods is still preserved to the owner . yea , this grant was so enlarged by our succeeding kings , that * if a dogge or a cat escaped alive to land , the goods still remained the owners if he claimed them within a yeare and a day . tankred at this time was king of sicilie ; a bastard born : and no wonder , if climbing up to the throne the wrong way , he shaked when he sat down . besides , he was a tyrant ; both detaining the dowrie and imprisoning the person of joan wife to william late king of sicilie , and sister to king richard. but in what a case was he now , having two such mightie monarchs come unto him ! to keep them out , was above his power ; to let them in , against his will. well he knew it was wofull to lie in the rode where great armies were to passe : for power knoweth no inferiour friend ; and the land-lord commonly loseth his rent , sometimes his land , where the tenant is too potent for him . at last he resolved ( how wisely or honestly , let others judge ) openly to poise himself indifferent betwixt these two kings , secretly applying himself to the french : which king richard quickly discovered ; as dissembling goeth not long invisible before a judicious eye . mean time the citizens of messana did the english much wrong , if not by the command ▪ with the consent of the king. for though it be unjust to father the base actions of unrulie people on their prince ; yet tankred not punishing his people for injuring the english , when he might and was required thereunto , did in effect justifie their insolencies , and adopt their deeds to be his . wherefore king richard to avenge himself , took messana by assault , seised on most forts in the island , demanding satisfaction for all wrongs done to him and his sister . tankred though dull at first , now pricked with the sword , came off roundly with many thousand ounces of gold ; and seeing , as the case stood , his best thrift was to be prodigall , gave to our king what rich conditions soever he demanded . worse discords daily encreased betwixt the kings of france and england ; king richard slighting the king of france his sister , whom he had promised to marrie , and expressing more affection to beringaria daughter to the king of navarre . some princes interposing themselves in this breach , rather asswaged the pain then removed the maladie : so dangerous are ruptures betwixt great ones , whose affections perchance by the mediation of friends may be brought again to meet , but never to unite and incorporate . king philip thinking to forestall the market of honour , and take up all for himself , hasted presently to ptolemais : richard followed at his leisure , and took cyprus in his way . isaac ( or cursac ) reigned then in cyprus ; who , under andronicus the grecian emperour ( when every factious noble-man snatched a plank out of that shipwracked empire ) seised on this island , and there tyrannized as a reputed king. some falsely conceive him a pagan : and his faith is suspected , because his charitie was so bad ; killing the english that landed there , not having so much man as to pitie a woman , and to suffer the sea-sick lady beringaria to come on shore . but king richard speedily overran the island , honoured isaac with the magnificent captivitie of silver fetters ; yet giving his daughter libertie and princely usage . the island he pawned to the templars for readie money . and because cyprus by antiquitie was celebrated as the seat of venus , that so it might prove to him , in the joyous moneth of may he solemnly took to wife his beloved lady beringaria . chap. . the taking of the citie ptolemais . whilest king richard stayed in cyprus , the siege of ptolemais went on : and though the french king thought with a running pull to bear the citie away , yet he found it staked down too fast for all his strength to stirre . mean time , the plague and famine raged in the christians camp ; which the last yeare swept away fiftie princes and prelates of note : who , no doubt , went hence to a happie place ; though it was before pope clement the sixth * commanded the angels ( who durst not but obey him ) presently to convey all their souls into paradise which should die in their pilgrimage . this mortalitie notwithstanding , the siege still continued . and now the christians and turks , like two fensers long playing together , were so well acquainted with the blows and guards each of other , that what advantage was taken betwixt them was merely casuall , never for want of skill , care , or valour on either side . it helped the christians not a little , that a concealed christian within the citie , with letters unsubscribed with any name , gave them constant and faithfull intelligence of the remarkable passages amongst the turks . no prince in this siege deserved more then leopoldus duke of austria ; who fought so long in assaulting this citie , till his armour was all over gore bloud , save the place covered with his belt . * whereupon he and his successours the dukes of austria , renouncing the six golden larks , their ancient arms , had assigned them by the emperour a fesse argent in a field gules , as the paternall coat of their family . by this time king richard was arrived ( taking as he came a dromond , or saracen ship , wherein were fifteen hundred souldiers , and two hundred and fiftie * scorpions , which were to be imployed in the poisoning of christians ) and now the siege of ptolemais more fiercely prosecuted . but all their engines made not so wide a breach in that citie walls , as envie made betwixt the french and english kings . yet at last the turks despairing of succour , their victuals wholly spent , yeelded up the citie by saladines consent , on condition to be themselves safely guarded out of it : all christian prisoners saladine had were to be set free , and the crosse to be again restored . the houses which were left , with the spoil and prisoners , were equally divided betwixt philip and richard. whereat many noble-men , partners in the pains , no sharers in the gains , departed in * discontent . some turks for fear embraced the christian faith , but quickly returned to their * vomit : as religion died in fear , never long keepeth colour , but this dayes converts will be to morrows apostates . hereupon it was commanded that none hereafter should be baptized against their wills . here the english cast down the ensignes of leopoldus duke of austria , which he had advanced in a principall towre in ptolemais ; and as some say , threw them into the jakes . the duke , though angrie at heart , forgot this injurie till he could remember it with advantage ; and afterwards made king richard pay soundly for this affront . it is not good to exasperate any , though farre inferiour : for , as the fable telleth us , the beetle may annoy the eagle , and the mouse befriend the lion . when the citie was taken , it grieved the christians not a little that their faithfull * correspondent , who advised them by his letters , could no where be found : pitie it was that rahabs red lace was not tied at his window . but indeed it was probable that he was dead before the surrendring of the citie . greater was the grief that the crosse did no where appear , either carelessely lost , or enviously concealed by the turks . whilest the christians stormed hereat , saladine required a longer respite for the performance of the conditions . but king richard would not enlarge him from the strictnesse of what was concluded ; conceiving this was in effect to forfeit the victorie back again . besides , he knew he did it onely to gain time to fetch new breath : and if he yeelded to him , his bounty had not been thanked , but his fear upbraided , as if he durst not denie him . yea , in anger king richard commanded all the turkish captives which were in his hands , * seven thousand in number , to be put to death ( except some choice persons ) on that day whereon the articles should have been but were not performed . for which fact he suffered much in his repute , branded with rashnesse and crueltie , as the murderer of many christians : for saladine in revenge put as many of our captives to death . on the other side the moderation of the french king was much commended , who reserving his prisoners alive , exchanged them to ransome so many christians . chap. . the unseasonable return of the king of france . mean time the christians were rent a sunder with faction : philip the french king , odo duke of burgundie , leopold duke of austria , most of the dutch , all the genoans and templars siding with king conrade ; king richard , henry count of champaigne , the hospitallers , venetians , and pisans taking part with king guy . but king conrades side was much weakened with the sudden departure of the french king ; who eighteen dayes after the taking of ptolemais returned home , pretending want of necessaries , indisposition of body , distemper of the climate , though the greatest distemper was in his own passions . the true cause of his departure was , partly envie , because the sound of king richards fame was of so deep a note that it drowned his ; partly * covetousnesse , to seise on the dominions of the earl of flanders lately dead ; flanders lying fitly to make a stable for the fair palace of france . if it be true what * some report , that saladine bribed him to return , let him for ever forfeit the surname of augustus , and the style of the most christian prince . his own souldiers disswaded him from returning , beseeching him not to stop in so glorious a race , wherein he was newly started : saladine was already on his knees , and would probably be brought on his face , if pursued . if he played the unthrift with this golden occasion , let him not hope for another to play the good husband with . if povertie forced his departure , king richard * profered him the half of all his provisions . all would not do , philip persisted in his old plea , how the life of him absent would be more advantageous to the cause , then the death of him present ; and by importunitie got leave to depart , solemnly swearing not to molest the king of englands dominions . thus the king of france returned in person , but remained still behind in his instructions , which he left ( with his armie ) to the duke of burgundie ; to whom he prescribed both his path and his pace , where and how he should go . and that duke moved slowly , having no desire to advance the work where king richard would carrie all the honour . for in those actions wherein severall undertakers are compounded together , commonly the first figure for matter of credit maketh ciphres of all the rest . as for king philip ; being returned home , such was the itch of his ambition , he must be fingering of the king of englands territories , though his hands were bound by oath to the contrary . chap. . conrade king of ierusalem slain : guy exchangeth his kingdome for the island of cyprus . about the time of the king of france his departure , conrade king of jerusalem was murdered in the * market-place of tyre ; and his death is variously reported . some charged our king richard for procuring it : and though the beams of his innocencie cleared his own heart , yet could they not dispell the clouds of suspicions from other mens eyes . some say humphred prince of thoron killed him , for taking isabella his wife away from him . but the generall voice giveth it out that two assasines stabbed him ; whose quarrel to him was onely this , that he was a christian. these murderers being instantly put to death , * gloried in the meritoriousnesse of their suffering : and surely were it the punishment not the cause made martyrdome , we should be best stored with confessours from gaols , and martyrs from the gallows . conrade reigned five yeares , and left one daughter , maria iole , on whom the knight-templars bestowed princely education . and this may serve for his epitaph , the crown i never did enjoy alone ; of half a kingdome i was half a king. scarce was i on , when i was off the throne ; slain by two slaves me basely murdering . and thus the best mans life at mercie lies of vilest varlets , that their own despise . his faction survived after his death , affronting guy the anti-king , and striving to depose him . they pleaded that the crown was tied on guy's head with a womans fillet , which being broken by the death of his wife queen sibyll ( who deceased of the plague with her * children at the siege of ptolemais ) he had no longer right to the kingdome ; they objected he was a worthlesse man , and unfortunate . on the other side , it was alledged for him , that to measure a mans worth by his successe , is a square often false , alwayes uncertain . besides , the courtesie of the world would allow him this favour , that a king should be semel & semper , once and ever . whilest guy stood on these ticklish terms , king richard made a seasonable motion , which well rellished to the palate of this hungrie prince , to exchange his kingdome of jerusalem for the island of cyprus ; which he had redeemed from the templars , to whom he had pawned it : and this was done accordingly to the content of both sides . and king richard with some of his succeeding english kings wore the title of * jerusalem in their style for many yeares after . we then dismisse king guy , hearing him thus taking his farewell ; i steer'd a state warre-tost against my will : blame then the storm , not th' pilots want of skill , that i the kingdome lost , whose emptie style i sold to englands king for cyprus isle . i pass'd away the land i could not hold ; good ground i bought , but onely aire i sold. then as a happy merchant may i sing , though i must sigh as an unhappy king. soon after , guy made a second change of this world for another . but the family of the lusignans have enjoyed cyprus some hundred yeares : and since by some transactions it fell to the state of venice ; and lately by conquest , to the turks . chap. . henry of champaigne chosen king ; the noble atchievements and victories of king richard. conrade being killed and guy gone away , henry earl of champaigne was chosen king of jerusalem by the especiall procuring of king richard his uncle . to corroborate his election by some right of succession , he married isabella , the widow of king conrade and daughter to almerick king of jerusalem . a prince ( as writers report ) having a sufficient stock of valour in himself , but little happie in expressing it ; whether for want of opportunitie , or shortnesse of his reigne , being most spent in a truce . he more pleased himself in the style of prince of tyre then king of jerusalem ; as counting it more honour to be prince of what he had , then king of what he had not . and now the christians began every where to build : the templars fortified gaza ; king richard repaired and walled ptolemais , porphyria , joppa , and askelon . but alas ! this short prosperity , like an autumne-spring , came too late and was gone too soon to bring any fruit to maturitie . it was now determined they should march towards jerusalem : for all this while they had but hit the butt ; that holy citie was the mark they shot at . richard led the vantguard of english ; duke odo commanded in the main battel over his french ; james of avergne brought on the flemings and brabanters in the rere . saladine , serpent-like biting the heel , assaulted the rere , not farre from bethlehem ; when the french and english wheeling about , charged the turks most furiously . emulation , formerly poyson , was here a cordiall , each christian nation striving not onely to conquer their enemies , but to overcome their friends in the honour of the conquest . king richard seeking to put his courage out of doubt , brought his judgement into question , being more prodigall of his person then beseemed a generall . one * wound he received , but by losing his bloud he found his spirits , and laid about him like a mad-man . the christians got the victory , without the losse of any of number or note , save james of avergne , who here died in the bed of honour : but more of the turks wore slain then in any battel for fourtie yeares before . had the christians presently gone to jerusalem , probably they might have surprised it , whilest the turks eyes were muffled and blindfolded in the amazement of this great overthrow . but this opportunitie was lost by the backwardnesse and unwillingnesse of king richard and the english , say the * french writers . to crie quits with them , our * english authours impute it to the envi● of the french ; who would have so glorious an action rather left undone , then done by the english. they complain likewise of● the treacherie of odo duke of burgundie , who more carefull of his credit then his conscience , was choked with the shame of the sinne he had swallowed , and died for grief , when his intelligence with the turks was made known . this cannot be denied , that saladine sent ( term them bribes or presents ) both to our king and the french duke , and they received them : no wonder then if neither of them herein had a good name , when they traded with such familiars . but most hold king richard attempted not jerusalem , because as a wise architect , he would build his victories so as they might stand , securing the countrey as he went ; it being senselesse to besiege jerusalem a straggling citie , whilest the turks as yet were in possession of all the sea-ports and strong forts thereabout . about this time he intercepted many camels loaden with rich commoditie , those eastern wares containing much in a little . and yet of all this , and of all the treasures of england , sicilie , and cyprus which he brought hither , king richard carried home nothing but one * gold-ring : all the rest of his wealth melted away in this hot service . he wintered in askelon , intending next spring to have at jerusalem . chap. . the little-honourable peace king richard made with saladine ; of the value of reliques . but bad news out of europe shaked his steadiest resolutions , hearing how william bishop of ely , his vice-roy in england , used unsufferable insolencies over his subjects : so hard it is for one of base parentage to personate a king without over-acting his part . also he heard how the king of france and john earl of morton his own brother , invaded his dominions ; ambition , the pope in their belly , dispensing with their oath to the contrary . besides , he saw this warre was not a subject capable of valour to any purpose ; the venetians , genoans , pisans and florentines being gone away with their fleets , wisely shrinking themselves out of the collar , when they found their necks wrung with the hard imployment . hereupon he was forced first to make the motion of ( in plain terms , to begge ) peace of saladine . let saladine now alone to winne , having all the game in his own hand . well knew he how to shoot at his own ends , and to take aim by the exigencies wherein he knew king richard was plunged . for he had those cunning gypsies about him , who could read in king richards face what grieved his heart ; and by his intelligencers was certified of every note-worthy passage in the english armie . upon these terms therefore or none ( beggers of peace shall never be choosers of their conditions ) a truce for three ( some say , five ) yeares might be concluded , that the christians should demolish all places they had walled since the taking of ptolemais ; which was in effect to undo what with much charge they had done . but such was the tyrannie of king richards occasions , forcing him to return , that he was glad to embrace those conditions he hated at his heart . thus the voyage of these two kings , begun with as great confidence of the undertakers as expectation of the beholders , continued with as much courage as interchangeablenesse of successe , baned with mutuall discord & emulation , was ended with some honour to the undertakers , no * profit either to them or the christian cause . some farre-fetched deare-bought honour they got ; especially king richard , who eternized his memory in asia : whom if men forget , horses will remember ; the turks using to say to their horses when they started for fear , dost thou think king richard is here ? profit they got none , losing both of them the hair of their heads in an acute disease ; which was more , saith * one , then both of them got by the voyage . they left the christians in syria in worse case then they found them : as he doeth the benighted traveller a discourtesie rather then a kindnesse , who lendeth him a lantern to take it away , leaving him more masked then he was before . and now a little to solace my self and the reader with a merry digression , after much sorrow and sad stories ; king richard did one thing in palestine which was worth all the cost and pains of his journey , namely , he redeemed from the turks a chest full of holy reliques ( which they had gotten at the taking of jerusalem ) so great , as * foure men could scarce carry any way . and though some know no more then esops cock how to prize these pearls , let them learn the true value of them from the romane jewellers . first , they must carefully distinguish between publick and private reliques : in private ones some forgery may be suspected , lest quid be put for quo ; which made s. * augustine put in that wary parenthesis , si tamen martyrum , if so be they be the reliques of martyrs . but as for publick ones approved by the pope , and kept in churches ( such no doubt as these of king richards were ) oh let no christian be such an infidel as to stagger at the truth thereof ! if any object , that the head of the same saint is shewed at severall places ; the whole answer is by a * synecdoche , that a part is put for the whole . as for the common exception against the crosse , that so many severall pieces thereof are shown , which put together would break the back of simon of cyrene to bear them ; it is answered , distrahitur , non diminuitur , and like the loaves in the gospel , it is miraculously multiplied in the dividing . if all these fail , * baronius hath a rasour shaveth all scruple clear away : for , saith he , quicquid sit , fides purgat facinus ; so that he worshippeth the false reliques of a true saint , god taketh his good intention in good worth , though he adore the hand of esau for the hand of jacob. but enough of these fooleries . chap. . king richard taken prisoner in austria ; sold and sent to the emperour ; dearly ransomed , returneth home . king richard setting sail from syria , the sea and wind favoured him till he came into the adriatick ; and on the coasts of istria he suffered shipwrack : wherefore he intended to pierce through germanie by land , the next way home . but the nearnesse of the way is to be measured not by the shortnesse but the safenesse of it . he disguised himself to be one hugo a merchant , whose onely commodity was himself , whereof he made but a bad bargain . for he was discovered in an inne in austria , because he disguised his person not his expenses ; so that the very policie of an hostesse , finding his purse so farre above his clothes , did detect him : yea , saith mine authour , facies orbi terrarum nota , ignorari non potuit . the rude people flocking together , used him with insolencies unworthy him , worthy themselves : and they who would shake at the tail of this loose lion , durst laugh at his face now they saw him in a grate . yet all the weight of their cruelty did not bow him beneath a princely carriage . leopoldus duke of austria hearing hereof , as being lord of the soil , seised on this royall stray ; meaning now to get his peny-worths out of him , for the affront done unto him in palestine . not long after the duke sold him to henry the emperour , for his harsh nature surnamed asper ; and it might have been savus , being but one degree from a tyrant . he kept king richard in bands , charging him with a thousand faults committed by him in sicilie , cyprus , and palestine . the proofs were as slender as the crimes grosse ; and richard having an eloquent tongue , innocent heart , and bold spirit , acquitted himself in the judgement of all the hearers . at last he was * ransomed for an hundred and fourty thousand marks , collen weight . a summe so vast in that age , before the indies had overflowed all europe with their gold and silver , that to raise it in england they were forced to sell their church-plate to their very chalices . whereupon out of most deep divinity it was concluded , that they should not celebrate the sacrament in * glasse , for the brittlenesse of it ; nor in wood , for the sponginesse of it , which would suck up the bloud ; nor in alchymie , because it was subject to rusting ; nor in copper , because that would provoke vomiting ; but in chalices of latten , which belike was a metall without exception . and such were used in england for some * hundred yeares after : untill at last john stafford archbishop of canterbury , when the land was more replenished with silver , in knotteth that priest in the greater excommunication that should consecrate poculum stanneum . after this money * peter of bloys ( who had drunk as deep of helicon as any of that age ) sendeth this good prayer ; making an apostrophe to the emperour , or to the duke of austria , or to both together : bibe nunc , avaritia , dum puteos argenteos larga diffundit anglia . tua tecum pecunia sit in perditionem . and now , thou basest avarice , drink till thy belly burst , whil'st england poures large silver showres to satiate thy thirst . and this we pray , thy money may and thou be like accurst . the ransome partly payed , the rest secured by hostages , king richard much befriended by the dutch prelacie , after eighteen moneths imprisonment returned into england . the archbishop of cullen in the presence of king richard , as he passed by , brought in these words in saying masse , now i know that god hath sent his angel , and hath delivered thee out of the hand of herod , and from the expectation of the people , &c. but his soul was more healthfull for this bitter physick , and he amended his manners ; better loving his * queen beringaria , whom he slighted before : as souldiers too often love women better then wives . leave we him now in england , where his presence fixed the loyaltie of many of his unsettled subjects ; whilest in austria the duke with his money built the walls of vienna : so that the best stones and morter of that bulwark of christendome are beholden to the english coin . we must not forget how gods judgements overtook this duke , punishing his dominions with fire and water , which two elements cannot be kings but they must be tyrants ; by famine , the eares of wheat turned into worms ; by a gangrene , seising on the dukes body , who cut off his leg with his own hand , and died thereof : who by his testament ( if not by his will ) caused some thousand crowns to be restored again to king richard. chap. . the death of saladine ; his commendation , even with truth , but almost above belief . soon after , saladine the terrour of the east ended his life , having reigned sixteen yeares . consider him as a man , or a prince , he was both wayes admirable . many historians ( like some painters , which rather shew their skill in drawing a curious face then in making it like to him whom it should resemble ) describe princes rather what they should be then what they were ; not shewing so much their goodnesse as their own wits . but finding this saladine so generally commended of all writers , we have no cause to distrust this his true character . his wisdome was great , in that he was able to advise ; and greater , in that he was willing to be advised : never so wedded to his own resolves , but on good ground he would be divorced from them . his valour was not over-free , but would well answer the spurre when need required . in his victories he was much beholden to the advantage of season , place , and number ; and seldome wrested the garland of honour from an arm as strong as his own . he ever marched in person into the field , remembring that his predecessours , the caliphs of egypt , brake themselves by using factours , and imploying of souldans . his temperance was great , diet sparing , sleep moderate , not to pamper nature , but keep it in repair . his greatest recreation was variety and exchange of work . pleasures he rather sipped then drank off ; sometimes , more to content others then please himself . wives he might have kept sans number , but stinted himself to one or two ; using them rather for posterity then wantonnesse . his justice to his own people was remarkable ; his promise with his enemies generally well kept . much he did triumph in mercy : fierce in fighting , mild in conquering ; and having his enemies in his hand , pleased himself more in the power then act of revenge . his liberality would have drained his treasure , had it not had a great and quick spring , those eastern parts being very rich . serviceable men he would purchase on any rate ; and sometimes his gifts bare better proportion to his own greatnesse then the receivers deserts . vast bribes he would give to have places betrayed unto him , and often effected that with his gold which he could not do with his steel . zealous he was in his own religion , yet not violent against christians quà christians . scholarship cannot be expected in him who was a turk by his birth ( amongst whom it is a sinne to be learned ) and a souldier by breeding . his humility was admirable ; as being neither ignorant of his greatnesse , nor over-knowing it . he provided to have no solemnities at his funerals ; and ordered that before his corpse a black cloth should be carried on the top of a spear , and this proclaimed , * saladine conquerour of the east had nothing left him but this black shirt to attend him to the grave . some entitle him as descended from the royall turkish bloud : which flattering heralds he will little thank for their pains ; counting it most honour , that he being of mean parentage , was the first founder of his own nobility . his stature ( for one of that nation ) was tall . his person rather cut out to strike fear then winne love ; yet could he put on amiablenesse when occasion required , and make it beseem him . to conclude ; i will not be so bold , to do with him as an eastern * bishop doth with plato and plutarch , whom he commendeth in a greek hymn to christ , as those that came nearest to holinesse of all untaught gentiles : ( belike he would be our saviours remembrancer , and put him in mind to take more especiall notice of them at the day of judgement . ) but i will take my farewell of saladine with that commendation i find of him , * he wanted nothing to his eternall happinesse , but the knowledge of christ. chap. . discords amongst the turks ; the miserable death of henry king of ierusalem . saladine left nine ( some say , twelve ) sonnes , making saphradine his brother overseer of his will : who of a tutour turned a traitour , and murdered them all excepting one , called also saphradine , sultan of aleppo ; who , not by his uncles pity , but by the favour and support of his fathers good friends was preserved . hence arose much intestine discord amongst the turks ; all which time the christians enjoyed their truce with much quiet and security . not long after , henry king of jerusalem , as he was * walking in his palace to solace himself , fell down out of a window , and brake his neck . he reigned three yeares . but as for the particular time he died on , i find it not specified in any authour . chap. . almerick the second , king of ierusalem ; the great armie of the dutch adventurers doeth little in syria . after his death , almerick lusignan , brother to king guy , was in the right of his wife crowned king of jerusalem : for he married isabella the relict of henry the last king. this lady was foure times married : first , to humphred prince of thorone ; then to the three successive kings of jerusalem , conrade , henry , and this almerick . he was also king of cyprus ; and the christians in syria promised themselves much aid from the vicinity of that island . but though he was neare to them , he was farre from helping them , making pleasure all his work ; being an idle , lazy , worthlesse prince . but i trespasse on that politick rule , of princes we must speak the best , or the least ; if that be not intended , when the truth is so late that danger is entailed upon it . in his time , henry emperour of germany , indicted by his conscience for his cruelty against king richard , seeking to perfume his name in the nostrils of the world , which began to be unfavourie , set on foot another voyage to the holy land . pope celestine the third sent his legates about to promote this service , shewing how god himself had sounded the alarm by the dissension of the turks : jerusalem now might be wonne with the blows of her enemies ; onely an army must be sent , not so much to conquer as to receive it . generall of the pilgrimes was henry duke of saxony ; next him , frederick duke of austria , herman landtgrave of thuringia , henry palatine of rhene , conrade archbishop of mentz , conrade archbishop of wirtzburg , the bishops of breme , halberstadt , & regenspurg , with many more prelates ; so that here was an episcopall army , which might have served for a nationall synod : insomuch that one truly might here have seen the church militant . we have no ambition , saith * one of their countrey-men , to reckon them up ; for they were plurimi & nulli , many in number , none in their actions . some of these souldiers were imployed by henry the emperour ( who knew well to bake his cake with the churches feuel ) to subdue his rebells in apulia . this done , they passed through grecia , and found there better entertainment then some of their predecessours . hence by shipping they were conveyed into syria : here they brake the * truce made by king richard , ( it seemeth by this , it was the ●●st five yeares ) the pope dispensing therewith ; who can make a peace , nets to hold others , but a cobweb for himself to break through . the citie berytus they quickly wanne , and as quickly lost . for henry the emperour suddenly died , the root which nourished this voyage , and then the branches withered . henry also duke of saxony , generall of this army , was slain . and conrade archbishop of mentz , one of the electours , would needs return home to the choice of a new emperour ; knowing he could more profitably use his voice in germany then his arms in syria . other captains secretly stole home ; and when their souldiers would have fought , their * captains ran away . and whereas in other expeditions we find vestigia pauc a retrorsum , making such clean work that they left little or no reversions ; of this voyage many safely returned home with whole bodies and wounded credits . the rest that remained fortified themselves in joppa . and now the feast of s. martin was come , the dutch their arch-saint . this man being a germane by birth , and bishop of tours in france , was eminent for his * hospitality ; and the dutch badly imitating their countrey-man , turn his charity to the poore into riot on themselves , keeping the eleventh of november ( i will not say holy-day , but ) feast-day . at this time the spring-tide of their mirth so drowned their souls , that the * turks coming in upon them , cut every one of their throats , to the number of twenty thousand : and quickly they were stabbed with the sword that were cup-shot before . a day which the dutch may well write in their kalendars in red letters died with their own bloud ; when their camp was their shambles , the turks their butchers , and themselves the martinmasse-beeves : from which the beastly drunkards differ but a little . the citie of joppa the turks rased to the ground ; and of this victory they became so proud , that they had thought without stop to have driven the christians quite out of syria . but by the coming of * simon count of montford ( a most valiant and expert captain , sent thither by philip the french king with a regiment of tall souldiers , at the instance of innocent the third , that succeeded celestine in the papacy ) and by civil discord then reigning amongst the turks themselves for sovereignty , their fury was repressed , and a peace betwixt them and the christians concluded for the space of * ten yeares : during which time the turks promised not to molest the christians in tyre or ptolemais . which peace so concluded , the worthy count returned with his souldiers into france . chap. . a crusado for the holy land diverted by the pope to constantinople ; they conquer the grecian empire . this truce notwithstanding , another armie of pilgrimes was presently provided for syria : the tetrarchs whereof were baldwine earl of flanders , dandalo the venetian duke , theobald earl of champaigne , boniface marquesse of montferrat , with many other nobles . leave we them a while taking the citie of jadera in istria for the venetians . mean time if we look over into greece , we shall find isaac angelus the emperour deposed , thrust into prison , his eyes put out ( the punishment there in fashion ) so that he ended his dayes before he ended his life , by the cruelty of alexius angelus his brother , who succeeded him . but young alexius , isaac angelus his sonne , with some grecian noble-men , came to the courts of most western princes to beg assistance to free his father and expell the tyrant . he so deported himself , that each gesture was a net to catch mens good will ; not seeking their favour by losing himself , but though he did bow , he would not kneel : so that in his face one might reade a pretty combat betwixt the beams of majesty and cloud of adversity . to see a prince in want , would move a misers charity . our western princes tendered his case , which they counted might be their own ; their best right lying at the mercy of any stronger usurper . young alexius so dressed his meat , that he pleased every mans palate ; promising for their succours to disingage the french from their debts to the venetian ; promising the venetian satisfaction for the wrongs done them by the grecians ; and bearing the pope in hand he would reduce the eastern churches into his subjection : things which he was little * able to perform . but well may the statute of bankrupt be sued out against him who cannot be rich in promises . these his fair proffers prevailed so farre , that the pope commanded , and other princes consented , that this army of pilgrimes levied for the holy land , should be imployed against the usurping grecian emperour . many taxed his holinesse for an unjust steward of the christian forces , to expend them against the grecians , which were to be laid out against the infidels : especially now when palestine , through the dissension of the turks , offered itself into the christians arms to be regained . others thought the pope took the right method ; because he which should winne jerusalem must begin at constantinople : and by this warre the grecian empire , which was the bridge to syria , would be made good , and secured for the passage of pilgrimes . the souldiers generally rejoyced at the exchange of their service : for the barren warres in syria starved the undertakers ; and a cook himself cannot lick his fingers where no meat is dressed . there nothing but naked honour was to be gotten , here honour clothed with spoil ; the usurpers treasure would make brave scrambling amongst them : and it was good plowing up of that ground which had long lien fallow . setting sail from jadera ( which citie they had subdued to the venetian , forcing them to pay three thousand * cony-skins yearly for tribute to that state ) like good fensers they strook at the head , and made for constantinople : which they quickly took , after some hot skirmishes . alexius angelus the usurper , with his wife , whores , and treasure , fled away . blind isaac angelus was fetched out of prison ; he and young alexius his sonne saluted joynt emperours . which brittle honour of theirs was quickly broken : for soon after the father died , being brought into an open place , kept before in a close pent dungeon ; and having long fasted from good aire , he now got his death by surfeting on it . his sonne was villainously strangled by alexius ducas , called from his beetle-brow mursiphlus : one of base parentage , who was tumultuously chosen emperour by the people . this ducas offered some affronts to the latines which lay before constantinople in their ships . wherefore , and also because they were not payed for their former service , they the second time assaulted the citie , and took it by main force ; killing none , but robbing all ; ravishing women , and using a thousand insolencies . some fled for their succour to the shrines of saints : but the sanctuaries needed sanctuaries to protect themselves ; the souldiers as little respecting place , as formerly age or sex : not standing on any reverence to the saints , they stood upon them , making footstools of their images and statues . nicetas choniates , hitherto an historian , now a plaintiff , ( writing so full of ohs and exclamations as if the while pinched by the arm ) rather without measure then cause bemoneth the outrages the latines here committed . poore man ! all the miseries our saviour speaketh of in a siege , met in him : his flight from constantinople was in the winter , on the * sabbath-day , his wife being great with child . but when the object is too neare the eye , it seemeth greater then it is : and perchance he amplifieth and aggravateth the cruelty of these pilgrimes , being nearly interessed therein himself ; especially when the rhetorick of grief is alwayes in the hyperbole . nor is it any news for souldiers to be so insolent when they take a citie by assault : which time is their * saturnalia , when servants themselves do command , acknowledging no other leader or captain then their own passions . within a twelve-moneth all greece was subdued save onely adrianople : baldwine earl of flanders chosen emperour ; thomas maurocenus elected first latine patriarch in constantinople ; boniface marquesse of montferrat made king of thessalie ; geoffrey of troy , a frenchman , prince of achaia and duke of athens : the venetians got many rich islands in the egean and ionian seas : so that one could not now see the grecian empire for empires . it was now expected that they should have advanced hence into palestine : but here having well feathered their nests , they were loth to flie any further . and now no wonder if the christians affairs in palestine were weak and lean , the pope diverting the meat that should feed them another way . chap. . the pope sendeth an armie of croises against the albingenses . three severall opinions concerning that sect . pope innocent the third having lately learned the trick of imploying the armie of pilgrimes in by-services , began now to set up a trade thereof . for two yeares after he levied a great number of them , whom he sent against the albingenses in france . these were reputed hereticks , whom his holinesse intended to root out with all crueltie ; that good shepherd knowing no other way to bring home a wandring sheep then by worrying him to death . he fully and freely promised the undertakers the self-same pardons and indulgences as he did to those who went to conquer the holy land ; and very conscionably requested their aid onely for fourty dayes , hoping to chop up these albingenses at a bit . though herein he was deceived , and they stuck in his and his successours teeth for fifty yeares together . the place being nearer , the service shorter , the work lesse , the wages the same with the voyage into syria , many entred themselves in this imployment , and neglected the other . we will trace this armie by their footsteps , and our penne must wait on their swords . and i hope that his holinesse , who absolved many of their vows from palestine , and commuted them into a journey into france , will also of his goodnesse dispense with my veniall digression herein , in prosecuting their actions . yea , indeed , i need not his dispensation , being still resident on my own subject , this also being styled , the holy warre , the warre for the crucifix , the army of the church ; the souldiers also bearing the badge of the crosse on their coat-armour . but first let us throughly examine what these albingenses were , and what they held : a question that will quit the cost in studying it . they were a younger house of the waldenses , and branched from them ; not different in doctrine , but later in time , and distant in place : so called from the countrey albigeois in france , where they lived . i find three grand different opinions of authours concerning them : first , some make them to have been very monsters in life and doctrine ; so that the heaviest punishment was too light for them . and this is the generall voyce of most writers in that age , and all romanists in our dayes . secondly , others clean contrary hold , that these waldenses ( for i make them and the albingenses synonyma , as * others have done ) were onely the true church of god in that age , whilest all others being corrupted with abominable superstition , were no true church at all . these alone were gods virgins , his witnesses in sackcloth , his woman in the wildernesse , his sealed ones , his seven thousand whose knees were not suppled with the baalisme of that age . this is the expresse opinion of some strict protestants ; and of some who speak it not out , yet mutter it to themselves . thirdly , a third sort * explode this opinion , as trespassing on divine providence ; that god who neither slumbereth nor sleepeth , should be in so long a lethargie as to suffer hell to eat up his heaven on earth for so many yeares together , leaving no true church but so small a company of such simple people . they conceive that the maintainers hereof engage themselves in a labyrinth of difficulties , hanging too great a weight on so slender a string , in making such an handfull of men the onely church for so long continuance . more moderately therefore they hold , that these albingenses were a purer part of the church ; and though guilty of some errours ( as there must be a dawning before the day ) and charged with more , yet they maintained the same * doctrine in ore , which since luthers time was refined : so that the main body of the church visible at this time was much in dilapidations , whilest the albingenses , as an innermost chapell thereof , was best in repair . let the reader choose the probablest opinion when he hath perused the evidences of all sides ; which we will now produce , deducing the historie of these albingenses from their first originall . chap. . the beginning of the albingenses ; their dispersion , persecution , increase , names , and nick-names . about the yeare , peter waldo a merchant of lyons , rich in substance and learning ( for a lay-man ) was walking and talking with his friends , when one of them suddenly fell down dead . which lively spectacle of mans mortality so impressed the soul of this waldo , that instantly he resolved on a strict reformation of his life : which to his power he performed ; translating some books of the bible ; instructing such as resorted to him in godlinesse of life ; teaching withall , that purgatorie , masses , dedication of temples , worshipping of saints , prayers for the dead , were inventions of the devil , and snares of avarice ; that monkery was a stinking carrion , the church of rome the whore of babylon , the pope that antichrist paramount : he sharply lanced the vitious ulcers of clergie-mens lives , reproving their pride and luxury . soon got he many followers , both because novelty is a forcible loadstone , and because he plentifully relieved his poore disciples ; and those that use that trade shall never want custome . the archbishop of lyons hearing such doctrines broched as were high treason against the triple crown , ferreted waldo and his sectaries out of lyons and the countrey thereabouts . but persecution is the bellows of their gospel , to blow every spark into a flame . this their division proved their multiplication . some fled into the alpes , living there on so steep hills , and in so deep holes , that their enemies were afraid to climbe or dive after them . here they had the constant company of the snow : and as it by the height of the hills was protected from the sun-beams , so they from the scorching of persecution , even to luthers time . others fled into picardy , flanders , england , alsatia , bohemia , * bulgaria , croatia , hungaria , and whither not ? the perfume of the popes presence not keeping this supposed vermine out of italy it self . many of them were cruelly massacred , five and thirty burgesses of mayence burned at bingen in one fire , eighteen at mayence , fourescore at strassburg at the instance of the bishop thereof . but martyrs ashes are the best compost to manure the church : for others were wonne to their opinion , by beholding their constancie and patience . strange that any should fall in love with that profession , whose professours were so miserable ! but truth hath alwayes a good face , though often but bad clothes . they were called by sundry names ; sometimes from the places where they lived : as from albigeois , tholose , lyons , picardy , bohemia ; albingenses , tholousians , lyonists , picards , bohemians . sometimes from their principall pastour : as from waldo , joseph , henry , esperon , arnold ; waldenses , josephists , henricians , esperonites , arnoldists . in england they were termed lolards , from * lolard their teacher ; not as some friar descanteth , quasi lolium in areâ domini . it appeareth not whether they were thus called of others , or called themselves . but grant the latter : and if any object , that they seemed ashamed of christ their first godfather , who gave them the name of christians , thus to denominate themselves from their teachers ; i answer , it is the same the papists do , calling themselves benedictines , dominicanes , franciscanes , &c. from the founders of their order . they had also nick-names ; called , first , poore men of lyons : not because they chose to be poore , but could not choose but be poore , being stripped out of all their goods : and why should the friars glory be this peoples shame ? they mocking at poverty in others , which they count meritorious in themselves . secondly , patarenians ; that is , sufferers , whose backs were anvils for others to beat on . thirdly , turlupins ; that is , dwellers with wolves , ( and yet might they be gods sheep ) being forced to flee into woods . fourthly , likewise they were called sicars ; that is , cut-purses . fifthly , fraterculi ; that is , shifters . sixthly , insabbatha ; that is , observers of no sabbath . seventhly , pasagenes ; that is , wanderers . as also arians , manicheans , adamites ( how justly will appear afterwards . ) yea , scarce was there an arrow in all the quiver of malice which was not shot at them . chap. . the albingenses their answer , confessing some , denying most crimes laid to their charge ; commendations their adversaries give them . come we now to the full and foul indictment wherewith these albingenses are charged : that they gave no reverence to * holy places ; rejected the baptisme of infants ; held that temporall power was grounded in grace ; that it was a meritorious work to persecute the priests of rome and their subjects : with the adamites they went naked ( an affront to nature ; ) with the manicheans they made two first causes , god of good , the devil of evil ; held community of all things , even of wives amongst them ; were * sorcerers and conjurers ( pretending to command the devil , when they most obeyed him ) guilty of incest , buggery , and more unnaturall sinnes , whereby men ( as it were ) runne backward to hell . no whit affrighted with this terrible accusation , many late writers dare be their advocates to defend them , though confessing them guilty of some of these , but not in so high and hainous a manner as they are accused . true it is , because most in that age ranne riot in adoring of churches ( as if some inherent sanctity was cieled to their roof , or plaistered to their walls ; yea , such as might more ingratiate with god the persons and prayers of people there assembled ) the waldenses ( out of that old errour not yet worn out , that the best way to straighten what is crooked , is to over-bow it ) denied churches that relative holinesse and fit reverence due unto them . baptisme of infants they refused not ( though * s. bernard , taking it rather from the rebound then first rise , chargeth them therewith ) but onely deferred it till it might be administred by one of their own ministers ; their tender consciences not digesting the popish baptisme , where clear water by gods ordinance , was by mans additions made a salve or plaister . that dominion was founded in grace , seemeth to be their very opinion : yea , it hangeth as yet in the schools on the file , and is not taken off , as a thing disputable , finding many favourers . but grant it a great errour ( for wicked men shall be arraigned before god , not as usurpers , but as tyrants ; not for not having right , but not right using the creatures ) yet herein they proceeded not so farre as the papists now-a-dayes , to unthrone and depose excommunicated princes : so that they who do most , have least cause to accuse them . that they spoke too homely and coursely of the romish priests , inveighing too bitterly and uncharitably against them , condemning all for some , may perchance be proved : and no wonder if they spake ill of those from whom they felt ill . but take their speeches herein , as the words of men upon the rack , forced from them by the extremitie of cruel usage . in these errours the albingenses hope to find favour , if men consider , first , the ignorance of the age they lived in : it is no news to stumble in the dark . secondly , the frailty ( that squire of the body ) attending on mans nature ; yea , he shall be immortall who liveth till he be stoned by one without fault . thirdly , the errours themselves , which are rather in the out-limbes then vitalls of religion . and it may be conceived they might have been reclaimed , if used with gentle means , not catechized with fire and fagot ; it being a true rule , that mens consciences are more moved with leading then dragging or drawing . but the sting of the indictment is still behind in the tail or end thereof ; charging them with such hainous errours in doctrine , and vices in life : all which the patrones for the defendants * deny and defie , as coined out of the mint of their enemies malice . it will be objected , if denying the fact might serve the turn , we should have no malefactours : this therefore is but a poore plea , barely to deny , when that such clouds of witnesses are against them . and grant they have a few straggling writers , or some sleeping records which may seem to acquit them , what are one or two men ( though suppose them giants ) against a whole army ? to this i find it answered for the albingenses , that it hath been the constant practice of the romish writers , alwayes to defame those that differ from them , especially if they handle too roughly the noli me tangere of the popes supremacie . in later times what aspersions , as false as foul , have * cochleus and * bolsecus laid on luther and calvine ? now how fearlesse will they be to steal at midnight , who dare thus rob men of their good name at noon-day ? when such authours as these lie with a witnesse , yea , with many * witnesses , who could disprove them ; no wonder if they take liberty falsely to accuse the albingenses , conceiving themselves out of the reach of confutation ; writing in such an age when all the counsel is on their own side , being plaintiffs , and none assigned for the defendants . secondly , i find they produce the authenticall copies ( such as are above their enemies calumnies ) of the catechismes , apologies , remonstrances of these albingenses ; wherein the distilled doctrine of the protestants is delivered free from manicheisme , or any other heresie fathered upon them . thirdly , their enemies slanders plainly appear in some particulars ; which justly shaketh the credit of the whole accusation . for whereas they are charged with the adamites willingly to have gone naked , we find them rather nudati then nudi , forced thereunto by the popes legate : who being about to take the city of carcassone in france , where these people most swarmed , he would not grant them their lives but on this condition , that both males and females should go forth , and passe by his army * stark-naked . argued it not a very foul stomach in him who could feed his eyes with contentment on such a sight , which otherwise would more deeply have wounded the modesty of the beholder then of the doers , who did it by compulsion ? see now how justly these innocents are charged ! as well may the israelites be blamed for cruelty to themselves , in puting out their own eyes , when they were commanded to do it by the mercilesse ammonite . lastly , they are cleared by the testimonies of their very enemies ; and who knoweth not , but such a witnesse is equivalent to a generall consent ? for those , who , when bemadded with anger , most rave and rage against them , yet per lucida intervalla , in their cold bloud , when their words are indicted from their judgements not passions , do most sufficiently acquit them from these accusations . reinerius , a jacobine monk , and a cruel inquisitour of the waldenses , testified , * that they lived justly before men , and beleeved all things well of god , and held all the articles contained in the creed ; onely they blasphemed the romish church , and hated it . claudius de seissell archbishop of turin confesseth , as touching their life and manners they were sound and unreproveable , without scandal amongst men , giving themselves ( to their power ) to the observation of the commandments of god. king lewis the twelfth of france being throughly informed of the faith and life of the waldenses in his time , bound it with an oath , that they were better men then he or his people . the same king having killed many of those poore people , and having called the place where they lived , vallis meretricia , for their painted and dissembled piety , upon better instructions changed the name , calling it from himself , * the vale of lewis . william de belai lieutenant of piemont gave this commendation of the merindolites ( a sprig which some hundred yeares after sprouted from the waldenses ) * that they were a laborious people , averse from suits , bountifull to the poore , duly paying their princes tributes and lords dues , serving god with daily prayers , and shewing forth much innocencie in manners . thuanus , one that writeth truth with a steadie hand , jogged neither by romanists nor huguenots , thus charactereth the * con-waldenses , a stemme of that stock we speak of ; they used raw pelts clapped about them for their clothes , the foure feet whereof served in stead of buttons ; all equall in poverty , having no beggers amongst them ; their diet on deer & milk : yet was there scarce any amongst them but could reade and write handsomely , understand the bible , and sing psalmes ; scarce a boy , but could presently and by heart give an account of his faith . tribute they payed very religiously , &c. more might be added ; but i end all with gamaliels words , * if this work be of men , it will come to nought ; but if it be of god , ye cannot overthrow it . it argueth the goodnesse of their cause , in that all their enemies cruelty ( unwise to think to spoil the growth of chamomile by trampling on it ) could never suppresse them ; but they continued till the dayes of luther , when this morning-starre willingly surrendred his place to him a brighter sunne . but enough of their life and manners . and if and condemn me for superfluity herein , i guard my self with * s. augustines shield , non est multiloquium , quando necessaria dicuntur , quantalibet sermonum multitudine ac prolixitate dicantur . chap. . the holy armie advance against the albingenses ; the cities of besier and carcassone taken . pope innocent the third having now gathered together an armie of one hundred thousand pilgrimes , set forwards for the finall exstirpation of the poore albingenses . the best champions for his holinesse herein , were the duke of burgundy , the earls of nevers , st ▪ paul , auxerre , geneva , poictiers , with simon earl of montfort ; of the clergie , milo the popes legate , the archbishops of sens , rovan ; the bishops of clermont , nevers , lysieux , bayeux , chartres , with divers others ; every bishop with the pilgrimes of his jurisdiction : to whom the pope promised paradise in heaven , but not one peny on earth . their work was to destroy the albingenses , which were in great numbers in daulphine , provence , narbonne , tholose , and other parts of france . their commission also extended to the rooting out of all their friends and favourers , whether detected , or onely suspected ; such as were reimund earl of tholose , reimund earl of foyx , the vicecount of besiers , gaston lord of berne , the earl of bigorre , the lady of la vaur , with divers others . see here a new gate to heaven never opened before , for men to cut their way thither through the throats of their innocent brethren ! behold the holy ghost , who once came down in the form of a dove , now counterfeited in the shape of a vulture ! but we must not forget how just before the warre began , the pope pretended to reclaim them by reasons to the church of rome : to which end he gave order for a disputation with them . the parties , place , and time were agreed on ; who , where , when they should dispute : but in fine nothing was effected . yea , who ever knew conferences in so great oppositions to ripen kindly , and bring any fruit to perfection ? for many come rather for faction then satisfaction , resolving to carry home the same opinions they brought with them : an upright moderatour will scarce be found , who hangeth not to one side : the place will be subject to suspicion , and hinder liberty : boldnesse and readinesse of speech with the most ( though not most judicious ) auditours will bear away the bell from solidity of arguments : the passages in the disputing will be partially reported , and both sides will brag of the conquest ; so that the rent will be made worse , and more spirits conjured up then allayed . but now words ended in blows ; the pope onely entertaining them in * conferences , that in the mean time he might prepare his great armies more suddenly to suppresse them . the first piece of service his souldiers performed , was in sacking the citie of besiers , and burrough of carcassone : in which many catholicks , stedfast in the romish faith , did dwell , and promiscuously were slain with the albingenses ; yea , priests themselves were cut in pieces in their priestly ornaments , and under the banner of the crosse : so that the swallowing of their foes made their friends also go down glib through their throats , without danger of choking . as for the city of carcassone , which was not farre from the burrough ; to the inhabitants thereof those immodest conditions were propounded , whereof formerly : which they refused ; and god better provided for them : for whilest the citie was besieged , they escaped out by the benefit of a vault under ground , and so shifted abroad for themselves . chap. . simon earl of montfort chosen captain of the holy warre ; he conquereth the king of aragon , prevaileth against the albingenses , and at last is killed by a woman . hitherto this warre was managed by the popes legate : but now it was concluded that a secular captain should be adjoyned to him , in whose person the chief command should reside over martiall affairs ; and for his pains , by the popes donation , he was to enjoy all countreys that should be conquered from the albingenses or their favourers . the place was offered to the duke of burgundy ; who refused it , saying , he had lands and lordships enow of his own , without spoiling others of their goods . it was waved also by the earls of st-paul , and nevers , whether out of conscience or policie ; because though the pope gave them the bears skinne , they must first kill and slay him themselves . at last simon of montfort , nigh paris , accepted of it , swearing to vex the lords enemies . and for a breakfast to begin with , he was seised of the vicecounty of besiers , proceeding from hence to take many castles and cities . one grand inconvenience attended on this armie of pilgrimes : for when their quarantine , or fourty dayes service , was expired ( the term the pope set them to merit paradise in ) they would not stay one whit longer : like post-horses they would runne to their set stage , but could not be spurred one foot further ; contenting themselves they had already purchased heaven , and fearing they should be put in possession thereof too soon , by losing their lives in that service . and though the bishops perswaded some few to stay , that so the surplusage of their merits might make up the arrerages of their friends which wanted them , yet could they not prevail to any purpose . nor could they so cast and contrive their matters , the tide of peoples devotion being uncertain , but that betwixt the going out of the old and coming in of the new store of pilgrimes , there would be a low ebbe , wherein their armie was almost wasted to nothing : whereof the albingenses made no small advantage . however , the earls of tholose , foyx , and comminge , and prince of berne , the patrones of the albingenses , finding they were too weak for this holy armie , sheltered themselves under peter king of aragon ; whose homagers they were , receiving investiture from him , though their dominions lay on this side of the pyrenean hills . this king had the greatnesse of the earl of montfort in suspicion ; fearing lest these severall principalities , which now were single arrows , should be bound in one sheaf , conquered and united under earl simon . wherefore he fomented a faction in them against the holy armie ; publickly protesting against the proceedings of earl simon ; charging him to have turned the bark of gods church into a pirates ship , robbing others and enriching themselves under the pretense of religion , seising on the lands of good catholicks for supposed hereticks , using gods cause as hunters do a stand , in it the more covertly to shoot at what game they please : otherwise , why was the vicecount of beziers , who lived and died firm in the romish faith , lately trained into the legates hand , and against oathes and promises of his safe return , kept close prisoner till his death , and his lands seised on by earl simon ? at last the king of aragon taking the earl of montfort on the advantage ( shooting him as it were betwixt wind and water , the ending of the old and beginning of new pilgrimes ) forced him to a battel . the king had thirty thousand foot and seven thousand horse ; but the earl , of both foot and horse not above two thousand two hundred . they closed together neare the castle of moret : and the king , whether out of zeal of conquest and thirst of honour , or distrust of under-officers , or desire to animate others , or a mixture of all , ranne his curvets so openly , and made his turns and returns in the head of the army , that so fair a mark invited his enemies arrows to hit him ; by whom he was wounded to death , and fell from his horse ; to lesson all generals to keep themselves , like the heart , in the body of the army , whence they may have a virtuall omnipresence in every part thereof ; and not to expose their persons ( which , like crystall viols , contain the extracted spirits of their souldiers spilled with their breaking ) to places of imminent danger . with his bodie fell the hearts of his men : and though the earls of tholose , foyx , and comminge , perswaded , entreated , threatned them to stay , they used their oratorie so long till their audience ranne all away , and they were fain to follow them , reserving themselves by flight to redeem their honour some other time . simon improving this victorie , pursued them to the gates of tholose , and killed many thousands . the friars imputed this victory to the bishops benediction , and adoring a piece of the crosse , together with the fervency of the clergies prayers , which remaining behind in the castle of moret , battered heaven with their importunity . on the other side , the albingenses acknowledged gods justice in punishing the proud king of aragon ; who , as if his arm had been strong and long enough to pluck down the victory out of heaven without gods reaching it to him , conceived that earl simon came rather to cast himself down at his feet then to fight . but such reckonings without the host are ever subject to a rere-account . yet within few yeares the face of this warre began to alter : ( with writers of short-hand we must set a prick for a letter , a letter for a word , marking onely the most remarkables . ) for young reimund earl of tholose , exceeding his father in valour and successe , so bestirred himself , that in few moneths he regained what earl simon was many yeares in getting : and at last earl simon besieging tholose , with a stone which a woman let flie out of an engine , had his head parted from his body . men use not to be niggards of their censures on strange accidents : some paralleled his life with abimelech that tyrant-judge ; who with the bramble ( fitter to make a fire then a king of ) accepted of the woodden monarchie , when the vine , olive , figge-tree declined it . they paired them also in their ends , death disdaining to send his summons by a masculine hand , but arresting them both by a woman . some perswaded themselves they saw gods finger in the womans hand ; that because the greater part of his cruelty lighted on the weaker sex ( for he had buried the lady of lavaur alive , respecting neither her sex nor nobility ) a woman was chosen out to be his executioner : though of himself he was not so prone to cruelty , but had those at his elbow which prompted him to it . the time of his death was a large field for the conceits of others to walk in ; because even then when the pope and three councels , of vaur , montpelier , and laterane , had pronounced him sonne , servant , favourite of the faith , the invincible defender thereof : and must he not needs break , being swoln with so many windie titles ? amongst other of his styles he was * earl of leicester in england , and father to simon montfort the * catiline of this kingdome , who under pretense of curing this land of some grievances , had killed it with his physick , had he not been killed himself in the battel of evesholm in the reigne of henry the third . and here ended the storm of open warre against the albingenses , though some great drops fell afterwards . yea , now the pope grew sensible of many mischiefs in prosecuting this people with the holy warre : first , the incongruity betwixt the word and the sword ; to confute hereticks with armies in the field , opened clamourous mouthes . secondly , * three hundred thousand of these croised pilgrimes lost their lives in this expedition , within the space of fifteen yeares ; so that there was neither citie nor village in france , but by reason hereof of had widows and orphanes cursing this expidition . and his holinesse , after he had made allowance for his losse of time , bloud , and credit , found his gain de claro very small . besides , such was the chance of warre , and good catholicks were so intermingled with hereticks , that in sacking of cities they were slain together . whereupon the pope resolved of a privater way , which made lesse noise in the world , attracted lesse envy , and was more effectuall ; to prosecute them by way of inquisition . hereby he might single them out by retail , rooting out the tares without hurting the corn , and overthrowing them by piece-meal whom he could never stagger in grosse . dominick a spaniard was first authour hereof . well did his mother , being with child of him , dream that she had a dog * vomiting fire in her wombe . this ignivomous curre ( sire of the litter of mendicant friars called dominicanes ) did bark at and deeply bite the poore albingenses . after his death , pope honorius for his good service bestowed a saintship on him : for he dreamed he saw the church of rome falling , and dominick holding it up with his shoulders ; wherefore he canonized this atlas of their religion . the proceedings of this inquisition were the abridgement of all cruelty , turning the sword of justice into the butchers ax . but no doubt god , when he maketh * inquisition for bloud , will one day remember this bloudy inquisition . and who can but admire at the continuance of the doctrine of the albingenses to this day , maugre all their enemies ? let those privy-counsellers of nature , who can tell where swallows lie all winter , and how at the spring they have a resurrection from their seeming deadnesse , let those , i say , also inform us in what invisible sanctuaries this doctrine did lurk in spite of persecution , and how it revived out of its ashes at the coming of luther . to conclude ; it is observed , that in those parts of france where the albingenses were most cruelly handled , now the protestants ( heirs to most of their tenets ) flourish most : as in the countreys of gascongne , daulphine , and languedoc . chap. . king almerick for his lazinesse deposed by the pope . welcome the holy land , welcome ptolemais : how shallow and almost quite dry is the stream of pilgrimes grown here , since the pope hath drained it with so large a by-chanel into france ! as for almerick the idle king of jerusalem , we find him as we left him , drowning his cares constantly in wine : his hands being lazier then those are printed in the margent of a book , which point what others should read ; whilest he would neither do , nor order what should be done : so true was it of him , what is said * of another , titularis non tutelaris rex ; defuit non praefuit reipublicae . and now the warre betwixt noradine saladines sonne and saphradine his uncle , about the sovereignty , lasting nine yeares , ended with saphradines death ; and noradine contented himself with the government of aleppo , whilest saphradines two sonnes shared his dominions , coradine commanding in damascus and syria , and meladine in egypt . the former of these without any resistance built a fort in mount tabor , to the great annoyance of the christians . to prevent farther mischief arising from almericks negligence , the pope ( who would have a finger in every crown , and a hand in this ) deposed him from the kingdome . this almerick , grieved to lose what he was never carefull to keep , soon after died for sorrow . but how doth this agree with marinus sanutus , who maketh him to die of a surfet of * gilt-heads five yeares sooner , and saith there was five yeares interregnum in palestine , wherein the christians had no king at all ? chap. . iohn bren made king of ierusalem . a most promising voyage into palestine of new pilgrimes ; which remove the seat of the warre into egypt . in the place of almerick the pope appointed john de bren , a private french gentleman , to be king. who , to twist his title with another string , married maria iole the sole daughter of conrade late king of jerusalem . this john had behaved himself right valiantly amongst other latine princes in the voyage against the greeks , and was a most martiall man , as all do witnesse : onely one calleth him * imbellem hominem ; why i know not , except he be of that humour to delight to be one of the antipodes , treading opposite to a world of writers besides . in the beginning of his reigne this accident ( whether monstrous or miraculous ) fell out : in france , a boy ( for his yeares ) went about singing in his own tongue , iesus lord , repair our losse ; restore to us thy holy crosse. numberlesse children ranne after him , and followed the same tune their captain and chanter did set them . no bolts , no barres , no fear of fathers or love of mothers could hold them back , but they would to the holy land to work wonders there ; till their merry musick had a sad close , all either perishing on land , or drowned by sea . it was done ( saith my * authour ) by the instinct of the devil , who , as it were , desired a cordiall of childrens bloud to comfort his weak stomach long cloyed with murdering of men . soon after began the laterane councel under innocent the third : wherein many things were concluded for the recovery of the holy land ; as , that the crosse should every where be preached with zeal and earnestnesse to procure pilgrimes ; that all * tiltings in christendome for three yeares should be forbidden , that so the spears of christians might onely be broken against infidels ; that clergie-men that went this voyage might ( if need were ) mortgage their church-livings for three yeares to provide themselves with present necessaries , that all debters , during their pilgrimage ( though bound by oath in conscience , the strongest specialty ) should be dispensed with to pay no use to their creditours ; who if christians , by excommunications ; if jews , were to be forced by the secular power to remit their interest ; that all priests should contribute the twentieth part of their revenues for three yeares , to advance this designe . and lest ( saith his holinesse ) we should seem to lay heavy burdens on others which we will not touch with our least finger , we assigne a ship at our own cost to carry our pilgrimes of the citie of rome ; and disburse for the present what can be spared from our necessary expenses , to the summe of thirty thousand pounds , to further the project : and for three yeares to come , we and our brethren the cardinals of rome , will fully pay the tenth of our church-profits . hereupon next spring a numerous armie set forward to palestine , conducted by pelagius the popes legate , andrew king of hungarie ( who having washed himself in the river of jordan , would stay no longer , but instantly returned home ) the three electorall archbishops , with those of liege , wirtzburg , bamberg , strassburg , paris , &c. lewis duke of bavaria , leopold of austria , a navie of our english , besides florentines , genoans , and many other nations . the autumne they spent in the fruitlesse besieging of the fort of mount tabor ; whilest king john bren wonne from the turks the castle of pilgrimes , a piece of great consequence on the sea-side . then was it debated on both sides of translating the warre into egypt . which many advised to be done : for that countrey afforded the turks their victuals and munition ; and the best way to draw them low , was to stop them in the fountain . it was also most honour to rouse the lion in his own denne . and palestine was so forraged , that there was nothing to be gleaned in the stubble ; whereas egypt was so rich and fruitfull , it cared not for the frowns of heaven , so it might have the favour of nilus ; and there was no fear to want bread in that the granary of the world . that according to the rule , plus animi est inferenti periculum , quàm propulsanti ; the christians would be heartened , but the egyptians discouraged in the invasion of egypt . the sad spectacle of their countreys vastation would disturb their minds , make them diffident of their own worth , and unsufficient to maintain their cause . lastly , the christians might leave when they list , reserving at all times ptolemais to entertain them , in case fortune should crosse their designes . but the reasons to the contrary wanted not weight but weighing . they considered not ( what was objected ) that to invade a strong entire countrey without having a partie within it to side with them , was to endeavour to cleave a tree with a beetle without a wedge . besides , egypt was an exception from the rules of all other countreys , & had certain locall maximes of leading of an armie appropriated to it-alone . that valour must needs have the fall , when it wrestleth with nature it self , and fighteth against bogs , rivers , and inundations . that it was more agreeable to reason , first to recover and defend what once was their own , before they attempted other mens possessions . that these their forces afforded little hope of victory in another kingdome , which were not able to clear their own countrey , and the forts in syria , from so dangerous an enemy . lastly , that the egyptians fighting for their fathers , wives , and children , would raise their valour to the highest point of resolution . these arguments notwithstanding , the watch-word was given for egypt ; whither all addressed themselves . and here began the discords betwixt king john and the popes legate , who challenged not onely an influence but a predominancy in every thing , and would dictate to the generall what he should do in martiall affairs : he presumed on his book-learning to controll the practice of experienced captains by his military speculations . the king stormed hereat , shewing there were some mysteries in the captain-craft not communicable to any which had not served the trade , and which the heart of a scholar was too narrow to contain ; that though scholarship was a stock fit to graff any profession on , yet some good time is requisite thereunto ; and that they must not think to proceed military masters at their first admission in a camp ; that though the legate might conceive himself to know the latitude of warlike principles , yet he knew not the use of distinctions , exceptions , and cautions of application ; and might easily be misled by disproportion and dissimilitude of examples , the variation of circumstances , the infinitenesse of punctuall occurrences : wherefore he forbad him to meddle with martiall matters , challenging them to belong to his own disposall . but pelagius the legate highly opinioned of his own sufficiencie , as if his place made him infallible in every thing , and loth to confesse himself besides the cushion whilest he sat in the chair , would have an oar in all actions . he held this conclusion , that the generall rules of warre were easily known ; and as for the qualification of them pro exigentia hîc & nunc , herein reason was the key of the work , which scholars having most perfected by learning , were thereby the most competent judges what should be done on all occasions . how dearly the christians payed for this his errour , and how this discord , smothered for a while , brake out , we shall see hereafter . mean time , hoising up sails , the pilgrimes navie safely arrived at damiata . chap. . damiata besieged and taken ; the christians unadvisedly refuse honourable conditions . damiata is a chief haven of egypt ▪ anciently pelusium ; seated on the eastern-most stream of nilus . here the east and west world met together to exchange their wares ; she grudging for trade to give the upper hand to alexandria it self . at their landing * the moon was almost totally eclipsed : whence the christians conceited ( ghesse the frailnesse of the building by the unconstancy of the foundation ) that the overthrow of the mahometanes ( whose ensigne was the * half-moon ) was portended . but the calculatours of after-chances seldome hit right . in the siege of this citie they were to encounter with a fourefold difficulty , besides damiata it self : first , with a great chain crossing the harbour : which with indefatigable pains , and art mingled with labour , they brake asunder ; industry in action being as importunity in speech , by continuall inculcation forcing a yeelding beyond the strength of reason . secondly , the river nilus did much annoy them . this river ( the height of whose flowing is the egyptian almanack , whereby they prognosticate future plenty or penury ) now out of time and beyond measure drowned the countrey . bold fishes swamme into the christians tents , who took them with their hands , * though willingly they could have wanted such dainties ; for the sauce was more then the meat . against this mischief they fensed themselves with prayer , and a publick fast enjoyned by the legate ; whereby the water soon abated . and lest gods mercie herein , when gotten , should be forgotten , a publick thanksgiving was proclaimed , that this favour obtained by prayer might be kept by praises . thirdly , they were to grapple with the fort of pharia , a seeming-impregnable place , betwixt them and damiata . to check this fort , the christians built a towre on ships : which suddenly falling , brained many , bruised more of their own men ; and all who felt not the blow , were stricken with the fright . king john comforted his souldiers discouraged hereat , desiring them to apprehend actions by their true causes ; and as not to vaunt of blind victories , so not to be dismayed at casuall mishaps , so purely accidentall , that there was no guard against them in the schools of defense , either of wisdome or valour . by his advice a more substantiall towre was built , the rarest piece in that kind the world ever saw ; by the manning whereof , after many bloudy assaults , they mastered the fort of pharia . fourthly , they had to do with meladine king of egypt , who lay besides them , constantly furnishing the citie with men and victuals , and exercising the christians with continuall skirmishes . in one , with his wild-fire he did them much harm , and king john was dangerously scorched . but seeing that the christians hewed their way through the rocks of all difficulties , he propounded peace unto them by the mediation of noradine his brother , king of damascus ; profering them , if they would depart , to restore them the true crosse , the citie of jerusalem , and all the land of palestine . * the english , french , and italians would have embraced the conditions , pleading , that honourable peace was the centre of warre , where it should rest ; that they could not satisfie their conscience to rob these egyptians of their lands without a speciall command from god ; that it was good wisdome to take so desperate a debt whensoever the payment was tendred ; otherwise , if they would not be content with their arms full , they might perchance return with their hands emptie . but the legate would no wayes consent , alledging this voyage was undertaken not onely for the recovery of palestine , but for the exstirpation of the mahometane superstition . and herein no doubt he followed the instructions of his master , whose end in this warre was , that this warre should have no end , but be alwayes in doing though never done . he knew it was dangerous to stop an issue which had been long open ; and would in no case close up this vent of people by concluding a finall peace . besides , an old prophesie , * that a spaniard should win jerusalem , and work wonders in those parts , made pelagius that countrey-man more zealous herein . coradine angry his profer was refused , beat down the walls of jerusalem and all the beautifull buildings therein , save the towre of david and the temple of the sepulchre . not long after , damiata having been basieged one yeare and seven moneths , was taken without resistance ; plague and famine had made such a vastation therein . the christians entred with an intent to kill all ; but their anger soon melted into pity , beholding the citie all bestrawed with corpses . the sight was bad , and the sent was worse ; for the dead killed the living . yea , gods sword had left their sword no work : of * threescore and ten thousand but three thousand remained ; who had their lives pardoned on condition to cleanse the citie : which imployed them a quarter of a yeare . hence the christians marched and took the citie of tanis ; and soon after the pope substituted * john de columna , a cardinall , legate in the place of pelagius . chap. . new discords betwixt the king and the legate ; they march up to besiege cairo . great was the spoil they found in damiata : wherein , as in strong barred chests , the merchants of egypt and india had locked up their treasure . a full yeare the christians stayed here , contented to make this inne their home . here arose new discords betwixt the king and the new legate , who by vertue of his legation challenged damiata for his holinesse , which by publick agreement was formerly assigned to the king. bren in anger returned to ptolemais , both to puff out his discontents in private , & to teach the christians his worth by wanting him : for presently they found themselves at a losse ; neither could they stand still without disgrace , nor go on without danger . the legate commanded them to march up ; but they had too much spirit to be ruled by a spirituall man , and swore not to stirre a step except the king was with them . messengers therefore were sent to ptolemais to fetch him . they found him of a steelie nature ; once through-hot , long in cooling : yet by promising him he should have his own desires , they over-perswaded him not to starve an armie by feeding his own humours . scarce after eight moneths absence was he returned to damiata , but new divisions were betwixt them : the legate perswaded the armie to march up and besiege cairo ; he promised , if they would obey him , they should quickly command all egypt , by present invading it . let defendants lie at a close guard , and offer no play . delayes are a safe shield to save , but celerity the best sword to winne a countrey . thus alexander conquered the world before it could bethink it self to make resistance . and thus god now opened them a doore of victorie , except they would barre it up by their own idlenesse . but the king advised to return into syria ; that cairo was difficult to take , and impossible to keep ; that the ground whereon they went , was as treacherous as the people against whom they fought ; that better now to retire with honour , then hereafter flie with shame ; that none but an empirick in warre will denie , but that more true valour is in an orderly well grounded retreat , then in a furious rash invasion . but the legate used an inartificiall argument drawn from the authority of his place , thundering excommunication against those that would not march forward : and now needs must they go when he driveth them . the crafty egyptians ( of whom it is true , what is said of the parthians , their flight is more to be feared then their fight ) ran away , counterfeiting cowardlinesse . the christians triumphed hereat ; as if the silly fish should rejoyce that he had caught the fisherman , when he had swallowed his bait . the legate hugged himself in his own happinesse , that he had given so successefull advice . and now see how the garland of their victory proved the halter to strangle them . chap. . the miserable case of the drowned christians in egypt . damiata surrendred in ransome of their lives . egypt is a low level countrey , except some few advantages which the egyptians had fortified for themselves . through the midst of the land ran the river nilus ; whose stream they had so bridled with banks and sluces , that they could keep it to be their own servant , and make it their enemies master at pleasure . the christians confidently marched on ; and the turks perceiving the game was come within the toil , pierced their banks , and unmuzzling the river , let it runne open mouth upon them ; yet so , that at first they drowned them up but to the middle , reserving their lives for a further purpose , thereby in exchange to recover damiata and their countreys liberty . see here the land of egypt turned in an instant into the egyptian sea ! see an army of sixty thousand , as the neck of one man , stretched on the block , and waiting the fatall stroke ! many cursed the legate , and their own rashnesse , that they should follow the counsel of a gowned man ( all whose experience was clasped in a book ) rather then the advice of experienced captains . but too late repentance , because it soweth not in season , reapeth nothing but unavoidable miserie . meladine king of egypt seeing the constancy and patience of the christians , was moved with compassion towards them . he had of himself strong inclinations to christianity , wearie of mahometanisme , and willing to break that prison , but for watchfull jaylers about him . he profered the christians their lives , on condition they would quit the countrey and restore damiata . they accepted the conditions , and sent messengers to damiata to prepare them for the surrendring of it . but they within the citie , being themselves safe on shore , tyrannized on their poore brethren in shipwrack ; pretending , that this armie of pilgrimes deserved no pity , who had invited this misfortune on themselves by their own rashnesse ; that if they yeelded up this citie for nothing , which cost so many lives , they should betray themselves to the derision of the whole world ; that if these perished , more men might be had , but no more damiata's ; being a place of such importance , it would alwayes be a snaffle in the mouth of the egyptian king. on the other side , the friends of the distressed christians confessed , that indeed their voyage was unadvised and justly to be blamed ; yet worse and more inconsiderate projects have armies oft undertaken , which , if crowned with successe , have been above censure , yea , have passed not onely without questioning but with commendations : but this is the misery of misery , that those who are most afflicted of god , shall be most condemned of men . wherefore they requested them to pity their brethren , and not to leave them in this forlorn estate . how clamourous would their innocent bloud be in the court of heaven , to sue for revenge on those who forsook them in this distresse ! and grant damiata a citie of great consequence ; yet cities in themselves were but dead things , and men were the souls to enliven them : so that those souldiers which wonne damiata , if preserved alive , might haply recover as strong a citie afterwards . but finding their arguments not to prevail , they betook themselves to arms , by force to compell the adverse party to resigne the citie . king john also threatned , in case they denied to surrender it , to give up to meladine ptolemais in syria in exchange for damiata . at last , according to the agreement , damiata was restored to the turks , and the christian armie let out of the trap wherein it was taken . meladine out of his princely goodnesse furnished them with * victuals , and with horses to carry their feeble persons upon . and thus the christians had the greatest blow given them without a blow given them ; the egyptians obtaining their victory not by bloud but by water . chap. . iohn bren resigneth the kingdome of ierusalem to frederick the second , germane emperour . there was also concluded a peace with the turks for eight yeares . and now matters being settled as well as they might be in syria , king john took a journey to rome ; where he was bountifully feasted , and honourably entertained by the pope . here it was agreed ( whether at the first by his voluntary offer , or working of others , it appeareth not ) that he should resigne the kingdome of jerusalem to frederick the second , germane emperour , who was to marry iole the sole daughter of king john by his first wife ; though by a second he had another , martha , married to robert emperour of constantinople : so that he was father in law both to emperour of east and west . some condemned his resignation as an unadvised act ; as if he had first parted from his wits , who would willingly part from a kingdome ; whilest others commend his discretion : for first , his wife was dead , in whose right he held his kingdome , and thereby a doore was opened for other litigious pretenders to the crown . secondly , it was policie , fugere nè fugaretur : yea , this was no flight , but an honourable departure . well he knew the turks power to invade , and his own weaknesse to defend what was left in syria : so that finding the weight too heavy for himself , he did well to lay it on stronger shoulders . thirdly , before his resignation he had little more then a title : and after it he had nothing lesse ; men having so tuned their tongues to salute him king of jerusalem , that he was so called to the day of his death . lastly , what he wanted in the statelinesse of his bed , he had in the soundnesse of his sleep ; and though his commons perchance were shorter , yet he battled better on them . he got now more in a twelve-moneth then in seven yeares before , going from countrey to countrey : and yet the farther this stone rolled , the more mosse he gathered . in france , besides rich gifts left to himself , he had the managing of sixty thousand crowns ; the legacie which philip augustus the king on his death-bed * bequeathed to the templars and the holy warre . in england he received from henry the third many great presents ; though afterwards he proved but * unthankfull for them . in spain he got a rich wife , beringaria , the daughter of the king of castile . in italie he tasted very largely of the popes liberalitie , and lived there in good esteem . but he went off the stage without an applause , because he lost himself in his last act ; perfidiously raising rebellions against frederick his sonne in law , at the instigation of his holinesse . nor recovered he his credit , though after he went to his sonne robert to constantinople , and there did many good offices . he died anno . chap. . the true character of frederick ; how the history of his life is prejudiced by the partialitie of authours on both sides . the nuptiall solemnities of frederick with the lady iole were performed at rome , in the presence of the pope , with all ceremonies of majesty ; and frederick promised to prosecute in person his title in palestine within two yeares . little hope have i to content the reader in this kings life , who cannot satisfie my self ; writers of that age are so possessed with * partiality . the faction of the guelfes and gibellines discovereth not it self more plainly in the camp then in the chronicles : yea , historians turn schoolmen in matters of fact , arguing them pro & con . and as it is in the fable of the man that had two wives ; whilest his old wife plucked out his black hairs , the evidence of his youth , his young one ungray-haired him , that no standards of antiquity might remain , they made him bald betwixt them : so amongst our late writers ; whilest protestants cut off the authority from all papized writers of that age , and romanists cast away the witnesse of all imperialized authours then living ( such as urspergensis is , and generally all germanes ) counting them testes domesticos , and therefore of no validitie , betwixt them they draw all historie of that time very slender , and make it almost quite nothing . we will not engage our selves in their quarrels ; but may safely beleeve , that frederick was neither saint , nor devil , but man. many vertues in him his foes must commend , and some vices his friends must confesse . he was * very learned , according to the rate of that age , especially for a prince , who onely baiteth at learning , and maketh it not his profession to lodge in . wise he was in projecting ; nor were his thoughts ever so scattered with any sudden accident , but he could instantly recollect himself . valiant he was , and very fortunate ; though this tendeth more to gods praise then his : wondrous bountifull to scholars and souldiers ; whose good will he enjoyed , for he payed for it . but this gold had its allay of cruelty ; though this was not so much bred in him as he brought to it : treasons against him were so frequent , he could not be safe but must be severe , nor severe without incurring the aspersion of crueltie . his pride was excessive ; and so was his wantonnesse : a nunnes vail was but a slender shield against his lust : this sinne he was given to , * which was besides the custome of the dutch , saith one , who though great friends to bacchus , are no favourites of venus ; which is strange , that they should heap up so much fewel , and have no more fire . in a word , he was a better emperour then a man , his vices being personall , most hurting himself ; his vertues of a publick nature , and accomplishing him for government . chap. . mines and countermines betwixt the emperour and the pope , seeking to blow up , or at leastwise to stay the projects each of other . it is verily conceived that the pope provided this match for frederick to imploy him in palestine , whilest he at home might play his game at pleasure . for as provident nature in marshalling the elements , assigned fire a place in the verge and border of this lower world farre from the rest , lest otherwise the activity thereof might set the others in combustion : so the pope disposed this hot violent-spirited emperour farre off , and engaged him in a distant and dangerous warre out of the borders of europe . frederick smelt the project of his holinesse , being also master in the art of dissembling , though he must acknowledge the pope his senior in that faculty : wherefore he deferred the performance of his promise and his voyage into palestine from moneth to moneth , and yeare to yeare , wisely gaining time by losing it . the truth was , he was not yet ripe for such an expedition . the pope was afraid of his valour , he of the popes treachery , and more feared him behind his back then the turk before his face . he was loth to let go the eagle he had in hand , to catch the little bird that was in the bush . wherefore as yet he refused to go , pleading that the eight yeares truce which king bren had made with the turks , was not yet expired ; before which time to fight against them , was to fight against god and conscience : and that it was no way to propagate the faith by breach of faith . pope honorius continued still to put him in mind of his promise : yea , he rubbed his memory so roughly , he fetched off the skinne , with his threats and menaces . but before fredericks journey began , honorius his life ended , and gregory the ninth succeeded him ; who at the first dash excommunicated the emperour for his delay . know by the way , that his name-sake gregory the seventh ( otherwise hildebrand ) first hanselled his excommunication on henry the fourth . before his time the imperiall majesty ( what is observed of the seal , that it is never hit with thunder ) was never fulminated against with excommunication : afterward nothing more usuall ; till the commonnesse of those thunderbolts caused their contempt , and the emperours natures were so used to this physick it would not work with them . of late his holinesse is grown more advised , very sparingly using them , especially against protestant princes ; counting it policie to hold that weapon within the scabbard which hath no other edge but what is given it by the opinion of those against whom it is used . frederick at last cometh forth of germany with his armie , marcheth through italy , cometh to brindisi , where the plague seiseth on his men , whereof died the landtgrave of thuringia , and others . soon after he fell very desperately sick himself , which stayed his journey many moneths . it went neare to the pope , that the emperour was so neare to him : his case now was worse then formerly : for he had rouzed the lion out of his denne , but could not get him into the net . his sicknesse must either be more or lesse to do good . and the pope having no variety of weapons , excommunicated him afresh , pretending fredericks disease was onely the cramp of lazinesse , and that he was sick to do good , but swooned to do mischief ; as appeared by his unjust seising on the goods of lewis landtgrave of thuringia late deceased . the emperour protested his innocencie , accused the popes injustice , putting himself on the triall of all christian princes ; to whom he wrote letters . at last health came , and frederick departed , bearing up with his navie for palestine . the pope hearing thereof , belibelled him more fouly then ever before , because like an undutifull sonne he departed without his fathers blessing , being not absolved and reconciled to his mother the church . chap. . frederick recovereth all palestine and ierusalem without expense of time or bloud . see how gods blessing goeth along with the popes curses ! the fame of fredericks valour and maiden fortune , never as yet spotted with ill successe , like an harbinger hastening before , had provided victorie to entertain him at his arrivall ; yea , this emperour , swifter then cesar himself , overcame before he came over into palestine . at this time the state of the turks in syria was very aguish , and fredericks coming put them into a shaking fit . * coradine was dead , his children in minority , the turkish souldans factious , boiling in enmity one against another . whereupon the sultan of babylon , who was of chiefest authority , and governed syria , profered frederick so honourable conditions as he might desire , but could never hope for : namely , to restore unto him jerusalem and all palestine , in as full and ample a manner as it was possessed by baldwine the fourth , before saladine subdued it ; to set all christian captives at liberty ; provided , that the turks might have accesse to the sepulchre , ( though not lodging in the citie but suburbs , and that in small numbers at a time ) there to do their devotions , they also having a knowledge of , and giving an honour to christ , though no better then ignorance and dishonour of him . frederick before he ratified any thing by oath , sent to have the popes approbation : * who ill entreated and imprisoned his messengers , denied them audience , and contemptuously tore the emperours letters . wherefore frederick without , yea , against his holinesse consent , concluded a ten yeares truce with the sultan ; and on * easter-day triumphantly entring jerusalem , crowned himself king with his own hands . for gerard patriarch of jerusalem , and oliver master of the templars , with all the clergie , absented themselves ; neither was there any * masse sung in the citie as long as the emperour being excommunicated remained there . see that produced as it were in an instant which the succession of many yeares could not perform , all the holy land recovered ! some gallants perchance ( whose curious palates count all conquests drie meat which are not juyced with bloud ) will dispraise this emperours victory for the best praise thereof , because it was so easily gotten without drawing his sword for it . but they deserve to go naked who scorn to wear good clothes if they cost not dear . the templars were vexed at heart that they had no partnership in the glory of this action ; yea , this touched their copy-hold : had they lived lazie thus long in palestine , sucking the * sweet of christendome to no purpose ? see , frederick with few men , little money , lesse time , as master of his craft , had finished that which these bunglers had so long in vain been fumbling about ! wherefore they wanting true merit to raise themselves to the pitch of fredericks honour , sought by false detraction to depresse him to the depth of their own basenesse ; defaming him , as if he conspired with the sultan to the ruine of all christianity . in the mean time the christians every where built and repaired the cities of palestine , being now resigned into their hands . joppa and nazareth they strongly fortified : the walls of jerusalem were repaired , the churches therein adorned , and all publick edifices either wholly cast their skin with the snake , or at leastwise renewed their bill with the eagle , having their fronts either built or beautified . but new tackling to an old rotten keel will never make serviceable ship . short were the smiles of this citie , which groning under gods old curse , little joyed her self in this her new bravery . the end of the third book . the historie of the holy warre . book iiii. chap. . frederick battered with the popes force , and undermined with his fraud , leaveth palestine , and returneth into italy . thus the christian affairs in palestine were in good case and possibility of improvement . but the pope knew he should catch no fish if the waters were thus clear : wherefore he stirred up john bren , fredericks father in law ( ghesse whether his plots ran not low when he used such dregs ) to raise a rebellion in italy against him . his holinesse spread a false report of purpose , that frederick was dead . who would think there were so much substance in a shadow ! this vain rumour wrought reall effects , strengthening fredericks foes with hopes , and staggering his friends with fear and uncertainties . bren striking the iron whilest it was hot , wonne many places from the emperour : and though time soon after was delivered of her daughter truth , yet the confutation came too late , to shut the doore when the steed was stoln ; the pope having attained his ends , and served his turn already . a jubile of liberty was proclaimed to all the emperours subjects , and they dispensed with from the pope for their allegeance to him . milain , and many other cities in italy , formerly imperiall , danced at this musick , made a foot-cloth of their masters livery , and from this time dated themselves free-states . here was brave gleaning , where all ranne away with whole sheaves ; where robbery was priviledged for lawfull purchase . and the pope , wise enough not so to give away the pie but to keep the best corner for himself , carved all apulia for his own part . whilest hostility in italy , treason beset frederick in syria ; the templars intimated to the sultan his private project to wash himself in jordan , that so he might be surprized . but the sultan ( no doubt out of pity to see a lion catched in a fox-trap , there being a consanguinity of all princes , and the royall bloud which runneth in their veins causing a sympathie of majesty betwixt them ) scorned to advantage himself by treachery , and sent their letters to frederick : who afterwards used the templars , and generally all the clergie in palestine ( counting them complies with the pope ) coursely , not to say cruelly . at last having confirmed his ten yeares truce , and having appointed reinoldus duke of bavaria his lieutenant in syria , without noise he cometh into europe : for to return triumphantly in state , had been but an alarm to awaken envy , and a warning-piece for his enemies to prepare against him . he outsailed fame it self , landing in italy in person before he arrived there in report . then the love of his loyall subjects , hitherto rather covered then quenched , appeared ; and though formerly forced to a contrary motion , returned now quickly to their own prince their proper centre . within fifteen dayes , assisted with the duke of spoletum , frederick recovered all which was wonne from him , and unravelled the fair web of john brens victory , even to the very hemme thereof . then was all italy ( resembled by geographers for the fashion thereof , to a mans legge ) troubled with the incurable gout of schisme and faction : not a city of note in it which was not dichotomized into the sect of the guelfes , which favoured the pope , and gibellines , which adhered to the emperour . guelfes for the pope . gibellines for the emperour . vrsini in rome columnienses in rome sabellii in rome frangepanes in rome caesarini in rome adimarii in florence pazii in florence bondelmontii in florence uberti in florence amidei in florence donati in florence cerchii in florence albic●i in florence riccii in florence strozi in florence medicei in florence salviati in florence pactii in florence interminelli in lucca obicii in lucca carrarii in padua flosci in genoa spinola in genoa grimaldi in genoa adurnii in genoa fregosii in genoa dorii in genoa caneduli in bono●ia bentivoli in bono●ia pepuli in bono●ia malvecii in bono●ia m●rescotti in bono●ia estenses in ferrara saliguerri in ferrara vicecomites in milain turregiani in milain gonzagae in mantua bonacursii in mantua i will not quarrel with the tradition , * that elves and goblins in our english tongue had their first originall from the depravation of the names of guelfes and gibellines . if so , sure i am , what now we make terriculamenta infantum , scarecrows to affright children , were then true harpyes to devoure men . i would farther prosecute these discords ; and also shew how frederick was forced to ask pardon of him who had most wronged him , and dearly to purchase his absolution from the pope ; ( for though this emperours heart was as hard as stone , yet was it furrowed , dinted , and hollowed at last with the popes constant dropping and incessant raining of curses upon him ) but i dare wander no farther in this subject , lest any should question my passe ; but return back to the holy land . chap. . the tartars first appearing in the world affright both christians and turks ; of their name and nature ; whether turks or tartars be easier convertible to the true religion . reinoldus duke of bavaria being lest fredericks lieutenant in syria , wisely discharged his office , and preserved the peace entire which was concluded with the sultan of babylon . but the templars sought by all means to bring this ten yeares truce to an untimely end ; which was as bad as a lent to them , wherein they must fast from fighting , the meat and drink of turbulent spirits . these counting all luke-warm which were not scalding hot , condemned reinoldus for want of zeal in the holy warre , and gave him many a lift to heave him from his place ; but still he sat sure , poised with his own gravity . nor did the enmity of henry king of cyprus much trouble him , who challenged the principality of antioch , as next of kinne to the prince deceased : for reinold met and defeated him in battel , and bestowed antioch on * frederick , base sonne to frederick the emperour . but that which kept both christians and turks in aw , and made them willing mutually to observe the truce , was the fear of the tartars , a fierce nation , which now had their first flight out of their own nest into the neighbouring countreys . these tartarians , anciently called scythians , inhabit the northern part of asia , a countrey never conquered by any of the monarchs , priviledged from their victorious arms chiefly by its own barrennesse : for except souldiers were ambitious of hunger and cold , here is nothing to countervail their pains of an invasion ; yea , no meat to maintain them . it is true , rhubarb the best of drugs groweth in this the worst of countreys : but souldiers seek rather for food then physick when they invade a countrey . a greater part of their land is undiscovered , though map-makers , rather then they will have their maps naked and bald , do periwig them with false hair , and fill up the vacuum ( especially towards the north ) with imaginary places of * vng , and gog , and the plains of bargu : so true it is what one saith wittily in the comedie , that phantastes the servant of geographus travelled further beyond the arctick circle then ever his master durst . if it be surest to follow the most , the stream of writers make it called tartaria from the river tartar : but europe and asia will by wofull experience justifie the etymologie , if deduced from tartarus , hell. for when the spring-tides of this nation overflowed the banks , hell might seem to have broken loose , and to have sent so many devils abroad . as for those that count them the off-spring of the ten tribes of israel , which salmanasar led away captive , because tatari or totari signifieth in the hebrew and syriack tongue , a residue or remnant , * learned men have sufficiently confuted it . and surely it seemeth a forced and overstrained deduction , to farrefetch the name of tartars from an hebrew word , a language so farre distant from them . but no more hereof : because perchance herein the womans reason hath a masculine truth ; and the tartarians are called so , because they are called so . it may be , curious etymologists ( let them lose their wages who work in difficult trifles ) seek to reap what was never sown , whilest they study to make those words speak reason , which are onely voces ad placitum , imposed at pleasure . under their new name tartarians , they keep their old nature of scythians , fierce , cruel ; yea , sometimes in stead of other meat , making man their meat . * one humour they have , much affecting the owl , a bird which other nations scorn and hate , as the usher of ill luck . the occasion was this , a king of tartary sought for by his enemies , hid himself in a bush , whither his foes came to seek him ; when presently an owl flew out of the place : whereupon they desisted from further search , conceiving that that anchorite bird proclaimed nothing was there but solitude and desolation . hence in gratitude they never count themselves more gay then when their helmets are hung with owls feathers . whereat i should strange more , but that i find this fowl dedicated to * minerva the goddesse of wit , and that athens ( schoolmistresse of the world ) counted it a token of victory . the king of these tartarians styleth himself , the great cham , and is monarch of a great part of the world in possession , of the rest in imagination . he taketh and his subjects give him little lesse then divine honour ; who in other things at this time were pure pagans and idolaters . now their countrey , which is like a poore man whose common is overstocked with children , swarming with more bees then hives , sent their superfluous numbers to seek their fortunes amongst the christians . they needed no steel-armour who had iron-bodies . onely with bows , cruelty , and multitude they overranne lituania , podolia , polonia , and those countreys which are the east-boundanes of europe . others took their way southward into asia , committing outrages as they went ; and sensible how incomparably their own countrey was surpassed for pleasure and profit by these new lands ( blame not their judgement if they preferred a palace before a prison ) they little cared to return home . their incursions into europe were so farre and frequent , that pope innocent the fourth , about the yeare , began to fear them in italy . wherefore he sent askelin , a friar much admired in that age , with three other , into tartaria , to convert that nation to christianity . where askelin in stead of teaching them the elements of our religion , laid this foundation , to amplifie to them the power of the pope , setting him out in his full dimensions ; how he was above all men in the christian world . a good nurse , to feed infants , in stead of milk , with such drie bones : enough almost to affright them from entring into our church , seeing such a giant as they painted the pope , to stand before the doore . but baiothnoi chief captain of the tartarian armie ( for they were not admitted to speak with the great cham himself ) cried quits with this friar , outvying him with the greatnesse and divinity of their cham ; and sent back by them a blunt letter : * pope , know this ; thy messengers came and brought letters to us : thy messengers spake great words ; we know not whether thou enjoynedst them , or whether they spake of themselves : and in thy letters thou writest thus , many men you kill , slay , and destroy — at last he thus concluded ; if thou wilt set upon our land , water , and patrimony , it behoveth that thou , pope , in thy proper person come unto us ; and that thou come to him who containeth the face of the whole earth ; meaning their great cham. never did his holinesse so meet with his match before . he durst not meet the great cham of the east , his competitour in the imaginary monarchie of the world , to trie whose title was truest . let others tear their skins , he would sleep in a whole one . and indeed that shepherd loved his flock of christians better , then by his absence in a long journey into tartaria to expose them to the wolves . and so the conversion of tartarie at that time was disappointed . it is a pretty quaere , whether turks of tartars be easier convertible to christian religion : i mean ex parte objecti ; for otherwise all things are equally easie to an infinite agent . now it seemeth the tartars are reducible with most facility to our religion : for pure paganisme and native infidelity , like white cloth , will take the tincture of christianity ; whereas the turks are soiled and stained with the irreligious religion of mahometanisme , which first with much pains must be scoured out of them . and though they may seem to be in some forwardnesse to conversion , because they have a kind of knowledge and reverence of christ , yet the best joynt of their belief must be broken before it can be well set , and every drop of their present religion pumped out before true faith be infu●ed into them . and experience , the most competent witnesse herein , hath proved , that afterwards more tartars , both private men and princes , then turks of either condition , have embraced christianity . enough at this time ; we shall have occasion too soon to speak more of the tartars . chap. . the greeks recover their empire from the latines ; the holy warre thereby much endamaged . it was conceived that it would be much beneficiall to the pilgrimes in their voyages to palestine , that the latines were lately possessed of the grecian empire : for what is saved , is gained : and grant that the latines in greece should not actually assist in the holy warre , yet it was a considerable advantage what all justly expected , that pilgrimes should now have safe and secure passage through grecia , the pitfall which formerly had devoured so many . but these fair hopes soon miscarried . for what through the celerity of theodorus lascaris , and the gravity of john ducas his sonne in law , who reigned as grecian emperours in nice , the greeks recovered every foot of ground that the latines had wonne from them : onely the venetians being good at holdfast , kept their portion when all others had spent theirs , and enjoy candie to this day . this is imputed to their discretion in their choice , who in the sharing of this empire amongst the western princes , refused the continent countreys ( though greater in extent , and richer in cities ) and chose rather the islands , which being as little worlds in themselves , were most capable of entire fortifications , especially in their way , who were most powerfull at sea . sixty yeares almost did the latines make a hard shift to hold constantinople , under five succeeding emperours : . baldwine the first , earl of flanders ; . henry his brother ; . peter , count of auxerre in france , henrie's sonne in law ; . robert ; . baldwine the second , and last . an example which the observers of the ominous circulation or return of names alledge , that as a baldwine was the first , so a baldwine was the last latine emperour in grecia . of these , the first baldwine had his hands and feet cut off , and died in a ditch ; peter invited to a feast , payed the shot with his life ; the other three died without any violence , but with much misery . and thus their conquest of grecia , like a little sprig stuck into the ground , did sprout at the first whilest it had any sap in it , but then withered for want of a root . indeed it was impossible long to continue : for when the generation of the primitive adventurers in this action were dead , there wanted another to succeed them ; and the countreys whence they came were so farre off that supplies of latine people came thither very slowly ▪ onely venice well peopled her parts from the vicinity of her dominions . and that number of souldiers which is sufficient by sudden conquest to over-runne a countrey , is incompetent without a second edition of new supplies , to make good , manage , and maintain it : especially being to meddle with the greeks , farre exceeding them in number , subject onely out of fear , longing daily for their liberty and opportunity to recover it . let never any pilgrimes hereafter make greece their inne in their journey to palestine . yea , also at this time the furnace of the grecian jealousie was made seven times hotter : for besides this civil , an ecclesiasticall and spirituall breach happened betwixt them and the latines ; which we come now to describe . chap. . the uncurable breach betwixt the eastern and western churches , with the occasion thereof . hitherto grecians and latines lived together in palestine in some tolerable correspondencie ; differing in judgement , but complying in affections ; as counting themselves two severall sides , yet both making up the body of christians . but now by an unhappy discord they were irreconcilably parted asunder , to the great advantage of the turks and prejudice of the holy warre . we will fetch this flame from the first spark ; and though we go farre about , the length of the journey will be recompensed by the goodnesse of the way . anciently in the primitive time the church of rome was esteemed the first and chiefest of all others , but without any jurisdiction above them . because that was the imperiall citie and queen of the world , therefore the church therein was highest in account ; as the candle which is in the fairest candlestick is alwayes set above the rest ( though otherwise equall unto it in light ) at the upper end of the table . it happened afterward that the emperour removed his seat from rome to constantinople : whereupon orphane rome suddenly decayed ( for the emperours court carried day with it , and left night behind it ) was chief mourner at the funeralls of her own greatnesse ; and from a pleasant garden turned a wildernesse overgrown with goths , vandals , and other barbarous weeds : whilest constantinople tricked and tired her self , started up in an instant great , rich , and stately ; insomuch that john her patriarch claimed to be universall bishop above all other . gregory the great , bishop of rome , stoutly withstood him , protesting that he was the usher of antichrist who assumed that swelling title ; wherein he ●eated the brand to mark his successour with : for boniface ( save one , the next ) pope of rome so dealt with phocas the emperour of constantinople , that he got himself confirmed universall bishop over the whole world . a chaplain and a patrone well met , both usurpers , supporting one another ( like stones in an arch ) with their reciprocall aid ; phocas held boniface in his chair , and boniface kept phocas in his throne . and thus was the pope of rome first possessed of his primacie both of dignity and authority , both of precedencie & of power and jurisdiction over all other churches . as for his pretense , to challenge it by commission from christ and succession from peter , this string to his bow is so full of gauls , frets , and knots , it cannot hold , and is broken by many learned divines . however , constantinople rather overborn then overcome , for want rather of strength then stomach , ever rebelled , or rather resisted ( for no rebellion against usurpation ) romes supremacie ( especially when she found her self befriended with any advantage ) for many hundred yeares after . it happened ( to come to the matter in hand ) that a grecian * archbishop went to rome , there to have his confirmation . where the court demanded for him such unreasonable fees ( toll more then the grift ) that the prelate perceived it would weaken him to be confirmed , and shake his estate to settle him in his bishoprick . home therefore he cometh with a loud alarm against the extortions of rome , and mustereth together many of his countrey-men ; who hereupon for ever withdrew their obedience from rome , and threw off that heavy yoke they could not bear , hereafter owning her for their sister not mother . it may seem strange that the romane court being here justly taxed for extortion , would not amend it . but how often soever she be told of her dirty face , she will never wash it : for reforming would argue a former fault ; and they feared , if they yeelded themselves guilty in one point , it would shake the whole fabrick of their credit . besides , if the grecians had received satisfaction and redresse in this grievance , it would have given them pretense to prepare more requests , and to think that they also were due . lastly , no strength of perswasion will draw men from those sinnes which are glued unto them by their profit . thus the avarice of the romish officers ( as of late the shamefull shamelesse covetousnesse of their indulgence-mongers occasioned luthers falling from them ) caused the grecians wholly to renounce their subjection to that see : and germanus patriarch of constantinople now grew absolute of himself , without any dependencie on the pope . his holinesse despairing to reduce them by fair means , proclaimed warre against them . and as formerly against the albingenses , so now against the grecians , resolved to send an army of * croised souldiers : it being his custome to make the secular power little better then an hangman to execute those he shall please to condemn : yea , he hath turned the back of the sword towards infidels , and the edge against christians dissenting from him in small matters . but few voluntaries were found for this service , because of a pious horrour and religious reluctancie against so odious an imployment : onely in * cyprus ( i beleeve in a private persecution rather then open warre ) some grecians were put to death ; the pope using the same severity against wolves and wandring sheep , foes and prodigall children . chap. . wherein the greeks dissent from the latines ; what must charitably be conceived of them . besides their rejecting of the popes both ecclesiasticall and temporall tyranny , the greeks differ from the latines in other matters of moment : for they maintain the procession of the holy spirit from the father alone . as for their other tenents , they stand in some middle terms of opinion betwixt papists and protestants ; yet so , that they approch nearer the papists in more , to us in more weighty and dominative points . with rome they concurre in transubstantiation , in the whole sacrifice of the masse , in praying to saints and for the dead , in auricular confession , in worshipping of pictures ( onely of christ and our lady ) but all images they detest ; a kind of purgatory they hold , but not in hell or the skirts thereof , nor by any outward torment . with us they consent in the sufficiency of the scriptures to salvation , in denying the infallibility of the church ( much more of the pope ) the overplus of merits , service ununderstood , indulgences , liberaties out of purgatorie , and the like . hereupon the romanists condemn them all for hereticks and castawayes , killing more then a third of all christians ( as cain did a quarter of mankind with a blow ) with this their uncharitable censure . but heaven-gate was not so easily shut against multitudes when s. peter himself wore the keyes at his girdle . and let us not with rash judging thrust all into the pit of hell whom we see walking neare the brink thereof . we shall think better of them if we consider , that first , their tenets wherein they dissent from the romanists are sound enough , save that of the holy ghost . concerning which it is an usefull quaere , whether , granting the first authours and ringleaders of that errour in a bad condition , there be not some favour to be allowed to those who in simplicity succeed to hereditary errours received from their ancestours , if they do not wilfully barre nor bolt their eyes against the beams of the truth , but be willing ( as we charitably conceive of the greeks ) to receive and embrace better instruction . secondly , the master of the sentences ( waited on herein with other * learned men ) is of opinion , that in the sense of the greek church , a filio and per filium is no reall difference , but a question in modo loquendi . sure it would have grated the foundation , if they had so denied the procession of the holy ghost from the sonne as thereby to make an inequality betwixt the two persons : but since their form of speech is , that the holy ghost proceedeth from the father by the sonne , and is the spirit of the sonne , without making any difference in the consubstantiality of the persons , their doctrine may passe with a favourable interpretation . thirdly , our quickest sight in the matters of the trinity is but one degree above blindnesse . wherefore , as concerning it , let our piety lodge there where in other disputes the deceit of sophisters used to nestle it self , namely , in universalibus , in large and generall expressions , and not descend to curious particulars . to search into the manner of the spirits procession , is neither manners nor religion , and rather falleth under an awfull adoration and belief then an exact and curious enquirie . lastly , this their tenet doth not infect any other point in divinity with its poysonous inferences . some errours are worse in their train then in themselves , which ( as the dragon in the revelation drew down a third part of the starres with his tail ) by their bad consequences pervert other points of religion : but this grecian opinion ( as learned men propound it ) concerning the holy ghost , hath this happinesse , that it is barren , and begetteth no other bad tenets from it , being entire in it self . more may be alledged for the lessening of this errour : but grant it in its full extent , yet surely the moderate judgement of that learned * divine whose memory smelleth like a field the lord hath blessed , will abide triall ; who in effect thus concludeth , their schismes are sinfull , wicked , and inexcusable ; their doctrine dangerous , but not so damnable as excluding from all possibilitie of salvation . as for the observation of a * schoolman , that afterwards the turks wonne constantinople on whitsunday , the day dedicated to the memoriall of the holy spirit , as if god herein pointed at the sinne of the grecians in dishonouring the holy ghost ; we leave it to the readers discretion , desiring rather to be scepticall then definitive in the causes of gods judgements . chap. . a comparative estimate of the extent of the greek and latine church ; what hope of reconcilement betwixt them ; the influence this breach had on the holy warre . if that religion were surely the best which is of the greatest latitude and extent , surveyers of land were fitter then divines to judge of the best religion . neither is it any matter of great moment to measure the greatnesse of either church : but because rome maketh her universality such a masterpiece to boast of , let us see if the greek church may not outshoot her in her own bow . if we begin with the grecian church in africa under the patriarch of alexandria , thence proceeding into asia , and fetch a compasse about syria , armenia , asia the lesse , with cyprus , candie , and other islands in the mid-land-sea , and so come into grecia ; if hence we go into russia and muscovia ( who though differing in ceremonies , dissent not in doctrine ; as a sundry dialect maketh not a severall language ) to take onely entire kingdomes , and omit parcels : it is a larger quantity of ground then that the romish religion doth stretch to , since luther cut so large a collop out of it , and withdrew north-europe from obedience to his holinesse . perchance the romanists may plead they have lately improved the patrimony of their religion by new purchases in both indies : but who knoweth not that those people , rather watered then baptized , affrighted with cruelty into christianity , deserve not to be accounted settled and well-grounded professours of their religion ? as for reconciliation betwixt the grecians and latines , it is utterly improbable , except the greeks submit to the popes primacie , which they will never do . no hope then of their meeting together , when neither party will stirre step towards other . true it is , some fourty yeares since ( anno ) the bishops of little russia ( a countrey following the eastern church , but under the king of poland ) on condition they would accept the popes * supremacie , were dispensed with , and permitted in other matters to adhere to the greek church , and keep union with it ; the pope manifesting herein , that he aimeth not so much at the reduction of the greeks to the truth as to his own obedience . besides the hatred they have against the popes pride , another great hindrance of the union is the small intercourse the eastern christians have or desire to have with the western . they live amongst the turks , and are grown to be contented slaves ; and having long since parted with their hopes , now almost have lost their desire of liberty . we must not forget , how some fifty yeares ago solemn news was reported in rome , that the * patriarch of alexandria , with all the greek church in africa , by their embassadours had submitted and reconciled themselves to the pope , and from him received absolution and benediction : all which was a politick lie , perchance therefore reported , that it might make impression in the minds , and raise and confirm the spirits of the vulgar , who easily beleeve all that their betters tell them . and though afterwards this report was controlled to be false , yet mens spirits then being cold , were not so sensible of it as before : and the former news came to many mens eares who never heard afterwards of the check and confutation thereof . nor is there any state in the world that maketh such use and advantage , as the papall doth , of false news . to conclude ; as it is a maxime in philosophy , ex quibus constamus , ex iisdem nutrimur : so a great part of their religion consisting of errours and falshoods , it is suitable that accordingly it should be kept up and maintained with forgeries and deceits . to return to palestine ; this rent ( not in the seam but whole cloth ) betwixt these churches was no mean hindrance to the holy warre . formerly the greeks in syria were not so clearly cut asunder from the latines , but that they hung together by one great sinew in the common cause , agreeing against the turk the enemy to both : but since this last breach , the greeks did in their desires propend and incline to the turks , being better contented they should conquer , from whom they should have fair quarter , free exercise of their religion , and secure dwelling in any citie , paying a set tribute ; then the latines , who they feared would force their consciences , and bring their souls in subjection to the popes supremacie . expect we then never hereafter , that either their hearts or hands should afford any assistance to our pilgrimes in their designes . * some conceive , that at this day if the western christians should stoutly invade turkie with any likelihood to prevail , the greeks therein would runne to aid them . but others are of a contrary judgement ; considering , first , the inveterate and inlaid hatred ( not to be washed off ) they bear the latines : secondly , the jealousie they have that they will never keep promise with them , who have alwayes a warrant dormant from the pope to break all contracts prejudiciall to the romish church : thirdly , that custome and long continuance in slavery have so hardened and brawned their shoulders , the yoke doth not wring them so much ; yea , they had rather suffer the turks , being old full flies , to suck them , then to hazard their galled backs to new hungry ones ; finding by experience , that they themselves live on better terms of servitude under the turk , lesse grated and grinded with exactions , then some of their countrey-men do under the latines ; for instance , in zante and candie under the venetians . chap. . theobald king of navarre maketh an unsuccessefull voyage into palestine . the ten yeares truce by this time was expired which frederick made with the turks ; and reinold vice-roy of palestine by instructions from him concluded another truce of the * same term with them . he saw that this young christian kingdome of jerusalem , like an infant , would thrive best with sleeping , with peace and quietnesse : nor was it any policie for him to move at all , where there was more danger to hurt then hope to help their present estate . but though this peace was honourable and profitable , having no fault but that frederick made it ; yet the templars who did not relish the father , must needs distast the child : they complained that this peace was not used as a slumber to refresh the souldiers spirits , but as a lethargie to benumme their valour ; and chiefly snarled at this indignity , that the turks had accesse to the temple of the sepulchre , and that goats had free commonage in the sheeps pasture . wherefore pope gregory , to * despite the emperour frederick , caused the dominicanes and franciscanes his trumpeters , to incite people to the holy warre . these were two twin-orders , but the dominicane the eldest ; which now were no sooner hatched in the world , but presently chirped in the pulpits . in that age sermons were news , and meat for princes not common men : yea , the albingenses with their preaching had drowned the voices of secular priests , if these two orders had not helped to out-noise those supposed hereticks . these amplified with their rhetorick the calamity of the christians , tyrannie of the turks , merit of the cause , probability of successe ; performing their parts with such gravity , shew of devotion , accents of passion , not glued on for the present purpose but so naturall as from true affection , that many were wooed to undertake the voyage : principally , theobald king of navarre , almerick earl of montfort , henry of champaigne , peter earl of bretaigne , with many others of inferiour rank . ships they had none ; wherefore they were fain to shape their passage by land through grecia : where they were entertained with treachery , famine , and all the miseries which wait on distressed armies . these came last that way , & ( i may say ) shut the doore : for no christian army ever after went that tedious journey by land . having passed the bosporus , they marched into bithynia : thence through galatia they came unto the mountain taurus ; where they were much damnified by the turks , who fell on and off upon them , as they were advised by their own advantages . the christians desired no other gift but that a set battel might be given them ; which the turks would not grant , but played at distance and would never close . but with much ado the christians recovered to antioch , having scarce a third part of them left , their horses all dead , and themselves scarce mounted on their legs , miserably weak ; as what the mercy of sword , plague , and famine had pleased to spare . hence the templars conducted them to gaza ; where they fell on forraging the countrey of the sultan , assaulting no places which were of strength , or honour to subdue , but onely spoiled poore villages , which counted themselves walled with the truce as yet in force . abundance of wealth they got , and were now late returning home , when after their plentifull supper a deare & sharp reckoning was called for : behold , the turks in great numbers fell upon them neare unto gaza ; and the christians down with their bundles of spoil , and out with their swords , bravely defending themselves till such time as the night parted the fray . here they committed a great errour , and ( as one may say ) a neglect in over-diligence : for in stead of reposing themselves to rest , and appointing a set watch , they all lay in a manner perdues , no one slumbering all night , but attending their enemies ; contrary to the rules of an armie , which with argus should never have all its eyes wake or sleep together . next morning when the turks , whose numbers were much increased , set upon them , alas ! they being but few to many , faint to fresh , were not able to make any forcible resistance : yet , what they could not pay in present , they pawned their lives for ; and their arms being too weak for their hearts , they were rather killed then conquered . earl henry was slain , almerick taken prisoner , the king of navarre escaped by the swiftnesse of his spanish gennet ; which race , for their winged speed , the poets feigned to be begot of the wind . mean time the other christians looked on , and saw their brethren slaughtered before their eyes ; and yet though they were able to help them , were not able to help them , their hands being tied with the truce , and reinoldus charging them no way to infringe the peace concluded with the sultan . hereupon many cursed him as the christians cut-throat ; he as fast condemned the king of navarre and his army for breaking the truce . and though the papall faction pleaded that the former peace concluded not these late adventurers , and that it was onely made with frederick the emperour ; yet he representing the whole body of christianity , all the bundle of their shifts could not piece out a satisfactory answer , but that they were guilty of faith-breaking . home hastened the king of navarre with a small retinue , clouding himself in privatenesse ; as they actour who cometh off with the dislike of the spectatours , stealeth as invisibly as he may into the tiring-house . expectation , that friendly foe , did him much wrong ; and his performance fell the lower , because men heightened their looking for great matters from him . chap. . richard earl of cornwall saileth to the holy land ; his performance there , and the censure thereof . * fifteen dayes after the departure of theobald , richard earl of cornwall , brother to henry the third then king of england , landed at ptolemais . this prince was our english crassus , or croesus ; cornwall was his indies , where he turned tinne into gold and silver . so well-moneyed he was , that for ten yeares together he might for every day expend an * hundred marks : so that england never since had together a poorer king and a richer subject . before he began his voyage he craved a subsidie of prayers from the monks of s. albanes : yea , scarce was there any covent appearing for piety , to whose devotions he recommended not himself ; counting that ship to sail the surest which is driven with the breath of godly mens prayers . theodoricus lord prior of the english hospitallers , with many other barons and brave souldiers attending him , passed through france , and was there honourably entertained by king lewis . being come to the mediterranean sea , the popes legate brought him a flat countermand , that he must go no further , but instantly return . richard at first was astonished hereat : but quickly his anger got the mastery of his amazement , and he fell on fuming ; * was this christs vicar ? unlike was he to him , who was thus unlike to himself , who would say and unsay , solemnly summon , then suddenly cashier his holy souldiers . this was deluding of peoples devotions with false alarms , to make them put their armour on to put it off again . as for his own self , he had vowed this voyage , his honour and treasure was ingaged therein , and the pope should not blast his settled resolutions with a breath : his ships were manned , victualled , and sailing forward ; and in such great actions the setting forth is more then half the journey . all know his holinesse to be too wary an archer to shoot away his arrows at nothing . he had a mark herein , a plot in this restraint , but that too deep for others to fathom . it could not be this , to make this rich earl ( a fish worth angling for ) to commute his voyage into money , and to buy a dispensation of his holinesse to stay at home , as formerly he had served many meaner pilgrimes . surely though the popes covetousnesse might have prompted , his wisdome would have disswaded him from a project spunne with so course a threed . on saileth earl richard , and safely arriveth at ptolemais ; where he is well welcomed , especially by the clergie , solemnly singing , * blessed is he that cometh in the name of the lord. he proclaimed , no christian should depart for want of pay ; for he would entertain any , and give them good wages that would do work in this warre . but he found the christians there shivered into severall factions , and the two great orders , hospitallers and templars , two great confusions of the holy cause . of these the hospitallers were the seniors in standing , their originall being dated eighteen yeares before the templars ; and therefore challenged superiority . but that which made the younger brother so brisk , was , that he was his fathers darling . the templars in all their broils had support from the pope , because the others were suspected to have a smack of the imperiall faction . this made them active , daring , offering of affronts : and what countrey-men soever the templars were , they were alwayes italians , that is , true to the triple crown . these being madded with ambition , were the more outragious for their ●igh fare ( their great revenues ) and deserved to be dieted with a poorer pittance , except they would have used their strength better . our earl knew , to please one side would certainly displease the other , and to please both would probably please neither . wherefore he managed his matters entirely to himself , without relating to either of the parties , taking no ground of their giving , but bowling at the publick good by the aim of his own eye . the sultans in syria ( for the turkish power there was divided into severall sultanies , as those of damascus , * cracci , seisser , but babylon the chiefest ) hearing of richards preparations , profered peace unto him . but whilest as yet the conditions were in suspense , richard fortified askelon ( in all the bunch there was not a better key , or harbour of more importance ) not onely to strength but state , with marble pillars and statues ; though the silent ruines thereof at this day confesse not to the beholders that any such cost was ever bestowed there . he also caused the corpses of the christians killed at the late battel at gaza , and hitherto unburied , decently to be interred ; and appointed an annuall salarie to a priest to pray for their souls . hereby he had the happinesse with little cost to purchase much credit ; and the living being much taken with kindnesse to the dead , this burying of those christians , with pious persons wonne him as much repute as if he killed so many turks . at last the truce for ten yeares was concluded with the sultan ; all christian captives were discharged and set free , many forts of them restored , and matters for the main reduced to the same estate they were at the first peace with frederick the emperour : and richard returning through sicily and by rome , where he visited his holinesse , safely came home to england : where he was welcomed with bad news , that a discontented cornish man , banished for his misdemeanours , had found out tinne-mines in * bohemia ; which afterwards more asswaged the swelling of this earls bags then all his voyage to palestine : for till that time that metall was onely fetched from england , which afforded meat to some forrein countreys , and dishes to all . his voyage was variously censured : the templars which consented not to the peace , flouted thereat , as if all this while he had laboured about a difficult nothing , and as good never a whit as never the better , for the agreement would never hold long . others thought he had abundantly satisfied any rationall expectation : for he * compelled , saith one , the saracens to truce , ( a strange compulsion without violence , except the shewing of a scabbard ) he restored many to the life of their life , their liberty ; which alone was worth all his pains ; the peace he concluded was honourable ; and a cheap olive-branch is better then deare bayes . two of our english richards were at palestine ; one famous for drawing his sword , the other his purse . he was also remarkable herein , that he brought all his men and ships safe home ( next of kin to a miracle ) and none will deny , but that in such dangerous adventures a saver is a gainer . one good he got hereby , this journey brought him into play amongst forrein princes ; henceforward the beyond-sea-world took notice of him , and he of it . never would he have had the face to have courted the crown imperiall , if these his travels had not put boldnesse and audacity into him , which made him afterwards a stiff rivall to bid for the empire of germany . chap. . the corasines cruelly sack the city of ierusalem , and kill the christians therein . about this time ( though we find not the punctuall date thereof ) happened the death of reinoldus fredericks lieutenant in syria , who by his moderation had been a good benefactour to the holy warre . but the templars counted him to want metall , because he would not be mad and causelesly break the truce with the sultan . in his grave was buried the happinesse of the christians in palestine : for now the lawlesse templars observe no other rule but their own will. and now the inundation of the tartarians in spite of all dammes and banks overranne the north of asia , and many nations fled from their own countreys for fear of them . amongst other the corasines ( called by some choermines , and groissoms ) a fierce and warlike people , were notwithstanding by the tartarians forced to forsake their land . being thus unkennelled , they had their recourse to the sultan of babylon , and petitioned him to bestow some habitation upon them . their suit he could neither safely grant nor deny : a deniall would egge their discontents into desperatenesse ; and such sturdy dangerous vagabonds might do much harm : to admit them to be joynt-tenants in the same countrey with the turks , was a present inconvenience , and would be a future mischief . in stead therefore of giving them a house , he sent them to a work-house ; yet so , that they apprehended it a great courtesie done unto them : for he bestowed on them all the lands which the christians held in palestine ; liberall to give away what was none of his , and what the others must purchase before they could enjoy . the sultan encouraged them to invade that countrey ; whose people he pretended were weak and few , the land wealthy and fruitfull , so that the conquest would be easie , especially they having his assistance in the present service , and perpetuall patronage hereafter . animated herewith in come the corasines with their wives and children ( bringing their housholds with them to win houses and lands for them ) into syria , and march directly to jerusalem ; which being a weak and unfortified place , was taken without resistance . weak and unfortified ! strange ! it is confessed on all sides , that frederick the emperour and reinoldus his lieutenant spared no expense in strengthening this city ; since which time we find no solemn taking it by the turks : who then can expect lesse then an impregnable place , where so much cost was sown ? which driveth us to conceive one of these three things ; either that the weaknesse of this citie was chiefly in the defenders hearts ; or else that formerly there happened some blind and silent dispoiling of this place not mentioned by authours ; or lastly , that jerusalem was a jericho , i mean , a place cursed in building ; like pharaohs lean kine , never a whit the fatter for devouring much meat ; and which still went in rags , though her friends bestowed change of raiment upon her . thus this city , after that it had been possessed fifteen yeares by the christians , was wonne by this barbarous people , never since regained to our religion . sleep , jerusalem , sleep in thy ruines , at this day of little beauty and lesse strength , famous onely for what thou hast been . the christians flying out of jerusalem with their families , took their course towards joppa ; but looking back , beheld their own ensignes advanced on the citie-walls , so done in policie by their enemies . whereupon their credulity thus commented , that their fellows had beaten the corasines in jerusalem , and by these * banners invited them to return : but going back , they found but cold ( or rather too hot ) entertainment , being slain every mothers child of them . dull nostrils ! not to sent so stale and rank a stratageme of their foes , so often used , so easily defeated ; not to send some spies to tast the bait before all swallowed it . but men marked out for destruction , will runne their own heads into the halter . chap. . robert patriarch of ierusalem , with the whole strength of the christians , conquered by the corasines . the desperatenesse of the disease priviledgeth the taking of any physick . the christians being now in deep distresse , resolved on a dangerous course , but ( as their case stood ) thought necessary : for they made peace with the sultan of damascus and seisser , and with the sultan of cracci ; ( these were dynastes in syria of some good strength , and were at discord with the sultan of babylon ) and swearing them to be faithfull , borrowed an armie of their forces , with them joyntly to resist the corasines ; seeking , saith * frederick the emperour , to find fidem in perfidia , trust in treachery . many suspected these auxiliary forces ; thinking , though the forrest-wolves fell out with the mountain ones , they would both agree against the sheep . robert patriarch of jerusalem was a most active commander over all . s. lukes day was the time agreed upon for the fatall battel ; neare tiberias was the place . as the christians were ordering themselves in aray , it was questioned in what part of their armie their new turkish assistants should be disposed , and concluded that they should be placed in the front , where if they did no other good , they would dull the appetite of their enemies sword . this is thought to have been a notorious errour , and cause of their overthrow . for though those souldiers who mean to be false , will never be made faithfull in what place soever they be bestowed , yet may they be made lesse dangerous if cast into the body or main battel of the army , whence they have no such scope to fling out , and to take advantage of place to do mischief , as they have either in the front or wings thereof . thus in cesars time , crassus an experienced generall under him being to bid the gauls battel , * auxiliares copias , quibus ad pugnam non multum confidebat , in mediam aciem collo●●vit ; that so being hemmed in before and behind , they might be ingaged to fight manfully without starting away . and to instance in later times ; our richard the third ( who though he usurped the crown , had , as none will deny , a true title both to prowesse and martiall policie ) marching to bosworth , placed * suspected persons ( whose bodies were with him and hearts with earl henry ) in the midst ; and those whom he most trusted , before , behind , and on every side . the battel being joyned , the * turks ranne over to the other side ; though some braved them onely with cowardlinesse not treachery , and that they fled from the battel but not fell to the enemies . the christians manfully stood to it , and though over-powerd in number , made a great slaughter of their enemies , till at last they were quite overthrown . of the teutonick order escaped but three ; of three hundred templars , but eighteen ; of two hundred hospitallers , but nineteen : the patriarch ( to use his own words ) whom god reputed unworthy of martyrdome , saved himself by flight , with a few others . and this great overthrow , to omit lesse partner-causes , is chiefly imputed to the templars former so often breaking the truce with the sultan of babylon . thus were the christians conquered by the corasines , and beaten by a beaten nation ; palestine being wonne by those who could not keep their own countrey . improving this victorie they left nothing to the christians but tyre , ptolemais , and antioch , with some few forts . soon after , these corasines elated herewith fell out with the sultan himself ; who in anger rooted out their nation , so that * none of their name remained : yea , * all writers are silent of them both before this time and ever after : as if god at this very instant had created this people to punish christians ; which service performed , they were annihilated again . chap. . lewis the ninth setteth forward against the turks ; the occasion of his journey , and his attendants . some two yeares after , lewis the ninth of that name , king of france , came to assist the christians . the occasion of his voyage , this ; he had been visited with a desperate sicknesse , insomuch that all art cried craven , as unable to help him ; and the physicians resigned him to divines , to begin with him where they ended : they also gave him over ; and for a while he lay in a trance , not the least breath brought news of any life left in him . then blanch the queen-mother ( and queen of mothers for her care of her sonne and his kingdome ) * applied a piece of the crosse unto him . thereat ( whether thereby , let others dispute ) he revived and recovered ; and thereupon was croised , and in thankfulnesse bound himself with a vow to sail to the holy land . but his nobility disswaded him from that designe : the dangers were certain , the successe would be doubtfull of so long a journey ; his own kingdome would be left desolate , and many mischiefs unseen as yet , would appear in his absence : besides , his vow was made in his sicknesse , whilest reason was scarce as yet in the peaceable possession of his mind , because of the remnant-dregs of his disease : it might also be dispensed with by the pope ; yea , his deserts did challenge so much from his holinesse . king lewis , as perswaded hereat , laid down the crosse to the great comfort and contentment of all the beholders : but then * altering his countenance , he required the crosse should be restored to him again , and vowed to eat no bread untill he was recognized with the pilgrimes badge . and because his vow should suffer no diminution or abatement from his disease ▪ now no longer lewis the sick , but lewis the sound undertook the holy warre . his nobles seeing him too stiff to be unbent , and counting it a kind of sacrilegious counsel to disswade him from so pious a work , left him to his own resolutions . there went along with him his two brothers , charles earl of anjou , robert earl of artois , his own queen , and their ladies , o do the popes legate , hugh duke of burgundie , william earl of flanders , hugh earl of st. paul , and william longspath earl of sarisbury with a band of valiant english men , who went without licence from henry king of england : for in those dayes this doctrine went currant , that their princes leave was rather of complement then essentiall to their voyage ; as if the band of this holy warre was an acquittance from all others . our henry displeased at this earls departure , for his disobedience deprived him of his earldome and castle of sarisbury , not suffering that sheep to grase in his pasture which would not own him for his shepherd . william also sonne to this * earl , smarting for his fathers fault , never enjoyed that honour . and though king henry himself being a prince of more devotion then policie , did most affectionately tender this holy cause , yet he used this necessary severity towards this earl at this time ; first , because it would weaken his land thus to be dispeopled of martiall men , secondly , his subjects forwardnesse might be interpreted a secret check of his own backwardnesse in that warre ; thirdly , the sucking in of forrein aire did wean people from their naturall prince , and did insensibly usher into their hearts an alienation from their own sovereigne , and a dependence on the king of france ; lastly , he had some thoughts on that voyage himself , and reserved such prime peers to attend on his own person thither . the pope gave to this king lewis his charges , the tenth of the clergies revenues through france for three yeares ; and the king imployed the popes collectours to gather it , knowing those leaches were the best suckers . hereupon the states of the clergie were shaved as bare as their crowns ; and a poore priest who had but twenty shillings annuall pension , was forced to pay two yearly to the king : and this by my * authour is made the cause of his following ill successe , there being much extortion used by his under-officers . no wonder then if the wings of that armie did quickly flag , having so heavy a weight of curses hanging upon them . and though money be the sinews of warre , yet ill-gotten money , like gouty sinews , rather paineth then strengtheneth . true it is , that this pious king was no way guilty thereof , but such as were under him ; and oftentimes the head doth ach for the ill vapours of the stomach . he himself most princely caused to be proclaimed through his realm , if any merchant or other had been at any time injured by the kings exactours , either by oppression or borrowing of money , let him bring forth his bill , shewing how and wherein , and he should be recompensed . how this was performed we find not ; but it was a good lenitive plaister to asswage the peoples pain for the present . having at lyons took his leave of the pope , and a blessing from him , he marched towards avignon : where some of the city wronged his souldiers , especially with foul language . wherefore his nobles desired him that he would besiege the citie , the rather because it was suspected that therein his father was poysoned . to whom lewis most christianly , i come not out of france to * revenge my own quarrels , or those of my father or mother , but injuries offered to jesus christ. hence he went without delay to his navie , and committed himself to the sea . chap. . lewis arriveth in cyprus ; the conversion of the tartarians hindred ; the treachery of the templars . sailing forward with a prosperous wind , he safely arrived in cyprus ; where alexius lusignan king of the island entertained him according to the stateliest hospitality . here the pestilence ( one of the ready attendants on great armies ) began to rage : and though a french * writer saith it was minax magis quàm funesta , yet we find in others , that two hundred and fourty gentlemen of note died by force of the infection . hither came the embassadours from a great tartarian prince ( but surely not from cham himself ) invited by the fame of king lewis his piety , professing to him , that he had renounced his paganisme , and embraced christianity ; and that he intended to send messengers to pope innocent to be further instructed in his religion . but some christians which were in tartary disswaded him from so doing , left the tartarians coming to rome should behold the dissolutenesse of mens lives there , and so refuse to suck the milk of sweet doctrine from so sowre and bitter nipples , besmeared about with bad and scandalous conversation . yea , never could the christian religion be shewed to * pagans at any time on more disadvantages : grecians and latines were at deadly feud ; amongst the latines , guelfes and gibellines sought to ruine each other : humility was every-where preached , and pride practised : they perswaded others to labour for heaven , and fell out about earth themselves : their lives were contrary to their doctrines , and their doctrines one to another . but as for these embassadours , king lewis received them very courteously , dismissing them with bounteous gifts . and by them he sent to their master a tent , wherein the history of the bible was as richly as curiously depicted in needle-work ; hoping thus to catch his soul in his eyes , and both in that glorious present : pictures being then accounted lay-mens books , though since of many condemned as full of errata's , and never set forth by authority from the king of heaven to be means or workers of faith . whilest lewis stayed in cyprus , the templars in the holy land began to have his greatnesse in suspicion . this order ( as both the other , of hospitallers and teutonicks ) though mown down to the bare roots at the last unfortunate battel , yet now in three yeares space sprung up as populous as ever before ; their other brethren which lived in their severall covents and commandries over all europe , having now refurnished the houses in palestine . now these templars were loth king lewis should come to ptolemais , though they counterfeited he should be very welcome there . they formerly there had commanded in chief without controll , and were unwilling , having long sat in the saddle , now to dismount and hold the stirrup to another . besides , they would not have so neat and cleanly a guest see their sluttish houses , fearing lewis his piety would shame their dissolutenesse ( being one so godly in his conversation , that by the preaching in his life he had converted many * saracens ) yea , perchance he being a strict disciplinarian would punish their vitious manners . wherefore they wrote to him out of syria , to accept of a peace with the sultan of egypt now offered , and to proceed no further in warre against him . the french king , whose heart was ever open to any fair agreement , and shut against any dishonourable suspicions , had entertained the motion , had not the king of cyprus , being more studied in the templars treacheries , better instructed him : for he told him , this was but a * trick of their great master , who under-hand had sent to the sultan , and procured him to profer this peace onely for their own private ends , for to divert the king from coming amongst them . lewis , though the mildest and most patient of princes , yet not a drone which wanted the sting of anger , commanded the master of the templars upon the price of his head thenceforward to receive no embassage , nor keep any intelligence with their enemy , and resolved with himself to invade egypt . chap. . the wise preparations of the egyptians ; the valour of the french at their landing ; damiata wonne . but he stood so long in aiming , that the bird saw him , and had leisure to flie away , and meladine the egyptian king to provide himself to make resistance . last time ( some thirty yeares before ) whē the christians under john bren invaded egypt , they were not impeached in their arrivall , but suffered to land without any opposition . but meladine now was sensible of the discommodity in permitting his foes safely to come on shore : for first , they wasted & spoiled the countrey & the provision about them : secondly , opportunity was given to male-contents and ill-disposed persons to flie to the enemie : lastly , he found it most policie to keep the enemy off at arms end , and to close at the last ; and not to adventure his kingdome on the single die of a battel , but rather to set it on a chance , that so he might have the more play for it . wherefore he resolved to strengthen his maritime places , and not suffer them to land ; though also herein he met with many difficulties . for as nothing was more certain then that lewis would set on egypt , so nothing more uncertain ; and because it was unknown at what time or place he would come , all times and places were provided for . this exhausted a masse of treasure to keep in pay so many souldiers for many moneths together . but it is no time to dispute about unnecessary thrift , when a whole kingdome is brought into question to be subdued . and because the landing-places in egypt are of great disadvantage to the defendants , yeelding them no shelter from the fury of their enemies artillery , being all open places and plain ( the shores there being not shod against the sea with huge high rocks , as they are in some other countreys , because the land is low and level ) meladine was forced to fortifie welnigh an hundred and eighty miles along the sea-side ; and what nature had left bare , art put the more clothes on ; and by using of great industry ( such as by tully is fitly termed horribilis industria ) in short space all that part of egypt was fenced which respecteth the sea . winter being past , robert duke of burgundie and alphonse king lewis his brother arrived in cyprus with a new armie ; and hereupon they concluded to set forward for egypt , and attempted to land neare damiata . but the governour thereof with a band of valiant souldiers stoutly resisted them . here was a doubtfull fight : the egyptians standing on the firm ground , were thereby enabled to improve and * inforce their darts to the utmost , whilest the french in their ticklish boats durst not make the best of their own strength . besides , those on land threw their weapons downwards from the forts they had erected , so that the declivity and downfall did naturally second the violent impression of their darts . how-ever , the infidels at last were here beaten with what commonly was their own weapon , i mean multitude ; so that they fled into the town , leaving behind them their governour and five hundred of their best souldiers dead on the shore . damiata was a strong city , the taking whereof was accounted the good task of an armie for a yeare . but now the egyptians within were presented afresh with the memory of the miseries they indured in the last long siege by the christians ; and fearing lest that tragedy should be acted over again , set fire on their houses , and in the night saved themselves by flight . the french issuing in quenched the fire , and rescued much corn and other rich spoil from the teeth of the flame . meladine much troubled with this losse , to purchase peace * offered the christians all jerusalem in as ample a manner as ever formerly they had enjoyed it ; all prisoners to be restored , with a great summe of money to defray their charges , and many other good conditions : so that we may much wonder at his profusenesse in these profers , and more at the christians indiscretion in their refusall . for though some advised to make much of so frank a chapman , and not through covetousnesse to outstand their market ; yet the popes legate and robert earl of artois , heightened with pride that they could not see their profit , and measuring their future victories by the largenesse of their first footing in egypt , would make no bargain except alexandria the best port in egypt were also cast in for vantage , to make the conditions down-weight : and king lewis , whose nature was onely bad because it was so good , would in no wise crosse his brother in what he desired . whereupon the turks seeing themselves in so desperate condition , their swords being sharpened on extremity , provided to defend their countrey to the utmost . chap. . discords betwixt the french and english ; the death & disposition of meladine king of egypt . about this time brake out the dissensions betwixt the french and english. the cause whereof ( as some say ) was , for that the earl of sarisbury in sacking a fort got more spoil then the french. but surely the foundation of their discontents lay much lower , being an old enmity betwixt the two nations ; and robert earl of artois used earl william and his men with much discourtesie . this robert stood much on the royaltie of his descent , being brother to king lewis , though nothing of kin in conditions being as bountifull to deal injuries and affronts as the other alms and charitable deeds . the english earl , though he stood on the lower ground in point of birth , yet conceived himself to even him in valour and martiall knowledge . and though godly king lewis used all his holy-water to quench these heart-burnings , his successe answered not his pains , much lesse his desires ; onely his cooling perswasions laid their enmities for the present fairly asleep . amidst these broils died meladine the egyptian king. a worthy prince he was ; though some write very coursely of him : as he must rise early , yea , not at all go to bed , who will have every ones good word . let christians speak of him as they found : whose courtesies to them when they were half-drowned in egypt , if they will not confesse , they deserve to be wholly drowned for their ingratitude . in the latter end of his age he quite lost the good will of his subjects , and lived unloved , and died unlamented , though a deserving and fortunate man , which oftentimes covereth a multitude of faults . the chief reason whereof was , because they suspected him to be unsound in his religion , and offering to christianity : besides , having reigned above thirty yeares , his government became stale ; and good things , if of long continuance , grow tedious , they being rather affected for their variety then true worth : lastly , the rising sunne stole the adorers from the sunne setting ; and melechsala his sonne being an active and promising prince , reigned before in mens desires over the kingdome . to him now they all applied themselves ; and having more wisdome in their generation then the christians , instantly ceased their private dissensions . and now the sultans of damascus , aleppo , and babylon twisted themselves in a joynt agreement with melechsala to defend their mahometane religion . chap. . robert earl of artois fighting with the egyptians contrary to the counsel of the master of the templars , is overthrown and drowned . from damiata the french marched up towards cairo ; the governour whereof offended with melechsala , promised to deliver that regall citie to the french. with some danger and more difficulty they passed an arm of nilus , being conducted by a fugitive saracen to a place where it was foordable . hence earl robert marched forward with a third part of the army , and suddenly assaulting the turks in their tents ( whilest melechsala was absent in solemnizing a feast ) put them to flight . hereupon this earl proclaimed himself in his hopes monarch of the world : this blow made his enemies reel , the next would fell them : now speed was more needfull then strength : this late victory , though gotten , was lost if not used : what though they were not many ? the fewer the adventurers , the greater the gain : let them therefore forwards , and set on the whole power of the turks , which was incamped not farre off . but the master of the templars , in whom the sap of youth was well dried up , advised the earl to stay and digest the honour he had gotten , expecting the arrivall of the rest of their armie : for the work was weighty they undertook , and needed two shoulders , the united strength of the christians , effectually to manage it : his souldiers were weary , and must be refreshed ; and it was madnesse to starve them to day in hope of a feast tomorrow : that they were to march through a strange countrey , and their best instructours were behind : let them stay for their lantern , and not go in the dark . he minded him that he overvalued his victory , not considering the enemies strength , whose harvest was not spoiled by losing an handfull of men . but the earl , full of the emptinesse of self-conceit , allowed no counsel for currant but that of his own stamp . he scorned to wait the leisure of another opportunity , and opprobriously objected to the * templars the common fame , that the holy land long since had been wonne , but for the collusion of the false templars and hospitallers with the infidels . here the earl of sarisbury interposed himself to make peace , and to perswade robert to listen to the wholesome counsel that was given him . but his good will was rewarded with coward , dastard , english-tail , and such like contumelious terms . wherefore said our earl , well , generall , on in gods name ; * i beleeve this day you shall not dare to come nigh my horses tail . and now the touchstone must tell what is gold , what is brasse . marching on , they assaulted the castle of mauzar , and were notably repulsed ; and melechsala coming in with his whole strength , hemmed them in on every side . the christians were but the third part of the armie ; and at the present , they themselves were scarce the half of themselves , being faint for want of refreshing . yet never shall one reade more valour in so little a volume : they played their parts most stoutly . as for the french earl who went on like thunder , he went out like smoke , crying to the earl of sarisbury , flee , flee , for god fighteth against us . to whom our earl , god forbid my fathers sonne should flee from the face of a saracen . the other seeking to save himself by the swiftnesse of his horse , and crossing the river , had there water enough to drown him , but too little to wash from him the stain of rashnesse and cowardise . thus died the earl of artois : who had in him the parts of a good generall , but inverted and in transposition , bold in counsel , fearfull in execution . he was one of that princely quaternion of brothers which came hither at this voyage , and exceeded each other in some quality ; lewis the holiest , alphonse the subtillest , charles the stoutest , and this robert the proudest . as for the earl of sarisbury , he resolved to sell his life at such a rate that the buyer should little boast of his peny-worth , slaying many a turk ; and though unhorsed and wounded in his legs , stood on his honour when he could not stand on his feet ; and refusing all quarter , upon his knees laid about him like a desperate man. the longer he fought , the fewer wounds he had ; and there at last he breathed forth his soul in the midst of his enemies . of all the christians there escaped no more then two templars , one hospitaller , and one common souldier , the messengers of this heavy news . the french writers , because they can say little good , say little of this battel , and lessen the overthrow as much as may be ; which authours of other nations have more fully reported . thus sometimes unfortunate gamesters flatter themselves , belie their own purses , and dissemble their losses , whereof the standers by take more accurate notice . p. aemylius ( an italian , born at verona ; but by long writing the french history his penne is made free denison of france ) though with his hand he doth hide the orifice of the wound , yet it is too narrow to cover the whole sore round about : so that it plainly appeareth , that a great and grievous and most mortall blow was here given to the christians . chap. . king lewis almost in the same place hath the same wofull successe , conquered and taken captive by melechsala . it is easier to be conceived then expressed , what generall grief this dolefull news brought to the french ; who followed not farre off , and who before had cause enough to sorrow for themselves : for the plague began to rage furiously amongst them , and daily swept away thousands . mean time good king lewis sent many of the weakest and impotentest people down the river to damiata , there to enjoy the benefit of privacie , good attendance , and physick . melechsala having intelligence hereof , met them by the way ; and setting upon them ( having neither arm to fight , nor legs to runne away ) either burned or drowned them all , save one english man , alexander giffard ( whose ancient and famous family flourisheth to this day at chellington in staffordshire ) who wounded in five places of his bodie , escaped to the french , and reported what had happened to the rest . and by this time melechsala understood of the correspondency betwixt king lewis and the governour of cairo , for the betraying of the city : whereupon he caused him suddenly to be apprehended ; whereby the french king lost all hopes to obtain that place of importance . yea , now full willingly would the christians have accepted the terms formerly offered them ; and now their hungry stomachs would make dainties of those conditions which before , when full of pride , they threw away as fragments . but the turks now sleighted them as not worth the treating with ; and as knowing that these frenchmen , who at their first landing were more then men , would at last be lesse then women . then began the french lords to perswade king lewis to provide for the safety of his own person , and to return to damiata . they told him , that if he stayed with them , there was no hope grounded on probability ( and what was any other but a wilfull self-delusion ? ) of his escaping : if he were killed , his death would be a living shame to their religion ; if taken prisoner , how would mahomet insult over christ ! the captivity of the most christian of the most christian kings would be foundation enough for the turks thereon to build tropheys of eternall triumph . but lewis would not leave them , that they might not leave him , but resolved to be a commoner with them in weal and wo ; disdaining to be such a niggard of his life as not to spend it in a good cause in so good company . forward they march , and come to the fatall place where the last battel was fought . there behold the mangled , headlesse , handlesse , feetlesse corpses of their fellow-countreymen . they knew in generall they were all their friends ; none knew his particular friend . the cause of this unwonted cruelty to the dead , was a proclamation which melechsala made , assigning a great summe of money to every one who would bring the head , hand , or foot of a christian : and this made many of his covetous cowards ( who carried their valour in their purses ) to be couragious . whilest the french were here bemoning their fellows , melechsala came upon them with an infinite multitude , and put them all ( being few and feeble ) to the sword ; taking king lewis , with his two brethren , alphonse and charles , prisoners . instantly the turks went up with french ensignes to damiata , hoping so suddenly to surprise it . which project had it took effect , then farewell king lewis for ever . he must be sent a present to the caliph of babylon , from whom never any returned alive ; melechsala being but purgatory , whence there was redemption ; but the babylonian caliph hell it self , from whence no hope of release . but god defeated their designe ; for the turks could not french it so handsomely , but that they were discovered . the very language of their hands made them suspected afarre off , because they could not counterfeit the french idiotismes in managing their bucklers , that nation being most punctuall and criticall in their military postures : but being come neare , it was plain for any to read turk in their beards and complexions ; so that they departed without having what they desired . chap. . the wofull impression which the ill successe of the french wrought on the christians in europe . some made more hast then good speed ( bad news being the worst ware a ship can be fraught with ) to sail into france with the sad tidings of this overthrow . these intelligencers blanch , the queen-mother and regent of france , rewarded with the gallows : and my authour doubteth not to pronounce them all * martyrs . but let them be contented with the coronet of their own innocence , though without the crown of martyrdome ; that honour belonging to such alone as suffer death for fundamentall points of religion . but so great an eclipse could not long be kept from the eyes of the world ; & this dolefull and dismall news was sounded and seconded from every side . then was there a generall lamentation over all christendome , chiefly in france , where all were so sorrowfull , that any mirth was counted profanenesse . many bounded not themselves within the banks of grief , but brake out into blasphemy , both in france and elsewhere , taxing justice it self of being unjust ; and not content to admire what they could not conceive , condemned gods proceedings herein to be against right , because above their reason . fools , because they could not conquer on earth , did quarrel with heaven . this bad breath , though it came but from the teeth of some , yet proceeded from the corrupted lungs of others : some spake but out of present passion , but others even out of inbred atheisme . many who before were but lukewarm in religion , now turned stark-cold . in venice and some other cities of italy , the inhabitants whereof * matthew paris calleth semi-christianos , but half-christians ( though this his harsh appellation wanteth three parts of charity ) began wholly to tend to apostasie . and now for a crutch to stay their reeling faith , it was high time for the clergie to ply the pulpits . they perswaded those rachels who in this voyage had lost any children and would not be comforted , that their children were in a most blessed condition : they emptied all their boxes of their colours of rhetorick , therewith to paint out the happinesse of their estate which they enjoyed in heaven : they pieced out their sermons with reporting of miracles ; how william earl of sarisbury appeared to his * mother , and assured her that he reigned most glorious in heaven . she presently forgot her grief for losing her sonne , for joy that she had found a saint , yea , a martyr . this was their constant custome ; when any in europe wept for the losse of their friends in this warre , their tears were instantly dried up with some hot miracle that was reported them : wherewith the silly people were well pleased ; as babes of clouts are good enough to keep children from crying . about this time many thousands of the english were resolved for the holy warre , and would needs have been gone , had not the king strictly guarded his ports , and kept his kingdome from running away out of doores . the king promised he would go with them , and hereupon got a masse of money from them for this journey . some say , that he never intended it ; and that this onely was a trick to stroke the skittish cow to get down her milk . his stubborn subjects said , that they would tarry for his company till midsummer , and no longer . thus they weighed out their obedience with their own scales , and the king stood to their allowance . but hearing of this sorrowfull accident , both prince and people altered their resolution ; who had come too late to help the french in their distresse , and too soon to bring themselves into the same misery . chap. . king lewis exchanged for damiata , stayeth some yeares at ptolemais . but return to egypt ; where king lewis was kept prisoner by melechsala , who often felt his disposition about the resigning of damiata , but found that to heare of death was more welcome musick unto him . but see here a sudden alteration : one tarqueminus a sturdy mamaluke , with another of that society , killed melechsala in the very height of his victorious happinesse , and succeeded him in the egyptian kingdome . this tarquemine came in with an intent to send lewis the same way : which poore prince was onely armed with innocence and majesty , and yet his bare person defended his person from that cruel attempt : such an awfull impression did his very presence , saith my authour , strike into him who would have stricken him . but we may rather think that the city of damiata was king lewis his corslet , and that all the towres and walls of that place fensed him ; tarqueminus reserving his person as an equivalent ransome , thereby to redeem that royall citie . now lewis had changed his lord , but not his lamentable condition , continuing still a prisoner . at last he was restored to his liberty , on condition , that the christians should surrender damiata , and he also pay back to the turks many thousand pounds , both for ransome of christian captives , and in satisfaction of the vastations they had committed in egypt . lewis for security of this money , pawned to the turk the pyx and host ( that is , the body of christ transsubstantiated in the eucharist ) as his chiefest jewel which he should be most carefull to redeem . hence , in perpetuall memory of this conquest , we may see a * wafer-cake and a box alwayes wrought in the borders of that tapestry which is brought out of egypt . note by the way , that the turks were most unreasonable in their rates of ransoming souldiers , and in all other their pecuniary demands . for their own countrey being neare to the fountain of gold and silver , they made as if it flowed as plentifully in other places , measuring the wealth of other lands by their own , and asking as much for a private mans ransome as would drain a princes purse in these western parts . thus was damiata restored again to the turks , and the christians punctually performed their promises ; though the false miscreant on the other side set not half the captives free , killed all the sick persons whom by promise he should relieve , and ( contrary to the agreement ) suffered not any christian to transport any of his goods out of egypt . hence lewis sailed to ptolemais : where he lived in a miserable case , being forsaken of his brothers , subjects , friends , and the pope himself . his brothers , alphonse and charles , though sent into france to solicite his suit , and to advance his ransome with speed , yet being arrived forgot the affliction of joseph ; and the king was as farre from their mind as their sight : wherefore god justly visited alphonse with an incurable disease . his subjects , though furious at first in bemoning him , yet the fit past , complained not so much for him as on him ; charging him for ill managing the matters in egypt by his cowardlinesse and indiscretion . his friends , the pisans and genoans , reviled him as the marrer of their mart , damiata being formerly their most gainfull port ; but now their hony was spoiled by destroying the hive : for the sultan seeing the city taken twice of the christians in short time , to prevent further dispute about it , took away the subject of the question , and rased it to the ground . the pope forsook him : and though many intreated his holinesse not to prosecute the emperour frederick any further , from whom lewis expected all the beams of his comfort , yet he would heare of no submission from him , but sought finally to ruine him . onely blanch , king lewis his mother , was carefull for her sonne , and laboured his cause day and night . but alas ! her arms were too short to bring all ends together . and having gathered a considerable summe of money , and shipped it for palestine , a tempest in a moment * cast that away which her care and thrift was many moneths in getting . all this he bore with a soul not benummed with stoicall senselessenesse , but becalmed with christian patience : * a second job ; so that what pleased god , pleased him . it somewhat mitigated his misery , that he had the company of his consort margaret , a woman worthy so good a husband . here she bore him a child , which because another benoni , or sonne of sorrow , was called tristram . but that * name is more ancient , nor had it its birth from the christening of this child . foure yeares king lewis lived ( not to say , loitered ) in syria , daily expecting in vain that some prince of europe should fetch him off with honour , being loth to return till he could carry home his credit with him . and though he was out of his kingdome , yet was he in his kingdome , whilest surveying there the sacred monuments wherewith he was so highly affected . chap. . the common-wealth of the mammalukes described , presenting us with many unexampled remarkables . now more largely of tarqueminus , and his killing melechsala , and of the common-wealth of the mammalukes begun by him . and because great is the merit of this story , as very memorable , we will fetch it from its first originall . saladine ( as is touched * before ) was the first of the turkish kings who began the gainfull trade of the mammalukes . these were christian captives , brought out of taurica chersonesus , and instructed as in mahometanisme so in all military discipline ; saladine disposing them in martiall nurseries , and continuing a constant succession of them one under another . it is above belief how much and speedily they were improved in warlike exercises : art doubled their strength by teaching them to use it . and though they came rough out of their own countrey , they were quickly hewen and polished by education : yea , their apprehensions prevented the precepts , and their practice surpassed the presidents of those that instructed them . as it is observed in fruits and flowers , that they are much bettered by change to a fitter soil ; so were these people by altering their climate : the cold countrey wherein they were bred , gave them big and robustious bodies ; and the hot climate whereinto they were transplanted , ripened their wits , and bestowed upon them craft and activity , the dowrie of the southern countreys . they attained to be expert in any service ; especially they were excellent horsemen : and at last they began to ride on the backs and necks of the turkish kings themselves . true it is , saladine kept his distance over them , used them kindly , yet made them not wantons ; and so poised these mammalukes with his native egyptians , that in all actions he still reserved the casting voice for himself . but meladine and melechsala his successours , entertained them without number , and instructed them beyond reason , so that under them in a manner they monopolized all places of strength and command ; till at last , the stemme of these mercenary souldiers being too great for the stock of the natives , the turkish kingdome in egypt , like a top-heavy tree , became a windfall . indeed , the dastardnesse of the egyptians made these mammalukes more daring and insolent . for the egyptians more loved profit then honour , & wealth then greatnesse ; and though contented to abide labour , would in no wise undergo danger . merchandise they were wholly imployed in ; and it seemed they used trading so long , till at last they made sale of their own spirits . yea , one could not now know egypt to be egypt , but onely by the overflowing of nilus , not by any remaining ancient marks of valour in the peoples disposition . thus the genius of old kingdomes in time groweth weaker , and doteth at the last . but to come to tarqueminus ; he being one of these mammalukes , and perceiving how easie it was for those that did support , to supplant the turkish kings , with another of his associates slew melechsala , as it was said . and because it was unfitting so great a prince should go to the grave alone , he also sent his children and intimate friends thither to attend him . tarqueminus afterwards procured of his society to be chosen king of egypt . he was the solon or lycurgus of this slavish common-wealth ; and by the consent of the rest of his company he enacted many laws : whereof these were those of the grand charter , which admitted of no revocation : first , that the * sultan , or chief of this servile empire , should be chosen alwayes out of the mammalukes . secondly , that none should be admitted to the order of the mammalukes which were either jews or turks by birth , but onely such as being born christians , were afterwards taken captives , and then from the time of their slavery had been instructed in the mahometane religion . thirdly , that though the sonnes of the mammalukes might enjoy their fathers lands and wealth , yet they might not take upon them the name or honour of a mammaluke . fourthly , that the native egyptians should be permitted no use of weapons , but onely such as with which they fought against weeds , to till and manure the land . in surveying this state , we can turn no way but must meet with wonders : first , one would think that there was such an indelible character of slavery in these captives , and such a laesum principium in them , that none of them ever should make a good prince , as knowing no more how to sway a sceptre then a pure clown to manage a sword ; or else that they should over-state it , turn tyrants , and onely exchange their slavery , by becoming vassals to their own passions . yet many of them in their kinds were worthy princes for government , no whit inferiour to those which are advantaged with royall birth and breeding . secondly , it is a wonder they should be so neglective of their own children . how many make an idol of their posterity , and sacrifice themselves unto it , stripping themselves out of necessaries to provide their heirs a wardrobe ! yea , it is a principle in most moderate minds , to advance their posterity ; thinking hereby in a manner they overcome death , and immortalize their memories , in leaving their names and honours to their children : whereas the contrary appeared in these mammalukes . thirdly , it is admirable that they fell not out in the election of their prince , being in a manner all equall amongst themselves . we see elective states in christendome , though bound with the straitest laws , often sagge aside into schismes and factions ; whereas this strange empire in their choice had no dangerous discords , but such as were quenched in the kindling . lastly , who ever knew a wall that had no better cement , to stand so sure and so long ? two hundred sixty and seven yeares this state endured ; and yet had it to do with strong and puissant enemies . some kingdomes ow their greatnesse not so much to their own valour and wisdome as to the weaknesse of their neighbours : but it fared not thus with the mammalukes . to omit prester john , who neighboured them on the south ; on all other sides they were encompassed with potent opposers : from whom right valiantly they defended themselves , till in the yeare they were overcome by selimus the great turkish emperour . to conclude ; as for the amazons and their brave atchievements , with much valour and no manhood ; they and their state had onely being in the brains of fabulous writers : as for the assasines , or regiment of rogues ; it never spread to the breadth of any great countrey , nor grew to the height of a kingdome ; but being the jakes of the world , was cast out in a place betwixt barren hills : but this empire of vassals was every way wonderfull , stretching so farre over all egypt and most of syria , and lasting so long . a strange state ! wherein slavery was the first step to their throne , and apostasie the first article in their religion . chap. . the manner of the death of frederick king of ierusalem ; his will , and posterity after him . an interregnum both in germanie and the kingdome of ierusalem . in this same yeare frederick king of jerusalem and emperour of germany ended his troublesome dayes . a prince , who in the race of his life met with many rubs , some stumbles , no dangerous falls . besides the turk , he had to do with the pope ( the pope immortall in his succession . ) and though his holinesse was unfit for warre ( as being alwayes old , and never ripe for that place till almost rotten ) yet he used his own head , and commanded the hands of others ; whereby he kept frederick in a continuall warre . yet never could he have beaten him with fair play , had he not used a weapon , if not against the law of arms , against the law of god , and against which no guard , arming his subjects against him , and dispensing with the oath of allegeance . but he gave frederick the mortall wound , in setting himself against himself ; i mean , henry his eldest sonne . and though frederick easily conquered that rebellious youth , and made him fast enough , keeping him in prison in apulia , where he died ; yet he carried the grief hereof to his grave . for now he knew not where or in whom to place any confidence ; as suspecting the single cord of loyaltie would not hold in others , which brake in his own sonne though twisted with naturall affection . the greatnesse of his spirit was a great hastening of his death ; and being of a keen , eager , and active nature , the sharpnesse of the sword cut the scabbard the sooner asunder . bowe he could not , break he must . what-ever is reported , he died of no other poison then sorrow ( which ushered him into a wasting ague ) grief being a burden whereof the strongest shoulders can bear the least . as for the fame , that * maufred his base sonne should stifle him with a pillow : though i must confesse he might be taken on suspicion , as likely enough to play such a devilish prank ; yet it is unreasonable , that he who is acquitted by the * authours of the same time , should be condemned on the evidence of the writers of after-ages . he died at florence in an obscure castle on s. lucies day , having reigned king of jerusalem three and twenty yeares . by his will he bequeathed many ounces of gold to the knights templars and hospitallers , in recompense of the wrongs they had received by him . he left a great summe of money for the recovery of the holy land , to be disposed at the discretion of the foresaid knights . he forbad any stately funerall for himself , though in his life immoderately excessive in pomp ; as if he would do penance for his pride after death . a prince , who had he not been hindred with domesticall discords , would have equalized cesar himself : for if thus bravely he laid about him , his hands being tied at home with continuall dissensions , what would he have done if at liberty ? a scandal is raised since his death , that he was but * a millers sonne ; but he would have ground them to powder who in his life-time durst have averred it . indeed he was very happy in mechanicall matters , such as we may term liberall handy-crafts ; as casting , founding , carving in iron and brasse : neither did this argue a low soul , to dabble in such mean imployments , but rather proved the amplitude and largenesse thereof ; of so generall acquaintance , that no art was a stranger to him . but the suspicion of his birth rose from the almost miraculous manner of it ; constantia his mother bearing him when wel●igh sixty yeares of age . but both in scripture and other writers , we may see the sonnes of long-barren mothers to have been fruitfull in famous atchievements . pity it was that he had some faults : yea , pity it had been if he had not had some . but his vices indeed were notorious and unexcusable . many wives and concubines he had , and by them many children . his wives . his legitimate children ; their preferment . . constantia , queen of aragon . henry , who rebelled against him . king of the romanes . . iole , daughter to john bren. conrade . duke of suevia . . agnes , daughter to the marquesse of moravia , childlesse divorced .     . rutina .     . isabella of bavaria . agnes . married to conrade landtgrave of hessen . . mawd , daughter to john king of england . constance . his ●●se sonnes . wife to lewis land●grave of hessen . his concubine     blanch. . henzius . king of sardinia . . maufred . usurper of sicily . . frederick . prince of antioch . it is much , that succession adventured in so many severall bottoms , should miscarry : yet these foure sonnes dying , left no lasting issue ; and in the third generation fredericks stock , and that whole race of suevian princes was extinct : which in the judgement of some men was a judgement of god on him for his lasciviousnesse . we must not forget a memorable passage which happened more then twenty yeares after fredericks death : * one tylo colupp , a notable juggler , sometime brought up at the court , cunningly sowing together all the old shreds of his courtship , and stretching them out with impudency , pretended to be frederick the emperour , long detained in captivity in palestine . the difference betwixt their aspects was easily reconciled ; for few physiognomy-marks are so deeply fixed in any face , but that age and misery will alter them . the credulity of the vulgar sort presently betrayed them to be couzened by him : yea , some princes took this brasse for gold without touching it . but the best engine which gave this puppet his motion , was a bruit constantly buzzed , that frederick was not dead . for princes , the manner of whose deaths hath been private and obscure , fame commonly conjureth again out of their graves , and they walk abroad in the tongues and brains of many , who affirm and beleeve them to be still alive . but the world soon surfeted of this cheaters forgerie ; and this glow-worm when brought into the light , shined no more , but at nanse was burnt to ashes by rodulphus the emperour . after fredericks death there was an interregnum for three and twenty yeares in the empire of germany . true it is , that of some , william earl of holland ( one without a beard , not valour ) was nominated emperour . the spirituall electours chose richard , brother to our king henry the third . and as in cornwall he got much coin , so germany gave him a bottomlesse bag to put it in . a third party named alphonse king of castile , an admirable mathematician : but the ointment of his name is marred with the dead flie of his atheisticall speech , that if he had been in gods stead , he could have framed the world better then now it is . notwithstanding , the best dutch writers make an interregnum , as counting the empire still a widow , and all these rather her suiters then any her husband . in like manner also in palestine there was not any king for fourteen yeares after fredericks death . the right indeed lay in conrade duke of suevi● , fredericks sonne by iole daughter to john bren king of jerusalem : but he was so imployed in defending himself in sicily against maufred his base brother ( who soon after dispatched him out of the way ) that he had no leisure to prosecute his title to the fragments of the kingdome of jerusalem . chap. . the pastorells killed in france ; king lewis returned home . go we back to king lewis , who all this while stayed in palestine , busying himself partly in building and fensing of sidon and cesarea , partly in composing discords betwixt the pisans and genoans , even proceeding to threaten them into agreement : but these armed men little cared for his naked menacing . he being also an excellent religious antiquary and critick on holy monuments , much employed himself in redeeming of old sacred places from the tyranny of time and oblivion . mean time , in his kingdome of france happened this strange accident ; * an hungarian pesant , who is said to have been an apostate to mahomet and well learned , gathered together many thousands of people , pretending they had intelligence from heaven to march to the holy land . these took on them the name and habit of pastorelli , poore shepherds ; in imitation belike ( as the devil is gods ape ) of those in the gospel , who were warned by angels in a vision to go to bethlehem . being to shape their course into palestine , they went into france ; shewing they had a vertigo in their heads , mistaking the west for the east ; or else , that like vagabonds they were never out of their way . the holy lambe was their ensigne , but their actions neither holy nor lambe-like . they pillaged and killed the poore jews as they went ( an unhappy nation , whose heads lie pat for every ones hands to hit , and their legges so stand in mens way that few can go by them without spurning at them : ) where they wanted jews , they made jews of christians , especially if they were rich , using them with all cruelty . but at last neare burdeaux threescore thousand of them were slain , and the rest dispersed . a rhymer of that age ( or in courtesie call him a poet ) made this epitaph on them ; * m semel , & bis c , l i conjungere disce ; duxit pastorum saeva megaera chorum . learn to put together well , what m , c , c , l , i , do spell ; when some devilish fiend in france did teach the shepherds how to dance . by this time lewis in syria had stayed out the death and buriall of all his hopes to receive succour from his own countrey . long expecting in vain that france should come to him , he at last returned to it . the greatnesse of the burden he bore , made him go the faster ; and being loaden with debts to his italian creditours , he secretly hasted home : where safely arriving , besides loyaltie to their prince , love to a stranger was enough to make him welcome . chap. . the conversion of the tartarians . haalon conquereth persia , and extinguisheth the caliphs of babylon . lewis is gone , and left the christians in syria in a wofull condition , without hope of amendment . now , can any good come out of tartary ? can the northern wind blow a comfortable warmth ? yea ; see a strange vicissitude of things ! haito the christian king of armenia had travelled to mango the cham of tartary , to communicate to him the present danger of the turks , and to consult of a remedy . he shewed , how if order were not taken with them in time , they would over-runne all asia : let him not count that he lay out of their rode , because of his remote situation : for what is the way wanderers will not trace ? he might expect onely this courtesie , to be last devoured . in conclusion , haito prevailed so farre with this pagan , that he not onely promised his assistance , but also was baptized , and took the christian religion on him : so also did his whole countrey by his example ; and christianity being the court-fashion , none would be out of it . never since the time of constantine the great , did the devil at once lose a greater morsel , or was there made a more hopefull accession to the faith. understand we this conversion of tartary ( though authours predicate it universally of that whole countrey ) onely of cathaia , the eastern and most refined part of that empire : for cannibals were still in the north , who needed first to be converted to reason and to be made men , before they could become christians . also at this same time we find a swarm of western tartarian heathens forraging * poland . so it seemeth , so vast was the empire , that it was still night in the west , though it was day in the eastern part thereof . now , whether the conversion of these tartarians was solemnly , deliberately , and methodically wrought by preaching , first those things wherein the light of nature concurreth with faith ; then , those wherein humane reason is no foe but standeth neuter ; lastly , such as are merely of faith , leaving the issue of all to god , whose * oratory alone can perswade souls : or whether ( which is more probable ) it was but tumultuously done , many on a sudden rather snatching then embracing religion , we will not dispute . sure it is that mango sent haalon his brother ( who is said to have married a wife an excellent christian , and * descended from the wise-men who came to see our saviour ) with a great armie to suppresse the turks and assist the christians . it seemeth his armie rid post ; for falling into persia , he conquered it sooner then one can well travel it , * in half a yeare . it facilitated his victory , because that countrey had much unfurnished her self to furnish her forrein colonies and garisons in syria : and generally active nations are strongest abroad , and weakest at home ; where they are onely strong with a conceit of their strength beleeved in other countreys . the citie samarchanda onely resisted him . haalon seeing it would not come at the first , let it stay ; counting it beneath a conquerour to tempt his fortune with a long siege , which perchance might alter the whole course of the cards , and make him rise a loser . wherefore he himself onely skimmed the cream of the conquest , and went away with what was easie and smooth , deputing an inferiour captain to hew this knotty service ; who after a long siege subdued it . for in respect of the age of this siege , that of troy was but a child , it lasting * seven and twenty yeares ; and at last not taken but yeelded up , the defendants then wanting clothes to cover their nakednesse . from persia haalon marched to babylon : the caliph whereof called musteazem , was so superstitious an idolater to his wealth , that he would not provide necessaries for the defense of the city ; and therefore it was quickly subdued . the covetous caliph he * famished to death , and then filled his mouth with melted gold . every where mosques went down and churches up . hence into mesopotamia : which he instantly conquered , with the cities of aleppo and edessa . he wonne and restored many places to conrade the christian prince of antioch , which the turks formerly detained from him . yea , this tartarian armie so awed melechem the mammaluke prince of egypt , who succeeded tarqueminus , that he durst not budge . and many other good offices this haalon did to the christians in syria . chap. . the discord betwixt the genoans and venetians , who burn the genoans ships in ptolemais . but they were unworthy of this happinesse , who would not be at leisure to make use of it , but busied themselves in private dissensions , the genoans against the pisans and venetians . these states ( as many other in italy ) at this time were so proud in their masters old clothes , they scarce knew themselves , grown brave with the feathers the eagle had moulted , and set up by the breaking of the emperour in italy . the venetians and genoans were hardly matched : the pisans were not so strong , but as stomachfull as either of them , and then in this point of policie superiour to both ; that first siding with the genoans , they whipped the venetians ; then when they were sufficiently humbled , taking part with the venetians , they stripped and lashed the genoans : and the scales being even before , pisa made that weigh down by course wherein she cast her grains . now not content to fall out at home within the doores of italy , they must fight in syria in the open street , where the turks looked on and laughed at them ; counting it in their apprehension as good sport as to see a spider poison a toad . besides their old grudges transported hither out of italy , this green wound was the cause of their dissension here : in ptolemais these three states had their severall streets , severall markets for trading , and courts for causes both civill and criminall : but all three had one church ( that of s. sabbas ) common unto them , by the ordering of the pope himself ; who counted the same church might serve the worshippers of the same god : but the * venetians by the vertue of an ancient agreement betwixt them and king baldwine for their service in winning this city , challenged a peculiar interest therein . hereabout was there old bustling ; and in a tumult , the genoans at that time surpassing for number , drave the venetians out of the church : yea , philip of montfort , a french governour of ptolemais in the time of the interregnum , wanting not onely policie for a magistrate , but wit for a man ( blondus * saith he was half-mad , and his actions speak him no lesse ) compelled the venetians generally to forsake the city . implacably incensed hereat , the venetians arm thirteen galleys which they had at tyre , & coming to ptolemais forced asunder the chain which crossed the haven , and burned five and twenty ships of the genoans which lay there . for alas ! being straitned in the haven , they had no room ( being intangled ) to turn and free themselves one from another . and though united force be most forcible , yet not when so stifled and smothered that it cannot expresse and exercise it self . many brave souldiers in these ships lost their lives in a bundle , without selling them , or ever opening their wares . to avenge this losse , the state of genoa sent from home a navie of fifty ships of all sorts , which came to tyre . there meet they with reinerius zenus duke of venice , with the united power of the venetians and pisans , counting no fewer then seventy foure vessels well provided . they would have fought in the very haven of tyre , but the governour of the citie forbad it : it would be more scandalous to christianity ; the roving fireballs might hurt the citie , and sinking ships hinder the harbour ; besides , the conquered party would probably complain of the partiality of the place , that it more favoured one side ; they should not fight under his nose ; if they had a mind to it , let them out and try their fortunes in the open sea . chap. . the genoan navie beaten by the venetian ; sea and land-service compared , both in danger and honour . accordingly it was performed ; out they go and fall to their work . their galleys , like ostriches , used their legges more then their wings , more running with oars then flying with sails . at that time , before ordinance was found out , ships were both gunnes and bullets themselves , and furiously ranne one against another . they began with this arietation : herein strength was much but not all ; nimblenesse was also very advantageous to break and slent the down-right rushings of a stronger vessel . then fell they to grappling : here the steady ship had the better of it ; and those souldiers who best kept their legges could best use their arms , the surest stander being alwayes the soundest striker . much valour was shewed on both sides , and at last the victorie fell to the venetian . the genoans losing five and twenty of their ships , fled , and saved the rest in the haven of tyre , after a most cruel and desperate battel . and surely , generally sea-fights are more bloudy then those on the land , especially since gunnes came up , whose shot betwixt wind and water ( like those wounds so often mentioned in the scripture under the fifth rib ) is commonly observed mortall . yea , farre harder it is for a ship , when arrested and ingaged in a battel , to clear it self , then for souldiers by land to save themselves by flight . here neither his own two nor his horses foure legges can bestead any ; but like accidents they must perish with their subjects , and sink with their ship . and then why is a sea-victory lesse honour , being more danger , then one atchieved by land ? is it because sea-service is not so generall , nor so full of varieties , and the mysteries thereof sooner learned ? or because in sea-fights fortune may seem to be a deeper sharer , and valour not so much interested ? whatsoever it is , the laurel purchased on land hath a more lively verdure then that which is got at sea . we return to the venetians : who using or rather abusing this conquest , enter ptolemais , cast out all genoans thence , throw down their buildings both publick and private , demolish the fort which they had builded at s. saba , rifle and spoil their shops , ware-houses and store houses : onely the pope prevailed so farre with them , that they set at liberty the prisoners they had taken . ten yeares did this warre last betwixt these two states in syria , composed at last ( saith my authour ) by the authority of pope clement the fourth , and by famine ( the bad cause of a good effect ) which in palestine starved them into agreement . longer these warres lasted betwixt them in italy : their successe like the sea ; they fought on ebbing and flowing . in this costly warre pisa was first beggered ; and for all her politick partaking , genoa at last trode so heavy upon her , that ever since she hath drooped and hung the wing , and at this day is maid to florence , who formerly was mistresse of a good part of italy . but i have no calling and lesse comfort to prosecute these bloudy dissensions : for warres of christians against infidels , are like the heat of exercise which serveth to keep the body of christianity in health ; but these civil warres amongst themselves , like the heat of a feaver , dangerous , and destructive of religion . chap. . charles made king of sicily and ierusalem by the pope ; hugh king of cyprus pretendeth also to go to ierusalem . we have now gotten pantaleon , a frechman , who succeeded robert in the titular * patriarchship jerusalem , to be pope , by the name of urbane the fourth . to advance the holy cause , after fourteen yeares interregnum in syria , he appointed charles duke of anjou , younger brother to king lewis of france , king of sicily and jerusalem , and it was ratified by clement the fourth his successour . this honour was first offered to lewis himself ; but piety had dried up in him all ambitious humours : then to our henry of england ; but his warre-wasted purse could not stretch to the popes price : at last , this charles accepted it . but it is not for any speciall favour to the bush , if a man runne under it in a storm : it was no love to charles , but to himself , to be sheltred from maufred , that the pope conferred this honour upon him . and the wife of charles , that she might go in equipage with her three sisters , being queens , sold all her * jewels to furnish her husband with money to purchase these kingdomes : that sex loving bravery well , but greatnesse better . now the pope ( whose well-grounded and bounded bountie will never undo him ; for where he giveth away the meat he selleth the sauce ) * conditioned with charles on these terms : first , that he should conquer maufred then king of sicily , who molested the pope ; and that he should finally subdue all the remaining race of frederick the second , emperour , who claimed that kingdome . secondly , in acknowledgement that he held these kingdomes from the pope , he should pay him an annuall pension of foure ( some say , fourty ) thousand pounds . provided , if this charles should chance to be chosen emperour of germany , that then he should either resigne sicily back again into the hands of his holinesse , * or not accept the empire . for he knew that all emperours would be possessed with an anti-papall spirit ; and that they would hold sicily , not in homage from the church , but as a member of the empire : besides , the pope would not dispense that princes should hold pluralitie of temporall dominions in italy ; especially , he was so ticklish he could not endure the same prince should embrace him on both sides . ever since , the twinne-titles of sicily and jerusalem have gone together , and fit it is that the shadow should follow the substance . charles subdued maufred and conradine his nephew ( the last of the suevian race , and grandchild to emperour frederick ) and was possessed of sicilie , and lived there ; but as for the gaining of jerusalem , he little regarded it , nor came thither at all : a watchfull king , who never slept in his kingdome . his absence gave occasion to * hugh king of cyprus to furbish up new his old title to the kingdome , as lineally descended from almerick the second . and coming to ptolemais , he there was crowned king of jerusalem : but the extremity of the famine ( all things being excessive deare ) much abated the solemnity and state of his coronation . chap. . the tartarians alienated from the christians ; bendocdar tyrannizeth over them , and lewis king of france setteth forth again for to succour them . but betwixt two kings the kingdome went to the ground : for * haalon the tartarian prince , & late christian convert , was returned home to succeed his brother mango in the empire , leaving abaga his sonne with competent forces in the city of damascus , which he had wonne from the turks . soon after , abaga followed his father , and substituted guirboca his lieutenant in damascus . this guirboca , upon the occasion of his nephew rashly slain by the christians in a broil , fell off wholly from christianity , with all the tartarians his countreymen . the occasion this ; the dutch christians return with great booty they had taken from the turks : * guirboca's nephew meeteth them , demandeth it for himself ; the christians deny him ( as souldiers are very tender-conscienced in that point , counting it a great sinne to part with the spoil they are possessed of : ) hence brawls , then blows ; guirboca's nephew is slain : hereat the tartarians ( who were very humourous in their friendship ; if not observed to an inch , lost for ever ) in discontent , all either reel aside to mahomet , or fall back to paganisme . herein the christians cannot be excused : infant-converts must be well tended . it had been discretion in them , even against discretion to have yeelded a little to these tartarians , and so to continue their amity , which was so advantageous to the holy warre . how-ever , one may question the truth of their conversion , whether reall at first : this spring was too forward to hold ; and the speedy withering of their religion argueth it wanted root . and as tame foxes , if they break loose and return wild , do ten times more mischief then those which were wild from the beginning ; so these renegadoes raged more furiously then any pagans against religion . guirboca sacrificed many christians to the ghost of his nephew , destroyed cesarea and burnt it , using all cruelty against the inhabitants . nor lesse were the christians plagued at the same time with bendocdar the mammaluke prince in egypt ; who succeeded melechem , and every where raging against them , either killed or forced them to forswear their religion . the city of joppa he took and burned ; and then wonne antioch , slaying therein twenty thousand , and carrying away captive an hundred thousand christians . but it may justly be suspected that these numbers were written first in figures , and therefore at too much length , when the adding of nothing may increase many thousands . these wofull tidings brought into europe , so wrought on the good disposition of lewis king of france , that he resolved to make a second voyage into palestine to succour the christians . he so fixed his mind on the journeys end , that he saw not the dangers in the way . his counsel could not disswade , though they did disswade him . first , they urged , that he was old ; let younger men take their turns : they recounted to him his former ill successe ; how lately had that hot countrey scorched the lilies of france , not onely to the blasting of the leaves , but almost withering of the root ? besides , the sinews of the christians in syria were so shrunk , that though lifted up , they could not stand ; that nature decayed , but not thus wholly destroyed , was the subject of physick ; that the turks had got a habit of conquering , and riveted themselves into the possession of the countrey ; so that this voyage would but fleet the cream of the kingdome to cast it into the fire . but as a vehement flame maketh feuel of whatsoever it meeteth ; so this kings earnest resolution turned bridles into spurres , and hindrances into motives to his journey . was he old ? let him make the more speed , lest envious death should prevent him of this occasion of honour . had he sped ill formerly ? he would seek his credit where he lost it : surely , fortunes lottery had not all blanks , but that after long drawing he should light on a prize at last . were the christians in so low a case ? the greater need they had of speedy help . thus was this good kings judgement over-zealed . and surely though devotion be the naturall heat , discretion ( which wanted in him ) is the radicall moisture of an action , keeping it healthfull , prosperous , and long-lived . well , king lewis will go , and to this end provideth his navie ; and is accompanied with philip and tristram his sonnes , theobald king of navarre his sonne in law , alphonse his brother , and guido earl of flandres . there went also edward eldest sonne to henry king of england . it was a wonder he would now adventure his head when he was to receive a crown , his father being full-ripe to drop down without gathering , having reigned longer then most men live , fifty and five yeares . but thirsty was this edward of honour : longshanks was he called ; and as his strides were large , so vast and wide was the extent of his desire . as for his good father , he was content to let go the staff of his age for to be a prop to the church . and though king lewis was undiscreet in going this journey , he was wise in choosing this his companion , to have this active prince along with him ; it being good to eye a suspicious person , and not to leave him behind . with edward went his brother edmund earl of lancaster , surnamed crouch-back ; not that he was crook-shouldered , or camel-backed : ( from which our english poet most zealously doth vindicate him ; * edmund like him the comeliest prince alive , not crook-back'd , ne in no wise disfigured , as some men write , the right line to deprive , though great falshood made it to be scriptured . ) but from the crosse , anciently called a crouch ( whence crouched friars ) which now he wore in his voyage to jerusalem . and yet it maketh it somewhat suspicious , that in latine * records he is never read with any other epithet then gibbosus . but be he crooked or not , let us on straight with our story . chap. . king lewis besiegeth the city of tunis ; his death and commendation . lewis now having hoised up sail , it was concluded by the generall consent of his counsel , that to secure and clear the christians passage to palestine from pirates , they should first take the city of carthage in africa by the way . this carthage long wrestled with rome for the sovereignty , and gave as many foils as she took , till scipio at last crushed out her bowels with one deadly fall . yet long after the citie stood before wholly demolished , to be a spurre to put metall into the romanes , and to be a forrein mark for their arrows , lest otherwise they should shoot against themselves . at last by the counsel of cato it was quite destroyed : who alledged , that it was not safe to have a knife so neare their throat ; and though good use might be made of an enemy at arms end , yet it was dangerous to have him too close to ones side ; as carthage was within a dayes sail from rome . out of the ruines of this famous citie , tunis arose ; as often a stinking elder groweth out of the place where an oak hath been felled . theeving was their trading : but then as yet they were apprentises to piracie , whereof at this day they are grown masters . yea , not considerable was tunis then in bignesse , great onely in mischief . but as a small scratch just upon the turning of a joynt is more troublesome then a bigger sore in another place ; so this paltry town ( the refuge of rogues , and wanderers home ) seated in the passage betwixt europe , asia , and africa , was a worse annoyance to christian traffick then a whole countrey of saracens elsewhere . wherefore both to revenge the bloud of many christians , who passing this way to palestine were either killed or taken captive , as also to secure the way for the time to come , lewis with his whole fleet ( augmented with the navy of charles king of sicilie and jerusalem , his brother ) bent his course to besiege it . it was concluded both unnecessary and unfitting , first in a fair way to summon the city ; because like pernicious vermine they were to be rooted out of the world by any means : nor was it meet to lavish the solemn ceremonies of warre on a company of theeves and murderers . the siege was no sooner begun but the plague seised on the christian armie : whereof thousands died ; amongst others , tristram king lewis his sonne : and he himself of a flux followed after . this lewis was the french josiah , both for the piety of his life and wofulnesse of his death , ingaging himself in a needlesse warre . many good laws he made for his kingdome : that not the worst , he first * retrenched his barons power to suffer parties to trie their intricate titles to land by duells . he severely punished blasphemers , * searing their lips with an hot iron . and because by his command it was executed upon a great rich citizen of paris , some said he was a tyrant : he hearing it , said before many , i would to god that with searing my own lips i could banish out of my realm all abuse of oathes . he loved more to heare sermons then to be present at masse : whereas on the contrary our * henry the third said , he had rather see his god then heare another speak of him though never so well . his body was carried into france there to be buried , and was most miserably tossed ; it being observed , that the sea cannot digest the crudity of a dead corpse , being a due debt to be interred where it dieth ; and a ship cannot abide to be made a bier of . he was sainted after his death by boniface the eighth , and the five and twentieth day of august ( on which day in his first voyage to palestine he went on shipboard ) is consecrated to his memory . herein he had better luck then as good a man , i mean our henry the sixth , who could not be canonized without a mighty summe of money ; belike angels making saints at rome . chap. . tunis taken ; the french return home , whilest our edward valiantly setteth forward for palestine . by this time tunis was brought to great distresse , and at last on these conditions surrendred : that it should pay yearly to charles king of sicily and jerusalem fourty thousand crowns ; that it should receive christian ministers , freely to exercise their religion ; if any saracen would be baptized , he should be suffered ; that all christian captives should be set free ; that they should pay back so much money as should defray the christians charges in this voyage . our edward would needs have had the town beaten down , and all put to the sword ; thinking the foulest quarter too fair for them . their goods ( because got by robbery ) he would have sacrificed as an anathema to god , and burnt to ashes : his own share he execrated , and caused it to be burnt , forbidding the english to save any thing of it ; because that coals stolen out of that fire , would sooner burn their houses then warm their hands . it troubled not the consciences of other princes to enrich themselves herewith , but they glutted themselves with the stolen hony which they found in this hive of drones : and which was worse , now their bellies were full they would go to bed , return home , and go no further . yea , the young king of france , called philip the bold , was fearfull to prosecute his journey to palestine ; whereas prince edward struck his breast , and swore , that though all his friends forsook him , yet he would enter ptolemais , though but onely with fowin his horse-keeper . by which speech he incensed the english to go on with him . the rest pleading the distemperature of the weather , went to sicily , in hope with change of aire to recover their health : where many of them found what they sought to avoid , death : amongst other , theobald king of navarre , and isabell his wife , and william earl of flandres , who ended their dayes at drepanum . besides , their navie was pursuivanted after with a horrible tempest , and a curse ( entailed either on their ill-gotten goods , or deserting gods cause , or both ) arrested them in their return : so that of this great wealth little was landed in europe , their ships being wracked , & the goods therein cast into the sea ; with which the waves played a little , and then chopped them up at a morsel . whilest the weather frowning on them , smiled on the english , prince edward no whit damnified either in his men or ships , with elenor his tender consort then young with child , safely arrived at ptolemais , to the great solace and comfort of the christians there being in great distresse . chap. . prince edwards performance in palestine : he is dangerously wounded ; yet recovereth , and returneth home safe . at his arrivall the last stake of the christians was on losing : for bendocdar the mammaluke prince of egypt and syria , had brought ptolemais to so low an ebbe , that they therein resolved ( if some unexpected succour reversed not their intentions ) within three dayes to resigne the city unto him . edward landing stayed this precipitation , who arrived with his armie there in the very interim , in opportunity it self , which is the very quintessence of time ; so that all concluded his coming ( thus hitting the mark ) was guided by the hand of an especiall providence . and now those who before in despair would have thrown up their cards , hope at least to make a saving game ; and the christians taking comfort and courage , both defie their enemies , and their own thoughts of surrendring the citie . prince edward having sufficiently manned and victualled ptolemais , taking six or seven thousand souldiers , marched to nazareth ; which he took , and slew those he found there . after this , about midsummer , understanding the turks were gathered together at cakhow fourty miles off , very early in the morning he set upon them , slew a thousand , and put the rest to flight . in these skirmishes he gave evident testimonies of his personall valour : yea , in cold bloud he would boldly challenge any infidel to a duell . to speak truth , this his conceived perfection was his greatest imperfection : for the world was abundantly satisfied in the point of his valour ; yet such was his confidence of his strength , and eagernesse of honour , that having merited the esteem of a most stout man , he would still supererogate : yea , he would profer to fight with any mean person , if cried up by the volge for a tall man : this daring being a generall fault in great spirits , and a great fault in a generall , who staketh a pearl against a piece of glasse . the best was , in that age a man fighting with sword and buckler , had in a manner many lives to lose ; and duells were not dangerous . whilest he stayed at ptolemais , elenor his lady was delivered of a fair daughter , called from her birth-place joan of acres : but fear of her husbands death abated her joy at her daughters birth . the turks not matching him in valour , thought to master him with treachery , which was thus contrived : the admirall of joppa , a turk , pretended he would turn christian , and imployed one anzazim an assasine in the businesse betwixt him and prince edward ; who carried himself so cunningly , that by often repairing to our prince he got much credit and esteem with him . * some write , this anzazim was before alwayes bred under ground ( as men keep hawks and warre-horses in the dark , to make them more fierce ) that so coming abroad , he should fear to venture on no man. but sure , so cunning a companion had long conversed with light , and been acquainted with men , yea , christians and princes , as appeareth by his complying carriage ; else , if he had not been well read in their company , he could not have been so perfect in his lesson . but let him be bred any where , or in hell it self : for this was his religion , to kill any he was commanded , or on the non-performance willingly to forfeit his life . the fifth time of his coming he brought prince edward letters from his master , which whilest he was reading alone and lying on his bed , he struck him into the arm with an invenomed knife . being about to fetch another stroke , the prince with his foot gave him such a blow that he felled him to the ground ; and wresting the knife from him , ranne the turk into the belly , and slew him ; yet so , that in struggling he hurt himself therewith in the forehead . at this noise in sprang his servants , and one of them with a stool beat the brains out of the dead turks head , shewing little wit in his own ; and the prince was highly displeased , that the monument of his valour should be stained with anothers crueltie . it is storied , how * elenor his lady sucked all the poison out of his wounds , without doing any harm to her self : so sovereigne a medicine is a womans tongue , anointed with the vertue a loving affection . pity it is so pretty a story should not be true ( with all the miracles in loves legends ) and sure he shall get himself no credit , who undertaketh to confute a passage so sounding to the honour of the sex : yet can it not stand with what * others have written ; how the physician who was to dresse his wounds , spake to the lord edmund and the lord john voysie to take away lady elenor out of the princes presence , lest her pity should be cruel towards him , in not suffering his sores to be searched to the quick . and though she cried out and wrung her hands , madame , said they , be contented ; it is better that one woman should weep a little while then that all the realm of england should lament a great season : and so they conducted her out of the place . and the prince , by the benefit of physick , good attendance , and an antidote the master of the templars gave him , shewed himself on horse-back whole and well within fifteen dayes after . the admirall of joppa hearing of his recovery , utterly disavowed that he had any hand in the treachery : as none will willingly father unsucceeding villany . true it is , he was truly sorrowfull ; whether because edward was so bad , or no worse wounded , he knoweth that knoweth hearts . * some wholly acquit him herein , and conceive this mischief proceeded from simon earl of montforts hatred to our prince , who bearing him and all his kindred an old grudge for doing some conceived wrong to his father ( in very deed , nothing but justice to a rebell ) hired , as they think , this assasine to murder him ; as a little before for the same quarrel he had served henry sonne to richard king of the romanes , and our edwards cousin-germane , at viterbo in italy . it is much this simon living in france should contrive this princes death in palestine : but malice hath long arms , and can take men off at great distance . yea , this addeth to the cunning of the engineer , to work unseen ; and the further from him the blow is given , the lesse is he himself suspected . whosoever plotted , god prevented it , and the christians there would have revenged it , but edward would not suffer them . in all haste they would have marched and fallen on the turks , had not he * disswaded them , because then many christians unarmed , and in small companies , were gone to visit the sepulchre , all whose throats had then probably been cut before their return . eighteen moneths he stayed at ptolemais , and then came back through italy , without doing any extraordinary matter in palestine . what musick can one string make when all the rest are broken ? what could edward do alone , when those princes fell back on whom the project most relied ? lewis and charles were the main undertakers ; edward entertained but as an adventurer and sharer : and so he furnished himself accordingly , with competent forces to succour others , but not to subsist of themselves . but as too often , where the principall miscarrieth , the second & sureties must lie at the stake to make the debt good : so in their default he valiantly went forward , though having in all but thirteen ships and some thousands of men ( too many for a plain prince to visit with , and too few for a great one to warre with ) and performed what lay within the compasse of his power . in a word , his coming to ptolemais and assisting them there , was like a cordiall given to a dying man , which doth piece out his life ( or death rather ) a few grones and as many gasps the longer . by this time henry his aged father being dead ( his lamp not quenched but going out for want of oil ) the english nobility came as far as the alpes in savoy to wait on edward in his return . leave we him then to be attended home by them to receive the crown , to which no lesse his vertues then birth entitled him . since the conquest he was the first king of his name , and the first that settled the law and state ( deserving the style of * englands justinian ) and that freed this kingdome from the wardship of the peers ; shewing himself in all his actions after , capable to command not the realm onely but the whole world . chap. . rodulphus the emperours voyage to palestine hindred . the duke of mechlenburg his captivity and inlargement . before edwards departure , hugh king of jerusalem and cyprus concluded a peace ( to our * princes small liking ) with the mammaluke sultan of egypt , to hold onely in and neare ptolemais ; whereby the christians had some breathing-time . but that which now possessed all mens thoughts and talk in syria , was the expectation of rodulphus to come thither with a great army ; who ( after two and twenty yeares interregnum ) was chosen emperour of germany . this rodulphus was a mean earl of haspurg ( frederick the last emperour was his * godfather ; who little thought , that having so many sonnes of his own , his godsonne should next succeed him ) and lived in a private way . but now the empire refusing her rich suiters , married this earl without any portion , onely for pure love . a preferment beyond his expectation , not above his deserts : for germany had many bigger lights , none brighter . pope gregory the tenth would not ratifie his election , but on this condition , that he should in person march with an armie to palestine . and though this was but an old policie , to send the emperours far away , that so he might command in chief in their absence ; yet his holinesse did so turn and dresse this threed-bare plot with specious pretenses of piety , that it passed for new and fresh , especially to those that beheld it at distance ▪ but rodulphus could not be spared out of germany , being there imployed in civil discords : the knees of the dutch princes were too stiff to do him homage , till he softned them by degrees . and indeed he was not provided for the holy warre , and wanted a stock of his own to drive so costly a trade , having no paternall lands considerable , no bottom to begin on ; though through his thrift and providence he first laid the foundation of the austrian familie . yet somewhat to answer expectation , he sent henry duke of mechlenburg with competent forces into palestine : who coming to ptolemais , made many notable incursions into the countrey about damasco , with fire & sword destroying all as he went , & carrying thence many rich booties ; till at last he was circumvented and taken prisoner by the mammalukes . twenty six yeares he lived in captivity , keeping his conscience free all the while : at last the sultan of egypt ( a renegado germane , who formerly had been engineer to this dukes father ) set him at liberty , together with martine his servant ; that he who so long had shared of his misery , might also partake of his happinesse . no sooner had this duke put to sea , but he was again taken by pirates ; and the sultan , out of pity to this distressed prince , and out of scorn that fortune should frustrate and defeat his reall courtesie , set him free again . at last he came safely home , and was there welcomed with as much wonder as joy ; his subjects conceiving his return a resurrection , having buried him in their thoughts long before . here he found * two counterfeits , who pretended themselves to be this duke , and on that title challenged lodging with anastasia his lady . but the one of them had a softer bedfellow provided him , a pool of water , wherein he was drowned ; the other was made a bonefire of , to solemnize the joy of the dukes return . chap. . charles king of ierusalem ; his intentions in syria stopped by the sicilian vespers ; his death , and sonnes succession . by this time charles king of jerusalem and sicily had made great preparations for the holy warre . and to make his claim to the kingdome of jerusalem the stronger , he bought also the title of maria domicella princesse of antioch , which pretended a right to the same . he sent also roger the count of s. severine as his vice-roy to ptolemais : where he was honourably received in despite of hugh king of cyprus , by the especiall favour of albertine morisine the venetian consul there . and now his navie was reported to be readie , and that by the way he had a project upon michael paleologus the emperour of greece : when all his intentions were suddenly blasted ; it so happening , that on easter day , as the bell tolled to even-song , all the throats of the frenchmen in sicily were cut in a moment by the natives thereof , and that island wonne by peter king of aragon . the grand contriver of this massacre was one jacobus prochyta a physician ; and i dare say he killed more in an houre then he cured all his life-time . those that condemn the sicilians herein , cannot excuse the french ; such formerly had been their pride , lust , covetousnesse , and cruelty to the people of that island , putting them causelessely to exquisite torture , so that an ordinary hanging was counted an extraordinary favour . but the secrecie of contriving this slaughter of the french was little lesse then miraculous ; that so many knowing it , none should discover it ; like cunning dogs , barking in triumph after they had bitten , not before , to give any warning . hence grew the proverb of the sicilian vespers ; though their even-song was nothing to the english mattens intended in the gunpowder-treason . mean time king charles was at rome , beholding the making of cardinals , when this dolefull news was brought unto him , and struck him to the heart . he survived a yeare or two longer , but dull and melancholick , living as it were without life , and died at last , having reigned king of jerusalem twenty yeares . a prince which had tasted of various successe ; fortune for a while smiling on him , and at last laughing at him . his sonne charles succeeded him in the kingdome of naples and in the title of jerusalem . he was surnamed cunctator , delayer ; not in the same sense as fabius the shield of rome was so called : he onely stayed till opportunity was come ; our charles , till it was passed . i find nothing memorable of him except this , that offended with the templars in palestine for taking part against him with the king of cyprus , he seised on their lands , and confiscated all their goods they had in naples or any other part of his dominions . how-ever , let him have room in the catalogue of our kings of jerusalem . for as high hills neare the sea-side , though otherwise never so base and barren ground , yet will serve to be sea-marks for the direction of mariners : so this charles , together with hugh , john , and henry , kings of cyprus , pretending also to jerusalem , though we reade nothing remarkable of them , will become the front of a page , and serve to divide and distinguish times , and to parcel the history the better to our apprehension . as for the bare anatomie of their reigne ( for we find it not fleshed with any history ) with the dates of their beginnings and endings , we shall present it to the reader hereafter in our chronologie . chap. . the succession of the mammaluke princes in egypt . alphir taketh tripoli and tyre ; the wofull estate of ptolemais . but whilest these titular kings slept , the mammaluke princes were vigilant to infest the reliques of the christians in palestine : which princes succession we will adventure to set down ; nor are we discouraged with the difficulties which encounter us herein . the hardnesse in the story of the mammalukes proceedeth ( as we conceive ) from one of these causes : first , the state is not written directly , but by reflexion ; not storied by any constant writer of their own , but in snaps and parcels , as the chroniclers of neighbouring christian countreys have catched at them . secondly , out of a popular errour , their chief captains by reason of their large authority passe for absolute kings . thirdly , the same king hath many names , and the same name by translation in sundry languages is strangely disguised . how-ever , we will use our best conjectures in these uncertainties : and a dimme candle is better then no light . bendocdar or bandodacar , otherwise melechdaer , was the last egyptian prince we mentioned . a dangerous man to the christians , but that abaga the tartarian took him to task , and kept him in continuall imployment . this abaga had a pretty trick to make cowards valiant , causing them that ranne away from the battel , ever after to wear womens clothes . bendocdar died at damascus of a * wound he received in armenia ; or , as some say , by cold in swimming over euphrates . elpis succeeded him , his * sonne ( say some ; ) but the mammalukes laws forbid that , except his extraordinary worth was his faculty , & dispensed with him ad succedendum patri . but who knoweth not that the eastern tongue speaketh nephews and kinsmen to be sonnes ? some wholly omit him ; enough to make us suspect that he was onely some deputy clapped in to stop up the vacancie till melechsaites was chosen . melechsaites ( called by marinus , melechmessor ) wonne the strong castle of mergath from the hospitallers . he much loved and was very bountifull to the carmelites , who lived dispersed in syria : but afterwards he banished them out of his countrey , because they altered their habit , and wore white coats at the appointment of pope honorius ; the turks being generally enemies to innovations , and loving constancy in old customes . nor was this any mishap but an advantage to the carmelites , to lose their dwellings in syria , and gain better in europe , where they planted themselves in the fattest places : so that he who knoweth not to choose good ground , let him find out an house of the carmelites ( a mark that faileth not ) for his direction . alphir was next to melechsaites , otherwise called elsi . he perceiving that now or never was the time finally to expell the christians out of palestine , whilest the princes in europe were in civil warres , besieged and wonne tripoli , sidon , berytus , and tyre , beating them down to the ground , but suffering the inhabitants on some conditions to depart . nothing now was left but ptolemais : which alphir would not presently besiege , lest he should draw the christians in europe upon him ; but concluded a peace for five yeares with the venetians , as not willing wholly to exasperate them by winning all from them at once , and thinking this bitter potion would be better swallowed by them at two severall draughts . mean time ptolemais was in a wofull condition . in it were some of all countreys ; so that he who had lost his nation , might find it here . most of them had severall courts to decide their causes in ; and the plenty of judges caused the scarcity of justice , malefactours appealing to a triall in the courts of their own countrey . it was sufficient innocency for any offender in the venetian court , that he was a venetian . personall acts were entituled nationall , and made the cause of the countrey . outrages were every-where practised , no-where punished ; as if to spare divine revenge the pains of overtaking them , they would go forth and meet it . at the same time , they were in fitters about prosecuting their titles to this city , no fewer then the venetians , genoans , pisans , florentines , the kings of cyprus and sicily , the agents for the kings of france and england , the princes of tripoli and antioch , the patriarch of jerusalem , the masters of the templars and hospitallers , and ( whom i should have named first ) the legate of his holinesse , all at once with much violence contending about the right of right nothing , the title to the kingdome of jerusalem , and command of this city ; like bees , making the greatest humming and buzzing in the hive when now ready to leave it . chap. . ptolemais besieged , and taken by sultan serapha . within the city were many voluntaries lately come over , five hundred whereof were of the popes furnishing . but belike he failed afterwards in his payment to them , the golden tide flowing not so fast out as into his holinesse coffers . the souldiers being not payed , according to their blunt manners , would pay themselves ; and marching out , pillaged the countrey contrary to the truce : sultan serapha ( who succeeded alphir ) demanding restitution , is denied , and his embassadours ill intreated . hereupon he sitteth down before the city with six hundred thousand men . but we are not bound to beleeve that alexanders souldiers were so big as their shields speak them which they left in india , nor asian armies so numerous as they are reported . allow the turks dominions spacious and populous , and that they rather drained then chose souldiers ; yet we had best credit the most niggardly writers , which make them an hundred and fifty thousand . serapha resolveth to take it , conceiving so convenient a purchase could not be over-bought : the place , though not great , yet was a mote in the eye of the turkish empire , and therefore pained them . peter belvise master of the templars , a valiant captain , had the command of the city assigned him by generall consent . he encouraged the christians to be valiant , not like prodigall heirs to lose this city for nothing which cost their grandfathers so much bloud ; at least let them give one blaze of valour ere their candle went out . how should they shew their friends their faces , if they shewed their foes their backs ! let them fight it out manfully ; that so , if forced at last to surrender it , they might rather be pitied for want of fortune then justly blamed for lack of valour . and now ptolemais being to wrestle her last fall , stripped her self of all cumbersome clothes : women , children , aged persons , weak folks ( all such hindering help , and mouthes without arms ) were sent away ; and twelve thousand remained , conceived competent to make good the place . serapha marcheth up furiously ; his men assault the city , with open jaws ready to devoure it , had not their mouthes been stopped with the artillery the christians shot at them . back they were beaten , and many a turk slain . but serapha was no whit sensible thereof : who willingly would lose a thousand men in a morning for a breakfast , double so many at a dinner , and continue this costly ordinary for some dayes together ; yea , in spite he would spend an ounce of turkish bloud , to draw a drop of christian . in this conflict peter belvise was slain with a poisoned arrow : a losse above grieving for . many were strong in desiring the honour who were weak to discharge the office . but the worst mischief was ; the christians were divided amongst themselves , and neglected to defend the citie , conceiving that though that was taken , yet every particular nation could defend it self , having their buildings severally fortified : and this dangerous fansie took off their thoughts from the publick good , and fixed them on their private ends . mean time , the patriarch of jerusalem , and others ( some name with them henry king of jerusalem and cyprus ) more seeking their safety then honour , secretly fled ( with their bodies after their hearts ) out of the city ; and some of them shunning a noble death , fell on a base end , being drowned in the sea . their cowardlinesse is imputed by some authours to all the rest ; whereas it appeareth on the contrary , they most valiantly behaved themselves . at last , the turks entred the city by undermining the walls , and conceived their work now done , when it was new begun . for they found ptolemais not a city , but a heap of cities thrown together : wherein the people of every countrey so fensed themselves in their severall forts , that they powdered the turks with their shot when they entred the streets . it is hardly to be paralleled in any siege , that a taken city was so long before it was taken : for it held out fifty dayes ; and the knights-hospitallers made good their castle for * two whole moneths together . but alas ! as the severall parts of insecta being cut asunder , may wriggle and stirre a while , not live long ; so these divided limbes could not long subsist , and at last most of them were slain . yet was it a bloudy victory to the turks ; most of them that entred the city being either burned with fire , or killed with arrows , or smothered with the fall of towres , the very ruines ( as thirsty of revenge ) killing those that ruined them . serapha evened all to the ground , and ( lest the christians should ever after land here ) demolished all buildings ; the turks holding this position , that the best way to be rid of such vermine , is to shave the hair clean off , and to destroy all places wherein they may nestle themselves . some say , he plowed the ground whereon the city stood , and sowed it with corn : but an * eye-witnesse affirmeth , that still there remain magnificent ruines , seeming rather wholly to consist of divers conjoyned castles , then any way intermingled with private dwellings . no fewer then an hundred thousand latine christians ( all that were left in syria ) fled at this time into cyprus . it is strange what is reported , * that above five hundred matrones and virgins of noble bloud , standing upon the shore of ptolemais , and having all their richest jewels with them , cried out with lamentable voice , and profered to any mariner that would undertake safely to land them any-where , all their wealth for his hire , and also that he should choose any one of them for his wife . then a certain mariner came , and transporting them all freely , safely landed them in cyprus ; nor by any enquiry could it after be known ( when he was sought for to receive his hire ) who this mariner was , nor whither he went. the hospitallers for haste were fain to leave their treasure behind them , and hide it in a vault ; which being made known from time to time to their successours , was fetched from thence by the * galleys of malta about three hundred yeares afterwards . henry king of cyprus to his great cost and greater commendation , gave free entertainment to all pilgrimes that fled hither , till such time as they could be transported to their own countreys ; and thanks was all the shot expected of these guests at their departure . thus after an hundred ninety and foure yeares ended the holy warre ; for continuance the longest , for money spent the costliest , for bloudshed the cruellest , for pretenses the most pious , for the true intent the most politick the world ever saw . and at this day , the turks to spare the christians their pains of coming so long a journey to palestine , have done them the unwelcome courtesie , to come more then half the way to give them a meeting . the end of the fourth book . a supplement of the historie of the holy warre . book v. chap. . the executing of the templars in france . my task is done . whatsoever remaineth is voluntary & over-measure , onely to hemme the end of our historie that it ravel not out : as to shew , what became of the templars , the teutonick order , and the hospitallers ; what were the hindrances of this warre ; what nation best deserved in it ; what offers were afterwards made to recover jerusalem ; by how many challengers that title at this day is claimed ; what is the present strength of jerusalem ; what hope to regain it ; with some other passages which offer attendance on these principall heads . know then , some nineteen yeares after the christians had lost all in palestine , the templars , by the cruel deed of pope clement the fifth , and foul fact of philip the fair king of france , were finally * exstirpated out of all christendome . the historie thereof is but in twilight , not clearly delivered , but darkened with many doubts and difficulties : we must pick out letters and syllables here and there as well as we may ; all which put together spell thus much . pope clement having long sojourned in france , had received many reall courtesies from philip the king ; yea , he owed little lesse then himself to him . at last , philip requested of him a boon , great enough for a king to ask and a pope to grant ; namely , all the lands of the knights templars through france , forfeited by reason of their horrible heresies and licentious living . the pope was willing to gratifie him in some good proportion for his favours received ( as thankfulnesse is alwayes the badge of a good nature ) and therefore being thus long the kings guest , he gave him the templars lands and goods to pay for his entertainment . on a sudden all the templars in france they clapt into prison , wisely catching those lions in a net , which had they been fairly hunted to death , would have made their part good with all the dogs in france . damnable sinnes were laid to their charge ; as , sacrificing of men to an idol they worshipped , rosting of a templars bastard and drinking his bloud , spitting upon the crosse of christ , conspiring with turks and saracens against christianitie , sodomie , bestialitie , with many other villanies out of the rode of humane corruption , and as farre from mans nature as gods law . well ; the templars thus shut in prison , their crimes were half-proved . the sole witnesse against them was one of their own order , a notorious malefactour ; who at the same time being in prison and to suffer for his own offenses , condemned by the master of their order , sought to prove his own innocency by charging all his own order to be guiltie . and his case standing thus , he must either kill or be killed , die or put others to death , he would be sure to provide water enough to drive the mill , and swore most heartily to whatsoever was objected against the order . besides , the templars being brought upon the rack , confessed the accusations to be true wherewith they were charged . hereupon all the templars through france were most cruelly burned to death at a stake , with james the grand master of their order . chap. . arguments produced on either side , both for the innocencie and guiltinesse of the templars . there is scarce a harder question in later historie then this , whether the templars justly or unjustly were condemned to suffer . on the one side , it is dangerous to affirm they were innocent , because condemned by the pope , infallible in matters of such consequence . this bugbear affrighteth many , and maketh their hands shake when they write hereof . if they should say the templars were burned wrongfully , they may be fetched over the coals themselves for charging his holinesse so deeply ; yea , hereby they bring so much innocent bloud on the popes head as is enough to drown him : some therefore in this matter know little , and dare speak lesse , for fear of after-claps . secondly , some who suspect that one eye of the church may be dimme , yet hold that both the eyes , the pope and generall councel together , cannot be deceived . now the councel of vienne countenanced the exstirpation of the templars , determined the dissolution of their order , and adjudged their lands to be conferred on the knights-hospitallers . men ought then to be well advised how they condemn a generall councel to be accessorie post factum to the murder of so many men . for all this , those who dare not hollow , do whisper on the other side , accounting the templars not malefactours but martyrs : first , because the witnesse was unsufficient , a malefactour against his judge ; and secondly , they bring tortured men against themselves . yea , there want not those that maintain that a confession extorted on the rack is of no validitie . if they be weak men and unable to endure torment , they will speak any thing ; and in this case their words are endited not from their heart but outward limbes that are in pain : and a poore conquest it is , to make either the hand of a child to beat , or the tongue of the tortured man to accuse himself . if they be sturdie and stubborn , whose backs are paved against torments , such as bring brasen sides against steely whips , they will confesse nothing . and though these templars were stout & valiant men , yet it is to be commended to ones consideration , whether slavish and servile souls will not better bear torment , then generous spirits , who are for the enduring of honourable danger and speedie death , but not provided for torment , which they are not acquainted with , neither is it the proper object of valour . again , it is produced in their behalf , that being burned at the stake , they denied it at their death , though formerly they had confessed it ; and whose charitie , if not stark-blind , will not be so tender-eyed as to beleeve that they would not breathe out their soul with a lie , and wilfully contract a new guilt in that very instant wherein they were to be arraigned before the judge of heaven . a templar being to be burned at burdeaux , and seeing the pope and king philip looking out at a window , cried unto them , * clement thou cruel tyrant , seeing there is no higher amongst mortall men to whom i should appeal for my unjust death , i cite thee together with king philip to the tribunal of christ the just judge who redeemed me , there both to appear within one yeare and a day ; where i will lay open my cause , and justice shall be done without any by-respect . in like manner , * james grand master of the templars , though by piecemeal he was tortured to death , craved pardon of god , and those of his order , that forced by extremitie of pain on the rack , and allured with hope of life , he had accused them of such damnable sinnes , whereof they were innocent . moreover , the people with their suffrage acquitted them : happie was he that could get an handfull of their ashes into his bosome , as the relique of pious martyrs , to preserve . indeed little heed is to be given to peoples humours ; whose judgement is nothing but prejudice and passion , and commonly envie all in prosperitie , pitie all in adversitie , though often both undeservedly : and we may beleeve that the beholding of the templars torments when they were burned , wrought in the people first a commiserating of their persons , and so by degrees a justifying of their cause . however vulgus non semper errat , aliquando eligit : and though it matters little for the gales of a private mans fansie , yet it is something when the wind bloweth from all corners : and true it is , they were generally cried up for innocents . lastly , pope clement and king philip were within the time prefixed summoned by death to answer to god for what they had done . and though it is bad to be busie with gods secrets ; yet an argument drawn from the event , especially when it goeth in company with others , as it is not much to be depended on , so it is not wholly to be neglected . besides , king philip missed of his expectation , and the morsel fell besides his mouth ; for the lands of the templars , which were first granted to him as a portion for his youngest sonne , were afterwards by the councel of vienne bestowed on the knights-hospitallers . chap. . a moderate way what is to be conceived of the suppression of the templars . betwixt the two extremities of those that count these templars either malefactours or martyrs , some find a middle way ; whose verdict we will parcel into these severall particulars . . no doubt there were many novices and punies amongst them , newly admitted into their order ; which if at all , were little guiltie ; for none can be fledge in wickednesse at their first hatching : to these much mercie belonged : the punishing of others might have been an admonition to them ; and crueltie it was , where there were degrees of offenses , to inflict the same punishment , and to put all of them to death . . surely many of them were most hainous offenders . not to speak what they deserved from god ( who needeth not pick a quarrel with man , but alwayes hath a just controversie with him ) they are accounted notorious transgressours of humane laws : yet perchance if the same candle had been lighted to search , as much dust and dirt might have been found in other orders . . they are * conceived in generall to be guiltlesse and innocent from those damnable sinnes wherewith they were charged : which hainous offenses were laid against them , either because men out of modestie and holy horrour should be ashamed and afraid to dive deep in searching the ground-work and bottome of these accusations , but rather take them to be true on the credit of the accusers ; or that the world might the more easily be induced to beleeve the crimes objected to be true , as conceiving otherwise none would be so devilish as to lay such devilish offenses to their charge ; or lastly , if the crimes were not beleeved in the totall summe , yet if credited in some competent portion , the least particular should be enough to do the deed , and to make them odious in the world . . the chief cause of their ruine was their extraordinary wealth : they were feared of many , envied of more , loved of none . as naboths vineyard was the chiefest ground for his blasphemie ; and as in england , * cornwall lord fanhop said merrily , that not he , but his stately house at ampthill in bedfordshire , was guiltie of high treason : so certainly their wealth was the principall evidence against them , and cause of their overthrow . it is quarrel and cause enough , to bring a sheep that is fat to the shambles . we may beleeve king philip would never have took away their lives if he might have took their lands without putting them to death : but the mischief was , he could not get the hony unlesse he burnt the bees . some will say , the hospitallers had great , yea , greater revenues , nineteen thousand mannors to the templars nine thousand ; yet none envied their wealth . it is true : but then they busied themselves in defending of christendome , maintaining the island of rhodes against the turks , as the teutonick order defended spruce-land against the tartarian ; the world therefore never grudged them great wages who did good work . these were accounted necessarie members of christendome , the templars esteemed but a superfluous wenne ; they lay at rack and manger and did nothing : who had they betook themselves to any honourable employment , to take the turks to task either in europe or asia , their happinesse had been lesse repined at , and their overthrow more lamented . and certain it is , that this their idlenesse disposed them for other vices ; as standing waters are most subject to putrifie . i heare one * bird sing a different note from all the rest in the wood ; namely , that what specious shews soever were pretended , the true cause of their ruine was , that they began to desert the pope and adhere to the emperour . if this was true , no doubt they were deeply guiltie , and deserved the hard measure they suffered . sure i am , how-ever at this time they might turn edge , they had formerly been true blades for his holinesse . all europe followed the copie that france had set them . here in england king edward the second of that name , suppressed the order , and put them to death ; so by vertue of a writ sent from him to sir john wogan , lord chief justice in ireland , were they served there ; and such was the secrecie of the contrivance of the businesse , that the storm fell upon them before they saw it , and all crannies were so closely stopped that none could steal a glimpse of the mischief intended against them . in germanie they found some mercie and milder dealing : for * hugh wildgrave coming with twenty of his order all in armour into a councel of dutch bishops , who intended to execute the sentence of the pope upon them , there protested his innocencie , and appealed to the next pope who should succeed clement , as to his competent judge . hereupon their lives were spared ; onely they were forced to renounce the name of templars , and to enter themselves into other orders ; chiefly of hospitallers and teutonicks , on whom their lands were bestowed . we will conclude all with that resolution of a * brace of spanish writers , who make this epilogue to this wofull tragedie ; concerning these templars , whether they were guiltie or not , let us suspend our censure till the day of judgement ; and then and no sooner shall we certainly be informed therein . chap. . of the teutonick order ; when they left palestine , and on what conditions they were entertained in prussia ; their order at last dissolved . frequent mention hath been formerly made of the teutonick order , or that of dutch knights , who behaved themselves right valiantly clean through the holy warre : and , which foundeth much to their honour , they cannot be touched either for treason or faction , but were both loyall and peaceable in the whole service . but at last they perceived , that by the course of the cards they must needs rise losers if they continued the warre in the holy land , and even resolved to abandon it . it happened at the same time , that conrade duke of mazovia offered them most honourable conditions ; namely , the enjoying of prussia , on condition they would defend it against the infidels which annoyed it . indeed the fratres gladiferi , or sword-bearing brothers , brave slashing lads , undertook that task : but finding either their arms too weak , or swords too blunt to strike through their enemies , they imployed the aid of , and conjoyned themselves to this teutonick order . hereupon , in the yeare of our lord , hermannus de saltza , fourth master of these dutch knights , came with most of his order into prussia ; yet so that he left a competent number of them still in palestine , which continued and did good service there even to the taking of ptolemais . but the greater number of these dutch knights , in prussia did knight-service against the tartarians , and were christendomes best bank against the inundations of those barbarous people . by their endeavours the prussians , which before were but heathen-christians , were wholly converted ; many a brave citie builded , specially marienburg , where formerly a great oak stood ; ( who would think so many beautifull buildings would spring out of the root of one tree ? ) and those countreys of prussia and livonia , which formerly were the course list , are now become the rich fringe of europe . at last the prussians grew weary of the tyrannous oppression of those dutch knigh●● ( as appeareth by the grievances they presented ) and applied themselves to casimire king of poland . he took to task lewis erlinsufe the master of their order ; and so ordered him , that whereas before he pleaded himself to be a free prince of the empire , hereafter he should acknowledge the king of poland for his lord and master . the successours to this lewis fretted against this agreement , as prejudiciall to them : they could do no lesse then complain , and could do little more ; for the king of poland in spite of their resistance held them to their agreements . albert of the house of brandenburg was the last grand master of this order , and first duke of prussia . he brake the vow of their order , losing his virginitie to keep his chastitie , and married dorothie daughter to the king of denmark . the other teutonicks protested against him , and chose gualther croneberg in his room : yea , albert was proscribed in a diet in germanie , and his goods confiscated , but the proscription never executed , the emperour of germanie being the same time employed in matters of greater moment which more nearly concerned himself . and thus in this albert , for ought we can find to the contrarie , the teutonick order had its end , and was quite dissolved . chap. . the severall flittings of the knights-hospitallers , from cyprus , by rhodes , nice , syracuse , to malta . we must now wait on the hospitallers to their lodgings , and we have done . we left them driven from ptolemais , and landed at cyprus ; where king henry courteously entertained them . but a friends house is no home : hence therefore they were conveyed to their severall alberges in europe . but such active spirits could not long be idle ; such running streams would not end in a standing pond . wherefore they used all their own strength , and improved their interest with all their benefactours , to furnish out a fleet : which done , under fulk de vilderet their grand master they wonne the island of rhodes from the turks eighteen yeares after ptolemais was lost , and there seated themselves . besides rhodes , they also enjoyed these five adjacent islands , saith my authour , nicoria , episcopia , iolli , limonia , and sirana ; places so small , that consulting with maps will not find them out : enough almost to make us think with tertullian of delos , that once there were such islands , which at this day are quite vanished away . two hundred and fourteen yeares , to the terrour of the turks , comfort of the christians , and their own immortall fame , they maintained this island , and secured the seas for the passage of pilgrimes to jerusalem : till at last in the yeare , after six moneths siege they surrendred the citie to their own honour , and shame of other christians who sent them no succour in season . yet changing their place they kept their resolution to be honourably imployed . hence they sailed to nice in piemont , a citie lying opposite to africa , from whence the moores and saracens much infested christendome . wherefore charles duke of savoy bestowed that citie upon them to defend it ; counting the courtesie rather done to him then by him , that they would accept it . afterwards , they perceived it was more needfull to stop the turks invasions then their pillagings : they had lately wonne buda , and ( as it was thought ) would quickly stride over the adriatick sea , and have at italie . wherefore the hospitallers left nice , and planted themselves at syracuse in sicilie : where they right valiantly behaved themselves in defending that countrey . but charles the fifth , a politick prince , though he saw their help was usefull , yet desired not much to have them live in his own countrey . he liked their neighbourhood better then their presence , to have them rather neare then in his kingdome . wherefore he appointed them the island of malta to keep for themselves , their grand master onely paying yearly to the king of spain a * falcon in acknowledgement they held it from him . loth were the hospitallers to leave sicilie , that paradise of pleasure , and went very unwillingly from it . malta is an island in the mid-land-sea , seated betwixt europe and africa , as if it meant to escape out of both as being in neither . here s. paul suffered shipwrack , when the viper stung him not , but the men did , * condemning him for a murderer . and here the hospitallers seated themselves , and are the bulwark of christendome to this day , giving dayly evident proof of their courage . but their master-piece was in the yeare , when they couragiously defended the citie of malta besieged by soliman : when he discharged seventie eight thousand bullets ( some of them seven spans in compasse ) against it , big enough not onely to overthrow walls but overturn mountains ; yet notwithstanding they held out valiantly five moneths , and at last forced the turk to depart . these knights of malta are at this day a good bridle to tunis and algiers . i am informed by a good * friend ( who hath spent much yet lost no time in those parts ) that these knights are bound by vow not to flie from the turks , though one man or one galley to foure ( half which ods hercules himself durst not venture on ; ) but if there be five to one , it is interpreted wisdome not cowardlinesse , to make away from them : also if a christian ship wherein there is a knight of malta take a turkish ship , that knight is bound by his order first to go aboard to enter it . the grand master of this order hath a great command , and is highly esteemed of , insomuch that the * authour of the catalogue of the glory of the world , beleeveth he is to take place next to absolute kings , above all other temporall princes , even above kings subject to the empire . sure he meaneth , if they will give it him ; otherwise it seemeth improper that the alms-man should take place of his benefactours . yet the lord prior of the hospitallers in england was chief baron of the realm , and had precedencie of all other lords : and here his order flourished with great pomp till their finall period ; which i now come to relate . chap. . the hospitallers in england stoutly withstand three severall assaults , which overthrew all other religious foundations . the suppression of the hospitallers in england deserveth especiall notice , because the manner thereof was different from the dissolving of other religious houses ; for manfully they stood it out to the last , in despite of severall assaults . . cardinall wolsey , by leave from the pope , suppressed certain small houses of little value , therewithall to endow his colledges in oxford and ipswich . he first shewed religious places were mortall , which hitherto had flourished in a seeming eternitie . this leading case of wolseys did pick the morter out of all the abbey-walls in england , and made a breach in their strongest gate-houses , teaching covetousnesse ( an apt scholar ) a readie way to assault them : ( for it is the dedication not the value of the thing dedicated , stampeth a character of sacrednesse upon it . ) and king henry the eighth concluded , if the cardinall might eat up the lean covents , he himself might feed on the fat ones , without danger of a sacrilegious surfet . true it is , wolsey not wholly but in part alienated the lands of these pettie houses , reserving them still to the generall end of pious uses : but the king followed this pattern so farre as it was for his purpose , and neglected the rest . . for not long after , the * parliament granted him all religious houses of and under the value of two hundred pounds yearly : and it was thought , that above ten thousand persons , masters and servants , lost their livelihoods by the demolishing of them . and for an introduction to the suppression of all the residue , he had a strait watch set upon them , and the regulars therein tied to a strict and punctuall observation of their orders without any relaxation of the least libertie ; insomuch that many did quickly un-nunne and disfriar themselves , whose sides formerly used to go loose , were soon galled with strait lacing . . then followed the grand dissolution or judgement-day on the world of abbeys remaining ; which of what value soever were seised into the kings hands . the lord cromwell , one of excellent parts but mean parentage , came from the forge to be the hammer to maul all abbeys . whose magnificent ruines may lesson the beholders , that it is not the firmnesse of the stone nor fastnesse of the morter maketh strong walls , but the integritie of the inhabitants . for indeed foul matters were proved against some of them , as sodomie and much uncleannesse : whereupon unwillingly willing , they resigned their goods and persons to the kings mercie . but the knights-hospitallers ( whose chief mansion was at st-johns , nigh london ) being gentlemen and souldiers of ancient families and high spirits , would not be brought to present the king such puling petitions and publick recognitions of their errours as other orders had done . they complained it was a false consequence , as farre from charitie as logick , from the induction of some particular delinquents to inferre the guiltinesse of all religious persons . wherefore like stout fellows they opposed any that thought to enrich themselves with their ample revenues , and stood on their own defense and justification . chap. . the hospitallers at last got on an advantage and suppressed . but barnabe's day it self hath a night ; and this long-lived order , which in england went over the graves of all others , came at last to its own . they were suffered to have rope enough , till they had haltered themselves in a praemunire : for they still continued their obedience to the * pope , contrary to their allegeance , whose usurped authoritie was banished out of the land ; and so ( though their lives otherwise could not be impeached for any vitiousnesse ) they were brought within the compasse of the law . the case thus standing , their deare friends perswaded them to submit to the kings mercie , and not to capitulate with him on conditions , nor to stop his favour by their own obstinacie , but yeeld whilest as yet terms honest and honourable would be freely given them : that such was the irresistiblenesse of the kings spirit , that like a torrent it would bear down any thing which stood betwixt him and his desires ; if his anger were once inflamed , nothing but their bloud could quench it : let them not flatter themselves into their own ruine , by relying on the aid of their friends at home , who would not substitute their own necks to save theirs from the ax ; nor by hoping for help from forrein parts , who could send them no seasonable succour . this counsel harsh at first , grew tunable in the eares of the hospitallers ; so that contented rather to exchange their clothes for worse then to be quite stript , they resigned all into the kings hands . he allowed to sr william weston lord prior of the order , an annuall pension of one thousand pounds : but he received never a penny thereof , but dyed * instantly , struck to the heart when he first heard of the dissolution of his priory : and lieth buried in the chancell of clarkenwell , with the portraiture of a dead man lying on his shroud , the most artificially cut in stone ( saith my * authour ) that ever man beheld . others had rent assigned them of l l , l l , l l , l l , l l , l l , l l , according to their severall qualities and deserts . at the same time justs and tornaments were held at westminster : wherein the challengers against all comers , were , sr john dudley , sr thomas seymore , sr thomas poinings , sr george carew , knights ; antonie kingstone , and richard cromwell , esquires : to each of whom for reward of their valour , the king gave a hundred marks of yearly revenues , and a house to dwell in , to them and their heirs , out of the lands belonging to these hospitallers . and at this time , many had danae's happinesse , to have golden showres rained into their bosomes . these abbey-lands , though skittish mares to some , have given good milk to others : which is produced as an argument , that if they prove unsuccessefull to any , it is the users default , no inherencie of a curse in the things themselves . but let one keep an exact register of lands , and mark their motions , how they ebbe and flow betwixt buyers and sellers , and surely he will say with the poet , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . and this is most sure ; let land be held in never so good a tenure , it will never be held by an unthrift . the hospitallers priory-church was preserved from down-pulling all the dayes of king henry the eighth : but in the third yeare of king edward the sixth , with the bell-towre ( a piece of curious workmanship , graven , gilt , and enamelled ) it was undermined and blown up with gunpowder , and the stone imployed in building the lord protectours house in the strand . thus as chirurgeons in cutting off a gangrened leg , alwayes cut it off above the joynt , even where the flesh is whole and sound : so ( belike for fear of further infection ) to banish monkerie for ever , they rased the structures and harmlesse buildings of priories , which otherwise in themselves were void of any offense . they feared if abbeys were onely left in a swound , the pope would soon get hot water to recover them : to prevent which , they killed them and killed them again , overturning the very foundations of the houses , infringing , altering and transferring the lands , that they might never be reduced to their old propertie . some outrages were committed in the manner of these dissolutions : many manuscripts , guiltie of no other superstition then red letters in the front , were condemned to the fire : and here a principall key of antiquitie was lost , to the great prejudice of posteritie . but in sudden alterations it is not to be expected that all things be done by the square and compasse . chap. . queen mary setteth up the hospitallers again ; they are again deposed by queen elisabeth . queen mary ( a princesse more zealous then politick ) attempted to restore abbeys to their pristine estate and former glory : and though certain of her counsellers objected , that the state of her kingdome and dignitie thereof and her crown imperiall could not honourably be furnished and maintained without the possession of abbey-land ; yet she * frankly restored , resigned , and confirmed by parliament all ecclesiasticall revenues which by the authoritie of that high court in the dayes of her father were annexed to the crown , protesting she set more by her salvation , then by ten kingdomes . but the nobilitie followed not her example : they had eaten up the abbey-lands , and now after twentie yeares possession digested and turned them into good bloud in their estates : they were loth therefore to emptie their veins again ; and the forwardest romanist was backward enough in this costly piece of devotion . how-ever , out of her own liberalitie , she set up two or three bankrupt covents , as sion and westminster , and gave them stock to trade with . the knights also of s. john of jerusalem she reseated in their place ; and s ● thomas tresham of rushton in northamptonshire was the first and last lord prior after their restitution : for their nests were plucked down before they were warm in them , by the coming in of queen elisabeth . to conclude ; in the founders of religious houses were some good intents mixt with superstitious ends ; amongst the religious persons themselves , some pietie , more loosenesse and lazinesse ; in the confounders of those houses , some detestation of the vices of friars , more desire of the wealth of friaries ; in god , all just , all righteous , in permitting the badnesse and causing the destruction of these numerous fraternities . chap. . observations on the holy warre ; the horrible superstition therein . we have finished the story of the holy warre : and now i conceive my indentures are cancelled , and i discharged from the strict service and ties of an historian ; so that it may be lawfull for me to take more libertie , and to make some observations on what hath been past . before i go further , i must deplore the worlds losse of that worthy work which the lord verulam left unfinished , concerning the holy warre ; an excellent piece , and alas ! it is but a piece : so that in a pardonable discontent we may almost wish that either it had been more , wholly to have satisfied our hunger , or lesse , not at all to have raised our appetite . it was begun not in an historicall but in a politick way , not reporting the holy warre past with the turks but advising how to manage it in the future . and no doubt if he had perfected the work , it would have proved worthy the authour : but since , any have been deterred from finishing the same ; as ashamed to adde mud-walls and a thatched roof to so fair a foundation of hewen and polished stone . from that authour we may borrow this distinction , that three things are necessarie to make an invasive warre lawfull ; the lawfulnesse of the jurisdiction , the merit of the cause , and the orderly and lawfull prosecution of the cause . let us apply to our present purpose in this holy warre : for the first two , whether the jurisdiction the christians pretended over the turks dominions was lawfull or not ; and , whether this warre was not onely operae but vitae pretium , worth the losing so many lives ; we referre the reader to what hath been said in the * first book . onely it will not be amisse , to adde a storie or two out of an * authour of good account . when charles the sixth was king of france , the duke of burbant sailed over into africa with a great armie , there to fight against the saracens . the saracen prince sent an herald to know of him the cause of his coming : the duke answered , it was to revenge the death of christ the sonne of god , and true prophet , whom they had unjustly crucified . the saracens sent back their messenger again to demonstrate their innocencie , how they were not saracens but jews which put christ to death , and therefore that the christians ( if posteritie should be punished for their predecessours fault ) should rather revenge themselves on the jews which lived amongst them . * another relateth , that in the yeare of our lord , the great turk sent a letter to the pope , advertising him how he and his turkish nation were not descended from the jews , but from the trojans , from whom also the italians derive their pedegree , and so would prove himself a-kinne to his holinesse . moreover he added , that it was both his and their dutie to repair the ruines of troy , and to revenge the death of their great grand-father hector upon the grecians ; to which end , the turk said he had already conquered a great part of greece . as for christ , he acknowledged him to have been a noble prophet , and to have been crucified of the jews , against whom the christians might seek their remedie . these two stories i thought good to insert , because though of later date , and since the holy warre in palestine was ended , yet they have some reference thereunto , because some make that our quarrel to the turks . but grant the christians right to the turks lands to be lawfull , and the cause in it self enough deserving to ground a warre upon : yet in the prosecuting and managing thereof , many not onely veniall errours but unexcusable faults were committed ; no doubt , the cause of the ill successe . to omit the book called the office of our lady , made at the beginning of this warre to procure her favourable assistance in it ( a little manual , but full of blasphemies in folio , thrusting her with importunate superstitions into gods throne , and forcing on her the glory of her maker ; ) superstition not onely tainted the rind , but rotted the core of this whole action . indeed most of the pottage of that age tasted of that wild gourd . yet farre be it from us to condemn all their works to be drosse , because debased and allayed with superstitious intents : no doubt there was a mixture of much good metall in them , which god the good refiner knoweth how to sever , and then will crown and reward . but here we must distinguish betwixt those deeds which have some superstition in them , and those which in their nature are wholly superstitious , such as this voyage of people to palestine was . for what opinion had they of themselves herein , who thought that by dying in this warre , they did make christ amends for his death ? as one saith : which if but a rhetoricall flourish , yet doth hyperbolize into blasphemie . yea , it was their very judgement , that hereby they did both merit and supererogate ; and by dying for the crosse , crosse the score of their own sinnes and score up god for their debtour . but this flieth high , and therefore we leave it for others to follow . let us look upon pilgrimages in generall , and we shall find pilgrimes wandring not so farre from their own countrey as from the judgement of the ancient fathers . we will leave our armie at home , and onely bring forth our champion : heare what * gregorie nyssene saith , who lived in the fourth centurie , in which time voluntary pilgrimages first began ; though before there were necessarie pilgrimes , forced to wander from their countrey by persecution . where , saith he , our lord pronounceth men blessed , he reckoneth not going to jerusalem to be amongst those good deeds which direct to happinesse . and afterwards , speaking of the going of single-women in those long travels ; a woman ; saith he , cannot go such long journeys without a man to conduct her ; and then whatsoever we may suppose , whether she hireth a stranger or hath a friend to wait on her , on neither side can she escape reproof , and keep the law of continencie . moreover ; if there were more divine grace in the places of jerusalem , sinne would not be so frequent and customarie amongst those that live there : now there is no kind of uncleannesse which there they dare not commit ; malice , adultery , thefts , idolatrie , poysonings , envies and slaughters . but you will say unto me , if it be not worth the pains , why then did you go to jerusalem ? let them heare therefore how i defend my self : i was appointed to go into arabia to an holy councel , held for the reforming of that church : and arabia being neare to jerusalem , i promised those that went with me , that i would go to jerusalem to discourse with them which were presidents of the churches there ; where matters were in a very troubled state , and they wanted one to be a mediatour in their discords . we knew that christ was a man born of a virgin , before we saw bethlehem ; we beleeved his resurrection from death , before we saw his sepulchre ; we confessed his ascension into heaven , before we saw mount olivet : but we got so much profit by our journey , that by comparing them , we found * our own more holy then those outward things . wherefore you that fear god , praise him in what place you are . change of place maketh not god nearer unto us : wheresoever thou art , god will come to thee , if the inne of thy soul be found such , as the lord may dwell and walk in thee , &c. a patrone of pilgrimages not able to void the blow yet willing to break the stroke of so pregnant and plain a testimonie , thus seeketh to ward it ; that indeed pilgrimages are unfitting for women , yet fitting for men . but sure god never appointed such means to heighten devotion necessary thereunto , whereof the half of mankind ( all women ) are by their very creation made uncapable . secondly , he pleadeth , that it is lawfull for secular and lay-men to go on pilgrimages , but not for friars , who lived recluse in their cells , out of which they were not to come : and against such ( saith he ) is nyssens speech directed . but then , i pray , what was peter , the leader of this long dance , but an hermite ? and ( if i mistake not ) his profession was the very dungeon of the monasticall prison , the strictest and severest of all other orders . and though there were not so many cowls as helmets in this warre , yet alwayes was the holy armie well stocked with such cattel : so that on all sides it is confessed that the pilgrimages of such persons were utterly unlawfull . chap. . of superstition in miracles in the holy warre , ranked into foure sorts . besides superstition inherent in this holy warre , there was also superstition appendant or annexed thereunto , in that it was the fruitfull mother of many feigned miracles . hitherto we have refrained to scatter over our storie with them ; it will not be amisse now to shovel up some of them in a heap . * one peter ( not the hermite ) found out the lance wherewith christ was pierced : & to approve the truth thereof against some who questioned him herein , on palm-sunday taking the lance in his hand , he walked through a mightie fire without any harm : but it seemeth he was not his crafts-master , for he died soon after . * an image of our lady brought from jerusalem , but set up neare damascus , began by degrees to be clothed with flesh , and to put forth breasts of flesh , out of which a liquour did constantly flow : which liquour the templars carried home to their houses , and distributed it to the pilgrimes which came to them , that they might report the honour thereof through the whole world . * a sultan of damascus who had but one eye , chanced to lose the other , and so became stark-blind ; when coming devoutly to this image , though he was a pagan , having faith in god , and confidence therein , he perfectly was restored to his sight . infinite are the sholes of miracles done by christs crosse in jerusalem ; insomuch that my * authour blamed the bishop of acon , who carried the crosse in that battel wherein it was lost to the turks , for wearing a corselet ; and therefore ( saith he ) he was justly slain : because his weak faith relied on means , not on the miraculous protection thereof . when conrade landt-grave of thuringia was inrolled in the teutonick order to go to the holy warre , and received his benediction ( as the fashion was ) the * holy ghost visibly descended upon him in the shape of fire . the said conrade received of god as a boon for his valour in this service , the rare facultie , * that by looking on any man he could tell whether or no he had committed a mortall sinne , yea , at first sight descrie their secret sinnes . but the last miracle of our lady in palestine is the lady of all miracles ; which was this : in the yeare , when the holy land was finally subdued by the turks , the chamber at nazareth wherein the angel gabriel saluted her with joyfull tidings , was wonderfully * transported into sclavonia . that countrey being unworthy of her divine presence , it was by the angels carried over into italie , anno . that place also being infested with theeves and pirates , the angels removed it to the little village of loretto ; where this pilgrime-chappel resteth it self at this day , and liketh her entertainment so well , it will travel no further . but enough : for fools meat is unsavourie to the tast of the wise . i have transgressed already : two instances had been sufficient ( as noah preserved but two of all unclean creatures ) the rest might be lost without losse , and safely be drowned in oblivion . how-ever , we may observe these millions of miracles are reducible to one of these foure ranks : . falsely reported , never so much as seemingly done . asia the theatre whereon they were acted , is at a great distance , and the miracles as farre from truth , as the place from us . and who knoweth not , when a lie is once set on foot , besides the first founders , it meeteth with many benefactours , who contribute their charitie thereunto . . falsely done ; insomuch as at this day , they are * sented amongst the romanists . who would not laugh to see the picture of a saint weep ? where one devout catholick lifteth up his eyes , ten of their wiser sort wag their heads . . truly done , but by the strength of nature . suppose one desperately sick , a piece of the crosse is applied to him , he recovereth ; is this a miracle ? nothing lesse ; how many thousands have made an escape after death in a manner hath arrested them ? as therefore it is sacriledge , to father gods immediate works on naturall causes ; so it is superstition , to intitle naturall events to be miraculous . . many miracles were ascribed to saints which were done by satan . i know it will non-plus his power to work a true miracle ; but i take the word at large : and indeed vulgar ( not to say , humane ) eyes are too dimme to discern betwixt things wonderfull and truly miraculous . now satan , the master-juggler needeth no wires or ginnes to work with , being all ginnes himself ; so transcendent is the activitie of a spirit . nay , may not god give the devil leave to go beyond himself ; it being just with him , that those who will not have truth their king and willingly obey it , should have falshood their tyrant to whom their judgement should be captivated and inslaved . chap. . the second grand errour in prosecuting the holy warre , being the christians notorious breaking their faith with infidels . next unto superstition , which was deeply inlayed in the holy warre , we may make the christians truce-breaking with the infidels the second cause of their ill successe . yet never but once did they break promise with the turks ; which was ( as i may say ) a constant and continued faith-breaking , never keeping their word . to omit severall straining of the sinews and unjoynting the bones of many a solemn peace , we will onely instance where the neck thereof was clearly broken a sunder . . when godfrey first won jerusalem , pardon was proclaimed to all the turks which yeelded themselves ; yet three dayes after in cold bloud , they were all , without difference of age or sex , put to the sword . . almerick the first swore , effectually to assist the saracens in driving the turks out of egypt ; and soon after invaded egypt , and warred upon the turks against his promise . i know something he pretended herein to defend himself , but of no validitie ; and such plausible and curious wittie evasions to avoyd perjurie , are but the tying of a most artificiall knot in the halter , therewith to strangle ones own conscience . . there was a peace concluded for some time betwixt king guy and saladine ; which non obstante , reinold of castile robbed saladines own mother : whereupon followed the miserable overthrow of the christians , and taking of jerusalem . . our richard , at his departure from palestine , made a firm peace for five yeares with saladine , and it stood yet in force when henry duke of saxonie coming with a great armie of new adventurers invaded the turkish dominions . . frederick the second , emperour , made a truce of ten yeares with the sultan of babylon ; and yet in despite thereof , theobald king of navarre forraged the countrey of gaza , to the just overthrow of him and his armie . . reinold vice-roy of palestine , in the name of frederick the emperour , and after him our richard earl of cornwall , drew up a firm peace with the said sultan ; which was instantly disturbed and interrupted by the turbulent templars . . lastly , the venetians , in the name of all christian princes , concluded a five yeares peace with alphir the mammaluke prince of egypt ; yet some voluntaries in ptolemais pillaged and robbed many saracen merchants about the citie . but pardon them this last fault , we will promise they shall never do so any more in palestine , hereupon losing all they had left there . and how could safetie it self save this people , and blesse this project so blackly blasted with perjury ! as it is observed of tyrants , where one goeth , ten are sent to the grave ; so where one truce concluded with the turks did naturally expire and determine , many were violently broken off . a sinne so repugnant to all morall honestie , so injurious to the quiet & peace of the world , so odious in it self , so scandalous to all men , to dissolve a league when confirmed by oath ( the strongest bond of conscience , the end of particular strife , the soulder of publick peace , the sole assurance of amitie betwixt divers nations , made here below , but inrolled in his high court whose glorious name doth signe it ; ) a sinne , i say , so hainous , that god cannot but most severely punish it . david asketh , who shall rest upon thy holy hill ? and answereth himself , he that sweareth to his neighbour , and disappointeth him not , though it were to his own hindrance . no wonder then , though the christians had no longer abidance in the holy hill of palestine ( though this , i confesse , is but the bark of the text ) driving that trade wherewith none ever thrived , the breaking of promises : wherewith one may for a while fairly spread his train , but he will moult his feathers soon after . chap. of the hindrances of the good successe in the holy warre ; whereof the popes , and emperours of greece , were the two principall . so much concerning those laesa principia in this holy warre , superstition and perjurie , which struck at the root of it . come we now to consider many other hindrances , which abated the good successe thereof . amongst these we will not be so hereticall as to denie the popes primacie ; but account him the first cause of their ill successe . such wounds as we find in his credit , we will neither widen nor close up ; but even present them to the reader as we found them . in foure respects he baned the christians good speed in this warre : . he caused most of their truce-breaking with the turks , urging men thereunto . thus pope celestine drove on the christians against the turks , whilest as yet the peace our richard concluded with them was not expired ; and so many other times also . for alas ! this was nothing with his holinesse ; who sitting in the temple of god , so farre advanceth himself above god , as to dispense with oathes made sacred by the most holy and high name of god ; and professing himself the sole umpire and peace-maker of the world , doth cut asunder those onely sinews which hold peace together . . in that twice the kingdome of jerusalem was offered to the christians , and the popes legates would not suffer them to accept it : ( no doubt , by instructions from their master ; this being to be presumed on , that those his absolute creatures altered not a tittle , but went according to the copie that was set them ) once anno ; when pelagius the legate refused the free offer of melechsala : and the second time , some thirtie yeares after ; when the same bountifull profer weas refused by odo the popes legate : for when the same melechsala again offered the free resignation of the whole kingdome of jerusalem , whereby the same day great quietnesse had entred into all christendome , with the end of much bloudshed and miserie ; the legate * frontosè contradicens , would in no wise receive the conditions offered . . frederick the second , emperour , was possessed of it ; when the pope molested him , and stirred up the templars against him , as so many needles to prick him when he was to sit down on the throne . . by diverting the pilgrimes , and over-titling his own quarrels to be gods cause ; nothing being more common with him , then to employ those armies which were levied for the holy warre , in subduing the albingenses and many others of his private enemies . by all these it plainly appeareth , that what fair shews soever his holinesse made , calling councels , appointing legates , providing preachers , proclaiming pardons , to advance this warre ; yet in very deed , he neither intended nor desired that the christians should make a finall conquest of palestine , but be imployed in continuall conquering it . he would have this warre go on cum decente pausa ; fair and softly : let the christians now beat the turks , and then the turks beat the christians ; and so let them take their turns , whilest his private profit went on . for ( as we touched before ) to this warre the pope condemned all dangerous persons ( especially the emperours of germanie ) to be there imployed . as little children are often set to school , not so much to learn , as to keep them out of harms way at home : so this carefull father sent many of his children to the holy warre , not for any good he knew they would either do or get there , but it would keep them from worse doing ; which otherwise would have been paddling in this puddle , raking in that channel , stirring up questions and controversies unsavourie in the nostrils of his holinesse , and perchance falling into the fire of discord and dissension against their own father . indeed at last this warre ended it self in despite of the pope : who no doubt would have driven this web ( weaving and unweaving it , penelope-like ) much longer if he could : yet he digested more patiently the ending thereof , because the net might be taken away when the fish was already caught , and the warre spared now the germane emperours strength thereby was sufficiently abated in italie . much also this warre increased the intrado of the popes revenues . some say , purgatory-fire heateth his kitchin : they may adde , the holy warre filled his pot , if not paid for all his second course . it is land enough , to have the office of collecting the contributions of all christendome given to this warre . so much for his great receits hereby . and as for what he expended , not too farre in the point . if the pope ( saith * their law ) thrusteth thousands of souls into hell , none may say to him , why doest thou so ? it is presumption then to make him answer for money , who is not accountable for men . with the pope let the emperours of greece their jealousie go , as the second bane of the christians successe in this warre . these emperours tormented themselves in seeking that they would have been loth to find , the treacherie of the latines ; and therefore to begin first , used them with all treacherie : whereof , largely * formerly . and surely , though a cautious circumspection be commendable in princes ; yet in such over-fear , they were no lesse injurious to themselves then to the western pilgrimes . yea generally , suspiciousnesse is as great an enemy to wisdome , as too much credulitie ; it doing oftentimes as hurtfull wrong to friends , as the other doth receive wrongfull hurt from dissemblers . chap. . the third hindrance , the equalitie of the undertakers ; the fourth , the length of the journey . the next cause of their ill successe was the discord arising from the paritie of the princes which undertook this voyage . many of them could abide no equall ; all , no superiour : so that they had no chief , or rather were all chiefs : the swarm wanted a master-bee , a supreme commander , who should aw them all into obedience . the germane emperour ( though above all ) came but seldome , and was not constant amongst them : the king of jerusalem ( especially in the declining of the state ) was rather sleighted then feared : the popes legate usurped a superioritie , but was never willingly nor generally obeyed . surely smaller forces being united under one command would have been more effectuall in proof ( though not so promising in opinion and fame ) then these great armies variously compounded by associations and leagues , and of the confluence of princes otherwise unconcurring in their severall courses . livie writing of that great battel ( the criticall day of the worlds empire ) betwixt hannibal & scipio , * it is small , saith he , to speak of , yet of much moment in the matter it self , that when the armies joyned , the shouting of the romanes was farre more great and terrible , as being all of one voice from the same nation ; whilest hannibals souldiers voices were different and disagreeing , as consisting of severall languages . if such a toy be considerable , and differing in tongues lesseneth the terriblenesse in an armie ; how doth dissenting in hearts and affections abate the force thereof ? and what advantage had the united turks against divided christian princes which managed this warre ? had the emulation betwixt those equall princes onely been such as is the spurre of vertue , farre from enmitie and hatefull contention , striving with good deserts to outstrip those who by the same means sought to attain to the like end ; had it been mixed with love in regard of the affinitie of their affections and sympathie of their desires , not seeking the ruine of their competitour but succouring him in danger ; then such simultates had been both honourable and usefull to the advancing of the holy cause : but on the other side , their affections were so violent , and dispositions so crooked , that emulation in them boyled to hatred , that to malice , which rested better satisfied with the miserable end of their opposite partner , then with any tropheys deservedly erected to their own honour . and herein the warres betwixt the venetians and genoans in syria are too pregnant an instance . the length of the journey succeedeth as the fourth impediment . there needed no other hindrance to this voyage then the voyage ; the way was so long . in sensation , the object must not be over-distant from the sense ; otherwise lynceus eyes may see nothing ? so it is requisite in warlike adventures , that the work be not too farre from the undertakers . indeed the romanes conquered countreys farre from home : but the lands betwixt them were their own , wherein they refreshed themselves ; and well may one lift a great weight at arms end if he hath a rest to stay his elbow on . so though spain hath subdued much in the indies , yet there they met with none or naked resistance . it fared not thus with the christians in this warre : by the tediousnesse of the journey their strength was exhausted ; they ranne dregs when first they were broched in syria , and as it were scattered their powder in presenting , before they came to discharge . frederick barbarossa wrote a braving letter to saladine , reckoning up the severall nations in europe under his command , and boasting what an armie of them he would bring into syria . * saladine answered him , that he also ruled over as many peoples , and told him , that there was no sea which hindred his men from coming quickly together ; whereas , saith he , you have a great sea , over which with pains and danger you must passe before you can bring your men hither . besides , if the christians shaped their journey by land , then their miseries in hungarie , grecia , and asia the lesse , made their land-journey more tedious and troublesome then if they had gone by sea . chap. . the fifth impediment , clergie-men being captains . that prelates and clergie-men were often generalls in this action ( as peter the hermite , pelagius the cardinall , and many others ) was another cause of their ill successe : for allow them able in their own way , for matter of learning , yet were they unsufficient to manage martiall affairs . many who in england have learned the french tongue , and afterwards have gone over into france , have found themselves both deaf and dumbe in effect , neither hearing to understand nor speaking to be understood : they in like manner who frame to themselves in their studies a model of leading an armie , find it as full of errours as rules when it e●meth to be applied ; and a measure of warre taken by book , falleth out either too long or too short , when brought into the field to be used . i have heard a storie of a great map-monger , who undertook to travel over england by help of his maps , without asking the least direction of any he met . long he had not ridden but he met with a non plus ultrà , a deep unpassable gullet of water , without bridge , ford , or ferry . this water was as unknown to his camdens or speeds maps as to himself ; because it was neither body nor branch of any constant river or brook ( such as onely are visible in maps ) but an ex-tempore-water , flowing from the snow which melted on hills . worse unexpected accidents surprise those who conceive themselves to have conned all martiall maximes out of authours , and warrant their skill in warre against all events out of their great reading ; when on the sudden some unwonted occurrent taketh them unprovided , standing amazed till destruction seiseth on them . indeed , sometimes such unlooked-for chances arrest even the best and most experienced generalls , which have long been acquainted with warre ; nor are they priviledged by all their experience from such casualties , nor are they so omniscient but that their skill may be posed therewith , a minute shewing sometimes what an age hath not seen before : but then such aged commanders have this advantage , that finding themselves at a fault , they can soonest know where to beat about and recover it . adde to the inabilitie , the incongruitie of prelates going to fight . true , in defensive warres necessitie is their sufficient dispensation ; but otherwise it is improper . in the battel against amalek , josua fought ; moses prayed ; the levites bare the ark , no office of command in the camp. and better it had been that cardinall columna had been at his beads , or in his bed , or any where else , then in the camp in egypt ; where by his indiscreet counsel he brought all the lives of the christians into danger . chap. . the sixth hindrance , the diversitie of the climate disagreeing with the bodies of europe ; and what weakeneth northern men going southward . now followeth the diversitie of the climate , which caused the death of many thousands of the christians , sweeping them away with horrible plagues and other diseases . for even as men when they come into a new corporation , must pay their fees before they can be freemen thereof and set up trading therein ; so it alwayes cost the christians of europe a dangerous sicknesse at least , before they could be well acquainted with the aire and climate of palestine . amongst other diseases the leprosie was one epidemicall infection which tainted the pilgrimes coming thither . this ( though most rife in our saviours time , god so ordering it that judea was sickest while her physician was nearest ) at this time of the holy warre was very dangerous . hence was it brought over into england ( never before known in this island ) and many lazar-houses erected for the relief of those infected therewith : their chief house was at burton-lazars in leicester-shire . i say not , as this disease began with the holy warre in england , so it ended with it : sure such hath been gods goodnesse , that few at this day are afflicted therewith ; and the leprosie of leprosie , i mean the contagion thereof , in this cold countrey is much abated . many other sicknesses seised on the pilgrimes there , especially in summer . the turks , like salamanders , could live in that fiery countrey , whose scorching our northern bodies could not endure . yea , long before i find it observed by vitruvius , that they who come cold into hot countreys , cannot long subsist , but are dissolved ; whilest those that change out of hot into cold , find not onely no distemper and sicknesse by the alteration , but also grow more healthfull , solid , and compacted : but this perchance is easilyer said then maintained . but let us not hereupon be disheartened to set on our southern foes for fear to be impaired , nor they invited to invade us by hope to be improved . know , it is not so much the climate , as bad and unwholesome diet inraging the climate against us , which unsineweth those northern nations when they come into the south : which bad diet , though sometimes necessary for want of better food , yet is most-times voluntary through mens wilfull intemperance . in the portugall action anno , more english owed their calenture to the heat of wine then weather . why do our english merchants bodies fadge well enough in southern aire ? why cannot our valour thrive as well there as our profit ; but chiefly for this , that merchants are carefull of themselves , whilest souldiers count it basenesse to be thriftie of their own healths ? besides , the sinnes of the south unmasculate northern bodies . in hot countreys the sirens of pleasure sing the sweetest , which quickly ravish our eares unused to such musick . but should we marching southwards observe our health in some proportion of temperance , and by degrees habituate our selves to the climate ; and should we keep our souls from their sinnes , no doubt the north might pierce the south as farre , and therein erect as high and long-lasting tropheys , as ever the south did in the north. nor must it have admittance without examination into a judicious breast , what some have observed ; that northern people never enjoyed any durable settled government in the south . experience avoweth they are more happie in speedie conquering then in long enjoying of countreys . but the first monarch the world ever knew ( i mean , the assyrian ) came from the north : whence he is so often styled in scripture , the king of the north ; conquering , and for many yeares enjoying those countreys which lie betwixt him and the sunne ; as chaldea , mesopotamia , babylonia , syria , egypt : to speak nothing of the turks , who in the dichotomizing of the world fall under the northern part , and coming out of scythia at first subdued most southern countreys . chap. . the seventh impediment , the vitiousnesse of the undertakers . thus are we fallen on the next hindrance of successe in this holy warre , the vitiousnesse of the undertakers . but here first we must make an honourable reservation for many adventurers herein , whom we confesse most pious and religious persons . let us not raise the opinion of our own pietie by trampling on our predecessours , as if this age had monopolized all goodnesse to it self . some no doubt most religious and truly valiant ( as fearing nothing but sinne ) engaged themselves in this action ; of whom i could onely wish , that their zeal herein had either had more light or lesse heat . but with these , i say not how many , but too many went most wicked people , the causers of the ill successe . it will be objected , sanctitas morum hath been made of some a note of the true church , never the signe of a fortunate armie : look on all armies generally , we shall find them of the souldiers religion , not troubled with over-much precisenesse : as our king john said , ( whether wittily or wickedly , let others judge ) that the buck he opened was fat , yet never heard masse : so many souldiers have been successefull without the least smack of pietie ; some such desperate villains , that fortune ( to erroneous judgements ) may seem to have favoured them for fear . true : but we must not consider these adventurers as plain and mere souldiers , but as pilgrimes and gods armie ; in whom was required , and from whom was expected more pietie and puritie of life and manners then in ordinarie men : whereas on the contrarie , we shall make it appear , that they were more vitious then the common sort of men . nor do we this out of crueltie or wantonnesse , to wound and mangle the memorie of the dead ; but to anatomize and open their ulcerous insides , that the dead may teach the living , and lesson posteritie . besides those that went , many were either driven or fled to the holy land . those were driven , who having committed some * horrible sinne in europe , had this penance imposed on them , to travel to jerusalem to expiate their faults . many a whore was sent thither to find her virginitie : many a murderer was enjoyned to fight in the holy warre , to wash off the guilt of christian bloud by shedding bloud of turks . the like was in all other offenses ; malefactours were sent hither to satisfie for their former wickednesse . now god forbid we should condemn them , if truly penitents , for impious . may he who speaketh against penitents , never have the honour to be one ; since repentance is the younger brother to innocence it self . but we find that many of them reverted to their former wickednesse : they lost none of their old faults and got many new , mending in this hot countrey as sowre ale in summer . others fled hither , who having supererogated the gallows in their own countreys by their severall misdemeanours , theft , rapes , incest , murders , to avoid the stroke of justice , protected themselves under this voyage ; and coming to palestine , so profited in those eastern schools of vices , that they learned to be more artificially wicked . this plainly appeareth , as in sundrie other authours , so chiefly in tyrius , a witnesse beyond exception , who * often complaineth hereof . and if we value testimonies rather by the weight then number , we must credit so grave a man , who writeth it with grief , and had no doubt as much water in his eyes as ink in his pen , and surely would be thankfull to him that herein would prove him a liar . chap. . the eighth hindrance , the treacherie of the templars ; of sacriledge alledged by baronius , the cause of the ill successe . robert earl of artois upbraided the master of the templars , that it was the common speech , that the holy land long since had been wonne , but for the false coll●sion of the templars and hospitallers with the infidels : which words , though proceeding from passion in him yet from premeditation in others , not made by him but related , deserve to be observed the rather , because common reports ( like smoke , seldome but from some fire , never but from much heat ) are generally true . it is not to be denied , but that both these orders were guiltie herein , as appeareth by the whole current of the storie . yea , king almerick fairly trussed up twelve templars at once , * hanging them for delivering up an impregnable fort to syracon . these like a deceitfull chirurgeon , who hath more corruption in himself then the sore he dresseth , prolonged the cure for their private profit ; and this holy warre being the trade whereby they got their gains , they lengthened it out to the utmost : so that their treacherie may passe for the eighth impediment . baronius * concludeth this one principall cause of the christians ill successe , that the kings of jerusalem took away that citie from the patriarchs thereof , herein committing sacriledge , a sinne so hainous , that malice it self cannot wish an enemy guilty of a worse . but wether or no this was sacriledge , we referre the reader to what hath been largely discussed before . and here i could wish to be an auditour at the learned and unpartiall arguing of this question , whether over-great donations to the church may not afterwards be revoked ? on the one side it would be pleaded , who should be judge of the over-greatnesse , seeing too many are so narrow-hearted to the church , they count any thing too large for it ; yea , some would cut off the flesh of the churches necessary maintenance , under pretense to cure her of a tympanie of superfluities . besides , it would be alledged , what once hath been bestowed on pious uses , must ever remain thereto : to give a thing and take a thing , is a play too childish for children ; much lesse must god be mocked therewith , in resuming what hath been conferred upon him . it would be argued on the other side , that when kings do perceive the church readie to devoure the commonwealth by vast and unlimited donations unto it , and clergie-men grown to suspicious greatnesse , armed with hurtfull and dangerous priviledges derogatorie to the royaltie of princes ; then , then it is high time for princes to pare their overgrown greatnesse . but this high pitch we leave to stronger wings : sure i am in another kind , this holy warre was guiltie of sacriledge , and for which it thrived no whit the better ; in that the pope exempted six and twentie thousand manours in europe , belonging to the templars and hospitallers , from paying any tithes to the priest of the parish ; so that many a minister in england smarteth at this day for the holy warre . and if this be not sacriledge , to take away the dowrie of the church without assuring her any joynture in lieu of it , i report my self to any that have not the pearl of prejudice in the eye of their judgement . chap. . three grand faults in the kingdome of ierusalem , hindring the strength and puissance thereof . come we now to survey the kingdome of jerusalem in it self : we will take it in its verticall point , in the beginning of baldwine the third , when grown to the best strength and beautie ; yet even then had it some faults , whereby it was impossible ever long to subsist . . it lay farre from any true friend . on the west it was bounded with the mid-land-sea , but on all other sides it was environed with an ocean of foes , and was a countrey continually besieged with enemies . one being to sell his house , amongst other commendations thereof , proclaimed , that his house had a very good neighbour ; a thing indeed considerable in the purchase , and might advance the fale thereof a yeares value : sure i am , the kingdome of jerusalem had no such conveniencie , having bad neighbours round about : cyprus indeed their friend lay within a dayes sail ; but alas ! the kings thereof had their hands full to defend themselves , and could scarce spare a finger to help any other . . the kingdome was farre extended , but not well compacted : all the bodie thereof ran out in arms and legs . besides that ground inhabited formerly by the twelve tribes , and properly called the holy land ; the kingdome of jerusalem ranged northward over all celosyria and cilicia in the lesser asia : north-eastward , it roved over the principalities of antioch and edessa , even unto carrae beyond euphrates : eastward , it possessed farre beyond jordan the strong fort of cracci , with a great part of arabia petrea : southward , it stretched to the entrance of egypt . but as he is a strong man , whose joynts are well set and knit together , not whom nature hath spunne out all in length and never thickened him ; so it is the united and well compacted kingdome entire in it self which is strong , not that which reacheth and strideth the farthest . for in the midst of the kingdome of jerusalem lay the kingdome of damascus , like a canker feeding on the breast thereof : and clean through the holy land , though the christians had many cities sprinkled here and there , the turks in other strong holds continued mingled amongst them . . lastly , ( what we have touched once before ) some subjects to the kings of jerusalem , namely , the princes of antioch , edessa and tripoli , had too large and absolute power and authoritie : they would do whatsoever the king would command them , if they thought good themselves . now subjects should be adjectives , not able to stand without ( much lesse against ) their prince , or they will make but bad construction otherwise . these three hindrances in the kingdome of jerusalem added to the nine former , will complete a jurie . now if any one chance to censure one or two of them , let him not triumph therein ; for we produce not these impediments severally but joyntly , not to fight single duells but all in an armie : non noceant quamvìs singula , juncta nocent . chap. . what is to be conceived of the incredible numerousnesse of many armies mentioned in this storie . frequent mention hath been made through this holy warre of many armies , as well christian as turkish , whose number of souldiers swell very great ; so as it will not be amisse once for all to discusse the point concerning the numerousnesse of armies anciently . and herein we branch our opinion into these severals . . asian armies are generally observed greater then those of europe : there it is but a sucking and infant companie to have ten thousand ; yea , under fiftie thousand no number . the reason of their multitude is , not that asia is more populous , but more spatious then europe . christendome is enclosed into many small kingdomes and free states ; which severally can send forth no vast numbers , and seldome agree so well as to make a joynt collection of their forces : asia lieth in common , in large countreys , and many of them united under one head . besides , it is probable ( especially in ancient times , as may be proved out of scripture ) that those eastern countreys often spend their whole stock of men , and imploy all their arms-bearing people in their martiall service , not picking or culling them out , as we in europe use to do . . modern armies are farre lesse then those in former ages . the warre - genius of the world is altered now-a-dayes , and supplieth number with police ; the foxes skinne pieceth out the lions hide . especially armies have been printed in a smaller letter since guns came up : one well-mounted cannon will spare the presence and play the part of a whole band in a battel . . armies both of europe , and chiefly in asia ( as farther off ) are reported farre greater then truth . even as many old men use to set the clock of their age too fast when once past seventie ; and growing ten yeares in a twelve-moneth , are presently fourescore , yea , within a yeare or two after , climbe up to an hundred : so it is in relating the number of souldiers ; if they exceed threescore and ten thousand , then ad rotunditatem numeri , they are hoised up to an hundred , and then fiftie thousand more cast in for advantage . not to speak of the facil mistake in figures ; one telleth , at the first voyage of pilgrimes there went forth * six hundred thousand ; * another counteth three hundred thousand slain at the last taking of ptolemais : their glib pennes making no more reckoning of men then of pinnes . we perchance may do justly in imitating the unjust steward , setting down in the bill of our belief but fifty for every hundred . nor is it any paradox , but what will abide the touch , that competent forces of able and well-appointed and well-disciplined souldiers under an experienced generall , are farre more usefull then such an unweldie multitude . little loadstones will in proportion attract a greater quantitie of steel then those which be farre greater , because their poles are nearer together , and so their vertue more united : so shall we find braver atchievements by moderate armies , then by such portentous and extravagant numbers . i never read of any miracle done by the statue of s. christopher in paris , though he be rather of a mountainlike then manlike bignesse . yea , such immoderate great armies are subject to great inconveniences . . they are not so easily manageable ; and the commands of their generall cool and lose some vertue in passing so long a journey through so many . . it is improbable that so many thousands can be heaped together , but the armie will be very heterogeneous , patched up of different people unsuiting in their manners ; which must needs occasion much cumbrance . . these crowds of souldiers may hinder one another in their service ; as many at the same time pressing out at a wicket . . victuals for so many mouthes will not easily be provided ; the provisions of a countrey serving them but a meal , they must fast afterwards . . lastly , such great numbers ( though this , i must confesse , is onely per accidens , yet often incident ) beget carelessenesse and confidence in them ; as if they would not thank god for their victories , but conceive it a due debt owed to their multitudes . this hath induced some to the opinion to maintain , that a competent able armie of thirtie thousand ( which number gonzaga that brave generall did pitch on as sufficient and complete ) need not fear upon a paritie in all other respects , any companie whatsoever to come against them : such are enough , being as good as a feast , and farre better then a surfet . chap. . of the numberlesse christians which lost their lives in this service . xerxes viewing his armie , consisting of more then a million , from an high place all at a sight , is said to weep at the thought , that within an hundred yeares all those would be mowed down with death : but what man could behold without flouds of tears , if presented to him at one view , the infinites of people which lost their lives in this action ! in the first voyage went forth ( as the most conscionable counters report ) three hundred thousand : of these we can make the reader but spendthrifts accounts , all is gone , without shewing the particulars . for after the taking of jerusalem , this armie was drawn so low , that godfrey being to fight with ammiravissus the egyptian , and bringing forth his whole strength , had but twelve hundred horse and nine thousand foot left him . at the second setting forth , of two hundred and fiftie thousand led hither by hugh brother to the king of france and sundrie other bishops , not a thousand came into palestine . in the third voyage , conrade the emperour led forth no fewer then two hundred thousand foot and fiftie thousand horse ; nor was the armie of king lewis of france farre inferiour : of whom such as returned make no noise , as not considerable in number . at the fourth setting forth , frederick barbarossa counted an hundred and fiftie thousand souldiers in his armie : of whom when they came to ptolemais , no more then * eighteen hundred armed men remained . fifthly , what numbers were carried forth by our richard the first and philip of france , i find not specified ; no doubt they did bear proportion to the greatnesse of the undertakers : all which at their return were consumed to a very small companie . to omit severall other intermediate actions of many princes , who went forth with armies and scarce came home with families ; king lewis carried forth two and thirty thousand : of which onely six thousand came home , as their own writers report , who tell their tale as it may sound best for the credit of their countrey ; whilest * others count eightie thousand to have lost their lives in that voyage : yea , * some reckon no fewer then an hundred thousand common men , besides seven counts , to have died in cyprus of the plague . * at his second voyage to tunis , of an hundred and twentie ships which lay at anchor at trape in sicily , there were no more saved then the mariners of one onely french ship , and the thirteen ships of our prince edward ; all the rest , with men , armour and munition did miserably perish . but enough of this dolefull subject . if young physicians with the first fee for their practice are to purchase a new church-yard , pope urbane the second might well have bought some ground for graves when he first perswaded this bloudie project ; whereby he made all jerusalem , golgotha , a place for sculls ; and all the holy land , aceldama , a field of bloud . chap. . the throne of deserts : what nation merited most praise in this warre ; and first of the french and dutch service therein . as in the first book we welcomed each severall nation when they first entred into this service ; so it is good manners now to take our solemn farewell of them at their going out , and to examine which of them deserved most commendation for their valour in this warre . and herein me thinketh the distinction usuall in some colledges , of founders , by-founders , and benefactours , may properly take place . the founders of this holy warre , were the french ; the by-founders , the dutch , english , and italian ; the benefactours ( according to the different degrees of bountie ) the spanish , polish , danish , scots , and all other people of europe . the french i make the founders for these reasons : first , because they began the action first . secondly , france in proportion sent most adventurers . some voyages were all of french , and all voyages were of some french. yea , french men were so frequent at jerusalem , that at this day all western europeans there are called franks ( as i once conceived , and perchance not without companie in my errour ) because so many french men came thither in the holy warre . since , i am converted from that false opinion , having found that two hundred yeares before the holy warre was dreamed of , namely , in the time of constantine * porphyrogenetes emperour of the east , all western christians were known to the greeks by the name of franks ; so that it seemeth the turks borrowed that appellation from the grecians . thirdly , as france sent the most , so many of most eminent note : she sheweth for the game no worse cards then a pair royall of kings ; lewis the young , philip augustus , and saint lewis ; besides philip the bold his sonne , who went half-way to tunis . the first and last christian king of europe that went to palestine was a french man ; and all the kings of jerusalem , frederick the emperour onely excepted , originally were of that nation . fourthly , even at this day france is most loyall to the cause . most grand masters of the hospitallers have been french men : and at this day the knights of malta , who have but foure albergies or seminaries in all christendome , have * three of them in france ; viz. one of the france in generall , one of avergne , and one of provence . yet france carrieth not the upper hand so clearly but that germanie justleth for it ; especially if we adde to it the low-countreys , the best stable of woodden horses , and most potent in shipping in that age of any countrey in europe ; which though an amphibion betwixt both , yet custome at this day adjudgeth it dutch. now these are the severall accents of honour in the germane service : first , that countrey sheweth three emperours in the holy warre ; conrade , frederick barbarossa , and frederick the second . the last of these was solemnly crowned and peaceably possessed king of jerusalem . secondly , germanie sent more princes to this warre then all europe besides . it would be an infinite task to reckon them all ; it being true of the germane nobilitie what logicians say of a line , that it is divisibilis in semper divisibilia . here honours equally descend to sonnes and daughters ; whereby they have counts without counting in the whole empire : there were seventeen princes of henault , and seven and twentie earls of mansfield all living together : so that one of their own countreymen saith , that the dutch esteem none to be men but onely such as are noble-men . we will not take notice of germanie as it is minced into pettie principalities , but as cut into principall provinces . we find these regnant princes ( for as for their younger brethren , herein they are not accounted ) to have been personally present in the holy warre : prince palatine of rhene , henry duke ( or as others , king ) of bohemia , jaboslaus , or ladislaus duke of saxonie , henry the younger marquisse of brandenburg , otho archbishops of mentz , conrade siphred archbish. of triers , theodoricus archbish. of colen , theodoricus dukes of austria , leopoldus the second frederick leopoldus the third , surnamed the glorious dukes of bavaria , guelpho henry lewis landt-graves of thuringia , herman lewis marquesse of moravia , conrade duke of mechlenburg , henry earls of flandres , theodoricus philippus baldwine william dampier guido dukes of brabant , godfrey henry earl of holland , william all these ( i say not , these were all ) went themselves , & led forth other companies suitable to their greatnesse . the reader , as he lighteth on more , at his leisure may strike them into this catalogue . thirdly , germanie maintained the teutonick order , wholly consisting of her nation ; besides templars and hospitallers , whereof she had abundance : of whose loyall and valiant service we have spoken largely before . lastly , she fought another holy warre at the same time against the tartars and other barbarous people , which invaded her on her north-east-part . and though ●ome will except , that that warre cannot be intituled holy , because being on the defensive , it was rather of nature and necessitie then pietie : yet upon examination it will appear , that this service was lesse superstitious , more charitable to christendome , and more rationall and discreet in it self ; it being better husbandrie , to save a whole cloth in europe , then to winne a ragge in asia . chap. . the english and italian service compared ; of the spanish , polish , norvegian , hungarian , danish , and swedish performance in this warre . next in this race of honour follow england and italie , being very even and hard-matched . england ( it is no flatterie to affirm what envie cannot denie ) spurreth up close for the prize ; and though she had a great disadvantage in the starting ( italie being much nearer to palestine ) yet she quickly recovered it . our countrey sent one king ( richard the first ) and three kings sonnes ( robert courthois , richard of cornwall , and prince edward ) to this warre . yea , england was a dayly friend to this action : and besides these great and grosse summes of visible adventurers , she dropped and cast in privily many a pilgrime of good qualitie ; so that there was scarce any remarkable battel or memorable siege done through the warre wherein there were not some english of eminent desert . yet italy cometh not any whit behind , if the atchievements of her severall states , venetians , genoans , pisans , sicilians , florentines , were made and moulded up together : yea , for sea-service and engineers in this warre , they bear the bell away from all other nations . but these things allay the italian service : . it was not so abstracted from the dregs of mercinarinesse as that of other countreys ( whose adventurers counted their very work herein sufficient wages ) but before they would yeeld their assistance they indented and covenanted with the king of jerusalem to have such and such profits , pensions , and priviledges in all places they took , to them and their posteritie ; not as an honorarie reward freely conferred on them , but in nature of wages ex pacto contracted for aforehand : as the genoans had in ptolemais , and the venetians in tyre . . these italians stopped two gaps with one bush : they were merchant-pilgrimes , & together applied themselves to profit and pietie . here in tyre they had their banks , and did drive a sweet trade of spices and other eastern commodities . . lastly , as at first they gave good milk , so they kicked it down with their heel , and by their mutuall discord caused the losse of all they helped to gain in syria . spain was exercised all the time of this warre in defending her self against the moores and saracens in her own bowels : yet such was her charitie , that whilest her own house was on burning , she threw some buckets of water to quench her neighbours : and as other nations cast their superfluitie , she her widows mite into the treasurie of this action ; and produceth two theobalds kings of navarre , and alphonse king of castile , that undertook expeditions to palestine . hungary sheweth one king , andrew ; who washed himself in jordan , and then shrinking in the wetting returned presently home again . but this countrey , though it self did go little , yet was much gone through to the holy warre ( being the rode to syria for all land-armies ) and merited well in this action , in giving peaceable passage and courteous entertainment to pilgrimes ; as to duke godfrey , and frederick barbarossa , with all their souldiers as they travelled through it . had the kings of hungarie had the same principle of basenesse in their souls as the emperours of grecia , they had had the same cause of jealousie against the christians that passed this way ; yet they used them most kindly , and disdained all dishonourable suspicions . true it is , at the first voyage , king coloman , not out of crueltie but carefulnesse and necessarie securitie , did use his sword against some unruly and disorderly pilgrimes : but none were there abused which first abused not themselves . but what-ever hungarie was in that age , it is at this day christendomes best land-bulwark against the turks : where this prettie custome is used , that the men wear so many feathers as they have killed turks ; which if observed elsewhere , either feathers would be lesse , or valour more in fashion . poland could not stirre in this warre , as lying constant perdue of christendome against the tartarian ; yet we find * boleslaus crispus duke or king thereof ( waiting on , shall i say ? or ) accompanying conrade the emperour in his voyage to palestine ; and having defraid all his and his armies costs and charges towards constantinople , he returned home , as not to be spared in his own countrey . but if by king davids * statute , the keepers of the baggage are to be sharers in the spoil with the fighters of the battel , then surely poland and such other countreys may entitle themselves to the honour of the warre in palestine ; which in the mean time kept home , had an eye to the main chance , and defended europe against forrein invaders . norway ( in that age the sprucest of the three kingdomes of scandia , and best tricked up with shipping ; though at this day the case is altered with her , and she turned from taking to paying of tribute ) sent her fleet of tall souldiers to syria : who like good fellows , asked nothing for their work but their victuals , and valiantly wonne the citie of sidon for the king of jerusalem . and it is considerable , that syria ( but a step or stride from italie ) was a long race from norway ; so that their pilgrimes went not onely into another countrey but into another world . denmark was also partner in the foresaid service . also afterwards , ericus * her king , though he went not quite through to the holy land , yet behaved himself bravely in spain , and there assisted the winning of lisbon from the infidels . his successour * canutus anno , had provided his navie , but was prevented by death : his ships neverthelesse came to syria . of sweden in this grand-jurie of nations i heare no vous avez ; but her default of appearance hath been excused * before . chap. . of the scottish , welsh , and irish , their severall adventures . there remain behind the scottish , welsh , and irish. it may occasion suspicion , that these nations either did neglect or are neglected in this holy warre , because clean through this historie there is no mention of them or their atchievements . true it is , these countreys can boast of no king of their own sent to syria , nor of any great appearing service by them alone performed . it seemeth then they did not so much play the game themselves , as bet on the hands of others : and haply the scottish service is accounted to the french ; the welsh and irish , to the english. that scotland was no ciphre in this warre , plainly appeareth ; . in that * david , earl of huntington , and younger brother to william the elder king of scotland , went along with our richard the first ; no doubt suitably attended with souldiers . this david was by a tempest cast into egypt , taken captive by the turks , bought by a venetian , brought to constantinople , there known and redeemed by an english merchant , and at last safely arrived at * alectum in scotland ; which alectum he in memorie and gratitude of his return called dundee , or dei donum , gods gift . . by the plentifull provision which there was made for the templars and hospitallers : who here enjoyed great priviledges ; this amongst many others , ( take the scottish law in its pure naturals ) that the master of the knicts of the temple and cheefe priors of the hospitall of jerusalem ( wha were keepers of strangers to the haly grave ) sould be receaved themselves personally in any suit without entertaining a procuratour for them . nor must we here forget a saint , william a scot , of perth by birth , by trade a baker , in charitie so abundant that he gave his tenth loaf to the poore , in zeal so fervent that he vowed to visit the holy land . but in his journey , as he passed through kent , he was slain by his servant , buried at rochester ; afterwards sainted , and shewed many miracles . neither may we think , whilest all other nations were at this martiall school , that wales the while truanted at home . the welsh , saith my * authour , left their forrests ; and now with them no sport to the hunting of turks : especially after that * wizo and walter his sonne , had founded the fair commandrie for hospitallers at slebach in pembroke-shire , and endowed it with rich revenues . ireland also putteth in for her portion of honour in this service . indeed , for the first fourescore yeares in the holy warre , ireland did little there , or in any other countrey . it was divided into many pettie kingdomes ; so that her peoples valour had no progressive motion in length , to make any impression in forrein parts , but onely moved round in a circle at home , their pettie reguli spending themselves against themselves , till our henry the second conquered them all . after which time the irish began to look abroad into palestine : witnesse many houses for templars , and the stately priorie of kilmainam nigh dublin for hospitallers ; the last lord prior whereof at the dissolution , was sir john rawson . yea , we may well think , that all the consort of christendome in this warre could have made no musick if the irish harp had been wanting . chap. . of the honourable arms in scutcheons of nobilitie occasioned by their service in the holy warre . now for a corollarie to this storie , if we survey the scutcheons of the christian princes and nobilitie at this day , we shall find the arms of many of them pointing at the atchievements of their predecessours in the holy warre . thus the * dukes of austria bear gules a fesse argent , in memory of the valour of leopoldus at the siege of ptolemais ; whereof before . the duke of savoy * beareth gules a crosse argent , being the crosse of s. john of jerusalem ; because his predecessours were speciall benefactours to that order , and assisted them in defending of rhodes . queens colledge in cambridge ( to which i ow my education for my first seven yeares in that universitie ) giveth for parcel of her arms , amongst many other rich coats , the crosse of jerusalem ; as being founded by queen margaret , wife to king henry the sixth , and daughter of renate earl of angiers and titular king of sicilie and jerusalem . the noble and numerous familie of the douglasses in scotland ( whereof at this day are one marquesse , two earls , and a vice-count ) give in their arms a mans heart , ever since * robert bruse king of scotland bequeathed his heart to james douglasse , to carry it to jerusalem ; which he accordingly performed . to instance in particulars were endlesse : we will onely summe them up in generals . emblemes of honour born in coats occasioned by the holy warre , are reducible to these heads : . scallop-shells ; which may fitly for the workmanship thereof be called artificium naturae . it seemeth pilgrimes carried them constantly with them , as diogenes did his dish , to drink in . * i find an order of knights called equites cochleares , wearing belike cockle or scallop-shells , belonging to them who had done good sea-service , especially in the holy warre : and many hollanders ( saith my authour ) for their good service at the siege of damiata were admitted into that order . . saracens heads : it being a maxime in heraldrie , that it is more honourable to bear the head then any other part of the bodie . they are commonly born either black or bloudie . but if saracens in their arms should use christians heads , i doubt not but they would shew ten to one . . pilgrimes or palmers scrips or bags ; the arms of the worshipfull family of the * palmers in kent . . pilgrimes staves , and such like other implements and accout●ements belonging unto them . . but the chiefest of all is the crosse : which though born in arms before , yet was most commonly and generally used since the holy warre . the plain crosse , or s. georges crosse , i take to be the mother of all the rest ; as plain-song is much senior to any running of division . now as by transposition of a few letters , a world of words are made ; so by the varying of this crosse in form , colour , and metall ( ringing as it were the changes ) are made infinite severall coats : the crosse of ierusalem , or five crosses , most frequently used in this warre ; crosse p●●ée , because the ends thereof are broad ; fichée , whose bottom is sharp , to be fixed in the ground ; wavée , which those may justly wear who sailed thither through the miseries of the sea , or sea of miseries : molinée , because like to the rind of a mill : saltyrée , or s. andrews crosse : florid , or garlanded with flowers : the crosse crossed : besides the divers tricking or dressing ; as piercing , voiding , fimbriating , ingrailing , couping : and in fansie and devices there is still a plus ultra ; insomuch that crosses alone as they are variously disguised , are enough to distinguish all the severall families of gentlemen in england . exemplary is the coat of george villiers duke of buckingham ; five scallop-shells on a plain crosse , speaking his predecessours valour in the holy warre . for sir nicolas de villiers knight , followed edward the first in his warres in the holy land ; and then and there assumed this his new coat : for formerly he bore sable three cinquefoils argent . this * nicolas was the ancestour of the duke of buckingham , lineally descended from the ancient familie of villiers in normandie ; then which name none more redoubted in this service : for we * find john de villiers the one and twentieth master of the hospitallers ; and another philip de villiers master of rhodes , under whom it was surrendred to the turks ; a yeelding equall to a conquest . yet should one labour to find a mysterie in all arms , relating to the qualitie or deserts of the owners of them ( like chrysippus , who troubled himself with great contention to find out a stoicall assertion of philosophie in every fiction of the poets ) he would light on a labour in vain . for i beleeve ( be it spoken with loyaltie to all kings of arms , and heralds their lieutenants in that facultie ) that at the first , the * will of the bearer was the reason of the bearing ; or if at their originall of assuming them there were some speciall cause , yet time since hath cancelled it : and as in mythologie , the morall hath often been made since the fable ; so a sympathie betwixt the arms and the bearer hath sometimes been of later invention . i denie not but in some coats some probable reason may be assigned of bearing them : but it is in vain to digge for mines in every ground , because there is lead in mendip hills . to conclude ; as great is the use of arms , so this especially , to preserve the memories of the dead . many a dumbe monument , which through time or sacriledge hath lost his tongue , the epitaph , yet hath made such signes by the scutcheons about it , that antiquaries have understood who lay there entombed . chap. . some offers of christian princes for palestine since the end of the holy warre , by henry the fourth of england , charles the eighth of france , and iames the fourth of scotland . as after that the bodie of the sunne is set , some shining still surviveth in the west : so after this holy warre was expired , we find some straggling rayes and beams of valour offering that way ; ever and anon the christian princes having a bout with that designe . to collect the severall essayes of princes glancing on that project , were a task of great pains and small profit ; specially , some of them being umbrages and state-representations rather then realities , to ingratiate princes with their subjects , or with the oratorie of so pious a project to woo money out of peoples purses , or thereby to cloke and cover armies levied to other intents : besides , most of these designes were abortive , or aborsive rather , like those untimely miscarriages not honoured with a soul or the shape and lineaments of an infant . yet to save the readers longing , we will give him a tast or two ; and begin with that of our henry the fourth of england . the end of the reigne of this our henry was peaceable and prosperous . for though his title was builded on a bad foundation , yet it had strong buttresses : most of the nobilitie favoured and fensed it : and as for the house of york , it appeared not ; its best bloud as yet ranne in feminine veins , and therefore was the lesse active . now king henry in the sunne-shine evening of his life ( after a stormie day ) was disposed to walk abroad , and take in some forrein aire . he pitched his thoughts on the holy * warre , for to go to jerusalem , and began to provide for the same . one principall motive which incited him was , that it was told him he should not die till he had heard masse in jerusalem . but this proved not like the revelation told to old * simeon : for king henry was fain to sing his nunc dimittis , before he expected ; and died in the chamber called ierusalem in westminster . by comparing this prophesie with one of apollo's oracles , we may conclude them to be brethren ( they are so alike ) and both begotten of the father of lies : for the devil eartheth himself in an homonymie , as a fox in the ground ; if he be stopped at one hole , he will get out at another . how-ever , the kings purpose deserveth remembrance and commendation , because really and seriously intended ; farre better , i beleeve , then that of charles the eighth king of france : who in a braving embassage which he sent to our henry the seventh , gave him to understand his resolutions ; to make re-conquest of naples , but as of a bridge to * transport his forces into grecia ; and then not to spare bloud or treasure ( if it were to the impairing of his crown and dispeopling of france ) till either he had overthrown the empire of the ottomans , or taken it in his way to paradise ; and hence ( belike ) he would have at jerusalem , invited ( as he said ) with the former example of our henry the fourth . but our king henry the seventh ( being too good a fenser to mistake a flourish for a blow ) quickly resented his drift ( which was to perswade our king to peace , till charles should perform his projects in little britain and elsewhere ) and dealt with him accordingly . and as for the gradation of king charles his purposes , naples , grecia , jerusalem , a stately but difficult ascent , ( where the stairs are so farre asunder , the legs must be long to stride them ) the french nation was weary of climbing the first , and then came down , vaulting nimbly into naples and out of it again . more cordiall was that of * james the fourth king of scotland , that pious prince : who being touched in conscience for his fathers death ( though he did not cause it , but seemed to countenance it with his presence ) ever after , in token of his contrition , wore an iron chain about his body ; and to expiate his fault , intended a journey into syria . he prepared his navie , provided his soudiers , imparted his project to forrein princes ; and verily had gone , if at the first other warres , and afterwards sudden death had not caused his stay . chap. . the fictitious voyage of william landt-grave of hesse to palestine confuted . these are enough to satisfie ; more would cloy . onely here i must discover a cheat , and have it pilloried , lest it trouble others as it hath done me : the storie i find in calvisius , anno : take it in his very words ; william the landt-grave appointed an holy voyage to palestine ; chose his company out of many noblemen and earls , in number ninetie eight : he happily finished his journey ; onely one of them died in cyprus . he brought back with him six and fourtie ensignes of horse . seven moneths were spent in the voyage , fab. so farre calvisius , avouching this fab. for his authour . each word a wonder ; not to say , an impossibilitie . what ? in the yeare , when the deluge of mahometans had overrun most of grecia , asia , and syria ? william , a landt-grave ( of hesse , no doubt ) neither the greatest nor next to the greatest prince in germanie , farre from the sea , unfurnished with shipping , not within the suspicion of so great a performance ! six and fourtie horse-ensignes taken ! where ? or from whom ? was it in warre , and but one man killed ? a battel so bloudlesse seemeth as truthlesse ; and the losing but of one man savoureth of never a one . but seven moneths spent ! such atchievements beseem rather an apprentiship of yeares then moneths . besides , was fame all the while dead , speechlesse , or asleep , that she trumpeted not this action abroad ? did onely this fab. take notice of it ? be he faber , fabius , fabianus , fabinianus , or what you please . why is it not storied in other writers ? the dutch men giving no scant measure in such wares , and their chronicles being more guiltie of remembring trifles then forgetting matters of moment ? yet the gravitie of calvisius recording it , moveth me much on the other side ; a chronologer of such credit , that he may take up more belief on his bare word then some other on their bond . in this perplexitie , i wrote to my oracle in doubts of this nature , mr joseph mead fellow of christs colledge in cambridge , since lately deceased : heare his answer ; sir , i have found your storie in calvisius his posthume chronologie , but can heart of it no-where else . i sought reusners basilica genealogica , who is wont with the name of his princes to note briefly any act or accident of theirs memorable , and sometimes scarce worth it : but no such of this william landt-grave . so in conclusion , i am resolved it is a fable out of some romainza ; and that your authour fab. is nothing but fabula defectively written . but you will say , why did he put it into his book ? i answer , he himself did not ; but had noted it in some paper put into his chronologie , preparing for a new and fuller edition : which , himself dying before he had digested his new edition ( as you may see i think somewhere in the preface ) those who were trusted with it after his death to write it out for the presse , foolishly transferred out of such paper , or perhaps out of the margin , into the text ; thinking that fab. had been some historian , which was nothing but that she-authour fabula . if this will not satisfie , i know not what to say more unto it . thus with best affection i rest yours , joseph mead . christ. coll. june . . this i thought fit to recite , not for his honour but to honour my self , as conceiving it my credit to be graced with so learned a mans acquaintance . thus much of offertures . i will conclude with that speech of the lady margaret , countesse of richmond and derbie , and mother to our king henry the seventh ( a most pious woman , as that age went ; though i am not of his faith who beleeved her to be the next woman in goodnesse to the virgin mary : ) she used to say , that if the christian princes would undertake a war against the turks to recover the holy land , she would be their * laundresse . but i beleeve she performed a work more acceptable in the eyes of god , in founding a professours place in either universitie , and in building christs and s. johns colledges in cambridge ( the seminaries of so many great scholars and grave divines ) then if she had visited either christs sepulchre or s. johns church in jerusalem . chap. . the fortunes of ierusalem since the holy warre ; and her present estate . seven yeares after the latine christians were finally expelled out of syria , some hope presented it self of reestablishing them again . for casanus the great tartar prince , having of late subdued the persians , and married the daughter of the armenian king ( a lady of great perfection ) and of a mahometane become a christian , at the request of his wife he besieged the citie * jerusalem , and took it without resistance . the temple of our saviour he gave to the armenians , georgians , and other christians , which flocked thick out of cyprus there to inhabit . but soon after his departure it fell back again to the mammalukes of egypt ; who enjoyed it till selimus the great turk , anno , overthrew the empire of mammalukes , and seised jerusalem into his hand : whose successours keep it at this day . jerusalem better acquitteth it self to the eare then to the eye ; being no whit beautifull at all . the situation thereo● is very uneven , rising into hills and sinking into dales ; the lively embleme of the fortunes of the place ; sometimes advanced with prosperitie , sometimes depressed in misery . once it was well compacted , and * built as a citie that is at unitie in it self ; but now distracted from it self : the suspicious houses ( as if afraid to be infected with more miserie then they have alreadie , by contiguousnesse to others ) keep off at distance , having many waste places betwixt them ; not one * fair street in the whole citie . it hath a castle , built ( as it is thought ) by the pisans , * tolerably fortified . good guard is kept about the citie , and no christians with weapons suffered to enter . but the deepest ditch to defend jerusalem from the western christians , is the remotenesse of it ; and the strongest wall to fense it , is the turkish empire compassing it round about . poore it must needs be , having no considerable commoditie to vent ; except a few beads of holy earth , which they pay too deare for that have them for the fetching . there is in the citie a covent of franciscans , to whom christians repair for protection during their remaining in the citie . the padre guardian appointeth these pilgrimes a friar , who sheweth them all the monuments about the citie : scarce a great stone , which beareth the brow of reverend antiquitie , that passeth without a peculiar legend upon it : but every vault under ground hath in it a deep mysterie indeed . pilgrimes must follow the friar with their bodies and belief ; and take heed how they give tradition the lie , though she tell one never so boldly . the survey finished , they must pay the guardian both for their victuals and their welcome , and gratifie his good words and looks ; otherwise if they forget it , he will be so bold as to remember them . the guardian farmeth the sepulchre of the turk at a yearly rent : and the turks which reap no benefit by christs death , receive much profit by his buriall ; and not content with their yearly rent , squeeze the friars here on all occasions , making them pay large summes for little offenses . the other subsistence which the friars here have , is from the benevolence of the pope and other bountifull benefactours in europe . nor getteth the padre guardian a little by his fees of making knights of the sepulchre : of which order i find , some hundred yeares since , sr john chamond of * lancels in cornwall to have been dubbed knight . but i beleeve no good english subject at this day will take that honour , if offered him ; both because at their creation they are to swear loyaltie to the pope and * king of spain , and because honours conferred by forrein potentates are not here in england acknowledged , neither in their style nor precedencie , except given by courtesie : witnesse that famous case of the count arundel of wardour , and queen elisabeths peremptorie resolve , that her sheep should be branded with no * strangers mark , but her own . the land about it ( as authours generally agree ) is barren . yet * brochard a monk , who lived here some two hundred yeares since , commendeth it to be very fruitfull . sure he had better eyes , to see more then other men could ; or else by a sy●e●doche he imputeth the fertilitie of parcels to the whole countrey . but it is as false a consequence , as , on the other side , to conclude from the basenesse of bagshot-heath the barrennesse of all the kingdome of england . we may rather beleeve , that since the fall of the jews from gods favour , the once-supernaturall fertilitie of the land is taken away , and the naturall strength thereof much abated and impaired . chap. . whether it be probable that this holy warre will ever hereafter be set on foot again . thus we state the question ; whether this holy warre , i mean , for the winning of the citie of jerusalem and recovering of palestine , will probably ever hereafter be projected and acted again . we may beleeve this tragedie came off so ill the last acting , that it will not be brought on the stage the second time . . the pope will never offer to give motion to it , as knowing it unlikely to succeed . policies of this nature are like sleights of hand , to be shewed but once ; lest what is admired at first be derided afterwards . . princes are grown more cunning , and will not bite at a bait so stale , so often breathed on . the popes ends in this warre are now plainly smelt out ▪ which though prettie and pleasing at first , yet princes are not now , like the native indians , to be cozened with glasse and gaudie toyes : the load-stone to draw their affection ( now out of non-age ) must present it self necessary , profitable , and probable to be effected . . there is a more needfull work nearer hand ; to resist the turks invasion in europe . heark how the grecians call unto us , as once * the man in the vision did to s. paul , come over into macedonia , and help us . yea , look on the popes projects of the last edition , and we shall find the businesse of the sepulchre buried in silence , and the holy warre running in another chanel , against the turks in christendome . . lastly , who is not sensible with sorrow of the dissensions ( better suiting with my prayers then my penne ) wherewith christian princes at this day are rent in sunder ? wounds so wide that onely heavens chirurgerie can heal them : till which time no hope of a holy warre against the generall and common foe of our religion . we may safely conclude , that the regaining of jerusalem and the holy land from the turks , may better be placed amongst our desires then our hopes ; as improbable ever to come to passe : except the platonick yeare , turning the wheel of all actions round about , bring the spoke of this holy warre back again . chap. . of the many pretenders of titles to the kingdome of ierusalem . no kingdome in the world is challenged at this day by such an armie of kings as this of jerusalem : it is sooner told what princes of europe do not , then what do lay claim to it ; they be so many . take their names as i find them in the catalogue of stephen a cypriot . the emperour of the east . the patriarch of ierusalem . the lusignans , kings of cyprus . emfred prince of thorone . conrade de la-rame marquesse of montferrat . the kings of england . his holinesse . the kings of naples . the princes of antioch . the counts of brienne . the kings of armenia . the kings of hungarie . the kings of aragon . the dukes of anjou . the dukes of loraine . lewis the eleventh , king of france . the dukes of bourbon . the dukes of savoy . iames de lusigna , base sonne to the king of cyprus . charles de lusigna , sonne to the prince of galilee . the state of genoa . the marquesse of montferrat . the count of la-vall . the arch-duke of nize . the sultan of egypt . the emperour of the turks . it seemeth by the naming of lewis the eleventh and james the bastard of cyprus , that this list was taken about the yeare . and now how would a herald sweat with scouring over these time-rustie titles , to shew whence these princes derived their severall claims , and in whom the right resteth at this day ? & when his work is done , who should pay him his wages ? my clew of thread is not strong enough , on the guidance thereof for me to venture into this labyrinth of pedegrees ; we will content our selves with these generall observations : . it seemeth this catalogue containeth as well those who had jus in regno as those who had jus ad regnum : as namely , the prince of thorone , and patriarchs of jerusalem , and state of genoa ; whose ambition surely soared not so high as to claim the kingdome of jerusalem , but rather perched it self upon some lands and signories challenged therein . . a small matter will serve to intitle a prince to a titular kingdome : in this case , kings can better digest corrivals where they be many , and all challenge what is worth nothing . in this catalogue it seemeth some onely intitle themselves out of good fellowship and love of good companie : these like squirrels recover themselves , and climbe up to a claim on the least bough , twig , yea leaf of a right . thus the counts of brienne in france ( if any still remain of that house ) gave away their cake and kept it still ; in that john bren parted with his right to this kingdome , in match with iole his daughter , to frederick the second emperour , and yet the earls of his familie pretend still to jerusalem . . we may beleeve , that by matches and under-matches some of these titles may reside in private gentlemen ; especially in france : and what wonder ? seeing within fourteen generations , the * royall bloud of the kings of judah ran in the veins of plain joseph a painfull carpenter . . at this day some of those titles are finally extinct : as that of the emperours of the east , conquered by the ottoman familie : their imperiall eagle was so farre from beholding the sunne , that the half-moon dazzled , yea quite put out his eyes . rank in the same form the kings of armenia , and sultans of egypt . . some of these titles are translated : that of the lusignans , kings of cyprus , probably passed with that island to the state of venice ; the claim of the hungarian kings seemeth at this day to remain in the germane emperour . . some united : the claim of the arch-dukes of nize ( a style i meet not with elsewhere ) twisted with that of the duke of savoy ; the kings of naples and aragon now joyned in the king of spain . . of those which are extant at this day , englands appeareth first ; our richard receiving it in exchange of king guy for the island of cyprus . guy's resignation was voluntarie and publick ; the world was witnesse to it : he truly received a valuable consideration , which his heirs long peaceably enjoyed ; and our english kings styled themselves * kings of jerusalem , till afterwards they disused it for * reasons best known to themselves . our poet harding , in a paper he presented to king henry the sixth , cleareth another double title of our kings thereunto : and because some palates love the mouldie best , and place the goodnesse of old verses in the badnesse of them , take them as they fell from his penne ; to ierusalem , i say , ye have great right from erle geffray that hight plantogenet , of aunge●y erle , a prince of passyng might , the eldest sonne of fouke , and first beget , king of ierusalem by his wife dewly set ; whose sonne geffray foresaid gat on his wife henry the second , that was known full rife . yet have ye more , from bawldwyne paralytious king afterward , to the same king henry the crown sent and his banner pretious , as very heire of whole auncestrie descent of bloud by title lineally from godfray boleyn , and robert curthose , that kings were thereof and chose . . then cometh forth the popes title ; who claimeth it many wayes : either because he was the first and chiefest mover and advancer of this warre , lord paramont of this action , and all the pilgrimes no better then his servants ; and then according to the rule in civil law , * quod●unque per servum acquiritur , id domino acquirit●r suo : or else he challengeth it from john bren , who * subjected that kingdome to the see of rome ; and yet the said john used the style of jerusalem all the dayes of his life , and also gave it away in match with his daughter : or else he deriveth it as forfeited to him by the emperour frederick the second and his sonnes , for taking arms against the church . but what need these farre-abouts ? they go the shortest cut , who accounting the pope gods lieutenant on earth ( though by a commission of his own penning ) give him a temporall power ( especially in ordine ad spiritualia ) over all the kingdomes of the world . the originall right of jerusalem he still keepeth in himself , yet hath successively gratified many princes with a title derived from him : nor shineth his candle the dimmer by lighting of others . first he bestowed his title on charles of anjou , king of sicilie ( from which root spring the many-branched french competitours ) and since hath conferred the same on the house of aragon , or king of spain . which king alone weareth it in his style at this day , and maketh continuall warre with the turk , who detaineth jerusalem from him : yea , all west-christendome oweth her quiet sleep to his constant waking , who with his galleys muzzleth the mouth of tunis and algier . yea , god in his providence hath so ordered it , that the dominions of catholick princes ( as they term them ) are the case and cover on the east and south to keep and fense the protestant countreys . the quit-rent which the king of spain payeth yearly to the pope for the kingdomes of jerusalem , naples , and sicilie , is foure thousand crowns , sent to his holinesse upon a * hackney : who grudgeth his tenant so great a penie-worth ; yet cannot help himself , except he would follow the friars advice , to send home the spanish hackney with a great horse after him . what credit there is to be given to that through-old ( if not doting ) prophecie , that a * spaniard shall one day recover jerusalem , we leave to the censure of others ; and mean time we will conclude more serious matters with this pleasant passage : when the late warres in the dayes of queen * elisabeth were hot between england and spain , there were commissioners on both sides appointed to treat of peace . they met at a town of the french kings : and first it was debated , what tongue the negotiation should be handled in . a spaniard , thinking to give the english commissioners a shrewd gird , proposed the french tongue as most fit , it being a language which the spaniards were well skilled in ; and for these gentlemen of england , i suppose ( said he ) that they cannot be ignorant of the language of their fellow-subjects ; their queen is queen of france as well as england . nay in faith , masters , ( replyed doctor dale , the master of requests ) the french tongue is too vulgar for a businesse of this secrecie and importance , especially in a french town : we will rather treat in hebrew the language of jerusalem , whereof your master is king ; i suppose you are herein as well skilled as we in french. at this day the turk hath eleven points of the law in jerusalem , i mean possession : and which is more , prescription of a hundred and twentie yeares , if you date it from the time it came into the ottoman familie ; but farre more , if you compute it from such time as the mammaluke turks have enjoyed it . yea , likely they are to keep it , being good at hold-fast , and who will as soon lose their teeth as let go their prey . with the description of the greatnesse of which empire will we ( god willing ) now close this historie . chap. . of the greatnesse , strength , wealth , and wants of the turkish empire ; what hopes of the approching ruine thereof . the turkish empire is the greatest and best-compacted ( not excepting the romane it self in the height thereof ) that the sunne ever saw . take sea and land together ( as bones and flesh make up one bodie ) and from buda in the west to tauris in the east , it stretcheth about three thousand miles : little lesse is the extent thereof north and south . it lieth in the heart of the world , like a bold champion bidding defiance to all his borderers , commanding the most fruitfull countreys of europe , asia , and africa : onely america ( not more happie in her rich mines then in her remotenesse ) lieth free from the reach thereof . populous it is not ; for men will never grow thick where meat groweth thinne : it lieth waste , according to the old proverb , grasse springeth not where the grand signors horse setteth his foot . besides , a third part ( i may say , half ) of those in turkie are not turks , but either jews or christians . the strength of this empire consisteth either in bones or stones , men or munition . of the first , the best stake in the turks hedge is his great number of horsemen called * timariots , conceived to exceed seven hundred thousand fighting men : these are dispersed over all his dominions , and have lands allotted unto them in reward of their good service and valour , much in the nature of those souldiers of the romish empire called beneficiarii . and indeed the turkish empire resembleth the romane in many particulars : not that they ever studied imitation , and by reading of historie conformed their state to romane precedents , ( farre be it from us to wrong them with the false imputation of so much learning ) but rather casually they have met in some common principles of policie . of these timariots , on occasion and competent warning , he can bring into the field an hundred and fiftie thousand , all bound by the tenure of their lands to arm , clothe , feed , pay themselves : so great an armie , which would drain the wealth of other princes , doth cost the great turk no drop of expense . next follow his best footmen , called janizaries , taken young from their christian parents ( parallel to the romane pretorian souldiers ) being the guard of the grand signors person . but as they watch about him , so he casteth a watchfull eye on them ; seeing of late they are grown from painfull to be proud , yea insolent and intolerable : it being true of these janizaries in the turkish empire , as of elephants in an armie ; if well ruled , they alone are enough to winne the battel ; if unruly , they alone are enough to lose it . as for all other sorts of the turks , both foot and horse , they are but slugs ; as whom the grand signor little trusteth , and others need lesse fear . his frontier cities , especially those which respect christendome , are exactly fortified . rank with these such places of importance and castles as command passages of consequence . as for his inland-cities , there is no superfluous , scarce competent , strength in them . but if we allow those people to be chaste who never were solicited to be otherwise , then may many cities lying in the bowels of his empire passe for strong , which for a long time have not had nor in haste are likely to have the temptation of a siege . of ordinance he hath great store , and hath excellent materials to make them of ; and is also very powerfull in shipping . indeed ships of great burden would be burdensome in those narrow seas , and experience hath found lesser vessels of greater use ; whereof he hath store . and though the turks either want ingenie or industrie , either care not or cannot be good shipwrights themselves ; yet the spite is , as long as there is gold amongst the turks there will be drosse amongst the christians , i mean some who for base gain will betray the mysteries of our usefull arts unto them . as for wood to build with , he hath excellent in bithynia ; yea , generally in this wild empire , trees grow better then men . to his sea-munition may be reduced his multitude of slaves , though not the informing yet ( against their wills ) the assisting form of his galleys , and in whom consisteth a great part of their strength and swiftnesse . nor must we forget the pirates of tunis and algier ; which are turks and no turks : sometimes the grand signor disclaimeth , renounceth and casteth them off to stand upon their own bottom ; as when those christian princes which are confederate with him , complain to him of the wrongs those sea-robbers have done them . but though he sendeth them out to seek their own meat , he can clock them under his wings at pleasure : and we may verily beleeve , though sometimes in the summer of his own prosperitie he throweth them off as an upper garment of no use , yet in cold weather he will buckle them on again ; and if necessitie pincheth him , receive them not as retainers at large but as his best servants in ordinarie . nor is it the last and least part of the strength of this empire , that all her native people are linked together in one religion : the discords about which in other kingdomes have been the cause , first of the unjoynting , and then of the finall ruine & desolation of many worthy states : whereas here , the mahometane religion ( if i wrong it not with so good a name ) is so full of unitie and agreement , that there is no difference & dissension about it . yea , well may that coat have no seam which hath no shape . a senselesse ignorant profession it is , not able to go to the cost of a controversie : and all colours may well agree in the dark . next the strength followeth the wealth ; yea , it is part thereof : for all rich kingdomes may be strong , and purchase artificiall fortification . the certain and constant revenues of the great turk are not great , if withall we consider the spatiousnesse of his dominions . some have mounted his ordinarie yearly in-come to eight * millions of gold . but men guesse by uncertain aim at princes revenues , especially if they be so remote : we may beleeve that in their conjecture herein , though they misse the mark , they hit the butt . farre greater might his intrado be , if husbandrie , and chiefly merchandise , were plied in his countrey : merchants being the vena porta of a kingdome ; without which it may have good limbes , but emptie veins , and nourish little . now although this empire be of a vast extent , having many safe harbours to receive strangers there , and staple commodities ( chiefly if industrie were used ) to allure them thither ; yet hath it in effect but foure prime places of trading ; constantinople , cairo , aleppo , and tauris . as for the extraordinarie revenues of the grand signor , by his escheats and other courses if he pleaseth to take them , they are a nemo scit : for in effect he is worth as much as all his subjects ( or slaves rather ) throughout his whole empire are worth , his spunges to squeeze at pleasure . but the lion is not so fierce as he is painted , nor this empire so formidable as fame giveth it out . the turks head is lesse then his turbant , and his turbant lesse then it seemeth ; swelling without , hollow within . if more seriously it be considered , this state cannot be strong , which is a pure and absolute tyrannie . his subjects under him have nothing certain but this , that they have nothing certain ; and may thank the grand signor for giving them whatsoever he taketh not away from them . their goods they hold by permission not proprietie ; not sure that either they or theirs shall reap what they sow , or eat what they reap : and hereupon husbandrie is wholly neglected : for the plowman ( as well as the ground he ploweth ) will be soon out of heart , if not maintained and ( as i may say ) composted with hopes to receive benefit by his labours . here great officers , if they love themselves , must labour not to be beloved : for popularitie is high treason ; and generally wealth is a sinne to be expiated by death . in a word , it is a cruel tyrannie , bathed in the bloud of their emperours upon every succession ; a heap of vassals and slaves ; no nobles ( except for time being , by office ) no gentlemen , no free-men , no inheritance of land , no stirp or ancient families ; a nation without any , moralitie , arts and sciences , that can scarce measure an acre of land or houre of a day . and needeth not that kingdome constant and continued pointing , which is cemented with fear not love ? may we not justly think , that there be many in this empire which rather wait a time then want desire to overthrow it ? for though some think the grecians in turkie bear such inveterate hate to the latine christians , that they would rather refuse deliverance then accept them for their deliverers ; yet surely both they , and perchance some native turks , out of that principle of desiring libertie ( the second rule next preserving life in the charter of nature ) would be made ( if this empire were seriously invaded , so that the foundation thereof did totter ) sooner to find two hands to pluck it down then one finger to hold it up . and we have just cause to hope that the fall of this unweldie empire doth approch . it was high noon with it fiftie yeares ago ; we hope now it draweth neare night : the rather , because luxurie , though late , yet at last hath found the turks out , or they it . when first they came out of turcomania , and were in their pure naturals , they were wonderfully abstemious , neglecting all voluptuousnesse , not so much out of a dislike as ignorance of it : but now having tasted the sweetnesse of the cup , they can drink as great a draught as any others . that paradise of corporall pleasure which mahomet promised them in the world to come , they begin to anticipate here , at leastwise to take an earnest of it , and have well soked themselves in luxurie . yea , now they begin to grow covetous , both prince and people , rather seeking to enjoy their means with quiet then enlarge them with danger . heaven can as easily blast an oak as trample a mushrome . and we may expect the ruine of this great empire will come : for of late it hath little increased its stock , and now beginneth to spend of the principall . it were arrant presumption for flesh to prescribe god his way ; or to teach him , when he meaneth to shoot , which arrow in his quiver to choose . perchance the western christians , or the grecians under him ( though these be better for seconds then firsts , fitter to foment then raise a faction ) or his own janizaries , or the persian , or the tartarian , or some other obscure prince not as yet come into play in the world , shall have the lustre from god to maul this great empire . it is more then enough for any man to set down the fate of a single soul ; much more to resolve the doom of a whole nation when it shall be . these things we leave to providence to work , and posteritie to behold . as for our generation , let us sooner expect the dissolutions of our own microcosmes then the confusion of this empire : for neither are own sinnes yet truly repented of , to have this punishment removed from us ; nor the turks wickednesse yet come to the full ripenesse , to have this great judgement laid upon them . soli deo gloria . the preface to the chronologie . herein i present the reader with a generall view and synopsis of the whole story of the age of the holy warre ; that he may see the coherence betwixt the east and the west , and in what equipage and correspondency of time the asian affairs go on with those of europe : for they will reflect a mutuall lustre and plainnesse on one another . the chronologie is marshalled into ranks & files : the ranks , or transverse spaces , contain twentie yeares on a side ; the files , or columnes directly downward , are appropriated to those severall states whose name they bear . in the six first columnes i have followed helvicus with an implicite faith , without any remarkable alteration , both in ingraffing of yeares and making them concurre , as also leaving sometimes emptie spaces . in the other columnes i have followed severall authours , and left the yeares unnoted where the time was uncertain ; counting it better to bring in an ignoramus then to find a verdict where the evidence was doubtfull and obscure . such long notes as would not be imprisoned within the grates of this chronology , we have referred by asterisks to the foot of the page . know that every note belongeth to that yeare wherein it beginneth , except signed with this mark ☉ ; which reduceth it to the yeare it endeth in . br. standeth for brother : s. sonne : m. moneths : d. dayes . note , whilest there were caliphs of egypt , then the sultans were but deputies and lieutenants ; but afterwards the mamaluke sultans were absolute princes , acknowledging no superiour . a chronologicall table anno dom. popes . emper. of the east . emper. of the west . kings of england . kings of france . holy warre , & kings of ierusalem . princes of antioch . patriarchs of antioch . patriarchs of ierusalem . mrs of kn. hospitallers . caliphs of syria . caliphs of egypt . urbane the second . alexius com●enꝰ . henry the fourth . william rufus . philip the first . the councel of clermont foundeth the holy warre .         mustetaher mustral . voyage under godfrey duke of bouillon .         nice , wonne by the christians .         antioch , wonne by the christians . boemund .       m. d. jerusalem , wonne by the christians .       paschal the second godfrey king of jerusalem . he is taken captive . ●ancred manageth the state in his absence . bernard . . arnulphus m. ● . gerard . henry the first baldwine his brother . . voyage under severall princes & prelates . cesaria wonne by the christians . ii. dabertus . he stickleth for jerusalem , to get it from the king : elamir , s. apamia , laodicea , wonne by the christians . boemund ransomed . ii. reimund le podio . ptolemais , wonne by the christians . he unfortunately besiegeth char●as ; flieth to antioch ; m. travelleth into france ; iii. ebremarus put in by the king , displaced by the pope . thence to rome : henry the fifth . returneth and wasteth grecia with his navie . dieth in sicily . iv. gi●ellinus , archbishop of arles . lewis the grosse . tripolis , wonne by the christians . boemund the second , s. ●et a child , and living in apulia : in whose minoritie , first tancred , then roger his kinsman , were princes in trust . berytus , sidon wonne by the christians . v. arnulphus , archdeacon of jerusalem . anno dom. popes . emper. of the east . emper. of the west . kings of england . kings of france . holy warre , & kings of ierusalem . princes of antioch . patriarchs of antioch . patriarchs of ierusalem . mrs of kn. hospitallers . mrs of kn. templars . caliphs of syria . caliphs of egypt .     m. d. baldwines voyages into egypt ; . when he took pharamia he is accused for his wicked life ; posteth to rome , and there buyeth to be innocent .   gelasius d. . calo . johannes s. baldwines voyages into egypt ; . when he got his death .   musteras●mad   baldvvine the second , his kinsman . roger fighting unadvisedly with the turks is slain ☉ vi. guarimundꝰ of amiens . huo● de pagahis , & godfrid of s. omars calixtus the second . he fighteth on disadvantage with the turks , and is taken captive . these first nine yeares there were but nine templars . m. d. m. he is dearly ransomed . tyre taken by the christians honorius the second . lotharius the saxon . baldwine getteth so much spoil from the conquered turks as serveth to pay his ransome . boemund now of age , cometh to antioch , & marrieth king baldwines daughter . ra●chid s. afterwards deposed by the wiseman of the isma●lites . the order of the templars confirmed by the pope and a councel . vii . stephanus suspected to have been poysoned by the king.   m. d. everardꝰ master of the templars , to whom pe●er cleniacensis writ a book in praise of this order .   innocentius the second . he is surprised and slain in cilicia . viii . william prior of the sepulchre .   * alice the relict of boemund , princesse regent in the minoritie of constantia her daughter .   fulk earl of anjou , in right of millecent his wife , eldest daughter to k. baldvvine .             muctaphil s. to mustetaher . ste●hen the usurper . reimund earl of poictou , in right of constantia his wife . he acknowledgeth himself vassall to the grecian emperour ; and resigneth cilicia to him . rodulphus chosen patriarch by the laitie .   elhaphit , s. in the yeare of his reigne he was killed by one nosradine . vide tyr. lib. . cap. . & calvis in anno .   conradus the third . lewis the seventh , or the younger . robert of burgundie , tyr. lib. c       m. baldwine the third , s. edessa wonne by sanguine from the christians . almericus   m. d. emanuel comnenus , s.   celestine the second , m.   luoius the second . m. . fulcher archbishop of tyre .   eugenius the third .   . voyage under co●●ade the emperour , & lewis king of france . he honourably entertaineth the k. of fran. is slain in battel by noradine tyr. lib. . c.   damascus besieged in vain .   discords betvvixt baldvvine and his mother millecent . constantia his w●● princesse . gaza given to the templars to defend bernard de t●eellape .     fredericus barbarossa . the templars with bernard their master , through their own covetousnesse slain at askelon . ☉ m. d. anastasius the fourth . the hospitallers rebel against the patriarch & deny to pay tithes .   m. d. baldwine taketh the citie of askelon . rainold of castile marrieth constantia , and is prince . in her right . ☉   adrian the fourth . henry the second . he , to despite the grecian emperour , wasteth the island cyprus . almerick cruelly tormented for speaking against fr. reinolds marriage . in vain he crawleth to rome to complain of them . beryland de blanchfort . * eihadach . iii. augerius de balben . he is taken prisoner , tyr. l. . c. these caliphs of egypt are very difficult to regulate by chronologie ; and are ever heteroclites , either deficient or redundant in the proportion of time consenting with other princes . hitherto we have followed helvicus ; now ●dhere to tyrius , lib. . cap. . & lib. . cap. . m. d.   philip of naples . alexander the third . x. amalricus prior of the sepulchre .   afterward he renounceth his place , tyr. lib. . c. . order of the carmelites first begun in syria . iiii. arnoldus de campis . reinold carried captive to aleppo .     musteniged . boemund the third , s. to reimund . he prescribeth rules to the carmelites .     almerick his br.         v. gilbertus assalit : who to get pelusium for his own order , instigated k. almerick ( contrary to his oath ) to invade egypt . templars hanged for traytours . sanar & dirgon fight for the sultany of egypt . at the instance of sultan saner he goeth into egypt , and driveth out syracon . he is conquered and taken prisoner ; ransometh himself .   otto de sancto amando , one that feared neither god nor man , tyr. lib. . c. . cesarea-philippi lost .     almerick contrary to his promise invadeth egypt .         he taketh a voyage into grecia , to visit the emperour his kinsman .     mustez , s. vi. castus .   anno dom. popes . emper. of the east . emper. of the west . kings of england . kings of france . holy warre , & kings of ierusalem . princes of antioch . patriarchs of antioch . patriarchs of ierusalem . mrs of kn. hospitallers . mrs of kn. templars . caliphs of syria . turkish k. of egypt .     saladine with his horsenace knocketh out the brains of elhadach the last turkish caliph in egypt , tyr. lib. . cap. . vii . jobertus . the templars safely kill the embassadour of the assasine● .   baldwine the fourth .           william marquesse of montferrat marrieth sibyll the kings sister . viii . roger de moris .     saladine shamefully conquered at askelon . reinold of castile , once prince of antioch , ransomed from captivity .     he getteth damascus & the whole turkish kingdome in sy●ia , ( tyr. lib. . c. . ) in despite of noradines sonne . these great figures reckō saladines reigne of yeares ( for so many , authours give him ) frō his seising of the kingdome of damasc. but if we count his reigne from the killing of the egyptian caliph , he began far sooner   arnoldus de troge , tyr. lib. . c. fatall jealousies betwixt the king and reimund prince of tripoli for many yeares .     m. d. m. alexius comnenꝰ . philip augustus , s. boemund by putting away theodora his lawfull wife , causeth much trouble in this state.     narzai , s. lucius the third . xi . heraclius , archbish. of cesarea .     andronicus , s.     baldwine disabled with leprosie retireth himself from managing the state.     m. .   he dieth in an embassie to the princes in europe . m. d. urbane the third . isaac●us angelus . baldwine the fifth , after eight moneths poysoned . he travelleth into the west , cometh into england , consecrateth the temple-church in londō , & returneth without any aid he went with heraclius into the west ; returneth : gerardus ridford . m. d. guy de lusignan in right of sibyll his wife . antioch by the patriarch betrayed to saladine . ☉     gregory the eighth . m. . d. . conrade marquesse of montferrat defendeth tyre , and is chosen king guy taken prisoner ; jerusalem won by saladine . is slain in a battel neare ptolemais . he is taken prisoner . clement the third . guy having got libertie , besiegeth ptolemais . * ix . garnerius de neapoli syriae . tericus , master of the templars during gerards durance . gerard is set at libertie , and slain in the siege of ptolemais . m. . richard the first . . voyage under frederick surnamed barbarossa .       anno dom. popes . emper. of the east . emper. of the west . kings of england . kings of france . holy warre , & kings of ierusalem . princes of antioch . patriarchs of antioch . patriarchs of ierusalem . mrs of kn. hospitallers . mrs of kn. templars . mrs of dutch knights caliphs of syria . turkish k. of egypt . henry the sixth , s. . voyage under rich. of engl. philip of fran antioch wonne again frō the turks by frederick d. of suevia .       henry a-wal-pot . m. d. conrade murdered in the market-place of tyre . ptolemais taken .         celestine the third . guy exchangeth his kingdome of jerusalem for cyprus . the time of boemunds death is as uncertain as who was his successour ; onely we find from this time forward , the same princes ( but without name or certain date ) ●●yled both of antioch & tripoli .   he lived viciously , and died obscurely .   ** m. . henry earl of champaigne .   *** x. ermegarous daps.   saphadime , br. to saladine . alexius comnenꝰ angelus .           anno dom. popes . emper. of the east . emper. of the west . kings of england . kings of france . holy warre , & kings of ierusalem . princes of antioch . patriarchs of ierusalem . mrs of kn. hospitallers . mrs of kn. templars . mrs of dutch knights caliphs of syria . turkish k. of egypt .         betwixt him and saladines so●nes ( whom at last he conquered and subdued ) was long warre to the great comfort and profit of the christians . almerick the second , king also of cyprus .         m. d. . voyage , under henry duke of saxonie . henry the palatine , herman landtgrave , &c. winne beryt●●         innocentius the third . the dutch men miserably killed on st martines day .   xii . albertus succeedeth heraclius , spond .     otho the fourth . simon earl of montfort cometh into palestine and maketh a profitable peace .         john his br.         ii. otto kerpin .         isaacius again with alexius his s. . voyage , under baldwine earl of flandres ; but by the pope diverted against the grecian usurping emperour .     xi . got●ridus de dnyjon .   baldwine earl of flandres .         interregnum of years . almerick dieth of a surfet , according to marinus sanutus .   he perfecteth and writeth a rule to the carmelites , idem .     henry his br.       leo king of armenia restoreth to the templars what he had violently taken from them the holy warre turned against the albingenses in france .         iii. hermannus bart.         meladine ( as most compute ) succeedeth his father saphadi●e in egypt . almerick for his lazinesse deposed by the pope , dieth soon after .         john bren made king of jerusalem by the pope .           xiii . thomas a●●● .     iv. hermannus a sal●za .         frederick the second .     xii . alphon●us de portugallia   an army of children going to the holy warre wofully perish by the way .                 the great laterane councel , to advance the holy warre .   he is present in the laterane councel to solicite the holy warre . xiii . gotheridus de-la-rat . p. de monte acuto . saphadine ( according to m. paris , p. . ) dieth for grief that the fort nigh to damiata was taken . ☉ m. d. peter earl of auxerre . . voyage under andrew king of hungarie .         honorius the third . henry the third , s.         damiata beseiged .       he fighteth stoutly with the rest of his order at the taking of damiata , mat. paris , pag. & . maladine damiata taken .         the christians intrapped in water , restore damiata for their libertie ; and conclude an eight-yeares truce .         is wonderfully kind to the christians half ▪ drowned in egypt . robert .                 he dieth . john bren cometh into france , and there receiveth rich legacies from philip augustus .     crown● bequeathed by the k. of fr. to the hospit . & templars .   lewis the eighth .   xiiii . geraldus .   oliver .     xiiii . guarinus de mon●e acuto .   taher s. m. . he is honourably entertained at rome , and resigneth his kingdome .   a bitter enemy he was to frederick the emperour , and s●ded with the pope & templars against him .     gregory the ninth . st lewis . frederick , by marriage of iole brens daughter .         the dutch knights under hermannus their master come unto prus●ra ; yet so as many of * them still remained in syria . baldwine the second .     xv. cervius .   . voyage under frederick ; who crowned himself king of jerusalem ; and concluding a ten-yeares truce , returneth into europe , leaving reinold duke of bavaria his vice-roy in palestine .       an inveterate enemie to frederick , whom be most spitefully and treacherously used .   the pr. of antioch dieth without lawfull issue .             xvi . bertrandus de campis .     frederick base s. to fred. the emp. is by reinoldus vice-roy of jerusalē made pr. of antioch , in spite of henr. k. of cyprus , who claimed that place .                       mu●tenatze● .                         the former ten-yeares truce expired , reinold concludeth another of the same term .         . voyage under theobald king of navarre .         he is unfortunately overthrown in battel at gaza .         m. . celestine the fourth . d. . . voyage under richard earl of cornwall . xv. robertus   hermannus petragorinus , m. paris , pag . v. conrade landtgrave of hassia .   the see void .   xvii . petrus de villebride ;     innocentius the fourth .         the cora●ines ▪ conquer the christians , and sack jerusalem . he was in the battel against the corasines : as appeareth in m. paris ; where he writeth a bemoning letter . taken captive by the corasines , m. paris pag. . all the templars slain to eighteen , * the hospitallers to nineteen , the dutch knights to three .     xviii . guilielmus de castello novo , m. paris , pag. .             . voyage under s. lewis king of france . the antiochians fighting unadvisedly with the turks , are overthrown .         he dieth at damiata's taking . he arriveth in cyprus , & there wintereth ;           melechsala , s. taketh damiata ; beateth the saracens .           anno dom. popes . emper. of the east . emper. of the west . kings of england . kings of france . holy warre , & kings of ierusalem . princes of antioch . patriarchs of ierusalem . mrs of kn. hospitallers . mrs of kn. templars . mrs of dutch knights caliphs of syria . great chās of tartary . mammaluke sultans of egypt . interregnum of yeares , wherein there were many competitours for the empire . robert earl of artois slain . lewis taken prisoner . interregnum of yeares .   the patriarch of jerusalem was taken prisoner with the king of france magdeburg . cent. . col . . all the hospitallers with their master slain to one . all the templars with their master slain to two .     tarqueminus . the pastorells overthrown in france .     xix . hugo revel : he ●ade a statute whereby women were admitted into this order .       king lewis being ransomed cometh into palestine ; recovereth and fortifieth sidone conrade s. to frederick prince of antioch .           returneth into france .         vi. poppo .   mango perswaded by haito k. of armenia to t●rn christian. m. d.             anno dom. popes . emper. of the east . emper. of the west . kings of england . kings of france . holy warre , & kings of ierusalem . princes of antioch . patriarchs of ierusalem . mrs of kn. hospitallers . mrs of dutch knights caliphs of syria . great chās of tartary . mammaluke sultans of egypt . alexander the fourth .   xvi . pantaleon , a frenchman .             musteazem , the last caliph of syria , a covetous miser , cōquered by the tartarians . melech , otherwise called clothes       haalach br. to mango taketh the citie of babylon .   these yeares following the genoans fighting against the venetians and pisans , hasten the ruine of the christians in palestine .                     m. . d. michael palaeologus . haalach the tartarian cometh to antioch ; is there kindly entertained by prince conrade       bendocdar . urbane the fourth .   he is made pope by the name of urbane the fourth , platina .     haalach succeedeth his br. mango .                 m. d. charles earl of anjou , by the pope made king of jerusalem and si●ilia . conrade cometh into europe to succour conradine his kinsman .       abaga cham his s. he winneth the kingdome of damascus from the tartarian : taketh siphet , & killeth all that would not turn mahometanes : winneth joppa . clement the fourth .       vii . hanno de sanger hausen .       xx. nicolaus longar .           m. d. antioch in the absence of conrade wonne by bendocdar .       the see void . hugh king of cyprus . . voyage under st lewis king of france , charles of sicilie , and our prince edward .           tunis taken . lewis dieth boemund the fourth .       gregory the tenth . philip the bold . prince edward cometh to ptolemais ;         is desperately wounded , yet recovereth .         rodulphꝰ ab haspurg . edward the first .                 anno dom. popes . emper. of the east . emper. of the west . kings of england . kings of france . holy warre , & kings of ierusalem . princes of antioch . patriarchs of ierusalem . mrs of kn. hospitallers . mrs of kn. templars . mrs of dutch knights great chās of tartary . mammaluke sultans of egypt . m. d. the last voyage under henry duke of mechlenburg . dieth may . boemund the fifth , s. under the tuition of the bishop of tortosa .       innocent the fifth . m. .   xxi . john de villiers .   dieth by cold gotten with swimming in euphrates . adrian the fifth . m. d. maria domicella princesse of antioch , resigneth her right of the kingdome of jerusalem to charles .       hermannus the third . melechsait , or melechsares . john the . m. d.       nicolas the third . m. . d.       the see void .       he is poysoned by the sultan of babylon . ☉ martine the second .       the sicilian vespers . boemund now of age , sideth against the templars to the destruction of the christian cause . about this time we find a namelesse patiarch of jerusalem , —     tan●o or his br. styled himself mahomet cham and was a great persecutour of the christians . andronicꝰ paleologus   xxii . odo de pinibus .   charles the second , surnamed the lame , or the delayer . john his s.       m. d. henry his br.     p●ter belius , a valiant souldier . burchardꝰ schuadens . argon cham killed his br. mahonet : he favoureth the christians . he expelleth the carmelites out of syria for changing their coats . honorius the fourth . philip the fair.       d. . lucie his sister , married in europe .       nicolas the fourth . tripoli sidon lost . vide calvis . in hoc anno .   the hospitallers winne the castle of mergath .   berytus tyre lost . ☉ — who fled out of ptolemais when it was besieged , and was drowned in his flight : it seemeth his name was drowned with him .     ragaithus his ●r . a lazie voluptuous glutton . ☉ elpis , or alphix . m. . ptolemais besieged ; how-ever , one hugh challengeth both the title of antioch , and principalitie of tripoli , knolls , pag.   xxiii . vigilbelmus de villaret . he is chosen governour of ptolemais , & therein slain . casanus , s. to argon . he was very favourable to the christians : * adolphus of nassau . taken : and the latine christians finally expelled out of syria .       deposed . seraph , or arraphus . m. d.     james molaibergamon last master of the templars in syria , conti●●ator belli sacri , lib. . cap , & conradꝰ de fertuangen . the see void .       celestine he v. m. . d. . bone●ace the eighth .       if the reader do observe any difference betwixt our former computation in the book and our chronologie here , let him rather rely on this latter , which i take to be better perfected . a catalogue of authours cited in this book . a adricomius , de terrâ sanctâ . paul. aemylius ; basileae , per sebastianum henric-petri ; in fol. albertus aquensis , chron. hierosol . alfonso villeg . alphonsus de castr. s. ambrose . ammian . marcellin . antoninus . jo. antonius summontius . tho. aquinas . arnoldus lubecens . s. athanasius . athenaeus . aventinus . s. augustine . b sr fr. bacon . balaeus . barklay . baronius , annal. eccl. colon. agrippinae , . bellarmine . bernard . chr. besoldus ; argentinae , , in o. bibliander . blondus . hect. boethius . bolsecus . bonaventure . bracton . bridenbach . brietwood . brochardus . buchanan . burton . bydulph . bzorius . c cesars comment . calvisius , francofurti ; edit . ● , in o. camden . jo. cammanus . canon law. carew . cassanaeus . cedrenus . chemnitius . civil law. cochlaeus . sr edw. coke . continuator guil. tyrii . continuator matth. paris . continuator urspergensis . sr rob. cotton . d daniel . p. diaconus . mart. dominic . dressaeus . e egnatius . erasmus . estius . jo. euchaitensis . eulogium chron. eusebius . f fazellius . field . fox , acts and monuments ; . edition , . otho frisingensis . froissard . fuller . g gaguinus . gerson . godwine . goffridus . grafton . gwillam . h harding . sr jo. harrington . chr. helvicus , chron. marpurgi , in fol. dr heylin . s. hierome . hieronimo roman . hospinian . rog. hoveden ; francofurti , in fol. hen. huntington ; francofurti , , in fol. i. b p jewel . illyricus . josephus . k rich. knolls , turkish hist. . edition , , in fol. krantzius . l lambert . lampadius mellificium hist. marpurgi , , in o. livie . lindwood . lipsius . lombard . luther . m machiaviell . magdeburgenses centuriae , basileae , in fol. jo. magnus . guil. malmesburiensis ; francofurti , , in fol. mantuan . marinus sanutus . martini chron. mr mead. p. mela. mercator . monstrell . morison . seb. munster . n nauclerus . nicetas choniates ; apud haeredes eustathii vignon , , in o. neubrigensis . theod. à nyem . greg. nyssen . o ovid. p pantaleon . matth. paris ; london , , in fol. jo. paul perin , luthers forerunners , translated by s. leonard ; lond. . pero mexya . peter de bloys . peter de valle sarnensi . peter de vineis . pierce plowman . pitzaeus . platina . polybius . possevine . r sr walter ralegh . reinerius . reineccius . dr ridley . rivetus . claud. rubis . s an. coc. sabellicus ; lugduni , in aedibus nic. petit. . sr edw. sandys . g. sandys travels . scaliger . scotus . mr selden . du serres . socrates . sozomen . jo. speed. statutes of engl. scotl. stephanus cypriot . t theodoret. theophylact. theophanes . thuanus . tremellius . hist. conc . trident. tullie . guil. tyrius ; basileae , , in fol. v vincent . polyd. virgil. vitruvius . volaterran . urspergensis ; basileae , apud petrum pernam , . w weaver , fund . mon. dr whitaker . dr white . z zuerius boxhorn . a table shewing the principall things contained in this historie . a   b. ch. abaga maketh cowards valiant , abbeys , how and why suppressed in england , , , adamites against their will , albingenses ; three opinions concerning them ,   their originall , persecution , nick-names ,   defended from crimes objected ,   commended by their adversaries ,   ibid. alexius emp. his treachery , causeth the christians overthrow , his death and epitaph ,   alexius angelus the younger a princely begger , almerick k. of ierusalem his character , he helpeth the sultan of egypt ,   invadeth egypt against promise ,   his death ,   ibid. almerick the second , deposed for lazinesse ,   almerick patriarch of antioch , almerick patriarch of ierusalem ,   andronicus a bad practiser of s. paul antioch wonne by the christians , betrayed by the patr. to saladine , recovered by the duke of suevia ,   finally lost to the sultan of egypt , apostasie of many christians in europe upon k. lewis captivity ,   arms of gentlemen deserved in this warre , arnulphus the firebrand-patriarch of ierusalem , , , assasines , their strange commonweal .   b baldwine k. of ierus . his nature , be wins antipatris & cesarea ,   his two voyages into egypt , his death ,   baldwine the second chosen king ,   he is taken prisoner ▪ & ransomed ,   he renounceth the world , & dieth ,   baldwine the third his character , discord betwixt him & his mother   he winneth ascalon ,   his death , and commendation ,   ibid. baldwine the fourth ,   he conquereth saladine ,   , he is arrested with leprosie : his death , and praise ,   ibid. baldwine the fifth poisoned by his mother ,   baldwine earl of flanders emperour of constantinople , theodore balsamon how cousened , battels at or neare dogargan , battels at or neare antioch ,   battels at or neare askelon , battels at or neare rhamula ,   battels at or neare meander ,   battels at or neare tiberias ,   battels at or neare ptolemais , battels at or neare bethlehem ,   battels at or neare moret in france ,   battels at or neare gaza , battels at or neare tiberias ,   battels at or neare manzor in egypt ,   battels at or neare manzor again ,   bendocdar sultan of egypt , , bernard patriarch of antioch , an apologie for s. bernard , biblianders wild fansie , bishops numerous in palestine , boemund prince of antioch , he is taken prisoner , he wasteth grecia ,   boemund the second ,   boemund the third ,   c   b. ch. caliphs , their voluptuousnesse , , calo-iohannes grecian emper.   carmelites , their originall , luxury , and banishment ,   carthage described , chalices in england , why of latten , charatux one of the wisest men in the world ,   charles earl of anjou , k. of ierusal . he dieth for grief ,   charles the second , surnamed the delayer ,   ibid. children marching to ierusalem wofully perish , choermines , their obscure originall and finall suppression ,   clerks no fit captains , clermont councel , climate how it altereth health , conferences betwixt opposite parties in religion never succeed , conrade emperour of germanie his unfortunate voyage , he conquereth the turks ,   conrade of montferrat k. of ierus . he is miserably slain ,   conversions of pagans hindred by christians badnesse , how it must orderly and solemnly be done ,   edmund crouchback not crooked ,   d   b. ch. dabertus patriarch of ierusal . he scuffleth with the kings for that city , & dies in banishment ,   , , damascus described ,   in vain besieged by the christians   ibid. damiata twice taken by the christians , and twice surrendred , , , danish service in this warre , drunkennesse wofully punished , a duell declined , duells forbidden by s t lewis , e ebremarus patriarch of ierusal . prince edward his voyage , he is desperately wounded , and recovereth ,   elianor qu. of france playeth false with her husband , elianor wife to prince edward , her unexampled love to her husband , elhadach caliph of egypt , emmanuel emperour of greece ,   engines before guns , english service in this warre , equality of undertakers ruineth this holy warre ,   eustace refuseth the kingdome , f   b. ch. faith-breaking the cause of the christians overthrow , fames incredible swiftnesse , the strength of imaginarie fear forts make some countreys weaker , franks , how ancient in the east , fred. barbarossa his unhappy voyage his wofull drowning ,   frederick the second , k. of ierusalem , his disposition , his grapplings with the pope , his death , and posteritie ,   french service in this warre , fulcher patriarch of ierusalem , fulk king of ierusalem ,   , g galilee described , genoans atchievements in this warre , germane service in this warre , germane nobility numerous ,   ibid. s t george , gibellines and guelfes , godfrey king of ierusalem , his vertuous vice ,   ibid. his death ,   a goose carried by the pilgrimes to ierusalem , greek church rent from the latine , on what occasion ,   ibid. wherein it dissenteth ,   what charitably is to be thought of them ,   ibid. what hope of reconcilement ,   guarimand patriarch of ierusalem , guy king of ierusalem ,   he is taken prisoner ,   he exchangeth his kingdome for cyprus , h   b. ch. haalon cham of tartarie , , helen no ostleresse , henry e. of champaigne k. of ierus . his wofull death ,   henry earl of mechlenburgh his long captivity & late deliverance henry the fourth , k. of england , his intended voyage to ierusalem , heraclius the vitious patriarch of ierusalem , holy fraud , holy warre , arguments for it , arguments against it ,   unlikely again to be set on foot , hugh king of ierusalem and cyprus , i james iv , k. of scotland , hath some intentions for ierusalem , ianizaries their present insolencie , ierusalem destroyed by titus , rebuilt by adrian ,   largely described ,   wonne by the christians under godfrey ,   lost to saladine , recovered by frederick the emp. finally wonne by the choermines , her present estate at this day , iews their wofull present condition , the hindrance of their conversion ,   ibid. interviews of princes dangerous , iohn bren k. of ierusalem ,   his discords with the legate ,   ibid. he resigneth his kingdome ,   irish service in this warre , isaacius angelus emp. of constant. italian service in this warre , iudea described , k   b. ch. king for deputie in eastern tongues , three faults in the kingdome of ierusalem which hindred the strength of it , knights-hospitallers their originall they degenerate through wealth into luxury ,   ibid. they rebell against the patriarch about tithes ,   brawl with the templars , flit from cypr ' by rhodes to malta the manner of their suppression in england ,   , in vain restored by qu. mary ,   knights-templars instituted , many slain through their own covetousnesse ,   they become rich and proud , their treachery hindereth the holy warre , they are finally exstirpated out of christendome ,   arguments for and against their innocency , with a moderate way betwixt them ,   , knights teutonicks their institution they are honoured with a grand master , they come into prussia , their service there , knights of the sepulchre , l laterane councel , length of the journey hindrance of this warre , leopoldus duke of austr . his valour , leprosie , lewis the young k. of france his wofull journey , , s t lewis his voyage to palestine , he wintereth in cyprus ,   lands in egypt , winnes damiata ,   is conquered and taken captive ,   dearly ransomed ,   s t lewis his second voyage , he besiegeth tunis ,   his death and praise ,   ibid. m   b. ch. mahometanisme ; the cause why it is so spreading , mammalukes their originall , their miraculous empire , maronites their tenents and reconcilement to rome , meladine king of egypt his bounty to the christians , why not loved of his subjects , his death ,   ibid. melechsala his son king of egypt ,   ibid. melechsaites sultan of egypt ,   mercenary souldiers dangerous , yet how , well qualified , they may be usefull ,   ibid. miracles of this warre examined , and ranked into foure sorts : viz. not done ; falsely done ; done by nature ; done by satan ; n nice besieged and taken by the christians , nilus his wonders and nature , northern armies may prosper in the south , norvegian service , numbers numberlesse slain in these warres ,   what numbers competent in an army ,   numbers of asian armies , what we may conceive of them ,   ibid. o observation of rog. hoveden confuted , offers at palestine since the end of the warre , office of the virgin why instituted , owls why honoured by the tartarians p   b. ch. palestine in generall described , pastorells in france slain , pelagius the legate , peter the hermite his character , he proves himself but an hypocrite   ibid. peter k. of aragon , a favourer of the albingenses , slain in battel , philip augustus k. of france his voyage to palestine , and unseasonable return ,   pilgrimages proved unlawfull , the popes private profits by the holy warre , he the principall cause of the ill successe , polands service in this warre , ptolemais wonne by the christians , regained by saladine ,   after three yeares siege recovered by the christians , finally taken by sultan scrapha , q qvalitie of the adventurers in this warre , r red sea why so called , reformation , why rome is averse from it , reimund earl of tripoli , his discords with baldwine , his apostasie to saladine ,   his suspicious death ,   ibid. relicks how to be valued , why so many before death renounced the world , richard k. of england his voyage to palestine , he taketh sicily and cyprus in his passage ,   vanquisheth salad . in a set battel   in his return he is taken prisoner in austria , and ransomed ,   richard earl of cornwall his voyage to palestine , robert d. of normandie his valour , he refuseth the kingdome of ierusalem , and thriveth not after , rodulphus chosen unexpectedly emperour of germanie , sendeth supplies to syria ,   ibid. rodulphus the unhappie patriarch of antioch , s   b. ch. sacriledge , saladine killeth the caliph of egypt , succeeds in egypt and damascus ,   ibid. conquereth guy ,   taketh ierusalem and all syria ,   his commendations and death , scholars without experience no good generalls , scottish service in this warre , sea and land-service compared , simon earl of montfort concludeth a truce in syria , chosen captain against the albingenses ,   is killed by a woman ,   ibid. sidon described ; wonne by the christians , lost to the sultan of egypt , spanish service in this warre , stephen patriarch of ierusalem , superstition tainting this whole war , suspected souldiers in armies where to be placed , sultans their large commissions , sweden appeareth not in the holy warre , t tartaria described , tartars , their name and nature ,   ibid. when first known to the world ,   converted to christianitie ,   their relapse to paganisme ,   the occasion ,   ibid.   b. ch. theobald king of navarre his unhappie voyage , titular bishops their use and abuse , pretenders of titles to the kingdome of ierusalem , tunis described ; besieged , taken by the christians ,   turks whence descended , their large strides into asia ,   ibid. harder to be converted then tartars , turkish empire ; its greatnesse , strength , and welfare ; the weaknesse and defects of it ; what hopes of its approching ruine tyle colupp a notable cheater , tyre described , taken by the christians ,   valiantly defended by conrade , wonne by sultan alphir , v   b. ch. venetians performance in this warre , their bloudie sea-battel ▪ with the genoans , vitiousnesse of the pilgrimes which went to palestine , w wafer-cake why wrought in the borders of all egyptian tapestrie , welsh service in this warre , william patriarch of ierusalem , william landt-grave of hesse his fictitious voyage to ierusalem confuted , women warriours , wracks first quitted by the kings of england to their subjects , finis . mart. . . imprimatur cantabrigiae per thomam buck. ra. brownrigg , procan . sam . ward . tho. bainbrigg . tho. bachcrofts . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e anno dom. . . * iosephus , lib. . belli iud. gr. c. . lat. c. . * exod. . . * adricom . is actis apost . fol. . credo , ex hegesipp● . * suetonius , in tit● . euseb. eccl. hist. lib. . cap. . . * hieron . tom . . pag. . * num. . . * sand. trav. fol. . * hieron . tom . . pag. . munster , cosmogr . p. . polyd. virg. pag. . sandys trav. pag. . * p. heylin , microcos . in palestine , pag. . sr ed. sandys survay of the west . * epist. ad paulinum ; tom . . p. . camden , brit. pag. . . * ambros. cont . in theod●sium . * fox , martyrol . p. . * ambros. ibid. . * ammian●● marcel . lib. . sub initio . * socrat. hist. eccl. lib. . cap. . theodoret , lib . cap. . sozom. lib. . cap. . * adricom . descript. terrae sanctae , pag. . * sand. trav. pag. . * belli sacri lib. . cap. ● . . theophanes in annal. * paulus diaconus , miscel. lib. . * cedrenus . . * tyrius , bell . sacr . lib. . cap. . * baronius , in martyrolog . sept. . * tyrius , bell . sacr . lib. . pag. . * lib. . cap. . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . . suetonius , in caesare . * lib. . cap. ult . * ovid. . metam . sabell . aen. . lib. . . knolles , tur. hist. pag. . * . chron. . . * tyrius , lib. cap. . * knolles tur. hist. pag. . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . * vrsperg . chron. pag. . quem tamen postea multi hypocritam fuisse dicebant . * sabell . enn. . lib. . col . . et aemilius , digest . franc. pag. . in philipp● . * ut desertor signorum , fratrum com●ilitonúmque proditor . * sabell . aen. . lib. . tyrius , lib. . cap. . baron . anno . w. malmsb. lib. . cap. . all have severall set orations . * baronius , in anno . col . . * baronius , in anno . col . . * sabell . aen. . lib. pag. . * baronius , tom . . pag. . * livi●s , lib. . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . * bellarm. lib. . de rom. pont. cap. . * ibidem . * baronius , tom . . pag. . * sabell . enn. . lib. . pag. . * ioh. cammenus , de jure majest . thes. . et albert. aqu. chro. hierosol . lib. . cap. . et reineccius in praef. hist. orient . * matth. . * hieron . tom . . pag. . in epist. ad paul●u● . * vide besoldum , de regibus hieros . pag. . & sequentibus . * lib. . de rom. pont. cap. . * ezek. . . * aventinus , lib. . annal. * in his chronologie . * balaeus , in rom. pont. in urban . . * matt. dress . de bello sacr . cited by lampadius mellific . histor . part . . pag. . * see daniel , in henry the third , pag. . * hist. angl. pag. , & . diversis muscipulis simplicem dei populum substantiâ suâ moliebatur romana curia privare , nihil petens nisi aurum & argentum . * aemilius , de gest . fran. pag. . * daniel , in henry first , pag. . * whitaker de eccl . contr● . . cap. * albert. aqu. in chron. hierosal . lib. . cap. . tyrius , lib. . cap. . * malmsb. lib. . pag. * centurist . ex vrsperg . cent . . col . . * pantaleon , de viris ger. part . . pag. . * daniel , in will. the second , pag. . daniel , ut priús . * aemilius , de gest . fran. pag. . * munster , cosmogr . * malmsb. lib. . pag. mar. * calvisius , pag. . in anno . aemilius , de gest . fran. pag. . iuly * malmsb. lib. . pag. urspergens . pag. , & . * urspergens . pag. . aug. . dec. . * m. paris , pag. . aemilius , de gest . fran. pag. . lib. . vide erasmum in adagio , graeca fides . * m. paris , pag. . * malmsb. pag. . may . iune . * m. paris , pag. . & h. hunting . lib. . pag. * w. malm●b . pag. . iuly . * vrspergens . pag. . * acts . octob. . * sabell . enn. . lib. . pag. . et aemilius , in philip the first , pag. . iune . * p. aemil. pag. . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . iune . * m. pari● , in gulielmo secundo , pag. . * mundus senescens patitur phantasias falsorum miraculorum ; propterea sunt nunc habenda miracula valde suspecta , gerson . * . sam. . . . chron. . . * . chron. . , . * num. . . * iosh. . . * munster , in terra sancta pag. . & in aegypt . pag. . * . sam. . . * . sam. . . * iosh. . . * in . matth. * morisons trav. part . . pag. . * psal. . . * sandys , pag. . * bidulphs trav. pag. & morisons , part . . pag. . * . king. . . * . king. . . * vide trem●l . in locum . * adricom . ex hieron . pag. . * theatr. terr . sanct . . * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , comment . in . luc. * illyricus , in . matth. * cambdens brit. in buckinghamshire . * bridenb . de domin . sepulcre . a sandys , pag. . b adricom . pag. . c morison , pag. . d ralegh , pag. . e adricom . pag. . f ralegh , pag. . g sandys , pag. . h ralegh , pag. . i sandys , pag. . k adricom . pag. . l sandys , pag. . m adricom . pag. . n bidulph , pag. . o adricom . pag. . p sandys , pag. . dec. . * sabellicus , enn. . lib. . pag. . april . may iune . iune . * aemilius , pag. . * plin. nat. hist. lib. . cap. . * chron. . . iuly . * m. paris , pag. . * p. aemylius , pag. . & tyrius , lib. cap. . iuly . iuly . * tyrius , lib. cap. . * p. aemylius , pag. . * the manner set down at large , bidulphs trav. pag. . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . iuly . * idem , lib. . cap. . * m. paris , pag. . * lib. . cap. . iuly . * besoldus , de regibus hierosol . ex variis autoribus , pag. notes for div a -e anno dom. iuly . p. aemylius , pag. . henry hunting . lib. . pag. . * cambden brit. p. . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . * lib. . cap. . * lib. . cosmog . pag. . * as caius proveth it plainly out of walsingham . * quantum potuit renitebatur , tyrius , lib. . cap. . * fatuo populo suffragia inconsulta ministrante , tyrius , lib. . cap. . * vide tabulas adricomii . * lib. . cap. . * in the archbishops of cant. p. . * fox martyrolog . p. . aug. . * tyrius , lib. cap. . * baronius out of brunus in anno * tyrius , lib. . cap. . idem , lib. . cap. . * hospinian . de orig . mon. fol. . * in his view of civill law , pag. . * mr selden , in his preface of tithes , pag. . * hospinian . de orig . m●n . fol. . hospinian . ut prius . * camb. brit. pag. . * cited by volaterran . * sand. trav. pag. . * sand. trav. pag. . * lib. . cap. . * centuriatores , centur . . col . . de schismat . * in his pass . . * p. amylius , lib. . * plin. lib. . cap. . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . * munst. cosmog . lib. . pag. . * pantal. in vita caroli . . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . * fox , martyrol . pag. . dec. . * munst. cosmog . p. . * cambden , brit. pag. . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . * vrsperg . pag. . * tyrius , lib. . . . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . . . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . baronius in anno . . * pantal. de hist. germ. part . . pag. . * ursperg . pag. . * in chronico , pag. . * cited by lampad . mellis . histor . part . pag. . * besoldus . * p. aemyl . pag. . * munst. cosmog . pag. . * ursperg . pag. . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . * iosephus . * . sam. . * in annal. eccles. anno . & rursus , anno . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . idem , cap. . * vide erasm. adag . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . * gen. . . * iosephus . tyrius , lib. cap. . idem , * gen. . . * sand. trav. pag. . dec. . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . tyrius , lib. . cap. . * scalig. on festus , in aegyptius . & fuller , miscell . lib. . cap. . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . * calvisius makes it to be wonne at the former voyage . * sand trav. pag. . mar. . * aliter caesar . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . april . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . . . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . . * baronius , in anno . * quarto & quinto cap. exhort . * weaver , fun. mon. pag. . * hospin . de orig . mon. * tyrius , lib. . cap. . * lib. . cap. , , . tyrius , lib. . cap. . iune . * plin. lib. . cap. . * tyrius , lib. . . * baronius , in anno . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . idem , lib. . cap. . . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . * vide suprà , book . chap. . * ursperg . pag. . tortis sacramentis . * vide suprà , book . chap. . sr walter ralegh , part . book chap. . gen. . . melek in both . tyrius , lib. . cap. ult . * lib. . cap. . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . * epist. . col . . * illud tibi ex genere , istud ex munere dei ; illud feliciter nara es , hoc viriliter nacta , epist. . col . . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . . * alii omnes abeuntes post munera , secuti sunt vias balaam filii bosor , tyrius , lib. . cap. . * annal. eccles . in anno . . * compare baronius with himself in these yeares , , , , and we shall find haymericus and almericus the same . polyd. virg. lib. . cap. . sabel . enu . . ●ib . . haspin de orig . mon. * antonius , lit . . cap. . * balaeus in vita nicol. . * vide balaeum , centur . . cap. . in append . . * eclog. . immutarunt mutati vellera mores . * yet camden saith they were first seated in northumberland . * pitsaeus , in indic● carm. * christiano nomini à temporibus apostolorum devota , t●rius , lib. . cap. . * p. aemyl . in lu●o● . * nicetas , in emm. comn . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . * camd. bri●an . in surrey . * nicetas , ut pri●s . * in vitae manuel . comn . lib. . §. . * knolls , turk . hist. pag. . * nicetas , in man. comn . lib. . §. . * liv. lib. . * munst. cosmog . lib. . pag. . * serres , ( translated by grimston ) in vita ludov . . & p. aemylius , in ejusdem vita . * theodor. à ni●in , de privilegiis imperii , cap. de conrado . * sabellicus . * cited by luther , on gen. . * serres , in ludov. . * goffridus , in vita bern. lib. . cap. . * baron . annal . eccl. in anno . insistens operi sibi commisso ab eugenio . * germania tunc latrocinus frequens purgabatur ●o genere hominum , krantz . . sax. cap. * in vita fred. lib. . cap. . in fine . * goffrid . ut priús . * lib. . cap. . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . * idem , ibidem . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . aug. . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . febr. . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . * in orat. pro deiotaro . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . baron in anno . * m paris , in anno . . . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . * m. paris , anno . p. aemyl . in ludov. jun. * m. paris , ( aut ejus continuator ) in anno * mach. prince , cap. . se malle vinci suis armis quàm alienis victorem esse . * mach. prince , cap. . * speed , edward . aug. . aug. . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . * idem , cap. . * idem , cap. . sept. . * non considerandum cui , sed per quem jurave●●s , comment . . ezech. * centurist . centur. . in almerico . * morison , in the description of ireland , anno . may. * tyrius , lib. . cap. . iuly . * centurist . centur. in episcopis . . * besoldus , de reg . hieros . pag. . * besoldus , pag. . * patriarchiss● , marinus san. lib. . part . . cap. . . * posse●ine , a●par . sacr . in maron . * brierwood , enquiries , cap. . . * daniel , in henry . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . nov. . * centurist . cent. . in baldvino . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . centurist . cent . in baldvino . may . camd. brit. in the descript . of the countie of dublin . isa. . . cosmog . lib. . in terra sancta . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . & . calleth him hom●nem indiscretum & penitus inu●●lem . * centur. . in episcop . * annal. eccl. in haymerico . * baronius , in anno . * nicet●● choniates , in isa●cio angelo , p. . * idem ibidem . * nicetas chon . in isaacio , pag. . may . iuly . . * besoldus , in guidone ; ex crusio . sept. . octo. . * m. paris , in anno . besoldus , in guidone , pag. . * besoldus , in guidone , pag. . * roger hoveden , in henrico . anno . * quandam morti salvatoris vicem cum multa devotione rependunt , baronius , in anno . * loco priùs citato . notes for div a -e anno dom. * nicetas , in isaacio angelo , lib. . §. . * nicetas , in isaacio angelo , lib. . §. . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * sabell . enn. . lib. . pag. . hoveden . * besoldus , ex ritio de reg . pag. . aug. * centur. cent. . cap. . * matth. paris , in anno . * centur. ut priús . * camden , brit. pag. godwine , in episc. dunesm . see this catalogue of patriarchs altered and perfected in the chronologie . adricomius , in terra●●ncta . history of trent , lib. . pag. . camd. brit. in his descript . of dublin . history of trent , lib. . pag. . iune . arnoldus lubecensis . * nicetas choniates , in fine vitae andronici . * in the first chapter of this book . * nicetas choniates , in isaacio , lib. . pag. . aug. . * baronius , annal. mar. . may . * aemylius , in phil. augusto , pag. , & . * barklay , bellum in anglia non sen●scit . * lib. . cap. . iune . * aemylius , in phil. . pag. . * fuga imaginario metu orta , sabell . enn. . lib. . pag. . * munster , de germania , lib. . pag. . * matthew paris , rich. . pag. . * martinus , in richardo . * speed , in richard the first . * matthew paris , in richardo º , pag. . * roger hoveden , in richardo º , pag. . * idem , ibidem . * hoveden , in rich. º , pag. . & matth. paris . in codem , pag. . * bracton , lib. . cap. . * quietum clamavit wreck , &c. roger hoveden , in rich. o. pag. . * sr ed coke , vol. . fol. . * chemnitius , ex ●eselo , exam. conc. trid. tract . de indulg . * pantal. de illustribus germaniae , part . . pag. . iune . * matth. paris . in anno . iuly . * roger hoveden , in rich. o. pag. . * fox , martyrol . pag. . * hoveden , in rich. o. pag. . * p. aemylius , in philippo augusto , pag. . but matthew paris saith but . iuly . * matthew paris , pag. . * speed , out of hoveden , in richard the f●●st . * matth. paris . in richardo º , pag. . apr. . * roger hoveden , in richardo º , pag. . saith , on the calends of may ; but sabellicus putteth it sooner . * aemylius , in phil. augusto , pag. . * roger hoveden , in richardo º , pag. . sept. * sabell . enn. . lib. . pag. . calvisius . * p. aemyl . in phil. augusto , pag. * p. aemyl . ibidem . * matth. paris . in richardo º , pag. . * p. amyl . pag. . excepto ●oc 〈◊〉 n●dus inóps que . * p. aemyl . pag. . tanto duorum regum comaru nihil actum . * daniel , pag. . * matth. paris . in rich. . pag. . * in lib. de oper . mon. cap. . * bellar● . de reliq . cap. . * annal. eccl. in anno . octo. . dec. . dec. . * matth. paris . in rich. . * lindwood , lib. . de summa tri. sol . . * eulogium ; a chronicle cited by fox , martyrol . in rich. . * epist. . * speed , in rich. . febr. . * sabell . eun. . lib. . pag. . * ioan. euchaitensis , jampridem etoniae graecè editus . * sabell . eun. . lib. . pag. . * continuatur ursp. in anno . et m. paris . in eodem . * ursp. chron. in anno . pag. . * ursp. ut priús . * baron . annal . eccl. in anno . * pantal. de vir . illustr . germ. in vita s. martini . * knolls , turk . hist. pag. . * magdeburgenses , cent. . cap. . sub finem . * knolls , ut priús . * nicetas . * blo●dus , lib. . decad. . pag. . iuly . apr. . * in libello cui titulus , status constantinopolis , §. pag. . * servorum hic dies est , lips. lib. . satur. cap. . apr. . crowned may . * io. paul. perin . de albing . lib. . cap. . * dr field , of the church , lib. . cap . we acknowledge them ( viz. wickliff , husse , hierome of prague , &c. ) to have been the worthy servants of god , and holy martyrs & confessours , suffering in the cause of christ against antichrist ; yet do we not think that the church of god was found onely in them . * dr white , in his replie to fisher , pag. , . the waldenses maintained the same doctrine in substance with the modern protestants . * matth. paris . in hen. . in anno * io. paul. perin . hist. waldens . lib. . cap. . * reinerius , fol. . art . . * claudius rubis , history of lyons , pag. . * in his . homily on the canticles . * bishop iewel , apol. part . . chap. . divis . . waldo and the rest , for ought we know , and i beleeve ( setting malice aside ) for ought you know , were godly men . their greatest errour was that they complained of the dissolute and virious lives of the clergie . * in vita lutheri . * in vita calvini . * solidly confuted by dr whitaker , de notis ecclesia , cap. . out of melanchthon , sleidan , gryneus , beza , eye-witnesses * so witnesseth peter de valle sarnensi , being himself a monk , and lately printed ( anno . ) in paris . see rivet on genesis , pag. . * cited by fox in his maetyrol . pag. . * thuanus , tom . . lib. . pag. . * idem , tom . . lib. . pag. . * tom. . lib. . pag. * acts . , . * in his preface to his retractat . * io. paul perin . de albing , lib. . cap. . see the substance of this following slory , in io. paul perin . lib. . cap. . & deinceps . . . * see camd. in leicestershire . * also in worcestershire . * perin , of the albingenses , lib. . cap. . * martyrol . in vita dominici . * psal. . . * of chilperick king of france . * a fish called aurata , or aurella . * theod. à niein , de privileg . imper . cap. de expedit . hierosol . * matth. paris . in anno . pag. . praestigio diabolico penitus infatuati . * centuriat . cent. . cap. . nov. * matth. paris . in ioan. pag. . iuly . * munster . * illis tamen deliciis catere maluissent , matth. paris . pag. . aug. . febr. * p. aemyl . pag. . * magdeburg . cent. . cap. . col . . nov. . * p. aemyl . pag. . * magdeburg . pag. . * p. aemyl . pag. . * p. aemyl . in phil. . pag. . * matth. paris . pag. . * blondus , fazellus , &c. for the pope . ursperg . petrus de vineis ( till corrupted with bribes ) &c. for the emperour . matth. paris , a moderate man , whom we follow most . * pantal. de viris illustr . germ. part . . pag. . * praeter gentis morem , egnatius . mar. . sept. . aug. . * centuriat . * centuriat . * matth. paris . in anno . pag. . * matth. paris . in anno . pag. . * idem , ibidem . notes for div a -e anno dom. these are collected out of lampad . mellif . hist. part . . pag. . * sr iohn harington . * magdeburg . cent. . cap. . * see mertators maps . * see brierwoods enquiries , chap. . * sabell . enn. . lib. . pag. . * vide erasm. adag . in noctua volat * magdeburg . cent. . cap. . sedex vincent . lib. . cap. . . . . . * matth. paris . in anno . pag. . * matth. paris . in anno . pag. . * idem , pag. . sr edw. sand. relig. of the west , pag. , & . * b●navent . . sent. dist . . art . . quaest . . scotus , . sent dist . . quaest . . th. aquin. part . . quaest . . art . . * in his third book of the church , chap. . * estiu● , dist . . §. . * possevin . in apparatu sacro , in rutheni . see brierwoods enquiries , chap. . * sr edw. sand. west . relig. pag. . * idem , pag. . * magdeburg . cent. . cap. . decennales inducias nuper denuò confirmârat . * iidem , ibidem . * matth. paris , pag. . octo. . * camden , in cornwall . * matth. paris . in hen. . pag. . * idem , pag. . * called anciently arabia petraea , tyrius , lib. . cap. . * matth. paris , pag. . * camden , in cornwall . matth. paris , pag. . * matth. paris , pag. . * in his letter to richard of cornwall . * caes. lib. . de bello gallico . * graft . in rich. . fol. . * matth. paris , pag. . * matth. paris , pag. . * except any make them to be chorasmii , a people placed by athenaeus in the east of parthia . * matth. paris , pag. . et p. aemyl . in d. lud●● . pag. . * fox , martyrolog . pag. . * camden , in wiltshire . * matth. paris . in anno . pag. . fox , martyrolog . pag. . * matth. paris . pag. . aug. . sept. . * p. aemyl . in ludov. . pag. . * p. aemyl . ut pri●s . * p. aemyl . pag. . * knolls , turk . bist . pag. . iune . * p. aemyl . pag. . . . * matth. paris , pag. . knolls , turk . hist. matth. paris . pag. . * matth. paris pag. . * erimus ( credo ) hodie , ubi non audebis caudam equi mei attingere , idem ibid. apr. . * quos martyres credimus esse manifestos , matth. paris . pag. . * vt priús . * matth. paris . pag. . * du serres , in the life of lewis the . * matth. paris . pag. . * matth. paris . pag. . * sr tristram a knight long before . see carew , in cornwall , fol. . * book . chap. . * knolls , turk . hist. pag. . * bzovius , anno . §. . * falsum ex ejus temporis hominum testimonio esse convincitur , pantal. in fred. o. dec. . as others . . * others say , a falconers , or , a physicians . see munster , de italia , lib. . pag. . gathered out of lampad . mellif . hist. part . . pag. . * calvisius , anno . ex spang . et pantal. in rodulpho caesare . * matth. paris . pag. . * magdeburg . cent. . cap. . col . . apr. . marinus sanutus . magdeburg . cent. . cap. . col . . * calvisius , ex hist. pol. in anno . * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , athanasius . * magdeburg . cent. . cap. . pag. . * so knolls , turk . hist. pag. . the magdeburgenses say lesse , semestri spatio , cent. . cap. . col . . * magdeburg . & knolls , ut priús . * calvisius , in anno . ex bizaro . * so saith blondus , decad . lib. . pag. . but if we consult with tyrius , lib. . cap. . the genoans and not the venetians wonne ptolemais . * loco priùs citato . * platina , in urban . iv . * besoldus , de reg . sicil. pag. , & . * see these conditions at large ( five and twenty in number ) out of io. anton. summont . cited in besoldus , pag. . * platina , in clem. iv . néve imperium romanum , etiam ultro oblatum acciperet . * calvisius , in anno . ex marino sanuto . sept. . * calvisius , ex marino sanuto , in anno . . . * magdeburg . cent. . cap. . col . ● . . * harding , chap. . * vincents discoveries of brooks errours , tit. lancaster . * sr walter ralegh , hist. part . . lib. . cap. . * alfonso villeg in the life of s. lewis . * con●inuat . matth. paris . in anno . * continuat . matth. paris . in anno pag. . * speed , in edward the first . * see fox martyrolog . pag. . * p. aemyl . in d. ludovico , pag. . * continuat . matth. paris . in anno pag. . * sr robert cotton , in his henry iii. * marinus sanutus . * pantal. de illu●●● . germ. part . . in vita rodulphi . * pantal. de. illustr . germ part . . pag. . * vide calvisium in anno . & magdeburg . cent. . * magdeburg . cent. . cap. . col . . * lampad . mellif . hist. part . . pag. . * sand. trav. pag. . * lampad . pag. . * sand. trav. pag. . notes for div a -e * sabellicus , enn. . lib. . platina , in vita clem. v. * hospin . de orig . mon. cap. . fol. . * p. aemylius , in philipp● pulchr● . * urspergens . paralip . fol. . antoninus , tit . . cap. . §. . * cambdens brit. in bedfordshire . * ioach. stephanus , de jurisdictione , lib. ● . cap. §. . * hospin . de orig . mon. cap. . fol. . * hieronimo romano , de la republica christ. lib. . cap. . et pero mexya , de la silva de varia lici●n . lib. . cap. . * hospin . de orig . mon. cap. . fol. . * acts . . * m ● gr. gibs of s. perr●t , dorset . * cassanaeus , part . . considerat . . * statut. in º henr. viii . * parlam . anno o. henr. viii . * weaver , m●n . pag. . may . * idem , pag. . stow. * parlam . anno º & º phil. & mariae . * chap. , and . * froissard , lib. . cap. , . * monstrell . lib. . cap. . * epist. seu orat. de iis qui adeunt hierosol . edit . gr. lat. parisiis , . * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . * m. paris . in anno . * idem . * m. paris . * roger hoveden , in anno . * nauclerus , gen. . * chron. pruten . * spondanus , in anno . * miracula , si piâ utilitate aut necessitate careant , de facto suspecta sunt & rejicienda , gerson . psal. . * m. paris . pag. . huic pacis formae ex papae mandato rebellis erat legatus , & frontosè cont●adicens , &c. * dist. . can . si papa suae & fraternae salutis negligens . * book . chap. , . * lib. . * m. paris . pag. . * totum vulgus , tam casti quàm incesti , adulteri , homicidae , perjuri , praedones , albertus aquensis , chron. hierosol . lib. . cap. . besoldus , pag. . ex brochardo , malefactor deprehensus , homicida , latro , fur , incestuosus , adulter , fornicator , timet à judice condignam poenam , & transfretat in terram sanctam . * especially in the end of king almericks life . * tyrius , lib. . cap. . * annal. ecclesiast . in anno , & . * malmesb. lib. . pag. . sexagies ( surely a mistake for sexies ) centum millia . * lamp. mellific . hist. pag. . tyrius , lib. . cap. . vrsperg . in chron. pag. . * p. aemyl . in phil. aug. pag. . * knolls , turk . hist. pag. . * magdeburg . cent. . col . . * fox , in martyrol . in hen. . pag. . * vide m. selden on polyolbion , pag. . * sandys travels , pag. tyrius , lib. . cap. . & lib. . cap. . * munst. cosmog . in polon . * . sam. . . * vide calvisium in anno . & io. magnum , hist goth. lib. . cap. . * baronius , in anno . * lib. . cap. . * buchan . in guilielmo seniore . * hect. boeth . third book of majest . cap. . lambert , peramb . kent . * w. malms . lib. . pag. . * camden , in pembr . * pantal. de illust . germ. part . . pag. . * hospin . de orig . mon. cap. . fol. . * camden , in his descript . of cludisdale . * zueri●s boxborn his apologie for the holland shipping . * gwill . in his heraldrie . * burton in leicestershire . * hospin . de orig . mon. in ioan. * dr ridley , view of the civil law , §. . pag. . * lord verulam , in his henry vii . pag. . * luke . . * l. verulam , in henry vii . * buchanan , in the life of iames iiii . * camdens remains . * cent●riatores , pag. totius operis penult . * psal. ●● . . * bydulph , pag. . * sandys travels , pag. . * carew , in his survey of cornwall , pag. . * bydulph , pag. . * camdens elisabeth , in anno . * de terra sancta , part . . cap. . * acts . . * matth. . . * s●belli●●s , ennead . . lib. . pag. . * in his proe●e , fol. . * institut . lib. . tit . . §. . * knolls , hist. turk . pag. . * sr edwin sandys , view of the west world , pag. . * centuriatores , cent. . cap. . col . . * heylin , microcos . in palestine . * knolls , in his descript . of the greatnesse of the turkish empire . * knolls . notes for div a -e * anno . helvicus giveth baldwine the second sixteen yeares : but herein he is deceived ; as also in allowing king fulk but eight . we , according to the consent of the best authours , have given the former thirteen , the latter ten . * . this catalogue of the masters of the hospitallers i find in hospinian , de origine monachatús . it seemeth strange this nestor rodulphus should govern his order yeares ; yet it appeareth to be so , if we compare tyri●s , lib. . cap. . * . that antioch was betrayed by a patriarch , is plain by sabellicus : but whether almericus was this traytou●-patriarch , or whether it was done by the grecian antipatriarch , is uncertain . here we cease that columne , as despairing to co●●●●ne their succession any longer . ** . here is a subject for industry to deserve well , in filling up the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the masters of the templars , from the death of gerard till the yeare , whose names we cannot find . *** . hitherto the succession of the patriarchs of jerusalem is accurately collected out of tyrius . the order of those which follow , is not so authentick , being catcht as we might out of severall authours . * . severall authours assigne severall dates wherein the dutch knights came into prussia : perchance they came in severall parcels . their succession i had out of pantaleon , munster , and the cen●●rists . quare whether these masters of the dutch knights in prussia had also command over those of their order in syria . * here we are at another losse for the names of the templars , and will be thankfull to those which will help us to them . * for in the ninth yeare of his reigne he winneth the city of jerusalem & restoreth it to the eastern christians ; who soon after lose it to the sultan of egypt . davids hainous sinne. heartie repentance. heavie punishment. by thomas fuller master of arts of sidnye colledge in cambridge fuller, thomas, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) davids hainous sinne. heartie repentance. heavie punishment. by thomas fuller master of arts of sidnye colledge in cambridge fuller, thomas, - . [ ] p. printed by tho. cotes, for iohn bellamie, dwelling at the three golden lyons in cornehill, london : . the words "hainous .. punishment." are bracketed together on the title page. in verse. signatures: a-e. the last leaf is blank. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng david, -- king of israel -- poetry. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - judith siefring sampled and proofread - judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion davids hainovs sinne . heartie repentance . heavie punishment . exodvs . . and every man , with whom was found — goates ●aire , and red skins of rammes , and badgers skins , ●rought them . [ to the building of the tabernacle ] ad zoilum . thy laies thou vtt'rest not , yet carpest mine , carpe mine no longer , or else utter thine . by thomas fvller master of arts of sidnye colledge in cambridge . london , printed by tho. cotes , for iohn bellamie , dwelling at the three golden lyons in cornehill . . to the honorable mr. edwar● mr. william , and mr. christopher montagu , sonnes to the right honorable , edward lord montagu , of boughton . faire branches of a stock as faire each a sonne , and each an heire : two ioseph-like , from sire so sage , sprung in autumne of his age ; but a benjamin the other , gain'd with losing of his mother . this fruit of some spare hours i spent to your honours i present . a king i for my subiect have , and noble patrons well may cra●●● things tripartite are fit for three , with youths , things youthful best 〈◊〉 take thē therfore in good part , of him that ever prayeth in heart , that as in height ye waxe apace , your soules may higher grow 〈◊〉 whilst your father ( like the greene eagle in his scutcheon seene , which with bill his age doth cast ) may longer still and longer last : to see your vertues o're increase your yeares , ere he departs in peace . thus i my booke , to make an end , to you : and you to god commend . your honours in all service tho. fuller . davids hainous sinne. . how zions psalmist grieuously offended , how israels harper did most foulely slide , yet how that psalmist penitent amended , and how tha● harper patient did abide deserved chastisement , ( so fitly stil'd , which wrath inflicted not , but love most mild , not for to hurt , but heale a wanton child . ) . how one by her owne brother was defiled ; and how that brother by a brother slaine ; and how a fa●her , by his sonne ex●led : and by a subject , how a soveraigne : how peace procured after battels fierce , as sol at length doth sullen cloudes dispierce ; my muse intends the subject of her verse . . great god of might , whose power most soveraigne , d●pends of none , yet all of thee depend , time cannot measure , neither place containe , nor wit of man thy being comprehend : for whil'st i thinke on three , i am confin'd to one , and when i one conceive in minde i am recal'd to three , in one combin'd . . thy helpe i crave , thy furtherance i aske , my head , my heart , my hand direct and guide , that whilst i vndertake this weighty taske , i from thy written lore start not aside : alas , 't is nothing lord with thee to breake the strong , 't is nothing to support the weake , to make men dumbe , to make an infant speake . each one begotten by immortall seed , becomes the pitcht feild of two deadly foes , spirit and flesh , these never are agreed , with trucelesse warre each other doth oppose ; and though the spirit oft the flesh doth quell , it may subdue but can it not expell , so stoutly doth the iebusite rebell . now david when on bathsheba loose eyes he fixt , his heavenly halfe did him disswade ; turne , turne away thy sight from vanities , exchange thy object , else thou wilt be made vnmindfull of thy soule , her corps to minde , made for to lose the truth , such toyes to finde , by looking long , made at the last , starke bli●de . . what though her face , and body be most faire , behold , the sun her beauty doth surpass ; his golden beames surmount her yellow hayre , as far as purest cristall , dyrtie glasse : her skinne , as is the skie , not halfe so cleare , her curious v●ines , for colour come not neare those azure streaks , that in the heavens appeare , . there let thy hungry sight her famine feede , whereon it cannot surfet with excesse : whil'st tongue , heart , harp are tuned vp with speed , the grand-contrivers glory to expresse : framing with words , to rayse his mighty name , that with a mighty word , did rayse this frame , and by his providence preserves the same . . 〈◊〉 let no lustfull thoughts lodge in thy minde , ●●fore that they be borne , they must be kill'd , or else the man is cruell that is kinde , to spare the foes , wherewith his soule is spill'd ▪ and if a wanton motion may request , leave for to lodge a limbe , th'incroaching guest , will soone command roome to receive the rest . . looke towards the midday sun , and thou shalt see , a little * tower , o're topps of hills to peepe ; that is the birth place of thy pedygree : full oft there hast thou fed thy fathers sheepe , and kept his flockes vpon the flowry plaine . but now the sheepe-hook of a country swaine , is turn'd the scepter of of a soveraigne . god made thee great , oh doe not him disgrace , and by his weighty statutes lightly set , hee honour'd thee , oh doe not him debase , hee thee remembred , doe not him forget : why should fat * ieshurun so wanton grow , as at his maisters head , his heeles to throw ? maister ; that all his feeding did bestow . behold high cedars in the valley set , they in thy eyes like little shrubbs doe show , whil'st little shrubbs vpon mount oliuet , seeme lofty cedars ; men whose states are low their sinnes are not so obvious to sense , in princes persons of great eminence , a smaller fault doth seem● a great offence . but grant , no man thy wickednes espies , surely the searcher of the reines doth marke even infant luft , can figg-leaves bleare his eyes ? or can thy shame bee shrowded in the darke ? darknes shall then be turned into light , yea darknes , is no darknes , in his sight , but seeme the same to him , both day and night . the spirit had resolved more to speake , but her halfe-spoken words , the flesh confounds , nor wonder is it , she so vs'd to breake gods lawes , not passing for to passe their bound● , against mans rules of manners should offend , which now impatient longer to attend , began before her rivall made an end . . if euer nature la●ishly did throw her gifts on one , which might haue served more , yet make them comely , if shee e're did show , the prime , and pri●e , and plenty of her store . loe , there 's the forme wherein she hath exprest her utmost power , and done the very best , her maister-peece surpassing all the rest . . 〈◊〉 if ●hose carelesse tresses were attired ? sure then her face for comelines tra● scends , what now seemes lovely , then wo●ld be admired ▪ if art might but begin , where nature ends . alas , ten thousand pitties 't is indeed , that princes , on so common fare should feed , whilst common men , on princely meat exceed . . alwayes the same doth glut the appetite , but pleased is our palate , with exchange , variety of dishes doth delight , then give thy loose affections leave to range : forbidden things are best , and when we eate what we have slily gotten by deceit , those morsels onely make the daynty meate . . but oh , reserve thy selfe , my maiden muse , for a more modest subject , and forbeare to tune such wanton toyes , as may abuse , and give distaste vnto a virgins eare : such rotten reasons first from hell did flow , and thither let the same in silence goe , best knowne of them , that did them never know . thus hee that conquer'd men , and beast most cruell , ( whose greedy pawes , with fellon goods were found ) answer'd goliah's challenge in a duell , and layd the giant groveling on the ground : he , that of philistims , two hundred slue : no whit appalled at their grisly hue , him one frayle womans beauty did subdue . man is a shippe , affections the sayle , the world the sea , our sinnes the rocks and shelves , god is the pylot , if hee please to sayle , and leave the stearing of us , to our selves , against the ragged rocks wee run amaine , or else the winding shelves doe us detaine , till god the palinure , returnes againe . yet da●id bold to sinne , did ●eare the shame , he shunn'd the sheath , that ran upon the knife , with a fine fetch , providing for his fame , ●ee fetcheth home vriah to his wife : so under his chaste love , to cloake his owne vnlawfull lust , to fault most carelesse growne , most carefull that his fault should not be knowne . 〈◊〉 in their plots , god doth befoole the wise , 〈◊〉 wayes that none can trace , all must admire : 〈◊〉 of his house that nigh vriah lyes , 〈◊〉 david so came short of his desire : the man a nearer l●dging place did use , ( which made the king on further plots to muse ) and sent home , home to goe , did thus refuse . . the pilgrime arke doth so journe in a tent , in open fields , ioab my lord dothlye , and all the souldiers of his regiment , have earth their beds , the heaven their canopy : where bitter blasts of stormy winds are rife . shall i goe feast , drink , dally with my wife ? not , as i live , and by your lordships life . . then by his servants david did conspire , vriahs lust so dull , with wine to edg● : ( venus doth freeze , where bacchus yeelds no fire ) by their constraint , he condescends to pledge one common cup that was begun to all captaines incamped nigh to rabba wall ; o●e specially , vnto the generall . abishay next is drunke to , ioabs brother , and this cupp , to a second paves the way , that orderly doth vsher in another ; thus wine once walking , knowes not where to stay ▪ yea such a course methodicall they take , in ordering of cupps , the same did make vriah quite , all order to forsake . his false supporters soone begin to slipp , and if his faltring tongue , doth chance to light on some long word , hee speedily doth clip 〈◊〉 traine therof ; yea his deceitfull sight , all obiects paired doth present to him : as double faces , both obscure and dim ▪ seeme in a lying looking-glasse to swim . . my prayers for friends prosperity , and wealth , shall ne're be wanting , but if i refuse ; to hurt my selfe , by drinking others health , oh let ingenious natures mee excuse : if men bad manners this esteeme , then i desire to be esteem'd unmannerly , that to liue well , will suffer wine to dye . . well did blind homer see , for to expresse this vice , that spawnes all other ; when he faines , dame circe , an inchanting sorceresse , who●e cupps , made many men forgoe their braines ▪ whilst with the witlesse asse , one purely doats , others mishaped are , like lustfull goates , or swil-ingrossing swine , with greedy throats . though bad , yet better was vriah left , not quite a beast , though 〈◊〉 a man , disturb'd in minde , but not distracted , nor bereft of witt , though 〈◊〉 , yet sob●●ly h●e curb'd his lust , being wise , though ignorant , to crosse the kings designes , who now new thoughts doth tosse , finding his former project at a losse . . the night with mourning weeds , the world be●ladd , when re●tlesse david , for to mend his matter , did make it worse ; his na●ed sinne was bad , more monstrous being mas●t ; they oft doe scatter the chayne , that of gods lawes vnloose a linke : hee swam before in sinne , nigh to the briuke , but now he meanes in midst thereof to sinke . then for a light , hee speedily did call , ( thou dark●es with his project best agree'd ) for paper , pen , and inke , to write withall , though sure a poniard , might have done the deed , better if hee in blood had dipped it , and on a sheet of paper what he writ , a winding sheet far better did befit . this certs i know , as sepian juice did sinke into his spongy paper , sabling o're the same , with various-formed specks of inke , which was so pure and lilly-white before : so spots of sinne the writers soule did staine , whose so ylie tincture did therein remaine till brinish teares had washt it out againe . next day , when day was scarce an infant growne , vriah , ( that no mischiefe did mistrust , as none hee did deserve , but by his owne did measure all mens dealings to bee just ) bearing this letter , on his journey past with speed , who needed not to make such hast whose death , had he gone slow , did come too fast . thus crafty maisters , when they minde to beate a ca●elesse boy , to gather birch they send him ; ●he little lad , doth make the rod compleat , ●hinking his maister therefore will commend him : b●t busily imploy'd , he little t●ough● , hee made the net , wherein himselfe was caugh● and must be b●●ten , with the birch hee brought . . his journey came well to the welcome end , safe to the * towne of waters hee attaines , towne which to force , ioab his force did bend , ( nought is so hard , but vincible by paines ) some with their heads did plot , some with 〈◊〉 did practise , yea as ready was the band to serve , as was the captaine to command . . so busie bees , some fly abroad at large , of f●owry nectar for to fetch their fill , some stay at home , for to receive their charge , and 〈◊〉 ●stily , the liquor doe distill : or bottle it in waxe , whilst others strive , like ●●urdy martialls , far away to drive the drowsy droanes , that harbour in the hiue . the strong-arm'd archer , from his crooked bow , made a strait shaft , with dismall newes to speed into the towne which ne're return'd to show , the sender , how his message did succeed : yea heavie bodies , mounted were on high , dull ston●s , to which dame nature did deny feet● for to goe , art made them wings to fly . whilst i● the towne , one with his friend did talk , a sudden stroake did take his tongue away , some had their leggs arrested , as they walke , by martiall law , commanding them to stay : here falls a massy beame , a mighty wall comes tumbling there , and many men doth ma●le , who were both slaine , and buried by the fall . . were there not vsed in the dayes of yore , enough men-murdering engines● but our age , witty in wickednes , must make them more , by new found plotts , mens malice to inrage : so that fire-spitting canons , to the cost of christian blood , all valour have ingrost . whose finding , makes that many a life is lost . . whilst thus the well appointed array sought , winding in worm-like trenches neare the wall , to humble the proud towers , vriah brought the speaking paper to the generall . who when such language hee therein did finde , h●e thought himselfe , or els the king was blinde , himselfe in body , or the king in minde . then hee the letter did peruse againe , the words , the words of david could not bee , and yet the hand , for da●ids hand was plaine , hee thought it was , and thought it was not hee : each little line , he thorowly did view , till at the length , more credulous he grew , and what he thought was false , he found too tr●e . now ioab let thy valour be display'd , act not a midwife , to a deed vnjust , ●y feare or fauour , be not ouersway'd , ●o proue a pandar , to a princes lust ; returne a humble answer back againe , let each word breath submission , to obtai●● by prayers , a conquest of thy soueraigne . . shew how when god and countries good requires , then substance , soule and body to ingage , is the ambition of thy best desires , foes forraine to resist , to quell their rage , how willingly would'st thou thy selfe despise , count losing of thy goods , a gainfull prize , lavish thy blood , and thy life sacrifice ? but when gods lore , directly doth withstand , and where his lawes , the contrary convince , wee must not breake the heauenly kings command , whilst we do seeke to please an earthly prince : the burdens they impose on us to beare , our dutie is to suffer them ; but where kings bid , a●d god forbids , we must forbeare . behold the man , whose valour o●ce surmoun●ed in sacking zions mount , ( mount not so high as men therein were ha●ghty ) and accounted , of worthies chiefe , doth most unworthily : he● that to summe the people of the land withstood the king , now with the king doth stand too buxome for to finish his command . next morne , when early phoebus first arose , ( which then arose last in vriah's sight ) him ioab in the forfront did dispose , from whom , the rest recoyled in the fight : thus of his friends , betray'd by subtill traine , assaulted of his foes , with might and maine , he lost his life , not conquered , but ●laine . his mangled body , they expose to scorne , and now each cravin coward dare defie him , outstaring his pale visage , which beforne were palsy-strook , with trembling to come nigh him ▪ thus heartlesse hares , with purblind eyes do pee●● in the dead lyons pawes , yea dastard deere , over his breathlesse corps dare domineere . davids hearty repentance . the tongue of guiltlesse blood is never ti'd in the earth's month , & though the greedy ground her gaping crannies quickly did provide , to drinke the liquor of vriah's wound , yet it with moanes , be scattered the skies , and the revoicing eccho , with replies , did descant on the playn song of the cries . hereat the lord , perceiving how the field , hee sow'd with grace , and compast with an heape , of many mercies , store of sinnes did yeild , where he expected store of thankes to reape , with flames of anger , furnace-like he burn'd for patience long despis'd , and lewdly spurn'd is at the length to raging fury turn'd . then all the creatures , mustered their traine , from angells vnto worms , the biinde did see their lord disgrac't , whose honour to maintaine things wanting life , most liuely seeme to be ; r●fusing all to serve man , that refus'd : to serve his god , all striving to be us'd , to punish him , his maker ●hat a bus'd : please it your highnes , for to giue me leave , i l'e scorch the wretch to cinder● , said the fire ; send me , said aire , him i l'e of ●reath bereave ; no , quoth the , earnest water , i desire his soylie sinnes with del●ges to scoure ; nay , let my lord quoth earth ; imploy my pow●● with yawning chapps , i will him quick deuou●● soone with a word , the lord appeas'd this strife , injoyning silence , till he did vnfold that precious volume , cald the booke of life , which the the printer , priuiledg'd of old , containing those he freely did imbrace , nor ever would i wish an higher grace , than in this booke to have the lowest place . within this booke , hee sought for davids name , which having found , he prof●ered to blot , ( and david surely well deserv'd the same , that did his nature so with sinne bespot , though none are blotted out , but such as never were written in , nothing gods love can sever , once written there , are written there for ever . ) strait from his throne , the prince of peace arose , and with embraces did his father binde , imprisoning his armes , he did so close , ( as loving 〈◊〉 on an oake did winde , and with her curling flexures it betraile ) his father glad , to finde his force to fayle , strugled , as one not willing to prevaile . thus then began the spotlesse lambe to speake , ( one wo●d of whom , would rend the sturdy rocke ; make 〈◊〉 - scorning adamant to breake , and vnto 〈◊〉 , perswade the sensles stocke , y●a god hims●●f● , that knowes not to repent , is made by his petitions , penitent , hi●●●stice made , with mercy to relent ) why doth my fathers fury burne so fierce ? ●hall persian lawes vnalterable stand ? and shall my lord decree , and then reverse , ●nact , and then repeale , and countermand ? tender thy credit , gracious god , i crave , and kill not him , thou didst conclude to save , can these hands blot , what these hands did ingrave ? . hath not thy wisdome , from eternity , before the worlds foundation first was lay'd , ●ecree'd , the due time once expir'd , that i ●hould flesh become , and man borne of a maide ? to live in poverty , and dye with pa●ne , that so thy sonne , for sinners vilely slaine , might make vile sinners b●e thy sonnes againe . . let me , oh let me , thy feirce wrath asswage , and for this sinner , begg a full di●charge , what though hee justly doth prouoke thy rage ? thy iustice i will satis●ie at large . if that the lord of life must murder'd bee , let 〈…〉 , this murd'rer may goe free , my meritts cast on him , his sinnes on me . . thus speaking , from his fragrant cloaths there went a pleasant breath , whose odour did excell , myrrh● , al●●s , and cassia for sent , 〈◊〉 all perfum'd his father with the smell , whereat his smoothed face most sweetly smil'd , and hugging in his arms , his dearest child , return'd these welcome words , with voyce 〈◊〉 mild● who can so pleasing violence withstand ? thy crauing , is the hauing a request , ●uch mild intreaties , doe my heart command , the ' mends is made , and pacifi'd i rest : as far as earth , from heaven doe distant lye , as ea●t is parted from the westerne skye , so far his sinnes , are sever'd from mine eye . ●ereat the heavenly quire , lift vp their voyce , angells and saints imparadis'd combine , vpon their golden violls , to rejoyce , ●o rayse the prayse of the coelestiall trine , all in their so●gs a sacred strife exprest , which should sing better , and surpasse the rest , all did surpasse themselves , and sang the best . . then said the fire , my fury i recant , life-hatching warmth , i will ●or him provide : i● davids breathlesse lungs do chance to pant , said aire , i l'e fanne them with a windy tide : with moisture , i l'e said water , quench his heat , and i his hunger , quoth the earth , with meat , of marrow , fatnesse , and the flower of wheat . thus when a lord , long buried in disgrace , a king ●o former favor doth restore , with all respect the court doth him embrace , fawning as fast , as they did flowte before : whose smiles , or frownes , are but the bare reflex● of the kings face , and like to this direction , where hee affects , they settle their affection . plaine-dealing natha● , prese●tly was sent : nathan , than whom , was none more skil'd to lanch 〈◊〉 festred soule , and with a se●rching tent , 〈◊〉 sound the sore ; more cunning none to stanch a bleeding-hearted sinner , nor more kinde , with swadling cloaths of comfort , for to binde vnjoynted members , of a troubled minde . 〈◊〉 did not flow with wealth , which envye breeds , ●●or yet was he with pe●ury opprest ; ●●ant is the cause , from which co●●●mpt proceeds : 〈◊〉 meanes were in the meane , and that 's the best . high hills are parcht with h●●te , or hid with snow , and humble dales , soone drown'd , that lie too low , whilst happy graine , on hanging hills doth grow . . for sundry duties , he did dayes devide , making exchange of worke , his recreation , for prayer , he set the precious morne aside , the midday he bequeath'd to meditation : sweete sacred stories , he reserv'd for night ▪ to reade of moses meeknes , sampsons might , these were his joy , these on●ly his delight . . but now dispensing with his dayly taske , to court he comes , and wisely did invent , vnder a parable , his minde to maske , seeming to me●ne nought lesse , than what he meant ▪ and lapwing-like , round fluttering a while , with 〈…〉 praeface and a witty wile , hee made 〈◊〉 king himselfe for to beguile , thus he that thought all mortall men to cheate , and with false shewes , his secret sinnes to shade , was couzned by the innocent deceite , of one plaine prophet , and directly made , as he a iudge sate on the bench , to stand , at barr a prisoner , holding * up his hand , * but first condemned by his owne command . go● fond affectors of a flanting straine , whose sermons strike at sinnes with slenting blowes , give me the man that 's power●ull and plaine , the monste● vice , vnmasked to expose : such preachers doe the soule , and marrow part , and cause the guilty conscience to smart , such please no itching eares , but peirce the heart . . this made king davids marble minde to melt , and to the former temper to returne , ●hawing his frozen breast , when as he felt the lively sparks of grace therein to burne , which vnder ashes cold , were choakt before ; and now hee weeps , and wayles , and sighs full sore , though sure such sorrow , did his joy restore . . so have i seene one slumber'd in a swound , whose sullen soule into his heart did hye , his pensive frien'ds , soone heave him from the ground ▪ and to his face life-water doe apply : at length , a long-expected sigh doth strive to bring the wellcome newes , the man's alive , whose soule at last , doth in each part ariue . ●hen to his harpe , he did himselfe betake , ●his tongue-tide harpe , long growne out of request , ) ●nd next to this his glory must awake , ●he member he of all accounted best : then with those hands , which hee for griefe did wring , hee also lightly strikes the warbling string , and makes one voice serve both to sob and sing . ●hat heavenly voyce to heare , i more desire , ●han syren's sweetest songs , than musicke made ●y philomele chiefe of the winged quire ; or him , whose layes so pleasing , did perswade stones for to lack●y , when he went before , or that brave harper , whom unto the shore , his hackny dolphin safely did restore . davids heavie punishment . most true it is , when penitents by grace acquitted are , the pardon of their sinnes , and punishments release , do ●oth imbrace , like to a paire of vndivided twinns , parted they cannot be , they cleave so fast , yet when the tempest of gods wrath is past , still his afflicting hony-shower doth last . but let the schooles , these thorny points dispute , whose searching sight can naked truth discry , sculking in errors arms , and are acute , ●ine-●ingred with distinctions to ●ntye knotts more than gordian , these men never mist the slender marke , like * those in whose left fist , there did so much dexterity consist . meane time , my muse , come see how prettily the patient infant doth it selfe behave , infant , but newly borne , now neare to * dye , that from the cradle , posted to the grave , see with what silent signes , and sighes full faine , poore heart , it would expresse where lies the paine , complaining , that it knowes not to complaine . stay cruell death thy hand for pitty hold , against some aged grand-fire bend thy bow , that now hath full , twice forty winters told , whose head is silver'd or'e , with ages snow : dash out this babe , out of thy dismall bill , and in exchange , let him thy number fill , so may be life , his friends enjoy him still . . those hands to hurt another , never sought , which cannot helpe themselues , they are so weake ; his heart did never hatch a want on thought , his tongue did never lye , that cannot speake : by wrong and violence , he ne're did wrest the goods , wherewith his neighbour is possest , whose strength scarse servs to suck his nurse's brest ●ut ah , this infant 's guilt from him proceeds , t●at knew the least , when most he sought to know , who was most nak't , when cloathed in his weeds , best cloathed then , when naked he did goe : in vayne the wit of wisest men doth strive , to cut off this intayle , that doth derive death unto all , when first they are alive . as when a tender rose begins to blow , yet scarse unswadled is , some wanton maide pleas'd with the smell , allured with the show , will not reprive it , till it hath display'd the folded leaves , but to her brest applie's th' abortive budd , where coffined it lye's losing the blushing dye , before it die's ▪ so this babes life , newly begun , did end which sure receiv'd the substance , though not sign'd with graces seale ; god freely doth attend his ordinance , but will not be confin'd thereto , when'ts not neglected , nor despis'd , they that want water are by fire baptiz'd , those sanctifi'd , that ne're were circumcis'd . sweet babe , one sabboth thou on earth didst see , but endles sabboths , doest in heaven survive , grant , death of joyfull howers deprived thee , thou hadst seene yeares of sorrowes , if alive : true , thou we●t borne a prince , but now art crown'd a ●ing by death , sleepe therefore in the ground sweetly , vntill the tr●mpet last shall sound . by this childs death , king david did sustaine one losse ; but wh●re this misery did end , more miseries began : as in a chayne , one linke , doth on another linke depend : his l●st , with lust , his slaying with a slaughter must punish't be : proportion'd therafter to mother sinne , is punishment the daughter . . amnon advis'd by ionadab , a fit of sicknesse faines : men wickedly inclin'd , worse counsellers , ( that with great store of wit have dearth of grace ) most easily may find ; and thamar's * hands , his meate must onely make : ah happy age , when ladies learn't to bake , and when kings daughters knew to knead a cake . rebecka was esteem'd of comely hew , yet not so ●ice ●er comelinesse to keepe , but that shee wa●er for the cammells drew ; rachell was faire , ● et fedd her fathers sheepe , but now for to supply rebeck'as place , or doc as rachell did , is counted base , our dainty dames , would take it in disgrace . but quickly did his ●ea●tly lust declare , that he , to eate her daynties , had no neede , he for the cooke , not for the cates did care , shee was the dish , on whom he meant to feed : oh how she pray'd , & strove with might & maine and then from striving , fell to prayers againe , but prayers , and striving , both alike● in vayne . thus a poore larke imprison'd in the cage of a kites claws , most sweetly sings at large her owne dirge whilst shee seeks to calme his rage , and from her jaylor , sue's for a discharge ; who passing for no musick that surpast , to feede his ●ares , whilst that his gutts doe fast , on her that pray'd so long , doth prey at last . then with dust-powdre'd haire she sore bewayles , and punisht on he●selfe , her brothers sinne , parting her maiden livery with nayles , that parted was with colours , and wherein white streaks , their owners innocence did show ; the bashfull red , her modesty ; the row of sable , sorrowed for the wearers woe . comfort thy selfe more vertuous , than faire , more faire , than happy virgin , mourne with measure , sinnes unconsented to , no soules impaire , that must be done perchance with bodies pleasure , which with the griefe of soule may be constrain'd the casket broke , the jewell still remain'd , vntoucht , which in the casket was contain'd . . in his brest * absolon records this wrong : out of our minds , good turns doe quickly passe , but injuries there in remaine too long , those scraul'd in dust , but these ingrav'd in brasse , one sun-set for our anger should suffice , which in his wrath set oft , oft did arise , with yearly race , surrounding twice the skies . . now when his fruitfull flocks , which long had wor● their wollen coates , for to make others hot , were now to forfeit them , and ●o be shorne , ( sure from the silly sheepe , his ●ivelish plott , their owner never learnd ) hee finds a way , to worke revenge , and called on that day , his brothers to a feast , which pro'vd a fray . what amnon drunke in wine , in blood he spilt , which did the dainties marre ▪ and meate defile , cupps ▪ carpetts , all with goary streakes were gilt , seeming to blush , that cruelty so vile ▪ so fowly savage , should the banquet staine : thus he that being well , did sicknesse faine ▪ not being sicke , was on a suddaine slaine ▪ the rest refused on the meate to feede , whose bellies were so full with griefe , and feare to feele , what they had seene ; away they speed to ride : but fame did fly , fame that doth weare an hundred listning eares , an hundred eyes , an hundred prating tongues , she dayly plies , tongues , that both tell the truth , and tattle lyes ▪ . she gets by going , and doth gather strength , as balls of snow , by roling more doe gaine , she whispr'd first , but lowdly blaz'd at length , all the kings sonnes , all the kings sonnes are slaine : the pensive court , in dolefull dumps did rue this dismall case , till they the matter knew , would all bad news , like this , might prove untru● . goe silly soules , that doe so much admire , court-curious incertainment , and fine fare , may you for mee obtaine what you desire , i for your fowles of phasis do not care , if that such riots at your feasts be rife , and all your meate , so sowrely sauc'd with strife ▪ that guests to pay the shot , must lose their life . happy those swaines , that in some shady bower , making the grasse th●i● cloath , the ground their board , doe feede on mellow fruite , or milks fine flower , vsing no wine , but what their wells afford : at these did malice never bend her bow , their state is shot f●●e , it is set so low , they overlooke , that would them overthrow . fast unto geshure , flies the fatricide , to shelter there himselfe , the sentence sore o● angry justice , fearing to abide , oh happy turne had he return'd no more , who wonted guise , kept in a country strange , those that abroad , to forraine parts do range , their climate , not conditions doe exchange : . return'd : at entrance of the court he * stands , if any sutors there he chanc't to finde , hee steales their hearts , by taking of their hands , and sucked out their soule , with kisses kinde : he of their name , cause , citty cloth inquire , proud men prove base , to compasse their desire , they lowest crouch , that highest do aspire . . before such kisses come vpon my face , oh , let the deadly scorpion me sting , yea rather than such armes should me imbrace , let curling snakes about my body cling : than such faire words , i 'de rather heare the fowle vntuned schreeching of the dolefull owle , or heare the direfull mountaine wolfe to howle . some men affirme , that absolon doth sound in the worlds oldest tongue [ of peace a father ] but certs i know that such mistake their ground ▪ [ rebellious sonne ] sure it importeth rather : and yet why so ? sith since i call to minde , than the clementes none were more vnkind , then innocent , more nocent none i finde . then borrowing the plausible disguise of holinesse , he mas'kt his plot so evill , vnder the good pretence of sacrifice , ( a saint dissembled is a double devill . ) but sure were these the vowes , he went to pay ▪ his sire , that harmelesse sheepe he vow'd to slay , who o're mount olives weeping fled away . . this makes mee call my saviours griefe to minde , who on * this mount , because the iewes were growne so wicked , those that said they saw , so blind , mourn'd for their sins , that mourn'd not for their own : much did hee weepe for others that forbad , others to weepe for him , whose being sad hath made his saints , for ever since , full glad . . downe comes the king to iordan : on the sand ●f that the saylors chance to ground the boat , ● flood of teares they straitwayes did command , whos● large accession , made the vessell floate : and if a blast of winde , did chance to faile , so greivously the people did bewayle , their very ●ighs might serve to stuffe the sayle . thus was the king ▪ in his owne land exil'd , his subjects were his hoast , and he their guest , whose place was ill supplied by his child , ( vnhappy bird defiling his owne nest ) that tooke his fathers wives , in open ●ight , those that do want of grace the shun-shine bright , extinguish oft dim natures candle light . ▪ the blushing sun , no sooner did behold ●o beastly lust , but sought his face to shrowd , and shrinking in his beames of burnish't gold , was glad to sculke within a sullen cloud : the shamefac't birds , with one wing faine to fly , did hold their other fanne before their eye , for feare they should such filthinesse espie . what needed he , to keepe alive his name , erect a pillar ? sure this damned deed , makes us remember , and detest the same , that in the worlds last doating age succeed : yea when that brasse , that seemeth time to scorne , shall be by all-devouring time out-worne , his name they'se beare in minde that are not borne ▪ ▪ but * he that gave this counsell , did not speed ▪ who speeding home on witlesse asse amaine , ( asse that for wit , his rider did exceed , ) 'cause he his will at court could not obtaine , did make his will at home : the peevish el●e amongst his houshold parts his cursed pel●e , carefull of that , but carelesse of himselfe . oh suddaine thought of thy mortality ! thou art not yet so thorough worne with age , none in thy sace such symptoms can espy , which should so neare approaching death praesage : thy state is not distempered with heate , thy working pulse doth moderatly beate , all outward things seeme whole , seeme all compleate . but ghostly is thy g●iefe : thou that by treason , against thy leige , so lately wast combin'd , thy passions now rebell against thy reason ▪ reason , that is the soveraigne of thy minde , and seeke for to disturbe it from the throne : strive , strive to set these civill broyles at one , order thy selfe , and let thy house alone . a chayne of hempe , he to his necke made fast , by tying of which knot , hee did vntye the knot of soule and body , and at last stopping the passage of his breath , thereby a passage for his soule , wide opened hee : thus traytors , rather than they should goe free , themselves the hangmen of themselves will bee . his friends , to balme his body spare no cost , with spices seeking to perfume a sinke , for certs i know , their labour was but lost , his rotten memory , will ever stinke , his soule thereby was nothing bettered , because his corps were bravely buried , tombes please the living , profit not the dead . how many worthy martyrs vilely slaine , made meate for fowles , or for the fire made fuell , though ground , they could not for a grave obtaine , were not lesse happy , but their foes more cruell , vnburied bodies made not them unblest , their better halfe , did finde an heavenly rest , and doth injoy , joyes not to be exprest . leave we the traytor thus , vpon whose hearsse , my muse shall not a precious ●eare mis-spe●d , proceeding to bemoane in dolefull verse , how * two great bands , with cruell blowes contend , whole clouds of arrowes , made the skye to lowre , dissolv'd at length , into a bloody showre , till steele kill'd many , wood did more devo●re . oh , let it not be publish't in the path ▪ that leads unto th' incestuous seed of lot ▪ tell not these tidings in the towne of gath , in ascalon , see ye proclaime it not , least these rejoyce at this calamity , who count your fame , their greatest infamy , your wofull jarrs , their wellcome melody . had rachel now reviv'd , her sonnes to see , their bloody hands , would make her heart to bleed , each a benoni unto her would be ; had lea● liv'd to see herselfe agree'd to fall out with herselfe , with teares most sure , she would have made her tender eyes past cure , who ever wonn , she must the losse endure . the conquest ( which her verdict long suspended ) hover'd aloft , not knowing where to light ; but at the last , the lesser side befreinded with best successe ; the other put to flight , more trusted a swift foote , than a strong fist , most voices oft of verity have mist , nor in most men , doth victory consist . the gracelesse sonne was plung'd in deepe distresse , for earth his weight , no longer would endure , the angry heavens denied all accesse , vnto a wretch so wicked , so impure : at last the heavens and earth with one consent , a middle place , vnto the monster lent , above the earth , beneath the firmament . his skittish mule , ran roving in the fields , and up high hills , downe dales , o're woods did prance , seeming with neighing noyse , and wanton heeles , in token of great joy to sing and dance , that now her maister , she should beare no more , ( an heauy bulke , whose sinnes did weigh so sore ) now rid of him , that rid on her before . cry absolon , cry absolon amaine , and let thy winged prayers , pierce the skye , oh to the spring of pitty , soone complaine , that ne're is dammed up , not drained dry , thy fault confesse , his favour 〈◊〉 implore , much is thy misery , his mercy more , thy want is great , but greater is his store . condemne thyselfe , and he shall thee acquitt , doe thou but pray , hee 'le pitty thy estate , confesse thy debt , he will the same remit , it never was too soone , it s ne're to late : alas ; long sinners scarse at last relent , hee gives not all offenders to repent , that granteth pardon to all penitent . whilst thus his life suspended was on high , bold-ventrous loab opened his heart , ( heart , where much treason lurked privily ) and peir'ct his body with a triple dart : then crimson blades of grasse , whereon he bleeds , did straitwayes dye , and in their roome succeeds a fruitfull wildernesse , of fruitlesse weeds . . when david heard the victory was gain'd , but his sonne lost ( as iordan waxing ranke , or'e flowes the land , and scornes to be restrain'd , to have his tide , ti'de in a narrow banke ) surges of sorrow in his heart did rise , and brake the watry sluces of his eyes , who lightned thus himselfe , with heauy cryes ▪ my sonne , whose body had of grace the fill , my sonne , whose soule was so devoid of grace , without my knowledge , and against my will , my sonne , in cause so bad , so strange a place : my sonne , my sonne , for which i most complaine ▪ i feare in soule , as in the body slaine , would i might dye , that thou migh'st live againe ▪ now when this griefe was swallow'd , not digested , the subjects ●lock't , king david to restore , who in an instant , love what they detested , detest in th' instant ▪ what they lo●'d before : people like weather-cocks wav'd with the wind ▪ we constant , in unconstancy may finde ▪ as time counts minutes , so they change their mind . amongst the rest , that came the king to meete , lam●-●egd mephibosheth , but loyall hearted , was one , that never washt his cloaths , or ●eete ( except with teares ) since david first departed ▪ feete , which by fall from nur●e● armes began to halt , with him a child ▪ so fast she ran , that he could never goe , when growne a man ▪ . not much unlike , if it give no distaste , that reall truths . i doe with trifles match , whilst that my posting muse , with headlong haste doth strive her rurall layes for to dispatch , halting invention , for the want of heede , and lame unjoynted lines from her proceede , and seldome things done speedily , doe speed . . but here an vnexpected jarre arose , whilst people , for most part in prince contended ▪ which grew from bitter words to bloody blowes , the king , quoth iudah , of our tribe descended , hee of our flesh is flesh , bone of our bone : nay , answer'd israel , in the king wee owne ten parts , a single share is yours alone . whilst sparkes of discord thus began to smoake , to ●inde the bellowes , sheba did conspire , ( * sheba that proudly did disdaine the yoke ) and blowing of a trumpet , blew the fire : then those that claimed ten , disdain'd all part in david , taught by his seducing art , they discontented to their tents depart ▪ this rebell , ioab whilst to quell he strives , a nameles woman ( in the booke of life her name is kept , that kept so many lives ) procur'd that he , who stirred up the strife , the body of the common-wealth to rend from prince the head , whereon it did depend , with head , from body rent , his life did end . by his death many citizens surviv'd , the losse of traytors blood , did prove their gaine , soone cea'st the flood of discord , thence deriv'd , when they the factious fountaine did restraine . this warre , a vile man with * a word did rayse , vnto his shame , which to her endlesse prayse , a worthy woman with a * word allaies . so in our land , a noble queene arose , as we have heard our fathers oft relate , a maide , yet manly to confound her foes , a maide and yet a mother to the state : which she weake , like to crumbling bricke did finde , which strong , as lasting marble she resign'd , gold and gods worship , both by her refin'd . she having florished in great renowne , in spite of power , and policy of spaine , did change her earthly , for an heavenly crowne , and cea'st to rule o're men , with god to raigne : fourty and foure novembers fully past , ( aie me that winged time should post so fast ) to christ her love , she wedded was at last . this sunne thus set , there followed no night in our horizon , strait another sunne , most happily continued the light , which by the first was hopefully begunne : and , what might most amaze all mortall eyes , never before out of the northen skies , did men behold bright phoebus to arise . . arts did increase his fame , he did increase the fame of arts , and counting twice eleven twelve months upon his throne , this prince of peace , by falling to the earth , did rise to heaven : then downe our chee● stears hot & cold did flow , those for the sire decea'st , expre'st our woe , those joy , for his succeeding sonne did show . . live gracious leige , whose vertues doe surmount all flattery , and envy them admires , c●nter of grace and greatnesse , liv●●o cou●t , till that thy kingdome with the world expires : wee subjects wish thee worst , that love thee best , who here long to injoy thee , ●oe request , that late thou mayst injoy an heavenly rest . and thou young prince , hope of the future age , succeed to fathers vertues , name , and crowne , a new starre did thy saviours birth praesage , his death , the sun eclipsed did renowne : but both of these conjoyned to adorne thy wellcome birth , the sun with ag● so worne , did seeme halfe dead , and a young starr was borne . ▪ but what dost thou , my ventrous muse , praesume so far above thy dwarf-like strength to straine ? such soaring soone will melt thy waxen plume , let those heroike sparks , whose learned braine , doth merit chapletts of victorious bayes , make kings the subjects of their lof●y layes , thy worthlesse praysing doth their worth dispraise strike saile , and to thy matter draw more neare , and draw thy matter nearer to an end ▪ though nought prayse-worthy in thy verse appeare , yet strive that shortnesse may the same commend : returne to see , where ioah homeward goes , to see his friends , that had subdu'd his foes ; his souldiers , and himselfe there to repose . thus when two adverse winds , with strong command , summon the sea , the waves that both do feele , dare follow neither , but in doubt do stand , whilst that the shipps with water drunke doe reele with men , for griefe of drowning , drown'd in griefe , vntill at length , a calme brings them reliefe , and stills the storme , that had so long beene briefe . oh that i might but live to see the day , day , that i more desire , than hope to see ) when all these bloody discords done away , our princes , in like manner might agree : when all the world , might smile in perfect peace , and these long-lasting broyls , at length might cease broyles , which ( alas ) doe dayly more increase . ●he neatherlands , with endlesse warrs are tost , ●ike in successe , to their unconstant tide , ●osing their gettings , gaining what they lost . ●enmarke both sword , and ba●tick seas divide : more blood , than juice of grape nigh rhine is shed ; and brunswicke land will not be comforted , but cryes , my duke , alas , my duke is dead . the warrs in france , now layd aside , not ended , are onely skinned ouer with a scarre , yea haughty alps , that to the clouds ascended , are ouer-climbed with a bloody warre : and maroes birth place mantua , is more made famous now for mars , and battell sore , than for his muse , it famed was before . sweden to stopp th' imperiall flood provides , ( may his good cause , be crown'd with like successe , and they , that now please none , to please both sides may they themselves , his trusty friends expresse . ) but turks the cobweb of their truce , each howr● doe breake , they wayte a time , but want no powre nor will , warr-wearied christians to deuoure . but let the cunning chymicke , whose exact ●kill , caused light from darknesse to proceed , out of disorder order can extract , make in his due time all these jars agree'd , whose greiuances may be bemoan'd by men , by god alone redressed ; and till then ● hey more befitt my prayers than my pen. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e * the tower of eder , nigh bethlē , . miles from ier●sale● . * deut. . . * rabba , sam. . & . notes for div a -e * thou art the man. * the man that hath done this thing shal dye . notes for div a -e * ●●dges . . * the death of king david's child . * the deflowring of thamar . * the murdering of amnon . * absolons aspiring to the kingdome . * luk● . ● . * ac●itophel hanging himselfe . * the battell betwixt absalon and davids men . * the sonne of belial . * what part have we in david , &c. * his head shall be thrown , &c. jacobs vow a sermon preached before his majesty and the prince his highnesse at st. maries in oxford, the tenth of may , being the day of publique fast / by thomas fuller. fuller, thomas, - . this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text r in the english short title catalog (wing f ). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a wing f estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) jacobs vow a sermon preached before his majesty and the prince his highnesse at st. maries in oxford, the tenth of may , being the day of publique fast / by thomas fuller. fuller, thomas, - . p. printed by leonard lichfield, oxford : . "and published by speciall command." caption title: iacobs vow. reproduction of original in the huntington library. eng jacob -- (biblical patriarch) -- sermons. bible. -- o.t. -- genesis xxviii, - -- sermons. sermons, english -- th century. a r (wing f ). civilwar no jacobs vow. a sermon preached before his majesty, and the prince his highnesse, at st. maries in oxford. the tenth of may, . being the d fuller, thomas c the rate of defects per , words puts this text in the c category of texts with between and defects per , words. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread - emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion jacobs vow . a sermon preached before his majesty , and the prince his highnesse , at st. maries in oxford . the tenth of may , . being the day of publique fast . by thomas fuller b. d. and published by speciall command . oxford , printed by leonard lichfield , printer to the university , . the text . gen. chap. . vers. , , . . then iacob vowed a vow , saying , if god will be with me , and will keepe mee in this way that i goe , and will give me bread to eat , and raiment to put on . . so that i come againe to my fathers house in peace , then shall the lord be my god . . and this stone , which i have set vp as a pillar , shall be gods house : and of all that thou shalt give mee , i will surely give the tenth unto thee . iacobs vovv . which words are the vowe of that holy patriarke iacob , who being mortally hated of his brother esau , for deceiuing him ( as he tearmed it ) both of his birth-right , and of his blessing , was forced to flie for his life : and by the aduise of his mother , with the expresse consent , and commandement of his father in the first verse of this chapter , hee trauailed towards padan-aran vnto his vnckle laban for succour ; in hope there not onely to haue his life secured frō his brothers rage ; but also to be prouided of a wife , amongst his owne kindred , which might be a helper , and comforter vnto him : yet he went not forth like a woer , nor like either his father isaacs sonne , or his grandfather : abrahams seruant , with camels , and men , and iewels , and other prouision for such a iourney , ( for then perhappes hee had neuer made this vowe , ) but hee went all alone like a poore pilgrime , with his staffe in his hand , and so came wearie , and late ( the sunne being downe ) vnto a certaine place , neere vnto haran , where he tooke vp his lodging for that night : and as saint chrysostome saith , ibi dormiuit , vbi nox eum comprehendit , he slept there where he was benighted , not in any towne or house , or tent , but sub dio , making the earth his bed , heauen his canopie , and a stone ( which hee found in that place ) the pillow whereupon he reposed his head : and yet hauing a wearied bodie , and a quiet conscience ( which are two good engines , to draw on sleepe ) he slept as soundly vpon that hard pillow , as if hee had lien vpon a bed of downe : and in his sleepe he dreamed of a certaine ladder reaching vp from earth to heauen , vpon which the angels of god ascended , and descended , and the lord himselfe stood at the toppe of the ladder ; who made vnto him a large , and a mos● gracious foure-fold promise , in the . . and . verses . . that he would giue vnto him and his seed , that land vpon which he then slept . . that hee would multiply his seede as the dust of the earth . . that in his seed , all the nations of the earth should be blessed ; and lastly , that he would be with him , and keepe him whithersoeuer hee went , and bring him againe vnto that land , and not to forsake him vntill he had performed all , that he had promised vnto him . when iacob awoke out of his sleepe , and perceiued that the lord was in that place , and he not aware of it , and that that place was no other , but the house of god , and gate of heauen , verse . he was stricken with feare and reuerence , as euery one ought to bee , that commeth within the gate of gods house , and tooke the stone that lay vnder his head , and set it vp for a pillar , and powred oyle vpon the top of it , and called the name of that place bethel , that is , the house of god . and entring into a serious consideration of this gracious promise , which farre exceeded all that hee could either aske , or thinke , hee did not through vnbeliefe make any doubt of the performance thereof ; but certainely belieuing that it should be accomplished in due time , like a thankefull pilgrime , or a man euen ouer-ioyed with vnexpected , but yet assured hopes ; he began to studie with himselfe , what hee should render vnto the lord , for all these benefits promised vnto him ; and not finding any better meanes to expresse his thankefulnesse , he vowed a vow in my text , saying , if god will be with me , &c. of which vow there be two parts . the first is , petitio , a request , which he desired of god ; the second is , promissio , a dutie , which he promised to performe to god . the petition in these words , if god will be with me , and will keepe me in this way that i goe , and will giue me bread to eat , and raiment to put on , so that i come againe to my fathers house in peace ; the dutie which hee promiseth to performe in liew of this benefit is three-fold . . that the lord shall be his god . . that the stone which he had set vp for a pillar , should be gods house . . that of all that god should giue him , he would giue vnto god the tenth . of which points in order as they lie in the text . and first of the petition , or request , which ( as you see ) is very moderate , and reasonable : for whereas god had promised vnto iacob foure things ; iacob doth not desire all , nor halfe , nor the thirde part of that which was promised , but contenteth himselfe with the last , and least of all those foure things , and desireth nothing , but only necessaries for the present ; not quailes , or manna for delight ; but onely bread for necessitie , that is necessarie food : not purple and fine linnen for pompe ; but onely raiment to put on , that is , necessarie cloathes : not the attendance of many seruants ; but onely the protection , and blessing of god , without which , neither his food , nor raiment , nor any thing els could doe him good , nor himselfe , either be well , or be . but what is the reason why isaac , who was exceeding rich , sent foorth his sonne iacob ( who by gods prouidence was now lately made his heire ) so exceeding poore , that he is faine to petition for foode and raiment , whereas abraham his father , sent foorth his very seruant vpon the like iourney richly furnished , and sumptuously attended ? was abrahams seruant better then isaacs sonne ? to omit the diuers allegories which saint augustine , and gregorie haue obserued vpon this passage , the reasons , as theodoret and others haue well summed them vp , might be these . . vt fratris conatus melius declinaret , that going poorely , and priuately , his brother esau might not so easily misse him , nor know which way to pursue after him . . that this miserie might mooue him brother to compassion , and reconciliation . . vt animus esset reuertendi , that carrying no wealth with him to maintaine , or detaine him abroad , he might haue the more mind to returne vnto his father home againe . . and lastly , that hee might haue the better experience of gods mercie , as indeede he had , for which hee returned thankes vnto god at his returne in the . chap. iacobs pouertie may teach vs , that although worldly prosperitie be the good blessing of god , wherewith he often enricheth his owne children : yet hee euer , at one time or other , chasteneth those , whom he loueth , and traineth them vp in his schoole of affliction , and nurtureth them with his ferula of wants and crosses . virgatua & baculus tuus , saith the psalmist &c. they must as well be humbled , and instructed with his rod of correction , as supported with his staffe of comfort . abraham and isaac , iob , and dauid , and iacob also in my text , after his returne from padan-aran , were all rich , and our lord himselfe was lord of all , and yet none of them wanted either their wants or crosses . and the children of israel , gods owne people were not onely pinched with wants in the wildernesse ; but were pricked with thornes in their eyes , and goades in their sides , euen in the land of promise . whence wee may learne , that aduersitie is the blessing of god vpon his children , aswell as prosperitie . res prospera donum est consolantis , res aduersa donū est admonentis dei , saith s. augustine , prosperitie is the gift of god comforting , aduersitie the gift of god admonishing : prosperity may bee the more pleasant , but aduersitie many times is the more profitable : which made dauid out of his own experience ingeniously confesse , that it was good for him , that hee had beene afflicted . and so it is good for vs all to be afflicted sometimes , els we should forget both god , and our selues , and bee too much wedded to this world , and say with saint peter , bonum est esse hic , and begin to build such tabernacles here vpon earth , as would hinder vs from our euerlasting tabernacles of blisse in heauen . and thus much of iacobs pouertie and want . but now being in so great want as hee was at this time , why doth he preferre so poore a petition vnto god , who is so rich in mercie ? and whereas god had now lately appeared vnto him here in bethel , and promised the whole land of canaan to him , and his , why doth hee desire so poore a pittance , as food and raiment , which would onely keepe life and soule together ? the very foules of the aire are furnished with these . and yet iacob desires no more , to teach vs , how moderate wee should be in the desire of earthly things . we may and ought to be euen couetous of things spirituall , and heauenly ; so saith the apostle : couet after the best gifts : but of temporall , and earthly things we may not be couetous , more then is necessary for our callings & estates : because as our sauiour teacheth , a mans life doth not consist in the abundance of the things which hee possesseth . therefore the apostles rule is , that hauing but {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} onely food and raiment , wee must be content therewith : for victus , & vestitus sunt diuitiae christianorum , saith hierome : food and raiment are the riches of christians : and our patterne of prayer doth warrant vs , to petition onely for our daily bread , that is , as it is excellently expounded in that royall meditation vpon the lords prayer , onely for such temporall things , as are necessary for our esse , or at farthest , for our bene esse . and they that cannot be content with these , but with the horse-leaches daughters , still cry , giue , giue ; and will needes be rich , fall into temptation , and a snare , and into many foolish , and hurtfull lusts , which drowne the soule in perdition , and destruction , . tim. . iacob hauing once seene god in bethel , and set his heart vpon him , who is the true treasure , neither admired , nor much desired ( more then was necessary ) this worldly trash . where wee may see , that howsoeuer worldlings doe not onely admire , but euen adore riches , and honours , and earthly pleasures , as their sole trinitie , yet the children of god , knowing that earthly honors , and riches are but shadowes of heauenly , and the pleasures of sinne , not so much as shadowes of heauenly pleasures : vse these things , when god giueth them ; but neither abuse nor admire the same . and why should men admire shadowes , painted fires , which flame , but warme not ? and may fitly be compared vnto glo-wormes , or peices of rotten-wood , which in a darke night shine like stars , but when the sunne ariseth , and sheweth what they are , the one appeareth to be a poore worme , the other nothing but a rotten sticke : so these glorious outward things , shine like starres in the eyes of the children of darkenesse : but the children of light , whose eyes are purged from those skales of darknesse , doe plainely see , that in regard of true content , they be vanitas vanissima , wormes , & stickes , before which solomon incomparably preferred wisedome ; and agur in the prouerbs of solomon , prayed expressely against riches in the thirtieth chapter , aswell as pouertie . mendicitatem , & diuitias ne dederis mihi : giue me neither pouertie , nor riches , but feed me with food conuenient for me . and this is the reason , why iacob in my text , petitions neither for riches , nor honour , nor any other outward thing , but onely for bread to eat , and cloathes to put on . and yet one thing more is to be obserued in iacobs petition , out of these words of my text , where he saith , if god will be with me , and keepe me in this way , that i goe , and bring me againe to my fathers house in peace ; wherein besides foode , and raiment , you see hee desireth the protection , and blessing of god in his whole iourney going out , and comming in : without which , neither his bread could nourish , nor his cloathes keepe him warme , nor any thing else doe him good . for man doth not liue by bread onely , but by euery word which proceedeth out of the mouth of god , that is , the blessing of god vpon bread : for as in phisicke , a diseased man is prescribed to boile certaine medicinable hearbes in running water , and then to drinke a quantity of that water , and so is cured of his disease : and yet wee know , that it is not the water , but the decoction , or infusion which cureth the patient : so it is not the bread that nourisheth , nor the abundance of outward things , which enricheth , or contenteth , but the infusion of gods blessing , which is the staffe of bread ; without which a man may starue for hunger , with bread in his mouth , and die like the children of israel with the flesh of quailes in their teeth . whereas on the contrary , daniel feeding vpon bare pulse , strengthened by the blessing of god , which is the staffe of bread , and of all other nourishment , was fatter , and fairer , then they that were fed with the kings diet : for it is the blessing of god , that maketh rich : and a little , that the righteous hath , is better then the great reuenewes of the vngodly . and wee may obserue in our owne experience , many a man , who with a dinner of greene hearbes , as solomon speaketh , that is short diet , course clothes , hard lodging , and a poore estate , looketh fatter , liueth merrier , sleepeth sweetlier , enioyeth more hearts ease , and true content , and in trueth liueth better then others that weare a chaine of golde . and therfore wisely did iacob desire nothing but food , and raiment , and gods blessing vpon them , which hee knew would serue his turne . and thus much of the petition , or request which iacob desired of god . now i come to the duties , which he promiseth to performe to god , in the next words , then shall the lord be my god , &c. wherein iacob , who was afterward surnamed israel , hauing receiued but euen the promise of a benefit , presently voweth the performance of a duetie , to teach all true israelites , that beneficium postulat officium : and that the thankefulnesse of the receiuer , ought to answere vnto the benefit of the bestower , as the eccho answereth to the voice : wee doe no sooner receiue the one , but we are immediatly bound to returne the other . so doth dauid , thou hast deliuered my soule from death , mine eyes from teares , and my feet from falling , there is the benefite receiued ; and then it followeth in the very next words , i will walke before the lord in the land of the liuing , there is the duetie returned : so likewise in my text , if god will be with me , and giue me bread to eate , and cloathes to put on , there is the benefit petitioned for , and promise , then shall the lord be my god , &c. there is the returne of a duetie vowed . now wee all haue receiued the same or the like benefits , both spirituall and temporall , whereby we are all bound vnto the like thankefulnesse ; but where is the performance of the same , or the like duties ? we owe as much , or more vnto god for his benefits , then iacob did , but who voweth , or paieth vnto him the like duties , that iacob did ? what heart can thinke , or what tongue can expresse our infinite obligations ? first for spirituall fauours : infinitely are we bound vnto god for our creation : more then infinitely ( if more might be ) for our redemption , and our effectuall calling vnto the participation thereof . what shall we then render vnto the lord , for all these benefits done vnto vs ? totum me de beo , saith s. bernard , pro me facto : quid igitur rependam pro me redempto ? lowe euery whit of my selfe ( vnto god ) for my creation , what shall i then render vnto him for my redemption ? and saint ambrose saith , nihil est quod dignum referre possumus pro suscepta carne maria , quid pro cruce obita , quid pro verberibus , & sepultura reddemus ? we are not able to be sufficiently thankefull for taking our flesh of the ( virgin ) marie , what shall wee then returne vnto him for his suffering vpon the crosse , for his stripes , for his buriall ? and as for temporall benefits , we are farre before iacob ; he wandred vp and downe the world like a poore pilgrime , with his staffe in his hand : he kept sheepe , and was parched with the heat of the day , and frozen with the cold of the night ; and in my text , the bare earth was his bedde , a hard stone his pillow ; he had nothing , he desired nothing , but onely bread to eate , and cloathes to put on , and the protection and blessing of god vpon him in his iourney , and yet hee , euen for these vowed a vow vnto god . wee sit vnder our owne vines , and our owne fig-trees in peace and rest , we lie vpon beds of iuorie , and stretch our selues vpon our couches ; we are clad in purple and fine linnen , and fare delicately euery day ; we eat calues out of the stalles , and lambes out of the flockes ; wee drinke wine in boules , and annoint our selues with costly ointments , and inuent instruments of musicke ( like dauid . ) but who is either sorrie for the affliction of ioseph , the extreame miseries of our brethren in neighbour-countries , or who is sensible of our owne great prosperitie , and our incomparable happinesse , or who for all this voweth one vow to god ? when our sauiour christ had cleansed ten leapers , there was but one found amongst all those ten , & he a stranger too , that returned to giue god thanks . i feare there is scarsely one of an hundred amongst vs , that is but euen so thankefull vnto god for all his benefits , as that stranger was onely for his cleansing . when this good patriarke iacob returned rich from padan-aran in the . chapter of this booke , he neither forgate what he was then , nor what he had beene before : and therefore in a thankefull remembrance of gods great mercies towards him , he payed one part of this vow in that place , and worshipped god , saying , o lord , i am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies : for with my staffe i passed ouer this iordan , and now i am become two bands . many a one there be in this honourable court , who haue passed ouer , not the riuer of iordan , but the riuer of trent , or thames , or seuerne with their staues in their hands , that is , poore estates in comparison , and haue beene deliuered from many dangers , and are now euen laden with riches and honours ; and yet i doubt there bee not manie , that for all this , haue vowed with iacob , to haue the lord for their god , or to build him an house , or to pay him the tenth of all that he hath giuen them . one religious vow , you see weekely payed in this place by our royall iacob , i meane our tuesdayes exercise ; which was deuoutly vowed , vpon as iust an occasion , as euer vow was made . and hitherto ( god be thanked ) it hath beene religiously performed . god grant that this our iacob may long , and long liue a happie king of this happie island , euen as long ( if it bee his will ) as the olde patriarke iacob did , to pay this tribute , and the rest of his vowes vnto the king of kings . and can wee that are his seruants , haue a better patterne to imitate , then the religious example of so royall a master ? therefore i will conclude this point , with that zealous exhortation of another king , psal. . . vouete & reddite domino deo vestro . vow vnto the lord your god , and keepe it , all yee that are round about him : bring presents vnto him that ought to be feared . and thus much of the generall of iacobs vow . now i come to the particular duties vowed ; and they are three . first , that the lord should be his god , that is , that hee would worship the true god , and no other . secondly , that the stone which hee had set vp for a pillar , should be gods house : that is , he would dedicate that place vnto the publique worship of god . thirdly , for the maintenance of both these , he would giue the tenth of all that hee had . all which were necessary duties , and euery one of them hath a necessary relation , and dependance vpon other ; for if god must be worshipped , then must hee haue a place to be worshipped in , which is here called an house , and our saviovr saith , shall of all nations bee called the house of prayer ; and if a house of prayer , then a maintenance for that house , and them that shall say prayers in it . of these in order , and first of the first . then shall the lord be my god . to haue the lord for our god , is the very summe of the first commandement , the meaning whereof , as all interpreters expound it , is to loue god aboue all , to make him our treasure , and infinitely to preferre him , and his seruice before our selues , and all other things in the world . a duetie whereunto euery man is bound , as well as iacob , and euery man that is not an atheist , will confesse , and professe as much : but how they performe this dutie , or either loue , or preferre god aboue all , who so farre preferre themselues , their honours , pleasures and profits vnto gods seruice , that they spend more houres of time , and pounds of money vpon the one , then minutes , or pence vpon the other ; and bestow more cost euen vpon points and shooe-strings in one day , then vpon the worshipping of god in a whole yeere , iudge ye . aures omnium pulso , conscientias singulorum conuenio , as saint augustine speaketh . if the lord be their god , where is his feare ? where is his loue ? where is his honour ? there goeth more to this , then the hearing of a sermon once , or twise a weeke ; especially as it is vsually heard , which is scarce worth the name of a hearing : and iacob meant more then so in my text . for to haue the lord for our god , is to loue him aboue all , as i said before , and to serue him semper , & ad semper , with an vniuersall obedience , both in regard of time and place , and with dauid to haue respect , not vnto some one , or two ; but vnto all his commandements . they which serue god on the sundaies , but not on the weeke-dayes ; in the church , not in their chambers , closets , callings , and whole course of life ; and that , not for praise , profit , pleasing of men , or custome ; but out of a good and honest heart , and a conscience of their duties , doe not performe this part of iacobs vow , to haue the lord for their god . and thus much of the first dutie . the second followeth in the next words , and this stone , which i haue set vp for a pillar , shal be gods house . a dutie necessarily depending vpon the former ; for if god must be worshipped , then must he haue a place to be worshipped in , here called an house . now some thinke , that this place where iacob slept , and set vp this pillar , was mount moria , and that he called it bethel , or the house of god , prophetically by a prolepsis , because the temple should afterwards bee built there : yet there may be two other reasons , why iacob calleth this pillar gods house , as before he called the very place bethel . . because god had manifested his presence here , in an extraordinary manner , as he did afterwards both in the wandring tabernacle , and in the fixed temple , where he was , therefore said to dwell , as in an house . . because iacob consecrated this place vnto the seruice of god , and chap. . and . verse , set vp an altar for his worship in stead of this pillar , and ( as may probably be thought ) would haue built a house for prayer , and sacrificed in this place , if himselfe , and the church had beene then setled here , and had opportunitie , and meanes to haue done it . but being a pilgrime , and in his iourney , he did what he could for the present , he anointed a pillar , erected an altar for sacrifice , and dedicated a place for an house of prayer ; whereby we may see what great care this holy patriarke had of the place of gods worship : his first care was for the worship it selfe , which hee vowed in the former words : his next care is of the place of his worship , in these words . to teach vs , that as our first care should be of the worship of god : so our second care should be of the place of his worship . the obiect of our first loue , must be god himselfe : the obiect of our second loue , must be the house of god . o lord , i haue loued the habitation of thy house , and the place where thine honour dwelleth , ( saith dauid ) psalme . . thy seruants take pleasure in her stones , and fauour the very dust thereof . psal. . . and psal. . . one day in thy courts , is better then a thousand . i had rather be a doore-keeper in the house of my god , then to dwell in the tents of wickednesse : and he rendreth the reason , why he so exceedingly loued the house of god , in the very next verse : for there the lord is the sunne and shield , there hee will giue grace and glorie : and no good thing will he withhold from them that liue a godly life . god is in all places by a generall prouidence , but hee dwelleth in his house by a speciall presence . hee distilleth the droppes of his mercie vpon euery part of the earth , but hee powreth it downe vpon that holy ground , which is dedicate to his seruice . there , he shineth like the sunne : there , hee defendeth like a shield : hee filled the temple at ierusalem with his glorie : hee made many gracious promises to them that praied therein , or towards it , and still where two or three are gathered together in his name , hee will be in the middest amongst them : and no good thing will he with-hold from them , that worship him in the beautie of holinesse , and wait for his louing kindnesse in the middest of his temple . priuate conuenticles are not to be compared with the publique assemblies of the church , that is both the throne of gods glorie , and his mercie-seat . which euer so inflamed the holy men of god in former ages with the zeale of his house , that they spared neither cost , nor paines , nor euer affected any thing so much , as the building and beautifying thereof . i will not suffer mine eyes to sleepe , nor my eye-lids to slumber ( saith dauid , ) vntill i find out a place for the lord , an habitation for the mightie god of iacob . psal. . the good centurion in the gospel builded a synagogue at his owne charges . great constantine , that mirrour of deuotion , bare twelue baskets of earth vpon his owne shoulders towards the founding of a church . and when that noble captaine terentius had done such seruice in armenia , that the emperour valens bade him aske whatsoeuer hee would , for a reward of his seruice , his onely suite ( as theodoret reporteth ) was vt orthodoxis vna praeberetur ecclesia : and when the emperour rare his petition , and bade him aske somewhat els , hee still persisted in his suite , and called god to record , that hee would make no other suit but that . and how zealous our owne forefathers haue beene in this kinde of deuotion , i need not speake , the zeale of gods house did euen eate them vp : the goodly monuments whereof , yet extant in all our cities , and many countey-parishes ( which haue spared vs both the labour , and charge of building houses vnto god ) speake for them . but some of those houses which they haue built , and euen the fairest of them , since their butteresses , and pillars ( i meane their maintenance ) hath beene pluckt away , begin to droope alreadie , and in time , ( if it be not preuented ) will moulder away , and drop downe : and yet who pittieth the ruines of sion , or repaireth any one wall , or window thereof ? will your selues dwell in sieled houses , and suffer the houses of god to lie waste ? shall pater noster build churches , and our father pull them downe ? ( as the prouerbe is ) or suffer them to fall ? o let not that be told in gath , nor published in the streetes of askalon , lest the philistines reioyce , left the vncircumcised triumph . therefore to conclude this point , seeing wee need not with iacob in my text , vow to build : let vs all out of our zeale vnto gods house , vow to beautifie , or at least to keepe vp those houses , which are built to our hands . and thus much of the second duetie , which iacob vowed in these words , this stone which i haue set vp , &c. the third followeth in the last words , and of all that thou shalt giue me , i will giue the tenth vnto thee . a duetie necessarily depending vpon the two former , as i said before : for if god must be worshipped , and haue an house , then must there of necessitie be a maintenance : therefore iacob in the third place , for a perpetuall maintenance of the worship , and house of god , and them that shall attend therein , voweth for himselfe , and all the posteritie , as well of his faith , as flesh , vnto the end of the world , the paiment of tithes ; of all that thou shalt giue mee , i will surely giue the tenth vnto thee . but what is the reason why iacob here voweth to giue vnto god rather the tenth then any other part of his goods ? surely howsoeuer some other causes may bee alleadged , yet the true reason is , because iacob knew , either by the light of nature , or by the tradition and practise of his ancestors , that this quota , the very tenth , and no other part , was , is , and for euer must be as due vnto god , as either his house , or his worship : therefore he ioyneth these three together , being all relatiues which depend one vpon another ; se mutuo ponunt , & auferunt , and they are all equally due vnto god : and due vnto him , not by any common right , as other things , but by a speciall proprietie , and right of reseruation : whereby almighty god from the very creation of the world , and donation thereof vnto the vse of men , reserued vnto himselfe , and separated from common vse , vnto his owne seruice , some out of euery one of these fiue things , which should neuer after be alienated , or taken away without sacriledge . . a forme of diuine worship , which may neuer be giuen to any other . . a time for this worship , which is the saboth day , neuer to be abrogated . . a place of worship , which is his house , neuer to be prophaned . . a priest-hood , which may neuer bow knee vnto baal . . and lastly , for the maintenance of all these , tithes , which hee therefore calleth his owne inheritance , neuer without sacriledge to be impropriated . de omni substantia quam deus homini donat , decimam partem sibi reseruauit . of all the substance which god hath giuen vnto man , he hath reserued the tenth part vnto himselfe . they be the very words of saint ambrose , and s. augustine saith , deus sibi tantùm decimam vendicans , nobis omnia condonauit . god challenging only to himselfe the tenth , hath giuen all things vnto vs . and that hee reserued to himselfe the tithes for this purpose , euen from the beginning , as well as any of the other foure things may appeare by this ; that for any thing we know to the contrary , tithes were payed euen from the beginning of the world : for some thinke , that caine , and abel offered the very tithe as they were instructed of their father adam : but howsoeuer that be , certaine it is , that there is no sooner mention made of any priest {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} of an order fit to receiue them , then there is mention of paying of tithes vnto him . for abraham the father of the faithfull , no sooner met with melchisedec a priest of an order , but for an example vnto all his posteritie , euen all the faithfull , vnto the end of the world , hee gaue him tithes of all the spoiles . gen. . and gaue it him , not as an arbitrarie gift ; but as a necessarie due vnto god : for hee sware not to take so much as a shooe-latchet of the king of sodoms , and yet hee tooke the tithe , to offer , not as his , but as gods due . and iacob in my text , amongst other morrall dueties ( for here is nothing ceremoniall ) voweth the paying of tithes : and in the . of leuiticus , which is the first place where tithes are mentioned vnder the law , god doth not then begin to reserue them , and to say , all the tithes of the land shal be the lords ; but claimeth them as his due of old by ancient inheritance , saying , all the tithe is the lords , it is holy vnto the lord ; not it shall be . and so being his owne of old , he onely assigneth them vnto the leuiticall priest-hood for that time . and thus you see them due , both before , and vnder the law . now let any man shew , when , and where they were abrogated by the gospell ? not by our sauiour christ , who speaketh of them twise , or thrise , and so had iust occasion to haue abrogated them , if he had had any such intent ; yet hee abrogateth not , but rather confirmeth them . matth. . haec oportuit facere ; these things ought you to haue done . nor by the apostle , for s. paul is so farre from abrogating , that on the contrary he both commandeth , and establisheth them , and prooueth them due . he commandeth them , gal. . . let him that is taught in the word communicate with him that teacheth , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} in all good things . indeed he nameth not the very quotum , how much they were to communicate , as taking it for graunted , that the galathians themselues knew that to be the trueth , both by the light of nature , and by the scriptures , and by the perpetuall practise of the church , and by the practise of the heathen themselues , who vsed to offer their tithes to their idoles . and . cor. . hee plainely establisheth for a perpetuall ordinance the paying of tithes : for saith he , euen so hath the lord ordained , that they which preach the gospel , should liue of the gospel . euen so , ( that is as appeareth ) out of the former verse , as they that ministred about holy things in the temple , liued vpon those holy things , and they that waited vpon the altar , liued of the altar : euen so must the ministers of the gospel liue , vpon the selfe same maintenance . now how liued they ? indeed the priests of the law had other emoluments , which were ceremoniall , and temporarie : but their principall , morall , certaine , and perpetuall maintenance was out of those ordinarie , and annuall tithes , which are gods standing inheritance ; therefore of them must the priests of the gospell liue ; euen so ( saith the apostle ) hath the lord ordained : here is no abrogation , but a ratification of this eternall ordinance . and lastly ( which in mine opinion is the most impregnable place ) heb. . the apostle strongly prooueth , that the tithes must for euer remaine due vnto god : for being to prooue the excellencie of christs priest-hood , aboue the priest-hood of aaron , and leui , hee prooueth it by the perpetuitie thereof : because christ remaineth a priest for euer after the order of melchisedec : whereas the leuiticall priest-hood was alreadie ended , & to prooue the perpetuity of christs priest-hood , he vseth no other medium , but this perpetuall tithing , vers. . here men that did receiue tithes , that is leui , who died both in regard of person and office : but there , that is christ in melchisedec receiued them , of whom it is witnessed , that hee liueth : therefore if christs priest-hood be perpetuall , then must his tithing be perpetuall , or els the apostles argument is to no purpose . and thus you see it prooued by these three places of scripture , that these tithes , which iacob vowed in my text long before the law , are still due vnto god , and his church in the time of the gospell iure diuino : and this hath beene both the constant opinion of all antiquitie , and the perpetuall practise of the church , whatsoeuer any late historie doth report to the contrary . therefore it is absurde to say , that these tithes were onely leuiticall , and that there is now nothing but a competencie due by a morall equitie : for how can they be only leuiticall , which were vowed by iacob in my text , and paid by abraham , and by leui himselfe in the loines of abraham , fiue hundred yeeres before the leuiticall law began . and to speake of a competencie now , is a meere conceit : for who shall presume to prescribe an vncertaine competencie , where god himselfe hath set downe a perpetuall certaintie , which hee neuer yet altered ? or why should any man think , that god , who prouided a standing , certaine , and liberall maintenance for the leuiticall priest-hood in the time of the law , which was lesse honourable , should leaue the ministery of the gospell , which exceedeth in honour vnto an vncertaine and beggerly competencie : especially foreknowing , and foretelling that in these last dayes charitie should waxe cold , and men be louers of themselues , and their pleasures , more then louers of god , and his church . and yet hee requireth hospitality at our hands too , which he knew the worlds competency could not affoord . therefore it must needs follow for a certaine conclusion , wherewith i will end , that all true iacobites , or true israelites , which liue vnder the gospell , are bound to performe all iacobs vow in the time of the gospell , and not onely to haue the lord for their god , and build , or at least maintaine his houses ; but also , of all that he hath giuen them , to giue the tenth vnto him . and therefore , as salomon saith , it must needs be a destruction for any man to deuoure these things that are sanctified , the vsurping , and deuouring whereof , ( as i verily beleeue ) hath beene the destruction of many houses amongst vs . noluimus partiri cum deo decimas , saith saint augustine ; modo autem totum tollitur : we would not giue our tithes vnto god , and now all is taken from vs . and malachi saith , they are cursed with a curse all the whole nation of them , that robbed the lord of tithes and offerings . and dauid curseth the deuourers of these holy things , with the most bitter curse , that euer he cursed any creature . o my god ( saith he ) doe vnto them that say , let vs take the houses of god into our possession , as vnto the midianites , as to sisera and iabin , which perished at endor , and became as dung for the earth . make their nobles like oreb , and zeeb : yea all their princes , as zeba and zalmunna : make them like a wheele , and as the stubble before the wind : as the fire burneth the wood , and as the flame setteth the mountaine on fire ; so persecute them with thy tempest , and make them afraide with thy storme , &c. god keepe all our nobles and princes , and people from this bitter curse : for the auoiding whereof , and obtaining the contrarie blessing , me thinkes many should not onely , with iacob in my text , vow to giue their own tithes ; but vow to redeeme these captiue tithes , out of the hands of other men , who haue vsurped the same , and to restore them vnto the lord againe , who is their right owner ; then which , they cannot almost offer a more acceptable sacrifice , or seruice vnto him . and yet how these houses of god are taken , and still helde in possession , and his inheritance still embezelled in these dayes , the cryes of the poore leuites euery where doe witnesse , not onely in those places , where all is gone , and onely a competency ( as it was then supposed ) often pounds a yeere left ( which is scarce a competency now for a hog-heard ) but also in many other places , where the tithes are not quite impropriated , but yet so gelded by pretended prescriptions , and vnconscionable , nay vnreasonable customes de modo decimandi , & de non decimando , and they many times confirmed by prohibitions , that the poore leuite hath in some places , not the tenth , in some , not the twentieth part of the tithe . i would to god that the body of the honorable parliament were as willing as the relligious and royall head thereof , to take this grievance into their serious consideration , that this parliament might have the honour to enact some wholesome law for the honour of god , the advancement of his church the peace of their owne consciences , and the reliefe of the poore clergie in this behalfe ; that so we might all ( as we are all bound ) pay iacobs vow unto the god of iacob , and receive from him iacobs blessing . which god graunt for his sonne iesvs christ his sake , who is our eternall priest , to whom with the father , and his blessed spirit bee all honour , praise , and thankes-giving for ever , and ever . amen . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a e- gen. . homil. . in gen. aug. ser , de tēpor . . gre. mor. lib. . cap. . psal. . ● . ios. . . psal. . . mat. . . . cor. . . luke . . . tim. . . written by the kings maiestie . . kings . . mat. . . leuit. . . ezek. . . psal. . . dan. . . pro . . pro. . . pro. . . gen. . psal. . verse . ambr. super luc. ser. . amos . , , . luke . . gen. . . mar. . . psal. . . . king. . . vers. . mat. . . psal. . . luke . . hist. tripart . lib. . cap. . hag. . . . sam. . ambr. ser. . in feria tertia post . dominicam , quadrages . in vlt. edit. col . aug. de temp. ser. . vers. . vers. . vers. . heb. . . serm. de tem. . cap. . psal. . the wonderful, and most deplorable history of the latter times of the jews with the destruction of the city of jerusalem. which history begins where the holy scriptures do end. by josephus ben gorion whereunto is added a brief of the ten captivities; with the pourtrait of the roman rams, and engines of battery, &c. as also of jerusalem; with the fearful, and presaging apparitions that were seen in the air before her ruins. moreover, there is a parallel of the late times and crimes in london, with those in jerusalem. josippon. english. abridgments. approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing j a estc r this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) the wonderful, and most deplorable history of the latter times of the jews with the destruction of the city of jerusalem. which history begins where the holy scriptures do end. by josephus ben gorion whereunto is added a brief of the ten captivities; with the pourtrait of the roman rams, and engines of battery, &c. as also of jerusalem; with the fearful, and presaging apparitions that were seen in the air before her ruins. moreover, there is a parallel of the late times and crimes in london, with those in jerusalem. josippon. english. abridgments. joseph ben gorion, ha-kohen, attributed name. howell, james, ?- . ibn daud, abraham ben david, halevi, ca. -ca. . fuller, thomas, - . [ ], , - , [ ] p., leaves of plates : ports. printed for john sims, at the sign of the kings head at sweethings alley end in cornhil, next the royal exchange, london : . a translation of abraham ben david, ha-levi's abstract, in book of his "sefer ha-kabalah", of the anonymous "josippon" or "yosippon". the latter has been misattributed to a joseph ben gorion, usually identified with joseph ben gorion ha-kohen but occasionally with flavius josephus. dedication to the city of london signed: james howel. dedication to sir john robinson signed: j.s. the portrait of josephus ben-gorion is signed: w sherwin fe. running title reads: the wars of the jews. quire c contains a character of the jews, and a prayer by thomas fuller. includes index. text continuous despite pagination. reproduction of the original in the cambridge university library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng jews -- history -- b.c.- a.d. -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - olivia bottum sampled and proofread - olivia bottum text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion titus vespatianus emperour of rome , conquerour of ierusalem , surnamed the delight of mankind , w.s. sc. the wonderful , and most deplorable history of the latter times of the jews : with the destruction of the city of jerusalem . which history begins where the holy scriptures do end . by josephvs ben gorion whereunto is added a brief of the ten captivities ; with the pourtrait of the roman rams , and engines of battery , &c. as also of jerusalem ; with the fearful , and presaging apparitions that were seen in the air before her ruines . moreover there is a parallel of the late times and crimes in london , with those in jerusalem . london , printed for john sims , at the sign of the kings head at sweethings alley end in cornhil , next the royal exchange . . to the honorable sir john robinson knight and baronet , lievtenant of the tower , and alderman of the city of london . honorable sir , this rare and remarkable piece of history , as it was dedicated before to the city of london in generall , because of the quality of the subject ; treating of the ruine of one of the most famous cities upon earth : so upon this review , and new edition , i take the boldness of dedicating it to you alone ; who are one of the eminent members , and ornament thereof ; as also being governor of that place , wherein lies her chiefest security . it was formerly dedicated to this city , in the highest brunt of the late civill confusions . and the noble author of the following epistle thought it very seasonable to do so , out of an express design to awaken , and warn her of her desperate condition at that time ; and it produced so happy effects , that it made such impressions upon the spirits of many of the best citizens , that they began to recollect themselves , and see their error ; the said author representing unto them , that the same crimes , and crying sins , which raigned in jerusalem before her last and utter destruction , were very rife then in london ; which were , the spirit of sedition , instable and stubborn rebellious hearts , their murmurings at government , and an itch after innovations . as also the defiling of their temple , the irreverence and comtempt of the priests , the violation of the tombs of the dead , with other acts of prophaness and sacriledge ; but principally the crucifying of the lord of life . the city of london was guilty at that time , of all these ugly and enormous crimes , and may be said to be lead all along by a true jewish spirit ; and concerning the last , viz. the crucifixion of our saviour , though no comparison may be made without a high prophaness , yet the manner of murthering charles the first , may be humbly said to bear a kind of analogy , and resemblance with it ; nay the jews ( whereof there are swarms now in this city ) will not stick to say , that it was a murther beyond theirs ; for , what they did , they did it out of blindness and ignorance : for they neither knew nor acknowledged him to be king of the jew : but the english did accuse , and arraign , they did condemn , and murther king charles by the name of their own king , the king of england . god almighty avert those further judgments which hang over us , as prayeth , honorable sir , your most humble servant , and fellow-citizen j. s. to englands imperial chamber the renowned city of london . to the right honorable the lord mayor , the right worshipfull the sheriffs , mr. recorder , with the court of aldermen , and common councel , &c. as among men , so there is a resemblance , and a kind of affinity among cities which are the mansions of men ; and a reverence due to some more then to others : carthagena in spain , doth acknowledge old carthage in africk to be her mother ; leyden in holland doth glory that she is allyed to lions in france , both of them bearing the name of lugdunum ; saragosa in aragon confesseth her self daughter to syracusa in sicily ; and london , by some antiquaries is called troynovant , as having been first founded by the trojans ; but of all the cities upon the earthly globe , jerusalem deserves most reverence , in regard our salvation was wrought and consummated in her ; in regard , that grand prepitiatory sacrifice for hum●…ne souls was offered in her : therefore , under favour i held it not improper to dedicat the history of this once so famous metropolis , to the flourishing city of london . in the holy bible , the most authentick patent of saving faith , there is a text which reflected upon the ●…ncient nation of the jews , and aymed only at their c●…ntry , viz. in jury god is known , &c. psal. . he was known indeed in that land by the multitude of his mercies , but afterwards by the severity o●… his judgments ; that race of people , partly because they were not co-labourers at the building of that mount of humane pride the tower of babel , were , for many ages , the objects of his favour , till they made themselves afterwards the subjects of his fury . and as the philosopher tels us corrup●…o optimi est pessima , or as we find that the sweetest wines become the tartest vineger ; so those heavenly indulgences turn'd to heavy indignations , those silver showers of extraordinary benedictions became black sto●…ms of vengeance . it is the method of divine justice to correct first w●…th rods , then with scourges ; and , if that will not do , with ●…corpions ; the jews felt all the three degrees ; and never was any people upon earth made greater examples of wrath th●… his own chosen inheritance , a peculiar people that mig●… have ●…m'd the right hand of primogeniture among the re●… of mankind . now , whoso●…ver desires to make reserches into the grounds of these sad dysasters , will find , it was their sedi●…ious proud spirits , their instable and stubborn rebellious hearts , ( which did them more mischief then the roman r●… , or any other destructive engines ) the defiling ●…f their temple , the violation of the tombs of the dead , with other acts of profaneness and sacriledg : but principally the rejecting and crucifying of the lord of life . for never any thing did thrive with them afterwards ; insomuch , that , if there were no other motive for the jews conv●…sion , the length of these beavy judgments under which they groan to this day , were ●…nough to do it ; and t is observed the length of these judgments doth often puzzle their intellectuals and put them at a stend ; f●…r some of their rabbies will stare and shrink-in their shoulders at it , and sometimes break out into a kind of confession , that their judgments could not last so long but for crucifying one that was more then a man ; besides , the punctuall accomplishment of our saviours predictions were sufficient to conv●…nce any rationall creature ; for , not long after , their land became a stage of blood , and all kind of barbarisms . their so renowned city , their temple and sanctum sanctorum so fam'd all the earth over was made level to the ground : and observable it is , that these judgments fell upon their temple at the highest time of holiness , at their passover or jubilee ; so that one might say , that season which was ordained for their salvation turned to their perdition ; moreover the very inanimate creatures , and vegetals , the very soil of the country became co-sufferers with them , being forc't to part with her plenty , as well as with her people ever since . from that time to this day , 't is well known what runagates , and land-lopers they have been up and down the world ; for although it is known there be many scores of thousands of them , d●…spersed and squandred here and there upon the surface of the earth , yet these straglers could never since grow to such an unity and coalition as might form the species of any setled government ; but they still shuffle and prog up and down , being no better then slaves wheresoever they take footing . moreover it is observed , that they apply themselves to the most sordid and servile conditions ; for commonly they are either lombardiers and brokers for the pettiest things , as far as a blew point : or they are gabeliers and tollmen , having some inferiour places in the custom-houses , a profession so undervalued , and held infamous by their ancestours : or they serve for spies and panders for intelligence , so that there be few great officers in turky , but have a jew for that purpose ; for they are known to be the subtilest , and the most subdolous race of people upon earth , as also the most fearfull and pusillanimous ; inso much that they are imployed no where in the wars , nor worth the making slaves of . now , the reason , why they are so far degenerated from their primitive simplicity and courage , is their frequent captivities , their desperate fortunes , the necessities and hatred they have been habituated unto from time to time . for no nation on earth hath been so generally contemned , both by christians and pagans ; witness one heathen poet among divers ot●…ers , in these hexameters , wherein there is an accumulation of so many base attributes cast upon them , tum judaea cohors infida , molesta , rebellis ; perfida , dira , ferox , perjura , ingrata , superba . now the moralists observe , that nothing doth depress and deprave ingenious spirits , or corrupt clear wits , more then scorn , and necessity ; nothing cowes them more then wan●… , and indigence ; — virtutibus obstat resangusta domi — . touching the ten tribes that were led captives beyond e●…phrates , the present jews know not what 's become of them ; yet they believe th●…y never became apostates or gentiles to this day . some there are , and those of the best rank of learned men , who hold , that the tartars of scythia , who about the year . or a little before , became first known to the rest of the world by that name , and hold at this day a great part of asia in subjection , are of the israelits progeny , namely , of those ten tribes , which were carried captive to assyria by salmanazar , and some of his predecessors . the first argument they pr●…duce , is , that the word tartari signifies in the syriak a residue , or remainder ; such as those tartars are supposed to be , of those ten tribes . secondly they alledge , that they have alwaies embraced the circumcision , the an●…ent character of jud●…ism . thirdly , they urge sundry texts in e●… 〈◊〉 proba●… hereof ; but this opinion hath found no 〈◊〉 entertainment , with the best sort of antiquaries . the jews of the tribe of benjamin ( they say ) are thos●… in italy , poland , germany , the turks dominions and all the levantine parts ; the tribe of judah , they hold to be setled in portugal , where , they will not stick to say , that some thousands families of their race are , whom they dispence with all to make a semblance of christianity , as far as the taking of investitures in holy orders . from hence they say their messias is to come ; of whom one may hear them discourse with such a relish , such a self-pleasing conceit and confidence that is wonderfull . this may be the reason why they instruct their children , and expound their law in the lusitanian language in their synagogues where women are not permitted to enter ; for they hold them to be of an inferiour creation to man , and made only for sensuall pleasure , and propagation . they much glory of their mysterious cabal , wherein they make the reality of things to depend upon letters , and words ; but they hold , that the hebrew hath the sole priviledge of this . this cabal , or kind of knowledg , which is nought else but tradition transmitted fr●…m father to son , & so from one generation to another , is , as they say , a reparation in some measure for the loss of our knowledg in adam ; and , they say , it was revealed four times : first to adam , who being thrust out of paradise ; and sitting one day very sad , and sorrowing for the loss he had of that dependency the creatures have upon the creator , the angel raguel was sent to comf●…rt him , as also to instruct him , and repair his lost knowledge ; this they call their cabal , which was lost the second time by the flood , and babel . then god discovered it to moses in the bush : the third time to solomon in a dream , whereby he came to know the commencement , the mediety , and consummation of times , whereof he composed many volums which were lost in the grand captivity . the last time , they hold , that god restored the cabal to esdras , ( a book they highly value ) who by gods command withdrew himself to the wilderness forty daies attended by five scribes , who in that space wrote . and four books ; whereof the first . were to be publikely read ; but the other seventy were to pass privately among the levites ; and those they pretend to be cabalisticall , and not to be all lost . concerning the present religion of the jews , there be three sects of them . the first , which is the greatest , are called the talmudists , in regard that besides the holy scriptures , they hold the talmud for authenticall , a book composed by their rabbines the second sect of jews , receive only the scriptures . the third , which is called the samaritan , and whereof there are but very few at this day , admit only of the pentateuch ; viz. the five books of moses , for authentick scripture . as , according to my former observation , this nation is grown cowardly , & cunning , even to a proverb , which must be imputed to their various thraldoms , contempt , and poverty ( which though it use to dastardize , and depress the courage , yet it whets the wit ) ; so besides these qualities , they are commonly leight , and gidd●…-headed , much symbolizing in humour with some of the apocalypticall zelots of these times , and bold expounders of daniel , with the other prophets ; whereby they use to sooth , or rather fool , themselves into some egregious fanaticall 〈◊〉 , which nevertheless passeth among them for an illumination . the first christian prince that expelled the jews out of his territories , was that heroick king , our edward the first , who was such a sore scourge also to the scots ; and it is thought divers families of those banish●…d jews fled then to scotland , where they have propaga●…ed since in great numbers ; witness the aversion that nat●…on hath above others to hogs-flesh . nor was this their extermina●… for their religion , but for their notorious cri●…es ; as 〈◊〉 of wels , ●…ounterfeiting of coins , fals●…fying of 〈◊〉 , and crucifying christian children , with other villanies . this hapned in the year . and sixteen years after , france followed our example : it was near upon . years after , that ferdinand dis-terred them out of spain , and five years after him , emanuel of portugal did the like . but the countries whence they were last expeld , was naples , and sicily , anno . in other parts of christendom they reside yet in great numbers , as in germa●…y high and low , bohemia , lituania , poland , and russia ; in italy also , they are found ; but in no country which is subject to the king of spain ; they live at rom every quietly under the pope's nose , and st. mark makes no scruple to entertain them at venice . in sundry places of the ottoman empire they are found very numerous ; so that it is thought , constantinople and thessalonica only , have near upon . thousand of them ; asia is full of them , as aleppo , tripoli , damascus , rhodes , and indeed all places of commerce , and traffick . there are numbers of them found also in persia , arabia , and about cranganor in india . and to come to africk , they have their synagogues and lumbards in alexandria , the grand cairo ; as also in fesse , in tremisen , and divers places in the kingdom of morocco . there are about one hundred families yet left in jerusalem . but that place where they are most unmingled is tiberias , which the turk gave to mendez the jew , for some signal services ; thither they oftentimes bring or send the bones of their dead friends , who have left large legacies , to be interred from other places . besides those various visible judgments which have fallen upon the nation of the jews , as the utter subversion of their temple , and city , with the slaughter of above eleven hundred thousand souls during titus siege ; besides the degeneration of their country , of that land which flowed with milk and honey , into such a barren condition ; besides their stragling confused course of life , with the generall contempt , and despicableness they fell into ; besides the abjection 〈◊〉 their spirits , and giddiness of their brains ; i say , besides all these changes upon their minds , it seems there is a kind of curse also fallen upon their bodies ; witness those uncouth looks , and odd cast of eye , whereby they are distinguished from other people . as likewise that rankish kind of sent no better indeed then a stinck , which is observed to be inherent , and inseparable from most of them above all other nations ; and i wish that england may not be troubled with that sent again . the occasion of these sad calamities which fell down in such catarracts upon the jews , the discerning reader shall discover in this ensuing story ; therefore very worthy of his perusal , in regard they may serve for cautions to all people not to provoke the high majesty of heaven by such kind of sedition and profaneness : they may serve as so many buoys to preserve them from sinking into such gulfs of miseries ; for if the naturall branches were not spared , how can the wild olive think to escape the fire of his displeasure ? so with my hearty prayers to heaven for the prosperity and welfare of this glorious city , and that she may take fair warning by these judgments , i rest your humble and ready servant . james howel . from the prison of the fleet . feb. . a brief description of asia , and the holy land. asia is twofold , the greater , and the less ; the less is a part of the greater , and is at this day called anatolia in respect of the eastern situation thereof from byzantium ; the greater , is now one of the four parts of the earth , by reason of the accession of america unto the former three ; before , a third part , and by the account of some , ( according as varro tels us ) one of the two parts of the same . for whereas they of late accounted europe , asia , and africa , until america or the new world was found out , others made afric●… a part of europe ; so the parts of the earth were europe , one , and asia the other , and no more . by neither of these two accounts doth asia get , or lose , any thing from the vulgar division ; only when the division is made into two parts , europe is a gainer . those which write of the name and etymology of asia , derive the word from asia a woman , daughter to oceanus and thetis , wife to iapetus , & mother to prometheus . this genealogy if it be taken according to the letter , there is no reason to suspect it fabulous , why any man of understanding should doubt it ; and yet if the meaning of the fable be searched into , it seems to carry in it this appearance of truth ; that asia , was named so from oceanus the sea , and thetis the water , or wife of the sea ; that in this part only of the world which before the deluge was peepled , came the flood and destroyed mankind by water , the reason of the etymology lying hid in the name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which 〈◊〉 moisture . the bounds of this part of the eart●… are the aegean sea , the propont is , and black sea , palu●… m●…eotis , tanais , duina , which separate it from europe●… but it is parted from africk by the red sea , and isthmus●… of egypt . in the first ages of the world , this part of the●… earth was more renowned then europe , or any part thereof ; the affairs of europe were very mean , or at least in great obscurity , before xerxes expedition agai●…st greece , which was after the baby lonian captivity of the jews . but in asia was the wonderfull work of our creation , and of all other creatures wrought●… in thi●… part , our saviour wrought our redemp●…on , a●… shewed his miracles ; here was the glorious and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the chaldoeans , signified by the image head in daniel , and that monarchy of by the arms and br●…t of silver the mac●…donian kingdom of bras●… was 〈◊〉 , in the greater asia , is ●…uated the land of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so from canaan the son of ham the son dwelt there ; al●… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that peopled part of it : bu●… it was 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of promise because god prom●…sed tha●…land u●… 〈◊〉 posterity ; and the holy land , as the country in 〈◊〉 the holy people dwelt , which had the 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 , and priesthood . this 〈◊〉 lies in . 〈◊〉 northward from 〈◊〉 equinoct●… it is n●… 〈◊〉 ●… . miles long , nor doth the bread●… exc●…d accou●… 〈◊〉 . paces to a mile ; a co●…ry so frui●…full that the ●…pture from the mouth of god ●…lls us , that it was a land which flowed with milk and ●…ney , and tha●…●…his was the glory of all lands . before the children of israel drove out the inhabitants , it was governed by . kings ; and afterward it was divided into . kingdoms in the daies of rehoboam the son of solomon , david numbering the people of the land found the account to be thirteen ●…undred thousand men of war , excluding the benjamites , & the tribe of levi. the fruits of this land were these in special , balm , hony , spices , myrrhe , nuts , & almonds ; nor is their wheat to be forgotten , nor their oyl , with which they traded in the market of tyrus , besides the forenamed commodities , ezech. . . that it did excel in palm-trees strabo tels us , and the roman coyns which in their reverse represent a woman sitting in the gesture of a mourner under a palm-tree signifying judaea captivated . but the almighty , as he drove out and destroyed the nations which dwelt in this land before ; so did he afterwards his own people , because of the greatness of their sins , so that the land ( as he tels us by his prophet ) spued them out ; and turned part of this countrey whereabout sodom and gomorrah stood into slime pits , or the dead or salt sea ; when as before it was for pleasantness like to the garden of god ; even so did god deal with his own unthankfull and rebellious people : first he carried the ten tribes into bondage by salmanazer , who at this day are not to be found , the other two tribes , were carried away into babylon , where they indured . years captivity ; and last of all for rejecting and crucifying his own son the lord of glory , they have been destroyed , driven out of their own country , and continue as vagabonds thorow the whole world . and the fruitfulness of this goodly country doth scarce appear at this day ; according to that of the psalmist , psal. . , . he turneth rivers into a wilderness , and the water-springs into dry ground : a fruitfull land into barrenness , for the wickedness of them that dwell therein . no man hath observed the great increase of their seed , which isaac fonnd ( who sowed in that land , and reapt a hundred fold ) at this day ; the balm which justin the historian writes of , brought in their treasure , was a plant , not as some have thought , proper , or common to arabia ; but , as pliny notes , peculiar to the lan●… of judaea , or syria , as others call it ; and of that high price , that it was valued at an equall rate , and somtimes double to silver ; is now no where to be found . nevertheless , lest men should think in their foolish imaginations , that this land had never been such , as it is by the word of god himself commended to be , in some places there are certain marks and signs , of the ancient fertility thereof ; for in a certain plain divers miles long and broad , there is found such fruitfull pastures , that in so hot a country the gras●… is seen to grow in some places as high as a mans middle , in other places , as high as to the brest . but though the lord for a time hath cut off this his people , and turned their fruitfull land into barrenness ; yet he hath abundantly shewed , as in his word , that the fulness of the gentiles being come in , god will have mercy upon , and take into his favour this his ancient people , re-establish them in their own land in security , and , without all doubt , restore the land to its former fruitfulness . all which let us humbly pray to god the father , that for his infinite mercies in jesus christ , he will speedily accomplish , and turn the wilderness into a standing water , and dry ground into water-springs , amen . the first book of the warres of the jewes . the proeme . in the great volum of josephus , there were historicall narrations made of things , ●…s they had reference in chief , to the romans and other nations : this lesser piece or epitome rather , declares matters as they relate principally to the jews themselves , and the state of their common-wealth , from the macchabees unto their final subversion ; and ruine of the second house , therefore according unto those things that we have found in the book of joseph the priest , son of gorion , and in other books written according to most certain truth , we will draw forth and rehearse some things for the comfort that may thence arise , especially seeing all the prophets have bent and directed their prophesies and predictions to this point , that the kingdom of the house of david should be restored and and flourish in time to come . therefore if there had been any kings of the house of david during the time of the second temple , then should we have been in suspence , yea , even now already our hope had been dasht : but there was no kingdom of the house of david in that age , save only a certain dominion that zerrubbabel and nehemiah had . yea , rather the kingdom remaine at that time in the house of the machabees , and in such that were toward them , and their servants . but now to the purpose . chap. i. vvhen alexander the first king of the greeks had established his kingdom , he died , being yet but a young man , and his kingdom was divided among four of his captains , as it is written , whiles he is yet alive , his kingdom shall be broken and delivered into four coasts of the heavens , dan. . he left behind him a son of tender years , called archelaus , whose tutor or governour perceiving him to be toward , gave him impoysoned drink , and made him away . these captains made war one upon another , of whom one that was named ptolomy , procured m●…ses law to be translated into greek to the intent he might find some occasion to pick a quarrell against israel . for by their law he sought means to withdraw them from their religion , accord●…ng to psal. . many a time have they aff●…cted me from my youth up , may israel now say . there were seventy ancient men that translated the law , whom p●…olomy the king separate●… one from another , putting every man a part in a house by himself . but they all agreed in one sence , albeit they changed . places , which was not done without miracle , that they all agreed together in the meaning and writing , as though one alone had writ it . these places be these . first , god created in the beginning . here no word or thing is put before name of god , and also for that in the greek tongue , the thing that doth is put before , and that that is made , is placed after , least this word ber●…shith should be taken for a ●…reator , and e●…him for a creature . the second , i will make man according to the image and likeness , gen. . i , for we , that it should not be thought , as though he were one that consulted with other therein . the third , and god finished the sixth day and rested the seventh , gen. . 〈◊〉 for seventh , least it should seem as though he had made any thing in the seventh day , and in it ended his working . the fourth , go to , i will go down , and ●…here will confound their la●…guage , gen. . i , for we , least by speaking in the p●…all number , he should have been thought to be 〈◊〉 . the fifth , and sarah laughed , speaking to them that stood by her , gen. . with them that stood by her , for to her self , because ptolomy the king should not mock them , and say ; who shewed you what she said to her self . the sixth , because in their fury they killed an oxe , and in their will they brake the crib . gen. . crib for an oxe least the king should deride them and ask , what hath a man to do with an oxe . the seventh , and moses took his wife and his sons , and set them upon that that could bear a man , exod. . that that could bear a man , for an ass , least the king should delude our master moses , because he rod on an ass : and that he should not say , how should an ass bear a woman and two children ? he would never have done it , if he had not been a begger . the eighth , and the dwelling of the children of israel in egypt , and other lands , was . years , exod. . notwithstanding , they abode not in egypt but . years , and that is , that their father jacob told them : descend ye ( the letters of the which word in hebrew signify ) thither . furthermore , the computation of . years , is from the year that isaac was born , which was the holy seed unto abraham . the ninth , and unto the little ones of the children of israel stretched he not his hand , exod. . little ones for princes . as who would say , yea also unto their little ones he stretched not his hand . because he should not say , the great men escaped , but the children of the sons of israel escaped not . the tenth , i took of them nothing of value , numb . . of value for an ass . least he should say , he took not an ass , but he took one reward . the eleventh , which things thy lord god hath divided , that they may shine on all people , deut. . that they may shine is added . least he should take an argument thereof and say , loe the holy and blessed lord hath divided them to all people , and hath given them licence to worship them . the twelfth , he went and worshiped strange gods , which i commanded not to worship , deut. . to worship , is added . least he should say , now hast thou called them to strange worshiping of gods . the thirteenth , they translated an hare , little feet , because the kings wife was called hare , least he should say , the jews mock't me . when these seventy elders had translated the law into the greek tougue , ptolomy rejoycing much in their wisdom , honored them with princely apparel and great rewards , brought them home again , merry and glad . moreover he sent by them oblations to our god. at that time there were many that condescend to follow the laws of the grecians , but these seventy refused . not long after , captain sele●…cus , ptolomyes companion in office died , in whose stead antiochus reigned in macedonia . this antiochus making war upon ptolomy , bereft him of all his dominions , and slew him . after that , he subdued the land of israel then under the regiment of ptolomy , and waxed very proud . he hated israel also , because they loved ptolomy , and aided him in th●… wars against him . this is that antiochus that builded a great city upon the sea coast , and called it antiochia , wherein he made a golden idol , commanding that the children of israel should be brought unto it , and worship it . but some of them chose rather to suffer death for the religion of their god , and some other fell from the synagogue their mother church . before this he took away also their sabbath , their new moon , and league of circumcision : forbidding that in any wise they should observe these commandments in any place throughout all his dominions . for the which he put many of the israelites to death , and oppressed them more , then did ever any of their enemies or adversaries . the second man in honor next himself in jerusalem , was one polipus , he erected an image in the temple , commanding the people of israel to worship it : and whosoever was disobedient , to be slain . therefore he put to death hanna and her seven children , as it is mentioned in other places . when antiochus perceived this , it increased his hatred towards israel , insomuch that he did his endeavour that none of them should escape or be left alive , except such as would worship the image . then fled many of the israelites to the mount modiit , and to jericho , because of the law of polipus and antiochus his lord , having to their governour the high priest mattathias son of john , otherwise called casmoname . the priest enjoyned them to fast , and punish themselves before the lord with weeping sackcloth and ashes . and after this he saith unto them if ye will jeopard your lives for the holy lord , why dye we like women ? let us go and fight with polipus , and if we dye , we shall dye with honor : parad venture the holy and blessed god will help us , and will not root out the remnant of israel . to this counsel every man assembled , and made a covenant with him upon this thing . polipus hearing this , gathered his forces together , and made towards them to destroy them , and what israelite soever he found in his way , he slew him , mattathias the priest , and all the remnant of israel , understanding that polipus came against them , they went up the mount modiit with their wives and children . then put he himself and his sons in a●…or . he had five sons , judas the eldest , the next johonathan , the third joachan , the fourth schimeen , the fift , eleazar . all these were va iant men of war. when polipus came to them , he craftily spake to mattathias , saying : thou art one of the chiefmen in israel , and a man of honor and estimation . come down therefore , and all that be with thee , worship the image , and strive not against the king , that ye may live and not be destroyed . thou shalt be their prince also , if thou shalt be conformable . but the priest in no wise would be seduced by him , but rather cursed and reviled him . mattathias had an altar at the foot of the hill , whereupon when he had offered sacrifice to the most blessed god : there came one of the wicked israelites out of polipus camp , and killed upon it a swine . this villain was young and lusty , but the priest was old : yet when he saw what this lewd fellow had done , crying to his god to strengthen him , he challenged a combat between himself and the fellow . which thing being liked both of the fellow , and of polipus , with his whole army : mattathias came down with his drawn sword in his hand , and the fellow stood against him ready to receive him . but the priest rushing upon him , by the assistance of his god , overcame him , cut off his head , and cast his carcass upon the altar : whereat polipus and his whole hoast were much astonied beholding one another . the priest stood still by the altar , crying , which of you will come to me man for man ? then polipus picked out a strong champion , the best of all his army , and brought him out of the arreis of his hoast , to teach him his lesson , how he should behave himself with the priest. the priest therefore drew toward the camp with his naked sword in his hand , as though he came to joyn with their champion : but leaving him , he turned his sword upon polipus , struck of his head , and fled to the hill . then blowing their horns , and making a shout together , they rushed down upon the grecians camp . but when the grecians saw that their grand captain was slain , they fled , chasmoname and his sons with all israel followed the chase ; overthrew them , and made great slaughter . this done , mattathias the priest went to jerusalem , pu●…ified the temple , restored the worshipping of god , and commanded all that were born during the time of polipus to be circumcised , for by the means of his inhibition , they were uncircum●…sed . thus being established , he sate upon the throne of the kiugdom , and drove the greeks out of the land of israel . his kingdom endured one year , which was the . year from the building of the second house . after this he fell sick , and like to die , charged his sons to keep the observations of the lord , and to walk in his wayes : also to play the men against the grecians , for the religion of the lord. then brought he forth judas a tall man & a hardy , and placing him in the sanctuary , took a horn of oyl , and poured it upon his head , whereat the israelits clapped their hands , and gave a great shout , saying , god save the king , god save the king. soon after , judas gathered an army of israel , and made an expedition against the remnant of the greeks that were left in the holds of israel , and whatsoever he took in hand , god gave it good successe , notwithstanding , antiochus sent against him a puissant army , under the leading of one captain pelonius , against whom judas so warred , that the grecians went to wrack , for he espied his time when they were destitute of victuals , and speedily set upon them , beat them down handsmooth , and approached to captain pelonius ; slew the valiantest about him , yea , and him also . when antiochus heard this , he was in a great rage : wherefore he chose out a most valiant captain , called lysias , and sent him against jerusalem , with . horsemen , and footmen without number . judas having knowledge thereof , commanded a fast throughout all israel for three dayes , and afterwards took muster of all his army , and made over them captains of thousands , hundreds , fifties , and tens . these said to their souldiers , whosoever is afraid , &c. whereupon many of the people returned home , yet there remained . of such courage all , that one would not have run away for a hundred . lysias divided his hoast into three parts , committing them unto three captains , nicanor , bagris , and ptolomy : but after the israelits had once given a great shout , the lord beat down the greeks , so that the israelits destroyed nine thousand of their enemies , and spoiled the whole hoast , and they that remained alive , took themselves to flight . the next day king judas kept his sabbath , together with all israel in the temple , for the battel was upon the sixth day . the morrow after , the israelits returned to the spoil of those that were killed , and after to pursue other that were not able to resist : but they found none , for they were fled into astaroth karnaum . during the time of these wars , antiochus invaded the land of persia , for they had moved war against him , and done injury , wherefore he fought against him : but having the overthrow at their hands , he returned to antiochia with great shame , where also he found his armies with another dishonour and foil . wherewith he was in such rage , that he gathered together all the valiantest and best warriours in all grecia , yea all that were able to bear weapons , swearing he would bring with him such an army , that all the ground about jerusalem should not suffice them to stand upon , whom he would have with him , even for his footmen only : and he set forward his horsemen , with horses and wagons laden with all manner of munition for the wars ; as bows , shields , targets , swords , and spears , brestplates , and morions , besides a great number of elephants , and such , that twelve valiant men might fight upon one elephant , the elephants being to them as a fortresse . but king judas taking heart to him , put his trust in his god , and joyned battel with him . at length when he with the power of israel approached to the elephants , they ●…lew them down right , so that the elephants roared , the horses and all the beasts that drew the baggage and furniture , were very sore afraid . king antiochus also , being mounted upon his mare , and not able to sit her in her flight , was thrown down . his servants therefore finding him , took him up , and bare him a while upon their shoulders , and ( being a corpulent and grosse man ) they were not able to carry him further , but cast him down in the way . the lord had plagued him also and his whole host before with a dry scab , or rotten mattier , and with other most horrible diseases : therefore as he saw all these things , he confessed it to be the hand of god. whereupon he made a vow , that if he escaped , he would circumcise himself , with all his souldiers , and would convert them to the worshipping of the god of israel ; but god heard him not . he ●…ed therefore a foot as well as he might , and died by the way , through his grievous and sore diseases , and opiter his so●… reigned in his stead . king judas with all israel , returned with great joy to the house of the lord , offered sacrifice : and as they had laid wood upon the altar , and the sacrifice upon that , they called unto the lord , lovingly to accept their sacrifice , and in the mean space , fire came forth of the altar by its own accord , consuming the sacrifice and the wood , the like never chanced unto them to this day . this miracle was wrought the . day of the moneth elul , or august . the king made an expedition also into arabia , to war upon the people thereof , and made of them a great slaughter , brought them into subjection , and made them tributaries . in his return he set upon a great city of the greeks , wan it , and razed it . after that , he made a road into greece ten dayes journey , where came against him with a mighty army the chief man in king opiters realm , next his person : but judas discomfited him and all his people . from whence he went to the city sypolis , that was under the romans , where came forth to meet him godolias with a royal present , informing him that they had ever born the israelits good will , were their neighbours , and shewed them pleasures . the king examined the matter , and found their words true : so receiving their presents , departed thence . after this gorgorius a captain of the romans , moved war with judas , but judas struck a battel with him , and destroyed his whole army , so that none escaped . opiter son of antiochus , hearing what acts iudas ●…d in all countries round about : he mustred all his people , levyed a puissant army , wherewith he came and besieged bethar . then cryed iudas and all israel to their god with fasting and sacrifices . the night after , iudas divided his men into certain bands , commanding them to give the grecians a camisado , and to enter their camp whiles it was dark : which they did , and slew very many of the best of the grecians , about . preparing neverthelesse for the field against the morrow , where also the israelites did beat down many of the greeks . in that battel was slain eleazar son of mattathias the kings brother . for when he espied one with a golden sword upon the elephant , he thought him to be king opiter , who had . elephants in his army ; therefore he took heart to him , and beat down the souldiers of the greeks on both sides were they never so strong , till he came to the elephant . and because the elephant was so high that he could not reach them that sate upon him , he thrust his sword into the belly of the beast , to overthrow the king , whereat the elephant shrunk together and fell upon eleazar , that he died there , for whose sake all israel mourned , and made great lamentation . but opiter hearing this , straightway made suite to king iudas for peace , and a league to be made between them , which after iudas had consented unto , he returned home into greece again , and by the way fell into the hands of his enemies that slew him . after him succeeded demetrius , his enemy , who was the cause of his death . there were at that time , certain evil disposed persons of the jews , that served the king of the grecians in his wars , namely , one alkimus who went to the king of the greeks at that time lying at antiochia , and stirred him to move war upon israel , and king iudas . by whose suggestion demetrius sent against iudas a captain called nicanor , with a strong army . h●… now coming to jerusalem , let iudas understand tha●… he bare him good will , and was desirous to make peace , and to enter into a league with him . therefore as iudas came forth accompanied with his brethren the sons of chasmoname , nicanor met him in the way , imbraced him , and kissed him : after that , led him to his pavillion , and set him upon his pavillion , and set him upon his seat of honour . king iudas a●…so after he returned from the camp , made unto n●…canor a great feast , calling him and his noble men with him into jerusalem , where they eat and drank at the kings table . king iudas was yet unmarried , wherefore n●…canor moved him to take a wife , that he might have issue , and not loose his succession , whose counsel iudas allowed . this done , the ●…ewd pick thank alkimus declared to king demetrius the league that nicanor had made with king iudas : whereat d●…metrius being wroth , writ unto nicanor , that he had intel igence of his traiterous practises . nicanor was in jerusalem when this letter was delivered him . when iudas heard of the contents of the letter , he fled out of jerusalem into samaria , where he sounded a trumpet , and gathered israel together . nicanor upon these letters entred the house of the lord to seek judas , but he found him not . then he examined the priests , who sware they knew not what was become of him . after he had now sought him in every corner throughout jerusalem , aud could not find him , in a fume he sware he would beat down the temple : and gathering together all his host , he made speed against judas . when he heard of nicanors coming , he issued out of samaria to met him , and after they had joyned battel , judas slew of the greeks to the number of eighteen thousand horsemen , took nicanor alive , and was intended to kill him . but nicanor besought pardon of him , alledging that the king knew well enough , that he began not this battel with his good will , but left he should transgresse the commandment of the king his master . wherefore ( saith he ) i humbly beseech your majesty not to kill me , and i will sweare unto you , that i will never bear arms against you , nor annoy you any more . upon this the king made a league with him , and dismissed him . so he returned to the king his master with shame enough . after this demetrius died , and lysia his son raigned in his stead ; yet the wicked men ceased not , but moved against king lysia to make a voyage in his own person , with a puissant army against judas : but having the overthrow of king judas , he fled unto asdotum , till he had strongly repaired again his army . then came he the second time upon judas , in which conflict the israelites were put to flight . king judas notwithstanding , fled neither one way nor other , but called to his men , and exhorted them to return and stick to him , yet they would not obey him . so he abod alone with his drawn sword in his hand , unto whom none of his enemies durst approach nigh , but with chariots and horsemen they environed him , and archers shot at him , wounding him sore , till he fell down dead upon the ground , and they that were about him were taken alive . the time that he reigned over israel was six years . many of the greeks captains were slain also in that battel , and the king himself so wounded , that he was fain to get him into his country to be cured of his wounds . after he had recovered his health , he returned again , came to jerusalem , and to all the cities of israel , with the power of the greeks , wherewith he so afflicted them at that time for the space of four moneths after the death of judas , that the like tribulation was never seen in israel . in the mean season , the israelits resorted to ionathas the son of mattathias , and made him king in iuda's stead , and were sworn unto him . this ionathas fought d●…vers great battels against the greeks , having the aid of one samnus of the kindred of alexander the first , who had made a league with ionathas , and took his part against grecia , wasted and spoiled it sore , till at length , the king of the grecians slew ionathas by a train . his reign over israel was six years . then was simeon his brother king in his stead ; against him came antiochus the second , king of the grecians came to war ; but simeon met him and laid first and an ambush to entrap the greeks , and then ordered his battel in array against antiochus . after that , he with his whole host made a face , faining as they fled , and retired , till they perceived antiochus , who pursued them , to be within their danger , then the ambush brake forth upon the greeks , made a very great slaughter . after this , simeon returned to jerusalem with great joy . then sent ptolomee king of egypt , an embassage to simeon king of israel , offering him his daughter in marriage . to this request when king simeon had consented , ptolomee came to jerusalem , where was made him a great feast , and they were allyed together . whereupon antiochus king of the grecians writ to ptolomee king of egypt , privily to murther simeon king of israel . whom ptolomee durst not but obey , for at that time the king of egypt was in subjection to the greeks . therefore when simeon came into egypt to see his father in law ptolomee , he was received with great feasting : but in the same time he had poison given , that he died thereof . besides this also , his son which came with him , ptolomee cast in prison . these things justly chanced unto simeon , for that he had transgressed the word of the lord , that forbad all alliance with the gentiles . the time that he reignover israel , was eighteen years . then john his son reigned in his stead , who was called hircanus in the greek tongue . the same-ptolomy king of egypt invaded israel with all the power that he could make . but john the son of simeon met him , and the lord overthrew ptolomy with his whole host , that they were slain of the israelites , and pursued to the city dagon , about which time the israelites made trenches , and besieged it . now within the town they had the mother of king hircanus , whom ptolomy caused to be set upon the walls , and to be scourged with whips in the sight of her son . when hircanus saw the great affliction of his mother , he would have raised his siege , and departed from ptolomy . but his mother called unto him , and said , my dear son john , regard not my trouble , for all chastenings come from god. proceed manfully with thy siege against this city , for it is in great distresse , and revenge me , thy father and brother murthered by ptolomy . the king followed her advise , and manfully raised a mount , from the which he battered the walls with engines of iron like chariots , till they began to shake . wherefore many of the souldiers of the town fled , and their companies began to shatter , ptolomy seeing this , commanded to afflict his mother yet more , and to increase her scourgings , until the entrails of hircanus was moved , that he could not abide longer to see his mother so cruelly handled , but leave the siege , and let ptolomy escape : who neverthelesse killed his mother , and fled into egypt . in the fourth year of king hircanus reign , pius king of greece came and besieged jerusalem with a great power and strength , whom hircanus was not able to meet and encounter withal in the field , but suffered himself to be closed up in the city . the king of the grecians therefore raised great towers against the city , apart from the wall , digged a trench , and cast up a mount . then planted they their engins named p●…ams against the gates , so that the city was hard besieged : for they beat down one of the turrets that stood upon the wall , whereat all israel was afraid , and agreed together to issue out , and skirmish with them , whatsoever should come thereon , life or death . which although hircanus liked not , yet they did so , and slew many of their enemies , and put them also to flight that they were constrained to encamp themselves further off from jerusalem . then the israelites came to the towers that the greeks had builded , and razed them to the ground . thus they issued out daily , skirmishing with pius , until the feast of the tabernacles . then sent hircanus to pius , desiring him that he would grant them truce , and let them be at peace while the feast lasted . his request pius granted , and sent a fat oxe to be offered to the god of israel , covering his horns with beaten gold , and dressing him with fillets of christal , & other precious stones , clad also in a garment of purple , and divers other precious cloaths . he sent moreover plate , both of silver , and gold , full of divers kinds of spices , all to be offered unto the lord. when hircanus saw this , he went out unto pius , and after he had made peace with him , he made him and his chief men of war a great feast , and gave him a present of i●…i c. pound weight of gold : he went also with pius to aid him against the king of persia , that at that time rebelled against him . but he tarried there not long , because the time of pentecost was at hand . wherefore hircanus and the host of israel returned ; but pius and his army of the grecians proceeded . whom the king of the persians met in the field , slew pius himself , and vanquished the residue , that almost none remained . vvhereof when tydings came to hircanus he was very glad , and returned to jerusalem with peace and joy . after this , hircanus made many great battels with the nations about him , and had ever victory . he also came to the mount of corizim , where he won a fort of the sectaries and samaritans , and razed the temple that the sectaries had there as their house of sanctuary , which they builded by the licence of alexander the first king of the greeks . he that built it was manasse the priest , brother to simeon the just . but hircanus the high priest pulled it down two hundred years after that it was builded . from thence he went to the gity of samaria and besieged it . this was the m●…ther city of the samaritans , and sectaries , which was brought to such distresse , by the long siege of hircanus that they within were fain to eat the carcases of dogs . the feast of propitiation then at hand , hircanus made speed to jerusalem to execute his office at that feast , ( for he was high priest ) appointed for generals of his army , aristobulus his eldest son , and his second antigonus . in the mean season , they within the town writ to the king of greece , to come to succour them , which he did with a great power . but these two young men the kings sons , went to meet them with the strength of the israelites , and gave them the overthrow , killing them up almost every one , to the number of twenty one thousand fighting men , and the rest fled . that done , the young men returned to the siege of samaria . king hircanus their father , had tidings of the coming of the grecians against his sons , so that he perceived they should have the grecians of the one side of them , and the samaritans and sectaries of the other : but he knew nothing what was hapned , for that victory chanced the ninth day of tisre , or september . his heart therefore was careful for his sons , and for israel ; notwithstanding he proceeded in his office according as the feast required : as he entred into the house of sanctum sanctorum , or the most holiest , to offer incense , and to call for mercy for his children and for his army , he heard a voice speaking unto him : never trouble thy mind with thy children , and with the host of israel , for yesterday the lord of mercy heard them , and according to the greatnesse of his goodness , for thy fathers sakes : let thy heart therefore be right , and thy hands pure . so the king going out of the sanctuary , declared it to the people . whereupon the next day he sent post to samaria and was assure dry certified again that this was true . vvherefore king hircanus was magnified greatly of all israel , for they knew that the blessed lord accepted his doings , inspiring him with the holy ghost , and increasing his kingdom and priesthood . after this he took journey to samaria , besieged it a whole year , and at length wan it , slew all also that bare life within . he razed the walls , the palace , and burnt up the city . he had wars also with the romans , and the arabians : and god prospered all that ever he took in hand . shortly after , god gave him rest and quietnesse from all that dwelt about him , and from all his enemies , so that israel rested boldly in peace and tranquility all his time . on a time the king made a feast to all the sages of israel , that they might make cheer with him . and being pleasantly disposed , he said , i am your scholler , and whatsoever i do , that do i by your authority . wherefore i pray you , if you see any fault in me , or if i do not as becometh me , tell me of it , that i might reform my evil way . then every man greatly extolled and commended him , saying ; who is like unto thee , our lord king , so worthy of the kingdom 〈◊〉 priesthood , so notable in good works , whose works be done for the god of heaven , which hast also done us so much good in israel ? the king was well pleased with their answer , and rejoyced greatly . yet was there one among them , an undiscreet man , called elezaar , who spake unadvisedly to the king . and it please your majesty , it were sufficient for you to have the crown of the kingdom , ye might leave the crown of the priesthood to the seed of aaron , for as much as your mother was captain in mount modiit . incontinent the king was moved and sore displeased against the sages : which certain of his servants that hated the sages , and smelled somewhat of sects , perceiving one of them , informed the king that whatsoever that undiscreet person had spoken , it was not without the advise of the sages . whereupon the king demanded of the sages , what law shall that man have that in despight of the king speaketh things to his reproach ? they made answer , he is worthy to be whipt . then said one of the saducees , the matter is plain , that according to the minds of the sages , and at their bidding , he upbraided thee , and therefore they would not award him to die . whereat the king held his peace , and gave never a word to answer : so all the joy was turned into sadnesse . the next day at the commandment of the king , proclamation went to all the cities in the kings dominions , that they should stand to the ordinance of saboch and bithus : and whosoever should refuse to follow their decrees , or would observe the traditions of the sages , and obey their will , should suffer death . this was john the high priest , which had the priesthood forty years , and in the end became a saducee . notwithstanding the israelites obeyed not the kings commandment , but rather privily followed the ordinances of the sages . the king himself and all his servants followed the traditions of the saducees , making inquisition for them that stuck to the constitutions of the sages , and putting to death as many as he could get knowledge of . by this means he drew much people of israel into this opinion . the time that hircanus ruled over israel , was . years , and then he died . after him reigned his son aristobulus , for he had three sons , aristobulus , antigonus , and alexander ; this alexander was hated of his father , and banished out of his presence . he went therefore and made war upon tyre and sidon , subdued them , and compelled them to be circumcised . aristobulus regarded not the high priest-hood , but set light by it , wherefore he would not execute the office thereof , but took the kingdom upon him , and set the crown upon his head , and was called the great king. besides this , he banished his mother , and alexander her son , his younger brother , and would not suffer them to dwell in jerusalem . but he loved his brother antigonus , and made him lieutenant general of all his wars , setting him forward into the wars against his enemies . wherein the young man antigonus had good fortune , and prospered in all things that he took in hand , and returned safe to jerusalem , where he entred into the house of the sanctuary to pray for his brother the king , which at that time was grievously sick : and also to acknowledge before the lord god , his goodnesse and mercy towards him , in that he aided him against his enemies . then came a certain wicked person unto the king , and informed him with this tale : thy brother ( saith he ) returning from the wars , inquired of thy health , and when it was told him thou wast sick , he said , i will go to him to day and rid him out of the world . when the king heard this , he was wroth toward the sages , and commanded his brother to be apprehended , and carried to the place of starton , there to be kept in prison , till he had made further inquisition of this matter . in the mean space the queen , the kings wife , commanded him to be put to death there , without knowledge of the kings mind . but when the king heard that his brother was killed , he cryed out and wept bitterly , smiting his breast in such sort with his hand , that he swouned , and much blood issued out of his mouth . he reigned over israel two years . after him his brother alexander reigned , who was also called , king janai , being brought out of prison , where his brother had put him , and made king of israel . he was a mighty man , and valiant in all his wars against his enemies , prevailing against them . he had wars with the philistims namely asam and ascalon , whom he put to the worse , and overcame them . this man refused not the priesthood , but was high priest. it chanced on a time , when he stood at the altar to offer sacrifice , one of the sages cast a cedar tree on him , whereat he lifted up his right hand upon the altar crying give me my sword . then the sages kneeled down before him , and sware they did t not of any contempt but rather ( say they ) that we thus sporting before the lord , would be merry upon the high solemn day . but the kings servants answered roughly again , saying ; although ye play and rejoyce , yet it is not the manner of the country to use any such despightfull custome with the king. the contention waxed hot against them , till at length the sages spake evil of the king , casting in his teeth that he was an unhallowed and suspended person , and that his grand-mother on the fathers side was a captain in mount modiit , whereby her seed was stained . the king was sore moved at that , insomuch that he commanded all the sages to be slain . therefore , wheresoever they found them , in the sanctuary , or in the streets of jerusalem , they killed them forthwith . then the king commanded that every man should obey the governance and traditions of the saducees . so in those daies had the sages great tribulation , some fell on the sword , some fled away , and some tarried at home with great dishonor . after these matters , the king made an expedition into arabia , entred the country as far as the rock of the wilderness , against hattam king of arabia and subdued his land . after that , he warred on medaba and the whole land of moab , vanquished them , and bringing them under tribute , and so returned with honor to jerusalem . when he had after this well bethought him of his doings , it repented him of his evil waies : wherefore he altered his mind and began to make much of the sages , submitting him to their ordinance , and esteemed their traditions . there was at that time a kind of sect that were called pharisees , of whom such as had escaped , the king sent to call them home again , and when they came into his presence , he spake unto them words of comfort saying , my brethren , ye shall understand , that the thing which is once done , must needs be tearmed as it is , and cannot be revoked . and truth it is , you cannot excuse the reproach that ye did me , nor i cannot call again the blood that i have shed . notwithstanding i confess my fault unto you , and have changed my indignation to love , praying you to put out of your heart all rancor and malice , lay away all your mourning and sorrowfulness of your minds , rejoycing in your reconciliation and atonement with me , and be of good cheer . but they made him answer : we will not lay away our hatred and enmity , for thou speakest but deceitfully , and we speak that is truth . furthermore , thou hast killed our chief men and elders , neither hast thou only done us this injury : but as hircanus thy father began this mischief , so thou hast holden on and continued it . wherefore this hatred between thee and us hath taken some root , neither can we leave our lamentation till thou dye , and god take vengeance on thee for our sakes . then shall we rejoyce when we see vengeance . so they departed from his presence , neither did the king give them any answer at all . but when they saw the king to be incensed against them and by that means the matter might redound to their own harm , after consultation had , they went to the king of greece , whose name was demetrius , shewed him what hircanus and alexander his son had don to the pharisees , and all the israelites that bare them good will , and followed their traditions , and how they also hated alexander , for the mischief that he had wrought them , so that if any man will come and revenge the malice of alexander , they would be ready to aid him . demetrius followed their advice , and assembling together all his people , to the number of . horsemen , and footmen without number , he took his journey , and encamped against sichem . the king alexander raised six thousand horsemen to aid him . but the king of the grecians writ privily to the antients of the sectaries , that they should not aid alexander ; to the souldiers also that alexander had hired , he sent rewards , gold and silver , that they returned home to their country , and aided not alexander , whereupon he was not able to withstand demetrius . therefore hearing that demetrius was removed from sichem toward jerusalem , intending to take him in the city , he fled by night with a few of his men to the mountains , and lurked there . when the men of israel that were in judea , heard that the king was fled out of jerusalem , and that the city was in fear to come into the hands of the grecians : they gathered themselves together , and stood for their lives , as though all had been one man , to the number of ten thousand and s●… upon demetrius camp , killed all his best men of war , and spoiled all his host , that he fled from them , and came home into his country with great dishonor . this done , the king took heart to him , and returned to his kingdom , but the pharisees fled to bethshemes , fortifying themselves against the king , who having intelligence thereof , gathered a●… army and went against them , won the city , and took , of the chiefest pharisees , bound them in chains , and brought them to jerusalem . then banqueted he all his servants upon the roof of his pallace in a high place , where his learned peers did eat and drink , till they were drunk . and in his merry mood he commanded those eight hundred pharisees prisoners to be fetcht forth , and to be hanged every man of them upon gallowses before him , at which sight he drunk and laughed heartily . after this he fell sick in the four and twentieth year of his reign , of a grievous disease , a quartain ague , that held him three years ; and for all this he shrunk not nor letted to go to the war to encounter and fight with his enemies , what nation soever they were round about him , as though he had been a whole man. in the . year of his reign , which was the third of his sickness , he made an expedition into the land of moab , against a certain city called rabaga , to get it by force . at which time he was very sick and weak ; wherefore his wife alexandra the queen went with him , fearing least he should dye by the way . and as he encamped himself ●…gainst the city , and urged it sore with assaults , his fickness increased upon him more and more . wherefore his wife , perceiving that he was like to dye , wept bitterly for him , and said ; to whom shall i be so bold as to shew my face when thou art once dead , seeing thou hast wrought such mischief against the pharisees , whom all the land favoureth , and following their traditions , obey their instructions ? if they shall be disposed to revenge themselves upon me and thy young children , they shall have aid of all that dwell in the land. the king answered , weep not , nor shew any resemblance of pensiveness : i will tell thee what thou shalt do , and if thou wilt follow my counsell , thou shalt prosper and raign , thou and thy children as thou wouldest desire ; put case i dye , there is no man in the world need know thereof : tell thou every man therefore that ask for me that i am sick , and will not that any man shall come at me . in the mean while anoint and season me with balms fight with courage against this city , till thou win it , and then return to jerusalem with joy : and beware thou put on no mourning apparrell , nor weep , but bring me unto jerusalem , and lay me on a bed like a sick man , and after call together the chief of the pharisees , bring them where i am , and speak unto them gently in this sort : alexander hath been ever your enemy , i know it very well : wherefore take him if ye list , and cast him into the fire , or to the dogs , or bury him it shall be at your choise : i know well they are pitif●…ll men , and so full of mercy , that they will bury me honorably , and appoint some one of my sons whom they like best to be king. the queen did therefore as she was instructed of the king. and when she had won rabaga , she joyfully returned to jerusalem : after that gathered together the elders of the pharisees , and spake to them as the king had advised her . the pharisees hearing that the king was dead , and that his body was in their hands to do withall what they list , they answered the queen , god forbid , we should do this unto our lord , the anointed of god : he was the king and high priest ; what though he were a sinner , yet his death shall be an expiation for all his iniquities . therefore we will bewail him , and mourn for him , yea , we will carry his coffin our selves on our necks , and bury him as it becometh a kings majesty , and so they did . the time that he had raigned was xxvii . years ; after him raigned his wife alexandra in his stead ; for the pharisees after they had finished the seventh day of the morning , they committed the kingdom unto her . she had two sons by the king : the elder was called hircanus , the other aristobulus , hircanus was a just man and a righteous , but aristobulus was a warriour and a man of courage ; besides that of a familiar and loving countenance . he favoured also the learned men and followed their instruction . but hircanus his elder brother , loved the pharisees . on a time therefore when the queen sate in the throne of her kingdom , she cal'd the antients of the pharisees before her , honored them , and commanded to release and set at liberty all such pharisees as the king her husband , and her father in law had cast in prison , and taking the pharisees by the hands she commanded all israel to obey their ordinances . then made she hircanus her son high priest , and aristobulus lieutenant of the wars . she sent also to all the lands that her husband and father in law had subdued , and demanded the noble mens sons for pledges , which she kept in jerusalem . so the lord gave to the queen quietness from all that were under her subjection . she gave also the pharisees authority over the learned sort , putting them in their hands to order at their will. whereupon straight way they found one dogrus , a great man amongst the learned sort , whom they slew , and much people besides of the ancients of that sect , so that the sectaries were in great distress . they gathered themselves together therefore , and came to aristobulus the lieutenant of the wars , and with him they came to the queen , saying unto her : thou knowest the enmity that is between us and the pharisees , which hate thy husband and father in law , yea , and thy children also . we were his men of war that went with him in all his affairs , aided him , now thou hast given us into their hands to be murthered and banished out of the land : what will hartam king of arabia do , when he heareth this , that we shall forsake thee ? he will come and revenge him of all the battel that thy husband fought against him . yea , the pharisees will take his part , and deliver thee and thy children into his hands , that there shall not be left unto hircanus the king , and his son alexander thy husband , any name or remnant at all . the queen gave them no word of answer ; whereat aristobulus was angry , and letted not to utter it to his mothers face , but she would not hear him . wherefore aristobulus counselled the sectaries to go their waies , and depart out of jerusalem , to choose them cities in the land of juda , where they might dwell with their honor , and not to suffer themselves to be slain under the pharisees hands . wherefore departing from jerusalem , they dwelt in the cities of juda : not long after this , it fortuned the queen fell fore sick , that she was like to dye , whereof when aristobulus heard , he feared least the pharisees would make his brother hircanus king , and at length apprehends him , wherefore he fled away by night to the ci●…y of the saducees to be their head , and make war upon his brother if he should presume to raign . he came therefore to the prince of the saducees called galustius , who was a good man of war. and after he had gathered a strong army of the saducees , his mother the queeen sent unto him that he should return unto her , which he would not do , but rather went to war with the nations that dwelt about him , where he won twenty cities , and got him great renown thereby . now as the queen his mother waxed sicker and sicker , the chief pharisees came unto her , with her son hircanus , weeping before her , and saying , how they were afraid of her son aristobulus , who if he should come into jerusalem and take it , he would deliver them up into the hands of the saducees . unto whom she answered , i am as you see at the point of death , not able to talk much with you : there is here in my house great treasure , that my husband and my father gathered , and their parents , kings of the posterity of chasmonany , take that to you , and make my son hircanus king over you . if aristobulus will disturb him , and make war against him , ye may leavy men of war therewith , and succour him as you think good . and even with this she fainted and dyed , and was buried amongst her people , after she had raigned nine years over israel . the pharisees therefore and priests , with all the inhabitants of jerusalem , made hircanus her son king in her stead . aristobulus hearing tidings of these things , assembled his army and came toward jerusalem , to fight against his brother . but hircanus met him , and encountred with him nigh unto jordan jericho . the saducees of aristobulus host were good men of war , and too strong for the pharisees : wherefore hircanus and the pharisees , had the overthrow at aristobulus and the saducees hands , who with this victory proceeded forth to jerusalem , besiege●… it , and brought it to great distress . wherefore the priests and the ancient of the people consulted together , and came forth to aristobulus , fell prostrate on the earth before him , and besought him , that he would not scatter abroad the inhabitants of the lord. he condescended unto their desires , upon these conditions ; that he should enter into jerusalem with them and be king , and his brother hircanus should be high priest ; whereupon they agreed . then as aristobulus entred into jerusalem , his brother came out of the sanctuary to meet him , and with embracing he kissed him . so aristobulus was king , and hircanus executed the office of the high priest ; the lord also gave israel rest and peace for a while . but afterward the lord sent an evill spirit among them , which was the cause of translating the kingdom from the stock of chasmonany , and of the destruction of his posterity , for the sin of hircanus the great , and the sin of alexander his son , in that they shed so much innocent blood , and drew israel from the obedience of the prophets , unto the lies and trifles of the saducees . for thus it chanced . the saducees beat into aristobulus head , that as long as his brother hircanus lived , he nor his kingdom could never be established . whereupon aristobulus devised how to make away hircanus : which thing a certain man called autipater was aware of , a man of most power in all israel , and thereto also a wise , expert , and learned in all wisdom ; both in the laws , and in the knowledge of the greek ; just of his word , and prudent in any strange or new matters chanced . his off-spring was not out of the children of israel , but of those romans which chanced to be vanquished ; and become subject under the dominion of the israelits , being but strangers , and of no noble house in israel . he had foure sonnes , joseph the eldest , the next p●…silus , the third herod , and the fourth pheroras ; these had also a sister called salumith . antipater favoured hircanus so entirely for his justice , and uprightness sake , that he opened unto him his brother aristobulus , and the saduces intent , giving him counsell to flye to hartam , king of arabia : but antipater himself went before to break the matter to hartam , of whose coming hartam was very glad . then antipater declared to him how harcanus was in mind to flye unto him , because of aristobulus his brother : if thou w●…lt help him ( saith he ) and lend him speedy aid , thou shalt easily set aristobulus beside the kingdom ; for all israel is inclined to hircanus , and favour not aristobulus : hartam answered , i am afraid of the jews , and their craftiness ; alexander his father put me thrice to the foil in battel by his subtilty , and took my dominions from me . then antipater swore unto him , he shall be ( saith he ) thy true and trusty friend , to do whatsoever thy heart desireth . thus hartam was perswaded , and they made a league together . then antipater turned to jerusalem , caused hircanus to flye in the night ; and they both went together to the king of arabia , who much rejoyced at hircanus coming , and received him honorably . when they came together to intreat of the league , hartam demanded restitution of such cities as hircanus father had taken from him , to whom hircanus consented in all things . wherefore hartam raised all the people of arabia , and led them to jerusalem to war upon it . to hircanus also came all the men of juda , save only they that dwelt at jerusalem : so betwixt them they beset the city round about . it fortuned that in the solemnity of the pa●…seover , they could not have their service of the solemnity in the holy place , because of the wars ; whereupon a certain just and perfect man of the town , called honyauriga , brake out privily into the camp of hircanus , and antipater his counseller , and besought them with much prayer and tears , that they would grant a truce unto jerusalem , while the feast of sweet bread lasted , that they might execute the service of solemnity in the holy place ; to whom hircanus said , thou art a just man , and often when thou hast prayed , the lord hath heard thee , pray now therefore unto the lord , to deliver aristobulus into our hands , and that israel may rest : honyauriga answered , am i a god ? or able to remove battels that be stirred up for many mens iniquities ? thus when he seemed to be unwilling to pray , hircanus men compelled him , drawing their swords , and saying , it thou wilt not pray , thou shalt dye for it . therefore as he saw his life in jeopardy , he cryed unto the lord , o lord everlasting , which hast chosen thy people israel out of all people , and hast set thy name in his house , may it please thy majesty to plant among the children of israel friendship and brotherhood ; take away from ●…mong them this hatred which is risen of nothing , and let not the one of these factions , prevail against the other , seeing they all be thy servants , and children of thy covenant . when the servants of hircanus heard him say so , they ran upon him with their swords , and killed him : but god deferred not his vengeance , for he struck the host , as well of the arabians , as of hircanus , with a grievous pestilence . chap. ii. at the same time came from rome a famous captain called pompeius to war against the country of armenia : this pompeius sent one of his chief men to damasco , of whom , as aristobulus ( thus besieged ) had heard , and that an army of the romans was come to damasco , he sent him a present of four hundred pound weight in gold , desiring him to remove the army of the arabians from him , and to raise the siege . in those daies all the world obeyed the romans . that captain therefore writ unto hartam king of arabia in this wise : depart from jerusalem , if not , thou shalt understand , thou hast broke thy league with the senate of rome , and the whole army of the romans shall shortly invade thy land. hartam on the sight of this letter , raised his fiege , and departed from jerusalem . hircanus also and antipater departed with shame and reproach . aristobulus upon that gathered a power , and pursued after them , gave the arabians and israelites that took hircanus part a great overthrow and after returned to jerusalem with much joy . shortly after pompeius came to damasco , where aristobulus presented him with a vine of gold , marvellous artificially wrought . the roots of the vine , leavs , clusters , and grapes that were upon it were pure gold , the weight whereof was five hundred pound . pompeius was very g●…ad thereof , and sent it to rome to the consul . and the whole bench of the senate , which was of the number of three hundred and twenty senators , wondered at the cunning and wit of him that made it : and with great joy they bare it into the temple of their gods , placing it in the presence of the great idol jupiter , so called after the planet jupiter . pompeius writ his letters to aristobulus , with great thanks and commendation for the same , assuring him , how both he and the whole senate favoured him , and that he should have a friend of him to speak in his cause as long as he lived ; hircanus hearing of this , was clean dashed , and in despair . but antipater comforted him saying , let not the friendship that is betwixt pompeius and thy brother dismay thee : i will go to him and make him thy friend . upon that he went to pompeius , and perswaded his mind to hate aristobulus , and to favour hircanus , informing him thus ; if thou ( saith he ) defend hircanus , all israel will be content to be under thy protection , for they love him every man ; but if thou defend aristobulus , the people will not obey thee , for they hate him . pompeius charged him that no man should be made privy to their communication ; for i ( quoth he ) will send for aristobulus to come to me to damasco , and then i will cause to be laid hands upon him , and deliver him bound to his brother , restoring the kingdom to him . aristobulus upon the sight of pompeius letters resorted unto him : hircanus also came from the rock of the wilderness ; and as they appeared together before pompeius , antipater desired him that he would do justice betwixt hircanus the king , and aristobulus his brother , that rebelled against him , and took his kingdom from him without cause , whose sayings , a thousand of the elders of israel stood up and witnessed to be true : aristobulus answered , i never strove with him for the kingdom , untill such time as i saw all these that made hircanus king , to run in great obloquie , and to sustain much reproach , because he was so feeble a person , and of no great wit , nor sought much the kingdom : yea , till all nations that were about him , whose dominions our progenitours conquered , began now to despise him , to pass little for offending him , to deny him tribute for his simplicity and mopishness , with lack of courage . when aristobulus had said , there stood up a great multitude of goodly and beautifull young men , apparrelled in cloth of hyacinth and purple , with mighty targets upon them , & other ornaments of gold , chrystal , and precious stones , affirming with one accord , that aristobulus said the truth : namely , that hircanus was not favoured by the kingdom . at which pompeius marvelled , saying ; happy is this people having so many goodly men , true in their words , and wise : happy also were the senate of rome , if they could bring to passe , that this great nation might be under their governance . so he took his journey to jerusalem with hircanus and aristobulus . but after aristobulus perceived that pompeius stood not to the promise he made him at the beginning or the vine , he set light by him , and fled from him to alexandria in egypt , whither pompeius followed with his host and besieged alexandria . from thence aristobulus fled again to jerusalem , and pompeius pursued him also thither , writing to aristobulus a letter of truce and pardon . so aristobulus came forth unto him , and pompeius did him at that time no harm , but demanded to be given unto him all the vessels of the house of the lord , which aristobulus refused to do ; pompeius in a rage , caused to lay him fast in heavy iron chains , and assaulted je●…usalem , battering the walls very sore , till they of the town issued out against him , and slew of his host twelve thousand men . after this had the israelites civil wars within jerusalem , because the siege was grevious unto them , for they were ●…ivided into factions : one part said , let us open the gates to pompeius , and let him in , that we may submit our selves under his protection . the other said , let us fight against him unto death . but much people disliked that , so that that side prevailed that would yield . wherefore pompeius entered the town , and the house of the sanctuary , killed much people of the priests , and the people of the land made hircanus king of israel the second time , and antipater his counsellor . moreover , he set one securus a roman in the country , to receive the tribute & departed , leading aristobulus with him bound in iron . and because he took his journey toward arabia , hircanus and antipater went with him to conduct him . aristobulus thus being prisoner , and his two sons with him , it fortuned that one of them ( called alexander ) escaped : and having intelligence , that hircanus and his counsellour were gone out of jerusalem , he came thither and rebelled against hircanus , made up the breaches of the wall that pompeius had battered : yea the israelites resorted unto him , and made him king in hircanus place . whereupon he gathered an army , and went forth to meet with hircanus as he came homeward from pompeius , where he gave hircanus the overthrow , and securus the receiver of the tribute fled and escaped . then alexander returned to jerusalem , from whence shortly after , gabianus a roman with a strong army compelled him to flee to alexandria . and being in the same place besieged also of gabianus , his mother aristobulus wife , went forth to gabianus weeping , and besought him that he would not destroy her son : for whose sake he did alexander no harm . gabianus therefore having gotten all the land of judea , made hircanus king of jerusalem now the third time : who set roman captains and rulers in jericho , and in zephori , and through all the land of israel . it fortuned after this , that aristobulus got out of prison at rome , and came into israel ; to whom on every side resorted men in such sort , that he had a puissant host of israel . whereof when he had taken muster , he chose out eight thousand of the best , and with them went against gabianus , where was a sore battel fought between them , till the best of aristobulus men were slain , and only one thousand left , wherewith he fled to the mountains . but the romans followed the chase , and slew them every man. yet aristobulus would not yeild , but fought alone , although his helmet was broken , till he had divers sore wounds in his head : and then fell he to the ground , and the romans took him yet alive , brought him to gabianus who comforted him , commanding his surgeons to heal him , and after sent him to the consul and senate of rome , where he was put in prison yet once again . and this , the senate taking pity of aristobulus wife , which was reported to be a very wise woman , released her two sons out of prison , and set them at liberty . alexander , the one of those , could not be content , but rebelled once again against hircanus , and the romans governours . for he gathered together much people of israel , encountred with one of the romans governors that gabianus had appointed , and gave him the overthrow : but proceeding further to fight with gabinius , had the worse and many of the israelites were slain , yet he escaped and fled . this done , gabinius came to jerusalem , and renewed the kingdom of israel to hircanus the fourth time . about this time one of the senators wives at rome conceived a chi●…d , and d●…ed in the birth and travel thereof : they therefore that were about her , straight-way ript her , and got the child out alive , whom they named julius , and because his mother was cut , they called him cae●…ar . this child growing to great towardnesse , and coming to mans estate , the consul and senate sent him into the wars , and whatsoever he did , he had go●…d fortune , and prosperous successe . he deprived the grecians of the empire and dominion , translating it to the romans : many provinces also besides that , he did subdue , and returning to rome with a power , attempted to get the dominion , and sole power over them . but they had made solemn statutes in the time of their progenitors , never to suffer any king among them , or any man to have perpetual rule over them ; wherefore they w●…uld not make julius king : upon this rose amongst them great and mortal wars , so that julius slew a great many of them , and without number . when pompeius understood that caesar raigned at rome , and had killed the consul , and senate , with all the nobility of rome , he gathered together his whole army out of arabia , and made toward him . julius having intelligence of his coming against him , sent for aristobulus out of prison , spake friendly unto him , gave him a power , and made him grand captain thereof , bidding him to go and encounter with pompeius : indeed his army was a strong army , and he himself a king of no small prowess , and valiantnesse . pompeius hearing that aristobulus came against him , was sore afraid of his valiantnesse , and of his host ; wherefore he sent to the inhabitants of jerusalem that were under his obedience , that they should present aristobulus with some gift , whereby they might deceive him , and poison him . the inhabi ants of jerusalem at his request , sent unto aristobulus a present , by certain noble men , whereat aristobulus was right joyful , and did eate and banquet with them , till he was overcome with drink , then they impoisoned him , and he died : the time that he raigned over israel was four years , and six moneths . he was a good man of war , hardy in fight , and a man of amiable countenance . pompeius receiving tidings of his death , the more gladder proceeded toward rome to besiege it : but julius met him in the way , and destroyed him and his host , whereby the em●…ire was established unto julius : he after this , sent presents to the king of syria , and into egypt , by his captains , to allure them to his friendship : antipater advised hircanus to aid jul●…us , if perchance he might win his favour , which hircanus did : and antipater was captain of the host , who played the man , and found such favour with julius , that he made him lieutenant of his wars ; and af●…er he had fought sundry and great battels , he returned to jerusalem with great honour , and by the way prospered much more . hircanus after this , made phaselus , antipaters son , governour of jerusalem , and herod his third son president of galilee . there was a certain young man at that time in jerusalem called hizkias , a valiant man of war , to whom adhered all such as were in any distresse , and he became their captain . these went and ranged about in syria , roving and murdering in such sort , that the syrians were weary of their lives , for fear of them . wherefore the king of syria sent unto herod ruler of galilee , desiring him to kill that hizkias and his complices : whereupon herod prepared himself , and went to meet with hizkias as he returned from the spoil of syria , came upon him unawares and slew him and his men . whereupon when the king of syria was certified , he sent a noble reward unto herod , of silver , gold , and precious stones ; by which , and by like means , he became very famous . the noble men of juda made their complaint unto hircanus upon antipater , and his sons , for their sore oppressing the land of juda , desiring that herod might be summoned from galilee , to appear in judgement and answer with other for the killing of hizkias . the king therefore sent for him , and he upon that came to ierusalem , appeared before the judges , princely apparelled , with a guilt sword girt about him , whose pride an antient man ( called samai ) blamed , and reprehended also his stout heart , but he would not give ear unto him , nor yet regard the judges . when hircanus perceived that the judges had almost determined to give judge-ment against the young man , and to make him away , he took pity on him , and said , we will not give sentence to day , to morrow is a new day , and by that means delivered him out of their hands : herod knew not afore that it was a matter of life and death , that night therefore he fled to the king of syria , declaring all what had hapned unto him . the king of syria let him have a strong army , and came with him himself , purposing to besiege ierusalem : but his father antipater , and his eldest brother phaselus , came forth unto him , and rebuked him , saying ; is this the reward that thou renderest unto king hircanus , that took pity on thee , and would not have thy blood shed ? therefore they willed him to depart from ierusalem , unto whom he condescended , after he had once let the inhabitants of ierusalem know what he could , and had shewed them his power . julius emperour of rome , about that time ( as he was worshipping in the house of his god ) was murthered by the conspiration of certain of them which had served pompeius that was slain , as is afore mentioned : the name of one of them that killed him was cassius , of the country of macedonia , who fled thither , being afraid to tarry at rome : this cassius had great dominions in macedonia . antipater also of whom we spake , was a great scourge to the noblemen of juda , and a great d●…al 〈◊〉 man than was hircanus himself : yea , hircanus could do nothing in comparison of him , for he had no rule himself , but antipater and his sons bare all the sway throughout all the realm : moreover , antipater was in great estimation with all the kings of that time . and forasmuch as he so sore oppressed the jews , they therefore hated him , and conspired to kill him . there was a man in great authority about hircanus , named malchias , by whose means they wrought this matter . he corrupted the kings butler with rewards , to put poison in antipaters cup , which as soon as he had drunk , he died . these things his sons phaselus and herod dissembled and winked at as though they knew nothing . notwithstanding they privily writ unto cassius that reigned in macedonia , certifying him of this deed . soon after came cassius to tyre , from whence he sent messenges to hircanus to come unto him , who came , and with him malchias , phaselus , and herod : cassius entertaining them all in his ●…odging , willed his men , that whatsoever herod bad them , they should do it . herod willed them to kill malchias , they slew him therefore , sitting hard by hircanus side , hircanus demanded of the sons of antipater the cause hereof : who answered , is it not manifest that king cassius servants slew him , and we know not why ? therefore hircanus stood in fear of phaselus and herod , being certain that this was their deed . wherefore he said unto them , this malchias was worthy of such a death , for he was a crafty man , and an usurer . these things done , octavius augustus brothers son unto julius that was murthered came to rome : and the people of rome made him their emperour . he had a fellow in office named marcus antonius his uncle . octavianus therefore seeing to the government of rome , sent marcus antonius to war upon cassius , and to revenge julius death . unto him hircanus sent a present , a crown of gold , in which were set sundry precious stones , praying him to strengthen his kingdom in his hands , and to be a means of a league to be made between octavins augustus , king of kings , and him ; as there was between him and julius , which antonius granted . about that time antigonus son of aristobulus writ to pagurus king of the persians , to aid him against hircanus , to remove him , and to restore the kingdom to himself , promising to give him for his travel , five hundred pound weight of gold , and an hundred 〈◊〉 virgins . so pagurus gathered an host against israel , and antigonus departed out of jerusalem with much people of israel that took ●…is part , and joyned themselves to pagurus . these came to jerusalem , besieged it , fought many skirmishes , and gave many great assaults unto it , till at length they undermined the ci●…y ; then took they hircanus , and slew phaselus . and to the intent hircanus might be clean removed from the priesthood , antigonus that had deprived him of the kingdom , cut off ( besides that ) one of his ears . but herod escaped and fled to augustus , emperour of rome . pagurus therefore having made antigonus king of jerusalem , returned home into persia , carrying hircanus as prisoner with him . but augustus appointed herod to be king over all iuda , giving to him a very strong army of the romans to obtain it withal . in the way thither , herod met with alexandra , hircanus daughter , and marimi her daughter , that she had by alexander son of aristobulus , and brought them again into the land of israel , where he took marimi to wife , and solemnized the marriage with her in the mount of galilee , for there the chief of all israel dwelt , with whom he took peace . marcus antonius companion in office with octavian augustus , about that time made a voyage through all the west countries , to subdue them to the romans , together with egypt , damasco , and syria . him herod accompanied to the flood of eupbrates , and helped him not a little . for the arabians lay in wait for him in the way , and intercepted all that would aid marcus antonius . herod met with them and vanquished them . wherefore antonius was very glad of herods valiantness , and brought him again to israel , together with cassius his captain and lieutenant of the wars , having also his letters to all the captains of syria , this tenor . ye shall understand that our lord and master octavian augustus , king of kings hath appointed herod the son of antipater , to be king of all the land of juda. therefore as soon as these letters come unto you , ye shall with speed aid him , no man shall be excused : all that can bear arms shall go with him to jerusalem , to vanguish antigonus the kings adversary : whoso refuseth to go with him , it shall be 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to slay him forthwith . i ma●…cus 〈◊〉 have sworn by my sword i will not when the captains of 〈◊〉 ●…ad r●…d 〈◊〉 they r●…orted wholly to her●…d , so that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was wonderfully increased . , sent one pompeius 〈◊〉 of his ●…ars , against them who fought a sore 〈◊〉 with them , that much people were slain on 〈◊〉 sides . 〈◊〉 king 〈◊〉 brother was slain in tha●… 〈◊〉 no●…withstanding , at the length antigonus host went to the wor●…t , and had the overthrow . s●… 〈◊〉 and cassius proceeded to jerusalem , and beseged i●… 〈◊〉 third year after herod was made king of israel . and when they had battered down a piece of the wal●… , cassius with the romans entred into the town , and made a great slaughter in jerusalem . they entred also into the sanctua●…y , and attempted to ente●… into the sanct●…m s●…nctorum but herod and his men lept between it and them , and stood with their drawn swords in the temple door , to withstand their enterprises . herod was also d●…spleased with cassius for his 〈◊〉 , and said , if ye will destroy all the inhabitants of the city , upon whom shall i reign in the kingdom that augutus bath given me : wherefore stra●…ght-wa●… cassius caused proclamation to be made through all his host , that no man , upon pain of death should kill on israelite more . this done , herod apprehended antigonus , and delivered him bou●…d to cassius . he rewarded also cassius souldiers both with gold and silver . then cassius offered a present unto the lord , a crown of gold , for he was sore afraid of gods displeasure , because he had fought against the holy city . that done , he took his journey , and returned into eg●…pt , and antigonus as prisoner with him . thither sent herod unto him a royal reward , to make away antigonus , and to murder him , fearing least he should make claim unto the kingdom again ; whereunto cassius consented , and slew antigonus . chap. iii. thus was the kingdom surely established to herod . then made he wars upon all the nations that were about him , constraining them to become tributaries , by which means he grew to such power , as never any of his predecessours were to be compared unto him . after all this , pagurus king of persia released out of prison , hircanus son of alexander , and promoted him to be head of all the israelites that were fled into the land of sennaar , and into the dominion of the persians , and he became their king. this hircanus had a fervent desire to see the holy city , and the house of the sanctuary : also how herod ( whom he took for his son ) and his kingdom did . herod hearing that hircanus ( who had been prisoner at babylon ) was now set at liberty , and in great honour ; he was afraid of him , mistrusting least the israelites would restore unto themselves the kingdom of their fathers ; wherefore he cast in his mind how to do him a mischief : he then writ this letter unto pagurus , the contents whereof were such ; thou shalt understand that hircanus is he that brought me up , and used me even as his son ; now therefore since i came to be king in jerusalem , i have called to my remembrance the goodnesse that he hath done to me , wherefore my desire is to reward him according to his benefits ; therefore i require thee to send him to me , otherwise assure thy self of wars between thee and the israelites , with their confederates . pagurus having read this letter , sent to hircanus , giving him to understand , that if he would go to herod he might ; but notwithstanding herods threats , he ceased not to give to hircanus all good counsel he could , advising him to take heed of herod , because he is ( saith he ) a blood-shedder , and a breaker of his league : and he hath called thee , for no love he beareth thee , but because he feareth thee . as long as thou livest shall he never sleep soundly , lest the kingdom should be devolved unto thee : it is better for thee to remain here in some honour , though it be not of such estate , than to go thither to die with greatdispight , and end thy old age with a bloody death . furthermore thou shalt know , such is the disposition of mens hearts ; if there be two men , the one in honour , the other in contempt ; after time shall come , that the despised shall be had in honour , and the honoured be neglected ; never will he that is now honoured , and before was in contempt , be content to see him that was before honoured , nor speak friendly to him : for he will think , hi herto according to his accustomed manner he hath despised me , how much more when his dominion is taken from him , and his servants reign in his room ? moreover , herod knoweth right well , that me●…s hearts are inclined to him that is the true king. and it might be so , if thou wer●… meet for the priesthood , that he would promote thee unto it , and be governour of the kingdom himself : but seeing thou art dismembred , having one of thy eares cut off , and thereby art unmeet for the priesthood ; thou shalt remain in jerusalem , deprived both of kingdom and priesthood , which is uncomely for thee . such counsel gave pagurus king of the persians , unto hircanus ; yea , and all the jews that were in babylon besought him , that he would not go unto herod . notwithstanding he would not be perswaded , and why ? for it was the lords will and his deed , that the injury done unto the sages , whom his father and grandfather slew , and the injury commi●…ted to honyauriga , might return upon his head and be reyenged ; so that no remnant of the house of 〈◊〉 , no name , no residue , no kinsman o●… posterity should be left alive . hircanus therefore took his journey toward jerusalem , and herod came forth to meet him , e●…mbraced him , a●…d kissed him ; after brought him to his house , and feasted him da●…y , calling him his father before all men , albeit in his heart he conspired to kill him , which alexandra his daughter , and mother in law to herod knew well enough , who opened it unto hircanus , but he would not credit her at the first , till on a time he perceived the matter clear to be so : then devised he how to flye to maloc king of arabia , he sent therefore to maloc to send him horses , and a chariot to flye withall ; but the messenger dealt unfaithfully , and lewdly with him , for he brought hircanus letters privily unto herod , who rewarded him well for his labour , and bad him go to maloc , and to let him know what answer maloc gave . the messenger upon this , went and delivered the letters to maloc , who fulfilled hircanus request , sent him horses and a charlot , writing in this sort : i have sent thee horses and horsemen , come therefore unto me , and whatsoever thy heart desireth , i will do it for thy sake : so the messenger brought the answer secretly to herod ; whereupon he sent straight to the place in which he understood malocs men to lurk waiting for hircanus , and caused to apprehend them alive . then herod commanded to call together the elders , before whom he willed also hircanus to be brought , and of him the king demanded ; tell me whither thou hast written any letter to maloc king of arabia ? he answered , i writ none . then was ristius the messenger brought in as his acuser , and the men of war also of arabia that were apprehended , who declared the whole matter before the council , so that hircanus was quite dashed : then the king commanded him to be put to death , and so was the kingdom established unto herod . the time that hircanus raigned , was . years , and . moneths . after the death of his mother , he raigned . years , and aristobulus his brother removed him , making him priest : again , . years after he returned to his kingdom , and raigned . years . then antigonus son of aristobulus deposed him , cutting off his ear , and banished him out of the holy city . so after when herod his servant came to the kingdom , he returned to jerusalem , and herod shed his blood guiltless : yet notwithstanding he had delivere●… herod from the hands of the elders , who would have put him to death , for the death of hizkias . from that time hircanus wrought no evil in the sight of the lord , nor offended him in any great matter , save only in this , that he bare too much with herod in shedding the innocent blood , wherefore his own life went for the other : therefore happy is he that never forgetteth any part of his duty . marimi the daughter of alexander , the son of aristobulus , the wife of herod , had a brother whose name was aristobulus , him herod would in no wise promote to the high priesthood , because he feared the children of chasmonany , although his wife made earnest suite , and lay sore upon him for the matter : but the king made high priest one that was nothing of the kindred of chasmonany , whose name was haniel . notwithstanding , when he had once dispatched hircanus , his wives progenitors , father of alexandra , his mother in law ; then he deposed haniel the high priest , and preferred his wifes brother aristobulus to the dignity , who although he were but a child , yet he was wise , and of good understanding , and beautifull withall , so that in all israel was not a goodlier , nor hansomer young man than he was : and this haniel was the first that ever was deposed from that office of the high priest-hood ; for never did king of israel attempt the like afore herod , who did this to quiet his wife , and to fulfill his mother in laws mind : notwithstanding , this alexandra his wives mother was not content , nor satisfied , for the death of her father was such a grief : but alwaies spake snappishly to the king , that he committed her to ward . then she writ to cleopatra , queen of egypt , wife unto m. antonius , a noble man of rome , declaring unto her all the mischief that herod had done to the posterity of chasmonany , and desiring of her aid ; to whom cleopatra made this answer , if thou canst find the means to come to me secretly , thou shalt perceive what i shall do for thee . when alexandra had read the letter she sent to aristobulus her son the high priest , shewing him that she would flye to the sea japho , and from thence would take shipping into egypt , perswading him also to flye with her . we will ( saith she ) make two coffers , one for me , and another for thee : and we will with rewards allure our servants to carry out us privily , whereby we may flye to save our lives . this their device was perceived of one of herods servants , who forthwith made the king privy unto it . the king commanded his servant that bewrayed them , that when they did convey the coffers , they should bring them to him , which the servant did . so when the coffers were brought to the kings presence , he caused them to be opened , and took out alexandra and her son aristobulus , to whom the king spake sharply , and rebuked them sore . but alexandera answered him again as short ; insomuch that the king moved with anger , flung away from her into his chamber , saying : it is better to fit solitary in a corner of the house , than with a brawling and scolding woman in an open place . the king dissembled the matter , and shewed no great displeasure a year after . as aristobulus the high priest , apparralled in his pontificial vestures , stood in the temple nigh unto the altar to offer sacrifices , the israelits beheld his beauty , his wisdom , and behaviour in the ministery , whereat every man rejoyced , praising god , that had not taken all away , but left one to revenge the injuries done to the house of chasmonany . the king hearing this , was sore afraid , and not a little displeased , thinking to himself the israelits would restore the kingdom of their fathers unto him : he perceived every mans heart to be enclined towards him : wherefore he deliberated a while , and in the feast of the tabernacles he removed to jericho with all his houshold , whereas he made a great feast to all his nobles and servants , placing them every one after hi●… degree before him , aristobulus the high priest he se●… upon the right hand . and as they eat , drank , and made merry , certain of the kings servants were disposed to go swim in jordan . to these the king had given secret commandment , that they should desire aristobulus to go and bath with them in jordan , and then to drown him . so when they were going , they came to aristobulus and moved him to keep them company , which he would not , unlesse the king gave him leave : wherefore he asked the king leave , but he denied him at the first yet at length the young man intreated him so instantly , that the king bad him do what he would . he went therefore with the other young men to swim . the king presently took his horse and returned to jericho , with all his train , leaving the young men behind , which continued swimming till sun setting , and as it began to be dark , they drowned the priest aristobulus among them . wherof when tidings came to the king , and it was known that he was dead , the people wept and made great lamentation , considering his virtue , nobility , and beauty , every man was full of sorrow that he should have so short a life : and they bewailed so much that it was heard afar off . but marimi chiefly , and alexandra the young mans mother , could no wise be comforted . yea , the king also wept & made great mone , for it repented him that he had done so wicked an act ; yet all the people knew well enough that the thing was procured by the king : insomuch that alexandra his mother in law , letted not to tell it him to his face , that he was the murtherer of her husband , and of her father , and now last of all , of her son , to whom the king answered neither good nor bad . from that day forwards there was continuall hatred between alexandra and marimi , and kiparim ; the mother of herod and salumith , his sister , that came of base and servile blood . for marimi cast in their teeth to their faces , that they were not of the seed of israel : but prophane , unholy , and of base birth . notwithstanding herod loved marimi as his life , wherefore he would never displease her as long as she lived , nor say so much to her , as why saist thou so , these things done , marcus antonius a noble man of rome , next unto octavian augustus king of kings , being sent by augustus to war upon the kings of the west countries , reigned in egypt , and by the provocation of his wife , rebelled against octavian augustus , made war with him , both by the sea and land. and forasmuch as egypt is near adjoyning to the land of israel , herod joyned with him , and helped him . for marcus antonius had aided him before in such sort , that no king durst meddle with him , for fear of marcus antonius . whereupon when marcus conspired against his prince and master , herod aideth him with an army , with horsemen and with ships also against octavian . in which wars octavian got the victory , slew antony and all his people coming by ship to the i le of rhodes , and so into the land of egypt . herod hearing that marcus antonius was slain , and that octavian augustus was come into egypt , he fainted for fear of the displeasure of octavian . yet at length he took heart unto him , prepared a royall present to be carried before him , and followed after himself to octavian augustus . and setting forwards , he called joseph the husband of salumith his sister , whom he made chief of his houshold , commanded him that if octavian put him to death , he should poyson marimi his wife , saying ; it should not be seemly for kings , that any mean man should marry with a kings widdow , and sleep with her upon the kings bed . so then he took his journey towards octavian augustus , who then was at the rhodes , where he understood octavian to be displeased with him , for that he had ayded marcus antonius , therefore as soon as herod came to octavian augustus presence , having his crown upon his head , he took it of , and fell down prostrate upon the ground at octavians feet , saying : most noble emperour , i confess my trespass against your majesty , that i loved marcus antonius my companion in league , who was my neighbour and ayded me : and is true that your majesty since the time you made me king , have heard of mine affairs that hapned unto me but never succoured me . this marcus antonius did not so . i confess therefore that in his wars against your majesty , i ayded him with an army , with horse-men and ships : neither went i out with him for any wars upon mine own borders , but whensoever i went with him i helped him to the uttermost of my power . when he was falling , i bolstered him up : and wh●…n he stumbled , i raised him again . am●…gst all these i protest also , that i would not be counted of your majesty a breaker of league : but now marcus antonius is dead wherefore whether that it shall please your majesty to restore me my former estate or no , forasmuch as i have kept touch with marcus antonius against your majesty amongst others , if you put me to death , you will do me no wrong , but justice , because by the law of arms i have deserved death . when octavian augustus heard him speak so , he said unto him : arise thou king of israel in peace , be of good comfort , and fear not , for thou art worthy to be nigh , yea next unto my person . i know that marcus antonius was inticed by his wife and would not follow thy counsel , for if he had , i dare say he would never have conspired against me . so he commanded the crown to be set again upon herods head , and made a league with him . then they went both together toward egypt , to be revenged upon cleopatra . but that wicked woman when she saw her city to be overcome , put on her most precious apparrel , and sitting upon the throne of her kingdom , commanded a viper to be brought unto her : which as soon as she had ●…uffered to sting her brest , she died . as octavian augustus came to the pallace , and saw her sit there , he rejoyced that he might be revenged of her , and commanded to thrust her from her throne : but when they came to her , and found her dead , it grieved octavian very sore . in this while joseph salumiths husband disclosed unto marimi , that the king had commanded , if it so happened to him to be put to death by augustus , that he should poyson her . whereupon marimi conceived yet a greater hatred toward the king , insomuch , that when the king was returned in safety and sound , and with honor also from octavian , and that all his men and whole houshold rejoyced greatly , marimi shewed no countenance of gladness , no not when the king himself told her how greatly he was magnified and honored of octavian augustus : but alwaies she was very sad . salumith the kings sister perceiving that marimi so vexed the king , she told him how joseph her husband had lien with marimi whiles he was with augustus . but herod ( say what she could ) gave no credit to her words , knowing that she envyed marimi , until at length he asked the cause of marimi , why she rejoyced not as others did , when he returned in safety from augustus , but was very sad , which shewed her to have rancor and malice in her heart towards him . she answered ; thou hast said heretofore , that thou lovedst me above all thy other wives and concubines ; yet thou didst will joseph thy sisters husband to poyson me . when herod heard this , he was exceedingly abashed , that joseph had disclosed his secret , and began to mistrust with himself that which salumith had told him , that he had slept with his wife indeed , and upon that detected that secret . therefore he departed out of his palace in a great anger and rage , whereby salumith perceived that he detested marimi , and therefore she accused her further , suborning false accusers and forgers of lyes , to witnesse that marimi would have poisoned the king , whereof she had divers presumptions also by her countenance . she added moreover , if thou ( saith she to the king ) let her escape thus , she will speedily destroy thee , and bereave thee of thy kingdom , the law giveth a man this couns●…l , if any man go about to murther thee , prevent him , and slay him fi●…st . with this , and such like words , she so moved the king , that he commanded to bring marimi forth , and to be beheaded in the high street of the city . and as she was brought forth into the market place of the city , all the women of the city followed her : alexandra her mother also cursed and railed at her , saying , come out thou that hast abhorred thy husband , and conspired against thy lord : alexandra wept also , as though it had been for the wickednesse that her daughter had committed , thinking surely to please the king by that means , and to blear his eye●… , if peradventure he might suffer her to live , till she might have opportunity to poison him . marimi thus going to execution held her peace , and looked neither to the right hand , nor to the left , nor yet feared death any thing , knowing that she was innocent in deed , and thought , and therefore god would render her a good reward in the world to come ; wherefore she bared her neck without fear , and they cut off her head , shedding the innocent blood . but god made no delay in punishing the same , for there fell a sore plague and pestilence in the house of herod , so that his chief servants , his noble women , and concubines died sore thereof , yea , throughout all judea raigned vehemently ; which affl●…ctions all israel knew well enough , chanced unto them for the blood of marimi . they c●…yed therefore unto the lord , saying , wilt thou for the offence of one man , deal so cruelly with the whole congregation ? the lord took pity therefore upon the land , and withdrew the plague from the people . the king repented him also , that he had shed blood without a cause ; and love so grew in his heart that he was sick , and at deaths door . then alexandra marimis mother , sought means how to poyson him , which being uttered unto the king , he commanded to apprehend her , and to kill her . in this manner dealt herod with all the posterity of the machabees , leaving none alive that were called by the name : herod put to death also josephat the husband of salumith . the king had two sons , alexander and aristobulus , by marimi his wife : they were both at rome when their mother suffered , for their father the king had sent them thither to learn the roman tongue : when they heard tidings of their mothers death , they wept and mourned for her , hating their father for his cruelty . soon after the king their father recovered of his sickness , was established in his kingdom , builded strong cities , and rose to great prosperity . in the thirteenth year of his raign , therefell a great dearth in the land , wherefore the king took out of his treasure , much gold and silver , and precious stones , wherewith he sent into egypt ; and procured plenty of corn , and refreshed with bread all that lackt , and were in distress of hunger ; yea , he spared not his own proper goods : and not only to the israelits shewed he this liberality , but also to all that came unto him out of other strange nations , hearing of his renown : moreover , in all his wars he had good fortune : besides this , he thought it good to renew the house of the sanctuary , whereupon he deliberated with the israelits , to have their advice for the building of it , after the same quantity and measure that solomon king of israel had builded it . for the jews returning from captivity in the time of coresch , began to build it after the measure that coresch prescribed them , and not as it was before . the king of israel hearing that the king was purposed to pull down the temple to the ground , and build it afresh , they made h●…m no answer , fearing lest when he had pulled it down , he would not be so hasty to build it up again . but the king perceiving what they feared in their minds , said he would not slack the matter , nor rest till he had brought it to pass . he said moreover , that he would take out of his treasury plenty of gold and silver , and give it to graving : also precious stones , stones of thasies and marble . to the carpenters also and masons he would deliver timber and stones , gold and silver , brass and iron , to make all things necessary to the work . wherefore if he pulled down the house he was able to build it straight waies again . so he pulled down the house , and repaired it again , and finished it in length a hundred cubits , al of white marble so that the whole height of the stone was in all , a hundred and twenty cubits . for the foundation was twenty cubits within the ground , and a hundred above . the breadth of every stone was twelve cubits , and the thickness thereof eight cubits ; every stone was of like bigness . the gates of the house he covered with fine gold and precious stones finely set therein : the thresholds were of silver , and the tops also . he made also a vine , of gold a marvellous cunning piece of work , the arms thereof or bigger branches , were glittering gold , the lesser branches , slips , or latest shoots of gold , somewhat red , and all above was yellow gold , whereupon hung clusters of crystall . the vine was so great that it weighed a thousand pound weight of pure gold . in all the world was not the like to be seen . he made also a porch , and before the porch two walls of silver , marvellously and cunningly wrought . behind the house toward the west , he made a court of a hundred fifty cubits long , and a hundred in breadth , which was paved with pure marble . toward the south and north , the length of the court was also a hundred and fifty cubits , and a hundred in bredth . he erected in it also a hundred and fifty pillars of white marble in rancks . the length of one ranck was fourty cubics , and every pillar was fourty cubits high , and three cubits thick . the pillars were all of like measure , as the court of the north side , and of the south was also of like measure , with all the pillars thereof . towards the east , the court contained seven hundred and twenty cubits , even to the brook cedron : no man ever saw the like building in all the world . the vine that he made , placed he before the porch : in ●…he extream parts of the court , he made also walks and galleries of such height that they that walked therein , might easily see the waters running in the brook cedron by the space of a cubit ; between the porch and the house also ( as though it were a vail or partition ) the king made a wall of silver , of half an handfull thick . in the which was a door of beaten gold , and upon the gate a sword of gold of twelve pound weight . there were certain posies graven in the sword , as this ; what stranger soever approached nigh here , let him dye for it . so the things that herod made in the temple , were wonderfull : neither was there ever heard of in all the world , any king that was able to erect such a building . when the work was finished , the king sent to saroas his pastures , for his cattel , from whence were brought him three hundred young bullocks , and very many sheep , according to his princely estate . so then they dedicated and hallowed the house with great joy and gladness . there was one certain day in the year , when as the king was accustomed to make a great feast to all his court , to all his nobles and sages in israel : against that self same day the king was minded to finish his works , which made both him more glad , and all his people . the same also was commanded to be done in all the provinces of his kingdom , sending his letters by his pursuivants to the noble men , captains , and presidents of the provinces , that they would observe that day after the same manner every year . the people also that were squandred in their enemies countries , their head rulers and captains came out of every country , far and neer , to see the house and the king , for they could never believe it , till they had seen it : and when they had seen it , it exceeded far that they had heard of it . these things done , the kings two sons , alexander and aristobulus which he had by marimi , came home from rome to jerusalem in a great heat and fury , with a strong company , yea their hearts were very heavy also ; for alexander the elder had married the king of capadoci as daughter , and aristobulus the daughter of salumith the king his fathers sister . these coming to jerusalem , went not to the court to do their duty to the king their father , neither would they see him : whereby the king gathered , they went devising some mischief against him : moreover , all his men gave him warning to take heed of them , and to keep his power or guard about him . he had a wife of base stock out of the country , before he came to the kingdom , by whom he had a son named antipater . and when he had put marimi his beloved wife to death , he called home his wife , which he had disdained before , to his court. wherefore , now seeing the two sons of marimi hated him , he appointed antipater his son to be heir apparant , and to raise his estimation , he gave him all his treasure , made him lord and ruler of all that he had , affirming that he should raign after him . this antipater had a subtile wit , and his talk was daily to his father ; if it like your majesty , wherefore should you give me all these things , when as these two lions shall be ever in my top , and ready to destroy me . by such surmised means he raised discord and hatred between them and their father , albeit the king was loath to hurt his two sons . not long after he took his journey to rome to octavian , and his son alexander waited on him , hoping that octavian would be a means for him to turn his fathers hatred from him , and put all malice out of his mind . when the king was come thither , octavian rejoyced much at his coming , saying , i have thought long to see thee . to whom hast thou left the land of juda ? herod answered , for the homage that i owe unto my lord the emperour , i am come to appear before him , and to declare my chances with this my son his servant . so he told him the whole matter , from the beginning to the end . then octavian augustus blamed the young man , because he hated his father . the young man answered , how can i otherwise do ? how can i forget the most chast womb that bare me , which was the holy stock . if i forget my mother that was slain guil●…less and without crime , then let me forget my right hand . these and such like words spake the young man , not without tears in the presence of octavian ; so that his bowels were much moved , and the noble men that were about octavian , could not abstain from weeping , but lamented greatly . octavian first reproved herod for his great transgression and cruelty ; then laboured he to pacify the young man with comfortable words , bidding him to honor his father , and to submit himself unto him . when he had done as he was willed ( for he would not strive against the emperour's commandment ) octavian took the young man by the hand , and put it into herods bosome . then his father kissed and embraced him , so that they both wept ; after that they took their leave and departed from octavian who comforted them , & gave them a gift , committing it into herods hands . herod yet perceived , that the hatred of the children of marimi would not be appeased : whereupon when he came home to jerusalem , he called together all the elders of israel and said unto them , i had determined once to place one of my sons , captain over the people of the lord , but i might not do it without the consent of octavian augustus . now therefore i have appointed my three sons , and have divided my kingdom equally amongst them : help ye them against their enemies , but in no wise shall ye help one of them against another : and if ye perceive any breach of friendship between them , do what lyeth in you to make it up . whereunto he made them swear presently in jerusalem ; and the bond being made , each man departed home to his house . but for all this , the hatred between antipater and his two brethren was nothing diminished , for he feared them , because they were of the house of chasmonany , and allied with kings of great power ; he suborned therefore false accusers , to say unto the king that the young men , sons of marimi were determined to destroy him : likewise he set variance between salumith and them , for she was in greater estimation than he , insomuch that the king did nothing without her counsell ; the same wrought he also between pheroras the kings brother and them . but to salumith he said , doest thou not consider how the sons of marimi know that their mother was put to death by thy counsell ? therefore if they may bring to pass to make the king away , they will hew thee to pieces . but when the young men heard this , they came before the king , and swore , they never intended to hurt their father , and with weep●…ng they so perswaded the king that he believed them , and they got his favour again : whereat antipater was not a little displeased , therefore he hired false witnesses , to say they saw alexander the kings son upon a cer●…ain night , with his sword drawn before the kings palace , minding to murther antipater . he subo●…ned also certain of the kings servants to witness against alexander , that he should give them great rewards to allure them to his pleasure , and to abuse them in unnatura●…l venery , which they refused . moreover , that he desired them to poyson the king , which they would not agree also to do : whereupon the king was sore displeased towards him , commanding not only him , but all that took his part , or defended his integrity to be apprehended and put in prison , that execution might be done upon them . then alexander writ ●…nto archelaus his father in law , desiring him to come to jerusalem to his father herod . this archelaus was a very wise man , and a noble counsellor : when he was come to jerusalem , herod was very glad of his coming , and demanded what matters brought him thither at that p●…esent , he answered , i have heard that alexander thy son , and my son in law , hath attempted to rebell against thee ; it is not possible but my daughter his wife should be accessary of this thing , and yet she hath not shewed it unto thee , wherefore ●…utterly detest her , as one that hath conspired against thee ; yet neverthelesse , i know well , that for the love thou bearest unto me , thou wouldest spare her ; for this cause i am come unto thee , that when thou hast put him to death , i also may slay my daughter ; for it is better that we should make them away , than they us . herod hearing this , was very glad , and gave credit to his friendship : when archelaus perceived that herod had a good opinion of him , he altered his communication , saying to the king ; first let us diligently examine , and well try the cause , forasmuch as there are many false witnesses , and lying persons in the world , and let us not shed innocent blood upon any uncertainty : for archelaus had a great suspi●…ion that herod had given too leight credit , knowing how ready he was to hear an evil tale , which was the cause of the mischief , that befell upon the people of his house : wel , herod thought his counsel good . one of them that accused the kings children , was pheroras the kings brother ; and to say the truth , he was the chief of all . herod loved archelaus , the king of cappadocia as himself . archelaus perceiving , turned his tale to rebuke the king , saying . thou art now waxen old , & well stricken in years , thou sufferest these backbiters to rule thee , who stir thee to work all these mischiefs in thy house ; yea , pheroras thy brother hath falsely provoked thee against thy sons . when pheroras heard these words , he was sore afraid , for indeed he had seduced the king . therfore came pheroras to archelaus , and besought him to save his life . archelaus answered him , if thou wilt obtain pardon for thy wickedness , come and fall before his feet , and confess that thou hast spoken falsely against his sons , then will i promise thee that he shall be merciful un●…o thee , and to his sons ; pheroras did so , confessed that he had falsely accused the kings sons : then archelaus besought the king for pardon , and he granted it ; after that , he entreated him that the young men might be delivered out of prison , which the king a●…so commanded to be done . the young men therefore came before the king , and fell down at his feet , and the king was loving to them , and embraced them kindly . he made great joy also , that archelaus came in so good an hour unto him ; to whom he gave for a gift seven hundred pound weight of gold , with many precious stones , and concubines , and dismissed him . but antipater again suborned false accusers , and writ counterfeit letters in the name of the kings sons , to one of the captains , declaring how they would conspire and kill the king ; and by such means he encreased the enmities between them and their father many wayes that the king commanded them to be put in prison and most strong irons to be laid upon them . besides this , antipater had surprized and won the hearts of the kings chief rulers , and serva●…ts , that they procured his barber to bear false witnesse against alexander , how he hired him to kill the king , at such time as he should shave his beard . when the king heard his barber speak , he was much troubled in his mind , insomuch that he said , i am weary of my life , to hear these pick-thanks that open my eares to fill my head with tales , i can do no way better than to give charge , that whosoever brings me any such accusations hereafter of any body , he shall suffer death for it , wherefore he commanded the barber to be slain , and his two sons to be brought forth and hanged upon gallowses , shedding their innocent blood . then rejoyced antipater , supposing himself to be as sure of the kingdom , as though it were in his hands , when he was not aware , that although he were never so high aloft , yet was there one higher than he who considered his doings . alexander had two sons , thigarus and aristobulus : and aristobulus had three sons , herod , agrippa , and alexander . when the king returned to jerusalem ( for he was in samaria by the lake side , when his sons were put to death ) he commanded that his nephews should be brought to the court , and taking pity on them , imbraced and kissed them , weeping very sore , both he and all his servants : for it greatly repented him for the hainous deed that he had done . but when the time of mourning was past , he called the chief of israel together , and said unto them , i am now grown in age , and waxen gray-headed , uncertain how shortly i shall die , i see here before me these little fatherlesse children , which i never can behold without great anguish of mind ; for when i look upon them , i call to remembrance what great dammage i have done unto their father in my furious outragiousnesse . now therefore i would commit them to the tuition and custody of some man that might be a patron and as a father unto them , to succour them continually to his power . all the people answered that he had well spoken . he spake therefore unto his brother pheroras : thou shalt be their patron and defender , and shalt give thy daughter to thigarus , alexanders son. he also commanded his son antipater to give his daughter to herod , son of aristobulus . and the marriages were knit , and composition made in the kings presence . when antipater marked the love that the king bare towards the nephews , he began to be in great care , for thigarus , alexanders son , had a grand-father by the mothers side , a king of great power , namely archelaus , king of capadocia . he falls down therefore at the kings feet , to dissolve and break the friendship that he bare towards his nephews , and to leave speaking in their cause as he had done , but he prevailed not . therefore he left his father , and went to pheroras the kings brother , made a confederacy with him , and desired him to frustrat the bond that was between himself and herod , and also between him and thigarus the son of alexander that was hanged . so pheroras came to the king , turned his mind , and dissolved the covenant of marriage . this done , pheroras and antipater ( that sate upon the kings throne ) were become great friends , banquetting one another , day and night , and discoursing of their affairs . when this came to the kings eare , he was sore afraid of their combinings , and commanded that his brother pheroras should for evermore be banished the court : antipater his sonne was sent to octavian augustus ; to establish the kingdom unto him , and to enter in league with him : for herod was so old , that he could not go . antipater journeying toward rome , passed thorough egypt , desirous to see it before the death of his uncle pheroras : and as he travelled by the high-wayes of egypt , there came a certain merchant with a viall in his hand close covered , which cryed , saying ; who will buy a thing of great price before he see it ? antipater marvelled at his words , and ask't him what was in the viall : but the seller told him not what it was before he had bought it , and paid dear for it : then whispered he in his ear , telling him that it was a strong poison that would kill one out of hand . this vial antipater sent to pheroras , to be kept until he returned from rome ; in the mean season pheroras died , and his wife hid the viall . after when antipater came home again from rome , pheroras wife and he fell at striffe , insomuch that she objected unto him , that he was the cause pheroras was banished the kings presence , the sorrow whereof was his death . on the other side antipater went about to accuse her , sowing discord between her and the king , to stir him against her . he suborned also a certain eunuch or gelded person , to go to the king and enform him how that at what time as he took displeasure with pheroras his brother , and banished him his presence , pheroras procured a strong poison and gave it to his wife , commanding her to destroy the king therewith : the king hearing this , was wroth with the eunuch , and said , i searched for that venome long ago , when it was noised that thy houshold servants would give it me to drink , but i could not find the thing to be true ; yea , i have been too rash in such matters for i put my wife marimi to death without cause , and alexandra my mother in law with my two children : when antipater heard that the king credited not the eunuch , he made suite to the king to send him to octavian the second time , for he was afraid of the viall that was in pheroras wifes house . he had writ also with his hand , how that he sent it , intending therewith to poison the kings sons children ; but he that prepareth a pit for another , oftimes falleth into it himself . so desiring the king to send him , he let him go . after this , the king commanded to make search , if the eunuchs words were true or no , he sent first for pheroras houshold servants , and examined them whether ever they could perceive that pheroras was in mind to hurt him . they all sware , no. then the king commanded to scourge them very sore , but they confessed nothing although some died under their hands in the examination : some he ordered with many kind of torments ; of some he caused to pluck out their teeth ; and as he had scourged a cer●…ain woman servant , which had been very trusty to pheroras , at the length when she could no longer stand for strokes , she cryed out and said , the holy and blessed god revenge us of rostios the kings wife , antipaters mother , which is the cause of this . the king hearing these words , bad let her alone , she will disclose all : then spake she , antipater made feasts every foot for th●… brother pheroras and himself , and as they eat and drank , they devised how to poison thee , especially when as antipater was going to octavian ; for they said , except we destroy him , he will destroy us , as he hath done all the children of his house . moreover , he lo●…eth the children of his sons that were put to death , w●…ich grow a pace , and it is possible he may change his mind , and make one of them king . antipater , also said to thy brother , the king makes as though he were much my friend , but i trust him not ; he gave me ( saith he ) a hundred pound weight in gold , but all that satisfieth not me . w●…en the king heard this , he told how he had given antipater this gold secretly : and the woman said moreover , there is a viall of strong poyson in pheroras house , that thy son sent out of egypt ; straightway the king sent to pheroras wife , that she should bring him the viall of poison her own self ; when she saw the kings eunuches com●… to fetch her whether she would or no , she go 〈◊〉 up to the top of her house , and cast her self down headlong to kill her self , because she would not see the king , nor abide his torments : but the died not thereof , whereupon the kings messengers brought her in a horse litter , and set her before the king ; then she confessed to him , how antipater his son had conspired with pheroras to kill him , with a poyson that he had bought in egypt , and sent it to pheroras when he went to octavian ; and how pheroras being at the point of death , repented him thereof , charging that we should never give that venome to antipater , but poure it upon the ground , that the king might not be poysoned therewith ; and i did as he bad me , cast it out all , save a li●…tle that i kept in the glasse-bottom , for i ever feared that which is now come to pa●…se . then at the kings commandment the vial was brought forth before him and there was a little of the venome left , wheresore they gave better credit to her words ; so that the king was content with her and bad his physitian heal her ; and she recovered . this done the king writ to antipater to come home with speed , because i am old ( saith he ) and weak , uncertain how shortly i shall die . chap. iiii. the king had also two other sons at rome , archelaus and p●…lemus : so when antipater writ to answer his father's letters , he signified unto him , that his two sons had defamed the king , and slandered him unto octavian . but the king answered him , come and bring them with thee , and i will order them as thou thinkest good . notwithstanding , antipater lingred for the space of six moneths , to see if he might learn somewhat of his father's doings , but he could hear nothing : the messengers his father had sent , lay upon him every day and urged him to make haste : therefore at the seven moneths end , he took his journey towards judea , and came to caesarea . there heard he ●…is father had taken displeasure with his mother , and banished her the court , but he could not learn what should be the cause , therefore he was strucken with such fear , that he would have gone back again . but they that waited upon him , being desirous to go home to their houses , and families , dealt crastily with him , and perswaded him , that if he should now turn back out of his way , he should justifie his enemies words to be true ; but if thou come once to thy fathers presence ( say they ) who loveth thee so entirely , thou shalt prevail against thy foes , and get the upper hand of them that trouble thee . so he followed their counsel , and came to jerusalem . when he entred into the city , no man came forth to meet him , nor once to bid him welcome home : for all the people hated him for his lyes , slanders , perverse and wicked counsel , but chiefly for fear of the king. yet went he forward to the court , although with a fearful heart : when he came to the king's presence , he fell down and did his duty : but the king turned away his face , and could not abide to look upon him . he went home therefore unto his house with a heavy heart , hanging down his head , and hiding his face . there his mother told him how their counsel concerning the vial of poyson was bewrayed , and how , the king was wonderfully incensed toward him : that increased his fear more and more . the next day by the kings command he was brought forth , and , before all the chief of israel assembled together , the king sat to judge antipater's cause : there the king rehearsed unto them , his sons lewdnesse and lyes , how he had seduced him , and incited him to kill his children that were of the kings blood , far better and more virtuous than he ; insomuch that with a loud voice the king burst out , and bewailed his wife marimi whom he put to death without a cause , and his two sons , that they that were far off might hear him . then antipater lift up his head and began to speak craftily and subtilly . first he forgot not to give gen●…le words to pacifie his father's wrath ( but that he could not do ; ) after , he fell to entreaty in such sort , that all the nobles were moved to pity , and bewailed his evil fortune , not without tears , save only niraleus the kings secretary , who loved the kings children that were put to death . he rebuked them all that were sorry for the calamity of antipater , crying with all his might ; where are ye alexander and aristobulus that were slain guiltless ? lift up your heads and behold this wicked man fall into the pit that he himself made ; see how his foot is catched in the net , that he laid himself for others . mark you no●… , how your maker revengeth your deat●… , and requireth your blood at his hand in the time of his destruction ? for the wicked man is spared until the t●…me ●…f his d●…ath . so the king himself very much incensed , sent to fetch a condemned person ou●… of prison , who being brought before them , and 〈◊〉 a li●… of the poyson in the v●…al , fell down 〈◊〉 therewi●…h . then the king commanded antipater to be carried to prison , and to be laid in strong irons . the fortieth year of hi●… re●…n , which was the seventy year of his age , king herod fell sick , and no remedy , no physick could be found to help him , neither his servants nor physitians could procure him any rest , so grievously came his disease upon him , with shortnesse of his breath , and through the anguish of the manifold evils that had hapned upon him by his own folk : whereupon he cryed out , saying , wo may he be , that hath none left to succeed him in his kingdom , nor none to go before his coffin , and mourn for him at his death . then called he to his remembrance his wife marimi , and his two sons , rehearsing them by name , howling and weeping still continually . upon a certain day when his sickness came sore upon him , he called to his servants to fetch him some pleasant apple , to see if it might comfort his heart ; & when they had brought it , he asked for a knife to cut it , and one was brought him . then he gathered his strength unto him , and reared himself up upon his left arm , and perceiving his life to be full of sorrow , and lamentation , he took the knif with his right hand , and fetched his sway to thrust it into his belly ; but his servants stept to him and caught his arm , holding his hands , and would not suffer him to do it : then wept he sore , and all his servants , that their voice was heard out of the court , and shortly all the city was in an uprore , saying , the king is dead , the king is dead . antipater being in the prison , heard the noise , and asked , what business is this ? they answered him , the king is dead . then he rejoyced wonderfully , saying unto the jaylors , strike off my irons , and let me out , that i may go to the palace , and i will remember thee with a good turn ; the keeper answered , i fear lest the king be yet alive , i will go therefore and know the truth , and come again by and by antipater seeing he could not get loose , wept for anger at the keeper : so the keeper came to the court , which being told to the king , he commanded him to be brought before him ; then the king asked him , what did antipater ( i pray thee ) when he heard this mourning , and that i was dead ? the keeper answered , he was very glad thereof , and when i would not smite off his irons and let him out , he wept for anger : the king cryed unto his lords , see how he hateth me , being yet in prison , if he were here , he would do what he could to kil me ; he would not do as my servants did , make haste to wrest the knife out of my hand . as true as god liveth , he shall never have that which he gapeth for , so the king commanded he should be put to death : and there was not one that would intreat for him , or desire the king to the contrary , but every man was glad of his destruction . the king commanded the keeper to bring him forth to the market-place ; which done , his head was cut off , and so he missed of his purpose : moreover the king commanded his body to be taken and carried to the city of ankalia , there to be buried , but not in the city : that done , and the people being returned from the burial , the king sent to call all the nobles of israel together , and enforcing his strength , he sat up in his bed , & commanded to call his son archelaus , on whom he laid his hands , and made him king over israel ; then shouted every man , god save the king. the king lived five dayes after the execution of antipater , then he fainted and died . he raigned over israel . years ; he was a worthy warriour , a wise and prudent man , a goodly man of person , having god on his side . he ever loved the sages hillel , and samai , with their companions : he enriched the second house , more than all other kings , and was more liberal than all the kings that were before him . his gifts and rewards were rich , for he counted gold and silver , as chaffe and stones : he kept israel in peace from all his enemies : he bui●…ded also a fairer temple than king solomon ; but he made the yoke of tribute and exaction in israel more heavy , and gave open ear to ev●…l tongues . he was a cruel blood-shedder of poor and innocent persons , and archelaus his son reigned in his room . he willed , before his death , that they should bury him in the city of erodion , two dayes journey and a half from jerusalem : so they put him in a coffin covered with gold , set here and there with precious stones . the bed under him was wrought with gold , and full of precious stones ; likewise upon his head was a cloth of rayes powdred with precious stones , and upon that a royal crown , made fast to the left side of the coffin , and on the right side was a regal scepter ; upon the bier was also a cloth of rayes , very thick powdred with precious stones , crystal , amethysts , and very many ●…aphirs . then all the chief men of war went about him in their coats of fence , and drawn swords in their hands , with helmets on their heads as in the time of war. after them came archelaus his son that was made king ; then followed him all the people : there were fifty of his servants that went about the bier , every one having a chaffindish of gold in his hand , wherein they burnt sweet woods , and perfumes continually ; as many as went about him , casting upon the hearse pure myrrhe . he was born by certain great lords , and noblemen of israel , upon their shouldders , going leisurely , and with a majesty , till they came to erodion ; where they buried him with great honour , the like was never done to any king. these things done , there resorted together such as hated herod , and were weary of their own lives whiles he lived , rejoycing that they had escaped his hands , saying ; we have looked till our eyes bleared , waiting for the death of herod that tyrant and bloodshedder , that oppressed us with such heavy yokes ; that left us nothing to live on , for the tributes and taxes that he laid upon us ; yet now archelaus his son is worse than he : wherefore they consulted together , and cast their minds and good will toward antipater the son of salumith , the kings sister , one of the blood of chasmonany , and went with him to octavian augustus , requesting him to translate the kingdom from archelaus to antipater ; but he would not grant them their suite : yea , he rather confirmed and assured the kingdom to archelaus , who wrought wickedness in the sight of the lord ; for he married his brother alexanders wife , that had children by alexander , and committed many great offences . the ninth year of archelaus's raign , it chanced upon a night he dreamed a dream , he thought he saw nine eares of corn , very good and full grown upon one stalk ; then came a great oxe and did eate them up all at one bit , by and by he awaked and perceived it was a dream ; therefore calling one of the sages of israel unto him , he shewed him his dream : the wise man said , this is the interpretation of it ; the . eares fresh and full , be the years which thou hast raigned ; the great oxe is the great king octavian augustus ; this year thou sha●…t be removed from thy kingdom , because thou hast neglected the word of god , and hast married thy brothers wife ; to this archelaus answered him neither good nor bad . within five dayes after , octavian came towards jerusalem ; and when archelaus wen●… to meet him , he put him in prison , deposed him from the kingdom of israel , and made antipas his brother king in his stead ; he turned his name also and called him herod ; that done , he returned to rome : whiles antipater was king , died the emperour octavian augustus , the . year of his raign , and tiberius caesar succeeded him . this antipas also wrought wickedness , and sundry abominations more than any that was before him : for he took his brother philips wife from him , which had already children by philip ; for this shameful deed , rabbi john baptist the high priest rebuked him , wherefore antipas put him to death . there was at that time one jesus , a wise man , if it be lawful to call him a man , for he was a worker of wonderfull works , and a teacher of such men as gladly did hear the truth ; and had many disciples , both of the jews , and also of the gentiles . this man was christ. who , after he was accused of the chief rulers of our nation , and condemned by pilate to be crucified , was nevertheless much beloved by them , who loved him even from the beginning . to these he appeared the third day alive , according as the prophets by divine inspiration had told before , aswell of this , as also of many other things , which should be done by him . and even to this day the christian sect , which took their name of him , continueth . against this man antipas before named , came tiberius emperour of rome ; to whom when antipas repaired , he apprehended him , la●…d him in irons , and sent him into spain , where he died : archelaus also that was deposed before , died in the time of this tiberius raign . then tiberius made agrippa ( the son of aristobulus whom herod put to death , ) antipas brother , king in his stead . the time that antipas raigned over israel , was . years . in agrippas time died tiberius caesar , and caius succeeded him : this caius called himself a god , and would suffer no man to worship any thing in his empire but himselfe : he continued not long in this dignity , but decayed and died . after him succeeded claudius . claudius being dead , nero caesar was emperor . agrippa raigned over israel years . in his time nero sore oppressed israel , by setting cruel presidents over them , which left them nothing to live upon ; and besides that , he punished them with divers torments , until at length they were constrained to rebel against the roman empire , and nero cesar ; to rid themselves from under his subjection . and above all other , one florus president and captain of the roman army , most grievously oppressed the jews , and had done many things very wickedly . for not onely he shed innocent blood , ravishing at his pleasure , wives , and deflouring maids in the cities of juda , but also robbed with great cruelty , every man of his goods ; he polluted the temple , and upon the beams thereof , he hung those that he took displeasure at . it chanced that beronice , king agrippa's sister , came at that time to jerusalem out of devotion to vifit the holy place . she seeing florus violently oppress the people , and for payment of exactions and tallage to slay many of them , even at the entrance of the temple , she came forth weeping unto florus , beseeching him to spare the people ; for she pitied them very greatly : yet florus relented nothing ; but when she was departed from him he flouted and mockt her , though she were the kings sister , and that in the temple of the lord. there was present at that time a valiant young man , eleasar the son of anani the high priest. he while his father was executing his office , could not abide to see the ●…raelites so misused at florus hands , but being kindled with a fervent zeal , sounded a trumpet , whereby there assembled about him forthwith divers companies of young men , goodly warriours , by whose ayd he raised a great commotion , and encountered with florus and the roman souldiers , of whom he made a great slaughter , prevailing much ; and , getting at length the upper hand of florus , overthrew all the host , so that florus was constrained to fly alone out of jerusalem unto egypt . in the way as he fled , he chanced to meet with king agrippa coming from rome , from nero cesar , and going home into judea , to whom florus declared what had hapned him through the youth of the jews at jerusalem : and as agrippa had passed egypt , and drew toward jerusalem , his sister beronice directed her letters unto him , moving him to rejoyn with the jews , and to aid them : the people also came wholly the space of fourty miles out of the city of jerusalem to meet him , and fel down flat before him , crying , god save our king agrippa . but the king studied all he might to procure quietness and peace to the city and people : so he entred into jerusalem , accompanied with two noble men of rome , worthy captains , whom he brought with him in his train ; and when he came into the midst of the city , the people cryed mainly out upon him , saying , deliver us , o king , and let thy hand and help be on our side , to succour us , for we will never more be under the roman subjection . the king hearing this , pityed the people very much ; notwithstanding , he was not content that they were minded to rebel against the roman empire . wherefore he called the people together at the entrance of the court of the temple , where were present the elders of israel , and all the chief men , with the high priest anani , and declared unto them the power of the romans , the strength of their kingdom , and what nations round about them they had subdued , in such sort , as no remainder of them was left : wherefore he besought them not to provoke the romans , nor to destroy the people remaining in israel . he added moreover , if ye will give ear to mine advice ( saith he ) i know it well dear breathren , that there resteth in your hearts a great grief , and i my self am full of sorrow and anguish , that we are not of power to withstand the romans ; albeit , if you will be ruled by my counsel , ye shall find a redress for this matter . for where counsel is , and good deliberation , there 's safety , and things come to prosperous success ; ye shall sustain for a while the yoak of the roman captains , till i may certify nero of the matter by my letters , and entreat him to rid us of these rulers ; i beseech you , be not hasty of liberty : many seeking liberty , have fallen into further captivity and greater bondage ; there be among our people many evil disposed persons , whose delight is in wars , for it is their whole study ; amongst whom many good men do also perish ; wherefore hear my words : as for them that be wise , they may perceive the matter themselves ; they that lack experience , let them learn wisdom at my sayings . keep therefore silence , which shall be as well to mine , as to your own commodity , for i shall not need to strain my self , but speak the softlier withless pain ; and ye on the other side may the better hear and understand what i say . if ye hold not your peace , ye shal have two discommodities ; ye shal interrupt my com munication , and hinder your selves from hearing . but now to the purpose : ye shall be content , and suffer till i write to rome of these matters , that cesar may remove these evill rulers , and send us them that be more human , and gentle ; if ye may have such a one , then shall ye not think your selves in bondage , but in liberty ; and worthily , for then only is servitude grievous , when as the ruler is an unjust man , and wicked . now therefore stay your selves , quarrel not with them ; for although they be wicked , yet will they be ashamed to do wrong openly , for what they do , they do it secretly ; but if ye should accuse them too much , they would rub their foreheads , and do it openly without all shame ; so should you make of your judges , and rulers , your open enemies : but it were far better to suffer an unjust governour , then a just enemy ; for the one robbeth men privily , the other is an open destroyer ; provoke them not therefore . consider the wild beasts that be under mens power , and kept in chains , as lyons , bears , and leopards : if a man let them alone , they are quiet and harm no man ; but if a man go to their dens and anger them , they will fly upon him , and worry him , and others too that be present : the same ye may perceive in a fever , and an ague , which if a man will go about to cure at the beginning , he shall make it more grievous , but if he will remedy it by leisure , the fervency of it will easily be quenched . now therefore refrain your selves , and take heed that you draw not caesar upon your heads , and the whole roman empire : caesar coveteth not your harm , neither sent he unto you these rulers to hurt you ; his eyes cannot see from east to west , nor his hand reach from rome hither , for it is flesh and blood ; but if you will abide , till i may send embassadours to cesar , i doubt not but i shall remove these rulers , and rid you of them peaceably , without any war , or blood shed . if ye be utterly determined to resist the roman empire , you shall understand , you be in no wise able to do it , for god is every where on their side , so that they be lords throughout all the world , and all people serve them , and shall do so till their end shall come : but if ye will not do this for your own sakes , yet do it for your own countries sake , your children , and wives , the sanctuary and priests , whom ye are bound to love and spare , lest ye cast away and undo them all at once . i beseech you take my words in good part , for i have spoken nothing but that is for your good , and that may further our peace with the romans , which i most wish : if you will be ruled and chuse peace , i will take your part , and do the best i can for you ; but if you will needs have wars , ye shall have it alone for me , i will not meddle with you . with this agrippa fell on weeping , and so did also all the elders with him , and the men of most wisdom , the chief in all israel ; yea anani the high priest also could not refrain from tears : notwithstanding , eleazer his stout son , with his routs of warlike young men about him , they wept not at all , nor would hearken or give any ear to wholesom counsell , but all at once with their drawn swords , violently rushed upon the roman caprains that came with agrippa and slew them , their men , and all the multitude that was with him in jerusalem , and judea . the elders in judea , with the wisest and goodliest israelites , seeing what was done , departed from jerusalem , fearing nero , and the cruelty of the romans : therefore they took the town of sion , and remained there ; for they would not be taken of the romans to be of the same confederacy with the other : the seditious hearing that , took the temple of the lord ; so sedition and civil wars fell between the seditious , and the ancients : for when eleasar heard , that the elders and the heads of the people were fled to the mount sion , he and his company set upon them , prevailed against them , and slew a great many of them . agrippa perceiving the power of the seditious grew apace , he sent out of his camp , where he lay without the town , two valiant captains , one named darius , the other philippus , with . men to succour those elders and sages , that were desirous of peace : these prevailed against eleasar , and the seditious that took his part ; made a great slaughter of them , skirmishing for the space of seven daies together , and at length put them to flight , and pursued them to the temple . from that time forth the wars increased more and more , between eleasar and his complices , and agrippa with his hoast , and the sages , elders , and princes that took their part . upon a time when the captains of agrippa entred the temple , certain cut-throat murderers , raised by the seditious , mixt themselves amongst the kings bands , and getting behind their backs , wounded them with daggers that they had under their kets ; so that the kings souldiers having launces , and great arming swords in their hands , such as they use in the wars , could not wield them in the press ; by this means many of them were slain , and the seditious got the victory . thus darius and philippus with the roman army were put to flight , and the elders with the sages that were desirous of peace , departed out of town , and fled to king agrippa . then had eleasar and the seditious the whole rule of the city , and all to their great damage ; for the fury of the seditious increased to such outragiousness , that they set a fire king agrippa's house that he had in jerusalem , spoiled all his treasure , and all that was any thing worth they divided amongst themselves , they burnt the books of accounts , and bills of debts , every one that were in his palace . beronice's house also the kings sister they set on fire ; and they slew all the cunning artificers that were masters of the kings works ; so their rule and power in the city , grew every day more and more grievous then other . chap. v. in those daies dwelt the jews and aramites together in all the cities of syria , amongst whom also was war waged : for the caesarians brought the romans into the town against the jews , and slew them as many as they could find in the town . the damascians also conspired together to destroy all the jews that dwelt amongst them , which thing they kept secret from their wives , because for the most part they favoured the jews religion . therefore the aramites upon a certain night armed for the purpose , beset all the waies and entrances into the town , and houses also , and slew about ten thousand of the jews , coming upon them unawares , when they were in their beds , nothing mistrusting any such matter . when the jews of jerusalem heard how the aramites had dealt with the jews in their countrey , suddenly they put themselves in arms , and in a fury and rage , like as it had been lions and bears that had lost their whelps , they ran to damasco , burnt their holds , put the damascians to the sword , men , women , and children , even the very sucking babes : yea , their oxen , sheep , camels , and asses , with all other cattle , leaving none alive . and thus they dealt with many cities of the syrians , slaying and killing them , not sparing either old or young , male or female , but destroyed all in most cruel wise ; even the very infants and sucklings they haled from their mothers breasts , and murthered them , insomuch that all the whole land was full of the stink of the dead bodies that were slain , for there was no man left to bury the carkases . so the jews wasted all the land of the aramites , and had destroyed it , had not castius a captain of the romans delivered syria and the country of zapha . the people therefore departed wholly from aram , to return into judea , and in the way they came to scithopolis a city in syria intending to besiege it , for it was yet left untouched , and was very strong : at that time also the jews and aramites dwelt together in it . the jews therefore that were without , offered peace to the jews that dwelt in the town , but they refused it , and defied them , railing at them , and for their friendly offer , requited them with approbrius words , and with injuries also . for those jews that dwelt in the aforesaid city , with the aramites , loved together like brethren , and for the most part , they were of the leviticall tribe , stout men and hardy . the host of the jews without the city said unto them , we come friendly unto you , and would aid you ; the other jews within answered : we will neither your friendship nor ayd : the army of the jews hearing that , consented and agreed to raise their siege , to go to jerusalem and there to remain ; for they had a great booty of gold and silver that they had gotten together of the spoiles of syria . after this the syrians that dwelt in sithopolis said to one another , put case the jews return again , and make war upon us , surely if they should so do , these jews that dwell among us , would joyn with them , and deliver up the city into their hands , and then would they be revenged upon us , and destroy us , as they have done the other cities of syria : therefore they agreed to say unto the jews and inhabitants of the city with them , we understand your country men will invade us again , and make war upon us , wherefore depart ye forth of the city with your wives and children , and lodg in the wood nigh unto the city , till their army be gone again , and then you shall return unto us . the jews were content to fulfil their minds , went out of the city , and placed themselves in the wood . there was amongst them a certain young man named schimeon , a good man of war , fierce , big-made , and very strong withall ; he in the favour of the gentiles had slain many jews , and destroyed much of the people of god. for during the time that the jews besieged scithopolis , he issued out continually , and skirmished with the host of the jews , many times putting them to flight , and never would suffer them to waste the town , or to do any harm to the inhabitants thereof . now as schimeon with his father saul , an honest old man , and the rest of the people of the jews that dwelt in scithopolis , remained altogether bodily in the wood , without mistrusting any harm ; the romans joyned with the syrians in great number , entred the wood , and slew the jews , all that ever they could find , to the number of thirteen thousand : schimeon himself with his father and their families , had pitched their tents nigh unto a fair fountain that was in the wood , to whom when their enemies came to slay them , and destroy their whole families , schimeon ran upon them with his drawn sword , made a great slaughter of them , and constrained them to retire : but when a great multude environed him , and he perceived all the rest of the jews were slain , he with the houshold only remaining , neither saw he any way to escape ; he stept upon a little hill with his naked sword , saying : hearken unto me ye syrians and romans , and ye that dwell in scithopolis , i will speak unto you a few words full of lamentation . now i perceive that justly and not without a cause ye make war against me , without any favour or consideration that i delivered you from the hosts of the jews , and never suffered them to do any displeasure to you , your wives and children , nor to your city , as they had done to other cities of syria . for i am he , that for your sakes have warred against my countrymen t●… please you withal : yea , both their blood and mine have i pledged unto you , and have kept inviolated the love of strangers , hating my own people , of whom for your pleasures , i have slain oft both the fathers and the children ; and now ye render evil for the good i have done unto you . but indeed god of his just judgment hath stirred you up to reward me in this sort , to murther me , that hath so often preserved you : now therefore ye shall bear me witness that i shall sufficiently and sharply enough , take vengeance of my own life , not without rage and fury , most severely , because i have slain my fellows and friends ; i will therefore slay my self , to be avenged of my self ; for my brothers blood that i have shed , and so shall i be revenged of their blood ; and ye shall well perceive me to be of that courage , that rather than ye shall slay me , and after boast and brag how ye have killed schimeon , i will bereave my self of my life , and punish the shedding of my brothers blood no otherwise , than the law punisheth a murtherer and man killer . when he had spoken this , his eyes were filled with blood , and his face with rage , and so inflamed with fury , laying apart all pity , ran and caught hold of his father , haled him out of the wood , and slew him : then slew he his mother , lest she should intreat him for the children , and be sorry for their sakes : that done , his wife came running of her own accord , and held her neck down to the sword , lest she should be constrained to see her children dye . yea , schimeons children came and offered themselves to be slain , lest they should see the death of their father , or remain after him to be delivered to the enemies . after this he slew all his whole family that not one of his should come into the hands of their enemies . finally , he gathered their bodies together into one place , like a valiant stout warrior , and then boldly goared himself on his own sword , lest any man else should impair , his strength , or boast that he had killed him . all this schimeon did with a great courage , to take punishment of himself , because he had bestowed his love rather upon strangers , than upon his own people , and to declare his force and manhood . so he died an abominable and detestable death , save only it was an argument of his haughty mind and great courage , as it is said before . now when the jews had thus rebelled against the romans , and slain their souldiers , and captains , king agrippa went to rome and recounted unto nero caesar the emperor of rome , all that was hapned ; whereupon nero sent captain cassius ( that was at that time in syria , and had made war upon the king of persia , and vanquished him and all his power , and subdued his dominions to the romans ; ) and with him a puissant army of the romans , commanding him to go into judea , to offer peace unto the people , to comfort them , and to bring them again into league with the romans , if it might be . cassius therefore took his journey towards judea , agrippa met him in the way , and informed him what had hapned unto him concerning the jews ; how he had offered them peace , and they would have none of it ; how also they had burnt his palace , and sacked it : cassius hearing that , was very glad that he had gotten such an occasion , to revenge the blood of the romans , and syrians , which the jews had shed : wherefore he levied a mighty army and came to caesarea , and wheresoever he did espy the goodliest buildings , those caused he to be burnt . from thence went he to the city japho , which he besieged both by land and sea , and at length wan it , where he slew in the streets men . after that he came to jades , where he first burnt all the country about it , and whomsoever he caught without the town , he slew them : but the citizens of zippory went out to meet cassius , and besought him for peace , whom he spared ; he came not nigh their town , nor slew any that dwelt in their countrey . the seditious jews that were in the city of zippory , hearing of cassius coming , fled unto the mountains ; but in the way they lighted upon part of cassius army , whereof they slew men , and woun , ded their captain glaphira : yet at length the seditious were put to flight , and many of them-glaphira with his horsmen pursued , overthrew and destroyed , the rest fled to the mountains . then glaphira captain of cassius army , went to cesarea , that was subdued to the romans , there to cure his wounds that the jews had given him . thence went he to antipire , which as he would have assaulted , he perceived it to be furnished with a great power of the iews , and seditious : these hearing cassius also was coming , they went purposely to fight with him , but perceiving that cassius power was very great , they determined to encounter with him in the plain of gibeon , fifty miles from ierusalem : whereupon the jews with their companies fained themselves to flye , to the intent they might draw the romans after them ; and within six daies they came to gibeon , and there rested : cassius pursued after them with all his hoast , till he came to gibeon , which he besieged and assaulted also . it chansed then upon one of the sabbaths in the morning watch , the jews ( armed at all points ) issued out of the town , to give their enemies a camisado ; so after they had given a token of war , they marched toward the hoast of cassius , whereof they slew horsmen , and footmen twenty seven thousand , with the loss of only . of their own company . in that battell did well appear the valiantness of mugbas , a captain of the jews army : one baudius also played the man , at that same time , for at the commandment of eleazar the priest , chief of the seditious , he set first foot within the romans camp . then began the jewish warriours to be famous , after they had once so manfully incountered with the romans : this done , castius and agrippa sent their embassadours once again to jerusalem , to eleazar the son of anani the priest , chief of the rebells that were in judea , and jerusalem , requiring peace , and to come in league with eleazar , lest the people of the jews should be utterly destroyed by the romans incursions , and invasions on every side . but eleazar refused to hear the legates , and slew one of them , because he made too many words , in perswading the peace and league . upon this , eleazar assembled the priests and people together , to go out and fight with castius ; castius perceiving how eleazar , and the people were affected , and what minds they were of , how they had utterly conspired to destroy the romans that were there , and to consume them clean , having a sufficient trial also of the force and valiantness of the rebels ; he determined fully to go to rome , for he perceived he was not able to match with the seditious , neither his own power to be compared with theirs . wherefore he would go see what end should come of the wars , and what counsel caesars majesty would give . taking his journey therefore to the city japho , he found there letters of the romans , for thither was their army come . from thence went he with them and his own army to rome , and made report to caesar of such things as have chanced : whereat nero was much abashed , and not only he , but all the people of rome were sore astonied to hear of the great puissance and valiantness of the jews : for which cause the wars ceased for that year , so that the land of judea was at great rest , and quietnesse that year , through eleazers means the head r●…bel , especially from the hands of wicked castius , that had sworn to revenge the romans , to extinguish the jews , and that he would destroy all the race of them , as none should be left alive . therefore these are they that delivered israel in the time of the second temple , out of the hands of their enemies ; what time as wars were moved against the jews and their country : what time also commotions and tumults began in israel . the first war was made by antiochus the wicked king of macedonia ; who had determined not to leave one man in israel . his mischievousnesse proceeded so far , that he slew the people of god , the sages , and wisemen , princes , elders , and young men , children great and small , israelits , levites also , and priests , until all the chief men of judea cast their heads together , and went to matthathias son of jochanan the high priest in the mount of modiit , where he hid himself for the iniquity of antiochus and his rulers , crying upon him , and saying , deliver at this season the people of the lord , and never think to escape thy self , whiles the most wicked enemy rangeth thus , and runneth upon thy people , and sheddeth thy blood . for the blood of all israel , what is it but thy blood ? and the eyes of every man are fixed on thee , hoping that thou should'st assist and aid them in this calamity , that they may finde deliverance by thy means . matthathias hearing this , wept bitterly , and said , fear ye not , nor let these macedonians dismay you , the lord shall fight for you , be ye only quiet . so then was matthathias stirred , and delivered israel out of the hands of antiochus , and after he had overcome him , he was high priest for one year , and then died . in whose room succeeded judas his son , who executed the office in the temple six years , and was slain in battel . then his brother jochanan was chief in the temple eight years , and died likewise in battel . afterward his brother simeon was ruler eighteen years , whom p●…olomy his wifes father poisoned at a banquet . then jochanan his son succeeded his father in the office ; this is he , that was named hircanus , first of that name so called , because he vanquished a king of that name : he reigned . years , and died . after him reigned aristobulus one year ; he was called the great king , because he first put the royall crown upon his head , and turned the dignity of the high priesthood into a kingdom , unhollowing and staining the holinesse thereof . years , and . moneths after the returning of israel from babylon . he being dead , his brother alexander reigned . years : after whose death alexandra his wife held the kingdom nine years , and then died . in whose stead succeeded her son aristobulus , and reigned . years ; in his time pompey a roman captain came against jerusalem , wan it , and apprehended aristobulus , bound him in irons , and carried him captive to rome ; in whose place he ordained hircanus his brother to succeed , who reigned forty years . during his reign rebelled antigonus , son of aristobulus , hircanus brother , and with the aid of an army of the persians , incountred with hircanus , took him prisoner , and sent him to babylon , cutting off his eares , that he should never after be meet either for the priesthood , or for the kingdom . antigonus reigned three years : in his dayes herod fled and joyned himself with the romans , by whose help he slew antigonus the third year of his reign , and reigned after him . years , and then died . after herod succeeded archelaus his son , who was taken by the romans , the ninth year of his reign , laid in bonds , and ended his life at rome . next to him reigned antipater his brother , who changed his name , and called himself herod ; he reigned full ten years , overcame and wasted spain , because the king of spain had ravished and taken away his brothers wife , and there died . after him followed agrippa , son of aristobulus , that was his brothers son ; he reigned three and twenty years , after whose death his son agrippa reigned twenty years . this is that agrippa of whom we now speak of , and of the calamity that befell in his time upon israel . for all the while he reigned , the wars between the romans and israel never ceased , until the people of judea were led captive into the province of the romans : at that time also the temple was desolate , i mean the desolation of the second temple , which we saw with our eyes builded and destroyed . the . year of the reign of king agrippa , the . day of the . moneth , that is called ab , viz. july : nero caesar sent a present for a burnt-offering , to be offered in the temple at jerusalem , requiring peace of the elders and sages of judea , and jerusalem , and that they would receive him into league with them , saying ; my request is , that you would offer my present to the lord your god , for his service and religion liketh me very well ; so that i desire you to joyn in league with me , according as you have done with the emperours of rome my predecessors in time past . i have heard what castius the captain of mine army hath done to you , which displeaseth me out of measure ; wherefore i assure unto you a faithful league , by the consent and counsel of the senate of rome , that hereafter there shall never any roman captain stir hand or foot against you , but rather your chieftains , rulers , and judges shall be all jews , and of jerusalem : yea agrippa your king , shall be lord of all your rulers , and what he commandeth , you shall do it ; the romans shall only be called your lords , and have no more to do with you . so when these legates came to jerusalem , they went and spake with anani the priest , informing him of nero's mind , and shewed him his present , placing it afore him : the present was this ; a bull for a burnt-offering , with a crown of gold upon his head , his hornes also were covered with gold ; upon him was a cloth of purple powdred with precious stones : there went certain before him that carried ten talents of gold , behind followed very many sheep for peace-offerings . when eleazar ananies son heard thereof , he came and cast out of the temple of the lord nero caesars presents , saying , we will not profane and unhallaw the sanctuary of our lord , with the offerings of strangers ; for god will accept neither their burnt offerings , nor their peace-offerings : when he had so said , he sounded a trumpet , set his men in array against the host of the romans that kept watch and ward in the city of jerusalem , and slew many of them that day , with one of their captains also , and another they took alive ; he being a valiant man , and seeing the routs of the jews to urge him grievously , said unto them , save my life and i will yield ; unto whom eleazar the rebell sware , that he would not slay him , but spare him for his manhood ( for he had slain very many of the jews before ) whereupon he yielded himself . then eleazar said unto him : like as thy sword hath made many women childless , so shall thy mother be made childlesse of thee above all other ; and therewith contrary to his oath , he commanded his servants to kill him . king agrippa seeing this , was wonderfully sorry . therefore as he stood in one of the streets , he cryed , o thou rebel eleazar , i pray god that this mischief , whereof thou art cause , and thy acts , may light upon thee , and thy fathers house●… which when it cometh to passe , we shall never be dismayed at . it appeareth they shall have somewhat to do , that study to make peace and tranquility in thy dayes ; for they are sure to be destroyed with thee . how long wilt thou continue to bring us into the bryars , thou enemy and hater of the lord ? why doest thou destroy and waste the vineyard of the lord god of hosts ? eleazar answered him , what takest thou upon thee the name of a king ? if thou be a king , why commandest thou not us to be punished ? where be thy valiant souldiers ? let 's see , come thou and they together and chasten me , that it may be tried whether thou be a king indeed or no ; thou slandest aloof off , and when thou speakest , thy feet are ready to run away , as though a dog should set himself against an armed man , and bark at him , bleating out his tongue . with this he winked upon the rebels his complices , to run upon agrippa , and take him whiles he held him in talk : but that was perceived of one of agrippa's servants whom he had appointed for the same purpose , to stand over against him as nigh as he might , to mark and spy if the rebels could make any stir toward him , and to let him have knowledge ; he therefore laying his hand upon his head , gave a sign to the king to flee , saying , away , away , for if thou tarry any longer , the seditious will slay thee and us together . agrippa perceiving that , he gat from thence with all speed , and the rebels pursued him , but in vain , for they could not overtake him . so he got to japho a town under the romans , where he was in safeguard . from thence he fled to rome , and declared to the emperour nero , the mischief that besel at jerusalem , and all that seditious eleazar had done to his offering ; also how his commandment took no place . wherefore nero joyned unto him again castius with a huge army , wherewith they both entred judea , and wan many walled towns , amongst which they razed japho . for the romans perceiving the power of the rebels to encrease , were afraid lest they should get it into their hands whereby it might be an anoyance in time to come to the romans , chiefely seeing it was a notable haven for their ships to arive in judea . after this , both agrippa and castius led their army towards jerusalem , to war upon the rebels , and utterly to destroy them . eleazar and other priests with much people hearing that , they issued out against them , and found them encamped in the way , between jerusalem and japho ; but after they had joyned battel , many of the jews were slain by the romans : the residue , castius and agrippa put to flight , and pursued the chase unto the gates of jerusalem , besieged also the city for the space of three dayes . the fourth day the priests and the people issued out suddenly unawares upon the romans , set upon their camp , and slew five thousand footmen , and one thousand horsemen . castius seeing that he nor his could escape , he chose out forty thousand of his best souldiers , and placed them betwixt his camp and the priests , commanding them to stand all the night sounding their trumpets , and making of fire ; that he and agrippa might escape , and that they should not remove out of their place till the morrow . the jews hearkning to the sound of the trumpets , and musing what they should mean , pursued not the romans : but perceiving in the morning , they were gone toward caesarea , three dayes journey off , eleazar with the people followed , and in the way found their baggage strayed , that the romans had caft from them , to run the lighter , and escape easilier , which they let alone and pursued them to the gates of caesarea , but castius and agrippa got fast within the town , and from thence went both together to rome ; where they declared unto nero the emperor , how they sped at jerusalem : and as they were making relation of this unto the emperor , there came also a post out of persia , with tidings that the king of persia , was revolted from the roman empire . these things troubled the emperour ●…ore , to see almost all fall from him , that heretofore had obeyed the empire of the romans . at the same time returned vespasianus , captain of the host , whom nero had sent into the west parts of the world , as germany , brittain , and spain , which lands he had brought under the subjection of nero. to him nero declared , what mischief the priests had wrought to the roman host in judea , how they had slain the romans , and so forth , as he had heard of agrippa and castius , which displeased vespasian greatly . after this , nero sent vespasian , and his son titus , to revenge the romans on the persians and jews , giving in commandment to race their walled cities , to beat down whatsoever they found , without sparing either man , woman , or child , infants , sucking babes , or old folkes , but to slay all . so that vespasian and titus set forward with a chosen and pickt army of the romans , passed the seas , and came to antiochia . the jews having intelligence of this , chose out of their captains , three of the principal and most expert warriours , of whom i joseph priest that wrote this history was one , who by the divine favour am not ignorant in feats of arms , and famous in acts of chievalry ; and anani the high priest , and eleazar his son . to these three they committed the whole land of iudea , dividing it to them by lot , and gave them a furniture of war. one third part therefore ( which was whole galilee from the land of nephtali and beyond ) fell to joseph the priest , son of gorion , to his honour and glory , who for his worthinesse , they named also josephon , because he was then anointed , appointed , and consecrated to the wars . the second lot came forth ; which fell unto anani the priest , who had the city of jerusalem , and the country about it , with a charge to repair the walls of the city , to sustain the brunt of vespasian if he should come so far . the third lot fell to eleazar the son of anani the priest , to whom was joyned captain jehoscua , and other jewish captain●… . by the vertue of this 〈◊〉 fell to him the whole land of edom , from elat to the red sea. the rest of the land from jericho to euphrates , with that also that is beyond the river , and all the land of mesopotamia , fell to captain menasches lot . to other princes of iudea , and to the worthiest priest , they committed the fenced cities from the limits and bounds of jerusalem to egypt . vespasian taking his journey with his host from antiochia , came and pitched his tents in aramzofa . for he had devised thus with his council ; first to invade galilee , and after to try what they could do in iudea . ioseph gorion having intelligence of this his purpose , departed from ierusalem to galilee , built up the towns that were destroyed , and repaired their walls , gates , bars , and palaces ; ordained also captains over the people , to lead and govern them ; some of thousands , some of hundreds , tribunes and decurians . he instructed the people also in feats of wars , what the sound of trumpets signified , what sound served to fall in array , what to gather the souldiers together , and what to divide them after he had instructed them in the knowledge and feats of war , he said unto them thus : ye shall understand ( dear israelites ) that ye go to fight at this present against your enemies , wherefore let no fear overcome your hearts , nor dismay you at the sight of your enemies , but play the men , and take a good courage to you , to fight for your cities , for your countrie , and for your selves : be not afraid of death , but rather be stout in defence of your countrie , that ye be not led away from it , and to fight for the sanctuary of the lord , that it be not stained and polluted with the uncleannesse of the gentiles . consider , that it is better to die in battel , than to live in captivity and bondage ; therefore when as ye shall come to joyn with your enemies , and shall see any of them beaten down , and attempt to rise again , whosoever of you is by and seeth him , remember the zeal of your god , wherewith it becometh you to revenge his quarrel , and being moved therewith , strike him that he never rise again ; but if you shall see any of your fellows down , being inclined with the zeal of your god , rescue him from the hands of your enemies , and if he be not yet killed , cure him . if he be dead , ye shall do what ye can to bury him in the israelites burial ; and so if we chuse rather to die than to live , we shall prosper in our wars ; we shall die for the covenant of our god , and deliver our souls , bringing them to the light of life in heaven . after he had said this , he chose out of the iews . footmen , and but few horsemen : and out of these he chose ●… . of the best , such as not one of them would shrink from ten , ten from an hundred , a hundred from a thousand , a thousand from ten thousand . with them ioseph went to the cities of agrippa that were in iudea , to win them : for agrippa stuck to the romans , were it right or wrong , with all the power he could make . he went first to tiarva , a great city that belonged to agrippa , whereas both his treasure and munition of war lay : when he approached the city , he spake to the people upon the walls , and offered them peace , on condition that they should open the gates , and deliver unto him all the treasure of agrippa , and all his jewe●…s ; this if they would do , he then would spare them , and kill none of them . were it it not better for you ( saith he ) to take part with them that defend the sanctuary of god and his inheritance , than to joyn your aid with agrippa , which is confederate with your enemies , and assaileth us , augmenting the power of them that hate us , so that he refuseth not to ●…ght against the sanctuary of the lord , and the people of his inheritance ? the men of the town condescending to joseph , opened the gates , and he entring the town , made peace with them , and they delivered him all the kings treasures , for they liked iosephs words , and consented to take such part as he took . chap. vi. at that time came news to joseph , that troubled him sore ; namely , that tiberias had rebelled and revolted from the people that dwelt in jerusalem , and were changed from his lot , to become vespasians subjects , who had set a roman captain over them . for reformation whereof , he left his army at tiarva , and took six hundred young men with him to tiberias , coming on it suddenly , and at unawares : and as he stood on the banks of genesar , he espied the navy of the romans that there lay at road to aid vespasian , which i●… charged to be broken in pieces , and to be scattered abroad in the sea . the men of tiberias therefore seeing the ships dispersed in that fashion , they conjectured it was done by some of iosephs host , wherefore the romans fled to the town , got in , and shut the gates . ioseph notwithstanding came to one gate of the city , and cryed that the people might hear , saying ; what meaneth this conspiracy of yours against me ? ye fight not against me , but rather against the lord god , whose covenant ye have transgressed , and broke the bond that we made with him ; ye have also violated your oath that you sware by the god of israel , that we should fight against our enemies to abate their pride . the people answered from the walls , we beseech thee our lord , hear thy servants speak ; god forbid we should joyn with the romans , and not rather with the people of the lord god of israel , and his sanctuary , with the people of his inheritance : howbeit there be amongst us certain proud men , ungodly persons , that have made a league with vespasian , and have brought into the town one of his chief captains : wherefore and it please thee , my lord , to enter the city with thy souldiers , come unto us , that we may live with thee , rather than to perish in the hands of them that hate us . so they opened the gates , so that ioseph went in and took the town . then he caused to apprehend those ungodly persons that were there , about six hundred men , and laid them in irons , sending them to tiarva which he had afore taken : the other wicked men that had aided vespasian , he put to the sword . but the chief governour of the town he apprehended alive , carried him out of the city , and commanded one of his souldiers to cut off his hands . then the captain besought joseph , saying , i beseech thee , my lord , let one of my hands be cut off , and leave me the other . then joseph and his souldiers laught him to scorn , judging him to be no valiant man , nor of haughty courage : joseph bad his souldier give him the sword in his own hand , and let him cut off which hand he list , and leave him which he will. so the roman captain took the sword , and cut off his left hand himself , leaving him the right , and so he was let go . he came therefore unto vespasians camp , to shew them what shame was done him . after this , the citizens of zippory rebelled also , making a league with vespasian and the romans host . ioseph being certified of this , made thither with his host to besiege it , but the town abid the brunt of the assault that ioseph could prevail nothing against it , wherefore he besieged it a long season . about that time , it was signified also to them of jerusalem , that the askalonites had entred in friendship with the romans . they sent therefore neger the edomite , and shiloch the babylonian , and iehochanan with a power of the common people , who came to askalon , and besieged it a great space . within the town was a roman captain called antonius , a valiant man , and a good warriour : who upon a certain night in the morning watch , issued out of the town with his company , to give a camisado to the iews that besieged the town , entred their camp , and made a great slaughter , continuing the same till it was day-light , so that about . of the iews were slain , the rest never moved out of the place , saying , it is better for us to die in this battel , than to flee from our enemies ; therefore they took a good heart unto them , and stood manfully in their stations and places , trusting in the lord god of israel ; and when it was day , they also set themselves in array against antony , slew many of his men , not without losse also of their own part : for shiloch the babylonian , and iehochanan of jerusalem were destroyed , by the romans , with others of the jews , to the number ●…f . fighting men , that were under shiloch and iehochanan , and never a one of the jewish captains escaped that conflict , save only neger the edomite , who hid himself in a sepulcher that was there in the plain , whom the romans in their pursuite sought , but found him not , wherefore they set on fire the wood , that it burnt round about the sepulcher wherein he lay hid , and consumed all the trees , shrubs , and bushes , but came no nigh the sepulcher ; for neger had called to the lord with his whole heart , to deliver him this once from his enemies , lest he should be shamefully handled of them , promising at another time to be ready to die valiantly in his quarrel : so neger escaped the romans by the help of the god of israel , in whom he put his trust . shortly after sent the jerusolimites much people to askal●…n , to the number of eighteen thousand good men of war , to bury the bodies of the jews that were slain in the conflicts by antony . they sought also the body of neger the edomite , but they found it not , till at length he cryed unto them out of the sepulcher , saying , i am here : for god hath delivered me out of the hands of mine enemies , to the intent i may be avenged of them in the wars of the lord. so neger declared unto them at large , all things how they chanced unto him : wherefore the jews rejoyced greatly that they had found him alive , and that he was saved by such a miracle , and the lord delivered him : therefore they put their trust in the lord , believing that god would be present with them to aid them , whereof this deliverance of neger , they took for a sure token . the romans kept themselves within the town for fear of the jews that were come to bury the bodies . so the jews buried all the bodies of their own part that were slain in both battels , for the romans were not able to prohibite and let them , but held them in the town . and when the burial was finished , they took neger with them to jernsalem , to give god thanks there for his deliverance at that present . then joseph the priest gathered his strength , aad came upon askalon with his whole army , assaulted them , got the upper hand , and won the town ; after slew antony and all his people with the sword , that of all the valiant men of war that were with him , not one escaped . besides this , also the villages and hamlets that were thereabout without the town , he burnt them all : and so served he all the towns thereabout , that had entred into league with the romans , slaying both iews and romans that dwelt in them with the sword , as many as he found , and their houses he burnt . this done , ioesph returned again to zippory sought with them and got the upper hand , there shed he much blood of the people that had conspired with the romans , utterly destroyed them , burnt their cities and villages , led their wives and children prisoners unto ierusalem ; and all the romans he found there , he put them to death . when vespasian & titus had heard of all that iosephus had done against the romans , both how he slue their garrisons as many as he could find in galilee , and all the iews that had made any league with him and his sons , they were wonderful incensed , and in agreatrage . they took therefore their journey , and came to apitelma , otherwise called acho , where at that time , agrippa king of iudea , was abiding , and forty thousand men with him , all good men of war , and archers every one : these joyned themselves with vespasians army by which means the romans camp became very great . moreover , out of other nations round about iudea , good men of war without number , joyned with vespasian . he had aid of the best men of war out of mesopotamia , aremzofa , assur , sinear , persia , chaldea , macedonia , and out of the provinces of the people of the east , yea , the people of mizraim , lod , denan , and seba , with all provinces far and near , that were under the subjection of the jews , cast off the yoke from their necks , and rebelled against the dominion of jerusalem , joyning their power with the roman army , to aid vespasian and titus . for these were also subjects unto the jews that sore had burthened them ; wherefore they came to help the romans , and to invade jerusalem and the people of the jews . but the edomites had not associated themselves unto vespasian and titus , for they were in subjection to the jews and served them , so that not one of them aided the romans . for long before , they had moved war against jerusalem , and could not get the victory , but the jews prevailed against them , and subdued them . hircanus also the first king of the jews circumcised them . they dwelt also in jerusalem , kept watch and ward about the house of the lord , and his covenant , without all rebellion against the iews , and ierusolimites . and at that present was thirty thousand of the best of the edomites in jerusalem , which kept the walls , and the house of the lord. after this , vespasian and titus with all their host , took their journey from acho , and came to galilee , and in the mount they pitched their tents : wherefore when tidings was brought to joseph , how the host of the romans lay upon the mount of galilee , and how vespasian had sent before him a great power , to repair the broken waies , to fill the holes , and cast down the hills ; to levell the way , that his people might pass the better , for he was sore moved against the jews : joseph issued out of zippory with all his power , set upon them and slew them , taking such vengeance of them , as never was the like before , for his god was with him : vespasian and titus hearing of this , determined to set upon joseph at unawares , and to beset all the waies , that he should escape of no side ; but joseph had intelligence of their coming , wherefore he left zippory , and went to tiberias , whither vespasian followed : joseph perceiving them coming , fled from thence to iorpata , the biggest city in galilee , closed up the gates , and there remained with his army . then sent vespasian certain noble men , embassadours to joseph , to debate the matter with him in this wise : vespasian generall of the roman army , desireth to know what it should avail thee to be thus pend up within a walled town , he wills thee rather to come forth to intreat of peace with him , and to enter into a league together ; for it shall be to thy avail to serve caesar emperor of the romans , that thou mayest live , and not be destroyed , nor any of thy people with thee . then joseph sent embassadours again to vespasian , demanding truce for a few daies , that he might deliberate upon the matter with the people , and let them understand his words ; peradventure ( saith he ) they will be perswaded to make peace with thee , and then will we enter league with the roman empire . so vespasian ceased from fighting against joseph , permitting him to consult of the thing . upon that , joseph sent embassadours to all the people at jerusalem , to the priests , chief men , rulers , and to the rest of the people , giving them to understand vespasians mind : ye shall understand brethren , that vespasian generall of the romans , sent his embassadors unto me , enquiring , what it would avail us , to be stiffe against them , and not rather to come forth , and intreat of peace , and to joyn in league together , that we may serve the emperour of the romans , so to save our lives , and not to be destroyed : and i pray ye , why will ye lose your lives , your wives , your sons and daughters ? why will ye all fall together on the sword ? that both they that should be left alive among you , shall be led captive out of your countrey , to a people that they never knew , whose language they understand not ; and your country to be made desolate , your sanctuary laid wast , that there shall not be so much as one man left to enter into it . never suffer this , you that be wise men , but rather receive my counsell , and come hither to us , that we may deliberate together , what conditions of peace we shall make for the safety of our lives , rather than to be destroyed ; and that we may use the commodities of your countrey , being at peace therein : for life and quietness , is to be preferred before death and banishment . the inhabitants therefore of jerusalem both priests , chief men , rulers , and noble men of judea , with the rest of the people , sent unto ioseph , saying ; take heed to thy self , that thou never consent to this , to receive conditions of peace with them , but be strong to fight , till such time as thou shalt consume them , or till thou and all the people dye in battel , and so shalt thou fight the battel of the lord , for his people and his sanctuary , with the cities of our god : in the mean season , be it as it may , but let thy power not be with them . when joseph heard the determination of the people of ierusalem , how all sorts with one consent willed by the embassadors the continuance of the wars ; he was wonderfull wroth , and in a great fury issued out with all his people , and set them in array against vespasian , and the roman host , in which conflict were slain very many of the jews : and from that day forward , vespasian began fiercely to war upon the iews . he departed thence to the city geerara , a great city in the highest galilee , besieged it , and won it ; razed it , slew all the people , man , woman , and child , oxen , sheep , camels , and asses , leaving nothing alive ; and then he said , now begin i to be revenged for the romans , which the iews murthered in the land of iudea . from thence he departed , and brought his army to iorpata , where joseph remained : the first day that he incamped about iorpata , he relieved his souldiers with meat and drink plenty , and made them good cheer , then furnished he every man with weapons . so on the next morning early , the roman army gave a great shout , and beset the city round about on every side . in this business ioseph stood upon a certain tower , from whence he beheld the huge camp of the romans ; wherefore he sounded forth a trumpet and gave a sign to battel , issued out with the whole power of the jews that he had with him , and set upon the romans camp at the foot of the hill , continuing the fight from morning till night ; and when it began to be dark , they ceased fighting , and departed the one from the other ; the jews to the town , the romans to their tents . in this battel were many slain on both sides , as well jews , as romans . the romans advancing themselves , proudly and stoutly said , we will quickly vanquish this little nation , as we have subdued all other nations that we have conquered , that they shall annoy us no more , and afterwards we shall be at rest . the jews also on the other side encouraged themselves against the romans , saying ; at this time we will all dye together , for the zeal of the sanctuary of our god , and never suffer these unclean persons to pollute it ; and having once destroyed them , we shall be quiet : so what with the pride of the romans on the one side , and the stiffe-necked stubbornness of the jews on the other ; much people was slain in that fight , for it continued till the second , third , and fourth day . in this while , all the jews that dwelt about iorpata , fled unto vespasians camp , and joyned themselves to the romans to aid them ; and ever as joseph skirmished with vespasian without the city , vespasian sent a power to assault the city . so joseph and his men fought with vespasian without the town , and the iews that were within the town defended the wall against the army of the romans , that was a lesser host made of the main army : but the iews that were within the town , began to diminish every day , untill very few were left . the hardiest also of iosephs souldiers , and the worthiest young men that fought without , were all slain , except a very few , with whom ioseph fled and recovered himself into the town , rampering up the gates after him : but as vespasian with all his army besieged iorpata a long while , he espied at length a conduit without , that ran into the city , where of the citizens drunk because the water was good and sweet ; that he cut off , and derived the waters thereof besides the city , whereby the inhabitants of the city were destitute of beverage , having nothing left them but well-waters . ioseph therefore perceiving that the conduit water whereof they were accustomed to drink was taken away , conceived with himself ; now will the romans brag and boast against us , and think to take us at their pleasure , whiles we have no water , but shall be constrained to dye for thirst : he took therefore garments , and dipped them in the well waters that were in the town , and hanged them here and there over the wall , to declare to the romans , that they had water plenty in the town , lest they should conceive any hope of winning the town , thinking they had no waters . then commanded vespasian a mount to be raised nigh to the town side , to plant an iron ram upon , to batter the walls with , and beat them down . the manner of the making of an iron ram , is thus . first they take a great long thick beam , upon the forepart whereof they put a great strong head , made like a rams head , with horns , all of principall strong iron , the weight of it is as much as half the beam , & covereth the beam to the midst . then fasten they into the ground over against the place that they intend to batter , two great trees , like two masts of ships , between which they hang the beam that is called the ram , with strong ropes made of hemp , the best that may be gotten , and iron wier twisted together : at the hinder part of the beam from the wall-ward , are rings of iron surely fastned , with ropes made with hemp and wire , tied to them : that when the assaulters will batter the walls , they push forward the beam as though it were a spear , and fasten his strong horns among the stones . then hung they weights at the rings of the hinder part , and much people a far off take hold of the ropes that come through the rings behind , and hale that part of the beam upon the ground , and by such means they shake the wall , that they make it quake again . thus in many places they did wrest , and wrench out the stones of the building , so that afterward the wall falleth down . there be also other manner of engines , as an iron ram upon four wheels , bound with iron and fastned with iron nails . to this they make four feet , as hath a ram , as the bigness of the beam requireth . the biggest for the most part is thirty cubits long , and the least is ten . and look how many feet the ram hath , so many wheels hath it also , for every wheel hath his foot by him : and when they will batter the wall , certain men appointed thereunto , draw it f●…st a good way off , then a great multitude of men take hold of the hinder part thereof , by four porters or levers of wood that are put therein , and with all their strength shove forward the ram to strike the wall they will batter . the head of this iron ram that goeth upon wheels , hath no horns but is blunt , made of the strongest kind of iron , with a wonderful thick neck : they have also upon both sides of the engine , a pentise of wood for the safegard of them that shove forth the ram behind , from the arrows or stones of them that are upon the walls . the rams that titus used at jerusalem , for the most part ran all upon wheels . of the other sort he had only a couple , as we shall declare in this place . the beam of this ram we even now described , was as thick as ten men could fathom , and the length thereof was fifty cubits . it was also hollow within , and filled with oxe-hides folded and sowed toget●…r . the wood served for none other purpose t●…n that the fashion of the leather might be set as upon 〈◊〉 ●…old . the hinder part of the beam was cov●…d over with iron plates . the leather was put within , that the beam should not break wi●…h the poise of the weights that were hanged by the rings behind , whereas men appointed for the purpose , haled at the ropes to draw back the ●…eam . the wood therefore that went about the leather , served to keep the leather in fashion . they covered it with an iron plate , lest they that kept the walls should set it on fire : the horns that were upon the head of the ram , were as many as they listed , but never fewer than ten , and then the beam was xx. cubits long , nor also more than fifty , and then the beam was a hundred cubits in length . betwixt every horn was as thick as a man could fathom , the length was a cubit and a half at least . the wooden wall or pentise was as long as the leather that was put in the beam , and it was set on both sides toward the hinder part of the beam , to defend the men that laboured to batter the walls , lest they should be hurt with arrows or darts . the ram that vespasian used at jorpata , which he besieged , and me in it , was made in this sort . the length thereof was fifty cubits : it had twenty five horns in the head , which was as thick as ten men , every horn also was as thick as one man , and betwixt every horn , the space of one cubit : the weight that was hanged at the hinder part , was a thousand five hundred talents , every talent was about a hundred troy weight ; the men that laboured in the executing of this engine , were fifteen hundred . to remove it from one place to another , or from one city to another , were appointed a hundred and fifty yoke of oxen ; or else three hundred brace of horses and mules : if they were to assault any forts or cities that stood on hills , then they did divide it in parts , and bring it up to the siege by piece-meal , and there it was set together again . now when the romans had battered the walls of jorpata , and joseph perceived them to shake , he took great sacks , filled them full of chaff , and hanged them down by the walls , that the horns of the ram could not come nigh the stones of the wall , but light upon the sacks , which by reason of the softnesse of the chaff , hindred and brake the stroke , that the walls were lesse hurt : for the nature of soft things is , to give back to the hard , and to weaken their force . but vespasian seeing the subtilty of joseph , used also policy for policy ; for he sent into the town secretly , jews , spies , which when the batteries should be , might cut asunder the cords that the sacks were tyed to , and with them slip down the walls , where the romans were ready to receive them , that they should not hurt them in the fall ; and immediately they struck the wall with the ram. there was at that present in the city , a certain valiant man , named eleazer , of the house of anani the high priest that then dwelt at jerusalem : this eleazer perceiving the romans to go about to batter down the wall as they did before , plucked out of the wall a mighty stone , so that he made a great hole , or gap , whereat he slid down the wall , and stradling did light on the engine , made fast an iron chain to the horns thereof , and got again up nimbly and quickly , from the beam into the town , with the chain in his hand , for the wall was not very high above his head , as he stood upon the ram ; then the other tall fellows took hold upon the chain , fastened it to the pillars and walls in the town , that the romans might rather be constrained to break their ram , than take it away from thence . the priest eleazer yet once again boldly went down and sat upon the beam , slew fifty men that laboured about the ram , and the rest he put to flight ; then returned into the town being drawn up again from the beam to them that were within the town , greatly rejoycing in his manhood . after that , he went up upon a high tower , from whence he tumbled down with a mighty force a great stone , and a hard , on the head of the ram and brake it , that both a great part of the head and the hornes fell on the ground : for the iron that it was covered withal was old and rusty , so that it was much wasted , and eaten therewith ; the ropes were also old . after that , eleazar went down again , took part of the head that was broken , and hurled it into the town ; the romans that remained , either he slew , or put to flight . the archers shot at him , and wounded him with five arrows , wherefore by the help of his fellows upon the wals he climbed up , otherwise he had not been able for the grief of his wouuds . the people then gave a shout for joy of the victory of the worthy priest eleazar that had slain the romans , and broke their ram , wherein they put their confidence , and brought part of it into the town , and fastened it with an iron chain , that the romans could not pull it back again to them , nor have the use of it afterward , wherefore divers of the best cities of jorpata armed themselves that day , being stir'd with the great courage that they had seen in eleazar ; and went down , hewed the beam to pieces , brought the poyses with the rings , and two masts with them into the town : and the same day died eleazar with great renown , as one that had fought for the sanctuary of the lord , and for his people and country of israel , like a faithful servant and souldier of the lord : whom all the people mourned for , burying him in the town , honouring him for his death , worthiness , and faithfulnesse , appointing him a worthy memory also , for that he had waged battel with the enemies of the lord. the young men of the jews seeing this , and especially two of them , the one called nitra , the other polipas , men of great wisdom and understanding , and therewith expert in the wars , being moved with zeal of the god of israel , opened the gates , and issued against the romans , skirmished with them , and slew many of them . but at length they were slain themselves in the skirmish , for the sanctuary of their god , for israel , & their country . when joseph saw the wars to encrease more and more , he issued out , and made a great slaughter in the roman tents , burnt the mount and engines of war that the romans had left ; by which means the wars waxed yet hotter , insomuch that joseph repulsed the romans . for when they saw the jews so desperately give their lives for their god and land , they would not abide their force . vespasian seeing his men shrink , he stood up , and encouraged them , exhorting them with fair words and promises , as well gold and silver , as meat and drink , wherewith the romans allured , fought with joseph that day unto the sun-setting , and as the battel waxed hot , the jews wounded vespasian with an arrow in his right leg , which sore dismayed the romans , when they saw the blood run down his leg : and that day was a sore fight betwen the jews and the romans . titus seeing his father wounded , being sore abashed , ran to him to help him , to whom his father said : how is it my son , that thou art thus astonied ? take heart to thee , and with a courage revenge thy father of these jews that have now the better hand of us . so both titus and vespasian , with all their whole host , fought that day a sore fight , and many were slain on both parts , yea , very few were left on josephs part , with whom he returned into the town . the next day , the romans raised a new mount , instead of that which joseph burned , and planted another iron-ram thereupon , between two posts accordingly ; for vespasian had brought four of this sort with him from rome , but other battering pieces upon wheels , had he with him thirty , what more what lesse ; the bigger sort were . cubits long , the lesser ten . he brought also ten engines to hurle great stones withal , which he had placed about the walls . the romans therefore renewed the assaults against the town , as they were wont before . but the town was now desolate and naked of the stoutest warlike men , for they were all slain in the fights . albeit joseph remained and a few with him , who went every one , and the women also , to defend the walls , for there was almost no men left fit for the war. then the romans flung , with the engines that stood on the mount , stones into the town on every side . it chanced that a great stone hit a woman with child with such violence , that it passed through her body , and carried the child with it , by the space of half a mile . they cast up and raised yet other mounts also , from whence they flung stones . and another like chance hapned . a stone came and hit one of josephs men of war , a valiant man , in such sort , that it divided his head from his body , and made it fly a large mile off . at the same time , one of the roman souldiers devised with himself , how to hit joseph with a venomed arrow , and gat him under a wall where joseph was , to accomplish his purpose ; but joseph espied him , and cryed to him , hold thy hand , thou wicked fellow , and do not kill me : with that the fellow started somewhat aside , being afraid at josephs voice , and suddenly the jews out of the town poured hot oyl upon him from the wall , and his skin was scalded off , and he ran away naked , howling , and yelling to the romans camp , where he died . vespasian and his son titus were fully determined to continue the assault , until the . day notwithstanding the walls were so high , that they could not win the town . yet at length the men were so spent within the town , that they that remained alive , were so wearied with toyling , that they were not able any longer to furnish theirwatch upon the wall . this , upon a certain night , vespasian and titus understanding , scaled the walls at a quarter where watchmen were lacking , and after them many more of the roman souldiers followed , which went down on the inside , and brake open the great gate of the town , whereat entred the whole army of the romans . and being within the town , sounded their trumpets , and shouted to battel . the jews with the alarum , tumult , and hurly burly of the romans , awaked out of their sleep , and were sore afraid . notwithstanding every man took him to his weapon , and drew to the market-place as fast as they might . they had made the market-place of the town so large of purpose , that if any businesse should happen there might come together the whole city if they would : and as they looked about them , they saw the roman army entring in at the town , by the way that came from the great gate . then fought they with the romans , and divided even in the market-place where they stood , exhorting one another , and saying , let us die here fighting , and never suffer our selves to be taken alive . but joseph and forty men with him , worthy men all , fled away into a wood , where they found a ●…ain cave , and hid themselves therein . all the 〈◊〉 of the citizens were slain in that conflict , for they would not yield , nor commit themselves to the romans , they trusted them so little . for on a time , a certain jew besought a roman souldier to save his life , and the roman sware unto him , saying , god deal thus and thus with me , if i slay thee , therefore yield and come hither to me . the jew required him to give his right hand that he might trust him , and the roman reached him his left hand . the jew being dismayed in that great fear mark't not that it was his left hand ; but when the roman had once hold of him , he kept him fast with that hand , and with his right took his sword , & slew the jew that then was naked , having cast away his weapon , upon trust of the roman . when the jews saw how the roman regarded not his oath , but slew the jew , that upon the trust of his promise and oath , had yielded himself unto him ; they determined to die altogether , and never to trust the romans : whereupon they resolved with themselves , utterly to die for the holinesse of the lord god of israel ; but in so doing , they slew much people of the romans , and far more than they had done in any other battel , yet at length the city was taken . when vespasian had knowledge where joseph and his company was , he sent nicanor , pilerinus , and callicanus with him to joseph , to will him to come forth , and he should have his life and not be slain ; upon that joseph debated the matter with them that were with him in the den , requiring their advice : for my part , ( saith he ) if ye will follow my counsel , i think it best we go unto them ; but upon this condition , that they will make us a formal assurance of our lives , effectually as we shall require them ; which done , i doubt not but vespasian , when we come unto him , will extend his favour towards us . when these men perceived joseph to be inclined to yield unto the romans , they said , we marvel at thee ( o prince joseph ) at thee , we say , that wast chosen out of thousands of people , and promoted to the priesthood , and kingdom , to sanctifie and hallow the lord god of israel , who wast also appointed captain general of so great an host , and hast seen with thine eyes the shameful reproach of thy people , with the displeasures and damages of thy sheep , that thou hast yet any desire to live in this dishonour . what seest thou that thou wouldest desire to live ? should'st thou not rather desire death than life ? peradventure thou perswadest thy self that they call unto thee to save thy life , or for thy commodity ; but without doubt this were a vain perswasion : for they call thee for none other intent than to take thee alive , and to brag how they took joseph , that was consecrated and addicted to the wars , and make it an argument that their power prospereth . now therefore ( our dear brother and our prince ) consider that this they will do , yea if they save thy life . but put the case they put thee to death ; were it not better for thee to die on thine own sword , than on theirs ? yea , if it were for nothing but this , it is better for thee to die than live ; lest thou should'st hear their reproaches , their upbraidings , and their quarrellings : and if they preserve thee alive , never think they do it for thy good , but rather for thy ignominy and shame , which is far more grievous than death it self . wherefore , our dear brother , and our prince , what comes in thy mind , that thou purposest to live , after that thou hast lost thy people , and thy brethren ? and to what purpose serveth thy life after they be 〈◊〉 one ? mark diligently what moses ( of worthy memory ) our master did , how he spake before god touching the people of israel : o pardon their sins ( saith he ) or else blot me quite out of thy book whi●…h thou hast written ; he would not live after the destruction of his people , although the almighty said unto him ; let me alone , that i may wreak mine anger upon them , and consume them . why dost thou not call unto thy remembrance aaron his brother , that went betwixt life and death , in withstanding the angel that plagued the people , and offered himself to die for his people , that the plague might cease from israel ? where is king saul , and his son jonathan that foughtfor the people of god , and died in the field ? could not saul have saved his life , and his sons both , if he had been so disposed ? but he , when he saw israel had the overthrow in the battel , he had no desire to live longer , but chose to die rather than to live , and would not be separated from his brethren neither in life nor death , as well he , as jonathan his son ; these were dearly beloved , and most amiable men , ( as the scripture termeth them ) . why doest thou not remember ( our dear prince ) the righteousnesse of david , the anointed of the lord , who seeing a most grievous pestilence to rage upon the people of israel , said , let thy hand ( o lord ) i beseech thee be turn'd upon me and my fathers house : for i am he that have sinned , i have transgressed : as for these thy sheep , what have they done ? what have they offended ? where is the holy law smothered and stifled in thy heart ? art not thou an anointed priest , that hast declared and taught us the holy law , whereby we might learn how to love our lord god with all our heart , and with all our soul , and with all our strength ? if it be so that the service of god consists not in this , that we should love him whom he loveth , and die for his covenant and sanctuary together with his servants that be slain for the unity of the name of the lord ; wherein standeth it then ? hast not thou oft-times taught and proved unto us , how that every man that dieth in the wars for the lord , his sanctuary , his people , and his law , he is to be counted in the lords lot , and made worthy to go unto the great light , and shall not see everlasting darknesse ? art not thou that joseph the priest , that hast cryed so often in battel : i am joseph the priest , consecrated to battel , that have vowed my life for the people of the lord , his sanctuary , and his land ? but now when thou hast yielded thy self unto them , and they order thee despitefully , what wilt thou say unto them ? or what amends canst thou have at their hands ? i , put the case they cast in thy teeth , and say , thy words be lyes : how shalt thou avoid the reproach ? art thou not he that said'st , that we should fight for the people of god , until we die in the conflict , and in so doing , death should be ransome for our sins : and that we were sure to go to that great light , that is the light of life . which if it be true according as thou hast said , why then wilt thou shun death , and not follow thy people that are gone before thee to that same light ? ever hitherto thou hast had the upper hand wheresoever thou cam'st , insomuch that they that heard of thee , trembled for fear : and now wilt thou yield thy life to captivity to the romans as a vile slave ? shall not this thy dishonour redound also to the people of god ? thou art a prince , a king , and a priest , wilt thou be bound in chains ? every man shall say , this is he that gave his souldiers , and the rest of the people to die , but saved himself , and his own life . so when they had made an end of talk , each man drew out his sword , and came to him in the midst of the cave , saying : hearest thou , joseph our prince ? if thou wilt be ruled by us , first we shall slay thee as a lord and a great prince , and thou shalt chuse what death thou wilt die , that thou mayest die honourably . but if thou refuse to die honestly , assure thy self of this , we will every man set upon thee , and kill thee . joseph answered , indeed i know , my brethren , that your words are just and true ; for who is so mad to desire to live in this hurly burly ? and would god that he would call my soul unto him , and receive it unto him also . for i am not ignorant that it were more expedient for me to die , then to live , for the great troubles that have passed through my heart ; but he knoweth the secrets of mens hearts , and it is he that giveth life unto men . it is our god that closeth souls within the bodies , and letteth them out again , because he is the living god , in whose hands remain the souls and spirits of all living creatures : he hath left with us the spirit of life , and closed it up within our bodies . what is he that will open that he hath shut ? how shall we loose that he would have knit fast within us ? do ye not all know , how the life is a thing that he hath left us to keep , and that we are his servants ? if then we cast away life before that god take it , shall he not worthily be displeased with us , so that we shall not find life in the place of the living with abraham our father of famous memory , and with those just and godly men our forefathers ? do ye not know , that they went not unto god before they were called ; and when they were called , they came ? and so dealt god with all the holy and godly men . to moses , our master of worthy memory , the elect of god ; ye know that the lord god of israel said , get thee upon this mountain abiram , and so he did ; but he would not have done it of himself , had not god called him ; whereby ye may see , it is not lawful for a man to surrender his life unto the living god , except he require it again . take example i ( pray you ) of job , what time he curst the day that he was born in . might he not either have hanged himself , or have run upon a knife , or , at the least , have followed his wife's counsel , to curse god and die ? notwithstanding , he abode patiently in most extream pain , waiting till god demanded again his life , and then restored it unto his lord god , and would not restore it undemanded , but tarried till his appointed time came . king david also of famous memory , said , lead thou my life out of this pinfold and prison ; for he knew that the life was inclosed in the body , and that none might let it forth but god : i wot well that death is a great commodity , so that the soul may return in his due time , unto god that gave it us . i know it also , that he that dieth in the wars of the lord , he shall come to the great light : but i know not what can appease gods wrath , towards the soul of that man that killeth himself , and maketh haste to restore his soul before his time , and without the lords calling . wherefore my friends , and my brethren , i would ye should know it , i am no more coward than you , and i do not disagree with you , because i am of a faint heart , for fear of these present calamities ; but this i know , i should commit a hainous offence against the lord , if i should kill my self . and how say ye ( you princes ) that stick unto your god ? to you i speak , tell me , who shall make intercession unto god for us , if we should commit this sin , and each kill one another ? would not a man judge him a slave , a fool , a froward person , a rebel , and a desperate man , that should be forced with any misery , to be so mad , that because all things fall not out as he would wish , would therefore hang , or desperately murder himself with his own hand ? such ye know the law thus punisheth : their right hand is cut off , wherewith they forced themselves to die , then they are left unburied , as men that have destroyed their own souls : by what reason then shall we kill our selves ? i would wish that we might be slain of our enemies , rather than we should so shamefully murder ourselves , whereby ever after we should be taken for man-slayers . if any man kill himself , as saul whom he commended , without doubt he committeth a haynous crime , and such a one as no satisfaction can be made for : besides that , he shall be reckoned faint-hearted , and as one that despaireth of his recovery : wherefore our fore-fathers have taught us , a man ought not to despair of his safegard and deliverance , which cometh of god , no not when the knife is put to his throat to cut it . for king hezekiah of famous memory , when he heard these words of esaias that worthy prophet ; make thy will , and set thy things in order , for thou shalt die , and not escape ; neverthelesse he fainted not , nor ceased not to pray to god , for the prolonging of his life in theworld , that he might amend his life , and send a better soul unto god. then the lord god of israel , seeing his unwearied and strong hope , with his repentance , suffered him to live fifteen years longer ; but as for saul , he was not appointed king over israel after the lords mind , but only by the people that craved of samuel ; give us a king to rule over us : whereupon afterward god departed from saul , for he was not obedient to gods will , but went about by force to establish his kingdom . the lord then seeing the wickednesse of his heart , gave him over , and chose him another to be king over his people ; anointing david his servant , whiles saul was yet living ; which saul perceiving , persecuted david , and laboured with all his endeavour to destroy him , because he knew god was with him , and prospered all that he did ; whereas contrarily , all went backward with himself . for these causes i say , he chose rather to die than live ; he also would not live after the people of israel were overthrown in the mountains of gilboa . and , in mine opinion , he slew himself for nothing but because he was a faint-hearted coward , and utterly despaired of his safegard . for although he said , lest these uncircumcised come and run me through : yet , if he had been of a●…valiant courage , he would have stood to his defence to the death : peradventure god would have delivered him : but he contrarily , all in despair , procured both himself , and his son , a shameful death . but ye shall consider this , he was an unmerciful king , and therefore did god rid him out of the world. for as he did not spare his own life , nor his son's : so did he not spare others . and whereas ye alledge aaron unto me , i would know of you , why he put himself between the living and the dead . was it not because he would turn away the plague from israel ? if he had known that he himself should have been stricken therewith , doubtlesse he would not have striven against the striker ; but trusting in the holinesse of his righteousnesse , he stood before the angel to deliver israel from that misery : therefore i am not to be compared with aaron , albeit i am one of his children , and never yet in all my life did i shrink to venture my life in the wars of the lord : and now i am not determined to kill my self , lest i should sin against god , and spoil my soul of hope of salvation : i know it well , and it were more expedient for me to be slain of mine enemies , then that i should kill my self . and if ye say the word , let us go forth , and suddenly set upon our enemies to kill , or to be killed , in this battel of the lord , and so shall we do well : peradventure god will give them into our hands ; for god is able to save as well by a small army , as by a great . then if ye see me to be afraid of mine enemies sword , ye shall thereby know me to be a coward , and one that fawneth upon his enemies , and hunteth for their favour ; but ye shall see me go before you , as a valiant man , nor once to turn my face from death . what did ye ever see in me , that you should judge me fearful ? did ye ever know me refuse to fight ? within the town of jorpata i have ever kept my quarter and ward , and every day have i fought with mine enemies , whom i have not spared , but impaired ; and that not a little , whiles i defended that little city forty eight daves against them . for i thought with my self , peradventure i may drive away the enemies of the lord out of our land , and divert them from jerusalem , that they go not thither . and so have i fought with them , till all my valiant souldiers be spent , and none left but you ; i could no longer withstand their force , yet i would not yeild my self as a prisoner unto them , therefore i fled hither with you into this cave . now therefore , brethren , ye shall understand , that death is commodious and good indeed , which comes in time : but it is neither good nor godly , for a man to kill himself and his brother , to go afterward for that deed into hell and perdition . and what other thing can more clearly set forth a mans proud , and haughty mind , with his hope in god , than for a man to suffer patiently , whatsoever chanceth unto him , until his end come ? behold the lions and other beasts , how they are wont to withstand their enemies that lie in wait for them , to the intent they may save their lives , whose armour is in their teeth and claws , wherewith neverthelesse they hurt not themselves , but use them against other that assault them , till they either overc●…me , or be overcome . we , although we have no warlike weapons , yet have nature armed us as well as them : for albeit we be not of such strength as they , yet hath we such armour , that we may defend our selves therewith , both from man and beast ; but how can we break the band of love one to another that proceedeth from god , who hath chosen us his people and inheritance to sanctifie him ? how then may we be enemies one against another , and kill one another ? if that be true , as ye cannot deny it , that although we be many thousands , yet we are counted as one soul , and members of one body : then how can any man ever find in his heart to strike his own eyes or feet , or any other of his members to destroy it , except he be mad , and besides himself ? moreover , dear brethren and friends , consider to what end the master of a ship doth abide the tempest of the seas , and striveth day and night with the floods thereof ? doth he not do it to save the ship , and his life from death ? if so it be , he sh●…uld willingly for the same purpose put himself in jeopardy of tempest , or run on rocks , would not the merchant-men say ; see yonder desperate fellow that destroyeth himself , his ship , with the the merchants , and their riches ? suppose an earthly king should give his officers to keep certain precious jewels : were it not convenient that they should keep them till such time as he should call for them again ? if they should at their pleasure cast them away before the king call for them , shall they not move him to anger ? and if a man come into the presence of the king uncalled , will not the king check him , and say unto him , what dost thou here before i call thee ? so now , all the souls of israel are the lords , who hath bestowed them unto men according to his mercy and good pleasure , who also will receive them again when it pleaseth him ; and when his time is come , every soul shall depart unto his place of rest . therefore if a man will with his own hands , let forth his soul out of his body before his time , god will not receive it , neither shall it find any rest , but be destroyed , and why ? because it is expulsed , and thrust out of his place before his time , and before god do call for it : wherefore it shall wander inconstantly for ever . why then ( my dear brethren and friends ) do you advise us to kill one another , and to expell and banish our souls from us , they being not call'd for ? how can we put away this opprobry ? how can we make amends for this sin ? who shall pray and make intercession for us ? and with this joseph wept abundantly , insomuch that they laught him to scorn . then joseph held up his hands to heaven , saying . thou lord almighty art our father , thou hast formed us , and by thy great mercy taken us out of the clay : thou art he that leadest us in thy faith , and the multitude of thy mercies and benignities towards us hath not ceased . a●…d although our sins have separated us from thee , yet n●…vertheless , we are thy handy-work every one of us , and a long time have we been called thy people . thou art lord over all creatures and souls . thou dost what thou wilt , and none dare say to thee , why dost thou so ? thou art our father , we are clay , thou hast given us our shape and fashion ; therefore if it please thee to take our souls , take them by the hands of thine angels , that we commit no evil against them . and if these my fellows that be present with me will not be partakers of my prayer ; behold my life alone , for the which i beseech thy benign clemency , if it please thee take it , for thou gavest it me , therefore do with it whatsoever it shall seem good unto thee : it is in thine hands , thou lendest it me , and hast preserved it within me : i will not destroy it my self , or let it out of my prison , before thou demand it ; for thou knowest , that as man cannot live without thy decree and appointment , so likewise he cannot die without the same . vnto thee therefore do i lift mine eyes , thou that dwellest in heaven , to deal mercifully with thy servants , and with me , to turn our hearts that we consent not unto this , to murder our selves : if thou know any among them , that intend so wicked an act , i beseech thee , o lord my god , let me find favour in thine eyes ; give them an heart to hear wholesome counsel , that i may deliver my self and mine own life , which i commend into thine hands , that thou wouldest receive it unto thee , for in thy hand is the life of every living creature . thus when joseph had finished his prayer , he turned him unto his fellows , and saluted them ; then said they , thinkest thou therefore to move our minds , because thou hast prayed unto god for thy self , and for us ? did not we tell thee ere while , like as we tell thee now , that we are determined to die by one means or other ? wherefore say thy mind , and tell us by w●…at death thou wilt end thy life ; for we have ever known thee a just man , and a worthy prince , therefore art thou worthy to die first . joseph perceiving his fellows were utterly determined to die , and would give none ear to his perswasions , for he could by no reasons draw them to his opinion , he went subtilly to work with them on this wise ; seeing it will be none otherwise , brethren ( quoth he ) i will shew you my advice : ye are determined to die , ye say , and that upon your own swords , therefore there is no better way , than to do it by lot in this wise : let us cast lots amongst our selves , that we may be joyned together by couples , then will we cast lots which couple shall die first ; afterwards they two shall cast lots betwen them , which of them shall kill his fellow ; he that remaineth shall choose him one of the second couple to kill him ; likewise the second couple shall cast lots between themselves , who shall die first , and he that is left shall choose him one of the third couple , whom he hath a fancy to be killed of : then they shall try by lot who shall die first , who being slain , the other may choose him one of the fourth couple to kill him , and so even till all be slain , that we see not the captivity of our people : the last couple that remain shall do thus ; run one upon the others sword , or else let them cast lots between themselves , and upon whom it falleth , let him die first : but forasmuch as we are forty and one , so that we cannot be justly joyned in couples ; let us cast lots first of all , and see which of us shall first be slain , and when he is once out of the way , then let us divide the couples : he that is to be slain first , let him choose one of the first couple , and cast lots , and do as i have devised . then every man liked his device ( which was gods doing who heard josephs prayer ) and said all with one mouth , we will do as thou hast advised , and to thee it appertaineth to divide the men , and to cast the lots ; joseph answered , but let us swear by the name of the lord , that this device shall stand , be ratified , and performed ; whereunto they accorded , and sware all by the name of the lord , that they would have this device to be ratified and kept , which joseph had invented by casting of lots . then joseph cast lots , who should be the odde man , and it fell upon jehojada , the son of eliakim , a galilean , which was a valiant man , and chiefest in every counsel next to joseph , and the principal perswader of this wicked fact to kill themselves ; after that , did he craftily divide them into couples , so that the lot of his own couple came forth last of all , who looked to be saved , and trusted in god , believing that he would deliver him from this abominable deed . then jehojada chose him one of the first c●…uple , who slew him ; that done , the first couple cast lots , between them , so the one killed his fellow , and chose him one of the second couple to kill him ; then they of the second couple , cast lots between themselves in the presence of joseph , and the one killed the other ; then he that remained , chose him one of the third couple to slay him ; and in this manner did they all , till they were all slain , and none left alive , but joseph and his fellow , who said unto joseph , go to , let us cast lots , that we may go to our brethren . joseph answered , we will do so if thou be so disposed ; but first hear me , i pray thee , speak a few things in thy ears ; tell me , have not these sinners rebelled against god , in this murdering of themselves so shamefully ? neither could i by any means disswade them , nor divert them from this opinion ; wherefore should we two fin against god so grievously , and against our own souls ? if the lot should so fall that i should kill thee , i should be counted a man-slayer , and that worthily ; and it may so chance i shall escape after thee , and save my life ; but if the lot should so fall , that thou shouldest slay me , thou should'st be taken also for a murderer , and peradventure thou should'st not escape after me ; yea , although thou thinkest that thou may est : but assure thy self of this , we lose our hope in god , in as much as we sin against our own souls . for all these men that thou seest here dead , lo , they have sinned against their own souls , dying without discipline and good order . if thou wilt say , how shall we do by reason of the oath that we have sworn ? dost thou not know , that he that breaketh a wicked oath , doth nothing wickedly himself therein ? for a man is not constrained to perform any oath unto god , but to the keeping of his laws ; and hereupon is it that david saith , i have sworn , and will perform ; for neither vow nor oath that is made against the commandments of god , can be ratified before god. and what more is , before we swear , our fathers sware first long ago , at the mount of sinai , that they and their children should keep the law of the lord. moses also made a covenant with them upon the same , and not only with them that were there , but also with us . how then dare we be so bold to swear , to break the law of god , and become man-killers ? seeing it is one of the ten commandments expresly , thou shalt not kill . wherefore my brother , thou shalt understand , that we need not be solicitous , nor careful for the oath that we have made , but rather to break it , for god will never be displeased with us for that : for i being afraid of these wicked persons that lie now here dead , invented this subtile means and way to swear , that i might save my life : now therefore , my brother , if thou wilt be ruled by mine advice , thou shalt save thy life and mine , and i will cast no lots , nor perform the oath that we made , which is no●… good in the law ; if thou wilt not , i will wi●…stand thee , and fight with thee , to kill thee , and spare my self : and with this joseph leapt back , and dr●…w out his sword , standin over against him at his defence , to see what his fellow 〈◊〉 answer : his companion hearing 〈◊〉 , ●…ed neither hand nor foot against him , but said : lo , i am content , do what thou thinkest good , because thou art a man of god. and blessed be the lord god of israel that hath not withdrawn his mercy from me , but made me to be in thy lot , whereby my soul is saved from going to hell : thy lot is a just lot : for the lord will not leave the scourge of sinners , upon the lot of the just . much besides this spake josephs companion to him , for he was sore afraid of him , lest he should have killed him , if they had encountred together ; for joseph was a better man of his hands , and therefore joseph chose him into his lot , that he might be able to make his party good with him . in this point joseph played the wise mans part , for he escaped by this means , both from the hands of those wicked fools , and also from his fellow . therefore joseph called out of the cave to captain nicanor , and said to him in this wise : wilt thou promise me , that neither thou , nor any of thy men that be here with thee , or in the romans camp , shall kill us , before thou hast brought us unto vespasian ? and let him do with us as he thinketh good . nicanor answered : so , and so , deal god with me , if i fulfil not thy request , if so be thou wilt come forth unto me , together with the men that thou hast with thee . joseph answered him , i will come forth to thee , and so many more of us as be alive : for it is come to passe , that some of us be dead in the cave , wherefore , how can they come forth ? then said nicanor , never think ( friend joseph ) that i come to deceive thee , come forth and trust in thy god , for thou needest not to fear . joseph said : swear unto me this , by the god of israel , although he be unknown to thee . nicanor answered , i swear unto thee by that god that made the world by his wisdom , that thou needest not to fear me , but boldly mayest come forth unto me . so nicanor made a covenant with joseph and his fellow , confirming and ratifying it in writing , after the manner of the romans , and reaching it into the cave upon a spear , holding the point of the ●…pear in his own hand . joseph took the writing , read it , and believed nicanor : then came he forth to nicanor , and his fellow with him . when nicanor sitting upon his seat of state that was made him in the wood nigh to the cave , saw joseph come toward him , he rose up , and embracing him , kissed him , set him on his right hand , and wept with him abundantly : he honoured his fellow also , placing him between pollerinus and gallicanus , whom he had then present with him . then nicanor asked him for the rest of the men that were with him , desiring that they should come forth , and he would honour them also , and do them no harm . joseph declared the whole matter unto him , and told him what was become of them . nicanor hearing of the pertinacious stubbornness of the jews hearts , and their wicked intents , was wonderful●…y moved . so then he rose and went from thence , with joseph and his companion unto vespasian . when the roman army saw joseph , they were greatly astonied , and gave a mighty shout ; some rejoyced that joseph was taken , saying , this is good luck , that our eyes shall see our long expected desire . other lamented and let tears fall from their eyes with pensive hearts , saying , is not this that worthy man who made all the roman host to quake for fear , and whose fame and renown was known throughout all lands ? how is it come to pass that so mighty a man is taken in his own country , and amongst his own people ? if this chanceth unto such a man , to be taken in his own land , in the midst of his families and friends ; how shall we escape in a strange land ? certain evil disposed persons of the roman souldiers , went to vespasian , and said , sir , you shall do well to command this man to be slain without mercy , that hath been the destruction of so many of the people of the romans . this is the very same , that shot the arrow and stuck you in the leg ; put him to death , and then shall ye be sure he shall never move war more amongst you . if ye do not , ye shall see him one day again raise an army against us , and destroy us . but joseph did find friendship at titus vespasian son's hands , which came of the lord. therefore when he heard those wicked mens words , that desired vespasian to put joseph to death , he disapproved their advice , and partly in mockage he taunted them , saying , will you tell my father what he hath to do ? will you give him so wicked counsel , to kill that man that yieldeth himself to us , upon the trust of our league and band of friendship , which you now go about to break and frustrate ? did not captain nicanor in my fathers name and caesars , with all the roman host , make a covenant with him ? take heed what you say : is it reason to break the caesarean fidelity ? moreover , who can tell whether it may so happen , that some of us be taken by the jews , like as joseph is prisoner herc with us ? vvhen vespasian heard his sons words , it pleased him , and he spared joseph , not suffering him to be slain , but committed him to a certain captain of his , and carried him about with him through the cities , together with king agrippa . after this vespasian removed his camp to thalmida , which also is called acho , and from thence he went to caesarea , a great city . when they of the city saw joseph , they cryed unto vespasian , kill him , kill him , or else he will one day be an occasion to stir great wars against thee . but vespasian gave no ear to them . whiles he was at caesarea , tidings came to him , that the citizens of papho invaded and spoiled the isles that were subject under his dominions with a navy . vespasian hearing thereof commanded to lay wait for them , that they might be met withal . so there was an ambush laid wit●…out the town , and it came to passe , that when the pyrates were gone out a roving , vespasian entred the town and took it without great resistance , because their souldiers were absent . when the rovers therefore returned with their navy , and saw the romans in the city , they laboured to set a land ; but suddenly a huge tempest , and a mighty storm , drove all their ships against the rocks that were in the sea shore , ( for there was no haven for ships ) and there they were lost many of them , and those that swam to land the romans slew : they that were drowned in the sea , and slain by the romans , were in number four thousand good men of war , besides them that were slain in the town . all jews . this done , vespasian set forth valericus and taribus , two roman colonels , with his son titus , who went , besieged , and wan the towns of defence that were in galilee ; and thus did titus use them , they that yielded unto him , he saved their lives ; and whosoever withstood him , he slew . moreover , all the cities that belonged to agrippa in galilee , he restored them unto him again , only tiarva excepted , which he utterly rased , and slew all the males , especially such as were apt to the wars , sold also their wives and children . and this was the only city in all galilee , that titus shewed such a rigour and extremity unto . chap. vii . vespasian departing thence , took his journey to gamala , which is a citie upon the top of a mountain ; the name thereof is called gamala , of an hebrew word gamal , that signifieth to requite , or to do a good turn , because it is the best city that belongeth to agrippa , and the inhabitants thereof were all very rich . the city also , called seleucia , was not far distant from it , a countrey replenished with good towns , gardens , brookes , and all kinde of fruitfull trees ; agrippa besought vespasian that he would not destroy this city : let me go first ( saith he ) and offer them peace , peradventure they will take it , that they may save their lives from destruction ; vespasian was entreated , saying unto him , go and do as thou wilt , for thine honour's sake i will do so much for thee . so agrippa went to them , and spake friendlily and peaceably unto them , and they received him in like manner , but they meant deceit , saying ; thou art our lord and king , to whom therefore doth all that is of any price , or to be desired in all israel belong but unto thee ? therefore come near unto us , and debate the matter with thy servants . agrippa crediting these words , came close up to the city , and as he listned to them that talked with him , one cast a great stone from the wall , which lighted just between his shoulders ; with such a violence , that it struck him prostrate to the ground , and brake his back , with one of his arms also . but his servants stept to him , took him up , and carried him to vespasian ; who seeing him so sore hurt , sware he would never go from thence , till he had taken the city , and ordered them in like manner as he did at tiarva , to leave not a man therein . the roman physicians did bestow such diligence about agrippa , that they cured him . vespasian in his rage against the seleucians , because they had wounded their king , besieged and assaulted them . the jews within the town encouraged one another , saying , let us stick to it now , and play the men , for we have no other hope to save our lives , seeing we have thus used the king. certain stout men of them therefore issued out , and encountring with the romans , made a great slaughter amongst them . after that , the romans made ready their engins , planted their battering rams , playing with them against the walls ; and by that time night came , beat so great a part thereof down to the earth , that vespasian and much people with him might enter at their pleasure . but vespasian gave commandment to his army , that they should not enter that night into the town , but stand and compasse the walls until the morrow , that they might the better see how to win it . notwithstanding , they would not be ruled by him , but entred . then the jews came upon them , drew the chains crosse their streets , and closing the wayes of the city , intrapped them in such sort , that they could go neither one way nor other . after that , sett●…ng upon them , beat them down even there ; so that they were all slain , save ten men that fled with vespasian , and a captain named butius , one of the best men of war in all the roman army , yet him the jews pursued and slew . but vespasian and his , fled to the mountains , that he might be there in safegard : and from thence he sent to titus his son that was in syria , for the roman army that he had sent with him to persia , which titus led into jury . shortly after , vespasian gathered souldiers , and , repairing his army , joyned with agrippa's company , and returning to seleucia , wan it , and slew every man , leaving none alive : and afterward going again to the cities of galilee , took them , serving them in like sort . after that , he came to the city called nascela , which was a walled town , and of all the towns of defence throughout all galilee , none left but it . this he besieged , because thither resorted many cut-throats and wicked persons , without the fear of god , such as were robbers and rovers of the land of judea . amongst whom was a certain man named jehochanan , learned , wise , and prudent , especially to do mischief ; a witty counsellour , and of such eloquence ; that he could perswade cunningly , and disswade men from that they had purposed . besides this , he was a murtherer , ready to shed blood , and to do any mischief ; a great robber , and one that ever gaped for other mens goods , by which means he was become very rich : wherefore there resorted unto him all vain persons man-slayers , rebells , and ruffians like himself giving them large rewards , that they might be of his fraternity , his brethren , and adherents , and he to be their head . titus was sent to this city by his father , to offer them conditions of peace ; whither when he was come , he sent his emba●…adours to the citizens to treate of peace with them ; whereunto the citizens accorded & were ready to en●…er into league with titus . when as this wicked jehochanan perceived that the ancient men of the town and the heads would accep●… of peace , he commanded his companions to guard the wals , to hinder them from speaking with the romans , saying , that they themselves would return them an answer : so therefore seditious jehochanan made answer to the embassadors of titus , saying ; to morrow have we a solemn feast to the lord god , tell thy master titus therefore that he grant us truce for dais , and the third day we wil give him answer ; wherwith titus was content , and deferred the assault for two dayes . these things were done on whit-sun-even , which was called the feast of weeks , and harvest . the night afore the third day appointed was come , jehochanan and his complices gat out of the town , and fled toward jerusalem , ere titus knew thereof : on the morrow he sent his embassadors to demand their answer , what they would do ; they answered , we desire to enter into a league with you , for we are yours , and submit our selves to your pleasure , upon the condition , that none of the romans hurt us , either in our bodies or goods . titus upon this made peace with them , confirming it by writing sealed , for the better assurance thereof . so they opened the gates , and titus came into the town with his whole army , and the jews received him with great joy , honouring him very much . then titus enquired for jehochanan and his confederates . the citizens declared unto him , how he fled by night with all his unto jerusalem : titus hearing that , sent after to pursue him , yet they found him not , he had made such speed . notwithstanding , many of the people that went out of the town with him , that they might escape the danger , both men , women , and children , old and impotent persons they overtook , slew them every one , and returned with a great spoil . after this , titus won all the cities in galilee , and set rulers in them . then vespasian dislodged from hence , and came to the mount tabor , which hath snow on it continually ; the height thereof is thirty furlongs , and upon the top is a plain twenty three furlongs long : thither sent vespasian one of his captains called palgorus , which took the mountain , and the town that stood thereon . but here i will leave off the history of the other battels that were fought in other places in the land of israel , and galilee , and speak no more of them in this book , for they be almost innumerable , and we have made mention of them , in the history of the romans . the second book , containing the history of the siege of jerusalem . now will we describe the batells of jerusalem , and how the city was besieged by the romans ; wherein we will declare all things truly , as our manner is , and faithfully , according to the verity of that that was done . it came to passe therefore , as jehochanan the galilean was fled to jerusalem , he found there men meet for his purpose ; injurious persons , wicked men , murderers , deceivers , blood-shedders , an infinite number . for out of all countries within the land of judea , there repaired thither all men of war , to defend the sanctuary of our god , and anani the high priest received all that came . these , seeing jehochanan an●… his valiantnesse , revolted from anani the high priest , and clave to him , consulting with him concerning all their affairs : so he conspired with these cut-throats to lay hands upon the ri●… men of the city , and to spoil them of their goods ; and this was their manner . when they espyed any notable rich man of the city , they would after this sort quarrel with him : art not thou he that hast sent letters to the romans , and to vespasian , to betray the city unto them ? thus would they examine him before the people , and when he would answer , god forbid i shoul●… do so ; then would they bring in godless persons , limbs of t●…e devil , of their own company to bear false witness against him , that he might be condemned to death by the law for a rebell . thus dealt they with antipas and lohia , both noble men , and of the chief of the city : and their goods , with all their jewels , the seditious seized for themselves . they pick'd quarrels also with the ●…igh 〈◊〉 , thrust them from their chairs , that they could not execute their service . moreover , they cast lots , who should have the priests office , and who should be no priest. for they held the priesthood and service of god , for toyes , gaudes , and trifles . so the lot fell upon one that was called pani the son of peniel , a carterly husbandman , ignorant of what belonged to the priests office , so that he was utterly unworthy of the priesthood : so light a matter made they of the priesthood . the good and the godly men of jerusalem , seeing the power of these ruffians , and wicked persons bear such swinge , they stuck together and determined to withstand them by force . the people therefore earnestly moved with an●…ger , set upon them , and encouutred with them in such sort , that the fight was great on both sides , in the streets , in the market-place , in the temple , and in the entrance of the temple , till all the city was filled full of dead bodies and slain men . for there was not so much as one street , but there was some skirmishes in it . the people at length got the upper-hand of the ruffians , for they were eagerly set , & earnestly bent against them . the seditious therefore seeing themselves not able to make their party good with the people , fled every man into the temple of the lord , shut it after them , and there remained . but anani the high priest , seeing the wicked to be fled to the temple , wi●…ed the people to cease their fighting with them in the temple of the lord , left they should pollute it with the blood and dead ca●…kasses of those wicked persons . the people therefore left off the fight . then anani beset the temple round about with . of the choisest and ablest men of the people , well armed all of them with jackes and sallets , and as well weapon'd , with every man a sword , a target , and a spear or pike , to keep the temple , that they should not come forth . moreover , anani cast in his mind , that besides the invading them in the temple , which were nowaies seemly , it should also be as great a damage , if the people of the lord should assault one another in that place . for these causes , he sent embassadors to jehochanan the galilean , chief captain of the seditious and thieves , offering him peace ; but jehochanan refused it : for the seditious had sent for the edomites to come and aid them . the edomites had been ever from their first beginning very valiant and warlike-men , yet they were subject to the jews . for hircanus king of juda had conquered them , and caused them to be circumcised , binding such of them as were the best warriours to this service , to stand in arms , and keep watch and ward upon the walls of jerusalem day and night , and the rest of them to pay tribute to the jews . upon a certain night came two and twenty thousand of these edomites , all good men of war , against jerusalem . when anani the priest , and the people that were with him , heard the noise of the edomites army , he went upon the walls , and demanded of them what they were , from whence they came , and whither they would ? they answered , we are edomites , and came out of idumea , to visit the lord god and his temple , and to see in what case his people standeth : for thus we come according to our accustomed manner as ever heretofore . anani answered , you are dissemblers , and not as your words do shew , neither come ye to seek god and his sanctuary , nor yet to aid his people , but rather to the supporting of jehochanan grand captain of thieves . were it not better for you to assist the sanctuary of god , than these sinfull seditious persons , that covet nothing els then to lay waste the house of god , and to destroy his people ? they in the most holy city of god , do shed the blood of just , godly , and innocent men ; through whose wickedness the romans have the upper hand of us , because we have civil wars at home with the seditious , and external with the romans . yea , the wickedness of the seditious is grown so far , that the most part of us had rather be slain by the romans , than of our brethren the jews . if so be ye be come to maintain them , ye shall understand that ye offend our lord god exceedingly , to help sinners and murtherers , that tread the people of god under their feet , like as men tread grapes in a wine-press , and make the temple of the lord a dwelling-place of man-killers and wicked persons . ye say , ye come to seek the lord : how is it then that ye are thus in arms , after the manner of war ? ye shall understand , we shut not the gates of the town because of you , lest ye should come in , after your accustomed manner : but because of your armour and weapons that you have with you , wh●…ch are instruments of destruction , a very unmeet fashion to come and visit the lord ; you should rather have come●…with offerings , sacrifices , confession , and praise . notwithstanding , if ye will enter into the town for devotion sake , ye are welcome : but ye must lay away your weapons and so enter in peaceably . the edomites answered , we marvell not a little at thee which art the high priest , our lord and mediator , and at the rest of the priests of the lord , with the elders and judges of the people that be present with thee ; and your wo●…ds seem strange in our ears . for we understand you take us for your enemies , and thereupon you stop us of our entrance into the city , to visit the lord god after our accustomed manner . in that we be armed as ye object unto us ? do ye not know that vespasian draweth nigh to come to this holy city ? this we hearing of , was the cause that we took our weapons with us , to come to ayd you , and keep the town , as we have been wont these many years . but how should ye gather this , that we come to support the wicked and seditious that be with you : when as from the first day that ever we and our fathers were circumcised , we never swarved f●…om the law and commandments of the lord ? tell us if there be any commandme●…t in the law , that biddeth a man to strengthen and maintain the power of the wicked , to the which we are bound to hearken , and to ayd these ? god forbid we should do this , for we all both that be here , and the other edomites also , be servants of the lord and his people , to maintain and defend the law , the people , and the house of the lord. whiles they were thus talking together , there arose up a great cloud , and lightnings were seen with fire , and darkness with mighty thunder●…claps , and showers of hail , that all that saw it were wonderfully afraid . wherefore the people fled wholly ; left not only the walls , but anani also : for they could not abide to tarry any longer . but anani took heart unto him , and abode it , to mark those horrible signs of heaven which did appear , that he might judge what they betokened . the figure of a fearful comet , and he gave his judgment indeed ( but not according to the truth ) that the thunder and hail with darkness , signified gods help , by the hope whereof they should defend the sanctuary of the lord. so likewise judged all the elders that were with him , without perceiving that all these signs betokened the evils that should come upon jerusalem and all israel . when they that were shut in the temple , perceived that they that kept the watch before the gate of the temple , were fled also for fear of the tempest , they went and opened the doors of the temple , and in that darkness , which although it was so great , that one could not see another for the thickness thereof , neither durst any of the town once look out of his doors ( they were so afraid of those terrible signs of the element ) yet came those desperate fellows , the seditious out of the temple , drew toward the walls without all fear , with saws and other instruments , to cut asunder the barrs of the gates . and when the crashing of the thunder and hail was greatest , then laboured they hardest , in wresting asunder the locks and bolts of the gates , lest they should be perceived . and ever when the thunder clap was past then stayed they and left off till it came again . thus plaid they till they had broken and opened the gates , and let the edomites into the city : who being once come in , wandred here and there , for that night , devising how they might set upon the citizens of the town , and utterly destroy them . they call'd out first their confederates , that remained in the temple , brought them thence , and joyned together with the edomites , swearing one to another , that they should be one people and one army . and forthwith , being so confed●…ate together , they slew the same night , . of the people of god , all good men of god , all good men of war ; besides innumerable other , that they killed of the common people . in the morning they laid hands on the rich men , haled them before the judges , and lxx . elders , which otherwise is called sanhedrim , whom they called together : and there wicked jehochanan the galilean , spake unto them in this wise . why condemn ye not these rich cobs , that have made a conspiracy with the romans , and determine to betray this holy city i to their hands ? namely , one sechariahu a just man , a perfect , godly , and vertuous , one that feared the lord , and loved both god and man ; but for his riches only which were great , this jehochanan ( captain of the seditious ) apprehended him , willing the elders to condemn him to death , for that he had joyned with their enemies , ( as he said ) to betray the city to them . the priests , elders , and judges hearing his words , and perceiving that both he and the rest of his bloody band , desired nothing else than to make this man away , although they knew him to be most innocent , they wept and fighed greatly : jehochanan seeing them weep for sechariahu , and that they would not condemn him , respecting his justice and integrity ; what , quoth he , do you begin to mourn before there be any corpse present ? i would i should never come where god hath to do , but if ye order it thus in your judgments , ye shall be the first that we will lay hold of , and we will sit in judgment our selves , to discern the matter for the people of god according as we shall think good . then laying apart all shame , with an obstinate mind , t●…e wicked sort hoysed away sechariahu , carried him out of the place of judgment , and brought him up to the top of a high tower , at the east end of the town , from whence they cast him down headlong , and he died at the walls side in the vale of jehoschaphat . the priests therefore were sore afraid f●…r their own parts , and the judges also with the elders , seeing the wickedness of jehochanan , and the rest of the seditious : for jehochanan had given them warning and said , except ye give sentence on every man that we shall bring unto you , acco●…ding to our minds , be ye assured , all ye shall go the same way that sechariahu is gone before you . after that , they 〈◊〉 a just man , and a rich , that was beloved of all the ●…own , whose name was gor●…nian , surnamed 〈◊〉 , and he was a valiant man indeed , most expert in wars , thereto wise and w●…y , and a man of a pure and perf●…ct life , one that was ever the formost in b●…ell , whensoever they had any conflict against the gentiles that be●…ged jerusalem : and this was his accustomed manner , when the enemies ma●…ched to joyn battel wit●… the jews , he would run upon them with all his might , and make such ●…laughter of them , that in spigh●… of their hearts he would force them to retire ; and by that means his body was full of skars , his face and head wonderfully mangled with the wounds that he had received in the battels , that he had been in for the people of the lord ; yet now because he would not follow the villanous mind of jehochanan , and take his part , jehochanan commanded him to be apprehended , and brought before him , and when he was come , said thus unto him ; make thy will , and set thy house in order , and confess thy self unto the lord , for there is no way with thee but death : and so they led him out of the town to kill him there , lest there should be any business about his death , if he had been put to death within the town ; for all the citizens of jerusalem loved him , and he likewise loved them . when they were come to the place of execution , gorinian fell down before them , and besought them with tears in this wise ; seeing ye have so determined that ye will needs slay me , when as notwithstanding i have committed no crime , nor any offence , and that ye will in no wise spare me although i be innocent , as you know well enough your selves ; yet i beseech you , let me obtain this one thing at your hands , that you would do so much at least wise at my request , as to bury my body ; other favour i desire not . they made him answer , if thou hadst not spoken to us thereof , we had thought to have done it , for so we were determined with our selves ; but now , seeing thou art so bold as to demand this of us , we will slay thee , but buriall gettest thou none ; thy body shall be cast forth unto the beasts of the earth , and fowls of the ayre . gorinion yet besought them to the contrary , untill the most cruell jehochanan struck him , and slew him , and after threw out his body to the beasts of the field ; this done , they returned into the city . vespasian in the mean season drew nigh to jerusalem ; for he had pitched his tents at cesarea , where he relieved his army , and paid his souldiers great wages , wherefore they tarried in the city many daies : for when vespasian understood of the wars in jerusalem , he said unto his people , let us make no haste to besiege jerusalem , till such time as they have slain one another among themselves , and so at length their pride will be pulled down , when as they see themselves waste away with cruell war , hunger , and thirst . for vespasian was a wonderfull politick man in all feats of war , and his wisdom never turned him to more commodity , than by this device only . so he sojourned at cesarea , with his men many daies : in the mean season , the people of jerusalem made war upon jehochanan , and his complices , till innumerable of them were destroyed . some of them were slain with swords , some the seditious killed with short daggers . for certain of the seditious carried short daggers secretly under their garments , wherewith they would come so suddenly upon an honest and just man , and thrust him to the heart , that he should fall down dead in the place , without knowledge who struck him : so by this means what with swords in open fraies , and what with daggers secretly , many of the people were slain , and far more that way than by the romans , insomuch that now very few citizens were left alive . thus when jehochanan had gotten the upper hand of the city , he sent an army out of jerusalem , to go and take the cities that had made peace with vespasian , which they sacked and razed to the ground , and whomsoever they found therein , romans , or jews , they slew : yea , jehochanan went with them himself , spoyling and carrying away all the riches that they found in them . they took also the city gerara , that stood beyond jordan , whereas they remained . the inhabitants of jerusalem , both priests , elders , and the rest of the people , sent embassadours to vespasian , to desire peace of him , and succour against jehochanan , and his wicked rabble , which daily in the town slew very many of the people of god. the citizens also of gerara sent embassadours unto vespasian , saying ; if thou wilt be lord over the land of judea , and the city of jerusalem , and desirest to assure the rule thereof , and establish it unto thee , then hearken unto our counsell , and come unto us without delay , to deliver us from the hands of jehochanan , and the wicked seditious persons , that with all their might endeavour to spoyl all our goods , and to get the dominion over us , our wives , and children , to none other purpose , than by that means to destroy us utterly , that no remnant of us should be left . if so be thou wilt come , and valiantly withstand them with thy power , we will also fight against them in th●… town , till they be all slain , and then thou shalt be our lord ; and that done , thou mayest go to jerusalem without any impediment , or hinderance of any man ; for they also of that city desire the same , and would gladly become subjects unto the romans . when as therefore vespasian heard the petitions of the citizens of gerara , he took his journey thither to succour them , and deferred to go to jerusalem . but jehochanan heard of his repair , wherefore he slew the chief governour of gerara , and got him out of the town with his companions , and took them to their feet , determining to flee into a certain wood : vespasian having knowledge thereof , made after them , sending out poligorus , who overtook them , and made a great slaughter of them and in his return toward gerara , upon jordan side , he light upon much people going to jerusalem , that they might escape together with the seditious . them poligorus drove back to the river , where he slew . thousand of them ; the rest leaped into jordan , and were drowned , to the number of . thousand men , women , and children , with much cattell that were all drowned together in the river , insomuch that the channell of jordan was so stuffed , and stopt with dead bodies , that the waters rose and ran over the banks here and there into the fields , and plains : yet at the length the waters increased , and bare the carkases down the river , as far as the sea of sodom , which is the sea of pitch , otherwise called the salt-sea ; and all the banks of jordan lay full of dead bodies . after this , vespasian took his journey from thence , and went into the land of edom , where he won two strong cities , the one called legarith , the other cephar toco , and slew ten thousand of the people thereof , leading the rest away in bondage . thence he dislodged , and came to a town call'd chamath gedi , which he subdued . in this city were wel-springs of hot waters , from whence the hot baths of tiberias have their originall . the natural philosophers and astronomers of that country , held an opinion that these are the heads of all the hot wel-springs in that whole country . departing from thence , he came to samaria and won it . then repaired he again all the towns that he had subdued , and made up their walls , placing garrisons therein , to ayd him , what time he should besiege jerusalem . that done , he returned to cesarea , to take muster of his whole army , and prepared to go to besiege jerusalem . but in the mean season , came messengers from rome , and brought him word that nero the emperour was dead , and how that as he was a hunting in the country , the fire of the lord came down from heaven , and fell upon him , that he died of it . after whom reigned galba , not one whole year : for , afore it was fully ended , he was slain by the noble men of rome ; and vitellius created in his stead , a fool , yet a sore cruel man , much given to drunkenness , so that he was in all points unworthy of the roman empire . the noble men of rome that were with vespasian hearing this , greatly disdained at that matter , and said , was there never a noble man in rome left , to be placed in the empire , but ye must choose a drunken wine-sucker ? why did ye not rather elect the mighty prince vespasian that is here with us , a sage and a wise man , thereto also most valiant , one that conquered many cities , and vanquished many nations , and those most fierce ? what puissant kings hath he subdued under the roman empire ? how far and wide hath he enlarged the empire of the romans ? and now when as the empire ought to have been bestowed upon vespasian , or some one like unto him , and none such could be found amongst you , ye bestow it upon a fool , and a blowbole drunkard , wherein ye have done very undiscreetly . well , the empire of rome shall have a better emperour one day , and god say amen . whereupon the princes that were there , laid their heads together , and decreed to make vespasian emperour . therefore with one consent they went unto vespasian , and said unto him , thou shalt be our head , for the empire belongeth to such a one , and thou shalt have dominion over us . but vespasian refused to take it on him , and would in no wise consent to them . notwithstanding they compelled him , and placed him upon the throne of majesty , setting an imperiall crown upon his head , which he would have put away , and pulled off with his hand because he would not be emperour . wherefore the roman captains drew out their swords and said , thou shalt be emperour and reign over us , therefore refuse it not : if thou do , thou shalt dy upon our swords . vespasian therefore seeing himself constrained , being afraid of his life , he was content to suffer himself to be proclaimed emperour . then all the army was sworn unto him , and he sate upon the royall seat , as emperour and king of kings . the civil wars at jerusalem encreased more and more , and much blood was shed through the wickedness of jehochanan , captain of the theeves , a limb of the divel , and through the cut-throat murtherers that were with him , who had all even sworn the utter destruction of the city of the lord , and the deaths of the people . there was also another cut-throat ruffian , of a noble house of judea and jerusalem about the same time , called schimeon , who began also to follow jehochanans manners in slaying innocents , and robbing and raving in jerusalem . for anani the high priest had once appointed him prince and chief captain of jerusalem : and afterwards finding him an enemy , banished him the city . where●…ore schimeon went and ga●… him a rout of unthrifts , murtherers , and theeves , casting in his mind , and saying , except i joyn my self with such good fellows , i shall never be able to be revenged of anani and his assistants , that have thus banished me out of ierusalem into exile wrongfully , unto my great dishonour . shall i that have been in such estate , now be cast out of my dignity , and be constrained to wander here and there as a banished man ? he went therefore through all the cities of iudea and galilee , causing to be proclaimed in the streets and market places , and sent his letters where he could not come himself , in this manner and form : whosoever listeth to be rid from the bondage of his master , or hath had any injury in his country , or what servant soever desireth to be set at liberty , or who so cannot abide the rule of his father or master ; all that be in debt , and stand in fear of their creditors , or fear the iews for shedding any innocent blood , and therefore lurketh solitarily in woods or mountains , if there be any man that is accused of any notorious crime , and in any danger therefore ; to be short , whosoever is disposed to rob and to do injury and wrong , to haunt whores , to steal , to murther , to eat and drink at other mens cost , without labour of his hands , let him resort to me , i will deliver him from the yoak and danger of the laws , and will find him his fill of booties and spoils . there assembled unto him about twenty thousand men , all murtherers , theeves , rebels , lawless persons , wicked and seditious men . then began schimeon also to vex the israelites , to turn all upside down wheresoever he came . when the citizens of jerusalem , the priests , elders , and anani heard tidings of schimeons despightfull wickedness , how he held on stil oppressing the people of god , they were very pensive , saying : now will this fellow more trouble us than jehochanan , be he never so cruel . they consulted therefore and agreed , secretly to send a power against him , that might suddenly fall upon him , and overthrow him . peradventure ( say they ) they may slay him , or take him alive , before this wickedness grow to further inconvenience , and joyn himself with our foes ; then shall they assail us both within the town and without . they sent out therefore against him a great army of israelits and jews , with chariots and horse-men , and foot-men in great number , which came where the camp lay , and found him in the corn fields destroying of the grain , pulling down of barns , and burning all both ●…orn and olive trees : then the jerusolemites divided their army , & set upon schimeons tents suddenly , smote them down , and made a great slaughter upon the seditious . but shortly after , schimeon gat the upper hand of the people of god , for he came upon them in the night season , and made a sore slaughter amongst them ; then they that remained , took themselves to flight towards jerusalem , and schimeon pursued them , killing them unto the hard gates of jerusalem , so that many of them were slain in the way , and very few escaped . after this , schimeon went and moved war upon the edomites , to subdue them unto himself , which before were under the dominion of the jerusolemites . and first , he came to the city asa , otherwise called gaza , for it was the first city within the borders of edom , as men came from jerusalem . but the edomites met him in the field in great number , and joyned battel ; neither part had the victory , therefore at length they retired both . then was schimeon in so great a rage , when as he could not overcome these edomites , that he wisht him out of his life . so he ceased fighting a while , and encamped himself in the borders of the land of edom , right against it , and there abode , thinking to set upon them at another time . and as he was devising how to order all things , there came unto him an edomite called jacob , one of the chiefest men among them , and a warriour . he hearing of schimeon's proclamation , was moved to come and enter a league with him , and thereupon sa●…d unto him : never let it discomfort thee , that thou couldest not overcome the edomites at the first battel : if thou wilt be ruled by my counsel , thou shalt win all the cities in the whole land , and i will deliver them into thy hands schimeon desired to know how : therefore said he , let us hear thy counsel , and shew us how it may be brought about , and when it is come to passe , then will we honour thee , and regard thee accordingly . jacob said , give me one half of thine army , which i will lead with me into an ambush : then shalt thou in the morning betimes set thy men in aray against the edomites for a stale ; and when thou shalt perceive them to come against thee , then make as though thou fleddest , until thou hast staled them out of the town into the fields to pursue thee . then will i with my men come out of our ambush , and make speed to the gates , where we shall kill the warders , and suddenly enter the town ; and killing all that we find there , set up a flag upon the tower of the town . then when the edomites shall see that , their hearts will be dead for sorrow ; and so mayest thou turn again upon them , and beat them down at thy pleasure : or if thou like not this device , hear yet another way . i have been a captain against them a long while , therefore i will return in the night season into the town ; if the watch examine me from whence i come , i will tell them i come from schimeons camp , whither i went as a spy ; then will i go to the elders of the town , and desire them to let me have a company of the best fouldiers , and i will bring schimeon into their hands , if he set upon us again . for i have viewed the camp , and his power , and understand that he intends to morrow to fall on us , which thou shalt do indeed . and when thou seest me to issue out against thee , thou shalt set thy spear in the rest , and come towards me ; then will i take me to flight , and cast a fear in the edomites hearts , that they shall flee also ; which done , thou mayest pursue and slay them , at thy pleasure overcome them , and enter the town ; then that town great asa once taken , thou shalt quickly win all the rest . when schimeon heard this , he went and deliberated with his own councel , and they liked the last advice best , wherefore that they concluded upon . so jacob the edomite returned by night to asa , and declared to the ancients of the town , how he had been in schimeons camp , and had viewed his army , whereby he had perceived good hope , that he should deliver schimeon into their hands shortly . the elders therefore made him grand captain , and chief of all their men of war , charging every man in this wise : forasmuch as none of you are so expert in the knowledge of warfare as is jacob , therefore it behoveth you to follow him in all things . if he set forward , set ye forward ; whereas he pitcheth his tent , pitch ye also ; if he stay , stay ye ; if he fleeth , fleeye ; to be short , when he returneth , then return ye , and go not one hair breadth from that that he shall command you , neither one way nor other . upon the next morrow schimeon issued out of his camp , with all his army , and upon that , assembled jacob his men , and went out to meet him ; but when they came to the point ready to joyn , and schimeon with his company had charged their staves against them ; by and by jacob left the field , turned his back and fled , and the chief souldiers that were about him , fled with him . the rest of the people seeing their captain flee , they took themselves likewise to flight every man : then schimeon pursuing , made a great slaughter of them , and won the town , bringing them under his subjection . and when he had sacked the houses of them that were slain of the edomites , and spoiled their goods , which was very much ; the rest that he took prisoners and kept alive , he made peace withal , and joyned them unto his own camp. after that , he departed from thence , accompanied with . good fighting men , part edomites , and part jews , and came to chebron , which he won , and destroyed all their grain , and corn fields : yet after , he repaired their walls ; and such of them as were left alive , made peace with schimeon , who received them into league with him , and they became his men , and followed him in all his wars . so he disloged from thence with all his army , which by the accession of the chebronites was now wonderfully encreased , and determined to invade jerusalem . and when he came nigh unto the city , he ranged here and there , destroying the fruits that were upon the ground , and also their corn . captain jehochanan having intelligence of schimeons coming to besiege the town , and how he had destroyed the fields , thought to have gone out of jerusalem , and to fight with him , but he durst not ; for his spies had told him that he should not be able to overcome him , he had so puissant an army , and so well appointed . yet neverthelesse he issued out , and lay in ambush for schimeon . in the mean space , by chance schimeons wife ( that was fled out of jerusalem , with her men and women servants towards her husband , for fear lest she should be slain for her husbands sake , if she should have tarried at jerusalem ) passed by where he lay in his ambush : her he took , and brought again to jerusalem , not a little proud of such a prey , thinking , now we shall have schimeon at our pleasure , seeing we have his wife our prisoner : he loveth her so entirely , that he will do for her sake whatsoever we will have him . this came to schimeons ear , who had taken that time many of jehochanan's men , and cut off their right hands , sending them with such shame to jerusalem to their master . he sent moreover embassadours to jehochanan , willing him to send him his wife , in such sort , that she might come to him with all that was hers : or if he refused to do it , he should be extremely handled ; for he would take the town ere it were long , and , to jechanan's shame , cut off the hands and legs of all them that did inhabite it . jehochanan hearing this , was sore afraid , and all that were with him , and therefore they sent him his wife ; whereupon schimeon kept him within the town . and as schimeon played the tyrant without , so likewise did jehochanan within . for jehochanan's souldiers ravished the israelites wives , and shed innocent blood . shortly after , schimeon left the town for a space , and returned into idumea ; for he had word that the men of most power , and the richest sort of that country rebelled . whereupon he sacked and spoiled all the towns of idumea , and left them nothing : insomuch that he was become very rich , and then returned to jerusalem , bringing the edomites wholly with him , that were meet for war : and many of the jews resorted to him , and with his power he besieged jerusalem , even at the very gates . yet the tyranny of jehochanan and his complices ceased not , but increased more and more daily in jerusalem , insomuch that they taught the citizens of jerusalem to murder their neighbours , and to commit adultery with their wives : by which means fornication was rife and common in the city . yea , many of the people and youth shaved their beards , letting the hair of their heads grow , and accompanied themselves with women , that they might exercise their adultery safer , and not be espied ; which sin did wonderfully defile the city of jerusalem , and without doubt furthered the desolation thereof . the gates also of the town were closed up , that no man might go in nor out . and whoso went out , fell into the hands of schimeon , and was slain : they that tarried within , were constrained to see before their faces , their shame in every street and corner ; and if any found fault , he was slain straight by jehochanan , that most cruel captain of the seditious rebells . the citizens therefore seeing the tyranny of jehochanan , to be without measure , they assembled all together , and encountred with jehochanan , and were slain a wonderful sort of them in that conflict . and except the edomites that were fled to jerusalem from the tyranny of schimeon , had succoured the citizens , the whole people of jerusalem had been utterly destroyed , and slain every mothers son by jehochanan ; his power was so great . then anani the high priest , and the other priests , with the ancient , faithful , and sages , and the rest of the people of jerusalem ; seeing the wickednesse of jehochanan , and that they could not suffer it any longer , consulted together to deliver the town to schimeon , and bring him in , and make him their king , to help them against jehochanan , whom they took to be far worse than schimeon , hoping that it might come to passe , that schimeon should slay jehochanan at length . they sent therefore amittai the high priest to schimeon , to bring him into the town ; but schimeon craftily denied it , saying ; what should i come into the town to you that hate me , and of late banished me your town ? yet they ceased not , but sent the same amittai to him again , to entreat him in the name of all the people , to come into the city . and by this means , upon a certain night appointed , he entred into jerusalem with his whole army : notwithstanding , he was no sooner within the town , but he brake his promise and league that he had made with the citizens ; and whereas he had promised to succour them , and aid them , now he was altered , and became their enemy , joyning himself with jehochanan : and those two rebells reigned in the city of jerusalem by course , one one moneth , and another another . so , where before schimeons coming , they thought much to bear the yoke and oppression of one seditious person , now were they constrained to hold down their shoulders , and bear the yoke of two . yet within two dayes after , there fell a variance and discord between jehochanan , and schimeon , about eleazar the priest , the son of anani the high priest. this eleazar was the beginner , and first sower of sedition amongst the israelites , whom schimeon would now have put to death , to be revenged of his father that banished him out of jerusalem ; but jehochanan took eleazars part , and defended him ; for eleazar was alwayes jehochanan's friend , and aided him . his father was high priest , and bare a great rule in jerusalem , wherefore eleazar was of a great estimation and authority with the elders , so that they durst not apprehend him ; and his father also looked negligently unto him , and let him do what he list , because he had no more sons but him . so he was the first that assembled naughty persons together , and held ever on jehochanans side , from his first coming to jerusalem . and for his sake , fell division and dissention between jehochanan , and schimeon , so that they became enemies , and warred the one upon the other ever after , as we shall declare hereafter . chap. i. in this while , vespasian had sent antony , and mankiminus , ( two noble men , and of his council ) to rome against vitellius , that they might make him out of the way , and then would he come to rome to receive the imperial crown there . these two captains went therefore and raised an army , by whose aid they set upon vitellius , and ●…w him not without much ado ; for there were slain that day at rome , . thousand good men of war. when vespasian had word that he was dispatched , he made speed to rome to his coronation , dividing first his army into two parts ; whereof he took the one with him to rome , as a safegard for himself whatsoever should happen , and the other he left with titus his son , to besiege jerusalem withall . so departing , he left his son titus at alexandria , commanding him to remain there , till such time as he should signifie unto him otherwise by his letters , and shew him what he should do ; and that in no wise he should attempt the siege of jerusalem in the mean space . titus answered , i shall do ( dear father ) according unto your commandment , for to you it belongeth to command , and unto me to obey . vespasian took with him king agrippa , and munabas his son , he fearing lest they would rebell , and me joseph priest and prisoner also fast bound in chains ; for so had his council moved him , saying : we cannot say the contrary , but that we have found no sign of rebellion in joseph hitherto , neither think we that he hath gone about any ; but , who can tell when we are gone hence , whether he will not flee to jerusalem , and help ●…o set them at unity and concord ; then they make him their king , and after he be the sorer enemy unto us ? besides this , you shall have need of him in this journey , he being a man of such great prudence , and wisdom , that whosoever followeth his co●…sel , shall bring his matters to good and fortunate successe . vespasian liked well their advice , and took him prisoner with him , together with king agrippa and his son ; albeit they had no irons upon them , neither on hand , or foot , but only had their keepers appointed them , that they should not step aside . and as vespasian drew nigh rome , all the citizens came forth to meet him , and received him with great joy , and mighty shews . then he commanded that i should be put in prison , but agrippa and his son he let go at liberty . the next day assembled all the senate of rome , to create vespasian emperour , after the manner of the romans , with whom was agrippa and his son . i also intreated the jaylor to let me have keepers with me , and so to bring me to the place where he should be crowned caesar : which the jaylor granted me , and went with me himself to the place , and brought me where i might see all that was done . within few dayes after , vespasian took displeasure with agrippa , upon the information of certain evil disposed persons , that had slandered him , and perswaded vespasian that he went about to rebell , and how he had sent letters unto jerusalem , concerning the same matter ; wherefore vespasian put both him , and his son munabas , to death . this befel three years and a half before the destruction of jerusalem . moreover , before this deed , the continual sacrifice ceased , for a thousand , two hundred , and ninety dayes , as it is written in dan. chap. . and from the time that the continual sacrifice shall be taken away , and abomination shall be put into desolation , a thousand two hundred and ninety dayes . the same year and moneth that agrippa was put to death , god moved the minde of vespasian to remember me with his mercy : wherefore he commanded that i should be fetched out of prison , and brought to his presence . and as i stood in irons before him , caesar bad me welcome , and spake comfortably unto me , saying , thou knowest very well that i have loved thee from the day i first saw thee , and though i have kept thee continually in durance , do not think i did it of any ill will or malice toward thee ; but rather thou mayest perswade thy self , i did it lest the roman princes should disdain at thee , and say : see , here is a fellow , that in our wars hath endamaged us so greatly , yet now goeth he check-mate with us , in as great favour as we : let us kill him , and put him out of the way . but , my friend joseph , be of good chear , i will deliver thee from these iron-bands , and thou shalt be with me in no worse case than one of my chief princes . i will send thee into jewry to my son titus , to whom thou shalt be as a father and a counsellour . thou knowest , titus was he that took pity on thee , and would not suffer thee to be put to death ; yea he hath sundry times moved me to release thee of thy bonds , and to honour thee , which i have deferred to do , only for this cause that i shewed thee . i made him answer , but how can i be quiet , or in surety of my life as long as i am in thy company and thy sons , seeing agrippa and his son , were suddenly put to death by you ? caesar answered , hold thy peace joseph , i never looked for any goodnesse of agrippa and his son . thou knowest not what they had wrought against my majesty , and how they went about to rebel ; thou hast born their bones with thy hands . doest thou not know i honoured him and his son in jewry , how i would not suffer any of my army to annoy any of his cities ? i answered , yes , i know it was so , as your majesty saith . then said he ; but for all this hath agrippa requited me again with evil . for what time as the nobles of rome in jewry went about to make me empeperour , thinking me somewhat more meet to rule the empire than vitellius , agrippa perswaded them that they should not make me emperour , affirming that there was nothing in me worthy wherefore they should promote me to that dignity . and after when he came to rome , he went from one bishop to another , and caused them to go to the bishops , to accuse me of such crimes as in my conscience i knew nothing at all of . by this i perceived that agrippa's heart was full of rancour and rebellion , and therefore i judged him to death . for where as wickednesse is , there it is meet that condign punishment should not be lacking . and i put his son to death likewise ; for the son of a traitour ought not to live upon the earth , because that in his heart remaineth the work of his father , being conceived and born of a rebellious seed : but i have found thee alwayes faithful and true , and therefore i commend my son to thy wisdom . with this , he commanded my irons to be taken away from me , and being released and at liberty , he set me honourably among the princes and senatours . then said i unto him , is not this a great dishonour unto me , that i should be delivered from my bonds , and neverthelesse my countrymen that be with me to be kept in prison still ? now therefore , if i have found favour in thy sight , and if thou wilt do any thing at my request , loose the bonds likewise of all the rest of the israelites that be with me : set them at liberty also , and thou shalt be assured that i will be thy faithful counsellor while my life lasteth , and an enemy to thy foes , to make war upon them that assail thee . vespasian granted joseph his request , and willed them to be set at liberty , as many as were prisoners with joseph . shortly after sent he joseph to his son titus , that abode at that present at alexandria in egypt , to whom he writ concerning joseph in this manner . i send unto thee here ( my beloved son ) joseph , a prince of the jews , a man of experience , trained in war , in whom is great wisdom ; he shall be thy father , and faithful counsellour , thou shalt not do against his counsel , neither one way nor other , for he is a wise man. wherefore thou shalt reverence and honour him according as he is worthy ; for the lord god is with him , and believe not rashly any man that defames joseph unto thee . yea , rather put him to death straightway , that will accuse him : for joseph is a faithful man , and a good counsellour ; and who is so ruled by his counsel , shall have a prosperous successe in that he goeth about . therefore when joseph shall come unto thee , after he hath refreshed himself a few dayes of his labours and travels at the sea ; then shalt thou prepare thine expedition against jerusalem , to besiege it . and if the jews receive thee peaceably , and will submit themselves under the roman empire , then beware thou endamage them in nothing , but rather repair their cities , and let them be free from all tribute for the space of two years ; yet on this condition , that thrice every year they set a flag with the arms of the romans upon their walls ; that is to say , at their three solemn feasts , whenas all the israelites were wont to resort unto jerusalem , and to appear before the lord their god. moreover they shall offer for us every feast a sacrifice , upon the most holy altar that is in jerusalem . and if they refuse to make peace with thee , thou shalt utterly rase their towns ; and whosoever are left alive , and escape the sword , those shalt thou lead away captive . if they desire to have joseph to be their king , we are coutent therewith . in any wise remember to be ruled by josephs counsel ; he shall be thy father , and thou his son . after this , joseph departed from rome , and came to alexandria to titus , who hearing of josephs arrival , was wondrous glad , and all the antient wise men , with him ; for joseph was full of the spirit of wisdom , understanding , counsel , valiantnesse , knowledge , and fear of god. wherefore we went forth to meet him , accompanied with the captains of the romans army , and received him with great honour . then joseph delivered to titus his fathers letters : which titus having read , said unto joseph , whatsoever my father hath written in these letters , i would have done no lesse by mine own accord : but sith my father hath admonished me of the same , i ought to do it the more . wherefore remain here with me , and i will be thy son , and thou shalt be my father , to rule and govern me with thy counsel . so joseph abode with titus at alexandria a whole moneth after he came from rome . then consulted they together to go to jerusalem and besiege it ; for joseph understood well enough , that this came of the lord , and that his word could not be letted , or hindered . titus therefore and joseph with him , departed from a●…exandria with all their army , and pitched their tents at nicopolis ; from thence they came by water to thanisa , so forth to iraclea , and leaving that , came to pelisis ; from thence they travelled through the desart to baale javin , after that to dicron , so to gaza , next to askalon , then to jabuam , after to japho , and so to cesarea . in these journies he won asam , askalon , and japho , with all their towns , and castles lying about them . the first year of the reign of vespasian , the . month , and the . day of the same , came titus with ioseph and his army to cesarea , a famous city built by king herod . in this city he sojourned untill his whole host were come together , as well of romans , as of other nations that were under the dominion of the romans , and came to ayd them in the siege of ierusalem . therefore titus army was wonderfully huge and puissant , wherewith he abode at cesarea , till the cold of winter was past , and the month of iuly drew nigh : the same years the civill wars grew and increased in ierusalem ; for the citizens slew one another without any truce , rest , or quiet●…ess no not in winter , when as wars were wont to cease ; but summer and winter both , the wars never stinted between schimeon , iehochanan , and eleazar . for the lord that year had sent amongst them of ierusalem , a vertigin●…us spirit of giddiness , that the people were divided into three parts : whereof the first and best followed anani the priest , who at that time had stained , unhallowed , and suspended his office of priest-hood . another part followed seditious iehochanan ; the third was for schimeon . so that in the midst of ierusalem was civill wars , and without the same , the roman army made roads from cesarea , even to ierusalem , by the means whereof no man durst go forth , lest he should fall into the enemies hands , nor enter into the town to bring any necessaries thither . anani being a perfect godly man , and seeing the common-wealth of jerusalem governed by the pleasure of the seditious , gave over his third part that stuck to him , to eleazar his son , which was the first author of sedition , and he that gave the first occasion , and the cause of all the mischief that befell in jerusalem , and in the whole land of judea . for he began a conspiracy against the roman garrisons , and provoked israel to rebel against the romans , and to lay hands upon them . wherefore there assembled unto the seditious eleazar , jehudah , chezron , schimeon , and chiskihu , young men of the nobles of jerusalem . eleazar with his company took the temple , and the courts about it , appointing of his men , some to be spies , and some to keep watch and ward about the temple of the lord. but jehochanan , who because of the great resort of the people unto him , was stronger than eleazar , he took the market place and streets , and the lower part of the city . then schimeon the jerusolemite , took the highest part of the town : wherefore his men annoyed jehochanans part sore with slings and cross-bows . between these three there was also most cru . el battel 's in jerusalem for the space of four daies , without ceasing or any breathing , and every day were very many slain , so that the blood of the jews that were then slain , ran in every place most abundantly , through the market-places and streets , yea even to the temple of the lord , like unto a flood that had come of great showres ; and unto the thresholds of the gates of the temple , the dead bodies overwhelmed one another by heaps , for no man buried them . jehochanan having the middle part of the town , had schimeon on the one side of him , and eleazar on the other . but schimeon had the best place ; from whence he might annoy both jehochanan and eleazar . eleazar did also what he could to endamage schimeon . and jehochanan that was in the middest , encombered them both , notwithstanding to little purpose . for schimeons company flung stones , and shot at them sore : but when as jehochanans part flung likewise at them , the stones rebounded back upon themselves . thus amongst these three the battel was sore , and encreased every day , that all men were in great terrour and fear thereof . then assembled to the temple much people of the priests and elders , beseeching these intestine and domesticall enemies , not to pollute and defile the temple with their slaughters , and were almost all slain for their labour . the same day was slain the priest anani , & joshua a priest , both of the chiefest priests . sechariahu also the most faithfull prophet of the lord. then had the continuall sacrifice ceased . daies : for ever until that time , was there some good men or other of jerusalem , that offered alway sacrifice to the lord. but now when they would have continued it , and the priests laid the sacrifice upon the altar , the seditious would run upon them and kill them , so that the priests bodies and their cattel that they would have sacrificed , should fall dead to the ground together . they that resorted also out of the country of ierusalem for devotions sake , the seditious slew , and utterly destroyed them , that almost no one of them was left alive . moreover , the dead bodies of men lay cast in the temple , and that without number troad under feet : yea , the dead body of the priest that was offering sacrifice , lay upon the earth together with his offering . and when any man would offer any sacrifice , straight way one or other of the seditious would step to him and kill him , that the blood of the sac●…ifice and sacrificer , should be mingled together ; in somuch that the pavement of the temple being all of marble , was made so slippery with the blood and fat of them that were slain , that no man could go upon it without falling . and the priest should no sooner lay hands on the sacrifice , but he was slain , and straight another dead body should fall upon him stranger or other , they spared none : so thus the dead bodies of the good and bad , clean and unclean , wicked and vertuous , theef and true man , lay one upon another , and their blood mixt together in the midst of the temple , without respect of any man , of what degree or condition soever he were : wherefore the fight and slaughter waxt great , both in the town , and in the temple . nay , whomsoever the seditious overcame , they set fire on their houses also ; whereby the fire took into the great men's houses that were nigh the temple , and into the store-houses , whereas against times of necessity , and besieging of the town , were laid up in store , corn , wine , and oyl , to the number of a thousand and four hundred store-houses , all filled full of victuals . for the elders and other godly men , what time as vespasian was in galilee , they made up the doors of those garner-houses , and laid in victuals into them , sufficient for two hundred thousand men twenty years , and now in this one battel of the seditious they were burnt every one , stick and stone , which was a speedy cause of famine , and hurger in ierusalem . at the same time also , the seditious pulled down and razed all the fair houses , and goodly buildings , that there should be no monument of any noble house , left to any in the city of ierusalem . so thus you see at that time the lord visited the citizens of ierusalem with four kind of plagues , sword , pestilence , hunger , and fire : besides this , a fift was added , the ruine and decay of all beautifull and glorious buildings . and wheresoever a man turned him , there was nothing but desolation , pollution , ( namely of the temple and all holy things ) uproars , without all rest and refuge ; no help , no succour , but every corner of ierusalem was full of howling , and yelling , wailing and weeping , sobbing and sighing of women , and children . here should ye hear the roaring & groaning of wounded men , not yet thorough-dead ; there the mourning and lamentation of the elders , younger children crying out for hunger ; to be short , most sorrowfull oppression of them that lived , done by the seditious : such lamentations were made every where , that happy and fortunate was he that before this day died , and unhappy and in a wofull case were all such as remained alive to see this day . all these things when i joseph heard tydings of , i tore my hair with my hands , and cast ashes on my beard , sitting in great sorrow on the ground , bewailing the misery and calamity of jerusalem . and this lamentation made joseph upon jerusalem : how is the city ( quoth he ) laid wast , that was wont to be more happy and more renowned than all the provinces upon the earth ? how is the city that was heretofore in such highness and dignity , now brought under the foot , through the sons of the citizens thereof ? whereas sometime was the dwelling place of the faithfull , now bear rule there such men as provoke and stir gods wrath against it , and turn it away from their god , wasting it as theeves . in the which sometime remained the brightness of the godhead , it is now become a by-word , and mocking-stock to the enemies , replenished with blood of wounded and slain men . instead of mirth , gladness , rejoycing , harps and psalteries ; is sorrow , sighing , heart-breaks , mourning , and pensiveness come in place . even as heretofore the priests executed the service of the lord in offering sacrifices ; so likewise now , seditious persons murthered godly and faithfull men : where was wont to be the dwelling place of most wise and prudent men , now it is made a common hostry of wicked murtherers & theeves . o lord god of israel , have not angels in time past come down from heaven to earth to fight thy battels ? have not the floods of the seas persecuted them , that persecuted thee ? hath not the earth swallowed up them that despised thee , and the winds scattered them a - sunder that made insurrections against thee ? hath not thunder from heaven destroyed thine enemies , and stars fought against thy foes ? what means this therefore ? and how cometh it to pass , that thou hidest thy face from us ? to whom hast thou delivered the sheep of thy pasture ? look upon us our god , and behold thy people and inheritance , that thou broughtest out of egypt with a mighty power , and a strong hand , with wonders and signs , leading them untill this day in thy faith ; take pitty upon them in thy mercy , and extend not thy wrath against thy servants . where art thou moses the son of amram ? stand up and see thy people and flock of sheep , which thou feedest all thy life with thy wisdom ; see how wolves and lions tear them ; see how the israelites are become foes to their own lives and souls ; yea wasters and destroyers are sprung up of their own selves . behold the people of god , for whose sake thou lifted'st up thy staff over the sea , wherewith thou struckest and dividest it , that it was made dry ground , so the israelites passed through , and escaped their enemies . remember thy prayer , when as in time of famine , and lack of food , thou obtaindft for them meat from heaven ; and at the same time when they were weary of their lives for thirst , thou broughtest water out of the most hard rock . come forth aaron most holy priest of god , that didst put thy self between the living and the dead , to turn away the plague from israel , and staydest the destroyer that he should not come ●…igh the living . arise out of thy grave thou phineas , that moved with such fervency , didst revenge the glory and majesty of the lord god of israel ; come and run through the seditious in thy fury , which murther the people of god and his priests . awake thou ioshua , that didst throw down the walls of jericho , with the sound and shout of thy trumpets that the holy priests held in their hands . come now and see thy people that thou madest to inherit many nations , and to conquer most puissant kings , how they kill one another , how they further and help forward the idolater to rule and have the dominion of the holy land , that thou gavest thy people israel to inherit . why sleepest thou , king david ? awake , and come with the sound of thy psaltery and harp , sing to thy holy psalms too . ask account of thy sweet words that are ceased from the mouthes of this people , and out of all mens mouthes , because of the maliciousness thereof . see how their princes be transformed into enemies and destroyers : and do as thou diddest ( good king david ) that didst give thine own life for theirs , saying , let thy hand , o lord , be turned against me , and against the house of my father , and do not fall upon thy people to destroy them . where art thou elizeus ? come and see what thou canst do , if thou canst rescue the remnant of israel , and find them any gap to escape at . didst not thou by thy prayer bring the power of the syrians to a town of defence , and prevailedst against them without dint of sword or battel , and broughtest them down , smiting them with blindness , that they turned their enmity towards israel into love ? indeed , thou wast he●…that vanquishedst the syrians by thy prayer , that they fled for fear of the same . now therefore ye heard-men of israel , assemble together , and listen with 〈◊〉 , and hear my words that i will speak in your ears this day . tell me , what is become of your prayers that ye have made for the people of israel , to defed and turn away from them a i wrath , indignation , tribulation , fury , and inmissions of evill spirits ? how is it that now ye see not the sanctuary turned into a vile sink of blood ? for the dead bodies of priests lye in midst of it . the holy city jerusalem is become a strange city , as though the name of the lord had never been in it : and the sanctuary of the lord is in that case at this present , as though the godhead had never dwelt therein : for the temple is turned into a den of theeves , a lodging of seditious persons , a tabernacle of cruel murtherers . and who so flieth thither for refuge , there they be slain : as the seditious have murthered in the midst thereof anani the high priest , and joshua a priest also , that were princes and chief priests , the most reverend amongst the people of god ; whom ere this , kings and nations had sued to , and desired their favour , but never cast their slain bodies in the midst of the temple . the nobility also of jerusalem , the elders of juda , the sages of israel , whose friendship kings and nations have sought after , and desired to make peace with : they lye now slain here and there in the midst of jerusalem , are meat for the fouls of the ayre , and beasts of the field , to dogs and ravens , because there is no man to bury them . these died not for their offences , but because they found fault with the israelites when they sinned . how are they slain in thee ( o jerusalem thou holy city , renowned throughout the whole earth ) all just men , all holy men ? whom the seditious have overcome , those helhounds , and blood-suckers , that have brought all these evils upon thee ? how are the priests of the lord , and his prophets slain , amongst those holy men ? for , before the holy temple , was the prophet sechariahu that just and holy man , butchered and murthered , yea , without all buriall , neither was his blood covered with earth , but yet still wandreth about and cryeth in thee . the blood of anani also and joshua the chief priests , was yet never covered , which were both slain in thy temple , as men be wont to kill theeves : yea , the blood of the godly young men , and valiant , that would have revenged them , was shed also by the seditious , like floods of water . how are the hearts of the people turned so aukwardly , that they will bear no admonition of just men ? but are like unto blockish images , that neither see , nor hear , nor yet understand any thing . all beasts be they never so brutish , all plants , and things that grow upon the earth , withstand them that invade them to do them injury , and endeavour to avoid the force of their enemy : but thy children that thou keepest within thee , are changed into enemies , and one brother murthereth ●…nother with the sword . where is now thy valiantness , thou that never wouldst bow to bear the yoak of the gentiles upon thy shoulders , but hast cast away the bondage of the egyptians , philistines , aramites , assyrians , chaldees , persians , and medes ? where is the strength that god gave to the chasmonanites , that with a very small company defended thee , and prevailed against the great and puissant army of the greeks , destroyed the stout souldiers of babylon , vanquished the mighty army of the persians , slue kamitiatus and antiochus , and pursued their armies , making great slaughters of them , filling all places full of dead carcases of the gentiles ? they would not be ruled by sinners , but ventured themselves to die , offering their lives , not for their sous and daughters , but for the sanctuary of the lord and his temple , left it should be polluted with the idols of the gentiles . where remaineth now the rod of god , that holy rod that budded and blossomed in the daies of gladness ? now is both the spring withered , and the rod it self also . the rod of faith is withered , the rod of the kingdom , the rod also of thy people , whence the holy law is taken away ; neither is there any man that can tell where to draw any waters of thy heavenly mercy . alas , the mercifull men that have been in times past to their brethren , both alive and dead ; how are they now turned into most cruel tyrants , and have mercy of no man ? where is the multitude of their mercies , wherewith they were wont honorably to bury their dead ? now the corses of their dead bodies cover the face of the whole earth , and there is no body will vouchsafe to bury them : yea , they that would cannot be suffered , but straightwaies come others to them that kill them before they can do it , so that they also die and lie unburied , and are strewed about here and there in the fields . such is the guise in thee now adaies , neither the father to bury the son , nor the son the father ; the seditious watch so diligently those that be dead , lest any man should bury them , which if they do , they are also slain by them , and lie unburied themselves . the temple of the lord that is in thee , which was wont to smel sweetly of spices , anointings , and perfumes , how is it now choked with carriondung , and most pestilent stinch of dead bodies , and blood of the wounded ? thy streets are strowed full of dead men , some run-through with glaves and javelins , and other dead for hunger : yea , they that remain yet alive in the city are as good as dead also , and may be take●… for no less : for they are weary of their lives , because of the pestilent damp of the dead bodies , the outragiousness whereof , hath cast many into most dangerous diseases , and hath been the death of numbers already . this may worthily seem to be it , that david the anointed of the god of jacob , the pleasant and sweet musical poet of israel , speaketh o●… ; lord , the gentiles are come into thine inheritance , they have polluted the temple of thy holiness . and would to god it had been the gentiles only that had exalted themselves against thee , and polluted thus the holy temple that is in thee : for in the maliciousness of an enemy , a man findeth the half of his comfort ; but in the malice of a friend there is no comfort at all . yea , the very children that thou hast bred , brought up and promoted , the self same have stuffed the temple of the lord that is in thee , with unburied carcases , every man killing his neighbour , and the seditious suffering no man to bury them , but slaying all that attempt to bestow any such work of mercy upon the dead , in such sort , that they fall dead upon the corpses which they would have buried ; and by that means both the corpses lye cast out into the field , no better than the carcases of brute beasts that be found in desart places . yea , the iniquity and cruelty of thy citizens ( o jerusalem ) is grown so far , that they were not content only to kill their neighbours , but they must also hew their miserable limbs in pieces , for else they thought they were not sufficiently revenged ; although that in so doing many times the stinch of the dead , took worthy vengeance again of the living , by casting them into incurable diseases . all these evills are come upon thy people , because they have forsaken the law of the lord , and have transgressed the covenant that he made with their brethren ; because also they have sinned against the lord god of their fathers , in shedding the blood of just men , and innocents that were within thee , even in the temple of the lord. and therefore are our sorrowfull sighings multiplied , and our weepings daily increased , for that we have been the cause of all these evils that are befallen us , and are not yet ended . o lord our god , our sins are gone over our heads , and the wicked acts that we have committed in thy sight are innumerable . the lord our god is righteous , it is we that have rebelled against his will ; we have prophaned and unhallowed his law , we have broken his covenant , and ever the more that his wrath kindled against us , the more have we transgressed against him . wherefore to him belongeth justice and judgment , he hath worthily powred the fury of his displeasure on us ; to us only belongeth shame , as we have abundantly at this day : but he will once turn again and have mercy upon us , vanquish all our fins , and cast them all into the deep bottome of the sea , so be it . after these things , the third day of the first month , in the first year of the reign of vespasian , titus his son took muster of his men in the plain of cesarea , to know the certain number of them , which he had not done afore , since his fathers departure ; and he found them very many , insomuch that they seemed almost to cover the earth . this done , he took his journey from cesarea with his people , and came to samaria , where the citizens received him with great joy , and much honored him , wherefore he spared them , and did them no harm . from thence he came to ajelona , thirty furlongs from jerusalem , there he pitched his tents , and leaving them there , took six hundred horsemen with him , and came to jerusalem to view the town , to know of what height the walls were of , what strength there was in the town , especially of the seditious , of whom every where great rumour was ; finally to receive peaceably all such as were desirous of peace . so when he came to the wa●…l he saw no man , neither to go out nor in ; for the gates were shut up , and the seditious had laid an ambush without the town to trap titus , who went somewhat before accompanied with a few , the rest following a pretty way behind . whiles therefore he was in viewing the walls , the seditious issued out of their ambush that they had laid nigh unto ajelona , and set upon the back of titus men behind . then issued another party out of the town , so that they had titus between them , and running upon him , seperated him from his men , and environed him on every side ; where they slew sixty of his men , and might have slain him also , save that they coveted to take him alive . titus seeing himself beset , and forsaken of his own men , that thought it was impossible for him to escape , perceiving also that they went not about to kill him but to take him alive ; moreover , that he could in no wise escape , except he would make an irruption and run through their bands ; he took a good heart unto him , and valiantly brake through , slaying whomsoever came in his way to lay hands on him , and so he escaped . if they had intended to have slain him , they might have done it , but being desirous to take him alive ( as he said ) they abstained from striking him , and so they lost him : and god did not deliver him into their hands , that by him he might scourge israel . but the jews seeing him to be thus escaped , repented sore that they had not killed him ; saying one to another , what meant we that we killed him not while we might ? it was ill done of us . therefore they pursued him , hu●…ling and shooting after him with engins of war , but they could not overtake him , for god preserved him , that he might afterward deliver jerusalem into his hands . so he returned to ajelona , and perceived the hearts of kings to be in the hands of god. the next morning brought titus all his army to jerusalem , determining to encamp himself upon the mount olivet : wherefore he first spake unto his souldiers in this wise . this day ye go to fight against a mighty nation , whose warriours be as strong as lions , valiant as libards , and nimble as fawns that run in the mountains , to overturn chariots , and such as sit upon them . now therefore take good hearts unto you , and be couragious , for it behoves you . do not think them to be like the nations that heretofore ye have had to do withall : i my self have experience otherwise of their valiantnesse and sleights of war. this said , he marched in aray most strongly , that they should not be scattered asunder , and gave them charge , especially to the vangard , to take heed of stumbling upon wells and cisterns , whereby they might be hindred , for as yet the day was scarce broken : and besides this , titus had knowledge how the jews fearing of his coming had digged secret trenches and pitfalls . wherefore to avoid them , he led his host to mount olivet , in which place it never came in their minds to dig . therefore when he came to the mount olivet , he encamped there against jerusalem right over against the brook cedron , that ran between the city and the hill , and many times ran very ●…hallow . titus camp was about six furlongs from the town . the next morning they of the town seeing titus to be encamped on the mount olivet , the captains of the seditious with their companies assembled together , and fell to agreement every man with another , intending to turn their cruelty upon the romans , confirming and ratifying the same attonement and purpose , by swearing one to another , and so there was peace amongst them . wherefore , joyning together , that before were three several parts , they set open the gates , and all the best of them issued out with an horrible noise and shout , that they made the romans afraid withall , in such wise , that they fled before the seditious , which suddenly did set upon them at unawares . but titus seeing his men flee , rebuked them , saying , are ye not ashamed of this timourous cowardliness , when ye are so many , and a hundred for one of them ? whar ignominy is it , so many to be repulsed of so few ? wherewithall titus stayed them , and brought them manfully to withstand the jews , so that very many were slain on both sides . but the romans were not able long to abide the force of the jews , albeit that titus with his choi●…est and most valiant souldiers did manfully keep their ground , and never retreated . titus also laboured and encouraged the rest to sight : but they were so dismayed , that they wist not what to do . for to forsake titus they were ashamed , and to resist the violence of the jews , they were not able . notwithstanding titus and all his company made his party good against the jews , who at length left the field , and withdrew themselves towards the town . then titus being wroth with his souldiers , that they had fled from the jews , said unto them : shall i not be revenged of these jews ? shall so few of them put us to flight , not able to stand in their hands ? and will ye flee or retreat , seeing me abide by it ? the next day titus took all his army , save a few that he left in his camp to keep his baggage , and went down the mount olivet , setting his men in battel aray , even against the gates of the city . then exhorted he them to play the men , and although they were come down the hill , yet they should not fear the jews concerning their camp that they had left behinde them , for the brook cedron ( saith he ) is between our camp and the israelites . with these words they were encouraged , and determined to encounter with the jews under the walls hard to the gates of the city , trusting to the safegard and defence of the brook cedron . the captains of the seditious likewise used policy : for they dividing their men , sent one company to passe suddenly the brook cedron to invade and spoil the roman camp that was left in the mount olivet . these therefore went and fought with the romans upon the mount , and drove them out of their camp. titus looking behind him , and perceiving that the jews had gotten over the brook , and were in hand with his men , he was wonderfully afraid , seeing himself environed with battels on every side . they within the town , when they saw their fellows once at the mount olivet , they opened the gates , issued out with all their power that was left in the town , and encountred with titus , where he had set his men in array over against the gate , where they made a great slaughter of the romans , which ( desirous to avenge the shame gotten the day before ) fled not , but stoutly withstood their force . also the jews took heart to them , fought manfully , and beat down the romans , so that at length they betook them to flight toward mount olivet , and in their flight many of them were slain by the jews that pursued the chase . upon this , divers of titus souldiers ( seeing themselves beset both before and behinde ) counselled titus to flee with them to the mountains to save his life , lest he should be slain by the jews , and they all together with ●…m . for thou ( say they ) art a great lord of many kingdoms , and god shall one day bring thee to the imperial crown of our lord thy father : now therefore if thou shouldest be slain of the jews , we are all but dead ; and what good should thy death do , either to thy self , or to others , to be slain like one of us ? titus would not be ruled by them , nor receive their counsel , but kept his ground boldly , without once turning his face , saying , i will choose rather to die with honour , than to live with shame : and with that he rushed upon the jews that were nigh him , and compelled them to recoyl . when the jews that had environed the roman camp , saw that , they left the romans , and came flocking about titus by routs , assailing him on every side , indeavouring also with all their might to overcharge him ; where in that place was a sore and vehement fight , and much people slain on both sides ; yea , titus escaped narrowly from being slain in that fight , and had died indeed , if certain of his valiant souldiers had not returned unto him , and rescued him out of the jews hands . that day were the chief of titus souldiers slain : then the jews retired to their place at the walls side . they also who went to the mount olivet , returned homeward by the brook cedron : the romans seeing that , pursued them ; whereupon the jews returned again upon the romans , who fled by and by : thus the jews put the romans to flight thrice upo●… one day . it came to passe then , that the external wars paused , and intestine civil wars returned most terribly amongst the seditious at jerusalem . for upon the first day of the high solemn feast of passeover , captain jehochanan and his men came into the temple of the lord , where he was honourably received of the priests and elders , with the rest of the commonalty . and when they were within , they cast off their upper garments , under which they were armed with coats of fence , and swords tyed to their thighs . after that they beset the doors , and laid hold of the priests , slew them and the people also , their hearts were so cruelly bent against their brethren ; neither regarding the reverent countenances of old men , nor inclining to the prayers of them that besought them , without sparing women or children , no not the sucking babes . this done , jehochanan stood up , and openly protested , that neither schimeon nor eleazar , nor any of the rest of the captains of the seditious , nor any man else , should have the soveraignty in that city but he . the other hearing that jehochanan had wrought such displeasure to the people of god in the temple , rose together , and slew very many of jehochanans part ; but in the mean season , what of the one part , and what of the other , the israelites went to wrack , and were slain in great number . tydings came to titus , how the jews were at odds among themselves , and slew one another daily ; whereat he rejoyced greatly , and came with his whole host to the town , where he found certain jews without , that had fled , because of the rage of the civil wars . when they saw titus , they came and besought him to enter the town , and deliver them from the cruelty of the seditious , and they would be his servants , for these wars had made them almost weary of their lives . yet titus gave little credit to their tale , although they used many words to pe●…swade him that it was true . for he remembred that within three dayes afore , he saw the jews fight against him eagerly , all with one accord , so earnestly one rescuing and defending another , that no discord appeared to be amongst them : wherefore he would not trust their words , in that they required succour , and offered to yield . and as they were thusdebating the matter , suddenly they heard an uprore in the town , and wonderful hurly burly ; some crying , open the gates , & let titus come in , other cryed , shut the gates , and let not the romans come in . then certain upon the walls called to the romans , speedily to come unto the town , and they would then open the gates , that they might enter in ; requesting the romans to deliver them from the tyranny of the seditious , lest ( say they ) we should be a●…l slain by the hands of these ravinous , and cruel seditious persons . the romans therefore ran to the gates , and when they approached nigh to the walls , and were come within danger , the jews hurled stones from the walls , and shot arrows at them , slaying very many of the romans . the other jews also that were without the town , and had besought titus to deliver them from the hands of the seditious , began again to assail the romans that were gone to the walls , with much force , that many of them they slew , the residue they put to flight , and the jews followed the chase almost to ajelona . then the jews mockt and flouted the romans , calling them fresh-water souldiers , men of no experience , and innocent fools , that never saw the trains of war before ; clapping also their targets , and shaking their swords against them in mockage . the roman captains seeing these things , they took great disdain at the matter , and in great ire would have turned back upon the jews again , had not titus caused the retreat to be sounded . upon this , titus assembled all his counsellours , capta●…ns , and souldiers together , and said unto them in this wise . i have a sufficient trial , and understand well enough your valiantnesse and courage ( most worthy men and souldiers ) which far passeth the strength and man-hood of all other nations , and not only in this most excellent vertue do ye excell , but also in knowledge and sleights of war , in wisdom and forecast ye have been chief of all other ; now therefore , brethren and friends , i marvel not so greatly at the jews subtilty and craft in their swearing to you , for the perswading of a thing , and after keep not their oath : but this seemeth wonderful u●…to me , that ye suffer your selves still to be deceived of them , and to be slain by their wiles . for all the wit ye have , could not deliver you out of their snares , but now yet again the third time ye have approached the walls , and this is the third time ye have been put to the foyl for your labours . and all this cometh , because ye will not be ruled by me , but transgresse your general and lords commandment . but now , my brethren , take heed what ye do hereafter , it becometh you not to disobey my words , which ye have done often times . do you not remember a certain nobleman of our country , in the wars of augustus caesar against the persians , how he put his own son to death because that contrary to his fathers commandment ( who was grand captain of the army under augustus ) he had fought with his enemies , yea although he killed three persians . but what speak i of once ? ye have oftentimes set light by my commandments , skirmishing daily with the jews , and that without all discre●…on , rashly and out of orde●… : whereby you may gather , your enterprises have no good successe . if you continue these manners , it shall redound unto your own dishonours . wherefore it were better for you to leave off these doings , and lay away your pride , contumacy , and stubbornnesse : which if ye do , things shall be in better safegard . much more spake titus to his men , rebuking them sharply , not mentioned here , but declared at large in the volume that we writ unto the romans . when he had said these words , his princes and captains fell every one prostrate to the earth , and besought pardon of him for their rashnesse , in that they had so unadvisedly , and without order against his mind , encountred with the jews . then titus taking pity of them , pardoned them , requestin●… them to beware hereafter that they commit nothing against his commandment , neither in word nor deed , and so doing , they should have his favour , and avoid his displeasure , and danger of death for the contrary ; but if they refused to do it , he would not spare any man whatsoever he were that should transgress his commandment , but put him to death , and give his body to be eaten of the fowls of the air . they answered with one voice , we are content with these conditions , and will do whatsoever thou shalt command us . after this , titus considering how earnestly the jerusolemites were set one against another , how they were become such cruel enemies , that each of them conspired others death , he caused the pits , cisterns , and trenches that were about jerusalem , to be damn'd up , and stopt with earth , that the wayes might be levelled for his army . this done , he encampt himself nearer the walls . against which attempt the jews issued not out of the city after their accustomed manner , to put them back from the walls . for schimeon was otherwise busied , he had entertained ten thousand men of the best of the seditious jews , and joyned himself to jacob the edomite , captain of nine thousand edomites , with whom he had made a conspiracy , utterly to destroy captain jehochanan . and setting upon him , they compelled him to flee into the court of the temple , where he remained in the gate of the entrance of the temple , with eight thousand and four hundred good men of war , all well appointed in jacks . eleazar also was against him , and joyned with schimeon , becoming an enemy to him that before had saved his life , and so they both together assailed jehochanan , neglecting the defence of the town . by this means the romans encamped themselves about the walls at their pleasure , raising towers , and casting trenches to plant their battering-rams to beat down the walls . the common people of the jews , ●…hat were under the rule and government of the three seditious captains , namely schimeon , eleazar , and jehochanan , ( which although they were ill enough all , yet the tyranny of jehochanan far passed schimeon , and schimeon was far worse than eleazar , though eleazar was the head authour and first beginner of sedition in all israel , ) were amongst them as sheep ready to be killed . for the foresaid seditious captains , ●…lew the people at their pleasure , and divided them into bands , casting lots upon them who should have which ; so that one had anothers men , and another man his . and this did they not only with their own men , but also with all the rest of the people , in such wise , that when the romans made any assault , then joyned they together as one man to resist the romans ; to whom when they had given a repulse , then would they return to their civil wars , and fall together by the ears among themselves . extreme and dreadful was the civil conflict at that season , between the foresaid captains , and so sore , that the blood streamed down the channel out of the gates of jerusalem , like as a brook that runneth out of a fountain and welspring . the romans seeing it , were moved with much pity , so that they wept bitterly . but joseph that was among them was stricken with so great heavinesse , that he burst out into a sorrowful lamentation , lifting up his woeful voice in this wise . alas , alas , jerusalem , the city of the great king , how shall i now call thee at this day ? or what name shall i give thee ? sometimes thou wa●… cal●…ed jebus of jebusaeus , that builded thee first in all this land. after that thy name was zedek , that is , justice ; whereupon king jehoram was called melchizedek , for he was a righteous king , and because he reigned in thee with justice , therefore was thy name zedek : then righteousnesse had abiding in thee , and thy bright star that shined in thee was zedek . moreover in his time wast thou called schalem , as the scripture witnesseth , and melchizedek king of schalem ; and that because the equitie of the people that dwelt in thee was then fulfilled . for at that time abraham our father of worthie memorie , fell to worship god in thee , and to take thee to his inheritance , to plant in thee the root of good works : whereupon the tabernacle of god remaineth in thee to this day , as it was revealed unto the same our father abraham ; in thee ( say i ) is the sanctuarie of the lord. for in that place did abraham bind his onlie son upon the top of one of the hills that is called mount moriah , holie and hallowed ; and therefore art thou called jerusalem , because our father abraham ( of famous memory ) called the place of the sanctuarie adonajureth , the lord shall see ; then thy late name being schalem , this joyned to it , made it jiereshalem . for the lord god shall behold the place of thy sanctuarie , at what time it shall be schalem , that is , pure , uncorrupt , without black , or spot ; but whensoever it is polluted or defiled as it is at this day , then will he turn away his face from it . furthermore , thou art called jerushalem therefore , because that whoso understands the dignitie , and worthiness of the place wherein thy sanctuarie is , shall bid the angels of heaven to teach in it the doctrines of the holy ghost , and the spirit of wisdom and understanding , wherewith little children , and the unlearned in thy land , may be made wise . he also that ministereth in the temple , had ●…n a garment of four colours , scarlet , violet , b●…sse , and purple . scarlet in respect of the heavens that be above the firmament . violet and bysse colours ( which he made of flax ) because of the earth of which they came . finally purple , in respect of the sea where purple is gotten . therefore when as the priest came into the temple to minister , apparelled in these four colours , he said before the almighty god ; i am come to present my self here in thy sight ( o lord of the world ) in four kinds of colours , that represent the parts of thy world , and in such wise do i appear before thee , as though i should bring all the whole world into thy sight : moreover , the aforesaid apparel was garnished with pure gold , and precious stones , after the likenesse of the tribes of the sons of jacob , who was called israel ; that in that garment , he might have the soveraignty before the angels that be above , and by them prevail to bring the vertue of the holy ghost ; by the which they should obtain wisdom that dwell in thee , and prosper in their study , and faith , that they might have wisdom and understanding together : his loyns also were girded with linnen flops , wherewith he covered his secret parts ( for it becometh priests most of all other persons to be shamefac'd and bashful ) especially when he should minister in the two sanctuaries , the outer , and the inner , which is the sanctum sanctorum , or holiest of all . in the outer , the priests minister as the high priest commandeth them : but in the inner , that is the sanctum sanctorum , entreth no man save the high priest only , and that but once a year . for in it was the ark of the covenant of the lord , in which were laid up the two tables of the covenant that god made with the people in mount sinai . there is also the rod of aaron , that flourished and brought forth leaves . all these were in the temple whiles it was yet standing . over against the sanctuarie , were fourteen stairs or steps , upon the which appeared the miracle to king ceskiahu . and thou jerusalem at that time wa st stronger than other cities , lady of provinces ; for great kings and princes builded thee . king herod much exalted thee , raising thy walls high ; and besides that also , defended thee with other walls , that he named antochia , of antochias a roman , who gave liberally much monie toward the repairing of the ruines and decayes that were in thee . how cometh it to passe therefore that thou art brought thus low ? and the gentiles have the rule over thee now , and besiege thee , rasing thee , and casting thee down ? yea , they are now in the midst of thee . wo be to us for our sins : for , the heavinesse of thy strength is dashed , thy sanctuarie is troden under foot , and made a sink of the blood of slain persons . drink now off thy cup ( o jerusalem ) with thy daughter sion , drink i say , the cup of vexation and grief together with her , for yet the time shall come , that visions shall be revealed , and redemption also it self , that thy children shall return to their coasts , with the health of their redeemer . then shall be the time of friendship , and then shalt thou drink the cup of health and consolation . after that , titus went to view what way he might best assault the city , and as he devised with himself , he espied a plain on that side where the sepulc●…er of jehochanan the high priest was . where he stayed a while , and sent one of his captains that were there with him , called nicanor , to parly with the jews , that were upon the walls , to move them to peace , willing him to say thus unto them ; friends , my lord titus is desirous to spare you , and to make a league with you , that you might be at quiet , and out of this danger of destruction ; and if you be so disposed to confent thereunto , titus shall make a league with you before it be yet night . nicanor went and spake with the people in such wise , as titus had willed him . the jews gave him no word of answer , but held their peace ; wherefore nicanor spake to them again , and as he was talking to them , one from the walls shot him with an arrow , and killed him . whereat titus was exceeding wroth , that they should shoot at his captain offering them peace , and his death grieved him marvellously : wherefore he commanded ladders , brakes , slings , battering-rams , and other engins of war , to be brought to assault the town . so the souldiers brought a battering r●…n to batter the walls , and planted it upon a mount accordingly . the j●…ws , seeing tha●… , were sore afraid ; wherefore the three seditious captains joyned themselves in friendsh●… and forthwith opening the gates , issued out , and beat the romans from their pieces and engins , that were now ready addressed , setting fire on the ram , slings , and all the other engins , a few excepted , which titus and his men saved from the fire . in this conflict , the men of alexandria that served titus , behaved themselves like tall fellows , in the rescuing of the slings from the jews ; yet the jews prevailed , and got the upper hand of them , till titus came with a strong power of choise men to succour the alexanderians , where twelve of the stoutest jews were slain . in the same skirmish jehochanan a captain of the edomites that came to aid the jews , was slain by an arabian that came behinde him , and shot him with an arrow , whiles he was talking with the romans that intreated him to come to them : for whom the edomites mourned and lamented sore , for he was a good man of war. the next night certain of the seditious , chiefly of jehochanans and schimeons company , issued out , and came to the three woodden towers that titus had erected before the walls , to view out of them the town , and to see what the jews did : within which , were placed , and without also , a strong party of able souldiers for their defence ; upon those without fell the jews , and slew many ; the other fled to titus camp. the romans that were in the towers , knowing nothing of the matter , and trusting to them that were set about the towers for their safe-gard , slept all the night : after the jews had thus slain the romans watch , and put them to flight , they came to the towers with saws , and cut the feet asunder , so that they fell suddenly together with them that were within , which were very many , and slue them every one ; titus hearing the alarum , and the crashing of the falling of the towers , was sore afraid , and all the whole army ; and not knowing what the matter was they durst not stir toward it , so the jews returned safe into the town . on the morrow , titus brought his whole power to the walls , and while the jews were at contention in the town , he addressed another ram , wherewith he suddenly struck the outer wall , and battered it through : whereupon the people that warded that wall , were forc'd to withdraw themselves within the safe-gard of the second wall . then titus commanded his souldiers to raze to the ground that wall that he had pierced , and to carry away the stones thereof , that there should be no let nor hinderance to his men ; this was the most substantiall and strongest wall of all , thicker than both the other , and was builded by herod : the romans labouring earnestly in the defacing of the outer wall , were slain in great number by the jews from the middle wall , before they could finish their purpose . the chief of the jews perceiving that titus had not only taken , but also quite pulled down the utter wall , and how there was now but two walls left about the town , it went to their hearts , and made them look about them : therefore the seditious began now earnestly to think of unity , and concord among themselves , so that they divided the town amongst them into three wards . jehochanan was appointed to that ward that is on the north part of the temple , beside the antochia ; that part of the town that was toward the tomb of jehochanan the high priest , was assigned to schimeon ; to eleazar was committed the keeping of the wall . these exhorting one another to play the men , did valiantly resist the romans , so that the conflicts then began to be sore and hard . the romans for their renown and fame , laid on stoutly , and the jews again stuck stiffely to their defence , seeing their end at hand if they were slack . titus now and then exhorting his souldiers to play the men , promising them that would valiantly make any enterprise upon the jews , abundance of gold and silver , and much honour withall . then stept forth one of his souldiers named longinus , and put himself amongst the routs of the jews , that were issued out of the town , where he slew a couple of the chief of them , and presently recovered himself again within the array of the romans ; but the jews shrunk not from the romans , for they were in a fervent rage and wonderfull disdain ; and to further their courage , schimeon came to his men , and cryed unto them with a loud voyce saying ; for the reverence of god ( friends ) flee not this day ; whosoever doth flee , let him be sure he shall dye for it , and his house be destroyed . titus also admonished his to keep their array , and not to give back to schimeon . then went he himself to that part of the town where jehochanans ward was ; there he caused a battering ram to be planted , and bent against the wall , ( for there was a very large plain . ) there was at that time in jerusalem one called kantor , who got to him a company of the seditious , and shot from the walls into the romans army , where he slew very many , and compelled the rest to retire . this kantor , with nine other tall fellows , whereof he was the decurion , defended one part of the town : now as the romans bended the ram to batter the wall , kantor cryed unto titus , i beseech thee , my lord titus , be mercifull unto this most famous city , that is almost beaten down already , do not deface it utterly , but take pitty of the sanctuary that is in it , and destroy not the habitation of the lord god : titus at his request commanded his men to stay , and to leave off battering the wall ; then said he to kantor , come forth hither to me , and thou shalt save thy self , i will pardon thee , thou shalt not be destroyed ; kantor answered , i will see if i can perswade these my fellows to come with me . but he did it upon colour , for none other cause than craftily to trifle out time , whereby he mi●…ht cause titus to leave off the assault for a while ; so he spake unto his fellows which knew his mind , that the romans might hear , let us go down and flee to the roman army ; then they drew out their swords as though they would kill him , and striking upon his harness , he fell down to the ground in the sight of the romans , which were ignorant of his deceit . then one of the romans let flye an arrow , that wounded kantor upon the face , and glauncing from him , slew another that stood by him : then kantor cryed out , what do ye ? will ye shoot at us that desire to be at peace with you , which ye granted your selves , and now will break your promise that ye made unto us ? is this the reward , my lord titus , that thou renderest me , for going about to flee unto thee , that thy souldiers should shoot at me , hearing me require conditions of peace ? now therefore , my lord , may it please thee to send hither some man of honour , to whom i may come down and receive assurance of thy promise , to be as one of thine own men : titus thinking he meant good faith , spake unto joseph , willing him to go and make peace with the jews in his name , then to bring him unto him , that he might find safe-gard of his life , from the common destruction ; joseph answerd , why wilt thou send me ? what have i offended thee ? have i not ever done thee true and faithfull service ? therefore if thou bear me any good will or favour , send me not unto him whom i cannot trust . for joseph mistrusted some subtilty , knowing kantor afore . so titus sent one captain jiarus , who said unto kantor , come down and let us go together to caesars son . kantor desired him to hold abroad his cloak lap , that he might hurl him down his money that he had there , ( lest the jews perceiving it , would take it from him ) and then he would come down . and as jiarus held up his lap to receive the money that kantor spake of , kantor with all his might cast down a great stone , which jiarus espying , lept aside and avoided : but it lighted upon one of his fellows , and slew him . titus was wonderfull wroth at this , and forthwith planted yet another ram against the wall , and at length laid it flat upon the ground . then commanded titus to make fires about the wall , where the jews should think to escape ; kantor seeing that , would have fled , and as he made haste to escape the fires , the weight of his armour bare him down into the fire , and there he died , more desirous of death than life . then entred the romans within the second wall , against whom the seditious issued , and ●…ought with such vehement fo●…ce that they prevailed against their enemies , slue many of the romans , and forced the rest to retire unto the first wall that they had beaten down afore . in this skirmish titus himself took a bow , and shot at the jews in such wise , that not one of his arrows were spent in vain , but that it did some annoyance unto the jews . the jews notwithstanding gave them the repulse from the town , and they were not able to make their party good with them . within four daies after , came unto titus a new supply of souldiers out of all quarters for ayd to the romans , by whose help they prevailed against the jews , at such time as they issued out of the town , and constrained them to withdraw themselves within the walls . yet titus pittying the miserable state of the city , temple , and people of the lord , at that time commanded his people to withdraw themselves from the walls , and to leave off the assault for a while , that he might offer peace to the jews , to see if they would now be content to submit themselves unto the romans , to have quietness and rest without danger of destruction . wherefore he gave them truce for five daies : and upon the fift day he came to the gate of the city , where he straightway espyed schimeon and jehochanan together preparing fire to destroy the romans engins of war : for all the jews had agreed together with one mind , still to withstand the romans . wherefore titus perceiving the jews to be so desperately bent that they had even vowed their lives to death , he began to offer and propose unto them conditions of peace , and sharply to reprove and blame their obstinate stubborness : saying , i have now won two of your walls , and ye have but one left . therefore , if ye●… will continue still in this self willed frowardness , what will ye do ( most miserable creatures ) when as i shall gain also the third wall , and quite destroy your city , pulling down your temple and all ? why do ye not rather favour and spare your own lives , your wives and children ? but the jews , set upon a sullen obstinacy , would in no wise hear titus speak . therefore titus sent joseph to declare his mind unto them in hebrew , that they might safely credit his promises , and the peace that was offered . joseph therefore went and stood over against the gate , keeping himself aloof off , for he was afraid to come nigh the wall , knowing that the people hated him , because he had yielded himself to the romans ; he called therefore unto them aloud : hearken all ye hebrews and jews , i will declare unto you that which shall be to your commodity ; then the people gave ear unto joseph , who spake unto them in this wise . an oration of josephus to the citizens of jerusalem . you should ere this ( good people of jerusalem ) have fought so earnestly , whiles your cities were yet standing , and your land replenished with people , ere ever this mischief had lighted upon you : now that with murthers and slaughters amongst your selves having destroyed one another , and polluted the temple of the sanctuary with the blood of the murthered , and not spared your own lives , you are become few in number , a small sort of you left , what hope have you to prevail ? again , you have provoked a valiant nation , which is ruler over all people , and hath subdued all other lands , which also hath those nations in subjection under him , which sometimes reigned over you ; besides this , you wage battell with the romans without all discretion and wisdom , without any remorse of this famous city , without any regard of the sanctuary of the lord , without any compassion of your own lives . neither yet do ye forsake your purpose , for i perceive you continue in this self-will to withstand the romans still , which is nothing else than to spread abroad this calamity further , both on the people of god , and on his holy temple . albeit , i am not afraid only for this holy temple , and most renowned city , lest it should be razed and destroyed , but for the sacrifices and burnt offerings , lest they should cease , as the daily sacrifice is ceased ; and why ? because we have sinned against our lord god. wherefore is his shaddow departed from us ; because that in this same temple we have kept wars , making it an habitation for the wicked , a tabernacle of seditious persons : yea , even the ministers and holy men of god have ye murthered , and within the walls of the temple have ye shed innocent blood without measure . see now ( dear brethren , ) and mark what ordnance , what engins , what instruments of destruction , are prepared to beat down the temple , the fire is already kindled to set a fire the sanctuary , and loe , even your very enemies are so pitifull of your temple , that they would not have it defaced . but you ( dear brethren and friends ) why are ye led with no remorse of your selves , that your enemies may once remove from you these engins of war ? what have you now left to trust unto , when as two of your walls are already battered down , and one only remaineth ? you will say peradventure , we put not our trust in our walls , but in our god : are ye not aware that your god hath long agone given you over , and hath turned him to your enemies , because they have with greater honour and reverence worshiped his name , than we which rebelliously are fallen away from him ? wherefore god assisteth not us , but our enemies : insomuch , that except it be in such countries , whereas either for extream cold of the one side , or exceeding heat on the other , no man is able to abide , all lands , all nations are under their dominion . tell me , i pray you , what hope have you , seeing god hath made them a terrour unto all nations upon the earth , who serveth them ? why will not you obey them , that you may live and not perish ? do ye not consider it is come to their turn to rule over all , that god hath committed dominion unto them , and ayded them with his assistance ? remember you not how god in times past aided the egyptians , insomuch that they obtained the dominion over all the whole world ? but afterward departed from them , and assisted you to get the soveraignty over other nations : after that forsook you again , and gave the empire to the chaldeans , assyrians , and persians , which reigned far and wide over many countries : now also hath he given them over , and helpeth the romans these many years , so that they bear rule over all . if you will object and say , to what intent should god give the dominion unto the romans , or other nations over the world , and over his inheritance and people also , which is an holy people , a peculiar and special nation of all the earth ? should ye not be ashamed to say this ? with what discretion can you wonder at this , knowing that all mankind one or other , are the handy-work of god , who exalteth whom he list , and whom he listeth he thrusteth down ? ye say , ye be the children of god , and his proper possession , and ye aspire to the soveraignty ; therefore it cannot be that god should determine any thing upon you by chance , fortune , or sudden anger and displeasure . i grant : but wot ye what ? the shadow or protection of the lord hath forsaken you , becaus●… of your sins and transgressions against the te●…ple and his holy ministers . how can you stay upon his help , when as he hath withdrawn his loving countenance from you , and your sins have made a divorce between you and him ? o my dear children and brethren , let never this imagination enter into your hearts , for it shall nothing avail you ! why will you , my dear brethren and friends , make war upon the romans , when as they are lords over nations , and pierced the streets of india , and all the isles of the sea , even to the great ocean-sea ; and from thence to all the parts of the east , whose dominion extendeth to the extream parts of the earth ? yea even to britain , which is environed on every side with seas , whose people are huge like giants , of a big stature , and of mighty courage , most expert archers , and valiant souldiers in battel ; to whom when the captain of the romans came , they gave him the repulse , and would not be subdued ; but when the princes of the romans came , they brought them into subjection and se●…itude under the romans . but you say ( my brethren and friends ) you will rather all dye , than serve the prince of the gentiles , and that death is better for you than life , to be driven to see with your eyes , the calamities of the sanctuary of the people of god. search the histories and chronicles from the time of your ancestours ; when was there any time wherein you were free from the yoak of the gentiles ? do you not know that jacob our father of worthy memory , who was alwaies with god , took his journey into egypt , to be a stranger in a strange land amongst a proud kind of people , left he , his children , houshold , and cattell , should perish with hunger ? there he had with him his twelve sons which he had begotten , and dwelt there also with his small family , for fear of the grievous famine that was at that time . remember you not , when that judas with his brethren went down into egypt , how joseph was moved as a stranger , to pick a quarrel against his brethren to bring them into bondage , bearing yet in his mind what injury they had done unto him ? wherefore some of them he cast in prison , and hanged them at his pleasure with crafty accusations ; especially judas , who was the chief amongst them , of whom all the jews took their name , who if he had been so disposed , had been able to lay joseph at his foot a thousand times , not knowing him to be joseph : wherefore when he was so roughly and so sharply taunted of him , he might have killed him in his rage : for he was a very bold man , and a hardy , and of a very noble courage , who surely would not have counted it nothing to have slain the egyptian , and many more of them . notwithstanding he did not so , but contrary submitting himself under the yoak of joseph , called him his lord and good master ; and supposing him to be some egyptian , he humbled himself before him , to obtain his petition , and to get corn , least his father , his brethren , and their family should die for hunger . what should i say of joseph , so beautifull , so wise , and witty a man ? was not he fain to serve in pharaohs house ; wherein although his wisdom was well known , insomuch that pharaoh set more by him , than by all the noble men that were then alive ; he was also called lord , great master , and pharaohs father ; nevertheless he humbly besought pharaoh , that he might sustain his father and brethren with bread , knowing at that time the dominion belonged unto pharaoh and his people , being given them of god. and although joseph had list to return into the land of canaan , with all his fathers whole houshold without pharaohs leave ; no man could have letted him to do it , for he bare the greatest rule at that time in egypt , yet he did not so . benjamin also was likened to a ravening wolfe for his fierceness , when he was fetched again by force of josephs steward , faining a lye upon him : how chanced he did not kill him ? or else when he alone pursued benjamin and his other brethren ; could not he if he had list have slain the man , and buried him , so that the matter should never have come to light ? notwithstanding they did nothing so , nor so : but judas wisely weighing the exaltations , and directions , the promotions , and disgraces , with the common courses of the world , returned again with his brethren into the city , went to joseph and besought him , untill his bowels were moved to pity , and he was known of his brethren . all these things doth the most holy law of the lord rehearse unto us , and putteth us in mind of , for this intent , that we may learn to bear for necessities sake , the yoak of him that hath the preheminence and rule for his time . neither let any judge or think that joseph offended god , in that he submitted himself under the yoak of pharaoh ; for it is no shame for a wise man to crouch unto him , whose help he standeth in need of , whatsoever it be , much more if he be a king , or a lord ; know ye not that our fathers were in bondage to king pharaoh in egypt ? but after the lord remembred the covenant that he made with our fathers , and had determined to lead them out of egypt ; he sent moses our master of famous memory , his angel , his chosen , who knew the lo●…d to be with him , whereby he was able to destroy whosoever did rise against him : nevertheless when he came to pharaohs presence , who then bare rule in egypt , he shewed not himselfe in armes , but rather with thunder and hail , that pharaoh might well perceive and know god was the lord. but at what time as pharaoh oppressed the israelites too sore , our master moses ( by gods help ) brought them out of egypt , with a strong hand and stretched forth arm , against the egyptians , whom he punished with continuall plagues ; by that means delivering the israelites out of the hands of their lords and masters , and bringing them to the mount of god , made them heirs full of all goodness ; that is to say , of the most holy law of god. and after joshua had subdued the holy land to the israelites , and that they inhabited it , there chanced unto our fathers , times of adversities , as is mentioned in the books of the prophets , so that they were constrained to serve the king of ashur a long season , and the kings of persia ; to the chaldees also were we in bondage , although not very grievous , but tolerable . moreover with other kings of the gentiles we had wars , and sometimes we were put to foils , sometimes we had the upper-hand . now therefore , my brethren , tell me , what shame were it to you , if ye were subject unto the romans ? or what are you to be compared to other nations that be under their dominion ? do you not see that the romans reign over your enemies , and bear rule over them that sometimes were your masters , and hate us ? were it not reason that you should love them , which have brought down your enemies , and revenged you of them ? which notwithstanding you have nothing at all done , but rather have hated them , as men void of all perceivance , without weighing and considering , that since the time you were under them , ye have alwayes lived in much peace . and i my self , when i withstood the romans in galilee , knew very well that i should be overcome at length , but i could do nothing because of the seditious persons that were with me , which would in no wise follow my counsel : yea , it stood me in hand to have a care of mine own person , that i were not killed of them , after i had once counselled and moved them to give up the town . wherefore seeing the matter stood so , and god knew my heart , i thought best to fight against the romans as i migh●… and when occasion served to escape to the romans , to take it . further , when i was in the cave with my forty companions , i had been lost and perished , had not god given me counsel , making me a way to escape and save my life . for they had almost slain me , because i gave them counsel to yield themselves to the romans , and obey them . for i saw this was the time of the romans to bear rule , and that god had appointed them to be lords over all nations . for this is his manner , like as above he hath made some to be rulers over othersome ; even so beneath also he hath set rulers over the kings of the earth . who can controll him that is stronger then he ? the romans at this present , have the dominion over all lands and people , over the egyptians , assyrians , persians , and chaldees , ( to every one of these you have been in bondage ) and over other nations also , which nevertheless do till their ground , sowe , mowe , plant , and gather in their fruits : and who hath the profit of these goods and labour but the romans ? who whiles the other toyl and travel , do live in peace and rest themselves . wherefore mark this also my brethren , the kings of macedonia once had the rule of the whole world , specially in the time of alexander of macedonia , but at this day their empire is taken from them , and they are become subjects to the romans . they when the romans first set upon them , were very haughty and stubborn , determining to resist the romans : notwithstanding they were overcome of the romans , and are under their subjection at this day . what should i speak of the people of the philistines , which heretofore alwayes have vexed and annoyed you ? doth not the meanest amongst all the princes of the romans bear rule over them ? what hope then have you to escape , when ye know the philistines were ever stronger than you , and you were oftentimes overcome of them ? as for example , saul your king was slain by them . but you will say , david the annointed of the lord of israel , pulled them down , and brought them into subjection . wote ye what ? then god looked upon you with a favourable countenance , and fought your battels himself : but at this day , he is in no wise present with you , for he hath turned away his countenance of salvation from you , because ye have sinned against him . and which of you can say , he hath intelligence of the secret of the lord , or hath received any such watch-word as god gave at that time unto david ? when thou shalt hear a sound of mourning in the tops of mulbery-trees , then shalt thou set forward , for then shall the lord go before thy face , smite the tents and camps of the philistines , sam. . whosoever ( i say ) hath knowledge of any such token , let him reveal it to his neighbour , and i could well consent to follow it . but seeing there is no such thing , hearken unto me , my dear brethren , come and serve the romans in peace and tranquillity . it shall be no dishonesty for you , with the kings of persia , to be subject to the romans : they that sometime were your masters , shall be now your fellows and companions . but if you will persevere , and stand in your opinion still , i will enter into this discourse with you : tell me , i pray you , when were ever your ancestours free , and when were they not entangled with the wars of the gentiles , and the dominion of other nations ? had you not ever the victory from the time you came out of egypt , until the reign of saul the son of cis ? so long as the lord was your king , you were in bondage to no man , you served god as your only king. but after that your evil and corrupt desire stirred you to be irksome to the lord , and , lest he should reign alone , to chuse a man to have the dominion over you , according as the custom was in other nations ( i mean saul the son of cis , and the other kings every one ) then served you him , you and your sons , and the chiefest of you became his servants , your goodliest daughters were made his confectionaries , his cooks , and his bakers . after saul , reigned david , of worthy memory , who ruled over many nations : but he also brought you into bondage , and put divers of you to death , to satisfie his pleasure withal . he being dead , you served solomon his son , who no lesse than the other , even as he listed , exercised dominion over you : he also took up your sons and daughters , and made them his slaves . after this , succeeded other most wicked kings : so that from that time your country began to go to wrack , and he that was the best amongst them was rehoboam , which said unto you , my father corrected you with whips , but i will scourge you with scorpions . and so did the rest of the kings , which reigned after him ; very few of them pleased god. all the other wrought abomination , not one of them did any good , or reigned in the fear of the lord. and in this manner remained the empire long time with you , until the kings of chaldea came and led you captive into babylon , where you were kept until cyrus time , king of persia , who sent you again into your own country with a wonderful deal of gold and silver , with great honour , which was counted unto him for righteousnesse . after cyrus death , there rose against you the most wicked kings of greece , who warring upon you , gave you great overthrows , until god stirred up the spirits of certain sage priests of the stock of chasmonani , that revenged your injuries . at that time you were brethren and friends with the romans , and friendship grew betwixt you many years . after that , you fell from the stock of chasmonani , which had delivered you , and chose one whose name was herod , who oppressed you grievously . after him succeeded archelaus his son , he yet laid a sorer yoke upon you ; wherefore falling upon him , ye protested never hereafter to serve the kings of juda. so going to the romans , willingly ye submitted your selves under their subjection , to serve augustus the emperour , who ordered you gently . him you served as other nations did , and it was to your praise , because ye were under a good governour . therefore , now my brethren , and children of my people , what mean you at this present , that you have determined to die , and do not rather spare your selves and your children ? consider i beseech you , the things that grow upon the earth , and all living creatures ; beasts , worms that creep upon the ground , fowls of the air , and fishes of the sea ; do you not see that ever the stronger hath the dominion over the weaker ; neither is it any rebuke or shame for the weaker , to give place and obey that which is stronger : for the oxe and the goat are in awe of the lyon , the ram and the ewe of the woolfe , the cow and the lamb fear the bear , the goat , the liberd , the hawk , is afraid of the eagle , the dove of the hawk . weigh the manner of beasts and birds amongst their own kind , you shall see ever the bigger and stronger , to be master over the lesse and weaker : and so in all other things , the stronger set themselves before the weaker alwayes . wherefore ye mortal men , learn by me : did not one god make all things , and he himself hath dominion over them all ? notwithstanding , all things are so knit together amongst themselves , that no one thing can stand without another . but he that holds up all things , is the blessed god , who if he list , can bring them all into dust again , his name be extolled for ever . take example , i pray you , from the parts of the whole world ; you shall see one part to be in subjection , another to bear rule . be not then too stiffe-necked to pervert the natural courses of the world , but rather let your election follow the causes and events of the same , which if you do , you shall be esteemed wise men . now my dear countrymen , never think it shame for you to serve the romans ; it is time for you now to turn to the lord with your whole heart , and then you shall have the dominion over other nations , according to your desire : this shall then come to passe , when you follow your lord god with all your strength . therefore never think that the romans , which have rule over you at this day , are of lesse power than other people , that heretofore have had dominion over you . for they are a mighty nation , their empire and rule over other people they have from above , as i have proved to you by the similitudes of brute beasts , which according to nature bear rule one over another : notwithstanding , in mankind it should never have come to passe , that the bigger should so have dominion over the lesse , unlesse for their sins ; for the the which they are so punished , that one is compelled to bow his neck under anothers yoke . now therefore , my dear people , take humility and meeknesse unto you , never covet to alter the law of nature , but rather receive my words , and follow my counsell ; obey the romans , prepared and ready to make league with you , according to their bountifulnesse , that ye may live and do full well . chap. ii. when joseph had spoken these things , in the hearing of the citizens of jerusalem , they burst out and wept , gnashing with their teeth , and railed at joseph over the walls , hurling stones and darts at him , to have killed him . therefore when joseph saw they would not follow his counsel , butwere so stiffe-necked , he began to rebuke them , crying unto them in this wise ; wo to all froward people , and such as rebell against the lord god! what mean ye you wretches ? what have ye to leane unto , that ye are so stubborn , when neverthelesse the lord is gone from you ? for you are wicked people , and have sinned against him . how can your sins be purged which you have committed in the temple of the lord , by shedding of innocent blood , without all mercy ? ye are most guilty , for ye have fought in the temple and sanctuary of the lord , ye have defiled it with dead bodies of them which ye have slain in the very midst thereof . besides , ye have prophaned and unhallowed the name of the lord with making of wars upon the sabbath day , & upon your solemn and festival da●…es . tell me now , ye froward rebels , whether did ever your forefathers prevail against their enemies , with spear and shield , but rather with prayer , pennance , and purenesse of heart , wherewith they served god , and again he delivered them ? but you , what have you to trust unto , when as ye are unfaithful ? your shelter and protection is departed from you , and your lord god aideth your enemies , whose power he maintaineth to destroy you ; if you ima●…ine to be delivered with your swords and speares , you are fouly deceived , whereas god would not that ye should escape the hands of your enemies . open your eyes , and see what david the annointed of the lord said : for the lord will save neither by sword nor spear . call to your remembrance ( ye very fools ) abraham your father which begot you , by what means he overcame pharaoh the king of egypt , who violently had taken away sarah his wife from him : surely none other way did he obtain the victory then by prayer to the lord , who stirred the spirit of pharaoh , and put him in mind to restore his wife sarah , clean and undefiled . abraham was quiet in his bed , and at rest from all troubles ; but pharaoh that great lord and ruler , was punished in the mean season with great plagues , because of sarah whom he had taken to him by violence , to deflower her , which god would not suffer , but rather uncovered pharaohs flesh , that he was fain to shew the secret parts of his body to physitians , to see if they could heal them . but who can cure the infirmities which god sends ? or who knows his intents ? for who knew that hezekiahs biles could be healed with a plaister of figs ? or naman the syrian's leprosie , with the w●…ter of jordan ? or the bitter water with wormwood ? wherefore when as no man could cure pharaoh , he was fain to speak abraham fair , and to intreat him to pray to god to take away from him his plague , and so by his prayer pharaoh recovered . then pharaoh apparelled sarah in precious garments , gave her gifts of gold and silver , and precious stones , and sent her home honest , pure , and holy , to abraham , living then at his own house . ●…saac when he was driven out by abimelech king of the philistins , and had with him the bond servants of his fathers houshold , to the number of . and . with whom abraham had discomfited five kings , beside many other more of his family , so that he had been strong enough to have invad●… the philistines ; yet he would not do it , but with all meeknesse and humil●…ty , he used himself towards the king of that country . notwithstanding , after he was driven out of the land , the philistines came unto him , and entreated him , saying , we perceive the lord god is with thee , &c. as it is written in the scripture . what shall we say of jacob , when he f●…ed from the presence of his brother esau , he carried nothing with him but a bare staffe , wherewith he passed ov●…r the river jordan , as it is w●…itten : with my staffe passed i this jordan . his ammunition that he took with him for his journey , was pray●…r , wherewith he made all his wars . that was it for the which god assisted him , when he went away to laban , and when he returned from him , when also he was delivered out of the hands of his brother esau who sought to kill him . and this also he did b●… the way as he returned , when he wrestled with a certain man that overcame him . o lord , who is able to number the mercies of the lord , and the marvels which he wrought with our fathers of worthy memory , abraham , isaac , and jac●…b ? what should i speak of moses our shepherd , the man of god , that feared the cruelty of pharoah , until he writ in the law , that he had called the name of his son eleazar : for he said the god of his father helped him , and delivered him out of the hands of pharaoh . and when he came before pharaoh to deliver israel out of his hands , and to lead them out of egypt : with what things else overcame he the tyrant withal , then with prayer ? did he not overthrow the pride of pharaoh and his charmers , only with the rod of the lord which he had with him ? wherewith also he smote egypt with ten plagues , a●…d divided the sea into twelve parts . and at the red sea moses resisted not pharaoh and his host with force of arms , but with p●…ayer : wherefore pharaoh and all his were drowned in the bottom of the sea. but moses sung a song of praise unto our god while the souldiers of the egyptians perished , that came against moses and the people of israel with weapons , horses , and chariots . notwithstandiug , by moses prayer they we●…e overwhelmed all in the sea , so that not one of them escaped who is ignoraut of this , that prayer is of more force than all instruments of war : that it speedeth and hasteneth the help of the lord ; and his saving health ? do you not know , when joshua the minister of moses , passed over jordan , that he was a warlike man , and had with him very many most valiant souldiers ; neverthelesse , he destroyed not the seven walls of jericho by force of war , but only with prayer , and with shouts and noise of the priests of the lord , our forefathers ? know ye not that prayer availed ●…ideon , when as he with three hundred men , vanquished the whole host of midian , amalek , and the people of the east ? if prayer had not helped him , i pray you , what had three hundred men been able to do against so great a multitude ? mark ( yefond people ) what chanced in the covenant of the lord , that the philistines took away . our fathers truly were not ab●…e to recover it by their swords and force of arms : but with that prayer that the just men of that age made , the ark was brought again unto his place . consider the times of hezekiah king of juda , when as 〈◊〉 king of ashur came up b●…aspheming and rayling upon the sanctuary of the lord our god of hosts , breathing out the pride and malice of his heart . by what means was he overthrown ? did our fathers overcome him ●…y fo●…ce of arms ? no , without doubt : but with prayer and supplication . for hezekiah the king went and put on apparel meet for prayer ; instead of a shield , he took sackcloth ; for a helmet , he cast dust on his head ; and instead of arrows and a sword , he made use of prayer and supplication . and the prayer that hezekiah made , mounted so far as an arrow was never able to flee ; so that his petition and prayer , overthrew . thousand most valiant men of the host of senacherib . furthermore , the king of juda , and king of israel , and king of edom , joyning their powers toge●…her , invaded the m●…abites , and in a wildernesse and unoccupied and barren dry land , they we●…e in great perill and thirst ; what profited them t●…eir artillery and furniture of war ? did there not issue out for them at the instant prayer of elisha , a prophet and man of god , plenty of wa●…er in the desart , a brook in the wildernesse ? came it not to passe also by the prayer of the same elisha , that a wonderful hurly burly , a ●…umbling and ra●…ing of chariots of war , and of horses , was h●…ard in the camps of the syrians , besieging the city of samaria , with the which noise the syrians being afraid , fled , no man pu●…uing , nor following them ? ye know also , that by the prayer of the aforesaid prophet , the famine and lack of victuals that was in the town of samaria , was turned into great abundance and plenty , insomuch that thirty epha's , or measure of fine meal , were sold for one piece of silver . do ye not see ( most foolish men ) how our fore-fathers had the victory ever by prayer ? but let us come to the beginning again , and speak of moses . what time as he held up his hands towards heaven ; had not israel the upper-hand of the amalekites by his prayer ? joshua also by his prayer , stayed the sun and moon in the sight of the people of israel ; and the sun stood still in gibeon , and the moon in the valley of ajalon , that the evening was changed into noon day , and so israel vanquished their enemies . sampson also , that most valiant giant , until such time as he had sinned , did not god evermore hear his prayer , and ever he gat the victory thereby ? after he had once sinned , he decayed as any other mean person . likewise king saul , all the while he walked perfectly and purely , his prayer increased his valiantnesse and strength , but after he had once sinned , god left him , and gave him over . david also , king of israel , of famous memory , from the time of his youth , till his last end , his valiantnesse never failed him ; and why ? because he alwayes was helped by his prayer ; neither would he ever fight against his country-men and native people , when as saul persecuted him . wherefore he prevailed against his enemies ; and because he abstained to lay his hands upon his brethren , therefore afterward all nations feared him . did not asa king of juda , accompanied with a small number of men , make an expedition against the ethiopians ? and praying to the lord god , said on this wise ; we indeed know not what to do , but our eyes are bent upon thee , &c. which prayer the almighty did hear , and the victory followed , so that asa slew in the camp of the ethiopians , ten hundred thousand men deborah a prophetesse by her prayer , brought to passe great health in israel . what shall i tell of divers other just and godly women , which by their prayers obtained many things ? tell me ( ye mad men ) know ye not what amaziah king of juda did ? he having wars with the edomites , vanquished them , and led them prisoners with their wives and children , and idols also , to jerusalem ; and then fell to worshipping of the same idols , that he had taken from the edomites , saying unto them , ye are they that have saved me , therefore do i worship you , and by you have i overcome the edomites . to whom when a prophet of the lord came and asked him , why seekest thou , and servest the gods of that people , that were not able to deliver them out of thy hand ? by and by he taunted the prophet again , saying , who made thee of the king's counsel ? wherefore after that , he was no more reprehended of the prophet ; for the lord had determined to destroy him , as it is written in the books of the chronicles of the kings of juda. therefore he was taken prisoner afterward like a fox , when he had fought against joas king of israel in bethshemeth ; and so was he compared to a low and vile thorn or shrub , and joas unto the noble and high cedar-tree . yea , all the evils that ever hapned unto us in any age , it came of our selves , for our lord god is righteous in all his works , that ever he wrought upon us : our enemies never did us so much harm , as we our selves did , unto our selves . ye wot , the gentiles took the precious vessels of our sanctuary away to babel , and brought us them again undefiled ; but we polluted and defiled them our selves , and the temple also with innocent blood , which we shed abundantly within it , adding sinnes to sinnes evermore and more , breaking the law with our evill acts . for who brought the romans first against the city of jerusalem , but hircanus and aristobulus ? for they being at dissention betwixt themselves , and one hating the other , called the romans against this city . who brought antonius and sosius , princes of the romans , against jerusalem , but herod being at variance for the kingdom with the house of the chasmonanites ? who also called nero caesar to reign over us ? did you it not your selves ? now therefore why rebel ye against the empire and dominion of the romans ? if you will say , because the roman president edomeus ordered you too bad : had it not been meet rather to complain of him to the emperour , then to rebel against the romans , and to make war against them ? but you will say , we rebelled against nero caesar , because he did us too much wrong . wherefore then rebel ye now against vespasian caesar , a most mercifull man , and one which never hurt you ? or , why make ye not peace with his son to be under him , according as other nations be , that ye might live , and not perish ? have ye not a sufficient proof of his clemency and mercifulness , when as he had cause to be cruel upon no man so much as upon me , which drew out my sword against the romans , and killed many of them ? notwithstanding , neither he nor the rest of the romans have done me any harm . yea , rather they have bestowed many benefits upon me : and although i was in their hands , yet they have saved my life . i confess , that before they had me prisoner , i would gladly many times have fled to them , but i could never do it , for 〈◊〉 was ever afraid of my wicked companions , ●…t they should have killed me , and so my death had been to no purpose . but now i praise the lord go●… without ceasing , because that for his unmeasurable mercies sake , he would not su●…fer me to be intangled in the same mischiefes that you be in . neither would i wish to be companion of such lost unthrifts and cast-awaies as you be , which have shed the blood of innocents in the temple of the lord. indeed if i had been with you , i should have been void of all hope as ye be , seeing ye spare not your own ●…ives , and your own contumacy and stubborness is made snare a for you . see i pray you , with how great mischiefs you are laden . first , the lord is not amongst you , insomuch that through the tumults which you have made amongst your selves , almost the waters of shiloa are dried up , which heretofore when the nations made war against you , flowed in great abundance , and ran over the banks on both sides . but you are contumacious rebels , that ever provoked the lord god unto wrath , you have made slaughters one upon another , in the midst of the temple of the lord : how can then the glory of the lord dwell amongst you ? know ye not because of korah and his congregation , the lord said unto moses and to his people : seperate your selves from among this congregation , and i shall consume them in the twinkling of an eye . but you are far worse than they . for without all remorse or pity , ye pull down the temple of the lord with your own hands , and your selves set fire on the sanctuary , which most noble kings , and most holy prophets builded : and besides all this , ye neither spare your sons nor daughters . and although i be in the romans camp , yet i am not absent from you , for my most dearly beloved wife is present with you , the wife o●… my youth , whom i cannot set lightly by at this present , although i never had children by her : but rather love her most intirely , because she came of a most honest and godly house . my dear father and mother are also with you , very aged persons : for my father is at this day a hundred and three years old , and my mother fourscore and five : but the years of my life are very few , evil , and full of tribulation and sorrow , about threescore and seven , neither have i lived yet so long that according to nature i should desire to die . now therefore , if so be you trust not me , but suppose i have proposed these things to you deceitfully , and that there is no trust of titus covenant and bond , or that his league should be to your hindrance and discommodity : go to , if it come to pass , it shall be lawfull for you to kill my father and mother , and my wife . yea , i swear unto you by the lord our god , that i shall deliver my life also into your hands , that you may do with me what ye list : and by that means shall the blood of my parents , my wives , and mine , be in pledge . therefore let the ancients of the city come forth , and i will make a league betwixt them and our lord titus . and doubt ye not , but as hitherto the lord god would you should be 〈◊〉 and punished by the government of the romans : so hereafter , he shall benefit you thereby , and do you good , if so be you will once acknowledge and confess that all dominion is changed and altered at his commandment , and that god humbleth whom he listeth , and again whom he list he se●…teth aloft . but perswade your selves of this , that as long as ye refuse to be subject unto the romans , so long you stir , against your selves , gods wrath and high displeasure : and besides that , you do defer the longer , and prolong your redemption and deliverance not only to your selves , but also to your posterity . now therefore my brethren , i thought it my part to declare all these things to you , and it is in your power to choose whether you list : for who so will , let him give ear unto me ; and who not , let him abstain from my counsell . the people hearing these words and sayings of joseph the priest , wept wonderfully , for they could have been concent to have followed his counsell . at this time titus , gave commandment to all the romans , to send again the jews that were prisoners , and the slaves into the city : by what means he shifted from himself the blood of the jews , and laid it upon the necks of their masters ; for titus took pity of them through josephs oration , and his good counsell . the common people of the jews desired nothing more , then to have come forth , and to fall to an agreement , to make peace with titus ; but schimeon , eleazar , and jehochanan , captains of the seditious , set strong watch and ward at every gate , charging them to kill all that should go forth : thus were many killed which would have fled forth to titus , and the city of jerusalem was closed up , and no man could get out nor in . in the mean season fell a great dearth and famine in jerusalem , insomuch that the seditious searched every mans house and cellar for food . and because a certain housholder withstood them , they killed him . thus they dealt with all them that dwelled at jerusalem , till the victuals in the town was all spent , that men began to seek dung and even mans excrements to eat , by which means much of the people died for hunger . whosoever at that time could get any hearbs or roots , mice , serpents , or other creeping worms ( whatsoever they were ) to eat , he was counted happy , because he had found meat to sustain and save his life withall , in that hard famine , and terrible hunger . moreover , whosoever had any corn in store that no man knew of , he was afraid to send it to the mill , or bake it , because of the wickedness of the seditious , lest they should take away from them their sustenance ; wherefore many did eat the dry co●…n unground in their cellars privily . at that time also were many exceeding rich men in jerusalem , which stole meat one f●…om another ; so that the father snatched meat from the son , and the son from the father ; the mother snatcht from her children , the children likewise from their mother ; and such as fled out of the gates , or otherwise , let themselves down over the walls in the night season , who being suspected be to the seditious persons , the romans killed them without . this evil therefore and distress increased so long , that the people had devoured all that ever crept on the earth , from the mouse to the spider , from the newt to the weesell ; whereby a most grievous pestilence followed , that innumerable of the people of the land died , and there was no man to bury them . when they chanced to find any dead horse , or other beast in the town , a man should see many israelites strive and fight for it ; in all points like to famished ravens lighting upon a dead carcass , so that in such contentions very many were slain . therefore when divers men with their wives and children , gat out of the city to gather hearbs to eat , and chanced among the romans , the romans laid hold of the little children , and killed them ; saying , we will dispatch these , left when they grow once to mans state , they make war upon us as their fathers do at this day . so many as came out of the gates of the city now and then , the romans killed and hanged them upon gallowses , over against the gates of jerusalem , to the number of five hundred : after the same manner schimeon , jehochanan , and eleazar dealt with those romans , whom they could by any train catch , and hanged them up upon the walls . whosoever also they could perceive would flee unto the romans , they hanged them likewise over the walls to the number of . but titus gave commandment to all his souldiers , that no man , upon pain of death , should kill any of them that fled out of jerusalem . for he took pity of the israelites , and ceased not to speak friendly , and lovingly to the jerosolemites ; so that he went yet once again to the walls , and spake unto the jews in this sort . hear i beseech you the counsel of joseph , and come unto me that you may live , and not perish utterly . spare your people : why will you oppress them vexed with hunger , thirst , pestilence , and besieging ? but the seditious hearing titus speak , were wonderfully incensed , and intended to add mischief upon mischief , handling yet more cruelly the people of god. moreover , they railed at titus ●…o provoke him to anger , that he might leave off speaking to the people , which had now almost lost their obedience and fear of the seditious . wherefore the seditious spake unto the romans , it is better for us to dye with hunger , and to be killed in this affliction , so to come to the bliss , and light we hope for , than to ●…ive , and see the most holy temple of god defiled and destroyed . when titus saw this , he commanded an iron-ram to be set to the wall to batter it , that he might deliver those poor wretches out of schimeon , eleazar , and jehochanans hands , who held them in as captives . at the same time as they erected that engine to the wall , it hapned there was in the camp a certain young man whose name was memaganin , son of antiochus of macedonia , one of the kings of the grecians , who came at vespasians commandment to aid titus . the same young man was very swift , a good runner , and a hardy souldier , but he lacked discretion . he came to titus and said , i cannot but marvel at thy souldiers that vanquish all nations , and dare not set upon the jews to kill them . titus hearing the young king say so , smiled and said ; how chances it , that being of this judgment , thou armest not thy self , and makest thee ready to do like as thou sayest ? why drawest thou not out thy sword to declare thy manhood upon them ? wherefore the young king incouraged himself , and called together all his macedonian souldiers , then approached to the jews , and began to skirmish with them , shooting with their bows and arrows apace . but at length the jews handled them so , that not one of the macedonians escaped , save only the young king , which by his good foot-manship and swift running , gat away , and returned to titus . this memaganin was of the kindred of alexander the great , king of macedonia , which had the dominion of the whole world , and whom all nations and people stood in awe of . josephus the priest demanded of him whose son he was ? he answered , i came of the seed of alexander , i am the tenth from him . joseph said , it may well be as thou hast said , that thou art of the succession of alexander , for the valiantness of thy heart that thou hast shewed declareth no less . howbeit thou shalt understand that the romans have done wisely to abstain from the assault at this time , because they knew they should have to do with a most valiant nation , which thou having so well tried , mayest report and testify when thou art asked the question . after this , titus divided his whole army , and layed them privily in ambushes round about the walls . he prepared moreover rams of iron to batter the walls . of these four , one he planted upon the side of the place called antochia ; the engine was thirty cubites long . the same night captain jehochanan with his company issued forth , and undermined the ground under the wheels of the wagons that bare the rams , putting pitched boards , oyled , and done over with brimstone , in the trenches under the wheels ; and under the boards , they spread leather , which likewise was smeared and done over with pitch , oyl , and brimstone . then they set fire upon the boards , which burnt till they came to the feet of the rams : and they being set on fire and burnt , the engins fell upon the watch that was appointed to keep it being asleep , and killed them . whereat the romans were much dismayed , and said , it is not possible we should assault this city hereafter : for they have burnt all our engins of war , wherewith we have subdued all other kingdoms : so that now of fifty iron rams which we brought with us , we have but six left , and the seditious jews have burnt three of them , what shall we now do ? how shall we batter the walls hereafter ? the jews upon the walls hearing their words flouted them , and laught them to scorn . wherefore titus incensed with anger , commanded the other three rams to be addressed in the place of those which were burnt . in the mean season , while the romans were at work , four young men moved with great zeal , whose names were , first thopatius galileus , then magarus chebronita , the third jorminus schomronita , the fourth arius jerosolymita . these all armed , issued out of the camp of the romans , that then stood about their three engins and iron rams , devising how to batter the walls of the city ; of whom , some these young men killed , the other fled . then two of them stood at defence to keep off all them that approached nigh the engins , whilethe other two , jerusolymitanus and schomronita daubed the timber , with a certain matter which they had prepared to make it take fire , and straightway set fire upon them , so that suddenly the rams were on a light fire , then they all four joyning together withstood the romans , that they should not come at the engins to quench the fire . shortly the rams fell down , and the romans stood aloof , hurling stones and shooting thick at them : for they were afraid to come nigh them , because of their great fierceness , although they were three thousand men that kept the rams . yet these four set nothing by them , nor yet never went off the ground , till the rams were clean burnt up , shot the romans never so thick at them . titus hearing the valiantness of these young men , and the harms they had done unto the romans , made speed with his whole hoste to save the rams from the fire , and to apprehend those young men . then forthwith issued out schimeon , jehochanan , and eleazar , captains of the seditious , with their souldiers , sounding their trumpets , and made the romans retire , that they could not come nigh the fire , and so rescued the four young men from the romans that had environed them round about . in that skirmish were killed ten thousand and five hundred men . then gathered together all the whole army of the romans to assault the jews at once , approaching hard to the walls of jerusalem , where they cryed unto the jews , saying ; what , are you oxen or goats , that you fight on this fashion upon the walls ? will you be taken in the midst of the city , like as oxen and goats are taken in their folds ? if ye be men , come forth and let us try our manhood here in this plain . but you by stealth and at unawares set upon them that keep our engins , snatching them up like as it were wolves should snatch sheep , then run away into the town , as the wolves run into the wood , if there be any manhood in you , behold we are ready here , come forth to us , so many for so many , and then we shall see what end will come thereof . when the captains of the seditious heard that , they spake unto the warriours that were in jerusalem ; which of you will go out with us to these dogs , to shew our force and stomachs , for the sanctuary and city of the lord ? then five hundred tall fellows of their own accord , issued out upon the romans suddenly , and slue eight thousand men , and compelled the rest to retreat from the walls . the romans then felt what valiantness the jews had ; for the romans were in number fourty thousand fighting men , and the jews were only five hundred , whereof not one of them was killed in that skirmish . the romans a far off shot at the jews , and hurled stones ; to whom the jews said ; come hither to us , are you not they that called us forth , and provoked us to come to you ? why come ye not now nearer ? you go about to drive us away with arrows and stones . what do you think us to be dogs , and that we are afraid of your stones ? are we not men , yea , we are your masters and betters , for you r●…n away from us as servants flee from their masters , when they follow them to beat them . titus seeing his army to be part of them fled , and part to be slain , he cried to his people , saying : is it not a shame for you , ye romans , and a wonderfull great dishonor , to flee from the jews , so hunger beaten , famished , almost dead for thirst , and besieged ? alas , how shall ye put away this your rebuke , and ignominy ? when as all nations , which heretofore ye have most valiantly subdued , shall hear that ye flee from these dead jews , whose whole land we h●…ve in possession ; so that they have nothing left but this only town , which we have all battered , that they have but one only wall to defend themselves . besides this , they are very few , we are innumerable ; they have no nation to aid them , we have help of all lands : why then do ye flee from their sight , like as small impotent birds flee from the eagle . what though the jews vow and hazard themselves desperately for their temple and land ; why do you not the same also in these wars , to get you a renown of valiantness . but the jews prevailed that day , and had the upper hand ; wherefore they returned into the town with great glory , having put the romans to so great a foil . titus commanded his to address and prepare the other two rams that were left , to batter the walls of jerusalem withall : wherefore the roman carpenters cast a trench , to prepare and set up the rams in such places as titus had assigned them . the jews were aware of it well enough , but winked at that matter as yet , untill they had planted the master beams between the standing posts . so when the work was finished , even to the hanging up of the engins betwixt the standing posts ●…o shake the wall withall ; the romans being secure and void of care , nothing mistrusting that the jews would stir , because they had been quiet a few nights , and never issued forth of the city : upon a certain night , a pretty while before day , the three principall captains of the seditious , came and cast their heads together , to devise what they should do . eleazar gave this counsell , and said ; you two the last time issued out , and burnt three rams , and got you renown , and i kept the gates the while ; now keep ye the gates , and i will issue out with my men against the romans to get me a name also . the other answered , go then on gods name unto them , the lord god of the sanctuary which is in jerusalem shall be present with thee , but beware thou be not slain , and in any wise thou be not taken alive ; to whom he answered , the lord god shall keep me , for upon the trust of the righteousness of my father ananias the high priest , and his sincere service unto god , i will set upon them . eleazar therefore chose . valiant souldiers , and with them he issued out of the town before day : the same night the romans had made fires about their engines where they watched , because of the cold : the artificers and souldiers that kept the watch and ward about the romans , were in number a hundred and fifty . the day was the . of the month of september , which was the ninth month that titus had besieged jerusalem . eleazar and his company thus being issued out , came and found some of the romans snorting about the fires , other watching in their wards , and killed them all , that not one remained . then some of eleazars company set fire upon the rams , burnt the standing posts , ropes , chains , and other instruments of war ; the artificers that were there , they apprehended alive and burnt them , so that no man escaped . when it was day , titus observed the smoak of the fire , mounting up very foul , and stinking of the wood and men together ; he drew towards the place therefore with his host , to see what the matter was : eleazar in the mean season , and his company , took as they might get , every man a piece of the engins out of the fire , or some of their heads that they had killed , and returned with great joy , flouting the romans , and laughing them to scorn by the way , till they came to the gates of jerusalem , where they were received of schimeon , and jehochanan with great honour . soon after this , came many souldiers and great bands of men out of all nations , that were subject to the empire of the romans , to aid titus ; to whom titus declared what had hapned him in that siege , the stoutness of the jews , and how they had annoyed many waies the roman army , adding moreover and asking them ; did you ever see four men withstand ten thousand , and five hundred , so that they being all together , could neither overthrow them , nor take them prisoners ? but the four slew them , like as it had been tops of coucumbers smitten off with most sharp swords ? when they heard this , they wondred all very much . then titus spake unto his host , and to them which were newly repaired unto him , to shew their advice and best counsel what was to be done , lest we should be ashamed ( saith he ) before all them that shall hereafter hear of our wars . the gravest and most ancient of the nations that were newly come to his aid , answered ; if it please your majesty , let the romans breath a while and take their rest , which are now wearied with the sundry battels of the jews : and we , who are not so broken with labour , but fresh and lusty , shall try what the jews can do ; we cannot think that they are able to withstand so great a multitude . but the princes of the romans desired titus that he should not permit them this , lest he should increase their own sorrows , if peradventure they should be discomfited ( say they ) of the jews , and the matter redound unto their own shame . for if we which are acquainted with them , and know their manner of fight , cannot sustain their violence , how shall they do it that never had proof of the strength and force of the jews ? they shall be to them like hyssop which groweth upon the walls , in comparison of the cedar-trees of libanus . the other said , nay , they should do well enough with them . and they urged titus so instantly , that they constrained him to grant them their desire . then titus gave them leave to set upon the jews , thinking with himself , peradventure the jews may be put to the worse of these men that will fight without fear , not knowing the force of the jews : for the romans that have had trial of their strength , fight fearfully and warily . so the lords of the strange nations , chose out of their armies eighty thousand men ; ten thousand macedonians , twenty thousand britains , five thousand aramites , ten thousand africans , ten thousand valiant burgundians , five thousand redarans ; last of all , ten thousand persians and chaldeans . these therefore went into the plain which is by the sepulcher of jehochanan the high priest , and from thence made an assault upon the jews that were upon the walls , setting up their scaling ladders . jehochanan said to schimeon and eleazar , his two companions ; if you think good , i will issue forth , and skirmish with these uncircumcised , to let them see what i can do . schimeon answered , let two of us do it , and the third keep the gates and walls ; for thou alone art able to do nothing against them , they are so many . eleazar allowed this advice , offering himself to bear jehochanan company . schimeon bad them go , saying , the lord of the sanctuary give them into your hands , and deal not with you at this time according to your works . then jehochanan and eleazar issued with one thousand five hundred good men of war , the ninth day of the moneth tebeth , which was the tenth moneth that titus had besieged jerusalem , and overthrew of the gentiles of that host fifty seven thousand and five hundred men , besides three thousand whom they took prisoners : but of the jews were no more slain in that fight than only seven , whose bodies with much rejoycing and great triumph they carried with them into the town , and buried them there , lest peradventure the uncircumcised should have misordered them . the gentiles that were left , with great shame and dishonour returned unto titus , who reprehended them because they would not believe the romans . the next day following , the jews brought forth the three thousand nobles and gentlemen that they had taken prisoners , and plucked out of every one of them an eye , and cut off every man the one hand , after sent them back with shame and reproach to titus's camp. then titus consulted with all his princes what were best to do with the israelites : and when every man had said his mind , he liked never a mans counsel , but said unto them ; well , i have devised this with my self , which i will follow , and no man shall bring me from my purpose : we will keep the siege without any assault or skirmish , for their victuals failed them long ago , and so they shall be famished . besides this , when they shall see us cease to fight with them , they will fall at variance amongst themselves , and kill one another . this counsel was thought good of all titus's princes , wherefore they besieged the town as titus commanded , and closed up all the wayes of the city round about , lest the jews should as they had done before , come upon them unawares . they appointed moreover , watch day and night , to take heed that no man should come out of the town to gather herbs for their sustenance . then encreased the hunger in jerusalem , which if it had not been so grievous , the city had never been won : for the souldiers of the town were lighter than eagles , and fiercer than lions . there died therefore of the famine wonderful many of the jerusolemites , so that the jews could not find place to bury them in , they were so many in every place of the town . many cast their dead folks into their wells , and tumbled afterwards in themselves and died . many also made themselves graves , and went into them alive , where they tarried day and night and died unmourned-for . for all mourning and accustomed lamentation for the dead was left off , because of the unmeasurable famine , which was so great that it cannot be told , and i cannot relate the thousandth part of the mischief that followed of the hunger . titus seeing the innumerable carkases of the dead that were cast into the brook cedron like dung , was wonderfully amazed with fear , and stretched out his hands toward heaven , saying , lord god of heaven and earth , whom the israelites believe in , cleanse me from this sin , which surely i am not the cause of : for i required peace of them , but they refused it , and they themselves are cause of this mischief , they have sinned against their own souls and lives : i beseech thee , impute it not to me for a sin , that the jews die on this manner . at that time , certain wicked persons of jerusalem slandered amittai the priest falsely , saying to captain schimeon , behold , amittai the high priest , which did let thee into the city , goeth about to flee to the tents of the romans . thou hast experience of his great wit and wisdom , how he also knoweth all the secret wayes into the town , temple , and sanctuary ; and who can tell whether he will bring the romans some night at midnight into the city ? therefore schimeon sent certain to fetch amittai and his four sons unto him . they that were sent , brought amittai and but three of his sons , for one was fled to the romans , and came to joseph . when amittai with the other were brought to schimeons presence , he besought him he might not live , but to be put to death by and by , lest ( saith he ) i should live to see the death of my children . but schimeon was hard-hearted , and would not be intreated : for it was gods will that amittai should be punished , because he was the bringer of schimeon into jerusalem ; and therefore fell he into his hands , which for good rewarded him with evil . schimeon commanded a sort of murderers to place amittai upon the walls in the sight of the romans , and said unto him ; seest thou , amittai ? why do not the romans deliver and rescue thee out of my hands ? thee i say , which wouldest have fled away unto them ? amittai answered nothing to this , but still besought him before his death , he might kisse his sons , and bid them farewell ; but schimeon utterly denied him . wherefore amittai wept aloud , saying to his sons ; i brought ( dear children ) , i brought this thief into this town●… , wherefore i am counted now for a thief my self : all the mischief which is come upon me , and you , it is mine own doing , because i have brought this seditious villain into this holy city ; i thought then , peradventure he will be a help to the town , but it is proved contrary ; for he hath been a most cruel enemy to the same . it was not enough for us to keep one seditious person , jehochanan , i mean , which took unto him eleazar , the first beginner of sedition ; but i must bring in also this wicked schimeon , which is joyned to our foes to destroy us . indeed i never brought him in for any love that i bare unto him , but all the priests and the whole multitude of the people sent me to fetch him ; notwithstanding , i am worthy of this just judgement of god , because i took upon me such an embassage . what should i speak of thee , thou most wicked schimeon , for whithersoever thou turnest thee , thou bringest all things out of frame : indeed , thou dea●…est justly with me , because i have sinned unto god , to his people , and his city , in that i have brought thee in , to be a plague to it ; wherefore i am worthy to be stoned . notwithstanding , it had been thy part , thou wicked murderer , to deliver me and my sons from the hands of the other seditious , for i have wrought them displeasure ; but to thee have i done good : howbeit our god will not alter , nor change his judgements , which is , that i should fall into the sword of thy hand , for that i made thee to enter into this city , wherein i offended god grievously . if i had purposed to flee unto the romans , could i not have done it before i brought in thee ? for at that time bearedst thou no rule over us , and before we called in thee , jehochanan with his sedition , was an offence unto this city ; wherefore we perswaded all the ancients of the town , that thou shouldest be an aid unto us , to drive out our foes : but thou in whom we put our trust , art become our enemy : yea , thou hast been worse than they ; for the other put men to death privily , thou dost it openly . who is he that hath strengthened the power of the romans ? art not thou he which hast killed the souldiers of god in the midst of the city of jerusalem ? for few have been slain without . titus would have made peace with us , taking pity upon us , but thou didst lett and hinder it , every day moving new wars , and stirring new battels . titus gave charge to his souldiers , to lay no hand upon the temple ; but thou hast polluted and defiled the temple of the lord , shedding blood without measure in the midst thereof . titus went back from us upon the holy day of the lord , and ceased from fighting ; saying , go and observe your holy feasts in peace : but thou unhallowedst the feasts of the lord , and puttedst out the continual fire with innocent blood ? all these evils which thou hast committed ( thou murderer ) are imputed unto me , because i brought thee into the town : now therefore this vengeance is appointed to mine age by the lord god , and by thy hands shall i go to my grave with sorrow , because i by my foolishnesse was an actor in this mischief that is wrought by thee . albeit now , thou wicked schimeon , in this that thou killest me , ere that mine eyes may see the burning of the temple , it pleaseth me very well . but what needest thou , murderer , to put my sons to death before my face ? why doest thou not spare mine age ? would god that as i shall not see the burning of the temple , so also i might not see the blood of my children shed before my face . but what shall i do , when god hath delivered me into the hands of a most wicked man ? we that were the ancients of jerusalem , abhorred jehochanan because he murdered old men without all reverence , but he slew no young men ; thou destroyest old and young , great and small , without any pity or mercy : jehochanan mourned for the dead , and buried them also ; but thou playest upon instruments at their burials , singest to the lute , and soundest the trumpet . then spake he to schimeons servant , who was ready with a sword in his hand , and an axe , to kill him , and to cut off his head ; s●…ying , go to now , and execute schimeon thy master's commandment ; behead the sons in the sight of their father , and let me hear the voice of thy cruelty in my sons , which notwithstanding i forgive thee ; for as i shall hear and see that , against my will ; so , i dare say , thou killest them not willingly . would god that schimeon would suffer me to kisse my sons , and whiles i am yet living to embrace them ere they die . but thou , gentle minister , in one thing shew thy pity towards me , that when thou hast put my sons and me to execution , separate not our bodies , neither lay their corps asunder from mine , but so , that my body may lie uppermost and cover theirs , to defend them from the fowls of the air , lest they devour my sons bodies ; for it so may come to passe , that they may be buried : i beseech thee also , that my mouth and lips when i am dead , may touch my sons faces , that so i may both embrace and kisse them . but what do i delay , or linger any longer , seeing the enemies deny me this , to kisse them vvhiles vve are yet alive ? see thou therefore that our bodies be not severed , and if schimeon will not permit this , that our bodies may be joyned in this world , yet can he not lett our souls to be joyned ; for after i shall be once dead , i doubt not but i shall see the light of the lord. his sons hearing their fathers words , began to weep very sore with their father , who said unto them , alas my sons ! why weepye ? what avail tears ? why do ye not rather go before me , and i will follow as i may ? for , what should i do now , seeing god hath given me into the hands of a most cruel tyrant , who spareth neither mine age , nor your youth ? but i trust we shall live together in the light of the lord : and although i cannot be suffered now to see you enough , yet when we shall come thither , we shall be satisfied with beholding one another . go ye therefore , my dear sons , and prepare us a place . o that i might go before you : the lord knoweth i would do it gladly . but ye my sons , marvel not at this that is chanced unto us , for it is no new thing . the like hapned before this , in the time of the chasmonanites , when as antiochus by his wickednesse put to death the seven brethren , young men , in the sight of their mother , which was a righteous and godly woman , who chanced to find this mercy at the lords hands , that she might ●…sse her sons and embrace them , as they also kist one another before they died . although they were put to death by the cruelty of the uncircumcised king of the macedonians : yet obtained they that , which is denied at this day to us that are put to death by schimeon , who ha●…h ●…he name of an ●…sraelite , who beareth also the covenant of our father abraham in his flesh . and would to god that we might live in their ●…nne or place of rest , which albeit it will not be granted , yet we shall be their neighbours , seeing that we also die for the law of the lord. therefore be of good comfort ( my sons , ) and lament not for my sake . for i judge this my misery easier , and not so great as the calamity of zedekiah , whose sons were first killed , then his eyes put out by the king of chaldea , and he lived many years after : we are so much the more happie in my mind , because we shall die together . then said amittai to schimeons servant which should kill him , make speed , i pray thee , and kill me first before my children die , then after kill them also , that we may die together : for it is more expedient for us , than to see the temple of the lord turned into a butchery or slaughter-house to slay men in . after cryed he to god , saying , i beseech thee , o lord god most high , which dwellest in the highest , judge this schimeon according to his works , reward him according to his deservings . for thou art the god almighty and dreadfull , let not this destroyer die therefore among the people of thy pasture : but that his death may be severed from the death of other men , let him die a horrible and sudden death , let him have no time to confesse his sins , and to return himself to thee , that thou mayest receive him ( for thou wert wont to receive them which turn to thee by repentance ) : for he is not worthy of repentance , which hath spoiled and wasted many goodly things in thy temple ; besides that , hath murdered most holy men in the same . to the intent therefore that thy judgements may be declared in him , i beseech thee , make him to be taken captive of his enemies , together with his wife , children , and family , and all that ever love him . neither give unto his soul any part with the people of god ; nor let his portion be with the just men in thy sanctuary ; for he is unworthy of them , because he hath not only sinned himself , but hath caused israel to sin . wherefore let his judgement and sentence go forth from thy sight , that he may see his wife , children , and his whole house , led into captivity and bondage before his face . afterward , let him die a strange death , such as never man heard of : let him be killed by most cruel men , which , when they have smitten him , may after quarter him also whiles he is yet alive , and that he may see his children go into bondage . let him also be a curse before all that shall see him . moreover , let him perceive that my words and destiny is better than his , when as i go unto thee , in that great light which he shall be deprived of . after these words , amittai said to the servant who was appointed to kill him : i beseech thee , let me find so much favour at thy hands , that when thou hast slain my sons , thou wouldst kill me with the same sword , while it is yet wet with the blood of my sons , that our blood may be mingled ; and this may be a recreation to my soul. kill me also in the fight of the romans , that they may avenge me and my sons , upon this most cruel schimeon ; they shall be witnesses against him , that i was not their friend . but would god my affaires were all in that state as they were before ; for then should they perceive me to be an enemy of schimeons , and a friend of theirs . would god i had withstood schimeon at the first earnestly , as i made war upon the romans , that i might have avoided his cruelty from the people of god. when he had said all these things , he prayed before god almighty , saying , o god which dwellest in the highest , thou only art most mighty and fearful , open now the eyes of thy judgements , consider and judge betwixt me and seditious schimeon , whose malice is become unmeasurable upon the people of god , that he which sheddeth the blood of them that fear thee in the midst of the temple , may be rebuked of thee with rebukings , according to his works : make speedy vengeance and prolong not , and that for the deaths sake of thy saints ; for thy judgements are the judgements of truth . then schimeon gave commandment to four cut-throats of his , that three of them should kill amittai's three sons before their fathers face , and the fourth should kill amittai himself , and so the blood of the sons was mixt with the blood of their father . afterward schimeons servant took the body of amittai , and laid it upon the bodies of his sons , as his desire was , then tumbled them over the walls : after that , schimeon commanded that chanacus the high priest should be put to death , whose body was cast unto the bodies of amittai and his sons . aristus also the scribe , one of the noble men of jerusalem , was killed at the same time , and ●…en just men more of his kindred and house , because the●… mourned for the death of aristus . it hapned while schimeon was killing of those ten , certain substantial rich men passed by , and were wonderfully amazed when they saw the thing , saying one to another , how long will god suffer the malice of schimeon , and will not search out the blood of just men , nor revenge them ? certain seditious persons hearing this , told it unto schimeon , who commanded them to be apprehended , and murthered the same day . after this , there passed by eleven of the noble men of jerusalem , which seeing fourty two innocents to be put to death by schimeon , they lift up their eyes to the heavens , and said , o lord god of israel , how long wilt thou hold thy hand , and not execute thine anger against these transgressours of thy will ? which when schimeon heard of , he commanded them to be apprehended , and killed them with his own hands . eleazar the son of anani the priest , seeing the malice and wickednesse of schimeon to be great , and that he destroyed the just and godly men of the city , and that there was no hope left , he betook himself to the tower of jerusalem , remained in it , and kept it with his . jehudas also , a captain over a thousand men , which kept a turret that schimeon had made to put just and good men in , got him upon the top of the walls , and cryed to the romans , if peradventure they would deliver him , and the rest that were at jerusalem . wherefore he went about to escape with his one thousand men that he had with him , and came towards the romans . but the romans trusted them not , thinking he had spoken this for deceit , wherefore they came not to help him . schimeon upon this killed jehudas , and the thousand men which he had with him , and commanded their bodies to be tumbled over the walls , in the sight of the romans . then schimeon cryed to the princes and captains of the romans , saying : lo , these are jehudas company , these would have come forth unto you , take their carcases to you , and revive them again if you can , or else deliver the rest which yet live , out of our hands . gorion the priest , father of joseph the priest , who wrot this book to the israelites , was at that time in bonds and prison , in a certain turret , a man of great age , being a hundred and thirty , and no man could come unto him , nor from him ; joseph therefore went to the turret where his father was kept , to understand how he did . he beheld also the turret afar off , if he might espv his father , and comfort him . and as he passed by looking up to the turret , the seditious hurled a stone at him , which hit him on the head , that it overthrew him . the seditious seeing joseph cast out of his chariot , determined to go down unto him ; but when titus had knowledge thereof , he sent a great strength to help him up again , and to defend him , that his enemies did him no wrong . the seditious , going about to take joseph , sounded a trumpet very loud , which when josephs mother that was kept in schimeons house heard , being now years of age , asked what was the cause of the hurly burly ; they told her that the seditious issued out at that shout against joseph to take him : when she heard that , by and by she run out of the house that she was kept in , and climbed up the walls , as lustily as th●…ugh she had been a young girle of years old , ●…ore her hair , and cryed out , weeping , and saying before all them that were present ; is my hope then come to this ? could i ever have looked that i should have overlived my son , and that i should not be suffered to see him , and to bury him ? i had trusted he should have buried me , and that he should have been a help to me in mine age ; and when my whole family by the seditious was almost made away , and extinguished , yet i said , this shall comfort me . now therefore , what shall i do , when i have none left to comfort me , of all my children that i bare ; for between the seditious and the gentiles our enemies , they have slain . sons that i had ; and what shall i do now from henceforth , but covet death , for i desire not to live now any longer ? and how should i receive any consolation , when i see my son dead , and i cannot bury him ? lord ! that i might dye by and by , for i cannot live any longer , since my son joseph is now dead . she went up yet further upon the walls , till she came to the turret where her husband was in prison , and stretch't out her hands towards heaven , crying with a loud voyce , o my son joseph , my son , where art thou ? come and speak unto me , and comfort me . the seditious hearing her , laught her to scorn ; but the romans when they heard her , and understood by joseph that it was his mother , they wept and lamented her case , and many of the jews also that were in jerusalem ; but they were fain to refrain it , lest they should be perceived of schimeons cruell cut-throats . then josephs mother said to the seditious that were with her upon the walls , why do ye not kill me also , which bare joseph my son , and nurst him with these breasts ? ye enemies of the lord have murdered him with other just men ; why kill ye not me also ? god be judge betwixt me and you , who have killed my son gui●…tlesse : the seditious answered her , canst thou not if thou list , tumble down over the wall and die ? we will give thee leave ; when thou hast done so , the romans shall take thee up , and bury thee honourably , because that thou art josephs mother , who is their friend . she answered , how sha●…l i do this evil unto my self , to kill my self , and constrain my soul to go forth of my body , before that ●…od doth call it ? if i should do so , i should have no hope left in the world to come ; for no body will bury them , whom they perceive to have killed themselves . these , and such like , while she reasoned wisely , the seditious heard , and mocked her : wherefore she wept the more abundantly , so that the romans , and some godly men , hearing her wisdom , could not abstain from weeping . joseph when he heard the voice of his mother , got on armour , and approached to the wall , accompanied with most valiant romans , to defend him from the arrows of the jews , and spake to his mother . fear not , my dear mother , nor take any thought for me , for i have escaped the hands of the seditious , god hath not suffered me to come into their hands : wherefore i have heard the words of these wicked counsellours , that advised thee to kill thy self , and thine answer to them , which before thou gavest them i knew thou wouldest answer : god forbid , say i , god forbid , that josephs mother and the wife of gorion , should consent to the counsel of the wicked . wherefore , ( my dear mother ) be content , and bear the yoke of the seditious patiently , and humble thy self before them : neither strive against the miseries and calamities of this time , which thou caust not alter , nor remedy . for they shall perish , but we shall stand and continue . there were certain men of jerusalem at that time , that came to the gates , overcame the ward , and got out with their wives and children , and so escaped to the romans , because they could no longer abide the famine , and the iniquity of the seditious . they were faithful citizens , and of great authority ; whom when joseph heard of , he so prevailed , that titus spared them , and received them to mercy . for joseph bare witnesse , and reported of them , that they were noble men of jerusalem ; wherefore the romans received them , and gave them food and sustenance ; but certain of them could not brook nor take it , because of their great hunger wherewith they had been long pined , and when the meat descended down into their bellies , they died straight . their little children also , when they saw bread , they fell upon it , and received it indeed with their teeth , but they were not able to chew it , and died holding the bread between their teeth . titus seeing them die when they tasted the meat , had pity and compassion upon them , and was very sorry , saying unto joseph , what shall i do for thy people , which assoon as they begin to eat , die straightway ? joseph answered , my lord , i remember i have seen this experience , that they which fast long , and after would take meat , first they must drink a little sodden milk , or else eat of a certain corn called simel , sodden in milk , wherewith they strengthen their bowels before they take meat ; especially such as walked through wildernesses , whose bowells were long empty , when they came to places inhabited and found meat , they were wont to use this means . therefore titus commanded his men to do as joseph bad them , whereby many of the jews recovered , and many died of the flux . these jews which escaped thus out of jerusalem to the camps of the romans had swallowed their gold , silver , and precious stones , to hide them , lest they should be found of the seditious . they therefore which recovered and brooked meat , when they would satisfie nature , they went alone out of the camp , and after sought their gold and silver and precious stones , which were digested in their excrements , and so did they every day . at length certain aramites and arabians , espying the jews to use this fashion , told it amongst their fellows , one to another , and made a conspiracy to lay wait for the jews , and whomsoever they got , they ript their bellies , to find the gold and other jewels which the jews had hid there . and by this means the aramites and arabians had murthered two thousand jews . but when titus heard of this he was wonderful wroth , and commanded them to be apprehended that had done this wicked deed , and to be put to death , whose goods were given to the jews that remained alive . they that were put to death for this fact , were two thousand aramites and arabians together . after this , titus espyed the princes and captains to have decked their armour with gold and silver , some of them also to wear golden scepters , and some scepters of silver , with other ornaments upon their heads : he called them together , and said unto them , lay away this vain ostentation , these things are they that provoked the aramites and arabians to work this wickedness , against these poor miserable jews which fled forth unto us , that they might live under our protection . the captains therefore and princes of the romans hearing titus commandment were obedient , and straight laid away from them those ornaments of gold and silver . titus also gave commandment , that the rest of the arabians and aramites shou d be banished the camp , and that no man hereafter should commit any such haynous deed against the jews . notwithstanding , when as any aramite or arabian could get any jew far out of the camp that no man might see it , he killed him . of the romans in the camp , no man either did , or said , any evil unto the jews , save certain ungodly ruffians , which had learned of the aramites and arabians , those evil and wicked pranks : for they also when they chanced to meet with any jew out of the camp , if there were no man by , they killed him , and took away his gold and silver that lay hid in his bowels . when this came to titus's ear , he commanded to make proclamation in this wise : whosoever he be that hath seen , heard , or known any thing of this horrible deed , which is committed of certain romans upon the jews ; or whosoever hath done any such thing himself , let him come and make relation unto titus , which if he do , the matter shall be forgiven him , if not , he shall bear the burden of his own wickednesse , and stand at his peril , if any thing be proved against him hereafter . therefore certain romans who were conscious to themselves that they had committed the deed , and being afraid of titus , reasoned with themselves thus : if we do not confesse unto him the truth , he will by his wisdom search out these offenders , and punish them to death ; wherefore trusting unto titus's words of the proclamation , they came all , whosoever had either done it himself , or known other to do it ; and declared it to titus , saying , this have i done , this have i known , this was i accessary unto , and have not hitherto made thee privy thereunto . there were of them in number ●… men , that made this confession ; all those titus commanded to be cast into hot ovens , and to be burned . this done , the jews were more safe ever after in the romans camp without any jeopardy , no man hurting them , either in word or deed ; yea , if any roman found a jew abroad wandring , he conducted him gently and peaceably into the camp. there was a certain scribe of jerusalem at that time , a faithful man , whose name was menachen , son of seruk the scribe , whose ancestours had served esdras the scribe of worthy memory , in babylon ; and being a keeper of the east gate which was in jerusalem , upon that side towards the brook kidron , noted the number of the dead that were carried forth to burying by that gate , and found they came to . thousand , eight hundred and eight persons , which were all of the nobles and gentlemen ; or , at least , of the substantiallest men of the jews . titus upon a time ( joseph being present ) asked the question of those princes of the jews which were fled unto him , saying , i charge you upon your fidelity , to shew me how many jews be dead in the town , since the time i besieged it to this day . they gave him the number therefore , every man as far as they knew , of the dead that were carried forth at all the gates to be buried , and the sum amounted to . besides them that every where lay dead in the houses and streets ; and besides them also that were slain in the temple , and they that lay here and there unburied : which when titus heard , he marvelled greatly , and said , it is well known to the lord god of heaven , that i am not the cause of these evils , for i desired to be at peace with them oftner than once , but the seditious evermore would have nothing but war war. chap. iii. at that time the hunger began to wax very great in the town ' , amongst the seditious , who never lackt before , for they took it alwaies from other men by force , till now at length they were distressed with hunger themselves , so that after they had eaten up all their horses , they ate also their dung , and the leather of the chariots ; neither was there left any green boughes on the trees , nor any herbs , that the seditious might get to eat . for the romans had hewed down all the trees , and cut down all the bushes round about jerusalem , by the space of thirteen miles , so that the whole field and territory of jerusalem was spoyled , which heretofore was replenished with marvellous goodly gardens , and most pleasant paradises . after that the romans made up another iron ram , very terrible ; this they bended against the walls , to see if there were any souldiers left in the town , so stout as they were in times past : when the captains of the seditious saw that , they issued out with their companies against the romans , and slue very many of them in that skirmish . wherefore titus said , it is not wisdom to fight with them any more , but rather with the rams to shake and batter the wall , for they have no more but this wall left , and so we may bring our whole army at once upon them , and subdue the seditious . this counsell of titus was liked of all the princes and people . the captains of the seditious mistrusting what the romans intended , that they would be occupied hereafter in battering the wall , began to build a countermure within , overgainst the place where the romans wrought with their ram , which was in the plain by the tomb of jochanan the high priest , for there was none other place besides , that they might approach unto with their rams ; and there the rams had m●…de two breaches in the two other walls before the seditious made this countermure , because they were not able to burn the iron ram as they had done before , being now almost famished , and so pin'd away , that they could scarce stand upon their legs . for if they had been so lusty as they were before , and able to set the engines on fire , the romans had never been able to win the town , but should have been compelled to leave the assault , as they were constrained to give over skirmishing and fighting . on a certain time , when the romans fled , the seditious , pursuing and killing many of them , said , the romans will be weary , leave off their siege , and go their waies , that we may dwell at liberty , and turn to the lord our ●…od . and when they returned at this time ( or at any other time ) prosperously into the town , they oppressed the people more cruelly , exacting food of them , and saying , give us meat , if ye will not , we will eat your flesh , and your sons . but the romans took courage to themselves to fight stoutly , and said one to another ; let us stick to it hard , and be valiant in our fights : it shall be a shame for us to flee from these feeble and hunger-starved jews , which are more like dead images , than living persons . therefore they began most earnestly to set upon the walls , and to make a battery : suddenly , they beat down a great part of that inner wall which the jews had newly erected , and gave a great shout , saying , jerusalem is won , we have gotten the town . but when they looked a little further , they espyed another countermure raised over against the breach : wherefore the jews thorow the town gave also a great shout , and sounded their trumpets , rejoycing that they had another new countermure for that which was battered down . the same was in captains jehochanans ward . the romans seeing the countermure , and hearing the jews make such triumphs in the town , were much astonied , all their joy was dashed and turned into dumps , so that they could not tell what they should do with that stubborn people of jerusalem , which had done them such damages . the romans set upon the town again another way , whom titus willed to remove the engine , and to bend it to the new wall , whiles it was yet green and unsetled , saying ; let us batter it and we shall see it fall by and by , and then shall we enter the town . the roman captains followed not titus counsell , but scaled the walls which they had battered . the jews therefore defending their countermure ●…ought with the romans within the breach , repulsed them from the wall and the town ; and so having abated much the strength of the romans , returned to their quarters . then said some of the romans , we will never besiege this town any longer , for we shall not be able to get it while we live . and therefore let us break up and depart , before we be all destroyed with this siege : for except we do so , we shall be consumed therein . titus seei●…g his souldiers to make so hard a matter of the winning of the town , called them all together , and said unto them ; tell me now , ye roman captains , do ye not know that all wars and other business whatsoever they be , are more hard , and require greater diligence in the end , then in the beginning ? in which who so travel , if they faint in the end , do they not labour in vain ? even as your labour shall be in vain , if ye give over the siege now . consider a ship , when it hath compassed the whole sea , and is now ready to arrive at the shore , being troubled with a tempest , if the mariners should then be negligent , the ship may be easily lost , and all they which are in it perish , the mariners disappointed of their purpose , in that they shall not attain unto the place which they coveted to come unto . likewise builders , if they finish not their work , but leave off afore they make an end , is not all their labour lost and spent in vain ? husbandmen also , if they till their ground , and then sow it with seed , shall they not lose their pains , unless they will also mow it ? in like manner , you have fought very long against this city , many valiant captains and worthy men have been slain , and now you may see the strongest walls of the town are broken and made equall with the earth , the people your adversaries consumed with hunger , pestilence and sword : what shall it then avail you all that ever you have done , if you slack your diligence , and will not finish the work of the siege ? have ye not then imployed your labour in vain ? and why should this new wall so dismay you ? yea , why do you not prepare your selves to beat down this new wall , which yet is slenderer then the other three that ye have cast down ? if so be ye would determine to leave off the siege , had it not been better for you to have done it at the beginning , whiles your army was yet whole ? now , when as you are few , and your most valiant souldiers slain , why do you not rather choose to dye then to live ? did not you once enter this town , in the time of nero caesar , and defend the honor of his name ? now therefore when vespasian my father raigneth , who is not only of greater power then nero , but also more gentle toward you then ever was nero , if you should abate and slack your endeavour & diligence , it should be to your great shame and reproach . why take ye not example of these jews valiantness , whom now already , sword , pestilence , and famine bath wasted , so that they have no hope left : nevertheless , they fight still , and never give over . do you not see every day , how some of them issue out of their town , and boldly assail you , not without jeopardy of their lives , insomuch that oftentimes they die for it ? which things they do for none other cause , then to get them praise and renown for their great prowess . when titus had well debated these and such like things , in the ears of his souldiers , a certain valiant man named sabianus , said unto his fellows , who so dare go to assault these jews , let him come hither to me , that we may fulfill the command of caesars son our lord and captain . and forthwith he took his target , and his drawn sword in his hand , made toward the town with a eleven tall fellowes following him , whose valiantnesse and courage titus wondred at greatly . the jews kept their ward upon that part of the wall , where the romans had a repulse of late : so when they saw sabianus and his company draw fast toward them , they began to assail them with stones and arrows ; but sabianus setting light at them , charged home upon the jews . shortly one of the jews met with him , and gave him such a blow , that he felled him to the ground ; yet he gat up again , and fought for all that manfully ; and , as one that had rather leave his life , than the reputation of his valour , he did fight till another israelite came and ●…lew him out-right . three also of his fellows were killed fighting valiantly in that place ; the other . returned to the camp , so sore wounded , that they died the next day every one . further , other romans seeing sabianus act , and studying to do the like : the next night they took counsel about . of them , and agreed to assault the town . this their enterprise when they declared to the standard-bearer of titus , he and many other of the romans went with them . they all scaling together , and clammering up the breaches , gat up upon the wall , sounding a trumpet , and gave a great shout . the jews being at their rest , as men opprest with hunger and weariness ; and hearing this alarum and shout of the romans , were wonderfully amazed , not knowing what the matter was , or how they should defend themselves . titus also heard the shout : and when he had enquired the matter , he chose out certain valiant men , and drew towards the breaches with them . in the mean season , the day was broken , and the jews rising from their sleep , espyed titus , upon the walls , and marvelled thereat greatly . the romans therefore gathering toward titus , came very thick into the town , some by the breaches of the wall , and other some through the vault , whereby the jews were wont now and then to make irruptions , and to recover themselves within the town again . the jews set themselves in aray against the romans in the very entry of the temple : upon whom the romans ran with their drawn swords ; for they had no other armour , nor the jews neither , being so hastily taken at such a sudden . the battel waxed very hard , and wonderful vehement on both parties , the like was never seen in jerusalem , nor heard of , in any time : for every man clave hard to his next fellow , & no man could flee on any side . wherefore the battel waxt strong , with clamours and shouts on both parties : now the joyful shouts of the vanquishers , now the wailings on the other side , of them that were put to the worse . the romans encouraged and exhorted one another to fight , saying , this is the day which we have long looked for . the jews again took heart unto them , saying , it boots not to flee hence ; but , for the glory of the lord and his temple , let us die ●…anfully , as necessity constraineth us : and so doing , we shall be counted for sacrifices and offerings . which earnestnesse on both sides , filled the entry of the court of the lord with blood , that it stood like unto a pool or pond . and that fight continued from the morning , till that time four dayes . then a certain souldier of titus's , whose name was golinus , a valiant man , as was ever amongst all the company of kurtus , seeing the jews prevail , and to have the upper-hand of the romans , which now had left off fighting , and fled , the jews pursuing them : in a rage he ran against them , and met them at the wall which herod builded , called antochia , drove them back , and made them to take the entrance of the temple again , where , preasing into the forces of the jews , he was wounded of a certain jew . and when he perceived himself wounded , he would have lept back , but stumbled at a slone in the pavement of the court of the temple , and fell down , where he fought yet still , till a certain jew killed him out-right . he fought indeed very boldly and valiantly , but unwarily ; for he considered not his ground wherein he had to do with the jews . titus waiting for golinus return , and hearing him to be slain , would have gone himself to rescue the rest of his that were with him : but his men would not suffer him , fearing lest he himself should be slain . the jews therefore got the upper hand that day , and slew very many romans in that battel , spoyling them also ( which were killed ) of their armour . these were the names of the jews that made the skirmish : of the company of captain jehochanan , elasa , and iphtach ; of schimeons company , malchiah , and jaicob , a prince of the edomites ; and arsimon and jehuda , of the company of eleazar , the son of anani . these with their companies made this slaughter of the romans in the entrance of the temple , and drove them back to antochia , where they kept them up that they could not get out . wherefore when titus perceived that the antochia was in the romans way , and hindred them , he caused it to be razed and pulled down to the ground ; these things were done upon the fifth day of may , the third moneth , upon the even of the solemn festival day of weeks , which otherwise is called pentecost , and that was the th moneth from the beginning of titus's siege against this city . shortly after , upon the third day of the feast of weeks , the jews as many as were at jerusalem , kept holy dayes , and celebrated the feast . titus taking with him joseph the son of gorion , went into the house of the sanctuary , where the seditious and souldiers of the jews were gathered together ; and called unto jehochanan , and the rest of the captains of the seditious , to whom he spake by the means of joseph , being his interpreter , in this wise . what hath this temple offended thee ( thou seditious jehochanan ? ) why hast thou brought upon it this great evil and mischief ? if so be thou trust so much to thy strength , come forth to us with thy men into the fields , and we shall fight with thee thy fill . is not this your solemn festival day ? why then will ye fight in the place where ye should offer your sacrifice ? ye pollute and defile the sanctuarie of your god , and his name , and we spare it , knowing it is the house of god : and the only cause why we make war upon you , is your stubborn stiffe-neckednesse , that you will not submit your selves to us , whom god hath given the dominion unto , whose will ye labour in vain to disappoint . either therefore if ye will fight no more , humble your selves under our subjection , that ye may save your lives : or else , if ye be determined still desperately to fight with us , then get you forth from hence , and let us go into the fields , there to set our battels in aray . why wil you defile your sanctuarie , and hinder the worshipping of your god ? much more besides this spake titus , partly blaming their stubbornnesse , in that they had defiled their temple , and yet ceased not to pollute it more and more ; partly with fair words and gentleness , exhorting them to yeild , admonishing them not to resist so mighty an army , when as they could not do it without danger of utter destruction . these and many other things joseph expressed in hebrew to the people , as titus willed him , but the jews answered never a word ; for jehochanan had given charge , that no man should speak . then captain jehochanan answered titus himself , saying , we can offer no kind of sacrifice more acceptable to god , than to devote , hazard , and abandon our own bodies and blood , for his names sake : wherefore we will die free-men in this our town , and will never come in bondage to serve you . titus made him answer by joseph , saying , this your city , i grant , is a holy city , and your temple is most holy , which no man doth deny : but ye have grievously sinned , in that ye have polluted the temple of the lord your god , by shedding in it innocent blood of saints , and the priests of god , with other most godly and holy men . by what reason can ye then say , that ye shall be accepted for sacrifices , and offerings before god ? yea rather , god abhorreth and detesteth you utterly ; when as he requireth in his sacrifices , that they should have no default nor spot : but ye are all bespotted , so that no sound place is left in you . for tell me , ( i pray you ) if there be any more abominable spot in man , than sin , when he transgresseth the law of god , as ye have done ; neither is there any wisdom or intelligence in you . for wise men would wisely bear with the calamities of times , and know the courses of things . how then are ye so foolish to say that ye are an acceptable and well pleasing sacrifice to god , when as ye resist the will of god so proudly ? but thou jehochanan , and the rest of the seditious captains that are with thee . tell me , art thou not a mortal man , subject unto the griefs and vexations of this life , and worms meat as we be ? should he not displease thee , that should take away and violate a table or such like thing , prepared to the honour of thee ? and wouldst thou take it in good part , and hold him excused that should so do unto thee ? why then hast thou taken away the sacrifices of thy god out of his temple , and hast stuffed it with innumerable dead bodies ? who can see or hear this , and abstain from weeping , when he shall know so many israelites to have suffered death by thee , and schimeon , and eleazar thy fellows ? neither canst thou yet apply thy mind to cease and leave off thy malice , and yet neverthelesse perswadest thy self , that god is with thee , and that thou with thy fellows , art an acceptable and well-pleasing sacrifice unto god , nothing perceiving that your sins separate you , and keep you asunder more strongly than any brasen wall . it is true , i confesse , that it becometh every valiant man , to stand stoutly in the defence of his people , city , and country . for it is better to die valiantly , than to come into the subjection of his enemy that goeth about to pluck him from his religion , and drive him out of his country . but i came not hither for that intent , to draw you from your religion , nor to banish you out of your land , or else to destroy it and your cities : but this is the cause of my coming hither , to offer you peace , and to make a league with you , that ye should take upon you our yoke , and be our subjects as ye were before . where did you ever hear of a people in all the world , that hath shewed themselves so merciful and gentle , both towards other , and towards you , as we have done ? hannibal the captain of the carthaginians , after he had wasted our country , and at length was taken by us , was he not had in great honour and reputation of us , and with such civility handled , that we made him king of his people ? and so dealt we with antiocbus the macedonian , and other kings that we took prisoners . ye brag that ye keep the vigils and feasts of your god : why then follow ye not the example of jechoniah your king ? who to save the temple of your god from destruction , and lest your people also should be led away into bondage , or be destroyed with the sword , yielded himself and his house into the hands of the king of the chaldeos . why spare you not your own lives , your city , and sanctuary ? now therefore hearken unto me , and i will make a league with you before the god of this house , who shall be a witnesse betwixt me and you ; by whom i swear , that i will never break this league , neither do you any harm , nor spoil your goods , nor lead you away captive , nor yet constitute any ruler over you , but a jew of your own nation ; even joseph the priest which is with me , shall be your prince , if you think it good ; and all the faithful men also which are with me , shall return home again ; ye shall inhabite your own land , ye shall have the use of the fruits thereof with peace and quietnesse , without any corruption , or alteration of the service of your god ; wherefore credit me , and make a league with me . and that you may trust me the better , ye shall have pledges , joseph a noble-man of your own country , and other princes and noblemen of the romans . come forth therefore and treat a peace with us , bow your shoulders , and humble your necks to serve us , like as all other nations do , and as you have done your selves in the time of nero caesar , that ye may live and not be destroyed keeping your religion safe and sincere . joseph the priest hearing the words of titus and his clemency , in that he was minded to spare the jews , burst out aloud and wept in the presence of the captains , and of the seditious very bitterly : but they nothing regarded it . joseph therefore seeing that titus could do nothing with the seditious , said unto their princes , i marvel nothing that this city tends to desolation , and destruction , for i know the end of it is at hand . but this is it that i marvel most , that ye have read in the book of daniel , and understand it not , which is now fulfilled in all points , and yet never a one of you doth mark it : the continual sacrifice is already ceased a good while ago , the annointed priest is cut away , and put down . these things though they be most manifest , yet your hearts cannot believe them . and many other words spake joseph , full of admonition and consolation , but the jews refused to hear him : when he had made an end therefore , and the seditious had so hardened their necks , titus turned him , and departed out of jerusalem , saying , let us go hence , lest their sins destroy us . wherefore he pitched his tents without the city , in the same place where he encamped at first . for he was afraid both for himself and his army , lest they should be circumvented and closed in , and slain cruelly in so great city as that was . certain of the priests of that time , and of the nobles of the town , with other godly men , did wisely provide for themselves , and came forth to titus , submitting themselves to his mercy , and were received of him peaceably with great honour ; whom titus commanded to be conducted into the land of goshen , where in times past the israelites dwelt in the dayes of jacob their father , and joseph lord of egypt . thither sent he them , and gave it them in possession , to them and to their heirs for ever after ; commanding a company of the chaldees safely to conduct them , till they came to the land of goshen . titus directed his letter also to the roman president which was set over egypt , to take pity of the jews that he had placed in the land of goshen , to sustain and succour them , and to see that no roman nor other should do them harm , or annoy them by any manner of means . many other also of the jews coveted to go forth of jerusalem , but they were disappointed by the seditious , that they could not do as they intended . and who can tell whether they were entangled with their own sins , and destined to destruction with their seditious brethren , when as their hands also were polluted with the cruelty and iniquity of the seditious ? wherefore the seditious closed up all the walls about the temple , that none of the jews which were in jerusalem might get out to titus . when titus knew that many of the jews were desirous to flee unto him , and could not because of the seditious , he went again to the place where he was before , & joseph with him : whom when the people saw to be there with titus , they fell a weeping , and said unto him , we acknowledge our sins , and the transgression of our fathers , we have swerved out of the way , against the lord our god ; for we see now the mercy and gentlenesse of titus , the son of caesar , and that he taketh pity upon us ; but what can we do , when it is not in our power to flee unto him , because of the cruelty of the seditious ? the se●…itious hearing them talking with joseph , in the presence of titus , and that they spake reveren●…ly of him , and honoured his father , calling him lord , they ran upon them with their drawn swords to kill them ; then cr●…ed they unto titus , dear lord and master , rescue us : the romans therefore , made speed to deliver them out of the hands of the se●…itious ; so rose there a fray in the midst of the temple , between the romans , and the jews ; the romans fled into the place called sanctum sanctorum , which was the holiest of all , and the jews followed after , and slew them even there . titus standing without , cryed unto jehochanan , and said unto him : hearest thou , jehochanan , i●… not thy 〈◊〉 yet great enough ? wilt th●…u never make an end of mischief ? where is the honour of thy god ? is it not written in the law of thy god , of the sanctum sanctorum , that no stranger ought to come at it , but only the high priest , and that but once a year , because it is the holiest of all ? and now , how darest thou be s●… bold to kill those that are escaped unto it ? and how dare you ●…ed the blood of the uncircumcised therein , whom ye abhor , and yet mix their blood with yours ? the lord your god is my witness●… , that i would not have this house destroyed ; but your own wicked works , and your own hands do pull it d●…wn . and would god you would receive your peace , which if it were once done , we would honour this house of the sanctuarie and temple of the lord : yea , we would depart away from you . but your hearts are hardned like iron , and your necks and foreheads , are become obstinate as brasse , to your own undoing . for ye shall carrie your own sins , and die in the land of the romans ; i and my fathers house are innocent and guiltlesse of your death ; as the lord and his temple , in whose presence we stand , shall bear us witnesse this day . but when he saw that none of the seditious gave any regard to his words , he chose out of the romans , thirty thousand valiant fighting men , and gave them commandment to take and occupy the entry of the temple , which is a holy court , and determined to go with them himself ; but his nobles would not suffer him , but willed him to remain upon a high place , where he might behold his souldiers fight : and when they see thee afar off , their hearts shall be comforted , and they shall fight according as thou wilt wish them : but come not at the entry of the temple thy self , lest thou be destroyed amongst other . titus followed the counsel of his captains , and went not out at that time with his men to the battel . he made chief captains of that host of thirty thousand , one karilus and rostius , two great commanders , who had order to set upon the jews that night , when they should be asleep with wearinesse . the romans therefore doing after his commandment set upon the jews , but the jews having intelligence of the matter , kept diligent watch , and withstood the romans all the night . but the romans were not hasty to fight in the dark , fearing lest it might turn to their own harm . as soon therefore as it was day , the jews divided themselves , and bestowed their companies at the gates of the entrance , and fought like men . karilus and rostius beset the temple round about , that not one of the jews might escape out , and so the battel encreased between them for the space of seven dayes ; sometimes the romans getting the upper hand of the jews , driving them within the entrance : sometime the jews encouraging themselves , made the romans retire , and pursued them to the walls of the antochia : in this manner fought they these seven dayes . afterward the romans turned back from the jews , and would not fight hand to hand with them any more . then titus commanded , the walls of the antochia to be pulled down further , that there might be place for all his host to enter . the famine in the mean season grew more grievous , so that no food was left . for the jews began now to issue out , and steal horses , asses , and other beasts , whatsoever they could catch , even out of the romans camp , that they might dresse them some meat , and sustain their lives ; which they doing oftentimes , at length the romans perceived it , and were wonderfully displeased at the matter , wherefore they set watch and ward round about the camp , lest by the deceit of the jews , they should be spoiled of their cattel . so after that , the jews could steal no more thence . afterward notwithstanding , they armed themselves , and issued out at the east gate , and brake the wall that titus had raised for his own safety , lest the jews should issue out upon a sudden , and come upon him at unawares . a sort of tall fellows therefore of the youth of the jews , i●…ued out at the breaches of the wall , and got up quickly to the mount olivet , where they found horses , mules , asses , and much other cattel ; and slaying their keepers , they drove them before them with great shouts into the town . the romans perceiving it , pursued them . wherefore the young men divided themselves into two bands : the one to drive the booty , and the other to resist the romans . so there was a sore fight between them ; but the jews got the upper-hand , and went their wayes clear with the prey toward jerusalem . for the jews came forth , constrained by the necessity of hunger , and fought for their living : the romans had no cause to fight , save only for shame , to see their cattel driven away before their eyes ; for otherwise they put not their lives in jeopardy to fight unto death , as the jews did , yet there was many of the romans slain in that fight . the jews while the romans pursued them in vain , got into the town with their spoil and prey , and straightway turned upon the romans , and drove them back , pursuing them again till they came almost to titus's camp , which when the other romans saw , they iss●…ed forth to the rescue of their fellows , and pursued those young men , either to kill them , or take them , albeit they escaped to the ●…own without any harm , save that they took a boy , and brought him unto titus . he that took this lad , was called pornus . so the romans prevailed against the jews at that time , and for a certain token of the victory , they had this young jew prisoner . pornus that took him , was had in great estimation for that act , of titus and all the romans . titus apparrelled the boy , and committed him to josephus to keep . this boy had a brother amongst them that escaped into the town , a vile personage , evil-favoured , and of a low stature , his name was jonathan . he seeing his brother taken prisoner , cometh forth of the tomb of jochanan the high priest over against the romans , and cryed unto titus , and to all the army , saying , if there be ever a man among you , let him come forth unto me , here will i abide him , and fight with him upon this ground : and ye shall know this day , whether the romans or the jews be the better men . the romans despised him , yet d●…st they not meddle with him , but said , ●…f we kill him , we shall never be counted the better men for such an act , and if he should kill any of us , it should be a great dishonour to be slain of a wretched captive . jonathan said to the romans , how much is the manhood of the romans to be regarded in our eyes ? have not you been slain and put to flig●…t by us ? what were you then if bands and companies of the gentiles came not every day to aid you ? if they had not refreshed you , we had long ago eaten you up . we have destroyed our selves , one another , with civill wars , so that we are but few left ; but what are you ? who is so hardy of the best of you all , to come and declare his strength , and to fight with me ? i am one of the meanest , and outcasts of the jews : pick you out the chiefest and valiantest man amongst you all , and you shall know by and by , whether part is more valiant . when jonathan had spoken thus proudly , there came forth one of the most valiantest souldiers of the romans , whose name was pornus the same that had taken the brother of this jonathan , & brought him to titus ; he came no sooner at jonathan , but he was killed of him straightway , leaving behind him a double and differing inheritance to jonathan , and the romans ; to jonathan a same of fortitude and valiantnesse , to the romans of shame and reproach . when jonathan had slain the roman , the jews changed his name , and called him jehonathan , by an honourable name , and gave him a scept●…r of dominion in his hand : but jehonathan when he had gotten the victory , gave not the power to god , but ascribed it to his own prowess , and became very proud withall ; he was not content with one victory , but would yet provoke the romans , railing at them , and calling for another valiant champion to be sent him , that i may kill him ( saith he ) and declare my force upon him ; and even as he said so , one of the romans whose name was pornan , struck him through with an arrow at unawares , and killed him ; by whose example ye may perceive , it is everie mans part chiefly to take heed , that when they overcome their enemies , they rejoice not over-much , nor wax proud for the matter ; for , who knoweth what end they shall have themselves ? these things done , the jews seeing the walls of the temple , and three walls that compassed the town , to be razed and pulled down , knowing also that they had no help left , nor any thing to trust unto , they consulted what was best to be done . there was a great house joyning upon the side of the temple , that king solomon had builded , of a great height , whose walls also the kings of the second temple had raised on height , and had decked it with timber of firre , and cedar-trees . the jews went and annointed every where the cedar timber of the house with brimstone and pitch abundantly : so when the romans came again to the temple to assault the jews , and pursued them unto that palace : they entred the palace after the jews , who went out again another way , and some climbed up to the battlements of the house , others set up ladders to scale it : then rejoyced they wonderfully , saying , the palace is taken , now have the jews no pla●…e left to flee unto for refuge . thus when the romans had gotten the palace , and the h●…use was full of them , a certain jew a young man , vow●…ng himself deserately to die , went and shut up the palace , and set fire on the gates annointed before with brimstone and pitch , and straightway side-walls of the house , and the whole building began to be on a light fire , so that the romans had no way to escape , because the fire compassed the house on every side . the jews also stood in harness round about the house , le●…t any of the romans should escape . wherefore so many of the romans as entred into the house , were destroyed with the fire , which was twenty two thousand men of war. titus hearing the cry of the romans that perished in the fire , made speed with all his men to come and rescue them , but he could not deliver them out of the fi●…e , it burnt so vehemently ; wherefore titus and his men wept bi●…terly . the romans that were above upon the house , when they saw their master titus weep , and the fire to be between them , that neither could come to o●…e another , they cast themselves down head●…ong from the battlements of the house , which was very high , and died , saying , we will die in titus's presence , to get us a name thereby . the jews kept the gates of the palace , and if they perceived any man go about to escape out of the fire , or to come down off the battlements , them they killed with their swords . in that fire was a certain great commander , of the stock of kings , whose name was longinus , to whom the jews cried , and flouted him , saying , ●…ome hither unto us , that thou mayes●… save thy life , and not be destroyed : but he durst not go out at the gate , fearing lest the jews would kill him . wherefore he drew out his sword , and thrust himself thorow before their faces . another great commander also was in that fire , whose name was artorius , who looking forth from the top of the house , saw one of his dear friends by titus , which was called lucius , to whom artorius called , saying , my dear friend lucius , get on thy armour and come hither , that i may leap down upon thee , and thou mayest receive me . if i dye , i make thee my heir , if thou dye , thy children shall inherit my goods . wherefore lucius ran and held his lap open at the house side , and artorius leapt down , and light upon him with such weight , that they both died therewith . titus commanded the covenant that they two made before their death , to be written on a sword with blood , and their friendship to be noted in the chronicles of the romans , that it might be an example to all men to learn true friendship by : at that time therefore the jews revenged themselves meetly well upon the romans . the fire burnt till it came to the chiskijahu king of j●…hudah ; and had almost taken the temple of the lord , which the romans seeing , fled out of the town , and got them to their tents , a great part of them being destroyed by the cruelty of the jews , so that few of them remained . the rest therefore lay still in their siege round about the town , saying , we shall not be able to win the town by the sword , but rather we must be fain to drive them to yield by famine , wherefore they compassed it on every side : in the town was now no victuals left . there was a certain rich woman at jerusalem , of a noble house also , whose name was miriam . her dwelling was beyond jordan ; but when she perceived the wars to grow more and more in the time of vespasian , she came up with her neighbours to jerusalem , bringing with her not only her men servants , and women servants , and all her whole family , but also her goods and riches , which were very great . when the hunger was grievous at jerusalem , and the seditious went from house to house to seek meat ; they came also to this womans house , and took away from her by force , all that ever she had , and left her nothing remaining . by this means she was oppressed with very great hunger , so that she wished her self out of the world , but her time was not yet come to die : wherefore that she might slack her hunger , and sustain her self , she began to scrape in the chaffe and dust for beasts dung , but could find none . she had one son , and when she saw the famine wax greater and greater upon her , she laid aside all woman-hood and mercy , and took upon her an horrible cruelty : for when she heard her boy weep , and ask for meat , which she had not to give him , she said unto him , what shall i do my son ? for the wrath of god hath environed the whole city , in every corner thereof famine raigneth ; without the city the sword killeth up all , within we stand in fear of the seditious ; our enemies prevail without , in the town are fires , burnings , and ruines of houses , famine , pestilence , spoyling and destroying , so that i cannot feed thee my son . now therefore my son , if i should die for hunger , to whom should i leave thee being yet a child ? i hoped once that when thou shouldest come to mans estate , thou shouldest have sustained mine age with meat , drink , and cloth , and after when i should die , to bury me honorably , like as i was minded to bury thee , if thou shouldest have died before me . but now my son , thou art as good as dead already , for i have no meat to bring thee up withall , because of this great famine , and cruelty of the enemies , both within and without : if thou shouldest die now amongst others , thou shouldest have no good nor honorable tomb , as i would wish thee : wherefore i have thought good to choose thee a sepulcher , even mine own body lest thou shouldest die , and dogs eat thee in the streets ; i will therefore be thy grave , and thou shalt be my food : and for that , that if thou hadst lived and grown to mans estate , thou oughtest by right to have nourished me , and fed me with thy flesh , and with it sustain mine age , before that famine devour thee and thy body be consumed , render unto thy mother , that which she gave unto thee , for thou camest of her , and thou shalt return into her . for i will bring thee into the self same shop , in the which the breath of life was breathed into thy nostrils ; forasmuch as thou art my well beloved son , whom i have loved alwaies with all my strength : be therefore meat for thy mother , & ignominy and reproach to the seditious , that by violence have taken away our food . wherefore my son hear my voice , and sustain my soul and my life , and go to the end that is determined for thee by my hands , thy lot be in the garden of eden , and paradise ; be thou meat for me , and a rebuke and shame to the seditious , that they may be compelled to say , lo , a woman hath killed her son , and hath eaten him . so when she had thus spoken to her son , she took the child , and turning her face away lest she should see him dye●… she killed him with a sword , aud after cut his body into certain pieces , whereof some she rosted , some she sod , and when she had eaten of them , she laid up the rest to keep . the savour of the flesh roasted , when it came out in●…o the streets to the people they said one to another : see , here is the smell of roast meat . which thing came to the know edg of the seditious at length , who went into the house of the woman , and 〈◊〉 roughly u●…o her , why shouldest thou have meat to live with , and we dye for hunger ? the woman made them answer , and said unto them , be not displeased , i beseech you , with your handmaid for this , for you shall see i have reserved part for you . si●… you down therefore , and i will bring it you , that ye may taste thereof , for it is very good meat . and by and by she covered the table , and set before them part of the childs flesh , saying , eat i pray you , here is a child's hand , see here is his foo●… and other parts , and never report that it is another womans child , but my own only son that ye knew with me ; him i bare , and also have eaten part , and part i have kept for you . when she had spoken , she burst out and wept , saying , o my son my son , how sweet wast thou to me whiles thou yet livedst , and now at thy death also thou a●…t sweeter to me than hony . for thou hast not only fed me in this most grievous famine , but hast defended me from the wrath of the seditious , wherewith they were incensed towards me , when the smell of the meat brought them into my house . now therefore are they become my friends , for they sit at my table , and i have made them a feast with thy flesh . after she turned her to the seditious , and bad them eat , and satisfie themselves : for why ( saith she ) should ye abhor my meat which i have set before you : i have satisfied my self therewith , why therefore do you not eat of the flesh of my son ? taste and see how sweet my sons flesh is , i dare say ye will say , it is good meat . what needeth pitty ? ought ye to be more moved therewith then a woman ? if ye will in no wise eat of the sacrifice of my son , when as i have eaten thereof my self , shall not this be a shame for you , that i should have a better heart , and greater courage then you ? behold , i have prepared a fair table for you , most valiant men , why eat ye not ? is it not a good feast that i have drest for you ? and it is your will that i should make you this feast . it had been my part rather to have been moved with pity of my son , then yours : and how chanceth it therefore that you are more mercifull than i ? are ye not they that spoiled my house , and left me no kind of food , for me and my son ? are ye not they that constrained me to make you this feast , notwithstanding the greater hunger that i have ? why then eat ye not thereof , when as ye were the authors and causers that i did this deed ? the jews hearing this matter , were wonderfully ●…mitten in sadness ; yea , even the governours of the seditious began to stoop when they heard of this , so that they all in a manner desired death , they were so amazed at this horrible act. many therefore of the common people stole out in the night forth of jerusalem with all their substance to the romans camp , and shewd titus of this . who wept thereat , and was sorry for the matter exceedingly , holding up his hands to heaven , and crying , thou lord god of the world , god of this house , to whom all secrets are known , which also knowest my heart , that i came not against this city as desirous of wars , but rather of peace , which i ever offered them ; but yet the cittizens thereof evermore refused it , although i oftentimes intreated them . and when they destroyed one another by their civil dissention , i would have delivered them , but i found them alwaies like most fierce and cruel beasts , nothing sparing themselves . and this mischief is come now so far , that a woman hath eaten her own flesh , being driven thereunto by most extream necessity . i have heard , and my forefathers have told me , of all the power that thou hast exercised in times past towards them and their fathers , how thy name dwelt amongst them . for thou broughtest them out of egypt , with a strong hand , and a str●…tched forth arm , out of the house of bondage , to whom also thou dividedst the sea , leadest them through it dry , and drownedst their enemies in the water ; after conductedst thy people thorow the wilderness , and fed'st them with bread from heaven , thou causedst quailes to fly unto them , and broughtest out water out of the rock for them . at length thou broughtest them into this holy land by great and terrible miracles and wonders : for thou dryedst up the water of jordan , and madest them stand up in a heap , till they were passed over : thou didst cause the sun and moon also to stay their course for thy peoples sake , til they might vanquish their enemies . thou wouldest that thy name should dwell amongst them , and thou gavest them this city by inheritance : some of them thou didst choose for thy self to be prophets , which might conduct thy people , teach them , and lead them into the right way , to give them warning of future miseries , that they might take heed , and beware of them . moreover , thou didst choose of them priests to serve thee , and to bless thy people israel ; certain godly men amongst them thou drewest unto thee , and in a fiery chariot thou didst carry them up to heaven ; thou smotest the tents of the king of as●…ur , and killedst in them men . these and divers other things have i heard of my forefathers , yea , and of joseph the priest a very wise man : and now , lord god , this people which i have striven against i would have saved , had they trust edin thee , but thou seest they trust not in thy saving health , but in their own sword. when titus had sayed all these things , he commanded to bring an iron ram , and to bend it against the new wall which the sedi●…ious had raised , that they might batter it down ; but many of the nobles among the seditious came forth unto titus , and made peace with him , whom he placed among his chief men . shortly after the romans set on fire one of the gates of the temple that was shut , whose door was covered over with silver , and while the timber of it burnt , the silver melted , and ran upon the ground ; so when the gate was open , the way appeared which leadeth to the sanctum sanctorum . as soon as titus saw it , he honored it with great reverence , and fo●…bad his people that none should come ni●… i●… ; wherefore he commanded a proclamation to be published throughout all his camp to this tenor ; wh●…soever cometh near the sanctuary , shall suffer death for it . he appointed also a strong band of men to keep the temple , that it might not be prophaned and unhallowed by any of his : but his princes and captains answered ; unless this house be set on fire , thou shalt never subdue this people , in regard that to preserve it , they vow to die . notwithstanding titus would not hearken to their counsell , but appointed some of his own souldiers , and such jews as had come in to him to keep ward , giving them charge to preserve the temple and sanctum sanctorum , lest it should be polluted . the seditious jews that remained in jerusalem seeing the romans depart f●…om the temple , and leaving guards behind , they ran upon them with their swords drawn , and slew every foul of them : which titus hearing , he brought his whole army thither against the seditious , and killed many of them , the rest fled to mount sinai . the next day the romans set fire on the sanctum sanctorum , laying wood to the doors that were covered over with gold , and then firing it ; so after the gold waxed hot , and the timber burnt , the sanctum sanctorum was open , that all men might see it in the ninth day of the filth month , which was the very same day that it was open also in the time of the chaldees : the romans therefore rushing into the sanctum sanctorum , gave a great shout while it burnt , which when titus heard , he hastened to quench the fire , and save the sanctum sanctorum , but he could not do it , because it was set on fire in so many places : thereupon titus cried unto them , that they should forbear , but they would not hear him : for as a vehement floud of waters breaketh through all things , and drives them down before it ; with such a furious violence the gentiles rushed upon the lords temple , the fire flaming every where out of mea●…ure . when titus saw he could not restrain them from the sanctum sanctorum with words , he drew out his sword , blaming the captains of his own people , and others that were not romans he killed ; and he cried out so long and so loud upon them , that he was grown hoarse . the priests that were within the sanctum sanctorum withstood the romans stoutly , till they were able no longer to lift up their hands : wherefore when they saw there was no other safeguard left , they leaped into the fire , and divers other jews with them , and so burnt all together , saying , what should we live any longer now there is no temple ? yet titus ceased not to strike the people , and chase them from the temple , and being grown so weary , that all his strength fail'd him , he fell upon the ground , and forbore crying upon them any further . after that the sanctum sanctorum was burnt , titus arose , and entring therein●…o , he saw the glory and magnificence thereof , and believed it was the house of the lord ; for as yet the fire had not consumed all , therefore he said : now i well perceive that this is no other then the house of god , and the dwelling of the king of heaven , neither was it for nought that the jews stood so earnestly in defence thereof ; nor did the gentiles also without good cause send gold and silver to this temple from the farthest parts of the world ; for great is the glory of it , and it surpasseth all the roman , and temples of the gentiles that ever i saw . the god of heaven , who is the god of this house take vengeance of the seditious , whose mischiev●…us and hainous deeds have brought this evil upon them . chap. iv. the seditious that yet remained at jerusalem , seeing the sanctum sanctorum to be burnt , they set the rest of the temple a fire themselves , with all the houses that were filled with treasure , and all sorts of precious jewels ; and where they knew there remained yet some victuals , they set it also on fire , lest the romans should receive benefit thereby . after this the romans quenched the fire , and set up their idols and images in the temple , offering burnt offerings unto them , and blaspheming , mocking , and railing at the jews , and their laws , in presence of their idols . about that time arose one who 〈◊〉 a lye unto the seditious that remained yet in jerusalem , exhorting them to play the men , and oppose their enemies ; for now , saith he , shall the temple be built by it self , without humane hands , that god may declare his power un●…o the romans , who now glory in them●…elves , to have overcome the jews ; therefore if you fight stoutly this day the temple shall erect it self ; hereupon the seditious set furiously upon the romans , and slue many of them , which made the romans who had favoured them formerly , to kill them like sheep . these things hapned , because they gave credit to a false prophet , and marked not the signs that appeared formerly : for the year next before the coming of vespasian , there was seen a star on the temple so bright , as if a man had so many drawn swords in his hands ; and the same time this star appeared , which was at the solemn passover , that whole night the temple was light and clear as mid-day , and continued so seaven nights together . understanding men knew well enough that this was an ill augury , though others thought it good . the same time also they brought a heifer for a sacrifice , which when she was knocked down , she calved a lamb. besides , there was a certain gate called the east gate , that was never opened nor shut , but twenty men had enough to do about it , and the creaking of the hinges might be heard a far off ; this gate was found open without any mans help , and they could not shut it , till a great number joyned their strength . moreover there was discerned on the sanctum sanctorum , a whole night long the face of a man wonderfull terrible . there appeared also the same time , four chariots with horsemen , and great blasts in the skie , coming towards jerusalem . in the feast of the weeks , the priest likewise heard a man walking in the temple , and saying with a great and wonderfull terrible voice , come let us go away out of this temple , let us hence away . but especially there was one surpassed all these ; a certain man in the city , of a base degree , called joshua , began to cry upon the feast of tabernacles , in this wise ; a voice from the east , a voice from the west , a voice from the four winds of the heavens , a voice against jerusalem , a voice against the temple , a voice against the bridegroom , a voice against the bride , and a voice against the whole people . thus he cried very oft , so that they of jerusalem hated him , and said unto him , why criest thou alwaies this cry ; but the governour of the city for bad them to wrong him , supposing he was mad : therefore for four years space he never left crying out , wo to jerusalem , and to the sanctuary thereof . when the wars had begun , and the town was besieged , it fortuned as he wandred upon the walls , he added this a●…so unto his cry , woe unto my self , and with that a stone came out of an engin from the camp , that dashed out his brains . at that time also there was a writing found graven in an old stone ; what time the building of the temple shall be brought to a four square then it shall be destroyed : now when the antochia was taken and razed by the romans , and the walls of the temple were all bruised , the jews making speed to repair the ruines and dilapidations , without remembrance of the old writing , they made the temple four square . besides , these words were found in the walls of the sanctum sanctorum , when the whole building of the temple shall be four square , then shall a king reign over israel , and that king and ruler shall reign over all the land of israel . some interpre●…ed this of the king of israel ; but the priests said , it is the king of the romans . the whole roman army being now come into the temple , and the jews fled to mo●…nt sion , the romans set up their ●…dols in the lords temple , and railed at the jews ; it happened , that there came down to the romans a little boy of the priests from mount sion to a captain of the wall , keeper of the temple , desiring him to give him some water ; he taking pity on the boy , gave him some ; the boy taking the vessel the water was in , first drank himself , then ran away with the rest : the captain made shew to run after him , but let him go of pu●…pose . once when the romans were at their sacrifice with titus , some priests came and besought him , that he would not kill them , he answered , why do you wish to live now , and not rather dye with your brethren who have suffered death for gods sake , and for the sake of this house , whereupon he commanded they should be all slain . after schimeon and jehochanan sent to titus for peace : he answered , this thing ye seek too late ; but how cometh it to pass , that you beg your lives now being so few , and that ye have wasted all things so desperately : ye desire life and yet persevere in your malice , still holding your swords in your hands ; have we not now taken your city , temple , and the sanctum sanctorum . what is there left for you to put hope in ? therefore cast away your swords , and lay down your armour ; and then if you come to me , i know what i h●…ve to do , peradventure i shall be gracious unto you . schimeon and jehochanan answered ; we have sworn by the lord our god , who is god of heaven and earth th●…t we will never bear thy yoak nor serve thee , or make any peace to be subject to thee ; therefore if it be thy pleasure to shew us mercy , we will take our journey into the wilderness : in granting this , we will report to have found favour ; if not , we will remain in this place to see what manner of death we shall dye . titus hearing this , was much incensed and said , remains the pride of your hearts , and the hardness of your neck still with you , though ye be captives ? dare ye yet be so bold as to say , ye have sworn not to endure our yoak ! then titus gave commandment to the romans not to omit any opportunity to set upon the seditious , and by one means or other , to destroy schimeon and jehochanan . there was at that time , a certain man of the royall blood , whose name was serach : he accompanied with all his brethren and sons that were there with him of the kings blood , came down from the mo●…nt sion ●…o titus , who received them honorably , and gently ordered them . when jehochanan and schimeon understood that serach and the re●…t were gone , and had yielded themselves to titus , they went and set fire upon all ●…at was in the kings pallace , that the romans should have no ●…modity thereby . from thence they went to the temple , where they found certain commanders , and captains , whom titus had put in authority about the temple , of whom th●…ee were chief : one captain of the ho●…semen , t●…e second of the chariots , and the third of the footm●…n , him they killed and took h●…s companion , alive . one of them besought th●…m that had taken him , that he might be b●…ought to schimeon their captain : let him ( saith he ) do with me as he list , and in this one thing let me fin●… favour at your hands . they agreed and brought him to schimeon , who commanded his servants , as soon as he was come to slay him . but while he that was appointed to this business made delay , and killed him not by and by , he whipt down off the hill , escaped , and came to titus : who commanded him out of his sight , being wroth with him , that he had not fought unto death , rather then to be taken alive . but with the jews was he wonderfully displeased , that they had so despigh●…ully ordered his men : wherefore he commanded to kill all the jews , as many as could be found , in the ●…ets of the city , whom he would have spared before , and caused proclamation to be made throughout all his camp for their safety . then died many of the jews , ●…o that every place was full of dead bodies . the men of war of the edom●…tes which were with schimeon , perceiving how the matter went , sent embassadors to titus to desire p●…ace , and to save their lives : which when it came to schimeons ear , he went unto them , and slew the chief of them , and their noblemen : the rest of the people of the edomites fled unto titus . from that time forth , titus commanded his men to use no more cruelty to the jews . soon after fled jehochanan and s●…himeon , and hid themselves in certain caves . the rest of the chief men of the jews that were with them , seeing them now to be fled , came down from the mount to titus , and fell down upon their faces before him upon the ground , whom titus received gently ; as for the seditious that were wit●… schimeon and jehochanan , they fought till they all died together . then came forth unto titus one joshua a priest , son of schaftai , the high priest bringing with him two candlesticks of gold which were in the sanctuary , and the tables of gold , with other vessels of silver and gold , and also the holy vestures decked with gold and precious stones ; all those he gave to titus , who made him chief priest over them that remained , next unto joseph the priest : for titus gave joseph authority as well over the priests and levi●…es , as over the whole people o●… the jews . then was gorion the father of joseph that writ this history , brought out of prison , with his wife and children ; among whom was one bonian , josephs younger brother ; he was a very wise and godly priest , by whom god bestowed many benefits upon ●…e israelites : for titus left him at jerusalem , and took him not with him , as he did joseph . josephs father lived after the city was taken , twenty moneths , and died . they took also one phineas a priest , who was keeper of the treasure-house : he bewrayed and detected to the romans , all the treasures of the priests , and their vestments ; he gave also unto titus a most precious oil , with sweet odours , and perfumes , and garments also of purple , which the kings of the second temple had given . wherefore both this phineas , and joshua whom we mentioned before , transgressed the covenant of the lord , and offended god , in that they de●…ivered his jewels to the enemies of his people , which they ought not to have done , but rather to have died for the glory of the lord , as the other priests did , which cast themselves into the fire . thus was the city of jerusalem taken , with all the precious things that were therein : and ti●…us went up to mount sion , took it , and razed the walls thereof . three dayes after , jehochanan sore vext with hunger , left his place where he lurked , and came to titus , fell down before him , and kissed his feet , saying , save me o lord king. titus commanded him to be fet●…ered with iron chains , and when he had caused him to be carryed about the camp , so bound , and to be m●…cked of all men , by the space of seven dayes , he commanded to hang him , and so got he a just end , and fit reward for his cruelty . afterward came schimeon also forth of his den , being driven to it with famine . he had put on kingly apparel , and shewed himself afar off , to the roman host ; who seeing him , were afraid to go to him ; but he called unto them , and askt for some captain : then one came forth and said unto schimeon , tell me who thou art , and i will not kill thee ; schimeon answered therefore , and told him ; i am schimeon , that seditious cap-tain of the. jews , which have made you so much ado ; now i beseech thee , shew me so much favour as to b●…ing me to titus thy master , which he did : titus therefore when he saw schimeon , he commanded him to be fast bound , and to be led about the whole host , that he might be derided and mockt : afterward , he was put to a sore death ; first his head was striken off , then he was cut in many pieces , and cast unto dogs ; so he died an abominable death , being punished for his iniquity . the number of the jews , as well citizens as others , that came unto the feast to jerusalem , which were slain , partly by the romans , partly by the seditious , during the whole time of these wars , was known to be eleven hundred thousand , besides them whose number was not known ; only they were counted which were slain and buried : besides them , they also were not reckoned , that after the death of jehochanan and schimeon , died with eleazar the son of anani the priest : they that were led prisoners by titus to rome , were sixteen thousand men . so titus with joseph went to rome , leaving bonian , josephs brother at jerusalem , who was appointed to be the chief priest of them that abode there ; for joseph did request it of titus , which he performed . the seditious were all slain , in the battel which they took in hand for the peoples sake , and the temple of the lord : those also that titus took prisoners , were put to vile deaths ; for he reserved many to be mocking stocks in every city , where he passed by in the way to rome ; and in every town he commanded some of them to be brought forth , and cast unto the lions , till they were all consumed . chap. v. there were certain people at that time , dwelling amongst the mountains of ararat , that were called alanites , whose power alexander king of macedonia fearing , closed them on every side . this people although they had no knowledge of the use of iron , nor armour ; yet this was their manner , that one of them with a great pole burnt a little at the end , would put to flight a hundred good souldiers , were they never so well appointed , and armed . until this year they were alwayes shut in , but now being oppressed with a great dearth and famine throughout all the land , they sent embassadors to the people of hurkan their neighbours , requiring them that they would open thestraights of the mountains , that they might come forth with their wives & children , to seek them food . the hurkans granted their requests , and opened them the entrances of the mountains ; so they came forth , wandering here and there , spoiling divers countries , till at length they took their journey toward the mountains of the land of madai , where they found horses , namely in the desart of madai , amongst the people of ararat ; they got those horses , leapt upon them and ●…ntred the land of madai . the president o●… ruler of the country hearing thereof , fled into the highest hills , leaving his wife and children behind him for haste , he was so afraid of the alanites , knowing their valiantnesse . straightway he sent unto them embassadours to make peace with them , and he would let them have victuals upon this condition , that they would not spoil his country : they made answer , if so be he would maintain them , and let them have food for the space of one moneth , till the corn in their own country were ripe , they would return home again at the moneths end ; for we desi●…e not ( say they ) thy gold or silver , being men separa●… from all entercourse in traffick wi●…h other people , nor any thing else than food do we seek . this their request the ruler granted them , and let them have a certain grain called mill , sodden with one kind of flesh or other . the number of them was seven thousand one hundred and fifty , and five thousand one hundred and forty persons . when the moneth was ended , and the a●…anites understood the corn in their own country was ripe , they departed out of the land of madai , according as they had sworn , and returned toward their own country . and as they were in their way homeward , mithridates king of a●…arat came against them to annoy them , minding to drive them from his coasts , lest they should waste his country . therefore while they marched through this country going toward their own , mithridates made war upon them , but his men were beaten down by the alanites , like as grasse falls upon the ground when a strong man treads upon it . then one of the young men of the alanites , in despight , put a rope about mithridates's neck , and drew him after him , unto his great shame . mithridates gat out his sword , and cut asunder the rope and fled . to whom the alanites looking back , said , go thy way , get thee home and make no more war upon us hereafter ; for we were not minded to waste thy land , ●…or yet to kill thy people . for if we had ever intended it , could we not have done it long ago when as nothing is betwixt us and you , but the mountains of ararat ? but we were of this mind , that we should greatly offend to kill men of our own shape and likenesse . see now how alexander , which went about to subdue the whole earth , and to declare his power , closed us up within our land , why ? because he was afraid we should come out upon him . but we laught him to scorn when he did it . if we had listed , we could have letted him from shu●…ting us in , and to make no peace with him : but we made no reckonin●… of his doings . for it is our custom to keep us within our own country , we seek no other land , when as our own land is better than any other . it pleased us well that he inclosed us , that the cruel wild beasts which are in the mountains of ararat , could have no passage to us . the cause we came out now , was nothing else , then that we were oppressed with a great dearth , and we determined to be no longer from home , then till our own fruits were ripe , & then to return , as you see we do . if we had been minded to win your land , had we not been able utterly to have overcome you , and to have gotten the dominion over you ? but neither ye nor your country did ever delight us greatly ; for our manners differ far from yours . behold , the king of madai , when he had kept us for a moneth , we harmed him not , we are not wont to hur●… men as ye are , that cannot be content with your own state , but must desire other mens inheri●…ance . now therefore go and return to your own country , and so will we to ours , without doing you any more hurt : wherefore ye need not be afraid of us . so the alanites went home to their own countries , having slain of mithridates people , three hundred thousand men , and never a one of their own was killed . titus hearing of this , was desirous to go unto them , to let them understand his valiantnesse ; but he could not compasse it , b●…cause all his best men were spent in the wa●… at jerusalem . wherefore he determined to retu●…n to rome , after he had taken jerusalem , where he abode as yet besides the antochia . there he had intelligence that divers of the jews were gathered together , with whom was eleazar the son of anani the priest , who during the siege , fled unto a certain hold , called mezira , whereupon many of the jews resorted to him . titus hearing this , that many had joyned themselves to eleazar , feared lest after his departure , eleazar●… might from thence make an inrode , and take jerusalem , and destroy the romans , which should be no smal damage to the roman empire . wherefore he made out against him , and sent thither one silcham a noble man of rome , with a great host to besiege mezira ; but he could not get it . wherefore he sent unto titus for an iron ram , to batter the walls withal ; which after he had received it , he beat down the walls of mezira therewith . the jews seeing that , raised a great countermure within of wood and timber , which the romans set on fire and burnt . after that , they assaulted the town from morning till night , at what time the romans le●… off , supposing they were not able to prevail against eleazars defence in the dark . eleazar in the mean season , called an assembly of all the chief men of the jews that were with him , and said unto them in this wise : come hither ye seed of abraham , and kingly priesthood , which have until this day ever prevailed against the enemies of god ; let us hear your advice what is best to be done against this multitude that is come upon us at unawares . ye see that at this time chiefly it becometh us to follow the courage and valiantnesse of our forefathers , wherewith they were in time past endued : consider moreover , that every thing hath his end , and there are some times in war , when as men are wont to follow the pursuit , sometimes to flee from the same whom they pursued , and to humble themselve before them . and it is no shame to be humbled and disgraced , when as all things have their determin●…te end . albeit , whoso is of an haughty courage , he must so establish his heart , that he quail not with fear ; then shall he be deemed a valiant man. if ye therefore be of that courage that ye fear not death , then will i call ●…ou valiant men and worthy . consider the fortitude of abraham our father , and the fact that he did : for having but one only son , whom sarah bare unto him in her age , he never staggered nor stayed at it to offer him up to the lord god for a burnt-offering : for he thought not that he should kill him , but perswaded himself most certainly , that he should promote him to the life and light of the lord , forasmuch as for ●…he love of god , and at his commandment , he should have killed him . weigh the thing that josiah the just king did , who setting at nought this wretched life , and aspiring to everlasting felicity , would not avoid the jeopardy of his life , when as he might have done it . for although pharaoh necho said , he came not against him , but against the king of the chaldees , yet would not josiah hear him , but rather proceeding against pharaoh in arms , was slain in the battel , and went unto that great light in the garden of paradise , which is the lot and inheritance of the just . we know that in this world no man receives the reward of his righteousnesse , but it is laid up for him in the other world : where he shall reap the fruit of his righteousnesse , that he hath sown in this world . neither doth long life in this world profit a man to the attaining of everlasting blisse , except he work righteousnesse , and lead his soul forth of darknesse , into light : like as contrariwise , shortnesse of life hindreth no man from everlasting happinesse , if so be it , his soul have no defect in those things that pertain to the world to come . for abel which was slain of his brother , lived no long life : yet when he had ended it , he obtained everlasting rest : but cain that lived long in the world , was a wanderer and a runagate in this earth ; and after this life , went to perpetual misery . now therefore , my brethren , if we also shall live any longer , our life shall be a miserable life , and our dayes , dayes of vanity and travel : yea , our soul as long as it shall remain in this body , it shall be tossed with great tribulation : but if it once go forth then shall it rejoyce , and never be afraid . and all the dayes that it is in the body , it never leaveth weeping and mourning : for it is the spirit of life , which is hedged within the body , by ●…inewes , & bones , none otherwise then if it were bound with chains . the spirit is also that which quickneth the flesh , that is taken of the dust of the earth , for flesh cannot quicken the spirit . besides this , the spirit is that which observeth and marketh the flesh , and searcheth the works thereof , so long as it is in the body ; yea , the flesh cannot see the spirit , but the spir●…t seeth the flesh alwayes , neither is there any member of the body hid from it . the eyes also of the body , cannot perceive what time the spirit resorteth to the flesh , and departeth from the same ; for the spirit of man which is his soul , is from heaven , but the flesh is taken from the earth . wherefore the soul may ●…main without the body , but not likewise 〈◊〉 body without the soul ; and when the spiri●… comes to the flesh , it visiteth it as a neighbour is wont to go and see his neighbour , and quickeneth it ; and when again it departeth from it , the flesh dyeth , and if the soul will follow the desires of the flesh , then this is the death of the soul , but if it give no ear unto the flesh , then shall the soul come to the light of life , and the flesh shall die . wherefore the soul is glad when it departeth out of the body , like as one that hath been bound , is well contented when he 〈◊〉 dismissed out of prison . for all the while that the soul is kept closed in the flesh , it is as it were a slave , in most hard and grievous bondage under a hard master . therefore when it departeth from the body , it is glad , because it must go to the garden of paradise thus ye see that in this life , the soul is compared to a bond servant and slave . much more than this , did he discourse of the immortality and blessedness of the soul before them , which we have omitted here . and making then a digression from that , he lamented and wept most bitterly for the case of the city of jerusalem , saying : where is now ●…e city of jerusalem , that great and populous city ? where is that most beautiful city of sion , and that holy city which rejoyceth the whole earth ? o thou worship of israel , the mi●…h of our hearts , whither is thy glory come ? where is thy magnificence , o jerusalem ? where be the hill●… of the daughter of sion ? where be her kings and princes ? where be the king●… that were accustomed to come to enquire of her welfare in her gates ? where are her sages and elders , her young and most valiant men , which were jocund and merry in her streets upon her sabbaths and festival dayes ? where is her famous sanctuary , the dwelling of the almighty god ? where is the house of sanctum sanctorum , the habitation of holiness , wherein no man might set his foot but the high priest , which he never but once a year entred into , but in thee ? o jerusalem , thou wa'st once replenished with people , and renow●…ed amongst kings , beloved of god ; in thee was established the seat of the kingdom of justice and judgement , whose streets were paved with most precious marble , whose walls glistred and shine●… with the same stone ; whose gates were every one plated with gold and silver , whose walls were builded with great s●…ones most honourabl●… , whose priests in the midst of the sanctuary , ( like to angels of god , and princes of holinesse , with sacrifices and burnt-offerings ) made the lord loving to thee and thy people . how art thou now full of slain men , and carc●…ses which have perished , some by the sword , some by famine ? and how are thy sons that dwelt in thee , and the strangers also that resorted to thee , to honour thy feasts , brought to ruine now in thee ? how art thou fallen from the height of thy pride , and how art thou set afire and burnt even unto thy foundations , and art left desolate and solitary ? what eye is so hard that can behold thee ? what heart so stony that can endure to see thee ? how art thou become a burying place of carcases ? and how are thy streets made void and destitute of living creatures ? and they which heretofore were replenished with living , are now stuffed with dead ? how hath the ashes of the fire covered thee , that the sun cannot come at thee ? how do the ancient men , which in times past did fit in midst of thee , in the seat of wisdom , judgement , and justice , now fit by the carcases of their children , to drive away crows and beasts from them , having their hoary heads besprinkled with dust and ashes , instead of their glory ? and those women , thy daughters that are left , they remain in the houses of them that made thee desolate , not that they may live , but be unhallowed and polluted ? who shall see all these things in thee , and shall desire to live , rather than to die ? who , knowing the magnificence thou hadst of la●…e , and now shall see thine ignominy and dishonour of the same , will not chuse to die ? and would god we had been dead before , that we might not have seen in thee this thy reproach : o that we were without eyes , that we m●…ght not be compelled to see these mischiefs that are in the midst of thee ! and behold we live a most sorrowful life ; for our enemies even now afore we be dead , cast lots for ou●… sons and daughters , to divide them amongst them to be their servants and handmaids . when eleazar had ended this lamentation , he spake to the people that was with him●… thus : now therefore , brethren and friends , take comp●…ssion of your selves , your wives , and children , with the old men which be with you : let them not be led into bondage without all mercy , that they be not constrained to mourn under the hands of their enemies . for if you do this , ye lose without doubt all places that are prepared for you in the world of righteousness●… , neither shall ye have any part in the light of li●…e . y●…a rather with your own hands kill t●…m : for if ●…e will do so , they shall be counted as sacrifi●…s most acceptable unto god. and that done , we will , after , issue out upon our enemies , and fight against them till we die valiantly for the glory of the lord. for we will never suffer them to bind us with bonds and chains , as bondslaves in the hands of the uncircumcised . neither will we see our ancient men to be haled by the beards before our eyes most miserably , nor yet our maids , wives , and daughters , to be prophaned , unhallowed , and defloured , nor our sons crying to us , and we cannot help them . forwhat shall our life avail us , after that our land is desolate , our sanctuary razed , the romans will ravish our wives , and daughters before our eyes ; and oppress our sons with a most grievous and hard yoke ? now therefore it is better for us all to kill our wives and children , whose blood god shall accept thankfully as the blood of burnt offerings , and after we will issue out upon the romans , fight till we be all destroyed , and die for the glory of the lord our god. these men therefore went and gathered together their wives and daughters , embraced them , and kissed them saying ; is it not better for you to die in your holy country honourably , than to be led away into bondage with great ignominy and shame into the land of your enemies , and be compelled to die before the idols of the gentiles ? these sayings when the people had heard , they broke forth that night in to great sorrow , and pensivenesse , weeping and making great lamentation ; but they all confest with one accord , that they had rather die than live . therefore as soon as it was day , eleazars companions killed their wives and children , and cast their bodies into cesterns and wells that were in mezirah , covering and stopping them with earth . afterward issued e●…eazar the priest forth of the town , with all his men , and forced a battel upon the romans , of whom the jews killed a great n●…mber , and fought so long , till they all died m●…nfully for the lord god. but titus left a remnant of israel in the city jafnah , and the villages thereabout , and in the city bitter , and a●…ssa , and their villages ; in which place rabby jochanan , son of sakkai , was appointed chief . bonian the priest , younger b●…other to j●…seph the priest , was put in authority by titus for josephs sake , over all the jews which were at jerusalem . at the same time was 〈◊〉 a prince of israel put to death , and ischmael son of elischa ●…he high priest : m●…reover titus was minded to have put rabby gamaliel , father of r●…hbag to death ; but rabby joch●… son of 〈◊〉 made suice for him and obtained pardon for his life . this r●…bby jochanan was he that came forth of jerusalem in the beginning , when v●…spasian , father of titus , came first against jerusalem , whom vespasian honoured greatly ; insomuch that when he returned to rome , he commended this r●…bby jochanan to his son titus , commanding him to honour him ; for he perceived he was a wise man. titus r●…igned two years after he had taken jerusalem , an●… died . he was a very eloquent 〈◊〉 , expert in the la●…ne and greek tongue , and writ divers works in both tongues . he loved most intirely , justice and equity ; for he wasted the city of jerusalem against his will , and being compelled thereunto ; ●…ea all the mischief that came upon it , hapned through the malice and naug●…ness of the seditious , as we have touched before . the ten captivities , of the jewes . the israelites were ten times led into captivity : four times by the hands of sanherib , and four times by nabuchadnezzar , once by vespasian , and once by superstitious adrian . first invaded them sanherib , and transporthe rubenites , the gadites , and the half tribe of manosseh . he took away also the golden calf , which jeroboam the son of nebat had made : he led them into helah habor , to the river of gozan , and to the ●…ities of the medes . this captivity was in the time of pekah , the son of remaliah . the second captivity : hosea the son of ela remained , and slue pekah the son of remal●…h . after he became the servant and subject of sanherib seven years : then came sanherib the second time , and carried away the tribes of asar , isachar , zebulon , and nephtali , of whom he let go free only one of every eight ; he took away also another ●…alf that was in bethel . after the death of ahaz , raigned zedekia his son in his stead four years . the fourth year of whose raign , sanherib came and intrenched about samar●…a , besieging it three years , and at length took it , in the sixt year of the raign of hizkiahu . so led he away the israelites that were in samaria , the tribe of ephraim and mannasse ; this is the third captivity . when nebuchadnezzar had raigned eight years , he made wars against jerusalem , bringing with him the chutean hereticks out of babylon , ethiopia , hemates , avim , and sepharvavim ; and as he warred upon judea , he took in that country a hundred and fifty cities , in the which there were two tribes , juda , and simeon , whom he took with him , and caused them forthwith to be led into halah , and habar , untill the king of the ethiopians rebelled against him , whose kingdom was on the hinder parts of egypt . then taking juda and simeon with him , he made war with the king of ethiopia . so the holy and blessed god placed them in the dark mountains . here was four captivities , whereby ten tribes went into exile by sanherib . there remained yet of juda one hundred and ten thousand , and of benjamin , one hundred and thirty thousand in the city of jerusalem , over whom raigned hizkiahu . moreover sanherib came out of ethiopia , against jerusalem again , leading with him one hundred and ten thousand ; but the holy lord overthrew him there , as it is written , and the angel of the lord issuing forth , smote in the house of asar thousand men . his people therefore was slain , and no man left but sanherib and his two sons , and nebuchadnezzar , and nebuzaraden ; this slaughter was in the fourteenth year of hizk●… : from which overthrow untill the time that nebuchadnezzar invaded the jews , in the raign of jehojakim , were a hundred and seven years , the fourth year of jehojakim , came nebuchadnezzar the first time , and carried away three thousand , and twenty and three , of the tribes of juda and benjamin , and of other tribes seven thousand , all the able men , and all their power , binding them with chains ; this is the fift captivity . seven years after this captivity , came nebuchadnezzar another time unto dophna a city of antioch , from whence he led four thousand and six hundred of the tribe of juda , and of benjamin fifty thousand , of the other tribes seven thousand . this transmigration made he in babylon , which is the sixt captivity . furthermore , betwixt the sixt bondage and the seventh , were nine years of the raign of zidkiahu . when nebuchadnezzar had raigned nineteen years , he came the third time unto jerusalem , and overcoming zidkiahu ; he burnt the temple , and took away the pillars , the brazen sea , and the furnitures that solomon made , and all the vessels of the house of the lord , and the ●…reasures of the house of the king which was in jerusalem ; all the vessels he sent to babylon . he slew also of the israelites , nine hundred and one thousand , besides them that were slain to revenge the blood of zacharias . the levites stood singing a song , whiles ●…laughter was made of them ; but they were not able to finish it , before the enemies entred the temple , and found them standing in their place , with harps in their hands . therefore he carried away in this captivity , the levites which were of the seed of moses , six hundred thousand , whom when the gentiles had brought unto the rivers of babylon , they demanded of the jews , sing us a song of sion : and by and by they gnawed off the tops of their fingers with their teeth , saying , how shall we sing the song of the lord in a strange land ? and the blessed lord seeing that they would not sing a song , he enlarged them , and placed them on the further side of sambatia . moreover he translated and carried away eight hundred , and thirty two thousand , which were all of the tribe of juda , and benjamin , whereof he left in jerusalem six thousand , setting over them for their ruler , gedalia the son of ahikam , who was slain after by ishmael the son of natania , whereupon the isr●…elites being afraid , fled from their country into egypt . this is the seventh transmigration and 〈◊〉 . the . year of the raign of nebuchadnezzar , he ●…ook egypt and tyre , drowned the jews that were therein , and the nations which descended of amon and moab , and of the land bordering upon israel , and led jeremy and baruch with them into egypt : this is the eighth captivity . then the israelites that remained alive in egypt , departed unto alexandria , and remained in it untill they grew and increased unto many thousands ; and who so saw not their glory , saw no glory in his time . for there was in it the sanctuary , the altar , the offerings , incenses , the ordinance of bread , of faces , the houses of studies , and schools without number , men of great substance , riches , and power but wicked troganus made war upon them , and slew very many of them : after came alexander against them , who slew also many of them . these are the eight captivities or bondages , which befell in the first house , and time of the first temple . after the desolation of the first house seventy years , cyrus the son of esther , sent unto nehemiah , zerubbabel , baruch , and his whole society , and they builded the second house . then after four years , of the reign of cyrus , after the house was destroyed , ezra went from babylon , with forty thousand in his company , and the israelites were afflicted and vexed under cyrus for the space of . years . then came alexander the king of macedonia , and slew cy●…us , and when he had reigned tvvelve years , he died . after him came four usurpers , vvhich af●…licted the israelites . years . but after that , the sons of hasmonani came , and slevv those usurpers , and taking the dominion from them , reigned themselves . years . then reigned one herod , the servant to chasmonani , vvho killed his masters , and their vvhole family , save one ma●…d vvhom he loved . but she climbed up to the top of an house , and said , there is no body left alive of my fathers house but i alone : so she cast her self headlong from the top of the house , and died . herod did lay her in hone●… , and preserved her for the space of seven years ; there vvere that said , he had carnal copulation vvith her after she vvas dead . herod and agrippa his son , and monazab his nephevv , possessed the kingdom one hundred and three years . so hast thou four hundred and three years of the second house . then came vespasian caesar , and titus his wives son , and wasted the second house , carrying away israel unto rome . this is the ninth transmigration . moreover , bitter remained after the desolation and wasting of the temple fifty two years . after that , a●…rianus who used superstition with bones , made wars upon them , and transported israel from their country after he had spoiled it , conveying them into spain . this is the tenth captivity . this adrian vanquished the jews , ( which rebelled the second time against the romans ) with a final and utter destruction , forbidding and not suffering them , in any wise to enter into jerusalem , which he had began to fortify with very strong walls , and caused it to be called helius after his own name . he caused also a sow to be graven over the chief gate of the city , and a jew under her feet , carved in stone , in token of their subjection . a corollary . thus the ancient nation of the jews , which in former times might have been called the favorite of god almighty , was utterly destroyed , and their city demollished ; the famous city of j●…rusalem , which had been five times surprized and sacked before . first , asocheus king of egypt , after him antiochus , then pompey : and after him herod with sosius took it , yet did they not dismantle , much less destroy it . but before them the kings of babylon ruin'd it after they had possessed it years eight months and ●…ix daies after the building of it . the first founder of it was one of the princes of the cananites , ●…called in his own language the just king : and indeed he was so , for he was the first priest that sacrificed to god , and dedicated a temple there , calling the city solyma : but david king of the iews having driven out the cananites gave it unto his people to be inhabited , and after years and . months , it was destroyed by the baby●…nians . and from king david who was the first iew that raigned there un●…ill the time that titus destroyed it , were years . and from the time that it was first erected un●…ill it was thus r●…ed , were years ; yet neither the antiqui●…y , nor riches , nor fame thereof then spread over the world , nor the glory of religion , did any thing avail to hinder this hard destiny . such was the end of besieging ierusalem , when there were none left to kill more , or any thing remaining for the souldiers to get , or whereon they should exercise their courage , for they would have spared nothing that they could have spoiled ; titus c●…mmanded ●…hem to destroy the city and temple , only leaving standing certain towers that were more beautifull and stronger then the rest , viz : phasclus , hippi●…os , and mariamne , with the wall that stood on the west side , intending to keep a garrison there , and these were left to stand for monuments of their strength , and the roman valour , which had overcome a city so well fortified ; all the rest of the city they so flatted , that they who had not seen it before would not believe it had ever been inhabited . eheu quàm tenui pendent mortalia fil●… ! and now for an upshot of all that hath been said , take a short view of the whole matter : together with a true character of the jews , as they are at this day ; with the hopes and desires of all good men for their conversion . when the jews had made the full measure of their sins run over by putting to death the lord of life , gods judgements ( as they deserved , and our saviour foretold ) quickly overtook them : for , a mighty army of the romans be●…ieged and sackt the city of jerusalem , wherein by fire , famine , sword , civil discord , and forrein force , eleven hundred thousand were put to death . an incredible number it seeme●… ; yet it cometh within the compasse of our belief , if we consider that the siege began at the time of the pass●…over , when in a manner , all j●…ea was inclosed in jerusalem , all private synagogues doing then their duties to the mother-temple ; so that the city then had more guests than inhabitants . thus the passeover , first instituted by god in mercy , to save the israelites from death , was now used by him in justice , to hasten their destruction , and to gather the nation into a bundle to be cast into the fire of his anger . besides those who were slain , ninety seven thousand were taken captives ; and they who had bought our saviour for thirty pence , were themselves sold thirty for a peny . the general of the romans in this action , was titus , son to vespasian the emperour ; a prince so good , that he was styled the darling of mankind , for his sweet and loving nature ; ( and pity it was , that so good a stock had not been better grafted ! ) . so vertuously disposed , that he may justly be counted the glory of all pagans , and shame of most christians . he laboured what lay in his power , to have saved the temple , and many therein ; but the jews , by their obstinacy and desperateness , made themselves uncapable of any mercy . then was the temple it self made a sacrifice , and burnt to ashes . and of that stately structure which drew the apostles admiration , not a stone left upon a stone . the walls of the city ( more shaken with the sins of the jews de●…ending them , than with the ba●…tering ra●…s of the romans assaulting them ) were levelled to the ground ; only three towers left standing to witnesse the great strength of the place , and greater valour of the romans who conquered it . but whilest this storm fell on the unbelieving jews , it was calm amongst the chrians ; who , warned by christ's predictions , and many other prodigies , fled betimes out of the city to p●…lla ( a private place beyond jordan ) which served them instead of a little z●…ar , to save them from the imminent destruction . threescore years after , adrian the emperour re-bu●…lt the city of jerusalem , changing the situation somewhat ●…westward , and the name thereof to aeli●… . to despight the christians , he built a temple over our saviours grave , with the images of jupiter and venus : another at bethlehem , to adonis her minion ; an●… , to enrage the jews , did engrave swine over the gates of the city . who storming at the pro●…ation of their land , brake ●…o open rebellion : but were subdued by julius severus the emperour's lievtenant , an experienced captain , and many thousands slain with bencochab their counterfeit messias ( for so he termed himself ) that is , the son of a star ; usurping that prophesie , out of jacob shall a star arise ; thoug●… he proved but a fading comet , whose blazing portended the ruine of that nation . the captives , by order from adrian , were transported into spain ; the country laid waste , which parted with her people , and fruitfulnesse , both together . indeed , pilgrimes , to this day , here and there , light on parcells of rich ground in palestine , which god may seem to have left , that men may taste the former sweetnesse of the land , before it was soured for the peoples sins ; and that they may guesse the goodness of the cloth , by the ●…inenesse of the shreds . but it is barren for the generality ; the streams of milk and honey wherewith once it flowed , are now drained dry ; and the whole face of the land looketh sad , not so much for want of dressing , as because god hath frowned on it . yet great was the over-sight of adrian , thus totally to unpeople a province , and to beque●…th it to foxes and leopards . though his memory was excellent , yet here he forgot the old - 〈◊〉 ●…le ; who to prevent desolations , where they ●…ooted out the natives , planted i●… colonies of their own people . and surely the country recovered not a competency of inhabitants for some hundred years a●…ter . for , though many pilgrims came thither in after-ages , yet they came rather to visi●… , than to dwell . and such as remained there , mo●… embracing single live●… , were no breeders for posterity . if any say , that adrian did wilfully neglect this land , and prostitute it to ruine for the rebellion of the people ; yet all account it small policy in him , in punishing the jews , to hurt his own empire ; and by his vastation to leave fair and clear footing for forrein enemies to fasten on this country , and from thence to invade the neighbouring dominions : as after , the persians and saracens easily over ran and dispeopled palestine . and no wonder , if a thick medow were quickly mown . but to return to the jews ; such stragglers of them , not considerable in number , asescaped this banishment into spain ( for few hands reap so clean as to leave no gleanings ) were forbidden to enter into jerusalem , or so much as to behold it from any rise or advantage of ground . yet they obtained of the after-emperours , once a year ( namely on the tenth of august , whereon their city was taken ) to go in and bewail the destruction of their temple and people ; bargaining with the souldiers , who waited on them , to give so much for so long abiding there ; and if they exceeded the time they conditioned for , they must stretch their purses to a higher rate : so ( what st. hierom noteth ) they who bought christs blood , were then glad to buy their own tears . thus the main body of the jews was brought into spain , and yet they stretched their out-limbs into every country : so that it was as hard to find a populous city without a common sink , as without a company of jews . they grew fat on the barest pasture by usury and brokage ; though often squeezed by those christians amongst whom they lived , counting them dogs , and therefore easily finding a stick to beat them . and alwaies in any tum●…lt , when any fence of order was broken , the jews ●…ay next harmes ; as at the 〈◊〉 of richard the first , when the e●… ●…de great feasts , but the pillaged jews paid the shot . at last for their many villanies ( as fal●…fying of ●…oin , poisoning of springs , crucifying of christian children ) they were slain in some places , and finally banished out of others . out of england anno . by edward the first ; france . by philip the fair ; spain , . by ferdinand ; portugal . by emmanuel . but had these two later kings banished all jewish blood out of their countries , they must have emptied the veins of their best subjects as descended●… from them . still they are found in great numbers in turky ; chiefly in salomi●…i , where they enjoy the freest slavery : and they who in our saviours time , so scorned publicans , are now most employed in that offi●… to be the turks toll-gatherers . likewise i●… the popish parts of germany ; in pola●…d 〈◊〉 pantheon of all religions ; and amsterdan may be forfeited to the king of spain , whe●… she cannot shew a pattern of this , as of all other sects . lastly , they are thick in the pope●… dominions , where they are kept as a ●…estimony of the truth of the scriptures , and foyl to christianity ; but chiefly in pretence to convert them . but his holinesse's converting faculty , worketh the strongest at the greatest distance : for the indians he turneth to his religion , and these jews he converteth to his profit . some are of opinion of the general calling of the jews ; and no doubt , those that dissent from them in their judgements , concur in their wishes and desires . yet are there three grand hinderances of their conversion . first , the offence taken and given by the papists , amongst whom they live , by their worshipping of images ; the jews being zelots of the second commandment . secondly , because on their conversion they must renounce all their goods as ill gotten ; and they will scarce enter in at the door of our church , when first they are to climbe over so high a threshold . lastly , they are debarred from the use of the new testament , the means of their salvation . and thus we leave them in a state most pitiful , and little pitied . to give you then a right character in brief ; they are a people that know how to comply with the times , and the condition which they live in : especially if their profit be concerned in it ; reviled like dogs , and used like slaves , yet never shew so much as an angry countenance . a nation which will thrive wheresoever they come ; yet most by usury and brokage ; not lending any thing , but on pawns , and those once forfeited , never more redeemable . the best of both sexes , are said to have an unsavor●… ranknesse , not incident ( if not caused by 〈◊〉 ) ●…o other people , from whom they are as different in their habit , as in their religion . and ●…s or that , they retain still circumcision , as the badg & ●…gnisance of their nation ; but m●…ngled with many ceremonies not prescribed by the law , nor observed by the antients ; placing a void chair for the prophet elias , whom they believe to be present , though unseen , at the solemnity . and upon this they are so besotted , that they conceive the female sex uncapable of eternal life , because not capable of circumcision . and therefore use to name them with no other ceremony , then at the six weeks end , to have some young wenches lift up the cradle with the child in it , which she that standeth at the head , giveth the name unto . of their sabbath , so extreaml●… doting , that they have added to the superstitions left them by the pharisees . and herein they are so precise , that if a j●…w travel on the friday , and in the evening fall so short of his journey's end , that it amounts to m●…re than . cubits , or six furlongs , which they account a sabbath-dayes journey , there must he sit him down , and keep his sabbath , though in a wood , or field , or the high-way side , without fear of wind or weather , of thieves or robbers , or without taking order for meat or drink ; and so far have they gone in despight of christ , as to declare it unlawful to lift the oxe or asse out of a ditch , permitted in the strictest times of pharisaical rigour ; so pertinacious in retaining the difference of meats and drinks , that they will by no means sit at the same table with other men : and so precise in the dressing of it , that they will eat of no flesh , but of their own killing only ; and that too , with such cautions , and reservations , that if any of the entrails be corrupt or dislocated , they wil sell the whole beast to the christians for a very trifle ; beneficial in that only to the neighbouring christians . wine they forbear , except it be of their own planting , not so much out of dislike of that liquor ; for they are generally good fellows , and love their bellies , as for fear the wine should be baptized : a ceremony much used in the eastern parts . of the coming of their messiah so full of hopes , that there is no great warriour stirring , but they look upon him as the man , till some sad tragedy or other which suffer under that perswasion , makes them see their errour ; promising to themselves whensoever he cometh , a restitution of their kingdom , and such felicities therein , in the literal sense of some texts of scripture , which carry in them a more mystical and sacred meaning . that in good time ( but gods , not theirs ) they shall be made partakers of the several blessings which those texts do speak of , is both the hope and wish of all pious men ; who cannot chuse but grieve , to behold the natural branches so long dismembred , and cut off from the tree of life . and this they neither hope nor wish for ; but on some fair grounds presented to them by st. paul , who said expressely , that when the fulnesse of the gentiles is once come in , that then all israel shall be saved , rom. . , . the words are so plainly positive , that they need no commentary : or , if they did , we have the general consent of the antients ; besides the constant current of most modern writers , who cherish the glad hopes of their conversion to the gospel ; which the apostle doth there aim at . origen , athanasius , hierom , augustine , chrysostome , for the primitive times . beda and hugo cardinalis , in the times succeeding . farrara and thomas aq●…inas , for those of rome . calvin , beza , bullinger , and peter martyr , for the reformed churches ; besides divers others of great note so expound that text. nor want there other texts of scripture to affi●…m as much , which he that doth desire to see , may find them with the expositions of most christian writers , in a book writ by doctor willet , entituled de generali & novissima judaeorum vocatione●… and ●…hither i refer the more curious reader . out of all i shall take these words , de illorum salute spes supersit . the jews , ( saith he ) are not so wholly fallen from the favour of god ; but that there still remain some hopes of their salvation . of their salvation then by the gospel of christ , when the fulnesse of the gentiles is once come in , we conceive good hopes : but , whether there be any , of their restitution to their temporal kingdom , is a farther question ; and not so clearly evidenced in the book of god , though there be somewhat in that book , which may seem to intimate it . th●…t the opinion of being restored by the messiah to that temporal power which was taken from them by the romans , was prevalent as well amongst christs disciples , as the rest of the jews , is , as i take it , clear enough in the holy gospel . in such a kingdom , and no other , do the two sons of zebedee desire to sit , on both hands of their master . and the same was it , and no other , which all of them expected , as appeareth by the words of cleophas , luke . . that christ should have restored unto them : we thought , said he , that this would have proved the man , that should have redeemed , from what ? from sin and satan , or the curse and bondage of the law ? not so ; 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , but from the yoke of vassallage , which the romans had so lately imposed on them , say the fathers rightly ; touching the same it was , that they moved him saying , lord , wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom of israel ? act. . . in answer whereunto , our saviour makes them no denial , as unto the thing , nor tells them that they never must expect such a restauration ; but only puts them off as unto the tim●… , and bids them rest themselves on the pleasure of god the father , in whose hand the disposing of all kingdoms was ; it is not for you , saith he , to know the times and seasons , which the father hath in his own power . ver . . by which answer , ( as it seems to me ) there is a possibility of restoring to their kingdom also ; though not in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , at that very instant when they were most desirous to have it done , or at any other time sit for them to know , that being a secret which the father hath reserved to himself alone . a prayer . let the consideration of these things be unto us , as it was sometimes unto an eminent divine ( now with god ) , an occasion of prayer unto god on their behalf , saying with him in this , or to the like effect . o lord , who art righteous in all thy wayes , and holy in all thy works , we acknowledg and admire the justice of thy proceedings , in binding and hardning the jews ; as for their manifold impieties , soespecially for stoning thy prophets , despising thy word , and crucifying the lord of life . for which thou hast cursed them , according to the prediction of thy prophet , to abide many daies without a king , and without a prince , and without a sacrifice , and without an image , and without an ephod , and without teraphim . but thou , o lord , how long ? how long o lord , holy and true ? how long lord ? wilt thou be angrie for ever ? thine anger is said to endure but a moment ; but , lord , how many millions of millions of momeuts , are contained in sixteen hundred years , since thou hast first cast off thy first and antient people , the jews ? remember abraham , isaac , and jacob , not for any merit in their persons , which was none , but for the mercy in thy promises which is infinite , so frequently made , and so solemnly confirmed unto them . but o! remember the orator on thy right hand , christ jesus our lord , which was made of the seed of david according to the flesh ; and the orator in thine own bosome , thine essential and innate clemency , and let these prevail , if it may stand with thy good will and pleasure , that thy people the jews may be received into the arms of thy mercy . as once by a wilful and woful imprecation they drew the guilt of his blood on them , and on their children : so by thy free imputation , drop the merit of his blood on them , and on their children . for the speeding of whose conversion , be pleased to compose the many different judgements of christians into one truth , to unite their disagreeing affections in one love ; that our examples may no longer discourage , but invite them to the embracing of the true religion . oh mollifie the hearts , rectifie the wills , unvail the eyes , unstop the eares of those thy people , whom hitherto thou hast justly hardned : reveal to their understanding , those oracles which thou hast committed to their keeping : that so our saviour , who long since hath been a light to lighten the gentiles , may in thy time be the glorie of thy people israel , that so there may be one shepherd , and one sheepfold . grant this , o lord , for jesus christ his sake , to whom with thee , and the holie spirit , be all honour and glory , now , and for ever more . finis . a table and brief description of the chief places mentioned in the history of josephus . aco ptolemais , a city of phoenicia ; called so from ptolemy king of egypt . aielona , the name of a city belonging to the levites , and of a village not far from nicopolis , also the place whereabout ( at the prayer of joshua ) the sun stood still , while the canaanites were slain . alexandria , a city in egypt , built by alexander son of philip , king of macedon ; built in the form of a macedonian chlamys , or cloak . antiochia , a city in syria , lying on the sea-coast , built by king antiochus . aossa , a town which alexander king of the jews wan , and incompassed it with a tripl●… wall . aram , his country is at this day called syria ; he was one of the sons of shem , the son of noah . arabia , a country lying on the east and north-east of the holy land , and is divided into fe●…ix , deserta , & petraea or arabia , the happy , the desert , and the stony . ararat , a mountain of armenia , where noahs arke rested . askalon , one of the five principal cities of the philistines , built on the sea shore , distant from jerusalem . furlongs . asdotum , a very strong city of the philistines , where giants sometimes dwelt . assur assy●…ia , a country lying near the holy land , so named from assur , the son of sem. astaroth karna●…m , a city in the tribe of manasse , on the other side of jordan , in the very corner of the country of bashan , in the confines of arabia . b bethshemesh , or bethsemes , a city belonging to the priest , lying in the land of juda , in the lot of dan , afterward assigned to the levites ; the people of this city were slain by the hand of god , to the number of . for looking into the ark. bitter , a very strong city , not far from jerusalem , which the romans took by famine . c cappadocia , a little country being part of syria , called by the greeks leuco-syria . cedron , a brook which runs on the east side of jerusalem , between the city and mount olivet . cephar toco , a town in idumaea , which vespasian the emperour wan . chaldaea , a country lying north-east from palestina , the chief city whereof was babylon . caesarea , a town lying not far from the sea , in the holy land ; called also turris stratonis , and flavia colonia 〈◊〉 very strong , and re-buil●… by herod to keep th●… jews from rebellion . d damascus , a city i●… syria , lying beyon●… mount libanus six day●… journey from jerusalem , watred with two navigable rivers , abana , and pharphar . e elat , a city in idumaea , upon the coast of the red sea . edom , or idumaea , the country where the posterity of esau lived , so called from edom , the name of esau , signifying red . euphrates , called by ezechiel , chebar ; it divides babylon in the midst , and runs into the persian gulf . g galilee , a most fruitful part of the holy land , situate betwixt mount libanus , & samaria : bounded on the north with tyre , on the south , with the samaritans country , and the river jordan ; on the west with the territory of ptolemais , and mount carmel ; on the east it extends it self beyond the streams of jordan . gamala , a very strong , and almost impregnable town and castle of palestina , which was built on the top of a hill , like a bunch upon a camels back , whence the city took its name gamala ; gamal , in hebrew , signifying a camel. gaza , one of the five principal cities of the philistines , distant from the sea about two miles ; it was taken from the canaanites by the tribe of juda , caleb being their commander . gerarta , a city in the upper galilee . gilboa , the mountains upon which saul and jonathan his son , were slain by the philistines . gomorrha , acity of the canaanites near to sodom , both which were consumed by fire from heaven . goschen , a part of egypt , fruitfulin pastures , where jacob and the patriarchs were placed by pharaoh king of egypt . h hierusalem , called the holy city , was built on mountains in the midst of judaea , in the tribe of benjamin , a place c●…osen by god himself , buil●… at first by the jebusites , & by them called jebus ; the king whereof joshua slew . afterward david coming again●…t it , the inhabitants were so confident of the impregnableness of it , that in scorn they placed the lame and blind upon the walls , as accounting them sufficient defenders of so strong a place . but david , by the help of almighty god , wan the city , cast out the jebusites , ●…ebuilt it round , fortified it with a tower , and dwelt in it , making it the chief city of al the land of canaan ; afterward by reason of the building of solomons temple in that place , it was calle●… hiero●…osyma , that is , solomons temple , from the greek name next for the idolatry & shedding innocent blood in that place and land the jews were carried captive into baby●…on by nebuchadnezzar , the temple and city were destroyed by fire by the cha●…daeans ; but seventy years after that , according as the lord spake by the mouth of jeremiah the prophet , the people of the jews were by cyrus sent out of captivity into their own land , with great gifts ; besides gold and silver , and the vessels that had been taken out of the house of the lord by nebuchadnezzar , with zerubbabel 〈◊〉 the re-edifying of th●… temple , and furnishing 〈◊〉 it by artaxerxes ; aft●… ward nehemiah was 〈◊〉 thorised for the buildi●… of the wall of the city . this being done and 〈◊〉 nished by zerubbal and by nehemiah , the city being magn●… cently increased w●… buildings , afterward 〈◊〉 the machabees , and herod , thirty eight years after the death of christ , titus son to vespasian sack't the city , and destroyed it , leaving it only a garrison for the roman souldiers . sixty five year●… after that , the jews falling into rebellion , hadrian the emperour of rome , utterly destroyed what titus left standing , and commanded salt to be sown where the city stood . and thus was fulfilled what was spoken by our saviour touching the temple , that there should not be left one stone upon another . hurcan or hurcania , a region in the greater asia , having on the east the caspian sea , on the south armenia , upon the north albania , on the west iberia . i ●…buam , or jamnua , a ●…illage of the upper ga●…ee , standing upon a very ●…eep ground , which jose●…hus being governour of galilee , fortified against the romans . ●…ericho , a city in the south part of the land of canaan , situated in a fruitful soil , where grew balm , roses , sugar-canes , and abundance of dates , whence it was called the city of palms . joppe , or japho , a sea town and port of judaea built on a high promontory , from whence materials of timber and stones were brought to the building of solomons temple , from mount libanus , or lebanon . jordan , in hebrew jorden , the fairest , and biggest river in all palestina , springing up at the foot of mount libanus , running on the south of canaan , passing by many famous places , at length falls into the lake of sodom . jorpata , or jatopatae , an exceeding strong city of jerusalem , standing all well-nigh upon a rock , accessible only upon the north side . k katiim , or cittim , the nations of the greeks , so called in gen. . and in balams prophesie ; kittim ( saith he ) shall afflict ashur and eber. l lagarith , a city of edom , won by vespasian . m macedonia , a country lying in greece in the western part of it ; it was the country of king philip , & alexander his son , which wan to the greeks the persian empire . maidai , or media , a country having upon the south p●…rsia , upon the north , the hyrcanian-sea , on the west armenia & syria , on the east hyrcania and par●…hia ; which country took its name from madai , one of the sons of japhet . mesopotamia , a country which lyeth betwixt the rivers , tigris and euphrates , from which situation it was so called ; as lying in the midst of rivers . moriah , a mountain joyning very near to jerusalem , upon the east side of that city , a very steep rockie place ; in this place abraham offered to sacrifice his son isaac , and afterward upon this mountain was solomons temple built . mo●…nt olivet , so called from the plenty of olives whi●…h grew here , lying on the east side of jerusalem , and separated from the higher city by the valley of cedron . into this mountain our sav●…our christ often repaired , and offered up his prayers here unto his father . n nicopolis , a city of the holy land , otherwise called emaus . s samaria , a city standing in the tribe of ephr●…im , which after that the ten tribes fell off from the tribe of judah , was made the metropolis of the ten revolting tribes ; called sebaste in honour of augustus the emperour . scythopolis a city in syria . sennaar , the land of chaldea , where the tower of babel began to be builded seleucia , a city on the farther side of jordan in the country called gualonitis , so named from seleucus king of syria . sichem , a country near he bron , belonging to hamo●… the father of sichem from whence it is though he gave the name of h●… son , to that country of which he was prince ; and by some it is thought to be the name of that city called in the gospel sichar , a city of refuge & peculiar to the levites ; a principal city of samaria . sodom , a city which stood in the land of ●…anaan , where now is the dead-sea , destroyed by fire from heaven , for their sins . sidon , a haven , and mart town of phoenicia , being the border of the land of promise toward thenorth , and in the lot of the tribe of zabulon , although it was never conquered , nor possest by them . sinai , the mountain otherwise named horeb , upon which the almighty gave the law to moses by the ministery of angels . it was called sinai from the word in the holy tongue signifying a bush ; because god appeared there to moses , in a bush , in a flame of fire ; the bush not consumed . sion , the hill and city built on that hill , called the city of david , taken by him from the jebusites , lying on the north side of the city of j●…rusalem ; upon which the temple was built . siloe , a fountain rising out at the foot of m●…unt sion , in the west part of the valley of jehosaphat , a very clear , sweet , and large spring ; it runs into the brook cedron . schiloh , or silo , the highest mountain of all that are about jerusalem , or higher than any other mountain in the holy land ; likewise the name of the city that stands upon that hill , where the ark continued a long time with the tabernacle of the covenant , till it was taken by the philistines ; for which cause the people of israel used to meet at this place and offer sacrifices , until the time of samuel the prophet . afterward for the sins of the israelites , the city was destroyed , and the altar demolished . t tiarva , a city in galilee which vespasian took , razed , and put all the men to the sword , and sold their wives and children . tiberias , a city so named in honour of tiberius caesar , by herod the tetrarch , standing near the lake of gennezaret , called also the sea of tiberias ; it is the utmost bound of the lower galilee eastward . tyre , a city renowned in holy scripture , built upon a rock , and upon all sides incompassed by the sea ; wherefore the prophet cals her the city in the heart of the sea ; a city of incredible riches , by the abundance of her merchandise ; by the spe●…ial appointment of god , and foretellings 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 prophets isaiah & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , made a prey to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 king of babylon , and afterward to alexander son of philip king of mace●… 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 in the that part of the sea whic●… ran betwixt the mai●… land , and the city , wit●… stones , earth , and timber and made it continent t●… the land ; first nebuchad●…nezzar , but in short tim●… after , that city was rebuilt , and the bar of th●… sea quite demolished , & s●… the city restord to its former strength ; but alexander stopt up the sea again , sackt the city , and crucified many of th●… chief men of the city , & t●… this day that little whic●… remains of it , is annexed firmely to the continent it stood in the territory 〈◊〉 the tribe of ashur , b●… had kings of her own , ha●… ving never been in th●… hands of the israelits . a short view of the whole matter . by th. f. a true character of the jews , as they are at this day ; with the hopes and desires of all good men for their conversion . a prayer unto god for their conversion . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e tho fuller , d d. late preacher at s. mary savoy . westm. a sermon preached at the collegiat [sic] church of s. peter in westminster, on the of march, being the day of his majesties inauguration by thomas fuller. fuller, thomas, - . this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text r in the english short title catalog (wing f ). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a wing f estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a sermon preached at the collegiat [sic] church of s. peter in westminster, on the of march, being the day of his majesties inauguration by thomas fuller. fuller, thomas, - . [ ], p. printed for john williams ..., london : . the first of two editions published in the same year. described in oxford bibliographical society, proceedings & papers, vol. , p. . reproduction of original in the university of illinois (urbana-champaign campus). library. eng bible. -- o.t. -- samuel, nd, xix, -- sermons. sermons, english -- th century. a r (wing f ). civilwar no a sermon preached at the collegiat church of s. peter in westminster, on the . of march, being the day of his majesties inauguration. by t fuller, thomas a this text has no known defects that were recorded as gap elements at the time of transcription. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - john latta sampled and proofread - john latta text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a sermon preached at the collegiat church of s. peter in westminster , on the . of march , being the day of his majesties inauguration . by thomas fuller , b.d. london , printed for iohn williams , at the signe of the crowne in saint pauls church-yard , . a sermon preached at the collegiate church of s. peter in westminster , on the . of march , being the day of his majesties inauguration . . sam. . . yea : let him take all , forasmuch as my lord the king is come againe in peace unto his own house . it is as naturall for malicious men to backbite , as for dogs to bite , or serpents to sting ; see this in ziba , who rais'd a false report on his master mephibosheth , and accused him to david ( when he departed from jerusalem ) of no lesse then high treason , as if in davids absence he affected the kingdom for himself : well was ziba studied in the art of slandering , to charge home , and draw his arrow to the head ; for in haynous accusations , when the wound is cured , the very scarre will kill , and though the innocence of the party accused may chance to cleare the main debt , yet the arrerages of the suspition will be enough to undoe him : but i wonder not at ziba's accusing mephibosheth , i wonder at davids believing ziba , at the first information , of a single witnes , and him a servant against his master , without further proof , as hearing both parties , to proceed to censure and fine mephibosheth with the losse of his lands , was a piece of unjust justice , wherein david cannot be excused , much lesse defended . all that can be said for him is this , that not david , but davids distractions passed this sentence , so that being in feare and fright , and flight , it can scarce be accounted his deliberate act : once he said in his hast , all men are lyars , and now being on the spurre in his speed , he believes mephibosheth was a traitor . . but it pleased gods providence that in this chapter the tide was turned , and david returned to jerusalem , where mephibosheth meeting him , was admitted to speak in his owne behalf , and makes a plain and pithy narration of the matter : innocence hath so clear a complexion , that she needs no painting , and a good cause consisting in matter of fact , when it is plainly told , is sufficiently pleaded : he shews how that violenta detentio withheld him from attending on david , being no lack of his loyalty , but the lamenesse of his legs , which might and should have been helpt , had not ziba hindred it on purpose , in refusing to saddle his asse ; and thus having wrong'd his master at home , he then traduced him abroad , transferring his own guile , to make it become the others guiltinesse : soon did david perceive his errour , and to make amends did order , that the lands should be held in copartnership betwixt them ; mephibosheth have one moiety , and ziba the other ; why speakest thou any more of thy matters ? i have said it , thou and ziba divide the lands . . this did not satisfie mephibosheth , not because it was too little , but because it was too much ; hee now needs nothing , seeing his soveraign is returned in safety : and therefore desires that ziba may have all , according to davids former appointment ; yea , let him take all . this he did partly perchance to assert the honour of david : it should never be said , that david said any thing , and it was not done ; what grants hee made , mephibosheth would make good , though with the losse of his lands : it beares no proportion to the greatnesse of princes , nor stands with the statelinesse of states , to say and unsay , doe and undoe , order and disorder againe , whose first resolutions are presumed to be grounded on so good reason , they shall need no revocation . but chiefly he did it to shew the hyperbole of his happinesse , and transcendency of his joy , conceived at davids safe return ; joy which sweld up him in full measure , pressed down , shaken together , and running over . yet lest the least drop of so precious a liquor as this was ( being the spirits of loyalty distill'd ) should be spilt on the ground , let us gather it up with our best attention , and poure it in our hearts to practise it , as it flowes from the text , yea , let him take all , &c. . the words contain a large grant , and a just consideration moving thereunto ; the large grant , let him take all : wherein observe the granter , mephibosheth : the grantee , ziba : and the thing granted , all . ( i. e. ) house and lands and rents , and profits , and emoluments , and obventions , & hereditaments , with the appendants and the appurtenances thereunto belonging . what the warinesse of modern men deviseth in many words , and all twisted together ( few enough to hold in this litigious age , wherein a span of land cannot be conveyed in lesse then a span of parchment , ) see all these words summ'd up in this one word all in my text , let him take all . secondly , here is the consideration of the granter , which consisteth not in any mony paid , or service perform'd by the grantee , but onely in respect of a generall good , which god had bestowed on david , and in him on all israel , forasmuch as my lord the king is come in peace to his owne house . . in prosecuting which parts , i could desire that my discourse might have been open and champion to proceed in an even and continued style , but my text is incumbred with so many difficulties , that my sermon must rise and fall into hills and dales of objections and answers , which answers , as so many fruitfull vallies , shall afford us plentifull store of profitable observations . . object . the first hill which we are to climbe is an objection , if not within the walls , yet surely in the suburbs of my text . why ? ( may some say ) me thinks david doth mephibosheth justice but by halfes ; for when his innocence so plainly appeared , the slanderer should have been soundly punished : thou and ziba divide the land : he should rather have divided ziba's head from his shoulders ; or of all the land , leave him onely one tree , wherein hee should be justly executed , as a land-mark to forewarne all deceitfull servants how they tread on so unwarrantable wayes . what hope was there he would hereafter prove faithfull to his prince , that was false to his master ? yea , this was contrary to the fundamentall lawes of davids family , psal. . . who so privily slandereth his neighbour him will i cut off : whereas ziba here was so far from being cut off , that he was both freely forgiven , & fairly rewarded , for the malicious disservice he had done his master . . resp. i answer , we must consider that ziba was a considerable man in his tribe of benjamin , and probably might make a great impression on the people : besides , great was his experience , being an old courtier of sauls , greater the allyance to him , and dependance on him , having fifteen sonnes and twenty servants , ( all now officiously attending on king david at his return , as it is in the seventeenth verse of this chapter . ) greatest of all was his will and skill to doe mischef , and therefore no wonder if david was unwilling to offend him . secondly , consider david was at this time in the non-age , ( not to say infancy ) of his new-recovered kingdome . wary physitians will not give strong purges to little children , and david thought it no wisdome at this time , on these terms , as matters stood with him , to be severe in his proceedings ; but rather by all endeerments to tye and oblige the affections of his people the faster unto him . we may see this in the matter of shimei , which immediately concerned david himselfe ; yea when by abishai he was urged and prest to punish him , shall not shimei be put to death for this , because he hath cursed the lords annointed ? yet davids policy was so farre above his revenge , that he not onely flatly rejected the motion , but also sharply reproved the mover , what have i to doe with you yee sonnes of zerviah , that yee should this day be adversaries unto me ? shall there any man be put to death this day in israel ? for doe i not know that i am this day king over israel ? he would not have the conduits run bloud on the day of his new coronation , nor would he have the first page in the second edition of his soveraignty written in red letters , but rather sought ( by all acts of grace ) to gaine the good will of his subjects . hence wee observe , . magistrates sometimes are faine to permit what they cannot conveniently punish for the present . thus sometimes chirurgions leave their ulcers unlaunch't , either because they are not ripe , or because perchance they have not all their necessary instruments about them . and indeed , if statists perceive , that from the present removing of an inconvenience , a greater mischief will inevitably follow , 't were madnesse to undo a state for the present , for feare it will be undone hereafter . perchance the wisdome of our parliament may suffer in the censures of such , who fathome mysteries of state by their owne shallow capacities , for seeming to suffer sectaries and schismaticks to share and divide in gods service with the mephibosheths , the quiet and peaceable children of our church : and indeed such sectaries take a great share to themselves , having taken away all the common prayer out of most places , and under pretence to abolish superstition , have almost banish't decency out of gods church : but no doubt the sages of our state want not will , but wait a time when with more conveniencie , and lesse disturbance ( though slowly , surely ) they will restraine such turbulent spirits with david in my text , who was rather contented , then well pleased , to passe by ziba for the present . . object . yea , but ( may some say ) this speech of mephibosheth cannot be allowed either in piety or policie : for if he speak true , then he was a foole ; and if he spake false , then he was a flatterer . if he spake true , then he was a foole ; for what wise man would at once give away all that he hath . charity may impart her branches , but she must not part with her root : the wisdome of our grand charter hath provided , that no offender ( though for an hainous fault ) should be so heavily amerced , but alwaies salvo suo sibi contenemento ; what favour is afforded to malefactors , charity surely should give to its selfe , as not thereby to prejudice and impaire her owne livelihood : i commend the well bounded and well grounded bounty of zacheus , luke . . behold , lord , halfe of my goods i give to the poore : but with mephibosheth to give all his goods , and that not to the poore , but to a couzening cheating servant , was an action of madnesse . how would he doe hereafter to subsist ? did he expect hereafter to be miraculously fed with manna dropt into his mouth ? or in his old age would he turne court almes-man , and live on the bounty of others ? and grant he could shift for himselfe , yet what should micah his son doe , and his future posterity ? if he spake false , then he was a flatterer ; and said it onely to sooth david , when he meant no such matter : but court-holy-water never quenched any thirsty soule . flatterers are the worst of tame beasts , which tickle princes even to their utter destruction . . resp. i answer , he was neither foole nor flatterer , but an affectionate subject , and at the present , in a mighty passion of gladnesse : but first we must know , that it behoved mephibosheth to doe something extraordinary ; and in his expressions to exceed the size and standard of common language ; were it onely to unstain his credit from the suspition of disloyalty ziba had cast upon him . secondly , mephibosheth was confident and well assured , that whatsoever david did for the present , yet hereafter , when sufficiently informed of mephibosheths innocence , hee would make not onely competent , but plentifull provision for him . but lastly and chiefly we must know , that these words of mephibosheth were spoken in a great passion of joy , and passionate speeches must alwayes sue in chauncery , and plead to have the equity of a candide and charitable construction allowed them : let us not therefore be over-rigid , in examining his words when we knew his meaning , that he was affected with an unmanageable joy at davids safe return : rather hence let us learn . . speeches spoken in passion must not be strercht so farre as they may be strain'd , but have a favourable interpretation ; for such is the very nature of passion , that it can scarce doe any thing but it must over-doe . seest thou then the soule of a man shaking with feare , or soaring with joy , or burning in anger , or drowning in griefe , meet his words with a charitable acception of them , and defalke the extravagancies of his expressions : the wringing of the nose bringeth forth bloud saith wise agur , prov. . . and he who shall presse and wrack and torture speeches spoken in passion , may make a bloudy construction thereof ; besides , beyond , against the intent of him that spake it : but let us content our selves , that we know their meaning , and not prosecute , ( much lesse persecute ) their words too farre , as here in my text , wee know the mind of mephibosheth was to shew , that hee was soundly , sincerely , and from the ground , of his heart glad , when he said , yea , let him take all , forasmuch as , &c. . come we now to the consideration of the grant , forasmuch as my lord the king is come in peace unto his own house . behold in the words a confluence of many joyes together . first , the king ; there is matter of gladnesse for all subjects in generall . secondly , my lord the king , mephibosheth was davids servant in ordinary ; or rather his extraordinary favorite , and this made his joy to be greater . thirdly , is come againe , is come backe , is returned , and therefore more welcome after long wanting : the interposing of the night renders the arising of the sunne more desired : princes presence after some absence more precious . fourthly , to his own house . why ? were not all the houses in israel davids houses ? are not kings alwaies at home , whilst in their kingdom ? true , all the houses in israel were davids own , not by his private use , but paramount soveraignty over them , whereas his palace in jerusalem was peculiarly his owne , by his particular possession thereof , and proper residence therein . fifthly and lastly , come in peace ; in peace , which is the substance of all earthly blessings , and the shadow of heavenly happinesse . . obj. yea , but may some say , mephibosheth doth not measure out davids happinesse to the best advantage , nor doth he give the true emphasis to his honour , for david returned with victory . had hee not gotten a glorious conquest under the conduct of ioab , in the forrest of ephraim over all his enemies ? . slaine by the sword , more devoured with the wood , the rest routed , their captain kill'd , and and all with a losse so little on davids side , that none at all is mentioned ; but mephibosheth takes no notice of davids trophies and triumphs , but either out of envy , or ignorance , or both , concealing his conquests , huddles all up under the name of peace , forasmuch as my lord the king is come to his own house in peace . . i answer , mephibosheth therfore suppresseth victory , & mentioneth peace only , because victories are not valuable in themselves , but in order and rendencie , as they conduce to the attaining of peace . excellently doth the apostle argue the distance and dignitie of men above women , from the end and intent of their creation , corin. . . neither was the man created for the woman , but the woman for the man : so peace was never made for victory , but victory for peace ; as all meanes , even by indentures drawne by nature , are bound apprentices to serve the end their master . let not therefore the maid grow so proud as to strive for equipage , much lesse for priority with her mistresse , victory doth the work for peace , and therefore peace alone is mentioned by mephibosheth . . resp. secondly , i answer , if davids conquests had atchieved against the edomites , amonites , or amorites , or moabites , or midianites , or syrians , or sidonians , or egyptians , or philistines , or any forraine foe , mephibosheth no doubt would have made mention thereof to the purpose : but david was thus unhappy in his very happinesse , that this victory was gotten over his own subjects . the ribs of iacob did grate , one against the other , and in that civill-uncivill warre many worthy men lost their lives unworthily . whose lives there prodigally spent , had they been thriftily expended in a forraine designe , had been sufficient to have purchased david another kingdome : say not that such as were slain were none of davids subjects , but traytors and rebels , which did oppose their prince and resist their soveraigne . for here we must know that they were davids subjects , first de jure , they ought to have been his subjects ; and a joynt , though out of joynt , is a joynt still , though dislocated out of its proper place . secondly , some of them were davids subjects de facto , two hundred men went out of ierusalem to hebron ( chapt. . . ) in their simplicity , and they knew not anything , onely their innocence was practised upon by the policie of absolom . thirdly and lastly , they were all presum'd his subjects de futuro , when their eyes were opened , and they saw their owne errours , they would either returne of themselves , or be easily reduced to their former obedience : wisely therefore did mephibosheth wave the mention of victory , which very word would have been a sad remembrancer to call to davids mind the losse of his subjects ; and rather folds up all under the notion of peace , as a cover ( if lesse gaudy , surely more pleasing ) forasmuch as my lord the king is come in peace to his owne house . . pious princes can take no delight in victories over their owne subjects . for when they cast up their audits , they shall find themselves losers in their very gaining . nor can they properly be said to have wonne the day , which at the best is but a twilight , being benighted with a mixture of much sorrow and sadnesse . for kings being the parents of their country , must needs grieve at the destruction of their children . who knowes the love of a parent , but a parent ? maidens are incompetent judges of mothers affections . how doth the affectionate father when hee beats his child , first feele the blowes struck through himselfe ? i dare boldly say , that in that unhappy aceldama , wherein the person of our soveraigne was present , a sword did pierce through his owne heart , in the same sense as it is said of the virgin mary , luke . . for though ( thankes be to god ) divine providence did cover his head in the day of battell , as it were miraculously commanding the bullets , which flew about , and respected no persons , not to touch his anointed ; yet notwithstanding his soule was shot through with griefe to behold a field spread with his subjects corpses , that scarce any passage , but either through rivelets of bloud , or over bridges of bodies . and had he got as great a victory as david got in the forrest of ephraim , yet surely hee would have preferred peace farre before it . well did mephibosheth know davids dyet , who to please his pallate , makes mention onely of peace , and suppresseth victory , forasmuch as my lord the king is come to his owne house in peace . . but the maine of doctrine is this , all loyall subjects ought to be glad when their soveraigne is returned in peace . the sweetest musick of this doctrine is in the close thereof , in peace ; for nothing is more wofull then warre . the lacedemonians were wont to make their servants drunke , and then to shew them to their children , that they then beholding their frantick fits and apish behaviour , once seeing might ever shun that beastly vice . our sins have made this land , which formerly was our faithfull servant , drunk with bloud : i hope our children , seeing the miserable fruits and effects thereof , will grow so wise and wary by their fathers follies , as for ever to take heed how they ingage themselves in such a civill warre againe . but why doe i compare warre to drunkennesse ? which farre better may be resembled to the devil himselfe , seeing all those symptomes that appeared in the possessed man , mark . shew themselves too evidently in all places where warre comes : and wheresoever he catcheth him , he teareth him , and he fometh and gnasheth with his teeth , and pineth away . — and oft times it hath cast him into the fire , and oft times into the water to destroy him . wheresoever war seizeth on city , castle , town , or village he teareth it , making both breaches in the houses with batteries and fractions in mens hearts with divisions , till the place pine away , having all the marrow and moisture of the wealth thereof wasted and consumed , oft times casting it into the fire , burning beautifull buildings to ashes , and oft times into the water , drowning fruitfull medowes with wilfull inundations . yea , if these times long continue , one of these two mischiefes will inevitably come to passe : either ( which is most probable ) both sides being so equally poysed , will doe as the twelve combatants in the field of strong men , sam. . . thrust their swords in each other , and so fall downe both together ; or if one party prove victorious , it will purchase the conquest at so deare a price as the destruction of the kingdome , which will be done before . and what is said , matth. . . of the siege of jerusalem , is as true of our miserable times , and except those dayes were shortened , there should no flesh be saved : would to god i could as truly adde the words that follow , but for the elects sake those dayes shall be shortened . however in my doctrine there remaines an eternall truth , that all loyall subjects ought to be glad when their soveraigne returneth in peace . . yea may some say , david deserved to be welcomed indeed , and at his return to be entertain'd with all possible expressions of gladnesse , for he brought true religion along with him , and setled gods service in the purity and precisenesse thereof . but now adayes all cry to have peace , to have peace , and care not to have truth together with it . yea there be many silly mephibosheths in our dayes that so adore peace , that to attain it , they care not what they give away to the malignant ziba's of our kingdom . these say , yea , let them take all , lawes , and liberties , and priviledges , and proprieties , and parliaments , and religion , and the gospell , and godlinesse , and god himselfe . so be it that the lord our king may come to his house in peace . but let us have peace and truth together , both or neither ; for if peace offer to come alone , we will doe with it , as ezechiah did with the brazen serpent , even break it to pieces , and stamp it to powder , as the dangerous idoll of ignorant people . . i answer , god forbid , god forbid wee should have peace , and not truth with it ; but to speak plainly , i would to god men did talk lesse of truth and love it more , have it seldomer in their mouthes , and oftner , yea alwayes in their heads and hearts , to believe and practice it . know then that the word truth is subject to much homonymie , and is taken in severall sences according to the opinions , or rather humours of those that use it . aske the anabaptist what is truth , and he will tell you , truth is the maintaining that the dominion over the creatures is founded in grace ; and that wicked men , ( whereby they mean all such whom they shall be pleased to account and call so ) neither use the creatures right , nor have any right to use them , but may justly be dispossessed of them . it is truth that all goods should bee common , that there should be no civill magistrate , that there ought to be no warres but what they make themselves , for which they pretend inspiration ; that children ought not to bee baptized till they could give a reason of their faith , and that such as have been formerly , must be rebaptized againe . ask the separatists what is truth , and they will tell you , that the further from all ceremonies ( though ancient and decent ) the nearer to god , that it is against the liberty of a christian to be press'd to the forme of a set prayer , who ought only to be voluntaries , and follow the dictate of the spirit , that the ministers made in our church are antichristian , with many more . ask the schismaticks of these times what is truth , and they will bring in abundance of their own opinions , which i spare at this time to recite ; the rather , because when the wheel of their fancie is turned about , another spoak may chance to be verticall , being so fickle in their tenents , that what they account truth now , will perchance not be counted truth by them seven years hence . . to come close to the answer , i say , that some of their pretended truths are flat falsities , and others meer fooleries : as it easily to prove in time and place convenient . secondly , grant some of them be truths , yet are they not of that importance and concernment , as to deserve to imbroyle a kingdome in blood to bring them in . david longed for the waters of the well of bethlehem , sam. . . but when it was brought him , hee checkt his owne vanitie , and would not drink it , because it was the blood of men that went in jeopardy of their lives . but with what heart as men , or conscience as christians , can sectaries seek to introduce their devices with such violence unto the church , when they know full well that it will cost blood before it be setled , and if it e're be done , non erit tanti , it will not quit cost , being in themselves slight , matters of mean consequence . thirdly , grant them not onely true , but important , if they be so desirous to have them introduced , the way most agreeable to christian proceedings , is to have them fairely debated , freely disputed , fully decided , firmely determined by a still voyce , and not that their new gospell should be given as the law , with thundering and lightning of cannon , fire and sword . fourthly , bee it affirmed for a certain truth , that formerly we had in our churches all truths necessary to salvation . of such as deny this , i ask iosephs question to his brethren , is your father well , the old man , is he yet alive ? so how fares the soules of their sires , and the ghosts of their grand-fathers ? are they yet alive ? do they still survive in blisse , in happinesse ? oh no , they are dead , dead in soule , dead in body , dead temporally , dead eternally , dead and damned , if so be wee had not all truth necessary to salvation before this time . yea , let these that cry most for the want of truth , shew one rotten kernell in the whole pomegranet , one false article in all . let them shew where our church is deficient in a necessary truth . but these men know wherein their strength lyeth , and they had rather creep into houses , and lead away captive silly women laden with infirmities , then to meddle with men , and enter the lists to combate with the learned doctors of the church . . but it is further objected , david brought home a true peace with him , which long lasted firm , ( the showre of ziba's rebellion being afterward quickly blown over . ) but we have cause to suspect our peace will not be a true peace ; and an open wound is better then a palliate cure . would you have us put off our armour to bee killd in our clothes ? and bee surprized with warre on a sudden , when it will be past our policie to prevent , or power to resist it . . answer , there must at last be a mutuall confiding on both sides , so that they must count the honesty of others their onely hostages . this the sooner it be done , the easier it is done . for who can conceive , that when both sides have suffered more wrongs they will sooner forgive , or when they have offered more wrongs be sooner forgiven . for our kings part , let us demand of his mony what christ ask'd of caesars coyne ; whose image is this ? charls's ? and what is the superscription ? religio protestantium , leges angliae , libertates parliamenti , and he hath caused them to be cast both in silver and gold , in pieces of severall sizes and proportions ; as if thereby to shew that he intends to make good his promise both to poore and rich , great and small , and we are bound to believe him . nor lesse faire are the professions of the parlament on the other side , & no doubt but as really they intend them . but these matters belong not to us to meddle with , and as for all other politick objections against peace , they pertain not to the pulpit to answer . all that wee desire to see , is the king re-married to the state ; and we doubt not but as the bridegroome on the one side will bee carefull to have his portion paid , his prerogative ; so the brides friends entrusted for her , will be sure to see her joynter setled , — the liberty of the subject . . come wee now briefly to apply our text to the time . and wee begin first with the king , as this day doth direct us , and truly he may bee called so emphatically , for his goodnesse . we may observe in our saviour , mat. . . that he spake nothing in the praise of iohn baptist , whilst the disciples of iohn baptist were in his presence , lest perchance he might have incurred the suspition of flattery , to commend the master before the servants : but the text saith , as they departed iesus began , &c. to speak largely in iohns commendation . seeing now the servants of our soveraign are generally gone hence to wait on their lord , we may now boldly , without danger to make them puft up with pride , or our selves suspected for flattery , speak that in praise of their master , which malice it selfe can not deny . look above him , to his god , how is he pious ? look beneath to his subjects , how is he pitifull ? look about him , how is hee constant to his wife , carefull for his children ? look neare him , how is hee good to his servants ? look farre from him , how is he just to forraigne princes . we may see in our catalogue of kings that we shall scarce find any , but besides the common jnfirmities attending on mankind , were branded with some remarkable eye-sores . william , a conquerour , but cruell . rufus , resolute , but sacrilegious . henry the first , learned , but unnaturall to his brother , steven . stout , but an usurper . henry the second , wise , but wanton . richard the first , undaunted , but undutifull to his parents . iohn , politique , but a great dissembler . henry the third , of great devotion , but of small depth . edward the second , beautifull , but deboist . richard the second , well natur'd , but ill manner'd . henry the fourth , fortunate , but having a false title . henry the fifth , a victorious king , but formerly a riotous prince . henry the sixth , saint-like , but very simple . edward the fourth , fortunate , but perjur'd : to proceed no further . but let malice it self stain our soveraign with any notorious personall fault for to wish him wholly without fault , were in effect to wish him dead . besides this , consider him as a king , & what favours hath he bestowed on his subjects , and then , that his curtesies might not unravell or fret out , hath bound them with a strong border , and a rich fringe , a triennial parliament . when god brought again the captivity of sion , then were wee like unto them that dreame , psal. . the jewes would not believe their own happinesse , it was so great , so sudden . but when wee consider so many favours conferred upon us by our king in so few yeares , ship-mony condemned , monopolies removed , starre-chamber it self censured , high-commission levelled , other courts regulated , offensive canons declined , burdensome ceremonies to tender consciences profer'd to bee abolished , trienniall parliaments setled , and the present indefinitely prolonged , we have cause to suspect with our selves , are we awake ? doe we not dream ? doe i speak ? doe you heare ? is it light ? doe wee not deceive our selves with fond fancies ? or are not these boones too big to beg ? too great to be granted ? such as our fathers never durst desire , nor grandfathers hope to receive . o no , it is so , it is sure , it is certaine we are awake , we doe not dream ; if any thing be asleep , it is our ingratitude ; which is so drowsie to returne deserved thanks to god and the king for these great favours : and so much for the first , the king . . next to the king , comes my lord the king , and this peculiarly concerns the courtiers , and such mephibosheths as eat bread at his table , who under god owe their being to his bounty , and whose states are not only made , but created by him . these indeed of all other are bound most to rejoyce at their soveraigns return , being obliged thereunto by a threefold tye ; loyalty to a soveraigne , duty to a master , and gratitude to a benefactour : except ( as some fondly hold , that a letter seal'd with three seales may lawfully bee opened ) any conceive that a threefold engagement may the easiest be declined . . next , we insist on his own house , wherein this city is particularly pointed at . for if london be the jerusalem of our david , then certainly westminster is his sion , where he hath his constant habitation . here is the principall palace of his residence , the proper seat of his great councell , the usuall receipt of his revenues , the common courts of justice , the ancient chaire of his enthroning , the royall ashes of his ancestours , the fruitfull nursery of his children . you therefore the inhabitants of this city have most reason to rejoyce . . but alas ! what have i done that i should not ? or rather what have i to do that i cannot , having invited many guests now to a feast , and having no meat to set before you ? i have called courtiers and citizens to rejoyce , and still one thing is wanting , and that a main materiall one , the founder of all the rest , the king is not returned in peace . thus the sunne is slipt out of our firmament , and the diamond dropt out of the ring of my text . i pretended and promised to make an application thereof to the time , and must i now be like the foolish builder in the gospel , begin and cannot finish ? own house , that is the bottom of the text , but this stands empty . my lord the king , and that is the top of the text ; but he is farre off : and the words which are the side-walls to joyne them together , hee is come home in peace . these alas cannot be erected : in this case there is but one remedy to help us , and that prescribed by our saviour himself , ioh. . . whatsoever ye ask the father in my name , he will give you . . let us pray faithfully , pray fervently , pray constantly , pray continually . let preacher and people joyne their praiers together , that god would be pleased to build up the walls , and make up the breach in the application , that what cannot be told , may be foretold for a truth ; and that our text may be verified of charles in prophesie , as by david in history . excellently saint austin adviseth , that men should not be curious to enquire how originall sin came into them , but carefull to seek how to get it out . by the same similitude ( though reversed ) let us not be curious to know what made our king ( who next to god i count our originall good ) to leave this city , or whether offences given or taken mov'd him to his departure ; but let us bend our brains , & improve our best endeavours to bring him safely and speedily backe againe . how often herein have our pregnant hopes miscarried , even when they were to be delivered ? just as a man in a storme swimming through the sea to the shore , till the oares of his faint armes begin to faile him , is now come to catch land , when an unmercifull wave beats him as far backe in an instant , as hee can recover in an hour . just so when our hopes of a happy peace have bin ready to arrive , some envious unexpected obstacle hath started up , & hath set our hopes ten degrees backwards , as the shadow of the sun-diall of ahaz . but let us not hereat be disheartened , but with blind bartimeus , the more we are cōmanded by unhappy accidents to hold our peace , let us cry the louder in our praiers . the rather , because our king is already partly come , come in his offer to come , come in his tender to treat , come in his proffer of peace : and this very day being the beginning of the treaty , i may say he set his first step forward ; god guide his feet , and speed his pace . oh let us thriftily husband the least mite of hopes that it may increase , and date our day from the first peeping of the morning starre , before the sunne be risen . in a word , desist from sinning , persist in praying , and then it may come to passe that this our use may once be antidated , and this daies sermon sent as a harbinger before hand to provide a lodging in your hearts for your joy against the time , that my lord our king shall returne to his owne house in peace . finis . ioseph's partie-colored coat containing, a comment on part of the . chapter of the . epistle of s. paul to the corinthians : together with severall sermons, namely, [brace] . growth in grace, . how farre examples may be followed, . an ill match well broken off, . good from bad friends, . a glasse for gluttons, . how farre grace may be entayled, . a christning sermon, . faction confuted / by t.f. fuller, thomas, - . this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text s in the english short title catalog (stc . ). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a stc . estc s ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) ioseph's partie-colored coat containing, a comment on part of the . chapter of the . epistle of s. paul to the corinthians : together with severall sermons, namely, [brace] . growth in grace, . how farre examples may be followed, . an ill match well broken off, . good from bad friends, . a glasse for gluttons, . how farre grace may be entayled, . a christning sermon, . faction confuted / by t.f. fuller, thomas, - . [ ], [i.e. ], [ ] p. printed by iohn dawson, for iohn williams, and are to be sold at his shop, at the signe of the crane, in pauls church yard, london : . dedication signed: thomas fuller. "imprimatur, thomas wykes, may . ."--colophon. signatures: a² b- b⁴ c². numerous errors in paging. title in ornamental border. reproduction of original in the harvard university library. eng bible. -- n.t. -- corinthians, st, xi -- commentaries. sermons, english -- th century. a s (stc . ). civilwar no ioseph's partie-colored coat containing, a comment on part of the . chapter of the . epistle of s. paul to the corinthians : together wit fuller, thomas c the rate of defects per , words puts this text in the c category of texts with between and defects per , words. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - olivia bottum sampled and proofread - olivia bottum text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion ioseph's partie-colored coat , containing , a comment on part of the . chapter of the . epistle of s. paul to the corinthians ▪ together with severall sermons : namely , growth in grace . how farre examples may be followed . an ill match well broken off . good from bad friends . a glasse for gluttons . how farre grace may be entayled . a christning sermon . faction confuted . by t. f. iohn . . gather up the fragments that remaine , that nothing be lost . london , printed by iohn dawson , for iohn williams , and are to be sold at his shop , at the signe of the crane , in pauls church yard . . to the right worshipfvll , the lady iane covert , of peper harrow in surry . madam , cvstome hath made it not only pardonable , but necessary to flatter in dedicatory epistles , epitaphs , and dedications , are credited alike . but i will not follow the streame herein : first , because i account it beneath my calling , to speake any thing above the truth . secondly , because of you it is needlesse : let deformed faces be beholding to the painter , art hath nothing to doe , where nature hath prevented it . wherefore i will turne my praysing of you , into prayer for you , desiring god to strengthen and increase all goodnesse in you , and give you perseverance ( that golden claspe ) which joynes grace and glory together . thus desiring to shroud my weake labours , under your favourable patronage . i rest your ladiships in all service , thomas fuller . a comment on cor. . . &c. for first of all when you come together in the church , i heare there be divisions among you , and i partly beleeve it . the apostle calleth the corinthians to an account , and readeth his black bill unto them . it containeth severall items , which you may reade in the following chapters ; but the imprimis is in the text . for first of all &c. when you come together in the church , &c. even in the non-age and infancy of christianity , there were churches appointed for gods holy service . true some take church here , pro caetu fidelium ; yet theophylact , and all greeke writers generally expound it , the materiall place of meeting . two things then were chiefly aymed at in churches . . receipt , that the place were capable to containe the people . . privacie . being then under persecution they built not their churches to be seene , but not to be seen , and then were as plaine in their houses , as in their dealing . beauty and magnificense were of later date in christian temples , when religion grew acquainted with peace and prosperity ; and good reason gods house now should bee decently garnished : some shunning whorish gaudinesse , leave the church to sluttish nastinesse . the font ( our iordan ) having more mud than water in it : the communion-table unseemingly kept . withall let us take heed lest as it hath been observed in england , that great house-building hath beene the bane of good hous-keeping . so let us take heed lest piety in us bee so much the worse , by how much our churches are better then they were in the time of saint paul : what a shame would it be , if there should be more light in the church windows than in our understanding : more pious sentences written in their wals than in our hearts , more uniformity in the building , than in our behaviours . i heare there be divisions among you . how came saint paul by this intelligence ? was not hee at philippi , when hee wrote this epistle ? ( as appears by the postscript ) which was many miles from corinth . how heard the apostle of these divisions at such a distance ? saint paul was cunning in a kind of christian and lawfull magick . all the world was his circle , ( for so he saith of himselfe , the care of all churches lyeth upon me , cor. . . ) and some faithfull friends in every church were his familiar spirits in this circle , to inform him of all considerable passages . so that saint paul was at corinth , when hee was not at corinth , absent in person , present by proxies , these intelligencers which kept correspondencie with him . men in authority have quick eares to heare at a great distance . the mutterings of malefactors are hollowings to magistrates , who heare distinctly what offenders but whisper to themselves . let none therefore be encouraged to sinne through a confidence to be concealed : what though sinners be the servants of the prince of darkenesse , and therefore hope to obtaine from their lord and master a protection that no punishment may arrest them ; yet let them know , that though the place wherein they sin seeme to them as darke as egypt , it is as light to men in authority , as the land of goshen : lyons sleepe with their eyes open ; magistrates with their eyes both open , and seeing : when wee thinke them blind , they behold : when deafe , with saint paul they heare . did these men ( whosoever they were ) well in telling saint paul these discords of the corinthians ? had they not better have gone backward , and covered the nakednesse of their neighbours with the cloake of silence ? pitty it is but that his tongue should bee for ever bound to the peace , who will prate of every fault hee finds in another , and at the best they are but clacks and tel-tales for their paines . had they told it to some scoffing cham , or mocking ismael , who would have made musick to himselfe of the corinthians discords ; then they had been faulty in relating the faults of others ; tell it not in gath , nor publish it in askalon , lest the &c. . sam. . . but it being told to s. paul , who would not mock , but be moan ; not defame , but reform these offenders , it was no breach , but a deed of charity , and the doers hereof , benefactors herein , to the chuch of corinth . it is both lawfull , and laudable to discover the faults of our dearest friends , to those who have power and place to reforme them . thus ioseph brought to his father iacob the evill deeds of his brethren , gen. . indeed the devill is called the accuser of the brethren , revel. . . but he accuseth them often without cause , even without charity , who since hee hath been cast into hell , knowes no other heaven then to doe mischiefe . but for a man to open the sins , the wounds of his neighbour , not with desire to put him to torment , but that the chyrurgion may search and salve them , is an action most charitable . there are divisions . but did not saint paul in the . verse of this chapter prayse the corinthians ? now i commend you brethren , that you remember me in all things , and keepe the ordinances as i delivered them to you . were they growne so bad since the beginning of this chapter ? or doth saint paul with saint augustine write a retractation of what hee had written before ? is this faire dealing , that hee who formerly had by his commendations given the corinthians a generall acquittance from al their faults , should now come over them with an after-reckoning , and charge them with the sin of divisions ? some answer , * omnia , id est pleraque omnia . so that al the ordinances are to be expounded the greatest part of them . others by ordinances understand onely certaine ecclesiasticall * rites and ceremonies , touching the discipline of the church , which had no necessary influence , either on doctrine , or manners ; so that the corinthians might be observant of all these , and yet peccant both in life and beliefe . if this bee the meaning , then let us take heed , that though we be whole in discipline , wee be not halting in doctrine , though sound in ceremonies , not sick in manners , ther being no such inseparable connexion betwixt the one & the other , but that a man may observe all orders in church service , and yet be disorderly in his life & conversation , lightning oft times breaks the sword , yet bruises not the scabard ; so error and vitiousnesse may breake all piety and religion in us , though in the mean time the sheath of religion ( formall decency , and outward conformity ) remaine in us sound and entire . * calvins opinion is that the apostle commending the corinthians , meaneth the maine and general body of the church , though there might be many straglers justly to be reproved , confessing laborassè quidem alios alijs vitijs : interea tamen ab universo corpore re tentam fuisse formam quam commendaverat . that church therefore is , and is to be counted & commended for a good church , whose head is whole , heart healthful , all vital parts entire , though having a lame leg , a bleared eye , a withered hand , some bad and vitious members , belonging unto it . and i partly beleeve it . that is , i beleeve some of you are guilty of this fault , though others be innocent . generall censures condemning whole churches are altogether uncharitable . angle out the offenders by themselves , but take heed of killing all with a drag-net : and grant many , yea most to be faulty , yet some may be guiltlesse . wickednesse was not so generall a rule in sodome , but that righteous lot was an exception from it . see obadiah ( as a iewell in the head of a toad ) steward of ahabs wicked houshold . yea , seeing impiety intrudes it selfe amongst the thickest of gods saints , ( even drowning cham in noahs arke ) just it is that god should have some names even where the trone of satan is erected . let us therfore follow the wary proceedings of iehu , king. . who being about to kil baals priests , caused a strict search before to be made , search and look that there be here with you , none of the servants of the lord , but the servants of baal only . so when wee are about with censuring , to murder the credits of many together , let us take heed that there be not some orthodoxe amongst those whom we condemn al to be hereticks ; some that desire to bee peaceable in this our israel , amongst those whom wee condemne for all factious schismaticks . but these words [ i partly beleeve it ] may thus also be expounded , as wel of the faults , as of the persons , as if he had said , i beleeve these accusations only in part , and hope they are not so bad , as they are reported . when fames are brought unto us from good hands , let us not be so incredulous , as to beleeve no part of them ; nor so uncharitable as to beleeve all ; but with saint paul partly beleeve it . the good man carrieth a court of chancery in his owne bosome , to mitigate the rigour of common reports , with equall and favourable interpretations . because fame often creates something of nothing , alwayes makes a great deale of a little . 't is true of fame what is said of the devill : it has beene a lyar from the beginning . yea , and sometimes a murderer . absalom slew one of davids sonnes , and fame killed all the rest , sam. . . because men in reporting things often mingle their own interests and ingagements with their relations , and making them bettter , or worse , as they themselves stand affected : water resembleth both the taste and colour of that earth , through which it runneth , so reports rellish of their relators , and have a blush and a smack of their partiall dispositions , and therfore such relations are not to be beleeved in their full latitude , extent , and dimension . those that will beleeve nothing of what they heare reported , though warranted by never so good witnesses . though they be perswaded , they will not be perswaded , and will not credit any accusations though never so just . yea , sometimes are so farre from trusting the tongues of others , that they wil not trust their owne eyes : i beare them witnesse these men have charity , but not according to knowledge . but where too much charity hath slaine her thousands , too little hath slaine her ten thousands . more men there be who take all reports upon the credit of the relators , and never weigh them in the scales of their owne judgements , to see if they bee too light or no : yea , some are so excessive in this kind , their beliefe out-stretcheth the report ; what is told them to be done out of ignorance , they beleeve to be out of knowledge , what is told them to be done out of infirmity , they beleeve to bee done out of presumption ; they need not say with the man in the gospel , lord i beleeve , helpe my unbeleefe ; but lord pardon my too much beliefe , pardon my over-credulity ; in that i beleeve all , and more than all reported . to conclude , let not our beliefes be altogether of clay to receive any impression , nor altogether of iron , to receive none at all . but as the toes in the image of nebuchadnezzars dreame were partly iron , and partly clay : so let our beliefes be composed of charity , mixt with our credulity , that when a crime is reported , wee may with saint paul partly beleeve it . verse . for there must be also heresies among you , that they which are approved , may be made manifest among you . here saint paul argueth a minore ad majus , being the more easily induced to beleeve there might be divisions among them , because also there must be heresies . heresies are worse than schismes , false doctrines more dangerous than divisions . the former , sinnes against faith ; the later , against charity ; and though these two graces be sisters and twins , yet faith is the eldest and choycest . however , as children use to say , they love father and mother both best : so let us hate heresies and schismes both worst . the rather because schisme is a fit stock to graft heresie on ; yea of their owne accord , old schismaticks ripened with age , grow young heretikes , witnesse the donatists , who ( as saint * augustine saith ) were but pure schismaticks at first , and turned heretikes afterwards . what is a heresie ? a demand very important to be answered , seeing saint paul saith , acts . . after the way which they call heresie , so worship i the god of my fathers . heresie is an errour in the fundamentals of religion , maintayned with obstinacy . it must be in the fundamentals . in the primitive church many were too lavish in bestowing the name of heretike on those which dissented from the church , in [ as i may say ] veniall errours . a charitable man would have been loath to have beene of the jury , to condemne iovinian for an heretike , on no other evidence , than that hee maintayned marriage in merit to be equall with virginity . as therefore by those many kings mentioned in the old testament , thirty and one in the little land of canaan , iosh. . . is meant onely toparchs , not great kings , but lords of a little dition , and dominion ; so in the ancient catalogues of heretikes [ especially of that which * phylaster made ] we may understand in some of them onely erroneous persons , swarving from the truth . the next thing necessary in an heresie , is that it be maintained with obstinacy , which is the dead flesh , making the greene wound of an errour , fester into the old soare of an heresie . those two hundred men of ierusalem , sam. . . who followed absolom to hebron in their simplicity , and knew not any thing ; cannot properly be counted traytors or rebels : no more can people purely erroneous , who doe not bolt and barre their eyes against the beames of truth , but willingly would imbrace it , if delivered unto them , and maintaine an errour out of conscience , not knowing the truth be accounted heretikes . charitable therefore was the cautiousnesse of epiphanius , who would not condemne the anthropomorphites for heretickes , ( who mistaking some places of scripture , which speake of gods eyes , feet , and hands , conceived him to bee of a bodily substance ) but rather imputed it to their simplicity , than obstinacy , rusticitati eorum tribuens . whether doth every heretike maintain that which in his owne conscience he knowes to be false ? no : perchance some heretikes at first may strive to defend errors , even against the reluctancies of their own judgements , and god may afterwards justly take from them , that light which they thrust from themselves ; and as great lyars tell lyes so long till at last they themselves beleeve them to bee true : so many heretikes so long mainetaine falshoods against their judgement , till at last being delivered up to a reprobate mind , they beleeve their very errours to be truth . and wee will take just occasion to describe those qualities , which dispose a man to bee a father , and founder of an heresie . he must be abominably proud : pride is the key of the worke , especially spirituall pride ; when one is elated with conceited sanctity above others , chiefly he wil snarle with his superiours , and quarrel with men in authority , that those are before him in place , which are behind him in piety . . to pride add discontentment , that his preferments bare not proportion to his supposed deserts ; thus arius would be an arian , because he could not bee a bishop . . learning void of humility . the serpent was the subtilest of all the beasts in the field , gen. . . in this kind a dance is no dish for the devilstooth . but in default of learning , good naturall parts will serve the turne , especially memory ( which is {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} ▪ a wonder-working facultie ) and a fluent expression ▪ so that when hee calleth for words , gad : behold a troope commeth . if both learning and natural parts bee wanting , yet ( as when the golden shields were taken away , rehoboams brazen shields did the deed , and made as much glittering , chron. . . ) boldnesse and brazen-fac't impudence will supply the place , especially if hee trades with the vulgar , broaches dregs , and founds a dull and sottish heresie , which hath no affinity with learning . to varnish all these , there must bee pretended piety , and austerity of life , and how fowle or filthy soever the posterne or back-doore be , the doore which opens to the street , must be swept and garnished : put all these together , pride , discontent , learning , ( at least-wise good parts , or impudency ) pretended sanctity , and they spel together haeresiarcham , one cut and carved out to be ring-leader and captaine of an heresie . to prevent these mischiefes , let such men pray to god for humility ( that vertue which is most worth , yet costeth the least to keepe it ) and beware of spirituall pride , which is the hectick fever of the soule , feeding on the very moisture of the heart of piety . let them beware of discontentment , which is a direct quarrelling with god , who is the fountaine of all preferment , though men may be the channell ; and hee who hath the least from him , hath more than he deserveth : and grant preferment is denyed thee , bee not so childish to cast away a crowne , because thou canst not get a counter ; willingly throw away thy soul , and foolishly revenge the fault of the times , ( as thou countest it ) upon thy selfe . lastly , if god hath bestowed good parts upon thee , pray to him to sanctifie them to thee , otherwise the greatest memory may soone forget it selfe , and a fluent tongue may cut his throat that hath it . so much for the character of an arch-heretike . but those whose barren wits want pregnancy to be the mothers of heresies , may notwithstanding serve for dry nurses to feed and foster them ; and to this purpose the devil will make use of them . a plaine follower of an heresie may bee thus described : first he must be ignorant , for hee that knowes nothing will beleeve any thing ; these bee maidens for their religion ; and therefore the opinion , which first woed them , first wins them , first come first served . old seducers , as it is tim. . . creepe into houses , and leade captive silly women laden with sinnes , led away with divers lusts , ever learning , and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth . secondly , desirous of novelty : it is an old humour for men to love new things , and in this poynt even many barbarians are athenians . lastly , ( what resulteth from the two former ) they must have the persons of men in much admiration , doting on some fancied mans parts and perfections , and entertayning any thing he saith , because he said it . to prevent these mischiefes , that men may not be followers of heresies , let the meanest parted labour to attaine to some competent measure of knowledge in matters of salvation , that so hee may not trust every spirit , but be able to try whether he bee of god , or no ; beleeve no man with implicite faith in matters of such moment ; for hee who buyes a iewell in a case , without ever looking on it , deserves to be couzened with a bristoll stone , instead of a diamond . secondly , kill the itch of novelty in thy soule , practising the prophets precept , ier. . . thus saith the lord , stand yee in the wayes , and see , and aske for the old pathes , where is the good way , and walk therein , and yee shall find rest for your soules : lastly , love and admire no mans doctrine for his person , but rather love his person for his doctrine . and now to returne to the very words of the text . there must be also heresies . there is a double must , or a two-fold necessity of things being ; first an absolute necessity ; when the thing hath in it selfe the cause of its necessary being : thus god alone must be : ( for what can bee , if being it selfe be not ) and must bee good , and must bee true . secondly , a conditionate must , or a necessity , ex hypothesi , which must needs bee if such a thing be granted before . as suppose the sun be risen , and it must bee day . such a conditionate necessity is this in the text : for upon the presupposition of these two things which cannot be denyed ; that the devill goeth about like a roaring lyon seeking whom he may devoure , and that the flesh lusteth against the spirit , making men prone to all wickednesse ; hence it followeth ther must be heresies . thus he that beholdeth a family , and findeth the master to be carelesse , the mistris negligent , the sons riotous , the servants unfaithfull ; hee may safely conclude that family cannot bee safe , but must be ruined : there must be heresies ; paralel to that , luke . . it is impossible but that offences should come : but farre bee it from us to conceive that god imposeth a fatall necessity , or by the irresistablenesse of his decree , urgeth or enforceth any to bee heretikes ; their badnesse he wisely permits , but in no wise is the cause or author thereof . among you . you corinthians , though men of excellent parts and endowments , are not priviledged from having heresies among you ; yea happily because of your excellent naturall gifts are more disposed thereunto . or take it generally among you christians , for properly heresies have their rise , and originall out of the church , and issue thence , according to the iohn . . they went out from us , but they were not of us ; for if they had , &c. i see not therefore how epiphanius can well make platonists and pythagoreans to bee heretikes ( the latter for their opinion of transanimation ) seeing neither of these were ever of the church . that they which are reproved may be made manifest among you . that they whom god from all eternity in his secret councell hath approved , may have their epiphany and manifestation unto the world , that thus discovered , they may receive from men a testimoniall of their soundnesse , and sincerity . not that god hereby gaineth any accession of knowledge ( fore-knowne unto god are all his workes from the beginning of the world , act. . . ) but others hereby are certified and assured of that which was doubtfull before : thus often times gold-smiths , though they themselves bee sufficiently satisfied of the goodnesse of the gold , yet putteth it to the touch , to content the beholders . and hereby also those which are not approved are made manifest . many who doe {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , make a brave shew in the flesh , and carry it in a high tryumphant way , wil prove but base when brought to the tryal . whilst many unknowne man , of whom the world tooke no notice , not suspected for any worth , shall acquit themselves valiant , and appeare glorious to god , and all good men : many a bright candle formerly hid under a bushell , of a private and obscure life , shall then be set on a candlestick , and shine forth to the world : and shall cause , glory to god , who shall be honoured and praysed in these his servants , and as it is matth. . . the multitudes will marvell , and glorifie god which hath given such power unto men . . honour to these his champions of the truth . never had athanasius so answered his name , and beene so truly immortall in his memory , but for opposing of the arrians . never had saint augustine beene so famous , but for quelling of manicheans , pelagians , donatists , and whom not for all his heretikes lay pat for his hand to dash them in peeces . . clearing to the truth : her old evidences which have layd long neglected , wil then be searched and found out , her rusty arguments will be scoured over , and furbished up . many will run to and fro , and knowledge shal be increased . those which before shooting at the truth , were over , under , or wide , wil now with the left handed gibeonites hit the marke at an haires bredth , and faile not : many parts of true doctrine have bin but slenderly guarded , till once they were assaulted by heretikes , and many good authors in those points which were never opposed , have written but loosely , and suffered unwary passages to fall from their posting pens . but when theeves are about the countrey , every one will ride with his sword , and stand on his guard ; when heretikes are abroad in the world , writers weigh each word , ponder each phrase , that they may give the enemies no advantage . . confirmation to weake christians , many whose hearts and affections were loyall to the truth , but likely to be overborne by the violence of the opposite party ; will hereby bee strengthened , and established in the right . . those will bee reduced , who ( as agrippa said of himselfe , act. . . that hee was almost a christian ) are almost heretikes , not as yet formati & radicati heretici , but such as well going , ( or rather ill going that way ) will plucke one foot out of the snare , and will returne to the bosome of the church . . lastly , the hardned will bee made unexcusable , who obstinately persist in their errours : they cannot plead they lost their way , for want of guides , but for meere wilfulnesse . and thus god is so good , hee would suffer no heretikes to bee in the world ; were hee not also , so strong and so wise , that hee can extract thus many goods , by permitting them . vers . . . when you come together therefore into one place , this is not to eate the lords supper . for in eating , every one taketh before other his own supper ; and one is hungry , and another is drunken . of the sense of the first of these verses are many and different opinions , both what is meant by this is not to eate , and the lords supper . omitting varietie of interpretations , we wil embrace that which wee conceive the best . this is not to eate the lords supper . as if hee had said : true it is yee corinthians , when yee come together to one place , you eate the lords supper ( meaning the body and blood of christ in the sacrament , so expounded by * saint augustine , and ambrose , with many other latine writers ) and yet though you eate it , you doe not eate it . you perform the materiall part of the action , but leave out the life and soule thereof , not doing it legally and solemnely according to christs institution such is your want of charity , and excesse of riot in your love-feasts [ which you eate before the sacrament ] whereby your soules are disturbed , distempered , and quite put out of tune to eate the supper of the lord , as yee ought . a duty not done as it ought to be done , is in effect not done at all . [ esay . . ] there is none that calleth upon thy name that stirreth up himselfe to take hold of thee . 〈◊〉 at the true church of god , in whose 〈◊〉 it is spoken ( as antiquity expounds it , and may bee demonstrated by unanswerable arguments ) do any times wholly neglect , though too often negligently performe their calling on god ; not doing it with that faith , and constancy , care , and fervencie , devotion , and diligence , as they ought , and god requires ; they did not call on god , in the same sense as saint paul speaketh this is not to eate . it will abate their pride , who rest on opus operatum , as bad divinity as latine . for a deed done , is a deed not done , where the manner of the doing confutes and confounds the matter of the deed . yea , in the best of gods children ; as gideons army of two and thirty thousand , did shrinke to three hundred , iudg. . . so it is to bee feared , that their so many sermons heard , prayers made , almes given , which they score up to themselves , and reckon upon , will shrinke in the tale , when god takes account of them ; and prove sermons not heard , prayers not made , almes not given , because not done in forme as he requires . yet it is some comfort unto us , if all our actions proceed from faith , and ayming at gods glory ; so that the faylings be rather in the branches , and leafes , than in the roots of our performances . as for the vnregenerate , they so remayning have in them laesum principium of all true pious workes , all their divine actions are none at all . it being true of their whole list , what * one writes of the yeare of our lord , . annus sua tantum obscuritate illustris , famous only for this , that nothing famous was done in it , and the whole story thereof a very blanke . for in eating every one taketh before other his owne supper . herein the apostle reproveth their abuses in their love-feasts , whose institution , declination , and corruption , we will briefly describe . their institution . love-feasts were founded on no expresse command in holy write , but only on the custome of the church , who immediatly before the receiving of the sacrament , as appears both by the text , and s. augustines * comment on it ; ( though saint chrysostome makes these love-feasts to bee after the taking of the eucharist ) used to have a great feast , to which all the poore people were invited , on the charges of the rich . this they did partly in imitation of our saviour , who instituted the sacrament after a full supper ; and partly in expression of their perfect love , and charity towards all men . their declination . but the number of the rich men encreased , not proportionably with the poore , cor. . . behold your calling , that not many wise men after the flesh , not many mighty , not many noble are called . the church ( in time of persecution , especially ) is like a copse , wherein the under-wood growes much thicker , and faster , than the oakes . hence came it to passe , that there were few hosts , many guests ; few inviters , many to be invited , and the burden growing heavie , lying on few backs , they wholly omitted the poor , who loath to come without any invitation , [ the warrant to keepe a guest from trespassing on good manners ] were excluded from their feasts . their corruption . thus love to men in want , was quickly turned into want of love , mare euxinum , into mare axinum , love-feasts into no-love-fasts . ( thus too often charity is changed into bargaining , hospitals turned into exchanges , wherein those are taken in , that can give ; and those left out , that have nothing . ) the poore people in corinth did see , and smell , what the rich men tasted , tantalizing all the while , and having their penury doubled by the antiperistasis of others plenty ; yea , ryot and excesse ; for some of them were drunken . yet marke by the way , that saint paul doth not plant his arguments poynt-blanke to beat these love-feasts downe to the ground , wholly to abrogate and make a nullity of them , but onely to correct and reforme the abuses therein , that there might be lesse ryot in the rich , and more charity towards the poore . let not things simply good in themselves , be done away for their abuses ; abraham said unto god , gen. . to slay the righteous with the wicked , that be farre from thee , and farre be it from us , to casheare the good use of a thing , with the ill abuses annexed thereunto . hee is a bad husband , that having a spot in his coat , will cut out the cloath , not wash out the dirt . wherefore in matters of a mixt nature , wherin good and bad , are confusedly jumbled together ; let us with the fire of judgement try the drosse from the gold ; and with the fanne of discretion winnow the chaffe , from the corne . for in eating every one taketh , &c. by every one , understand not every particular person , in the church of corinth , [ for then how could some bee hungry . ] but every division , the faction of paul a part , of apollo a part , the sect of cephas by it selfe . his owne suyper . meaning that love-feast , or plentifull supper whereof formerly , therefore called their owne , both because severally provided for their owne faction , as also in distinction of the lords supper , which they tooke afterwards . and one is hungry . here is nothing in the poore to be condemned . for that they were hungry , was no sinne in them , but their punishment ; gods pleasure , and the rich mens fault . poverty sometimes keeps men innocent , whiles abused wealth makes rich men to offend . something is here in the poore to bee commended , that they would be hungry . our age affords such unmannerly harpies , they would have snatched the meat out of the rich mens mouthes . some will not want a fire , if there be fewell in their neighbours yard : but o let us not unlawfully remove the land-mark of our estates . let us rather trespasse against modesty , than honesty , goe naked , than steale clothes ; be hungry , and fast , than feast on forbidden food . and another is drunken . is it credible that any of the corinthians being about to receive the sacrament , would be so farre overtaken , as to be drunken ? surely not so drunken , as he , prov. . . they have stricken mee , said hee , and i was not sicke , they have beaten me , and i felt it not . they pronounced not siboleth , for shiboleth ; so that it might have beene said to them , as it was to saint peter , thy very language betrayeth thee . sure their tongues , eyes , and feet , were loyall enough to preserve their masters credit . so then by drunken here , understand the highest flight , and pitch of mirth . and as hearbs hot in the fourth degree , are poyson ; so summa hilaritas , is ima ebrietas , the highest staire of mirth , is the lowest step of drunkennesse . there is a concealed drunkennesse , which no informer can accuse , no witnesse can testifie , no earthly iudge can punish ; yet is it lyable to a censure in the court of heaven , and counted drunkennesse in the eyes of god . and though others cannot perceive it in us , wee may take notice of it in our selves , especially if wee examine our selves . . by our unaptnesse to serve god in our generall , or particular callings . . by the quantity of the liquor wee have drunke . . by the company with whom wee drinke . for as some who of themselves , never take notice of their owne fast going , yet are sensible of it , when they heare some of their company , whose legs are not so long , and so strong , begin to complaine ; so though of our selves we find no alteration in our owne temper ; yet if any of our companions in drinking , who started from the same place , and ran the same pace with us , begin to be tyred , let them bee our monitours , that is high time , claudere jam rivos , to leave off our course , as being already drunkennesse before god . let us not walke to the utmost bounds of what we may , nor take so much liquor , as perchance we may justifie . it was permitted to the iewes to beat a malefactor with forty stripes , deut. . . yet they never exceeded nine and thirty , as appeares by their scourging saint paul , to whom no doubt , they used their greatest cruelty , cor. . . let us not stretch our christian liberty to the utmost ; he that never will drinke lesse than he may , sometimes will drinke more than hee should . but why is here mention of drunkennesse onely , and not of gluttony , seeing probably at such great feasts these twin-vices goe together ? the apostle only instanceth in that sinne , which is most obvious , and appearing to sight : gluttony is scarce discernable in him that is guilty of it ; quia per esum necessitati voluptas miscetur , quid necessitas petat , & quid voluptas suppetat , ignoratur , saith gregory , * necessitie in eating , so incorporates it selfe with delight , that they are hardly to be distinguished . besides , as thunder and lightning , though they come together , yet lightning first arriveth to our sight : so though probably at the corinthians feasts , gluttony and drunkennesse were both joyned together in the same person , yet drunkennesse was soonest and easiest discerned . verse . what have yee not houses to eate and drinke in , or despise yee the church of god , and shame them that have not , what shall i say unto you ? shall i prayse you in this ? i prayse you not . mvst you needs make the house of god the place of your feasting ; if you be disposed to bee merry , have yee not houses wherein yee may doe it with more privacie , and lesse offence ? or dispise you the church of god ? doe you under-value the place set apart for gods service , to convert it into an ordinary banquetting-house . this is the exposition of all greeke writers , who expound it the materiall church ; and their opinion is much favoured , by the antithesis and opposition in the text , betwixt church and houses . hence it appeares , that these love-feasts ( which of late by the rich mens covetousnesse , were inclosed into a private courtesie , which at the first were a common charity ) were to their greater abuse , kept in the church , or place of publike meeting . only duties pious , and publike are to be performed in the church . duties publike and not pious more befit a guild-hall or towne-house ; duties pious , and not publike more become a closet , psalme . . commune with your heart in your chamber , and be still , whilst duties publike , and pious beseeme a church , as proper thereto . too blame those that turne the church into a counting-house , there to rate their neighbours , both to value their estates , and too often to revile their persons ; others make it a market-place , there to bargaine in ; yea some turne it into a kennell for their dogs , and a mew for their hawkes , which they bring with them . surely if christ drove out thence sheep and doves , the emblems of innocencie , he would not have suffered these patterns of cruelty , to have abide in his temple . but most latine writers expound these words ; or despise yee the church of god , of the spirituall church . the rich corinthians in not inviting the poore , made balkes of good ground , chaffe of good corne ; yea , refuse of gods elect. but not inviting the poore , was not despising them . a free-will-offering is no debt . in gratuitis nulla est injustitia . seeing therefore it had beene no sin in the corinthians , wholly to have omitted their feasts ( as being not commanded by gods word ) it could bee no offence to exclude any guests at their pleasure . this is true of civill and ordinary entertainements : but these being entitled love-feasts , and charity pretended the maine motive of them , poore people were the most proper , should have beene the most principall guests . besides , if not christianity , yet civility ; if not grace , good nature , might have moved them , whilst they gorged themselves , to have given something to the poore , which stood by . to let them look on hungry , was a despising of them in an high degree , a scandalum magnatum , censurable in the star-chamber of heaven : thus to wrong their peeres in grace here , and glory hereafter . hee that despiseth the poore , despiseth the church of god . whereof they are a member inferiour to none in piety ; ( god hath chosen the poore of this world to be rich in faith , iames . . ) superiour to all in number . now he that pincheth the little toe , paineth the whole body ; the disgracing any member , is the despising the whole church . let us beware of affronting those in want , upbrayding their rags with our silkes ; setting our meat before their eyes , only to raise their appetites . he that hath the things of this world , and seeth his brother to want , how doth the love of god dwell in him ? and shame them that have not . not , that have not houses , though perchance but homely , and hired ; but {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , those that have not wealth , and substance to pay the shot , and goe to the cost to invite you againe . what shall i say , shall i prayse you in this ? pastours may , and must prayse their people wherein they doe well . . hereby they shall peaceably possesse themselves of the good-wils of their people , which may much advance the power and efficacie of their preaching . . men will more willingly digest a reproofe for their faults , if praysed when they doe well . . vertue being commended doth increase , and multiply ; creepers in goodnesse will goe , goers run , runners fly . those ministers to bee blamed , which are ever blaming , often without cause , alwayes without measure ; ( whereas it is said of god , hee will not be alwayes chiding , psame . . ) these preachers use their reproofes so commonly , till their physicke turnes naturall , and will not worke with their people . doe any desire to heare that which themistocles counted the best musicke ; namely , themselves commended ? on these conditions , wee ministers will indent with them ; let them find matter , wee will find words ; let them doe what is commendable , and blame us if we commend not what they doe . such work for us would be recreation ; such employment , a pleasure , turning our most stammering tongue , into the pen of a ready writer to : reprove is prest from us , as wine from grapes ; but prayses would flow from our lips , as water from a fountaine . but alas how can we build , when they afford us neither brick , nor straw ? how can wee prayse what they doe , when they will not doe what is to bee praysed ? if with ahab they will doe what is evill , then with micaiah , wee must alwayes prophesie evil unto them . in this i prayse you not . ministers must not commend their people when they doe ill . . dishonourable to god . . dangerous to the ministers . that embassadour , who being sent to proclaime warre , pronounceth peace to rebels ; ( there is no peace , saith my god to the wicked , esay . . ) deserves at his returne , to bee preferred to the gallowes . . dangerous to the people , who are soothed in their sinnes : honey-dewes , though they be sweet in taste , doe black and blast the corne ; so those who prayse their people , without cause , are cruelly kind unto them , it is pleasant to the pallate of flesh , but destroyeth and damneth the soule . it were to be wished , that as those that live under the equinoctiall at noon-day , have no shadowes at all ; so great men should have no shadowes , no parasites , no flatterers to commend them , when they least deserve it . but why doth saint paul deale so mildly with the corinthians , i prayse you not ? me thinkes hee should have made his little finger , as heavie as his loynes . o yee corinthians , i excommunicate every mothers child of you , i damne you all to the pit of hell , and deliver you to satan for your sinne of drunkennesse , at the receiving of the sacrament , never to be absolved , but on your most serious and solemne repentance : otherwise , considering the corrupt humour in the corinthians , the apostles purge was too gentle for them . theophylact answers ; that saint paul reproves the rich men the more mildly , lest otherwise they should be implacably incensed against the poore , fretting against them , as the causers of the apostles anger . . it was the first time hee told the corinthians of their fault , and therefore used them the more gently , on hope of their amendment . this corrupt humour in the corinthians , was not as yet growne tough , bak't and clodded in them by custome , and therefore the easier purged and removed . ministers must use mildnesse , especially at their first reproving of a sinne . yea god so blest the mild serveritie of saint paul , that the corinthians reformed all their errours ; for no fault reprehended by the apostle in them in this first epistle , is taxed againe in the second epistle ; a very strong presumption , that all those faults were amended . now whereas wee find such abuses in the church of corinth , presently after it was newly planted : we may learne corruptions will quickly creepe into the best church . thus saint paul no sooner went back from the galatians , but they went back from his doctrine , gal. . . yee did run well , who did hinder you ? and as we reade of mezentius , a cruell tyrant , who joyned dead corpes to living men , and so killed them with lingering torments : so some seducers in the church of galatia , sought to couple the lively grace of god , and active faith with the dead letter of the law , and old legall ceremonies long since dead , buried , and rotten , in the grave of our saviour . if it be done thus to the greene tree , what shall be done to the dry ? if primative churches , whilst the apostles which planted them , were alive to pruine them , had such errours in them , no wonder if the church at sixteene hundred yeares of age may have some defaults . moses said unto the israelites , deut. . . behold while i am alive with you this day , yee have beene rebellious against the lord , and how much more when i am dead . so if while saint paul survived , churches were so prone to decline , what can be lesse expected in our dayes : it was therfore well concluded in the . session of the councell of constance * : that every ten yeare at the farthest , there should bee a generall councell held , to reforme such errours in the church , as probably in that time would arise . verse . for i have received of the lord that which i also delivered unto you , that the lord iesus , the same night , in which hee was betrayed tooke bread . after hee had fully reproved the corruptions of their love-feasts , commeth he now to reduce the receiving of the sacrament , to the first institution of christ : it is the safest way to correct all the errata's in the transcript , according to the originall copie : thus did christ in the matter of divorce , mat. . . but from the beginning it was not so . excellently saint cyprian ; wee must not heed what others did , who were before us , but what christ did who was before all . were this used betwixt us , and the papists , to cleare the streame of gods service , by the fountaine of its first institution , how soone would seven sacraments shrinke to two ? how quickly would creame , oyle , and spittle , fly out of baptisme , and leave nothing , but faire water behind ? how soone , &c. for i have received of the lord . how could saint paul receive it of the lord , with whom hee never convers't in the flesh , being one borne out of time , as he confesseth of himselfe . he received it . . mediately by ananias , who began with him where gamaliel ended . besides , ( lest the corinthians should say , that they received it likewise at the second hand , as well as saint paul ) he had it immediately from god , gal. . . for i never received it of man , neither was i taught it , but by the revelation of iesus christ . i also delivered unto you . the greeke is {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . latine , tradidi vobis , english it as you please , i traditioned it unto you . nota ( saith a lapide on this place ) hunc locum pro traditionibus quas orthodoxi , verbo dei scripto adjungendas docento . bellarmine also starts traditions out of the same place . what eye-salve are their eyes anoynted with , that can see unwritten traditions here , when the apostle delivereth nothing , but is recorded in . evangelists , mathew , marke , luke . however hence we will take occasion briefly to speak of unwritten traditions ; the church of rome maintayning that the scriptures of themselves are too scant to salvation , except the course list of unwritten traditions be cast in to make measure ; and this they will have of equall authority with the written word . marke by the way . . this is the reason why romanists are so zealous for traditions , for finding themselves cast by the scriptures , they would faigne appeale to another judge : yea hereon are founded those points which get them their gaine , as purgatory , and the appurtenances thereof . hath not demetrius then reason to stand for diana , ( act. . ) when his goods and her godship must go together ? . though they lock up the scriptures in an unknowne language , and forbid the laity to reade them , yet they suffer traditions to bee preached and published to all in generall . such woodden daggers will never hurt popery to the heart , and therefore they suffer their children to play with these dull tooles , though not to handle the two-edged sword of gods word . . romanists will never give us a perfect list , and catalogue of their traditions , that we may know their set number , how many there be of them , but still reckon them up with an et caetera , leave still a plus ultra to place more in if need require . and as the athenians for feare they should omit any deity erected an altar , to the unknowne god : so the papists in summing up their traditions , will not compleat their number , but are carefull to leave blankes and void places for a refuge , and retreating place , that in case they be prest in disputation , and cannot prove their point by places of scripture , they may still plead it is a tradition . . whereas the word tradition is taken in severall senses , and there be many kinds of them , papists jumble , and confound them together . as cheaters use to cast their counterfeit coyne amongst good gold , hoping so to passe it away currant , and undiscovered : so they shuffle false and true traditions together in one heape , that the bad may goe off , under the countenance and protection of the good . wee will marre their mart , by sorting them into these severall rankes . . traditions in a generall sense are taken for things delivered , though in scripture by christ and his apostles ; thus saint basil cals baptising , in the name of the f : s. and h : g. a tradition . . for such matters of faith which are not found in scripture , totidem verbis in the words and sound ; but yet in the same sense , and substance , or at least may by faithfull consequence bee thence deduced as the trinity of persons , two wils in christ , his consubstantiality with god the father : thus lindan a papist cals originall sinne a tradition . . for such opinions , against which nothing appeares in scripture , and the church in all times , and ages , have maintained them , condemning the opposers for erroneous : as that the mother of christ was ever a virgin . . for such rites and ceremonies of the church ( no matters of faith ) which therein have beene used from great antiquity ; and therefore probably might have their original from the apostles ; as fasting in lent , though the manner , time , and continuance in keeping it was very different in severall churches . take traditions in the first and second acception , wee account them to have equal force and authority with the written word . in the third sense wee honour and embrace them as true : in the last acception wee approve and practise them as decent and ancient ; provided alwayes , they be not obtruded , as things necessary to salvation , but indifferent in their nature . but all this makes nothing for the blacke guard of romish traditions , which lag still behind some of them frivolous . as this apostolical tradition ; that a priest if against their wils they receive any money from wicked men they must in no case expend it on meat , but to buy wood , & coals . some impious and blasphemous worshipping of images , prayers to saints , the sacrifice of the masse , purgatory , &c. having nothing for them , much against them in gods written word . to draw to a conclusion . scriptures besides many others have two most principall priviledges above traditions : first , their infallibilitie , as being inspired by the spirit of god , pet. . . so that yee first know this , that no prophecie of the scripture is of any private interpretation . vers. . for the prophecie came not in old time by the will of man ; but holy men of god spake as they were moved by the holy ghost . as for the authors of traditions , they might both falli and fallere , be deceived themselves , and deceive others : they might be deceived themselves , either by mis-understanding the traditions delivered unto them , or by mis-remembring , or by mis-relating them againe . they might deceive others , either unwillingly by these forenamed slips and infirmities , or else willingly and wittingly by venting those things as received from the apostles , which they had not received from them . and by usurpation , intitling the fancies of your owne heads , to bee apostolicall precepts . . the providence of god plainely appeares in his preserving of the scriptures against all oppositions . many a time from my youth up ( may the scriptures now say ) yea many a time have they fought against me from my youth , but they could not prevaile against me . neither antiochus before christ , nor iulian the apostate since him , nor the force of tyrants , nor the fraud of heretikes ( though the world of late hath scarce yeelded a wicked sharpe wit , that hath not given the scriptures a gash ) could ever suppresse them . their treading on this cammimell , made it grow the better ; and their snuffing of this candle made it burne the brighter . whereas on the other side , the records of traditions are lost , and those bookes wherein they where compiled and composed , aut in curia hominum , aut injuria temporis ; or by some other sinister accident are wholly miscarried , and no where appeare . papias is reported by * eusebius in five bookes to have contained all the apostolicall traditions , which they call the word not written , by bellarmine himselfe confessed , that these are lost . likewise clemens alexandrinus ( as the same eusebius storieth it ) wrote in a booke those traditions , which hee received from the elders , and they from the apostles , which booke the papists themselves at this day cannot produce . i will conclude all with gamaliels words , act. . . but if it be of god , yee cannot destroy it . had these bookes beene inspired by gods spirit , no doubt the same providence would have watched to preserve them which hath protected the scripture . let us therefore leaving uncertaine traditions stick to the scriptures alone , trust no doctrine on its single band , which brings not gods word for its security . let that plate be beaten in peeces , which hath not this tower-stampe upon it . that the lord iesus the same night , wherein he was betrayed . christ bestowed the greatest courtesie on mankind , when hee foresaw that hee should receive the greatest cruelty from them . o that wee were like minded with our saviour , to move fastest in piety , when wee draw neerest the center of death ; and then chiefly to study , to fasten favours on our enemies ▪ why did christ institute it then , and not before ? because dying men bequeath not their legacies till they make their wils , nor departing friends bestow their tokens , till they take their farewell . . because till then , the passeover ( a sacrament in the same kind ) did continue in full force , and the lords supper was not to bee lighted , til the passover was first fairly put out . seeing christ appoynted it a supper , how comes it now to be a dinner ? god hath instrusted the discretion of his church on just occasion , to alter some circumstances in the sacrament . true it is , such circumstances as are sacramental , not only of the commission at large , but also of the quorum nomina , whose absence or alteration , maims and mangles the sacrament , are unchangeable . but common , and ordinary circumstances ( such as is the time , place , kind of bread and wine ) the church hath power to alter , by vertue of a warrant left to it by christ . let all things be done decently , and in order . it was turned into a dinner . . to avoid the inconveniencies , which a full stomake surfetted , and surcharged will bring , as in the corinthians . . that our bodies which are like new barrels , whiles we are fasting , may first bee seasoned with the liquor of christs blood . let us thanke god that we are not necessitated to receive the communion in the night , as in the primitive church , in time of persecution , when christians to drink christs blood , did adventure the loosing of their owne . tooke bread . why did christ choose so cheap , and common a thing to exhibite his body in ? herein he graciously provided for the poor . had he appoynted some rich , and costly receit , the estate of the poore could not procure it for themselves , and the charity of the rich would not purchase it for others . . had he instituted it in some dear and precious element , happily people would have imputed the efficacie therof , to its natural worth , and working , not to christs institution . christ therefore chooseth plaine bread , a thing so meane in it selfe , it is not within suspition , to eclipse god of his glory , none can be so mad as to attribute to plaine bread it selfe , such spirituall operation . let us take heed , how we take snuffe at the simplicity of gods ordinance , say not with naaman : is not abanah , and pharphar , &c. is not the bread in the bakers panniers , and the wine in the vintners cellar as good , as that which is propounded in the sacrament ? and farre be it from us to seeke with our owne inventions to beguard that , which god wil have plaine ; rather let us pray , that our eyes may be anoynted with that eye-salve , to see majesty in the meanesse , and the state in the simplicity of the sacraments . but amongst such variety of others , such cheape elements to represent christs body in , why was bread preferred above all ? to shew our bodies can as well subsist without bread , as our soules without a saviour . it is called the staffe of bread , other meats are but as pretty wands to whisk in our hands . without bread no feast , with bread no famine . verse . and when hee had given thankes hee brake it , and sayd , take , eate , this is my body , which is broken for you ; this doe in remembrance of mee . and when hee had given thankes . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . so it is luke . . but saint matthew , chap. . . hath it {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , hee blessed . yet let not these two words fall out , for they are brethren , of affinity in sense and signification : at this day {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , hee gived thankes , hath christned the whole service of the eucharist . whensoever wee are to receive any food , wee are to give god thankes , but especially at sacrament . . it is our duty . god the lord paramount of the world , though hee hath made us in christ free-holders of all his creatures ; yet hath reserved thankes , as a quick rent for himselfe . . it is profitable for us , tim. . . for every creature of god is good , and nothing to be refused , if it be received with thankesgiving ; for it is sanctified by the word of god and prayer . yea thanksgiving makes every creature both chew the cud , and cleave the hoofe the physician may forbid one meat , the divine cannot , it may bee against ones health , not ones conscience . true , the jewes life was a constant lent , from much forbidden meat ; but christians paying thankes to god , buy a license to eate any thing . hee brake it . to signifie how his body should bee broken for mankind . whilst therefore the priest in the sacrament breaketh the bread , let the peoples meditation attend his action , and conceive they see christs head , backe , hands , feet , side broken with the thorns , whips , nailes , speare . and hence it appeareth , that the celebrating of christs body in broken bread , is more naturall to christs institution , and more expressive in it selfe , than as the church of rome doth in a whole and entire vvafer . and said unto them , take . that is , take it in their hands , and put it to their mouth , not as the custome lately induced in the romish church , for the priest to put it in the mouth of every communicant . but it is pleaded for the popish custome that it is unmannerly for lay-men to handle christs body ; and therefore it is most reverence to take it with their mouthes . there is no such clowne in christianity as he , who will bee more mannerly than god will have him : it is most reverence for us to doe as god commands us , ahaz tempted god in saying , he would not tempt him , when god bid him aske a signe , esay . . those do little better , who more nise then wise , straine courtesie not to take christs body in their hands , when hee reaches it . . take it strictly , and our mouthes are as unworthy as our hands to receive christs body . no more sanctity in the one , than in the other , being both made of the same lump of flesh : but seeing it is christs pleasure to come under the roofe of our mouth , let him also passe through the porch of our hands . the rather , because it seemeth that wee entertaine christs body in more state , and with more observance towards it , when the more servants attend it , the more members of our body , using their service in receiving it . . lastly , the romish custome in putting it into their mouthes looseth the expression and significancie of the hand of faith . the taking christs body in our hands , mindeth us spiritually by faith , to apprehend and lay hold on his mercies and merits . and here let us take notice of the needlesse cavill of such , as snarle at the practise of our english church . because whereas christ said in a generality , once for all to his disciples , take and eate ; our church speaketh it to every particular person . vvee answer , this is no considerable variation from christs form ; for first it appeares not in the text to the contrary but that christ might speake these words severally to each apostle , though it be not expressed , because histories trusse up things in bundles , and omitting particulars , set downe only the totall summe . secondly god hath intrusted the ministers of his church to spin out his universall precepts and promises into particulars . thus mat. . . christ saith , teach all nations , baptizing them in the name of the father , &c. which the priest by the consent of all churches applyeth to each infant , i baptize thee , &c. this is my body . that is , that which signifies , signes , and presents my body , and sacramentally is my body , and which received with faith seales to thee all the benefits of my death and passion , not transubstantiated into my body , according to the popish opinion , whereof briefly . the doctrine of transubstantiation was first occasioned by the unwary speeches of damascen and theophylact. these seeing no present , and foreseeing no future errours about the sacraments were too transcendent , and hyperbolicall in their expressions , about the reall presence of christ in the sacrament : thus as oftentimes , lascivia calami , the dashes and florishes of a scrivener over-active with his pen , have afterwards beene mistaken to bee letters really intended : so the witty extravagancies , and rhetoricall phrases of these fathers , were afterward interpreted to be their distilled doctrinall positions : so dangerous it is for any to wanton it with their wits in mysteries of religion . but transubstantiation was never made an article of faith , till the councell of lateran ; no penalty imposed on the maintainers of the contrary , till the councell of trent . but let us heare some of their arguments . the text saith , this is my body , and therefore it is so plainely to bee understood . for scripture admits of a figurative sense as its refuge , not as its choyce , onely se defendo , to shield and shelter it selfe from non-sense and contradictions , otherwise the literall sense is to bee embraced . and therefore the holy spirit is so here to be understood , this is truly my body . from the literall understanding of these words flow many absurdities , and therefore wee are forced to fly to a figurative meaning . philosophy brings in an army of impossibilities , as that the same body at the same time should bee in severall places ; that accidents should subsist without a substance , &c. to wave these , the antiquity of faith excepts against it , it destroyes the nature of a sacrament , the same thing cannot bee the signe and seale of christs body , and the very body in substance . . wee are not to measure gods arme by our eye , his power by our understanding ; vvherefore non obstante , all pretended impossibility ; god doth turne the bread into his sonnes body , for nothing is impossible unto him . vvere it expressed in scripture , that it were gods will to turne the bread into christs flesh , wee would worke our selves to beleeve it , and make reason strike sayle to faith : so it is not gods power wee question , but his will and pleasure . but he saith , totidem verbis , this is my body , and dying men use to speake most plainely , with them figures are out of date , the flowers of rhetoricke fade , especially they write without welt or guard in their wils and testaments . a familiar trope or figure is as plain as no figure : even a child in age , is man enough to understand ; coole the pot , drinke off that cup . yea , many speake figures , who know not what figures meane : besides , christ at his death spake no other language , then what his tongue and his disciples eares were used too in his life time . i am the vine , i am the way , i am the doore . hee who is so sottish , as to conceive that christ was a materiall doore , sheweth himselfe to be a post indeed . which is broken for you . the flesh of christ was afterwards on the crosse literally broken , there was solutio continui , with the nayles in his hands , and feet : as for his bones , iohn . . not a bone of him was broken in the literall sense . but vertually and eminently in the same meaning , wherein it is said a broken heart , all his bones were broken , that is contrited and grinded with griefe and sorrow . doe this . in latine , hoc facite , which the papists expound sacrifice , this according to virgils verse , cum faciam vitula pro frugibus ipse venito . so much is the church of rome beholding to this poet , both for the sacrifice of the masse out of his eclogs , and limbus patrum out of the first booke of his aeneads . but seeing this action , doe this ; is injoyned as wel to the people as the priest ; and seeing none but the priest could offer proprij nominis sacrificium , it plainely appeares this cannot here be a proper sacrifice . in remembrance . wherein this doctrine is intimated : men are prone to forget gods favours unto them , except they be minded of them . the israelites had not this great goodnesse in remembrance : but were disobedient at the sea , even at the red-sea , psalme . . who would have thought that the deliverance at the red-sea would so soon have beene drowned in a deeper sea of oblivion . reasons of our forgetfulnesse . . the devils malice , who whilst we sleep in idlenesse , and negligence , stealeth into the memory , the muniment house of the soule , and embezileth , and purloyneth from thence the records of most moment and importance . . but not to play the devill with the devill , not to accuse him falsely , hee is not the principall cause of our forgetfulnesse , which floweth chiefly from the corruption of our nature ; which like a bolter lets all the floore passe , and keeps only the bean behind . but here wee must not understand the bare naked and empty remembrance of christs death , the calling to mind the history of his passion ( which the devils can doe , and the worst of men ) thus to remember christ were but to forget him ; but a remembrance cum effectu , the relying on his death with a lively faith , and applying his merits to our soules . vvhereof more largely hereafter . of mee incarnated , of me borne , of me circumcised , of me baptized , of me tempted , of me scourged , but especially of me crucified , and also of me ascended , and now glorified . verse . after the same manner also hee tooke the cup , when hee had supped , saying , this cup is the new testament in my blood , this doe yee as oft as yee drinke it , in remembrance of me . followeth now the other part of the sacrament instituted in the wine . he doubleth the elements to shew , that in christ is not only necessary and sufficient , but also plentifull and abundant , with assured redemption . too too blame then the church of rome , whose levites are guilty of that fault whereof benjamin was taxed , they have stolne away the cup . if to steale the chalice be the phrase whereby men expresse the highest sin , what sacriledge is it to steale the wine of the chalice , from whom it belongeth ? but it is a wonder if old theeves be taken without an excuse ; let us heare what these romanists plead for themselves . nature hath so put flesh and blood in a joynt patent , that they goe alwayes together . vvhere there is one , there are both , and where not both , neither . it is superfluous therefore to give the laity the blood the second time , who by concomitancie had received it before . indeed flesh and blood like loving play-mates were together in christs body , till torments forced them to part asunder : now we are to receive christs blood shed , not as it was at home housed in heavinesse ; but as payne banished it abroad and powred it out . vvherfore what god hath put asunder to bee taken severally and distinctly , let no man joyne together . but there be many inconveniences , yea mischiefes attend the layeties receiving of the vvine , as its sticking in their beards , spilling of it , &c. non debemus esse sapientiores legibus . god in the omnisciency of his wisedome surveyed the latitude of all occurrencies , yet beholding all future inconveniences present , hee appoynted the laity to drinke of the cup . vvine was then as subject to spilling , it hath not since gotten a more liquid or diffusive quality . but in severall places of scripture , no mention is made of wine , but of bread onely , as act. . . and the . continued breaking of bread from house to house , act. . . met together to breake bread . either bread by a synecdoche , is here put for bread and vvine , or else that phrase importeth their ordinary meetings , and civill feasts . but a cart-load of these exceptions , tekel , are weighed in the ballance , and found too light , to out-poyse christs institution . the wise shunamite woman , king. . . was not content with the company of elisha's staffe and servant ; but as the lord liveth ( saith she ) and as thy soule liveth , i will not leave thee , she would not leane on the staffe , but on the staffs master , and would have him with her : so let us not be so foolish to depart from gods written word in the sacrament , concerning giving the laity the cup , for the company of humane arguments on our side ; but let us stick close to our commission , and then wee need not feare a premunire , so long as wee have the letter of gods law on our side . when hee had supped . christ did therefore institute this sacrament after supper , to shew that herein hee chiefly aymed not at the feeding of our bodies , but the refreshing of our soules . we are not to bring our devotion in our guts , and to come to the communion for belly-cheare ; like those that followed our saviour , iohn . . because they had eaten of the loaves , and were filled . no , wee are to come with more refined thoughts , and as for matter of bodily meat , containe our selves as after supper . this cup is the new testament in my blood . this cup , that is the wine in this cup . wee cannot scarce stirre a pace in scripture , without meeting with a figure , even in these testamentary expressions of our saviour : why then doe the papists make such newes , yea wonders at figures , then which nothing is more common ? is the new testament in my blood ; that is , the wine therein contained signeth unto you the new covenant of grace , which is ratified and confirmed in my blood ; that is by my death . for indeed it is the death of the testator that giveth life to the testament , and the will though sealed , is not sealed in effect , till the maker of the same be dead . but why is it called the new testament ; seeing it is an old one , and the same which was made to adam , ( the seed of the woman shall breake the serpents head ) often reiterated and confirmed to abraham , david , and others . indeed it was old in the promise , new in the performance ; old quoad substantiam & materiam faederis , new quoad modum clarioris manifestationis . it is said of those , that live within a mile or two of olympus , that they are under a constant & continued shade , which the height of the mountaine casteth upon them : so the jews and al the church of god before christs comming , lived in constant umbrages , and shadows , of types , figures , ceremonies , and representations ; al which were taken away , when our saviour , the sun of righteousnes did appear . therefore it is said in my blood as in opposition to the blood of kids , calves , goats sacrificed in the temple . other parts of the verse are expounded in the former . verse . for as often as yee eate of this bread , and drinke this cup , yee doe shew the lords body till hee come . vnder as often , is often included ; whence we gather , wee must frequently celebrate the lords supper . in the * primitive church it was done every day ; and fit it was the aqua vitae bottle should ever be at their nostrils , who were sounding every moment , and they needed constant cordials , who ever and anon had the qualmes of temptation in the time of persecution . this frquencie soone abated , when peace came into the church , which makes saint ambrose reprove the negligence of the easterne churches , * who received it but once a yeare : at this day our mother-church of england seeing her childrens backwardnesse herein , by canon compelleth them to receive , at the least thrice a yeare ; such is the necessity to force them by law to come to a feast , and to make a statute for hungry men to eate , and sicke folke to take physicke . but heare the arguments of some to the contrary ; that it is to be but seldome received . the passeover was celebrated but once a yeare , in whose place ( for sacraments never dye without heirs ) the lords supper succeeds . the passeover by god was stinted to bee used no oftner , in the lords supper we are left to our own liberty . finding therefore our continuall sinning , and therefore need thereof to strengthen us in our grace ; we may , yea must oftner use it , especially seeing all services of god under the gospel ought to bee more plentifull and abundant , than under the law . things done often , are seldome done solemnely . manna if rayned every day , is not dainty ; the frequent doing of it will make men perfunctory , and negligent therein . necessary duties are not to be left undone , for the inconveniences , which per accidens , through humane corruption may follow thereon : then sermons should be as seldome as apolloes smiles , semel in anno ; and prayers should not be presented to god every day , lest the commonnesse of the duty should bring it into contempt ; rather ministers are to instruct their people to come with reverence ; notwithstanding their frequent repayring thereunto . but long preparation is requisite to this action ; and therefore this sacrament cannot often be received . after the first grand preparation , whereby faith and repentance wee are first estated in gods favour , other preparations are not so difficult in doing , or tedious in time , as being but the reiterating of the same againe . the good huswife which scoureth her plate once a weeke , hath lesse worke than she that doth it but once in twelve-moneth . often preparing makes the worke easie , and fits men the sooner for the sacrament , though i am not altogether of saint * ambrose his opinion , that qui non meretur quotidie accipere , non meretur post annum accipere . whether is it of absolute necessity , that a man on his death-bed should receive the sacrament . hee is as weake in iudgement , as the dying man in body , who conceives it so . it is not the bare absence , but the neglect and contempt of the sacrament , which is dangerous . besides , that surely is not by god , made absolutely necessary to salvation , which in some cases is impossible to bee had . as in sudden death ; when the sicke man is gone , before the priest can come : in infectious diseases , when the priest cannot bring christs blood without the hazarding of his owne ; not to speake of the inconveniencie of giving it to those , who goe out of the world for pain to bring others into it . yea of such persons , who desire the sacrament , i find three sorts . some doe it out of meere fancy , who desire it because they desire it : ( like davids longing for the water of the well of bethlem ) can give no account of their humour therein . a second sort out of superstition . a third out of a true faith , and feeling of their infirmity . now charity thinketh no ill , hopeth all things . vve ministers beleeve all , to be of the later sort , and will not think much of our paines to tender our service unto them when sent for : but be it betwixt god and their consciences , let them take heed how they abuse gods ambassadours , and cause us to come on foolish occasions , to feed their owne fancies . you doe shew forth the lords body . the sacrament solemnly celebrated , doth represent , and set forth the death and passion of christ . this is the meaning of saint paul , galat. . . o foolish galatians , who hath bewitched you , that you should not obey the truth ; before whose eyes iesus christ hath beene evidently set forth , crucified among you : that is , christ was so powerfully and pathetically preached unto them in the word , his death so done to the life in the solemne , decent , and expressive administration of the sacrament , that the tragedy of christs death nigh ierusalem was re-acted before them . say not then in thine heart , how shall i get to ierusalem , to see the place of christs suffering ? see faith can remove mountaines , mount calvary is brought home to thee , and though there be {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , a great gulfe , or distance of ground , betwixt england and palestine ; yet if thou beest a faithfull receiver , behold christ sacramentally crucified on the communion-table ; say not in thine heart , how shall i remember christs passion , it was time out of mind , . yeares ago ? christ here teacheth thee the art of memory , what so long was past is now made present at the instant of thy worthy receiving : stay pilgrims , stay ( would your voyages to the holy land had beene as farre from superstition , as hitherto from successe ) go not you thither , but bring palestine hither , by bringing pure hearts with you , when you come to receive the sacrament , for there , the lords body is shewed forth , as on the crosse . till i come . god till the worlds end , when hee commeth to judgement , will have a church on earth , wherin pastors shall administer , and people receive the sacrament . witnesse his promise before his death , mat. . . and the gates of hell shall not prevaile against it ; and another after his resurrection , mat. . . and loe , i am with you , alway unto the end of the world , with you in your selves and successour , persons and posterity : indeed the church may want things of luster , never of essence : it may want a glorious being , never a being , deus non decrit in necessarijs : the church is like the sunne , which may be clouded and eclipsed , yet stil remaineth , psal. . . a faithfull witnesse . besides , churches may fall away , but the church cannot ; the setting of the gospel in one place , will bee the rising of it in another : this is meant rev. . . i will remove thy candlesticke out of his place , not i will quench , or put out thy candle , but i will remove it , so that it shal still remaine in one place or other , till i come . and then sacraments shall be celebrated no more , but types shall give place to the truth , and shadowes shall yeeld to the substance : then all the weeke shall be one constant sabbath , and yet therein no sermons preached , nor prayers made , but all our lyturgie shall be praising of god . and now what remaineth , but that we cry from our hearts with the saints ; come lord iesus come quickly . verse . wherefore whosoever shall eate this bread , and drinke this cup of the lord unworthily , shall be guilty of the body and blood of the lord . loe these words present us with two principall parts . . the sinne . . the sinfulnesse of the sinne . the sinne is the unworthy eating and drinking of the bread and vvine of the lord . is any man so wel stored with grace , that he can eate these sacraments worthily ? one may doe an action worthily in a three-fold respect ; first worthily , dignitate aequalitatis , as the labourer is worthy of his hire , luke . . this exact worthinesse may claim and challenge a reward due unto it , and the denier or detayner doth this worthy party wrong and injury : now no saint can receive with this gods justice-proofe worthinesse , as appeares by their humble confessions , not out of complement , but consciousnesse of their faults , iacob , gen. . . iohn baptist , mat. . . yea , this worthinesse is waved by our church liturgy , at the communion , both ( as i may say ) in our grace before meat ; wee be not worthy so much as to gather up the crums under thy table , and in our grace after meat ; and though wee bee unworthy through our manifold sins to offer unto thee , &c. . the second is , worthily dignitate convenientiae aptitudinis , or decentiae , which consists though not in a perfect and exact proportion , yet in some fitnesse , meetnesse , and likenesse unto that which is required ; such phrases are frequent in scripture , mat. . . bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance ; that is , such as bear no open repugnancy and contradiction to the repentance you professe , but in some sort meet and agreeing thereunto . so , walke worthy of the lord , col. . . worthy your calling , ephes. . . worthy the gospel , phil. . . that is , let not your life shame your beliefe , breake not the commandements against the creed , let not your practise bee {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , with your profession . and wee must know , that peccata surreptitia , sinnes of infirmity ( not through their want of wickednesse , but gods store of mercy ) may stand and subsist with this worthinesse of conveniencie . in this acception wee understand in my text to eat worthily , that is so fitted and prepared , as may beare some resemblance and agreement to the solemnity of the worke wee goe about . . there remayneth a third kind of worthinesse , which is dignitas dignationis , the worthinesse of acceptance , when god for christs sake is pleased to take our actions in good worth . that is well spoken , which is well taken , and that man is worthy , who by god is accepted so to bee . indeed if base and ignorant people should cry one up to bee worthy , and prize pebles to bee pearles , hee is no whit the better for the over-valuing of him ; but if god pleaseth to esteeme men , worthy , things are as they are accounted by him , his valuing of them puts worth into them , i have blessed him ( saith isaac of iacob , gen. . . ) yea and hee shall be blessed ; god hath accounted them worthy ; yea , and they shall be worthy , as it is rev. . . they shall walke with me in white , for they are worthy . let us when wee come to the sacrament bring with us the worthinesse of fitnesse , and convenience ; and god of his goodnesse will be pleased to reward us with the worthinesse of acceptance . two sorts of people then doe eate and drinke unworthily . first , the vnregenerate , those which as it is heb. . . have not as yet laid the foundation of repentance from dead workes , and faith in christ , but remaine still in their pure , impure naturals , not ingrafted into christ . without this foundation , the faire side-wals of a good nature , and the proud roofe of all morall performances , will both totter and tumble to the ground . secondly , the regenerate , but guilty of some sinnes unrepented of , who eate unworthily till they have sued out a speciall pardon out of the court of heaven . come wee now to the sinfulnesse of the sin : shall bee guilty of the body and blood of the lord ; that is , they are offenders in the same forme with iudas and the iewes , guilty of shedding the blood , and wounding the body of christ : for as those that deface the stamp , or abuse the seale of a king , are entituled to be traytors , so the unworthy receivers of these elements , which personate & represent christs body , are interpreted to sin against the body of christ it selfe : some protestants have by gods providence escaped in their persons , and yet the papists to manifest their spite have burned their pictures at a stake ; christs person is shot-free from any mans malice , out of the reach of your cruelty , sitting at the right hand of god in heaven ; as for his picture , it is with us in the sacraments , and unworthy receivers shew to the shaddow , what they would doe to the substance if it were in their power , they push as farre as their short hornes will give them leave . but may one say ; grant unworthy receiving bee a grievous sinne , yet me thinkes too heavy an accent is put upon it to equalize it with the murthering of christ ; ionathan said , sam. . . i did but taste a little honey with the end of my rod , and loe i must dye ; but more justly and grievously may the wicked communicant complaine ; i did but eate a morsell of bread , and dranke a draught of wine , and loe i must dye here , hereafter , temporally , and eternally ; yea my sinne is heigthned to be even with the sinne of iudas and the iewes , who wilfully embrued their hands in christs blood . how ever humane corruption may bee the advocate to plead herein , yet wee must count sinnes to be so great , as god esteemes them to be . hee seeth not as man seeth , nor judgeth he as man judgeth : hee will judge that to be pride , which wee count to be good carriage ; that lust which wee count love , that drunkennesse which wee good fellowship , and unworthy receiving which we perchance esteeme a fault , but not of the first magnitude , hee judgeth it the highest of any pardonable sinne , even guiltinesse of christ blood it selfe . learne wee from hence to measure and survey a sin in the true heigth , length , and bredth thereof . hearken not to the partiality of thine owne flesh , which wil make thine offences in number less , in nature lighter ; listen not to the suggestions of satan , which will never suffer us to see our sinnes truely , but is alwayes in the excesse or defect : when wee goe on in a sinfull course , hee beares us in hand , that our sinnes are small ; and when we are toucht in conscience he seeks to perswade us that they are too great , mountaines too big to bee drowned in the ocean of gods mercy ; but let us measure them by the square of gods word , an infallible rule that will not deceive us . to conclude , men generally hate pilate and iudas , if wee see them but in pictures our blood riseth at them , we could scratch them out with our nayles ; being more angry with them , then david with the rich man , that tooke away the poore mans ewe lambe ; whereas in some sense it may bee said of many of us , thou art the man . yet as for those which hitherto have not taken notice of the haynousnesse of this sinne , and through the want of consideration , have beene guilty of the body of christ ; let mee say to them what saint peter doth , act. . . and now brethren , i wot that through ignorance you did it : repent therefore , and bee converted , that your sinnes may bee blotted out ; and let us all pray with david , psalme . . deliver us from blood-guiltinesse o god , but especially from being guilty of the body and blood of thy sonne . verse . but let a man examine himselfe , and so let him eate of this bread , and drinke of this cup . let us know that some make these words [ let a man examine ] to be a bare permission and concession , that if they wil they may doe it . others make it a councell or advice ; that according to the rule of prudence or discretion they should doe it . a third sort , and that the truest make it a mandate or command that wee must doe it , and the seeming indifferency in the english tongue is necessitated in the greeke , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . . the first is taken from the majesty of that god , to whose presenee wee approach . lord what prodigious state did ahashuerosh , an earthly prince stand upon , esther . . . the woman that was thought fit to bee his wife , must bee purified twelve moneths before , six moneths with the oyle of myrrhe , and six moneths with sweet odours ; behold a greater than ahashuerosh is here ; and therefore those that come to his table , must seriously examine and prepare themselves before . . from the great profit which we receive thereby if we come prepared . . from the grievousnesse of the punishments if we be unworthy receivers : the sacrament is not like to those harmlesse receits , ( as innocent as the prescribers are simple ) which some good old women give sick people , which if they doe no good , do no harme ; but this is a true maxim , to him to whom the sacrament is not heaven , it is hell : if it brings not profit , and spirituall grace , it drawes great plagues and punishments on us . examine himselfe . a christians eyes , ought to be turned inward , and chiefly reflected on himselfe : yet how many are there , whose home is to be alwayes abroad ; it is a tale of the wandring iew , but it is too much truth of many wandring christians , whose thoughts are never resident on their own souls , but ever searching and examining of others : these say not with the souldiers , luk. . . and what shall we do ? but are questioning alwayes , as s. peter is of iohn , ioh. . . and what shal this man do ? yet a mans examining of himselfe excludes not his examination of those who are committed to his care and charge ; as pastors examining such young people , as according to the orders of the church they are to catechise . as for that father , who trieth his wife and children , he still examineth himselfe . two sorts of people are unfit to receive . . those that wilfully wil not examine themselves . . those that cannot by reason of their want of age , or some other impotency . yea children which are old enough to conceive the words of a minister , yet as yet not of age to partake of the sacrament . thinke not that the church maketh cyphers of you , and esteemeth you of no account , you are heires apparent to the sacrament of the lords supper , none can hinder you from it ; yet during your minority thy church is your guardian , and carefully keepes that treasure for you , till you come of age , provided you carefully learne your catechisme , to be able to answer your minister . but i will turne my precepts to you into prayers for you , and so wish you good successe in the name of the lord . in examining of this word examine , learned men run in three severall streames , some prosecute the metaphor of a gold-smith , searching the purity of his gold , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , being a proper word to them in their mysterie , pet. . . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , that the tryall of your faith being much more precious then of gold that perisheth , though it be tryed with fire , might bee found unto praise , &c. others because bread and wine to bee taken in the sacrament , are both food and physick , please themselves best to insist on the similitude of a physician , giving preparatives to his patients before he receives the physicke . a third sort make examine here to bee verbum forense & juridicum , as magistrates question offenders , and therefore chuse to follow that resemblance : david was in a great strait , betwixt three evils ; i am in a straight betwixt three goods , not knowing which to chuse : how ever wee will follow the latter as most consonant to the apostles sense . a man in examining himselfe , must personate three , and act three severall parts . . the part of the offender . . of the accuser . . of the iudge . the part of the accuser , may be wel performed by that faculty of the soul , which is called conscience ; for besides her office , to be the regester and recorder of the soule , and remembrancer of the acts thereof ; it is also the atturney generall of the king of heaven in our hearts , to press the evidence against us after the inditement . as for our reason and judgement , that must supply the office of a iudge , et secundum allegata & probata , acquit or condemne us . but here it is to be feared , men will be partiall to themselves in two respects ; first in not giving their conscience fair play : they will not give it that liberty agrippa granted to s. paul , act. . . thou art permitted to speak for thy selfe , but what in whol they cannot silence , they wil in part disturb & interrupt . . it is to be feared our judgement wil not be upright , but as s. peter said to our saviour , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , master spare thy selfe , propitius tibi sit , mat. . . so our judgement will be partiall , and favourable to us , as foundred feet will never tread hard . wherfore because of this double suspition of partiality ; this is a sound and safe rule . let us account our selves to be worse , than upon examination wee find ourselves to be : thus did saint paul , . cor . . for i know nothing by my selfe , yet am i not hereby justified , but he that judges mee is the lord . that is , since his conversion , his conscience accused him of no great sinne unrepented ; and yet hereupon he durst not pronounce himselfe to be innocent , for god judgeth not as man judgeth , neither seeth as man seeth ; but those who are acquitted by themselves , may be condemned by him . seeing thus as it is said , a man is to act three parts , by the way wee may observe . a christian , though alone may make company for himselfe , psalme . . commune with your hearts in your chamber , and be still , psal. . . why art thou so heavy o my soule ? why art thou , &c. one , ( as wee have said ) may make himselfe three , offender , accuser , iudge , so that hee should never be lesse alone , then when alone , being alwayes in the company of heavenly discoursers in himselfe : had men the art of these selfe-examinations , and soliloquies , they need not ( to put away melancholly , as they pretend , and to avoid solitarinesse ) repaire to the schools of drunkennesse , there to seeke for bad company , that there ( to use their owne expression ) they may drive away the time . fools to drive away that which is winged , and which though they should strive to stay , they cannot . . now the interrogatories ; wherupon every man is to be examined , are these . . whether thou dost repaire to receive the sacrament , with a competent measure of knowledge ? . whether dost thou come with unfained repentance for thy sinnes past ? which repentance consisteth not so much in outward sorrow ( for their faces may be flints , whose hearts may bee fountaines , their soules may drop blood , whose eyes cannot shed teares ) as in the inward contrition , and hatred of sinne , and shunning of it in the sequell of our lives . . whether dost thou come with a lively faith , relying upon god in christ , for the pardon of thy sinnes ? . whether dost thou come with love undissembled , freely from thy heart to forgive all injuries committed against thee ? some when they are to partake of the sacrament , say to their malice , as abraham did to his two servants , gen. . . abide you here , and i will goe yonder , and worship , and come againe to you . they leave their injuries at the church doore , till they have received the lords supper , and then returning make a resumption of them againe : but let us not onely lop the bowes , but grub up even the roots of our malice , not only suspend the act , but depose the habit of our hatred . and here as god said to the iewes , ezek. . . that they should have no occasion any more to use that proverbe in israel ; the fathers have eaten sower grapes , and the childrens teeth are set on edge ; in like manner i could wish no occasion , that the english by-word be any more used , i forgive him , but i will not forget him . such people i dare say , neither forgive nor forget ; like sluts , they sweepe the house of their heart , but leave all the dust still behind the doore ; but let us not only breake the teeth of our malice in forgiving , but also pluck out the sting , which is still behind in the tayle , and labour fully to forget . to these interrogatories , some have added these additionals , which vertually are contained in the former : whether dost thou come with an earnest desire , and longing to be made partaker of these heavenly mysteries ? whether dost thou come with thankfulnes to the god of heaven ; for this his great blessing ? hereon let every one examine himselfe , i dare boldly say , none can decline the answering to these interrogatories ; not that common evasion , non tenetur respondere , as if they were not absolutely pertinent to the matter in hand , but it concernes every one of us to make a punctuall and direct answer thereunto . vpon examination all will confesse themselves guilty , except a dumbe devill , or a pharisaicall spirit hath possessed any . yet are there degrees of guiltinesse : some are guilty that they have not these graces at all , but the opposite vices in stead of them ; in stead of knowledge ignorance . all the reason laban could render iacob in cozening him with the elder sister for the younger , was but pleading the custome of the countrey , gen. . . and this is the best account some can giue , why they receive the sacrament : it is an old ceremony , a fashion of their fore-fathers , a custome of the church , that young men and maidens at such an age use to receive ; and so of the rest ; in stead of repentance , obstinacy in sin , in lieu of faith unbeliefe , in place of charity , malice , an indifferency for desire , and ingratitude for thankfulnesse ; these in no case must presume to receive , but tarry till these vices are amended , and graces in some degree begotten in them . others are guilty , that though they have them in sincerity , yet they have them not in perfection , these are bound to come to gods table , his dainties are provided properly for such guests , & by his blessing these holy mysteries may worke in them what is wanting , and strengthen what is weak . and to conclude , as the father of the lunatick child cryed out , mar. . . lord i beleeve , help my unbeliefe ; so may the best of us all , when we come to communicate , call out with teares , lord i come with knowledge , helpe my want of knowledge , lord i come with repentance , help my want of repentance . lord i come with faith , helpe my want of faith . lord i come with love , help my want of love , lord i come , &c. vers . . for this cause many are weake and sicke among you , and many sleepe . right at this time , there raged and raigned in the church of corinth , an epidemicall disease ; and my apostle in my text tels them the fountaine from which it flowed , namely from the unprepared , and unreverent receiving of the sacrament . the words containe the punishment , and the cause thereof ; i must confesse in the heraldry of nature , the cause is to be handled before the effect ; but because the punishment being the effect , discovered it selfe first while the cause was yet unknown , we will first treat thereof . the punishment containes three steps to the grave . . weaknesse . . sicknesse . . temporal death called sleep . learne , god inflicteth not the same punishment for all , but hath variety of correction . in his quiver some arrowes are blunt , some sharpe , and of these some he drawes halfe way , some to the head . and the reason is , because there are divers degrees of mens sinnes , some sinne out of ignorance , others out of knowledge , some out of infirmity , others of presumption , some once , others often , some at the seducing of others , others seduce others . god therefore doth not like the unskilfull empiricks , who prescribe the same quantity of the same receit at all times , to all ages , tempers and diseases . but wisely he varieth his physick , few strips to those that knew not his will , and many stripes for them , who knew his wil , and did it not . sometimes hee shooteth halfe canon , weaknesse , sometime full canon sicknesse , sometimes murthering peeces , death it selfe . let us endeavour to amend , when god layeth his least judgement upon us ; let us humble our selves with true repentance under his hand , when hee layeth his little finger upon us , lest we cause him to lay his loynes on us : let us be bettered , when he scourgeth us with rods , lest we give him occasion to sting us with scorpions , for light punishments neglected , wil draw heavier upon us . let magistrates , and men in authority mitigate or increase the punishment , according to the nature of the offence . let there be as well the stocks for the drunkard , the house of correction for the idle drone , the whip for the petty lassoner , as the brand for the fellon , and the gallowes for the murtherer . let mercy improve it selfe , to obtaine , if not a pardon , yet a lighter punishment for those , in vvhose faces are read the performance of present sorrovv , and promise of future amendment . let severity lay load on their backs , vvhich are old and incorrigable sinnes , so that there is more feare of their perverting others , than hope of their converting . then shal the gods in earth , be like to the god in heaven , and magistrates here imitate the patterne , which god setteth in my text . for probable it is , that those corinthians , who are least offenders in the irreverent receiving of the sacrament , were punished with weaknesse , the greater with sicknesse ; the greatest of all with death temporall , called sleepe in my text . the death of the godly in scripture language , is often stiled sleepe . and indeed sleepe and death are two twins ; sleepe is the elder brother , for adam slept in paradise , but death liveth longest ; for the last enemy that shall bee destroyed is death . but some will object , was saint paul so charitably opinioned to these corinthians , as to thinke that they , some wereof were drunken at the receiving of the sacrament , that they slept ; that is , dyed and went to heaven ? me thinkes so strong a charity argues too weake a judgement : i answer , the apostle had perceived in these mens lives , the strength of unfained piety , and though god suffered them to fall into a sin of so high a nature , as this must be confest to be , yet saint paul did christianly beleeve , that this sinne by repentance , and faith in christ was pardoned , and their soules eternally saved . let us measure the estates of men after death , by the rule of their lives ; and though wee see some commit grievous sinnes ; yea such sinnes for which they are brought to exemplary death ( perchance by the orderly proceeding of the law ) yet withall , if wee had knowne , that the drift and scope of their lives had beene to fear god , wee may and must charitably conceive of their finall estate , and that with the corinthians in my text , they are fallen asleepe . so much for the punishment , wee come now to the cause . for this cause many are weake . all sicknesses of the body proceed from the sinne of the soule : i am not ignorant that the lethurgy ariseth from the coldnesse of the braine , that the dropsie floweth from waterish blood , in an ill affected liver , that the spleen is caused from melancholly wind , gathered in the midriffe ; but the cause of all these causes , the fountaine of all these fountaines is the sinne of the soule . and not onely the sinnes , which wee have lately committed , and still lye fresh bleeding on our consciences , but even those which wee have committed long agoe , and which processe of time hath since scarred over , iob . . for thou writest bitter things against me , and makest me possesse the sinnes of my youth . so that iob being gray is punished for iob being greene ; iob in the autumn of his age , smarts for what he hath done in the spring of his age ; and as those which have beene given to violent exercises in their youth , when they are old reade the admonitions of their former folly in the aches of their bones ; so they who have prodigally ryoted their youth out in vitious courses , in their old age find the smart of it in their weak and diseased bodies . doe wee then desire to lead our old age in health , i know no better preservative , or dyet drinke can bee prescribed , then in our youth to keepe our soules from sin ; for now wee sow the seeds of health or sicknesse , which perchance wee shall reape twenty yeares after . but how came saint paul to know that this sicknesse of the corinthians proceeded from the irreverent receiving of the sacrament , especially sithence there were four other grand sinnes , which then raigned in their church , each whereof upon hew and cry , might be taken as suspitious , to be the cause of this disease . . factious affecting of one minister above another , to the disgrace of god and the gospel , corinthians , . . now this i say , that every one of you saith , i am of paul , i am of apollo , i am of cephas , and i am of christ . . suffering an incestuous person husband to his mother , and sonne to his wife , to live amongst them without publike penance and punishment : for though this incest , as it was committed but by one man , was but a particular and personall sin , yet as it was connived at , and not punished , it began gangreenlike to spread , and leaving its nature of personality , it intituled it selfe to be a publike generall church-sin of the corinthians . . going to law one with another under heathen iudges , cor. . . dare any of you , having busines against another be judged by the unjust , and not by the saints ? . denying the resurrection of the body , cor. . . how say some among you , that there is no resurrection of the dead ? sithence therefore at the same time , the corinthians were guilty of factious affecting of their ministers , going to law under pagan iudges , suffering an incestuous person to live amongst them unpunished , denying of the resurrection of the body ; why might not saint paul thinke , that any one , or all of these might be the cause of this disease in the church of corinth , as well as the irreverent receiving of the sacrament ? because this sinne was the sinne paramount , like saul , higher then his fellowes , from the shoulders upwards , the other four sins were fellony , robbing god of his glory ; but the irreverent receiving of the sacrament , was high treason against the person of christ , & so against god himselfe . the other for sins were tetrarchs raigning over the corinthians ; but this was as augustus the emperour over the tetrarchs more conspicuous then any of the rest . learn we then , that though god of his goodnesse may be pleased graciously to pardon , and passe by sins of an inferior nature and meaner alloy , yet he wil not hold them guiltless , & let them escape unpunished , who irreverently receive the body and blood of his sonne . this stentor sin shouts in gods eares for revenge . saint anselme saith , that many diseases that raigne in the summer ( though physicians may impute them to other second causes ) proceeds from peoples irreverent receiving the sacrament at easter . because the apostle perceived some resemblance , betwixt the sin committed , and the punishment inflicted . for as a physician when he comes to his patient , and finds him strangely affected , so that the disease puzles al his rules of art to reduce it to some naturall cause , then he will be ready to suspect , that his patient hath eaten some poyson , which hath strangely invenomed the estate of his body ; so saint paul seeing the corinthians to be punished , with a strange and unusuall sicknesse ( some conceive it was the plague ) presently suspected , that they had eaten some poysenous thing , and on inquiry he finds that it was the sacrament irreverently received : it being just with god to turne that which was appoynted to bee preservative for the soule , to prove poyson to the body , being not received with due preparation . and here i may adventure upon a profitable discourse , how a man in his sicknesse may come to know the very particular sin , for which god hath inflicted that sicknesse upon him . it is not a meer curiosity , which will afford the ground work of much good meditation ; nor an impossibility , though a difficulty to arrive at the knowledge of it : wherefore let a man in such a case summon all his great sins to make a personall appearance in his memory , and not onely those of the last edition , but even those whose impression is almost out of the date of his memory , such as were committed long agoe in his youth : this done , all the matter will bee to find out , which is the veriest sinne for which god punisheth him at that time ; and here i must confesse my candels to be but dim , but i will light the more of them . first , see to which sin the punishment thou sufferest , bears the most proportion of resemblance , for god commonly punisheth like with the like . thus one may see gods hand in the cutting of one of adonibezecks fingers , he being served , as hee had served . kings . and thus king ioram , who had cruelly slaughtered his brethren on a stone , was troubled with an incurable disease , that his bowels fell out , and just it was that he should have no bowels , that had no compassion . . see if thou canst not find some proportion in the disproportion , and likenesse in the unlikenes of some sin to this punishment ; god oft times punishing by the contrary . thus those who out of nicenesse , and curiosity , have tooke more then comes to the share of a corrupt creature , are commonly sent to their graves , by some nasty and loathsome disease ; as proud herod , whom the wormes impatient to stay so long , till death had dished him for their palate , devoured him alive . . something may be gathered from the place or part , wherein the disease lieth ; for if it be in the eyes , it is probable , it s inflicted for the shooting out of lustfull & lascivious glances , or looking with envious and covetous sight on the meanes of others ; if in the eares , for giving audience to wanton sonnets , or for being over credulous in the hearing ill reports of others ; if in the tongue , for lying , swearing , &c. . see whether chronology , or the time wherein the sicknesse seizeth upon thee , will not something advantage thee , for the discovering the cause thereof . thus as one observes , the lord hastings was beheaded at london , that very selfe-same day twelve-moneth , yea the same houre ; and if curiosity may goe further , the same minute , wherein he had conspired the death of the queenes kinred at pomfret castle . . consider what sinne it is , for the committing whereof thou hast conceived the least sorrow . for though wee can never bee condignly sorry for our least sinne , yet we may be more penitent for one sinne , than for another , and that sinne which hath cost us the slightest and shallowest repentance , is most likely to be the cause of our present sicknesse . . hearken chiefly to the inditement of thy conscience ; for when wee hunt after that sin , which causeth our disease , and wee find our selves to be either at a losse , or at a cold sent , if once our conscience begin to spend her open mouth , wee may certainely conclude , that the game went that way , and that that is the very sin for which at that time wee are punished . thus the patriarks , gen. . said one to another , we have verely sinned against our brother , in that we saw the anguish of his soule , where hee besought us , and wee would not heare , therefore is this evill fallen upon us . reuben did not impute it to the defiling of his fathers bed , nor iudah to his incest , nor simeon and levi to their murthering of the shechemites , for these were but personall sinnes ; but all joyntly agreed , that it was for their cruelty to their brother , a sin wherein all they were equally ingaged , as they were equally inwrapt in the punishment . if by these or any other meanes we attaine to the knowledge of that particular sinne , for which wee are punished ; let us drown that sin in penitent teares , and in the blood of our saviour ; but if we cannot find it out , let us imitate the example of herod , mat. . who that he might make sure work to kil our saviour , slew all the children in bethelem , and the countrey about it , from two years old and under ; a plot probable to have taken effect , if heaven had not beene too wise for hell . in like manner , let us indifferently , and impartially repent for all our sins in generall : if wee know not which was the bee that stung us , let us throw downe the whole hive ; if wee know not which was the thorne , that prickt us , let us cut downe the whole hedge , and so wee shall bee sure that sinne shall not escape , which hath caused our present sicknesse . now whereas god might have tumbled the corinthians down into hell-fire , for their irreverent receiving of the sacrament , and yet was pleased to inflict on them bodily weakenesse and sicknesse , and death , we learn . god oftentimes with his saints commuteth eternall torments into temporall punishments . hee is therefore angry in this world , that hee might not be angry in the world to come , et misericorditer adhibet temporalem paenam , ne juste inferat aeternam ultionem . if any object , but why will god pardon talents , and not tokens , pounds , but not pence ; and for christs sake forgive , and strike off eternall torment , and yet not crosse the score of temporall punishment ? i answer , . to make us take notice that wee have beene offenders . . that by feeling the smart of what hee inflicteth on us , wee may bee the more sensible of his favour , how much paine he hath forgiven us . . to make us more wary and watchfull in time to come . but farre bee it from us , to conceive that there is any satisfactory , or expiatory power in the afflictions which wee suffer . satisfaction for sinne could not be but once , and once was fully made , when christ offered himselfe upon the crosse . let us therefore learne patience under gods afflicting hand , when hee layeth any sicknesse upon us . solomon said to abiathar , king. . . get thee to anathoth , to thine owne fields , for thou art worthy of death ; but i will not at this time put thee to death , because thou barest the arke of my lord god before david my father : thus god dealeth with us , when hee might justly deprive us of our life , yea of our eternall life ; yet if wee have borne his arke , if wee can plead any true reference , or relation to christ our saviour ; god will be graciously pleased , not to take away our lives , but onely to send us to our anathoth , to confine us to our beds , to keepe us his close prisoners , and onely to deprive us of our health , pleasure and delight . let us therefore patiently endure the aking of the teeth ; wee have all deserved the gnashing of the teeth . let us patiently endure a burning fever ; for wee have all deserved hell-fire . let us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a bodily consumption ; for wee have deserved to bee consumed , and brought to nothing . growth in grace . pet. . . but grow in grace , and in the knowledge of our lord and saviour , iesus christ . philosophers make a double growth . one per aggregationem materiae , by gayning of more matter : thus rivers grow by the accession of tributary brooks ; heaps of corne waxe greater by the addition of more graine ; and thus stones grow , as some would have it , though this more properly bee termed an augmentation , or increase then a growth . the other per intro receptionem nutrimenti , by receiving of nourishment within , as plants , beasts , and men grow . of the latter growth , wee understand the apostle in the text , and will prosecute the metaphor of the growth of vegetables , as that which the holy spirit seemes most to favour , and intend in these expressions . . here is one thing presupposed in the text , & laid down for a foundation ; namely , that those to whom s. peter writes , were already rooted in grace & goodness . these must be an vnit at least , before any multiplication , a basis before any building upon it : no doubt they were such as to whom s. paul writes , eph. . . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , being rooted and grounded in love , such as the colossians were , col. . . rooted in christ , and established in faith . and such i trust you are , to whom my discourse is directed , or else it were in vaine for me , or any to give you instructions for growth in grace . . but why is it said in the text , first in grace , and then in knowledge ; this seemes to be an {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , the lanthorne is to go first , knowledge is to be the vsher of grace , information in the understanding must goe before reformation in the will and affections . i could answer , the holy spirit is no whit curious in marshalling these graces , which he putteth first , they need no herauld to shew their pedigree , wch wil not fal out for precedency . but to the point , their is a two-fold knowledge , one precedent grace , as disposing one therto , & making capable therof ; the other subsequent , & is an effect therof , & a reward of it through gods mercy . these that have gracious hearts do daily better , & improve their knowledge , in matters of salvatiō , & some herein arrive at a great heigth , as david , psa. . . i have more understanding than al my teachers , for thy testimonies are my meditations . however see the apostle puts grace & knowledge together , what god hath joyned , let no man put asunder . we must grow according to both demensions , both in heigth , in knowledge , & in bredth , in piety , both in head and in heart , both in speculation and practise , we must not all run up in heigth , like an hop-pole , but also burnish , & spread in bredth , then shall we be wel proportioned and compleat , and indeed practise without knowledge is blind , and knowledge without practise is lame . . three things are required to make a plant to grow ; first that it hath life within it . thus the christian must have in his soul a quickning vivifying faith . secondly it must be watered in a man with the dew of gods word , isa. . . for as the rain commeth down , and the snow from heaven , and returneth not thither , but watereth the earth , and maketh it bring forth and bud , that it may give seed to the sower , and bread to the eater , so shal my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth , &c. and the same allegory is followed by moses , deut. . . my doctrine shal drop as the rain , my speech shal distil as the dew , as the smal rain upon the tender herb , & as the showers upon the grass . thirdly , the blessing of god is requisite , without which both the former are nothing worth ; paul may plant , and apollo may water , but god giveth the increase . it was observed of master greenham , that painefull and zealous preacher of gods word ; that though hee was very industrious in his calling , yet his people still remayned most ignorant ; and as one saith , greenham had pastures green , but sheepe full leane . so true it is , that gods blessing is the key of the worke , without which all is but labour in vaine . . now wee may take notice of two remarkeables in the growth of a christian . first plants have their {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , their bounds , both in heigth and bredth set by nature : ( hither shalt thou come and no further ) to which when they have attayned they grow down-ward , and waxe lesse ; yea all sublunary things , habent suos terminos , quo cum venerint sistunt retrocedunt ruunt . but growth in grace admits of no such period , but still there is plus ultra : what saint paul saith , pray continually , rejoyce evermore , thess. . . is as true of spirituall growth , grow continually , encrease evermore , never stop nor stay in grace , till thou commest to glory . secondly , trees dote as well as men in their old age ; yea then they are barren , and bring forth little or no fruit ; whereas christians on the contrary , psal. . . . that bee planted in the house of the lord , shall flourish in the court of our god , they shall still bring forth fruit in old age : they shall be fat and flourishing . like wine , they are best when they are oldest ; like caleb , able and active men , even at four-score years of age . . come wee now to set downe those things , which doe either in part hinder , or in whole destroy mens growth in grace . for the first let us take heed of suckers in our soule , such superfluous excrementall sprigs , which like so many theeves , steale away the nourishment , which should maintaine the tree . by these suckers we may understand those felonious avocations of worldly employments , which either out of season , or out of measure , busie our soules in earthly things , when they should bee employed in heavenly matters . the onely way to prevent this mischiefe , is to prune and cut off these suckers , and speedily to stop up these emissaries , by out-lets and private sluces , lest they drain dry the very main channell of grace in our hearts . . as for destroyers of grace it is two-fold : first the blighting or blasting of a conscience-wasting sinne : thus drunkennesse and incest destroyed grace in lot for that very instant , till hee recovered himselfe againe by unfained repentance . secondly , the drowth , and scorching heat of persecution . how promising a plant ? what a shoot in goodnesse did he give on a sudden , who said to our saviour , master i will follow thee whether soever thou goest ? but how quickly was he withered with one scorching beame , when christ told him , how hard service he must undergoe ? observe by the way : there is a double rooting in grace , the one a sound and sure one , the other but shallow and superficiall : the former rooting belongs to the saints of god , and these though they may bee blighted with sinne , or scorched with persecution , yet still as i may say , there is a secret sprig of life in the root , though in outward appearance , the leaves and bowes may seeme quite dead , and in gods due time they grow out of their sins by repentance , out of their afflictions by patience . let us therefore take heed of being too tyrannicall , in passing sentence of condemnation upon them before the time . scotus that famous schoole-man being in a strong fit of an apoplexy , was by the cruell kindnesse of his over officious friends , buried before he was dead . many over hasty in their uncharitable censures , seeing one fallen into a sinne , bury him alive in their judgements , counting him a cast-away and reprobate , when by gods mercy , and his owne repentance he may recover againe , as still retaining in his heart some sparkes of spirituall life . as for the wicked , which have onely a superficiall hold in grace , rather sticked than rooted in it ; wee see what our saviour saith of them , mat. . . and forthwith they sprung up , because they had no deepenesse of earth ; and when the sunne was up they were scorched , and because they had not root they withered away . they were quite dryed up , and here made fuell for hell , never recovering themselves any more ; whereas the godly , though they seeme dead in the winter , they may grow againe next spring . . this doctrine if applyed , serves to confute many : first , those that grow backward in grace , and are worse now , then they were seven yeares before ; like the galatians , you have run well , who hindred you ? secondly , those who stand still in goodnesse ; like those women , whereof the apostle complayneth , that they were ever learing , and never come to the knowledge of the truth . thirdly , those that grow , but not proportionably to the long time , wherein they have beene planted , the fat soyle wherein they have beene set . the long time wherein they have beene planted , heb. . . for when for the time yee ought to bee teachers , you have need that one teach you againe , which be the first principles of the oracles of god , and are become such as have need of milke , and not of strong meat . the fatnesse of the soyle wherin they have beene set , and plenty of water powred on them , and herein no countrey comes neere to ours ; and therefore wee are most unexcusable , if wee grow not in grace . out-landish men call our iland the rainy iland ; because wee have such plenty therof , arising of the store of vapours , from the vicinity of the sea . they call it also the ringing iland , because it hath bels , so many and so tuneable ; i am sure without flattering it maybe thus called in an higher sense , the dew of gods word is no where powred more plentifully , and we have ( god increase their number ) many and melodious bels , tuneable amongst themselves , and loud-sounding the word of god to others : most heavie therefore will be our account , if wee yeeld not some proportionable growth in grace , to these great means god affords us . now in examining themselves , i find three sorts of men to be deceived . some account themselves to be growne in grace when they are not : others esteeme themselves to be not growne , when they are . of the former some account themselves to bee improved in goodnesse , when god takes from them the ability to commit sinne they had formerly . an old man saith , i thanke god i am growne in grace : well , how shall this appeare ? thus , saith the old man : twenty yeares agoe i was given to lust and wantonnesse ; now i have left it . alas hee puts a fallacy on his owne soule ; for the sinne hath left him , his moysture is spent , his heate abated , and hee disabled from performing the taske of wickednesse . so the prodigall , who hath spent his estate , hugs himselfe in his owne happinesse , that now hee is growne in grace ; because hee hath left vanity in clothes , curiosity in dyet , excessivenesse in gaming ; when alas needs must the fire goe out , when the fuell is taken away ; he is not growne in grace , but decreased in estate . others construe it to be growth of grace in themselves , when only god takes away from them the temptations to sinne . hee that living in a populous place was given to drunkennesse , who now being retyred to a private village , takes himselfe to bee turned very sober . alas , it is not hee that is altered , but his place , he wanteth now ( a want with gain ) a crue of bad good fellowes to solicite him to the taverne ; but had he the same temptation ; let him examine himselfe , whether he would not be as bad , as ever hee was before . a third sort count themselves , growne in grace , when they have not left , but onely exchanged their sin ; and perchance a lesse for a greater : thou that abhorrest idols , committest thou sacriledge ? rom. . some thinke themselves improved in piety , because they left prodigality , and reele into covetousnesse : left profanenesse , and fallen into spirituall pride , or peevish affecting of out-side holinesse . thus like the sea , what they loose in one place , they gaine in another , and are no whit growne in grace . . others conceive themselves not to bee growne in grace when they are growne ; and that in these foure cases . first sometimes they thinke that they have lesse grace now , than they had seven yeares agoe ; because they are more sensible of their badnesse . they daily see and grieve to see how spirituall the law of god is , and how carnall they are ; how they sinne both against gods will , and their owne , and sorrow after their sinne , and sinne after their sorrow . this makes many mistake themselves , to be worse than they have beene formerly ; whereas indeed the sick-man begins to amend , when hee begins to feele his paine . . many thinke themselves to have lesse saving knowledge now , than they had at their first conversion ; both because ( as we said before of grace ) they are now more sensible of their ignorance ; and because their knowledge at their first conversion seemed a great deale , which since seemeth not increast , because increast insensibly , and by unappearing degrees . one that hath lived all his life time in a most darke dungeon , and at last is brought out but into the twi-light , more admires at the clearnesse and brightnesse thereof , than hee will wonder a moneth after at the sun at noon-day . so a christian newly regenerated , and brought out of the darke state of nature , into the life of grace , is more apprehensive at the first illumination , of the knowledge hee receives , than of farre greater degrees of knowledge which hee receiveth afterwards . . some thinke they have lesse grace now , than they had some yeares since , because a great measure of grace seemes but little to him that desires more . as in worldly wealth , crescit amor nummi quantum ipsa pecunia crescit ; so is there an holy , heavenly , and laudable covetousnesse of grace , which deceives the eye of the soule , and makes a great deale of goodnesse seeme but a little . many thinke they are growne lesse and weaker in grace , when indeed they are assaulted with stronger temptations . one saith seven years since , i vanquished such temptations , as at this day foyle me ; therefore surely i am decreased in grace . non sequitur , for though it be the same temptation in kind , it may not be the same in degree and strength ; thou mayest still be as valiant , yet thy enemies may conquer thee , as assaulting thee with more force and fury : when thou wert newly converted , god proportioned the weight to the weaknesse of thy souldiers , bound up the devill , that hee should set upon thee with no more force , than thou couldest resist and subdue . now thou hast gotten a greater stock of grace , god suffers the devil to buffet thee with greater blows . some thinke grace is lesse in them now than it was at their first conversion , because they find not in their souls , such violent flashes , such strong impetuous ( i had almost said ) furious raptures of goodnesse , and flashes of grace and heavenly illumination : but let them seriously consider , that these raptures which they then had , and now complaine they want , were but fits short and sudden , nimbus erat , cito preterijt , not setled and constant , but such as quickly spent themselves with their own violence : whereas grace in them now may bee more solid , reduced , digested , and concocted : bos lassus fortius figit pedem , more slow , but more sure , lesse violent , but more constant ; though grace be not so thicke at one time , yet now it is beaten and hammered out to bee broader and longer ; yea i might adde also , it is more pure and refined : this we may see in saint peter , when hee was a young man in a bravery , he would walk on the water , yea and so daring was hee in his promises ; though all forsake thee , yet will not i : but afterwards in his old age hee was not so bold and daring ; experience had not only corrected the ranknesse of his spirit , but also in some sort quenched , surely tempered the flashes of his zeale for the adventurousnesse of it ; yet was he never a whit the worse , but the better christian , though he was not so quick to run into danger , yet hee vvould answer the spur when need required , and not flinch for persecution , when just occasion vvas offered ; as at last hee suffered martyrdome gloriously for christ . to conclude ; grace in the good thiefe on the crosse , like ionah's gourd , grew up presently , for hee was an extraordinary example ; but in us it is like the growth of an oak , slow and insensible ; so that wee may sooner find it crevisse , then crescere , it must therefore bee our daily taske all the dayes of our lives ; to which end let us remember to pray to god for his blessing on us : our saviour saith , matth. . . which of you by taking care is able to adde one cubit unto his stature in the corporall growth ? much lesse able are wee in the spirituall growth , to adde one inch or haires bredth to the heigth of our soules . then vvhat vvas pride in the builders of babel , vvill be piety in us , to mount and raise our soules so high , till the top of them shal reach to heaven . amen . how far examples are to be follovved . rvth . . . and naomi said , behold thy sister in law is gone backe unto her people , and unto her gods , returne thou after thy sister in law . in these words naomi seekes to perswade ruth to returne , alleaging the example of orpah , who as she saith was gone back to her people , and to her gods ; where first wee find that all the heathen , and the moabites amongst the rest did not acknowledge one true god , but were the worshippers of many gods ; for they made every attribute of god to be a distinct deity . thus in stead of that attribute , the wisedome of god , they fained apollo the god of wisedome ; in stead of the power of god , they made mars the god of power ; in stead of that admirable beauty of god , they had venus the goddesse of beauty : but no one attribute was so much abused , as gods providence . for the heathen supposing , that the whole world , and all the creatures therein was too great a diocesse to bee daily visited by one , and the same deity ; they therefore assigned sundry gods to severall creatures . thus gods providence in ruling the raging of the seas , was counted neptune ; in stilling the roaring wind aeolus in commanding the powers of hell pluto ; yea sheep had their pan , and gardens their pomona ; the heathens then being as fruitfull in faigning of gods , as the papists since in making of saints . now because naomi used the example of orpah , as a motive to worke upon ruth to returne ; wee gather from thence . examples of others set before our eyes , are very potent and prevalent arguments , to make us follow and imitate them , whether they bee good examples , so the forwardnesse of the corinthians to beleeve the iewes , provoked many : or whether they be bad , so the dissembling of peter at antioch , drew barnabas and others into the same fault : but those examples of all others are most forcible with us , which are set by such who are neer to us by kindred , or gracious with us in friendship , or great over us in power . let men in eminent places , as magistrates , ministers , fathers , masters , ( so that others love to dance after their pipe , to sing after their musick , to tread after their tract ) endeavour to propound themselves examples of piety , and religion to those that be under them . when wee see any good example propounded unto us , let us strive with all possible speed to imitate it : what a deale of stirre is there in the world for civill precedency and priority , every one desires to march in the fore-front , and thinkes it a shame to come laging in the rear-ward . oh that there were such an holy ambition , and heavenly emulation in our hearts , that as peter and iohn ran a race , who should come first to the grave of our saviour , so men would contend , who should first attain to true mortification ; and when we see a good example set before us , let us imitate it , though it be in one , which in outward respects is far our inferior : shal not our masters be ashamed , to see that their men , whose place on earth is to come behind them , in piety towards heaven to goe before them ? shall not the husband blush to see his wife , which is the weaker vessell in nature , the stronger vessell in grace ? shall not the elder brother dye his cheeks with the colour of vertue , to see his younger brother , who was last borne , first reborne by faith , and the holy ghost ? yet let him not therefore envie his brother , as cain did abel , let him not be angry with his brother , because hee is better than himselfe , but let him be angry with himselfe , because hee is worse than his brother , let him turne all his malice into imitation , all his fretting at him into following of him . say unto him , as gehazi did of naaman ; as the lord liveth i will run after him : and although thou canst not over-run him , nor as yet over-looke him ; yet give not over to run with him , follow him , though not as azael did abner , hard at the heeles ; yet as peter did our saviour , a farre off ; that though the more slowly , yet as surely thou mayest come to heaven ; and though thou wert short of him while hee lived , in the race , yet thou shalt be even with him when thou art dead , at the marke . when any bad example is presented unto us , let us decline and detest it , though the men be never so many , or so deare unto us . imitate micaiah , king. . to whom when the messenger sent to fetch him , said , behold now the words of the prophets , declare good unto the king with one mouth , let thy word therefore i pray thee be like to one of them ; micaiah answered , as the lord liveth , whatsoever the lord saith unto me , that will i speake . if they be never so deare unto us , wee must not follow their bad practise : so must the sonne please him that begot him , that hee doth not displease him that created him ; so must the wife follow him that married her , that she doth not offend him that made her ; wherefore as samson , though bound with new cords snapt them asunder , as tow when it feeleth the fire ; so rather then we should be led by the lewd examples of those , that be neere and deare unto us , let us breake in peeces all their engagements , relations whatsoever . now here it will be a labour , worthy discourse , to consider how farre the examples , even of good men in the bible are to bee followed . for as all examples have a great influence on the practise of the beholders , so especially the deeds of good men registred in the scripture ( the kalender of eternity ) are most attractive of imitation . wee find in holy writ nine severall kinds of examples . first actions extraordinary , the doers whereof had peculiar strength , and dispensation from god to doe them . thus phineas in an heavenly fury killed cozbi and zimri ; samson slew himselfe , and the philistims in the temple of dagon ; elias caused fire to descend on the two captaines of fifties ; elisha cursed the children , the children of bethel . these are written for our instruction , not for our imitation , if with elisha thou canst make a bridge over iordan with thy cloake , if with him thou canst raise dead children , then it is lawfull for thee , with elisha to curse thy enemies . if thou canst not imitate him in the one , pretend not to follow him in the other . when men propound such examples for their practise , what is said is imputed to phineas for righteousnesse , will bee imputed to us for iniquity , if being private men by a commssion of our owne penning , wee usurpe the sword of iustice to punish malefactors . actions founded in the ceremoniall law , as abrahams circumcising of isaac , hezekiahs eating the passeover , solomons offering of sacrifices , &c. we are to be thankful to god , that these shadows in christ the substance are taken away . let us not therefore superstitiously faine , that the ghosts of these ceremonies may stil walk , which long since were buried in christs grave . by those who still retaine them . excellently ignatius , epist. ad magnesios , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . yea , wee must forfeit the name of christians , if we still retaine such old rites . let those who are admitted in the colledge of grace , disdaine any longer to goe to the schoole of the ceremoniall law , which truly may bee called the schoole of tyrannus . actions which are founded in the iudiciall law , as punishing theft with foure-fold restitution , putting of adulterers to death , and raising up seed to the brother , &c. these oblige men , to observe them so farre , as they have in them any taste or tincture of a morall law ; and as they beare proportion with those statutes , by which every particular countrey is governed . for the iudiciall law was by god calculated alone , for the elevation of the iewish common-wealth . it suted onely with the body of their state ; and will not fit any other common-wealth , except it be equall to iudea in all dimensions . i meane in climate , nature of the soyle , disposition of the people , quality of the bordering neighbours , and many other particulars , amongst which the very least is cosiderable . when men out of an over imitativenesse of holy presidents , seek to conforme all countries to iewish lawes . that must needs breake , which is stretched further , than god intended it . they may sooner make sauls armour fit david , and davids sling and scrip become saul , then the particular statutes of one countrey , adequately , to comply with another . actions founded in no law at all , but onely in an ancient custome , by god winked and connived at ; yea tolerated at the least wise not openly forbidden in precept , or punished in practise . as poligamy , in the patriarkes having many wives . indeed when god first made the large volume of the world , and all creatures therein , and set it forth , cum regali privilegio , behold all things therein were very good , hee made one eve for one adam . poligamy is an erratum , and needs an index expurgatorius , being crept in , being more than what was in the maiden coppy : it was the creature of lamech , no worke of god . we are herein to wonder at , and praise the goodnesse of god , who was pleased herein to winke at the faults of his deare saints , and to passe by their frailty herein , because they lived in a darke age , wherein his pleasure was not so plainely manifested . if any in this bright sun-shine of the gospel , pretend as a plea for their lust , to follow their example . doubtfull examples , which may so be termed , because it is difficult to decide , whether the actors of them therein did offend or no : so that should a iury of learned writers be empannelled to passe their verdict upon them , they would bee puzzelled , whether to condemne or acquit them , and at last be forced to find it an ignoramus . as whether david did well to dissemble himselfe frantick , thereby to escape the cruelty of achish , king of gath. whether hushai did well , in counterfeiting with absolom , or whether therein hee did not make heaven to bow too much to earth , i meane policie to entrench upon piety ; and so in this act was so good a states-man , that hee was a bad man . let us not meddle with imitation of these actions , that are so full of difficulty and danger , that our judgements therein may easily bee deceived : the sonnes of barzillai , ezr. . . because their genealogies were doubtfull and uncertaine , were put by the priest-hood , till a priest should rise up with vrim and thummim , by which wee may understand some especiall man amongst them , who by gods spirit might be able to decide the controversies , which were questioned in their pedigrees . so let us refraine from following these doubtfull examples , till ( which in this world is not likely to bee ) there arise an infallible iudge , which can determine in these particulars , whether these actions were well done or no . by such who though they have roome enough besides , yet delight to walke on a narrow banke , neere the sea , and have an itch to imitate these doubtfull examples , wherein there is great danger of miscarrying . mixt examples which containe in them a double action , the one good , and the other bad , so closely couched together , that it is a very hard thing to sever them . thus in the unjust steward , there was his wisedome to provide for himselfe , which god doth commend ; and his wickednesse , to purloyne from his master , which god cannot but condemne . thus in the hebrew midwives , exod. . when they told the lye , there was in them , fides mentis , & fallacia mentientis , the faithfulnesse of their love to their countrey-men , and the falsenesse of their lying to pharaoh . behold , here is wisedome , and let the man that hath understanding , discreetly divide betwixt the gold and the drosse , the wheat and the chaffe ; what hee is to follow and imitate , and what to shun and avoyd . in the first yeare of the raigne of queene elizabeth , the students of christ-church in oxford , buried the bones of peter martyrs wife in the same coffin , with the ashes of fridswick a popish saint , to this intent , that if popery , ( which god forbid ) should ever after over spread this land , papists should bee puzled to part the ashes of a supposed heretike , from one of their canonized saints . thus in some actions of gods saints in the bible , which are of a mixt nature ; wickednesse doth so insensibly unite and incorporate it selfe with that that is good , that it is very difficult to sever and divide them without a sound , and well advised iudgement . in such as leave what is good , take what is bad , follow what is to bee shunned , shunne what is to bee followed . actions absolutely bad , so that no charitable comment can bee fastned upon them , except wee will incurre the prophets curse and woe , to call good evill , and evill good ; such were the drunkennesse of noah , the incest of lot , the lying of abraham , the swearing of ioseph , the adultery of david , the deniall of peter . let us reade in them first a lecture of our owne infirmity : who dare warrant his armour for proofe , when davids was shot through ? secondly , let us admire and laud gods mercy , who pardoned and restored these men on their unfained repentance . lastly , let us not despaire of pardon our selves , if through infirmity over taken , god in like manner is mercifull to forgive us . when men either make these their patterns , by which they sin , or after their sinning alledge them for their excuse and defence . thus iudith did , iudith . . for whereas that murder , which simeon and levi did commit upon the shechemites , gen. . . was cursed by iacob , as a most hainous and horrible sinne ; yet shee propounds it as an heroick act , and the unworthy president for her imitation : o lord god of my father simeon , to whom thou gavest the sword to take vengeance on the strangers , which opened the wombe of a maid , and defiled her , &c. well , if the arme of iudith had beene as weake as her judgement was herein , i should scarce beleeve , that shee ever cut off the head of holophernes . actions which are onely good , as they are qualified with such a circumstance , as davids eating the shew-bread in a case of absolute necessity ; which otherwise was provided for the priests alone . such are the doing of servile workes on the lords day , when in case of necessity they leave off to bee opera servilia , and become opera misericordiae . let us bee sure , that in imitating of these , to have the same qualifying circumstance , without which otherwise the deed is impious and damnable . in those which imitate the example without any heeding , that they are so qualified , as the action requires . the ninth and last sort remaines , and such are those , which are eminently good ; as the faith of abraham , the meeknesse of moses , the valour of ioshua , the sincerity of samuel , the plaine dealing of nathaniel , &c. follow not then the infidelity of thomas , but the faith of abraham ; the testinesse of ionah , but the patience of iob ; the adultery of david , but the chastity of ioseph ; not the apostasie of orpa , but the perseverance of ruth here in my text . an ill match vvel broken off . iohn . . love not the world . the stoicks said to their affections , as abimelech spake to isaac , gen. . ▪ get you out from amongst us , for you are too strong for us : because they were too strong for them to master , they therefore would have them totally banisht out of their soules , and labour to becalm themselves with an apathy : but farre be it from us , after their example to root out such good herbes , ( instead of weeds ) out of the garden of our nature ; whereas affections , if well used are excellent , if they mistake not their true object , nor exceed in their due measure . ioshua killed not the gibeonites , but condemned them to bee hewers of wood , and drawers of water for the sanctuary . wee need not expell passions out of us , if wee could conquer them , and make griefe draw water-buckets of teares for our sinnes , and anger kindle fires of zeale and indignation , when wee see god dishonoured . but as that must needs be a deformed face , wherein there is a transposition of the colours , the blewnesse of the vines being set in the lips , the rednesse which should be in the cheeks , in the nose ; so alas most mishapen is our soule , since adams fall , whereby our affections are so inverted , ioy stands where griefe should , griefe in the place of ioy . wee are bold where wee should feare , feare where we should be bold , love that wee should hate , hate what wee should love . this gave occasion to the blessed apostle in my text , to disswade men from loving that , whereon too many dote . love not the world . for the better understanding of which vvords , knovv that the devill goes about to make an unfitting match , betwixt the soule of a christian , on the one party , and this world on the other . a match too likely to goe on , if wee consider the simplicity , and folly of many christians ( because of the remnants of corruption ) easily to be seduced and inveagled , or the bewitching entising , alluring nature of this world : but god by saint iohn in my text forbiddeth the banes , love not the world . in prosecuting whereof , wee will first shew the worthinesse of a christian soule , then wee will consider the worthlesnesse of the world , and from the comparing of these two , this doctrine will result that . it is utterly unfitting for a christian to place his affections on worldly things . let us take notice of a christians possessions , and of his possibilities ; what he hath in hand , and what he holdeth in hope : in possession he hath the favour of god , the spirit of adoption , crying in him , abba father , and many excellent graces of sanctification in some measure in his heart . in hope & expectance he hath the reversion of heaven and happinesse , ( a reversion not to be got after anothers death , but his owne ) and those happinesses which eye cannot see , nor eare heare ; neither it can enter into the heart of man to conceive . now see the worthlesnesse of the world ; three load-stones commonly attract mens affections , and make them to love , beauty , wit , and wealth . beauty the world hath none at all . i dare boldly say , the world put on her holy-day apparell , when shee was presented by the devill to our saviour , matth. . . she never looked so smug and smooth before or since , and had there beene any reall beauty therein , the eagle-sight of our saviour would have seene it ; yet when all the glory of the world was proffered unto him , at the price of idolatry , hee refused it . yet as old iezabel , when shee wanted true beauty , stopt up the leakes of age , with adulterated complexion , and painted her face ; so the world in default of true beauty decks her selfe with a false appearing fairenesse , which serves to allure amorous fooles , and ( to give the world , as well as the devill her due ) shee hath for the time a kind of a pleasing fashionablenesse : but what saith saint paul , corinth . . . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , the fashion of this world passeth away : the wit of the world is as little as her beauty , how ever it may bee cryed up by some of her fond admirers ; yet as it is , cor. . . the wisedome of this world is foolishnesse with god , and cuilibet artifici credendum est in sua arte , what wisedome it selfe counts foolishnes , is folly to purpose ▪ her wealth is as small , as either what the world cals substance , is most subject to accidents , uncertaine , unconstant , even lands themselves in this respect are moveables , riches make themselves wings , and fly away ; they may leave us whilst wee live ; but wee must leave them when wee dye . seeing then the world hath so little , and the christian foule so much ; let us learne a lesson of holy pride , to practise heavenly ambition . descend not so farre o christian , beneath thy selfe , remember what thou art , and what thou hast , loose not thy selfe in lavishing thy affections , on so disproportioned a mate : there is a double disparity betwixt thy soule , and the world : first that of age . perchance the world might make a fit mate for thy old man , thy vnregenerate halfe , thy reliques of sinne ; but to match the old , rotten , withered , worme-eaten world , to thy new man , thy new creature , the regenerated and renewed part of thy soule , gray to green , is rather a torture , then a marriage , altogether disproportionable . secondly , that of quality or condition , thou art gods free-man : if i have freed you , ( saith christ ) then are you free indeed , the world is , or ought to be thy slave , thy vassaile , iohn . . . for whosoever is borne of god overcommeth the world , and this is the victory that overcommeth the world , even our faith . bee not then so base , as to make thy vassall thy mate . alexander denyed to marry darius his daughter , though proffered unto him , scorning to bee conquered by her beauty , whose father hee had conquered by his valour . let us not make the world our mistresse , whereof wee ought to be the master , nor prostitute our affections to a slave we have conquered . yea may some say this is good counsell , if it came in due season ; alas now it commeth too late , after i have not only long doted , but am even wedded to this world ; infant affection may be easily crusht , but who can tame an old and rooted love : thinke you that i have my affection in my hand , as hunters their dogs , to let slip or rate off at pleasure ; how then shall i unlove the world , which hath been my bosome darling so long . art thou wedded to the world , then instantly send her a bill of divorce . it need never trouble thy conscience , that match may be lawfully broken off , which was first most unlawfully made : yea , though wert long before contracted to god in thy baptisme , wherein thou didst solemnely promise thou wouldst forsake the devill and all his workes , the vaine pompe and glory of this world . let the first contract stand ; and because it is difficult for those , who have long doted on the world , to unlove her ; wee will give some rules , how it may bee done by degrees . for indeed it is not to bee done on a sudden , ( matters of moment cannot bee done in a moment ) but it is the taske of a mans whole life , til the day of his death . looke not with the eyes of covetousnesse , or admiration on the things of the world . the eye is the principall cinqueport of the soule , wherein love first arrives , vt vidi , ut perij ; now thou mayest looke on the things of the world , vt in transitu , as in passage ( otherwise wee should be forced to shut our eyes ) and wee may behold them with a slighting neglectfull fastidious looke ; but take heed to looke on them with a covetous eye , as eve on the forbidden fruit , and achan on the wedge of gold . take heed to looke on them with the eye of admiration , as the disciples looked on the buildings of the temple , matth. . wondring at the eternity of the structure , and conceiving the arch of this world , would fall as soone as such stones riveted to immortality , might bee dissolved . wherefore our saviour checketh them , verely i say unto you , there shall not be left one stone upon another , that shall not bee cast downe . excellently iob , chap. . . i have made a covenant with mine eyes , that i should not behold a woman . a covenant ? but what was the forfiture , iobs eyes were to pay in case hee brake it ? it is not exprest on the band ; but surely the penalty is employed many brackish teares , which his eyes in repentance must certainly pay , if they observed not the covenant . silence , that spokesman in thy bosome , i meane that allurements of the flesh and devill , who improveth his utmost power to advance a match betwixt thy soule and the world . and when any breach happens betweene thee , and the world ; so that thou art ready to cast her off , the flesh in thy bosome pleads her cause : why wilt thou ( saith it ) deprive thy selfe of those contentments , which the world would afford thee ? why dost thou torment thy selfe before thy time ? ruffle thy selfe in the silkes of security , it will be time enough to put on the sack-cloath or repentance , when thou lyest on thy death-bed . hearken not to the flesh , her inchantments ; but as pharaoh charged moses , to get him out of his presence , he should see his face no more , exodus . . so strive as much as in thee lyeth to expell these fleshly suggestions from thy presence , to banish them out of thy soule , at leastwise to silence them , though the mischiefe is , it will be muttering , and though it dare not hallow , it will still be whispering unto thee , in behalfe of the world , its old friend , to make a reconciliation betwixt you . send back againe to the world , the love-tokens she hath bestowed upon thee , i meane those ill gotten goods , which thou hast gotten by indirect , and unwarrantable meanes . as for those goods , which thy parents left thee , friends have given thee , or thou hast procured by heavens providence on thy lawfull endeavours , these are no love-tokens of the world , but gods gifts ; keepe them , use them , enjoy them to his glory : but goods gotten by vvrong , and robbery , extortion and bribery , force and fraud , these restore and send back : for the world knoweth , that shee hath a kind of tye and engagement upon thee , so long as thou keepest her tokens ; and in a manner thou art obliged in honour , as long as thou detainest the gifts that were hers . imitate zacheus , see how hee casts backe what the world gave him , luke . . behold lord , the halfe of my goods i give to the poore , and if i have taken any thing from any man , by false accusation , i restore him foure-fold . . set thy affections on the god of heaven , the best wedge to drive out an old love , is to take in a new , postquam nos amaryllis habet , galataea reliquit : yea , god deserves our love first , because god loved us first , iohn . . it is enough indeed to blunt the sharpest affection , to be returned with scorne and neglect ; but it is enough to turne ice into ashes , to bee first beloved by one , that so well deserves love . secondly , his is a lasting love , iohn . . having loved his owne that were in the world , he loved them to the end . some mens affection spends it selfe with its violence , hot at hand , but cold at length ; god's not so , it is continuing . it is recorded in the honour of our * king henry , the seventh ; that hee never discomposed favorite , one only excepted , which was william , lord stanly , a rare matter , since many princes change their favorites , as well as their clothes , before they are old : but the observation is true of the lord of heaven , without any exception ; those who are once estated in his favour , hee continues loving unto them to the end . hearke then how hee woes us , hoe every one , esay . . that thirsteth , come yee to the waters , and he that hath no money come , &c. how he woes us , mat. . . come unto me all yee that labour , and are heavy laden , and i will give you rest . love his love-letter his word , his love-tokens , his sacraments , his spokes-men , his ministers , which labour to further the match , betwixt him and thy soule . but beware of two things . . take heed of that dangerous conceit , that at the same time thou mayest keepe , both god and the world , and love these outward delights , as a concubine to thy soule . nay , god he is a jealous god , hee will have all or none at all . * there is a citie in germany , pertaining halfe to the bishop thereof , and halfe to the duke of saxony , who named the citie myndyn , that is , mine and thine ; because it was theirs communi jure , and at this day by corruption it is called minden . but god will admit of no such divisions , hee will hold nothing in coparceny , hee will not share or part stakes with any , but hee will have all entire to himselfe alone . take heed thou dost not onely fall out with the world , to fall in with it againe , according to that , amantium irae amoris redinte gratio est : for even as some furious gamesters , when they have a bad game , throw their cards out of their hands , and vow to play no more , ( not so much out of mislike of gaming , as of their present game ; ) but when the cards run on their side , they are reconciled to them againe ; so many men , when the world frownes on them , and crosses them , and they misse some preferment they desire ; then a qualme of piety comes over their hearts , they are mortified on a sudden , and disavow to have any further dealing with worldly contentments . but when the world smiles on them againe , favours and prospers them , they then return to their former love , and doting upon it . thus demas tim. . . would needs have another farewel embrace of the world , even after his solemne conversion to christianity , demas hath forsaken me , having loved this present world . but when we are once at variance with the world , let us continue at deadly eternall feuds with it ; and as it is said of amnon , sam. . . that the hatred wherewith hee hated his sister thamar , was greater then the love wherewith he loved her : so ( what was cruelty in him , will bee christianity in us ) once fallen out with the world , let the joynt bee never set againe , that it may bee the stronger ; but let our hatred bee immortall , and so much the stronger , by how much our love was before . good from bad friends . sam. . and one told david , saying , achitophel is among the conspirators with absalom . this text is a glasse , wherein gods iustice is plainely to be seen . david had formerly falsely forsaken vriah , and now god suffers achitophel to forsake david . vriah neither in loyaltie , nor valour , though placed the last in the list , of the list of davids worthies , was any whit inferiour to any of davids subjects . how did hee sympathize with gods arke , and his fellow souldiers , stayed still in the campe , though hee was in the kings court , in that hee would not embrace those delights , the marriage-bed did afford him : no , though they practised upon him to make him drunke , yet in his drunkennesse , hee was so sober , that all thier wine washed not from him his first resolution , but hee remayned still constant . but how falsely did david forsake him , sending him with that snake in his bosome , which was to sting him to death ; i meane the letter , which was vriahs pasport , to his own grave . well vriah placed much confidence in the love of david , who deceives him ; david with no lesse trust relyes on the loyaltie of achitophel , and see what my text saith . and one told david , saying , achitophel is also among the conspirators with absalom . before we goe farther , let us learne , when our friends forsake us , to enter into a serious scrutinie of our owne soules : hast thou never played foule or false with thy friend ; if not in action , yet in intention ? dost thou not mean to prove base , if put to the tryall , and if occasion he offered to deceive him ? if so , know thy false friend hath only got the start of thee , and playd the fore-game , doing what thou meanest to doe . rayle not then on the times , nor speak satyres against the faithlesnesse of men , but laying thy hand on thy mouth , confesse god hath justly found thee out , and dealt with thee , as hee did with david . secondly , hence we may observe : the most politicke heads have not alwayes the faithfullest hearts . achitophel was the iewish nestor , or their salomon before salomon , and like the oracle of god for his wisedom , but like the oracle of the devill for his deceitfulnesse ; for whilst david swaied the scepter , who more loial to him then achitophel , and once when david is in banishment , he fals first to absalom , he loved to worship the sun rising ; yea whils david the true sun was but over-cast with a cloud , he fals adoring that blazing star , that comet only fed with the evaporations of pride and ambition , which shined for a while , and then went out in a stink . reasons why the most politick are not alwayes the most faithfull . . because that cement which conglutinates hearts , and makes true friends indeed , is grace and goodnes , wherof many politick heads are utterly devoid , cor. . . for ye see your calling brethren , how that not many wise men after the flesh , not many mighty , not many noble are called . . politick men make their owne profit , the rule and square of their loves , they steere their course by the pole-star of their own good . and as in their actions , so in their affections , have an invisible end to themselves , which beginneth where that end endeth , which is apparent to others . doe not then undervalue and despise the love of those , who are of meane and inferior parts ; wise men have made use of such servants , and found them more manageable , and more profitable , though their judgements were weaker , their affections might be stronger , than wiser men . thirdly , observe . false friends will forsake thee in time of adversity . hee that beleeveth , that all those who smile on him , and promise faire in time of prosperity , will performe it in time of his want , may as well beleeve , that all the leaves that bee on trees at mid-summer , will hang there as fresh , and as faire on new-yeers day . come wee now to consider , what good uses one may make to himselfe , from the unfaithfulnesse of friends , when they forsake us . first consider with thy selfe , whether thou hast not beene faulty , in entertaining tale-bearers , and lending a listning eare unto them : solomon faith , prov. . . a whisperer separateth chiefe friends . whethersoever hee commeth , he bringeth with him , the fire , fuel , and bellowes of contention . if herein thy conscience accuse thee not , examaine thy selfe , whether there was not a laesum principium , in the first initiation of your love : how came you acquainted , whereout grew your amitie , whereon was your intimacie grounded ? didst thou not first purchase his favour with the price of a sinne ? for know , friends unjustly gotten , are not long comfortably enjoyed . thus absalom , by sordid flattery stole the hearts of the israelites , descending too much beneath himselfe , sam. . . as alwayes ambitious spirits , when they would personate humility , over-act their part , and play basenesse : wee see king hezekiah , who procured senacharibs love by his sacriledge , enjoyed not that purchase , which he made god and his temple pay for , king. . . for senacharib no sooner received his money , but hoc non obstante , persisted in his former enmity and hostility against the iewes , and as it followeth in the very next verse , sent up his captaines to besiege ierusalem . . if there be no fault in the inchoation ; examine , hath there beene none in the continuance of your friendship , hast thou not committed many sinnes , to hold in with him ? if so , then it is just with god , hee should forsake thee : thus tyrants often times cut off those staires , by which they climbe up to their throne : yea , good princes have often times justly sacrificed those their favorites to the fury of the people , who formerly have been the active instruments to oppresse the people , though to the enriching of their princes . hast thou not flattered him in his faults , or at least wise by thy silence consented to him ? if so , god hath now opened thy friends eyes , he sees thy false dealing with him , and hath just cause to cast thee out of his favour . when amnon had defiled his sister thamar , the text saith , sam. . . that the hatred wherewith hee hated her , was greater than the love , wherewith hee loved her . poore lady , shee was in no fault , not the cause , but onely the object , and the occasion of her brothers sinne , and that against her will , by his violence . now to reason , a minore ad majus ; if amnon in cold blood viewing the hainousnesse of his offence , so hated thamar , which onely concurred passively in his transgression , how may our friends justly hate us , if haply we have beene the causers , movers , and procurers of their badnesse . if wee have added fewell to the flame of their ryot , played the pandors to their lusts , and spurred them on in the full speed of their wantonnesse , deserve wee not ( when their eyes are opened , to see what foes we have been unto them , under pretended friendship ) to bee spit in the face , kik't out of their company , and to bee used with all contumely , and disgrace ? . hast thou not idolatrized to thy friend ? hath he not totally monopolized thy soule , so that thou hast solely depended on him , without looking higher , or further ? tu patronus , si deseris tu perimus . thus too many wives anchor al their hopes for outward matters , on their husbands , and too many children leane all their weight on their fathers shoulders ; so that it is just with god , to suffer these their woodden pillars to breake , on whom they lay too much heft . . hast thou not undervalued thy friend , and set too meane a rate and low an estimate on his love ? if so god hath now taught thee , the worth of a pearle , by loosing it ? and this comes often to passe , though not in our friends voluntary deserting us , as achitophel did david , yet in their leaving us against their wils , when god taketh them from us by death . but here this question may be demanded ; whether is one ever againe to receive him for his friend , and to restore him to the old state of his favour , who once hath deceived , and dealt falsely with him ? many circumstances are herein , well to bee weighed ; first did hee forsake thee out of frailty , and infirmity , or out of meer spight and maliciousnesse ? secondly , hath he since shewed any tokens , and evidences of unfained sorrow ? hath hee humbled himselfe unto thee , and beg gods , and thy pardon ? if hee hath offended mischievously , and persists in it obstinately : o let not the strength of thy supposed charity , so betray thy judgement , as to place confidence in him ! samson was blind , before hee was blind ; the lust of dalilah deprived him of his eyes , before the philistims bored them out , in that once and againe being deceived by dalilah , hee still relyed on her word : but if hee hath shewed himselfe such a penitent , and thou art verely perswaded of his repentance , receive him againe into thy favour . thus dealt our saviour with saint peter , marke . . but goe your way , tell his disciples , and peter , peter especially ; peter that had sinned , and peter that had sorrowed , peter that had denyed his master ; but peter that went out and wept bitterly . . sixthly , and lastly , it may bee god suffers thy friends to prove unfaithfull to thee , to make thee sticke more closely to himselfe : excellent to this purpose is that place , mica . . . trust yee not in a friend , put yee no confidence in a guide , keepe the doers of thy mouth from her , that lyeth in thy bosome : for the son dishonoureth the father , the daughter riseth up against the mother , the daughter in law , against her mother in law ; a mans enemies are the men of his own house . but now marke what followes ; therefore will i looke unto the lord , i will wayte for the god of my salvation . as if hee had said , is the world at this bad hand ? is it come to this bad passe ? that one must bee farre from trusting their neerest friends ; it is well then i have one fast friend , on whom i may relye , the god of heaven . i must confesse these words of the prophet , are principally meant of the time of persecution , and so are applyed by our saviour , mat. . . however they containe an eternall truth , whereof good use may bee made at any time : let us therefore , when our friends forsake us , principally relye on god , who hath these two excellent properties of a friend ; first he is neere to us , so saith the psalmist , thy name is neere , and this doth thy excellent workes declare : they have a speedy way , of conveying letters from aleppo to babylon , sending them by a winged messenger , tyed to the legs of a dove ; but wee have a shorter cut to send our prayers to god , by sending our prayers by the wings of the holy spirit , that heavenly dove , whereby they instantly arrive in heaven . as god is neere to us , so hee is ever willing , and able to helpe us : on him therefore let us ever relye ; and when other reeds bow or break , or run into our hands , let us make him to bee our staffe , whereon wee may leane our selves . a glasse for glvttons . rom. . . not in gluttony . these words are a parcell of that scripture , that converted saint augustine . he , ( as hee confesseth of himselfe ) at the first was both erroneous in his tenets , and vicious in his life , when running on in full carreare in wickednesse , god stopt him with his voyce from heaven , tolle et lege ; take up thy book , and reade ; and the first place which god directed his eye to , was these words in my text , and after this time being reclaymed , hee proved a worthy instrument of gods glory , and the churches good . now as those receipts in physicke are best , which are confirmed under the broad seale of experience , and set forth with the priviledge of probatum est ; so my text may challenge a priority , before other places of scripture , because upon record it hath been the occasion to convert so famous a christian . neither thinke , that the vertue of these words , are extracted by doing of this one cure , or that my text with isaac , hath onely one blessing for him that came first , no by gods blessing it may be cordial , for the saving of our soules . to day therfore part of samsons riddel shall be fulfilled in your ears : out of the devourer came meat , gluttony that vice , which consumeth and devoureth food . the discourse thereof by gods assistance shall feed us at this time . not in gluttony . gluttony is a dangerous sin for any christian to be guilty of . because humane laws hath provided no penalty for it . men will be afraid to commit petty lassony , for feare of whipping ; fellony for feare of branding , murther , for feare of hanging ; worse sins , for feare of having a grave , whilst living . but it is too likely , that men will take leave and liberty to themselves , to be gluttons , presuming upon hope of impunity , because mans laws have ordered no punishment for it ; yet as those offences are accounted the greatest , which cannot be punished by a con●●●●● , a iustice , or iudge of assize ; but are reserved immediatly to be punished by the king himselfe ; so gluttons must needs be sinners in an high degree , who are not censureable by any earthly king , but are referred to be judged at gods tribunal alone . because it is so hard and difficult to discerne ; like to the hecktick fever , it steales on a man unawares . some sins come with observation , and are either ushered with a noyse , or like a snaile , leave a slime behind them , whereby they may be traced , and tracted , as drunkennesse . the ephramites were differenced from the rest of the israelites , by their lisping , they could not pronounce h , which then was a heavie aspiration unto them , when it cost the lives of so many thousands . thus drunkards are distinguish't from the kings sober subjects , by clipping the coyn of the tongue . but there are not such signes and symptomes of gluttony . this sinne doth so insensibly unite , and incorporate it selfe with our naturall appetite , to eate for the preservation of our lives ; that as saint * gregory saith ; it is a hard thing to discerne , quid necessitas petat , & quid voluptas suppetat , quia per esum voluptas necessitati miretur : what is the full charge of food , which nature requires for our sustenance , and what is that sure charge , which is heaped by superfluity . because of the sundry dangers it brings ; first to the soule , luke . . take heed lest your hearts bee oppressed with surfetting : and indeed the soule must needs bee unfitting to serve god , being so incumbred . that man hath but an uncomfortable life , who is confined to live in a smoaky house . the braine is one of these places of the residence of the soule , and when that is filled with streames , and vapours arising from unconcocted crudities in the stomacke , the soule must needs malè habitare , dwell unchearfully , ill accommodated in so smoaky a mansion . and as hereby it is unapt for the performance of good , so it is ready for most evill , for uncleannesse , scurrulity , ill speaking ; this being the reason , saith saint gregory , why dives his tongue , was so tormented in hell , because hee being a glutton , with his tongue had most dishonoured god . secondly , this sinne empaires the health of the body : the out-landish proverbe saith , that the glutton digs his grave with his owne teeth , hastens his death by his intemperance ; for if there were a conflict in rebeckaes body , when two twins were in her wombe , must there not bee a battell and insurrection in his stomack ; wherein there is meat , hot , cold , sod , rost , flesh , fish ; and which side soever wins , nature and health will bee overcome , when as a mans body is like unto the arke of noah , containing all beasts cleane , and uncleane ; but hee the most uncleane beast , that containes them : our law interprets it to bee murther , when one is killed with a knife . let us take heed wee bee not all condemned by god , for being fellons , de se ; for wilfull murthering our owne lives , with our knifes by our superstitious eating . thirdly , it wrongs the creatures that hereby are abused : indeed they willingly serve man , so long as hee is a king over them ; but they are loath to doe it , when he turnes tyrant : so if when the drunkard sings , the drinke sighes ; when the glutton laughes , the meate grieves to bee so vainely mispent by him . god saith , hosea . . . that hee will recover his flaxe , and his wooll from the idolatrous iewes , vindicabo , i will rescue and recover them , as from slavery and subjection , wherein they were detayned against their will ; and in such like tyrannie are the creatures , as bread , wine , and meat tortured under the glutton . lastly , it wrongeth the poore ; for it is the over-much feasting of dives , which of necessity maketh the fasting of lazarus , and might not the superfluous meat of the rich bee sold for many a pound , and given to the poore . come we now to consider , wherein gluttony doth consist . i am not ignorant of that verse in thomas : praeproperè , lautè , nimìs , ardentèr , studiosè : but i will not march in sauls heavie armour , or confine my selfe to follow the schooles directions herein ; i will goe against this goliah of gluttony , with my owne sling and stone , and use a private and plaine method . this sinne therefore consisteth , either in the quantity of the meate , or in the quality , or in the manner of eating . in the quantity : and here it is hard to define the omer of manna , for every mans belly ; the proportion of meate for every mans stomacke ; that quantity of raine will make a claye ground drunke , which will scarce quench the thirst of a sandy countrey . it is thus also in men , that proportion of meat surfetteth , and surchargeth the stomacks of some , which is not enough to satisfie the hunger of others , especially of those , who being young , have hot and quick disgestion , of those who living in a cold clymate , and thereby have the heat of their stomacks intended , of those whose stomacks are strong , by reason of their labour and travell ; and not to speake of the disease , called ( boulamya ) mens natures being thus diverse , by what standard shall i measure them ? let this be the rule , hee shall be arraigned and condemned before god , for gluttony in the quantity of meat , who hath eaten so much , as thereby hee is disabled , either in part , or wholly , to serve god , in his generall , or particular calling , be his age , clymate , or temper whatsoever . . in quality , and that foure wayes , . when the meat is too young , exod. . . thou shalt not seeth a kid in his mothers milke ; that is , thou shalt not eat it before it hath age , to bee just and firme flesh : circumcision was deferred till the eighth day ; one reason rendred by divines , is because a child before that time , is not caro consolidata ; and sure there is a time , before which beasts and fowles are not sollid , fast , and lawfull to bee eaten . i must confesse , wee are to live by the creatures death , they being borne are condemned to dye , for our necessity , or pleasure ; and these condemned persons desire not a pardon , but deserve a reprive , that they may be respited , and reserved so long , till they bee good and wholesome food , and not clapt into the gluttons bowels , before they be scarce out of their mothers belly . secondly , when the meat is too costly ; thus cleopatra , macerated an vnion , a pearle of an inestimable worth , and dranke it in a health to marke anthony ; a deed of hers as vaine , as the other wicked , when she poysoned her selfe . thirdly , when the meats are onely incentives , and provocations to lusts , in some kind thereof ; i could instance , were i not afraid to teach sin , by confuting it . why is the furnace made seven times hotter ; then ever it was before ? is not the devill of himselfe sufficiently mischievous ? is not our owne corruption of it selfe sufficiently forward ? yea , head-long to evill ? but also wee must advantage them by our owne folly . have wee vowed in our baptisme to fight against , and doe wee our selves , send armour , and munition to our enemy ? yea , many set their owne houses on fire , and then complaine they burne , labor est inhibere volantes , parcere puer stimulis , & fortiùs utere loris . lastly , when the meat is such , as is onely to increase appetite ; when one before is plentifully fed . such is the cruelty of the spanish inquisition ; that when they have brought a man to the doore of death , they will not let him goe in , when by exquisite tortures , they have almost killed him ; then by comfortable cordials they doe againe revive him : and whereas of god it is appoynted , for all men once to dye : these mens cruelty makes men to dye often . thus men , when they have stabbed and killed hunger with plentifull eating , with sauce , and salt meats of purpose , they restore it againe to life ; and for severall times , according to their owne pleasures , kill and recall , stab and revive their appetites . . in the manner of eating . . greedily without giving thankes to god : like hogs , eating up the maske , not looking up to the hand that shaketh it downe . it is said of the israelites , exod. . . the people sate downe to eate and to drinke ; there is no mention of grace before meate ; and rose up to play , there is no mention of grace after . secondly , constantly , dives fared deliciously every day ; there was no friday in his weeke , nor fast in his almanack , nor lent in his yeare : whereas the moone is not alwayes in the full , but hath as well a wayning , as a waxing ; the sea is not alwayes in a spring-tide , but hath as well an ebbing , as a flowing ; and surely the very rule of health will dictate thus much to a man , not alwayes to hold a constant tenure of feasting , but sometimes to abate in their dyets . lastly , when they eat their meats studiously , resolving all the powers of their mind upon meat , singing requiems in their soul , with the glutton in the gospel , soule take thine ease , &c. and whereas we are to eat to live , these only live to eat . let us therfore beware of the sin of gluttony , and that for these motives . . because it is the sin of england ; for though without vsurpation , we may intitle our selves to the pride of the spanish , jealousie of the italian , wantonnesse of the french , drunkennes of the dutch , and lazinesse of the irish ; and though these out-landish sins have of late bin naturalized and made free denisons of england yet our ancientest carte , is for the sinne of gluttony . it is the sinne of our age , our saviour saith , mat. . . but as it was in the dayes of noah , so likewise shall the comming of the sonne of man be , they did eate and drinke , &c. that is , excessively ; for otherwise they did eate in all ages . it is said of old men , that they are twise children ; the same is true of this old doting world , it doth now revert , and relapse into the same sinnes , whereof it was guilty in the infancy , wee on whom the ends of the world are come , are given to the sinnes of gluttony , as in the dayes of noah . the third motive is from the time , these seven full eares , these seven fat kine ; these seven weekes of feasting , betweene christmas and shrovetide are past ; these seven leane eares , these seven leane kine , the seven fasting weeks in lent , are now begun : practise therefore the counsell , which salomon gives , prou. . . when thou sittest to eate with a ruler , consider diligently what is before thee , and put thy knife to thy throat , if thou beest a man given to thy appetite . this is thy throat , that narrow passage of importance , guard it with thy knife , as with a halbert , that no superfluous meat passe that way , to betray thy soule to gluttony . but it is to be feared , that wee will rather turne the backs of our knifes , then the edges ; i meane we will use little violence to represse and restraine our owne greedinesse , that our knifes may therefore bee the sharper ; let these whet-stones set an edge on them . . consider the bread that thou eatest , is the bread that perisheth : and our saviour saith , labour not for the meat that perisheth , but for that which endureth to everlasting life : biscate is but perishing bread , though it may laste two yeares ; for what is two yeares to eternity ? . we shall perish that eate the meat , but god shall destroy both it and that : and then the glutton which hath playd the epicure on meat , whist he lived , the wormes shall play the epicures on him when he is dead ; and whilst the temperate man shall give them but ordinary commons , the larded glutton shal afford them plentifull exceedings . to conclude this point , wary was the practise of iob , iob . . who after the dayes of his sons feasting , were gone about , offered burnt offerings to god for them ; for he said , it may be my sonnes have sinned , and cursed god in their hearts . so sith gluttony is so subtill a sinne , and so hard to be discerned , when we have beene at a great feast in the day ; let us sacrifice our prayers to god , and sue out a pardon from him , lest peradventure in the heart of our mirth , without our knowledge , and against our will we have inseverably been overtaken with the sin of gluttony . hovv farre grace can be entailed . tim. . . when i call to remembrance , the unfained faith , which is in thee , which dwelt first in thy grand-mother lois , and thy mother eunice ; and i am perswaded that it is in thee also . when i call to remembrance . it is good to feed our soules on the memories of pious persons : partly that we may be moved to prayse god in , and for his graces , given to his saints ; and partly that we may bee incited to imitate the vertues of the deceased . ahaz was so taken with the altar at damascus , king. . . that hee would needs have one at ierusalem , made according to all the worke-manship thereof . when we call to mind the vertues of the deceased , and cannot but be delighted with their goodnesse ; let us labour to fashion our selves after their frame , and to erect the like vertues in our owne soules . godly children occasion their parents to bee called to memory : saint paul beholding timothies goodnesse , is minded thereby to remember his mother , and grand-mother eunice and lois ; they can never bee dead , whiles hee is alive . good children are the most lasting monument , to perpetuate their parents , and make them survive after death . dost thou desire to have thy memory continued ? art thou ambitious to be revenged of death , and to out-last her spight ? it matters not for building great houses , and calling them after thy name , give thy children godly education , and the fight of their goodnesse will furbish up thy memory , in the mouthes and minds of others , that it never rusts in oblivion . which dwelt first . that is , which was an inhabitant in their hearts : faith in temporary believers , is as a guest , comes for a night , and is gone , at the best is but as a sojourner , lodges there for a time ; but it dwelleth , maketh her constant residence , and aboad in the saints , and servants of god . grand-mother lois , and mother eunice . why doth not saint paul mention the father of timothy ; but as it were blanch him over with silence ? first , it is probable that saint paul had not any speciall notice of him , or that hee was dead before the apostles acquaintance in that family . . likely it is , he was not so eminent , and appearing in piety ; the weaker vessell may sometimes be a stronger vessel of honour : yea , the text intimateth as much , act. . . behold a certaine disciple was there named timotheus , the sonne of a certaine woman , which was a iewesse , and beleeved , but his father was a greeke . let women labour in an holy emulation , to excell their husbands in goodnesse ; it is no trespasse of their modesty , nor breach of the obedience they vowed to their husbands in marriage , to strive to bee superiours , and above them in piety . . eunice and lois , the mother and grand-mother , are onely particularly mentioned , because deserving most commendation for instructing timothy in his youth ; as it is in the chap. . ver. . knowing of whom thou hast learned them , and that from a child thou hast knowne the holy scriptures . for the same reason the names of the mothers of the kings of iudah , are so precisely recorded for their credit , or disgrace , according to the goodnesse or badnesse of their sonnes . let mothers drop instruction into their children with their milke , and teach them to pray , when they beginne to prattle . though grace bee not entayled from parent to child ; yet the children of goldy parents have a great advantage to religion ; yea that five-fold . . the advantage of the promise ; yea though they come but of the halfe blood , ( much more if true borne on both sides ) if one of their parents bee godly , corinth . . . for the unbeleeving husband is sanctified by the unbeleeving wife ; and the unbeleeving wife is sanctified by the husband , else were your children uncleane , but now they are holy . . of good precepts , some taught them in their infancy , so that they can easier remember what they learned , then when they learned it , gen. . . for i know abraham that hee will command his children , and his houshold after him to feare the lord . . of good presidents , habent domi unde discant ; whereas the children of evill parents see daily what they ought to shun , and avoyd , these behold what they should follow , and imitate . . of correction , which though untoothsome to the palat to taste , is not unwholsome to the stomacke to digest . . of many a good prayer , and some no doubt steept in teares , made for them before , some of them were made , filius tantarum lachrymarum non peribit , said saint ambrose to monica , of saint augustine her son ; disdaine thou then out of an holy pride , to bee the vitious sonne to a vertuous father , to bee the prophane daughter of a pious mother ; but labour to succeed , as well to the lives , as to the livings , the goodnesse , as the goods of the parents . yea , but may the children of bad parents say ; this is but cold comfort for us , and they may take up the words of the souldiers , luke . . and what shall wee doe ? first , if thy parents be living , conceive not that their badnesse dispenceth with thy duty unto them , thou hast the same cause , though not the same comfort , with good children to obey thy parents ; this doe labour , to gaine them with thy conversation . it was incest , and a fowle sinne in lot , to bee husband to his daughters , and beget children on them ; but it would bee no spirituall incest in thee , to be father to thy father , to beget him in grace , who begat thee in nature ; and by the piety and amiablenesse of thy carriage , to be the occasion by gods blessing , of his regeneration ; and what samuel said to the people of israel , sam. . . god forbid that i should sinne against the lord , in ceasing to pray for you ; so god forbid thou shouldest ever leave off to have thy knees bended , and thy hands lifted up , for the conversion of thy bad father . moreover , labour more especially to shun and avoyd those sinnes , to which thy father was addicted ; and chiefly such sinnes , the inclination whereto may depend from the temper and constitution of the body ; so that a pronenesse thereto , may in some sort seem to be intayled to posterity . was thy father notorious for wantonnesse ? strive then to be noted for chastity ; was hee infamous for pride ? labour thou to be famous for humility . and though thou must not be dejected with griefe , at the consideration of the badnesse of thy parents ; yet mayest thou make a soveraigneuse thereof , to bee a just cause of humiliation to thy selfe . if thy parents bee dead , and if thou canst speake little good of them , speake little of them . what sullennesse did in absolon , sam. . . hee spake to his brother amnon , neither good nor bad : let discretion do in thee , seale up thy lips in silence , say nothing of thy parents : he is either a foole , or a mad man , who being in much company , and not being urged thereunto , by any occasion will tell others , my father lyes in the fleet , my father lyes in prison , in the counter : more witlesse is hee , who will speake both words , vncharitable , and vnnaturall , concerning the finall estate of his father , in an eternall bad condition . and i am perswaded , there is a three-fold kind of perswasion , whereby one may be perswaded of good in another man . . the perswasion of infallibility , and this onely god hath , act. . . knowne unto god are all his workes from the beginning of the world , hee alone searcheth and tryeth the hearts and reines . and they also have it to whom god immediately reveales it . thus ananias knew that paul was a true servant of god , after it was revealed to him , act. . . for hee is a chosen vessell unto me , to beare my name , before the gentiles , and kings , and the children of israel . and in this sense of infallible perswasion , we may understand , saint paul in the text , because it is said tim. . . this commandement write i unto thee , sonne timotheus , according to the prophecies which went before upon thee , that thou by them shouldst fight a good fight . . the perswasion of charity , and this i must confesse is but weake , and rather a presumption , than a perswasion . charity , corinth . . . thinketh no evill , it beleeveth all things , hopeth all things ; and in this kind of perswasion wee conceive that all men have faith dwelling in them , of whom wee know no just reason to conceive the contrary . . the perswasion of a well , and strong grounded opinion , to make which , these three things must concurre ; first the party that conceives this opinion , must have a good judgement , and discerning spirit , well to dive and pierce into the natures and dispositions of men . secondly , he must be long acquainted with that person , of whom hee hath such an opinion , that faith dwelleth in him . too bold are these men , who upon a superficiall knowledge , and short conversing with any , dare peremptorily pronounce , that such an one hath saving grace and sanctity in him . these are professors of spirituall palmestry , who thinke that upon small experience they can see the life-line ( the line of eternall life in the hands of mens souls ) where as for all their skil they often mistake the hands of esau , for the hands of iacob : lastly , they must have intimate familiarity with them , and be not onely their acquaintance large , but in ordinary . te intus & in cute novi . put all these three together , that one hath a discerning spirit , long and intimate acquaintance with one , and hee may arrive at saint pauls perswasion in my text , to be perswaded of faith dwelling in in him , with whom hee hath beene thus long , and intimately acquainted . and in this sense ( though it may bee of the infallible perswasion by revelation ) understand wee that , king. . . now there cryed a certaine woman , of the wives of the sonnes of the prophets unto elisha , saying ; thy servant , my husband is dead ; and thou knowest that thy servant did feare the lord . yet for all this wee may set this downe for a true position ; that the wisest of men easily may , and sometimes are deceived in counting them good , which are very counterfeits , and especially in these cases . first , in close natured men , such as lye in at a close guard , and offer no play , whose well is deepe , and men generally want buckets to measure them ; so that one may live twenty yeares with them , and bee never a whit the wiser , in knowing their disposition . . in various , and inconstant men , which like proteus , never appeare twise in the same shape , but differ as much from themselves , as from other men , and are onely certaine in uncertainty ; so that one can build no certaine conclusion on such floting , flitting sands ; and even know not what to make of them . . in men of an excellent nature , such as titus vespatian , was called deliciae humani generis . this euphuia presents it selfe in all outward signes and symptomes ; so like to grace that it is often mistaken for it . whereas on the other side , men of a rugged , unbrusht nature , such as were never lickt , hewen , or polisht , may bee slaundered in many mens judgements , to bee altogether devoyd of piety . . in affected dissemblers , hypocrisie is as like piety , as hemlocke to parsley ; and many one hath beene deceived therein . to conclude , if wee desire to passe a rationall judgement on faith in others , and piety in their hearts : let us first labour to have true sanctity in our owne . one complayned to a philosopher ; that it was an hard thing to find a wise man . it is true ( said hee ) for hee must first bee a wise man that seekes him , and knowes when hee hath found him : so that on the matter , it is not one wise man , but two wise men , must meete together . so it is an hard thing to know true sanctity in another man ; because hee must have true piety in himselfe , that knowes it , or else hee is an incompetent iudge , to passe a verdict on a another . let us therefore labour first to have true grace in our hearts , that so with saint paul , wee may bee perswaded of grace that dwels in another . a christning sermon . king . . . then went hee downe and dipped himselfe seven times in iordan , according to the saying of the man of god , and his flesh came againe , like to the flesh of a little child , and hee was cleane . in this chapter , naaman the syrian coms hurrying with his horses , and ratling with his chariot to the doore of the prophet elisha , to bee cured of his leprosie . now hee said in his heart , ( i could not have told his thoughts , except first hee had told them mee ) hee will surely come out to mee , and stand and call on the name of the lord , his god , and strike his hand over the place , and recover the leper : thus hee thought , that the very noyse of the wheels of his chariot , should call elisha to come to him , because hee was captaine of the hoast of syria , hee thought to be commander of gods prophet , and hee expected a great deale of service from him , and truly hee might expect it : for the prophet beate him at his owne weapon , out-shot him in his owne bow , out-stated him in statelinesse it selfe . . called him not in , but let him stand at doore . . came not to him in his person , but by a proxie . . sent him a plaine and cold answer , wash seven times in iordan . by the way , i dare boldly say , elisha in himselfe was not proud at other times , hee could fare hardly on barley loaves , and feed hungerly on plaine pottage ; but at this time his affecting of state , was both lawfull and necessary . first it was the sight of naamans shoe , which made elisha so high in the instep ; with the stately , hee would be stately ; the rather because hee did perceive that naaman must bee humbled , before hee could bee healed , and the proud flesh first taken out of his heart , ere the putrid flesh could bee cured in his body . secondly , naaman , though hee was a prince , yet hee was but a pagan ; and in this respect , the lowest hebrew was higher than hee ; elisha therefore would teach him to learne himselfe ; that hee was not proper to receive so great favours , as being but a goat , and no lost sheepe of the fold of israel . lastly , elisha was an extraordinary man , hee might well stand upon termes of double distance , who had a double portion of elijah's spirit . you my brethren of the ministery , let us know , that wee succeed to the office , but not to the eminencies , to the place , but not to the personall perfections of the prophet elisha . and let us know , that humility is our honour and crowne ; so that except wee be forced unto it against our wils , se defendendo , to maintaine the honour of god , and our office , to stand upon our points , let us leaving the patterne of elisha's statelinesse , rather follow the president of saint pauls humility , i was made all things to all men , that by all meanes i might gaine some . to returne to naaman : the mention of the water put him into a fire , hee burneth with choler and passion : are not abanah , and pharpar , rivers of damascus , better than all the waters of israel ? may i not wash in them , and be cleane ? so he turned and went away in a rage : well , his servants come to him , to perswade him , and bring with them good logick , and ethicks , good arguments , and good manners ; good logick reasoning a minori ad majus ; if the prophet had bid thee doe some great thing , wouldest thou have not done it ? how much rather then , when he saith to thee , wash and be cleane ? good ethicks , my father , my all-speaking in one person , so unanimously they consented in one opinion ; father , as if they had said , wee confesse thou art wiser then wee are , of more age , of more honour ; yet you are neere unto us , you are deare unto us , wee wish your weale and welfare : o what a deale did they speake in a little , and how many sentences are comprised in this one word , father : these words so wrought on naaman , that the lyon became a lambe ; hee that formerly had conquered his foes , now subdues himselfe , down came he in his stomacke , and downe comes hee in his person . then went hee downe , &c. these words containe a cure most strange , most true , wherein observe : . the time wherein it was wrought , then . . the sick man , ( or if you please ) since his servants have perswaded him , the patient . . the disease , leprosie . . the physitian , the man of god , elisha . . the physicke quid , washing in iordan , quoties , seven times . . the effect and operation thereof : and his flesh came againe , like the flesh of a little child , and he was cleane . but as gideon had too great an army for his use , and therefore sent most of his souldiers away ; so the time commands me , to dismisse most of these points , and onely to retaine such with me , as are most pertinent to the present occasion . i begin with the time , wherein the cure was wrought : then . then : when ? after his servants had perswaded him : whence observe , wise men must sometimes follow the counsell of their inferiours , as naaman did of his servants . the reason is , that wise men may bee deceived in those actions , wherein they themselves are parties , and interested , it is possible that passion , prejudice , and partiality one , or all of these , like so many pearles , may blind the eyes of your iudgement . whereas such as looke on , may see more then those that play the game , and though in other respects their judgements be farre inferiour , yet herein they may be more cleare , because lesse ingaged : yea , salomon himselfe , though the wisest of kings had a counsell of aged men , that stood before him . and though this might seeme but the lighting of so many candles to the sun , yet no doubt hee knew wisely to make use of them , who in wisedome were farre beneath him . i have seene a dull whet-stone set an edge on a knife : yea , the wisest of men need not thinke scorne to learne of the worst of men , when we may be taught , not to take carking care by the lillies , and yet providently to provide from the pismire . but then especially are wee to listen to the counsell of inferiours , whose advise we know proceeds from a loving heart , and is aymed and levelled at our good , especially if they be such , that our credit and profit is imbarked in the same bottome with theirs , together they sinke , and together they swim ; so that wee cannot suspect , dare not deny , and must confesse , that their advise lookes straight forward at our good , and squints not aside at any sinister respect . wherefore , sometimes let abraham hearken to sarah , his wife , moses the iew , to iethro the gentile ; david the soveraigne , to ioab the subject ; yea , let not apollo , though eloquent , and mighty in scripture , thinke scorne to learne his christ-crosse from aquila , and priscilla . yet when inferiours presume to commend their counsell to their superiours , let it be qualified with these cautions . . let them doe it seasonably , in a fit opportunity . now opportunity is the spirits of time extracted , or the quintessence of time at large , distilled , and such an opportunity must he waite for , who hopes to doe any good by his advise to his betters . abigail was excellent hereat , sam. . . shee told her husband nabal , nothing lesse or more , untill the morning light : either because shee would not cast the pearle of her good counsell before a swine , wallowing in drunkennesse ; or because shee thought her physicke would worke the better with him , if shee gave it him fasting . . it must be done secretly . an open reproofe of our betters , is little better than a libell . true it is , wee ministers may publikely , ( when occasion is offered us ) reprove the vices of those , who in outward respects are far our superiours , yet we must doe it publikely , secretly ; publikely for the place , secretly for the manner . we are not to make in the pulpit such an hue and cry after the offender , that the capacity of the meanest may take him on suspition , whom we meane . no , let us deliver our doctrine in common , and let the guilty conscience inclose it to it selfe . . they must doe it with all reverence , and humility , as the servants of naaman , in my text . a wool-packe doth conquer the strength of an ordnance , by yeilding unto it : so there be many natures , which will be led , but may not be drawne , or dragged ; and these may be broken with faire usage , that cannot be bowed with forcible dealing . . let them pray to him , who hath the hearts of all men in his hand : like the rivers of water , hee turneth them whether he pleaseth , that he would be pleased to prepare , and mollifie their hearts , to whom they are to addresse their counsell , that he would bow their eares to heare , their heads to conceive , and their hearts to practise , that advise which shall be commended to them for their good . and so much for the time . come we next in the second place to the physick prescribed , water of iordan . whence observe . god appoints weake meanes by the vertue of his institution , to accomplish great matters . take a survey of all the parts of gods service , and we shall find this true . begin at the font , there is plaine water of iordan ; yet by the vertue of gods ordinance , it washeth away originall sin . passe from the font to the ministers pue , there is stil plain water of iordan , the weaknesse of the word , and the folly of preaching ; yet gods wisdome and power , to make the goat a sheep , the lyon a lamb , the wanton chaste , the passionate patient ; yea , to revive such as are dead in trespasses and sins . looke on the minister , here is still plaine water of iordan , earthen vessels , men loaden with infirmities , like the rest of their brethren , yet are they dispensers of the mysteries of god . proceed to the communion-table , there is still plaine water of iordan , a morsell of bread , and a draught of wine , yet these worthily received , signe and seale unto us , the body of christ , and the benefits of his passion . let us take heed , that wee take not exception , at the simplicity of gods ordinance . a spanish don having heard much of the fame of calvin , travelled to geneva , to see him ; where finding him , both plaine in person , and poore in apparell , hee repented himselfe of his paines , and whom his eare did admire at distance , his eye did contemne , when present . just such valuers are carnal men of gods ordinances , they guesse the jewell by the case , and thinke nothing can be good , which is not gawdy . but surely were our eyes anointed with that eye-salve , mentioned , revel. . . then ( as heraulds account the plainest coats , the most ancient ) better then those of a later edition , which are so full of filling , that they are empty of honour ) wee should see the inward state in the outward simplicity , and inward majesty , in the outward meannesse of gods ordinance ▪ when one of his courtiers shewed the great turke the sword of scanderbag● : i see , said he no such miracles in this sword , rather then in any other , that it should atchieve such victories : yea , but said one that stood by , if you had seene also scanderbags arme , with what a mighty force hee wielded this sword , you then would change your resolution . so many say , they can see nothing in the water of baptisme , more then in ordinary well water , they can see nothing in the world , in the bread and wine in the communion , then in that in the bakers panniers , or vintners cellar , no more in a sermon , than in a civill oration in a guild-hall of the same length . but if they saw the arme of god , with what a mighty strength hee enforceth these ordinances , and how his invisible grace attendeth them , they would be of another mind ; gaze then no longer on ehuds hand , for that was lame , or on his dagger , for that was short ; but looke on gods finger in ehuds hand , and that can worke wonders . looke not on the ordinance , but on the ordainer ; on the meanes , but on the meanes-maker ; neither be offended at the meannesse of the one , but admire the majesty of the other . it confutes the papists , who displeased , as it were at the simplicity of the sacraments , as god hath instituted them , seeke to better and amend them by their owne additions : this they account plaine water in baptisme too meane , and therefore they mingle it with creame , oyle , spittle , and other ingredients , which i as little know what they be , as they know why they use them . yea all their service of god , is not onely made sweet , but luscious to the palate of flesh , and they plainely shew by their baits , what fish they angle to catch ; namely , rather to get mens senses , then their soules , and their eyes then their judgements . not that i am displeased with neatnesse , or plead for nastinesse in gods service ; surely god would have the church his spouse , as not an harlot , so not a slut ; and indeed outward decencie in the church , is an harbinger to provide a lodging for inward devotion to follow after . but wee would not have religion so bedaubed with lace , that one cannot see the cloath , and ceremonies which should adorne , obscure the substance of the sacraments , and gods worship . and let us labour to be men in christianity , and not only like little children to goe to schoole , to looke on the guilt and gaudy babies of our bookes , and to be allured to gods service , by the outward pomp and splendor of it . but let us love religion not for her clothes , but for her face , and then shall wee affect it , if shee should chance ( as god forbid ) to bee either naked , through poverty , or ragged through persecution . in a word , if god hath appointed it , let us love the plainenesse of his ordinance , though therin there be neither warm water , nor strong water , nor sweet water , but plaine water of iordan . come we now to the quoties , how often ? he dipped himselfe seven times ; that is , hee went in , and washed himselfe , and came out againe , and went in , and washed himselfe , and came out againe , and so till the seventh time . thou therefore , whosoever thou art , who art afflicted in body or mind , or any other way , doe not grudge against god , and grieve in thy selfe , if thy paine be not eased in an instant , if thy malady bee not removed in a moment : o tarry the lords leisure ( the lords pleasure is the lords leisure ) waite and attend his time : thinke not that thou shalt not be cured at all , because thou art not all cured at once . naaman himselfe was not compleatly cleansed at the first entrance into iordan , but it cost him seven times washing . the number of seven is most remarkeable in holy writ , and passeth for the emblem of perfection , or compleatnesse , as well it may , consisting of an vnity in the middle , guarded and attended with a trinity on either side . once i must confesse , i find this number of seven to be defective , and too little ; and yet the correction , and supplying thereof , still runs on a septinary number : shall i forgive my brother seven times ? yea said our saviour , seventy seven times . if any aske , why god pitched on this number , and imposed on naaman ; the best answer i can make , shall be in the words of our saviour , matth. . even so father , because it pleased thee well : naaman was bid to wash seven times , and hee did wash seven times : hence observe . wee must observe gods commandements , both in matter and manner , both in substance and circumstance : but some will say , had naaman washed once more , or lesse , under or over seven times , would so small a matter have broken any squares ? and would god have imposed any penalty on so sleight a forfeiture ? i answer , things that are small in themselves swell great , when they are either forbidden , or commanded by god : looke upon lots wife , looking backe with carnall eyes , and it will seeme a small offence : o how flesh and blood could easily be her advocate , to plead for her ? what if she did look back ? shee did no more , and could doe no lesse , and be a mother ; would you have her to bee a pillar of stone , before shee was a pillar of salt ; i meane so hard , so remorselesse , as not to send one farewell glance , to that unfortunate citie , wherein shee had so much kindred and acquaintance : vvell , however we must know , the offence was most hainous , by the heavinesse of the punishment inflicted upon her . and as it is thus in small things forbidden , so is it in small things commanded . they must bee precisely observed : in those generall maps of the world , which are usually made in a sheet of paper ; the least prick or poynt which can bee made with a pen , extends to five mile at the least : but i say the smallest deviation and declination , the least imaginable deflection , from the commanded will of god , is an infinite distance from it , as breaking the command of an infinite god , and deserveth infinite punishment . observe therefore , not onely all things considerable , but all things in gods will : for indeed all things therein are considerable ; not onely every syllable , but every iota , the least letter ; yea every prick , comma , and accent , hath his emphasis , and must bee pronounced in our practise : as moses therefore in making the tabernacle , made it in all things alike , to the patterne hee saw in the mount , not a knop or a bole , or an almond in the candlestick , under or over ; not a bell or a pomegranate in aarons coat , more or lesse ; but concordat copia cum originali : the transcript agreed with the originall in all things ; so let us precisely follow the instructions god giveth us ; let us not willingly bee hetroclites from his will ; either defectiues , to doe too little , or redundants , to doe too much ; but let us bee truely regular , not washing more then seven times , with the superstitious man , nor lesse then seven times with the prophane man ; but with naaman in my text , just seven times . vvhen i compare our present occasion with this history wee have treated of , i find a great resemblance betwixt them . here is a little child to bee cured of a leprosie : for so may originall corruption fitly bee called : first for the hereditarinesse of it , it is a successive disease , entayled from father to child , ever since the fall of our first parent adam : secondly , from the over-spreading nature thereof , the infection defiling all the powers of our soules , and parts of our bodies . here also is the water of iordan to wash it away , since christ washed iordan , by being washed in it , hee hath given it a power to cleanse our originall corruption : some theeves have eat off their irons , and fretted off their fetters with mercury water ; but there is no way to worke off the chaines of our naturall corruption , whereby our feet are hurt in the stocks , the irons have entred into our soules ; but onely by the vvater in baptisme : onely the maiden-head , and virginity of the water , in the poole of bethesda , was medicinall to cure diseases ; hee that came first was cured ; the second got no profit . but in our iordan , our water in the font ; the vertue thereof is not lessened in the using , the child that is last baptized , shall receive as much benefit , as that which is first washed therein . but herein i must confesse , there is a difference on the cure of naaman , and this child , he was totally , and perfectly cleansed from his leprosie ; but this child is wash't but in part , so farre as is gods pleasure . the condemning power of originall corruption is drowned in the font ; but though the bane be removed , the blot doth remaine , the guilt is remitted , the blemish is retayned , the sting is gone , the staine doth stay ; which if not consented to , cannot damne this infant , though it may hereafter defile it : secondly , the finall peaceable-commanding power , is washed away in the laver of regeneration ; though afterwards it may dwell in us : it shall not domineere over us ; it may remaine there as a slave , not as a soveraigne sure not as a lawfull one , be he ever resisted , often subdued , though never expelled . these things deserve larger prosecution , but this is none of ioshua's day , wherein the sunne standeth still , and therefore i must conclude with the time . faction confvted . cor. . . now this i say , that every one of you saith , i am of paul , and i am of apollo , and i am of cephas , and i am of christ . svch is the subtilty of satan , and such is the frailty of the flesh , though things be ordered never so wel , they wil quickly decline . luther was wont to say , hee never knew as good order last above fifteene yeares : this speedy decaying of goodnesse , you may see in the church of corinth , from which s. paul was no sooner departed , but they departed from his doctrine . some more carried by fancy , then ruled by reason , or more swayed by carnall reason , then governed by grace , made choyse of some particular pastor , whom they extoll'd , to the great disgrace of his fellow ministers , and greater dishonour of god himselfe . now saint paul not willing to make these ministers , a publike example , concealeth their persons , yet discovereth the fault , and making bold with his brethren . apollo , and cephas , applyeth to them and himselfe , what the corinthians spake of their fancied preachers . now this i say , that every one of you saith , i am of paul , and i am of apollo , and i am of cephas , and i am of christ . but the apostle herein hath made no good choyce , to mention cephas : for hee was onely knowne to the corinthianss , by his fame , not by his person , seeing it appeares , not either in scripture , or ecclesiasticall story , that ever cephas ( that is saint peter ) was ever at corinth . this hinders not the application of the apostle : granting saint peter was never there ; for many ministers are most admired at distance , major è longinquo reverentia : like some kind of stuffe , they have the best glosse , a good way off , more then a prophet in his owne countrey . thus the good esteeme , which forrainers have conceived of the piety and learning , of the geneva ministers , hath been the best stake in the hedge of that state . i need not divide the words , which in themselves are nothing else but division , and containe foure sorts of people , like the foure sorts of seed , mat. . the three first bad , the last only , [ i am of christ ] being good and commendable . i am of paul ; as if they had said , there is a preacher called paul ; his matter is so powerfull , his methods so pleasing , his doctrine so sound , his life so sincere ; his preaching i affect , or his person i preferre , i am of paul . tush ( saith another ) what talke you of paul ? indeed his epistles are powerfull and strong , but his bodily presence is weake , and his speech of none effect ; there is one apollo , an eloquent man , and mighty in the scriptures , hee stands highest in my esteeme ; i am of apollo : fie saith a third , why name you apollo , one that learnt the best part of his divinity from aquila , and priscilla , a lay-man , and a weake woman : there is one cephas , that caught three hundred soules at the preaching of one sermon ; that is the man for my money : i will say of him , as gehazi did of naaman ; as the lord liveth i will run after him , i am of cephas : well , saith a fourth , paul i know , and apollo i know , and cephas i know , men endowed with great grace , and eminent instruments of gods glory , i acknowledge them as the channell , but on god alone , as the fountaine , of faith and conversion , and doe attend on him alone in these his instruments , i am of christ . the staple doctrine herein to be observed , is this : the factious affecting one pastor above another , is very dangerous . indeed wee may , and must give a famous part of reverence , and a benjamins portion of respect , to those , who ( data paritate in ceteris ) excell in age , paines , parts and piety . in age , for hee is a traytor against the crowne of old age , who payeth not the allegeance of respect due thereunto : such reverence the hoary haires of gousartius did deserve , when for more then fifty yeares hee had beene a preacher in geneva . in paines , being such as have borne the heate of the day ; so that the stresse of the ministery hath layen heaviest on their shoulders ; such an elder is worthy of double honour . in parts , being stars of the first magnitude , brightly shining , with their rich endowments . in piety , which setteth a lustre on all the former . but the factious affecting of ministers , lavishing by whole sale , all honour on one , and scarce retaliating out any respect to the other , raysing high rampires to the prayse of the one , by digging deepe ditches to discredit , and disgrace an other , is that which saint paul doth reprove in my text , and wee must confute at this time . foure great mischiefes will arise from this practise . first it will set enmity and dissention betwixt the ministers of gods word . i confesse , wee that either have , or intend to take on us the high calling , and holy function of the clergy , ought to endeavour by gods grace , so to qualifie our selves , that our affections never mistake the true object , nor exceed their due measure : but alas such is our misery ( rather to bee bemoaned , then amended ; the perfect removing whereof , is more to be desired , then hoped for ) that as long as wee carry corruption about us , wee are men subject to like passion with others . hence is it come to passe , that as the grecians , act. . . murmured against the hebrewes , because their widdowes were neglected in the daily ministration : so ministers will find themselves agrieved , that people in the partiall dispencing of their respect , passe them by unregarded . perchance the matter may fly so high , as it did betwixt moses and aaron , numb. . . and they said , hath the lord indeed spoken onely by moses ? hath hee not spoken also by us ? it will anger not only saul , a meere carnall man , but even those that have degrees of grace , hee hath converted his thousands , but such a one his ten thousands : these discords betwixt ministers , i could as heartily wish they were false ; as i doe certainely know , they are too true . it will set dissention amongst people , whilst they violently engage their affections for their pastors : the woman that pleaded before salomon , king. . the living child is mine ( said shee ) but this dead child is thine : nay ( said the other ) but thy sonne is dead , and my sonne is the living . thus will they fall out about their pastors . the living minister is mine ; he that hath life , spirit , and activity , in the manner and matter of his delivery ; but the dead minister is thine ; flash in his matter , confused in his method , dreaming in his utterance ; hee commeth not to the quicke , hee toucheth not the conscience ; at the most with ioash , king of israel , king. . . he smites the aramites but thrice ; leaves off reproving a vice , before people bee fully reformed . nay ( saith the other ) my minister , is the living minister , and thine is the dead one : thy pastor is like the fire , king. . . flashing in the flames of ill tempered , and undiscreet zeale ; but the lord was not in the fire : or like the earthquake , shaking his auditors , with ill applyed terrors of the law , but the lord was not in the earth-quake : whilest my minister is like to a still voyce , and the lord was in the still voyce , stanching the bleeding hearted penitent , and dropping the oyle of the gospel into the wounded conscience . it will give just occasion to wicked men , to rejoyce at these dissentions , to whose eares , our discords are the sweetest harmony . o then let not the herdsmen of abraham and lot fall out : whilst the canaanites and peresites , are yet in the land . let not us dissent , whilest many adversaries of the truth are mingled amongst us , who will make sport thereat . lastly , it will cause great dishonour to god himselfe , his ordinance in the meane time being neglected . heare is such doting on the dish , there is no regarding the dainties : such looking on the embassadour , there is no notice taken of the king , that sent him . even maries complaynt is now verified : they have taken away the lord , and placed him , i know not where . and as in times of popery : thomas becket dispossessed our saviour of his church : in canterbury ( instead of christ's church , being called saint thomas church ) : and whereas rich oblations were made to the shrine of that supposed saint , summo altari nil : nothing was offered to christ at the communion-table : so whilest some sacrifice the reverence to this admired preacher , and others almost adored this affected pastor : god in his ordinance is neglected , and the word being the savour of life , is had in respect of persons . to prevent these mischiefes , both pastors and people must lend their helping hands . i begin with the pastors , and first with those whose churches are crowded with the thickest audience . let them not pride themselves , with the bubble of popular applause , often as causelesly gotten , as undeservedly lost . have wee not seene those that have preferred the onions , and flesh-pots of egypt , before heavenly manna , lungs before braynes ; and sounding of a voyce , before soundnesse of matter . well , let princes count the credit of their kingdomes to consist in the multitude of their subjects : farre bee it from a preacher , to glory when his congregation swels to a tympany , by the consumption of the audience of his neighbour minister . yea , when pastors perceive people transported with an immoderate admiration of them , let them labour to confute them in their groundlesse humours . when saint iohn would have worshipped the angel , see thou dost it not ( saith hee ) worship god . so when people post head-long , in affecting their pastors , they ought to wave and decline this popular honour , and to seeke to transmit and fasten it on the god of heaven . christ went into the wildernesse , when the people would have made him a king : let us shun , yea fly such dangerous honour , and teare off our heads , such wreathes , as people would tye on them , striving rather to throw mists , and clouds of privacy on our selves , then to affect a shining appearance : but know , whosoever thou art , who herein art an epicure , and lovest to glut thy selfe with peoples applause , thou shalt surfet of it , before thy death , it shall prove at the last pricks in thy eyes , and thornes in thy side , a great affliction , if not a ruine unto thee , because sacrilegiously , thou hast robbed god of his honour . let them labour also to ingratiate every pastor , who hath tolerability of desert with his owne congregation . it was the boone saul begg'd of samuel , honour me before my people : and surely it is but reason , wee should seeke to grace the shepherd in the presence of his flock , though perchance privately wee may reprove him , disgrace him not publikely before those that are under him . i am come now to neglected ministers , at whose churches , solitudo ante ostium , and within them too , whilst others ( perchance lesse deserving ) are more frequented . let not such grieve in themselves , or repine at their brethren . when saint iohn baptists disciples told him : that all flock't to iesus , whom hee baptized beyond iordan : i must decrease ( answered hee ) and hee must increase . never fret thy selfe , or vexe out thy soule , if others bee preferred before thee , they have their time , they are crescents in their waxing , full seas in their flowing : envie not at their prosperity . the starres in their course did fight against sisera ; thy course of credit may chance to bee next , thy turne of honour may chance to come after . one told a grecian statist , who had excellently deserved of the citie hee lived in : that the citie had chosen foure and twenty officers , and yet left him out : i am glad ( said hee ) the citie affords twenty foure abler than my selfe : so let ministers triumph , and rejoyce in this , that the church yeilds so many men , better meriting then themselves , and be farre from taking exception thereat . and let us practise saint pauls precept , by honour and dishonour , by good report and disreport : seven yeares have i served god in good esteeme , and well respected , by the time i have served god so long in disgrace and reproach , perchance the circulation of my credit may returne , and with patience i may regaine the esteeme i have lost ; and if otherwise , let him say with david , lord here i am , doe with thy servant as thou pleasest . by this time mee thinkes , i heare the people saying unto mee , as the souldiers to iohn baptist , but what shall wee doe ? now the counsell i commend to you , is this . first , ever preserve a reverent esteeme of the minister , whom god hath placed over thee . for if a sparrow lighteth not on the ground without gods especiall providence , surely no minister is bestowed in any parish , without a more immediate and peculiar disposing of god , and surely their owne pastor is best acquainted with their diseases ; and therefore best knoweth to apply spirituall physicke thereunto . and as gods word hath a generall blessing on every place , so more particularly is it sanctified and blessed there , to those parishioners from the mouth of their lawfull minister . let not therefore the sermon of a stranger , who perchance makes a feast of set purpose , to entertaine new guests , be preferred before the paines of thy owne minister , who keeps a constant house , and a set table , each lords day , feeding his owne family . wherefore , let all the ephesians confine themselves to their timothy ; cretians to their titus ; every congregation to their proper pastor . and i hope pastors considering the solemne oath they tooke at their institution , and the profit they receive from their people , and how irrationall it is to take wages , and doe no worke , and the heavie account they must make at the day of iudgement , will provide milke in their brests , for those who must suck of them . as for those , whose necessary occasions doe command their absence from their flocks , let them be curats of their curats ; over-see such , whom they appoynt to oversee their people . columella gives this counsell to husband-men , never keepe a horse to doe that worke , which may be done by an asse ; both because asses are of a lower price , and cheaper kept : but god forbid ministers should observe this rule , and so consult with their profit , as to provide unworthy substitutes , to save charges . let them not make odious comparisons betwixt ministers of eminent parts : it is said of hezechiah , king. . . that after him , was none like him , of all the kings of iudah , neither any that were before him . it is said also of king iosiah , king. . . and like unto him , there was no king before him , that turned to the lord with all his heart , and with all his soule , and with all his might ; neither after him rose up any like him : the holy spirit prefers neither for better , but concludes both for best ; and so amongst ministers , when each differs from others , all may bee excellent in their kinds . as in comparing severall handsome persons , one surpasseth for the beauty of a naturally painted face : a second for the feature of a well proportioned body : a third for a grace of gesture , and comelinesse of carriage : so that iustice it selfe may bee puzled , and forced to suspend her verdict , not knowing where to adjudge the victory : so may it bee betwixt severall pastors . ones excellency may consist , in the unsnarling of a knowne controversie ; an other in plaine expounding of scripture , to make it portable in the weakest memory . one the best boanarges , an other the best barnabas : our iudgements may bee best informed by one , our affections moved by a second ; our lives reformed by a third : i am perswaded there is no minister in england , for his endowments like saul , higher then his brethren , from the shoulders upwards ; but rathes some hundreds like the pillars in salomons house , all of a height : but grant some in parts farre inferiour to others : was not abishai , a valiant , and worthy captaine , though hee attayned not to the honour of the first three ? and may not many bee serviceable in the church , though not to bee ranked in the first forme , for their sufficiencie ? let them entertaine this for a certaine truth , that the efficacy of gods word depends not on the parts of the minister ; but on gods blessing , on his ordinance : indeed there is a generation of preachers , that come upon the stage , before ever they were in the tyring-house , whose backwardnesse in the vniversity , makes them so forward in the countrey ; where what they lack in learning they supply in boldnesse : i could wish , that as gen. . . when hagars bottle of water was spent , god opened her eyes , and shee went to the fountaine againe ; so when these novices have emptied their store of set sermons they brought with them , that their parents would remit them backe to the vniversity , the fountaine of learning and religion , to furnish themselves with a better stocke of sufficiencie : such ministers as these , i account as none at all ; but as for those that have the minimum ut sic , the least degree of tolerability , to enable them in some measure , to discharge their office : god may bee , and often is , as effectuall in , and by them ; as by rabbies , of farre greater parts . to conclude , let us with one mind , and one mouth , advance the glory of god , that thereby the gospel may bee graced , wicked men amazed ; some of them converted ; the rest of them confounded : weake christians confirmed , to the griefe of devils , ioy of angels , honour of god himselfe : amen . finis . imprimatur , thomas wykes , may . . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a e- observ. caution . quest . answ. doct vse . quest . answ. doct. object . * cornel. ● l. ●● pide on the text . answ. . * thom. morton in his comment upon the cor. . * cal. cor. . . doct. doct. rea . it confutes notes for div a e- * libro de haeresibus ad quod vult deum . quest . answ. * s. ang. loco prius citato saith of him , haereses quidem ipse comnemorat , sed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 haereses non videntur quest . answ. notes for div a e- * epist. . ad ianuar. cap. . ipsam acceptionem eucharistiae , caen●m dominicam vocat . doct vse . * spondanus annal. eccles. in anno . * loco prius citato . vse . observ. quest . answ. doct vse quest . answ. * moral . lib. . cap. ante medium . notes for div a e- vse . object . answ. doct. doct. reasons . vse . doct. reasons . vse . object . answ. . . observ. doct. vse . * fox martyrol . page . notes for div a e- observ. vse quest . answ. . observeables concerning traditions . lib. . contra eunomium . clemens rom. lib. . cap. apost. constit . * lib. . hist. cap. . lib. . hist. cap. . observ. quest . answ. . . quest . answ. reasons of the charge . . . quest . answ. . quest . answ. notes for div a e- doct rea . object . answ. . . . t. c. needlesse cavill . argum. answ. argum. . answ. argum. . answ. doct. rea . . notes for div a e- object . . answ. . object . . answ. object . . answ. . notes for div a e- * eusebius , lib. . demonst. evan. cap. . * lib. . de sacramentis , cap. . object . . answ. . object . . answ. object . . answ. . * loco prius citato . quest . answ. doct vse . observ. notes for div a e- quest . answ. three-fold worthinesse . . . object . answ. notes for div a e- reasons of the necessity . . . . doct notes for div a e- vse . vse . quest . answ. answ. . rea . . notes for div a e- object . answ. cambd. brit. in northumberland . vse . notes for div a e- first kind of examples . vse of them . abuse of them . second sort . vse of them . abuse of them . third sort . vse of them . abuse of them . fourth sort . vse . abuse of them . fifth sort . vse of them . abuse of them . sixth sort . vse of them . abuse of them . seventh sort . vse of them . abuse of them . eighth sort . vse of them . abuse of them . ninth sort . notes for div a e- object . answ. rules how to unlove the world . . . * look lord bacon in his life . * munsters cosmog . de germ. l. . pag. . notes for div a e- observ. . observ. . vse . observ. . quest . answ. notes for div a e- doct rea. rea. . * lib. . marat . ca. . ante medium . rea. . mot. . mot. . mot . notes for div a e- observ. . obser. . quest . answ. . doct. object . answ. . notes for div a e- observ. observ. vse . vse doct. notes for div a e- object . answ. tacitus . doct. misch. . misch. . misch. . misch. . remedy . remedy . a panegyrick to his majesty on his happy return by tho. fuller ... fuller, thomas, - . this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text r in the english short title catalog (wing f ). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a wing f estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a panegyrick to his majesty on his happy return by tho. fuller ... fuller, thomas, - . [ ], p. printed for john playford at his shop ..., london : . reproduction of original in cambridge university library. eng charles -- ii, -- king of england, - . a r (wing f ). civilwar no a panegyrick to his majesty, on his happy return. by tho. fuller b.d. fuller, thomas b the rate of defects per , words puts this text in the b category of texts with fewer than defects per , words. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - john latta sampled and proofread - john latta text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a panegyrick to his majesty , on his happy return . by tho. fvller b. d. london , printed for iohn playford at his shop in the temple , . a panegyrick on his majesties happy retvrn . . at wor'ster great gods goodness to our nation , it was a conquest , your bare preservation . when 'midst your fiercest foes on every side for your escape god did a lane provide ; they saw you gone , but whither could not tell , star-staring , though they ask'd both heaven and hell . . of forreign states you since have studied store , and read whole libraries of princes o're . to you all forts , towns , towers and ships are known , ( but none like those which now become your own ) and though your eyes were with all objects fill'd , onely the good into your heart distill'd . . garbling mens manners you did well divide , to take the spaniards wisdom , not their pride . with french activity you stor'd your mind , leaving to them their ficklenesse behind ; and soon did learn , your temperance was such , a sober industry even from the dutch . . but tell us , gracious sovereign , from whence took you the pattern of your patience ? learn't in afflictions school , under the rod , which was both us'd and sanctifi'd by god ; from him alone that lesson did proceed , best tutor with best pupil best agreed . . we , your dull subjects , must confess our crime , who learnt so little in as long a time , and the same school , thus dunces poring looks mend not themselves , but onely marre their books . how vast the difference 'twixt wise and fool ? the master makes the schollar , not the school . . with rich conditions rome did you invite , hoping to purchase you their proselyte , ( an empty soul 's soon tempted with full coffers ) whilst you with sacred scorn refus'd their proffers . and for the faith did earnestly * contend abroad , which now you do at home defend . . amidst all storms , calm to your self the while , saddest afflictions you did teach to smile . some faces best become a mourning dress , and such your patience , which did grace distress , whose soul despising want of worldly pelf , at lowest ebbe went not beneath it self . . gods iustice now no longer could dispence with the abusing of his providence , to hear successe his approbation styl'd , and see the bastard brought against the child . [ scripture ] by such , who in their own excuse their actings 'gainst gods writings did produce . . the independent doth the papist shun , contrary wayes their violence doth run , and yet in such a round at last they met , that both their saints for * mediators set ; we were not ripe for mercy , god he knows , but ready for his iustice were our foes . . the pillar , which gods people did attend , to them in night a constant light did lend , though dark unto th' egyptians behind ; such was brave monck in his reserved mind , a riddle to his foes he did appear , but to himself and you , sense plain and clear . . by means unlikely god atchieves his end , and crooked wayes straight to his honour tend ; the great and ancient gates of london town , ( no gates , no city ) now are voted down , and down were cast , o happy day ! for all do date our hopeful rising from their fall . . the matter of your restitution 's good , the manner better , without drop of bloud , by a dry conquest , without forreign hand , self-hurt , and now self-healed , is our land . this silent turn did make no noise , o strange ! few saw the changing , all behold the change . . so solomon most wisely did contrive , his temple should be stil-born though alive . that stately structure started from the ground unto the roof , not guilty of the sound of iron tool , all noise therein debarr'd ; this virgin-temple thus was seen , not heard . . when two protectors were of late proclaim'd , courting mens tongues , both miss't at what they aim'd , true english hearts did with just anger burn , and would no eccho of god save return : though smiling silence doth consent imply , a tongue-tied sorrow flatly doth deny . . but at your majesties first proclamation , how loud a stentor did invoice our nation ? a mouth without a tongue was sooner found in all that crowd , than tongue without a sound ; nor was 't a wonder men did silence break , when conduits did both french and spanish speak . . the bells aloud did ring , for joy they felt hereafter sacriledge shall not them melt . the bonfires round about the streets did blaze , and these new lights fanatiques did amaze : the brandisht swords this boon begg'd before death , once to be shew'd , then buried in the sheath . . the spaniard looking with a serious eye , was forc'd to trespass on his gravity , close to conceal his wondring he desir'd , but all in vain , who openly admir'd . the french , who thought the english mad in mind , now fear too soon they may them sober find . . the germans seeing this your sudden power , freely confess another emperour . the joyful dane to heav'ns cast up his eyes , presuming suffering kings will sympathize . the hollanders ( first in a sad suspence ) hop'd , that your mercy was their innocence . . as aged iacob with good news intranc'd , that ioseph was both living and advanc'd , the great surprise so deeply did prevail on the good patriarch , that his heart did fail , too little for to lodge so large a joy , for sudden happiness may much annoy . . but when he saw ( with serious intent to fetch him home ) the waggons his son sent , that cordial soon his fainting heart did cure , 't was past suspicion , all things then were sure : the father his old spirits did renew , and found his fears were false , his joyes were true . . such our condition : at the first express we could not credit our own happiness ; told of the coming of your majesty , our fainting hearts did give their tongues the lye . a boon too big for us ( so ill we live ) for to receive , though not for god to give . . but when we saw the royal fleet at dover , voted to wait and waft your highness over , and valiant mountague ( all vertues friend ) appointed on your person to attend , ioy from that moment did expell our grief , converted into slow , but sure belief . . th' impatient land did for your presence long , england in swarms did into holland throng , to bring your highness home , by th' parliament lords , commons , citizens , divines were sent : such honour subjects never had before , and hope that never any shall have more . . with all degrees your carriage accords , most lord-like your reception of the lords , your answer with the commons so comply'd they were to admiration satisfi'd ; civil the citizens you entertain'd , as if in london born , y'ad there remain'd . . but , oh! your short , but thick expressive lines , which did both please and profit the divines , those pastors , when returned to their charge , for their next sermon had your words at large , with some notes from your practice ; who can teach our miters by your living what to preach . . the states of holland ( or low-countries now ) unto your sacred majesty did bow , what air , what earth , what water could afford best in the kind , was crowded on their board : and yet , when all was done , the royal guest , and not the chear , he , he did make the feast . . th' officious wind to serve you did not fail , but scour'd from west to east to fill your sail , and fearing that his breath might be too rough , prov'd over-civil , and was scarce enough ; almost you were becalm'd amidst the main , prognostick of your perfect peaceful reign . . your narrow seas , for forreigners do wrong to claim them , ( surely doth the ditch belong not to the common continent , but isle inclosed ) did on you their owner smile , not the least loss , onely the naseby mar'ls to see her self now drowned in the charles . . you land at dover , shoals of people come , and kent alone now seems all christendom . the cornish rebels ( eight score summers since ) at black-heath fought against their lawful prince henry the seventh , which place with treason stain'd its credit , now by loyalty regain'd . . great london the last station you did make , you took not it , but london you did take : where some , who sav'd themselves amongst the croud , did lose their hearing , shoutings were so loud . now at white-hall the guard , which you attends , keeps out your foes , god keep you from your friends . . thus far fair weather on your work attended , let showres begin now where the sun-shine ended . next day we smil'd at th' weeping of the skies , with all concerns how providence complies ! the city serv'd , next followeth the village , and , trading quickned , god provides for tillage . . one face , one forme in all the land appears , all ( former foot ) now hors'd to cavaliers . as for your enemies , their cursed crew are now more hard to find out , than subdue . 't is very death to them , they cannot dye , who do know whence , not whither , for to flie . . france flouts , spain scorns , and italy denies them any access , the dane with dutch defies them ; unto new-england they were known of old , and now no footing for them on that mold . rich amsterdam ( the staple of all sects ) these bankrupt rebels with contempt rejects . . thus cruell cain , who pious blood first spilt , was pursevanted after by his guilt , with murderer imbranded on his face , kept his condition , though he chang'd his place : wandring from land to land , from shore to shelf , his guilty soul nere wandred from it self . . let them themselves in unknown lands disperse , or if they please with canibals converse , like unto like , that all the world may see king-killers and men eaters do agree : in no land they 'l increase , 't is natures love unto mankind , all monsters barren prove . . long live our gracious charles , second to none in honour , who ere sate upon the throne : be you above your ancestors renown'd , whose goodness wisely doth your greatness bound ; and knowing that you may be what you would , are pleased to be onely what you should . . europ's great arbitrator , in your choice is plac'd of christendom the casting voice ; hold you the scales in your judicious hand , and when the equal beam shall doubtful stand , as you are pleased to dispose one grain , so falls or riseth either france or spain . . as sheba's queen defective fame accus'd , whose nigardly relations had abus'd th' abundant worth of solomon , and told not half of what she after did behold : the same your case , fame hath not done you right , our ears are far out-acted by our sight . . your self' 's the ship return'd from forreign trading , england's your port , experience the lading , god is the pilot ; and now richly fraught , unto the port the ship is safely brought : what 's dear to you is to your subjects cheap , you sow●d with pain , what we with pleasure reap . . the most renowned edward the confessor , was both your parallel and predecessor , exil'd he many years did live in france , ( from low foundations highest roofs advance ) the yoak in youth with patience he bore , but in his age the crown with honour wore . . the common law to him the english owe , on whom a better gift you will bestow : that which he made by you shall be made good , that prince and peoples rights both understood , both may be bankt in their respective station ; which done , no fear of future inundation . . oppression , the kings evil , long indur'd , by others caus'd , by you alone thus cur'd : god onely have the glory , you the praise , and we the profit of our peaceful dayes , all forreigners the pattern , for their state to envy rather than to imitate . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a e- * jude . contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints . * witness a sermon . good thoughts in bad times consisting of personall meditations, scripture observations, historicall applications, mixt contemplations / by thomas fuller. fuller, thomas, - . this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text r in the english short title catalog (wing f ). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a wing f estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) good thoughts in bad times consisting of personall meditations, scripture observations, historicall applications, mixt contemplations / by thomas fuller. fuller, thomas, - . [ ], p. printed for thomas hunt, exeter : . reproduction of original in huntington library. eng meditations. devotional exercises. conscience. a r (wing f ). civilwar no good thoughts in bad times, consisting of personall meditations. scripture observations. historicall applications. mixt contemplations. by t fuller, thomas c the rate of defects per , words puts this text in the c category of texts with between and defects per , words. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread - emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion good thoughts in bad times , consisting of personall meditations . scripture observations . historicall applications . mixt contemplations . by thomas fuller . psal. . . commune with your hearts in your chamber , and be still . exeter , printed for thomas hunt , . to the right honourable the lady dalkeith , lady governesse to her highnesse the princesse henrietta . madam , it is unsafe , in these dangerous dayes , for any to go abroad , without a convoy , or at the least a passe : my book hath both , in being dedicated to your honour . the apostle * saith , vvho planteth a vineyard & eateth not of the fruit thereof ? i am one of your honours planting , and could heartily wish , that the fruit i bring forth , were worthy to be tasted by your juditious palate . however , accept these grapes , if not for their goodnesse , for their novelty : though not sweetest rellisht , they are soonest ripe , being the first fruits of exeter presse , presented unto you . and if ever my ingratitude should forget my obligations to your honour , these black lines will turn red , and blush his unworthinesse that wrot them . in this pamphlet your ladyshippe shall praise , whatsoever you are pleased but to pardon . but i am tedious , for your honour can spare no more minutes from looking on a better book , her infant highnesse , committed to your charge . was ever more hope of worth in a lesse volume ? but o! how excellently will the same , in due time , be set forth , seeing the paper is so pure , and your ladiship the overseer to correct the presse . the continuance and encrease of whose happinesse here , and hereafter is desired in his daily devotions , who resteth your honours in all christian service . tho. fvller . personall meditations . i lord , how neer was i to danger , yet escaped ? i was upon the brink of the brink of it , yet fell not in ; they are well kept who are kept by thee . excellent archer ! thou did'st hit thy mark in missing it , as meaning to fright , not hurt me . let me not now be such a fool , as to pay my thanks to blind fortune for a favour , which the eye of providence hath bestowed upon me . rather let the narrownesse of my escape make my thankfulnesse to thy goodnesse the larger , lest my ingratitude justly cause , that whereas this arrow , but hit my hat , the next pierce my head . ii. lord . when thou shalt visit me with a sharp disease , i fear i shall be impatient . for i am cholerick by my nature , and tender by my temper , and have not been acquainted with sicknesse all my life time . i cannot expect any kind usage from that which hath been a stranger unto me . i fear i shall rave , and rage . o whither will my mind saile , when distemper shall steer it ? whither will my fancy run , when diseases shall ride it ? my tongue , which of it self is a * fire , sure will be a wilde fire , when the fournace of my mouth is made seven times hoter , with a burning feaver . but lord , though i should talk idely to my own shame , let me not talk wickedly to thy dishonour . teach me the art of patience , whilst i am well , and give me the use of it when i am sick . in that day either lighten my burthen , or strengthen my back . make me , who so often in my health , have discovered my weaknesse , presuming on my own strength , to be strong in my sicknesse when i soly rely on thy assistance . iii. lord . this morning my unseasonable visiting of a friend , disturbed him in the middest of his devotions : unhappy to hinder another mans goodnesse . if i my self build not , shall i snatch the axe , and hammer from him that doth ? yet i could willingly have wished , that rather then he should then have cut off the cable of his prayers , i had twisted my cord to it , and had joyned with him in his . devotions . how ever , to make him the best amends i may , i now request of thee , for him , whatsoever he would have requested for himself . thus he shall be no loser , if thou be pleased to hear my prayer for him , and to hearken to our saviours intercession for us both . iiii. lord . since these wofull warres began , one , formerly mine intimate acquaintance , is now turned a stranger , yea , an enemy . teach me how to behave my self towards him . must the new foe , quite justle out the old friend ? may i not with him , continue some commerce of kindnesse ? though the amity be broken on his side , may not i preserve my counter part entire ? yet how can i be kind to him , without being cruell to my self , and thy cause . o guide my shaking hand , to draw so small a line , strait , or rather because i know not how to carry my self towards him in this controversie , even be pleased to take away the subj●ct of the question , and speedily to reconcile these unnaturall differences . v. lord . my voice by nature is harsh , and untunable , and it is vaine to lavish any art to better it . can my singing of psalmes be pleasing to thy eares , which is unpleasant to my own ? yet though i cannot chaunt with the nightingale , or chirp with the black bird , i had rather chatter with the * swallow , yea , rather croke with the raven , then be altogether silent . hadst thou given me a better voice , i would have praised thee with a better voice . now what my musick wants in sweetnesse , let it have in sence , singing praises with * understanding . yea lord , create in me a new heart , ( therein to make * mellody ) and i will be contented with my old voice , untill , in thy due time , being admitted into the quire of heaven , i have another , more harmonious , bestowed upon me . vi . lord . within a little time i have heard the same precept in sundry places , and by severall preachers pressed upon me . the doctrine seemeth to haunt my soul , wither soever i turn it meets me . sure this is from thy providence , and should be for my profit . is it because i am an ill proficient in this point , that i must not turn over a new leafe , but am still kept to my old lesson ? * peter was grieved , because our saviour said unto him the third time , lovest thou me ? but i will not be offended at thy often inculcating the same precept . but rather conclude , that i am much concerned therein , and that it is thy pleasure , that the naile should be soundly fastned in me , which thou hast knockt in with so many hammers . vii . lord . before i commit a sinne , it seems to me so shallow , that i may wade thorow it dry-shod , from any guiltinesse : but when i have committed it , it often seems so deep , that i cannot escape without drowning . thus i am alwayes in the extremities : either my sinnes are so small that they need not my repentance , or so great that they cannot obtain thy pardon . lend me , o lord , a reed out of thy sanctuary , truly to measure the demension of my offences . but o! as thou revealest to me , more of my misery , reveale also more of thy mercy : lest , if my wounds , in my apprehension , gape wider then thy tents , my soul runne out at them . if my badnesse seeme bigger then thy goodnesse , but one hair's breadth , but one moment , that 's room and time enough for me to run to eternall despair . viii . lord . i do discover a fallacy , whereby i have long deceived my self . which is this : i have desired to begin my amendment , from my birth day , or from the first day of the yeer , or from some eminent festivall , that so my repentance might bear some remarkable date . but when those dayes were come , i have adjourned my amendment to some other time . thus whilst i could not agree with my self when to start , i have almost lost the running of the race . i am resolved thus to befool my self no longer . i see no day to to day , the instant time is alwayes the fittest time . in * nabuchadnezars image , the lower the members , the courser the mettall , the further off the time , the more unfit . to day is the golden opportunity , to morrow will be the silver season , next day , but the brazen one , and so long , till at last i shall come to the toes of clay , and be turned to dust . grant therefore that * to day i may hear thy voice . and if this day be obscure in the kallender , and remarkable in it self for nothing else , give me to make it memorable in my soul , thereupon , by thy assistance , begining the reformation of my life . ix . lord . i saw one , whom i knew to be notoriously bad , in great extremity . it was hard to say whether his former wickednesse or present want were the greater ; if i could have made the distinction , i could willingly have fed his person , and sterved his profanesse . this being impossible , i adventured to relieve him . for i know , that amongst many objects , all of them being in extream miseries , charity , though shooting at random , cannot misse a right mark . since , lord , the party , being recovered , is become worse then ever before . ( thus they are always impaired with affliction , who thereby are not improved . ) lord , count me not accessary to his badnesse , because i relieved him . let me not suffer harm in my self , for my desire to do good to him . yea , lord be pleased to clear my credit amongst men , that they may understand my hands according to the simplicity of my heart . i gave to him onely in hope , to keep the stock a live , that so afterwards it might be better grafted . now , finding my self deceived , my almes shall return into my own bosom . x. lord . thy servants are now praying in the church , and i am here staying at home , detayned by necessary occasions , such as are not of my seeking but of thy sending , my care could not prevent them , my power could not remove them . wherefore , though i cannot go to church , there to sit down at table with the rest of thy guests , be pleased , lord , to send me a dish of their meat , hither , and feed my soul with holy thoughts . * eldad and medad , though staying still in the camp , ( no doubt on just cause ) yet prophesied as well as the other elders . though they went not out to the spirit , the spirit came home to them . thus never any dutifull child lost his legacy for being absent at the making of his fathers will , if at the same time he were imployed about his fathers businesse . i fear too many at church , have their bodies there , and minds at home . behold in exchange my body here , and heart there . though i cannot pray with them i pray for them . yea , this comforts me , i am with thy congregation , because i would be with it . xi . lord , i trust thou hast pardoned the bad examples i have set before others , be pleased also to pardon me the sinnes which they have committed , by my bad examples . ( it is the best manners in thy court to heap requests upon requests . ) if thou hast forgiven my sinnes , the children of my corrupt nature , forgive me my grand-children also . let not the transcripts remain , since thou hast blotted out the originall . and for the time to come , blesse me with barrennesse in bad actions , and my bad actions with barrennesse in procreation , that they may never beget others , according to their likenesse . xii . lord , what faults i correct in my sonne , i commit my self : i beat him for dabling in the dirt , whil'st my own soul doth wallow in sinne : i beat him for crying to cut his own meat , yet am not my self contented with that state thy providence hath carved unto me : i beat him for crying when he is to go to sl●ep , and yet i fear i my self shall cry , when thou callest me to sleep with my fathers . alas , i am more childish then my child , and what i inflict on him , i justly deserve to receive from thee : onely here is the difference : i pray & desire that my correction on my child , may do him good , it is in thy power , lord , to effect , that thy correction on me , shall do me good . xiii . lord , i perceive my soul deeply guilty of envie . by my good will , i would have none prophesie , but mine own * moses . i had rather thy work were undon , then don better by another , then by my self . had rather thy enemies were all alive , then that i should kill but my thousand , and others their ten thousands of them . my corruption repines at other mens better parts , as if what my soul wants of them in substance she would supply in swelling . dispossesse me , lord , of this bad spirit , and turn my envie into holy emulation . let me labour to exceed them in pains , who excell me in parts , and knowing that my sword in cuting down sinne , hath a duller edge , let me strike with the greater force ; yea , make other mens gifts to be mine , by making me thankfull to thee for them ▪ it was some comfort to naomie , that wanting a sonne her self , she brought up * ruth's child in her bosom . if my soul be too old to be a mother of goodnesse , lord , make it but a dry-nurse . let me feed , and foster , and nourish , and cherish the graces in others , honouring their persons , praising their par●s , and glorifying thy name , who hast given such gifts unto them . xiiii . lord , when young , i have almost quarrelled with that petition in our liturgie , give peace in our time ▪ o lord , nee●lesse to wish for light at noon-day ; for then peace was so plentifull , no fear of famine , but suspition of a surfet thereof . and yet , how many good comments was this prayer then capable of ? give peace , that is , continue and preserve it . give peace , that is , give us hearts worthy of it , and thankfull for it . in our time , that is , all our time : for there is more besides a fair morning required to make a fair day . now i see the mother had more wisdom then her sonne . the church knew better then i , how to pray . now i am better informed of the necessity of that petition . yea , with the daughters of the * horse-leech , i have need to cry , give , give peace in our time , o lord . xv . lord , unruly souldiers command poor people to open them their doors , otherwise threatning to break in ▪ but if those in the house knew their own strength , it were easie to keep them out . seeing the doors are threatning proof , & it is not the breath of their oathes can blow the ●ocks open . yet silly souls being affrighted , they obey , and betray themselves to their violence . thus satan serves me , or rather thus i serve my self . when i cannot be forced i am fool'd out of my integrity . he cannot constrain , if i do not consent ▪ if i do but keep possession , all the posse of hell , cannot violently eject me : but i cowardly surrender to his summons . thus there needs no more to my undoing , but my self . xvi . lord , when i am to travell , i never use to provide my self , till the very tyme ; partly out of lazinesse , loath to be troubled till needs i must , partly out of pride , as presuming all necessaries for my journey will wait upon me at the instant . ( some say this is schollers fashion , and it seemes by following it , i hope to approve my self to be one ) however , it often comes to passe , that my journey is finally stopt , through the narrownesse of the time to provide for it . grant , lord , that my confess'd improvidence in temporall , may make me suspect my providence in spituall matters . * salomon saith , man goeth to his long home . short preparation will not fit so long a journey . o! let me not put it off to the last , to have my * oile to buy , when i am to burn it . but let me so dispose of my self , that when i am to dye , i may have nothing to do but to dye . xvii . lord , when in any writing , i have occasion to insert these passages , god willing , god lending me life , &c. i observe , lord , that i can scarce hold my hand from incircling these words in a parenthesis , as if they were not essentiall to the sentence , but may as well be left out , as put in . whereas indeed they are not onely of the commission at large , but so of the quorum , that without them all the rest is nothing , wherefore hereafter , i will write those words fully and fairely without any inclosure about them . let criticks censure it for bad grammer , i am sure it is good divinity . xviii . lord , many temporall matters , which i have desired , thou hast denyed me . it vext me for the present , that i wanted my will . since , considering in cold blood , i plainly perceive , had that which i desired been done , i had been undone . yea , what thou gavest me , instead of those things which i wished , though lesse toothsome to me , were more wholsome for me . forgive , i pray , my former anger , and now accept my humble thanks . lord grant me one suite , which is this ? deny me all suits which are bad for me , when i petition for what is unfitting , o let the king of heaven , make use of his negative voice . rather let me fast then have * quailes given with intent that i should be choaken in eating them . xix . lord , this day i disputed with my self , whether or no i had said my prayers this morning ; and i could not call to mind any remarkable passage , whence i could certainly conclude that i had offered my prayers unto thee . frozen affections , which left no spark of remembrance behind them . yet at last i hardly recovered one token , whence i was assured that i had said my prayers . it seems i had said them , and onely said them , rather by heart then with my heart . can i hope that thou wouldest remember my prayers , when i had almost forgotten that i had prayed ? or rather have i not cause to fear , that thou remembrest my prayers too well , to punish the coldnesse and badnesse of them ? alas , are not devotions thus done , in effect left undone . well * iacob advised his sonnes , at their second going into egypt , take double money in your hand ; peradventure it was an oversight . so , lord , i come with my second morning sacrifice : be pleased to accept it , which i desire , and endeavour to present , with a little better devotion , then i did the former . xx . lord , the motions of thy holy spirit , were formerly frequent in my heart . but , alas , of late they have been great strangers . it seems they did not like their last entertainment , they are so loath to come again . i fear they were * grieved , that either i heard them not attentively , or beleeved them not faithfully , or practised them not conscionably . if they be pleased to come again , this is all i dare promise , that they do deserve , and i do desire they should be well used . let thy holy spirit be pleased , not onely to stand before the door and * knock , but also to come in . if i do not open the door , it were too unreasonable to request such a miracle to come in , when the doors were shut , as thou did'st to the * apostles . yet let me humbly beg of thee , that thou wouldest make the iron gate of my heart open of it's own * accord . then let thy spirit be pleased to sup in my heart , i have given it an invitation , and i hope i shall give it room . but o thou that sendest the guest , send the meat also , and if i be so unmannerly , as not to make the holy spirit welcome , o! let thy effectuall grace , make me to make it welcome . xxi . lord , i confesse this morning i remembred my breakfast , but forgot my prayers . and as i have returned no praise , so thou mightest justly have afforded me no protection . yet thou hast carefully kept me to the middle of this day , and intrusted me with a new debt , before i have paid the old score . it is now noon , too late for a morning , too soon for an evening sacrifice . my corrupt heart prompts me to put off my prayers till night , but i know it too well , or rather too ill to trust it . i fear , if till night i deferre them , at night i shall forget them . be pleased therefore now to accept them ▪ lord let not a few hours the later , make a breach : especially seeing ( be it spoken , not to excuse my negligence but to implore thy pardon ) a thousand yeers in thy sight are but as yesterday . i promise hereafter by thy assistance to bring forth fruit in due season . see how i am ashamed the sun should shine on me , who now newly start in the race of my devotions , when he like a gyant hath run more then half his course in the heavens . xxii . lord , this day casually i am fallen into a bad company , & know not how i came hither or how to get hence . sure i am , not my improvidence hath run me , but thy providence hath led me into this danger . i was not wandring in any base by-path , but walking in the high way of my vocation . wherefore , lord , thou that calledst me hither , keep me here . stop their mouths that they speak no blasphemy , or stop my ears that i hear none ; or open my mouth soberly to reprove what i hear . give me to guard my self , but lord guard my guarding of my self . let not the smoak of their badnesse , put out my eyes , but the shining of my innocence lighten theirs . let me give physick to them , and not take infection from them . yea , make me the better for their badnesse . then shall their bad company , be to me like the dirt of oysters , whose mud hath sope in it , and doth rather scour , then defile . xxiii . lord , often have i thought with my self , i will sinne but this one sinne more , and then i will repent of it , and of all the rest of my sinnes together . so foolish was i , and ignorant . as if i should be more able to pay my debts , when i owe more : or as if i should say , i will wound my friend once again , and then i will lovingly shake hands with him . but what if my friend will not shake hands with me ? besides , can one commit one sin more , and but one sinne more ? unclean creatures went by couples into the * arke . grant lord , at this instant i may break off my badnesse ; otherwise thou maist justly make the last minute , wherein i do sinne on earth , to be the last minute wherein i shall sinne on earth , and the first wherein thou might'st make me suffer in another place . xxiiii . lord , the preacher this day came home to my heart . a left handed gibeonite with his * sling , hit not the mark more sure , then he my darling sinnes . i could find no fault with his sermon , save onely that it had too much truth . but this i quarrelled at , that he went farre from his text to come close to me , and so was faulty himself in telling me of my faults . thus they will creep out at small crannies , who have a mind to escape , and yet i cannot deny , but that that which he spake , ( though nothing to that portion of scripture which he had for his text ) was according to the proportion of scripture . and is not thy word in generall the text at large of every preacher ? yea , rather i should have concluded , that if he went from his text , thy goodnesse sent him to meet me . for without thy guidance it had been impossible for him so truly to have trac'd the intricate turnings of my deceitfull heart . xxv . lord , be pleased to shake my clay cottage , before thou throwest it down . may it totter a while , before it doth tumble . let me be summon'd before i am surpriz'd . deliver me from sudden death . not from sudden death , in respect of it self , for i care not how short my passage be , so it be safe . never any weary traveller complained , that he came too soon to his journeys end . but let it not be sudden in respect of me . make me alwayes ready to receive death . thus no guest comes unawares to him , who keeps a constant table . scripture-observations . i lord , in the parable of the four sorts of ground whereon the seed was sowen , the last alone proved fruitfull . there , the bad were more then the good : but amongst the servants two improved their * talents , or pounds , and * one onely buried them . there the good were more then the bad. again , amongst the ten virgins , five were wise , and five * foolish : there the good and bad were equall . i see that concerning the number of the saints , in comparison to the reprobates , no certainty can be collected from these parables . good reason , for it is not their principall purpose to meddle with that point . grant that i may never rack a scripture similie , beyond the true intent thereof . lest instead of sucking milk , i squeez blood out of it . ii. lord , thou didst intend from all eternity , to make christ the heire of all . no danger of disinheriting him , thy onely sonne , and so well deserving . yet thou sayest to him . * aske of me and i will give thee , the heathen for thine inheritance , &c. this homage he must do , for thy boon to beg it . i see thy goodnesse delights to have thy favours sued for , expecting we should crave , what thou intendest we shall have ; that so , though we cannot give a full price , we may take some paines for thy favours , and obtain them , though not for the merit , by the meanes of our petitions . iii. lord , i find that ezekiel is in his prophesies , stiled ninety times , and more , by this appellation , sonne of man , and yet surely , not once oftner then there was need for . for he had more visions then any one ( not to say then all ) of the prophets of his time . it was necessary therefore , that his mortall extraction should often be sounded in his eares , sonne of man , lest his frequent conversing with visions , might make him mistake himself , to be some angell . amongst other revelations , it was therefore needfull , to reveale him to himself ; sonne of man , lest seeing many visions might have made him blind with spirituall pride . lord , as thou increasest thy graces in me , and favours on me , so with them daily increase in my soul the monitors , and remembrancers of my mortal●ty . so shall my soul be kept in a good temper , and humble deportment towards thee . iv. lord , i read how * iacob ( then onely accompanied with his staffe ) vowed at bethell , that if thou gavest him but bread and rayment , he would make that place thy house . after his return , the condition on thy side , was overperformed , but the obligation on his part , wholy neglected : for when thou hadst made his staffe to swell , and to break into two bands , he , after his return , turn'd * purchaser , bought a field in shalem , intending there to set up his rest . but thou art pleased to be his remembrancer in a new vision , and to spur him afresh , who tired in his promise . * arise , go to bethell and make there an altar , &c. lord , if rich iacob forgot what poor iacob did promise , no wonder if i be bountifull to offer thee , in my affliction , what i am niggardly to perform in my prosperity . but o! take not advantage of the forfeitures , but be pleased to demand payment once againe . pinch me into the remembrance of my promises , that so i may reinforce my old vows with new resolutions . v. lord , i read when our saviour was examined in the high priests hall , that peter stood without , till iohn ( being his * spokes-man to the maid that kept the door ) procured his admission in . iohn meant to let him out of the cold , and not to let him in to a temptation , but his courtesie in intention , prov'd a mischief in event , and the occasion of his denying his master . o let never my kindnesse concurre in the remotest degree , to the dammage of my friend . may the chain which i sent him for an ornament , never prove his fetters . but if i should be unhappy herein , i am sure thou wilt not punish my good will , but pitty my ill successe . vi . lord , the apostle saith to the * corinthians , god will not suffer you to be tempted above what you are able . but how comes he to contradict himself , by his own confession , in his next epistle ? where , speaking of his own sicknesse , he saith , * we were pressed out of measure above strength . perchance this will be expounded by propounding another riddle of the same apostles : who praising * abraham , saith , that against hope , he beleeved in hope . that is , against carnall hope , he beleeved in spirituall hope . so the same wedge , will serve to cleave the former difficulty . paul was pressed above his human , not above his heavenly strength . grant lord , that i may not mangle , and dismember thy word , but study it intirely , comparing one place with another : for diamonds onely can cut diamonds , and no such comments on the scripture , as the scripture . vii . lord , i observe that the vulgar translation , reads the apostles precept thus , * give diligence to make your calling , and election sure by good works . but in our english testaments these words by good works are left out . it grieved me at the first to see our translation defective , but it offended me afterwards , to see the other redundant . for those words are not in the greek , which is the originall . and it is an ill work , to put good works in , to the corruption of the scripture . grant , lord , that though we leave good woorks out in the text , we may take them in , in our comment . in that exposition which our practice is to make on this precept , in our lives and conversations . viii . lord , i find the genealogie of my * saviour , strangely chequered with four remarkable changes in four immediate generations . rehoboham begat abiam ▪ that is , a bad father , begat a bad son . abiam begat asa ; that is , a bad father , a good sonne . asa begat iehosaphat ; that is , a good father a good sonne . iehosaphat begat ioram ; that is , a good father , a bad sonne . i see lord , from hence that my fathers piety cannot be entailed ; that 's bad news for me . but i see also , that actuall impiety is not always hereditary ; that 's good news for my sonne . ix . lord , when in my daily service i read davids psalmes , give me to alter the accent of my soul , according to their severall subjects : in such psalmes , wherein he confesseth his sinnes , or requesteth thy pardon or praiseth for former , or prayeth for future favours , in all these give me to raise my soul to as high a pitch as may be . but when i come to such psalms , wherein he curseth his enemies , o there let me bring my soul down to a lower note . for those words were made only to fit davids mouth ▪ i have the like breath , but not the same spirit to pronounce them . nor let me flatter my self , that it is lawfull for me , with david , to curse thine enemies , lest my deceitfull heart intitle all mine enemies to be thine , and so what was religion in david , prove malice in me , whil'st i act revenge under the pretence of piety . x. lord , i read of the two witnesses , * and when they shall have finished their testimony , the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomlesse pit , shall make warre against them , and shall overcome them , and kill them . they could not be kil'd whil'st they were doing , but when they had done their worke , during their imployment they were invincible . no better armour against the darts of death , then to be busied in thy service . why art thou so heavie , o my soul ? no malice of man can antidate my end a minute , whil'st my maker hath any work for me to do . and when all my daily task is ended , why should i grudge then to go to bed ? xi . lord , i read at the transfiguration that * peter , iames , and iohn , were admitted to behold christ ; but andrew was excluded . so again at the reviving of the daughter of the ruler of the * synagogue , these three were let in , and andrew shut out . lastly , in the * agony , the aforesaid three , were called to be witnesses thereof and still andrew left behind . yet he was peters brother , and a good man , and an apostle , why did not christ take the two pair of brothers ? was it not pitty to part them ? but me thinks i seem more offended thereat , then andrew himself was , whom i find to expresse no discontent , being pleased to be accounted a loyall subject for the generall , though he was no favourite in these particulars . give me to be pleased in my self , and thankfull to thee , for what i am , though i be not equall to others in personall perfections . for such peculiar priviledges are courtesies from thee when given , and no injuries to us when denyed . xii . lord , saint paul teacheth the art of heavenly thrift , how to make a new sermon of an old. many ( * saith he ) walk , of whom i have told you often , and now tell you weeping , that they are enemies to the crosse of christ . formerly he had told it with his tongue , but now with his tears , formerly he taught it with his words , but now with his weeping . thus new affections make an old sermon new . may i not , by the same proportion , make an old prayer new ? lord , thus long i have offered my prayer drye unto thee , now , lord , i offer it wet . then wilt thou own some new addition therein , when , though the sacrifice be the same , yet the dressing of it , is different , being steep't in his tears , who bringeth it unto thee . xiii . lord , i read of my saviour , that when he was in the wildernesse , * then the devill leaveth him , and behold angels came and ministred unto him . a great change in a little time . no twilight betwixt night and day . no purgatory-condition betwixt hell and heaven , but instantly , when out devill , in angell . such is the case of every solitary soul . it will make company for it self . a musing mind will not stand neuter a minute , but presently side with legions of good or bad thoughts . grant therefore , that my soul , which ever will have some , may never have bad company . xiv . lord , i read how cushi , and ahimaaz ran a race , who first should bring tidings of victory to david ▪ ahimaaze , though last setting forth , came first to his journeys end ; not that he had the fleeter feet , but the better brains , to chuse the way of most advantage . for the text * saith , so ahimaaz ranne by the way of the plain , and over-went cushi . prayers made to god by saints , fetch a needlesse compasse about . that is but a rough and un-even way . besides one steep passage therein , questionable whether it can be climbed up , and saints in heaven , made sensible of what we say on earth . the way of the plain , or plain way , both shortest , & surest is , call upon me , in the time of trouble . such prayers , ( though starting last ) will come first to the mark . xv . lord , this morning , i read a chapter in the bible , and therein observ'd a memorable passage , whereof i never took notice before . why now , and no sooner did i see it ? formerly , my eyes were as open , and the letters as legible . is there not a thin vaile laid over thy word , which is more rarified by reading , and at last wholly worn away ? or was it because i came with more appetite then before ? the milk was alwayes there in the brest , but the child till now was not hungry enough to find out the teat . i see the oile of thy word will never leave increasing whil'st any bring an empty barrell . the old testament , will still be a new testament to him , who comes with a fresh desire of information . xvi . lord , at the first * passeover , god kept touch with the hebrews very punctually : at the end of the four hundred and thirty yeers , in the self same day it came to passe , that all the hosts of the lord went out of the land of egypt . but at the first easter god was better then his word . having promised , that christ should lye but three dayes in the grave , his fatherly affection did runne to relieve him . by a charitable synechdoche , two pieces of dayes were counted for whole ones . god did cut the work short in * righteousnesse . thus the measure of his mercy under the law was full , but it ranne over in the gospell . xvii . lord , the * apostle diswadeth the hebrews from covetousnesse , with this argument , because god said , i will not leave thee , nor forsake thee . yet i find not , that god ever gave this promise to all the jews , but he spake it onely to * ioshua when first made commander against the canaanites . which , ( without violence to the anallogie of faith ) the apostle applyeth to all good men in generall . is it so that we are heirs apparant to all promises made to thy servants in scripture . are the charters of grace granted to them , good to me ? then will i say with iacob * i have enough . but because i cannot intitle my self to thy promises to them , except i immitate their piety to thee ; grant i may take as much care in following the one , as comfort by applying the oth●r . xviii . lord , i read that thou didst make * grasse , hearbs , & trees , the third day . as for the sunne , * moon , and stars , thou madest them on the fourth day of the creation . thus at first thou didst confute the folly of such , who maintain that all vegetables in their growth , are inslaved to a necessary , and unavoidable dependance on the influences of the starres . whereas plants were even when planets were not . it is false , that the mary-gold follows the sunne , whereas rather the sunne follows the mary-gold , as made the day before him . hereafter i will admire thee more , and fear astrologers lesse ; not affrighted with their dolefull predictions of dearth and drowth , collected from the complexions of the planets . must the earth of necessity be sad , because some ill-natured starre is sullen ? as if the grasse could not grow without asking it leave . whereas thy power , which made hearbs , before the starres , can preserve them without their propitions , yea , against their malignant aspects . xix . lord , i read how paul writing from rome , spake to * philemon , to prepare him a lodging hoping to make use thereof , yet we find not , that he ever did use it , being martyred not long after . however he was no loser , whom thou didst lodge in a higher mansion in heaven . let me alwayes be thus deceived to my advantage . i shall have no cause to complain , though i never wear the new cloaths fitted for me , if , before i put them on , death cloath me with glorious immortality . xx . lord , when our saviour sent his apostles abroad to preach , he enjoyned them in one * gospell , possesse nothing , neither shooes , nor a staffe . but it is said in another * gospell , and he commanded them , that they should take nothing , for their iourney , save a staffe onely . the reconciliation is easie . they might have a staffe , to speak them travellours , not souldiers : one to walk with , not to warre with , a staffe , which was a wand , not a weapon . but oh! in how dolefull dayes do we live , wherein ministers are not ( as formerly ) arm'd with their nakednesse , but need staves , and swords too , to defend them from violence . xxi . lord , i discover an arrant lazinesse in my soul . for when i am to read a chapter in thy bible before i begin it , i look where it endeth . and if it endeth not on the same side , i cannot keep my hands , from turning over the leaf , to measure the length thereof on the other side ; if it swels to many verses i begin to grudge . surely my heart is not rightly affected . were i truly hungry after heavenly food , i would not complain of the greatest messe of meat . scourge , lord , this lazinesse out of my soul , make the reading of thy word , not a penance , but a pleasure unto me . teach me , that as amongst many heaps of gold , all being equally pure , that is the best , which is the biggest , so i may esteem that chapter in thy word , the best that is the longest . xxii . lord , i find david making a syllogisme , in mode and figure , two propositions he perfected . * if i regard wickednesse in my heart , the lord will not hear me . but verily god hath heard me , he hath attended to the voice of my prayer . now i expected that david should have concluded thus : therefore i regard not wickednesse in my heart . but farre otherwise he concludes . blessed be god , who hath not turned away my prayer nor his mercy from me . thus david hath deceived , but not wronged me . i look't that he should have clapt the crown on his own , and he puts it on gods head . i will learn this excellent logick , for i like davids better then aristotles syllogismes , that whatsoever the premisses be , i make gods glory the conclusion . xxiii . lord , wise * agur made it his wish , give me not poverty , lest i steal , & take the name of my god in vain . he saith not , lest i steal , and be caught in the manner , and then be stockt or whipt , or branded , or forc'd to four fold restitution , or put to any other shamefull , or painfull punishment . but he saith , lest i steal , and take the name of my god in vain , that is , lest professing to serve thee , i confute a good profession , with a bad conversation . thus thy children count sinne to be the greatest smart in sin , as being more sensible of the wound they therein give to the glory of god , then of all the stripes that man may lay upon them for punishment . xxiv . lord , i read that when my saviour dispossessed the mans * sonne of a devill , he enjoyned the evil spirit to come out of him , and enter no more into him . but i find that when my saviour himself was tempted of * satan , the devill departed from him but for a sason . retreating , as it seemes , with mind to return . how came it to passe , lord , that he who expell'd him finally out of others , did not propell him so from himself . sure it doth not follow , that because he did not , he could not do it . or that he was lesse able to help himself , because he was more charitable to relieve others . no , i see my saviour was pleased to shew himself a god in other mens matters , and but a man in such cases wherein he himself was concerned . being contented still to be tempted by satan , that his suffering for us , might cause our conquering through him . xxv . iannes and * iambres the apes of moses and aaron , immitated them in turning their rods into serpents ; onely here was the difference : aarons * rod devoured their rods . that which was solid and substantiall lasted , when that which was slight , and but seeming , vanished away . thus an active fancie in all outward expressions may immitate a lively faith . for matter of language , there is nothing what grace doth do , but wit can act. onely the difference appears in the continuance : wit is but for fits and flashes , grace holds out , and is lasting ; and , good lord of thy goodnesse , give it to every one that truly desires it . historicall applications . i the english embassadour some yeers since , prevailed so farre with the turkish emperour , as to perswade him to hear some of our english musick , from which ( as from all other liberal sciences ) both he & his nation were naturally averse . but it happned that the musitians were so long in tuning their instruments , that the great turk distasting their tediousnesse , went away in discontent , before their musick began . i am affraid , that the differences , and dissentions betwixt christian churches , ( being so long in reconciling their discords ) will breed in pagans , such a disrelish of our religion , as they will not be invited to attend thereunto . ii. a sibill came to tarquinius superbus king of rome , and * * offered to sell unto him three tomes of her oracles : but he , counting the price too high , refused to buy them . away she went , and burnt one tome of them . returning , she asketh him , whether he would buy the two remaining at the same rate ; he refuseth again , counting her little better then frantick . thereupon she burns the second tome . and peremptorily asked him , whether he would give the summe demanded for the all three , for the one tome remaining ; otherwise she would burn that also , and he would dearly repent it . tarquin , admiring at her constant resolution , and conceiving some extraordinary worth contained therein , gave her her demand . there are three volumes of m●ns time ; youth , mans estate , and old age ; and ministers advise them , * redeem this time . but men conceive the rate they must give , to be unreasonable , because it will cost them the renouncing of their carnall delights . hereupon one third part of their life ( youth ) is consumed in the fire of wantonnesse . again , ministers counsell men to redeem the remaining volumes of their life . they are but derided at for their pa●nes . and mans estate is also cast away in the smoak of vanity . but preachers ought to presse peremptorily on old people , to redeem , now , or never , the last volume of their life . here is the difference : the sibill still demanded but the same rate for the rem●ining book ; but aged folk ( because of their custom in sining ) will find it harder and dearer , to redeem this , the last volume , then if they had been chapmen for all three at the first . iii. in merianith shire in * wales , there be many mountains whose hanging top come so close together , that shepheards , sitting on severall mountains may audibly discourse one with another . and yet they must go many miles , before their bodies can meet together , by the reason of the vast hollow valleys which are betwixt them . our soveraign , and the members of his parliament , at london , seem very neer agreed , in their generall and publike professions ; both are for the protestant religion ; can they draw neerer ? both are for the priviledges of parliament ; can they come closer ? both are for the liberty of the subject ; can they meet evener ? and yet , alas , there is a great gulf , and vast distance betwixt them which our sinnes have made , and god grant that our sorrow may seasonably make it up again . iv. when iohn , king of france , had communicated the order of the knighthood of the star , to some of his guard , men of mean birth and extraction , the nobility ever after disdained to be admitted into that degree , and so that order in france , was extinguished . seeing that now adayes , drinking , and swea●ing , and wantonnesse , are grown frequent , even with base beggerly people , it is high time , for men of honour , who consult with their credit , to desist from such sinnes . not that i would have noble men , invent new vices , to be in fashion with themselves alone : but forsake old sinnes , grown common with the meanest of people . v. long was this land wasted with civill warre , betwixt the two houses of york and lancaster , till the red rose became white with the blood it had lost , and the white rose , red , with the blood it had shed . at last , they were united in a happy marriage , and their joynt-titles are ●wisted together in our gracious soveraign . thus there hath been a great difference betwixt learned men , wherein the dominion over the creature is founded . some putting it in nature , others placing it in grace . but the true servants of god have an unquestioned right thereunto . seeing both nature and grace , the first and second adam , creation , and regeneration are contained in them . hence their claime is so clear , their title is so true , ignorance cannot doubt it , impudence dare not deny it . vi . the roman senators conspired against iulius caesar to kill him : that very next morning artemido●us , * caesar's friend , delivered him a paper , ( desiring him to peruse it , ) wherein the whole plot was discovered : but caesar complemented his life away , being so taken up , to return the salutations of such people as met him in the way , that he pocketed the paper , among other petitions , as unconcerned therein , and so going to the senate house , was slain . the world , flesh , and devill have a designe for the destruction of men . we ministers , bring our people a letter , gods word , wherein all the conspiracy is revealed . but who hath believed our report ? most men are so busie about worldly delights , they are not at leisure to listen to us , or read the letter , but thus , alas , runne headlong to their own ruine and destruction . vii . it is reported of philip the second , king of spain , that besieging the town of st. quintine , and being to make a breach , he was forced with his cannon to batter down a small chappell on the wall , dedicated to saint laurence . in reparation to which saint , he afterwards built and consecrated unto him that famous chappell in the escariall in spain , for workmanship , one of the wonders in the world . how many churches and chappels of the god of saint laurence , have been laid waste in england , by this wofull warre . and which is more , ( and more to be lamented ) how many living temples of the holy ghost , christian people , have therein been causelesly and cruelly destroyed . how shall our nation be ever able to make recompence for it . god of his goodnesse forgive us that dept which we of our selves are not able to satisfie . viii . in the dayes of king * edward the sixt , the l. protector march't with a powerfull army into scotland , to demand their young queen mary in marriage to our king , according to their promises . the scotch refusing to do it , were beaten by the english in musl●borough fight . one demanded of a scotch lord , ( taken prisoner in the battell ) now sir , how do you like our kings marriage with your queen . i alwayes , ( quoth he ) did like the marriage , but i do not like the wooing , that you should fetch a bride with fire and sword . it is not enough for men to propound pious proj●cts to themselves , if they go about by indirect courses to compasse them . gods own work must be done by gods own wayes . otherwise we can take no comfort in obtaining the end , if we cannot justifie the means used thereunto . ix . a sagamore , or petty king in virginia , guessing the greatnesse of other kings by his own , sent a native hither , who understood english . commanding him to score upon a long cane ( given him of purpose to be his register ) the number of english men , that thereby his master might know the strength of this our nation . landing at plimouth , a populous place , ( and which he mistook for all england ) he had no leisure to eat , for notching up the men he met . at exeter , the difficulty of his task was increased ; coming at last to london ( that forest of people ) he brake his cane in pieces , perceiving the impossibility of his imployment . some may conceive that they can reckon up the sinnes they commit in one day . perchance they may make hard shifts to summe up their notorious ill deeds : more difficult it is , to score up their wicked words . but o how infinite are their idle thoughts ! high time then , to leave off counting , and cry out with * david , who can tell how oft he offendeth , lord cleanse me from my secret sinnes . x. martin de golin , * master of the teutonick order , was taken prisoner by the prusians , and delivered bound , to be beheaded . but he perswaded his executioner ( who had him alone ) first to take off his costly cloaths , which otherwise would be spoil'd with the sprinckling of his blood . now the prisoner , being partly unbound , to be uncloath'd , and finding his arms somewhat loos'ned , strake the executioner to the ground , kil'd him afterwards with his own sword , and so regained both his life and liberty . * christ hath overcome the world , and delivered it to us , to destroy it . but we are all achans by nature ; and the babylonish garment is a bait for our covetousnesse : whil'st therefore we seek to take the plunder of this world's wardrobe , we let go the mastery we had formerly of it . and too often , that which christ's passion made our captive , our folly makes our conquerour . xi . i read how pope * pius the fourth , had a great ship richly loaden , landded at sandwich in kent , where it suddenly sunck , and so , with the sands , choaked up the harbour , that ever since that place hath been deprived of the benefit thereof . i see that happinesse , doth not alwayes attend the adventures of his holinesse . would he had carried away his ship , and left us our harbour . may his spirituall merchandize never come more into this island , but rather sinck in tiber , then saile thus farre , bringing so small good , and so great annoyance . sure he is not so happy in opening the doors of heaven , as he is unhappy to obstruct havens on earth . xii . ieffery arch-bishop of york , and base son to king henry the second , used proudly to protest by his faith , and the royalty of the king his father . to whom one said , you may sometimes , sir , as well remember what was the honesty of your mother . good men when puffed up with pride , for their heavenly extraction , and paternall descent , how they are gods sonnes by adoption , may seasonably call to mind , the corruption which they carry about them . * i have said to the worm , thou art my mother . and this consideration , will temper their soules with humility . xiii . i could both sigh , and smile , at the simplicity of a native american , sent by a spaniard , his master , with a basket of figgs , and a letter ( wherein the figgs were mentioned ) to carry them both to one of his masters friends . by the way , this messenger eat up the figgs , but delivered the letter , whereby his deed was discovered , and he soundly punished . being sent a second time on the like message , he first took the letter ( which he conceived had eyes , as well as a tongue ) and hid it in the ground , sitting himself on the place where he put it ; and then securely fell to feed on his figgs , presuming that that paper which saw nothing , could tell nothing . then taking it again out of the ground , he delivered it to his masters friend , whereby his fault was perceiv'd , and he worse beaten then before . men conceive they can manage their sinnes with secresie . but they carry about them a letter , or book rather , written by gods finger , their * conscience , bearing witnesse to all their actions . but sinners being often detected and accused , hereby grow wary at last , and to prevent this speaking paper for telling any tales , do smother , stifle and suppresse it , when they go about the committing of any wickednesse . yet conscience , ( though buried for a time in silence , ) hath afterwards a resurrection , and discovers all to their greater shame , and heavier punishment . xiv . iohn courcy , earl of vlster in ireland , endeavoured fifteen severall times , to saile over thither , and so often was beaten back again , with bad weather . at last he expostulated his case with god in a * vision , complaining of hard measure , that having built and repaired so many monasteries to god and his saints , he should have so bad successe . it was answered him , that this was but his just punishment , because he had formerly put out the image of the * trinity , out of the cathedrall church of down , and placed the picture of saint patrick in the room thereof . surely , god will not hold them guiltlesse , who justle him out of his temple , and give to saints that adoration , due alone to his divine majesty . xv . the lybians kept all woemen in common . but when a child was born , they used to send it to that man to maintain ( as father thereof ) whom the infant most resembled in his complexion . satan and my sinfull nature enter-common in my soul , in the causing of wicked thoughts . the sonnes by their faces speak their syres . proud , wanton , covetous , envious , idle thoughts , i must own to come from my self . god forgive me , it is vain to deny it , those children are so like to their father . but as for some hideous horrible thoughts , such as i start at the motion of them , being out of the road of my corruption , ( and yet which way will not that wander ? ) so that they smell of hells brimstone about them : these fall to satans lot to father them . the swarthy blacknesse of their complexion plainly shewes who begat them , not being of mine extraction , but his injection . xvi . marcus manlius deserved exceedingly well of the roman state , having valiantly defended their capitol . but afterward , falling into disfavour with the people , he was condemned to death . however the people would not be so unthankfull as to su●fer him to be executed in any place , from whence the capitoll might be beheld . for the prospect thereof prompted them with fresh remembrance of his former merits . at last , they found a low place , in the * petiline-grove , by the river-gate , where no pinacle of the capitoll could be perceived , and there he was put to death . we may admire how men can find in their hearts to sinne against god . for we can find no one place in the whole world , which is not markt with a signall character of his mercy unto us . it was said properly of the jews , but is not untrue of all christians , that they are gods vineyard . and * god fenced it , and gathered out the stones thereof , and planted it with the choisest vine , and built a tower in the middest thereof ; and also digg'd a wine-presse therein . which way can men look , and not have their eyes met with the remembrance of gods favour unto them . look about the vineyard , it is fenced , look without it , the stones are cast out ; look within it , it is planted with the choisest vine ; look above it , a tower is built in the midst thereof ; look beneath it , a wine-presse is digg'd . it is impossible for one to look any way , and to avoid the beholding of gods bounty . ungratefull man ! and as there is no place , so there is no time for us to sin , without being at that instant beholden to him . we owe to him that we are , even when we are rebellious against him . xvii . a duell was to be fought , by consent of both * kings betwixt an english , and a french lord . the aforesaid iohn courcy earl of vlster , was chosen champion for the english : a man of great stomack and strength , but lately much weak'ned by long imprisonment . wherefore , to prepare himself before hand , the king allowed him what plenty and variety of meat , he was pleased to eat . but the monsieur ( who was to encounter him ) hearing what great quantity of victuals courcy did daily devour , and thence collecting his unusuall strength , out of fear , refused to fight with him . if by the standard of their cups , and measure of their drinking , one might truly inferre souldiers strength by rules of proportion , most vast , and valiant atchievements , may justly be expected from some gallants of of these times . xiii . i have heard that the brook neer lutterworth in lestershire into which the ashes of the burnt bones of wickliffe were cast . never since doth drown the meadow about it . papists expound this to be , because god was well pleased with the sacrifice of the ashes of such a heretick . protestants ascribe it rather to proceed from the vertue of the dust of such a reverent martyr . i see t is a case for friend . such accidents signifie nothing in themselves , but according to the pleasure of interpreters . give me such solid reasons , whereon i may rest and relye . * salomon saith , the words of the wise are like nailes , fastned by the masters of the assembly . a naile is firm , and will hold driving in , and will hold driven in . send me such arguments . as for these waxen topicall devises , i shall never think worse or better of any religion for their sake . xix . alexander the * great , when a child , was check'd by his governour leonidas , for being overprofuse in spending perfumes : because on a day , being to sacrifice to the gods , he took both his hands full of frankinsence , and cast it into the fire . but afterwards , being a man , he conquered the countrey of iudaea , ( the fountaine , whence such spices did flow ) he sent leonidas a present of five hundred talents weight of frankincense , to shew him , how his former prodigality , made him thrive the better in successe , and to advise him to be no more niggardy in divine service . thus they that sow plentifully , shall reap plentifully , i see there is no such way to have a large heart , as to have a large heart . the free giving of the branches of our present estate to god , is the readiest means to have the root increased for the future . xx . the poets fable , that this was one of the labours imposed on hercules , to make clean the augeian stable , or stall rather . for therein ( they said ) were kept three thousand kine , and it had not been cleansed for thirty yeers together . but hercules , by letting the river alpheus into it , did that with ease , which before was conceived impossible . this stall , is the pure embleme of my impure soul , which hath been defiled with millions of sinnes , for more then thirty yeers together . oh! that i might by a lively faith , and unfeigned repentance , let the stream of that fountain into my soul , which is opened for iuda and ierusalem . it is impossible by all my pains to purge out my uncleannesse . which is quickly done by the rivolet of the blood of my saviour xxi . the venetians shewed the treasure of their state , being in many great coffers , full of gold and silver to the spanish ambassadour . but the ambassadour peeping under the bottome of those coffers , demanded , whether that their treasure did daily grow , and had a root for such ( saith he ) my masters treasure hath , meaning both his indies . many men have attained to a great height of piety , to be very abundant & rich therein . but all theirs is but a cistern , not fountain-grace , onely gods goodnesse hath a spring of it self , in it self . xxii . the * sidonian servants agreed amongst themselves , to chuse him to be their king , who that morning , should first see the sunne . whil'st all others were gazing on the east , one alone lookt on the west ; some admir'd , more mock't him , as if he look't on the feet , there to find the eye of the face . but he first of all discovered the light of the sunne , shining on the tops of houses . god is seen sooner , easier , clearer in his operations , then in his essence . best beheld by reflection in his creatures . for the invisible things of him , from the creation of the * world , are cleerly seen being understood by the things that are made . xxiii . an italian prince , as much delighted with the person , as grieved with the prodigality of his eldest sonne ; commanded his steward to deliver him no more money , but what the young prince should tell his own self . the young gallant fretted at his heart , that he must buy money at so dear a rate , as to have it for telling it . but , ( because there was no remedy ) he set himself to his task , and being greatly tired with telling a small summe , he brake off into this consideration . money may speedily be spent , but how tedious , and troublesome is it to tell it . and by consequence how much more difficult to get it . men may commit sinne presently , pleasantly , with much mirth , in a moment . but o that they would but seriously consider with themselves how many their offences are , and sadly fall a counting them . and if so hard truly to summe their sinnes , sure harder sincerely to sorrow for them . if to get their number be so difficult , what is it to get their pardon ? xxiv . i know the village in cambridge-shire , * wherein there was a crosse , full of imagery ; some of the images were such , as that people , not foolishly factious , but judiciously conscientious , took just exception at them . hard by , the youths of the town erected a may-pole , and to make it of proof , against any that should endeavour to cut it down , they armed it with iron , as high as any could reach . a violent wind happened to blow it down , which falling on the crosse , dashed it to pieces . it is possible , what is counted prophanesse , may accidentally correct superstition . but i could heartily wish that all pretenders to reformation , would first labour to be good themselves , before they go about the amending of others . xxv . i read that aegaeus the father of * theseus hid a sword , & a paire of shooes , under a great stone . and left word with his wife , ( whom he left with child ) that when the sonne she should bear , was able to take up that stone , weild that sword , and wear those shooes , then she should send him to him . for by these signes , he would own him for his own sonne . christ hath left in the custody of the church , our mother , the sword of the spirit , and the shooes of a christian conversation , the same , which he once wore himself , and they must fit our feet , yea , and we must take up the weight of many heavy crosses , before we can come at them . but when we shall appear before our heavenly father , bringing these tokens with us , then , and not before , he will acknowledge us to be no bastards but his true-born children . mixt contemplations . i. when i look on a leaden bullet , therein i can read both gods mercy , and mans malice . gods mercy , whose providence foreseeing , that men , of lead , would make instruments of cruelty , didst give that mettall a medicinall vertue ; as it hurts , so it also heals ; and a bullet sent in by mans hatred into a fleshly and no vitall part , will ( with ordinary care and curing ) out of a naturall charity , work it's own way out . but oh! how devillish were those men , who , to frustrate and defeat his goodnesse , and to countermand the healing power of lead , first found the champing and impoysoning of bullets . fools , who accompt themselves honoured with the shamefull title of being the inventors of evill * things , indeavouring to out-infinite gods kindnesse , with their cruelty . ii. i have heard some men ( rather causelessely captious , then judiciously criticall ) cavil at grammarians , for calling some conjunctions , disjunctive , as if this were a flat contradiction . whereas , indeed , the same particle may conjoyn words , and yet disjoyn the sence . but alas , how sad is the present condition of christians , who have a communion , disuniting . the lords supper , ordained by our saviour to conjoyn our affections , hath disjoyned our judgements . yea , it is to be feared , lest our long quarrels about the manner of his presence , cause the matter of his absence , for our want of charity to receive him . iii. i have observed , that children , when they first put on new shooes , are very curious to keep them clean . scarce will they set their foot on the ground , for fear to dirty the soles of their shooes . yea , rather they will wipe the leather clean with their coats ; and yet perchance the next day , they will trample with the same shooes in the mire up to the anckles . alas , childrens play is our earnest . on that day wherein we receive the sacrament , we are often over-precize , scrupling to say , or do , those things which lawfully we may . but we , who are more then curious that day , are not so much as carefull the next . and too often , ( what shall i say ) go on in sinne , up to the anckles , yea , our sins go * over our heads . iv. i know some men very desirous to see the devill , because they conceive such an apparition would be a confirmation of their faith . for then , by the logick of opposites , they will conclude , there is a god , because there is a devill . thus they will not believe there is a heaven , except hell it self be deposed for a witnesse thereof . surely such mens wishes are vain , and hearts are wicked : for if they will not believe , having moses , and the prophets , and the apostles , they will not believe , no , if the devill from hell appears unto them . such apparitions , were never ordained by god , as the means of faith . besides , satan will never shew himself , but to his own advantage . if , as a devill , to fright them , if as an angell of light , to flatter them , how ever to hurt them . for my part i never desire to see him . and o! ( if it were possible ) that i might never feel him in his motions , and temptations : i say , let me never see him , till the day of judgement , where he shall stand arreigned at the barre , and gods majesty sit judge on the bench , ready to condemn him . v. i observe , that antiquaries , such as prize skill above profit , ( as being rather curious , then covetous ) do preferre the brasse coyns of the roman emperours , before those in gold and silver , because there is much falsenesse and forgery daily detected , ( and more suspected ) in gold and silver meddals , as being commonly cast and counterfeited ; whereas brasse coyns , are presumed upon , as true and antient , because it will not quit cost for any to counterfeit them . plain dealing . lord , what i want in wealth may i have in sincerity . i care not how mean mettall my estate be of , if my soul have the true stamp , really impressed with the unfeigned image of the king of heaven . vi . looking on the chappell of king henry the seventh , in westminster , ( god grant i may once again see it , with the saint , who belongs to it , our soveraign , there in a wel conditioned peace ) i say looking on the outside of the chappell , i have much admired the curious workmanship thereof . it added to the wonder , that it is so shaddowed with mean houses , well nigh on all sides , that one may almost touch it , as soon as see it . such a structure needed no bace buildings about it , as foiles to set it off . rather this chappell may passe for the embleme of a great worth , living in a private way . how is he pleased with his own obscurity , whil'st others , of lesse desert , make greater shew . and whil'st proud people stretch out their plumes in o●tentation , he useth their vanity for his shelter ; more pleased to have worth , then to h●ve others take notice of it . vii . the mariners at sea count it the sweetest perfume , when the water in the keel of their ship doth stinke . for hence they conclude , that it is but little , and long since i ak't in . but it is wofull with them , when the water is felt before it is smelt , as fresh flowing in upon them , in abundance . it is the best savour in a christian soul , when his sinnes are loathsome and offensive unto him . an happy token that there hath not been of late in him any insensible supply of hainous offences , because his stale sinnes , are still his new and daily sorrow . viii . i have sometimes considered in what a troublesome case is that chamberlain , in an inne , who being but one , is to give attendance to many guests . for suppose them all in one chamber , yet if one shall command him to come to the window , and the other to the table , and another to the bed , and another to the chimney , and another to come up stairs , and another to go down stairs , and all in the same instant , how would he be distracted to please them all . and yet such is the sad condition of my soul , by nature ; not onely a servant but a slave unto sin . pride calls me to the window , gluttony to the table , wantonnesse to the bed , lazinesse , to the chimney , ambition commands me to go up stairs , and covetousnesse to come down . vices i see , are as well contrary to themselves , as to vertue . free me , lord , from this distracted case , fetch me from being sinnes servant to be thine , whose service is perfect freedom , for thou art but one and ever the same ; and alwayes enjoynes commands agreeable to themselves , thy glory , and my good . ix . i have observed , that towns , which have been casually burnt , have been built again more beautifull then before : mud-walls , afterwards made of stone ; and roofs , formerly but thatch't , after advanced to be tiled . the * apostle tels me , that i must not think strange concerning the fiery triall which is to happen unto me . may i likewise prove improved by it . let my renewed soul , which grows out of the ashes of the old man , be a more firm fabrick , and stronger , structure : so shall affliction be my advantage . x. our saviour saith , * when thou doest almes , let not thy left hand know , what thy right hand doth . yet one may generally observe , that almes-houses are commonly built by high-way-sides , the ready road to ostentation . how ever , farre be it from me , to make bad comments on their bounty : i rather interpret it , that they place those houses so publikely , thereby not to gain applause , but immitation . yea , let those , who will plant pious works , have the liberty to choose their own ground . especially in this age , wherein we are likely , neither in by wayes or high-wayes to have any works of mercy , till the whole kingdom be speedily turned into one great hospitall , and gods charity onely able to relieve us . xi . how wrangling and litigious were we in the time of peace ? how many actions were created of nothing , suits we had commenced , about a mouthfull of grasse , or a handfull of hey . now he , who formerly would sue his neighbour , for pedibus ambulando , can behold his whole feild lying waste , and must be content . we see our goods taken from us , and dare say nothing , not so much as seeking any legall redresse , because certain not to find it . may we be restored in due time to our former properties , but not to our former peevishnesse . and when law , shall be again awaked ( or rather revived ) let us expresse our thanks to god , for so great a gift by using it not wantonly , ( as formerly in vexing our neighbours about trifles ) but soberly to right our selves in matters of moment . xii . almost twenty yeers since i heard a profane jest , and still remember it . how many pious passages , of farre later date , have i forgotten ? it seems my soul is like a filthy pond , wherein fish dye soon , and froggs live long . lord , raze this profane jest out of my memory . leave not a letter thereof behind , lest my corruption ( an apt scholler ) guesse it out again , and be pleased to write some pious meditation in the place thereof . and grant , lord , that for the time to come , ( because such bad guests are easier kept out , then cast out ) that i may be carefull , not to admit , what i find so difficult to expell . xiii . i perceive there is in the world a good nature , falsely so called , as being nothing else , but a facill and flexible disposition , wax for every impression . what others are so bold to beg , they are so bashfull as not to deny . such osiers , can never make beams to bear stresse , in church and state . if this be good nature , let me alwayes be a clown . if this be good fellowship , let me alwayes be a churle . give me to set a sturdy porter before my soul , who may not equally open to every commer . i cannot conceive , how he can be a friend to any , who is a friend to all , and the worst foe to himself . xiv . ha , is the interjection of laughter . ah , is an interjection of sorrow . the difference betwixt them very small , as consisting onely in the transposition of what is no substantiall letter , but a bare aspiration . how quickly in the age of a minute , in the very turning of a breath , is our mirth chang'd into mourning . xv . i have a great friend , whom i endeavour and desire to please , but hitherto all in vain : the more i seek , the further off i am , from finding his favour . whence comes this miscarriage ? are not my applications to man , more frequent then my addresses to my maker ? do i not love his smiles , more then i fear heavens frowns ? i confesse , to my shame , that sometimes his anger hath grieved me more then my sinnes . hereafter , by thy assistance , i will labour to approve my wayes in gods presence ; so shall i either have , or not need his friendship , and either please him with more ease , or displease him ▪ with lesse danger . xvi . this nation is scourged with a wasting warre . our sinnes were ripe ; god could no longer be just , if we were prosperous . blessed be his name , that i have suffered my share in the calamities of my countrey . had i poised my self so politickly betwixt both parties , that i had suffered from neither , yet could i have took no contentment in my safe escaping . for why should i , equally ingaged with others in sinning , be exempted above them from the punishment . and seeing the bitter cup , which my brethren have pledg'd , to passe by me , i should fear it would be fill'd again , and returned double , for me to drink it . yea , i should suspect , that i were reserved alone , for a greater shame and sorrow . it is therefore some comfort that i draw in the same yoak with my neighbours , & with them joyntly bear the burthen which our sins joyntly brought upon us . xvii . when , in my privat prayers , i have been to confesse my bosome sins unto god , i have been loath to speak them aloud . fearing ( though no men could ) yet that the devill would over-hear me , and make use of my words against me . it being probable , that when i have discovered the weakest part of my soul , he would assault me there . yet , since i have considered , that therein i shall tell satan no news , which he knew not before . surely i have not managed my secret sinnes with such privacy , but that he , from some circumstances , collected what they were . though the fire was within , he saw some smoake without . wherefore , for the future , i am resolved , to acknowledge my darling faults , though alone , yet aloud ; that the devill who rejoyced in , partly , knowing of my sins , may be grieved more by hearing the expression of my sorrow . as for any advantage he may make from my confession , this comforts me ▪ gods goodnesse in assisting me , will be above satans malice in assaulting me . xviii . in the mid'st of my morning prayers , i had a good meditation , which since i have forgotten . thus much i remember of it , that it was pious in it self , but not proper for that time . for it took much from my devotion , and added nothing to my instruction , and my soul , not able to intend two things at once , abated of it's fervency in praying . thus snatching at two . imployments , i held neither well . sure this meditation came not from him , who is the god of order . he useth to fasten all his nailes , and not to drive out one with another . if the same meditation return again , when i have leisure , and room to receive it , i will say it is of his sending , who so mustereth , and marshalleth all good actions , that like the souldiers in his army , mentioned in the * prophet . they shall not thrust one another , they shall walk every one in his own path. xix . when i go speedily in any action . lord give me to call my soul to an account . it is a shrewd suspition , that my bowle runnes down-hill , because it runnes so fast . and lord , when i go in an unlawfull way , start some rubbs to stop me , let my foot slip or stumble . and give me the grace to understand the language of the lets thou throwest in my way . thou hast promised , * i will hedge up thy way . lord be pleased to make the hedge high enough , and thick enough , that if i be so mad , as to adventure to climbe over it , i may not onely soundly rake my cloaths , but rend my flesh : yea , let me rather be caught , and stick in the hedge , then breaking in thorow it , fall on the other side into the deep ditch of eternall damnation . xx . coming hastily into a chamber , i had almost thrown down a christall hour-glasse : fear , lest i had , made me grieve , as if i had broken it : but , alas , how much pretious time have i cast away , without any regret . the hour-glasse was but christall , each hour a pearl ; that but like to be broken , this lost outright ; that but casually , this done wilfully . a better hour-glasse might be bought : but time lost once , lost ever . thus we grieve more , for toyes then for treasure . lord , give me an hour-glasse , not to be by me , but to be in me . teach me to number my * dayes . an hour-glasse , to turn me , that i may apply my heart unto wisdom . xxi . when a child , i loved to look on the pictures in the book of martyrs . i thought that there the martyres at the stake , seemed like the three children in the fiery * fournace , ever since i had known them there , not one hair more of their head was burnt , nor any smell of the fire singeing of their cloaths . this made me think martyrdom was nothing . but o , though the lion be painted fiercer then he is , the fire is farre fiercer then it is painted . thus it is easie for one to endure an affliction , as hee limnes it out in his own fancie , and represents it to himself but in a bare speculation . but when it is brought indeed , and laied home to us , there must be the man , yea , there must be more then the man , yea , there must be god to assist the man to undergo it . xxii . travelling on the plain , ( which notwithstanding hath its risings and fallings ) i discovered salisbury steeple many miles off : coming to a declivity , i lost the sight thereof : but climbing up the next hill , the steeple grew out of the ground again . yea , i often found it , and lost it , till at last , i came safely to it , and took my lodging neer it . it fareth thus with us , whilst we are way-fairing to heaven , mounted on the * pisgat top of some good meditation , we get a glimps of our celestiall canaan . but when , either on the flat of an ordinary temper , or in the fall of an extraordinary temptation , we lose the view thereof . thus , in the sight of our soul , heaven is discovered , covered & recovered , till , though late , at last , though slowly , surely , we arrive at the haven of our happinesse . xxiii . lord , i find my self in the latitude of a feaver . i am neither well , nor ill . not so well , that i have any mind to be merry with my friends , nor so ill that my friends have any cause to condole with me . i am a probationer in point of my health . as i shall behave my self , so i may be either expelled out of it , or admitted into it . lord , let my distemper stop here , & go on further . shoot not thy murthering pieces against that clay-castle , which surrendreth it self at thy first summons . o spare me a little ! that i may recover my strength . i begge not to be forgiven , but to be forborn my debt to nature . and i onely do crave time , for a while , till i be better fitted , and furnished to pay it . xxiv . it seemed strange to me when i was told , that aqua-vitae ( which restores life to others ) should it self be made of the droppings of dead beer . and that strong-waters should be extracted out of the dreggs ( almost ) of small beer . surely many other excellent ingredients , must concurre , and much art must be used in the distillation . despair not then , o my soul ! no extraction is impossible , where the chymist is infinite . he that is all in all , can produce any thing , out of any thing . and he can make my soul , which by nature is setled on his * lees , and dead in sinne , to be quickned by the infusion of his grace , and purified into a pious disposition . xxv . lord , how easie is pen and paper-piety for one to write religiously . i will not say it costeth nothing , b●t it is farre cheaper to work one's head , then ones heart to goodnesse . some , perchance , may guesse me to be good by my writings , and so i shall deceive my reader . but if i do not desire to be good , i most of all deceive my self . i can make an hundred meditations , sooner then subdue the least sinne in my soul . yea , i was once in the mind , never to write more ; for fear lest my writings at the last day prove records against me . and yet why should i not write ? that by reading my own book , the disproportion betwixt my lines and my life , may make me blush my self , ( if not into goodnesse ) into lesse badnesse then i would do otherwise . that so my writings may condemne me , and make me to condemne my self , that so god may be moved to acquit me . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a e- * cor. . . notes for div a e- * iames . * isaiah . . * psal. . * ephes. . . * ioh. . * dan. . . * psal. . . * num. . . * num. . . * ruth . . . * prov. . . * eccles. . . * mat. . . * num. . . * gen. . . * ephes. . * revel. . . * ioh. . . * acts . . * gen. . . * iudges . . notes for div a e- matth. . . * matth. . . * luke . . * matth. . . * psal. . . * gen. . * gen. . * gen. . * iohn . . . * cor. . . * cor. . * rom. . . * pet. . * matth. . , . * rev. . * matth. . . * mark . . . * mark . . . * phil. . . * matth. . . * sam. . . * exod. . . * rom. . . * heb. . * iosh. . . * gen. . * gen. . . * gen. . . * philemon . verse . * matth. . . * mark . . . * psal. . * pro. . * mark . . . * luke . . . * tim. . . * exod. . . notes for div a e- * m. varro , solinus , plinius , halicar. . &c. * ephes. . . * giraldus cambrensis . & cambder , in the description of th●t shire . * plutarch . in iul. caesar . * sir iohn heywood ▪ in the life of edward the . * psal. . . * munsters cosmography . book . page * iohn . * cambden brit : in kent . gualterus mappaeus de nugis curialium . * iob. . . * rom. . . * annales hybernici , in anno . & cambdens britt . pag. . * lawfully i presume to apply a popish vision to confute a popish practice . * livie libro sexto , cap. . * isai. . . * annales hybernici , in anno . & cambdens britt . pag. . * eccles. . . * plutarch . in the life of alex. the great . * iustin. lib. . pag. . * ●om . . . * cotenham . * plutarch . in theseo notes for div a e- * rom. . . * psal. . . * pet. . . * matt. . * ioel . . * hosea . . . * psal. . . * dan. . . * deut. . . * zeph. . . the best name on earth together with severall other sermons / lately preached at st. brides and in other places by t. fuller. fuller, thomas, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing f estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) the best name on earth together with severall other sermons / lately preached at st. brides and in other places by t. fuller. fuller, thomas, - . p. in various pagings. printed for the use and benefit of william byron, gent., london : . each work has separate t.p. and paging. reproduction of original in the emanuel college library, cambridge university. the worst of evils ( p.) -- the snare broken ( p.) -- strange justice ( p.) created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng sermons, english -- th century. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - judith siefring sampled and proofread - judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the best name on earth together with severall other sermons lately preached at st. brides ; and in other places . by t. fuller , batchelour in divinitie . london printed for the use and benefit of william byron , gent. . antiochia . behold this ancient citty from whence cam● as from y e sacred font the christians name heauen grante ●● our once famous london may what antioch gaue in time not take away . io : qu iohn stafford excu : the best name on earth together with severall other sermons lately preached at st. brides ; and in other places . by t. fuller , batchelour in divinitie . london printed for the use and benefit of william byron , gent. . collegium emmanuelis cantabrigiae the best name on earth . acts . . and the disciples were called christians first in antioch . . we meet with four names in scripture whereby the servants of god converted to embrace the gospel , were called , before the time that my text was written . these took their denominations from the four cardinall graces so necessary to mans salvation . . from their holinesse called saints . . from their faith called believers . . from their love called the brethren . . from their knowledge called the disciples . from their holinesse called saints , acts . . i have heard by many of this man , how much evil he hath done to thy saints at ierusalem . acts . . he came down also to the saints which dwelt at lydda . from their faith called believers , acts . . and believers were the more added to the lord , multitudes both of men and women . from their love called the brethren , acts . . which when the brethren knew , they brought him down to cesarea , and sent him forth to tarsus . acts . . and the apostles and brethren that were in iudea heard that the gentiles had also received the word of god. from their knowledge called the disciples . the number of the disciples was multiplied . acts . . called the multitude of the disciples unto them . and in my text , and the disciples were called christians first in antioch . . observe in the words , . who were called ; the disciples : all they , and onely they . . what they were called , christians . . where they were called , at antioch . . and lastly , when they were called ; first , neither sooner nor later , but just now when the church so increased with the preaching of saul and barnabas . we will chiefly insist on the second and third parts ; and therein for the more conveniency , invert the order , and begin first with the place called antioch . . first then negatively , not at ierusalem , and that for two reasons . first , because ierusalem had lately lost its credit with the great god of heaven , it was become bankrupt in its reputation for her ingratitude to god , and cruelty to his servants , matthew . . o ierusalem , ierusalem , thou that killest the prophets , and stonest them which are sent unto thee ; how often would i have gathered thy children together , even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings , and ye would not ? behold , your house is left unto you desolate . yea it was utterly unfit that the name of christians should begin , or be born in that place where christ was so cruelly put to death . . secondly , because ierusalem was of a covetous , envious , and ingrossing nature , ready to monopolize and inclose all honour to it self . so that had the name of christians first begun within the walls of ierusalem , the jews would have been ready alone to lay claim thereunto , excluding the gentiles to have any participation therein . as christ therefore suffered without the walls of ierusalem , thereby proclaiming himself a publick good , not appropriated to that private nation , and for the same causes the name of christians began not at ierusalem but at antioch . . secondly , negatively , the name began not at rome . o how would the tide of tybur have swollen beyond bounds and banks , had the name of christ first begun from that citie ? how would the papists boast ( though not without some cause ) yet beyond all measure , that rome in a manner was the godmother of true religion , & gave her the name of christianity ? if a father cannot in his writings vail his bonnet in a civil respect to the citie of rome , and give it a regardfull salutation , because it was the imperiall citie of the world ; if an ancient ecclesiasticall historian cannot give it a rhetoricall complement , in respect it was so famous a church , and most ancient patriarchall seat , having precedency before , though not superiority above , all other churches ; i say , if in such cases their expressions are hailed and tugged by popish parasites , to signifie ( contrary to the mind of the speakers ) the primacy and infallibility of the romish church : how would they ere now have hollowed it into the eares of deaf men , & imperiously upbraided the church of england , if the name of christians had its rise from rome , and originall in the walls thereof ? but god hath marred their mark , and payred their pride , and blasted their boasting : christians were first so called , not at rome but at antioch . . here let us enquire orderly into two things , . what was antioch . . what is antioch . what was it ? i confesse there be many cities in asia of that name , no fewer then seven and twenty , which i could easily demonstrate , were it not my work to preach heaven unto you , and not to read a geography lecture . . the reason why there were so many antioches is this , because there were two antiochusses successively , both puissant princes and eminent emperours of asia , who founding , repairing , and enlargeing severall cities , called them all after their own name . besides , they had many friends and favourites who to ingratiate themselves with these princes , called the cities of their own erection after the names of antiochus . . but the antiochia mentioned in the text , is certainly known to be antiochia in coelosyria , so called , because lying in a hollow vale interposed between the mountains of libanus and antilibanus . it was commonly called antioch the great , and was a metropolis for trade in those eastern parts . . come we now to consider what is antioch . it is a pittifull inconsiderable village , famous onely for what it hath been ; the churches therein are buried in their own church-yards . it falleth so much under the notice of a geographer , that it falleth not under it generally ; omitted in most mapps , except some charitable ones , which are pleased in pitie to take cognizance thereof . yea , which is worst of all , a sound christian and orthodox in his judgement , is hardly to be found in that citie where christianity first began . it is at this day infected with mahumetisme , and such few sorry christians as remain therein , are infected in the fundamentalls of religion : for they follow the greek church , and deny the procession of the holy spirit from the sonne , the second person in the trinity . use . to teach humility to all places of greatnesse , not to confide in their own populousnesse , but to walk in humility before god , seeing antioch the great , that voluminous citie , is now epitomized to nothing : yea , we may generally observe , that all cities that wear the sirname of great , are beheld by god with a jealous eye : partly because greatnesse is a flower of the crown of heaven ; partly because great cities presume on their populousnesse to be great sinners ; hoping in vain that their greatnesse will procure them an act of indemnity , and god be moved to let them alone , rather then to punish so many , enough to make the sword of his justice turn edge , before , it can cut through them . . the premises i say have moved the great god of heaven to hold a strict eye , and heavy hand over all cities sirnamed great ; whilest lesser places , zoars , escape best in general judgements : nineveh the great , jonah . . hamath the great , rabbah the great , babylon the great , revel . . . no the infinite , nahum . . and antioch , by humane writers called antiochia magna , are all reduced to ruines . . give me leave to say to this citie of london , as darius did to daniel in a holy complement , o darius , live for ever , that is , ( understand it a finite ever ) might he , in life , health , and prosperity , continue to the utmost possibility of nature . so say i , o london , last for ever , may it flourish as long as any place hath a subsistence in this sublunary world ; however , let it not be high minded , but fear , seeing antioch a place as plentifull , as puissant , as populous , is now dwingled away to an inconsiderable village . . come we now to the name of christians : this will bear a double debate , first , whether it was imposed by the enemies of the church in scorn and derision , or whether the church it self did assume it as an act of their own election and approbation . . i conceive the first utterly improbable : for had the persecutours of the church , the depravers of goodnesse and good men , given a name unto them , they would have invented and imposed one more defamatory , of greater shame and disgrace , as to call them hereticks , nazarites , crucifictians , and the like ; and not so noble a name as christians . by the way we may observe , that the word christian is used twice in the bible , or if you will , but once and an half . once , pet. . . yet if any man suffer as a christian , let him not be ashamed , but let him glorifie god on this behalf . the half time , acts . . when agrippa said , thou hast perswaded me almost to be a christian. in both which places we find the word taken in an honourable acception , nothing of shame being imported therein ; which perswades us to believe , the name was never fastened on gods servants by their professed enemies . a second enquiry succeeds , viz. . whether this name was by divine injunction immediately bestowed upon them , or whether the church meeting together , by a prudentiall act , with a joint consent assumed it upon themselves . i confesse at the first reading , i conceived the text in the original favoured the former , where i read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : now 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sometimes containeth divine inspiration therein , and is so used matth. . . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : and being warned of god in a dream . this , i say , inclined me to believe the name of christians to be revealed from god , and by him immediately imposed on the disciples . . but on second thoughts , i find the word sometimes to import no more then a plain denomination . and so it is used , rom. . . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , she shall be called an adulteresse ; which moveth me to believe , that without any such immediate revelation from heaven , in an extraordinary manner , in the manifestation of gods will , the apostles there present , by the assistance of gods spirit within them , and the generall consent of the church about them , assumed that name upon themselves . . possibly because many believed , some of the circumcision and some of the uncircumcision ; and because gentiles was a name odious to the iews , and iews offensive to the gentiles : therefore the word christians was pitcht upon as common to both , to bury the former names under it : for though iew and gentile did ever remain as words of civil distinction , they were henceforward abolished , as terms of hatefull disparity . quest. . but why were they not called fatherians from god the father , or holy ghostians from the holy ghost ? why onely christians from christ the second person in the trinity ? here , if any return that they are too harsh and ill sounding , too troublesome and tedious to be pronounced , the answer is in no degree satisfactory to the question . for , first , were our tongues as long accustomed to the pronunciation of these words , as they have been used to the word christian , a very lisping utterance would easily be able to expresse them . secondly , we in england within these last fifteen yeares , have acquainted our tongues with as hard terms , with as numerous syllables , & some of latine , others of greek extraction , ( presbyterians , antinomians , independents , representatives , &c. ) and yet these go down glib with us in our common discourse . answ. . the true answer is this , we are called christians from that person in the trinity , that hath merited most in the redemption of mankind . . and here farre be it from me to make odious comparisons betwixt the persons in the trinity , and their deserts towards us , which have most indeared us unto them . that person who hath done least for us , hath done more for us then we can requite , then we can deserve , then we can expresse , then we can conceive ; however , may dust and ashes in all humility confesse this most necessary and comfortable truth , that christ the second person in the trinity , is the best friend we have in the court of heaven , and hath both done and suffered most in the effecting our salvation . . thence is that expression of david , psalme . . the lord said unto my lord , sit thou at my right hand , untill i make thy enemies thy footstool . the lord , that is , god the father , said to my lord , that is to god the sonne , to iesus christ ; indeed one can take but little comfort in the lord , if not for my lords intercession . the lord considered in his greatnesse and justice , is our enraged enemy , affording us cause of fear and sadnesse , till beheld as reconciled in our lord unto us . . now it will plainly appear , that christ hath performed most for mankind in order to our salvation . for , first , in operibus ad extra , in all outward actions , christ the second person in trinity hath an equall share with the other two . thus christ , as well as the other two persons in trinity , created the world , and all therein , john . , , . in the beginning was the word , and the word was with god , and the word was god. the same was in the beginning with god. all things were made by him , and without him was not any thing made that was made . . secondly , we are justified by christ , as well as by god the father , gal. . . but if while we seek to be justified by christ , we our selves are also found sinners , is therefore christ the minister of sinne ? god forbid . . thirdly , we are sanctified by christ as well as by the holy ghost : for as it is said , rom. . . being sanctified by the holy ghost ; so it is said , cor. . . to them that are sanctified through christ iesus . . hitherto we have proved , that christs goodnesse came paralell with the other two persons in trinity , in their relation to mankind , creating , justifying , and sanctifying us : now it remains that we shew what christ hath peculiarly done and suffered for us . and this will plainly appear , if we consider , how three parts of four in the creed , are made up of our saviours performances for our salvation , wherein he alone had a personall interest . . christ it was , who was conceived of the holy ghost , christ it was who was born of the virgin mary ; christ it was who suffered under pontius pilat ; christ it was who was crucified , dead , and buried ; christ it was who descended into hell ; christ it was who the third day rose again from the dead ; christ it is who sitteth on the right hand of god almighty ; christ it shall be , who shall come to judge both the quick and dead : and thus we see , that the greater part of the creed is but a chronicle of christs achievements for mankind , from whom we are justly called christians . . but some will say , grant it fit that gods servants should be denominated from the second person in trinity , yet , why are they not called iesuites from iesus , rather then christians from the name of christ ? . i answer , the name of iesus which signifies a saviour , is not of so transitive a nature as the word christ is , nor can it be so properly applyed to men , without some suspition of blasphemy , and confining thereupon ; iesus importeth a saviour , christ importeth anointed ; now every servant of god cannot be termed a saviour , but may properly be called a christ , and an anointed . . this may be proved from the expression of david , psal. . . thou lovest righteousnesse , and hatest wickednesse , therefore god , thy god hath anointed thee with the oyl of gladness above thy fellows . see we here , that christ being anointed above his fellows , implieth that his fellows were also anointed , though in an inferiour proportion ; though the grand shower of graces fell onely on the head of our saviour , yet some stragling drops did light on all them who truly believe in him , so that every saint of god is a little christ or anointed , . they may also be called christians , that is the professours of the faith , maintainers of the doctrine which christ delivered to his apostles , and endeavourers to imitate the examples which he set before them . . here we must not forget how the heathen made another deduction , and etymologie of the word christians ; for such pagans , in the primitive times , beholding the love and charity betwixt christians , how they mutually relieved each others wants ; but especially , how they conversed together in the time of plagues and epidemicall diseases , comforting one another , when heathen people started from the embraces of their nearest relations : i say , seeing this , they conceived they were called christiani quasi chrestani , from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the greek word for mild and meek , as more mercifull men , more pittifull and compassionate persons then any others . . but alasse , should heathens now look on the carriage and conversations of christians one towards another , how spitefull and cruell we are , how bearish , how borish , how brutish we are in our mutuall dissentions , they would conclude us not called from meeknesse ; so ill we broke our names . . come we now to the uses of what hath been delivered , which may serve to confute two sorts of people . first , those that are ashamed of the name christians . secondly , those that are ashame to the name christian. for the first , we charge this on the account of the church of rome , let them get it off as they can . for the word christian in the citie of rome , is taken to be a term of disgrace , a note or brand of infamy ; so that when they will disparage a person , they call him a * christian , which amounteth to as much as a silly fellow , a mean man , a man of no parts or endowments . . and will you know the true cause thereof ? it is this ; all pregnant wits of able and active parts , or of high and honourable parentage , enter themselves into some order : if men , of benedictines , dominicans , franciscans , carmelites , iesuites , &c. if women , bridgittians , clarians , &c. so that besides the name of christians , they have an addition from their order to distinguish them from the common sort of people . and if they be seculars of any considerable eminency , then are they known by their dignities of arch-deacons bishops , cardinalls , &c. so that such plain poore people which are without welt or guard of any such religious accessions , are called christians , as uselesse in the church , save as ordinary persons without any degree or dignity therein . thus christian passeth there for the civillest expression of a fool , and doth not rome shew her self to be antichristian to purpose , where the name of christian passeth for a term of dishonour , or at the best of diminution ? . in the second place we charge it on our romish adversaries , that they are ashamed of the name christian , because they write themselves dominicans , franciscans , carmelites , &c. pleasing and priding themselves in those titles , whilest the name of christian ( though not actually disowned ) is disused by them , and left in silence and obscurity . . but here the romanists turn our own ordinance against us , and assault us with our own weapons . they heavily accuse us for being ashamed of the name christian , because calling our selves lutherans , calvinists , hugenotes , protestants , remonstrants , antiremonstrants , &c. thus as mary complained , john . . they have taken away the lord , and i know not where they have layd him . they charge us that we have left out and lost christ , under those many strange names we have assumed to our selves . . i must enlarge my self in answer to this objection . and first i lay down this foundation , that we never took these names unto our selves , but they were fixed and fastned on us by the spleen & envy of our romish adversaries ; and here we appeal to any unbiassed person to be judge betwixt us , whether this be fair and ingenuous dealing of the papists ? who first asperse us with such nicknames , first call us so , and then accuse us for being called so . and this will plainly appear , upon a particular examination of the aforesaid names . . to begin with lutherans and calvinists . this we say . we acknowledge luther and calvin two eminent instruments of gods glory in their generations ; whereof the first was more then a common man , armed cap a pe , with a couragious spirit , to break through , and rout the ranks of the romish superstitions . however , we utterly disclaime to be called by their names : call us lutherans , call us calvinists , call us protestants , or what they please , we stand silent , and return no vous aves , as utterly unconcerned in that call , onely we sind our tongues , when termed christians : for the disciples were called christians first at antioch . . we reade a passage isaiah . . much appliable to this purpose . and in that day seven women shall take hold of one man , saying , we will eat our own bread , and wear our own apparel , onely let us be called by thy name , to take away our reproach . here we may plainly perceive , that it is the prerogative royall of the husband alone , and part of his maritall priviledge to have his wife denominated from him . god therefore who is a jealous god , may justly be suspitious of our church her loyalty , if offering to be named from any other , but from christ her husband . . what saith john the baptist ? john . . he that hath the bride is the bridegroom : but the friend of the bridegroom which standeth and heareth him , rejoyceth greatly , because of the bridegroomes voice , this my joy therefore is fulfilled . we allow luther and calvin friends of the bridegroom , shining and burning lights , starres of the first magnitude , but christ alone is the husband , the bridegroom to whom our church humbly and heartily applieth it self , triumphing to be called after his name alone . . come we now to the third term of protestants , wherein we take no delight , as cast upon us by our adversaries . here first , we confesse that in a generall sence all the saints of god may be termed protestants . s. paul himself was one , cor. . . i protest by your rejoycing which i have in christ iesus our lord , i die daily . protestation is no more then a solemn and serious profession of the truth . . but the name of protestants , as imposed on those of our church , had this originall . the german princes being in war with charles the fitfh emperour , drew up an instrument which they called a protestation , containing a breviate of the articles of their religion , in opposition to the superstitions of the church of rome ; and this they protested jointly to defend , with their lives and estates : hereupon their adversaries termed them protestants ; a term now extended to all of their perswasion : but it can never be proved that we took that name to our selves , or took any delight or contentment therein , as too narrow a name of party , whilst rechoboth , god hath made us room in the word christians , seeing that we rejoice in the latitude and comprehensivenesse thereof . . as for the name hugenots , it was imposed by the papists on the servants of god , who declining the common superstition repaired privately to s. hughs gate at toures in france , there secretly to here sermons , and receive the sacrament . but it cannot be evidenced , that ever they of the reformation in that countrey , appropriated the name to themselves , or did ever style or write themselves by that appellation ; the same may be said of the remaining names , which without our consent , yea against our wills , have been fastned upon us . . here i will not descend to those petty names of private sects , which these last ten yeares have produced , nor will i honour them with any mention . chiefly , because as the youngest of discretion in this congregation , may remember the beginning of such names , i hope the oldest may live to see the end of them , when such ridiculous and absurd names shall utterly be abolished . . come we now to the second sort to be confuted ; namely , such as are a shame to the name of christian , and these may be reduced to three ranks . . the profane . . the ignorant . . the factious . to begin with the first . such may justly forfeit the title of christian , whose works confute the word , and conversations contradict their denominations ; let such either live as they are called , christians , or be called as they live , pagans . . scipio the worthy conquerour of africa , had a son that had nothing of his father but the name , being cowardly dissolute , and given to all debauchery . it happened that he came into the senate-house with a ring on his finger , wherein the picture of his father was most lively made ; where the councel , by an act of state , commanded him to forbear the wearing of it , adjudging it unfit that he should wear his fathers picture , who would imitate none of his fathers virtues . . i am sorry the story is too naturall to be applied , and your meditations have prevented me herein . let them no longer abuse the name of christ , but desist from making any further use thereof , except they will make a reformation of their lives , with all possible speed , to an acceptable proportion . . secondly , it confutes the ignorant , which wear the name of christ , yet can give no account of christ , from whom they were so named ; demand of them a reason of their denomination , and they are utterly unable to return any satisfaction . . laban being questioned for his cozonage by his nephew jacob , for substituting leah in stead of rachel , had nothing to plead for himself , gen. . . save onely that it was the custome of the countrey not to marry the younger first . so were some countrey people taken to task , and seriously catechized about the cause of their names , they would render no other reason , but the custome of the place they lived in ; it hath been fashionable say they for many hundred of years , our fathers , grand-fathers , great grand-fathers , time out of minde , have been called christians , and we succeed , as to their lands , so to their appellations . . it is sad there should be so much darknesse in our land of goshen , where the gospel hath been so plentifully preached , and publickly professed : these things i could as heartily wish they were false , as i do plainly know they are true . . lastly , it confutes those who are factious , and willingly and wilfully make rents in the church ; how can these without apparent usurpation be intitled christians ? . well , to conclude , let us leave off all by-names of parties , interest and factions , and return to our best , largest , and ancientest name of christians : best , because no doubt imposed , if not by the command , by the consent of god himself , and therefore good reason it should alwaies continue as an honourable denomination . we reade , gen. . . that whatsoever adam called every living creature , that was the name thereof . it seemeth he gave them expressive and significant names , such as were breif definitions of their natures , or else god would have reversed and revoked them , and not have suffered them to stand and remain ; seeing therefore the name of christians was given by a greater then adam , being , if not jure divino , at the least jure apostolico , by the joint concurrence of the apostles thereunto , let it last to all posterity . . yea , as this is the best name , because the best men were the authours thereof , so is it also , because of the best matter contained therein , the name christian well understood , it preacheth a double sermon unto us . . it putteth us in mind of what christ hath done for us , and the many benefits we obtained by his life , death , resurrection , and intercession . . it is a remembrancer unto us of what we should do for christ , in gratitude to the many favours he hath done for us . . secondly , christians , it is the largest name , it takes in all christs little flock within the compasse thereof , agreeing in the same fundamentall doctrine , though there may be difference betwixt them in unimportant controversies , where the errour doth not intrench on salvation ; though their opposites may unmercifully censure and condemn them for the same . o! if god were not more mercifull to us then we are charitable one to another , his flock would be so little , it would not deserve the name of a flock . . . it is the ancientest proper name ; believers , saints , brethren , disciples , they were but epithites and appellatives ; and though they still be in being and lustre , yet they are all out-shined with the word christian , the best , largest and ancientest name for all of our profession ; and the disciples were first called christians at antioch . finis . the worst of evils . ephes. . . and were by nature the children of wrath even as others . by t. f. b. d. london , printed by r. daniel , mdclvi . the worst of evils . ephes. . . and were by nature the children of wrath even as others . in this chapter s. paul is the remembrancer to the ephesians , and reades them a lecture of their badnesse , before their calling and conversion ; & surely such thoughts are right profitable to christians , to call to minde how bad they were whilst they were wilde olives , before they were ingrafted into christ : for first it will raise their thankfulnesse to god ; what am i , or what is my fathers house , that thou shouldst bring me hither ? it will make us pay one tribute of praise more fully , more freely , when we consider if we be vessels of honour , it is no difference in the clay , but in the pleasure of the potter . secondly , it is excellent physick against the pleasure of pride , to let our souls bloud with the consideration how bad we have been ; he that will not confesse his former badnesse , i suspect his present goodnesse , whether he hath any or not . lastly , it will make us both pitty the present wofull estate of wicked men , and hope well , and pray heartily for their future conversion ; why should we fear that arm of god should be too short for others , that could reach us ? thinke not that we are the last lost sheep that shall ever be found ; the most crooked tree will make timber for the temple , if god pleaseth to hew it . for these and other reasons , s. paul in this chapter paints out to the life the dead estate of the ephesians , whilst they were in trespasses & sinnes , following their own lusts , and the power of the prince of the aire ; and in conclusion showes the cause thereof , namely their corruption by nature ; so that the last item in this black bill is in effect the very imprimis of all the rest . and were by nature the children of wrath even as others : we will observe this plain method . . that by nature all are the children of wrath . . how it comes to passe that we are so . . seeing so it is , what good use we may make thereof to our selves . . that by nature we are the children of wrath , is the very language of my text ; yet lest any should object my text should be but a single instrument , heare how it is tuned according to the dolefull consort both of scripture and reason in this point : of scripture , psal. . . behold , i was shapen in iniquity , and in sinne did my mother conceive me : romans . . wherefore as by one man sin entred into the world , and death by sinne , and so death passed upon all men , for that all have sinned . . by reason , fetcht from the mystery of circumcision under the old testament , & baptisme in the new ; the whole , saith our saviour , have no need of the physitian , but those which are sick . secondly , because we want that original righteousnesse wherein we were created , and which is required to the purity and perfection of our nature ; which righteousnesse was in adam who was created after gods own image , consisting chiefly in knowledge and holinesse ▪ as for adams knowledge , he gave sufficient proof thereof in giving names to rhe creatures ; if a godfather at the font give a foolish and fond name to a child , the bishop at confirmation hath power to alter it ; had adam either imposed improper or insignificant names on the creatures , god no doubt could have reversed and revoked them , but the text saith gen. . . whatsoever adam called living creatures , that was the name thereof , god did concurre with adam , and approve their names as brief definitions of their natures : nor was his sanctity any whit inferiour to his knowledge , each faculty of his soul did look straight forwards on his proper object without squinting aside on any other ; so that what was said of this great world , was as great a truth of this little world man , and behold all things therein were exceeding good ; now because we want thi● originall righteousnesse , we are therefore the children of wrath . thirdly , because all the part● and powers of our soul and bod● are depraved with originall corruption : now as nehemiah did by night survey the ruines of the walls of jerusalem , so let us with shame , sorrow and silence , behold the breaches and dilapidations of our souls . our understandings are so bad that they understand not their own badnesse ; our wils which are the queens of our souls become the vassals of sin ; our memory like jett good onely to draw strawes , and treasure up trifles of no moment ; our consciences through errours in our understanding , sometimes accusing us when we are innocent , sometimes accquitting us when we are guilty ; our affections all disaffected and out of order ; must not that needs be a monstrous face wherein the blewnesse which should be in the veins , is in the lipps ; the rednesse which should be in the cheeks , in the nose ; the hair that should grow on the head , on the face ? & must not our souls needs seem ugly in the sight of god , who have grief growing there where joy should , & joy where grief should ? wee love what wee should hate , & hate where we should love ; wee fear where no fearis , and fear not where we ought to fear ; and all our affections either mistake their true object , or exceed their due measure : this made the purest pagans see somewhat of their naturall impurity , and the most refined philosophers complain of their drowsinesse by nature ; they saw al● was not right , all was not well which made them complain tha● nature was noverca , a stepmother nature was a mother in law , but when or how their own mother dyed , that they could not tell or remember ; they could not know how their souls forfeited originall righteousnesse , being a mystery too high for them to mount unto , who wanted the wings of holy writ , & the direction of s. paul in my text , that we are by nature the children of wrath even as others . here perchance some may expect , that as the master of the feast said to him that wanted the wedding garment , friend how camest thou in hither ? so i should demand of originall sin , foe and worst of foes how camest thou in hither , and by what invisible leakes didst thou soak into our soules ? but i desire if it be possible to present you this day with a rose without prickles , to deliver plain and positive doctrine , without thorny disputes or curious speculations , lest as abrahams ramme was caught in the thicket , so i imbroyle you and my self in difficult controversies ; and here in generall to prevent such objections as might be made against this doctrine of the wrath deserving condition of men by nature , pray hearken to these three excellent rules . . let us not with our wanton wit kick against the pricks of our own consciences , and goe about to prove by arguments that is not , which we by woefull experience find is , or that that is not just which is done by justice it self . . let us not make 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the doctrine of the chair to determine controversies between god & us ; for the wisdome of the flesh is a malefactor , no wonder if the malefactor being made a judge doth accquit himself : ly . it is enmity to god ; no reason that hee should be censured by him that is his enemy , his wayes i say which are often above reason but never against right : let us not make the pallat of corrupt flesh which savoureth not the things of the spirit , our taster in spirituall matters . . let us not busy our brains so much to know how originall sinne came into us , as labour with our heart to know how it should be got out of us ; but the worst is , most men are sick of the rickets in the soul , their heads swell to a vast proportion , puft up with the emptinesse of airy speculations , whilst their leggs and lower parts do wast and consume , their practicall parts do decay , none more lazy to serve god in their lives and conversations : and here the better to ballace both mine and your judgements aganinst all blasts and billowes of private opinions , hearken to the resolution of the church of england , as she hath delivered her self in the article which is the ninth in number , and beareth the title of originall or birth-sin : originall sin standeth not in the following of adam , as the pelagians do vainly talk , but it is the fault and corruption of every man , which naturally is ingendred of the of-spring of adam , whereby man is very far gone from originall righteousnesse , and is of his own nature inclined to evil , so that the flesh lusteth alwayes against the spirit ; therefore in every person born into the world it deserveth gods wrath and damnation : and that this infection of nature doth remain , yea in them that are regenerate , whereby the lust of the flesh called in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which some do expound the wisdome , and some sensuality , some the affection , some the desires of the flesh , is not subject to the law of god ; and although there be no condemnation for them that believe and are baptized , yet the apostle doth confesse that concupiscence and lust hath of it self the nature of sinne . so far the golden article , which as all the rest was written by their hands who had good heads and hearts , in whom wisdome did contend with their learning , but their piety was a conquerour above both ; who what they learnedly distilled out of the scripture , faithfully infused into these articles : and as the reall serpent of moses did devoure the seeming serpents which jannes and jambres the egyptian enchanters did make , so shall the truth of these articles outlast and outlive confute and confound all false and erroneous doctrines whatsoever ; even when wilfull heretiques shall have their eyes put out with the beams of truth , and factious schismaticks want a conventicle to hide their shame in , and furious innovatours either run themselves out of breath ( if the law do not first overtake them ) or else fall down through the giddinesse of their own brains ; and then shall the eternall truth of these articles want nothing but a foe to oppose them , because herein they concurre with the doctrine of s. paul in my text , that wee are by nature children &c , is it so that that we are by nature the children of wrath ? this serves to confute three sorts of people , namely those who either faintly affirm it , or flatly deny it , or falsely maintain it : faintly affirm it , and such are those as have written , peccatum originis non nisi ex duobus scripturae locis effoditur , originall sin is digg'd out but of two or three places of scripture ; is diggd out , do they mean is extracted by faithfull consequence ? as if what were so deduced were not scripture as well as that which is their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in so many words ; is diggd out , and so are gold and pretious stones ; and are mysteries of religion of lesse price , because they are to be gathered by some pains ? is diggd out , and that is false , for it lyes above ground in plain and pregnant places of scripture , though these men had rather stumble at it then behold it . but out of two or three places of scripture , why , out of the mouth of two or three witnesses shall not every truth be established ? but out of two or three places of scripture , as if one were not all one with one thousand , when it comes from an infallible mouth ; places of scripture are not to be taken out by the tale , but the weight . thus these men labour to lessen originall sin ; o let us all labour to lessen originall sin , but not by extenuating it in our tenets and opinions , but by labouring to crucify & mortifie it in our lives and conversations ; and surely many mens immoderate diminishing originall sin , making it next to nothing , gave the unhappy occasion to learned illyricus to fall foul on that opinion ( if his meaning there be not mistaken ) that originall sin was a very substance indeed ; an opinion so absurd , that at the same time i could both laugh at the ridiculous tenet , and weep at the unhappinesse of the man that maintained it ; well , let us go backward , and if we want wherewithall to cover his nakednesse , let us do it with the sheets of his own books , and let his admirable mastery in other things crave a concealment of his errour in this . flatly deny it , and such are the pelagians , who say that all sinne comes onely by imitation , surely cain never learned to kill his brother by imitation ; he was the first that set that black coppy , and wrote not after any other . indeed children would not be so bad , or so soon bad , but for bad examples set before them ; but bad examples are not the root from whence childrens badnesse doth grow , but rather the water or compost tha cause it to spring and sprout more speedily . fasly maintain it , and so the papists , who though they allow the deprivation of originall righteousness , will not allow the depravation of our nature , but hold that we differ from adam no more then a naked man from him whose clothes are taken away ; and to make this more plausible , bellarmine creates in his brains , that adam was created with a reluctanty and rebellion of the inferiour powers of his soul against the superiour faculties thereof , nay blusheth not to affirm that god could not make a man so pure and perfect , but praeter dei intentionem ex conditione materiae , there would be such a rebellion in him : lord ! this same bellarmine at other times without necessity and against reason could conceive how omnipotency props up accidents without a substance , and makes the same body at the same time in severall places , and now he cannot see how an infinite power is antidote strong enough to expell out of the matter any venemous quality whatsoever : true it is that there was in adam , motion , tendency , and propensity of each faculty to its proper object , but as for any obliquity and deordination in them , it neither was nor could be , as repugnant both to gods goodnesse and mans perfection : but thus they go about to make ( as i may say ) some corption in adam in his state of integrity , that they may make way for some integrity in the sonnes of adam after their corruption : but the best is , that as the pharisees act. . . though enemies to s. pauls person , yet friends to his tenets about the resurrection from the dead , and valiantly vindicated both him and the truth from the sadduces who traduced him for an heretick ; so the dominicans who are sound in this point , that we are unsound by nature , defend both us and the truth against the iesuiticall faction that maintain the contrary : on then with courage you learned friers , and may the school of dominick be too hard for the sheild of loyola ; whilst verity is on your side , let victory be at your backs , may you as far surpasse your enemies for piety and solid learning , as they go beyond you and all honesty , in policy and treacherous designes . and thus whilst they fight one against another , let us come to our selves , and apply what hath been delivered , first to those that are children to parents , then to those that are parents to children . ye children to parents have heard how wee are by nature the children of wrath even as others , which wrath-deserving condition is derived to you from adam by your immediate parents , they alas could not convey life , but must pass death unto you also by the same grant , yet this ought not to lessen your love , abate your affection , diminish your duty unto them , isay . . woe unto him that sayes to his father , what hast thou begotten ? or unto his mother , what hast thou brought forth ? rather imitate the example of david , though he complained that in sinne had his mother conceived him , yet he was a father to his father , and a mother to his mother in her old age , taking order with the king of moab that they should be provided for , sam. . . grant our parents should turn ostriches unto us and forsake us when we are young , wee neverthelesse are to be storks unto them , and feed them when they are old , having received from them under god the greatest benefit that can be , our being . ye parents to children have heard that this wrath-deserving condition is derived by you unto your posterity . how solemnly , seriously , and religiously then ought marriage to be undertaken and used ? how too too blame are they who adde to this naturall corruption other stains before god and man ? antedating their wives , whores , and heirs , bastards ; a sinne in some places that is made so common , that t is made no sinne : have wee too little wickednesse of peor , whereof wee are not cleansed unto this day , that before the old debt be satisfied ye runne on a new score , and adde bastardy and illegitimation to the naturall infection of your children ? . secondly , yee see how ( though against your wills ) yee have propagated this wrath-deserving condition unto your children ; know then that you are bound both in honour and honesty , civility and christianity to pluck them out ( what lieth in your power ) of this pit wherein they are plunged ; and this ye may doe , first , by embracing the speediest opportunity to fasten the sacrament of baptisme upon them ; by baptisme the condemning power of originall sinne is drowned , in the font the bane is removed , the blot doth remain , the guilt is remitted , the blemish is retained , the sting is gone , the stain doth stay , if not consented to it cannot damn us , though it may defile us . in baptisme , the finall-peaceable-commanding power is washed away , ever after it may be in us , not over us , it may rule as a tyrant , not a king , being ever resisted , often subdued , though never expelled . some prisoners have eaten off their irons with mercury water , but there is no way to fret of the fetters of originall corruption , ( wherewith our feet are hurt in the stocks , the irons have entaed into our souls ) but by the water in baptisme , and therefore take heed how yee needlessely deferr it : let marriage feasts be put of till the parties have got their wedding wardrobe , let churching be deferred to attend the perfect health of the woman , let funerall pomps be delayed , they may be put of without danger , which rather please the living , then profit the dead : these are moveable feasts whereof yee make your own almanacks , and set them to fall higher or lower , sooner or later , at your own pleasure , but oh take heed how causelesly ye put of the baptizing of your children , stand not on the shadow till ye loose the substance , ne quod deferatur auferatur , lest what ye delay god deny , & whilst you deferre the christening of your child , god take away the child to be christened , and then , though i will not be the judge to condemn the child , were i one of the jury i should scarce accquit the father . secondly , let them not want good prayers , which if steept in tears will grow the better , good precepts , good precedents , and shew thy child in thy self what he should follow , in others what he should shun and avoid , let them not want wholesome correction , if occasion require ; blast not their souls with the honey-dew of cockering and indulgence ; fetch those little malefactors from the hornes of the altar , from the sanctuaries of their mouthes , sides , lipps and bosomes : what saith solomon ? folly is bound up in the heart of a child , and the rod of correction shall drive it out , not drive out the heart , but the folly ; never was brave spirit spoiled with moderate correction . but the mischeif is , that as in the beginning of the year we make much of those weeds which bring the first newes of the approaching spring , nettles are used for pot-hearbs , and s●llets made of eldern buds , so fond parents welcome and embrace in their children the first beginnings of sinne , yea please themselves to hear their infants dispraise god , swear , call names , talk wantonly , yea this is accounted wit in the little children ; i am sure it is want of wit in the greater children , for so i may fitly call their foolish parents who take delight therein . i say no more , but as for those parents who will not use the rod upon their children , i pray god he useth not their children ▪ as a rod for them . now least those who at this present time are neither children to parents , nor parents to children , should complain with the grecian widdows that they this day are neglected in the dispensation of my doctrine , hearken to a generall use which will take us all in , let us all take notice of a bad principle which lurks in our hearts , this naturall corruption which deserves the wrath of god ; in the low countries half their houses ly buried in the ground , the laying of the foundation is counted as much as the rest of the building ▪ so half our badnesse lyes secret and unseen , consisting in originall corruption , whereof too few take notice , for though ( as i have said before ) baptisme taketh away the commanding and condemning power thereof , yet the blot still remaining ( as by woefull experience we daily find ) makes us backward to all goodnesse , and headlong forwards to all badnesse , this is that which s. paul to the romans ( who though he might touch at an improper expression , sure would never land there and dwell so long therein ) calls sinne fourteen times , and we shall find it fourteen thousand times to be so in our selves . away then with the sick doctrine of the soundnesse of freewill , and merit of works ; we have alwayes that in us which baneth the perfection of all our performances , namely the lawless law in our members which rebelleth against the law of our mind , and leadeth us captive to the law of sinne which is in our members : thou shalt not commit adultery , and thou shalt commit adultery , thou shalt not steal , and thou shalt steal , thou shalt not bear false witnesse against thy neighbour , & thou shalt bear false witnesse against thy neighbour ; witches ( they say ) say the lords prayer backward , but concupiscence ( this witch ) in our soul , sayes all the commandments backward , and makes us crosse in our practise what god commands in his precepts . thus every day we sin , and sorrow after our sin , and sin after our sorrow , and do what we would not , and would what we do not , and the vvind of gods spirit blovveth us one vvay , and the tide of our corruption hurryeth us another : these things he that seeth not in himself is sottish-blind ; he that seeth and confesseth not , is damnably proud ; he that confesseth and bewaileth not , is desperately profane ; he that bewaileth and figheth not against it , is unprofitablely pensive ; but he that in some weak manner doth all these , is a saint in reversion here , and shall be one in possession hereafter . finis . the snare broken . genes . . vers . . o my soul come not into their secrets . by t. f. b. d. london printed by r. daniel , for j. s. . the snare broken . genes . . vers . . o my soul come not thou into their secrets . among the many arguments to prove the pen-men of the scripture inspired by the spirit of god , this is not the last and least , that the pen-men of holy writ do record their own faults , and the faults of their nearest and dearest relations : for instance hereof , how coursly doth david speak of himself ? so foolish was i and ignorant , i was as a very beast before thee . and do you think that the face of s. paul did look the more foul by being drawn with his own pencill , when he sayes , i was a murtherer , a persecutor , the greatest of sinners , &c. this is not usuall in the writings of humane authors , who praise themselves to the utmost of what they could ; and rather then loose a drop of applause , they will lick it up with their own tongues . tully writes very copiously in setting forth the good service which he did the roman state , but not a wo●d of his covetousnesse , of his affecting popular applause , of his pride and vain glory , of his mean extraction , and the like . whereas clean contrary moses , he sets down the sinne and punishment of his own sister ; the idolatry and superstition of aaron his brother ; and his own fault in his preposterous striking the rock , for which he was excluded the land of canaan . no wonder then if he tell the faults of simeon and levi , both their cruell murther , and the heavy curse which their father laid upon them . old jacob lyes now a dying , the lanthorn of his body was ready to be broken , and the light that was in it to be ex●inguished ; his twelve sonnes get about him , every one expects a blessing , and they raise their intentions the more , because they knew that he was a prophet . he begins sadly ; reuben hath a check , and simeon and levi have a curse . no doubt old jacob as a private man had affection to them both , but now he speaks to them as a prophet ; he knowes no naturall affection , being acted with spirituall inspiration ; he leaves off flesh and blood , being prompted by the spirit of god , and tells them , cursed be their wrath , for for it was fierce , and their anger , for it was furious . i shall use no other method in the words , but such observations as are pertinent to the text , & profitable for your souls . first , o my soul , &c. seeing jacob doth entertain a discourse with his own soul , wee may learn , a christian who can discourse with his own soul , may make good company for himself . this was davids precept psal. . vers . . commune with your own hearts upon your beds ; this is no contradiction , there is a kind of discourse which makes no noise : this communion is the heart of heavenly meditation , he may give himself a question , and answer it himself ; and david what he prescribes to us , practises himself , when he sayes , why art thou so sad o my soul , and why art thou so disquieted within me ? trust still in god. had people this art of entertaining a time to discourse with themselves , it would prevent much mischief ; thou mayest divide thy soul into severall parts , and thou maist discourse if thou wilt with every faculty , with thy understanding , memory , fancy , and the severall affections of thy soul. ask that question of thy understanding which philip askt of the eunuch , acts . understandest thou what thou readest ? call your understanding to account whether you understand what you read or not . ask thy fancy that question which acbish once propounded to king david , where hast thou been roving all this day ? bring thy fancy to account . ask that of thy memory which the master did of the unjust steward , luke . give an account of thy stewardship ; ask thy memory what good hast thou measured up . when thou findest thy self transported with mirth , ask thy soul that question , god did to sarah , why laughest thou ? when thou seest the passion of anger grow too violently upon thee , ask of it that question which god did to the prophet jonah , doest thou well to be angry ? consider , if you could thus discourse with your selves , you would prevent much bad company ; for when we runne into the company of good fellowes , wee have but one thing to pretend unto as a thing incident to mans nature , that he loves company . but if we could entertain this discourse with our own souls , wee should be never lesse alone , then when we are alone , and abate the tediousnesse of solitarinesse with good society . oh my soul come not thou into their secrets . the next observation is , that wicked men have certain secrets , which they communicate to those of their own society . wee read in the . psalm of the secrets of the lord ; now as the lord hath his secrets , so the devil hath his secrets of iniquity ; and the reason why they keep them secret , is , because otherwise they would not attain to those ends which they propound to themselves : if all their designes were open , they would be frustrated and never obtain their hellish intents , and therefore that they may not be hindred in bringing them about , they keep them secret . and yet know by the way , though they are secrets to men , they are not secrets to god ; all things are naked and open before him , he is the searcher of the heart and reins . but no further of this ; i come to that which is of more concernment . it is a dangerous thing to come into the secrets of wicked men . i divide wicked men into two sorts , those that call people into their secrets , and those that come into their secrets when called ; the principalls , and the accessaries : there is a generation of people that think they will fare well enough , if they be not the first contrivers , or the most active instruments in an evil designe : they think this will bear them out , if they came in but by the by ; oh beloved , know it is not enough to excuse thee . and know that a man may come into an evil secret , and not command it , contrive it , or act it . first by consent to it , thus ( not s. paul ) but saul the persecutor came into the mischievous secret of stoning stephen ; for though it was openly acted , yet it was privately plotted . and what did saul do ? he threw never a stone , he did not , but i tell you what he did , he kept the clothes of those that did it : the iewes put off their upper garments that their hands might be at the more liberty , with the more strength and steady aime to throw their stones at him , which their sleeves hindered ; now paul standing by , and keeping the wardrobe of their clothes , was equally guilty with them in that act . the next thing by which a man may be guilty of a wicked sercret , is by concealing of it , and we find that god brought heavy judgements upon meere concealing . in the fifth of the acts , it is said of ananias that he kept back the price , his wife being privy to it , it is not said shee did consent , but onely conceal it . now s austin saith in this case it is one of the hardest things to clear gods judgements . god is just , the fault was in her use of this action , she might have discovered it unto the church , and so have been spared . thirdly , by commending it ; though we neither consent to it , or conceal it , yet if thou commend it , thou dost adopt that wicked act to be thine own , and draw the guilt thereof upon thee ; and so men come to be guilty of other folkes sinnes . but if a man be a minister or a magistrate , he may be guilty of sinne otherwise , and neither of these wayes here spoken of ; the minister if he doth not publickly reprove it , and the magistrate if he do not punish it . the minister , if he do not reprove it with christian discretion and moderation ; though in the sinnes of great men there is much more danger in reproving them . a crack or want of repair in the top of a steeple is more dangerous to mend then any part ; the mason must have many devices to climb unto it with the danger of loosing of his life : so it is dangerous to reprove great persons to high for us to meddle with . but if we be called to it , we must trust in the assistance of god ; and wee partake of their sinnes if wee do not reprove them . but the magistrate is guilty though he do reprove it , if he do not punish it . ely did reprove his sonnes , it was well he did it , but this is not enough , the heinousness of their offences was of that nature , that the proud flesh must be cut off , and not be suffered to fester in the body . but he being a magistrate and not punishing of it , suffered himself . but now let us come to know the secret ; what was the mischief which these two had done ? the story is large , and is set down by the spirit of god in the . of genesis . now may i request you , when divine providence shall carry you to your quiet meditations , to read the whole story . i shall give you a brief account of it . iacob had but one only daughter , and shee would go gadding abroad to see other daughters ; see what comes of the wandring of virgins from their parents houses , for this was it which wrought her misery , she would go abroad to see fashions , and going forth , she sees and is seen by the prince of the land . give now shechem his due that did her this wrong , he was more honest in his dishonesty then many in this age , who when they have improved their wicked thoughts upon womens weaknesse , how many are there who do scornfully & spitefully throw them off , and triumph in the conquest they have gotten by their own treachery , and the others fault , and throw away the snuff of their wantonnesse which ends their love ? it is said of thamar the daughter of david , that after ammon had abused her , he fell from her ; but shechem had more generous principles , he doth endeavour to make her , whom formerly he had made his harlot , to be his wife . this done , the sonnes of jacob will not consent , unlesse they be circumcised , which done , in comes simeon and levi and kills them all , men , women and children . now two things give accents to their cruelty . first , that they abused the holy sacrament of circumcision , which god had appointed for a signe and a seal to the children of israel , and to make this a cloak to their murtherous intents this is the first aggravation , they brought heaven into their intended designes . the second was this , that whereas the offence done was personall in shechem ; yet the punishment fell upon the whole city , and the women and children . what mischief had the women done , whose known weaknesse is their profest armour against any true valiant man ? what fault have little infants done , whose fathers were the onely committers of the faults ? this added to their cruelty . but as a musket makes no report when discharged in the same place and time with a full cannon ; so the act of these is but small in comparison of the cruelty of which this day is our gratefull remembrance : my soul come not thou into their secrets . it was a secret in its nature , but a greater secret in regard of the time and place in which it was committed ; it was plotted in the bowels of the earth , and they undermined many yards therein , least the sun ashamed to see it should discover it ; or as if they would creep neerer to hell , from whence it was first invented . and it was a secret in respect of the persons who were joyned and soldered together with an oath of secresie ; and mark a double concurrence of cruelty in this secret . the sonnes of iacob abuse the sacrament of circumcision , under the covert whereof they might the better bring to passe their intended villanies ; so gardiner , he gave the sacrament of the lords supper , to all those that were conspirators in this wicked designe and treason ; that so he might enjoyn them to the greater secrecy . and as in the secret of iacobs sonnes there were men , women & children slain ; so these traitors intended not their cruelty against the king onely , but surely that blow had not been given , but many thousands of people whose occasions might have summoned them to that place , would have been sent with the peers of the land the same way of destruction . i do not question but there are those here present , whose memories have not let fall the day of this great deliverance ; for it must not be said that the deliverance extended onely to those then living , but wee , though then in our mothers wombs , and not thought on , participate fully in the enjoyment thereof . for had it been effected as it was intended , it is easie for you to judge and conceive the sad condition this land had groaned under ; had it took effect the miseries of this land had been great , but the dishonour to god had been far greater , and if god had suffered it to come to passe , presently they had censured their own actions to be good and just , but the snare is broken , and we are delivered . oh let your prayers be therefore joyned with mine , that wee may be all kept from the secrets of wicked men , and in a thankfull remembrance be constant in our praises to god for this dayes deliverance . some desire that this day may not be kept , but forgot , and methinks it looks with a paler colour in the almanack then it use to do , but next year it will be a full jubile , fifty years since the contrivance thereof : let all those whom god shall lend life unto that day , keep in your minds the memoriall of so great a blessing , and to preserve the memory thereof , for what principles of false doctrine had infected this land , had this plot taken effect ? and therefore it shall be my prayer ; that god will write thankfulnesse in your hearts to a continuall remembrance of the same . finis . strange justice . iudges . . there was no such deed done nor seen , from the day that the children of israel came up out of the land of egypt , unto this day : consider of it , take advice , and speak your minds . by t. f. b. d. london printed by r. daniel , for i. s. mdclvi . strange justice . judges . . there was no such deed done nor seen , from the day that the children of israel came up out of the land of egypt , unto this day : consider of it , take advice , and speak your minds . tragedyes begin smiling , but end weeping & bleeding ; so this chapter : the former part thereof merry with feasting , the latter mournfull with murther , a murther most strange , most true ; and give me leave a little to unfold the manner thereof , the rather , because it it a leading case , & i pray god that it may never hereafter have any to follow it . a namelesse levite with his wife journeyed on the highwayes side , waited on by one servant . balaam the false prophet rode in state with his two men : numb . . the levite in this chapter is decently attended , has his man : how many poor ministers now adayes for want of means are forced to be slaves to others , and servants to themselves ? going on they come to the city of gibeon , whose inhabitants were notoriously wicked , addicted to the sinne of sodomy , where all the pleasure and delight consisteth in the enormity thereof . but as lust in this city was hot , so hospitality was cold , none invite this levite home to their house ; for then amongst the jewes there were no inns , or rather every house was an inne , wherein strangers were freely entertained , and at their departure thanks was all the shot they had to discharge . at last comes an old man from his work out of the field at evening , and gives him a free invitation ; mark ( i pray ) his character , ● he was an old man : your youthfull gallants have more bravery on their backs , then bounty in their hands ; alass ! they have been born since the death of hospitality . even amongst us for the most part they are old men of an ancient stamp and edition almost worn out , which are most to be commended for their hospitable bounty . , he came from his work , those are most pitifull to others , who are most painfull in their own callings . your great gamesters that will play away an estate by whole-sale , are loth to retaile out an almes to the poor , whilst commonly the best husbands are the best house-keepers ; liberality being a fire that is maintained by thrift . the levite entred into his house , but finds the haven more dangerous then the open sea ; more safe might he have been in the wildernesse amongst beasts , then in the city amongst beastly men , who now presse to offer that violence to his person , which is not to be named amongst christians . at last they are content to spare the levite himself ( which i impute not to their pity , but to gods providence ) and make his wife the prey of their lust ; till the violence and variety thereof caused her sudden death ; where marke by the way the justnesse of the wayes of god. this woman had formerly been false to her husband vers . and now see wherein shee had offended , therein is shee punished . culpa libido fuit , poena libido suit . by lust shee had sinned , by lust shee doth suffer . she that could not be content to be severall to her husband alone , is now against her will made common to so many , till it cost her her life ; yet it might please god so to sanctify this affliction unto her , as thereby to bring her to a sight and sorrow for her sinnes , and her shamefull death on earth might occasion to her a glorious life in heaven . her husband laying hand on her corps , with a knife cut it into twelve parts , and severally sends them to the jury of the tribes of israel . hard hearted husband , if the least pity be alive in thy breast , offer not this wrong unto the dead . is it not enough that her soul is parted from her body , but her body also must be twelve times parted from it self ? suffer her ashes to sleep in quiet , the pawn for the return of her soul ; methinks that knife that cuts her hands should pierce thine heart : but comdemn not the levite for this deed ; it was not cruelty , but pitty and piety that moved him unto it , that the sight of the corps might make the jewes the more throughly prosecute the cause , and every tribe that had a part of her body , might have a part in revenging her innocent bloud . her mouth onely spake whilst she was living , now each peice of her mangled corps speaks when shee is dead , whilest the israelites both attentively heard and judiciously understood the language thereof , which made them condemn the causers of her death for matchlesse offendors : many men have done villanously , but these surmounted them all , there was no such deed done nor seen since &c. i will not mangle my text as the levite his wife , with often dividing it ; let it suffice to observe therein two principall parts , first , a narrration of a notorious villany , there was no &c. the prescribing of wholesome orders for the future : consult , consider , and give &c. in the first , two commendable practises of the iewes commend themseives to our meditation . first , they were well skilled , well versed in the severall actions which were done in their country before their time , and used to match & compare one deed with another , to see which was better , which worse , which more which lesse vitious ; and amongst the army of sinnes behold this in my text stands like a saul , stands higher then his fellows by the shoulders upwards . herein let us follow the example of the israelites , let us read histories that we be not made an history ; let us compare the passages of the time past with those of the present age ; for as it is a great blemish in a gentleman though never so proper and personable , if he hath but such a crick in his neck , that he cannot turn his face backward to see what is behind him : so it is a great shame in such a one as pretends to learning and wisedome , if by the benefit of wisedome he cannot reflect the eyes of his mind backward , and see those things which were done in the dayes of his fathers , and in the old time before them . you therefore that have the chronicle of our kings in your houses , the acts and monuments in your halls , condemn them not to a desk , as the jews did their harps to the willows , rather for sight then service , till moths have fretted out the bookes as worms have eaten the bodies of those worthy men who compiled them ; but at your best leisure read and peruse them . but when you have read all humane authors over , they will be but so many muddy and brackish channells to the pure and fresh fountain of gods holy word : meditate therefore in the same both day and night , wherein alone you shall find stories more true , more various , more pleasant , more profitable , then all other writers ancient or modern are able to afford . . the second praise-worthy practise in the israelites is this , they kept the solemn and constant memorial of their coming out of the land of egypt ; from which as from a memorable aera , and remarkable epoche they used to date , and compute their severall actions ; not since the day that the children of israel came out of the land of egypt . and good reason they had to remember it ; god then bestowing on their fathers a great deliverance , who whilest they lived in egypt , lived in continuall slavery . indeed they had meat enough ; which may serve to condemn the cruelty of some masters to their servants now adayes , who though they give them their bellyfull of work , will not give them their bellyfull of victualls . the egyptians dealt better with the jewes in this kind ; of onions , cucumbers , and the flesh-pots of egypt , they had their full by their own confession . yet their life being a bondage must needs be miserable ; liberty being the very life of our life without which our life is a continuall dying . yea the coming of the children of israel out of egypt may in some sort seem to them to have been the creation of the world ; adam was made of the dust of the earth , they then fetcht from the clay of the earth , whereof they had made many hard bricks , though not half so hard as the hearts of those taskmasters , which were set over them ; the world was made of nothing , the jewes when they came out of egypt , being made formerly for outward respects no better then nothing . and as their remaining there was miserable , so their removing thence was miraculous ; wonderfully therefore should they have forgot themselves , if they had forgot gods wonders towards them in this deliverance . and have not wee english men as many and remarkable deliverances as ever the jewes had ? some common with us to all christans , as the second birth day of the world at the birth of our saviour . you therefore that are clarks and notaries , who in dating of acts and instruments , with your posting pens make such frequent mention of the year of the lord , labour that those words which have been so often written with your hands , may once be written in your hearts , with the benefits accrued to all mankind by the birth of our saviour . some proper to this our nation alone , as the deliverance from the spanish invasion in . naomi said to the men of bethlehem , ruth . call me not naomi fair ; but call me mara bitter , for the lord hath afflicted me , i went out full but return empty , &c. so might that great fleet say , call me not the invincible armado , but call me the conquered armado ; for the lord hath punished my pride , i went out full , the terrour of the world , but return empty to the scorn of all nations . go then you spaniards , bragge of lisbon , bilboa , and toledo blades ; sure i am that then an english sword managed by the arm of the god of heaven was proved to be the best mettall . nor lesse miraculously from home-bred conspiracy in the gunpowder treason , where the reason onely was intention , but nothing ( thanks be to god ) brought to execution , but the traytors . well , it s said that things written in marble are most durable in difference of time ; i would not wish to us a marble , hard or stony heart , but such a one as is soft , tender and pliable , and surely this will sooner receive and longest retain the print of gods favours unto us , and principally of these deliverances wherein the people of england may be said to have come out of the land of egypt . now that this sinne in my text may appear in its proper colours , consider with me ; first the party to whome the wrong was offered was a stranger ; the word stranger in the very mention of it ought to carry with it a protection from all wrongs ; the heathen romans were so christian in this kind , that if their enemy chanced to enter into their house in nature of a stranger , there was a cessation from enmity , during his abode under their roof , and revenge gave place to hospitality , secondly she was a woman , & that sex may seem in some sort to be fenced from injury , because it is not fenced from injuries . for such is the known weakness of women , that wee count it weaknesse in men to offer them any wrong , and our modesty is the best safeguard and defence for theirs . thirdly , she was a levites wife , and methinks some shadow of sacrednesse should be reflected from him on her . fourthly she was abused to death ; indeed she died not presently , but before she came into the house , her soul got out of her body , and even in our law it is murther , that comes within the compasse of a year and a day ; now murther you know is a crying sinne , yea , like stentor the graecian , it shouteth louder then . other ordinary offences . the monster mother may smother her child , but when she hath done , she cannot smother the murther of her child . fifthly , abused to death by a whole city : those are deceived who conceive the multitude of offendors diminish the offence . rather the more the sinners , the more heinous the sinne ; the worst sinne that ever was , was the most generall sinne that ever was , when all mankind together sinned at once in adam : yea in our law that which being done by one or two , is but a trespasse , committed by more assumes the name of a ryot . lastly by a whole city of israelites : but if they had been hivites , or hittites that had done me this dishonour , then perchance i should have born it ; had they been canaanites or jebusites had offered me this disgrace , then more patiently could i have digested it , but they pretended to serve the same god , and observe the same religion . they were descended from the loyns of jacob , and issued from the womb of rachel : what good doth the ark of god in shiloh , with levites a tending before it , aarons rod , pot of manna , mercy seat within it , if there be a sodome in sion , a bethaven in bethel , folly in israel ? verily i say unto you i have not found so great an offence no not amongst the gentiles . happy those poor armenians which live in those remote parts , where the shrill sound of the gospel was never trumpetted forth , their invincible ignorance will be an orator in the ears of the mercifull judge , not wholly to excuse but much to diminish their fault , not to prevaile for a full pardon , yet to procure a lighter punishment , whilst in the same day they shall rise up , and condemn the jewes in my text , seeing better by the light of a candle , then the iewes by the beams of the sun . i come now to the prescribing of the wholesome order for the future consult , consider , and give sentence : but first wee must remove an objection which here may rise ; for may some say , why is it not particularly exprest in the law of moses , what punishment ought to be inflicted upon an whole city , when by lust they abuse a woman to death ? had this been a book-case and the penalty precisesly specified , it would have spared the israelites all their pains to consult and consider ; yea this may seem to argue the law of god of some defects and imperfections , that it is not adaequate to all occasions , and of extent large enough for all necessities , and needs to be patcht and peeced with the accession of humane deliberation . for two reasons the particular punishment is expressed , first because the spirit of god being charity it self , charitablely presumed that no israelites would be so wicked ; the heathen appointed no punishment for parricides , supposing that sinne could not be committed . men must first murther all nature in themselves , before they can be so unnaturall as to murther their parents . secondly , the mentioning of the punishment might by satans suggestion , and mans corruption be abused to make them commit the sin : some sinnes are left out in the law , not because they are too little , but because they are too great ; should the punishment of every villany be put into the law , the committing of many villanies would be put into our minds , which otherwise might be forgotten ; and sinnes punisher would be made sins remembrancer . yet though this case for circumstance is not set down in the bible , for substance it is in severall places ; who sheddeth mans bloud , by man shall his bloud be shed , gen. . . now the scripture is not written for those that will be idle , but for such as comparing one place with another , by faithfull consequence will proportionably extract and deduce , what ought to be done in each severall action whose substance in the bible is recorded , though each circumstance particularly set down . and now i come to the order for the time to come : but behold in the order it self much confusion arising from the variety of translations ; you shall scarce find three bibles wherein two of these words are rendred alike : what therefore must wee do ? the best way to expound the text is to practise it ; and before wee give sentence what should be the meaning of these severall words , let us first consult with interpreters , and consider the originall . the first word in the great bible , consult , importeth in the originall a meeting of many together , rendred by learned tremelius , adhibete vos ad istud , settle your selves together to this matter . the observation is this ; in matters of moment we are not severally to follow our private advice , but jointly to unite your selves together in consultation ; eyes see more then an eye ( saith the proverb . ) i must confesse paphnutius with his one eye ( for his persecutors had bored out the other ) saw more in the matter of ministers marriage then the two-eyed bishops assembled in the councel o● nice . but he was an exception from a generall rule ; ordinarily tow are better then one : yea solomon the wisest of earthly kings had his councel of aged men , which stood before him , kings . . nay a greater then solomon may be brought for the proof of this point : god himself , genes . . . being about to contract the first volume of the world into the abrigement of man , called as it were a councel in the persons of the trinity ; let us make man. had god any need of councel ? is not the same eternall act which is done by one person , done by all ? or are not these things rather written for our instruction ? surely for our instruction they are written , that when we enterprise things of consequence , we may call for and make use of the councels and directions of others ; to blame then are they , who rashly runne on their own heads . i cannot but commend the swiftnesse of ahimaaz his feet , sam. . . who being sent out of cushi came to david before him , yet can i not but dispraise the shallownesse of ahimaaz his judgement , who running before he had received perfect instructions from joab , came to the end of his journey scarce with the middle of his message . is it so then , that we must consult with others ? then most lawfull , laudable , & necessary is the vocation of them who are of learned councel : for should your silly clients be entrusted w th the managing of their own suits , they would cut the throat of their most rightfull causes , even with the same sword with which you are able to defend them . but may you be pleased patiently to heare the best spirituall advice which i freely bestow upon you , who would be glad to pay your fees , and give you deserved thanks for your councell , if mine occasions so required it . when such a cause shall be brought to your hands , as your own consciences shall proclaim to be bad , let baal plead for himself , let iniquity be her own advocate ; offer you not once to defend them : and when the case shall be good , loose it not in the labyrinths of delayes , and meanders of demurrs , but bring it the narrowest cut , the nearest course from the first motion to the finall verdict . i must confesse there may be much corruption in a festred sore , but i dare boldly say , there is more corruption in the dishonest chirurgion , that may quickly cure it , but will not for his private ends : indeed they that hold leases by lives , could be content that each life in their lease should be a methuselah sith then your gain dependeth on the long depending of suits , some perchance may think it more beneficiall for you needlesly to protract them . but know by the speedy ending of them , your gain shall be the more by being the lesse ; what is wanting in bulk shall be supplied in blessing , no diseased tympany shall swell your estate , but all your substance shall be solid wholesome flesh : all the shekels in your coffers shall be shekels of the sanctuary , such as you may enjoy with content , whilest you live , and leave to your wife , and thrifty heirs , when you die . to you therefore it belongeth to consult : this differs from the former , consult is with others , consider is in our selves ; for after wee have heard what others can say , we must not so pinne our practise on their opinions , but we must also use our own best consideration , especially if it be in a case of conscience wherein our own good is particularly interested . and this consideration is to go before our finall sentence . before we passe our utmost verdict , we are first seriously to premise a due deliberation in our selves , as formerly we have had consultation with others . let us go down and see , gen. . . . whether the sinnes of sodom be according to the cry which is come up unto mee . our adversaries of the romish church are too too faulty herein , in giving sentence before they have well weighed the cause . in the dayes of queen mary when our land was dark with ignorance , and light onely with those bonfires which burnt the martyrs , a woman in jersey at the stake being delivered of a male child , the standers by took the infant , and threw it into the fire : matchlesse cruelty ! children when newly born are to be baptized with water , not to be cast into the fire , or did they take it to be like the viper , acts . which no sooner crawled out of the heat of the flame , but s. paul presently cast it in again ? alas as yet it was no viper , no poison in the teeth , no venome in the tongue , whereby it may do hurt . or did they think that it would take it by kind , because his mother ( as they termed it ) was an heretick ? no sinne is so throughly entailed from parent to child , but grace and good breeding may break it off . had they well pondered those things before hand , perchance they might have prevailed for a reprive , if not for a pardon for this child . the hebrews contrary to all other nations , read their letters backward , so the papists in their practise read backward , and invert the order of my text , and instead of consult , give sentence and consider ; they first give sentence , and then consult and perchance consider : and i would to god all that hated popery hated also this popish practise ; for in some sort hereof guilty are they who seeing one wallowing in sinnes , rashly reason from the present to the future , and condemn such a one for a reprobate or castaway . let us not flatter black and say its white , nor defame white and say it is black ; let us tell judah of their sinnes , and israel of their transgressions ; for our callings warn us : let us tell a drunkard that he is a drunkard , an adulterer that he is an adulterer , and that his estate is desperate and damnable , if he live and dye impenitent in that condition . but as for their finall estate , it belongeth not to us to give sentence of them ; it is not for us to know these things which the father hath put in his own power : but if our censuring faculty be so sharp ( on gods blessing ) let us turn the edge thereof inward : let us first read a criticall lecture on all our own bad thoughts , words , and actions , and then shall we have lesse leasure and delight to rome and range abroad . now the word consider in my text , warrants mee to addresse my speech to you who are of the jury : for after consult is past , after you have heard a case debated and argued by learned councel , then is your duty to consider : your way , is so hedged on either side you cannot go out of it , except you will wilfully ; for you are onely conscionably to find things , according as you hear them alledged and proved , and this done your office is discharged ; but beware of one thing , the being overswaied by one appearing and potent man amongst you . barach said to deborah , judge . . . if thou wilt go up with me , i will go up , but if thou wilt not go up with me , then will i not go up . so too often the the rest of the jury to one principall man amongst them , please you s r to be for the plaintiff , wee are for the plaintiff , if you be for the defendant , wee are for the defendant ; cast the prisoner , & wee cast him , accquit you him , and wee accquit him : in a word , wee 'l be the wax , print you upon us what impression you please . beloved , these things ought not to be so ; that the prisoner should be cast at the verdict of twelve men , and eleven of these twelve have their judgements cast by the verdict of one . look therefore to your selves , except others will answer to god for your perjury ; for to you it belongeth to consider . i come now to the third step of the throne of justice , give sentence ; where wee may observe , after due consultation and consideration are past , wee ought not still to be neuters & scepticks , but absolutely to expresse and declare our selves on one side , as wee shall see most occasion . and yet how many be there which have learning too much to be papists , & yet religion too little to be good protestants ? they are loth to say that luther is in the right , and they are loth to say that bellarmine is in the wrong . and as god saith of himself , i am what i am ; so may it be said of these men , they are even what you would have them to be : nor need wee go out into the wildernesse to see these reeds shaken with the wind ; i am afraid in our towns best traded , places most populous , there be too many of them who spending all their life in tedious consulting , and considering of points , continue more unresolved then when they begun , & will never give sentence . which word putteth me in mind , to apply my self unto your lordships to whom his highnesse authority hath committed the power of passing the sentence of life and death ; but i remember what iohn baptist said to our saviour , matth. . i have need to come to thee , and comest thou to mee ? is your honours courtesie and humilitie such as to repair to my weak pains ? when i , whose learning in law matters is no better then ignorance , have need to come to you , who are the captains of the first forme in the school of justice , and therefore need not now to learn the alphabet of your office : well do you know how to weild the sword in the hand ; when to give a slanting blow , and where to make a down right stroke ; whose actions are a continuall web , whereof justice & mercy are the woof , and the warp . leaving therefore your lordships , i come to them who come to these assizes , neither to do nor to suffer , but onely to heare and behold : when i compare this meeting in my text with ours at this time , i find a threefold cause for which wee ought to be heartily thankfull to the god of heaven ▪ first , that though there be many sinnes in our land , yet most of them are personall , not like this in my text , wherein a whole city together was jointly engaged . should we have a murther generally committed by a whole city , i am afraid , that the cable of that offence twisted with so many lesser cords of severall offendors , would be so tough and strong , it would almost make the sword of justice turn edge before it could cut through it . god daily diminish the sinnes of our land , that they may be fewer for number , lesser for measure , lighter for nature , and may our eyes live to see our churches more full , our prisons more emptie . not to flatter our selves , we are a sinfull nation ; fellonies amongst us are frequent , & murther sometimes , ( and were they never so seldome , they were too often ( yet be it spoken to gods glory , these be private sinnes , not city villainies as this of the gibeonites : not but that we english men are as wild , and as untamed horses as ever the iews were , but that god is pleased to hold us with a stronger bridle , & curb of his restraining grace then he did them . let him therefore have all the honour of the action . secondly , we see the poor levite was fain to send for justice abroad and about , from dan to beersheba with much care and cost : had the allowance of this levite been no larger then the poor pittance of some curates and vicars amongst us , this one charge would have exhausted his two yeares revenues : but let us thank god that justice is brought home to our doors . when i have seen with what tedious paces & weary thighs poor people have painfully climed and clambred up the steep ascent to the town of shaftsbury in this county , to bring water to the town ; then have i commended the conveniency of those cities , which seated in champion places have water at will ; then have i praised the commoditie of those houses where turn the cock , and plenty flowes at pleasure : so when i consider the great trouble of the levite in my text , to send about for justice , then have i just cause to praise god for the benefit of our itinerarie judges w ch without our cost , or procuring , bring justice home unto us . if any in this sence doth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , behold the cup is at his mouth , let him drink his fill . thirdly , the cause of all this mischeif is set down in the first verse , because there was no king in israel ; a tyrannie is to be preferred before an anarchy : for a commonwealth to want a chief , it is the chief of all wants , every man will do what he lists , none what he should . too much liberty would make men slaves to their own lusts ; westminster hall would be turned unto the gluttons kitchin ▪ in a word , compared to this confusion , that of bable may justly seem an exact modell of method . but ( thanks be to god ) our happinesse will appear the greater , if we consider the state of forreign countries , divided from us no less in condition , then by the sea ; look upon high germany which ever prometheus like hath a cruell eagle feeding upon her entrailes : is this the civil law , wherein nothing stands good but violenta passessio , and firma ejectio ? where souldiers keep term all the year long , and scarce make a short vacation in the dead depth of winter ? whilest thus the continent is drowned with woes , our happy island is dry ; the waves rage round about us , but thanks be to god none runne over us ; wee are more safe under our vines , then our neighbours in their castles . oh let us take heed that wee take not a surfet of our own happinesse , but be heartily thankfull to god , and expresse our thankfullnesse in the reformation of our lives . but what go i about to do ? this is none of joshuas day wherein the sun stands still , time will wait attendance on none ; and i am privy to the undispenceablenesse of your occasions , wherefore the halfe of my text shall be the whole i will add at this time , consult , consider , and give sentence . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e * see the rhemish testament , and dr. fulk in his annotat. on this verse , acts . . citing one christophorus francius for the justifying of this observation . a collection of sermons ... together with notes upon jonah / by thomas fuller. sermons. selections fuller, thomas, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing f estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a collection of sermons ... together with notes upon jonah / by thomas fuller. sermons. selections fuller, thomas, - . pts. printed for john stafford ..., london : - . each pt. has special t.p. and separate paging; pt. dated: ; pts. - : ; pt. : . reproduction of original in harvard university libraries. pt. , p. - are missing in the filmed copy. signatures d-e photographed from the british library copy and inserted at the end. (from t.p.) . the best employment -- . a gift for god alone -- . the true penitent -- . the best act of oblivion. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng church of england -- sermons. sermons, english. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - olivia bottum sampled and proofread - olivia bottum text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a collection of sermons . . the best employment . . a gift for god alone . . the true penitent . . the best act of oblivion . together with notes upon jonah . by thomas fuller . mat. . . an housholder bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old . london , printed for john stafford , and are to be sold at the sign of the george neer fleet-bridge . . the best employment . mat. . . and great multitudes came unto him , having with them those that were lame , blinde , dumb , maimed , and many others , and cast them down at jesus feet , and he healed them . by thomas fuller . london , printed for iohn stafford in george-yard neer fleet-bridge . . to my worthy friends of s. bridgets ( commonly brides ) parish in london . the blessings of this and a better life . jacob , when sending his son into aegypt , advised them to carry * to the governour thereof , ( their unknown brother ) a present , a little balme , and a little honey , spices , and myrrhe , nutts , and almonds . herein both the quality and quantity of the guift is considerable : the quality : alas ! look on them in themselves , and they were but mean. aegypt ( to give it it 's due ) excelled palestine in many commodities which were better to barter with forraigne nations , as wicked men in all ages surpasse the servants of god in outward accommodations . the quantity , but a little of each . to carry much would have been but the more burthen to their cattle which carried it , and perchance lesse acceptable to him that received it . however , one thing much commended this present , because ( as the text saith ) they were the best fruits of the land ; and no rationall person can expect better than what is best . some conformity there is betwixt their present , & this my dedication ; none is more sensible than my self of the meannesse thereof : besides zoar , is it not a little one ? yet is it the best that my barren condition can for the present afford , on which account i comfortably presume it will be as kindly taken as it is cordially tendred . all i will adde is this ; the holy spirit compareth good councell * nailes fastned . in prosecution of which metaphor , i hope that these nailes which were entred into your hearts at the preaching of them , shal now be rivetted into them by the printing thereof ; which is the hearty desire of your servant in jesus christ , tho : fuller . act. . . who went about doing of good . . the text is parcell of that heavenly sermon s. peter preached at the conversion of the centurion , and it is worth our inquiry into the character of that convert . know then three essentials did constitute a centurion . . he must be a souldier . . the captain of an hundred men ( whence his name centurion . ) . he must be a gentile by extraction . for at this time the rom. emperor had took the militia out of the hands of the jewes , who politiquely would not trust that peevish & rebellious people with the sword in their hands , insomuch that there was a castle , acts . . which overawed the temple . . now it is generally complained of souldiers , that they are cruell , and ( luke . . ) too prone to do violence . it is charged on officers , that they are proud and insolent in improving their places , and gentiles are accused of ignorance towards god , and wickednesse in their conversations . all which observations are crossed in the centurion in my text. * . instead of taking away , and invading the propriety of others , he , ver . . parted with what was his own in much almes to the poore . instead of being proud towards others , in much humility he macerated himself with fasting ( v. . ) instead of being guilty of ignorance and profanenesse , he feared god with all his house . let none hereafter envy this centurion the height of his place , or repine at his power , ruling over a hundred , seeing he was a man of a thousand . . let not any look on the military profession , as on such a gentile , out of which no prophet ; as on such a nazareth , out of which no good can arise . let them not conceive the principles of fearing of god , and fighting with men so opposite , that they cannot meet in the same person . seeing on enquiry it will appeare , that all the centurions in the new testament were either good men , or lesse bad than many of more peaceable professions . . the faithfull centurion ( mat. . ) preferred for the same by our saviour above those in israel . . the centurion glorifying god , and justifying christ at his passion : luke . . certainly this was a righteous man. . the just centurion , who rescued s. paul ( acts . . ) from scourging , because a roman . . the serviceable centurion , who at s. paul's entreaty conveyed the young man to a captaine , whereby the apostle escaped the conspiracy of his enemies . . the civill centurion , who kept s. paul , acts . . forbidding none to minister unto him . . julius the courteous centurion , who saved s. paul at his shipwreck , acts . . when the souldiers had a desire to kill him . but beyond all , and above all , the centurion in this chapter , whose piety may be a perfect pattern for all christians to imitate . . obj. if this centurion was already so good , what needed s. peter to be sent to him for his further conversion ? what was this but actum agere , to do what was done before , seeing no further addition or accession could be made to his goodnesse , which already was so compleat in the kind and degrees thereof . . i answer , the centurion was already in the state of grace , but on the principles of a jewish proselyte : he looked for salvation by a messiah , as yet to come , and on that account led a pious conversation . had he died in that state , his soule , no doubt , had been saved with the rest of the godly jewes before christ : but better things were provided for this centurion , god had stored up more kindely mercies for him to receive ; peter is sent to inform of christ come , and to clear his implicite into a distinct saith . . to this purpose the apostle acquainteth him in his sermon with the person and practises of our saviour , though certainly the breviate onely , and chief heads , and not all his discourse at large , is opened by s. luke , and my text is a principall part of our christ his compleat character , who went about doing of good . . observe in the words , first , christs humility , he went secondly , his industry . — no small way , but about . thirdly , his charity . doing of good . first , humility , he went , and that pedes ambulavit , he constantly footed it . indeed he was brought from nazareth , the place of his conception , to bethlehem , where he was born , in the womb of his mother , and when forced to flie before he could go ) into egypt , probably was carried in the armes of his parents , otherwise he alwaies travailed on foot , one time excepted , when not so much out of majesty as mysterie , not so much to ease himself , as perform the propheticall prediction . he ( mat. . ) rode alternately on the asse , and the asse colt , o●herwise , alwaies , ( such his humility ) he went. . secondly , his industry , about . but here it will be demanded , whether this did not something trespasse on our saviours gravity , and that staidnesse which he used in other actions . did not this savour something of an erratical and circumfraneous motion ? sure it was contrary to the counsell he gave his disciples , into what town or city ye enter , there abide , mat. . . goe not from house to house , luke . . had not therefore our saviour , in like manner , better have fixed himselfe in one place , than thus to wander up and down when he went about ? . i answer , three satisfactory reasons may be rendred of our saviours frequent removals , though the first so sufficient in its self , it will give a discharge to the other two , as added onely for ornament , not necessity : . therefore our saviour went about per force , because he had no certain habitation of his own , therein constantly to recide , but was faine to make use of the houses of his friends therein to abide . mat. . . the foxes have holes , and the birds of the aire have nests , but the son of man hath not where to lay his head . . by the way let me bespeak the thankfulnesse of many persons ( whom i behold in this auditory ) to whom god hath not onely given agurs wish , prov. . to be fed with food convenient for them , but also so large estates , that they have plenty of places , exchange of houses , variety of habitations ; how ought such to lay out their soules in thankfulness to god! it faring in this point farre better with them , than with our saviour himself , who for want of a dwelling , was fain to go about . . secondly , our saviour went about , so the better to decline and escape the malice of those who sought after his life . any man can at a near distance hit a dead mark , whilst he must be a good marks-man indeed who can hit a flying fowle . christ therefore was alwaies in motion , that he might not give a steddy aim to his enemy's malice . when herod the fox designed his death in galilee , then he took his private progresse into judea , and when those in judea projected to murder him , he made his secret return into galilee , or else retreated ( john . . ) to a city called ephraim , in the wildernesse , and continued there . . he was unfit to be a saviour of mankinde , who would not by all prudentiall wayes be a saver of himself . though he would not decline death when his hour was come , he would not court it before that time , he would lay his life down , not throw it down , patiently give himself , not wilfully cast himself away for mankinde . otherwise , if he had refused to embrace all lawful wayes of self-preservation , untill his appointed time was come , he had died a malefactor , not made by god a sin for us , but being a sinner of himself , no better than felo de se , guilty of his own destruction . . thirdly , christ went about , so the more conveniently to disperse and dispence his doctrine and miracles , that the more people might enjoy the benefit thereof . if the sun should alwaies stand still in one place , that part of the earth would be fryed , and the rest frozen , that would be parched with heat , and the rest pinched with cold ; wherefore the providence of nature hath so ordered and disposed it , that the sun shall take his circuit through the zodiack , that so his light and heat may be communicated to the more countreys . christ in like manner , that sun of righteousnesse , mal. . . arising with healing in his wings , made his motion through the twelve signes , i mean the twelve tribes of israel , that so the more places might participate of his presence , preaching , and miracles . . passe we now from his humility to his charity , went about doing of good , and that in several considerations , in respect of all times . all places . all persons . in endeavouring whereof may my weak endeavours , and your intentions , as well as we may observe our saviours motion , and go about after him . sequiturque patrem non passibus aequis , and though in circular motions it matters not where we begin , so be it we continue moving , till we returne where we began ; yet for methods sake we will first handle the first point , in respect of all times . . let us take notice of a diurnall , or daies work of our saviour , he was no large lier on bed , but a timely riser about his fathers work , john . . and early in the morning he came again into the temple . as he rose early , he went late to bed , especially on the sabbath day , the day of his greatest imployment : for when he had wearied himself all the day long with preaching his word , at night when his work was ended , his work was new begun . people then pressing upon him afresh ( forbidden before by the superstitious pharisees ) to be healed by him . as he rose earely and went late to bed , so all the day long was he busied in doing of good . . if any time of the day may seem to be priviledged from employment , and exempted from industry , sure it is , the time of refection , when men in midst of the terme of all their worke , may and must make a vacation to themselves , the better to refresh their hungry and weary bodies therein . but even at those times , was christ intentive in doing of good . true it is , it was meat and drinke unto him , to doe his fathers work , [ iohn . . ] so zealous in prosecution thereof , that sometimes he fasted from other food . mark . . he could not so much as eate bread , for the crowding of the company about him ; but when liberty was allowed him to take his repast , he improved his time in doing good , witnesse his demeanour at the table of the pharisee , who invited him to dinner , as luke . where he received not so much temporall food from the entertainer , as he bestowed spirituall counsell upon him , verse . then said he also to them that bad him , &c. he put forth a parable to them that were bidden , verse . and upon the occasion of these words , blessed is he that shall eate bread in the kingdome of god , uttered by a fellow guest , he put forth a most heavenly parable . . one demanded how a man might make himselfe welcome at a feast ? to whom it was answered , ne sis , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 come not thither without paying thy shot , lest otherwise he be beheld as a clogge , or burden to the company . another answered much to the same effect , sit not there as a stone upon a stoole , that is , contribute , if not money , yet mirth to the company , bring some ingratiating quality with thee , that may make thee acceptable to thy fellow guests . sure i am our saviour was not indebted to the company where he dined , bringing with him , though no carnall mirth , which ends in sadnesse , yet spiritual joy , contained in that holy counsel which he so freely bestowed . . secondly , in respect of all places , he did good wheresoever he came , at nazareth , where he was conceived , bethleem , where he was born , jordan , where he was baptised , galilee , where he conversed , getbsemani , where he was betrayed , galbatha , where he was condemned , golgatha , where he was crucified , and which was the more to their sinne and shame , such places which did partake most of his corporall presence , did reap the lesse benefit by his spirituall preaching , witnesse bethsaida , corazin , and capernaum . . thirdly , in respect of all persons , . to those that were above him in a civill respect , namely , to caesar and his officers , not onely preaching of obedience , and payment of tribute to the emperour , but also putting himselfe to the expence of a miracle , ( matthew . . . ) rather than caesar should have his toll-mony unpaid . . to such as were beneath him , as poorer than himselfe , because not having so good friends to relieve them . thus though he himselfe held all that he had in frank-almonage , and lived on the poore mans box , beholden to the charity of joanna , susanna , and other his good benefactors for his maintenance , yet of a little , he gave a little , it being his constant custome ( especially about the good time of the passover ) to dispence his almes to the poore . otherwise when he said to iudas ( john . . ) that thou dost , do quickly . the rest of the disciples could not so quickly have commented on his words : that he desired him , the bag-bearer , to give something to the poore ; had not the same been conformable to christs common practise on such occasions , he did good to those about him , his disciples , to those beside him , the ordinary jews , to those againsts them , the very souldiers sent to attach him , witnesse curing of malchus his eare , strucken off by peter . . but i meet with a double objection against christ going about to do general good ; the one being a sin of omission , the other of commission , charged on his account : i begin with the first , which thus may be urged against him , he who hath ability and opportunity to do right , and omitteth the same , is guilty of doing wrong , or the pretermitting of a benefit in such a case , is the committing of an injury . now our saviour was solemnly quested and pressed ( luke . . ) to divide their inheritance betwixt the two brethren , & yet he declined the doing of so acceptable an office , and gave the petitioner unto him in that kinde , a flat deniall . . i answer , both persons interested in the divident of the land , did not sue unto him , but so that it was onely a single motion , not the joynt petition of both brethren interested therein . . christ , a searcher of hearts , might discover in him , who made the motion , a covetous inclination , and perchance a litigious disposition , not to stand to any agreement . lastly , and chiefly , he had no calling to meddle therein , being a private person , and captious people lay at the catch on any shadow of a fault to accuse him , for invading the office of a magistrate . . it is confessed , it is an honourable work to accommodate differences according to our saviours own principles , blessed are the peacemakers , especially to compremize discord betwixt so neer relations , as two brethren . hereby , haply , our saviour might have prevented long and tedious suits , saved them the expenses of a costly prosecution in law , and which was more , might have suppressed many uncharitable animosities , and quenched heart burnings betwixt them . but one thing was wanting , a commission to intermeddle therein , a good deed is an ill deed , do by him who hath no calling to do it , the courts were open , and judges therein appointed , to heare and determine causes of this nature . they both , if so disposed , might sue out what was equivalent to our writ of partition in our common law , to part the inheritance in equall portions betwixt them , whilst our saviour justly refused to interpose in the controversie , made a mediatour betwixt god and man in matters of higher consequence , but not betwixt man and man in things of temporall concernments . . such therefore will find themselves much mistaken , who having little ability , and no authority , adventure on the ministeriall function to preach and baptize , conceiving they shall be justified and born out in the court of heaven by the integrity of their intentions to employ their parts to gods glory , whereas more is requisite to the legitimation of a publique act , and making it good , when done by a private person , namely , a lawfull commission to doe it , for want whereof our saviour abstained to intermeddle as a magistrate , though , he went about doing of good . . and here , by the way , let me insert another caution : our saviours going about from place to place , not fixed in a certain station , nothing favoureth or befriendeth the practice of such , who refuse to reside on parochiall charge , but must have a whole province , or principality for the circuit of their plancticall preaching . these pretend to such prodigious parts , such paramount gifts and graces , above the standard of other men , ( and we must believe they have such signall endowments for they say to themselves , that they conceive if pity such talents should be buried in one parish , and such ample abilities be stifled within the narrownesse of one cure : and hence it is , these ambulatory preachers remove from place to place , refusing to be setled in a certain habitation : but it is to be feared these men go about , sowing of schism , setting of errors , and spreading faction , whilst our saviour went about doing of good . . the next is a fault of commission charged on our saviour , that he went not alwaies about doing of good , by his owne confession , mat. . . think not i am come to send peace on earth ; i came not to send peace , but a sword . for i am come to set a man at variance against his father , &c. now such who come to bring asword to any place , surely their room is more welcome than their company , and it can no way be intitled to be a good work , when one ( contrary to the law of nature it self ) shall set variance betwixt so near and dear relations . . i answer , our saviours words , i come to set a man at variance , are not so to be understood , as if it were his principall purpose and originall intent , out of premeditate plot , and set designe to make these unnaturall differences , but that such sad effects , de facto , would come to passe , per accidens , through the corruption in mankind : for the preaching of the gospel would meet with such opposition in carnall mindes , that our saviour infallibly foresaw such domesticall antipathies would inevitably follow the same . thus , as the sun intended by nature to lighten clear eyes , and arising daily for that purpose , yet occasioneth the smarting of such who are sore , or blear-sighted : so christ being a peace-maker and mediatour , by his message , employment , and desire , proved against his own will through mens default , the generall incendiaries in families , and by consequence in cities , countries , and kingdomes , though he went about doing of good . . two eminent instances may be given of the good our saviour did , first , all his miracles were saving miracles , which may serve for a character to distingu●sh them from the miracles of his apostles ; st. paul strikes seeing el●mas blinde , christ makes blind bartimeus see ; s. peter strikes living ananias and sapphira dead ; christ makes dead girus his daughter and lazarus live . but if christ was pleased to manifest himself in a destructive way , no rationall creature shall be made the object of his anger , but a fig-tree is sound out ( and that but a barren one ) mat. . . to be cursed ; hoggs are found out ( and those the beastliest of all beasts ) mat. . . to be drowned , to shew that if god in the vindication of his own honour , doth deviate from his naturall pronity and propensity to mercy , and is necessitated , se defendendo , to appear in a revenging way : it is our barrennesse in goodnesse , and beastlinesse in badnesse , which inforceth him to what is contrary to his owne inclination . . secondly , we may observe , that some of our saviours miracles were double ones , one growing within another . thus mat. . . it was the chief intent of our saviour to raise the daughter of the ruler , when 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , obiter , as in the way thither , he did almost as great a miracle in curing her , who was long troubled with an issue of blood . thus as cunning gardeners are said to have a mysterie , whereby ( by inoculating one flower on another ) they make them grow double : so our saviour had twin-miracles , and occasionall springing up in the midst of an intentional miracle . . but here a question may be propounded , not coming within the compasse of those condemned by the apostle , tim. . . for foolish and unlearned that do gender strife ; but such the answering whereof may give some light to our heads , and heat to our hearts and affections . . seeing our saviour was a benefactor generall to all persons and places where he came , how came it to passe that he was not the minion of mankind , deliciae humani generis , the darling of the world , seeing he deserved no less , by his favours conferred upon it ? how came men so generally to hate him , so often to plot , and at last to practise his destruction ? . i answer , severall reasons may be rendred , some nearer , some more remote , why our saviour could never be popular , though no man more merited the same ; first , because had he been universally beloved , it would have hindred the grand design of mans salvation , no judas would have been found to betray him , no false witnesses to accuse him , no pilate to condemn him , no souldiers to execute him , and therefore of necessity christ was to incur many mens displeasure . . secondly , he was to have not onely a notionall , but also an experimentall , yea , which was more , a meritorious knowledge of all miseries , to which humanity was subject , of hunger , mark . . of thirst , iohn . . long and painfull preaching with little profit , because of peoples unbelief , wearinesse under paine , and nakednesse upon the crosse , as also of the causlesse and undeserved hatred of people from those on whom he had conferred great favours , that so he might the better know to pray for pity , and believe his servants in the same condition . . thirdly , though our savior went about doing of good , yet some wicked men hated him , meerly because they were wicked men ; there is a generation of people , which drive a trade ( whereby they will never grow spiritually rich ) of receiving good , & returning evil . david , as a prophet , yea , a type of christ , complained of such , psal . . . they rewarded me evil for good , to the spoyling of my soule . some men have such foul stomachs , as to turn all honey into choller , converting courtesies they have received into anger and malice . . fourthly , christ , though generally doing good , was distasted of many , because the doctrines he delivered , were either above their understanding , or against their humour and inclination ; it was said of titus vespasian the emperour , neminem à se dimisit tristem , he sent no man sad away from him . a happinesse denied to our saviour himself , for when ( mat. . . ) he advised the young man to sell all that he had and give it to the poore , and come and follow him ; it is said , he went away sorrowfull , for he had great possessions . . lastly , christ , though generally ingratiating himself with his good deeds , could never arrive to be universally beloved , because he told people of their sins , and foretold them of their sufferings , especially the . of s. matthew's gospel , where he pronounceth eight woes , and every woe three fold ( four and twenty in all in effect ) against scribes , and pharisees and hypocrites . . it was said of will : nassaw , prince of orange , ( father to the late maurice ) the first founder under god , of the low-country mens liberty , being a popular prince , courteous in his carriage to the meanest person , that he never put off his hat to a peasant , or boar , but with that gesture the king of spain lost a subject , and a free member was gained to the united provinces , how well they will requite his kindnesse to his family , posterity will take notice , and succeeding generations will observe . . but our saviour never pronounced one of the aforesaid woes , but instantly he lost the affections of some , who became his enemies for telling them the truth : here a hyppocrite hated him , there a scribe scorned him ; here a lawyer left him , there a pharisee forsook him ; and at one time , joh. . . many of his disciples went back , and walked no more with him . . and here it is worth our observation to take notice of the difference between the preaching of moses and our saviour , the former promised all outward happinesse to such as kept gods lawes , how they should be , deut. . blessed in the field , and blessed in the city , blessed in their body , and blessed in their ground , and blessed in their cattel , blessed in their basket , and blessed in their store , in a word , on condition they would observe gods commandements he preached and promised unto them all external peace , plenty , and prosperity , . our saviour ' s sermons were of a different , yea , contrary nature , as appeareth by that passage , mat. . . but i say unto you , love your enemies , blesse them that curse you , do good to them that hate you , and pray for them which despightfully use you and persecute you ? wherein is . supposed , that the servants of god notwithstanding their walking soberly , righteously , and godlily , to the utmost of their endeavours , shall have many enemies , crusers , and persecutors . . imposed , that gospell principles oblige such who will be the followers of christ , to blesse those who are their most professed enemies . these are two hard sayings together , and is able to bear them severally , & asunder ; this mauled christ his popularity , that notwithstanding all his heavenly sermons , holy life , and happy miracles , he was hated by carnall men , chiefly on this account , because such as followed his doctrines , must be sure of persecution here , and waite for a reward hereafter . . let not the ministers of the gospel be disheartned , and discouraged , if with all their painfull preaching , and pious living and courteous , carriage to , and good usage of their people , they can never get , nor gaine their generall good will. the disciple is not greater than his master , nor the servant than his lord , let us know to our comfort that christ himself could never be long in peaceable possession of a generall good esteeme , but for the reasons aforesaid , fell into peoples displeasure , though he went about doing of good . . now to make some use of the text in generall , and first , is it so that our saviour went about doing of good ? serveth in this the first place to confute such , who will not at all go about , but immure themselves in a cloister , pent within the walls thereof , and then pride themselves in this their will-worship , as the highest and holiest state of perfection , though there they zily wither on the stalk they grew on , without contributing any thing by their paines and parts to the church or common-wealth : may not both church and state , as their creditors , justly sue them on an action of debt , for imbezilling these their part ; or , if you will , ingrossing them to themselves alone , wherein the communion of saints doth claime a joynt and publique interest ; sure i am , our saviour , that grand exemplar of holinesse , did not confine himself to a cell , but went about doing of good . . secondly , confuteth such who goe about , but how ? not to do good , but to do mischief , every place they come at faring the worse for their company : thus as a snaile may be traced by the slime she leaveth behinde her , so these men may be tracked whithersoever they remove , by the sootsteps of their own wickednesse . here they have a wanton speech , there a drop , an uncharitable passage ; there they scatter a profane expression , they may be followed and found out by their bad words in one place , and worse works in another ; these leave satan for their sovereigne , or chief of their order , job . . who came from going to and fro in the earth , and from walking up and down in it . but what to do ? the apostle telleth us , pet. . . walking about seeking whom he may devoure . lazinesse is better than such labour , idlenesse than such employment , to go about doing of evil . . thirdly , it confuteth such , who ( to give them their due ) do some good , and go doing of some good , but they go not about , their motion is circular , but semicircular at the best , they are onely beneficial to some of their own gang , of their own party , of their own faction , their goodness is not generall and universall , to all the true and proper objects thereof . . what saith s. paul , gal. . . as we have therefore opportunities , let us doe good to all men , especially to them who are of the houshold of faith ; those indeed are to have a hanna's part of our favour , a benjamine's portion of our bounty , yet so , as all in extremity , are the objects of charity , we are to baulk none who come in our way , not to say that some of plentifull estates are bound to seek out such objects for their liberality . . it is observed , that the disease called s. anthony's fire , or the cingles , ( because it clippeth and surroundeth the body in fashion of a girdle ) is never mortall , till it wholly compasseth the wast , both sides of the inflammation meeting together ; but on the contrary , charity is never soveraign effectually , and cordiall to purpose , untill it finisheth its full circuit , and taketh its compleat compasse , going about to do good . . it is an use of comfort to the saints and servants of god , considering that christ , who on earth went about doing of good , now in heaven , antiquum obtinet , keeps his old wont , still retaineth his former mercifull and bountifull disposition , he hath not lesse goodnesse , for having more greatnesse , lesse grace for having more glory , yea , rather now he doth greater and better things for us , because he is gone to the father , john . . whilst on earth his power was limited and confined , his lustre was clouded and eclipsed with his humanity , whereas now he is put into a better capacity to expresse himself , and assist us , able to work what we wish , and doe what we desire . . but now he doth not goe about doing of good , because after his long wearinesse on earth , he is reposed in ease and honour , and fixed at the right hand of his father in heaven , yet still in some sence he may be said to goe about doing of good , such the extensivenesse of his providence , through the whole circle of creation , from angels to worms , though the master-piece of his mercy is the daily making of intercession to god for his servants . . some difference there is amongst learned men about the manner of his making intercession , some conceiving it done onely with his mouth , others onely really by vertue of his merit , probably it may be done both waies , the rather because our saviour hath a tongue ( as also a whole body , but glorified ) in heaven , and it is not likely , that the mouth w ch pleaded for us on earth , is altogether silent for us in heaven , but in what manner soever this intercession be made , it is so done , as makes it both acceptable to god , and effectuall for us , by him who now reigneth in glory , and formerly went about doing of good . amen . finis . a gift for god alone . s. luke . ver . . thou shalt love the lord thy god with all thy heart , &c. london . printed for john stafford at fleet bridge . . a gift for god alone . prov . . ver . . my son , give me thy heart . these words , [ my son ▪ ] are used more than sixteen times in this book . it is therefore well worth our inquiry , what particular persons solomon designed by that relative compellation . first , negatively : know that rehoboam , solomon's son begotten by him , ( heir but to two parts of twelve of his father's kingdome , but not to the hundred part of his wisdome ) was not particularly reflected at herein , nor any other of his bodily extraction ; where , by the way , though we read of solomon's wives and concubines , we can give but a slender account of his children , finding but one son , and two daughters , king. . , . and probably , he was not fruitfull in issue , proportionably to his marriages . . nor positively : know solomon was but the instrumentall pen man , gods spirit the principall inditor of this book . and as our saviour said , mat. . . whosoever shall doe the will of my father which is in heaven , the same is my brother , sister , and mother ; so , whosoever shall attentively hear , and conscionably practise the precept in my text , the same is the beloved son , and dear daughter therein intended , my son , give me thy heart . . we will begin with a brief paraphrase on each word , so to disincumber them from all shew of difficulty , and then by gods assistance shall raise one staple doctrine , prove and apply it . . give ] not sell , we ought not to be saleable in gods service , having mercenary souls , chiefly aiming at our own interest . indeed , we may , and must with moses , heb. . have respect unto the recompense of reward ; we may look to it , and was taken from him , and given to his companion . then surely god will not hold them guiltlesse , who having first given him their hearts , afterwards take them away again , and conferre them upon the world and wickednesse . tim. . . demas hath forsaken me , having loved this present world , and is departed . . come we now to confute those flammes , which the world , the flesh and the devill , commonly suggest to men to deter them , or at the least to detaine them from giving their hearts to god. indeed i could give them better termes , as to call them pleas , pretences , excuses ; but flammes is even good enough to expresse them . . first , they alledge for themselves , that in case they should give their hearts to god , they must presently take a finall farwell of all comforts and contentments in this world. hereafter ( say they ) we must expect to live a dismall , dreary , dolefull , discontented , disconsolate life : no spark of pleasure , mirth , and jollity , but a lifelesse heartlesse life , when we have given our hearts unto god. . answer , i know not whether this flamme hath more of folly , or falsehood therein . such needlesse feares and jealousies the devil starts in mens apprehensions . the jewes were afraid in case they did permit our saviour publickly to preach amongst them , john. . . that the romanes would come and take away from them both the place and nation . whereas indeed it had been the onely way to prevent their invasion , seeing the putting of christ to death , did not only accelerate , but cause the ruine of their nation . thus men suspect that the giving of their hearts to god will marre their mirth , and destroy their delight for the time to come , whereas on the contrary , it is the onely way , for the continuance , increase , and improvement thereof . . true it is , it will retrench that mockmirth which ends in mourning , that joy not to be rejoyced in , it will defaulk those exorbitances and extravagances of carnall pleasure , wherein wicked men lay out their soules . but the tree of true joy shall thrive the better for the cutting off of these suckers . yea , which is more , a soul is utterly unacquainted with virgin , delibated , and clarified joy , untill such time as the heart be given to god , from which moment all true joy beareth the date thereof . . it is worth our observation to mark the difference betwixt the old translation ( made according to the vulgar latine ) and the new , conformed to the originall in the rendring of the eighth verse of the fourth psalm . old translation . thou haste put gladnesse in my heart : since the time their corne , and wine , and oyle increased . new translation . thou haste put gladnesse in my heart , more than in the time that their corne , and their wine increased . here we may see that oyle ( to bring in three staple commodities of the land of canaan ) is inserted in the vulgar without any warrant from the originall ; we cannot but dislike such an addition , more than what is warranted in the originall ; otherwise the doctrine had been true in it self , though putting in honey , balm , all other commodities which that land did afford . all of these could not equall that gladness of heart , which the spirit of god puts into a christians soule , after his heart is freely given to gods service . . the second flamme : if we give our hearts to god , we shall want one to discharge our several relations to our wives , children , friends , neighbours , and acquaintance . god will so ingrosse and monopolize our hearts to himself alone , we shall want the use of them , to all other purposes , and intents , where we stand engaged . . answer . this flamme hath as much folly and more malice than the former . give thy heart to god , and he will return it unto thee during thy life , ( and what needeth any longer term ? ) therewith to discharge thy relations better than ever before . a heart given to god will rule thy paces unto thy wives bed , to keep thy affections loyall unto her without any wandring . in a word , it is so given to god , that it is still kept to thy selfe , to perform all those offices , which are according to gods command . . third flamme , but my heart is so bad , it is not worthy gods acceptance , who justly will cast it away , both the gift & giver thereof . all the bad epithets given to a heart in the scripture , center and unite themselves in the mind , yea concur in the constitution thereof . an obstinate heart , deut. . . a froward heart , psal . . . a proud heart , psa . . . a perverse heart , prov. . . a haughty heart , prov. . . a stout heart , esa . . . a stony heart , ezek. . . a hardned heart , mar. . . a heart slow to believe , luke . . an uncircumcised heart , act. . . an impenitent heart , rom. ● . . and what else soever is found in scripture sounding to the disgrace thereof . if therefore i should give so bad a heart to god , he would refuse it , and returne it to me in his just displeasure . . i answer , if this flamme cometh from a hypocrite and dissembler , it is utterly unworthy that any answer should be afforded thereunto . but if it come from a penitent soule , sadly sensible of its own badnesse , ( as in charity we are bound to believe the best ) it deserveth a better name then a flamme , yea , is a hopefull and happy symptome ( though of weake ) of true grace in the party propounding it . happy that man , blessed that woman , who from a feeling of their own unworthinesse , make this sincere complaint . . be it known then to their comfort , that if they had a better heart , then this , whereof they complain , and did begrudge and repine to bestow it on god , yea , did keep and reserve the same for the service of satan , and their own wicked lusts , then this were in them notorious and unpardonable hypocrisie . but if this ( as bad as it is ) be the best heart they have , they may , yea must give it to god , and from him shall receive the same in a new edition bettered and amended . thy obstinate heart shall be made obedient ; thy froward heart , forward in gods service ; thy proud heart , humble ; perverse heart , plyable ; haughty heart , submisse ; stout heart , complying heart ; stony heart , fleshy ; hardned heart , soft ; heart slow , quick to believe ; uncircumcised heart , circumcised ; impenitent heart , repenting , &c. the onely way to get thy heart reformed , is , to give it to god , who will create a new heart in thee , according to davids desire . . let us instance in three motives to quicken our performance in this duty . the first may be drawne from the dignity of the party desiring it ; god , who might command , seemes in some sort in the text to request . these last ten yeares have made a sad change in many mens conditions . such who formerly relieved others , have since received reliefe from others . need hath taught many an ingenuous tongue , a language , wherewith formerly it was unacquainted . it may move a misers heart to pity to heare them beg , ( not thorough default of their own ) who had a hand and heart to distribute to others . but ought we not to be affected with the motion made in the text , wherein the great god of heaven seemeth in some sort to wave his might and majesty , and in triall of our towardnesse and tendernesse , becomes in the nature of a petitioner unto us , my son give me thy heart , or at least wise , doth onely desire , what he may demand as his due , yea command as his right belonging unto him . . second motive may be drawn from the deserts of the party , he is worthy ( say the pharisees of the centurion to christ ) for whom thou shouldst do this thing , for he loveth our nation , and hath built us a synagogue , luke . . many and great are the indearments and obligations , which god hath put upon us , he loadeth us daily with benefits , psal . . . ( though we make but light of that load ) as appeareth by our constant ingratitude . . the last motive may be taken from the danger of denyal : for be thou well assured , if thou refuse to give god thy heart , it wil not remaine thine long , to thy comfort . if any speciall friend , so honest , that he would not deceive thee with false frights , and so wise that he could not therewith be deceived by others , should seriously informe thee , that this night , thou should be plundered of a jewel of great value , which thou hast in thy house , & should request it of thee , to secure it for thee ( in the best acceptation of the word ) promising safe keeping , and seasonable restoring thereof ; surely thou shouldst discover little discretion to run the hazard of a robbery , and refuse so faire and civill a motion for thy own advantage . know in like manner , the world , flesh , and devil , one or all of them , will purloine thy heart from thee , and imbezle it to thy destruction . in prevention whereof , do thou make a friend therewith , and speedily bestow it , where it may be preserved for thee . adam himself , though armed with originall integrity , how ill he kept his own heart , we his posterity may sadly bemoan : despaire thou therefore to be the treasurer of thy own heart , thou canst not lock it so fast , but sin or satan by force or fraud , will command and cozen thee out of the possession of it , if it be not solemnly given to god himself . . and now , as once the eunuch said to philip , acts . . see here is water , what doth hinder me to be baptized ? so behold here all the requisites to a deed of gift , what is it that debarreth us , but that instantly this transaction of our hearts may be compleated ? here we the granters are present , and i charitably presume have our hearts in a spirituall sense , here within us ; here is god the grantee , who hath promised , where two or three are met together in his name , to be in the midst of them ; here are witnesses enow , seeing he who as party to one deed ( wherein himself is concerned ) may be a witnesse to the grant of another , and legally attest the truth thereof . nor is there any need of counsell of publick notaries to draw up and ingrosse an instrument herein , seeing nothing is required to the giving of the heart save the giving of the heart ; the more simply , the more surely it is pefrormed . . o the commendable simplicity of former ages , and their plain dealings in bargains and seals : what their hearts thought then tongues said ; what their tongues said their teeth seal'd , whose seals of brickle dough held better to all purposes and intents than ours of the most tenacious wax : how many manours in those dayes were conveyed in few words , from me and mine , to thee and thine ; where , as now , a span of ground can scarce be conveyed under a span of parchment , such is the litigiousnesse of our age. . but know , in giving our hearts , we are to deal with him who is the searcher of the hearts , and who hateth all ceremonious complements , preferring down-right sincerity . indeed , if the head was to be given , some might conceive it fit and necessary that the tongue and brains thereof should be imployed in making a large and eloquent oration at such transactions ; but the heart being now to be given , it may be done with silence and sincerity , with a serious promise , from this very moment to consecrate the same totally and finally to gods service . . i have read of iames the fourth , king of scotland , that on his death-bed he bequeathed his heart to the lord douglas , to carry the same to ierusalem , and to see it buried by the grave of our saviour , which the lord performed accordingly ; and in avowance thereof , the honourable families of the douglasses at this day , give a heart proper in the base-point of the shield . . some will praise the officiousness of a servant in doing his masters command , but none can excuse the superstition of the master , save onely by charging it on the erroneous devotion of those dark daies he lived in : but let not us delay it till our death , but in our life-time in the height of our health , wealth , and prosperity , let us not send by others , but give our selves , not our carnal , corporeal heart , but our spiritual heart , ( i mean , all the powers and faculties of our souls ) not to be interred in the material grave of our saviour , but to be buried with him in true mortification , which will be truly to practise the precept given in my text , my son , give me thy heart . amen . finis . the true penitent . prov. . . — he that confesseth and forsaketh his sin , shall finde mercy . london . printed for john stafford at fleet-bridge . . the true penitent . luke . . and wept bitterly . two men doe not more differ one from another , than the-selfe same man at severall times , differs from himselfe . behold a christian at the high-water-mark , when 't is spring-tide of grace with him , and how full is he fraught with pious meditations ? good thoughts , godly words , gracious works , so that one would think he would instantly stere from holinesse to happinesse . ( the top of grace confines with the bottom of glory ) and wonders to see so much triumphant sanctity in a militant christian . but now look on the same man , at ebbing water , when left to himselfe in the agony of a temptation , and how much shall we find him disguised from himself ? all his former good motions dead and buried , and in their room ariseth another generation , which never knew joseph . dismall thoughts , desperate words , damnable deeds , one would feare he would suddenly fall into the bottomless pit , but one haires breadth betwixt him and hell. wofull the soul who comes so neere , yet blessed the soule who never comes neerer . we need not go farther for a pregnant proof thereof , than to the example of s. peter , in this chapter . how promise-valiant was he , never to forsake his master ? and yet in the time of triall , how basely did he behave himselfe ? thus every one can conquer a temptation , but he who is assaulted with it , and when it is brought home to our heart , there is the man , yea , there is more than the man , yea , there must be a god to assist the man , to subdue and overcome it . . but as the sicknesse of lazarus , so the sinne of saint peter was not unto death , but for the glory of god. rejoyce not over me , o mine enemy ; for though i fall , yet shall i rise againe . soone after the lord look't , the cock crew , and the day dawn'd in the heart of saint peter , out he hasts of the high priests hall ; privacy complyes best with repentance . no such company for a penitent , as onely himself and his god , and now all alone he gives himself over to lamentation . he smote the stony rock also , and waters gushed forth ; so that rivers ran in desolate places . cephas a stone , peter , a rock , smitten with the sence of his sinnes , flowes with plentifull rivers of sorrow . o happy day of his repentance ! day , which had a fair afternoon , but a very rainy morning , and he went out and wept bitterly . . and wept bitterly . the text contains the cure for the falling sicknesse of the soule , and is so short that it needes no division , onely ( to avoid confusion ) i will handle it , first , in reference to saint peter , then in application to our selves ; meane time let none be offended at me , that clean thorough my discourse , i call him s. peter , though then in the midst of his misery whom some will not style so , though now in the heigth of his happinesse . sure their taking of the saintship from those in heaven , hath added no more holinesse to themselves on earth . but , such honour have all his saints , that they are to be mentioned with honour . and see the pattent of peters saint-ship penned with his teares in my text , written out so much the more fairely , by how much it was the more blurred . and wept bitterly . . in reference to s peter , three pertinent questions must be propounded , & answered . the first , why did s peter take on so heavily , seeing so much may be said for lessening his fault ? and though not wholly to excuse , in great degree to extenuate his offence . for first , it was but a sin of infirmity , done besides , yea , against his purpose and intention . he did not with a high hand tempt a temptation : but alas ! his heart was too great for his heart , his will to promise too great for his power to perform . secondly , a forcible motive moved him thereunto , namely , feare to lose his life . it was not s. peter , but s. peters passion which denied his master , or rather , he did but reserve himself to confess him at a fitter opportunity . thirdly , as the spouse in the canticles saith , i sleep , but my heart waketh ; so saint peter might say , my mouth renounceth my master , but my minde doth retein him . the deniall is but from the teeth outwards , ore , non corde . lastly , the lameness of his lie may be hidden or helped , by lending it the charitable staffe of an equivocation , verily i know not the man , that is , i know him not with intent to tell you of him ; or i know no such meer man as you mean , for my master is both god and man. . the answer to this objection is easie : for , s. peter did not looke on such passages , as might lessen his fault , but onely observed such circumstances , as tended to the heightening , extending , and aggravating thereof . as for equivocatiō , that sluggish piece of popery , could not be so early a riser , as to be up in the church in the twy-light , and first dawning of the gospel . for first , s. peter did consider , that he was forewarned , and therefore should have been forearmed . he could not plead that he was surprized on a sudden , christ having given him before a caveat thereof . secondly , he did it against his free promise , and flat protestation ; as if childs play , too mean for men , were good enough for god , fast and loose , bind and break , solemnly say one thing , and presently do another . thirdly , he did it thrice : once may be imputed to incogitancy , twice ascribed to infirmity , but thrice is uncapable of any charitable comment . so that favour it self must be forced to condemn it for a wilful offence . lastly , it was not a bare deniall , but a denial imbossed with oaths , and embroidered with curses , such is the concatenation betwixt one sin and another . the naturalists report of the providence of the pismire , that when she storeth up grain for the winter , she biteth off both the ends of the corn , thereby to prevent the growing thereof . but if we should be so unhappy as to commit one sin , o let us with speedy repentance spoile the procreative power thereof , before that one sin hath begot another : for how quickly did s. peter adde swearing to lying , and cursing to both ? . thus the eares and eyes of s. peter were onely open to heare and see such matters as most made against him : learn we from him , to measure the dimension of a sin , and not to listen to what flesh and blood may prompt us , for the lessening of our offences . mattereth it not then , though we cannot measure the compass of the earth , take the height of the heavens , if we can , by the jacobs staff of gods word , take the true altitude of our heynous transgressions : if there be any circumstances which tend to the extenuating of our faults , though we should chance to lose them , gods goodnesse will finde them ; and if we should forget them , he would remember them . let us look seriously on such things as render our faults the foulest ; following the example of s. peter in my text , looking upwards , he seeth god threatning , downwards , the devill insulting within him , his conscience raging without him , good men mourning , bad men mocking , that the first of the apostles , s. peter , in the publick'st of places , the high-priests hall , before the prophanest of persons , the high-priests servants , at the weakest of motives , the summons of a maid , did the worst of actions , deny his master , once , and not touch'd thereat , twice , and not troubled thereat , thrice , but there he stopt , but there he stay'd , but there he stinted : and he went out and wept bitterly . . the second question here to be demanded , is this , wherein consisted the validity and efficacy of the weeping of s. peter , that thereby he obtained his pardon ? . to this we answer , first negatively . the vertue of his weeping did not consist in his weeping , for by the bare deed done , did redound neither good to him , nor glory to god. if god be thirsty , he will not tell us , nor drink of the buckets of our teares . for all the rivers of the field are his , and so are the fountaines on a thousand hills . i could both sigh and smile , at the simplicity of some pagan people in america , who having told a lie , used to let their tongues blood in expiation thereof . a good cure for the squinancy , but no satisfaction for lying . and if not red teares , then much lesse white teares , are in themselves , any wayes expiatory of the least sin . now , positively , herein was the vertue of st. peters weeping , which procured his pardon , that his weeping was washed in the blood of his saviour : in vaine had peter wept , had not christ first bled for peter . could the eyes of a penitent vie moisture with the month of april ? all were to no purpose , without relating by faith to christ ; such prodigall weeping would sooner drown the sinner , than wash a sin. it was not the water , but it was that sope , malac. . . which did rinse the soul of s. peter . . by the way we must observe , that all people are not bound to weepe for their sinnes , because some cannot , by reason of naturall impediment . there is genus siccoculum , people , whose eyes by nature are like the pit , into which joseph was put , wherein there was no water . others there be , whose grief is too great to be managed by weeping . and as the teares are even ready to salley out of their eyes , they are countermanded back again with amazement and stupefaction : therefore those mothers , who want milk , are not bound to suckle their own children , but either to bring them up by hand , or to provide a nurse for them ; so god expects not that those should weep , whose eyes are drie nurses , but that some other wayes they expresse their sorrow for their sins . and commonly such people , though they are water-bound , yet will not be wind-bound too , but what they spare in teares , they spend in sighs . such persons are not to be reproached , but pitied , as lacking an outlet for the exportation of their sorrow ; & it is to be feared , that grief will wrong the vessell the more , for lacking a vent ; a favour , which nature afforded to st. peter in my text : for he could go out and weep bitterly . . the third and last question to be propounded , is this : suppose s. peter had died suddenly , immediately after his denying of his master , and just before his repentance ; what then had become of the soule of s. peter ? . i answer : first , as is the mother , so is the daughter : an impossible supposition hath begot and brought forth an impossible conclusion . suppose that the sun had been quite put out in the last eclips , whence then should the torch of the moon , and the taper of the starres be lighted ? suppose that abraham had really sacrificed isaac , when he did but offer him , who then had been the father of iacob ? to come closer to the question . it was impossible for peter to die before his repentance ; not but that he was mortall in himself ( any arrow in deaths quiver might have wounded him to the heart , a feaver burn him , a dropsie drown him , any deadly disease surprize him ) but because his life , as well naturall , as spiritual , was hid with christ in god , col. . . whose wisdom , as it had permitted his fall , so his goodness had decreed his recovery . the bones in the blessed body of our saviour , were frangibilia , but not frangenda ; they were breakable in their own nature , but could never actually be broken , as being secured from all possibility of fracture , by that prophecy premised , a bone of him shall not be broken . in like manner , seeing god had determined the salvation of st. peter ; heaven and earth might sooner passe away , than he fall finally , in spight of sicknesse , and death , and sin , and satan , and hell it self , he must rise , he must survive , he must recover . but , not forced with the strength of the supposition , but out of good will , to gratifie ingenious adversaries , be it granted , that s. peter had died suddenly , after his sinne , and before his explicite , actual repentance for this particular fault ; yet i say , his soule had gone to heaven . for , consider first , though the boughs of his sinnes spred wide , and branches sprouted high , yet the root thereof was but humane infirmity , consistent with saving grace . and though he denied his master thrice , yet it was but once in efeffect , all in one continued hot blood , his soule being never cooled , or re-inforced with new thoughts . secondly , he had in him true repentance , quoad principium gratiae , an habitual repentance , which through gods mercy , and christs merits , was sufficient for his salvation . if any dissent from me herein , because i make habitual repentance , like janus , to look as well forward as backward , effectuall for the remission of future , as well as past-sinnes ; let such consider with themselves , first , they cannot , but must die . secondly , they cannot , but must sin , and it is possible they may suddenly ; guilty of sins of infirmity , actually unrepented of . in such a case their judgement will not allow purgatory : their will cannot indure hell , heaven is the place which they hope and desire to go to , wherefore what favour they expect for themselves , let them charitably allow to s. peter . but what go we about to do ? the text takes away the subject of the question , whereof we dispute , peter did revive , and recover , witness his sighing , his sobbing , his weeping , his wailing in my text. . the use of this might serve to confute the censoriousnes of many in this age , who seeing their brother guilty of a grievous sinne , presently condemn him for a reprobate and castaway . thus the poore mans soule , cast by his owne sinnes to hells brinke , is throwne down by other mens censures to hells bottom . it is reported , of iohn duns scotus , the great school man , that being in a strong fit of an apoplexy , the standers by conceived him to be dead indeed . whereupon , out of the cruell kindnesse , and over-officious forwardnesse of his friends and kindred , he was buried as yet being alive , and afterwards knockt out his brains against the sides of the coffin . thus the precipitate hastiness of some censorious people , beholding their brother in a desperate sinne , or deep temptation , bring no cordials , but call for a coffin , vote him spiritually dead , and instead of rubbing him , fall a winding him . they conclude , there is no hope , there is no help , he 's past sense , he 's past saving , he 's gone , he 's given over to a reprobate minde , no way with him but one , and that is eternall damnation . thus they bury mens soules alive , and ( as much as lies in their power ) tumble them into the bottomlesse pit ; though the best is , such uncharitable carriage more hurteth the doers than the sufferers . whereas men should know , that every wound in the soule , which is mortale , is not mortiferum ; and that it cometh to pass in the christian combate , what often happeneth in bodily battels . fames trumpet kills more than the sword , and many , reported by people to be slain over-night , are found alive in the morning , though ( perchance ) sorely wounded , or taken captives . sorely wounded ! but so as they may be cured . taken captives ! but so as they may be freed by gods pardon on their repentance , like s. peter in my text , who went out , &c. . so much of the text , in reference to s. peter : come we now to the application unto our selves . the pope pretendeth to be the onely successor of s. peter , but in this respect we all are his successors ; we all have followed him , we all have sate in his chair , we all have denied our master , though not formally , totidem verbis , yet equivalently , and it is to be feared , some of us transcendently . there be divers degrees , and different manners of denying of christ ; some deny him totally , as apostates ; some partially , as prophane people ; some in his essence , as atheists ; some in his deity , as arians ; some in his humanity , as nestorians ; some in his merits , as some proud papists ; some in his spirituall dominion over them , as all licentious people . if i be a master , where is my fear ? saith the lord of hosts : mal. . . so that they who call god master with their mouths , and do not honour him in their hearts by their lives , doe in effect deny him , and un-master him , as much as lieth in their power . . saint paul complaineth , ( titus . last ver . ) of some who profess that they know god , but in works they deny him . and s. peter comes closer ( second epist . cap. . ver . . ) even denying the lord that bought them . and the same reproof is ecchoed by s. jude , ver . . turning the grace of god into lasciviousnesse , and denying the onely lord god , and our lord jesus christ . the best of us all , in some measure , have been guilty hereof , and have abused our christian freedome , the more freely to abuse christ who gave it us . wherefore , as we have been like s. peter in sinning , let us be like s. peter in sorrowing , let us go out , not with outward moving , but inward mending ; not shifting our place , but changing our practise , go out of our sinnes , goe out of our selves , go out to our saviour , go out and weep bitterly . . yea , but may some man say , i never could , nor shall weep bitterly for my sins . i am affected for outward afflictions , like rahel weeping for her children , and would not be comforted . if i have a ship sunk in the sea , i can almost again drown it in my weeping . but alas ! when i am to sorrow for my sinnes , no teares , as voluntaries , profer themselves to my service . and i have much adoe to press any to bewaile my wickedness , yea , i have grieved more for one temporall cross , than for all the sinnes i ever committed : which makes me to feare , that for want of bitter weeping here , i shall go to the place of weeping and wailing hereafter . . if any penitent soule doth stagger with this objection , let him stay himselfe with these following meditations . first know , that sorrow for sufferings must of necessity be more violent and passionate , than our sorrow for our sins . first , because it is not only a pure , virgin , & delibated sorrow , but hath much of the mixture of impatience , discontentment , and rebellion against divine providence . and these make the sorrow more vocall , clamorous , and obstreperous . secondly , because we sorrow for our sufferings , with the whole man ; and for our sins , but with half the man , onely our regenerate part , our sanctified moity . for our flesh , all the while , laughs at sin , and delights in it . thirdly , because sorrow for our sufferings makes an immediat impression upon our bodies , whereas sorrow for our sins works directly on the soul , and on the body , but by the by , and at the second hand , now , although all sorrow doth flow from the soul , as the fountain ; yet because it runneth through the body , as the channel , and from thence is furnished with outward expressions ( as teares , sighs , cries , rending the haire , wringing the hands , and the like ) hence cometh it to passe , that sorrow for sufferings is best stored with plenty and variety of outward lamentations . . for a second comfort take this . though sorrow for sufferings be more passionate , sorrow for sinnes is more permanent . david saith , psal . . . and my sinne is ever before me . as the sin , so the sorrow of a saint is ever before him , morning , evening , early , late , day , night ; he may go away with it , but cannot run away without it . again , sorrow for sin doth grieve more , though it doth complain lesse , which will appeare by comparing of two sick persons , one having the tooth-ach , the other the consumption : he that hath the tooth-ach , cries out most , even to the disturbing of the standers by ; and no wonder , if where the mouth be plantiff , it complaineth aloud of its own grievances : and yet all know the tooth-ach not to be mortall ; it hath raised many from their beds , sent few to the grave , hindred the sleep of many , hastned the death of few : whereas he who hath the consumption , doth not roare , nor rage , nor cry out , and the little breath left in his bad lungs , he layeth out , rather than in living , than in sighing . and yet sure his grief is the greater , as knowing that he carrieth , though the easiest , yet the surest death about him . and such is a saints sorrow for his sins , low and silent ; the lesse grieving he keeps , the more grieving he keepes ; the lesse he expresseth the more he retaineth . it is a continuall dropping , and you know it is the sober rain which maketh the earth drunk . . third and last comfort . know , that our sorrow for our sins , though little in it selfe , is great in gods acceptance and appreciation . well doth any wise earthly prince know how to value the liberality of his loyall subjects , who shall assist him in his great want with a small summe of money , especially if he knoweth that they are deeply impoverished & struggle with their necessity , which makes his gracious goodnesse to interpret a small gift a great one , comming from a large heart , confined to a narrow estate . but farre better doth the king of heaven know how barren we are in grace , how beggarly in goodnesse , so that sorrow for our sinnes comes from us with great difficulty and disadvantage , we are faine to strive and struggle against our corruptions , before one teare be extracted . spigellius in his booke of anatomy , telleth us , that many english mothers and nurses have a foolish custome to swaddle the breasts of their new-borne babes over-hard , and so straiten their stomacks , that their lungs cannot dilate themselves in breathing : and this ( by the way ) doth he say is the cause why more die of the consumption in england , than in any other country . sure i am , that by the wilfull folly of our first parents , adam and eve , before we had our birth , when first we had our being , we were so soule-bound with sin , and hard tied with the bands of originall corruption , that it hindreth the spirituall breathing of all our affections . yet god is pleased to take our widows mite of sorrow in good worth , knowing it proceds from poverty ; yea , which is more , heaven can smile to see a sinner grieve , that he cannot grieve for his sins ; and god is pleased to see him squeeze the bottles of his eyes , though he can wring no moisture out of them . twist these severall cords together into one cable of comfort , which tied to the anchor of hope , will keep the pensive soule from sinking in despaire , though he cannot weep so bitterly for his sinnes , as he doth for outward afflictions . . however , seeing it is the bounden duty of all , to endeavour to sorrow for their sinnes ; this serves to confute the jollity of this age. wherein , instead of weeping bitterly , we have laughing heartily , and quaffing constantly , and faring daintily , and talking wantonly , and lying horribly , and swearing hideously , and living lazily , and dying desperately . in those dayes the lord began to cut israel , short , kings . . and god now begins to cut england short , short in men short in meat , short in money , short in wealth , so that it is to be feared , that great britain will be little britain , and remain great onely in her sins and sufferings . and is this a time for men to lengthen themselves , when god doth shorten them ! is this a time for people to affect fond fashions , when it is to be feared we shall be all brought into the same fashion of ruine and desolation ? a strange people ! who can dance at so dolefull musique , as the passing-bell of a church and common-wealth ? take heed , atheisme knocks at the doore of the hearts of all men , and where luxury is the porter it will be let in . let not the multiplicity of so many religions as are now on foot , make you carelesse to have any , but carefull to have the best . . o beloved , take the fruit , though you should throw away the basket though you should slight the preacher , embrace his counsel . think not that christ will call each of you immediately from heaven as he did , saul , saul , why perscutest thou me ? or that with s. austin , you shall here a voice saying to you , tolle & lege , take up thy book and read : or that with st. peter , before wee repent , the cock must literally crow , and christ corporally look upon us . every reproofe of the preacher , is the crowing of the cock , every check in your conscience , is the crowing of the cock , every spectacle of mortality presented before you , every affliction inflicted upon you , every motion to repentance arising within you , is the crowing of the cock. these you must listen to , and obey . and yet we read of the sybarites , a luxurious people in graecia , who , that they might better enjoy their case , and quiet , commanded that no cocks should be kept in their city , that so they might sleep the more soundly , not having their heads troubled with the proclamations of those heraulds of the morning . so i am afraid there be some that could wish , that there were no more preachers in england , then at one time there were smiths in israell , no cocks to crow , no wayes to waken them out of the sleep of their carnall security . . but i hope better things of you , and such as accompany salvation . neitherneed i to use any other motive to incite you to spirituall sorrow , then the very words of our saviour , mat. . . blessed are those that mourn , for they shall be comforted . peter was comforted afterwards , yea , he had an expresse of comfort dispatch'd and addressed to him in particular ▪ mark. . . but goe your way , and tell his disciples and peter , that he goeth before you into gallilee . . yea , all gods saints shall taste of spirituall comfort . as joshua when he entred to jericho was carefull to spare her house , at whose window the red lace did hang out , so god will be carefull to preserve such , at whose windows , at whose eyes , rednesse made by their mourning , as a signe of their sorrow doth appeare , and at the last day , as it is isaiah . . . the lord god will wipe away teares from all their faces . the papists have a tale , that as our saviour sweated with carrying his crosse , a worthy woman , one veronica met him , and gave him a handkerchief therewith to wipe his face . which ragge ( they say ) still remaines at rome , fit therein to wrap up the rest of their apocraphal traditions . grant it a tale that this saint gave a handkerchief to him , it is a truth , that he will give one to every good saint , to take away their teares , and he will wipe the face of that magdalen , who wiped his feet . . it is reported of aristotle that great philosopher , that being unable to unriddle that mystery of nature , the motion of the sea , impatient of his ignorance , he wilfully drowned himselfe in that water which posed him , with these words , quid ego non capio te , tu capias me , because i cannot conceive thee , thou shalt containe me : no little foolish deed of a great carnall wise man. but seeing that the happinesse heaven mounteth so high , that it cannot enter into the heart of man to conceive it , let us labour so to live here , that in due time going hence , we may enter into those joyes , which cannot enter into us , and be received by that blisse , which cannot be conceived by our braine , where amongst many other worthy saints we shall meet with s. peter , though not in the pensive posture wherein we find him my text , then singing sweetly , who in my text went out and wept bitterly . amen . finis . the best act of oblivion . eccles : . , remember now thy creator in the dayes of thy youth . london . printed for john stafford at fleet-bridge . . the best act of oblivion . psal. . . remember not lord the sins of my youth . in these foure psalmes which immediately follow one another , we may find the soul of david , presented in all the several postures of piety , lying , standing , sitting , kneeling . in the . psal . he is lying all along , falling flat on 's face , low groveling on the ground , even almost entring into a degree of dispaire . speaking of himselfe in the history , of christ in the mystery , my god , my god , why hast thou forsaken me ? . in the three and twentieth psalme , he standing , and through gods favour ; in despite of his foes , trampling and triumphing over all opposition , the lord is my sheepherd , therefore shall i lack nothing . . in the psalme he is sitting , like a doctor in his chaire , or a professor in his place , reading a lecture of divinity , and describing the character of that man , how he must be accomplished , who shall ascend into the holy hill , and hereafter be partaker of happinesse . . in this psalme he is kneeling , with hands , and voice lifted up to god , and on these two hinges the whole psalm turneth , the one is a hearty beseeching of gods mercy , the other a humble bemoaning of his own misery . lent is a season for sorrow , this week is the suburbs of lent , this day the leader of this weeke , shrove-sunday , antiently used for penitents confessing of their sinnes . wherefore what doctrine more needfull in it selfe , more usefull to us , more suitable to the season , then to shrive our selves to god on shrove-sunday , joyning with david in his paenitentiall devotions , remember not o lord the sinnes of my youth . . which words containe davids petition to the king of heaven , that he would be pleased to passe an act of oblivion , of the sinnes of his youth . premise we this , that god cannot properly be said either to remember or forget , because all things alwayes present themselves as present unto him . but in scripture phrase , god is said then to remember mens sins , when he doth punish them , then to forget mens sins when he doth pardon them . thus as moses vailed his face , that he might be the better beheld , so god to allay the purity of his imcomprehensiblenesse with meaner mettall , namely with expressions after the manner of men , to make it work to our capacities , let us praise god for his goodnesse herein , that whereas we could not ascend to him , he doth descend to us , and let us pray him , that as here he doth cloud the object , to make it fitter for our eyes , so hereafter he would cleare our eyes to make them fitter for the object , when in heaven we shall see him as he is . . before we come to the principall point , we must first cleare the text from the incumbrance of a double objection . the first is this , it may seeme ( may some say ) very improbable , that david should have any sins of his youth , if we consider the principalls whereupon his youth was past . the first was poverty , we read that his father jesse passed for an old man , we read not that he passed for a rich man , and probably his seaven proper sonnes , were the principall part of his wealth . secondly , painefulnesse : david , though the youngest was not made a darling , but a drudge , sent by his father to follow the ewes big with young , where he may seeme to have learned innocence and simplicity from the sheep he kept . thirdly , piety , psal . . . for thou art my hope , o lord god , thou art my trust from my youth . and again in the verse of the same psalme , o god thou hast taught me from my youth : david began to be good betimes , a young saint , and yet crossed that pestilent proverb , was no old devill . and what is more still , he was constant in the fornace of affliction , psal . . . even from my youth up thy terrors have i suffered with a troubled mind . the question then will be this , how could that water be corrupted , which was daily clarified ? how could that steele gather rust , which was duly filed ? how could davids soule in his youth be sooty with sinne , which was constantly scoured with suffering . . but the answer is easie , for though david , for the maine were a man after gods own heart , ( the best transcript of the best copy ) yet he , especially in his youth , had his faults and infirmities , yea his sinnes and transgressions . though the scripture maketh no mention of any eminent sin in his youth , the businesse with beersheba being justly to be referred to davids reduced , and elder age . i will not conclude that david was of a wanton constitution , because of a reddy complexion . it is as injurious an inference , to conclude all bad which are beautifull , as it is a false and flattering consequence , to say all are honest who are deformed . rather we may collect davids youth guilty of wantonnesse , from his having so many wives and concubines . but what goe i about to doe ? expect not that i should tell you the particular sins , when he could not tell his own , psal . . who can tell how oft he offendeth ? or how can davids sinnes be knowne to me , which he confesseth were unknowne to himselfe , which made him to say , o lord cleanse me from my secret sinnes . but to silence our curiosity , that our conscience may speake . if davids youth which was poor , painfull , and pious , was guilty of sinnes , what shall we say of such whose education hath been wealthy , wanton , and wicked ? and i report the rest to be acted with shame , sorrow , and silence , in every mans conscience . . the second objection hath more difficulty in it , which is this , this may seeme but a superfluous prayer of david . for whereas in charity it may and must be presumed , that david long since had beg'd pardon for his youthfull sinnes , that upon his begging , god had granted it , that upon his granting god never revoked it . what need now had david to preferre this petition for pardon of antiquated sinne , time out of mind committed by him , time out of minde remitted by god ? . to this objection i shape a foure-fold answer , first , though david no doubt , long since had been truly sorrowfull for his youthfull sinnes , yet he was sensible in himselfe , that if god would be extream , to marke what was done amisse , though he had repented of those his sinnes , yet he had sinned in that his repentance . secondly , though god had forgiven davids sinnes so farre forth , as to pardon him eternall damnation , yet he had not remitted unto him temporall affliction , which perchance pressing upon him at this present , he prayeth in this psalme , for the removing or mitigating of them . so then the sence of his words sound thus , remember not lord the sinnes of my youth , that is , lord lighten and lessen the afflictions which lye upon me , in this mine old age , justly inflicted on me , for my youthfull sinnes . thirdly , gods pardon for sinnes past , is ever granted with this condition , that the party so pardoned , is bound to his good behaviour for the time to come , which if he breaks , he deserves in the strictnesse of justice to forfeit the benefit of his pardon . now david was guilty afterward in that grand transgression of beersheba and uriah , which might in the extremity of justice have made all his youthfull sinnes to be punished afresh upon him . lastly , grant david certainly assured of the pardon of his youthfull sinnes , yet gods servants may pray for those blessings they have in possession , not for the obtaining of that they have , that is needlesse ; but for the keeping of what they have obtained , that is necessary . yea , god is well pleased with such prayers of his saints , and interprets them to be praises unto him , and then these words , remember not the sinnes of my youth , amount to this effect , blessed be thy gracious goodnesse , who hast forgiven me the sins of my youth . however , here we may see that in matters of devotion , too much caution cannot doe amisse , in the point of pardon for sinnes , we cannot seek too oft , shut too safe , binde too sure . and therefore david who prayes elsewhere , lord remember david in his troubles , he could well be contented god would remember davids person to protect it , davids piety to reward it , davids misery to remove it , wrong done to david to revenge it ; but as for davids sinnes , and especially the sinnes of his youth , here he lyes at another guard , remember not lord the sinnes of my youth . . come we now to the principal point , which is this , youth is an age wherein men are prone to be excessively sinfull . by youth i understand that distance of age , which is interposed betwixt infancy , and the time wherein nature decayes ; all the time , that a man in his strength is in his owne disposing . now the reasons , why youth rather then infancy or old age should be prone to wickednesse are these : first , because that in youth they first breake loose from the command of their masters , gal. . . now i say , that the heire , as long as he is a child , differeth nothing from a servant , though he be lord of all , but is under tutors , and governours , untill the time appointed of the father , which time , though long a comming , when it comes at last , is very welcome to young men . esay said in his heart , the dayes for the mourning , for my father isaac will come shortly , then will i slay my brother jacob. thus young men plot , project , and promise to themselves , the dayes will come , when my father , or master , or tutor , will die , either naturally , or legally , will decease , either in his person , or power over me , and then i 'le roare , and revell , and gad , and game , and dice , and drink , and what not ? in a word , young men thinke , that they justly may have an action against their parents , for false imprisonment , because they have unjustly curbed , and confined their wills ; and though they dare not lay their action against their parents , yet to make the best amends they may to themselves , whom they conceive heretofore wrong'd with too much restraint , they will hereafter right with too much liberty . . secondly , because youth is an age , wherein mens passions are most head-strong , violent , and impetuous , so that it may be called the midsommer moone , or if you will rather the dog dayes of mans life . . thirdly , because as in youth , mens mindes are most strong to desire , so their bodies are most able and active to performe any wickednesse . . lastly , because young men put the day of death farre from them . for there is nothing that more frights men from profanesse and into piety , then the serious apprehension of death appearing , with the arrerages thereof , eternall damnation , in case the party dieth not in the faith and favour of god. now whereas old men see death in plano , as under their eyes , death is represented to young men in landskipt , as at a great distance from them . and when old men discourse to young men of death , young men are ready to answer them , as the high priest did judas in a different case , what is that to us ? looke you unto it . the dayes of a man saith david are threescore yeares and ten . now what some men possibly may live to , young men thinke they certainly must live to , they will not abate a day , nor a minute , nor a moment of threescore and ten , they have calculated their owne nativities , and so long they are sure they shall live . . as for the sinnes whereof youth is most properly guilty , they are these : first pride , and indeed , though they , and none else , have any just cause to be proud , yet they have the best seeming cause to flesh and blood . for young men have health , and strength , and swiftnesse , and valour , and wit , and wisdome too , as they thinke themselves , though indeed the more fooles because they thinke so themselves . . secondly prodigality , for they begin where their fathers did end , and are ( the eldest sonne especially ) in matter of worldly wealth , as good men at their starting , as their fathers were at the ending of their race . and commonly it commeth to passe , that where the father like logick had his fist contracted , the sonne like rhetorick hath his hand expanded . . the third sinne of youth is rashnesse . for as old men , because they are acquainted with the changes and chances of the world , when they goe about any great action , start all doubts , dangers , and difficulties , probable , and possible , whereby sometimes it comes to passe , that by their tedious tarrying on causelesse caution , they lose the advantage of great actions , which are made to goe off with a spring of speedy execution ; so on the other side , young men who know litle , and feare less , being loath to confesse the poverty of their experience by borrowing councell from others , rashly runne on , often to their hurt , alwayes to their hazard , as if successe was bound out of duty , to attend their most desperate designes . yea , david himselfe cannot be excused from this sinne of rashnesse , witnesse his words to abigail , the of sam. . . as the lord god of israel liveth , except thou hadst hastned and come to meet me , surely there had not been left unto nabal , by to morrow light , any that pisseth against the wall . a precipitate project , what if the master was wilfull , must all the servants be wofull ? what if nabal had been too niggardly of his meate , must david be too prodigall of his sword ? yea , and he bindes it too with an oath , so that either he tooke gods name too vainely in jest , or the innocent blood too sadly in earnest . rashnesse is the third sin of youth . . disobedience to parents , followeth in the fourth place , a great sin to which young men are much subject , especially if their parents be feeble , and froward , and foolish too , perchance as doting by age , then they are ready to despise them . . the fift and last sinne we insist on is wantonnesse , the proper and paramount sinne of youth , and therefore s. paul writing to timothy , tim. . . flee youthfull lusts . one might thinke this precept , to timothy might well have been spared , considering that timothy had a weake body , subject to often infirmities , and such sick folke are likely to thinke rather of a winding sheete , then wantonnesse . secondly , timothy was temperate in his dier , daily drinking nothing but water , and such cold liquor was likely to quench all heate of lust , and yet because timothy though a good man , though a weake , though a temperate man , yet but a man , and a young man , s. paul thought the precept not improper for the person , flee youthfull lusts . lust is the fift sinne of youth . . all these five are the sinnes of youth . would i could say but as truly these five are all the sinnes of youth . but alas , youth is capable of , and subject to all sinnes whatsoever . and yet , though youth be too bad in it self , let us not make it worse then it is ; with the fashion of the world , when an offender is guilty of more then he can answer , to charge him with more then he is guilty . youth may commit all sinnes , yet all sinnes are not the sinnes of youth . a young man may be covetous , yet covetousnesse is no young mans sinne . old men would be angry , if they might not keep that vice to themselves . though perchance they will call it by a more mannerly name of thriftinesse . the result of all is this . these five sinnes are the waiters in ordinary , attending on youth . so that all young persons are guilty of them in some measure , except god give them a better proportion of restraining grace . as for sinnes extraordinary , waiters on youth , they are innumerable , being as many as any other age hath , either inclination to desire , or ability to commit . . we come now to make a two-fold application of what hath been said , the one to young men , the other to old men . but you will say , where shall middle age people be placed ? shall they be wholly neglected in the dispensation of this dayes doctrine ? i answer , middle age people , shall have free leave and liberty to rank and reduce themselves , either amongst the young , or old persons , according to their owne christian discretions . but i know where i shall find them all , for naturally we all would be young , and therefore to them , amongst the young people , i thus addresse my discourse . . you young people , ye have heard how youth is an age wherein men are prone to be exceedingly sinfull , wherefore as you tender the glory of god , the health of your bodies , the saving of your souls , let me intreate you to be carefull to avoid the sins of youth . it will be your own another day . remember what iob saith , though no doubt an excellent man , job . . thou writest bitter things against me , and makest me to possesse the iniquities of my youth . thou makest me to possesse the iniquities of my youth . if you lead dissolute lives whilst you are young , other possessions i cannot promise you , for your lands may be lost , your goods gone , but this possession ye shall be sure of , ( a strange possession often purchased by prodigality ) you shall possesse the sinnes of your youth , and ( if you live so long ) in your old age soundly smart , for the luxury and intemperance of your youth . remember also what solomon saith , ecclesiastes . . rejoyce , o young man in thy youth , and let thy heart cheere thee in the dayes of thy youth , and walke in the wayes of thine heart , and in the sight of thine eyes : but know thou , that for all these things , god will bring thee unto judgement . which words consist : the first a concession , the second a commination ; the first a concession , for it is no positive command , or rather it is but an interpretative connivance , not so much given as gotten , and indulgent to the frailty of humane flesh , rejoyce , o young man in thy youth , &c. the second is a commination , contrary to good musick , it is harshest in the close , i should like the indentures well but for the condition : but know thou that for all these things god will bring thee unto judgement . will bring thee , which words import two things . first , the unwillingnesse of youth to come to judgement , secondly , the unavoidablenesse , that youth must come to judgement ; and how soon you shall come to judgement , is known to god alone . flatter not your selves with a fond conceit of immortality . for though the psalmist saith , a horse is but a vain thing to save a man , yet a very mote is no vaine thing to destroy a man. and whosoever shall be pleased to count the number , and mark the age of this sacrifice in the old testament , shall find more kids and lambs offered , then goats and old sheep . . but young men will say , preach you what you please , we will doe what we list . your perswasions shall not befoole us out of the pleasures of youth . yea , this is but an envious discourse . have ye not read of a tyrant who having had one of his eyes accidentally put out , cruelly caused an eye of every one of his subjects to be bored out , that they might not mock at his deformity ? and so seeing youth is taken away from you , you would put it out in others , perswading them if you could prevaile , to deprive themselves of those pleasures , to which youth doth intitle them . . if any such there be that heare me to day , who fasten such envious comments on my innocent doctrine , i say if any such there be , as i feare there be some , and hope there be few , and wish there were none , to such i say in the holy irony of the prophet michaiah to king ahab , goe up and prosper . larde your soules with delight , may your own mind be the onely measure of your pleasure , carve what you please , and eate what you carve , and much good may that doe you which you eate ; if it be not bad in it selfe , it shall never be made worse by my wishes . but as god saith to daniel , dan. . the last , in respect of his prophesie , but thou , o daniel , shut up the words , and seale the book , and goe thy way till the end be , for thou shalt rest , and stand up in the lot at the end of dayes : so say i to my sermon this day , though onely in relation to such as count it an envious discourse ; sermon sleep for seven and seven yeeres , yea let the doctrine delivered this day , die for so long time , and when that time is expired , when it is probable enough that the preacher shall be dead , the sermon shall new live , and then have a resurrection in the beliefe of those young men , who now lesse believe it . the instructions now laught at , will then be long'd for . for indeed , this doctrine will grow the best when it is sowen in those furrowes , which age hath made in the face . till then , my sermon will be contented to bear the burden of envy , and then they that accuse it , must beare the burden of folly , when they shall freely acquit it , and flatly condemne themselves . . i come now in the second place ( and i hope with better successe ) to you aged persons , nor let it be interpreted any disloyalty against the crowne of your old age , that i addresse my selfe to you in the last place ; for ( if i mistake not ) the last , is the first , the close and conclusion the highest place in the sermon . let me in all humility advise you , not to repine at gods providence , because your youth is past . coorse complements were exchanged betwixt pharaoh and moses at their last meeting , exod. . . pharaoh began , get thee gone , look to thy selfe , see my face no more . moses , though meek , not mopish , returned as short an answer , thou hast well spoken , i will see thy face no more . the bargaine is easily driven , where both parties desire it . i , pharaoh cares not for moses , moses cares as little for pharaohs company . in like manner labour to be as willing to lose youth , as that hath been to leave you . never seek by unlawfull waies to wooe it to stay one minute longer . let the departing thereof cost thee not a sigh the more , or a smile the fewer . is youth gone with the sweet thereof ? then it is gone with the sin thereof : is it gone with the delight thereof ? then is it gone with the danger thereof : as hereafter your carnall delight will be the lesse , so your spirituall joy will be the more , if the fault be not in your selves . . secondly , desire not , that as the sun went back ten degrees on the diall of ahaz , so that thou mightest be ten dayes , ten weeks , ten moneths , ten yeares younger then thou art . such wishes i am sure are vaine , i suspect are wicked . what souldier having escaped a desperate fight , desireth himselfe againe in the midst of it ? what sea-man having escaped the sands and shelves , wisheth himself there again ? and seeing ye have passed salum juventutis , as tully termes it , the troublesome sea of youth ; why should you wish your selves in it again ? neither thinke to say within your selves , o if we were young againe , the time which formerly we mispent in riot , we would hereafter improve in piety . the truth hereof will plainly be perceived , by your well husbanding the life which is left you to gods glory . for he that will not be faithfull in a little , will not be faithfull in much . he will not be a good husband on the remnant , would be a bad one , if he had the whole cloath . it is therefore to be suspected , that in your desiring to be young againe , you only make the pretence of piety , the pander to your owne profanenesse . . beware therefore that in your old age ye be not guilty of the sins of youth . gardiners can tell you , that when rose-trees are clipt in the moneth of may , so that then they cannot bring roses , they doe commonly bring them in the autumn spring , in the month of september . and it is possible , if you have been restrained , either by sicknesse of body , or naturall modesty , or want of opportunity , or restraining grace , from the excrescencies of youth , when you are young , i say it is possible , that you may be visited with such guests in your old age , and make them welcome at your own perill . . and this let me commend unto you , when you survey the sinnes of your youth , take heed of mistaking your oblivion , for innocence , and thinking your selves free from committing those sinnes which ye cannot remember . for were we at this instant arraigned for some sinnes we have done , we would plead , not guilty . not that we would be so impudent as to deny them if we did remember them , but we have as clearly forgot them , as if we had never committed them . lord , thou layest such a sinne to my charge , there is some error , some mistake , some other may be guilty of it , but it is not i. but o what is said , rev. . . in the description of the generall judgement , and the books were opened . the bookes wherein every ones faults are registred and recorded , the persons who , and with whom , the place where , the time when , and in this point , midnight is as cleare a witnesse as noon day , concurring with the testimony of our guilty consciences . . another place of scripture also deserves your observation , psal . . . these things hast thou done , and i kept silence , thou thoughtest , that i was altogether such a one as thy self , but i will reprove thee , and set them in order before thine eyes . i will set them in order . alas ! when we sin , we jumble and confound , and heap , and huddle all together without any order or method . but god in his book will reduce it into a method . imprimis , such a sin when thou first didst awake . item , such a one before thou didst rise . item , such a one before thou wast ready . item , such a one before thou eatedst thy breakfast . or else thus : i le set them in order according to their several matter ; the first leaf in the book is originall sin , and then actuall sins against god ; actuall sins against our selves , actuall sins against our neighbours ; then truly shall we be in the case of judah , gen. . . when the cup was found in his brother benjamin's sack , and may say with him , what shall we say unto my lord ? what shall we speak ? or how shall we clear our selves ? god hath found out the iniquity of thy servants . . one word more and i have done , and i hope none will censure my sermon to be too long for this passage that remains , though our sinnes be set in order , and though the books be opened , be the books never so big , be the volumes never so vast , it matters not how big the books be of the debts we have owed if all be crost . if therefore we have true interest in the mercies of god , and merits of christ , we may confidently come , and may comfortably pray , and shall be certainly heard with david in my text , remember not o lord the sins of my youth . amen . a corolary . the soule of man as conjoyned with his body , is in scripture compared to a * candle : non although omnes animae sunt aequales , all souls are equall in essence , yet both in operation ( wherein they must ask the body leave to exercise it self by its proper organs ) as also in duration whilst conjoyned here with the body , there is great difference betwixt them . and we may in humble prosecution of the scriptures metaphor observe seven candles in relation to their continuance in this life : . the first and least size is of those who have life in them , but never see light without them . . the second size is of such who are born into this world , but die before the concurrence of their will with their judgment , and therefore before their possibility of committing actuall sinne , with the babes of bethlehem murthered by herod . . the third is of those who arrive at an ability of actuall sinne , yet expire before they have attained unto the perfection of youth , with the children that mocked the prophet elisha . . the fourth size succeeds of those who are in the height and heat of their youth , the proper subject of our foregoing sermon . . the fift is of those who cannot be so foolish and fond in flattering themselves , but that they must confesse youth is past with them , though as yet they are not sensible of any decay in nature : these are my pew-fellowes in age , god grant we may beware the atheisticall inference of those in the pet. . . denying the day of judgment , because all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation . we are subject to commit the same dangerous mistake in our microcosme as they did in their great world , and to conclude death will never surprise because we finde not in our selves any evident and eminent diminution of our strength , being as able and active as ever we have been in our remembrance . . the sixt size is of those whose almond-tree doth flourish , though the budding thereof be no signe of spring , but autumn in them ; god grant they may understand the summons of death , though at distance , listen to , and make good use of them . . the seventh and last size is of such who cannot appear in this place , nor come within the hearing of a sermon , no church but a chimney-corner , or a bed is the place of their aboad , whose candle is in the socket , and lamps ready to goe out for want of oyle to feed them . to all these severall sizes , i mean to so many of them as are capable of understanding god in solomon speaks , eccles . . . remember now thy creatour . i say now , now is an atome , it will puzzle the skill of an angell to divide : now is a monosyllable in all learned ( and many other ) languages , best otherwise the name should be longer in pronouncing than the thing in continuing . god grant that what size soever the candle of our life be , we may instantly remember our creatour . amen . finis . notes upon jonah . by thomas fuller . london , printed for iohn stafford in george-yard neer fleet-bridge . . notes upon jonah : chap. . ver . . the word of the lord came also unto jonah the son of amittai , saying . some thing must be premised of the name , parentage , time and place of this prophet : his name ( jonah ) signifying a dove in hebrew , but he answered his name rather in flying so fast away , than in want of gall , wherewith he abounded . parentage : son of amittai . men are differenced in the bible , . by their fathers : as benaiah son of jehoida . . mothers : as joab son of zerviah . . husbands : as mary the wife of cleophas . . brothers : as judas the brother of james . . sons : as simon of cyrene the father of alexander and rufus . but that this prophet was son to the widow of sarepta , i believe no more , than that dinah , jacob's daughter was wife to job . or that ruth was daughter to eglon king of moab : both which are as fondly fabled by jewes , as justly rejected by christians . as for the time and place of this prophet when and where he lived , though here omitted , is supplied , kings . . he was of gath hepher , a city of the tribe of zebulon , and lived in the time of ioash king of israel . the word of the lord came . ] all prophets and preachers ought to have their patent and commission from god. how can they preach except they be sent ? rom. . . that is , how can they preach lawfully and profitably , though de facto they preach to their own great harm and others little good . but as long as there is currant coyne , there will be counterfeit . ieroboam's priests under the law , and sheva's sons in the gospel , and at this day some who leap from the loom to the pulpit . i must confesse , an asses head was good food in a famine ; course meat is dainty when no better can be had . but now ( thanks be to god ) great is the company of preachers , able and learned , and for ought i see , the universities afford more vine-dressers , than the countrey can yeeld them vineyards . no necessity therefore , that such blinde guides should be admitted . verse . arise and goe to niniveh that great city , and cry against it : for their wickednesse is come up before me . the words contain ionah's commission . the place whither he was sent . what he should doe there . the commission , arise . as if he had said , thou hast long preached in israel to little purpose : great the pains , small the profit of thy ministery . i will therefore transplant thy preaching , to see if it will bring more fruit in another soyle . it is a signe of a ruine of a church , when their pastors are called from their flocks to go to forraigners . as ionah , who was here made non-resident against his will. when the eye-strings are broken , the heart-strings hold out not long after . the prophets are called seers , their departure presageth , that their parishes soon after will dye and decay . for sure the children of israel prospered not long after , that ionah a starre of the first bignesse was falne from that firmament to arise into the horizon of nineveh . goe to nineveh that great city . ] it is more than probable that this city being the metropolis of assyria , was not a little proud of the greatnesse of it , as able thereby to out-face the judgments of god , and to blunt the edge of his revenging sword with the populousnesse of her inhabitants , before it could cut clean through them . but let no city , though never so great , thus presume upon her multitudes ; the greater , the fairer mark she is for the arrowes of gods judgements ( though indeed nothing seems great in his eyes save that man that seems little in his own : ) and god can quickly substract in a day by sword , plague and famine , what health , peace and plenty hath multiplied in seven yeares . this island since the ends of two kingdomes , were made the middle of one monarchy , hath got the addition of great britain , yet if compared to the continent , we may say of it , as lot of zoar , is it not a little one ? isa . . . behold the nations are as the drop of a bucket , and are counted as the small dust of a ballance , he taketh up the iles as a very little thing . let us the inhabitants thereof not be proud of the greatnesse of it , which probably puffed up niniveh the great city . and cry against it . ] ministers must not mutter , but publickly and strongly cry against sinners : first , because sinners are afarre off : isa . . . but your iniquities have separated betwixt you and your god. mat. . . their heart is farre from me . ephes . . . you who sometimes were afarre off . secondly , because they are deafe . thirdly , asleep . fourthly , dead . if any object , why then it is lost labour to cry against sinners , preaching to the dead is as unprofitable as praying for them . i answer , not so . for it is said , iohn . . the hour is coming and now is , when the dead shall hear the voice of the son of god , and they that hear shall live . too blame then are those that are cruelly kinde unto their people in sowing pillows under their elbowes . honey-dewes , though they be sweet in tast , doe blast and black the corn : and smoothing of people in their sinnes , though pleasant to the palate of flesh , damneth and destroyeth the soule . and yet this command to cry no whit favours their practice , who change the strength of matter into stentoriousnesse of voice . such peeces make a great report with powder , but are charged with no shot , and are uselesse to the beating down of sin . and it may be said of their crying , that they doe but whisper whilst they hollow . for their wickednesse is come up before me . ] what the particular sin of nineveh was , is not exprest . some think , had that city been arraigned for the sins of sodome , it would have been found guilty : and no doubt sorcerie the sin of the east , was no stranger in her own countrey , and therefore the ninevites thereto much addicted . but that oppression was certainly their predominant sin , may be gathered out of the third of nahum , ver . . o bloody city , it is full of lyes and robbery , the prey departeth not . not content to be a queen of those countreys she had subdued , she was a tyrant . so then we see , all sins but oppression especially , though naturally they tend downwards to their centre , and with their weight presse sinners to hell ; yet they doe mount upwards by their cry and clamour , gen. . . & . . it were then an advised way for us to make some counter-sounds to drown the noise of our sins , that god may not hear them . first , by sending up sighs from a penitent heart . secondly , prayers and almes , acts . . cornelius thy prayer is heard , and thine almes are had in remembrance in the sight of god. thirdly , by pleading christ his merits ; that the loud language of his blood may out-noise and silence the cry of our sins . heb. . . yet let oppressours take notice , that theirs being the sin of nineveh , as it is of an higher nature , so is it of an higher cry than other sins . and let the remorslesse extortioner take this into his consideration : hand-mills , though they grinde not so much , yet they grinde as much to powder as either winde-mills or water-mills , which are farre greater : though these oppressors doe not mischief to so many as nineveh did , yet to so many as comes within their clutches ; they shew as mercilesse cruelty , and this is a sin will come up before god. verse . but jonah rose up to flee into tarshish , from the presence of the lord , and went down to japho : for he found a ship going to tarshish ; so he payd the fare thereof ; and went down into it , that he might goe with them into tarshish , from the presence of the lord. but jonah rose up . ] whose superscription doth this book bear ? ionah's . why did he not like alexander , when he was painted lay his finger on his wart ? why did he not conceal in silence his own faults and infirmities ? why did he paint his own deformity with his own pensill ? because the pen-men of the holy word , are unpartiall relators of their own faults , and of them who are dearest and nearest unto them . who speaks more against david than david ? so ignorant was i and foolish , even as a beast before thee . who accuseth s. paul more than s. paul ? tim. . . i was a blasphemer , and a persecuter , and an oppressour . we learn from s. stephen , acts . . that moses was learned in all the wisdome of the aegyptians , but in moses in his own writings , we finde no mention or commendation of this his learning . he spared not himself in registring his passion in smiting of the rock , neither spared he to record the cruelty of levi his grandfather , the shrewishnesse of zippora his wife , the idolatry-promoting of aaron his brother , the murmuring of miriam his sister , the prophanenesse of nadab and abihu his nephews . this amongst other reasons may be one to prove , that no scripture is of private interpretation , but that holy men of god wrote it , as they were inspired by gods holy spirit . whereas the books of heathen writers are nothing else but the inventories of their own vertues . what are caesar's commentaries , but commentaries on the text of his own valour ? but for a man thus farre to be unmann'd , as to banish self-love from himself , and with ionah , to put his own flight and fault into the calendar of eternity . who sees not the finger of god in ionah's hand writing this prophecy ? sundry carnall reasons may be alledged for ionah's flight : first , fear of extreme and cruell usage from the wicked ninevites . secondly , despair that his preaching barren in israel should be fruitfull in ashur . thirdly , the strangenesse of the message , distastfull to a jewish palate , to be sent to the gentiles . fourthly , a zeal to his countrey , he might perceive that the conversion of the gentiles would be the eversion of the jewes ; and therefore he was loth to be accessary to the destruction of his own nation . fiftly , that reason alledged by himself in the fourth chap. and ver . . he feared to be disproved , because god was so mercifull . but let his reasons , though never so many and weighty , be put into one scale , and gods absolute command weighed against them in the other , tekel , they are weighed in the ballance and found too light . prosper : obedientia non discutit dei mandata , sed facit . the popish tenent of blinde obedience , is true doctrine in this case ; what god commands let 's put in speedy execution , without denying or delaying , or disputing the difficulties that attend it . to flee . ] god bids ionah goe , and he flyes , he supererogates , but in a wrong worke . in him the proverb findes truth , the more haste , the worse speed . we see then , those that want legs to go in goodnesse , can finde wings to flye in wickednesse . the elders of the jewes ( probably aged grandsires ) how late were they up that night our saviour was betrayed ? how early did they rise that morning he was condemned ? how duly did they attend the whole day he was crucified ? who otherwise ( no doubt ) would have been in their beds as drowzie as dormice . it is not therefore the greatnesse of the strides , nor the swiftness of the pace , but the rightnesse of the way which maketh our going pleasing unto god. cor. . . so run that ye may obtain . and if , with david , we cannot run the way of gods commandements , let us goe them ; if not goe , let us creep . and this may comfort us , that though ▪ we goe not so swift in our calling as we could desire , yet we goe in our calling : our pace , though not fast , is firm ; and still by degrees we draw nearer and nearer to that niniveh , to which god hath sent us . to tarshish . ] what and where this tarshish was , authors only agree , in disagreeing . let this suffice : be this tarshish in asia , be it in africa ; be it city , be it countrey ; be it sea , be it continent : this sure i am , it was not that nineveh to which ionah was sent . from the presence of the lord. ] it were great ignorance in us to charge ionah with such ignorance , as if he thought it absolutely possible to flye from gods presence : and if he had been so erroneous , he made the most unadvised choice , to flye to the sea , where there appears the most evident demonstration of god's powerfull presence . psal . . . they that go down into the sea in ships , &c. the sight of the sea might have been a remembrancer to an atheist , and put him in minde of a god. esau went to kill his brother iacob , but when he met him his minde was altered , he fell a kissing him , and so departed . thus the waves of the sea march against the shore , as if they would eat it up : but when they have kissed the utmost brink of the sand , they melt themselves away to nothing . and this spectacle must needs make a man acknowledge a deity . so then , these words to flye away from the presence of the lord , are not simply to be understood ; there being no flying from god , but thus : from god , an angry judge for our sins ; to god , a merciful father in our saviour . by this phrase then is meant , he deserted the office of a prophet , he forsook and relinquished the ministeriall function , whereabout god had imployed him . thus to be in gods presence is used in holy writ , deut. . . the lord seperated the tribe of levi to stand before the lord. kings . . as the lord liveth , saith elias , before whom i stand . what kinde of men then ought we ministers to be ? how decently ought we to demean and behave our selves , who are chaplains in ordinary to the king of heaven . every moneth is our waiting month : we are bound to constant and continuall attendance . it was the title of the angel gabriel , luke . . i am gabriel that stands in the presence of god , i. e. ever ready to be sent of him in any imployment . now as angels are gods ministers in heaven , so ministers are gods angels on earth , and stand in his presence from which jonah did flye . and he went down to japho , for he found a ship going to ta●shish . ] japho was the port of ierusalem , distant from thence some thirty miles , in the tribe of dan , afterwards called ioppa . here ionah findes a ship for his purpose ; how all things seem to favour and flatter his flight . he lights on a ship , the ship sets saile , and at the first the tyde serves , the winde seconds them . let us suspect our selves , and search our actions whether they be not wrong , when we run without rub , and sayle without remora : for the first entrance into sinne is easie and pleasant ; whereas in good actions when we begin them , it is a thousand to one , but that the devil or our corruptions , start some enemies or obstacles to hinder us . so he payed the fare thereof . ] jonah herein seems to be a man of a good conscience . hearken ye detainers of the wages of the hirelings : know that oppression , the master whom you serve , will deale otherwise with you , than you deale with your servants : for the wages of sin is death , and that shall duly be paid you . and you servants who have received your hire afore hand , deale not worse with your masters , for dealing the better with you , but conscionably doe your worke , that the out-landish proverb may not be verified in you , he that payes his servants wages afore hand , cuts off his right arme : that is , occasions him to be lazie and slothfull . that he might goe with them to tarshish from the presence of the lord. ] pharaoh's dreams were doubled , because it was a thing determined by god , gen. . . so these words were doubled in the text , to show that it was no suddain motion or project whereon ionah stumbled unawares , but it was a purpose consulted , concluded , debated , determined . he would , that he would flye from the presence of the lord. now , it is the opinion of some , that ionah altered his calling and turned merchant , but this is more than can be proved out of the words . traffique in it self is lawfull , making those wooden bridges over the sea , which joyn the islands to the continent , adopting those commodities to countreys , whereof they are barren themselves by nature . but it is not fitting that the tribe of levi should change lots with the tribe of ashur ; or that those who have curam animarum , should take upon them curam animalium : apply themselves to husbandry , grasing , or any mechanicall trade . verse . but the lord sent out a great winde into the sea , and there was a mighty tempest in the sea , so that the ship was like to be broken . but the lord. ] though the man did thus leave his master , yet the master will not thus leave his man : but sends a pursevant after him . learn from hence , god is carefull for his servants , though they be carelesse for themselves . gen. . thus also was god mercifull to thomas , ( who , for his temper , may be called , the ionah of the apostles ) making a new apparition for the confirming of his faith , iohn . . let us pray to god , that he would love us to the end ; that though we forsake him , he would not forsake us . that though we forget the duty of children to him , he would be pleased to remember the love of a father to us . and here we may admire gods goodnesse to take such pains about the recalling of a froward sinner . lord ! what was ionah that thou shouldst regard him ? or the sonne of amittai , that thou shouldst visit him ? sent out a great winde into the sea. ] god is the commander of the windes , and hath them at his beck as the centurion had his servants . he saith to the east winde , goe , and he goeth , exod. . . and the west winde , come , and he cometh , exod. . . and to the south winde , doe this , and he doth it , psal . . . if it be objected , that the devil is styled , ephes . . . the prince of the power of the ayre : and therefore ( to give the devil his due ) sithence winde is nothing else but ayre moved by vapours : it may seem to be a subject of the devils dominions . i answer , the devil is no absolute prince of the ayre , no monarch , but onely he hath a deputed command therein under the god of heaven . and satan dares not for the fear of a praemunire exceed his commission , and endeavour any thing in the ayre , without gods expresse command or permission : much lesse can witches and conjurers ( lieutenants under the devil ) perform any thing therein . and as for the heathens fancie , which make aeolus god of the winde , it is lighter than the winde it self . so that the ship was like to be broken . ] here a difficult objection may be started . how could it stand with gods justice to put so many innocent mariners in hazard and jeopardy of their lives for the sinne of ionah alone ? but these sheep , what have they done ? will god destroy the righteous with the wicked ? shall not the judge of all the earth doe righteously ? i answer , first at large . in god's proceedings what we cannot conceive to be good , we must not condemn to be bad : but suspect our selves , suspend our censures , admire his workes , which are never against right , though often above reason . to come nearer : god need not pick a quarrell with man , he hath just matter enough at any time to have a controversie with him , and to commence actions against him . these mariners , though not guilty with ionah in this particular act ; yet had deserved this punishment of god , for their former manifold transgressions , from which no man is free . yet god hastened this punishment upon them for jonah's presence with them . wash not in the same bath with cerinthus , decline the society of notorious sinners , rev. . . gold , though the noblest mettall , loseth of his lustre by being continually worn in the same purse with silver : and the best men by associating themselves with the wicked , are often corrupted with their sinnes , yea and partake of their plagues . yet when men are implunged in misery , through the faults of others , and suffer for company for the sins of others , ( as men in suretyship , undone by the prodigality of their friends for whom they were bound , let them reflect their eyes on their own faults , and know that though they be innocent in this particular , yet they have deserved this punishment of god for some other sin . and god may justly take advantage at his own pleasure to inflict the punishment . however , let them know themselves for sinners in an high degree , who involve others within the very and latitude of their owne punishments ; as drunken husbands , who by their prodigality drown'd their whole family in a sea of want , making their wives , children , servants , cattle pinch and pine through their riot , and excesse . for our parts let us labour to attain to true piety , that so we may rather be a ioseph , whose goodness may make a whole family to prosper ; rather one of those ten righteous , for whose righteousnesse a whole sodome might be saved ; then an achan , for whose sins an army may be routed ; or a ionah , for whose fault , a whole ship full of men was like to be broken . verse . then the mariners were afraid , and cryed every man unto his god , and cast the wares that were in the ship into the sea to lighten it of them : but jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship , and he lay down , and was fast asleep . then the mariners were afraid . ] these words afford an harder than sampson's riddle : out of the bold came fear . out of the prophane , piety . out of the covetous , came casting away of goods . mariners they are the hardiest of all people , so alwayes in danger , that they are never in danger , as if their hearts were made of those rocks , amongst which they use to sayle , yet see they feared . they are accounted a prophane kinde of people , a-kin'd unto the unjust judge , luke . . they are esteemed the nazareth of the world , out of which cometh no good ; yet see , they pray . they are generally covetous , venturing their lives for lucre : yet see , they cast away their goods . whence we may learn , that afflictions are able to affright most prophane men into piety : whether really inflicted , as unto pharaoh ; or certainly denounced , as unto ahab . wherefore , let us labour that we be as good , when afflictions are removed , as when they are inflicted ; as pious in wealth , as in want ; as well affected in health , as in sicknesse , that in prosperity we prove not apostates from those pious resolutions , which we made in adversity . when david had appointed solomon king , kings . . benaiah the son of jehoiada answered , amen . and the lord god of my lord the king , say , amen . so when in afflictions we have made any vowes of future piety , if we have deliverance , let us pray to god to ratifie and confirm our resolutions ; and to give us strength to fulfill and perform them : lest otherwise we take but a lease of piety , during the term that the tempest doth last , & relapse to our former wickedness when the calm begins . and cryed every man unto his god. ] generall punishments must have generall prayer and humiliation , otherwise the plaister will be too narrow for the sore . to his god. the ship was fraught with a miscelanie of all nations : it was a babel , and contained a confusion of as many religions , as that of languages : none were at a losse for a deity to pray to . ( so an unnaturall sin was atheisme ) yet wofull then was the estate of the world , when one could not see god for gods. but let us now be thankfull , that as the true serpent of moses , eat up and devoured the seeming serpents which iannes and iambres the aegyptian inchanters did make : so now , in the civillized world the knowledge of the true god hath devoured and done away all fancies and fables of faigned gods. neverthelesse , as the heathens in this ship , so every christian may still pray to his proper god. my lord and my god , saith thomas . i thank my god , cor. . . the same is god to all in generall , and to each in particular . and cast the wares that were in the ship into the sea. ] skin for skin , and all that a man hath , will he give for his life , act. . now if life be so dear , how dear is the life of our life , the eternall happinesse of our soules ? what shall a man gaine , if & c ? therefore when it cometh in competition , whether we shall lose our soules , or our goods ; let us drown our outward pelfe , lest it drown us ; let us cast it away , lest we be cast away by it . woe be to him that loadeth himself of thick clay , hab. . . rather as ioseph saved himself from his mistris , though he left his garment behinde him : so it matters not though we lose ( the clothes of our souls ) our earthly possessions ; so be it our souls themselves still remain safe and entire . and if in such a case we must forgoe our goods , much more must we forsake our sins which are good for nothing , but to sink us down to destruction , heb. . . le ts lay aside every waight , and the sin that doth so easily beset us . and not onely pray to god to assists us , but with the mariners in the text , back and second our prayers by using all lawfull means for our own safety . but jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship . ] i here reade a contradiction in jonah's actions : he went down into the sides of the ship ; this favours of flight and of fear : and there he slept ; this of confidence and security . yet wonder i not that i cannot make sense of jonah's actions , who surely at this time could scarce make sense of his owne . sin distracts men , and makes them at the same time imbrace contradicting purposes : so that their resolutions fight as the twins in rebecka's womb , and are as contrary to themselves as to god's lawes . see jonah at one instant , formidat & audet . and lay down , and was fast asleep . ] an emperour hearing of the death of one of his subjects , who was deeply indebted , sent to buy his bed , supposing there was some opium , or soporiferous vertue therein , that he could sleep so soundly thereon and be so much ingaged . surely this emperour would have proved a 〈◊〉 chapman to have purchased jonah's ship ; who , notwithstanding he had so many things within , without , about , above , beneath to disturb him , yet , as if the rossing of the waves , had been the rocking of this cradle ; and the roaring of the windes , lullabyes in his ear , was fast asleep . learn , first , it is a great sin with jonah to be drowsie , when the rest are at their devotion , and yet many such separatists , and non-conformists we have , who by their sluggishnesse divide themselves from the whole congregation . indeed , eutiches had some plea for his sleeping , because s. paul's sermon was continued untill mid-night . but we may say to our people , as our saviour to his disciples , what ? can ye not watch with me one hour ? secondly , it is a great sinne with us ( with jonah ) to be secure , whilst we ( with others ) are in a common danger , and calamity . consider the present estate of the christian church ; is it not tossed with the tempest of warre , as bad as jonah's ship ? it lost an anchor , when the palatiuate was lost . it sprung a leake , when rochel was taken . one of the main masts thereof was split , when the king of sweden was kill'd . though we in this island be safe in the sides of the ship , yet let us not be sleepy as ionah ; but with our prayers commend to god the distresses of our beyond ▪ sea ▪ brethren ; and thank god that we ( like gedeon's fleece ) are dry , when the ground round about is wet with weeping ; steep'd in teares , bedew'd with mourning . thirdly , persevering in sinne besots men , and makes them insensible of the greatest dangers . it makes men like nabal , their heart dyes within them , and they become like a stone ; so frozen in their sinnes , that no fear of hell-fire can thaw them . thus david , when he kill'd uriah , seem'd to kill his own conscience . how was he berest of sense of sinne and punishment for nine moneths together ; yea , the time of bathsheba's deliverance was come , but the time of david's repentance was not come . who ever saw the sun so long in an eclipse ? let us therefore stop sinne in the beginning : for prophanenesse as well as piety is advanced by degrees , and in the progresse thereof , hath certain stages before it comes to the journeys end . crush it therefore in the first motion before it comes to be a setled thought ; in the thought , before it break forth into action ; in the action , ere it become a disposition ; in the disposition , ere it be an habit ; in the infant-habit , before it become inveterate , and another nature . and here also we may see how desperate security in wicked men hath by usurpation intituled it selfe to be true valour . men count wicked men full of sortitude , which run on gods drawn sword without any feare ; when alas ! it is nothing but a sottish security arising from a seared conscience . will any say , that it is true valour in a bedlem that he feels no pain , whose limbs are benumm'd and past sense . verse . so the ship-master came to him , and said unto him , what meanest thou , ô sleeper ? arise , call upon thy god , if so be that god will think upon us , that we perish not . so the ship-master . ] the ship-master that was , ( but now no master of it , the tyranny of the tempest commanding both it and him ) begins to bestirre him . great men must not thinke to be priviledged from danger by the eminencie of their place . mordecai to hester : think not thou shalt escape in the kings house more than all the iewes . yea , sometimes great men are in the greatest dangers , they are most aimed at , fight neither against small nor against great , save onely against the king of israel , kings . . now sithence there was a governour in a ship , it teacheth us that no company can long subsist without order and superiority one above another : from the courtiers to the prisoners , gen. . . ioseph had all the prisoners in the prison committed to to his hand . ten is but a small number , yet moses made governours over ten , exod. . . yea , as there is michael the archangel in heaven , so is there beel zebub the prince of devils in hell : so much order there is in the very place of confusion . away then with the anabaptist , who would set all men at odds by making all men even . for a common-wealth to want chiefe , it is the chiefe of all wants , every man will doe what he list , few what they should : too much liberty would make men slaves to their own self-will . let us therefore be subject to the higher powers , knowing that there are no powers but of god. came unto him , and said . ] every one in authority ought to look unto those which are under their command ; otherwise they shall answer to god for such faults as those commit which are under their charge , through their over-sight and neglect . christ is said to have baptized ▪ iohn . . and yet it is said , iohn . . that he himself baptized not , but his disciples . we see that the deed of the servants being done by the countenance and command of the master , is attributed and ascribed to his master as his own proper work . if the master hears of his servants drunkennesse , and punisheth it not , it is the masters drunkennesse . if the master hears of his servants prophaneness , and reproves him not for it , it is his prophanenesse . blame-worthy then are those magistrates who would have the profit , not the pain ; the credit , not the care of their place and charge : so that they deale with those that are under them , as david did with adoniah , they will not so much as trouble themselves to say to offenders , why doest thou so ? what meanest thou , ô sleeper ! ] see here the gentile teacheth the jew , the pagan preacheth to the prophet , and he is content to hear him . how faulty is their pride , who count it an imbasing of their knowledge to listen to the advice of others , who in any respect are their inferiours , ioh. . ver . . yet david hearkned to the advice of abigail , abraham to the counsell of sarah , apollos to the instruction of aquila and priscilla , yea solomon ( the wisest of earthly kings ) had a council of aged men which stood before him . neither need any man think much to learn of the meanest of men , who may be taught by pismires and lillyes . yet when inferiours on just occasion adventure to counsel those that are above them , that their counsell may better relish , let it be seasoned with these three ingredients , first , secrecie . this alone was good in peter's reproving of our saviour , mat. . . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , he took him aside . secondly , seasonablenesse . abigail , sam. . . told drunken nabal neither more nor lesse , till the next morning : she thought her physick would work the better , if she gave it him fasting . thirdly , humility . naaman's servants : father , if the prophet had bid thee some great thing , wouldst not thou have done it ? . kings . . they brought not onely good logick , reasoning from the greater 〈…〉 but also good ethicks , father . these cautions observed , meaner persons by gods assistance , with hope of successe , may take upon them to advise their betters . arise , and call upon thy god. ] he doth not onely reprove him for what he had done amisse , but also directeth him in what he should doe well . they are miserable guides , that tell the wandring traveller , that he hath lost the way , but tell him not how to finde it . arise . ] men must put away all lazinesse , when they prepare themselves to prayer . indeed , when in sicknesse we are gods prisoners , then we can only rouse up our souls and not arise in our bodies ; then , with hezekiah , we may lye on our bed and pray , pleading to god , as mephibosheth to david , that his servant is lame : but otherwise , cursed is he that doth the work of the lord negligently . the first fruits of the asse was not to be dedicated to god in the leviticall law , but the neck thereof was to be broken . let us break the asses neck , let us banish all sloth and laziness when we goe about to perform any service of god , call upon thy god. ] because perchance the ship-master had a great opinion of the sufficiency of ionah's god , or because he might have a conceipt that ionah's prayers might be more prevalent than his owne . aeschinus said unto his uncle mitio , in the comedie : tu potius deos comprecare , nam tibi eos certo scio , quo vir melior es , quam ego sum , obtemperaturos magis . or else he onely aimed at a generall collection of prayers , hoping that that cable-rope would be strongest that was twisted of most severall cords . if so be that god will think upon us , that we perish not . ] it is worth our search to know , when these words , if so be god will , are to be inserted into our prayers , and when they must be omitted . when we pray for pardon of our sins , then we must omit them : for god hath said , at what time &c. i will put all his wickednesse out of my remembrance . now let us not dispute of what is determined suspect what is sure . god saith , he will. let us not say , if so be god will. if our repentance be unfaigned , our pardon may be undoubted : in such a case , let us come to the throne of grace with boldnesse in the assurance of faith , with reasoning , trust perfectly in grace . but when we pray for the removall of punishment , then these words are no parenthesis , but an essentiall part of our prayers , then we must submit our selves not our wills , but thy will be done ; then with children we must not cry to carve our own meat , but eat that which god our father cuts for us , though it be untoothsome for our palats to tast , it is never unwholsome for our stomachs to digest . verse . and they said every one to his fellow , come and let us cast lots , that we know for whose cause this evill is upon us . so they cast lots , and the lot fell upon jonah . and they said every one to his fellow . ] the apprehension of the present danger , was the cement that did glue and unite their different judgments and affections , to resolve on that , which they conceived was for their generall good . it is likely that the beasts in the arke when they were in a common danger of drowning did agree together , and for that time dispence with their mutuall antipathies . grant then that we have severall tempers , humours , opinious ; yet the apprehension that we have one grand unpartiall enemy , the devil , who like a roaring lyon seeks to devour us : this should make us centre our votes in such resolutions , which are behoofull for all our goods . come let us cast lots . ] the use of lots was very antient amongst both jewes and gentiles . they were of three natures , . the lot divinatorie , used by haman , hest . . . and as for this kinde of lot , it is utterly unlawfull , we have no such custome , nor yet the churches of god. secondly divisorie , obad. . mat. . . thirdly consultory , lev. . . iosh . . . sam. . . these are lawfull , if used lawfully , with these cautions : first , in matters of difficulty ; as quicksilver in the iliaca passio , when nothing else can untwine the gutts ; in perplext and intricate causes . secondly , in matters of consequence , otherwise there may difficiles nugae ; riddles not worth the reading . hard shells without a kernell not worth the cracking . difficulties which deserve not the resolving . thirdly , they are to be ushered with prayer , as in the choice of matthias , act. . fourthly , that nothing therein be attributed to chance , prov. . . the lot is cast into the lap , but the whole disposition thereof is from the lord. whole . fortune , that god of mans making ; is a meer idol of dagon : and falls down at the approach of the arke of god's providence : loosing both head and hands , power both to plot and perform . it is not fortune blinde through ignorance that cannot see , but divine justice blinde through impartiality that will not see , which ordereth the matter . lastly , no cousenage or deceit is to be used in them . lots are gods scales , wherein he weigheth matters of seeming equallity , and showes which preponderates : they therefore that falsifie this ballance of the sanctuary , must needs be abomination in the sight of god. now because lots may say to cards , what naomi sayd to boaz , they are neer unto us , and of our affinity ; something also of the use of them . it were no great harm if there were no other cards used , than those of clothiers about wooll , and of mariners in the ship . but as for cards to play with , let us not wholly condemn them , lest lacing our consciences too straight , we make them to grow awry on the wrong side . such recreations are lawfull if we use them as ionathan tasted the honey , putting forth the end of his rod he touched a little of it , and his eyes were cleared . but let us take heed of a surfeit , into which those doe fall who either play out of covetousnesse , or for more than their estates can bear , or constantly and continually ; all their meat is sauce , all the dayes in their almanack play-dayes , though few holy-dayes . the creation lasted but a week , but these mens recreations all the dayes of their lives ; such using of lawfull exercises is altogether unlawfull . that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us . ] the best man in the ship carried sinne enough about him to drown himself , ship , and passengers . but this milk we suck from the brests of our mother eve , to shift and post off the fault from our selves , how guilty soever we are , sam. . . but saul and the people spared agag and the best sheep : now ver . . it is said , they have brought them from the amalekites , for the people spared the best of the sheep . he that was the greatest in the sinne , would not be at all in the shame . should god scourge this land with famine , or any other generall punishment , the courtiers would impute the cause thereof to the covetousnesse of the citizens : the citizens to the prodigality of the courtiers : the rich to the unthankfulnesse , discontented murmuring of the poor : the poor to the hard-heartednesse of the rich : the laity to the clergies want of preaching : the clergie to the laities want of practising : every one would post the fault from himselfe , and be inquisitive with these mariners , for whose fault this evill was upon them . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e * gen. . v. . * eccles . . v. . notes for div a -e * i v. notes for div a -e * job . . prov. . . the infants advocate of circumcision on jewish and baptisme on christian children. by thomas fuller, b.d. fuller, thomas, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing f thomason e _ estc r this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (thomason tracts ; :e [ ]) the infants advocate of circumcision on jewish and baptisme on christian children. by thomas fuller, b.d. fuller, thomas, - . [ ], ; , [ ] p. printed by r. norton, for j. williams, at the crown in s. pauls church-yard, london : m.dc.liii. [ ] the words "circumcision and baptisme" and "jewish christian" are enclosed in brackets on the title page. "the infants advocate. chap. xxi." (caption title) has separate pagination and register. annotation on thomason copy: "may ". reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng infant baptism -- early works to . circumcision -- religious aspects -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread - emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the infants advocate . of circumcision and baptisme on jewish christian children , deut. . , . your little ones — shall enter into covenant with the lord thy god. origen . lib. . ad rom. c. . ecclesia ab apostolis traditionem accepit parvulis dare baptismum , quia essent in omnibus genuinae sordes peccati . by thomas fuller , b. d. london , printed by r. norton , for j. williams , at the crown in s. pauls church-yard . m.dc.liii . to the right honourable , james earl of carlile , my most bountiful patron . and to the right honourable , lionel earl of midlesex , my noble parishioner . i shall be censured for a solecisme , in dedicating this my infants advocate unto your honours , not only for the meannesse of the present , but because the one of you being hitherto childless , and the other not as yet married , seem not so proper persons to be presented with such a subject . but give me leave to acquaint your honours , that this my treatise , janus-like , looks backwards , and forwards ; backwards to vindicate and assert the lawfulnesse of their baptism which ( now arrived at maturity ) were in their infancy baptized ; and in this capacity your honours have an equal concernment in this subject with any others . forwards , to justifie and avouch the acts of those parents who hereafter shall fix the sacrament on their infant children : your honors in gods due time , may for the future be interested herein , a favour the more fervently to be desired from heaven , both of you being the sole surviving males of your families ; and the single threds whereon all the hopes of your noble houses do depend . give me leave therefore who here am the advocate to plead for the baptizing of others , to be also the orator to pray for the birth of your children , till which time , may the blessings of the right and left hand plentifully fall , and peaceably rest on you both , which is the daily desire of your honours most obliged and humble servant tho. fuller . to the right worshipfull , edward palmer , henry wollaston , and matthew gilly , esquires ; john vavasor , francis bointon , gent. with all the rest of my loving parishioners in waltham holy-cross . when i consider the many worthy works which had their first being within the bounds of this our parish , i may justly be ashamed , that my weak endeavours should be borne in the same place . for first , the book of mr. cranmer ( afterwards arch-bishop of canterbury , and martyr ) containing the reasons against king henry the th his marriage with queen katharine dowager , was compiled in our * parish , whilest the said cranmer retired hither ( in the time of a plague at cambridge ) to teach his pupils . thus did waltham give rome the first deadly blow in england , occasioning the popes primacy to totter therein , till it tumbled down at last . the large and learned works of the no lesse religious then industrious mr. fox in his book of martyrs was penned here , leaving his posterity a considerable estate at this day possessed by them in this parish . what shall i speak of the no lesse pleasant then profitable pains of reverend bishop hall ( predecessor in my place ) the main body of whose books bears date from waltham . and shall my unworthy pamphlet presume to follow such able works from the same place ? however seeing my publike promise is solemnly past to you , to print the same ( hoping some profit may thence arise to you and others ) let it as a page at due distance wait upon the works of those most eminent authors . some will say this your infants advocate hath almost been as long in the breeding , and birth , as infants use to lye in their mothers womb ; so many moneths hath past betwixt the promise and performance thereof . but let none grudge the time if it appear at last in its perfect shape , coming forth soon enough for those who will reap benefit thereby ; too soon for such who will take causless offence thereat . some perchance will take exception at the plainness thereof which by me was purposely affected herein . it is a good leslon which may be learned from the mouth of a bad master , even rayling * rabshakeh , not to deliver a message of publick concernment , in a language which a few courtiers only do understand , but in a tongue whereby all the people on the wall may partake thereof . and seeing the generality of our opposers are unlearned , i conceived it my duty to decline all difficult words and phrases , that all might more easily and perfectly perceive the truth therin . some perchance might expect a confutation of their practice which are re-baptized ; a task needless for me to perform . for such repetition of baptism will follow of course to be vain , if not wicked , unneedful if not unlawful ; where the lawfulness and needfulness of infants baptism hath formerly been proved . baptism once wel done on infants , i may say , is twice done , which twice done is once ill done , namely when it is iterated the second time without any just reason for the same . what remains ( dear parishioners ) but that i pray that my weak preaching may be powerful and profitable unto you , that you may do and suffer cheerfully according to the will of god ; remember the addition of the name of your parish , holy crosse : it matters not though crosse be the sur-name , if holy be the christian name of our sufferings : whilest that god who sendeth them sanctifieth them unto us , which is the daily prayer of your unworthy pastor in jesus christ , tho. fuller . to the christian reader . amongst the many lying miracles reported by impudent , believed by ignorant papists , in their leaden golden legend ; it is not the last , and least what they tell of one * rumball ( son to an english king ) whose saint-ship in those dark days was superstitiously adored at brackley in northampton shire : of him they report that he spake as soon as ever he was born , and professing himself to be a christian already in his heart , requested ( or rather required ) that he might be baptized , which done , he instantly ended his life . i know not whether to call this a childs fable from the subject , or in the * apostles language , an old wives fable from the inventors thereof : otherwise , were this true , and all children like him , this our infants advocate were utterly useless , and our pains for the present altogether superfluous , which now we believe and hope may be profitable for those who cannot plead for themselves . for though i cannot with * job be eyes to the blind , and feet to the lame ; that is , relieve their poverty , out of a plentiful estate ; yet i will endeavour to be a tongue to the dumb , and plead as well as i may , in their behalf . true it is , i must confesse with that good * prophet , not in respect of my age ( being past the vertical point thereof ) but of my other infirmities , behold i cannot speak for i am a child , and if a child be advocate for children , the cause is likely to be poorly pleaded : however i will endeavour to supply in integrity , what i want in ability ; and sometimes a cordial counsel , who zealously engageth for his client , is to be accepted for his hearty intentions and affections , though falling short of others in his performances . indeed great is the multitude of pleaders , who have undertook this cause , and truly the more the better , such the worth thereof to deserve , the weight thereof to require , many defenders against the fiercenesse and multitude of modern opposers . but here give me leave to bemoan a sad accident , that the councel cannot agree amongst themselves how to manage their clients cause . some found it on a jewish ceremony of washing ; others fasten it only on the ancient practice of the primitive church ; others graft it on the analogie of circumcision ; others bottom it on an implicite precept ; others on expresse arguments in the new testament . and which is the worse , many of these are not content alone to prefer , and advance their own opinion , except also they decry , and destroy , confute , and confound the arguments of others , by which discords , our adversaries in this point gain to themselves no small advantage . i am confident those our adversaries long since had wanted weapons , had not our friends furnished them with all manner of munition out of our own magazins . yet dare i not challenge such pleaders for infants baptism of disloyaltie , as if they wilfully betrayed their trust herein ; though i cannot excuse them for indiscretion , whereby they have prejudiced that cause , they endeavoured to defend . it would be well therefore for the time to come , if the assertors of pedo-baptism , on what bottom soever they builded , ( store in this kind is no sore , and the firmer it is that stands on so many foundations ) raise their own reasons without opposing the arguments of others who agree with them in judgement , though going by different ways to the end of the same place . it is said of every locust , that marched in gods army they shall * not thrust one another , they shall walk every one in his path , on gods blessing ; let the assertors of childrens baptism ( what way soever they imbrace for the proof thereof ) proceed fairly and friendly in their own tract , and leave off justling those who go next to them in another path . thus desiring , reader , gods blessing on thy perusing my weak pains , i remain , thine in christ jesus , tho. fuller . the infants advocate . chap. i. of circumcision . what it was , on whom , by whom , and when to be administred . the penalty of wilful recusants there in . circumcision was the cutting off of a skin , in those parts which nature hath covered with shame , which might be spared without danger of life , hinderance of generation , or visible deformity . the solemn institution hereof we find gen. . where it was commanded to abraham and his seed ; before which time ( though allowing something sacramental in the tree of life , ark , &c. ) the church of god had ( sacrifices but ) no constant and continuing sacrament . this circumcision is subject to many carnal objections , which corrupt nature may urge against it . first , some accuse it as an immodest ceremony ; whereas indeed no such wantons as such , who pretend to more modesty then god commands . if a strict enquiry should be made into their lives , it is more then suspicious , eph. . . it would be a shame to speak of those things which are done by them in secret . others are offended at such cruelty therein exercised on a small infant , as probably with the pain thereof , might drive it into a feavour . it is answered , that was cruelty indeed which wil-worship commanded superstitious parents to afford to their idols , when kings . . they burnt their children in fire to the gods of sephar vaim : call not circumcision cruelty , but what indeed it was , mercy , pity , and compassion ; that such who by nature were children of wrath , and deserved damnation , had by gods mercy , their sufferings commuted into the short pain of circumcision . besides , we are bound to believe that god doubled the guard of his providence , to preserve such infants as were ordered according to his command . indeed if the priests of baal , who with knives , and lances cut themselves till the bloud gushed out , kings . . i say , if such superstitious bedlams , should have their wounds fester and gangreen , they dyed felons de se , and the devils martyrs ; seeing god never required it at their hands . but if any infant miscarried under circumcision , ( the precedents whereof we conceive very rare ) being a divine ordinance and injunction ; the parents might comfortably presume of the final good estate thereof ; who rendred his soul in service to gods command . come we now to consider on whom circumcision was to be administred . these were all the males , and only the males of abrahams family , gen. . . all the males . born in his house . . bought for money . in the latter observe a miraculous providence : how many of these persons being taken prisoners , and sold , like beasts in the slave-market , accounted themselves utterly undone for the losse of ( the life of their life ) their liberty ? what sighing , what sobbing , what grieving , what groaning for their forlorn condition ? but oh ! let them not sorrow that they are sold , but rejoyce that abraham hath bought them ; how had they been undone , if they had not been undone ? sold under sin for ever , rom. . . if not sold unto abraham . see here in some cases it is better to be a good mans slave , then a great mans son. only males . object . how cometh it to passe that so many as amount to the halfe of reasonable ●ouls were excluded the sacrament . if the grecians acts . . murmured against the hebrews , because their widows were neglected in the ministration of almes , had not the weaker sex cause to grieve and grudge at men that neither their widows , wives , nor virgins , were included in the administration of circumcision ? besides , no sacrament , no salvation . their not partaking of the sign , might cause them to suspect the substance , and question their title to heaven and happiness . answ . before we come to the particular answer hereof , be it premised , that had god created at the first two distinct , and absolute , ( as to the mutual dependance each on other ) principles of mans being , the one male , the other female ; and had they both , wilfully forfeited their integrity , then some necessity might have been pretended that to re-covenant them both , both sexes should have been signed with circumcision . but divine providence otherwise ordered the matter , only making man at the first , and woman of the man. this laid down , we answer to the objection ; though women were not formally , they were vertually circumcised in the males . what is done to the head none will deny done to the body ; the man therefore being the head of the woman , . cor. . such females as died in their virginity were circumcised in their fathers ; such as survived to be married were circumcised in their husbands ; their nearer relation ( one flesh ) swallowing up that , which was more remote in their father . and thus all , though not directly , reductively circumcised . it follows , by whom it was administred ; this generally was the master of the family , abraham circumcised isaac , gen. . . as for zipporahs circumcising her sons , exod , . . in a case of extremity , and her husbands indisposition , it was an irregular act , not to be drawn into precedent ▪ but to be recounted amongst those , which when performed are valid , but ought not to be performed . come we now to the time , when ; eighth day here i will not search with some for a secret sanctity in the number of eight , ( as consisting of seven , the embleme of perfection , with the addition of one , that is intirenesse ) lest our curiosity reap what gods wisdom never sowed therein . the plain reason is this . before the eighth day , a child was not conceived to be consolidated flesh , but till then in the bloud of the mother . and for the same cause , when a bullock , sheep , or goat was brought forth , levit. . . then it shall be seven dayes under the dam , and from the eighth day and thenceforth , it shall be accepted for an offering made by fire unto the lord. quest. what became of the souls of such infants , who died before the eighth day , and so wanted circumcision ? answ . they wanted not circumcision . for want is the absence of that which ought to be had ; now there was no necessity of , ( because no command for ) their circumcision , before that time ; god the grand law-giver , though tying others , is not tyed himself to his law : but can , and no doubt did , give spiritual grace to many infants , ( chiefly if children of believing parents ) dying in their non-age , of their non-age , ( before the eighth day ) and incapacity of the sign of circumcision . he who , rom. . . calleth things which are not as if they were , can call children , which are , but are not circumcised , as if they were circumcised . and although properly , amongst men , they were not named till the eighth day , luke . . yet such infants , nameless on earth , might phil. . . have their names writte● in the book of life . an instance we have hereof plain and pregnant to such , who read the place without prejudice in davids child , sam. . . and it came to pass , on the seventh day that the child died : that is , seventh day à nativitate , from the birth thereof , as tremelius expoundeth it ; the more probably because no mention is made of any name imposed upon it . this child , besides the natural stain of original corruption , had also the personal blemish of adulterous extraction ; and yet how confident david was of the final happinesse thereof , appears by this expression , vers . . i shall go to him , but he shall not return to me . let none strangle the life of so comfortable a passage , with too narrow an interpretation thereof , as if nothing therein were imported more then that david should die as well as his child . this had been but cold comfort unto him , and would never have invited him to such cheerfulness of spirit , so freely to have refreshed himself : whose joy was founded on the comfortable assurance of his childs final happinesse , and that one day they should both meet in heaven together . it remaineth that we treat of the punishment on the refusers of circumcision , expressed in these words , gen. . . that soul shall be cut off from his people , he hath broken my covenant . a threatning capable of three several sences . . severe . that is , by the sword of ecclesiastical censures ; they shall be cut off from the visible congregation ; they shall most justly ( as the blind man was injuriously , john . . ) be cast out of the synagogue , not to be restored unto it without their solemn and sincere repentance . parallel to s. pauls expression , gal. . . i would they were even cut off that trouble you : though both phrases by some divines be expounded in a sence . . severer . that is , the magistrate shall cut them off with the sword of justice , and as capital offenders they shall be put to death . in this sence , god had last used the same words , gen. . . neither shall all flesh be cut off any more ; that is , their lives shall no more be taken away , by an universal destruction . . severest . that is , they shall be cut off from the congregation of the righteous , by a final perdition of soul and body in hell-fire . these three interpretations do not crosse but crown one another , being no contradiction unto , but a gradation one above another . the refuser of circumcision , first shall be cut off by excommunication : that not causing his amendment , shall be cut off by the magistrate , and the pain and shame of temporal death not reclaiming him , he shall be cut off with eternal damnation . quest . here is a heavy punishment indeed ; but who is the person , on whom it is to be inflicted ? it was the disciples question to our saviour , john . . who did sin , this man or his parents , that he was born blind ? but here the question will be , who shall be punished , this child or his parents ? seeing betwixt both circumcision is neglected ? answ . first negatively , surely not the child , for it is said , he hath broken my covenant . the covenant may be said to be broken on him , but not by him , being purely passive therein . were the child sensible of the benefit , by the having , dammage by the loosing thereof , and might it but borrow a tongue of the standers by , never was rachel more impatient for children then this child would be importunate for circumcision ; give me circumcision or else i dye . now positively that the penalty fals not on the child , but on the parent , plainly appears by gods proceedings , exod. . . when he sought to kill moses , and not his children for being uncircumcised . however if a child left uncircumcised by his parents neglect , afterwards arrive at mans estate , and pertinaciously persist in the contempt of circumcision , he equally entitleth himself to the fault , and is also liable to the punishment in my text . quest . seeing so sharp and severe the penalty , how came that suspension of circumcision full forty years in the wilderness , josh . . to be connived at , god not only not punishing , but , ( for ought appears in scripture ) not so much as reproving the same ? answ . in the first place i cannot approve the answer of s. * hierom and others , affirming that circumcision was given to difference and distinguish the jews from other nations ; and seeing no nations were near them during their travel in the desolate wildernesse , circumcision was therefore purposely omitted . for ( beside that sundry people , and particularly the amalekites , dwelt in the desart ) circumcision was principally ordained , ( not to be a badge of distinction , but ) a seal of the consecration of the jews unto god. more probable therefore it is , that because the jews during that fourty years were alwayes ( though not actually moving ) disposed to move at a minutes warning , when ever they received orders from the removing of the pillar , god the lawgiver dispensed with them to defer circumcision , till they were fixed in a setled condition , affording conveniencies for the curing of that sorenesse , which otherwise by constant journeying would be chafed , and inflamed . chap. ii. circumcision considered as a seal of the gospel covenant ; and what spiritual graces were conveyed and confirmed thereby . many behold circumcision with a flighting and neglectful eye ; as a meer legal ceremony , an outward type and shadow ; having nothing evangelical therein . but on serious enquiry it will appear , to have a gospel ground-work under a ceremonial varnish . the clearing hereof is of great consequence to our present controversie : for if the covenant of god made with abraham at circumcision was meerly typical , then it died at christs death with the rest of the ceremonies ; but if it were a gospel covenant , then it descendeth at this day to all the faithful . it is our present endeavour to evince , this covenant of abraham was evangelical , eternal , and hereditary to all the faithful . for proof hereof take notice that god never made but two grand and spiritual covenants : though the latter hath been manifested by different degrees , and dispensations thereof . the old covenant . . made with adam and eve , and ( in them , as representatives ) with all mankind . . in paradice , whilst as yet they persisted in their original innocence . . on the condition , that they should observe gods law in refraining from the forbidden fruit . . promising to the observers thereof a perpetuity only in paradise . indeed some divines say , ( but they only say it ) that adam on his good behaviour should have been translated from paradise to heaven , but this is more then can be demonstrated from scripture . the new covenant . . made with adam and eve , and such only as should succeed them in the visible church . in paradise , after their fall , when the seed of the woman was promised to break the serpents head . . on the condition , that with a lively faith they should believe in the promised seed . . putting believers into possession of a comfortable subsistance here , and the reversion of heaven ▪ and happinesse hereafter . this second , or new covenant is the sole subject of our present discourse , which god made first with adam without a seal , and now renewed it with abraham , with a seal , when the sign of circumcision was affixed thereunto . here we must be cautious not to mistake the several declarations of this new covenant to sundry person● , to be so many new distinct covenants . for , afterwards the same was repeated to isaac , jacob , moses , the whole body of the jews at mount sinai , joshua , ( i wil never leave thee , nor forsake thee , a promise applied by the apostle , heb. . . to all christians ) david , and others . yea , scarce any of the prophets wherein this new covenant is not reinforced . now , suppose a man causeth his will ( formerly roughly drawn up in paper ) to be afterwards ingrossed in parchment , then fairly to be transcribed in vellome , afterwards to be severally written in roman , secretary , court , and text-hands , so long as the same and no other legacies , are on the same termes bequeathed to the same , and no other legatees , all will acknowledge these no distinct wils , but the same in substance , and effect . as here the same new covenant , at sundrie times , and in divers places was made to the fathers , by the prophets , and at last most plainly by christ himself . object . . if this were a new , or gospel covenant made with abraham at circumcision , then was there a third , and newer then this made afterwards to the jews . for , so saith the prophet , jer. . . behold the days come saith the lord , that i will make a new covenant with the house of israel , and with the house of judah . answ . nothing more usual , and obvious in scripture then to call that new , which is renewed ; especially if what was but dark and obscure before , hath the old impression set forth in a new and fairer edition thereof , john . . a new commandment i give unto you , that ye love one another ; and yet this new commandment was from the beginning , john . . though lately almost antiquated , and obliterated by mans vindicativeness christ heb. . . consecrated for us a new and living way , yet is it the same with the prophets old path , jer. . . traced with the feet of adam , and eve , and thorow which alone all the patriarchs made their passage into heaven , yet termed a new way ( as a new covenant ) because after christs coming , more cleared , explained , and enlarged then before . object . . it is improbable that this covenant with abraham at circumcision , should be , a grace-gospel-new-covenant , because god four hundred years after , ( namely exod. . at mount sinai ) gave the law , or covenant of works , to the jews the children of abraham . now gods mercy observeth a progressive motion , it doth , not ( with the sun on ahaz his dial ) go backwards ; but with the master of the feast , john . . he keepeth the best wine unto the last : they therefore in a manner degrade gods goodnesse , set it retrograde , who make his covenant with abraham a new-covenant of grace , when he gave an old covenant of works so many years after it . answ . they are much mistaken who account the law given to the jews , a meer covenant of works , though indeed there was very much of workish-ness mingled therewith . the face of the new covenant at the giving of the law , is dressed , i confesse , in old clothes ; many old forms are used therein , alluding to the covenant of works made with adam . yea , the erroneous jews ( partly through their own ignorance , partly thorow their rabbins , and pharisees false glosses thereon ) mistook it for a direct , down-right covenant of works , resting in the rinde , or outward bark thereof , and depending on the performance of it for their salvation . but let not this covenant be denominated for the most , but the best part thereof , let it be expounded , ( not as the blind jews misinterpreted it , but ) as god graciously intended , and the good patriarchs and prophets wisely accepted it , for a covenant of grace , wherein messiah ( though obscurely ) was tendered to such , who could not perform what the rigour of the law required . there is one word in the second commandment , which demonstrateth this law , to have gospel in the bowels thereof , namely the word mercy , exod . . shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments . now mercy is a shiboleth which a covenant of works can never pronounce , as utterly destructive to the very nature thereof , and keeping commandments there must be taken , for such as desire and endeavour to keep them , though falling short of legal exactnesse but we leave the farther prosecution of this point to those learned divines , who have written just treatises thereof ; conceiving it more proper for our present purpose , to prove this covenant with abraham a new-gospel-covenant ; and the serious perusal of one verse , gen. . . will afford us three arguments for the evincing thereof . and i will establish my covenant between me and thee , and thy seed after thee , in their generations , for an everlasting covenant , to be a god unto thee , and to thy seed after thee . hence we collect it a gospel-covenant . from . the language , and expression of it . . the continuance , and duration of it . . the blessings , and benefits conveyed by it . for the language , and expression , the voice is the voice of jacob. the speech agreeth thereunto ( not to betray it as it did peter to his shame , and sorrow , but ) to discover this covenant to its honour , and our comfort , to be an evangelical covenant . that very phrase , to be a god unto thee , is a gospel-phrase . otherwise , how cometh he , who upon the breach of the covenant of works , was left our enemy , our inraged judge , to be a god unto us ? i see here matthew in moses , the new couched in the old testament . parallel is the expression , mat. . . and they shall call his name emanuel , which ( being interpreted ) is god with us . god with us , and to be a god unto us , differ something in sound , nothing in sence . secondly , for the continuance and duration of it . an everlasting covenant , that with adam was but a short-lasting covenant . some conceive adam never naturally slept in his innocency , ( accounting that caused deep sleep , gen. . . before eve her creation , supernatural ) but forfeited his innocency before night . as there be some kind of insects , ( called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) which , naturalists say , survive but a day ; so some conceive adams integrity of no longer duration and , though we dare not certainly close with their opinion ( the scripture not acquainting us with the date of adams perseverance in paradise ) we may be confident , that covenant of works was of no long continuance before it was broken . this short-liv'd covenant thus expired , it was never reviv'd again on the same conditions , but utterly extinguished . yea , herein god magnified his mercy , that upon any termes he would treat with mankind , whom he might have condemned as incapable of any future contract , for once breaking of covenant . yet now he draweth up a second agreement with them , being a covenant of grace , and that everlasting ; such his goodnesse , that , though we ( if strictly examined ) break it with him , he will not break it with us . i confesse everlasting in scripture is sometimes taken for long-lasting ( in which sense the hebrew tongue accepteth of an ever after an ever ) but here it is taken truly for eternity , seeing , whom god loveth he loveth to the end , without end . the third argument to prove the evangelical nature of gods covenant with abraham , is drawn from the blessings , and benefits conveyed thereby ; whose size and measure is so great , they are only of a gospel proportion , to be a god unto thee . could lesse be said then this , so short the words ? yet could more be said then this , so large the matter ? all things herein are comprized , a promise to give repentance , faith , hope , and charity ; patience in afflictions , preservation from , or in them , competency of outward maintenance , perseverance unto the end ; in a word , grace , and holinesse here , glory and happinesse hereafter . how tedious are the instruments of our age ( a span of ground being scarcely passed under a span of parchment ) in comparison of the concise grants of our ancient kings , some of whose charters contain not so many words , as they convey manours therein . yet even those patents are prolix , if compared with gods covenant in my text , to be a god unto thee , promising therein more , then what man can ask , or desire . god hath set us a pattern , therefore let thy words be few , eccles . . . not to be babling to him , in our prayers , seeing he is so plain , and pithy to us in his promises , couching all things in so short an expression . to put all out of doubt , this covenant of circcumcision made with abraham and his seed , appears to be a gospel covenant , because s paul so expoundeth it . if any scruple arise about the sence of a law , to whom should people repair for satisfaction , but to the makers thereof , if alive . thus on the emergency of doubts , about the nature of this covenant , we may and must have recourse unto the author thereof . now the same spirit , who indited genesis by moses , indited the epistle to the romans by s. paul , who plainly affirmeth , rom. . . that abraham received the sign of circumcision , the seal of righteousness by faith . object . it is strange to conceive how in that age there could be a covenant of faith , the word faith appearing properly but once , habac. . . in all the old testament , ( and once afterwards with a negation before it in reference to the jews ) deut. . . children , in whom is no faith : seeing therefore such silence of faith in the old testament , ( so frequently resounded in the new ) this covenant with abraham seemeth suspicious , to be an old covenant of works , and to have nothing of gospel therein . answ . the word faith only , not the thing signified thereby is wanting in the old testament . what christ and his apostles call faith and believing , that the prophets and pen-men of the old testament expresse by trusting . the religion and creed of the ancient patriarchs is briefly drawn up by david , psal . . . our fathers trusted in thee , they trusted and thou didst deliver them ; they cried unto thee , and were delivered , they trusted in thee and were not confounded . i will not say the triplication of the word trust , denotes their belief in the trinity , father , son , and holy spirit ; but here it plainly appears , they had their confidence in , and dependence on god ; ( though then not so clearly revealed unto them ) which sheweth the sameness in substance of their belief with ours . vse . this serveth to confute such who account the jews a meer husk , shell , and shadow of gods people ; as if all the promises made unto them , meerly terminated in temporal happinesses . thus they feed the jews bodies with milk , and fill their bellies with hony ( even to a surfeit ) flowing from the fruitfulnesse of the land of canaan ; whilest in the mean time they starve and famish their souls , excluding them as incapable of heavenly , and spiritual blessings . their uncharitable errour is grounded on this argument ; because when their blessings are reckoned up , deut. . . it extendeth only to the city , field , fruit of their bodie , ground , cattle , kine , sheep , &c. but no mention of their eternal beatitude hereafter in heaven . yea , when isaac cordially blessed jacob , desiring no doubt to make the same as compleat , as he could bestow , and jacob receive , his expressions , gen. . . amount no higher then to the dew of heaven , the fatness of the earth , and plenty of corn and wine . on the other side , when the jews curses are solemnly pronounced , deut. . . they are confined to city , field , basket store , fruit of the body , land , kine , sheep , &c. here a deep silence of hell , and damnation , so that the smiles or frowns of god to the jews , seem to reach no farther then to their well or ill being in this life . to this it is answered , first in general ; by the same argument one may conclude , that under the gospel no temporal , or outward happinesse is promised to those that fear , and serve god , ; because no expresses thereof ( descending to the like particularities as in the old ) are found in all the new testament . i meet but with one in that nature ( tendering an exact inventory of earthly wealth ) namely , mark . . and the same hath bitternesse as well as sweetnesse therein ; save that the close thereof maketh recompence for all the rest . but he shal receive an hundred fold now in this time , houses , and brethren , and sisters and mothers , and children , and lands with persecution , and in the world to come eternal life . to come closer to their argument . though generally temporal blessings are only expressed in the old testament , yet in and under them , is spiritual happinesse contained . thus when in the fifth commandment , long life in the land which god shall give them , is promised to dutiful children , eternity in heaven is included ; and so did the judicious amongst the jews alwayes accept , and expound the same . most true therefore is s. pauls position , tim. . . godliness hath the promise of the life that now is , and of that which is to come . but where hath it the promise of this life ? chiefly in the old testament , where temporal good is largely , and clearly ; spiritual , briefly , and dimly propounded . where hath it the promise of the life to come ? principally in the new testament , where spiritual blessings are fairly and fully ; temporal , shortly , and slenderly presented . stock thy self with the one out of the law , with the other out of the gospel , with both out of the bible . so much for the covenant made as inherent in abrahams person ; come we now to consider it as hereditary , and descending on his posterity . i could name the castle , and rich manour in england , which was setled by patent from queen elizabeth on one of her courtiers . but , when the grant came to be examined under king james , those operative words , to him and his heirs , were found omitted in that emphatical place of the patent , where the estate therein should have been effectually conveyed . whereupon the grant was interpreted meerly personal , and forfeited to the crown on the attainture of the foresaid courtier . god maketh sure work in his covenant of circumcision . to prevent all miscarriages , and to intail the same on abrahams posterity , how often doth he insert , and repeat him and his seed , gen. ? twice in the th verse , once in the th verse , once in the th verse , again , in the th verse , and thy seed after thee . if in after-ages a wicked son chance to descend from - abraham , and the same prove a spiritual unthrift , yet god hath put it past his power to alienate the spiritual inheritance of the covenant from his children , they shall not suffer for their fathers default ; the same being made over to abraham and his seed ; and now we come to show what persons are included within the compasse of that relation . chap. iii. of the several acceptations of the seed of abraham in scripture . the seed of abraham as it occurs often in scripture , so severall are the sences thereof , and all of them worthy of our especial notice : but before and above all other acceptions , know first it is taken eminently and transcendently for jesus christ , in whom all nations should be blessed . even this seed of abraham was circumcised , luke . . meerly out of conformity , that christ might shew himself born under the law , as sent not to destroy , but fulfil it . indeed those few drops of bloud , presumed shed by our saviour at his circumcision , might both in their own preciousnesse , and gods appreciation of them , have been satisfactory for the sins of al mankind . but a testament was intended , by divine providence ; and that could not be made without the testatours death , and therefore the very heart bloud of christ , on the crosse , was adjudged necessary for mans salvation . so much for abrahams extraordinary , come we to his ordinary seed . this either was immediately , or mediately begotten by him . we find eight sons of the first sort , namely , ismael begotten of hagar , isaac of sarah , and six more , ( see their names , gen. . . ) of keturah . object . how cometh it then to passe that the apostle paul , gal. . . saith , abraham had two sons , the one by a bond-maid , the other by a free-woman , omitting all the rest , as if no such persons in nature . answ . these two are mentioned eminently , but not exclusively of others . i will not say , because keturah ( though sometimes called the wife ) is elsewhere , chro. . . stiled but abrahams concubine ; therefore his issue by her is left out by the apostle ; but because ( though there was history of more , yet ) there was mysterie but in these two sons of abraham , whose two mothers represented the two testaments . had abraham afterwards begotten an hundred sons , they all had not amounted to the making of one testament , ( but were all reducible to one of the former testaments , compleated in ismael , and isaac . ) as for ismael , * luther is peremptory and positive , that , ( though the type of a carnal people ) yet , in truth , his own person was saved ; grounding his charitable opinion on that expression , because it is said of him , gen. . . after death that he was gathered to his fathers . a phrase in the same chapter spoken of abraham , and not applied in scripture to wicked men ; though it is said of ahab , kings . . ( which amounts to the same effect ) that he slept with his fathers . i will interpose nothing to the contrary , but had been more confident of ismaels final happinesse , had it been said of him that he was gathered to his father abrahams bosome being a noted place , luke . for blessed repose . abrahams immediate seed were either such as were begotten , by him , . in his life , or . after his death . of the former were esau , and jacob , both of them , being . years old , whilest abraham was yet surviving , as may be demonstrated by the following computation . . abraham was an hundred years old when isaac was born , gen. . . . isaac was fourty years old , when he took rebeccah to wife , gen. . . . isaac was threescore years old , when esau and jacob were born , gen. . . . all which years cast up together , amount to an hundred and threescore years . . abraham , when he died , was an hundred threescore and fifteen years old ; . ergo , esau and jacob were fifteen years old before abrahams death ; an age capable of instruction . therefore when god saith of abraham , gen. . . i know that he will command his children , &c. to keep the way of the lord. esau and jacob , his grand-children were literally intended : the latter , no doubt , being as willing to learn , as his grand-father abraham was able and industrious to instruct him . abrahams seed mediately begotten from him after his death , were either . literally and spiritually , as the believing jews . . literally , and not spiritually , as the unbelieving jews , of whose foederal right , largely in the next chapter . . spiritually , and not literally , as proselytes , and believing gentiles . proselytes , or advenae , were aliens by extraction , and jewes by profession ; and these again were either the primitive proselytes , or their successours in all ages . by primitive proselytes i understand , those of abrahams family when circumcision was first instituted therein . these i may call the founders of that order , and the first stock wherewith that society began . amongst the succeeding proselytes , we may take notice of two most memorable ●nd conspicuous accessions to their company . the one , when israel came out of egypt , and gods miraculous hand made many converts to their religion ; when besides the six hundred thousand israelites , and their children , exod. . . and a mixed multitude , went up also with them , and although this mixed multitude , numb . . . afterwards fell a lusting , infecting also the israelites therewith ; and probably many of them then perished ; yet certainly a competent representation of pious proselytes stil continued in the congregation of israel . the other remarkable addition of proselytes was joshua . . when the gibeonites were condemned by joshua to the servile work of the temple , hewing of wood , and drawing of water ; whereby no doubt , thousands of them got the knowledge of the true god ; and were therefore called nethinims , people given over to divine service . yea , what an estimate god set upon them , plainly appears , by his careful counting them , after their return from the captivity of babylon , ezra . . ( with the children of solomons servants ) in all three hundred ninety two . besides these two grand and conspicuous additions of proselytes , there was scarce any country confining on canaan , ( as some , a good way distanced thence ) but now and then did drop in a proselyte into the congregation of israel ; rahab , the hittite , ruth , the moabite , naaman , the assyrian , &c. and , ( to show god stands as little on the difference of colours as countries ) ebed-melech the black-more , the treasurer of the queen candace the ethiopian . indeed these proselytes amongst the jews , were divided into two sorts ; some proselytes of the gates , admitted only into civil society , and cohabitation with them : others call'd proselytes of justice , who did professe , and undertake all the law , and these only we account the seed of abraham . secondly , believing christians are the spiritual seed of abraham , and are so generally reputed in the scripture . these to be true born on both sides , must have , . abraham to their father . . sarah to their mother . when we see a child like unto his father we use to say of him , thy father will never be dead whilest thou art alive : so abraham surviveth , and sarah is still alive in those , which john . . do the works of abraham . what these works are , must be collected out of abrahams life , who was , faithful to god , loving to his wife , tender to his children , equal to his servants , kind to his nephew , courteous to his neighbours the children of heth , just in his bargains , valiant to his enemies ; in a word , worthy in all his relations . sarah likewise is exemplary for her duty to her husband and other feminine vertues , and all those are her daughters , peter . . which imitate the same . i need not be longer in so plain and pregnant a point ; that believing gentiles are spiritually abrahams seed , so frequently inculcated by the apostle in his epistles to the romans and galatians , who were as meer gentiles as we english-men are . come we now to show , how far the seed of abraham naturally , though not spiritually , participate of the covenant in circumcision , conceiving the clearing thereof , of concernment to our present controversie . chap. iv. that all visible members of the jewish church had a foederal right to the sacraments . we must carefully dinstiguish betwixt the reaping of spiritual benefit by , and the having of a temporal right to the sacraments . it is confessed that the former belong'd wholly and solely to the true israel of god ; but in the latter the worst and wickedest jew equally shared with the best and holiest of that nation , as all alike corporally descended from abraham . for the proof whereof , in the first place it is worth the observing , how our saviour in the same chapter , and discourse , namely john the th ▪ affirmeth and denieth the wicked pharisees to be , and not to be the seed of abraham . to be , verse . i know that you are abrahams seed , but you seek to kill me , because my word hath no place in you . not to be , verse . ye are of the devil , and the lusts of your father you will do . here is no contradiction , but a consent , if the several respects be considered : by pedegree they were ; by practice they were not ; by linage they were ; by life , they were not ; by extraction they were , by conversation they were not the children of abraham . now to look only on the jews in the first capacity , who are israelites according to the flesh ; we find s. paul , rom. . . giving in an inventory of their priviledges which amount to eight particulars ; and it were high injustice in any christian to deny the least branch thereof . theirs were . the adoption . . the glory . . the covenants . . the giving of the law. . the service of god. . the promises . . the fathers . . christ conceiv'd in the flesh . herein the apostle intendeth not onely the elect jewes , but the diffusive body of that nation . yea , in this present point , with heavinesse of heart , he sadly singleth out such apostate jewes , for whom verse . he desired in exchange to be accursed , and yet even to those did this survey of priviledges belong . this is farther cleared by the acknowledgement of the same apostle , cor. . , , . affirming that all the fathers were baptized into moses , all ate and drank of the same spiritual meat , and drink , yet adding afterward , that with many of them god was not well pleased . lastly , it is evidenced by those frequent phrases in scripture , wherein the disobedient jewes are threatned to be cut off from his people , and from gods presence . levit. . . such could not be cut off from spirituall holinesse , or happinesse , wherein they were never truly planted , and whereof never really possessed , but onely from being outward members of that church , which intitled them to a true right of the aforementioned prerogatives . indeed one reason , which makes many men loth to entertain this truth , to allow a foederall right to the worst of the jewes , is a suspition , that the holding hereof will betray them to the dangerous opinion of falling off from grace , if that such who once were actually estated in such a covenant-right , should afterwards make a finall defection from the same . now , as i cannot blame them to be jealous with a godly jealousie , and to decline what is introductory of so comfortless an errour , as maintaining the apostasie of saints : so i must condemn their over caution herein , to fear where no fear is . for , this foederall right which the wicked jewes had , never stamped upon them any character of saving grace , but was onely a right of capacity , putting them into an actuall possession of the means , and a possibility of salvation it self , if not frustrated thereof by their own wilfull default . suppose now there should happen a contest betwixt the worst of jewes , and the best of heathens , about their spirituall condition , should the pagan bee so presumptuous as to affirm himself equally advantaged to a capability of happinesse with the jew , the other might justly confute his impudent bragging therein , alledging that his extraction intailed on him , a right to circumcision , with the covenant therein , and all the promises thereto belonging . all will allow a reall difference betwixt an usurper , and a tyrant ( though both be bad ) the former , invading what is none of his own , the latter abusing what is truely his . now , should a pagan , quà pagan , pretend to the covenant of circumcision , he were guilty of notorious usurpation ; whereas the wicked jew too often tyrannically abused that ordinance , having a right unto it , but making no right use of it . and , although some civil pagans did outstrip many impious jewes in morall performances , the jews might thank their own lazinesse , falling so far short of the mark , having such advantage at the starting , as a true right , and title to all gods ordinances . this foederall right therefore must not be denied to the worst of men , within the pale of the church , lest the godly receive prejudice thereby . the story is sufficiently known of a landed innocent , whose estate some courtier begged , on pretence that he was unable to mannage the same . the innocent being brought for triall into the princes presence , & questioned about his ability , returned this answer ; my father being a wise man , begat me who am a fool , and why may not i who am a fool , beget a sonne , who may prove a wise man ? to apply this story : many now adayes seek to disinherit wicked men of their covenant-right in the church , alledging their prophanesse to be such , as doth disfranchise them of those priviledges . may not such wicked men , ( fools in solomons phrase ) plead for themselves ; my father being a saint begat me a wicked wretch , and why may not i beget a sonne that may prove a saint ? see we this in ahaaz , the posture of whose generation was such , that he was fixed in the middle betwixt jotham his godly father , and hezekiah his gracious sonne ; hee himselfe being the worst of men , chron. . ● . who in the time of his distresse did trespasse yet more and more against the lord , mending for afflictions as a resty-horse with beating , onely the more untoward for the same . yet this ahaaz by his foederall-right , served to receive a true title to circumcision from jotham his father , and to reach the same to hezekiah his sonne ; though enjoying in himself no spirituall benefit thereby . and thus having concluded the whole body of the jewish nation , comprehended within the compasse of the covenant of circumcision , i proceed to shew how the jewish children at eight dayes old , were capable to covenant : a point having more verity , then evidence therein . chap. v. the grand objection answered , drawn from the incapacity of jewish infants to covenant at eight dayes old . the goliath-objection , generally brought against the jewish children bing covenanters , is taken from their seeming inability to perform the stipulation , or counterpart of a covenant . is not a childe called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in greek , from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not a word in his mouth , and infants in the same sence from a negative in and fando speaking ? yea , so much as a childe can speak , and so much as may be conjectured by his outward carriage , he maketh use of his negative voyce , and remonstrates against the covenant , as unwilling to receive the same , seeing every infant may probably be presumed to cry as forced from him by the pain of circumcision . in answer hereunto , first in generall ; it is enough to satisfie a sober soul , and content a modest minde herein , that god hath appointed such children at eight dayes old to be covenanters , and that also nomine poenae in case the same be omitted . that god , who never calls any to any employment , but ever inables them for the same , at leastwise with such a degree of sufficiencie which he is pleased to accept . such as question the truth hereof , do tacitly , and interpretatively , charge god with want of wisdome in his proceedings . let them whisper no longer , but plainly speak out , that he lacks discretion to manage his matters , isai . . . who hath directed the spirit of the lord , or being his counseller , hath taught him ? the proud objecters might well give him their advise , hereafter to choose wiser parties with whom to make a covenant , then children of eight dayes old . what charter hath this whole world to shew for its being , other then gods bare fiat , let it be . i have blessed him , ( saith isaac of jacob , gen. . . ) yea , and bee shall be blessed . god hath made eight-dayes-old-children covenanters , and they shall be covenanters . more particularly , to come to the objection : i conceive the soul of an infant may fitly be compared to the cloud which went before the israelites , exod. . . dark on the one side , but light on the reverse thereof . that part of the infants soul exposed to humane eyes , is dark and obscure , no abilities at all discoverable therein ; whilest the bright side of infants souls is objected to gods eye , beholding in them what wee cannot perceive . no wonder if men be non-plust about the actions of infants souls , when every infant is an heap of riddles cast together , whereof the least and lowest is too great , and high for man to understand . david ingenuously confesseth , psal . . . that he was fearfully and wonderfully made . the fashioning of the members of his body being so strange a work in nature , that the knowledge thereof was too wonderfull for him , and so high that he could not attain unto it . if he was posed with the cask , the case , and the shell , the admirable structure of a babes body , let it not seem strange to us to be puzled with the operations of an infants soul , how the same is able to covenant with god. it passeth the skill of the greatest divine , to clear and evidence the entrance of originall sinne into an infants soul : whose spirit , coming immediatly from god , must needs be pure , and perfect like the maker thereof . nor can this soul , thus pure in it self , be infected from the body , which being but a livelesse lump of flesh is incapable of sin , especially so as to make an active impression on the soul . soul , and bodie of infants , thus being severally sinlesse , who can conceive that the union of two clean things , can produce one unclean ? i mean , originall corruption . yet we all see by wofull experience , that infants from their conception are infected therewith : that it is there we know , but how it came thither , god knowes . if we cannot perceive the manner of sins poison , no wonder if we cannot conceive the method of graces antidote in infants souls . let us allow heaven to be as incomprehensibly miraculous in healing , as hell hath been insensibly subtile in hurting the same . and , seeing god hath expressed thus much , that infants are called by him to be covenanters , let us with humility , and modesty beleeve them , to be enabled with a proportion of grace , to discharge their covenant in relation , though it transcend our capacity to clear all doubts , and difficulties , which may be multiplied about the manner thereof . in further clearing this objection , know , that besides such graces which wee are bound to beleeve in infants hearts , they have three things else which assist them in this covenant . . their parents faith tendring them to god. . gods goodnesse accepting the tender . . their own actuall performance of the covenant , if living to years of discretion . first , their parents faith in tendering them . appliable to this purpose is that expression recorded by three of the evangelists , brought in a bed by four , who finding no door in the side ( such the presse of people ) made one in the roof of the house , and let him down by cords into the room where our saviour was . jesus seeing their faith , matth. . . when jesus saw their faith , mark . . and when hee saw their faith , luke . . two things herein are considerable ; first , that the faith of the bearers was a motive , and inducement to our saviour the more speedily with favour to reflect on this sick man. secondly that the words their faith , are taken inclusively , taking in a fift faith to the former four , namely the faith of him , who lay sick on the bed. however , here we see that the beheste of friends , concurred to the expediting of his cure , and ( though let down but by four cords ) he was lifted up into christs favour with a five-fold cable of faith , which cannot be broken . nearer is the relation betwixt parent and childe , then friend and friend . when therefore a pious father , mother , or ( best then , when ) both , shall with the armes of their faith , offer an infant ( who indeed is a part of themselves ) to god in circumcision , this must needs bee a main motive ( through gods mercy , and no otherwise ) to induce him graciously to behold the present tendred unto him. thus the faith of abraham and sarah advantageth isaac into gods love , the faith of isaac and rebeccah recommended and preferred jacob at his circumcision into gods favour . secondly , at circumcision the childes weaknesse to covenant is assisted by gods acceptance thereof . that is well spoken , which is well taken . how simple and slender soever a childs performance is at circumcision , how low and little soever his faith is , god stoops ( such his gracious condescension ) to take it up ; he makes , ( as i may say ) a long arm , to reach a short one , and so both meet together . lastly , this strengtheneth the covenant then made by the childe , that afterwards , if arriving at years of discretion , he publikely ratifieth , and confirmeth the same with his own actuall faith , evidenced to others in his pious conversation . men used to say of plato his scholers , that their masters precepts , did freez in them , till they were about fifty yeers old , and then began to thaw in them , till the day of their death , meaning that the good counsels he gave them made no visible impression on the amendment of their manners , till the heat of their youth was overpast , and they come to their reduced age . circumcision , may be said to freez in infants , as to any eminent outward effect thereof , during their minority , the vigor and vertue thereof is dormant , and seemingly dead in them , but when come to the vse of reason , then it raiseth and rouzeth it self , namely when the party makes good the covenant , made by him before , and then the strength of that sacrament had a powerfull influence on their souls all the dayes of their lives . and although there ought to be no iteration of outward circumcision , which done once , is done for ever , yet inwardly to circumcise their souls , was the dayly task of all devout jews , and ought to be our constant imployment , and a word or two briefly of the nature thereof . chap. vi. circumcision considered as a signe , and what mysteries were signified therein . the principal mysteries couched under circumcision , as a signe , are reducible to seven particulars , . that our carnall corruption may be spared . . cannot be cured . . must not be covered . . must be cut off . . this cutting off must be timely . . must be totall . . will be painfull . . may be spared . listen not to the suggestions of satan , perswading us , that sinne , by long custome , is grown so essentiall to our souls , as if our mindes should be maimed , and faculties thereof be cripled , should corruption be taken from us ; wherefore laying aside ( saith james . . ) all filthinesse and superfluity of naughtiness , not that we may still retain in our hearts so much wickednesse , as shall fill them , ( onely parting with that which runneth over ) but all naturall filthinesse is superfluity , it may be spared . . it cannot be curred . what is capable of cure , must have some soundnesse ( though more sicknesse ) therein ; for nature distressed , but not wholly destroyed , is the subject of art , which must have a sound bottom , or foundation to work upon . if therefore there were any thing good in our naturall corruption , there were some hopes of amendment in the rest . but what saith s. paul , rom. . . for i know that in me , ( that is in my flesh ) dwelleth no good thing . it cannot be cured . . it must not be covered . the onely way to make god hide his face from our sins , is for us to open , and not to hide our sins from him . . must be cut off . dream not of curing a gangrean with a lenitive plaister . hophni and phinehas are too incorrigible to be amended with a few fair words . say not to thy corruption , as eli to them , sam. . . why dost thou such things ? nay my corruption , it is no good report i hear of thee , &c. all this is uselesse , no way but one , cut it off . . the cutting off must bee timely ▪ abels sacrifice had . excellent qualities ; of what was first , * fat , and * faithfull . our service of god ought to be early ; deferre it not above eight dayes , that is , do it as soon as it is do-able without danger . indeed the longer circumcision is delayed , the greater will be the pain thereof . witnesse the shechemites , circumcised in their full strength , gen. . . and disabled by the arrears of their pain , to defend themselves though three dayes after . too blame they , who put off the circumcision of their hearts , and on frivolous pretences deferre their repentance . we read of * thomas bourchier , arch-bishop of canterbury , that the pope dispensed with him by reason of his state avocations , and other impediments , to performe his prayers ( which ought to be in the morning ) in the afternoon , on condition they were done before night . but many men through their lazinesse , give liberty to themselves to put off their setentance , which ought to be in their youth , to their declining age , conceiving all will be well , if it be but done before their death . whereas indeed soul - circumcision ought to be timely . . must be totall . jewish circumcision , say the rabbins , consisted of two principall parts . . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . the cutting off . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . the casting away of the forekin . the ruines of the latter custome , remain in zipporahs behaviour , exod. . . though distempered with passion , shee might over act her part , when casting her sons foreskins at her husbands feet , and both are spiritually united in our saviours precept , matth. . . if thy right hand offend thee , cut it off , and cast it from thee . . will be painfull . such therefore as indulgently hope of themselves , that they have circumcised their souls , and yet can never remember that they offered any violence to their own nature , never put their selves to any pain in curbing their corruption , may justly suspect their spirituall condition . had ever any a tooth drawn , and was insensible thereof ? surely such incisions into our souls , with the lancers of true repentance , leave an indeleble impression behind them , and that pain too probably , was never at all indured , which so soon is wholly forgotten . it is to be feared rather ; the pain will prove insupportable unto us , some counsell therfore wil be good to mitigate the same . surgeons , when forced to cut off a limb , generally use two wayes to ease their patient . one by casting him into a sleep , lately disused because dangerous , sleep being so immediate a donative of god himself , ( psal . . . for so he giveth his beloved sleep ) that humane receipts for the same , either under , or over-do the work . the other by stupifying , and mortifying by degrees the part to be cut off , so to render the party lesse sensible thereof . the same way is prescribed us by the apostle , col. . . mortifie therefore your members which are upon the earth , fornication , &c. the torture will be intolerable to have our souls circumcised , and corruptions cut from us whilest we are in the full feeling thereof , and therefore ought it to be our endeavour by dayly mortification to dull our sense of the same . so much of circumcision ; and now let us briefly recollect with the reader , what progresse we have made in the present controversie ; and by what degrees we have proceeded . first , we have proved the covenant made with abraham at circumcision and evangelical covenant . secondly , that the same descendeth on all the children of abraham . thirdly , that all believing gentiles are abrahams children . fourthly , that eight-dayes-old-jewish-children were accepted of god as capable to covenant . come we now to shew that baptism with christians , is what circumcision was to the jews ; whence this will naturally and necessarily follow , that christian children at the same age , have as much right to the one , as jewish infants had to the other . chap. vii . that baptism succeeds to all the essentials of circumcision . a successour must be , as after in time , so really distinct from that , which precedes it ; otherwise it is not the successour , but the same . those , therefore , who indeavour to disprove baptism's succession to circumcision , by alledging many differences betwixt them , do our work in desiring to destroy it , whilest the same differences are but accidental betwixt them . we shall first observe what such accidental differences are betwixt circumcision and baptism , and they will appear such as do not dis-essential the one from the other . it is remarkable that all the differences betwixt circumcision and baptism , are on the gaining side for us christians , whose estate is not impaired , but improved thereby , baptism being milder in the sign , freer in the time , larger in the subject . . milder in the sign ; the law saith , cut off , and be clean , which is painful ; the gospel saith , wash and be clean , which is easie . at baptism no violent impression is made on the infant , only a little water powred on his face . washing is so far from doing wrong even to a new born infant , that his natural wel-being cannot be without it , ezek. . . when thou wast new born , thy navel was not cut , thou wast not washed in water to soften thee . . freer in the time ; circumcision was confined to the eighth day , and those equally guilty who anticipated or protracted the same . god , in the gospel hath left baptism to the discretion of christians , to accelerate or retard it , as they are advised by the childs strength , and their own conveniency : he hath given parents as much liberty herein , as kind elkanah allowed hannah his loving wife , sam. . . do what see meth good unto thee . presume we here that pious parents will not create needlesse delayes to baptise their children , ne quod differatur , auferatur , lest god , in the interim , take their child away from them . in which case , as i will not be the judge to condemn the child ; so should i be one of the jury , i would not acquit the father . . larger in the subject ; circumcision left out , a just half , or full moiety of mankinde , confin'd only to the males ; whereas baptism takes in the weaker sex . indeed we have but one woman , signally named , whom we find baptized ; namely lydia , acts . . the seller of purple , in thyatira ; but the precedents of more : and let the ensuing parallel in the same chapter be observed . acts . . saul made havock , and haling men and women committed them to prison . acts . . philip preached concerning the kingdom of god , and they were baptized both men and women . see here the weaker sex joyntly partake in persecutions , and ( which was but equal ) did also communicate in the comforts . it was just that those , who with men had drunk their share in the cup of bitter affliction , should also have their part in the cup of sacramental consolation . let none be troubled that only two places expresly mention the baptizing of women . for scripture proofs are not to be taken by their number , but weighed in the ballance ; one witnesse from an infallible mouth is as valid as one thousand . yea , one testimony of scripture , coming from the spirit which is cor. . . all in all , is as much as if all the scripture , and every verse therein had avouched the same . here let the weaker sex enlarge their gratitude to god , on this very account , that he hath cleared their title to this sacrament in the gospel ; whose right to circumcision under the law was incumbred with some difficulty . for , suppose a jewish woman distressed in conscience , and complaining that she was excluded the sacrament of circumcision , because not actually signed with it ; and , suppose a rabbin , or levite , endeavouring to satisfie her by the answers chapter . formerly alledged , ( viz. that she was vertually , or reductively circumcised in her father , or husband ) possibly all this might not pacifie her minde ; and , though such a scruple be but a mote in it self , yet might it prove painful in so tender a place , as conscience , the eye of the soul , is how thankful therefore ought christian women to be to gods goodnesse , expresly admitting them to baptism , and having equal right with men in that sacrament . these three forenamed circumstantial differences between circumcision , and baptism , are not of such consequence , as to disessential them , or to make them distinct sacraments ; both remaining the same in effect , those accidental variations notwithstanding . for the like may be observed between the passeover , and the lords supper , and those alterations also for the benefit , and behoof of christians , the later being both cheaper in price , and freer in time then the former . in the passeover , a lamb was offered ; which , many christians ( such is their poverty ) cannot provide for themselves ; and rich men ( such is their covetousnesse ) will not provide for others . it is therefore commuted in the lords supper , into a bit of bread , and sip of wine , which on easier rates may be obtained . freer in time ; the passeover was but once a year , exod. . . on the fourteenth day of the first moneth ; in the lords supper we are left at large , stinted to no time , cor. . . do ye this as oft as ye drink it ; we may take it for food , or for physick ; when ill , to remove ; when well , to prevent diseases ; once a moneth , once a week if we wil ; always provided , that the frequent repetition of it hinder not the solemn preparation for it . but to return to baptism , that it succee●● to all essentials of circumcision , is proved by these arguments . either baptism succeeds to the sacrament of circumcision , or else some other ordinance doth succeed , or else nothing at all remains in lieu thereof : but that sacrament root and branch totally extinguished in gods church . but nothing else succeeds circumcision ; and that sacrament is not abolished , but still vertually extant . therefore baptism succeeds in the place of circumcision . the major we presume of unquestionable truth , where the distribution is uncapable of any other member therein . for the first part of the minor , if any other heir ( besides baptism ) can be found out , let our adversaries in this controversie assign it : what is the name , or the sons name thereof , if they can tell ? surely no such successor to circumcision can be produced . now to maintain that circumcision died issueless , and left no ordinance behind it of divine institution , to inherit the power and place thereof in the church , is what none ever defende●● for seeing sacraments are the pillars of the church , supporting the whole fabrick thereof ; how much would it weaken the structure totally to take away one pillar , without substituting another in the place thereof ? we proceed to a second argument after this manner . if all such graces confer'd on gods children in circumcision formerly , are now bestowed on them in baptism : then ( notwithstanding some accidental differences ) baptism succeeds to the essentials of circumcision . but all graces formerly confer'd in circumon , are now bestowed in baptism : therefore baptism succeeds the essentials of circumcision . the minor , which ( alone is questionable ) may easily be proved : graces in circumcision are comprised in that expression , gen. . . to be a god unto thee , whereof largely before ; and the same is performed in baptism ; whein god solemnly contracts with his servants to receive them into his covenant , and conveyeth unto them grace necessary for their salvation . but what need we more reasons , when the very words of s. paul , col. . , . attest the same ? in whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands , in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh , by the circumcision of christ ; buried with him in baptism . christians are here said by baptism to be spiritually circumcised ; and by the same proportion , the believing jews may be said by circumcision to be spiritually baptized ; such the affinity or rather the essential samenesse betwixt these two sacraments : thus solomon saith , eccles . . . one generation passeth away , and another generation cometh , but the earth remaineth for ever : so one sacrament of initiation [ circumcision ] passeth away , and another [ baptism ] cometh ; one sacrament of confirmation [ the passeover ] passeth away , and another sacrament [ the lords supper ] cometh ; but the church remaineth for ever . ob. baptism cannot succeed to circumcision , because what succeedeth must come after in time , when its predecessor is departed : but baptism for some years went abreast with circumcision , both were set a foot together in church practice . for baptism was instituted in our saviours life time , used by his disciples , john . . to the jews , and enjoyned immediately after christs ascension , mat. . . to be practised upon all nations : now circumcision held in force many years after , see in timothy ( a jew by the half bloud ) acts . . was circumcised by paul himself . wherefore baptism contemporary ●●th circumcision , could not be successour unto it . answ . it is confest , that for some years circumcision remained in the church after baptism was ordained . have we not often seen the moon shining in heaven even after the sun some hours hath been risen therein ; but then she shines dully and dimly , with a faint and feeble light as conscious to her self of usurpation , and guilty of intrusion to the territories and dominion of the sun ; the moon being only made to rule the night . so may i say there was a weak and wan appearance of circumcision in the christian church after baptism was ordained , and that for these two reasons . first , it was continued some time in the church for the more decent expiring thereof . god would not have that sacrament , which had lived so long in lustre , dye in shame : and therefore it was thought fit , that circumcision , as it began on a good man , so it should expire on a gratious saint : abraham being the first , and timothy the last ; whom we find circumcised in scripture . secondly , god foreseeing what an advantage satan might take , if his church were left sacramentless , to assault the same in the interval of the going out of the one , and coming in of the other ( as ahab was wounded , kings . . in the naked place betwixt the joynts of his harness ) would have his sacraments ( rather then they should fall short ) one lap , and fold over the other , that both should be in being at once . probably , had another government of the church been prepared , and fitted ; yea , and set up ( rather two together then none at all ) before the old one was demolished , profanenesse , and damnable heresies , which we now behold , and bemoan , had not made their progress so fast , and so far into the english nation . the result of all is this : though circumcision did for some time rather languish then live after the institution of baptism ; and for the reasons aforesaid , was continued in the church ( used on timothy not so much to sanctifie him , as to satisfie his half-countrey-men the jews ) yet soon after it decently expired , leaving baptism to succeed in the church to all the essentials thereof ; amongst which , this was one of main importance , that as children were admitted to circumcision , so they should also participate of baptism ; which by reasons out of scripture , god willing , shall plainly appear . chap. viii . what it is to reason out of the scriptures ; and what credit is due to deductions from gods word . we do freely confesse , that there is neither expresse precept nor precedent in the new testament for the baptizing of infants ; and yet are confident , by necessary and undeniable consequence from scripture it will be made appear to be founded thereon . let us here premise and explain a practice of the apostle paul , as much conducible to our purpose . he coming to thessalonica , acts . . reasoned with the jews out of scripture . three things herein are considerable . first , being to prove , that this jesus whom he preached was christ , he neither did nor could produce a positive text of scripture , wherein the same was affirmed syllabically , or in so many very words . secondly , in proof hereof he did not bring bare reason , which would be but ineffectual ; especially to prove that which was meerly an article of faith. thirdly , in his disputing he made a wise composure of both , joyning scripture and reason together . scripture was the well , reason was the bucket , s. paul was the drawer . pauls precedent ought to be followed by our practice herein . scriptura non scribitur , otiosis : the scripture was not writ for the idle , but the industrious . yea , to what intent hath god bestowed reason upon us , improved in some with learning and education , together with the promise of his spirit to conduct us into all necessary truth ; but that we should improve the same in the serious searching of the scripture ? one main motive which induced columbus to believe the other side of this globe to be peopled with reasonable souls , and invited him to undertake the discovery thereof , was a firm apprehension , and belief , that god would not create so glorious a creature as the sun to shine to sea and fishes alone ; but that surely some men did partake of the benefit thereof . is it probable that god would light the threefold lamp of reason , learning , and grace in mens souls , for no other purpose , or higher design , but meerly that men should make use thereof in perusing of pamphlets , and reading the works of humane writers ; chiefly in examining the word of god , with such consequences , which naturally may be extracted from the same ? some things are , in scripture , as grasse on the ground , which on the surface thereof , is apparent to every beholder ; other things are , in scripture , as mines , and minerals in the bowels thereof , no lesse the product of the earth then the former , though more industry must be used for the eduction thereof . circumcision is of the first sort , obvious to a childe that can read the th of genesis ; but he must be a * man of understanding , ( which we all ought to be ) to whom baptism is visible by deduction from scripture . see we here not only the usefulnesse and conveniency , but even the absolute necessity of the profession of ministers ; not only for the administration of sacraments , but for the clearing those necessary consequences from scripture , which at the first view are not apparent to every ordinary capacity . s. paul saith , rom. . . let us prophesie according to the proportion of faith. now i believe it will generally be granted that by prophesie here is meant the preaching of the word . know then that the proportion of faith , consists not in one , or some , or many , but is the result of all places of scripture ; the universal symmetrie of them all , concerning such a point which is treated of . here then is the office of the minister , to present to his people ( in any matter necessary to be believed or practised ) the sence of the old and new testament ; this is sometimes not conspicuous in any one place , as being the collective , and constructive analogie , amounting from many particular places compared together . here , i say , the ministers office is called upon ; ( in whom reason is or ought to be cleared and strengthned by his learning ) to manifest and evidence to the people of his flock , the rise and result of such deductions , how naturally and necessarily they flow from scripture . this done , such of his flock , who of themselves could not see , will see when shown ; who of themselves could not go , will go when led ; enabled by gods blessing on his help , will both easily apprehend in themselves , and communicate to such in their family , such scipture-consequences , which their simplicity could never first have found out by themselves . then will it fare with such people as with the samaritanes , john . . who came to christ , at the womans invitation , but believed on him , not because of her saying , but because they heard him themselves . unlearned people receive not such consequences for truths , on the credit of the learning and religion of their minister , ( though by his direction first acquainted therewith ) but because that since they have been convinced in their own judgements and consciences of the truth thereof , as no doubt the thessalonians were , when s. paul ( as is aforesaid ) reasoned with them out of scripture . but a greater then paul is here to avouch this practice , even our saviour himself ; who , being to confute the sadduces , who not only denied the resurrection of the dead , but also that there was neither angel nor spirit , acts . . ( existing separate from the body ) so that at death the souls of men expired , and were utterly extinguished . in refutation of which errour , our saviour reasoned out of scripture , mat. . . . but as touching the resurrection of the dead , have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by god , saying , i am the god of abraham , and the god of isaac , and the god of jacob ? god is not the god of the dead , but of the living . god is not the god of the dead , that is , he is not god to that which is annihilated , and null in nature , but that thing must have an absolute being in it self , before it can be so related that god becomes a god unto it . this text in it self seems at great distance to prove the resurrection , and never likely to meet the matter in controversie ; unlesse reason intercede to joyn them both together . the argumentation being thus framed , and that to which god pronounceth himself a god ▪ hath a true & real existence . but god pronounceth himself god to abraham , isaac and jacob , some hundreds of years after their death ; therfore abraham , isaac , & jacob , had stil a true and real existence . and thus an argument , which formerly was vertually in the text , is by the assistance of reason actually extracted thence , and effectually applied to the preset purpose . say not , christ might have chose in the old testament , more pregnant and pertinent places then this by him cited to prove the resurrection ; as that job . . and though after my skin , worms destroy this body , yet in my flesh shal i see god : for , first it is presumption for any to teach christ ; which stone out of the brook to chuse ( as the smoothest , and fittest ) when he is to encounter the goliath of any errour . secondly , the sadduces only allowing the pentateuch , or five books of moses ; christ worsted them at their own weapons out of that scripture , which they acknowledged for canonical ; setting us an example by reason out of the word , to prove those points which are not expresly contained therein . to conclude this point ; when eve was brought to adam newly awaked out of his deep sleep , gen. . . he gazed not on her as a stranger , but welcomed and entertained her with this cheerful and courteous expression , this is now bone of my bone , and flesh of my flesh ; she shall be called woman , because she was taken out of man. so should scripture behold those legitimate deductions , which by right reason , and lawful rules of logick , are thence drawn , and derived , it would instantly own and acknowledge them for its undoubted issue and off-spring ; commanding them to be called derivative scripture , because taken out of the body and bowels thereof . here i pleade not for such violent and forced consequences , ( bastards of mens brains ) which some unjustly father on the scripture , wresting it , pet. . . and not reasoning , but wrangling from it . natural and necessary deductions , are by me alone intended ; by which we proceed to prove , that baptism is bottomed on reasons out of scripture . here make we this motion to the reader , and may he resent it according to the equity thereof . though we propound , and he peruse these our reasons out of scripture severally , our desire is they should all be compounded together , and joyntly presented to his judgement . this desire proceeds not from any jealousie and suspition we have of their invalidity , as taken single , but out of a confidence , that though they may be cavilled at ( and endeavoured to be broken ) as single arrows , they will be unbreakable to him who here may have his quiver full of them . for as in a regular fort , though single flankers thereof may be assaulted , yet the whole will be impregnable ; wherein each part receiveth strength from , and returneth strength to another ; so we conceiv though each reason severally may be subject to captious exceptions against it , yet the total sum of them all ( besides many more which godly divines have and may adde unto them ) amount to the convincing of such as do not wilfully boult their eyes against the beams of truth . chap. ix . the first reason for the baptizing of infants , taken from the analogie of circumcision . the first reason for infants baptism is grounded on proportion of circumcision in this manner . if that the children of jews were admitted to circumcision , and thereby made members of the church ; the children of christians ought to be admitted to baptism , and thereby be made members of the same . but the children of the jews were admitted to circumcision , &c. therefore the children of christians ought to be admitted to baptism . herein the major which alone is subject to doubt and debate , may be proved by what formerly was explained , in baptisms succeeding to all essentials of circumcision . object . to this your arguing from proportion of circumcision is of no validity ; yea , and of very dangerous consequence : for on the same account you may extend the analogie to the reviving of all the jewish ceremonies , long since dead and rotten in the grave of our saviour ; such necromancy in conjuring up the ghosts of dead judaism , is unlawful of it self , and prejudicial to christian liberty ; should we be put under the gospel to such slavish conformity , as to practice something parallel to each ceremony in the old testament . answ . we confesse this exception true and just , had circumcision been but a bare ceremony and no more ; but circumcision had in it more of what was sacramental then ceremonious . the ceremonious part thereof is utterly extinct , and dyed issueless . but the sacramental or gospel part thereof , as it contained an everlasting covenant made with abrahams seed ; that is , all true believers , may be said to survive , in baptism the true heir thereof ; sacramenta non moriuntur , sacraments die not , ( whilest the church militant is alive ) nor is there any intervals betwixt them ; baptism immediately succeeding circumcision , as is before declared . proceed we to prove the former argument with a new syllogism ; they who once in circumcision were made members of the church , and never since were solemnly outed of the same , remain still in the state of their membership : but circumcised children under the jews were made members of the church , and never since were solemnly outed of that condition ; therefore they still remain members . here the minor alone is exposed to suspition of falshood ; and that only in the later part thereof : now let the denyers of it assign the time , place , manner , and persons , when , where , how , and by whom they were cast out of that membership . sure i am , seeing the old testament leaves them in peaceable possession thereof ; and no firm ejection of them appears in the new testament ; it must needs be some apocrypha writing , or forged deed , which depriveth them of their true title thereunto , and tenure thereof . for the further clearing hereof , let us suppose , a jew about the time of s. paul converted into a christian , and soon after made father to a son . if this child in his infancy may not be admitted to baptism , what cause had it no lesse justly then grievously to complain ? might it but borrow a tongue from the standers by , how pathetically would it expostulate his condition ? alas , how sad is my estate ? my father being but a jew , was at eight days old made a member of the church by circumcision : his infancy was no bar and obstacle unto him , to render him uncapable of the covenant . i had thought now my father is turned christian , that the child should not be impaired because his father is improved ? is a christians son found in a worse case then a jews son was left ? i thought the alteration of our condition by christs coming was to perfect not diminish what we had before ? christianity may be a good religion for men to die in , but judaism was better for children to be born in : we infants who signified some . thing under the law , are made cyphers under the gospel , no notice being taken of us , until we are arrived unto years of discretion . this complaint might be largely prosecuted with more earnestnesse , but a word is enough , the rather if we consider what s. paul saith , heb. . . but now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry , by how much also he is a mediator of a better covenant , which was established upon better promises . what a scale of melioration have we here , better , and better , excellent , and more excellent . but if children since christs coming are excluded the covenant , which were admitted unto it before , his is a less excellent ministry , & he the mediator of a worse covenant upon worse promises , seeing the same is not extended now as formerly , to all ages , sexes and conditions of people , ( children , included under the law ) being omitted therein ? now though many infants of bethlehem , and the coasts thereabouts , mat. ● . suffered for him , surely none suffered by him . but he continued their condition as good , yea , and bettered the same by his incarnation . he who himself was a childe , as well as a man , and a childe before he was a man , did tender and improve the condition of children as wel as of men ; and leaving this we now proceed to a second reason out of scripture . chap. x. the second reason , drawn from the birth-holinesse of christian infants . our second reason out of scripture , is bottomed on s. pauls expression , cor. . . for the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife , and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband , else were your children unclean , but now are they holy . now because there is some difficulty about the meaning of the words , we will be the larger in explaining the same . it appears by the first verse in this chapter , that the corinthians by letter had requested from s. paul , solution and satisfaction to sundry queries by them propounded : wonder not that they , who cor. . . were commended by s. paul to be enriched in all knowledge , should now desire further instruction . for first , they had all knowledge , but not all the degrees of knowledge . secondly , they had all knowledge , in fundamental necessaries to salvation , not in all cases of occasional emergency , such as their questions were . thirdly , grant that even in these , they had information before , they now sue for further confirmation from the infallible spirit of the apostle . alas , will some say for the losse of this letter of the corinthians to s. paul : pitty it was that providence did not transmit the same to posterity ; how useful had it been for us if it had come into our hands ? let such know , first , this their letter was no part of canonical scripture , pen'd by a fallible spirit . secondly , we have still this letter in effect , because we have saint pauls answers to the questions therein . thirdly , men generally are more curious to enquire about those parts of scripture which they suspect to have miscarried , then careful to improve those which remain , and are sufficient for our salvation . amongst these questions , this was not the easiest , whether a believing husband or wife were to continue in wedlock with an unbelieving wife or husband , if by providence it so came to passe that one was an infidel , the other a christian . the negative no doubt seem'd probable to some , and on this account , that if he who is joyned to an harlot is one body , then by the same consequence , idolatry being spirituall whoredom , copulation with an infidel is unlawful , and infectious . but s. paul in the foregoing verse determines the contrary ; that in case the infidel is pleased to dwel with the believer , they ought so to continue ; rendring a reason thereof in the words afore alledged for the believing husband , &c. the words contain . a proposition . . the proof thereof . the proposition is reciprocal , it turneth and windeth backwards and forwards , the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife , and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband ; the proof thereof is in the ensuing words ▪ else were your children unclean , but now are they holy . in the proposition the cardinal word sanctifie , ( as being the main hinge whereon the same turneth ) deserves our serious examination . sanctified here is not taken , quoad personam , to enholy the party so , as to procure his or her eternal salvation . if the holy triumvirate of noah , daniel , and job , ezek. . . could save neither son nor daughter , but their sole selves from a temporal destruction , much lesse can the sanctity of a christian husband or wife , operate so effectually on his , or her pagan partner as to estate them in a saving condition . indeed the wives holy conversation may be instrumental to her husbands conversion , pet. . . but it is god alone who sanctifies , in this high acception thereof . sanctified then here is taken quoad usum , that is eousque , they are made holy so far in relation to marriage , that the christian may have a lawful , and comfortable converse , and cohabitation in bed and board with the counter-pagan . thus all meats ( though some of them formerly forbidden as unlawful by the levitical law ) tim. . . are sanctified by the word of god and prayer ; that is , the use of them is legitimated , and they made healthful to the bodies , and lawful to the souls of such praying christians as feed upon them . see we here first , grace where it came , did not always take one and all in a family ; god in dispensing thereof , dealeth as jacob did in blessing ephraim and manasseh , gen. . . he crosseth his hands wittingly , taking a husband out of one house , a wife out of another ; a wife out of one house , a husband out of another . the reason hereof , mat. . . even so father , because it pleaseth thee , john . . the spirit bloweth where it listeth . thus amos . . the earth is often chequered with moisture , and drought , with barrennesse , and fruitfulnesse , the effects thereof ; i cause it to rain upon one city and not upon another . secondly , hence we may learn , that dominion is not founded in grace : had it been so , then the believing wives to unbelieving husbands , had a just title to deny any obedience , pleading that their husbands by their paganism had forfeited all power over them ; yet the apostle , pet. . . enjoyneth subjection , even to such husbands who did not obey the word , and who as yet were without the word . lastly , and chiefly hence we observe , mixt mariages made against gods will , do defile the religious , but continued according to gods will , do sanctifie the profane person . solomon may be a proof of the first , kin. . . not converting his idolatrous wives , but perverted by them . namely , because he crossed gods commandment , deut. . . neither shalt thou make mariages with them ; and the reason is added , for they will turn thee away from following me . and although the husband was doubly advantaged , both with his marital authority , and a good cause on his side , rather to prevail on his wife then to be imposed on by her ; yet because there was laesum principium , a fault in his first match , the edge was taken off from all his arguments to her , and added to her arguments against him ▪ making them by gods just judgement , twice more piercing and powerful to seduce him . should then a christian man wilfully take a heathen wife , he could not pretend that his christianity should sanctifie her infidelity , so far as to make his bed and board comfortable and lawful unto him , because he crost a positive precept , which enjoyns the believing party if at liberty , cor. . . to marry only in the lord : the physitians observe , that faults committed in the first concoction , are seldom amended in the second : such men had small hopes to better their condition by converting their wives after marriage , who before marriage ran so desperate a hazard against gods will in his word . on the other side , when mixt marriages are continued according to gods will , they do sanctifie the profane person : i mean when both parties at marriage were originally pagan , and one of them afterwards converted to christianity . in such a case a separation is not to be made , ( as was done , nehemiah . . when he cleansed the jews from all their strange wives ) but the christian may continue in wedlock , with the pagan , without fear of infection , and with a double comfort . . that hereafter his , or her pagan partner probably may be made christian , verse . for what knowest thou o wife , whether thou shalt save thy husband , &c. . that for the present the pagan company is so sanctified unto him , or her , that all conjugal acts qua-conjugal may be performed betwixt them , without the least suspition of sinfulnesse therein . come we now to the proof of the proposition : else were your children unclean , but now are they holy : not to speak of natural uncleannesse ( as alien from the purpose : ) we will principally insist upon a threefold uncleanness mentioned in scripture , with a holinesse parallel thereunto . . a ceremonial uncleanness . common or unclean , act. . . such uncleannesse was now quite grown out of fashion under the gospel . ceremonial holiness , whereby things were legally purified from pollution , which holinesse was quite out of date with the jews , and never in date with the gentiles when s. paul wrote this epistle . such as understand , uncleanness or holiness in the text , in this low acception of the word , under-shoot by much the true meaning thereof . . a spiritual uncleanness putting the person into gods displeasure , and a damnable condition . spiritual holinesse , which mounteth a man into the favour of god , and setleth him in the state of salvation . now we have over-shot the mark , and are as much above the meaning of the text. for no good parents can make their children thus holy , many of them being ▪ humbled in scripture , ( as eli and samuel ) with a profane issue which lived and died impenitent : it is an impudent slander , wherewith the rhemists ( in their notes on this text ) charge us to maintain , that from these words we collect , the children of pious parents , to be so holy , as that they need no baptism . whereas indeed hence we gather , such children to be so holy , that they have a lawful right to baptism . which hath brought us to the third and last acception of the word . . sacramental uncleanness rendering the ● person unfit to partake thereof , and receive any benefit thereby . sacramental holiness which entitles a childe to a true right , to participate of those initiating ordinances of god , wherby he is made a member of the church , and admitted to the means of salvation . now are we just level , and even to the sence of the words , and conceive our selves , to have hit the mark , or meaning thereof : and thus it is expounded by all our protestant divines . musculus alone excepted , who ( though otherwise a stiff champion for infants baptism ) accounts the argument drawn from these words not cogent thereunto . quest . if you call this sacramental holiness , why do you confine the effect thereof to baptism alone , & why are not the children of pious parents admitted also on their parents account without any further examination to the lords supper , by the vertue of this ( which you terme ) sacramental holinesse . answ . it is the method of the church , not to intrust a member therein with this second sacrament , of confirmation , until first he hath given testimony of his good improving of his first sacrament of initiation . besides , a child , while a child , is more properly a part of the parent , and may be said to trade under him . whereas when grown a man he sets up for himself , and takes up a new stock , on his own account ; this sacramental holinesse therefore estates a childe in a real right to baptism , and only in a capability of the lords supper in due time , except excluded thence by his own wilful unworthinesse . thus amongst the jews every childe ▪ descended from abraham , might challenge circumcision as due unto him , but could not so lay claim to the passeover ( of which some of his own intervening uncleannesse might make him uncapable ) except he was adjudged fit by such , whose place was to search into peoples purity , who were to partake of the same . the main observation is this , such as are christianly extracted , though but by the half bloud , have a whole right to the sacrament of baptism , rom. . . if the root be holy so are the branches . say not in such mungrel matches , the root is but half holy , and therefore but semi-sanctity , is as much as comes to the share of the branches thereof . for herein the mercy of god is magnified , that whereas he might have made the childe , as the conclusion to follow what was worst in the premises of either parent , his mercy interpreteth all according to the better part thereof . what result could be expected from the joyning of hot and cold but lukewarm ? what product from the blending of white and black but a motley ? what amounts from the mixture of light and darkness but twy-light ? but such is gods goodness to pass over and take no notice of the paganism in one parent , whiles the child shall solely succeed to the purity in the other . now if christian children by the half-bloud be holy ▪ how clear is those infants title religiously descended on both sides ? when deus est in utroque parente , let none be so cruel as to question their title to the sacrament . if any then ask , what advantage then hath a christian , and what profit is there of pious parentage ? we answer , much every way ; chiefly because extraction from them entitles to the sacrament of baptism . they have also the benefit of their parents dry and wet prayers , ( even before their conception ) petitioning to god importunately , to make them be instruments not to people hell , but plant heaven . when growing up , capable to learn , they have advantage of precepts ( abraham will teach his children ) of good precedents , whiles the children of wicked parents see daily what they should flie , these see what they should follow ; the advantage of correction moderately and seasonably used . all these are the sap which the root of holy parentage sends up into the branches thereof , though all of them too often prove ineffectual , and god ( who finally saveth not children for their parents sake , but parents and children for christs sake ) justly condemneth many children of good parents , for neglecting all these precious advantages to salvation . to conclude . in the low countries , the eldest son of a commission captain , being born there whilest his father is in the service of the state , is by the courtesie of the camp , enrolled in the souldiers list on his birth-day , and by the allowance of the state , receives pay from the time of his nativity . in the christian warfare , though christ alone be our captain , every common souldier ( male or female ) enlisted under him , derives this priviledge to all his children ; that from their very births they are thus far entred into the muster-roll of the church , as to receive pay ; i mean the right , and title to the sacrament of baptism , as being by their very extraction , not unclean , but sacramently holy . chap. xi . the third reason , taken from the holy spirit , which is given to little infants . the third reason out of scripture , is thus framed : such who receive the spirit of god may and ought to be baptized ; but infants receive the spirit of god , therefore they may and ought to be baptized . the major hereof is in effect the words of the text ; peter saith , acts . . can any man forbid water that these should not be baptized , which have received the holy ghost as wel as we ? can he ? that is , can he justly ? can he lawfully ? can he so do it , as to avouch it to god and man , when he hath done it ? though i confesse too many de facto , do it now adayes . can any man ? we can do nothing , saith the apostle , against the truth but for the truth , cor. . . it is not strength , but weaknesse ; for one to be able to do that which he ought not to do . can any man ? be he an apostle , or even peter himself , man. he must be either worse then a man for his envy , or lesse then a man by his ignorance . the minor remains to be proved , that infants receive the spirit of god , whereof we have two pregnant proofs , one in the old testament , jer. . . before i formed thee in the womb i knew thee , and before thou camest out of the womb i sanctified thee , and ordained thee to be a prophet unto the nations . object . this sanctification of jeremy , intends not such as accompanieth the salvation of the soul , but meerly importeth a designation of him to the prophetical function , with qualification for the discharge thereof . it is therefore impertinently alledged to prove , that infants have the saving spirit of god. answ . it is confessed that jeremy his destination to be a prophet , was a principal part of his sanctifying here mentioned . yet was it not the total thereof , as being but a sprig and branch of the same , which extended to gods forming him according to his knowledge of approbation and hallowing him as yet unborn , to be his saint and servant . the second instance in the new testament is that of john the baptist , luke . . leaping in his mothers womb at the salutation of the virgin mary . not that ( as some have mistaken it ) that then his mother was first sensible that she quickned of him , seeing it was said before , vers . . this is the sixth moneth with her which was called barren ; but as it is vers . . the babe leaped in my womb for joy , knowing and acknowledging christ the saviour of mankind , and transported with transcendent gladnesse for the same . object . but jeremy and john the baptist , were jeremy and john the baptist , i mean , signal persons of extraordinary stature of grace , above the size of common christians . your logick is but bad , if from the induction of two instances , you infer a general conclusion : as soundly you might prove , that all davids worthies were equal in valour and atchivements , sam. . . unto the first three , as that al infants of gods children may for their abilities be matched with these two by you alledged . answ . i grant no lesse , that these two instances were extraordinary : however thus much advantage we gain thereby , that they plainly prove the state of infancy to be receptive of grace , and of ability to entertain the same . let none look on infants as so indisposed and unorganized by reason of their weaknesse , but that the lownesse of their age is capable of the elevation to sanctity . secondly , though we acknowledge such redundancy of the spirit in the extraordinary and miraculous proportion thereof confined to a few persons , in christs and the apostles time , yet we may no lesse truly then confidently maintain , that a sufficiency thereof as to salvation , is conferr'd on all gods servants now adays , as well as before ; nor is gods spirit super-annuated with aged naomy , ruth , . . or grown so barren , or effete , but that it is still procreative , and produceth the effects thereof in gods servants now , as vigorously as ever before . otherwise , most doleful , yea , indeed desperate were the conditions of gods servants now adays , if devoid of the spirit of god , as to the essentials thereof , having now a fiercer foe and worse weapons to encounter him , then the christians had in former ages : a fiercer foe , satan himself growing subtiler , with the addition of fifteen hundred years experience ; and crueller , rev. . . because the shorter his reign , the sharper his rage : worse weapons if we be left altogether naked of the offencive and defencive armor of the spirit of god. and here i cannot but admire at the practice of some persons now adayes , boasting of strange measures of the spirit bestowed upon them ( and we must needs believe them , for they say so themselves ; ) yea , such prodigious proportions thereof , whereby per saltum , they conceive themselves enabled for such offices , for which they were never fitted by their education . and yet the self-same persons who are thus prodigal in the praise of their own perfections , assuming so much of the spirit to themselves , are most miserably nigardly to others , and especialy to infants denying the least degree of the spirit unto them . whereas let matters be beheld with an unpartial eye , and it will appear , that it is more probable children should partake of the company of the spirit , then men now adayes : may it not justly be suspected , that the spiritual pride , uncharitablenesse , self-interest , sinister respects , cruelty , and oppression of many men do fright away the spirit from them , how highly soever pretending to holinesse : whereas the mildnesse , meeknesse , silence , humility and patience of a childe , may invite the society of the spirit the sooner unto it , and the dove converse rather with doves then with vultures . to put all out of doubt , we can plainly demonstrate the fruits of gods spirit and sanctification in infants , dying infants , and therefore the root therof must be granted to be in their hearts , which we thus prove . whatsoever is saved is fully sanctified , for ephes . . . no unclean person hath any inheritance in the kingdom of christ . but many children ( especially of godly parents ) dying children are saved . therefore they are fully sanctified . he wants judgement that denies the major or former part of the syllogism ; and he lacks as much charity who questions the minor hereof ; otherwise herod the cruel tyrant , who killed only the bodies of the babes in and about bethlehem , was all mercy to such bloudy monsters , who ( so much as lieth in their power ) by this their murdering opinion , massacre the souls of so many infants , depriving them thereby of salvation . chap. xii . the fourth reason drawn from some degrees of faith , conferred on little infants . the fourth reason out of scripture is thus formed ; they that have some degree of faith , may and ought to be baptized ; but infants have some degree of faith ; therefore they may and ought to be baptized . the major is the very same with the words of the scripture : the eunuch askt of philip , acts . . see here is water , what doth hinder me to be baptized ? philip answered , if thou believest with all thy heart thou mayest . al the difficulty is in the proof of the minor ; for our adversaries wil say , if the infant could rejoyne with the eunuch in the same place , i believe that jesus christ is the son of god , then the [ now most zealous ] opposers would be the most earnest advancers of their baptism . for the proof then of infants faith , let us bring another reason , but still out of scripture . without faith it is impossible to please god , heb. . . but infants please god ; therefore they have faith. herein the minor alone is dubitable , and may manifestly be evinced . all men i know are ready to pretend that they please god ; and hypocrites themselves most ( odious unto him ) as forward as any to claim this priviledge to themselves . to put this therefore out of question , it matters not what men say , but what god says herein : we appeal to him ( who best knows his own mind ) and he hath judged this case already , that infants please him . say not if so smal then , were they insensible of any benefit by the blessing ? not conceiving the meaning of our saviour therein . this appears by christs carriage towards the little children brought unto him in the gospel ; concerning whose years be this premised , that though we have not the register books of their several ages , yet we may conclude ( at least some of ) them no bigger then babes . first , because called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by s. mark . and judiciously rendred by our translators , verse . young children , verse . little children ; the diminution in the original word , being equally appliable either to their age or stature . the same are termed by s. luke . . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and translated infants , alwayes used in scripture for such as suck on their mothers breast . secondly , they are said to be brought by their parents , as unable to bring themselves . thirdly , christ took them up in his arms , as not big enough to kneel down and be blessed , which otherwise was the posture of striplings upon the same occasion . that these little children pleased christ , is proved by his expressions ( the best interpreters of love or hatred in that heart which could not dissemble ) concerning them , mark . . suffer little children to come unto me , and forbid them not , for of such is the kingdom of god. of such , that is not only of those who are like unto these , ( in which sense our saviour might as significatively have said the same of doves or lambs , that the kingdom of heaven consists of such who are like unto them ) but of these , and also of those who imitate them in their innocential qualities . such make strange interpretation of the words , who exclude the original , and only admit the copy ; let in such as are like to children , and shut out children themselves from the kingdom of heaven . secondly , the complacency christ took in these little children appears by his actions unto them , vers . . he took them up in his arms , laid his hands on them , and blessed them ; see wee such infants were in a blessible condition . here we distinguish between childrens being sensible of the meaning , and their being capable of the benefit , by a blessing . probably some of the smallest children here presented unto christ , understood not our saviours language , nor the meaning of his gestures , until their parents afterwards interpreted the same unto them as they grew up in years . and yet such infants might effectually partake of the vigour , and vertue of christs benediction . thus as many though by natural defect they never had , or by sicknesse have lost their taste , and by their pallat cannot distinguish betixt sweet , bitter , sharp , sowre , &c. ( and consequently take no pleasure or delight in what they eat or drink ) yet by the receiving thereof , may have their hunger and thirst satisfied , and their strength daily increased ; so these infants purely passive in our saviours arms , brought thither without their knowledge , and blest there above their understanding , did nevertheless ( some of them no doubt ) really participate of the spiritual comfort which the emphatical blessing of christ impressed upon them . chap. xiii . the fift reason drawn from the malady of original corruption . the fift reason out of scripture may thus be contrived ; they who are subject to the malady of sin , ought to partake of the remedy against it ; but infants are subject to the malady of sin ; therfore they ought to partake of baptism the remedy against it . for the proof of the major or first part thereof , i appeal amongst christians , only to the married ; amongst the married , only to the parents of children . these cannot deny it , but that against their wills , as the unhappy instruments , they have derived corruption to their infants , as conveyed in the same charter of their being unto them . if any should be so sensless as to deny infants infected with original corruption , the contrary will be sadly demonstrated by those several diseases , and death it self , to which they are subject , before they have or can commit actual sin . all will confesse no suffering can follow but where sin hath gone before , and that infants deeply share in sufferings , daily experience approveth . some of them whilest they lie in the cradle , how lie they on the rack ? such sighes , such sobs , such gripes , such groans , such convulsions , such distortions , enough almost to kill the hearts of the beholders , relating unto them , if all pitty be not dead in them before : nor can all the rending of the fathers hair , abate the aching of the childs head , nor all the rain of the mothers tears , allay the wind in the babes body . quid teneri infantes in te committere tantum ? quid pueri potuere . but these little lambs wherein have they offended ? their hands did never hurt others , which could not help themselves : their tongues did never lie , swear , &c. which cannot speak ; their feet were never swift to shed bloud which cannot go . all these miseries , and death at last , fals often , on infants uncapable of actual sin , because of the corruption of their nature wherein they were born and conceived . seeing therefore infants are subject to the malady of sin , what a cruelty were it for parents to leave them in this pittiful case neglecting the remedy for the same ? by the levitical law , exod. . . if a man shall open a pit , and not cover it , he was to pay the owner for the losse of those his cattel which fell into it : parents having opened a pit of original corruption by the sinfulnesse of their nature , if they labour not to cover it again , as much as in them lies , by using the ordinance god hath appointed for the same , shall not the souls of their children , if finally falling into that pit , be heavily required at their hands ? yea , shall man be carelesse and cruel , where god hath been so kind and careful in his instituting of baptism ? rom. . . that we may be baptized into jesus christ his death , as it followeth vers . . that the body of sin may be destroyed , to conclude , infants having the body of sin as well as adult persons , and baptism being appointed for the destruction thereof , such parents are wanting to their own duty , undervalue gods ordinance , and are cruel to the souls of the flesh of their body that deny baptism unto infants . chap. xiv . the sixth reason , drawn from the constant practice of christian churches in all ages ; what credit is to be given to a primitive custome . i shall now be challenged by such , who herein dissent in judgement from me , for breach of promise , starting from my own principles ; that having promised reasons out of scripture , i flie now to church-practice , and ancient tradition . wherefore to vindicate my self , & ( which is far more considerable ) the truth herein , i will first prove by gods assistance , by reason out of scripture , that the practice of the catholique church , in all places , and at all times , ( especially in such matters , wherein nothing appears contrary in gods word ) obligeth all conscientious christians to the observation thereof . and in the next chapter we wil shew , that the baptizing of infants hath been the uninterrupted custome of the church . be it premised , that if we look on customes simply in themselves , we shall find them generally , like the men of sodom , not ten good ones , amongst the many thousands of them . for what is custome , but the practice of most men time out of mind . now seeing most men , yea , all men by nature , gen. . . have the imaginations of their hearts evil , and that not for a day , week , or year ; but , as the text saith , continually ; no wonder if customes be commonly wicked . yea , such errours , and vices , which at the first are soft , and supple , pliable to reproof , and sensible of refutation , contract an hardnesse , by custome , in continuance of time ; yea , get an incrustation , and such scales over them , that they become impenetrable to scripture and reason brought against them . and as lahan deceived plain-dealing jacob , in his marriage , gen. . . by pleading the custome of the country , so it is confessed , that too many in all ages , in matters both of faith and fact , have alledged custome to patronize their erroneous opinions , and injurious practises . but all this ought not to beget in us a neglect of such customes , which like melchisedec , are heb. . . without father , without mother , without discent ; whose first original cannot be found out ; as practised in the church , time out of mind ; no remembrance , or record extant to the contrary . now as melchisedec , in the same place , is said to have neither beginning of dayes , and what necessarily followeth thence , nor end of life ; so it is but just and equal that such ancient customes in the church , which never had memorable rise , should never have fall therein ; but that such which probably began at the first , should constantly be continued till the last coming of our saviour . here i plead not for such mis-shapen customes , which either run up all in length , narrow , and slender , which ( though long in use ) never extended to any wideness in the christian world ; or else so low , and thick , they only spread in bredth , ( as many popish customes , generally , but not anciently used ) but never shot up to the just stature of primitive antiquity . we only defend such wel-grown customes which i call square ones , ( the form of firmness and stability ) whose height and bredth are well proportioned , put in ure by christians at all times , and in all places ; conceiving we can demonstrate it , by reason from scripture , that such customes must be presumed , grounded on the word and will of god. for proof whereof we produce gods promise , and lo i am with you always unto the end of the world , amen . mat. . . every operative word herein deserves our serious consideration i am with you unto the end : i am , a verb of the present , joyned with words of the future tense ; to shew gods instantaneous assistance in every moment of extremity , psal . . . god is our strength and refuge a very present help in trouble . with you : this cannot be meant only of the disciples personally , none of them living to the end of the world , seeing john himself , ( the surviver of the whole jury ) died about the year of our lord ▪ . it is therefore meant extensively of the disciples , as they were an immortal corporation . with you : selves , and successours , persons , and posterity . as christ : john . . did not pray for these alone , so here he did not promise to these alone ; but to them also which should believe on him through their word . these words , to be with you , import not only a promise of protecting them from all dangers , but also of directing them in all doctrines , necessary to be believed and practised for their salvation . and this promise being made not so much to the particular persons , as to the collective body of the church , is not so effectually performed to every individual christian , as to the universal church , which amounteth from them all . we confesse that notwithstanding the foresaid promise of protection and direction , many good men have been guilty of great errours , and have also fallen by gods permission , and just punishment of their sins into grievous dangers . however divine goodnesse so doubleth his files about his church in general , that he will not suffer the same to be universally infected in all ages with any one dangerous errour . and therefore a church custome in all times and places , must be presumed conformable to the will of god , because were it erroneous , it were utterly inconsistent with that solemn promise which god hath passed to his church , to be with them unto the worlds end . such who on the contrary side are highly opinioned of their private judgements , and will not confide in the universal customes of the church : i know not whether therein they do shew more want of charity in condemning so many christians at once , or plenty of pride in over-prizing their own judgements ; or store of profanenesse in doubting , yea , denying the performance of gods promise so solemnly made of his protecting presence in the church , who surely will dispatch and destroy an errour therein , before it grow up to be so long liv'd as to become a custome . what a high valuation s. paul set on church customes , appears by his expression , cor. . . but if any man seem to be contentious , we have no such custome , neither the churches of god : for the better understanding whereof , know that the corinthians were guilty of an innovation ▪ wherein they were an exception from the rule of the general practice in all christian churches : the innovation was this , that their women used to pray uncovered , the men covered ; that is , as it is generally interpreted , the women with short , the men with long hair . this ill fashion s. paul confutes with several reasons drawn from the power of man over his wife , appealing also to natural decencie therein . and at last concludes all with this close ; but if any seem to be contentious , we have no such custome , nor yet the churches of god. as if he had said , could you corinthians prescribe any custome , that in gods churches grave and godly men and women have prayed as you do , the former covered the latter uncovered . then should you alledge much in your own justification . but i am confident on the contrary , that no such custome can be produced , and therefore your singularity , is condemned by the joynt practice of all gods churches against them . object . these words , but if any man seem to be contentious , we have no such custome , neither the churches of god ; import only , that gods churches have no custome to be contentious : christians ought to be of a quiet and peaceable mind , and not to delight in vain janglings and dissentions . answ . this cannot be the meaning of the words : for was ever man so silly as to suppose and conceive that gods churches should be so irrational as to have a ridiculous custome of being contentious ? the church is so far from having such custome ( which is a habit resulting from many acts ) that it condemneth each single act of causelesse contention as wicked and ungodly . yea , no civilized estate , though consisting of meer pagans , ever had any custome to be contentious , or did ever delight in barrettors : more then must be meant herein , that gods churches had never any such custome for the two sexes so to pray as the corinthians did , who herein ran counter to the universal practice of christianity ; the apostle naming churches in the plural , which are the single instruments ( as the whole church is the consort ) all of them harmoniously agreeing in this custome , save only the jarring corinthians , who are out of tune by themselves . if a church custome carried weight with it in s. pauls time , when amongst christians it could not be above fourty years standing ; what a reverence is due to those customes which have continued in gods church above sixteen hundred years , amongst which the baptizing of infants is a principal ; and if s. pauls argument followed negatively , women ought not pray uncovered , because the church hath no such custome ; the consequence is no lesse strong from the affirmative , children ought to be baptized , because the church in all ages hath had such a custome ; the proving whereof is the subject of the ensuing chapter . chap. xv. the antiquity and generallity of baptizing of infants , proved by the confession of pelagius . divers learned and godly divines , have undertaken , and performed this task , to prove the constant practice of infants baptism in the primitive church , by the induction of the authorities of several fathers to that purpose . and as the angels in jacobs ladder , gen. . . some ascended , others descended upon it ; so in this scale of authorities , some have deduced the practice downwards from christs time to our dayes ; others by an inverted method have raised it upwards from our days to christs time , both by different motions meeting in the same point . it is our hap , like ahimaaz , to be sent last on the same errand : the proof of this point . and although far be such arrogance from me as to hope with him to come first to our journeys end ( and to do better then my betters have done before me ) yet thus far wil i follow the example of ahimaaz , sam. . . to run by the way of the plain . having to deal with people who generally are unlearned , & therefore the heaping of quotations in unknown tongues , were probable to offend , and incense , rather then to edifie and inform them , we will imbrace the plainest way to make the baptizing of infants appear an antient and general church custome unto them . this will be proved by the confession of pelagius , when first we have given an account to the reader what he was , when , and where he lived , and what opinions he maintained . he was a britan by birth , flourishing about the year of our lord four hundred & ten ; a man of great learning , and greater parts , had the same been sanctified unto him . in the time of this pelagius , only three parts of the world were known , europe , asia , and africa ; all which were traced with the feet of pelagius , who though born in a corner of the world , quickly quitted his native soyl , and enriched himself with the experience of church-practice in all parts . in europe where he was born in britain , and where he lived a long time in ‖ rome it self , gaining there great acquaintance with ruffinus ) which may passe for the epitome of the then christian world . asia , where in the island of rhodes , or thereabouts , he first scattered his dangerous doctrine . afterwards he went to ‖ hierusalem . africa , where for some times he continued in egypt , working himself into the familiarity of the learned men therein . yea , it is laid to the charge of pelagius , that to disperse his poysonous opinions with the more advantage , saepius mutavit loca , he often purposely changed the place of his habitation . amongst the many dangerous doctrines which pelagius maintained , we will insist on that alone ; the confutation whereof , makes mainly for our present purpose . he defended that infants were conceived and born without original sin , which came unto them ( when growing in years ) not from an inward principal of corruption , but from their imitation of outward ill examples presented unto them . s. augustine undertakes his confutation , and amongst many other solid arguments to that purpose , principally insisteth upon this , that it was the custome of the church in all ages to baptize infants ; which plainly proves that they were conceived in original sin . for that which is clean needs not to be washed . this argument is often inculcated by s. austin in several places , as namely in his epistle unto sixtus . likewise in his second book of marriage and concupiscence , in the eighteenth chapter . likewise in his four books to bonifacius , and every where in his six books against julian , one of pelagius his schollers . likewise in his first book of imperfect work against the same , chapter . . and . lastly , in his second book of imperfect work , chapter . and . to spare making more instances , the matter being notoriously known to any , who have the least skill in the works of that worthy father . now how easie had it been for pelagius to answer this argument , by denying childrens baptism to be a church custome , had not his conscience been convinced of the truth thereof : how might he have rejoyned , original sin cannot be proved from the baptizing of infants , which is but a modern custome , & an innovation in the church of god. what the sodomites said of lot , gen. . . this one fellow came in to sojourn and will he needs be a judg ? may be said of infants baptism : this custome is new and novel , lately crept into the chuch ( as yet rather a sojourner , then an inhabitant therein ) and must this regulate matters in a judicial way , so that arguments must be deduced from the same ? besides , i have been a traveller , and have conversed with most churches in christendome , being born in britaine ( a little world by it self ; ) i have been in the great world abroad : jew and gentile , east and western churches have i observed : hierusalem that was , and rome which is , so eminent for religion , are places wherein i am well acquainted . this i know some churches observe , others neglect , some use , others slight the baptising of infants . nor can it be accounted a general custom of the church which is but local , and partial , in a word , both new and narrow , as neither coming down from christ , nor extended over all christendome . but pelagius endeavoured to evade s. austins argument by another device ; namely , by pleading that baptism was admitted to infants , not to wash away their original sin , but to bring them to the kingdome of heaven . a fancy which he was the first , and ( he and his ) the last to maintain it . the result of all is this ; seeing pelagius was so great a schollar , knowing full well how to manage a bad cause to its best advantage ; and seeing he was so great a traveller , who had not eat his bread all in one place , but had roved up and down to know the customes of the church , and yet feeing by his silence ( urging nothing against it ) and by his shifting ( seeking otherwise to evade it ) he acknowledgeth the truth of infants baptism ; we conclude the same in his days received for an ancient and universal practice of the church . for why should he adventure the breaking of his bones , ( or at leastwise the bruising of his flesh ) by leaping out of the window , who hath a wide door set open unto him ? why should he make so poor and pittiful , so base and beggerly an escape , to avoid s. austins argument against him ( by forming a frivolous fancy of his own ) who had a ful , free , and fair passage at pleasure to go forth , durst he but have denied the baptizing of infants to have been a general church custome in his time ? to conclude this point , the argument of jephthah to the king of ammon , carrieth great weight therewith , judg. . . proving israels right to the land which they possest , and the ammonites pretended unto : when israel dwelt in heshbon , and her towns , and in aroer and her towns , and in all the cities that be along by the coas●s of a●●on three hundred years , why there fore did ye not recover them within that time ? in like manner may we urge it against the adversaries of childrens baptism . if the ancient church conceived the baptizing of infants an usurpation , and incroachment , injurious and unlawful , why did not the church of god in so long a time cast out the custome which made so unjust an invasion therein ? for s. austin lived about the fift century after christ ▪ when pedo-baptism was in a peaceable passission of church practice , and pelagius himself ( sufficiently impudent ) was so modest and ingenious not to deny the same , though such a denial had conduced much to his own advantage . i have done , when i have told the reader that s. austin brought the baptizing of infants as an argument to prove original sin ; and in our age ( wherein original sin is on ought to be granted by all ) we alledge the same as a reason to prove the necessity of infants baptism ; and surely so solid is the argument reciprocally , that both may be firmly grounded on the same . chap. xvi . the grand objection , drawn from the silence of scripture herein , answered . our adversaries in this point , gain not a greater advantage against us amongst common people , then by urging of that , which indeed we confesse , no literal precept or practice for pedo-baptism in scripture . by popular improving of which argument , they not only gain to themselves the reputation of a strict adherence to the word , and will of god , but also asperse us with the dangerous imputation of wil-worship , and popish inclinations . yea , which is more , they threaten us with a curse pronounced , rev. . . if any man shall adde unto these things , god shall adde unto him the plagues that are written in this book . in answer whereunto ; in the first place we request our adversaries to remember , that this place by them cited out of the revelation , like a two edged sword , cuts on both sides ; for it followeth immediatly , and if any shall take away from the words of the book of this prophesie , god shall take away his part out of the book of life . see here a curse incurr'd , as well by the defect , as the excesse . and be it reported to our opposites in this point , whether denying such consequences , which infallibly flow from scripture , be not taking away from the words , as well as mutilating , or abstracting the numerical words from the same . more particularly i answer ; baptizing of infants appears not to such who only read the scripture , but is plainly visible to those who also search the scriptures , ( which john . . is the duty of all judicious christians ) as by reasons out of scripture we have made it to appear . here will it not be amisse to mind our adversaries in this point , that they account themselves concerned in conscience to believe and practice many things as necessary to salvation , which notwithstanding are built on the same foundation with the baptism of infants , namely not on the expresse letter of scripture , but undeniable consequences arising from the same . but i conceive such instancing , though lawful yet not expedient , in this unhappy juncture of time , lest satan get an advantage over us , for we are not ignorant of his devices ; and lest such instancing , though intentionally good in us , prove occasionally evil to others , by casting scruples into mens consciences who are quiet , for the present . there needs more allaying of old , then raising of new jealousies in divinity , more needful to settle , then scatter mens belief , in our dayes , wherein so many deniers , and more doubters , in most articles of faith. indeed the words of the wise , eccles . . . are as goads or as nailes fastened by the masters of the assemblies ; but such builders must be wary , lest whilest they fasten one nail they do not loosen another . however to prove this point , i will embrace a way , as sure to clear the matter , and more safe , not having any dangerous influence on the times . this may be done by removing the instance , from our age ; and fixing the same in the time of gods church amongst the jews ▪ now none will deny but that wil-worship , or adding to gods word , and his service , was as utterly unlawful amongst them , as amongst us christians ; yet the most religious amongst them , used that as their bounden duty , and necessary to gods service which hath no original expresly in the word of god. for proof hereof , we shall offer three things to the readers consideration . . repairing to synagogues amongst the jews , was a necessary part of gods service . . the same was not grounded on any expresse of scripture . . but consequentially on several places , prudentially joyned together . for the first , it plainly appeareth by christs constant practice , luke . . and as his custome was , he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day . as sure as a seventh day return'd every week , so certainly did our saviour visit the synagogue . it is also evident by the continual custome of all pious jews , acts . . for moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him , being read in the synagogues every sabbath day . to destroy these synagogues was accounted a wicked work , witnesse gods servants their passionate complaint , psal . . . and again , to erect them was an acceptible act , alledged by the pharisees as an argument to endeer the centurion unto our saviour , mat. . he loveth our nation and hath built us a synagogue . lastly , it was esteemed a heavy punishment , equivalent to our excommunication , john . ● . to be put out of the synagogue . yet repairing to synagogues , or the erecting of them was not founded on any positive precept in gods word . indeed the tabernacle , and afterward the temple , were of divine institution where all males were commanded to present themselves thrice a year ; namely at the passeover , the feast of trumpets , and tabernaclos . but these synagogues ( which i may terme chappels of ease , to the mother-temple ) no written law obliged men either to the founding or frequenting of them . yet that the same was grounded on rational deductions from scripture , may infallibly be evinced . the text saith , exod. . remember thou keep holy the sabbath day . and reason dictated unto them ; first , that peoples presence at publick service was a principal part of sanctifying the sabbath . secondly , that it was impossible for them to repair to the temple , and return to their houses , such their distance betwixt them . thirdly , therefore it was necessary some room of receipt should be provided , sequestred from common uses , wherein people should meet together . lastly , another text affirming , that the priests lips should preserve knowledge . it was proper for them , and the levites dispersed in all israel , on the sabbath , in the synagogue , to read moses to the people . thus we find the first foundation of synagagues , not on the floating sands of humane fancy , but firm rock of gods word ; though not directly , yet by consequence collected from the same . in a word , as chambers and houses were for mens personal & family devotions , every day , or as oft as they pleased , & as the temple was for the national service of the jews , thrice every year , so synagogues were interposed in the middle betwixt both ; for towns and cities to serve god on the sabbath day : the whole nation meeting thrice a year , every city once a week , as private persons every day , and as oft as they pleased . suppose now that a priest amongst the jews , should presse an obstinate jew to repair to the synagogue , how might he have returned this answer according to the principles of our anti-pedo-baptists ? i will go up to the temple thrice every year , and there i will not appear empty-handed : but i will not on the sabbath present my self in the synagogue , which meeting is not jure divino , a meer civil institution , groundless on gods word ; shew me a place of scripture injoyning my attendance in a synagogue , and i will become your convert ; till which time i will not only my self refrain my appearance there , but wil also account it wil-worship , in all such as there assemble themselves . i believe not one of our adversaries , in our present controversie , which are ingenuous , but will condemn such a recusant , amongst the jews , for refractory and obstinate : yea , they will conceive him , if persisting herein , to deserve church-censure , for his schismatical singularity . yet give me leave with love , grief , and anger to say unto him , as once nathan to david , thou art the man , in denying infants baptism , which ( though not in so many words expressed ) is by necessary consequence infallibly founded on gods word . now although i freely confesse , no litteral precedent of pedo-baptism in scripture , yet such an one therein is presented unto us , which although it will not confute our opposites , it will confirm us in our judgements ; and though it be not able , titus . . to convince the gainsayers , yet it will strengthen us in the truth : when the principal is known of him self to be sufficient , any security with him will be accepted , and the following instance may be cast in , as over-weight , to such minds , who already have their full measure of perswasion in this point . namely , when it is said , acts . . lydia was baptized and her houshold : and again , acts . . of the jaylor , was baptized , he , and all his , straight way . also cor. . . i baptized also the houshold of stephanas . for the jaylor ; that children ( if he had any ) were comprised under the expression , of all his , is sufficiently known by satans interpretation , job . . . of gods commission , behold all that he hath is in thy power ; and gods consenting thereunto , when permitting him by vertue thereof , to destroy all jobs children . and whereas in the other two instances , the baptizing of whole housholds are exprest , we must rationally conceive that some infants were amongst them . i must confesse i can tell the time , when there were three housholds of young folk in the world ( and then but three housholds of young folk in the world ) namely , the three sons of noah , and his daughters in law in the ark , and yet not one infant betwixt them all . but this was a rare and mystical accident : again to hold the ballance even , i can tell the time when in a large country every famil● offered a first-born , namely in egypt , exod. . . there was not a house where there was not one dead . which s. austin accounts miraculous , god purposely making every family fruitful , that it might yield a fit object for his own justice . but to wave these instances of extraordinary dispensation ; take three houses together , indifferently numerous , such as those of lydia , the jaylor , and stephanas must be presumed to be , ( considering the garbe of that age , wherein most of mens moveable wealth consisted in men and maid servants , with the children begotten by them ) and it is utterly improbable but some infants will be amongst them . for a great family is like unto an orenge tree , which at the same time hath buds and blossoms and knobs , and green and half ripe , and full ripe orenges on it all together . i mean , infants , children , striplings , youths , men of perfect , reduced , decayed ages . chap. xvii . an objection answered , drawn from the inability of infants to repent and believe . although we conceive this formerly satisfied , yet finding it to recur in our proceedings , we will repeat something in our larger answer thereunto . we perceive many men infidels in the point of infants faith , and do not believe that they do or can believe ; whose distrust is principally grounded on these two causes ; partly because infants cannot evidence their believing to others , partly because men cannot conceive the manner of infants belief . to the first of these we say , it is injurious to conclude infants incapable of believing , because they cannot manifest it to others . on the same account , and with as much truth and right , one might deny reasonable souls to infants , because they neither do nor can make any expression thereof . let matters be measured by outward appearance , and the young ones of bruit beasts , seem more rational , ( though indeed it be but natural instinct in them ) then any childe whatsoever . a lamb new wean'd , and chicken new hatch'd , know their dam , can stand , go , do many things in order to their self-preservation better then a new-born infant , and yet no wise man will pronounce them more reasonable then a childe . yea , give me leave a little here to make an useful digression . there is no one mistake w ch hath betrayed mens judgements to more absurdities , in the points of circumcision and baptism , then a misapprehension in making the body the standard of the soul , and measuring the same by the proportion thereof . i am afraid there be too many , who conceive souls like the pipes in an organ , some longer , some shorter , some lesser , some larger ; and fancy degrees of their dimensions , variable with their ages . so that a new-born infant should have a smal soul , a weaned childe a soul somewhat greater , and so successively , that the souls of boyes , youths ▪ striplings , men , should gradually exceed one another in greatnesse . yea , i am afraid , that some do farther extend this their false apprehension , even to imagine , that at the last day of judgement , the souls of such who died in their infancy shall appear before gods tribunal , little diminutive spirits . this conceit makes men behold infants with disdainful eyes , accounting them but cyphers , which signifie but little in nature , and nothing in religion . to rectifie their erroneous judgements , let them know , that all reasonable souls as created by god , and first infused into bodies , are equal in their essence ; and that something extrinsical and adventitious , causeth that grand disparity betwixt souls in their natural , moral , and supernatural operations . . in their natural , as the wise man , and the fool are equal in their death , eccles . . . so also in their birth , not only in the manner thereof ▪ but in this respect of an adequation of all the essentials of their souls . the different tempers of their brains , and more or lesse perfect fabrick of their bodies , differenceth them in their actions , who in their beings are alike . . in their moral . that which makes the difference betwixt them is this ▪ first , education bestowed on one more then another , whereby he arrives at a perfection above his equals . secondly , habits of vertues or vices , which one hath acquired more or lesse then the other . . in their supernatural . only the distinction ariseth from infused graces , more plentifully conferred on one then another , and from the holy improvement thereof , which one , frugal in goodnesse , makes above him which is an unthrift therein . thus the species , or kind with all specifical perfections , are not partial to one individuum , to make that a favourite more then another , but all indifferently partake thereof : and as amongst the israelites , exod. . . all had their just omer of manna ; so the man , yea the giant , hath no more of the reasonable soul then the dwarfe or the infant , all share alike in the essence thereof . the same may be said of the souls of children and men . the essentials of a childs soul are as large and ample to all purposes and intents , as that of a man. the house-keeper is the same , though pent for rooms he cannot make the like entertainment . indeed we read , rev. . . i saw the dead , great and small , stand before god : and the books were open , &c. but the inequality there , relates not unto their souls and the essences thereof , but to their conditions wherein they were estated when alive , psal . . . low and high , rich and poor together . what matters it then , though children cannot discover , and though men cannot perceive their belief ? it follows not but that god may see , what a child is not sensible of in it self nor others in it . god judgeth not as man judgeth , nor doth he see as man seeth . man only beholdeth the out-side of childrens operations , loaden with defects arising from their bodily indisposition ; gods sees the heart , and ( what mainly moveth therein ) the soul , and ( age being meetly circumstantial and accidental thereunto ) it maketh no odds at all in gods discovery therein , who can see in them that beliefe , which we cannot behold . but suppose the worst that infants neither do nor can believe , yet this cannot be a bar to their covenanting in baptism , no more then it was to the jewish children in circumcision . their tender age knew not what a covenant with god meant . nor had they feeling how thereby they were engaged to keep the law ; nor understood what did belong to the inward circumcision of the heart , yet were vouchsafed to be foederati cum deo ; so it can be no bar to the children of christian parents to receive a seal of covenantship with christ , albeit they at that time want reason to know the nature of a covenant , nor how they put on christ , nor what it is to believe , and to be washed clean from sin . there is no more absurdity or inconsequence upon one then the other . chap. xviii . other objections answered . the grand objections thus cleared , such as remain will be easily satisfied , as followeth . object . it is pride and presumption for any to account themselves fitter and forwarder for baptism , then christ himself was . now christ himself was not baptized , luke . . till he began to be about thirty years of age , none ought therefore to prevent that date of time in their baptism . answ . though christ was not baptized till thirty years of age , remember he was circumcised , luke . . on the eighth day . secondly , christ was not baptized out of necessity , ( needing no soul-physick , who had no soul-sicknesse ) but a voluntary design to baptize baptism , and to give a soveraign vertue thereunto . thirdly , many of christs actions were for our instruction , not imitation . christ presently after his baptism fasted fourty days , and fourty nights , which the urgers of this argument will not pretend unto . discover we here a corruption too rife in all our hearts : such is the frowardnesse of our crosse-grain'd nature , that we lazily stand still and admire such actions of christ , which we ought to follow , and vainly strive to follow those his actions which we ought to admire . oh that we all would learn of him , mat. . . to be meek and lowly of heart , to think more humbly of our selves , and more charitably of others ; i say would we could learn this thing of christ , and leave such things to christ , which were personal in him , and not precedential to us . object . had christ in his judgement , allowed , and approved the baptizing of infants , surely he would have baptized such children , which , mark . were brought unto him , whereas his omission thereof , plainly argues christs disaffection to the same . answ . christ in his own person baptized none at all , as we read , john . . an office improper for him to perform . how unfit had it been for our saviour thus to baptize those infants , i jesus baptize this infant into the name of jesus ? if s. paul accounted it beneath his place to baptize , cor. . . for christ sent me not to baptize , but to preach the gospel : how much was the ministration thereof too mean for our saviour ? indeed christ came in all humility , to be a pattern of patience unto us , and condescended to mean imployments , as ( john . . ) the washing of his disciples feet ; yet alwayes he observed , ( though not state ) decency in all his actions , and stood much , though not on the pomp , on the propriety of what he performed ; as here in his declining to baptize any . when a lord hath signed a letter with his own hand , it is usual with him to consign the sealing thereof to his secretary or some other servant ; so when christ had instituted baptism , and with his own hand confirmed the soveraign vertue of that sacrament , it well befitted his dignity to command , and his disciples duty to perform the administration thereof . object . grant that christ , for the reasons by you alledged , concluded it unfitting for himself to baptize those infants , yet had he approved pedo-baptism in his own judgement , he would have designed some of his disciples for the doing thereof . this not done , we may infallibly infer his dislike of the same . answ . a negative argument of this nature is of no validity . no mention is made of these infants baptizing . ergo , they were not baptized : we may observe a gradation in the evangelists relating this story , luke . . mentioneth their blessing only without any manner of gesture at all used by our saviour unto them . mat. . . only takes notice that christ laid his hands on them , and departed thence , mark . . registreth all three remarkable actions , he took them up in his arms , laid his hands on them , and blessed them ; saint john addeth , chap. . . and there are also many other things which jesus did , which are not written , amongst which for ought appears to the contrary , the baptizing of these infants might be one of them . however grant they were not formally and solemnly baptized , yet we may observe baptism consisteth of two parts , the application of water , which we may call the body , and the impression of the blessing , which we may terme the soul of baptism . the later which indeed was the principal , was here conferr'd on babes , which shews them capable of the other , as being the lesse spiritual part of the sacrament . object . sacraments ought not to be prostituted to profane persons , mat. . . cast not pearls before swine ; but many infants are impious and profane , therefore they ought not to be baptized . answ . this objection may with equal advantage , be also enforced against the baptizing of men arrived at years of discretion , many of them are profane in their hearts , though they cunningly dissemble the same . hypocrites will never be kept out of the church ; be the doors thereof barr'd and bolted never so close , they will creep in at the windows ; yea , through the chinks and crevesses thereof : as for infants , baptism ought to be denyed unto them if they manifested any profanenesse : till which time charity commands us to believe them not swine , but lambs , and capable of the sacrament . object . children are unable to discharge an essential requisite to baptism : seeing what equipage baptism is martialled by christs own commission , mat. . , . . go ye therefore and teach all nations . . baptizing in the name of the father , and of the son , and of the holy ghost , &c. . teaching them to observe all things whatsoever i have commanded you . here we have the safe and sure position of baptism as god himself ordered it : it is placed in the middle betwixt adouble teaching , one in the front , and another in the rear thereof ; a precedent teaching must usher in baptism , and the subsequent teaching must afterwards wait upon it ; children therefore being incapable of this praevious and preparative teaching are incapable also of baptism which dependeth thereupon . answ . the method prescribed here by christ to his apostles , was only to be used by them in their preaching to pure pagans grown up to be men , and this their commission properly extended unto the gentiles , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , going therefare , that is in due time leaving this land of palestine , ( wherein you live for the present ) when you shall be accomplished with the spirit , make your progresse into far distant parts , and there teach . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , all nations , the word properly importing heathens formerly unacquainted with god & his word . such people must first be taught before they may be baptized . this text therefore may justly be charged against the papists in america , where thousands of natives were cruelly driven with whips to the font to be baptized , before they were ever catechized in any rudiments of christian religion , but cannot at all be objected against the baptizing of infants , the children of christian parents ; the teaching of heathen ( and those of full age ) being only intended in this command . thus have we given the true and genuine sence of these words , go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them , &c. however we will not omit another interpretation which godly divines give thereof , consonant to scripture phrase . they render the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , make disciples , in which sence they maintaine that infants are capable of disciple-ship , and may be inlisted therein . for proof hereof they produce acts . . why tempt ye god , to put a yoak upon the neck of the disciples . now this yoak was circumcision , which some stickled so zealously for , and these disciples were infants eight days old on whom that sacrament was fastened . in this sence children may be taught , that is , discipled before baptism , and so the text nothing favouring the purpose of the objectors , though i rather adhere to the former answer , as most proper to the text . here will it be seasonable to interpose an admonition to parents . you see in christs commission to his disciples , the divine method in dispensation of ordinances to ethnicks : . teach . . baptize . . and teach . but towards the children of christian parents , it is , . baptize . . teach and teach . what is wanting in the precedent , teach , let it be supplied over and above in the consequent teach , to make amends for the preparatory teach , before baptism ( whereof infants age is incapable ) let there be a duplicate , double your endeavours in the confirming teach , so soon as they shal be able to learn. line upon line , precept upon precept ▪ here a little , and there a little , dropping in instruction as the vessel is able to receive . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in scripture , ( as we have formerly observed ( always signifieth a sucking child : now it is said of timothy , tim. . . that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from a childe he had known the holy scriptures ▪ not when a childe , but from a child . infancy was the terminus à quo , from whence his learning of scripture bears date : how timely did he start in the race of religion , by the direction of his devout parents , who herein may be exemplary unto all others . now let parents think to cast off their care on those who are sponsores or susceptores , godfathers to their children : as i deny not an ancient and useful institution of them in the primitive times , so can i not but bemoan , that our age hath turned the same into a formality or christian complement : judah said to simeon , judg. . ● . come up with me into my lot , and i likewise will go up with thee into thy lot ; so men exchange and barter this office betwixt them , answer thou for my child to day , and i on like occasion will answer for thine , the civility is discharged by both , when the christianity too oft is performed by neither : i look therfore on godfathers generally , as on brasse andirons , standing more for sight then service , ornament , then use , whiles the main weight and stresse in performing the promise , must lie on the parents themselves do discharge , in teaching and teaching their baptized infants . object . the deaf and dumb are not to be admitted to baptism , though adult and full grown , because of their inability to give an account of their faith : but children are ranked in the same form with the deaf and dumb , therefore they ought not to be admitted unto baptism : this is the thirty sixth ▪ and last argument , ( amongst many frivolous ones ) alledged by the transilvanian anabaptists , against the baptizing of infants , placing , belike , much confidence therein , to hem and conclude all the rest . answ . both propositions are false : first , if the dumb and deaf can with signs and gestures ( which nature hath made in them marvelously expressive ) evidence and testifie their faith , they must be admitted to baptism , as the third councel of carthage did decide . secondly , children are not in the same , but a better condition : those mutes after maturity , can never recover their hearing and speech but by miracle , whereas infants naturally are capable of both in due season . we read mark . . that they brought one to our saviour that was deaf , and had an impediment in his speech , not that he was only troubled with a lisping , or stamering , but that he was directly dumb , as appears by the peoples acclamations , vers . . when the miracle was wrought upon him , he maketh both the deaf to hear , and the dumb to speak ; and generally those infirmities are twins , going both together ; yet christ discovered in him a sufficiency of faith , such as he was pleased to accept for his bodily cure . how more comfortably then may christian parents presume that god will graciously behold their infants , who though deaf ( that is not hearing to understand ) and dumb , not able to speak , may in processe of time arrive to the use of both . that god i say , who when with a favourable eye he looks for goodnesse in any heart , findeth and fixeth it there by his favourable looking for it . besides , such persons defective in their senses , ( though full in age ) may , ponere obicem , by their prave dispositions put a bar or obstacle , wilfully to defeat the effect of baptism , and their right thereunto . this cannot be done by infants ; their very worst enemies who deny them actual faith , yea , any dispositive degree thereunto , dare not charge them with what i may terme positive infidelity . as for original sin , that can be no bar , because baptism was designed by god for the washing away thereof . god is no mountebank , his receipts do the deed for which they were prescribed : indeed if the patient , ( besides that disease for the cure whereof gods receipt is given him ) shall by his own intemperance wilfully contract a new malady , no wonder if this physick fall short of the cure for which it was intended ; but infants , not being able to draw on themselves any other sin , we cannot but in charity believe their undoubted right unto , and benefit by baptism . chap. xix . whether the children of profane parents , bastards , exposed children , and the captive infants of pagans are to be baptized . some maintain that infancy alone , is the requisite to qualifie infants to be baptized : others upon just grounds conceive a choice must be made of the infants admitted thereunto , and those most scrupled at , fall under the following quaternion . the first are the children of profane parents , living within the pale of the church , such as i may sorrowfully terme pagan christians ; christians by their profession ; pagans by their notorious visible debauched conversation : otherwise i confesse the words pious and profane in our modern religious canting , made by many words of party and interest , to cry up or decry such who in private opinions , or civil concernments agree with , or dissent from them ; the question is if such profane parents alone tender their children to baptism , and desire the same , whether or no ought they to be admitted thereunto ? i say alone , for if a good grandfather or grand-mother ( the mediate parent ) survive , conjoyn with them in such a tender , the case is sufficiently clear , that baptism cannot be denied unto it . i answer . if any one , related as kinred or friend to this childe , will undertake conditionally ( viz. if he himself live , and god blesse his endeavours , farther then which , parents themselves ought not to promise and cannot perform ) for the education thereof , as judah in another case , for the bringing up of his brother benjamin out of egypt , gen. . . i will be surety for him , at my hands shalt thou require him , baptism ought not to be denied unto it . quest . but suppose such an undertaker cannot be found , seeing he who hateth [ especially spiritual ] suretiship is sure , prov. . . and one may justly suspect according to the proverb , ezek. . . as is the mother , so is the daughter ; that such a childe will follow the vicious examples and dispositions of his parents . answ . here i desire the reader to call to mind ( to spare my repetition thereof ) what formerly chap. . we have written of wicked mens sharing in the foederal right to circumcision . let him also consider the apostles words , rom. . . if the root be holy so are the branches . now the root we know is under ground , and unseen ; and , although the immediate parents be bad , yet charity commands us to believe , that , some generations removed , the ancestors of this child ( whom divine providence appointing the bounds of habitation , acts . . would have born within the pale of the church ) might be holy and religious . we have a saying , every beggar is descended from some king , and every king is descended from some beggar . truer it is , that ( if the pedegrees of people were strictly examined ) every pious person is extracted from some profane , and every profane from some pious ancestor ; a motive in my opinion not to deny baptism to the childe of bad parents if desiring the same . passe we from them to bastards , against whose baptizing some object . object . bastards amongst the jews were not to be circumcised , which may thus be proved : it was fashionable for the mother at her purification , to present her circumcised son in the temple to the lord , as may appear by the example of the virgin mary luke . . but bastards , deut. . . were forbidden entrance into the congregation , unto the tenth generation : therefore they were not circumcised . answ . by the not entring into the congregation of the lord , is meant , munus publicum in populo dei ne gerito ; let him not bear office in th● people of god. indeed jephthah , though the son of an harlot , judg. . . was chosen a general , because necessity constrained it ; and military offices ; ( where valour alone was a sufficient qualification ) were not confined to the regularity requisite to religious employments : otherwise certain it is , first , that wantonnesse in this kinde was too frequent amongst the jews ; our common expression to commit folly with a woman , being borrowed from thamars words to amnon , . sam. . . do not thou this folly . secondly , that bastards so begotten , were excluded circumcision , is what no wise or learned author durst ever affirm . more particularly : if the parents of bastards publickly professe their penitence to the congregation , they are remitted to the same estate they were in before the fault committed , and their children to be held as of unstain'd extraction . far be it from me to scatter any thing , which may occasion the least countenance to wantonnesse in any . what said the rest of the israelites , to the reubenites ? josh . . . is the iniquity of peor too little for us , from which we are not cleansed until this day ? that they should contract ( as they suspected ) the guilt of a new idolatry . is original sin too little to condemn a child , but that parents must double-hatch their children with guilt of their adulterous nativity ? however , for the comfort of the penitent , know that only four females are mentioned in our saviours pedegree , and all of them stigmatized . . thamar incestuous . . rahab an harlot . . ruth a moabitesse ( and therefore a dog , no sheep of israel : ) and ly the wife of vriah , certainly an adulteresse , and too probably privy to the murder of her husband . thus christ came , as for sinners , so from sinners , & those noted ones , for uncleannesse , whose children notwithstanding were undoubtedly circumcised . as no bar of bastardy can bolt out an infants right to the sacrament , nor his benefit , by it if god will have it enter therein . proceed we from these , to exposed children , left on bulkes and benches by their parents deserting them , whose title to baptism seems doubtful , and difficult to many on this account . object . the children of those who are worse then infidels may not be baptized . but the parents of these children are worse then infidels , tim. . . because , not providing for them of their own house . therefore they ought not to be baptized . answ . such who out of carelesnesse or cruelty , wilfully refuse to maintain their own , are in this particular act morally worse then infidels ( of whom many high christians fall short in civil performances ; ) yea , worse then birds , and beasts , which hatch , and suckle their own young ones . yet they are not in a spiritual capacity worse then infidels , as if thereby they had forfeited their sacramental right for them , and theirs . besides , charity herein commands us to presume the best . that these parents are not with the ostrich , hardned against their young ones , as though they were not theirs ; but that there being a long combate betwixt their industry , and poverty , the latter at last got the conquest ; and they thereby forced to leave their children to a general providence . an act which may rather be in some sort excused , then defended ; yea , the cause thereof rather pittied , then the deed it self in any sort excused . say not , such poor parents , over-burthened with charge of children , ought to complain to the officers of ●●● church , who ( no doubt ) on the discovery of their sad condition , would order their relief . yea , it is suspicious the cause of their poverty is not excusable , whose pride is so damnable , that they would not seasonably confesse the same to such , who might , and ought to be helpful unto them . all this is confessed , with many more grains of guilt , which might be cast into the scale of the parents ; but of no weight on the other side , against the children , and therefore ought not to hinder their baptism , i mean conditionally , in case they were formerly baptized . here i will not instance in exposed children , who afterwards have proved eminent instruments of gods glory in the church and common-wealth ; so that , psal . . . when their father and mother forsook them , then the lord took them up ; yea , advanced them to high preferment : i say , i purposely forbear such instancing , lest the remembrance of the meannesse of their original , should any whit abate our deserved respect unto their memories . it is fashionable in such cases ( especially in popular places ) for the whole parish to be loco parentis , and to be interpreted as the parent , for the education of such exposed children . for my own part i had rather bring oyl to , then cast water on any charitable design . yet give me leave , only to admonish such to take heed , that that be not neglected of all , which is expected of many . it is the argument urged by aristotle against plato's fancy , that all children should be brought up by the care , and at the cost general of all alike , that what is every mans work is no mans work ; and it is to be feared , the catechizing , and instructing such children , will not effectually be done by any , where all are equally engaged unto it , except some be eminently and particularly designed for the same . children of pagans remain , taken from them when infants : what the opinion of the ancients was herein , we may learn from fulgentius , de veritate praedest . lib. . who saith , parvulum parentibus infidelibus violenter ablatum , aut furto surreptum , si ad sanctum baptismum quorumlibet sanctorum pia charitate producatur , & mox ut baptizatus fuerit de hac vita discedat , factum esse haeredem dei , & cohaeredem christi . that a little child violently taken , or secretly stolen from infidel parents ; if by the pious charity of any saints , it be brought to holy baptism , and by and by so soon as it hath been baptized depart this life , is made the heir of god , and coheir of christ . however , because some may think this goes too far , and that a difference ought to be made betwixt children of christian parents , who have ( as tertullian phraseth it ) seminis praerogativam , the priviledge of the seed whence they spring ; and those of meer heathens : and because all things ought to be done in the church , decently and in order ; it is fittest and safest , that the baptizing of such infants be deferred , till they be able in their own persons to give an account of their faith . such cautious deferring of the sacrament , offereth no injury , nor occasioneth any danger unto them , but will tend at last to their greater advantage . when mr cranmer , ( after arch-bishop of canterbury and martyr ) was appointed in cambridge , poser extraordinary of the sufficiency of such who commenced in divinity ; he denyed many their degrees for want of competent ability for the same : some of these , compelled by their repulse to an harder study of the scriptures , arrived at eminency afterwards ( and by name mr barret of norwich ) and would commend * and extoll dr cranmer , who by putting them back , put them forward to attain a better degree of knowledge , and perfection . if the church bestows her negative voice on such children of pagans , refusing to baptize them till responsible for themselves ; they will have cause hereafter to blesse god , and thank the church for the same , when the principles of religion shall be more firmly fastened , and the practice thereof more kindly ripened in them by such forbearance of baptism . chap. xx. two historical observations , on the adversaries of infants baptism . it is worth our observation to consider , who was the author from whom , and what the company with whom this opposition of infants baptism began for the first ; i find one balthasar pacimontanus , about the year of our lord , . first spreading this doctrine : pretending , belike , that he fetcht the first principles thereof out of luthers works , which gave luther the occasion to writ against him , justly to assert himself herein . this balthasar was afterward burnt at vienna for an heretick . i cannot learn what heretical opinions this man maintained , that the demerit of them should deserve death . if it were only for denying infants baptism , i conceive all the spectators at his suffering bound to have endeavoured by their tears to have quenched the fire . indeed i would have all of his opinion burnt ; but how ? as luther saith , igne charitatis : and as solomon said long before him ▪ prov. . . by heaping coals of fire on their heads , of meeknesse , and moderation , if in any competent time they might be reclaimed . possibly vienna , being the emperours court , where the roman faction managed all at their pleasure , some mixture of protestant doctrine in his opinions might sharpen the rage of papists against him . but it is more then suspicious , that not this , but the complication of other pernicious tenents caused his execution . the rather because we find , that the transylvanian ministers , anno . set forth two books , one against the trinity , the other against the incarnation of christ ; and at the end of both added their thirty six arguments against the baptizing of infants . men who are dark , and conceal'd in themselves , lying at a close guard , are best discovered by their society ; company is the clearest comment on the text of a reserved person . true , this held not in our saviour , being piety it self , though conversing with publicans and sinners , for whose conversion he was sent , and ordained . but generally it fails not but that men conjecture , and conclude the inclinations of persons , from those with whom they constantly associate . would it not therefore make any conscientious christians , justly wary to entertain the doctrine of anti-pedo-baptism , when he sees it ushered into the world , with two such hideous and hellish heresies going before it ? some will say , there was no affinity in kindred , or familiarity in acquaintance , nor dependency of interest , but a meer casual coincidency betwixt these three treatises . who knows not , but an honest man may on the road accidentally travel with strangers , whose faces he never saw before , without any privity to their bad designs ? for my own part i was never bred in the school of tyrannus , and am loath to load the doctrine of anti-pedo-baptism , with the burden of more badnesse then it hath of it self ; yet give me leave to say , it may & ought be taken on suspicion , because coming in the company of two such blasphemous books from the same authors ; yea , let it be confined , and kept in durance , until it hath cleared its own innocency , which must be done by shewing better testimonials for the truth thereof , then any which hitherto it hath produced . my prayers shall be , that what is said of jeconiah , jer. . . write ye this man childless . so this error in denying baptism to infants , may not be procreative of any other in the maintainers thereof . may he , who binds the sea in a girdle of sand , and saith to the waves thereof , job . . hitherto shalt thou come , and no farther ; erect strong rampiers to bound and bank the defenders hereof , that here they may stop ▪ stay , stand still , without making their progresse into worse , and more dangerous errours . amen . the infants advocate . chap. xxi . how we ought to behave our selves to those of a different judgment herein , in order to reclame them . preacht in a sermon at mercers chappel . febr. . . phil. . . and if in any thing , ye be otherwise minded , god shall reveal even this unto you . . it is no less pleasant than profitable for a christian soul seriously to consider the admirable unity and comfortable concord which was betwixt the saints and servants of god in the infancy of the church , after christs ascension , acts . . these all continued with one accord . acts . . they were all with one accord in one place . . continuing daily with one accord in the temple . so again , acts . lift up their voice to god with one accord . and again , acts . . all with one accord in solomons porch . . some perchance may impute this their unity to the paucity and fewness of the professours of the gospel in that age . it is no wonder ( will they say ) if an handfull of men did agree , which is impossible now adays in the numerosity of so many christians . but know , that even then there were enough , even amongst the three thousand converts made by s. peters sermon , to furnish out ( allowing a leader , and follower to each faction ) fifteen hundred several divisions . no , it was not their small number , but the vigorous acting of the spirit of unity on their hearts which kept them in such agreement . god foreseeing , rents would quickly ruine his infant church , bound them together the faster in the hand of peace . . but alas , this unity was too fine ware to have much measure thereof . the virginity of it was first lost , acts . . about a money-matter , ( and money we know parteth the dearest friends , many differences arising about the question , what should be jure divino , and what jure humano , but more about meum and tuum ) the unequal [ conceived ] distribution of the collection-money for the poor . the heathen philosopher bitterly inveighed against the schismatical number of two , which durst make the first defection , and departure from the intireness of one. but we have too just cause to bemoan this unhappy difference , which first brake the ranks , made the first jarring in the musick of the primitive church . . the second sad difference was , acts . . about the unseasonable and unreasonable pressing of circumcision , by some as absolutely necessary to salvation , except ye be circumcised after the manner of moses , ye cannot be saved . . the third dolefull falling out , we finde in the same chapter , v. . being so much the sadder than either of the former , because happening not btwixt infirm and ignorant ( though pious ) people , but those , who for grace and knowledg were most eminent , and formerly had been familiar and intimate bosom-friends , paul and barnabas . then the devil endeavoured to deal with gods church , as sampson served the temple of dagon , judg. . . he took hold of the two middle pillars , upon which the house stood , and on which it was born up , and no doubt by shaking and clashing them together , had shattered the whole fabrick , had not divine providence prevented it , sanctifying their division into the multiplication of the gospel . . it is enough to satisfie , ( if not to surfet ) us , to insist onely on this first three , these original dissentions in the primitive church , which ever since have too truly been copied out . as lately in the acts of the apostles , we often met , with one accord , with one accord , with one accord ; so looking into their acts , who ( though no apostles ) are christians ▪ we more frequently finde , with many discords , with many discords , with many discords , such their dissenting in opinions , and disagreeing in affections . it will therefore be a seasonable subject for us to treat of , how we ought to behave our selves to such brethren as for the present dissent from us in judgment , and what hope we may justly conceive of their future agreement with us . hearken herein to my text , out of which we may extract , not onely counsel what to do , but also comfort what to hope in this kinde . and if in any thing , ye be otherwise minded , god shall reveal even this unto you . . the words , ( though short in themselves ) contain the uuhappiness , and the happiness , of the servants of god. and know to your comfort , the unhappiness is first , and the happiness comes after , to close and conclude all ; and and all is well , that ends well , yea the unhappiness is but suppositive , what may be ; the happiness positive , what shall be . the unhappiness , is this , a possibility of good men in matters of religion , to be otherwise minded one from another . the happiness is a gracious promise , that such who erroniously dissent , from their brethren , shall in due time agree when the truth shall be revealed to them . in the supposition the emphasis of two words must be examined . and if in any thing . ye . . ye , that is , literally , ye philippians in the pale of gods church . however let us give this ye the true dimensions thereof . let us not extend it too far as to include pagans or such pretended christians , as willingly overturn all the foundations of religion . nor let us contract this ye too small , as to confine it to the philippians alone , which reacheth all christians , though dissenting in the superstructures , consenting in the fundamentalls of religion . if there be a ye or a your in all this epistle , to the philippians ( as chap . . let your moderation be made known to all men ) which enjoyneth any precept , certainly all christians , as well as the philippians , are obliged and engaged to the performance of it ; at their own pain and perill of the neglect thereof . wherefore by the same rule of proportion , every christian may justly claim a right and interest in all promises made to the philippians , and this among the rest the revelation hereafter of truths unto them , hitherto concealed from them . . and if in any thing . any thing . far be it from us to shrink a larg text with a narrow comment s. paul sayeth any thing , let not us say somthing , be they otherwise minded , in matter of fact , or of faith , or of doctrine , or of discipline , what ever it be , ( for it needs must be nothing , which comes not with the reach or compass of any thing ) god will reveal it unto them . here let us take notice , what was the last matter , which immediately moved s. paul to fall on this expression . in the foregoing verses s. paul had propounded a riddle or seeming contradiction to flesh and bloud ; for he had said . vers . . not as though i were already perfect , &c. vers . . let us therefore as many as be perfect , &c. that perfection which first he denyed in himself , presently he avoweth both in himself and many others . this riddle it seems it would not sink into the heads of some of the weaker philippians , how the same person at the same time should be imperfect in deed , execution , performance , yet perfect in desire , intention , endeavour . but well it is for us , that some amongst the philippians , through ignorance were otherwise minded , whose error herein gave the happy occasion to s. paul , from gods mouth to pronounce this comfortable promise , both to them and us and all dissenters , that if any be otherwise minded , god will reveal even this unto them . . doct. godly men as long as they live in this world will dissent in many matters of religion . the reason is , because none know either perfectly or equally , in this life . not perfectly , cor. . . now we know in part . not equally ; for though men understood imperfectly in this life , yet if all understood equally imperfectly , upon the supposition of equal ingenuousness to their ingenuity ( that is , that they would readily embrace what appears true unto them ) all would be of the same judgment . but alas , as none sees clearly , so scarce any two see equally some are thick-sighted , some short-sighted , some pur-blind , some sand-blind , some half-blind , and the worst of them ( blessed be god ) better then stark-blind . these different degrees of sight , cause the difference of judgment amongst christians . . a sad instance , hereof , we have , in the differences about the sacraments of baptism and the lords supper . what by divine goodness was intended and instituted to unite and conjoyn christians , hath by mans frailty , and satans subtilty been abused to make many rents and divisions . about the time when , the parties on whom , the manner how , baptism is to be administred . but where baptism hath divided her thousands , the lords supper hath divided her ten thousands . . amongst all the ordinary pot-herbs which grow in gardens none more wholesom than sage , ( especially at some times of the year , ) whose latine name salvia , carrieth much of health therein . whereupon it is , that the envious toad commonly nesleth it self under the roots thereof . spitefully to impoison that which otherwise is so usefull for mankinde . satan being sensible of the great good which generally may redound to men by the charitable receaving of the lords supper , hath imbittered it with discords and dissention , betwixt papists and protestants about transubstantiation ; lutherans , and calvinists about consubstantiation ; calvinists and calvinists about the gesture of genuslection and persons to be admitted to the sacrament . and thus mens dissenting in judgments being too plainly proved , arising from their proness to err , come we now to the gracious promise of their information in the truth , god will reveal even this unto you . . see here s. pauls charity . he sayeth not , let him be anathema maranatha , or let him be cast out of the synagogne , or let him be to you as a heathen or a publican but onely god will reveal even this unto him . here take notice of s. pauls different proceedings with three sorts of people . first , with thee otherwise minded in my text , such , who though not orthodox , are peaceable in israel ▪ and err onely in the lesser and ligher points of religion . for these , no punishment capital , or corporal , no penalty of pain , or shame in purse or person , but onely a patient expectation of their amendment , with a comfortable promise of the same . . secondly with such as make shipwrack of faith and a good conscience , understand it onely in relation to their own adventure therein , maintaining doctrine destructive to salvation . of these were hymeneus and alexander , tim. . . whom he delivered unto satan , that is ( as it is generally expounded ) by church censures cut off from god in the visible church and then being cut off from him , we know to whose share they do fall . . thirdly , to such , as not content to confine their damnable errours to their own bosom , are active to infect others therewith : of these he speaketh , gal. . . i would they were even cut off that trouble you . in which phrase surely more is imported than a bare excommunication . for that spiritual artillery s. paul ever carried about him : why then should he wish what he could work ? desire what he could do ? if so pleased . it is probable therefore that he could have wisht them cut off with temporal death . . here we say nothing of such doctrines as bear heresie and treason impaledtogether , pregnant with sedition to raise tumults in a state. these we leave to the cognizance and censure of the civil authority ; and shall proceed on the promise of the revelation of truth to the first sort of dissenting brethren . . quest. what , more revelation still ? when shall christians come to an end ? when shall we say , it is finished ? when shall they certainly know the full measure of all which they are to believe and practice as necessary to salvation ? answ . here be it premised , that the philippians at this time wherein s. paul wrote unto them might expect extraordinary revelations , ( and those additional to the scripture then in being ) on an account more probable to receive them , than any now adays can expect the same . for when s. paul wrote this epistle , some of the gospels ( and particularly that of s. johns ) were not yet penned , which though placed before the epistles ( as containing the history of our saviours life which was first in time ) yet were written afterwards . but seeing long since the canon of the scripture is compleated , yea , signed and sealed by god , and delivered to mankinde , it is not onely vain , but wicked for men to look for more revelations , of such things which men ought to know and believe to their salvation . but to answer the question more particularly . . there are two sorts of revelations . one doth revelare credenda , reveal those things which we are to believe . the other doth make us credere revelatis , more quickly and firmly assent to what hath formerly been delivered in the scripture . the first sort of revelations are ceased in this age. as for the second sort we may look for them , pray for them , and labour them , as which god hath promised to bestow , and which the godly dayly receive . such revelations our saviour gave to the two disciples travelling to emaus , luke . . when he expounded unto them all the scriptures . and in the same chapter , v. . to the rest of the disciples , when he opened their understanding , that they might understand the scriptures . he made not the scriptures more ▪ but more plain unto them ; not larger , but clearer unto them . such a revelation is intended in the text , to make erroneous persons more clearly to apprehend , and more firmly to adhere to the truth in gods word . . but quando , when , and quousque ▪ how long lord holy and true , how long shall thy servants go on in their errours and ignorance ? when shall they without fail receive this promised revelation , to have the truth manifested unto them . i answer , my text ( beloved ) hath not told the time , and therefore i cannot tell it you . you will say , if the text had told the time , you could have told it me . be it so , and now both you and i must contentedly be ignorant thereof . yet , not to satisfie the curious , but the consciencious so far as i may , i will more than conjecture that the punctual time , when this revelation shall be made . . of all the years of thy life , in that year , moneth , week , day , hour , minute , and ( if any will be so hypocritical as to subdivide minutes ) in that moment wherein the hid providence of heaven shall discover to be most for gods glory , and for thy good . thou canst not wisely wish it to be any whit before that time , and i do confidently assure thee , it shall not be any whit after it . . and yet i dare not be over confident to promise thee , that such revelation of the truth shall certainly happen to thee in this life . many of gods good servants have gone to the grave with grievous errours which they have maintained . yea , it is no absurdity to maintain , that the blessed in heaven are as yet ignorant of many truths , and that there shall be an accession unto them , as of glory , so of knowledg in the day of judgment . yea , many things of gods proceedings shall not be revealed unto them , untill rom. . . the day of the revelation of the righteous judgment of god. . quest . but suppose it be never at all revealed unto a man , what is to be conceived of his final condition who liveth and dieth a stiff defender of a damnable doctrine ? answ . give me leave in the first place to distinguish of damnable doctrines , a phrase acceptive of two senses . if damnable be taken passively , for that which ought to be damned or condemned , then every errour is in it self a damnable errour . discretion adviseth us to refuse not onely poyson , but unwholesom food ; and we ought to condemn a falshood quatenus a falshood , though it may be consistent with salvation . but if damnable be taken actively ( in which sense it is used , pet. . . who privily shall bring in damnable heresies , even denying the lord that bought them ) for that which damneth or condemneth the maintainer thereof , then onely fundamental errours in religion are damnable doctrines . this premised , we answer to the question , gods goodness so keepeth his servants , that he will not suffer them to fall into damnable errours in the last and worst acception thereof . as for smaller errours , which deserve to be condemned , but are not so pestilent as to destroy the maintainers thereof , they are pardoned through the mercy of god and merits of christ , on the death-bed of such as defend them . . all good christians pray with david , if not in the same words , to the same sense , psal . . . cleanse me from my secret sins . whereby is meant , not onely such sins , as we desire and endeavour to hide and keep secret from men , but also such as are hidden and kept secret from us , such our ignorance as not to know , or self-love , as not to acknowledg them to be sins . now all such errours consistent with salvation are remitted unto the maintainers thereof , under the mass , bulk , and heap of secret sins , though they be not , and indeed cannot be particularly repented of , because concealed from him ; who committeth them . . come we now to shew how men ought to prepare their own hearts for the more speedy receiving , and sure retaining of such revelations . say not , all such preparations are useless . the dove of the spirit will not build in a nest of this making , but in one of her own providing . for such previous disposing of our selves is acceptable to god , and will expedite the coming of revelations unto us . indeed in the first act of conversion we are purely passive , and can in no degree prepare our selves being dead in trespasses and sins . but being once freed by grace , we are free ; and may , and must by lawfull means move gods spirit to move us , according to s. pauls counsel , tim. . . stir up the grace of god that is in thee . . first , divest thy self of pride . what saith solomon : prov. . . onely by pride cometh contention . onely by pride , as if such were the pride of pride , that it scorneth and disdaineth to admit a partner , or fellow-cause with it self to cause contention . and although pride sometimes be pleased out of state , to accept of other vices in raising of discords , yet still she preserveth her self paramont , making use of all the rest onely as subservient unto her . . now proud men create to themselves two needless fears , which make them so obstinately embrace their errours . the first is , that if they alter their opinions , they must confess that formerly they have erred , which confession stabbeth pride , ( and pride is dextrous in stabbing others ) under the fifth rib . for all men by nature desire to be , and to be accounted petty popes , having the spirit of infallibility fastened unto their chairs , so that their opinions shall pass for oracle of undeniable truth . . the other is , that they shall be branded by men for levity and inconstancy , if once they offer to change their judgments . this makes many of them to say sullenly and surlily with pilate , john . . what i have written i have written . what i have said , i have said ; what i have done , i have done ; what i have defended , i have defended ; i will not abate an ace , remit a tittle , recede an hair from my former opinions . whilest others turn as fast as the weather-cock , i will stand as firm as the steeple , the rather because otherwise i shall incur the infamy of inconstancy . . whereas let it be but seriously considered , and the renouncing of an errour which we formerly maintained , argueth not frailness but firmness , not levity but constancy in us . for this is or ought to be the grand and general resolution of all christians to imbrace any truth , which appeareth unto them out of the word of god. wherefore when a christian renounceth a particular errour , this is not inconstancy ; because crossing the late and lesser boughs , but it is constancy ; because concurring with the first and fairest root of his resolution , namely , always to those with the revealed truth . . this hath been the practise of pious people in all ages . the hand of s. augustine never seemed so fair and so handsom , as when he wrot backward , i mean , when he wrot his retractations . pale faces , which otherwise are well proportioned , never look so lovely , as when they are casually betrayed to a blush , which supplies that colour in their cheeks which was wanting before . good men who once maintained an errour , never appear more amiable in the eys of god and the godly , as when blushing with shame ( not to be ashamed for ) at the remembrance of their former faults , which maketh them more thankfull to god , more humble in , more carefull over themselves , and more charitable to others . . well in the first place devest thy self of pride , and know that david tels us , how all those ought to be qualified , whom god intendeth to teach , psalm . . the meek will he guide in judgment , and the meek will he teach in his way . the proud are improper to be gods scholars , who conceive themselves able to be his teacher ▪ and wise enough to instruct him . . secondly devest thy self of passion , than which nothing more prejudicial to the judgment . fire is accounted an hurtfull object to the eye , as water is esteemed an helper thereof to look upon it , comforting and uniting ( as the other scattereth ) the visive beams . what then when the beholder is all fire , i mean all passion and choller , is it probable that during this temper , the spirit will descend upon him ? observe the carriage of elisha , k. . . ( being in an high rapture of anger with joram . king of israel for his submissive applications unto him in his distress when he and three armies were likely to die of thirst ) and now saith he , bring me a minstrel namely , by musick to pacifie himself and to dispose his soul for the regular reception and solemn entertainment of the spirit ▪ which accordingly came to pass when the minstrel played the hand of the lord came upon him . . see we here in the first place , that it is lawfull to use all good means to invite the spirit to descend upon us . the spirit of the prophets , was never so subject to the prophets , as to come at their call and command . secondly though eshishah in anger for the man was holy anger ( justly offended with king joram , for making idolatrous priests his choise in prosperity , and gods prophet his refuge in adversity ) yet he was sensible to himself , that he was disturbed and discomposed therewith . and though the cause of his anger was just , and matter of his anger commendable , yet possibly the measure thereof , might be faulty , ( elisha being like eliah , and eliah a man subject to like passions as we are , james . . and he might see in himself ( what others saw not in him ) that he was too much transported with passion , and perchance did too much insult on the present perplexity and extremity of king jehoram . wherefore conceiving that he in the still voice , would not come to one in so loud a passion , he calls for a minstrel , so to reduce , pacate , and compose his soul , that it might return to a quiet temper : whence it plainly appears , what an enemy passion is generally to the receiving of gods spirit , and that all those which desire a revelation of the truth unto them , must labour to devest themselves thereof . . thirdly devest thy self of covetuousness . here take notice , how easily men are perswaded to embrace those opinions ( though never so erroneous , ) which bring in profit unto them : for instance ; one with weak sinnews of logick , & worse colours of rhetorick will quickly perswade a country-man to be a convert in this point , that he is not bound to pay tithes to his minister . . on the other side it is hard to wean men from sucking on those opinions which are sweetned unto them by commodity . for by this craft we get our gain , acts . . no wonder if the pope zealously maintaineth purgatory , seeing that purgatory so plentifully maintaineth the pope . the same may be said of other lucrative errours in their religion , pilgrimages , pardons , prayers to the saints , prayers for the dead , &c. scylla omnes suos divitiis implevit , it was the policy of that cunning senatour to enrich all of his party tyed by their purse-strings the faster unto him ; whereas the antifaction of the marians being nothing so well monied by their patron cleaved not so stedfastly unto him . gainfull errors soon gain and long keep such as desire them ; whereas speculative opinions which terminate onely in the brains having little influence on mens practise and less on their profit are nothing so taking of men , and men nothing so tenacious of them . . as for the errour of such as deny the baptising of infants , we have cause to conceive the greater hopes of their returning to the truth , because that their opinion can not make them a thred , or a shoo-latchet the richer by the maintaining thereof . tully saith of our brittainy in his time , ( when caesar rather discovered than conquered it ) that it had naturally , ne micam auri aut argenti , not a crum of gold or silver , as within the bowels of the earth thereof . so may i say of the doctrine of anti-poedo-baptism , it is a bare and poor opinion , gold and silver it hath none , and therefore , ( alone of it self ) is never probable to enrich the patrons and defenders thereof . . and yet as tully : went a little too far , in condemning brittain , as utterly devoid of silver oar , and is disproved by the industry of our age , which some years since hath discovered silver mines in wales , so possibly this opinion may be more advantagious to the defenders thereof , than is obvious to the eye of every common beholder . it may be it may make them more capable of preferment , and that either they are or conceive themselves to be in a better proximity to advancement by maintaining thereof as more favourably reflected on than others ; as if this opinion gave the most real testimony of their good affections to the present government , whereby they apprehend themselves : the next reversions to preferment i believe they mistake themselves therein , and that no such partiality is in the present state . however let them examine their own souls and devest themselves , of covetousness in case they be conscious to themselves that expectation of profit inclines them to this opinion . . come we now to positive counsels , what we ought to perform . and here i am afraid some will be offended at the simplicity & plainness of them . there is a book entituled , de medecinis facilè parabilibus , of medicines which may easily be procured , and very good for such w ch take physick in forma pauperis . yea generally it is conceived nothing so much detracteth from the worth of those medicines , as the cheapness and commonness thereof , so that if we did but fetch from the east indies , what now groweth in our gardens , it would then be accounted a precious drug which now we esteem a common potherb . in like manner i fear that these our counsels , shall be undervalued for the usualness and obviousness of them . if a soul-mount-abank , should prescribe such new fangled means , which was never heard of before , he should get more patients than all the grave physicians of the city . however we will adventure to prescribe these plain means which god hath prescribed unto us . . first , pray to god , that he that openeth and no man shutteth , and shutteth and no man openeth , would be pleased in his own due time to reveal all necessary truths unto thee . secondly , be diligent in reading gods word . luther did profess that when he first began to write against the pope , many fancies were put into his head , plausible to flesh and bloud , but groundless on scripture , which made him daily to pray , domine in verbo , domine in verbo , lord teach me in thy word . . thirdly , be carefull in keeping the lords day , not with any superstitious but godly observation thereof . on what day did god reveal the revelation to s. john ? on the lords day , rev. . . thus princes use to bestow their boons , and confer their favors chiefly on those days , which more properly are called their days ; as on the anniversaries of their births or coronations . fourthy , repair to the place of gods publick service . fifthly , as the magistrate bears not the sword in vain , the minister bears not the word in vain . but least we ministers should seem to plead our own cause herein we leave this to god to plead for us . . object . but some erroneous persons will be ready to say unto me , as the young man did to our saviour in the gospel , all these things ▪ have i done from my youth . i have constantly prayed , and carefully read , and conscienciously kept the lords day , and diligently repaired to the publick ministery , and have endeavoured to devest my self of pride , passion , and covetousness , and yet no errour is revealed to me , which i formerly maintained . hereupon i conclude my self to be in the right . our english proverb , as it hath much of rudeness , so it hath no less of truth therein , one is not bound to see more than he can . and i conceive i am in no errour , because i follow my present light , and all the means of your prescription have made no alteration on my understanding . . answ . give me leave to be jealous over these objectors , with a godly jealousie . i exspect not the validity of my receits prescribed , but suspect their effectual application thereof , whether or no they have sincerely practised the same ; this i am sure , as men can scarcely ( for the main ) give other , so angels can give no better . . and here i shall deceive their expectation , who conceive that on the ill success of the former receipts , i should proceed to prescribe other means , whereby a brother dissenting from the truth , shall be reclamed unto it . onely i remember a passage of eliah , kings . . when according to his command , they had once poured water upon the altar , and he said , do it again , and they did so the second time ; and he said , do it the third time , and they did it the third time also . the next seven years , ( if thou livest so long ) pray , reade , keep the lords day , attend on gods publick ordinance , and in case the truth be not then revealed unto thee , the next seven years ( if thou livest so long ) do the like . i have no alteration , but a meer repetition , of what already hath been prescribed : and therefore we proceed to give instructions to such who by the benefit of these means are actually reclamed from their errours a word or two how they should behave themselves . . first , practise our saviours precept to s. peter , luke . ● . when thou art converted strengthen thy brethren . never conceive thy self in the peaceable possession of a truth , untill such time as thou hast imparted it to others : the rather because it is more than probable , that by thy example , ( if of any eminency ) thou hast invited others to , or confirmed others in their errours ▪ and therefore in civility and christianity thou stand'st obliged to undeceive them . . in hungaria they have a custome , that a gentleman wears so many feathers as he hath killed turks and truly , a feather may pass for the lively emblem of the glory of this world , wagged with the winde , and lighter than vanity it self : alas , what a toy is a feather ? it is real happiness indeed , dan. . . they that turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars for ever and ever . . but o how glorious in heaven will s. peter appear ? who at the preaching of one sermon gained acts . . three thousand souls . what a constellation , what a firmament of stars will he alone be ? . see the pathetical expostulation , and the ingenuous confession of s. paul before king agrippa , acts . . his pathetical expostulation , why should it be thought a thing incredible with you , that god should raise the dead ? his ingenious confession ▪ i verily thought with my self that i ought to do many things contrary , &c. how freely and fully doth he acknowledg his fault , labouring to lessen the errours of others by the alleadging the example of his own former infirmities . . this wrought so far with agrippa , that it made him a demi , almost a christian . paul did both in his own and apollos part to plant and water , but god was not pleased . . who knoweth what may come to pass ? happy musick if in like manner we might but live to hear some of our ; yet dissenting brethren , after their returning to the truth , to argue the case thus with those which as yet remain in their errours . how ought they to counsel others to the truth , and paul-like , to comfort them with their own precedent , that such as err may seasonbly be reclamed . . come we to shew how the standers by , and all other orthodox christians ought to contribute their assistance to the reclaming of their erroneous brethren to the truth . hippocrates speaking of cures , saith , that all parties concerned must lend their assistance , as the physician , patient , and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , those that are present , ( conceived related to the sick man ) must all lend their assisting hand to the work . so in spiritual cures , even the spectators ( idle ones christianity allows none ) are parties , and must contribute their help in so good an imployment . for whom these councels are proper . . first ▪ load them not with opprobrious language , of hereticks , and the like . be more charitable in thy words to them , and thoughts of them . though they should account us dogs , let us account them sheep , but what sheep ? wandring sheep . though they esteem us bastards , we will esteem them children , but what children ? prodigal children . we will think better of them than they think of us , ( though not so well as they think of themselves ) and no discreet person will conclude , our faith the worse , because our charity is the more . . secondly , widen not the wound betwixt us , to make it worse than it is . and if thou hast occasion to state the controversie betwixt us and them , deal fairly in the matter . do not paint them of a blacker complexion than they be , neither represent their opinions partially to their disadvantage . . here under favour i conceive , that it is fit at a disputation in the schools , to charge them home , with all the dangerous or absurd consequences , which result naturally from their erroneous opinions . we may bring a just action against them , and at the suit of logick arrest them for maintaining such abominable consequences : we may lay the ugly brats at their fathers doors , that they may have the shame and pain in getting them , the cost and charge to provide for them . as is the mother , so is the daughter . . but in case our dissenting brethren shall disclame such consequences , and sincerely from their hearts detest and abhor such damnable deductions which notwithstanding naturally and inevitably flow from their own erroneous principles , conceive that , though they may be prest with such consequences in the schools they may not be charged with them in foro conscientiae . but that onely they are answerable to god for the primitive errour , and not for such derivative ones , which notwithstanding are the undoubted off-spring thereof . . lastly , when they shall recant their errours willingly , chearfully , greedily , give unto them gal. . . the right hand of fellowship . indeed the left hand by vulgar tradition ( not to say mistake ) is presumed nearer to the heart , but the right hand if not by nature ( by custome ) is the stronger and firmer . say not , i must make some difference betwixt those , that never left , and those who lately returned to the truth . my right hand i must reserve for such who never wandred from the right way , my left hand shall serve those who were brought back unto it . o no , love both alike , and though the affection of thy heart be equal to both , if there be any odds in thy behaviour , express most love to those reverts , so to invite more to come over to the truth . . do any hear my sermon this day who dissent from me , and many other , ( and indeed from all the practise of the ancient primitive church ) in the point of baptizing of infants . o let such consider what hath been said by us in this point , and god give them understanding , and on the appearing of truth unto them , let them ingeniously renounce their own erroneous opinions . . never be ashamed to do that , which wil bring safety to your selves , glory to god , joy to angels , grief to none but such as rejoyce at your destruction . we may observe in horses , that after a stumble , for some paces they go better and quicker than before . some impute this to their fear , to be beaten , and desire to avoid it ; others to their generosity , to make amends for their former fault , with double diligence . . be not like the horse and mule which hath no understanding , psalm . . that is , do not imitate them in their brutish head-strongness . yet be like the horse and mule in their commendable conditions , ( as creatures far above pismires , and lillies ) imitate those generous principles which the instinct of nature hath put into them . recover what is past in your stumbling by your future activity ; in going the faster in the path of truth and righteousness . . to conclude , there is for the present a great gulph and distance betwixt you and us in our opinions . indeed though we should desire it , we dare not approach nearer unto you in point of judgment . s. paul saith even of his brother s. peter , gal. . . to whom we gave place , no not for an hour , that the truth of the gospel might continue with you . we may not yield to you , no , not a hairs breadth . we have already in stating the controversie betwixt us , drawn as near as we can without betraying the truth , prejudicing gods cause , and our own consciences . and having gone to the very marches and out-bounds of the truth , we there stand on tiptoes ready to embrace you if you come to us , and no otherwise . . but as for difference in affection , seeing we conceive your error not such as intrencheth on salvation , ( because not denying but deferring baptism ) and onely in the out limbs ( not vitals of ) religion , wherein a latitude may and must be allowed to dissenting brethren , we desire that herein the measure of our love may be without measure unto you . lightning often works wonders when it breaketh the sword , it doth not so much as bruise the scabbard ; charity is a more heavenly fire , and therefore may be more miraculous in its operations . you shall see that our love to you , as it doth detest and desires to destroy your errours , so it will at the same time , it will safely keep , and preserve your erroneous persons . . for mine own particular , because i have been challenged ( how justly god and my own conscience knoweth ) for some morosenes in my behaviour towards some dissenting brethren , in my parish , this i do promise , and god giving me grace i will perform it . suppose there be one hundred paces betwixt me and them in point of affection , i will go ninety nine of them , on condition they will stir the one odd pace , to give them an amicable meeting . but if the legs of their souls be so lame , or lazy , or sullen , as not to move that one pace towards our mutual love , we then must come to new propositions . let them but promise to stand still and make good their station , let them not go backward , and be more imbitter'd against me than they have been , and of the hundred paces , in point of affection , god willing , i le go twice fifty to meet them . as for matter of judgment i shall patiently and hopefully expect the performance of gods promise in my text , when to those which are otherwise minded in the matter of infants baptisme , god will reveal even this unto them . amen . finis . perfection and peace : delivered in a sermon preached in the chappel of the right worshipful sir robert cook at dyrdans . by tho. fvller b. d. london printed by roger norton for iohn williams at the crown in s. pauls church-yard , . to the hono ble and truly religious george berkeley ▪ sole son and heir to the right honourable george lord berkeley , &c. sir , when i look on the crest of your ancient arms , ( a mitre powdered w th crosses ) i read therein an abridgment of the devotion of those darker dayes : the mitre shewing your ancestors actions in peace ; the cross , their atchievements in the holy war : the mitre , their doings at home ; the cross , their darings abroad . yea i fancie to my self each ancient lord berkly , like one of the israelites at the walling of jerusalem , neh. . . with a trowel in one hand , and a sword in the other . we alwayes find him either fighting or founding , either in a battel or at the building of some religious fabrick , as ( besides others ) the intire abbey at bristol , ( afterwards converted into a cathedral ) was solely founded by one of that family . this was the devotion of those dayes , wherein the world knew no better , and scarce any other . since the reformation , your noble house hath not had less heat for having more light . your charity hath not been extinguished , but regulated , not drained dry , but derived in righter channels ; and flowing with a clearer stream free from the mud of superstition . as for your particular , that your ancient crest is worthily born by you , the mitre speaking you a patron of learning ; the crosses , a practicer of religion . qualities which encouraged me to present this small treatise unto you . acceptance is more then it can expect , pardon being as much as it doth deserve , being so long in coming , so short when come . but because it had its first being by your command , it hopes to have its well-being by your countenance . should i desire so many lords of your family hereafter , as heretofore have flourished in a direct line , by desiring a particular happiness to your house , i should wish a general mischief to mankind ▪ that men should live so many years in sin & sorrow before the coming of the necessary and comfortable day of judgment . my prayer therefore shall be , that the lustre of your house may continue with the lasting of the world , ( so long as god will permit the badness thereof ) in that honourable equipage of your ancestors : may perfection here , and peace hereafter light on you , your vertuous lady , and hopeful issue ; which is the daily desire of your honours most bounden servant tho. fuller . perfection and peace . psal. . . mark the perfect , behold the vpright ; for the end of that man is peace . this and the . psalm are of the same subject , wherein david endeavours to cure an epidemical disease , with which the best saints and servants of god are often distempered : observe in this disease , the nature , danger , cause and cure thereof . the nature , namely fretting fits of the soul , at the consideration of the constant peace , plenty and prosperity of wicked men . the danger thereof , it causeth the consumption of the spirit , and is destructive to the health of the soul . yea , when this disease comes to the paroxism , the height and heat thereof , it becometh dishonourable to god ; aspersing and be-libelling him , as if he wanted goodness , and would not ; or power , and could not ; or justice , and doth not order matters better then they are . the cause thereof it proceedeth from a double defect in men : want of faith to trust in god. want of patience to wait on god. this is the reason why the practice of these two graces is so often inculcated by david in this psalm . the cure thereof : david applyes many cordials , ( for less then cordials will not do the deed ) seeing by his own confession , ps . . . his heart was grieved with his fretting fits . we will onely instance on the two last . one is a serious consideration , ver . of the short pleasure and certain pain of the wicked . it was a good prayer of a good man , lord keep me from a temporal heaven here , and an eternal hell hereafter . true it is , psalm . . that to the wicked , there are no bands in their death : and no wonder , when they have all bands after death . the second is a studious observation of the perfect mans condition , who though meeting with many intermediate broils and brunts , and bickerings in this life : yet all at last winds up with him in a comfortable close , and happy conclusion , mark the perfect , behold the vpright , for the end of that man is peace . observe in the words two general parts : the description of the dead . the direction to the living . in the description of the dead , we have two particulars : what he was . a practicer of perfection and uprightness . what he is . a possessour of a peaceable end . in the direction to the living we have an invitation , or rather an injunction to mark and behold . what was done by the man , when living : his holiness . what was done to the man , when dead : his happiness . this our sermon being now preached in the juncture of the old and new year : what better subject to end the old , then to speak of the description of the dead ? what fitter matter to begin the new , then to treat of the direction to the living ? mark the perfect , behold the vpright : for the end of that man is peace . before we enter on the words , it will be a charitable work to reconcile the seeming variance betwixt the two translations : i mean that which is commonly prefixed at the beginning , and what is constantly inserted in the middle of our bibles . the old translation . keep innocency , and take heed unto the thing that is right , for that shall bring a man peace at the last . the new translation . mark the perfect man , and behold the vpright , for the end of that man is peace . see here a vast difference betwixt the divers rendring of the words : if the trumpet , cor. . . give an uncertain sound , who shall be prepared for the battel ? but where shall the unlearned , though honest hearted reader , dispose of his belief and practice , when there be such irreconcileable differences in the translation of gods word . i answer , the seeming difference ariseth from the latitude of the hebrew words , so extensive in their signification : for shemor which in my text is translated , mark , according to the first and most frequent acception thereof : signifieth also in a secondary sense , to keep , seeing those things which we mark , we also keep , at the least for some short time in our memorie . the same may be said , that the word behold , in my text , is rendered in the old translation , take heed , seeing the hebrew wil bear both : tham and jaschar , most commonly and constantly denote the concrete , perfect , vpright , righteous , and innocent : but sometimes signifieth the abstract also , perfection , uprightness , innocencie . let not therefore the two translations fall out , for they are brethren , and both the sons of the same parent , the original : though give me leave to say the youngest child is most like the father , and the newest translation herein , most naturally expresseth the sense of the hebrew . let none cavil that such laxity in the hebrew words occasions uncertainty in the meaning of the scripture : for god on purpose uses such words importing several senses ; not to distract our heads , but dilate our hearts , and to make us rechoboh , room for our practice in the full extent thereof , psal . . . thy commandement is exceeding broad , and is penned in words and phrases , acceptive of several senses , but all excellent for us to practice : so that both translations may be happily compounded in our endeavours , mark the perfect , keep innocency , and behold the upright , and take heed to the thing that is right ; for the end of that man is peace : and that shall bring a man peace at the last . begin we with the description of the dead , perfect , and what is a good comment thereon , vpright . object . it is impossible this world should afford a perfect man. what saith david , psal . . . the lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men , to see if there were any that did understand and seek after god. they are all gone aside , they are altogether become filthy , there is none that doth good , no not one . but what saith solomon , eccles . . . for what can the man do , who commeth after the king , even that which hath been done already . but what shall he do that cometh after the king of heaven ? can subjects hope that their discoveries will be clearer then their soveraigns ? shall man living on earth see more then god looking from heaven ? he could not meet with one good , where then shall we mark a perfect man ? answ . david in the place alledged , describes the general corruption ad prae varicationem of all mankind by nature ; in the latitude whereof we confess the perfect man in my text was involved . as all metals when they are first taken out of the earth , have much dross and oar , but by art and industrie may afterwards be refined : so the man in my text was equally evil with all others by nature , till defecated by grace , and by gods goodness refined to such a height of puritie as in some degree will endure the touch , and become perfect . in a fourfold respect may a servant of god be pronounced perfect in this life . comparatively , in reference to wicked men , who have not the least degree or desire of goodness in them . measure a servant of god by such a dwarf , and he will seem a proper person , yea , comparatively perfect . intentionally : the drift , scope , and purpose of such a mans life , is to desire perfection , which his desires are seconded with all the strength of his weak endeavours : he draweth his bow with all his might , and perfection is the mark he aimeth at , though too often his hand shakes , his bow starts , and his arrow misses . incho●tively : we have here the begining and the earnest as of the spirit , cor. . . so of all spiritual graces , expecting the full ( not payment , because a meer gift , but ) receipt of the rest hereafter . in this world we are a perfecting , and in the next , heb. . . we shall come to the spirits of just men made perfect . but blame me not , beloved , if i be brief in these three kinds of perfections , rather touching then landing at them , in our discourse ; seeing i am partly affraid , partly ashamed to lay too much stress and weight on such slight and slender foundations . i hasten with all convenient speed to the fourth , which one is worth all the rest . a servant of god in this life is perfect . imputatively : christs perfections through gods mercy being imputed unto him . if i be worsted in my front , and beaten in my main battel , i am sure i can safely retreat to this my invincible reer : in the agonie of temptation we must quit comparative perfection . alass , relation is rather a shadow then a substance : quit intentional perfection , being conscious to our selves how oft our actions cross our intentions . quit inchoative perfection ; for whilest a servant of god compareth the little goodness he hath with that great proportion which by gods law he ought to have , he conceiveth thereof as the pious jews did of the foundation of the second temple , haggai . . is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing ? but stick we may and must to imputative perfection , which indeed is gods act , cloathing us with the righteousness of jesus christ . this is the reason the saints are unwilling to own any other perfection : for though god job . . is pleased to stile job a perfect man , yet see what he saith of himself , iob . . if i say that i am perfect , it shall also prove me per verse . god might say it , iob durst not for fear of pride and presumption . indeed noah is the first person , who is pronounced perfect in scripture , gen. . . but mark i pray what went in the verse before : but noah found grace in the eyes of the lord. not that his finding grace is to be confined to his particular preservation from the deluge , ( which was but one branch or sprig of gods grace unto him . ) but his whole person was by gods goodness accepted of , noahs perfection more consisting in that acceptance then his own amiableness , approved not so much because god found goodness in noah , but because noah found grace in god. come we now in the description of the dead , to what he is , the end of that man is peace . object . some will object that daily experience confutes the truth of this doctrine , what more usual then to see gods servants tossed , tumbled , tortured , tormented , often ending their painful lives with shameful deaths . cushi being demanded by david to give an account of absaloms condition , sam. . . made this mannerly and politique return : the enemies of my lord the king , and all that rise up against thee to do thee hurt , be as that young man is . but some will say , if this be a peaceable end , to lead an afflicted life , and have an ignominious death , may the enemies of god and all goodness , the infringers of our laws and liberties , the haters of learning and religion , the destroyers of unity and order , have their souls surset of such a peaceable end . resp . in answer hereunto we must make use of our saviours distinction , the same for substance and effect , though in words there be variation thereof . being taxed by pilate for treason against caesar ; he pleaded for himself , ioh. . . my kingdom is not of this world : so say we , to salve all objections , our peace , that is the peace in our text , ( and god make it ours , not only to treat and hear , but partake thereof , ) is not of this world , consisteth not in temporal or corporal prosperity ; but is of a more high and heavenly nature . indeed this peace is in this world , but not of this world ; begun here in the calm of a clear and quiet conscience , and finished hereafter in the haven of endless happiness . when the man in my text , becomes perfectly perfect , he shall then become perfectly peaceable . however we may see that sometimes ( i say not alwayes ) god sets a signal character of his favour on some of his servants , enjoying at their end a generall calm , and universal tranquillity towards all to whom they are related . amongst the many priviledges of saints reckoned up job . none more remarkable then that verse . for the stones of the field shall be at league with thee , and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee . have we here a dichotomy of all wicked men , or a sorting of them all into two sides . some are stones , like nabal sam. . . stupid , sottish , senseless ; no rhetorick with its expanded hand , no logick with its contracted fist , no scripture , no reason , no practice , no precedent can make any impression upon them , so that the best of men may even despair to get their good will. well the way to do it , and procure a perfect peace with them , is to please god. others are beasts like the cretians , tit. . . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , so fierce , so furious , so crafty , so cruel , no medling with them without danger . as the former could not conceive , so these will not abide any rational debate with them . the former were too low and silly , too much beneath : these high and haughty , too much above perswasion to peace ; mention but the name thereof , and they psal . . prepare themselves to battel . the art then to make these friends with a man , is only this , to endeavour to please the high god of heaven ; and then solomons words will come to pass , prov. . . when a mans wayes please the lord , he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him . it once came to pass in england ( and but once it came to pass in england ) namely , when * sir thomas moor was lord chancellor , that the cryer in chancery being commanded to call the next cause , returned this answer , there were no more causes to be heard . not that there was no more on the file for that day ( which is ordinary and usual ) but , which is strange , that then there was no more sutes depending in the whole court of chancery , but that all ripened for trial , were decided . then was janus his temple shut clean throughout england , in cases betwixt plaintiff and defendant , relating to equity and conscience . whether this proceeded from the peaceableness of people in that age , not so quarrelsome and litigious as in ours : or from the goodness of the judge , either , happy , privately to compound differences without any sute ; or dextrous , publickly to decide them with all expedition . but when some good man hath lyen on his death bed , though having many sutes in his life , all then are ended and composed . call the sute betwixt this man and his god , long since it is attoned , and both made friends in christ . cal the sute betwixt this man and his conscience , it is compremised , and both of them fully agreed . cal the sute betwixt this man and his enemies , stones and beasts , it is compounded , and they at peace with him . call the sute betwixt this man and all other creatures , it is taken up , and he and they fully reconciled . thus i say sometimes , not alwayes , god graceth some of his servants that they depart in an universal peace , a personal favour indulged to some select saints . but generally and universally all the true servants of god , whatever their outward condition be , go from peace to peace ; from the first fruits of peace in their conscience , to the full fruition thereof in heaven . mark the perfect , behold the upright : for the end of that man is peace . come we now to the direction of the living : mark the perfect , behold the vpright . it is not said , gaze on the perfect , stare on the vpright , this men of themselves are too prone to do without any bidding : nay , contrary to gods positive command , heb , . . whilest ye were made a gazing stock by reproaches and afflictions . and david in the person of christ complains , psal . . . they look and stare upon me : partly with eyes of wonder , as on so many monsters and prodigies , pet. . . wherein they think it strange that you run not with them to the same excess of riot : partly with the eyes of scorn , as on so many miserable wretches . indeed god and wicked men agree in this point , that good men are not worthy to live here . but upon different , yea , contrary accounts , god esteems them too good to live here , heb. . . of whom the world was not worthy . wicked men conceive them too bad to live here , act. . . away with such a fellow from off the earth , for it is not fit that he should live . which makes them to behold the perfect and upright , with scorn and contempt . however mark the just , behold the vpright , do it solemnly , do it seriously , not with a cursory look , fix thy sight , and for some time ; let it dwell on so eminent an object . mark the perfect , as a schollar marks his copie to write after it . then will it come to pass with thee as with moses , exod. . . he so long had seen the back-parts or suburbs of gods glory , that the skin of his face shone , guilded with the reflexion thereof . so those who mark the perfect and behold the vpright , not only with a fore-cast , but chiefly with a reflexed look , cannot but be gainers thereby . for the godly , who , as s. paul saith , phil. . . shine as lights among a crooked and perverse nation in the world , will make such as effectually mark them , become like unto them , and shine accordingly . we see that such who look on bleer-eyes , have their own sight infected therewith ; and those who diligently mark , and stedfastly fasten the eyes of their souls , on the perfect and upright man , will in process of time , partake of their perfection . vse . . it serveth to confute such , who , though living long in this world , and conversing with varietie of persons , yet mark and observe nothing at all . if a privy inspection might be made into the diaries and journals of such mens lives , how would they be found filled with empty cyphers , whose total sum amounts to just nothing . when messengers and trumpeters come into the castles and garrisons of their enemies , commonly they are brought blindfolded , that they may make no dangerous discoveries to report to their party at their return . what out of policie is done to them , that many out of idleness and ignoranc● do to themselves , mask and hood wink their souls , do take notice of nothing in their passage through this world . others mark but only such things which are not remarkable . dina marks , but what ? gen. . . the fancie-ful fashions of the daughters of canaan : and we may generally observe , that all observations follow the humour of the observers , so that what vice or vertue in him is predominant , plainly appears in their discoveries . the covetous man marks , but whom ? those who are rich and wealthy . the ambitious man , but whom ? those that are high and honourable . the lascivious man marks , but whom ? such as are beautiful and wanton : few there be of davids devout disposition , who mark the perfect , behold the vpright ; for the end of that man is peace . vse . let all who desire this peaceable end , labour whilest living to list themselves in the number of those who are perfect and upright . king ahaaz coming to damascus , was so highly affected with an idolatrous altar which he there beheld , that he needs would have that original copyed out , king. . . and the like made at jerusalem , according to the fashion of it , and all the workmanship thereof . fool , to preferre the pattern of the infernal pit , before the pattern in the mount. but this his prophane action will afford us a pious application . you that have marked the just and beheld the upright , ought to be affected with the piety of his life , cannot but be contented with the peaceableness of his end . this therefore do ; such who are pleased with the pattern of his perfection and uprightness , go home , and raise the like fabrick , erect the like structure for all considerable particulars in your own soul . vain and wicked was the wish of balaam , numb . . . let me dye the death of the righteous , and let my last end be like his . he would commence per saltum , take the degree of happiness , without that of holiness ; like those who will live papists , that they may sin the more freely ; and dye protestants , that they may be saved the more certainly . but know that it is an impossibility to graft a peaceable death upon any other stock , but that of a pious life . . vse . let it retrench our censuring of the final estate of those whom we know led godly lives , and we see had shameful deaths . let us expound what seems doubtful at their death , by what was clear in their life . a true conclusion may sometimes be inferred from false premises : but from true premises the conclusion must ever be true . possibly a good life in the next world , may follow a bad one in this ; namely , where ( though late ) sincere repentance interposeth . but most certain and necessary it is , that a good life here must be crowned with a good condition hereafter . what then though . john baptist lost his head by herods cruelty , he still held his head in the apostles phrase , col. . . by a lively faith continuing his dependance on , and deriving life and comfort from jesus christ , in which respect he may be said to have dyed in peace . there is a sharp and bitter passage in scripture , luk. . . and yet if the same be sweetned with a word or two in my text , it may not only easily be swallowed , but also will certainly be digested into wholsome nourishment : the words are these , and let him take up his cross daily and follow me . his cross ; some will say , i could comfortably comport my self to carry such a mans cross , his is a slight , a light , and easie ; mine a high , a huge and heavy cross . oh but children must not be choosers of that rod where with they are to be corrected ; that is to be let alone unto the discretion of their father . men may fit cloaths , but god doth fit crosses for our backs : no cross will please him for thee to take up , but thy cross , only that which his providence hath made thee the proprietarie thereof . well take it up , on this assurance , that the end thereof shall be peace . take up thy cross . is it not enough that i be passive , and patiently carry it when it is laid upon me ? what a tyranny is this for me to cross my self by taking up my own cross ? but god will have it so , thou must take it up : that is , first thou must freely confess that nothing hath befaln thee by chance or fortune , but by gods all-ordering providence . secondly , thou must acknowledge that all afflictions imposed upon thee , are the just punishment of thy sins deserved by thee ; if inflicted more heavily , seeing all things is mercy which is on this side of hel fire . this it is to take up thy cross do it willingly , for it will be peace at the last . the last is the worst word , daily . not that god every day sends us a new affliction , but he requires that every day we should put on a habit of patience , to undergo whatsoever cross is laid upon us . this i conceive to be davids meaning , psal . . . and chastened every morning . daily , superstitious fryers never esteem themselves ready till they have put on their crucifix , and religious protestants must never accompt themselves ready till they have put on their cross . the papists have besprinkled their calendar with many festivals , having no foundation in scripture , or ancient church history . one day they call the exaltation of the cross , which is may . another the invention of the cross , which is september . but we must know there is one day of the cross more , day which continueth from the beginning to the end of the year , namely , the assumption of the cross ; every one must take it up daily , do it , & do it willingly , for the end thereof wil be peace . and yet there is a fourth thing remaining in the text , when we have took up our cross we must follow christ ; it is not enough to take it up , and then stand still , as if suffering gave us a supersedeas for doing ; but god at the same time will have our hands , back , and feet of our soul exercised ; hands to take up , back to bear our cross , and feet to follow him ; and happy it is for us , though we cannot go the same pace , if we go the same path with our saviour ; for the end thereof will be peace . o the amiableness of the word peace ! oh the extensiveness of the word end ! peace ? what can be finer ware ? end ? what can be larger measure ? the amiableness of peace , especially to us , who so long have prayed for it , and payed for it , and sought for it , and fought for it , and yet as yet in england have not attained it . for the tragoedy of our war is not ended , but the scene thereof removed , and the element only altered from earth unto water . surely had we practised davids precept , psal . . . eschew evil and do good . seek peace and ensue it , before this time we had obtained our desire . it is to be feared we have been too earnest prosecutors of the last , and too slow performers of the first part of the verse : great have been our desires , but small our deeds for peace . had we eschewed evil and done good , god ere this time , would have crowned our wishes with the fruition of peace . the marriners act. . . ( men skilful to shift for themselves at sea ) had a private project for their own safety , namely , to quit their crazie ship , ( with the souldiers and passengers therein , ) and secretly to convey themselves into the boat . but their design miscarried being discovered by s. paul to the souldiers , who cut the ropes of the boat , and let her fall off . all men ought to have a publick spirit for the general good of our nation , the success where of we leave to the al-managing providence of the god of heaven and earth . but i hope it wil be no treason against our state , and i am sure it wil be safe for us , who are but private persons to provide for the securing of our souls , and to build a little cock-boat , or smal vessel of a quiet conscience in our own hearts , thereby to escape to the haven of our own happiness ? we wish well to the great ship of our whole nation , and will never desert it so , but that our best prayers and desires shall go with it . but however providence shall dispose thereof we will stick to the petty pinnace of peace in our own consciences . sure i am , no souldiers shall be able to cut the cables , i mean no forcible impression from without , shall disturb or discompose the peace which is within us . o the extensiveness of the word end ! it is like the widows oyl , king. . . which multiplyed to fill the number and bigness of all vessels brought unto it , so here bring dayes weeks , months , years , myriads , millions of years end will fill them all , yet it self is never filled , as being the endless end of eternity . we will conclude all with a passage of columbus , when he first went to make discoverie of the new world . long time had he sailed and seen nothing but sea , insomuch as the men and marriners with him begun to mutiny resolving to go no further , but return home again . here columbus with good words and fair language pacified them for the present , perswading them to sail forward for one month more . that month elapsed , he over-intreated them to hold out but weeks longer : that three weeks expired , he humbly and heartily sued unto them , that for his sake they would sail on but dayes more , promising to comply with the resolutions of returning , in case that within those dayes , no encouragement to their contrary was discovered . before the ending whereof they descryed fire , which was to them a demonstration that it was not subjected on water , and w ch invited them for the finding out of those islands , whereby others afterwards discovered the whole continent . whilest we live here below in our bodies , and sail towards another world in our souls and desires , we must expect to meet with much disturbance in our distempered passions : yea , such as sometimes in the hour of temptation will amount to a mutiny ; and much dishearten us when tost with the tempest of afflictions we can make no land , discover no hope of happiness . it must then be our work to still and calm our passions , perswading them to persevere , and patiently to proceed , though little hope appear for the present . not that with columbus we should indent with our souls to expect any set-time of years , months or dayes , ( this were unlawful , and with the wicked , psal . . . to limit the holy one of israel ) but indefinitely without any notation of time : let us till on our souls by degrees , a while , a little while , yet a very little while to depend on god , and go on in goodness . then at last a pillar of fire , a comfortable light of a conscience cleared through the blood and merits of christ will appear unto us , not only contenting us for the present , but directing us for the future to that bliss and happiness enjoyed by the subject of my text , mark the perfect , behold the vpright ; for the end of that man is peace . amen . finis . pag. . l. . for ad praevaricationem r. and prevarication , p. . l. . for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e * fox acts and monuments , page . * kings . . notes for div a -e * see camdens brittania , in northampton shire . * tim. . . * job . * jer. . . * joel . . notes for div a -e * about the end of his first book on the galatians , theodoret . . quest . on joshua . notes for div a -e * in his cōment on genesis , chap. . notes for div a -e * gen. . . * heb. . . * harpsfield in his eccl. hist . saec . dec . . p. notes for div a -e * cor. . . notes for div a -e ‖ augustine epist . . ‖ augustine epist . . notes for div a -e * fox martyrol . p. . notes for div a -e * see his life lately printed . a fast sermon preached on innocents day by thomas fuller, b.d. minister of the savoy. fuller, thomas, - . this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text r in the english short title catalog (thomason e _ ). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a wing f thomason e _ estc r this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (thomason tracts ; :e [ ]) a fast sermon preached on innocents day by thomas fuller, b.d. minister of the savoy. fuller, thomas, - . [ ], , [ ] p. printed by l.n. and r.c. for john williams at the signe of the crowne in saint pauls church-yard, london : . annotation on thomason copy: "jan. ". reproduction of the original in the british library. eng bible. -- n.t. -- matthew v, -- sermons. fast-day sermons -- early works to . sermons, english -- th century. a r (thomason e _ ). civilwar no a fast sermon preached on innocents day: by thomas fuller, b.d. minister of the savoy. fuller, thomas b the rate of defects per , words puts this text in the b category of texts with fewer than defects per , words. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - pip willcox sampled and proofread - pip willcox text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a fast sermon preached on innocents day by thomas fvller , b. d. minister of the savoy . sam. . . then abner called to joab , and said , shall the sword devoure for ever ? knowest thou not that it will be bitternesse in the latter end ? how long shall it be then , yet thou bid the people returne from sollowing their brethren ? london , printed by l. n. and r. c. for john williams at the signe of the crowne in saint pauls church-yard , . a fast sermon preacht on innocents day . matth. . . blessed are the peace-makers . on this day a fast and feast do both justle together ; and the question is , which should take place in our affections . i pray let solomon , the wisest of kings and men , be made doctor of the chaire to decide this controversie , eccles. . . it is better to go to the house of mourning , then to goe to the house of feasting : for it is the end of all men , and the living will lay it to his heart . let us therefore dispense with all mirth for this time , and apply our selves to lamentation . . wee reade ezra . . that when the foundation of the second temple was laid by zerubbabel , the young men shouted for joy : but many of the priests and levites , and chiefe of the fathers , who were ancient men , that had seen the first house , when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes , wept with a loud voice , and many shouted aloud for joy . thus what if young men be so addicted to their toyes and christmas sports , that they will not be weaned from them , o let not old men , who are or should be wiser , and therefore more sensible of the sinnes and sorrowes of the state ; let us who are priests , whose very profession doth date us ancient , be transported with their follies , but mourne whilest they are in their mirth . the french proverb saith , they that laugh on friday , shall cry on sunday . and it may please god of his goodnesse so to bring it to passe , that if we keep a sad christmas , we may have a merry lent. . this day is called innocents or childermas day ; a day which superstitious papists count unluckie and unfortunate , and therefore thereupon they will begin no matter of moment , as fearing ill successe should befall them . indeed i could willingly have sent their follies in silence to hell , lest by being a confuter , i become a remembrancer of their vanities : but that this fond conceit must be rooted out of the minds of the ignorant people . why should not that day be most happy , which in the judgement of charity ( charity which though not starke blind with bartimeus , with leah is alwaies tender eyed ) sent so many saints by herods cruelty to heaven , before they had committed any actuall sinne . well , out of sacred opposition and pious crossing of popish vanities , let us this day begin , and this day give good handsell of true repentance . to the cloane all things are cleane . to the good all dayes are good : we may say of this day as david of goliahs sword , sam. . . there is none like that , give it me . no day like this day for us to begin our sanctified sorrow , and to hearken to gods word , blessed are the peace-makers . . in this and the two next chapters christ having a mountain for his pulpit , and the whole law for his text , seeks to clear it from those false glosses ( corrupting the text ) which the priests and pharisees had fastened upon it ; and shewes , that gods law was not to be narrowed and confined to the outward act alone , but according to the will of the law-giver ( the surveyour that best knew the latitude thereof ) is to bee extended to the very thoughts of the heart , and takes hold of mens wicked inclinations , as breaches thereof , and offences against it . we use to end our sermons with a blessing , christ begins his with the beatitudes , and of the eight , my text is neither the last nor the least , blessed are the peace-makers . . observe in the words the best worke and the best wages ; the best worke , peace-makers : the best wages , they are blessed . i begin with the worke , which shall imploy my paines and your attention this day . now the goodnesse of peace will the better appeare , if we consider the misery of warre . it is said , gen. . . and it came to passe when abraham was come neere to enter into egypt , that hee said unto sarai his wife , behold , now i know that thou art a faire woman to looke upon . why now i know thou art a beautifull woman ? did abraham live thus long in ignorance of his wives beauty ? did he now first begin to know her handsomnesse ? learned tremelius on the place starts and answers the objection now , that is , when abraham came into egypt , as if he had said , when i see the tawny faces and swarthy complexions of the sun-burnt egptians , thy face seemeth the fairer , and thy beauty the brighter in mine eyes . i must confesse , i ever prized peace for a pearle ; but we never did or could set the true estimate and value upon it till this interruption and suspension of it . now we know , being taught by deare experience , that peace is a beautifull blessing : and therefore we will consider warre first in the wickednesse , then in the wofulnesse thereof . . first , warre makes a nation more wicked . surely , swearing and sabbath breaking do not advance the keeping of the first table . and as for the second table , how hard is it in these distracted times to be practised ? yea , it is difficult to say the lords prayer , the creed , or ten commandements : the lords prayer for that petition , and forgive us our trespasses , as wee forgive them that trespasse against us . the creed for that article , the communion of saints , which doth tye and obliege us to the performance of all christian offices & charitable duties to those who by the same christ seekes salvation , and professe the same true christian catholike faith with us : the ten commandements for that precept , thou shalt not kill : and though men in speculation and schoole distinctions may say , that all these may be easily performed in the time of war ; yet our corrupt nature , which is starke nought in time of peace , is likely to be far worse in warre , and if these times continue , i am afraid wee shall neither say the lords prayer , nor beleeve the creed , nor practise the commandements . and as hard it will be preparedly and profitably to receive the sacraments , when wee shall drinke christs bloud as on to day , and go about to shed our brothers bloud as on to morrow . . secondly , let us consider the wofulnesse of war , and that both in its selfe , and in its attendance : see a map of war drawne by a holy hand , psal. . . the fire consumed their young men , and their maidens were not given to marriage , their priests fell by the sword , and their widowes made no lamentations . the fire consumed the young men . wee behold with contentment ripe fruit to drop downe to the ground , but who will not pity greene apples when they are cudgelled downe from the tree . and the maidens were not given in marriage . so that the fairest flowers of virginity were faine to wither on the stalke , whereon they did grow , for want of hands to gather them . the priests were flaine with the sword ; sed quid cum marte prophetis ? well then , there they were , though they were none of the best of the priests , being lewd hophnee and phyneus , and there they were killed , for ought i know , if these times hold , gods best samuels must goe the same way . and their widowes made no lamentation . you will say , the more unnaturall women they : o no , they made no lamentation , either because their griefe was above lamenting , such as onely could be managed with silence and amazement , or else because they were so taken up with deploring the publike calamity , they could spare no time for private persons to bemoane their particular losses . . but warre is not so terrible in it self , as in its attendants ; first the plague which brings up the reare of war : the plague , i say , which formerly used to be an extraordinary embassador in this citie of london , to denounce gods anger against it , but is of late grown a constant legier , and for these many late yeares hath never been clearly removed from us : surely some great unrepented sin lyes on this city , that this constant punishment doth visit us , which will be more terrible when it shall be extended over the whole realme . . secondly , famine , a waiter in ordinary on warre . truly it may seeme a riddle , and yet it is most true , that warre makes both lesse meat , and fewer mouthes : first , because in time of war none dare attend husbandry , wherewith solomon saith , the king himself is maintained . secondly , because souldiers spoile more out of prodigality , then they spend out of necessity : when our saviour multiplied loaves and fishes , there were those appointed who tooke up the twelve baskets of fragments ; but , alas , no such care is taken in souldiers festivals . hitherto indeed wee have had plenty enough , and as yet in this city are not sensible of any want . but you know next pharaohs full eares came pharaohs blasted ears , next pharaohs fat kine came pharaohs lean kine ; & i pray god poor people for this years store be not next year starved . . thirdly , wilde beasts , see gods foure cardinall punishments reckoned up , ezech. . . for thus saith the lord god , for much more when i send my foure sore judgements upon jerusalem : the sword , and the famine , and the noysome beast , and the pestilence to cut from it man and beast . some perchance wil say , that there is more danger of wilde beasts in our iland , which is invironed with water . truely there need no other wilde beasts then our selves , who are lions , beares , boares , wolves , and tygers one to another . and though as yet wee were never plagued with wilde beasts , yet wee know not how soone god may hisse for them over , and for our new and strange sins , cause new and strange punishments . now conceive a city as bigge as your thoughts can imagine , and fancy the sword marching in at the east-gate , and the plague comming in at the west-gate , and famine entring in at the north-gate , and wilde beasts passing in at the south-gate , and all meeting together in the market-place , and then tell me how quickly will your voluminous citie be abridged to a poor pittance . . but hitherto wee have only spoken of the miseries of war in generall , but the worst is still behind , for we are afflicted with civill war , many warres have done wofully , but this surmounteth them all . in civill war nothing can bee expected but a ruine and desolaion . what said mordecai to hesther , hesther . . think not with thy selfe that thou shalt escape in the kings house more then all the jewes . so let none in what house soever , in the kings house , or house of lords , or house of commons , or strongest castles , or walled towns , or fenced cities , flatter themselves with a fond conceit of their safety , for if civill warres continue long , they must expect as well as others to bee devoured , yea , none can promise great persons so much happinesse as to bee last undone : for , for ought any knowes , it may come their turnes to be the first , as being the fairest markes to invite envy and malice against them . meane time poore ireland , which as the man in the vision cryed to saint paul , come over into macedonia and helpe us , which hath so long , so often , so earnestly intreated , implored , importuned our assistants , must be lost of course . the protestants there which have long swom against the tide till their armes are weary , must at last of necessity even give themselves over to bee drowned : that harpe , which when it was well tuned , made so good musicke , must now and hereafter for ever bee hung upon the willowes , a sad and sorrowfull tree , and our distraction will hasten their finall destruction . we reade , deut. . . that in a great famine the eye of the mother shall be evill towards her son and towards her daughter , shee shall grudge every morsell of meat which goes besides her owne mouth , preferring nature before naturall affection . if these times doe continue , london will grudge london-derry her daughter , and england mother generally of ireland ( as a colony deduced from it ) will grieve to part with the least meat , money and munition to it . but all these mischiefes are nothing in respect of the last , namely the scandal and dishonour which hereby will redound to the protestant religion , whereof a true christian ought to be more tender and sensible , then of any worldly losse whatsoever : tell it not in gath , nor publish it in ascalon , lest the daughters of the philistims rejoyce , lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph . o what musick doth our discord make to the romish adversaries . we reade , genes . . . and there was a strife between the heard-men of abrahams cattel , and the heard-men of lots cattell , and the cananite , and the perizite dwelled then in the land . and abraham said unto lot , let there be no strife , i pray thee , betweene my &c. wherein observe , that the canaanites and perizites being there in the land , is mentioned as a motive with abraham to make him make the speedier accommodation with lot , lest the true religion and service of god should suffer in the censure of pagans by their discords , being uncle and nephew , ingaged in a brawle by their servants dissention . how many canaanites and perezites behold our bloudy differences , and clap their hands to see us wring ours , yea , insult and rejoyce to see us sheath our swords in one anothers bowels ; wee used formerly to taske the papists of cruelty to protestants ; but hereafter , as abner said to asahel , sam. . . how then shall i hold up my face to joab thy brother : so how shall we looke in the face , from this day forwards , of our romish adversaries . tell them no more of their cruelty to the protestants at hedlebergh , of their cruelty to protestants of magdenberge , of their cruelty to the protestants at rochel ; for if these wars continue , wee are likely not onely to equall , but to out-doe these cruelties one to another ; so that discharging this accusation of bloudinesse against them , it will rebound and recoile in our own faces . put all these together , that warre makes a land more wicked , makes a land more wofull , is bad in it selfe , is worse in its traine , destroyes christian people , and disgraces christian profession , and then will all have just cause to say as it is in my text , blessed are the peace-makers . . if any object that peace also hath her mischiefes which attend thereupon ; for it brings plenty , and plenty brings pride , and pride brings plagues upon it : peace makes men pampered , and with jessurun to kick against god . war indeed brings cleannesse of teeth , whilest peace brings fulnesse of bread , which is as bad and worse , making men presumptuously to rebell against god . the answer is easie , woes may come from peace , but they must come from warre ; miseries arise from the very use of warre , which come but from the abuse of peace , being essentiall to warre , but accidentall to peace , inherent alwaies in the one , adherent too often to the other : in a word , in war calamities proceed from the thing it selfe , in peace from men , abusing it . . object . but peace without truth is rather poyson then a cordiall : o let us not be like the thirsty traveller , who so long longs for water , that at last he drinkes mud and water together , not only without distinction or distaste , but even with delight : o let us not with sampson so dote on the dalilah of peace , as to get her love to betray truth , wherein our strength lyes . some perchance would propound peace unto us , but on such servile conditions as naash the ammonite offered a truce to the men of jabesh-gilead , sam. . . on this condition will i make a covenant with you , that i may thrust out all your right eyes , and lay it for a reproacb upon all israel . and so if we will give in truth to boot , and put out our owne eyes into the bargaine ; forfeit the true faith and knowledge of god , with the purity of his service , then perchance a peace may be proffered us ; but as peter said to simon magus , act. . . thy mony perish with thee , so let such a hellish peace perish with those that seek to promote it . . in the answering of this objection , give me leave as peter said , act. . . men and brethren , let me freely speake unto you of the patriarch david ; so let me boldly and fully speak in answer to the objection : if leave be denied mee : i know whence my commission is derived , i am an embassadour for the god of heaven if i speake what is false , i must answer for it ; if truth , it will answer for me . and what i have to say , i will divide into foure propositions . . prop. . cursed be hee that seekes to divide peace from truth . i must confesse i was never bred upon mount ebal , neither did ever my tongue take delight in cursing . the rather , because we may observe deut. . . that the most eminent tribes from wch the princely & priestly men descended , levi , iudah , ephraim , & benjamin , took their station in mount gerasin , to shew , that magistrates & ministers are principally to inure their mouths to blessing . and yet for those that feek to sever peace from truth , i cannot refrain my self , but must say , cursed be they in the city , and cursed be they in the field , cursed be they in their basket and in their store , cursed be they in the fruit of their body , and in the fruit of their land , in the increase of their kine , and in the stock of their sheep , cursed shall they be when they come in , and cursed shall they be when they go out . . pro. . before this warre began , wee had in england truth in all essentiall to salvation . wee had all necessary and important truths truly compiled in our . articles . we had the word of god truly preacht ( i could wish it had been more frequently and generally ) the sacraments duly administred , which two put together doth constitute a true church . s. paul , cor. . . being to prove the resurrection of the dead , presseth the corinthians with this among other arguments , then they also which are fallen asleep in christ are perished . putting them a most uncharitable absurdity , that in case the dead arise not againe , they must be bound to confess , that all the saints formerly deceased were perished . and surely , such as deny that england before this warre began had all essentiall truth to salvation , must of necessity split themselves on the same uncharitable rocke , and passe a sentence of condemnation on all those which dyed in our church before these two yeares last past . . pro. many errors in doctrine and innovation in discipline , did creepe fast into our church . arminian positions , tenents , reason to gods grace , invaded the truth of the word in many places . one ceremony begat another , there being no bounds in will-worship , wherewith one may sooner be wearied then satisfied . the inventors of new ceremonies endeavouring to supply in number what their conceits wanted in solidity ; and god knowes before this time where they had been if they had not been stopt . . pro. the best and onely way to purge these errors out , is in a faire and peaceable way ; for the sword cannot discerne betwixt error and falshood , it may have two edges , but hath never an eye . let there on gods blessing be a synode of truely grave , pious , and learned divines ; and let them both fairely dispute , and fully decide , what 's true , what 's false ; what ceremonies are to be retained , what to be rejected ; and let civill authortie stampe their command upon it , to be generally received under what penaltie their descretion shall think fitting . but as long as warre lasts , no hope of any such agreement ; this must be a worke for peace to performe . so then under the notion of peace , hitherto we have and hereafter doe intend such a peace , as when it comes we hope will restore truth unto us , in all the accidentall and ornamentall parts thereof ; and adde it to that truth in essentialls to salvation , which we enjoyed before this warre began , and in this sence i will boldly pronounce blessed be the peace-makers . come we now to consider what be the hindrances of peace : these hindrances are either generall or particular . the generall hindrance is this : the many nationall sinnes of our kingdome being not repented of ; i say of our kingdome , not of one army alone . thinke not that the kings army is like sodome , not ten righteous men in it , ( no not if righteous lot himselfe be put into the number ) and the other army like syon consisting all of saints . no , there be drunkards on both sides , and swearers on both sides , and whoremungers on both sides , pious on both sides , and prophane on both sides , like jeremies figges , those that are good are very good , and those that are bad are very bad in both parties . i never knew nor heard of an army all of saints , save the holy army of martyrs , and those you know were dead first , for the last breath they sent forth proclaimed them to be martyrs . but it is not the sinnes of the armies alone , but the sinnes of the whole kingdome which breake off our hopes of peace , our nation is generally sinfull . the city complaines of the ambition and prodigality of the courtiers , the courtiers complaine of the pride and covetousnesse of citizens , the laity complaine of the lazinesse and state-medling of the clergy , the clergie complaine of the hard dealing and sacriledge of the laity , the rich complaine of the murmuring and ingratitude of the poor , the poor complaine of the oppression and extortion of the rich : thus every one is more ready to throw durt in anothers face then to wash his owne cleane . and in all these though malice may set the varnish , sure truth doth lay the ground-worke . of particular hindrances , in the first place we may ranke the romish recusants , is not the hand of joab with thee in all this , was davids question . sam. . . but is not the hand may we all say of jesvites in these distractions . many times from my youth up have they fought against me may england now say , yea many times from my youth up have they vexed me , but have not prevailed against me . at last , the popish party perceived that the strength of england consisted in the unity thereof . ( sampson is halfe conquered when it is knowne where his strength doth lye ) and that it was impossible to conquer english protestants , but by english protestants . is this your spite and malice o you romish adversaries , because you could not overcome us with spanish armadoes , nor blowe us up with gunpowder treasons , nor undoe us with irish rebellions , to set our selves against our selves , first to divide us , then to destroy us . well , god knowes what may come to passe . it may be when we have drunke the top of this bitter cup , the dregs may be for your share , and we may all be made friends for your utter ruine and destruction . next , the papists the schismatickes are the hendrances of our peace . these know their kingdome cannot be established but by warre , as assured that the wisdome of the state is such , as will blast their designes when matters are setled . i have heard ( when a childe ) of a lawlesse church , sure these if they might have their will , would have a lawlesse church and a gospellesse too ; and yet they as falsly as fondly conceive that the state gives approbation and connivance to them . we read psalm . . . where gods spirit reckons up many sinnes which the wicked had committed , that god saith ; these things hast thou done , and i kept silence ; thou thoughtest that i was altogether such a one as thy selfe : but i will reprove thee , and set them in order before thine eyes . in which place of scripture three things are considerable . first , god is said to keep silence when he doth not presently and visibly punish offenders , psal. . . o lord keep not silence , and so psal. . . keep not thou silence o god . god , for reasons best known to himselfe , and for some known to us , namely , to make wicked men swel and break with a timpany of good successe for the time , does not outwardly expresse the dislike of their bad courses , in inflictine a suddain and sensible puuishment upon them . secondly , observe the false logick & bad inference of wicked men ▪ who who conceive that god is altogether such an one as themselves , yea make accessary and confederate with them because silent , therefore consenting : qui tacet satis laudat . thirdly , see time wil come when in time best known to himselfe he will publikely reprove them , and shew not onely his free dissent but full displeasure . thus schismatickes improve themselves upon the clemency & long suffering of our state . because they are taken up with matters of higher concernment , and are not at leasure to stoope to their punishment , as imployed in businesse of more present and pressing importance ; separatists and sectaries conceive that they favour , what they doe not punish . but time will come when to the glory of god and their own honour , though slowly , surely they will visit their offences , and as the psalmist saith ; set their sinnes in order before them ; who have beene the partiall cause of the disorder and confusion of this kingdome . thirdly , those are enemies to peace , whose beeing meerely consisteth by warre and discention . indeed the truly noble english spirits , desire a forraigne foe for a marke for their bullets ; but many there be rather turbulent then valiant , who as demetrius by this craft they get their gaine , desire a perpetuity of warre for their possession . we read in plutarch of one demades who by profession was a maker of coffins , and he was banished out of the city of athens for wishing that hee might have good trading ; that wise sare truly interpreting the language of his wish , as desiring some epidemicall disease ; his private profit being inconsistant with the publike flourashing of the common-wealth . so those people who are undone , and cannot live but by undoing of others , certainly wish no good to our church and kingdome , but must needs be state barrettors to keep the sore alwayes raw , betwixt prince and people . let us now come to see the meanes , wherby private persons may and must endeavour the obtaining of peace ; the first is prayer , pray for the peace of jerusalem ; let every one in that prayer which he useth in his family , or private devotions , build a roome more and inlarge it , to pray for peace in our israell . secondly , let us petition for peace , not only to the god in heaven , but to the gods on earth ; first to his majestie , but alas there is a great gulfe between us & him fixed , so that they which would passe from hence to him cannot , neither can they passe to us that would come from thence . the sins of our realm are amounted to such a height that we deserve this and worse punishment . next , let us petition to the high and honourable court of parliament , next under god and the king the hope and help of our happinesse , let none say it is presumption to petition them , as undertaking to tell them of what they are ignorant , or to put them in remembrance of what they may forget , for herein we apply our selfe to them , in immitation of our accesse to god , and surely their greatnesse cannot and their goodnesse will not be displeased in our compliance and conformity to such an architype . true it is that god , matthew . . our father knoweth what things we have need of before we aske him , and yet it is his will and pleasure to be sought too by our prayer . and so no doubt that high and honourable court , though that they know fulwell that peace is that we stand in need of yet they take delight in our duty , yea expect our service herin to petition for peace , that so our begging of peace , may in effect be a modest & mannerly expression of an harty thanks for their long and constant endeavours herein . wherefore what tertullus said flatteringly to felex , we may say truly and feelingly to them ; seeing that very worthy deeds are done to this nation by their providence , we accept alwaies , and in all places with all thankfulnes . notwithstanding i pray you , that you of your clemency would heare us a few words . and let us in all humility , not directing but beseeching them , without a tumultuous thought , most peacable and pathetically begge of them and sue unto them to continue their care in advancing a seasonable and happy accomodation , that so the blessing pronounced in my text may lie both upon them and theirs blessed are the peacemakers : thirdly , we must be content soundly to pay for peace , we read exod. . . and he made the lever of brasse and the foot of it of brasse , of the looking-glasses of the women assembling , which assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation . it seemeth that the backsids of their looking-glasses were made of brasse , which commonly with us are made of wood , and they consigned them over for gods service ; and good reason too , for formerly they had given their eraerings for the making of a calfe ; justly therefore now they did pennance for their pride , as counting it honour enough , that that wherein they looked their owne faces , should make the foot of gods leaver . but what should not people give to buy a true peace and a peace with truth ? o how many yeeres purchase is it worth ? let us not thinke much , to give all our superfluities , but to give fome of our necessaries , for the advancing and obtaining of it . fourthly , let us banish out of our mouthes all words and phrases of contempt and reproach , ( i could instance in the word , but that it is beneath the majesty of a pulpit ) which the malice of men hath minted and fastned on opposite parties ; o let us have no other christian name , then the name of christians , or other surname then christian protestants , neither answering to , nor calling others by any term of disgrace . fifthly , let us with a speedy , serious and generall repentance , remove the crying sinnes of our kingdome , which as long as they last , wil bane all peace amongst us . i say speedy , least the physick come too late for the disease ; serious , least the tent be too short for the wound ; generall , least the plaster be too narrow for the sore . suppose that the sea should breake forth in this land , as such a thing may come to passe , the lord is king , saith david , let the earth rejoyce yea let the multitude of of the isle he glad thereatr , psal. . . and good reason hath the iles to be glad , as more particularly concerned , for if the water were not countermanded by gods prerogative royall , it would speedily recover its naturall place above the earth . but suppose the sea should break into the land , it is not the endeavours of a private man can stop it ; what if he goes downe with a faggot on his backe , and a matrock on his shoulder , and a spade in his hand , his desire is more commendable then his discretion , it being more likely the sea would swallow him then he stop the mouth thereof . no , the whole country must come in , children must bring earth in their hats , women in their aprons , men with handbarrowes , wheelbarrowes , carts , carres , waines , waggons , all must worke least all be destroyed . i rather instance in this expression of the irruption of the sea , because i finde gods anger so compared in holy writ , chron. . . david said , god hath broken in upon mine enemies like the breaking forth of waters . so when a generall deluge and inundation of gods anger seaseth upon a whole kingdome , it cannot be stopt by the private endeavours of some few , but it must be an universall work , by a generall repentance ; all must raise bankes to bound it . till this be done , i am afraid we shall have no peace , and to speak plainly i am afraid we are not yet ripe for gods mercy , as gideon judg. . . had too many men for god to give victory to : so we are too proud hitherto for god to give peace too , many of us are humiliati , but few of us are humiles . many by these warres brought loe , but few made loely , so that we are proud in our poverty , and as the unjust steward said , to beg i am ashamed , so we are too stout thogh halfe starved on the bended knees of our soules , with true repentance , to crave pardon of god for our sinnes , which till it be done , we may discourse of peace and superficially desire it but never truely care for it , or can comfortably receive it . and indeed wee may take forcible motives from our owne miseries , to endeavour peace by all possible meanes ; for look upon the complexion of the warre , and doth it not look of a most strange and different hue from other warres . the wars of germany ( which give me leave to say if we had pittied by the proxie of a true simpathy , we had never so soon suffered them in our owne person ) were far lighter affliction then ours . in germany people when hunted with warre took covert in their fenced citties . but here in england we have no guard against wars blow , but lye open to plundering and destruction . germany was a great continent bearing six hundred miles square , so that whilst one part thereof was mowed downe with warre , the other enjoying peace , might grow up in the meane time . but little england ( great onely in her miseries , severed by the sea from other countries , and by devisions parted from het selfe ) is a morsell which civill warre will quickly devoure . thirdy , in germany commanly they lay in garrison in winter and fought in sommer ; we read sam. . and it came to passe at the time when kings goe forth to battell . this all comments generally expound of the spring time ; but alas if we in our woes were antipodes to all others , our miseries begin when others end , in the winter time . pray ( saith out saviour ) that your flight be not in the winter , nor on the sabboth-day : winter fights woful fights , sabboth wars sorrowful warres , and yet such are these in our kingdome . lastly , in germany papists did fight against protestants , where as our intestine wars , are against those that professe the same religion . it hath been a great curse of god upon us , to make a constant misunderstanding betwixt our king and his parliament ; whilest both professe to levell at the same end . i cannot compare their case better than to the example of ruben and judah , gen. . there ruben desired and endeavoured to preserve the life of his brother joseph , and judah desired and endeavour to preserve the life of his brother joseph ; and yet these two imbracing different meanes , did not onely crosse and thwart , but even ruine and destroy the desires of each other ; for ruben moved and obtained that joseph might not be killed , vers. . and ruben said unto them , shed no blood , but cast him into this pit that is in the wildernesse , and lay no hand upon him ; that he might rid him out of their hands , to deliver him to his father againe . judah also desired the same , but being not privie to rubens intents , and to avoid the cruelty of the rest of his brethren , propounded and effected , that joseph might be sold to the medianitish merchants , meetly so to preserve his life ; and thereby he did unravell all the web of rubins designes , and frustrated his endeavours . thus when god will have a people punished for their sinnes , hee will not onely suffer but cause mistakes without mending , and misprisions without rectifying , to happen betwixt brethren who meane and really intend the same thing ; so that they speake the same matter in effect , and yet , be barbarians one to another , as either not or not right understanding what they say each to other . thus the maintaining of the protestant religion in the purity thereof ; the vindicating of the lawfull prerogative of the king ; the ascertaining of the just rights and priviledges of the parliament ; the defending of the dues and properties of the subject are pleaded and pretended on both sides , as the ultimate ends they aime at . well , as our saviour said to the blinde man , mat. . . according to your faith be it unto you : so , according to the sincerity and integrity of their hearts whom god knowes means most seriously , be it unto them ; we wish them good victory in the name of the lord : and yet even herein a friendly peace were as much better then victory it selfe , as the end is better then the means ; for , blessed are the peace-makers . objections . but may some say , though we doe never so much desire peace , we shall not obtaine that blessing , which is pronounced in my text , for the peacemakers are to be blessed . and it is to be feared , that our breaches are too wide to be cured , and gods justice must have reparation upon us . by peace-makers , peace-endeavourers are to be understood , not only the effectours of peace , but even the affectours of peace shal be blessed . rom. . . if it he possible , as much as in you lyeth live peaceably with all men . god out of his goodnesse , measures mens reward , not by their successe but desires , cor. . . for if there be first a willing minde , it is accepted according to that a man hath , and not according to that he hath not . and yet i am not out of heart , but that there is hope of peace , and that as yet our sinnes are not sweld so high , but that there is mercy with god for our nation . first , my hope is founded on the multitude of good people in this land , which assault and batter heaven with the importunity of their prayers . we read of ptolomeus philodelphus , king of egipt that he caused the bible to be translated by seventy interpreters , which seventy were severally disposed of in seventy severall cels , unknown each to other ; and yet they did so well agree in their several translations , that there was no considerable difference betwixt them , in rendering the text ; an argument that they were acted with one and the same spirit . surely it comforts me when i call to minde , what shall i say , seventy , nay seven times seventy , yea seaventy hundred , yea seventy thousand , which are peaceable in israel , which on the bended knees of their souls , daily pray to god for peace . these though they know not the faces , no not the names one of another , nay , have neither seen nor shall see one another till they meet together in happinesse in heaven ; yet they unite their votes and centre their suffrages in the same thing , that god would restore peace unto us , who no doubt in his due time will heare their prayers . the second thing that comforts mee , is , when i looke on gods proceedings hitherto in our kingdome , his judgements seeme to be judgements rather of expostulation then of exterpation : we read exod. . . that god being angry with moses for not circumcising his sonnes ; it came to passe by the way in the iane that the lord met him , and sought to kill him . sought to kill him ? strange : did god seeke to kill him , and not kill him ? speake lord , speake to the fire , and it shall with flashes consume him ; to the ayre , and with pestilent vapours it shall choake him ; to the water , and with deluges it shall over-whelme him ; to the earth , and with yawning chops it shall devoure him . well , the meaning is this , god sought to kill him , that is , in some outward visible manner whereof moses was apprehensive god manifested his displeasure against him , that so moses might both have notice and leisure to divert his anger , with removing the cause thereof . he that saith to us , seeke and yee shall finde , doth himselfe seeke and not finde ; and good reason too , for he sought with an intent not to finde . thus i may say , that for these last foure yeeres god hath still sought to destroy the kingdome of england , manifesting an unwillingnesse to doe it , if in any reasonable time we would compound with him by serious repentance . thus the loving father shakes the rod over his wanton childe , not with an intent to beat him , but to make him begge pardon ; and such hitherto hath beene gods dealing with our nation , that he even courts and woes us to repentance , as loath to punish us , if wee would understand the signes of his anger , before it breake out upon us . but if all faile , yet those that are peace-makers in their desires , doe enter a caveat in the court of heaven ; that if warres doe ensue , yet for their part they have laboured against it . if a man slaine were found in the field , and it not knowne who slew him , god provided deut. . . that the elders of the next city should wash their hands in the blood of an heifer , and say , our hands have not shed this blood , neither have our eyes seen it , be mercifull , o lord , unto thy people israel whom thou hast redeemed , and lay not innocent blood unto thy people of israels charge , and the blood shal be forgiven them . so this one day will be a comfort to the consciences of godly minded men , that they may appeale to the god of heaven , how they have prayed heartily for peace , have petitioned humbly for peace , have been contented to pay deerly for peace , and to their powers have endevoured to refraine themselves from sinnes , the breakers of peace ; and therefore they trust that christian english protestant blood , which shall be shed , which hath beene and hereafter may be shed in these wofull warres , shall never be visited on their score or laid to their charge . but if all faile , and if we must be involved in a finall desolation , then let us goe to the assurance office of our soules , and have peace of conscience with god in our saviour . it was wont to be said a mans house is his castle , but if this castle of late hath proved unable to secure any , let them make their conscience their castle , if beaten from all our parapets and outworkes , let us retire to this strength for our defence ; it may seem , be it spoken with all reverence , a blunt expression of the holy spirit , luk. . . be not afraid of them that kill the body , and that have no more that they can doe . yea , but one may say they may kil me with torment and with torture , make me drop out my life by degrees ; why the totall some of their malice , is but to kill the body , and then they have no more that they can do . but they may forbid my body christian buriall ; herein they do not do but suffer , for the living wil be more troubled then the dead , if thy corps be not committed to earth so that this in effect is just nothing . then let drums beat , and trumpets sound , and banners be displaid ; let swords clash , and pikes push , and bullets flye , and cannons roare ; warre doe thy worst , death doe thy worst , devill doe thy worst , their souls shal be happy that sleep in the lord , for they rest from their labours . however , if it be possible , and if so great mercy be stored up in god for us , we would rather have peace in this world ; and on the promoters therof let the blessing in the light and rest , blessed are the peacemakers . and now as i began with the mention of the fast , so to conclude with the same , let us keep this day of humiliation holy to the lord . some perchance may make this but a mock-fast , and fast for some private and sinester ends , but every one that will may make it a true fast to himself , therin to be grieved for the misery of gods saints . god complaines , amos the sixt , of the gluttonie of the israelites , wherein wee finde the compleat character of an epicure , making wantons of his five sences , entertaining their eyes with bedsteads of ivory , verse . curious to behold for the milk-whitenesse thereof ; pleasing their feeling , they stretch themselves on couches ; courting their eares , they chant to the violl , ver. . contenting their taste , and making that sence a pander both to gluttony and drunkennesse , they eate the fat of lambes , and drinke wine in boules , verse . delighting their smell , and annoynt themselves with the chiefe oyntments ; and then concludes all with this sharpe close , but they are not grieved for the affliction of joseph . wherein the prophet alludes to the story of joseph , gene. . . who was put into a pit without water ( except such as flowed from his eyes ) where he must either dye for want of meat , or dye for being meat to wilde beasts ; and yet in the meane time his brethren , though they saw the anguish of his soul , gene. . . ( made visible and transparent through the windowes of his weeping eyes , bended knees , begging tongue , folded hands ) did most barbarously sit down to eate ; i dare boldly say they said no grace with a good heart , either before meate or after . just such is the cruelty of many of us , ( who professe christianity ) to our brethren in the countrey , because as yet the city of london is as the land of goshen , being light when all the rest is darkned with miseries , they lay not to heart the afflictons of joseph , which our countrey-men do suffer . where is the man that sounds a retreat to his soul when he feeles it marching to fast in myrth , who abates a dish of his table out of principles of conscience , though perchance many doe out of reasons of thrift ; and i am affraid all shortly must doe out of necessitie . well , if we be not the more penitent , it may come to passe , that that sad dance which hath beene led all over the kingdome will come to us to this city at last , and god grant we pay not the musique for all the rest . remember vriah who kept a campe in the court , and would not enjoy those pleasures the marriage bed reached unto him . thinke of mephibosheth lame but loyall , who went not out with david in his person , but attended him with his affections , and during the kings absence , dressed not his feet , ( enough to gangrene them ) as not caring for his owne feet , whilest his soveraignes head was in danger . seriously consider nehemiah , who sympathized with the calamities of jerusalem , which sadded his countenance even in the presence of the king . two things onely can make a courtier sad , sicknesse ( which cannot be dissembled ) and his princes displeasure . nehemiah had neither of these , he was in perfect health , and he stood rectus in curia , right in his soveraignes esteeme , as appeares , nehemiah . . by the kings favourable and familiar questioning him , why is thy countenance sad , seeing thou art not sicke ? so then , it was nothing else but the impression of the suffering of gods saints , which clouded the brightnesse of his countenance with sadnesse . and god grant we having the same cause , we may have the same compassion with him . amen . errata . page . read , not us who are priests : p. . line . r. ●treason to gods grace : l. . r. betwixt truth and errour : p. . l. . r. but they may forbid my body christian buriall . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a e- . acts . . a sermon preached at st. clemens danes at the funeral of mr. george heycock by thomas fuller ... fuller, thomas, - . this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text r in the english short title catalog (wing f ). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a wing f estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a sermon preached at st. clemens danes at the funeral of mr. george heycock by thomas fuller ... fuller, thomas, - . [ ], p. printed by r.w. ..., london : . reproduction of original in cambridge university library. eng heycock, george, d. ? funeral sermons. sermons, english -- th century. a r (wing f ). civilwar no a sermon preached at st. clemens danes, at the funeral of mr. george heycock. by thomas fuller, b.d. fuller, thomas b the rate of defects per , words puts this text in the b category of texts with fewer than defects per , words. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - john latta sampled and proofread - john latta text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a sermon preached at st. clemens danes , at the funeral of mr. george heycock . by thomas fuller , b. d. eccles. . . it is better to go to the house of mourning , then to go to the house of feasting : for that is the end of 〈…〉 the living will lay it to heart . london , printed by r. w. anno dom. . to the friends of the party deceased . it grieved me when i was to perform the last office to our deceased friend , that i had scarce the stump of a voice left me , so that very few did distinctly hear what i did deliver . this hath made me the more willingly condescend to your desire in printing this sermon , that your eye may peruse what your ear did not receive . and as you have honoured your dead friend in attending his corpse in so sad and solemn an equipage , so you shall truly honour your selves , in following his example , and imitating those vertues which were eminent in him . this is the desire of your unfeigned friend , thomas fuller acts . . for david after he had served his own generation after the will of god , fell asleep , &c. in this chapter saint paul doth demonstrate the resurrection of our blessed saviour by three several places of scripture , foretold and now fulfilld . the law saith , in the mouth of two or three witnesses the truth shall be established . two may , three must do the deed ; two make full measure , three make measure pressed down and running over . and such doth the apostle give us in the proof of this point . the first place he citeth psalm . . thou art my son , this day have i begotten thee : the second , isaiah . . i will give you the sure mercies of david : the last , psalm . . thou shalt not suffer thy holy one to see corruption . it is observable , that the same text , acts . . is also alledged , expounded , applyed and pressed by saint paul to prove the resurrection of christs body uncorrupted . see here the holy harmony betwixt the two apostles . though peter and paul had a short and sharp contest at antioch , galat. . . where paul withstood him to his face ; yet here their hearts , and hands , and tongues , meet lovingly together in the improving of the same portion of scripture : both of them shew first negatively , how it could not litterally be meant of david , ( whose body was corrupted and his sepulchre remained amongst them unto that day ) and therefore positively must be meant mystically and prophetically of christ . now as i am charitably confident that all who hear me this day , are satisfied and assured herein , that our saviours body saw no corruption , so give me leave to be jealous over you with a godly jealousie , for fear some mistake the cause of this his incorruptibility , and bottom it on a false foundation . some perchance may impute it to the shortness of the time he lay in his grave , being but a day and two pieces of a day , numero rotundo , though currente stilo they commonly be called and counted three daies . these do ponere non causam pro causa ; for the time was long enough in that hot countrey , to cause putrefaction , considering that our saviours body was much bruised and broken with the whips , nails , and spears , ( besides the effusion of much blood ) which would the sooner have invited corruption . others perchance put the untaintedness of his body upon the account of the great quantity of myrrh and aloes ( about an hundred pound weight ) and other precious spices , wherewith ioseph and nicodemus , iohn . . imbalmed it . this also is an unsound opinion ; for all the spices of arabia cannot secure a corpse from putrifying , though they may preserve it that such putrifaction shall not be noysom to others in the ill savour thereof , not keeping it from corrupting , but from offending . the true reason is this , though christs soul was parted from his body , ( and where disposed of , god only knows , during his remainder in the grave ) yet the union with the deity was never dissolved , which priviledged his corpse from corruption . so that had it been possible ( which was impossible , as is inconsistent with gods promise and pleasure ) for his corpse to have lien in the grave till this instant , they had been perpetuated in an intire estate , whilst it is true of david as it is in the text , after he had served his own generation by the will of god , he fell on sleep , and was laid unto his fathers , and saw corruption . observe in the words four principal parts ; . what a generation is . . what it is to serve ones generation . . how david served his own generation . . how we after his example are to serve ours . of these in order , and first we will consider what a generation is . a generation is a company of men and women , born , living and dying much about the same time : i say , much about the same time ; for seven years , under or over , sooner or later , breaketh no squares herein , but that the said persons are reducible to the same generation . thus , mat. . . all the generations from abraham to david , are fourteen generations : and from david ▪ untill the carrying away into babylon , are fourteen generations : & from the carrying away into babylon unto christ , are fourteen generations . now all generations are not of equal extent ; so admirable the longevitie of those before the flood , compared to our short lives , since god for our sins hath contracted the cloth of our life to three score and ten years , and all is but a course list which is more then that measure , psalm . . and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years , yet is their strength labour and sorrow , for it is soon cut off , and we flie away . it is remarkable , that three generations are alwaies at the same time on foot in the world ; namely , . the generation rising . . the generation shining . . the generation setting . for should god clear the earth of all men at once , mankind could not be recruted but by miracle ; besides , neither humane arts nor sciences ; nor could the scripture hansomly be handed and delivered from one generation to another . god therefore of his goodness doth so order it , that rather then any empty interval should happen betwixt them , one generation should fold and lap over another . these three degrees were most visibly conspicuous in the levites , which till five and twenty years of age , were learning levites , thence till fifty , acting levites , ( as being then in the strength of their age ) imployed in the portage of the tabernacle , and after fifty , had a writ of ease from bodily labour , though they may be presumed to be busied in the teaching of others . pass we now to explain what it is to serve our generation . to serve it , is to discharge our conscience according to gods will in his word , to our superiours , equals , inferiours , all persons to whom we stand related in our generation . and the more eminent the person is in church and state , the more are his references multiplyed , and the more publick and ponderous the service is which he is to perform . nor must it be forgotten , that david was a king , in which respect it was proper for him to rule and command his own generation ; and yet it is said , he served the same . princes are not priviledged by their greatness , only to tyranize over others , but are accountable to god , how well they discharge their duty to all such to whom they are respected . proceed we to see how david served his generation , which he did in an eight-fold capacity . first as a dutifull son to his father and mother . sam. . . and david went thence to mizpeh of moab , and he said unto the king of moab , let my father and mother , i pray thee come forth , and be with you , till i know what god will do for me . and he brought them before the king of moab , and they dwelt with him all the while that david was in the hold . the case was thus , david foresaw that the tempest of sauls fury would fall full heavy on his fathers family ; he soresaw also that though he himself might be alwaies on the wing , hunted from place to place as a patridge on the mountain , yet his aged p●rents could not keep pace with his suddain , uncertain , unseasonable , late and long removeance , and therefore as a dutifull son he provided for them a private place of peaceable repose . secondly he served his generation as a very loving brother , witness the dangerous visit ( which at his fathers command ) he gave his brethren in the camp , ( when goliah was in the field ) victualling them with all necessary provision , on the same token that he received nothing for his pains save a jeer from eliab his eldest brother . sam. . . why camest thou down hither ? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness ? i know thy pride , and the naughtiness of thine heart ; for thou art come down , that thou mightest see the battle . thirdly he served his generation as a kind and carefull husband i will not excuse his polygamie , having many wives at once , nor dare i flatly condemn it , god conniving thereat in the antient patriarchs . however david cannot be charged with want of love amongst his store of wives . once i confess he made a tart and sharp return to michal , sam. . . mocking him for dancing before the ark . but was there not a cause , when through the sides of david she struck at all true devotion ? and smartness on such occasion is zeal , and no trespass against marital affection . fourthly he served his generation as a tender father indeed ; he faulty , it was in the excess , being over-indulgent to absolom and adonjah , whom he never took to task nor called to account , ( kings . . ) why have you done so ? ( and seeing he would not use the rod on them , god therefore used them as a rod on him ) such cockering we confess is a catching disease amongst us parents ; but to give david his due , for the main , he behaved himself no doubt as a discreet and tender father to his numerous issue . fifthly , he was a fast and faithfull friend ; witness the exchange of hearts as well as cloathes , which passed betwixt him and ionathan : yea david made a tripartite expression of his affection . . he loved ionathan in his life , . lamented him at , . shewed mercy to him , after his death , sam. . . in restoring mephiboseth to all his lands , and making him fellow-commoner at his own table ; so that we may truly say and justifie the expression , there was two men , jonathan and david ; and it will be made good by the rules of amity , if any question the phrase in the rule of grammer . sixthly , he was a loyall subject , whereof he gave two signal testimonies , like to find more to admire then to imitate them amongst posterity , if any should chance to be estated in his condition with the same advantage : for being reversion'd to the crown , he twice had an opportunity ( if so pleased ) to put himself into the present possession thereof . once when he had saul in the cave , sam. . . and his heart smot him for being over-bold with gods annointed , though he did but cut off a skirt of his garment . again , sam. . . when he found saul asleeping , and ( if so disposed ) might have left him a sleeping , till the sound of the last trumpet should summon him to awake . a surly general walking the round , and finding one of his centinels asleep , nailed him with his spear to the earth , and excused his act with this jest , ( whether witty or cruel , let others judge ) dormientem inveni , dormientem reliqui ; sleeping i found him , and sleeping i left him . david might have done the like , especially seeing abisha ( not to say providence ) impelled him thereunto , but would not ( as having a principle of piety within him , which remonstrated against such proceedings . ) seventhly , he was a prudent soveraign both in peace and war , in court and camp , for the space of full forty years , going in and out before the people of israel , whom he ruled prudently with all his might . i confess his son absolom taxed him with neglect of the affairs of state , sam. . . that no man was deputed by him to hear the causes and redress the grievances of his oppressed subjects . but what saith our plain proverb , ill will never speaks well . and therefore i listen to absoloms words as to a loud libell ; and we should be no less injurious to our own judgements then to davids innocence , in giving credit to a proud ambitious son , against an holy and humble father . eightly and lastly , david served his generation as a gracious saint ; this was the diamond of the ring , and i have kept the best wine for the last , to close and conclude davids character therewith . he is termed in this chapter , ver. . a man after gods own heart , being the best transcript or copy of the best original . objection . but you wittingly , and willingly , and wilfully , will some say , have suppressed and concealed a necessary truth , because tending to davids disparagement . saint paul saith , titus . . that some men serve divers lusts and pleasures , and so did david himself . he did not serve his generation , but his own wicked wantonness , when he imbroydered his adultery with bathsheba with the murder of uriah . answer , o not a word , not a syllable , not a letter , not a tittle hereof . god hath forgotten it , why should man remember it ? god hath cast it behind his back , why should we cast it in the teeth of davids memory ; let us never mention it to his disgrace , but for our own direction ; partly to teach us not to trust in our selves , lest we fall into sin ; partly to comfort us , that after sin committed , pardon is obtainable on our unfeigned repentance . yea this is a very comfortable consideration , that though there be many faults , failings and defects in our performances , yet if there be sincerity ( gospel perfection ) therein , if our hearts be set to seek the lord god of our fathers , god will be mercifull unto us , though we be not purified according to the purification of the sanctuary . thus lot ( notwithstanding the soul fact of incest committed by him ) is called a righteous man , pet. . . men opprobriously taint and term people by the obliquity of one irregular act , which with uncharitable tongues is enough to ecclipse yea extinguish the credit of all other graces in him ; but god doth denominate and epithite persons from the rectitude of the general habit of their lives ; yea by him such shall be reputed , accepted , received to serve our generation . to conclude this point , he was a witty man who first taught stones to speak by engraving of epitaphs upon them : but he was wicked man who first taught stones to lie , abusing posterity with notorious untruths in flattering inscriptions on many monuments ; but i call malice it self to witness , whether the ensuing epitaph might not with modest truth be ingraved on davids sepulchre ; here lieth interred the corpse of him who when living , was a dutiful son , a loving brother , a kind husband , a tender father , a faithfull friend , a loyall subjct , a provident soveraign , a gracious saint ; in a word , one who served his own generation after the will of god . but should i stop here , i should not do right to davids deserts . be it known that besides the serving his own generation , david did and doth serve all generations in the world as long as time shall last , as being the instrumentall author of the psalms . far be it from me to make odious comparisons betwixt either persons or things that are eminent , or to set difference betwixt gods word ( as once the disciples fell out amongst themselves which should be the greatest ) which is the most heavenly part thereof ; but surely the psalms are inferiour to no part of the old testament . the rabins have a fond conceit , that manna did relish in the mouthes of men as the eaters thereof did fancy to themselves , having the gust of flesh , fish or fowl , roast , boyl'd , or bak'd , as the eater thereof did wish or desire : i call this a fond conceit , as contrary to an express in scripture , exodus . . wherein the taste thereof is confined to wafers made with honey . but this i will boldly say and maintain , that the psalms of david shall relish to an hungry soul , as he shall ( not out of humour and causeless fancy , but ) judiciously desire it . wouldst thou have it taste bitter ? it shall taste bitter and reprove thee ; taste sweet ? it shall taste sweet and comfort thee ; taste betwixt both , bitter-sweet ? it shall bitter-sweet counsel and advise thee . proceed we now to application : it serveth to confute three sorts of people : first the covetous , who are so far from serving their generation , that they will scarce serve themselves , and allow necessaries for their own comfortable subsistence . secondly , the voluptuous man , who only serveth himself and is good to no other . these instead of saying , let us fast and pray , say , let us eat and drink for to morrow we shall die . thirdly the superstitious man , who immureth himself in a cloyster , crying his life up for an high piece of holiness , burying both his parts and person therein . surely the church and state he liveth in , may justly commence a suit , and have an action of debt against him , for not repaying them proportionably to his abilities , who by his laziness will not serve his generation . others there are , who are so far from serving their generation , that they dis-serve it , and do much mischief thereunto , either by their bad writings or vicious example . bad writings , either scurrilous against modesty , or scandalous against charity , or blasphemous against piety , as either in maintaining erroneous opinions , or defending vicious practises ; such black broods are bad whilest in their nests , concealed in the studies of their authors , but well worse when fledg'd and flown abroad into the world , so that it is not in the power of the hen to clock in her own chickens again , and recall what they have composed . secondly , they are not only unprofitable , but destructive servants to posterity , who leave the copies of bad examples behind them , so that they know not when they have done sinning ; yea it is to be feared , that whilst their souls are suffering in a wofull place , they still may be sinning here on earth . if it be true what * symmachus saith , author est bonorum sequentium qui bonum relinquit exemplum ; by the same proportion , he that leaveth an ill precedent , is the father and founder of all the evil which may ensue thereupon ; like ieroboam seldom mentioned in scripture but with his train sweeping after him , the son of nebat which made israel to sin . god grant that when we die , our sins may be buried in our graves , or rather ( which is a more christian expression , and more conformable to the proportion of faith ) that before we die , our sins may be buried in christs grave , pardoned and forgiven unto us , especially that we leave not behind us ill examples for the poysoning and perverting of such as shall survive us . for as it is said of abel , heb. . . he being dead yet speaketh : so is it sadly true of many who are dead and rotten , that they still lye , curse , swear , here on earth , occasioning the same in others by their wicked patterns and practises they have left behind them . objection . but some will plead themselves priviledged and exempted from serving their generation , because of the badness thereof . david ( say they ) had some comforr in , and credit by serving his generation , having for his time-fellows so many worthies in all professions . worthy priests , abimelech , abiathar , zadock ; worthy captains , ioab , abishar , benaia , the son of iehejedah ; worthy states-men , husha , adoniram ; worthy prophets , nathan , gad , &c. whereas i live in such a generation , that all the bad epethite , in the old and new testament may truly be applyed thereunto . a stubborn generation , a froward generation , psalm . . a rebellious generation , a generation that set not their heart aright , and whose spirit is not stedfast with god . a generation of vipers , mat. . . a faithless generation , mat. . . whether you take it in divinity for lack of belief towards god , or in morality for want of truth and trust towards man ; and who can find in his heart to serve so wicked a generation ? some will say , ( further to improve this objection ) o that i had been born some years after the persecution in the reign of queen mary , that so my threescore and ten years , the age of man , might have run parallel with the prosperous times of queen elizabeth , king iames , and king charls ; and have determined and expired some years before the beginning of our late civil wars : had my nativity been fixed in that peaceable position , o then i would willingly , and readily , and chearfully , and joyfully , and thankfully have served my own generation ; whereas now i have no list , and less comfort to do it , being condemned to live in so wicked an age , made up of the dregs of time , the badness whereof is more dangerous then difficult to describe , and may with more safety be confest by the hearers , then exprest by the preacher in his place . ans. i have three things to return in answer hereunto . first , grant the objector speaketh very much of truth herein , yet if the times be so bad as he complaineth , their badness will serve for a foyl to set off his goodness , and render it the more conspicuous , making him , philip . . . to shine the brighter as a light in the world in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation . alas , thy little faith would have made no show , hadst thou lived in the age of abraham ; thy patience would have seemed but a dwarf to the giant patience of iob , hadst thou been his contemporary ; thy meekness had appeared as nothing , if measured with the meekness of moses , had you been partners in the same generation . whereas now a little faith , patience , meekness , and so of other graces , will make a very good presence in the publick , if the age thou livest in be so bad as thou dost complain , and others perchance do believe . secondly , i suspect this to be nothing else but a device of thy deceitfull heart , thereby to cozen thine own self . the objection speaks the state of thy soul to be much like the temper of the scribes and pharisees , mat. . . if we ( say they ) had been in the daies of our fathers , we would not have been partakers with the blood of the prophets . yet these pretended pittifull persons were indeed more cruel then their ancestors . their fathers killed the men , they the master ; their fathers the servant they the son ; their fathers murdered the prophets of god , they the god of those prophets , so far forth as he was murderable in his humane nature ; and it is vehemently to be suspected , that if thou beest bad now , thou wouldst not have been good , had the time of thy nativity answered thine own desire . it is a shrewd presumption , that he who behaved himself as a woolf in his own generation , would not have been a lamb in what age soever he had lived . lastly , beggars must be no choosers ; thou art not to serve the generation before thee , nor the generation after thee , nor any other of thy own election , but thy own generation , wherein divine providence hath been pleased to place thee : saint paul saith , ephesians . . wives submit your selves unto your own husbands . some will say , had i such an one to my husband , i could willingly obey him , he is of so meek , mild and sweet a disposition , but mine is of so morose and froward a nature , it goes against my nature to be dutifull unto him . however , though she hath not the same comfort , she hath the same cause of submission , obliging in conscience to gods command ; husbands must love their own wives , wives obey their own husbands ; husbands and wives with david , must serve their own generation . but now that my sword may cut on both sides , as hitherto we have confuted such who are faulty in their defect , and will not serve their generation ; so others offend in the excess , not being only servants , but slaves and vassals to the age they live in , prostituting their consciences to do any thing ( how unjust soever ) to be a favourite to the times : surely a cautious concealment is lawful , and wary silence is commendable in perilous times . amos . . it is an evil time , therefore the wise shall hold their peace . and i confess that a prudential compliance in religion in things indifferent , is justifiable , as also in all civil concernments , wherein the conscience is not violated : but wherein the will of the times crosseth the will of god , our indentures are cancelled from serving them , and god only is to be obeyed . there is some difference in reading the precept , rom. . . occasioned from the similitude of the words in the original , ( though utterly unlike in our english tongue ) some reading it serving the lord , others serving the time . i will not dispute which in the greek is the truer copie , but do observe that davids precedent in my text , is a perfect expedient , to demonstrate that both lections may and ought to be reconciled in our practise : he served his generation , there is serving the times ; but what followeth ? by the will of god , there is serving the lord ; this by him was , by us must be performed . saint stephen , acts . . began his sermon to the people with these words , men , brethren , and fathers ; which words i thus expound and apply . by men , he meant young folk which had attained to the strength and stature of men , and were much younger then himself . by brethren , those of his own standing and seniority in the world ( probably forty years old or thereabouts ) and therefore he saluted such with a familiar appellation as a badge of equality . thirdly fathers , being aged people , more antient then himself , as appeareth by his term of respect addressed to persons distanced above him . this distinction will serve me first perfectly to comprise , then methodically to distinguish all my auditors in this congregation . i begin with you men , which are of the generation rising , it being bootless for me to address my self to children not arrived at their understanding , concerning whom i turn my preaching to them into praying for them , and wish them good success in the name of the lord . it is your bounden duty to omit no opportunity to inform your selves both in learning and religion , from those that living with you are of more age and experience , and demean your selves unto them with all reverence and respect . o let them go fairly their own pace and path to their graves . do not thrust them into the pit with your preposterous wishes . filius ante diem , o when will he die and his name perish ! rather endeavour to prolong the daies of your parents by your dutifull deportment unto them , stay but a while , and they will willingly resign their room unto you , in earnest whereof those superannated bazzilbaes do contentedly surrender the lawfull pleasures of this life , sam. . . to you their chimchams , their sons and successors , to be by you with sobriety and moderation peaceably possessed , and comfortably enjoyed . you brethren , who are pew-fellows in the same age with my self , who are past our verticall point , and are now entered into the autumn of our life , give me leave to bespeak you with becoming boldness , familiarity beseeming those of the same form together ; there is a new generation come upon , let us therefore think of going off the stage , endeavouring so to act our parts , that we may come off , not so much with applause from man , as approbation from god . if we live long , we shall be lookt upon as the barren fig-tree that combereth the ground ; we must make room for succession , as our fathers have done for us . and let this be our greatest care , to derive and deliver religion in all the fundamentals thereof , in as good a plight and condition to our sons , as we received it from our fathers . o let us leave gods house as tenantable as we found it , let it not be said , that we willingly let the fair fabrick of faith and good life to run to ruine in our , so that the next age may justly sue us for dilapidations . when our saviour said unto his disciples , matth. . . verily i say unto you , that one of you shall betray me , they were exceeding sorrowfull , and began every one of them to say unto him , lord is it i ? yea iudas himself lagging at last with his is it i lord ! and was returned with thou saidst it . thus at the last day of judgement shall all generations be arraigned before god . but to confine our application only to those three within the last six-score years ; if god should say unto them , one of you have betrayed my truth , how would it put them all upon their particular purgation ! is it i lord ? saith the first generation in the raign of king edward the sixt ; surely they shall be acquitted who in the marian daies sealed the truth with their blood . is it i lord ? saith the second generation , lasting all the reign of queen elizabeth to the middle of king iames . that also will be cleared as publickly preserving the purity of true doctrine in the thirty nine articles . what a shame shall it be , if when our age shall ask with iudas , is it i ? we shall be returned , thou hast said it . yours is the age that hath betrayed my truth to errour , unity to faction , piety to prophaness ; sad , when such a fact shall be so clear that it cannot be denyed , and yet so foul that it cannot be defended . however , this my too just fear may consist with hope of better things of you , and such as accompany salvation . i must conclude with you reverend fathers , whom my loyalty cannot pass by without doing my due homage to the crown of your age , especially if it be found in the way of truth . give me leave to tell you belong to that generation which is passed out of this world : not only the van or front , and also the main body and battle of your army are marched to their graves ( and their souls i hope to heaven ) whilest divine providence for reasons best known to himself , hath reserved you to bring up ( as i may say ) the very rear of the rear of your generation . o do not mistake this reprieve for a pardon ; and here give me leave to use a plain but expressive similitude . have you never seen a wanton child run a firebrand against the hearth or back of the chymney , and so on a suddain make a skie of sparks ? of which sparks some instantly expire , others continue a pretty time and then go out , others last a little longer , whilest one or two ( as having a greater stock of soot to feed them ) hold out a good while , but at last are extinguisht . man is born to labour , as sparks do fly upward , some presently go out wafted from the womb to the winding-sheet ; others live to ripe men , others to be old men ; some whose temper and temperance are more signal then in others , to be countect wonderous old , but all at last die and fall to the earth . we read , revelat. . . of an angel who had his right foot on the sea , and his left on the earth . this may seem a strange stride , save that it abateth the wonder , because angels when pleased to assume bodies , may extend themselves to a vast ( though finite ) proportion . but you , though meet men , and weak men , must stride a greater distance ; having your left foot already in the grave , endeavour to have your right foot in heaven , and waving all love of this world , set your minds and meditations alone on god and godliness . in a word , whatever our age be , rising , shining or setting , men , brethren or fathers , let us endeavour with david in my text , according to the will of god to serve our own generation . come we now to the sad occasion of our present meeting , to perform the last christian office to our deceased brother , well known to many of you , and to none better then to my self . a child is like a man in the similitude of parts , though not of degrees , and in some measure he did sincerely with david serve his generation . he was a dutifull son unto his aged mother , as she cannot but confess , and will i hope ( as occasion is offered ) remember and reward it to his wife and children . a loving brother , a kind husband , and i doubt not but his widow will discharge her mutual affection to him in his relations . bathsheba thus describeth a good wife , proverbs . . she will do her husband good and not evil all the daies of her life . it is not said , all the daies of his life , but of her life . what if he should chance to die , and she to survive him , yea after to marry again , ( as god forbid any should be debarred marrying in the lord , especially for their own and childrens advantage ) yet still she would do good unto him all the daies of her life . to him , that is to his memory , mentioning with respect : to him , that is to his children and friends , carefull over the one , and curteous over the other . he was a tender father and faithfull friend , witness the many volunteer mourners , ( an unusuall proportion for a person of his quality ) who at their own charge have habited themselves , that the outward sadness of their cloathes might express the inward sorrow of their hearts : he was an excellent master , having bred many good workmen in his vocation , and i hope they will prove good husbands too . let me add , he was an excellent subject ; for according to that which his conscience ( with many others ) conceived to be loyaltie : he lost much of , and hazarded all his estate . lastly and chiefly , he was a good saint , having more piety then he shewed , and as daily he consumed in his body , he was strengthened in his soul in faith through christ , whereof he gave many testimonies before , towards , and at his death . what shall i speak of his parts of nature , so far above his education and profession , that he might have past for a scholar amongst scholars , for his wit and pleasant expressions : but god now hath made him his free-man , and paid him his wages for so well serving his generation . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a e- * lib. none ep. . a happy handfull, or green hopes in the blade; in order to a harvest, of the several shires, humbly petitioning, or heartily declaring for peace. fuller, thomas, - . this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text r in the english short title catalog (thomason e _ ). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a wing f thomason e _ estc r this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (thomason tracts ; :e [ ]) a happy handfull, or green hopes in the blade; in order to a harvest, of the several shires, humbly petitioning, or heartily declaring for peace. fuller, thomas, - . [ ], , [ ] p. printed for john williams at the sign of the crown in st. pauls church-yard, london : . epistle dedicatory signed: john williams. a collection of petitions, remonstrances and declarations from various parts of the kingdom. -- thomason catalog. annotation on thomason copy: "vide single sheets in fol. printed about a month before this in ⁰"; "may. d". reproduction of the original in the british library. eng england and wales. -- parliament -- early works to . political science -- sources -- early works to . great britain -- history -- commonwealth and protectorate, - -- early works to . great britain -- politics and government -- - -- early works to . great britain -- constitution -- early works to . a r (thomason e _ ). civilwar no a happy handfull, or green hopes in the blade;: in order to a harvest, of the several shires, humbly petitioning, or heartily declaring for fuller, thomas b the rate of defects per , words puts this text in the b category of texts with fewer than defects per , words. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - mona logarbo sampled and proofread - mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a happy handfull , or green hopes in the blade ; in order to a harvest , of the several shires , humbly petitioning , or heartily declaring for peace . diadem psal. . . seek peace , and follow after it . london , printed for john williams at the sign of the crown in st. pauls church-yard , . to his highness the lord general monck . my lord , what formerly was in single arrows , is here bound in a sheaf , i conceive it good that by such conjunction , they might mutually reflect light one on another . posterity will probably be pleased to look back on such passages . some love to see the little coats they then did wear when children . alas , these all were the essayes in the infancy of our liberty , now grown a stripling , god send it to be a man ! yet they differ rather in sound than in sense , variously expressing the same matter . so many men , and but one minde , is admirable ; prompted certainly by the spirit of unity inditing them . factious petitions , gave the beginning , and loyal declarations must give the end to our miseries . but here is the difference , the first were made by the scum , these by the cream of the nation . aeneas did beg the boon of the sybil , that she would not write her oracles ( according to her usual course ) in leaves of trees blown away with every wind . these declarations formerly were printed in leaves or single papers , which are soon lost , not to say , the best of papers so printed , are oft consigned to the worst of uses . this is a way to preserve , and to propagate them . i remember the verse of the poet , singula cum valeant sunt meliora simul , take each of them asunder , good as either , then needs they must be best , all put together . what ( as single stars ) was good , must be best in a constellation . god happily perfect what is so hopefully begun by your honour , though my voice is too weak to be the eccho to the sound of the whole nation : your honours most humble servant , john williams . an express from the knights and gentlemen of cheshire , now engaged with sir george booth : to the city and citizens of london , and all other free-men of england . worthy citizens , and all other our english free-men and brethren , as we are english-men we are all incorporated into one body , and though distinct and different families , fortunes , and qualities , yet fellow members and coheirs of one and the same birth-right ; not onely by nature , as we are the sons of men ( nature obliging all in one common and equal bond of freedom and unity , ) but by certain sacred laws and customs of peculiar and inherent right to this nation ; general , equal , and impartial to all , without respect of persons , rank , quality , or degree , derived through all successions of ages , by the blood , justice , and prudence of our fore-fathers to us their posterity , as ours , and the right of our children after us , not dis-inheritable : though this age were wholly made up of apostates and traytors to common justice and freedom , and should make sale of , and deliver up their children as slaves and vassals , yet english right abideth , to wit , our just laws and liberties , and may justly be re-inforced as opportunity may present ; sometimes they sleep , but never die , their total extinguishment is not to be imagined , so long as any englishman , or english blood abideth : and whoever undertaketh ( though by arms or otherwise ) their recovery and redemption is justified in that very action by the laws of god , of nations , nature , reason , and by the laws of the land ; and within the bowels of our nation amongst our selves no war can be justified , but upon that score , the contrary is sedition , murde● treason , tyranny and what not , and the instruments thereof no other in the eye of english freedom and right , but as bears , wolves , and other beasts of prey . now right worthy and noble citizens , and all other our english brethren , let us consider and lay to heart the sad and deplorable condition of our native countrey : oppression , injustice , and tyranny reigneth ; division , discord , and distimulation fomented and fostered ; trade and industry discouraged , our land rent into parties and factions , and the common band of unity cancell'd , our fundamental laws supplanted , high courts of justice introduced , the blood of war sh●d in times of peace ; arbitrary and illegal imprisonments , patents , monopolies , excise , and other payments brought upon us , and continued contrary to magna charta , and the petition of right ; no form or face of government of english constitution amongst us ; the name and athority of the people in parliament usurped and abused , and the stamp thereof put upon strange and prodigious actions , vexing and oppressing the people with dayly changes and alterations in government , as the interest of some few ambitious grandees alter and change , or get advantages one of another , and all under the name of a common-wealth , when as the nature is not practised or intended at all , it being utterly inconsistent with their very temper and interest ; they are wrapt up and compounded of nothing but guilt-blood , and tyranny ; and equal and common justice ( the essence of a common-wealth ) are utterly repugnant thereto ; and whatsoever they can do must be planted and maintained by sword and violence against the very heart and sence of the nation ; and they know not where or how to centre an oligarchy , or something they would have to be masters of the people , and perpetuate their power and tyranny , and therefore would amaze and confound us with their new debares of a coordinate power , or senate for life , such as our english , laws and liberties know not of , and of pernicious consequence to this nation ; so that from these men that thus handle the stern at westminster , there is no expectation of any just settlement of peace , or freedom from oppression ; especially considering the apostacy , hypocracy , deceipt , and perjury of those men , their manifold solemn engagements , oaths , vows , protestations , appeals unto heaven ; promises , remonstrances , declarations , all by them broken again and again , never keeping faith , truce , or oath , being unbounded , unlimited , certain to nothing , not to be held either by the law of god or man , of conscience or reason ; and from such persons in government , good lord deliver us , and all the good people of england ; and that all this is true of them , your consciences ( noble citizens , and all other the free-people of england ) can witness , there is no tongue , no pen is able to vindicate them in this point ; it is known of all , owned by all , and can be denied by none ; how then can any honest or just man shed any blood in their quarrel , or lend them assistance ? surely that blood will be required at their hands , and we doubt not but you will be carefull what you do . and therefore from those considerations and just provocations , that we have taken up arms in pursuance of , and inquisition after our government , laws , and liberties , that every english-man may be protected and secured in his religion , liberty , and property ; and though it may be suggested , that we intend to introduce prosecution for conscience into the land again , we do hereby ( in the presence of almighty god ) protest and declare against all coercive power in matters of religion , and that to the utmost of our strength ( through gods assistance ) we will endeavour , to the hazzard of our blood and fortunes , the freedom and protection of all vertuous and religious people , by what name soever differenced from us , equal with our selves : and that no forreign , or other authority , save only the civil be exercised in england : that the practise of the law be reformed ; all corrupt statutes repealed ; annual elections of all officers and magistrates , with the constant succession of parliaments restored ; our fundamental laws cleared and asserted ; and whatever is contrary there to be abolished : that no trials be admitted in england for life , limb , liberty or estate , but by the good old way of juries ; and that they be restored to their original power and purity : that all extrajudicial and illegal proceedings by high-courts of justice , or otherwise , with all illegal and arbitrary committees , be strictly provided against : that the excise , and all other payments and taxes , ( such as our ancestors never knew of ) together with all monopolies and patents destructive to trade and the common good of the nation be also abolished ; and , that our parliaments and magistrates be secured from all force and violence ; and utterly cleared from all boundlesse prerogative , and unlimited priviledge : that the right of the poor in the commons of england , all donations for charitable uses , and all lands formerly belonging to the people , be restor'd again : and that mercy and justice be truly established amongst us . and for these ends , and what else may be of publick good to the nation , we do desire , and indeed challenge , as of english right , the speedy election of a new free parliament . and thus , most noble citizens , brethren and fellow freemen of england , we have dealt truly and plainly with you , and given you the real grounds and reasons of our taking up arms ; looking upon you as the most concern'd in the nation , and therefore hold our selves the more obliged to give you this early advice of our candid and just intentions in this undertaking , that you may not be deluded or frighted ( though falsly ) into any strange opinion of us , either through your own mistake , or by the pollicy of those men who will leave no means unattempted to render us as publick enemies , rebels and traitors , plunderers , tyrants and persecutors , or whatever is odious and monstrous , to engage you in blood . believe us , right worthy citizens , and free-born english brethren , we have no design of fire or sword , or of evil toward you or your city , or any part of the nation , or any person in it : we know there are thousands amongst you that are satisfied in us ; it may be indeed that many or most of the gathered separate churches may be fearfull and jealous of us , and so may be induced to arms against us ; but we do again and again protest before almighty god , and the whole world , that we have no other purpose towards them , but that they with us , and we with them , may be bound up as friends and brethren in the common cause of our countrey , that every english-man may have english freedom and right ; and we do not desire to wrong man , woman , or childe the worth of a shoo-latchet : therefore we hope you will first well advise before you proceed in a new war , lest you bring not only your own , but others blood on your heads , ( for we are resolved to presecute this to the last drop of our blood . ) the case of england is laid before you , our laws and liberties , they are yours as well as ours , and for which we have all engaged in the first war , and not to be so slightly valued as to be set at stake against the private ends of some ambitious and corrupt persons : salus populi , suprema lex ; let the people live , and their enemies perish . therefore we beseech you , we conjure you as english men , to stand by your native countrey , and your countrey's cause : our voice is , and it is no other than the consent and voice of the people , a new free parliament , a new free parliament ; it is the english man's main birth-right , which we are resolved to put the people in possession of , or to perish with our swords in our hands . but if you will not joyn , but degenerate , we hope notwithstanding ( by gods blessing ) to carry on this work : yet to that just and glorious work we may challenge your concurrence , it being your duty as well as ours to endeavour the procurement thereof ? and therefore to you make it our proposal , to your militia , to the army , and the whole people , for the prevention of a new war , and the effusion of english blood , that you would be instrumental with us for the speedy election of a new free parliament , for the ends aforesaid ; and in the interim all hostility to be forborn ; and that a day may be appointed , and the people suffered to go to their free elections , and we shall quietly submit to their authority ; heartily desiring , that all revenge , division , rancor , and animosity of spirit may be for ever buried in one general act of oblivion ; and that all parties , sects , and sorts , ( now jarring and making up interests one against another ) may reconcile , cement , and concenter in the common brotherhood of english freedom and right ; in , and for which we are . sir george booth to a friend of his in london . sir , my last to you of the second instant , i understand you have committed to open view , the publication whereof was of general satisfaction to your friends here , and for which we all hold our selves obliged . i have sent you here inclosed an express from the knights and gentlemen engaged with me , and beg this further addition to your former many favours , that you would please to take the care upon you , to get the same printed and published , for the undeceiving of those amongst you , and all other that are yet doubtfull or unsatisfied in us . the messenger will inform you of the present state and condition of affairs with us , to whom i refer you . in haste i rest , sir , your most affectionate friend and servant , george booth . manchester aug. . . alleyn mayor . at a common-council holden in the guildhall , london , on tuesday the . of december , . this court having taken notice of divers affronts put upon the right honorable thomas alleyn , the present lord mayor of this city , with many false and scandalous aspersions cast upon his lordship , and the committee appointed by this court to confer with the lord fleetwood touching the peace and safety of this city : as if they had deserted their trust , or betrayed the rights and liberties of this city . and in particular , that the said committee seemed satisfied with the limitations of parliament , called the seven principles , or unalterable fundamentals , printed in a late scandalous pamphlet stiled , the publick intelligencer . the said committee here openly declaring ; that they never heard the said principles , or had them any way communicated to them , much lesse ever consented to the same , or any of them . this court being deeply sensible of these great indignities , doth declare , that the said lord mayor is so far from deserving any of the said affronts or aspersions , that he hath highly merited the great honour and esteem of this court and the whole city , having in all things demeaned himself with much prudence and faithfull integrity to this city and court , which doth therefore return his lordship their most hearty thanks . and that the said committee in all their transactions , touching the peace and safety of this city , have also discreetly and faithfully discharged their trust , to their own trouble , and great satisfaction of this court . and whereas this court and city hath been lately represented by some , as having deserted their first cause and declarations in the use of all lawfull means for the maintenance of the true reformed protestant religion according to the scriptures ; the support and maintenance of a settled lawfull magistracy , a learned pious ministery , and publick universities , with the ancient fundamental laws of the nation , just rights , properties and liberties of all persons : and for these ends will endeavour , all they lawfully may , the speedy convening of a free parliament to sit and act without interruption or molestation , by any persons whatsoever . sadler . to the right honorable , our worthy and grave senators , the lord mayor , aldermen , and comonalty of the city of london , in common council assembled . the humble petition and address of divers young men , on the behalf of themselves and the apprentices in and about this honorable city . most humbly sheweth , it hath pleased the good and only wise god , for our and the nations crying sins , to manifest his displeasure for many years together against these our flourishing , now sadly divided , distracted and almost ruined nations : and yet blessed be god , this honorable city hitherto hath been no proportionable sharer in the calamities which our brethren in other parts of these now miserable nations have suffered , which are now aggravated by our divisions , and such a general decay of trading , as doth exceed the worst of former times ; all which we look upon as a most sad presage of some art , and dismal judgement very near at hand , if not our sudden ruine ; together with the destruction and utter dissolation both of church and state , which will inevitably ensue as a just reward upon our multiplied provocations , under the most signal manifestations of gods most gracious presence , and the most engaging mercies that ever people did enjoy ( unlesse it please our most gracious god whose name hath been exceedingly dishonored , by the violation of many sacred and solemn oaths ) amongst us to work our deliverance out of this contexture of dangerous mischiefs , into which we have already wound our selvs : or which as the innundations of mighty waters may suddenly break in upon us : and being sadly sensible of the calamities under which the three nations groan , for want of a well-ordered and established government . we being members in the same pollitical body , cannot but sympathize with the rest of our brethren : and forasmuch as our endeavours may contribute very much thereto , and the well or ill management of your talents in the discharge of your trusts may now make these nations happy , or else make them irrecoverably miserable . we hold our selves obliged in conscience to god and our countrey , both by the laws of god and the land , in the behalf of our selves , and all good and peaceable people in the land , and the many thousands that know not their right hand from their left ; and in the behalf of the children unborn , who in time to come may have cause to blesse or curse the day of their birth for your sakes , do make this humble addresse to you , as the only means under god now left us to redresse these growing mischiefs which make us and the three nations in these times of our great trouble cry unto you ( as those of macedonia did in the apostles vision ) come and help us . and we beseech you , our most grave and worthy senators , as you tender the welfare of these bleeding nations , to stand in the wide gap of our breaches , with your prayers , improving your councils , and every talent ( which god hath reposed in you ) for the honour of god , and the peace of his church , by a reall reformation , and we question not but our most gracious god will then break through the thick clouds of these black and dark providences , and return unto us our judges as at the first , and our counselors as at the beginning , with the abundance of the blessings of peace , that judgement may run down our streets , and righteousness as a mighty stream . and we humbly desire the two great pillars of the land , magistracy and ministry may be asserted and encouraged : in order unto which , we humbly present unto your grave and serious consideracions . first , the priviledges of the gospel which we do enjoy at this day , in the faithfull preaching and dispensing of gods holy word and sacraments , together with the labours of so many of his faithfull servants in the ministry , and the liberty of these sacred ordinances , being the best and choicest of our national blessings ; in respect of which , we may well say ( with holy david ) god hath not dealt so with any nation : which with thankfulnesse we desire to ackowledge as a great mercy to this land : and should the lord remove this candlestick out of its place , as we have just cause to fear he will , unlesse we do repent ) then may we indeed complain with phineas his wife , the glory is departed from our israel , and a dark and dismal night of black and gloomy ignorance , error and prophanenesse will envelope our valley of vision . and to the end that this choice blessing ( which we account more precious than our lives ) may be conveyed to posterity , we most humbly desire the ministry may be countenanced and encouraged , the universities upheld and maintained , which have nursed many famous preachers for piety and learning in this and former ages , and your authority used for the terror of evil doers , but the praise of them that do well . secondly we esteem and assert , as our undoubted birth-right , the freedom and priviledges of our parliaments , as being the great charter of the people of england , which we account equally dear with our lives ; in the enjoyment of which we yet hope , under god , to see a happy and lasting settlement both in church and scate . therefore we most humbly desire , that a new election may be made , or else that those worthy gentlemen chosen to serve as members in the late free parliament , may be restored to their priviledges , and sit without disturbance or force from the army , that they may consider in this evil time , what england , scotland , and ireland ought to do , which ( with submission to your grave judgements ) we humbly conceive to be the most probable means under god to establish the true protestant religion , reform the laws , secure our liberties and preserve our lives and outward concernments , to promote learning end encourage vertue , whereby peace with our neighbour nations may be renewed and established , the army satisfied , their arrears paid , and trading restored . in all which , most grave and worthy senators , your own concernments ( as well as ours ) are so deeply engaged , that we perswade our selves you will be instumental to further our desires , by all peaceable and lawfull means , and we hope it will put an end to our divisions , which ( if god in mercy prevent not ) may soon break out into another civil war , and render us as a prey to a forreign enemy , for a kingdom divided against it self cannot stand . now we leave it unto you our most grave and worthy senators , duly to consider , if you part with these our great national blessings , whether you will not discover a palpable breach of trust , and leave your names for a reproach to the generations following , who will in the ages to come rise up and call you blessed , if you be carefull to preserve them now , and convey them to posterity : and now we beseech the lord to strengthen both your hearts and hands , and give you wisdom from on high to direct you in all your consultations , as may be most for the honour of god , the peace of his church throughout the world , and the settlement , safety and happinesse of these poor nations : and by his assistance we resolve to stand by you and with you , to the utmost hazzard of our lives and all that is deare unto us , to promote the same . munday . december . this day the lord mayor , aldermen , and common council being assembled , the fore-recited pitition was presented by several young-men and apprentices , in behalfe of themselves and several thousands which have subscribed the same ; the which being received , was ordered to be read , and thereupon a committee chosen to consider thereof , and to give their speedy report unto the next court concerning the same . at the same court it was likewise ordered , that the lord general fleetwood should be desired to draw off the soldiers , unto their several quarters ; it being then also ordered , that every common council man in his several precinct , should give notice to the house-keepers within the same , that they should keep their servants and apprentices at home , thereby to preserve the peace of the city . to his excellency the lord general monck . the vnanimous representation of the apprentices and young-men inhabiting in the city of london . humbly sheweth , that the glory of our nation , and the greatest comfort of our lives in our civil interests , consists in the priviledges and liberties to which we were born , and which are the undoubted inheritance of all the free people of england , among which the grand and essential priviledges which discriminates free-men from slaves , is the interest which every man hath in the legislative power of the nation , by their representatives assembled in parliament : without which , however we may flatter our selves , or be flatter'd by others , we are truly no better than vassals govern'd by the will and pleasure of those who have no relation to us , or our common interest . now how much this dear priviledge of the people hath been assaulted by the open violence of some , and secret artifice of others , and to what a deplorable condition we are brought at this present period , when heavy taxes are imposing upon mens estates , and new laws upon our persons , without any consent of the people had in a free parliament , and how generally , through the said distractions in government , trading is decayed , and how much we are likely to suffer thereby in our times and places , we cannot but remonstrate to your excellency , constrain'd through the sense of our present sufferings , and apprehensions of greater , to implore your assistance , most humbly beseeching your excellency , by that ancient love you have born to your native countrey , zeal to our liberties , by that great renown you have lately gain'd in opposing the cruel raging of the sword , by the common cries of the people , and by the hopes and cheerful expectation of all england now fix'd upon you ; and lastly , by your own personal concern in the same common cause as a free-born english man , that you would be pleased to use those great advantages divine providence hath now put into your hands , to the securing your native countrey from those dangerous usurpations , and preserving us in those liberties to which we were born . that no tax may be imposed , nor new law made , nor old abolisht , but with the consents of the people had by their representatives in parliament , freely to be chosen without terror or limitations , and freely to sit without any oath or engagement previous to their entrance , without which special liberties the parliament cannot in any construction be esteemed the free assembly of the people ; and by your excellency's asserting of those our undoubted rights in your present advantages , you will certainly , by the blessing of god , and unanimous concurrence of the people , accomplish our ends , and will thereby gain the hearts and hands of the whole nation , and the city in particular , and purchase to your self a name that shall make every true english man call you blessed , and posterity shall hereafter delight to recount the famous acts of their worthy patriot . this was delivered to his excellency at s. albans , on thursday febr. . . by persons elected for that purpose , and had a very cheerfull reception . the declaration of the nobility , gentry , ministry , and commonalty of the county of kent . together with the city and county of canterbury , the city of rochester , and the ports within the said county . having with sadnesse weighed the multiplied calamities wherein we are at present involved , how friendlesse we are abroad , and how divided at home ; the loud and heart-piercing cries of the poor , and the disability of the better sort to relieve them ; the total decay and subversion of trade , together with the forfeiture and losse of the honour and reputation of the nation ( what is more dear to us than all these ) the apparent hazzard of the gospel , through the prodigious growth of blasphemies , heresies and schism , all which own their birth to the instability of our governors , and the unsettlement of our government . lastly , how in all these an universal ruine threatneth us , and will ( if not timely prevented ) doubtlesse overwhelm us . we thought it our bounden duties , both as christians , out of tendernesse to our religion ; as english men , to our countrey ; and as friends , to our selves and our relations , to represent and publish to the world our just griefs for , and our lively resentments of this our deplorable condition , and to seek all lawfull and probable means to remedy and redresse the same . wherefore having the leading examples of the renowned cities of london and exeter , together with the counties of the west , before our eyes ; and the clamors and out-cries of the people always in our ears , ( whereof the one encourageth , and the other enforceth us to this our declaration ) we thought that we would not be silent at such a time , when our silence would speak us to be assentors to our own ruine , or abettors of such proceedings as have neither law nor equity to support them . we therefore the nobility , gentry , ministry , and commonalty of the county of kent , together with the city and county of canterbury , the city of rochester , and the ports within the said county , do by these presents unanimously declare , that our desires are for a full and free parliament , as the only probable means , under god , to lead us out of this maze and labyrinth of confusions in which we are at present engag'd ; that is , that the old secluded members , so many of them as are surviving , may be re-admitted into the house , and that there may be a free election of others to supply the places of those who are dead , without any oath or engagement previous to their entrance ; these we shall own as the true representatives of the people ; these we shall with our lives and fortunes , to the uttermost of our power , assist , and with all cheerfulnesse submit to , and acquiesce in whatsoever they shall enact or ordain . thus concluding , that all publick spirited men , and good patriots , will with all readinesse joyn and concur with us in a matter of so universal concernment , and that we shall finde opposition from none , but such as prefer their own private interests , and temporal respects , to their religion , and laws of the land ; we shall as bodily subscribe our names , as we do heartily declare our desires . advertisement . the forward zeal of some wel-disposed persons , to expresse their cordial and unanimous concurrence with their countrey-men of the several counties and cities of england , having caused a declaration , imperfect in a very weighty and material clause thereof , to be printed and published , in the name of the county of kent , &c. it was thought fit that the genuine and true copy of the said declaration should be set forth , as it was intended to be presented to the speaker , and to the present great arbitrator of the nations peace and happinesse , general monck ; but through the mis-informations of some unquiet spirits , ( who while they may have leave to accuse , will leave no man innocent , nor the state without trouble ) the persons of many gentlemen are secured , and others threatned , by a great force march'd into the countrey , the presentation was necessarily omitted , and the names and subscriptions not exposed to publick view , for reasons very obvious and evident . a narrative of the meeting of some gentlemen , ministers and citizens at the town-hall in canterbury . together with their declaration presented to the mayor at the common burghmoote . understanding that the late procedure of some of the principal gentlemen and citizens , inhabitants of the city of canterbury hath been represented above as a malignant design , tending to tumult and sedition ; we thought fit to publish to the world a brief narrative of the same , together with the declaration it self , that both the one and the other being cleared from the malicious aspersions and calumnies of our adversaries ; the whole nation may judge between them and us , and so give sentence according to the merit of the cause . whereas some peaceable and well-minded gentlemen with some godly and sober ministers , perceiving the people generally bent for a free parliament ( as in the following declaration is expressed ) and hearing that the cities of london and exeter had lately declared for the same , thought it neither unmeet to follow so leading presidents , not unseasonable to joyn their votes with the general desires of the whole nation ; to which end it was resolved to present this following draught to the common burghmoote , and to desire their concurrence therein . thus in an orderly manner , without tumult or noise , without arms in their hands or thoughts , or without anger or threats in their looks ; divers gentlemen , ministers and citizens went to the town-hall on jan. . the mayor , aldermen and common councel then sitting , and presented the declaration at the door , desiring that after a serious perusal thereof , they would be pleased to joyn with them , in a business which they judged agreeable , not only to the sense of that court , but also of the whole county and nation : but when it was mentioned to be put to the vote , whether the paper should be read or not ; some of the bench protested against it , although they knew nothing of its contents ; and in conclusion ( having a long time rather wrangled than debated ) the dissenters ( being but seven of twenty four ) quitted the court , not leaving enough to make a burghmoote quorum ; whereupon , the gentlemen ( who though rudely treated , had quietly attended ) withdrew re infecta , and returned home with as little tumult as at first they came : thus was there nothing done to surprise or disturb the court , nothing to raise a tumult , nothing to cause a second kentish insurrection , as our adversaries give it out : no , the design was not arms , but peace ; not tumult , but settlement ; not to surprize and disturb the court , but to desire an amiable correspondence with the same , to the end that the intended declaration might be made the more authentick by the formal intervention and assent in open court , of the magistracy of so considerable a corporation ; and that the declarers themselves might not be thought to tread in any oblique paths , or to proceed in a clandestine manner : but being disappointed ( as you see ) , herein , it was thought fit to strengthen and confirm our declaration , and to make good the title it bears , by private subscriptions , as well through the whole county as this city ; wherein we had , in three dayes time , proceeded so far , that many thousands were then collected ; whereupon , some gentlemen ( from the slie insinuations and false representations of our aversaries ) were secured in several prisons , to the discouragement of well-begun , and well-meant undertaking ; neither can the gentlemen understand wherein they have offended , or how they should merit imprisonment , since there was no order , nor prohibition to the contrary : although they conceive , that had they proceeded therein , they had not trangressed any known laws of the land ; it being the subjects birth-right modestly to represent their grievances by way of petition , remonstrance or declaration . wherefore lest ( through our silence , and the present suppression of our declaration ) the aspersions of our adversaries might be thought deservedly cast upon us ; we thought fit to publish the same , together with this narrative , deeming that as we have done nothing herein worthy the present severity , so the impartial reader will in his private judgement , absolve us from all guilt or demerit . neither shall we answer our adversaries by way of recrimination , nor ( although we can by undoubted testimonies sufficiently prove it ) say , that the same men who now appear so zealous assertors of the parliaments interests and proceedings , did as eagerly joyn with the army , crying them up as much , with whom they would live and dye , as they decryed this present power in their late interruption , as not consisting with the interest of the nation . no , though this might serve to invalidate their testimony , we shall enlarge no further , but refer to the declaration it self . to the right honourable will lenthal speaker to the parliament . by him to be communicated to the members sitting at westminster . whereas we the gentlemen and freeholders of this county of berks , were generally met together at abingdon , upon some intimation of an election of a knight of the shire , in pursuance of your order , for the filling up of this parliament ; and that some solicitations were used throughout the county for voyces , and being jealous to be surprised therein by any clandestine carriage of the writ : and whereas at this meeting it was further taken into consideration , that this county have with the rest of this nation been deeply sensible of many insupportable grievances and oppressions of late dayes , occasioned through the want of a real , setled , and regular government ; and in particular , that the commissioners for the militia having formerly charged the country to provide arms , which was done accordingly , the said commissiooners do yet direct their warrants for the bringing in of twenty shillings for every foot arms ; which we are very confident is besides the intent of the act which impowers them , and are ignorant otherwise by what authority they proceed therein ; that therefore having seriously consulted the remedies which might be proper for these and the like inconveniences for the future , and by gods blessing reduce us unto a firm , free , and legal settlement of our rights , civil and religious : wee conceived it to be our duty towards god and our country , without any private ends whatsoever , to declare our selves in this sense , that we take it the most satisfactory expedient for it , will be the recalling of all those members that were secluded in . and that before the first force upon the parliament . and , that in the elections which shall bee of any other members in the vacant places , such due course may be taken , as that the country may not any way be surprised , or over-awed therein : and that the secluded members may be admitted to sit without any oath or engagement to restrain their freedome in the least ; wherein we shall be ready to defend you and them with whatsoever is dearest unto us , against all opposition : and pray unto almighty god for his assistance to the happy accomplishment of what may best conduce to the peace and safety of this nation . [ this is subscribed by most of the chief gentlemen and freeholders of the county of berks. ] a concurrent declaration of the inhabitants of the city and liberties of westminster : with the declaration of the people of england for a free parliament . whereas by a wonderful revolution of the divine providence , those members of the long parliament which were strangely brought in by the army ( may the . . ) and as strangely outed by them ( octob. the . . ) are now strangely returned to sit in the house as before , we judge it our concernment to call to minde the act by them made and published , immediately before their forcible interruption , intituled , an act against raising of money upon the people out their consent in parliament : which act of theirs proceeds in these words , and be it further enacted , that no person or persons shall after the . of october , . assess , levy , collect , gather or receive any custome , imposts , excise , assesment , contribution , tax , tallage , or any sum or sums of money , or other impositions whatsoever , upon the people of this commonwealth , without their consent in parliament , or as by law might have been done before the . of november , . and be it further enacted and declared , that every person offending against this act shall be , and is hereby adjudged to be guilty of high treason , and shall forfeit and suffer as in case of high treason . hereupon we judged it meet and equitable to make this following declaration . we do therefore declare that we do freely , cordially , and unanimously assent to the equity of this act , as consonant to the fundamental laws of our nation , the benefit whereof we doubt not but we may justly claim , as our birth-priviledge in all such cases and concernments . and accordingly we do declare that we are ready and willing , as soon as an opportunity is given us , to make choice of such persons as may declare our consent in parliament , for the raising of such sums of money , as by them shall be thought necessary to defray the publick charges , and manage the publick concerns of the nation , seeing most of those persons that were formerly chosen by us for this purpose , are either taken away by death , or by seclusion debarred from sitting in the house . and we do hereby declare further , that we neither do , nor shall ever give our consent , that any assesment should be made , or imposition laid upon us by any person or persons whatsoever , until our consent be so declared by persons thus chosen and intrusted by us for this end and purpose . and therefore if any person or persons whatsoever shall contrary to the forementioned act , and the fundamental laws of this nation , lay any assesment or imposition upon us before our consent is thus declared , under what pretence or colour soever of authority or necessity it shall be done , we do hereby declare to the world , that we are under manifest constraint and force , and our goods and estates are violently extorted from us , contrary to law and justice , which injuries we shall no longer bear than an opportunity shall be offered us to right our selves , and repossess those priviledges that pertain to us by the laws of our nation . and hereunto so universal and unanimous is our concurrence , that it would be endless for us to subscribe our names ( which neither this , nor any such papers could contain ) but yet if any doubt or mistrust of the truth of the matter hereby declared should be conceived or pretended by any , and the members of parliament now ( whom we conceive it doth in a special manner concern ) shall desire a visible testimony hereunto , for their further satisfaction and more full assurance of the truth and realty hereof , we shall be ready upon the least intimation thereof by them given us , in the several cities and counties of the land , to own and subscribe to what is hereby declared , and act accordingly . for some proof of the premises , we the inhabitants of the city and liberty of westminster , capable of the choice of two burgesses to serve in parliament , have to this present delaration subscribed our hands , and so much the rather that we might hereby take occasion to signifie to the whole nation our cordial concurrence with the common councel of london , in what was done by that honourable court , in the behalf of the city of london in their declaration of . decemb. for a free parliament . the humble desires of the kinghts , gentlemen , ministers , freeholders and inhabitants of the county and burrough of leicester . delivered to his excellency , the lord general monk , at st. albans the thirtieth of january , . by george fawnt esquire , high sheriffe of the said county , willam boothby , richard orton , and richard halford esquires , entrusted for that purpose by the whole county . we the knights , gentlemen , ministers , free-holders , and inhabitants of the county of leicester , humbly conceiving , that the first force put upon the parliament , hath been an encouragement and occasion to all the rest : and finding that your excellency ( under god ) hath been the principal means , for repairing the last interruption , are the more encouraged to desire your assistance , in the promoting of these our just desires as a visible means of an happy peace and settlement of these nations . and whereas every free-born person of england is supposed to be present in parliament , by the knights and burgesses of the place where he liveth , and thereby is presumed to give his consent in all things that pass in parliament ; there is not ( as we are credibly informed ) one knight for all the counties in wales , nor for divers counties in england , and some of them the greatest in england , as that of yorkshire . we therefore desire , that all vacant places be supplied , whether they became vacant by death , or judgment of parliament : and that those that were secluded by force in the year . may sit again . and that no previous oath or engagement be put upon any , that is chosen by his countrey to sit and vote freely in parliament . that the fundamental laws of england , the priviledges of parliament , the liberties of the people , and the property of goods , may be asserted and defended , according to the first declaration of parliament , when they undertook the war ; and no taxes or free-quarter imposed upon any , without authority of parliament . that the true protestant religion may be professed and defended , all heresies , sects and schisms discountenanced and suppressed ; a lawfull succession of godly and able ministers continued and encouraged ; and the two universities , and all colledges in both of them , preserved and countenanced . that a fitting and speedy course be taken , for the paying and discharging the arrears of such officers and soldiers as submit to authority of parliament , and that they may be speedily reduced to a lesser number , for the easing of the great taxes and burthens of these nations . the humble address , and hearty desires of the gentlemen , ministers , and free-holders of the county of northampton . presented to his excellency the lord general monck , at his arrival at northampton , january . . we the gentlemen , ministers , and free-holders of the county of northampton , humbly conceiving , that the first force put upon the parliament hath been an encouragement to open the way to all the rest ; and finding that your excellency under god hath been the principal means for the repairing of the last interruption , are the more encouraged , and ( having the conveniency of your presence now amongst us ) to desire your assistance in the procuring these our just desires , as the visible means of a happy peace and settlement of these nations . . that whereas every free-born subject of england is supposed to be present in parliament by the knights and burgesses of the place where he liveth , and thereby is presumed to consent to all things that passe in parliament : so it is now , that there is not one knight for all the counties in wales , nor for divers counties in england , and some of them the largest in england , as that of yorkeshire . . that no free-born subject of england may have any taxes levied upon him , without his consent in parliament . . to that end , that all vacant places may be supplied , whether they became vacant by death or seclusion ; and that those that were secluded by force in the year may sit again ; and that no previous oath or engagement may be put upon any that is chosen by his countrey to sit and vote freely in parliament . . that the fundamental lawes of england , the priviledges of parliament , the liberty of the subject , and the property of goods , may be asserted and defended , according to the first declarations of the parliament , when they undertook the war . . that the true protestant religion may be professed and defended , all heresies , sects and schisms discountenanced and suppressed , a lawfull succession of godly and able ministers continued and incouraged , and the two universities , and all colledges in both of them , may be preserved and countenanced . . that all the soldiery that will acquiesce in the judgment of a free and full parliament , in the promoting and setling a happy peace upon those foundations , may have their arrears paid , and as many of them as the parliament shall think necessary , may be continued in the publick service ; and that as many of them as have been purchasers of lands from the parliament , may either enjoy their bargains , or their money paid back with interest , and some considerable advantage over and above , for their satisfactions , as the parliament shall judge expedient for the publick good of the nation . this address was prepared by the gentlemen , &c. abovesaid , to be presented to general monck , at his entrance into northampton . to his excellency the lord general monck . the congratulation and addresse of us the knights , divines , free-holders , and others of the county of bucks. humbly sheweth , that with all possible gratitude we admire the wise and gracious dispensation of things by almighty god , who hath moved your self , and other the worthy officers with you to such just and honorable resolutions , as to put your selves into the breach then , when tyranny , irreligion , and all confusion , like a mighty flood were ready to break in upon us . an occasion in which , whether the noblenesse of the attempts , or the happinesse of the successe were more considerable , after times will take pleasure to discourse : and we at present congratulate these your sentiments of honour and conscience . sir , our credit abroad is impaired , our trade at home is decayed , our fundamental laws are violated , our primitive apostolick religion endangered : the cause of all which we humbly conceive is the force and violence put upon the parliament in the year . and since to obviate all which evils we request the total removal of that force , and that all surviving members so secluded , be restored to the discharge of their trust vacancies be supplied by free elections according to law , that no previous oaths or engagements be put upon any of them that shall be chosen to sit and vote in parliament . sir , this is our desire , and as we observe 't is the voice of the whole people , and that is the voice of god ; we doubt not but that you have been reserved for such a time as this : in pursuance of which we are ready to hazard our lives and estates . a declaration of the city and county of gloucester . being deeply affected , and most sadly sensible of the present miseries , which both our selves and the whole nation lie under : we cannot be altogether silent in the expressions of our griefs , and declaration of our desires and thoughts of the most probable means ( by gods assistance ) to give some remedy to our present sufferings , and prevention of our yet greater calamities , which threaten our speedy ruine : the cause of all proceeding ( as we conceive ) is from that unhappy disorder in that great wheel of government . and that after all our great sufferings and trials , the vast expence of treasure and blood for our rights , liberties , and priviledges of parliament , ( which we take to be the good old cause ) such persons in whom we have already lodged our trusts , and who have sufficiently manifested their endeavours to perform the same , namely , nathaniel stephens , esq sir john seymore , kt. edward steephens , esq john steephens , esq and the right honorable thomas lord fairfax , have been since december . and still are denied the freedom of sitting , and voting in parliament . the restauration of which members we desire with all freedom to their former capacities . and declare we shall not otherwise consent to pay tax , or other impositions , or hold our selves bound by any law to be made , without a restitution of these our representatives , with a supply of all vacancies , by a free election , according to the fundamental laws and constitutions of this nation , it being the undoubted birth-right of all the free-born people of england , that no tax or other imposition be exacted from them , or any new law imposed upon them , but by their consents had by their representatives , in a full and free parliament . and we further declare our hearty desires , for the burying all former animosities and differences , by a full and general act of oblivion and indempnity , with satisfaction to be given to purchasers , under any act of sale ; as by parliament shall be thought fit . and that no officer or soldier , that hath ventured his life for the freedom of his countrey , and shall continue faithfull to those principles , may hereby receive any discouragement . we also declare , that we shall freely and willingly consent , that all such shall receive their arrears , and be continued so long as the parliament shall think fit , in order to the safety and preservation of the nation , and that such liberty be allowed to tender consciences , as is not opposite to the scriptures , or the established laws of this nation . we also declare , that in pursuance of these our just desires , we shall not be wanting to the uttermost of our powers , to engage our selves by all lawful ways and means , with our fellow brethren , in the just vindication of our liberties , and shall neither count our lives or fortunes too dear to hazard for the redemption thereof , and herein we shall not doubt the ready concurrence of all those in the three nations , whose peace , prosperity and safety is equally concerned with ours . this declaration being subscribed by great numbers of considerable persons of that county , was to have been presented to the speaker by some of them ; but considering how sir robert pye , and major finchers handsome behaviour was unhandsomly rewarded with imprisonment , for a particular of the same nature , it was thought more proper to preserve the liberty of personages of so much worth til a better opportunity , and therefore it is thought fit thus to communicate this , for the vindication of this county and satisfaction of the whole nation . the remonstrance of the knights , gentlemen , and freeholders of the county of gloucester . we do claim and avow it to be our undoubted birth-right and liberty , that no new laws , much lesse any new government , can or ought to be imposed upon us ; nor any taxes , contributions , or free-quarter taken of us without the consent of the people of this nation in a free-parliament assembled ; which liberties have been often confirmed to us by the great charter , the petition of right , and many other statutes : and parliaments being the only bulwarks and defence of our liberties , as men and christians ought to be , freely elected , and to sit and vote without interruption or opposition by any persons whatsoever : the priviledges whereof we are all bound to maintain and defend , and to assist and maintain each other in the defence thereof . and therefore we resolve , according to our bounden duty , to joyn with the lord mayor and common-councel of the city of london , and all other counties in england in pursuance thereof . and we do not doubt but all true hearted english men who love their own liberties , and are not willing to be made slaves , or to enslave their brethren , will joyn with us herein . a letter agreed unto and subscribed by the gentlemen , ministers , free-holders and sea-men of the county of suffolk . presented to the right honorable , the lord mayor , aldermen , and common-councel of the city of london , assembled january . . right honorable , please you to accept this paper as a testimony , that we are highly and gratefully sensible of those breathings and essayes towards peace , which your renowned city hath lately declared to the world : as we earnestly wish , that our serious and unanimous concurrence may ripen them to a perfect accomplishment . we are willing to consider it as an omen of mercy , when we observe the nation in general , lifting up its vows to heaven for a free and full parliament ; 't is that alone in its genuine sense which our laws prescribe and present to us , as the great patron and guardian of our persons , liberties , and properties , and whatsoever else is justly precious to us . and if god shall by your hand , lead us to such an obtainment , after-ages shall blesse your memory . 't is superfluous to spread before you , your merchandise decay'd , your trade declin'd , your estates wither'd . are there not many within your walls , or near them , that in your ears deplore such miseries as ehese ? your lordship may believe , that our prayers and persons shall gladly promote all lawfull means for our recovery . and we entreat , that this cheerful suffrage of ours may be annex'd as a label to your honorable intendments . this letter was delivered according to its superscription , by robert broke , philip parker , and thomas bacon , esquires . the declaration of the gentry of the county of norfolk , and of the county and city of norwich . we the gentry of the county of norfolke , and county and city of norwich , being deeply affected with the sense of our sad distractions and divisions , both in church and state , and wearied with the miseries of an unnatural civil war , the too frequent interruptions of government , the imposition of several heavy taxes , and the loud out-cries of multitudes of undone , and almost famished people , occasioned by the general decay of trade , which hath spread it self throughout the whole nation , and these counties in particular ; and having met together , and consulted what may best remedy , and remove our , and the nations present grievances and distractions , do humbly conceive , that the chief expedient will be , the recalling of those members that were secluded in , and sate before the force put upon the parliament , ( we of the county of norfolk ) being by such seclusion , deprived of any person to represent us in parliament ) and also by filling up the vacant places thereof , and all to be admitted without any oath or engagement , previous to their entrance ; which being done , we shall be ready to acquiesce , and submit in all things , to the judgement and authority of parliament , without which authority , the people of england cannot be obliged to pay any taxes . this declaration , subscribed by three hundred gentlemen , was delivered to the honourable will . lenthall , speaker of the parliament , on saturday the . of jan. . by the lord richardson , sir john hobart , and sir horatio tounsend , baronets . a declaration of the gentry of the county of devon , met at the general quarter sessions at exeter , for a free parliament : together with a letter from exeter . to the right honourable william lenthall speaker of the parliament . we the gentry of the county of devon , finding our selves without a regular government , after your last interruption designed a publick meeting , to consult remedies , which we could not so conveniently effect till this week , at our general quarter sessions at exon : where we finde divers of the inhabitants groaning under high oppressions , and a general defect of trade , to the utter ruine of many , and fear of the like to others , which is as visible in the whole county , that occasioned such disorders , that were no small trouble and disturbance to us ; which , by gods blessing upon our endeavours , were soon supprest and quieted , without blood . and though we finde , since our first purposes , an alteration in the state of affairs , by your re-assembling at the helm of government , yet conceive , that we are but in part redrest of our grievances ; and that the chief expedient for it will be the recalling of all those members that were secluded in . and sate before the first force upon the parliament . and also by filling up the vacant places . and all to be admitted , without any oath and engagement , previous to their entrance . for which things , if you please to take a speedy course , we shall defend you against all opposers , and future interrupters , with our lives and fortunes . for the accomplishment whereof , we shall use all lawful means , which we humbly conceive may best conduce to the peace and safety of this nation . exon . of jan. . sir , the inclosed copy of what this grand meeting , to which the most considerable of the gentry have subscribed . mr. bampfield , recorder of exon , is gone this night post to deliver it to the speaker . that the cornish men have done more , is no news . this city in very great numbers , lordly exprest their desires for a free parliament . the apprentices and young men of the city , got the keys of the gates , and keep them lockt , without taking notice of the magistrates , and less of the souldiers . a letter and declaration of the lords , knights , gentlemen , and ministers of the county of york , and of the lord mayor , aldermen and common-councel of the gity of york . presented to general monck feb. . . at his quarters at drapers-hall london , by sir thomas wharton knight , brother to the lord wharton , john dawney , thomas harrison , and john legard esquires . as also a letter , with the said declaration inclosed , delivered by the said gentlemen to the lord mayor directed to him , and to the common-councel of the city of london . to his excellency the lord general monck . my lord , we finde our selves constrained by writing to supply the omission of acquainting your lordship with our thoughts and desires when you passed through our county , which we had then done , if upon so short notice we could have met for a mutual vnderstanding ; your lordship will finde in the inclosed declaration the sum of our apprehensions . we thought it not necessary to multiply particulars , but leave all other things to a duly constituted parliament ; neither have we been sollicitous to multiply subscriptions , trusting more to the weight of the proposals , than to the number of subscribers ; yet we may safely affirm this to be the sense of the generality of the county and city , as your lordship sees it is of others . we have onely to add our earnest desires to your lordship , that you would be pleased to further the accomplishment of what we have represented with such seasonable speed , as that the fear of friends , and the hopes of enemies concerning a dangerous confusion amongst us , may be prevented . your lordships very humble servants , thomas fairfax , faulconberge , bar. bouchier , vicecomes . christopher topham , mayor , &c. the declaration . we being deeply sensible of the grievous pressures under which we lye , and the extream dangers we are exposed to at this time , through the violent alteration of our government , the mutilation and interruption of parliaments : and having no representatives to express or remedy our grievances , have thought it meet ( according to the example of other counties ) to declare and desire , that if the parliament begun november . . be yet continued , the members that were secluded in the year . be forthwith restored to the exercise of their trust , and all vacancies filled up , that right may be done to their persons , to parliaments , and the people that have chosen them . if otherwise , that a parliament may be presently called without imposing of oaths or engagements ( the greatest prejudice to civil or christian liberty ) or requiring any quallifications , save what by law or ordinance of parliament before the force in . are already established . and untill this , or one of these be done , we cannot hold our selves obliged to pay the taxes that are or shall be imposed . we not enjoying the fundamental right of this nation to consent to our own laws by equal representatives . subscribed by esquires thomas lord fairfax , tho. lord viscount fauconberge , barrington bourchier esq . high sheriff , christ . topham , mayor , sir thomas wharton , knight of the bath . sir christ . wivel bar. sir john hotham , bar. sir tho slingsby , bar. sir wil. cholmly , bar. sir fran. boynton , bar. sir roger langly , bar. sir hen. cholmly , kt. sir tho. remington , kt. john dawney , henry fairfax , tho. harrison , john legard , william fairfax , william gee , william osbalston , robert wivel , thomas hutton , gustavus boynton , henry bethel , metcalf robinson , henry stapleton , george marwood , robert redman , william adams , col. lancelot parsons william daulton , james moyser , robert belt , henry marwood , john vavasour , john gibson , john micklethwait , bryan fairfax , bryan layton , thomas lovel , wil. rooksby , capt. nicholas bethel , john jackson , thomas yarborough , walter bethel , john riccard , john adams , richard levie , cregory crake , james driffeild , &c. ministers . mr. edward bowles , mr. nath. jackson , mr. witton , mr. waterhouse , mr. bentley , mr. nasebit , &c. the said declaration was also subscribed by the aldermen and common-councel of the city of york . to the right honourable , the lord mayor and common-councel of the city of london . my lord and gentlemen , having taken notice of some vigorous inclinations of your lordship and the city , towards the asserting your common freedomes as english men , too much of late violated , and being now also our selves constrained , from a like sense , to manifest our resolutions to the same effect , in a declaration sent to general monke , whereof the inclosed is a copy ; we have thought good to give your lordship an account of our intentions , as that to which we are most firmly resolved to adhere , wishing it may effect the end by our selves , and ( as we are perswaded ) by your lordship , and all good people of that city intended . we remain , york feb. . . your lordship 's very humble servants , thomas fairfax faulconberge , bar. bouchier , vicecomes . christopher topham , mayor , &c. which letter , with the declaration therein inclosed , was also the same day delivered by sir thomas wharton , and the rest of the said gentlemen , to the lord mayor of london , desiring it might be communicated to the common-councel , according as by the letter it was desired . the same day also a particular letter was presented to the lord general monke from the lord fairfax , dated feb. . in confirmation of the said declaration , which was delivered by mr. bryan fairfax , who was sent up on purpose with the said letter . the declaration of the gentry , ministers , free-holders of the county and city of lincolne . we the gentry , ministers , and free-holders of the county and city of lincolne , being truly sensible of our miseries and grievances , namely the sad consequents of intestine war , the fear of invasion from abroad , at this time of our distractions and divisions both in church and state , the violent alteration of government , the heavy imposition of unheard of taxes ; all which of late years hath ruined our trade , and impoverished the whole nation , and are all occasioned by reason of the many violences and breaches made upon our known established laws and fundamental liberties , do therefore humbly propose and declare ( having first met and consulted , as other countries have done ) that the onely remedy for our said grievances , will be for a free , full parliament , speedily to be called and assembled , to sit according to our said known established laws , wherein the free votes of all free people of this nation might be included , since that such onely have a legal capacity to enact laws and statutes that may equally binde all the free people of this nation ; and therefore if any persons ( how ever impowred ) not having the authority of such a parliament , shall take upon them to lay impositions upon the free people of this commonwealth , or to prescribe or enjoyn any limitations , restrictions , or quallifications whatsoever , not formerly agreed upon in full parliament . we do declare our selves not obliged thereto , as being destructive to the freedome and undoubted priviledges of parliament . a declaration of all the watermen in about the city of london , between gravesend and stanes . or , a hue and cry after col. whitton and his decoys . whereas it hath been seemingly by the insinuatious of some few of us , cast on our whole company , that we would lay our shoulders , and stretch out our helping hands , for the upholding of something , which to our selves is both unknown and uncertain , and may likewise in probability be a cause of disturbance , if not breaking the peace of the nation : we , to manifest our innocency in the one particular , and vindicate our selves from the scandal thereof , as also to shew our real and hearty concordance with all other , noblemen , gentlemen , citizens and others , of the several counties of england , whose declarations are exposed to the publick view , doe cordially , unanimously , and freely declare . that the list annexed of our names to a petition pretended by our consent to be presented to the members sitting at westminster , is not at all by us owned , neither doe we know any other authors or abettors thereof , than some few here under-mentioned our names in truth being gained by colonol whitton , under the pretence to put down hackny coachmen ; but by him converted to another use , and that so contrary to our thoughts and intentions , that we would sooner have quitted our nearest relations , than have consented to such ebulliences . for the undeceiving therefore of the gentry of this nation , to whom many , yea , most of us are obliged , and consequently not unknown ; for the rectifying the judgments of such as know us not , and for the satisfaction of the whole free-born subjects of england who with us claim a birth-right in magna charta , and the petition of right , we doe further , with one consent , declare . that we conceive it fitting , for the redressing the grievous wants and pressures that lie upon all the good people of this nation , that according to fundamental right , the people in parliament may have their representatives , who may receive their grievances , and present them in their behalf , whereby to obtain a remedy . and because faction and schism hath already too great a root , that honest and prudential men may be elected , whose estates ( as to temporals ) and religion ( as to spirituals ) may oblige them sincerely to endeavour a settlement both in church and state . the onely meanes for attaining of which ends , we conceive by the blessing of god , to be a full and free parliament , which as we know the nation groans for , so we cordially desire , and we shall not acquiesce , till we have regained that our undoubted right , hitherto unquestioned priviledge , and never to be denied lawful demand . in the defence whereof we shall account nothing too dear to lose , being ready to quit not onely our employments , but to lay aside our relations , and lay our lives at stake . this representation is owned by ten thousand of us ( which if desired ) shall be acknowledged both with our hands and hearts , against all the malicious underminings of col. whitton the painter , and his decoys : who upon the tendring that forged petition to the watermens hall , being conscious that the rankness of the trepan would be presently sented , addrest themselves to mr. pryn , to en their protest against it , their names are hereunto annexed . viz. wil. lemond . josias smith . wil. crop. wil. goodale . thomas slator . tho. wasborn . john howard . wil. bugby . robert crop. tho. vincent . john foster . john lee . wil. sound . jacob meade . wil. clerk . martin craul . roger phillips . fran. borrick . richard thusee . wil. butler . the remonstrance of the noblemen , knights , gentlemen , clergy-men , free-holders , citizens , burgesses , & commons of the late eastern , southern , & western associations , who desire to shew themselves faithful and constant to the good old cause , the priviledges and freedom of parliament , the liberty and property of the subjects , laws of the land , and true reformed religion , which they were formerly called forth and engaged to defend by declarations of parliament , the protestation , and solemn national league and covenant . we the noblemen , knights , gentlemen , clergy-men , freeholders , citizens , burgesses and commons of the late eastern , southern , and western associations of england , whose names are hereunto subscribed , having for a long season with bleeding hearts , perplexed spirits , weeping eyes , and over-much patience and silence , beheld the miserable publick distractions , intollerable oppressions , various revolutions , great tumults , and destructive confusions , wherewith our former most glorious , flourishing churches and nations ( for want of a setled government , and free parliament ) have many years by-past been violently rent in pieces , wasted , consumed , made the very hissing , scorn , laughing-stock of all neighbour countries , whether friends or foes , christians or infidels ; and thereby exposed to the justly dreaded hostile invasions of combined forraign romish adversaries , whose emissaries have been very active , instrumental in our late combustions and changes ; being now deeply sensible of the deplorable , desperate condition and imminent ruine , not onely of our own persons , families , posterities , but of our dearest , exhausted , enthralled , dying native country , and protestant religion too , far dearer to us than our lives or private interests , the preservation whereof is the supreamest law ; and calling to our minds the first publick ends and causes for which we took up arms ( since totally perverted , subverted , oppugned by ambitious , self-advancing commanders , officers of the army , and others contrary to their trusts and commissions ) with the manifold oaths , protestations , vowes , solemn league and covenant , and other sacred as well as civil obligations lying upon our consciences , engaging us all in our several places and callings in this day of englands trouble , and extream danger , to put our helping hands and best advice to obviate those perils , and remove those disorders , grievances , confusions , which menace utter desolation both to her and us , if we should any longer fit stupidly silent , or unactive in our spheres , like persons altogether uninterested or unconcerned in these perillous times of unprefidented exorbitancies , usurpations , tyrannies over our persns , estates , lawes , liberties , and parliaments themselves , by ambitious , turbulent self-seekers and incendiaries , and of universal decay of trade by sea and land ; have thereupon conceived it our necessary bounden duties in this sad posture of our sacred and civil concernments both as christians and english freemen , by this our joynt remonstrance to tender to the rest of our english brethren throughout the whole nation , of what rank , calling , or condition soever ; such just , legal , safe , rational , honest and christian proposals , as through gods blessing upon our and their unanimous , vigorous prosecution of them against all self-ended opponents , may redeem us from our present bondage , dangers , schisms , confusions , frequent rotations of publick government , and restore our tottering church , state , kingdoms , religion , to their pristine unity , tranquillity , purity , stability , dignity , felicity , and secure them against all future concussions and convulsions . for which end we all passionately desire , and shall unanimously and cordially endeavour by all lawful meanes within our orbs , . that a legal , full and free parliament of england may be speedily summoned , according to the prescription of caroli , c. . enacted for this purpose , not hitherto put in execution ; and that free elections of able knights , citizens and burgesses , by and of all well-affected persons to peace , and the old parliaments good cause , to represent them therein , may be no wayes disturbed , nor restrained by force of armes or otherwise . . that the said parliament may safely , freely meet at westminster on the third monday in january next , to consult of , vote , and settle the peace , government of our distracted churches and nations , without the interruption , disturbance , force or dissolution of any commanders , officers or souldiers of the army , or other tumultuous persons whatsoever , under pain of being declared , prosecuted , executed as traitors and enemies to the publique . . that the full power of the militia both by sea and land be delivered up to this parliament , on the first day of their convention therein , for the better assurance of their free and peaceable session , and not continued as a distinct body or interest in opposition , contradistinction , or super-inspection , but in real subordination to the parliament and people . . that the whole frame and settlement of the government of our nations be entirely referred to the parliaments unanticipated consideration , the proper judges thereof , without any antecedent restrictions , presciptions , or impositions , by the army-officers , or any others . . that the supreme ▪ management of all civil , politique , military affairs , and appointment of all great officers of state , and ministers of justice , shall be in all the surviving members of the long parliament , without secluding any , as in a general council of state and safety only ( who are all desired to meet for that purpose ) till the new free parliament shall assemble , and no longer . . that the preservation of the peace , government of each county , shall be in the hands of such sheriffs , conservators of the peace , and other antient officers , as the free-holders of every county , shall publickly elect in their county-court , according to their antient rights and liberties ; and of every city and corporation in the mayors , sheriffs , bailiffs , and other officers elected by them , according to their charters , customs , and in none other officers imposed on them , till the parliament shall take further order therein . . that no taxes , contributions , excises , imposts , new customs , militiaes , or other payments whatsoevet , shall be henceforth imposed , assessed , levied upon , or paid by the people , but by their common grant and consent in free and full parliament , by act of parl. under pain of high treason in the imposers , assessors , collectors , and voluntary payers thereof ; this being the peoples indubitable birth right , acknowledged , declared , confirmed by manifold acts and declarations old and new . . that such an act of indempnity may be agreed on and assented to in this parliament by common consent , as may secure and indempnifie all persons , whose future peaceable deportment till this act passed shall demerit it . . that care may be therein taken for the speedy satisfaction of all just arrears of all officers and souldiers , duly listed before the . of may last , who shall peaceably and dutifully submit to the free convening and safe sitting of this desired parliament . that all others who shall tumultuously oppose or interrupt the summoning , assembling , or sitting thereof , shall forfeit all their commands , arrears , indempnity , and incur the penalty of traitors and publick enemies to the parliament and nation . . that an effectual course may be taken for the setled old maintenance , succession , protection and encouragement of a godly , learned , painful orthodox preaching ministry ▪ throughout the three nations . . that due care and order may be taken for the speedy detection , banishment , and execution of the lawes against all jesuits , seminary priests , freers , and other romish emissaries , or seducers whatsoever , employed to divide , corrupt , seduce the people ; and the oath of abjuration duly tendered by justices of peace and other officers , to all persons who shall be accused and justly suspected to be such , for their better detection . . that the causes of the great extraordinary decay of all sorts of trade , merchandise , shipping , scarcity of bullion , coin , with all frauds and abuses in manufactures , dilatory vexatious proceedings , extortions in courts of law and equity , may be diligently enquired into , redressed , punished , and the great destruction and waste of timber in all parts inhibited under severe penalties . . that all treasurers , receivers , collectors , farmers of any monies , customes , excises , rents , revenues , taxes , imposts , sequestrations , or other goods , profits whatsoever to the use of the publick , may be speedily called to account in each county , by fitting unaccountable persons appointed for that end , and all their frauds and abuses therein enquired of , and condignly punished . . that all good laws formerly enacted for the preservation and defence of the persons , lives , liberties , properties of the subjects , against illegal imprisonments , banishments , restraints , confinements , corporal punishments , execution by any person or persons , powers , committees , council of state , military , civil officers , or judicatures whatsoever , and against all unjust taxes , confiscations , sequestrations , rapines , plunders , may be ratified ; and the late and future violations of them exemplarily punished . . that every person who shall from henceforth canvas for voices to make himself a knight , citizen , burgess or baron of the ports , in the next , or any ensuing parliament , either by letters of recommendation from great men , feasting the electors before , at , or after elections , gifts , bribes , or otherwise , shall upon due proof thereof , be made uncapable to sit or serve in parliament . . that all members of parliament , officers of state , justices , sheriffs , mayors , recorders , shall henceforth take a corporal oath , to the best of their knowledge , skill , power , inviolably to preserve the fundamental laws , liberties , franchises of the free-men of england , and to give all lawes for the defence of them in charge to the grand jury , in their respective assizes , and general sessions of the peace , that they may enquire and present all offences against , and violations of them , to be condignly punished according to law . . that all unnecessary garrisons , supernumerary souldiers , and sea-men , may be speedily paid off , dismantled , disbanded , and all superfluous officers , excessive fees , and extortions whatsoever , taken away , for the impoverished peoples ease : and the manifold extortions , abuses of gaolers , marshals , messengers , and other detainers of prisoners , punished and redressed . . that able , faithful consciencious , fitting persons , fearing god and hating covetousnesse , may be preferred to all offices , places of publick trust , and administration of justice ; and detur digniori , made the only rule in all elections and preferments whatsoever . . that all universities , colleges , schools of learning in our three nations , with all lands , rents , annuities , gifts , revenues , for their support , may be constantly maintained , preserved from rapine , and all mis-imployments , substractions of them , and of any lands , rents , annuities , monies , gifts , legacies to them , or any other publick or charitable use whatsoever , diligently enquired after and reformed . all which proposals we are resolved by gods gracious assistance with unanimity , constancy , and activity , in our several stations , with our lives and fortunes , to prosecute and accomplish , to our powers , by all just and legal wayes , with what ever else may conduce to the peace , safety , unitie , wealth , prosperity of our lacerated , macerated , naufragated church and state ; wherein as we shall constantly pray for gods divine assistance and blessing upon our weak endeavours , without which they will be altogether succeslesse : so we cannot but confidently expect , and shall importunately desire the cordial concurrence , assistance , prayers of all other noblemen , knights , gentlemen , clergy-men , free-holders , citizens , burgesses , and english freemen , without the smallest opposition , that fo righteousness and peace may kiss each other , and glory once more dwell within our land , wherein they have been strangers over-long : and let all the people ( by their joynt subscriptions ) say , amen , amen , amen . the declaration of the gentlemen , free-holders , and inhabitants of the county of bedford . we the gentlemen , free-holders , and inhabitants of the county of bedford , being truly sensible of the heavy pressures that we lie under , having all our civil and religious rights and liberties daily invaded , cannot in this common day of calamity , be silent , but with the rest of the nation , make some enquiry after the way of peace and settlement : and having met , and considered , thereof , doe humbly propose , as the most probable meanes , under god , to compose all our differences , and cement all our breaches both in church and state , the assembling of a full and free parliament , without any previous oaths , or engagements , or qualifications whatsoever ( saving what was in the year . before the force put upon the parliament . ) or the re-admitting of the secluded members to the execution of their trusts , with a full and free supply of their vacancies by death . and until one of these be done , we do declare , we shall not hold our selves engaged to pay the taxes imposed upon us , without our consents so first had in parliament . the declaration of the gentry , clergy , and commonalty of the county of essex . were it not that our former too unhappy zeal ( in idolizing those persons who are now become , by far more oppressing than the egyptian task-masters ) at this time seconded with silence , would bespeak us stupid and insensible ; we needed not to repeat the sighs and groans of an oppressed and almost ruined kingdome : but lest a tacit silence should render us complaint with their sacrilegious and regicidious proceedings , we are necessitated to declare our present thoughts and future resolutions . we cannot look upon our present rulers without casting an eye upon a militant church , and there we finde them converting a house of prayer into a den of thieves ; an orthodox , learned and reverend clergy , by them reduced to the extremest want , under pretence of propagating the gospel ; and those ( who are yet permitted to exercise their ecclesiastical function ) treatned to be deprived of gods allowance , except in effect , they will forsake him , and fall down to their baal . we cannot look into our cloathing towns , but we behold famine ready to assault them , the poor and diligent labourer , for want of work , not able to buy him bread , so that those , who before wrought with their hands at home , are now forced to wander abroad , and work with their tongues to beg life , whilst we , who although willing , are hardly able ( through the oppression which lyes upon us ) to relieve them : and when we look upon the instruments of these our miesries , and consider their persons and qualifications , we cannot finde one publick spirit ( not one wise man ) among them ; their number is inconsistent with our laws , and a large part of that small number are reputed relatives to gaoles and brothil-houses : persons who outwardly profess god , but in their lives and actions utterly deny him , who through their most perfidious treacheries , and reiterated perjuries , have blasted the honour of our nation , and rendred our religion contemptible to all our enemies ; who ( while they pretend to strive for religion and liberties of the people ) have no other cause but cains , thinking their sins greater than can be forgiven ; and therefore per fas , aut nefas , they endeavour to lay a foundation for their own security , although in the church and kingdomes desolation . these premises considered , we conceive our selves obliged , and therefore readily and unanimously we do declare , that with our lives and fortunes we will protect , abet , and assist all tho e worthy remonstrators of the most renowned city of london , ansd the several counties of this kingdome , in the pursuance of their several declarations for a full and free parliament ; which is the onely means ( under god ) to bring us out of this miserable confusion , in which at present we are plunged . and we further declare , that we will pay no tax , or other imposition whatsoever , but by authority from our representatives in a full and free parliament : into whose hands we shall commit our lives and fortunes , and into whose results we will ever acquiesce . our eyes are up unto our god for help , and thence our hopes are fixed on general monke , that god hath called him forth to be the vmpier and determiner of our divisions and oppressions , by whom he will lead us through the wilderness of our present confusion , and bring us to our desired canaan . in this confidence we pray to god to bless , direct , and keep him . advertisement . this our declaration had came forth a week since , had not the trappanning diligence of an unworthy member of our country endeavoured the surprizal of it and us : let not three hundred and thirty hands ( an inconsiderable number for so great a county ) bespeak this declaration forged , we being forced to do in one day the work we had cut out for seven ; had we had time , we had brought ten thousand hands , such as upon a good occasion , will bring hearts suitable to the merits of their cause . the declaration of the gentry of the county of nottingham . and of the town of nottingham , presented by way of address to his excellency the lord general monck , the . of february , with a letter to his excellency , and another to the speaker of the parliament . what the people of this land have suffered in their greatest concernments , both religious and civil , by the late disorders , and frequent change of government , hath for a long time been the argument of a general and sad complaint both to god and man : what the most publick sense of the nation is , as to the means of setling it in the possession of its antient and native liberties , is sufficiently known by the several declarations of so many counties already presented and published : what god in great mercy hath done by your excellencies means , as his chosen instrument , to revive our dying hopes , in plucking us as a brand out of the fire , and that with so gentle a hand , is the wonder and rejoycing of our souls . in testimony therefore of our thankfulness to god , and our grateful sense of your excellencies most valiant and wise management of the power he hath intrusted you with : as also to evidence as fellow-members our concurrence and sympath , with those other parts of this great body : we the nobility gentry , ministry and commonalty of the county of nottingham , and of the county of the town of nottingham do declare , that as it is our judgement that the nation ought , so it is our earnest desire , and shall be our endeavour by the use of all lawful means that it may be free in its members in parliament , deputed from all parts , impowred by antient and undoubted right to elect , the best expedient whereto , at present , we conceive to be either an admission of the members secluded in . and a filling up of vacancies by new elections , or the speedy calling of another parliament with such qualifications as were then agreed on before there as a force upon the house . we also claim it with the rest of the nation as our uniquestionable right , that nothing be imposed upon us by way of tax , or otherwise , but by our consents first given and declared in a full and free parliament . and now , considering how great things in prosecution of these just ends are already done for us , as we do in most humble manner bless and praise his glorious name that hath thus far answered our desires , so we do most earnestly beseech him to perfect in his due time what is so happily begun , and in order thereto to bless and conduct your excellency through all the remaining difficulties that may obstruct our present necessary settlement upon the true lasting foundation of our known laws and priviledges . in the vindication whereof we beseech your excellency to be confident , not only of our best wishes and thanks , but also of our utmost assistance to the hazard of our lives and fortunes . my lord , this enclosed was intended to be presented to your excellencies before we had notice of your excellencies happy removal of all force , excluding members from sitting in parliament wherein though our desires are thereby granted , yet we cannot but address the same to you , that it may appear what your excellency hath done therein is according to our sense and desire , as well as those of other counties that have gone before us in time , though not in affection , and that we shall in our places and callings be ready to make good what we have publickly declared for , as the parliament and your excellency shall command us , and remain nottingham , feb. . . my lord , your excellencies most humble and faithful servants . mr. speaker , we being desirous amongst other counties to express our thanks to the lord general monke , for his endeavours in our restitution to peace and settlement , and to manifest our adherence to him , and those under his command , in the further prosecution of those good ends mentioned in our address to him , after we had subscribed and ordered these gentlemen to wait upon him with the same , we received the joyful news , that all force was removed , and a free admission given to all members to sit in parliament , whereby our desires are so far accomplished , that we might have acquiessed therein , but only that we would not have our intentions and desires , though obtained , buried in oblivion , we thought fit to present that address to the lord general , and judge it our duties to express our thankfulness to god for your re-admission , and our readiness in our places and callings , to assist you in what you have so happily begun , and humbly desire that by your authority our militia may be so setled that we may be serviceable to your commands , and capacitated to defend our selves against any discontented persons that may upon this change endeavour a disturbance of the publick peace , or deny your authority . nottingham , feb. . . sir , your humble and faithful servants . the declaration of sir charles coot knight and baronet , lord president of the province of connavght : and the rest of the council of officers of the army in ireland . present at dublin concerning the re-admission of the sucluded members . since the authority of parliament became openly violated , and that by their own waged servants of the army in england , by whom . of the members of parliament were torn from the parliament house in dec. . and imprisoned , and a . other members denied entrance into the house , and about fifty more voluntarily withdrew themselves to avoid violence , making in all of secluded members about two hundred and fifty , when the remaining members charged the army with the guilt of that force , and sent to the then general of the army for the restitution of those excluded members which was denied them , how many and manifold have been the miseries and calamities under which these nations have laboured , and do stil labour , is evident to all equal minded men . the godly ministers of the gospel despised : the ministry it self villified : tythes , and other means of their maintenance ( particularly in ireland ) taken from them , and mis-applied ; the protestant religion shaken , and almost overturned ; anabaptists , quakers , and other sectaries set up and countenanced ; heresies and schisms increased ; the fundamental laws of the land trampled upon , and an arbitrary government endeavoured to be introduced ; the civil rights , properties and liberties of the people in their persons and estates broken in pieces ; impositions and taxes on the people without example laid and increased in an excessive manner and measure , whereby thousands of families have been ruined , and enforced to beg their bread ; manufacture at home discouraged , publick trade and commerce abroad interrupted ; the nations become deeply indebted , and generally impoverished ; the reformed protestant churches abroad exposed to great danger , wanting the wonted support of england , which ( under god ) was the bulwark and chief strength of the protestant religion throughout all christendome , and finally the english nation ( which was alwayes deservedly ) in so high honour and estimation at home and abroad , as it was a bridle and terrour to their enemies , and a countenance and support to their friends , and allies , is now become ( we tremble and grieve to have so just cause to speak it ) a scorn and dersion to all nations round about us ; and all this is brought to pass to satisfie the avarice , ambition , lusts , and fears of a few inconsiderable persons of anabaptistical and other fanatique spirits , who have made it their business to occasion still one trouble on the neck of another , so to imbroil and continue the nations in division , war , and bloody confusion , that sober men might not have time or leisure ( with maturity of judgement or counsel ) to look into the inwards of their designs or actings ; and after we had beheld all this with bleeding hearts , and calling to minde that when in december . the said force was put upon the parliament , the then remaining members sent sundry times to the general to know why he imprisoned their members , and desired him to set them at liberty , which was not done ; and we gathering from all this , that if the house were once freed from the force of an army , and they again restored to freedome and liberty of sitting and and acting , they would then upon the firmer grounds ( in conscience of their duties to god and their country , and in testimony of their high resentment of that breach of priviledges of the parliament , have taken into the house those excluded members , and filled vacant places by due and orderly elections of the people ( and after so many years unhappy interruption unite again in a full and free parliament , and there assert the rights and priviledges of parliament , and liberties of the people , which from the very beginning of the war of england have been not the least ground of their contest with the late king , and ever since , and joyn their counsels and endeavours for restoring these nations to peace and tranquillity . and thence it was , that on the . day of december . several officers of the army here , on the behalf of themselves , and those under their commands , by their joynt declaration , declared and published their stedfast resolutions to adhere to the parliament in defence of its priviledges , and the just rights and liberties of the people of these nations as men and christians ; in which declaration afterwards concurred the whole army of ireland , but now finding much contrary to our expectations , that when the members of parliament now assembled at westminster , were in decemb. . ( by an extraordinary providence ) restored to their freedome and liberty of sitting and acting as in parliament ; and that divers of those formerly excluded members of parliament on the . of decem. . ( as they had formerly done in may . ) offered themselves to discharge their trusts for the several counties and places for which they were elected , and formerly served those their fellow-members assembled at westminster , did not onely deny them admittance , but also voted and ordered the utter exclusion of all the excluded members with this further addition , that none of them should be chosen in future elections to sit in this parliament , whereby they have a more unnatural violence taken away from above the one half of the people of england , their representatives in parliament , and limited and abridged in a high degree the liberty and freedome of the people in further elections , which denial and order of theirs in a time when they were under no force , is so much the more strange , in regard that in december . when they were under a force , they transferred that guilt for themselves to the army , and pretended a willingness to re-admit those members if it were in their power , as is formerly mentioned . and whereas lieut. gen. ludlow had placed in ireland several officers who are anabaptists , and persons of the like fanatique spirits , ( many of whom had been very active in the late conspiracies and actings of the factious part of the army in england , even against those members of parliament now sitting at westminster ; of which officers so placed by lieut. gen. ludlow , it was found necessary to purge the army , and to put in their places persons more soberly minded and well affected to the parliament ; yet after all that done , and after lieut. gen. ludlow stood justly deservedly charged with high treason , the said lieut. gen. ludlow himself , and some others of the like principles with him , were by a report from the councel of state proposed to be appointed to governe not onely the army , but also the whole nation of ireland , to the astonishment of the people and army here , to the unsetling of those persons so well deserving , to the hazard of the peace of the nation and army ( and which is above all ) to the endangering even of religion it selfe . and here it is observable , that those members now sitting at westminster , by their declaration of . of january . since their restitution to their present liberty of sitting ) have published that extravagant councels and actions , have engaged the nations in a great debt and charge , which it seems necessitates their laying a new increase of charge on the nations , and yet so indulgent they are to those persons , that in a high degree created that necessity of so unreasonably charging the people , and whose estates might well bear a great part of that burden , as without so much as any suit made to them by those delinquents , they granted them indempnity for their persons and estates , whereby it seems the said members now sitting at westminster , hold it fit , that those who are of sober spirits , and offended not the parliament , should out of their estates pay for those extravagant mens delinquency , rather than the delinquents themselves . and although the said lieut. gen. ludlow , and miles corbet esq . together with col. john jones , and col. mat. tomlinson , stand impeached from hence most justly of high treason , and that charge against them , being known to the house , and there remaing , yet they have admitted two of those persons , namely the said lieut gen. ludlow , and miles corbet actually to sit in the said house . and now the greatness of those miseries which have befaln these three nations in general , by such late actings in england , and those heightned with many aggravations in the circumstances of them ( too many and too long to be repeated ) as it hath begotten in us , and in all good men in the three nations deep impression of astonishment and horror , so it is evident , that if it be any longer continued , it will perpetually nourish dishonour to god , grief to all god men , and ( we doubt and fear ) utter infamy and destruction to the three nations . in contemplation whereof , and considering how god hath in his justice blasted all attempts that since the year . have been made for re-setling of these nations in peace and tranquillity , and that after all the trials and various changes of government which we have in all that time with much long-suffering and patience endured , there is no way visible to us under heaven whence deliverance may be probably wrought or expected , but from the care and wisdome of a free and full parliament in england , which ( by the experience of all former ages hath been found the best and only expedient for providing remedies to be applied to so great and general mischiefs arising in church or state . and considering also that the marks of the true reformed religion according to the word of god , and of the fundamental laws of the land , and of our now dying liberties and freedome , are not yet so utterly razed and defaced , but that some footsteps of them do yet remain , so as ( by the wisdome of a full and free parliament ) they may be again renewed and firmly re-established ; and considering likewise that our hopes of having the said excluded members restored , and of new elections to be made for vacant places , whereby there might be a full and free parliament , as there was on decem. . . and the antient and long contested liberties of the people might be asserted , are much contrary to our expectations , and contrary to the fundamental laws of the land , and indeed contrary to all justice and become frustrated ; and considering further how unjust and unreasonable a thing it is , that of above five hundred members , whereof the commons house of parliament usually consisted , there were but four and forty or thereabouts , when that fatal vote passed for the keeping out the aforesaid excluded members by the prevalency of a major part of the said . persons ( not much exceeding those who voted then on the contrary side ) which assumes to it self the supreme authority , not onely of england , but also of the three nations , without president or example of any former age , there being above two hundred and fifty which stand eleven years excluded , without so much as the least offer of an impeachment against them in all that time ; which unexampled and unparallel'd assumption in those men is not possible to continue but by the force of an army poisoned with anabaptistical and corrupted principles , to the continual grief and unsupportable burden and charge of the three nations . and besides that act of the aforesaid persons chasing away ( for so it now appears ) about two hundred and fifty members , of above five hundred chosen by all the several parts of england , according to the known laws of the land , to represent the whole nation in parliament ; and after the forcible exclusion of so many , that the four and forty persons remaining ( amongst whom we believe there are some worthy patriots who are not so fully concurring in the actings of the rest of their number , as violently over-voted them , which is a further aggravation of the others guilt ) should dare to usurp to themselves as is formerly mentioned , contrary to all the laws , the supreme power not only of england , but also of ireland and scotland , is a thing which none but conquerors or tyrants would attempt , and in all circumstances is so hideous and monstrous to be endured by a free people , formerly famous to all the world for wisdome and valour , as the english nation have been , as it will be incredible to all posterity and lastly considering , that as in all ages , and more particularly since the beginning of the late horrid rebellion in ireland , our brethren in england have abundantly manifested a tender and compassionate sense of the condition in ireland , and were careful to relieve us in our lowest estate , as bone of their bone , and flesh of their flesh ; which we do , and shal ever acknowledge with humble thankfulnesse , and ( as a debt which we well know to be due from us to them above all people in the world ) shall be for ever as tender of their happinesse and welfare , as of our own , which indeed is involved in theirs , and without whom ireland cannot be happy . we therefore remaining constant in the reasons of our said declaration of dec. . . for adhering to the parliament in defence of its priviledges , and the just rights and liberties of these nations ; all which we see now are apparently more and more violated by the ▪ not admission of the said excluded members , and by not filling the vacant places , whereby the house might be full ; and being freed from force , might uninterruptedly act according to their judgements and consciences , towards re-setling the peace of these nations , which otherwise in all humane probability can never be restored to peace and tranquillity . we do therefore declare for a full and free parliament in england , consisting not only of those that sate on oct. . . but also of all such of the members of parliament imprisoned , excluded , or withdrawn in december . as are yet living , whom we desire may be restored to the freedome and liberty of sitting , and acting according to the trust committed to them by the several counties and places which did chuse them , that so they may be no longer debarred from discharging their said trust , and that vacant places may be speedily supplied by free and due elections of the people , yet so as none of the persons to be admitted or elected , be any of those who have been in arms , or otherwise aiding , abetting , or assisting the late king or his son in the late war against the parliament , and that the house being so filled , may proceed unanimously to consult the best meanes for re-setling the peace of the nations , the re-establishment of true religion ( the surest foundaon , as of all righteous government , so of all the happinesse of a nation ; ) the fundamental lawes of the land ( whereby all mens rights and properties are preserved ) and the liberties and freedom of the people which are supported by those lawes . and for those ends , and in discharge of our duty to god , and to our country , we do resolve , by the blessing of almighty god ) to joyn with our brethren in england , ireland , and scotland , who have or shall joyn with us for the ends aforesaid ; and do resolve , for the maintenance and preservation thereof , to hazard our lives and estates , and all that is dear to us : and we doubt not but all our brethren in the said nations , who disdain to be made slaves , will joyn with us herein , as being with wisedom and reason desirous to deliver over to their posterity that liberty and freedom which was conveyed to them at so dear a rate by our ancestors . and then we trust , that by the great mercy of god , will speedily follow a happy settlement of these yet miserable and distracted nations ; and consequently that the true protestant religion , in the power and purity thereof , may be established ; the godly , learned , and orthodox ministers of the gospel maintained by their tythes , and other their accustomed rights ; their persons supported and countenanced ; the universities and all other seminaries of learning cherished ; heresies and schisms suppressed , needless impositions and taxes on the people removed , and no charge to be laid on any of the nations , without their own free consents , given by their representatives , in their several and respective parliaments ; manufactures , and publique trade and commerce , at home and abroad advanced ; justice in its due and wonted course administred ; the just debts of the nation satisfied ; the treasure and revenues thereof preserved , and returned to their right and proper channels ; the arreares of the army , and other publique debts duly satisfied ; the armies and forces continued in due obedience to the supreme authority , and not presume as some have done , to give lawes thereunto , which hath been the root of a great part of our miseries ; the nations enriched , united and strengthened ; the reformed protestant churches abroad supported and countenanced ; the honour of the english nation restored , to the comfort of friends , and terror of enemies ; the plantation of ireland in the hands of adventurers and souldiers , and other english and protestants advanced , as a farther accession of honour and greatness to the english nation : and so by the blessing of god , all will shortly terminate in the glory of god , the peace and tranquillity of these nations , the strengthening of them against forreign invasion , and intestine rebellion , and the comfort , contentment of all the good people in these nations , which the lord of his mercy grant . dated at dublin , febr. . . sir charls coote william l. cawfield sir theo. jones sir oliver st. ceorge sir hen. ingoldsby sir john king col. chidley coote col. john cole col. will. warden col. richard coote col. john georges col. hen. owen lt. col. tho. scot lt. col. w. purefoy lt. col. oliver jones maj. tho. barrington maj. alex. staples maj. rich. bingley maj. george pepper lt. col. h. smithwick capt. henry baker cap. rob. fitz gerald cap. cha. wenman . cap. adam molineux col. hum. barrow cap. sam. foley cap. john salt cap. simon garstin col. cha. blunt col. hen. slade cap. ant. stamp cap. art. purefoy cap. george s ▪ george cap. peter purefoy cap. thomas curd cap. tho. newcomen cap. tho. newburgh cap. hen. thrimpton lt. hugh clotworthy lt. peter flower lt. her. langrish lt. rich. morrick lt. brian jaques lt. richard butler lt. john ottway lt. john evelin lt. tho. flint lt. edw. harrington corn . art. vsher corn . donw . prothers corn . w. pinsent ensign john hiad tho. sheppard . mar. quarter-master w. f. john payn comptr. a declaration of the gentry of somerset-shire , who were of the late kings party . whereas god by many gracious appearances ha●h raised the hearts of this nation to a great confidence , that their tottering condition draws near to an establishment , by the re-settlement of their antient , just , and solid foundations ; we doe declare , that in thankfulness to our great and good god , we hold our selves bound to look upon , and with humble longings ; to wait for the accomplishment of this great work , as the largest national blessing we are capable of ( being presented to our hope without blood and ruine . ) and likewise that we set up pillars in every of our hearts to the honour of his excellency the lord general monck , who hath not as others , either feared or affected the tyrannical greatness of our oppressors ; but as he undertook the redemption of his countrey with singular resolution , and hath carried it on hitherto with unparallel'd prudence , so we doe not in the least doubt , but that by the good hand of god he will perfect it with shining and glorious sincerity . and because we finde ( as we hope ) the last engine of the enemies of our peace now set on work for the embroiling of the spirits of the well-meaning people of england , by suggesting an unchristian inclination remaining in us , of waiting opportunities of revenge : we do here in the sight of god , and to all the world , disown and abhor all animosity and revengeful remembrance of sides and parties in the late war : and do promise and resolve to co-operate within our sphere towards the publique settlement , with such faithfulness and constancy , as neither to occasion or entertain the least jealousie upon the account of any past difference whatsoever , fully resolving to submit to the determinations of the parliament both in ecclesiastical and civil affairs , which we hope will remove all occasion of jealousie and distinction for the future . john lord paulett . sir francis paulett . sir amos paulett . william paulett esq. edward phillips . william helliar . peregrine palmer henry barkley . charles berkley . thomas warr . john brice . robert hawly . john bonvile . francis windham . thomas pigott . william wandrond . george waldrond . edward berkley . francis hawly . george speake . john tynt . sam. gorges . george syddenham . francis harvey , &c. an alarum to the counties of england and wales . with the ab-renunciatiation of the oath . by tho. fuller , b. d. our nation , which long since hath lost the lustre and well-being , now at last-strugleth for the life and being thereof . our many [ temporal ] miseries are reducible to two principal heads . daily . decrease of trading . . increase of taxes : so that every hour the burden groweth weightier , and the back of our nation weaker to support it . . 't is sad to see , in cloathing countreys , what swarms there are of poor people , the true objects of charity ; if any were as able to give , as they worthy to receive relief : for they would work , and can work , yet cannot work , because there are none to employ them . . as for the sea ( which is the land of port-towns ) it returneth small benefit ; for since dunkirk was ours ( more to the credit than benefit of our nation ) the fire of searobberies is removed out of the chimney , and scattered about the house , not lesse destructive , but more diffusive : so that our merchants could better guard themselves against that single staple of pirates , than many lesser ones sprung since every where , the cause why rich men will not ( as poor cannot ) adventure . . our second misery is , increase , yea , superfetation of taxes , so long as so numerous an army is maintained : for though some of their souldiers will preach gratis ( conscientious to take nothing for that which they know is worth nothing ) yet none will fight at so cheap a rate . . some will say , that what the souldier receiveth with one hand , he returneth with another , expending his pay in victuals , cloaths , &c. whereby coin , by circulation , is continued in our country . this i deny ; for some grandees greatned by the times , have made their monies over in banks beyond the seas , which are put into mortmain , or a dead hand , whereby no profit accreweth to our commonwealth . others having gotten the estates of lords , live after the rate yoomen , whose discretion therein is to be commended , for proportioning their expences ( for fear of afterclaps ) rather according to their original , than present condition . . the increase of taxes must inevitably cause the ruine of our nation : for though still there be wealthy men left ( as they shew it in their cowardise , and fear to engage for the general good ) yet they grow thinner every day whilst such as are left no root of their own , rather than they will wither will turn suckers on the stock of others . so that the greatest happiness rich men can promise to themselves , is only to be last devoured , though the comfort of the lateness will not countervail the sadness for the certainty of their destruction . indeed it is miraculous that our nation hath subsisted so long , and few there are that would believe that the whole candle of our english wealth could last so long , as we have beheld it burning in the socket , but now giving the last blaze , if god be not merciful , and men discreet to prevent it . . pass we from the sad malady , to the sole remedy thereof , i say sole , not exclusively of divine miraculous power , but according to humane apprehension , this is a free and full parliament . indeed free-parliament is a tautology , like a reasonable-man , who , if not reasonable , is no man ; as the other , if not free , no parliament . but the late frequent forces put on parliaments hath made the needless epethite become necessary , to express what kinde of parliaments we desire . not such in which every word must be spoken under correction of the sword , but wherein every member , without fear of violence ( to interrupt or dissolve them ) may follow the dictates of their own judgement . . nor ought a parliament onely bee free from force , but also from any abjurations , or previous engagements . let them take heed of renouncing any thing , save what is simply sinful in it self , as the forsaking of the world , flesh , and devil , as was solemnly promised for them in their baptism . but it is bad to bee busie with other ab-renunciations , especially of the royal family . . look backward , and we may say with david , the vows of the lord are upon us ; i mean on so many of us as are of fifty years of age . the oath of supremacy ( not to mention the covenant ) is the eldest brother , to whom the inheritance of our consciences do belong . . look forwards , it limiteth gods providence , which is an hainous offence ; wee know not what a day , month , year , &c. may bring forth . this age hath the least reason of any to meddle with the edge-tools of such oathes which in a short ( but strict ) time hath seen so many strange things , that now nothing is strange unto us . have wee not seen o. cromwell from a private gentleman gradatim ascend to bee protector of three nations , and by his courage and wisdome rather than any right ) a more absolute power possessed by , and larger tribute paid unto him than to any king in england . his son and successour ( counted bad by many for his goodness and milde spirit ) for eighth months was congratulated by the most considerable persons of our nation . now if some twenty years since an oath had been tendred unto us to abjure the family of cromwels from ever having the supream magistraey in our nation ; such an oath would have seemed safe , but yet it was not lawful to take it , because none knew what was in the womb of teeming time , though utterly improbable to our belief . . besides , the imposers of this oath may miss the mark they propound to themselves , viz. assurance of their own , and discovery of the opposite party ; for many now pass not for the taking or breaking of any oath , and assurance of such is hard in keeping , and indeed not worth the having . other will behold the oath as temporary , and expiring with the power of the imposers . as for the conscientious indeed , esfusing it out of pure principles of piety , it is a barbarous act for persons in power , to turn executioners to strangle tender consciences , whose cordial fear of an oath should be encouraged . . as the parliament must be free , no vassal , but enfranchised from the sword , so must it bee full , no cripple , but entire and compleat in all the members thereof . our land hath lately groaned under the most grievous monopoly as ever was , or can be , when a handful of men have grasped to themselves the representing of a whole ( not to say three ) nation , most of them being but burgesses , who though equal in votes , are not equal in their representation with the knights of the shires . if they presume that the rest excluded by them ( far more considerable for birth , estates , number , love of the people , and what not ? ) are vertually included in them , it is an intollerable presumption . that what pertaineth to all should be handled by all , is a truth so clear and strong , that they must offer a rape to their own reason that deny it . such also is this maxim , vnrepresented , vnconcluded : so that if so few have in them the notion of a parliament , it is a bare notion indeed , especially seeing this handful of men were ( say the cavaliers ) dissolved by the death of the king ; dissolved ( said cromwell ) by his sword ; dissolved ( say some great ones ) by an act of their own ( entred into the journall book of the parliament ) dissolved must their own consciences say , by their voluntary accepting of elections in later parliaments . . now the members of a free and full parliament ( the onely hope of humane help ) ought thus to be qualified : . let them be godly , and well-affected indeed , and not in the canting language of the times . . men of estates , who will be tender in taxing others , as striking them thorough themselves , whilst such who bear nothing care not how much they burthen others , as if paying were as easie as voting , and money as free as words . . men of spirits , no dull souls , all the sparks of whose activity are quenched in their own flegm . . no gainers by the continnance of the army . demetrius the silver-smith was no fool ( what ever else he was ) so sticking for the shrine of diana , by which craft he got his gain . . men of moderation , a quality not opposed to diligence , but to violence , not unactiving men , but regulating their activity . . this their moderation must appear in considering all interests , seeing there be no two interests in the nation so contemptible , which if united , and twisting their discontents together , cannot draw trouble on all the rest : especially the sectarian ( though presented i beleeve by their party , through a multipling glass ) are considerable on a politick score of their numbers and pious account of their conscience ; for , though many of them carry the latter in their purses , who when they finde the moisture of profit to fail them , will fall off like leaves in autumn ; yet can i not be so uncharitable , but to beleeve that many of them ( having the heat of their affections above the light of their judgements ) follow erroneous consciences ; besides , having gone loose so long , they must needs swell , if hardly girded on a sudden . . this moderation also must be used by all other persons , to work themselves to be ( if not pleased ) contented with the decisions of a free parliament . all must sit down losers save such alone , who can plead , that they have been no sinners in our nation . the grand design must be to have none , or , ( if that be impossible ) as few as may be , utterly ruined . i confess two hungry meals makes a third a clutton , and such who have long fasted from their detained estates , will be not onely greedy but ravenous to recover them . yea , such will shrewdly plead , that they now expect moderation from them , who never used moderation to them . however , in such a general danger , men must depose their animosities , labouring , first , to reconcile their spirits , then , their perswasions , the later being at less distance than the former . and men must divide , where they cannot get the whole , seeing few will pity his starving who will eat no bread at all , because he can recover but half of his own loaf . . it will be objected that such a full p. is still but an empty parliament , having no house of lords therein : but know , if both hands of a man be bound , no hope of liberty from himself ; but if one be untied , it may do the brotherly office to unloose the other : let us be content to row in a sculler till we can get a pair of oars . and such surely is the ingenuity and publick spiritness of the peers , that laying aside personal interest ( which upon debate may appear more ) they will suspend their rights , immunities , and priviledges , and submit all to the determination of a free parliament to acquiesce therein . . god give our nation seasonably to understand their own strength , that the wars begun may be ended amongst our selves before forreigners become the arbitrators of our differences , who will demand great wages for little work , yea and turn their owne paymasters thereof . and may that great general ( whose intentions long have stood in the dark to our nation , whilst our nations desires were all the while in light to him , understand that vox populi is vox dei , and interpret , that god calleth unto him by the declarations of all counties , to be chiefly instrumental in asserting our liberties , and we shall have cause for ever to bless the day of his nativity . . indeed had providence fixed our nativities under the duke of muscovy , whose list is his subjects law , we would ( because we must ) work our selves patiently to the obedience of his power . but seeing god hath given us , with st. paul , to be free-born , acts . . ( though also , with the centurion , we have given great summs , not to obtain , but contrive this freedome ) let us not tamely lose our birth-right , and vigorously endeavour their preservation . . the story is well known of the old woman , who having but a small parcel of wood , would leasurably roast her goose ▪ stick by stick , till her wood was all burnt , and her goose still raw . if the several counties singly engage one after another , all will be overthrown , and nothing effected as to our relief . let the two and fifty shires of england and wales ( with the city of london , which eminently is two and fifty more ) be all as one , and unanimously advance the work , and not doe as they dealt with poor cheshire , using it as joab used vriah , putting him forward on action , then falsly ret , eating from him , and leaving him a prey to his enemies . but i hope our old shipwracks will be new sea-marks to us , documented by former nocuments , to steer a course for the general good . . there is so englishman so inconsiderable , but he may , at the least in a single capacity , be contributive to the happiness of his native country , the wise with their brains , the rich with their purses , the learned with their pens , the strong with their persons , all with their prayers . and if now they suffer this opportunity which god puts into their hands , to slip through their fingers , they may hereafter have more years to bemoan their folly , than minutes to amend their misery ; it being better now to say , we will not , than three years hence to say , we cannot pay our taxes . the declaration and address of the gentry of the county of essex , who have adhered to the king , and suffered imprisonment or sequestration , during the late troubles . may it please your excellency , we the gentlemen of the county of essex , taking notice how industrious some pernicious and desperate persons have been to raise a jealousie , that all who adhered to the king have such a a settlement of rancour and revenge in their hearts , against those who were of a different party , that the blessing of a firm and lasting peace , so long wisht for , and now hoped to be in a near propinquity , is not likely to take its due and desired effect , have thought fit to express the true sense of our hearts , in a declaration which we have enclosed herein , conceiving it very fitting , not to make the same more publick , till it hath first arrived at the view of your excellency , whom god hath been pleased to make so signally eminent in the delivering of this nation from those pressing miseries it hath so long lay panting and groaning under ; and for which , as we can never enough magnifie his mercy , so can we not sufficiently express that high honour and respect which we retain in our hearts towards your excellency , the great and worthy instrument he hath been pleased to make use of therein . my lord , we subscribe our selves , your excellencies most humble and devoted servants . chelmesford , april . . this was subscribed by the gentry , whose names are expressed under the subsequent declaration , and superscribed to his excellency the lord general monck . the declaration . whereas almighty god hath raised this distracted nation to some hopes of re-settlement on just , known , and lasting foundations : we magnifie his mercy from the bottom of our hearts , and shall ever pay a most grateful acknowledgment to his excellency the lord gen. monck as the signal instrument of so great a deliverance . and whereas some pernicious and desperate persons have laboured to raise a jealousie , that those who adhered to the king doe still in their hearts detain revenge against such as were of a different party : we think our selves bound to declare to all the world ( in the presence of god ) that we detest and abhor all thoughts of animosity or revenge against any party or persons whatsoever . for as we could wish the late divisions had never been begotten , so we desire they may for ever be buried , and shall think those persons the greatest and common enemies of our country who shall offer to revive them . and we also declare , that we will thankfully submit and attend the resolutions of the next ensuing parliament , for a just and happy settlement of church and state , that so at last ( by cods blessing ) that so those odious marks of sides and parties may for ever be blotted out , and a perfect union may again be restored to this distressed nation . edward russel , esq. sir henry appleton , baronet . sir benjamin ayloff , baronet . sir denner strutt , baronet . sir humfrey mildemay , knight sir john tirell , knight sir granmer herris , knight sir edmund peirce , knight sir henry wroth , knight william ayloff , fsq . james altham , esq. gamaliel capel , esq. anthony browne , esq. charles fytche , esq. thomas argal , esq. stephen smith , esq. salter herris , esq. henry pert , esq. john fanshaw , esq. thomas roberts , esq. richard humphrey , esq. john lynn , esq. dr. john michaelson , richard symons , esq. anthony kempson , esq. william herris , esq. william bramston , esq. john brown , gent. nicholas serle john vavasour , gent. john green , gent. james cookson , gent. fdmund coole , gent. this declaration and address was agreed upon by the subscribers at a general meeting , at chelmesford in essex , april . . sir benjamin ayloffe , and sir edmond peirce being then appointed and desired to present them to his excellency , which was done accordingly at st. james's the th . of the same moneth . a declaration of the knights and gentry in the county of dorset , who were in his late majesties army . upon a due consideration of the dangerous jealousies which are promoted ; partly , by the cunning of a close , and malicious faction of separatists , and partly , by the unwarranted liberties of an heady and intemperate sort of people , which falsely tearm themselves royallists : — to the great dissettlement of sober and well-minded persons , and sufficient to blast the hopes we have of returning to our antient freedomes , without a more than ordinary appearance of divine aid , to support , and re-unite us in this our critical necessity . we have thought it highly expedient to declare our seuse , and resolves , in the particular of adherence to the largest assurances of amicable agreement , and correspondence imaginable : looking upon our selves as obliged by an indispensible tye of religious charity , to compassionate and forgive one another , as we expect to be forgiven : and we do further declare , that we are so far from justifying those unchristian animosities , which reign in divers turbulent spirits , even of our own party ( by reputation at least ) that we disclaim any society with men of those wilde principles ; and that to all honest purposes , we will never put any difference , betwixt such as shall now unite with us , in order to the publick peace , and those who first engaged in the same perswasion with our selves , submitting all to the resolves of parliament , upon whose determinations we beseech god to bestow his benediction . sir hugh windham , sir gerard naper , sir john strangwayes , giles strangwayes , john hardy , henry coker , edward hull , henry butler , maximilian mohune , robert mohune , henry hoskins , james hoskins , george strangwayes , nicholas strangwayes , robert lawrence , bruen lawrence , arthur fookes , george brown , major vdvehall , rob. chamberlain , rob. strode , jo. strode of slape , humphrey bishop , john bishop , robert culliford , george cary , george penny , tho. turbervile , george tubervile , tho. paulet , cap. hoare , major dolline , hugh hodges , rich. willoughby , john pesing , john gillin●ham ▪ william elsing , robert ernsly , john dawe , john fisher , ellis collins . the declaration of the gentry of the county of kent , who have adhered to the king , and suffered imprisonment or sequestration during the late troubles . whereas it hath pleased almighty god , after so many trialls , and so long distraction , to raise us to large hopes of resettlement of this nation upon just , known , and lasting foundations ; wee therefore desire from our hearts to render to god the glory of his mercies , and a full tribute of honour to his excellency the lord general monck , who hath been so eminently instrumental in these beginnings of deliverance . and forasmuch as we understand that some malicious and desperate persons ( regarding neither the mercies of god , nor the miseries of their country ) have endeavoured to beget a pernicious jealousie , that those who adhered to the king , do still retain a spirit of revenge against all that were of a contrary party : we do therefore declare in the presence of god , that we utterly abhor all revengeful thoughts and actions against any party or persons whatsoever . and as we have great reason to wish those divisions had never been born , so we hope , and will do our utmost they may never be remembred , and shall look on all persons as the worst and common enemies of this nation that shall offer to revive them . in pursuance whereof we further declare ( as his excellencies army hath given us a noble example ) that we will thankfully acquisce in the resolutions of the next ensuing parliament for a due and just settlement of church and state . col. richard spencer , esquire , thomas lennard , esquire , thom. peyton , kt. and baronet , roger twysden , kt. and bar. edward hales , baronet , richard hardress , baronet , william man , knight , stephen lennard , knight , john boys , knight , col. thomas colpepper , col. edward wilsford , col. george newman , col. henry norwood , robert barnham , esquire , daniel treswel , esquire , thomas collepepper , esquire , thomas herlackenden , esq. francis twysden , esq. john best , esq. edward barham , esq. rich. master esq. francis clerk , esq. edward darell , esq. william rook esq. joh. boys of h●ad , esq. wi●liam kingsley , esq. richard hulse , esq. james newman , esq. john pownoll , gent. william somner , gen● . a declaration of the nobility and gentry that adhered to the late king , in and about the city of london . after the miseries of a civil war , and the many vain and fruitless attempts toward settlement upon several interests and imaginary forms of government , it having pleased almighty god by unexpected and wonderful meanes to give these nations a probable hope of being restored to those lawes and priviledges which have been transmitted to them from their ancestors . we doe declare , that we think our selves obliged , next to divine providence to attribute this glorious work to his excellency the lord general monck , who as he had the courage to assert the publick liberty , and the prudence to carry it on against so many difficulties , has also had the happinesse to lead us thus far through the wilderness of confusion , without passing the red sea of blood . and because the enemies of the publick peace have endeavoured to represent those of the king's party as men implacable , and such as would sacrifice the common good as their private passions . we doe sincerely profess that we doe reflect upon our past sufferings from the hand of god , and therefore doe not cherish any violent thoughts or inclinations to have been any way instrumental in them ; and if the indiscretion of any spirited persons transports them to expressions contrary to this our sense , we utterly disclaim them , and desire that the imputation may extend no farther than the folly of the offenders . and we farther declare , that we intend by our quiet and peaceable behaviour to testifie our submission to the present power , as it now resides in the council of state in expectation of the future parliament , upon whose wisedome and determinations , we trust god will give such a blessing , as may produce a perfect settlement both in church and state . and as his excellency hath not chosen the sandy foundation of self-concernment , but the firm rock of national interest , whereon to frame our settlement : it is our hope and prayer that when the building comes to be raised , it may not like rome have its beginning in the blood of brethren , nor like babel be interrupted by the confusion of tongues . but that we may all speak one language , and be of one name , that all mention of parties and factions , and all rancour and animosities may be thrown in and buried like rubbish under the foundation . subscribed by the marquiss of dorchester the earl of northampton the earl of devonshire the earl of barkshire the earl of dover the earl of peterborough the earl of norwich the earl of corke the earl of carbery the earl of desmond the viscount ogle the viscount grandison the viscount lumley the viscount brounker the lord lucas the lord bellasis the lord loughborough the lord lexinton the lord brereton tho. fuller bp. of kerry sir william compton sir francis vane john russel wil. ashburnham edward villers thomas howard will. howard sir jarvis clifton knight and baronet sir tho. corbet bar. sir tho. littleton bar. sir john greenvil knight and baronet sir wil. thorold bar. sir tho. prestwich bar. sir orlando bridgman sir ed. pie sir lewis kirke sir tho. smith sir rob. stapleton sir wil. coney sir nich. crisp sir hugh cartwright sir sutton cony sir henry chichley sir wil. morton sir ed. savage sir tho. armstrong sir john stephens sir humph. bennet sir wil. howard sir hen. wroth sir wil. dacres sir rich. malevory sir arthur gorge sir anthony jackson sir robert bolles george morley d. d. tho. warmstry d. d. jer. taylor d. d. phil. king d. d. e. penrodock will. legg george penrodock tho. lower herbert price tho. panton robert ruthen coll. fretswel john jeffryes adrian scrope wil. burgh john mayard ed. rosecarack and many others . finis . perfection and peace delivered in a sermon / by tho. fuller. fuller, thomas, - . this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text r in the english short title catalog (wing f ). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a wing f estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) perfection and peace delivered in a sermon / by tho. fuller. fuller, thomas, - . [ ], p. printed by roger norton for iohn williams ..., london : . reproduction of the original in the harvard university library. eng bible. -- o.t. -- psalms xxxvii, -- sermons. sermons, english -- th century. a r (wing f ). civilwar no perfection and peace: delivered in a sermon by tho. fuller b.d. fuller, thomas d the rate of defects per , words puts this text in the d category of texts with between and defects per , words. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - judith siefring sampled and proofread - judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion perfection and peace : delivered in a sermon by tho. fvller b. d. london printed by roger norton for iohn williams at the crown in s. pauls church-yard , . to the honoble and truly religious george berkeley sole son and heir to the right honourable george lord berkeley , &c. sir , when i look on the crest of your ancient arms , ( a mitre powdered wth crosses ) i read therein an abridgment of the devotion of those darker dayes : the mitre shewing your ancestors actions in peace ; the cross , their atchievements in the holy war : the mitre , their doings at home ; the cross , their darings abroad . yea i fancie to my self each ancient lord berkly , like one of the israelites at the walling of jerusalem , neh. . . with a trowel in one hand , and a sword in the other . we alwayes find him either fighting or founding , either in a battel or at the building of some religious fabrick , as ( besides others ) the intire abbey at bristol , ( afterwards converted into a cathedral ) was solely founded by one of that family . this was the devotion of those dayes , wherein the world knew no better , and scarce any other . since the reformation , your noble house hath not had less heat for having more light . your charity hath not been extinguished , but regulated , not drained dry , but derived in righter channels ; and flowing with a clearer stream free from the mud of superstition . as for your particular , that your ancient crest is worthily born by you , the mitre speaking you a patron of learning ; the crosses , a practicer of religion . qualities which encouraged me to present this small treatise unto you . acceptance is more then it can expect , pardon being as much as it doth deserve , being so long in coming , so short when come . but because it had its first being by your command , it hopes to have its well-being by your countenance . should i desire so many lords of your family hereafter , as heretofore have flourished in a direct line , by desiring a particular happiness to your house , i should wish a general mischief to mankind ; that men should live so many years in sin & sorrow before the coming of the necessary and comfortable day of judgment . my prayer therefore shall be , that the lustre of your house may continue with the lasting of the world , ( so long as god will permit the badness thereof ) in that honourable equipage of your ancestors : may perfection here , and peace hereafter light on you , your vertuous lady , and hopeful issue ; which is the daily desire of your honours most bounden servant tho. fuller . perfection and peace . psal. . . mark the perfect , behold the vpright ; for the end of that man is peace . this and the . psalm are of the same subject , wherein david endeavours to cure an epidemical disease , with which the best saints and servants of god are often distempered : observe in this disease , the nature , danger , cause and cure thereof . the nature , namely fretting fits of the soul , at the consideration of the constant peace , plenty and prosperity of wicked men . the danger thereof , it causeth the consumption of the spirit , and is destructive to the health of the soul . yea , when this disease comes to the paroxism , the height and heat thereof , it becometh dishonourable to god ; aspersing and be-libelling him , as if he wanted goodness , and would not ; or power , and could not ; or justice , and doth not order matters better then they are . the cause thereof it proceedeth from a double defect in men : want of faith to trust in god . want of patience to wait on god . this is the reason why the practice of these two graces is so often inculcated by david in this psalm . the cure thereof : david applyes many cordials , ( for less then cordials will not do the deed ) seeing by his own confession , ps. . . his heart was grieved with his fretting fits . we will onely instance on the two last . one is a serious consideration , ver. of the short pleasure and certain pain of the wicked . it was a good prayer of a good man , lord keep me from a temporal heaven here , and an eternal hell hereafter . true it is , psalm . . that to the wicked , there are no bands in their death : and no wonder , when they have all bands after death . the second is a studious observation of the perfect mans condition , who though meeting with many intermediate broils and brunts , and bickerings in this life : yet all at last winds up with him in a comfortable close , and happy conclusion , mark the perfect , behold the vpright , for the end of that man is peace . observe in the words two general parts : the description of the dead . the direction to the living . in the description of the dead , we have two particulars : what he was . a practicer of perfection and uprightness . what he is . a possessour of a peaceable end . in the direction to the living we have an invitation , or rather an injunction to mark and behold . what was done by the man , when living : his holiness . what was done to the man , when dead : his happiness . this our sermon being now preached in the juncture of the old and new year : what better subject to end the old , then to speak of the description of the dead ? what fitter matter to begin the new , then to treat of the direction to the living ? mark the perfect , behold the vpright : for the end of that man is peace . before we enter on the words , it will be a charitable work to reconcile the seeming variance betwixt the two translations : i mean that which is commonly prefixed at the beginning , and what is constantly inserted in the middle of our bibles . the old translation . keep innocency , and take heed unto the thing that is right , for that shall bring a man peace at the last . the new translation . mark the perfect man , and behold the vpright , for the end of that man is peace . see here a vast difference betwixt the divers rendring of the words : if the trumpet , cor. . . give an uncertain sound , who shall be prepared for the battel ? but where shall the unlearned , though honest hearted reader dispose of his belief and practice , when there be such irreconcileable differences in the translation of gods word . i answer , the seeming difference ariseth from the latitude of the hebrew words , so extensive in their signification : for shemor which in my text is translated , mark , according to the first and most frequent acception thereof : signifieth also in a secondary sense , to keep , seeing those things which we mark , we also keep , at the least for some short time in our memorie . the same may be said , that the word behold , in my text , is rendered in the old translation , take heed , seeing the hebrew wil bear both : tham and iaschar , most commonly and constantly denote the concrete , perfect , vpright , righteous , and innocent : but sometimes signifieth the abstract also , perfection , uprightness , innocencie let not therefore the two translations fall out , for they are brethren , and both the sons of the same parent , the original : though give me leave to say the youngest child is most like the father , and the newest translation herein , most naturally expresseth the sense of the hebrew . let none cavil that such laxity in the hebrew words occasions uncertainty in the meaning of the scripture : for god on purpose uses such words importing several senses ; not to distract our heads , but dilate our hearts , and to make us rechoboh , room for our practice in the full extent thereof , psal. . . thy commandement is exceeding broad , and is penned in words and phrases , acceptive of several senses , but all excellent for us to practice : so that both translations may be happily compounded in our endeavours , mark the perfect , keep innocency , and behold the upright , and take heed to the thing that is right ; for the end of that man is peace : and that shall bring a man peace at the last . begin we with the description of the dead , perfect , and what is a good comment thereon . vpright . object . it is impossible this world should afford a perfect man . what saith david , psal. . . the lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men ▪ to see if there were any that did understand and seek after god . they are all gone aside , they are altogether become filthy , there is none that doth good , no not one . but what saith solomon , eccles. . . for what can the man do , who commeth after the king , even that which hath been done already . but what shall he do that cometh after the king of heaven ? can subjects hope that their discoveries will be clearer then their soveraigns ? shall man living on earth see more then god looking from heaven ? he could not meet with one good , where then shall we mark a perfect man ? answ. david in the place alledged , describes the general corruption ad prae varicationem of all mankind by nature ; in the latitude whereof we confess the perfect man in my text was involved . as all metals when they are first taken out of the earth , have much dross and oar , but by art and industrie may afterwards be refined : so the man in my text was equally evil with all others by nature , till defecated by grace , and by gods goodness refined to such a height of puritie as in some degree will endure the touch , and become perfect . in a four fold respect may a servant of god be pronounced perfect in this life . comparatively , in reference to wicked men , who have not the least degree or desire of goodness in them . measure a servant of god by such a dwarf , and he will seem a proper person , yea , comparatively perfect . intentionally : the drift , scope , and purpose of such a mans life , is to desire perfection , which his desires are seconded with all the strength of his weak endeavours : he draweth his bow with all his might , and perfection is the mark he aimeth at , though too often his hand shakes , his bow starts , and his arrow misses . inchoatively : we have here the begining and the earnest as of the spirit , cor. . . so of all spiritual graces , expecting the full ( not payment , because a meer gift , but ) receipt of the rest hereafter . in this world we are a perfecting , and in the next , heb. . . we shall come to the spirits of just men made perfect . but blame me not , beloved , if i be brief in these three kinds of perfections , rather touching then landing at them , in our discourse ; seeing i am partly affraid , partly ashamed to lay too much stress and weight on such slight and slender foundations . i hasten with all convenient speed to the fourth , which one is worth all the rest . a servant of god in this life is perfect . imputatively : christs perfections through gods mercy being impu●ed unto him . if i be worsted in my front , and beaten in my main battel , i am sure i can safely retreat to this my invincible ree● : in the agonie of temptation we must quit comparative perfection . alass , relation is rather a shadow then a substance : quit intentional perfection , being conscious to our selves how oft our actions cross our intentions . quit inchoative perfection ; for whilest a servant of god compareth the little goodness he hath with that great proportion which by gods law he ought to have , he conceiveth thereof as the pious jews did of the foundation of the second temple , haggai . . is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing ? but stick we may and must to imputative perfection , which indeed is gods act , cloathing us with the righteousness of iesus christ . this is the reason the saints are unwilling to own any other perfection : for though god iob . . is pleased to stile iob a perfect man , yet see what he saith of himself , iob . . if i say that i am perfect , it shall also prove me perverse . god might say it , iob durst not for fear of pride and presumption . indeed noah is the first person , who is pronounced perfect in scripture , gen. . . but mark i pray what went in the verse before : but noah found grace in the eyes of the lord . not that his finding grace is to be confined to his particular preservation from the deluge , ( which was but one branch or sprig of gods grace unto him . ) but his whole person was by gods goodness accepted of , noahs perfection more consisting in that acceptance then his own amiableness , approved not so much because god found goodness in noah , but because noah found grace in god . come we now in the description of the dead , to what he is , the end of that man is peace . object . some will object that daily experience confutes the truth of this doctrine , what more usual then to see gods servants tossed , tumbled , tortured , tormented , often ending their painful lives with shameful deaths . cushi being demanded by david to give an account of absaloms condition , sam. . . made this mannerly and politique return : the enemies of my lord the king , and all that rise up against thee to do thee hurt , be as that young man is . but some will say , if this be a peaceable end , to lead an afflicted life , and have an ignominious death , may the enemies of god and all goodness , the infringers of our laws and liberties , the haters of learning and religion , the destroyers of unity and order , have their souls surfet of such a peaceable end . resp. in answer hereunto we must make use of our saviours distinction , the same for substance and effect , though in words there be variation thereof . being taxed by pilate for treason against caesar ; he pleaded for himself , ioh. . . my kingdom is not of this world : so say we , to salve all objections , our peace , that is the peace in our text , ( and god make it ours , not only to treat and hear , but partake thereof , ) is not of this world , consisteth not in temporal or corporal prosperity ; but is of a more high and heavenly nature . indeed this peace is in this world , but not of this world ; begun here in the calm of a clear and quiet conscience , and finished hereafter in the haven of endless happiness . when the man in my text , becomes perfectly perfect , he shall then become perfectly peaceable . however we may see that sometimes ( i say not alwayes ) god sets a signal character of his favour on some of his servants , enjoying at their end a generall calm , and universal tranquillity towards all to whom they are related . amongst the many priviledges of saints reckoned up iob . none more remarkable then that verse . for the stones of the field shall be at league with thee , and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee . have we here a dichotomy of all wicked men , or a sorting of them all into two sides . some are stones , like nabal sam. . . stupid , sottish , senseless ; no rhetorick with its expanded hand , no logick with its contracted fist , no scripture , no reason , no practice , no precedent can make any impression upon them , so that the best of men may even despair to get their good will . well the way to do it , and procure a perfect peace with them , is to please god . others are beasts like the cretians , tit. . . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , so fierce , so furious , so crafty , so cruel , no medling with them without danger . as the former could not conceive , so these will not abide any rational debate with them . the former were too low and silly , too much beneath : these high and haughty , too much above perswasion to peace ; mention but the name thereof , and they psal. . prepare themselves to battel . the art then to make these friends with a man , is only this , to endeavour to please the high god of heaven ; and then solomons words will come to pass , prov. . . when a mans wayes please the lord , he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him . it once came to pass in england ( and but once it came to pass in england ) namely , when * sir thomas moor was lord chancellor , that the cryer in chancery being commanded to call the next cause , returned this answer , there were no more causes to be heard . not that there was no more on the file for that day ( which is ordinary and usual ) but , which is strange , that then there was no more sutes depending in the whole court of chancery , but that all ripened for trial , were decided . then was ianus his temple shut clean throughout england , in cases betwixt plaintiff and defendant , relating to equity and conscience . whether this proceeded from the peaceableness of people in that age , not so quarrelsome and litigious as in ours : or from the goodness of the judge , either , happy , privately to compound differences without any sute ; or dextrous , publickly to decide them with all expedition . but when some good man hath lyen on his death bed , though having many sutes in his life , all then are ended and composed . call the sute betwixt this man and his god , long since it is attoned , and both made friends in christ . cal the sute betwixt this man and his conscience , it is compremised , and both of them fully agreed . cal the sute betwixt this man and his enemies , stones , and beasts , it is compounded , and they at peace with him . call the sute betwixt this man and all other creatures , it is taken up , and he and they fully reconciled . thus i say sometimes , not alwayes , god graceth some of his servants that they depart in an universal peace , a personal favour indulged to some select saints . but generally and universally all the true servants of god , whatever their outward condition be , go from peace to peace ; from the first fruits of peace in their conscience , to the full fruition thereof in heaven . mark the perfect , behold the upright : for the end of that man is peace . come we now to the direction of the living : mark the perfect , behold the vpright . it is not said , gaze on the perfect , stare on the vpright , this men of themselves are too prone to do without any bidding : nay , contrary to gods positive command , heb. . . whilest ye were made a gazing stock by reproaches and afflictions . and david in the person of christ complains , psal. . . they look and stare upon me : partly with eyes of wonder , as on so many monsters and prodigies , pet. . . wherein they think it strange that you run not with them to the same excess of riot : partly with the eyes of scorn , as on so many miserable wretches . indeed god and wicked men agree in this point , that good men are not worthy to live here . but upon different , yea , contrary accounts , god esteems them too good to live here , heb. . . of whom the world was not worthy . wicked men conceive them too bad to live here , act. . . away with such a fellow from off the earth , for it is not fit that he should live . which makes them to behold the perfect and upright , with scorn and contempt . however mark the iust , behold the vpright , do it solemnly , do it seriously , not with a cursory look , fix thy sight , and for some time ; let it dwell on so eminent an object . mark the perfect , as a schollar marks his copie to write after it . then will it come to pass with thee as with moses , exod. . . he so long had seen the back-parts or suburbs of gods glory , that the skin of his face shone , guilded with the reflexion thereof . so those who mark the perfect and behold the vpright , not only with a fore-cast , but chiefly with a reflexed look , cannot but be gainers thereby . for the godly , who , as s. paul saith , phil. . . shine as lights among a crooked and perverse nation in the world , will make such as effectually mark them , become like unto them , and shine accordingly . we see that such who look on bleer-eyes , have their own sight infected therewith ; and those who diligently mark , and stedfastly fasten the eyes of their souls , on the perfect and upright man , will in process of time , partake of their perfection . vse . . it serveth to confute such , who , though living long in this world , and conversing with varietie of persons , yet mark and observe nothing at all . if a privy inspection might be made into the diaries and journals of such mens lives , how would they be found filled with empty cyphers , whose total sum amounts to just nothing . when messengers and trumpeters come into the castles and garrisons of their enemies , commonly they are brought blindfolded , that they may make no dangerous discoveries to report to their party at their return . what out of policie is done to them , that many out of idleness and ignorance do to themselves , mask and hood-wink their souls , do take notice of nothing in their passage through this world . others mark but only such things which are not remarkable . dina marks , but what ? gen. . . the fancie-ful fashions of the daughters of canaan : and we may generally observe , that all observations follow the humour of the observers , so that what vice or vertue in him is predominant , plainly appears in their discoveries . the covetous man marks , but whom ? those who are rich and wealthy . the ambitious man , but whom ? those that are high and honourable . the lascivious man marks , but whom ? such as are beautiful and wanton : few there be of davids devout disposition , who mark the perfect , behold the vpright ; for the end of that man is peace . vse . let all who desire this peaceable end , labour whilest living to list themselves in the number of those who are perfect and upright . king ahaaz coming to damascus , was so highly affected with an idolatrous altar which he there beheld , that he needs would have that original copyed out , king. . . and the like made at ierusalem , according to the fashion of it , and all the workmanship thereof . fool , to preferre the pattern of the infernal pit , before the pattern in the mount . but this his prophane action will afford us a pious application . you that have marked the just and beheld the upright , ought to be affected with the piety of his life , cannot but be contented with the peaceableness of his end . this therefore do ; such who are pleased with the pattern of his perfection and uprightness , go home , and raise the like fabrick , erect the like structure for all considerable particulars in your own soul . vain and wicked was the wish of balaam , numb. . . let me dye the death of the righteous , and let my last end be like his . he would commence per saltum , take the degree of happiness , without that of holiness ; like those who will live papists , that they may sin the more freely ; and dye protestants , that they may be saved the more certainly . but know that it is an impossibility to graft a peaceable death upon any other stock , but that of a pious life . . vse . let it retrenoh our censuring of the final estate of those whom we know led godly lives , and we see had shameful deaths . let us expound what seems doubtful at their death , by what was clear in their life . a true conclusion may sometimes be inferred from false premises : but from true premises the conclusion must ever be true . possibly a good life in the next world , may follow a bad one in this ; namely , where ( though late ) sincere repentance interposeth . but most certain and necessary it is ▪ that a good life here must be crowned with a good condition hereafter . what then though iohn baptist lost his head by herods cruelty , he still held his head in the apostles phrase , col. . . by a lively faith continuing his dependance on , and deriving life and comfort from jesus christ , in which respect he may be said to have dyed in peace . there is a sharp and bitter passage in scripture , luk. . . and yet if the same be sweetned with a word or two in my text , it may not only easily be swallowed , but also will certainly be digested into wholsome nourishment : the words are these , and let him take up his cross daily and follow me . his cross ; some will say , i could comfortably comport my self to carry such a mans cross , his is a slight ▪ a light , and easie ; mine a high , a huge and heavy cross . oh but children must not be choosers of that rod wherewith they are to be corrected ; that is to be let alone unto the discretion of their father . men may fit cloaths , but god doth fit crosses for our backs : no cross will please him for thee to take up , but thy cross , only that which his providence hath made thee the proprietarie thereof . well take it up , on this assurance , that the end thereof shall be peace . take up thy cross . is it not enough that i be passive , and patiently carry it when it is laid upon me ? what a tyranny is this for me to cross my self by taking up my own cross ? but god will have it so , thou must take it up : that is , first thou must freely confess that nothing hath befaln thee by chance or fortune , but by gods all-ordering providence . secondly , thou must acknowledge that all afflictions imposed upon thee ▪ are the just punishment of thy sins deserved by thee ; if inflicted more heavily , seeing all things is mercy which is on this side of hel fire . this it is to take up thy cross do it willingly , for it will be peace at the last . the last is the worst word , daily . not that god every day sends us a new affliction , but he requires that every day we should put on a habit of patience , to undergo whatsoever cross is laid upon us . this i conceive to be davids meaning , psal. . . and chastened every morning . daily , superstitious fryers never esteem themselves ready till they have put on their crucifix , and religious protestants must never accompt themselves ready till they have put on their cross . the papists have besprinkled their calendar with many festivals , having no foundation in scripture , or ancient church history . one day they call the exaltation of the cross , which is may . another the invention of the cross , which is september . but we must know there is one day of the cross more , day which continueth from the beginning to the end of the year , namely , the assumption of the cross ; every one must take it up daily , do it , & do it willingly , for the end thereof wil be peace . and yet there is a fourth thing remaining in the text , when we have took up our cross we must follow christ it is not enough to take it up , and then stand still , as if suffering gave us a supersedeas for doing ; but god at the same time will have our hands , back , and feet of our soul exercised ; hands to take up , back to bear our cross , and feet to follow him ; and happy it is for us , though we cannot go the same pace , if we go the same path with our saviour ; for the end thereof will be peace . o the amiableness of the word peace ! oh the extensiveness of the word end ! peace ? what can be finer ware ? end ? what can be larger measure ? the amiableness of peace , especially to us , who so long have prayed for it , and payed for it , and sought for it , and fought for it , and yet as yet in england have not attained it . for the tragoedy of our war is not ended , but the scene thereof removed , and the element only altered from earth unto water . surely had we practised davids precept , psal. . . eschew evil and do good ▪ seek peace and ensue it , before this time we had obtained our desire . it is to be feared we have been too earnest prosecutors of the last , and too slow performers of the first part of the verse : great have been our desires , but small our deeds for peace . had we eschewed evil and done good , god ere this time , would have crowned our wishes with the fruition of peace . the marriners act. . . ( men skilful to shift for themselves at sea ) had a private project for their own safety , namely , to quit their crazie ship , ( with the souldiers and passengers therein , ) and secretly to convey themselves into the boat . but their design miscarried being discovered by s. paul to the souldiers , who cut the ropes of the boat , and let her fall off . all men ought to have a publick spirit for the general good of our nation , the success where of we leave to the al-managing providence of the god of heaven and earth . but i hope it wil be no treason against our state , and i am sure it wil be safe for us , who are but private persons to provide for the securing of our souls , and to build a little cock-boat , or smal vessel of a quiet conscience in our own hearts ▪ thereby to escape to the haven of our own happiness ? we wish well to the great ship of our whole nation , and will never desert it so , but that our best prayers and desires shall go with it . but however providence shall dispose thereof we will stick to the petty pinnace of peace in our own consciences . sure i am , no souldiers shall be able to cut the cables , i mean no forcible impression from without , shall disturb or discompose the peace which is within us . o the extensiveness of the word end ! it is like the widows oyl , king. . . which multiplyed to fill the number and bigness of all vessels brought unto it , so here bring dayes weeks , months , years , myriads , millions of years end will fill them all , yet it self is never filled , as being the endless end of eternity . we will conclude all with a passage of columbus , when he first went to make discoverie of the new world . long time had he sailed and seen nothing but sea , insomuch as the men and marriners with him begun to mutiny resolving to go no further , but return home again . here columbus with good words and fair language pacified them for the present , perswading them to sail forward for one month more . that month elapsed , he over-intreated them to hold out but weeks longer : that three weeks expired , he humbly and heartily sued unto them , that for his sake they would sail on but dayes more , promising to comply with the resolutions of returning , in case that within those dayes , no encouragement to their contrary was discovered . before the ending whereof they descryed fire , which was to them a demonstration that it was not subjected on water , and w●● invited them for the finding out of those islands , whereby others afterwards discovered the whole continent . whilest we live here below in our bodies , and sail towards another world in our souls and desires , we must expect to meet with much disturbance in our distempered passions : yea , such as sometimes in the hour of temptation will amount to a mutiny ; and much dishearten us when tost with the tempest of afflictions we can make no land , discover no hope of happiness . it must then be our work to still and calm our passions , perswading them to persevere ▪ and patiently to proceed though little hope appear for the present . not tha● with columbus we should indent with our souls to expect any set-time of years , months or dayes , ( this were unlawful , and with the wicked , psal. . . to limit the holy one of israel ) but indefinitely without any notation of time : let us till on our souls by degrees , a while , a little while , yet a very little while to depend on god , and go on in goodness . then at last a pillar of fire , a comfortable light of a conscience cleared through the blood an● merits of christ will appear unto us , not only contenting us for the present , but directing us for the future to that bliss and happiness enjoyed by the subject of my text , mark the perfect , behold the vpright ; for the end of that man is peace . amen . finis . pag. . l. . for {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} r. and prevarication , p. . l. . for {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , r. {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a e- * see his life lately printed . truth maintained, or positions delivered in a sermon at the savoy: since traduced for dangerous: now asserted for sound and safe. by thomas fuller, b.d. late of sidney colledge in cambridge. the particulars are these. i that the doctrine of the impossibility of a churches perfection, in this world, being wel understood, begets not lazinesse but the more industry in wise reformers. ii that the church of england cannot justly be taxed with superstitious innovations. iii how farre private christians, ministers, and subordinate magistrates, are to concurre to the advancing of a publique reformation. iiii what parts therein are only to be acted by the supreme power. v of the progresse, and praise of passive obedience. vi that no extraordinary excitations, incitations, or inspirations are bestowed from god, on men in these dayes. vii that it is utterly unlawfull to give any just offence to the papist, or to any men whatsoever. viii what advantage the fathers had of us, in learning and religion, and what we have of them. ix that no new light, or new essentiall truths, are, or can be revealed in this age. x that the doctrine of the churches imperfection, may safely be preached, and cannot honestly be concealed. with severall letters, to cleare the occasion of this book. fuller, thomas, - . this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text r in the english short title catalog (thomason . [ ]). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a wing f thomason . [ ] estc r this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (thomason tracts ; :e [ ]) truth maintained, or positions delivered in a sermon at the savoy: since traduced for dangerous: now asserted for sound and safe. by thomas fuller, b.d. late of sidney colledge in cambridge. the particulars are these. i that the doctrine of the impossibility of a churches perfection, in this world, being wel understood, begets not lazinesse but the more industry in wise reformers. ii that the church of england cannot justly be taxed with superstitious innovations. iii how farre private christians, ministers, and subordinate magistrates, are to concurre to the advancing of a publique reformation. iiii what parts therein are only to be acted by the supreme power. v of the progresse, and praise of passive obedience. vi that no extraordinary excitations, incitations, or inspirations are bestowed from god, on men in these dayes. vii that it is utterly unlawfull to give any just offence to the papist, or to any men whatsoever. viii what advantage the fathers had of us, in learning and religion, and what we have of them. ix that no new light, or new essentiall truths, are, or can be revealed in this age. x that the doctrine of the churches imperfection, may safely be preached, and cannot honestly be concealed. with severall letters, to cleare the occasion of this book. fuller, thomas, - . saltmarsh, john, d. . examinations. selections. fuller, thomas, - . sermon of reformation. selections. [ ], p. s.n.], printed at oxford [i.e. london : anno dom. . a partial reprinting and defense of his "sermon of reformation" and a partial reprinting of and reply to john saltmarsh's "examinations", including a reprinting of the preface to that work on leaf a . the imprint is a counterfeit (madan). a reissue with cancel title page of the edition with london in imprint (wing f ). however, this reissue lacks the full reprinting of fuller's "a sermon of reformation" ([ ], - p.; a⁴-c⁴(-a )) found in wing f . statements made by the author in "to my deare parish saint mary savoy" (c r) and "to the reader" (c r) in the preliminaries indicate that the sermon was intended to be included as part of this work, and it may be that copies without the sermon are simply imperfect reissues. the sermon was also apparently issued separately in the same year. annotation on thomason copy reads: "march ". reproduction of the original in the british library. eng fuller, thomas, - . -- sermon of reformation -- early works to . saltmarsh, john, d. . -- examinations -- early works to . sermons, english -- th century. reformation -- england -- sermons -- early works to . a r (thomason . [ ]). civilwar no truth maintained, or positions delivered in a sermon at the savoy: since traduced for dangerous: now asserted for sound and safe. by thomas fuller, thomas d the rate of defects per , words puts this text in the d category of texts with between and defects per , words. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - elspeth healey sampled and proofread - elspeth healey text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion truth maintained , or positions delivered in a sermon at the savoy : since traduced for dangerovs : now asserted for sovnd and safe . by thomas fvller , b. d. late of sidney colledge in cambridge . the particulars are these . i that the doctrine of the impossibility of a churches perfection , in this world , being wel understood , begets not lazinesse but the more industry in wise reformers . ii that the church of england cannot justly be taxed with superstitious innovations . iii how farre private christians , ministers , and subordinate magistrates , are to concurre to the advancing of a publique reformation . iiii what parts therein are only to be acted by the supreme power . v of the progresse , and praise of passive obedience . vi that no extraordinary excitations , incitations , or inspirations are bestowed from god , on men in these dayes . vii that it is utterly unlawfull to give any just offence to the papist , or to any men whatsoever . viii what advantage the fathers had of us , in learning and religion , and what we have of them . ix that no new light , or new essentiall truths , are , or can be revealed in this age . x that the doctrine of the churches imperfection , may safely be preached , and cannot honestly be concealed . with severall letters , to cleare the occasion of this book . i will beare the wrath of the lord , because i have sinned against him , untill he plead my cause , and execute iudgement for me ; then will he bring me forth to the light , and i shall see his righteousnesse , micah . . . printed at oxford , anno dom. . to the most sacred , and reverend assembly for the reformation of the church , now convened by the parliament . most sacred and reverend divines , i have but the thoughts of an afternoone to spread before you ; for i examined the same pace that i read , that if it were possible a truth might overtake an errour , ere it goe too farre . it is not a little encouragement that i may sit like the prophetesse under the palme tree , under such a shade as your selves , and what weakenesse soever may appeare in these my assertions : this ayring them under your patronage , will heale them . for so they brought forth the sick into the streets , that at least the shadow of peter might touch some of them . thus have i suddenly set up my candle for others to light their torch at ; and , i hope , you will pardon me , if my zeale to the truth made me see anothers faults sooner then mine owne , your servant in christ iesus iohn saltmarsh . to the two most famous vniversities of england i dare not give you such high epithites as master saltmarsh bestoweth upon the assembly , to call you the most sacred . be contented to be stiled the two most famous vniversities ; a title , which it is no flattery to give you , but injury to deny you . i have the studies of some whole dayes to spread before you . i am not ashamed to confesse so much , but should be ashamed to present your learned considerations with lesse . and will rather runne the hazard of other mens censure , to have studied so long to no purpose , then to be guilty to my selfe of so much disrespect to you , as to offer to your patronage what cost me but sleight studying . indeed i examined his examinations of my sermon with the same pace that i read them . but i could not confute his errors so speedily as i could discover them , nor could i so soon make them appeare to others , as they appeared to me ; and the evidencing of his faults did cost me some paines , whereof i hope i shall never have just cause to repent . i am altogether out of hope that my truth should quickly overtake his error , which had the advantage of me both at the starting and in the speed ; and yet i beleeve what i want in the swiftnesse of my feet , i shall have in the firmenesse of my footing . and when i overtake it at last , as i am sure i shall , seeing untruths will tire ( as being better at hand then at length ) i am confident by gods assistance , it will get firme and quiet possession in spight of opposition . it is altogether improper for mee to compare you being two in number to the palme tree under which the prophetesse deborah sate ; but the analogie will , hold well , if i should resemble you to the two olive trees continually dropping oyle in the presence of god . and methinks master saltmarsh his expression to the assembly , vnder svch a shade as yovr selves , making them in the assembly but a shadow , ( and then what is the shadow of a shadow worth under which hee desireth to sit ? ) was but an undervaluing and diminutive expressing of their worth . i honour you as you deserve , and counting you a real and lasting substance , so i addresse my respects unto you : humbly requesting you to be pleased to patronize and defend this my defence : the rather because what doctrines therein i deliver , not long since i suckt from one of you , and in this respect i beleive both breasts give milke alike ; and therefore as your learning is most able , so your goodnesse will bee willing to protect the same , not so much because i had them from you , as because you had them from the truth . some perchance may blame my choice in choosing you for my protection who in these troublesome times are scarce able to defend your selves ▪ the universities being now degraded , at least suspended from the degree of their former honour . and i wonder , men should now talke of an extraordinary great light , when the two eyes of our land ( so you were ever accompted ) are almost put out . however this short interruption of your happinesse will but adde the more to your honour hereafter . and here , as it were store of pride for me to counsell you , so it were want of duty not to comfort you . know , the only good token of these times is , that they are so extreamely bad they can never last long . god give you a sanctified impression of your afflictions , neither to sleight them nor sink under them ; and so , forbearing to be longer troublesome to your more serious employments , resteth the meanest of your sonnes or nephewes thomas fuller . to the learned and my worthy good friend , master charles herle . sir , when i read a pamphlet of m. saltmarsh written against me , it something moved my affections , but nothing removed my judgement . but when i saw it recommended to the world with your approbation , in this manner , nihil invenio in hoc libello , cui titulus , ( examinations , or a discovery of some dangerous positions , delivered in a sermon of reformation preached by tho. fuller , b. d. quin utiliter imprimatur . charles herle . i must confesse it troubled me not a little , suspecting either my eyes or my understanding , that either i misread your name , or had mis-written something in my sermon . wherefore fearing partiality might blind me in mine owne book ( knowing that eli was not the onely indulgent father to his owne off-spring ) i imparted my sermon to some whom you respect , and they respect you : men of singular learning and piety , to examine it . these likewise could discover no dangerous positions in it , except such as were dangerous for a preacher to deliver , but safe for people to receive in these troublesome times . and i am confident that their iudgement was such , they would not be deceived with my falsehoods : and their honesty such , they would not deceive me by their flattery . and now sir ( love cannot hate , but it may justly be angry ) consider how your accusing of me , to maintaine dangerous positions , might , as the times stand , have undone me and mine , and at least have intituled mee to a prison , now adayes the grave of men alive . times are not as formerly , when schollers might safely traverse a controversie in disputation . honourable tilting is left off , since men fell to down-right killing ; and in vaine should i dispute my innocence against souldiers violence , who would interpret the accusation of a man of your credit to be my sufficient conviction . i have in this my defence , so well as god did enable me , more clearely expressed , and strongly confirmed the positions i formerly delivered , and request you to tell mee , which are the dangerous points that here i maintaine . by the lawes of our land , the creditor hath his choice , whether he will sue the principall , or the surety , and discretion will advise him , to sue him which is most solveable . your ability is sufficiently knowne , and seeing you have beene pleased to be bound for master saltmarsh his booke , in your approving it : blame me not sir , if i ( i will not say sue you ) but sue to you for my reparation . if you can convince me of my faults herein ( and i will bring great desire , and some capacity to learne from you ) i shall owne my selfe your proselyte , thanke god for you , and you for my conversion . yea in a printed sheet i will doe publique penance to the open view of the world , to shew men , that although i had so much ignorance as to erre , i have not so much impudence as to persist in an errour , and shall remaine , yours in all christian offices . thomas fuller . to the reverend and his worthy good friend , master iohn downam . sir , being about to read master saltmarsh his examination of a sermon of mine , which you ( to the preachers credit , and printers security ) were pleased to approve for orthodox and vsefull , mine eyes in the beginning thereof , were entertained ( i cannot say welcomed ) with this following note , an advertisement returned to the author , by a reverend divine , to certifie him touching the licensers allowance of master fullers late sermon of reformation . sir , to satisfie you concerning m. downams approbation of master fullers sermon of reformation , i assure you i heard him complaine , that he was wronged by him , in that having taken exception at some passages of that sermon , master fuller promised to amend them according to his correction , but that he did not performe what he promised . conclude me not guilty if i were moved , but sencelesse if i had not beene perplext with this accusation . had it beene true , i want a word bad enough to expresse the foulenesse of my deed . yea iustly may my preaching be suspected of falshood , if my practise be convicted of dishonesty . we know how the corinthians , from the supposed breach of s. pauls solemne promise , were ready to infer the falsity , at least the levity of his doctrine , till the apostle had rectified their mistake . this added also to my trouble , that i can privately enjoy my innocence with more contentment to my selfe , then i can publikly declare it with safety to others . for the present therefore , all that i will returne , is this . here is an accusation without a witnesse , or a witnesse without a name , and both without truth . would the inke of this reverend divine ( whosoever he was ) only hold out to blot my name , and not to subscribe his owne ? we know what court was complayned of , as a great grievance , because men therein might not know their accusers . if it cannot consist with our mutuall safety , to have my accusers ( as s. paul had ) face to face , yet it will stand with equity , i should have them name to name : till when , i account this namelesse note , no better then a libel both on you and me . god put an end unto these wofull times , before they put an end to us ; that all outward hostility being laid aside , we may have more leisure to attend , and comfort to follow , that inward christian warefare , which your paines have so well described . yours in christ iesus thomas fuller . to master john saltmarsh minister of heslerton in yorke-shire . sir , you have almost converted me , to be of your opinion , that some extraordinary light is peculiarly conferred on men in this age . seeing what cost me many dayes to make , you in fewer houres , could make void and confute . you examined ( you say ) the same pace , you read , and ( as is intimated ) wrote as fast , as you examined , and all in one ofternoon . this if it were false , i wonder you would say it ; and if it were true , i wonder you could doe it . however i commend your policy herein : for besides that you have given the world notice of the pregnancie of your parts , ( and it is no fault of yours , if you be rather heard then beleeved ) hereby you have done me a great disadvantage . for if i at leisure discover some notable errors in your examinations , you have a present plea , that you wrote them suddenly , and i shall only be repaired for the wrong that you have done me , with your raptim scripta , whereas you had done god as much glory , the cause as much good , more right to your selfe , and credit to me , if you had tooke more time , and more truely . and now consider , you only endeavour to confute some dismembred sentences of my sermon , of which some are falsely , and more of them imperfectly alleged . you know , how in a continued speech , one part receives and returnes strength and lustre unto another . and how easie is it , to overthrow the strongest sentence , when it is cut off from the assistance of the coherence , before and after it ? alas , this disiointing of things , undoeth kingdomes as well as sermons , whilest even weake matters are preserved by their owne unity and entirenesse . i have dealt more fairely with you , and set downe your whole examinations , thereby not expecting any praise , but preventing just censure , if i had done otherwise . if you demand why my answer comes so late , seeing so long silence may be interpreted a consent . know sir , it was the tenth of september , before either friend in love , would doe me the favour : or foe in anger , the discourtesie , to convey your booke unto me . whether this proceeded from the intercepting commerce betwixt the city and the country , or that your booke was loath to come out of london : as sensible , that the strength of your positions , consisted in the fortifications thereof . when i had received one of your bookes , i had not your present parts to answer it . men must doe , as they may doe : i hope , though my credit may , gods cause shall not suffer by my delay ; seeing truth doth not abate with time . here i speake not of those many afflictions , that have befalne me , as not being so unreasonable , as to expect any pitty from others , in these dolefull dayes , wherin none are at leisure to bemoane the misery of any private men , whilst the generall calamity ingrosseth all greife to it selfe ; and yet , i may say , such losses could not but disturbe my studies . when i had finished my answer , i could not so speedily provide to have it printed . and to speake plainely , i was advised by my best friends , to passe by your pamphlet altogether with silence and neglect , and apply my selfe onely to enlarge my sermon , for the satisfaction of others . however , that you may see i will not decline any thing : i have answered every operative passage in your examination . here i might take just exception at the sentence prefixed in the title page of your booke , tim. . . having a forme of godlinesse , but denying the power thereof . out of the whole quiver of the bible , could you choose no other arrow to shoot , and make me your marke ? whom if you taxe for a meere formalist ; god grant i may make a good use of your bad suspition of me , endeavouring to acquit my selfe in heaven , whom you have accused on earth : i must stand or fall to my owne master , to whom i hope i shall stand , being held up by my saviour . remember , remember , we must all appeare before gods judgment seat , when those things which have been done in secret , shall bebrought to light . meane time goe you on , a fast as you can in the high way to heaven ; but be not too free , willfully to dash your fellow travellers , with foule aspersions : for if dirt may passe for coine , debts in this nature , may easily be paid you backe againe , so resteth thomas fuller . to my deare parish saint mary savoy . my deare parish , for so i dare call you , as conceiving that although my calamities have divorced me from your bed and board , the matrimoniall knot betwixt us is not yet rescinded . no not although you have admitted another , ( for feare i hope rather then affection ) into my place . i remember how david when forced to fly from his wife , yet still cals her , my wife michall : even when at that time , she was in the possession of phaltiel the sonne of laish , who had rather bedded then wedded her . this sermon i first made for your sake , as providing it , not as a feast to entertaine strangers , but a meale to feed my family . and now having againe inlarged and confirmed it , i present it to you , as having therein a proper interest , being confident , that nothing but good and profitable truth is therein contain'd . some perchance will obiect , that if my sermon were so true , why then did i presently leave the parish when i had preached it ? my answer is legible in the capital letters of other ministers miserie , who remaine in the city . i went away , for the present distresse , thereby reserving my selfe to doe you longer and better service ? if gods providence shall ever restore me unto you againe . and if any tax mee as laban taxed iacob . wherefore didst thou flee away secretly , without taking solemne leave ? i say with iacob to laban , because i was afraid . and that plaine dealing patriarch , who could not be accused for purloining a shooe latchet of other mens goods , confesseth himselfe guilty of that lawfull felony , that hee stole away for his owne safety : seeing truth it selfe may sometimes seeke corners , not as fearing her cause , but as suspecting her judge . and now all that i have to say to you , is this , take heed how you heare : imitate the wise and noble bereans , whatsoever the doctor , or doctrine bee which teacheth , or is taught unto you . search the scripture dayly whether these things be so . hansell this my counsell , on this my booke : and here beginning , hence proceed to examine all sermons , by the same rule of gods word . only this i adde also , pray daily to god , to send us a good and happy peace ; before we be all brought to utter confusion . you know , how i in all my sermons unto you , by leave of my text , would have a passage in the praise of peace . still i am of the same opinion . the longer i see this warre , the lesse i like it , and the more i loath it . not so much because it threatens temporall ruine to our kingdome , as because it will bring a generall spirituall hardnesse of hearts . and if this warre long continues , we may be affected for the departure of charity , as the ephesians were at the going away of saint paul , sorrowing most of all , that we shall see the face thereof no more . strive therefore in your prayers that , that happy condition which our sinnes made us unworthy to hold , our repentance may , through gods acceptance thereof , make us worthy to regaine . your loving minister thomas fuller . to the unpartiall reader . be not aff●aid to peruse my positions , though they be accused to bee dangerous . the saints did not feare infection from the company of saint paul , though he was indicted to be a pestilent fellow . to acquaint you with my intentions in this book ( that so you may proportion your expectation accordingly ) herein i have to my power vindicated the truth : consulting with my conscience , not outward safety ; insomuch that i care not whom i displeased , to please the bird in my breast . yea when the actions of other men , have by the examiner beene laid to my charge , i have tooke the boldnesse to leave them to their authors to defend . for though honestie commands me to pay my owne debts , yet discretion adviseth me from solomons mouth , to avoid sureti-ship , and not to breake my selfe with being bound for the errors of others . i cannot but expect to procure the ill-will of many , because i have gone in a middle and moderate way , betwixt all extremities . i remember a story too truely appliable to me . once a jayler demanded of a prisoner , newly committed unto him : whether or no he were a roman catholick . no , answered he : what then said he are you an anabaptist ? neither replied the prisoner , what , ( said the other ) are you a brownist . nor so said the man , i am a protestant . then said the jayler , get you into the dungeon : i will afford no favor to you , who shall get no profit by you : had you beene of any of the other religions , some hope i had to gaine by the visits of such as are of your owne profession . i am likely to finde no better usage , in this age , who professe my selfe to be a plaine protestant , without wealt or garde , or any addi●ion : equally opposite to all hereticks and sectaries . let me mate this with another observation . by the law of the twelve tables , if a man were indebted but to one creditor , he had no power over his body : but if he owed mony to many , and was not solvable , all his creditors together might share his body betwixt them , and by joynt consent pluck him in peeces . me thinks , a good morall lurkes in this cruell law : namely , that men who oppose one adversary alone , may come off and shift pretty well , whilst he who provokes many enemies , must expect to bee torne asunder : and thus the poore levite , will bee rent into as many pieces , as the levites wife was . yet i take not my selfe to bee of so desolate and forlorne a religion , as to have no fellow professors with me . if i thought so , i should not only suspect , but condemne my judgement : having ever as much loved singlenesse of heart , as i have hated singularity of opinion . i conceive not my selfe like eliah to be left alone : having , as i am confident , in england , more then seventy thousand , just of the same religion with me . and amongst these , there is one in price and value , eminently worth tenne thousand , even our gratious soveraigne , whom god in safety and honour long preserve amongst us . and here i must wash away an aspersion , generally , but falsely cast on men of my profession and temper : for all moderate men , are commonly condemned for luke-warme as it is true , saepe latet vitium proximitate boni . it is as true , saepelatet virtus proximitate mali . and as lukewarmnesse hath often fared the better ( the more mens ignorance ) for pretending neighbourhood to moderation : so moderation ( the more her wrong ) hath many times suffered for having some supposed vicinity with lukewarmnesse . however they are at a grand distance , moderation being an wholesome cordiall to the soule : whilst lukewarmnesse ( a temper which seekes to reconcile hot and cold ) is so distastefull , that health it selfe seemes sick of it , and vomits it out . and we may observe these differences betwixt them . first the lukewarme man ( though it be hard to tell what he is ; who knowes not what he is himselfe ) is fix't to no one opinion , and hath no certain creed to beleeve ; whereas the moderate man , sticks to his principles , taking truth wheresoever he findes it , in the opinions of friend , or foe ; gathering an herb , though in a ditch : and throwing away a weed , though in a garden . secondly , the lukewarme man , is both the archer and marke himselfe ; aiming only at his owne outward security . the moderate man , levels at the glory of god , the quiet of the church , the choosing of the truth , and contenting of his conscience . lastly , the lukewarme man , as hee will live in any religion , so he will dye for none . the moderate man , what he hath warily chosen , will valiantly maintaine , at least wise intends , and desires to defend it , to the death . the kingdome of heaven ( saith our saviour ) suffereth violence . and in this sense , i may say , the most moderate men are the most violent , and will not abate an hoofe , or haires breadth , in their opinions , whatsoever it cost them . and time will come , when moderate men , shall be honoured as gods doves , though now they be hooted at , as owles in the desart . but my letter swels too great , i must break off . only requesting the reader by all obligations of charity . first , to read over my sermon , before he entreth on the examination . to conclude , when i was last in london , it was generally reported that i was dead : nor was i displeased to heare it . may i learne from hence with the apostle , to die daily . and because to god alone t is known , how soon my death may come , i desire to set forth this book as my will and testament , which if it can be of no use to the reader , it may be some ease and comfort to the writer , that the world may know , in this multitude of religions , what is the religion of thy servant in christ iesus thomas fuller . truth maintained . examiner . the a policy of the sermon of reformation . the scope of the sermon is reformation , but it so b moderates , so modificates , and conditionates the persons , and time , and businesse , that reformation can advance c little in this way , or method . as our astronomers who draw so many lines and imaginary circles in the heavens , that they put the sunne into an heavenly labyrinth and learned d perplexity ; such is the zodiack e you would make for the light of the gospell , and the sunne of reformation to move in . it was one of the policyes of the jewes f adversaries , that when they heard of their buildings , they would build with them . they said , let us build with you , for we seeke your god as you doe . but the people of god would have no such helpers , there is no such g jesuiticall way to hinder our worke as to work with us , and under such insinuations set the builders at variance when they should fall to labour . and how easie is it to reason flesh and blood back from a good way , and good resolutions ? i remember the old h prophet had soon perswaded even the man of god to returne when he told him i am a prophet as thou art . treatise . a. the policy of the sermon . ) such carnall policy wherein the subtilty of the serpent stings the simplicity of the dove to death , i utterly disclaim in my sermon . christian policy is necessary , as in our practice so in our preaching , for piety is alwayes to goe before it , but never to goe without it . b. but it so moderates and modificates . ) the most civill actions will turne wild , if not warily moderated . but if my sermon clogges reformation with false or needlesse qualifications ( till the strength of the matter leakes out at them ) my guilt is great . i am confident of my innocence , let the evidence be produced and the reader judge . c. that reformation can advance but little in this way . ) know that zoar a little one that is lasting , is better then a great babel of confusion . that reformation which begins slowly and surely , will proceed cheerfully and comfortably , and continue constantly and durably . builders are content to have their foundations creepe , that so their superstructures may runne ; let us make our ground-worke good , and no more hast then good speed . d. they put the sunne into an heavenly labyrinth and learned perplexity with their imaginary lines . ) this your strong line more perplexeth me to understand it : onely this i know , that you might have instanced more properly in any other planet which is more loaden with cycles , and epicycles , whilst the sunne hath found from astronomers this favour and freedome , to be left to the simplest motion . e. such a zodiack you would make for the light of the gospell . ) were i to spread the zodiack of the gospell , it should stretch from pole to pole , and be adequate to the heavens . there should be no more pagans in the world then there were smiths at one time in israel ; not that i would have any kild , but all converted ; yea the sunne of reformation should not have so much darknesse as a shadow to follow it . to effect this , my wishes are as strong as my power is weake . i will ( god willing ) pray and preach for it , and therefore doe not slander me to be an hinderer of the word . f. g. h. of the jewes adversaries . j●suiticall way . the old prophet . ) what you say is as true in the history as false in the application to me . you compare me to the ammonites ( adversaries to gods people , to jesuits , to the old lying prophet . i hope the god of michael the arch-angell will give me patience , when he that disputed with him shal furnish him others railing . and now torture me no longer with your accusation , come to the proofe . examiner . i find there are three principles animates the sermon . how imperfect i a church will be and a reformation doe best you can . that the light which the k fathers had formerly , was as full and glorious as the light of these dayes , or rather brighter . that none but the supreame authority , or authority l royall , and that alone ought to begin and act in this reformation . treatise . i how imperfect a church . ) i said it and i say it againe ; it was a truth before your cradle was made , and will be one after your coffin is rotten . k that the light that the fathers had formerly , was as full & glorious . shew me such a sillable in all the sermon and i 'le yeeld the cause : not that this position is false , but because i never said it ; except you collect it from those my words where i say , that the moderns had a mighty advantage of the ancients who lived in the marches of paganismes and in the time wherein the mistery of iniquity began to worke . l. none but the supreame authority or authority royall . ) i said that the supreame authority alone in those respe●tive places wherein it is supreame , hath the lawfull calling to reforme . thus of the three principles which you reck●n in my sermon . the first i said i will defend it : the second i said not , and doe deny it : the third i said otherwise then you doe alleadge it . and yet even for the two latter ( that you may not complaine for want of play ) in due time as occasion is offered , i will fully discover my opinion , that so we may eitheir freely agree , or fairely dissent . examiner . these are your principles , and let m any judge if this be a qualification fit for him , that judges or writes of such a truth . for first , he that conceits there can be no perfection in a church , will n scarce labour to make that church better , which he is sure will be bad at all times : nor will he care for any new light , whilst the old is best reputation with him : nor will be seeke to advance the worke , but stay for a supreame authority alone : a good policy to stay the reformation till his majesties returne , and there is hopes it may coole in their hands . treatise . m , and let any judge . ) on gods blessing let any indifferent person , who is devested of prejudice , which maketh a bad witnesse and a worse judge : and now we joyne issues . n. for first , he that conceits there can be no perfection in a church , will scarce labour to make that church better . ) if the he you spake of be a meere carnall man , this nor any other principle ( save grace and gods spirit ) can spurre him on to goodnesse . but if this he be a regenerate man , this doctrine will make him tire no whit the sooner in his endeavours of reformation . you say , he will scarce labour , whereby you confesse he will labour . the gramarian saith , quod fere fit , non fit , quod vix fit , fit . one scarce is better then ten thousand almosts . yet i perceive by the scant measure in your expression , that you conceive this doctrine of the impossibility of a churches perfection on earth , to be but a backe friend to reformation . heare therefore what i answer for my selfe . first , hereby you furnish the papists with a cavill , and with a colour to enforce the same against the protestants . for we teach and maintaine , that the best workes of men are stained with some imperfections . hence the papists may inferre , that he that conceits there can be no perfection in a good deed , will scarce labour to doe one . and thus our doctrine shall be condemned for disheartning of holinesse . see sir how you meet popery in your undiscreet shunning of it . secondly , though there can be no absolute perfection in a church , yet quo ad gradum , in some good degree it is attainable , and all good men will endeavour it . mariners which make forth for the northerne discoveries , goe out with this assurance , that it is impossible to come to the pole . yet have they sought and found out very farre , almost to the eightieth degree of latitude . what covetousnesse or curiosity did in them , sure grace is as active to doe in gods children who will labour to draw neere to a perfect reformation , in obedience to gods command , though they know they shall never fully attaine unto it . thirdly , the doctrine of the impossibility of a perfect reformation in this world well understood , begets not idlenesse , but the more industry in mens endeavours . for those that beleeve that the perfection of a church may be attained in this life , are subject to this mistake ( one errour is procreative of another ) to thinke that sometimes they themselves have attained it , and so ending in the midst of their journey , may sit downe and take up their rest : whereas those who conceive the impossibility of perfection are kept in constant doing , having still plus ultra . with saint paul , forgetting those things that are behind , they reach forth to those things which are before , and presse towards the marke . fourthly , if it be objected that the impossibility of perfection discourageth men to endeavour it , seeing they cannot rationally desire it , non est voluntas impossibilium , it is no levell wish aimed at a marke , but a velleity shot at randome , which desires an impossibility . it is answered , that gods servants endeavouring a perfect reformation , doe not light on a labour in vaine , that which is wanting in them being supplyed in gods acceptance : if they doe their best , their desire is taken for the deed : the deformities of their imperfect reformation being pardoned by god in christ , in which respect , their labours are not in vaine in the lord . lastly , seeing this point of the impossibility of a churches perfection is most true ( as hereafter we shall make so appeare ) if hereupon any grow remisse and large in reforming , it is not the fault of gods straight doctrine , but of mens crooked practice : for if men inferre hellish conclusions from heavenly premises , such bad consequences are not the lawfull children of gods truth , but the bastards of mans corruption , where they are justly to be fathered for their maintenance . and now i suppose that your exception in those your words will scarce labour , is abundantly answered . o. nor will we care for any new light , whilst the old is in best reputation with him . ) this is grounded on what i never said , but if by the old light be meant that which shined from the ancient of dayes into the scriptures and thence through the fathers to us , i preferre it before any new light whatsoever . p. a good policy to stay the reformation till his majesties returne . ) it need not have stayed till his majesties returne , which might have been done before his going away ; who so often and so earnestly offered to reforme whatsoever could justly be convinced to be amisse in our church ; which proffers had they been as thankfully accepted , as they were graciously tendered , long since it had been done what we now dispute of , though it matters not for the spilling of our inke , if other mens blood had beene spared . and i doubt not when opportunity is offered his majesty will make good his word , whom no vollyes of discurtesies though discharged never so thicke against him , shall drive him from his princely promise , whilst he lookes not downewards on mens behaviour to him , but upwards to his protestations to god , learning from him whom he represents to be unchangeable . but if ( which god foresend , and yet all earthly things are casuall ) it should come to passe , that in point of reformation , what formerly was proffered by the sovereigne , and refused by the subject , should hereafter be requested by the subject , and denied by the sovereigne ; we shall have leisure enough to admire gods justice , bemoane our owne condition , and instruct our posterity not to outstand good offers , least for want of seeing their happinesse they feele their owne misery . but to returne to your mentioning of his majesties return ; when all is done for ought i can see , reformation must stay till his majesties returne . as for the time and manner thereof when and how it shall be done . god in his wisdome and goodnesse so order it , that it may be most for his glory , the kings honour , the good of the church and state . but this i say againe , that till this his returning , the generall enjoyning and peaceable practising of any reformation cannot be performed . q. and then there is hope it may coole in their hands . ) if by their hands you meane his majesties ( and what else can your words import ) it is as disloyall a suspition , as his would be an unfitting expression that should say , that reformation would boyle over in the hands of the parliament . but sir , thus farre you have excepted against my sermon in generall , now you are pleased to confute some particulars thereof . sermon paragraffe . withall we falsly deny that queene elizabeth left the dust behind the doore , which she cast on the dunghill , whence this uncivill expression is raked up . the doctrine by her established , and by her successors maintained in the . articles if declared , explained and asserted from false glosses , hath all gold , no dust or drosse in them . examiner . i will not detract from the religious huswifry of such a queene of famous memory , but we know her reformation is talk'd of now in a politicke r reverence , and we are commended backe into her times onely to hinder us from going forward in our owne ; for i am sure till this engine was contrived , shee was not such a saint in the prelates s calender . treatise . r. if there be any so base that they now make queene elizabeths reformation their protection , which formerly they disdained ( running in raine to that bush for shelter , which they meane to burne in faire weather ) shame light on them for their hypocrisie . let such be stript naked to their utter disgrace , who onely weare the memory of that worthy queene to cloke and cover them in their necessity , whose reformation was signed with successe from heaven ; our nation in her time being as famous for forreigne atchievements as now it is infamous for home-bred dissentions . yet god forbid our eyes should be so dazled with the lustre of her days as not to goe forward to amend the faults thereof , if any such be justly complained of . s. shee was not such a saint in the prelates calender . ) i never saw the prelates calender , but in the late reformed almanacks , i find neither her nor any other for saints . examiner . for the doctrine established from queen elizabeths times , though it be not the businesse so much of our reformation as the . articles where it dwels ; yet this we know , either the light of the doctrine was very dimme , or the eyes of our bishops t and jesuits , for one of them would needs spy arminianisme , and the jesuit popery . and some will make it a probleme ; yet whether their glosse may accuse the articles , or the article their glosse , such cassanders ●ound so much latitude in our doctrine as to attempt a v reconciliation of their articles and ours together . treatis . t. i expect ( and ever may expect ) that you would have produced some drosse in our articles , instancing in some false place or point contained in them , and then i must either have yeelded to you with disgrace , or opposed you with disadvantage . but instead of this , you only tell us how some have seene arminianisme and popery in them . i answer : so the papists doe read every point of popery where you will say it was never written in the scripture . those who bring the jaundies in their eyes doe find yellownesse in every object they behold ; and nothing can be so cautiously pen'd , but ingaged persons will construe it to favour their opinions . v. as to attempt a reconciliation of their articles and ours together . ) thus many egyptian ks. attempted to let the red sea into the mediterranian . a project at first seeming easie to such as measured their neernesse by the eye and at last found impossible by those who surveyed their distance by their judgement ; seeing art & industry can never marry those things whose bands nature doth forbid . and i am confident that with the same succes , any shal undertak the accommodating of english and romish articles . nor can the wisest church in such a case provide against the boldnesse of mens attempting , though they may prevent their endeavours from taking effect . for my owne opinion , as on the one side , i should be loath that the bels should be taken downe out of the steeple and new-cast every time that unwise people tune them to their thinke : so on the other side , i would not have any just advantage given in our articles to our adversaries . however , what you say confutes not , but confirmes my words in my sermon , that the . articles need declaring , explaining and asserting from false glosses . and seeing it is the peculiar priviledge of gods word to be perfect at once and for ever , on gods blessing let the darke words in our articles be expounded by cleerer , doubtfull expressed in plainer , improper exchanged for fitter , what is superfluous be removed wanting supplyed , too large contracted , too short enlarged alwayes provided that this be done by those who have calling , knowledge and discretion to doe it . sermon paragraffe . againe , we freely confesse that there may be some faults in our church in matters of practise and ceremonies , and no wonder if there be it would be a miracle if there were not . besides ▪ there be some innovations rather in the church then of the church , as not chargeable on the publike account , but on private mens scores , who are old enough , let them answer for themselves . examiner . these are but subtill w apologies and distinctions , for the x superstitions in the church , and to take off the eyes of the reformers , and entertaine them into changeable discourses , as if they were faults and no faults , and those that were , were irreformable , and could not be made better . and thus while the errours of our church should call them to reforme , your difficulties y and impossibilities would call them off . you say it were a miracle to have none : this is such sophistry as the malignity of your clergy would cast in the way of our reformation . and for the a innovations they have beene made by your most learned the immediate issues of our church , our rubrick and practise have beene called to witnesse it ; therefore goe not on to perswade such a b fundamentall integrity and essentiall purity . you know in what a case that c church was when she thought her selfe rich , and full , and glorious . he is no lesse an enemy to the patient then to the physitian that would perswade him that all is well or at the lest incurable . treatise . w. these are but subtill apologies . ) truly no such matter ; they are even plaine and downeright confessions from the simplicity of my heart . x. for the superstitions in the church . ) sir , lay not your enditement higher then you are sure your proof will reach . you might have done well to have insisted on some particulars , whilst now your generals accuse much , convict nothing . y. your difficulties and impossibilities would call them off . ) not so ; for to shew wise reformers the true difficulties of their worke will quicken not quench their endeavours . thus the carpenter being truly told that the wood is hard , he is to hew , will therefore not throw away his axe , but strike with the greater force . and that the doctrine of the impossibility of a churches perfect reformation on with well understood , is no hinderer to mens labours to reforme , hath been largely proved before . z. you say it were a miracle for a church to have no fa●lt● ▪ this is such sophistry as the malignity of your clergy would cast in the way of our reformation . ) this sophistry will at last prove good logick , and whatsoever you pretend of malignity , this is a truth to be confided in : namely , that no church in this world can be so compleat , but it will have faults . for the church being a body consisting of imperfect men the members thereof , the body must needs be imperfect also . this appeares by the constant necessity of preaching , which otherwise might well be spared , and all our sermons turned into psalmes , as also by the power of the keyes , which will never rust in the church for want of imployment . yea that petition in the prayer of christs p●oviding for us ( and forgive us our trespasses , as we forgive them that trespasse against us ) were both needlesse and false if men might be perfect in this world . this perchance is the reason why the perfection-mongers of this age quarrell with this prayer , as having too much pride to confesse their owne faults , and too little charity to forgive other mens , so ill doth a publicans prayer fit a pharisees mouth . a. as for innovations they have beene made by your most learned . ) concerning innovations i must inlarge my selfe . in mixt actions wherein good and bad are blended together , we can neither chuse nor refuse all , but may pick out some , and must leave the rest . first , they may better be tearmed renovations then innovations , as lately not new forged , but new furbished . secondly , they were not so many as some complaine . the suspitious old man cryes out in the comedy , that . ●ooks were set into his house , when they were but two . jealousie hath her hyperboles as well as her flattery . thirdly , some of these innovations may easier be rayled on then justly reproved ; namely , such as concerned the adorning of churches , and the comlinesse of mens behaviour in gods service , where outward decency ( if not garish , costly above the estates of the parish , mimicall affected or superstitious ) is the harbinger to provide the lodging for inward holinesse . for some bodily distance brings our souls the neerer to god , with whom some have such clownish familiarity , they have the lesse friendship . fourthly , if these gave offence , it was not for any thing in themselves but either because ; first , they were challenged to be brought in without law . this often makes good matters to be ill relished , honest men if wise withall , being loath to pay their obedience , before it becomes legally due . secondly , because they seemed new and unusuall , and we know how in dangerous times every well-meaning stranger may be suspected for a spy till he hath given an account of himselfe . now few daughter-churches had seen such ceremonies , though some of their mother-cathedrals could well remember them . thirdly , because they were multiplied without any set number ; and those ceremonies which men saw were indefinit , they feared would be infinit . fourthly , because they were pressed in some places without moderation . and herein some young men ( i will not say ran without sending , but ) ran further then they were sent , outstripping them who first taught them to goe . fifthly , because they were pressed by men , some of whose persons were otherwise much distasted ; how justly ? let them seek who are concerned . lastly , because men complained that painfull preaching and pious living , the life of gods service were not pressed and practised with equall earnestnesse , as outward decency the lustre thereof ; whence their feares inferred , that the shaddowes would devoure the substance . now whereas you say that these innovations have been made by our most learned , herein i must confesse that the scales of my skill are too little in them to weigh the learning of great schollers , and to conclude who have the most . but this i know , that alwayes a distinction hath been made and admitted betwixt the opinions and practise of the most eminent particular doctors ( how great soever in place power or parts ) and the resolutions and commands of the church in generall . in which respect , what hitherto you alleadge to the contrary , doth no whit disprove my words , that such innovations are rather in the church then of the church , by which they were never abso●utely enjoyned nor generally received , as alwayes disclaimed by many , and lately disesed by most . such indeed as used them out of conscience ( i should have no conscience to think otherwise of some ) are not to be blamed if they privately practise them still , at their own perill , till their judgements are otherwise informed . such as took them up for fashion sake , for fashion sake have since laid them downe . such as were frighted into them desist , now their feare is removed . lastly , those who used them in hope of preferment , now disuse them in despaire thereof , not to say some of them are as violent on the contrary side , and perchanee onely wait the word of command from the prevalent party to turne faces about againe . in briefe , seeing generally these ceremonies are left off , it seems neither manners nor charity , alwayes to lay that in mens dishes , which the voider some pretty while since hath cleane taken away . say not that these innovations are now rather in a swound then dead & likly to revive , when cherished with the warmth of authority seeing his majesty hath often and fully proffered , that whatsoever is justly offensive in them shall be removed , and pitty it is but that the rest should by the same lawfull power be re-enforced . but enough hereof , and more perchance then will please the reader , though lesse could not have satisfied the writer ; if i have contented any , well ; if i have displeased all , i am contented . b. therefore goe not on to perswade such a fundamentall integrity and essentiall purity . ) indeed the pains may well be spared , for all wise men are sufficiently perswaded thereof already . for if hereby you meane ( and i would faine learne what other sence your words are capable of ) that the church of england hath not as yet been entire in the fundamentals , and pure in the essentials to salvation . we all are in a wofull condition . have we lived thus long in our church , now to dye eternally therein ? seeing none can be saved therein if it be unsound in the fundamentals of religion ; must the thousand six hundred forty third yeer from christ's birth , be the first yeer of the nativity of the church of england , from which she may date her essentiall purity ? sir , i could at the same time childe you with anger , bemoane you with pitty , blush for you with shame , were it not that i conceive this passage fell unawares from your pen , and that you intend to gather it up againe . c. you know in what a case that church was , when shee thought her selfe rich , and full , and glorious . ) good sir , accept of my service to stay you , or else run on till you be stopt by your owne wearinesse . our church never brag'd thus her selfe , nor any other for her ; whose faults we have already freely confessed , yet maintained her to be sound in all fundamentals , and pure in all essentials . sermon paragraffe . a thorow reformation we and all good men desire with as strong affections , though perhaps not with so loud a noyse as any whatsoever . examiner . if your thorow reformation in this page be compared with your fourteen , fifteen , sixteen , seventeen pages , where you have bound it up with so many d restrictions , the fallacy will soon appeare . you would smoothly tax some brethren for clamour e and noyse in their desires after reformation . indeed if you could perswade the prophets of god into silence , or slight endeavours , halfe your designe were finished ; but they have a fire which flames into stronger expressions : if the zeale of the prophets and f martyrs had given no further testimony to the truth , then their own bosomes , we had not had at this day such a cloud of witnesses ; you know these loud importunities awaken and hasten men unto that holy g businesse you would so faine retard . if you think it your vertue that you can be silent in the midst of our importunities and loud cryes after reformation , i am sure 't is your policy too , for should you make too great a noyse after it , you might be heard h to oxford , and perhaps you are loath to speake out till you see further . treatis . d. fourteen , fifteen , sixteen , seventeen pages , where you have bound it up with so many restrictions . ) indeed i bound reformation with restrictions , but such as are girdles to strengthen it , not fetters to burthen it , and thereupon no fallacy , but plaine dealing will appeare . and if those pages you instanee in be guilty of any such fault , no doubt when your examination doth come to them , you will presse it home , and i shall be ready to make my best defence . e. you would smoothly tax some brethren for clamour . ) if any be faulty herein they deserve not onely to be smoothly taxed . but sharply reproved . for clamour ( as the english word is taken in scripture ) sounds in a bad sense , as arguing an ill tempered spirit with a mixture of pride and impatience . and as reformation ought to be prosecuted and sought after with holy and zealous importunity ( farre from all lethargicall dulnesse and carnall stupidity ) so it must be done with a quiet and compose soule , a grace commended by the apostle . now grant none to be guilty , yet seeing all are subject ( especially in tumultuous times ) to clamour and passionate extravagancies , my gentle advertisement by the bye could not be amisse . f if the zeale of the prophets and martyrs had given . ) i thanke you sir for mentioning the martyrs ; they were the champions of passive obedience , and the lively patternes of that holy temper i now described ; men of a meeke and quiet disposition , not clamorous , though since their death , the noyse and fame of their patience hath sounded aloud thorow the whole world to all posterity . and i pray god in continuance of time the very doctrine of martyrdome be not martyred . g that holy businesse you would so faine retard . ) i appeale from your hard censure to the searcher of hearts , who one day will acquit my innocence and punish your uncharitablenesse , except it be first pardoned upon your repentance . h for should you make so great a noyse , you might be heard to oxford . ) i care not how farre i be heard , nor which way , to oxford and beyond it , to geneva , or to rome it selfe : truth is calculated for all meridians . but speake not slightingly of oxford , it is ill wounding of a court , and a camp , and an university , and all in one word . i and perhaps you are loath to speak out till you see farther . ) i see too farre already ; namely , that ruine and desolation is likely to follow , except moderation be used on both sides : if you meane , till i see farther into his majesties pleasure of reforming , what shall be found amisse , his unfained desire thereof doth already plainly appeare ? but if you meane till i see farther into his successe , know sir , my religion observes not the tides of his majesties fortune , to ebbe and flow therewith . where conscience is the fountaine , the stream keeps the same height . sermon paragraffe . but with this qualification , that by thorow reformation , we meane such a one whereof we are capable , pro statu viatorum , made with all due and christian moderation . examiner . you write of the reformation of a church like k bod●● , not like bucer , you make it a worke of policy l not of piety of reason , not divinity . such counsellers had m jeroboam and jehu , and they made a church as unhappy as a kingdome miserable . this moderation and qualification you speak of is not so consistent with spirituall essenses and n operations : if the spirit of god should not work in the soules of o unregenerate , but expect an answerable compliancy first , who should be sanctified ? if god had expected any such congruity in our businesse of salvation , we had been unredeemed . to speak p closer , what qualification did queen q elizabeth expect when shee received a kingdome warm from popery ? what qualification did r henry the eight expect in his attempt against the supremacy , when all his kingdome was so universally conjured to rome ? such moderation and qualification is no other but a discreet taking so much as will serve your turne . to the law ( saith the scripture ) s and to the test mony ; moses wrought according to the patterne , so salomon too ; godly bucer makes it his worke to perswade king edward to build up a perfect church and he v prophesies sadly , that he was afraid popery would succeed , because the kingdome of england was so averse to the kingdome of christ . and we know the marian dayes followed , me-thinkes we are too like his proprophesie , and our w marian times approach too fast . treatis . k you write of a reformation of a church like bodin . ) would i wrote like bodin , though on the condition that i never wrote answer to your examinations . would we had some bodins , some such able states-men , that they might improve their parts to advance an happy accommodation betwixt our sovereigne and his subjects . l you make it a worke of policy not of piety . ) i make it as indeed it is , a work both of moses and aaron , wherein piety is to be prefer'd , and policy is not to be excluded . m such counsellours had jeroboam and jehu . ) sir , shoot your arrowes at me till your quiver be empty , but glance not with the least slenting insinuation at his majesty , by consequence to compare him to jeroboam or jehu , for their idolatry ; he knoweth how to bestow his gold farre better , and to leave the calves for others . n this moderation and qualification you speake of , is not so consistent with spirituall essenses and operations . ) this your line is not so consistent with sense , as to need much lesse deserve a confutation . o if the spirit of god should not have wrought in the souls of unregenerate . ) i wonder that allotting ( as you say ) but one afternoon for the whole work of your examination you could spend so much time ( some minutes at least ) in such impertinencies . p to speake closer . ) and truly no more then needs , for as yet you are farre enough from the matter : but i will not confute what you confesse . q what qualification did queen elizabeth expect . ) she needed not to expect any , when she had all requisites to reforme . those who have such qualification are not to expect , but to fall a working ; those that want it are not to fall a working , but still to expect . queen elizabeth as supream in her dominions had a sufficient calling to reforme , nothing was wanting in her : onely her memory doth still deservedly expect a more thankfull acknowledgement of her worthy paines then generally she hath received hitherto . r what qualification did henry the eight expect in his attempt against supremacy ? ) he likewise had qualification sufficient ( and therefore needed not to expect any ) as your following words doe witnesse , wherein you say that all his kingdome was universally conjured to rome . if it was his kingdome , then he had a calling ; if it was conjured to rome , then he had a cause to reforme : and being the king was bound to be the exorcist to un-conjure his subjects from such superstition : yea , had king henry reformed as sincerely as he had a lawfull calling thereunto , his memory had not been constantly kept in such a purgatory of mens tongues for his lukewarme temper , even the most moderate counting him too good for to be condemned , and too bad to be commended . s to the law ( saith the scripture ) and to the testimony . ) i will treasure up this excellent passage till a convenient time , being confident that before the next paragraffe is examined , i shall appeale to these judges , and you decline them . t godly bucer makes it his worke to perswade king edward to build up a perfect church . ) the book of godly bucer which you cite i have seene ▪ on the selfe same token , that therein he makes a bishops to be above presbyters jure divino . you know bucer wrote this worke ( as leading the front of his opera anglicana ) in the very beginning of king edwards reigne , before the reformation was generally received in england , and whilst as yet popery was practised in many places . and next to this his book followeth his gratulation to the english church for their entertaining of the purity of the gospell ; so that what he doth perswade in the book you alleadge , was in some good measure performed in that ks. reign , and afterwards better compleated by queen elizabeth . v and he prophesieth sadly that he was afraid popery would succeed . ) herein he took shrewd aime and it happened he hit right . such predictions are onely observed when afterwards they chance to take effect : otherwise , if missing the marke , men misse to marke them and no notice at all is taken of them : i know a latter divine ( not the lowest in learning ▪ one of the highest in b zeale amongst them ) who foretelleth that atheisme rather then popery is likely to overrunne england . such presages may serve to admonish not to afright us , as not proceeding from a propheticall spirit , but resulting from prudentiall observations . but before we take our farewell of this book of bucers , it will not be amisse to remember another passage ( not to say presage ) in the same worthy worke ; that we may see what sinnes in his opinion were forerunners of ruine in a kingdome . the margin presents the reader with the c latin which i here translate , though the former part thereof be englished already in mens practise , and the latter i feare will be englished in gods judgements . how horrible an affront doe they doe to the divine majesty who use the temples of the lord for galleries to walk● in , and for places so prophane , that in them with their fellowes that prattle and treat of any uncleane and prophane businesse . this sure is so great a contempt of god , that long since even for this alone we have deserved altogether to be banished from the face of the earth , and to be punished with heaviest judgements . such i am afraid will fall on our nation for their abominable abusing of churches ( besides other of their sinnes ) and prophaning the places of gods worship . not to speake of those ( and yet what man can hold his tongue when the mouthes of graves are forced open ) who in a place to vvhich their guilty conscience can point vvithout my pens direction did by breaking up the sepulchers of our saxon christian kings ▪ erect an everlasting monument to their ovvn sacriledge . such practises must needs provoke gods anger , and now me-thinks i write of the reformation of a church like bucer and not like bodin . w me-thinks we are too like his prophesie , and our marian times approach too fast . ) i hope otherwise ; trusting on a good god and a gracious king . but if those times doe come , woe be to such as have been the cause or occasion to bring or hasten them . one day it will be determined whether the peevish , perverse and undiscreet spirit of sectaries , bringing a generall dis-repute on the protestant , hath not concurred to the inviting in of superstition and popery , may come riding in on the back of anabaptisme . if those times doe come , i hope that god who in justice layeth on the burthen , will in mercy strengthen our shoulders , and what our prayers cannot prevent , our patience must undergoe . nor is it impossible with god so to enable those whom you tax to have onely a forme of godlinesse , to have such power thereof as to seale the protestant religion with their blood . sermon paragraffe . . such who are to be the true and proper reformers , they must have a lawfull calling thereunto ; duties which god hath impaled for some particular persons , amongst these actions reformation of a church is chiefe . now the supreame power alone hath a lawfull calling to reforme a church , as it plainely appeares by the kings of judah in their kingdome . examiner . i had not knowne your meaning by the lawfull calling you name , but that you expound it in the lines that follow , to be the calling of the supreame magistrate ; as if no calling were warrantable at first to x promove a reformation but that . but you must take notice there is an inward and an outward call . the inward call is a y speciall excitation from the spirit of god , and such a call is warrantable by god to be active ; i am sure it hath beene sufficient alwayes to set holy men on worke : another call is outward , and that is either of place and magistracy , or publike relation . now though magistracy be of publike relation , yet when i speake specifically of publike relation . i meane that in which every man stands bound in to god and his country ; now all these callings are commissions enough either to meddle as christianly inspired , or christianly ingaged . in ordinary transactions , i know the ordinary dispensation is to be resorted to ; but the businesse of reformation as it is extraordinary , so god giveth extraordinary conjunctures of times and circumstances , and extraordinary concurrences , and extraordinary incitations . in the building of the temple you shall see in ezra and nehemiah such workings of god , when the people were gathered together as one man , they spake to ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of moses . here the people put on even ezra to his duty . treatis . before i deale with the particulars of this examination , i will enlarge ( not alter ) what i said in my sermon of this point , promising as much brevity as god shall enable me to temper with clearnesse , and desiring the readers patience whilst at mine owne perill i deliver my opinion . but first , here we promise necessary distinction . distinguish we betwixt those times , when the church liveth under pagan or persecuting princes , and when god blesseth her with a christian king , defender of the faith : in the former case the church may and must make an hard shift to reforme her selfe so well as she can ( for many things will be wanting , and more will be but meanly supplyed ) without any relating to a supreame power , whose leave therein will be dangerous to desire and impossible to obtaine . but withall , they must provide themselves to suffer , offering no violence , except it be to drowne a tyrant in their teares , or to burne him with coales of kindnesse heaped on his head . in the latter case , when the supreame power is a nursing father to the church , suckling it , not sucking blood from it , the church must have recourse to it before shee may reforme . reforming of a church must neither stay behind for nero his leave , nor runne before without the consent of constantine . religion it selfe must not be deckt with those flowers which are violently pluck'd from the crownes of lawfull princes . come we now then to shew , how in a christian state , all are to contribute their joynt endeavours to promote a reformation . in a church , and such a state i consider three degrees thereof . first , meere private men without any mixture of a publike relation . secondly , persons placed in a middle posture with the centurian in publike imployment over some , yet under authority themselves . thirdly , the absolute supreame power , who depends of god alone . for the first of these , meere private men ; they have nothing to doe in publike reforming but to advance it by their hearty prayers to god , and to facilitate the generall reformation , by labouring to amend their owne and their families lives according to the word ; this is all god requireth of them and more i feare then most of them will performe . next , succeed those persons in a middle posture , and these are either ministers or magistrates . ministers even the meanest of them have thus far their part in publike reforming , that they are to lift up their voice like a trumpet ( though not like sheba his trumpet to sound sedition ) both to reprove vitiousnesse in manners , and to confute errors in doctrine . and if men of power and imminent place in the church , then as their ingagement is greater , so their endeavours must be stronger , to presse and perswade a publike reformation to such whom it doth concerne . magistrates may have more to doe in publike reforming having a calling from god , who therefore hath set them in a middle place betwixt prince and people , to doe good offices under the one , over the other , betwixt both . and having a calling from the king , especially if they be his counsellours , whose good they are to advance by all lawfull meanes , and rather to displease him with their speech , then to dishonour him with their silence ; and having a calling from their country , whose safety they must be tender and carefull of . first , therefore they are with all industry ( both from the ministers mouth and by their owne inquiry ) to take true notice of such defects and deformities in the church or state as are really to be reformed . secondly , they are with all sincerity to represent the same to the supreame power . thirdly , with all humility to request the amendment of such enromities . fourthly , with all gravity to improve their request with arguments from gods glory , the princes honour , the peoples profit , and the like . lastly , with their best judgement to propound and commend the fairest way whereby a reformation may as speedily as safely be effected . and if they meet with difficulties in the supreame power delaying their request , they are not to be disheartned , but after their servent prayers to god , who alone hath the hearts of kings in his hands , they are constantly to re●ue their request at times more seasonable , in places more proper , with expressions more patheticall , having their words as full of earnestnesse , as their deeds farre from violence . as last comes the supreame power , who alone is to reforme by its own authority , though not by its owne advise alone . for because it is rationally to be presumed ▪ that divines have best skill in matters of divinity , they are to be consulted with ; and here comes in the necessity and use of councels , convocations , synods and assemblyes . and because there is not onely a constant correspondency but also an unseperable complication betwixt the church & state ; states-men are therefore to be advised with in a reformation , so to settle it as may best comply with the common-wealth . for god in that generall warrant , let all things be done decently and in order ; p●ts as i may say the cloath and sheeres into the hands of the church and christian princes , to cut out and fashion each particular decency and order , so as may shape and suit best with the present time and place wherein such a reformation is to be made . these parts therefore are to be acted in a reformation by the supreame power . first , he is ( either by his owne motion , or at the instance and intreaties of others ) to call and congregate such assemblyes . secondly , to give them leave and liberty to consult and debate of matters needing to be reformed . thirdly , to accept the results of their consultations , and to weigh them in the ballance of his princely discretion . fourthly , to confirme so much with his royall assent as his judgement shall resolve to be necessary or convenient . lastly , to stamp the character of authority upon it , that recusants to obey it may be subject to civill punishments . but now all the question will be what is to be done if the endeavours of subjects be finally returned with deafnesse or deniall in the supreame power . in this case a pulike reformation neither ought nor can be performed without the consent of the supreame power : it ought not , first , because god will not have a church reformed by the deforming of his commandement . he hath said honour thy father and thy mother and requireth that all superiours should be respected in their places . secondly , the scripture rich in presidents for our instruction in all cases of importance affords us not one single example , wherein people attempted publiquely to reforme , without or against the consent of the supreame power ; and in this particular , i conceive a negative argument followeth undeniably : wherefore seeing the kings in judah ( there the supreame power ) were alwayes called upon to reforme , commended for doing so much , or condemned for doing no more ; and the people neither commanded to remove , nor reproved for not removing publique idolatry , without the consent of the supreame power ; it plainly appeareth , that a publique reformation belongeth to the supreame power , so that without it , it ought not to be done . as it ought not , so it cannot be done without the consent thereof ; for admit that the highest subordinate power should long debate , and at last conclude , the most wholsome rules for reformation ; yet as plato said , that amongst the many good lawes that were made one still was wanting , namely , a law to command and oblige men to the due observing of those lawes which were made . so when the best resolutions are determined on by any inferiour power , there still remaines an absolute necessity that the supreame power should bind and enforce to the observing thereof . for instance : some offenders are possessed with such uncleane spirits of prophanenesse , that none can bind them , no not with chaines of ecclesiasticall censures , onely outward mulcts in purse or person can hold and hamper them . scythian slaves must be ordered with whips , and a present prison more affrights impudent persons , then hel-fire to come . in the writs de excommunicato capiendo , & de haeritico comburendo , such as flout at the excommunicato and the haeretico , are notwithstanding heartily afraid of the capiendo and the comburendo . wherefore in such cases the church when it is most perfectly reformed is fame to crave the aid of the state by civill and secular penalties , to reduce such as are rebels to church-censures ( sometimes inflicting death it selfe on blasphemous heretickes ) and this cannot be performed by any subordinate power , in the state , but onely by the supreame power . otherwise , offenders , if pressed by any inferiour power would have a free appeale and no doubt find full redresse from the supreame power , without whose consent such penalties were imposed on them . now if it be demanded , what at last remaines for any to doe , in case the supreame power finally refuseth to reforme : thus they are to imploy themselves . first , to comfort themselves in this , that they have used the meanes , though it was gods pleasure to with-hold the blessing . secondly-they are to reflect on themselves , and seriously to bemoane their own sinnes which have caused gods justice to punish them in this kind . if a●rhumaticke head sends downe a constant flux , to the corroding of the lungs , an ill affected stomacke first sent up the vapours which caused this distillation : and pious subjects conceive that if god suffer princes to persist in dangerous errours , this distemper of the head came originally from the stomack , from the sinnes of the people , who deserved this affliction . thirdly , they are to reforme their selves and families , and if the supreame power be offended thereat , to prepare themselves patiently to suffer , whatsoever it shall impose upon them , having the same cause though not the same comfort , to obey a bad prince as a good one . by the way , a word in commendation of passive obedience : when men who cannot be active without sinning , are passive without murmuring . first , christ set the principall copie thereof , leading captivity captive on the ●rosse , and ever since he hath sanctified suffering with a secret soveraigne vertue even to conquer and subdue persecution . secondly , it hath beene continued from the primitive church by the albigences to the moderate protestants unlesse some of late ashamed of this their masters badge , have pluckt their cognisance from their coats , and set up for themselves . thirdly , it is a doctrine spirituall in it selfe . it must needs be good , it is so contrary to our bad natures and corrupt inclinations , who will affirme any thing rather then we will deny our selves , and our owne revengefull dispositions . and surely the martyrs were no lesse commendable for their willing submitting to , then for their constant enduring of their persecutors cruelty . and it was as much ( if not more ) for them to conquer their owne ●indicative spirits , as to undergoe the heaviest tortures inflicted on them . fourthly , it is a doctrine comfortable to the practisers , bitter , but wholsome . yet it is sweetned with the inward consolation of a cleere conscience , which is food in famine , freedome in fetters , health in sicknesse , yea , life in death . fifthly , it is glorious in the eyes of the beholders , who must needs like and love that religion , whose professors ( where they cannot lawfully dearly sell ) doe frankly give their lives in the defence thereof . lastly , it is a doctrine fortunate in successe . by preaching of passive obedience , the d●ve hath out-flowne the eagle . christ's kingdome hath out-streatched ca●sars monarchy . hereby the wisdome of the east was subdued to the folly of preaching . the sunne of the gospell arose in the westerne parts . the parched south was watered with the dew of the word . the fro●en north was thawed with the heat of religion : but since the doctrine of resisting the supreame power came into fashion , the protestant religion hath runne up to a high top , but spread nothing in breadth ; few papists have beene reclaimed , and no pagans have beene converted . alas ! that so good a doctrine should be now in so great disgrace ; yet will we praise such suffering , though we suffer for praising it . if we cannot keepe this doctrine alive , we will grieve because it is dying ; being confident , that though now it be buried in so deepe dishonour , god in due time will give it a glorious resurrection . and though i must confesse , it is farre easier to praise passive obedience then to practice it , yet to commend a vertue is one degree to the imitation of it , and to convince our judgements : first , of the goodnesse of the deede , is by gods blessing one way to worke our wils to embrace it : in a word , if this doctrine of passive obedience be cryed downe , hereafter we may have many bookes of acts and monuments , but never more any bookes of martyrs . and now these things premised , we returne to master saltmarsh his examination of my sermon . x as if no calling were warrantable at first to promote a reformation but the supreame power . ) i never said or thought so : but in what manner , and by what meanes inferiours may and must labour to promote it , i have at large declared . y the inward call is a speciall excitation from the spirit of god , and such a call is warrantable to be active . ) i shall have presently a more proper place to deale with these speciall excitations , when i come to answer your extraordinary incitations . z now all these callings are commission enough to meddle . ) i am not of so froward a spirit , as to quarrell at a word . otherwise i could tell you , that to meddle generally importeth an over-businesse in some pragmaticall person , tampering with that which is either unlawfull in it selfe , or hurtfull to , at least improper for the party who medleth with it , and in scripture it is commonly used with a prohibition , meddle not . to passe this by , the question is not whether magistrates may meddle ( as you say ) in advancing a publique reformation ; but how ? and how farre they may be active therein ? therein i report the reader to what i have largely expressed . a in ordinary transactions , i know the ordinary dispensation is to be resorted to , but the businesse of reformation as it is extraordinary , so god giveth extraordinary conjunctures of times and circumstances , and extraordinary concurrences , and extraordinary incitations . ) now you soare high , give us leave to follow you as we can . first , i confesse that a publique reformation is an extraordinary worke in this sense , as not common or usually done every day ( as private amendment of particular persons is or ought to be . ) but it is a rare worke , which commeth to passe but seldome , and the doing of it is out of the road of ordinary mens imployment . but i deny a publique reformation to be extraordinary in this acception ; as if it were to be ordered or managed by any other rules or presidents , then such as are ordinary and usuall in the bible , where many patterns of publique reformations are presented ; in which respect the ordinary dispensation is to be resorted to in the performance thereof . whereas you say , that in publique reformations , god giveth extraordinary conjunctures of times and circumstance , and extraordinary concurrences . it is true in this sense , that the great clock-keeper of time so orders the coincidence of all things , that when his houre is come , wherein such a reformation shall be made , every officious circumstance will joyfully contribute his utmost assistance to the advancing thereof . whetefore if men cannot make a reformation without roving from their calling , or breaking gods commandement ( according to which it cannot be done without the consent of the supreame power . ) hereby it plainly appeares , that the hand of divine providence doth not as yet point at that happy minute of reformation , there being as yet times distracted with jarres and disjunctures , not onely in circumstances , but even in substantiall matters requisite thereunto . and therefore seeing gods good time may not be prevented , but must be expected , men are still patiently to wait and pray for that conjnncture of times and concurrency of circumstances , whereof you speake . but whereas you speake of extraordinary incitations ( paralell to what you said before , of speciall excitations and christianly inspired . ) in these your expressions you open a dangerous pit , and neither cover it againe nor raile it about with any cautions , so that passengers may unawares fall into it . for everyman who hath done an unwarrantable act , which he can neither justifie by the law of god or man , will pretend presently that he had an extraordinary incitation for it ; a fine tricke to plead gods leave to breake his law . nor can we disprove the impudence of such people , except we may use some touch-stones , thereby to try their counterfeit incitations ; my opinion herein shall be contrived into three propositions . first , no such extraordinary incitations are extant now a dayes from god , as stirre men up to doe any thing contrary to his commandements . indeed , some such we meet with in the scripture , where the law-giver dispensing with his owne law , incited abraham to kill his son , sampson to kill himselfe , and the isralites to rob the egyptians . in such cases it was no disobedience to gods publique command , but obedience to his private countermand ; if the servant varied his practice according to his absolute masters peculiar direction . but such incitations come not now a dayes but from the spirit of delusion . secondly , no extraordinary excitations are extant now a dayes from god , seizing on men ( as anciently ) in enthusiasmes , or any such raptives , as make sensible impressions on them . for these are within the virge of miracles , which are now ceased , and our age produceth things rather monstrous then miraculous . thirdly , extraordinary incitations are still bestowed by god in these dayes ; namely , such that he giveth to some of his servants ; a more then usuall and common proportion of his grace , whereby they are enabled for and incited to his service with greater rigour and activity then ordinary christians . my judgement herein shall nto be niggardly to restraine gods bountifull dealing , but i verily beleeve that he who was so exceedingly liberall in former ages , is not so close handed in our times , but that in this sence he bestoweth extraordinary motions , especially on such whom his providence doth call to eminent places , either in church or state . but such motions quicken them to runne the way of gods commandements , not to start without or beside it . and as hereby they are heightned to an heroicall degree of piety , so though sometimes we may say of them in a rhetoricall expression , that they goe beyond themselves , yet they never goe beyond their calling , nor never goe beyond gods commandements . now if any shall pretend that they have an extraordinary excitation to make a publique reformation without the consent of the supreame power , to whom by gods law it belongs , such an excitation cannot come from the holy ghost : for if the spirit of the prophets be subject to the prophets . much more is it subject to the god of the prophets , and to the law of that god . and truly sir , this passage of extraordinary incitations , as it is by you rawly laid downe and so left , containeth in it seed enough if well ( or rather ill ) husbanded , to sow all the kingdome with sedition , especially in an age wherein the anabaptist in their actions , beaten out of the field by gods word , doe daily slye to this their fort of extraordinary excitations . and you may observe when god gave extraordinary excitations , quo ad regulam ( stirring up men to doe things contrary to the received rule of his commandements ) then such excitations were alwayes attended with extraordinary operations . phinehas , who killed cosby and zim●y , could stay the plague with his prayer ; and eliah who cursed the captaines with their fifties , could cause fire to come downe on them from heaven . it appeares this his curse was pronounced without malice , because inflicted by a miracle . it is lawfull for such to call for fire , who can make fire come at their call ; and would nore would kindle discord on earth , till first they fetcht the sparks thereof from heaven . neither doe we proudly tempt gods providence , but truly trye such mens pretended extraordinary incitations , if when they wander from gods commandements in their actions , and plead inspirations , we require of them to prove the truth of such inspirations , by working a miracle . now sir , you being ( as it seemes ) an opposite to prelacy , would make strange worke , to put downe one ordinary in a diocesse , and set up many extraordinaries in every parish : and for ought i know , if some pretend extraordinary excitations , publikely to reforme against the will of the supreame power , such as side with the supreame power , may with as much probability alleadge extraordinary excitations to oppose and crosse the others reformation , and so betwixt them both our church and state will be sufficiently miserable . and now sir remember what you said in the last paragraffe : to the law ( saith the scripture ) and to the testimony ; to such judges we may safely appeale from all your speciall excitations , extraordinary incitations and christian inspirations . b in the building of the temple you shall see in ezra and nehemiah such workings of god , when the people were gathered together as one man , they spake to ezra the scribe , to bring the booke of● the law of moses . ) the unanimous consent of so many we acknowledge to be gods worke . o that we might see the like agreement in england , where the people are so farre from being gathered together as one man , that almost every one man is distracted in his thoughts , like the times , and scattered from himselfe as if he were many people . well , they spake to ezra to bring the booke of he law ; what of all this ? c here the people put on even ezra to his duty . ) and little speaking would spurre on him who of himselfe was so ready to runne in his calling : but i pray what was this ezra ? who were these people ? ezra was indeed a priest , a learned scribe of the law who brought up a party out of babylon to jerusalem armed with a large patent and commission from artaxerxes . the people here were the whole body of the jewish church and state together with zerobabel the prince ▪ and jeshuah the high priest , who ( by leave from the persian king ) had the chiefe managing of spirituall and temporall matters . and judge how little this doth make for that purpose to which you alleadge it that from hence private persons may either make the supreame power to reforme , or doe it without his consent . had you free leave of the whole scripture to range in , and could the fruit of your paines find out no fitter instance for your purposes . examiner . and whereas you say , reformation is of those duties that are d impaled in for some particular persons . i answer , this were a grand designe if you could heighten e reformation into such a holy prodigy , as you would of late the church into the prelacy and f clergy , and excluded the layty as a prophane g crew , and to be taught their distance . luther h will tell you , this is one of the roman engines , to make such an holy businesse ; like the mountaine in the law , not to be touc●t or approacht to , but by moses alone . thus you might take off many good workemen , and honest l labourers in the vineyard whom christ hath hired and sent in , and to whom he hath held out his scepter , as ahasuerus to ester . treatis . d and whereas you say reformation is of those duties that are impaled in for some particular persons . ) it appeares that publike reformation is so impaled ; for whereas every man is commanded to observe the sabbath , honour his parents , and every man forbidden to have other gods , worship images take gods name in vaine kill , steale , &c. yet the supreame power alone in scripture is called on for publike reformation , and no private person , as saint austin hath very well observed . e i answer , this were a grand designe , if you could heighten reformation into such an holy prodigy . ) i need not heighten it , which is so high a worke of it selfe , that our longest armes cannot reach it , though we stand on the tip-toes of our best desires and endeavours , till god shall first be pleased to send us a peace . a prodigy it is not ( not long since you tearmed it an extraordinary businesse ) yet if it be performed whilst warre lasteth , it is a worke of the lord , and may justly seeme mervallous in our eyes . f as you would of late the church into the prelacy and the clergy . ) when and where did i doe this ? i ever accounted that the cetus fi●●l●um , the congregation of the faithfull was gods church on earth . yet i often find the church represented in generall counsels by the prelacy and clergy ( who are or should be the best & wisest in the church ) & their decisions in matters of religion interpreted and received as the resolutions of the church in generall . g and excluded the layty as a prophane crew , and to be taught their distance . ) what honest man ever thought the layty , as layty , prophane ? i conceive our kingdome would be very happy , if none of the clergy were worse then some of the layty . and i am sure that the godly clergy are gods layty his {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} & the godly layty are gods clergy , his {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} yet now a dayes , some usurping lay-men may well be taught their distance , who meddle with ministeria'l functions : nor will a wel-meaning heart one day excuse the unsanctified hands of such vzzah's , who presuming to preach , hold not our arke from shaking , but shake our arke with holding it . h luther w●ll tell you this is one of the romish engines . ) indeed this was a popish device too much to depresse the layty . but this engine thanks be to god ) is since broken asunder , and it will be in vaine for any to glew the peeces thereof together . and now since the monopoly of the popish clergy ( ingrossing all matters of religion to themselves ) is dissolved ; it is fit protestant ministers lawfull propriety in their calling , should justly be maintained . i thus you may take off many honest labourers in the vineyard . ) farre be it from me especially if they be skilfull labourers such as will prune the vines , not pluck them up by the roots . but this and what you say of those to whom god hath held out his scepter , is nothing to the purpose ; except you could prove where god in the scripture , hires or cals private men to make a publike reformation . examiner . and whereas you tell us that the supreame power alone hath the lawfull calling as appeares in the kings of judah . i answer that if so the parliament were now in a dangerous k praemunire for you know that is suspended from us , and yet our state goes on in their worke , enabled ( as they say ) by their fundamen●all power and constitution : i shall not here dispute the emanations of this power in ordinances , votes and orders ▪ they have made it appeare in their owne declarations ; onely this i read of an ordinance made by the nobles and elders of israel , those lords l and commons . that whosoever would not come according to the counsell which was taken for reformation , all his substance should be forfeited . here is no king of judah's hand , nor a ●●yrus king of persias ▪ but an ordinance of their owne to their owne people ; onely they have king cyru's writ for their assembling and consulting . had christ m and his apostles waited in their reformation for the consent of the roman magistrate the supreame power , they had not made that holy expedition they did . had luther and zun●glius n and oecolampadius staid for the emperours reformation , they had not shed halfe that light in the germane hemisphere : there was a time when god tooke part of the spirit of moses and put it upon o the elders . treatis . k if so the parliament were now in a dangerous praemunire . ) i will not marre a meane divine of him , to make a meaner states-man , by medling with matters in the common-wealth . i that maintaine that every man must stay in his calling , will not step out of mine owne : let the differences betwixt our soveraigne and his subjects which consist in points of state be debated by the politicians on either side , the questions in law be argued respectively by their learned counsell and the controversies in religion be dispuputed by their severall divines . but alas ! such is our misery when all is done , the finall decision is devolved to the souldiers sword on either side , and god send the best cause the best successe . l onely this , i read of an ordinance made by the nobles and elders of israel those lords and commons . ) by your favour it was a compleat act of state as confirmed by the royall assent . true , there was no king of judah's hand unto it , because at that time judah had no king ; and who can expect that the sunne should shine at midnight , when there is none in that horizon . reasonable men will then be contented with the moon-shine , and see that here . for zerobabel shining with borrowed beames and a reflected light from the persian king ( in which respect he is stiled , hag. . . the governour of judah ) concurred to this ordinance by his approbation thereof . besides this , there was also a triple consent of the persian kings . first , the grand and generall grant from cyrus , ezra . . which still stood in full force , as confirmed by darius . ezra . . whereby the jewes being authorized to re-build the temple , were also by the same enabled to settle gods service in the best manner , by what wholsome lawes they thought fitting . secondly , a particular implicite grant , in that the persian king knowing thereof , did not forbid it when it was in his power , had it beene his pleasure ; and such a not opposing , amounts to a consent . lastly , they had a large expresse command from king artaxerxes to ezra ( chap. . ver. . ) and whosoever will not doe the law of thy god , and the law of the king , let judgement be executed speedily upon him , whether it be unto death or unto banishment , or to confiscation of goods , or to imprisonment . and now sir , i have the lesse cause to be offended with you for citing mangled and dismembred peeces in my sermon , seeing the scripture it selfe finds as little favour from your hand ; for had you compared on place thereof with another you could not but have seen the persian kings consent to this reformation . yea so observant were the jewes of the persian kings , that at the first issuing forth of their prohibition to that purpose , they instantly desisted building the temple ; having their soules so well managed , and mouthed with the reines of loyalty , that their kings negative voyce checkt and stopt them as they were running full speed in so good an imployment : so little doth the instance alleadged advantage your cause . m had christ and his apostles waited in their reformation for the consent of the roman magistrate . ) i answer . first , christ and his apostles ; were christ and his apostles , i meane extraordinary persons , immediately inspired . secondly , the reformation they brought was mainly materiall indeed , being the gospell , without which there was no salvation . thirdly , because they had not the emperours consent to their reformation they pacified his displeased sword by preferring their necks unto it , not repining at the dearnesse of the purchase to buy the safety of their soules with the losse of their lives ; all the jury of the apostles ( john onely accepted ) followed their master to martyrdome : and hence we truly deduced the patterne of passive obedience . n had luther and zuniglius , and oecolampadius stayed for the emperours reformation . ) luther was a minister and so had his share in reforming , so farre as to propagate the truth and confute falshoods by his pen , preaching and disputations . what he did more then this was done by the flat command , at lest free consent of frederick duke of saxony under whom luther lived . this duke owing homage , but not subjection to the emperour ; counted himself ▪ and was reputed of others , absolute in his owne dominions , as invested with the power of life and death to coine money , make offensive and defensive leagues and the like . and although this wary prince long poised himself betwixt feare of the emperor and love of the truth , yet he always either publikely defended luther , or privately concealed him , till at last having outgrowne his fears , he fell boldly to publike reforming . as for the states of zurich and basil , wherein zuniglius and oecolampadius lived , as those cities in one relation are but members of the helvetian common-wealth , so in another capacity they are intire bodies of themselves , and in these states the magistrates did stamp the character of civill authority on that reformation which these ministers did first set on foot by their preaching . but if any extravagant action of worthy men be tendred us in example , our love to their persons binds us not to defend their practice , much lesse to imitate it . we crave liberty , & if denied will take it to leave them to themselves who if they had any especiall warrant to justifie their deeds , will at the last day produce and plead it . o there was a time when god took part of the spirit of moses & put it upon the elders . ) i will not dispute the manner how the spirit was taken from moses , perchance added to others , without being substracted from him , as a candle looseth no light by giving it to another . but this is falsly al●eaged by you to intimate that sometimes inferiour officers may make reformations without the knowledge , yea , against the will of the supreame power . for you must know , that though the sannedrin or seventy elders were a constant court and standing counsell , yet when there was a chief governour they had recourse to him in actions of moment , num. . , , . and moses spake unto the lord saying let the lord the god of the spirits of all flesh set a man over the congregation which may go out before them ▪ and which may lead them out and bring them in , that the congregation of the lord be not as sheep which have no shepheard . see that notwithstanding the power of the elders stood still in full force , & determined not at moses his death , yet he accounted gods people no better then shepheardlesse , till they had a power paramount placed over them , and a supreame above the elders to guide and direct them . sermon paragraffe . mean time meer private men must not be idle but move in their sphere , till the supream power doth reform they must pray to inspire those that have power . secondly , they must reforme themselves and their families . examiner . stil you drive on your design thorow many plausible p insinuations you would keep private men doing but still doing in their owne q circle ; i confesse i would not improve their interest too high nor too soon , for the early settings forth of private men is apt to exceed into a tumultuary motion : yet i would not put them so far behind as they should like the lame & the diseased at the poole of bethesda waiting till a supreame r power came downe amongst them . there are many publike ingagements which they are capable on , & which providence will often guide them to as in finding s out-ways of facilitation & advancement for the businesse ; besides some other arcana and secret t preparations ; we see every thing naturally is spirited with an instinct of aiding , the whole v water and ayre will part with their own interest to serve the universall in the danger of a vacuity ; the very w romans by a morrall principle , would contend to be first in the service of their country , and it remains as a crime upon record that x gilead abode beyond jordan , and that dan remained in ships , and ashur abode in his breaches ; that is that they would sit downe encircled with their owne interest and affaires . treatis . p still you drive on your designe thorow many plausible insinuations . ) not insinuations but positions , and those no more plausible then profitable . truth hath a precious inside , and withall a pleasing face . q you would keep private men doing but still doing in their circle . ) and good reason too for if they be out of their circle , they are very troublesome spirits to conjure downe againe . r not like the lame at the poole of bethesda waiting till a supreame power . ) if god in his word will have it so , they must wait . better to lye still in the porch , though not cured then to rush headlong into the poole and be drowned . s providence will guide them in finding out-wayes of facilitation . ) i protest against all out-wayes , if they be any way different from the high-road of the king of heaven ; reformation however must come lawfully , and if it will not come easily , let it come hardly , we will tug at it with our prayers ( which are alwayes best at a dead lift ) and will sweat but not sin to obtain it . nor can any better facilitation for privat men be found out , then for every one of them to reform themselves . how doth an army of ten thousand men almost change their postures from east to west in an instant , because every one turneth one , and so soone would the work be done in a publike reformation , if particular persons would take care for their private amendment . t besides some other arcana and secret preparations . ) good sir play faire and above board : the surface of the earth is wide enough for us both , creep not into crannies , to put me to the pains of pioners to mine for your meaning : i know the secret of the lord is with the righteous ; but then it is such a secret , as being concealed from prophane persons is revealed in the word . this your expression if cleer from fault , is not free from just suspition , for hereby you buz into peoples hands ( and such tinder i tell you is ready to take fire ) that there are some strange unknown misteries of religion lately communicated to some private men . strange that others of the same forme with you for learning and religion should know no such secrets , except you have received from heaven some expresse packet of intelligence . you might have done well to have told us what these arcana are unlesse being of heavens close committee you be bound to secrecy . meane time i will be bold to tell you that if these secrets differ from gods will in his word , they are depths of the divell and misteries of iniquity . v we see every thing naturally is spirited with an instinct of ayding , the whole water and ayre will part with their owne interests to serve the universall in the danger of a vacuity . ) i distinguish betwixt naturall agents and voluntary , rationall and christian agents . naturall agents goe the neerest way to their owne home , their center , except countermanded to avoid a vacuity , which being yeelded to , necessarily inferres a destruction of the whole . in such a case heavy bodyes have from god a dispensation yea command to ascend , light bodies to descend , forgetting their particular propensity , to remember the publike good , according to the words of the psalmist , he hath made a decree which they shall not passe . but voluntary , rationall and christian agents , are to regulate their actions by gods will in his word ; the greatest and onely vacuity they are to feare is gods displeasure whose glory they are to preferre before their owne temporall self-preservation ; and indeed mans eternall good is wrapped up in his obedience to gods will . wherefore except you can produce a place in gods word , wherein private men are commanded to make publike reformations , there is a meer vacuity of all you have alleadged . w the very romans by a morrall principle would contend to be first in the service of their country . ) it was well done of them . their forwardnesse in serving their country will one day condemne our frowardnesse in deserving our rending our native soyle asunder with civill dissentions ; but in such cases as this is which we have now afoot ( whether private persons may reform without the consent of the supreame power ) we are not to be guided by the practice of the pagan rom●ns but by the precept of the christian romans , let every soule be subject to the higher powers . x and it remaines as a crime upon record , that gilead abode b●yond jordan , and that dan remained in ships . ) thus it was ; sicera a pagan generall under jabin a tyrant and usurper hostilely invaded i●rael . deborah a prophetesse by divine inspiration incited barach to resist him . in this case each single man had a double call to assist barach : one from nature to defend his country , another from gods immediate vocation . here it was lawfull for all to be active , sinfull for any to be idle : jacl the woman was valiant ; shall men be womanish and cowardly ? now prove that private men have the like calling in point of publike reformation and if they be not active , we will not only confesse it their crime but proclaime a curse against them with meros , till this be done this instance befreindeth not your cause . examiner . and y though you would put private men upon such duties here as are godly & commendable the policy is to keepe them exercised in one good duty that they should not advance another & thus you would cunningly make one peece or divinity to betray another , and make the freinds of reformation doe it a discurtesie in ignorance . treatis . y i confesse it is an ancient subtilty of satan , to keep men exercised in one good duty that they should not advance another . thus he busieth some men all in praying to neglect preaching , all in preaching to neglect catechizing all in prayers ▪ preaching , catechizing , to neglect practising . jesabels body was all eaten up , save onely her head , hands and feet . but indiscreet zeal so consumes some , that they have neither hands nor feet left , either to worke or to wa●ke in their christian calling : yea , of all their head nothing remains unto them but onely their ears , re●olving all gods service into hearing alone . but this accusation is not onely improperly , but falsly here layed to my charge because i forbid meer private men to meddle with publike reforming , which belongs not at all unto them : that so cutting off the needlesse suckers the tree may be fed the better ▪ and that private men leaving off those imployments which pertaine not to them , may the more effectually advance their owne amendment ; a taske which when it is done , the severest divine will give them leave to play . and because one dangerous policy hath been mentioned by you , it will not be amisse to couple it with another device of the divell , as seasonable and necessary in these times to be taken notice of . satan puts many meere private men on to be fierce and eager upon publike reforming thereby purposely to decline and avert them from their own selfe-amendment . for publike reforming hath some pleasure in it , as a magisteriall act and work of authority , consisting most in commanding and ordering of others ; whereas private amendment is a worke all of paine , therein a man , as he is himselfe the judge , so he is the malefactor , and must indite himselfe , arraigne himselfe , convict himselfe , condemne hmselfe , and in part execute himselfe crucifying the old man and mortifying his owne corruptions . and we can easier afford to put out both the eyes of other men , to force them to leave their deare darling sinnes , then to pluck out our own right eye ( in obedience to our saviours precept ) and forsake our owne sinnes , which doe so easily beset us . besides men may be prompted to publike reforming by covetousnes to gather chips at the felling of the old church goverment by ambition to see and be seene in office by revenge to wreck their spight on the personall offences of such , whom formerly they distasted . self amendment is not so subject to private ends but goeth against the haire yea , against the flesh it selfe , in making men deny themselves in duty to god . yea , at the last day of judgement , when god shall arraigne men , and say , thou art a drunkard , thou art an adulterer , thou art an oppressor ; it will be but a poore plea for them to say yea lord , but i have been a publike reformer of church and state . this plea , i say , will then not hold water , but prove a broken ●●sterne . nor will god dispence with their want of obedience , because they have offered him store of sacrifice . such people therefore are daily to be called upon , to amend themselves and their families , which is a race long enough for the best breathed private christians , though they start in their youth , and runne till their old age . sermon paragraffe . lastly , with carefulnesse not to give any just offence to the papists . examiner . i z wonder you would here expresse an indulgence which is not allowable , and the memory of the parliament will be honourable for that ; they knew so much divinity , as taught them not to value their offence , & to proclaim to them both in england and a ireland an irreconcilable warre . this carefulnesse and tendernesse you plead for , was the first principle which our church so farre , as to take up their altars and ceremonies to avoid offence . saint paul was of another spirit who forbore not b a disciple and apostle . when i saw , saith he , that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospell . you much mistake the divinity of christ , in matter of offence , who never forbore to preach , or publish any necessary truth : nay , when his disciples were scandalized , and said , this is an hard saying , doth this offend you , saith he ? what and if , &c. he goeth on c and pursues the offence , till they left him and his doctrine too . and for the papists , they are much of the relation and constitution of the scribes and pharisees , not without , as you say nor within & yet see if you can find our saviour or his apostles letting out themselves into such restrictions , and moderation , and cautions . those truths which are essentially , d universally , alwayes and at all times holy , ought not to be measured by the unbrage and scandall of the adversary . indeed in things meerly civill or indifferent , our use or liberty may appeare more but for such truths as our reformation shall bring they will be alwayes an offence to the adversary : we preach christ , saith the apostle , unto the jewes a stumbling-blocke , and to the greeks foolishnesse and yet the apostle preacheth , e and layes these blocks , & this rock of offence in the way too . treatis . z i wonder you should here expresse an indulgence which is not allowable . ) i wonder and am sorry withall , to see a protestant take unjust offence at this doctrine , that no just offence is to be given to the papists . know sir , that besides those papists in england and a ireland , to whom you say , the parliament hath proclaimed an irreconcilable war ; there be also many of their religion in spaine , france , germany , italy , poland , &c. all europe over , with whom the parliament hath not as yet , any professed open hostility , and to these no offence must be given . the eye of all christendome is upon us , the sea surrounds , but doth not conceale us : present papists read the text of our actions , and their posterity will write comments upon them ; we cannot therefore be too wary . besides , grant that this irreconcilable war you speak of , should bind men in a martiall way to kill all papists ; yet i pray take notice , that in some cases we may justly kill them , whom in no case we may justly offend . though a malefactor be condemned by the judge to be executed , yet the sheriffe is a murderer if he torment him to death , contrary to the sentence of law . now giving unjust scandall to the papists , is torturing of them , and tyranny to their souls which may eternally destroy them ; and you are the first divine , and i hope shall be the last , which ever held this to be lawfull . whereas you say , i much mistake the divinity of christ in matter of offence . i should be very thankfull to you , if you be pleased to rectifie my erroneous judgement to which end i will crave the readers leave , the more largely to expresse my opinion in this point . i hold that we ought not to give just offence to any man whatsoever : indeed there is no danger of giving offence to the divell . he who fears to offend satan , offends god with his foolish fear : because the divels very nature is all mischief and malice , nothing being good in him save his being which he hath of god and he is utterly incapable of salvation . but seeing in the very worst of men there is some goodnesse , or at lest a capability of grace here , and glory hereafter , through repentance and faith in christ , we may not give any man just offence , as being against the rules of piety , charity and christian prudence . against the rule of piety : because god hath said , give no offence to any . against the rule of charity ; because thereby we are cruell to them which are our brethren by nature , and may be by grace . against the rule of christian prudence because we cannot give any just offence , but also thereby we doe give them a just advantage against us . i beleeve sir , were you to dispute in an university against popish opponents you would so warily state the question which you defend , as that you would not willingly give any upper ground to your adversaries , more then what they could get for themselves . wherfore as the wrestlers in the olimpian games used to annoint themselves with oyle , not only thereby to supple their joynts , but also to make their naked bodies the more slick and slippery , that so those who wrestled with them might catch no hold upon them , so ought we , who are like to have constant opposition with the papists , to give them no more advantage then what they can earn & if we give them more , they will be more ready to jeere us for our folly , then thank us for our bounty unto them . yea , in this respect it is more dangerous to give just offence , and therby just advantage ( for the one cannot be done without the other ) to the papists then to any meer pagans : for pagans being rude , dull and ignorant , though an advantage be given them , cannot in point of learning husband and improve it to the utmost . but the papists whom we doe know and must acknowledge cunning fencers in the school of wit and learning , are so well skild , as ever to keep and inforce the advantage we once bestowed on them . and though we need never feare them and all their art so long as we have god and a good cause on our side , so if we betray our cause by giving them just advantage , it is just with god to deliver us over into their hands , to beat us with our owne weapons . and heare let the reader be pleased to take notice , as much materiall to our purpose , that there is a grand difference , betwixt the removing of things , bad in their owne nature , and betwixt the manner of removing them . if any thing be bad in it selfe , it may not be continued , it must be removed . none can dispence with the retaining thereof , though never so many or great persons take offence at the taking of it away . if friers bee offended thereat , let them turne their girdles , with all their knots in them behind them , whilst wee neede not care for their causelesse anger . they who were so quick sighted that they could see an offence , where it was never given them ; let them looke againe in the same place , and their quick eyes will behold there , the amends which were never tendered them . but now , as for the manner of removing of things badd in themselves , when there is a liberty and latitude left unto us after what fashion we will doe it , either this way or that way , we must doe it so as to give none any just offence . for where it is at our choice and pleasure to use variety of waies , our discretion must pitch on the best , whereby god may receive the most glory , the action the most luster , wee our selves the greatest comfort , and all others no just cause of offence . and here once againe let mee request the reader to observe , that in my sermon , i never mentioned any tendernes , to give the papists offence , in removing of thinges bad in themselves , but this caution of not giving the papists just offence , was inserted in the proper place , when we came to shew how discretion is to appeare in the manner of a reformation . yea the same thing for substance may be done and just offence either may or may not be given according to the different manner of doing it . for instance , such pictures which are in the suburbs of superstition , because the gate of that city is alwaies open , may without any giving of just offence be fairely taken away . but to shoot off the head of the statue of christ , either to spite the papists , or sport our selves giveth just offence . though the image be nothing , yet such usage thereof is something , the bullet shott at the picture , wounds pietie : for to do serious worke in a jearing way , is inconsistent with christian gravities , and argueth not light of knowledge but lightnesse , not to say lewdnesse of behaviour . another instance . suppose that some ceremonies ancient for time , used by the fathers , ( though abused by the papists ( reduced by the protestants , defended by our english , not opposed by forraigne devines , be practised in our church . and withall suppose , that such ceremonies as they are harmelesse so to be uselesse , and not without the suspition of danger , as the present times stand . in this case it will give no just offence to the papists to take them away under the nation , of things unnecessary , and unsuting with our present condition . but to remove them as things prophane , idolatrous , or superstitious , giveth just offence and great advantage to our romish adversaries , by the disgrace we put on antiquity . besides , hereby we betray our freinds which have don good service for our religion , namely such english devines who with their penns have learnedly and truly asserted the lawfulnesse of such ceremonies , and this our retreating from them and leaving them ingaged , ( as ioas served vriah * at the siege of rahab treacherously ) shews much basenesse in us and , in such a case , the dishonouring of good men is the dishonoring of god himselfe . but if i should in courticie yeeld so much unto you ( which i never will ) that it were lawfull to give just offence to & grounded dedicated papists , yet know there be some , who in their opnions , & affections , the borderers betwixt us & the papists , almost protestants not far from our religion , having one foote in it , and the other likely to follow , such people when they see , that we take no care , and make no conscience , to give just offence to the papists , will be ready to retract their resolutions , and call back their forward affections , say not that such men are better lost then found . is this the bowels of christian compassion , which ought to be in us , if we wilfully blast such blossomes , we are not worthy of any ripe fruite , and it is both cruelty and profanesse to cast such doe bakt cakes to the doggs , which by standing a while longer in the oven , would make good and wholsome bread . nor herein do i write only by guesse , but too much by knowledge , such as i can , neither well conceale nor comfortably , relate . for when the religious paines of some reverend devines whom i know , have brought some papists to the doore of our church , the just offence given them , by the moderne extravagances of some undiscreet protestants , caused them to fale backe againe to popery . and now to returne to your examination . all things contained therein , are easily to be answered by that which we have promised . b. saint paule was of another spirit , who forbore not a disciple* and apostle , saint paule perceiving a dangerous error , in peter , reproved him , both presently while the would was greene , and publiquely , that the plaister might be as broad as the fore . but in thus doing he gave no just offence to peter but blamed peter for giving just offence to other christians . c. he goeth on and persueth the offence till they left him ) this instance of christs his cariage herein nothing advantageth you . give me leave to repeate what i said before , if things be bad in themselves , they must be removed , though they give never so many offence or rather though never so many or great men , take offence thereat so also if a necessary ▪ tru●h bee to be introduced , it must be preached and brought into the church , though never so many be offended thereat . and if there be but one way , and no more allowed us , how and in what manner to do it , according to that one way , it must be don , not valluing the offending of any . but if verity of way be permitted unto us , god expects that we should give the least , and if possible no offence to any . now to apply the truth which our saviour heare preached , and pressed , was of absolute and necessary concernment . namely that he was the true manna messiah and bread from heaven . such truths must bee preached , and if any burne with anger threat , let not their fire be quenched , till it goe out for want of fuell . the case is farre otherwise in this reformation , betwixt us and the papists . we had all essentiall truths before , and if any ornamentall , or additionall truths be now to be brought in , they must be so done as to give no just offence to the papists . d. those truths , which are essentially , universally , alwaies , and at all times holy ought not to be measured , by the umbrage and scandall of the adversaries . ) if hereby you meane , that necessary truths must not bee forborne to bee preached , for feare of giving any offence , i clearely concurre with you . onely i say that all such truths are in our church already , and not now to bee newly brough in , ( as you intimate ) by the reformation . e. and yet the apostle preacheth , and layes those blockes and this rock of offence in the way too . ) the apostle preached christ , and intended him to be a rock of defence to all , as for those who perverted him to bee a rock of offence to themselves , this scandall was not justly given to them , but unjustly taken by them . if papist take offence at any such truth , it shall affect us no more then the cryes of baals prophets * affected any of whom it is said , there was none to answer them , nor any that regarded them . but as for the manner of removing away any errors , or bringing in any truths , we ought to bee wary and circumspect , for our own sakes , as well as theirs , to give them no just offence . to conclude . for mine owne part sir i pittie the persons of all papists , & heartily desire their convertion , but hate theirs , and all other errors , with a perfect hatred . and this my enmity to all popish tenents , doth the more plainely appeare to be grounded on my judgement not on my passion , because i would have al men so cautious , as not to give them just advantage , least our actions fight for them , whilst our affections fight against them . what frier will not laugh in his coule at this your opinion , that it is lawfull to give papists just offence ? well , you never shall have my consent , to combate as our churches champion , against rome for the protestant cause , untill you have learnt more skill in fencing , and not to lye at so open a guard . and if you hold it lawfull to give papists just offence , by the next returne you will hold it lawfull to give just offence to all , which are termed popishly affected , the gangrean of which expression , is by some extended to taint as sound and hearty protestants , as any be in england . sermon page . . that it is to be desired , not hoped for , a pla●…oes common-wealth and moores vtopia these phrases are pleasing but unfeerable . examiner . hee that lookes abroad shall soone have his sight terminated , but the more hee goes on the more he sees , and that which closed his prospect opens then into new discoveries ; if you see no perfect reformation as you stand , do not therefore say there is none , they that stand higher and on a holyer mountaine , perhapps see farther , you that stand in the horizon g of prelacy cannot see much beyond it ; corruption is deceitfull and makes us like adam see all generations in our selves , because we will not be pefectly reformed , let us not argue our iudgments into a beleeife that we cannot , ● let us think it as possible to be the best , as easie to be the worst , let us not thinke that a plato's common wealth or a mor'es vtopia which for ought we know is reall and existent , there is under the gospell i a royall preisthood , an holy nation , a peculier people , and certainly had former k ages lived to see , but the discovery of latter times , they would have admired their owne ignorance and our happinesse . treatis . f. they that stand higher and on a holyer mountaine , perhapp's see further ) i deny it not . but if they see a perfect church on earth they see it in a trance or vision . g. you that stand in the horizon of prelacy , cannot see much beyond it . ) misse not the matter , to h●tt my person , if i stand in the horizon of prelacy i stand no more for it , then it stands , with gods glory , and will in his word . because you taxe me with dimnesse of sight , i will strive by my study to get the best advantage ground i can , i will begg of god , to animate mine eyes with his * eye salve , i will be carefull to keepe mine eyes from being bloodshot , by animating any to cruelty in this unnaturall warr and know sir that they who stand in the horizon of presbutary , or independency , are subject also to errors , and mistakes . as delight in old customes may deceive some , so desire of novelty may blind the eyes of others . god helpe us all we are badd at the best . h. because we will not be perfectly reformed , let us not argue our iudgments into a beleife that we cannot ) a distinction or two of perfection and your fallacy will perfectly appeare . some saints in the scripture phrase are stiled perfect , but then it is comparatively as they stand in opposition to * wicked men who have no goodnesse at all in them . or else they are called perfect as so denominated from their better part ( good reason the best godfather , should name the child ) their regenerate halfe , which desires , and delights in endeavoring towards perfection , or lastly perfection is taken for integrity , sincerity , and unrightnesse opposite to inward hippocrisie , and in such a perfection the heart may have many defects by the by , but no dissimulation in the maine service of god . such a perfection as this , men may have , yea must have , in this life , and without such a perfection here , no hope of any happinesse hereafter . but as for an exact● legall perfection ( such as some papists dreame of , and most anabaptists doate on ) a perfection able to stand before gods iustice , without the support of his mercy , it is utterly impossible for mortall men to attaine unto it . in which sence in my sermon , i said that a perfect reformation of a church in this world is difficult to be prescribed , and impossible to be practised . yea let me tell you sir ( cautious comming from goodwill , deserve to be heard , if not heeded ) if you persist in this opinion of exact perfection , i conceive your condition dangerous . elisha told king ioram , beware that thou passe not * such a place , for thither the aramites are come downe . i may friendly tell you , presse not one any further in this point , for spirituall pride lyeth hard by in waite , and the ambush thereof will surprise you . for my owne part , as i hate my badnesse , so i hugge the confession that i am badd , and gods children , finde both contentment and comfort in knowing they cannot bee perfect . hence they learne , ( what soule so bad , which hath not sometimes some holy-day thoughts ) to loath earth to love . heaven , to runne from themselves , to fly to their saviour , to pittie others , to pray heartily for them , to hope comfortably of them , in a word this doctine , abateth pride , increaseth charity , and confoundeth censuring . yea i solemnely professe that i would not herein change my doctrine for yours , to have much to boote . should i say , that i could be perfect , both my head and my heart would give my tongue the lye . and one of the best hopes , i have to goe to heaven , is that i am sute i deserve hell . i remember a strange , but true and memerable speech of reverend mr. fox * to this effect , that his graces sometimes did him harme , whilst his sinne did him much good . a wonderfull thing , yet sometimes so it commthe to passe , god making a cordiall for us of our owne wickednesse , thereby teaching us humility . i. there is under the gospel a royall priesthood , an holy nation a peculiar people . ) true , here these things are sincerely begunne , and hereafter fully perfected , for in this life there is still some basenesse , even in the royall priesthood , impiety in the holy nation , commonnesse in the peculiar people . and i pray remember you are to prove , that a whole church may bee perfectly reformed in this world . for though it were granted that some men might be perfect , yet it followeth not thereupon , that any one church is existent on earth , consisting intirely all of perfect members . hipocrites are of so glutenous a nature , they will stick close in every visible church . they cannot be devided , who cannot be discerned , except one could borrow gods touchstone of hearts , such shining drosse will ever passe current in this kingdome of grace . k. had former ages lived but to see the discovery of latter times ) if by former ages you meane the time of popery , i concurre with you . if you understand the times of the primitivs fathers , i suspend my suffrage till the next paragrave . but if you extend it to the age of christ , and his apostles , i flatly discent . nor am i sensible of any such late discoveries in religion though many recoveries thanks he to god there have been , in rescuing the faith from romish superstition . l. they would have admired their owne ignorance and our happinesse . ) by our happinesse , i suppos● you meane , what lately we had before this warre began , and what we had not the happinesse to keepe , and wee trust in due time , god will restore to us againe . otherwise , as for our present woefull condition , i would not wish our friends , or envie our foes such happinesse . sermon paragarffe . there are some now adayes talke of a great light mainfested in this age more then before . indeede we modernes have a mighty advantage of the antients , whatsoever was theirs by industry may be ours , all contribute themselves to us who live in this latter age . examiner . if we had no more light , then what you insinuate were seene from the fathers , why doe we see more , and more cleerely and further ? he that sees far , must either have a good sight or a cleare light , and sure in this age wee have both , those errours which our fathers saw for dimme truthes we see for herisies ; so surely both our eyes , and our light are better ; for the light which our fathers have in their lamps can discover , but so much to us , as it did to them , and we know our discovery is such , as wee are able to see the shadow which followed them , even that mistery , which was working in their dayes , both in prelacy and ceremony , who will deny but that the cloud of antichristianisme , was thicke in their times , and then the light could not be so glorious , as now when those couds grow thinner , and more attenuated by the preaching of the gospel . treatise . to cut off all occasion and pretence of caviling , wee will shew , god willing , in what respect the fathers , for knowledge excelled , and exceeded us , and in what respect wee modernes goe beyond them . they had a threefold advantage above us . . of sight . . of light . . and of a nearer object . first , of a better sight . being men of eminent natural parts , improved with excellent learning , and to the easterne fathers , the greeke tongue , the language of the new teastament was naturall , so that it costeth us much paines and sweat but to come to the place whence they started . secondly , of a brighter light . as their constancie in persecution was great , so no doubt the heate of their zeale was attended with a proportionable light , and heavenly illumination god doing much for them that suffer much for him . especially in those points wherein they encountred hereticks , they were more then men , and went beyond themselves , as st. athanasius against the arians , st. augustine against the pelagians and donatists , from whom our moderne brownists differ no more , then the same man differs from himselfe in new cloathes . . of a nearer object . they living closer to christs times , could therefore better understand the sence of the church ▪ in the doctrine delivered to the apostles . here we must know that apostles , and apostolick men as they wrote gods word in their epistles ▪ and gospels for the profit of all posterity so for the instruction of their present age they also * traditioned it in their preaching by word of mouth to the people of those times , not that they delivered any thing viva voce contrary or differtent from what they wrote , or that ( as the papists stile for their traditions ) they supplyed and enjoyned any thing as necessary to salvation , which otherwise was wanting in the scripture , but the selfe same things which they wrote in the new testament , they also delivered in their sermons , and in their preaching delated upon them , wherefore the prime primative age , having ( as i may say ) two strings to their bow , scripture , and preaching , must needes bee allowed to have had the clearest apprehention of the meaning of heavenly misteries , and as the children * of israell served the lord all the dayes of iehossuah and all the dayes of the elders , who outlived iehossuah , who had seene all the great workes of the lord which he did for israell , in like manner wee may conclude , that the greatest puritie and the clearest light of the church , lasted so long as any , within sight , hearing , or memory of christ or his apostles preaching , or miracles , did survive . now to hold the scales even , we in like manner have a three fold advantage over the fathers . first a degree of experimentall light more then they had or could have , having seene the whole conduct , mannaging and progresse of religion since their times , whereby ( with a litle helpe of history ) a devine who is under sixtie in age , may be a bove sixteene hundred in experience . secondly , we have the benefits of the fathers bookes , a mightie advantage if we were as carefull to use it to gods glory , as we are ready to bragg of it for our owne credit . and here i must complaine of many mens lazinesse . indeed a learned man * compareth such as live in the latter times in respect of the fathers to dwarffes standing on giants shoulders . but then if we will have profitt by the fathers learning , we must take paines to mount to the tope of their shoulders . but if like idle dwarfes , we still do but stand on the ground , our heads will not teach to their girdles , it is not enough to through the bookes of the fathers , togeather on an heape , and then making their workes our footestoolle to stand on the outside and covers of them , as if it were no more , but vp and ride , boasting how far we behold beyond them . no , if we expect to gett advantage by their writings , we must open their bookes , read , understand , compare , digest and meditate on them . and i am affraid many that least looke into the fathers , boast most that they looke beyond them . thirdly . wee have the advantage of a darknesse removed by gods goodnesse from our eyes , which in some matters did dimme the sight of the fathers . namely the mistery of iniquity which wrought in their times , & now is taken away in the protestant church . that bramble of rome , ( soone will it prick , which will be a thorne , ) which afterwards lorded it over the vine , olive , and figtree , beganne very timely to play his parte , and the man of sin , then but an infant ( and every thing is pretty when it is yonge , ) was unawares dandled on the knees of many a devout monke , and rockt in the cell of many an holy hermit , who litle suspected that then voluntary sequestring themselves to enjoy heavenly thoughts , would by degrees degenerate to be in after ages the cover of pride , lust and lazinesse . now seing this man of sinne , is dead already in the protestant church , and hath a consumption attended with the hecktick fever in all other places , the taking away of popish superstition , may justly be accounted the third advantage which our age hath . by the way we must take heed of a fault whereof many are guilty . for some are ready to challenge every thing in the practise of the fathers which doth not please them presently to be popish , and pretend they tast superstition in whatsoever themselves distast . o say they , the fathers lived when the mystery of iniquity did worke , and hence they infer that it is evidence enough without further tryall to condemne any cerimonies used by them , because they were used by them . the way indeede to make short assises , but perjur'd iudges , whereas it is not enough to say , but to shew that they are superstitious , to anotomize , and dissect the popery conteined in them , demonstrating where it crosseth the word of god , wheras on the contrary all wise and charitable men ought to esteeme the practises of the primitive church not only to be innocent , but usefull and honourable till they be legally convicted to be otherwise . if any object that the fathers had another disadvantage , that besides the spreading of popery , other heresies did also spring and sprout apace in that time , to the darkening of the light of the truth , let them know that such opposition only gave truth the opportunity to tryumph , and the teeth of error filled it the brighter heresies , in eodem seculo , quo natae , damnatae equos err●res patrum aetas tulit , eos & sustulit , condemnig them in synods and councells , and in this point to be an equall empire betwixt the ancients and us , we must consider that we live in the later age , and commonly bad humors which have visited the whole body , do settle at last in the leggs and lowest parts , with us sects and schismes do also abound , and some heresies first set a broach in the primitive times , now runne a tilt with all their dredgs in our dayes . thus we see how the fathers were both before and behind us , for knowledge , and wee therein both above and beneath them in severall respects . see the wisdome and goodnesse of god , how he hath sweely tempered things together . so good that all have some , so wise that none have all . and how easie may this controvercy be accommodated , whether ours or the fathers light were the greatest , where if the difference be but cleerly understood , the parties are fully reconciled . and now i conceive having answered you in grosse , i need not apply my selfe to any perticulers of your examination . examiner . the gospel doth worke m and wind its beames into the world according to the propheticall seasons for revelation , many propheticall truthes were sealed up , and those not unsealed but successively , and as our generations after may have a starre rising to them which we have not , so we may have beames n and radiations , and shootings which our fathers had not . the apostles o had not all their truths and light revealed at once , some early , some late , some not till the holy ghost was bestowed . revelations are graduall and the vaile is not taken off at once , nor in one age . we honour the fathers as men in their generations famous , their light was glorious in its degree and quality , but they had not all the degrees attainable , they had a light for their owne times , and we for ours , and who cannot thinke that we are rising into that age p wherein god shall powre his spirit upon all flesh , and wherein the light of the moone shall be as the light of the sunne and the light of the sunne as the light of seaven dayes . treatise . you hover in generalls , and seeme to me desirous that your reader should understand more then you are willing to expresse , my opinion breifly is this . that no new revelations , or new infused light in essentiall points of religion , is bestowed on any now-adayes , but that the same light hath in as plentifull a measure beene given to former ages , especially to the age wherein the apostles lived , and when the faith was once delivered to the saints , and by them sett downe in the scripture , and that then so perfectly and compleatly , that it needed not the accessions of any future revelations . i confesse that men by searching the scripture ( that oyle will never leave increasing as long as more vessells be still brought ) and diligent prayer to god may and do arive daily at a clearer understanding of many places of gods word which they had not before . these words ; thou art peter and on this rock will i build my church , and that place , this is my body , are now more truly and plainly understood then they were . yeares agoe , when the popes supremacy was as falsly founded on the former as transubstantiation was unjustly inferred from the latter . however these were not revelations of new truthes , but reparations of ould . for the prime primative church received and embraced the same , the saints * in the time of popery sung as it were a new song , a song not new but renewed , not new in it selfe but perchance to the hearers , and such are many truthes , which are preached in our age in the protestant church . they that maintaine the contrary opinion of moderne revelations of new essentiall truths doe a three fold mischeife therein . first they lay an aspertion of ignorance and imperfection of knowledge on the apostles themselves , and this is no lesse then scandalum magnatum . secondly they much unsettle men in matters of religion , and produce a constant inconstancy and scepticall hovering 〈◊〉 all oppinions and as the athenians erected an altar to the unknowne god , so men must reserve a blancke in their soules therin to write truths as yet unknown , when they shall be revealed . thus men will never know when their creede is ended , and will daily waver in that truth which they have in possession , whilst they waite for a clearer and firmer as yet in revertion . thirdly , they fixe on the scripture an imputation of imperfection and such as talke of new revelations of truth , may well remember the passage in the old revelation . * if any man shall add unto these things , god shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this booke . and it seemes to mee all one in effect whether men peece the scriptures , with old traditions , or new revelations ; and thus the papist and anabaptist are agreed like men in a circle going so farre from each other with their faces , till their backes meete together . and i professe i should sooner trust a tradition containing in it nothing crosse to the scripture and comming to mee recommended from the primitive times , and countenanced with the practise of the church in all ages , then a new upstart revelation . the best is , wee have no neede to trust either , whilst we have gods word alone sufficient to relie on . the result of all is this , we have now a-dayes no new truths revealed , but old ones either more fairely cleared or more firmely assented to , no new starres of revelation arise in any hearts . if any such doe burne and blaze there , they are but commerts which will fade at last . in a word this age is not happie with any new truths , but guiltie of many old lyes . yea , it rendereth it suspitious , that some men are going about somewhat , which they cannot justifie by the old knowne lawes of god , because they beginne to broach preparative doctrines , introductorie of new revelations : distrusting ( as it seemes ) the scripture , the old iudge , as not for their turnes , because they provide for an appeale to an other vmpirer ; and if those are justly accounted dangerous members in the church , who would bring in innovations in ceremonies , then pretenders of new revelations in essentiall points of doctrine are so much the greater offenders , by how much doctrine is more necessary , and fundamentall in a church then ceremonies . but i will answer some passages in your examination particularlie . m. the gospel doth worke and winde its beames into the world , according to the propheticall seasons for revelotions . ) distinguish we heare , betwixt matters of fact , and matters of faith . matters of fact being foretold in the scripture , are best understood when they are accomplished : in which respect the longer the world lasteth , the clearer men see & the plainer they understand such predictions . the seales in the revelations were successively opened , the trumpets successively blowne , the vialls successively powred out , and the things imported in and by them , are successively performed . wherefore time is the best comentator on the propheticall parts of the bible , dies diem docet . and to day , which is yesterdaies schoolemaster will be scholler to morrow , in which respect the * prophets words are most true , many shall runne too and fro , and knowledge shall be increased . but now , as for matters of faith , they were at once , and for ever , fully , and freely , delivered at the first to the apostles , and so from them to us , and that so perfectly , & compleatly , they neede no new revelations , quo ad materiam , though quoad modum , old truths may now have a new measure to be more clearely understood then in the darke times of popery . n. we may have beames , and radications , and shootings , which our fathers had not . ) for beames and radication of knowledge , i have delivered my oppinion : but as for shootings , god k●owes wee have many such as our fathers never had ; god in his mercy cease such shootings , or else in his iustice direct the bulletts to such markes , as in truth have been the troublers of our israel . o. the apostles had not all their truths and light , revealed at once , some early , some late , some not till the holy ghost was bestowed . ) all this is most true which you say , the apostles at first were ( as we may say ) freshmen , newly admitted into christs company . then they tooke their first degree of knowledge , when sent forth to preach the gospel , mat. . to the iewes alone in their masters life time . they commenced in a higher knowledge after christ his resurrection ; and after his assention , assended yet higher in spirituall illuminations : lastly , after the comming of the holy ghost , they proceeded doctors in deede ; i meane , they then had the completion and consumation of all understanding necessary to salvation . now sir , consider that after this time , they wrote the new testament , and therein all essentialls for us to know and doe for our soules health , so that we now doe deduce and derive our knowledge , not from the apostles in their infancy , or minority of judgement , but from them having attained to the top , and verticall point of their perfectest skill in heavenly misteries . p. and who cannot thinke , wee are rising into that age , wherein god will power his spirit upon all flesh , &c. ) what proportion doth this beare with what you said not long since . prophesying that our marian times did approach too fast ? when nothing was light but the bo●efiers to burne the marters . i will not deny , but this great sun m●y arrise , but the reigning vices of the time are but an ill morning starre to harbinger the rising thereof . we have taken the st. shippe from those in heaven , but have no more holinesse in our selves here on earth . what betwixt the sins which brought this warre , and the sinnes this warre hath brought , they are sad presages of better times . never was gods name more taken in vaine by oathes and imprecations . the lords day , formerly profained with mirth , is now profained with malice , and now as much broken with drummes as formerly with a taber and pipe . superiours never so much slighted , so that what * naball said sullenly , and ( as he applyed it ) falsly , we may say sadly & truly , there be many servants now adayes , that breake away , every man from his master . killing is now the only trade in fashion , & adultery never more common , so that our nation ( in my opinion ) is not likely to confound the spirituall whore of babilon , whilst corporall whoredom is in her every where committed , no where punished . theft so usuall , that they have stollen away the word of stealing , and hid it under the name of plundering . lying both in word & print grown epidemicall , so that it is questionable whether gunnes or printing , ( two inventions of the same countrey and standing ) at the present doe more mischeife in this kingdome . it is past coveting of our neighbours houses , when it is come to violent keeping them . he therefore that doth seriously consider , the grievousnesse and generality of these sinnes , will rather conclude that some darkenesse of desolation , then any great light is likely to follow upon them . god i confesse in mercy may doe much , both to pardon and prosper us , and can extract light out of darkenesse , but whether he will or no , i ( though confident of his power , ) see little cause to hope of his pleasure herein , and though herein i must confesse , many of these inormities . may , ( though not wholy be excused , yet ) be something extenuated , by pleading the unavoidable necessities which warre doth cause , yet surely wee shall answer to god for causing this warre , by our crying sinnes , and transgressions . q wherein the light of the moone shall be as the light of the sunne , and the light of the sun as the light of the seven dayes . ) this , for ought i can finde to the contrary , was accomplished as christ comming , and the generall giving of the gospel to the gentiles , with the sending of gods spirit miraculously upon them , sure i am a paralell place of the prophet was then fulfilled , by the exposition of saint * peter himselfe , and it shall come to passe in the last dayes ( saith god ) i will power out my spirit upon all flesh : and your sonnes and your daughters shall prophesie , and your young-men shall see visions , and your old men shall dreame dreames . these words having the advantage of that date in the last daies , might with the more colour have beene alleadged by you , and applyed to these times , to prove some speciall revelations in our dayes , had not the apostle marred your mart , and prevented you by applying the prophesie to the primative times . examiner . but we see the policy r of commending the fathers light to our generation , for could you prevaile with us to set our dialls by that , you then might reforme our church by the canterburian gnomen , and so set us backe to a falsly-reputed , primitive reformation . treatise . r. but wee see the policie of commending the fathers . ) i protest before almighty god i have neither base nor by respect in praising the fathers . saint paule blamed * peter at antioach , because he was to be blamed . i in the like manner commend the light of fathers , because it is to bee commended not for any favour or flattery . a falsely-reputed primitive reformation , i abhorre from my heart , & i presume our church is to wise to be cosened therewith . if canterbury hath misbehaved himselfe his friends for him desire no more , and foes to him should grant no lesse , then a legall triall . but insult not on any mans sufferings , organs i dare say , are not so offensive in churches as the making of musick on men in misery . time was when you sett as much by a smile from canterbury , as he still setts litle by a scoffe from you . sermon paragraffe . . . . the qualification for reformers , the decent burialls of such ceremonies , as are taken from the fathers , the honorable reservation to our first reformers . examiner . that it may appeare i looke not only at the worst of the sermon , there are excellent truths in it , and it is pitty they are not better s scituated , i could alwaies wish to see a diamond set in gold . these are good positions , and in their pages not without their enamill of witt , yet there is a policy to write faire in one lease , though you t make a blot in another , but i cannot let these passe without some observation . treatise . s. and it is pitty they are not better scituated , i could alwaies wish , to see a diamond set in gold . ) i cannot blame you , especially if the diamond be their owne . but what meane you by this expression ; would you have had the truths in my sermon to have beene set in the gold of rich & glittering language . truly i could not go to the cost thereof especially on so sh●rt warning , wherein the sermon was made . how ever a diamond , is a diamond though set in horne , whereby the luster thereof may be somewhat dimmed , but the worth thereof no whit deminished . but in one respect i must confesse these truthes were ill scituated , that they stood too neere to a captious reader , who tooke causelesse exception at them . t. yet there is a policie to write faire in one leafe , though you make a blot in another ) shew me sir , where these blotts bee . for as yet i am more troubled to know my fault , then my defence . examiner . first for qualification , v i dare say , never age afforded more eminent in this kimgdome , their calling lawfull , their pietie exemplary , their knowledge radiant , their courage experienced through a legion of difficulties , their prudence in the conduct of a businesse , though opposed with the policy , and malignity of a grand and potent enemy . treatise . v. for their qualification i dare say . ) if you dare say it , i dare not to gainsay it . their calling no doubt is lawfull , if the supreame powers concurres with them . of their pietie , which consists in their hearts , god alone is iudge . i will not dispute against their radiant knowledge , nor fight with their experienced courage , and it were folly in me to oppose their prudence . let not the perfections of king davids * subjects be numbered . god make their konwledge , their courage , their prudence , an hundred fold more then it is , and may the eyes of my lord the king see the same , to his comfort and honour . examiner . and for the decent buriall of ceremonies , and superstitions w of the fathers ) they shall have a parliament of senators , and an assembly of devines to lay them in their grave , and i dare say a godly congregation in the kingdome to sing a psalme at their funerall ; and will not this be a very decent x buriall ? and for the honorable reservation , to the reformers , and their memories , our devines and reformers , now have ever made resorte and appeale to the truths they delivered ; and in those times when beza , and calvin , and peter mertir were set lowest , till the master of the feast came lately , and bid them sitt up higher , a caistan and bellarmine , and a councell of trent , i am sure had more honor from the devinity of the other yeare , or your times , so farre we admire the reformers as to love their truths and to pittie their errors . but i will not say much , errors may be more provoked then remedied with over-handling ; let us be wise in the colours of good and evill , though it be an honest , yet it is a dangerous mistake to many our freinds , and to f●w our enemies . treatise . w. as for the decent buriall of ceremonies and superstitions of the father . ) * you are cunning to improve your selfe on my words . in my sermon i made a double supposition , first , if there be found in the fathers practice any ceremo●●es smacking of paganisme or popery . secondly . if the same can be justly challenged to be continued in our church now , ( as if two suppositions made a position ) you flatly infer & perumtorily conclude such superstitions are in our church . i should be loth to sell wares to such a chapman , and to trust his honesty in measuring of them out , who hath such a slight in slipping his fingers , that gives him an inch and hee will take an ell . you might have don better , to have tould us what the perticulers of these superstitions are . x. and will not this be a decent buriall . ) the pleasantnesse of your witt doth please me , some mirth in this sadd times doth well . but you might have been pleased to have taken notice , that by the decent buriall of superstitious ceremonies , ( if any such can be proved to be in our church ) i ment the removing of them in that manner , as might give no just offence to any , as i have largely discoursed of before . however as you say , let but a parliament lay them in the ground and i shall not moorne for their death but rejoyce at their solemne and legall interment . y. had more honour from the devinitie of the other yeare , or your times . ) the more shame for such , if any who under valued such worthy men . and blessed be god that they have recovered their former esteem . for my part they have not with me regained any new degree of honor , but still keepe the selfesame place in my valuation of them whereof they ever were peaceably possessed . examiner . if i be now examined what reformation i aime at , i answere , my endeavour here , was only to take out of the way such rubbish as others would bring in ; if we can but cleare the passage , we go farre in the worke , and in the meane time let us like ioshuas spies , bring no evill report upon the land we are going to . treatise . z. my endeavour here was only to take out of the way such rubbish as others would bring in . ) whether rather , you have not brought in such rubbish , which others have taken away , be it reported to the juditious reader . a. let us like ioshuas spies , bring no evill report upon the land we are going to . ) by ioshuas spies , you meane those who accompanied caleb , & ioshua ; to spie the land of canaan , and these were guilty of a three fold fault . first they spake truth with an ill intent , to disharten the israelites , in their reporting of the strength of the country . secondly , they speake more then truth , raising the walls of the cannanitish cities by their hyperbolyes bolyes as high as heaven , * lastly they suppressed the most materiall point , not incouraging the people , ( as caleb and ioshua did , by the assured assistance of god against their enemies . but i conceive my selfe , ( against whome your words are darted ) to be innocent in the foresaid perticulers . examiner . but suppose this perfect reformation , b or church , were among the c {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} the {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} the ragione disacro dominio . he were no wise d , nor faithfull devine who would not preserve that secret e for holy advantages , t' is gods owne designe and his apostles to hould out a perfection to us , be perfect as your heavenly father , and some pastors for the perfection of the saints , i commend boden and tacitus for their politicall faithfulnesse , they writt farre yet would not sunne the imperiall , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} nor make them popular . treatise . b. but suppose this perfect reformation were e. c. ) it seemes you suspect the strength of your outworkes , that you so seasonably retire to your castle , now at last condemni●g this doctrine , not as false , but unfitting to be preached . c. were among the {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} i thinke you would say {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} or otherwise sir my learning will not extend to understand this your new greeke . d. he were no wise and faithfull devine ) so then you conclude me a foolish & deceitful minister , & i had rather you should call me so tentimes , then my guiltie conscience should tell me so once , for concealing of a necessary truth . e. who would not preserve that secret for holy advantages . ) first the question is , wheither or no it lay in my power if i would to keepe this point secret . what your people at heslerton● in yorkeshire are , you best know in this doctrine , i was not the teacher but the remembrancer of my people at the savoy , from whom had i closely covered it with both my hands , they would have seene it through all my fingers . besides what hope can one have to keepe it secret when ( as you say ) so great and glorious a light is shining now-a-dayes . but if i could , i ought not to suppresse it . let popish tenents be shutt in a cloister , and sicke opinions keepe their chamber , god never lighted this truth for us to put it under a bushell , it being alwaies seasonable to bee divulged , and now dangerous to bee concealed . these holy advantages , ( i would not count them advantages were they not holy , ) arise from preaching this point . first , it awakens men from their idle dreames of their conceited perfection of a church here , and too many i feare have made this common-wealth here woefully militant , under pretence here to make the church happily triumphant . secondly , to teach all christians ( majestrates and ministers most especially ) as industry so patience , daily to doe , and constantly to suffer no whitt disheartned in their endeavours to perfection . knowing though things bee badd , after their best labours to amend them , that this proceedes from the inevitable vanity , to which the creature is subject . thirdly , to weane men from this world , making them to love and long for the time of the restitution of all things , when this world as a watch out of tune shall not onely bee taken ass●nder and scoured , but also have all the wheeles made new and then bee perfectly reformed . yea sir , let us try whether you or i proceeding on our contrary principles , shall more effectually perswade a reformation , you will tell the world that a perfect reformation in this life is attaineable , even to the anticipating of heaven heare , and this you will presse with all your power and flowers of retorick , and all little enough to performe so unsavory an untruth . now see sit what mischeifes will follow hereupon . . because one falsehood requires more to support it , you must call in other auxilliary falsities to defend this , and so engage your selfe in a multitude of errors . . seeing sl●ghts and shifts can never last long , your forgery will be detected . . you are lyable to heavens pillorie to bee punnished for holy fraud . . you will scarce be trusted afterwards though telling truth being once convicted and ever suspected of falshood . as for those whom you have deceived unto the utmost of their endevours of reformation , on your false perswasion that the perfection thereof may bee had in this world , though their labours therein bee very forward at the first , yet soone will they wither and weaken ▪ with the graine in the gospel that wanted roote ( no roote and a false roote are the same in effect , ) and gods blessing cannot be expected on the deceitfull proceedings . as for mee who have no cunning in such hunting , but please my selfe with iacob to bee a plaine man , i would goe another way to worke , and tell them the worst first , that indeede it is vaine to expect a perfect reformation in this world . however let them comfort themselves , that wee serve such a master who accepts of the will for the deede , and knowes whereof we are made . hee remembreth that wee are but dust . and therefore let us doe our best , and strugle against our infirmities , being confident that god in christ will pardon what is amisse , and reward what is good in us . and i doubt not but such doctrine by gods blessing will both take deeper impression in mens hearts , and bring forth better fruits of amendment in their lives . f. i commend bodin and tacitus for their politicall faithfulnesse , they writt far , yet would not sun the imperiall {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} nor make them popular . ) i confesse it to bee unfitting , yea dangerous to impart misteries of state to private people , for such iewels are to bee lockt in a safe and sure cabinet , the bosoms of politians , not so in necessary points of divinity , for though every private man hath not a state to governe , hee hath a soule to save , and therefore must be partner in all wholsome doctrines . indeede in some cases , preachers may though not finally suppresse , yet seasonably conceale , or rather warily deferre the publishing of some points of religion , first when they are not of absolute concernement to salvation , & the minister by his christian discretion plainely foresees , that all the good which rationally can bee expected to redound from preaching such a truth , will not countervaile the ill , which in probability will inevitably follow thereupon ; or else when the auditors are not capeable as yet of such difficult doctrines . christ himselfe did fitt his wines to his bottles , powring in not what hee could give , but they could take , least otherwise hee should rather spill his liquor , then fill his vessells . neither of these cases now alledged take place concerning the publishing of the doctrine of the impossibility of the churches perfection in this world . for we may by gods blessing justly expect and promise to our selves and others much good and comfort from the preaching thereof , as we have largely proved before . nor dare i so much to disparage the times we live in , ( now it being above a hundred yeares since luthers reformation ) as to count them to have age so much , and knowledge so litle , as not yet to be capable with safety & profit of so plaine & true a doctrine , some shortly expect the day of iudgment , and sure then the world is already come to age to understand truths , except shee come not out of her mynority till just shee be ready to die and to be dissolved . g. would not sunne the imperiall {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . ) godly secrets in religion in some respects may be sunn'd . first that thereby they may be tryed , ( all truths have eagles eyes ) whether or no they can behold , and beare the sunne beames . secondly , because our * saviour hath said , what i tell you in darknesse , that speake in the light , and what you heare in the eare that preach you upon the house toppe . lastly , that by proclaiming them the godly may have an oppertunity to receive them , and the wicked be rendred unexcusable for refusing them , when such truths are made generally knowne . h. nor make them popular . ) i distinguish on the word popular . if it be taken , as generally it is , ( use having confined a word , of generall acception in it selfe , to an ill sence ) to court the good will of people for any private or sinester end , it is utterly unlawfull for popularity , which is necessary love , in a prince , is unlawfull lust , in a subject , who may not court the kings wife , for to him a lone , are the people married in a politicke relation . all honest men therefore disclaime , to make truths popular in this fence , to impart them to the vulgar to gaine any vaine applause . yea , consider herein , whether you rather be not faultie in making the imperiall {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} to bee popular , who incite and incourage ordinary people , to make a publique reformation but truths in divinity must be made popular , that is bee communicated to all people , in true sinceritie for the saving of their soules . the * apostle , calleth it the common salvation , and therefore it must be preached to all in common , our sermons must , aswell be ad populum as ad clerum . otherwise such monopolies are illegall and distructive to the state of the church , for any ministers to engrosse any wholsome doctrine to themselves , and not imparte it to their parish , except in the cases afore mentioned . examiner . apology . i have now done ( i will not say ) refuting , but committing errors , i am afraid my hast at this time , hath made me mend one fault , only with another . treatise . i will not oppose yours , but annex my owne conclusion . if i should deny my owne many imperfections , my practise would confute what my pen hath maintained . reader , for the matter of what i have written , i require thee , in gods name do me iustice , for the manner , method , or words thereof , i request thee , as i am a man shew mee favour . thinke not the worse of the truths , for my sake , but thinke the better of me , for the truths sake which i have defended . and conceive me not to be of a brawling and controversiall disposition , who do desire and will pray for an agreement from my soule , so long as my speech shall serve me . yea if i should chance to be stricken dumbe , i would with zacharia make signes for table booke● and write the name of that which i desire above all earthly thing is peace . god send it , amen . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a e- quid amplius praepotenti & immortali deo tribuimus si quod eius proprium est eripimus ? bodin . de repub. l. c. ult notes for div a e- cor. . . . acts . . notes for div a e- sam. . . cor . . gen. . . gen. . . luk. . . acts . . act. . . notes for div a e- acts . . pro. . . bodin de repub. lib. . p . iudg. . . king. . . rev. . mat. . . notes for div a e- king. . . sam. . . jude . the doctrine of the impossibility o● a churches perfection in this world , being well understood , begets not lazinesse but the more industry in wise reformers phil. . . bishop montague , franciscus , secta clara . . that the church of england cannot justly be taxed with ●●perstitious innovations . pro . . a foolish woman is clamoro●● . ephe. . . wrath and anger , and clamour . thes. . . study to be quiet . bucer in lib. d● regno christ● . a 〈◊〉 perpetua● ecclesia●um observation● ab ipsis iam apostolis v●d mus , visnm & h●c esse spiritus sancto ut inter presbite●● quibus ecclesiarum precuratis potissimum est comm●ss● unus ecclesia● rum , & let us sac●● minis●●rii ●aram 〈◊〉 singularem eaque enra & solicttudina cauctis prec●at alus , qua de ca●sa ep●scopi nomen huiusm●di summis ecclesiarum curatoribus est peculiaritur attributum . bucerus de regno christi lib. . cap. . b m. greenham in his grave counsels in the word atheisme , pag. . c q●am horrenaum illi faciunt divina maiestati contumeliam qni templa domini habent pro de ambulaer●is lucisque tam prophanis ut in illis quaevis impura & prophana cum similibus suia garriant & per●ractent . — haec certa tanta est divini numinis contemptio ut ea vel sola prid●m meriti sumus o●n no de terra exterminari & quidem suppliciis gravissimus multari bucerus de r●gno christi lib. . cap. . nehem. . . how far private christians , ministers and subordinate magistrates are to concur to the advancing of a publike reformation . sam. . . . what parts therein are onely to be acted by the supreame power . mar. . . ● . . of the progresse and praise of passive o●e●ence . est haec pontificiorum tess●ra crudelitas , aliud est protestantium symbol●m clementia . isti occidunt , hi occidunt laurentius humphreys in resp●n . ad epistolas camp●ani . deut. . . king. . to cro. . . pro. . & . . & . . & . . exo. . . . that no extraordinary excitations , incitations or inspirations are bestowed from god on men in these dayes . gen. . . judg. . . exod. . . this appeares because in the prop●et he is stiled governo●r of judah , hag . . and that at the s●lf same time when ezra came thither , see luthers chronology in . millenarco . auscrenda idola , non potest quisquam iubere privatus aug. cont. literos utilium lib. . cap . ezra . . drusius in pentetuchen ex r. aben-ezrah . pro. . . ps. . q rom. . in publi●cos 〈◊〉 , omn●●s 〈◊〉 t. rtullianus . king ▪ . . mat. . . that it is utterly unlawfull to give any just offence to the papists or to any men whatsoever . cor. . . cor. . . * . sam. . . gall . . * king. . . * rev. . . * sanctorum nonnulli perfecti dicuntur respectu mundanorum , qui negligunt res divinas nec ingrediuntur unquam viam prosectionis amb. com. in epist : ad phil. cap. . * king. . . * cited by mr. capel in his booke of temptation . . what advantage the fathers had of us in learning , and religion , and what wee heve of them . * {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . cor. . . * iudg. . ● * nos nani sumus stantes super humeros gygantum . hol. cott. . . no new light or new essentiall truths are or can be revealed in this age . * revel. . * reve. . . * dan. . . * sam. . * ioel . . acts . . * gal. . . * sam. ● * paragraffe . * dut. . . that the doctrine of the churches imperfection may safely bee preached and cannot honestly bee concealed . * math. . * iude. . mixt contemplations in better times by thomas fuller ... fuller, thomas, - . this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text r in the english short title catalog (wing f ). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a wing f estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) mixt contemplations in better times by thomas fuller ... fuller, thomas, - . [ ], , p. printed by r.d. for iohn williams ..., london : . first ed. cf. bm. reproduction of original in huntington library. eng meditations. devotional exercises. a r (wing f ). civilwar no mixt contemplations in better times. by thomas fuller. b.d. fuller, thomas f the rate of defects per , words puts this text in the f category of texts with or more defects per , words. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - rina kor sampled and proofread - rina kor text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion mixt contemplations in better times . by thomas fuller . b. d. let your moderation be known to all men the lord is at hand . london , printed by r. d. for iohn williams , at the signe of the crown , in st. paul's church-yard , . which sence solomon is said to have built the temple . our weaker sex hath been over-strong in making and widening the breaches in our english zion , both by their purses and perswasions . to redeem their credit , let them hereafter be as active in building , as heretofore they were in breaking down . such wives , who not only lye in the bosoms , but lodge in the affections of loving husbands , who are impowred with places of command , joyning importunitie to their opportunitie , may be marvellously instrumental to the happinesse of our nation . we read of ahab [ king. . . ] that none was like him , who sold himself to work wickednesse in the sight of the lord whom iezabel his wife stirred up . by the same proportion that person will prove peerlesse in piety , who hath a godly consort in his bosome , seasonably to incite him , who is so forward in himself to all honourable actions . ii. miraculous care . we read luk. . . of a woman , who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years , and was bowed together , and could in no wise lift up her self . this woman may passe for the lively emblem of the english nation from the year of our lord . ( when our wars first began ) unto this present . are eighteen years in my arithmetick ; all which time our land hath been bowed together , past possibility of standing upright . some will say that the weight of heavy taxes have caused this crookednesse . but alas ! this is the least and lightest of all things , i reflect at in this allusion . it is chiefly the weight of our sins [ heb. . . ] which doth so easily beset us . our mutual malice and animosities which have caused this incurvation . a pittifull posture wherein the face is made to touch the feet , and the back is set above the head . god in due time set us right , and keep us right , that the head may be in its proper place . next the neck of the nobility , that the breast of the gentry , the loins of the merchants and citizens , the thighs of the yeomantrie , the legs and feet of artificers and day-labourers . as for the clergy ( here by me purposely omitted ) what place soever shall be assigned them ; if low , god grant patience ; if high , give humility unto them . when thus our land in gods leisure shall be restored to its former rectitude , and set upright again , then i hope she may leave off her steel-bodies which have galled her with wearing them so long , and return again to her peaceable condition . iii. hand on mouth . it is said gen. the . . how before the floud , the earth was filled with violence . some will say ( with nicodemus ) how can these things be , violence being relative , and requiring a counter-part . though such tyrants were hammers , others must be patient-anvils , for them to smite upon . such persons purely passive in oppression , were to be pittied , not punished , to be delivered , not drowned in the floud . but the answer is easie , seeing we read in the same chapter vers. . that god saw , that the imaginations of the thoughts of man was only evil continually . god plainly perceived that the sufferers of violence would have been offerers of it , if impowred with might equall to their malice . their curstnesse was a sharp , though their horns were not so long , and what they lacked in deed and actions , they made up in desires and endeavours . so that in sending a generall deluge over all , god was clearly just , and men justly miserable . let such english men , who have been of the depressed party during our civill wars , enter into a scrutiny and serious search of their own soules , whether or no ( if armed with power ) they would not have laid as great load on others , as themselves underwent . yea , let them out of a godly jealousie suspect more cruelty in themselves , then they can conceive . then will they find just cause to take the blame and shame on themselves , and give god the glory , that he hath not drowned all in a generall deluge of destruction . iv. at last . a ladie of quality formerly forward to promote our civil warres , and whose well-intending zeal had sent in all her plate to guild-hall , was earnestly discoursing with a divine concerning these times a little before dinner ; her face respecting the cup-bord in the room ▪ which was furnished with plenty of pure venice glasses : now ( said she ) i plainly perceive , that i and many of my iudgement have been abused with the specious pretences of liberty and religion , 'till in the undiscreet pursuance thereof we are almost fallen into slavery and atheisme . to whom the other betwixt jest and earnest replyed ; madam , it is no wonder , that now your eyes are opened : for so long as this cup-bord was full of thick and massie plate , you could perceive nothing through them ; but now so many clear and transparent glasses are substituted in their room , all things are become obvious to your intuition . the possessing of superfluous wealth , sometimes doth hinder our clear apprehensions of matters ; like a pearl in the eye of the soul , prejudicing the sight thereof ; whilest poverty may prove a good collyrium , or eye salve unto us , to make a true discovery of those things we know not before . v. mistaken . i beheld honour as of a mounting and aspiring nature ; and therefore i expected ( rationally enough as i conceive ) to have found it ascending to the clouds . i looked upon wealth as what was massie , ponderous , and by consequence probable to settle and be firmly fixed on the earth . but oh ! how much is my expectation frustrated and defeated ? for david [ psalm . . ] maketh mention of honour lying in the dust : and solomon his son [ prov. . . ] informeth me , how riches certainly make themselves wings , and flee away as an eagle toward heaven : what i looked for below , is tow'red aloft , and what i expected above is fallen below . our age hath afforded plentifull experiments of both : honour was near the dust , when a new nobility of a later stamp were in a fair likelyhood to have out shined those of a purer standard . the wealth of the land doth begin ( to use the faulconer's phrase ) to flie to lessen . and if these taxes continue , will soon flie out of sight . so uncertain and unsafe it is for men to bottom their happinesse on any earthly perfection . vi . truth . i saw a traveller in a terrible tempest take his seasonable shelter under a fair and thick tree : it afforded him protection for a good time , and secured him from the rain . but , after that it held up , and was fair round about , he unhappily continued under the tree so long 'till the droppings thereof made him soundly wet , and he found more to condemn his weaknesse , then pity his wetting . a parliament is known to be the best refuge and sanctuary to shelter us from the tempest of violence and oppression . it is sometimes the sole and alwayes the surest remedy in that kind . but alas ! the late parliament lasted so long , that it began to be the grievance of the nation , after that the most and best members thereof were violently excluded . the remedy turned the malady of the land , and we were in fear to be drowned by the droppings of that tree , if god of his gracious goodnesse had not put an unexpected period to their power . vii . after-born . a ladie big with child was condemned to perpetual imprisonment , and in the dungeon was delivered of a son ; who continued with her 'till a boy of some bignesse : it happned that one time he heard his mother ( for see neither of them could , as to discern in so dark a place ) bemoan her condition . vvhy mother ( said the child ) do you complain , seeing you want nothing you can wish , having clothes , meat and drink sufficient ; alas ! child ( returned the mother ) i lack libertie , converse with christians , the light of the sun , and many things more , which thou being prison-born , neither art nor can be sensible of in thy condition . the post-nati , understand thereby such striplings born in england , since the death of monarchy therein , conceive this land their mother to be in a good estate . for one fruitfull harvest followeth another , commodities are sold at reasonable rates , abundance of brave clothes are worn in the city , though not by such persons , whose birth doth best become , but whose purses can best bestow them . but their mother-england doth justly bemoan the sad difference betwixt her present and former condition , when she enjoyed full and free trade without payment of taxes , save so small , they seemed rather an acknowledgement of their allegiance , then a burthen to their estate ; when she had the court of a king , the house of lords , yea and the lords house , decently kept , constantly frequented , without falsehood in doctrine or faction in discipline . god of his goodnesse restore unto us so much of these things , as may consist with his glory and our good . viii . an heap of pearles . i saw a servant-maid at the command of her mistrisse make , kindle and blow a fire . which done , she was posted away about other businesse , whilst her mistrisse enjoyed the benefit of the fire . yet i observed that this servant , whilst industriously imployed in the kindling thereof got a more general , kindly and continuing heat , then her mistrisse her self . her heat was only by her and not in her , staying with her no longer then she stayed by the chimney , whilst the warmth of the maid was inlaid , and equally diffused through the whole body . an estate suddenly gotten is not so lasting to the owner thereof , as what is duly got by industry . the substance of the diligent ( saith solomon prov. . . ) is precious . he cannot be counted poor that hath so many pearles , precious brown bread , precious small beer , precious plain clothes , &c. a comfortable consideration in this our age , wherein many hands have learned their lesson of labour , who were neither born nor bred unto it . ix . silent sadness . two captains on the same side in our civil warres , discoursing together , one of them ( with small cause & without any measure ) did intolerably boast of his personal performances , as if he had been of the quorum in all considerable actions : at last not ashamed of , but weaned with his own loquacity , he desired the other captain to relate what service he had done in these wars ; to whom he returned , other men can tell you of that . we meet with many ( living at the sign of the royalist ) who much brag of their passive services ( i mean their sufferings ) in the late war . but that spoak in the wheel , which creaketh most , doth not bear the greatest burthen in the cart . the loudest cryers are not alwaies the largest loosers . how much hath sir iohn stowel lost ? how many new gentlemen have started up out of the estate of that ancient knight ? what hath the lord craven lost ? whither more , or more unjustly hard to decide ? others can tell of their and many other mens sufferings , whilest they themselves hold their peace . here we dare not speak of him , who , though the greatest looser of all speaketh nothing of himself ; and therefore his silence putteth a greater obligation on us both to pitty him here on earth , and pray for him to heaven . x. lost and kept . this seeming paradox will on examination prove a real truth , viz. that though iob lost his seven thousand sheep consumed by fire of god [ iob . . ] ( understand it , by his permission and satan's immission ) yet he still kept the wool of many of them . for iob in the vindication of his integrity ( not to praise but purge himself ) doth relate how the loins of the poor blessed him , being warmed with the fleece of his sheep , [ iob . . ] so much of his wool ( in the cloth made thereof ) he secured in a safe hand , lending it to god ( in poor people ) [ pro-v . . . ] as the best of debtors , being most able & willing to repay it . such , as have been plundered of their estates in these warres , may content and comfort themselves with this consideration ; that so long as they enjoyed plenty , they freely parted with a proportion thereof to the relief of the poor : what they gave , that they have , it still remaineth theirs , be safely laid up for them in a place , where rust and moth do not corrupt , and thieves break through and steal . xi . all . the magdeburgenses , out of a spirit of opposition to the papists , over-prizing the person and actions of s. peter , do in my mind on the other side too much decry him , causelesly cavilling at his words to our saviour [ mark . . ] ecce reliquimus omnia , behold we have left all and followed thee . vvhat ( say they ) had he left ? he maketh as if he had left great matters , and a mighty estate , whereas this his all was not more then an old ship , some few rotten nets , and such like inconsiderable accommodations . but bellarmine ( alwaies ingenuous , sometime satyrical ) payeth them home for their causelesse exception against that apostle , vvhat ( saith he ) would they have him have left more then he had . all was all , how little soever it was . different , i confesse , is the standard and measure of mens losses in this time . some , in preserving of their consciences have lost manners ; others farms , others cottages . some have had a hin , others a homer , others an ephah of afflictions . however those men must on all hands be allowed the greatest loosers , who have lost all ( how small soever that their all was ) and who with the vviddow [ mark . . ] have parted with {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , all their livelyhood . xii . good accountant . i was present in the west countrey some . yeares since , when a bishop made a partage of money collected by a brief , amongst such who in a village had been sufferers by a casual fire ; one of whom brought in the inventory of his losses far above all belief . being demanded how he could make out his losses to so improbable a proportion , he alledged the burning of a pear tree ( growing hard by his house ) valuing the same at twenty years purchase , and the pears at twenty shillings per annum ; ( presuming every one would be a bearing year ) and by such windy particulars did blow up his losses to the summe by him nominated . some pretend in these wars to have lost more thousands then ever they were possessed of hundreds . these reckon in , not only what they had , but what they might , yea would have had . they compute not onely their possessions , but reversions , yea their probabilities , possibilities and impossibilities also , which they might desire , but could never hope to obtain . the worst is , i might term many of these men anti-mephiboshets , who out of his loyalty to david sam. . . let them take all , ( said he ) forasmuch as my lord the king is come home again in peace unto his own house . but these , except they may have all , and more then all , they ever possessed , care not a whit , whether or no the king ever return ; so unconcerned are they in his condition . xiii . no tittle of title . two young gentlemen were comparing their revenues together , vying which of them were the best . my demeans ( saith the one ) is worth two ; but mine ( saith the other ) is worth four hundred pounds a year . my farms ( saith the one ) are worth four ; but mine ( saith the other ) are worth eight hundred pounds a year . my estate ( saith the one ) is my own , to which the other returned no answer , as conscious to himself , that he kept , what lawfully belongeth to another . i care not how small my means be , so they be my means : i mean my own without any injury to others . what is truly gotten , may be comfortably kept . what is otherwise , may be possessed , but not enjoyed . upon the question , what is the worst bread which is eaten . one answered , in respect of the coursenesse thereof ; bread made of beans . another said , bread of acorns . but the third hit the truth , who said , bread taken out of other mens mouths , who are the true proprietaries thereof . such bread may be sweet in the mouth to taste , but is not wholesome in the stomack to digest . xiv . freely , freely . a grave divine in the vvest-countrey ( familiarly known unto me ) conceiving himself over-taxed , repaired to one of the governours of the kings guarrisons for to move for some mitigation . the governour perceiving the fatten cap of this divine to be torne ; fie , fie said he ) that a man of your quality should wear such a cap ; the rats have gnawed it . oh no , sir , ( answered he ) the rates have gnawed it . the print or impression of the teeth of taxes is visible in the clothes of many men , yea it hath corroded holes in many mens estates . yea , as hatto arch bishop of mentz is reported to have been eaten up by * rats : so the vermine of taxes , if continuing , is likely to devour our nation . however , let us not in the least degree now grudge the payment thereof . let us now pay taxes , that we may never pay taxes ; for as matters now stand , our freenesse at the present , may cause our freedome at the future , if once the arrears of the army and navy were discharged . i care not how much i am let blood , so it be not by the adventure of an emperick , but advice of a physician , who i am sure will take no more onces from me , then may consist with my safety , and need doth require . such the piety and policy of the present parliament , they will impose no more payments , then the necessity of the estate doth extort . the rather , because they are persons ( blessed be god ) of the primest quality in the nation , and let us bloud through their own veins , the greatest part of the payments they impose , lighting first on their own estates . xv . cry without cause , and be whipt . i have known the city of london almost fourty years , their shops did ever sing the same tune , that trading was dead . even in the raign of king iames , ( when they wanted nothing but thankfulnesse ) this was their complaint . it is just with god , that they who complained without cause , should have just cause to complain . trading , which then was quick , and in health , hath since been sick , yea in a swound , yea dead , yea buried . there is a vacation in the shops in the midst of high-tearm ; and if shops be in a consumption , ships will not be long in good health . yet i know not whether to call this decay of trade in london a mishap , or a happy-misse . probably the city if not pinched with poverty , had never regained her wealth . xvi . spring began . i meet with two etymologies of bone-fires . some deduce it from fires made of bones , relating it to the burning of martyrs , first fashionable in england in the raign of king henry the fourth . but others derive the word ( more truly in my mind ) from boon , that is good , and fires ; whether good be taken here for great , or for merry and chearfull , such fires being alwayes made on welcome occasions . such an occasion happened at london last february . i confesse the . of march is generally beheld as the first day of the spring , but hereafter london ( and in it all england ) may date its vernal heat ( after a long winter of woes and war ) from the . of february . on which day so many boon-fires ( the best new-lights i ever saw in that city ) were made ; although i believe the faggots themselves knew as much as some who laid them on , for what purpose those fires were made . the best is , such fires were rather propheticall then historicall , not so much telling as foretelling the condition of that city and our nation , which by gods gracious goodnesse is daily bettered and improved . but oh the excellent boon-fire which the converted ephesians made acts . . many also of them , which used curious arts brought their books together , and burned them before all men : and they counted the price of them , and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver . what was a pint of ashes worth , according to that proportion . but oh in the imitation of the ephesians , let us english men labour to find out our bosom-sin , and burn it ( how dear soever unto us ) in the flames of holy anger and indignation . such boon-fires , would be most profitable to us , and acceptable to god , inviting him to perfect and compleat the good , which he had begun to our nation . xvii . the hand is all . a gentlewoman some sixty years since came to vvinchester-schoole , where she had a son , & where dr. love ( one eminent in his profession ) was then schoole-master . this tender mother seeing the terrible rods ( the properties of that schoole ) began with tears to bemoan the condition of her son , subject to so cruell correction . to whom the schoole-master replied , mistris , content your self , it matters not how big the rod be , so it be in the hand of love to manage it . alas , he was only love in his sirname ; but what saith the apostle iohn . . god is love , even in his own essence and nature . what then though the wicked be not only a rod in the hand of god ; but what is worse a sword , psal. . . the wicked which is thy sword , they shall do no hurt as long as god hath the ordering of them . a pregnant experiment hereof we have in ( the , call it , rod or sword of ) our late civil warre which lasted so long in our land ; yet left so little signs behind it . such who consider how much was destroyed in the war , may justly wonder that any provision was left , whilest such , who behold the plenty we have left , will more admire that any was ever destroyed . xviii . all tongue and eares . we read acts . . all the athenians and strangers which were there , spent their time in nothing else but either to tell , or to hear some new thing . how cometh this transposition ? tell and hear , it should be hear and tell ; they must hear it , before they could tell it ; and in the very method of nature , those that are deaf , are dumb . but know , it is more then probable that many athenians told what they never heard , being themselves the first finders , founders , and forgers of false reports , therewith meerly to entertain the itching curiosity of others . england aboundeth with many such athenians ; it is hard to say , whether more false coyn , or false newes be minted in our dayes . one side is not more pleased with their own factions , then the other is with their own fictions . some pretend to intelligence without vnderstanding , whose relations are their own confutations . i know some , who repair to such novelants on purpose , to know what newes is false by their reporting thereof . xix give and take . the archbishop of spalato , when dean of windsor , very affectionately moved the prebendaries thereof , to contribute bountifully towards the relieving of a distressed forreigner , reporting him a person of much worth and want , to whom one of the company replied . qui sva det sva det . let him who perswadeth others , give something of his own . but the archbishop , who was as covetous as ambitious , and whose charity had a tongue without hands , would not part with a penny . the episcopal party doth desire and expect , that the presbyterian should remit of his rigidnesse , in order to an expedient betwixt them . the presbyterians require , that the episcopal side abate of their austerity , to advance an accommodation . but some on both sides are so wedded to their wilfulnesse , stand so stiffe in their judgments , are so high and hot in their passions , they will not part with the least punctillo in their opinions and practises . such mens judgments cannot pretend to the exactnesse of the gibeonites iudg. . . that they hit the mark of the truth at an hairs breadth and fail not , yet will they not abate an hairs breadth in order to unity ; they will take all , but tender nothing , make motions with their mouthes , but none with their feet for peace , not stirring a step towards it . o that we could see some proffers and performances of condescension on either side , and then let others , who remin obstinate , and will embrace no peace , be branded with perez , gen. . . the breach be upon them . xx . charity , charity . in my fathers time , there was a fellow of trinity colledge camb. a native of carlton in leicestershire , * where the people ( thorow some occult cause ) are troubled with a wharling in their throats , so that they cannot plainly pronounce the letter r. this schollar being conscious of his infirmity , made a latine oration of the usuall expected length , without an r therein ; and yet did he not only select words fit for his mouth easie for pronuntiation , but also as pure and expressive for signification , to shew that men might speak without being beholding to the dogs letter . our english pulpits for these last eighteen years , have had in them too much caninal anger , vented by snapping and snarling spirits on both sides . but if you bite and devour one another ( saith the apostle gal. . . ) take heed , ye be not devoured one of another . think not that our sermons must be silent if not satyrical , as if divininity did not afford smooth subjects enough to be seasonably insisted on in this iuncture of time ; let us try our skill whether we cannot preach without any dog-letter or biting-word : the art is half learned by intending , and wholly by serious endeavouring it . i am sure that such soft sermons will be more easie for the tongue of the preacher in pronouncing them , lesse grating to the eares of pious people that hear them , and most edifying to the heart of both speaker and hearers of them . xxi . but one favourite . we read how abraham [ gen. . . ] gave all he had unto isaac , as for his six sons , zimran , iokshan , medan , midian , ishback and shuah , which he had by keturah his concubine ; he only gave them gifts , and sent them away into the east-countrey . england hath but one isaac or legitimate religion of the church , namely , the protestant , as the doctrine thereof is established in the . articles . but how many spurious ones she hath ( whether six , sixty , or sixscore ) i neither do know , nor will enquire , nor will i load my book , and trouble the reader with their new , numerous and hard names . oh may the state be pleased so far to reflect on this isaac , as to settle the solid inheritance upon him . let the protestant religion only be countenanced by the law , be owned and acknowledged for the received religion of the nation . as for other sects ( the sons of keturah ) we grudge not that gifts be bestowed upon them . let them have a toleration ( and that i assure you is a great gift indeed ) and be permitted peaceably and privately to enjoy their consciences both in opinions and practices . such favour may safely , not to say ought justly , be afforded unto them , so long as they continue peaceably in our israel , and disturb not the estate . this gift granted unto them , they need not to be sent away into the east ( or any other ) countrey . if they dislike their condition , they will either leave the land , and go over seas of their own accord , or else ( which is rather to be desired and hoped for ) they will blush themselves out of their former follies , and by degrees cordially reconcile themselves to the church of england . xxii . calmly , calmly . we read gen. . . that when god solemnly proceeded in the sentencing of our first parents , he was heard walking in the garden in the cool of the day , to teach men , when they go about matters of moment ( wherein not only the present age , but posterity is also concerned ) to be-calme their souls of all passion . but alas ! much reformation made ( rather under , then ) by king charles was done in the heat of the day , in the dog-days of our civill discords , and mid-summer moon of our military distractions . so that possibly , when , that which was done in the heat of the day , shall be reviewed even by the self-same persons in the cool of the day , they will perceive something by them so reformed , now to need a new reformation . but this motion ( and all that follow ) i humbly lay down at their feet who have power and place to reform , who may either trample upon it , or take it up , as their wisedomes shall see just occasion . xxiii . try and trust . it was wisely requested by the children of the captivity , dan. . and warily granted by the kings chamberlain unto them , that by way of tryall , they should feed on pulse for ten dayes , and then an inspection to be made on their countenances , whether the lillies therein did look as white , and roses as red as before , that so their bill of their fare might be either changed or continued as they saw just occasion . let such new practices as are to be brought into our church be for a time candidates and probationers on their good behaviour , to see how the temper of the people will fit them , and they fadge with it , before they be publickly enjoined . let them be like st. paul's deacons tim. . . first be proved , then be used , if found blamelesse . i cannot therefore but commend the discretiō of such states-men , who knowing the directory to be but a stranger , and considering the great inclination the generality of our nation had to the common-prayer , made their temporary act to stand in force but for years . xxiv . alike but contrary . i observe in scripture , that power to do some deeds is a sufficient authority to do them . thus sampson's power to pluck down the two fundamental pillars of dagon's temple , was authority enough for him to doe it . eliah's power to make fire to come at his call on the two captains was authority enough to do it , because such deeds were above the strength , stature & standard of human proportion . however hence it doth not follow that it is lawfull for a private man with axes and hammers to beat down a christian church , because sampson pluckt down dagon's temple ; nor doth it follow that men may burn their brethren with fagot and fire , because eliah called for fire from heaven ; these being acts not miraculous but mischievous ; & no might from heaven , but meer malice from hell , required for the atchieving thereof . here it is hard to say , which of these two things have done most mischief in england ; publick persons having private soules and narrow hearts , consulting their own ease and advantage , or private persons having vast designes to invade publick imployments . this is most sure that betwixt them both they have almost undone the most flourishing church and state in the christian world . xxv . chasma , phasma . how bluntly and abruptly doth the seventy third psalm begin ? truly god is good unto israel , even to such as are of a clean heart . truly is a term of continuation , not inception of a speech . the head or top of this psalm seems lost or cut off , and the neck only remaining in the room thereof . but know , that this psalm hath two moyeties ; one vnwritten , made only in the tyring-house of david's heart . the other written , visible on the theatre , beginning as is aforesaid . thomas aquinas sitting silent in a musing posture at the table of the king of france , at last brake forth into these words , conclusum est contra manichaeos , it is concluded against the manichees ; which speech though non-sense to the persons in the place , at the best independent without any connexion to the discourse at table , had it 's necessary coherence in the mind of that great schoolman . david newly awaking in this psalm out of the sweet slumber of his meditation , openeth his eyes with the good hand-sell of these words ; truly god is good to israel , even to such as are of a clean heart . a maxim of undoubted truth , and a firm anchor to those who have been tossed in the tempest of these times . xxvi . share and share-like . ches-shire hath formerly been called chief of men . indeed no county in england of the same greatnesse , or ( if you will rather ) of the same littlenesse , can produce so many families of ancient gentry . now let it break the stomacks , but not the hearts : abate the pride , not destroy the courage of the inhabitants of this shire , that they miscarried in their late undertakings , not so much by any defect in them , as default in others . if ten men together be to lift a log , all must jointly {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , that is , heave up their parts ( or rather their counterparts ) together . but if nine of them fail , it is not only uncivil , but unjust , that one man should be expected to be a gyant to do ten men's work . ches-shire is ches-shire ( and so i hope will ever be ) but it is not all england ; and valour it self may be pressed down to death under the weight of multitude . the ld bacon would have rewards given to those men who in the quest of natural experiments , * make probable mistakes , both because they are industrious therein , and because their aberrations may prove instructions to others after them ; and to speak plainly , an ingenuous miss is of more credit then a bungling casual hit . on the same account , let cheshire have a reward of honour , the whole kingdome faring the better for this countie 's faring the worse . xxvii . natale solum dulcedine , e. c. i must confess my self born in northhamptonshire , and if that worthy countie esteem me no disgrace to it , i esteem it an honour to me . the english of the common people therein ( lying in the very heart of the land ) is generally very good . and yet they have an odde phrase not so usual in other places . they used to say when at cudgel playes ( such tame were far better then our wild battels ) one gave his adversary such a sound blow , as that he knew not whether to stand or to fall , that he settled him at a blow . the relicts and stump ( my pen dares write no worse ) of the long parliament pretended they would settle the church and state , but surely had they continued , it had been done in the dialect of northamptonshire ; they would so have settled us , we should neither have known how to have stood , or on which side to have fallen . xxviii . seasonable prevention . when the famine in egypt had lasted so long , the estates of the people were so exhausted by buying corn of the king , that their money failing , they were forced to sell their cattle unto ioseph , gen. . . and this maintained them with bread for one year more . but the famine lasting longer , and their stock of cattle being wholly spent , they then sold all their lands , and after that their persons to ioseph , as agent for pharaoh , so that the king of egypt became proprietary of the bodies of all the people in his land , gen. . . then ioseph said unto the people , behold , i have bought you this day and your land for pharaoh . if our taxes had continued longer , they could not have continued longer , i mean the nation was so impoverished , that the money ( so much was hoarded up , or transported by military grandees ) could not have been paid in specie . indeed we began the war with brazen trumpets , and silver money , and then came unto silver trumpets , and brazen money , especially in our parliament half-crowns . we must afterwards have sold our stocks of cattle , and then our lands to have been able to perform payments . this done , 't is too too suspicious , they would have seized on our persons too , and have envasselled us for ever unto them . but , blessed be god , they are stricken upon the cheek-bone , psal. . . whereby their teeth are knockt out . our fathers were not more indebted to gods goodnesse for delivering them from the spanish armado , then we are from our own english army . xxix . vvolf in a lamb-skin . but where is the papist all this while ? one may make hue and cry after him . he can as soon not be , as not be active . alas ! with the maid in the gospel , he is not dead , but sleepeth ; or rather , he sleepeth not , but only shutteth his eyes in dogs-sleep , and doth awake when he seeth his advantage , and snappeth up many a lamb out of our flocks . vvhere is the papist do any say ; yea where is he not ( they multiply as magots in may , and act in and under the fanaticks , what is faced with faction is lined with popery , faux his dark lanthorn ( by a strange inversion ) is under our new lights . quakers of themselves are a company of dull , blunt , silly souls . but they go down to the romish philistines , and from them they whet all the edge-tooles of their arguments , a formal syllogism in the mouth of an anabaptist is plain iesuitical equivocation . mean time we protestant ministers fish all night , and catch nothing , yea loose many , who in these times fall from our church as leaves in autumn . god in his due time send us a seasonable spring , that we may repair our losses again . xxx . various fancies . i know not what fift monarchy men would have , and wish that they knew themselves . i dare not flatly condemn them , lest i come within the apostles reproof , pet. . . speaking evil of things they understand not . if by christs reigning they only intend , his powerfull & effectual ruling by his grace , in the hearts of his servants ; we all , will , ( not turn ) but continue fift monarchy men , having alwayes been of this judgement since we were of any judgement , had we as many armes as fingers , we would use them all herein to embrace their persons and opinions . but some go farther , to expect an actual and personal reign of christ on earth a thousand yeares , though not agreeing . for herein since some make him but about to set forth , others to be well onwards of his way , others to be allighting in the court , others to stand before the door , others that he is entering the pallace , according to the slownesse or swiftnesse of their severall fancies herein . however , if this be but a bare speculation , and advanceth not any further , let them peaceably enjoy it . but if it hath a dangerous influence on mens practices to unhinge their allegiance ; and if the pretence to wait for christ in his person be an intent to slight him in his proxy , [ the magistrate ] we do condemn their opinion as false , and detest it as damnable , leaving their persons to be ordered by the wisedomes of those in authority . xxxi . made loyal . when king edward the i. marched into scotland , the men of the bishoprick of durham refused to follow his standard , pleading for themselves , that they were haly-work-folk , only to wait on the shrine of st. cutbert , and not to go out of their own countrey . but that wise and valiant prince cancelled their pretended priviledges . he levelled them with the rest of his subjects for civil and military , as well as haly-work-folk , and made them to march with his army against his enemies . if fift monarchy , ( alias first anarchy ) men challenge to themselves ; that ( by virtue of their opinion they hold ) they must be exempted from their obedience to the government , because they forsooth ( as the life-gard to his person ) must attend the coming of christ to raign on earth ; such is the wisdome of the state , it will make them know they must share in subjestion with the rest of our nation . but charity doth command me to believe that in stating their opinions , fift monarchy mens expressions are more offensive then their intentions , mouths worse then their minds , whose brains want strength to manage their own wild notions , and god grant their arms may never have power to produce them into action . xxxii . attend , attend . some of those whom they call quakers , are ( to give them their due ) very good moral men , and exactly just in their civill transactions . in proof whereof let me mention this passage , though chiefly i confesse for the application thereof , which having done me ( i praise god ) some good , i am confident will do no hurt to any other . a gentleman had two tenants , whereof one being a quaker , repaired to his land-lord on the quarter-day ; here thou ( said he ) tell out and take thy rent , without stirring his cap , or shewing the least sign of respect . the other came cringing and congying ; if it please your vvorship ( said he ) the times are very hard , and trading is dead , i have brought to your vvorship five pounds ( the whole due being twenty ) and shall procure the rest for your vvorship with all possible speed . both these tenants put together would make a perfect one , the rent-compleating of the one , and tongue-complements of the other . but seeing they were divided , i am perswaded that of the two , the land-lord was lesse offended with the former , imputing his ill manners to his folly , but ascribing his good dealing to his honesty . god expecteth and requireth both good vvorks and good vvords . we cannot make our addresses and applications unto him in our prayers with too much awe and reverence . however such who court god with luscious language , give him all his attributes , and ( as king iames said of a divine , who shall be namelesse ) complement with god in the pulpit , will be no whit acceptable unto him , if they do not also endeavour to keep his commandements . it is the due paying of gods quit-rents , which he expecteth , i mean the reallising of our gratitude unto him for his many mercies , in leading the remainder of our lifes according to his will and his word xxxiii . no remedy but patience . once a goaler demanded of a prisoner , newly committed unto him , whether or no he were a roman catholick ? no , answered he : what then , said he , are you an anabaptist ? neither replied the prisoner . what ( said the other ) are you a brownist or a quaker ? nor so , said the man , i am a protestant , without wealt or gard , or any addition equally opposite to all hereticks and sectaries . then , said the goaler , get you unto the dungeon , i will afford no favour to you , who shall get no advantage by you . had you been of any of the other religions , some hope i had to gain by the visits of such as are of your own perswasion , whereas now you will prove to me but an unprofitable prisoner . this is the misery of moderation ; i recall my word ( seeing misery properly must have sin in it . ) this is an affliction attending moderate men , that they have not an active party to side with them and favour them . men of great stature will quickly be made porters to a king , & those diminutively little , dwarfes to a queen , whilst such who are of a middle height may get themselves masters where they can . the moderate man eminent for no excesse or extravagancy in his judgement , will have few patrons to protect , or persons to adhere unto him . but what saith st. paul [ co. . . ] if in this life only we have hope in christ , we are of all men the most miserable . xxxiv . pottage for milk . in these licentious times wherein religion lay in a swoone and many pretended ministers ( minions of the times ) committed or omitted in divine service , what they pleased , some , not only in vvales , but in england , and in london it self on the lords day ( sometimes with , sometimes without a psalm ) presently popped up into the pulpit before any portion of scripture either in the old or new testament was read to the people . hereupon one in jest earnest said , that formerly they put down bishops and deans , and now they had put down chapters too . it is high time that this fault be reformed for the future , that gods word which is all gold , be not justled out to make room for mens sermons , which are but parcel-gilt at the best . xxxv . moderate may meet . when s. paul was at athens , actt . . then certain philosophers of the epicureans , and of the stoicks encountred him &c. some will say , why was there no mention here of the peripateticks , and academicks , both notable sects of philosophers , and then numerous in the ciry of athens . the answer is this , these being persons acted with more moderate principles , were contented to be silent , though not concurring in their iudgments : whil'st the epicures and stoicks were violent in the extreams , the first for the anarchy of fortune , the other for the tyranny of fate . peace in our land like st paul , is now likely to be encountred with two opposite parties , such as are for the liberty of a commonwealth , and such as are for an absolute monarchy in the full height thereof ; but i hope neither of both are so considerable in their number , parts , and influence on the people , but that the moderate party , advocates for peace , will prevail for the settling thereof . xxxvi . what , never wise ? in the year of our lord , there happened a sad overflowing of the severn-sea on both sides thereof , which some still alive doe ( one i hope thankfully ) remember , an account hereof was written to iohn stoe the industrious chronicler , from dr still then bishop of bath and wells , and three other gentlemen of credit , to insert it in his story ; one passage wherein i cannot omit . stoes chronicle pag. . among other things of note it happened , that upon the tops of some hills , divers beasts of contrary nature had got up for their safety , as dog , cats , foxes , hares , conies , moles , mice and rats , who remained together very peaceably , without any manner or sign of fear of violence one towards another . how much of man was there then in bruit creatures ? how much of bruitishnesse is there now in men ? is this a time for those who are sinking for the same cause , to quarrel and fall out ? i dare adde no more , but the words of the apostle , tim. . . consider what i say , and the lord give you understanding in all things . xxxvii . recede a title . i saw two ride a race for a silver cup ; he who won it , out ran the post many paces : indeed hee could not stop his horse in his full cariere , and therefore was fain to run beyond the post , or else he had never come soon rnough unto it . but presently after , when he had won the wager , he rained his horse back again , and softly returned to the post , where from the iudges of the match he received the cup , the reward of his victory . surely many moderate man design'd a good marke to themselves , and propounded pious ends and aims in their intentions . but quere whether in pursuance thereof , in our late civil destruction , they were not violented to out run the marke , ( so impossible it is to stop a soul in the full speed thereof ) and whether they did not in some things over-doe , and exceed what they intended . if so , it is neither sin nor shame , but honourable and profitable for such persons ( sensible of their own over-activity ) even fairly to go back to the post which they have out-run , and now calmly to demonstrate to the whole world , that this only is the true and full measure of their judgements , whil'st the rest was but the superfluity of their passions . xxxviii . beat thy self . i saw a mother threatning to beat her little child for not rightly pronouncing that petition in the lords prayer , and forgivens our trespasses , as we forgive them that trespasse against us . the child essaied and offered as well as it could to uttet it , adventuring at tepasses , trepasses , but could not pronounce the word aright . alas , it is a shiboleth to a child's tongue , wherein there is a confluence of hard consonants together , and therefore if the mother had beaten defect in the infant for default , she deserved to have been beaten her self . the rather , because what the child could not pronounce , the parents do not practise . o how lispingly and imperfectly doe we perform the close of this petition , as we forgive them that trespasse against us . it is well , if with the child we endeavour our best , though falling short in the exact observance thereof . xxxix . without blood . it passeth for a generall report of what was customary in former times , that the sheriff of the county used to present the iudge with a pair of white gloves , at those , which we call mayden-assises , viz. when no malefactour is put to death therein ; a great rarity ( though usuall in small ) in large and populous counties . england a spacious countrey , is full of numerous factions in these distracted times . it is above belief , and will hardly find credit with posterity , that a generall peace can be settled in our nation , without effusion of blood . but if we should be blessed with a dry peace , without one drop of blood therein , o let the white gloves of honour and glory , be in the first place presented to the god of heaven , the principal giver , and a second white pair of gratitude , be given to our generall , the instrumentall procurer thereof . xl . against the hair and the flesh . all devils are not equally easie to be ejected out of possessed pepple ; some are of a more sullen , sturdy , stubborn nature , good ( or rather bad ) at hold-fast , and hard to be cast out . in like manner all bosome sins are not conquered with facility alike , and these three are of the greatest difficulty . . constitutionary sins , rivited in our tempers and complections . . customary sins , habited in us by practise and presumption . . such sins , to the repentance whereof restitution is required . oh when a man hath not onely devoured widdows houses , matth. . . but also they have passed the first and second concoction in his sttomack ; yea , when they are become blood in the veins , yea sinews in the flesh of his estate , oh then to refund , to mangle and disintire ones demesnes , this goeth shrowdly against flesh and blood indeed . but what saith the apostle . flesh and blood shall not inherit the kingdome of god . yet even this devil may be cast out with fasting and prayer , matth. . . this sin , notwithstanding it holdeth violent possession , may by those good meanes , and gods blessing thereon , have a firm ejection . xli . a free-will offering . when iob began to set up the second time , he built his recruited estate upon three bottoms . . gods blessing . . his own industry . . his friends charity . iob . . every man also gave him a piece of money , and every one also an ear-ring of gold . many drops meeting together filled the vessel . when our patient iob , plundred of all he had , shall return again ; certainly his loyall subjects will offer presents unto him ( though they ( alas ! ) who love him best can give him least . ) surely all is not given away in making the golden calfe , but that there is some left for the businesse of the tabernacle . but surely those have cause to be most bountifull , who may truly say to him what david said humbly to the god of heaven chron. . . . of thine own have i given unto thee . xlii . a good anchor . isaac ignorantly going along to be offered , propounded to his father a very hard question gen. . . behold the fire and wood , but where is the lamb for a burnt-offering . abraham returned , god will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering . but was not this gratis dictum of abraham ? did not he herein speak without-book ? where and when did god give him a promise to provide him a lamb ? indeed he had no particular promise as to this present point , but he had a generall one gen. . . fear not , abraham , i am thy shield , and thy exceeding great reward . here was not only a lamb , but a flock of sheep , yea a heard of all cattel promised unto him . it hath kept many an honest soul in these sad times from sinking into despair ; that though they had no expresse in scripture that they should be freed from the particular miseries relating to this war . yet they had gods grand charter for it , rom. . . and we know that all things work together for good to them that love god , to them who are the called according to his purpose . xliii . eyes bad , not object . i looked upon the wrong or backside of a piece of arras , it seemed to me as a continued non-sence , there was neither head nor foot therein , confusion it self had as much method in it , a company of thrumbs and threads , with many pieces and patches of severall sorts , sizes and colours , all which signified nothing to my understanding . but then looking on the reverse , or right-side thereof , all put together , did spell excellent proportions and figures of men and cities . so that indeed it was an history not wrot with a pen , but wrought with a needle . if men look upon our late times with a meer eye of reason , they will hardly find any sence therein , such their huddle and disorder . but alas ! the wrong side as objected to our eies , whilst the right side is presented to the high god of heaven , who knoweth that an admirable order doth result out of this confusion , and what is presented to him at present , may hereafter be so shewed to us , as to convince our judgements in the truth thereof . xliv . ever , never . we read psalm . . because they have no changes , therefore they [ the wicked ] fear not god . profanesse is a strange logician , which can collect and inferre the same conclusion from contrary premises . libertines here in england , because they have had so many changes , therefore they fear not god . iacob taxed laban gen. . . thou hast changed my wages ten times . i have neither list nor leisure to enquire how farre our alterations of government within these few years , fall short of that number . but it is a sad truth , that as king mithrydates is said to have fed on poyson so long , that at last it became ordinarie food to his bodie : so the multitude of changes have proved no change in many mens apprehensions , being so common and ordinary , it hath made no effectuall impression on their spirits . yea which is worse , they ( as if all things came by casualty ) fear god the lesse for these alterations . xlv . hear me out . i must confesse my self to be ( what i ever was ) for a commonwealth : but give me leave to state the meaning of the word , seeing so much mischief hath taken covert under the homonymy thereof . a common wealth and a king are no more contrary then the trunk or bodie of a tree & the top branch thereof : there is a re-publick included in every monarchie . the apostle speaketh of some ephesians in the . and . aliens from the commonwealth of israel : that commonwealth is neither aristocratical nor democratical , but hath one sole and single person iesus christ the supreme head thereof . may i live ( if it may stand with gods good will and pleasure ) to see england a commonwealth in such a posture , and it will be a joyfull object to all who are peaceable in our nation . xlvi . mons mobilis . i observe that the mountains now extant , to fall under a double consideration ; those by creation . those by inundation . the former were of gods making , primitive mountains ; when at the first his wisdome did here sink a vale , there swell a hill , so to render the prospect of the earth the more gratefull by the alternate variety thereof . the second by inundation were such as owe their birth and being to noah's floud : when the water lying long in a place , ( especially when driven on with the furie of the wind ) corroded an hollow , and so by consequence cast up an hill on both sides . for such mountains of gods making , who either by their birth succeed to estates , or have acquired them by gods blessing on their lawfull industrie , good successe may they have with their wealth and honour . and yet let not them be too proud , and think with david ( that god hath made their mountain so strong it cannot be moved ) but know themselves subject to the earthquakes of mutability as well as others . as for the many mountains of our age , grandized by the unlawfull ruine of others swoln to a tympany by the consumption of their betters ; i wish them just as much ioy with their greatnesse as they have right unto it . xlvii . not invisible . a waggish scholler ( to say no worse ) standing behind the back of his tutor , conceived himself secured from his sight , and on this confidence he presumed to make antick mocks and mouths at him . mean time his tutor had a looking-glasse ( unknown to the scholler ) before his face , wherein he saw all which his pupil did , and the pupil soon after felt something from his tutor . many things have been done in hugger mugger in our age , prophane persons conceited that their privacy protected them from divine inspection . some say with the wicked in the psalm , tush , shall the lord see . but know that , revelat. . . before the throne there was a sea of glasse like unto chrystall . this is gods omnisciency . sea , there is the largenesse : crystall , there is the purenesse thereof . in this glasse all persons and practices are plainly represented to gods sight , so that such who sin in secret shall suffer openly . xlviii . best race . god hath two grand attributes , first , optimus , that he is the best of beeings . secondly , maximus , that he is the greatest of essences . it may justly seem strange that all men naturally are ambitious , with the apostles luk. . . to contest and contend for the latter , who shall be accounted for the greatest . outward greatnesse having no reality in it self , but founded merely in outward account and reputation of others . but as for his goodnesse they give it a goe-by , no whit endeavouring the imitation thereof , whereas indeed greatnesse without goodnesse is not only uselesse , but also dangerous and destructive both to him that hath it and those who are about him . this is a fruit of adam's fall , and floweth from original corruption . oh! for the future let us change this our ambition into holy emulation , and fairly run a race of grace , who shall outstrip others in goodnesse . in which race strive lawfully to gain the victory , supplant not those that run before thee , iustle not those who are even with thee , hinder not those who come behind thee . xlix . feed the lambs . what may be the cause why so much cloth so soon changeth colour ? it is because it was never wet wadded , which giveth the fixation to a colour , and setteth it in the cloth . what may be the reason why so many now a-daies are carried about with every wind of doctrine , even to scoure every point in the compass round about ? surely it is because they were never well catechized in the principles of religion . o for the ancient and primitive ordinance of catechizing , every youth can preach ; but he must be a man indeed who can profitably catechize . indeed sermons are like whole ioints for men to manage , but catechizing is mince-meat , shred into questions and answers ( fit for children to eat , and easie for them to digest ) whilst the minister may also for the edification of those of riper years ) enlarge and dilate himself on both as he seeth just occasion . l. name and thing . there is a new word coyned within few moneths called fanaticks , which by the close stickling thereof seemeth well cut out and proportioned to signifie what is meant thereby , even the sectaries of our age . some ( most forcedly ) will have it hebrew derived from the word to see or face one , importing such whose piety consisteth chiefly in visage , looks & outward shewes ; others will have it gerek from {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , to shew and appear ; their meteor pietie consisting onely in short blazing the forerunner of their extinction . but most certainly the word is latin from fanum a temple , and fanatici were such who living in or attending thereabouts were frighted with spectra or apparitions , which they either saw or fancied themselves to have seen . these people in their fits and wild raptures pretended to strange predictions ; — ut fanaticus oestro percussus bellonatuo , divinat & ingens omen habes , inquit , magni clarique triumphi . juven. sat. . ut mala quem scabies & morbus regius urget , aut fanaticus error . hor. in poet . it will be said we have already ( more then a good ) many nick-names of parties already , which doth but inflame the difference , and make the breach the wider betwixt us . 't is confess't , but withall it is promised that when they withdraw the thing we will substract the name . let them leave off their wild fancies inconsistent with scripture , antiquity and reason it self , and then we will endeavour to burie the fanatick and all other names in perpetuall oblivion . finis . mixt contemplations on these times . i. all afore . a deare friend of mine ( now i hope with god ) was much troubled with an impertinent and importunate fellow , desirous to tel him his fortune . for things to come ( said my friend ) i desire not to know them , but am contented to attend divine providence : tell me if you can , some remarkable passages of my life past . but the cunning man was nothing for the preter-tense ( where his falshood might be discovered ) but all for the future , counting himself therin without the reach of confutation . there are in our age a generation of people , who are the best of prophets ▪ and worst of historians ; daniel and the revelation are as easie to them as the ten commandments , and the lords prayer : they pretend exactly to know the time of christs actuall reign on earth , of the ruine of the romish anti-christ , yea , of the day of judgment it self . but these oracles are struck quite dumbe , if demanded any thing , concerning the time past ; about the coming of the children of israel out of egypt and babylon , the originall increase and ruine of the . monarchies ; of these and the like they can give no more account , then the child in the cradle . they are all for things to come , but have gotten ( through a great cold of ignorance ) such a creeke in their neck , they cannot look backward on what was behind them . ii. true text . false gloss. a husband-man anabaptistically inclined in a pleasant humour , came to his minister , and told him with much chearfulnesse , that this very seeds-time the words of the apostle cor. . . were fulfilled , that he that ploweth may plow in hope . being desired further to explaine himself ; i meane ( said he ) we husbandmen now plow in hope , that a harvest we shall never pay tithes , but be eased from that antichristian yoke for the time to come . it seemeth , he had received such intelligence from some of his own party , who reported , what they desired . he might plow in hope to reach his nine parts , but in dispaire to have the tenth , especially since god hath blessed us with so wise a parliament , consisting , not only of men chosen , but of persons truely the choice of the nation , who will be ( as if not more ) tender of the churches right then their own interest . they have read ▪ how pharaoh king of egypt , gen. . . would in no case alienate the lands of the priests . the very gypsies , who generally have no good name , ( condemned for crafty cheaters and cozeners ) were conscientiously precise in this particular , and they would not take away , what was given to their god in his ministers . iii. foul-mouth stopt . ambitious absalom endeavoured to bring a scandal on his fathers government , complaining `the petitioners , who repaired to his court for justice , were slighted and neglected [ sam. . . ] see thy matters are good and right , but there is no man deputed of the king to hear hee . but we know the english proverb ; ill will , never speaketh well . let us do that justice to david , yea , to our own judgements , not to beleive a gracelesse son , and subject , against a gracious father and soveraigne , some male-contents , ( ismaels , whose swords are against every one , ) seek to bring a false report on the parliament as if the clergie must expect no favour not to say iustice , from them , because there are none in the house elected and deputed , either to speak for them , or hear them speak for themselves . time was ( say they ) when the clergie was represented in the house of lords by two arch-bishops , and four and twenty bishops . time was , when the clergie had their own convocation , granting subsidies for them , so that their purses were onely opened by the hands of their own proxies , but now though our matters be good and right ▪ there is no man deputed to hear us . i am and ever will be deaf , to such false and scandalous suggestions , if there be four hundred and odd ( because variously reckoned up ) in the house of parliament , i am confident we clergie-men have four hundred and odd advocates for us therein . what civill christian would not plead for a dumb man ? seeing the clergie hath lately lost their voice , they so long had in parliaments ; honour , and honesty will ingage those pious persons therein to plead for our just concernments . iv. atoms at last . i meet not either in sacred or profane writ with so terrible a rout , as saul gave unto the host of the ammonites , under nahash their king , sam. . . and it came to passe , that they which remained were scattered , so that two of them were not left together . and yet we have daily experience of greater scatterings and dissipations of men in their opinions . suppose ten men out of pretended purity , but real pride and peevishnesse , make a wilful seperation from the church of england , possibly they may continue some competent time in tolerable unity together . afterwards upon a new discovery of a higher and holier way of divine service , these ten will split asunder into five and five , and the purer moyetie divide from the other , as more drossie and feculent . then the five in process of time upon the like occasion of clearer illumination , will cleave themselvs into three and two . some short time after , the three will crumble into two and one , and the two part into one and one , till they come into the condition of the ammonites , so scattered that two of them were not left together . i am sad , that i may add with too much truth , that one man will at last be divided in himself , distracted often in his judgment betwixt many opinions , that , what is reported of tostatus lying on his death-bed , in multitudine controversiarum non habuit , quod crederet ; amongst the multitude of perswasions , through which he had passed , he knoweth not where to cast anchor and fix himself at the last . v. an ill match . divine providence is remarkable in ordering , that a fog and a tempest never did , nor can , meet together in nature . for as soon as a fogg is fixed , the tempest is allaid ; and as soon , as a tempest doth arise , the fogg is dispersed . this is a great mercy , for , otherwise such small vessels , as boats and barges , which want the conduct of the card and compass , would irrecoverably be lost . how sad then is the condition of many sectaries in our age ; which in the same instant have a fogg of ignorance in their judgments , and a tempest of violence in their affections , being too blind to go right , and yet too active to stand still . vi . down , yet up. hypocrit , in the native etymologie of the word , as it is used by ancient greek-authors signifieth , such a one , qui alienae personae in comoedia aut tragoedia est effector et repraesentator , who in comedy or tragedy doth feigne and represent the person of another ; in plaine english , hypocrite is neither more nor less then a stage-player . we all know that stage-players som years since were put down by publick authority , and though something may be said for them , more may be brought against them , who are rather in an employment then a vocation . but let me safely utter my too just fears , i suspect the fire was quenched in the chimney , and in an other respect scattered about the house . never more stange stage-players then now , who weare the vizards of piety and holiness , that under that covert they may more securely commit sacriledge , oppression , and what not ? in the days of queen elizabeth , a person of honor or worship , would as patiently have digested the lye , as to have bin told , that they did weare false pendents , or any counterfeit pearl or iewels about them , so usual in our age , yet would it were the worst peece of hypocrisie in fashion . oh , let us all labor for integrity of heart , and either appear what we are , or be what we appear . vii . caleb , all heart . i was lately satisfied , in what i heard of before , by the confession of an excellent artist ( the most skilful in any kinde are most willing to acknowledge their ignorance ) that the mystery of aneiling of glass , that is , baking it so , that the colour may go clean thorow it , is now by some casualty quite lost in england , if not in europe . break a peece of red glass , painted some four hundred years since ▪ and it will be found as red in the middle , as in the out sides , the colour is not onely on it , but in it and thorow it . whereas now all art can perform , is onely to fix the red on one side of the glass , and that oft time so faint and fading , that within few years , it falleth of , and looketh pyebald to the eye . i suspect a more important mystery is much lost in our age , viz. the transmitting of piety clean thorow the heart , that a man become inside and outside alike . oh the sincerity of the ancient patriarchs , inspired prophets , holy apostles , patient martyrs , and pious fathers of the primitive church , whereas onely outside sanctity is too usual in our age . happy the man , on whose monument that character of asa [ king. . . ] may be truely inscribed for his epitaph ; here lyeth the man , whose heart was perfect with the lord all his dayes . heart , perfect , oh the finest of wares ! all his dayes , oh the largest of measures ! viii . fye for shame . considering with my self the causes of the growth and increase of impiety & profaness in our land , amongst others this seemeth to me not the least , viz. the late many false and erroneous impressions of the bible . now know , what is but carelessness in other books , is impiety in setting forth of the bible . as noah in all unclean creatures preserved but two of a kind , so among some hundreds in several editions we will insist onely on two instances . in the bible printed at london . we read , cor. . . know ye not that the unrighteous shall inherit the kingdom of god ? for not inherit . now , when a reverend dr. in divinity did mildly reprove some libertines for their licentious life , they did produce this text from the authority of this corrupt edition , in justification of their vicious and inordinate conversations . the next instance shall be in the bible printed at london in quarto ( forbearing the name of the printer , because not done wilfully by him ) in the singing psalms , psal. . . that all the earth may know . the way to worldly wealth , for godly wealth . it is too probable , that too many have perused and practised this erroneous impression , namely such , who by plundering , oppression , cosening , force and fraude have in our age suddenly advanced vast estates . ix . little , loud lyers . i remember , one in the vniversity gave for his question : artis compendium , artls dispendium , the contracting of arts is the corrupting of them . sure i am , the truth hereof appeareth too plainly in the pearle-bible printed at london . in the volume of twenty foure ; for therein all the dedications and titles of davids psalmes are wholly left out , being part of the original text in hebrew , and intimating the cause and the occasion of the writing and composing those psalmes , whereby the matter may be better illustrated . the design may be good to reduce the bible to so small a volume , partly to make it the more portable in mens pockets , partly to bring down the price of them , that the poor people may the better compass them . but know that vilis in the latine tongue , in the first sense signifieth what is cheap , in the second sense , what is base , the small price of the bible hath caused the small prizing of the bible , especially since so many damnable and pernicious mistakes have escaped therein . i cannot omit an other edition in a large o making the book of truth to begin with a loud lye , pretending this title , imprinted at london by robert barker &c. anno. . whereas indeed they were imported from holland . and that contrary to our statutes . what can be expected from so lying a frontispiece , but sutable falshoods , wherewith it aboundeth . oh! that men in power and place would take these things into their serious confiderations ; a caution too late to amend what is past , but early enough for the future to prevent the importing of forreign , and misprinting of home-made bibles . x. name general . we reade of ioseph ( when advanced in the court of pharaoh , ) that he called his eldest son , gen. . . manasseh , for god , said he , hath made me forget all my toyle and my fathers house . forget his fathers house ! the more unnaturall and undutifull son he , ( may some say ) for his ungodly oblivion o no , ioseph never historically forgot his fathers house , nor lost the affection he bare thereunto , onely he forgot it both to the sad , and to the vindicative part of his memory , he kept no grudge against his brethren for their cruell usage of him . if god should be pleased to settle a generall peace betwixt all parties in our land , let us all name our next-born child ( it will fit both sexes ) manasseh . that is forgetting , let us forget all our plunderings sequestrations , injuries offered unto us , or suffered by us , the best oyle is said to have ●o taste , that is , no tang. though we carry a simple and single remembrance of our losses unto the grave , it being impossible to do other-waies ( except we raze the faculty of memory roote and branch out of our mind ) yet let us not keep any record of them with the least reflection of revenge . xi . apt scholars . mothers generally teach their children three sins , before they be full two years old . first , pride ; point child , where are you fine ? where are you fine ? secondly , lying ; it was not a. that cryed , it was b. that cryed . thirdly , revenge ; give me a blow and i will beat him , give me a blow and i will beat him . surely , children would not be so bad , nor so soon bad . but partly , for bad precedents set before them , partly f●● bad precepts taught unto them . as all three lessons have taken too deep impressions in our hearts , so chiefly the last of revenge . how many blows have been given on that account , within our remembrance , and yet i can make it good , that we in our age are more bound to pardon our enemies , then our fathers and grand-fathers in their generation . for charity consisteth in two main parts ; in donando & condonando , in giving and forgiving . give we cannot so much , as those before us , our estates being so much impaired and impoverished with taxes unknown to former ages . seeing therefore one channell of charity must be the less , the stream thereof ought to run broader and deeper in the other . the less we can give , the more we should forgive : but alas ! this is the worst of all , that giving goeth not so much against our coveteousness ' b●●forgiving goeth more against our pride and ambition . xii . all well wearied . two gentlemen , father and son , both of great quality lived together , the son on a time : father ( said he ) i would faine be satisfied how it cometh to pass that of such agreements , which i make betwixt neighbours fallen out , not one of twenty doth last and continue . whereas not one of twenty faile wherein you are made arbitrator . the reason ( answered the other ) is plain . no sooner do two friends fall out , but presently you offer your self to compremise the difference , wherein i more commend your charity , then your discretion whereas i always stay till the parties send or come to me , after both sides being well wearied by spending much money in law are mutually desirous of an agreement . had any indeavoured some sixteen years since , to have advanced a firme peace betwixt the two opposite parties in our land , their success would not have answered their intentions , mens veynes were then so full of bloud , and purses of money . but since there hath been so large an evacuation of both . and men begin soberly to consider , that either side may ( by woefull experience ) make other miserable , but it is only our union can make both happie ; some hope there is , that a peace , if now made , may probably last and continue , which god in his mercy make us worthie of , that we may in due time receive it . xiii . o inconstancy . learned master camden treating in an astrologicall way , under what planet * britain is seated , alledgeth but one author , viz. iohannes de muris , who placeth our island under saturne , whilst he produceth three , viz. the fryer perscrutator , esquidius , and henry silen , which place britain under the moone . it will add much ( in the general apprehension of people ) to the judgment of the latter , that so many changes and vicissitudes in so short a time have befel our nation ; wee have been in twelve years a kingdom , common-wealth , protecto●dome , afterwards under an army , parliament &c. such inconstancy doth speak us under the moon indeed ; but the best is , if we be under the moon , the moon is under god , and nothing shall happen unto us , but what shal be for his glory , and we hope for our good ; and that we may in due time be under the sun again . xiv . recovered . tyrannus was a good word at first , ●●porting no more then a king ; the pride and cruelty of some made the 〈…〉 ill , as it doth in the modern 〈…〉 herof . providence , as good a word , as 〈…〉 ●ivinity , hath suffered so much 〈…〉 modern abusing therof , that con●●●ncious people begin to loath and ●●te it . for gods providence hath been ●●●aged against gods precepts . kings ●●●e word was never in our land produced against his broad seal . yet success , ( an argument borowed from the turks ) hath been pleaded as the voice of gods approbation against his positive and express will in his word . but god hath been pleased to vindicate his own honour , and to assert the credit of providence , which is now become a good word againe . if impulsive providence ( a new coyned phrase ) hath given the late army their greatness , expulsive providence ( a newer phrase ) hath given them their smallness , being now set by , layd aside as uselesse , and not sett by , so farr from terrifying of any , by few they are regarded . xv . gratitude . new-castle on tyne is ( without corrivall ) the richest town in england , which before the conquest was usually known by the name of monk - * chester . exeter must be allowed of all one of the neatest and sweetest citties of england , which anciently by the saxons was called * monk-town , both which names are now utterly out of use , and known only to antiquaries . god hath done great things already , whereof we rejoice , by the hand of our great general , in order to the settlement of our nation . when the same ( as we hope in due time ) shall be compleated , not only new-castle and exeter shall have just cause with comfort to remember their old names , but every county , city , market-town , parish , and village in england , may have the name of monk put upon them . but oh the modesty of this worthy person is as much as his merit , who hath learned from valiant , wise , and loyal * joab , to do nothing prejudicial to david , and delighteth not so much in having a great name , as in deserving it . xvi . the heire . i ever beheld somerset-shire in one respect as the most ancient and honorable shire in england . for glassen-bury in that county was the bryttish antioch , where the bryttons were first called christians , by the preaching of ioseph of arimathea , though the truth of the story be much swoln by the leaven of legendarie fictions . but hereafter somerset-shire in another respect must be allowed the eldest county in england ; as christianity first grew there , so charity first sprang thence , in that their sober , serious , and seasonable declaration , wherein they renounce all future animosities in relation to their former sufferings . now as the zeal of * achaia provoked very many , so the example of somerset-shire hath been precedential to other counties to follow it . kent and essex since have done , and other shires are daily doing the same ; yea , and i hope that those counties which lagg the last in writing , will be as forward , as the first in performing their solemn promises therein . xvii . sad transposition . it seemeth marvellous to me , that many mechanicks ( few able to read , and fewer to write their names ) turning souldiers , and captains in our warrs , should be so soon and so much improved . they seeme to me to have commenced per saltum in their understandings . i professe without flouting or flattering , i have much admired , with what facilitie and fluentnesse , how pertinently and properly they have expressed themselves , in language which they were never borne nor bred to , but have industriously acquired by conversing with their betters . what a shame would it be , if such who have been of gentile extraction , and have had liberal education , should ( as if it were by exchange of soules ) relapse into ignorance and barbarism . what an ignominy would it be for them , to be buried in idleness , and in the moderate pursuite of pleasures and vicious courses , till they besot their understandings , when they see souldiers arrived at such an improvement , who were bred taylors , shoe-makers , coblers , &c. not that i write this ( god knoweth my heart ) in disgrace of them , because they were bred in so meane callings , which are both honest in themselves , and usefull in the commonwealth ; yea , i am so farr from thinking ill of them , for being bred in so poor trades , that i should think better of them for returning unto them againe . xviii . bird in the brest . i saw two men fighting together , till a third casually passing by interposed himself to part them , the blows of the one fell on his face , of the other on his back , of both on his body , being the screen betwixt the fiery anger of the two fighters . some of the beholders laughed at him as well enough served , for medling with matters which belonged not to him . others pitied him , conceiving every man concerned to prevent blood-shed betwixt neighbours , and christianity it self was commission enough to interest him therein . however , this is the sad fate which attended all moderate persons , which will mediate betwixt opposite parties . they may complain with david , they have rewarded me evil for good , and hatred for my good-will . yet let not such hereby be disheartned , but know that ( besides the reward in heaven ) the very work of moderation is the wages of moderation . for it carrieth with it a marvellous contentment in his conscience , who hath endeavoured his utmost in order to unity , though unhappy in his success . xix . fair hopes . a traveller , who had been newly robbed , inquired of the first gentleman he met , who also was in a melancholy humour ( a cause haveing lately gone against him ) where he might find a iustice of peace , to whom the gentleman replied , you ask for two things together , which singly and severally are not to be had . i neither know where justice is , nor yet where peace is to be found . let us not make the condition of our land worse then it was ; westminster-hall was ever open , though the proceedings of iustice therein were much interrupted and obstructed with military impressions . peace , we confesse , hath bin a stranger unto us a long time , heart-burnings remaining , when house-burnings are quenched ; but now , blessed be god , we are in a faire probability of recovering both , if our sins and ingratitude blast not our most hopeful expectations . xx . riddle unriddled . we read [ sam. . ] that when absalom aspired to his fathers kingdom , with him went two hundred men out of ierusalem that were called , and they went in their simplicity , and they knew not any thing . if any have so little charity , as to call these persons traitors , i will have so much confidence as to term them loyal traitors , and ( god willing ) justifie the seeming contradiction . for they lodged not in their hearts the least disloyal thought against the person and power of king david . but alas when these two hundred were mixed among two thousand , ten thousand , twenty thousand of active and designing traytors ; these poor men might in the violent multitude be hurried on , not only beyond their intentions , but even against their resolutions . such as are sensible with sorrow that their well intending simplicity hath been imposed on , abused and deluded by the subtilty of others , may comfort and content themselves in the sincerity of their own soules ; god , no doubt , hath already forgiven them , and therefore men ought to revoke their uncharitable censures of them . and yet divine iustice will have its full tale of intended stripes , taking so many off from the back of the deceived , and laying them on the shoulders of the deceivers . xxi . no record to remaine . i never did read , nor can learn from any , that ever queen elizabeth had any ship-royal , which in the name thereof carried the memorial of any particular conquest she got either by land or by water . yet was she as victorious as any prince in her age , and ( which is mainly material ) her conquests were mostly atchieved against forreign enemies . the ships of her navy , had onely honest and wholesom names , the endeavour , the boneadventure , the return , the unity , &c. some of our modern ships carry a very great burthen in their names , i mean , the memorial of some fatal fights in the civil wars in our own nation , and the conquerours ought not to take much joy , as the conquered must take grief in the remembrance thereof . i am utterly against the rebaptizing of christians , but i am for the redipping of ships , that not only some inoffensive , but ingratiating names may be put upon them ; the vnity , the reconciliation , the agreement , the concord , and healing titles . ( i speak more like a book-man , than a sea-man ) and others to that purpose . xxii . all for the present . there is a pernicious humour of a catching nature , wherewith the mouths of many , and hearts of more , are infected . some there are , that are , so covetous to see the settlement of church and state according to their own desires , that , if it be not done in our dayes ( say they ) we care not whether it be done at all or no . such mens souls live in a lane , having weak heads and narrow hearts , their faith being little and charity less , being all for themselves , and nothing for posterity . these men living in india , would prove ill common-wealthsmen , and would lay no foundation for porcellana or china-dishes , because despairing to reap benefit thereby , as not ripened to perfection in a hundred years . oh! give me that good mans gracious temper , who earnestly desired the prosperity of the church , whatsoever became of himself , whose verses i will offer to translate . seu me terra tegit , seu vastum contegit aequor ; exoptata piis-saecula fausta precor . buried in earth , or drownd i' th maine . eat up by worms or fishes ; i pray the pious may obtain for happy times their wishes . and if we our selvs with aged * barzillai be superannuated to behold the happy establishment of church and state , may we ( dying in * faith , though not having received the promises ) bequeath the certain reversions of our chimhams , i mean the next generation which shall rise up after us . xxiii . courtesy gaineth . i have heard the royall party ( would i could say without any cause ) complained of , that they have not charity enough for converts , who came off unto them from the opposite side ; who though they express a sence of and sorrow for their mistakes , and have given testimony ( though perchance not so plain and publick as others expected ) of their sincerity , yet still they are suspected , as unsound , and such as frown not on , look but asquint at them . this hath done much mischief , and retarded the return of many to their side ; for , had these their van-curriers been but kindly entertained , possibly ere now their whole army had came over unto us ; which now are disheartned by the cold welcome of these converts . let this fault be mended for the future , that such proselytes may meet with nothing to discourage , all things to comfort and content them . let us give them not onely the right hand of fellowship , but even the upper-hand of superiority . one asked a mother , who had brought up many children to a marriageable age , what arts she used to breed up so numerous an issue ; none other , ( said she ) save onely , i alwaies made the most of the youngest . let the benjamins ever be darlings , and the last-borne , whose eyes were newest opened with the sight of their errours , be treated with the greatest affection . xxiv . moderation . arthur plantagenet viscount lisle , natural son to king edward the fourth , and ( which is the greatest honour to his memory ) direct ancestor , in the fifth degree , to the right honourable , & most renowned lord general george monk , was for a fault of his servants ( intending to betray calis to the king of france ) committed to the tower by king henry the eight , where well knowing the fury and fiercenesse of that king he daily expected death . but the innocence of this lord appearing after much search , the king sent him a rich ring off his own finger , with so comfortable words , that at the hearing therof , a sudden joy * overcharged his heart , whereof he dyed that night ; so fatal was not onely the anger , but the love of that king . england for this many years hath bin in a languishing condition , whose case hath been so much the sadder , than this lords was , because conscious of a great guilt , whereby she hath justly incurred gods displeasure . if god of his goodnesse should be pleased to restore her to his favour , may he also give her moderation safely to digest and concoct her own happinesse , that she may not runne from one extreame to another , and excessive joy prove more destructive unto her , then grief hath been hitherto . xxv . preparative . twilight , is a great blessing of god to mankind : for , should our eyes be instantly posted out of darknesse into light , out of mid-night into morning , so sudden a surprisal would blind us . god therefore of his goodnesse hath made the intermediate twilight to prepare our eyes for the reception of the light . such is his dealing with our english nation . we were lately in the mid-night of misery . it was questionable whether the law should first draw up the will and testament of dying divinitie ; or divinitie first make a funeral sermon for expiring law . violence stood ready to invade our property ; heresies , and schismes , to oppresse religion . blessed be god , we are now brought into a better condition , yea , we are past the equilibrium ; the beame beginning to break on the better side , and our hopes to have the mastery of our despaires . god grant , this twilight may prove crepusculum matutinum fore running the rising of the sun , and increase of our happinesse . xxvi . revenge with a witnesse . frederick * the second emperour of germany being at piza in italy , and distressed for want of money to pay his army , sent for petrus de vineis an able man , who formerly had been his secretary , but whose eyes he had caused to be bored out for some misdemeanour . being demanded of the emperour which way he might most speedily and safely ( as to outward danger ) recruit his treasury , his secretary gave him councel to seize on the plate of all the churches and monasteries of that city , which he did accordingly , and amongst the rest he took zonam auream , or the golden girdle , out of one church , of inestimable value . this blinde secretary returning home to his wife , told her , now i am even with the emperour for putting out my eyes , having put him on such a project , which , i hope , he will pursue , to is own destruction . he hath made me a spectacle to men , but i have made him a monster unto god . let such who are concerned herein , see what successe the emperour had in this his expedition , founded on sacriledge , and the longer they look thereon , the worse i am sure they will like it to barr further application . xxvii . a gnat , no gnat . one needlesly precise , took causles exception at a gent. for using the word in troth in his discourse , as if it had been a kind of an oath . the gent. pleaded for himself , that in truth was a word inoffensive , even in his judgment who accused him . secondly , that he was borne farre north , where their broad and dorick dialect pronounced truth , troth , and he did humbly conceave the tone of the tongue was , no fault of the heart . lastly , he alleadged the twenty fifth psalme , as it is translated in meter . to them that keep his testament the witnesse of his troth . and thus at last , with much adoe , his seeming fault was remitted . i am afraid if one should declare for troth and peace , and not for truth and peace , it would occasion some offence ; however , rather then it should make any difference , the former will be as acceptable to the north of trent , as the latter will please all good people south thereof . xxviii . silence a while . had not mine eyes ( as any other mans may ) read it in the printed proclamations of king edward the sixth , ( when the pulpitts generally popish , sounded the alarme to ketts rebellion , and the devonshire commotion ) i would not have beleived what followeth . edw. . septemb. . by these presents , wee inhibite generally all manner of preachers whatsoever they be , to preach in this meane space , * to the intent that the whole clergy might apply themselves in prayer to almightie god , for the better atchieving of the same most godlie intent , and purpose of reformation . what hurt were it , if in this juncture of time , all our preaching were turned into praying for one moneth together , that god would settle a happy peace in this nation . however if this be offensive to any , and giveth cause of distast , the second motion may be imbraced , that for a year at least , all pulpits may be silent , as to any part of differences relating to our times , and only deliver what belongeth to faith and good workes . xxix . send humilitie . i do not remember , that the word infinite is in scripture attributed to any creature , save to the city of ninive , naham . . ethyopia and egypt were her strength , and it was infinite . but what is now become of ninive ? it is even buried in its own ruines , and may have this epitaph upon it ; hic jacet finis infiniti , here lyeth the end of what was endlesse . he , who beheld the multitude of actors & beholders , at the mustering in hide park , on the . of aprill last , will say , that there was an infinite number of people therin . some would hardly beleeve , that the whole nation could afford so many , as the city of london alone did then produce . my prayer shall ever be , that this great city may be kept either in the wholesome ignorance , or humble knowledge of its own strength , least the people numberlesse prove masterlesse therin . and let them remember ( god forfend the parallet ) what is become of great ninive at this day , annihilated for the pride thereof . xxx . rather fold over , then fall short . solomons temple was seven years in building , kings . . and such , who seriously consider the magnificence thereof , will more wonder , that it was done so soon , then doing so long . now , had solomon at the beginning of this building abolished the tabernacle made by moses , ( because too meane and little for so mighty , and so numerous a nation ) god had been seven years without any place of publick service . but that wise prince continued the tabernacle to all uses and purposes , untill the temple was finished , and then kings . . they brought up the ark of the lord , and the tabernacle of the congregation , and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle , even those did the priests and the levites bring up . and as it followeth afterwards , vers. . they brought in the ark of the covenant of the lord , unto his place , into the oracle of the house . and certainly all the rest of the tabernacle ( consisting of such materials , as might be taken down , and kept in chests and coffers ) were deposited in the temple , though , it may be , no use was made therof . it had been well , if , before the old government of the church was taken down , a new one had first been settled . yea , rather let god have two houses together , then none at all ; least piety be starved to death with cold , by lying out of dores in the intervall , betwixt the demolishing of an old , and the erecting of a new church-discipline . xxxi . no mans work . christ , when on earth , cured many a spot , ( especially of leprosie ) but never smoothed any wrinkle ; never made any old man young again . but in heaven he will do both , eph. . . when he shall present it to himself a glorious church , not having spot or wrinkle , or any such thing , but that it should be holy and without blemish . triumphant perfection is not to be hoped for in the militant church ; there will be in it many spots and wrinkles , as long as it consisteth of sinful mortal men , the members thereof : it is christs work , not mans work to make a perfect reformation . such therefore are no good politicians , who will make a sore to mend a spot , cause a wound to plain a wrinkle , do a great and certain mischief , when a small and uncertain benefit will thereby redound . xxxii . three make up one . young king ioash had onely a lease of piety , and not for his own , but his vncles life , kin. . . he did that which was right in the sight of the lord all his dayes , wherein iehoiada the priest instructed him . iehu was good in the midst of his life , and a zealous reformer to the utter abolishing of baal out of israel , but in his old age . . kin. . . he returned to the politick sins of ieroboam , worshipping the calves in dan and bethel . manasseh was bad in the beginning and middle of his life , filling ierusalem with idolatry ; onely towards the end thereof , when carried into a strange land , he came home to himself , and destroyed the prophane altars , he had erected . these three put together make one perfect servant of god . take the morning and rise with ioash , the noon and shine with iehu , the night and set with manasseh . begin with youth-ioash , continue with man-iehu , conclude with old-man-manasse ; and all put together will spel one good christian , yea , one good perfect reformer . xxxiii . sero , sed serio . nebuchadnezzar observed three gradations in plundering the temple ; first , he mannerly sipped and took but a tast of the wealth thereof , chro. . . he carried of the vessels of the house of the lord to babylon . next , he mended his draught , and drank very deep , vers. . when the year was expired , nebuchadnezzar sent and brought iehoiachin to babylon , with the goodly vessels of the house of the lord . lastly , he emptied the cup , not leaving one drop behind , vers. . and all the vessels of the house of the lord , great and small , brought he to babylon . it was the mercy of god , to allow his people space to repent , had they made their seasonable composition with god , after the first inroad ; they had prevented the second : if after the second , they had prevented the last and final destruction . god hath suffered our civil wars some sixteen years since , first to tast of the wealth of our nation ; and we met not god with suitable humiliation . his justice then went farther ▪ and the sword took the goodly vessels , the gallantry and gaiety of england from us ; . our massie plate . . pleasant pictures . . precious jewels . . rare libraries . and . magnificent palaces ; [ holdenby , theobalds , richmond ] carrying majesty in their structure ; . melted down . . sold . . lost , or drowned . . transported . . levelled to the ground . god grant , that we may sue out our pardon by serious repentance . before all the vessels , great and small , be taken away in a renewed warre , that the remnant of wealth , which is left in the land , may be continued therein . xxxiv . by degrees . we read that the nailes in the holy of holies , chro. . , and . were of fine gold . hence ariseth a question , how such nailes could be usefull ? pure gold being so flexible , that a naile made thereof will bow and not drive . now i was present at the debate hereof , betwixt the best working-goldsmiths in london , where ( among many other ingenuous answers ) this carried away the credit , for the greatest probability thereof , viz. that they were screw-nailes , which had holes prepared for their reception , and so were wound in by degrees . gods work must not be done lazily , but leisurely : haste maketh wast in this kinde . in reformations of great importance , the violent driving in of the naile , will either break the head , or bow the point thereof , or rive and split that , which should be fastned therewith . that may insensibly be screwed , which cannot suddenly be knockt into people . fair and softly goeth far , but alas ! we have too many fiery spirits , who with iehu drive on so furiously , they will over turne all , in church and state , if their fiercenesse be not seasonably retrenched . xxxv . good augury . i was much affected with reading that distick in ovid , as having somewhat extraordinary therein . tarpeia quondā praedixit ab ilice cornix , est , bene non potuit dicere , dixit , erit . the crow sometimes did sit and spel on top of tarpie ▪ hall ; she could not say all' 's well , all' 's well , but said it shall , it shall . but what do i listen to the language of the crow , whose black colour hath a cast of hell therein in superstitious south-saying . let us hearken to what the dove of the holy spirit saith , promising gods servants , though the present times be bad , the future will be better . psal. . . the meeke shall inherite the earth , and shal delight themselves in the abundance of peace . xxxvi . substract not , but add. a covetous courtier complained to king edward the sixt of christ colledge in cambridge , that it was a superstitious foundation , consisting of a master and twelve fellowes , in imitation of christ , and his twelve apostles . he advised the king also , to take away one or two fellowships , so to discompose that superstitious number . oh no , ( said the king ) i have a better way , then that , to mar their conceit , i will add a thirteenth fellowship unto them ; which he did accordingly , and so it remaineth to this day . well-fare their hearts , who will not only wear out their shooes , but also their feet in gods service , and yet gain not a shoe-latchet thereby . when our saviour drave the sheep and oxen out of the temple , he did not drive them into his own pasture , nor swept the coyne into his own pockets , when he overturned the tables of the mony-changers . but we have in our dayes many , who are forward to offer to god such zeal , which not onely cost them nothing , but wherewith they have gained great estates . xxxvii . send such musick . we read kings . . that solomon , when he had ended his excellent prayer , he blessed the people , but was not this invading the sacerdotal function ? seeing it was not crown-work , but * miter work , to do it . no , surely solomons act therein was lawfull , and laudable , there being a threefold blessing . i. imparative ; so god only blessed his people , who commandeth deliverances for israel . ii. indicative ; solemnly to declare gods blessing to , and put his name upon the people , and this was the priests work . iii. optative ; wishing , and desiring gods blessing on the people , and this was done by solomon . yea , it is remarkable , that in the same chapter , vers. . the people blessed the king . o happy reciprocation betwixt them ! when the king blesseth his people ( if his words be rightly understood ) all may be wel . but when a people blesseth their king , all is well . xxxviii . by hook and by crook . marvellous was the confidence of those merchants , iam. . . go to now , ye that say , to day , or to morrow we will go into such a city , and continue there a year , and buy , and sell , and get gaine . what false herauldry have we here , presumption on presumption ? what insurance-office had they been at , to secure their lives for a twelve-moneth , but , this being granted , how could they certainly promise themselves , that they this yeare should get gain , except they had surely known what would have been dear the next yeare . merchandizing is a ticklish matter , seeing many buy and sell , and live by the losse . either , then trading in those times was quicker and better then in ours , or , ( which is most probable ) they were all resolved on the point , to cheat , cozen , lie , swear and forswear , and to gain , by what means soever . our age and land affordeth many of their temper , and of such saint paul speaketh , tim. . . they will be rich ; will , whether god will , or will not ; will , though it cost them the forfeiture of their conscience , to compasse their designes . xxxix . without care no cure . a woman , when newly delivered of a childe , her paine is ended , her peril is but new begun ; a little distemper in dyet , or a small cold taken may inflame her into a feaver , and endanger her life . wherefore when the welfare of such a person is enquired after . this answer-general is returned , she is well for one in her condition ; the third , fifth , and ninth dayes , [ all criticall ] must be expected , till which time bene-male is all the health which the latine tongue will allow her . england is this green woman , lately brought to bed of a long-expected childe liberty ▪ many wise men suspected that she would have died in travell , and both childe and mother miscarrie . but god be thanked for a good midwife , who would not prevent , but attend the date of nature ▪ however all , yea , most of the danger is not yet past . numerous is the multitude of male-contents , and many difficulties must be encountred before our peace can be setled . god grant the woman be not wilful in fitts of her distemper , to be ordered by the discretion of her nurses , which now in parliament most carefully attend her recovery . xl . keep your castle . soon after the kings death , i preached in a church near london , and a person then in great power , ( now levelled with his fellowes ) was present at my sermon . now i had this passage in my prayer , god in his due time settle our nation on the trve fovndation thereof . the [ then ] great man demanded of me what i meant by true foundation . i answered , that i was no lawyer , nor states-man , and therefore skill in such matters was not to be expected from me . he pressed me further to express my self , whether thereby i did not intend the king , lords , and commons . i returned , that it was a part of my prayer to god , who had more knowledg , then i had ignorance in all things , that he knew what was the true foundation , and i remitted all to his wisdome and goodnesse . when men come with netts in their eares , it is good for the preacher to have neither fish nor fowle in his tongue . but blessed be god , now we need not lye at so close a guard . let the gent. now know , that what he suspected i then intended in my words , and let him make what improvement he pleaseth thereof . xli . too much beneath . king hen. the seventh was much troubled ( as he was wont to say ) with idols , scenecal royaletts , poor petty , pittifull persons , who pretended themselves princes . one of these was called lambert simnel , whom the king at last , with much care and cost , some expence of blood , but more of money , reduced into his power , and got his person into his possession . then , instead of other punishment , he made him a turne-broach , and afterwards ( on his peaceable behaviour ) he was * preferred one of the kings under-falconers , and as one tartly said , a fit place for the buzzard , to keep hawks , who would have been an eagle . the king perceived that this lambert was no daring , dangerous , and designing person , and therefore he would not make him ( who was contemptible in himself ) considerable for any noble punishment imposed upon him . royal revenge will not stoop to a low object ; some malefactors are too mean to be made publike examples . let them live , that the pointing of peoples fingers may be so many arrows to pierce them . see , there goes ingratitude to his master : there walkes , &c. such a life will smart as death , and such a death may be sanctified for life unto them , i mean , may occasion their serious sorrow , and cordial repentance , wherby gods pardon , and their eternal salvation may be obtained , which ought to be the desire of all good christians , as well for others as themselves . xlii . patience a while . the souldiers asked of iohn baptist , luke . . . &c. and what shall we do . every man ought ( not curiously to enquire into the duty of others , but ) to attend his own concernments . the baptist returned , do violence to no man , neither accuse any falsely , and be content with your wages . good counsel to the souldiers of this age . do violence to no man , plunder no man , accuse no man falsely . make no men malignants by wrongful information , and be content with your wages . but i have heard som of the most moderat of the souldiers , not without cause , to complain . he is a mutineer indeed , who wil not be content with his wages . but alas , we must be content without our wages , having so much of our arreares due unto us , this is an hard chapter indeed . and iohn baptist himselfe ( though feeding hardly on locusts and wild hony ) could not live without any food . indeed their case is to be pitied , and yet such as are ingenuous 'mongst them will be perswaded , to have patience but a while , the nation , being now in fermentation , & tending to a consistency . the wisdom of the parliament is such , they will find out the most speedy , and easy means to pay them , and such their justice , no intent is there to defraud them of a farthing , whatsoever ill-affected male-contents may suggest to the contrary . xliii . in the middle . god in his providence fixed my nativity in a remarkable place . i was borne at alwincle in northamptonshire , where my father was the painful preacher of saint peters . this village was distanced one good mile west from a church , where mr. brown , founder of the brownists did dwell , whom out of curiosity , when a youth , i often visited . it was likewise a mile and half distant east from liveden , where francis tresham esquire , so active in the gunpowder treason , had a large demeasne , and ancient habitation . my nativity may minde me of moderation , whose cradle was rocked betwixt two rocks . now seeing i was never such a churle as to desire to eat my morsel alone , let such who like my prayer joyn with me therein . god grant we may hit the golden mean , and endeavour to avoid all extremes ; the fanatick anabaptist on the one side , and the fiery zeal of the iesuite on the other , that so we may be true protestants , or , which is a far better name , real christians indeed . xliii . amending . all generally hate a sluttish-house , wherein nastyness hath not onely taken livery and seisin , but also hath been a long time in the peaceable possession thereof . however , reasonable men will be contented with a house belittered with straw , and will dispense with dust it self , whilest the house is sweeping , because it hath uncleannesse in order to cleaness . many things in england are out of joynt for the present , and a strange confusion there is in church and state , but let this comfort us , we trust it is confusion in tendency to order . and therfore let us for a time more patiently comport therewith . xliv . too much truth . some perchance will smile , though i am sure all should sigh at the following story . a minister of these times sharply chid one of his parish , for having a base childe , and told him he must take order for the keeping thereof . why sir , answered the man , i conceave it more reasonable that you should maintaine it . for i am not book-learned , and kenne not a letter in the bible , yea , i have been your parishioner this seven years , present every lords day at the church , yet did i never there hear you read the ten commandements , i never heard that precept read , thou shalt not commit adultery probably , had you told me my duty , i had not committed this folly . it is an abominable shame , and a crying sinne of this land , that poor people hear not in their churches the summ of what they should pray for , beleeve , and practice , many mock ▪ ministers having banished out of divine service , the use of the lords prayer , creed , and ten commandements . xlv . as it was . some alive will be deposed for the truth of this strange accident , though i forbeare the naming of place or persons . a carelesse maid which attended a gentlemans childe , fell asleepe whilest the rest of the family were at church ; an ape taking the childe out of the cradle , carried it to the roofe of the house , and there ( according to his rude manner ) fell a dancing and dandling thereof , down head , up heeles , as it happened . the father of the childe returning ( with his family ) from the church commented with his own eyes on his childs sad condition . bemone he might , help it , he could not . dangerous to shoote the ape , where the bullet might hit the babe ; all fall to their prayers as their last , and best refuge , that the innocent childe ( whose precipice they suspected ) might be preserved . but when the ape was well wearied with its own activity , he fairly went down , and formally laid the childe where he found it in the cradle . fanaticks have pleased their fancies these late years , with turning and tossing and tumbling of religion , upward , and downward , and backward , and forward , they have cast and contrived it into a hundred antick-postures , of their own imagining . however , it is now to be hoped , that after they have tired themselves out with doing of nothing , but only trying and tampering this , and that way , to no purpose , they may at last returne and leave religion in the same condition wherein they found it . xlvi . no so , longe . solomon was the ridle of the world , being the richest and poorest of princes . richest , for once in three yeares the land of ophire sailed to ierusalem , and caused such plenty of gold therein . poorest , as appeareth by his imposing so intolerable taxes on his subjects , the refusal of the mitigation whereof , caused the defection of the ten tribes from the house of david . but how came solomon to be so much behind hand ? some i know score it on the account of his building of the temple , as if so magnificent a structure had impaired , and exhausted his estate . but in very deed , it was his keeping of seven hundred wives , and three hundred concubines , and his concubines in all probability , more expensive then his wives , ( as the thiefe in the candle wasteth more wax , then the wick therof ) all these had their several courts , which must needs amount to a vast expence . how cometh the great treasure of our land to be low , and the debts therof so high ? surely it is not by building of churches , all the world will be her compurgators therein . it is rather because we maintaine ( and must for a time for our safety ) such a numerous army of souldiers . well , it had been both for the profit , credit , and conscience of solomon , to have reduced his wives to a smaller number , as we hope in due time our standing army shall be epitomized to a more moderate proportion . xlvii . thanke god . a nuncio of the popes , was treated at sienna , by a prime person , with a great feast . it hapned there was present thereat , a syndiek of the citty ( being a magistrate , parallel in his place , to one of our aldermen ) who , as full of words , as empty of wit , engrossed all the discourse at the table to himself , who might with as good manners have eaten all the meat at the supper . the entertainer , sorry to see him discover so much weaknesse , to the disgrace of himself , endeavoured to stop the superfluity of his talke . all in vaine . the leaks in a rotten ship might sooner be stanched . at last , to excuse the matter ( as well as he might ) he told the nuncio privately , you i am sure , have some weak men at rome , as well as we have at sienna . we have so ( said the nuntio ) but we make them no syndickes . it cannot be otherwise , but that in so spacious a land , so numerous a people as england is , we must have many weak men , and some of them of great wealth , and estates . yea , such who are not only guilty of plaine and simple ignorance , but of ignorance garded and embroidered with their own conceitedness . but , blessed be god , they are not chosen parliament men ; the diffusive nation was never more carefull in their elections of their representatives . god grant , that as the several dayes workes in the creation were singly by god pronounced good , but the last dayes work ( being the collection , and complication of them all ) very good , so these persons , good as single instruments , may be best in a consort as met together . ●● xlix . can good come from ignorance . king iames was no lesse dextrous at , then desirous of the discovery of such , who belyed the father of lies , and falsely pretended themselves possest with a devil . now a maid dissembled such a possession , and for the better colour thereof , when the first verses of the gospel of saint iohn were read in her hearing , she would fall into strange fits of fuming and foaming , to the amazement of the beholders . but when the king caused one of his chaplains to read the same in the original ; the same maid ( possessed , it seems , with an english devil , who understood not a word of greek ) was tame and quiet ▪ without any impression upon her . i know a factious parish , wherein if he minister in his pulpit had but named the word kingdom , the people would have bin ready to have petitioned against him for a malignant . but as for realme , the same in french , he might safely use it in his sermons as oft as he pleased . ignorance which generally inflameth , somtimes by good hap , abateth mens malice . the best is , that now one may without danger , use either word , seeing england was a kingdome a thousand yeares ago , and may be one ( if the world last so long ) a thousand years hereafter . l. trusting maketh one trusty . charles * the second , king of the scots , when a childe was much troubled with a weaknesse in his legs , and was appointed to weare steel-bootes , for the strengthning of them . the weights of these so clogged the childe , that he enjoyed not himself in any degree , but moaned himself , fasting at feasts , yea , his very play being work unto him , he may be said to be a prisoner in his own palace . it hapned that an aged rocker which waited on him , took the steel-boots from his legs , and cast them in a place , where it was hard to find them there , and impossible to fetch them thence , promising the countess of dorset , ( governess of the prince ) that if any anger arised thereof , she would take all the blame on her self . not long after , the king coming into the nursery , and beholding the boots taken from his legs , was offended thereat , demanding in some anger , who had done it . it was i sir ( said the rocker ) who had the honour ( some thirty years since ) to attend on your highness in your infancie , when you had the same infirmity wherewith now the prince , ( your very own son ) is troubled . and then , the lady cary , ( afterward countess of monmouth ) commanded your steel boots to be taken off , who , blessed be god , since have gathered strength , and arrived at a good stature . the nation is too noble , when his maiesty , ( who hitherto hath had a short course , but a long pilgrimage , ) shall return from forreign parts , to impose any other steel-boots upon him , then the observing the lawes of the land , ( which are his own stockings ) that so with joy and comfort he may enter on what was his own inheritance . but i remember , when luther began first to mislike so me errours in the romish church , and complained thereof to staupitius his confessor , he used to say unto him . abi in cellam & ora , get you gone into your cell and pray . so will i do , ( who have now done ) and leave the managing of the rest to those to vvhom it is most proper to advance gods glory , and their countreys good . amen . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a e- * munster's cosmin german . * camd. brit. in leicesterstire . * in his advancement of learning . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} vidit . notes for div a e- * in his brit. p. . * camdens brit. in northumb. * idem in devon . * sam. . . * cor. . . * sam. . . * heb. . . * speed . chron. pag . * swingers theat. . vol. . lib. . pag. . sub titulo ultionis . * this lasted in full force but for som ●ew weekes . chron. . . to foretell ; hence spelman . * numb. . . * lord bacon in the life of king hen. . gen. . . * from the mouth of my worthie friend , now gon to god . d. clare chaplain then to his highnesse . daily devotions, or, the christians morning and evening sacrifice digested into prayers and meditations, for every day in the week, and other occasions : with some short directions for a godly life / by john colet ... colet, john, ?- . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing c estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) daily devotions, or, the christians morning and evening sacrifice digested into prayers and meditations, for every day in the week, and other occasions : with some short directions for a godly life / by john colet ... colet, john, ?- . fuller, thomas, - . the nineteenth edition [ ], , [ ] p. : port. printed for nath. ponder ... and edw. evets ..., london : . contains frontispiece portrait of john colet. published also with title: a right fruitful admonition concerning the order of a good christian man's life. table of contents: [ ] p. at end. imperfect: tightly bound with print show-through and loss of print. reproduction of original in british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng devotional exercises -- early works to . christian life -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - olivia bottum sampled and proofread - olivia bottum text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion daily devotions . or the christians morning and evening sacrifice . digested into prayers and meditations , for every day in the week , and other occasions . with some short directions for a godly life . by john colet , d. d. dean of st pauls , london , and founder of that famous school near adjoyning . the nineteenth edition , with a brief account of the authors life , by dr. fuller . london , printed for nath. ponder at the peacock in the poultrey , and edw. evets at the green dragon in st paul's church-yard . . the effigies of iohn collett dr of divinitie and some time dean of st paules church london who departed this life ano dom : aged years . the life of that reverend divine , dr. colet , sometimes dean of s. pauls . john colet , son of sir henry colet , mercer , and twice lord mayor of london , was the only surviving child his parents had of two and twenty . thus god , though he breaks the ring , left them the diamond in preserving him alive . in his youth he visited foreign ●arts , and the scattered perfections ●f several nations he collected and ●istilled into himself ; returning home , in oxford he publickly expounded all saint paul ' s epistles , with no less profit to others than applause to himself . he taught the learned there to beat their swords into mattocks , and their spears into pruning-hooks , to turn disputes into doctrines , controversies into positive divinity . then began the beams of his worth to shine in the court , and king henry the seventh ( a knowing prince who generally grounded his favour on desert , ) for his well expounding saint paul ' s epistles , made him dean of saint pauls in london . here colet read his former lectures over again , preferring rather to set on the table , wholsome cold meat , which had been there once before , than to feed his auditors with flesh half raw , though hot from the spit . but day shall as soon be without night , as a grand merit without envy attending it . some accused him as not thorow paced in his religion ; and confining on heresie in some opinions , as denying due reverence to images and saints , &c. but as our colet preferred the immediate going to god before mediation of saints , so god gave him the happiness to have direct access to his earthly king , without applying himself to the favour of courtiers . king henry the eighth had the hearing of his cause , and dismiss'd him with this worthy testimony : let other men chuse what doctor they please , this man shall be my doctor . he was ( as i may say ) a luther before luther , for his doctrine . a strict shunner of vice in himself , and punisher of it in those that were under him . look in this treatise to behold his faith , and on saint pauls school ( which he founded ) to see his charity . by t. f. d. d. a fruitful direction , and order of a good christian life , very profitable to be regarded of all people . with sundry fruitful precepts to be followed ; made by that worthy man , dr. colet , sometime dean of s. pauls . remember first of all ( virtuous reader ) that it is high wisdom , and great perfection thy self to know , and then thy self to despise ; thou must know that thou hast nothing that good is of thy self , but of god : for the gifts of god's nature and all other temporal gifts of this world , which be lawfully and truly obtained , well considered , are come to thee by the infinite goodness and grace of god , and not thy self . wherefore and in especial it is necessary for thee to know , that god of his great grace , hath made thee his image , having regard to thy memory , understanding and will , and that god is thy maker , and thou his wretched creature and thou art redeemed of god by the passion of jesus christ , and is thy helper , thy refuge and thy deliverer from all evil , and to consider and know the goodly order which god , of his infinite wisdom hath ordained thee to be ordered by : as to have these temporal goods for the necessity of the body , the body and sensual apperites to be ordered by the soul , the soul to be ordered by reason , and grace to know thy duty to god , and to thy neighbour ; and by all common reason if thou do keep this convenient order to god and his creatures , they shall keep their order to thee : but if thou do break thy order to thee of likelihood they shall break their orde● to thee ; for how should thy wife , children , servants , and other creatures with thee which thou hast doing , do their duty , and keep their order to thee if thou dost not so to god and to them ? and also think thou of a surety , that if thy sensual appetite be not ordered by reason and grace , thou art worse ordered than a beast ; for thou then livest out of order , and so doth not a beast ; which is a great shame and rebuke to thee , being a reasonable creature , and without the great mercy of god , it shall be thine eternal destruction : wherefore i say consider what thy sin is , in the ignorance of god , of thy self , and of thine own evil , and of his holiness : and search thine impenitency in this , that thou makest too light account of god's justice , and therefore thy heart waxeth hard ; it is far without feeling of faith , either toward god , or love towards thy neighbour , so that thou likest and lovest sin , and hast no grief nor hatred for it : examine further , whether thou hast not neglected god's word , either not in diligent hearing of it preached or read , or when thou hast heard it , in not regarding it : nay , whether thou hast not had more delight to read unprofitable blessings , savouring altogether of the flesh , such as thou shouldest ●e afraid once to think of , as it would have beseemed thy holy profession , and whether thou hast not rebelled against it , whilst thou hast withstood the working of it , that thou shouldest mortifie the old man , changing it and gaining upon it daily , till it be framed to gods most holy will : and if thou shalt find these things in thee , then judge thy self of sin , that thou be not judged of the lord , for it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living god moreover judge thy self for putting no difference between gods will and thy corrupt will , through which thou hast neglected gods will , and love thine own to fly from his and follow thine own ; which then hath plainly shewed it self , when his was plainly taught to be contrary to thine , and yet thou didst yield to it , in breathing forth unseemly and ungodly pangs , rageings , and murmurings against it ; and therefore judge thy self of this intolerable pride of mind , and stubbornness of heart , and of those unbridled affections , rebelling and murmuring against god , and mis-judging of him that reproveth thee : further see whether thou hast judged thy self for neglect of prayer , when thou hast omitted many days , never regarding it , but as a prophane person hast not once thought of t●● duty therein : and when thou hast prayed , hast done it in the ceremony , without tast or remorse of faith or sin , in such coldness and broken sort , that there hath been no life nor comfort in it : judge thy self , whether in prayer , thou hast practised the exercises of a broken heart healed in christ , and changed into righteousness whether the just mediation of god's goodness moveth thee to offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving , and worketh in thee the love thereof , that thou mightest be stirred up to love him , and to walk in that obedience that he requireth of thee : and because the abusing of gods creatures is a great sin , examine thy self , whether thou dost misuse them in forgetfulness of god , in pride of life to please thy self in the creature more than in the creator , seeing with the abuse of them to set forth thy self in pride , to please thy self and the fleshly eyes of others , rather , than in humbleness , to use them to the pleasing and praising almighty god the creator : in the use of all which things , the love of god , which appeareth unto thee to a continual meditation , to make thee to spie out sin in thy self , and to judge that to be sin , which is sin indeed , and in no wise to mince or diminish it , or to cover it with the figg-leaves of thine own vain excuses , but to lay it open before the lord , nakedly and plainly as it is ; so that thou call not sin righteousness , nor righteousness sin ; good evil , nor evil good : but condemn that which thou knowest to be sin , to abhor it , to flee from it , without all hypocrisie and cloaking of it with self-love , or nourishing it , or else with lightness and contempt to dwell in it ; and therefore thou must examin this sin throughly , of not applying thy heart and mind to meditate and understand , to believe and taste of the work of thy salvation wrought in christ crucified , through which thou walkest in security , wanting faith , and yet not feeling thy want , wanting the food of life , and the tast of god , and yet hungrest not after it , but thinkest thy self full when thou art empty , and nevertheless , art empty and poor indeed , to beg it at gods hands the supplyer thereof ; through which thou feelest not the incorporation into christs body , feel the effect thereof in christ's death : to die from sin in his resurrection , is to live no righteousness in his ascension : to ask after heavenly things , and to leave the earth and flesh , at his coming again , to be ready with faith and joy to meet him : an● here withal weigh what a great sin it is , not to hearken to the spirit of god , when 〈◊〉 might work in it , whereby thou dost grieve in and quench it , when thou dost not gladly obey it , and yield to the motions of it ; and therefore judge thy self for not putting off the old man with all his works , and for not putting on the new man , in bringing forth the fruits of regeneration , for not considering thine exile in the flesh from god , or in this world from heaven : to lament it , and the cause of it , and to extol the providence of god , by which thou livest : and for being idle , vain , ●roud , in thinking , speaking , and doing . again , for not feeling the estate of god's afflicted church , to sorrow in the affliction of it : for not seeking zealously to glorifie his gospel , through which thou art not throughly touched for any false doctrine , idolatry , or sin : for standing against which , the saints of god have been , and still are persecuted and killed , and yet thou livest carelesly without feeling of it , and art at a good point , sink it , or swim it . to conclude then , i mean by sin , whatsoever is declared to be sin in the word of god , which lyeth either seen or unseen in our hearts , of what estate soever we be , 〈◊〉 appeareth in life , which is found out 〈◊〉 the word of god , and so adjudged , which thou oughtest to lament before god in the ●xercises of a broken heart , to beat down thy heart with humbleness , to cause thee to beg mercy with aking heart , and very need , to seek that heavenly physician jesus christ , and of eager desire to feed on him by faith , to the assurance of life and salvation , that the sweetness thereof may work in thee the love of thy god to praise him , the love of his written word to do it , and in doing it to deny thy self , thy will , affection , and life ; that with humbleness thou maist walk always with and before the lord in the holiness and righteousness that pleaseth him , knowing that his eye doth search thy heart and life , to see in it his will done and obeyed : and always practising that which is good that thou maiest please him , and therefore must ask mercy ; and so if thou continually strive and labour to do it , he doth accept of thy imperfect doings in christ to encourage thee to take better hold , and to do better , &c. wherefore think , and thank god , and utterly despise thy self , and think thy self a wretch , in that god hath done so much for thee , and thou hast so oft offended his highness , and also done him so little service : and surely it is also great wisdom for thee to think , that if it had pleased god for to have given to all other men grace , as he hath given to thee , that they would have served him better than thou hast done : wherefore by his mercy , and grace , call unto thy remembrance thy degree or dignity which almighty god , of his goodness hath called thee unto , and according thereto , yield thy debt , and do thy duty : first , and principally , honour god as thy maker , love him as thy redeemer , fear him as thy judge . secondly , thy neighbour which is thy superiour obey : have concord and peace with them which be like with thee in degree , and have mercy on thy inferiors . thirdly , provide thee to have a heart purged , and a good custody of thy tongue : and in all thy words and deeds have ever in thy mind that thou shalt die shortly , and that god heareth and seeth every thing ; and that nothing is so privily done but it shall be made open . and every morning among other meditations and prayers , pray unto the lord god , that the day following thou mayest use this wretched world , in thy thoughts , words , and deeds , that thou mayest by the merits of christ's passion , eschew the pains of hell , and come to the joy everlasting ; and 〈◊〉 executing thereof , keep truth in words 〈◊〉 deeds , defend no man nor no matter against the truth . in all things think and trust in god , and he shall direct thy ways : trust not to thine own wit , but fear god , and he will keep thee from evil : be content to hear good counsel , though it be contrary to thy will ; for he is a very fool that will hear nothing gladly but what is according to his own mind : do no man harm , lest thou suffer the same ; as thou wouldest be done unto , so do thou unto others : be such to others as thou desirest they should be unto the. if thou be religious , remember that the due execution of true religion , is not in the wearing of the habit , but with a clear mind in very deed , to execute the rules of true religion , and the ordinances thereof : if thou be lay and unmarried , keep thee clean unto the time thou be married , and remember the sore and terrible punishment of noahs flood , and of the destruction of sodom and gomorrha , done to man for mis rising flesh ; and if thou intend to marry , or to be married , and hast a good wife ; thank god therefore , for she is of his sending ; and remember that there be three things pleasing to the spirit of god , that is to say , concord between brethren , love and charity between neighbours , and a man and wife well agreeing together : and having in remembrance , that the intent of marriage is not in the beastly appetite of the flesh , but to eschew the evil thereof , or to have children . and if thou have children , as much as thou maist , bring them up in virtue , to be the servants of god ; for it were better for them and thee not to be born , than otherwise . in thine authority , busie thee rather to be beloved of thine inferiours , than to be dreaded . let thy subjects and servants rather serve and obey thee for love , than for dread or need : with such a sovereign goodness govern thy subjects , that they may be glad to serve thee , both in punishment and in cherishing : keep a measurable mean , be not too streight , forget not to keep a convenient measure in all thy works : go not to meat but as a reasonable man , with thanks to god for his gifts , and then remember , that more be sick and die by superfluities of meats and drinks , than otherwise . wherefore eat with measure , to live in health ; at thy meat have no other but honest communication , and such as is according to thy knowledge ; backbite no man , be merry in honesty , for sorrow and care hath killed many , and no profit is therein . in no wise swear without compulsion of the law ; for where 〈◊〉 great swearing , from thence is never the ●●ague of god. in no wise brawl nor chide ; for solomon saith , better is a little with joy , than much with brawl and contention : and he saith , an evil person is ever chiding ; and therefore the angel of god shall be set against him : be content at all times to give part of that which god hath sent thee , for he that will not hear the cry of the poor , shall cry to god and not be heard . with good providence and discretion , see the time where , when , how , why , and wherefore thou speakest , dost , or biddest any thing to be done : when thou deemest or judgest any thing to be done , in poor or rich , behold and consider the cause , and not the person : be as meek in other mens cause and offences , as in thine own ; sit never in doom and judgment , without pity and mercy ; for while thou hast pity and mercy on other mens offences , thou hast mercy on thine own : for in what measure thou measurest to others , it shall be measured to thee again ; yet thou must execute judgment : for to do mercy and justice is more pleasant to god , than to pray , or do sacrifice unto him ; judge no man by light suspicion , prove first , and then judge ; in doubts , refer the judgment and sentence to gods might , and what thou knowest not , commit it to god. might , have little or none affection of these earthly and transitory things ; for blessed i● the rich man that trusteth not in mony or treasure ; remember as as man loveth , so he is ; for the lover is in the thing loved , more properly than in himself : wherefore if a man love earthly things , he may be called an earthly man ; but if he love properly heavenly things , or god , he may be called an heavenly or a godly man : therefore love god and heavenly things , for undoubtedly that is the best and most assured love ; for they be , and ever shall be permanent , & all earthly things be soon vanished and ended , and so the love of them is in vain . also it is high wisdom to fear god ; for that he saith himself , fear not him that can kill the body , and cannot hurt the soul ; but fear him that can kill the body and also the soul , and commit them to everlasting pain . wherefore every evening before thou go to bed , call to thy remembrance , as much as thou canst , thy thoughts , words , and deeds , said and done that day : and if any have been to thine own profit , and to the pleasure of god , heartily thank him , for by his grace it was done : and if any have been contrary to his will and plea●●re , ask heartily mercy , and reconcile thy 〈◊〉 shortly to him by repentance , to eschew the everlasting destruction of thy soul : for as s. augustine saith , there is not a greater madness , than for a little temporal delectation which is soon done , to lose the eternal joy , and to be bound to everlasting pain : from the which , the almighty father by his infinite power and mercy , bitter passion and infinite wisdom of jesus christ ; and by the infinite goodness and charity of the holy ghost , keep us now and for ever . amen . jam. . . let him know , that he which hath converted a sinner from going astray out of his way , shall save a soul from death , and shall hide a multitude of sins . what prayer is . prayer is an humble request either of the heart , or tongue , or both unto god , proceeding from our belief and acknowledgment of his power , as god , and of his goodness , as our father in jesus christ , to supply all our necessities , with thanksgiving unto him for any blessing received . the parts of a prayer are usually three : . humble confession . . petition or supplication . . hearty thanksgiving . . confession . which is an humble and penitent repetition of our sins and wickedness , with an acknowledgment of punishments and miseries thereby deserved , and with an earnest desire and prayer for absolution , and that for jesus christ alone . he that covereth his sins shall not prosper , but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them , shall have mercy . prov. . . i said i will confess my transgressions to the lord , and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin , psal . . . if we confess our sins , he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins , and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness , john . . my misdeeds prevail against me ; o be thou merciful to my sins , psal . . . . petition . petition or supplication is that part of prayer , in which we beseech god , the author of all good , and punisher of all ill , for all the mercies , comforts , graces , and blessings of this life , and the life to come , and for deliverance from all fears , ills , dangers , and punishments of this life , and the life to come , for our selves and others , and all for the merits of christ jesus alone , and his mediation . hearken unto my voice , o lord , when i cry unto thee : have mercy upon me , and hear me , psal . . . hear me , o god , in the multitude of thy mercies : even in the truth of thy salvation , psal . . . who can tell how oft he offendeth ? o cleanse me from my secret faults , psal . . have mercy upon me , o god , after thy great goodness ; according to the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences , psal . . whosoever shall call on the name of the lord shall be saved . rom. . . hearty thanksgiving . thanksgiving is an humble joyful acknowledgment and expression of our thanks unto almighty god for any mercy or blessing received , or promised ; and for preservation and deliverance from any calamity , danger , or distress , with denial of our own merits of the least of these , and a magnifying of the greatness and goodness of god unto us in and through jesus christ . give thanks unto the lord and call upon his name , psal . . whatsoever ye do in word or deed , do all in the name of the lord jesus , giving thanks to god the father , and by him , col. . . my mouth shall daily speak of thy righteousness and salvation , for i know no end thereof . psal . . . o that men would therefore praise the lord for his goodness , and declare the wonders he doth for the children of men : that they would offer unto him the sacrifice of thanksgiving , psal . . o lord thou art my god , i will exalt thee , i will praise thy name , for thou hast done wonderful things . isa . . . what shall i render unto the lord for all his benefits he hath done unto me ? i will take the cup of salvation , and call upon the name of the lord . psal . . most comfortable prayers for sunday morning . o lord my god and heavenly father , blessed be thy name for ever : dispose my heart ; open my lips , and give me thy holy spirit , to a true acknowledgment of all my sins , that my prayers may be heard of thee , in the name of thy son jesus christ our lord. amen . a psalm . hear me when i call , o god of my righteousness : for thou hast set me at liberty when i was in trouble : have mercy upon me , and hearken unto my prayer . my voice shalt thou hear betimes , o lord , early in the morning will i direct my prayer unto thee , and will look up . for thou art the god that hast no pleasure in wickedness , neither shall any evil dwell with thee . therefore , o lord , rebuke me not in thine indignation , neither chasten me in thy displeasure . have mercy upon me , o lord , for i am weak ; o lord heal me , for my bones are vexed . turn thee , o lord , and deliver my soul ; o save me for thy mercies sake . for in death no man remembreth thee , and who will give thee thanks in the pit ? wherefore away from me all ye th●● work vanity , for the lord hath heard th● voice of my complaint . the lord hath heard my petition , the lord will receive my prayer . for why ? my righteous god tryeth t●● very heart and reins . and my help cometh of god , which preserveth them that are true of heart . therefore , will i give thanks unto the● o lord , with my whole heart , and i w●●● speak of all thy marvellous works . i will be glad and rejoyce in thee , y●● my songs and praise will i make of th●● o thou most highest ! for god is a righteous judge , strong and patient , and god is provoked every day . if a man will not turn , he hath bent his bow , and will whet his sword , and make it ready . morning prayer . most mighty and gracious god , which hast brought me out of the nights darkness , into the light of thy truth to see the light of thy love , that i may rejoyce in the day of my visitation and salvation , whereby the day spring from on high hath visited me , and in the day of salvation thou wilt succour me . this day make me hear thy voice , and not harden my heart through unbelief or deceitfulness of sin , but that by faith i may enter into thy promised rest : give grace unto me , o lord , and to all thy people to walk warily , diligently and dutifully in my vocation , to do such good works wherewithal thou mayest be well pleased ; and that walking in thy ways , i may work out my salvation with fear and trembling ; and that all my meditations , thoughts , words , and works , may tend to the edifying of my christian brethren , the discharge of my duty , the consolation of my conscience , and the glorifying of thy most holy name , which art my god , my guide , my saviour and defender ; to whom be all praise and glory , power , might , dominion and majesty , now and for ever . amen . morning prayer . i yield thee humble and hearty thanks , o heavenly father , in thy son jesus christ , for thy innumerable benefits poured upon my soul and body , and that thou hast kept me this night past from many evils , both spiritual and corporal , and of thy great mercy , dost offer and give unto me time and space to repent , and amend my life , so as i might live henceforth , not as i will , but as thou wilt : and as my body doth draw continually nearer and nearer to the end ( the grave i mean ) so my soul might approach unto his end , that is heaven , and not hell : for in one state we stand not still , but either we are nearer the happy state of life , or else the unhappy condition of death eternal . wherefore , o my dear father , i beseech thee to be merciful unto me , and as of thy goodness thou givest me time to repent , so of the same thy goodness in christ . i humbly beseech thee to give me thy gracious gift of true , holy , perfect , and perpetual repentance , that i may more and more lament my former sinful life , trusting unseignedly in the rich mercies of thee my god , through the merits of thy son jesus christ , for the pardon of all my sins : and grant , o lord , i beseech thee , that i may unseignedly purpose , and effectually labour to amend my life this day , and so long as i have to live , to the praise of thy name , and the good example of others . and forasmuch as thou knowest my weakness , my ignorance , and great untowardness , to carry any cross or affliction , that thou wilt of thy merciful goodness , so temper and order all things towards me this day and ever , that i be never tempted or proved further than i shall be able to bear , but so to help me in the same , as may be most for thy glory , and my comfort . and although ( o god ) thy goodness , mercy , and truth , to mankind in all thy works doth abundantly appear ; yet herein chiefly thou declarest thy self to be most favourable , merciful , and gracious , that not suffering us to walk in darkness , ignorance and blindness , thou hast given us thy most holy and blessed word , to be a lanthorn to our feet to lighten our steps in the path-way of everlasting life , lest we should walk in the shadow of death : in which thy most blessed and sacred word , thou hast finally and perfectly set forth unto mankind , so much of thy glorious majesty as was expedient for us to know ; and not only that , but hast herein also fully exprest thy most holy and blessed will , whatsoever is necessary for the salvation of mankind , to be known , to bring him to life everlasting . give me grace , most merciful father , that for so high a treasure left among us , i may be thankful , reverently embrace , accept , and esteem of the same , as the most precious jewel in earth , and be therein confirmed most strongly , that all things therein contained be most undoubtedly true , not by any mortal man , but by the most holy spirit in man , penned and written to the comfort and behoof of man : and that i may most humbly , lowly , and with most high reverence submit my self thereunto , as becometh thy eternal majesty , and the word proceeding from thy most blessed mouth : that i may with reverence and obedience , read , hear , and occupy my self in the same , to the comfort of my soul , and the increase of thy glory : lighten my understanding ( most dear father ) with thy most holy spirit , that i may learn clearly , conceive and understand the things therein contained , which no mortal man can conceive , save those that have learned of thee , and whom thou by thy holy spirit dost lighten and instruct . guide me , dear father , with thy most holy spirit , that having the true understanding of the mysteries therein contained , i may be fully established and confirmed in the true knowledge of thee my dear father , and of thy beloved son my lord and saviour jesus christ , and in conscience throughly perswaded , that i have my full perfect salvation and life everlasting in him , and through his atonement made by his death and passion . that i do not vainly abuse the knowledge of thy most sacred word to satisfie vain curiosity , or brag of knowledge , but only to the relieving of my hungry and wounded conscience , to the loosing of my fettered soul , and the appeasing of my sorrowful heart : that i may to the end of my life walk in sincerity before thee my heavenly father , in the comforts of thy dear son my saviour , upholden still by the merciful power of the holy ghost ; to thine everlasting praise and glory for ever . amen . a confession to god the father . o lord my god , i confess unto thee , that my heart is unclean , that i am of polluted lips , wallowing in the dung , and stinking in the rottenness of mine own sin , so that i may justly tremble to appear before thy glorious presence , much more to present unto thee thy pure praises out of my defiled mouth : but who , except thou , o lord , can make me clean ? and what is pure which thou hast not purged ? therefore , o father of life , o lord of light , with all the forces of my soul , i do beseech thee to help me thy servant , whom of thy mercy thou hast created : cleanse my filthiness , lighten my darkness , inflame my coldness , quicken my dulness , awake my drowsiness , revive my deadness : repair the ruins of my soul , enlarge the frame of the understanding thereof , cleanse it from all earthly corruption , garnish it with thy heavenly graces , that it may be conveniently both sit and furnished to receive thee , that thou maist make thine entry , & possess that which is thine own , both by creation , and also by redemption : and that as thou art exalted above all creatures ; so above all creatures , i may honour thee and praise thee , not with that affection wherewith my weakness is able , either to do or to desire , but with that perfection wherewith in duty i should , and wherewith thy saints and angels indeed do : for what worthy praise can i give unto thee , by whose goodness i was created , by whose mercy i was redeemed , by whose power i am preserved , and by whose grace i look to be glorified ? when i was not , thou didst make me ; when i was lost and forlorn , thou camest down and tookest mortality upon thee to redeem me : these and many other benefits have i received , some in hand , and some in hope , although through my own sinful demeanour , i have almost both let go my hold , and lost my hope : therefore , o lord , i most humbly beseech thee save thy servant , save one of thy members , though poor and feeble ; save i say , a part of thy self , be as great in pardoning those that are submitted unto thee , as in punishing those that are rebellious : pour upon my heart the sweet streams of thy mercies : confirm my life , settle my faith , settle me in a right and upright course , and continue me in the same even unto the end : grant this , o father , through thy dear son jesus christ , to whom with thee and the holy ghost , be all honour and glory , for ever and ever . amen . a devout prayer to jesus christ . o most sweet saviour , and merciful redeemer , jesus christ the son of god , who although thou art high , yet art thou most humble ; and as thou art omnipotent , so art thou most meek ; and as thou art most mighty , so art thou most merciful : to thee o christ the giver of all felicity , the father of heaven hath given all power both in heaven and in earth . thou art the true pastor of our souls , thou art our messias , thou casteth off none that sue unto thee ; but as thou hast taken away the hand-writing that was against us , and hast fastned it to the cross , so art thou ready to impart the merits of thy passion to all such as write true repentance of their sins , call upon thee faithfully : wherefore my sweet saviour , i most faithfully & unfeignedly acknowledge the benefits that thou hast bestow'd upon me , & stedfastly believe that thou being an immaculate lamb , in whose mouth was never found guile , didst suffer most cruel torments at the hands of sinners , for the love of us most wretched sinners : for the which cause i most heartily beseech thee , and most humbly pray thee to accept me into the number of them whom thou wilt receive to mercy and favour ; and although i of my self be most unworthy thereof , yet thy merits can make me worthy ; to them i fly , craving that i may be so armed and defended by them , that i may subdue the world , the flesh , & the devil , even as thou hast gloriously conquered sin , death , and hell. thou seest , o my saviour , how i am daily and hourly beset with these three enemies , and so hardly besieged of them , that without thy help , i can by no means escape , but that i must needs be a prey unto one of them : strengthen me therefore , o lord , that neither the one with carnal lust , neither the other with delectable pleasures , nor satan with all his craft and subtil devices , get the dominion over me : thou hast bought me , thou hast paid for me ; save , keep and defend me , be always ready at the voice of my crying ; pour into me thy grace patiently to abide thy divine pleasure in all things : make me both at this present , and all the days of my life to have in my mind , and profoundly to root in my heart the mysteries of thy painful passion , and so to be filled with remembrance thereof , that sin may no more prevail with me , and that satan mine old enemy may well perceive that he hath neither part nor fellowship in me , but that i am both body and soul altogether thine : to whom , o my sweet saviour , with the father and the holy ghost , be ascribed all power , glory , and honour for ever and ever . amen . a prayer to the holy ghost . o holy spirit , worthy of all honour , which makest up the almighty . trinity , which proceedest from the father and the son , and art equal to either of them in glory , but differing from them but only in property of person , which of thy goodness , forgivest the sins of them that amend , which with thy holy breath cleansest mens minds , comforting them when they be in sorrow , cheering them up with pure gladness , when they be in heaviness , leading them into all truth when they be out of the way , kindling in them the fire of charity when they be a cold , knitting them together with the glue of peace when they are at variance , and garnish them with sundry gifts which profess the name of thy son jesus christ , by whose working , all things live which live indeed , whose delight is to dwell in the hearts of the simple , which thou hast vouchsafed to consecrate for temples to thy self , wherefore i do beseech thee , o dear father , to maintain those thy gifts in me , and to increase them daily more and more , that by thy governance the lusts of the flesh may dye in me , and the desire of the heavenly life may quicken and increase . let me so pass , i beseech thee , o my god , through the misty desart of this world ( thy light go before me ) as i may never be desiled with satans vices , nor be intangled with any errors disagreeing from thy truth , which the true catholick church hath delivered unto us by the instinct of thee , which livest and raignest with the father and the son everlasting ; to whom be all honour and glory for ever . amen . a fruitful prayer to god. o my dear lord and god , what is this world ? it is evil , it is a place of vain pleasure , a cage of iniquity , or rather lump of misery ; and what am i , lord , what am i , but a friend of this present evil world , and an enemy to thee ? what am i but a child of wrath , and son of darkness , so glued to sin , and lymed with iniquity , that my body is a body of sin ? what then , o lord , shall i do ? shall the mountain of sin oppress me , or the world with the baits of vanity so choak me , that i shall never like an eagle fly to the carkass , nor be able to cry for help to thee the only morning star , which are wont to spread forth the beams of comfort unto the needy in time of extremity ? o lord my god , give me the wings of faith to flee unto thee , and pour upon me the dew of thy blessing , that i may bud and bear the fruit of holiness , through the operations of thy gracious beams : give me thy grace , that i fail not in my vocation , that i may do good , and eschew evil , and so make good that vow which i made unto thee in my baptism . save me from falling , and stay my feet from slipping , by thy holy word , which is the glass of thy will , that being guided over this misly desart , i may arrive at the land of promise , and palace of rest in a lively faith , through thy dear son jesus christ , to whom be all honour and glory for ever . amen . a prayer for the church , and true worship of god. o most gracious god and loving father , look in favour , i do beseech thee , upon the church generally dispersed throughout the whole world , and whom by the malice of satan , and tyranny of antichrist , thou seest continually assailed with many and great dangers . be thou therefore , o lord , a castle of defence , a buckler and rock strong and forcible , to withstand the force and fury of all adversaries that rise up against it . and for the better comfort , endue it with faith unfeigned , wherein it and every member thereof , may safely run and repair under the shadow of thy sacred wings , whensoever perils approach . graciously guide and govern it , by taking the defence thereof into thine own hands , to whom it specially and alone belongeth ; and let it hold on the true course of professing and practising of thy true religion , that the adversaries thereof may have no cause to condemn it through sin , which howsoever it may seem to dwell in the most godly while we live here ; yet let us always have an eye and diligent watch over all our thoughts , words , and works , that our light may shine to thy glory , our good , and example to others , in peace and war , in comfort and calamity , and not to be dismayed at any noise and report of the greatest danger whatsoever . thou art , o lord my god , my only comfort and riches ; what am i , that i dare speak unto thee ? i am thy poor servant , yea , and much more poor and vile , than i either know , or dare shew forth : and yet lord i remember this one thing , that i am nothing , that i have nothing , and that i am nothing worth : thou alone art good , thou alone art righteous , thou alone art holy : thou knowest all , thou dost all , thou fillest all : only the wicked thou sendest empty away : remember , o lord , thy tender mercies , and fill me with thy favour : thou wilt that none of thy works should serve in vain : for how can i stand upright in this wretched world , unless thy mercy and favour hold me up ? turn not therefore thy cheerful countenance from thy servant , defer not to help me from day to day , withdraw not thy comfort , that my soul be not as the thirsty land , but teach me to do thy will , for that thou , o my god , art my wisdom , and knowest what is meet and convenient for me , to whom with the son and the holy ghost , be all glory for ever . amen . prayers for sunday night . o lord my god and father , blessed be thy name for ever : dispose my heart , and open my lips , &c. a psalm . how long wilt thou forget me ? o lord , for ever ? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me ? how long shall i seek counsel in my soul , and be so vexed in my heart ? how long shall mine enemies triumph over me ? consider and hear me , o lord my god ; lighten mine eyes , that i sleep not in death . for why ? my trust is in thy mercy , and my heart is joyful in thy salvation . therefore will i sing of the lord , because he hath dealt so lovingly with me ; yea , i will praise the name of the lord most highest . i will thank the lord for giving me warning , my reins also chasten me in the night season . i have set god always before me , for he is on my right hand , therefore i shall not fall . wherefore my heart was glad , and my glory rejoyced , my flesh also shall rest in hope . for why , thou shalt not leave my soul in hell , neither shalt thou suffer thine holy one to see corruption . thou shalt shew me the paths of life ; in thy presence is the fulness of joy , and at thy right hand there is pleasure for evermore . o hold thou up my goings in thy paths , that my foot-steps slip not . so shall he hear me out of his holy temple , and my complaint shall come before him , it shall enter even into his ears . he shall send down from the height to fetch me , and shall take me out of many waters . thou shalt also light my candle ; the lord my god shall make my darkness to be light . the lord liveth , and blessed be my strong helper , and blessed be the god of my salvation . glory be to the father , &c. a confession to god. o lord my god , and everlasting father , i do acknowledge and confess before thy high and glorious majesty , that i was bred and born in sin and corruption : and that since my birth i have not ceased , nor do cease , daily to transgress thy holy commandments , in respect whereof i cannot escape ruine and destruction , according to thy rightful justice : yet notwithstanding , forasmuch as i am sorry , that i have offended thee my lord and god , and do condemn both my self and my sin , receive me to mercy ; and as it hath pleased thee to love us , even when we were thine enemies , and for assurance thereof , to give unto us thine only and well-beloved son , to be a mediator and advocate between thee and us , promising us to obtain whatsoever we shall ask of thee in his name ; vouchsafe , o most loving god , and dear father , to pardon and forgive me in his name , and for his sake , and not only to cleanse my heart from all vanity and uncleanness , but also to govern and guide me by thy holy spirit , in all my ways , that i may live according to thy holy & heavenly will , all the days of my life , to the glory of thy name , through the same thy well-beloved son jesus christ , to whom with thee and the holy ghost , be praise and glory for ever . amen . a prayer against the temptations and malice of satan . o heavenly father , and eternal god , unto thee do we cry : protect and strengthen us , o lord , against the temptations of satan , which is the sworn and extream enemy to our salvation , a slanderer and our accuser , who rageth and rangeth in a deadly hatred against thy flock , and by all means seeketh the destruction of all mankind , divers and sundry ways laying snares to intrap us and our souls , preying for any occasion whereby he may allure us unto shameful offending : for as many corporal affections as be in man , so many occasions doth he take to tempt us , and thereby to wound us : he layeth snares to take us in wealth , in poverty , in pleasure , and in the inticements of the flesh , in anguish of mind , in ambition and desire of glory , in the wearisomness of our calling and inferiour condition , in cares both for the back and the belly , and in lust of revenge , night and day : whether we sleep or wake , he is always about to devour us , that our senses may be corrupted from the simplicity that we owe unto christ , even as the serpent deceived eve by his subtilty . therefore , o thou son of god , which art the blessed seed , bruising the head of the serpent , bring and bruise this mine enemy ( satan ) under thy feet : thou my chief champion , which of thine own accord , enteredst into temptation , that so thou mightest , as it were , hand to hand wrestle with this mine enemy , and purchase a triumph for me by thy victory : hold him fast bound that he exercise not his cruelty upon me as he desireth , but make me partaker of thy victory : that even as thou hast in thy body overcome satan , so utterly suppress him in me thy unworthy servant : and i beseech thee , o lord , to give unto me thy whole armour , that i may , like a right good souldier , resist in the evil day , and vanquish this my strong enemy : gird me with the truth ; put upon me the breast-plate of righteousness , and let me be shod and prepared for the gospel of peace ; and above all things give me the shield of faith , which can extinguish all the fiery darts of wicked spirits ; bestow upon me the helmet of salvation , with the sword of the spirit , and the word of god , that through thee i may encounter valiantly , and gloriously attain the victory : and holy spirit , almighty god , comfort thou and strengthen my mind against so divers conflicts of satan , which beset me by many snares , and especially then most of all , when i seek deliverance by other means than by thy word revealed : and grant , that leaving thy word delivered unto me , i look not after new revelations , or violent ravishings , but may resist the devil by thy word and power during my whole life . o dear father , to whom it is more easie to do all things , than for me to think any good thing : do thou but speak a word , and thy deadly sick servant ( my soul ) shal● be made whole : help o lord , for th● great mercies sake , for thy truth sake , and for thy dear son jesus christs sake , and let thy strength suffice against my weakness and thy holy spirit against my sinful flesh and old man : thou art faithful , o father , who hast promised that i shall not be tempted further than thou wilt make me a ▪ ble to bear : give now therefore thy grac● and strength unto thy servant , that i ma● with a strong faith in thine infallible trut● and promised mercy , vanquish and subd●●● whatsoever rebelleth against thy most blessed will : preserve and keep holy my soul and body , and let them not be defiled , and made a dungeon of wicked spirits , through delectation in sin . shall now alas , the devil , the world , or the flesh , pluck from thee , that thing that presently cryeth to thee with assured trust in thy promised help ? nay father , but grant that i may by thy mighty power turn all their crafts , deceits , and raging assaults unto the increase of my faith , and that by experience of thy fatherly assistance , in this my present temptation , i may with assured hope and trust in thy ready help and comfort , overcome my sad enemies hereafter in like assaults , and praise thy holy name for the victory , through jesus christ my lord and saviour , to whom be all power , praise , and glory for ever , world without end . amen . a prayer for grace to do the will of god. o most bountiful father , extend thy favour towards me , and let it be with me , and labour with me , unto the end ; and give me thy grace to wish & to covet such things as may be grateful to thee , and acceptable in thy sight , let thy will be mine , and let me always follow thine , and agree therewith : grant that i may like that which thou dost , and never like or mislike any thing but that which thou dost like or mislike . assist me , o lord , to crucifie my self to all worldly things : set me free from wicked affections of the mind , and heal my soul of all unbridled desires and sins , that being inwardly healed , and purged throughly , i may be made fit to love , strong to suffer , and constantly to continue : and above all things , grant that i may have rest and peace in thee ; for thou art the true peace , thou art alone the quietness of mind , and without thee all things are hard and troublesome ; in this peace , that is in thee alone which art the chiefest and everlasting felicity , i will repose my self both now and for ever , and constantly persevere and continue in the same through jesus christ my lord and saviour . amen . a prayer not to distrust the mercy of god. thy mercy , o lord my god , endureth for ever , and thy loving kindness towards thy children , is not able to be uttered ; the truth of thy promise never faileth thine elect : thou hast made calm the troubled waves of wavering thoughts which overwhelm my soul , and brought me to the quiet haven of thy merciful protection and defence , and hast delivered mine eyes from tears , and my feet from falling , and my heart from distrust : o lord my god and loving father , let this thy great mercy and loving kindness shewed upon me , never depart out of my mind and heart , but that i may be thereof continually mindful all the days of my life ? and for these thy unseparable mercies towards me , grant good lord , that i may have a thankful heart to render due honour , praise , and thanksgiving unto thy majesty : acknowledging from the bottom of my heart thy wonderful works in me : and that i may hereof be more assured , i beseech thee good lord , that as thou hast begun to deliver me , so i may feel more and more daily thy good will and mercy towards me , increase in me true understanding of thy heavenly will , and thy blessed word : strengthen my faith in thy loving promises , that i may be assured of thy protection , and mine election and salvation : make me daily more and more to love thee , my dear father and god , un●eignedly , for all thy goodness shewed unto me , to have my full delight and joy in thee , and walk before thee in sincerity of heart , and godly conversation : that i may here on earth glorifie thy name ; and after this life with all thy faithful flock , possess that everlasting inheritance , which thy son jesus christ our lord hath purchased ; to whom with thee and the holy ghost , be all honour and glory for ever . amen . a prayer to be always bent to heavenly things . o i would to god , that that day might once shine , in the which i might see my redeemer , and all these temporal days would end ! for the days of this world are few ; short , full of evil and sorrow , where man is defiled with many sins , oppress'd with griefs and cares , disturbed with thoughts , wrap'd in vanities , compassed with errours , molested with temptation , drowned in sensuality , and crucified with poverty : o when shall there be an end of these manifold and miserable labours ? when shall i be delivered from the miserable bondage of wickedness ? when shall i only remember thee , o lord ? when shall i fully and perfectly rejoyce in thee ? when shall i be out of all danger , and delivered from all grief of body and soul , and come to true liberty ? when shall i rest in that quiet , secure , and undisturbed peace , where peace is both within and without in all things ? o lord jesus , when shall i see thee , & behold the glory of thy kingdom , which thou hast prepared for thine elect from the beginning ? i do wish to be joyned to heavenly things , but temporal pleasure , and mortal passions , keep me back from them ; in mind i would fain vanquish all wickedness and vice , but yet i am constrained to be subject to the froward flesh , and i unhappy wretch am at controversie with my self : for whilst my soul aspireth upward , my flesh draweth downward : o what passions do i inwardly suffer ! for when my soul beginneth to contemplate of heavenly things , then presently heaps o● carnal thoughts withdraw me from prayer . o my god do not linger from me ! depart not in anger from thy servant : thunder forth thy lightening-bolt , and disperse my worldly thoughts abroad , and drive away all the temptations of mine enemy : turn my senses unto thee , o my dear father , and make me to forget all earthly things : grant that i may cast of all sinful thoughts and fantasies : o eternal verity succour me to the end that no vanity do tempt or remove me from thee : o heavenly father help me ! for all vanity and impureness melteth before thy face , which livest and raignest ever one god , in power and glory world without end . amen . an evening prayer . o eternal god , and merciful father , hear my voice , and listen to my prayers , and forgive all my sins which this day i have done in the sight of thee , and be not angry with thy servant for ever , but listen unto thine only begotten son , which maketh intercession to thee for me ; for his sake hear me , and have mercy upon me : defend me this night ( of thy merciful goodness ) from unclean and troublesome spirits , and from the snares and illusions of the devil : preserve me from all dangers , and save my body and soul from destruction : and grant that this night , i may sleep quietly without grief or trouble , that in darkness i may behold with the eyes of my heart , the light of thy countenance shineing upon me ; for in thee alone do i trust ; thou art my lord and god , into thy hands i commend my soul and body now and ever : therefore o lord , let thy unspeakable mercy preserve me , thy endless sweetness rejoyce me , thy heavenly truth strengthen me , thy knowledge embrace me , and thy goodness keep me , now and evermore . amen . prayers for munday morning . o lord my god and heavenly father , blessed be thy name for ever : dispose my heart , open my lips , and give me thy holy spirit , &c. a psalm . help me , o god of my salvation , for the glory of thy name ; o deliver me , and be merciful unto my sin , for thy names sake . o remember not mine old sins , but have mercy upon me , and that soon : for i am come to great misery . my soul hath a desire and longing to enter into the courts of the lord , my heart and my flesh rejoyceth in the living god. blessed are they that dwell in thy house , they will be always praising thee . preserve thou my soul therefore o my god , and save thy servant that puts his trust in thee . o comfort the soul of thy servant , for unto thee , o lord , do i lift up my soul : for thou lord art good and gracious , and of great mercy unto all them that call upon thee . and blessed is the man whose strength is in thee , and in whose heart are thy ways . o lord i have cryed day and night before thee , o let my prayer enter into thy presence : incline thine ear to my calling . and be merciful unto me , o lord , for i will call daily upon thee , for thou dost wondrous things , thou art god alone . o turn thee unto me , and have mercy upon me , give thy strength unto thy servant , and help the son of thy handmaid . shew some good token upon me for good , that they which hate me may see it , and be ashamed , because thou lord hast holpen me , and comforted me . o satisfie me with thy mercy , and that soon , so shall i rejoyce and be glad all the days of my life . shew thy servants thy work , and thy children thy glory . and the glorious majesty of the lord my god be upon me : prosper thou the work of my hands upon me , o prosper thou my handy work . a morning prayer . o almighty god , and merciful father , which gavest the children of israel in charge , to offer a daily morning and evening sacrifice unto thee , that thereby they may glorifie and thank thee for the benefit of their protection both night and day ; receive of me , o lord , the calves of my lips which i lay upon thine altar , being my morning sacrifice of thanksgiving unto thee : i glorifie thee , o eternal god , for thou hast broken the bands wherewith i was tyed this night , by reason of the midst of darkness , and hast delivered me from the shadow of death , by bringing me safe and sound to the beginning of this day : wherefore i will praise thy name , and magnifie thee for ever . o lord continue thy goodness towards me this day , and grant that all my prayers and works may both begin and end in thee ? vouchsafe , o lord , to keep me this day without sin , and fill me in this present hour with thy favour and grace , that all this day and ever i may rejoyce and delight in thy praises : grant merciful god that descending into my soul , i may reprehend and condemn mine own spots and vices within me : deliver me , o lord , from lying lips , and save me from a deceitful tongue : keep me , o lord , from the edge of the sword , from sudden death , from the infectious pestilence , from mortal sickness , and deadly vexation . o almighty sanctifier , both within and without , keep me this day from danger of blood-thirsty men whose feet are swift to shed blood . for into thy hands this day and ever i commend my spirit : and that i may watch upon thee my maker both night and day , beseeching thee to protect me in the day of my trouble , that the enemy have no advantage of me : and grant , o lord , that if in thy justice for punishment of my sin , or of thy gracious favour for trial of my faith , and exercise of my patience , thou suffer me to fall into any distress or danger : to give me i beseech thee a contented mind , to yield to thy good pleasure , and assured hope and belief , as all things are wrought to thy glory , so they may work for the best unto me as one that loveth thee : grant this , o most merciful father ; to whom with thy son , and the holy ghost , be all honour and glory , for ever and ever . amen . a prayer for forgiveness of sins . o god , the god of my salvation , i do here acknowledge my sins unto thee , and mine iniquities i have not hid : wherefore , o my god , turn thy face towards me , and let thy loving mercy ever more and more extend unto me ; for i am miserable , sinful , and poor , and i come unto thee the fountain of all help . forgive my sins , wash me and i shall be whiter than snow : let me tast of thy old loving kindnesses that have been ever of old , ready to forgive , and to embrace them that turn from their evil ways , as appeareth by david , peter , and many others , who repenting of their sins , found favour : wherefore have mercy upon me , o god , have mercy upon me : & according to the multitude of thy compassions , do away mine iniquities : o cleanse me from my secret sins , and cover my known sins with the righteousness of thy son jesus christ : remove mine iniquities far away from thee , and be not angry with thy servant for ever : o enter not into judgment with thy servant ; for if no flesh before thee be justified , what shall become of me who have so highly offended ; lord my god , full of mercy and pity , i appeal unto thee , i flee unto thee , i rest upon thee : leave thy displeasure against me ; and how weak soever and unable i am to stand in thy presence , yet let thy spirit of strength hold me up , and say unto me , fear not , for my grace is sufficient for thee . i take upon thy love , i rest upon thy favour in christ , reject me not , though there be no good in me : pour down that absolute good thing , even thy grace , and let it direct to amendment of life . thou hast said , that thou art well-pleased in christ thy son , in him be thou also pleased with me , and receive me again into thy love , through his merits , by whom every sinner receiveth free access unto thee : and although i for my part , most loving lord , am a vessel full of many faults and enormities ; yet dear father have mercy upon me , and cast me not from thy presence , but rather endue me again with a new spirit , and a lively feeling of thy will , and an ableness to do hereafter , that i may fill up the residue of my days in sincerity , holiness , and righteousness , and in the due service of thee ; that from henceforth , instead of straying from thee , i may dwell and be shrowded under the shadow of thy wings : and that instead of sin which hath miscarried me , i may embrace piety , godliness , and true zeal : and instead of ignorance , whereby i have so long gone astray , i may take hold of thy saving truth , that it may be a lanthorn unto my seet , and a light unto my paths , that i may rest safe in thee through a lively faith that never decayeth : and here i wait for thy loving kindness and mercy , o lord , promised in christ , in whom i am bold with deep sighs of heart , to cry , and say , lord forgive mine offences , cover my sins , and lay not my former evils to my charge : and for the better performance of this my duty unto thee , from henceforth ( good lord ) quench all the corrupt motions of my mind , striving with thy divine pleasure ; that being thus inwardly renewed in my mind , & reformed in my conversation , i may serve thee with gladness , through jesus christ my lord and saviour , to whom be all glory and honour for ever and ever . amen . a prayer for knowledge to do the will of god. o lord god and heavenly father , the god of all wisdom , and understanding , i acknowledge , that by thy just sentence in that general corruption , which i have drawn from adams ioins , i am deprived of all spiritual wisdom , and knowledge of thee and thy will , and that there is nothing in man , but blockish and beastly ignorance , such as springeth from infidelity , and is most contrary to thy will : there is none that understandeth , there is none that seeketh god : o lord have mercy upon me , most miserable and vile wretch , and open mine eyes that i may see the mysteries of thy profound and excellent truth ; increase , o lord , all holy desires in me , to attain the knowledge of thy will ; let my whole delight be in it to meditate therein day and night , that it may be more precious unto me than gold and silver , many times fined . further , howsoever thy graces and gifts , o lord , are to be acknowledged in men ; yet because thy good pleasure is so , that all men should carry the scars of ignorance and infirmity : draw in my whole delight , i beseech thee , and kindle all my affections , to the love of thy law and testimonies , and to those scriptures that were written and indited by thine own self , and thy spirit ; for those , good lord , contain thy whole will in that everlasting covenant that thou hast stricken with thy saints : this o lord , is that well spring of wisdom and grace that shall make us wise before thee , howsoever the world condemn it of madness and folly : teach thou me , o lord , and i shall be taught : open thou mine eyes that i may see the excellent things of thy law : reform my heart , that self-love and vain-glory may be quite vanquished and slain in me , that i may only set before mine eyes thy glory : o gracious god , spoil this power of satan in me , that by thy means thy good gifts of knowledge and wisdom be not abused against thee , thy gospel and glory ; that i be not carried through emulation , spite , or envy of any mans credit , or gifts , to set my self against thy truth ; but give me true humility , that above all things i may rejoyce in the advancement and praise of thy name , whether it be with my honour or shame , with my peace or trouble , with good report or evil report : i know , o lord , that true wisdom is from thee alone , and that thou hast so ordained thy servants in so gracious a dispensation of thy gifts , that they who have the greatest need of theirs that are the least ; the greatest master-builders , of them that are but labourers , & basket-bearers in thy church : the unity of thy spirit , and the bond of peace , knit us fast together , and hold us in to reverence each other , and to be at one in thy work : o knit our hearts together , that we may all seek thee to thy eternal praise ; to whom only belongeth renown , glory and honour , for ever , &c. a fruitful prayer to god. almighty and eternal god , my creator and lover , i praise , adore , and bless thee ; for that in my offences and ungratefulness , thou hast so mencifully and leisurably forborn and suffered me to live even to this hour , whereunto thou by thy benefits hast brought me , giving anto me thy wretched servant , life and necessaries thereunto belonging , appointing angels to be my keepers . o my good god , who knoweth whether till evening my life shall be prolonged , or what death is appointed for me : o merciful god and heavenly father , grant that i may with hearty repentance truly repent my sins , and inwardly bewail that ever i offended thy godly majesty : suffer not my soul to depart this body , before it be ( through thy mercy ) perfectly reconciled unto thee by grace , & bedeck'd with thy merits and vertues : o merciful saviour , if these things i desire , stand with thy pleasure and will , grant them i beseech thee , although i be not worthy to be heard : and in thy mercy , grant that by the merits of thy passion , i may be purged from all my sins ; and that at the hour of my death , i may be stricken with true and vehement contrition , and being knit with thee in perfect charity , i may immediately fleet unto thee my sweet redeemer , safely from all damnation , desiring this one thing at thy hands , that thou wilt remember my fragility , unworthiness , unstableness , and miseries , together with thine own goodness and most charitable mercy , praying thee never to forsake me , or leave me , but that thou wilt always possess and govern me , according to thy will ; to whom be all glory , for ever and ever . amen . a prayer to be restored to gods favour . o almighty and everlasting god , and father , which hast made heaven and earth , and all things therein contained ! o incomprehensible unity ! o always to be worshipped most blessed trinity ! i humbly beseech thee , and pray thee , by the assumption and crucified humanity of our lord jesus christ , that thou wouldest drive from me all kind of wickedness and sin , creating in me a clean heart , and a right spirit : o lord jesus , i beseech thy goodness , for the exceeding great love which drew thee out of thy fathers bosom , in the womb of thy holy virgin , and for the assumption of mans nature , wherein it pleased thee to save me , and to deliver me from eternal death ; that thou wouldst draw me out of my self unto thee my lord god : and grant that this my love may recover again to me , thy grace to increase and make perfect in me that which is wanting , to raise up in me that is fallen , to restore to me that which i have lost , and to quicken in me that which is dead and should live : that so i may become conformable unto thee in all my life and conversation , thou dwelling in me , and i in thee , my heart being suppled with thy grace , and settled in thy faith for ever : o my god , loose and set at liberty my spirit from all inferiour things ; govern my soul , and so work , that both in soul and body i may be holy , and live to thy glory , world without end . amen . a prayer to christ to rest in his love. o my most loving saviour , i have chosen thee , i wish and look for thee , i run to meet thee , & i do renounce all things that are not of thee ; whatsoever thou wilt i will , and whatsoever thou wilt not , i forsake & utterly detest in my heart : and whatsoever shall hereafter happen unto me contrary to this present choice of my mind , not to impute the same unto me , but according to this choice of my soul judge me . for all things which i ought not to do , i utterly forsake them ; and if at any time hereafter , i shall chance by any sinister occasion , to agree to any thing that may be a cause to withdraw thy mercy from me , i do now at this present hour utterly detest them : and here , o my sweet saviour and redeemer , if it please thee , or stand with thy glory , grant i beseeeh thee in this my present life , that i may be delivered and preserved from all offences wherein i have offended , and from all the pains whereunto deservedly i ought to come after my death ; and that thou wilt with the hands of thy mercy immediately after this life receive my soul into everlasting joy and felicity , there to raign with thee for ever . amen . a prayer to god to grant our petitions . o christ , which art the strength of the weak , & the salvation of all believers , and an aider of the oppressed , yea , our life and safe-guard in the peril of death , i beseech thee , that pitying mine afflictions , thou wilt vouchsafe to grant me my petitions , which at this time i have asked at thy hands ; so shall i serve thee here in the kingdom of grace , and hereafter in thy kingdom of glory , where i beseech thee , o lord , that i may have a place to dwell with thee eternally , which livest with god the father , and the holy ghost everlastingly ; to whom be praise and glory for ever and ever . amen . prayers for munday night . o lord my god and father , blessed be thy name for ever : dispose my heart , and open my lips , &c. a psalm . my song shall be of mercy and judgment : unto thee o lord , will i sing . o let me have understanding in the way of godliness . when wilt thou come unto me ? i will walk in my house with a perfect heart . i will take no wicked thing in hand ; i hate the sins of unfaithfulness , there shall no such cleave unto me . hear my prayer , o lord , and let my crying come unto thee . hide not thy face from me in the time of my trouble , incline thine ears unto me ! when i call , o hear me , and that right soon . my days are gone like a shadow , and i am withered like grass . but thou , o lord , endurest for ever , and thy remembrance throughout all generations . and i said , o my god , take me not away in the midst of mine age : as for thy years , they endure throughout all generations . praise the lord o my soul , and all that is within me praise his holy name . praise the lord o my soul , and forget not all his benefits . which forgiveth all thy sin , and healeth all thine infirmity . which saveth thy life from destruction , and crowneth thee with mercy and loving kindness . he will not always be chiding , neither keepeth he his anger for ever . for look how high the heaven is in comparison of the earth , so great is his mercy also towards them that fear him . glory be to the father , &c. confession to god the father . o lord almighty , the god of our father , and lord of mercy , which hast made heaven and earth , with all their ornaments , which hast bound the sea by the word of thy commandment , which hast shut up the deep , and seal'd it by thy terrible and glorious name , whom all do ●ear and tremble before thy power , for the majesty of thy glory cannot be born , and thy angry threatnings towards sinners is ●mportable ; but thy merciful promises are unmeasurable , and unsearchable , for thou art the lord god most high above all the earth , long suffering and most merciful , and sorry for the malice of men ; and thou , o lord , according to thy great goodness , and of thine infinite mercies , hast appointed repentance unto sinners , that they might be saved . therefore thou , o lord , that art the god of the just , hast not appointed repentance to those which stand to justify themselves in thy sight ; but thou hast appointed repentance unto me that am a sinner ; for i have sinned , o lord , i have sinned above the number of the sands of the sea : my transgressions , o lord , my transgressions are multiplied , and are exceeding many , so as i am not worthy to behold , or lift up mine eyes unto the heavens , for the multitude of my unrighteousness . i have provoked thine anger , o lord , and done evil before thee , in committing abominations , and multiplying of offences : now therefore i bow the knees of my heart , beseeching thee for grace : i have sinned , o lord , i have sinned , and i acknowledge my wickedness , desiring thee by prayer to forgive me : o lord forgive me , & destroy me not with mine iniquities , neither do thou always remember mine evils to punish them , but save me that am unworthy , according to thy great mercies : and i most humbly beseech thee , o lord , not to suffer my soul to perish , which thou hast bought so dearly with thy most precious blood , & make me poor in spirit and low of heart , submitting me wholly into thy hands : so as my desire and my delight may be always to thy will and pleasure , which is always good and godly : and grant my poor soul rest in thee ; for thou hast said , they shall never be confounded that put their trust in thee : which trust , good lord , grant me never to forsake for any vain trust , temptation or tribulation that may happen to vex my soul ; but grant me thy holy spirit to comfort and defend me from all things that should procure thy displeasure : thou that art in trinity one god and lord over all , give ear to my prayer , and pardon all my sins , so shall i praise thee for ever and ever all the days of my life , through jesus christ my lord and saviour , to whom be glory for ever . amen . a prayer to jesus christ . o jesus , thou son of god , have mercy upon me , and forgive the great offences which i have done in the sight of thee this day : and give me grace , o lord , for the love of thee , to despise sin and worldly vanity . o jesus help me to overcome the temptations of sin , and the ma●ice of my spiritual enemy , and strengthen my soul and body to exercise the works of virtue , whereby i may come to thy everlasting joy and felicity . grant me a ●ast purpose , o merciful jesus , to amend my life , and to remove the sins of my youth far from me ; jesus lighten me with ghostly wisdom for to know thy goodness , and those things which are most acceptable unto thee ; and give me grace to give good and profitable example , that none may be hurt by me ; make me to proceed from virtue to virtue , until i be grown a perfect man in thee . let me not return to those sins which by my confession have accused me , and with sorrow have oppressed me , the horrible sentence of endless death , the terrible judgment of damnation , thy wrath , ire , and indignation , merciful lord , let never fall upon me : jesus give me grace to fly evil company ; and when i come among them , i beseech thee to preserve me , that no occasion of sin overcome me : keep my mouth , o lord , from slanderous speaking , lying , false witness bearing , cursing , swearing , uncharitable chiding , dissolute laughing , and words of vanity . o sweet jesus make me perseverant in the blessed service of thee , in holy exercises , and vertuous meditations : lord keep my soul and body , and make me to slay all sinful delectation , and patiently to suffer injuries and rebukes , in following thine own most holy and blessed example . provide , good lord , that life for me which thou knowest most for thine honour , and my comfortable stay in thee ; jesus grant me , specially in the time of prayer , to fix my mind on thee , and thou to remember my wretchedness . the blood that ran from thy blessed heart , wash my soul from all sin and iniquity , and purchase to me thy grace , faithfaithfully to serve thee , o my lord god , my might , my life , my light , lead me and feed me in this mortality , and at the hour of death , when i shall be accused before thee , have mercy upon me , break my froward heart , and make it obedient unto thee . from suddain and unprovided death , good lord , deliver me ; by the virtue of thy most excellent and glorious divinity ; by the virtue of thine incarnation , and by the merits of thy passion and resurrection , grant me these supplications which i have made to thee : and by thy own and only mediation , purchase for me a gracious life , and a blessed ending ; and after my bodily death , give me everlasting life with endless bliss , that i may reign with thee for ever and ever , in the world to come . amen . a prayer for the attaining of a free and quiet mind . o most gracious & merciful god , keep me , i beseech thee , from the cares of ●his world , that i be never too much in●angled therein , by reason of the manifold ●hings which this body needeth : nor taken with the vain delight of that which doth hurt the soul ; nor finally broken and overthrown with sorrow : i say not from those things which the vain world doth greedily hunt after , but from those miseries which suppress the mind of thy servant , by a common and penal course of mortality , and so withdraw me that i cannot enter into by the freedom of thy spirit : o my god , which art sweetness unspeakable , make all fleshly joy , which withdraweth me from the love of eternal things , to be grievous and odious unto me : let not flesh and blood , o my god , let not flesh and blood overcome me : let not the world , and the vain glory thereof , deceive me ; nor satan with his subtilty supplant me : give me strength to resist , patience to endure , and constancy to persevere unto the end . grant me for the comfort of thy word , the most comfortable oyntment of the holy ghost : and for the lust of the flesh , pour on me the love of thy name . the very meat , drink , and apparel , with other things necessary for the nourishment of the body , are even burthensome to a fervent spirit : but grant , o lord , that i may use those things moderately , and never be snared with an over-greedy desire of them : all things are now to be rejected , for their nature would decay : again , to covet superfluous and every pleasing thing , thy sacred commandments do forbid ; for the flesh would insult over the spirit : wherefore between those things let thy hand direct me , o lord , and teach me to do nothing out of measure . grant this , o most merciful father , to whom with the son , and the holy ghost , be all honour and glory . amen . a prayer for hope . o eternal father , the author and giver of all hope and comfort , i beseech thee to fill me with all joy and peace , in believing , that i may abound in hope , through the power of the holy ghost ; ●nd above hope , in hope believing , ●ay never doubt of thy promises , but in sure confidence of heart , apply to my self ●he remission of my sins , and believe veri●y that i please thee in jesus christ , and ●oking in a certain and strong hope , for ●e salvation of my soul in the life to ●●me . and albeit , the helps and happi●ess of this present world appear not un● me ; yet i beseech thee , o lord , let me ●●●●tain a stedfast hope among all the ter●rs of conscience , and never suffer the same to be taken away from me by any snare of satan . o thou only begotten son of god , which hast loved me , and given me everlasting comfort in hope through grace : comfort my heart , and establish my heart in every word and good work ; that i stick not uncertain , neither be tossed between hope and fear ; but may hold fast the confidence and rejoycing of hope unto the end : and assist me , o my god , and father , i beseeh thee , that in all the ways of temptation and troubles in this world , i may patiently depend on thee , looking for corporal deliverance , according to thy will : and though the same come not as i wish , but be kept from me for a season , yet let me never doubt of thine aid and deliverance , but hope that coming it will come : and i beseech thee ▪ o lord , to grant me thy grace ; that having this hope , i may purge my self from all offensive things to thee , and serve thee my loving god , through jesus christ m● lord and saviour , for ever . amen . a prayer against the power of satan . o lord my god , how do we daily pass the limits of thy will ? we sin at least seven times a day , and pledge mother eva in the dregs of nature : this is the frailty of the flesh , and this is the weakness of all adam's issue : a miserable case , o lord , unless in thy mercy thou wilt wrap us , and cover us with the white rayment of thy grace ; that we being thine may never despair for any brunt of storm●ng satan , be it never so perillous . o ●ord , save me , in thy mercy behold me , ●ave pity and compassion upon me , and ●ark not my steps that are crooked ; but ●ast the eye of thy favour upon thy son christ , who was content to suffer the ●leeding pains of the cross , to satisfie thy ●rath , and to deliver us from the sting of ●hellish conscience : wherefore i beseech ●ee , o lord , and most dear saviour , not 〈◊〉 observe mine iniquities ; but to wash ●e from the guiltiness of sin , in the ●●ood 〈◊〉 thy mercies , and so to save me , that ●●ing dead in iniquity , and yet saved 〈◊〉 thine infinite pity , i may give 〈◊〉 glory unto thee , and sing with our ●other , the church , that salvation belongeth unto thee ( o lord ) to whom be praise and glory for ever and ever . amen . a prayer for the desire of a godly life . o my lord god , how happy were i , if i might never hereafter in thought , word , or deed , commit the thing that should displease thy divine majesty . that life is the longing of my soul , and the substance of my wish , and the effect of my desire ; my heart coveteth to see that blessed time , and my joys then should be such as no mortal man can tell . truly , lord , to know thee , with the son and the holy ghost , is the true perfection of eternal life , the end of all blessedness , and the summ of all delights . no eye hath seen , nor ear hath heard , nor hath it pressed into the depth of any mans understanding , to value the inestimable charity , delectation , and pleasure , of the same felicity ; when we shall behold the majesty of god face to face . and verily most glorious god , i have reposed this hope in my heart , and do assure my self , through faith in thee , that these eyes wherewith i read these lines shall see that glory , and this flesh wherewith i am cloathed in corruption , and nou●led in mortality , shall be a member of that immortal kingdom : unto the which , lord , at thy appointed pleasure bring me ; to whom , with the son and the holy ghost , be all power and glory , for ever and for ever . amen . an evening prayer . o omnipotent and eternal god , father , son , and holy ghost , three in persons and one in substance , and from everlasting : i extol thy sacred majesty , i praise thy unspeakable mercy , thy divine truth i magnifie ; for that of thy fatherly goodness , thou hast graciously heard me at this time , giving me a penitent heart , modesty to utter the same : therefore will i praise thee for this , and all other thy goodness this evening ; and going to rest , i will give thee thanks , because thou hast kept me this day of thine only mercy , without any merit of mine , from all danger both in soul and body . o christ and king of glory , i beseech thee bless and defend me this night ; let my rest be in thee , and grant me thy grace , that neither much sleep overwhelm me , nor satan invade me , nor the flesh betray me unto him . let mine eyes sleep , but let my heart wake : o lord lighten mine eyes that i sleep not in death , lest the subtil tempter overtake me , and i sleep a continual and perpetual sleep , and awake no more : for thou art my everlasting helper . keep me as the apple of thine eye , hide me under the shadow of thy sacred wings ( o lord ) that neither ugly visions , nor horrible dreams , nor sights , nor monstrous apparitions trouble me in the dark . in thy name , o jesus , will i go to rest this night ; give sleep unto mine eyes , and slumber to mine eye-lids ; compass me about , and raise me again to the joyful sight of to-morrow light ; and after this my miserable life , bring me to the beholding of eternal happiness , that in thy light i may see light , and evermore praise thee for ever . amen . prayers for tuesday morning . o lord my god and heavenly father , blessed be thy name for ever : dispose my heart , open my lips , and give me thy holy spirit , &c. a psalm . o god , my heart is ready , my heart is ready ; o lord , i will sing and give praise with the best member i have . i will sing and give thanks unto thee , lord , among the people , and i will sing praises unto thee among the nations . for thy mercies are greater than the heavens , and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds . set up thy self therefore , o god , above the heavens , and thy glory above all the earth . that thy beloved may be delivered : let thy right hand save me , and hear thou me . o help me against mine enemy , for vain is the help of man. through god i shall do great acts , and it is he that shall tread down mine enemies . and deal thou with me , o lord god , according to thy name , for sweet is thy mercy . then will i give thanks unto thee , o lord , with my whole heart secretly among the faithful , and in the congregation . the works of the lord are great , sought out of all them that have pleasure therein . his work is worthy to be praised and had in honour , and his righteousness endureth for ever . the merciful and gracious lord hath so done his marvellous works , that they ought to be had in remembrance . the works of his hands are verity and judgment , all his commandments are true . he sent redemption unto his people , he hath commanded his covenant for ever : holy and reverent is his name . the fear of the lord is the beginning of wisdom , a good understanding have all they that do thereafter , the praise of it endureth for ever . glory be to , &c. a morning prayer . blessed be my lord god which doth wondrous things ; and blessed be the name of his majesty for evermore : which hath set the sun to lighten the day , and ordained the moon and the stars to govern the night . o most high god , which by thy unspeakable wisdom hast distinguished the day from the night ; and hast so decreed , that while the world shall last , this course of times and days shall never have end , so that man in the night may rest , and in the day labour until the evening : for these and all other thy benefits i praise thy name , and give thanks unto thee for thy great glory . o god , the guider of my life , forsake me not ; turn from me the filthin●ss of desire ; remove from my heart all concupiscence , and take from thy servant too over-bold a stomach : suffer me not to run beadlong into riotousness ; let not unlawful love overcome me , and give not thy servant over into an impudent mind . turn mine eyes that they behold no vanity ; strengthen me in thy way , and grant that mine offences in this world overcome me not : and i beseech thee , o lord , with a most a●dent affection , that this day and ever thou wilt keep me and all mine ; and that thou wilt be unto me a mighty protector , firmament of strength , a covering against heat , a shadow at noon-tide , a defence from falling , an assister from offending , a comforter of my soul , a lightner of my mind , a giver of health and happiness in christ jesus my lord and saviour ; to whom be all glory , honour and power , for ever and ever . amen . a confession to god. o lord , i am unworthy thy comfort , or any spiritual consolation , by reason of my sins ! that which i deserve is punishment , because i have so often offended thee , and in so many things so grievously sinned ; and yet , o gracious and merciful god , who wilt not that thy works should perish , to declare the richness of thy goodness upon the vessels of thy mercy , far beyond the manner of men . but what have i done , o lord , that thou shouldst impart upon me any spiritual comfort at all ? truly i have done no good , but always have been prone unto sin , and slow to repent : and this is so true , if i should deny it , that thou wilt find me guilty , and no man durst stand up to excuse me ; and therefore , o most dear father , i do confess that i am worthy all reproach and contempt , and most unworthy to live among thy sons and servants : yea , and because it is true , i will yet confess against my wickedness , that so the sooner i may obtain mercy at thy hands . but what shall i ( wretch that i am ) say , being full of all manner of shame and infamy ? what shall i say ? nothing but this ; i have sinned , lord , i have sinned , take mercy upon me , forgive me , suffer me yet a while to bewail my wretchedness before i pass over into the land of promise , covered with the shadow of death ; for what dost thou else of a guilty and miserable man require , but that he afflict and humble himself for his sins ; from a true repentance and humbling of the mind ariseth hope of pardon , the troubled conscience is relieved , the favour of god , which was lost , is recovered , and man is preserved from the vengeance to come ; and with a holy kiss , both god and the sorrowful soul do meet together : with the which work of true repentance endue me , good lord , that i may do thy sacred will in this life , and in the end enjoy everlasting happiness in the world to come ; through jesus christ my saviour , to whom be all glory power and might , for ever and ever . amen . a prayer for true repentance to be purged of sin . o lord my god , what do i daily , but wander in the field of vanity ? what is my heart but a filthy prison of corrupt thoughts ? what is my mouth , but a stinking chanel of vain words ? what are my feet , but chariots to bloodshed ? what are my hands but battlers with charity ? what is my head , but a castle of wicked devices ? and what is my life , but a fardel of iniquity ? i am nothing better than a dead tree , the root is perished , the bough wither'd , being good for nothing but for the fury of the flame ? what then , good lord , shall it be so ? what , shall i burn , sweet jesus ! o save me for thy names sake , and quicken ●me , create a new heart within me , that i may bring forth much fruit , and for ever flourish , like a tree planted by a river side . o pour the oyl of grace into my defiled heart , and season it with the salt of thy mercy , lest the fume of mine iniquities ascend up to thy nostrils , and provoke thy fury against me . pour down some drops of thy precious blood from the clouds of thy mercy , to quench out the angry flame of sin , which of my self i am not able to put out by the virtuous water of any merit : o lamb of god , let me eat thy flesh and drink thy blood , that i may live by thee , and cloath me in the wooll of thy mercy , that no winter or storm of sin do pinch my silly soul . thou , o god , art full of compassion and long-suffering , which continuest thy mercy for thousands , taking away iniquities , sins , and offences . thou callest us after thy wonted mercy , by thy word , to repentance and hearty conversion ; for unto all and every one is repentance and forgiveness of sins preached in thy name ; therefore unto thee , o most merciful father , do i cry , desiring thee to look back upon me thy unworthy servant , with the eyes of pity , even as thou looked'st back upon the sinful woman in the banquet : likewise favour thou me , o lord , as thou didst the publican , who standing afar off , smote his breast , and said , lord be merciful unto me a sinner : and grant , o lord , that among the fears and terrours of conscience , i may take hold of thee by a lively faith , and never in the sight of conscience do yield my self , and despair ; but upholden by the voice of the gospel , i may flee unto thee my redeemer , and have by faith , peace with god. and thou my saviour which hast suffered for me in the flesh , give me grace , that likewise in the same mind i may be arm'd for the mortifying of my flesh ; that henceforth i may live not after the lusts of men , but after the will of god , and keep the devil under ( o lord ) that he compel not my troubled conscience to despair , either by heaping or ripping up mine offences , or extenuating thy mercy ; and grant that i may come unto thee by hearing thy word , unto repentance , that thereby the angels in heaven may continually have occasion to rejoyce before thee , which livest and reignest ever one god , world without end . amen . a prayer for the aid of god's holy spirit . o dear father , forasmuch as every man living is of himself before thee but as a beast , neither knowing thee , nor the things concerning their duties unto thee ; i as one of the most perverse , filthy and corrupt , do here humble my self before thee , begging at thy hands , that thou hast promised to give unto as many as ask it of thee , thy holy spirit , that heavenly comforter , which revealeth thee and thy will to the simple and ignorant , which also stireth up the minds and inward affections of thy children to call upon thee , by preparing their hearts , and opening their mouths to celebrate thy name ; bestow it , good father , bestow it upon me , thy unworthy servant , and upon all thy children ; and grant that although all of us are of corrupt affections , and polluted lips , yet we may be sprinkled with that heavenly hyssop , that we may have our hearts cleansed of the corrupt affections of this world ; and the eyes of our understanding opened , that we may see the good things we should ask ; and our feet that are fettered with the cares of vain things , may be set at liberty , that we may walk the right way unto the kingdom of heaven ; and that the hands of our souls may apprehend & take hold of the righteousness of thy son jesus christ ; & that by the aid of the same spirit , we may cast off all impediments , letts , and incumbrances that detain us from coming unto thee . sanctifie me within & without ; wash me and i shall be whiter than snow ; let thy truth and thy spirit meet together in my soul , that my prayers may enter into thy presence , and that thine ears may incline unto my humble petition , so shall i declare thy loving kindness in the morning , and thy truth in the night season . thou knowest whereof we be made , thou forgettest not that we are but dust , and unprofitable children ; not fit , apt , nor able of our selves to pray unto thee , and praise thy name : therefore , good lord , allure me unto thee , to seek thee ; and grant that with my whole heart and mind , i may always rejoyce and be comforted by thee , for ever and ever . amen . a prayer to acknowledg god in his works . o most mighty and eternal god , thou by the creation of the world and all that therein is , hast sufficiently declared thy self to be the everlasting and almighty god , for that these things do far pass the reach of mans wisdom : and not herein only hast thou declared thy self to be god ; but in that also that thou dost continually guide and govern the same and all things of thee created : seeing therefore , o most merciful father , that we have both in our selves , and also in thy creatures so manifest testimonies that thou only , o lord , art that eternal and loving god , which dost reign in all thy creatures , guiding and governing them by thy heavenly providence ; grant i do beseech thee , that my heart may be hereof fully assured , to acknowledge thee not only to be god eternal , who hast created all things ; but also that i may in heart be fully perswaded that thou , o lord , dost govern all things according to thy most blessed will ; so that nothing can be done in the whole world without thine appointment , and that thou hast such a singular care over thine elect ; so that not so much as an hair of their heads shall fall without thy providence : grant therefore , o lord , i beseech thee , that i may hereof be fully assured in my heart and soul , and that i may in all my doings set thee before mine eyes , acknowledging thee to be my only lord and father ; and by the working of thy holy spirit in me , i may be confirmed in faith , comforted in soul , and lightned in understanding ; that always here on earth i may glorifie thy holy name , and after the dissolution of this my mortal body , i may attain thy everlasting joy with thy elect , in thy glorious kingdom , for ever and ever . amen . a very fruitful prayer to god. we are all publicans , o lord , open the ears of thy favour unto our cry , and have mercy upon us , have mercy upon us ; we sin dayly , but yet save us , of pity save us ; o shew thy compassion upon me , and let me not dye a judas death , let me never tune the doleful song of cain ; but ingrave in my heart a full and lively faith in thee ; that never doubting of thy bounteous mercy , i may with a free conscience set satan at defiance , and all his hellish band ; o merciful lord , hear this my cry , and defend me with thy grace against the power of satan , who roareth of cruelty , and lurketh in every corner of malicious subtilty to tear me with the claws of his fury and merciless envy : defend me with faith against him . o lord , lay the plaister of comfort to my wounded conscience , and cover me with the wings of thy favour , that i may live and die in thee ; and so be blessed for ever ; to whom , o father , with thy dear son , and the holy ghost , be all power for ever . a prayer to jesus christ . o my lord god , and sweet saviour jesus christ , grant unto me most frail sinner , and miserable wretch , thy grace and mercy ; and that i may ever have present before the eyes of my soul , thy most holy life and behaviour ; and that for my possibility and power , i may in living and manners follow the same : and grant me , good lord , to profit , grow , and increase therein , to such perfections as may be acceptable unto thee , for the salvation of my soul : lighten , lord , and make clear and bright my heart with the glorious light of thy grace , that it may ever go before me , & follow me in all my acts , so that by thy conduct and guiding , i may accomplish & fulfil all that may please thy goodness , and utterly eschew and avoid the contrary ; and vouchsafe , sweet saviour , so to order and direct all my cogitations and thoughts , all my speech and words , all my acts and deeds , in thy law and commandments , and in thy monitions and counsel ; and so take me ( good lord ) unto thee , that here in all things doing thy will , i may by grace become one of thy saved souls , to live with thee , my redeemer , for ever . amen . prayers for tuesday night . o lord my god and father , blessed be thy name for ever . dispose my heart , and open my lips , &c. a psalm . my god , my god , look upon me ; why hast thou forsaken me , and art so far from my health , and from the words of my complaint ? o my god , i cry unto thee in the day time , but thou hearest not ; and in the night-season also i take no rest . and yet thou continuest holy , o thou worship of israel . wherefore unto thee , o lord , will i lift up my soul , my god , i have put my trust in thee : o let me not be confounded , neither let mine enemies triumph over me . o remember not the sins and offences of my youth , but according to thy mercy , think thou on me . who can tell how oft he offendeth ? o cleanse me from my secret faults . keep thy servant also from presumptuous sins , lest they get the dominion over me , so shall i be undesiled and innocent from the great offence . let the words of my mouth , and the meditations of my heart be always acceptable in thy sight , o lord , my strength and my redeemer . for thy name sake , o lord , be merciful unto my sin , for it is great . look upon mine adversity and misery , and forgive me all my sins . hearken unto my voice , o lord , when i cry unto thee , have mercy upon me , and hear me . o hide not thy face from me , nor cast thy servant away in displeasure . thou hast been my succour , leave me not , neither forsake me , o god of my salvation . i should utterly have fainted , but that i believe verily to see the goodness of the lord in the land of the living . therefore shall every good man sing of thy praise without ceasing , o my god , and i will give thanks unto thee for ever . glory , &c. a prayer for the remission of sins . o most loving & bountiful father , forasmuch as it is most meet , right , just , and requisite , that all flesh should praise , magnifie , and worship thee , & should without ceasing give thanks unto thee , who only art the creator and maker of all things , who of thine own mercy and goodness , didst send down thine only begotten son , to take our nature upon him , and to suffer death for our sins , thereby to make a recompence for the offences which man had committed against thee : and all this thou didst of thine exceeding bounty and kindness , without any desert of mankind , not being so much as by any one prayer , or yet treaty thereunto incited : i being therefore , o dear father , imboldened with such an inestimable benefit , so freely given and bestowed , do without any fear at this time appear before thy divine majesty , prostrating my self before the seat of thy mercy , and with all humbleness of heart and mind do make this my prayer unto thee : despise me not o lord , being defiled with sin and iniquity ; be ●merciful unto me a sinner , lighten the evil-sighted eyes of my mind , open the stopped stopped ears of my heart , that i may both see and hear , & understand that which thou teachest , & do always that thou commandest ; and that i be not only a hearer of thy word ; but a practiser of the same in my life and conversation ; save and defend me from all shame and reproach ; be thou my shield and buckler against all temptations ; cleanse my mind and thoughts from all uncleanness ; keep and preserve me from all danger both in body and soul , and guide me with thy grace , so to spend this my small , short , and transitory time in this world , that i may be a member of christ , and partaker of thy eternal felicity : to the which , seeing that by mine own weakness i shall never be able to aspire , i do here , o lord , take hold of that promise of thine , where thou hast said ; come unto me all ye that labour , and i will refresh you : this is my hold-fast , this is my anchor and sure stay , for verily , sweet saviour , when i look upon mine own frailness , and behold how ready i am to offend , then i quake for fear ; but as soon as i call to mind thy great love and kindness , and thou wilt not the death of a sinner ; and that in what day soever he doth heartily repent and call unto thee , then thou wilt hear him ; then i am relieved , then i am not a little comforted , knowing surely that thou wilt perform that which thou hast promised : in faithful assurance whereof , i now say unto thee , turn thou me , o my god , and i shall be turned : be favourable unto me , o lord , be favourable unto me thy servant , and heal my soul which is wounded with sin , for i do acknowledge mine iniquity , and am heartily sorry for mine offences , through which i have either in word or deed , thought , or any other kind of way offended thee ; blot them out of thy remembrance , and let the blood of that immaculate lamb , jesus christ , wash them away : let mine old offences decay and die in me , that i never commit them any more , or by any means renew them in thy sight ; and in the mean time do not withdraw thy grace from me , but cause me to do all that good is . o father remove thy wrath away from me , and restore me to thy favour ; turn thou thy loving countenance unto me , and plentifully pour forth thy mercy upon me ; guide thou my foot-steps in thy paths , and suffer me not at any time to stray from thy ways ; let me always have the fear of thee in my heart ; and if at any time through weakness and frailty i do transgress thy commandments , yet do thou not therefore , good lord , reject me , but be thou that good samaritan , and pour the oyl and wine of mercy and forgiveness into those wounds which sin shall make in me ; make me thy servant , and so endue me with thy grace , that i may unfeignedly with heart and voice serve , honour , and praise thee , through jesus christ , my lord and saviour , to whom be praise and glory , for ever and ever . amen . a prayer setting forth the power of god's grace . o lord my god , who hast created me after thine own image ; give me thy grace which is most excellent and necessary unto all salvation , that i may subdue my wicked nature , drawing me always unto sin and destruction : for i see in my flesh the law of sin rebelling against the law of my mind , and leading me captive to the satisfying of my vain desires in many things ; so that without the assistance of thy most heavenly grace , poured zealously into my mind i am unable to resist the assaults thereof : yea lord , i take thy grace , and that much grace of thine , whereby my nature , prone to all impiety even from my youth , may be subdued and overcome ; for nature being fallen through the offence of the first man , and desiled through sin , the punishment whereof hath redounded unto all mankind ; so that , that nature which at the first thou didst make good and righteous , is now counted for the sin and infirmity of the corrupt nature ; insomuch as the motions left unto it tend always unto evil and inferiour things ; hence o lord it is , that touching the inward man , i am delighted with thy law , knowing that thy statutes are good , righteous and holy ; and that they reprove wickedness , and teach that which is to be avoided ; but in my flesh serve the law of sin , whilest i obey the appetite more than reason ; hence it is , that to will is present with me ; but alas i find no means to perform ; hereof it is , that often times i purpurpose to do many things well ; but because thy heavenly favour and grace is wanting , which may help mine infirmity , i flee back and retire ; yea , hereof it is , that i know indeed the way of righteousness , and see , as it were , in a glass what my duty is ; but through the weight of my sin , i have no power to arise unto perfection : o lord how greatly do i lack thy grace , both to begin what good is , and also to proceed throughly in goodness : for without it i can do nothing , but through the help thereof , i can do all things in thee : o heavenly grace , without which neither the merits of man , nor the gifts of nature are of price whatsoever : for the gifts of nature are common , as well to the wicked as to the good : but thy grace is a gift peculiar only to the elect , which whoso have , are counted meet and worthy eternal life . finally it is so excellent , that without doubt , neither the gift of prophecy , nor the working of miracles is any thing worth : yea , neither faith nor hope , nor any other virtue are of price or accepted of thee , without love and grace : o blessed grace , which maketh him rich with vertue , who is poor in spirit : come , o come down unto me , and fill me early with thy comfort , that my mind with weariness and hunger faint not : o lord , i beseech thee impart thy grace unto me , that is sufficient for me , though i have nothing in me else that nature would require ; yea i protest , if that be with me , i will dread no temptation , nor trouble whatsoever ; this is my strength , that bringeth counsel and help ; yea , it is both mightier than all enemies , and wiser than the prudent ; it is the mystery of truth , the teacher of discipline , the light of the mind , the comfort in affliction , the expeller of sadness , the remover away of care , and the nourisher of religion . at a word , without it , what am i but withered wood , and a root most unprofitable , to be cast away ? wherefore , o lord , let this thy grace both go before , and also follow me , whereby i may continually apply my self to well-doing , through jesus christ my lord and saviour ; to whom be all honour and glory , for ever and ever . amen . a prayer for a competent living . o almighty god , and loving father , who of nothing hast created all things living ; thy providence is so great over them all , that thou sufferest not the most vile and simplest of them all to perish for want of relief , and things requisite for them , seeking the same at thy hands ; yea , and such is thy favour , o lord , towards man , that thou dost most miraculously provide for him , in that all the rest of thy creatures thou hast ordained for his use and service , and yet not for all alike ; for it hath pleased thee to make some poor , and some rich ; some thou exaltest , and some thou keepest low ; some to live at case , and some by labour , and yet none live without thy providence : and i among the rest of thy creatures , do acknowledg my self greatly bound unto thee , for helping me hitherto ; and as thy silly creature and work of thy hands i humbly prostrate my self in heart before thy majesty , beseeching thee favourably to look down upon my necessity , and grant me whatsoever thou seest necessary for me , even a competent and necessary portion here ; not over-much , lest i wax proud , and disdain my inferiours ; and if it be thy will vouchsafe unto me , not over little , lest urgent necessity drive me to over-much care , and over-much care carry me to unlawful means , and so i run headlong into thy displeasure ; but by truth in my calling i may be able to live and wade through the hardness of this world , and be rather helpful to the poor , than burthensome to the rich . o lord bring it thus to pass ; for without thy blessing and fatherly furtherance , i cannot sufficiently execute , neither can that prosper , thereupon the whole state of my longing and maintenance dependeth : wherefore good lord bless my understanding and endeavours , to the prosperous execution of all things which concern my vocation and calling , and grant , o lord , that whatsoever doth happen unto me ; as poverty or riches , i may be of a patient mind , that in adversity i run not headlong into such means as are ungodly ; neither in prosperity wax the prouder , but wait thy good pleasure in them both with thankfulness , and evermore live in thee and by thee , and in the end raign with thee in heaven , where thou ●ittest as author and giver of all thy blessings . grant this , o most merciful father ; to whom with thy son , and the holy ghost , be all power and glory for ever . amen . a prayer to subdue our affections . o lord , mighty and merciful , who didst create man , in the beginning , simple , sincere , and without spot of sin : in which his integrity and innocency he then presented thine own image , which was pure and without spot of sin ; and yet such was man , that he fell from thee by disobedience , whereby he corrupted his ways , and became ●ar unlike unto thee , being defiled with all vanities , wherein alas , we all of us wallow , the most with greediness : wherefore most dear father in jesus , christ , create in me new thoughts , new affections , shape in me true obedience that i may mortifie and kill all sin , and vain inclinations which rise up against thee ; let sin no longer bear rule in me , o lord ; but let thy grace more and more abound , that all that i do think , speak or do , may b● favouring more of the desire of heaven and heavenly things , than of earthly and carnal desires ; that so i may be approved , not only before men , to be as ought , but to thee to be as thou requirest ; to whom , o lord , be all honour and glory for ever . amen . a prayer for the kings majesty . o lord almighty , the governour , preserver , and continual protector of princes , to whose beck and will all kingdoms of the earth are subject , look in mercy and favour , o lord , i beseech thee , upon the state of thy servant , our dear soverign lord king charles , and his royal issue ; be thou unto him and them a safe refuge in all time of danger ; and let thy holy spirt be unto him a continual guide in all his acts and procedings ; direct him , to comfort , defend and support us , and either to bring our enemies to a perfect peace , in embracing the truth with us , or confound their power and devices for ever . an evening prayer . o heavenly father , and eternal god , i honour thee , i praise thee , i yield thee most hearty thanks for all thy benefits ; and at this time especially , o lord , because thou hast patiently and attentively heard my petitions , and hast given me soberness and humbleness of mind , to utter the same without any interruption . i bless thee my everlasting god , and with all my heart give thee thanks , for that not only thou hast saved me this day from death , from hurts , and from all perils from my cradle ; but hast defended both my soul and body from all misfortunes and dangers : therefore my soul magnifieth the lord , and my spirit rejoyceth in god my saviour , for he hath looked upon the afflictions of his servants : and now among all other thy goodness , o lord , hear ; o lord , forgive ; hearken , o god for thy name sake , for it is called upon by me : o god of heaven and earth , in the evening do i call upon thee , that remitting my sins , thou wouldst receive me into thy protection , & keep me this night , that the devil have no power over me ; for thou , o lord , art my everlasting protector ; for behold , whether i sleep or wake , whether i live or die , i am always thine : let thy mercy follow me , o lord , all the days of my life , that i may dwell in thy house and praise thee , and that i may in acknowledging thy greatness confess my sinful and wretched weakness : and visit me , o lord , and drive from me all the assaults of mine enemies , both bodily and ghostly ; and let thy holy angel be with me , and keep me this night , and evermore , by thy grace ; and ever let thy blessing be upon me this night , and for evermore . amen . prayers for wednesday morning . o lord my god and father , blessed be thy name for ever : dispose my heart , and open my lips , &c. a psalm . in thee o lord , have i put my trust , let me never be put to confusion : deliver me in thy righteousness . bow down thine ear unto me , make hast to deliver me . into thy hands i commend my spirt , for thou hast redeemed me , o lord , thou god of truth . i have hated them that hold superstitious vanities , and my trust hath been in the lord. i will be glad and rejoyce in thy mercy , for thou hast considered my trouble , and hast known my soul in adversity . shew thy servant the light of thy countenance , and save me for thy mercies sake . o how plentiful is thy goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee , and that thou hast prepared for them that put their trust in thee . wherefore i will confess my wickedness , and be sorry for my sin ; i will take heed unto my ways , that i offend not in my tongue . therefore withdraw not thou thy mercy from me , o lord , but let thy loving kindness and thy truth always preserve me . for my soul is a-thirst for god , yea , god , yea even for the living god ; when shall i come to appear before the presence of god ? yea as the hart desireth the water-brooks , so longeth my soul after thee , o god. wherefore send out thy light and thy truth , that they may lead me and bring me to thy holy hill , and to thy dwelling . why art thou so heavy , o my soul ? and why art thou so disquieted within me ? o put thy trust in god , for i will yet give him thanks , who is the help of my countenance , and my god. glory be to the father , and to the son , and to the holy ghost , &c. a morning prayer . o most merciful and loving father , i thank thee for the sweet sleep and comfortable rest that thou hast given me this night ; and forasmuch as thou hast commanded by thy holy word , that no man should be idle , but always occupied in godly and virtuous exercises , every man according to his calling : i most humbly beseech thee , o lord , that thine eyes may attend upon me , that thy grace may daily defend me in danger : succour , cherish , and comfort me in all my needs and distress ; and govern all my counsels , studies , and labours , in such wise , that i may spend this day according to thy blessed will , and the discharge of mine own conscience in thee ; that warily avoiding all things that may displease thee , and setting always before mine eyes thy fear , i may ( thy grace assisting me , and thy holy spirit guiding me ) work that which is acceptable before thy divine majesty , unto thy praise and glory for ever . amen . a fruitful confession to god for sins commited . o gracious god , have mercy upon me , have mercy upon me , look favourably upon me , incline thine ears towards me , and hide not thy face now my soul is troubled . o almighty god , from whose sight there is no covert , and against whose power there is neither resistance nor flight ; i beseech thee to cast off the blind burthen of fleshly affections ; subdue my reason , regenerate my will , and purifie my nature ; lead my desire that i may seek thee ; lighten my understanding that i may see thee ; for i can neither seek thee without thou direct me , nor see thee except thou reveal thy self . lord , forgive mine ignorance , forget my presumption , pardon mine iniquities , relieve my necessities ; let my sins no longer be a cloud between my prayers and thy pity , between thy goodness and my distress ; most gracious god , who art merciful towards all , suffer me not to be destitute of thy mercy : for although i have committed that whereby i may be destroyed , yet hast thou neither forgone nor forgotten that whereby thou art wont to save : o wretch that i am , how coldly do i cry , how weakly do i crave , how senseless is my unclean soul ? alas i am nothing but vanity , a rotten root , without any life or virtue ; a barren ground , bringing forth nothing but sin , shame and damnation : i am unable either to give thee any thing , but of thine own goods , or do any thing for my self , but by thy free gift : wherefore o my sweet saviour , by the tender love , and by all thy mercies , reach thy helping hand , draw my soul out of the mire of sin , wherein it is fast set , that i perish not in the presence of thy pity : deliver me from the snares that the enemy hath laid to take the soul of sinners , either wilful or secure . put away occasions of evil before me , guide me unto thee the streightest course ; and so long as i am to continue in this vile vale of misery , settle me in that state of life wherein i may best please thee : give me grace , o gracious god , although i have hitherto had no care to live well , yet i may now wholly and holily bend my care to dye well ; and that from henceforth i may live in thy fear , and dy in thy favour , rest in thy peace , and remain in thy joy for ever . amen . a prayer for patience . o most gracious and omnipotent father , whose mercy is everlasting and power infinite , bow down thine ear and hearken unto my prayer which i make before thee , beseeching thee of thy accustomed goodness , to endue me with the works of mercy and deeds of charity ; and above all things , to give me patience in adversity , meekly to suffer , and patiently to take whatsoever it shall please thee to lay upon me , and never to murmur or to grudge thereat , but always to think thy loving and gentle correction to be much less than the deserts of my great and manifold offences . and again , if i be not under correction , then am i not thy child ! for what father is he that correcteth not his children whom he most entirely loveth ? this then is a most evident token that thou lovest us , when as thou correctest us : for as the scripture saith ; whom god loveth , him he chasteneth . thou ●eest all things , thou understandest and knowest all things ; so that not so much as one little sparrow lighteth upon the ground without thy knowledge , yea and our very thoughts are fore-known unto thee ; thou disposest and orderest all things as seemeth best to thy holy will and pleasure . by thy help i may do all things , but without thee i can do nothing . when thou pourest upon us thy creatures , thy good gifts and benefits , thou dost it to this end ; that we acknowledging the same , should thereby be encouraged to serve , honour and obey thee ; and contrary wise , when thou strikest us with thy rod of correction , thou dost it to put us in mind that we have transgressed thy commandments ; that we have not hearkened unto thee , but willingly fallen into the puddle of sin , and following our own appetites , have provoked thy just wrath and indignation against us . thus thou dealest with us , o lord , to the intent that we suffering bodily punishment , and feeling the smart of the same , may thereby be admonished of our duties ; and with true compunction of heart , desire to be released from the scourge that we have deserved . this , o heavely father , i acknowledge to be our duty ; but alas , i for my part have not performed the same as i ought ; yet i beseech thy goodness not to execute the rigour of thy justice upon me , but to stay thy hand ; and before thou give me any greater wound , to behold my humility and repentance , and here i do offer thee , o lord , according as the poor widow did , all which i am able to give ; that is , a sorrowful contrition of heart for my former offences done and past : wherefore i beseech thee to give me grace , that what way soever it shall please thee to punish me , 〈◊〉 may take it patiently , and say , naked i came into this world , and naked i shall return to the earth again : the lord giveth , and the lord taketh away , even as it pleaseth the lord , so be it . suffer me not , o lord , to despair , or to think that thou dealest unjustly with me ; but say , shall i receive prosperity at the lord's hands , and not be con●ent with adversity ? and always to think upon this , happy are they whom thou ●ost punish ; for though thou makest a wound , thou also givest a plaster ; though thou smitest , thy hand maketh whole again : mine iniquities are great , be thou merciful unto my wickedness ; o deliver me from thine anger , and press me not further than i shall be able to bear ; but now 〈◊〉 acknowledge that whatsoever trouble thou hast sent me , or wilt lay upon me , is either for the punishment of mine iniquities , or for the tryal of my constancy ; i may with repentant david , find remission of my sins ; and with patient job , release of mine adversity , and obtain such favour in thy sight , that i may so pass this life , that i may afterwards live with thee in thy eternal glory : grant this o● most loving father , for thy dear son's sake jesus christ ; to whom with the holy ghost , be all honour and glory , for ever and ever . amen . a prayer for humility . o my sweet saviour jesus , it is thine own lesson : be humble and meek as i am : it is thy word also ; my sheep hear my voice : but lord what shall i do , the flesh is proud , i daily rebel against thy holy will , i envy my superiours , i love not my equals , i despise mine inferiours : this is the fruit of the ●lesh , o lord , but thou art love and life , o loving jesus ; and therefore , i beseech thee of thy tender love to pity me , and to endue me with the spirit of humbleness , that being poor i● in spirit , i may with the little ones of thy kingdome be blessed and live for ever : o lord , for the avoidance of pride , give me thy grace to consider , that by it an angel became a devil , and man was excommunicated from the paradise of pleasure ; desire of soveraignty begat the devil , sin , death and damnation ; so that out of it , as a most filthy puddle , issu'd a whole sea of mischief and misery : of this cup of pride , father adam drank , when by his disobedi●nce he lost thy favour , and by the taste of ●n apple , thought to be thy co-mate , in knowing of good and evil ; give me thy grace not only to consider this but also ful●y to digest it ; that detesting it as a venemous viper , i may in humbleness of heart ●erve thee holily and soundly , without hy●ocrisie , who art the pattern of low liness , ●nd a mirror of humility , continually to ●e looked upon , and truly to be followed . 〈◊〉 life and lover of souls , give me grace ●lways to hear , and hearing thy word , to ●ollow thee my lord and god , both now ●nd for ever . amen . a prayer for gods fear . o almighty and eternal god , thy holy word teacheth us , that thou art not ●nly a father , but also a lord ; not only 〈◊〉 forgiver , but also a revenger ; not only 〈◊〉 saviour , but also a judge : and as thou be●●g a father , a saviour , and forgiver , dost ●ardon and shew mercy ; so thou being a ●ord , a revenger and a judge , punishest ●nd condemnest : neither doth thy holy word set forth unto us a gospel which com●orteth us , quickneth us , sheweth us joy ful tidings , quieteth our consciences , & bringeth us unto everlasting life ; but also a law which reproveth , accuseth , condemneth , woundeth , and slayeth our consciences , ye● and throweth us down head-long into everlasting perdition , so that by this we may see , that we may not only love thee as father , saviour , and forgiver ; but also fear thee as a lord , a revenger , and a judge , for asmuch therefore , o most gentle saviour , and most righteous judge , as nothing doth so mightily put away sin , and make us to walk in the way of thy commandments , as reverently to fear thee , and to stand in awe of thy judgments and heavy despleasure : i most entirely pray and beseech thee , to give me that fear which thou requirest of us in thy holy word , and whereunto thou hast promised so many large and bounteous benefits , that i may not only love thee as a father , and honour thee as a saviour , but reverence thee as a lord , and fear thee as 〈◊〉 judge ; o lord , all things are open to thine eyes , neither is any thing hid fro● thee , which seest the most inward thought and secrets of our hearts . give me grace o lord , i beseech thee , that in all my enterprises , i may ever set thy fear before mine eyes , and so stand in aw of thee and of thy righteous judgments , tha● i attempt nothing whereby i should provoke thy heavenly displeasure against me ; but so walk in thy fear , and in thy holy ordinance , that i may at all times love thee as a father , honour thee as a saviour , reverence thee as a lord , and fear thee as a judge ; so shall it come pass , that i reverently loving thee as a child doth his father , shall not only avoid all such evils as might make thee my heavy lord , and fearful judge ; but also imbrace those virtues , which shall both evidently declare my faithful love , true honour , unfeigned reverence and humble fear towards thee ; and also thee my lord and loving father , and most merciful saviour ; to whom be all honour and glory for ever . amen . a prayer for the desire of heavenly things . o my god , o the sweet life of my soul ! what other thing besides thee ought i to look after ? what , have i not all things if i do possess thee who hast created all things ? there is nothing of any estimation , but only such things as thou hast made ; for whatsoever grace of ●omliness , pleasantness , fineness , sweetness , virtue , dignity or riches , consisteth in any creature , the same proceedeth from thee , o god , and all things abundantly slow without any lack : o creator most excellent , thou art the pleasure of all things , thou art the abundant fulness of perfect joy , and the unmeasurable sea of all holy delight : thou art that light and incredible clearness and passing brightness , which they do hear , see , taste and feel , that are inwardly joyned unto thee , through exceeding pureness of heart , while they yet remain in this present exile : the loving embracements , nor the dainty kisses of the mother , appeaseth the weeping of her tender child ; nor the pleasant countenance of the husband towards his loving wife , are but as shadows and of no value , in respect and consideration of the sweet embracements , wherewith thou , o lord , dost allure the souls of those that love thee : but if poor banished men can be so blessed and happy , and that they can see such incomparable goodness , who see thee but in a dark shadowed glass : how much more happie ought we then to judge of thy holy citizens who see thee face to face ? those thy beloved children , do now most manifestly know , and in themselves do feel how much thou dost favour and love them , and from the beginning hast loved them : thou o lord , it is that doth qualifie , gladden , refresh and satisfie with a delicate desire of enjoying thy company , the hearts and wills of all men ; and to say all , o eternal god , thou art all in all , in that most holy city of new jerusalem : that is the happy day , and the singular day , whereof thou o lord jesus hast spoken to thy disciples : in that day you shall know that i am in my father , and you in me , and i in you : o day so much wished-for with most hearty desire , wherein the holy souls shall be united unto thee , o god , and shall be inspired with a marvellous light of wisdom , and transformed into the brightness of eternal glory ; o jesus grant i beseech thee , that so long as i am in the darkness of this misty desart , that the eyes of my mind may behold and contemplate the most shining light and brightness of thee , o god , and that i may always praise thee for ever and ever . amen . a prayer to god for zeal in prayer . o my god , and father , i beseech thee , that if at any time i feel in my self any faintness or failing of fervency in calling upon thee , that thou wilt kindle within my heart the heavenly heat of thy most holy spirit , that i may burn in the zeal of thee and thy holy house ; and grant me thy grace o lord to cry with thy holy apostle for the increase of faith ; that being awakned and stirred up by thy most tender and fatherly affection and instigation , i may enjoy the effect of all my godly and necessary desires , which thou hast promised to give unto me in thy son jesus christ ; for whose sake i expect all good things at thy hands : make my heart the undefiled instrument of peace and perfect thoughts , and my tongue the trumpet of thine eternal praise , my body the habitation of the holy ghost , mine eyes the windows to behold the worthy way that leads to thee ; my legs the supporters of my body and soul , towards the attaining of thy heavenly kingdom : o lord , thou knowest my hearty desire is always to serve thee , and evermore to abide in thy love and favour : grant unto me , lord , of thy gracious goodness , that i may live in thy law , walk in thy way , and die in thy faith ; and that i may clearly be delivered of the bondage of sin , and be wholly out of death and damnation : give me the peace which the world cannot give ; grant me the joy which thine elect do possess ; sustain me with the comfort that never shall be void ; erect me with the hope that always shall persist ; instruct me with thy word that ever shall endure ; and advance me to thy kingdom that never shall have end : then shall thy glory still live in me , and i shall never die , but raign with thee for ever ; to whom , o father , be all honour and glory , world without end . amen . prayers for wednesday night . o lord my god and father , blessed be thy name for ever : dispose my heart , and ●pen my lips , &c. a psalm . o lord my god , thou hast searched me out , and known me , thou knowest my downsitting , and ●y uprising ; thou understandest my thoughts long before . thou art about my path , and about my ●ed , and spyest out all my ways . for lo , there is not a word in my tongue , but thou , o lord , knowest it altogether . my reins are thine , thou hast cover'd me in my mothers womb . i will give thanks unto thee , for i am fearfully and wonderfully made : marvellous are thy works , and that my soul knoweth right well . my bones are not hid from thee , though i be made secretly , and fashioned beneath in the earth . thine eyes did see my substance , yet being unperfect ; and in thy book were all my members written . which day by day were fashioned , when as yet there was none of them . o how dear are thy counsels unto me , o god , o how great is the summ of them ! o enter not into judgment with thy servant , for in thy sight shall no man living be justified . keep me , o lord , from the hands of the ungodly ; preserve me from wicked men , which are purposed to overthrow my goings . let my prayer be set forth in thy sight as the incense ; and the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice . set a watch , o lord , before my mouth , and keep the door of my lips . o let not my heart be inclined to any evil thing , let me not be occupied in ungodliness with the men that work wickedness , lest i do such things as please them . but teach me to do the thing that pleaseth thee , for thou art my god , let thy loving spirit lead me forth into the land of righteousness . a prayer for mortification . o righteous god , and merciful father who art so pure and clean , that no corruption resteth in thy sight ; and ●ith there is required in all men the sincere and inward zeal of the soul , and an absolute killing of the motions of the flesh , and mortifying of all carnal affection : look favourably upon me , o lord , in whom doth dwell an innumerable troop of foolish fantasies , and an heap of sinful affections : i find and feel , o lord , that though many times to will be present with me , yet to perform is not in my power ; sin doth prevail , and death through sin swalloweth me up , so that i rest in darkness of sin , by giving scope unto mine own perverse will ; and such is my miserable estate , that being thus of my self , flesh and blood slattereth it self , and concludeth that whatsoever i purpose in an evil desire , so that it break not forth into open gross wickedness , that i am holy enough , that i am as sincere as is requisite , and that i stand too fearful of thy judgment . when thou knowest , o lord , that all and every the least conceit of sin , breaking into action , in what covert measure , or mean degree soever , it by and by endangereth my soul , and deserveth sudden judgment ; and therefore let it please thee , o father , that as thy dear son , through thy surpassing love , hath reconciled all such unto thy favour again , that are truly penitent , so let thy holy spirit continually work to the taming of my unbridled flesh ; and let me , by the same spirit , come to a true mortification of all the evils that rise up in me ; so shall i deny and forsake my self , and follow thee ; so shall i leave my self , and come to thee ; hate my self , and love thee ; conquer my self , and serve thee . and here thou ●eest , o my dear father , that i am most weak , and without the continual working of thy grace , i cannot in any measure suppress my desires , but that they rather the more strongly rise in me : i cannot deny my self , but i rather deny the working of thy grace in me ; i do not only not mortifie my sins , but sin rather reviveth and becometh strong in me , in as much as it bringth forth fruit , not unto life , but unto death : therefore i beseech thee , o heavenly father , to sanctifie me that i defile not my self with the filthiness of the flesh , nor fleshly things , howsoever they may seem to please me : let me not be deceived with the pleasing judgments of worldly men , who affirm sin to be no sin , darkness to be light , and light to be darkness , atheism to be religion , and sanctity to be sin . o dear father , many are the enormities that rise up in us , and defended not only as things tolerable , but as things laudable : wherefore i beseech thee to mortifie these evils , and let me no longer be sotted with the filthy fashions of this world : extinguish the flames of carnal desires , repress the rageing lusts of the flesh : and grant that i may with shame , and with due watchfulness avoid all things that have but the appearance of evil ; but being thus inwardly subdued , i may make outward profession , that whatsoever i do , it may be simply grounded upon a good conscience : and let me still retain this in memory , o lord , that i cannot follow mine own will and thy word , that i cannot impart my affections to the deed of the flesh , and the works of the spirit , that i cannot walk in darkness and light , in the way of death , and in the way of life : wherefore , o most dear father direct me in my whole life , and separate me from the world , and worldly things ; and let me dwell with thee in all godly meditations and contemplations , and let me use the things of this world as i used them not : and being thus truly mortified in the body , and quickned in the spirit , i may look in continual watchfulness for the dissolution of this my mortal body , that my soul may ascend , and in the end , both soul and body may for ever more enjoy the eternal joys of heaven . amen . a prayer against desperation . o most merciful god , greatly have i sinned , and alas am guilty of many crimes : therefore unto thee do i cry , o most holy father and eternal god , keep me in thy name , that in temptations and extremities i never faint in courage ; moderate and mitigate my vexations , let them come to a joyful end , that i fall not into the most heinous sin of incredulity and despair . o christ jesus , saviour of the world , whose mercy cometh unto us like a stream , who art my eternal happiness , i do from the botto mof my heart beseech thee , to increase , establish , hope , and strengthen patience within me ; for this certainly is true , that one little drop of thy sacred blood shed for us is of more power to save us , than all our enormous sins to condemn us : wherefore , o sweet saviour , look upon me with the eyes of mercy , as thou lookedst back upon peter in the hall of the high-priests palace , after he had both renounced thee , and cursed himself : o god the holy ghost be thou present with me in mine extream need , when the devill will accuse me , and my conscience bear witness against me ; when i shall be environed with horrible danger and temptations , and all things set themselves against me . strengthen my heart at that time , o comfortable spirit , with the zeal of thy testimony , that undoubtedly i may believe the forgiveness of sins , the resurrection of the flesh , and everlasting life , which shall be given to all believers . o blessed trinity , and eternal god of one essence , give grace that in every combate , especilly at the point of death , being mindful of thy covenant made with me in baptism , and of thy most comfortable promise annexed ; which is , that all that believe and are baptised shall be saved , i may never doubt either of thy merciful good will towards me or of the free remission and forgiveness of my sins ; but by often remembrance of this sign and covenant , i may daily more and more be confirmed in faith and hope of eternal happiness : and here , o holy trinity , lift up my sorrowful heart , and pour upon me the wholsome comfort of thy heavenly bliss , and at the point of death refresh me with the sweet light of thy chearful countenance ; that with exceeding joy i may desire to depart , and come to thy heavenly house , where thou livest and reignest as my eternal god and father , for ever and ever . amen . a prayer for the power of god's spirit to abide in us . o omnipotent and eternal god , and father , which comfortest such as be sorrowful , and who givest all good gifts , thou of thy free favour and love , hast willed us in all our affairs and necessities , and as often as we stand in need of any of thy blessings , or feel our selves burdened with any kind of tribulation or affliction either of body or mind , to call upon thee in the name of thy son jesus christ , and thou wilt grant what we want ; most humbly i beseech thee , to send down upon my dark understanding , the bright beams of thy most holy spirit , to lighten me , and to direct me in all my supplications and prayers ; and especially at this time , o lord , for that thou knowest my weakness and ignorance to be such , as i am altogether unable to frame my requests according to thy will , or to seek that which is for mine own souls health ; wherefore i most humbly beseech thee , o lord , in the name of him thy son , to address and prepare my heart to the true understanding , and unfeigned calling on thy name for such things as thy wisdom shall think most expedient for me , both to the obtaining of thy heavenly kingdom , which is before all things to be sought for , and for temporal blessings best known to thee ; which in respect of my ignorance , my dulness , my corruption , my weakness , and the guilt of mine own conscience , i cannot crave in such due and faithful manner as i ought ; and therefore , most dear father , i here beseech thee in the name of thy son christ , that thou wilt ai● me with thy holy spirit in my prayers ; that being of my self dull , i may be made zealous ; and whereas i am of my self cold , i may be thereby made fervent and faithful , that my prayers be not as a smoke which vanisheth , or as the wind which passeth away , being only in the lips , and not firm in the heart ; let it be effectual and an acceptable sacrifice , sweet and pleasing in thy sight ; and that nothing pass the bounds of thy unfeigned lips , that which may beseem a single heart , always sounding thine honour , and setting forth of thy most glorious praise : let thy holy spirit , o lord , come unto me ; let it continue with me , work , and prevail effectually in me , unto the end ; that i may both at this time begin , and for evermore continue as thou will est i should , namely in faith ; that i fall not into any temptation , in hope that i may constantly look for , and faithfully attain unto perfect understanding of thy will , and ableness in all things to fulfil the same ; make me also , good lord , fervent in love , that i may freely and unfeignedly , even from my very heart , forgive and forgot all injuries , wrongs , and evil doings , of such as by any means have offended me , with hearty prayer for their amendment , that i approaching unto the throne of thy mercy , in a pure and single heart , may heartily , as well for all others , as for my self , for things necessary both for my soul and body , make my humble petitions unto thee , and in thy good time , tast that most sweet fruit of my humble desires , according unto thy will ; so shall i shew forth thy praise , and give glory to thy name for ever and ever , world without end . amen . a prayer for the victory against sin . o lord , there is no victory without fighting , nor any crown without victory ; give me therefore power , o lord , that fighting valiantly , i may be crowned gloriously in heaven with thee to live for ever : minister strength unto me , that i may over-master mine enemies , and give me the spirit of patience , that continuing unto the end , i may be found and taken as a faithful souldier of thy son jesus christ , and so be blessed : let me not faint in fear , but let me fight in a lively saith , which over-matcheth all the whole world ; plant me a natural branch , by the power of thy holy word in the vine jesus , and make me able to endure every crack : let no canker of sin , eat me , let no worm of a guilty conscience gnaw me , let no blast of the world overcome me ; but stay me up with thy mighty hand , and be ever at my elbow , that i may be crowned though i be crossed , and saved , though now soused in extream misery ; in this is all my hope : for surely of my self i am but a vapour , a worm ; i am born of a woman in sin , a sinful child by nature , and to my power wage battel with satan against my self , to my utter undoing , o lord , unless thou regenerate me , and assist me with thy spirit , always to resist him ; which do , o gracious god , i beseech thee for thy great mercy , to whom be all power and glory for ever . amen . a prayer to be mindful of death . o god , in whose hands consisteth the life of all mankind , for thy son christ's sake , vouchsafe to give me grace to set before mine eyes , as a most certain mark , whereto this frail body of mine must tend it self , the image of that which is to the faithful the end of pain , and the begining of pleasure ; the end of misery , and the beginning of bliss : but to the secure and careless , the end of their pleasures , and beginning of eternal pains . and vouchsafe , good lord , that i may have an earnest desire of serving thee , and leading my life according unto thy will , that whensoever it shall please thee to call me out of this life , i be not through fear stricken with doubt of condemnation , but even at the last gasp , through unfeigned faith in jesus christ , may take and have taste of eternal salvation , that death be not bitter or terrible unto me ; but rather when it cometh , i with joy receive the same in the name of thy son jesus christ . bless me , good lord , from the second death , the everlasting destruction both of body and soul , and justifie me in the death of thy son that my name may be registred in the book of life . o lord comfort my guilty conscience with the everlasting light of thy bountiful savour , and let me have place among thy saints in thy heavenly kingdom . lord , for thy mercies sake , after this my bodily death , give me the fruition of thy presence , in the rich palace of endless bliss : to whose merciful protection i commend with all humility and reverence , my soul and body . lord jesus preserve me , lord jesus comfort me , lord jesus pray for me ; for only into thy hands that hast redeemed me , o lord thou god of truth , i commend my soul both now and for ever : amen . a prayer for a happy departure out of this life . o most gracious and eternal god , thy years endure throughout all generations , and thy days are without end or beginning , but the days of man are determined , which he cannot overpass , and the number of his months are foreknown unto thee : wherefore instruct me o lord , that being always mindful of my mortality , i never promise unto my self many years , nor long life in this pilgrimage of mine , so shall i not live securely , deferring my conversion to thee from day to day ; nor yet put confidence in this frail and uncertain life , as that rich man spoken of in the gospel : but give me grace , that in thy fear i may dayly prepare my self to depart out of this prison ; for nothing is more certain than death , though nothing more uncertain than the hour thereof : therefore i beseech thee o lord , to let me have always before mine eyes an image and mediation of my departure , the better to know the fleeting and vanity of this srail and cumbersome life ; that i may live to thee my god , being sound in faith , and strong in hope , looking with cheerfulness for the day of my departure , and the joyful appearing of thy son jesus christ my redeemer ; and make me i beseech thee , o lord , a faithful and wise servant , looking for the coming of my lord , for that i know not when he will come , lest by a sudden hour of death being overtook , i being found unready ; but contrariwise , by prudent watching in true conversion and repentance , i may covet to be dissolved , and to be with christ my redeemer ; and grant also , o lord , that at the point of death , having escaped all hardness and temptations , i may triumph like a conquereor , and behold the power and presence of thy holy spirit ; and let my last word be that which thy son did utter upon the altar of the cross , saying , father into thy hands i commend my spirit ; and when my speech is taken from me , hear o god the groanings of my heart ; and the hour of death being come , let thy servant depart in peace , through jesus christ my lord and saviour ; to whom be all praise and glory , for ever and ever , amen . a petition to god the father . o omnipotent god and father , i have asked here at this time many things of thee , and yet not deserved any ; i confess alas , that not only those things which i require be not due unto me , but in stead of them most grievous punishments ; yet o lord , lay not my sins to my charge , for if thou shouldest , i were not able to abide or stand in thy sight , but o lord , i most humbly beseech thee , that thou wilt forgive me all that is past ; and grant that i may never hereafter offend in the same again : and vouchsafe i beseech thee of thy goodness o lord , to direct , sanctifie , and keep my heart and body , my senses and doings , my talk and communication , in thy most holy laws and commandments ; and that thy holy angel may be with me , to direct my feet unto the way of peace , truth and health ; that i may be whole , safe and free in thee , and by thee , both here and in the world to come . o christ hear me , and save me , which livest and reignest with the father and the holy spirit ; god in perfect unity ; to whom be praise for ever , world without end . amen . an evening prayer . o heavenly father , i with all humility and reverence of heart and mind , beseech thee this night , which thou hast ordained for man to rest in , that thou wilt guard and protect me with thy good guiding spirit ; and albeit my sinful flesh shall slumber and sleep , yet grant that my soul may continually keep watch and ward ; let not the enemy find me slumbering and sleeping , as careless in the cradle of sinful security , lest that whilst i am unarmed , that is , naked and destitute of thy help and favour , he enter in and break up the house of my sinful body ; and make such havock and spoil , and that my infected leprous soul , deformed by means of mine iniquity , and wounded with the dangerous darts of transgression , be thrown with the body of sin , unto the lake of destruction ; make me still , o good lord , to consider that the bed is the plain pattern of the grave ; make me to understand , that when i am laid of my self ; without thy heavenly providence , i cannot be able to rise again ; make me also to acknowledge that sleep is the very figure of death , to whose stroke , at thy appointed pleasure i must submit my self ; endue me with love and charity to all men ; let my lamp , o lord , be garnished with oyl , that whensoever thy messenger death shall draw nigh , and knock at the gate of my body , i may at his summons in the day of the resurrection of the dead , be ready to attend on thee my bride with my burning lamp ; that is with a stedfast faith , when as by faith i shall be cloathed with a new : for my mortal body shall be then covered with immortality and the corruption of my sinful and rebellious flesh then changed to incorruption and perfect purity : thy righteousness shall be mine , thy merits shall make me perfect and holy , by vertue whereof , hell shall lose his victory , death shall lose his sting , my faith and hope shall have its end and reward ; and i with thy saints , continually dwell in love and charity with thee and my heavenly bridegroom christ jesus ; to whom with the father , and the holy ghost , be ascribed all power and glory , for ever and ever . amen . prayers for thursday morning . o lord my god and heavenly father , blessed be thy name for ever : dispose my heart , open my lips , and give me thy holy spirit , &c. a psalm . save me o god , for thy names sake , and avenge me in thy strength . hear my prayer , o god , and hearken to the words of my mouth . an offering of a free heart will i give thee , and praise thy name , o lord , because it is so comfortable . i will praise god , because of his word , i have put my trust in god ; and will not fear what flesh can do unto me . in gods word will i rejoyce , in the lords word will i comfort me . for thou hast delivered my soul from death , and my feet from falling , that i might walk before thee in the light of the living . therefore will i call unto the most high god , even unto the god that shall perform the cause which i have in hand . he shall send from heaven , and save me from the reproof of him that would eat me up . he verily is my strength and my salvation , he is my defence , so that i shall not greatly fall . for the greatness of his mercy reacheth to the heavens , and his truth unto the clouds . wherefore my soul thirsteth for him , my flesh also longeth after him , in a dry and barren land where no water is . thus have i looked for thee in holiness , that i might behold thy power and glory . for thy loving kindness is better than the life it self , my lips shall praise thee . my soul shall be satisfied even as it were with marrow and fatness , when my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips . because thou hast been mine helper , therefore under the shadow of thy wings will i rejoyce . glory be , &c. a morning prayer . o heavenly father , which like a diligent watchman attendest always upon thy children , whether they wake or sleep , and mightily defendest them , not only from satan that old enemy of mankind , but also from all other their adversaries ; so that through thy godly power , they be harmless preserved : i most humbly thank thee , that it hath pleased thy goodness so to take care of me thy unprofitable servant this night past ; that thou hast both safely kept me from all mine enemies , and hast given me sweet sleep unto the comfort of my body . i most entirely beseech thee , merciful father , to shew the like goodness towards me this day in pre●erving my body and soul , that mine enemies may have no power over me , and that so likewise i may neither breath , ●peak , or do any thing that may be displea●ing to thy fatherly goodness , dangerous ●o my soul , or hurtful to my neighbour ; ●ut that all my enterprises may be agree●ble to thy most blessed will , which is always good and godly , doing that that may always advance thy glory , and ●nswer to my vocation , that whenso●ver thou shalt call me from this vale of misery i may be found the child not of darkness , but of light , and so for ever to reign with thee in glory , who art the true and everlasting light ; to whom with the son and the holy ghost , be all power and glory for ever and ever . amen . a prayer for true sorrow of heart for sin . o most merciful god and dear father , vouchsafe i beseech thee to look down with thy fatherly eyes of pity upon me most vile and wretched sinner which lye here prostrate in heart , before the feet of thy bottomless mercy ; for i have sinned against the throne of thy glory , and before thee o father ; yet nevertheless , forasmuch as thou art the god of all comfort , and again desirest not the death of a sinner , make me i pray thee , by infusing thy precious oyl of comfort into my wounds , that i may joyfully run with the lost son into the lap of thy pity ; for lo● thou art my hope and trust , in whom 〈◊〉 repose my self , having in thee full confidence in faith ; yea , and i most vile wretch , do here accuse my self unto thee o father , in that i have so sore and grievously offended thy almighty goodness in the committing of so many grievous and manifold offences ; i have not kept the least of thy most holy commandments , like as thy righteousness may require the same of me ; but in what manner soever i have offended against thy eternal majesty , whether it hath been by day or by night , secretly or openly , o merciful god , i am sorry for it , even from the bottom of my heart , yea my soul mourneth that i am not a thousand times more sorry than i am : and here in token of true repentance , i do knock and strike my heart and say in bitterness of my heart and soul , lord god the father , have mercy ; lord god the son , have mercy ; lord god the holy ghost , have mercy , and spare me of thy infinite goodness now and for ever ; and let my heart have part of thy abundant grace , so as i may change my sinful life , and put off the old man with all concupiscence , and that i may die unto the world , and the world to me : give my soul grace , o my god , to desire in thee only to rejoyce and repose my self , and that i may utterly renounce and forsake the vain assistance of this world , so that thou mayst find me ready with the good servant in the midnight of death , which shall suddenly steal upon me , like a thief ere i be aware : wherefore be thou to me at that time ( o lord ) a tower of strength , a place of refuge , and a defensible god , namely against the face of the devil , who then will be ready to devour me , and against desperation , which then will be ready to grieve me : let then thy comfort cleave fast to me , thy mercy keep me , and thy grace guide me ; fetch then again , lord god the father , that which thy puissant might hath shapen ; fetch then again , lord god the son , that which thou hast so wisely governed , and bought with thy precious blood ; take again , thou lord god the holy ghost , that which thou hast kept and preserved so lovingly in this region of sin , and vale of misery , three persons and one god ; to whom be all glory and power , for ever . amen . a prayer for wisdom . o almighty and everlasting god , it is thy gift , that babes and men of base degree have the knowledge and understanding of thy will , and men of profound learning , deep study , and worldly appearance often want the same . it is thou which expellest darkness , and givest light ; which takest away ignorance , and plantest knowledge and wisdom , denying the same to none that unfeignedly ask it at thy hands ; without the which nothing can be obtained which good is , nor nothing avoided with the evil : and that did solomon very well consider , who had a promise at thy hands , that whatsoever he asked he should obtain : vouchsafe therefore , o lord , to send it down from heaven , where it attendeth about thy fear , and replenish my heart with the knowledge of it , that i may perfectly know what thy divine will and pleasure is in all things , and that i may always direct my ways by rule thereof , loving thee , and above all things , continuing most thankful for all thy fatherly benefits bestowed and conferred upon me , and that prosperity overcome not , nor in adversity i be foolishly moved to seek remedy elsewhere than at thy hands only , who art my god , and who hast promised to give wisdom to all them that unfeignedly ask it : o lord hear my prayer , and let my cry come unto thee ; give perfect wisdom , whereby i may truly discern the difference between the heavenly revelation , which is wisdom from above , and vain cogitations of worldly wits , considering that the one in all things , as well in adversity as prosperity , continueth most constant , stable , patient , and firm : whereas contrariwise , the other seeketh with more diligence to avoid the afflictions , troubles and calamities which thou iayest upon thy children ; but , most sweet lord , and heavenly comforter , grant that it may be far from my heart to think that any thing cometh to pass otherwise than by thy almighty providence , who willeth nothing , nor doest any thing but what is most expedient and necessary for the use of the bodies and souls of thy servants , which we cannot rightly conceive without this especial gift of thine , wherewith for thy son jesus christ's sake endue me , that i be not led by fond conceit , or deceive my self with worldly experience ; but governing my self according to thy will , and measuring all my actions , words and thoughts , by the right rule of knowledge ; in the end i may be found in the number of those discreet virgins , who had their lamps continually burning , and not in the number of those that were taken unprovided ; that the coming of thy son jesus christ be not terrible unto me , but most acceptable and joyful ; that in the end i may have free entrance into that most glorious kingdom , which thy son jesus christ hath purchased with his blood for all true believers in him ; to whom with the father and the holy ghost be all glory for ever . amen . a prayer for the true worship of god. o most gracious god and loving father , establish my heart and mind in the true worship of thy divine majesty ; make me to believe thy holy and sacred gospel , wherein i am daily and hourly instructed , to love , fear , honour , and obey thee ; to renounce all superstitious ceremonies whereby thy worship is defaced , thy glory prophaned , and thine honour greatly diminished ; give me thy grace to hate sin and iniquity , and to renounce and forsake the vanities and wanton pleasures of this wicked and sinful world : arm me , i beseech thee , to mortifie and bring under the rebellious appetites and strange lusts of the flesh ; and finally , give me power from above , to withstand satan the prince of darkness , and all his damnable ministers , who by divers temptations provokes and allures us from godly purity , and perfect integrity which passeth only from christ jesus to us who is the fulness of our perfection and holiness ) to all kind of evil impiety and uncleanness ; by means whereof , thy worship is greatly prophaned , and of a set purpose contemned : make me , o lord , i beseech thee , by the power of a fruitful faith , to resist and bridle the concupiscnce of my flesh , in such sort that my soul may triumph with victory , and continue constant in worshipping thee : prepare my heart and mind , to spread forth the glory of thy name ; keep my tongue from all filthy talk , and uncomely gestures , lest by the exercise of sin , i contemn thy worship , and provoke thee to displeasure against me ; set thou a watch before the gates of my mouth , that my lips by grace may be always made open to sound forth thy praise : be merciful to mine offences , think thou not on mine unrighteousness , but of thy clemency forgive thou freely , and pardon graciously all my sins ; make me faithful in christ jesus , shorten these dangerous days of iniquity , increase the number of thy chosen and peculiar saints ; hasten thy coming , o saviour christ ; that i with the fellowship of thy saints , heavenly angels , and the blessed company of martyrs , may celebrate thy praise , and worship thee in thy glorious kingdom , before thy father , my god , and the holy ghost ; to whom be praise and glory for ever . amen . a prayer for charity . o infinite charity , thou son of god , to whom the father hath surrendred all power in heaven and earth : i have offended thee , and endangered my soul desperately : for charity , o charity ! thou shalt judge the world in equity , and i have not charity abiding within me : i love for gain , i hate mine enemies , i pray not for them that curse me and speak evil of me : i have of thy benefits , and yet i spare nothing for them that have need : o eternal charity , i have hereby incurred the peril of thy just judgment : whereof , o heavenly charity have mercy upon me , and quit me from a replying conscience , and the court of the devil ; for else will mine own life exclaim against me , and crave damnation of my uncharitable conversion : o lord my sweet saviour , i beseech thee for thy bloody sweat , in the bottomless pit of thy mercy to drown all my transgressions : adopt me thy brother , and give me thy holy spirits testimony as a gage and earnest of mine adoption and election ; that being free from sin , i may serve thee with a free conscience , in hope of an unwavering faith in mercy . amen . a prayer for the feeling of god's favour and grace . o my lord god , and dear father , i here crave thy assistance and grace , that feel all things to work in me contrary to thy will : for blind is my mind , crooked is my will , and perverse concupiscence is in me as a spring and stinking puddle : faint is my faith , my sinful life increasing , and my sins still abounding , so as from offending thee o lord , i cannot cease neither day nor night , and my sins are heavy upon me , pressing me down even to hell , such is the weight thereof ; moreover when i prepare my self to amendment of life , and think stedfastly to serve and please thee , even soon after doth my corrupt nature offend and displease thy divine majesty ; so that i am prone and ready to run headlong into all kind of sin and wickedness : such is my strength , such is my force and weakness in performing those things which thou requirest at my hands ; by reason whereof i am moved to doubt of thy goodness towards me , unless thou of thy mercy and pity send thine aid from above , and pour into me thy most healthful grace , that i may most assuredly and faithfully trust in the merits of my saviour jesus christ , which is of far greater force , vertue and effect , in preserving me , than all my sins and offences are in condemning and casting me away : wherefore o father , as thou requirest thus strictly that i should believe without doubting ; so wouldst thou in all my needs i should come unto thee as a father , and make my moan without mistrust of being heard in thy good time , as most shall make for thy glory and my comfort : lo therefore , to thee dear father do i come , in thy son jesus christ , praying thee of thy great mercy and goodness , to be merciful unto me , that i may love thee with all my heart for ever ; that my works may be ever found holy in thy sight , and that i may always not only strive against sin , but also overcome the same dayly more and more , as thy children do , and above all things desire the sanctifying of thy name , the coming of thy kingdom , the doing of thy will here on earth , as it is in heaven , and that only through my lord and saviour jesus christ , to whom be all honour and glory , for ever and ever , amen . a prayer to god to bless our endeavours . o my celestial father , be favourable unto me thy repentant servant , fled from mine enemies to thy help and succour . impute not my sins unto me , for christs sake ; for i have heard thy fatherly voice , and it soundeth daily in mine ears out of heaven , promising me , and affirming constantly thy self to be appeased with me for thy sons sake , whom thou commandest me to hear and believe , who is made of thee my righteousness , my salvation , my peace , my mediator and intercessor , my fulfiller of the law , my deliverer , and my whole holy accomplisher of all my just desires , and my saviour christ jesus , god and man , in whose name at this time i attempt and take in hand all my just doings , according to my calling , desiring thy gracious goodness , o lord god and father , to prosper it , further it , and give it happy increase , that whatsoever i take in hand , justly to finish the same . o holy father , bless all my endeavours with thy blessed increase , and let me not seek mine own will , but ever to pray that thy will be fulfilled ; and let me not be led into temptation , but deliver me from all evil , for ever and ever . amen . a prayer to live uprightly in our calling . o god of all comfort , and giver of all consolation , forgive my sins , cleanse and wash me from all iniquities which disable me to perform my calling in such sort as becometh me : and through the blood of thy son , purifie my heart and my imperfections , and sanctifie me with thy grace , that my sins being forgiven , i may rest in thy favour and continual comfort , and be daily blessed with new gifts ; that i may be found perfect in my calling , seasoned so with a lively faith in thee , that thy holy spirit may continually dwell and bear rule in me , and lead me to the due performance of those things which thou requirest to be done in my calling ; that all unnatural affection being truly mortified , i may only rest in thee , and rely on thee , and be ruled by thee in all things : good father , grant that i may take the direct and right course in my vocation to eternal life , in which course consisteth the inward peace of the soul , which is only delighted in thy inviolable truth , revealed by thy son , and is left unto us in his word and last will , in which his last will and testament are comprehended all necessary rules , and the sacred discipline whereby thy children are to guide themselves in their several callings ; which directions are comprehended in three principal virtues by thee bestowed on them that seek them at thy hand in the name of thy son ; as faith , hope and love ; which three are so united and knit together in one , in thine elect children , that they through thy grace go not awry in their calling : i therefore dear father , being of my self ignorant , and of mine own power unable to comprehend the height of my calling , instantly beseech thee in mercy to behold me an unperfect creature , without these virtues ; and so adorn me with them , that i may be made perfect in all good works of the spirit , that my labours and endeavours be not in vain in thee : and grant that i may joyn , with all my travils , desires and endeavors , faith with ●aith , knowledge with knowledge , temperance with temperance , patience with patience , godliness with godliness , brotherly kindness with brotherly kindness ; and with brotherly kindness , that i be not unfruitful in my calling , but may acknowledge thy son jesus christ , and in him have peace of conscience , that i may be patient in troubles , long-suffering in wrongs , faithful in expecting hope in distress , rejoycing in heart , quieted in mind , in hope to enjoy at thy hands , and in thy good time whatsoever maketh for the true comfort of my soul , and the relief of my body ; that in all true and inward feeling of thine aid , my calling may be made perfect , and sealed with the seal of thine own spiritual probation ; so shall i thy unworthy servant be directed in the true knowledge of thee . o blessed lord , and loving father , except thou thus direct me , i cannot stand , but shall fall into many miseries : for no estate , no degree , no calling , office , function , or trade of life can prosper , or be rightly performed without thy continual aid , direction and providence : therefore good lord guide me by thy spirit , increase my faith , give me wisdom and ableness in all things , to execute my calling as i ought : and to the execution thereof , bless all my members , make them apt and ready instruments to perform their duties , that in no point i fail in a christain proceeding therein : and bridle me in the nature of flesh and blood ; which unless thou season my affections by thy spirit , will so much the more glory , by how much that thou hast exalted me , and inabled me to live in this world in higher reputation than other men , whereunto flesh and blood is ready to attribute chiefest hearts ease , and by that subtil shift stan many times moveth us to rely upon vain things . wherefore , o good father , vouchsafe , i beseech thee , to ground all my affections upon thy fear that i be not miscarried in my calling from the true obedience of thee ; without which , neither honour , profit , wealth , wisdom , or any other blessing of thine can stand , relieve or comfort me : be pleased therefore , dear father , with me , and grant that all things that i take in hand , may begin in knowledge , proceed in fear , and end in love , that the whole course of my life may be blessed with good effect in all mine enterprises , that neither mine enemies rejoyce at my miseries , the godly be offended at my rashness , nor my estate hindred by my foolishness : grant this , good lord , for thy dear sons sake jesus christ ; to whom be all honour and glory for even . amen . prayers for thursday night . o lord my god and heavenly father , blessed be thy name for ever : dispose my heart , open my lips , and give me thy holy spirit , &c. a psalm . gracious is the lord , and righteous , yea , our god is merciful . the lord preserveth the simple ; i was in misery , and he helped me . turn thou again unto my rest , o my soul , for the lord hath rewarded thee . and why ? thou hast delivered my soul from death , mine eyes from tears , and my feet from falling . what reward shall i give unto the lord , for all the benefits that he hath done unto me ? i will offer unto him the sacrifice of thanksgiving , and call upon his name . for why ? the lord is on my side , therefore i will not fear what man can do unto me . the lord taketh my part with them that help me ; therefore shall i see my desire upon mine enemies . it is better to trust in the lord , than to put any confidence in man : it is better to trust in the lord , than to put any confidence in princes . the lord is my strength and my song , and is become my salvation . the right hand of the lord hath the preeminence , the right hand of the lord bringeth mighty things to pass . i will not die but live , and declare the works of the lord. the lord hath chastned and corrected me , but he hath not given me over to death . thou art my god , and i will thank thee : thou art my god , and i will praise thee . o give thanks unto the lord , for he is gracious , and his mercy endureth for ever . glory be to the father , &c. a devout prayer to god the father . o most blessed lord , and loving father , i wretched sinner do here ask at thy hands mercy and grace , who am in thy sight most weak to stand in thy truth ; and most frail to fall , and to break thy holy commandments , by the keeping of which we are known to be thy true servants , and by nothing else . o most merciful lord god , i acknowledge my self daily to break the same : but where i have thus offended , i humbly ask of thee mercy and forgiveness ; and lord , for the true performance of the same , i humbly ask of thee strength to make me stand strong in faith , knowledge to work thy blessed will , the power to resist all errour and wicked imagination , thy wisdom to know the truth ; for i confess and know o lord , that all the worldly wit , policy , knowledge , and strength is but foolishness in thy sight . therefore i ask and continually crave , o lord , that thy holy spirit may guide all the imaginations , thoughts and desires of my heart , so that it may be my spiritual heart , and not my fleshly heart : for the most perfect among the children of men , lacking the wisdom , shall not be regarded , for the thoughts of mortal men are miserable , and our forecastings are uncertain : and why this corruptible body is so heavy to my soul that it keepeth down my understanding , that it museth most on vain things ; wherefore good lord i beseech thee , comfort my sick soul , that it may walk in thy wayes , and work thy will ; and like as thou knowest the secrets of my heart , and the desires of the same ; and how i would walk in thy truth , and work in the works of the same truth : so lord , i beseech thee , refresh my soul according to thy merciful calling , that i may be sted fast in the true faith , and that i may never swerve from the holy and most blessed ordinances of the church ; but that i may use them , receive them , and honour thee in them , according to thy most holy will , as in things which thou hast left to declare thy love unto us , and to assure our hope , and exercise our faith , that it should not be idle or wavering ; for all things are possible unto thee , though they seem never so impossible unto us . o most loving father , i know that by my sins i am not worthy thy blessed comfort and help , in this troublesome time of temptation , and trying of our faith ; for that i am as one laden with ignorance , not knowing the height of thy high mysteries , nor the deceitfulness or subtil arguments of my ghostly enemy , which daily doth assault my sinful soul , that i can find no rest : therefore , o lord , like as thou knowest my will and hearts desire is to serve thee , and live and die in thy perfect faith : so i beseech thee never to suffer the subtil perswasions contrary to thy truth , to take place or root in my heart , but like as thou hast created my heart , and given me a will to order the same , so lord , i most humbly yield the same again into thy hands , desiring thee by thy holy spirit so to direct my ways , that they may be acceptable in thy sight , now and for ever , through jesus christ my saviour ; to whom with the holy ghost , be all honour and glory for ever . amen . a prayer to obtain the true love of god. o lord my god , teach me thy humble servant , teach my heart , i beseech thee , with what reverence it should think of thee ; tell my soul with what delight it should love thee : give my tongue some power to pour forth praises unto thee ; correct my weakness , recreate my hope , direct my desires , finish the work thou hast begun , and bring me to the fulness of thy mercy . o lord , my god , i bow the neck of my soul under the feet of thy majesty , and in the lowest degree of reverence , do give thee most humble & hearty thanks . i yield thee praises , o lord , although base and bare , far unanswerable to thy deserts ; yet something my weakness is bound to perform , namely , to settle my mind to be hold and love thee . o that my heart did so languish with thy love , that it might melt the moisture of my body into tears ! that the bowels of my soul were so inflamed with thy love that it might consume all drossie desires , dry up the very marrow of my bones ! o that i were sick for the love of him who dyed for the love of me ! lord , although i be not worthy so to love thee , yet art thou much more to be loved than i can express ; therefore do not so deny me of that whereof i acknowledge my self unworthy , that thy self be deprived of that thou art most worthy : and grant o lord i beseech thee , for thy mercies sake , to my soul , that it may love thee as thou hast deserved , that i may be worthy to give that which thou art worthy to receive ; so shall i then be worthy of that whereof now i am most unworthy : o most dear lord , i feel in my heart a weak warmness of thy love ; but my prayer is that the coals were throughly kindled with desire , and blown with delight into a full flame : o sacred fire , how comfortably dost thou burn ? o heavenly light , how sweetly dost thou shine ? how desirous are they more and more to burn whom thou dost inflame ? how are they delighted whom thou dost enlighten ? hear o my god , hear o light of mine eyes , increase my desire , and grant my request , stop not thine ears against me because of my sins , endue my soul with thy love , subdue my flesh with thy fear , that i may always think of thee joyntly both with trembling and trust : settle the love of thee in me , and the care of me in thee ; let my prayer come unto thee , and thy mercy unto me ; let the joy of thy happiness remain with me , and the compassion of my miseries with thee ; let my heart love thee , let my flesh fear thee , and let my whole substance in this world joy wholly in thee , that i may enjoy thee wholly in the world to come , by thee , o christ , who art my saviour and deliverer ; to whom belongeth all power and glory , for ever and ever . amen . a prayer in heart to feel spiritual comforts o lord god and most dear father , now i fully know the heart of man is not in his own power ; for thou hast taught me by thy d●minishing the spirit of comfort in my heart , that it is thou only which makest joyful the heart of man ; and which diminishest the same joy according to thy good pleasure and will : therefore o dear father , i beseech thee to send me thy most blessed comfort , and strength of faith into my heart , to fill the same with spiritual joy ; and that by the working of thy holy spirit in me , the comfortable promises of thy merciful protection may be sealed in my heart , and sink deep into my soul , that i may be fully assured that thou art my strong rock and house of defence , that thou dost keep me as the apple of thine eye , and that thou wilt not lay more upon me than thou wilt give me strength to abide ; but that thou wilt assuredly at thy appointed time , renew my heart , and the whole power of my mind , that i may fully glorifie thy name . thy holy spirit , o lord , in me , ( which is the assurance of my salvation ) doth continually send forth unspeakable sighs and longings for thy full and joyful presence : i beseech thee therefore , o dear father , for thy son jesus's sake , hearken to my prayers , and grant my requests : make tender my hard and stony heart by thy holy spirit , that i may from the bottom of my heart acknowledge thee to be my most merciful god and father , and all things in thy holy word to be most certain and true , and reverently embrace the same , and in my soul to take comfort and joy of the same , that i may even to my lives end walk before thee in sincerity of heart , being assured of my salvation , through that one alone sacrifice for my sins , made by thy dear son jesus christ ; to whom with thee and the holy ghost be all honour and glory for ever . amen . a fruitful petition to god. o lord god of infinite wisdom , inspire my heart , and direct my voice , that i may not think nor utter any thing before thy maiesty , but that which thou knowest to be expedient for me to ask , and glorious for thee to give . turn not my prayer , good lord , into perdition , nor my suit into sin ; for thou art the god of my fathers , on whom i wholly depend ; save me for thy mercies sake ; o save me as i have always put my trust in thee , and when through the perverseness and froward inclination of my nature , i fall into any wickedness and sin , leave me not , good lord , unto them ; acquit me from the inordinate lust of the body ; let no desire of uncleanness take hold upon me , and give me not over to an unshamefast and obstinate mind . lord , here i stand , vile wretch before the throne of thy dreadful presence , hoping that i shall be heard , not in the faintness of my faith , but in the power of thy promises . o weigh my weakness , and grant my desires , as thou knowest most meet for me ; then can i want nothing , and my conscience shall be comforted with all spiritual consolation in jesus christ ; to whom with thee , o father , and the holy spirit , be ascribed all power and glory for ever . amen . a prayer to be ingrafted into christ . o lord , it is mercy without merit , that i am a branch of the vine jesus ; that i am the house and temple of the holy ghost , it is of justice that thou hast appointed thy house to be a place of prayer , and of duty therefore that we should pray unto thee ; for this , o lord , i thank thee , that thou hast made me thy child , to lodge me ; and i acknowledge , that of duty i am bound to serve thee ; but give me o lord , the grace of thy spirit to conduct me in the way of thy will : cleanse or create a new heart within me , that i may be a fit lodging for thee , and yield up the savoury sacrifice unto thee , which thou requirest of every christian ; i mean the sacrifice of prayer , the sacrifice of the heart , which savoureth sweetly unto thee . and at this time , in hope of the assistance of thy holy spirit , i desire thee , that as thou hast of mercy covered me under thy wings of safety ; so thou wilt defend and keep me from all the storming rages of satan , who is wont not only by day , but also , and that especially , by night , to undermine man when his senses are fettered in bands of rest ; but i hope , o good lord , that as i am then most unable , and at all times else to withstand the buffets and assaults of satan , so thou wilt be most ready to succour me ; and partly , because thereby thou shalt unlock the riches of thine infinite mercy and pity ; and partly , because thou lovest every thing which thy hands have made . for which , and for all other thy blessings , i yield thee all honour , power and glory , which is due only to thy blessed majesty , for ever , world without end . amen . a prayer against evil imaginations . o lord , cleanse my heart , i do beseech thee , from all impure and wicked cogitations and thoughts ; give me a clear conscience , shame-fac'd eyes , modest hands , and a tongue to tell the truth : and , seeing there is nothing hid that shall not be discovered , good lord , i beseech thee to search my thoughts , and renew in me thy holy spirit ; direct my feet in thy ways , that walking after thee in the path of the righteous , i may pass through this vail of misery , bearing thy banner stoutly in my warfare , and in the end obtain everlasting joy , the promised hire of such as have born thy cross , and valiantly fought with the armour of faith against temptations and all evil ; vouchsafe , o lord , to grant all these my supplications and petitions , for thy dear sons sake , jesus christ my lord and saviour ; to whom with thee and the holy ghost , be ascribed all power and glory for ever , amen . an evening prayer . o heavenly father , the giver of all good things , and the protector of all those that love thee , i yield thee most humble and hearty thanks , not only for keeping and preserving me this day , but all my life ; that neither my enemies have prevailed against me as they sought , nor any other danger which in this world is incident unto mankind hath overcome me , but hast like a loving father and careful purveyor , given and provided for me all things necessary ; for which thine inestimable love , i cannot sufficiently praise thee . o lord , forgive mine offences which this day 〈◊〉 have committed and done against thy almighty majesty : pardon them , o god , for jesus christ his sake , and vouchsafe me thy grace to amend my life , and to return ●nfeignedly to the serving of thee ; and ●orasmuch as i cannot continue without ●hy continual protection , vouchsafe to ex●end the same unto me thy wretched crea●ure this night , that i may quietly take my rest , which thou hast appointed for ●he refreshing of my wearied and weak ●ody ; and further , i beseech thee , o lord , to guard and defend me , that nothing hurt me ; keep me also , good lord , from sudden and unprovided death , and preserve me by the watch of thy holy angel , that i may take my rest this night in thee until the morning , and then give my self to the fulfilling of my duty , and the discharge of my vocation , and the doing of thy will unto my lives end ; for which thy favour , i humbly beseech thee , and for all things else necessary for me , and for all other whom thou hast commanded us to pray for ; and namely , for all such as are in any kind of affliction in body or mind , for the testimony of thy truth , that thou wilt strengthen them and thy whole church in pure religion ; and here , o lord , i beseech thee to embrace me with the arms of thy mercy ; vouchsafe to receive me into the bosom of thy love , shadow me with thy wings , that i may safely take my rest in thee this night , in the name of thy son jesus christ , in whose name i refer me wholly to thy loving protection , beseeching thee that when this life shall end , my last sleep being come , i may take my everlasting rest with thee in thy eternal kingdom ; for the which kingdom , i do heartily beseech thee of thine inestimable goodness , both of my self and all other thy dear servants , that we may attain the same , for the glory of thy holy name , and our endless comfort , through the merits of thy dearly beloved son , our lord and only saviour , jesus christ . amen . prayers for friday morning . o lord god and heavenly father , blessed be thy name for ever : dispose my heart , open my lips , and give me thy holy spirit , &c. a psalm . my soul truly waiteth still upon god , for of him cometh my salvation . in god is my help and my glory , the rock of my might , and in god is my trust . i called upon him with my mouth , and gave him praise with my tongue . for thou , o lord god , art the thing that i long for , thou art my hope even from my youth . through thee have i been holpen up even since i was born , thou art he that took me out of my mothers womb , my praise shall be always of thee . wherefore praised be god which hath not cast out my prayer , nor turned his mercy from me . o let my mouth be filled with thy praise , that i may sing of thy glory and honour all the day long . cast me not away in time of age , forsake me not when my strength faileth me . my mouth shall daily speak of thy righteousness and salvation , for i know no end thereof . i will go forth in the strength of the lord god , and will make mention of thy righteousness only . for thou , o god , hast taught me from my youth up until now , therefore will i tell of thy wondrous works . thy righteousness , o god , is very high , and great things are they that thou hast done , o god , who is like unto thee ? o what troubles and adversities hast thou shewed me , and yet didst thou turn and refresh me , yea , broughtest me from the depth of the earth again . therefore will i praise thee , and thy faithfulness , o god , which art the holy one of israel . my tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long , for there is no end thereof . glory , &c. a morning prayer . o lord , the glorious face of the sun which sheweth it self , and casteth its beams over the whole world , i take it for an argument and earnest peny of thy good will toward thy children , in the number of whom i account my self , though chief of sinners , and not worthy to loose the latchet of thy shooe ; for if we enjoy such a benefit in this strange country together with thine enemies , then what joyous sights , what store of thy goodness shall we reap in our natural country , the blisful land of canaan where we shall not see this worldly sun , but thee , even thee , good lord , face to face , the son of thy glory , and only star of majesty ! such joys , o lord , shall we have in the beholding of thee , as neither the eye hath seen , nor ear hath heard , nor heart ever conceived : such joys , i say , as pass the reach , not only of man , but also of angels , to esteem : blessed are the door-keepers of this house of joy , where thou , o lord , the son of righteousness , dost most clearly spread forth the beams of thy divine power . oh how long shall i live in this prison , how long shall i journey in this body of sin ? wherefore , o god of comfort , and father of mercy , i do not doubt , but that as i wander in this field of vanity , so thou wilt recal me by the light of thy gospel to thine house , there to dwell and reign for ever . amen . an humble confession to almighty god. o most mighty god and merciful father , i present my self before thy majesty , defiled with the filthiness of many and most grievous sins , whereof i do confess i am not able to answer thee one of a thousand , if thou , o lord , shouldest enter into judgment with me ! for in sin was i born , and therefore am guilty of original corruption , and in sin have i lived and continued , and therefore stand guilty of actual transgression , which hath broken forth upon me , in thought , word and deed , from time to time , continually , even unto this present hour : wherefore , i humbly crave thy mercy , and the grace of forgiveness in jesus christ : for therein i confess , o lord , standeth the only hope of my comfort and salvation : and forasmuch as it hath pleased thee to give thine own son to be a slain sacrifie for our sins , and to offer the grace of reconciliation , by preaching the gospel to all them that repent and believe the same : good lord , i beseech thee vouchsafe to make me of that blessed number ; work true repentance in my heart , increase my faith , and give me grace to bring forth the fruits thereof , that so it may appear that i have not received thy grace in vain : and for this purpose , good lord , i beseech thee bless the ministers of thy word : and give them grace to speak it as it ought to be spoken , and give thy people grace to hear it attentively , to believe it stedfastly , and to follow it obediently : that so serving thee faithfully in this life , we may live and reign with thee for ever in the life to come . amen . a prayer for the increase of faith. o almighty god , and father of our lord jesus christ : by thy word we are taught to love thee , fear thee , and serve thee ; and in true godliness and sincerity of life , is the only way and means to continue thy love and favor towards us , without the which we cannot but perish : and that belief and confidence in thy son jesus christ , is the only means of our redemption and atonement with thee , and the only hold of our salvation , whereof we cannot be sufficiently assured without thy special gift of faith , which is the anchor whereto the cable of our salvation is fastened ; which being broken , the hope of our salvation cannot but decay and be of none effect : vouchsafe therefore , o most merciful god , to plant one spark of true faith in my heart ; and that it may grow to such perfection , that i may know thee , perfectly love thee , duly fear thee , and unseignedly acknowledge jesus christ to be sent into this wretched world to save us miserable sinners : o lord , grant me to take such hold of his death and passion , resurrection and ascension , that by his death i may have pardon , and by his re surrection rise to righteousness , and by his ascension ascend with him to thy celestial glory ; and finally attribute the cause and means of my salvation to proceed only of his passion : increase this faith in me , good lord , daily more and more , that it may grow by the working of thy holy spirit to full perfection , accompanied with good works and godly behaviour , without the which i confess that faith cannot be : withhold not from me , good lord , that singular gift of thine which is the stay of my happiness ; and the want thereof , a most certain token of my perdition ; no good thing is wanting to him on whom thou vouchsafest to bestow this gift ; to him all things are light , and in him remaineth no darkness at all : banish , most sweet lord , therefore all misbelief , all wavering and doubting out of my heart , and plant instead thereof unfeigned faith , that applying the same to every affliction both of body and mind , i may vanquish and overcome satan , withstand the delights of this world , and suppress the corruptible motions of the flesh , and enjoy at thy good pleasure health of body , and soundness of mind , and all things requisite for me . a most precious jewel is faith ; for thou hast said , that whosoever heareth the word , and believeth in jesus christ whom thou hast sent , shall have everlasting life ; then on the contrary , he that believeth not , is in danger of everlasting death . o lord , increase my faith , wherein i may believe in that thy son , and take hold of all his promises ; who said , that whosoever believeth in him shall want no manner of thing that is good ; lord , i believe , help my unbelief , and give me faith ; yea , but as a grain of mustard-feed , and i shall be able to remove satan out of his desired habitation , and to expel him and his ministers , and walk no longer according to the will of the flesh ; but casting away the works of darkness , enjoy the pure light of the gospel , and persevere and abide therein without fainting , in any tribulation or vexation of spirit , going forward in hope , in fear , in love , and unfeigned zeal towards thee , and obtain at thy merciful hands whatsoever is necessary in this life ; and after this life ended , enjoy thy celestial inheritance ; which grant me for thy son jesus christ his sake , to whom be all honour , &c. a prayer or thanksgiving for the passion of christ . o lord jesus christ , god and man , we thank thee for that of thy only and free mercy , without any works or worthiness at all of ours , thou hast redeemed us miserable sinners , through thy most innocent and holy passion : o sweet jesus , how . bitter and great were thy pains ? how . horrible and cruel thy punishment ? how grievous and lamentable thine afflictions ? how bloody thy wounds ? thy dolours how divers ? and thy death how shameful , which thou suffered for us ? o how inestimable was thy love , that moved thee to endure such and so great torments to reconcile us to thy father ! in the mount of olives , through our infinite sins lighting upon thee , thou didst sweat ( contrary to our nature ) blood , that the drops like blood trickled upon the earth , and so after a marvellous manner blood came out of thee , being expelled by the resolutions of the spirits , nature being broken and languishing by reason of thine intolerable sorrows and torments : and thy disciples being fled , thou wast , and also didst most voluntarily commit thy self into the hands of most cruel jews , which brought thee most rigorously bound , without compassion , fromthe presence of one corrupt judge unto another more cruel , where thou wast most unjustly condemned ; thy blessed body was so mangled , that even an ethnick pitying the same , uttered these words ; behold the man ! finally , for our enormous offences , thou wast afflicted with a most odious kind of death , and so in the extremity of pain thou didst give up the ghost , commending the same unto thy father in wonderful patience ; that so by thy torments having quitted us from all guiltiness , as well of fault as of punishment , we might be healed ; to this end thou didst bear the burden of our sins upon the wood of the cross , that thou mightest recover the peace of souls , and obtain the true righteousness for as many as believe in thee : wherefore , o jesus christ , thou son of the living god , for these torments and all other thy passions , i will honour and praise thee for ever , beseeching thee most humbly , that thy passions may work and take effect in me ; and that always being mindful of the same , i may rejoyce therein , and make it a comfort for my self against all the temptations of satan , and the fear of sin and the law , and that thy cross may be an example unto me ; that walking in thy steps , i render not rebuke , but for rebuke may , imitate thy long-suffering , praying for such as persecute and offend me ; and finally , that i may so think upon , and celebrate the cause of thy death , that the consideration thereof may utterly extinguish all the flames of unlawful concupiscence , and bury the inticements of the flesh , and nourish the love of vertue within me , that so being wholly dead unto sin , i may live unto righteousness , and serve thee which barest our sins in thy body upon the cross , which livest and reignest with god the father in the unity of the holy ghost , one god for ever . amen . a prayer for mercy for our offences . o lord , i am a grievous sinner , i have passed and broken the banks of thy commandments from the womb to this day ; i have with the pirate satan , sailed in the ship of iniquity , so that i may say with paul , i am chief of all sinners . this must i needs confess to thee , thou god of justice , and this worm of conscience biteth me ; what then , good lord , shall the worm devour me ? shall this snake of conscience sting me to death ? what , good lord , is the stream of thy mercy stopped ? are the rivers of thy grace dryed up ? dost thou not call me , saying , come unto me ? yea , good lord , and therefore despair i will not , it is not thy will that any sinner should perish ; and thou hast not only said , but sworn it , that thou wilt not the death of a sinner , but rather his conversion and life . behold therefore , dear father , i come unto thee , being a grievous offender , in hope of pardon , in the name of thy son , who by his own testimony came into this world to save sinners : he was content to blot out that obligation which satan had against me , by the floud of his most precious blood which issued out of his glorious side . in this pool he hath washed away the leprosie of sin , were it never so desperate , o lord and gracious god , i have wasted my days in vanity , i have from time to time trodden under my feet the pearls of christian profession ; even from the womb have i been a rebellious traitor to thy majesty , a friend to this world , to godliness an enemy . but now , o lord , i cry unto thee , forgive me , forgive me ; now i come unto thee , therefore cover me with the wings of thy mercy , that i perish not ; good lord , accept thy sons merits for a satisfaction for my sins , drown them in the stream of thy mercy , and cast them behind thee for ever , good lord , i beseech thee . oh sweet lord , look upon me with thy most precious and piteous eye , lest that be destroyed which thou of thy great goodness hast made , and christ thy son of inestimable love , and infinite charity hath redeemed , through his bitter passion . this is the total sum unto thee of all my suit , o lord , mercy , mercy , o father of mercy : mercy is the thing that i beg , have mercy and pity upon me ; be thou my shepherd to defend me , my castle of defence to save me against the power of the devil : thou hast store of mercy for them that ask it ; therefore , o lord , for the wounds of thy dear son have mercy upon me : let not sin sting me to death , but lay to my fore soul the salve of thy mercy : grant this , o dear father , of thy merciful compassion ; to whom be all glory for ever , and for ever , world without end . amen . a fruitful prayer to god the father . o lord my god , wherein is my hope fixed in this life , or what is my greatest comfort of all things that are any where under the cope of heaven , but only thou my lord and god , whose mercy is infinite ? when was it with me well if thou wert absent , or ill if thou wert present ? doubtless i would rather chuse to be poor for thee , than rich without thee , and rather to be with thee a pilgrim on earth , than without thee to possess heaven : where thou art , there is joy and peace of conscience ; where thou art not , there is woe and destruction ; thou alone art the thing i desire , and there is none can assist me in my troubles but thou alone , o god : thou art my hope , thou art my confidence , thou art my comforter in all things most faithfully : all men seek their own , but thou desirest nought but my welfare , and turnest all things for me to good , therefore in thee , my lord and god , i place all my confidence , on thee i do lay all my calamities and troubles ; for without thee whatsoever i behold , is as frail and transitory : for neither can friends profit , nor strong men help , nor wise men counsel well , nor learned books comfort , nor riches save , nor secret place hide , unless thou be present to help , strengthen , comfort , instruct and keep : for whatsoever seems to belong to the attainment of peace and felicity without thee , is nothing , and bringeth indeed no felicity at all ; so that thou art the chiefest end and perfection of life , and that in thee to trust , above all things ▪ is the chiefest comfort of thy servant . o my god and father of mercy , bless , make my soul holy with celestial happiness , that it may be thy sacred habitation and temple purged from all filthiness . o lord , according to the greatness of thy mercy , look upon me , and hear the supplications of thy poor servant , living far off , a banished man , in a savage country : protect and keep the soul of thy servant , among so many dangers of this mortal life , and bring me by the conduction of thy savour into the country of eternal glory , through jesus christ my lord and saviour ; to whom be all honour , power and glory for ever and ever . amen . prayers for friday night . o lord my god and father , blessed be thy name for ever . dispose my heart , open my lips , and give , &c. a psalm . with my whole heart have i sought thee , o let me not go wrong out of thy commandments . make me a clean heart , o god , and renew a right spirit within me . cast me not away from thy presence , and take not thy holy spirit from me . o give me the comfort of thy help again , and stablish me with thy free spirit . stablish thy word in thy servant , that i may fear thee , and turn away mine eyes , lest they behold vanity , and quicken thou me in thy way . so shall i always keep thy law , yea , for ever and ever . yea at midnight i will rise to give thanks unto thee , because of thy righteous judgments . o let thy merciful kindness be my comfort , according to thy word unto thy servant . and let thy loving mercies come unto me , that i may live , for thy law is my delight . my soul hath longed for thy salvation , and i have a good hope because of thy word . o how sweet are thy words unto my throat ! yea , sweeter than honey unto my mouth . through thy commandments i get understanding , therefore i hate all wicked ways . order my steps in thy word , so shall no wickedness have dominion over me . o let my soul live , and it shall praise thee , and thy judgments shall help me . i have gone astray like a sheep that is lost : o seek thy servant , that i do not forget thy commandments . glory be to the father , &c. a prayer for the suppressing of corrupt affections . o my god and most loving father , i do acknowledge that i have most highly offended thy sacred majesty , by my gross and most filthy life , and have provoked thee to anger by my abominable wickedness : wherefore , o lord , be merciful unto me , and pardon me this great wickedness ; look not upon me , good father , with the eyes of justice , neither do thou draw against me the sword of judgment ; for then how shall i that am but dust and ashes stand in thy sight , when thy wrathful indignation cometh forth as a whirlwind , and thy heavy displeasure as a mighty tempest ; seeing the earth trembleth , the depths are discovered , and the very heavens are shaken when thou art angry ? exercise not therefore , good lord , thy fury against me , that am but as chaff before the wind , and as stubble against a flaming fire : though i have sinned grievously in thy sight , preferring my wicked desires before thy holy commandments , esteeming the pleasure of a moment before eternal and everlasting joys ; yet am i bold , o merciful father , to prostrate my self before the throne of thy majesty , heartily to beseech , and humbly to intreat thee , that thou wilt not deal with me according to my deserts ; for i have none in heaven to fly unto but thee , nor in the earth of whom i may receive any comfort , but at thy fatherly hands , which are stretched out day and night , to receive all that by earnest repentance turn unto thee , and to refresh their distressed consciences : wherefore , o lord , in the multitude of thy mercies i approach unto thee , desiring thee to look down from the height of thy sanctuary , upon me poor and wretched sinner , and to wipe away mine offences , and to blot out my misdeeds , especially all those my ungracious , unclean , and ungodly acts , that they may not come up in remembrance with thee , nor be imputed to me for ever . for thy sons sake , o lord , in whom thou art well pleased , and in whom thou wast fully satisfied upon the cross for my sins , grant me free pardon and remission , in that i have so foolishly , by my exceeding frailty committed against thee ; but quicken thou me , o lord , that art the fountain of life , and call thou out of heaven thy dwelling place , that my wandring soul may hear the voice of her shepherd , and follow thee wheresoever thou leadest . o give me thy helping hand , and by thy spirit cast down , subdue , and mortifie my raging ●usts and affections ; let me not any longer be occupied in ungodliness , lest mine enemies triumph over me : pluck up , o my good father , these roots of bitterness , that no unsavoury fruit may come of the tree , which thou of thine own hand hast planted . i desire , i look , i call , i cry for thy assistance , that i may conquer and subdue all the sinful and unruly motions of my heart . o blessed saviour , that hast granted so many petitions upon earth , to them that were careful for the body , fulfil 〈◊〉 pray thee this my desire : mortifie , good father , in me the old body of sin , and give unto me a new body , purged from these works , to serve thee the living god : ●enew my spirit daily , that i may cast away these works of darkness : why should my body , made by thy hands , and my soul framed according to thy image , be given over as a prey into the hands of satan ? deliver me , o lord , from the snare of the hunter , and preserve me from the hand of mine enemy , who lieth in wait for my spiritual life , and laboureth for my everlasting destruction . to thee i fly , o lord , for succour , hide me therefore under the shadow of thy hand , that none of the fiery darts of satan take hold on me . and so , good lord , to conclude , for the love thou bearest unto mankind , for thy sons sake jesus christ , who hath taken our nature upon him , grant that i may not be tempted above my strength , but that in all temptations i may fly unto thee , as mine only comfort and salvation , and that thou wilt of thy mercy and goodness , give me grace and desire to withstand all the motions of my sinful flesh and affections : which word of thine , i beseech thee , o lord , to perfect and fully accomplish in me , that i may do all things pleasing in thy sight for ever . amen . a prayer for redress of a sinful life . o most merciful god and dear father , grant that with heart i desire thee , with desiring seek thee , in seeking find thee , in finding that i love thee , and , by loving thee , that i turn not again to my former sins , which thou hast redeemed : give me , o lord , a repentant heart , and a contrite spirit : quench in me o king of glory , the lust of my flesh and kindle in me the ●ire of thy love . o my redeemer take from me the spirit of pride , and most favourably enrich me with the measure of humility ; remove from me , o my saviour , the fury of anger , and graciously arm me with the shield of patience : o my creator , root out of me all rancour , and endue me with a chearful and meek heart , and bestow upon me a perfect faith , right hope , and constant love : preserve me from all vanity , inconstancy of mind , wavering of heart , scoffing of tongue , wicked slandering ; from the vice of hypocrisie , the poyson of flattery , contempt of the poor , oppression of the weak , from greedy avarice , cankered envy , and deadly blasphemy : root out of me , o my lord and maker , rash boldness , contumacy , frowardness , negligence , idleness , blindness of heart , obstinacy of mind , savage conditions , contempt of that good is , rigour towards my neighbour : o my god and merciful father , i beseech thee in jesus christ , to bless me with the works of mercy , and zeal of godliness : to suffer with the afflicted , to minister to the needy , to counsel them that go astray , to comfort the sorrowful , to pardon them that trespass against me , to love them that hate me , to render good for evil , to imitate the good , to beware of the evil , and to embrace vertue , to guard the door of my mouth , to watch the enemies that compass my lips , to despise worldly things , and earnestly to thirst after the heavenly : through jesus christ our lord and saviour ; to whom be all honour and glory for ever . amen . a prayer for continual remembrance of our end . o god , the only giver of life , and the maintainer and preserver thereof , and the life after death ; grant me true consideration that this body of mine is builded upon an earthly foundation , and framed of the substance of dust and clay , which is not durable , the glory whereof vanisheth like the flower of the field , which is soon cut down and withered ; the body is the mansion , or rather the prison of the soul , and the same so frail , weak and feeble , subiect to so many causes that procure the dissolution of body and soul , that death often happeneth when we think least thereon ; wherefore grant , o god , of my life , that i may have such continual care , foresight , and diligent respect unto the direction of my doings , cogitation , and words , as i load not my poor soul so much with the burthen of sensless security , sin and iniquity , that the body being suddenly intangled with the snares of death , be carried where there is no rest nor joy , but continual mourning and anguish of mind : o my most loving father , lighten mine eyes that i sleep not in sin , nor wander in darkness , according to the will of the flesh ; but make me always willing to come unto thee , even with desire ; when it pleaseth thee to call me : let not me , as it were , draw backward when thou invitest me to the sweet banquet of thy heavenly kingdom , as by thy word and gospel preached and revealed unto us , which is an especial calling of us : and when i feel my self grieved or vexed with any kind of sickness or disease ? which is another of thy calling of us , and an especial warning that we must die : yea , and when i am at my daily business , or when i eat or drink , when i am in my best temperature and health , at all times , and in all places give me grace to think that death standeth at my elbows always ready to strike me , and that i sleep not in sin and security , and the time suddenly come of my departure , and so be taken unprovided and perish without repentance . o lord such is the blindness of our nature , that we think this world a continual being for us , covet even with greediness to see many days , where we heap sin upon sin , to the over-burdening of our poor souls , seldom or not at all thinking to die : but grant , my most sweet lord , that as i desire to live , so i may have a greater desire to live well , that i may make a happy end , abandoning the fear of death , that the cogitation thereof may dwell in peace within the mansion of my heart , and when it shall approach near unto me , i fly not from it , but that i may go forth with joy to meet it : considering that it is a means to end my woes and to begin my joys ; it is the finishing of sorrow , and the entrance into bliss , where is nothing but joys unspeakable , and contrary here on earth , nothing but care and woe : which moved thy servant job to call his life a warfare , where is nothing but conflicts between the flesh and the spirit , daily increase of sin , and continual care of vanity . o god give me a careful heart to love thee ; whilst i live here give me continual fear , unfeigned zeal , perfect faith , and godly care to do good unto all men , and earnest desire to come unto thee , who art the end of all trouble and labour , the beginning of bliss , the end of death , and the beginning of life ; whereunto , sweet lord , grant that with unfeigned desire , i may faithfully endeavour my self to come , where thy son is gone before to direct us the way , and making all those that thou findest with the lamp of true faith burning in their hearts , partakers of the everlasting joys thereof : in number of whom , o sweet lord , accept me here , and cleanse me from all my sins , that i may appear among them in the world to come , through the same thy son jesus christ my lord and saviour ; to whom be all praise and glory for ever and ever . amen . a prayer to jesus christ for heavenly comfort . o jesus , grant i beseech thee , i may rest and repose my self in thee before any creature , before all honour , power , dignity and consolation , over and above all hope and promise ; yea , and above all the hoast of heaven . o when shall it be fully granted unto me , that i shall for sake my self , and see how sweet and pleasant thou art o lord my god! o jesus the brightness of eternal glory , the comfort of the wandring soul , my mouth is bent towards thee without speaking , and silently speaketh unto thee . how long will my lord my god , withdraw himself from coming unto me ? come unto me thy servant , comfort me o lord , thrust forth thy helping hand , o god , and deliver me ; for without thee there can be no restful day , nor quiet hour : thou art my joy , thou art my comfort , and without thee i am comfortless : o jesus , infinite in pity , infinite in power , infinite also both in thy rewards , and in thy revenge ; i am weak , but willing with my soul to love thee , with my flesh to fear thee , with my mind to honour thee , with my mouth to praise thee , and with my whole heart to serve thee ; but alas , i am so clogged with corruption , i am so drowned in flesh and blood , that i scarce either dare or can list up my head , and look unto thee ; and yet why should i be ashamed when thou dost invite me ? why should i be faint , when thou dost not only encourage , but also inable me , or at the least accept my weak endeavours ? strive then , o thou very bowels of my soul , strive with all your strength to raise up your thoughts out of this mire of mortality , wherein they stick , and out of these waves of fleshly affections , wherein they float ; advance thy self , o my soul , towards thy oreator ; frame thy affections to love him for his goodness , to honour him for his greatness , to rejoice in him for his merits , to pray unto him for his mercies , which daily thou dost need , and by needing dost crave , and by craving dost obtain , if not according to thy desires , yet very far above thy deserts ; wherefore , blessed be thou o lord my god , which hast done this goodness unto me thy servant . what can i say more unto thee , o lord , but humble my self in thy sight , and be always mindful of mine iniquity and unworthiness ; for of all the wonderful things in heaven and earth , there is none like unto thee o lord. thy works are excellent , thy judgments are upright , and by thy providence all things are grounded ; o father of wisdom , laud and praise be unto thee ; my mouth , my soul , and all the powers of my heart shall praise thee without ceasing o my god , both now and for ever . amen . a fruitful prayer at the end of prayer . o most righteous god , for thy great mercies sake hearken to these my prayers which i have now made unto thee , and consider lord the desires and thoughts of my heart , in thy mercy , and let mine unfeigned prayers enter into thine ears ; hear , o lord , for i am destitute of thy help , take care for my soul , save me thy unworthy servant , which wholly trusteth in thee ; have mercy o lord , have mercy upon me , for i will never cease crying unto thee for thy help and mercy . in the day time will i call on thee , and in the night my cry shall not be hid from thee . o thou god of the heavens , and maker of all creatures , hear me a most wretched creature , calling on thee ; and take away from me all my sins , and make stedfast my faith and confidence in thee , and in thy promises ; that i putting my trust in them , may have as thou hast promised , everlasting life , through the merits of thy son jesus christ my lord and saviour ; to whom be all praise and glory , for ever and ever , world without end . amen . an evening prayer . o eternal god , omnipotent and merciful father , i prostrate my self before thy throne , beseeching thee in the name of thy son jesus christ , to blot out all my transgressions , by which i have offended thy divine majesty this day ; forgive , lord , all the sins which from my youth i have done , and be merciful unto me ; guide me with thy wisdom ; that when i walk , i may go with me , when i sleep , it may keep me , and when i awake , i may talk thereof . o lord be thou my watchman and protector this night , that troubles and vain cogitations do not invade me , neither the fear of death overwhelm me , nor my sleep in the night , alter my thoughts and understanding when i should take rest ; but grant me a good and quiet sleep , going unto my bed , which representeth my grave , that rising in the morning to render due praise and thanks unto thee my protector , i may likewise at the day of judgment rise as one of thy chosen children , upon thy right hand into heaven , where i may sing praises unto thy holy and blessed name for ever . prayers for saturday morning . o lord my god and father , blessed be thy name for ever . dispose my heart , open my lips , and give me thy holy spirit , &c. a psalm . whom have 〈◊〉 in heaven but thee o lord , and there is none upon earth that i desire in comparison of thee . my flesh and my heart faileth , but god is the strength of my heart , and my portion for ever . for 〈◊〉 , they that forsake thee shall perish , and thou wilt destroy them that commit fornication against thee . but it is good for me to hold me fast by god , and to put my trust in my lord god , and to speak of all his works . for god is king of old , the help that is done upon earth he doth it himself . wherefore i will cry unto god with my voice , even unto god will i cry with my voice , and he shall hearken unto me . when i am in heaviness i will think upon god , when my heart is vexed i will complain . i have considered the days of old , and the years that are past . i call to remembrance my song , and in the night i commune with mine own heart , and search out my spirits . will the lord absent himself for ever , and will he be no more intreated ? is his mercy clean gone for ever , and is his promise come utterly to an end for evermore ? hath god forgotten to be gracious , and will he shut up his loving kindness in displeasure ? and i sald it is mine own infirmity , but i will remember the years of the most high. i will remember the works of the lord , and call to mind the wonders of old time . i will think of all thy works , and my thinking shall be of thy doings . glory , &c. a morning prayer . o almighty protector and keeper both of the souls and bodies of the faithful , i yield thee humble and hearty thanks , for defending me , and saving me this night past and all the rest of my life hitherto from sudden death , and from all other perils and dangers whereunto my soul and weak body are subject to fall , and wherewith i am so beset , that had i not been preserved by thee , it could not otherwise have been , but my body had perished and my soul been carried into everlasting perdition : but most sweet lord , my succour and defence , who hath continual regard of the safety of thy servants , and never suffer est them to be overcome with any kind of danger , vouchsafe to forgive me , whatsoever i have committed and done against thy divine majesty , either sleeping or waking this night , or at any time secretly or openly heretofore , by reason of the corruption which remaineth in me : and grant that as i have by thy protection passed this night , so i may enjoy at thy merciful hands , whatsoever thy fatherly providence shall think meet and convenient for me , and so in hope of thy loving kindness and mercy , go forward this day , and all my life in perfect love , unfeigned zeal , and continual obedience to thy most blessed will ; that , so continuing unto the end i may receive the reward of thy coelestial kingdom , which thy son jesus hath purchased for all true believers in thee ; in number of whom , sweet lord , for the mercies of him thy son , make me , that i with them , and they with me , may continually sing laud and praise unto the trinity eternally , amen . a confession to god for sin . most gracious god , and loving father in jesus christ , i confess mine unrighteousness , which maketh me unworthy to come before thee , not only in regard of mine original corruption , which i traduced from disobedient adam , but in regard of my continual sins , and actual evils , which i daily commit against thee , whereby , i cannot but be offensive unto thee , and ever loathsome in thy sacred eyes : but alas , such is mine estate , that being considered as it is in and of my self , that i can bring forth no better fruits than the tree of adam's disobedience ; whose roots , as they are sin , so bear they sin in me , and consequently procure death and destruction : but dear father , as by adam sin entred and took hold of himself , and of all his posterity ; so by thy son jesus christ we are all justified by our adoption into his , righteousness of thy free love , if we take hold of thy promises in him , and become obedient unto thee : and therefore , dear father , howsoever our corruptions , as they are in us of our selves , have bewrapped us in bondage to sin and death ; so let thy sons merits be unto us a sufficient ransom for our everlasting liberty ; not only to come freely to the throne of grace , but in the end to obtain the joys eternally with him in heaven , who liveth and raigneth with thee and the holy spirit for ever , world without end . amen . a prayer for the true worship of god. o most gracious god and loving father , establish my heart and mind in the true worship of thy divine majesty : make me to believe thy holy and sacred gospel , wherein i am daily and hourly instructed to love , fear , honour , and obey thee : to hate sin and iniquity , to renounce all superstitious ceremonies , whereby thy worship is defaced , thy glory prophaned , and thy honour greatly diminished : give me grace to hate sin , and to renounce the vanities and wanton pleasures of this wicked world : and finally , give me power from above to withstand satan the prince of darkness , and all his damnable ministers , who by divers temptations provokes and allures us from godly purity , and perfect integrity , ( which passeth only from christ jesus to us , who is the fulness of our perfection and holiness ) to all kind of evil , impiety and uncleanness : by means whereof thy glory is greatly prophaned , and of a set purpose contemned ; make me , o lord i beseech thee , by the power of a fruitful faith , to resist and bridle the conconcupiscence of my flesh , in such sort , that my soul may triumph with victory , and continue constant in worshiping thee , from whom passeth the fulness of my joy ; prepare my heart and mind to spread forth the glory of thy name , keep my tongue from all filthy talk , and uncomely gesture , lest , by the exercises of such sin , i contemn thy worship , and provoke thee to displeasure against me , set thou a watch before the gates of my mouth , that my lips may by grace be made open to sound forth thy praise and glory ; be merciful to mine offences , think thou not on my unrighteousness , but open thy clemency , forgive thou freely , and pardon graciously all my sins , make me faithful in christ jesus , shorten the dangerous days of iniquity , increase the number of thy chosen and peculiar saints ; hasten thy coming , o saviour christ , that i with the fellowship of thy saints , heavenly angels , and the blessed company of martyrs , may celebrate thy praise , and worship thee in thy glorious kingdom , before thy father , my god , and the holy ghost ; to whom be all honour , praise and glory , for ever . amen . a prayer taken out of the first psalm . o almighty and most gracious god , take away from me i beseech thee all evil counsels , and then my sins ; suffer me not to run into an ungodly and wicked life , and finally , keep my mind far from the contempt of godliness , and scorning of virtue , and instead of these evils . grant that i may continually be occupied in thy law and sacred scriptures , and that i be not carried about like the wicked , as light dust , and fruitless chaff , with every blast of affection and doctrine ; but rather that i be as a tree planted by the water-brooks , and endued with the life of thy spirit and faith , i may also by the same spirit bring forth the fruit of good works ; and that whatsoever i take in hand it may prosper , and tend to the praise and glory of thy name , and furtherance of my salvation ; and that at the last , when the wicked shall fall away in thy judgments , i may stand stedfast , and be made perfect , through jesus christ my lord and saviour for ever . amen . a prayer to be unloosed of the bands of satan . o lord , by thy mighty power subdue the works of satan in me ; o thou wicked seducer , thy works are destroyed , thy bands are broken , thou shalt not take or bind me : avoid sin , thou hast lost thy sting , thou wast condemned in the flesh , nailed to the cross , and crucified with my lord christ ; avoid death , for thou art dead ; and hell , for thou art swallowed up in victory ; avoid thou dragon and all thine angels , for michael hath beaten thee , and broken thy head ; he hath freed us from sin , and led away captivity captive ; even he , satan , hath over-mastered thee , that cried out unto me , fear not , for i have overcome the world ; even he that hath promised to be with me to the end of my pilgrimage , and crieth out , that if he be with me , none can be against me ; fight therefore satan as long as thou wilt , thou shalt , at length be put to the foil ; for the mighty lyon of the tribe of juda telleth me , that there is no condemnation to them that be in him ; that jesus is the conquerour of the whole world , and vanquisher of thee , rage thou never so much ; therefore i say , avoid from me , for in christ jesus i have passed the sea of my sins , thy cursed army ; and if thou follow to pursue me , thou shalt be drowned in the red sea of christs bloud ; to whom be all honour , power and glory , for ever and ever . amen . a prayer to obtain the kingdom of heaven . o father , merciful and everlasting , be merciful unto me and give me a feeling of thy blessed will ; open unto me the way of true knowledge , prepare my steps to walk aright , that in all the course of my life , i may be guided aright , and savour more of heavenly , than of earthly things ; and let my whole delight be to meditate righteousness ; let me imbrace equity , and execute justice , and abound in love , mercy , sanctity and true holiness ; and furnish me largely , good lord , with all spiritual graces , whereby i may continually seek thy everlasting kingdom , and practise the righteousness thereof for ever ; illuminate my understanding by thy spirit , and let thy word be my whole comfort , and the use thereof my continual delight ; and abandon , good lord , all superfluous care of worldly things from my thoughts , that i may by a continual holy meditation of thee , and things above , use the things of this life as if i used them not ; knowing this , and assuring my self by thy promise ; that if i seek and covet to have my conversation on things spiritual , all temporal things shall be assuring my self by thy promise ; that if i seek and covet to have my conversation on things spiritual , all temporal things shall be ministred unto me : all which my petitions , grant me , o father , for thy dear sons sake jesus christ my lord and saviour , to whom be all glory for ever and ever . amen . prayers for saturday night . o lord my god and heavenly father , blessed be thy name for ever : dispose my heart , open my lips , and give me thy holy spirit , &c. a psalm . out of the deep have i called unto thee , o lord , lord hear my voice . o let thine ears consider well the voice of my complaint . if thou lord , wilt be extream to mark , what is said , or done amiss , o lord , who may abide it ? i look for the lord , my soul doth wait for him , in his word is my trust . my soul melteth away for very heaviness , comfort thou me according to thy word . o take from me the way of lying , and cause thou me to make much of thy law. make me to go in the paths of thy commandments , for therein is my desire . o take not the word of thy truth utterly out of my mouth , for my hope is in thy judgments . i will never forget thy commandments , for with them thou hast quickned me . wherefore , o ye that fear the lord , trust in the lord , for with the lord there is mercy , and with him is plenteous redemption . for when i called upon thee , thou heardest me , and enduedst my soul with much strength . and though i walk in the midst of trouble , yet shalt thou refresh me . the lord shall make good his loving kindness towards me , yea , thy mercy , o lord , endureth for ever , despise not then the work of thine own hands . wherefore i will praise the lord , for the lord is gracious , o let us sing praises unto his name , for it is lovely . thy name , o lord , endureth for ever , so doth thy memorial , o lord from generation to generation . glory be , &c. a most fruitful prayer for a blessed aad godly life . o merciful father , the honour of my salvation , and my defender in whom i only put my whole trust ; i unhappy wretch have many waies stirred thee up , i have done evil before thy face , i have provoked thy displeasure , i have sinned , and thou hast suffered me ; i have offended , and yet thou sustainest me : yea , and besides all this , while i defer from time to time , thou tarriest for me . o lord , the god of my health , i cannot tell what to answer , there is no place to fly from thee , or to hide me ; thou shewest me the way to live well , and givest me knowledge how to go : wherefore , o father of mercy , and god of all consolation , strike my heart with thy fear ; that with fearing i may escape those things which thou threatnest , and grant me the comfort of thy salvation , that in loving , i may obtain those things which thou promisest : o lord , which art my strength and deliverer , tell me how i shall think of thee , teach me with what words i shall call upon thee , and the works wherewith i may please thee : o most mighty god , that art blessed for evermore ; i commit into thy hands at this time , and at all other times else , my soul , my body , and all my thoughts , affections , words and works : my memory , my faith , my belief and continuance in the same , that thou maiest defend them with thy most mighty power , that thou maist keep them day and night , and every moment of time , hear me , o holy trinity , and keep me from all evil , from all offences , from all deceits and despites of the devil , and from all mine enemies , visible and invisible : give me , o lord , perfect sense and understanding , that i may be able to perceive thine exceeding and great mercies : teach me what i shall ask , and grant that thou wilt hear that which i require : give me tears from the bottom of my heart , that may unloose the bands of my sins ; if thou regard me not , i perish ; if thou look upon me i live ; if thou examine my righteousness , i stink and am corrupt , being dead ; but if thou look on me with mercy , thou raisest me out of my grave : spare my soul , spare my sin , visit me that am weak , heal me that am diseased , give me a heart to fear thee , a mind to love thee , ears to hear thee , and eyes that i may always see thee : i ask , lord , remission of all my sins , have mercy on me , and hear me , o lord my salvation , i have asked some things which 〈◊〉 need , i have remembred those things which i fear : wherefore vouchsafe me thy grace , o lord , to live in thy true fear to my lives end , through jesus christ my lord and saviour : to whom be all honour and glory , for ever and ever . amen . a prayer for faith , and ableness to pray . o most gracious god and dear father , i thy unworthy servant , ignorant o● all good things , unprofitable and unfit to serve thee , by reason of my corruption ▪ do yield thee all humble thanks , that thou dost vouchsafe me access to the throne o● thy mercy in christ , where all wisdom ▪ aid , consolation and comfort do abound ▪ and from whom all good gifts and graces do most frankly flow unto thy children 〈◊〉 i here a sinner , in regard there is in me no strength to stand , nor wisdom to walk nor faith to frame my affections accord ▪ ing to thy will , do heartily crave supply of the good gifts at thy hands : where ▪ fore dear father , grant me thy holy spirit ; which being inspired into m● by thy divine power , may work i● me such effects as are fit for the strengthning of my weak understanding , and for the increase of faith , and renewing the inner man , i may become a fit member of thy church ; good father sanctifie me within and without , purifie mine affections , and let me be made holy in all my proceedings : direct me to call upon thee aright , and shape in me a sound course of life , and let faith unfeignedly be the ground of all my desires that i may be thereby renewed daily in lively hope of thy gratious deliverance , whensoever i am touched with any calamity : dear father , banish all unbelief in me , and make me thereby faithful , that by thy divine working , i may be able to conceive aright , speak aright , and walk aright : o learn me , and i shall be learned , teach me , and i shall understand and do thy will ; then shall neither prosperity puff me up , nor calamities cast me down , nor any evil make me afraid : o happy man that is so far in thy favour , that obtaineth this blessing at thy hands ! therefore i ●●y unto thee my allsufficient , and truly helping god and father , be pitiful to thy perplexed children : to thee i fly and will not faint , for i believe thy promises , lord help my unbelief : thou art the cause and absolute perfection of my soul , the preserver of life , the everlasting and only good that i seek , from whom , as from a lively spring floweth whatsoever is good , either for soul or body : make perfect therefore in me this good gift , o lord increase it in me more and more daily ; that i applying the same in humble manner , with reverent prayer to thy divine majesty , both for corporal and spiritual relief , may be continually heard , and so resting herein under the shadow of thy sacred wings , may be safe and secure in all my miseries : good lord i here commend mine estate unto thee in all patience , humbly beseeching thee , that in thy good time , i may reap the fruit of a lively confidence in thee : namely , what in this life is expedient for the preservation and maintenance thereof , and after this life , the absolute end thereof , that is , eternal salvation in jesus christ ; to whom with the father and the holy ghost be all glory for ever . amen . a prayer , to be defended against our enemies . o lord strengthen my faith , and arm me with continual hope in thee , whereby i may be able to withstand all the cruelties of mine adversaries , in such sort that they may know it to be thy self who fightest for me , and defendest my cause against their fury : behold o lord , my trust is in thee , thy rod and thy staff , comfort me , and stay me up , that i fall not into their hands by trusting unto mine own policy or wisdom , which is but a foolishness before thee ; nor to the help or friendship of man , which is but vain : but lead thou me , o lord , guide me in all my doings , cogitations and words , lest i erring from thy commandements , incline my heart to vanity and vice ; mine enemies take just occasion to say , ah , we saw it with our eyes , and bring up an evil report of me , and that deservedly : o lord guide me in all truth , establish my heart with true desire and ableness to walk uprightly in all thy ways : vouchsafe to keep me from the dangerous desires of fleshly lusts , and from haunting the place suspected or polluted with uncleanness , lest mine enemies , taking just occasion by my lewd behaviour , speak that indeed which may redound to my shame and deserved infamy . finally , o lord , keep me from all evil ; and though by reason of my corruption i be naturally inclined to wantonness and excess , thou wilt give me sobriety , lowliness , love , even to mine enemies , chastity , wisdom , and discreet understanding both of their wills and mine own weakness , that so through thy grace , leading the whole course of my life in sincerity and godly behaviour , i may magnifie thy holy name , who so regardeth the prosperity of thy servant , that thou sufferest him not to fall into the hands of all such as should eat him up ; and let not the adversaries of thy truth , o lord unjustly rejoyce over me . i am in thy hand , and they are within the compass of thy power , stay their fury , let them not take effect in their devices against me ; i refer all things to thy heavenly providence , and wholly commit my self into thy hands , humbly praying thee for jesus christ's sake , to deal with me and them , according to thy mercy and loving kindness : and not after our deserts : be thou merciful unto me , and evermore mightily defend me , unto my lives end conducting me uprightly in all my ways , for the glory of thy holy name ; to whom with thy son and the holy ghost , be all honour , power and glory , for ever and ever , amen . a prayer for the opening of the eyes of our understanding . o sweet jesus , lighten me with the brightness of eternal light , and drive all darkness , as it were , from the mansion house of my soul : suppress the wandring thoughts , and break in pieces these violent temptations : fight thou my god for my defence , and vanquish those evil beasts , to wit , the intieing desires of the flesh , that by thy power i may get peace , and sing out thy praises in the holy court of my soul : send thy light and truth which may lighten the earth , for i am rude earth , good for nought , until thou enlighten me ; pour out thy favour from above , and replenish my soul with thy heavenly grace : o lord lift up my mind , which is pressed down through the weight of sin , and stir up the same wholly to the desire of heavenly and celestial things , that having tasted the sweetness of supernatural happiness , it may greatly grieve me even to think of this world ; take me , o lord , or rather pluck me from all momentany pleasures of earthly and vain things , and joyn me unto thee by an indissoluble band of good will , for thou alone dost suffice thy friend , and without thee all things are vain , and of no price in my heart , to whom , o my lord god , be all glory for ever . amen . a godly meditation , or prayer . o lord my god , i altogether unhappy and comfortless , have grievously offended thee ; how often have i trespassed against thee , and how often have i deserved thy displeasure , and yet how seldom hast thou punished me ? how often hast thou been good and merciful unto me , how often have i promised and vowed amendment , and how little and seldom have i performed it ? i dare not lift up mine eyes towards heaven , because i have sinned against it , and in earth i cannot look for refuge , because i have been a slanderer , and a shame unto it ; what then , shall i despair ? no , for god is merciful , and a good saviour , he doth visit them that live in darkness , and is a chearful light to them that sit in the shadow of death ; he willeth us to forgive our brother , though he offend seven times , yea , and infinitely , and is more merciful than any man can be : return thee therefore unto thy lord god , pray unto him humbly for grace , and continue thee to bewail thy sins past , because he that loveth thee , provoketh thee daily with his gifts to love him , and will not leave till he have made perfect his work begun , and brought his mercy to full effect in thee ; what natural cause beginneth his work , and leaveth it in the half way imperfect ? and as by natural order and right course things do proced and increase by little and little , from the less to the more ; even so doth god first dispose us to his mercy , and then increasing his goodness , daily bestoweth on us , in the end , the treasure of his grace , the inheritance of everlasting joys ; yea , very love , worketh in natural causes to bring forth their effects to perfection , which if it be so in creatures , what will the creator do , which is love it self , and infinite goodness ! he will withdraw thee from thy sins , and make thee clean and pure , and finally bless thee with eternal life . o lord , i come unto thee , humbly waiting for thy mercy , thou art my hope and help , according to thy great goodness and mercy in jesus christ , have mercy on me now and for evermore . amen . a prayer for perseverance in prayer . o lord my god , according to thy commandment , in mine afflictions and necessities i seek to thee for succour by continual prayer , and calling upon thy name ; therefore most dear father , strengthen me by thy holy spirit , that i may still persevere in prayer , and with longing desires patiently wait for thee , o lord , being assured , that although it appear not as yet , thou art always present with me , and heardest my complaint , and wilt , when thou seest thy time , declare thy self manifestly in renewing my heart with spiritual joy ; stir up o lord , i beseech thee , my sluggish nature to call upon thee continually , appointing thee neither the time , nor the means of my deliverance ; but leaving all to thy good will and pleasure i may in the mean time never cease by continual prayer to call for thy merciful deliverance : and when thou shalt mercifully take upon thee to deliver me , i may then fully with my whole heart acknowledge thy goodness towards me , and that it never slip out of my heart , but that i may continue thankful for the same all the days of my life , whereby thy glory in me may be declared and my soul relieved , though jesus christ my lord and saviour . amen . an evening prayer . o my lord god and merciful father , i humbly beseech thee in jesus christ , that thou wilt vouchsafe to hide and bury all my sins and transgressions whatsoever , from my infancy unto this present time i have committed and done against thy divine majesty . o lord be thou my light in darkness , then shall my light be as clear as the day . o heavenly father bless me ; o blessed son keep me , o holy ghost , three persons and one god , deliver me this night from all sin and evill that may be hurtful to my soul and body , that so with confidence to thee , i may lay me down to rest , and none make me afraid , because thou art my protector . o holy spirit , at my last gasp be thou my light , yea , when my strength faileth , my sight departeth , mine ears wax deaf , and my mouth dumb ; and when all my senses for sake me , then give me some sense of eternal life , that i may taste in this mortal body , the beginning of thine everlasting comfort : and at my departure out of this world , i may behold by faith , thy divine presence , and so sleep quietly to eternal life , through jesus christ thine only son , my saviour ; to whom be all honour and glory for ever . amen . short directions before the receiving of christ's holy sacrament , his blessed body and blood. sacraments should of all men be admired and honoured ; not so much respecting the service which we do unto god in receiving them as the dignity of the sacred and secret gift we thereby receive from god. they are the visible signs of invisible graces , which indeed is the very end these heavenly mysteries were instituted for : they are the powerful instruments of god to eternal life ; for as our natural life consisteth of the union of the body and soul , so our life supernatural in the union of the soul with god : his flesh is meat , his blood is drink , not by surmised imagination , but truly , even so truly through faith we perceive in the body and blood , sacramentally presented , the very taste of eternal life . for the worthy receiving of this sacrament , these four things are very considerable . . preparation , or examination . . faith. . repentance . . thanksgiving . . preparation consisteth in self-examination , and in an act of the soul reflecting upon it self in a general survey of our spiritual state in grace , comparing our present condition , which we find in our selves , with the word of god , by which will quickly appear what good we should have done , and the evil we should not have done . s. paul's admonition is , that before the receiving of this holy sacrament , there should be a strict examination : let a man examine himself , and so let him eat and drink of this cup. cor. . for he that drinketh unworthily , drinketh his own damnation . therefore certainly great is the danger to us , if premeditation precedes not this great undertaking . thus saith the lord , consider your ways , hag. . . consider well what you go about , for this duty is no perfunctory imployment , no exercise by the bye , but such a work as ought to be done exactly , seriously , with deep meditation and study , recollecting in privacy , and calling to question all thy actions past , the omission of good duties , and the doing of evil , sweeping , as it were , all the corners of thy heart , and view thy self in the glass of god's law , by which quickly will appear thy great and many sins , of all kinds whatsoever ; as want of love and fear of god , abusing his mercies and blessings , neglect of works , of charity , piety , and justice , offending thy god by blaspheming , cursing , and customary passion : intemperance , by gluttony and drunkenness , lust and uncharitable desires , hatred , malice , back-biting and all manner of evil imaginations ; these are they that defile thy soul , and except we do as the prophet commands us , isaia . . . wash us , make us clean , put away the evil of our doings before the lord's eyes , and cease to do evil , we shall at the last be rewarded with them that had not on the wedding garment : therefore laying aside all carnal security and self-dissimulation , commune with thy self and be still , psal . . search thy soul , enquire of thy conscience , and rip up thy bosome sins , and confess them to the lord in deep sorrow and contrition of heart , imploring his mercy , stedfastly purposing by his blessed assistance to lead a new life : accuse thy self , and say with the prodigal in the gospel , good father ▪ i have sinned , i am not worthy of the least of thy mercies ; it is thy mercy i am not consumed ! and with mary magdalene , cast thy self down at the feet of jesus , and wash them with tears , in tokens of thy sorrow , and signs of thy love ; and be truly sorrowful for so often offending so precious , so merciful a god as our god , the greatness of whose love can't be measured , whose mercy hath no bounds . therefore , o my soul , contemplate of the great goodness of our good god , which hath this day sent salvation to thy soul , and calleth thee to this great feast , to be partaker of the precious body and blood of jesus christ , being prepared by humble repentance to receive in faith and joy thy blessed redeemer , giving thanks always to god the father through our lord jesus christ , whose mercy is everlasting , whose truth endureth from generation to generation . . faith , which is a certain knowledge with an assured confidence kindled in our heart by the holy ghost , being assuredly resolved , that the free remission of all our sins , everlasting righteousness , and life eternal , is given unto us through the mercies and goodness of almighty god , for the alone merits of jesus christ . for , by grace are ye saved through faith , and not of your selves , it is the gift of god , ephes . . . being justified freely by his grace through the redemption which is in jesus christ , rom. . . for as by one man's disobedience all were made sinners ; so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous , rom. . . repentance , which is a godly sorrow for sin wrought in the heart by the supernatural grace of the holy ghost , turning from all our evil ways unto god , is meekness and humility of spirit . circumcise therefore the fore-skin of your hearts , and be no more stiff-necked , deut. . . wash thy heart from wickedness , that thou mayest be saved ! how long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee ? jer. . . return ye now every one from his evil ways , and make your doings good , jer. . . let us search and try our ways , and turn again unto the lord , lam. . . return again unto the lord thy god , for thou hast fallen by thine own iniquities , hos . . . draw nigh to god , clanse your hands ye sinners , and purifie your hearts ye double-minded , jam. . . . thanksgiving , praising god the lord for all his benefits and mercies , especially for sending his only son jesus christ : to die for the remission of all our sins , and always to be mindful of the greatness of his goodness , and the unworthiness of our deserts . worthy is the lamb that was stain , to receive power , riches , wisdom , and strength and honour , and glory , and blessing , rev. . . i will sing unto the lord as long as i live : i will sing praises unto my god , while i have a being . psal . . accept , i beseech thee , the free-will-offering of my mouth , o lord , psal . . let us offer the sacrifice of praise to god continually , that is , the fruit of our lips , giving thanks to his name . heb. . . an humble confession before the sacrament . o most mighty god and merciful father , which according to the multitude of thy mercies , dost put away the sins of those which truly repent , and remembrest them no more ; open o lord i beseech thee , the eyes of thy mercy upon me thy most unworthy servant , who in heart earnestly desireth pardon and forgiveness of all my sins and offences ! the number of which exceeds the ordinary expectation of mercy ! and such they are , as cannot bear any conformity with excuse ! the total sum whereof , is the breach of all thy commandments , both in thought , word , and deed ! thy blessings and benefits i have abused ! thy judgments and punishments not feared , the means of my own salvation utterly neglected , and most grievously by my wickedness have i provoked thy wrath and indignation against me ! my life that was appointed for the service of thee the living god , hath been for the most part spent in the service of the devil , in the desires and sinful lusts of the flesh ! my doings have been evil , my desires and thoughts wicked , and so detestable hath the whole course of my life been , that my soul trembleth to look up to heaven for fear of thy displeasure : shouldest thou therefore , o lord , be extream to mark what is done amiss , and take vengeance for my sins , i were as dust before the face of the wind , and in justice might be swept away into the place of everlasting torment . but , o lord , with thee there is mercy , that thou mightest be feared : thou art a god of all comfort and consolation , a merciful , loving , and gracious father , ready and willing to hear all penitent sinners , that in heart are sorrowful for their sins ! in the name therefore of jesus christ my blessed redeemer i humbly prostrate my self before the throne of thy mercy seat , accompanied with no other hope than such as proceeds from the richness of thy mercy , that for his only sake , thou wilt have compassion upon me ; for in humility of spirit and contrition of heart , i submit my self to thy goodness , beseeching thee not to let my sins be a cloud between my prayer and thy pity , thy goodness and my distress ; but forgive and forget all my transgressions , all my mis-doings , let them be sins of what condition soever ; whether sins of my youth , or sins of my age , sins of my body , or sins of my soul ; secret and open sins , notorious and presumptuous sins , sins of pride , envy , hatred , malice , &c. good lord remit them all , and of thy great goodness grant me perfect remission and absolution for the same ! for which the prophet david , out of the depth of my misery , i cry unto thee for the depth of thy mercy . o lord hear my petitions , and consider my tears ! the contrition of my heart , and the sorrow of my soul ! and in the merits of his blood that was so plentifully shed on the cross for penitent sinners , wash away the multitude of my transgressions , that my soul , by thy mercy , being cleansed from the stain of sin , i may be found a worthy partaker of this great mystery . and now , o lord , that i am about to receive the blessed sacrament of the body and blood of jesus christ ; how shall i , that am so great a sinner , dust and ashes , dare to presume to approach thy table ! the heavens in thy sight being not clear , and the pillars of the earth shake at thy presence . what then shall become of me miserable that i am ! yea , lord , thou hast provided a special means , and in thy gospel left us a command , come unto me all ye , &c. which command i obey , and in confident assurance of thy promise in christ jesus , i trust thou wilt have mercy upon me , in the easing and refreshing of my soul that is wearied with the burthen of my intolerable sins ! wash me throughly from my wickedness , and cleanse me from my sin , and renew a right spirit within me : and of thy gracious goodness direct me in this great action , with a reverend and awful fear of thy majesty , that all the faculties of my soul and body may be intent rightly to apprehend , and joyfully to receive this eternal food , this bread of life , this heavenly and wonderful mystery ! and that by thy grace i may obtain the vertue , fruit , and benefits of the death and passion of my saviour ; and by the same , the remission of all my sins , and everlasting salvation , through jesus christ our lord. amen . a prayer before the receiving of the communion . o most holy and heavenly god and father , which by the immortal seed of thy word hast begotten us to be thy children , and with the same ( as with milk ) dost nourish us purely as new born babes , as also with the divine mysteries of thy holy sacraments ( as by a visible word ) dost confirm and strengthen us in faith & righteousness ; and having so adopted us into thy family , continually feedest and nourishest us unto eternal life : we humbly beseech thee so to prepare our souls to the due receiving thereof worthily , that we may thereby effectually feel , taste , and feed on thy son jesus christ ( the true manna and bread that came down from heaven ) that we may by him have eternal life : pardon ( o lord ) pardon our unpreparedness in coming to the participation of so holy and divine mysteries : make thy word and sacraments always so powerful and effectual in our ears and hearts that we may thereby be sanctified and renewed unto all holy obedience unto thy will in the mortification of our sinful corruptions , and renewing of thy perfect , image in us ( unto holiness , righteousness , sobriety , truth , knowledge , faith , and temperance ) through his most power ful and glorious resurrection . stablish our conscience in the assurance of our salvation , by the remission of our sins in the blood of thy son , which was shed for us on the altar of the cross ( as a sacrifice of expiation , to cleanse away all sin ) o lord , seal and confirm this covenant of grace in our hearts by these holy sacraments ( pledges of thy grace and love towards us ) that at no time we may stagger at thy promises , nor fall away from hope and confidence in thee ; but being hereby incorporated into one body , we may partake of one spirit , and grow in love one towards another ( as members of the same mystical body ) that we may forgive one another , as thou hast forgiven us . o lord , make us ever thankful for thy manifold and great mercies , in providing unto us such means and helps of our salvation ; and grant that we may not put any confidence in external actions and exercises thereof ( in any hope to be justified thereby ) but that we may thereby exalt our minds to heavenly and spiritual contemplations , and by faith be firmly united to thee our head in heaven , to be made one with thee , and thou with us : and howsoever heretofore we have transgressed and defiled our selves , as well with our natural impurities , and actual impieties , henceforth ( being now wash'd and purified in the blood of the lamb which was sacrificed for us ) we may have our conversation in heaven ; and being new creatures in christ , may have new thoughts , desires , and delights , ( far from the lusts of our former ignorance ) and may live ever unto him and with him , who sitteth at thy right hand , our redeemer and advocate , and shall return to be our judge , to justifie and acquit us before thee ; to whom , with thee , and the holy ghost , be all praise , &c. a psalm . . as the hart panteth after the water-brooks , so panteth my soul after thee , o god. . o let thy merciful kindness be my comfort , according to thy word unto thy servant . . help me , o god of my salvation , for the glory of thy name ; o deliver me , and be merciful unto my sin , for thy name 's sake . . o remember not my old sins ! but have mercy upon me , and that soon , for i am come to great misery . . consider and hear me . o lord my god , for my trust is in thy mercy . . turn thy face from my sins , and put out all my mis-deeds . . have mercy upon me , o god , after thy great goodness : according to the multitude of thy mercies do away my offences . . wash me throughly from my wickedness , and cleanse me from my sin . for i acknowledge my faults , and my sin is ever before me . . behold , i was shapen in wickedness , and in sin hath my mother conceived me . . thou shalt purge me with hyssop , and i shall be clean : thou shalt wash me , and i shall be whiter than snow . . make me a clean heart , o god ; and renew a right spirit within me . . o remember not the sins and offences of my youth , but according to thy mercy , think thou upon me , o lord , for thy goodness . . for thy name sake , o lord , be merciful unto my sin , for it is great . . turn thee unto me , and have mercy upon me ; for i am destitute and in misery . . remember not , o lord , mine iniquities nor the iniquities of my fore-fathers , neither take thou vengeance of my sins , but spare me , good lord , whom thou hast redeemed with thy pretious blood , and be not angry with me for ever . . blessed is he whose unrighteousness is forgiven , and whose sin is covered . . blessed is the man , unto whom the lord imputeth no sin , and in whose spirit , there is no guile . . the lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart , and will save such as be of an humble spirit . . o taste and see how gracious the lord is : blessed is the man that putteth his trust in him . . o lord thou hast dealt graciously with thy servant according to thy word . glory be to , &c. o most gracious lord god , i beseech thee help thy servant whom of thy mercy thou hast created , repair the ruins of my soul , inlarge the frame of my understanding thereof , cleanse it from all filthy corruption , and garnish it with all heavenly graces , that it may be both conveniently fit , and furnished to receive thee , that thou mayst make thy entry , and possess that which is thy own , both by creation and redemption and merits of thy passion , through jesus christ . amen . before the receiving . ex liturg. grant o most merciful father i beseech thee , that i receiving these thy creatures of bread and wine , according to the holy institution of our saviour jesus christ , in remembrance of his death and passion , may be partaker of his blessed body and blood , and that my sinful body may be made clean by his body , and my sinful soul washt through his most precious blood which was shed for the remission of all my sins , through the same jesus christ . amen . immediately before the receiving . matth. . . lord , i am not worthy thou shouldest come under my roof : but speak the word only , and my soul shall be healed . ii. o lamb of god , let me eat thy flesh , and drink thy blood , that i may live everlastingly by thee ; and cloath me with the wool of thy mercy , that no winter or storm of sin do pinch my silly soul . iii. o blessed jesus , let the blood that ran from thy blessed heart , wash my soul from all sin and iniquity , and purchase me thy heavenly grace and benediction : amen . immediately after receiving . praise the lord , o my soul , and all that is within me praise his holy name , and forget not all his benefits , which saveth thy life from destruction , and crowneth thee with mercy and loving kindness , psal . . i will give thanks unto the lord for he is gratious , and his mercy endureth for ever , psal . . alleluja , salvation and glory , and honour , and power , be unto the lord our god , amen . revel . . . thanksgiving after the receiving of the blessed sacrament . ex. liturg. o almighty and everlasting lord god ; i thy most humble servant , according to my bounden duty and service , do render unto thy fatherly goodness , all possible praise and thanksgiving , for that thou hast vouchsafed to feed me with the holy mystery , and spiritual food of the precious body and blood of jesus christ thy son and my saviour ; assuring me thereby of thy grace and favour towards me ; and that i am a member incorporate in thy mystical body , the blessed company of faithful people ; and also heir through hope of thy everlasting kingdom , by the merits of his most precious death and passion : and grant me , o lord , for the time to come the assistance of thy grace and heavenly benediction , that i may continue in all such good works as thou hast prepared for me to walk in ; to the glory of thy name , and my everlasting comfort , through jesus christ our lord : to whom with thee and the holy ghost be all honour and glory world without end . amen . a psalm . . praise the lord , o my soul , and all that is within me praise his holy name , which saveth thy self from destruction , and feedeth thee with the bread of heaven . . i will always give thanks unto the lord , his praises shall ever be in my mouth . . thy merciful kindness is evermore towards us : and thy truth , o lord , is everlasting . . great is the lord , and marvellous to be praised , there is no end of his greatness . . he loveth righteousness and judgment ; the earth is full of the goodness of the lord. . be glad , o ye righteous , and rejoice in the lord , and be joyful all ye that are true of heart . . i will give thanks unto thee with my whole heart ; i will speak of thy marvellous works . . o praise the lord with me , and let us magnifie his holy name . . let my heart be filled with gladness , and my mouth with praise , that i may sing of thy glory , and with the rest of thy saints give honour to thy majesty in the eternal fruition of thy presence through christ . . my mouth shall speak of the praise of the lord ; and let all flesh give thanks unto his holy name for ever and ever . amen . vers . praise the lord. resp . the lord's name be praised . o almighty and eternal god ; what worthy praise can i give unto thee , by whose goodness i was created , by whose mercy i was redeemed , by whose power i am preserved , and by whose grace i hope to be glorified ; and for all other thy blessings and benefits which i enjoy both in soul and body ; and especially , for feeding me this day with the precious body and blood of jesus christ . i will therefore offer unto thee the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving , and always praise thy holy name , beseeching thee to pour upon my heart the sweet streams of thy mercy ; conform my life , confirm my faith , and guide me by thy grace , that thy servant may with strong assurance of thine infallible truth and promised mercy , vanquish and subdue whatsoever rebelleth against thy blessed will ; keep holy my soul and body , and let them not be defiled through delectation of sin ; but that my full delight and joy may be in thee , and walk before thee in sincerity of heart and godly conversation , that i may here on earth glorifie thy name , and after this life with all thy faithful flock possess that everlasting inheritance : which thy son christ jesus hath purchased , to whom with thee and the holy ghost , be all honour and glory world without end . amen . john . . behold thou art made whole , sin no more lest a worse thing come unto thee . john . . if we walk in the light , as he is in the light , we have fellowship one with another , and the blood of jesus christ his son cleanseth us from all sin . eph. . , . be ye therefore followers of god , as dear children , and walk in love , as christ also hath loved us , and given himself for us , an offering and a sacrifice to god for a sweet smelling savour . eph. . ye were sometimes darkness , but now are ye light in the lord. see then ye walk circumspectly , redeeming time , because the daies are evill . jude . to the only wise god our saviour , be glory and majesty , dominion and power , both now and ever . amen . prayers for the sick. remember not lord our offences , nor the offences of our forefathers , neither take thou vengeance of our sins , but spare us good lord , spare thy people , whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood , and be not angry with us for ever . spare us good lord. o lord i beseech thee favourably to hear the prayers of thy servant , that i which am rightly punished for my offences , may by thy goodness be mercifully delivered for the glory of thy name : through jesus christ , who liveth and reigneth world without end . amen . almighty and everlasting god , in whose hand consists the life of all mankind , which correctest those whom thou receivest ; mercifully i beseech thee to hear my complaint , and despise not the prayer that i make now in the time of my trouble , in the vexation of my spirit , and the anguish of my soul . i remember thee , and cry unto thee for mercy ; o thou that hast created , and made me of nothing , and redeemed me from the bondage of sin , death , and everlasting destruction , by the most precious blood of jesus christ , shed upon the cross for the ransom of all my sins . have mercy upon me , o lord , have mercy upon me , bow down thine ear unto my cry , and cast me not away in thine anger , though for my wickedness i have deserved thy wrath and heavy displeasure against me : and now for my transgressions , in thy indignation thou hast stricken me with grievous sickness , and i begin to fall as leaves beaten with a vehement wind , yet are thy punishments less than my deservings . but of thy mercy and goodness , o lord , correct me not to death , but to amendment of life ; for thine own sake , for thy holy names sake , for christ jesus sake be merciful unto my sin , for it is very great , and there is no rest in my bones , by reason of my transgression : spare thy servant , o god , which confesseth his sins ; pour thy sanctifying grace into my heart , and work thereby true and immediate repentance , and restore me again to thy favour , according to thy gracious promise in jesus christ : let thy merciful providence so govern all this sickness , that i never fall into utter dakness , ignorance of thee , or inconsideration of my self ; let the faintness of my spirit , and the condemnation of my self , be overcome with thy irresistable light , thou god of all consolation ; grant that i may be mindful , of the great account that i have to make at the day of judgment , and that i may bear in mind the image of that which is to be faithful , the end of misery , and the beginning of all happiness ; but to the secure and careless , the beginning of eternal pain ; strengthen my faith , accept my repentant tears , speak peace to my soul and conscience , and say , thou art my salvation , my grace is sufficient for thee ; then shall my heart rejoyce , and my soul shall be right glad , desiring to be dissolved , and be at peace , that after this my bodily death , i may enjoy the eternal fruition of thy heavenly presence : let me not , o father , in this my trial , be stricken with fear of condemnation , or distrust thy promises , but in sure confidence of heart , apply to my self the remission of my sins , that at the last gasp , by faith in jesus christ , i may have a taste of eternal salvation : let not death ( if thou please to send it ) be terrible or bitter unto me ; but when it cometh , i may with joy receive the same , and having escaped the hardness of temptation , and the peril of satan , i may triumph like a conqueror , and behold the power and presence of thy holy spirit : let my last words be those which thy son did utter upon the cross saying ; father , into thy hands i commend my spirit : and when my speech is taken from me , hear the groanings of my heart , and the desire of my soul , that thy servant may depart in peace ; through jesus christ our lord ; to whom be all praise , power , might , majesty , and dominion , now and for ever . amen . the sick saith job . . man that is born of a woman , hath but a short time to live , and is full of misery ; he cometh up and is cut down like a flower ; he fleeth as it were a shadow , and never continueth in one state . in midst of life we are dying : of whom shall we seek for succour and comfort but of thee o lord god our maker ? a psalm . . in thee o lord have i trusted , let me never be confounded ; but rid me and deliver me in thy righteousness , incline thine ear to me and save me . . o lord rebuke me not in thine indignation , neither chasten me in thy heavy displeasure . . have mercy upon me o lord , for i am weak : o lord ●eal me , for my bones are vexed . . turn thee , o lord , and deliver my soul ; o save me for thy mercies sake , for in death no man remembreth thee , and who shall give thee thanks in the pit ? . consider and hear me , o lord my god , lighten mine eyes that i sleep not in death , shew me thy marvellous loving kindness , thou art the saviour of them that put their trust in thee . . thou hast been my succour , leave me not , neither forsake me , o god of my salvation ! look upon my affliction and pain , and forgive all my sins . . o remember not my old sins , but have mercy upon me , and that soon , for i am come to great misery . . preserve thou my soul therefore , o my god , and save thy servant that putteth his trust in thee . . o comfort the soul of thy servant , for unto thee , o lord , do i lift up my soul . . o turn thee unto me , and have mercy upon me : give thy strength unto thy servant , and help the son of thy handmaid . . shew some good token upon me for good , that they which hate me , may see it , and be ashamed , because thou lord hast holpen me , and comforted me . . o satisfie me with thy mercy , and that soon : so shall i rejoyce and be glad all the days of my life .. . i am troubled , i am bowed down greatly , i go mourning all the day long : i am poured out like water , and all my bones are out of joynt ; my heart is like wax , it melteth in the midst of my bowels . . help me , o god of my salvation , for the glory of thy name , o deliver me , and be merciful unto my sin , for thy names sake . . the righteous cry , and the lord heareth them , and delivereth them out of all their troubles . . the lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart , and will save such as be of an humble spirit . . o tarry the lord's leisure : be strong , and he shall comfort thy heart , and put thou thy trust in the lord. . o put thy trust in god , for i will give him trauks , which is the help of my countenance , and my god : glory be to the father , &c. o lord my god and heavenly father , who art the health of all men living , and the everlasting life of them which die in faith ; open i beseech thee the eyes of thy mercy upon me thy sick servant , who in heart is truly sorrowful for all my sins ; and of thy fatherly goodness , according to the multitude of thy mercies , put away all my transgressions out of thy remembrance : renew in me what hath been decayed by the fraud or malice of the devil , or by mine own frailty ; preserve me in the unity of the church , consider my contrition , accept my tears , and asswage my pain , and if it be thy blessed will , restore me to my former health ; or if otherwise thou hast appointed , give me grace so to take this visitation , that after this painful life ended , i may dwell with thee in life everlasting . amen . lord jesus preserve me , lord jesus comfort me , lord jesus pray for me ; for only into thy hands , who hast redeemed me , o lord thou god of truth , i commend my soul both now and for ever . amen . the sick saith . lord have mercy upon me , christ have mercy upon me . our father which art in heaven , &c. i heard a voice from heaven , saying unto one , write , from henceforth , blessed are the dead which dye in the lord. a psalm . . o lord rebuke me not in thy indignation , neither chasten me in thy heavy displeasure . . have mercy upon me , o lord , for i am weak : o lord heal me , for my bones are vexed . . my soul is also sore troubled : but lord , how long wilt thou punish me ! . turn thee , o lord , and deliver my soul : o save me for thy mercies sake . . for in death no man remembreth thee : and who shall give thee thanks in the pit ? . i am weary of my groaning , every night wash i my bed , and water my couch with my tears . . my beauty is gone for very trouble , and worn away because of all my enemies . . through thee have i been holden up ever since i was born : thou art he that took me out of my mothers womb , my praise shall be always of thee . . cast me not away in the time of age : forsake me not when my strength faileth me . . o hide not thy face from me , nor cast away thy servant in displeasure . . thou hast been my succour , leave me not o god of my salvation . . i am poor and needy , make hast unto me , o god , thou art my help and my deliverer , o lord make no long tarrying , o lord deliver me from the power of the enemy . lord help thy poor servant that putteth his trust in thee . send me help from thy holy place , and evermore mightily defend me : be unto me a strong tower , o lord , and evermore cover me with thy wings . o lord , hear my prayer , and let my cry come unto thee . the sick saith . i know that my redeemer liveth , and that i shall rise out of the earth in the last day , and shall be covered again with ▪ my skin , and shall see god in my flesh ; yea , and i my self shall behold him , not with other , but with the same eyes . o almighty and immortal god , the saviour and defender of all that put their trust in thee ; the only refuge and hope of the distressed in time of need , mercifully behold the sorrows of my heart , and the groanings of my spirit : thou hast , o lord , of thy power made me of nought , and in thy good time i shall return to nought again . i brought nothing into the world , neither shall i carry any thing away when i depart : thou art my portion , my salvation , my mediator , and my saviour . o blessed jesus , by thee came grace and life to the chosen , o receive me to thy mercy ; thou sufferedst most cruel death for my sake , and art risen the first fruits of them that sleep , thou art crowned with power and glory , destroyed'st death , and givest eternal life to all believers : thou , o saviour christ , shalt raise me up in the last day , and give me possession of thy everlasting kingdom , which thou hast purchased in thy blood and righteousness , according to the will of our merciful father , whom thou hast pacified and pleased , for my redemption and salvation ; for the performance of the oath which in his eternal and unsearchable purpose he promised our fore-fathers , whereof in thy merciful favour thou hast called me to be partaker , whereby i am taught and comforted by thy holy spirit , to despise this world , and this corrupt tabernacle of sinful flesh , which of it self hath deserved nothing but death and damnation , and wholly to rely upon thee . therefore , o lord , stand by me , and defend me against the assaults of satan , that after triumphant victory , through grace and power in thy spirit , i may joyfully give over this fleshly being , and come into thy presence , o lord , to rest in blissful peace , until the delivery of thy saints , with whom i am in assured hope , by the witness of thy spirit , to have my portion of the inheritance of perpetual salvation , and life everlasting , through jesus christ . amen . o my soul be joyful in the lord , and despise not his correction , neither faint thou at his rebukes . for whom the lord loveth , him he correcteth : yea , he scourgeth every child whom he receiveth . thy sins were innumerable , neither couldest thou claim ought of duty , but death and damnation . thy merciful lord hath accepted thy tears , and repentant groanings , and turned away his face from thy offences , he freely hath forgiven thee thy sins . and because thou hast repented , and trusted in his mercy , he hath put them all out of his remembrance , neither will he think on them any more . he will receive thee into his house , and crown thee with glory and kindness . thou shalt stand before his presence in the sanctuary everlasting . with angels and arch angels , with the patriarchs and prophets , with the faithful witnesses , and with all the rest of the chosen children of grace , to honour him , to serve him , to magnifie him , and praise him , with continual thanks in eternal joy and felicity , for ever and ever . amen . a psalm . . o god my god look upon me , why hast thou for●aken me , and art so ●ar from my health , and from the words of my complaint ? . how long wilt thou forget me o lord , for ever ; how long wilt thou hide thy face from me ? . o god i cry in the day time , but thou hearest not ; and in the night season also i take no rest . . and thou continuest holy , o thou worship of israel . . call to remembrance , o lord , th● tender mercy , and thy loving kindne●● which have been ever of old . . shew thy servant the light of th● countenance : and save me for thy merc●● sake . . thou hast been my succor , leave m● not , neither forsake me , o god of my salvation . . my time is in thy hand : deliver me from the hand of mine enemies . . o keep my soul and deliver me : le● me not be confounded , for i have put my trust in thee . . o my soul , thou hast said unto the lord , thou art my god , my goods are nothing unto thee . . the lord himself is the portion of mine inheritance , i have set god always before me , for he is on the right hand , therefore i shall not fall . . wherefore my heart is glad , and my glory rejoiced : my flesh also shall rest in hope . . for why , thou wilt not leave my soul in hell , neither shalt thou suffer me to see corruption . . thou shalt shew me the path of life ; in thy presence is the fulness of joy , and at thy right hand there are pleasures for ever more . glory be to the father , &c. as it was in the beginning , &c. o spare me a little , and suffer me to recover my strength , o lord , before i go from hence , and be no more seen . now o my soul , look upon christ jesus the righteous , thy advocate and redeemer , who is ready to receive thee ; therefore be glad in him , and give thanks , rejoycing in the visitation of the lord , by which he hath prepared thee for the heavenly jerusalem , and everlasting bliss ! 〈◊〉 acknowledge , o lord i have deserved to die , and the desire i have to live , is for the amendment of my life , and in some better measure to set forth thy glory ; therefore good father , if it be thy pleasure , restore me to health again ; and grant me long life . but if thou hast in thy eternal decree appointed this sickness to be a preparation to my immediate dissolution , and by it to call me out of this transitory life ; i resign , commit , and willingly commend my spirit into thy hands and holy pleasure ; beseeching thee to bless me from the second death , the everlasting destruction both of body and soul . let my soul throughly consider of the account i have to make to thee my god , and how few minutes soever it hath to remain in my body , let the power of thy spirit recompence the shortness of time , and perfect my account before i pass away . be pleased o lord in the reconciliation of thy son for my sins . let the infiniteness of my offences rely upon the infiniteness of thy mercy by his sufferings : breath inward comfort to my heart , and confidence in thy gratious promises ; that though my body be going the way of all flesh , yet my soul may go the way of all saints . lord hear me and help me , stand by me and save me , and if it be thy determination to lay my body in the grave , to receive my soul into thy kingdom , to rest in joy and peace for evermore , through jesus christ . amen . the sick saith , o my soul , thou which art endued with the image of god , redeemed with the blood of jesus christ , enlightened by the holy ghost , adorned with vertue , and accounted with angels : love thou him who loveth thee , trust in him who careth for thee , seek thou him who seeketh thee . my soul , o lord , heartily desireth to attain to that supernatural city , whereof such things are spoken : my heart longeth , my soul thirsteth till i enter into my masters joy. to which everlasting joy , o lord , receive my soul , where all thy saints rejoyce in eternal joy and thanksgiving , singing praises and allelujas to thee the lord our god. eye hath not seen , nor ear hath heard , neither entered into the heart of man , the things that god hath prepared for those that love him . glory be to the father , &c. directions for the sick . man for the violation of that great command which god his creator gave him in the beginning , hath exposed him and his posterity to a certain and sure doom , in these words : thou shalt dye the death ; for the wages of sin is death ; the gift of god is eternal life , through jesus christ our lord , rom. . variable , and therefore miserable is the condition of man : this hour , this minute in health , in the next by a sudden change and alteration at the point of death : in the morning flourishing like a palm , like a green bay-tree , in the evening cut down , dryed up and withered ; for we consume away in thy displeasure , and are afraid at thy wrathful indignation , psalm . all flesh is grass , and the glory thereof as the flower of the field , psal . . the glory of man is as the flower of the field , which withereth and falleth away , pet. . . he considereth we are but flesh , and as the wind that passeth away , psal . . our life is but of a short continuance , and full of trouble ; man cometh up like a flower , vanisheth like a shadow , falls sick and dyeth , sleepeth , and riseth not until the heavens be no more , job . as soon as thou scatterest us , we are even as asleep , and sade away suddenly , and in thy anger all our days are gone , and ended as a tale that is told : and what man living shall not see death ? dust thou art , and to dust thou shalt return , gen. . . thy body shall return to earth , the center of the body ; and thy soul to heaven , to god which gave it , to everlasting glory , who at the last day , the day of the resurrection , will re-collect , re-unite thy body , though turned to atoms , to thy soul , at the voice of the angels trumpet , arise ye dead and come to judgment ; the righteous to receive everlasting happiness , and the wicked eternal torment . wonderful and great hath the love of god been unto mankind , in our creation , redemption , preservation , and giving us assured hopes of eternal salvation , through jesus christ our lord ; for being fallen from blessedness , by the sins of our first parents , into the snares of satan , and thereby become his bondslaves and servants , overcome by sin , job . and being servants of sin , we are freed from righteousness , rom. . god so loved us , that he sent his only son to be reconciliation for our sin , joh. . . rich is his mercy whereby he loved us , eph. . christ suffered for our sin , to bring us unto god , being put to death in the flesh , but quickned in the spirit , pet. . he sent redemption to his people , holy and reverend is his name , psa . . he gave himself for us , that he might redeem us from all iniquity , tit. . therefore blessed be the lord god of israel , for he raised up a mighty salvation for us in the house of his servant david , luke . . our life here on earth is a warfare , full of trouble , misery , and vexation of spirit , a daily tempest , and continual strugling between the mind and the flesh ; the law of god , and the law of sin ; and so numerous are the calamities and troubles of our days , that were it not for the hope of heaven , it would be little better than hell it self , crosses and afflictions , troubles and molestations unavoidably rush in upon us , as fast as jobs messengers , hourly and daily ; for men , as they are all the sons of their mothers , are subject to all misery , born to live few dayes , in many dangers : whose glory may well be compared to the shadow in the sun , which in the morning of our greatness , is in a goodly luster ; at noon at the full , beside us ; at night in the wain , quite behind us . there is nothing in this vale of misery permanent or certain ; prosperity and adversity not long asunder : health and sickness often at variance ; no joy , no happiness , no felicity , no tranquillity for continuance can be expected here in this world. the only ease and consolation to our distresses , the blessedness of content and rest to our wearisome souls , is to be looked for in the world to come : what honour , glory , pleasure of earthly delight soever , but is subject to instability , possible and uncertain ? which made the wise-man upon his experience cry out , vanity of vanity , all is vanity . and the singular motive to a man in any affliction for the sufferance of sorrow , need , sickness , or any adversity whatsoever , is , that by the sweet united blessings , patience and content , at the last by paying an inexcusable debt to death , which , who so liveth , of what state or condition soever , cannot but think he must die , will bring us to that eternal rest , to the blessed enjoyment of everlasting felicity , to dwell in glory for evermore : for blessed are the dead which die in the lord , from henceforth , yea , saith the spirit , that they may rest from their labours , and their works do follow them , rev. . . death is a sleep , a departed breath from dead earth , inlivened at first by breath cast upon it ; to die is to be no more unhappy , it is true to those over-swayed by nature , death is accounted a misery , but to men refined by the light of judgment , it is esteemed the only remedy against misery , as it is the wages of sin , it is due to us ; and as it is the end of all grief and sickness , it belongs unto us . it delivers us from all cares and troubles , and bringeth us to all joys unspeakable ; by it we shall receive fulness of grace , perfect and accomplished regeneration and perfect glory , which while we are on earth , we have but in part : here we see darkly , as in a glass , then shall we see face to face : the heavens you behold , shall be superinvested with new endowments , made everlasting habitations for the saints prepared ; by death we pass to immortality , nor can we attain eternal life , but by leaving this life ; yet corporal death is no period of life , but a passage to eternity ; though our body sleep a while in dust , it shall rise again after thy likeness : as for me , saith the prophet david , i will bebold thy face in righteousness , and shall be satisfied when i awake . holy job saith , though all my flesh be consumed to bones , yet thy spirit blowing upon dead bones , can revive them , and couple them again with sinews , and cloath them with flesh . the dead men shall live together , with my dead body shall they arise , awake and sing ye that dwell in the dust , for thy dew is as the dew of herbs , and the earth shall cast out the dead , isa . . . for i know that my redeemer liveth , and though after my skin worms destroy this body , yet in my flesh shall i see god ; if the earthly house of this tabernacle be dissolved , we have a building of god , an house not made with hands eternal in heaven , cor. . christ is risen from the dead , and made the first of them that slept , cor. . though in adam we all die , yet in christ shall all be made alive . that body that was sown a natural body , shall rise a spiritual body , cor. therefore let us be comforted , and not fear the pains of death , the approach of which suddenly makes a man to know himself ; he tells the proud and insolent they are but dust , and in an instant makes them to repent and hate their fore-past happiness ; he takes an account of the rich , and proves him a begga● , having interest in nothing but in the earth that fills his mouth ; shews the beautiful their desormity , and they hate it ; he draws together the far stretch'd greatness , all the pride , cruelty , vain-glory , and ambition of man , and covers it all over with dust in the narrow limits of a grave ; and though for some years the body lies mouldred in the grave , it shall at the last be raised in honour and glory ; purified , perfected , and immortalized from a dungeon of misery , to a place of all felicity , to our own country , into paradise , where we shall meet with abraham , isaac , and jacob , the patriarchs and prophets , saints and angels , our friends and kindred gone before us , which we shall see and behold in mount sion , the city of the everliving god , in the company of innumerable angels , praising and magnifying the lord of heaven , in white robes , and palms in their hands , following the lamb wheresoever he goeth . i will wait till my changing cometh , then shalt thou call me , and then shall i answer thee , o lord , i come and appear before thee , job . . as the hart panteth for the water brooks , so longeth my soul for thee , o lord , ●s . . . and for as much as all mortal men are subject to many sudden perils , diseases and sicknesses , and ever uncertain what time we shall depart out of this life ; there should no day pass without consideration for our last end ; which meditation is very requisite , both for them that are in perfect health , & those that feel the hand of god by sickness : that death will come is certain , but when , how , or where , is very uncertain . it is appointed for all men once to die , heb. . . but the day when , god hath not revealed , because we should be ready every day ; it comes as soon to the young man , that glorieth in his strength , as to some in a good old age ; to the rich fool in a night , as to the poor in the anguish of his soul ; to some violently , to others untimely by accident ; to some by sudden and unexpected death without warning ; to all , some one way or other . and being almighty god hath pleased to lay this sickness upon you and therein time to repent , assure your self it is his visitation sent to you to try your faith & patience , or else to correct and amend what is amiss in you , or whatsoever hath offended your heavenly father ; for every child whom the lord loveth he correcteth , to prepare for a better world ; affliction seals us up to adoption ; by it he exercises his children , and the graces he bestows upon them : it is special means to further our contrition and repentance : in affliction , saith the lord , they will hear me . davids troubles made him pray ; hezekiah's sickness made him weep ; and misery drew the prodigal child home : we have the prophets examples and patterns of bearing afflictions patiently ; which though the punishment and shame is of sin , god turns to be the subject of his honour and glory , in saving a sinner that calls upon him in faith and true repentance , to heaven . his chastisements are signs of his fatherly love ; which though for the present , seem grievous unto us , afterward it bringeth quiet fruit of righteousness , to those whom the lord giveth grace to make a sanctified use of it , for which he hath inflicted this sickness on you . and know you certainly , though your sins are many and grievous which you have committed , by the temptation of the devil ; yet upon your true repentance , god hath promised to forgive ; the benefits of which , are the escaping eternal death , god's everlasting punishments , and the attaining eternal salvation : where sin abounds , there grace much more abounds . god calls all those that are heavy laden , to refresh and ease them of all their trouble , the lord forsaketh no man , till man forsaketh him : look not so much upon the greatness of thy sins , as to the riches of his mercy , and let thy soul be comforted in the all-sufficient atonement of the blood of jesus christ . let the ( wicked saith the lord ) forsake his way , & the unrighteous man his thoughts , and let him return unto me , and i will have mercy upon him , and i will pardon him abundantly : let not your conscience be terrified at the remembrance of your transgressions , for there is no sin bars a man from salvation , but incredulity and impenitency . therefore lift up your hearts unto the lord , call unto him for mercy , repent earnestly of your sins , and have a lively considence in christ's merits , and doubt not but upon your humble contrition and sorrow for sin , with sighs and tears ( the blood of a wounded soul ) god will receive your soul into everlasting happiness , to live in eternal glory , which he of his infinite mercy grant , through jesus christ our lord. amen . the sick saith , o god the father of heaven , have mercy upon me , miserable sinner . o god the son , redeemer of the world , have mercy upon me miserable sinner . o god the holy ghost , proceeding from the father and the son , have mercy upon me , miserable sinner , &c. by thine agony and bloody sweat , by thy cross and passion , by thy precious death and burial , by thy glorious resurrection and ascension , and by the coming of the holy ghost , good lord deliver us . in all time of our tribulation , in all time of our wealth , in the hour of death , and in the day of judgment , good lord deliver us . i humbly beseech thee , o father , mercifully to look upon mine infirmities , and for the glory of thy names sake turn from me all those evils that i most righteously have deserved ; & grant that in all my troubles i may put my whole trust and considence in thy mercy , & evermore serve thee ( if i live ) in holiness and pureness of living , to thy honor & glory , through jesus christ our only mediator and advocate . amen . the friends of the sick party shall exhort him to examine himself of his estate , both towards god , and towards man ; that so by the condemning of himself , he may find mercy at the hands of god , for christ jesus sake . . of the confession of his faith . . of his sins and offences , both against god almighty , either publick or private ; or his neighbor in word or deed . . of his considence and faith in jesus christ , for the death and passion he suffered for all sinners . advise the party to send for the minister , that he may pray with him ; for the lord hath promised to hear the prayers of the faithful for us , and to forgive us our trespasses ; and that he may give him the holy communion of the body and blood of jesus christ , the living bread that came down from heaven ; if any man eat of this bread , he shall live for ever : the bread that i give , is my flesh , which i will give for the life of the world ; for whosoever eateth my flesh , and drinketh my blood , hath eternal life , and i will raise him at the last day , joh. . . . advise him to call to mind what injury or wrong he hath done to any man in word or deed , that he may like good zacheus , make satisfaction where he hath injuriously & fraudulently taken and detained from any man , by oppression or deceit , his goods or money ; for without restitution there can be no repentance ; and if no repentance , no expectation of salvation . . advise him also to set his house in order , for death will not be long in coming , and that the covenant of the grace is not revealed to any : and to make a judicious distribution of his estate , not forgetting the poor . the sick saith , . i believe in god the father almighty , &c. . i am fully perswaded , and undoubtedly in my conscience believe , and do confess and acknowledge before god and you here present , that every point and article of this my belief is true , and necessary to salvation . . i acknowledge that i have been a grievous sinner , offending my god many ways , both in thought , word , and deed , and am guilty of the breach of all his commandments ; deserving for the same his heavy wrath and indignation against me ; i am sorrowful and mourn in my soul for them , trusting that the lord for jesus christ his sake , who sitteth at the right hand of god , making intercession for my sin , will have mercy upon me , and grant me forgiveness for the same , and after this life ended , receive me to his eternal habitation . . i confidently believe that jesus christ is the only mediator and saviour of all mankind , and that i shall be saved by the only merits of his precious death and passion , which he suffered on the cross for my salvation ; denying all meritorious works of my own , and that there is no name under heaven whereby i may be saved , but in the name of jesus christ . . i do from my heart freely forgive all the world , all those that have any way wronged , injured , or offended me by word or deed , as i desire to be forgiven of god. and i desire likewise , all men whom i have often offended , by committing any unjust , unconscionable , or uncharitable act or deed , to forgive me being sorry for what i did , to their prejudice or hurt . o lord , i beseech thee , hear my prayer , and spare me which do confess my sins , that i , whose conscience by sin is accused , by thy merciful pardon may be absolved , through jesus christ . amen . o lord my redeemer , have mercy upon me , and receive my spirit . a prayer to be said by those that visit the sick. o most mighty and eternal god , which hast compassion on all men , and hatest nothing that thou hast made , mercifully we beseech thee to have compassion on this thy servant , who by thy visitation hath been sorely afflicted , and by the same even brought to the termination of his days , and end of his life : be pleased good lord to have mercy upon him , acept of him as the work of thine own hand , a lamb of thy fold , thy servant , redeemed by jesus christ ; who is willing by thy appointment , to leave this miserable world , in full assurance of thy mercy in jesus christ , for the remission of his sins : guide him good lord , in this his last journey , that he , being quit of all the troubles of this transitory world , may safely by thy power be conducted to the haven of eternal happiness , into the arms of thy unspeakable mercy , to everlasting peace , to perpetual joy , and there to reign with all the company of saints and angels in eternal bliss for evermore . good lord we beseech thee , by the abundance of thy goodness , by the multitude of thy mercies , by the merits of thy death and passion , by the glorious resurrection and ascension of jesus christ , have mercy upon him : deliver him from the burthen of his sins , the fear of death and the power of hell ; and give him a quiet and joyful departure , and receive him in thy favour to the fulness of joy in thine everlasting kingdom , to reign with thee world without end . amen . thanksgiving after recovery o lord my god and heavenly father , seeing it hath pleased thee of thy infinite mercies to with-hold my life from the pit of corruption , and in good measure restored me again to my former health , crowning me with mercy and loving kindness , my soul and all that is within me shall praise thy holy name : i will praise thee , o lord , with my whole heart , and sing praise unto thy name , o thou most high , for the health of my body ; i bless thee for it with my soul : and good lord , give me also the health of my soul , then shall i magnifie and praise thee for thy goodness , with soul and body . this gentle correction hath brought me nigher unto thee , and upon thy forbearance i have promised amendment of life ; and that i may so do , assist me with thy grace , give me constancy and perseverance in good works , and keep me from relapsing into those sins which induced thy former judgments : and though the custom of sin take away the sense of sin , and my infirmities being many ; yet , good lord , forsake not my soul in any temptation , neither suffer me to fall into such notorious sins again , which i have truly repented me of ; but so guide me by thy grace in the small remainder of my days that i have to live in this world , that my life may be ordered by thy governance , and always do that which is righteous in thy sight , through jesus christ our lord. amen . psal . . i am well pleased , that the lord hath heard the voice of my prayer . . that he hath inclined his ear unto me : therefore will i call upon him as long as i live . . the snares of death compassed me round about : and the pains of hell gat hold upon me . . i shall find trouble and heaviness , and i shall call upon the name of the lord : o lord , i beseech thee deliver my soul . . gracious is the lord and righteous : yea , our god is merciful . . the lord preserve the simple : i was in misery , and he helped me . . turn again then unto thy rest , o my soul , for the lord hath rewarded thee . . and why thou hast delivered my soul from death , mine eyes from tears , and my feet from falling . . i will walk before the lord in the land of the living . . i believed , and therefore will i speak , but i was sore troubled : i said in my hast , all men are lyers . . what reward shall i give unto the lord for all the benefits that he hath done unto me ? . i will receive the cup of salvation , and call upon the name of the lord. . i will pay my vows now in the presence of all his people : right dear in the sight of the lord is the death of his saints . . behold ( o lord ) how that i am thy servant , i am thy servant and the son of thy handmaid , thou hast broken my bonds in sunder . . i will offer unto thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving : and will call upon the name of the lord. . i will pay my vows unto the lord , in the sight of all his people : in the courts of the lords house , even in the midst of thee , o jerusalem . praise the lord. a morning prayer for a private family . o god the father , creator , and maker of all things in heaven and earth ; o christ , the redeemer of all mankind ; and thou ( o blessed spirit ) the sanctisier of all the elect , have mercy upon us ; spare us most miserable sinners , whom thou hast redeemed , and be not angry with us for ever ; but hearken unto our prayers , receive our petitions , and grant our requests , for jesus christ his sake , our only lord , and blessed saviour . we thy poor and unworthy servants , in all humility of soul and body , & unfeigned acknowledgment of our bounden duty , prostrate our selves before the throne of thy mercy seat , praising and magnifying thy fatherly goodness , for the abundance of thy blessings , for the multitude of thy mercies continually heaped upon us ; beseeching thee for christ his sake to be merciful to all our sins committed against thy divine majesty ; upon the consideration of which , we confess we are not worthy to appear in thy sight , much less to ask a blessing at thy hands ; for by reason of our corrupt nature in us derived from our first parents , our inclination hath been prone to commit all manner of sin and wickedness against thy goodness ; thy laws and precepts we have broken both in thought , word , and deed ; out of our hearts proceed evil and wicked imaginations , which defile the soul , and the whole man is altogether abominable ; the eyes that now look up to thee for mercy , have beheld vanity ; our tongues that now call upon thee , have blasphemed thee ; our hands now lifted up to heaven , have been lifted up against thee ; our feet have been willing to run to commit any mischief by the temptation of satan ; our wills being continually averse to thy commandments ; the law of sin is in our members , repugnant to the law of our mind , making us altogether unworthy of the least of thy mercies ; and miserable that we are , the numberless number of our sins have been multiplyed as the number of our sinful days have increased ; these things , o lord , we have done to our shame , and , if thy mercy prevent not , judgment , to our utter destruction of soul and body ; we must acknowledge thou who art our creator , who hast made us , by the precious death of jesus christ redeemed us , and by thy holy spirit sanctified us ; and many are the blessings and benefits which we enjoy both in soul and body ; therefore by the contrition of ou● hearts , by the testimony of our consciences , we stand convicted , and at the horrid thought of our sins we are mightily astonished ; what shall we say , or wherein shall we open our mouths , who shall deliver us from the misery due to us for our transgressions ? nothing can be expected in this life but misery and confusion , and in the world to come , eternal condemnation . but yet , o lord , in obedience of thy command , and in confident assurance of thy endless and unspeakable mercy , promised in jesus christ to all sinners , with sorrow in our hearts , with shame in our face , in humility of spirit , we appeal from thee , to thee ; from thee a just judge , to thee a merciful father ; from the throne of thy justice , to the seat of thy mercy ; beseeching thee to have mercy upon us , o lord , to have mercy upon us , and turn thy face away from all our sins , and blot out all our transgressions ; for the only meritorious death and passion of jesus christ thy innocent lamb , who so abundantly shed his blood on the cross to take away the sins of the world ; accept we intreat thee , that inestimable price of his suffering , for a full ransom for all our sins ; remit them unto us , and divert thy judgments and punishments from us , and assure us of thy love and favour in christ : and for the time to come , work in us by the graces of thy holy spirit , true and unfeigned repentance , and faith with strength against sin , and grace in some better measure to do thy will ; reform our affections , transform us out of sin , into the glorious liberty of thy own children , to live in newness of life , in holy conversation , and continual obedience to thy divine majesty . and seeing o lord it hath pleased thee of thy goodness to deliver us from the power of darkness , and all dangers of the night past , affording us quiet and comfortable rest , bringing us safe to the beginning of this day : our souls and all that is within us shall praise thy holy name ; desiring continually to render unto thee all possible praise and thanksgiving for the incarnation of our blessed saviour , for our redemption by passion , for our creation , election , justification , and sanctification in some good measure , and assured hope of glorification in the world to come : we likewise bless thee for our lives , health , liberty , peace and prosperity , for our preservation , and deliverance from evil since we were born , for the freedom of thy gospel , for the comfort we enjoy under his majesties happy reign ; for delivering our church and kingdom from foreign invasion ; for sparing and giving us so long a time of repentance : for these thy blessings and benefits our souls shall praise the lord of heaven , whose mercy endureth from generation to generation . bless and defend us ( o lord ) this day , direct and protect us in the same , bless our going out and coming in ; let thy spirit guide us in all our actions , deliver us from the temptation and malice of the devil , and keep us both in soul and body from all his devices , and let thy grace preserve and guide us in all our wayes , that we may walk circumspectly , and strive to avoid all occasions of committing or running into such sins , which by nature we are apt to fall into : set a watch before the door of our lips , that we may not offend thy majesty by ill words , or blasphemous oaths ; keep us we beseech thee from violent passions , which provoke thy wrath and indignation against us ; and guide our feet in the way of peace , which leads us to everlasting salvation : let the dew of thy blessing descend upon our labours , and prosper thou the work of our hands : o prosper thou our handy-work ; make us diligent and dutiful in our calling ; and that we may have a good conscience in all our dealings , not any way to defraud any man , knowing one day we must give an account for all our words and deeds : and good lord , we beseech thee so to bless our endeavours , that we may raise such a competency and convenient sufficiency , void of wretched care , for the supportation of our lives , in a modest and civil manner ; and especially give us hearts and minds contented with what thou shalt be pleased to lay upon us , strength and patience in all afflictions and temptations , troubles and adversities , which seal thy children to salvation : give us meekness , and humility in prosperity , and constancy in well doing ; and for the small remainder of our lives , that we have to live here on earth , give us grace to consecrate it to thy service , and live in thy fear , not setting our hearts on transitory things , but carefully labour to redeem the time ; not deferring our repentance , but endeavour to make our calling and election sure , working our salvation in fear & trembling , before we go hence and be no more seen : and grant us , o lord , that when the race and course of our natural life here on earth is finished , we may at the last receive a crown of righteousness , which thou from the beginning hast laid up for them that fear thy name . in these our prayers we further intreat thee , o lord , for a blessing upon thy church universal , more especially we beseech thee to continue the peace and prosperity of these churches wherein we live , and every member thereof ; more especially , ever mightily protect and defend , from all evil and danger ; and bless with the chiefest of thy blessings , thine anointed , & our dread soveraign lord king charles , the queens majesty , james duke of york , and the rest of the royal progeny : bless the lords of his majesties honourable privy council , the reverend clergy , and all civil magistrates : bless all our friends and kindred and acquaintance ; bless us all , good lord , from the highest to the lowest ; help and comfort all our brethren , that in this transitory life be in trouble , sorrow , need , sickness , or any other adversity : comfort the comfortless , help the distressed , and defend all that travel by land or water ; and work in all and every one of us , true fear of thy holy name , and constant resolution to serve thee to our lives end . good lord hear , lord hearken unto us we beseech thee , and accept of this our morning sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving ; hear our prayers , and grant our petitions that we have asked , and all other blessings , which thou in thine infinite wisdom knowest most necessary for us , and thy whole church , we ask and crave at thy merciful hands , in the name , and through the mediation of thy dear son , our blessed redeemer , our only lord and blessed saviour jesus christ , in that most excellent form of prayer , which he in his holy gospel hath taught us , saying , our father which art in heaven , hallowed be thy name , thy kingdom come , &c. the grace of our lord jesus christ , the love of god , and the fellowship of the holy ghost be with us all for evermore . amen . an evening prayer for a private family . o eternal god and heavenly father , which hast made of one blood all mankind , and breathed into us the breath of life , and assigned times and length of our life in this world , which thou continuest according to thy good pleasure ; and if thou withdrawest thy hand , we soon perish , and are returned to dust , whence we were taken : we will therefore shew forth thy power in the evening , and magnifie thy goodness for saving us this day from dangers , and from our birth , in the whole course of our lives , hitherto preserving us ; for thou art a god of patience , pity , and much forgiveness ; shewing mercy unto thousands , and blotting out all our offences . o lord , we pray thee set not before thine eyes the horrible confusion , uncleanness , and wickedness of our hearts , ( being replenished with loathsome darkness , of ignorance , errours , doubtings , and distrust ) yea , our vile hearts have been turned away from thee , and all the powers of our souls and bodies are filthily defiled and weakened with wickedness ; only we cry aloud unto thee , favourably to consider the troubles and sorrows of our hearts , to strengthen our infirmities , and to pardon our most horrible offences : for we are wounded and weak and cannot be holpen but only through thy exceeding great mercy , there is no health in our flesh , because of thy displeasure , neither is there any peace or rest in our souls , by reason of our sin ; yet hear thou us ( o lord ) for thy holy name-sake , for jesus christ his sake pardon and forgive us all our sins that we have committed against thee this day ; and grant us thy grace , that we may amend our lives , and unseignedly serve thee in the several duties of our callings , to thy glory , and the comfort of our own souls ; remit our punishments , restore us to thy wonted favour , and receive us into thy most gratious protection , and keep us this night and evermore , that the devil may have no power over us , nor the sin of wickedness may be able to hurt us . whether we sleep or wake , live or die , we are always thine , thou art our creator and redeemer ; guard us about with the armies of thy holy angels in our habitations ; expel and remove far away from us wicked spirits ( our mortal enemies ) and graciously protect us from our persecutors which lay snares to subdue us : do thou ( o god ) assist us , that we may peaceably sleep and rest in thee : hide us in thy tabernacle from the strife of all men , and we will fear no evil , for thou that keepest us , dost neither slumber nor sleep : thy rod and thy staff do always comfort and defend us : let thy mercy ( o god ) prevent and follow us all the days of our lives , that we may dwell in thy house of defence in longness of daies , praising thee evermore , father , son , and holy ghost , one true , gratious , and everlasting god , ruling and reigning world without end . our father which art in heaven , hallowed , &c. lighten our darkness we beseech thee , o lord , and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night , for the love of thy only son , our lord and saviour , jesus christ . let thy mighty , hand and out-stretched arm , o lord , be still our defence ; thy mercy and loving kindness in jesus christ thy dear son our salvation ; thy true and holy word our instruction ; thy grace and holy spirit our comfort and consolation , to the end , and in the end , so be it . amen . the grace of our lord jesus christ , &c. a table of the prayers contained in this book , viz. comfortable prayers for sunday morning . pag. . a confession to god. . a devout prayer to jesus christ . . a prayer to the holy ghost . . a prayer for sunday night . . a prayer for grace . . a prayer not to distrust the mercies of god. . an evening prayer . . prayers for monday morning . . a prayer for forgiveness of sin . . a prayer to be restored to god's favour . . prayers for monday night . . a prayer against the power of satan . . a prayer for the desire of a godly life . . an evening prayer . . prayers for tuesday morning . . a prayer of true repentance , and to be purged of sin . . a prayer for the aid of god's holy spirit . . a prayer to acknowledge god in his works . . prayers for tuesday night . . a prayer for the remission of sins . . a prayer setting out the power of god's grace . . a prayer for a competent living . . an evening prayer . . prayers for wednesday morning . . a morning prayer . . a prayer for patience . . a prayer for humility . . a prayer for god's fear . . a prayer for wednesday night . . a prayer for mortification . . a prayer against desperation . . a prayer for the power of god's spirit to abide in us . . a prayer to be mindful of death . . a prayer for an happy departure out of this life . . an evening prayer . . prayers for thursday morning . . a prayer for wisdom . . a prayer for charity . . a prayer to god to bless our endeavours . . a prayer to live uprightly in our calling . . prayers for thursday night . . a prayer against evil imaginations . . an evening prayer . . prayers for friday morning . . a prayer of thanksgiving for the passion of christ . . a prayer for mercy for our offences . . prayers for friday night . . a prayer for redress of a sinful life . . a prayer for continual remembrance of our end . . a prayer to jesuss christ for heavenly comfort . . an evening prayer . . prayers for saturday morning . . a prayer to obtain the kingdom of heaven . . a prayer for saturday night . . a prayer for a blessed and godly life . . a prayer for defence against our enemies . . a prayer for the opening the eyes of our understanding . . a prayer for perseverance in prayer . . an evening prayer . . short directions for receiving the blessed sacrament of christs blessed body and blood. . an humble confession before the receiving of the sacrament . . a prayer before the receiving of the sacrament . . a psalm before the sacrament . . a thanksgiving after the receiving the sacrament . . a psalm of thanksgiving . . a prayer for the sick. . directions for the sick. . a morning prayer for a private family . . an evening prayer for a private family . . finis . two sermons the first, comfort in calamitie, teaching to live well, the other, the grand assizes, minding to dye well / by thomas fuller ... fuller, thomas, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing f wing f estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) two sermons the first, comfort in calamitie, teaching to live well, the other, the grand assizes, minding to dye well / by thomas fuller ... fuller, thomas, - . [ ], , [ ], p. printed for g. and h. eversden ..., london : . "a comment on ruth" has separate t.p. and pagination. reproduction of original in cambridge university library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng bible. -- o.t. -- ruth -- criticism, interpretation, etc. christian life. sermons, english -- th century. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - john latta sampled and proofread - john latta text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion fullers comment on ruth ; with two sermons on speciall occasions . two sermons : the first , comfort in calamitie , teaching to live well . the other , the grand assizes , minding to dye well . by thomas fuller , b. d. london , printed for g. and h eversden , and are to be sold at the sign of the greyhound in pauls chur●h-yard . . to the right worshipfull , and deservedly honoured , the lady elizabeth newton , of charleton in kent . madame , saint paul in the first to the thessalonians , chap. . vers . . saith unto them , i would have come unto you once and again● , but satan hindred us . i may make use of the former part of his expression , applying it to my frequent intentions to visit the place of your abode , and bestow some spirituall paines therein . but i must not play satan with satan , be a false accuser , to charge on him the frustrating of my design , ( though generally he be a back-friend to all good desires ) but must justly impute it to my owne manifold avocations . may your ladyship now be pleased to see what you expected to heare , and reade what i intended to speake . the first of these sermons was designed for your fore-noones , the latter for your after-noones repast . i am confident you will not measure my respect to you to be the lesse , because the benefit to others may be the greater by publishing thereof ; and request you to accept hereof , not as intende● a full payment for my many obligations unto you , but as tendered in consideration of your forbearance , till i am enabled to expresse my gratitude in a greater proportion . the lord blesse you in your selfe , dayly sanctifying your rare naturall endowments with his choisest graces ; blesse you in your sel●e divided , your worthy husband ; in your selfe multiplyed , your hopefull sonne ; and slowly , but surely , terminate your prosperitie here with endlesse happinesse hereafter : the heartie desire of your ladyships boundant orator , thomas fuller . comfort in calamitie . a sermon preached upon a speciall occasion in s. clements church in london , neere east-cheap . psal. . . if the foundations be destroyed , what can the righteous doe ? we may observe , that david is much pleased with the metaphor in frequent comparing himselfe to a bird , and that of severall sorts : first , to an eagle , psal. . . thy youth is renewed like the eagles : sometimes to an owle , psal. . . i am like an owle in the desart : sometimes to a pelican , in the same verse , like a pelican in the wildernesse : sometimes to a sparrow , psal. . . i watch , and am as a sparrow : sometimes to a partridge , as when one doth hunt a partridge . i cannot say , that he doth compare himselfe to a dove , but he would compare himselfe , psal. . . oh that i had the wings of a dove , for then i would flee away , and be at rest . some will say , how is it possible , that birds of so different a feather should all so flye together , as to meet in the character of david ? to whom we answer , that no two men can more differ one from another , then the same servant of god at severall times differeth from himselfe . david in prosperitie , when commanding , was like an eagle ; in adversitie , when contemned , like an owle ; in devotion , when retired , like a pelican ; in solitarinesse , when having no companie , like a sp●rrow ; in persecution , when fearing too much companie [ of saul ] like a partridge . this generall metaphor of ● bird , which david so often used on himselfe , his enemies in the first verse of this psalme used on him , though not particularizing the kinde thereof : flee as a bird to your mountaine ; that is , speedily betake thy selfe to thy god , in whom thou hopest for succour and securitie . quest. seeing this counsell was both good in it selfe , and good at this time , why doth david seem so angry and displeased thereat ? those his words , why say you to my soule , flee as a bird to your mountaine , import some passion , at leastwise a disgust of the advice . it is answered , david was not offended with the counsell , but with the manner of the propounding thereof . his enemies did it ironically , in a gibing jeering way , as if his flying thither were to no purpose , and he unlikely to finde there the safetie he sought for . how-ever , david was not hereby put out of conceit with the counsell , beginning this psalme with this his firme resolution , in the lord put i my trust , how say ye then to my soule , &c. learne we from hence , when men give us good counsell in a jeering way , let us take the counsell , and practise it , and leave them the jeere , to be punished for it . indeed , corporall cordials may be invenomed , by being wrapt up in poysoned papers ; not so good spirituall advice , where the good matter receives no infection from the ill manner of the deliverie thereof . thus when the chiefe priests mocked our saviour , math. . . he trusted in god , let him deliver him now if he will have him . christ trusted in god never a whit the lesse for the fleere and flout which their prophanenesse was pleased to bestow upon him , otherwise , if mens mocks should make us to undervalue good counsell , we might in this age be mocked out of our god , and christ , and scripture , and heaven ; the apostle iude , verse . having ●ore-told , that in the last times there should be mockers , walking after their owne lusts . the next verse presents an unequall combat betwixt armed power , advantaged with policie , on the one side , and naked innoc●nce on the other . first , armed power : they bend their bowes , and make readie their arrowes , being all the artillerie of that age. secondly , advantaged with policie : that they may privily shoot , to surprize them with an ambush unawares , probably pretending amitie and friendship unto them . thirdly , naked innocence : if innocence may be termed naked , which is its owne armour ; at the upright in heart . and now in due order succeedes my text , which is an answer to a tacite objection which some may rayse ; namely , that the righteous are wanting to themselves , and by their owne easinesse and unactivitie , ( not daring and doing so much as they might and ought ) betray themselves to that bad condition . in whose defence david shewes , that if god in his wise will and pleasure seeth it fitting , for reasons best known to himselfe , to suffer religion to be reduced to termes of extremitie , it is not placed in the power of the best man alive to remedie and redresse the same . if the foundations be destroyed , what can the righteous doe ? my text is hung about with mourning , as for a funerall sermon , and containes , first , a sad case supposed , if the foundations be destroyed . secondly , a sad question propounded , what can the righteous doe ? thirdly , a sad answer implyed ; namely , they can doe just nothing , as to the point of re-establishing the destroyed foundation . note by the way , that in scripture , when a question is propounded , and let fall againe , without any answer returned thereunto , that it generally amounts to a negative . thus saith thamar , sam. . . and i , whither shall i cause my shame to goe ? that is , nowhither : neither citie , court , or countrey , will afford me any shelter to cover my shame , or recover my reputation . prov. . . but a wounded spirit who can beare ? that is , no meere man by his sole selfe , without gods gracious assistance . math. . . what is a man profited , if he shall gaine the whole world , ●nd lose his owne s●ule ? that is , nothing at a●l ; w●en he casteth up his audit , he shall finde himselfe a great loser by the bargaine . if the foundations be destroyed , what can the righteous doe ? that is , they can doe just nothing ; bemoane and bewayl● they may ; restore and re-build they cannot , what is so destroyed . before we goe any further , it will be worth our paines to enquire into the time and occasion of this psalme . but here we are left at a losse ▪ and cannot of our selves recover any certaintie , nor meet with others to direct us . the title of the psalme is speechlesse , as to the date and occasion thereof : nor maketh it , with zachariah , any signes when , or why composed ; onely we may be confident , david made it when the church was in some great affliction , and reduced to a dolefull condition . for ( under favour ) i conceive , that the destroyed foundations mentioned in the text , relate not so properly to the civill state as to the church in israel . had this destruction ▪ been principally of temporall concernment , david would have said , what can the valiant champion , or what can the politike states-man doe ? but seeing the question is confined to the righ●eous , it probably intimates , that the desolation complained of , concerned chiefely the cause of the church , religion , and religious persons therein . if one may offer to make a modest conjecture , it is not improbable this psalme might be composed on the sad murther of the priests by saul , sam. . . when after the slaughter of ahim●le●h the high-priest , doeg the edomite by command from saul , slew in one day fourescore and five persons which wore a linnen ephod . i am not so carnall , as to build the spirituall church of the iewes on the materiall walls of the priests citie at nob , ( which then by doeg was smitten with the edge of the sword ) but this is most true , that knowledge must preserve the people , and mal. . . the priests lips shall preserve knowledge : and then it is easie to conclude , what an earth-quake this massacre might make in the foundations of religion . there is some difference in the translations , even as much as is betwixt the praeter and future tense . the old translation what have the righteous done ? the new translation what can the righteous doe ? we embrace the latter , as confident that those worthy translators were led thereunto by sufficient reasons from the originall , seeing sextinus amama , a learned forrein critick ( but so long living in oxford , that he perfectly understood the english tongue ) professeth that translation was done usque ad orbis invidiam . and now we proceed to a paraphrase upon the words of the text. if. it is the onely word of comfort in the text , that what is said is not positive , but suppositive ; not theticall , but hypotheticall . and yet this comfort , which is but a sparke , ( at which we would willingly kindle our hopes ) is quickly sadded with a double consideration . first , impossible suppositions produce impossible consequences . as is the mother so is the daughter . therefore surely gods holy spirit would not suppose such a thing , but what was feasible , and possible , but what either had , did , or might come to passe . secondly , the hebrew word is not the conditionall im , si , si forte , but chi , quia , quoni●m , because , and ( although here it be favourably rendred if ) seemeth to import more therein , that the sad case had alreadie happened in davids dayes . i see ●herefore , that this if , our onely hope in the text , is likely to prove with iobs friends , but a miserable comforter . well , it is good to know the worst of things , that we may provide our selves accordingly : and therefore let us behold this dolefull case , not as doubtfull , but as done ; not as feared , but felt ; not as suspected , but at this time really come to passe . the foundations . positiones , the things formerly fixed , placed , and setled : it is not said , if the roofe be ruinous , or if the side walls be shattered , but if the foundations . fo●ndations be destroyed . in the plurall . here i will not warrant my skill in architecture , but conceive this may passe for an undoubted truth : it is possible , that a building setled on severall intire foundations ( suppose them pillars ) close one to another , if one of them faile , yet the structure may still stand , or rather hang , ( at the least for a short time ) by vertue of the complicative , which it receiveth from such foundations which still stand secure . but in case there be a totall rout , and an utter ruine of all the foundations , none can fancie to themselves a possibilitie of that buildings subsistence . what can the righteous ? that is , he that would be righteous , that desires it , that endeavours it , that in gods acceptance through christ , is interpreted to be righteous . otherwise , take the word in the high sense and strict acceptance thereof , for such a one whose righteousnesse is of proofe against gods sharpest and strongest justice , and then the question will not be , what can the righteous doe ? but , where can such a righteous man be found ? what can the righteous ? the righteous indefinitely , equivalent to the righteous universally ; not onely the righteous as a single arrow , but in the whole sheafe ; not onely the righteous in their personall , but in their diffusive capacitie . were they all collected into one body , were all the righteous ( living in the same age wherein the foundations are destroyed ) summed up and modelled into one corporation , all their joynt endeavours would prove ineffectuall to the re-establishing of the fallen foundations , as not being mans worke , but onely gods worke to performe . what can the righteous ? know here , that the can of the righteous is a limited can , confined to the rule of gods word , they can doe nothing but what they can lawfully doe , cor. . . for we can doe nothing against the truth , but for the truth : illud possumus , quod jure possumu● . wicked men can doe any thing ; their conscience , which is so wide that it is none at all , will beare them out to act any thing how unlawfull soever , to stab , poyson , massacre , by any meanes , at any time , in any place , whosoever standeth betwixt them and the effecting their desires . not so the righteous ; they have a rule whereby to walke , which they will not , they must not , they dare not crosse . if therefore a righteous man were assured , that by the breach of one of gods commandements he might restore decayed religion , and re-settle it statu quo prius , his hands , head , and heart are tyed up , he can doe nothing , because their damnation is just who say , rom. . . let us doe evill that good may come thereof . doe . it is not said , what can they thinke ? it is a great blessing which god hath allowed injured people , that though otherwise oppressed and straitned , they may freely enlarge themselves in their thoughts . surely , if tyrants might have their will , as the persian king made a law , dan. . . that none should aske a petition of any god , or man , save of darius , for thirtie dayes ; so they would enact , that none should thinke a good thought of any but of themselves ; and every cogitation against their proceedings should be actionable and punishable . but blessed be god , thoughts are free in the courts and consistories of man , be they never so bad ; no informer can accuse them , no person can indite them , no iurie can be empanelled upon them , no iudge can condemn them , no sheriffe can execute them . god hath made rehoboth , he hath given roome , he hath allowed this liberty to his servants , to spread forth their thoughts ( as hezekiah did sennacheribs letter , king. . . ) before the lord the only searcher of hearts . thinke they may ; but what can the righteous doe ? doe . it is not said , what can the righteous say ? surely they could say something if it might be heard , acts . . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , in a lawful assembly , four things concurring to the making thereof . . a free place where 's no feare of a forcible surprise . . a competent and convenient time to ●it and furnish themselves to make their just defence ; for gods ordianry servants dare not ( for feare of tempting him ) relie upon the extraordinary promise ( proper to the times of the primitive persecution ) matt. . . it shall be given you in the same hour what ye shall speak : no , now adayes , gods best saints pretend not so much spirit , but that they must helpe themselves by premeditation . . an unpartiall judge , not one an●nias - like , acts . . which will command innocence when beginning to plead , to be smitten on the mouth . truth hath often sought corners , not as suspecting her cause , but as fearing such judges . . a silent , docible and unbyassed auditory ; not such as come hither with full intent to carry away the same judgement ( how ●rroneous soever ) that they brought hither , misreporting whatso●●er makes against them . if the righteous in an ●ssembly thu ▪ constituted , may be heard for themselves , they could plead something for their dear clients the destroyed foundations . otherwise alas , what will it boot the larke to plead for its life in the clawes of a kite ; what will it benefit a lamb to traverse his innocence in the pawes of a lyon , where the foresaid necessary requisites to freedome cannot be obtained ? but all they can say ( and give loosers leave to speake ) though it might conduce much to the easing of their own , and perchance the convincing of their enemies hearts ( if not over-hardned , ) yet it contributes nothing to the undestroying of the foundations , in which case , what can the righteous doe ? doe . it is not said , what can the righteous suffer ? this is the honour of christians , that when they cannot find hands lawfully to act , they will find shoulders patiently to beare . the ancient lutherans before luther , were called paterenians , a word that will hardly be reconciled to good lati●e , as being barbarous in the grammer and extraction thereof . yet ● believe i may make it latine sooner then make it english ; justifie the etymologie of the word , sooner then perswade the the practice thereof , to make it free denison of our nation . they were such people whose backs were anvils for their enemies hammer to smite upon . we must not suffer the honour of passive obedience herein to be dead and buried , at least wise we must be mourners at the funeral thereof . the righteous can , will , and shall suffer much ; but alas if the foundations be destroyed , what can the righteous doe ? but now we are met with a giant objection , which with goliah must be removed , or else it will obstruc● our present proceedings . is it possible that the found●tions of religion should be destroyed ? can god be in so long a sleep , yea , so long a lethargie , as patiently to permit the ruines ●hereof ? if he looks on , and yet doth ●ot see these fou●dations when de●troyed ; where then is his omnisciency ? ●f he seeth it , and cannot helpe it ▪ where then is his omnipotency ? if he seeth it , can helpe it , and will not , where then is his goodnesse and mercy ? martha said to iesus , joh. . . lord , if thou hadst been ●ere , my brother had not dyed . but many will say , were god effectually present in the world with his aforesaid attributes , surely the foundations had not dyed , had not been destroyed . we answer negatively ▪ that it is impossible that the foundations of religion should ever be totally and finally destroyed , either in relation to the church in generall , or in reference to every true and lively member thereof . for the first , we have an expresse promise of christ , math. . . the gates of hell shall not prevaile against it . fundamenta tamen stant inconcussa sionis . and as for every particular christian , the second of timothy , . . neverthelesse , the foundation of god standeth sure , ●aving this seale , the lord knoweth them that are his . how-ever , though for the reasons afore-mentioned in the objections , ( the inconsisten●ie thereof with the attributes of g●ds omnipotencie , omnisciencie , and goodnesse ) the foundations can never totally and finally , yet may they partially be destroyed , quo●d gradum , in a foure-fold degree , as followeth . first , in the desires and utmost endeavours of wicked men , they bring their . hoc velle , . hoc agere , . totum posse . if they destroy not the foundations , it is no thanks to them ▪ seeing all the world will beare them witnesse they have done their best , ( that is , their worst ) what their might and malice could performe . secondly , in their owne vain-gloriou● imaginations : they may not onely vainly boast , but also verily beleeve , that they have destroyed the foundations . applyable to this purpose , is that high rant of the roman emperour , luke . . and it came to passe in those dayes , that there went out a decree from caesar augustus , that all the world should be taxed . all the world ● whereas he had , though much , not all in europe , little in asia , lesse in africa , none in america ; which was so farre from being conquered , it was not so much as knowne to the romans . but hyperbole is not a figure , but the ordinarie language of pride : because indeed augustus had very much , he proclaimeth himselfe to have all the world . thus no doubt herod , math. . was confident he had killed all the infants in and about b●thleem , and so had sped and dispatcht the iewish king amongst the rest , when he safely had escaped his furie . thus the persecuting emperours conceited themselves to have destroyed all the bibles in the world , whereof so many were surrendred up unto them by the hands of the traditores ( in plaine english traytors ) deputed by the church to preserve and keepe that treasure ; and yet ▪ bl●ssed be god , a remnant was left , from which the christians at this day have plentifully recruited themselves . thus tyrants please themselves , in reporting that they have destroyed all the foundations of religion , when haply unhappily they have partly ruinated some of them . in such a case , no wonder if fame ( the parasite-generall of gre●tnesse ) trumpets forth the triumphs of tyrants in the largest dimensions . absalom is said to have killed all the kings sonnes , sam. . . when indeed onely amnon was slaine . thus flatterie will make the most of furies atchievements , and by a synecdoche of the whole for a part , all the foundations shall be reported to be destroyed . thirdly , the foundations may be destroyed as to all outward visible illustrious apparition . the church in persecution is like unto a ship in a tempest ; downe goe all their masts , yea , sometimes for the more speed , they are forced to cut them downe : not a piece of canvas to play with the windes , no sayles to be seene ; they lye close notted to the very keele , that the tempest may have the lesse power upon them : though when the storme is over , they can hoise up their sayles as high , and spread their canvas as broad as ever before . so the church in time of persecution feared , but especially felt , loseth all gaynesse and gallantrie which may attract and allure the eyes of beholders , and contenteth it selfe with its owne secrecie . in a word , on the work-d●yes of affliction she weareth her worst clothes , whilest her best are layd up in her wardrobe , in sure and certaine hope that god will give her a holy and happie day , when with joy she shall weare her best garments . lastly , they may be destroyed in the jealous apprehensions of the best saints and servants of god , especially in their melancholy fits : i will instance in no punie , but in a starre of the first magnitude and greatest eminencie , even elijah himselfe complaining , kings . . and i , even i onely am left , and they seeke my life , to take it away . where had elijah lived ? did his intelligence or intellectuals deceive him , to be thus mistaken ? his intelligence ! so conversant with gods servants , as to know none of them , but meerely to conceive , that the whole species of gods people was conserved onely in his individuall selfe ? surely , the fault was rather in his intellectuals , and that onely for the present his passion at this time imposed on his judgement , and betrayed him to mistake . the clearest apprehension may lose its way , in the midst of excessive joy , love , griefe , feare , both the last meeting in elijah . stil god had seven thousand hearts belonging to him , whose knees never bowed unto baal : probably some of them might be knowne to elijah , but for the present forgotten by him . whence we observe , first , ●hat no under-officer ( such as elijah was ) in the armie of the church militant , knoweth the list of all the names of those , who at the same time , and in the same place , serve therei● , but onely god the generall , and christ the lieutenant-generall of the armie . secondly , as concealed lands belonged anciently to the king , so many a close , secret , and unsuspected christian ( especially in times of persecution ) belongs onely to the god of heaven . but some will say , why doth god suffer the foundations to come so neere to be destroyed ? is it not at the best some diminution and abatement of his goodnesse ? why will he not prevent this graduall destruction of the foundations , which so much grieveth the godly , and giveth occasion to t●e wicked to triump● ? i answer , this is done for severall reason● concealed in the brest and bosome of divine providence , and for some reasons knowne and communicated to men ; three whereof in humilitie and modestie are here presented unto us . first , to give occasion to christians to exercise their winter●graces ; i count some summer-graces in their hearts , namely such , the principall use whereof is in the time of their prosperitie , as humilitie , moderation , &c. others are winter-graces , as patience , contentmen● , &c. i confesse , that thankefulnesse is seasonable summer and winter , ephes. . giving of thanks alwayes for all things : like holly and ivie , greene all the yeare long , it is constantly in the prime thereof . how-ever , that the aforesaid winter graces , and especially patience may have her perfect worke , james . . no whit abortive in the time , or defective in the members thereof , god in his wisdome will permit that the foundations may be gradually destroyed . secondly , god permitteth the enemies of religion to atchieve such a destruction , that plumped up with their own successe , they may at the last be the fuller sacrifice to his justice . for as he feedeth himselfe dayly on the punishment of leane and common offenders , so his justice sometimes taketh state to feast it selfe as king solomon , kings . . on faited fowle , on men larded with thriving and batling in their owne villanies , psal. . . their heart is as fat as grease . abel offered to god , gen. . . of the fat of his flock . god in like manner sometimes is delighted to offer to himselfe the fattest malefactors , fed in the stall of succeeding wickednesse . thirdly , god permitteth the foundations to be destroyed , because he knowes he can un-destroy them ; i meane re-build them in what minute and moment he pleaseth himself . it is no policie for men to suffer growing evils to encrease , because suddenly they may start past helpe and hope . thus it is not good to dally with danger , and delay with diseases ; venienti occurrite morbo ; it is no wisdome for men to suffer a house to run long to ruine , lest it prove past repaire . but nullum tempus occurrit deo , all times are equally easie for god to recover his right , and sometimes are more for his honour , namely , when he interposeth his power to his greater honour and glory , in that seasonable minute and moment , when men say it is past hope , and give up all for desperate , yea , for lost and destroyed . come we now to that point which we conceive both pertinent to the text , and profitable for our times , namely , to give advice how people should behave themselves , if god should for their sinnes condemne them to live in a time and place wherein the foundations of religion ( so farre as they are destroyable ) should be destroyed . be it here premised , that nothing herein is spoken out of reflection to the present times , to fill the heads or hearts of people with jealousies of any designe as if intended at the present to blow up the found●tions of religion . and yet give me leave to say , that some moneths since had we gone on the same pace we began , a f●w steps farther would have brought all to a sad condition ; so that the lawyers might even have dr●wne up the will of expiring divinitie , and the divines performed the funerals of dying law in this nation . but blessed be god , that since that time con●usion is conf●unded , and some hopes given of a better condition . in a word , if religion be no whit the neerer to the making , in all probabilitie it is something the farther from the undoing thereof . how-ever , grant religion were in never so peaceable and prosperous an estate , yet the sad s●bject we now in●ist on , could not be unseasonable . all spirituall me●t is not to be bought up , and brought in , for our present spending and feeding thereon , but ( as good husbands ) we are to powder up some for the time to come . and seeing none of us know what is to come , and all of us deserv● the worst that may be , it will not be amisse to arme our selves with counsels and cautions , in case god should give us to live in an age wherein the foundations are destroyed . first , enter a silent protestation in the court of heaven , of thine owne integritie , as to this particular , that thou hast not willingly consented to the destroying of the foundations of religion . i say , silent . it is davids counsell , psal. . . commune with your heart upon your bed , and be still . there may be danger in making a loud protestation ; it may be interpreted , to be the trumpet to sedition . secondly , it may be quarrelled at , as tasting of the leven of the pharisees , which is hypocrisie , for men to make a publique confession of what may seeme to tend to the sinfull praysing ( though indeed it be but the needfull purging ) of themselves . a silent protestation . nothing more difficult , then in dangerous times for innocence it selfe to draw up a protestation with all due caution , so as to give her adversaries no advantage against her . if it be layd too low , the protestor destroyes his owne innocence , and may be accessarie to the robbing himsel●e of his due , and so may die felo de se ▪ of his owne integritie . if it be drawn● up too high , with swelling expressions , the protestor may expose himselfe to just censure , as a libeller against that authoritie before which he entreth his protestation . we cannot therefore be too warie and too cautious ▪ in the making thereof ▪ to observe the golden meane betwixt both extreames . for the better effecting whereof , we will weigh every word in the counsell propounded . in the court of heaven . and that for a double reason : first , because it is a standing court , no danger that it will ever be put downe : secondly , because it is a just court , no suspition that any corruption can ever prevaile therein . of thine owne integritie . he that hateth suretiship is sure , saith solomon , prov. . . breake not thy selfe , by undertaking more then what thou art able to performe . man may have not onely a charitable opinion ( due from us to all , of whom the contra●ie doth not appeare ) but also a confident presumption of the goodnesse of such with whom they have had a long and intimate familiaritie . yet all this amounts not to that certaintie , to embolden one to undertake a protestation in their behalfe , which he ought to confine to himselfe , of whom alone , and that scarcely too , ( by reason of the deceitfulnesse of mans heart above measure ) he can have any competent assurance , thine owne integritie . as to this particular . confesse thy selfe in other things a notorious sinner , guiltie of sinnes of omission , commission , ignorance , knowledge , presumption , despaire , against god , thy neighbours , thy selfe , in thought , in word , in deed . we reade of the daughters of zelophe●ad , that they pleaded before moses , and gave this character of their dead father , numbers . . our father died in the wildernesse , and he was not amongst the assembly of them that were assembled against the lord , in the companie of korah , but died in his sinne . meaning , that he was none of those mutineer , not eminently notorious for rebellion ; onely being a sinfull man , as all are , he was mortall with the rest of his kinde . what a comfort will it be , if one can truly avouch it in his conscience to the searcher of hearts ; lord , i acknowledge my selfe a grievous sinner , yet i appeale to thee , that i have not been active in the destroying of the foundations of religion , but opposed it as much as i might ; and when i could doe no more , was a mo●rner in sion for the same ? that thou hast not willingly consented . where know to thy comfort , that god keepes a register in heaven of all such who doe , or doe not consent to any wicked action : and if we may prosecute the metaphor after the manner of men , we may say , on the one side of the booke are set downe the names of such who concurred and consented to wickednesse . on the other side such are recorded , who were on the negative , and by their suffrages did dissent from the same . thus we finde it written , to the eternall commendation of ioseph of arimathea , luke . . he did not consent to the counsell and deed of them who betrayed our saviour . not willingly . be it here observed , that mens bodie● may be forced to countenance that with their corporall presence , which their soules doth both reluctate at , and remonstrate against . one eminent instance whereof we have , ierem. . . for in the fore-going chapter , iohanan the sonne of kareah came to ieremiah , pretending desire of advice from him , and promising to conforme himselfe to his counsell in that great question of importance , whether he with the remnant of israel should goe downe into aegypt ? ieremiah disswades them from that journey , as contrarie to the will of god , and threateneth them , in case they undertooke the same . how-ever , we reade in the next chapter , verse . that this iohanan , the sonne of kareah , and all the captaines of the forces , were not content to carry downe the remainder of the captivitie into aegypt , but also they tooke ieremiah the prophet , and baruch the sonne of neriah , along with them , for the more credit of the matter , to weare them for a countenance of their wicked designe . captaines of the forces indeed they were ; and here they shewed a cast of their office , violently to force two aged per●ons , contrarie to their owne intentions and resolutions . egregiam verò laudem & spolia amplae refertis . goe cowardly tyrants , erect trophies to your owne victories , make triumphs of your owne valour : a great matter of manhood , a noble conquest , to compell poore ierem●ah the prophet , and painfull baruch his scribe ( each of them by proportionable computation , above sixtie yeares of age ) to returne into aegypt , whilest their mindes , with a contrarie motion to their bodies , went back to ( or rather never removed from ) the land of israel . an eminent instance , that mens bodies may sometimes be forced to doe that which their soules doe detest . secondly , we except such ( from willing consenting ) as have been fraudulently circumvented instrumentally to concurre to the destroying of foundations , cleane contrarie to their owne desires and intents , as erroneously conceiving they supported the foundations , when really they destroyed them . this commonly commeth to passe , by having mens persons in admiration , jude . so that possessed with the opinion of their pietie , they deliver up their judgements as their act and deed , signed and sealed ●o them , to beleeve and practice , without denyall , doubt , or delay , whatsoever the others shall prescribe . yet , upon the confession of the faults of such seduced people , god will forgive them , taking off the load from them , and laying it upon their seducers , pittying those innocents who charitably counted others better then they were , and punishing such hypocrites who really were worse then they seemed . we reade , deut. . . if a man be found slaine in the land , lying in the field , and it be not knowne who slew him ; the elders of the next citie what should they doe ? ( it is not said , they should all meet together , and lay their hands on the dead corps , and it should bleed when the murtherer approached unto it . this sometimes happeneth , but is not ( especially alone ) to be relyed on ; scarce a presumption , no demonstration . ) but after the offering of a solemne sacrifice , these words were to be pronounced by them : our hands have not shed this blood , neither have our eyes seene it . be mercifull , o lord , unto thy people israel , whom thou hast redeemed , and lay not innocent blood unto thy people of israels charge , and the blood shall be forgiven them . in like manner we are confident , that god in his goodnesse will remit their guilt ( on their prayers , and pleading the merits of christ sacrificed ) which meerely have been drawne in instrumentally to destroy the foundations , and have not willingly , wittily , or wilfully had a hand in the killing thereof . secondly , keepe up the destroyed foundations in thine owne house . it was a worthy resolution of ioshuahs , josh. . . but as for me and my house , we will serve the lord. some will say , what is meant here by house ? i answer ; the fourth commandement , exod. . . will expound it : thou and thy s●nne , and thy daughter , thy man-servant , and thy maid-servant ( cattell being irrationall , belong not hereunto ) and the stranger that is within thy gates . stranger ? he that partakes under the roofe of thy protection , must submit to the rule of thy devotion . it may be objected , why no mention of the wife herein ? it is answered , the wife is part of the husband , comprized in him , as a parcell of thou . gen. . . so god created man in his owne image , in the image of god created he him , male and female created he them. why him and them ? why is the number altered ? it is a sad family , wherein this doubt is not dayly cleared . man and wife ( though plurall in persons ) are in affection one flesh ; and being but one , good reason why the result of them both should be stiled him , and not her , denominated from the more noble gender . but to returne to ioshua and his worthy resolution , i and my house will serve the lord ; namely , himselfe , his wife , his children , his servants : surely , he had all these his relations , and all these his relations had reall pietie in them , at leastwise they seemingly pretended it , and ioshua charitably beleeved it : yet i confesse we meet not in scripture with any of their names ; whereas we heare often of iudas in the gospel , and dayly of pontius pilate in the creed . how farre better is it to have our names written , philippians . . in the booke of life , then to be but barely recorded in the outward letter of the scripture ! thirdly , if thou canst not keepe it up in thine owne house , keepe it up in thine owne chamber . it is said , nehemiah . . wherein severall persons re-edified the walls of ierusalem , after him repaired meshullam , the sonne of berechiah , over-against his chamber . it is probable , that this meshullam was no house-keeper , but onely a lodger ; yet repairing his part , facilitated the whole . let every owne endea●our at leastwise to keepe up the foundations in his owne chamber , betwixt himselfe and other selfe . fourthly , if thou canst not keepe it up in thine owne chamber , keepe it up in thine owne conscience . the prophets counsell must be practised , micah . . trust ye not in a friend , put ye not confidence in a guide , keepe the doores of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosome . fifthly , remember the dayes of gods right hand , and feede upon the comfortable memorie of what is past . he that hath not hot meat to feede upon , may make cold meat , well hea● , wholesome nourishment ▪ if the present times afford us not contentment , let us with comfort ruminate on those dayes of gods right h●nd ; namely , wherein he hath vigorously and effectually discovered himselfe for his owne honour and his peoples comfort . psal. . . i will remember the yeares of the right hand of the most high : david being then in an agonie , and readie to despaire . sixthly , pray heartily and trust faithfully in the power and providence of the god of heaven . here it will not be amisse to insert a memorable storie , applyable to our occasion . there were at the same time two princes in germanie , neighbouring in their dominions , and of the same name , though much different in their power and puissance ; namely , frederick , duke of saxonie , of the greatest command of any next the emperour . frederick , bishop of magdenburgh ( inferior to few prelates in germanie ) but utterly unable , without his apparent ruine , to contest with the foresaid duke . now , as luther in his comment on the psalme , briefely summeth up the matter to this effect : the duke pretended a ti●le to some townes in the bishops possession , denounced warre against him next spring , in ●●se resti●ution was not made before that time . withall he sent a secre● agent to marke the bishops motions , and what pre●arations he made for his defence . the agent cunningly wrought himsel●e into the bishops acqu●intance , and wondring to see him make no warlike provision against the time appointed , presumed at last to enquire of him the reason of so great neglect . the bishop returned this answer , that he never intended any martiall resistance , counting it madnesse to fight against him , where 's no human probability to conquer ; mustering of men in this case , was but casting away so many into the gaghs of death . this he was resolved on , to pray , to preach , to visit the churches in his dioces , leaving the event of all to god , to defend the innocencie in his cause . politicians , i know , will censure his designe as silly and weake , which others will behold under a better notion of honest and pious : sure i am , it is most applyable to our purpose . when the godly sadly behold the foundations of religion destroyed , ( so farre forth as they are destroyable ) they make no provision of themselves to set them up againe , as sufficiently assured it is past their power , above their strength , it will cost more , so that they must let it alone for ever . onely this they doe , they will faithfully , and fervently , and constantly pray to god , ( whose glory is concerned in the c●use as much , and more then their good ) in his owne due time to worke out his owne honour , and settle the foundations on their true basis againe . lastly , reflect with comfort upon the words that follow my ●ext , wherein there is crowded as much consolation , as the scantling of so few words can receive , verse . the lord is in his holy temple . the lord. notwithstanding all these distempers and disasters , god is not un-lorded : he is not degraded from his dignitie , but remaineth still in full possession , and power , what he was before . the lord is . say not , he was , which all must confesse ; or will be , which the godly doe hope : but the lord is in actuall being . but , where is he , say some ? surely , in some meane and obscure place , where he maintaineth no majestie or magnificence . o no ; he is in his temple , the eminent place of his residence . but this his temple is prophaned and unhallowed , levelled in the dignitie thereof to ordinarie places . indeed , if some men might have their will , it should be so : but he is in his holy temple . in a word , god is not un-lorded , this lord is not un-templed , this his temple is not unhallowed ; and notwithstanding all wicked mens endeavours to destroy the foundations , the lord is in his holy temple . finis . the grand assizes . a sermon preached at saint maries in cambridge . revel . . . and the bookes were opened . there is not in all the scripture a more lively representation of the last judgement , then in this and the paralel chapter of the prophesie of daniel ▪ foure grand observables present themselves therein . first , verse . i saw a great white throne : throne , there is majestie ; great , there is magnificence ; white , there is integritie ; no spot of injustice , no sparke of partialitie shall staine the puritie of that dayes proceedings . god grant , that this throne , white in it selfe , and white in relation to him that sitteth thereon , may prove white to us , that our innocencie thereat in christ may be cleared , and our soules with joy comforted and compleated . otherwise , though the throne be white , the day will prove to guiltie offenders , as it is described , ioel . . a day of darknesse , and of gloominesse , a d●y of clouds , and of thick darknesse . secondly , the earth and the heaven fled away from his face that sat on the throne : wherein had the harmlesse heaven and innocent earth offended , that should cause the flight ? what if the heathen had superstitiously worshipped the hoast of heaven ? the heavens purely passive therein had never consented thereunto . what if the earth had brought forth thornes and thistles ? she did it not willingly , but cursed and commanded by god , gen. . . so to doe . alas , both heaven and earth were conscious to themselves of comparative impuritie , and fled like dross from his face who is a consuming fire . see here how poorely the wicked are helped , when they petition the mountaines to fall upon them and cover them . fall upon them ; that is improbable . cover them ; that is impossible . ill are the mountaines able to protect them , when the whole earth cannot defend it selfe ; cannot make good it 's own station , but flyeth away . thirdly , iohn saw the dea● , small and great stand before god. here the extreames , small and great , are expressed , whilest those of middle seized condition betwixt them are implyed . mens nets commonly are so cast ▪ the great fishes break through the threads , and little fishes creep through the holes ; whilest gods drag-net is so large , so strong , so advantagiously cast , neither great nor small can escape it . i saw the dead , small an● great . but why is there here no mention of the living ? our creed , according the analogie of faith , teaching us that god shall judge the quick and the dead . i answer , s. iohn onely took notice of them who were most numerous , and that which was most miraculous . most numerous , the living at the last day being inconsiderable in number to the dead , as being onely the product of one generation . most miraculous . it is usuall and ordinary to see the living arraigned everie assizes and sessions ; but for the dead to appeare before the judges , is most strange , and therefore onely noted by the apostle . the fourth observable in the words of my text ; and the bookes were opened . we read of king william , called the couqueror , that he caused a survey-booke to be made of all the demesne lands in england , which he no l●sse proudly and prophanely then falsly termed d●omesday-booke ; yet was not the same unparti●lly performed , some lands being rated above , and others beneath the true value thereof . behold here the true dooms-day bookes , done without feare or favour , wherein all mens actions were unpartially recorded ; and the bookes were opened . the words are a metaphor borrowed , say some , from mercatorie transactions betwixt buyer and seller , where the debt● are booked : taken , say others , from iudiciall proceedings , where the indictments of malefactors are written and read before the iudge ; and this beares best proportion with the context . take notice herein of the low condescention of the high god of heaven , speaking after the manner of men . should god speake of himselfe as he is , his expressions would be as incomprehensible as his essence . what then is to be done in this case , to make man capable of gods discourse ? either man must be mounted up to heaven , a perfection in this life unattainable , or god of his goodnesse may be pleased to stoope unto earth , which by him is graciously performed . let us not therefore thinke the lower of his greatnesse , but the higher of his goodnesse . let no preachers count it a diminution to their learning , a degrading to their language , to humble themselves to the capacities of their auditories , having so good a precedent ; god the father , as i may say , incar●ating himselfe in his humane expressions : and let people listen the more attentively to gods language herein . when the iewes heard , acts . . that s. paul spake in the hebrew ( that is , in their owne ) tongue unto them , they kept the more silence : seeing god descends to our dialect , let us attend with the more earnestnesse to what is spoken ; and the bookes were opened . all metaphors in scriptures must tenderly be toucht , lest ( as the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood ) they ●e ●ortured to speake beyond and against their true intention . but metaphors from gods mouth , speaking 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , must be handled with much moderation , lest in the prosecution thereof we come into the suburbs of blasphemie . where discretion adviseth us to be cautious in others , devotion c●mmands us to be timorous in following such metaphors . how-ever , we may safely tread in the steps of the scrip●ure , and use such phrases as we find● therein . in the words we may observe five doctrines ; all which , like the linkes in a chayne , depend one upon another . first , god writes downe and records 〈◊〉 actions of me● on earth . secondly , actions thus written are not trusted in loose papers , but bound up . thirdly , actions thus bo●nd up , 〈◊〉 not onely to one , but make many bookes . fourthly , bookes thus made are not prese●tly opened , but for a time kept secret and concealed . fifthly , bookes thus concealed shall not be concealed for ever , but in due time shall be opened . i intend not a particular prosecution of all these parts ; onely i will make a decoction of them all , so to make them more cordiall into one staple doctrin● , when first we have explained something necessarie thereunto . god his writing downe of the actions of earth , proce●deth not from his want of memorie , as if he intended to make use of his notes for the benefit thereof . there be two expressions like in sound , yet so different in sense , that applyed to god , the one importeth blasphemie , the other sound divinitie , namely , ancient , and old. god is termed in daniel , the ancient of dayes , expr●ssing his everlasting continuance from all eternitie : but old he cannot be termed , as appropriated ●o creatures , ( they wax old , as doth a garment ) and carrying in it more then an 〈◊〉 of impairing and decay . god hath all the perfections of age , knowledge , gravitie , wisdome , without the infirmities thereof , weaknesse , frowardnesse , forgetfulnesse . wherefore he reciteth downe mens actions , not out of any necessitie to helpe himselfe to remember them , but partly out of state , ( as ioseph made use of an interpreter , though understanding his brothers language ) partly , that the producing the ●ame in evidence at the last day , may silence and confound the more impudent malefactor . these actions thus written , amount to many bookes , and we finde seven severall bookes mentioned in the scripture . first , the booke of life , whereof frequent mention in gods word , phil. . . whose names are in the booke of life . this containeth a register of such particular persons , in whose salvation god from all eternitie determined to have his mercie glorified , and for whom christ merited faith , repentance , and perseverance , that they should repent , beleeve , and be finally saved . secondly , the booke of nature . this mentioned by david , psa● . . . thine eyes did see my substance , yet being unperfect , and in thy booke all my members were written , which in continuance were fashioned , when as yet there was none of them . thirdly , the booke of scripture , and here behold it ; and happie were it for us , could we but as zealously practice it in our hearts , as we can easily hold it in our hands . fourthly , the booke of providence , wherein all particulars are registred , even such which atheists may count triv●all and inconsiderable , math. . . but the very haires of your head are all numbred : and where is their number summed up ? even in the booke of gods providence . fifthly , the booke of conscience . this booke is gods , as the tr●e owner and proprietarie thereof ; yet so , as he lend●th it to man in this life , to make use thereof . sixthly , the booke of mens actions . hence that frequent expression in scripture , psalme . . and blot out all mine iniquities : intimating , that all our ill deeds are fairely written , til god in christ doth crosse or delet● them . and if our ill deeds be registred , surely our good deeds be recorded ; god not being like those envious and ill-natured persons ; who onely take notice of what is bad , passe by and neglect what is good in another . seventhly , the ●ooke of mens afflictions . some account this onely a distinct tome , or volume , of the former booke ; others , an intire booke of it selfe , psal. . . thou 〈◊〉 my s●ittings , put my teares into thy bottle ; are no● all these things written in thy booke ? and if the white teares of gods servants be botled up , surely the red teares are not cast away ; but their innocent blood causelesly shed , shal ( though ●lowly ) yet surely and severely be punished on the causers thereof . these bookes are for a time concealed , and not opened till the day of iudgement . first , because some of them are not finished and compleated till that time ; finis is not as yet affixed unto them : and it is absurd , that a booke should be published before it is perfected . the generations of mankind continuing till th● day of iudgement , such vol●mes as concerne the quick at that day , are not ended till that day . secondly , god conceales them for a while , untill the day of iudge●ent , that then his owne honour may be the more advanced , and his enemies the more confounded at the unexpected opening of these bookes . the maine doctri●e is this : all men must at the last day be tryed , so as to be saved or condemned by the bookes . th● truth hereof will appeare , by an induction of all mankind , which fall under a generall division of pagans and christians . be it here premised , that all mortalitie shall be tryed by one of these two statutes , either the statute of infidelitie , or the statute of vnconscionablenesse . the former we have set downe , marke . . he that beleeveth , and is baptized , shall be saved ; but he that beleeveth not , shall be damned . by this statute shall no heathen man be tryed , because god is not so austere , ( how-ever others may accuse him ) to reape where he did never some . invincible ignorance shall so farre excuse them , that it shall never be charged on their account , that they never beleeved , who never had the meanes conducing thereunto . the second statute , is the statute of vnconscionablenesse , expressed romans . , . for when the gentiles , who have not the law ▪ doe by nature the things contained in the law , these having not the law , are a law unto themselves . which shew the workes of the law written in their hearts , their consciences also bearing witnesse , and their thoughts the meane while accusing or else excusing one another . now b● this statute shall all heathen be tryed , that they have been wanting to that light of nature bestowed upon them . in proofe whereof , we divide the heathen into heathen heathen , and civilized heathen . by the former we understand those pure-impure pagans , who are meerly wilde , without any art or learning , to cultivate or instruct them . the southerne point of africa is knowne to mariners passing thereby , by the name of the cape of good hope , which in relation to the natives inhabiting thereabouts , may more truly be termed the cape of sad despaire ; for they are but one degree , or remove , from brute ▪ beasts . yet even these have more light then they have heat , and their naturall vnderstanding dictates unto them many cleare and straight rules , from which their darke and crooked practice doth swerve and decline . for although the morall law may be said to be written in them , ( to use the phrase of a critick ) literis fugi●ntibus , in dull and dimme characters ; partly , because in a great measure obliterated at the first by originall corruption , at the fall of adam ; partly , because defaced since , and ●retted out with the rust and canker ▪ of barbarisme , ( contr●cted by l●ng cust●me in severall degenerating g●nerations : ) ye● still so much of the morall law remaines legible in their hearts , as may convince their practice to be contrarie thereunto . in a word , though they come farr● short of other refined heathen in knowledge , yet their knowledge ( as little as it is ) goeth farre beyond their performances : so that justly they may be condemned , when the bookes are opened , on the stat●te of vnconscionablenesse . civilized pagans succeed ; such , who by art and education ( as anciently the grec●ans and romans , and at this day the persians and chinois ) have scoured over the dimme inscription of the morall law , that it appeareth plaine unto them . such were socrates the pagan martyr , ( put to death for asserting one god ) diogenes the heathen hermite ; plato , their moses , who saw the back parts of god in the doctrine of his id●●'s ; regulus , their abraham , so famous for his faith ( though but a morall one ) kept with the carthaginians ; titus vespasian , their iosiah , who wept at the consideration of the sinnes of the iewes , and gods seve●itie at the sacking of the temple in ierusalem . verily i say unto you , i have not found so much civill performance , no , not amongst many professing themselves to be christians : such wise soveraignes , such loyall subjects ; such valiant generalls , such ●orthie souldiers ; such loving husbands , such dutifull wives ; such provident pare●ts , such obedient children ; such equall masters , such faithfull servants ; such constant friends , such courteous neighbours ; that they discharged all morall relations , to the admiration , yea , envie of all beholders . yet even the best of these , in the strictnesse of gods justice , may be condemned when the bookes are opened . for , grant that in some particular actions they may be said morally to supererogate , even over-doing in goodnesse what was required at their hands , yet in other things they were defe●tive , and fell short of the just measure of gods commands , according to the morall light manifested unto them . that servant doth not his masters will , who being commanded to shut all the doores in the house , doth latch , bolt , lock , barre , and barricado up one or two of them , leaving the rest standing open . so , though some of these heathens may seeme in some particular acts to surpasse themselves , and to be better then the law enjoyneth them , yet in other things they were deficient , and justly condemnable for the same , seeing gods finall sentence shall be passed , not according to some eminent performance of persons , but according to the constant drift , scope , purpose , and tenour of their conversations . besides , some grand vices ( though not so visible to humane eyes ) infected the transcendiaries of their highest atchievements . first , v●ine-glory , and popular applause , the pole-st●rres by which they steered all their actions . had pride been the weapon whereat a duel had been fought betwixt alexander and diogenes , probably the conqueror of the world had been worsted by a poore philosopher . secondly , hypocrisie set a tincture and dye on all their actions . who hath more golden sentences then seneca against the contempt of gold ? yet ( if tacitus and other of his contemporaries may be credited ) none more rich , none more covetous then he ; as if out of designe he had perswaded others to cast away their money , that he himselfe might come and gather it up againe . thus these heathens , for ought we can finde in scripture , are left in a d●mnable , but farre be it from me to say , in a damned condition . when men of my profession were formerly admitted into the commission of the peace , it was fashionable for them to goe off the bench at the assizes , after the iurie had cast , and before the judge did pronounce the sentence of condemnation on malefactors : to shew , that we of the clergi● ought to be men of mercie , taking no delight in the sad , though necessarie part of punitive justice . give me leave so farre to remember this ancient custome , that i may make an improvement thereof for the present occasion . we finde these heathen men cast by the verdict of the scriptures , let my sermon therefore depart in silence , and proceed no further in this point , as to any determining of their finall condition . when haman , esther . . fell into the displeasure of king ahasuerus , it is said , they covered his face , as of a man that lost himselfe at court , and no pleasing spectacle for others to behold ; it being a ghastly sight to looke on a ( though living man , yet ) dying , y●a , dead favourite . let us cover the faces of these heathen men , as from any further discoursing of their condition , whose sad case may thus briefely be drawn● up , they are left under the wrath of god , and weight of their sinne , and without any ordinarie ●ay to a saviour . i say , ordinarie . i confesse it is a gospel-truth , that in the name of iesu● onely salvation is to be expected ; and it is a maxime no lesse sound then generally received , extra ecclesia●● nulla salus , out of gods church no hope to be saved ; if both be confined to common dispensations , and the regular knowne way of gods manifesting of himselfe . but how farre forth it might please god to reveal● christ to such heathens on their death-beds , by peculiar favour , out of the rode of hi● com●on kindnesse , and how farre fo●th god , as an vniversall creator , may be pleased to indulge unto some ●minent heathen persons , is curious for man to enquire , and imp●ssible to determine . leave we the● therefore to stand , or fall , to their owne master ; onely adding this , that it will be farre better at the last day of iudgement for these christian pagans , as i may terme them , then for many pagan christians amongst us now-adayes , who are worse under the sunne-shine of grace in the gospel , then they by the dimme candle-light of nature . come we now to christians ; where the difficultie is the lesse to prove , that they all shall be arraigned , and may justly be condemned , when the bookes are ope●ed : which will plainely appeare on the serious perusall of the following particulars . first , that to all persons living within the pale of the church , christ hath really and cordially , sine fuco & dol● , without any fraud or deceit , been tendred unto them , under the conditions of faith and repentance , that whosoever beleeveth o● him should have everlasting life : and this will appeare when the bookes shall be opened . secondly , that even the worst of men living under the light of the gospel have at one time or another their heads filled with good notions , and their hearts with good motions ; grace illuminating , wooing , and courting them , as i may say , to lay hold on god in his promises : on the truth whereof , their owne consciences will be deposed ; and so this will appeare when the bookes are opened . thirdly , that god standeth readie , on mans good improvement of the aforesaid illuminating grace , ( though not for the merit of mans performances , but for his owne meere mercie and promise sake ) to crowne their endeavours ▪ with the addition and accession of farther degrees of grace , even such as infallibly accompanie salvation . for i shall never be of their opinions , who parallel gods proceedings with those of adonib●zek , judg. . . who put seventie kings under his table , there to gather up crummes , which probably did very plentifully fall down unto them ; whereas he before-hand had taken order that their thumbes were cut off : their thumbes i say , which alone of all the fingers are of the quorum , to the gathering or grasping of any thing ; and whose effectuall correspondencie with the rest of the hand , is absolutely necessarie to the taking up of any small thing , especially if ●ying in plano , on a floore , or ●●at place . i say , i must dissent from those who make god such a tyrant , as sportingly and ●pightfully to proffer grace to wicked men , when by a previous act , without any ●ault or refusall of theirs , he hath rendred ●hem incapable of the acceptance of that which he offereth unto them . no surely , god doth no way before-hand maime or ●isable them from enjoying the benefit of ●race tendred unto them ; but on the o●her side , is prepared to encrease their ●●ore , and adde to them , which use the ut●ost of their power to encrease those ta●nts which they have alreadie received . ●nd this will appeare to be true , when the ●ookes shall be opened . fourthly , no man hath made that improvem●nt of grace offered which he ought , and might . many a time he hath stayed at home , when he should have been at church : many times he hath been at church ei●her sleeping , or not attending there : ●any a time he hath attended , yet afterwards forgotten what he heard : many times he hath r●membred it , and it hath been his remembrancer , yet he hath quenched the heat in his heart , and light in his vnderstanding . and all this wi●l appeare true , when the bookes shall be opened . fi●thl● , upon our not improving gods gr●ce ●ffered us in his word , god qui non des●rit , nisi deseratur , who leaves none unlesse he be first left by them , is not bound to adde more grace : yea , he may justly withdraw what he hath given ; and which is more , may judicially harden those from whom his grace is withdrawne , for making no better use thereof when tendred un●o them . and all this shall appear , when ●he ●ookes shall be opened . in a word , the transactions of that day will be a perfect comment on those words of the prophet hosea . . o israel , thou hast destroyed thy selfe , but in me is thine helpe . all such who are condemned , shall cast the blame thereof on themselves ; whilest those whom god shall be pleased to save , will in their consciences confesse they might most justly be damned , when the bookes shall be opened . and seeing a saviour hath by his death purchased for them repentance , faith , and perseverance to the end , ( because he would not trust the perverse-freedome of their will with the acceptance or refusall of grace ) they shall for ever sing hallelujahs to the praise of the undeserved mercie and goodnesse of god in their salvation . but some will say , how shall god proceed against infants at the last day of iudgement , when the bookes shall be opened ; namely , such infants of christian parents , who dye in so happie a juncture of time , as the intervall betwixt their baptizing , and before it is possible for them to commit actuall sinne ? for will some say , the bookes , when opened , are effectually not opened in relation to them ; all the bookes will be but blankes and white paper , as containing no charge against them . for firs● , for originall sinne some hold , that that in baptisme is washed away ; and all the world will be their compurgators , that such infants neither have nor can commit actuall transgression : and therefore how can god with justice proceed to the condemnation of such innocents ? this argument hath prevailed so farre with some learned and religious divines , as to make them charitably judgemented of the finall estate of all such infants . give me leave to stand neuter in this point : onely this i will adde , if god in the last day should be pleased to condemne some of such infants , he will render such a reason thereof , rom. . . in that day of the revelation of the just judgement of god , as shall appeare satisfactorie to angels , men , and devils , to the admiration of the good , and confusion of the bad , who shall be present thereat . and here give me leave to discover dange●ous error , lurking in the brests of most men ▪ we are generally jealous , that god at the last day will not come off with that credit which we could wish and desire : we suspect , that his name will haerere ad metas , that his iustice will not appeare so cleare as we both desire and expect , if he should condemne such and such persons whom we in our narrow apprehensions conceive uncondemnable , according to the proportion of justice , as we doe measure it . but know , that this suspition hath a double mischiefe therein . first , the owners thereof are jealous over god with an ungodly jealousie , fearing where no feare is ; and it proceedeth from a principle of atheisme , seeing it springeth from the same root , to denie a god , and doubt , that god will appeare just in manifesting his owne proceedings . secondly , this takes off mens thoughts , to take care for themselves , what they shall plead in their owne behalfe , and how they shall manage their owne defence at the last day , and maketh them employed where they ought not , troubling themselves about that wherein they are not concerned . if it be a hainous offence , and punishable by the lawes of man , pet. . . to be a busie-body in other mens matters , how great is the offence , to be busie in the mysteries of the god of heaven ? let us leave it to him to act his own part ; look every man on his owne things , phil. . . god grant , we may but come off so well at the barre , as god doth at the bench , and appeare righteous by god in christ , whilest god will appeare so of himselfe in himselfe . and here let me advise men to be modest with sobrietie , and not to be over-prying into the mysteries of gods proceedings . the chronicler of the citie of london ( stow in his survey of london , pag. . ) telleth us a remarkable storie of one sir iohn champneyes , alderman and major of london , who built a faire house , with an high brick ●ower , in tower-street ward , the first that ever was built in any private mans house , to over-looke his neighbours in the citie . for before his time , there were no towers in that citie , but such as belonged as steeples to churches & covents , or else pertained to the kings palace . but his ambition herein , saith our author , was pub●iquely pu●ished , falling blinde some yeares before his death : so that he who would see more then all , saw lesse then any of his neighbours . take heed of towring thoughts and aspiring inquiries , to mount up , if p●ssible , into gods minde , there to seeke and search the causes of his secret will and pleasure : such curiositie is commonly severely punished , it being just with god to deprive them of that light they have , who affect knowledge above the bounds of sobrietie : such professing themselves to be wise , often become fooles , and forfeit the eyes of their soules , for their immoderate prying into forbidden mysteries . vse . are all then to appeare before god , when the bookes are opened ? this serveth in the first place to confute such who conceive god will hold malefactors guiltlesse , because he doth not presently inflict his judgements upon them , ecclesiastes . . because sentence against an evil work i● not executed speedily , therefore the heart of the sonnes of men is ●ully set in them to d●e evill . these men proceed upon a dangerous mistake , namely , they conceive the bookes to be cancelled , which are onely con●ealed : and because god forbeares , they mistake him , to have forgot to doe justice . there was lately a iudge in england , whom i need not be ashamed to name , as the honour of his robe and profession , viz. ●ustice dodderidge , whom they commonly called the sleeping iudge . indeed , he had an affected drowsie posture on the bench , insomuch , that many persons unacquainted with his custome therein , having causes of concernment to be tryed before him , have even given all for lost , as expecting no justice from a dormant iudge : when he all the while did onely retire himselfe within himselfe , the more seriously to consult with his owne soule about the validitie of what was alledged and proved unto him ; as appeared afterwards by those oracles of law which he pronounced . wicked men , in like manner , erroneously conceive god to be a sleeping god , chiefely on this account , because of the long impunitie of notorious offenders . david himselfe may seeme in some sort guiltie of the same vulgar error , psal. . . awake , why sleepest thou , o lord ? arise , cast us not off for ever . but god in due time will soundly confute mens mistake herein , and appeare what he is , a slow , but sure revenger of malefactors , in the day when the bookes shall be opened . vse . are we all to be tryed in the day when the bookes shall be opened ? let us then labour to get these bookes cleared ( so much as relateth to our particular accompts ) and crossed by the blood of iesus christ , before that day doth approach ; and let us not despise the committing of small sinnes , knowing that many of them quickly swell our accompts . it is a true maxime , qui negligit minima nunquam ditescet , he that neglects small things , shall never make a rich man ▪ who would thinke , that a penny a day should within the compasse of a yeare amount to more then thirtie shillings ? it is incredible , how insensibly many small sinnes greaten and inflame our reckonings , and therefore let us beware thereof . the italians have a proverb , it is good to goe to bed without supping , and to rise in the morning without owing . if physicians will approve the former part for healthfull , good husbands will justifie the latter part for thriftie . but especially it is good divinitie , in relation to our spirituall accompts ; happie he who this night , by the effectuall pleading of christs merits , gaineth of god , before the closing of his eyes , the clearing of his sinnes , that so to morrow morning he may arise dis-engaged and un-indebted for his former offences . lastly , let this teach us to be warie what we doe on earth , as knowing and beleeving , that a memoriall is kept in heaven , of whatsoever we act here below . there is still a project propounded on the royall exchange in london , wherein one offers ( if meeting with proportionable encouragement for his paines ) so ingenuously to contrive the matter , that every letter written , shall with the same paines of the writer instantly render a double impression , besides the originall ; each of which inscript ( for transcript i cannot properly tearme it ) shall be as faire and full , as lively and legible as the originall . whether this will ever be really effected , or whether it will prove an abortive , as most designes of this nature , time will tell . sure i am , if performed , it will be very beneficiall for merchants , who generally keepe duplica●tes of their letters to their correspondents . what here is propounded , is alreadie performed , in relation to our actions , in gods presence . whatsoever we doe , good or bad , at the acting thereof reflects ( beside the principle ) a double representation of the same . one , in the booke of our conscience . the woman of samaria s●id to her ●ellow-citizens , john . . come see the man that told me all things that ever i did . herein hyperbolicall was her expression : christ told her not all , but many things , and one thing too much for her , ( without her serious repentance ) namely , her unlawfull conversing with him who was not her husband . but this is most true of our conscience ; it will really represent unto us whatsoever we have done , either accusing or excusing us therein . and as sores and wounds doe throb and ake the more in infirme persons , the neerer it draweth to night ; so the older men grow , and the neerer they approach unto their death , the more frequent , constant , and acute will be the prickings and the pinchings of their consciences . the second copie of all our actions is kept in heaven , recorded in gods booke . let all therefore , but especially men in places of legall proceedings , ( whether iudiciall or ministeriall officers therein ) be minded of integritie in their carriage from my text , and the occasion thereof , the grand assizes . let diligent attorneyes so faithfully solicite , let painefull solicitours so honestly agitate , let trustie sheriffes so truly impannell , let honest iurie-men so conscionably give their verdict , let faithfull witnesses so sincerely depose , let the honourable and learned iudges so unpartially passe their sentence , as knowing they must give an account thereof to god in the day when the bookes are opened . amen . finis . a comment on ruth : by t. f. b. d. london , printed for g. and h. eversden , and are to be sold at the sign of the greyhound in pauls church-yard . . to the right worshipfull , the lady anne archer , in the countie of warwick . the apostle to the philippians , chap. . v. . giveth them this high commendation , none communicated with me concerning giving and receiving , but ye onely ▪ should i apply the same in relation of my selfe to your ladyship , i should be injurious to the bountie of many my worthy benefactours . how-ever ( not exclusively of others , but ) eminently i must acknowledge you a grand encourager of my studies . in publique testimonie whereof , i present these my endeavours to your ladiships patronage . indeed they were preached in an eminent place , when i first entred into the ministerie , above twentie yeares since , and therefore you will pardon the many faults that may be found therein . nor were they intended for publique view , till understanding the resolution of some of my auditors to print them ( to their profit , but my prejudice ) by their imperfect notes , i adventured on this seasonable prevention . the lord make his graces flow plentifully from the head of your family , your religious husband , to the lowest skirts thereof , the last and least of your relations , your ladyships in all christian offices , thomas fuller . a comment on ruth . chap. . vers. . now it came to passe in the dayes when the iudges ruled , that there was a famine in the land , before we enter into these words , something must be premised , concerning the name , matter , end , author of this book . it hath the name from ruth , the most remarkable person in it , to whom god vouchsafed his grace , not onely to write her name in the book of life in heaven , but also to prefix her name before a book of life in earth . the matter may be divided into these two parts : the first chapter sheweth , th●t many are the troubles of the right●●us ; and the three last do shew , that 〈…〉 them out of all . one of the ends is to shew the pedigree of our saviour ▪ otherwise genea●ogers had been 〈◊〉 a loss , for four or five descents in the deducing thereof : another end is , unde● the conversion of ruth the moabitesse , to typifie the calling of the gentiles , that a● he took of the blood of a gentile into hi● body , so he should shed the blood out o● his body for the gentiles , that there migh● be ●ne shepheard , and one sheepfold the authors name ( probably samuel ) i● conceal'd , neither is it needfull it should be known : for even as a man that hath ● piece of gold that he knows to be weight and sees it ●●amped with the kings imag● careth not to know the name of that ma● wh● minted or coined it : so we , seeing this book to have the superscription of caesar , the stamp of the holy spirit , nee● not to be curious to know who was th● pen-man thereof . and now to the words . now it came to passe in the dayes when the iudges ruled , that there was a famine i● the land. observe in the words ; what ? a famine : where ? in the land : when ? in the time that the iudges judged ; the time being set down for the better certainty of the history . quest. is this the land whereof it is ●aid , gen. . . asher his bread shall be fat , and afford dainties for a king ; which is call'd , deut. . . a good land of wheat and barley , vineyards and fig-trees , oyle , olive and hony , which is commended , ezek. . . ●o be a land flowing with milke and hony , the glory of all lands . how commeth it to passe , that thy rivers of oyl are now dammed up ? thy ●treams of wine drained drie ? that there is no bread found in bethlem , the house of bread ? answ israel hath sinned , a fruitfull land maketh he barren , for the sinne of the people that dwell therein . the peoples hard hearts were rebellious to god , and the hard earth proved unprofitable to them : their flinty eyes would afford no tears to bemoan their sins , and the churlish heavens would afford no moystur● to water their earth : man proved unfaithfull to god his maker , the earth proved unfruitfull to man her manurer . obser. famine is ●a heavy punishment , wherewith god ●fflicteth his people ●or their sinnes : that it is an heavie punishment appeareth , because david , s●● . . . chose the pestilence before it ; for even as zebah and zalmunna , iudg. . ▪ chose rather to fall by the hand of gideo● , then by the hand of iether his son , because the childs want of strength would cause their abundance of pain : so better it is to be speedily dispatcht by a violent disease , then to have ones life in ● famin● prolong'd by a lingring torture . that it is inflicted for their sinnes , is shewed , lev. . . deut. . . king. . . and these sinnes most especially procure famin● . . idolatry , king. . . king . . ly . abuse of plenty , the prodigall child , luk. . from the keeping of harlots , was brought to the keeping of hoggs . it is just with god to make men want that to supply their necessity , which they have mispended in their nicetie . ly . shedding of innocent blood , sam. . . ly . oppressio● of the poor , amos . . and no wonder if men , to grind the faces of poor people make mony , to which god gave no naturall fruit , to bring forth a monstrous increase , if god cause the earth which naturally should be fruitfull , to become barren and afford no profit . vse . it may serve to confut ● such , that when god doth scourge them with famine ▪ ( as blind balaam fell a beating of his dumb beast ▪ when he himself was in fault ) they vent their spite in cursing and railing on the poor creatures , whereas indeed were the matter wel weighed ▪ they might say of all creatures as i●dah did of thamar his daughter-in-law , they are more righteous then ●e : for locusts , mildew , blasting , immoderate drought , and moysture , are the means by which mans sinne is the cause , for which famine is inflicted . and yet in prosperity , we are commonly like hogs feeding on the mast , not minding his hand that shaketh it down ; in adversity , like doggs biting the stone , not marking the hand that threw it . vse . . if any desire to prevent or remove a famine , let us prevent and remove the causes thereof . first let us practise that precept , i●h . . . babes keep your selves from idols . ly . let us be heartily thankfull to god for our plenty , who by the seasonable weeping o● the heavens , hath ●aused the plentifull laughter of the earth , and hath sent the former raine to perform the part of a midwife , to deliver the infant corne out of the wombe of the parched earth ; and the latter rai●e to doe the duty of a nurse ▪ to swell and battle the grain . let us not seeth the kid in the mothers milke ▪ let not our want on pallats spoile wholsome meat , before it commeth to the just maturity ; neither let us cast away any good food , but after our saviours example , let us cause the fragments to be basketted up that nothing may be lost . ly . let us pray with david , psal. . . deliver us from blood guil●inesse o lord : and let us seeke that the hoary hairs may not go down to the grave in peace of such as have shed innocent blood , 〈◊〉 lea●t the personal offence of a priva●e man remaining unpunish●d , become the nationall sinne of a kingdom● ) bu● upon the kin● ▪ and upon his seed ▪ and upon his house , and upon his throne shall be peace fo●ever from the lord. lastly , let us be pittifull , and liberall to relieve the distresses of the poor ; for why should our dead tables groan under the weight of needlesse feast upon them ▪ whil's● gods living temples gro●n under the want of necessary food within them ▪ the atheni●n women had a custome to make a picture of famine every yeare , and to drive it out of their city with these words : out famine , in food : out penury , in pl●nty : but let us say in word , and second it in deed ; out sin , in sanctity : out propha●esse , in ●íety : and then we shall see , that as long as our king reig●eth , there shall be no famine in our land. but however god shall dispose of us for outward blessings , i pray god keepe us from that ●●●le fami●● , mentioned ●●os . . that w● living under the nor●hern heavens should wander to the east , ●nd run to and fro to seek the word of the lord , and should not find it ; but may the light of the gospell remain with us on earth , as long as the faithfull witnesse endureth in heaven . and a certain man of bethlehem-judah went to sojourne in the country of moab , these words containe a journey or removall , wherein observe ; who went ; a certai● man : whence ? from bethlehem-iudah : whether ? to sojourn● in moab . we shall have a fitter occasion to speak of the party removing hereafter . i begin with the place from whence he went , bethlehem-iudah . this w●● the place , nigh to which ●●chel as she was travelling fell into travail ▪ and ended her journey to heaven , in the ▪ midst of her journey on earth : there was ▪ another of the same name in z●bulo● , 〈◊〉 . . and therefore iu●●h is added for ▪ difference and distinction . observ. the holy spirit descends to our capacity , and in s●ripture doth multiply words to make th● matter the plainer : let thi● teach the sons of levi , when they deliver one doubtfull and ambiguous doctrine , which may admit of severall constructions , so that there is danger 〈◊〉 that peopl● may mistake their meaning , to de●ur a while on such a point , and not to be niggardly of their words , till they hav● blotted all doubt and difficulty out of it . herein they shall follow god for their pattern , who least bet●lehem i● my t●●● ▪ should be confounded with bethlehem in zab●lon , addeth for distinction bethlehemi●dah . went to sojourne in moab . the prodig●ll child complained , lu● . . how many hired servants of my father have bread enough , and i die for hunger : so here we see that the uncircumcised moabites , gods slaves and vassalls , had store of plenty , whilest israel , gods children ( but his prodigal children , which by their sinnes had displeased their heavenly father ) were pinched with penurie . observ. hence we gather , god oftentimes denyes outward blessings to his children , when as he vouchsafeth them to the wicked : the wicked mans eyes start out with fatnesse ; davids bones scarce cleave to his flesh : ahab hath an ivory house , th● godly wander in dens and caves of the earth ; the rich glutton fareth deliciously every day , whilest the godly , psal. ▪ ●ere hungry and thirsty , their s●ul fainted in them : h● was clothed in purple and fine linnen , whilest the godly wander up and down in sheep skins ; and well may they wear their skins without them , that carry their innocency within them ; and the reason thereof is , because judgement begins at the house of the lord , whilst the wicked have their portion in this world . vse . let us not judge according to outward appe●rance , but judge righteous judgement , least otherwise we condemn the generation of gods children , if we account outward blessings the signs of gods favour , or calamities , the arguments of his displeasure : neither let the afflicted christian faint under gods heavy hand , but let him know to his comfort , god therefore is angry in this world , that he may not be angry in the world to come , and mercifully inflicteth temporall punishment , that he may not justly confound with eternall torment . but here ariseth a question , whether elimelech did well to go from bethlehem-judah , into the land of moab ? for the better satisfaction whereof , we will suppose a plain and honest neighbour thus disswading him from his departure . dissw●sion . give me leave neighbour elimelech to say unto thee , as the angel did to hagar , whence commest thou ? and whether goest thou ? wilt thou leave that place wher● gods worship is truly professed , and go● into an idol●trous country ? woe is the● that must dwell in moab , and be an inhabitant amongst the w●rshippers of melchom : indeed our father abraham came out of vr of the chaldees , an idolatrous country , to come into the land of c●n●an ; but why shouldst thou go out of the land of canaan into an idolatrous country ▪ where thou shalt have neither priest nor pr●phet , nor passeover . yea , what most is to be feared , your frequent conversing with the people of the country , will at length bring you into a love and liking of their superstitions , and so draw gods anger against you ; wherefore reverse your intent of removing , least while thou seek ' st to store thy body , thou starve●t thy soul ; rather venter the breaking of the casket , then the loosing of the iewel , and go not from bethlehem-iudah , unto the land of moab . answer . to this elimelech might answer ; your disswasion doth somewhat move me , but not remove my resolution ; i do not forsake my country , but am forced from it ; god hath with-holden the wine and the winepresse , and if i stay , i am likely to starve ; i conceive it therefore to be my bounden duty to provide the best means for my family , and following the examples of isaac's going into gerah , and iacobs going down into egypt in the time of famine ; i intend to remove to moab . and though i shall be divided from the visible congregation of israel , yet shall i with my family still remain the lively members of gods true church . for first i intend to carry with me the ●ive books of moses ( they will be no great burthen , being comprised in so small a volum ) and according to my poor ability , out of them will i instruct my family , whilst my deare wife naomi , and dutifull children ▪ maclon and chilion , will be diligent to heare and practise what i propound unto them : i confesse we shall have no outward sacrifices , ( because i am not of the tribe of levi ) yet may we offer unto god prayers and praises , which god no doubt will as graciously accept , as of a bullock that hath hornes and hoofes : thus hope i to have a little church in mine own house ; and i know , where two or three are met together in th● name of god , there he will be in the midst of them . whereas you object , i should be in danger of being defiled with their idolatry , i will be by gods grace so much the more warie , watchfull and vigilant over my wayes ; we see the flesh of fishes remaineth fresh , though they alwaies swim in the brackish waters , and i hope that the same god who preserved righteous lot in the wicked city of sodome , who protected faithfull ioseph in the vicious court of pharaoh , will also keep me unspotted in the midst of moab , whether i intend speedily to go , not to live , but to lodge ; not to dwell , but to soj●urne ; not to make it my habitation for ever , but my harbour for a season , till god shall visit his people with plenty , when i purpose to return with the speediest conve●iency . thus we see elimelech putting the dangers of his removall in one scale , the benefits thereof in another ; the beam of his judgement is ju●●ly weighed down to go from bethlehem-iudah , into the land of moab . observ. it is lawfull for men to leave their native soyle , and to travell into a forraign country , as for merchants , provided alwaies , that while they seek to make gainfull adventures for their estates , they make not sheepwrack of a good co●science . ly . for embassadors , that are sent to see the practises and negoci●tions in forraigne courts . ly . for private persons , that travell with an intent to accomplish themselve● with a better sufficiency to serve their king and country ; but unlawfull it is for such to travell , which dinah like , go only to see the customes of severall countries , and make themselves the l●ckie● to their own humorou● curiosity : henc● commeth it to p●sse , when they returne , it is justly questionable , whether their clothes be disguised with more foolish fashions , or bodies disabled with more loathsome diseases , or souls defiled with more notorious vices ; having learned jealousie from the italian , pride from the spaniard , lasciviousness● from the ●rench , drunkennesse from the d●tch ; and yet what need they go so farre to learn so bad a lesson , when ( god knows ) w● have too many schooles , where it is taught here at home . now if any do demand of me my opinion concerning our brethren , which of late left this kingdome to advance a plantation in new england ; surely i thin● , as st. paul said concerning virgins , he had received no comma●dment from the lord : so i cannot find any just warrant to incourage men to undertake this removall ; but think rather the counsel best that king ioash prescribed to amaziah , tarry at home : yet as for those that are already gone , farre be it from us to conceive them to be such , to whom we may not say , god speed , as it is in ioh. vers . . but let us pitty them , and pray for them , for sure they have no need of our mocks , which i am affraid have too much of their own miseries : i conclude therefore of the two englands , what our saviour saith of the two wines , luk. . . no man having tast●d of the old , presently desireth the new ; for he saith the old is better . he , and his wife , and his two sons . vers. . and the name of the man was elimelech , and the name of his wife , naomi , and the name of his two sons , mahlon and chilion , ephrathites of bethlehem-judah , and they came into the country of moab , and continued there . these words contain ; first , the principall party that undertook the journey . ly . his company , described by their relations ; his wife , and children , and by their names , naomi , mahlon , and chilion . ly . the successe of his journey ; when he came into the land of moab , he continued there . now whereas elimelech took his wife and children along with him : from his practise we gather this observation . observ. it is the part of a kind husband , and of a carefull father , not onely to provide for himselfe , but also for his whole family . gen. . . a man shall cleave to his wife , and they two shall be one flesh , ephe. . . husbands love your wives — for no man as yet hated his own flesh , tim. . . if any one provideth not for his own family , he denyeth the faith , and is worse than an infidell : this made abraham to take with him at his removal , his meek sarah ; isaac , his wife rebecca ; iacob , his fair rachel , and fruitfull leah ; and ioseph , mat. . took with him mary , his espoused wife , and our saviour , his supposed sonne . and when pharoah , exod. . . offered moses with all the men of israel to go out of egypt , but on condition , they should leave their wives and children behind them ; moses refused the proffer : he would either have them all go out , or else he would not go out at all . vse . it confuteth such cruell husbands and carelesse parents , who if so be with iobs messengers , they onely can escape alone , they care not though they leave their wives & children to shift for themselves ; like the ostridge , job . . . who leaveth her eggs in the sand , and so forsakes them . surely the two kine which drew the arke of god out of the land of the philistines to bethshemesh , sam. . . shall rise up at the day of iudement and condemn such cruell parents : for it is said of them , that as they went along the high way , they did pittifully low by that querulous ditty , as nature afforded them utterance , with witnessing and expressing their affection to their calves shut up at home : o that there should be such humanity ( as i may terme it ) in beasts , and such beastlinesse in many men . remember this you that fit drinking and bezzling wine abroad , whilst your family are glad of water at home , and think thus with your selves , to what end is this needlesse wast , might it not have been sold for many a penny , and have been bestowed on my poor wife and children . observ. secondly , whereas we find naomi and her sons going with elimelech , we gather ; it is the duty of a dear wife , and of dutifull children , to go along with their husband and parents , when on just cause they remove into a forraign country . it was an unmanly and cowardly speech of barak to deborab , judg. . . if thou wilt go with me , then will i go ; but if thou wilt not go with me , then will i not go : but it would be a gracious resolution of a grave matron and her children ; husband , if you be pleased to depart , i will be ready to accompany you ; father , if you be minded to remove , i will attend upon you : but if you be disposed to sta● , i will not stir from the p●ace where you abide : otherwise if ●he wife refus●th to go along with her husband , what abraham gen. . . said to the servan● in another case , is true in this respect ; but i● the woman will not be willing to follow thee , then thou shalt be clear from thine oath ; if the wife be so peevish and perverse , th●t she will not go along with her husband , who propoundeth lawfull means unto her to relieve her wants ; then is he acquitted from the oath he made her in marriage , when he plighted his troth unto her , in sicknesse and in health , to maintain her . question . but methinks i hear the widows and orphants crying unto me , as the souldiers to iohn bapti●● , but what shall we do ? luk. . it is true , saith the widow , that kind husbands a●e to provide for their wives , but alas we have no elimelech's to carry us into a forraign country in the time of famine ; indeed saith the orphant , it is the fathers duty to provide for his children ; but my parents are dead long ago , i have not as samuel had , a mother hannah every year to bring me a new coate ; what shall we do in this our distresse . answer . answer , use the best means you can , and for the rest , relie on gods providence , who is said , psal. . . to help the fatherlesse and poor to their right , psal. . . to be a father to the fatherlesse , and to defend the cause of the widow , even god in his holy habitation : who will deale with thee as he did with david , when my mother and father forsooke me , the lord cared for me . so much for elimelech's company described by their relations : we should come now to speak of their names , where we might take occasion to speak of the antiquity , and use of names , but that hereafter we shall have better conveniency to treat thereof , in those words , call me not naomi , but call me marah : we come therefore to the successe of elimelech's journey ; and they came into the cou●try of moab , and they continued there . the meaning is , that the moabites afforded them harbour without any molestation . observ. from whence the observation is this ; we ought to be hospitall and courteous to receive strangers . first , because god in severall places of scripture enjoyneth it , exod. . . levit. . . ly . because god apprehendeth all courtesie done to a stranger as bestowed on himselfe ; he that receiveth you , receiveth me , &c. i was a stranger and ye harboured me , mat. . and then if we entertain strangers , it may be said of us not onely as it is of lot and abraham , heb. . . that we entertained angels , b●t that we entertained god himselfe unawares . ly . because it spiritually considered , we our selves are strangers with the patriarks , heb. . we have here no abiding city , but seeke one from above , whose b●ilder and maker is god. i beseech you as strangers and pilgrims , pet. . . lastly , because of the uncertainty of our own estates , for thou knowest not what evill shall be upon the earth , it may be we that now relieve strangers , hereafter our selves being strangers may be relieved by others . vse . let us not therefore abuse strangers and make a prey of them , making an advantage of their unskilfulnesse in the language , and being unacquainted with the fashions of the land ; like laban that deceived his nephew iacob in placing leah for rachel , and to cloak his cheating , pleaded it was the custome of the country : wherefore rather let us be courteous unto them , least the barbarians condemne us , who so courteously intreated s. paul , with his shipwrackt companions , and the moabites in my text , who suffered elimelech when he came into the land , to continue there . vers. . . . and elimelech naomies husband dyed , and she was left , and her two sonnes , &c. in these words we have two marriages ushered , and followed by funeralls : i will begin there , where one day all must make an end , at death ; and elimelech naomies husband dyed . i have seldom seen a tree thrive that hath been transplanted when it was old , the same may be seen in elimelech , his aged body brooks not the forraign aire ; though he could avoid the arrows of famine in israel , yet he could not shun the darts of death in moab : he that lived in a place of penury , must die in a land of plenty : let none condemne elimelech's removal as unlawful , because of his suddain dea●h , for those actions are not u● godly which are unsuccessfull , nor those pious which are prosperous , seeing the lawfulnesse of an action is not to be gathered from the joyfulnesse of the event , but from the justnesse of the cause , for which it is undertaken . observ. . hence we observe , that god can easily frustrate our fairest hopes , and defeat our most probable projects , in m●king those places most dangerous , which we account most safe and secure , causing death to meet us there , where we think furthest to flie from it . observ. . . we see that no outward plenty can priviledge us from death ; the sand of our li●e runneth as fast , though the hour-glass be set in the sunshine of prosperity , as in the gloomy shade of affliction . and she was left and her two sons . here we see how mercifully god dealt with naomi , in that he quenched not all the sparks of her comfort at once ; but though he took away the stock , he left her the stems ; though he deprived her as it were of the ●se of her own leggs , by taking away her husband , yet he left her a staffe in each of her hands , her two sons to support her . indeed afterwards he took them away , but first he provided her a gracious daughter-in-law : whence we learn , god powreth not all his afflictions at once , but ever leaveth a little comfort , otherwise we should not onely be pressed down , but crush't to powder under the weight of his heavy hand . and they tooke them wives of the women of moab , &c. here we see the fashion of the world , mankind had long ago decaied , if those breaches which are daily made by death , were not daily made up by marriage . but here ariseth a question , whether these matches were lawfull ? for answer whereof , we will suppose naomi disswading her sonnes on this manner . disswasion . what , my sonnes ? and what , persons of my wombe ? and what , the sonnes of my desire ? give not your strength to strange women , and your wayes to that that destroyed men . it is not for you o mahlon and chilion , it is not for you to marry moabites ; nor for the sonnes of an isra●lite t● marry the daughters of the uncircumcised . remember my sonnes what god saith by the mouth of moses , deut. . . thou shalt not make marriages with them , thy daughter shalt thou not give to his sonne , nor take his daughter to thy sonne , for they will turn away thy son from following me , to serve strange gods , so will the anger of the lord be kindled against thee to destroy thee suddenly . take he●d therefore least long looking on these women , you at length be made blind , least they suck out your souls with kisses , and snake-like , sting you with embraces : curb your affections untill you come into canaan where you shall find varietie of wives , who as they come not short of these for the beauties of their bodies , so they farre go beyond them for the sanctitie of their souls . answer . to this disswasion , thus might her childeren answer : we thank you deare mother for your carefulnesse over our good ; but we must intreat you not to interpret it undutifulnesse , if upon good reason we dissent from your judgement herein . in the place by you cited , marriages are forbidden with such strange women as are of a stubborn obstinate and refractory nature , such as are likely to seduce their husbands ; whereas you see the mild , towardly , and tractable disposition of these women we meane to make our wives ; we hope to plant these wild branches in gods vineyard , to bring these straggling sheep to his fold , to make them proselytes to our religion : besides , this marriage will be advantagious for us , thereby we shall endeare our selves into the moabites affections , they will use us the more courteously , when we have married one of their own kindred . ●ut methinks my tongue refuseth to be any longer the advocate of an unlawfull deed , and my mouth denyeth to be the orator of an unjust action : when i have said what i can for the defence of their marriage , i shall but make a plaster too narrow for the sore , the breach is so broad i cannot stop it , though i may dam it up with untempered morter . nothing can be brought for the defence of these matches , something may be said for the excuse of them , but that fetcht not from pietie , but from poliey ; not certain , but conjecturall ; yet here may we see th● power and providence of god , who made so good use of these mens defaults , as hereby to bring ruth , first to be a retainer to the family of faith , and afterwards a joyfull mother in israel . this is that good chymick that can distill good out of evill , light out of darknesse , order out of confusion , and make the crooked actions of men tend to his own glory in a straight line , and his childrens good . i speak not this to defend any mans folly in doing of evill , but to admire gods wisdome , who can bring good out of evil : and surely he that will turn evill to good , will turn good to the best . and they dwelled there about ten years . here we have the term of naomi's living in moab , and the families lasting in israel , ten years : we read of a famine for three years , sam. . of three years and a half , king. . of seven years , gen. . as also king. . but this ten years famine longer then any ; seven yeares which iacob served for rachel , seemed to him but a short time ; but surely those ten yeares seemed to the afflicted israelites , and to the banished naomi , as so many millions of years . observ. god doth not presently remove his rod from the back of his children , but sometimes scourgeth them with long-lasting afflictions : the reason is , because we go on and persist so long in our sinnes ; and yet herein even mercy exalteth her selfe against judgement : for if god should suffer the fire of his fury to burn , so long as the fuell of our sinnes do last , lord , who were able to abide ? were the dayes of our suffering , appor●ioned to the dayes of our living , no flesh would be saved , but for the elect sake , those dayes are shortned . vse . beare with patience light afflictions ; when god afflicteth his children with long lasting punishments ; mutter not for a burning f●aver of a fortnight , what is this to the woman that had a running issue for twelve years ; murmur not for a twelve moneths quartain ague , ' is nothing to the woman that was bowed for eightteen years ; nor seven years consumption , to the man that lay thirty eight years lame at the pool of bethezda . and mahlon and chilion died also b●th of them . it was but even now that old elimelech was gone to bed ; see , his sonnes would not sit long up after the father ; onely here is the difference , he like ripe fruit fell down of his own accord ; they like green apples , were cudgel'd off the tree . observ. even young men in the prime of their age , are subject to death ; the sons of iacob when they came to the table of ioseph sat down , the eldest according to his age , and the youngest according to his youth ; but death observes not this method , she takes not men in seniority , but sometimes sends them first to the buriall that came last from the birth , and those that came last from the wombe , first to their winding sheet . there were as many lambs and kids sacrificed in the old testament , as goats and old sheep ; but surely more there be that die in infancy and in youth , then of those that attain to old age . vse . remember thy creator in the dayes of thy youth : you whose joynts are knit with sturdy sine ws , whose veines are full of blood , whose arteries are flush't with spirits , whose bones are fraught with marrow ; obediah-like , serve god from your y●uth , put not the day of death far from you ; think not your strength to be armour of proof against the darts of death , when you see the corslet of mahlon and chilion shot through in the left ; so mahlon and chilion died both of them . and the woman was left of her two sons and of her husband . before we had the particular losses of n●omi , now we have them all reckoned up in the totall sum ; a threefold cable , saith solomon , is not easily broken , and yet we see in naomies threefold cable of comfort twisted of her husband and her two sonnes , broken by death : of the two sex , the woman is the weaker ; of women , old women are most feeble ; of old women , widows most wofull ; of widowes , those that are poor , their plight most pittifull ; of poor widows , those that want children , their case most dolefull ; of widows that want children , those that once had them and after lost them , their estate most desolate ; of widows that have had children , those that are strangers in a forraign country , their condition most comfortlesse : yet all these met together in naomi as in the center of sorrow , to make the measure of her misery pressed down shaken together , running over . i conclude therefore , many men have had affliction , none like iob ; many women have had tribulation , none like naomi . vers. . then she arose with her daughters in law , that she might returne from the country of moab : for she had heard in the country of moab , how that the lord had visited his people , in giving them bread . these words contain two general parts . . gods visiting his people with plenty . . naomies visiting of her people with her person . i begin with the first in the order of the words , then she arose with her daughters in law , &c. observ. we must tarry no longer in an idolatrous land , when god offereth us an occasion to returne into our own country : for so long as we tarry in an idolatrous land on a just cause , so long we are in our vocation & in gods protection : but when god openeth us a gap to returne , and we will not through it , we are neither in our calling , nor gods keeping , but must stand on our own adventures ; and who knows not how slenderly we shall be kept , when we are left to our own custody : let not therefore ioseph with his wife and son , tarry any longer in the land of egypt , when he is dead that sought the life of the child . examples we have o● those , which in the dayes of queen mary , fled beyond the seas ; though they were not in a paganish , onely in a forraign country , mr. scorey , cocks , whitehead , grindall , horne , sandys , elmore , gest , iewel ; if fear lent them feet to run when they went away , joy gave them wings to fly when they came home againe : let none therefore pretend in needlesse excuses to linger in the land of egypt , when they may return into the hony-flowing land of canaan . for she had heard in the country of moab . i suppose when any messenger arrived in m●ab , out of the land of canaan , naomie did presently repaire unto him , and load him with questions concerning the estate of her country : how do the iews my country-men ? how faireth it with the bethlehemites my neig●bours ? with boaz my kinsman ? what is the rate of corne ? what the price of oyle ? what the value of wine ? if there be no performance for the present , what promise is there for the future ? though things be bad now , what hope is there , but they will be better hereafter : alas he answers little ; and from his silence and sorrowfull looks , naomi gathers a denial ; but as elijah sending his servant towards the sea , to see what ●igns there were of raine , for six severall times together he returned this answer , there is nothing : but at the seventh time , he brought him the tydings of a cloud rising out of the sea ; so though for nine years naomi had no news but of want and scarcity ; yet the tenth yeare there came a man ( probably he was a good man that brought these good tydings ) who brought her word that the valleys began to laugh and sing with plentie ; and so though the hope that was deferred was the fainting of the heart , yet when it came , it was the tree of life . perchance because the coveto●s jews had made nine parts great for their own profit , and the tenth small to cozen god of his portion : god quite contrary , gave them nine years of scarcity and want , and at length made the tenth of store and plenty . observ. the fame of remarkable accidents will fly into forraign countries ; for if it be bad news , the wicked will be sure to tell it in the gates of gath , and publish it in the streets of askelon : if it be good , the godly will proclaim it in the courts of zion , and disperse it within the walls of ierusalem ; whether good or bad ( if it be of moment and importance ) it will not be covered nor concealed . question , is it lawfull for us to lissen , hearken , and enquire after matters of forraigne countries ? answer , though i would not have men to be like the athenians , to hear or tell some new thing ; yet it is both lawful and laudable for them to enquire after forraigne affairs , whereby they expresse the desire that they have of the welfare of their distant brethren , the members of the same mysticall body : example , nehe. . . and yet would i have men ( though they lend their ears ) not to bestow their beliefe on every groundlesse report which is blazed abroad . . because fame is often untrue , ●●lating sam. . that all the kings sonnes are kil'd , when onely amnon is slain , . because many there be which with the souldiers , mat. . do nothing but invent and disperse lyes to gull over-credulous people : and as many a benighted traveller hath wandred out of his way , whilst he followed for his lanthorn the meteor of foolish fire ; so many a man hath been deceived by embracing of lying relations , instead of true news . yet in case that cushai and ahimaaz confirm the same thing , that variety of messengers from divers places of sundry sides and severall factions , all agree in materiall and substantiall points ; we ought not to be like unbelieving thomas , to trust no more then our eyes have seen , but may rely on the truth of such relations , and ought accordingly to be affected with sorrow if the news be bad , or joy , if the tydings tend to the churches good and gods glory . that god had visited his people . this was the priviledge of the people of the jews , that they were styled gods people , but now ammi is made lo-ammi , and ruchama , lo-ruchama ; and we the gentiles are placed in their roome , let us therefore remember the words of st. paul ; rom. . . be not high minded , but fear , for if god spared not the naturall branches of the olive , fear that he will not spar● thee also . o that he would be pleased to cast his eye of pitty upon the poor jews , which for . yeares and upwards have wandred without law , without lord , without land , and as once they were , so once againe to make them his people . in giving them bread . by bread , is meant all sustenance necessary for the maintaining of our lives , whereof bread is the chiefest . as the temple of dagon principally leaned on two pillars , and fell to the ground when sampson took them away , so the buildings of our bodies chiefly relyes on bread and water for outward sustenance , which being taken away , cannot but presently decay : let others therefore wish those dishes which curiosity hath invented , rather to encrease then satisfie hunger , which are more delightsome to the eye , then pleasing to the pallat ; yet more pleasing to the pallat , then wholsome to the stomack ; let us pray , give us this day our daily bread . bread is a dish in every course , without this can be no feast , with this can be no famine . observ. gods punishments though they last sometimes long , yet alwayes they end at last : and yet sometimes for the manifestation of his power , and tryall of his childrens patience , he suffers them to be brought into great extremities : abra●ams hand shall be heaved up to slay isacc , before the angell shall catch hold of it : lazarus shall be three dayes dead before christ will rayse him ; the ship readie to ●inke , before our saviour will awake ; peter must be drencht in the water , before our saviour will keepe him from drowning ; s. paul must be in the lyons mouth , before he shall be delivered out of it ; the famine must last ten yeare , before god will give them bread. an example hereof , wee have in our neighbouring churches of germanie , which long have beene afflicted under the tyrannie of their oppressors ; and now at length , a sunne is risen out of the north ; and after a long night , ●he morning beginneth the day : and thou swethland shalt not be counted the meanest amongst the kingdomes of europ● ; for out of thee did a prince arise , who hath delivered the distressed protestants ; who at his first landing , seemed to his enemies an obect fitter of their scorne then opposition ; they thought our youthfull david too unequall a match to coape with their generall , who had bean a man of warre from his youth . but as veritie consisteth not in the pluralitie of voy●●s , so victorie standeth not in the multitude of souldiers ; but god so ordered it , that he that had the best cause , had the best succ●sse . i dare boldly say , that all the protestant princes and states of germanie will be readie truly to say of him what tertullus spake ●latteringly of felix , act. . seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietnesse , and that very worthy deeds are ●one unto this nation by thy providence , we alwayes ▪ accept it , and in all places , most noble prince , with all thankefulnesse . but let us turne our prayses of him into prayers for him , that he who hath conquered his foes , may subdue himselfe ▪ not to be puffed up with his good su●cesse . so let all thine enemies perish , o lord ; but let all them that love thee , be as the sunne when he goeth forth in his might : and as ever i have earnestly desired , so now doe i stedfastly hope to see the day , when our naomi ( our worthy naomi , more fruitfull in miseries then in children , and in vertue ; then in both ) shall arise , to returne out of the land of holland , with her prince and progenie , when she shall heare , that in the land of holland god hath visited the palatinate , and given them rest . vers. , . and she went out of the place where she was , and her two daughters in law with her , and they went on the way , to returne into the land of judah . and naomi said to her daughters in law , goe , returne each of you to her mother . these words containe the continuation of naomies returne ; wherein we may observe , fi●st , the companie that went with her , her two daughters in law . secondly , the discourse she had with this companie , consisting of a precept in the text , goe , returne each of you to her mother : and of a prayer , in the words following . now , whereas her daughters in law did not take their farewell of naomi at the threshold of their house , but went part of the way with her , we gather , observation . that all offices of kindnesses and courtesies ought to be betwixt the mother in law and the daughter in law , i meane her sonnes wife . and yet looke into the world , and ye shall commonly finde enmitie betwixt them , as saith terence in hessera ; neque declinatam mulierem reperias ab aliarum ingenio ; ità adeò uno omn●s animo socrus oderunt nurus : and their fallings out chiefely proceed from these two causes : first , they contend which should have the greatest right & interest in the man , who is sonne to the one , husband to the other . iudah and israel contested ( sam. . . ) which should have most part in king david ; the former claiming it , because he was bone of their bone ; the latter pleaded they had eleven parts in him , to iudahs single share . thus mother in lawes and daughter in lawes use to fall out ; the mother , because her sonne is flesh of her flesh , and bone of her bone , pleades it is right , that he should side and second with her ; the daughter in law , because he is her husband , and therefore one flesh challengeth that he should rather take her part : so betwixt them they fill the family with all discord . secondly , they fall out about the managing of the matters in the household , after whose mind they should be ordered : but as s. iames said in another case , beloved , these things ought not to be so ; both these brawles may be easily ended . the first may be taken up by the wisdome and discretion of the sonne in law , who ought so indifferently to poyse his affections betwixt them both , with such dutifulnesse and respect to the one , such love and kindnesse to the other , that neither may have just cause to complaine . and the second controversie may thus be decided : if the mother hath the state still in her hands , good reason it is she should rule the affaires , and that the daughter in law should wait till her mother in lawes naturall death hath paved the succession to the governing of the family : but if the old woman hath resigned her estate , and confined her selfe to an yearely pension , then ought she not to intermeddle with those matters , from which she had willingly sequestred her selfe . were this observed , there would not so many daughters in law rejoyce , when the day of mourning for their mother in law is come ; some whereof say as the wicked said of david , o , when will she die , and her name perish ? now to come to the discourse she had with them : goe , returne &c. where ariseth a question , whether naomi did well , in perswadiug her daughters to goe back unto moab ? for the satisfaction whereof , i will set downe , first , what may be said against ; secondly , what may be brought for her defence . accusation . why naomi , why didst thou quench the zeale of thy daughters , which proffered themselves so willingly to goe with thee ? oh , rayne them not backward with disswasions , but rather spurre them forward with exhortations ; and strive to bring them out of an idolatrous land , to a place where gods worship is purely profest : say unto them , hearken o daughters , and consider , encline your ears , forget also your country , and your own mothers house ; so shall the lord your god have pleasure in you : true it is ▪ ye have a mother in moab , but what of that ; care not for your mother , but care for your maker : care not for her that conceived you , but care for him that created you : tarry not with them , no not so much as to expresse your last love in performing their funeralls ; rather let the dead bury their dead : those that are dead spiritually , let them bury such as die naturally , and come go ye along with me to the land of canaan : thus naomi oughtest thou to have said , and then hadst performed the part , done the duty of a mother ; if whilst thou hadst travelled with them on the way , thou hadst travelled with them till god had been formed in them ; then shouldst thou shine as a double sunne in heaven for saving of two souls , whereas now thou art in a manner accessary to their ghostly murther in sending them back to an idolatrous country . defence . to this accusation naomi might justly answer ; it is my hearts desire and prayer go god , that i may be an instrument of my daughters in laws conversion ; but the wisdome of the serpent , as well as the innocency of the dove is to be used in all our actions , least we draw needlesse danger upon our selves . true it is , my daughters in law proffer to go with me , but here is the question ; whether this is done out of courtesie and complement , or out of singlenesse and sinceritye . now should they through my perswasions , go into the land of canaan , and there live in want and penury , they will be ready to raile on me another day . we may thank naomi for all this , we had plentifull provisions in our own country , but she must have us hither ; she by her restlesse importunitie must wring a constrained consent from us to come into canaan ; all these miseries are befallen upon us through her default . yea , i am affraid , that finding want , that they again will return into their own country to my shame , the scandall of our religion , and the deeper punishment of their own souls . wherfore without their minds would i do nothing , that their going might not be as it were of necessity , but willingly . to which end i will put them to the touchstone , to see whether their forwardnesse be faithfull or faigned , sound or seeming , cordiall or counterfeit ; i will weigh them both in the ballance , hoping that neither shall be found too light . upon these grounds learned men have acquitted naomi from any fault in managing this matter , she doing it onely with an intent to trie them . whence we may observe , that pagans that proffer themselves to become converts , are not without proof presently to be received into the church . and here we may take occasion to digresse a little , to shew how christians ought to behave themselves in the converting of infidels . first , they must strive in their mutuall conversing with them , to season them with a good opinion of their honesty and upright dealing , otherwise their doctrine will never be embraced , whose manners are justly mislik't . secondly , having possessed them with th●s good esteem , they ought as occasion is offered , to instruct them in the rudiments of christian religion ; and to begin with such as are plain and evident by the light of nature , and so in due time to proceed to matters of greater difficulty . lastly , they are to pray to god to give his increase to their planting and watering : for , as athanasius saith , ●t is a divine work to perswade mens souls to believe . but as for the using of tortures and of torments thereby to force them , we have no such custome , nor as yet the churches of god : for though none come to christ but such as his father draws by the violence of his effectuall grace ; yet ought not men to drive or drag any to the pro●ession of the faith : yet notwithstanding , if after long patience and forbearing with them , and long instructing them in the points of religion ; if still these pagans continue refractary and obstinate , then surely the civill magistrate who hath the lawfull dominion over them , may severely , though not cruelly , with iosiah , compell them to come to church , and to perform the outward formalities of gods worship . go then ye bloody jesuites , boast of those many millions of americanes whom you have converted , who were not converted by the sword of the mouth , gained by hearing the gospell , but compelled by the mouth of the sword , forced by feeling your cruelty , witnesse those which without any catechising in the points of religion , were at once driven to the font like so many horses to a watring trough . indeed i find my saviour , iohn ● . driving the merchants out of the temple with a whip of cords , but never before did 〈…〉 of any which against their wills drave or instructed pagans to the ●ont to be baptized . each to her mothers house . here we see widows if poor , are to be maintained by their parents if they be able . these widows , tim. . . were not to be burthensome to the church , but ●o be relieved by their own countrie , let parents therefore take heed how they bestow their daughters in marriage : for if they match them to unthrifts and prodigals , will it not be bitternesse in the end ? the burthen will fall heavie on their backs , when their poor daughters with their children must be sent again to their fathers to maintain them . house . widows are to contain themselves within the house , not like the harlot , prov. . . alwaies in the streets ; but like meek sarah in the tent : whereby they shal sooner gain the love and esteem of others ; for let base and beggerly fellows buy that rascal ware which is hung out at the doors and windows of shops and stalls , whilest men of qualitie and fashion will go into the shop to cheapen the worth of those merchandise as are therein kept secret and conceal'd . and so surely all discreet and grave men will have the highest esteem , and bear the best affection to such women which do not gad abroad to be seen , but with ruth and orpah being widows , keep themselves in their mothers house . vers. , . ● the lord shew favou● unto you , as ye have done with the dead , and with me . the lord grant you , that you may finde rest , either of you in the house of her husband . naomi being readie to take her leave of her daughters , faine she would leave them something , for which they might be the better after her departure ▪ but gold and silver she had none , yet such as she had she freely gave unto them ( heartie prayers . ) whence we learne , it is the best expression of a gratefull minde , to pray to god for the welfare of those , at whose hands we have received greater courtesies then we can requite . as ye have done . hence we learne , god in the rewarding of the good deeds of his servants , dealeth with them accordingly as they have done with others . yet farre be it from us to suppose , that in our stained and imperfect works there is any meritorious vertue , which deserveth , that god should proportion a reward unto them : but this freely proceedeth from gods favour ; who to encourage us in well-doing , will not suffer a cup of cold water to passe without its reward . doe we desire then to have dutifull children , and faithfull servants hereafter ? let us be dutifull to our p●rents , faithfull to our masters . on the other side , hath god afflicted us with zibahs to our servants , and with absalons to our sonnes ? let us reflect our eyes on that which is past , and call our selves to account , whether we formerly have not been unfaithfull to our masters , undutifull to our parents : no doubt , we may then take up the confession of adoni-bezek , as i have dealt with others , so the lord hath done to me . with the dead . question . here ariseth a question ; how can one shew favour to the dead , who being past sense , are not capable of kindnesse or crueltie ? answer . the papists ( who leave the soules of most men departing from hence , like absalon's body , hanging betwixt heaven and hell ) expound it , that these women did fast and pray for ●he soules of their deceased husbands , that they might be delivered from torments , and in due time brought to happinesse in heaven . for the confutation of which erroneous exposition , i need say no more , then that the scripture makes no mention of any such middle place , wherein the soules of the godly should be detained before they goe into heaven ; and in matters of faith , every christian may safely say , except i see in the bible the print thereof , or can feel it deduced out of it by undenyable consequence , i will not believe it . it is strange to see what impertinent places are produced by bellarmine , to prove praying for the dead ; as iames . . confesse your faults one to another , and pray one for another , that ye may be healed ; the effectuall fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much . then he endevoureth to prove , that the dead pray for the living , from the parable of dives , luke . . i pray thee therefore father &c. where dives was charitably sollicitous for the good of his surviving brethren : but let the first place in s. iames be perused by impartiall judgements , and it obligeth mutually the dead saints to confes●e to us , as well as we to them ; which being impossible , directeth us to confine the words onely to reciprocall confessing and praying to and for the living . some will say , bellarmine having sufficiently proved purgatorie before , ( which necessarily inferreth prayers for the dead ) he might be the briefer in that subject . it is confessed , many arguments are alledged by him to that intent , though to small purpose ; as psalme . . we went through fire and through water , but thou broughtest us out into a wealthie place . we answer ; first , the living there speake de praeterito , we went ; not de futuro , we shall goe . secondly , it was literally meant of the children of israel ; they went through the fire , when envassalled to worke in the egyptian brick-kills ; and through water , when miraculously they passed through the red sea. again , they went through fire , when preserved from the stinging of the fierie , they beheld the brazen serpent . thirdly , if from fire in this text any can kindle a purgatorie , others will quench it from the word water , seeing no papists ever fancied a watered purgatorie . they urge the place , matth. . . thou shalt by no meanes come out from thence till thou hast payd the uttermost farthing ; importing , say they , a possibilitie on satisfaction to be freed thence , that is , from hell fire . answer : vntil there , is not taken terminatively , but extensively ; equivalent to never , or not at all ; paralleled to that place , psalme . . in the shadow of thy wings will i make my refuge , untill these calamities be over-past . what , would david depart from god , after his deliverance ? would he use him as travellers a bush ? come under it in a storme , and leave it in fair weather ? no surely , david would trust in god untill that time , and at that time , and in that time , and after that time , and at all times . parallel also to that place of matthew . . and knew her not till she had brought forth her first-borne sonne : it being the constant tradition of antiquitie , according to the proportion of faith , and embraced by the papists themselves , that christs mother lived and died a spotlesse virgin. much stresse he layeth on that passage of the apostle , corinth . . . he himselfe shall be saved , yet so as by fire . this place , saith bellarmine , is locus utilissimus & difficillimus , most profitable and most hard . we answer , first , in general ; seeing by the iesuit's confession it is so hard a place , it is utterly improbable , that purgatorie ( being of so high concernment to every soule as papists would perswade us ) can be therein intended : for all matters necessarie for men to know and beleeve , wherein the safetie of every single soule is interessed , ( such as purgatorie is pretended to be ) is by the confession of all divines expressed in plaine and pregnant texts of scripture ; for want whereof , bellarmine is faine to shrowd and shelter himselfe under the most obscure places , alledging a text most dark and difficult , by his owne confession . secondly , that fire there meant by saint paul , is affliction in this life . as for such fathers who expounded it de igne conflagrationis , of that fire which should burn up all things at the end of the world ; it makes nothing for the patronizing of purgatorie , in the popish notion thereof . come we now to finde an office , and make an enquirie , how many things a dying godly man leaves behind him in this world : his soule is sent before him ; and revel . . . from henceforth blessed are the dead that die in the lord. he leaveth behind him , first , his body ; to which we must be kinde , by buriall and ●amentation . secondly , his estate ; to which we must be kinde , by carefull and faithfull administration . thirdly , his children , friends , or kindred ; to whom we must be kinde , by love and affection . fourthly , his faults and failings ; to which we must be kinde , by silence and suppression . fifthly , his memorie and vertues ; to which we must be kinde , by congratulation , ●ommemoration , and imitation . of these in order : for although these words , ye have beene kinde to the dead , are capable of this ●ound sense , you have been kinde to your husbands , who now are dead , whilest they were living ▪ yet because more seemeth imported therein , we will prosecute the aforesaid particulars . i say , first , his body ; to which there is due buriall and lamentation : buriall , and that according to the qualitie and condition wherein he lived . we reade of king hezekiah , chron. . . they buried him in the chiefest ( in the hebrew , in the highest ) sepulchers of the sonnes of david . it must be allowed , that the sepulcher of david his father , was higher then his ; and next david , hezekia●s . o that heighth might be but measured by true holinesse ! there was an officer amongst the greekes , whose place it was to measure monuments according to the standard of the mens merits therein interred : such officers if used in england , would pare off great parcels from some tombes , more proportioned to the parties wealth then vertues . but nothing could be abated of hezeki●h his monument , all the dimensions whereof were due to his devotion . and lamentation ▪ surely , of all the godly that ever departed this life , gods servants had the least cause to bewayl the death of s. steven : for first , whereas there is a three-fold degree of certaintie of salvation ; first , that of hope , which as the least and lowest , scarce deserveth to be styled certaintie ; secondly , that of evidence , whereby the person clearely in his soule apprehendeth gods favour ; thirdly , that of vision , peculiar to this steven alone , antedating his happinesse with his bodily eyes , being in heaven before he was in heaven : so that as many gates in his wounded body stood open to let out his soule , he beheld alive the heavens opened to receive it . and yet we reade , acts. . . and devout men carryed steven to his buriall , and made great iamentation over him . observe ; it was not said , they made great iamentation for him , but over him ; they knew him in a happy condition : it was themselves they bemoaned in his death , the sight of his corps sharpening their sorrow , that the infant-church had lost one of her best swadlin●g-clothes . secondly , his estate ; to which we must be kinde , by carefull and faithfull administration . heb. . . for a testament is of force after men are dead . gal. . . though it be but a mans covenant , or testament , yet if it be confirmed , no man disanulleth or addeth thereto . no man ? he must either be lesse then man in knowledge , a meere beast ; or more then man in malice , a meere devill . by testament i understand not onely the very words thereof , but also what appeareth to be the testator his will to the conscience of the executor . how many in this kinde are cruell to the dead ? so that some of the legacies bequeathed by them , have had a thumbe or a toe , yea , some an arme or a legge cut off from them . many legacies which came sound forth from the testator , before they could get through the executors have beene more lame , and maimed , then the criples in the hospitall , to whom they have beene bequeathed . thirdly , his children , or ( because mahlon and chilion had none of them ) his kindred or friends ; to whom the living must be kinde , with love and affection . remember the character of the good wife , proverbs . . she will doe her husband good , and not evill , all the dayes of her life . we have many wives onely negatively good , pleasing and praysing themselves in this , that they doe their husbands no hurt . this will not doe the deed , they must be positively profitable . nor is it said , all the dayes of his life , but all the dayes of her life . what if he dieth , her obligation to him is not cassated or nulled , ( as many wives generally conceive ) but still continueth all the dayes of her life . true it is , she is set free so farre , as she may marry againe in a competent time , without the least shadow of sinne ; yet so , as still obliged to doe good all her life time to the friends , to the children ( if any ) of her dead husband ; and he , if surviving her , reciprocally engaged to doe the like . fourthly , the best men leave faults and failings behind them ; to these the living must be kinde , by silence and suppression . first , of those of whom thou canst say no good , say nothing . secondly , of those of whom thou canst say some good , say no bad . david is a most excellent instance hereof , sam. . . who could more , or more justly have inveighed against saul then david ? o ye daughters of israel , rejoyce for the death of so great a tyrant , who killed ahimelech the high priest , and fourescore more of gods priests , whose soules were as cleare from treason as the white linnen ephod they wore were from spots : twice i had him at my mercy , once in the cave , once when asleepe ; yet he ( notwithstanding all his faire promises to the contrarie ) was the more cruell to me for my kindnesse to him . no such matter ; david conceales what was bad , remembreth what was good in 〈◊〉 , at leastwise what would make his memorie acceptable with the weaker sex ; namely , his making of gallantrie fashionable amongst them : ye daughters of israel weepe over saul , who clothed you in scarlet , with other delights , who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparell . fifthly , memorie of his vertues : to which three things are due , to make thee kinde thereunto . first , congratulation . i will touch this string but tenderly ; not so much because fearing mine owne fingers , ( as if the lesson should be false i play thereon ) but expecting other mens eares as ill-disposed with prejudice . it is no poperie , nor superstition , to prayse god for the happie condition of his servants departed ; the ancient patriarchs , the inspired prophets , the holy apostles , the patient martyrs , the religious confessors . when the tribe of ruben , gad , and halfe manasses , erected the altar ed at the pas●age over iordan , it startled all the rest of the tribes , as if under it they had hatched some superstitious designe ; whereas indeed , the altar was not intended for sacrifice , but was meerely an altar of memorial , to evidence to posteritie , that these two tribes and an halfe ( though divided from the rest by the river of iordan ) were conjoyned with them in the worship of the same god. in like manner , when some ministers thank god for the departure of his servants , some people are so weake , and some so wilfull , to condemne such for passages of poperie , as if superstitious prayers were made for their departure : whereas , indeed , such congratulation , on the contrarie , speakes our confidence on their present blisse and happinesse , and continueth the church militant with the church ▪ triumphant , as the compleating one intire catholike church of iesus christ. secondly , commemoration is due to the memories of the deceased . hence the an●ient custome of funerall orations continued in our moderne practice , both to the honour of the dead , and profit of the living . thirdly , imitation of their vertues . it hath been a great question amongst such who desire to expresse themselves thankfull to their dead ancestors , of what metall , or matter to make their monuments so as they may be most lasting and permanent . wise men have generally decryed silver and brasse ; not so much , because too costly , ( such may be the worth and wealth of the executors and partie deceased ) but too tempting to sacriledge to demolish them . brasse is generally subject to the same mischiefe , and marble touch and alablaster , are generally used for that purpose ; but the monument lesse subject to casualtie , is , to imitate the ver●ues of our dead friends : in other tombes the dead are preserved ; in these , they may be said to remaine alive . when we see a child very like to the father and mother thereof , we use to say , thy father will never be dead as long as thou livest . thus it is the best remembrance of our dead progenitors , to follow their vertues . s. paul cannot looke upon timothy , but presently calls to minde his mother eunice , and his grandmother loi● , though the latter no doubt long since departed . the lord grant , that you may finde rest , each of you in the house of her husband . here we may observe , first , that it is the part of pious parents to pray to god for the good successe of their children , especially in the matter of their marriage : example in abraham , gen. . . secondly , hence we may gather , that the life of married persons meeting together in the feare of god , is rest. objection . how then commeth it to passe , that many men and women may take up the words of rebecca , seeing it is so , why am i thus ? gen. . if the married life be . rest , how commeth it to prove my purgatorie , my hell , my cause of restlesse i orment ? men and women were joyned in marriage , gen. . to the end to be a mutuall helpe one to the other , but many prove such helpers as the king of ashur did to ahaz , chron. . of whom it is said , he distressed him , but helped him not . answer . who can hinder it , if men of their girdles and garters make halters to hang themselves ? if those things which should be for their strength and ornament , be through their owne default turned to their utter undoing ; the estate of marriage is not herein to be blamed , but the folly of such who out of some sinister ●nds undertake it . happily some chuse their wives like as our grandmother eve did the apple , because they are pleasant to the eyes to be lookt upon : others out of a love of their wealth , saying of their wives what the sichemites did of the sonnes of iacob , shall not all their heards and gattell be ours ? whereas i● grace and pietie were principally respected in their choice , ( other outward accommodations in their due distance not neglected ) they would finde the truth of our observation , that a married life is rest ▪ for though some pettie brawles may happen amongst the most sanctified couple , which may move their anger , yet shall it not remove their love , if one with christian discretion beareth with the infirmities of the other . ioab made this compact with his brother abishai , sam. . . if the aramite be stronger then i , thou shalt helpe me ; but if the ammonites be too strong for thee , i will come and succour thee . thus ought man and wife to make a bargaine with their best councell to , and prayers for each other , to ●ssist themselves mutually against their sundry weaknesses and infirmities , which otherwise would turne their rest of their life into unquietnesse . vers. , , , , . and when she kissed them , they lift up their voices , and wept . and they said unto her , surely , we will returne with thee , unto thy people . but naomi said , turne againe my daughters : for what cause will you goe with me ? are there any more sonnes in my wombe , that they may be your husbands ? turne againe my daughters , goe your way , for i am too old to have an husband : if i should say , i 〈◊〉 h●pe ; and if i had an husband this night ; yea , if i had borne sonnes : wo●ld you tarry for them while they were of age ? would you be deferred for them from taking of husbands ? nay my daughters , for it grieveth me much for your sakes , that the hand ▪ of the lord is gone out against me . and when she kissed them . kisses was the ordinarie salutation of the iewes at the meeting of acquaintance , men with men , women with women , men with women ; provided , that then they were of neere kindred , to avoid all suspition of unchastitie . and they lift up their voices , and mept . the observation here , may be the same which the iewes collected , iohn . which when they saw our saviour weepe for lazarus , they said , behold how he loved him . so these teares in this place were the expression of their affection . sorrow like the river of iordan , chron. . in the first moneth did overflow the bankes , and streamed water downe their che●k●s . but naomi said , turne againe my daughters , &c. in these words , she disswadeth her daughters in law from returning with her ; the strength of her reason , contained in three verses , may thus be set downe , as if she had said : happily daughters you have heard , that it is the custome in the land of canaan , for childlesse widowes to marry their deceased husbands brothers ; but if your returne be grounded hereon , know , that you build your hopes on a false foundation , it being impossible for me , by the course of nature , to have any more sonnes . who will looke , that water should ●low from a drie fountain , grapes grow on a withered vine , fruit flourish on a dead figge-tree ? though sarah at was made a mother , though aar●n's rod did bud and blossome when it was drie ; i my selfe should be a miracle , if i should expect such a miracle : and therefore know , that there are no more sonnes in my wombe . doctrine . now whereas n●omi dealeth thus plainly with her daughters , not feeding them with false hopes , it teacheth us this : we ought not to gull our friends with the promises of those things that neither will nor can come to passe . otherwise we shall both wrong our friends , who the higher they are mounted upon the hill of seeming hopes , at length the deeper they will be cast into the dale of reall despaire ; and also we shall wrong our selves ; when time , the mother of truth , shall unmaske us , we shall prove our selves to be no better then lyars and cheaters . vse . let us labour to be nathanaels , true israelites , in whom there is no guile ; and as iohn baptist , when as the pharises asked him , whether he was the christ , or no ? iohn . . he confessed , and denyed not , and said plainly , i am not the christ : so if we neither meane to doe , nor know , that such things cannot be done which our friends request of us ; let us confesse , denie not , and say plainly , that their suites cannot , shall not be granted ; and by such downe-right dealing , we shall at last get more favour from them , then they who flatter them with their tongue . let not the physician , when he reades in the urinall those dismal symptomes , which are the ushers of death , still promise life and health unto his patient ; but plainly tell him , that there is mors in ol●a ; that so he may flye unto the physician of the soule , for a better life , when this shall fade . let not the lawyer , when he knowes the case is desperate , feed his clyent with false hopes to recover it , that so from ●im he may be fed with money ; but rather let him advise him to agree with his adversarie while he is in the way ; that though he cannot get the conquest , yet he may have the easier composition . for i am too old to have a husband . here ariseth a question . question . is there any age so old , wherein a man or woman may not marry ? answer . naomies meaning was not simply and absolutely , that she was too old to marry , but she was too old to have a husband , and by a husband to have children , and that those children should grow up , and make fit husbands for orpah and ruth . yet by the way , i would advise such who are stricken in yeares , especially if impotencie be added unto age , and that it may stand with their conveniencie , to refraine from all thoughts of a second marriage , and to expect that happie day , when death shall solemnize the nuptiall betwixt their soule and their saviour . for when barzillai hath counted yeares , he hath even had enough of the pleasure and vanitie of the world ; let him retire himselfe to a private life , and not envie his sonne cimcham to succeed to those delights , of which his age hath made his father uncapable . yet if any ancient persons , for their mutuall comfort and societie , ( which is not the least end for which marriage was ordained ) are disposed to match themselves herein , they are blamelesse ; especially , if they have a care to observe a correspondenci● of age with those to whom they linke themselves . otherwise , as our saviou● noteth , when the old cloth was joyned to the new , it made no good medley , but the rent was made the worse : so when the spring of youth is wedded to the winter of age , no true comfort can arise from such unequall yokes , but much jealousie and suspition are caused from the fame . would ye tarry for them ? that is , you would not tarry for them ; or if you should tarry for them , you should wrong your selves , and doe unadvisedly ; because in the mean time refraining from the using of gods ordinance , you expose your selves to the devill , to tempt you to incontinencie . therefore s. pauls councell is good which he prescribes in tim. . . i will therefore that the younger women , &c. while they were of age . note from hence , that children are not to be married in their non-age , before they are arrived at yeares of discretion : than●ar gen. . is to wait till selah be grown up . those parents are therefore to be blamed , who out of by-respects , match their children in their infancie . whence it commeth to passe , that as their age doth increase , their minde doth alter : so what formerly they did like , afterwards they do loath , such marriages proving commonly most insuccessfull . n●y , my daughters : for it grieveth me much for your sakes . as if she had said ▪ it grieveth me much that you are already plunged into povertie ; but it would add more to my sorrow , if you should increase your calamities by returning home with me ; for mine own part , my misery troubleth me not so much , because the sun of my life is readie to set , and it mattereth not though the ship be scanted of victuals , when it is hard by the harbour ; all my care is for you who are young women , and stand upon your own preferment ; it grieveth me much for your sakes . doctrine . see here , such is the ingenuous nature of gods children , that they sorrow more for others that are inwrapped with them in a common calamitie , then for themselves . example in elias , king. . . put then it goeth nearest to their heart , when others are not onely afflicted with them , but also for them , when they themselves are the principall malefactors for whose defaults others are punish't , as in david , sam. . . vses . it may confute the devillish nature of such , who being in trouble , care not though they pawne their dearest friends in their stead , so be it they themselves may escape . and it may also serve to comfort those that are in distresse , when god onely layeth his punishments on them alone , and doth not involve others together with them . art thou afflicted with povertie ? comfort thy selfe , that though thou beest poore , yet thou hast undone none by suretiship for thee . art thou in sicknesse ? be glad that thy disease is not infectious , and that thou hast not derived the contagion to others . doth god punish thee for thy sinne with a personall punishment ? be glad that thou bearest the weight of thine owne offence , and that thou art not the ionah , for whose private sinne a whole ship of passengers is endangered to be cast away ; for then their case would grieve thee more then thine owne calamitie . that the hand of the lord. naomi here taketh especiall notice , that her losses proceedeth from no other by-causes , but from the hand of god. as david therefore asked the widow of tekoah , sam. . is not the ●and of joab with thee in all this ? so when any affliction befalleth us , let us presently have recourse unto god , and say , is not the hand of the lord the principall cause hereof ? and not with the priests of the philistims say , it was a chance that happened us . is gone out against me . observ. hence we may observe , every saint of god , in a common calamitie , is to thinke , that god aimed at his punishment , and intended his reformation in particular . the hand of the lord was gone out also against orpah and ruth , in taking away their husbands ; yet naomi appropriateth the stroake to her selfe , is gone out against me . how contrarie is this to the practice of the world ? men in a publike and a generall affliction , each shifteth it off from themselves , and no one man will be brought to confesse that his sinnes are punished , or his amendment intended in particular , if the scourge be universall . as the philistims , sam. . posted the ark of god from ashdod to ekron , from one place to another , and none would receive it : so , in a common calamitie , none will acknowledge , that he himselfe is especicially interested in it , but plead , what is that to us ? let others looke unto it . o , saith the people , god hath justly sent this plague for the corruption of the magistrates ; it is justly in●licted , saith the magistrate , for the disobedience of the people : herein , saith the poore man , god hath met with the oppression and extortion of the rich ; herein , saith the rich man , god hath payed home the muttering & the repining of the poore : now , saith the prodigall , god punisheth the covetousnesse of old men ; now , saith the old m●n , he scourgeth the prodigalitie of such as be young. farre otherwise naomi , who though the arrowes of god did glance and rebound , to the wounding of orpah and ruth , yet she thought she her selfe was the mark at whom god did levell his shafts ; the hand of the lord is gone ●ut against me . vers. . and orpah kissed her mother in law , but ruth clave unto her . these words containe two generall parts : first , a blazing meteor falling downe out of the ayre ; and orpah , &c. secondly , a fixed starre fairely shining in the heaven ; but ruth , &c. and orpah kissed her mother . is this she which even now was so promising in her words , and so p●ssionate in her weeping ? see how soone a forward professor may turne to a fea●efull apostate : though she standeth or falleth to her own master , yet as the psalmist saith , i am horribly afraid for those that forsake thy law ; so have we just cause to suspect the fearefull finall estate of orpah . kissed her mother . that is , gave her this last salutation of her departure . here we see , that those who want grace and true sanctitie , may notwithstanding have manners and good civil●tie . now had orpah changed the corporall kisse she gave to her mother , into a spirituall kisse to her saviour , psal. . kisse the sonne , lest he be angry , her case had been as happie as now it may seeme to be hopelesse . but leaving her , we come to our selves , and gather this doctrine . doctrine . those who at the first were forward in religion , may afterward altogether fall away , tim. . . heb. . . matth. . . it may therefore serve to abate the proud carriage of such , who as if it were not enough to be sure , will also be presumptuous of their salvation , and thereby take leave and libertie to themselves to live more licentiously . objection . but as once one of the children of the prophets cryed out to elisha , oman of god , there is death in the pot ; so may the weak christian complaine against this doctrine : o it is a deadly and dangerous one , containing much matter of despaire , too bitter for the pallat of a poore christian to taste , or his stomack to digest , it quencheth all the sparkes of my comfort , and hacketh asunder all the sinewes of my hope ; i feare , lest orpah-like , i also should fall away : what shall i doe , that i may be saved ? answer . let not the smoaking flax be dismay'd , which in time may be a blazing flame ; nor the bruised reed be discouraged , which may prove a brazen pillar in the temple of god : that therefore thou mayest finally persevere , observe these foure rules . rule . first , utterly renounce all sufficiencie in thy selfe . who but a mad man will now adayes warrant the paper-shields of his owne strength , that knowes that adams compleat armour of original integritie , was shot thorow in paradise . rule . secondly , place all thy confidence on the undeserved mercie of god : perseverance commeth neither from the east , nor from the west , nor as yet from the south ; but god suffereth one to fall , and holdeth up another . the temple of solomon had two pillars ; one called iachin , sounding in hebrew , the lord will stablish ; the other booz , signified , in him is strength : so every christian ( the temple of the holy-ghost ) is principally holden up by these two pillars , gods power , and will , to support him . wherefore in every distresse let us crie out to god , as the disciples did to our saviour , in the midst of a tempest , helpe master , or else we perish . rule . thirdly , use all those means which god hath chalked out for the encrease of grace in thee ; as prayer , meditation , reverent receiving the sacraments , accompanying with gods ●hildren , reading , hearing the word , & ● . rule . fourthly , alwayes preserve in thy selfe an awfull feare , lest thou shouldst fall away from god : feare to fall , and assurance to stand , are two sisters ; and though cain said , he was not his brothers keeper , sure i am , that this feare doth watch and guard her sister assurance : tantus est gradus certitudinis , quantus sollicitudinis : they that have much of this feare , have much certaintie ; they that have little , little certaintie ; they that have none , have none at all . it is said in building , that those chimneyes which shake most , and give way to the wind , will stand the longest : the morall in divinitie is true ; those christians that shiver for feare by sinnes to fall away , may be observed most couragious to persist in pietie . comfort . to those that diligently practise these rules , i will adde this comfort : encourage thy selfe , that god will keepe thee from apostasie unto the end , because alreadie hitherto he hath preserved thee : for gods former favours are pawnes and pledges of his future love . davids killing of a lyon and a beare , were the earnests of his victorie over goliah . thus s. paul reasoneth , cor. . who delivered us from so great a death , and doth deliver ; in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us . when rachel bare her first sonne , gen. . she called him ioseph , and said , the lord shall adde to me another sonne . so , when god hath alreadie blessed us and supported us for the time past , let us say with rachel , ioseph , the lord will adde : he will not stay , or stint , or stop here ; but as he hath kept me from my mothers wombe , and ever since i was borne , so i trust he will not forsake me when i am aged , and full of gray haires . but to returne to her which returned againe to moab : we reade in sam. . that the people which passed by the corp● of murthered amasa , being moved with such a hideous and uncouth a spectacle , they stood still : but when we reade this booke of ruth , and come to orpahs aposta●ie , there let us a while pause and demurre , to reade in her fall a lecture of our owne infirmitie . for if we stand , it is not because we have more might in our selves , but because god hath more mercie on us . let us therefore worke out our salvation with feare and trembling : ever trembling , lest we should be cast to hell ; ever triumphing , that we shall come to heaven : ever fearfull , lest we should fall ; ever certaine , that we shall stand : ever carefull , lest we should be damned ; ever chearfull , that we shall be saved . concerning ruths perseverance , we intend to treat hereafter . vers. . and naomi said , behold , thy sister in law is gone back unto her people , aud unto her gods ; returne thou after thy sister in law . in these words , naomi seekes to perswade ruth to returne ; alledging the example of orpah , whom she saith was gone ba●k to her people and to her gods . observation . where first we finde , that all the heathen , and the moabites amongst the rest , did not acknowledge one true god , but were the worshippers of many gods ; for they made every attribute of god to be a dis●inct d●itie . thus in stead of that at●●ib●te , the wi●dome of god , they fained apollo the god of wisdome ; in stead of the power of god , they made mars the god of power ; in stead of that admirable beautie of god , they had venus the goddesse of beautie . ●ut no one ●ttribute was so much abused as gods providence : for the heathen supposing that the whole world , and all the creatures therein , was too great a diocesse to be dayly visited by one and the same deitie ; they therefore assigned sundry gods to severall creatures . thus gods providence , in ruling the raging of the seas , was counted neptune ; in stilling the roaring winds , aeolus ; in commanding the powers of hell , pluto : yea , sheepe had their pan , and gardens their pomona : the heathens then being as fruitfull in faining of gods , as the papists since in making of saints . doctrine . now , because naomi used the example of orpah as a motive , to worke upon ruth to returne , we gather from thence ; examples of others set before our eyes , are very potent and prevalent arguments to make us follow and imitate them : whether they be good examples ; so the forwardnesse of the corinthians to relieve the iews , provoked many : or whether they be bad ; so the dissembling of peter at anti●ch 〈◊〉 barnaba● , and others , into the same fault . but those examples , of all others , are most forcible with us , which are set by such who are neere to us by kindred , or gracious with us in friendship , of great over us in power . vse . let men in eminent places , as magistrates , ministers , fathers , masters , and the like , ( seeing that others love to dance after their pipe , to sing after their tune , to tread after their tract ) endeavour to propound themselves patternes of pietie and religion to those that be under them . vse . when we see any good example propounded unto us , let us strive with all possible speed to imitate it . what a deale of stirre is there in the world for civill precedencie , and prioritie ? every one desires to march in the fore-front , and thinkes it a shame to come lagging in the rere-ward . oh , that there were such an holy ambition and heavenly emulation in our hearts , that as peter and iohn ran a race , which should come first to the grave of our saviour ; so men would contend , who should first attaine to true mortification . and when we see a good example set before us , let us imitate it , though it be in one who in outward respects is farre our inferiour . shall not the master be ashamed to see that his man , whose place on earth is to come behinde him , in pietie towards heaven to goe before him ? shall not the husband blush to see his wife , which is the weaker vessel in nature , to be the stronger vessel in grace ? shall not the elder brother dye his cheekes with the colour of vertue , to see his younger brother , who was last borne , first re-borne by faith and the holy-ghost ? yet let him not therefore envie his brother , as ●ain did abel ; let him not be angry with his brother , because he is better then himselfe ; but let him be angry with himselfe , because he is worse then his brother ; let him turne all his malice into imitation ; all his fretting at him , into following of him : say unto him as gehazi did of naaman , as the lord liveth i will run after him : and though thou ca●st not over-run him , nor as yet over-take him , yet give not over to run with him ; follow him , though not as az●hel did ab●er , hard at the heeles ; yet as peter did our saviour , afarre off : that though the more slowly , yet as surely thou mayest come to heaven : and though thou wert short of him whilest he lived , in the race , yet thou shalt be even with him when thou art dead , at the marke . vse . when any bad example is presented unto us , let us decline and detest it , though the men be never so many , or so dear unto us . imitate michaiah , kings . to whom when the messengers sent to fetch him , said , behold now the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one mouth : let thy word therefore , i pray thee , be like to one of them ; michaiah answered , as the lord liveth , whatsoever the lord saith unto me , that will i speake . if they be never so deare unto us , we must not follow their ●ad practice . so must the sonne please him that begat him , that he doe not displease him that crea●ed him ; so must the wi●e follow him that married her , that she doth not offend him that made her . wherefore as samson , though bound with new co●ds , ●●apt them asunder as towe when it feeleth the fire ; so rather then we should be led by the lewd examples of those which be neere and deare unto us , let us breake in pieces all tyes , engagements , relations whatsoever . question . yea but one may say , what if i finde in the scripture an action recorded , whose doer is knowne to have beene a godly and gracious man ; may i not , without any further doubt , or scruple , follow the same ? answer . for the better satisfying hereof , i will ranke the actions of godly men , registred in the scriptures , into nine severall rankes , and will shew how farre forth we may safely proceed in the imitation of them . . we fide some actions set downe which are extraordinary , the doers whereof had peculiar strength and dispensation from god to doe them . thus samson slew himselfe and the philistims in the temple of dagon ; elias caused fire to descend on the two captaines , and their ●ifties ; elisha cursed the children of be●hel . now these are recorded rather for our instruction , then imitation : for when the sonnes of thunder would have been the sonnes of lightning , and have had sire from heaven to burne the samaritans , which refused to receive our saviour , after the example of elias christ checked their ill-tempered zeale , and told them , you know not of what spirit you are of . . some examples are set down which are founded in the ceremonial law , as the eating of the paschall lamb , the circumcising of their children the eight daie : now the date of these did expire at the death of christ ; the substance being come , the shadows are fled , and therefore they may in no wise still be observed . . such examples as are founded in the judicial law , which was onely calculated ●or the elevation of the jewish common-wealth , as to put men to death for adulterie . now these examples tie us no farther to imitate them , then they agree with the moral law , or with those statutes by which every particular countrie is governed . . some there be founded in no law at all , ●ut onely in an ancient custome by god tolerated and connived at , as polygamie in the patriarks , divorces in the iewes upon every ●light occasion ; from these also we must in these daies abstaine , as which were never liked or allowed by god , though permitted in some persons , and ages , for some speciall reasons . . doubtful examples which may so be termed , because it is difficult to decide whether the actors of them therein did offend or no ; so that should a jurie of learned writers be empannelled to passe their verdict upon them , they would be puzled whether to condemn or acquit them , and at length be forced to find it an ig●oramus , as whether david did well to dissemble himselfe frantick , thereby to escape the crueltie of achish king of gath. now our most advised way herein , is altogether to abstain from the imitation of them , because there is a deal of difficultie and danger ▪ and our judgements may easilie be deceived . . mixt examples , which containe in them a double action , the one good , the other bad , both so closely couched together , that it is a very hard thing to sever them : thus in the unjust steward , there was his wisdome to provide for himselfe , and his wick●dnesse to purloyne from his master : the first god did commend , we may imitate ; the latter he could not but loath , we may not but shun . in the israelitish midwives , exod. . there was fides mentis & fallacia mentientis : the faith of their love , and the falsenesse of their lying : the first god rewarded , and we may follow ; the latter he could not but dislike , and we must detest . behold here is wisdome , and let the man that hath understanding discreetly divide betwixt the drosse and the gold , the chaffe and the wheat in these mixt examples , that so they may practice the one , eschew and avoid the other . . those which be absolutely bad , that no charitable comment can be fastened upon them , as the drunkenness of noah , the incest of lot , the lying of abraham , the swearing of ioseph , the adulterie of david , the denial of peter : now god forbid we should imitate these ; farre be it from us with king ahaz , to take a pattern from the idolatrous altar of damascus : the holy spirit hath not set these sinnes down with an intent they should be followed ; but first to shew the frailtie of his dearest saints , when he leaves them to themselves ; as also to comfort us when we fall into grievous sinnes , when we see that as haynous offences of gods servants stand upon record in the scripture . . actions which are only good as they are qualified with such a circumstance , as davids eating of the shew●bread , provided for the pries●s , in a case of absolute necessitie . these we may follow , but then we must have a speciall eye and care that the same qualifying circumstance be in us , for otherwise the deed will be impious and damnable . . examples absolutely good , as the faithfulnesse of abr●ham , the peaceablenesse of isaac , the painfulnesse of iacob , the chastitie of ioseph , the patience of moses , the valour of ioshuah , the sinceritie of d●vid , these it is lawful and laudable with our best endeavours to imitate : follow not the adulterie of david , but follow the chastitie of ioseph ; follow not the dissembling of peter , but follow the sincerity of nathaniel ; follow not the testiness of ionah , but follow the meeknesse moses ; follow not the apostasie of orpah , but follow the perseverance of ruth , which cmes in the next text to be treated of . vers. , . and ruth answered , intreat me not to leave thee , nor to depart from thee ; for whither thou goest , i will goe ; and where thou dwellest , i will dwell : thy people shall be my people , and thy god my god. where thou diest , will i die , and there will i be buried ; the lord doe so to me , and more also , if ought but death part thee and me . here we have the resolution of ruth portrayed in lively colours : so that if we consider her sex , a woman ; her nation , a moabite ; one may boldly pronounce of her what our saviour did of the centurion ; verily i say unto you , i have not found so great faith , no , not in israel . intreat me not to leave thee . some reade it , be not thou against me , as it is in the margent of the new translation . where we see , that those are to be accounted our adversaries , and against us , who disswade us from our voyage to canaan , from going to gods true religion . they may be our fathers , they cannot be our friends ; though they promise us all outward profits and pleasures , yet in very deed they are not with us , but against us , and so must be accounted of . where thou lodgest , i will lodge . a good companion , saith the latin● proverb , is pro viatico , i may adde also , pro diversorio : ruth ▪ so be it she may enjoy naomies gracious companie , will be content with any lodging , though happily it may be no better then ia●ob had , gen. . and yet we see how some have been discouraged even from the company of our saviour , for feare of hard lodging ▪ witnesse the scribe , to whom when our saviour said , the foxes have their holes , and the fowles of the ayre have nests , bu● the sonne of man hath not where to lay his head : this cold comfort presently quencht his forward zeale , and he never appeared afterward ; whereas he ought to have said to our saviour as ruth to naomi , where thou lodgest will i lodge . thy people shall be my people . haman being offended with mordecai , as if it had been but leane and weak revenge to spit his spight upon one person , hated all the iewes for mordecai's sake ; the mad beare stung with one bee , would needs throw downe the whole hive . but cleane contrarie , niomi had so graciously demeaned her selfe , that ruth for her sake is fallen in love with all the iewes . farewell melchom , farewell chemosh , farewell moab ; welcome israel ▪ welcome canaan , welcome bethlehem : all of a sudden she will tur●e convert , she will turne proselyte . observation . the godly carriage of one particular person may beget a love of that countrey and people whereof he is , even in a stranger and forreiner . doe we then desire to gaine credit to our countrey , prayse to our people , honour to our nation , reput● to our religion ? let us dep●rt and behave our selves graciously , if we live ●mongst strangers . on the other side , the base and debauched manners of some one man is able to make his countrey stink in the nostrils of those forreiners amongst whom he lives : ex uno discite omnes ; in one faithlesse sinon one may reade the trecherie of all the grecians . thy god shall be my god. iehosaphat when he joyned with ahab , kings . said unto him , my people is as thy people , and my horses are as thy horses ; that is , he would comply with him in a politike league : but ruth goes further to an unitie in religion , thy god shall be my god. yea , but one may say , how came ruth to know who was the god of naomi ? i answer : as god said of abraham , i know that abraham will instruct his children ; so may one confidently say of naomi : i know that naomi had catechised and instructed her daughter in law , and often taught her , that the god of the israelites was the onely true god , who made heaven and earth , and that all others were but idols , the workes of mens hands ▪ yet as the samaritans beleeved our saviour first upon the relation of the woman that came from the well , iohn . . but afterwards said unto her , now we beleeve , not because of thy saying ; for we have heard him our selves , and know th●t this is indeed the christ , the saviour of the world . so happily ruth was induced first to the liking of the god of israel , upo● the credit of naomies words ; but afterwards her love of him proceeded from a more certaine ground , the motions of gods holy spirit in her heart . where thou diest will i die . here ruth supposeth two things : first ▪ that she and her mother in law should both die ; it is appointed for all once to die : secondly , that naomi , as the eldest , should die first ; for according to the ordinarie custome of nature , it is most probable and likely , that those that are most stricken in yeares should first depart this life : yet i know not whether the rule or the exceptions be more generall , and therefore let both young and old prepare for death ; the first may die soone , but the second cannot live long . and there will i be buried . where she supposeth two things more : first , that those that survived her , would doe her the favour to burie her ; which is a common courtesie , not to be denyed to any : it was an epitaph written upon the grave of a begger , nudus 〈◊〉 vivus , 〈◊〉 ecce tegor . secondly , she supposeth that they would burie her , according to her instructions , neere to her mother naomi . observation . as it is good to enjoy the companie of the godly while they are living , so it is not amisse , if it will stand with conveniencie , to be buried with them after death . the old prophets bones escapt a burning , by being buried with the other prophets ; and the man who was tumbled into the grave of e●isha , was revived by the vertue of his bones . and we reade in the acts and monuments , that the body of peter martyr's wi●e was buried in a dunghill ; but afterward being taken up in the reigne of queene elizabeth , it was ho●ourably buried in oxford , in the grave of one frideswick , a popish shee-saint ; to this end ▪ that if poperie , which god forbid , should over-spread our kingdome againe , and if the papists should goe about to un●ombe peter martyr's wives bone● , they should be puzzled to distinguish betwi●● this womans body and the reliqu●s of their saint . so , good it is sometimes to be buried with those who some doe account pious , though perchance in very deed they be not so . the lord doe so to me , and more also . to ascertaine naomi of the seriousness● of her intentions herein , ruth backs what formerly she had said with an oath , lined with an execration . observation . whence we may gather , it is lawfull for us to sweare upon a just cause : but then these three rules must be warily observed . first , that we know that the thing whereto we sweare be true , if the oath be assertorie ; and if it be promissorie , that we be sure that it is in our intent , and in our power , god blessing us , to performe that which we promise . secondly , that the occasion whereupon we use it , be of moment and consequence , not trifling and trivial . thirdly , that we sweare by god alone , and not by any creature . sweare then neither by the heaven , nor by the earth , nor by ierusal●m , nor by the temple , nor by the gold of the temple , nor by the altar , nor by the sacrifice on the altar , but by god alone ; for he onely is able to reward thee , if that thou affirmest be true ; he onely is able to punish thee , if that thou avouchest be false . yet this doth no wayes favour the practice of many now adayes , who make oathes their language . our saviour said to the i●mes ; many good workes have i shewed you from the father ; for which of them goe you about to stone me ? so may the lord say to many riotous gallants now adayes ; many good deeds have i done to thee , i created thee of nothing , i sent my sonne to die for thee , by my providence i continually protect and preserve thee ; for which of these deeds doest thou g●e about by oathes to blaspheme me ? now whereas ruth doth not say , god damne me , god confound me , i would i might never stirre ; but shrowds the execration under generall te●mes , god ●oe so to me , and more also : we learne , it is not good to particularize in any kinde of punishment when we sweare , but onely to expresse the curse in generall termes , leaving it to the discretion of god almightie , to chuse that arrow out of his quiver which he shall thinke most ●it to s●oot at us . if ought but death . see here the large extent of a saints love , it lasts till death ; and no wonder ; for it is not founded upon honour , beautie , or wealth , or any other sinister respect in the partie beloved , which is subject to age , or mutabilitie , but onely on the grace and pietie in him ; which foundation because it alwayes lasteth , that love which is built upon it , is also perpetuall . part thee and me . death is that which parteth one friend from another : then the deare father must part with his dutifull child , then the dutifull child must forgoe his deare father ; then the kinde husband must leave his constant wife , then the constant wife must lose her kinde husband ; then the carefull master must be sundred from his i●dustrious servant , then the industrious servant must be severed from his carefull master . yet this may be some comfort to those whose friends death hath taken away , that as our saviour said to the disciples , yet a little while and you shall not see me , and yet a little while and you shall see me againe : so yet a little while , and we shall not see our friends ; and yet a little while , and we shall see them againe in the kingdome of heaven ; for , non mittuntur , sed praemittuntur , we doe not forgoe them , but they goe before us . to conclude : we see many women so strangely disguised with phantastick fashions , as if they desired to verifie the nick-name of the philosopher , and to prove themselves in very deed to be very monsters ; yea , many of them so affect man-like clothes and shorne haire , it is hard to discover the sex of a woman through the attire of a man. but we see in my text , worthy ruth taking upon her , not the clothes , but the courage ; not the haire , but the heart ; not the attire , but the resolution of a man , yea , and more then of a man , wi●n●sse her worthy speech , intreat me not to depart &c. vers. . and when she saw that she was stedfastly minded to goe with her , sh● left off speaking unto her . orpah and ruth may be compared to two strong forts , naomi to one that b●sieged them , who made three●sore as●●●●ts upon them : the first , in the eighth verse ; which assault both of them resisted with equall constancie : the second , in the eleventh verse ; to which orpah basely yeeldeth , and accepteth termes of composition : the last , in the fifteenth verse ; which ruth most valiantly defeated , and stood upon termes of defiance to the mention of any returne . now as ●ouldiers when they have long besieged a citie with the losse of time , money , and men , being hopelesse to take it , they even sound a retreat , and retire home , without accomplishing their d●sire : so naomi perceiving that all her arguments which she used to conquer ruth , like water in the smiths ●orge cast on coales , did more intend the heat of her constancie , gives over in my text , and when she saw &c. which words doe probably perswade what formerly we affirmed , namely , that naomi disswaded her daughter , onely to search and sound her sinceritie , not with any true desire she should goe back to moab . for even as it is plaine , that the replyer in his disputation aimeth not at the suppressing , but at the advancing of a truth , who surceaseth and cavills no longer , when he sees the neck of his argument broken with a sufficient answer ; so it appeareth that naomi , what she had said formerly , spake it onely to trie her daughter , because having now had sufficient experience of her constancie , she so willingly desisted . god wrestled with iacob , with a desire to be conquer'd ; so naomi no doubt opposed ruth , hoping and wishing that she her selfe might be ●o●led . and when she saw that she was stedfastly minded . the hebrew reades it , that she strengthned her selfe ; that being their phrase to expresse an oath . observa●ion . where we observe , oaths taken upon just occasion , are excellent ti●s and bands to strengthen men in the performance of those things to which they sweare . the greater pittie it is then , that a thing in it selfe so soveraigne , should be so dayly and dangerously abused . witnesse herod , who by reason of a rash oath , cast himselfe into a worse prison then that wherein he had put the baptist , m●king that ( which being well used might have confirmed in pietie ) to be a meanes to inforce him to murther . vse . let this ●each us , when we finde our selves to lagge and ●aulter in christianitie , to call to minde that● solemne vow , promise , and profession , which our god-fathers in our name made for us at our baptisme , to forsake the devill and all his workes , the vaine pompes and vanities of this wicked world , and to fight valiantly under christs standard . let us remember from whence we are fallen , and doe our first worke . we need not make a new vow , but only renew the old , and so settle and establish our selves in the practice of pietie , as ruth in my text by an oath strengthned her selfe . she left off speaking unto her . she saw she had now enough expressed and declared her integritie , and therefore she would not put her to the trouble of any farther tryall . observation . hence the doctrine is this : after proofe and tryall made of their fidelitie , we are to trust our brethren , without any farther suspition . not to trie before we trust , is want of wisdome ; not to trust after we have tryed , is want of charitie . the goldsmith must purifie the drosse and oare from the gold , but he must be warie lest he makes waste of good metall , if over-curious in too often refining . we may search and sound the sinceritie of our brethren , but after good experience made of their uprightnesse , we must take heed lest by continuall sifting and proving them , we offend a weak christian. christ tryed the woman of syrophaenicia first with silence , then with two sharpe answers ; at last finding her to be sound , he dismissed her with granting her request , and commending of her faith . when he had said to peter the third time , lovest thou me ? he rested satisfied with peters answer , and troubled him with no more questions . vse . it may confute the jealous and suspitious mindes of such who still thinke that their brethren are rotten at the heart , hypocritical , dissemblers , though they have made never so manifest proofe of their uprightnesse . thomas would not take his masters resurrection on the credit of his fellow-apostles relation ; his faith would not follow , except his owne sense was the usher to lead it the way : so these men are altogether incredulous , and very infidels in the point of their brethrens sinceritie , though it be never so surely warranted unto them on the words of those whom they ought to beleeve . hence oftentimes it comes to passe , that they scandalize and offend many weake christians , whose graces are true , though weake ; faith unfained , though feeble : yea , it maketh weake saints to be jealous of themselves , to see others so jealous of them . but we must be wonderfull carefull how we give offence to any of gods little ones . when esau , gen. . . would have perswaded iacob to drive on faster , iacob excused himselfe , saying , that the children were tender , and the ewes big with young , and if they should be over-driven one day , they would die . thus if any would perswade us to sift and winnow , and trie the integritie of our brethren , after long experience of them , we may answer , this is dangerous to be done , because smoaking flax and bruised reeds , tender professors , may utterly be discouraged and dis-heartened by our restlesse pressing and disquieting of them . wherefore naomi having now seene the realitie of ruths resolutions , left off from any further molesting of her . vers. , , , . so they went both untill they came to bethlehem , and when they came to bethlehem , all the citie was moved at them , and they said , is not this naomi ? and she said , call me not naomi , but call me marah , for the lord hath dealt bitterly with me . i went out full , and the lord hath caused me to returne emptie ; why call you me naomi , sithence t●e lord hath testified against me , and the almightie hath afflicted me ? so naomi returned , and ruth the moabitesse ; her daughter in law with her , when she came out of the countrey of moab ; and th●y came to bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest . the holy spirit mentioneth not what discourse ●hey exchanged by the way ; yet no doubt they were neither silent , nor bu●ied in unprofitable talke . and all the citie was moved , &c. see here , naomi was formerly a woman of good qualitie and fashion , of good ranke and repute ; otherwise her returne in povertie had not been so generally taken notice of . shrubs may be grubb'd to the ground , and none misse them , but every one markes the felling of a cedar . groveling cottages may be evened to the earth , and none observe them ; but every traveller takes notice of the ●all of a steeple . let this comfort those to whom god hath given small possessions . should he visit them with povetie , and ●ake from them that little they have , yet their griefe and shame would be the lesse : they should not have so many fingers pointed at them , so many eyes staring on them , so many words spoken of them ; they might lurke in obscuritie ; it must be a naomi , a person of eminency and estate , whose povertie must move a whole citie . and they said , is not this naomi ? remarkable it is , that so many peopl● should jump in the same expression ; but as abraham laughed , and sarah laughed , both used the same outward gesture , yet arising from different causes ; his laughter from joy , her 's from distrust : so all these people might meet in the same forme of words , yet farre dissent in their minds wherewith they spake them . some might speak out of admiration , strange , wonderfull is this she who once was so wealthie ? how quickly is a river of riches drained drie ? she that formerly was so faire , 〈◊〉 one can scarce read the ruines of ●eauty in her face : is not this naomi ? some out of exprobation ; see , see , this is she that could not be content to tarry at home to take part of the famine with the rest of her fellows , but needs with her husband and sons , ●ust be gadding to moab : see what goo● she hath got by removing , by changing her country , she hath changed her condition : is not this naomi ? some might speak it out of commiseration : alas , alas , is not this that gracious woman , that godly saint , which formerly by her charity relieved many in distresse ? how soon is a full clod turned into parched earth ? one that supplied others , into one that needeth to be supplied by others : is not this naomi ? and she said , call me not naomi , but call me marah . naomi , signifieth beautifull ; marah , bitter , exod. . . where we see , that the godly in poverti● are unwilling to have names and titles , disagreeing and disproportioned to their present estates , which may confute the folly of many , which being in distress , and living little better then upon the alms of others , will still stand upon their points , bear themselves bravely on their ▪ birth , not lose an inch of their place , not abate an ace of their gentrie ; far otherwise was naomi affected , being poor , she would not be overnamed , or title-heavie : call me not naomi , but call me marah . observ. here also we may see , that it was a custome of great antiquitie in the world , that men and women should have severall names whereby they were called , and that for these three reasons . . that they might be differenced and distinguished from others . . that they might be stirred up to verifie the meanings and significations of their names : wherefore let every obadiah strive to be a servant of god , each nathaniel to be a gift of god , onesimus to be profitable , every roger quiet and peaceable , robert famous for counsell , and william a help and defence to many ; not like absalon , who was not a father of peace , as his name doth import , but a sonne of sedition ; and diotrephes , not nursed by god , as his name sounds , but puffed up by the devill , as it is iohn . . that they might be incited to imitate the vertues of those worthy persons , who formerly have been bearers and owners of their names . let all abrahams be faithfull , isaac's quiet , iacobs painfull , iosephs chaste , every lewis pious , edward confessor of the true faith , william conqueror over his own corruptions . let them also carefully avoid those sinnes for which the bearers of the names stand branded to posteritie . let every ionah beware of frowardnesse , thomas of distrustfulnesse , martha of worldliness , mary of wantonnesse . if there be two of our names , one exceedingly good , the other notoriously evill , let us decline the vices of the one , and practise the vertues of the other . let every iudas not follow iudas iscariot , who betrayed our saviour , but iudas the brother of iames , the writer of the generall epistle ; each demetrius , not follow him in the acts who made silver shrines for diana , but demetrius iohn , who had a good report of all men . every ignatius not imitate ignatius loiola the lame father of blind obedience , but ignatius the worty martyr in the primitve church . and if it should chance through the indiscretion of parents and god-fathers , that a bad name should be imposed on any ; oh let not folly be with them , because nabal is their name ; but in such a case , let them strive to falsifie , disprove , and confute their names ; otherwise if they be good , they must answer them . in the dayes of q. elizabeth , there was a royall ship called the revenge , which having maintained a long fight against a fleet of spaniards , ( wherein eight hundred great shot were discharged against her ) was at last faine to yeeld : but no sooner were her men gone out of her , and two hundred fresh spaniards come into her , but she suddenly sunke them and her selfe ; and so the revenge was revenged . shall livelesse pieces of wood answer the names which men impose upon them , and shall not reasonable soules doe the same ? but of all names , i pray god that never just occasion be given , that we be christened icca●od , but that the glory may remaine in our israel so long as the faithfull witnesse endureth in heaven . and so much of those words , call me not naomi , but &c. for the lord hath dealt bitterly with me . afflictions rellish soure and bitter even to the pallats of the best saints . observation . now bitter things are observed in physick to have a double operation : first , to strengthen and corroborate the liver ; and secondly , to cleanse and wipe away choler , which cloggeth the stomack : both these effects afflictions by their bitternesse produce ; they strengthen the inward vitals of a christian , his faith and patience , and cleanse gods saints from those superfluous excrements which the surfeit of prosperitie hath caused in them . it may therefore serve to comfort such as groane under gods afflicting hand , hebrews . . the book which s. iohn eat , rev. . . was sweet in his mouth , but bitter in his belly : cleane contrarie , afflictions are bitter in the mouth , but sweet in the belly ; god by sanctifying them , extracting honey out of gall , and sugar out of wormewood . and let it teach us also , not t● wonder if the children of god winch and shrug , and make soure faces , when afflicted : wonder not at david , if he cryeth out in the anguish of his heart ; at iob , if he complaineth in the bitternesse of his soule ; at ieremiah , if he lamenteth in the ●xtremitie of his griefe : for even then they are swallowing of a potion , which is bitter unto flesh and blood . i went out full , and the lord hath caused me to returne emptie . here may we see the uncertaintie of all outward wealth . observation . how quickly may a crassus , or crosu● be turned into a codrus ; the richest , into the poorest of men ! whom the sunne-rising seeth in wealth , him the sunne-setting may see in want . set not up then your hornes so high , neither speake presumptuous words , ye wealthie men ; for god , it it pleaseth him , can in a moment dispossesse you of all your riches . and let us all not lay up treasures here on earth , where rust and mothes doe corrupt , and theeves breake through and steale ; but lay up your treasure in heaven , where rust and moth doe not corrupt , and theeves doe not breake through and steale . why call you me naomi , sithence the lord &c. the mention of their former wealth is grievous to the godly , when they are in p●esent povertie . observation . when the children of israel are captives in babylon , it cuts them to the heart to be twitted with the songs of sion . and it may teach this point of wisdome to such as repaire to give comfort to men in affliction , not to mention that tedious and ingratefull subject , what happinesse that partie formerly enjoyed . summe not up to iob in distresse , the number of his camels , tell not his sheepe , reckon not his oxen , reade not unto him an inventorie of those goods whereof he before was possessed , for this will but adde to his vexation ; rather descend , to apply solid and substantial comfort unto him . ●ithence the lord hath testified against me , and the almightie hath afflicted me● every affliction is a witnesse that god is angry with us for our sinnes . observation . who then is able to hold out suit ●ith god in the court of heaven ? for god himselfe is both judge and witnesse , and also the executor and inflicter of punishments . it is therefore impossible for sinfull man to plead with him ; and it is our most advised course , as soone as may be , to come to te●mes of composition with him , and to make meanes unto him through the mediation of our saviour . now that all afflictions are immediately inflicted by god , we have shewed formerly . and they came to bethlehem in the beginning of early harvest . the iewes had two distinct harvests of wheat and barly , and barly was the first , sam. . . so here we see the providence of god , in ordering and disposing the journey of naomi , to end it in the most convenient time . had she come before harvest , she would have been straitned for meanes to maintaine her selfe ; if after harvest , ruth had lost all those occasions which paved the way to her future advancement . god therefore , who ordered her going , concludes her journey in the beginning of harvest . and thus have we gone over this chapter . now as samuel in the first booke , chap. . vers . . erected an altar , and called it eben-ezer , for , said he , hitherto the lord hath helped us : so here may i rayse an altar of gratitude unto god , with the same inscription , eben-ezer , hitherto the lord of his goodnesse hath assisted us . chap. ii. vers. . . and naomi had a kinsman of her husbands , a mighty man of wealth , of the family of elimelech , and his name was boaz. and ruth the moabitesse said unto naomi , i pray thee let me go into the field , and gather ears of corne after him , in whose sight i find favour : and she said unto her , goe my daughter . this first verse presents us with two remarkable things . . poore naomi was allied to powerful boaz. . boaz was both a powerful man , and a godly man. of the first . poore people may be allied and of great kindred to those that are wealthy ; and those that be wealthy , to suuh as are poor . ioseph , though governour of egypt ▪ had poor iacob to his father , and plain shepheards to his brethren . ●sther , though queene to ahashuerus ▪ hath poore mordecai for her uncle . vse . let this confute such as having gotten a little more thick clay then the rest of their family , the getting of new wealth and honour makes them to lose their old eyes , so that they cannot see and discern their poor kindred afterwards . when ioseph was governour of egypt , it is said , that he knew his brethren , but his brethren knew not him ; b●t now adayes it happeneth cleane contrary . if one of a family be advanced to great honour , it is likely that his kindred will know him , but he oftentimes comes to forget them . few there be of the noble nature of the lord cromwel , who sitting at dinner with the lords of the council , and chancing to see a poor man afar off which used to sweep the cells and the cloisters , called for the man , and told the lords ; this mans father hath given me many a good meale , and he shall not lack so long as i live . [ fox page . ] vse . let it teach those who are the top of their kindred , the best of their house , to be thankful to gods gracious goodnesse who hath raised them to such a height . he hath not dealt thus with every one , neither are all of their kindred so well provided for outward maintenance . and also let them learn to be bounti●ul and beneficial to their kindred in distress . mordecai said to esther , esth. . . who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdome for such a time ? namely to deliver her country-men the jews from that imminent danger . so who knoweth whether god hath raised thee up , who art the best of thy kindred , to this very intent , that thou ●ightest be the treasure and the store-house to supplie the want of others which are allied unto thee ? but if one should chance to be of so wealthy a stock , as that none of his alliance stood in need of his charity ; let such a one cast his eye upon such as are of kindred unto him by his second birth , and so he shall find enough widows , orphans , and poor christians , to receive his libe●alitie . notwithstanding , let poor people be warie and discreet , that through their idlenesse they be not a burthen to wealthie men of their alliance . when a husband-man claimed kindred in gro●ted bishop of lincoln , and would fain on the instant turn a gentleman , and to this end requested his lordship to bestow an office upon him : the bishop told him , that if his plough were broken , he would mend it ; if he wanted a ●lough , he would make him a new one ; telling him withall , that he should by no means leave that calling and vocation wherein god had set him . so ought all poor people industriously to take pains for themselves , and not to give themselves over to ease , relying and depending for their maintenance on their reference and relation to a rich kinsman . come we now to the second observation , that the same man may be godly , and also mighty in wealth like boaz. behold your calling ; not many wise , yet some wise , as salomon , and sergius deputie of cyprus ; not many rich , yet some rich , as abraham , iob ; not many noble , yet some noble , as theophilus . for it is not the having of wealth , but the having confidence in wealth ; not the possessing it , but the relying on it , which makes rich men incapable of the kingdome of heaven : otherwise wealth well used is a great blessing , enabling the owner to do god more glorie , the church and common-wealth more good . vse . let all wealthie men strive to add inward grace unto their outward greatness . oh 't is excellent when ioash and iehoiada meet together ; when prince and pri●st , power and pietie are united in the same person ; that so greatnesse may be seasoned and sanctified by grace , and grace credited and countenanced by greatnesse ; that so kings may be nursing-fathers , and queenes nursing-mothers to gods church . contrarie to which , how many be there , ●hat thinke themselves priviledged from being good , because they are great ? confining pietie to hospitals ; for their owne parts they disdaine so base a companion . hence as hills , the higher , the barrenner ; so men commonly , the wealthier , the worse ; the more honour , the lesse holinesse . and as rivers , when content with a small channell , runne sweet and cleare ; when swelling to a navigable channell , by the confluence of severall tributarie rivulets , gather mudde and mire , and grow salt and brackish , and violently beare downe all before them ▪ so many men , who in meane estates have been pious and religious , being advanced in honour , and inlarged in wealth , have growne both empious and prophane towards god , cruell and tyrannicall over their brethren . and ruth the moabitesse said unto naomi , i pray thee let me goe into the field , and gather eares of corne &c. herein two excellent grace● appear● in ruth . first , obedience ; she would not goe to gleane , without the leave of her mother in law . verily i say unto you , i have not found so much dutie , no , not in naturall daughters to their owne mothers . how many of them now-adayes , in matters of more moment , will betroth and contract themselves , not onely without the knowledge and consent , but even against the expresse commands of their parents ? secondly , see her industrie , that she would condescend to gleane . though i thinke not , with the iewish rabbins , that ruth was the daughter to eglon , king of moab ; yet no doubt she was descended of good parentage , and now see , faine to gleane . whence we may gather , that those that formerly have had good birth , and breeding , may afterward be forced to make hard shifts to maintaine themselves . musculus was forced to worke with a weaver , and afterwards was faine to delve in the ditch , about the citie of strasburgh ; as pantalion in his life . let this teach even those whose veines are washed with generous bloud , and a●teries quickned with noble spirits , in their prosperitie to furnish , qualifie , and accommodate themselves with such gentile arts , and liberall mysteries , as will be neither blemish nor burthen to their birth , that so if hereafter god shall cast them into povertie , these arts may stand them in some stead , towards their maintenance and reliefe . and naomi said , goe my daughter . see here how meekely and mildly she answers her ▪ the discourse of gods children , in their ordinarie talke , ought ●o be kinde and courteous : so betwixt abraham and isaac , gen. . . betwixt elkanah and hannah , sam. . . indeed it is lawfull and necessarie for iacob to chide rachel speaking unadvisedly , gen. . . for iob to say to his wife , thou speakest like a foolish wife . but otherwise , when no just occasion of anger is given , their words ought to be meeke and kinde like naomies , goe my daughter . vers. , . and she went , and came and gleaned in the field after the reapers , and it happened that she met with the portion of the field ▪ of boaz , who was of the family of elimelech . and behold , boaz came from bethlehem , and said unto the reapers , the lord be with you ; and they answered him , the lord blesse thee . formerly we have seene the dutifulnesse of ruth , which would not leave her mother untill she had leave from her mother : proceed we now to her industrie , and gods providence over her . as the starre , math. . guided the wise-men to i●dea , to b●thlehem , to the inne , to the stable , to the manger : so the rayes and ●eames of gods providence conducted ●uth , that of all grounds within the compasse and confines , within the bounds and borders of bethlehem , she lighted on the field of boaz. and it happened . objection . how comes the holy spirit to use this word ; a prophane terme , which deserves to be banisht out of the mouthes of all christians ? are not all things ordered by gods immediate providence , without which a sparrow lighteth not o● the ground ? is not that sentence most true , god stretcheth from end to end strongly , and disposeth all things sweetly ? strongly , lord , for thee ; sweetly , lord , for me : so s. bernard . or was the providence of god solely confined to his people of israel , that so ruth being a stranger of moab , must be left to the adventure of hazard ? how comes the holy spirit to use this word , hap ? answer . things are said to happen , not in respect of god , but in respect of us ; because oftentimes they come to passe , not onely without our purpose and fore-cast , but even against our intentions and determinations . it is lawfull therefore in a sober sense to use these expressions , it chanced , or , it fortuned , luke . . nor can any just exception be taken against those words in the collect , through all changes and chances of this mortall life : provided alwayes , that in our formes of speech we dreame not of any heathen chance . it is observed , that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is not used in all the workes of homer ; but sure s. austine in the first of his retract . complaineth , that he had too often used the word fortuna ; and therefore in the pagans sense thereof , we ought to abstaine from it . observation . now whereas ruth by chance lighteth on boaz his field , we may observe ; admirable is the providence of god , in the ordering of contingent events , to his glory and his childrens good . the scripture swarmeth with presidents in this behalfe , which at this time i surcease to recite , and conclude with the psalmist ; o lord , how wonderfull are thy workes ! in wisdome hast thou made them all , the earth is full of thy riches . to which i may adde ; oh that men would therefore prayse the name of the lord , and shew forth the wonderfull workes that he doth for the children of men ! and behold boaz came unto his reapers . he had a man over them , yet himselfe came to over-see them . observation . where note ; it is the part of a thriving husband , not to trust the car● of his affairs to his servants , but to over-see them himselfe . the masters eye maketh a fat horse : and one asking , what was the b●st compost to manure land , it was answered the dust of the masters feet ; meaning his presence to behold his own business . hushai would not councell absolon to let achitophel goe with his armie , but advised him ; thou shalt goe to battel in thine own person . however he herein had a secret intent , yet thus farre the proportion holds : things thrive best , not when they are committed to surrogates , deputies , delegates , and substitutes : but when men themselves over-see them . let masters therefore of families , carefully attend on their own businesse ; and let the daughters of s●rah , whom the meeknesse of their sex hath priviledged from following without doors affairs , imitate the wise woman , proverbs . . . she rises whiles as yet it is night , and giveth her meat to her houshold , and their portions to her maids : she looks well to all the wayes of her houshold , and eateth not the bread of idlenesse . and such servants which have carelesse masters , let them look better to their masters estate , then their masters do to their own : let them be neither idle nor unfaithfull in their place , knowing , that though their earthly master be negligent to eye them , yet they have a master in heaven who both beholds and will punish , or reward them according to their deserts . and as for the sons of the prophets , let them feed the flock over which they are placed , and not thinke to shuffle and shift off their care to their cura●es and readers in their own unnecessary absence ; and yet how many ar● there , that preach as seldome as apollo laughs , once in the yeare : indeed eliah fasted forty dayes and forty nights in the strength of one meale ; but surely these think that their people can hold out fas●ing a twelve-moneth . well , let them practise boaz example , as they have curates , so had he one to care for his affairs , and yet behold in person , he comes forth unto his reapers . and said unto them , the lord be with you . observe , curteous and loving salutations beseeme christians : indeed our saviour mat. . forbade his disciples to salute any in the way , but his meaning was , that they should not lag or delay , whereby to be hindred from the service wherein they were imployed ; and s. iohn in his second epistle , saith , that to some we must not say god speed , lest we be made partakers of their evill deeds ; but that is meant of notorious sinners , which have discovered their impious intents . it is commonly said , that the small pox is not infectious untill it be broken out , so that before the time one may safely converse , eat , drinke , lie with them ; but after the pox is broken out , it is very dangerous : so we may safely salute , and exchange discourse with the most wicked sinners , whiles yet they smoother and conceale their bad designes ; but when once they declare and expresse them , then it is dangerous to have any further familiarity with them ; for such marsions , the first born of the devill , and the eldest sonne of satan , are salutations good enough . vse . those are justly to be reproved , which lately have changed all hea●y expressions of love into verball complements , which elymologie is not to be deduced a completione mentis , but a completè mentiri . and yet i cannot say , that these men lie in their throat , for i perswade my selfe , their words never came so neare their heart , but meerly they lie in their mouths , where all their promises both birth and burial in a breath they have ; that mouth which is their womb , it is their grave . yea , those words which s. paul to the corinthians , thought to be the most affectionate expression of love , is now made the word of course , commonly bandied betwixt superficial friends at the first encounter , your servant ; worse then these are the ambitious saluters , like absolon , sam. . . who at the same time , by taking his fathers subjects by their hands , stole away their hearts ; and the lower his bodie did couch , the higher his mind did aspire . worst of all is the treacherous salutation of iudas and ioab , who at one instant pretend lip-love , and intend heart hatred ; who both kisse and kill , embrace another with their hands , and imbrew their hands in his blood whom they embrace . and they answered him , the lord blesse thee . when one offers us a curt●●ie , especially being our superiour , it is fitting we should requi●e him . it is a noble conquest for to be overcome with wrongs ; but it is a signe of a degenerous nature , to be out-vied with courtesies ; and therefor● if one begin a kindnesse to us , let us ( if it lie in our power ) pledge him in the sam● nature . vers. , , . and boaz said unto the serv●nt which was appointed over the reapers , whose is this maid ? and the servant which was appointed over the reapers , answered and said ; this is the moabitish maid , which came with naomi from the countrey of moab , which came and said , let me gather i pray among the sheaves after the reapers ; and so she came and stayed here from morning untill now ; onely she tarried a little in the house . and boaz said unto the servant which was appointed over the reapers ▪ here we learne , that it is a part of good husbandry in a numerous family , to have one servant as steward , to over-see the rest . thus abraham had his eliezer of d●mascus , potiphar his ioseph , ioseph his man which put the cup into benjamin's sack ; ahab his obadiah , hezekiah his eli●kim , the sonne of hilkiah . observation . let masters therefore , in chusing these stewards to be set above the rest , take such as are qualified like iethro's description of inferiour judges , exod. . men of courage , fearing god , dealing truly , hating covetousnesse . and how-ever they priviledge them to be above the rest of their servants , yet let them make them to know their dutie and their distance to their masters , lest that come to passe which solomon fore-telleth , prov. . he that bringeth up his servant delicately in his youth , will make him like his sonne at the last . let stewards not be like that unjust one in the gospel , who made his masters debt●rs write down fiftie measures of wheat , and fourescore measures of oyle , when both severally should have been an hundred ; but let them carefully discharge their conscience , in that office wherein they are placed : whilest inferiour servants , that are under their command , must neither grieve nor grudge to obey them , nor envie at their honour : but let this comfort those underlings , that if they be wronged by these stewards , their appeale lyes open from them to their master , who if good , will no doubt redresse their gri●vances . now if stewards be necessarie in ordering of families , surely men in autho●itie are more necessarie , in governing the church , and managing the common-wealth . if a little cock-boat cannot be brought up a tributarie rivulet , without one to guide it ; how shall a car●van , a gallioun , or argosie , sayling in the vast ocean , be brought into a harbor , without a pilot to conduct it ? let us therefore with all willingnesse and humilitie submit our selves to our superiours , that so under them we may live a peaceable life , in all godlinesse and honestie . whose is this maid ? boaz would know what those persons were that gleaned upon his land ; and good reason : for we ought not to pros●tute our liberalitie to all , though unknowne ; but first we must examine who , and whence they be ; otherwise , that which is given to worthlesse persons , is not given , but throwne away . i speake not this to blunt the charitie of any , who have often bestowed their benevolence upon beggars unknowne and unseene before ; but if easily and with conveniencie ( as boaz could ) they may attaine to know the qualities and conditions of such persons , before they dispose their liberalitie unto them . and the servant which was appointed . he herein performed the part of a carefull servant , namely , fully to informe his master . servants ought so to instruct themselves , as thereby to be able to give an account to their lords , when they shall be called thereunto , and give them plenarie satisfaction and contentment in any thing belonging to their office , wherein they shall be questioned . now , whereas he doth not derogate or detract from ruth , though a stranger , but sets her forth with her due commendation ; we gather , servants when asked , ought to give the pure character of poore people to their masters , and no way to wrong or traduce them . which came and said , let me gather i pray . see here ruths honestie ; she would not presume to gleane before she had leave . cleane contrarie is the practice of poore people now-adayes , which oft times take away things not onely without the knowledge , but even against the will of the owners . the boy of the priest , i sam. . . when the sacrifice was in offering , used to come with a flesh-hooke of three teeth , and used to cast it into the fat of the sacrifice , making that his fee , which so he fetcht out ; if any gain-say'd him , he answered , thou shalt give it me now ; or if thou wilt not , i will take it by force . thus poore people now-adayes , they cast their hooke , their violent hands ( gleaning the leane will not content them ) into the fat , the best and principall of rich mens estates , and breaking all lawes of god and the king , they by maine force draw it unto themselves . not so ruth ; she would not gleane without leave . and stayed here from morning untill now . see here her constancie in industrie : many are very diligent at the first setting forth , for a fit and a gird , for a snatch and away ; but nothing violent , is long permanent : they are soone tyred , quickly wearie , and then turne from labour to lazinesse . but ruth continued in her labour from the morning till now ; till night , till the end of the harvest . o that we would imitate the constancie of ruth , in the working out of our salvation with feare and trembling ! not onely to be industrious in the morning , when we first enter into christianitie , but to hold out and to persevere even to the end of our lives . onely she ●arried a little in the house . no doubt some indispensable businesse detained her there ; and probable it is , that a principall one was , to say her mattins , to doe her devotions , commend her selfe with fervent prayer unto the lord , to blesse her and her endeavours the day following . a whet is no let , saith the proverb ; mowers lose not any time , which they spend in whetting or grinding of their sythes : our prayer to god in the morning , before we enter on any businesse , doth not hinder us in our dayes worke , but rather whets it , sharpens it , sets an edge on our dull soules , and makes our mindes to undertake our labours with the greater alacritie . and here may i take just occasion to speake concerning gleaning . consider first the antiquitie thereof , as being commanded by god , levit. . . and . . secondly , consider the equitie thereof ; it doth the rich no whit of harme , it doth the poore a great deale of good . one may say of it as lot of zoar ; is it not a little one , and my soule shall live ? is it not a pettie , a small , exile courtesie , and the hearts of poore people shall be comforted thereby ? reliquiae danaum , atque immitis achillis ; the remnant which hath escaped the edge of the sythes , and avoided the hands of the reapers . had our reapers the eyes of eagles , and the clawes of harpeyes , they could not see and i snatch each scattered eare which may well be allowed for the reliefe of the poore . when our saviour said to the woman of syrophaenicia , it is not good to take the childrens bread , and cast it to the dogs : she answered , ye● , lord , but the dogs eat of the childrens crummes that 〈◊〉 from their table . so , if any misers 〈◊〉 , it is not meet that my bread should 〈…〉 unto poore people , to gleane corne upon my lands ; yea , but let them know , that poore people ( which are no dogs , but setting a little thick clay aside , as good as themselves ) may eat the falling crummes , the scattered eares , which they gather on the ground . vse . it may confute the covetousnesse of many , which repine that the poore should have any benefit by them ; and are so farre from suffering the poore to gleane , that even they themselves gleane from the poore , and speake much like to churlish nabal , sam. . . shall i take my wheat , my rye , and my barley , which i have prepared for my family , and give it to the poore , which i know not whence they be ? yea , some have so hard hearts , that they would leave their graine to be destroyed by beasts and vermine , rather then that the poore should receive any benefit thereby . cruell people , which preferre their hogs before christs sheep , mice before men , crow●s before christians . but withall , poore people must learne this lesson , to know the meaning of these two pronoun●s , mine and thine ; what belongs to their rich masters , and what pertaines to themselves . the sheep which had little spots , those were iacobs fee ; so the little spots , the loose straggling and scattered eares , those are the poores : but as for the great ones , the handfulls , the arme-fulls , the sheaves , the shocks , the cocks , these are none of theirs , but the ●ich owners ; and therefore let the poore take heed how they put forth thei● hand● to their n●igh●ours goods . motive . one forcible motive to perswade the rich to suffer the poore to gleane , may be this : even the greatest , in respect of god , is but a gleaner . god , he is the master of the harvest ; all gifts and graces they are his , in an infinite measure ; and every godly man , more or lesse , gleanes from him . abraha● gleaned a great gleane of faith ; moses , of meeknesse ; iosh●ah , of valour ; samson , of strength ; solomon , of wealth and wisdome ; s. paul of knowledge , and the like . now , if we would be glad at our hearts , that the lord would give us free leave and libertie , ●or to gleane graces out of his harvest , let us not grudge and repine , that poore people gleane a little gaine from our plentie . to conclude , when god hath multiplyed our five loaves , that is , when of our little seed he hath given us a great deale of increase , let poore people , like ruth in the text , be the twelve baskets which may take up the fragments of gleanings which are left . vers. , , . then said boaz unto ru●h , hearest thou , my daughter , goe to no ●ther field ●o gather ; neither goe from hence , but abide here by my maidens . let thy eyes be on the field which they doe reape , and goe after the maidens . have i not charged the servants , that they touch thee not ? moreover , when thou art thirstie , go unto the vessels , & drink of that which the servants have drawn . then she fell on her face , and bowed her selfe to the ground , and said unto him ; why have i found favour in thy eyes , that thou shouldst know me , since i am a stranger ? mothers and nurses are very carefull , tenderly to handle infants , when they are but newly borne . so ruth ; christ was newly formed in her , a young convert , a fresh proselyte : and therefore boaz useth her with all kindnesse , both in workes and words ; hearest thou , my daughter ? observation . aged persons may terme younger people their sonnes and daughters , sam. . . and if they were persons in authoritie , though they were well-nigh equall in age , they used the same expression . thus ioseph to his brother benjamin , gen. . . god be mercifull to thee , my sonne . let young people therefore reverently observe their dutie and distance to their seniors in age , and superiours in authoritie : yet i am afraid , men keepe not the method of iacobs children , the eldest sitting downe according to his age , and the youngest according to his youth ; but fulfill the complaint of the prophet , the young presume against the aged , and the base against the honourable . let aged persons strive to deserve their respect , by demeaning themselves gravely , and striving to adde gracious hearts to gray haires : otherwise , if they discover any lightnesse , loosenesse , wantonnesse in their carriage , young men will hereupon take occasion , not onely to slight and neglect , but also to contemne and despise their paternall distance , and father-like authoritie . now as for young ministers , they have not this advantage , to speake unto young people in the phrase of boaz , hearest thou , my daughter ? but must practise s. pauls precept , tim. . . rebuke not an elder , but exhort him as a father , and the younger men as brethren ; the elder women as mothers , the younger as sisters , in all purenesse . but abide here by my maidens . observation . hence we g●ther , 't is most decent for women to associate & accompanie themselves with those of their owne sexe : miriam , exod. . . with a feminine quire , with timbrels and d●nces , answered the men ; and the disciples wondred , iohn . th●t ch●ist t●lk●d with a woman : sh●wing hereby , th●t it w●s not his ordinarie course to converse alone with one of another sexe : for herein the apostles precept deserves to take place , namely , to avoid from all appearance of evill . have i not commanded the servants , that they should not touch thee ? boaz had just cause to feare lest some of his servants might wrong her ; to prevent which , he gave them strict charge to the contrarie . observation . here we see , that servile natures are most prone and proclive to wrong poore strangers . indeed , generous spirits disdaine to make those the subjects of their crueltie , which rather should be the objects of their pittie : but it complyes with a servile disposition , to tyrannize and domineere over such poore people as cannot resist them . like pettie brookes pent within a narrow channell , on every dash of raine they are readie to overflow , and wax angry at the apprehension of the smallest distast . the locusts , revel . . . had tails like scorpions , and stings in their tails , which by some is expounded , that of those people which are meant by the scorpions , the poorest were the proudest ; the meanest , the most mischiveous ; the basest , the bloodiest . and surely he that readeth the story of our english martyrs , shall find , that one alexander a iaylor , and one drunken warwick , an executioner , were most basely and barbarously cruell to gods poor saints . secondly , from these words observe ; that it is the part of a good master not onely to doe no harm himselfe , but also to take order that his servants doe none , gen. . & . . when elisha would take nothing of naaman , kings . . gehazi said ; as the lord liveth , i will run after him and take something of him . thus may base servants ( if not prevented with a command to the contrary ) wrong their most right and upright masters , by taking gifts and bribes privately . the water ( though it ariseth out o● a most pure fountain ) which runneth through mine●alls of lead , copper , brimstone , or the like , hath with it a strange taste and rellish in the mouth . so justice , which should runne downe like a streame , though it ariseth out of a pure fountaine , out of the breast of a sincere and incorrupted judge ; yet if formerly it hath passed through the mines of gold and silver , i meane , through bad se●vants , who have taken bribes to prepossesse the judge their master with the prejudice of false informations , justice hereby may be strangely perverted and corrupted . many masters themselves have been honest and upright , yet much wrong hath been done under them by their wicked servants . it is said of queene mary , that for her own part , she did not so much as bark ; but she h●d them under her , which did more then bi●e ; such were gardner , bonner , story , woodrooffe , tyrrell : now she should have tyed up these bandogs , and chained and fettered up these blood-hounds from doing any mischiefe . camden in his elizabetha , in the yeare . writeth thus of the then lord chancellor of england ; ob sordes & corruptelas famulorum in beneficiis ecclesiasticis nundinandis ipse vir integer ab ecclesiasticis haud bene audivit . he ought to have imitated the example of boaz , not onely to have done no harme himselfe , but also to have enjoyned the same to his servants : have i not commanded my servants , that they should not touch thee ? thirdly , in these words boaz doth intimate , that if he gave a charge to the contrarie , none of his servants durst presume once to molest her . observation . where we see , masters commands ought to sound lawes in the eares of their servants , if they be lawfull . indeed , if absolon ( sam. . . ) saith to his servants , kill amnon , fear not , for have i not commanded you ? this command did not oblige , because the thing enjoyned was altogether ungodly . otherwise , men must imitate the obedience of the centurions servants ; who said to the one . goe , and he goeth ; and to another , come , and he commeth ; and to his servant , d●e this , and he doth it . coroll . now , if we ought to be thus dutifull to our earthly masters ; surely , if the lord of heaven enjoyneth us any thing , we ought to doe it without any doubt , or delay . were there no hell to punish , no heaven to reward , no promises pronounced to the godly , no threatnings denounced to the wicked ; yet this is a sufficient reason to make us doe a thing , because god hath enjoyned it ; this a convincing argument to make us refraine fr●m it , because he hath forbidden it . then she fell on her face , and bowed . qu●stion . was not this too much honour to give to any mortall creature ? and doth it not come within the compasse of the breach of the second commandement , thou shalt not bow downe and worship them ? especially seeing godly mordecai refused to bend his knee to h●m●n . answer . civill honour may and must be given to all in authoriti● , according to the usuall gestures of the countrey : now such bowing was the custome of the easterne people , gen. . . as for mordecai's instance , it makes not against this ; he being therein either immediately warranted by god , or else he refused to bow to haman as being an amalakite , betwixt which c●●sed brood and the israelites , the lord commanded an eternall enmitie . coroll . now , if ruth demeaned her selfe with such reverent gesture to boaz , how reverent ought our gesture to be , when we approach into the presence of god. indeed , god is a spirit , and he will be worshipped in spirit and truth ; yet so , that he will have the outward decent posture of the bodie to accompanie the inward sinceritie of the ●ou●e . and said , why have i found favour . as if she had said : when i reflect my eyes upon my selfe , i cannot reade in my selfe the smallest worth , to deserve so great a favour from thy hands ; and therefore i must acknowledge my selfe exceedingly beholden to you . but principally i lift up my eyes to the providence of the lord of heaven ; mens hearts are in his hand as the rivers of water ; he turneth them whither he pleaseth : he it is that hath mollified thy heart , to shew this undeserved kindnesse unto me . here we see ruths humilitie . many now-adayes would have made a contrarie construction of boaz his charitie , and reasoned thus : surely he seeth in me some extraordinarie worth , whereof as yet i have not taken notice in my selfe ; and therefore hereafter i will maintaine a better opinion of my owne deserts . but ruth confesseth her owne unworthinesse : and from her example , let us learne to be humbly and heartily thankfull to those which bestow any courtesie or kindnesse upon us . since i am a stranger . she amplifies his favour , from the indignitie of her owne person , being a stranger . coroll . oh then , if ruth interpreted it such a kindnesse , that boaz tooke notice of her , being a stranger ; how great is the love of god to us , who loved us in christ when we were strangers and aliens from the commonwealth of israel ? as the never-failing foundation of the earth is firmely fastned for ever fleeting , yet setled on no other substance then its owne ballasted weight ; so gods love was founded on neither cause nor condition in the creature , but issued onely out of his owne free favour . so that in this respect , we may all say unto god what ruth doth unto boaz in the text ; why have we ●ound fav●ur in thine e●es , that thou should●st take know●edge of us , seeing we were but strangers ? vers. , . and boaz answered and said unto her , it hath fully been shewed me , all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband ; and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother , and the land of thy nativitie , and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore . the lord recompence thy worke , and a full reward be given thee of the lord god of israel , under whose wings thou art come to trust . it hath been fully shewed me all . more then probable it is , that boaz had received his intelligence immediately from n●omi . observation . how-ever , here we may see , the vertues of worthy persons will never want trumpets to sound them to the world . the iewes were the centurions trumpet to our saviour , luke . . and the widowes dorcas her trumpet to s. peter , acts . . let this encourage men in their vertuous proceedings , knowing that their worthy deeds shall not be buried in obscuritie , but shall finde tongues in their lively colours to expresse them . absolon having no children , and desirous to perpetuate his name , erected a pillar in the kings dale ; and the same is called absolon's pillar unto this day . but the most compendious way for men to consecrate their memories to eternitie , is to erect a pillar of vertuous deeds ; which shall ever remaine , even when the most lasting monuments in the world shall be consumed , as not able to satisfie the boulimee of all-consuming time. and to put the worst , grant the envious men with a cloud of calumnies should eclipse the beames of vertuous memories from shining in the world , yet this may be their comfort , that god that sees in secret , will reward them openly . moreover , it is the dutie of such who have received courtesies from others , to professe and expresse the same as occasion shall serve ; that so their benefactors may publikely receive their deserved commendation . thus surely naomi had done by ruth ; from whose mouth no doubt , though not immediately , her vertues were sounded in the eares of boaz. it hath been fully shewed me all . here now followeth a summarie , reckoning up of the worthy deeds of ruth ; which , because they have been fully discoursed of in the former chapter , it would be needlesse againe to insist upon them : proceed we therefore to boaz his prayer . the lord recompence thee . as if he had said : indeed , ruth , that courte●ie which i afforded thee , to gleane upon my land without any disturbance , comes farre short both of thy deserts , and my desires . all that i wish is this , that what i am unable to requite , the lord himselfe would recompence : may he give thee a full reward of graces internall , externall , eternall ; here , hereafter ; on earth , in heaven ; while thou livest , when thou diest , in grace , in glory , a full reward . where first we may learne , that when we are unable to requite peoples des●●ts of our selves , we must make up o●r w●●t of workes with good wishes to god 〈◊〉 them . indeed , we must not doe like those in the second of s. iames , verse . who onely said to the poore , depart in peace , warme your sel●es , and fill your bellies , and yet bestowed nothing upon them : we must not both begin and conclude with good wishes , and doe nothing else ; but we must observe boaz his method : first , to begin to doe good to those that being vertuous , are in distresse ; and then , where we fall short in requiting them , to make the rest up , with heartie wishes to god for them . observation . but the maine observation is this ; there is a recompence of a full reward upon the good workes of his servants , gen. . . moreover , by them is thy servant taught ; and in keeping them , there is great reward , psal. . . verily ▪ there is a reward for the righteous ; doubtlesse , there is a god that judgeth the earth ; godlinesse hath the promises of this life , and of the life to come . vse . it may serve to consute such false spies as rayse wrong reports of the land of can●an , of the christian prof●ssion , saying with the wicked , mal. . . it is in vaine to serve god ; and what profit is it that we have kept his commandements , and that we have walked mournfully before the lord of ho●sts ? slanderous tongues ! which one day shall be justly fined in the starre-chamber of heaven , ob scandala magnatum , for ●landering of gods noble servants , and their profession , for indeed , the christian life is most comfortable ; for we may both take a liberall portion , and have a sanctified use of gods creatures : besides , within we have peace of conscience , and joy in the holy-ghost in some measure ; one dramme whereof is able to sugar the most wormewood affliction . vse . when we begin to feele our selves to lagge in christianitie , let us spurre on our affections with the meditation of that full reward which we shall in due time receive ; with our saviour , let us looke to the ioyes which are set before us ; and with moses , let us have an eye to the recompence of reward : yet so , that though we look at this reward , yet also we must look through it , and beyond it . this medita●ion of the reward , is a good place for our soules to bait at , but a bad place for our soules to lodge in : we must mount our mindes higher , namely , to aime at the glory of god ; at which all our actions must be directed , though there were no reward propounded unto them . yet since it is gods goodnesse , to propound unto us a reward , over and besides his owne glory ; this ought so much the more to incite us to diligence in our christian calling : for if othniel , iudges . behaved himselfe so valiantly against the enemies of israel , in hope to obtaine achsah , calebs daughter , to wife ; how valiantly ought we to demeane our selves against our spirituall enemies , knowing that we shall one day be married unto our saviour in eternall happinesse ? and this is a full reward . objection . but some may say , these termes of recompence and reward may seeme to favour the popish tenent , that our good workes merit at gods hand . answer . reward and recompence unto our good workes are not due unto us for any worth of our owne , but meerely from gods free favour and gracious promise . for , to make a thing truly meritorious of a reward , it is required , first , that the thing meriting be our owne , and not anothers ; now our best workes are none of ours , but gods spirit in us : secondly , it is requisite that we be not bound of dutie to doe it ; now we are bound to doe all the good deeds which we doe , and still remaine but unprofitable servants : thirdly , there must be a proportion betweene the thing meriting , and the reward merited ; now there is no proportion betweene our stained and imperfect workes , ( for such are our best ) and that infinite weight of glory where with god will reward us . it remaines therefore , that no reward is given us for our owne inherent worth , but meerely for gods free favour , who crownes his owne workes in us . vnder whose wings thou art come to trust . a metaphor ; it is borrowed from an hen , which with her clocking summons together her stragling chickens , and then out-stretcheth the fanne of her wings to cover them . familiarly it is used in scripture , and amongst other places , by our saviour , math. . how oft would i have gathered thee together , as an hen gathereth her chickens under her wings , and ye would not ? and just it was with god , because the foolish chickens of the iewes would not come to christ , the hen , calling them , to suffer them to be devoured by the eagle , the imperiall armie of the romans . observation . gods love and care over his children , is as great as an hen's over her chickens . now the hen's wings doe the chickens a double good . first , they keepe them from the kite ; so gods providence protecteth his servants from that kite , the devill : for as the kite useth to fetch many circuits , and circles , and long hovers and flutters round about , and at length spying her advantage , pops downe on the poore chicken for a prey ; so the devill , who as it is iob . . compasseth the earth to and fro , and walketh through it , and at length spying an opportunitie , pitcheth and setleth himselfe upon some poore soule , to devoure it , if the wings of gods providence ( as the citie of refuge ) doe not rescue him from his clutches . secondly , the hen with her chickens broodes her chickens , and makes them thereby to thrive and grow . in summer her wings are a canopie , to keepe her chickens from the heat of the scorching sunne ; and in winter they are a mantle , to defend them from the injurie of the pinching cold : so gods providence and protection makes his children to sprout , thrive , and prosper under it : in prosperitie , gods providence keepeth them from the heat of pride ; in adversitie , it preserveth them from being benummed with frozen despaire . vse . let us all then strive to runne , to hide our selves under the wings of the god of heaven . hearke how the hen clocks in the psalmes , call upon me in the time of trouble , and i will heare thee , and thou shalt prayse me : how she clocks in the canticles , returne o shulamite , returne , returne , that we may behold thee : how she clocketh , math. . . aske and ye shall have , seeke and ye shall finde , knock and it shall be opened unto you : how she clocks , math. . come unto me all ye that are wearie and heavie laden , and i will ease you . let not us now be like fullen chickens , which sit moaping under a rotten hedge , or proating under an old wood-pile , when the hen calleth them . let not us trust to the broken wall of our owne strength , or think to lurke under the tottering hedge of our owne wealth , or winde-shaken reeds of our unconstant friends ; but flye to god , that he may stretch his wings over us , as the cherubi●s did over the mercie-seat . and as alwayes in day-time , so especially at night , when we goe to bed , ( for chickens when going to roost , alwayes run to the hen ) let us commend our selves with prayer to his providence , that he would be pleased to preserve us from the dangers of the night ensuing ; trusting with ruth in the text , under the wings of the lord god of israel . vers. , . then she said , let me finde favour in the sight of my lord ; for thou hast comforted me , and spoken comfortably unto thy maid , though i be not like to one of thy maids . and boaz said unto her , at the meale time come thou hither , and eate of the bread , and dip thy morsell in the vineger . and she sate beside the reapers , and he reached her parched corne ; and she did eate , and was sufficed , and left thereof . boaz had formerly called ruth daughter ; now ruth stileth him , lord. when great ones carry themselves familiarly to meaner persons , meaner persons must demeane themselves respectively to great ones . indeed , with base and sordid natures familiaritie breeds contempt ; but ingenuous natures will more awfully observe their distance towards their superiours , of whom they are most courteously intreated . and if great personages should cast up their accompts , they should find● themselves not losers , but gainers of honour , by their kinde usage of their inferiours . those starres seeme to us the greatest , and shine the brightest , which are set the lowest . great men , which sometimes stoop , and stoop low in their humble carriage to others , commonly get the greatest lustre of credit and esteeme in the hearts of those that be vertuous . and spoken comfortably unto thy maid . in hebrew , hast spoken unto the heart . a comfortable speech , is a word spoken to the heart . meditation . oh that ministers had this facultie of boaz his speech ; not to tickle the cares , teach the heads , or please the braines of the people , but that their sermons might s●●ke and sink to the root of their hearts . but though this may be endeavoured by them , it cannot be performed of them , without gods speciall assistance . we may leave our words at the outward porch of mens eares , but his spirit must conduct and lodge them in the closet of their hearts . though i be not like to one of thy maids . meaning , because she was a moabitesse , a stranger and alien , they natives of the common-wealth of israel ; in this respect , she was farre their inferiour . observation . the godly ever conceive very humbly and meanly of themselves ; moses , exod. . . gedeon , judg. . . abigail , sam. . . esay . . jerem. . . iohn baptist , math. . . tim. . . and the reason hereof is , because they are most privie to and sensible of their owne infirmities ; their corruptions , which cleave unto them , are ever before their eyes . these black feet abate their thoughts , when puffed up with pride for their painted traine of other graces . on the other side , the wicked set ever the greatest price on their owne worth ; they behold their owne supposed vertues through magnifying glasses , and think with haman , that none deserves better to be honoured by the king , but themselves . vse . let us endeavour to obtaine humilitie with ruth ; a vertue of most worth , and yet which costeth least to keepe : yet notwithstanding , it is both lawfull and needfull for us to know our owne worth , and to take an exact survey of those graces which god hath bestowed upon us . first , that we may know thereby the better to proportion our thanks to god : secondly , that we may know how much good the church and common-wealth expecteth to be performed by us . and lastly , that if any should basely insult and domineer over us , we may in humilitie stand upon the lawfull justification of our selves , and our owne sufficiencie , as s. paul did against the false apostles at corinth ; alwayes provided , that we give god the glory , and professe our selves to be but unprofitable servants . and boaz said unto her , at the meale time come thou hither , and eate of the bread. two things herein are commendable in boaz , and to be imitated by masters of families . first , that he had provided wholesome and competent foode for his owne servants ; so ought all house-holders to doe . and herein let them propound god for their president , for he maintaineth the greatest family ; all creatures are his servants , and he giveth them meat in due season , he openeth his hand , and filleth with his blessing every living thing . secondly , as boaz provided meat for his servants , so he allowed them certaine set convenient times wherein they might quietly eate their meat . but as the people of the iewes pressed so fast upon our saviour , ( mark. . . ) that he had not so much leisure as to eate bread , and take necessarie sustenance : so , such is the gripple nature of many covetous masters , that they will so taske and tye their servants to their worke , as not to afford them seasonable respite to feede themselves . and dip thy morsell in the vineger . observation . the fare of gods servants in ancient time , though wholesome , was very homely : here they had onely bread and vineger , and parched corne. for a thousand five hundred and sixtie yeares the world fed upon herbes , & the scripture maketh mention since of meane and sparing fare of many godly men . it may therefore confute the gluttonie and epi●urisme of our age , consisting both in the superfluous number of dishes , and in the unlawfull nature of them . we rifle the ayre for daintie fowle , we ransack the sea for delicious fish , we rob the earth for delicate flesh , to suspend the doubtfull appetite betwixt varietie of dainties . as for the nature of them , many are meere needlesse whetstones of hunger , which in stead of satisfying doe encrease it . and as in the spanish inquisition such is their exquisite crueltie , that having brought one to the doore of death by their tortures , they then revive him by cordials ; and then againe re-killing him with their torments , fetch him againe with comfortable things ; thus often re-iterating their crueltie : so , men having killed their appetite with good cheare , seeke with dishes made for the nonce to enliven it againe , to the sup●rfluous wasting of gods good creatures , and much endammaging the health of their owne bodies . but leaving them , let us be content with that competent foode which god hath allotted us , knowing , that better is a dinner of herbes with peace , then a stalled oxe with strife ; and god , if it p●easeth him , can so blesse daniels pulse unto us , that by meane fare we shall be made more strong and healthfull , then those who surfet on excesse of dainties . and she did eate and was sufficed . it is a great blessing of god , when he gives such strength and vertue to his creatures , as to sati●●●● our hunger ; and the contrarie , is a great punishment : for as , ( kings . . ) when they heaped abundance of clothes on aged king david , yet his decayed body felt no warmth at all ; so god so curseth the meat to some , that though they cramme downe never so much into their bellies , yet still their hunger● encreaseth with their meat , and they finde , that nature is not truly contented and satisfied therewith . and left thereof . hence we learne , the over-plus which remaineth after we have ●ed our selves , must neither be scornfully cast away , nor carelesly left alone , but it must be thriftily kept : imitating herein the example of ou● saviour ; who , though he could make five loaves swell to sufficient foode for five thousand men , yet gave he command , that the fragments should be carefully basketted up . vers. , , . and when she arose to gleane , boaz commanded his servants , saying , let her gather among the sheaves , and doe not rebuke her ; also let fall some of the sheaves for her , and let it lie , that she may gather it up , and rebuke her not . so she gleaned in the field untill evening , and she threshed that she had gathered , and it was about an ephah of barley . before i enter into these words , behold an objection stands at the doore of them , which must first be removed . objection . one may say to ruth , as our saviour to the young man in the gospel , one thing is wanting . here is no mention of any grace she said to god either before or after meat . answer . charitie will not suffer me to condemne ruth of forgetfulnesse herein : she who formerly had been so thankfull to boaz , the conduit-pipe , how can she be thought to be ungratefull to god , the fountaine of all favours ? rather i think it is omitted of the holy spirit to be written downe ; who , had he registred each particular action of gods saints , ( as it is iohn . . ) the world would not have been able to containe the books which should be written . let none therefore take occasion to omit this dutie , because here not specified ; rather let them be exhorted to performe it , because in other places it is both commanded by precept , and commended by practice , deut. . . cor. . . yea , in the . of the acts , the mariners and souldiers , ( people ordinarily not very religious ) though they had fasted fourteene dayes together , yet none of them were so unmannerly , or rather so prophane , as to snatch any meat , before s. paul had given thanks . let us not therefore be like esau , who in stead of giving a blessing to god for his pottage , sold his blessing to his brother for his pottage : but though our haste or hunger be never so great , let us dispense with so much time , as therein to crave a blessing from god , wherein his creatures are sanctified ; as no doubt ruth did , though not recorded . and when she arose to gleane . the end of feeding , is to fall to our calling . let us not therefore with israel , sit downe to eate and to drinke , and so rise up againe to play ; but let us eate to live , not live to eate . 't is not matter , we need not make the clay-cottage of our body much larger then it is , by immodera●e feasting ; it is enough , if we maintaine it so with competent food , that god our landlord may not have just cause to sue us for want of reparations . boaz commanded his servants , saying , let her gather among the sheaves , and doe not rebuke her . observation . it is lawfull for us , according to our pleasure , to extend our favours more to one then to another . ruth alone , not all the gleaners , was priviledged to gather among the sheaves uncontrouled . give leave to iacob to bequeath a double portion to ioseph , his best beloved sonne ; for ioseph to make the messe of benjamin five times greater then any other of his brethren ; for elkanah to leave a worthier portion to hannah then to peninnah : the reason is , because there can be no wrong done in those things which are free favours . i am not lesse just to him , to whom i give lesse ; but i am more mercifull to him , to whom i give more . yet in the dealing and distributing of liberalitie , let those of the family of faith be especially respected ; and of these , those chiefely which , as the apostle saith , are worthy of a double honour . corollarie . shall it not therefore be lawfull for the lord of heaven to bestow wealth , honour , wisdome , effectuall grace , blessings outward and inward on one , and denie them to another ? you therefore , whom god hath suffered to gleane among the sheaves , and hath scattered whole handfulls for you to gather ; you that abound and flow with his favours , be heartily thankfull unto him ; he hath not dealt so with every one , neither have all such a large measure of his blessings . and ye common gleaners , who are faine to follow farre after , and glad to take up the scattered eares , who have a smaller proportion of his favour , be neither angry with god , nor grieved at your selves , nor envious at your brethren ; but be content with your condition : it is the lord , and let him doe what is good in his eyes ; shall not he have absolute power to doe with his owne what he thinketh good , when boaz can command , that ruth , and no other , may gleane among the sheaves without rebuke ? had the servants of boaz , without expresse warrant and command from their master , scattered handfulls for her to gleane , their action had not been charitie , but flat theft and robberie ; for they were to improve their masters goods to his greatest profit . on the other side , it had been a great fault ▪ to with-hold and with-draw any thing from her , which their master commanded them to give . yet , as the unjust steward in luke made his masters debts to be lesse then they were ; so many servants now-adayes make their masters gifts to be lesse then they are , giving lesse then he hath granted , and disposing lesse then he hath directed . men commonly pay toll for passing through great gates , or over common bridges ; so when the liberalitie of masters goeth through the gate of their servants hands , and bridges of their ●ingers , it is constrained to pay tribute and custome to their servants , before it commeth to those poore to whom it was intended . thus many men make the augmentation of their owne estat●s , from the diminution of their masters bountie . question . but some may say , why did not boaz bestow a quantitie of corne upon ruth ▪ and so send her home unto her mother ? answer . he might have done so , but he chose rather to keep her still a working . where we learne , that is the best charitie which so relieves peoples wants , as that they are still continued in their calling . for as he who teacheth one to swimme , though happily he will take him by the chinne , yet he expecteth that the learner shall nimbly ply the oares of his hands and ●eet , and strive and struggle with all his strength to keepe himselfe above water : so those who are beneficiall to poore people , may justly require of them , that they use both their hands to worke and feet to goe in their calling , and themselves take all due labour , that they may not sinke in the gulfe of penurie . relieve an husbandman , yet so , as that he may still continue in his husbandry ; a trades-man , yet so , as he may still goe on in his trade ; a poore scholar , yet so , as he may still proceed in his studies . hereby the common-wealth shall be a gainer , drones bring no honey to the hive , but the painfull hand of each privat man contributes some profit to the publike good . hereby the able poore , the more diligent they be , the more bountifull men will be to them ; while their bodies are freed from many diseases , their soules from many sinnes , whereof idlenesse is the mother . lazinesse makes a breach in our soule , where the devill doth assault us with greatest advantage ; and when we are most idle in our vocations , then he is most busie in his temptations . a reverend minister was wont to say , that the devill never tempted him more then on mondayes , when ( because his former weekes taske was newly done , and that for the weeke to come six dayes distant ) he tooke most libertie to refresh himselfe . since therefore so much good commeth from industrie ▪ i could wish there were a publike vineyard , into which all they should be sent ; who stand lazing in the market-place till the eleventh houre of the day . would all poore and impotent were well placed in an hospitall , all poore and able well disposed in a work-house ; and the common stocks of townes so layd out ▪ as they thereby might be imployed . so she gleaned in the field untill evening . the night is onely that which must end our labours : onely the evening must beg us a play , to depart out of the school of our vocation , with promise next morning to returne againe ; man goeth out to his labour untill evening . let such then be blamed , who in their working make their night to come before the noone , each day of their labour being shorter then that of s. lucy ; and after a spurt in their calling for some few houres , they relapse againe to lazinesse . and she threshed what she had gathered . the materialls of the temple were so hewed and carved , both stone and wood , before that they were brought unto hierusalem , that there was not so much as th● noyse of an hammer heard in the temple . so ruth fits all things in a readinesse , before the goes home : what formerly she gleaned , now she threshed ; that so no noyse might be made at home , to disturbe her aged mother . here we see gods servants , though well descended , disdaine not any homely , if honest , worke for their owne living : sarah kneaded cakes , re●eccab drew water , rachel fed sheepe , thamar baked cakes . suetonius reporteth of augustus caesar , that he made his daughters to learne to spinne ; and pantaleon relates the same of charles the great . yet now-adayes , ( such is the pride of the world ) people of farre meaner qualitie scorne so base imployments . and it was about an ephah of barley . an ephah contained ten omers , exod. . . an omer of mannah was the proportion allowed for a mans one day meat . thus ruth had gleaned upon the quantitie of a bushell ; such was her industry , in diligent bestirring h●r selfe ; boaz his bountie , in scattering for her to gather ; and above all , god his blessing , who gave so good successe unto her . ruth having now done gleaning , did not stay behind in the field , as many now-adayes begin their worke when others end ; if that may be termed worke , to filch and steale ; as if the darke night would be a veyle to cover their deedes of darknesse : but home she hasteneth to her mother , as followeth . vers. , . and she tooke it up , and went into the citie , and her mother in law saw what she had gathered : also she tooke forth , and gave to her that which sh● had reserved , when she was sufficed . then her mother in law said unto her , where hast thou gleaned to day ? and where wroughtest thou ? blessed be he that knew thee : and she shewed her mother in law with whom she had wrought , and said , the mans name with whom i wrought to day , is boaz. and she tooke it up . see here , the shoulders of gods saints are wonted to the bearing of burthens : little isaac carryed the faggot , wherewith himselfe was to be sacrificed ; our saviour his owne crosse , till his faintnesse craved simon of cyrene to be his successor . yet let not gods saints be dis-heartened : if their father hath a bottle wherein he puts the teares which they spend ; sure he hath a ballance , wherein he weighs the burthens which they beare ; he keepes a note , to what weight their burthens amount , and ( no doubt ) will accordingly comfort them . those are to be confuted , who with the scribes , math. . . binde heavi● burthens , and grievous to be borne , and lay them on the backs of others , but for their owne part they will not so much as touch them with one of their fingers : yea , some are so proud , that they will not carry their owne provender , things for their owne sustenance ; had they been under ruths ephah of barley , with david in sauls armour , they could not have gone under the weight of it , because never used unto it . and her mother in law saw what she had gathered . namely , ruth shewed it unto her , and then naomi saw it . children are to present to their parents view all which they get by their owne labour ; otherwise doe many children now-adayes : as ananias and saphira brought part of the money , and deposed it at the apostles feet , but reserved the rest for themselves ; so they can be content to shew to their parents some parcell of their gaines , whilest they keepe the remnant secretly to themselves . also she tooke forth , and gave to her . learne we from hence ; children , if able , are to cherish and feed their parents , if poore and aged . have our parents performed the parts of pelicans to us , let us doe the dutie of storkes to them : would all children would pay as well for the partie-coloured coats which their parents doe give them , as ioseph did for his , who maintained his father and his brethren in the famine in egypt ▪ thinke on thy mothers sicknesse , when thou wast conceived ; sorrow , when thou wast borne ; trouble , when thou wast nurst : she was cold ▪ whilest thou wast warme ; went , whilest thou layd'st still ; waked , whilest thou slept'st ; fasted , whilest thou fed'st : these are easier to be conceived then express'd , easier deserved then requited . say not therefore to thy father according to the doctrine of the pharises , corban , it is a gift , if thou profitest by me ; but confesse that it is a true debt , and thy bou●den dutie , if thou beest able , to relieve them : so did ruth to naomi , who was but her mother in law . which she had reserved when she was sufficed . observation . we must not spend all at once , but providently reserve some for afterwards ; we must not speake all at once , without iesuiticall reservation of some things still in our hearts ; not spend all at once , without thriftie reservation of something still in our hands . indeed our saviour saith , care not for to morrow , for to morrow shall care for it selfe : but that is not meant of the care of providence , which is lawfull and necessarie ; but of the care of diffidence , which is wicked and ungodly . those are to be blamed , which as abishai said to david concerning saul , i will strike him but once , and i will strike him no more . so many men , with one act of prodigalitie , give the bane and mortall wound to their estates , with one excessive feast , one costly sute of clothes , one wastfull night of gaming , they smite their estates under the fifth rib , which alwayes is mortall in scripture , so that it never reviveth againe . but let us spare where we may , that so we may spend where we should : in the seven yeares of plentie let us provide for the seven yeares of famine ; and to make good construction of our estates , let us as well observe the future as the present tense . then her mother in law said unto her , where hast thou gleaned to day ? these words were not uttered out of jealousie , as if naomi suspected that ruth had dishonestly come by her corne ; ( for charitie is not suspitious , but ever fastens the most favourable comments upon the actions of those whom it affects ) but she did it out of a desire to know who had been so bountifull unto her . yet hence may we learne , that par●nts , after the example of naomi , may and ought to examine their children , how and where they spend their time : for hereby they shall prevent a deale of mischiefe , whilest their children will be more watchfull what companie they keepe , as expecting with feare at night to be examined . neither can such fathers be excused , who never say to their children , as david to adoniah , why doest thou so ? but suffer them to rove and range at their owne pleasure . am i , say they , my sonnes keeper ? he is old enough , let him looke after himsel●e . now , as for those ioashes , whose iehoiada's are dead , those young men whose friends and fathers are deceased , who now must have reason for their ruler , or rather grace for their guide and governer ; let such know , that indeed they have none to aske them as the angel did hagar , whence commest thou , and whither goest thou ? none to examine them , as eliab did david , wherefore art thou come downe hither ? none to question them , as naomi did ruth , where wroughtest thou to day ? but now , as s. paul said of the gentiles , that having no law , they were a law unto themselves : so must such young persons endeavour , that having no examiners , they may be examiners to themselves , and at night , accordingly as they have spent their time , either to condemne or acquit their owne actions . blessed be he that knew thee . kings . the man shot an arrow at unawares , yet god directed it to the chinke of the armour of guiltie ahab : ●ut naomi doth here dart and ejaculate out a prayer , and that at rovers , aiming at no one particular marke ; blessed be he that knew thee : yet , no doubt , was it not in vaine ; but god made it light on the head of bountifull boaz , who deserved it . learne we from hence , upon the sight of a good deed , to blesse the doer thereof , though by name unknowne unto us : and let us take heed that we doe not recant and recall our prayers , after that we come to the knowledge of his name ; as some doe , who when they see a laudable work , willingly commend the doer of it ; but after they come to know the authors name , ( especially if they be prepossessed with a private spleene against him ) they fall then to derogate and detract from the action , quarrelling with it as done out of ostentation , or some other sinister end ▪ and she shewed her mother in law with whom she had wrought . children when demanded , are truly to tell their parents where they have been ; rather let them hazard the wrath of their earthly father , by telling the truth , then adventure the displeasure of their heavenly father , by feigning a lye. yet as david , when achish asked him , where he had been ? ( sam. . . ) told him , that he had been against the south of judah , and against the south of the jerahmeelites , and against the south of the kenites ; when indeed he had been the cleane contrarie way , invading the geshurites , and ●ezrites , and the amalekites : so many children flap their parents in the mouth with a lye , that they have been in their studie , in their calling , in good companie , or in lawfull recreations , when the truth is , they have been in some drinking-school , taverne , or ale-house , mis-spending of their precious time . and many serve their masters as gehezi did the prophet ; who being demanded , answered , thy servant went no whither , when he had been taking a bribe of naaman . the mans name with whom i wrought to day , is boaz. we ought to know the names of such who are our benefactors . those are counted to be but basely borne , who cannot tell the names of their parents ; and surely , those are but of a base nature , who doe not know the names of their patrons and ●enefactors . too blame therefore was that lame man cured by our saviour , ( iohn . . ) of whom it is said , and he that was healed knew not the name of him that said unto him , take up thy bed ▪ and walke . yet let not this discourage the charitie of any benefactors , because those that receive their courtesies , oftentimes doe not remember their n●mes ; let this comfort them , though they are forgotten by the living , they are remembred in the booke of life . the a●henians out of superstition erected an altar with this inscription , vnto the unknowne god : but we out of true devotion , must erect an altar of gratitude to the memorie , not of our once unknown , but now forgotten benefactors , whose names we have not been so carefull to preserve , as ruth was the name of boaz ; and the mans name was boaz. vers. . and naomi said unto her daughter in law , blessed be he of th● lord , for he ceaseth not to do good to the living , and to the dead . againe naomi said unto her , the man is neere unto us , and of our affinitie . these words consist of three parts . . naomies praying for boaz. . her praising of boaz. . her reference and relation unto boaz. of the first : blessed be he of the lord. the lord is the fountain from whom all blessednesse flowes . indeed iacob blessed his sonnes , moses the twelve tribes , the priests in the law the people ; but these were but the instruments , god the principall ; these the pipe , god the fountaine ; these the ministers to pronounce it , god the author who bestowed it . for he ceaseth not . observation . naomi never before made any mention of boaz , nor of his good deeds ; but now being informed of his bountie to ruth , it puts her in mind of his former courtesies . learn from hence , new favours cause a fresh remembrance of former courtesies . wherefore if men begin to be forgetfull of those favours which formerly we have bestowed upon them , let us florish and varnish over our old courtesies with fresh colours of new kindnesses , so shall we recall our past favours to their memories . vse . when we call to mind gods staying of his killing angell ▪ anno . let that mercy make us to be mindfull of a former ; his safe bringing back of our ( then prince ) now ) king from spaine ; when the pledge of our ensuing happiness was pawned in a forreine country : let this blessing put us in mind of 〈◊〉 former . the peaceable comming in of our graciou● soveraigne of happie memory , when the bounds of two kingdoms were made the middle of a mo●archy : stay not here , let thy thankfulnesse travell further ; call to minde the miraculous providence of god in defending this land from invasion in . on still ; be thankfull for gods goodnesse in bringing queene elizabeth to the crown , when our kingdome was like the woman in the gospell , troubled with an issue of blood ( which glorious martyrs shed ) but stanched at her ariving at the scepter : we might be infinite in prosecution of this point ; let present favours of god renew the memories of old ones , as the present bounty of boaz to ruth made naomi remember his former courtesies : for he ceaseth not to doe good to the living and the dead . he ceaseth not . our deeds of piety ought to be continued without interruption or ceasing ; some men there be , whose charitable deeds are as rare as an eclipse , or a blazing-starre ; these men deserve to be pardoned for their pious deeds , they are so seldome guiltie of them : with nabal , they prove themselves by excessive prodigalitie at one feast ; but he deserves the commendation of a good house-keeper , who keepes a constant table , who with boaz ceaseth not to doe good . to the dead . the meaning is , to those who now are dead , but once were living ; or to their friends and kindred . whence we learne , mercie done to the kindred of the dead , is done to the dead themselves . art thou then a widower , who desirest to doe mercie to thy dead wife ; or a widow , to thy dead husband ; or a child , to thy deceased parent ? i will tell thee how thou mayest expresse thy selfe courteous : hath thy wife , thy husband , or thy parent any brother , or kinsman , or friends surviving , be courteous to them ; and in so doing , thy favours shall redound to the dead : though old barzillai be uncapable of thy favours , let young kimham taste of thy kindnesse : though the dead cannot , need not have thy mercie , yet may they receive thy kindnesse by a proxie , by their friends that still are living . mercie then to the dead , makes nothing for the popish purgatorie ; and yet no wonder if the papists fight for it . 't is said of sicily and aegypt , that they were anciently the barnes and granaries of the citie of rome : but now-adayes purgatorie is the barne of the romish court , yea , the kitchin , hall , parlour , larder , cellar , chamber , every roome of rome . david said , sam. . . ye daughters of israel , weepe for saul , which clothed you in skarlet with pleasure , and hanged ornaments of gold upon your apparell : but should purgatorie once be removed , weep pope , cardinals , abbots , bishops , fryers ; for that is gone which maintained your excessive pride . when adonijah sued for abishag the shunamite , solomon said to his mother , aske for him the kingdome also . but if once the protestants could wring from the papists their purgatorie , nay , then would they say , aske the triple crowne , crosse-keyes , s. angelo , peters patrimonie , and all : in a word , were purgatorie taken away , the pope himselfe would be in purgatorie , as not knowing which way to maintaine his expensivenesse . the man is neere unto us , and of our affinitie . naomi never before made any mention of boaz ; some , had they had so rich a kinsman , all their discourse should have been a survey and inventorie of their kinsmens goods , they would have made an occa●ion at every turne to be talking of them . well , though naomi did not commonly brag of her kinsman , yet when occasion is offered , she is bold to challenge her interest in him . observation . poore folks may with modestie claime their kindred in their rich alliance : let not therefore great personages scorne and contemne their poore kindred . cambden reports of the citizens of corke , that all of them in some degrees are of kindred one to the other : but i thinke , that all wealthie men will hook in the cousin , and draw in some alliance one to other ; but as they will challenge kindred ( where there is none ) in rich folkes , so they will denie kindred where it is , in poore ; yet is there no just reason they should doe so : all mankind knit together in the same father in the creation , and at the deluge ; i know not who lay higher in adams loynes , or who tooke the wall in eves belly . i speake not this to pave the way to an anabaptisticall paritie , but onely to humble and abate the conceits of proud men , who look so scornfull and contemptuous over their poore kindred . vse . let such as are allyed to rich kindred , be heartily thankfull to god for them ; yet so , as they under god depend principally on their owne labour , and not on their reference to their friends ; and let them not too earnestly expect helpe from their kindred , for feare they miscarry . a scholler being maintained in the universitie by his uncle , who gave a basilisk for his armes , and expected that he should make him his heire , wrote these verses over his chimney ; faller is aspectu basiliseum occidere , plini , nam vitae nostrae spem basiliscus alit . soone after it happened that his uncle dyed , and gave him nothing at all ; whereupon the scholler wrote these verses under the former . certè aluit , sed spe vanâ ; spes vana venenum ; ignoscas plini , verus es historicus . so soone may mens expectations be frustrated , who depend on rich kindred : yea , i have seene the twine-thred of a cordiall friend hold , when the cable-rope of a rich kinsman hath broken . let those therefore be thankfull to god , to whom god hath given meanes to be maintained of themselves , without dependance on their kindred : better it is to be the weakest of substances , to subsist of themselves , then to be the bravest accidents , to be maintained by another . vers. . and ruth the moabitesse said , he said unto me also , thou shalt keep fast by my young men , untill they have ended all my harvest . he said unto me also . rvth perceiving that naomi kindly resented boaz his favour , and that the discourse of his kindnesse was acceptable unto her , proceeds in her relation . doctrine . people love to enlarge such discourses , which they see to be welcome to their audience . what maketh tale-bearers so many , and their tales so long , but that such persons are sensible , that others are pleasingly affected with their talke ? otherwise , a frowning looke , prov. . . will soone put such to silence . when herod saw , acts . . that the killing of iames pleased the iewes , he proceeded farther , to take peter also . detractors perceiving that killing of their neighbours credits is acceptable to others , are encouraged thereby to imbrew their tongues in the murthering of more reputations . secondly , whereas ruth candidly confesseth what favour she found from boaz , we learne , we ought not sullenly to conceale the bountie of our benefactors , but expresse it to their honour , as occasion is offered . the giver of almes may not , but the receiver of them may blow a trumpet . this confuteth the ingratitude of many in our age ; clamorous to beg , but tongue-tyed to confesse what is bestowed upon them . what the sinne against the holy-ghost is in divinitie , that ingratitude is in moralitie ; an offence unpardonable . pittie it is , but that moone should ever be in an eclipse , that will not confesse the beames thereof to be borrowed from the sunne . he that hath a hand to take , and no tongue to thanke , deserves neither hand nor tongue , but to be lame and dumbe hereafter . observe by the way , that ruth expresseth what tends to the prayse of boaz , but conceales what boaz said in the prayse of her selfe . he had commended her , verse . for a dutifull daughter in law , and for leaving an idolatrous land. but ruth is so farre from commending her selfe in a direct line , that she will not doe it by reflection , and at the second hand , by reporting the commendations which others gave her . doctrine . let another prayse thee , and not thine owne mouth . how large are the pen-men of the scripture , in relating their owne faults : how concise ( if at all ) in penning their owne prayses . it is generally conceived , that the gospel of s. marke was indited by the apostle peter ; and that from his mouth it was written by the hand of iohn marke , whose name now it beareth ; if so , then we may observe , that peters denying of his master , with all the circumstances thereof , his cursing and swearing , is more largely related in the gospel of s. marke , then in any other : but as for his repentance , it is set downe more shortly there , then in other gospels : mathew . . and he went out and wept bitterly . luke . . and peter went out and wept bitterly . but marke . . it is onely said , when he thought thereon , he wept . so short are gods servants in giving an account of their owne commendations , which they leave to be related by the mouthes of others . thou shalt keepe fast by my young men . objection . here either ruths memorie failed her , or else she wilfully committed a foule mistake . for boaz never bad her to keepe fast by his young men , but verse . abide here fast by my maidens . it seemes she had a better minde to male-companie , who had altered the geneder , in the relating of his words . answer . cond●mne not the generation of the righteous , especially on doubtfull evidence . boaz gave a command , verse . to his young men to permit her to gleane : she mentioneth them therefore in whom the authoritie did reside , who had a commission from their master , to countenance and encourage her in her extraordinarie gleaning , which priviledge her maidens could not bestow upon her . vers. . and naomi said unto ruth her daughter in law , it is good , my daughter , that thou goe out with his maidens , that they meet thee not in any other field . and naomi said unto ruth , her daughter in law . doctrine . it is the bounden dutie of parents , to give the best counsell they can to their children : as naomi here prescribes wholsome advice unto her daughter in law . it is good . that is , it is better : it is usuall both in the old and new testament , to put the positive for the comparative in this kinde . luke . . mary hath chosen that good part , that is , the better part . it is profitable for thee that one of thy members perish , and not thy whole body , math. . . profitable , that is , more profitable : and as it is expounded , math. . . better . it is good for a man not to touch a woman ▪ cor. . . that is , it is better ; it is more convenient , and freer from trouble , in time of persecution . it is good for thee , that thou goe out with his maidens , that is , it is better . doctrine . maids are the fittest companie for maids ; amongst whom , a chast widow , such as ruth was , may well be recounted : modestie is the life-guard of chastitie . that they meet thee not in any other field . here she rendreth a reason of her councell , because ruth thereby should escape suspition , or appearance of evill . objection . what hurt or harme had it been , if they had met her in another field ? she might have been met there , and yet have departed thence as pure and spotlesse as she came thither . answer . it is granted . yet being a single woman , slanderous tongues and credulous eares meeting together , had some colour to rayse an ill report on her reputation . besides , being a moabite , she ought to be more cautious of her credit ; lest , as she was a stranger , she might be taken for a strange woman , in solomon his sense . and therefore nimia cautela non nocet ; in some eares it is not enough to be honest , but also to have testes honestatis ; many a credit having suffered , not for want of clearenesse , but clearing of it selfe , surprized on such disadvantages . vers. . so she kept sast by the maidens of boaz , to gleane unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest , and dwelt with her mother in law . so she kept fast by the maidens of boaz. here was good counsell well given , because thankfully accepted , and carefully practised . doctrine . it is the dutie of children to follow the advice of their parents . we meet with two examples in wicked persons , which in this respect may condemne many undutifull children of our dayes . the one ismael ; who , though he be charactered to be a wild man , gen. . . his hand against every man , and every mans hand against him : yet it seemes his hand was never against his mother hagar , whom he obeyed in matters of most moment ; in his marriage , gen. . his mother tooke him a wife out of the land of aegypt . the second is herodias , of whom no good at all is recorded , save this alone , that she would not beg a boone of her father herod , untill first she went in to her mother herodias , to know what she should aske . how many now-adayes make deeds of gift of themselves , without the knowledge and consent of their parents ? vnto the end of barley harvest . commendable is the constancie and the continuance of ruth in labour . many there are who at the first have a ravenous appetite to worke , but quickly they surfet thereof . ruth gleanes one day , so as she may gleane another ; it is the constant pace that goeth farthest , and freest from being tyred : math. . . but he that shall endure unto the end , the same shall be saved . and dwelt with her mother in law . it was christs counsell unto his disciples , math. . . to abide in the place wherein they did enter , and not to goe from house to house . such the setlednesse of ruth ; where she first fastned , there she fixed : she dwelt with her mother . naomi affords ruth house-roome , ruth gaines naomi food ; naomi provides a mansion , ruth purveyes for meat ; and so mutually serve to supply the wants of each other . if envie , and covetousnesse , and idlenesses were not the hinderances , how might one christian reciprocally be a helpe unto another ? all have something , none have all things ; yet all might have all things in a comfortable and competent proportion , if seriously suting themselves as ruth and naomi did , that what is defective in one , might be supplyed in the other . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e king. . . ornitho-logie, or, the speech of birds also, the speech of flovvers, partly moral, partly mystical / by t. fuller ... fuller, thomas, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing s _variant estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) ornitho-logie, or, the speech of birds also, the speech of flovvers, partly moral, partly mystical / by t. fuller ... fuller, thomas, - . [ ], , p. printed for john stafford, and are to be sold at his house ..., london : . epistle dedicatory signed j.s. wing lists this under j.s. antheologia, or, the speech of flowers has separate paging. reproduction of original in the huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng roundheads -- anecdotes. great britain -- history -- civil war, - -- anecdotes. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - jennifer kietzman sampled and proofread - jennifer kietzman text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion ornitho-logie or , the speech of birds , also , the speech of flovvers partly moral , partly mystical . by t. fuller doctor in divinity . london , printed for john stafford , and are to be sold at his house in george yard , neare fleet-bridge , . to my much honored friend , william stafford esquire , merchant of bristoll . worthy sir , in this plundering age , wherein the studies of so many have beene ransacked , and many papers intended for private solace and content●nt have bin exposed to publike view , it ●s my fortune to light on the ensuing dis●rse : it seemed to me pitty that it should ●rangled in obscurity , as conceiving might conduce something to the delight the reade● ▪ for surely no ingenuous ●rson can be so constantly serious , yea surly ●nd criticall , but to allow some intervalls refreshment not onely as lawfull but ne●sarie . let such morose , yea mischievous spirits pine themselves to walking anatomies , who brand all refection of the mind by ●udicrous intermissious to be unl●wfull , to spare an heavier censure ( which may more resent of anger ) the worst i wish them is alwaies to eate their meate without sauce , and let them try ●hether their palate will be pleased with the gust thereof . in the following discourse there is nothing presented but sweet flowers and herbs : i could wish it had been in the s●mmer time , when the heate of the sunne might have improved their fragrancie to the greatest advantage and rendred them more acceptable to the smell of the reader : being now sadly sensibl● that autumne the vsher of winter will abate of their s●e , and present them much to their loss . sure i am no bitter colloquintida appeareth in this our herball ; i meane no tart and toothed reflections on any . dull are those witts which cannot make some smile , except they make others cry , having no way to work ▪ a delight and complacency in the reader , save onely by gashing , wounding and abusing the credits of others . it is desired , that this discourse may but finde as much candidnesse as it brings , and be entertained according to his own innocency . i have heard a storie of an envious man , who had no other way to be revenged of his neighbour , who abounded with store of bee-hives , then by poysoning all the flowers in his owne garden wherein his neighbours bees tooke their constant repast , which infection caused a generall mortality in all the winged cattell of his neighbour . i hope none have so spleneticke a designe against this my harmelesse treatise , as to invenome my flowers with pestilent and unintended interpretations , as if any thing more then flowers were meant in the flowers , or as if they had so deepe a root under ground , that men must mine t● understand some concealed and profou● mysterie therein , surely this mythologie is 〈◊〉 cabinet which needeth no key to unlock it , the lid or cover lyeth open . let me i●treate you sir to put your hana into this cabinet , and after therein you finde what may please or content you , the same will be as much contentment unto your true friend , j. s. to the worshipfull , roger le strange esquire . sir , a most learned dutch writer hath maintained that birds doe speake and converse one with another : nor doth it follow , that they cannot speake , because wee cannot heare , or that they want language , because we want understanding . bee this true or false , in mythologie birds are allowed to speake , and and to teach men too . we know that a man cannot reade a wiser , nor a child a plainer booke then aesops fables . these birds now come to make their nest under the bowes and branches of your favour ; bee you pleased sir , to extend your shadow over them , and as they shal receive succour from you ; you may be assured you shall receive no hurt from them : and thus sir , i wish you all happinesse , not only to converse with birds in the lowest re●ion of the aire sometime stiled heaven , but that a better and higher place may bee reserved for your entertainement . j. s. ornitho-logie or the speech of birds . there was a grove in scicile , not far from siracu●e , whrein the greek and latin potes had made many hyperbolicall descriptions for the wits in that country , being placebound , and confined to a narrow circle of ground , sought to improve the same by their active wits ; whereby they enlarged every ditch into a river ; every pond into a lake , every grove into a forrest , every convenient hill into a ●ountain . in this notion they magnified this grove , otherwise not above twelve acres of ground , though well wooded , save that the tyrannical oaks with their constant dropping , hindred the underwoods from prospering within the compasse thereof . there was the whole nation of birds living under the shadow thereof . and the climate being indifferently moderate , and moderately middle ; wherein the east , west , north , and south of the world , wherein some kinds compounded , birds , of all climates here , made their habitations . now a bill of complaint was subscribed ( or rather signed ) with the numberlesse clawes ( instead of hands ) of birds ; containing the many insupportable grievances they had endured from the intolerable cruelty of the eagle ; who making his own lust his law , had dominered over all the winged nation . the eagle appeared in answer hereunto ; ( it being a generall meeting of all kinds of birds ) and endeavoured to justifie his proceedings , and clear himself in vain , from their accusations . the truth is , the eagle was overgrown with age , for he is generally reported the survivor of all birds : so that if one would take a lease of land on a birds life , he could not put in a more advantagious name then an eagle . but this eagle had its bill with long age so reflexed back again into his mouth , that hee was so farre from preying on another , that hee could not swallow any flesh though profered unto him . soon will the spirits fail where the belly is not fed ; in vain did his courage pretend to his wonted valour , when there was nothing within to justifie and make good the offers thereof . so that the poor eagle conquered rather with its own age then outward violence , yielded to that to which all must yield : and was forced patiently to digest all affronts offered unto him , and glad so to escape . for although some mention was made of killing him ; yet by plurality of suffrages , that vote got the mastery which onely confined him to a neighbouring wood , on condition that death without mercy should be his penalty if exceeding the bounds thereof . this done , proclamation was made three daies after that the whole species of birds should appeare for the election of a principall to command them . indeed there were many which were altogether against any government , because they might the more freely rove and range in their affections . these held that all were free by nature ; and that it was an assault on the liberty of man , and a rape offered to his naturall freedom ; that any should assume authority above another . these maintained ( what certainly was not onely a paradox , but a flat falshood ) that nature at the first creation made all the world a flat levell and champion , and that it was by the violence of the deluge or great flood , which by the partiall fall or running thereof , made the inequality , by sinking some places into humble vallies , and swelling others into aspiring mountaines . prosecuting which comparison , they maintained that all men were naturally equal ; and that it was the inundation and influx of humane tyranny which made this disparity between them . they also defended the argument , that as the world began , so it should with the golden age ; and that all ought to be restored to that primitive liberty which men had lost , partly surrendring it by their own folly and easie nature ; partly surprised into their own slavery by the cunning and craft of others that practised on their simplicity . but however that these made a great noise , the opposite party prevailed , as having most of strength and reason on their side . for where all rule , there no rule at all will be : where every man may command , in fine , none will obey , the dictates of his own reason , but be a very vassall to his passion . society cannot be twisted together where there is not a subordination and subjection one to another ; and where every one is absolute in himself , there is an impossibility of any orderly subsistence . let the maintainers of the contrary , try with themselves to make a rope of sand ; where each crum therein being independent of it self , hath no tendency to a generall agreement ; but enjoyes it self in its own intirenesse . it being now cast ( by generall suffrages ) for a commander over all , that at such a time they should meet : it was also proclaimed that all antipathy should cease between all birds during their meeting ; because being now in danger of generall ruine , for want of a head all private animosity should be broken off and drowned in a publique agreement . according to the proclamation , they all met together ; and birds of all feathers had a generall convolancy . then the estridge began , in a high commendation of himself , how he● was the biggest of all birds , and therefore the fittest to be their general , as of the greatest ability to support the weight of the massie affairs o● state. the rest of the birds gave him the hearing , untill 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wren thus returned th●●r . it may s● 〈◊〉 very unproportionable combate betwe● the least and gr●atest of birds that i should once o●fer to enter the list with this giant , who frights us all with his greatnesse . but sure this wise senate never made the bulk of a body the standard whereby to measure the perfections of the mind : and therefore i may take to my selfe the confidence to examine the truth of what hee hath spoken . his greatnesse is apparent to every eye ; but as for any othereminency , it is so secret a quality , that none as yet hath discovered it ; for mine own part i conceive him ra●her beast then bird , and therefore not properly of our ●ind . i appeal to his latin●ame ●ame ; struthio-camelus ; wher●n the camell beares away the last and best part thereof . and are we put to such a straight , that we must elect an hermophrodite , a rudiment , which is a measuring case betweene beast and fowl : doth hee not more trust , unto his leggs to flee , then unto his wings to flye , and what i pray is the remarkeable vertue , which commends him to publique notice ; hath he any melodious voice whereby to charme the attentions of those that hear him : hath he any extraordinary wit , in which he appears above others of the same society . what if foolish women , as light perhaps as the feather they wear , be pleased to advance his taile above their heads . what if vainglorious captaines more known by their plumes then their performances , deck their crests with the spoil of his wings : all these amount not to argue any reall worth in him . wee live not in an age to be deluded with showes , or cheated with shadowes . it is enough that our ancestors have suffered for their ●olly herein , with their owne credulity . reall worth must ●e the attractive of our love●nd ●nd respect : which being here wanting ▪ i utterly disavow his election for our soveraign . the rest of the birds con●urred with the resolution of the wren , highly applauding it for the same ; which durst speak that which others thought ▪ they plainly saw that spirit united in a small bulk , acts most vigorously : and the contracted heat in so small a body prompted the wren to such lively expressions which bigger birds durst not utter . next stood forth the parrot , insisting largely on it's own● commendation , among the res● of his dexterous faculty , in imitating the speech of man wherein he exceeded all othe● creatures in the world . and seeing man was the soveraign o● all the creation , he conceive● himself ( which approached nex● unto him in his happy expressions ) deservedly might claim the regiment of all birds . the daw generally condemned for its loquacity , took upon him to answer the parrot . indeed hee began with great disadvantage , none expecting any thing of wi● or worth from him , because hee was so common a talker , therefore conceived his speech not worthy their attentions , when defeating their expectations , & deceiving them with a harmesse cheat , he thus proceeded . you have heard the parrot●ake ●ake a large encomium of him●elf , all which must needs bee ●rue , because you have heard his owne credit to avouch it : otherwise me thinks one might justly take the liberty to examine the ground of what hee hath spoken ; i will not insist on the aliennesse of his extraction ; we living here in syracus● whilst this parrot fetcheth hi● originall from the south o● africk , or east of asia . onel● consider with your selves ho● unfit it is for our free-born spi● rits to submit to a forrainer assure your selves , forrain air will bring in forrain inclinations , hee cannot but promot● strangers as his favourites to a places , and preferments of pr● fit and honour , and can t● be digested by such as consu● the true spirit of an ingenious birth ; for mine own part , i shall rather submit to the tyranny of our own country , then to the insulting humours of strangers ; as expecting that although one of our owne country may for a time domineere over us ; yet the sympathy of blood to those of his own land , will give a check , and at last gain a conquest of his passion , that he will return to a favourable reflection , on those who by vicinity of birth and breeding are related unto him . now whereas the parrot boasteth that hee doth so exactly imitate the speech of man , it affecteth me no whit at all with admiration thereof . i have heard of a speech of alexander , who being invited to hear a man that sung like the nightingale , answered , i scorn to bear him , for i have heard the nightingale it selfe : and who would admire at the copie , when hee hath the original , i have often heard men themselves speak , and therefore am not a whit moved to heare a parrot speak like a man ; let every thing appear in its owne shape ; men speak the language of men , birds of birds . hypocrisie is that which hath betrayed the world , to a generall de●usion , thence to destruction , when people counterfeit the tongues and tones of those from whose hearts they dissent : how many demure people hath this age brought forth , sadly and soberly dropping forth their words , with much affected deliberation ( as if all the hearers were bound thereby to believe them as solid , reserved and discreet in deeds as in their words , when they onely palliate and cloak a base and unworthy inside under the shadow and pretence of an outward fair representation . i therefore must throw my graines into the negative scale , and conceive the parrot utterly unfit for the soveraignty of birds . after many debates and disputes , pro and con , plurality of voices at last pitched on the hauke , as whose extraction was known to be honorable , valour undoubted , providence or foresight admirable , as appeared in the quicknesse of his eyes ; being a prometheus indeed , foreseeing all dangers , and his own advantages of great distance . the hauke returning his full and fair thanks unto them for their free favour , accepted of their profer , and all their meeting for the present was diminished , onely two birds commanded to stay behind , the phenix and the turtle doye , whom the hawk severally accosted , beginning with the former . sir , or mistris phoenix , saith the hawk ; for i know not in what gender to addresse my language unto you , in whom both sexes are jumbled together . i desire to be informed of you , whether that bee a truth , or a long lived common error , of the manner of your original from the ashes of your ancestor , if it be a truth , i stand ready with admiration to embrace and entertaine it : if an errour , i am resolved posterity shall no longer bee deluded therewith we live in an age of knowledge , the beames whereof have dispelled those mists of errour wherewith our forefather were cheated into the belief of many impossibilities recommended unto them by tradition , as if the gray perriwigg● of old-age should command so much veneration from us , that we should consign up our judgement to the implicite belief of any thing which former ages have related . deale therefore openly with me , and informe me the truth , whether your generation be thus by continuation of a miracle . i cannot resolve you herein , saith the phoenix , of the particulars of my extraction , which happened long before the register of my memory : sure i am there are no other of my kinde for me to couple with , which demonstrates the truth of that which is generally received : i confesse men make use of me rather for a moral and an embleme to denote those things which are rare , and seldome come to passe . thus , a court lord who will honestly pay all his debts , is accounted a phoenix : a judge who will not suffer his conscience to be robbed by a bribe secretly proffered unto him , is a phoenix : a great man who lookes straight forward to the publique good , not bound on e● ther side with his own interest is a phoenix : however assur● your selfe , that besides th● morality that may be mad● thereof , i have , as you see , real existence in nature , an● if any will take the paines t● travel into arabia to mech● he shall finde my nest in a tre● hanging there almost as artificially as doth the tombe o● mahomet bribed by an invisibl● loadstone into that miraculous posture thereof . but now , saith the hawk suppose i should seise on yo● this night for my supper , whether doe you thinke that th● losse of your life would be s● great a defect in nature , that the whole universe would fare the worse for the same ? undoubtedly it would , saith the phoenix , for this is received for an undoubted maxime amongst philosophers , that if one whole kinde or species of creatures be destroyed , the whole world would be ruined thereby : for every kinde of creatures are so essential to the well being thereof , that if any one of them be utterly destroyed , all the rest out of sympathy will decay . i conceive not , saith the hawk , that you are such a foundation stone in natures building , that the taking you away will hazard the whole architecture thereof . however , i am resolved to put it to the tryal , be it but to gaine knowledge by the experiment ▪ i know what plato saith , that those are the happiest kingdomes , wherein either their kings are philosophers , or their philosophers their kings . seeing therefore the history of nature is so necessary to an accomplished governour , i who desire all perfections in that kind , will to satisfie my curiositie make proof thereof . the phoenix pleaded for her self the benefit of a proclamation of liberty to all for three dayes to come and goe with safety ; the eagle smiling at her silly plea , informing her that such grants are to be kept no farther than they are consistent with the conveniency of those that grant them . yet for the present the phoenix was reprieved , because the hawkes stomach lately gorged , had not as yet recovered his appetite to his supper . then the hawk approached to the turtle-dove , demanding of her whether it was true or no what passeth for a common truth , that the turtle if once losing their mate , never wed more , but passe the remainder of their dolefull dayes in constant widdowhood . most true it is , saith the turtle , which i may speake by my owne sad experience ; for some three vears since , the unhappy shot of a cruel falk oner deprived me of my deare husband , since which time i have sequestred my selfe from all company , never appearing in publique till now , forced thereunto by command from authority . and surely , i conceive , all second marriages little better than excusable lust , for when once the heate of youth hath been abated in one match , none can pretend necessity of marrying againe , except it be for quenching those heates which they themselves willingly and wilfully kindle . besides , when one hath once really affected a husband , or he a wife , affections so ingrosse the whole soul , that notwithstanding his , or her death , it can never admit another to the same degree of dea●nesse . especially if their love were signed and sealed with issue , as mine was , having three of both sexes surviving ( ●end them better successe than their unhappy father ●ad ) so that in them me●hinkes i behold my husband ●till alive . she therefore that ●ath not the modesty to d●e ●he relict of one man , will charge through a whole arm● of husbands , if occasion wer● offered , before her love wil● meet with a full stoppe there of . you are too rigid and s● vere , saith the hawk , to mak● your personal temper and pr● vate practice the rule to me● sure all other by , unacquainte● with the necessities of othe● in this kinde . but to co● closer to the matter , i desi● satisfaction in another thing namely , whether you be wit● out a gall as is commonly r● ported . i know there is a twofo● knowledge , one by the fru● and the effects which schol● call à posteriore , and this is the more fallible & uncertaine , the other à priore from the causes , and this as more demonstrative may safely be relyed on , i will embrace the latter course , and to assure my selfe whether you have a gall or no , i meane to make you a living anatomie , and instantly to insect you . ocular inspection is the best direction , and i will presently pry into your intrails for my better information , to see with what curiosity nature hath contrived the things therein , and how many ●ittle engines there are to move the wheele of life within you . then beganne the eagle to dispose himselfe , for supper , intending the turtle-dove for the first course to begin with , and the phoenix ( as the finer flesh ) to close his stomack therewith . in preparation wherunto he plumed the dove of some of her upper feathers . just in the instant as he beganne his prey , who should come in , but he was little expected , and lesse welcome to the hawk than the old eagle , and we must a while dwel upon the cause and manner of his inlargement . this eagle was , as aforesaid , confined to a grove , where he was temperate against his will , as not able to feede on any fowle . nature had hung such a lock upon his bill , for the redundancie thereof was such , that hee was capable of no food , save drinke , which hee plentifully powred in ; thus for some moneths drinke was all the meate hee tooke , which served to support his life , though not to ●ncrease his strength ; yet could he not be a good fellow in his cups , as being solitary by himselfe , having none to keep him company . at last hee descryed a sharpe rock , wherein one place white in colour , more prominent than the rest , had a shining hardnesse therein ; to this the eagle applyes his bill , and never left off rubbing , grating , and whetting his beak thereon , untill at last hee quite whetted off the superfluous , yea hurtfull excrescencie of his bill , which now reduced to a moderate proportion , was as usefull to all purposes as ever before . thus enabled to get his prey in few weekes , he recruited his strength , so that what the poets tell of medea , that with her inchanted baths made her father-in-law young againe , here truly came to passe : and now the new old eagle hearing in what quarters the hawke kept his constant residence , thought on a sudden to have surprised him , had not the other discovered his approach , and made a seasonable escape , whereby both turtle and phoenix obtained their liberty , and securely returned unto their owne nests . the hawke having made an escape , posted with all speed to the lapwinge , which with some difficulty he found out , and privacie being obtained , thus kindly spake unto him . friend lapwing , i have taken notice , that you are one of the most subtilest , and politick bird in all our common-wealth ; you have the art so to cover your intentions , that they are not obvious to common eyes , when your egges or young ones be a mile at distance , you use to flutter with your winges , and fetch your rounds and circles a great way off , as if you intended to broo● that place with your wings , or as if that were the chest wherein your treasure was deposited ; this makes many people to search there for your young ones , but are frustrated of their hopes ; you have insecured them farre off ; this lawfull simulation , i conceive a commendable and necessary quality in every great person ; it is as necessary as breath to their well being : should men play all above board , and expose their actions to all spectators , folly and wisdome would bee both of a rate . no , it is the hanging of such curtaines and traverses before our deeds which keep up our reputation , and enable us for great performances . now i request you help me a little in my extremity , the renewed eagle is in pursuit of me , and my safety lyeth much at your disposall . the lapwing promised the utmost of his endeavours , and desired the hawk to proceed . see you , saith the hawk , yonder empty cage of great receipt , so that it might serve for an aviarie , for which it was first intended , though since disused , when the eagle flying this way enquireth after me , perswade him i am flowne into the cage , and leave the rest to my performance . all was acted accordingly , the eagle demanded what was become of the hawk ? the lapwing returned , here 't is , here 't is , and then hovered over the cage , fetching so many compasses thereabouts , that one might have mistaken him for some ●njurer , making his many circles with intent to raise up some spirit thereabouts : the eagle violently flyes into the cage , whose doores stood open , triumphing in his owne happinesse , that now he should be revenged on his profest enemy . instantly the hawk ( who stood behinde unseen in a place of advantage ) clapps an iron padlock on the cage , and thus insulteth over the prisoner . me thinkes , sir eagle , you make mee call to minde the condition of bajazet the great turk , whom tamberlan tooke captive , and carried him about the country , that all people might feed their gazing eyes upon him ; such a spectacle are you this day ; i have now made an owle of the eagle , turned him into the ridiculous object of laughter and contempt : tell me , doe you not want a prometheus , to feed upon his fruitfull entrails as the poets feigne , which daily increased , and afforded the poets eagle both common and festivals . sir , your life shall not bee vented out at once , but you shall dye many deaths , with long lingering torments : i will order it so that you shall feele your self to dye : there is no musick in an enemies death , which is not accompanyed with torment ; and though no outward torture shall be inflicted upon you , yet know , that thirst and hunger shall be your two executioners . now the guiltlesse blood of so many birds and innocent lambs , and hurtlesse hares shall bee required of you ; and so i leave you till to morrow , when i meane to make a new meal of you in scorn and contempt . the eagle sadly , yet stoutly auswered , my courage shall not abate with my condition , whose spirit is planted above the battery of fortune , i will never be lesse than my selfe , whatsoever befalls me . a lyon is no lesse a lyon , though in a grate ; mischance , may make me miserable , it shall not make me base , i will beare my troubles with as much chearfulnesse as i may , i defie thy spleene in triumphing over me . after the hawkes departure , the ostrich came in the place , whom the eagle saw unseen , and wishly marked his postures and motions . the ostrich fell into a strange passion , and would you know the reason thereof , it was as followeth . some three dayes since , when hee first repaired to the generall meeting of the birds , he left his egges in the sand , not covering them over , such his carelesnesse and incogitancie ; it was in a starre-light night , wherein he took a mark for the finding of his egges by such a sta●re , under the direct position whereof he then hid them , and hoped to finde them at his returne . it happened that the starre being turned about with the circumgyration of the heavens , which continue in constant motion , the ostrich lost the starre by which hee thought to find his egges , and though very neare the place wandering up and downe , and could not light upon it , which made him breake forth into this passionate complaints . i am the unfortunatest of all fowles : how will all condemne mee for an unnaturall parent , who have been thus carelesse of mine owne issue ? yet i tooke as good notice of the place as i could , all things in earth are false , and fading , and flitting away : i had thought there had been more faithfulnesse in the heavens , more assurance in the skies . let never the indians worship stars again , when they are guilty of so much deceit . how comes it to passe , that the pole-starre is so perfect a guide and direction to the mariner , that it may be tearmed the grand pilot of all shippes , by the elevation , or depression whereof , they infallibly collect in the darkest nights whereabouts they steer . i say , how comes that starre to be so true to its trust , to be so true a conductor of wandering saylors , and this prove so false to me ? and now will posterity ●and me for unnaturalnesse , who have exposed my egges to such dange● though therein all caution was used by mee to the height of my discretion . more would shee have spoken when griefe silenced her ; for as those rivers are shallow which make a noyse , whilst the deepest streames are tongue-tyed ; s● those passions which ven● themselves in words , discove● their bottome of no great depth . meane time the eagle looked through the species , or entervalls in the cage , and so excellent the sight thereof he easily discerned where th● egges lay , the o●rich being so near , that he almost crushed them with his own feet , wherefore calling the ostrich unto him , i am glad , saith he , that in my misery i have the occasion to oblige any ; i can tel● you where the treasure is tha● you seek for , and presently directed him to the same . the ostrich was not so over-joyed with its own happinesse ; but that he bethought himselfe how to returne proportionable thankes to the eagle , in order whereunto he set his bill against the iron padlock of the ●age , and according to the voraciousness of his stomack quite devoured the same . let privy councellors of nature enter into this deep discourse , how it is possible for such a solid , and substantial thing as iron is , to become food to a fowle , let them , i say , beate their braines about this question harder than iron , and if they find the true reason thereof , i shall preferre their ingenuity as stronger than the stomack of an ostrich ; meane time we will be content to rest in the vulgar report , and are satisfied to admire what we cannot understand in such cases wherein surely there are some hidden , and occult qualities , too deep for men to dive into , and these betray a surly and base disposition , which will beleeve nothing ( though authentically attested by never so many witnesses ) whereof they are unable to render the true reason , as if nature could do● nothing but what shee giv● them an account of how shee doth it . the eagle th●s restored to liber●y , returned hea●y thanks to ●he ostrich . you see , saith he , there is no living in this world without bartering and exchanging of c●tesies one to another ; he that lendeth to day may borrow to morrow , how happy would mankinde bee , if the wall of envie were pluckt downe betwixt them , and their parts so layd in common , that the wealth of one might supply the wants of another ; nature hath inriched me with a quick sight thee with a strong dige●n ▪ i have restored thy egges to thee , you have restored me to my selfe , liberty being the life of life ; and this i thought fit to testifie unto thee , though hot in the pursuit of my enemy ; first to thanke thee , then punish him : i will not bee guilty of so preposterous a soul , that my revenge shall get the speede of my gratitude . this done , the eagle in full quest of the hawke , discovereth a company of birds together , being a great party whom the peacock had assembled , with hope to intice them to choose him their chiefe ; for the hawke no where appearing , and the enlargement of the eagle being unknown , he thus endeavoured by his rhethoricall slourishes to make himself popular in their affections . i am not ignorant , that such men proclaime their own weaknesse , who are the herald of their owne praise ; it argueth a great dearth of desert , and want of worth , when one is large in his own commendation , however sometimes necessity makes it law●ull , especially when what is spoken is so generally known , that it commandeth the way to its own belief , and carrieth the credit about it , give me leave to present my person and merits to your consideration ; my bulke not so great as the ostrich like to bee a burden to it selfe , yet not so little as any way to invite neglect : a good presence is requisite in a commander , otherwise great parts crowded in a despicable person , no whit becomes one in authority . i will give you but one argument , or demonstration rather of my worth : when the gods had the free choice of all the birds which they would please to make their attendants in ordinary , and when jove made choice of the eagle , as most emperiall , juno , his consort , was pleased to elect me , to be called by the name of her bird in all passages of poetry . thus am i next to the best , and but one steppe removed from the top , even by those infallible judgements . looke , i pray , upon my traine , how it is circular , the most capable forme , and how it is distinguished with variety of colours , which appeareth as so many earthly rainebowes in my feathers . ovid hath reported , that argus his hundred eyes were turned into them . but know you , if you please to elect me to be your chiefe , that all those eyes shall daily and hourely watch & ward for your good , i will have a constant oversight of your welfare . it was conceived , that the peacock intended a longer oration , which would have wearied the assembly with the prolixity thereof , had he not casually , but happily cast down his eyes on his black legs , the ugly hew therof so abated his pride , that it put a period to his harangue before his intent , and others expectation . now as the vulture was tuning his tongue to return an answer , in cometh the eagle , and is generally received with all joyfull acclamations . now because clemencie is the badge of a generous nature , and those that have most courage have least crueltie , at the mediation of some potent birds , the eagle condescended , that the day of his re-inauguration should not be stained with blood , and therefore granted life to the hawk , but on condition , not to exceed the grove in which formerly himself was imprisoned . finis . antheologia , or the speech of flowers . there was a place in thessaly ( and i am sorry to say there was a place in thessaly , for though the place be there still , yet it is not it selfe . the bones thereof remaine , not the flesh and colour . the standards of hilles and rivers ; not the ornaments of woods , bowers , groves and banqueting-houses . these long since are defaced by the turkes , whose barbarous natures wage warre with civility it selfe , and take a delight to make a wildernesse where before their conquest they found a paradise . ) this place is some five miles in length , and though the breadth bee corrivall with the length to equallize the same , and may so seeme at the first fight ; yet it falleth short upon exact examimination , as extending but to foure miles . this place was by the poets called tempe , as the abridgement of earthly happinesse , shewing that in short hand , which the whole world presented in a larger character , no earthly pleasure was elsewhere afforded , but here it mighti be found in the heighth thereof . within this circuit of ground , there is still extant , by the rare preservation of the owner , a small scantlin of some three acres , which i might call the tempe of tempe , and re-epitomiz'd the delicacies of all the rest . it was divided into a garden , in the upper part whereof flowers did grow , in the lower , hearbs , and those of all sorts and kinds . and now in spring time earth did put on her new cloathes , though had some cun●ing herald beheld the same , he would have condemned her coate to have been of no antient bearing , it was so overcharged with variety of colours . for there was yellow marigolds , wallflowers , auriculusses , gold knobs , and abundance of other namelesse flowers , which would pose a nomenclator to call them by their distinct denominations . there was white , the dayes eye , white roses , lillyes , &c. blew , violet , irisse , red roses , pionies , &c. the whole field was vert or greene , and all colours were present save sable , as too sad and dolefull for so merry a meeting . all the children of flora being summone● there , to make their appearance at a great solemnity . nor was the lower part of the ground lesse stored with herbs , and those so various , that if gerard himselfe had bin in the place , upon the beholding thereof , he must have been forced to a re-edition of his herball , to adde the recruit of those plants , which formerly were unseen by him , or unknown unto him . in this solemn randevouz of flowers and herbs , the rose stood forth , and made an oration to this effect . it is not unknown to you , how i have the precedency of all flowers , confirmed unto me under the patent of a double sence , sight , smell . what more curious colours ? how do all diers blush when they behold my blushing , as conscious to themselves , that their art cannot imitate that tincture , which nature hath stamped upon me . smell , it is not lusciously offensive , nor dangerously faint , but comforteth with a delight , and delighteth with the comfort thereof : yea , when dead , i am more soveraigne then living : what cordials are made of my syrups ? how many corrupted lungs ( those fans of nature ) sore wasted with consumption , that they seem utterly unable any longer to cool the heat of the heart , with their ventilation , are with conserves made of my stamped leaves , restored to their former soundnesse againe : more would i say in mine own cause , but that happily i may be taxed of pride , and selfe . flattery , who speak much in mine own behalf , & therefore i leave the rest to the judgment of such as hear me , and passe from this discourse to my just complaint . there is lately a flower ( shal i call it so ? in courtesie i will tearme it so , though it deserve not the appellation ) a toolip , which hath ingrafted the love and affections of most people unto it ; and what is this toolip ? a well complexion'd stink , an ill savour wrapt up in pleasant colours : as for the use thereof in physick , no physitian hath honoured it yet with the mention , nor with a greek , or latin name , so inconsiderable hath it hitherto been accompted ; and yet this is that which filleth all gardens , hundred of pounds being given for the root thereof , whilst i the rose , am neglected and contemned , and conceived beneath the honour of noble hands , and fit only to grow in the gardens of yeomen . i trust the remainder to your apprehensions , to make out that , which grief for such undeserved injuries will not suffer me to expresse . hereat the rose wept , and the dropping of her white tears down her red cheeks , so well becomed her , that if ever sorrow was lovely , it then appeared so , which moved the beholders to much compassion , her tears speaking more then her tongue , in her own behalfe . the tool p stood up insolently , as rather challenging then craving respect f●om the common-wealth of flower● there present , & thus vaunted it selfe . i am not solicitous what to returne to the complaint of this rose , whose own demerit hath justly outed it self of that respect , which the mistaken world formerly bestowed upon it , and which mens eyes , now opened , justly reassume , and conferre on those who better deserve the same . to say that i am not more worthy then the rose , what is it , but to condemne mankind , and to arraign the most gentle and knowing among men of ignorance , for misplacing their affections : surely vegetables must not presame to mount above rationable creatures , or to think that men are not the most competent judges of the worth and valew of flowers . i confesse there is yet no known soveraign vertue in my leaves , but it is injurious to inferre that i have none , because as yet not taken notice of . if we should examine all , by their intrinsick valews , how many contemptible things in nature would take the upper-hand of those which are most valued ; by this argument a flint-stone would be better then a diamond , as containing that spark of fire therein , whence men with combustible matter may heat themselves in the coldest season : and cleer it is , that the load-stone , ( that grand pilot to the north , which findeth the way there in the darkest night ) is to be preferred before the most orient pearle in the world : but they will generally be condemned for unwise , who prize things according to this proportion . seeing therefore in stones and minerals , that those things are not most valued , which have most vertue , but that men according to their eyes and fancies raise the reputation thereof , let it not be interpreted to my disadvantage , that i am not eminently known for any cordiall operation ; perchance the discovery hereof is reserved for the next age , to find out the latent vertue which lurketh in me : and this i am confident of , that nature would never have hung out so gorgious a signe , if some guest of quality had not been lodged therein ; surely my leaves , had never been feathered with such variety of colours , ( which hath proclaimed me the king of all lillies ) had not some strange vertue , whereof the world is yet ignorant , been treasured up therein . as for the rose , let her thank her selfe , if she be sensible of any decay in esteem , i have not ambitiously affected superiority above her , nor have i fraudulently endevoured to supplant her : only i should have been wanting to my selfe , had i refused those favours from ladies , which their importunity hath pressed upon me : and may the rose remember , how she out of causelesse jealousie , maketh all hands to be her enemies that gather her ; what need is there that she should garison her selfe within her prickles ? why must she set so many thornes to lye constant perdue , that none must gather her , but such as suddenly surprize her ; and do not all that crop her , run the hazard of hurting their fingers : this is that which hath weaned the world from her love , whilst my smooth stalk exposing ladies to no such perills , hath made them by exchange to fix their removed affections upon me . at this stood up the violet , and all prepared themselves with respectfull attention , honouring the violet for the age thereof , for the prim rose alone excepted , it is seignior to all the flowers in the year , and was highly regarded for the reputation of the experience thereof that durst encounter the cold , and had past many bitter blasts , whereby it had gained much wispome , and had procured a venerable respect , both to his ●erson and counsell . the case ( saith the violet ) is not of particular concernment , but extendeth it selfe to the life and liberty of all the society of flowers ; the complaint of the rose we must all acknowledge to be just and true , and ever since i could remember , we have paid the rose a just tribute of fealty as our prime and principall . as for this toolip , it hath not been in being in our garden above these sixty years : our fathers never knew that such a flower would be , and perhaps our children may never know it ever was ; what traveller brought it hither , i know not ; they say it is of a syrian extraction , but sure there it grew wild in the open fields , and is not beheld otherwise , then a gentler sort of weed : but we may observe that allforraign vices are made vertues in this countrey , forraign drunkennesse is grecian mirth ( thence the proverb , the merry greek ) forraign pride , grecian good behaviour ; forraign lust , grecian love ; forraign lazinesse , grecian harmelessnesse ; forraign weeds , grecian flowers . my judgement therefore is , that if we do not speedily eradicate this intruder ( this toolip ) in processe of time will out us all of our just possessions , seeing no flower can pretend a cleerer title then the rose●ath ●ath ; and let us every one make the case to be his owne . the gravity of the violet so prevailed with the senate of flowers , that all concurred with his judgment herein ; and such who had not the faculty of the sluentnesse of their tongues to expresse themselves in large orations , thought that the well managing of a yea , or nay , spoke them as well wishing to the generall good , as the expressing themselves in large harrangues ; and these soberly concluded , that the toolip should be rooted out of the garden , and cast on the dunghill , as one who had justly invaded a place not due thereunto , and this accordingly was performed . whilst this was passing in the upper house of the flowers , no less were the transactions in the lower house of the herbs ; where there was a generall acclamation against wormewood , the generality condemning it , as fitter to grow in a ditch then in a garden : wormewood hardly ●eneived leave to make its own defence , pleading in this manner for its innocency . i would gladly know whom i have offended in this common-wealth of herbs , that there should be so generall a conspiracy against me ? only two things can be charged on me , commonnesse and bitternesse ; if commonnesse pass for a fault , you may arraign nature it self , and condemn the best jewel● thereof , the light of the sun , the benefit of the ayre , the community of the water , are not these staple commodities of mankind , without which no being or subsistance : if therefore it be my charity to stoop so low , as to tender my selfe to every place for the publique service , shall that for which i deserve , if not praise , i need no pardon , be charged upon me as an offence . as for my bitternesse , it is not a malitious & mischievous bitternesse to do hurt , but a helpfull & medicinall bitternesse , whereby many cures are effected . how many have surteited on honey ? how many have dig'd their gravs in a sugar-loaf ? how many diseases have bin caused by the dulcor of many luscious sweet-meats ? then am i sent for physitian to these patients , and with my brother cardus ( whom you behold with a loving eye , i speak not this to endanger him , but to defend my selfe ) restore them ( if temperate in any degree , and perswaded by their friends to tast of us ) unto their former health . i say no more , but were all my patients now my pleaders , were all those who have gained health by me , present to intercede for me , i doubt not but to be reinstated in your good opinions . true it is , i am condemned for over-hot , and too passionate in my operation ; but are not the best natures subject to this distemper ? is it not observed that the most witty are the most cholerick ? a little over-doing is pardonable , i will not say necessary in this kind , nor let me be condemned as destructive to the fight , having such good opening , and abstergent qualities , that moderately taken , especially in a vorning , i am both food and physick for a forenoon . it is strange to see how passion and selfe-interest sway in many things , more then the justice and merit of a cause ; it was verily expected that worm-wood should have been acquitted , and re-admitted a member in the society of herbs : but what will not a faction carry ; worme-woods friends were cafually absent that very day , making merry at an entertainment ; her enemies ( let not that sex be angry for making wormwood feminine ) appeared in a full body , and made so great a noise , as if some mouths had two tongues in them , and though some engaged very zealously in wormwoods defence , yet over-charged with the tyranny of number , it was carryed in the negative , that wormwood , alias absynthium , should be pluckt up root and branch from the garden , and thrown upon the dunghill , which was done accordingly , where it had the wofull society of the toolip , in this happy , that being equally miserable , they might be a comfort the one to the other , and spent many howers in mutuall recounting their severall calamities , thinking each to exceed the other in the relation thereof . let us now amidst much sadness interweave something of more mirth and pleasantnesse in the garden . there were two roses growing upon one bush , the one pale and wan with age , ready to drop off , as usefull only for a still : the other a young bud , newly loosened from its green swadling cloaths , and peeping on the rising sun , it seem'd by its orient colour to be died by the reflection therof . of these , the aged rose thus began . sister bud , learn witt by my woe , and cheaply enjoy the free and ful benefit of that purchase which cost me dear and bitter experience : once i was like your selfe , young and pretty , straitly laced in my green-girdle , not swoln to that breadth and corpulency which now you behold in me , every hand which passed by me courted me , and persons of all sorts were ambitious to gather me : how many fair fingers of curious ladies tendred themselves to remove me from the place of my abode ; but in those daies i was coy , & to tell you plainly foolish , i stood on mine own defence , summoned my life-guard about me , commanded every pickle as so many halberdeers , to stand to their armes , de●ie those that durst touch me , protested my selfe a votary of constant virginity ; frighted hereat , passengers desisted from their intentions to crop me , and left me to enjoy the sullen humour of my own reservednesse . afterwards the sun beams wrought powerfully upon me , ( especialy about noon-time ) to this my present extent , the orient colour which blushed so beautifull in me at the first , was much abated , with an overmixture of wa●ness and palemess therewith , so that the green ( or white sicknesse rather , the common pennance for over-kept virginity began to infect me , and that fragrant sent of mine , began to remit and lessen the sweetnesse thereof , and i daily decayed in my naturall perfume ; thus seeing i daily lessened in the repute of all eyes and nostrills , i began too late to repent my selfe of my former frowardnesse , and sought that my diligence by an after-game ; should recover what my folly had lost ; i pranked up my selfe to my best advantage , summoned all my sweetnesse to appear in the height thereof , recruited my decayed colour , by blushing for my own folly , and wooed every hand that passed by me , to remove me . i confesse in some sort it offers rape to a maiden modesty , if forgetting their sex , they that should be all ears , turn mouthes , they that should expect , offer ; when we women , who only should be the passive counterparts of love , and receive impression from others , boldly presume to stamp them on others , and by an inverted method of nature , turn pleaders unto men , and wooe them for their affections . for all this there is but one excuse , and that is absolute necessity which as it breaks through stone-walls , so ●o wonder if in this case it alters and transposes the sexes , making women to m●n it in case of extremity , when men are wanting to tender their affections unto them . all was but in vaine , i was entertained with scorne and neglect , the hardned hands of dayly labourers , brawned with continuall work , the bluck hands of moores , which alwaies carry night in their 〈◊〉 , sleighted and contemned me ; yea , now behold my last hope is but to deck and adom houses , and to be laid as a propertie in windowes , till at last i die in the hospitall of ●ome still , where when useless for any thing else , we are generally admitted . and now my ●ery leaves begin to leave me , and i to be deserted and forsaken of my sel● . o how happy are those roses , who are preferred in their youths ; to be warme in the hands and breasts of faire ladies , who are joyned together with other flowers of severall kinds in a posie , wh●re the generall result of sweetnesse from them all , ravisheth the smel by an intermixture of various colours , all united by their stalks within the same 〈◊〉 that bindeth them together . therefore sister bud grow wise by my folly , and know it is far greater happinesse to lose thy virginity in a good hand , then to wither on the stalk whereon thou growest : accept of thy first and best tender , lest afterwards in vaine thou courtest the reversion of fragments of that feast of love , which first was freely tendred unto thee . leave we them in their dis●ourse , and proceed to the relation of the toolip and wormwood , now in a most pitifull condition , as they were lying on the dunghill ; behold a vast gi●nt boar comes unto them ; that which hercules was said to kill , and which was accounted by some the foreman of the jury of his l●ours , was but a pygmie , or rather but a pig , in comparison of this ; and with his tusks wherewith nature had armed him to be his sword as his shoulders are his shield , he began to rend and tear the toolip and wormewood , who exclaimed unto him as followeth . sir , pitty useth alwaies to be an attendant of a generous mind , & valiant spirit , for which i have heard you much commended . cruelty is commonly observed to keep company with cowardlinesse , and base minds , to triumph in cruell actions , behold we are the objects rather of your pitty , whose ●fferings may rather render us to the commiseration of any that justly consider our case . i the too●ip by a faction of flowers , was outed of the garden , where i have as good a right and title to abide as any other : and this wormewood , notwithstanding her just and long plea , how usefull and cordiall she was , was by a conspiracy of herbs excluded the garden , and both of us ignominiously confined to this place , where we must without all hopes quickly expire : our humble request unto you is not to ●orten those few minutes of our lives which are left unto us , seeing such prejudice was done to our vitals ( when our roots were mangled by that cruel eradication ) that there is an impossibility of our long continuance : let us therefore sairly breath out our last breath , and antidate not our misery , but let us have the favour of a quiet close and conclusion . but if so be that you are af●ected with the destruction of flowers and herbs , know the pleasure and contentment therein must be far greater to root out those which are fairly flourishing in their prime , whereof pl●ty are in this garden afforded , and if it please you to follow our directions , we will make you master of a passe , which without any difficulty shall convey you into the garden , for though the same on all sides almost is either walled or paled about , yet in one place it is fenced with a hedge only , wherein , through the neglect of the gardiner , ( whose care it ought to be to secure the same ) there is a hole left in such capacity ; as will yeeld you an easie entrance thereinto : there may you glut your selfe , and satiate your soule with variety of flowers and herb● , so that an epicure might have cause to complain of the plenty thereof . the boar apprehends the motion , is sencible it was advantagious for him , and following their directions , he makes himselfe master of his owne desire . o the spitefulnesse of some natures ! how do they wreck their their anger on all persons : it was revenge for the toolip and wormwood , unlesse they had spitefully wronged the whole corporation of flowers , out of which they were ejected as uselesse and dangerous members : and now consider how these two pride themselves in their own vindicative thoughts ? how do they in their forcrunning fancy antidate the death of all herbs and flowers . what is sweeter then revenge ? how do they please themselves to see what are hot & cold in the first , second , third , and fourth degree , ( which borders on poison ) how all these different in their severall tempers , will be made friends in universall misery , and compounded in a generall destruction . little did either flowers or herbs think of the boares approaching , who were solacing themselves with merry and pleasant discourse ; and it will not be amiss to deceive time , by inserting the courtship of thrift a flower-herb , unto the marygold , thus accosting her , just as the boar entered into the garden . mistresse , of all flowers that grow on earth , give me leave to professe my fincerest affections to you : complements have so infected mens tongues ( and grown an epidemicall fault , or as others esteem it , a fashionable accomplishment ) that we know not when they speak truth , having made dissembling their language , by a constant usage thereof : but believe me mistriss my heart never entertained any other interpreter then my tongue ; and if there be a veine ( which anatomists have generally avouched , carrying intelligence from the heart to the lips ) assure your selfe that vein acts now in my discourse . i have taken signall notice of your accomplishments , and among many other rare qualities , particularly of this , your loyalty and faithfulnesse to the sun , soveraign to all vegetables , to whose warming beams , we owe our being and increase : such your love thereunto , that you attend his rising , and therewith open , and at his setting shut your windowes : true it is , that helitropium ( to turner with the sun ) hath a long time been attributed to the sun-flower , a voluminous giant like flower , of no vertue or worth as yet discovered therein , but we all know the many and soveraign vertues in your leaves , the herb generall in all pottage : nor do you as herb john stand newter , and as too many now adaies in our commonwealth do , neither good nor ill ( expecting to be acted on by the impression of the prevailent party ) and otherwise warily engage not themselves ; but you really appear soveraign and operative in your wholesome effects : the consideration hereof , and no other by reflection , hath moved me to the tender of my affections , which if it be candidly resented , as it is sincerely offered , i doubt not but it may conduce to the mutuall happinesse of us both . besides know ( though i am the unproperest person to trumpet forth my owne praise ) my name is thrift , and my nature answereth thereunto ; i doe not prodigally wast those lands in a moment , which the industry and frugality of my ancestors hath in a long time advanced ; i am no gamster to shake away with a quaking hand , what a more fixed hand did gain and acquire : i am none of those who in variety of cloaths , bury my quick e●ate as in a winding sheet ; nor am i one of those who by cheats and deceits improve my selfe on the losses of others ; no widowes have wept , no orphans have cryed for what i have offered unto them ( this is not thrift but rather felony ) nor owe i any thing to my own body ; i fear not to be arrested upon the action of my own carcaffe , as if my creditors should cunningly compact therewith , and quit scores , resigning their bill and bond unto mine own body , whilst that in requitall surrendereth all obligations for food and cloaths thereunto : nor do i undertake to buy out bonds in controversies for almost nothing , that so running a small hazard , i may gain great advantage , if my bargain therein prove successfull . no , i am plain and honest thrist , which none ever did , or will speak against , save such prodigall spend-thrifts , who in their reduced thoughts , will speak more against themselves . and now it is in your power to accept or refuse what i have offered , which is the priviledg which nature hath allotted for your feminine sex , which we men perchance may grudg and repine at , but it being past our power to amend it , we must permit our selves as well as we may to the constant custome prevailing herein . the marigold demurely hung down her head , as not over-fond of the motion , and kept silence so long as it might stand with the rule of manners , but atlast brake forth into the following return . i am tempted to have a good opinion of my selfe , to which all people are prone , and we women most of all , if we may beleeve your — of us , which herein i am affraid are too true : but sir , i conceive my selfe too wise to be deceived by your commendations of me , especially in so large a way , and on so generall an account , that other flowers not only share with me , but exceeed me therein : may not the daies-eye not only be corrivall with me ; but superior to me in that quality , wherein so much you praise me ; my vig●ancy starteth only from the suns rising , hers bears date frō the dawning of the morning , & out-runs my speed by many degrees : my vertue in portage which you so highly commend , impute it not to my modesty , but to my guiltinesse , if i cannot give it entertainment ; for how many hundred herbs which you have neglected exceed me therein . but the plain truth is , your love not me for my selfe , but for your advantage : it is gold on the arrear of my name which maketh thrift to be my suitor : how often , and how unworthily have you tendered your affections , even to penny-royall , it selfe , had she not scorned to be courted by you . but i commend the girle that she knew her own worth , though it was but a penny , yet it is a royall one , and therefore not a fit match for every base suitor , but knew how to valew her selfe , and give me leave to tell you , that matches founded on covetousnesse never succeed ▪ profit is the load-stone of your affections , wealth , the attractive of your love , money the mover of your desire ; how many hundreds have engaged themselves on these principles , and afterwards have bemoaned themselves for the same ? but oh the uncertainty of wealth ? how unable is it to expleate & satisfie the mind of man : such as cast ancho● thereat , ●eldome find fast ground , but are tossed about with the tempests of many disturbances ; these wive● for conveniency of profit and pleasure ( when there hath been no further nor higher intent ) have filled all the world with mischief and misery . know then sir , i return you a flat deniall , a deniall that vertually contains many , yea as many as ever i shall be able to pronounce : my tongue knowes no other language to you but no ; score it upon womens dissimulation ( whereof we are too guilty , and i at other times as faulty as any ) but sir , read my eyes , my face , and compound all together , and know these are the exp●essions dictated from my heart ; i shall embrace a thousand deaths sooner , then your marriage-bed . thus were they harmelessly discoursing , and feared no ill , when on a sudden they were surprized with the un●outh sight of the boare , which had entered their garden , following his prescribed directions , and armed with the corslet of his bristles , vaunted like a triumphant conqueror round about the garden , as one who would first make them suffer in their fear , before in their feeling ; how did he please himselfe in the variety of the fears ▪ of the flowers , to see how some pal● ones looked red , and some re● ones looked pale ; leaving it to philosophers to dispute and decide the different effects should proceed from the same causes ; and among all philosophers , commending the question to the stoicks , who because they pretend an antipathy , that they themselves would never be angry , never be mounted above the modell of a common usuall temper , are most competent judges , impartially to give the reason of the causes of the anger of others . and now it is strange to see the severall waies the flowers embraced to provide for their owne security ; there is no such teacher as extremity ; necessity hath found out more arts , then ever ingenuity invented : the wall-gilly flower ran up to the top of the wall of the garden , where it hath grown ever since , and will never descend till it hath good security for its own safety ; and being mounted thereon , he entertained the boar with the following discourse . thou basest and unworthiest of four-footed beasts ; thy mother the sow , passeth for the most contemptible name , that can be fixed on any she : yea , pliny reporteth , that a sow growne old , useth to feed on her owne young ; and herein i beleeve that pliny , who otherwise might be straitned for fellow-witnesses , might find such who will attest the truth of what he hath spoken . mens excrements is thy element , and what more cleanly creatures do scorn and detest , makes a feast for thee ; nothing comes amisse unto thy mouth , and we know the proverb what can make a pan-cake unto thee : now you are gotten into the garden ( shame light on that negligent gardner , whose care it was to fence the same , by whose negligence and oversight , you have gotten an entrance into this academy of flowers and herbs ) let me who am your enenie give you some counsell , and neglect it not , because it comes from my mouth . you see i am without the reach of your anger , and all your power cannot hurt me , except you be pleased to borrow wings from some bird , thereby to advantage your selfe , to reach my habitation . my counsell therefore to you is this , be not proud because you are prosperous ; who would ever have thought , that you could have entered this place , which we conceived was impregnable against any of your kind : now because you have had successe as farre above our expectations , as your deserts ; show your own moderation in the usage thereof ; to ●aster us is easie , to master your selfe is difficult . attempt therefore that which as it is most hard to performe , so will it bring most honour to you when executed ; and know , i speak not this in relation to my selfe ( sufficiently priviledged from your t●sks ) but as acted with a publique spirit , for the good of the comminalty of flowers ; and if any thing hereafter betide you , other then you expect , you will remember that i am a ●rophet , and for●●ell that which too late you will credit and bel●eve . the boar heard the words , and entertained them with a surly silence ; as conceiving himselfe to be mounted above danger , sometimes he pittied the sillinesse of the wall-flower , that pittyed him , and sometimes he vowed revenge , concluding that the stones of the wall would not afford it sufficient moisture , for its constant dwelling there , but that he should take it for an advantage , when it descended for more sustenance . it is hard to expresse the panick fear in the rest of the flowers , and especially the small prim-ro●es , begged of their mothers that they might retreat into the middle of them , which would only make them grow bigger and broader , and it would grieve a pittifull heart to hear the child plead , and the mother so often deny . the child began ; dear mother , she is but halfe a mother that doth breed and not preserve , only to bring forth , and then to expose us to worldly ●isery , less●ns your love , and doubles our sufferings : see how this tyrannicall boare threatens our instant undoing ; i desire only a sanctuary in your bosome , a retreating place into your breast , and who fitter to come into you , then she that came out of you ; whether should we return , then from whence we came , it will be but one happinesse , or one misfortune , together we shall die , or together be preserved ; only some content and comfort will be unto me , either to be happy or unhappy in your company . the broader prim-rose hearkned unto these words with a sad countenance , as ●ensible in her ●elfe , that had not the present necessity hardned her affections , she neither would nor could return a deaf ●are to ●o equall a motion . but now she rejoyned . dear child , none can be more sensible then my selfe of motherly affections , it troubles me more for me to deny thee , then for thee to be denyed ; i love thy safety where it is not necessarily included in my danger , the entertaining of thee will be my 〈◊〉 and destruction ; how many parents in this age have been undone meerly for affording house and home to such children , whose condition might be quarrel'd with as exposed to exception . i am sure of mine owne innocency , which never in the least degree have offended this boar , and therefore hope he will not offend me ; what wrong and injury you have done him is best known to your selfe ; stand therefore on your own bottome , maintain your own innocence ; for my part i am resolved not to be drowned for others hanging on me , but i will try as long as i can the strength of my own armes and leggs ; excuse me good child , it is not hatred to you , but love to my selfe , which makes me to understand my own interest . the younger prim-rose returned . mother , i must again appeal to your affections , despairing to find any other judge to father my cause ; remember i am part of your ●elfe , and have never by any undutifulnesse disobliged your affections ; i professe also mine own integrity , that i never have offended this boar , being more innocent therein then your selfe , for alas my tender years intitles me not to any correspondency with him , this is the first minute ( and may it be the last ) that ever i beheld him ; i reassume therefore my suite , supposing that your first denyall proceeded only from a de●ire to try my importunity , and give me occasion to enforce my request with the greater earnestnesse : by your motherly bowels i conjure you ( an exorcisme which ( i beleeve ) comes not within the compasse of ●uperstition ) that you tenderme in this my extremity , whose greatest ambition is to die in those armes from whence i first fetcht my originall . and then she left her tears singly to drop out the remainder , what her tongue could not expresse . the affections of parents may sometimes he s●othered , but seldome quenched , and meeting with the ●last or bellowes from the submissive mouthes of their children , it quickly bla●eth into a flame . mother and daughter are like tallies , one exactly answereth the other : the mother prim-rose could no longer resist the violence of ▪ her daughters importunity , but opens her bosome for the present reception thereof , wherein ever since it hath grown doubled unto this day ; and yet a double mischief did arise from this gemination of the print-ro●e , or inserting of the little one into the bowels thereof . first , those prim-roses ever since grow very slowly , and lag the last among all the flowers of that kind ; single prim-roses beat them out of distance , and are arrived at their m●rk a month before the other start out of their gr●en leaves : yet it will not be hard to assigne a naturall cause thereof , namely , a greater power of the sun is acquired to the production of greater flowers , small degrees of heat will suffice to give a being to single flowers , whilst double ones groaning under the weight of their own greatnesse , require a greater force of the sun-beams to quicken them , and to spurre their lazinesse , to make them appear out of their roots . but the second mischief most concernes us , which is this , all single flowers are sweeter , then those that are double ; and here we could wish that a jury of florists were impannelled , not to eat , untill such time as they were agreed in their verdict , what is the true cause thereofsome will say that single leaves of flowers , being more effectually wrought on by the sun-beams , are rarified thereby , and so all their sweetnesse and perfume the more fully extracted ; whereas double flowers who lie as it were in a lump , and heap crouded together with its own leaves , the sun-beams hath not that advantage singly to distill them , and to improve every particular leaf to the best advantage of sweetnesse : this sure i am , that the old primrose sencible of the abatement of her sweetnesse , since she was clogged with the entertainment of her daughter , halfe repenting that she had received her , returned this complaining discourse . daughter , i am sencible that that the statutes of inmates , was founded on very good and solid grounds , that many should not be multiplyed within the roof of one and the same house , finding the inconveniency thereof by lodging thee my owne daughter within my bosome ; i wil not speak how much i have lost of my grouth , the clock whereof is set back a whole month by receiving of you ; but that which most grieveth me , i perceive i am much abated in my sweetnesse ( the essence of all flowers ) and which only distinguisheth them from w●ds , seeing otherwise in colours , weeds may contest with us in brightnesse and variety . peace mother ( replyed the small prim-rose ) conceive not this to be your particular unhappinesse , which is the generall accid●nt falling out daily in common experience , namely , that the bigger and thicker people grow in their estates , the worse and lesse vertuous they are in their conversations , our age may produce millions of these instances ; i knew some tenne years since many honest men , whose converse was familiar and faire , how did they court and desire the company of their neighbours , and mutually , how was their company desired by them ? how humble were they in their carriage , loving in their expressions , and friendly in their behaviour , drawing the love and affections of all that were acquainted with them ? but since being grown wealthy , they have first learnt not to know themselves , and afterwards none of their neighbours ; the brightnesse of much gold and silver , hath with the shine and lustre thereof so perstringed and dazled their eyes , that they have forgotten those with whom they had formerly so familiar conversation ; how proudly do they walk ? how superc●liously do they look ? how disdainfully do they speak ? they will not know their own brothers and kindred , as being a kin only to themselves . indeed such who have long been gaining of wealth , and have slowly proceeded by degrees therein , whereby they have learnt to mannage their minds , are not so palpably proud as others ; but those who in an instant have been surprized with a vast estate , flowing in upon them from a fountain farre above their deserts , not being able to wield their own greatnesse , have been prest under the weight of their own estates , and have manifested that their minds never knew how to be stewards of their wealth , by forgetting themselves in the disposing thereof . i beleeve the little prim-rose would have beee longer in her discourse , had not the approach of the boar put an unexpected period thereunto , and made her break off her speech before the ending thereof . now whilst all other flowers were struck into a panick silence , only two , the violet , and the marygold continued their discourse , which was not attributed to their valour or hardinesse above other flowers , but that casually both of them grew together in the declivity of a depressed valley , so that they saw not the boar , nor were they sensible of their own misery , nor durst others remove their stations to bring them intelligence thereof . sister marigold ( said the violet ) you and i have continued these many daies in the contest which of our two colours are the most honourable and pleasing to the eye , i know what you can plead for your selfe , that your yellownesse is the livery of gold , the soveraign of most mens hearts , and esteemed the purest of all mettals ; i deny not the truth hereof : but know that as farre as the skie surpasseth that which is buried in the bowels of the earth , so farre my blew colour exceedeth yours ; what is oftner mentioned by the poets then the azure clouds ? let heraulds be made the vmpire , and i appeal to gerrard , whether the azure doth not carry it cleer above all other colours herein ; sable or black affrights the beholders with the hue thereof , and minds them of the funerall of their last friends , whom they had interred vert or green i confesse is a colour refreshing the sight , and wore commonly before the eyes of such who have had a casuall mischance therein , however , it is but the livery of novelty , a young upstart colour , as green heads , and green youth do passe in common experience . red i confesse is a noble colour , but it hath too much of bloodinesse therein , and affrighteth beholders with the memory thereof : my blew is exposed to no cavills and exceptions , wherein black and red are moderately compounded , so that i participate of the perfections of them both : the over ▪ gaudinesse of the red , which hath too much light and brightness therein , is reduced and tempered with such a mixture of black , that the red is made staved , but not sad therewith , and the black kept from over-much melancholy , with a proportionable contemperation of red therein : this is the reason that in all ages the violet or purple colour hath passed for the emblem of magistracy , and the robes of the antient roman judges alwaies died therewith . the violet scarce arived at the middle of her discourse , when the approach of the boar put it into a terrible fear , nor was their any herb or flower in the whole garden left unsurprized with fear , save only time and sage , which casually grew in an ●sland surrounded with water from the rest , and secured with a lock-bridge from the boars accesse . sage beginning , accosted time in this nature . most fragrant sister , there needs no other argument to convince thy transcendent sweetnesse , save only the appealing to the bees ( the most competent judges in this kind ) those little chymists , who through their natural alembick , distill the sweetest and usefullest of liquors , did not the commonnesse and cheapnesse thereof make it lesse valued : now these industrious bees , the emblem of a common-wealth ( or monarchy rather , if the received traditions of a master-bee be true ) make their constant diet upon the ; for though no flower comes amisse to their palates , yet are they observed to preferre thee above the rest . now sister time , faine would i be satisfied of you severall queries , which only time is able to resolve . whether or no do you think that the state of the turks wherein we live , ( whose cruelty hath destroyed faire tempe to the small remnant of these few acres ) whether i say , do you think that their strength and greatness doth encrease , stand still , or abate ? i know time that you are the mother of truth , and the finder out of all truths mysteries ; be open therefore and candid with me herein , and freely speak your mind of the case propounded . time very gravely casting down the eyes thereof to the earth ; sister sage ( said she ) had you propounded any question within the sphear or circuit of a garden , of the heat or coolnesse , drinesse or mo●sture , vertue or operation of flowers and herbs , i should not have demurred to return you a speedy answer ; but this is of that dangerous cousequence , that my own safety locks up my lips , and commands my silence therein : i know your wisdome sage , whence you have gotten your name and reputation , this is not an age to trust the neerest of our relations with such an important secresie ; what ever thoughts are concealed within the cabinet of my own bosome , shall there be preserved in their secret propertie without imparting them to any ; my confessor himselfe shall know my conscience , but not my judgement in affaires of state : let us comply with the present necessity , and lie at a close posture , knowing there be fencers even now about us , who will set upon us if our guards lye open : generall discourses are such to which i will confine my selfe : it is antiently said , that the subtill man lurks in generall . but now give me leave , for honesty it selfe , if desiring to be safe , to take sanctuary therein . let us enjoy our own happinesse , and be sensible of the favour indulged to us , that whereas all tempe is defaced , this garden still surviveth in some tolerable condition of prosperity , and we especially miled about , are fenced from forraign foes , better then the rest ; let it satisfie your soule that we peaceably possess this happinesse , and i am sorry that the lustre thereof is set forth with so true a foile , as the calamity of our neighbours . sage returned ; were i a blab of my mouth , whose secresie was ever suspected , then might you be cautious in communicating your mind unto me : but secrecy is that i can principally boast of , it being the quality for which the common-wealth of flowers chose me their privy councellor , what therefore is told me in this nature , is deposited as securely , as those treasures which formerly were laid up in the temple of safety it self ; and therefore with all modest importunity , i reassume my suit , and desire your judgment of the question , whether the turkish tyranny is likely to continue any longer ? for time i know alone can give an answer to this question . being confident ( said time ) of your fidelity , i shall expresse my selfe in that freenesse unto you , which i never as yet expressed to any mortall : i am of that hopefull opinion , that the period of this barbarous nations greatnesse begins to approach , my first reason is drawn from the vicissitude and mutability which attends all earthly things ; bodies arrived at the verticall point of their strength , decay and decline . the moon when in the fulnesse of its increasing , tendeth to a waning ; it is a pitch too high for any sublunary thing to amount unto constantly , to proceed progressively in greatnesse ; this maketh me to hope that this giant-like empire , comented with tyranny , supported , not so much with their own policy , as with the servility of such who are under them , hath seen its best daies and highest elevation . to this end , to come to more particulars , what was it which first made the turks fortunate , in so short a time to over-run all greece , but these two things ; first , the dissentions , . the dissolutenesse of your antient greeks : their dissentions are too well known , the emperor of constantinople being grown almost but titular , such the pride and potency of many peeres under him . the egean is not more stored with islands ( as i think scarce such a heap or huddle is to be found of them in all the world againe ) as greece was with severall factions , the epirots hated the achayans , the mesedans bandoned against the thracians , the dalmatians maintained deadly feud against the wallachians : thus was the conquest made easie for the turks , beholding not so much to their own valour , as to the grecian discord . next to their dissentions , their dissolutenesse did expedite their ruine ; drunkennesse was so common among them , that it was a sin to be sober , so that i may ●ay , all greece reel'd and staggered with its own intemperance when the turk assaulted it : what wonder then was it if they so quickly over-ran that famous empire , where vice and lazinesse had generally infected all conditions of people . but now you see the turks themselves have divisions and dissentions among them , their great bashaws and holy muftees have their severall factions and dissentions ; and whereas the poor greeks by the reason of their hard usage , begin now to be starved into unity and temperance , they may seem to have changed their vices with the turks , who are now grown as factious and vitious as the other were before . adde to all this that they are universally hated , and the neighbouring princes raither wait a time , then want a will to be revenged on them for their many insolencies . put all these together , and tell me if it put not a cheerfull complexion on probability , that the turkish tyranny having come to the mark of its own might , and utmost limits of its own greatnesse , will dwindle and wither away by degrees . and assure your selfe , if once it come to be but standing water , it will quickly be a low ebb with them . probably she had proceeded longer in her oration , if not interrupted with the miserable moanes and complaints of the herbs and flowers which the boar was ready to devour , when presently the sage spake unto the boar in this manner . sir , listen a little unto me , who shall make such a motion whereof your selfe shall be the judge ( how much it tendeth to your advantage ) and the deafest ears will listen to their own interest . ) i have no designe for my selfe ( whose position here invironed with with water , secureth me from your anger ) but i confesse i sympathize with the miserie of my friends and acquaintance , which in the continent of the garden are exposed to your cruelty ; what good will it do you to destroy so many flowers and herbs , which have no gust or sweetnesse at all in them for your palate ; follow my directions , and directly south-west as you stand , you shall find ( going forward therein ) a corner in the garden , overgrown with hog-weed , ( through the gardiners negligence ; ) oh what lettice will be for your lipps ; you will say that via lactea ( or the milkie way ) is truly there , so white , so sweet , so plentifull a liquor is to be distilled out of the leaves thereof , which hath gotten the name of hog-weed , because it is the principall bill of fare whereon creatures of your kind make their common repast . the boar sensible that sage spake to the purpose , followed his directions , and found the same true , when feeding himselfe almost to surfet on those delicious dainties , he swelled so great , that in his return out of the garden , the holein the fence which gave him admittance , was too small to afford him egress● out thereat ; when the gardiner coming in with a guard of dogs , so persecuted this tyrant , that killed on the place , he made satisfaction for the wrong he had done , and for the terrour wherewith he had affrighted so many innocents . i wish the reader well feasted with some of his brawn well cooked , and so take our leave both of him and the gardens . finis . truth maintained, or, positions delivered in a sermon at the savoy since traduced for dangerous, now asserted for sovnd and safe / by thomas fvller. fuller, thomas, - . this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text r in the english short title catalog (wing f ). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a wing f estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : or : ) truth maintained, or, positions delivered in a sermon at the savoy since traduced for dangerous, now asserted for sovnd and safe / by thomas fvller. fuller, thomas, - . fuller, thomas, - . sermon of reformation. [ ], , p. [s.n.], printed at london : . "a sermon of reformation" has special t.p. this work appears on reel : and : . reproduction of original in the union theological seminary library, new york. includes bibliographical references. (from t.p.) i. that the doctrine of the impossibility of a churches perfection, in this world, being wel understood, begets not laziness but the more indust[ry] in wise reformers -- ii. that the church of england cannot be justly taxed withe superstitious innovations -- iii. how farre private christians, ministers, and subordinate magistrates, are to concurre to the advancing of a publique reformation -- iiii. what parts therein are only to be acted by the supreme power -- v. of the progresse, and praise of passive obedience -- vi. that no extraordinary excitations, incitations, or inspirations are bestowed from god, on men in these days -- vii. that it is utterly unlawfull to give any just offence to the papist, or to any men whatsoever -- viii. what advantage the fathers had of us, in learning and religion, and what we have of them -- ix. that no new light, or essentiall truths, are, or can be revealed in this age -- x. that the doctrine of the churches imperfection, may safely be preached, and cannot honestly be concealed. eng church of england -- doctrines -- apologetic works. reformation -- sermons. sermons, english -- th century. a r (wing f ). civilwar no truth maintained, or positions delivered in a sermon at the savoy: since traduced for dangerous: now asserted for sound and safe. by thomas fuller, thomas c the rate of defects per , words puts this text in the c category of texts with between and defects per , words. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - judith siefring sampled and proofread - judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion truth maintained , or positions delivered in a sermon at the savoy : since traduced for dangerovs : now asserted for sovnd and safe . by thomas fvller , b. d. late of sidney colledge in cambridge . the particulars are these . i that the doctrine of the impossibility of a churches perfection , in this world , being wel understood , begets not lazinesse but the more indust●● in wise reformers . ii that the church of england cannot justly be taxed with superstitious innovations . iii how farre private christians , ministers , and subordinate magistrates , are to concurre to the advancing of a publique reformation . iiii what parts therein are only to be acted by the supreme power . v of the progresse , and praise of passive obedience . vi that no extraordinary excitations , incitations , or inspirations are bestowed from god , on men in these dayes . vii that it is utterly unlawfull to give any just offence to the papist , or to any men whatsoever . viii what advantage the fathers had of us , in learning and religion , and what we have of them . ix that no new light , or new essentiall truths , are , or can be revealed in this age . x that the doctrine of the churches imperfection , may safely be preached , and cannot honestly be concealed . with severall letters , to cleare the occasion of this book . i will beare the wrath of the lord , because i have sinned against him , untill he plead my cause , and execute iudgement for me ; then will he bring me forth to the light , and i shall see his righteousnesse , micah . . . printed at london , anno dom. . to the most sacred , and reverend assembly for the reformation of the church , now convened by the parliament . most sacred and reverend divines , i have but the thoughts of an afternoone to spread before you ; for i examined the same pace that j read , that if it were possible a truth might overtake an errour , ere it goe too farre . it is not a little encouragement that i may sit like the prophetesse under the palme tree , under such a shade as your selves , and what weakenesse soever may appeare in these my assertions : this ayring them under your patronage , will heale them . for so they brought forth the sick into the streets , that at least the shadow of peter might touch some of them . thus have i suddenly set up my candle for others to light their torch at ; and , i hope , you will pardon me , if my zeale to the truth made me see anothers faults sooner then mine owne , your servant in christ iesus iohn saltmarsh . to the two most famous vniversities of england i dare not give you such high epithites , as master saltmarsh bestoweth upon the assembly , to call you the most sacred . be contented to be stiled the two most famous vniversities ; a title , which it is no flattery to give you , but injury to deny you . i have the studies of some whole dayes to spread before you . i am not ashamed to confesse so much , but should be ashamed to present your learned considerations with lesse . and will rather runne the hazard of other mens censure , to have studied so long to no purpose , then to be guilty to my selfe of so much disrespect to you , as to offer to your patronage what cost me but sleight studying . indeed i examined his examinations of my sermon with the same pace that i read them . but i could not confute his errors so speedily as i could discover them , nor could i so soon make them appeare to others , as they appeared to me ; and the evidencing of his faults did cost me some paines , whereof i hope i shall never have just cause to repent . i am altogether out of hope that my truth should quickly overtake his error , which had the advantage of me both at the starting and in the speed ; and yet i beleeve what i want in the swiftnesse of my feet , i shall have in the firmenesse of my footing . and when i overtake it at last , as i am sure i shall , seeing on truths will tire ( as being better at hand then at length ) i am confident by gods assistance , it will get firme and quiet possession in spight of opposition . it is altogether improper for mee to compare you being two in number to the palme tree under which the prophetesse deborah ; face ; but the analogie will hold well , if i should resemble you to the two olive trees continually dropping oyle in the presence of god . and methinks master saltmarsh his expression to the assembly , vnder svch a shade as yovr selves , making thout in the assembly but a shadow , ( and then what is the shadow of a shadow worth under which hee desireth to sit ? ) was but an undervaluing and diminutive expressing of their worth . i honour you as you deserve , and counting you a real and lasting substance , so i addresse my respects unto you : humbly requesting you to be pleased to patronize and defend this my defence : the rather because what doctrines therein i deliver , not long since i suckt from one of you , and in this respect i beleive both breasts give milke alike ; and therefore as your learning is most able , so your goodnesse will bee willing to protect the same , not so much because i had them from you , as because you had them from the truth . some perchance may blame my choice in choosing you for my protection who in these troublesome times are scarce able to defend your selves : the universities being now degraded , at least suspended from the degree of their former honour . and i wonder , men should now talke of an extraordinary great light , when the two eyes of our land ( so you were ever accompted ) are almost put out . however this short interruption of your happinesse will but adde the more to your honour hereafter . and here , as it were store of pride for me to counsell you , so it were want of duty not to comfort you . know , the only good token of these times is , that they are so extreamely bad they can never last long . god give you a sanctified impression of your afflictions , neither to sleight them nor sink under them ; and so , forbearing to be longer troublesome to your more serious employments , resteth the meanest of your sonnes or nephewes thomas fuller . to the learned and my worthy good friend , master charles herle . sir , when i read a pamphlet of m. saltmarsh written against me , it something moved my affections , but nothing removed my judgement . but when i saw it recommended to the world with your approbation , in this manner , nihil invenio in hoc libello , cui titulus , ( examinations , or a discovery of some dangerous positions , delivered in a sermon of reformation preached by tho. fuller , b. d. quin utiliter imprimatur . charles herle . i must confesse it troubled me not a little , suspecting either my eyes or my understanding , that either i misread your name , or had mis-written something in my sermon . wherefore fearing partiality might blind me in mine owne book ( knowing that eli was not the onely indulgent father to his owne off-spring ) i imparted my sermon to some whom you respect , and they respect you : men of singular learning and piety , to examine it . these likewise could discover no dangerous positions in it , except such as were dangerous for a preacher to deliver , but safe for people to receive in these troublesome times . and i am confident that their iudgement was such , they would not be deceived with my falsehoods : and their honesty such , they would not deceive me by their flattery . and now sir ( love cannot hate , but it may justly be angry ) consider how your accusing of me , to maintaine dangerous positions , might , as the times stand , have undone me and mine , and at least have intituled mee to a prison , now adayes the grave of men alive . times are not as formerly , when schollers might safely traverse a controversie in disputation . honourable tilting is left off , since men fell to down-right killing ; and in vaine should i dispute my innocence against souldiers violence , who would interpret the accusation of a man of your credit to be my sufficient conviction . i have in this my defence , so well as god did enable me , more clearely expressed , and strongly confirmed the positions i formerly delivered , and request you to tell mee , which are the dangerous points that here i mainetaine . by the lawes of our land , the creditor hath his choice , whether he will sue the principall , or the surety , and discretion will advise him , to sue him which is most solveable . your ability is sufficiently knowne , and seeing you have beene pleased to be bound for master saltmarsh his booke , in your approving it : blame me not sir , if i ( i will not say sue you ) but sue to you for my reparation . if you can convince me of my faults herein ( and i will bring great desire , and some capacity to learne from you ) i shall owne my selfe your proselyte , thanke god for you , and you for my conversion . yea in a printed sheet i will doe publique penance to the open view of the world , to shew men , that although i had so much ignorance as to erre , i have not so much impudence as to persist in an errour , and shall remaine , yours in all christian offices . thomas fuller . to the reverend and his worthy good friend , master iohn downam . sir , being about to read master saltmarsh his examination of a sermon of mine , which you ( to the preachers credit , and printers security ) were pleased to approve for orthodox and vsefull , mine eyes in the beginning thereof , were entertained ( i cannot say welcomed ) with this following note , an advertisement returned to the author , by a reverend divine , to certifie him touching the licensers allowance of master fullers late sermon of reformation . sir , to satisfie you concerning m. downams approbation of master fullers sermon of reformation , i assure you i heard him complaine , that he was wronged by him , in that having taken exception at some passages of that sermon , master fuller promised to amend them according to his correction , but that he did not performe what he promised . conclude me not guilty if i were moved , but sencelesse if i had not beene perplext with this accusation . had it beene true , i want a word bad enough to expresse the foulenesse of my deed . yea iustly may my preaching be suspected of falshood , if my practise be convicted of dishonesty . we know how the corinthians , from the supposed breach of s. pauls solemne promise , were ready to infer the falsity , at least the levity of his doctrine , till the apostle had rectified their mistake . this added also to my trouble , that i can privately enjoy my innocence with more contentment to my selfe , then i can publikly declare it with safety to others . for the present therefore , all that i will returne , is this . here is an accusation without a witnesse , or a witnesse without a name , and both without truth . would the inke of this reverend divine ( whosoever he was ) only hold out to blot my name , and not to subscribe his owne ? we know what court was complayned of , as a great grievance , because men therein might not know their accusers . if it cannot consist with our mutuall safety , to have my accusers ( as s. paul had ) face to face , yet it will stand with equity , i should have them name to name : till when , i account this namelesse note , no better then a libel both on you and me . god put an end unto these wofull times , before they put an end to us ; that all outward hostility being laid aside , we may have more leisure to attend , and comfort to follow , that inward christian warefare , which your paines have so well described . yours in christ iesus thomas fuller . to master john saltmarsh minister of heslerton in yorke-shire . sir , you have almost converted me , to be of your opinion , that some extraordinary light is peculiarly conferred on men in this age . seeing what cost me many dayes to make , you in fewer houres , could make void and confute . you examined ( you say ) the same pace , you read , and ( as is intimated ) wrote as fast , as you examined , and all in one ofternoon . this if it were false , i wonder you would say it ; and if it were true , i wonder you could doe it . however i commend your policy herein : for besides that you have given the world notice of the pregnancie of your parts , ( and it is no fault of yours , if you be rather heard then beleeved ) hereby you have done me a great disadvantage . for if i at leisure discover some notable errors in your examinations , you have a present plea , that you wrote them suddenly , and i shall only be repaired for the wrong that you have done me , with your raptim scripta , whereas you had done god as much glory , the cause as much good , more right to your selfe , and credit to me , if you had tooke more time , and more truely . and now consider , you only endeavour to confute some dismembred sentences of my sermon , of which some are falsely , and more of them imperfectly alleged . you know , how in a continued speech , one part receives and returnes strength and lustre unto another . and how easie is it , to overthrow the strongest sentence , when it is cut off from the assistance of the coherence , before and after it ? alas , this disiointing of things , undoeth kingdomes as well as sermons , whilest even weake matters are preserved by their owne unity and entirenesse . i have dealt more fairely with you , and set downe your whole examinations , thereby not expecting any praise , but preventing just censure , if i had done otherwise . if you demand why my answer comes so late , seeing so long silence may be interpreted a consent . know sir , it was the tenth of september , before either friend in love , would doe me the favour : or foe in anger , the discourtesie , to convey your booke unto me . whether this proceeded from the intercepting commerce betwixt the city and the country , or that your booke was loath to come out of london : as sensible , that the strength of your positions , consisted in the fortifications thereof . when i had received one of your bookes , i had not your present parts to answer it . men must doe , as they may doe : i hope , though my credit may , gods cause shall not suffer by my delay ; seeing truth doth not abate with time . here i speake not of those many afflictions , that have befalne me , as not being so unreasonable , as to expect any pitty from others , in these dolefull dayes , wherin none are at leisure to bemoane the misery of any private men , whilst the generall calamity ingrosseth all greife to it selfe ; and yet , i may say , such losses could not but disturbe my studies . when i had finished my answer , i could not so speedily provide to have it printed . and to speake plainely , i was advised by my best friends , to passe by your pamphlet altogether with silence and neglect , and apply my selfe onely to enlarge my sermon , for the satisfaction of others . however , that you may see i will not decline any thing : i have answered every operative passage in your examination . here i might take just exception at the sentence prefixed in the title page of your booke , tim. . . having a forme of godlinesse , but denying the power thereof . out of the whole quiver of the bible , could you choose no other arrow to shoot , and make me your marke ? whom if you taxe for a meere formalist ; god grant i may make a good use of your bad suspition of me , endeavouring to acquit my selfe in heaven , whom you have accused on earth : i must stand or fall to my owne master , to whom i hope i shall stand , being held up by my saviour . remember , remember , we must all appeare before gods judgment seat , when those things which have been done in secret , shall be brought to light . meane time goe you on , a fast as you can in the high way to heaven ; but be not too free , willfully to dash your fellow travellers , with foule aspersions : for if dirt may passe for coine , debts in this nature , may easily be paid you backe againe , so resteth thomas fuller . to my deare parish saint mary savoy . my deare parish , for so i dare call you , as conceiving that although my calamities have divorced me from your bed and board , the matrimoniall knot betwixt us is not yet rescinded . no not although you have admitted another , ( for feare i hope rather then affection ) into my place . i remember how david when forced to fly from his wife , yet still cals her , my wife michall : even when at that time , she was in the possession of phaltiel the sonne of laish , who had rather bedded then wedded her . this sermon i first made for your sake , as providing it , not as a feast to entertaine strangers , but a meale to feed my family . and now having againe inlarged and confirmed it , i present it to you , as having therein a proper interest , being confident , that nothing but good and profitable truth is therein contain'd . some perchance will obiect , that if my sermon were so true , why then did i presently leave the parish when i had preached it ? my answer is legible in the capital letters of other ministers miserie , who remaine in the city . i went away , for the present distresse , thereby reserving my selfe to doe you longer and better service ? if gods providence shall ever restore me unto you againe . and if any tax mee as laban taxed iacob . wherefore didst thou flee away secretly , without taking solemne leave ? i say with iacob to laban , because i was afraid . and that plaine dealing patriarch , who could not be accused for purloining a shooe latchet of other mens goods , confesseth himselfe guilty of that lawfull felony , that hee stole away for his owne safety : seeing truth it selfe may sometimes seeke corners , not as fearing her cause , but as suspecting her judge . and now all that i have to say to you , is this , take heed how you heare : imitate the wise and noble bereans , whatsoever the doctor , or doctrine bee which teacheth , or is taught unto you . search the scripture dayly whether these things be so . hansell this my counsell , on this my booke : and here beginning , hence proceed to examine all sermons , by the same rule of gods word . only this i adde also , pray daily to god , to send us a good and happy peace ; before we be all brought to utter confusion . you know , how i in all my sermons unto you , by leave of my text , would have a passage in the praise of peace . still i am of the same opinion . the longer i see this warre , the lesse i like it , and the more i loath it . not so much because it threatens temporall ruine to our kingdome , as because it will bring a generall spirituall hardnesse of hearts . and if this warre long continues , we may be affected for the departure of charity , as the ephesians were at the going away of saint paul , sorrowing most of all , that we shall see the face thereof no more . strive therefore in your prayers that , that happy condition which our sinnes made us unworthy to hold , our repentance may , through gods acceptance thereof , make us worthy to regaine . your loving minister thomas fuller . to the unpartiall reader . be not affraid to peruse my positions , though they be accused to bee dangerous . the saints did not feare infection from the company of saint paul , though he was indicted to be a pestilent fellow . to acquaint you with my intentions in this book ( that so you may proportion your expectation accordingly ) herein i have to my power vindicated the truth : consulting with my conscience , not outward safety ; insomuch that i care not whom i displeased , to please the bird in my breast . yea when the actions of other men , have by the examiner beene laid to my charge , i have tooke the boldnesse to leave them to their authors to defend . for though honestie commands me to pay my owne debts , yet discretion adviseth me from solomons mouth , to avoid sureti-ship , and not to breake my selfe with being bound for the errors of others . i cannot but expect to procure the ill-will of many , because i have gone in a middle and moderate way , betwixt all extremities . i remember a story too truely appliable to me . once a jayler demanded of a prisoner , newly committed unto him : whether or no he were a roman catholick . no , answered he : what then said he are you an anabaptist ? neither replied the prisoner , what , ( said the other ) are you a brownist . nor so said the man , i am a protestant . then said the jayler , get you into the dungeon : i will afford no favor to you , who shall get no profit by you : had you beene of any of the other religions , some hope i had to gaine by the visits of such as are of your owne profession . iam likely to finde no better usage , in this age , who professe my selfe to be a plaine protestant , without wealt or garde , or any addition : equally opposite to all hereticks and sectaries . let me mate this with another observation . by the law of the twelve tables , if a man were indebted but to one creditor , he had no power over his body : but if he owed mony to many , and was not solvable , all his creditors together might share his body betwixt them , and by joynt consent pluck him in peeces . me thinks , a good morall lurkes in this cruell law : namely , that men who oppose one adversary alone , may come off and shift pretty well , whilst he who provokes many enemies , must expect to bee torne asunder : and thus the poore levite , will bee rent into as many pieces , as the levites wife was . yet i take not my selfe to bee of so desolate and forlorne a religion , as to have no fellow professors with me . if i thought so , i should not only suspect , but condemne my judgement : having ever as much loved singlenesse of heart , as i have hated singularity of opinion . i conceive not my selfe like eliah to be left alone : having , as i am confident , in england , more then seventy thousand , just of the same religion with me . and amongst these , there is one in price and value , eminently worth tenne thousand , even our gratious soveraigne , whom god in safety and honour long preserve amongst us . and here i must wash away an aspersion , generally , but falsely cast on men of my profession and temper : for all moderate men , are commonly condemned for lukewarme as it is true , saepelatet vitium proximitate boni . it is as true , saepelatet virtus proximitate mali . and as lukewarmnesse hath often fared the better ( the more mens ignorance ) for pretending neighbourhood to moderation : so moderation ( the more her wrong ) hath many times suffered for having some supposed vicinity with lukewarmnesse . however they are at a grand distance , moderation being an wholesome cordiall to the soule : whilst lukewarmnesse ( a temper which seekes to reconcile hot and cold ) is so distastefull , that health it selfe seemes sick of it , and vomits it out . and we may observe these differences betwixt them . first the lukewarme man ( though it be hard to tell what he is ; who knowes not what he is himselfe ) is fix't to no one opinion , and hath no certain creed to beleeve ; whereas the moderate man , sticks to his principles , taking truth wheresoever he findes it , in the opinions of friend , or foe ; gathering an herb , though in a ditch : and throwing away a weed , though in a garden . secondly , the lukewarme man , is both the archer and marke himselfe ; aiming only at his owne outward security . the moderate man , levels at the glory of god , the quiet of the church , the choosing of the truth , and contenting of his conscience . lastly , the lukewarme man , as hee will live in any religion , so he will dye for none . the moderate man , what he hath warily chosen , will valiantly maintaine , at least wise intends , and desires to defend it , to the death . the kingdome of heaven ( saith our saviour ) suffereth violence . and in this sense , i may say , the most moderate men are the most violent , and will not abate an hoose , or haires breadth , in their opinions , whatsoever it cost them . and time will come , when moderate men , shall be honoured as gods doves , though now they be hooted at , as owles in the desart . but my letter swels too great , i must break off . only requesting the reader by all obligations of charity . first , to read over my sermon , before he entreth on the examination . to conclude , when i was last in london , it was generally reported that i was dead : nor was i displeased to heare it . may i learne from hence with the apostle , to die daily . and because to god alone t is known , how soon my death may come , i desire to set forth this book as my will and testament , which if it can be of no use to the reader , it may be some ease and comfort to the writer , that the world may know , in this multitude of religions , what is the religion of thy servant in christ iesus thomas fuller . a sermon of reformation . preached at the church of the savoy , last fast day , july , . by thomas fuller b. d. and minister there . london , printed in the yeare of our lord . . a sermon of reformation . heb. . . vntill the time of reformation . those who live beyond the polar circles , are called periscii , because they have shadows round about them . in a more mysticall meaning the jewes before christ may be so called , living in constant umbrages of types and ceremonies which were taken away when the sunne of righteousnesse did arise . their sacrificing of lambes and rammes , and kids and goats , and calves , and kine , and turtle-doves , with their observing of meates and drinkes , and dayes , whereas the apostle saith , colos. . . a shadow of things to come , but the body is of christ . yea , in some sense i may safely say , that the very sanctum and sanctum sanctorum , was still but the outward atrium , as containing therein such types , as related to a higher and holier truth : to instance only in the holy of holies , herein were seven sacred utensils , all full fraught with heavenly mysteries . first , the golden censor , siguifying our prayers mingled with christs merits ( woefull for us if he did not give better incense then we bring ) which he offers up for us to his father . secondly , the arke of the covenant overlaid round about with gold ; whilest shittim wood was in the middest thereof , to typifie christs humanity decked and adorned with his godhead . thirdly , the pot of manna , looking back wards in memoriall of the miraculous meat of the israelites in the wildernesse : and forwards to set forth angels food in heaven , which is neither to eat nor to drinke , but to doe gods will , and to see gods glory . fourthly , aarons rod which budded , and besides the history contained therein , alluded to christs resurrection , that branch of iesse cut downe and cast out amongst the dead : which yet afterwards did revive , flourish , and fructifie . fifthly , the tables of the covenant , wherein the commandements were written by gods finger , to intimate , that only an infinite power can effectually print gods lawes in our hard and obdurate hearts . sixthly , the golden cherubims overshadowing the mercy-seat with their wings , and looking towards it ; to shew , that the mystery of gods mercy is to be covered from the curiosity of prophane eyes , whilest the pious may with comfort behold it . seventhly , and lastly , the mercy-seat it selfe ; the embleme of that mercy-seat in heaven , to which poore penitents being cast at the barre of gods justice have a free and open appeale . all these were of gold and pure gold , and yet saint paul ( gal. . . ) calleth all legall ceremonies beggarly elements , in comparison of christ the truth , in whom these did determine and expire : as the rude lines of black-lead wherwith the picture is first drawne , vanish away when the curious limner layeth on the lively colours ; so that all these outward ordinances had an end at the comming of christ , being only to last , vntill the time of reformation . the text is so short , it needs not to be divided , only the word reformation must bee expounded ; a word long in pronouncing and longer in performing , as generally signifying the bettering , and amending of what is amisse ; in greeke {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , a through rectifying . however , sometimes the word reformation is not opposed to things bad in their owne nature , but to things that are lesse perfect , and may be more perfected , as in the text . for the ceremoniall law of the jewes was compleat in its kinde , as given of god , and every thing made by him , must be like him that made it very good . yet comparatively that law was imperfect , and needed a reformation , which was performed at christs comming . besides , though the ceremoniall law was good in it selfe , yet it was bad as it was abused by the ignorant jewes . for though the knowing patriarks looked through , and beyond the types to the messias himselfe : yet the dull people mistaking the shell for the kernell , and the casket for the jewell ; lodged their soules where they should only have bayted , and did dote on the shadowes as on the substance it selfe ; in which respect the peoples judgements , as well as those ceremonies , needed a reformation . the maine point we shall insist on , is this ; that christians living under the gospel , live in a time of reformation , which will appeare in severall particulars : for besides ceremonies removed according to the principall intent of the text ; manners are now reformed and doctrine refined : poligamy connived at in the patriarks , now generally condemned , the bill of divorce cancelled by christianity , which was permitted to the jewes , not because that was good , but because they were bad , and by this tolleration were kept from being worse . the second table abused by the restrictive comments of the pharisees , confining those lawes ( which were made to confine them ) onely to the outward act , are now according to our saviour interpretation extended to their true demention . the mistery of the trinity clouded in the old testament , is cleered in the new . the doctrine of gods righteousnesse by faith , of the merrit of christ , of the spirit of adoption , of the resurrection of the body , darkly delivered under the law are manifested in the gospel , with many other heavenly revelations . use . let us be hartily thankfull to god , who gave us to be borne since the comming of christ in the time of reformation . our twi-light is cleerer then the jewish noon-day : the men of china use to brag , that they ( because of their ingenious civility ) have two eyes , the europaeans one , and that all the world besides are starke blinde ; more truely it may be said that the christans had two eyes , the law and gospell ; the jewes but one , the law alone , and all people and pagans besides sit in darknesse and the shadow of death . the jewes indeed saw christ presented in a land-scept , and beheld him through the perspective of faith , seeing the promises a farre off . but at this day a dwarfe-christian is an overmatch for a gyant jew in knowledge , as appeareth by our saviours riddle , mat. . . among them that are borne of women there hath not risen a greater then john the baptist : notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdome of heaven , is greater then he . which riddle is thus untyed : john baptist was the greatest amongst the children of women , because other prophets foresaw christ , he saw him ; others spake of christ , he spake to him , and had the high honour to baptize him with water , by whose spirit he himselfe was baptized : yet was he the least in the kingdome of heaven ( which properly began after cerists ascention ) because though perchance acquainted with the generals thereof , the particulars of the time , place , meanes and manner , were as much conceal'd from him , as cleerly revealed unto us . he never knew that iudas should betray christ ; caiphas accuse him , peter deny him , pilate condeme him , souldiers crucifie him , nicodemus embalme him , ioseph bury him . these , and many more circumstances of our saviours passion , returrection and ascention , now histories to our children , were misteries to iohn baptist ; who , though christs harbinger to prepare his way , yet did not live to see his master to possesse what he had provided for him : wherefore if alexander the emperour did count himselfe much indebted to the gods , that he was borne a grecian , and not a barbarian , how thankfull ought we to be to god , who gave us to be borne neither jewes , nor pagans , but christians , since the time of reformation . but this indeed were true , if all things in the church continued at this time in the same condition of primative purity , whereto christ reform'd it . object . but long since , that falling away , foretold by the apostle , is come to passe , and that man of sinne hath played his part in the church , therein deforming manners with vice , doctrine with heresie , discipline with superstition . as for any reformation which since hath happened in england , it hath been but partiall and imperfect . king henry the eight brake the popes necke , but bruised not the least finger of popery ; rejecting his supremacy , but retaining his superstition in the six articles . the reformation under edward the sixth , was like the reformer , little better then a childe , and he must needs be a weake defender of the faith , who needed a lord protector for himselfe : as nurses to woe their children to part from knives , doe suffer them to play with rattles ; so the state then permitted the people ( infants in piety ) to please themselves with some frivious points of popery , on condition they would forsake the dangerous opinions thereof . as for queene elizabeth , her character is given in that plaine , but true expression , that she swept the church of england and left all the dust behind the doore . her successors have gone in the same path , and the same pace with little alteration , and lesse addition in matters of moment , save that besides some old errours unamended ; many innovations have broken in upon us , which might be instanced in , were it as safe as it is easie to reckon them up . we therefore desire and expect a through reformation , to see christ mounted on his throne , with his scepter in his hand , in the purity of his ordinances , and we shall grieve and groane untill such a reformation . answ . this objection containes many parts , and must be taken asunder : some things therein are freely to be granted , and others flatly to be denied , and others warily to be qualified . we freely confesse the deformation by popery , as also , that the reforming was by henry the eight and edward the sixth ( good prince , of whom i had said , that he dyed too soone , but because he dyed when god would have him ) were but partiall and imperfect . withall , we flatly deny that queene elizabeth left the dust behinde the doore , which she cast out on the dunghill ; whence this uncivill expression was raked up . the doctrine by her established , and by her successors maintained in the . articles , if declared , explained and asserted from false glosses , have all gold , no dust or drosse in them . againe , we freely confesse that there may be some faults in our church in matters of practice and ceremonies , and no wonder if there be , it would be a miracle if there were not : besides , there be some innovations , rather in the church then of the church , as not chargeable on the publique account , but on private mens scores , who are old enough , let them answer for themselves . religion in england , is like the cloathes of the isralites , deuteronomie . . which for many yeeres together waxed not old . alas , in some places it is thread-bare , may it have a new nappe ; in more it is spotted , may it be well scowred ; and in all places rent asunder , may it be well mended . a through reformation , we , and all good men doe desire with as strong affections , though perhaps not with so loud a noise , as any whatsoever . the highest clamour doth not alwayes argue the greatest earnestnesse . but with this qualification , that by through reformation , we meane such a one , whereof we are capable , pro statu viatorum , made with all due and christian moderation : that arrow is well drawne , that is drawne to the head , but it may over-drawne cleane through the bow , and so doe no good . there is in like manner a possibility of out-doing , even in the point of reforming : and therefore how a true through reformation may be made , and managed long to continue , by gods assistance and your patience ; i will take in hand to give the true characters of such who are to be true and proper reformers . first , they must have a lawfull calling thereunto : what better deede then to make brothers friends , and to be an equall umpire betwixt them ? yet christ himselfe declin'd the imployment , as out of his vocation , luke . . who made me a iudge or devider over you . some good duties lye in common to all good men . whosoever is called a christian hath a just calling to performe them : 't is so farre from being a sinne for any to doe them , that it is a sinne for any to leave them undone . but there be other duties , which god hath impaled in , for some particular persons , so that it is a ryot or trespasse at least for any other to force their entrance into them : amongst these actions , reformation of churches is a chief , as of highest honour , and greatest concernment . now , the supreme power alone , hath a lawfull calling to reforme a church in those respective places , wherein it is supreme ; where this supreme power is seated , the statists of the severall places may judge , the divine goeth no farther , but to maintaine that where the supreme power is , there alone is the power of reformation ; as it plainely appeares by the kings of iudah in their kingdome . two sorts of idolatry , the jewes therein were guilty of : the one grosse , the other refined . grosse idolatry against the first commandement , in worshipping a false god , as baal , and the like . refined idolatry , against the second commandement , in worshipping the true god after false and forbidden manner , . chronicles . . neverthelesse the people did sacrifice still in the high places , yet unto the lord their god onely . grosse idolatry found many reformers , asa , ioash , amaziah , uzziah , iotham , manasseh , whilest onely two iehosaphat and hezekiah , endeavoured the reforming of refined idolatry , and iosiah alone perfected it . in both we may observe , that the kings were praised for doing so much , or dispraised for doing no more , which plainly proves , that the reforming of the church did properly pertaine unto them . god neither mistakes , nor confounds the good deeds , or rewards of men ; but set the due praises on the true persons ; the person that doth well shall be praised : the prince shall not be commended for the good deeds of the people , not the people commended for the good deeds of the prince ; indeed gods threatens the common people of israel , levitieus . . with beasts , warres , and many other plagues , if they will not be reformed . but we never read that god reproved the people , for not reforming the jewish church from idolatry , as a taske belonging to the supreme power placed over them . meane time meere private men must not be idle , but move in their spheare till the supreme power doth reforme . first , they are dayly to pray to god to inspire those who have power and place with will and skill , couragiously to begin , constantly to continue , and happily to conclude such a reformation . secondly , they are seriously to reforme themselves : he needs not to complaine of too little worke , who hath a little world in himselfe to amend : a good man in scripture is never called gods church ( because that is a collective terme belonging to many ) but is often termed gods temple , such a temple it is lawfull for every private man to reforme : he must see that the foundation of faith be firme , the pillars of patience be strong , the windowes of knowledge be cleere , the roofe of perseverance be perfected . thirdly , he may reforme the church in his house , philemon , carefully looking to his owne family , ioshua . . that he and his house may serve the lord . but as for the publique reforming of the church in generall , he must let it alone as belonging to the supreme power , to whom it is appropriated . object . but seeing wee have occasion to speake of lawfull callings , what calling ( may some say ) have you to meddle with this point above your reach , and without your compasse ; who penned your commission to take such matters in hand ? leave the describing of reformers characters to such , who have more age , experience , and ability to performe it . answ . i am , or should be , most sensible of mine owne weakenesse , being {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , the least of those that dispence the word and sacraments . yet have i a calling as good as the church of england could give me : and if she be not ashamed of such a sonne , i count my selfe honoured with such a mother . and though meere private christians may not intermeddle with publick reforming of a church , gods prophets have in all ages , challenged the priviledge to tell necessary truths unto the greatest . the tongue used to be cut out of the roman sacrifices , and given unto their heraulds , to shew that freedome of language was allowed them . we are christs ambassadours , corinthians . . and claime the leave to speak truth with sobernesse : and though i cannot expect my words should be like nailes fastened by the masters of the assemblies , eccl. . . yet i hope they may prove as tacks , entred by him that desires to be faithfull and peaceable in israel . the second requisite in reformers , is piety . the very snuffers in the tabernacle were made of pure gold , exodus . . they ought to be good themselves , who are to amend others , least that reproofe fall heavie on them , psalme . . but unto the ungodly ( saith god ) why doest thou preach my lawes , and takest my covenant in thy mouth ? whereas thou hatest to bee reformed , and hast cast my words behinde thee . and though sometimes bad men may reforme others , by vertue of their office : yet when it is done by the office of their vertue , and efficacy of their goodnesse , it is more gracefull in it selfe , more acceptable to god , and more comfortable to the doer . thirdly , knowledge in a competent , yea , plentifull measure : dangerous was the mistake committed by sir francis drake in eighty eight ; when neglecting to carry the lanthorne , ( as he was commanded ) in the darke night , chased five hulkes of the dutch merchants , supposing them to have been his enemies of the spaniards . such and worse errors may be committed in the reforming of a church , good mistaken for bad , and bad mistaken for good , where the light of knowledge is wanting for direction . fourthly , true courage and magnanimity , reformers need to be armed with a stout spirit cap a pee , which are to breake through the front of bad customes long received . such customes , as they are bad , are vsurpers , as they are customes are tyrants , and will stickle stously to stand in their old place . saint matthew saith , . . at the feast the governour was wont to release unto the people a prisoner . saint luke saith , . . of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast . what was but a curtesie at the first , grew in processe of time to bee a custome , and at last became a necessity . such customes made necessary by continuance must reformers expect to encounter , and resolve to remove . o , coward-lines in a magistrate is a great sinne ! who would thinke to finde the fearfull marching in the fore-front ? and yet in that forlorne hope which goeth to hell , revelations . . see them first named , but the fearfull , the unbeleeving and abominable , &c. so necessary is christian courage , especially in a reformer . fifthly and lastly , they must be endued with christian discretion , a grace that none ever speak against , but those that wanted it ; a good man will guide his affaires with discretion , psalme . . i must confesse there is a discretion ( falsely so called ) both carnall in it selfe , and inconsistent with true zeale , yea , distructive of it . christ had two disciples of the same name , the one a true man , the other a traytor , both iudasses . wherefore to prevent mistakes , the former is never cited in scriptures , but with an addition , iudas saith unto him , not iscariot , lord , &c. iohn . . iudas the servant of jesvs christ , and brother of iames , iude . in like manner wee , here mentioning discretion , call it christian discretion , for difference thereof , that all may know , we meane not that which destroyes zeale , but that which directs it ; not that which quencheth zeale , but which keepes it in the chimney , the proper place thereof ; not that which makes it lesse lively , but what makes it more lasting . this discretion , though last named , is not least needfull in the reformers of a church ; and must principally appeare in two things ; first , the not sparing of the tares for the wheats sake . secondly , the not spoyling the wheat for the tares sake . the not sparing the tares for the wheats sake . by tares we understand , not only things unlawfull in a church , but things unexpedient and unprofitable , which also must be removed . the barren fig-tree , luke . . was condemned , not for bearing deadly or dangerous fruit , but none at all . cut it downe , why cumbereth it the ground ? gods garden ought to bee so well dressed , as to have nothing superfluous , that doth harme that doth no good therein . hee that will not worke , neither shall hee eate , thessalonians . . if such ceremonies are to be found in our church , which will not labour , neither needfull in themselves , nor conducing to decency , let them no longer have countenance in the church , nor maintenance from it . the not spoyling the wheat for the tares sake , and letting those things alone which are well ordered already . yet is there a generation of anabaptists , in number fewer , i hope , then are reported , yet more i fear then are discovered ; people too turbulent to obey , and too tyrannicall to command . if it should come into their hands to reforme , lord what worke would they make . very facile , but very foule is that mistake in the vulgar translation , luke . . instead of everrit domum , shee swept the house , 't is rendred , evertit domum , she overturnd the house . such sweeping we must expect from such spirits , which under pretence to cleanse our church , would destroy it . the best is , they are so farre from sitting at the helme , that i hope they shall ever be kept under hatches . now as discretion discovereth it selfe in the matter of reformation , so also it appeareth in the manner thereof . first , it is to be done with all reverence and respect to the ancient fathers . these , though they lived neer the fountain of religion , yet lived in the marches of paganisme ; as also in the time wherein the mystery of iniquity began to work , which we hope is now ready to receive the wages . if therefore there be found in their practice any ceremonies smacking of paganisme or popery , and if the same can be justly chalenged to continue in our church , i plead not for their longer life , but for their decent buriall . secondly , with honourable reservation to the memories of our first reformers . reverend cranmer , learned ridley , down right lattimer , zealous bradford , pious philpot , patient hooper , men that had their failings , but worthy in their generations ; these bare the heat of the day , indeed , which were burnt to ashes ; and though we may write a fairer hand then they , yet they affixed a firmer seal , that dyed for their doctrine . lastly , with carefulnesse , not to give any just offence to the papists . say not , we need not to feare to offend them , who would confound us . we have so long waited for their conversion , we have almost seene our subversion . indeed we are forbidden to offend gods little ones , but not inhibited to offend the devils great ones . and though s. paul bids us to give no offence to those that are without , that is meant of pure pagans ; and therefore the papists being neither well within nor well without , fall not under that precept . for all these expressions savour more of humor then holinesse , of stomack , then the spirit . though papists forget their duty to us , let us remember our duty to them ; to them , not as papists , but as professors of christianity , to their persons , not erronious opinions , not giving them any just offence . but if they will be offended without cause , be their amends in their own hands . if rebeckah will come to isaac , she shall be wellcome . but in no case shall isaac go back to rebeckah , genesis . . beware that thou bring not my son thither again . these five ingredients must compound effectuall reformers . where any , or all of these are wanting , a reformation will either not be made , or not long kept . witnesse the pretended reformation , the papists so much bragge off , in the last of queen mary , in the university of cambridge , by the delegates of cardinall poole . where nothing of worth was done , but many foolish ceremonies enforced , and the bones of bucer and phagi●● burnt . it passeth for the expression of mad man , to beat the aire ; and it is little better to beat the earth . to fight ( as they did ) against dust and ashes , bodies of men long before buried : except they thought by this similitude of burning dead bodies , to worke in silly people a beliefe of purgatory fire , tormenting soules deceased . now when it came into question whether the ordinances and decisions of those reformers should be ingrossed in parchment , or in paper , a doctor swinborne , master of clare hall gave his opinion , that paper would doe the deed well enough , as being likely to last longer then those decrees should stand in force ; as afterward it came to passe , they being all rescinded in the next yeer , being the first of queene elizabeth . two things more must here be well observed . first , that there is a grand difference betwixt founding of a new church , and reforming of an old . for the former , saint paul outstript all men in the world . the papists bragge much of king edgar , who is said to have founded as many monasteries , as there be weekes in the yeer . surely more churches in asia and europe were built from the ground by saint paul , who strived to preach the gospel , not where christ was named , lest he should build upon another mans foundation , romans . . but reforming of churches is an easier work , as not giving a church the life but the lustre ; not the birth but the beauty ; either repairing what is defective , or removing what is redundant . thus we acknowledge solomon the sole founder of the temple , though ioash repaired it , amending the breaches thereof . iotham enlarged it , adding the beautifull porch thereto ; and ezechiah adorned it , covering the pillars with silver therein . however , it is worth our observing , that reformers are sometimes ambitious to entitle themselves to be founders , as being covetous of credit , and counting it more honour to make a thing , then to mend it . thus nebuchadnezzar boasted , daniel . . is not this great babylon that i have built for the house of the kingdome , by the might of my power , and for the honour of my majesty ? whereas babylon was built by nimrod , or ( as others say ) semyramis , many yeers before nebuchadnezzars cradle was made . yet he , no doubt , did encrease , strengthen , and beautifie it ; on which title , see how he engrosseth all the glory unto himselfe , as first , and sole founder ! is not this great babylon that i have built ? let none in like manner brag , that they are now the first founders of a church in england , built long since therein , time out of minde . we deny and defile such papists as say that augustine the monke was the first apostle of this island , where the gospel long before had been preached , though not to the saxons our ancestors , yet to the britans our predecessors . yea , having cause to search who first brought christianity over into britanny , my endeavours have been still at a losse and left at uncertainty . perchance as god , deuteronomie . . buried the body of moses , that no man knoweth the place of his sepulchre unto this day , to cut off from the jewes all occasion of idolatry ; so it seems his wisdom hath suffered the names of the first founders of religion here to be covered in obscurity , to prevent posterity from being superstitious to their memories . however , if justly we be angry with the papists for making the brittish church ( a tall stripling grown , ) to weare swadling cloathes againe : more cause have we to distaffe the pens and preachings of such who make their addresses unto us , as unto pure pagans where the word is newly to be planted . a b moderne author tels us a strange story , how the servants of duke d. alva , seeking for a hawke they had lost , found a new country in the navell of spaine , not known before , invironed with mountaines , and peopled with naked salvages ; i should wonder if such a terra incognita could be found in england ; which ( what betwixt the covetousnesse of landlords and the carefulnesse of tenants ) is almost measured to an acre . but if such a place were discovered , i must allow that the preachers there were the first planters of the gospel , which in all others places of the kingdom are but the continuers thereof . i hope christ hath reaped much goodnesse long ago , where these , now , new pretend to plant it . and if england hath not had a true church hitherto , i feare it will not have a true church hereafter . the second thing i commend unto you is this , that a perfect reformation of any church in this world may be desired , but not hoped for . let zenophons cyrus be king in plato's common-wealth ; and batchelors wives breed maides children in mores vtopia , whilest roses grow in their gardens without prickles , as saint basil held they did before the fall of adam . these phansies are pleasing and plausible , but the performance thereof unfeisable ; and so is the perfect reformation of a church in this world difficult to bee described , and impossible to be practised . for besides that sathan will doe his best , or rather his worst to undoe it ; man in this life is not capable of such perfection . look not to finde that in man out of paradise , which was not found in man in paradise , continuance in an holy estate . martin luther was wont to say , he never knew good order in the church last above fifteen yeares , in the purity thereof ; yea , the more perfect the reformation is , the lesse time it is likely to last . mans minde being in constant motion , when it cannot ascend higher , will not stand still , but it must decline . i speake not this to dis-hearten men from endeavouring a perfect reformation , but to keep them from being dis-heartned , when they see the same cannot be exactly observed . and yet there are some now adayes that talke of a great light , manifested in this age more then ever before . indeed we modernes have a mighty advantage of the ancients , whatsoever was theirs , by industry , may be ours . the christian philosophy of iustin martyr ; the constant sanctity of cyprian ; the catholick faith of athanasius ; the orthodox judgement of nazianzen ; the manifold learning of ierome ; the solid comments of chrysostome ; the subtill controversies of augustine ; the excellent morals of gregory ; the humble devotions of bernard : all contribute themselves to the edification of us , who live in this later age . but as for any transcendent extraordinary miraculous light , peculiarly conferred on our times , the worst i wish the opinion is this , that it were true . sure i am that this light must not crosse the scripture , but cleere the scripture . so that if it affirmeth any thing contrary to gods written word , or enforceth any thing ( as necessary to salvation ) not exprest in gods word ; i dare boldly say , that such a light is kindled from hell . as for the opinion of christs corporall visible kingdome , to come within few yeares , i will neither peremptorily reject it , nor dare absolutely receive it . not reject it , lest i come within the compasse of the apostles reproofe , peter . . speaking evill of the things they understand not . confessing my selfe not to know the reasons of their opinions , who though citing for it much canonicall scripture , yet their interpretations thereof may be but apocrypha . nor dare we receive it , not being safe to be familiar with strangers at the first sight ; and this tenent is strange , as set commonly afoot with these few last yeares . i am afraid rather on the contrary of a generall defection . seeing the word is so slighted , and the guests begin to play with their meat , i feare lest god the master of the feast , will call for the voyder : that so when christ comes to judgement , he shall finde no faith on the earth . but of things to come , little and doubtfully . if this opinion of christs corporall comming very shortly be true , i hope if we live , we shall have our share therein : if otherwise , moses hath no cause to complaine , if dying he commeth not into the earthly canaan , but into the heavenly . meane time whilest we expect the personall comming of christ , let us pray for the peaceable comming back of him , who sometimes is called christ in the scripture , the lords annointed . o the miserable condition of our land at this time , god hath shewed the whole world , that england hath enough in it selfe to make it selfe happy or unhappy , as it useth or abuseth it . her homebred wares enough to maintain her , and her homebred warres enough to destroy her , though no forreigne nation contribute to her overthrow . well , whilest others fight for peace , let us pray for peace ; for peace on good termes , yea on gods termes , and in gods time , when he shall be pleased to give it , and we fitted to receive it . let us wish both king and parliament so well , as to wish neither of them better , but both of them best . even a happy accommodation . only this i will adde , that his majesty in making his medals , hath tooke the right course to propagate his promises and most royall intentions to posterity , and raise it to behold the performance thereof . seeing princes memories have beene perpetuated by their coines , when all other monuments , arches , obelisks , piramids , theaters , trophies , and triumphs , have yeelded to time , and been quite forgotten . yea , t is probable , that the names of some short reigning emperours had been quite lost , if not found in their impresses on their monies , coynes , having this peculiar priviledge to themselves ; that after they had beene buried many yeares in the ground , when taken up againe , they have life enough to speake the names of those princes that caused them and their impressions to be stamped , either to their eternall shame or lasting honour . to conclude , let us all provide for that perfect reformation in the world to come ; when christ shall present the church his spouse to god his father , without spot , comming from mans corruption , or wrincle , caused by times continuance . when we shall have a new heaven and a new earth , wherein shall dwell righteousnesse . with judgements reformed from error , wils reformed from wilfulnesse , affections reformed from mistaking their object , or exceeding their measure ; all powers and parts of soule and body reformed from sinne to sanctity . let us wait all the dayes of our appointed time till our change come . untill this time of reformation . amen . finis . truth maintained . examiner . the a policy of the sermon of reformation . the scope of the sermon is reformation , but it so b moderates , so modificates , and conditionates the persons , and time , and businesse , that reformation can advance c little in this way , or method . as our astronomers who draw so many lines and imaginary circles in the heavens , that they put the sunne into an heavenly labyrinth and learned d perplexity ; such is the zodiack e you would make for the light of the gospell , and the sunne of reformation to move in . it was one of the policyes of the jewas f adversaries that when they heard of their buildings , they would build with them . they said , let us build with you , for we seeke your god as you doe . but the people of god would have no such helpers , there is no such g jesuiticall way to hinder our worke as to work with us , and under such insinnations set the builders at variance when they should fall to labour . and how easie is it to reason flesh and blood back from a good way and good resolutions ? i remember the old h prophet had soon perswaded even the man of god to returne when he told him i am a prophet as thou art . treatise . a. the policy of the sermon . ) such carnall policy wherein the subtilty of the serpent stings the simplicity of the dove to death , i utterly disclaim in my sermon . christian policy is necessary , as in our practice so in our preaching , for piety is alwayes to goe before it , but never to goe without it . b. but it so moderates and modificates . ) the most civill actions will turne wild , if not warily moderated . but if my sermon clogges reformation with false or needlesse qualifications ( till the strength of the matter leakes out at them ) my guilt is great . i am confident of my innocence , let the evidence be produced and the reader judge . c. that reformation can advance but little in this way . ) know that zoar a little one that is lasting , is better then a great babel of confusion . that reformation which begins slowly and surely , will proceed cheerfully and comfortably , and continue constantly and durably . builders are content to have their foundations creepe , that so their superstructures may runne ; let us make our ground-worke good , and no more hast then good speed . d. they put the sunne into an heavenly labyrinth and learned perplexity with their imaginary lines . ) this your strong line more perplexeth me to understand it : onely this i know , that you might have instanced more properly in any other planet which is more loaden with cycles , and epicycles , whilst the sunne hath found from astronomers this favour and freedome , to be left to the simplest motion . e. such a zodiack you would make for the light of the gospell . ) were i to spread out the zodiack of the gospell it should stretch from pole to pole , and be adequate to the heavens . there should be no more pagans in the world then there were smiths at one time in israel ; not that i would have any kild , but all converted ; yea the sunne of reformation should not have so much darknesse as a shadow to follow it . to effect this , my wishes are as strong as my power is weake . i will ( god willing ) pray and preach for it , and therefore doe not slander me to be an hinderer of the word . f. g. h. of the jewes adversaries . jesuiticall way . the old prophet . ) what you say is as true in the history , as false in the application to me . you compare me to the ammonites ( adversaries to gods people , to jesuits , to the old lying prophet . i hope the god of michael the arch-angell will give me patience , when he that disputed with him shall furnish others railing . and now torture me no longer with your accusation , come to the proofe . examiner . i find there are three principles animates the sermon . how imperfect i a church will be and a reformotion doe the best you can . that the light which the k fathers had formerly , was as full and glorious as the light of those dayes , or rather brighter . that none but the supreame authoriy , or authority l royall , and that alone ought to begin and act in this reformation . treatise . i how imperfect a church . ) i said it and i say it againe ; it was a truth before your cradle was made , and will be one after your coffin is rotten . k that the light that the fathers had formerly , was as full & glorious . shew me such a sillable in all the sermon and i 'le yeeld the cause : not that this position is false but because i never said it ; except you collect it from those my words where i say , that the moderns had a mighty advantage of the ancients who lived in the marches of paganismes and in the time wherein the mistery of iniquity began to worke . l. none but the supreame authority or authority royall . ) i said that the supreame authority alone in those respective places wherein it is supreame , hath the lawfull calling to reforme . thus of the three principles which you reckon in my sermon . the first i said i will defend it : the second i said not , and doe deny it : the third i said otherwise then you doe alleadge it . and yet even for the two latter ( that you may not complaine for want of play ) in due time as occasion is offered , i will fully discover my opinion , that so we may either freely agree , or fairely dissent . examiner . these are your principles and let m any judge if this be a qualification fit for him , that judges or writes of such a truth . for first , he that conceits there can be no perfection in a church , will n scarce labour to make that church better , which he is sure will be bad at all times : nor will he care for any new light , whilst the old is in best reputation with him : nor will he seeke to advance the worke , but stay for a supreame authority alone : a good policy to stay the reformation till his majesties returne , and there is hopes it may coole in their hands . treatise . m. and let any judge . ) on gods blessing set any indifferent person , who is devested of prejudice , which maketh a bad witnesse and a worse judge : and now we joyne issues . n. for first , he that conceits there can be no perfection in a church , will scarce labour to make that church better . ) if the he you spake of be a meere carnall man , this nor any other principle ( save grace and gods spirit ) can spurre him on to goodnesse . but if this he be a regenerate man , this doctrine will make him tire no whit the sooner in his endeavours of reformation . you say , he will scarce labour , whereby you confesse he will labour . the gramatian saith , quod fere fit , non fit , quod vix fit , fit . one scarce is better then ten thousand almosts . yet i perceive by the scant measure in your expression , that you conceive this doctrine of the impossibility of a churches perfection on earth , to be but a backe friend to reformation . heare therefore what i answer for my selfe . first , hereby you furnish the papists with a cavill , and with a colour to enforce the same against the protestants . for we teach and maintaine , that the best workes of men are stained with some imperfections . hence the papists may inferre , that he that conceits there can be no perfection in a good deed , will scarce labour to doe one . and thus our doctrine shall be condemned for disheartning of holinesse . see sir how you meet popery in your undiscreet shunning of it . secondly , though there can be no absolute perfection in a church , yet quo ad gradum , in some good degree it is attainable , and all good men will endeavour it . mariners which make forth for the northerne discoveries , goe out with this assurance , that it is impossible to come to the pole . yet have they sought and found out very farre , almost to the eightieth degree of latitude . what covetousnesse or curiosity did in them , sure grace is as active to doe in gods children who will labour to draw neere to a perfect reformation , in obedience to gods command though they know they shall never fully attaine unto it . thirdly , the doctrine of the impossibility of a perfect reformation in this world well understood , begets not idlenesse , but the more industry in mens endeavours . for those that beleeve that the perfection of a church may be attained in this life , are subject to this mistake ( one errour is precreative of another ) to thinke that sometimes they themselves have attained it , and so ending in the midst of their journey , may sit downe and take up their rest : whereas those who conceive the impossibility of perfection , are kept in constant doing , having still plus ultra , with saint paul , forgetting those things that are behind , they reach forth to those things which are before , and presse towards the marke . fourthly , if it be objected that the impossibility of perfection discourageth men to endeavour it , seeing they cannot rationally desire it , non est voluntas impossibilium , it is no levell wish aimed at a marke , but a velleity shot at randome , which desires an impossibility . it is answered , that gods servants endeavouring a perfect reformation , doe not light on a labour in vaine , that which is wanting in them being supplyed in gods acceptance : if they doe their best , their desire is taken for the deed : the deformities of their imperfect reformation being pardoned by god in christ , in which respect , their labours are not in vaine in the lord . lastly , seeing this point of the impossibility of a churches perfection is most true ( as hereafter we shall make so appeare ) if hereupon any grow remisse and large in reforming , it is not the fault of gods straight doctrine , but of mens crooked practice : for if men inferre hellish conclusions from heavenly promises , such bad consequences are not the lawfull children of gods truth , but the bastards of mans corruption , where they are justly to be fathered for their maintenance . and now i suppose that your exception in those your words will scarce labour , is abundantly answered . o. nor will he care for any new light , whilst the old is in best reputation with him . ) this is grounded on what i never said , but if by the old light be meant that which shined from the ancient of dayes into the scriptures and thence through the fathers to us , i preferre it before any new light whatsoever . p. a good policy to stay the reformation till his majesties returne . ) it need not have stayed till his majesties returne , which might have been done before his going away ; who so often and so earnestly offered to reforme whatsoever could justly be convinced to be amisse in our church ; which proffers had they been as thankfully accepted , as they were graciously tendered , long since it had been done what we now dispute of , though it matters not for the spilling of our inke , if other mens blood had beene spared . and i doubt not when opportunity is offered his majesty will make good his word , whom no vollyes of discurtesies though discharged never so thicke against him , shall drive him from his princely promise , whilst he lookes not downewards on mens behaviour to him , but upwards to his protestations to god , learning from him whom he represents to be unchangeable . but if ( which god forefend , and yet all earthly things are casuall ) it should come to passe , that in point of reformation , what formerly was proffered by the sovereigne , and refused by the subject , should hereafter be requested by the subject , and denied by the sovereigne ; we shall have leisure enough to admire gods justice , bemoane our owne condition , and instruct our posterity not to outstand good offers , least for want of seeing their happinesse they feele their owne misery . but to returne to your mentioning of his majesties return ; when all is done for ought i can see , reformation must stay till his majesties returne . as for the time and manner thereof when and how it shall be done , god in his goodnesse and wisdome so order it , that it may be most for his glory , the kings honour , the good of the church and state . but this i say againe , that till this his returning , the generall enjoyning and peaceable practising of any reformation cannot be performed . q. and then there is hope it may coole in their hands . ) if by their hands you meane his majesties ( and what else can your words import ) it is as disloyall a suspition , as his would be an unfitting expression that should say , that reformation would boyle over in the hands of the parliament . but sir , thus farre you have excepted against my sermon in generall , now you are pleased to confute some particulars thereof . sermon paragraffe . withall we falsly deny that queene elizabeth left the dust behind the doore , which she cast on the dunghill , whence this uncivill expression is raked up . the doctrine by her established , and by her successors maintained in the . articles if declared , explained and asserted from false glosses , hath all gold , no dust or drosse in them . examiner . i will not detract from the religious huswifry of such a queene of famous memory , but we know her reformation is talk'd of now in a politicke r reverence , and we are commended backe into her times onely to hinder us from going forward in our owne ; for i am sure till this engine was contrived , shee was not such a saint in the prelates s calender . treatise . r. if there be any so base that they now make queene elizabeths reformation their protection , which formerly they disdained ( running in raine to that bush for shelter , which they meane to burne in faire weather ) shame light on them for their hypocrisie . let such be stript naked to their utter disgrate , who onely weare the memory of that worthy queene to cloke and cover them in their necessity , whose reformation was signed with successe from heaven ; our nation in her time being as famous for forreigne atchivements as now it is infamous for home-bred dissentions . yet god forbid our eyes should be so dazled with the lustre of her days as not to goe forward to amend the faults thereof , if any such be justly complained of . s. shee was not such a saint in the prelates calender . ) i never saw the prelates calender , but in the late reformed almanacks , i find neither her nor any other for saints . examiner . for the doctrine established from queen elizabeths times , though it be not the businesse so much of our reformation as the . articles where it dwels ; yet this we know , either the light of the doctrine was very dimme , or the eyes of our bishops t and jesuits , for one of them would needs spy arminianisme , and the jesuit popery . and some will make it a probleme ; yet whether their glosse may accuse the articles , or the article their glosse , such cassanders found so much latitude in our doctrine as to attempt a v reconciliation of their articles and ours together . treatis . t. i expect ( and ever may expect ) that you would have produced some drosse in our articles , instancing in some false place or point contained in them , and then i must either have yeelded to you with disgrace , or opposed you with disadvantage . but instead of this , you only tell us how some have seene arminianisme and popery in them . i answer : so the papists doe read every point of popery where you will say it was never written in the scripture . those who bring the jaundies in their eyes doe find yellownesse in every object they behold ; and nothing can be so cautiously pen'd , but ingaged persons will construe it to favour their opinions . v. as to attempt a reconciliation of their articles and ours together . ) thus many egyptian ks. attempted to let the red sea into the mediterranian . a project at first seeming easie to such as measured their neernesse by the eye and at last found impossible by those who surveyed their distance by their judgment ; seeing art & industry can never marry those things whose bands nature doth forbid . and i am confident that with the same succes , any shal undertak the accommodating of english and romish articles . nor can the wisest church in such a case provide against the boldnesse of mens attempting , though they may prevent their endeavours from taking effect . for my owne opinion , as on the one side , i should be loath that the bels should be taken downe out of the steeple and new-cast every time that unwise people tune them to their thinke : so on the other side , i would not have any just advantage given in our articles to our adversaries . however , what you say confutes not , but confirmes my words in my sermon , that the . articles need declaring , explaining and asserting from false glosses . and seeing it is the peculiar priviledge of gods word to be perfect at once and for ever , on gods blessing let the darke words in our articles be expounded by cleerer , doubtfull expressed in plainer , improper exchanged for fitter , what is superfluous be removed wanting supplyed too large contracted , too short enlarged , alwayes provided that this be done by those who have calling , knowledge and discretion to doe it . sermon paragraffe . againe , we freely confesse that there may be some faults in our church in matters of practise and ceremonies , and no wonder if there be , it would be a miracle if there were not . besides , there be some innovations rather in the church then of the church as not chargeable on the publike account , but on private mens scores , who are old enough , let them answer for themselves . examiner . these are but subtill w apologies and distinctions , for the x superstitions in the church , and to take off the eyes of the reformers , and entertaine them into changeable discourses as if they were faults and no faults , and those that were , were irreformable , and could not be made better . and thus while the errours of our church should call them to reforme , your difficulties y and impossibilities would call them off . you say it were a miracle to have none : this is such sophistry as the malignity of your clergy would cast in the way of our reformation . and for theainnovations they have beene made by your most learned the immediate issues of our church , our rubrick and practise have beene called to witnesse it ; therefore goe not on to perswade such a b fundamentall integrity and essentiall purity . you know in what a case that c church was when she thought her selfe rich ; and full , and glorious . he is no lesse an enemy to the patient then to the physitian that would perswade him that all is well or at the lest incurable . treatise . w. these are but subtill apologies . ) truly no such matter ; they are even plaine and downeright confessions from the simplicity of my heart . x. for the superstitions in the church . ) sir , lay not your enditement higher then you are sure your proof will reach . you might have done well to have insisted on some particulars , whilst now your generals accuse much , convict nothing . y. your difficulties and impossibilities would call them off . ) not so ; for to shew wise reformers the true difficulties of their worke will quicken not quench their endeavours . thus the carpenter being truly told that the wood is hard , he is to hew , will therefore not throw away his axe , but strike with the greater force . and that the doctrine of the impossibility of a churches perfect reformation on earth well understood , is no hinderer to mens labours to reforme , hath been largely proved before . z. you say it were a miracle for a church to have no faults : this is such sophistry as the malignity of your clergy would cast in the way of our reformation . ) this sophistry will at last prove good logick , and whatsoever you pretend of malignity , this is a truth to be confided in : namely , that no church in this world can be so compleat , but it will have faults . for the church being a body consisting of imperfect men the members thereof , the body must needs be imperfect also . this appeares by the constant necessity of preaching , which otherwise might well be spared , and all our sermons turned into psalmes , as also by the power of the keyes , which will never rust in the church for want of imployment . yea that petition in the prayer of christs providing for us ( and forgive us our trespasses , as we forgive them that trespasse against us ) were both needlesse and false if men might be perfect in this world . this perchance is the reason why the perfection-mongers of this age quarrell with this prayer , as having too much pride to confesse their owne faults , and too little charity to forgive other mens , so ill doth a publicans prayer fit a pharisees mouth . a. as for innovations they have beene made by your most learned . ) concerning innovations i must inlarge my selfe . in mixt actions wherein good and bad are blended together , we can neither chuse nor refuse all , but may pick out some , and must leave the rest . first , they may better be tearmed renovations then innovations , as lately not new forged , but new furbished . secondly , they were not so many as some complaine . the suspitious old man cryes out in the comedy , that . cooks were let into his house , when they were but two . jealousie hath her hyper boles as well as her flattery . thirdly , some of these innovations may easier be rayled on then justly reproved ; namely , such as concerned the adorning of churches , and the comlinesse of mens behaviour in gods service , where outward decency ( if not garish , costly above the estates of the parish , mimicall affected or superstitious ) is the harbinger to provide the lodging for inward holinesse . for some bodily distance brings our souls the neerer to god , with whom some have such clownish familiarity , they have the lesse friendship . fourthly , if these gave offence , it was not for any thing in themselves but either because ; first , they were challenged to be brought in without law . this often makes good matters to be ill relished , honest men if wise withall , being loath to pay their obedience , before it becomes legally due . secondly , because they seemed new and unusuall , and we know how in dangerous times every well-meaning stranger may be suspected for a spy till he hath given an account of himselfe . now few daughter-churches had seen such ceremonies , though some of their mother-cathedrals could well remember them . thirdly , because they were multiplied without any set number ; and those ceremonies which men saw were indefinit , they feared would be infinit . fourthly , because they were pressed in some places without moderation . and herein some young men ( i will not say ran without sending , but ) ran further then they were sent , outstripping them who first taught them to goe . fifthly , because they were pressed by men , some of whose persons were otherwise much distasted ; how justly ? let them seek who are concerned . lastly , because men complained that painfull preaching and pious living , the life of gods service were not pressed and practised with equall earnestnesse , as outward decency the lustre thereof ; whence their feares inferred , that the shaddowes would devoure the substance . now whereas you say that these innovations have been made by our most learned , herein i must confesse that the scales of my skill are too little in them to weigh the learning of great schollers and to conclude who have the most . but this i know , that alwayes a distinction hath been made and admitted betwixt the opinions and practise of the most eminent particular doctors ( how great soever in place power or parts ) and the resolutions and commands of the church in generall . in which respect , what hitherto you alleadge to the contrary , doth no whit disprove my words , that such innovations are rather in the church then of the church , by which they were never absolutely enjoyned nor generally received , as alwayes disclaimed by many , and lately disesed by most . such indeed as used them out of conscience ( i should have no conscience to think otherwise of some ) are not to be blamed if they privately practise them still , at their own petill , till their judgements are otherwise informed . such as took them up for fashion sake , for fashion sake have since laid them downe . such as were frighted into them desist , now their feare is removed . lastly , those who used them in hope of preferment , now disuse them in despaire thereof , not to say some of them are as violent on the contrary side , and perchance onely wait the word of command from the prevalent party to turne faces about againe . in briefe , seeing generally these ceremonies are left off , it seems neither manners nor charity , alwayes to lay that in mens dishes , which the voider some pretty while since hath cleane taken away . say not that these innovations are now rather in a swound then dead & likly to revive , when cherished with the warmth of authority , seeing his majesty hath often and fully proffered , that whatsoever is justly offensive in them shall be removed , and pitty it is but that the rest should by the same lawfull power be re-enforced . but enough hereof , and more perchance then will please the reader , though lesse could not have satisfied the writer ; if i have contented any , well ; if i have displeased all , i am contented . b. therefore goe not on to perswade such a fundamentall integrity and essentiall purity . ) indeed the pains may well be spared , for all wise men are sufficiently perswaded thereof already . for if hereby you meane ( and i would faine learne what other sence your words are capable of ) that the church of england hath not as yet been entire in the fundamentals , and pure in the essentials to salvation . we all are in a wofull condition . have we lived thus long in our church , now to dye eternally therein ? seeing none can be saved therein if it be unsound in the fundamentals of religion ; must the thousand six hundred forty third yeer from christ's birth be the first yeer of the nativity of the church of england , from which she may date her essentiall purity ? sir , i could at the same time chide you with anger , bemoane you with pitty , blush for you with shame , were it not that i conceive this passage fell unawares from your pen , and that you intend to gather it up againe . c. you know in what a case that church was , when shee thought her selfe rich , and full and glorious . ) good sir , accept of my service to stay you , or else run on till you be stopt by your owne wearinesse . our church never brag'd thus her selfe , nor any other for her ; whose faults we have already freely confessed , yet maintained her to be sound in all fundamentals , and pure in all essentials . sermon paragraffe . a thorow reformation we and all good men desire with as strong affections , though perhaps not with so loud a noyse as any whatsoever . examiner . if your thorow reformation in this page be compared with your fourteen , fifteen , sixteen , seventeen pages , where you have bound it up with so many d restrictions , the fallacy will soon appeare . you would smoothly tax some brethren for clamour e and noyse in their desires after reformation . indeed if you could perswade the prophets of god into silence , or slight endeavours , halfe your designe were finished ; but they have a fire which flames into stronger expressions : if the zeale of the prophets and f martyrs had given no further testimony to the truth , then their own bosomes , we had not had at this day such a cloud of witnesses ; you know these loud importunities awaken and hasten men unto that holy g businesse you would so faine retard . if you think it your vertue that you can be silent in the midst of our importunities and loud cryes after reformation , i am sure 't is your policy too , for should you make too great a noyse after it , you might be heard h to oxford , and perhaps you are loath to speake out till you see further . treatis . d. fourteen , fifteen , sixteen , seventeen pages , where you have bound it up with so many restrictions . ) indeed i bound reformation with restrictions , but such as are girdles to strengthen it , not fetters to burthen it , and thereupon no fallacy , but plaine dealing will appeare . and if those pages you instance in be guilty of any such fault , no doubt when your examination doth come to them , you will presse it home , and i shall be ready to make my best defence . e. you would smoothly tax some brethren for clamour . ) if any be faulty herein they deserve not onely to be smoothly taxed . but sharply reproved . for clamour ( as the english word is taken in scripture ) sounds in a bad sense , as arguing an ill tempered spirit with a mixture of pride and impatience . and as reformation ought to be prosecuted and sought after with holy and zealous importunity ( farre from all lethargicall dulnesse and carnall stupidity ) so it must be done with a quiet and composed soule , a grace commended by the apostle . now grant none to be guilty , yet seeing all are subject ( especially in tumultuous times ) to clamour and passionate extravagancies , my gentle advertisement by the bye could not be amisse . f if the zeale of the prophets and martyrs had given . ) i thanke you sir for mentioning the martyrs ; they were the champions of passive obedience , and the lively patternes of that holy temper i now described ; men of a meeke and quiet disposition , not clamorous , though since their death , the noyse and fame of their patience hath sounded aloud thorow the whole world to all posterity . and i pray god in continuance of time the very doctrine of martyrdome be not martyred . g that holy businesse you would so faino retard . ) i appeale from your hard censure to the searcher of hearts , who one day will acquit my innocence and punish your uncharitablenesse , except it be first pardoned upon your repentance . h for should you make so great a noyse , you might be heard to oxford . ) i care not how farre i be heard , nor which way , to oxford and beyond it , to geneva , or to rome it selfe : truth is calculated for all meridians . but speake nor slightingly of oxford , it is ill wounding of a court , and a camp , and an university , and all in one word . i and perhaps you are loath to speak out till you see farther . ) i see too farre already ; namely , that ruine and desolation is likely to follow , except moderation be used on both sides : if you meane , till i see further into his majesties pleasure of reforming , what shall be found amisse , his unfained desire thereof doth already plainly appeare ? but if you meane till i see farther into his successe , know sir , my religion observes not the tides of his majesties fortune , to ebbe and flow therewith . where conscience is the fountaine , the stream keeps the same height . sermon paragraffe . but with this qualification , that by thorow reformation , we meane such a one whereof we are capable , pro statu viatorum , made with all due and christian moderation . examiner . you write of the reformation of a church like k bodin , not like bucer , you make it a worke of policy l not of piety , of reason , not divinity . such counsellers had m jeroboam and jehu , and they made a church as unhappy as a kingdome miserable . this moderation and qualification you speak of , is not so consistent with spirituall essenses and n operations : if the spirit of god should not work in the soules of o unregenerate , but expect an answerable compliancy first , who should be sanctified ? if god had expected any such congruity in our businesse of salvation , we had been unredeemed . to speak p closer , what qualification did queen q elizabeth expect when shee received a kingdome warm from popery ? what qualification did r henry the eight expect in his attempt against the supremacy , when all his kingdome was so universally conjured to rome ? such moderation and qualification is no other but a discreet taking so much as will serve your turne . to the law ( saith the scripture ) s and to the testimony ; moses wrought according to the patterne , so salomon too ; godly bucer makes it his worke to perswade king edward to build up a perfect church , and he v prophesies sadly , that he was afraid popery would succeed , because the kingdome of england was so averse to the kingdome of christ . and we know the marian dayes followed , me-thinkes we are too like his proprophesie , and our w marian times approach too fast . treatis . k you write of a reformation of a church like bodin . ) would i wrote like bodin , though on the condition that i never wrote answer to your examinations . would we had some bodins , some such able states-men , that they might improve their parts to advance an happy accommodation betwixt our sovereigne and his subjects . l you make it a worke of policy not of piety . ) i make it as indeed it is , a work both of moses and aaron wherein piety is to be prefer'd and policy is not to be excluded . m. such counsellours had jeroboam and jehu . ) sir , shoot your arrowes at me till your quiver be empty , but glance not with the least slenting insinuation at his majesty , by consequence to compare him to jeroboam or jehu for their idolatry ; he knoweth how to bestow his gold farre better , and to leave the calves for others . n this moderation and qualification you speake of , is not so consistent with spirituall essenses and operations . ) this your line is not so consistent with sense , as to need much lesse deserve a confutation . o if the spirit of god should not have wrought in the souls of unregenerate . ) i wonder that allotting ( as you say ) but one afternoon for the whole work of your examination you could spend so much time ( some minutes at least ) in such impertinencies . p to speake closer . ) and truly no more then needs for as yet you are farre enough from the matter : but i will not confute what you confesse . q what qualification did queen elizabeth expect . ) she needed not to expect any , when she had all requisites to reforme . those who have such qualification are not to expect , but to fall a working ; those that want it are not to fall a working but still to expect . queen elizabeth as supream in her dominions had a sufficient calling to reforme , nothing was wanting in her : onely her memory doth still deservedly expect a more thankfull acknowledgement of her worthy paines then generally she hath received hitherto . r what qualification did henry the eight expect in his attempt against supremacy ? ) he likewise had qualification sufficient ( and therefore needed not to expect any ) as your following words doe witnesse , wherein you say that all his kingdome was universally conjured to rome . if it was his kingdome , then he had a calling ; if it was conjured to rome , then he had a cause to reforme : and being the king was bound to be the exorcist to un-conjure his subjects from such superstition : yea , had king henry reformed as sincerely as he had a lawfull calling thereunto , his memory had not been constantly kept in such a purgatory of mens tongues for his lukewarme temper , even the most moderate counting him too good for to be condemned , and too bad to be commended . s to the law ( saith the scripture ) and to the testimony . ) i will treasure up this excellent passage till a convenient time , being confident that before the next paragraffe is examined , i shall appeale to these judges , and you decline them . t godly bucer makes it his worke to perswade king edward to build up a perfect church . ) the book of godly bucer which you cite i have seene on the selfe same token ; that therein he makes a bishops to be above presbyters jure divino . you know bucer wrote this worke ( as leading the front of his opera anglicana ) in the very beginning of king edwards reigne , before the reformation was generally received in england , and whilst as yet popery was practised in many places . and next to this his book followeth his gratulation to the english church , for their entertaining of the purity of the gospell ; so that what he doth perswade in the book you alleadge , was in some good measure performed in that ks. reign , and afterwards better compleated by queen elizabeth . and he prophesieth sadly that he was afraid popery would succeed . ) herein he took shrewd aime and it happened he hit right . such predictions are onely observed when afterwards they chance to take effect : otherwise , if missing the marke , men misse to marke them and no notice at all is taken of them : i know a latter divine ( not the lowest in learning one of the highest in b zeale amongst them ) who foretelleth that atheisme rather then popery is likely to overrunne england . such presages may serve to admonish not to afright us , as not proceeding from a propheticall spirit , but resulting from prudentiall observations . but before we take our farewell of this book of bucers , it will not be amisse to remember another passage ( not to say presage ) in the same worthy worke ; that we may see what sinnes in his opinion were forerunners of mine in a kingdome . the margin presents the reader with the c latin which i here translate , though the former part there of be englished already in mens practise , and the latter i feare will be englished in gods judgements . how horrible an affront doe they doe to the divine majesty who use the temples of the lord for galleries to walke in , and for places so prophane , that in them with their fellowes that prattle and treat of any uncleane and prophane businesse . this sure is so great , a contempt of god , that long since even for this alone we have deserved altogether to be banished from the face of the earth , and to be punished with heaviest judgements . such i am afraid will fall on our nation for their abominable abusing of churches ( besides other of their sinnes ) and prophaning the places of gods worship . not to speake of those ( and yet what man can hold his tongue when the mouthes of graves are forced open ) who in a place to vvhich their guilty conscience can point vvithout my pens direction , did by breaking up the sepulchers of our saxon christian kings , erect an everlasting monument to their ovvn sacriledge . such practises must needs provoke gods anger , and now me-thinks i write of the reformation of a church like bucer and not like bodin . w me-thinks we are too like his prophesie , and our marian times approach too fast . ) i hope otherwise ; trusting on a good god and a gracious king . but if those times doe come , woe be to such as have been the cause or occasion to bring or hasten them . one day it will he determined whether the peevish , perverse and undiscreet spirit of sectaries , bringing a generall dis-repute on the protestant , hath not concurred to the inviting in of superstition and popery , may come riding in on the back of anabaptisme . if those times doe come , i hope that god who in justice layeth on the burthen , will in mercy strengthen our shoulders , and what our prayers cannot prevent , our patience must undergoe . nor is it impossible with god so to enable those whom you tax to have onely a forme of godlinesse , to have such power thereof as to seale the protestant religion with their blood . sermon paragraffe . . such who are to be the true and proper reformers , they must have a lawfull calling thereunto ; duties which god hath impaled for some particular persons , amongst these actions reformation of a church is chiefe . now the supreame power alone hath a lawfull calling to reforme a church , as it plainely appeares by the kings of judah in their kingdome . examiner . i had not knowne your meaning by the lawfull calling you name , but that you expound it in the lines that follow , to be the calling of the supreame magistrate ; as if no calling were warrantable at first to x promove a reformation but that . but you must take notice there is an inward and an outward call . the inward call is a y speciall excitation from the spirit of god , and such a call is warrantable by god to be active ; i am sure it hath beene sufficient alwayes to set holy men on worke : another call is outward , and that is either of place and magistracy , or publike relation . now though magistracy be of publike relation , yet when i speake specifically of publike relation , i meane that in which every man stands bound in to god and his country ; now all these callings are commissions enough either to meddle as christianly inspired , or christianly ingaged . in ordinary transactions , i know the ordinary dispensation is to be resorted to ; but the businesse of reformation as it is extraordinary , so god giveth extraordinary conjunctures of times and circumstances , and extraordinary concurrences , and extraordniary incitations . in the building of the temple you shall see in ezra and nehemiah such workings of god , when the people were gathered together as one man , they spake to ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of moses . here the people put on even ezra to his duty . treatis . before i deale with the particulars of this examination , i will enlarge ( not alter ) what i said in my sermon of this point , promising as much brevity as god shall enable me to temper with clearnesse , and desiring the readers patience whilst at mine owne perill i deliver my opinion . but first , here we promise necessary distinction . distinguish we betwixt those times , when the church liveth under pagan or persecuting princes , and when god blesseth her with a christian king , defender of the faith : in the former case the church may and must make an hard shift to reforme her selfe so well as she can ( for many things will be wanting , and more will be but meanly supplyed ) without any relating to a supreame power , whose leave therein will be dangerous to desire and impossible to obtaine . but withall , they must provide themselves to suffer , offering no violence , except it be to drowne a tyrant in their teares , or to burne him with coales of kindnesse heaped on his head . in the latter case , when the supreame power is a nursing father to the church , suckling it , not sucking blood from it , the church must have recourse to it before shee may reforme . reforming of a church must neither stay behind for nero his leave , nor runne before without the consent of constantine . religion it selfe must not be deckt with those flowers which are violently pluck'd from the crownes of lawfull princes . come we now then to shew , how in a christian state , all are to contribute their joynt endeavours to promote a reformation . in a church , and such a state i consider three degrees thereof . first , meere private men without any mixture of a publike relation . secondly , persons placed in a middle posture with the centurian in publike imployment over some , yet under authority themselves . thirdly , the absolute supreame power , who depends of god alone . for the first of these , meere private men ; they have nothing to doe in publike reforming but to advance it by their hearty prayers to god , and to facilitate the generall reformation , by labouring to amend their owne and their families lives according to the word ; this is all god requireth of them and more i feare then most of them will performe . next , succeed those persons in a middle posture , and these are either ministers or magistrates . ministers even the meanest of them have thus far their part in publike reforming , that they are to lift up their voice like a trumpet ( though not like sheba his trumpet to sound sedition ) both to reprove vitiousnesse in manners , and to confute errors in doctrine . and if men of power and imminent place in the church , then as their ingagement is greater , so their endeavours must be stronger , to presse and perswade a publike reformation to such whom it doth concerne . magistrates may have more to doe in publike reforming having a calling from god , who therefore hath set them in a middle place betwixt prince and people , to doe good offices under the one , over the other , betwixt both . and having a calling from the king , especially if they be his counsellours , whose good they are to advance by all lawfull meanes , and rather to displease him with their speech , then to dishonour him with their silence ; and having a calling from their country , whose safety they must be tender and carefull of . first , therefore they are with all industry ( both from the ministers mouth and by their owne inquiry ) to take true notice of such defects and deformities in the church or state as are really to be reformed . secondly , they are with all sincerity to represent the same to the supreame power . thirdly , with all humility to request the amendment of such enormities . fourthly , with all gravity to improve their request with arguments from gods glory , the princes honour , the peoples profit , and the like , lastly , with their best judgement to propound and commend the fairest way whereby a reformation may as speedily as safely be effected . and if they meet with difficulties in the supreame power delaying their request , they are not to be disheartned , but after their fervent prayers to god , who alone hath the hearts of kings in his hands , they are constantly to renue their request at times more seasonable , in places more proper , with expressions more patheticall , having their words as full of earnestnesse , as their deeds farre from violence . as last comes the supreame power , who alone is to reforme by its own authority , though not by its owne advice alone . for because it is rationally to be presumed , that divines have best skill in matters of divinity , they are to be consulted with ; and here comes in the necessity and use of councels , convocations , synods and assemblyes . and because there is not onely a constant correspondency , but also an unseperable complication betwixt the church & state ; states-men are therefore to be advised with in a reformation , so to settle it as may best comply with the common-wealth . for god in that generall warrant , let all things be done decently and in order ; puts as i may say the cloath and sheeres into the hands of the church and christian princes , to cut out and fashion each particular decency and order , so as may shape and suit best with the present time and place wherein such a reformation is to be made . these parts therefore are to be acted in a reformation by the supreame power . first , he is ( either by his owne motion , or at the instance and intreaties of others ) to call and congregate such assemblyes . secondly , to give them leave and liberty to consult and debate of matters needing to be reformed . thirdly , to accept the results of their consultations , and to weigh them in the ballance of his princely discretion . fourthly , to confirme so much with his royall assent as his judgement shall resolve to be necessary or convenient . lastly , to stamp the character of authority upon it , that recusants to obey it may be subject to civill punishments . but now all the question will be what is to be done if the endeavours of subjects be finally returned with deafnesse or deniall in the supreame power . in this case a pulike reformation neither ought nor can be performed without the consent of the supreame power : it ought not , first because god will not have a church reformed by the deforming of his commandement . he hath said honour thy father and thy mother and requireth that all superiours should be respected in their places . secondly , the scripture rich in presidents for our instruction in all cases of importance affords us not one single example , wherein people attempted publiquely to reforme , without or against the consent of the supreame power ; and in this particular , i conceive a negative argument followeth undeniably : wherefore seeing the kings in judah ( there the supreame power ) were alwayes called upon to reforme , commended for doing so much , or condemned for doing no more ; and the people neither commanded to remove , nor reproved for not removing publique idolatry , without the consent of the supreame power ; it plainly appeareth , that a publique reformation belongeth to the supreame power , so that without it , it ought not to be done . as it ought not , so it cannot be done without the consent thereof ; for admit that the highest subordinate power should long debate , and at last conclude , the most wholsome rules for reformation ; yet as plato said , that amongst the many good lawes that were made one still was wanting , namely , a law to command and oblige men to the due observing of those lawes which were made . so when the best resolutions are determined on by any inferiour power , there still remaines an absolute necessity that the supreame power should bind and enforce to the observing thereof . for instance : some offenders are possessed with such uncleane spirits of prophanenesse , that none can bind them , no not with chaines of ecclesiasticall censures , onely outward mulcts in purse or person can hold and hamper them . seythian slaves must be ordered with whips , and a present prison more affrights impudent persons , then hel-fire to come . in the writs de excommunicato capiendo , & de haeretico comburendo , such as flout at the excommunicato and the haeretico , are notwithstanding heartily afraid of the capiendo and the comburendo , wherefore in such cases the church when it is most perfectly reformed is fame to crave the aid of the state by civill and secular penalties , to reduce such as are rebels to church-censures ( sometimes inflicting death it selfe on blasphemous heretickes ) and this cannot be performed by any subordinate power , in the state , but onely by the supreame power . otherwise , offenders , if pressed by any inferiour power would have a free appeale and no doubt find full redresse from the supreame power , without whose consent such penalties were imposed on them , now if it be demanded , what at last remaines for any to doe , in case the supreame power finally refuseth to reforme . thus they are to imploy themselves . first , to comfort themselves in this , that they have used the meanes , though it was gods pleasure to with-hold the blessing . secondly they are to reflect on themselves , and seriously to bemoane their own sinnes which have caused gods justice to punish them in this kind . if a rhumaticke head sends downe a constant flux , to the corroding of the lungs , an ill affected stomacke first sent up the vapours which caused this distillation : and pious subjects conceive that if god suffer princes to persist in dangerous errours , this distemper of the head came originally from the stomack , from the sinnes of the people , who deserved this affliction . thirdly , they are to reforme their selves and families , and if the supreame power be offended thereat , to prepare themselves patiently to suffer , whatsoever it shall impose upon them , having the same cause though not the same comfort , to obey a bad prince as a good one . by the way , a word in commendation of passive obedience : when men who cannot be active without sinning , are passive without murmuring . first , christ set the principall copie thereof , leading captivity captive on the crosse , and ever since he hath sanctified suffering with a secret soveraigne vertue even to conquer and subdue persecution . secondly , it hath beene continued from the primitive church by the albigences to the moderate protestants , unlesse some of late ashamed of this their masters badge , have pluckt their cognisance from their coats , and set up for themselves . thirdly , it is a doctrine spirituall in it selfe . it must needs be good , it is so contrary to our bad natures and corrupt inclinations , who will affirme any thing rather then we will deny our selves , and our owne revengefull dispositions . and surely the martyrs were no lesse commendable for their willing submitting to then for their constant enduring of their persecutors cruelty . and it was as much ( if not more ) for them to conquer their owne vindicative spirits , as to undergoe the heaviest tortures inflicted on them . fourthly , it is a doctrine comfortable to the practisers , bitter , but wholsome . yet it is sweetned with the inward consolation of a cleere conscience , which is food in famine , freedome in fetters , health in sicknesse , yea , life in death . fifthly , it is glorious in the eyes of the beholders , who must needs like and love that religion , whose professors ( where they cannot lawfully dearly sell ) doe frankly give their lives in the defence thereof . lastly , it is a doctrine fortunate in successe . by preaching of passive obedience , the dove hath out-flowne the eagle . christ's kingdome hath out-streatched caesars monarchy . hereby the wisdome of the east was subdued to the folly of preaching . the sunne of the gospell arose in the westerne parts . the parched south was watered with the dew of the word . the frozen north was thawed with the heat of religion : but since the doctrine of resisting the supreame power came into fashion , the protestant religion hath runne up to a high top , but spread nothing in breadth ; few papists have beene reclaimed , and no pagans have beene converted . alas ! that so good a doctrine should be now in so great disgrace ; yet will we praise such suffering , though we suffer for praising it . if we cannot keepe this doctrine alive , we will grieve because it is dying ; being confident , that though now it be buried in so deepe dishonour , god in due time will give it a glorious resurrection . and though i must confesse , it is farre easier to praise passive obedience then to practice it , yet to commend a vertue is one degree to the imitation of it , and to convince our judgements : first , of the goodnesse of the deede , is by gods blessing one way to worke our wils to embrace it : in a word , if this doctrine of passive obedience be cryed downe , hereafter we may have many bookes of acts and monuments , but never more any bookes of martyrs . and now these things premised , we returne to master saltmarsh his examination of my sermon . x as if no calling were warrantable at first to promote a reformation but the supreame power . ) i never said or thought so : but in what manner , and by what meanes inferiours may and must labour to promote it , i have at large declared . y the inward call is a speciall excitation from the spirit of god , and such a call is warrantable to be active . ) i shall have presently a more proper place to deale with these speciall excitations , when i come to answer your extraordinary incitations . z now all these callings are commission enough to meddle . ) i am not of so froward a spirit , as to quarrell at a word . otherwise i could tell you , that to-meddle generally importeth an over-businesse in some pragmaticall person , tampering with that which is either unlawfull in it selfe , or hurtfull to , at least improper for the party who medleth with it , and in scripture it is commonly used with a prohibition , meddle not . to passe this by , the question is not whether magistrates may meddle ( as you say ) in advancing a publique reformation ; but how ? and how farre they may be active therein ? therein i report the reader to what i have largely expressed . a in ordinary transactions , i know the ordinary dispensation is to be resorted to , but the businesse of reformation as it is extraordinary , so god giveth extraordinary conjunctures of times and circumstances , and extraordinary concurrences , and extraordinary incitations . ) now you soare high , give us leave to follow you as we can . first , i confesse that a publique reformation is an extraordinary worke in this sense , as not common or usually done every day ( as private amendment of particular persons is or ought to be . ) but it is a rare worke , which commeth to passe but seldome , and the doing of it is out of the road of ordinary mens imployment . but i deny a publique reformation to be extraordinary in this acception ; as if it were to be ordered or managed by any other rules or presidents , then such as are ordinary and usuall in the bible , where many patterns of publique reformations are presented ; in which respect the ordinary dispensation is to be resorted to in the performance thereof . whereas you say , that in publique reformations , god giveth extraordinary conjunctures of times and circumstance , and extraordinary concurrences . it is true in this sense , that the great clock-keeper of time so orders the coincidence of all things that when his houre is come , wherein such a reformation shall be made , every officious circumstance will joyfully contribute his utmost assistance to the advancing thereof . wherefore if men cannot make a reformation without roving from their calling , or breaking gods commandement ( according to which it cannot be done without the consent of the supreame power . ) hereby it plainly appeares , that the hand of divine providence doth not as yet point at that happy minute of reformation , there being as yet times distracted with jarres and disjunctures , not onely in circumstances , but even in substantiall matters requisite thereunto . and therefore seeing gods good time may not be prevented , but must be expected , men are still patiently to wait and pray for that conjuncture of times and concurrency of circumstances , whereof you speake . but whereas you speake of extraordinary incitations ( paralell to what you said before , of speciall excitations and christianly inspired . ) in these your expressions you open a dangerous pit , and neither cover it againe nor raile it about with any cautions , so that passengers may unawares fall into it . for everyman who hath done an unwarrantable act , which he can neither justifie by the law of god or man , will pretend presently that he had an extraordinary incitation for it ; a fine tricke to plead gods leave to breake his law . nor can we disprove the impudence of such people except we may use some touch-stones , thereby to try their counterfeit incitations ; my opinion herein shall be contrived into three propositions . first , no such extraordinary incitations are extant now a dayes from god , as stirre men up to doe any thing contrary to his commandements . indeed , some such we meet with in the scripture , where the law-giver dispensing with his owne law , incited abraham to kill his son , sampson to kill himselfe , and the isralites to rob the egyptians . in such cases it was no disobedience to gods publique command , but obedience to his private countermand ; if the servant varied his practice according to his absolute masters peculiar direction . but such incitations come not now a dayes but from the spirit of delusion . secondly , no extraordinary excitations are extant now a dayes from god , seizing on men ( as anciently ) in enthusiasmes , or any such raptives , as make sensible impressions on them . for these are within the virge of miracles , which are now ceased , and our age produceth things rather monstrous then miraculous . thirdly , extraordinary incitations are still bestowed by god in these dayes ; namely , such that he giveth to some of his servants ; a more then usuall and common proportion of his grace , whereby they are enabled for and incited to his service with greater rigour and activity then ordinary christians . my judgement herein shall not be niggardly to restraine gods bountifull dealing , but i verily beleeve that he who was so exceedingly liberall in former ages , is not so close handed in our times , but that in this sence he bestoweth extraordinary motions , especially on such whom his providence doth call to eminent places , either in church or state . but such motions quicken them to runne the way of gods commandements , not to start without or beside it . and as hereby they are heightned to an heroicall degree of piety , so though sometimes we may say of them in a rhetoricall expression , that they goe beyond themselves , yet they never goe beyond their calling , not never goe beyond gods commandements . now if any shall pretend that they have an extraordinary excitation to make a publique reformation without the consent of the supreame power , to whom by gods law it belongs , such an excitation cannot come from the holy ghost : for if the spirit of the prophets be subject to the prophets , much more is it subject to the god of the prophets , and to the law of that god . and truly sir , this passage of extraordinary incitations , as it is by you rawly laid downe and so left , containeth in it seed enough if well ( or rather ill ) husbanded , to sow all the kingdome with sedition , especially in an age wherein the auabaptist in their actions , beaten out of the field by gods word , doe daily flye to this their fort of extraordinary excitations . and you may observe when god gave extraordinary excitations , quo ad regulam ( stirring up men to doe things contrary to the received rule of his commandements ) then such excitations were alwayes attended with extraordinary operations . phinehas , who killed cosby and zimry , could stay the plague with his prayer ; and eliah who cursed the captaines with their fifties , could cause fire to come downe on them from heaven . it appeares this his curse was pronounced without malice , because inflicted by a miracle . it is lawfull for such to call for fire , who can make fire come at their call ; and would none would kindle discord on earth , till first they fetcht the sparks thereof from heaven . neither doe we proudly tempt gods providence , but truly trye such mens pretended extraordinary incitations , if when they wander from gods commandements in their actions , and plead inspirations , we require of them to prove the truth of such inspirations , by working a miracle . now sir , you being ( as it seemes ) an opposite to prelacy , would make strange worke , to put downe one ordinary in a diocesse , and set up many extraordinaries in every parish : and for ought i know , if some pretend extraordinary excitations , publikely to reforme against the will of the supreame power , such as side with the supreame power , may with as much probability alleadge extraordinary excitations to oppose and crosse the others reformation , and so betwixt them both our church and state will be sufficiently miserable . and now sir , remember what you said in the last paragraffe : to the law ( saith the scripture ) and to the testimony ; to such judges we may safely appeale from all your speciall excitations , extraordinary incitations and christian inspirations . b in the building of the temple you shall see in ezra and nehemiah such workings of god , when the people were gathered together as one 〈◊〉 , they spake to ez●●the scribe , to bring the booke of the law of moses . ) the unanimous consent of so many we acknowledge to be gods worke . o that we might see the like agreement in england , where the people are so farre from being gathered together as one man , that almost every one man is distrasted in his thoughts , like the times , and scattered from himselfe as if he were many people . well , they spake to ezra to bring the booke of the law ; what of all this ? c here the people put on even ezra to his duty . ) and little speaking would spurre on him , who of himselfe was so ready to runne in his calling : but i pray what was this ezra ? who were these people ? ezra was indeed a priest , a learned scribe of the law , who brought up a party out of babylon to jerusalem , armed with a large patent and commission from artaxerxes . the people here were the whole body of the jewish church and state together with zerobabel the prince and jeshuah the high priest , who ( by leave from the persian king ) had the chiefe managing of spirituall and temporall matters . and judge how little this doth make for that purpose to which you alleadge it that from hence private persons may either make the supreame power to reforme , or doe it without his consent . had you free leave of the whole scripture to range in , and could the fruit of your paines find out no fitter instance for your purposes . examiner . and whereas you say , reformation is of those duties that are d impaled in for some particular persons . i answer , this were a grand designe if you could heighten e reformation into such a holy prodigy as you would of late the church into the prelacy and f clergy , and excluded the layty as a prophane g crew and to be taught their distance . luther h will tell you , this is one of the roman engines ▪ to make such an holy businesse ; like the mountaine in the law not to be toucht or approacht to , but by moses alone . thus you might take off many good workemen , and honest i labourers in the vineyard whom christ hath hired and sent in , and so whom he hath held out his scepter as ahasuerus to ester . treatis . d and whereas you say reformation is of those duties that are impaled in for some particular persons . ) it appeares that publike reformation is so impaled ; for whereas every man is commanded to observe the sabbath , honour his parents , and every man forbidden to have other gods worship images , take gods name in vaine , kill , steale , &c. yet the supreame power alone in scripture is called on for publike reformation , and no private person , as saint austin hath very well observed . e i answer , this were a grand designe , if you could heighten reformation into such an holy prodigy . ) i need not heighten it , which is so high a worke of it selfe , that our longest armes cannot reach it , though we stand on the tiptoes of our best desires and endeavours , till god shall first be pleased to send us a peace . a prodigy it is not ( not long since you tearmed it an extraordinary businesse ) yet if it be performed whilst warre lasteth , it is a worke of the lord , and may justly seeme mervailous in our eyes . f as you would of late the church into the prelacy and the clergy . ) when and where did i doe this ? i ever accounted that the cetus fidelium , the congregation of the faithfull was gods church on earth . yet i often find the church represented in generall counsels , by the prelacy and clergy ( who are or should be the best & wisest in the church ) & their decisions in matters of religion , interpreted and received as the resolutions of the church in generall . g and excluded the layty as a prophane crew , and to be taught their distance . ) what honest man ever thought the layty , as layty , prophane ? i conceive our kingdome would be very happy , if none of the clergy were worse then some of the layty . and i am sure that the godly clergy are gods layty his {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} & the godly layty are gods clergy , his {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . yet now a dayes , some usurping lay-men may well be taught their distance , who meddie with ministeriall functions : nor will a wel-meaning heart one day excuse the unsanctified hands of such vzzah's , who presuming to preach , hold not our arke from shaking , but shake our arke with holding it . h luther will tell you this is one of the romish engines . ) indeed this was a popish device too much to depresse the layty . but this engine ( thanks be to god ) is since broken asunder , and it will be in vaine for any to glew the peeces thereof together . and now since the monopoly of the popish clergy ( ingrossing all matters of religion to themselves ) is dissolved ; it is fit protestant ministers lawfull propriety in their calling , should justly be maintained . i thus you may take off many honest labourers in the vineyard . ) farre be it from me especially if they be skilfull-labourers such as will prune the vines , not pluck them up by the roots . but this and what you say of those to whom god hath held out his scepter , is nothing to the purpose ; except you could prove where god in the scripture , hires or cals private men to make a publike reformation . examiner . and whereas you tell us , that the supreame power alone hath the lawfull calling as appeares in the kings of judah . i answer , that if so the parliament were now in a dangerous k praemunire , for you know that is suspended from us , and yet our state goes on in their worke enabled ( as they say ) by their fundamentall power and constitution : i shall not here dispute the emanations of this power in ordinances , votes and orders they have made it appeare in their owne declarations ; onely this i read of an ordinance made by the nobles and elders of israel , those lords l and commons , that whosoever would not come according to the counsell which was taken for reformations all his substance should be forfeited . here is no king of judah's hand , nor a cyrus king of persias , but an ordinance of their owne to their owne people ; onely they have king cyru's writ for their assembling and consulting . had christ m and his apostles waited in their reformation for the consent of the roman magistrate the supreame power , they had not made that holy expedition they did . had luther and zuniglius n and oecolampadius staid for the emperours reformation , they had not shed halfe that light in the germane hemisphere : there was a time when god tooke part of the spirit of moses and put it upon o the elders . treatis . k if so the parliament were now in a dangerous praemunire . ) i will not marre a meane divine of him , to make a meaner states-man , by medling with matters in the common-wealth . i that maintaine that every man must stay in his calling , will not step out of mine owne : let the differences betwixt our soveraigne and his subjects , which consist in points of state , be debated by the politicians on either side , the questions in law be argued respectively by their learned counsell and the controversies in religion be dispuputed by their severall divines . but alas ! such is our misery when all is done , the finall decision is devolved to the souldiers sword on either side , and god send the best cause the best successe . l onely this , i read of an ordinance made by the nobles and elders of israel those lords and commons . ) by your favour it was a compleat act of state as confirmed by the royall assent . true , there was no king of judah's hand unto it , because at that time judah had no king ; and who can expect that the sunne should shine at midnight , when there is none in that horizon . reasonable men will then be contented with the moon-shine , and see that here . for zerobabel shining with borrowed beames and a reflected light from the persian king ( in which respect he is stiled , hag. . . the governour of judah ) concurred to this ordinance by his approbation thereof . besides this , there was also a triple consent of the persian kings . first , the grand and generall grant from cyrus , ezra . . which still stood in full force , as confirmed by darius . ezra . . whereby the jewes being authorized to re-build the temple , were also by the same enabled to settle gods service in the best manner , by what wholsome lawes they thought fitting . secondly , a particular implicite grant , in that the persian king knowing thereof , did not forbid it when it was in his power , had it beene his pleasure ; and such a not opposing , amounts to a consent . lastly , they had a large expresse command from king artaxerxes to ezra ( chap. . ver. . ) and whosoever will not doe the law of thy god , and the law of the king , let judgement be executed speedily upon him , whether it be unto death or unto banishment , or to confiscation of goods , or to imprisonment . and now sir , i have the lesse cause to be offended with you for citing mangled and dismembred peeces in my sermon , seeing the scripture it selfe finds as little favour from your hand ; for had you compared on place thereof with another you could not but have seen the persian kings consent to this reformation . yea , so observant were the jewes of the persian kings , that at the first issuing forth of their prohibition to that purpose , they instantly desisted building the temple ; having their soules so well managed , and mouthed with the reines of loyalty , that their kings negative voyce checkt and stopt them as they were running full speed in so good an imployment : so little doth the instance alleadged advantage your cause . m had christ and his apostles waited in their reformation for the consent of the roman magistrate . ) i answer . first , christ and his apostles ; were christ and his apostles , i meane extraordinary persons , immediately inspired . secondly , the reformation they brought was mainly materiall indeed , being the gospell , without which there was no salvation . thirdly , because they had not the emperours consent to their reformation they pacified his displeased sword by preferring their necks unto it , not repining at the dearnesse of the purchase to buy the safety of their soules with the losse of their lives ; all the jury of the apostles ( john onely accepted ) followed their master to martyrdome : and hence we truly deduced the patterne of passive obedience . n had luther and zuniglius , and oecolampadius stayed for the emperours reformation . ) luther was a minister , and so had his share in reforming , so farre as to propagate the truth and confute falshoods by his pen , preaching and disputations . what he did more then this was done by the flat command , at lest free consent of frederick duke of saxony , under whom luther lived . this duke owing homage , but not subjection to the emperour ; counted himself and was reputed of others , absolutein his owne dominions , as invested with the power of life and death to coine money , make offensive and defensive leagues and the like . and although this wary prince long poised himself betwixt feare of the emperor and love of the truth , yet he always either publikely defended luther , or privately concealed him , till at last having outgrowne his fears , he fell boldly to publike reforming . as for the states of zurich and basil , wherein zuniglius and oecolampadius lived , as those cities in one relation are but members of the helvetian common-wealth , so in another capacity they are intire bodies of themselves and in these states the magistrates did stamp the character of civill authority on that reformation which these ministers did first set on foot by their preaching . but if any extravagant action of worthy men be tendred us in example , our love to their persons binds us not to defend their practice , much lesse to imitate it . we crave liberty , & if denied , will take it to leave them to themselves who if they had any especiall warrant to justifie their deeds , will at the last day produce and plead it . o there was a time when god took part of the spirit of moses & put it upon the elders . ) i will not disp●ate the manner how the spirit was taken from moses , perchance added to others , without being substracted from him , as a candle looseth no light by giving it to another . but this is falsly alleaged by you to intimate that sometimes inferiour officers may make reformations without the knowledge , yea ; against the will of the supreame power . for you must know that though the sannedrin or seventy elders were a constant court and standing counsell , yet when there was a chief governour they had recourse to him in actions of moment , num. . , , . and moses spake unto the lord saying , let the lord the god of the spirits of all flesh set a man over the congregation which may go out before them , and which may lead them out and bring them in , that the congregation of the lord be not as sheep which have no shepheard . see that notwithstanding the power of the elders stood still in full force , & determined not at moses his death , yet he accounted gods people no better then shepheardlesse , till they had a power paramount placed over them , and a supreame above the elders to guide and direct them . sermon paragraffe . mean time meet private men must not be idle but move in their sphere , till the supream power doth reform they must pray to inspire those that have power . secondly , they must reforme themselves and their families . examiner . stil you drive on your design thorow many plausible p insinuations , you would keep private men doing but still doing in their owne q circle ; i confesse i would not improve their interest too high , nor too soon , for the early settings forth of private men is apt to exceed into a tumultuary motion : yet i would not put them so far behind as they should like the lame & the diseased at the poole of bethesda waiting till a supreame r power came downe amongst them . there are many publike ingagements which they are capable on , & which providence will often guide them to as in finding s out-ways of facilitation & advancement for the businesse ; besides some other arcana and secret t preparations ; we see every thing naturally is spirited with an instinct of aiding , the whole v water and ayre will part with their own interest to serve the universall in the danger of a vacuity ; the very w romans , by a morrall principle , would contend to be first in the service of their country , and it remains as a crime upon record , that x gilead abode beyond jordan , and that dan remained in ships , and ashur abode in his breaches ; that is , that they would sit downe encircled with their owne interest and affaires . treatis . p. still you drive on your designe thorow many plausible insinuations . ) not insinuations but positions and those no more plausible then profitable . truth hath a precious inside , and withall a pleasing face . q you would keep private men doing , but still doing in their circle . ) and good reason too for if they be out of their circle , they are very troublesome spirits to conjure downe againe . r not like the lame at the poole of bethesda waiting till a supreame power . ) if god in his word will have it so , they must wait . better to lye still in the porch , though not cured then to rush headlong into the poole and be drowned . s providence will guide them in finding out-wayes of facilitation . ) i protest against all out-wayes if they be any way different from the high-road of the king of heaven ; reformation however must come lawfully , and if it will not come easily , let it come hardly , we will tug at it with our prayers ( which are alwayes best at a dead lift ) and will sweat but not sin to obtain it . nor can any better facilitation for private men be found out , then for every one of them to reform themselves . how doth an army of ten thousand men almost change their postures from east to west in an instant , because every one turneth one , and so soone would the work be done in a publike reformation , if particular persons would take care for their private amendment . t besides some other arcana and secret preparations . ) good sir play faire and above board : the surface of the earth is wide enough for us both , creep not into crannies , to put me to the pains of pioners to mine for your meaning : i know the secret of the lord is with the righteous ; but then it is such a secret , as being concealed from prophane persons , is revealed in the word . this your expression if cleer from fault , is not free from just suspition , for hereby you buz into peoples hands ( and such tinder i tell you is ready to take fire ) that there are some strange unknown misteries of religion lately communicated to some private men . strange that others of the same forme with you for learning and religion should know no such secrets , except you have received from heaven some expresse packet of intelligence . you might have done well to have told us what these arcana are , unlesse being of heavens close committee you be bound to secrecy . meane time i will be bold to tell you , that if these secrets differ from gods will in his word , they are depths of the divell and misteries of iniquity . v we see every thing naturally is spirited with an instinct of ayding , the whole water and ayre will part with their owne interests to serve the universall in the danger of a vacuity . ) i distinguish betwixt naturall agents , and voluntary , rationall and christian agents . naturall agents goe the neerest way to their owne home , their center , except countermanded to avoid a vacuity , which being yeelded to , necessarily inferres a destruction of the whole . in such a case heavy bodyes have from god a dispensation yea command to ascend , light bodies to descend , forgetting their particular propensity , to remember the publike good , according to the words of the psalmist , he hath made a decree which they shall not passe . but voluntary , rationall and christian agents , are to regulate their actions by gods will in his word ; the greatest and onely vacuity they are to feare is gods displeasure whose glory they are to preferre before their owne temporall self-preservation ; and indeed mans eternall good is wrapped up in his obedience to gods will . wherefore except you can produce a place in gods word , wherein private men are commanded to make publike reformations , there is a meer vacuity of all you have alleadged . w the very romans by a morrall principle would contend to be first in the service of their country . ) it was well done of them . their forwardnesse in serving their country will one day condemne our frowardnesse in deserving our rending our native soyle asunder with civill dissentions ; but in such cases as this is which we have now afoot ( whether private persons may reform without the consent of the supreame power ) we are not to be guided by the practice of the pagan romans , but by the precept of the christian romans , let every soule be subject to the higher powers . x and it remaines as a crime upon record , that gilead abode beyond jordan , and that dan remained in ships . ) thus it was ; sicera a pagan generall under jab in a tyrant and usurper hostilely invaded israel . deborah a prophetesse by divine inspiration incited barach to resist him . in this case each single man had a double call to assist barach : one from nature to defend his country , another from gods , immediate vocation . here it was lawfull for all to be active sinfull for any to be idle : jacl the woman was valiant ; shall men be womanish and cowardly ? now prove that private men have the like calling in point of publike reformation and if they be not active , we will not only confesse it their crime but proclaime a curse against them with meros , till this be done this instance befreindeth not your cause . examiner . and y though you would put private men upon such duties here as are godly & commendable the policy is to keepe them exercised in one good duty that they should not advance another & thus you would cunningly make one peece of divinity to betray another , and make the freinds of reformation doe it a discurtesie in ignorance . treatis . y i confesse it is an ancient subtilty of satan , to keep men exercised in one good duty that they should not advance another . thus he busieth some men all in praying to neglect preaching , all in preaching to neglect catechizing all in prayers , preaching , catechizing , to neglect practising . jesabels body was all eaten up , save onely her head , hands and feet . but indiscreet zeal so consumes some , that they have neither hands nor feet left , either to worke or to walke in their christian calling : yea , of all their head nothing remains unto them but onely their ears , resolving all gods service into hearing alone . but this accusation is not onely improperly , but falsly here layed to my charge , because i forbid meer private men to meddle with publike reforming , which belongs not at all unto them : that so cutting off the needlesse suckers the tree may be fed the better , an that private men leaving off those imployments which pertaine not to them , may the more effectually advance their owne amendment ; a taske which when it is done , the severest divine will give them leave to play . and because one dangerous policy hath been mentioned by you , it will not be amisse to couple it with another device of the divell , as seasonable and necessary in these times to be taken notice of . satan puts many meere private men on to be fierce and eager upon publike reforming thereby purposely to decline and avert them from their own selfe-amendment . for publike reforming hath some pleasure in it , as a magisteriall act and work of authority consisting most in commanding and ordering of others ; whereas private amendment is a worke all of paine , therein a man , as he is himselfe the judge , so he is the malefactor , and must indite himselfe , arraigne himselfe , convict himselfe , condemne hmselfe , and in part execute himselfe , crucifying the old man and mortifying his owne corruptions . and we can easier afford to put out both the eyes of other men , to force them to leave their deare darling sinnes , then to pluck out our own right eye ( in obedience to our saviours precept ) and forsake our owne sinnes which doe so easily beset us . besides men may be prompted to publike reforming by covetousnes to gather chips at the felling of the old church goverment , by ambition , to see and be seene in office ; by revenge to wreck their spight on the personall offences of such , whom formerly they distasted . self-amendment is not so subject to private ends but goeth against the haire yea , against the flesh it selfe , in making men deny themselves in duty to god . yea , at the last day of judgement , when god shall arraigne men , and say , thou art a drunkard , thou art an adulterer , thou art an oppressor ; it will be but a poore plea for them to say , yea lord , but i have been a publike reformer of church and state . this plea , i say , will then not hold water , but prove a broken cisterne . not will god distence with their want of obedience , because they have offered him store of sacrifice . such people therefore are daily to be called upon , to amend themselves and their families ; which is a race long enough for the best breathed private christians , though they state in their youth , and runne till their old age . sermon paragraffe . lastly , with carefulnesse not to give any just offence to the papists . examiner . i z wonder you would here expresse an indulgence which is not allowable , and the memory of the parliament will be honourable for that ; they knew so much divinity , as taught them not to value their offence , & to proclaim to them both in england anda ireland an irreconcilable warre . this carefulnesse and tendernesse you plead for , was the first principle which our church so farre , as to take up their altars and ceremonies to avoid offence . saint paul was of another spirit who forbore not b a disciple and apostle . when i saw , saith he , that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospell . you much mistake the divinity of christ , in matter of offence , who never forbore to preach , or publish any necessary truth : nay , when his disciples were scandalized , and said , this is an hard saying , doth this offend you , saith he ? what and if , &c. he goeth on c and pursues the offence , till they left him and his doctrine too . and for the papists , they are much of the relation and constitution of the scribes and pharisees , not without , as you say nor within & yet see if you can find our saviour or his apostles letting out themselves into such restrictions and moderation , and cautions . those truths which are essentially , d universally , alwayes and at all times holy ought not to be measured by the unbrage and scandall of the adversary . indeed in things meerly civill or indifferent , our use or liberty may appeare more but for such truths as our reformation shall bring they will be alwayes an offence to the adversary : we preach christ , saith the apostle , unto the jewes a stumbling-blocke , and to the greeks foolishnesse , and yet the apostle preacheth , e and layes these blocks , & this rock of offence in the way too . treatis . z i wonder you should here expresse an indulgence which is not allowable . ) i wonder and am sorry withall , to see a protestant take unjust offence at this doctrine , that no just offence is to be given to the papists . know sir , that besides those papists in england anda ireland to whom you say , the parliament hath proclaimed an irreconcilable war ; there be also many of their religion in spaine , france , germany , italy , poland , &c. all europe over , with whom the parliament hath not as yet , any professed open hostility , and to these no offence must be given . the eye of all christendome is upon us , the sea surrounds , but doth not conceale us : present papists read the text of our actions , and their posterity will write comments upon them ; we cannot therefore be too wary . besides , grant that this irreconcilable war you speak of should bind men in a martiall way to kill all papists ; yet i pray take notice , that in some cases we may justly kill them , whom in no case we may justly offend . though a malefactor be condemned by the judge to be executed , yet the sheriffe is a murderer if he torment him to death , contrary to the sentence of law . now giving unjust scandall to the papists , is torturing of them , and tyranny to their souls which may eternally destroy them ; and you are the first divine , and i hope shall be the last , which ever held this to be lawfull . whereas you say , i much mistake the divinity of christ in matter of offence . i should be very thankfull to you ; if you be pleased to rectifie my erroneous judgement , to which end i will crave the readers leave , the more largely to expresse my opinion in this point . i hold that we ought not to give just offence to any man whatsoever : indeed there is no danger of giving offence to the divell . he who fears to offend satan , offends god with his foolish fear : because the divels very nature is all mischief and malice , nothing being good in him save his being which he hath of god , and he is utterly incapable of salvation . but seeing in the very worst of men there is some goodnesse , or at lest a capability of grace here , and glory hereafter , through repentance and faith in christ , we may not give any man just offence , as being against the rules of piety , charity and christian prudence . against the rule of piety : because god hath said give no offence to any . against the rule of charity ; because thereby we are cruell to them which are our brethren by nature , and may be by grace . against the rule of christian prudence , because we cannot give any just offence , but also thereby we doe give them a just advantage against us . i beleeve sir , were you to dispute in an university against popish opponents , you would so warily state the question which you defend as that you would not willingly give any upper ground to your adversaries , more then what they could get for themselves . wherfore as the wrestlers in the olimpian games used to annoint themselves with oyle , not only thereby to supple their joynts , but also to make their naked bodies the more slick and slippery , that so those who wrestled with them might catch no hold upon them , so ought we , who are like to have constant opposition with the papists , to give them no more advantage then what they can earn , & if we give them more , they will be more ready to jeere us for our folly , then thank us for our bounty unto them . yea , in this respect it is more dangerous to give just offence , and therby just advantage ( for the one cannot be done without the other ) to the papists then to any meer pagans : for pagans being rude , dull and ignorant , though an advantage be given them , cannot in point of learning husband and improve it to the utmost . but the papists whom we doe know and must acknowledge cunning fencers in the school of wit and learning , are so well skild , as ever to keep and inforce the advantage we once bestowed on them . and though we need never feare them and all their art , so long as we have god and a good cause on our side , so if we betray our cause by giving them just advantage , it is just with god to deliver us over into their hands , to beat us with our owne weapons . and heare let the reader be pleased to take notice , as much materiall to our purpose , that there is a grand difference , betwixt the removing of things , bad in their owne nature , and betwixt the manner of removing them . if any thing be bad in it selfe , it may not be continued , it must be removed . none can dispence with the retaining thereof , though never so many or 〈◊〉 persons take offence at the taking of it away . if 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 offended thereat , let them turne their girdles , with all their knots in them behind them , whilst wee neede not care for their causelesse anger . they who were so quick sighted that they could see an offence , where it was never given them ; let them looke againe in the same place , and their quick eyes will behold there , the amends which were never tendered them . but now , as for the manner of removing of things badd in themselves , when there is a liberty and latitude lest unto us after what fashion we will doe it , either this way or that way we must doe it so as to give none any just offence . for where it is at our choice and pleasure to use variety of waies , our discretion must pitch on the best , whereby god may receive the most glory , the action the most luster , wee our selves the greatest comfort , and all others no just cause of offence . and here once againe let mee request the reader to observe , that in my sermon , i never mentioned any rendernes , to give the papists offence , in removing of thinges bad in themselves , but this caution of not giving the papists just offence , was inserted in the proper place , when we came to shew how discretion is to appeare in the manner of a reformation . yea the same thing for substance may be done and just offence , either may or may not be given according to the different manner of doing it . for instance , such pictures which are in the suburbs of superstition ; because the gate of that city is alwaies open , may without any giving of just offence be fairely taken away . but to shoot off the head of the statue of christ , either to spite the papists , or sport our selves giveth just offence . though the image be nothing , yet such usage thereof is something , the bullet shott at the picture , wounds pietie : for to do serious worke in a jearing way , is inconsistent with christian gravities , and argueth not light of knowledge but lightnesse , not to say lewdnesse of behaviour . another instance . suppose that some ceremonies ancient for time , used by the fathers , ( though abused by the papists ( reduced by the protestants , defended by our english , not opposed by forraigne devines , be practised in our church . and withall suppose , that such ceremonies as they are harmelesse so to be uselesse , and not without the suspition of danger , as the present times stand . in this case it will give no just offence to the papists to take them away under the nation , of things unnecessary , and unsuting with our present condition . but to remove them as things prophane , idolatrous , or superstitious , giveth just offence and great advantage to our romish adversaries , by the disgrace we put on antiquity . besides , hereby we betray our friends which have don good service for our religion , namely such english devines who with their penns have learnedly and truly asserted the lawfulnesse of such ceremonies , and this our retreating from them and leaving them ingaged , ( as ioas served vriah * at the siege of rahab treacherously ) shews much basenesse in us and in such a case , the dishonouring of good men , is the dishonoring of god himselfe . but if i should in courticie yeeld so much unto you ( which i never will ) that it were lawfull to give just offence to & grounded dedicated papists , yet know there be some , who in their opnions , & affections , the borderers betwixt us & the papists , almost protestants not far from our religion , having one foote in it , and the other likely to follow , such people when they see , that we take no care , and make no conscience , to give just offence to the papists , will be ready to retract their resolutions , and call back their forward affections , say not that such men are better lost then found . is this the bowels of christian compassion , which ought to be in us , if we wilfully blast such blossomes , we are not worthy of any ripe fruite , and it is both cruelty and profanesse to cast such doe bake cakes to the doggs , which by standing a while longer in the oven , would make good and wholsome bread . nor herein do i write only by guesse , but too much by knowledge , such as i can , neither well conceale nor comfortably , relate . for when the religious paines of some reverend devines whom i know , have brought some papists to the doore of our church , the just offence given them , by the moderne extravagances of some undiscreer protestants , caused them to fale backe againe to popery . and now to returne to your examination . all things contained therein , are easily to be answered by that which we have promised . b. saint paule was of another spirit , who forbere not a disciple * and apostle , saint paule perceiving a dangerous error , in peter , reproved him , both presently while the wound was greene , and publiquely , that the plaister might be as broad as the sore . but in thus doing he gave no just offence to peter but blamed peter for giving just offence to other christians . c. he goeth on and persueth the offence till they left him ) this instance of christs his cariage herein nothing advantageth you . give me leave to repeate what i said before , if things be bad in themselves , they must be removed , though they give never so many offence , or rather though never so many or great men , take offence thereat , so also if a necessary truth bee to be introduced , it must be preached and brought into the church , though never so many be offended thereat . and if there be but one way , and no more allowed us , how and in what manner to do it , according to that one way , it must be don , not valluing the offending of any . but if verity of way be permitted unto us , god expects that we should give the least ; and if possible no offence to any . now to apply the truth which our saviour heare preached , and pressed , was of absolute and necessary concernment . namely that he was the true manna messiah and broad from heaven . such truths must bee preached , and if any burne with anger thereat , let not their fire be quenched , till it goe out for went of fuell . the case is forre otherwise in this reformation , betwixt us and the papists . we had all essentiall truths before , and if any ornamentall , or additionall truths be now to be brought in , they must be so done as to give no just offence to the papists . d. those truths , which are essentially , universally , alwaies , and at all times holy ought not to be measured , by the umbrage and scandall of the adversaries . ) if hereby you meane , that necessary truths must not bee forborne to bee preached , for feare of giving any offence , i clearely concurre with you . onely i say that all such truths are in our church already , and not now to bee newly brought in , ( as you intimate ) by the reformation . e. and yet the apostle preacheth , and layes those blockes and this rock of offence in the way too . ) the apostle preached christ , and intended him to be a rock of deserue to all , as for those who perverted him to bee a rock of offence to themselves , this scandall was not justly given to them , but unjustly taken by them . if papist take offence at any such truth , it shall affect us no more then the cryes of baals prophets * affected any of whom it is said , there was none to answer them nor any that regarded them . but as for the manner of removing away any errors , or bringing in any truths , we ought to bee wary and circumspect , for our own sakes , as well as theirs , to give them no just offence . to conclude . for mine owne part sir i pittie the persons of all papists , & heartily desire their convertion , but hate theirs , and all other errors , with a perfect hatred . and this my enmity to all popish tenents , doth the more plainely appeare to be grounded on my judgement not on my passion , because i would have almen so cautious , as not to give them just advantage least out actions fight for them , whilst our affections fight against them . what frier will not laugh in his coule at this your opinion , that it is lawfull to give papists just offence ? well , you never shall have my consent , to combate as our churches champion , against rome for the protestant cause , untill you have learnt more skill in fencing , and not to lye at so open a guard . and if you hold it lawfull to give papists just offence , by the next returne you will hold it lawfull to give just offence to all , which are termed popishly affected , the gangrean of which expression , is by some extended to taint as sound and hearty protestants , as any be in england . sermon page . . that it is to be desired , not hoped for , a plat'oes common-wealth and moores vtopia these phrases are pleasing but unfeerable . examiner . hee that lookes abroad shall soone have his sight terminated , but the more hee goes on the more besees , and that which closed his prospect opens then into new discoveries ; if you see no perfect reformation as you stand , do not therefore say there is none , they that stand higher and on a holyer mountaine perhapps see farher , you that stand in the horizon g of prelacy cannot see much beyond it ; corruption is deceitfull and makes us like adam see all generations in our selves , because we will not be pefectly reformed , letus not argue our iudgments into a beleeife that we cannot it let us think it as possible to be the best , as easie to be the worst . let-us not thinke that a 〈◊〉 common wealth or a mores vtopia which for ought we know is reall and existent , there is under the gospell i a royall preisthood , an holy nation , a peculier people , and certainly had formes k ages lived to see , but the discovery of latter times , they would have admired their owne ignorance and our happinesse . treatis . f. they that stand higher and on a holyer mountaine , perhapp's see further ) i deny it not . but if they see a perfect church on earth they see it in a trance or vision . g. you that stand in the horizon of prelacy , cannot see much beyond it . ) misse not the matter , to hitt my person , if i stand in the horizon of prelacy , i stand no more for it , then it stands , with gods glory , and will in his word . because you taxe me with dimnesse of sight , i will strive by my study to get the best advantage ground i can , i will begg of god , to animate mine eyes with his * eyesalve , i will be carefull to keepe mine eyes from being bloodshot , by animating any to cruelty in this unnaturall warr . and know sir that they who stand in the horizon of presbutary , or independency , are subject also to errors , and mistakes . as delight in old customes may deceive some , so desire of novelty , may blind the eyes of others . god helpe us all we are badd at the best . h. because we will not be perfectly reformed , let us not argue our iudgments into a beleife that we cannot ) a distinction or two of perfection and your fallacy will perfectly appeare . some saints in the scripture phrase are stiled perfect , but then it is comparatively as they stand in opposition to * wicked men who have no goodnesse at all in them . or else they are called perfect as so denominated from their better part ( good reason the best godfather , should name the child ) their regenerate halfe , which desires and delights in endeavoring towards perfection , or lastly perfection is taken for integrity , sincerity , and unrightnesse opposite to inward hippocrisie , and in such a perfection the heart may have many defects by the by , but no dissimulation in the maine service of god . such a perfection as this , men may have , yea must have , in this life , and without such a perfection here , no hope of any happinesse hereafter . but as for an exact , legall perfection ( such as some papists dreame of , and most anabaptists doate on ) a perfection able to stand before gods iustice , without the support of his mercy , it is utterly impossible for mortall men to attaine unto it . in which sence in my sermon , i said that a perfect reformation of a church in this world is difficult to be prescribed , and impossible to be practised . yea let me tell you sir ( cautious comming from good will , deserve to be heard , if not heeded ) if you persist in this opinion of exact perfection , i conceive your condition dangerous . elisha told king ioram , beware that thou passe not * such a place , for thither the aramites are come downe . i may frinedly tell you , presse not one any further in this point , for spirituall pride lyeth hard by in waite , and the ambush thereof will surprise you . for my owne part , as i hate my badnesse , so i hugge the confession that i am badd , and gods children , finde both contentment and comfort in knowing they cannot bee perfect . hence they learne , ( what soule so bad , which hath not sometimes some holy-day thoughts ) to loath earth to love heaven , to runne from themselves , to fly to their saviour , to pittie others , to pray heartily for them , to hope comfortably of them , in a word this doctine , abateth pride , increaseth charity , and confoundeth censuring . yea i solemnely professe that i would not herein change my doctrine for yours , to have much to boote . should i say ; that i could be perfect , both my head and my heart would give my tongue the lye . and one of the best hopes , i have to goe to heaven , is that i am sure i deserve hell . i remember a strange , but true and memerable speech of reverend mr. fox * to this effect , that his graces sometimes did him harme , whilst his sinne did him much good . a wonderfull thing , yet sometimes so it commthe to passe , god making a cordiall for us of our owne wickednesse , thereby teaching us humility . i. there is under the gospel a royall priesthood , an holy nation a peculiar people . ) true , here these things are sincerely begunne , and hereafter fully perfected , for in this life there is still some basenesse , even in the royall priesthood , impiety in the holy nation , commonnesse in the peculiar people . and i pray remember you are to prove , that a whole church may bee perfectly reformed in this world . for though it were granted that some men might be perfect , yet it followeth not thereupon , that any one church is existent on earth , consisting intirely all of perfect members . hipocrites are of so glutenous a nature , they will stick close in every visible church . they cannot be devided , who cannot be discerned , except one could borrow gods touchstone of hearts , such shining drosse will ever passe current in this kingdome of grace . k. had former ages lived , but to see the discovery of latter times ) if by former ages you meane the time of popery , i concurre with you . if you understand the times of the primitivs fathers , i suspend my suffrage till the next paragrave . but if you extend it to the age of christ and his apostles , i flatly discent . nor am i sensible of any such late discoveries in religion though many recoveries thanks be to god there have been , in rescuing the faith from romish superstition . l. they would have admired their owne ignorance and our happinesse . ) by our happinesse , i suppose you meane , what lately we had before this warre began , and what we had not the happinesse to keepe , and wee trust in due time , god will restore to us againe . otherwise , as for our present woefull condition , i would not wish our friends , or envie our foes such happinesse . sermon paragarffe . there are some now a dayes talke of a great light mainfested in this age more then before . indeede we modernes have a mighty advantage of the antients , whatsoever was theirs by industry may be ours , all contribute themselves to us who live in this latter age . examiner . if we had no more light , then what you insinuate were seene from the fathers , why doe we see more , and more cleerely and further ? he that sees far , must either have a good fight or a cleare light , and sure in this age wee have both , those errours which our fathers saw for dimme truthes we see for herisies ; so surely both our eyes , and our light are better ; for the light which our fathers have in their lamps can discover , but so much to us , as it did to them , and we know our discovery is such , as wee are able to see the shadow which followed them , even that mistery , which was working in their dayes both in prelacy and ceremony , who will deny but that the cloud of antichristianisme , was thicke in their times , and then the light could not be so glorious , as now when those clouds grow thinner , and more attenuated by the preaching of the gospel . treatise . to cut off all occasion and pretence of caviling , wee will shew , god willing in what respect the fathers , for knowledge excelled , and exceeded us , and in what respect wee modernes goe beyond them . they had a threefold advantage above us . . of sight . . of light . . and of a nearer object . first , of a better light , being men of eminent natural parts , improved with excellent learning , and to the easterne fathers , the greeke tongue , the language of the new teastament was naturall , so that it costeth us much paines and sweat but to come to the place whence they started . secondly , of a brighter light . as their constancie in persecution was great , so no doubt the heate of their zeale was attended with a proportionable light , and heavenly illumination god doing much for them that suffer much for him . especially in those points wherein they encountred hereticks , they were more then men , and went beyond themselves , as st. athanasius against the arians , st. augustine against the pelagians and donatists , from whom our moderne brownists differ no more , then the same man differs from himselfe in new cloathes . . of a nearer object . they living closer to christs times , could therefore better understand the sence of the church in the doctrine delivered to the apostles . here we must know that apostles , and apostolick men as they wrote gods word in their epistles , and gospels for the profit of all posterity , so for the instruction of their present age they also * traditioned it in their preaching by word of mouth to the people of those times , not that they delivered any thing viva voce contrary or dissertent from what they wrote , or that ( as the papists stile for their traditions ) they supplyed and enjoyned any thing as necessary to salvation , which otherwise was wanting in the scripture but the selfe same things which they wrote in the new testament , they also delivered in their sermons , and in their preaching delated upon them , wherefore the prime primative age , having ( as i may say ) two strings to their bow , scripture , and preaching , must needes bee allowed to have had the clearest apprehention of the meaning of heavenly misteries , and as the children * of israell served the lord all the dayes of iehossuah and all the dayes of the elders , who outlived iehossuah , who had seene all the great workes of the lord which he did for israell , in like manner wee may conclude , that the greatest puritie and the clearest light of the church , lasted so long as any , within sight , hearing , or memory of christ or his apostles preaching , or miracles , did survive . now to hold the scales even , we in like manner have a three fold advantage over the fathers . first a degree of experimentall light more then they had or could have ; having seene the whole conduct , manuaging and progresse of religion since their times , whereby ( with a litle helpe of history ) a devine who is under sixtie in age , may be a bove sixteene hundred in experience . secondly , we have the benefits of the fathers bookes , a mightie advantage if we were as carefull to use it to gods glory , as we are ready to bragg of it for our owne credit . and here i must complaine of many mens lazinesse . indeed a learned man * compareth such as live in the latter times in respect of the fathers to dwarffes standing on giants shoulders . but then if we will have profitt by the fathers learning , we must take paines to mount to the tope of their shoulders . but if like idle dwarfes , we still do but stand on the ground , our heads will not reach to their girdles , it is not enough to through the bookes of the fathers , togeather on an heape , and then making their workes our footestoolle to stand on the outside and covers of them , as if it were no more , but v p and ride boasting now far we behold beyond them . no , if we expect to gett advantage by their writings , we must open their bookes , read understand , compare , digest and meditate on them . and i am affraid many that least looke into the fathers , boast most that they looke beyond them . thirdly . wee have the advantage of a darknesse removed by gods goodnesse from our eyes , which in some matters did dimme the sight of the fathers . namely the mistery of iniquity which wrought in their times , & now is taken away in the protestant church . that bramble of rome , ( soone will it prick , which will be a thorne , ) which afterwards lorded it over the vine , olive , and figtree , beganne very timely to play his parte , and the man of sin , then but an infant ( and every thing is pretty when it is yonge , ) was unawares dandled on the knees of many a devout monke and rockt in the cell of many an holy hermit , who litle suspected that then voluntary sequestring themselves to enjoy heavenly thoughts , would by degrees degenerate to be in after ages the cover of pride , lust and lazinesse . now seing this man of sinne , is dead already in the protestant church , and hath a consumption attended with the hecktick fever in all other places , the taking away of popish superstition may justly be accounted the third advantage which our age hath . by the way we must take heed of a fault whereof many are guilty . for some are ready to challenge every thing in the practise of the fathers which doth not please them presently to be popish , and pretend they tast superstition in whatsoever themselves distast . o say they , the fathers lived when the mystery of iniquity did worke , and hence they infer that it is evidence enough without further tryall to condemne any cerimonies used by them , because they were used by them . the way indeede to make short assises , but perjur'd iudges , whereas it is not enough to say , but to shew that they are superstitious , to anotomize , and dissect the popery conteined in them , demonstrating where it crosseth the word of god , wheras on the contrary all wise and charitable men ought to esteeme the practises of the primitive church not only to be innocent , but usefull and honourable till they be legally convicted to be otherwise . if any object that the fathers had another disadvantage , that besides the spreading of popery ; other heresies did also spring and sprout apace in that time , to the darkening of the light of the truth , let them know that such opposition only gave truth the opportunity to tryumph , and the teeth of error filled it the brighter heresies , in eodom seculo quo nat a , damnat a equos errores patrum aetas tulit , eos & sustulis , condemnig them in synods and councells , and in this point to be an equall empire betwixt the ancients and us , we must consider that we live in the later age , and commonly bad humors which have visited the whole body do settle at last in the leggs and lowest parts , with us sects and schismes do also abound , and some heresies first set a broach in the primitive times , now runne a tilt with all their dredgs in out dayes . thus we see how the fathers were both before and behind us , for knowledge , and wee therein both above and beneath them in severall respects . see the wisdome and goodnesse of god , how he hath sweely tempered things together . so good that all have some , so wise that none have all . and how easie may this controvercy be accommodated , whether ours or the fathers light were the greatest , where if the difference be but cleerly understood , the parties are fully reconciled . and now i conceive having answered you in grosse , i need not apply my selfe to any perticulers of your examination . examiner . the gospel doth worke m and wind its beames into the world according to the propheticall seasons for revelation , many propheticall truthes were sealed up , and those not unsealed but successively , and as our generations after may have a starre rising to them which we have not so we may have beames n and radiations , and shootings which our fathers had not . the apostles o had not all their truths and light revealed at once , some early , some late , some not till the holy ghost was bestowed . revelations are graduall and the vaile is not taken off at once , not in one age . we honour the fathers as men in their generations famous , their light was glorious in its degree and quality , but they had not all the degrees attainable , they had a light for their owne times , and we for ours , and who cannot thinke that we are rising into that age p wherein god shall powre his spirit upon all flesh , and wherein the light of the moone shall be as the light of the sunne and the light of the sunne as the light of seaven dayes . treatise . you hover in generalls , and seeme to me desirous that your reader should understand more then you are willing to expresse ; my opinion breifly is this . that no new revelations , or new infused light in essentiall points of religion , is bestowed on any now-adayes , but that the same light hath in as plentifull a measure beene given to former ages , especially to the age wherein the apostles lived , and when the faith was once delivered to the saints , and by them sett downe in the scripture , and that then so perfectly and compleatly , that it needed not the accessions of any future revelations . i confesse that men by searching the scripture ( that oyle will never leave increasing as long as more vessells be still brought ) and diligent prayer to god may and do arive daily at a clearer understanding of many places of gods word which they had not before . these words ; thou art peter and on this rock will i build my church , and that place , this is my body , are now more truly and plainly understood then they were yeares agoe , when the popes supremacy was as falsly founded on the former as transubstantiation was unjustly inferred from the latter . however these were not revelations of new truthes , but reparations of ould . for the prime primative church received and embraced the same , the saints * in the time of popery sung as it were a new song , a song not new but renewed , not new in it selfe but perchance to the hearers , and such are many truthes , which are preached in our age in the protestant church . they that maintaine the contrary opinion of moderne revelations of new essentiall truths doe a three fold mischiefe therein . first they lay an aspertion of ignorance and imperfection of knowledge on the apostles themselves , and this is no lesse then scandalum magnatum . secondly they much unsettle men in matters of religion , and produce a constant inconstancy and scepticall hovering in all oppinions and as the athenians erected an altar to the unknowne god , so men must reserve a blancke in their soules therin to write truths at yet unknown , when they shall be revealed . thus men will never know when their creede is ended , and will daily waver in that truth which they have in possession , whilst they waite for a clearer and firmer as yet in revertion . thirdly they sixe on the scripture an imputation of imperfection and such as talke of new revelations of truth , may well remember the passage in the old revelation . * if any man shall add unto these things , god shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this booke . and it seemes to mee all one in effect whether men peece the scriptures , with old traditions , or new revelations ; and thus the papist and anabaptist are agreed like men in a circle going so farre from each other with their faces , till their backes meete together . and i professe i should sooner trust a tradition containing in it nothing crosse to the scripture and comming to mee recommended from the primitive times , and countenanced with the practise of the church in all ages , then a new upstart revelation . the best is , wee have no neede to trust either , whilst we have gods word alone sufficient to relie on . the result of all is this , we have now a-dayes no new truths revealed , but old ones either more fairely cleared or more firmely assented to , no new starres of revelation arise in any hearts . if any such doe burne and blaze there , they are but comments which will fade at last . in a word this age is not happie with any new truths , but guiltie of many old lyes . yea , it rendereth it suspitious , that some men are going about some what , which they cannot justifie by the old knowne lawes of god , because they beginne to broach preparative doctrines , introductorie of new revelations : distrusting ( as it seemes ) the scripture , the old iudge , as not for their turnes , because they provide for an appeale to an other vmpirer ; and if those are justly accounted dangerous members in the church , who would bring in innovations in ceremonies , then pretenders of new revelations in essentiall points of doctrine are so much the greater offenders , by how much doctrine is more necessary , and fundamentall in a church then ceremonies . but i will answer some passages in your examination particularlie . m. the gospel doth worke and winde its beames into the world , according to the propheticall seasons for revelotions . ) distinguish we heare , betwixt matters of fact , and matters of faith . matters of fact being foretold in the scripture , are best understood when they are accomplished : in which respect the longer the world lasteth , the clearer men see & the plainer they understand such predictions . the seales in the revelations were successively opened , the trumpets successively blowne , the vialls successively powred out , and the things imported in and by them , are successively performed . wherefore time is the best comentator on the propheticall parts of the bible , dies die●● docet . and to day , which is yesterdaies schoolemaster will be scholler to tomorrow , in which respect the * prophets words are most true . many shall runne too and fro , and knowledge shall be increased . but now , as for matters of faith , they were at once , and for ever , fully , and freely , delivered at the first to the apostles , and so from them to us , and that so perfectly , & compleatly , they neede no new revelations , quo ad materium , though quoad modum , old truths may now have a new measure to be more clearely understood then in the darke times of popery . n. we may have beames , and radications , and shootings , which our fathers had not . ) for beames and radication of knowledge , i have delivered my oppinion : but as for shootings , god knowes wee have many such as our fathers never had ; god in his mercy cease such shootings or else in his iustice direct the bulletts to such markes , as in truth have been the troublers of our israel . o. the apostles had not all their truths and light , revealed at once , some early , some late , some not till the holy ghost was bestowed . ) all this is most true which you say , the apostles at first were ( as we may say ) freshmen , newly admitted into christs company . then they tooke their first degree of knowledge , when sent forth to preach the gospel , mat. . to the iewes alone in their masters life time . they commenced in a higher knowledge after christ his resurrection : and after his assention , assended yet higher in spirituall illuminations : lastly , after the comming of the holy ghost , they proceeded doctors in deede ; i meane , they then had the completion and consumation of all understanding necessary to salvation . now sir , consider that after this time , they wrote the new testament , and therein all essentialls for us to know and doe for our soules health , so that we now doe deduce and derive our knowledge , not from the apostles in their infancy , or minority of judgement , but from them having attained to the top , and verticall point of their perfectest skill in heavenly misteries . p. and who cannot thinke wee are rising into that age , wherein god will power his spirit upon all flesh , &c. ) what proportion doth this beare with what you said not long since , prophesying that our marian times did approach too fast ? when nothing was light but the bonefiers to burne the marters . i will not deny but this great sun may arrise , but the reigning vices of the time are but an ill morning starre to harbinger the rising thereof . we have taken the st. shippe from those in heaven , but have no more holinesse in our selves here on earth . what betwixt the sins which brought this warre , and the sinnes this warre hath brought , they are sad prefages of better times . never was gods name more taken in vaine by oathes and imprecations . the lords day , formerly profained with mirth , is now profained with malice , and now as much broken with drummes as formerly with a tuber and pipe . superiours never so much slighted . so that what * naball said sullenly , and ( as he applyed in ) falsly , we may say sadly & truly , there be many servants now adayes , that breake away , everyman from his master . killing is now the only trade in fashion , & adultery never more common , so that our nation ( in my opinion ) is not likely to confound the spirituall whore of babilon , whilst corporall whoredom is in here very where committed , no where punished . their so usuall , that they have stollen away the word of stealing and hid it under the name of plundering . lying both in word & print grown epidemicall , so that it is questionable whether gunnes or printing , ( two inventions of the same countrey and standing ) at the present doe more mischeife in this kingdome . it is past covering of our neighbours houses , when it is come to violent keeping them . he therefore that doth seriously consider , the grievousnesse and generality of these sinnes , will rather conclude that some darkenesse of desolation , then any great light is likely to follow upon them . god i confesse in mercy may doe much , both to pardon and prosper us , and can extract light out of darkenesse , but whether he will or no , i ( though confident of his power , ) see little cause to hope of his pleasure herein , and though herein i must confesse , many of these inormities . may , ( though not wholy be excused , yet ) be something extenuated , by pleading the unavoidable necessities which warre doth cause , yet surely wee shall answer to god for causing this warre by our crying sinnes , and transgressions . q wherein the light of the moone shall be as the light of the sunne , and the light of the sun as the light of the seven dayes . ) this , for ought i can finde to the contrary , was accomplished at christ comming , and the generall giving of the gospel to the gentiles , with the sending of gods spirit miraculously upon them , sure i am a paralell place of the prophet was then fulfilled , by the exposition of saint * peter himselfe , and it shall come to passe in the last dayes ( saith god ) i will power out my spirit upon all flesh : and your sonnes and your daughters shall prophesie , and your young-men shall see visions , and your old men shall dreame dreames . these words having the advantage of that date in the last daies , might with the more colour have beene alleadged by you , and applyed to these times , to prove some speciall revelations in our dayes , had not the apostle marred your mart , and prevented you by applying the prophesie to the primative times . examiner . but we see the policy r of commending the fathers light to our generation , for could you prevaile with us to set our dialls by that , you then might reforme our church by the canterburian gnomen , and so set us backe to a falsly-reputed , primitive reformation . treatise . r. but wee see the policie of commending the fathers . ) i protest before almighty god i have neither base nor by respect in praising the fathers . saint pauls blamed * peter at antioach , because he was to be blamed . i in the like manner commend the light of fathers , because it is to bee commanded not for any favour or flattery . a falsely reputed primitive reformation , i abhorre from my heart , & i presume our church is to wise to be cosened therewith : if canterbury hath misbehaved himselfe , his friends for him desire no more , and foes to him should grant no lesse , then a legall triall . but insult not on any mans sufferings , organs i dare say , are not so offensive in churches as the making of musicke on men in misery . time was when you sett as much by a smile from canterbury , as he still set●s litle by a scoffe from you . sermon paragraffe . . . . the qualification for reformers , the decent burialls of such ceremonies , as are taken from the fathers , the honorable reservation to our first reformers . examiner . that it may appeare i looke not only at the worst of the sermon , there are excellent truths in it , and it is pitty they are not betters scituated , i could alwaies wish to see a diamond set in gold . these are good positions , and in their pages not without their enamill of witt , yet there is a policy to write faire in one leafe , though you t make a blot in another , but i cannot let these passe without some observation . treatise . s. and it is pitty they are not better scituated , i could alwaies wish , to see a diamond set in gold . ) i cannot blame you , especially if the diamond be their owne . but what meane you by this expression ; would you have had the truths in my sermon to have beene set in the gold of rich & glittering language . truly i could not go to the cost thereof , especially on so short warning , wherein the sermon was made . how ever a diamond , is a diamond though set in home , whereby the luster thereof may be somewhat dimmed , but the worth thereof no whit deminished . but in one respect i must confesse these truthes were ill scituated , that they stood too neere to a captions reader , who tooke causelesse exception at them . t. yet there is apolicie to write faire in one leafe , though you make a blot in another ) shew me sir , where these blotts bee . for as yet i am more troubled to know my fault , then my defence . examiner . first for qualification , v i dare say , never age afforded more eminent in this kimgdome , their calling lawfull , their pietie exemplary , their knowledge radiant , their courage experienced through a legion of difficulties , their prudence in the conduct of a businesse , though opposed with the policy , and malignity of a grand and potent enemy . treatise . v. for their qualification i dare say . ) if you dare say it , i dare not to gain say it . their calling no doubt is lawfull , if the supreame powers concurres with them . of their pietie , which consists in their hearts , god alone is iudge . i will not dispute against their radiant knowledge , nor fight with their experienced courage , and it were folly in me to oppose their prudence . let not the perfections of king davids * subjects be numbered . god make their konwledge , their courage , their prudence , an hundred fold more then it is , and may the eyes of my lord the king see the same , to his comfort and honour . examiner . and for the decent , buriall of ceremonies , and super stitions w of the fathers ) they shall have a parliament of senators , and an assembly of devines to lay them in their grave , and i dare say a godly congregation in the kingdome to sing a psalme at their funerall ; and will not this be a very decent x buriall ? and for the honorable reservation , to the reformer● , and their memories , our devines and reformers , now have ever made resorte and appeale to the truths they delivered ; and in those times when beza , and calvin , and peter mertir were set lowest , till the master of the feast came lately , and bid them sitt up higher , a caistan and bellarmine , and a councell of trent , i am sure had more honor from the devinity of the other yeare , or your times , so farre we admire the reformers , as to love their truths and to pittie their errors . but i will not say much , errors may be more provoked , then remedied with over-handling ; let us be wise in the colours of good and evill , though it be an honest , yet it is a dangerous mistake to many our freinds , and to few our enemies . treatise . w. as for the decent buriall of ceremonies and superstitions of the father . ) you are cunning to improve your selfe on my words . in my sermon i made a double supposition , fist , if there be found in the fathers practice any ceremonies smacking of paganisme or popery . secondly , if the same can be justly challenged to be continued in our church now , ( as if two suppositions made a position ) you flatly , infer & perumtorily conclude such superstitions are in our church . i should be loth to sell wares to such a chapman , and to trust his honesty in measuring of them out , who hath such a slight in slipping his fingers , that gives him an inch and hee will take an ell , you might have don better , to have could us what the perticulers of these superstitions are . x. and will not this be a decent buriall . ) the pleasantnesse of your witt doth please me , some mirth in this sadd times doth well . but you might have been pleased to have taken notice , that by the decent buriall of superstitions ceremonies , ( if any such can be proved to be in our church ) i ment the removing of them in that manner , as might give no just offence to any , as i have largely discoursed of before . however as you say , let but a parliament lay them in the ground and i shall not moorne for their death but rejoyce at their solemne and legall interment . y. had more honour from the devinitie of the other yeare , or your times . ) the more shame for such , if any who under valued such worthy men . and blessed be god that they have recovered their former esteem . for my part they have not with me regained any new degree of honor , but still keepe the selfesame place in my valuation of them whereof they ever were peaceably possessed . examiner . if i be now examined what reformation i aime at , i answere , my endeavour here , was only to take out of the way such rubbish as others would bring in ; if we can but cleare the passage , we go farre in the worke , and in the meane time let us like ioshuas spies , bring no evill report upon the land we are going to . treatise . z. my endeavour here was only to take out of the way such rubbish as others would bring in . ) whether rather , you have not brought in such rubbish , which others have taken away , be it reported to the juditious reader . a. let us like ioshuas spies , bring no evill report upon the land we are going to . ) by ioshuas spies , you meane those who accompanied caleb , & ioshun , to spie the land of cauaan , and these were guilty of a three fold fault . first they spake truth with an ill intent , to disharten the israelites , in their reporting of the strength of the country . secondly , they speake more then truth , raising the walls of the cannanitish cities by their hyperbolyes as high as heaven , * lastly they suppressed the most materiall point , not incouraging the people , ( as caleb and ioshua did , by the assured assistance of god against their enemies . but i conceive my selfe , ( against whome your words are darted ) to be innocent in the foresaid perticulers . examiner . but suppose this perfect reformation , b or church , were among the c {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} the {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} the ragione di sacro dominio . he were no wise d , nor faithfull devine who would not preserve that secret e for holy advantages , t' is gods owne designe and his apostles to hould out a perfection to us , be perfect as your heavenly father , and some pastors for the perfection of the saints , i commend bodin and tacitus for their politicall faithfulnesse , they writt farre yet would not sunne the imperiall , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} nor make them popular . treatise . b. but suppose this perfect reformation were e. c. ) it seemes you suspect the strength of your outworkes , that you so seasonably retire to your castle , now at last condemning this doctrine , not as false , but unfitting to be preached . c. were among the {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} i thinke you would say {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} or otherwise sir my learning will not extend to understand this your new greeke . d. he were no wise and faithfull devine ) so then you conclude me a foolish & deceitful minister , & i had rather you should call me so ten times , then my guiltie conscience should tell me so once , for concealing of a necessary truth . e. who would not preserve that secret for holy advantages . ) first the question is , wheither or no it lay in my power if i would to keepe this point secret . what your people at hestertonn in yorkeshire are , you best know in this doctrine , i was not the teacher but the remembrancer of my people at the savoy , from whom had i closely covered it with both my hands , they would have seene it through all my fingers . besides what hope can one have to keepe it secret when ( as you say ) so great and glorious a light is shining now-a-dayes . but if i could , i ought not to suppresse it . let popish tenents be shurt in a cloister , and sicke opinions keepe their chamber , god never lighted this truth for us to put it under a bushell , it being alwaies seasonable to bee divulged , and now dangerous to bee concealed . these holy advantages , ( i would not count them advantages were they not holy , ) arise from preaching this point . first , it a wakens men from their idle dreames of their conceited perfection of a church here , and too many i feare have made this common-wealth here woefully militant , under pretence here to make the church happily triumphant . secondly , to teach all christians ( majestrates and ministers most especially ) as industry so patience , daily to doe , and constantly to suffer no whitt disheartned in their endeavours to perfection . knowing though things bee badd , after their best labours to amend them , that this proceedes from the inevitable vanity , to which the creature is subject . thirdly , to weane men from this world , making them to love and long for the time of the restitution of all things , when this world as a watch out of tune shall not onely bee taken assunder and scoured , but also have all the wheeles made new and then bee perfectly reformed . yea sir , let us try whether you or i proceeding on our contrary principles , shall more effectually perswade a reformation , you will tell the world that a perfect reformation in this life is attaineable , even to the anticipating of heaven heare , and this you will presse with all your power and flowers of retorick , and all little enough to performe so unsavory an untruth . now see sit what mischiefes will follow hereupon . . because one falsehood requires more to support it , you must call in other auxilliary falsities to defend this , and so engage your selfe in a multitude of errors . . seeing flights and shifts can never last long , your forgery will be detected . . you are lyable to heavens pillorie to bee punnished for holy fraud . . you will scarce be trusted afterwards though telling truth , being once convicted and ever suspected of falshood . as for those whom you have deceived unto the utmost of their endevours of reformation , on your false perswasion that the perfection thereof may bee had in this world , though their labours therein bee very forward at the first , yet soone will they wither and weaken with the graine in the gospel that wanted roote ( no roote and a false roote are the same in effect , ) and gods blessing cannot be expected on the deceitfull proceedings . as for mee who have no cunning in such hunting , but please my selfe with iacob to bee a plaine man , i would goe another way to worke , and tell them the worst first , that indeede it is vaine to expect a perfect reformation in this world . however let them comfort themselves , that wee serve such a master who accepts of the will for the deede , and knowes whereof we are made . hee remembreth that wee are but dust . and therefore let us doe our best , and strugle against our infirmities , being confident that god in christ will pardon what is amisse , and reward what is good in us . and i doubt not but such doctrine by gods blessing will both take deeper impression in mens hearts , and bring forth better fruits of amendment in their lives . f. i commend bodin and tacitus for their politicall faithfulnesse , they writt far , yet would not sun the imperiall {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} nor make them popular . ) i confesse it to bee unfitting , yea dangerous to impart misteries of state to private people , for such iewels are to bee lockt in a safe and sure cabinet , the bosoms of polititians , not so in necessary points of divinity , for though every private man hath not a state to governe , hee hath a soule to save , and therefore must be partner in all wholsome doctrines . indeede in some cases , preachers may though not finally suppresse , yet seasonably conceale , or rather warily deferre the publishing of some points of religion , first when they are not of absolute concernement to salvation , & the minister by his christian discretion plainely foresees , that all the good which rationally can bee expected to redound from preaching such a truth , will not countervaile the ill , which in probability will inevitably follow thereupon ; or else when the auditors are not capeable as yet of such difficult doctrines . christ himselfe did fitt his wines to his bottles , powring in not what hee could give , but they could take , least otherwise hee should rather spill his liquor , then fill his vessells . neither of these cases now alledged take place concerning the publishing of the doctrine of the impossibility of the churches perfection in this world . for we may by gods blessing justly expect and promise to ourselves and others much good and comfort from the preaching thereof , as we have largely proved before . nor dare i so much to disparage the times we live in , ( now it being above a hundred yeares since luthers reformation ) as to count them to have age so much , and knowledge so litle , as not yet to be capable with safety & profit of so plaine & true a doctrine , some shortly expect the day of iudgment , and sure then the world is already come to age to understand truths , except shee come not out of her mynority till just shee be ready to die and to be dissolved . g. would not sunne the imperiall {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . ) godly secrets in religion in some respects may be sunn'd . first that thereby they may be tryed , ( all truths have eagles eyes ) whether or no they can behold , and beare the sunne beames . secondly , because our * saviour hath said , what i tell you in darknesse , that speake in the light , and what you heare in the eare that preach you upon the house toppe . lastly , that by proclaiming them the godly may have an oppertunity to receive them , and the wicked be rendred unexcusable for refusing them , when such truths are made generally knowne . h. nor make them popular . ) i distinguish on the word popular . if it be taken , as generally it is , ( use having confined a word of generall acception in it selfe , to an ill sence ) to court the good will of people for any private or sinester end , it is utterly unlawfull for popularity , which is necessary love , in a prince , is unlawfull lust , in a subject , who may not court the kings wife , for to him a lone , are the people married in a politicke relation . all honest men therefore disclaime , to make truths popular in this sence , to impart them to the vulgar to gaine any vaine applause . yea , consider herein , whether you rather be not faultie in making the imperiall {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} to bee popular , who incite and incourage ordinary people , to make a publique reformation . but truths in divinity must be made popular , that is bee communicated to all people , in true sinceritie for the saving of their soules . the * apostle , calleth it the common salvation , and therefore it must be preached to all in common , our sermons must , aswell be ad populum as ad clerum . otherwise such monopolies are illegall and distructive to the state of the church , for any ministers to engrosse any wholsome doctrine to themselves , and not imparte it to their parish , except in the cases afore mentioned . examiner . apology . i have now done ( i will not say ) refuting , but committing errors , i am afraid my hast at this time , hath made me mend one fault , only with another . treatise . i will not oppose yours , but annex my owne conclusion . if i should deny my owne many imperfections , my practise would confute what my pen hath maintained . reader , for the matter of what i have written , i require thee , in gods name do me iustice , for the manner , method , or words thereof , i request thee , as i am a man shew mee favour . thinke not the worse of the truths , for my sake , but thinke the better of me , for the truths sake which i have defended . and conceive me not to be of a brawling and controversiall disposition , who do desire and will pray for an agreement from my soule , so long as my speech shall serve me . yea if i should chance to be stricken dumbe , i would with zacharia make signes for table bookes and write the name of that which i desire above all earthly thing is peace . god send it , amen . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a e- quid amplius praepotenti & immortali deo tribuimus si quod eius proprium est cripimus ? bodin . de repub. l. . c. ult notes for div a e- cor. . . . acts . . notes for div a e- sam. . . cor . . gen. . . gen. . . luk. . . acts . . act. . . notes for div a e- acts . . pro. . . bodin . de repub. lib. . p . iudg. . . king. . . rev. . mat. . . notes for div a e- camdens eliz. p. . a fox . acts monum. pag. b in a book of directions to travel . notes for div a e- king. . ● . sam. . . jude ● . the doctrine of the impossibility of a churchesperfection in this world , being well understood , begets not lazinesse but the more industry in wise reformer . phil. . . bishop montague , franciscus , secta clara . that the church of england cannot justly be taxed with superstitious inporations . pro. . . a foolish woman is clamorous . ephe. . . wrath and anger , and clamour . thes. . . study to be quiet . bucer in lib. de regno christi . a ex perpetuâ ecclesiarum observatione ab ipsis iam apostiolis v●d mus , visnm & hoc esse spiritui sancto ut inter presbiteros quibus ecclesiarum procuratio potissimum est comm●ssa ●nus ecclesiarum , & totius sacri ministerii curam g●ral singularem caque cnra & solicitudina cunctis preerat aliis , qua de cansa ep scopi nomen huiusmodi summis ecclesiarum curatoribus est peculiaritur attributum - bucerus de regno christi lib. . cap. . b m. greenham in his grave counsels in the word atheisme , pag. . c quam horrendum illi faciunt divina maiestati contumeliam qui templa domini habent pro de ambulacris locisque tam prophanis ut in illis quaevis impura & prophana cum similibus suis garriant & pertractent . — haec certa tanta est divini numinis contemptio ut ea vel sola pridem meriti sumus omnino de terra exterminari & quidem suppliciis gravissimus multari bucerus de regno christi lib. . cap. . nehem. . how far private christians , ministers and subordinate magistrates are to concur to the advancing of a publike reformation . sam. . . . what parts therein are onely to be acted by the supreame power . mar. . . . . of the progresse and praise of passive obedience . est haec pontificiorum tessera crudelitas , aliud est protestan tium symbolum clementia . isti occidunt , hi occidunt laurentius humphreys in respon. ad epistolas camp●ani . deut. . . king. . cro. . . pro. . & . . & . . & . . exo. . . . that no extraordinary excitations , incitations or inspirations are bestowed from god on men in hese dayes . gen. . . judg. . . exod. . . this appeares because in the prophet he is stiled governour of judah , hag. . . and that at the self same time when ezra came thither , see luthers chronology in . millenarco . auferenda idola , non potest quisquam iubere privatus aug. cont. literos utilium lib. . cap. . ezra . . drūsius in pentetuchen ex r. aben-ezrah . pro. . . ps. . . rom. . in publicos hostes , omnius homo miles tertullianus . king. . . mat. . . that it is utterly unlawfull to give any just offence to the papists or to any men whatsoever . . cor. . . cor. . * . sam. . . * gall . . * king. . . * rev. . . * sanctorum nonnulli perfecti dicuntur respectu mundanorum , qui negligunt res divinas nec ingrediuntur unquam viam profectionis amb. com. in epist : ad phil. cap. . * king. . . * cited by mr. capel in his booke of temptation . . what advantage the fathers had of us in learning , and religion , and what wee heve of them . * {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . cor. . . * iudg. . . * nos nani sumus stantes super humeros gygantum . hol. cott. . . now new light or new essentiall truths are or can be revealed in this age . * revel. . . * reve. . * dan. . . * sam. . * ioel . . acts . . * gal. . . * sam. : paragraffe . * dut. . . that the doctrine of the churches imperfection may safely bee preached and cannot honestly bee concealed . * math. . * iude. . a sermon of reformation preached at the church of the savoy, last fast day, july , / by thomas fuller ... fuller, thomas, - . this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text r in the english short title catalog (wing f ). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a wing f estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a sermon of reformation preached at the church of the savoy, last fast day, july , / by thomas fuller ... fuller, thomas, - . p. [s.n.], london : . reproduction of original in yale university library. eng reformation -- england -- sermons. fast-day sermons. sermons, english. a r (wing f ). civilwar no a sermon of reformation. preached at the church of the savoy, last fast day, july , . by thomas fuller b.d. and minister there. fuller, thomas c the rate of defects per , words puts this text in the c category of texts with between and defects per , words. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - john latta sampled and proofread - john latta text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a sermon of reformation . preached at the church of the savoy , last fast day , july , . by thomas fuller b. d. and minister there . london , printed in the yeare of our lord . . a sermon of reformation . heb. . . vntill the time of reformation . those who live beyond the polar circles , are called periscii , because they have shadows round aboue them . in a more mysticall meaning the jewes before christ may be so called , living in constant umbrages of types and ceremonies which were taken away when the sunne of righteousnesse did arise . their sacrificing of lambes and rammes , and kids and goats , and calves , and kine , and turtle-doves , with their observing of meates and drinkes , and dayes , whereas the apostle saith , colos. . . a shadow of things to come , but the body is of christ . yea , in some sense i may safely say , that the very sanctum and sanctum sanctorum , was still but the outward atrium , as containing therein such types , as related to a higher and holier truth : to instance only in the holy of holies , herein were seven sacred utensils , all full fraught with heavenly mysteries . first , the golden censor , signifying our prayers mingled with christs merits ( woefull for us if he did not give better incense then we bring ) which he offers up for us to his father . secondly , the arke of the covenant overlaid round about with gold ; whilest shittim wood was in the middest thereof , to typifie christs humanity decked and adorned with his godhead . thirdly , the pot of manna , looking backwards in memoriall of the miraculous meat of the israelites in the wildernesse : and forwards to set forth angels food in heaven , which is neither to eat nor to drinke , but to doe gods will , and to see gods glory . fourthly , aarons rod which budded , and besides the history contained therein , alluded to christs resurrection , that branch of iesse cut downe and cast out amongst the dead : which yet afterwards did revive , flourish , and fructifie . fifthly , the tables of the covenant , wherein the commandements were written by gods finger , to intimate , that only an infinite power can effectually print gods lawes in our hard and obdurate hearts . sixthly , the golden cherubims overshadowing the mercy-seat with their wings , and looking towards it ; to shew , that the mystery of gods mercy is to be covered from the curiosity of prophane eyes , whilest the pious may with comfort behold it . seventhly , and lastly , the mercy-seat it selfe ; the embleme of that mercy-seat in heaven , to which poore penitents being cast at the barre of gods justice have a free and open appeale . all these were of gold and pure gold , and yet saint paul ( gal. . . ) calleth all legall ceremonies beggarly elements , in comparison of christ the truth , in whom these did determine and expire : as the rude lines of black-lead wherwith the picture is first drawne , vanish away when the curious limner layeth on the lively colours ; so that all these outward ordinances had an end at the comming of christ , being only to last , vntill the time of reformation . the text is so short , it needs not to be divided , only the word reformation must bee expounded ; a word long in pronouncing and longer in performing , as generally signifying the bettering , and amending of what is amisse ; in greeke {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , a through rectifying . however , sometimes the word reformation is not opposed to things bad in their owne nature , but to things that are lesse perfect , and may be more perfected , as in the text . for the ceremoniall law of the jewes was compleat in its kinde , as given of god , and every thing made by him , must be like him that made it very good . yet comparatively that law was imperfect , and needed a reformation , which was performed at christs comming . besides , though the ceremoniall law was good in it selfe , yet it was bad as it was abused by the ignorant jewes . for though the knowing patriarks looked through , and beyond the types to the messias himselfe : yet the dull people mistaking the shell for the kernell , and the casket for the jewell ; lodged their soules where they should only have bayted , and did dote on the shadowes as on the substance it selfe ; in which respect the peoples judgements , as well as those ceremonies , needed a reformation . the maine point we shall insist on , is this ; that christians living under the gospel , live in a time of reformation , which will appeare in severall particulars : for besides ceremonies removed according to the principall intent of the text ; manners are now reformed and doctrine refined : poligamy connived at in the patriarks , now generally condemned , the bill of divorce cancelled by christianity , which was permitted to the jewes , not because that was good , but because they were bad , and by this tolleration were kept from being worse . the second table abused by the restrictive comments of the pharisees , confining those lawes ( which were made to confine them ) onely to the outward act , are now according to our saviour interpretation extended to their true demention . the mistery of the trinity clouded in the old testament , is cleered in the new . the doctrine of gods righteousnesse by faith , of the merrit of christ , of the spirit of adoption , of the resurrection of the body , darkly delivered under the law are manifested in the gospel , with many other heavenly revelations . let us be hartily thankfull to god , who gave us to be borne since the comming of christ in the time of reformation . our twi-light is cleerer then the jewish noon-day : the men of china use to brag , that they ( because of their ingenious civility ) have two eyes , the europaeans one , and that all the world besides are starke blinde ; more truely it may be said that the christans had two eyes , the law and gospell ; the jewes but one , the law alone , and all people and pagans besides sit in darknesse and the shadow of death . the jewes indeed saw christ presented in a land-scept , and beheld him through the perspective of faith , seeing the promises a farre off . but at this day a dwarfe-christian is an overmatch for a gyant jew in knowledge , as appeareth by our saviours riddle , mat. . . among them that are borne of women there hath not risen a greater then john the baptist : notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdome of heaven , is greater then he . which riddle is thus untyed : iohn baptist was the greatest amongst the children of women , because other prophets foresaw christ , he saw him ; others spake of christ , he spake to him , and had the high honour to baptize him with water , by whose spirit he himselfe was baptized : yet was he the least in the kingdome of heaven ( which properly began after cerists ascention ) because though perchance acquainted with the generals thereof , the particulars of the time , place , meanes and manner , were as much conceal'd from him , as cleerly revealed unto us . he never knew that iudas should betray christ ; caiphas accuse him , peter deny him , pilate condeme him , souldiers crucifie him , nicodemus embalme him , ioseph bury him . these , and many more circumstances of our saviours passion , resurrection and ascention , now histories to our children , were misteries to iohn baptist ; who , though christs harbinger to prepare his way , yet did not live to see his master to possesse what he had provided for him : wherefore if alexander the emperour did count himselfe much indebted to the gods , that he was borne a grecian , and not a barbarian , how thankfull ought we to be to god , who gave us to be borne neither jewes , nor pagans , but christians , since the time of reformation . but this indeed were true , if all things in the church continued at this time in the same condition of primative purity , whereto christ reform'd it . but long since , that falling away , foretold by the apostle , is come to passe , and that man of sinne hath played his part in the church , therein deforming manners with vice , doctrine with heresie , discipline with superstition . as for any reformation which since hath happened in england , it hath been but partiall and imperfect . king henry the eight brake the popes necke , but bruised not the least finger of popery ; rejecting his supremacy , but retaining his superstition in the six articles . the reformation under edward the sixth , was like the reformer , little better then a childe , and he must needs be a weake defender of the faith , who needed a lord protector for himselfe : as nurses to woe their children to part from knives , doe suffer them to play with rattles ; so the state then permitted the people ( infants in piety ) to please themselves with some frivious points of popery , on condition they would forsake the dangerous opinions thereof . as for queene elizabeth , her character is given in that plaine , but true expression , that she swept the church of england and left all the dust behind the doore . her successors have gone in the same path , and the same pace with little alteration , and lesse addition in matters of moment , save that besides some old errours unamended ; many innovations have broken in upon us , which might be instanced in , were it as safe as it is easie to reckon them up . we therefore desire and expect a through reformation , to see christ mounted on his throne , with his scepter in his hand , in the purity of his ordinances , and we shall grieve and groane untill such a reformation . this objection containes many parts , and must be taken asunder : some things therein are freely to be granted , and others flatly to be denied , and others warily to be qualified . we freely confesse the deformation by popery , as also , that the reforming was by henry the eight and edward the sixth ( good prince , of whom i had said , that he dyed too soone , but because he dyed when god would have him ) were but partiall and imperfect . withall , we flatly deny that queene elizabeth left the dust behinde the doore , which she cast out on the dunghill ; whence this uncivill expression was raked up . the doctrine by her established , and by her successors maintained in the . articles , if declared , explained and asserted from false glosses , have all gold , no dust or drosse in them . againe , we freely confesse that there may be some faults in our church in matters of practice and ceremonies , and no wonder if there be , it would be a miracle if there were not : besides , there be some innovations , rather in the church then of the church , as not chargeable on the publique account , but on private mens scores , who are old enough , let them answer for themselves . religion in england , is like the cloathes of the isralites , deuteronomie . . which for many yeeres together waxed not old . alas , in some places it is thread-bare , may it have a new nappe ; in more it is spotted , may it be well scowred ; and in all places rent asunder , may it be well mended . a through reformation , we , and all good men doe desire with as strong affections , though perhaps not with so loud a noise , as any whatsoever . the highest clamour doth not alwayes argue the greatest earnestnesse . but with this qualification , that by through reformation , we meane such a one , whereof we are capable , pro statu viatorum , made with all due and christian moderation : that arrow is well drawne , that is drawne to the head , but it may over-drawne cleane through the bow , and so doe no good . there is in like manner a possibility of out-doing , even in the point of reforming : and therefore how a true through reformation may be made , and managed long to continue , by gods assistance and your patience ; i will take in hand to give the true characters of such who are to be true and proper reformers . first , they must have a lawfull calling thereunto : what better deede then to make brothers friends , and to be an equall umpire betwixt them ? yet christ himselfe declin'd the imployment , as out of his vocation , luke . . who made me a iudge or devider over you . some good duties lye in common to all good men . whosoever is called a christian hath a just calling to performe them : 't is so farre from being a sinne for any to doe them , that it is a sinne for any to leave them undone . but there be other duties , which god hath impaled in , for some particular persons , so that it is a ryot or trespasse at least for any other to force their entrance into them : amongst these actions , reformation of churches is a chief , as of highest honour , and greatest concernment . now , the supreme power alone , hath a lawfull calling to reforme a church in those respective places , wherein it is supreme ; where this supreme power is seated , the statists of the severall places may judge , the divine goeth no farther , but to maintaine that where the supreme power is , there alone is the power of reformation ; as it plainely appeares by the kings of iudah in their kingdome . two sorts of idolatry , the jewes therein were guilty of : the one grosse , the other refined . grosse idolatry against the first commandement , in worshipping a false god , as baal , and the like . refined idolatry , against the second commandement , in worshipping the true god after false and forbidden manner , . chronicles . . neverthelesse the people did sacrifice still in the high places , yet unto the lord their god onely . grosse idolatry found many reformers , asa , ioash , amaziah , vzziah , iotham , manasseh , whilest onely two iehosaphat and hezekiah , endeavoured the reforming of refined idolatry , and iosiah alone perfected it . in both we may observe , that the kings were praised for doing so much , or dispraised for doing no more , which plainly proves , that the reforming of the church did properly pertaine unto them . god neither mistakes , nor confounds the good deeds , or rewards of men ; but set the due praises on the true persons ; the person that doth well shall be praised : the prince shall not be commended for the good deeds of the people , not the people commended for the good deeds of the prince ; indeed gods threatens the common people of israel , leviticus . . with beasts , warres , and many other plagues , if they will not be reformed . but we never read that god reproved the people , for not reforming the jewish church from idolatry , as a taske belonging to the supreme power placed over them . meane time meere private men must not be idle , but move in their spheare till the supreme power doth reforme . first , they are dayly to pray to god to inspire those who have power and place with will and skill , couragiously to begin , constantly to continue , and happily to conclude such a reformation . secondly , they are seriously to reforme themselves : he needs not to complaine of too little worke , who hath a little world in himselfe to amend : a good man in scripture is never called gods church ( because that is a collective terme belonging to many ) but is often termed gods temple , such a temple it is lawfull for every private man to reforme : he must see that the foundation of faith be firme , the pillars of patience be strong , the windowes of knowledge be cleere , the roofe of perseverance be perfected . thirdly , he may reforme the church in his house , philemon , carefully looking to his owne family , ioshua . . that he and his house may serve the lord . but as for the publique reforming of the church in generall , he must let it alone as belonging to the supreme power , to whom it is appropriated . but seeing wee have occasion to speake of lawfull callings , what calling ( may some say ) have you to meddle with this point above your reach , and without your compasse ; who penned your commission to take such matters in hand ? leave the describing of reformers characters to such , who have more age , experience , and ability to performe it . i am , or should be , most sensible of mine owne weakenesse , being {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , the least of those that dispence the word and sacraments . yet have i a calling as good as the church of england could give me : and if she be not ashamed of such a sonne , i count my selfe honoured with such a mother . and though meere private christians may not intermeddle with publick reforming of a church , gods prophets have in all ages , challenged the priviledge to tell necessary truths unto the greatest . the tongue used to be cut out of the roman sacrifices , and given unto their heraulds , to shew that freedome of language was allowed them . we are christs ambassadours , corinthians . . and claime the leave to speak truth with sobernesse : and though i cannot expect my words should be like nailes fastened by the masters of the assemblies , eccl. . . yet i hope they may prove as tacks , entred by him that desires to be faithfull and peaceable in israel . the second requisite in reformers , is piety . the very snuffers in the tabernacle were made of pure gold , exodus . . they ought to be good themselves , who are to amend others , least that reproofe fall heavie on them , psalme . . but unto the ungodly ( saith god ) why doest thou preach my lawes , and takest my covenant in thy mouth ? whereas thou hatest to bee reformed , and hast cast my words behinde thee . and though sometimes bad men may reforme others , by vertue of their office : yet when it is done by the office of their vertue , and efficacy of their goodnesse , it is more gracefull in it selfe , more acceptable to god , and more comfortable to the doer . thirdly , knowledge in a competent , yea , plentifull measure : dangerous was the mistake committed by sir francis drake in eighty eight ; when neglecting to carry the lanthorne , ( as he was commanded ) in the darke night , chased five hulkes of the dutch merchants , supposing them to have been his enemies of the spaniards . such and worse errors may be committed in the reforming of a church , good mistaken for bad , and bad mistaken for good , where the light of knowledge is wanting for direction . fourthly , true courage and magnanimity , reformers need to be armed with a stout spirit cap à pee , which are to breake through the front of bad customes long received . such customes , as they are bad , are vsurpers , as they are customes are tyrants , and will stickle stoutly to stand in their old place . saint matthew saith , . . at the feast the governour was wont to release unto the people a prisoner . saint luke saith , . . of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast . what was but a curtesie at the first , grew in processe of time to bee a custome , and at last became a necessity . such customes made necessary by continuance must reformers expect to encounter , and resolve to remove . o , coward-lines in a magistrate is a great sinne ! who would thinke to finde the fearfull marching in the fore-front ? and yet in that forlorne hope which goeth to hell , revelations . . see them first named , but the fearfull , the unbeleeving and abominable , &c. so necessary is christian courage , especially in a reformer . fifthly and lastly , they must be endued with christian discretion , a grace that none ever speak against , but those that wanted it ; a good man will guide his affaires with discretion , psalme . . i must confesse there is a discretion ( falsely so called ) both carnall in it selfe , and inconsistent with true zeale , yea , distructive of it . christ had two disciples of the same name , the one a true man , the other a traytor , both iudasses . wherefore to prevent mistakes , the former is never cited in scriptures , but with an addition , iudas saith unto him , not iscariot , lord , &c. iohn . . iudas the servant of jesvs christ , and brother of iames , iude . in like manner wee , here mentioning discretion , call it christian discretion , for difference thereof , that all may know , we meane not that which destroyes zeale , but that which directs it ; not that which quencheth zeale , but which keepes it in the chimney , the proper place thereof ; not that which makes it lesse lively , but what makes it more lasting . this discretion , though last named , is not least needfull in the reformers of a church ; and must principally appeare in two things ; first , the not sparing of the tares for the wheats sake . secondly , the not spoyling the wheat for the tares sake . the not sparing the tares for the wheats sake . by tares we understand , not only things unlawfull in a church , but things unexpedient and unprofitable , which also must be removed . the barren fig-tree , luke . . was condemned , not for bearing deadly or dangerous fruit , but none at all . cut it downe , why cumbereth it the ground ? gods garden ought to bee so well dressed , as to have nothing superfluous , that doth harme that doth no good therein . hee that will not worke , neither shall hee eate , thessalonians . . if such ceremonies are to be found in our church , which will not labour , neither needfull in themselves , nor conducing to decency , let them no longer have countenance in the church , nor maintenance from it . the not spoyling the wheat for the tares sake , and letting those things alone which are well ordered already . yet is there a generation of anabaptists , in number fewer , i hope , then are reported , yet more i fear then are discovered ; people too turbulent to obey , and too tyrannicall to command . if it should come into their hands to reforme , lord what worke would they make . very facile , but very foule is that mistake in the vulgar translation , luke . . instead of everrit domum , shee swept the house , 't is rendred , evertit domum , she overturnd the house . such sweeping we must expect from such spirits , which under pretence to cleanse our church , would destroy it . the best is , they are so farre from sitting at the helme , that i hope they shall ever be kept under hatches . now as discretion discovereth it selfe in the matter of reformation , so also it appeareth in the manner thereof . first , it is to be done with all reverence and respect to the ancient fathers . these , though they lived neer the fountain of religion , yet lived in the marches of paganisme ; as also in the time wherein the mystery of iniquity began to work , which we hope is now ready to receive the wages . if therefore there be found in their practice any ceremonies smacking of paganisme or popery , and if the same can be justly chalenged to continue in our church , i plead not for their longer life , but for their decent buriall . secondly , with honourable reservation to the memories of our first reformers . reverend cranmer , learned ridley , down right lattimer , zealous bradford , pious philpot , patient hooper , men that had their failings , but worthy in their generations ; these bare the heat of the day , indeed , which were burnt to ashes ; and though we may write a fairer hand then they , yet they affixed a firmer seal , that dyed for their doctrine . lastly , with carefulnesse , not to give any just offence to the papists . say not , we need not to feare to offend them , who would confound us . we have so long waited for their conversion , we have almost seene our subversion . indeed we are forbidden to offend gods little ones , but not inhibited to offend the devils great ones . and though s. paul bids us to give no offence to those that are without , that is meant of pure pagans ; and therefore the papists being neither well within nor well without , fall not under that precept . for all these expressions savour more of humor then holinesse , of stomack , then the spirit . though papists forget their duty to us , let us remember our duty to them ; to them , not as papists , but as professors of christianity , to their persons , not erronious opinions , not giving them any just offence . but if they will be offended without cause , be their amends in their own hands . if rebeckah will come to isaac , she shall be wellcome . but in no case shall isaac go back to rebeckah , genesis . . beware that thou bring not my son thither again . these five ingredients must compound effectuall reformers . where any , or all of these are wanting , a reformation will either not be made , or not long kept . witnesse the pretended reformation , the papists so much bragge off , in the last of queen mary , in the university of cambridge , by the delegates of cardinall poole . where nothing of worth was done , but many foolish ceremonies enforced , and the bones of bucer and phagius burnt . it passeth for the expression of mad man , to beat the aire ; and it is little better to beat the earth . to fight ( as they did ) against dust and ashes , bodies of men long before buried : except they thought by this similitude of burning dead bodies , to worke in silly people a beliefe of purgatory fire , tormenting soules deceased . now when it came into question whether the ordinances and decisions of those reformers should be ingrossed in parchment , or in paper , doctor swinborne , master of clare hall gave his opinion , that paper would doe the deed well enough , as being likely to last longer then those decrees should stand in force ; as afterward it came to passe , they being all rescinded in the next yeer , being the first of queene elizabeth . two things more must here be well observed . first , that there is a grand difference betwixt founding of a new church , and reforming of an old . for the former , saint paul outstript all men in the world . the papists bragge much of king edgar , who is said to have founded as many monasteries , as there be weekes in the yeer . surely more churches in asia and europe were built from the ground by saint paul , who strived to preach the gospel , not where christ was named , lest he should build upon another mans foundation , romans . . but reforming of churches is an easier work , as not giving a church the life but the lustre ; not the birth but the beauty ; either repairing what is defective , or removing what is redundant . thus we acknowledge solomon the sole founder of the temple , though ioash repaired it , amending the breaches thereof . iotham enlarged it , adding the beautifull porch thereto ; and ezechiah adorned it , covering the pillars with silver therein . however , it is worth our observing , that reformers are sometimes ambitious to entitle themselves to be founders , as being covetous of credit , and counting it more honour to make a thing , then to mend it . thus nebuchadnezzar boasted , daniel . . is not this great babylon that i have built for the house of the kingdome , by the might of my power , and for the honour of my majesty ? whereas babylon was built by nimrod , or ( as others say ) semyramis , many yeers before nebuchadnezzars cradle was made . yet he , no doubt , did encrease , strengthen , and beautifie it ; on which title , see how he engrosseth all the glory unto himselfe , as first , and sole founder ! is not this great babylon that i have built ? let none in like manner brag , that they are now the first founders of a church in england , built long since therein , time out of minde . we deny and defile such papists as say that augustine the monke was the first apostle of this island , where the gospel long before had been preached , though not to the saxons our ancestors , yet to the britans our predecessors . yea , having cause to search who first brought christianity over into britanny , my endeavours have been still at a losse and left at uncertainty . perchance as god , deuteronomie . . buried the body of moses , that no man knoweth the place of his sepulchre unto this day , to cut off from the jewes all occasion of idolatry ; so it seems his wisdom hath suffered the names of the first founders of religion here to be covered in obscurity , to prevent posterity from being superstitious to their memories . however , if justly we be angry with the papists for making the brittish church ( a tall stripling grown , ) to weare swadling cloathes againe : more cause have we to distaffe the pens and preachings of such who make their addresses unto us , as unto pure pagans where the word is newly to be planted . a moderne author tels us a strange story , how the servants of duke d. alva , seeking for a hawke they had lost , found a new country in the navell of spaine , not known before , invironed with mountaines , and peopled with naked salvages ; i should wonder if such a terra incognita could be found in england ; which ( what betwixt the covetousnesse of landlords and the carefulnesse of tenants ) is almost measured to an acre . but if such a place were discovered , i must allow that the preachers there were the first planters of the gospel , which in all others places of the kingdom are but the continuers thereof . i hope christ hath reaped much goodnesse long ago , where these , now , new pretend to plant it . and if england hath not had a true church hitherto , i feare it will not have a true church hereafter . the second thing i commend unto you is this , that a perfect reformation of any church in this world may be desired , but not hoped for . let zenophons cyrus be king in plato's common-wealth ; and batchelors wives breed maides children in mores vtopia , whilest roses grow in their gardens without prickles , as saint basil held they did before the fall of adam . these phansies are pleasing and plausible , but the performance thereof unfeisable ; and so is the perfect reformation of a church in this world difficult to bee described , and impossible to be practised . for besides that sathan will doe his best , or rather his worst to undoe it ; man in this life is not capable of such perfection . look not to finde that in man out of paradise , which was not found in man in paradise , continuance in an holy estate . martin luther was wont to say , he never knew good order in the church last above fifteen yeares , in the purity thereof ; yea , the more perfect the reformation is , the lesse time it is likely to last . mans minde being in constant motion , when it cannot ascend higher , will not stand still , but it must decline . i speake not this to dis-hearten men from endeavouring a perfect reformation , but to keep them from being dis-heartned , when they see the same cannot be exactly observed . and yet there are some now adayes that talke of a great light , manifested in this age more then ever before . indeed we modernes have a mighty advantage of the ancients , whatsoever was theirs , by industry , may be ours . the christian philosophy of iustin martyr ; the constant sanctity of cyprian ; the catholick faith of athanasius ; the orthodox judgement of nazianzen ; the manifold learning of ierome ; the solid comments of chrysostome ; the subtill controversies of augustine ; the excellent morals of gregory ; the humble devotions of bernard : all contribute themselves to the edification of us , who live in this later age . but as for any transcendent extraordinary miraculous light , peculiarly conferred on our times , the worst i wish the opinion is this , that it were true . sure i am that this light must not crosse the scripture , but cleere the scripture . so that if it affirmeth any thing contrary to gods written word , or enforceth any thing ( as necessary to salvation ) not exprest in gods word ; i dare boldly say , that such a light is kindled from hell . as for the opinion of christs corporall visible kingdome , to come within few yeares , i will neither peremptorily reject it , not dare absolutely receive it . not reject it , lest i come within the compasse of the apostles reproofe , peter . . speaking evill of the things they understand not . confessing my selfe not to know the reasons of their opinions , who though citing for it much canonicall scripture , yet their interpretations thereof may be but apocrypha . nor dare we receive it , not being safe to be familiar with strangers at the first sight ; and this tenent is strange , as set commonly afoot with these few last yeares . i am afraid rather on the contrary of a generall defection . seeing the word is so slighted , and the guests begin to play with their meat , i feare lest god the master of the feast , will call for the voyder : that so when christ comes to judgement , he shall finde no faith on the earth . but of things to come , little and doubtfully . if this opinion of christs corporall comming very shortly be true , i hope if we live , we shall have our share therein : if otherwise , moses hath no cause to complaine , if dying he commeth not into the earthly canaan , but into the heavenly . meane time whilest we expect the personall comming of christ , let us pray for the peaceable comming back of him , who sometimes is called christ in the scripture , the lords annointed . o the miserable condition of our land at this time , god hath shewed the whole world , that england hath enough in it selfe to make it selfe happy or unhappy , as it useth or abuseth it . her homebred wares enough to maintain her , and her homebred warres enough to destroy her , though no forreigne nation contribute to her overthrow . well , whilest others fight for peace , let us pray for peace ; for peace on good termes , yea on gods termes , and in gods time , when he shall be pleased to give it , and we fitted to receive it . let us wish both king and parliament so well , as to wish neither of them better , but both of them best . even a happy accommodation . only this i will adde , that his majesty in making his medals , hath tooke the right course to propagate his promises and most royall intentions to posterity , and raise it to behold the performance thereof . seeing princes memories have beene perpetuated by their coines , when all other monuments , arches , obelisks , piramids , theaters , trophies , and triumphs , have yeelded to time , and been quite forgotten . yea , t is probable , that the names of some short reigning emperours had been quite lost , if not found in their impresses on their monies , coynes , having this peculiar priviledge to themselves ; that after they had beene buried many yeares in the ground , when taken up againe , they have life enough to speake the names of those princes that caused them and their impressions to be stamped , either to their eternall shame or lasting honour . to conclude , let us all provide for that perfect reformation in the world to come ; when christ shall present the church his spouse to god his father , without spot , comming from mans corruption , or wrincle , caused by times continuance . when we shall have a new heaven and a new earth , wherein shall dwell righteousnesse . with judgements reformed from error , wils reformed from wilfulnesse , affections reformed from mistaking their object , or exceeding their measure ; all powers and parts of soule and body reformed from sinne to sanctity . let us wait all the dayes of our appointed time till our change come . untill this time of reformation . amen . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a e- vse . object . answ. object . answ. camdens eliz. p. . fox . acts monum. pag. in a book of directions to travel . a comment on the eleven first verses of the fourth chapter of s. matthew's gospel concerning christs temptations delivered in xii sermons at st. clements, eastcheap, london / by tho. fuller ... fuller, thomas, - . this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text r in the english short title catalog (wing f ). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a wing f estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a comment on the eleven first verses of the fourth chapter of s. matthew's gospel concerning christs temptations delivered in xii sermons at st. clements, eastcheap, london / by tho. fuller ... fuller, thomas, - . [ ], p. printed by ja. cottrel for george eversden ..., london : . reproduction of original in the union theological seminary library. eng jesus christ -- temptation -- sermons. bible. -- n.t. -- matthew iv -- sermons. a r (wing f ). civilwar no a comment on the eleven first verses of the fourth chapter of s. matthew's gospel, concerning christs temptations. delivered in xii. sermons fuller, thomas d the rate of defects per , words puts this text in the d category of texts with between and defects per , words. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - john latta sampled and proofread - john latta text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a comment on the eleven first verses of the fourth chapter of s. matthew's gospel , concerning christs temptations . delivered in xii . sermons , at st. clements eastcheap , london : by tho. fuller , b. d. and minister of waltham-abbey in essex . london , printed by ia : cottrel , for george eversden , at the golden ball in aldersgate-street . . to the right honorable , and truely religious , the lady isabella , countess of northampton . madam , some , at the first sight , may much admire what iacob meant , in sending so mean a present to so mighty a person as ioseph , the governour of egypt : a little balm , and a little honey , spices , and myrrhe , nuts , and almonds . for , as the quality of most of them was not costly , so their quantity ( a little of either ) was not considerable . the same exception lies against my presenting this small treatise to your hohonour . zoar , is it not a little one ? and the composure thereof so plain and homely , that it is not worthy the notice , much less the patronage of your ladiship . but for iacob , all is answered in three words : they were the best frvits of the land . indeed , as canaan was a country plentiful with provisions for self-subsistence ; so it was but barren of barter with forraign lands ; chiefly , because god intended it for an entire place in it self , and not to mingle either merchandise or manners with other nations . the same in effect i alleadge in mine own excuse , that this is the best expression of thankfulness , that my present condition can afford ; and my meanness is not capable in any other way to deserve the least of those many favors which your honour hath conferred upon me . and as iacob sent so small a quantity of each kinde ( not because he grutched greater proportion thereof , but ) conceiving a greater bulk would rather be more wearisome to the bearers , then welcome to the receiver : i , in like manner , ( who could have more , not better ware in this work ) to avoid tediousness , have purposely shortned the same . and although your honour shall not ( as in iacob's present ) finde honey here , ( which was never offered to god in any sacrifice ) i mean , though in this treatise there be no luscious , & palate-pleasing wit and eloquence , yet i assure your ladiship ( if daigning to read it ) that you will meet with balm ( and that of the best kinde , from gilead ) therein ; the true comfort and consolation , which we may gather to our selves in all our temptations , from christs here triumphing over satan in the wilderness . be pleased therefore , madam , favourably to accept the fruits of my weak endeavours . but why speak i of the the fruits , whilst i remember a pleasant passage , acted by the simplicity of a poor spaniard ? when a father of the inquisition sent unto him for some pears growing in his hort-yard , poor man presently pluckt up the tree , fruit , root , and branch , and presented it unto him . what , sudden fright , and servile fear , to prevent danger , made him to over-do , in his willing unwilling compliance with that churlish and cruel inquisitor ; that , my real respect , and cordial gratitude , doth cheerfully perform , in my addresses to your honor , one of the most civil of your greatness , as courtesie is the truest badge of ancient nobility . i desire , that not onely the leaves , buds , blossoms , green , ripe fruit i can bear , be presented to your ladiship , but could wish that the whole tree were worthy of your honours acceptance . the good lord of heaven croud all happiness on your self and noble lord in this life , and crown you both , with that hopeful posterity which in due time he may bestow upon you , with eternal happiness hereafter . the daily prayer of your honours , in all christian service , tho. fuller . to my constant auditors at st. clements eastcheap . it is spoken of noah in the plural , ( what is said in the singular of others ) that he was perfect in his generations ; because he lived in one generation before , and another after the flood . a sermon preached , serveth but an auditory ; a sermon printed , auditories ; and ( if pious in it self ) not onely the present , but ensuing age , may partake of the profit thereof . it was the wish of job , oh that my words were printed in a book ! meaning the ancient printing , ( opposite onely to speaking ) which is a maiden , sole , and single , useful chiefly for the continuance of the original : but had the mystery of modern printing , ( opposed also to writing ) which is a mother , fruitful with the propagation of many copies at once ) been extant in his age , job no doubt would have enlarged his wish thereunto , as not onely the surest means to keep , but swiftest to communicate his minde and meaning to posterity ; the main motive , with me , to publish my present pains : hoping , in some degree , they may prove not unuseful to such as peruse them . if any say , these are not the sermons you preached unto us , because there is much contracted in the press , of what you enlarged in the pulpit ; let them know , the hand , when the fist is closed together , is the same with the same hand , when the fingers were stretched forth , and palm thereof expanded . indeed satan is justly taxed in this * treatise , for curtailing scripture , and leaving out words of consequence in his alleading thereof : but i cannot be justly censured , if omitting , inserting , transposing , altering , and chiefly abridging what i preached ( making a decoction of sermons into a comment , and therfore boiling them down to a fifth part ) for , being mine own , i may order them as i am advised for my best conveniency . yet why call i them mine , which formerly were god's , and yours , as now they are the whole world's ? god's , by whose assistance they were composed , on whose word grounded , at whose glory aimed . yours , as first intended for your instruction , delivered to your attention , digested ( i hope ) by your meditation , and now published for your further edification . to conclude : it is as generally as confidently reported of the ancient british ( now the welsh ) nation , that they never ran away in battel , till their general or leader first forsook them . oh that we might demean our selves valiantly in our christian warfare , until christ , our captain , desert us ; which will never come to pass , seeing we have both his faithful promise of assistance , and cheerful precedent of his valour , foiling of satan in this his remarkable combate . to the protection of which blessed saviour , you are commended , by yours to his power , tho. fuller . christ's first temptation to despaire . sermon i. matth. . . then iesus was led of the spirit into the wilderness , to be tempted of the devil . the eleven first verses of this chapter containe the most glorious combat that ever was fought on earth , if we seriously consider , . the eminencie of the persons ; generals seldom fight duels as here ▪ the prince of peace against the prince of da●kness . . the spaciousness of the place , the wilderness , where they were not pent and confin'd by intruding spectators , but had rehoboth ▪ elbow-room , each of them to exercise their activity to the utmost . . the concernment of the cause , no less then the salvation or damnation of the elect. had satan worsted christ in this combate , he had defeated the salvation of mankinde . . the length and fierceness of the fight , * fourty dayes ; long battels are seldome hot , hot battels are seldome long ; this was both . lastly , the clearness of the conquest ; the success of some fights hath been in such a twilight , that after the battel ended with the swords of souldiers , they have been begun with the pens of historians , disputing who got the better ; so equally hath the victory been divided betwixt them : but here the devil was quite routed , forsook the field , & after left our saviour sole conqueror , and the angels hitherto the invisible spectators of the fight , were afterwards witnesses of his victory , yea attendants on his triumph ; they ministred unto him . we will take the words of the text as they lie in order . then . then ? when ? immediately after the ending of his baptizing , and immediately before the beginning of his preaching , vers. . then began iesus . in spiritual feasts , it is no bad manners for the entertainer to cut for himself before he carve for his guests . the first doctrine concerns ministers . such as intend to enter into the ministery , must expect temptations . it is an expression reported and approved by master perkins , that four things make a divine , ( to the first three i concur chearfully and willingly ; to the fourth and last i consent fully , but sadly ) namely , reading and meditation , prayer and temptation . the second doctrine is general to all christians . after a more then ordinary elevation of thy soul in grace , suspect and expect a sudden temptation . as sure as the valley attends on a hill in nature ; so after an height of holiness in thy soul ( too fine ware to have much measure of ) beware a depression , concavity , and hollowness of a temptation . i speak not this to make any good christians fearful , but all watchful ; not any to despair , but all to be discreet . you ministers speak much of temptations , it is a great topick in your sermons : but for my part ( saith many a man ) i never had temptation as yet , and know not what belongeth thereunto . it is too too suspicious , that the great work of conversion is not as yet sincerely wrought in thy heart , and satan needs not besiege that soul with temptations , which is already in his peaceable possession ; but if thou beest truly converted , how old soever , thou art young enough to be tempted . a country-man riding with an unknown traveller ( whom he conceived honest ) over a dangerous plain ; this place ( said he ) is infamous for robbery : but for mine own part , though often riding over it early and late , i never saw any thing worse then my self . in good time , replied the other ; and presently demanded his purse , and robbed him . brag not that thou never hast had a temptation ; it may surprise thee in that very instant wherein thou boastest that thou wert never tempted . wherefore , be not high-minded , but fear . was led into the wilderness . let this qualifie the harshness of the phrase , mark . . the spirit driveth him ; but how ? not as a ship is driven by a tempest , not as the horses and chariots driven by iehu , furiously : but , to joyn matthew and mark together , he was led-driven , by a mixt motion : led , there is willingness ; driven , a kinde of violence : led , there is freedom ; driven , there is force . the sum is this : an efficacious impression from the spirit met in christ with a voluntary condescention thereunto , and susception thereof . i see then no cause of cavil , that effectual grace , when it works irresistibly on the soul of a convert , must needs prejudice and destroy the liberty thereof . i may say in such a case , a man is led-driven to repent , led-driven to believe : parallel whereunto , i may say , he doth come-drawn to repent , according to christ's expression , ( ioh. . . ) no man cometh unto me , except the father , who hath sent me , draw him . sic ●uvat trabi : a pleasing force entertained by mans freenes ; led and driven . the doctrine is this : such as do not rashly run themselves into a temptation , but are led into it by divine providence , may with christ confidently expect a comfortable issue out of it . now they run into a temptation , who leave their calling to meet it : they are led into a temptation , who go on in their vocation , and a temptation encounters them ; so that ( because they may not go back in their calling ) they must either go over it , or under it , or thorow it . now a man in his calling , is twice as strong to resist the temptation , as one out of it . a fish is twice as strong in the water , as on the shore ; but a four-footed beast is twice as strong on the land , as in the water . the reason is , because the water is the proper element of the one , and earth of the other . thy calling is thy element , wherein thou art most able to resist temptation . when esau came against him , ( gen. . . ) iacob with two excellent arguments importun'd gods protection : one from gods command , thou saidst unto me , return into thy country : the other from his promise ; thou saidst unto me , i will deal well with thee . both these reasons mayst thou enforce upon god to preserve thee , when a temptation assaults thee in thy calling : his command , six days shalt thou labour ; his promise , that he will keep thee in all thy ways , ( whereof thy calling is , next the serving of god , the highest : ) and thou mayst comfortably presume that he will either remove the temptation , or make thee victorious over it . use . to confute such who on the proud opinion of their strength hollow in the ears of a sleeping temptation , and tempt it to tempt them ; dealing therewith as asahel with abner , ( . sam. . ) abner would willingly have declined the fighting with asahel ; but the other prosecuted , yea persecuted him to fight , and was slain by him . some temptations may be said to have no minde to meddle with us , but that our pride and business must be tampering with them . we should not be so forward , if we considered how hard a thing it is to get out of a temptation . we usually say , such a man is run into debt : but if afterwards he hap to pay his engagements , we say not that he is run out of debt , but he is crept out of debt . swift may the motion be into a temptation , but slowe the recovery out of it . into the wilderness . i observe , solitariness is most advantageous for the devil to tempt us . therefore christ sent always his disciples by two's , when to preach , luk. . . when to fetch the colt , matth. . . when to bespeak the room for the passeover , mark . . and this perchance was one reason why christ in the choice of his apostles and disciples pitch'd on an even number , twelve of the one , and seventy of the other ; that if he should have occasion to sub-divide them , they should fall out into even couples , and no odde one to lack a companion . however , no place comes amiss to the devil to tempt in : paradise , where he tempted our first parents : a palace , where he tempted david with pride , in numbering his people : an upper room , where he tempted iudas to betray christ : the congregation , ( the apostles being present ) where he tempted ananias and sapphira to tell a lye . but satan is in his throne , most potent and powerful in a solitary place , in the wilderness . what was the devils design in tempting of christ ? he had a double designe . . if possible ▪ to wound him with sin , which if he had effected , he had frustrated the salvation of mankind , satan knowing he could not save others , who sinned himself . seeing satan must needs know already that christ was the son of god , why would he adventure on a labour in vaine , seeing it was impossible to make him sin ? iam. . . ) god cannot be tempted with evil . now satan must needs know that christ was the son of god , by what he had seen and heard ; he had heard gabriels salutation to the virgin mary ( luk. . . ) that holy thing which shall be born of thee , shall be called the son of god : the angels singing to the shepherds ( luk. . . ) to you is born a saviour , which is christ the lord . the prophecie of simeon ( luk. . . ) plainly describing him for a saviour ; yea , satan had seen the spirit of god descending on him as a dove ( mat. . . ) and god owning him from heaven , for his welbeloved son . all these observed by satan , must needs infallibly inform him that christ was the son of god , and therefore it was a wonder that the devil would tempt him . all these did only amount to vehement suspitions , whereby satan might probably conjecture , but could not certainly conclude him the son of god . i mean , thus he could not hereby collect , that christ was the second person in the trinity incarnated , assuming mans flesh and nature upon him . he knew him to be the son of god by grace and adoption , such an one as david and other men were , and a most eminent person in piety and holiness : he knew also that he was the redeemer of israel , such as moses , ioshua , and the rest of the judges were : all of them saviours of their people by temporal deliverances from their enemies : but he knew not certainly ( though he shrewdly suspected ) that he was the only son of god by eternal generation , and who by his death and passion should save mankind from their sins . wherefore the devil did not wholly despaire , but tempted christ with some probability of success . this first design , i may call it the devils forlorne hope , which he himself ( almost ) despaired would take effect . the second was his reserve , which was to vex our saviours soul with suffering an affliction . if righteous lot ( pet. . . ) dwelling among the sodomites , in seeing and hearing , vexed his soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds ; surely it not only grated the ears , but grieved the heart of christ to hear the devil lye so impudently , blaspheme god so presumptuously , quote scripture so perfidiously , and apply it so mischievously . what was gods intent in leading christ to be tempted ? that he gaining an experimental knowledge of temptations , might sympathize the more affectionately with us in our temptations , heb. . . for we have not such an high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities , but was in all points tempted as we are , yet without sin . why did god suffer saint paul , cor. . , to fall into a desperate sickness and escape it , but chiefly that he might , verse . comfort others in trouble , by the comfort wherewith himself was comforted in god ? and for the same reason suffered christ to be tempted . i wonder why papists assigne such and such diseases , to such and such saints to cure them : as soare eyes to saint blaze , the tooth-ach to saint appollonia . was it not because ( perchance we shall give a better reason for the papists therein , then they can give for themselves ) these saints when living were affected with these infirmities ? which makes them more compassionate to such as suffer the same maladies . but whatsoever thy paines be , make thy application by prayer to christ , who will experimentally pity thy condition . art thou hungry ? he was hungry , mat. . thirsty ? he was thirsty , ioh. . weary ? he weary , mat. . tempted ? he was tempted , as in the text . by a barbarous and ancient custome , all the goods of shipwrackt men were escheated to the crown , and so the poor merchant was stript out of the raggs of his estate , which the modesty of the windes and waves had left him . but when king richard the first himself had been on the sea neer sicily , like to be drowned , he recalled those customes , making provision that the propriety of those goods should still be preserved to the right owner . christ hath been tossed in a tempest of temptation , and knows what belongs to the trouble thereof . let us pray to him with confidence in all our distresses , assured that out of the bowels of his experimental compassion , he will have the more mercy upon us . christs first temptation to despaire . sermon ii. matth. . . and when he had fasted fourty days and fourty nights , he was afterwards an hungry . it was the constant practice of our saviour , after some eminent act was performed by him , or extraordinary honour conferred on him , presently to cloud himself in obscurity . he had in such cases , three general retreating places . . a mountaine . . a ship . . a wilderness . when he had fed five thousand with five loaves , mat. . . he went up into a mountain alone to pray . when he had fed four thousand with seven loaves , mat. . . then he sent away the multitude and took ship . when he had raised lazarus to life , ioh. . . he went thence into a country neer to the wilderness . if importunate popularity would press after christ , it should clamber up a mountaine with paines , or saile on the sea with peril , or seek him in a wilderness with difficulty . how contrary is this to the practice of most men ! when they have done any thing which they conceive fine and gallant , above the standard of ordinary men , then they love to appear in publike , and present themselves to the view of others . as to eclipse himself was christ's custome , when any eminent act was done by him ; the same was his practice when any extraordinary honor was conferred on him : thus lately dignified to the eys & ears of the beholders with a sight and voice from heaven , he pr●sen●ly retreated into the wilderness , where when he had fasted fourty dayes and fourty nights , he was afterward an hungry . the words containe the through-fast of christ . wherein observe , . the depth thereof , a total abstinence : luke saith he eat nothing . some criticks will carp hereat , how could a negative terminate an act ? but the meaning thereof is this ; he eat not at all . . the bredth thereof ; he fasted daies and nights : hence we gather christ watched all night ; otherwise it is senseless to say those fast that sleep , seeing none can eat and sleep together . and no wonder if christ watched by night , being to do with the divel , who , r●v. . . accuseth us before god day and night . . the length of his fasting , fourty dayes and nights , in imitation of moses and elias fasting as long ; the one at the institution , the other at the restitution of the law , as christ at the beginning of the gospel . four principal reasons may be assigned of christs fasting . first , because he was in a solitary place , where no food was afforded . secondly , because as adam began mans ruine with eating , christ would begin mans repairing with abstinence . physitians commonly cure by the contraries , and prescribe fasting to surfets . thirdly , because christ was immediately to begin his ministery ; and fasting was the solemn initiation into that office . thus when paul and barnabas were separated for the work of preaching , then fasted they , and prayed , and laid their hands on them , and let them go , act. . . and i understand , so much the presbyters retaine of the primitive customs , that they observe a fast on their day of ordination of ministers . fourthly , because christ was to cope with and encounter one of the subtillest , sullenest , and stubbornest of all devils ; whereof there is a kinde , matth. . . a kinde that goeth not out but by fasting and prayer . whether is the popish lent fitly founded on the imitation of christs fasting forty days ? no : christs actions as god , and as god-man ( such was this his fasting ) are for our instruction , not imitation ; only his example as meer man , must be followed by us : thus , mat. . . learn of me ( not to still the winds and waves with a word , not to cure diseases and cast out devils , not to fast forty days , but ) to be meek and lowly in heart . . christs fast was a total abstinence from meat ; the popish lent is only an exchange of the shambles for the fish-market ; they abstaine from flesh , and feed on fish ; which fish is also termed flesh in the language of the apostle , cor. . . another flesh of fishes . and be it reported to palate-men , whether such fishes which approximate most unto a carneous matter , be not more pro●ocative to wantonness then flesh it self . . christ's fasting was done in all humility , whilst the proud opinion of merit is annexed to their lent : which lent how it first came and afterward encreased , is worth our observation . first , the primitive church kept but one day in commemoration of christs fasting . secondly , the montanists , being hereticks , first mounted it to full fourteen dayes fast . thirdly , the orthodox christians ( disdaining that they should out-do them in point of abstinence ) brought it up to fourty dayes . fourthly , the clergy afterwards , to reach a note above the rest , hightned it to fifty dayes . fifthly , the monks , to have a querk above their fellows , swelled it to sixty . sixthly , the fryers , to appear above all , made it seventy . lastly , there was a designe of some to make it eighty , ( such would not follow christs example , but out-run him ) had not the pope in policie retrenched them , and fixed it on fourty days . however , though the popish lent be not justly founded on christs example , yet on this occasion we may naturally raise this doctrine ; christians ought to set aside some seasons for fasting . physicians , by rules of health , will perswade a natural fast : politicians , by reasons from wealth , a civil fast : divines , by arguments from piety , a religious fast . and if a threefold cable will not hold you , what will prevail on your practice ? first , the physician . tell me , ye londoners , since suppers have generally been disused in this city , i mean with such whose work onely is to over-see , ( otherwise the hard labourer is worthy as of his hire , so of his supper ) cannot you ride as fast , run as far ? are not your faces as clear , your feet as strong , your whole body as able and active for all purposes and intents , as ever before ? secondly , the politician . consider the situation of our country : zebulun's blessing agreeth unto it ; it is a haven for ships . mariners and fisher-men must be maintained as well as others . indeed , one scripture saith , the earth is the lords , and the fulness thereof : but another saith also , the sea is his , and he made it ; and we may and must feed on what it affords . besides , statists by such fasts preserve the stock of flesh . by the levitical law , in a birds nest the young ones were not to be killed with the dam : but , should not some such fasts be seasonably observed in england , pigs would be killed with swine ; calves with kine ; lambs with sheep ; the new store destroyed with the old stock ; to the great loss of the common-wealth . thirdly , the divine perswades a religious fast ; that men with s. paul , cor. . . may beat their bodies down , and keep them in subjection ; that so the body being subject to the soul , soul and body may the better be subject unto god in religious duties . but in the great variety of ages , climates , and constitutions , it is impossible to give rules how long men should fast . take this general direction : so diet the steed , that it may neither kick and cast the rider , nor tire under him in going his journey . rom. . , take no thought for the flesh , to fulfil the lusts thereof ; but take order to fulfil the labour thereof . now let thy fasting have these three qualities ; sincerity , humility , and moderation . . sincerity , it is a mock-fast , to abstain from meat , and not from sin ; to scruple the eating of a crust , and in the mean time ( psal. . . ) by oppression to eat up gods people as if they were bread : arrant hypocrisie , to be squeamish to swallow a crum , and in the mean time to devour widows houses : not to taste a drop of wine , and yet in the mean time ( rev. . . ) to be drunk with the wine of fornication . secondly , humility ; otherwise popish superstitious fasts are good onely to fill the bowels with winde , and the heart with pride . lastly , moderation . this ( will some say ) might well be spared ; seeing you have seen amongst protestants as few fair faces spoiled with over-much fasting , as silk stockings worn out at the knees with praying . i confess the accident rare , but sometimes it happeneth ; and i could name a noble lady , whose religious life is lately printed , who some hours before her death , being in perfect minde and memory , called for a cup of wine , and spake to her kinswoman , if god ( said she ) restore me to my health again , i will never mascerate my body so much , to disable it , as i have done with my fasting . moderation therefore must be used therein . before we come to christs being an hungred , observe a second miracle in the text : as it was a wonder that for fourty days christ eat nothing ; so was it , that during that time nothing eat christ , considering the company he had , mark . . and was tempted of satan ; he was also with the wilde beasts . now what was it kept christ from their violence ? even his innocence , and that character of soveraignty which god had stamped on him : bucephalus could be back'd by none but by alexander , to whom the horse willingly submitted himself , and whence philip his father presageth that his son would become monarch of the world . the wilde beasts owned christ for their lord and master , dominum cognoscite vestrum ; and therefore offered no injury to him . thus afterwards , the ass-colt whereon never man sate before , luke . . quietly carried our saviour . if therefore the creatures start from their wonted obedience unto thee , reflect on thine own sins as the principal causes thereof . one who had been undutiful to his father , complained of the badness of his own son : none ( saith he ) hath had so graceless a childe as my self . to whom his son , with more truth then wit , more wit then grace , replied , yes , my grandfather had . when thou complainest that never master had such undutiful servants in the creatures as thou hast , such barren earth , such unwholesome air , such curst kine , such resty horses ; might not these dumb creatures ( if borrowing a mans voice ) return unto thee , yes , thy master hath ? god hath as rebellious a servant in thy sinful self . sure i am , christs innocence commanded the wilde beasts into obedience ; muzled the bears mouth , brake the tygers teeth , blunted the boars tusks , pared the lions paws ; onely the devil , that lion , after fourty days fasting , adventured to seize on him . and afterwards he was an hungred . three principal reasons may be alleadged for christs hunger . first , because he was now to leave the wilderness , and come into a country that afforded plenty of food : god therefore , who had formerly tied up his appetite , now let it loose again . the second reason , to shew you the truth of his humility . his fasting so long , spake him god ; his being hungry afterwards , spake him man : his fasting , and being an hungry afterwards , spake him god-man , and a fit mediator . the third reason , to toll on the devil to tempt christ with some hope of success , that so satans shame and confusion might be the more , when overcome . christs being an hungry in some sort tempted the devil to tempt him , and inspirited satan with some probability of conquest : for satan before was almost out of heart at the long miraculous fasting of christ ; onely one thing comforted him , that moses and elias fasted as long , and yet were but meer men , iam. . . subject to like passions as we are . this , i say , kept satan in heart , that notwithstanding christ's long fasting , he might be subject to sin ; and when he found him an hungry , his hope was doubled , that all was his own ; which made him tempt christ with the more confidence . from christ's hunger at last , after so long fasting , we conclude , men cannot conclude the constant tenure and continuance of their souls , from some extraordinary acts by them performed . men sometimes are enabled by god to go beyond themselves , and are raised in some kinde of performances to so high a pitch , that they can never reach it afterwards . but if this good temper should stay with them some terme of time , he cannot thence truely infer a perpetuity of that condition . one may be chaste fourty days together , and not feele the least motion to lust ; yet afterwards be wanton . one may be patient fourty days together , and not finde the least provocation to passion ; yet afterwards be immoderately angrie . god's spirit may vigorously quicken thee for a time , and then leave thee to thy self : i say , he may then leave thee to thy natural and moral , as here he left christ to his natural infirmity ; who , after fourty days fasting , was afterwards an hungrie . christ's first temptation to despaire . sermon iii. matth. . . and when the tempter came to him , he said , if thou be the son of god , command that these stones be made bread . before we come to the words , three questions must first be propounded and answered . . how could satan be properly said to come , at the end of fourty days , when christ ( luk. . . ) was all that time tempted by him ? satan discharged at christ to and again , haunting him like the fits of an intermitting ague ; alternately and frequently iterating his coming , departure , and return : but now at last he came with a witness to give him three parting-thrusts with all his skill and strength . . in what visible shape did the devil appear ? because the text sa●th , he came ; which properly signifies some corporal access . indeed divines collect so much from that word ; but perchance they lay more weight thereon , then it can well bear : for we read , mat. . , then cometh the wicked one , and catcheth away that which was sown in their hearts : yet satan in no bodily shape , but by inward suggestions , stealeth the word from us . such as conceit the devil tempted christ in the shape of a pharisee , ess●● an ▪ or some strict ( pretended holy ) mortified order amongst the jews , have onely fancie for their foundation . but we must be contentedly ignorant in what bodily shape satan made his approach , seeing god hath not acquainted us with the certainty thereof . . how came satan to know christ was an hungred ▪ if i be an hungred i will not tell thee : it being utterly improbable that christ made any complaint of his hunger to the devil . mans natural imperfections are easily discovered by his prying eyes , who being an excellent anatomist , knew all inward and outward symptomes of hunger , by the sudden change in his bowels , stomack , face , looks , &c. haply confirmed by christ's outward gestures , seeking to finde some food in that place ; whence satan took the hint of his temptation . . satan knows how and when to lay his baits for the best advantage . how for the manner , pet. . . he walketh about , seeking whom he may devour . walketh about , not onely in relation to the whole world , which he compasseth , iob . . but also in respect of the particular person whom he tempteth . an enemy , before he besiegeth a city , surroundeth it at distance , to see where the wall is the weakest , best to be battered ; lowest , easiest to be scaled ; ditch narrowest , to be bridged ; shallowest , to be waded over ; what place is not regularly fortified ; where he may approach with least danger , and assault with most advantage . so satan walketh about , surveying all the powers of our souls , where he may most probably lay his temptations : whether our understandings are easier corrupted with error , or our fancies with levity , or our wills with frowardness , or our affections with excess , &c. he knoweth also when to lay his baits , ier. . . the stork knoweth his appointed time ; and the turtle , and the crant , and the swallow , observe the time of their coming ; namely , when most seasonable for their advantage : but satan , this vultu●e , or bird of prey , is more knowing then all of them in this kinde . what month in the yeer , week in the month , day in the week , hour in the day , it is best to bring his tem●pt●tion . indeed , those four birds divide the yeer betwixt them ; the swallow coming in the spring , the s●ork ( as i take it ) in the winter , &c. whilst this wilde ha●py comes all times of the yeer ; no season is unseasonable to him , wherein he can get advantage . let us be careful to fortifie our selves against the assaults of satan ; especially let us watch against that time unknown to us , when ( luke . . ) the hour and power of darkness shall meet together . how many people are there , servilely and superstitiously afraid of this following eclipse ! they afright themselves with fear , what dismal effects are portended thereby : but where is that man truely affected with the taking notice of , and making defence against the time , when the devils temptations taking advantage of our sins , shall hide the sunshine of gods favour from our apprehensions ? now chiefly provide against two times . first , after thou hast been guilty to thy self of totally omitting , or perfunctorily performing of prayer : for then satan discovers a breach in thy soul , and will assault it . secondly , at the hour of death , when his rage is the greatest , because his raign is the shortest : who like a bad tenant , having a lease ready to expire , without impeachment of waste , cares not what havock he makes , because not tied to reparations . the tempter . the devil is the tempter paramount . there be other tempters , the world , the flesh , wicked men ; but all these are subservient to satan , who in them and by them driveth on his designe of temptation . but this tempter never before nor since took such a task in hand , as here to tempt christ . fiery darts ( eph. . . ) can make no impression where they meet not with combustible matter : granado's , if cast on a castle all strongly arched over with stone , do small execution : so here , satans temptations took no effect in christ , because finding no party to comply with him . ioh. . . the prince of this world cometh , and hath nothing in me . though christ was all in all , yet satan found nothing in him , namely for his purpose ; no corruptions to be tinder to his fiery temptations . if thou beest the son of god . some conceive that satan herein dissembled his knowledge , ( as ioseph , who did know , and would not know his brethren ) though assured christ was the son of god . such a sort of people we meet with , pet. . . for this they are willingly ignorant of . but cui bono ? for what conceived good to himself should the devil disguise his knowledge herein ? others conceive , that as an angry dog bites a stone out of meer madness , though knowing he shall sooner break his teeth , then batter the stone : so satans malice so far transported and blinded his judgement , that he tempted christ , though ( knowing him for the son of god ) his temptations would prove in effectu●l . but i rather cast the grain of my opinion into the seale of those divines , who conceive the devil unsa●isfied in this point ; and therefore his of thou be the son of god proceeded from his desire of more perfect information therein . hence we learn , satan hath a limited and confined knowledge , and is ignor●nt in many things . he knoweth not the secrets of our hearts , nor future contingencies reserved to god alone ; the reason why he returned such ridling oracles , meerly to palliate his own ignorance . in such things he speaks warily , with an if ; not that he is conscientious , not to tell a lye ; but cunning , not to be caught with a lye , that by pretending of tru●h , he may keep up his credit , and deceive with the less suspicion . secondly , from this if we collect also , it is satan's master-piece , to make gods children first doubt of , and then deny their sonship . ( for , had christ entertained this temptation , at the next return , satan would have turned si into non ; this his conditional particle , into a pure negation . ) this he doth by two devices . first , by insinuating a si , a suspicion of doubt , into the most positive and pregnant promises of god . where god saith , call upon me in the time of trouble , and i will hear thee ; satan infers , if he will hear thee . where christ saith , mar. . . he that believeth and is baptized , shall be saved ; satan suggests , if he shall be saved . in a word , the devil endeavours to alter the property of all gods promises for the worst , substituting a supposition for gods position : as , where god had lately said , matth. . , this is my beloved son ; the devil spoils a direct text , with a doubting gloss , if thou be the son of god . secondly , by heightning the afflictions of gods servants , to be so great , as inconsistent with their sonship : as here he would perswade , christs hunger argued him no son of god , except he could presently relieve himself . so he tempts gods children to believe , that their poverty , infamy , captivity , and other tribulations , plainly prove them no sons of god , unless they can presently rid themselves of them . gratifie not satan in the deepest of thy afflictions , with a confession against thy self . acknowledge thy self a prodigal ; but yet a childe , no bastard : a wandering sheep ; but yet a sheep , no goat : sanctified afflictions being evidences of gods love , not hatred unto thee . remember and apply to thy self gods three gifts . the first , good : the second , better . the third , best of all . the first , general ; ioh. . . he gave his onely son , that whosoever believeth in him , &c. the second , particular ; eph. . . loved the church , and gave himself for it . the last and best , more particular still ; gal. . . who loved me , and gave himself for me . take heed to pleasure satan , by renouncing thine own sonship ; and apply this grand gift of christ , with a particular faith , unto thy self . command that these stones be made bread . even by the confession of satan himself , the son of god by his mandate can instantly transubstantiate stones into bread . indeed , men by the help of a figure may in some sort be said to do so . such who in the west country turn solid lime-stones into compost , whereby they manure their tillage , and make their grain wonderfully to increase , may by a metonymie be said to turn stones into bread . but this is done with a tedious going about ; whereas christ's miracles are presently and perfectly performed : immediately his leprosie was cleansed , matth. . . immediately their ●y●e received sight , matth. . . immediately the fever left her , mark . . immediately her issue of blood was stanched , luke . . god onely can instantly and perfectly ( with such as act by commission under him , as moses did ) turn the substance of one thing into another . see we here , that jannes and jambres , the egyptian inchanters , did their miracles but seemingly . had christ rejoyned , my turning of stones into bread will n● argue me the son of god , seeing the egyptian magicians , exod. . , turned their ●ods into serpents ; how quickly would the devil have distinguished , that these things were done quoad 〈◊〉 tudinem , non quoad ●●ritatem ? disclaiming his own deed , because aaron's rod swallowed up theirs ; that is , it lasted and con●●●●ed , when the others vanished awaye . three good things appear in this temptation of satan . . truth , allowing divide omnipotencie . . temperance , that stones should not be turned into variety of dai●ties , provocatives of wantonness ; but onely into bread , for necessary sustenance . . tenderness , counselling christ to support his own life and health . but as the lo●●●ls ( rev. . ) bad faces like the faces of men , but 〈◊〉 like ●nto scorpions : so here satans temptation had much of humanity and philanthropia in the complexion and visage thereof , ( and no wonder he can make himself look like a man , who can ( cor. . . ) transform himself into an angel of light ) but a sting in the tail , to put christ on the preposterous working of a miracle , to the distrust of his fathers providence . learn we from hence , to fear all discourse with satan , and suspect all that he saith , as having a reach beyond our discovery . metuas satanam , vel vera loquentem . some will say , let satan but speak the truth , and let him do his worst . ex veris possunt nil nisi vera sequi . by the necessity of logick , truth must inevitably follow from the truth he speaks . but know , his sophistry can grast a lye suddenly on the stock of truth , so artificially , so invisibly , that thine eye cannot discern the same . lastly , be jealous of satans best temptations , which ( as here to christ ) pretend most courtesie and kindness in them . stinks are not so dangerous for mens healths , whose offensiveness makes them easie to be avoided , as those faint and luscious smell , which , complying with mans nature , insensibly steal into the nostrils : such is the smell of may-flowers , mellow apples , and , they say , of the plague it self : but of all sents , the least suspected , and therefore most malignant , is the stink of a goal * , which is somewhat akin to man , arising from the corruption of his flesh and sweat . take heed especially of those temptations of satan which have some mixture of humanity in them , as this in the text , when he perswaded our saviour by sin to preserve himself . studiously avoid such temptations , which in some manner claim kindred of us , lest by their pretended alliance to our natural preservation , they surprise our souls into a sudden consent unto them . christ's first temptation to despaire . sermon iiii. matth. . . but he answered and said , it is written , man shall not live by bread alone , but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of god . there is a received fancie , as old as common , false as either , having no footing in scripture , but founded partly on that license which painters assume to themselves , partly on the pretended apparitions of ignorant monks , that the devil is horned . the best moral i can make of so fond a conceit , is this : the devil's temptations are horned , or forked , bicornea argumenta . so that chuse which you will , he hopeth to gore the soul : thus in the last verse , to our saviour , if thou be the son of god , &c. one the one side , satan hoped to make christ renounce his sonship ; there is one born : or else to work a needless miracle ; there is the other horn : and with such dilemma's he useth daily to assault gods children . but what saith david ? ( psal. . . ) i will break the horns of the ungodly : which here was truely performed by christ , who found out a medium betwixt the two extremities ; namely , that a man without bread might support himself , by a faithful and patient dependance on gods promises . hunger ( saith our english proverb ) will break thorow stone walls : and satan hoped that christ's hunger should transport him so far , as to turn those stones miraculously into bread . when , contrary to his expectation , christ turns a place of scripture ( being the bread of life ) into a stone , wherewith he hit , wounded , and repelled satan : he answered and said , man shall not live by bread alone , &c. observe therein , first , what christ did not do : he did not work a miracle to gratifie satan . secondly , what he did say : he fenced himself , and foiled his foe , by alleadging of scripture . most of the difficulties in this text will be explained , if we but propound and expound one wonder which we meet with , of christ's working in the gospel . the wonder is this , that christ afterwards ( ioh. . ) turned water into wine at a wedding , and would not now turn stones into bread in the wilderness . for , . both were equally easie , and both required an infinite agent . . wine is but a meer superfluity , but bread is of absolute necessity to mans life : yea , men may quench their thirst from water , when they cannot satisfie their hunger from stones . . wine , at that time and place , was a superfluity of a superfluity ; it appearing by the text , ioh. . . they had well drunk . understand it , not so excessively , but still there was a plus ultra for honest mirth , or otherwise our saviour would not patronize drunkenness . lastly , that miracle he did to gratifie guests ; but here he was concerned for his own support ; and yet refus'd to work it . the reason of all this , is ; he did that miracle in cana for the converting of unbelievers to the faith , and the confirming of weak believers in the faith . the text saith , ioh. . . this beginning of miracles did iesus in cana of galilee , and manifested forth his glory ; and his dis●iples believed on him . now here he refused to turn stones into bread , because , . it was unnecessary : christ now being to leave the wilderness , might either buy , or else request food elsewhere . . it was unseasonable to do it at satans suit and solliciting , who would be ready to brag that he had christ at his command , to practise miracles at his pleasure : wherefore neither satan nor his imps , herod , luke . . and the pharisees , matth. . . could prevail with christ to shew them a signe , when either out of curiosity , wantonness , or craft , they required the same . . it was unprofitable , there being no hopes of satan's conversion . the blinde man ( being pressed often to repeat the manner of christs curing him ) said bluntly to the pharisees , ioh. . . wherefore would ye hear it again ? will ye also be his disciples ? why should our saviour work a wonder satan being present ? would he also be christ's convert ? he could not , he would not believ to salvation lastly , it was unlawful to tempt god to work a needless miracle , when there were other ways to subsist without it . which leads our meditations to observe , christ and his apostles wrought their miracles with a publike spirit , for gods glory . they never used their healing or sanative miracles for their own relief ; nor their hurting or destructive miracles in their own revenge . for the first : it is well known how neer and dear timothy was to saint paul , whom he called * his son ; yet he would not cure those frequent infirmities wherewith timothy was troubled . paul that cured the cripple at lystra of his lameness , acts . . healed the father of publius principal man in melita of his fever , acts . . raised eutiches to life when killed with a fall , acts . . why should not he presently heal timothy , but onely prescribe him a more liberal diet ? tim. . . drink no longer water , but use a little wine for thy stomacks sake , and thine often infirmity ? yea , why did not he cure himself of that acute disease , cor. . when he received in himself the sentence of death ? the reason of both is this : they were stewards , not owners of their miraculous power , and might not ingross it for their own good , but dispense it , for the behoof of others , and principally for the converting of unbelievers . nor were their destructive miracles employed in their own revenge . alexander the copper-smith , saith s. paul , ( tim. . . ) hath done m●much evil : the lord reward him according to his works . some will say , had i been in paul's place , i would never have sent him to god for his reward , but would presently have paid him my self , and smote him ( as he did elymas ) with blindness . but paul would not be judge in his own cause ; it being probable , that elymas his fault was more publike , not onely committed against paul , act. . . but also against sergius the deputy , seeking to turn him away from the faith ; whilst alexander's insolence was more particularly aimed at paul's person , and therefore the apostle ( for fear of pa●tiality ) refers him to divine punishment . this will put a touch-stone into our hands , thereby not onely to suspect the truth , but detect the falshood of many popish miracles , having so many private ends and self-interests in them . thus * austin is reported , when preaching here in dorsetshire , being afflicted with his companions for want of water , to have struck his staff into the earth , and to have fetcht forth a crystal fountain . whereas christ himself was fain ( when thisty ) to go to the well , and beg water ( ioh. . ) of the samaritane woman . they report also of saint * david , the welch saint , that when multitudes of people pressed to his preaching , with a word he commanded a mountain to stand out of the earth , that so his person might be more visible , his preaching more audible to the congregation . whereas christ himself , matth. . . preaching to as great a confluence , did not create , but climb up ; did not make , but made use of a mountain ; not easing himself by miracle , but taking pains in his own person to travel to the top thereof . christ , i say , who out of a publike spirit healed others , but was hurt himself ; fed and filled others , but was hungry and empty himself , when he returned this answer in the text : it is written , man shall not live by bread onely , but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of god . it is written . where ? in what book , chapter , and verse ? for the later , chapter and verse , they are not iure divino , but of humane and late institution . indeed the psalms , both for number and order , were anciently divided and martialled ; act. ● . . it is written in the second psalm . but chapters are of a far later institution . let it suffice the place was betwixt the first of genesis and the last of malachi . and satan knew full well it was no forged text , but truely to be found , deut. . . gods word is the best weapon for our spiritual warfare . military men have much troubled themselves advantagiously to compound offending and defending in the same weapon . this , if effected , would both save portage , and one weapon would be eminently two , for all purposes and intents . hence grew the invention of making short pikes in the bosses and middle of shields , that the same may both hide the souldier , and hurt his adversary . this is perfectly performed in the scripture , both sword and shield against the * fiery darts of the devil . and well are his temptations resembled unto darts , for their swiftness , for their sharpness : they come the quicker , and pierce the deeper , according to the might and malice of the arm enforcing them . to confute the papists , who disarm gods people , and leave them naked against the assaults of satan , by locking up the word in an unknown tongue . whether the translating of the norman laws into english , will make men more knowing , or more wrangling ; more intelligent , or more litigious , the present age can onely ghess , the next will certainly conclude . but out of all question it is , the laws of god cannot , without breach of christian liberty , and the apparent injury of gods servants , be hid him from them in a strange language , so depriving them of their best defence against satans temptations . gods faithful servants , in the time of famine , can make a feast unto themselves out of the promises in scripture . they take the first course out of the old testament , psal. . . the lions do lack and suffer hunger ; but they that fear the lord , shall want no manner of thing that is good . the second course is out of the new testament ; matth. . . but seek ye first the kingdom of god , and his righteousness , and all these things shall be added unto you . yea , he may make a convivium dubium , a doubtful feast , wherein the appetite is suspended betwixt the variety of equally-dainty dishes ; and he shall leave as good as he takes , so copious is the scripture therein . come we now to consider the several ways whereby god wonderfully supports them , who in want feed on his promises . some will say , words are but winde : but god's are real words , such as fill and fat those that depend upon them . first , he can make a little go far , as matth. . . when about five thousand were fed with five loaves and two fishes . secondly , he can ( as extend the quantity ) so improve the quality of meat , that coarse diet shall cause strength and health as well as dainties ; as in the case of daniel's pulse . shew me not the meat , but shew me the man , saith our english proverb . when i behold the children of poor people , i perceive a riddle , and contradiction between their fare and their faces : lean meat , and fat children ; small beer , and strong bodies ; brown bread , and fair complexions . nor can i attribute it to any other cause but this , that the rich folk generally make long meals and short graces , whiles poor men have short meals and long graces ; i mean that they rely more upon gods blessing then their own provisions . thirdly , by strange and unexpected ways , he can furnish them with food in the greatest of their necessities . whereof we will make onely a fourfold instance . in the yeer of our lord , when a general famine was over all england , master cambden in his * britannia reports that at alborough in suffolk , on the sea-coast , there grew on the rocks such plenty of pease which came to perfect maturity , that they abated the prizes of the market , and saved the lives of many poor people . when the city of * rochel was besieged , , and by famine reduced to great extremity , god sent into their haven such a shole of fishes , ( of a sort never seen there before or since ) which relieved the people till the siege was broken up . when the wife and children of banished * musculus begged bread of him ( no welcome musick to a tender father , who had not wherewithal to relieve them ) to divert his care , he fell a making of verse : est deus in coelis , qui providus omnia curat , nunquam credentes destituisse potest . i confess the verses none of the most , excellent ; but i question whether a better poet would not have made worse on the same occasion , seeing the tears of starving children are but a bad helicon to quicken his fancie . now no sooner were his verses ended , but a neighbour of his brought him a loaf , which made him a feast for his family . lastly , in the massacre at paris , one merlin some fortnight together was nourished with one egge a day , laid by an hen that came constantly to that hay-mow where he lay hid from danger . to teach all in time of extremity to depend on him , who hath written , man shall not live by bread alone , but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of god . christ's second temptation to presumption . sermon v. matth. . . then the devil taketh him up into the holy citie , and setteth him upon a pinacle of the temple . when the army of bennahad was routed by ahab , benhadad's servants said unto him , kings . . their gods are the gods of the hills , therefore they are stronger then we : but let us fight against them in the plain , and surely we shall be stronger then they . they conceited that change of place would bring change of success . the devil may seem in my text ( as crafty as he is ) to befool hims●lf with the same conceit . though christ had worsted him in a lowe , flat , level , private wilderness ; he hoped to be more happie in a high , lofty , publike place ; which made him ( though acting the same part ) to lay a new scene . indeed , in this verse he perfects nothing , but provides and prepares all things for the ensuing temptation , and in this text onely tunes the instrument . now whereas routed once , he here ●allies his forces , we learn , satan , though f●iled at first , will not finally forsake us , but renew his temptations . some impute it to his valour ; i ascribe it rather to his malice , conceiving it to proceed not so much from his sprightfulness in himself , as his spightfulness against us . there is a generation of people , which , satan-like , triumph to trouble where they cannot conquer ; such , whilst sophisters in the schools , make abominable wranglers , and defenders of paradoxes : cunning men in the country , i● getting a smack of the law , they prove barettors , troublesome to themselves and their neighbours : but if they pretend also to divinity , then they turn , if not hereticks , to the destruction of themselves , yet schismaticks , to the destruction of the church . this will give us truely to understand those words , resist the devil , and he will fl●e from you ; that is , he will so flee from you , as he will again flee to you . it is said of marcellus the romane general , he could not be quiet nec victor nec victus ▪ neither conquered nor conqueror . yea , it is said of the parthians , that thei●flight was more to be feared then their fight , having a slight to shoot their arrows over their backe , whereby they galled their pursuing enemies . suspect satan even departing : for it is animo revertenai ▪ he will never let thee alone whilst thou art alive . but it is said ( mark . . ) by christ to the dumb and deaf spirit , i charge thee come out of him , and enter no more into him . it seems ( contrary to your doctrine ) this man had a quietus est , or a writ of ●ase , never more to be troubled with temptations . neither did our saviour speak , nor satan understand these words in this sense . the man had a supersedeas onely from possession , but not from temptation ; to which he was subject , as long as he lived , as well as others . here take notice of our saviours goodness , who in the case of a friend ( this poor oppressed man ) would discover his deity , and totally and finally banish the devil from possessing him : but in his own cause ( though , no doubt , if he had thought fit , he could have confounded satan , and confined him to hell ) he still remained meer man , suffering satan to recruit his forces against him in his temptations . will satan return again in tempting ? then if thou hast got any advantage against him , improve it to the utmost : give no fair quarter to his foul temptations . kindness to him , is cruelty to thy self . he is uncapable of courtesie , and his thanks will be in destroying thee . deal not with him as ahab did with benhadad , out of fond pity to spare him , king. . . lest he deal with thee as benhadad did with ahab , be thy final ruine and destruction . the devil taketh him . luke saith , brought him hath satan such power over christs body , to hale and draw him at pleasure , to any place ? this is cold comfort to christians : the disciple is not above his master : if he served christ thus , how cruel will he be to us ! he hath no power of himself over christ's or our bodies : which plainly appears , because he doth not daily exercise the same . had he any such power , scholars should not stay still in their studies , nor lawyers stand quietly at the bar , nor any sit undisturbed at meals : none should ever walk unmolested when waking , nor lie undisquieted when sleeping . it is not from store of pity , but want of power in satan , that he doth not daily hackney and harase out the bodies of gods saints till they become skeletons , and more wasted then pharaoh's lean kine . expect not here that i should speak any thing of witch-bridles , fondly believed by many ; as if a witch can bestride any thing into a steed , and mount whither they please on such a pegasus . i am thus far for witch-bridles , that god bridles all witches , and the devil their master , with a confined power . and as for witches pretended a●ry travels , they are generally delusions of their fancies in dreams , whilst their head never travelled from their pillows ; if they be so well stored ( as commonly being most poor ) to sleep upon them . but to return to the text : the words he taketh him , imply not any force , seeing the original , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} is used matth. . . and ioseph arose , and took the young childe and his mother . the same is used , matth. . iesus taketh peter , and iames , and iohn , when he was to be transfigured ; who freely went along with him , at his motion . nor doth {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , he brought him , luke . . import any violence , seeing we read , act● . . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , they brought them , but without violence . the sum of all is this : as a chalenger may be said to have took and brought such a one to fight with him on calice-sands , that i● , by mutual consent , the other being as willing to go , as the chalenger to have him : so christ confident of his cause , innocence , armour , and gods assistance , went willingly with the devil , refusing no place of his profering . however , our divines generally conceive , that god for the present gave satan power over christs body to transport it : which may be maintained without any absurdity . for if the imps of satan , the souldiers and priests officers , had power to carry him from the garden to annas , from annas to caiaphas , from caiaphas to pilate , from pilate to herod , from herod to pilate , from gabbatha to golgotha ; no wonder if satan himself might have commission to carry him , and christ shew submission to be carried by him . in a word , as when pilate boasted what great matters he could do , ioh. . . jesus as humbly as sharply returned , thou couldst have no power against me , except it were given thee from above : so satan could have no power over christs body , except god , for his own greater glory , had permitted it unto him . into the holy citie . how can a material citie , being but an heap of houses , be accounted holy ? as there is none good but one , god himself ; so none holy but he , by original inherent holiness : none holy but angels and men , with derivative inherent holiness but a relative holiness belongs to places and things , consecrate or set apart , from civil or profane , to religious or pious uses . but how could ierusalem now be accounted holy , seeing the complaint , isai. . . was now truer then ever , how is the faithful city become an harlot ! what , an holy harlot ? matth. . o ierusalem , ierusalem , thou that killest the prophets , and stonest , &c. what , an holy murderer ? abominable corruptions swarmed therein . the high-priesthood , which , iure divino , ought to have been for term of life , was by a fundamental innovation made annual , ioh. . . caiaphas being high-priest that same yeer . traditions were advanced , not onely to make void , but to check the written word of god . the pharisees made the strength of god's laws to leak with their carnal and restrictive gloss : and could this be still the holy city ? it was so ; because , notwithstanding these corruptions , the vitals of gods service and mans salvation were therein still continued . there was the holy altar , ( the heart of religion : ) holy , because it held the holy sacrifices : and they holy , because they were types of christ , the truth , the holy one of god . separation therefore may be made from the corruptions , not from the fundamentals of a true , though sick church ( such as ierusalem now was ) much depraved , but still the holy citie of god . satan is not deterred from tempting , by the holiness of any place . for here was a triplicity of holiness centred together . holy land , zech. . . in this holy land , ierusalem , termed the holy city in the text , as also so called , matth. . . in this holy city , the holy temple , psal. . . i will worship toward thy holy temple . a fourth may be added , the pinacle , which though not the holiest , yet the highest place of the temple , in a local position . but all these nothing frighted the devil from tempting . some have admired at the impudence of those thieves who durst cut purses in prayer time , in the kings chappel , his majestie being present , and under the cloth of state . all this is nothing to satans boldness , who catcheth away that which was sown in the heart , matth. . . in the church it self , where the king of heaven is graciously present . and since he tempted christ on the temple , fears not to tempt christians in it , for all the holiness of the place ; to tempt the preachers in the pulpit to affect popular applause , bow scripture to his own ends ; tempt the reader in the desk to have his minde roving , whilst his tongue is reading the word : tempt the people in their puts to carp and cavil at the sermon , and to come thither rather to see and be seen , then to learn and practise . in a word , no holiness of place d●ters satan from tempting . see here the folly of the papists , who conceive holy water , holy reliques , holy rags , will drive satan away ; when holy land , holy city , holy temple , heavenly pinacle , did not fright him from tempting our saviour . pinacle of the temple . understand a battlement : otherwise iosephus informs us that the broches of metal on the top of the temple , were pointed as sharp as a needle , purposely to prevent birds sitting and defiling upon them . two things make a pinacle : . height . . narrowness . both which here met together . let those then , first , beware , who stand upon the pinacle of a doubting conscience , and who adventure on those things , the lawfulness whereof is questioned both by themselves and others . such as use pastimes on the lords day , which , for their violence and obstreporousness , seem labour rather then exercises ; these stand on a pinacle . such as being divorced from their wives for adultery proved in them , and marry again , their wives yet surviving , stand on a pinacle . such as marry their cousin-german ( which i confess not forbidden in scripture ) by reason of their vicinity are conceived by some divines to stand on a pinacle . and as i wish all such as have taken their station there , firm footing , ( unwilling to cast scruple into their consciences ; ) so it will not be amiss to advise those whose affections are unengaged , and that have the wide world before them , not to adventure on such a pinacle . secondly , let those beware of temptations , who stand upon a pinacle of distress , as david did , sam. . . i am in a great strait ; when chuse betwixt famine , flight , and pestilence . time was , when he boasted , tho hast set my feet in a large room ; but see into what straits sin hath now reduced him ! thirdly , let them beware temptations , that stand on the pinacle of dignity . . because their falls are more conspicuous . king. . . bathsheba said to david , the eyes of all israel are upon thee . . because their fall would be more dangerous : ●olluntur in altum ut lapsu , graviore ruant . now for their comfort , let such examine themselves , whether god ●et them on the pinacle , or whether they clambered up themselves . if the former , he that placed them there , will protect them there ; he that set them there , will save them there . what makes tylers ▪ plumbers , masons , and carpenters , adventure themselves so boldly on the tops of houses ? two things , namely , their calling and custom , begets their confidence . if god hath called thee and used thee in the height of honour , he will preserve thee therein . but adonijah , who exalted himself to the pinacle , reg. . . must beware a downfal : and they who climb up to greatness by a ladder of their own sins , commonly make but one step in their falling down , from the top to the bottom . let me give also this counsel to those who stand on the pinacle of dignity ; always look upward ( not with proud eyes , to contemn your inferiours , but ) with thankful eyes to god that gave thee that honour . this will keep thy head steady , and thy brains from being turned with a vertigo of pride . take heed of looking downward , i mean , to finde out a reason of thine advancement in thine own merit and desert ; but say always with david , what am i , or what is my fathers house , that thou hast brought me hither , to this pinacle of preferment ? christ's second temptation to presumption . sermon vi . matth. . . and saith unto him , if thou be the son of god , cast thy self down : for it is written , &c. amongst the many titles of satan , this is not the least , ephes. . . the prince of the power of the air . having therefore now gotten christ on a pinacle in the air , in his own dominion and principality , satan presumed on success : but being beaten on his own ground , comes off with greater shame to himself , and greater glory to our saviour . observe in the text , the hook , the worst of works ; and the bait , the best of words . the hook , in general , the sin of presumption : in particular , self-homicide . the bait , scripture it self , cited by satan , who had great hope christ would bite at it . david saith , psal. . . thy words are sweeter then honey to my mouth . surely they were sweeter unto christ then to david , as having a more high gust , & more perfect taste ; and therefore the hook thus besmeared with honey , satan hoped would be swallowed ; but in vain , as by the sequele will appear . now seeing the former temptation of satan was to despair , this next to presumption , we learn , the devil will endeavour to make men ●eel from one extremity to another . the possessed man , matth. . . oft fell into the fire , and oft into the water . ( satans world hath no temprate climate , but either torrid or frozen zone . ) sometimes he casteth men into the fire of ill-tempered zeal , sometimes into the water of acedia , or a carelesness what becomes of their souls : sometimes into the fire of over-activity , to do nothing just ; sometimes into the water of too much idleness , to do just nothing . thus we read , rom. . . thou that abhorrest idols , dost thou commit sacriledge ? thus the incestuous corinthian husband to his mother , and son to his wife , ( cor. . . ) turned so violently from his prophaness , that there was danger he would have been swallowed up with over-much sorrow , ( cor. . ) if s. paul's prudent counsel had not prevented satans subtilty . rev. , thou hatest the deeds of the nicolaitans ▪ which i also hate . now ecclesiastical histories inform us , that this nicolas ( one of the deacons , acts . . ) had a wife as vertuous as beautiful , whose chastity he causlesly suspected . now being reproved for his fauls , to clear himself from jealousie , he prostituted his wife to any wanton mans embraces . such therefore are nicolaitans , who so indiscreetly shun one sin , that they fall foul into the opposi●e thereunto . thus the jews in the old testament , under-kept the sabbath with profaness , the constant complaint of the prophe●s , not onely before , but after the c●●ptivity , nehem. . . who , in the new testament , over-kept it with superstition ; conceiving deeds o● charity ( ma●k . . ) done on that day , a brea●h thereof . thus ▪ some shunning the heresie of one will , maintained the opposite of two persons in christ . thus the modern ranters were formerly conceived ( if guilty ) to offend on the right hand , using too much praying and preaching , even to the neglecting of their calling ; and now they are come ( be it spoken and heard with sorrow ) from living above ordinances ( as themselves term it ) to live against ordinances ; accounting b●asphemy , adultery , sabbath-breaking , &c. no sins . opposite are they to the man ( matth. . ) out of whom the unclean spirit being gone , retu●ned to an h●us● sw●pt and garnished : whereas these leaving an house swept and garnished , return to the unclean spirit . the worst i wish such is , to practise the precept prescribed , revel. . . remember whence thou art fallen , and repent , and do thy first works . and let us avoid sin , not onely at a great distance , but also with good discretion , lest we sin in the other extreme . cast thy self down . i observe in the words , god's goodness , satan's weakness , man's freeness . god's goodness ; who , to prevent casualties of mens falling from the top of their houses , himself turns architect , and gives the jews instructions how to build , deut. . when thou buildest a new house , then thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof , that thou bring not blood upon thine house , if any man fall from thence . indeed , we call those gods gifts , or deodands , which are escheated to him by such casualties ; anciently ( when not reserved by charter to the lord of the mannor ) given to the almoner , to bestow on pious uses . it seems therefore god delights not to enrich himself by such revenues , desiring no not the temporal death of a sinner , but seeking to prevent their falling down , by enjoyning a border of battlements . . satan's weakness . why could could not he thrust christ down , standing now on so ticklish terms as the top of a pinacle ? one shove with his shoulder , nay , one touch with his hand , might have done the deed . oh , it was past his power ! sooner might he have removed the earth from the centre thereof . even the hairs of your head are numbered . and , as satan cou●d not cast christ down , so he could not make christ cast himself down , except wilfully he would do it , on his own accord : which leads us to the third thing , . man's●reeness . whence we learn , satan may fl●tter and fright , but he cannot force us to commit sin . indeed he may by his instruments compel us to the outward act ; ( witness amnon , sam. . . ravishing tamar , being stronger then she , forced her , and lay with her ) but cannot command the consent of our souls . thus the pagans in the primitive church might make christians bend their knees and hold up their hands to idols , but could not constrain their hearts to adore them . satan may commend , he cannot command sin unto us . this discovereth the vanity of their excuse , who having committed some great sin , plead for themselves , the devil hath long ow●d me a shame , and now he hath paid it me . and owe thee he might ( to use thine own phrase ) till the day of thy death , and his confinement to hell , hadst not thou enabled him with ●hine own money , and put him into a capacity to pay thee therewith . it is observable , that amongst the many confessions of good men in s●ripture , no one of them ( abate onely eve , transferring her fault on the serpent ) chargeth their sins on satan , but take them on their own a●count● , as ultimately revolved to their free consent . david , of of all men , had most right to make this plea for himself , when he numbred the people ; it being expresly s●id , chron. . . and satan stood up , and provoked david to ●umber them . and though david , no doubt , was sensible of s●tans temptation ; yet he taketh all on his own score , vers. . it is i● that have sinned , and done evil indeed : as excusing his subjects , so not accusing satan , as knowing he could not necessitate him to sin , without his own consent . it is a notorious sin , for a man , whilst himself , to destroy himself . why insert you these words , whilst himself ? open but that window , and it will be in vain for you to shut any doors . every self-homicide will plead , that he was beside himself , with fear , or love , or grief , or anger . god is not mocked . i onely count such besides themselves , who are not compo●es mentis ; but visit●d with a distraction from gods hand , and not wilfully contracted by their own vitious intemperance . in such a case , ut ad insaniam ita adjudicium , as men fall into madness , so are they brought to judgement , and all their mediate intervening actions are beheld by divine justice as none of theirs , because wanting the royal assent of their reason . for any other to destroy themselves , is an hainous offence against nature ; self-preservation being the first article in the grand charter thereof . . against reason ; ephes. . . no man ever yet hated his own flesh . no man ; he must be a beast , or a devil , that doth it . . against scripture : thou shalt not kill . say not , no law is particularly made against mans killing himself . perchance it was purposely omitted ( as the law against patricides amongst the grecians ) partly , because charity would presume , none could be so wicked ; and partly , lest mans corruption should abuse the law , sins punisher , to be sins remembrancer . but whereas it is said , thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self ; love of our selves is the original , love of our neighbour the copie . if therefore the killing of our neighbour , much more of our selves , is forbidden . miserable are the pretences men make for this sin . first , to prevent or remove pain . this proceeds from the ignorance of the scriptures , and the unbelief of the torments of hell : otherwise it is not the removing , but the increase and exchange of pain ; where the worm dieth not , and the fire is not quenched . secondly , to shan shame . both these motives to self-murther met in saul , sam. . , . he was sore wounded of the archers ; there was pain : and he feared le●t the uncircumcised come and abuse him ; there was his shame . yet twist both together , and they would not make one reason strong enough for him to kill himself . this was not the way to avoid , but increase shame . of him shall the son of man be ashamed , mark . . thirdly , to procure praise ; which cannot be only , when it is purchased by the breach of god's law . say not , samson did the same , whose faith is praised , heb. . do thou as samson did , and it shall be forgiven thee : pluck down at once two fundamental pillars of a church . his action shews his commission extraordinary , and is no warrant for others to drown , stab , poyson , murther themselves . to confute such as are guilty of self-homicide . but be this first pr●m●sed . those who being preachers , look with the severest on this sin , can as private men look with the most pitiful eyes on their persons . they that fall on their own sword , stand or fall to their own master . i will not say the men are damned ; but i will say the deed is damnable . who knows but that the l●st groan , which divorces their souls from their bodies , may marry their souls unto god●● so that the pangs ' of temporal death , may prove the pains of their spiritual birth . now self-homicide is twofold : either of omission , or commission . omission , by neglecting the means of food and physick , which god hath appointed for the preservation of their lives , and which come within the compass of their estates to procure . christ saith , mark . . is it lawful on the sabbath day to save life , or to kill ? making the forbearance of curing another man ( when he had power to do it , and the other faith to have it done ) equivalent to the killing of him . how more strongly then doth the argument hold in our selves , that it is self-murder to omit the means of our preservation ! self-homicide of commission , is , when men actually murther themselves ? let such as have entertained thoughts to destroy themselves , and are yet kept alive , be doleful for what is past , thankful for what is present , watchful for what is to come . peter said to s●mon●s magus , act. . . pray god if perhaps the thoughts of thine heart may be forgiven thee . some conceive magus his fault within the luburbs of the sin against the holy ghost ; and therefore peter warily inserteth perhaps , speaking conditionally , not positively ; as uncertain of his pardon . but i may certainly say to such who have harboured thoughts of self-homicide , pray , and without any perhaps the thoughts of thine heart shall be forgiven thee . the rather , because the best of men in their passions have been tempted with such thoughts : iob . . so that my soul chuseth strangling and death , rather then life . beza confesseth , that when a youth , being tortured with a scurfie head , he intended to have drowned himself from off the millers bridge in paris , had not the coming in of his uncle interrupted him . and let such as have lodged thoughts of self-murder , be watchful for the future in their prayers to god . let them beg of him , to binde their souls in the bundle of life ; to secure them ( in the best acceptance of the word ) from themselves ; to hide their life ( as well temporal as spiritual , col. . . ) with christ in god ; that it may not be found out , either when satan seeks to devour them , or they to destroy themselves . amen . christs second temptation to presumption . sermon vii . matth. . . for it is written , he shall give his angels charge concerning thee , and in their hands they shall bear thee up , lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone . come we now to the bait under which the hook was hid , god's word . we will consider it , . as indicted by the best ; . as abused by the worst of spirits . or , as written by david , as wrested by the devil . of the first : we finde the words , psal. . , . wherein three things are considerable . . god's injunction . . angels attendance . . man's protection . first , god's injunction , shall give his angels charge . this solemn charge proceeded not from the least distrust god hath of angels performance , but from the great desire he hath of mans protection . a word being enough to the wise . secondly , angels attendance ; thou shalt not dash thy foot against a stone . an expression which alludeth to what befel balaam , when a ( not protecting , but prosecuting ) angel , so withstood him , ( num. . . ) that his ass crush'd his foot against the wall . the foot ( we know ) is not onely the extremest , but meanest part of the body ; and shews the extensiveness of angelical protection . if the foot be kept , surely the head shall not be hurt ; but christ shall be preserved cap-a-pe , with an universal safety . thirdly , man's protection . i say , man's protection . the words being spoken principally of christ as a person , and secondarily of him and his , as they make up one mystical body , whereof christ is the head . in which sense , it will fall to the share of the meanest sincere christian , to come within the compass of this angelical protection : conceive him but the last joynt of the least toe of christ's foot , yet is he a lively member thereof , and by the promise in the text to be secured . angels are very handy to preserve gods servants from danger . psal. . . the angel of the lord encampeth round about them that fear him , and delivereth them . matth. . . in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my father which is in heaven . their angels , that is , deputed to their protection . thus such pages , and servants , which wait on the young children of great persons , are commonly called the childrens men , and the childrens maids , though their parents hired them , and pay them meat , drink , and wages . angels are god's angels , as he employeth them ; our angels , as employed about us . how then comes it to pass , that many of gods servants have such mischances , even in their feet ? mephibosheth , a childe of five yeers old , ( therefore the more innocent ) son to a good father , and afterward a good man himself , sam. . . was lame of his feet , by a fall from the arms of his fleeing nurse . reverend doctor willet , with a fall from his horse , anno , returning from london to his house , so bruised his foot , that it hastened his death . are the angels of good men absent , or impotent , or sullen , or sleeping , when such mischances betide them ? no mischances can befal the godly . not chances , because all things are ordered by divine providence not mischances , because all things work for the good of gods children . know then , that all promises of temporal preservation run with this tacite reservation in gods bosome ( always provided that he in his infinite wisdom conceiveth not the contrary more conducing to his own glory , for reasons best known to himself . ) for this cause sometimes god countermands angelical protection , and ordereth that those heavenly spirits should in some cases suspend their attendance on men . what shall we return to the angels , in recompence of their attendance about us , seeing omne beneficium requirit officium ; all favours received , require some duty returned ? let not god's servants be ever found unthankful . no worshipping of them , which they themselves disavow , rev. . . see thou do it not . no praying to them ; whereof no promise , precept , nor precedent in scripture . but first , make honourable mention of them ; give them their titles . it is uncivil to speak of gentlemen , knights , lords , dukes , kings , without the additions of worship , honour , grace , majestie . so , name angels with their due epithets ; good angels , ( contrary to evil angels , psal . . ) excelling angels , psal. . . holy angels , matth. . . angels of light , cor. . . elect angels , tim. . . such honour have all his angels . secondly , learn humility by them . no better thanks can be given the angels , then if thou beest made the better by them . much was the condescension of maximilian the germane emperour , when at the siege of a city he served in daily pay under our king henry the eighth . hence that in the grammar , meruit sub rege in gallia , understand belgica . but the distance is not so great between an emperour and a king , as between angels and men : yet they , without any regret , attend on the servants of god . lastly , be thankful to god for them . david knew as well as we , what service the angels performed for us ; yet it never troubled him , what he should do in requital thereof , whose thoughts were taken up to deserve an higher engagement , psal. . . what shall i render unto the lord for all his benefits towards me ? i will take the cup of salvation . amongst which benefits , angels protection was a principal . serve god , and thou shalt satisfie the angels for all their attendance about thee . come we now to behold the words as abused by satan . here some will tax the devil for mis-citing the text , because , whereas david said , lest thou dash thy foot ; satan inserts , lest [ at any time ] thou dash . but , though satan accuseth us , we will not accuse him without cause . an indefinite is equivalent to an universal . at any time , though not literally expressed , is vertually implyed in the words . his grand fault in mis-alleadging the words , is this , that as hanun ( sam. . . ) cut off the beards and cloathes of david's ambassadours in the middle ; so satan cites this scripture by halfs . i confess , not for number of words , but for the sense thereof , he leaves out a moytie of the text , the most effectual and operative words therein , which were not onely of the commission at large , but the quorum , viz. in all thy ways . god promising his protect●on on no other terms , but whilst men confine themselves to their vocation . satan is an excellent textuary , and most knowing in scripture . he knoweth every book , chapter , verse , word , syllable , letter , in the old and new testament , even in the original languages wherein they were written . he needeth no concordance alphabetically to finde out places , who hath them all ad unguem . but it is observable , that in all the scripture , from genesis to revelation , satan knoweth not one text which tendereth comfort unto him . many are unto him doleful messengers of despair ; as that , heb. . . he took not on him the nature of angels . that , iude vers. . and the angels which kept not their first estate , but left their own habitation , he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness , unto the judgement of the great day . many texts present him with sadness , partly from his incapability of salvation , for want of a saviour ; partly from his impossibility to repent , because of his implacable and invincible malice . how far more happie is the poorest soul , who , though not book-learn'd , hath onely a magazine of some select places , and promises in scripture ( gotten not onely by heart , but in his heart ) whence he may apply consolation to his soul ! satan may be cunning in scripture , but the scripture cannot be comfortable to him . it is not enough to hear scripture alleadg'd , in point of faith or fact ; but , with the bereans , we must examine whether the things be so . five things herein must be enquired after . . is the thing alleadg'd , in scripture , or no ? it is strange , that many things , by vulgar errour , and common credulity , pass for currant to be in scripture , when no such matter is to be found therein . many things are taken up by content , without either weighing or telling them . ye have heard it hath been said , thou shalt love thy neighbour , and hate thine enemy , matth. . . but , where is it said , thou shalt hate thine enemy ? surely nowhere in gods word , though some silly jews might ignorantly suppose it there . . if it be in scripture , is it just so as they cite it ? is it not alleadged defectively , with adoni-bezek , cutting off a thumb , or a toe ? or redundantly , with the gyants of gath , chron. . . with a finger or a toe too much ? is it exactly and adequately , as by them quoted ? . if just so , is it truely printed ? this is quickly discovered , by comparing one bible with another of a different impression . here ( be it spoken to the shame of careless correctors ) it may be said , it is printed , where it could never be said , it was written ; dangerours errata's unrecall'd , unconfess'd , having crept into many editions . . if just so , and rightly printed , is it truely translated ? i speak this in opposition onely to the rhemish testament , so full fraught of affected falshoods in favour of popery ; and in honour of our last translation under king iames , performed ( by the confession of forraigners unconcerned therein ) usque ad orbis invidiam . lastly , whether that scripture , if there , so there , truely printed , rightly translated , be not unproperly applied ? the papists have a good stroke herein ( especially in the point of the pope's primacie , wherein the scripture of it self is silent . ) as these words were abused by the devil ; so the next in the same psalm , ( psal. . . thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder , the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet ) were blasphemously profaned by pope alexander , when he trod on the neck of frederick the emperour . the precept to peter in a vision , acts . . rise , kill and eat , was produced by the pope , to warrant his war against the venetians ; though the same words obliged him to eat their corpses , as well as to slay them . but , devil-like , he could leave out what was against him , and make use of the rest . those words of the same apostle , behold , here are two swords , luke . are abused to prove the pope's double power , temporal , and spiritual . moe instances might be added , but are better forborn . for , though alleadged by us , not with the least approbation , but reprehension , and detestation of such blasphemies ; yet they can hardly be told , or heard , without leaving in our hearts some diminution of the majestie of god's word ( the dignity whereof all ought to maintain ) and therefore it is ill trusting of our corruptions with the bare reporting of such scriptures abused , for fear of the bad effects our badness may make thereof . lastly , hence we observe , gods protection cannot rationally be expected of them , who wilfully run out of their vocation . out of thy calling , out of god's keeping . what is thy profession ? a carpenter ? an honest calling : christ's reputed father was of the same . fell timber , frame fabricks , build houses , thou art in thy ways ; god and his angels will keep thee . what is thy calling ? a weaver ? a necessary calling , without which we could neither be warm , nor clean . cast thy shuttle truely , ( the swiftness whereof is the lively embleme of the shortness of mans life , ioh . ) labour faithfully , god and his angels will keep thee ; thou art in thy ways . art thou a souldier ? do violence to no man , neither accuse any falsly , and be content with your wages . march , charge , retreat , do duty according to command , god shall cover thy head in the day of battel : for , thou art in thy ways . but , if thou invad'st the ministerial office , presuming to preach , who never was sent ; look to thy self ; thou canst not , without usurpation , pretend to god's keeping : for thou art out of all thy ways . nor do i fear the frowns of any , if offended hereat , and reproving me for giving this just reproof . i am sure i am in my calling , in my ways ; and therefore , with comfort and confidence , may rely on god and his angels protection . to conclude , though the angels may be instrumental to keep our feet from dashing against a material stone , that is , to keep us from temporal danger ; yet there is a stone that passeth their power to preserve men from being hurt thereby ; viz. the stone mentioned by matthew , chap. . . whosoever shall fall on this stone , shall be broken : but on whomsoever it shall fall , it will grinde him to powder . let our prayers be to the god of these angels , that he ( who onely can ) would keep us from stumbling at that which should stay us , and from taking dangerous offence at our saviour , the onely preserver of our souls . amen . christ's second temptation to presumption . sermon viii . matth. . . iesus saith unto him , it is written again , thou shalt not tempt the lord thy god . i am no superstitious observer , or ceremonious affecter of mystical numbers : but i say , seven remarkable observations discover themselves in the text . more may , fewer cannot be raised , without leaving , and losing , what is natural , from the words ; and necessary , for our selves . now , whereas the devil in the very last verse , had ill cited , and worse ap●lied gods word , and yet our saviour still continueth to alleadge scripture in his own behalf , we learn , we must not leave off using of scripture , because of others abusing it . what if some wolves come in sheeps clothing , must the sheep therefore flea off their fleeces , and strip themselves out of the livery of their innocence ? what if thieves make their swords the instruments of robbery , must honest men ride on the high ways without any weapons ? what if the indians ( as much as lay in their power ) darkned the sun with their idolatry ; shall we therefore refuse to be guided by the light thereof ? o let it not put us out of conceit with s. paul's epistles ( yea , and generally with the whole scripture ) because some unlearned and unstable ( pet. . . ) have wrested them to their own destruction . some meats ( fenced with shells ) may be eaten after the most sluttish cooks ; and that place , psal. . lately ill served up by satan , ( with many more , daily ill dressed and dished by the unclean hands of profane persons ) may notwithstanding , without any danger , yea with great comfort , be tasted , swallowed , and digested , by the holy and hungry servants of god . the place cited by our saviour , ( as generally , part of the canonical scripture ; so particularly ) is parcel of the law in deuteronomie ; commending unto us this : christ , and all christians , ought to order their actions by the direction of the law . indeed we read , gal. . . if ye be led of the spirit , ye are not under the law . understand it , not under the curse , malediction , and condemnation thereof . rom. . . there is therefore no condemnation to them which are in christ iesus , who walk not after the flesh , but after the spirit . christ , by his death , ( as he did fulfil , so he ) did destroy the law thus far forth , that it cannot binde over any believer to damnation . yet all are under the guidance , government , and direction of the law ; yea , christians ought especially to apply all legal threatnings to their flesh , old creature , and unsanctified half , thereby the more effectually to subdue and mortifie the lust thereof . the woman of samaria , joh. . . said tartly and tauntingly to our saviour , art thou greater then our father iacob , who gave us this well , and drank thereof himself ? but , may we not say seriously and sadly to the modern proud and peevish antinomians , are ye greater then christ himself , who [ as god ] gave us the law , and [ as man ] drank himself thereof ; and because made under the law , gal. . . made the law the the square , whereby he regulated his actions ? alleadging the same to deter himself here from presumption : it is written again , thou shalt not tempt the lord thy god . now whereas moses , deut. . . hath it in the plural , ye shall not tempt the lord your god ; and our saviour assesseth it in the singular , thou shalt not tempt , &c. we learn , general precepts , promises , and threatnings in scripture , must be particularized to every person ; in precepts . psal. . . when thou sayst , seek ye my face ; my heart said unto thee , thy face lord will i seek . proportionably whereunto , in promises . matth. . . and ye shall finde rest for your souls . our heart should say ▪ and i shall finde rest for my soul . in threatnings . rom. . . if ye live after the flesh , ye shall die . our heart should say , if i live after the fresh , i shall die . this serveth to discover the vanity of the popish cavil , that single persons have no particular promise to bottom their faith upon . it is confess'd : nor is it necessary , seeing gods promises run all in general terms : ho everyone that thirsteth , come ye to the waters , isai. . whosoever believeth on him , shall not perish , joh. . . well then may a man , by a lively faith , inclose these common promises to himself , and bring his bucket to that fountain , which is opened for iudah and ierusalem . now ( that my sword may cut on both sides ) as causlesly doth t. c. carp at the practice of our english church , for saying to every particular communicant , take , and eat , when christ said it but once to all his disciples . as if we may not as warrantably pronounce the words to every single receiver , as our saviour , in my text , changed ye into thou ; a general , into a personal precept to his own soul . now whereas christ countermined satan , with alleadging gods word , i observe , though scripture cannot be brought against scripture , to cross it ; it may and must be brought unto scripture , to clear it . i say , cannot be brought . for god is the god , . of unity , and therefore will not indite discord and con●tradiction : . of verity ; and therefore will not affirm a falshood : and such must one of the propositions be of necessity , in all real and direct contradictions . i confess , some seeming contradictions ( not casually scattered , but ) designedly placed , by gods providence in his word ; first , to what and exercise our diligence and industry . secondly , to raise the reputation of scripture ; seeing ( through mans corruption ) intellecta ab omnibus , sunt neglecta à plurimis ; what all understand , many undervalue . thirdly , to render the profession of the ministery necessary , were it but to reconcile those contradictions to the capacities of their people . for these and other reasons , some seeming contrarieties appear in scripture ; but directly and diametrically , gods word cannot be brought against his word , to cross it ; though it may be brought unto it , to clear it . compare scripture with scripture , and one place will receive light from , and return it to another . many have written excellent comments on the psalm ; both fathers , papists and protestants . but give me , moses on david : ( who , though writing before him , wrote both with the same spirit , to which there is neither before , nor after . ) how excellently is david's promise expounded by moses's precept ? that all assurance of angelical protection must not thrust us on unnecessary dangers , for fear of temptiug the lord . it is tempting of god , to do that per saltum , with a leap , which he will have done by degrees . now suppose one on the top of an high wall or hill , there are three ways for his coming down : . ordinary , by the stayrs , from the wall , and from the hill , by surrounding the sides thereof , where it is least steep and precipitous . . industrious . understand ye hereby , by , a way out of the common road , unusual ; but neither unlawful , nor miraculous ; acquired by mens pains and brains , in case of extremity . thus , when saint paul , . cor. . . had his life way-layed for by king aretas , in the city of damascus , his way from the wall , by the stayrs , was obstructed , where souldiers were set to surprize him . what then ? did paul presently vault from the wall , and cast himself desperately into the embraces of a miracle ? oh no . the brethrens brains being at a loss , beat about , and ( according to the promise , * it shall be given you in the self-same hour ) discover an expedient , and let him down through a window in a basket . . miraculous , when all other ways fail . thus our saviour , luke . . being brought to the brow of an hill , whence the nazarites intended to cast him down headlong , passed ( but which way , god knows ) thorow the midst of them . thus when the disciples were in danger of drowning in a tempest , there being a necessity of christs coming to comfort them , and no ship at hand to waft him over unto them , he miraculously did walk on the water , matth. . . who in my text refused to flie thorow the air , though both motions we●e equally easie unto him . chiefly , because now the way lay open for his safe and easie descending , by the stayrs of the temple . it serveth to confute the pride , impatience , and laziness of such , who will not go pede-tentim , fair and softly , in the path and pace of gods appointing , but ( offended at the pretended tediousness thereof ) embrace more compendious courses of their own devising , which in fine prove farthest about , and never lead , with comfort , to their desired ends . we meet with a speculative stayr-case of gods own architecture , ( reaching from heaven to earth , and then from earth to heaven again ) moreover , whom he predestinated , them be also called ; and whom he called , them he also justified ; and whom he justified , them he also glorified , rom. . . now such who will leap instantly from predestination to glorification , without treading on the intermediate steps betwixt them , may be well assured to miss of their desired mark . there is also a practical stayr-case recommended unto us , pet. . . adde to your faith vertue , and to vertue knowledge , and to knowledge temperance , and to temperance patience , and to patience godliness , and to godliness brotherly kindness , and to brotherly kindness charity . let us thus adde grace to grace , and raise our souls to heaven by those degrees which god hath appointed . the proverb is most true in this , haste makes waste ; whereas , he that believeth maketh not haste , but leasurely and treatably goeth on in the way of salvation . let not us pastors begrutch our pains to our people , in teaching them , as we finde them capable to learn . god hath designed unto us herein , certain stayrs and steps : isai. . . precept must be upon precept , precept upon precept , line upon line , here a little and there a little . we must not think to do all at once ; christ in my text would not leap down from the temple , but go down by the stayrs : and it is folly in us to think , to leap up in the edifying of gods spiritual temples , ( to inform them in an instant in all fundamental matters ) which requireth much time , and must be done by degrees . the lord . it is height of madness , to tempt so great a majestie as the lord . abner disswaded asahel from pursuing him , sam. . . turn thee aside to the right hand , or to the left , and lay hold on one of the young men . if you must needs be tempting , be trying conclusions , be making experiments ; let men meddle with their matches , and tamper with those which are equal with themselves ; but forbear chalenging one infinitely above us . cor. . . do we provoke the lord to jealousie ? what , are we stronger then he ? what king ( luke . . ) going forth to war against another king , doth not first sit down , and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand , to meet him who cometh against him with twenty thousand ? i confess here is a possibility implied , that one may manage a defensive war , with hope of success , though the enemy be two to one against him ; namely , where the lesser number are better armed , disciplin'd , victuall'd , flesh'd with success , have the advantage of the time and place , not to speak of the goodness of the cause . but will any tempt the lord , and not first consider with himself , can thy folly mate his wisdom , thy weakness his strength ? thy ( i say not ten , his twenty thousand , but ) cypher , his infinite millions ? o tempt him not ; he is the lord . thy god . it is the height of badness , to tempt so good a majestie as thy god . christ said unto the pharisees , ioh. . . many good works have i shewed you , for which of those works do you stone me ? so may the god of heaven say to us sinful men , many benefits i load you with daily , psal. . . ( whilst we , vile wretches , as it is amos . . press him with our sins , as a cart is pressed under sheaves ) for which of those benefits do you thus tempt me , and constantly rebel against me ? is it because god gave thee plenty and freedom , in the penury and captivity of others , that therefore thou dost tempt him ? is it because god hath endowed thee with many natural abilities above thy fellows , that therefore thou dost tempt him ? or because he hath conferred on thee many spiritual gifts and graces , that therefore thou dost tempt him ? ioseph , when sollicited by his mistress to uncleanness , brought an argument to disswade himself from wronging his master , fetched from the many favours he had heaped upon him , gen. . . there is none greater in this house then i , neither hath my master kept , &c. the same seriously considered , and sincerely applied to our hearts , would keep us from committing many sins against him , who hath endeared us unto him with many mercies , and who is not onely the lord , but thy god . christ's third temptation to idolatry . sermon ix . matth. . . again the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain , and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world . one cannot proceed with any christian comfort , and necessary confidence , on a text , whilst it remaineth incumbred with doubts and difficulties . we will therefore endeavour , first to remove two of the greatest importance . what made satan shift his place , seeing the pinacle of the temple , ( whereon he stood before ) was as proper to his purpose ( by reason of the elevation thereof ) thence to render a veiw of the glory of the world ? for the temple was a stately structure , founded no mount moriah , chron. . . and the pinacle , being on the top thereof , afforded a conveniency to survey round about at great distance . not so : all the city ( and the temple therein ) was seated ( though on an hill ) in an hole , surrounded with higher mountains on all sides : psal. . . as the mountains are round about ierusalem , so the lord is round about his people . olivet on the east , zion on the south , gihon on the southwest , calvary on the northwest . satan therefore chose a larger horizon , where the sight was not so circumscrib'd , and removed from the pinacle to a mountain . not to say that the devil desired to put his new poyson into new bottles , and to make his new temptation the more taking and pleasant , with the novelty of another place , to which he adjourned it . but the next knot is far harder to untie , consisting indeed of a quaternion of difficulties all complicated , and twisted together . the first , ex parte loci , drawn from the place . grant it {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} a mountain , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} high , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} exceeding high , whereon satan took his station , yet was it too low , thence to take the prospect of the whole world . tenariff in the canarie islands , is beleived the highest mountain of the yet-known world , yet is not conceived to be perpendicularly above fifteen miles high ; too low a pedestal for one thereon to stand , to overlook the whole world . the second , ex parte objecti , from the thing to be seen , all the world . abate {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} [ the world adorn'd with creatures ] according to saint matthew , and confine it onely with s. luke to {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} [ the part thereof inhabited by men ] and it was not visible at one view , with all the glory thereof for , much of it lay buried in the bowels of the earth , in mines , and minerals ; much was concealed in coin , in the coffer of misers , bolting out the beams of the sun from the sight thereof . the third , ex parte organi , from the eye , the instrument of sight . it is true , matth. . . if the eye be single , the whole body shall be full of light . and we must allow our saviour a single eye , naturally quick and cleare ( except weakened with weeping for our sins ; ) yet finite was the sphere of the activity thereof ; nor so extensive , as with one view , to visit all the diocess of the world . the last , ex parte temporis , from the time ; saint luke allowing no longer term then a moment , for all this performance . now no considerable impression could be made on christs affections , to like or loath , in so short a time . as good never a whit , as never the better ; and in effect , it was never shown , which was so soon r●moved . the first answer to these difficulties cometh unto us recommended by the authority of saint chrysostome , affirming , that the devil did show , that is , by his gesture and pointing demonstrate to christ the glo●y of the world ( which might easily be done in a moment ) and afterwards satan at his leasure did largely comment on his foresaid manual indication , hightning and advancing worldly wealth , power , and pomp , to the greatest advantage , with that flattering rhetorick and fallacious logick , wherein that lying spirit doth excell . so that we have onely the rubrick , and breviate of satans oration set downe in text , without the embellishments , and amplifications thereof , wherein he enlarged himself to our saviour . the second answer is of such , who conceive satan chose out a select parcel of ground , probably in asia and the eastern parts ( where nature is most triumphant and orient in pleasure and treasure ) within the compass of christs sight , and presented it as a sample unto him , whence he might ghess the glory of all the rest . and i see no cause to the contrary , but that satan might make his election in palestine it self ; which country , not in relation to its spiritual advantages , but meerly for the outward fruitfulness thereof ( as appears in the text ) is twice terme● , viz. ezek. . . and . the glory of all lands . a third sort answer , that the glory of the world was not really shown , but onely seemingly , and in appearance , represented by satan ( the master-iugler in all delusions ) to the sight of our saviour . so that all worldly wealth , being ( in comparison of an eternal and stable good ) but a shadow , this pageant was but the shadow of a shadow , quickly vanishing away . either because the brittle constitution thereof would abide no long continuance , or that satan purposely withdrew it presently , to make christ more e●gerly to desire it , as meat is , tyrannically shewn to , and taken from hungry stomacks , to increase their appetite after it . i will not interpose my opinion , which answer to prefer ; but conceive , if all three be compounded together , enough may be collected out of them , to give a modest and sober minde convenient satisfaction . shewed him all the kingdomes of the world . observe , kingdoms are generally the governments wherein most earthly glory and gallantry is visible and conspicuous . yet i believe there want not those who dare maintain , that though pomp may be more in kingdoms , pride may be as much in commonwealths . now seeing the whole text is but a dumb show , wherein nothing is spoken , but onely all things presented to the sight of our saviour , we learne , the eye is the principal broker to make up the bargain betwixt sin and our soul . i say , principal ; the other senses being also active to the same ill end , but in an inferiour degree . we will not stir a step out of the first book of the bible , to give four plaine and pitifull instances thereof . gen. . . when the woman saw that the tree was good for food , and pleasant to the eyes , &c. herein , in some sort , her eye was taster to her mouth ; she presumed ( before she tried ) it would be delicious to the palate , it was so delightful to the look . secondly , gen. . . when the sons of god saw the daughters of men , that they were ( what ? wise ? vertuous ? religious ? oh no ) faire , they took them to their wives . and we know what a graceless brood of giants , was the issue of such equivocal marriages . thirdly , gen. . . when lot lifted up his eyes ( not in prayer to god , to direct him in a choice of such concernments , but ) to behold the plain of iordan , that it was well watered everywhere ; which made him unadvisedly fix his habitation there , to his great disturbance , and , without gods greater mercy , final destruction . fourthly , gen. . . when lot's wife looked back to sodom , and was severely punished , though abraham did the same ( in the very next verse save one ) without either sin or suffering ; partly because no such prohibition was layd upon him ; partly because abraham had better tempered eyes , not to look ( as too probably she did ) with lusting after the wealth therein . let us all pray with david , psal. . . turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity . which way shall we turn away our faces from beholding vanity ? which , as it is so bad , we should not look on it : so , it is so common , we cannot look beside it . if we turn our eyes from the right hand to the left ; if from before our face , to behinde our backs , we do but exchange one vanity for another ; seeing solomon saith , eccles. . . vanity of vanities , all is vanity . there is a fourfold cast of the eyes , wherewith men behold worldly vanity : the first necessary and lawful , not to be avoided ; the two next , useful and laudable , highly to be praised ; the last , ( but most commonly practised ) sinful and dangerous , justly to be condemned . the first , to behold vanity with a transient eye , as a passenger , who rides post through a country , and sees men , buildings , meadows , fields , woods , but can give no account of them , as minding their own business all the while . ahim●az being asked about absalom's death , sam. . purposely concealed his knowledg , in that his slight and general answer ; i saw a great tumult , but i knew not what it was . but should a saint of god be seriously examined upon interrogatories , concerning such a fond fashion or fantastick mode , what he knoweth thereof , all the intelligence he would return is this ; he saw a great busling , and huddle , and hubbub amongst men in the world , but he took particular notice of nothing , as beholding worldly vanities with a transient eye . the next , and that commedable , beholding worldly vanities , is with a contemning & disdaining look , slighting the poverty & emptiness thereof . the third , still more to be praised ( as speaking a greater degree of grace ) is with a pitying and bemoaning eye , ( not to the things themselves , but ) to souls of men so delighting in , and doating on them , that they , for whom christ shed his precious blood , should undervalue themselvs so unworthily , as to set their affections on so useless , yea dangerous objects . but to behold worldly vanities with an admiring and almost adoring eye , as the disciples , luke . . gazed on the fabrick and furniture of the temple , is much to be condemned in all christians . now whereas satan shews our saviour , all the glory of the world , but suppresseth all the sorrows thereof , and concealeth the cares of the world , mentioned matth. . . we observe , the devil discovereth what is pleasant , hideth what is painful , in all his allurements to sin . he was suspicious , had he really represented the world , with all the vexations inevitably appendant thereunto , it would have disheartned our saviour from the acceptance thereof . beleive it , they have not the soundest sleeps within them , who lie on the softest beds beneath them , and have the finest curtains about them . might one be but admitted to listen to the pillow of great persons ( seemingly swimming in all outward felicity ) he would be witness to strange sighs , and sobs , and moanes , and groans , musick little suspected to come from such mouthes ; dayly and hourly fearing to be depress'd by their superiours , justled by their equals , undermined by their inferiours . the scholar who reading to his master in haste mistook thorn for throne , committed an ingenious fault ; and the wofull experience of some , will justifie that his error was too true an anagram : and therefore the craft of satan concealed the grievances , shews onely the glory of the world . let us look as well , on the bitterness in the end , as on the present pleasantness of sin ; and eye iaels naile and hammer , as well as her butter in a lordly dish . now if one mark these opera preparatoria of satan in the text , and consider their tendency whereunto , one may observe a darker comple●tion , and more of hell , likely to be in this , then in both the former temptations . satan will reserve his worst assaults for the last . of the three , this bait was far most pernicious ; if we consider , . the sin to which he tempted , was more damnable . . the meanes whereby he tempted , were most plausible . the outward court of solomons temple , was holy , the middle holier ; but the third , or innermost , the holy of holiest . but in the hellish method of satans temptations , the first to despair , was profane ; the second to presumption , was profaner ; the last to idolatry , profanest of all . now we will insist on three reasons , why satan keepeth the worst alwaies for the last . first , because he is of the nature of a serpent , that old serpent called the devil , rev. . . and that beast is sufficiently knowne to carry his worst poison in his hindmost parts . secondly , because he alwaies delighteth to be one of the antipodes in opposition to gods proceedings , who ( being the author of concord ) makes ever the sweetest musick in the close , as the other the worst jarring therein . christ , iohn . . kept the best wine unto the last , satan in this his temptation , reserved to the last the dregs and lees of his sowrest and sharpest vinegar . thirdly , because morsus ferarum morientium dirissimi , the bites of dying beasts are the sharpest ; and when satan must depart ( a death to him ) and leave off to tempt us , he will badger-like , make his teeth meet , and take his leave with leaving a deep impression . beware the last last temptation of satan , on the day of our death . then , he will ( as we say ) make a bolt or shaft of it , put it to the push , either lose himself , or gain thy soul . we read iohn . . . in the last day , that great day of the feast , iesus stood and cryed , &c. but how loud will the devil that lion roar , in the great and last day of thy life , when it is with him , the last time of tempting ! either now conquer , or let him hereafter for ever hold his peace . this is sad tidings ( will the weak christian say ) to all in my condition . alas , the devil too oft prevaileth against me in my strength and health ; i shall certainly then be foiled , when , being weakned with long sickness , i shall be assaulted with death , and the devil , both at the same instant . be not dejected , god will keep thee unto the end , and in the end , and will not suffer thee at the last gaspe , for any paines of death , to fall from him . comfortable is the expression , psa. . . unto god the lord belong the issues from death . wherein observe , first , death is not a total and final extinguishing of mens being , but there is an emergency , an issue out of it . secondly , in the plural , there be issues , two exits out of death : mat. . . and these shall go away into everlasting punishment , but the righteous into life eternal . thirdly , these issues are not in the power of man or angel , to order and dispose of . alas , were it in the power of some men to order them in this uncharitable age , so full of fractions and factions ; those of an opposite judgement unto themselves , would hardly find a favourable issue from death . lastly , and most to our comfort , these issues are only in the sole disposing of god himself , who of his mercy will make us conquerors over satans temptations ; by whose gracious ●ssistance , psa. . . the lyon and the dragon ( two names of the devil in scripture ) shall at the minute of our death , be trampled under our feet . amen . christ's third temptation to idolatry . sermon x. matth. . . and saith unto him , all these things will i give thee , if thou wilt fall down and worship me . or as it is more large , luke . . . and the devil said unto him , all this power will i give thee , and the glory of them ; for t●at is delivered un●o me , and to whomso●ver i will , i ●ive it , if thou therefore wilt worship me , all shall be thine . these words contain a bargain , and sale endeavoured , though not effected . wherein observe , first , the seller , satan . for , though he boasts himselfe for a giver , will i give thee ; it was not donum , but excambium , wherein he desired to have quid pro quo , yea an over-valuable consideration . thus simoniacal patrons boast , how frankly and freely they give their livings , when indeed they sell them to unworthy incumbents , either by retention of tithes , or receiving of money . secondly , the things to be sold . lawyers charge their deeds with words enough , seemingly to the same purpose , though certainly the learned know a necessary difference in them : profits , emoluments , hereditaments , obventions , appendants , appurtenances , &c. the devil compriseth them in one word , all ; but afterwards brancheth it into two parts , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , and {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , power , and glory . thirdly , the sellers power to make a good state : nihil dat quod non habet ; nothing can give to another , what it hath not it self , formally , or vertually . satan herein pretends conscience ; he would not deceive our saviour by felling him a crack'd title , but shews his evidence , how he came possess'd of the same : all these things are delivered unto me . fourthly , the condition : satan would not give christ the world in frank-almonage , but on the price of being worshipped : yea his worship must be performed according to the best fashion , with all state , solemnity , and ceremony thereof , with falling downe . observe the devils subtilty , he will trust nothing , but to make sure work , would have all paid him , before he would part with any thing ; no worship first , no worldly wealth for it . lastly , one thing is wanting ( and that a material one ) to strike up the bargain , viz. a chapman ; and we have him half in the text , one desired and sought for ; but not found out , and obtained . for christ refused satans termes , which marr'd his market , seeing no indented deed can be perfected , without full consent of both parties . how comes satan now to omit that preface general , u●ed by him in both his former temptations , viz. if thou beest the son of god . is there not a cause ? satan out of designe suppressed it , as sensible that now it made as much against , as formerly for his advantage . for , should christ seriously consider , that he was the son of god , he would never ask a blessing at the hands of him , who was his fathers professed enemy . observe , christians consulting their divine extraction , would disdain to do many many base sins which now they commit . he that is born of god , committeth not sin , joh. . . that is , makes it not his work , especially whiles remembring his princely pedigree . is it a truth , or falshood that satan here affirmes , that the glory of the whole world was delivered unto him ? a noto●ious falshood , god only being the true proprietor thereof . and because it is a point of right , we will prove it both by record and practice . first , by record , psal. . . the earth is the lords , and the fulness thereof ; the world , and they that dwell therein . now , let satan produce the patent , with witnesses attesting the same , when , where , and for what consideration , god passed away this power unto him . for fond is all flying to poetical fiction , which makes pluto , the god of hell , the giver and governour of wealth . . by practice . had the devil had the disposing of this world , never had just iob got wealth , chaste ioseph gained honour , holy david become a king , pious mordecai been a favourite : the devil would have blasted their preferment in the bud , and with his negative voice had hindred their election to honour , had he had the ruling of rule and riches in this world . but the devil may seem the undoubted patron of all worldly advancement , because ( though sometime some good men slip into preferment ) his chaplains chiefly are presented thereunto . thus psal. . and psa. . david largely bemoaneth the prosperity of the wicked , that it almost made him to despair . consult the psalm first cited , vers. . where david discribeth the outward happiness of wicked men ; and speaking of them to god , he saith , whose bellies thou fillest with thy hid treasure . thou ; it is god that filleth them : thy ; it is out of gods wealth , that the wicked are fill'd ; though under him , satan is instrumentally active to confer riches upon them . but christ himself seemes to consent to satans soveraignty over the world , when stiling him thrice , namely , ioh. . . and . . and . . prince of this world . the devil is prince of this world , not by gods creation , and legal investing him therein , but partly by his owne usurpation , and partly by gods toleration , permitting him ( for some reasons known to us , and more conceal'd unto himself ) to do those ill offices , which good angels neither can , nor will perform . now the devil mis-interprets gods permission , for a commission ; gods connivence at , for gods conveyance of worldly rule unto him : but gods silence herein is not consent , as the wicked mistake , psal. . . besides , the devil lyed abominably when he said , he could give {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} power , or properly , authority : for , rom. . . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . for , there is no authority but from god . the devil , by gods permission , might give him {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , power , ( such as a thief hath over an honest man when he robbeth him ) but authority truely founded and bounded , satan could not bestow upon him . wherefore , though in his first temptation to despair , satan affirm'd no falshood , yet in his second to presumption , he supprest some necessary truth , in all thy ways ; and in this last to idolatry , vented a most impudent and abominable lye , when boasting , for that is delivered unto me ; and to whomsoever i will , i give it . it is a dangerous thing to accept worldly wealth as the devils donative . now wealth is the devil's gift , when atchieved by unwarrantable ways ; wrong , and robbery ; fraud , and flattery ; corruption , and bribery ; extortion , and cruelty . what said abraham to the king of sodom ? gen. . . i will not take any thing that is thine , le●t thou shouldst say , i have made abraham rich . but let it never be said , that the devil hath made us rich . such wealth of his giving , will never prove prosperous at last . we read , kings . . how i●hoiada bored an hole into the lid of a chest , into which the free-offerings for the temple were put . but god bores an hole , not in the lid , but bottom of those chests , wherein ill-gotten goods are laid up . they put them , ( hag. . . ) into bags with holes , thorow which insensibly their wealth leaketh out . the deceitfulness of riches ( matth. . . ) is pronounced of all wealth in general : even well-gotten goods are deceitful in this ; they promise that contentment which they cannot perform : but ill-gotten goods have a double deceitfulness ; in their getting ( like bread of deceit , prov. . . ) and in their event , they will prove deceitful to them that rely upon them . the devil at last will be found a grand impostor in all his promises . sometimes not performing them at all . one darius a persian prince , infamous for never-performed promises , is syrnamed darius doso , or , darius i will give . the evil spirit in my text may be named the devil doso ; all in the future tense , nothing presently paid and perfected . sometimes he performs them , but in a sense clean contrary to the expectation of him with whom he contracted . it is reported of king canutus , that he promised to make of him the highest man in england , who should kill king edmund iron-side , his corrival : which , when one had performed , and expected his reward , he commanded him to be hung on the highest tower in london . satan , who loves the sin , but hates the sinner , will finde some such trick , querk , or equivocation , thereby to frustrate and defeat those who depend on his promises ; as he deceived eve , gen. . with the fallacie of knowing good and evil . trust then rather the lord of heaven , whose promises are , first , truely propounded . satan ( as was afore said ) deals falsly in his propositions , shews onely the best , the glory ; conceals the worst , the grievances of the world . god in his profers truely states things ; tells us what to trust to , mark . . shall receive an hundred fold , houses , and children , and mothers , &c. with persecutions . he acquaints us as well with the trials we must expect , as with the triumph we shall obtain . secondly , ever performed , all gods promises in christ being yea and amen , cor. . . thirdly , they are over-performed : cor. . . eye hath not seen , nor ear heard , neither have entred into the heart of man , the things which god hath prepared for them that love him . fall down , and worship me . the fig-tree would not forsake his sweetnese , olive-tree his fatness , vine his wine ( whereby he cheareth the heart of god and man ) when the bramble ( fitter to make a fire then a king of ) accepted of the soveraignty of the trees of the wood , iudg. ▪ when the good angel that appeared unto manoah , judg. . . would not accept of a burnt-offering : when the good angel , revel. . . would not accept of saint iohn's worship : and when the good angel , revel. . . refused the same ; the devil desires divine worship to be given unto him . asperiùs nihil est humili cum surgit in alium . set the devil on gods throne , and whither will he mount ? now , seeing satan would have the copie of his , agree with the original of god's adoration , in all particulars , and expresly in the posture of prostration ▪ fall down , and worship me ; we gather , outward bodily reverence is necessary in divine worship . now the body of man can scarcely be contrived into a decent posture , which in scripture hath not been hanselled by some good man or other , with gods worship therein . the humble publicane prayed standing , luke . . sick hezekiah lying upon his bed , kings . . aged iacob , leaning on his st●ff . heb. . . devout saint paul , kneeling on his knees , ephes. . valiant ioshua , flat on his face , josh. . . faithful elijah , with his face between his knees , king. . when he prayed for raine . to shew how humbly importunate we ought to be , when we pray for so necessary a creature . the said elijah elsewhere , namely , kings . . prayed sitting under a juniper-tree ; but it was , when his minde was vexed with passion , and his body wearied with travel . otherwise it is a posture fitter for attention , then devotion , as partaking so much of ease , and repose , inconsistent with the reverence required in gods worship . the result of all is this , being ignorant of mens particular infirmities , and occasions , we cannot constantly con●ine them to one posture in gods worship . but let them use that , which expresseth most reverence , with their present convenience , and god will accept it , though no posture but falling down , would please satan's palate here in my text . such parents as expect their children should crave their blessing on their knees , whether do they not assume to themselves too much reverence , and therein intrench upon divine honour ? no : such genuflection being onely a civil posture to express their humility ; and is performed to princes and parliaments , by their petitioners : and therefore may be required by parents , monarchs over their own children . for my own part , should my sons knees ( how old soever ) be too stubborn to beg my blessing , i believe mine arm would be too stiff to reach out maintenance unto him . christ's third temptation to idolatry . sermon xi . matth. . . then saith iesus unto him , get thee hence satan : for it is written , thou shalt worship the lord thy god , and him onely shalt thou serve . in the former verse , satan had rapt out two notorious lyes . ( as indeed t is hard to tell one lye , and but one lye . ) the first , assertory , respecting the time past , affirming that all the power and glory of the world , were in his absolute disposal , as delivered unto him . the second , promissory , relating to the time to come , promising ( when he meant nothing less ) to invest and estate christ , in the full and peaceable possession thereof . now , it is observable , that our saviour in his answer to satan , takes notice of neither lye , so as to reprove and confute them . not that his silence herein was consent , to satans falshood ; but partly , because , had he spoken truth therein , it signified nothing , as to the matter of christs acceptance of his profer , which he heartily detested and defied : partly , because christ made all convenient speed to come up to the point , and to close with his adversary about the main issue of the matter , the utter unlawfulness of idolatry on any terms . to teach us , that the most compendious way to end any controversie , is , not to stand pidling and pelting away our spiritual artillery , against the ou●●works , and less-important limbes thereof , when we may safely and speedily b●tter down the citadel , and ought to bend all our forces against it . just as two muskets make no audible report , when at the same time and place a full cannon is discharged ; so our saviour was not at leasure to listen to the two crackings lyes satan had uttered , being totally taken up and ingrossed with the loud roaring abminable blasphemy , vented by him , to which alone he shapeth his answer in the text : then saith iesus , &c. observe in the words , . christs refusal of , . his indignation at , . his refutation of satans temptation . from his refusal , we collect , all worldly wealth , is no effectual , allurement to sin , unto a sanctified soul : what saith saint paul ? gal. . . by christ the world is crucified to me , and i unto the world . now who is crucified ? namely he , who after a long lingring torment , at last expires , and is stark dead . such , saint paul was , and such was christ , in a more eminent and transcedent manner . his affections were crucified , before his person was crucified in some sense ; crucified from his cradle , yea crucified before he was born , as deaded to all carnal delights ; the cause why satans profer made no impression upon him . for , tender the softest persian silks to a dead mans touch , and it nothing affects his fingers ; reach the the sweetest indian spices to his nostrils , they work not on his smell ; present the pleasantest wine of helbon , ( ezek. . . ) to his taste , it moveth him to no delight ; as here our mortified saviour was unconcerned with all worldly vanities . get thee hence satan . but s. luke saith , chap. . . get thee behinde me satan ; whereas it is a dangerous posture for one to have so fierce a foe behinde his back . let me alwaies have my enemy in mine eye , that i may mark and observe his motions . especially satan being of a serpentine nature , which , gen. . . bruiseth the heel , it is suspicious to suffer him to come in the rere , behinde us , for fear he practiseth some treachery against us . luke's get thee behinde me satan , must be expounded by matthew's get thee hence satan , both being in sense and substance the same : that is , avant , away , get thee out of my sight , as a detestable and odious obiect . besides , there is no danger of the devils being behind the backs of our bodies , when at the self-same time , the eye of our souls may with all caution be fastned upon him . but because we have mentioned satan being behinde us , i will describe a christian , in what posture his soul ought to stand in all relations . he must have god before him , always eying and observing his will and his word : satan behinde him , detesting and defying his temptations : the world be●e●th him , neglecting and contemning the wealth thereof : grace within him , entertaining and treasuring it up in his heart : and glory above him , ascending and aspiring thereunto in his affections and endeavours . now whereas our saviour seems in some sort out of patience , and filled with holy indignation or satan , observe , the most lambs in their owne cause , are the most lions in gods quarrel . we find the character of christs mildness , matth. . . hee shall not strive , nor cry . yet we hear him very loud in my text , when striving with satan . and just cause he had , when his fathers honour was so deeply concerned . here let us recount how often we finde christ angry in scripture . this was the first time in my text ; and satan had the good hansel , or first-fruits of christs anger , bestowed deservedly upon him . and as satan had the top , and beginning of christs anger , so shall he have the last , and the close thereof , yea be-forced to suck out the very ●ees and dregs , of his indignation . secondly , christ was angry , iohn . . when with a scourge of cords he drave the buyers and sellers out of the temple ; but then it was in his fathers quarrel , whose house of prayer they had turned into a den of theeves . thirdly , mark . . when he had looked round about on the people with anger , ( but for what ? for any personal injury they offered him ? o no , but ) for the hardness of their hearts . lastly , when offended with peter , matth. . . he said unto him , get thee behind me satan , giving peter worse language for disswading then ever he did iudas , for contriving his passion , whom indeed he once called devil , but never bid him , get thee behinde me . i will not be over-positive and confident ; but perchance christ may be found once again angry in scripture : but this i dare presume to affirm , it is not then in his behalf , but ( like meek moses , numb. . . very worth in the case of korah ) when his fathers honour or our good was interested therein . it is written . what , more scripture still ? enough , and too much ( will some carnal palate say ) of the manna of gods word : now a little of the flesh-pots , of mans traditions and inventions , were it but for novelty and variety sake . o no : christ still keeps himself to his scripture . no wise souldier will change a tryed sword , of whose metal and temper he hath had experience , yea which hath proved successful and victorious unto him , for a new blade out of the sorge ; and our saviour would not quit the sword of the word , wherewith he had twice foiled satan , for any new weapon ; but the third time maketh use thereof . scripture , is good to begin with , and good to continue with , and good to conclude with . some meates are said to be gold in the morning , silver at noon , but lead at night . but gods word is gold in the morning , gold at noon , gold at night ; yea , the more pretious , the more it is used . yea it is remarkable , christ took all the three places wherewith he repelled satan , out of one book of deuteronomy , and two of them out of one ( the sixth ) chapter thereof . now if the opening of one box afforded christ three antidotes against sat●ns poyson , how many cordials may the whole scripture yeeld us , especially since the happy addition of the new testament thereto ! but as the devil had formerly cited the text defectively ( leaving out in all thy ways ) so our saviour quotes the same redundantly , inserting the word onely , ( whereon all the hinge of the controversie did depend ) which if the original be consulted with , deut. . . appears not at all in the text ; contrary to the heavy curse , denounced rev. . . on such as adde any thing to gods word . though onely be not expressed , it is implyed in the text , and may be supplied from the context : for it followed in the next verse , deut. . . ye shall not go after other gods . is not this the same in effect , you shall serve god onely ? so when it is sad , exod. . . shalt have no other gods but me ; it amounteth to this , that we shall serve god onely . explaining of the text , by the context , is no adding to the text . if we ministers , ( especially in the heat and height of our preaching ) cite not scripture syllabically or verbatim , but faithfully render the life and sense thereof ( some perchance out of the preceding , some from the following verses ) we cannot justly be taxed for fallacious alleadging thereof . this will arm us against the unjust cavil of bellarmine , traducing all protestants , and luther by name , for adding to scripture , in maintaining that faith alone justifieth . we find this alone , though not formally , yet equivalently in gods word . here we will not , with some protestant divines , lay too much stress on that place , luke . . when christ said to iairus , beleive only , and shee shall be made whole ; because it relateth not properly and directly to the justifying of iairus his soul , but onely to have that miraculous reviving bestowed on his daughter . but we find faith alone justifiing , tantamountingly in scripture , when we read , eph. . . by grace are ye saved , through faith , and that not of your selves , it is the gift of god : not of works , lest any man should boast . here , ( as in many other places ) the total excluding of works , fixeth justification in faith alone ; and saint hillary , on the of matthew ( so false is bellarmines slander , that luther first made the expression ) hath the proposition in terminis , fides sola justificat . god is not onely to be worshiped eminently above all , but also exclusively , none besides himself . two things are impatient of a corrival : the throne , and the marriage-bed . god in scripture shadoweth himself unto us , under both these relations . psal. . . the holy one of israel is our king . jer. . . turn , o backsliding children , saith the lord : for i am married unto you . dream not therefore of conjoyning any other in worship with him . here some of solomon's fools , though carnally wise , might conceive , ( had they been in christ's place ) that they had an advantage to enrich and advance themselves , cozen and delude satan , and withal , please and preserve god their friend , save and secure their own conscience . namely , thus . with their bodies , they would fall down , and worship satan ; and so , by the plentiful performance of the condition , gain worldly wealth and glory to themselves . mean time , they would reserve their hearts , ( which satan , not knowing the secrets thereof , could not discover ) to god alone ; yea , send up an ejaculation to him , in the midst of their corporal prostration to satan . but god is a jealous god , and will not thus be abused . should a wife , being found in the wanton embraces of another , pretend for her self , that still her heart was loyal to her husband , he should be as very a fool to believe it , as she an impudent harlot to affirm it . assure your selves , the wise god of heaven will not be abused by such vain palliations : nay , him onely shalt thou serve : to confute such , who introduce a mongrel-medly-religion ; as the colonies substituted in the room of the ten tribes carried away into captivity , king. . and a seeming-contradiction ( but easily reconciled ) is remarkable in three verses . vers. . they feared the lord . vers. . they feared the lord , and served their own gods . vers. . they fear not the lord . all is easily reconciled . they feared the lord seemingly : but because they feared him ioyntly with their idols● they feared him not truely , nor acceptably . such are they who serve god and venus , their wantonness ; god , and bacchus , their drunkenness ; god , and ceres , their gluttony ; god , and mars , their furious revenge ; god , and mercury , their fraudulent and deceitful dealing . secondly , it confutes the practice of saint-worship amongst the papists , so derogatory to the glory of god . nor let them hope to evade , by coining the distinction , ( which with a broken cistern , jer. . . will not hold water ) that god is onely to be worshipped with the worship of {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , but saints may be worshipped with the worship of {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . as if where god saith , thou shalt not steal , man should plead , indeed i may not take away my neighbours goods by way of stealing ; but i may take them away by way of lurching , or filching . but god , though he be in fact mocked , is not in fine mocked ; ( though men multiply distinctions till their fancies be weary , calling the same sin by different names ) but will avenge himself on such as abuse him by their vain inventions . again , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , to unbyassed judgements , doth in the natural notion of the word , import more lowe , submiss , and servile adoration , then {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} it self ; and in scripture is given to god himself . thus s. iames , chap. . . stileth himself {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , the servant of iesus christ . and although saint paul , ( to note that by the way ) gal. . . entitles him , for the more outward honour , iames the brother of the lord ; yet the humble apostle ( being to speak of himself ) waves all carnal relation to christ , and onely calleth himself {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , the servant of iesus , as a title of highest spiritual honour , and which speaketh his lowest service unto our saviour ; {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , in the criticism thereof , being appropriate to our god alone . lastly , though the learned papists may plead for themselves , that they serve the saint in the image , and god in the saint ; yet it is to be feared , that the ordinary people terminate their worship in the very image it self . christ's third temptation to idolatry . sermon xii . matth. . . then the devil leaveth him ▪ and behold , angels came and ministred unto him . we may observe in the words , purgatory , hell , earth , and heaven . . purgatory : but not in the modern sense of the papists , for a purgatory to come ; but one past already , in the word then ; that is , after christ had been sifted , and fanned , and tried , and purged ; coming off with his own honour , and his enemies confusion . . hell , the devil . . earth ; so may i safely term the humanity of our saviour . . heaven , the angels , those celestial spirits , which , upon satans dep●rture , ministred unto him . how came satan now to leave our saviour , rather then before ? as if his last answer was more effectual then his former . twice before , he had refused the profer , and refuted the reasons of the devil ; and now he did no more . first , negatively . it is not to be attributed to any latent operation , or mystical efficacie of the number of three , as if the third resistance drave the devil away ( thrice crossing , thrice sprinkling of water , &c. folly , with papists , to fix any force either in the thing , or the triplication thereof ) or as if satan would tempt us onely three times , who will do it more then thirty times three . but satan left him , first , because he ( who long had look'd for that which he was loath to finde , viz. whether christ was the son of god ) was now , to his great sorrow , sufficiently satisfied in the affirmative , that he was so ; and therefore desisted from farther inquiry therein . it is observable , how much satans knowledge was ( i will not say bettered , but ) increased in one chapter ( mark ) within the compass of eleven verses . for , verse . he tempted christ , namely , to try whether he was the son of god ; and verse . he confesseth him : i know thee ( with deare-bought knowledge , to his owne confusion ) who thou art , the holy one of god . secondly , satan could not go higher , and therefore he would not go lower in his temptations . ecquid aliquid altius ? was there any act worse then idolatry ; or greater temptation thereunto , then the wealth and glory of the whole world ? it stood not with the state of satans malice , to present our saviour after this , with some petty allurement to a puny sin , and therefore he thought fittest for the present to desist . thirdly , satan went away , to save his credit , being on the matter driven away . christ spake , get thee hence , as a commander with authority ; and his words were ( for the time ) a mittimus to dispach the devil out of that place ; who , beholding christ his holy anger , now raised up to an height , presently with shame sneaked and slunk away . the devil leaveth him . holy indignation is an excellent exorcism to drive satan away . the surest way to fright the fiercest lion , ( that of the crowing of a cock , being denied by many , doubted of by most ) is by shaking of a fire-brand before his face . satan , that lion , feares the flame of holy and heavenly anger ( such as here sparkled out in our saviour ) so that the climat grew too hot for him ; he could dwel no longer therein . but we must be sure , that ours be holy indignation , otherwise the strange fire , of common and carnal anger , doth allure , not affright the devil ; yea the light thereof giveth him aim the more steddily to direct his temptations at our souls . yea when his fiery darts meet with our fiery passions ▪ oh how unquenchable ( without gods mercy ) is the combustion ! now saint matthew saith absolutely , the devil leaveth him ; but saint luke giveth us the limitation thereof ; he departeth from him , for a season . and seeing departing , and coming are relative termes ; we finde satan afterwards re-assaulting our saviour , iohn . . the prince of this world cometh , and hath nothing in me . whence learn , satan though he leaveth us , will never leave us , till life leaveth us . of the three grand enemies of our soul , one beginneth long before the other two , but all end and expire with us , at the same instant . the flesh starteth first , not onely from our birth , but being and conception : psal. . . behold , i was born in inquity , and in sin hath my mother conceived me . the world and the devil come after , namely when a child ( sooner or later according to his capacity ) is able , with the consent of his reason and will , to commit an actual sin . but all three determine in and at the same moment , namely just at the time of our death : till then , be sure satan will not leave thee . yet let none be disheartned at satans never leaving to tempt them , but , in a comfortable opposition thereunto , let them consider that gods protection will never finally leave to preserve them . indeed , for some time ( especially to the apprehension of a wounded conscience ) he deserteth his servants , who complain with christ , my god , my god , why hast thou forsaken me ? yet we have the certain promise of constant assistance ; which he will infallibly perform : heb. . . i will never leave thee , nor forsake thee . here under favour , i conceive that though our saviour was afterwards often tempted with the devil , yet the notion and nature of his future , much differed from his former temptations . his former were chiefly for satans information , and the other were onely for christs vexation ; the former partly to try , the later solely to trouble our saviour ; the devil then knowing full well , that he was the son of god . and angels . solitary men ( such as christ in the wilderness ) have alwaies the company of angels or devils . three things are herein observable . first , mans soul ( chiefly when alone ) admits of no vacuitie : anima plena . the avoidance of one , is alwaies the induction of another incumbent . secondly , it is impossible that good and bad angels should be reconciled at the same time , in the same subject . cor. . . for what agreement is there betwixt light and darkne●s ? those stars of sweet light , and the star wormwood , revel. . . are of so opposite horizons , the elevation of the one , necessitates the depression of the other . thirdly , the intrant of the angels is in the very instant after the exit of satan ; and so reciprocally , when satans sets , then angels arise . thus in saul , sam. . . the spirit of the lord departed from him , and an evil spirit from the lord troubled him . and as , gen. . . iacob was scarce gone out from the presence of isaac his father , when esau his brother came in ▪ so , plain , and pious , and profitable thoughts are no sooner departed our solitary souls , but presently rough , hairy , cru●l , wild , and wicked cogitations succeed in their room . seeing melancholy persons will have some ( and it is to be fea●ed bad ) company , let them avoid loneness , and associate themselves with such as are godly and religious . ministred unto him . angels on all occasions were very officious in their attendance on christ . first , at his conception , luke . . an angel , gabriel by name , first brought the blessed tidings thereof . secondly , after his birth angels , luke . . both celebrated the same with their singing , and imparted to shepherds the first intelligence thereof . thirdly , in his infancie , mat. . . an angel gave notice to ioseph of herods death , and that now christ might safely return into his own country . fourthly , in his temptation , here in my text . fifthly , at his passion , when his agony began in the garden , luke . . there appeared an angel unto him from heaven , strengthning him . some will say , seeing it is the general opinion of divines that the blessed elect angels are established and strengthned in christ , how cometh one of them to strengthen christ at this time ? but let such know , it was the humane nature of christ , ( which is less and lower then the angelical ) which here received strengthning from him . besides , the angel being then in a calm , and christ in the tempest of an agony , no wonder if a meaner might minister comfort and support to one otherwise and at other times far his superiour . sixthly , at his resurrection , mat. . . when an augel ( which rolled away the stone from the grave ) attested the same . lastly , after his ascention , act. . . when two angels declared the manner of his returne unto judgement . nor is this angelical attendance confined to christ alone , but extended also to all christians in some degree , as * formerly we have largely declared , and here intend no repetition thereof ; where also we have proved , that in compensation of their service ( though other civilities be due to angels ) no worship may lawfully be tendered unto them . what then is the reason of the inequality of angels demeanour in scripture , that though sometimes they refuse adoration , as iudges . . rev. . , , . otherwhiles they accept thereof , as may appear by abraham's so solemn praying unto an angel , gen. . . for the sparing of sodom ? we may observe that those three angels mentioned in that chapter , appeared in three distinct capacities or representations . first , they are all three called men , gen. . . three men stood by him ; because they took on them the shape and bodies of men . secondly , two of them are termed angels , gen. . & all three promiscuously , heb. . . so called ) because of their beauty and lustre , power and strength , surpassing humanity wherein they did appear . thirdly , one of them abraham stileth my lord , jehovah ( who alone , staied behind , whilst the other two , as his servants , were sent to s●dom ) and termeth him , gen. . . the iudge of all the earth . to him onely ( as not a meer angel of god , but the very angel-god ) is abrahams adoration tendered , and therefore it maketh nothing for the popish worship of common and created angels . conclusion . beeing now for some time to take my leave of this auditory , and having the seasonable mention of the ministration of angels in my text ; i know how , if one of the romish perswasion were in my place , he would particularly consigne you to the tutellage of such guardian angels which he conceiveth most proper for your several professions . for instance ; are there any martial men that hear me to day ? such he would bequeath at this his departure , to the military angel , exod. . . and i will send my angel before thee , &c. namely , the same who drave out the seven nations of canaan , before the face of the israelites . are there any here , which trade in merchandize on the seas ? such would he commend to the protection of the angel of the waters , rev. . . to preserve them and their estates . are there any here , who stand on their preferment , as we terme it , i mean single persons who in due time intend marriage ? such he would commit to the guard of the matrimonial angel , gen. . . he shall send his angel before thee , the same which provided a gratious wife for isaac . but to avoid all exception , shun all shadow of superstition , and to be best assured of protection , i commend all qualities and conditions of people , to the tuition of the god of these angels ; taking my farwell of this auditory with the words of saint paul to the ephesians , act. . . and now brethren , i commend you to god , and to the word of his grace , which is able to build you up , and to give you an inheritance amongst all them that are sanctified . amen . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a e- gen. . . notes for div a e- acts . . gen. . . * pag. notes for div a e- * luk. . . doct ▪ doct. object . answ. the doctrine . use . doct. quest . answ. object . answ. quest . answ. notes for div a e- quest . answ. doct. doct. notes for div a e- quest . answ. quest . answ. quest . answ. doct. use . doct. doct. doct. doct. use . * lord bacon in his natural history . notes for div a e- doct. * tim. . . * not s. augustine the ●●mous fa●h●r , and bishop of●ippo ; but ● later monk . * flores ●ancto●●m . quest . answ. doct. * eph. . use . doct. * pag. . * m. fox his martyrs . * melchior adamus in his life . m. dyke in his comment on this text . notes for div a e- doct. james . . object . use . quest . quest . answ. quest . answ. doct. psal. . . notes for div a e- doct. doct. . use . doct. . quest . answ. use . use . notes for div a e- doct. . object . answ. quest . answ. doct. . doct. . notes for div a e- doct. . doct. . doct. . use . doct. . use . doct. . * matth. . . use . doct. . doct. . notes for div a e- quest . answ. doct. use . object . answ. doct. use . doct. object . answ. notes for div a e- quest . answ. doct. . quest . answ. object . answ. object . quest . doct . doct. . henry huntington . use . doct. . quest . answ. notes for div a e- doct. object . solut. doct. doct. object . answ. doct. use . doct. use . notes for div a e- quest . answ. doct. doct. doct. use . doct. * page . quest . answ.